Meghan McCain was out of The View on Monday, a day after comedian John Oliver called her out. The Last Week Tonight host focused his HBO show on the tragedy in Atlanta. Oliver recalled McCain defending Donald Trump defending his use of the term China virus for COVID-19. This type of language likely led to violence against people of Asian descent. Meghan McCain | Lorenzo Bevilaqua/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Why did Meghan McCain defend Donald Trump? McCain is the resident Republican on The View and gives an opposing voice to the otherwise Democrat-leaning panel. Exactly a year before the Atlanta mass shootings, McCain was heard defending Trump using the term China virus to refer to the coronavirus. I think if the left wants to focus on PC labeling this virus, it is a great way to get Trump reelected, McCain said back on March 18, 2020. I dont have a problem with people calling it whatever they want. It is a deadly virus that did originate in Wuhan. Whoopi Goldberg pushed back and said we shouldnt stereotype the virus, despite having its origins in China. The EGOT legend remembered that Trump started his presidential campaign by saying Mexico was sending rapists to the U.S. McCain interjected saying that rhetoric was effective for Trump. When Goldberg said that that type of language resulted in violent attacks against the minority groups, McCain is heard sighing, seemingly dismissing her co-host. RELATED: The View: Joy Behar, Meghan McCain Spar Over Antifa Not A Real Thing John Oliver puts Meghan McCain on blast Oliver took time on his show to reproduce the clip of The View and put McCain on blast for defending Trumps language. Oh, good! Meghan McCain doesnt have a problem with this, Oliver said after watching the clip of McCain on his show. Listen not to the scores of Asian Americans telling everyone that the term is dangerous and offensive. Instead, gather around and take the word of a wealthy white woman who is dressed like she is about to lay off 47 people over Zoom. The late-night host then recalled McCain posting a tweet with the graphic reading Stop Asian Hate and three heartbroken emojis. Its a fine sentiment to drop on Twitter after the fact, Oliver said of the tweet. But, there has to be an understanding that saying, I dont have a problem with calling it the China virus, is very much giving space for that hate to grow. What Oliver was pointing out was that McCain was dismissing the language from Trump and not seeing how those words can affect an entire race. Meghan McCain | Walt Disney Television via Getty Images/Lou Rocco RELATED: The View Star Meghan McCain Blasts Hair Critics: Let a Bi**h Live Meghan McCain takes a day off Coincidentally, McCain was a no-show on The View on Monday, March 22. Ana Navarro was in McCains place instead. Goldberg announced McCain was not on the show but didnt give a reason as to why. Over on Twitter, McCain posted an apology after the growing sentiment to do so, especially following Olivers segment on HBO. I condemn the reprehensible violence and vitriol that has been targeted towards the Asian-American community, McCain tweeted. There is no doubt Donald Trumps racist rhetoric fueled many of these attacks and I apologize for any past comments that aided that agenda. I condemn the reprehensible violence and vitriol that has been targeted towards the Asian-American community. There is no doubt Donald Trumps racist rhetoric fueled many of these attacks and I apologize for any past comments that aided that agenda. Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 22, 2021 As of now there is no word if McCain will address the issue on-air as it was on The View where she made the comments, not on Twitter. The View airs weekday mornings at 11 a.m. ET and 10 a.m. CT/PT on ABC. New Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on the occasion of 'Shaheed Diwas' on Tuesday (March 23) alleged that the Centres new farm laws will only benefit corporate houses and claimed that if such conditions persist, the country will lose its independence again. Addressing a public meeting at Mawana near Meerut, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister made the statement slamming the Centre. These three central laws will ruin the country, Yadav alleged. Referring to the arrival of the British East India Company, Yadav said that people aware of the nations history know how a trading firm ended up becoming the government of India, PTI reported. Just a law was enacted and the company became the government, he said. Hinting at the movement against the exploitation of farmers by the East India Company, Yadav said a similar fight is needed at present. Yadav also unveiled a statue of freedom fighter Dhan Singh Gurjar in Meerut. Meanwhile, farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting at the Delhi borders against the three new farm laws for more than 100 days now. The protests reached Delhi borders on November 26, 2020. Live TV Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. It appears that the game of ownership for Crown Resorts has become a little too rich for Star Entertainment which has put pride and prudence ahead of desire. As tempting as it may have been to stay in the game by entering a bidding war for Crown, sources say Star recognises that pitching its balance sheet against the likes of Blackstone with $880 billion in funds under management is a bet it cant win. A Star tilt at Crown would have been undertaken via a scrip offer and given Crown is trading on a higher price earnings multiple than Star, it makes the deal more expensive. For the moment, James Packer and Helen Coonans four-person board seem to be on the same page. Credit:Louie Douvis That will leave the Crown board, its advisers and its major shareholder, James Packer, scouring the market for other contenders to enter the auction room if it wants to get a deal over the line. Yesterday, the House Oversight and Reform Committee held a hearing on H.R. 51 the Washington, D.C. Admission Act a bill that would give the District of Columbia and its 690,000 residents statehood. As we argued last year, D.C. statehood is a largely symbolic debate. It would take a constitutional amendment to transform the seat of federal government into a state. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress plenary local-lawmaking power to exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District. In 1961, the 23rd Amendment gave D.C. residents the right to vote in presidential elections as they would if D.C. were a state. Yet, D.C. is still defined as a permanent constitutional entity of its own, outside of statehood. On numerous occasions, and under both Republican and Democratic Party administrations, the Justice Department has found that D.C. statehood requires amending the Constitution. Even if the D.C. statehood effort had a reasonable chance of passage, however, such an amendment would undermine stable federal governance in a number of ways. First it would put the seat of the national government under the controlling authority of a potentially hostile government. In Federalist No. 43, James Madison warned that without federal control of the capital, the public authority might be insulted and its proceedings interrupted with impunity. Only once has a Republican presidential candidate, Richard Nixon in 1972, broken the 20 percent threshold in D.C. Not a single city council member is a Republican. The seat of national power was intentionally created as an independent entity to avoid having Congress and the president rely on, or answer to, the governor of a state. Washington is also the city of the permanent political class a place of tremendous wealth that is largely reliant on American taxpayers. D.C. has a higher median income than any state, and its recession-proof suburbs are some of the wealthiest in the country. In many ways, large swaths of Maryland and Virginia already act as the voice of the federal government. That is exactly what the Founders were trying to avoid when they created a federal district. Story continues Madison, also in Federalist No. 43, noted, the gradual accumulation of public improvements at the stationary residence of the government would be both too great a public pledge to be left in the hands of a single State, and would create so many obstacles to a removal of the government, as still further to abridge its necessary independence. Washington, as it now stands, has already accumulated far more political power than any city in the nation. Transforming the seat of this authority into a state would create voters who are almost wholly incentivized to grow the power and size of the federal government at the expense of other states. Of course, if Democrats were truly concerned about the lack of representation among Washingtonians, they might be working on ideas that would allow D.C. residents to become Marylanders or Virginians. Instead, they are intent on creating or, at the very least, normalizing the idea of a liberal enclave that would give them two permanent senators. Because the agitation for D.C. statehood is little more than a cynical play for partisan advantage. More from National Review Huntington, WV (25701) Today Cloudy with rain this morning...then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Annual Report to Shareholders Perth, Mar 22, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cyprium Metals Ltd ( ASX:CYM ) participated in a number of due diligence reviews of Copper projects across Australia during the year and we were very pleased to announce the potential third and fourth copper project acquisitions by entering into agreement to acquire Metals X Limited's Copper Assets in February 2021, which are located in the Paterson Province of Western Australia. The Paterson Copper Assets comprises firstly the Nifty Copper project, which has been on care and maintenance since November 2019, secondly the Maroochydore Copper Project, plus it also includes Metals X's vast Paterson Exploration Project.The acquisition of Metals X Copper Assets is a transformational acquisition for Cyprium as the Nifty Copper Project has a JORC 2012 compliant mineral resource of over 650,000 contained tonnes of copper, with onsite infrastructure which will enable the production of copper metal cathode on site in the near term. The nearby Maroochydore copper project has a JORC 2012 mineral resource of almost 500,000 tonnes of contained copper which is an excellent addition to our pipeline of projects, all of which are at differing stages of development.The Paterson Exploration Project includes an extensive suite of tenements surrounding the Nifty and Maroochydore copper projects, which is subject to a $32 million farm-in that is sole funded by IGO Limited for a 70% interest over 6.5 years, with a minimum spend of $11 million over 3.5 years.The acquisition of the Paterson Copper Assets is perfectly aligned with our experience and management expertise which fast tracks our strategy of building a mid-tier Australian copper business whilst still allowing the flexibility to pursue other growth opportunities.To view the Annual Report, please visit:About Cyprium Metals Ltd Cyprium Metals Limited (ASX:CYM) is poised to grow to a mid-tier mining business and manage a portfolio of Australian copper projects to deliver vital natural resources, strong shareholder returns and sustainable value for our stakeholders. We pursue this aim, in genuine partnerships with employees, customers, shareholders, local communities and other stakeholders, which is based on integrity, co-operation, transparency and mutual value creation. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Belgium appears headed for a new lockdown to stem a variant-fuelled surge in COVID infections, according to reports on the eve of an emergency government meeting set for Wednesday. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is to chair the gathering of national and regional officials to decide measures to get a grip on worrying infection and hospitalisation figures. Officials were considering closing schools from Monday, a week ahead of Easter vacations, and keeping them shut for three weeks, as well as expanding a nighttime curfew already in place and closing non-essential shops, Belgian media reported. A government spokesman on the virus crisis, Yves Van Laethem, on Tuesday told a news conference that COVID-19 infections have risen more than 40 percent compared to a week ago and hospital admissions were up 12 percent. All age groups were affectedincluding those over 90across all of the country, he said, declaring: "The numbers are flashing red, as is the map." With Belgium already subject to a nighttime curfew, a work-from-home edict and a general travel ban into and out of the country, the blame was put on the spread of the UK variant of the virus, which is more contagious and more severe in its effects. A Belgian virologist, Marc Van Ranst, said the fact there were 282 new hospital admissions in the previous 24 hours was a "trigger" for urgent action. He told De Morgen newspaper: "We have to be realistic. If we take measures now, we will abandon them at the earliest at the end of the Easter holidays. That's three weeks." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP For the first time in nearly 200 years, the head of municipal government in Massachusetts largest city is a woman. Boston City Council President Kim Janey became acting mayor of Boston after Marty Walsh resigned Monday to serve as President Joe Bidens labor secretary. Janey is the first woman and first person of color to serve the city in this role. She is scheduled to have a ceremonial swearing in on Wednesday. In a statement after Walshs resignation, she called her predecessor a proud son of Dorchester who will bring our city with you to Washington, D.C. Now, we look ahead to a new day a new chapter in Bostons history. The Senate on Monday confirmed the two-term Boston mayor to lead the U.S. Department of Labor Monday afternoon. Walsh will be the first union member to serve as Labor secretary in nearly a half century. This has been a very, very bittersweet last eight weeks. I have been very emotional in my office because I love the people I work with. Im amazed. I love being mayor of the city I grew up in, the Boston Democrat said. Walsh acknowledged the historic moment on Monday. I was texting with Council President Janey last night. I texted, Think about this for a minute, a little girl from Roxbury is about to be mayor of Boston. And her response was, Think about this for a minute, a little boy from Dorchester is about to become the ... labor secretary of the United States of America. Janey will serve as acting mayor ahead of the 2021 mayoral race. She has yet to say if shell run for mayor this November, a race which already features a crowded field of candidates. City Councilors Michelle Wu, Andrea Campbell and Annissa Essaibi George - all women of color - are already in the race, as are: North End Rep. Jon Santiago; former chief of economic development for the city John Barros; political newcomer Michael J. Bianchi II; and former hotel manager Dana Depelteau. Janeys rise within City Hall has been both historic and quick. She was elected to represent District 7, which includes parts of Dorchester, Fenway and the South End, in 2017. She was selected city council president in January 2020, the first Black woman to hold the title. That swearing in ceremony was historic for another reason: it marked the first time more than half of councilors are women and people of color, the most diverse group of city councilors in Bostons history. Boston has become a more diverse city over the decades. In 1950, the overwhelming majority of city residents were white - 94.7% according to U.S. Census records. Fifty years later, the city population was majority minority for the first time. Recent population figures show about 44% of the city is white. About 23% are black, just over 20% Latino, just under 10% Asian and about 3% identifying as two or more races. Janey experienced this racial shift firsthand. As a child during the citys efforts to desegregate schools, she said racial slurs and rocks were thrown at her while riding the bus from Roxbury, a largely Black neighborhood, to the Edwards Middle School in Charlestown, a largely white school. Her roots in Roxbury date back generations. Her late great grandfather, Daniel Benjamin Janey, was a member of Twelfth Baptist Church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. worshipped while attending Boston University. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 14:20:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VIENTIANE, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Laos' National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Tuesday said it has been monitoring 3,418 people across the country over COVID-19 concerns. Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Disease Control under the Lao Ministry of Health Latsamy Vongkhamsao, told a press conference in Lao capital Vientiane on Tuesday that some 2,022 people entered Laos through international border checkpoints on Monday. The temperature of each person was checked before sending to quarantine centers for 14 days. Latsamy said that a total of 3,418 people had been quarantined at 34 accommodation centers across the country. The Lao government continues to strictly monitor people entering Laos to prevent a second wave of COVID-19. The government has advised people and relevant authorities not to neglect containment and preventive measures. As of Tuesday, Laos has tested 127,582 suspected cases with 49 cases tested positive, and 45 patients have recovered. Laos announced its first two COVID-19 confirmed cases on March 24 last year. Enditem Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2018, file photo, a woman walks past the entrance to the No. 4 High School also known as the Peyzawat Bilingual High School with signs which read "Entering School Grounds, Please speak Mandarin," left, and "Parents Waiting Zone" in Peyzawat, western China's Xinjiang region. Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 welcomed the United States, European Union, Canada and Britain taking joint action to impose sanctions on senior Chinese officials over human rights abuses in Chinas far western Xinjiang region. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) China on Tuesday said it summoned foreign diplomats in protest after the United States, the European Union, Canada and Britain jointly imposed sanctions on senior Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses in Chinas far western Xinjiang region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Tuesday called the new sanctions a slander and an affront to the reputation and dignity of the Chinese people. I admonish them that they should not underestimate the firm determination of the Chinese people to defend their national interests and dignity, and they will pay the price for their folly and arrogance, Hua told reporters at a daily briefing. That came hours after the Chinese and Russian foreign ministers denounced a new wave of criticism and sanctions against both countries over human rights. At a news conference in the southern Chinese city of Nanning, China's Wang Yi and Russia's Sergei Lavrov rejected outside critiques of their authoritarian political systems and said they were working to further global progress on issues from climate change to the coronavirus pandemic. Countries should stand together to oppose all forms of unilateral sanctions, Wang said. These measures will not be embraced by the international community. Russia is also under Western sanctions over human rights abuses and military aggression against Ukraine. Lavrov said Russias ties with China grew stronger as Moscows relations with the EU suffered damage, while accusing the West of imposing their own rules on everyone else, which they believe should underpin the world order. If Europe broke these relations, simply destroying all the mechanisms that have been created for many years ... then, probably, objectively, this leads to the fact that our relations with China are developing faster than whats left of relations with European countries, Lavrov said. In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the two ministers said no country should seek to impose its form of democracy on others. Interference in a sovereign nations internal affairs under the excuse of advancing democracy is unacceptable, the statement said. China says members of the Uyghur and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang have voluntarily taken part in job training and de-radicalization courses, denying charges that more than 1 million have been locked up in prison-like reeducation camps where they are forced to reject their native culture and pledge loyalty to the ruling Communist Party and its leader Xi Jinping. Media outlets, foreign governments and activist groups say abuses, including forced labour and coerced birth control, are ongoing. The Australian and New Zealand governments reiterated their grave concerns about the growing number of credible reports of severe human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The two, whose economies are heavily reliant on trade with China, have not imposed sanctions themselves. We share these countries deep concerns, which are held across the Australian and New Zealand communities, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and her New Zealand counterpart Nanaia Mahuta said in a joint statement. Today, we underscore the importance of transparency and accountability, and reiterate our call on China to grant meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for United Nations experts, and other independent observers, the statement added. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the multi-national measures were part of intensive diplomacy by the U.K., the United States, Canada and the 27-nation EU to force action amid mounting evidence of serious rights abuses against Uyghurs. The sanctions will be imposed immediately and include travel bans and asset freezes against four officials, Raab said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement the united response "sends a strong signal to those who violate or abuse international human rights, and we will take further actions in co-ordination with likeminded partners." Sanctions have also been opposed by the U.S. on Chinese and Hong Kong officials accused of rolling back freedoms in the former British colony that was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997. Britain has offered residency and a path to citizenship to millions born before the handover, further infuriating the authorities in Beijing. Beijing swiftly responded to Monday's move by the EU by in turn slapping sanctions on 10 European individuals and four institutions that it said had damaged Chinas interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation. Germany on Tuesday summoned the Chinese ambassador in Berlin to complain about the move, saying sanctions against EU lawmakers, scientists, political institutions and non-governmental organizations represented an unreasonable escalation that will unnecessarily strain relations between the EU and China. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during a short course for chief secretaries of city and county party committees, in Pyongyang, in a photo taken on March 4, 2021 and released the next day by North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency. The Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea announced last week through state media that it was severing diplomatic relations with Malaysia. The next day, Malaysia followed suit by giving North Korean diplomats and their dependents 48 hours to leave the Southeast Asian country. At the center of the tiff with the DPRK was the fate of Mun Chol Myong, a North Korean businessman who Malaysia had arrested in May 2019, at the request of the United States, for allegedly evading U.N. sanctions over Pyongyangs nuclear weapons program. Mun, who had lived in Malaysia since 2008, was charged with multiple counts of money laundering and attempted money laundering. After exhausting his appeals in the Malaysian courts earlier this month, Mun on March 17 was quietly deported to the United States, where he will become the first North Korean to stand trial after being extradited stateside. Through agreeing to send him to the U.S., Malaysia had committed an unpardonable crime, Pyongyang said. The North Koreans had demanded that the Malaysian government intercede in the courts to have Mun freed and returned to North Korea. They argued he was engaged in lawful trade and that the United States was bullying Malaysia into handing him over. It was a self-defeating move by North Korea, which has few friends. The communist state, which is led today by Kim Jong Un, has formal diplomatic ties with more than 160 countries but mostly on paper. Only 24 countries have embassies in Pyongyang, while North Korea has a few dozen diplomatic missions abroad. Beyond serving basic functions of diplomacy, Pyongyangs embassies have an essential function of procuring hard currency, evading sanctions, and acquiring technology and luxury goods for the regime, as well documented by reports. They are essential sources of funding largely illicit for the cash-strapped and constantly sanctioned government in Pyongyang. They have functioned as vehicles for the laundering of Pyongyangs famed super notes, high-quality forgeries of U.S. $100 bills, as well as illegal narcotics. The embassy in Malaysia was no exception. It was long suspected for both illicit business activity and money laundering. The embassy assisted in the marketing of North Korean military communications equipment, among other activities. But most important, the embassy was tied to the procurement of communications and computer equipment for Pyongyang. Muns extradition to the U.S. was very important because the businessman was part of Kim Jong Uns illicit activities network, as David Maxwell, an expert with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Radio Free Asia, a BenarNews sister entity. And, according to an indictment unsealed in a U.S. federal court on March 22, Mun was affiliated with the DPRKs primary intelligence organization, the Reconnaissance General Bureau, which is the subject of U.S. and U.N. sanctions. 2017 assassination Malaysias shuttering of the embassy was long overdue. In 2017, North Korean agents hired two women, Vietnamese and Indonesian nationals, to take part in assassinating Kim Jong Nam, the North Korean dictators half-brother with VX, a nerve agent, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Using an internationally banned weapons-grade nerve agent on foreign soil is an act of war. While several North Korean agents quickly slipped out of the country, the Malaysian government could not take more aggressive action against the embassy staff, including suspects in Kims murder, because Pyongyang was effectively holding Malaysian diplomats and their dependents there hostage. Ultimately, all nine North Korean suspects were able to leave Malaysia. Only the two women were ever arrested and tried, though in both cases the government eventually dropped the charges against them. Though both countries withdrew their ambassadors, diplomatic tensions were largely papered over. So why has Pyongyang escalated the situation today? The over-reaction to the extradition is telling. The best answer is that it demonstrates just how important money laundering is to the regime. Mun is an experienced operative with nearly 20 years of experience in money laundering, and procuring luxury items and technology is essential to keeping the Kim family in power. On an individual level, should Mun negotiate a plea bargain with U.S. prosecutors, he could fill in important details in the American governments understanding of how North Korea funds itself, procures high technology, and evades sanctions. But Muns extradition is emblematic of a larger concern for Pyongyang. North Korea is a criminal state, not just in terms of its proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but the fact that it survives through crime. In the past few years, North Korean hackers have stolen some $670 million in currencies and virtual currencies, including $81 million from Bangladeshs central bank. But no cyber fraud is too small. And the economy has been hard hit. In a speech last October, Kim Jong Un broke down in tears and acknowledged a significant economic slowdown, grave challenges, and unprecedented disasters. Which makes the evasion of sanctions and the import of luxury goods so important to Kim: it is how he buys loyalty to the regime. Geopolitical stakes The new administration in Washington will need to ratchet up sanctions if it hopes to force North Korean back to the negotiating table. Once formidable and with broad international support, international enforcement of the sanctions quickly ebbed after President Trumps June 2018 summit with Kim in Singapore. After the collapse of the Hanoi summit in February 2019, the sanctions regime was never fully reinstated, with countries like Malaysia all too willing to continue low levels of trade and allow North Korea to conduct commercial activities. The United States and China, meanwhile, have a host of contentions issues, as was played out in last weeks testy bilateral meeting in Alaska. The rival superpowers desperately need to find issues upon which they can cooperate. North Korea, however, is not one of them. Beijing has too much too lose should Pyongyang collapse. Which means the United States under the Biden administration has no choice but to target North Korean operations in the 45 other countries where their diplomats are laundering money, peddling drugs, and skirting sanctions. Expect North Korea to retaliate in the way it knows how: through provocations. North Korea has tested nuclear weapons six times since 2006, including four during Kim Jung Uns tenure. We are likely to see a resumption of missile tests by North Korea, which were scaled back in 2020. North Korea has been a challenge for every U.S. president, and things are unlikely to change for the Biden administration in stepping up sanctions on Pyongyang. Countries like Malaysia, where North Koreans have operated with relative impunity, will be key to sanctions enforcement. Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College and an adjunct at Georgetown University in Washington. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or BenarNews. Summerville, SC (29483) Today Rain this morning. Scattered thunderstorms for the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 79F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms. Low near 70F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. The European Union does not recognize the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which prohibits foreigners from owning land in Crimea, and considers its entry into force as yet another attempt to forcibly integrate the illegally-annexed peninsula into Russia, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Nabila Massrali has said. "The European Union does not recognise the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia, which is a clear violation of international law. Therefore, the European Union does not recognise this decree and considers its entry into force as yet another attempt to forcibly integrate the illegally-annexed peninsula into Russia. Crimea is part of Ukraine," the spokesperson said in a statement released by the European External Action Service on Tuesday. According to her, this decree is also a violation of international humanitarian law, as it is another step towards the imposition of Russian citizenship on the peninsula, which leads to the arbitrary deprivation of property. "The European Union calls on Russia to stop all violations of international law on the Crimean peninsula. The European Union is unwavering in its support for Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and welcomes Ukraines diplomatic efforts to this end," Massrali said in the statement. The spokesperson also said the European Union will continue to enforce its non-recognition policy of the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula, including through restrictive measures. The Russian presidential decree states that most of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol were added to the list of border territories of Russia, where foreign citizens are prohibited from owning land, entered into force on March 20, 2021, a year after its adoption. Members of the Angola and Forest (Butler) Masonic Lodges stand with the new members of each lodge. Pictured from front left are Benton Davis, Henry fluke, Trent Heidorn, Barret Sanborn, Kris Carnahan, Charles Adkinson, Fried Diehl, Ian Mountfield; middle left Chris Bender, Tim Billow, Matt Wignall, Mason Gipson, Mason Hottel, Dave Kandal, Alex Dobson; back left Glen Rogers, John Herman, Eric Tracy, Jay Minick, Brant Moore, John Wilhelm, Tom Smith and Tim Smith. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. 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You also agree to our Terms of Service. >>> Vietnamese leaders congratulate newly elected leaders of Laos The Lao NA approved the proposed list, in which General Chansamone Chanyalath was elected Deputy PM, Defence Minister Sonesay Siphandon Deputy PM and Minister of Planning and Investment, Kikeo Khaykhamphithoun Deputy PM, Senior Lieutenant General Vilay Lakhamphong Minister of Public Security, Saleumsay Kommasith Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Bounchom Oubonpaseut Minister of Finance. At the first session of the 9th-tenure NA of Laos, which is taking place from March 22 to 26, personnel affairs and the apparatus of the Government and judicial agencies are at the top of the agenda. The Lao parliament is set to approve the reports on election results and the verification of NA deputies eligibility while discussing and approving the structure and leadership of the State and Government. It will also look into and vote on the socio-economic development plan and the budget plan for 2021-2025; the reports on outcomes of the implementation of tasks for 2016 2020 and orientations for activities for the next five years of the Supreme Peoples Procuracy, the Supreme Peoples Court, the State Audit Organisation, and the Government Office. The NAs five-year master plan and the one on law promulgation and amendment for the next five years are also scheduled to be scrutinised and adopted during this first session. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Wabash National Corp., an innovation leader of engineered solutions for the transportation, logistics and distribution industries, is expanding its Greater Lafayette presence with a new space in Purdue Universitys Discovery Park District. Wabash National, headquartered in Lafayette, will open a 2,000-square-foot space in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration. We are excited to expand our partnership with Purdue by opening this new space to enrich our collaboration with students, faculty and other Discovery Park businesses, said Dave Teeter, senior director of talent and organizational effectiveness for Wabash National. Purdue offers extraordinary talent that will help us continue to grow here in Greater Lafayette. We will use this new space on campus to engage with the Purdue community on co-sponsored projects, student outreach, career development, research and innovation. Wabash National joins a growing list of businesses and organizations opening spaces in Discovery Park District, which also will be home to novel 5G technologies. The district is a 400-acre launchpad where businesses of all sizes can access a business-minded university, global talent pipelines and advanced research and development facilities to solve business problems. Wabash National is a leader in solving problems for its customers by delivering breakthrough ideas and solutions that help businesses move everything from first to final mile. The company specializes in the design and production of engineered solutions that are Changing How the World Reaches You, such as dry freight and refrigerated trailers, platform trailers, tank trailers, dry and refrigerated truck bodies, structural composite panels and products, trailer aerodynamic solutions, and specialty food grade and pharmaceutical equipment. It is particularly thrilling for us to have a major hometown employer like Wabash National joining us in Discovery Park District, said Greg Deason, Purdue Research Foundations senior vice president for alliances and placemaking. This decision also opens up new opportunities for impact with students, faculty and other members of the Purdue innovation ecosystem. About Purdue Research Foundation Purdue Research Foundation supports Purdue Universitys land-grant mission by helping the university improve the world through its technologies and graduates. Established in 1930, PRF is a private, nonprofit foundation. The foundation helps patent and commercialize Purdue technologies; builds places to encourage innovation, invention, investment, commercialization and entrepreneurship; and makes equity available to students to finance their Purdue education. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org. For more information about involvement and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu. About Wabash National Corporation As the innovation leader of engineered solutions for the transportation, logistics and distribution industries, Wabash National Corporation (NYSE:WNC) is Changing How the World Reaches You. Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, the companys mission is to enable customers to succeed with breakthrough ideas and solutions that help them move everything from first to final mile. Wabash National designs and manufactures a diverse range of products, including: dry freight and refrigerated trailers, platform trailers, liquid tank trailers, dry and refrigerated truck bodies, structural composite panels and products, trailer aerodynamic solutions, and specialty food grade and pharmaceutical equipment. Its innovative products are sold under the following brand names: Wabash National, Benson, Brenner Tank, Bulk Tank International, DuraPlate, Extract Technology, Supreme, Transcraft, Walker Engineered Products, and Walker Transport. Learn more at www.wabashnational.com. Writer: Chris Adam, cladam@prf.org Sources: Dana Stelsel, Dana.Stelsel@wabashnational.com Greg Deason, gwdeason@prf.org Advertisement Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper breaks down in tears after waking from his coma in the latest teaser for her fly-on-the-wall documentary Finding Derek. The Good Morning Britain presenter, 53, filmed every step of Derek's year long battle with COVID-19 following his hospitalisation with the respiratory illness in March 2020. In the latest clip from her ITV1 show, he is overcome with emotion after Kate video-calls him following his return to consciousness in July, four months after his admission to intensive care. 'He's back,' Kate says. 'We've been waiting a long time to speak to you. I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of you.' The former lobbyist and political advisor, 53, is also given the opportunity to speak to children Darcey, 15, and Billy, 11, via FaceTime, with his youngest showing off a Millennium Falcon constructed from Lego bricks especially for his return. In further scenes filmed in October, the heartbroken presenter can only watch powerlessly as Derek mouths the word 'pain' - his first verbal communication since being stricken with coronavirus. A helpless Derek is later seen sitting in his hospital bed as he talks to his wife, telling her: 'Kate, there's no way out. There's no way out.' Another moving clip from the new documentary - which airs tonight - sees Kate recalling the moment she was told to 'get out' of her relationship with Derek, as his condition worsened. Heartbreaking: Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper husband breaks down after waking from his coma in a new teaser for her fly-on-the-wall documentary Finding Derek. His return to consciousness came four months after his hospitalisation The documentary, filmed at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, will focus on Derek's plight after falling gravely ill with the virus and Kate's desperate battle to care for her husband while planning for an uncertain future. However it's understood that the presenter has no plans to step down from her role at Good Morning Britain as Derek continues his slow recovery. A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Kate will not be giving up her role on GMB, in fact, her job has been something of a lifeline and really kept her spirits up over this past year and she has no plans to change that.' Discussing the new documentary on Good Morning Britain ahead of its airing on Tuesday evening, Kate admitted it was important for her to remain upbeat for the sake of her husband. She said: 'The footage you see was recorded by me personally. After six months we got an iPad into the hospital with the idea of bringing him out so I could talk to him while he was in the coma and have some sort of voice recognition. 'It was so emotional for me. It was all I could do not to fall apart, and give him a positive energy, not a sad energy.' She added: 'The moments you see are the moments where he is getting more conscious and can react, and also Derek has devoted his life to mental health since leaving politics because he's a psychotherapist, so I feel that he would want his journey to be told. He would like to be here telling it with me. ' Contact: An emotional Kate is filmed as she video-calls her husband from home following his return to consciousness Support: 'He's back,' Kate says. 'We've been waiting a long time to speak to you. I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of you' Reflecting on her decision to film the documentary, Kate admitted she wanted to use her platform as a presenter to help those who have been most affected by the virus, which has so far killed 126, 172 people across the United Kingdom. She said: 'First of all I do have a job that puts me on the TV and radio and there were many months where I was locked in that bubble that we all have been in because of COVID restrictions and that was a very private time. 'When I got back to work I was moved by people's reactions. I was contacted by people who said youre talking about what Im going through and it's so great to hear, not just with COVID but with other long term situations that they are facing with potentially a life loss at the end of it. So this story, I thought I have a chance to tell it where they don't.' The presenter also reiterated that she will not walk away from her day job in order to provide round the clock care for Derek when he is released from hospital. She said: 'I'm not going anywhere! In fact the reality is, is that ITV and Global and Smooth radio, everybody has been so supportive and to be honest being here has kept me sane. 'Not just because you're all amazing supporters but people at home are so supportive and it's a slice of normal, it's a slice of life before. 'The truth is as much as I like to think I have all the answers sometimes, Derek doesn't need me, I'm not the person to care for him. DEREK DRAPER'S CORONAVIRUS BATTLE March 30, 2020: Derek is admitted to a London hospital after testing positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19, little more than a week after Britain enters its first national lockdown April 3, 2020: Derek is admitted to intensive care four days after his hospitalisation. As his condition steadily worsens, he falls into a coma. May 28, 2020: Kate reveals that Derek remains in a coma and is continuing to be cared for by NHS professionals. June 5, 2020: The presenter tells Good Morning Britain viewers that Derek is "Covid free", although the family are unsure if he will ever recover from the ravages of the illness. July 5, 2020: Kate reveals that Derek has finally woken from his coma and has opened his eyes - her first communication with her husband since March July 13, 2020: Kate resumes her presenting role on Good Morning Britain after taking time off amid Derek's ongoing illness. July 14, 2020: Kate tells viewers she is preparing to visit Derek in hospital for the first time. July 21, 2020: Derek hears Kate's voice after nurses play Good Morning Britain in his hospital room. During her appearance on the show Kate confirms she is preparing to visit him for a second time. August 19, 2020: After being absent for three days Kate tells viewers she has tried not to break down after being kept apart from Derek on his 53rd birthday. September 10, 2020: Kate and Derek remain apart during their milestone 15th Wedding Anniversary , with the presenter unable to visit her husband. September 11, 2020: Kate reveals Derek is still unable to speak but admits plans to visit him in hospital for a belated anniversary celebration. September 29, 2020: Derek's six-month long battle against COVID-19 becomes one of the longest known cases in the United Kingdom. October 30, 2020: Derek is finally able to communicate verbally after 214 days in hospital. His first word - "pain." January 7, 2021: Kate reveals her two children saw Derek for the first time since he fell ill during the Christmas period Advertisement Speaking out: Reflecting on her decision to film the documentary, Kate admitted she wanted to use her platform as a presenter to help those who have been most affected by the virus, which has so far killed 126, 172 people across the United Kingdom Agony: Kate revealed that Derek had woken from his coma in July, almost four months after being admitted to hospital Let's talk: Kate discussed the new documentary on Thursday's edition of Good Morning Britain, where she appeared as a guest alongside Dr. Hilary Jones 'I will obviously be there completely, 100% if that would make a difference but actually what Derek needs is specialist, professional, medical support ongoing because there is a good chance he can improve but we need to make sure that support is there now for that to happen. 'Whether that be remaining in hospital or whether that be something else - I would like to be home - but it is not just a case of you know I would want to sit there and hold his hand but people in this situation need expertise and I'm not an expert.' Despite radical changes to his physical appearance, Kate admitted those who know Lancashire born Derek will be able to see that his personality is still very much present. She said: 'There are moments where I think people who know Derek will know he's there, and for a while that was part of the horror... is he still there? 'Theres even some Chorley in there. Even COVID cant take Chorley out of the man!' Kate also praised the couple's children for their ability to cope with the unexpected and abrupt change to their home-life over the last 12 months. 'They are fundamentally extraordinary,' she said. 'They have coped tremendously well. They cope with it in their different ways. They've both seen the documentary. I was comforted by the fact that they've seen a lot of things that may be a shock to others as they've spoken to him on FaceTime. 'They watched it back, and Billy said ''I can't believe they got me on the trampoline before I mastered a backflip!'' When he said that, I realised we were OK. It's a compliment to Derek as he's instilled so much confidence in them.' She added: 'This time yesterday last year, terrible things happened. It's affected everyone in different ways. We've all been through something, so hopefully we can stick together. Please realise we are still smiling. Love to all of you, and love to Derek.' Adjustment: The new documentary, filmed at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, will focus on Derek's plight after falling gravely ill with the virus and Kate's desperate battle to care for her husband while planning for an uncertain future Staying on: The presenter also confirmed she has no plans to step down from her day job in order to provide round the clock care for Derek when he is released from hospital Old times: Kate and Derek exchanged vows in Camden in 2005. The presenter was previously married to ITV Meridian boss Ian Rumsey from 1998 to 2002 She's off: Kate smiled at onlookers as she arrived at Global radio studios following her appearance on Good Morning Britain Viewers will see the devastating moment Derek tells Kate he wants his life to end after insisting there is 'no way out' as he confronts the damage caused by his year long battle against the devastating illness. 'There's not way out in terms of what?' she asks him, to which he replies: 'I've got to the point where I just think f*** it. Just f*** it.' When asked if he wants to die, Derek responds: 'Yes.' Recalling the exchange on Thursday morning's Good Morning Britain, Kate said: 'There is a moment in the documentary thats tough for people to watch and thats the moment where he feels he cant go on. That particular moment was when I was on air the next morning. 'It started late at night and I didn't want to come off FaceTime. I wanted to stay with him and say I'm still here, so we kept going through the night and in the car the following morning I said can you keep Good Morning Britain on in there so he can see that's where I am and he doesn't feel abandoned.' Harrowing: Kate previously recalled the 'devastating' moment her husband Derek Draper told her he feared he couldn't go on while he was in hospital with coronavirus Tough: The TV presenter spoke to her husband on the phone from hospital where he has spent months in intensive care as he battles the virus Elsewhere in the documentary Kate admits she was stunned after a well meaning friend suggested she could back out of her marriage to Derek because his current predicament 'wasn't what she signed up for.' Addressing the camera, she reveals: 'Somebody said to me the other day, "You are allowed to say this isn't what I signed up for and get out." And I was like, "Oh my god." 'I mean, I know they meant it weirdly kindly, as if almost giving me license. But I said, "I can't think that! He's in there!"' Kate is also seen as she prepares to convert their London home into a wheelchair friendly environment for her stricken husband. She tells son Billy: 'Well you know that we're hoping aren't we that dad will get better and better, but when he comes home, he will probably need to be in a wheelchair. So we're trying to make it so that he can do all this. 'And if I have to give up work to care for him, then it's best to do it now, while I'm earning money. If he needs 24 hour care. I will be the primary carer. I have a fear of the reality of that life. 'It's a completely different dynamic to our relationship.' Low point: In a clip from her new documentary, Kate said it was 'terrible' to think her husband had reached such a low point Kate previously recalled the 'devastating' moment her husband told her he feared he couldn't go on while he was in hospital with coronavirus. The presenter spoke to her husband on the phone from hospital where he has spent months in intensive care as he battles the virus. In an earlier clip from her new documentary, Kate said it was 'terrible' to think ' her husband had reached such a low point. She said: 'Derek had been drifting in and out of consciousness and when he said that, it was absolutely devastating, but it showed me he was still in there. Even though it was terrible to think his spirits were so low'. In the clip, first obtained by the Daily Mirror, Kate then told her husband that he will get better and that he will come back to his old life with her and their children. Viewers then see Kate vowing to save Derek as she helped to bring him back from his lowest point back in November. The presenter told The Mirror: 'After that call, it was then time to go into GMB and go on air, having been up all night, it was a tough night actually. 'But everyone at ITV has been so incredibly supportive. I managed to get through. During this whole time, working on GMB and Smooth Radio has helped me to keep going and keep my spirits up.' Doting mother: In the clip, Kate then told her husband that he will get better and that he will come back to his old life with her and their children While Covid is no longer in Derek's system, the virus left him battling kidney failure, liver failure, heart failure and damage to his pancreas. Kate added: 'And in the end, I said to him, "Just stay with me, Im going to keep talking to you". And he was obviously exhausted. Because thats the other thing, is that the tiniest thing completely exhausts him.' The broadcaster said that even Derek voicing his feelings like that would have taken a huge amount out of him as he has such little energy. Kate spoke to her husband on the drive into work that day and then told the doctor's to put on Good Morning Britain so he could see her. Heartbreaking: Viewers then see Kate vowing to save Derek as she helped to bring him back from his lowest point back in November (pictured together prior to Derek's coronavirus battle) The presenter first invited a film crew into her home last September with the hope that the film would end with Derek returning home. But seven months later, the documentary will instead focus on Derek's year in hospital as well as the many months of recovery that are left. Derek has lost eight stone amid his health battle with Kate revealing the children have not seen him in person at all this year. She added the kids did visit Derek over Christmas and described it as a 'shock' to see the physical change in him. Kate has made the ground floor of her home wheelchair accessible and is looking ahead to visiting Derek in hospital as soon as lockdown is eased. Tragic: Derek was admitted to hospital in March after contracting the respiratory illness and was subsequently placed in a medically induced coma before he awoke in July (pictured in hospital) Kate, who acknowledges there is still a long way to go in Derek's road to recovery, thinks the couple's relationship may be changed forever. The presenter said he will behave differently and be physically different but she thinks his return may be a 'beautiful thing' as they will have the chance to fall in love all over again. During an appearance on The One Show on Thursday, Kate said Derek is 'trapped in the middle ground' as he is sometimes able to communicate with her before slipping out of consciousness. Kate said: 'One of things I'm here to talk about is the documentary and what you will see is that this time last year, I was, like a lot of us, wondering what was coming our way. 'I was fearing the worst, on air reading headlines about the earliest cases of people contracting coronavirus and then I suddenly found myself right in the middle of it. Finding Derek: Viewers will see Kate speaking to Derek as he tells her he feels like there is 'no way out' and he has got to the point where he no longer knows how to cope 'And I'd say there was weeks and months of living minute by minute, wondering if I was going to get the call to say whether he lived or died.' Kate went on to explain that while Derek has survived COVID, he is 'trapped in the middle ground'. Derek was admitted to hospital in March after contracting the respiratory illness and was subsequently placed in a medically induced coma before he awoke in July. She said: 'Derek is an extreme case, he has a prolonged disorder of consciousness which means that there is some reaction. 'It's not like what we see in movies where people are lying in a vegetative state, you know you can look at his eyes and before Christmas there was a lot of progress with some words and communication.' Sad: Kate who shares Darcey, 15, and William, 11, (pictured in 2019) with her husband of 15 years admitted it is 'shocking' to see his current state, including his eight stone weight loss Derek is considered to be the longest surviving COVID-19 patient in the country. On more than one occasion his heart stopped beating, he battled bacterial pneumonia and fought multiple infections which punctured holes in his lungs. Kate said: 'What I feel like is that I'm on a life boat somehow and he's coming up and down. You're on this precipice trying to hold onto him. 'There'll be moments where he bubbles up and you have contact with him on FaceTime because of the Covid restrictions. 'It feels like you're going to have to fill him with so much positivity because he's going to sink down.' The GMB host said there will be 'heartbreaking moments' in the documentary, as when he does regain consciousness, viewers will see 'what must be agony for him'. Kate continued: 'His brain has always been his best friend. Suddenly his brain is no longer his best friend and he's fighting to get out. 'It's very, very tough. But if it's tough for me, it must be tougher for him.' Kate Garraway: Finding Derek airs on ITV on Tuesday at 9pm. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. It was a hard decision, initially, to say were going to pull the provider on the West Side that is an anchor provider for that community, that we knew had done a lot of vaccinating, but once it was clear that they were vaccinating people who were not eligible, we have no choice but to cut that vaccine, said Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicago Department of Public Health commissioner, during a news conference Tuesday. New Delhi, March 23 : Alarm bells are ringing as 52 per cent citizens say the risk of Covid-19 variant strains leading to a strong second wave in India is now high, as per a survey by LocalCircles. Sixty per cent believe that the new coronavirus variants have a role to play in the latest surge. Many citizens are again planning to observe social distancing and mask protocols, maintain healthier lifestyles, and save more to prepare for a strong second wave. Covid-19 has put pressure on the mental health of several Indians with 30 per cent experiencing its negative impact and cannot afford a strong and prolonged second wave. Overall, the findings of this study clearly indicated that with Covid case-loads rising in India and the massive surge experienced in Maharashtra, 52 per cent of citizens in the survey now feel that the risk of a strong second wave driven by coronavirus variants is high. The silver lining here is that with so many people realising the risk, people are once again willing to take social distancing precautions, wear masks and have healthier lifestyles. From the learnings of handling Covid in 2020 and a massive vaccination drive that has inoculated over 4 crore citizens with approximately 30 lakh getting it each day, India is poised to handle the second wave much better, LocalCircles said. The daily Covid caseload in India had crossed the 45,000-mark after several months, which is a 4-fold rise in the last 45 days and a 3 fold rise in the last 30 days. Maharashtra, the top contributing state now has over 30,000 daily cases which is over 60 per cent of India's caseload. Both the SARS-COV2 variants -- the UK variant and South African variant -- have been found in India but due to limited genome testing, less than 500 cases of these variants have been identified so far. The test positivity rate with this so-called second wave of Covid in India is extremely high. Districts like Amravati in Maharashtra, where the South African strain was identified earlier this month, still has a test positivity rate of 12 per cent. For this reason, there are ongoing conversations to reinforce lockdowns, night curfews, along with the issue of Covid bed non-availability. LocalCircles has conducted a national survey to understand the perception of people about the risk associated with the strong second wave of Covid in India driven by SARS-COV2 variant. Sixty per cent citizens believe that the new variants have a role to play in the 3-fold rise in COVID cases in the last 30 days. Fifty-two per cent citizens believe that the risk of new coronavirus variants leading to a strong second wave is high. This finding is significant even though this wave has only been observed in Maharashtra. With 52 per cent of citizens in the survey from across the country expressing the variant-driven second wave as a high risk indicates that Indians have started getting worried. Scientists studying variants of coronavirus mutation suggest that we need to continue doing what we were doing-wearing a mask, maintaining physical distance, and practicing hand hygiene-to prevent ourselves from getting infected. They also suggest that human behaviour is important to drastically reduce the chances of getting infected. To understand citizens' preparedness, the survey findings indicated that the majority of citizens plan to observe social distancing and follow mask protocols. Also, 69 per cent said they plan to eat healthily and exercise regularly to be better prepared for COVID variants, and thus minimise the impact. To prepare against the new B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant, most people plan to save more and keep liquid funds available for medical expenses. The pandemic induced by the Covid-19 had caused a giant-fall in the Indian economy in 2020 and also impacted the personal financial situation of many households as people lost their jobs, faced salary cuts and delays within days of the lockdown. Many migrant labourers, out of work went back to their native places with literally no earnings for six to nine months. It was only in September 2020, that the economic situation started to recover and many who had no savings learned about the importance of it the hard way. Similarly, many who were impacted by Covid and needed hospitalisation without insurance coverage realised its importance. With case-loads rising once again, the survey sought citizens' preparedness on their financial front to avert any untoward situation if the new strains of coronavirus spread rapidly. The result of the poll indicated that most citizens plan to save more and keep liquid funds available for medical expenses. The rising case-loads are likely to have bearing on the spending as the focus of consumers like in 2020 will move from discretionary purchases of products and services to essentials. The survey found that 12 months into the Covid-19 pandemic, 15 per cent citizens feel anxious or worried, while 11 per cent are feeling depressed or gloomy. The last 12 months have been a difficult period for many families who lost their dear ones due to Covid, or one of the members got hospitalised with others in the family trying to arrange tests, beds, and taking care of them. There were also cases where loved ones could not be with each other at a critical time of need. All of this left many with wounds that will take a long time to heal. Then there were those who lost their livelihoods, jobs or had their earnings cut as businesses remained closed or operated with restrictions. In addition to these, there were also senior citizens who had to limit their movements and social networking, making them feel lonelier than ever. Even women had to multitask like never before running their household, taking care of children with school shut most of the year, while many were also working full-time from home. For many students who are used to being around with friends in schools and colleges, staying at home behind screens has caused levels of psychological damage. (Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. New Delhi: Asaram Bapu, Radhe Maa, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and Nirmal Baba have been named in the 14 fake babas of India list prepared by Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad. The Parishad, on Sunday in its committee, issued a list of "fake babas", and has urged the government to amend new laws against the "fake gurus", a news report said. President of the Parishad Narendra Giri said that a total of 14 offers were presented where all the sadhus came together to talk about this issue. "The committee was held for the topic of Arth Kumbh Mela. There are many fake baba in the society and we are upset because most of these so called babas are being defamed. They are not baba and after thinking on this, we have listed a few who should not be called one," he said addressing the media. Read | Dera Sacha Sauda sanitisation: Haryana govt completes 99 percent search operation Following are the names in the "fake baba list": Asaram Bapu Sukhvinder Kaur aka Radhe Maa Sachdarangi Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Om Baba aka Vivekanand Nirmal Baba Ichachadhari Vishwanand Swami Asmianand Om Namah Shivaay Narayan Sai Rampal Read | Gurmeet Singh effect: A mechanism to award 'sant' title on cards "I request the government to investigate on these hypocrite babas and put them in jail and we beware everyone to be safe from these babas. Their assets must also be probed" Giri said. This has come after Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim was convicted in two rapes cases of 2002, in which he has been sentenced a cumulative jail term of 20 years. Earlier, Asaram Bapu was arrested by the Jodhpur Police in an alleged rape case, on August 3, 2013 and since then, he has been in prison. Asaram's son Narayan Sai, who is on the list as well, was arrested for allegedly raping a Surat-based woman disciple of his father between 2002 and 2005 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Both protesters and members of the public in Prague on Monday marked the one year anniversary of the Czech Republic's first death from COVID-19. Protesters angry with the Czech government's response to COVID-19 defaced the cobblestones of the world famous Old Town Square in the centre of the city by spray painting them with hundreds of white crosses. The crosses were made with a water based spray paint which is designed to wash away. The organization behind the display, an anti-current government group called Million Moments for Democracy said they sprayed the crosses to protest what they see as an inadequate response by their government to the pandemic. Others gathered in the Old Town Square, and around the country, to observe a moment of silence at noon. Church bells rang out on the square as dozens stood motionless in recognition of more than 24,000 deaths from COVID-19 so far. The first death caused by the disease in the country was a 95-year-old man who died in hospital on March 22, 2020 after receiving treatment for COVID and other health problems. On Monday, the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic reported a total of 24,810 deaths from COVID-19, and 8,007 people hospitalized with the disease. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Nokia and ClearWorld enter reseller agreement to supply cities with turnkey smart street lighting solutions ClearWorlds intelligent solar LED smart poles equipped with Nokia technology provide a full suite of IoT applications that make cities smarter and safer 23 March 2021 Dallas, Texas Nokia today announced it has signed a reseller agreement with ClearWorld, an alternative energy systems provider, to sell ClearWorlds smart poles initially to U.S. cities and military bases as part of Nokias smart city solutions portfolio. Deployed in locations such as parks, parking lots and roadways, the ClearWorld connected digital pole supports applications such as video analytics, Wi-Fi access points, gun shot detection, smart lighting and license plate reading. Nokias smart city solutions, based on Nokia Bell Labs Future X architecture, include intelligent, integrated city platforms that utilize 5G, industrial IoT and machine learning technologies to provide foundations for urban innovation. The partnership with ClearWorld for smart poles enables Nokia to be a comprehensive solution provider of smart urban infrastructure solutions for cities. ClearWorlds smart poles provide a sustainable, resililant, and redundant power source to keep networks live through power outages and natural disasters. By leveraging a solar wrapped pole, ClearWorld is able to reduce utility operating and maintenance costs. These systems are designed to be utilized as a backup power source for networks and critical infrastructure. They also feature built-in IoT capabilities for a clean, aesthetic look that fits with city design. Nokia technologies such as 5G and 4G radios and G-PON can be deployed on the poles to provide citywide connectivity options, but also in association with the poles to power innovative IoT-based city services, using Nokias IoT device management and analytics solutions. Larry Tittle, Founder/CEO of ClearWorld, said: Im excited about the tremendous value that we will be able to deliver to cities through our partnership with Nokia. This collaboration will enable us to provide communities with meaningful benefits such as real-time monitoring and crime detection, smart city lighting, and internet access for school children who are learning from home. Mike Allison, Head of Government and Cities at Nokia, said: Many cities in the midst of smart city transformation realize that they need, a new, more cohesive approach to deploying the right mix of technologies that will enable them to achieve the full benefit of their initiatives. Partnering with ClearWorld strengthens Nokias strong track record of supporting smart city initiatives worldwide. Resources: Webpage: Smart City About Nokia We create technology that helps the world act together. As a trusted partner for critical networks, we are committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. We create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities needed for a more productive, sustainable and inclusive world. About ClearWorld ClearWorld, LLC is an alternative energy systems provider, whose primary function is to design and retrofit energy-efficient systems that reduce utility operating and maintenance costs in pursuit of grid independence. ClearWorld offers efficient, reliable systems and services that reduce the costs associated with the traditional utility light pole, from monthly energy bills to maintenance fees. The company is committed to providing the highest quality products to a rapidly growing marketplace. Learn more at https://clearworld.us/. Media Inquiries:Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com Source: Nokia Oyj Advertisement Miami Beach was calm on Monday evening after raucous weekend where officials called a state of emergency and enforced a curfew to curb the wild partying and resulting riots. Officers along Ocean Drive moved in on a crowd of partygoers after the 8pm curfew fell, as many took off running. One person was detained, but the area was much calmer than the night before, Local 10 reported. Dan Gelber, the mayor of Miami Beach, stressed in a video statement on Monday that many of the vacationers are not 'college kids on their vacation,' but rather visitors who are traveling with criminal intentions. In recent weeks, South Beach saw brawls, crowd stampedes and police confrontations involving the use of pepper balls. Miami Beach was crowded on Monday evening but calm as an 8pm curfew came into force People dance and twerk on Miami Beach on Monday evening as the Spring Break celebrations continued Revelers flocked to the beach city in Florida for the annual gathering, which has gone ahead despite the pandemic Miami Beach police have made more than 1,000 arrests since February and at least five officers have been hurt, the department said. At least 102 firearms have been seized from Miami Beach streets, and there have been more than 11,000 traffic citations. Gelber said the curfew measures and heavy police presence, with five forces drafted in, were necessary to maintain law and order and limit the spread of COVID-19. 'Over the last weeks and longer, our city has been one of the only true destination cities open for business anywhere,' Gelber said. 'While most of our guests come here for all the reasons we hope they do and follow rules, there are clearly too many coming here with other ideas. And some are bringing guns.' Crowds of mostly mask-less tourists are seen along Ocean Drive in Miami Beach Miami Beach has long been a hot destination for Spring Break sunseekers hoping for good times in the sun Skateboarders are seen cruising down Ocean Drive during Spring Break in Miami Beach on Monday He said that many visitors were blase about masks and social distancing, at a time when Miami-Dade County is still seeing about 1,000 new COVID-19 infections a day and hospitalization rates have still not seen enough of a dip. On Saturday the Miami Beach City Commission unanimously decided during an emergency meeting to introduce an 8pm curfew. The curfew and road closures were extended on Sunday until the end of Spring Break, on April 12. As night fell, partygoers remained on the streets on Monday but there was no repeat of the violent scenes One person was seen being taken away by police on Monday, who have arrested more than 1,000 since February There was a heavy police presence in Miami Beach on Monday night, as the 8pm curfew came into force Interim City Manager Raul Aguila said the measures will seek to 'contain the overwhelming crowd of visitors and the potential for violence, disruption and damage to property.' He added: 'These aren't your typical spring breakers.' Two men from North Carolina appeared in court on Monday charged with drugging and raping a 24-year-old Pennsylvania woman, who was later found dead in a hotel. Evoire Collier, 21, and Dorian Taylor, 24, both from Greensboro, North Carolina, allegedly gave 24-year-old Christine Englehardt a 'green pill' and then took her back to her hotel in South Beach. The two men are accused of raping Englehardt, who was visiting from Pennsylvania, before stealing her phone, cash and credit cards which they then used as they carried on partying in the spring break hotspot. Englehardt's semi-naked dead body was found on the bed in her hotel room Thursday. Investigators are now working to determine if her death was caused by the pill given to her by the two suspects. Evoire Collier, 21, (left) and Dorian Taylor, 24, (right) were arrested for allegedly drugging and raping a woman who later died in her hotel room while on spring break in Miami According to a police report, Collier told officers the two men met Englehardt at a local restaurant before giving her the drug as they walked along Ocean Drive. The group then headed back to the Albion Hotel at 1650 James Avenue, reported the Miami Herald. Surveillance footage taken from the hotel lobby shows the two men entering the hotel with Englehardt at around 1 am Thursday. As they walked into the elevator in the building, the woman was staggering and Taylor was holding her from behind 'by the neck so she could stand', Miami Beach Detective Luis Alsina said in a court hearing Monday. Collier said he and Taylor each had sex with Englehardt and that Taylor raped her as she seemed to be unconscious, authorities said. Police said Englehardt was not able to have consented to sex with either of the two men while under the influence of alcohol and narcotics. A cause of death is yet to be determined with the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office carrying out further tests to learn if she died from an overdose from the pill given to her by the suspects, the Herald reported. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. TOKYO (Reuters) - Myanmar activists in Japan called for the Japanese government and international community to take stronger steps "to stop the killing" in their homeland, urging the imposition of an arms embargo to put pressure on the military junta. Though Western nations have imposed more sanctions on groups and individuals linked to last month's coup, activists said more pressure was needed, particularly from Japan. Kyaw Kyaw Soe, a board director of the Union of Myanmar Citizens Association in Japan, urged Tokyo to use its clout to speak directly with the generals, whose brutal crackdown on protests has left at least 261 dead. "I think the Japanese government has some kind of power, diplomatic and economic and also political. I think the Japanese government should directly talk to the military leaders," he told a news conference in Tokyo. "The international community must step up ... to stop the killing in Myanmar - not only issuing statements or making comments." A Japanese official said last week that Japan was monitoring developments in Myanmar since the coup and would consider how to respond. Japan is a major aid donor to Myanmar, and there have long been close economic and business ties. Zaw Min Htut, head of the Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan, said nobody should recognise the military government in any form, describing measures taken against the coup-makers as "very small sanctions." "I think it is not enough. You need to do more, (in) a stronger way. At least the United Nations Security Council should put an arms embargo on Myanmar," he said. "It is the same military who committed genocide on my people, the Rohingya, in 2017," he added. "After four years, they are committing the same things on the streets of Yangon, Mandalay, Meiktila. Everywhere in the country." (Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) JERUSALEM Jonathan Pollard, an American who served a 30-year sentence for spying for Israel, defends his actions in his first interview since arriving in Israel late last year. He says America had stabbed Israel in the back by withholding intelligence from its ally. In excerpts from the interview with the Israel Hayom daily published Monday, Pollard describes his happiness at being a free man in Israel while expressing regret that he was not able to father children because of his incarceration. Pollard, now 66, sold military secrets to Israel while working as a civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy in the 1980s. He was arrested in 1985 after trying unsuccessfully to gain asylum at the Israeli Embassy in Washington and pleaded guilty. The espionage affair embarrassed Israel and tarnished its relations with the United States for years. Pollard was given a life sentence. U.S. defense and intelligence officials said his spying caused great damage and strenuously argued against his release. But after serving 30 years in federal prison, he was released in 2015 and placed on a five-year parole period. Pollard arrived in Israel to a hero's welcome in December. He told Israel Hayom that at the time of his spying the U.S. government was keeping intelligence from Israel and lying to it, claiming he witnessed it himself at meetings. I know I crossed a line, but I had no choice, he told the newspaper, adding that the threats to Israel were serious. Pollard said he helped his Israeli handler escape by alerting his wife, Anne, to his arrest in a phone call he was granted by the FBI. He used the phrase water the cactus, which the couple had agreed on as the code words for saying he had been caught and she should leave town. She was later arrested, but his handler, Aviam Sella, left the country. The Pollards later divorced. He described his new life in Israel as wonderful, saying people often strike up conversations with him and his second wife, Esther, when they walk around their neighborhood. He said he feels that they know that "someone was willing to sacrifice his life for them. All the same, he dismissed the repeated requests for selfies as nonsense. When I went to prison, there were no smartphones and no selfies," he told the newspaper. Esther and I are both very private people, and privacy is important to us. Israel Hayom was founded by the late casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who also provided a private plane to bring Pollard and his wife to Israel in December. The newspaper said it would publish its full interview with Pollard on Friday. This article was written by The Associated Press from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. Sky Lakes Medical Center is opening up eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to more groups after receiving the go-ahead from state officials, the medical provider said on Tuesday. Klamath County adults with underlying health conditions between the ages of 45 to 64 can make appointments for two vaccination clinics being offered this week at Sky Lakes. People 65 and older were already eligible for vaccination. The Sky Lakes clinics will be Wednesday, March 24, and Friday, March 26, on the fourth floor of the original medical center. These first-dose vaccinations are by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling 1-833-606-4370 no walk-in slots or on-site appointments are available. The call center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Sky Lakes said that Klamath County received permission from the Oregon Health Authority on Monday night to vaccinate Group 6 of Phase 1B, though the initial list of approved counties furnished by OHA did not include Klamath. Underlying health conditions that put people in Group 6 of Phase 1B at increased risk include cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, Down syndrome, heart conditions, obesity (BMI of 30 or greater), pregnancy, Type 2 diabetes, and sickle cell disease. Also, people who are immunocompromised from organ transplant or HIV are considered at increased risk. Others in this phase include farm and agricultural workers, and people living in low-income senior housing. Meghan McCain was under fire after past comments on The View came back to haunt her. Back in March 2020, the coronavirus cases were growing exponentially in the United States. In an effort to deflect blame, Donald Trump started calling COVID-19 the China virus. When the topic came up on the ABC talk show, McCain defended Trump passionately. Now, the Republican star is apologizing for aiding Trumps racist rhetoric. Meghan McCain | Rommel Demano/FilmMagic How did Meghan McCain help Donald Trump push racist rhetoric? The United States was horrified to find out there was a mass shooting at different spa locations in Atlanta, Georgia. A man open fired in different establishments owned by people of Asian descent resulting in eight deaths. There are reports that violence against Asian Americans is on the rise across the country. Many are pointing to rhetoric started by former and twice impeached President Donald Trump. As cases of COVID-19 multiplied exponentially in the U.S., Trump shifted the blame back to China. In an effort to label the origin of the virus he started calling it the China virus and other insensitive names. This caught on among his supporters and when the issue was discussed on The View, McCain defended Trump. I think if the left wants to focus on PC labeling this virus, it is a great way to get Trump reelected, McCain said back on March 18, 2020. I dont have a problem with people calling it whatever they want. It is a deadly virus that did originate in Wuhan. The coincidence was that McCains comments and the mass shootings in Atlanta happened almost a year apart. On the show from 2020, McCain also said that when Trump called Mexican migrants rapists and murderers, it was effective for him. RELATED: The View: Meghan McCain Tells Chelsea Clinton To Lighten up After Tweeting Shady Photo of Hillary Clinton Meghan McCain apologizes At the time, McCain was sure that Trump was not in the wrong about labeling COVID-19 the China virus. The conservative co-host didnt seem to find a connection between Trumps rhetoric and the violent acts against minorities. In the same moment, Whoopi Goldberg brings up the idea that these words can cause people to attack Asian Americans, McCain sighed, seemingly annoyed by the connection. However, after severe backlash on social media and getting blasted by John Oliver on Last Week Tonight, McCain issued an apology. I condemn the reprehensible violence and vitriol that has been targeted towards the Asian-American community, McCain tweeted. There is no doubt Donald Trumps racist rhetoric fueled many of these attacks and I apologize for any past comments that aided that agenda. I condemn the reprehensible violence and vitriol that has been targeted towards the Asian-American community. There is no doubt Donald Trumps racist rhetoric fueled many of these attacks and I apologize for any past comments that aided that agenda. Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 22, 2021 RELATED: The View: Whoopi Goldberg Cuts Meghan McCain off After Tantrum Over It Today McCain had been called out by fans when she posted a graphic that said Stop Asian Hate. This led to people searching for the video from a year ago where she defended Trumps rhetoric. Although she had been receiving backlash all week, McCains apology only came after Oliver made her a topic on his HBO show. Coincidentally, McCain also called out of The View on the episode that aired on Monday, March 22. Theres no word about McCain repeating her apology during one of the live shows. The View airs weekday mornings at 11 a.m. ET and 10 a.m. CT/PT on ABC. 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. SUZHOU, China, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alphamab Oncology (stock code: 9966.HK), reported financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2020 and highlighted recent progress and upcoming milestones. Dr. Ting Xu, Chairman and CEO of Alphamab Oncology, commented, "2020 is amilestone year for Alphamab Oncology. The company has been making significant progress with respect to our drug pipeline and business operations. The BLA for Envafolimab (KN035), potentially the world's first subcutaneous PD-L1 inhibitor, has been accepted in last Dec. and was granted priority review; 4 pivotal clinical studies were initiated, 3 products under development were granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. FDA, and 9 INDs were approved; the bispecific antibody KN046 and KN026 have shown promising data in clinical studies conducted around the world; the company has reached strategic collaborations with 10 domestic and foreign partners including Pfizer, Sanofi, and Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences; the phase I production lines of our new manufacturing facilities, designed to house over 30,000L capacity in total, obtained drug production license. In 2021, the company expects to launch its first product, which means the successful transition to commercial stage. At present, the company's fully owned and highly differentiated pipeline products have expanded from 9 to 16. The company has expanded its management team with several senior executives, including Dr. Johannes Nippgen, former head of R&D Biopharma in China for EMD. This year, our first product, KN035, is going to be on the market and interim results expected from first phase III for KN046, multiple trial results will be presented at the upcoming international conferences , and a number of new pivotal/registration clinical studies will be launched...The company is fully prepared to meet new opportunities and challenges, we will continue to create value for our patients, our shareholders and society, and strive to fulfill the company's mission and build a healthy and bright future." Recent Business Highlights Product Pipeline Our highly differentiated pipeline, developed in house, consists of sixteen drug candidates. We have one biologic license application submitted, three in late clinical stage, and two to three in schedule for IND submission in 2021. KN035 (Envafolimab) Potentially the first subcutaneous PD-L1 inhibitor worldwide, offering advantages in safety, convenience, compliance, access to patients not suitable for intravenous infusion, andmore efficient utilization of healthcare resources. The first BLA for KN035, accepted by NMPA in December 2020, and is expected to be approved this year. Events during the Reporting Period The company presented clinical trial results of KN035 in patients with advanced tumors with mismatch-repair deficiency and a combination therapy with KN035 plus chemotherapy for advanced GC/GEJ at the 2020 ASCO Annual Meeting. On July 16, 2020 , we supported TRACON, our U.S. partner, to submit an IND application for a pivotal trial for KN035 in the soft tissue sarcoma subtypes (ENVASARC) of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma and myxofibrosarcoma. On August 14, 2020 , TRACON received an approval notification from FDA that the study may proceed in the United States . , we supported TRACON, our U.S. partner, to submit an IND application for a pivotal trial for KN035 in the soft tissue sarcoma subtypes (ENVASARC) of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma and myxofibrosarcoma. On , TRACON received an approval notification from FDA that the study may proceed in . In December 2020 , the first patient was successfully dosed in the ENVASARC registration trial conducted in the United States . , the first patient was successfully dosed in the ENVASARC registration trial conducted in . On December 17, 2020 , the BLA for KN035 was accepted by the NMPA. The BLA of KN035 is accepted for the treatment of MSI-H advanced colorectal cancer, GC/dMMR advanced solid tumors. Events after the Reporting Period In January 2021 , KN035 was granted priority review by CDE of the NMPA. KN046 a BsAb immune checkpoint inhibitor simultaneously targeting two clinically validated immune checkpoints, PD-L1 and CTLA-4, representing a potential breakthrough, next-generation immuno-oncology blockbuster drug. Currently, there are about 20 clinical trials of KN046 in different stages covering more than 10 types of tumors including NSCLC, TNBC, ESCC, HCC and pancreatic cancer in Australia, China, and the United States. The results from the clinical trials have shown favorable safety profile and efficacy signals of KN046. Events during the Reporting Period On April 15, 2020 , Jiangsu Alphamab received an approval notification from FDA that it is safe to proceed with a phase II clinical trial of KN046 for NSCLC in the United States . , Jiangsu Alphamab received an approval notification from FDA that it is safe to proceed with a phase II clinical trial of KN046 for NSCLC in . On May 12, 2020 , Jiangsu Alphamab received IND approvals from CDE, including the evaluation of the efficacy, safety and tolerability of KN046 in combination with KN026 for HER2-positive or HER2 expression solid tumors in phase Ib clinical study; multi-center, open-label, phase Ib/II clinical trials for Ningetinib Tosylate in combination with KN046 for the treatment of advanced HCC. , Jiangsu Alphamab received IND approvals from CDE, including the evaluation of the efficacy, safety and tolerability of KN046 in combination with KN026 for HER2-positive or HER2 expression solid tumors in phase Ib clinical study; multi-center, open-label, phase Ib/II clinical trials for Ningetinib Tosylate in combination with KN046 for the treatment of advanced HCC. We presented the preliminary efficacy and safety data of a dose escalation and expansion phase Ia/Ib clinical trial of KN046 in China in patients who have failed prior immune checkpoint inhibitors at the 2020 America Society of Clinical Oncology ("ASCO") Annual Meeting. The results indicate that KN046 showed a favorable safety profile and promising clinical benefit in advanced solid tumor patients who failed on prior ICI therapies. in patients who have failed prior immune checkpoint inhibitors at the 2020 America Society of Clinical Oncology ("ASCO") Annual Meeting. The results indicate that KN046 showed a favorable safety profile and promising clinical benefit in advanced solid tumor patients who failed on prior ICI therapies. On September 2, 2020 , FDA granted ODD to KN046 for the treatment of thymic epithelial tumor. , FDA granted ODD to KN046 for the treatment of thymic epithelial tumor. On September 3, 2020 , Jiangsu Alphamab officially launched a KN046 pivotal phase II clinical trial of KN046 for thymic carcinoma in China and the U.S. , Jiangsu Alphamab officially launched a KN046 pivotal phase II clinical trial of KN046 for thymic carcinoma in and the U.S. In September 2020 , Jiangsu Alphamab has achieved the first patient dosing in ENREACH-LUNG-01. ENREACH-LUNG-01 is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of KN046 in combination with the platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic squamous NSCLC. Events after the Reporting Period In January 2021 , the first patient was successfully dosed in the ENREACH-Thymic registration trial, a pivotal phase II, open label, multi-center pivotal clinical study to evaluate efficacy, safety and tolerability of KN046 in subjects with thymic carcinoma. , the first patient was successfully dosed in the ENREACH-Thymic registration trial, a pivotal phase II, open label, multi-center pivotal clinical study to evaluate efficacy, safety and tolerability of KN046 in subjects with thymic carcinoma. In January 2021 , we presented abstracts on the preliminary efficacy and safety of KN046 in combination with chemo-radiation therapy for the treatment of recurrent and metastatic ESCC at 2021 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium annual meeting. , we presented abstracts on the preliminary efficacy and safety of KN046 in combination with chemo-radiation therapy for the treatment of recurrent and metastatic ESCC at 2021 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium annual meeting. In February 2021 , the first patient dosing of KN046 in combination with Donafenib, an orally administered multikinase inhibitor, was accomplished in phase I/II clinical trials for the treatment of advanced or metastatic HCC. , the first patient dosing of KN046 in combination with Donafenib, an orally administered multikinase inhibitor, was accomplished in phase I/II clinical trials for the treatment of advanced or metastatic HCC. We presented clinical data from a phase II clinical study of KN046 in patients with advanced NSCLC at WCLC 2020. With a median follow up of 13 months, the median PFS was 3.68 months (95% CI: 3.35, 7.29), among them, squamous NSCLC and non-squamous NSCLC were 7.29 months (3.68, 9.23) and 3.58 months (2.46, 5.52), respectively, which are numerically higher than historical data for PD-1 therapeutics in Chinese patients. It indicates that KN046 was well tolerated and effective as a second-line treatment for advanced NSCLC, which indicated promising PFS and OS benefits in NSCLC. We presented preliminary safety and efficacy results of KN046 from a phase I clinical study of KN046 in treatment of patients with rare thoracic tumors at WCLC 2020. The confirmed ORR was 50%, unconfirmed ORR was 75%, and the DCR was 100% in thymic epithelial tumors. KN026 a next-generation anti-HER2 BsAb that can simultaneously bind two distinct clinically validated epitopes of HER2, resulting in potentially superior efficacy. Events during the Reporting Period On May 12, 2020 , Jiangsu Alphamab received IND approvals from CDE for new therapies of KN026, including the evaluation of the efficacy, safety and tolerability of KN046 in combination with KN026 for HER2-positive or HER2 expression solid tumors in phase Ib clinical study; and phase II clinical study to assess the effectiveness and safety of KN026 in monotherapy or combination therapy for HER2 low expression or HER2-positive recurrent/mBC. , Jiangsu Alphamab received IND approvals from CDE for new therapies of KN026, including the evaluation of the efficacy, safety and tolerability of KN046 in combination with KN026 for HER2-positive or HER2 expression solid tumors in phase Ib clinical study; and phase II clinical study to assess the effectiveness and safety of KN026 in monotherapy or combination therapy for HER2 low expression or HER2-positive recurrent/mBC. We presented the preliminary safety, efficacy and PK results of an open-label, phase I clinical trial of KN026 in China in patients with HER2-positive mBC at the 2020 ASCO Annual Meeting. The results indicate that KN026 is well tolerated and has demonstrated encouraging anti-tumor activity in HER2-positive breast cancer patients who have failed standard anti-HER2 therapies. in patients with HER2-positive mBC at the 2020 ASCO Annual Meeting. The results indicate that KN026 is well tolerated and has demonstrated encouraging anti-tumor activity in HER2-positive breast cancer patients who have failed standard anti-HER2 therapies. We presented preliminary clinical data at the SITC 2020. The combination therapy of KN026 and KN046 ("KN026+KN046 Combo") has achieved positive results in a clinical phase Ib trial for the treatment of HER2 aberrated solid tumors in patients who have failed standard therapy. In December 2020 , Jiangsu Alphamab had successfully dosed the first patient in SEARCH-01 study, a phase clinical trial of KN026 in combination with KN046. The SEARCH-01 trial is an open label, phase and multi-center clinical study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of KN026 in combination with KN046 for HER2-positive solid tumors. , Jiangsu Alphamab had successfully dosed the first patient in SEARCH-01 study, a phase clinical trial of KN026 in combination with KN046. The SEARCH-01 trial is an open label, phase and multi-center clinical study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of KN026 in combination with KN046 for HER2-positive solid tumors. In December 2020 , FDA granted ODD to KN026 in combination with KN046 for the treatment of HER2-positive or low expressing GC or GEJ. This is the third ODD granted to the Company by FDA. , FDA granted ODD to KN026 in combination with KN046 for the treatment of HER2-positive or low expressing GC or GEJ. This is the third ODD granted to the Company by FDA. In December 2020 , our Company received from the NMPA the IND approval for combination therapies of KN026 and palbociclib or combination therapy of KN026, palbociclib and fulvestrant for the treatment of HER2-positive locally advanced unresectable and/or metastatic breast cancer in patients who have failed the treatment of Trastuzumab and Taxanes. Other Highlights Events during the Reporting Period On May 22, 2020 , Jiangsu Alphamab and InxMed entered into a partnership agreement to jointly develop the combination therapy of KN046 and IN10018, a focal adhesion kinase inhibitor, to explore the synergistic effect of the combination of KN046 and IN10018. , Jiangsu Alphamab and InxMed entered into a partnership agreement to jointly develop the combination therapy of KN046 and IN10018, a focal adhesion kinase inhibitor, to explore the synergistic effect of the combination of KN046 and IN10018. On May 28, 2020 , Jiangsu Alphamab and SLP entered into a new collaboration agreement to expand the original collaboration, pursuant to which both parties agreed to jointly develop an anti-tumor combination therapy with CT053 (Ningetinib Toluenesulfonate), a multi-target small molecule inhibitor, and KN046, for human solid tumors. , Jiangsu Alphamab and SLP entered into a new collaboration agreement to expand the original collaboration, pursuant to which both parties agreed to jointly develop an anti-tumor combination therapy with CT053 (Ningetinib Toluenesulfonate), a multi-target small molecule inhibitor, and KN046, for human solid tumors. On June 9, 2020 , Jiangsu Alphamab and Sanofi entered into an exclusive option agreement for the strategic collaboration to advance clinical studies investigating KN026 in combination with Sanofi's product Taxotere in patients with HER2+ breast cancer. , Jiangsu Alphamab and Sanofi entered into an exclusive option agreement for the strategic collaboration to advance clinical studies investigating KN026 in combination with Sanofi's product Taxotere in patients with HER2+ breast cancer. On June 10, 2020 , the Company and Institut Pasteur of Shanghai , Chinese Academy of Sciences (" Institut Pasteur of Shanghai ") entered a cooperative development agreement on the co-development, manufacturing and commercialization of therapeutic antibody for COVID-19. , the Company and Institut Pasteur of , Chinese Academy of Sciences (" ") entered a cooperative development agreement on the co-development, manufacturing and commercialization of therapeutic antibody for COVID-19. On June 19, 2020 , Jiangsu Alphamab and Sinovent entered into a partnership agreement to jointly develop the combination therapy of KN046 and XNW7201, a small-molecule inhibitor, in oncology indications. , Jiangsu Alphamab and Sinovent entered into a partnership agreement to jointly develop the combination therapy of KN046 and XNW7201, a small-molecule inhibitor, in oncology indications. On July 30, 2020 , Jiangsu Alphamab entered a partnership agreement with Kintor Pharmaceutical, to jointly develop the combination therapy of KN046 and GT90001 in HCC. , Jiangsu Alphamab entered a partnership agreement with Kintor Pharmaceutical, to jointly develop the combination therapy of KN046 and GT90001 in HCC. In July 2020 , the Company was recognized as one of the first high-tech enterprises in Suzhou Free Trade Zone, and Foreign-funded R&D Center of Jiangsu province. , the Company was recognized as one of the first high-tech enterprises in Suzhou Free Trade Zone, and Foreign-funded R&D Center of province. Dr. XU won the sixth "Suzhou Outstanding Talent Award" awarded by the Suzhou Municipal Government. Alphamab Oncology (9966.HK) is included in The Hang Seng Composite Index. At the end of November 2020 , we were acknowledged as "Chinese Pharmaceutical Innovation Enterprises 100" in the 2020 China Healthcare Summit of Entrepreneurs, Scientists and Investors. , we were acknowledged as "Chinese Pharmaceutical Innovation Enterprises 100" in the 2020 China Healthcare Summit of Entrepreneurs, Scientists and Investors. Our Company has been included in the Hong Kong Stock Connect list under the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect, with effect from December 28, 2020 . Events after the Reporting Period On January 6, 2021 , our Company was awarded as the "Most Valuable Medical and Pharmaceutical Company" in the 5th Annual Awards Ceremony of Hong Kong Golden Stock held in Shenzhen . , our Company was awarded as the "Most Valuable Medical and Pharmaceutical Company" in the 5th Annual Awards Ceremony of Hong Kong Golden Stock held in . Further expansion of Alphamab Oncology management team, including appointing Dr. Johannes Nippgen as Chief Medical Officer. Facilities On July 2020, the 2x2,000L production lines of the new manufacturing facilities of Jiangsu Alphamab, which is designed to house over 30,000L capacity in total, obtained drug production license issued by Jiangsu Drug Administration. These production lines are equipped with world-class equipment that meet the regulatory requirements of NMPA, FDA and European Medicines Agency for GMP. Full Year 2020 Financial Summary For the year ended December 31, 2020 , the Group recorded other income of RMB111.1 million , as compared with RMB34.4 million for the year ended December 31 , 2019, mainly include interest income, government grants and other miscellaneous income. , the Group recorded other income of , as compared with for the year ended , 2019, mainly include interest income, government grants and other miscellaneous income. We recorded other losses of RMB117.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 , as compared to RMB0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 . Our loss and total comprehensive expense amounted to RMB427.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 , as compared with RMB832.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 . for the year ended , as compared to for the year ended . Our loss and total comprehensive expense amounted to for the year ended , as compared with for the year ended . The R&D expenses of the Group amounted to RMB331.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 , as compared with RMB166.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 . for the year ended , as compared with for the year ended . The administrative expenses amounted to RMB78.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared with RMB117.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 . For more information, please refer to the company's 2020 annual results announcement published on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the company's official website. About Alphamab Oncology Alphamab Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on innovative biologics medicine for oncology. On December 12, 2019, the Company was listed in the mainboard of Hong Kong Stock Exchange with stock code 9966. Alphamab has fully integrated proprietary biologics platforms in bi-specifics and protein engineering. Its highly differentiated in-house pipeline includes fifteen tumor monoclonal antibodies and bispecific antibodies and a Covid-19 multifunctional antibody. Four products have advanced into phase I-III clinical trials or pre-marketing stage in China, the United States, Japan and Australia. The BLA for Envafolimab (KN035) has been accepted and granted Priority Review by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). The Company also has state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities designed and built to meet NMPA and EU/FDA's cGMP standards and a complete quality system which has passed the on-site inspection of an European Union qualified person. Alphamab Oncology is committed to building a global leading, multi-dimensional drug development and commercialization platform, focusing on multifunctional biological innovative drugs, and to benefit patients in China and around the world. Visit http://www.alphamabonc.com for more information. SOURCE Alphamab Oncology Related Links http://www.alphamabonc.com New Delhi: A road accident in Madhya Pradesh claimed at least 13 lives after a bus collided with an auto-rickshaw in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The state government has announced Rs four lakh compensation to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured in the accident, reported news agency ANI. Expressing condolences, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in a tweet in Hindi, saying "The horrific accident caused by a collision between a bus and an auto in Gwalior has claimed several precious lives and has brought great sorrow. I pray to God to give strength to the affected families. "I and the people of the state stand with mourning families in this hour of grief. The state government will give Rs four lakh to the family of each victim and Rs 50,000 to the injured." the Chief Minister said. Live TV Myanmar anti-coup protesters take cover and watch from far as riot policemen and soldiers crack down on a demonstration and detain protesters in Mandalay, March 23, 2021. Myanmars junta warned journalists Tuesday against reporting on a shadow government made up of elected lawmakers deposed in last months coup, while army gunfire claimed its youngest victim, and fear and fatigue after seven weeks of escalating military violence drove an exodus of migrant workers from major cities. The military regime that ousted the elected government of leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in its third news conference since the Feb. 1 coup, repeated unsubstantiated claims that election fraud prompted the military takeover, and also without proof blamed protesters for violence that has killed hundreds of civilians. The State Administrative Council [SAC] took over the responsibilities of the state [because of] nationwide election fraud and vote-stealing activities in the 2020 elections, said deputy information minister Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun. After the SAC took power, there were protests, but since Feb. 9, they became violent and tuned into anarchic situations with attacks with weapons, he said. Zaw Min Tun also warned journalists not to contact members of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CPRH), a shadow government of legislators elected in November 2020, which has been declared an illegal organization. Reporters who defied the order would be charged under the Unlawful Associations Act, he said. The regime has detained 45 journalists since Feb. 1, though 28 have been released with two out on bail. The spokesman also used the news conference to present new corruption accusations against Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest and has been charged with alleged incitement, violation of telecommunication laws, possession of illegally imported walkie-talkie radios, and violation of the Natural Disaster Management Law for breaching COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. In Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city, seven-year-old Khin Myo Chit became the youngest person to die in the military crackdown on anti-coup protests. The youngest of eight children, she was shot in the abdomen and died in her fathers arms, the man told RFA. Khin Myo Chit was among at least five people killed when security forces fired into crowds at Aung Pin Lae, a working-class quarter of the city, where 15 deaths have been reported in the past two days, witnesses said. Tuesdays suppression of the protests brought the death toll up to 240, according to an RFA tally. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a watchdog group, said that as of Tuesday, 2,812 people had been arrested, charged, or sentenced in relation to the military coup, with 2,418 still being held or with outstanding warrants. The AAPP put the number of people killed at 275. The death toll of children in Myanmar has risen to over 20 since Feb. 1, with at least 17 children still held in arbitrary detention, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the NGO Save the Children. At least 488 students are currently being held in detention, according to the latest estimates. The safety of children must be protected under all circumstances, and we once again call on security forces to end these deadly attacks against protesters immediately, the statement said. Time and time again we see that children are inevitably the innocent victims of any crisis. The only way to protect children in Myanmar is to stop violence against all people in Myanmar altogether. Myanmar junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun speaks during a news conference held by the military government in Naypyidaw, in a screen grab taken from a broadcast by Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV), March 23, 2021, Credit: Handout/various sources/AFP Exodus of workers The unending violence and life-threatening, indiscriminate shooting by security forces in crowded urban areas have sparked an exodus of tens of thousands from Mandalay, Yangon, and Naypyidaw, witnesses said. Residents in the three largest cities say they have had enough with police and soldiers shooting up neighborhoods, breaking into houses and shops, and destroying property. Most of those leaving Yangon are from Hlaingthaya, Shwepyitha, North Dagon, South Dagon, North Okkalapa and Dagon Seikkan townships, where millions of migrant workers work in factories. Authorities placed the six townships under martial law after a series of fires and a bloody crackdown on March 14-15. Civil servants who walked off their jobs to join a nationwide civil disobedience movement also are fleeing to the countryside to avoid possible arrest. With protests and violence forcing factories to shut down, many migrant workers, also hit by plant closures amid the coronavirus pandemic, said they now face even more hardship and live each day in fear. All these factories in Hlaingthaya operate with migrant labor, and the migrant workers who are unemployed have no reason to stay because they have no money for food or rent, a worker from Ayeyarwady region told RFA. A human resources employee from Labutta in Ayeyarwady region said that workers still in Yangon fear for their safety. As the number of fatalities rises, our parents back home are very worried, he said. It may not be safe even in our hometowns because there are troubles everywhere, but I think it would be safer there than in Yangon. Myanmar anti-junta protesters hold signs supporting the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CPRH), a group of legislators who won seats in the November 2020 elections and who are aligned with State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, in Hlaing township, Yangon region, March 23, 2021. Credit: RFA Out of money Some workers have run out of money and have not been paid their previous months wages because of plant closures, said garment factory worker Than Than Soe. And its very scary because there is gunfire every night around 11 p.m. or midnight, he said. We arent getting proper sleep, so we decided to go back home. We will come back when everything settles down and jobs are available again. Hlaingthaya, a major Yangon industrial zone, has a population of more than 1 million people, making it the most populous township in all of Myanmar. At least 50 people were killed there when soldiers and police fired on protesters on Marrch 14. Following a declaration of martial law there the next day, residents began facing shortages of food and drinking water. A worker who is leaving Yangons Kyaukmyaung ward and returning home to western Rakhine state said the situation is completely unstable. We couldnt find any jobs for over a year because of COVID-19, and now because of this political instability, he said. Life is very difficult here especially for people like us living from hand to mouth, so we decided to go back to our hometowns. A worker in Mandalay with an infant said the sound of gunfire every night prevented them from sleeping. Nobody knows when this violence might come into their street, she said. We dont feel safe during daytime or nighttime. We are living in fear every day. Thats why I decided to go back to my village. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Kyaw Min Htun and Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 A 28-year-old New Jersey man robbed a bank at knifepoint and then was arrested in the parking lot as he tried to flee on Sunday, authorities said. Blake Lucas was taken into custody outside Republic Bank on Laurel Oak Road in Voorhees at about 12:45 p.m. Sunday, township police said in a statement. Lucas showed a knife and demanded money from a teller, according to a police spokesman. Investigators recovered an undisclosed of money from Lucas and returned it to the bank. Lucas, of Lindenwold, was charged with robbery and two weapons offenses before being sent to the Camden County jail ahead of a first appearance. The bank is open from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sundays, according to its website. Anyone with information is asked to call Voorhees police at 856-428-5400 or email the departments tip line media@vtpd.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Help India! On March 21, SIO organized a round table meet on the topic Education in India in which prominent educationalists and intellectuals discussed the status of education, National Educational Policy (NEP) and its iniquitous framework, the status of education in government schools in Telangana, scientific temperament and pedagogy in the Indian educational system. Shalini S, TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles Hyderabad: The Union government is deliberately decreasing the school budgets to deprive the minorities and the marginalized students of India from education. We should think on critical lines and work to improve the status of education in India. This was stated by Professor Dhamiya during a round table meeting organized by the Student Islamic Organization (SIO) of Telangana. The government is making policies that promote drop-outs, Professor Dhamiya further said. SIO had conducted a round table meet inviting intellectuals and educationalists to discuss, Education in India on March 21 at Media Plus Auditorium, Gunfoundry, Hyderabad. Student Islamic Organization of Telangana under the theme of India as a Welfare State has been conducting a series of programs to promote quality education. On March 21, SIO organized a round table meet on the topic Education in India in which prominent educationalists and intellectuals discussed the status of education, National Educational Policy (NEP) and its iniquitous framework, the status of education in government schools in Telangana, scientific temperament and pedagogy in the Indian educational system. The guest speakers were Dr. Jawaria Saleem, Narayanan, Dr. Kumar, Farooq Tahir, Dr. Geeta, Dr. Talha Faiyazuddin, Ms Nasreen, Dr. Samiullah, Dr. Yakaiah P, Amir Ullah Khan and Dr. Luqman, all of whom are scholars in the field of educational research. The employment rate of Muslims in India is very low, the government must prioritize providing quality education for the minorities and the marginalized, Amir Ullah Khan, one of the key speakers and a renowned economist said. The speakers highlighted that the constitution holds India as a welfare state and the foremost necessity of a welfare state is to educate its citizens. The speakers delivered notes on the lack of focus on the learning level in NEP, lack of transparency in education-based data and survey, policy implementation, accountability of teachers role in education and the liability of the government. In the concluding speech, Dr Talha Fayazuddin, State President of SIO Telangana emphasized the need to facilitate and impart equitable and inclusive education. We need to understand the true concept and philosophy of knowledge. Without education, one cannot dream of carrying out a decent job and is limited to employment opportunities. It takes political as well as social will to understand and spearhead the changes required in the current education system, he said. Nifty Operations and Transaction Update Perth, Mar 23, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cyprium Metals Limited ( ASX:CYM ) is pleased to provide an operational and transaction update on the Paterson Copper Portfolio Acquisition (ASX Announcement 10 February 2021).Under the terms of the Share sale Agreement ("SSA"), Cyprium management have access to site and are permitted to conduct project works on the Paterson Copper Assets.Executive Director Barry Cahill commented:"Since the signing of the acquisition agreement, we have been active in establishing a presence on site at Nifty, hiring key management and personnel and conducting early site works.A number of value accretive workstreams have been identified including the potential use of copper bearing solution, to be dewatered from the decommissioned underground operation, as a potential irrigation source for the Nifty heap leach.We are looking forward to the upcoming General Meeting and formal transaction completion later this month, we can't wait to get into it."Key Management and Project Personnel AppointedCyprium has made a number of key management and project appointments:- General Manager- Project Development Manager- Engineering and Maintenance Manager- Chief Metallurgist- Commercial ManagerCyprium Executive Director Barry Cahill commented:"I am very pleased that we have made these key management appointments. They are all experienced and proven mining executives, and their appointments continue the process of building out the in-house operational and technical capacity of Cyprium to successfully restart and operate the Nifty Heap Leach Project.The majority of the team have working closely together and most recently at Finders until it was taken over in 2018."Nifty Project Site UpdateSince signing the SSA, Cyprium have actively establishing a presence on site at Nifty and have recently:- Hosted site visits with multiple service providers to finalise a scope of work for:o General site engineering works;o Condition evaluation of the existing SX-EW plant and associated infrastructure;o Condition evaluation of the historic oxide crushing and agglomeration plant combined with early engineering works for the crushing and screening of open pit run of mine ores.- Engaged contractors to evaluate and upgrade the site accommodation and village;- Engaged contractors to evaluate and upgrade site communications infrastructure;- Completed review of the decommissioned underground mine as a potential irrigation source for the Nifty heap leach strategy - copper in solution identified (Images 1 and 2*);- Commenced early earthworks, including focussed trenching of existing heap leach pads for metallurgical test-work; and- Finalised Nifty site handover via an Operating Committee to ensure a smooth transition to Cyprium ownership.Transaction UpdateCyprium is pleased to provide the following update on the Paterson Copper Portfolio Acquisition:- Cyprium General Meeting to be held at 1:00pm (AWST), 23 March 2021 at the AICD Meeting Room, Level 1, 77 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000.- Subject to Shareholder Approval and satisfaction or waiver of the remaining conditions precedent regarding contract consents, the Transaction is expected to complete by the end of March 2021.- Contract consents are in progress and Cyprium expects that all outstanding consents will be received prior to Completion.*To view tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/SSC4RD8H About Cyprium Metals Ltd Cyprium Metals Limited (ASX:CYM) is poised to grow to a mid-tier mining business and manage a portfolio of Australian copper projects to deliver vital natural resources, strong shareholder returns and sustainable value for our stakeholders. We pursue this aim, in genuine partnerships with employees, customers, shareholders, local communities and other stakeholders, which is based on integrity, co-operation, transparency and mutual value creation. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 22) - President Rodrigo Duterte defended on Monday how the national government finances its COVID-19 response, amid criticisms from some lawmakers. "If you are afraid of corruption, let your mind go easy because these things are not susceptible to anything. The money is in the hands of the bank and they (the manufacturers) collect...from the bank, hindi sa atin (not from us)," Duterte said during the weekly meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. The President made the remark after Senator Risa Hontiveros sought an audit on the national government's use of funds, particularly for the much-delayed COVID-19 vaccination program. Duterte emphasized the government pays the COVID-19 vaccines procured through the lending banks, where the money will be coursed through to the vaccine manufacturers. "Kung maniwala kayo sa kanila, sige bahala na doon na kayo. Kung maniwala kayo sa amin na walang singko sentimos na hinahawakan po namin. It's the bank who will pay, upon our advice na na-deliver na 'yung bakuna. Hindi tayo ang magpunta," said Duterte. [Translation: If you believe them, then just go join their side. You should believe us that we do not have in our hands even five centavos. It's the bank who will pay, upon our advice that the vaccines were delivered. We will not go to them to pay.] Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III backed the President's explanation. "We only withdraw when we pay. Hindi pa due ang payment (The payment is still not due), so we'll keep (the money) in the bank first," said Dominguez. Dominguez said the national government has allocated 82.5 billion for the national pandemic response this year, which covers vaccine procurement, logistics and other supplies, and waste disposal. The amount came from the 2021 national budget, international lending institutions, and official development assistance. The country's finance chief underscored that this year's fund for the pandemic response is "enough" to vaccinate all Filipino adults in 2021. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the national government aims to inoculate around 70 million Filipinos against COVID-19 this year. Dr. Alex George has marked one year since the first lockdown. (Doug Peters/EMPICS) Dr Alex George has said the past year has been the hardest of his life while marking the anniversary of the first national lockdown on 23 March. The former Love Island contestant has been working in A&E at University Hospital Lewisham during the pandemic. It has also been a challenging year for the medic after his brother Llyr took his own life aged 19 in 2020. Read more: Dr Alex George says he felt guilt over brother's death The former Love Island contestant, who works in A&E at University Hospital Lewisham, also praised the "incredible" NHS in his Instagram post. Reflecting on the beginning of pandemic, he said: "A year ago today we went into the first lockdown. I could never have imagined the year that followed. The speed we went from a few isolated cases, to entire departments of covid patients, was terrifying. Read more: Matt Baker swaps TV career for full-time farming "As we approach 130,000 deaths in the UK, I would like to take a moment to honour those who lost their lives. I know that I will never forget the people that I cared for, it will stay with me my entire life. I send my love to all those who have lost loves [sic] ones during the last year." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. George posted his message alongside a throwback picture of himself and other NHS staff posing in personal protective equipment. He went on: "I would also like to take a moment to reflect on how incredible the NHS has been throughout, we pulled together and looked after each other as well as giving 150% for our patients. "We had to adapt and learn quickly, this photo was taken when we still knew virtually nothing about Covid. It has been a privilege and an honour to work alongside you all. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. "As we look forward, to the future, I hope and believe that there are better days ahead. Personally, it has been the hardest year of my life, thank you to each and everyone of you that got me through. There is always hope of a better day." Story continues After his brother's death, George campaigned for better mental health support in the UK which led to a meeting with Boris Johnson. The prime minister appointed him as youth mental health ambassador and he will act as an advisor to the government on the issue. Watch: Dr Alex George says mental health leads are needed in every school New Delhi, March 24 : Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has directed that public celebration and gathering, congregation during upcoming festivals such as Holi, Shab-e-Barat, Navratri etc. will not be allowed in public places, including parks, markets, religious places. An order in this regard has been issued by Delhi Chief Secretary. The decision has come hours after Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, who is also chairperson of DDMA, held a review meeting on increasing Covid-19 cases in the national capital on Monday. "Situation of the Covid-19 in Delhi has been reviewed and it has been observed that a persistent rise in COVID -19 cases in NCT of Delhi during the last fort night. It anticipated that gathering, congregations, and public celebration during upcoming festivals like Holi, Shab-e-Barat, Navaratri etc. may pose a considerable threat of spread of virus and may cause setback to the appreciable gain made in the suppression of chain of transmission of Covid-19 cases in Delhi. Considering this it has been decided that public celebration and all gatherings/ during upcoming festivals will not be allowed in public places," an order issued by Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev read. On Tuesday, Delhi saw its daily Covid tally rise sharply to 1,101, as against 888 on Monday, while there were four more deaths reported. According to the Delhi health bulletin, 620 patients were reported to have recovered from the infection, while the total active cases in the city stands at 4,411 on Tuesday. The positivity rate was 1.31 per cent, while the cumulative positive rate went up to 4.65 per cent, and cumulative cases to 6,49,973. A total of 84,237 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of tests conducted in the city to 13,974,132. Latest updates on Holi Festival 2021 Since last summer, when Mercys closure was announced, 14 interested parties emerged, Mercy CEO Carol Schneider said. Seven of those moved forward, but one only wanted to take over Mercy if it could partner with another hospital, two others would have needed state funding to run Mercy, and the others didnt want to operate Mercy as a full-service hospital, she said. Advertisement The U.S National Park Service has revealed its most-visited sites of 2020 - and it's the Blue Ridge Parkway that comes out on top. The 469-mile ribbon of road that runs through stunning scenery in North Carolina and Virginia, and has magnificent views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, welcomed 14.1million visitors last year. It beats the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which is second with 12.4million visitors, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the North Carolina and Tennessee border, which is third with 12.1million visitors. The U.S National Park Service has revealed its most-visited sites of 2020 - and it's the Blue Ridge Parkway, pictured, that comes out on top. It welcomed 14.1million visitors last year NATIONAL PARK SERVICE VISITOR NUMBERS 2020 Most visited National Park Service sites in 2020 1. Blue Ridge Parkway - 14.1million visitors 2. Golden Gate National Recreation Area - 12.4million 3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 12.1million 4. Gateway National Recreation Area - 8.4million 5. Lake Mead National Recreation Area - 8million 6. George Washington Memorial Parkway - 6.2million 7. Natchez Trace Parkway - 6.1million 8. Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park - 4.9million 9. Cape Cod National Seashore - 4.1million 10. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - 4.1 million Most visited national parks in 2020 1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 12.1million visitors. 2. Yellowstone National Park - 3.8million visitors 3. Zion National Park - 3.6million visitors 4. Rocky Mountain National Park - 3.3million 5. Grand Teton National Park - 3.3million 6. Grand Canyon National Park - 2.9million 7. Cuyahoga Valley National Park - 2.8million 8. Acadia National Park - 2.7million 9. Olympic National Park - 2.5million 10. Joshua Tree National Park - 2.4million Source: National Park Service Advertisement In fourth place on the list is the Gateway National Recreation Area in New York City and New Jersey, which saw 8.4million visitors, and the fifth-most-visited site is Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada and Arizona, which had eight million visitors. The George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia is sixth with 6.2million visitors and seventh is Natchez Trace Parkway, which stretches through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, with 6.1million visitors. Also making the top ten are Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (eighth, 4.9million), Cape Cod National Seashore (ninth, 4.1million) and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (10th, 4.1million). The National Park Service also released a separate list of the top 10 most-visited national parks in 2020. Topping the list is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which also features in the top 10 most-visited National Park Service sites ranking. It is followed in second place by Yellowstone National Park, which is located across Wyoming, Montana and Idaho and welcomed 3.8million visitors last year. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area was the second-most-visited National Park Service site in 2020, with 12.4million visitors. Pictured is Baker Beach, which is part of the area The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee had 12.1million visitors in 2020. It comes third overall and was the most-visited national park In fourth place is the Gateway National Recreation Area in New York City and New Jersey, which saw 8.4million visitors In third place is Utah's Zion National Park with 3.6million visitors, fourth is Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado with 3.3million visitors and Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park is fifth - also on 3.3million visitors. The rest of the top 10 is made up of Grand Canyon National Park (sixth, 2.9million), Cuyahoga Valley National Park (seventh, 2.8million), Acadia National Park (eighth, 2.7 million), Olympic National Park (ninth, 2.5 million) and Joshua Tree National Park (10th, 2.4million). In total, there were 237million visits to National Park Service sites across the U.S in 2020 - down 28 per cent compared to 2019 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Yellowstone National Park received 3.8million visitors in 2020 making it the second-most-visited national park last year. Pictured is the park's Grand Prismatic Spring Zion National Park in Utah, pictured, had 3.6million visitors in 2020 making it the third-most-visited national park in the U.S last year However, the National Park Service points out that although 'overall visitation dropped, a number of parks experienced record crowds and welcomed new visitors'. It added: 'Trails, overlooks and open spaces provided safe ways for visitors to recreate responsibly, get some fresh air and stay active.' National Park Service deputy director Shawn Benge said: 'This past year has reminded us how important national parks and public lands are to overall wellbeing. 'Throughout the country, national parks provided close-to-home opportunities for people to spend much needed time outdoors for their physical and psychological health.' The Member of Parliament(MP) for Suhum, Kwadwo Asante has handed over Twenty Three (23) different kinds of vehicles to some Commercial Drivers in his constituency in aid of job creation among people in the transport business in the constituency. The vehicles range from Hyundai twelve seater buses, Daewoo salon cars, Kia morning salon cars and twenty five seater bus were presented by the MP on a 'work and pay' agreement. Hon Kwadwo Asante explained that the presentation of the vehicles is in fulfilment of one of his 2020 campaign promises that he will help anyone within his Constituency who is serious and ready to work, be it in the transport business, tailoring , dressmaking hairdressing, table top business people or even traders, in order to help improve their living standards. Hon. Kwadwo Asante advised drivers in general especially those who received the vehicles to be law abiding by obeying all rules and regulations on our roads in order to reduce road accidents. He urged the people of Suhum to embrace the 2021 budget in order to assist the government to deliver on its mandate for the betterment of all. Source: Emmanuel Akorli/Parliamentary Correspondent/Peace FM Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A street surveillance camera in western Mexico captured the shocking moment a truck driver mowed down three men - killing two - after they allegedly mugged him at gunpoint. The driver, identified as Victor, was standing outside a store in Guadalajara, Jalisco, when he was approached by the three suspects on Friday afternoon. The muggers forced Victor into turning over his cellphone and his money before they fled on foot. WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT Surveillance camera captures the moment a truck driver in Guadalajara, Mexico, mowed down three men who had allegedly mugged him last Friday. Two of the muggers lost their lives in the incident. Authorities arrested the motorist and a third suspect who survived and had to be hospitalized The alleged muggers are seen on video crossing a street in the western Mexico city of Guadalajara just moments before the truck driver that they had allegedly robbed at gunpoint crashed his vehicle into them. Two of the suspects were pronounced dead at an area hospital A mugger who survived being run over by a truck is pictured lying under the vehicle A security camera mounted near an intersection shows the assailants walking on a sidewalk before they crossed the street. The truck driven by Victor then subsequently appeared in the footage before it accelerated and slammed into them. Video recorded by a witness at the scene showed one of the muggers who survived the accident pinned under the truck. The gun that was used in the mugging was found lying underneath the rear of the truck. Victor can be heard in the video telling the witness that he had been robbed earlier as the other two suspects could be spotted lying on the ground unresponsive. Surveillance camera shows the three alleged muggers before they crossed to the other side of the avenue and were hit by the driver of a truck who had been robbed at gunpoint Pictured is one of the two muggers who was killed after he was hit by a truck driver in Mexico The suspects were treated at the scene by paramedics from the local Red Cross and rushed to a nearby hospital, where two of them died. Victor was placed under arrest by the Guadalajara police and the surviving man remained hospitalized and under police custody. DailyMail.com reached out to the Jalisco State Attorney General's Office for comment. Academics / Advising Screaming Eagles Orientation - Virtual Come learn more about resources at USI as you begin your academic journey with us! Screaming Eagles Orientation will be provided virtually using the Zoom platform. These virtual orientations will last around 90 minutes and will provide a great opportunity for new students to meet staff, faculty, current and other new students; to ask questions; and to learn about resources available to help them be successful at USI. We offere a separate Virtual Parent and Family Orientation session at the same time. This session will focus on meeting staff and faculty and answering parent and family members' questions. Students will need to make a reservation for these session in myUSI. Students just need to look for the Screaming Eagles Orientation app. When students are making their reservation, they will have the opportunity to sign up parents and family members for their own virtual orientation session. The Zoom links for these programs will be sent in the confirmation. More information and additional resources are available at USI.edu/orientation. The shocking murder of Sarah Everard in London, followed by the fatal stabbing of two women in Newtownabbey at the weekend, has thrust the issue of violence against women and girls into the headlines. Behind every tragedy there is a family, and the impact of violent abuse and murder can cause a trickle down of trauma that lasts generations. Two children have lost a mother due to the events in Rathcoole, when Ken Flanagan killed his mum Karen McClean and girlfriend Stacey Knell before taking his own life. They bring to eight the number of women murdered here since the first lockdown last March. The pandemic has left many in vulnerable domestic situations. Lockdown for some means being locked up with their abuser with no escape from violent, abusive, controlling behaviour. Northern Ireland remains behind the rest of these islands in terms of legislation to protect those vulnerable from abuse. There is currently no coercive control legislation, no stalking legislation, an outdated and expensive family court system for issuing protective orders. A bill outlawing 'rough sex' as a defence for murder has already been passed in England and Wales but does not apply here. We have a prohibitively slow judicial system that leaves many victims of abuse waiting for months and even years for prosecutions to reach the courts. The Domestic Abuse Bill, delayed for three years during the collapse of the Assembly, is now in the final stages of being passed into law. It seeks to address many of these issues with updated legislation, but there are fears the lack of financial resources attached to the bill will prevent the new laws being properly implemented. While legislation is gender neutral and will seek to protect all victims of violence, whether male or female, the fact remains the majority of victims are women and girls and that requires specific, cross-departmental cooperation to deal with the issue. This includes preventative measures, education, proper protection of those in need of help, tougher sentencing and a change in the perception and stigma around domestic abuse. We are the only part of the United Kingdom that does not have a specific strategy dedicated to tackling gender-based violence. Women and girls are being let down simply because of where they live. Justice Minister Naomi Long has vowed to make passing new legislation a priority during her time in post. But for many victims, very different women, crossing all age demographics and social backgrounds, change will come too late. The deaths of those women, possibly murdered by people they knew - relatives or partners - did not always receive the coverage they warranted at the time. The Belfast Telegraph seeks to redress that today. These women should not be allowed to become statistics in a never-ending cycle of violence against women in the one place they should have been safe - their own home. [March 23, 2021] Psilocybin Data Study Agreement Reached Between Ehave Inc. and Silo Wellness Using Brain Scientific Mapping Neurocap MIAMI, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ehave, Inc. (OTC Pink: EHVVF), a provider of digital therapeutics for the psychedelic and mental health sectors, and Silo Wellness Inc. (CSE: SILO) (Silo Wellness), a wellness company in the psychedelics and functional mushroom marketplaces, today announced plans to collaborate on a clinical study in coordination with select volunteer participants of Silo Wellness Jamaican psilocybin-facilitated wellness retreats. The study will focus on studying transitions in and out of the altered state of consciousness caused by psychedelic molecules and offer a safe and powerful means of advancing knowledge on the neurobiology of non-ordinary conscious states. Advancing the understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of immersive states of consciousness could ultimately help researchers find better treatment approaches for diseases such as chronic pain, depression (major and persistent), bipolar disorder, general anxiety, ADHD and Schizophrenia. Ehaves proprietary dashboard will be used to collect and sort data from the brain mapping study. Ehave will integrate Brain Scientific's NeuroCap and NeuroEEG to acquire data from participants in real time. The study with Silo Wellness will allow Ehave to deploy NeuroCap and NeuroEEG in order to capture the data around the electrophysiological changes in brain pre-, mid-, and post-psychedelic drug administration. This will allow researchers to measure the efficacy of psychedelic molecules on various mental health indications that might open new doorways for psychedelic research and development of molecules to address various mental health disorders with great precision and efficiency. Ehave CEO, Ben Kaplan said, Brain mapping reveals which areas of the brain are not working the way they should, as well as how those areas are affected by external factors." Mr. Kaplan continued, "The brain mapping process will allow us to see inside the brain to identify the effects of psilocybin molecules and its derivatives on brainwaves. From the data we receive from the brain map, a report will be generated for each patient that shows the areas affected. Silo Wellness is delighted to collaborate on discovering innovative methods to assist in delivering the most optimal experience of wellness retreat participants through the screening of psychoactivity, which may enable us to learn even more about therapeutic dosing of psilocybin products, commented Douglas K. Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of Silo Wellness. Scientific approaches such as this align with our ongoing commitment to leverage technology, applications and formats, such as our patent-pending psilocybin nasal spray, to both destigmatize and transform the psychedelics landscape. The study will assimilate data of select volunteers of Jaaican psilocybin retreat participants by measuring brain activity for a duration of 15-30 minutes before the administration of psilocybin and its derivatives. The participant shall wear an EEG neurocap during the entire process of the study and for 15-30 minutes after the administration of the psilocybin and its derivatives. "This study will be conducted using EEG devices to measure the brain activity before, during, and after administration of psilocybin and its derivatives. To conduct the test, we place a comfortable cap on the individuals head. The cap contains sensors that measure brainwaves of various frequencies. This is an entirely non-invasive reading of the brains activity and frequency patterns," said Alfred Farrington II, Chief Information Officer of Ehave. Dr. Manideep Gopishetty, Medical Advisor for Ehave said, Understanding the effects psychedelics have on human brain activity and how its impacting the consciousness could be a key to building a more sustainable and effective treatment protocol for various mental health disorders. This is part of Silo Wellnesss commitment to the advancing psychedelic compounds in familiar delivery modalities, stated pharmacologist Dr. Parag Bhatt, Silo medical advisor and co-inventor of the nasal spray. We are using this endeavor to evaluate the feasibility of an advanced tool to potentially use in a future study to prevent hyper-therapeutic dosing of psychedelics in line with our psilocybin nasal spray and other metered-dosing patent application claims. Ehave will be responsible for collecting and sorting data from the brain mapping study with its Ehave Dashboard. Ehave will also be responsible for designing the protocol for the brain mapping study, finalizing the principal investigator and medical monitor, providing the EEG equipment, as well as training the ground staff in Jamaica to handle the EEG equipment. In addition to developing and facilitating the psilocybin-assisted wellness retreat agenda, Silo Wellness will be responsible for procuring the retreat sites for the brain mapping study to take place in Jamaica. Silo Wellness will also be responsible for facilitating the administration of psilocybin and its derivatives in natural variants. About Ehave, Inc. Ehave, Inc. (EHVVF) is a leader of digital therapeutics delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions to patients. Our primary focus is on improving the standard care in therapeutics to prevent or treat brain disorders or diseases through the use of digital therapeutics, independently or together, with medications, devices, and other therapies to optimize patient care and health outcomes. Our main product is the Ehave Telemetry Portal, which is a mental health informatics platform that allows clinicians to make objective and intelligent decisions through data insights. The Ehave Infinity Portal offers a powerful machine learning and artificial intelligence platform with a growing set of advanced tools and applications developed by Ehave and its leading partners. This empowers patients, healthcare providers, and payers to address a wide range of conditions through high quality, safe, and effective data-driven involvement with intelligent and accessible tools. Additional information on Ehave can be found on the Companys website at: www.ehave.com. The Ehave Dashboard is a data driven platform that has been strategically developed to provide better communication among medical practitioners and health care providers. The aggregation of data and information into one application has proven effective in streamlining the health process for both patients and providers. The Ehave Dashboard has been developed through years of testing with mental healthcare professionals at one of Canadas largest hospitals, The Hospital for Sick Children in Ontario. In addition to providing better outcomes, the proprietary platform allows individuals to take control of their physical and mental health by enabling them to carry their medical records with them wherever they go. As a result of a strategic partnership with BurstIQ to further develop the blockchain capabilities of its platform, the Ehave Dashboard has the ability to segment data on-chain, which will allow developers, clinicians, researchers, doctors, hospitals, universities and, ultimately, prescribers of Psychedelic therapy, to provide life-changing solutions to patients. BurstIQ is a HIPAA and GDPR compliant global data platform, and the industrys only Big Data blockchain that keeps data on chain and safe in the cloud. Contact for 20/20 Global and Ehave Media Inquiries: Gabe Rodriguez Email: Gabe@Ehave.com Investor Relations: Email: Ir@Ehave.com Phone: (623) 261-9046 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Nigerian government on Tuesday launched a national consolidated service delivery guideline on HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) for key populations within the country. The guideline outlines public health response to HIV and STI for people that fall within this category, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Gambo Aliyu, said at the launch. Key populations are people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, transgender persons, sex workers and prisoners. Around the world, key populations face much higher rates of HIV and AIDS than the general population and are most at risk for contracting HIV, the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said. UNAIDS estimates that between 40 per cent and 50 per cent of all new HIV infections may occur between individuals in key populations and their immediate partner. Underreporting is also common within key populations due to fears of stigma, backlash and discrimination, according to the UNAIDS. In Nigeria, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs, make up only 3.4 per cent of the population, yet they account for about 32 per cent of new infections. The Nigerian government in 2014 increased the punishment for homosexuality to 14 years in jail. Criminalising laws such as these have made it harder to work with LGBT communities and have pushed men who have sex with men underground, making them more vulnerable to HIV, Walter Ugwocha, executive secretary of Civil Society for HIV/AIDs in Nigeria (CISHAN), told PREMIUM TIMES Last December. New guidelines Mr Aliyu said the agency engaged the services of the Henry Jackson Foundation Medical Research International (HJFMRI) to develop a document that will define the implementation of programmes and services for key populations and their children. He said the document will provide guidance packages of HIV and STI services and performance indicators for monitoring and evaluation of these services across the country. Mr Aliyu explained that the Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey (IBBSS) showed that the national HIV prevalence is higher among key populations. HIV services for key populations and children of key populations remain largely inadequate, and so, the HIV incidence within this group of persons continue to increase, he said. These guidelines will increase awareness of the needs of key populations; improve access and coverage; establish standardized package of services; facilitate uptake of responsive and acceptable services; and catalyze greater national commitment and resourcing to sustain services. He said the guidelines will also support efforts towards strengthening HIV and AIDS prevention, care and treatment programmes while addressing stigma, violence, and mental health. In her remarks, Country Director, U.S. Department of Defence, Laura Chittenden, said the launch marks an exciting milestone in improving the quality of care for those affected and infected by HIV. She noted that key populations case management is important to ensure a client-centred approach. Yet globally, ensuring that HIV service packages include the goods and services specific to those most vulnerable to the disease remains a challenge. ADVERTISEMENT She noted that general service delivery package of a country may not adequately address the barriers to services presented to key populations. These barriers-particularly stigma, discrimination, or violence prohibit those who choose to seek testing, care and treatment from doing so, she said. The Director, Community Prevention Care and Support Services, NACA, Alex Ogundipe, said the guideline is neither to encourage nor discourage the activities of the key population but to have a valid document to address HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. 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NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 Less than a week after a deadly attack on Asian Americans in Atlanta, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and members of the General Assemblys Asian American Caucus spoke out against the murders and against discrimination, in general, toward the Asian American community. I do not pretend to know the pain of this moment, for those who look at the Atlanta victims and see their own mothers, daughters and sisters, or themselves, Pritzker said at a news conference Monday in Chicagos Chinatown neighborhood. But I want the (Asian American Pacific Islander) community in Illinois to know that I see you, and I see the fear and anxiety that these events have forced into your lives and the lives of your loved ones, and I want you to know that Illinois is your home. You are our friends and our neighbors and our family members, and I will do everything in my power as governor to protect you and to welcome you. Pritzker was accompanied by members of the Asian American Caucus, including Democratic Reps. Theresa Mah of Chicago, Janet Yang Rohr of Naperville, Denyse Wang Stoneback of Skokie, and Sen. Ram Villivalam, a Democrat from Chicago. Pritzker also was joined by representatives from Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community and the National Asian Pacific American Womens Forum. Yang Rohr said the acts of violence March 16 at spas in Atlanta that left eight dead, including six women of Asian descent, come amid escalating tensions and hate throughout the past year since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The 21-year-old suspect, who was arrested after the fatal shootings, remains in custody on charges of murder and assault. Let me tell you, our community, your friends, your neighbors, your family, we are reeling from this in a year when every single one of us has had to deal with increasing isolation, increasing deaths, Yang Rohr said. We, in our community, have had to proceed more carefully, more fearfully, as weve had to watch leadership from the highest levels of our country use pointed and deliberate words of hate to put targets on us, hateful words and hateful language. More Information A county-by-county look at the percentage of Asian American population in west-central Illinois, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: Morgan: 0.8% Brown: 0.3% Cass: 0.7% Greene: 0.3% Jersey: 0.8% Macoupin: 0.4% Pike: 0.3% Sangamon: 2.1% Schuyler: 0.4% Scott: 0.2% See More Collapse Yang Rohr was referencing politicians who have replaced coronavirus or COVID-19 with the terms China virus or even Kung flu, including former President Donald Trump and Illinois GOP Congressman Rodney Davis. Last week, Davis defended his use of the term Kung flu, saying it was no different than using a term such as UK variant. Yang Rohr stressed the importance of the Illinois General Assembly passing the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act, or TEAACH Act, that would require public elementary and high schools in Illinois to teach a curriculum studying the events of Asian American history, including the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The bill passed out of a House committee last week. Mah, whose district encompasses Chicagos Chinatown, echoed the sentiment that members of the Asian American community have experienced heightened xenophobia since the pandemic began. Stop AAPI Hate, a group that documents incidents of violence and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S., found that nearly 3,800 hate incidents were reported from March 19, 2020, to Feb. 28, according to a report by the group. The report showed that 68.1% of the incidents were verbal harassment and 20.5% were shunning or the deliberate avoidance of Asian Americans. Physical assault comprises 11.1% of the total incidents, the study found. But Mah said businesses in Chinatown felt the effects of the xenophobia and racism well before the pandemic began. I think its important to recognize the history of how Chinatown here was established as business leaders, over 110 years ago, moved to Chinatown originally from The Loop area, where they experienced violence and hostility, Mah said, speaking before at the news conference at Ping Tom Memorial Park named after a Chinatown businessman and civic leader. Its unacceptable that more than 100 years later, racism and hate are still issues for our community. Pritzker encouraged people to report hate crimes or incidents of discrimination to the hotline for the Illinois Attorney Generals Civil Rights Bureau, which investigates complaints of patterns and practices of discrimination in certain sectors, including housing, public accommodations, and employment. People can report incidents of hate or discrimination to the Civil Rights Bureau at 877-581-3692 or civilrights@atg.state.il.us. At the Plenary Session of the HKTDC International Sourcing Show, industry leaders shared on the latest market trends at a webinar titled "International Sourcing Outlook". Speakers included (L-R) Benson Ng, Hong Kong Business Consulting Leader at EY; Shinya Hisanaga, Director at AEON Stores (HK); Flavien Serra, Founder at DTL Sourcing; and Fione Tan, Co-founder at 28Mall.com Plato Wai, General Manager Hong Kong at SHOPLINE, shared his experience helping brands open their online stores at the "Survive and Thrive: Leveraging End-to-end E-commerce Solutions" webinar Ryan Lee, Co-founder and EVP of SmartStudy, shared his insights and experiences from the perspective of a licensor at the "Utilising Licensing to Expand Your Business" webinar HONG KONG, Mar 23, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - The ability to harness big data and leverage e-commerce opportunities has become key to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to make breakthroughs under the new normal. To help SMEs adapt to the changing landscape and adopt online-to-offline/offline-to-online (O2O) strategies, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has launched the "Let's Go Phygital: Power Up for the New Normal" seminar series with the support of AsiaWorld-Expo and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The first round of webinars was held as part of the HKTDC International Sourcing Show with sessions including "International Sourcing Outlook", "Survive and Thrive: Leveraging End-to-end E-commerce Solutions" and "Utilising Licensing to Expand Your Business". Speakers used insights derived from big data and e-commerce solutions to identify some of the paths to business success in 2021.Three product categories with big prospectsDuring the webinar titled "International Sourcing Outlook", Benson Ng, Hong Kong Business Consulting Leader at consulting group EY, reviewed World Trade Organisation (WTO) statistics showing that the volume of world merchandise trade shrank 9.2% in 2020. Asia experienced a lesser decline, however, with imports falling 7.1% and exports dipping 3.9%. Following a challenging 2020, Mr Ng expressed a degree of optimism for the year ahead. "The anticipation for 2021 is that we will all start to see the light at the end of the tunnel," he said. The WTO projects that global merchandise trade will grow by 7.2% during the first quarter of 2021 and could "recover a significant portion of what was lost in 2020".To spur trade, Mr Ng suggested that businesses focus on three major themes for corporate development. First, they need to pay attention to the changing global supply chain, which saw more customers sourcing within the region during the pandemic. Second, they must be willing to adopt digitisation - an area on which EY is placing considerable emphasis, "not just for content, but also for electronic transactions and insights for automation". Third, they should focus on sustainable products, plant-based nutrition and electric vehicles. In the next 10 to 20 years, these three themes will be highly influential and "enterprises will find tremendous opportunities by focusing on these areas," Mr Ng explained.Devin Dai, Director of Category Management at Alibaba.com, identified the sales trends of 2021 by deciphering the market data collected by his company. He said that casual is the most popular style for fashion, while for home furnishings the keywords are "transitional, modern luxury, glam and minimalist". In the beauty products arena, home-use beauty equipment is a breakout category while the market for natural and organic products is growing substantially with a loyal customer base. In addition, the printing and packaging market is growing at a blistering pace, in part because beauty products need reliable packaging when they are sold overseas, and also because brands are increasingly looking for environmentally friendly biodegradable packaging materials to enhance their branding power.Livestreaming and KOC marketing yield remarkable resultsAlthough many SMEs recognise the power of e-commerce, few have the capabilities to follow it through. At the "Survive and Thrive: Leveraging End-to-end E-commerce Solutions" webinar, Plato Wai, General Manager Hong Kong of SHOPLINE, spotlighted three smart commerce trends that his company observed after helping brands open online stores. The first is O2O data synchronisation. Many companies operate both physical and online shops yet keep sales data and customer information separate. To improve administration, SHOPLINE provides an iPad point of sale system that helps merchants synchronise their online and offline data. Secondly, SHOPLINE's Smart Ads system uses artificial intelligence to measure the performance of online ads. When an ad underperforms, the system will reallocate the budget to better-performing ads so that merchants can deploy their advertising budget more effectively.Mr Wai also suggested that Hong Kong businesses be aware of the potential of social commerce - a form of sales using livestreaming to showcase and sell products that has become particularly popular in Mainland China and some Southeast Asian countries. "Many brands that focus on selling through livestreaming do not even have an online storefront," Mr Wai said, noting that some social media platforms do not include a sales function. In response, SHOPLINE offers a convenient service to partner brands. When a customer types in a keyword while watching livestreaming on Facebook, for example, he or she will receive a link via Messenger. Clicking on the link will lead the customer directly to the store's checkout page with the product already in the shopping cart.Elijah Whaley, VP of Marketing, APAC, at PARKLU by Launchmetrics, is an expert on key opinion leader (KOL) management and marketing strategies in Mainland China. He said that the customer acquisition cost of online advertising in the mainland is rising continually, which is leading to Chinese brands developing new collaboration models with their KOCs - key opinion consumers. KOCs are new customers who become return customers and then promote the products to family and friends to turn them into loyal customers. The KOC market is expanding rapidly and Whaley cited the example of Wang Liao Ji, which created a marketing campaign that fused celebrities and KOCs and generated 362 million impressions. "This was much more than any KOL could have achieved and created a community around the product itself," Mr Whaley said.Prospective licensing agents must "do their homework"At the "Utilising Licensing to Expand Your Business" webinar, Marilu Corpus, Managing Director for Asia at MDR Brand Management, offered what was essentially an introductory course in brand licensing. She went over the responsibilities of stakeholders and the preparations and considerations that prospective brand licensees need to make. She also reminded those interested in becoming licensing agents to "do their homework", such as finding out whether a brand already has other licensing agents to avoid potential problems. They should also consider cultural differences and whether the products they represent are incompatible with certain religions. Ms Corpus added that licensed products are all competing for shelf space. "Since the stockpiles of 2020 are still unresolved, department stores and physical stores may not be keen to bring in new products. As a result, online sales become a key channel."Speaking from the perspective of a licensor, Ryan Lee, Co-founder and EVP of SmartStudy, explained how Pinkfong and Baby Shark evolved from a nursery rhyme into a global brand and generated impressive returns for the licensing agents. For example, after WowWee, a toy brand, was granted the license to produce Baby Shark dolls, it created a product that at one point became the world's best-selling toy. And, after releasing Pinkfong Baby Shark ice-cream, Nestle Malaysia attracted more than 15,000 participants to related events and sold 12,000 ice-creams in four days. "The partner companies achieved remarkable results, and the customers were happy. It was fantastic," said Mr Lee.The International Sourcing Show is the first online-and-offline exhibition organised by the HKTDC. The event runs from 17 March to 29 July under the theme "Your Source of Inspiration" and showcases a spectrum of quality lifestyle products and solutions under four main categories. The show is hosting a total of 17 webinars with more than 60 industry luminaries invited to share their insights and ideas. A number of highlighted webinars were held during the first three days of the online show (17 to 19 March), to allow buyers and exhibitors more time to focus on making business connections on subsequent days up until 31 March. These highlighted webinars are available for viewing now at the International Sourcing Show's Intelligence Hub website.Websites:International Sourcing Show: https://isshow.hktdc.com/online/en/Intelligence Hub: https://isshow.hktdc.com/tc/intelligence-hubPhoto download: https://bit.ly/2PmqzmdAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedInMedia enquiriesPlease contact the HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.orgAgnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.orgSource: HKTDCCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Group Brings Together Democrats and Republicans in Talks, Promotes Unity San Diego workshop gives both sides a better understanding of each other The political polarization in the United States has increasingly strained or broken bonds between family and friends in recent years says clinical psychologist Laura Gilliom. Shes seen it in her own family and in those she counsels. I see a real hunger for regaining the ability to talk with and to trust each other despite political differences, she told The Epoch Times via email. She joined a national organization called Braver Angels dedicated to reducing political polarization, restoring civic trust, and generally bringing Americans together. Its first meeting was in South Lebanon, Ohio, in 2016. The groups foundersBill Doherty, David Blankenhorn, and David Lappbrought together 10 Donald Trump supporters and 11 Hillary Clinton supporters. They succeeded in moderating a civil and respectful discussion. They initially called their group Better Angels, inspired by a quote from Abraham Lincoln: We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature. They changed it to Braver Angels in 2020 to emphasize the courage it takes to reach out to the other side in friendship. The group has gained increased momentum in the past several months. It had more than 16,000 members as of early March, with an increase of 4,000 since November 2020. Its volunteers and members are located all over the country, and they have hosted about 1,200 Red and Blue conversation workshops. Gilliom is co-chair of the central North Carolina branch. On March 6, more than 10 online sessions took place for people in various locations, including California, Oregon, and Oklahoma. At a workshop based in San Diego, California, seven Republicans, seven Democrats, and eight observers took part. It involved two sessions of three hours each. Stereotypes Harriet Baber, one of the Democrats at the San Diego workshop, said she had not really talked to any Republicans about their views since the 1990s. It was a common sentiment, with many at the session saying they have mostly only heard the other side through the media and they have hesitated to talk directly with people on that side because of negative impressions of them. A stereotypes exercise was one of the first components of the Braver Angels workshop, following brief self-introductions. They discussed stereotypes of Republicans and Democrats and to what extent they are inaccurate or true. The seven Blue Team members listed 13 items they believed were stereotypes of Democrats in the eyes of conservatives: theyre socialists, tree huggers, elitists, perpetuators of political correctness and toxic femininity, against the military and police, unpatriotic, overly sensitive about race, bleeding hearts, short-sighted, excessive spenders, against family values, and anti-religion. The Blue Teams candidness took some Red Team members by surprise. The same happened when Greg Nelson from the Red Team presented their summary of the progressive stereotypes of conservatives: theyre narrow-minded bigots, racists, all Trump-supporters, indifferent to the poor, and negative toward immigration. Members of each team individually, and without interruption, elaborated on where they were misunderstood. Participants have a discussion as part of a Braver Angels workshop in 2018. (Courtesy of Braver Angels) Braver Angels California Director Randy Lioz (L) of Irvine, Calif., gets together with his Facebook penpal and political opposite, Lucas Chesser, for a beer. (Courtesy of Braver Angels) From the Blue Team, Helena Lea-Bastille said, nobody wants the Soviet socialism. She doesnt like big government in general but wants a union that can provide universal health care. Liz Perez, also of the Blue Team, is a Navy veteran and was the deputy secretary of Californias Department of Veterans Affairs (20182019). She said shes an example of a Democrat thats pro-military and pro-police. On the other side, the Red Teams Nelson said, We are staunch supporters of free speech and thought, and many of us are engaged in anti-racist volunteer or workgroups. People love better jobs, liberty, constitutional rule, choosing their ways independently to contribute, but cannot be forced by the government to do the same thing, he said, referring to the different definitions of equality discussed by the Red Team. Many on the Red Team stressed individual liberty with fairness before the law for all, rather than an absolute equality of outcomes for every person. Values, Concerns Both teams were given opportunities to present their sides values and policies that they think are good for the country, and they were also required to share their reservations or concerns about the party they are affiliated with. Suzanne Mercial of the Red Team said people should not make jokes about race or gender, that theyre not funny anymore. A Red Team member named Norm (he didnt give his last name) said, We need to care about other peoples feelings. He was once a Democratic but became a Republican many years ago. During the session, he stressed that fiscal responsibility in government was a key value for him. He felt that Republicans had also become less responsible with money in recent years. Perez said she became a Democrat because her grandmother told her as a child that she should be one, that Democrats take care of people. Its not 100 percent true, Perez said. For example, they might collect money, but dont resolve the issues. In less than three hours, the two teams had reached consensus on several points. For example, they agreed that America needs real unity, not division; and that both parties need strong, practical, principle-driven leaders. Session moderators Randy Lioz and Mary Thomas-Vallens said they saw each group showing honesty with themselves, working hard to understand the other side, and being grateful to each other. Lioz and Thomas-Vallens didnt express any party affiliation, and swapped teams half-way through the session to work with both teams. A Calm Talk It was refreshing to see how calm people were talking about complex topics from different perspectives and that there are more commonalities than there are differences, observer Denise Trevino said. I think the extremes on both sides are what people hear the most, unfortunately, out there in the world. One factor that may contribute to the workshops success is that participants are people who voluntarily signed up, indicating a willingness and readiness to listen to different voices. Also, like the election debates, the workshop established a set of rules. Unlike election debates, where the main focus is distinguishing oneself and undermining ones opponent, Braver Angels requires participants to do their best to suppress the urge to argue with the other side and instead force themselves to look for their own problems and shortcomings, to listen to the other side and look for their praiseworthy points. Ciaran OConnor, chief marketing officer for Braver Angels, told The Epoch Times: No matter how different peoples views are, people need to see each other as human beings just like themselves and can sit down and discuss [with] them peacefully without resorting to hatred and violence. According to Braver Angels survey data gathered from about 1,800 participants, about 79 percent reported that as a result of the experience, theyre better able to understand the experiences, feelings, and beliefs of those on the other side of the political spectrum. More than 70 percent say they feel more understood by those on the other side of the political divide. There has also been some dissatisfaction and criticism against Braver Angels, especially concerning the discussions on elections integrity. We have lost some members and volunteers because of the national debate session held March 4 about voter fraud, voter suppression, and the 2020 election, according to John Wood Jr., the organizations national ambassador. However, he sees the setback as also being a triumph because the groups integrity held when tested: it was a difficult subject and people came out to discuss it honestly as they see it. Our mission, he told The Epoch Times in an email, is to restore the bonds of community and to refresh the fabric of democracy through bold empathy and the good faith embrace of our conflicts. Our doors must be open for Americans right, left and center to join us as they are. We ask people to show up in the full authenticity of their beliefs, whether in workshops or debates. Braver Angels has struggled to maintain neutrality between the various positions of its participants. This includes the staff, which is roughly half red and half blue. Laura Gilliom (front left), Braver Angels North Carolina co-chair, attends a workshop that brings together Republicans and Democrats for discussion in 2018. (Courtesy of Braver Angels) As a senior member, Gilliom prefers to see the challenge as motivation. The biggest challenge is also the reason for Braver Angels existence, Gilliom said. Its hard but rewarding overcoming distrust of those on the other side. Even on the more contentious topic of election fraud, Gilliom found that her local North Carolina session on March 6 about it was fruitful. Participants proposed solutions, including creating a bipartisan independent commission to investigate fraud allegations, and better educating citizens about existing election safeguards. OConnor said many session participants are middle-aged and older adults. He said Braver Angels is trying to engage more young people. Aside from the workshops, Braver Angels has a Family and Politics program and Campus Debates program. OConnor and Wood call on all Americans to have what they both called the courage to connect. ADVERTISEMENT The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution urging the State Security Service (SSS) to probe the recent attack on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State by suspected herdsmen. It specifically asked the security agency to investigate the claim by the Fulani National Movement (FUNAM) that it was responsible for the attack on Mr Ortom. The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Kpam Sokpo (PDP) who represents Buruku Federal Constituency of Benue State and others. Mr Ortom was reportedly attacked on Saturday around his farm at Tyo-Mu Community, about 20 kilometres from Makurdi, the state capital. PREMIUM TIMES reported that President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack and 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. The Inspector General of Police, on Sunday, Mohammed Adamu, ordered investigation into the incident. The motion Mr Sokpo, in the motion, asked the House to urge the SSS to investigate the claim by a group, FUNAM, that it was responsible for the attack on Mr Ortom. He said media reports indicated that one Umar Amir Shehu, on behalf of FUNAM, claimed responsibility for the attack. Their unequivocal intention and mission to kill the governor, his collaborators and whoever is against the Fulani long term interest as a case of vengeance against an infidel. The assassination attempt on Gov. Ortom of Benue State is an invitation to anarchy and a glaring indication that the nation is drifting into a state of full-scale lawlessness, he said. Contributing to the motion, Samuel Okwu, who represents Oju/Obi Federal Constituency of Benue State, said the perpetrators of the alleged attack must be brought to justice When the motion was put to the lawmakers by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, it was unanimously taken by the House. The UN's premiere global body fighting for should be tackling the yawning gap between men and women when it comes to political leadership and ensuring women have a strong voice in rebuilding economies after the COVID-19 pandemic -- not arguing about preserving sexual and reproductive rights for women as it is doing now, the head of UN Women says. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said in an interview with The Associated Press that the pandemic has left women facing increasing domestic violence and being laid off from two-thirds of the jobs lost during the crisis. In addition, 11 million girls are at risk of never returning to school, child marriage has increased, and there are more orphans and child-headed homes, she said. So whatever you touch, women are in a bad space, as a result of the pandemic and the underlying discrimination that has always been there," she said. This therefore suggests that building back better is about gender equality, just as it's about green economies and any equitable sharing of resources. What the pandemic has made clear, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Women's Day earlier this month, is that this is still a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture. But he said the pandemic has also forced a reckoning with global inequalities, fragilities and entrenched gender discrimination.'' Mlambo-Ngcuka said all these issues are currently playing out at the two-week meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women which ends Friday. And they are also certain to be on the agenda at two major upcoming events in Mexico City and Paris which are part of the delayed 25th anniversary of the 1995 Beijing women's conference that adopted a 150-page road map to achieve UN Women's executive director said one hope from the commission meeting is to spur governments to adopt mandatory measures to achieve political parity. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, only 25 per cent of lawmakers worldwide are women and only 22 countries have a female head of state or government, with Europe topping the list. Mlambo-Ngcuka quoted US Vice President Kamala Harris, who addressed the commission last week, saying, the status of women is the status of democracy. It is not doing women a favour, Mlambo-Ngcuka said. It's actually giving democracy credibility by showing that the interests and number of women who participate in public institutions ... improve the quality of the decisions that are made. But she said the outcome document from this year's commission meeting, which is supposed to focus on promoting women's leadership and combatting violence, is facing pushback on the same old issues, sexual and reproductive rights for women, that are part of the 1995 Beijing platform. There are also countries that do not want to talk about human rights, who do not want to talk about human rights defenders, who are watching that we don't do anything that acknowledges nonconforming gender roles, Mlambo-Ngcuka said. Asking about sexual and reproductive rights when we are asking about increased participation of women and making this a do-or-die issue is almost taking everyone away from the broader theme," she lamented. Mlambo-Ngcuka was also sharply critical that 80 per cent of countries have COVID-19 task teams to address problems created or exacerbated during the pandemic that are comprised predominantly of men. Yet, these teams need to tackle issues affecting women, including gender-based violence, lost jobs and the digital gender gap that has left more women and girls without digital skills increasingly essential to get jobs in the 21st century, she 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.) 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. INS has played a key role in contributing to Digi Internationals overall success in 2020, and Digi looks forward to continuing the momentum in 2021 and beyond," Mike Ueland, President, IoT Products and Services, Digi International. Industrial Networking Solutions (INS) is honored to be recognized as the Digi International Value Added Reseller of the Year award during the announcement of the Digi International 2020 Channel Awards. The accolade was awarded to INS based on excellence, value, and its contribution to advancing the overall IoT market throughout the duration of the year. We are honored to receive the Value Added Reseller Award for 2020, said Richard Rogers, INS Director, Wireless Division. Digi International has been a great partner for over twenty years and were excited about the growing focus on next-generation IoT gateways and cloud solutions. We look forward to continuing to grow this partnership. Digi International congratulates INS on this well-deserved award, said Mike Ueland, President, IoT Products and Services, Digi International. INS has played a key role in contributing to Digi Internationals overall success in 2020, and Digi looks forward to continuing the momentum in 2021 and beyond. For more information about Industrial Networking Solutions, Inc, visit http://www.industrialnetworking.com For more information about Digi International, visit https://www.digi.com/about-digi. About INS INS distributes products, offers technical support and provides IT services for wired and wireless machine networking applications. Since its founding in 1998, INS has seen the industry space it serves variously labeled Industrial Ethernet, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and now the Internet of Things (IoT). Throughout these changes in industry jargon, though, one thing has stayed constant: INSs commitment to providing our customers with best-in-class products, support and services for their critical wired and wireless machine networking application. About Digi International Digi International is a leading global provider of IoT connectivity products, services and solutions. We help our customers create next-generation connected products and deploy and manage critical communications infrastructures in demanding environments with high levels of security and reliability. Founded in 1985, weve helped our customers connect over 100 million things and growing. For more information, visit Digi's website at http://www.digi.com. NEW DELHI (PTI): The defence ministry said it has finalised a contract with Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd (MDSL) to procure 1,300 light combat vehicles for the Indian Army at a cost of Rs 1,056 crore. The induction of the vehicles is planned to be completed in four years. "Providing further boost to 'Make in India', the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with MDSL for supply of 1,300 light specialist vehicles to the Indian Army," the ministry said on Monday. "The light specialist vehicle is a modern fighting vehicle and will be authorised to various fighting units for carriage of medium machine guns, automatic grenade launchers as well as anti-tank guided missiles," it said in a statement. The vehicle is indigenously designed and developed by MDSL. The ministry said the vehicles are extremely agile with all-round protection against small arms fire and they will assist small independent detachments. "This is a flagship project showcasing the indigenous manufacturing capabilities of the defence industry and will add another milestone to the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan' and 'Make in India' initiative of the government," the ministry said in a statement. In the last few months, the ministry finalised a range of procurement projects for the three forces to enhance their overall combat capabilities. Rapa-Marley's focus on continuous evaluation and improvement of Tesco's supply chain drove her to search for the leading technology-based solution of remote supply chain compliance monitoring. The objective was to ensure audit consistency across all geographic locations and workers, effectively utilize time and resources, and implement continuous evaluation of auditing processes. During Tesco's evaluation process, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which turned the continuous improvement project into one that was essential to maintaining business continuity amidst lockdowns, closures, travel bans, and other restrictions. Tesco selected Librestream's Onsight offering for its robust capabilities and reputation as the trusted partner to hundreds of the world's largest companies. Within seven weeks of selecting Librestream, Tesco fully-deployed the technology and saw immediate results. The Onsight platform enables Tesco auditors to conduct immersive, time-saving virtual audits across the global supply chain. "Librestream's solution proved invaluable to Tesco's ability to ensure food safety for our customers during COVID-19 and maintain a fully-deployed audit team," said Rapa-Marley. "While COVID-19 accelerated this virtual audit initiative, the advantages are felt immediately and growing over the long term. Remote auditing technology provides strong benefits in worker productivity and safety, as well as timely, consistent supplier audits, therefore maintaining high standards for our customers. Furthermore, with our diverse global footprint, Librestream's natural language processing (NLP) has proved valuable to bridge geographic and language barriers." Efficiency dramatically improved with the virtual audit approach. As one example, a Tesco auditor successfully completed virtual site visits across three countries in a single day. The auditsa product launch in Asia, a packaging approval in Ireland, and a hygiene inspection in Spainnormally required two weeks of time and travel. Food safety and quality are top concerns in the food industry, yet it's one of the slowest to digitize its processes. "Ms. Rapa-Marley and her team at Tesco exemplify the transformative power and immediate results enabled by remote expert technology. We look forward to the continued partnership and unlocking new value for Tesco and their supply chain partners with enhanced efficiency and productivity, cost savings, and safety," said John Bishop, President and CEO of Librestream. About Librestream Librestream transforms workforces through advanced AR and AI solutions that scale knowledge across businesses to enhance safety, efficiency and resiliency. With the Onsight augmented reality knowledge platform, Librestream helps workers and distributed teams gain immediate access to the content, people, relevant data, and guidance needed to solve business challenges. Librestream's global Forbes 2000 customer base includes energy, manufacturing, service, aerospace, and defense enterprises with aggregate annual revenues totaling $3.2T. The company has been honored with recognition including ranking as the #1 AR remote assistance solution provider by independent research firm, Verdantix, named an IDC Innovator, and winner of the Field Service WBR Innovation Award. Visit Librestream at www.librestream.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter. About Food Logistics Food Logistics is the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of product through the global cold food supply chain, focusing on trucking, warehousing, packaging, risk management, food safety and more. Go to www.FoodLogistics.com. Librestream Press Kit: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uxb6wy3ptdlqoin/AAC_bw5YTLt_kWZMK4nSY2J2a?dl=0 Contacts Joseph Milholland Lightspeed PR/Marketing [email protected] Sarah Ekenberg Director, PR & Communications, Librestream [email protected] SOURCE Librestream Related Links http://www.FoodLogistics.com China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Guilin, China, March 22, 2021. /CMG Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Monday. The two sides conducted strategic communication on international and regional issues of common concern and reached broad consensus. This is Lavrov's first visit to China since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The two sides briefed each other on the recent situation of their relations with the United States. Both foreign ministers said that the international community believes that the United States should reflect on the damage it has done to global peace and development in recent years, stop unilateral bullying, stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs, and stop pulling "small circles" to engage in group confrontation. All countries should abide by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, pursue true multilateralism, work for the democratization of international relations, accept and promote the peaceful coexistence and common development of countries with different social systems and development paths. On the Iranian nuclear issue, the two sides believe that the United States should return to the comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue as soon as possible and unconditionally, and withdraw its unilateral sanction against Iran. At the same time, they encourage Iran to fully implement the agreement and hope that the comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue will continue to play its due role in stopping nuclear proliferation. The two sides also proposed the establishment of a regional security dialogue platform to form a new consensus on solving the security concerns of countries in the region. On the issue of Afghanistan, the two sides attach importance to various international efforts, including the Moscow process, and hope that all dialogue mechanisms related to Afghanistan will complement each other, form joint forces, truly embody the principle of "Afghan owned and Afghan led," seize the opportunity and speed up the process of peace, reconciliation and reconstruction. On the Myanmar issue, both sides are deeply worried about the evolution of the current situation, and support all parties and factions in Myanmar to find a political solution to the current crisis under the constitutional and legal framework, so as to avoid another bloody conflict, prevent external forces from taking advantage of the opportunity to seek profits, and continue to promote the process of democratic transformation in Myanmar. The two sides also coordinated their positions on such hot issues as UN reform, the response to climate change, the Asia Pacific situation, Syria and Sudan. Tomorrow, the two sides will continue to hold talks on bilateral relations and international and regional situation. Another porn giant faces class action lawsuit for hosting child sex trafficking videos Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Another leading online pornography company is facing the possibility of a class action lawsuit alleging that it profits from child sexual abuse material and sex trafficking. Filed in the U.S. District Court for Central California, the complaint seeking class action status was filed against XVideos and its parent company, WebGroup Czech Republic, on behalf of a victim identified only as Jane Doe. The lawsuit was filed by the National Center for Sexual Exploitation in consultation with five other survivor-focused and commercial litigation law firms. The court filing contends that Doe is a victim and survivor of childhood sex trafficking featured in videos of childhood sexual abuse sold, published and distributed on websites owned and operated by XVideos. Neither XVideos, nor any other website, owned or operated by WGCZ Defendants undertook any measure to verify Jane Does identity or age, the lawsuit argues. As a result, child sex abuse material (CSAM) depicting Jane Doe was distributed broadly throughout the world on Defendants internet websites. The lawsuit also claims that the company commercially monetized the images, violating the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. XVideos not only violated the law by hosting Jane Does child sexual abuse material, it profited from her abuse given that each image and video of her was monetized, NCOSE Senior Legal Counsel Dani Pinter said in a statement. This cannot be allowed to stand and remain unchallenged. Victims of childhood sexual abuse such as Jane Doe unequivocally deserve justice. The lawsuit says the name Doe extends to represent a class of numerous victims who, as children, had their child sexual abuse images published and monetized by XVideos. The website boasts 200 million daily visitors and 6 billion daily impressions on various websites. The court filing states that Doe was trafficked when she was just 14 and was forced by a sex trafficker to participate in the creation of videos of adults engaging in sex acts with her. As a minor, Jane Does traffickers also sold her for sex and some of the sex acts forced upon Jane Doe were recorded on video and uploaded to the XVideos website, the lawsuit details, noting that she was not paid for her participation in the videos. Videos of adults engaging in sex acts with Jane Doe while she was a minor were uploaded and disseminated through websites owned, operated and/or controlled by Defendants, including, but not limited to XVideos, the filing adds. Videos of these sex acts with the minor Jane Doe continued to turn profits as they were reviewed, downloaded, stored, and disseminated. The complaint argues that XVideos profited financially from the videos through the sale of advertising and by drawing users to their websites to view the videos. Jane Doe knows that her videos have been downloaded, using the easy-to-find Download button that WGCZ placed on its websites, the complaint reads. The lawsuit contends that XVideos not only benefited from a sex trafficking venture and distributed child pornography but also failed to report child sexual abuse material. The Christian Post reached out to XVideos for comment on the complaint. A response is pending. Pinter praised Doe as courageous for sharing her story to help other victims of XVideos. We stand ready to help others who have experienced similar abuse at the hands of XVideos or any other WGCZ entities, Pinter stated. It is time to end this pornography companys abuses and egregious violations of the law. The lawsuit comes as MindGeek, the parent company of several major porn websites, including Pornhub, is under investigation and facing its own lawsuits filed on behalf of child sex abuse survivors. Last month, two unnamed plaintiffs accused Pornhub of hosting and profiting off videos of their abuse uploaded to the popular pornography website. They filed a class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Sex traffickers and the Defendants worked together to earn a profit from commercial sex acts and child pornography involving the Plaintiffs and Class members, states the complaint. MindGeeks platform traditionally made it easy for traffickers, rapists, or would-be criminals to go undetected as account holders or managers who would control and recover any associated compensation. In December, 40 women sued Pornhub. They claim that the company profited from their exploitation as victims of sex trafficking. Last week, more than 70 Canadian lawmakers called for MindGeek to be investigated by police amid the mounting allegations that the company profited from the sexual exploitation of children. Canadian Parliament members from all eight political parties wrote a letter to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police supporting the requests of 104 survivors and 525 nongovernmental organizations from across the globe who have called for a criminal investigation into the Canada-based Pornhub, one of the largest porn sites in the world. As a non-profit organization of women in the food, beverage and hospitality space, Les Dames d'Escoffier's first instinct is to serve - be it food, drink or financial assistance." Les Dames dEscoffier International is now accepting applications for its third round of its LDEI Relief Fund grants. The Fund was created in April 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic to offer assistance to non-profit organizations who provide support to women impacted by disasters, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Theres light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, but we know there is a lot of ongoing need in the non-profit community and Les Dames dEscoffier International is so pleased to be able to offer a third round of grants from our LDEI Relief Fund, said LDEI President Judith Hollis Jones. As a non-profit organization of women in the food, beverage and hospitality industries, our first instinct is to serve be it food, drink, or financial assistance. There are four $2000 grants available to non-profit organizations who support women impacted by disasters such as the Covid-19 pandemic and other events. The deadline for applications is April 1 and recipients will receive funds by April 15. Applicants must be established 501(c)3 organizations, NGOs or internationally recognized non-profits for at least three years. All application criteria and a downloadable application can be found here. The first pair of $1000 grants was awarded in October to Made in New Orleans Foundation and Legal Services for Seniors and in December, four $2500 grants went to Jubilee Womens Center in Seattle, Dog Tag, Inc., in Washington, D.C., The Nashville Food Project and Urban Roots in St. Paul, MN. LDEI is an international organization of women leaders who create a supportive culture in their communities to achieve excellence in the food, beverage and hospitality fields. To do this, 2,400 members in 43 chapters worldwide provide leadership, educational opportunities and philanthropy within their communities. For more information, visit LDEI.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Linked-in and Twitter. As we noted at some length around the time the 1619 Project debuted, some of the strongest criticism of it came from the World Socialist Web Site, which sees identity politics as a hindrance to old-fashioned, orthodox Marxist class-conscious revolution. And they might be on to something here. It really is tempting to see the whole domain of identity politics as a right-wing plot to get the left to commit ritual purity suicide. (Do I really mean this? To quote Francis Urquhart in the originaland bestHouse of Cards: You might very well think so; I couldnt possibly comment. I know Steve Bannon was cheerleading for identity politics to take root in the Democratic Party.) Well check out the latest from Freddie deBoer, who is a far-left writer most often for the uber-socialist magazine Jacobin. First, he provides these heart-warming statistics (from Pew) about what is happening to the news media: U.S. newspaper circulation fell in 2018 to its lowest level since 1940, the first year with available data. Total daily newspaper circulation (print and digital combined) was an estimated 28.6 million for weekday and 30.8 million for Sunday in 2018. Those numbers were down 8% and 9%, respectively, from the previous year. Both figures are now below their lowest recorded levels, though weekday circulation first passed this threshold in 2013. Newspaper revenues declined dramatically between 2008 and 2018. Advertising revenue fell from $37.8 billion in 2008 to $14.3 billion in 2018, a 62% decline. Newsroom employment at U.S. newspapers dropped by nearly half (47%) between 2008 and 2018, from about 71,000 workers to 38,000. Newspapers drove a broader decline in overall U.S. newsroom employment during that span. Layoffs continue to pummel U.S. newspapers. Roughly a quarter (27%) of papers with an average Sunday circulation of 50,000 or more experienced layoffs in 2018. The layoffs came on top of the roughly one-third (31%) of papers in the same circulation range that experienced layoffs in 2017. Whats more, the number of jobs typically cut by newspapers in 2018 tended to be higher than in the year before. As I say, who says there isnt any good news these days? Then deBoera leftist, remembergoes on to offer this explanation for a big reason the major media is collapsing: In the span of a decade or so, essentially all professional media not explicitly branded as conservative has been taken over by a school of politics that emerged from humanities departments at elite universities and began colonizing the college educated through social media. Those politics are obscure, they are confusing, they are socially and culturally extreme, they are expressed in a bizarre vocabulary, they are deeply alienating to many, and they are very unpopular by any definition. The vast majority of the country is not woke, including the vast majority of women and people of color. How could it possibly be healthy for the entire media industry to be captured by any single niche political movement, let alone one that nobody likes? Why does no one in media seem willing to have an honest, uncomfortable conversation about the near-total takeover of their industry by a fringe ideology? And the bizarre assumption of almost everyone in media seems to have been that they could adopt this brand of extreme niche politics, in mass, as an industry, and treat those politics as a crusade that trumps every other journalistic value, with no professional or economic consequences. They seem to have thought that Americans were just going to swallow it; they seem to have thought they could paint most of the country as vicious bigots and that their audiences would just come along for the ride. DeBoer has followed a lot of writers to Substack, and most of his piece is pushing back against the mainstream media types who hate Substack because it is taking even more of their audience away. Chaser, from the Washington Postfor the pure schadenfreude file: Hat tip: JD. Regulatory News: Dividend As announced on February 18, 2021, the Carrefour (Paris:CA) Board of Directors decided to propose to the General Meeting of May 21, 2021 a dividend for the 2020 financial year of 0.48 euro per share, paid fully in cash. The dividend ex-date will be May 26, 2021 and the record date will be May 28, 2021. About Carrefour Group With a multi-format network of some 13 000 stores in more than 30 countries, the Carrefour Group is one of the world's leading food retailers. Carrefour recorded gross sales of 78.6 billion in 2020. It has more than 320,000 employees who help to make Carrefour the world leader in the food transition for everyone, providing everybody with access to high-quality, affordable food every day, in all locations. For more information, visit www.carrefour.com, or find us on Twitter (@GroupeCarrefour) and LinkedIn (Carrefour). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005796/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations Selma Bekhechi, Anthony Guglielmo et Antoine Parison Tel: +33 (0)1 64 50 79 81 Shareholder Relations Tel: 0 805 902 902 (toll-free in France) Group Communication Tel: +33 (0)1 58 47 88 80 The Infrastructure Ministry of Ukraine has supported the implementation of the Dnipro Transportation investment project of the Ukrainian Danube Navigation, according to the shipping company's Facebook page. The company emphasizes that the approval of the investment project by the relevant ministry is an important and decisive step for signing appropriate credit agreements with international financial organizations. The Dnipro Transportation investment project provides for building 16 pusher tugs with hybrid diesel engines, 31 Europe-2 class barges, as well as building and overhauls of five locations for the layover and maintenance of the fleet, etc. The total cost of the project is more than $ 200 million. "In the future, PrJSC Ukrainian Danube Navigation will continue to work on the implementation of the Dnipro Transportation project with international financial organizations, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine and the transport committee of the Verkhovna Rada to obtain appropriate state guarantees and work out the involvement of a wider range of international partners in the project on mutually beneficial commercial terms," the report says. The company also emphasizes that the implementation of the project will allow the implementation of measures to revive the E-40 river route, use the transit potential of the Dnipro River, as well as reduce the load on Ukrainian roads and railways, create orders for the shipbuilding industry and reduce the volume of pollutant emissions into the air. Jerusalem, March 23 : The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is moderately less effective against the South African variant, suggests a study. The findings, published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, showed that the vaccine is effective against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and the UK variant, but provides weakened protection against the South African variant and the combined UK-South African variants. "Our findings show that future variants could necessitate a modified vaccine as the virus mutates to increase its infectivity," said researcher Ran Taubea from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. For the study, the research team looked at the effectiveness of the vaccine against the original viral strain, the UK and the South African variants, as well as strains that harbour combined changes in the viral spike. They are continuing to test other circulating variants as they constantly emerge with the hope to identify potentially risky mutations that can compromise the vaccine, the study indicated. The research team also compared neutralising antibody levels following administration of one and two doses of the vaccine, as opposed to levels in patients that have recovered from Covid-19.A The team found that vaccination provided optimal levels of protection, when compared to the lower levels of protection that were observed in recovered patients. A recent study, published in the journal Nature, also indicated that Covid-19 vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech significantly appear less effective against the Covid variant that first emerged in South Africa. Inside a Buddhist monastery, possibly Pohyon Temple, in modern-day North Pyongan Province, North Korea, circa 1910s / Courtesy of Jan Downing By Robert Neff Religions often extol the virtues of tolerance towards one another but in Korea in the late 19th and early 20th centuries there seems to have been little tolerance, particularly among the Western missionaries. Rev. Samuel Forman Moore, a fire-and-brimstone Presbyterian who has been described as being "sometimes more zealous than wise" demonstrated his intolerance while visiting a Buddhist monastery outside of Seoul in 1893. He was accused of smashing some of the religious items, which he vehemently denied even though the American legation's secretary witnessed the destruction. Moore claimed that "not even one image was cracked or injured in the slightest degree. It was only when the chief priest of the temple had agreed with me that the images were a lot of rubbish and ought to be thrown away that I lightly tapped one as illustrating their inanity." About a decade later, missionaries in Korea and the United States were horrified to discover that an American factory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was exporting Buddhist religious images to Korea. According to one U.S. newspaper, a female missionary who had returned recently from China "was appalled at the idea that people in a Christian country would consent to manufacture idols for poor and unenlightened heathens to worship." Images in a Buddhist monastery, possibly Pohyon Temple, in modern-day North Korea circa 1910s / Courtesy of Jan Downing Methodist Bishop Cyrus David Foss was quoted as saying, "It is to be regretted that Uncle Sam is placing missionaries among the heathen with one hand and with the other hand is placing idols among them. Conduct so inconsistent must fill the more thoughtful heathen with amazement." However, Bishop Foss also seemed somewhat inconsistent. In another paper he said the manufacture of Buddhist religious items and their export to Korea by an American company wasn't as bad as "England's sending opium to India, or the United States sending beer or whisky to the Philippines, or other colonial possessions." A newspaper in Texas declared it was more shocking for Australians to buy British flags made in America than Koreans to buy religious items manufactured in the United States. The manufacture of non-Christian religious items by Western countries was nothing new. Rev. Frederic Poole stated that "a good percentage of the world's idols are made by Christian nations" as part of "the spirit of commercialism of the age and tended to put money-making above religious decency." The U.S. was not alone; Germany was said to be the leading manufacturer of non-Christian religious items exported to Africa and Asia. Perhaps it comes as no surprise that the manufacturer in Philadelphia was a German toymaker who had arrived in that city in 1901. He agreed to be interviewed by the local newspaper on the condition his name not be mentioned. "I am not ashamed of my business," he said. "It is not on account of shame that I withhold my name. It is on account of the visits of clergymen and missionaries and on account of the letters urging me to shut up shop that hundreds of pious women write." The German explained that after one of his friends advised him that the manufacture of religious items was more profitable than toys, he established his factory in a one-story wooden building and began to mass-produce religious items to be sold in India, China and Korea. "I sell a good many idols to Korea," he said. "They buy Buddhas made out of wood. At the Korean temples, after prayers, each worshipper gives to the secretariat at the gate a piece of money and receives in return a little god. It is these little gods that I make." When he was informed about criticisms from religious leaders in Philadelphia (especially Bishop Foss), the manufacturer countered: "I make Buddhas. These Buddhas go out into the world and turn men's thoughts to the rules of Buddhism. They cause men to pray, to be clean, to be temperate, [and] to be kind. If I made whiskey or opium for the heathen things that harm them I would be ashamed of my business. Since I only make gods I am not ashamed." Despite the efforts of the religious leaders in Philadelphia, his company was a success as evidenced by the "wide-spread demand" for his products which were "better and dearer than those Made-in-Germany." But within a few years, a new threat to his company surfaced competition. In early 1907, John Kavanaugh (a former American gold miner in Korea who also worked for the Korean government's coal company) arrived in Joplin, Missouri, in search of sufficient calcite known as "glass tiff" to export to Pyongyang where he planned on establishing his own factory to manufacture Buddhist religious materials. According to Kavanaugh, while working for the Korean government, he noticed that every Korean constantly carried "a small glittering idol to ward off disease and disaster of every kind." These religious items were prone to break due to their constant use and had to be replaced frequently. He was determined to supply the demand for a more durable item one that was a "pretty bauble, fairly shaped" and with "wear-resisting qualities." The question was what material could be used to manufacture these religious items? According to several newspapers, the answer came from a Christian missionary. "How Kavanaugh came to Joplin carries with it a pretty satire. He was directed to this field by a woman missionary [Miss Mary Oglesby] in Korea. Herself teaching the Koreans to desert the worship of hand-made gods, she unwittingly told Kavanaugh where he could find the material he sought for the purpose of commercializing the god making business on an elaborate scale." An ancient monastery, possibly Pohyon Temple, in North Korea circa 1910s / Courtesy of Jan Downing 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. Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, James Marape (C), arrives at the house of Governor-General Bob Dadae in Port Moresby on May 30, 2019. (GORETHY KENNETH/AFP/Getty Images) Papua New Guinea CCP Virus Outbreak Grows Papua New Guinea (PNG) is seeing one of its worst outbreaks of the CCP virus after cases of COVID-19 exploded, forcing the island to call for aid from Australia. The Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response and Police Commissioner David Manning said on March 21 that PNG had seen the number of cases of COVID-19 rise to over 3,000 in the country in just over a month. The number of detected COVID-19 infections today has reached 3,085, which is triple the positive cases one month ago, and we must prepare for this number to continue rising, Manning said. Now is the time for all of our people to be reminded how serious this threat is to us and continue to take precautions to stop the spread. He called on people to wear face masks, wash their hands constantly, and maintain social distancing everywhere possible. The plea from Manning comes after PNG Prime Minister James Marape warned on March 16 that he was afraid the countrys infection rate could be as high as one in every three or four people. However, the countrys lack of adequate testing facilities means the Papuan government has no real estimates of the outbreaks scale. Prof. Glen Mola, a senior gynaecologist from the Port Moresby General Hospital, told the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on March 17 that his hospital was under enormous pressure. He is expecting riots if the situation did not change. The problem is all the usual patients keep on coming, Mola said. The sick kids, the women in labour, car accidents, the knife wounds that just arrives at emergency and at the maternity section. By the time we get to 50 percent [of staff testing positive], well have to close the doors. At that point, we cant carry on with the service. Well reach a critical point where we have to close the doors, and then there will be absolute chaos, of course, because people will just keep coming, but theyll be turned away at the gate. Then there will be riots, I tell you, he said. The Australian government has promised the PNG government 8,000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from its own stockpile to help with the outbreak. It is also making a formal request to AstraZeneca and European Authorities for one million doses of Australias contracted supplies to gift to PNG. In a joint media release on March 17, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt, Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton, and Minister for International Development and the Pacific Zed Seselja said that this would enable vaccination of PNGs essential health workforce. Our early vaccine assistance will be coordinated with the Papua New Guinean Governments response, which has included their COVID-19 National Pandemic Response taskforce. We will also work with the WHO and UNICEF to ensure that it complements PNGs COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan, the release said. We are conscious of the close family and cultural connections of those people living in the Torres Strait Protected Zone. Both Governments are determined to protect our respective communities and avoid any cross-border COVID-19 transmission, the release said. Australia will also deploy a team of three Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) health specialists to Port Moresby to work with local health authorities on infection control, triage, and emergency management and public health measures. Passenger flights between Australia and PNG have been suspended, except for freight, medivac, or humanitarian flights. The quick offer of Australian aid comes after the PNG government refuted Beijings claim that PNG had agreed to allow the communist regime to provide vaccine aid in February. Acting Foreign Minister Rainbo Paita denied the claims by Beijing Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, who wrote on Twitter saying that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had spoken to Paita and they had agreed that China would supply PNG with vaccines. However, Paita told the ABC that PNG had made no such agreement. I did not commit the Government whatsoever, Paita said. I said that we were aware of Chinas assistance to some of the countries in the world for those vaccines. But I said we had our own internal processes, he said. PNG has been heavily engaging with China since signing onto the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018. The latest engagement occurred on March 18 when the government approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the China Enterprise Association to develop investment in PNG. In December last year, Chinese companies also proposed a large scale fisheries precinct on Daru Island in PNG, just 200 kilometres from Australia. Mumbai, March 23 : Babil Khan on Tuesday informed that he has discovered a diary full of acting notes by his father, late actor Irrfan Khan. He calls it the "Book Of Eli". Babil shared a video clip on Instagram, where he is seen flipping through Irrfan's notes. "I just found this book in Baba's cupboard that I had given him when I was like 12 (he used to hate it when I used to call him 'Dad' but whilst puberty global westernisation was beginning to ripen) He had been writing notes on acting for me in it that I think he was going to teach me after film school, so I guess I have just found the 'Book of Eli'," Babil wrote alongside the clip. He then shared a few pointers shared by his father. He said: "1. The intent -- general but specific emotion like displacement, if you are unable to identify with a specific situation. 2. The text is holy in context eg. the woman in the man, self-pity, sexual politics etc. "3. Follow the action of the text sincerely and the required emotion will arise - the intention of the lines are to tell a story and not to pass information. 4. Drama has to be created, it cannot be represented or portrayed like a fact." Babil concluded: "If you don't understand some things, welcome to the club :* (I'm here feeling like I'm decrypting hyroglifics from scratch. The rest is SO confusing, can't even ask him)."Earlier this month, Babil hinted at plans of joining the film industry soon, while posting about his father on social media. Irrfan died in April last year after a two-year battle with neuroendocrine tumour. He was last seen on screen in "Angrezi Medium." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The sister of an Irish woman who has been missing from her US home for more than a week has issued a desperate appeal for help in finding her. Sinead Lyons (41) was last seen walking her dog, a German Shepherd named Flossie, in Lowell, Massachusetts on or around March 11. Sinead's sister Sandra has been posting regular updates on the search and has appealed for any information regarding the whereabouts of her older sister. In an update shared today, Sandra said her beautiful big sister Sinead and her dog Flossie are still missing. There have been no confirmed sightings of either my sister or Flossie, Sandra wrote. Please help find them, I would like to thank everyone for sharing my posts please keep doing so. Our family have been amazed by the kindness that we have been shown by everyone. Together we will find them! Expand Close Sinead Lyons / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sinead Lyons She added: Please contact New Hampshire State police if you have any information. Sinead, who Sandra describes as having "blonde hair, blue eyes, a slim build, 511 and speaks with an Irish accent," was last seen on March 11 "wearing a white coat, white knit hat & black boots" while going to collect her dog Flossie, a female, microchipped German Shepard dog. On March 14, Lowell Police said that Lyons could also possibly be in North Conway, New Hampshire, a scenic area popular with hikers. The next day her white Volvo station wagon was discovered parked 45kms away, in the Ossipee Lake area of Massachusetts. Sandra said: "Sinead left Lowell and travelled to collect Flossie from a friend in the NH [New Hampshire] area. Read More "She was going to go for a walk with Flossie before heading back home to Lowell. "Her car was found parked near Ossipee Lake NH. Sinead & Flossie havent been seen since." In a message to her sister, Sandra said: Our relatives finally made it through all of the red tape that stopped them from traveling to you from Ireland. They are there now, they will find you!" She added: "Please keep looking for Sinead & Flossie, please keep checking your land, sheds & cameras. "We ask those that go looking for Sinead to please stay safe, make sure a loved one knows exactly where you are going." Local news reports that the day after the missing woman's car was found, authorities kicked off a multi-agency search that included land, water, and air. Crews canvassed the area by foot, with drones and a helicopter. State Police Lt James Fogarty said the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department put its airboat on the ice and explored open-water areas of the lake. A remote vehicle was also used to check under the ice, according to WMUR-9News. Fogarty said he had evidence to believe Lyons had been in the Ossipee area and may have gone on a hiking trip with her dog. He also told the WMUR-9News that they are treating the investigation as a missing persons case and have no reason to suspect foul play. Cole James Aguon, 23, has been arrested and charged with family violence and child abuse, both as misdemeanors. According to the prosecution in court documents, the suspect went home drunk and fell asleep. When he woke up, the suspect allegedly swung his arms, hitting the victims shoulder, as the woman punched back in self-defense. The suspect then punched her face, documents state. The woman pushed the suspect away, as he allegedly continued to hit her face. The suspect then allegedly attempted to kick the woman but instead struck a three-year-old childs chest three times. The suspect only stopped after a family member went into the room, documents state. Guam police officers later located the suspect, but he refused to speak with them about the alleged incident. Aguon was ordered to stay away from the alleged victims and avoid contacting them. He was released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond. He is scheduled to appear back in court on April 16. The first raindrops should begin to fall in metro New Orleans by midday Tuesday and will pour down intermittently for the next two days, and forecasters say there is a strong possibility of localized flooding and severe weather throughout the region. UPDATE: Flash flooding possible in New Orleans through Thursday night: What to know New Orleans and the Northshore could see up to 10 inches of rain by Thursday night, said National Weather Service forecaster Danielle Manning. The area is already under a flash flood watch as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, as is most of southeast Louisiana, but that could become a flash flood warning depending on how much and how quickly the rain falls. Neutral ground parking rules to be lifted Tuesday in New Orleans ahead of heavy rains New Orleans residents looking to keep water out of their cars this week can park on city neutral grounds starting Tuesday morning, City Hall 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 Forecasters are also keeping an eye on the possibility of river flooding around the Northshore, Manning said. In preparation for the expected downpour, New Orleans city officials lifted the ban on neutral ground parking starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Sewerage & Water Board officials also warned that only two main turbines and a fleet of electromotive diesel generators are available for use during the storms. Track the live radar below, or click here for a day-to-day forecast for the southeast Louisiana region. Can't see the radar below? Click here. WOOD RIVER Local and state unemployment rates jumped in January, up more than a whole percentage point from the month before. However, Tony Fuhrmann, director of Madison County Employment and Training, said it was something they were expecting. If we went back and looked historically, you would see a similar bump from December to Januarys unemployment rate, he said. The Illinois Department of Employment Security released local January unemployment figures on Thursday. According to data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the unemployment rate for the St. Louis MSA, which includes Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties, was 6.6 percent. 5.4 percent. That number was up from 5.4 percent. While much smaller than the double-digit unemployment figures seen early in the coronavirus pandemic, the local figure is the highest since September, and almost two points above Novembers 4.7 percent rate. Part of that is the traditional bump in unemployment as the holiday season winds down, but that has been exacerbated by COVID-related shutdowns. I would expect to see it go up after the holidays and with colder weather, he said, adding the restaurants didnt come back until about February. Those figures are expected to be released in early April. Part of the reason Januarys figures are late is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics readjusts its figures at this time of year. Statewide, the unemployment rate was 8.5 percent, up from Decembers 7.5 percent rate. While the unemployment rate and job markets continue to be impacted by the ongoing effects of COVID-19, with vaccination rates continuing to increase, we are focused on building a strong recovery on the other side of this pandemic, said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. Locally, unemployment rates by county ranged from 4.2 percent in Monroe County to 7.6 percent in St. Clair County. Madison Countys rate was 6.3 percent, up from 5.3 percent. Jersey County was at 6 percent, Calhoun County at 6.5 percent, Macoupin County at 6.2 percent, and Greene County at 6.2 percent. By cities, Altons rate was 9.1 percent, up from 7.8 percent in January, Edwardsvilles rate was up one-half percent, to 4.6 percent, Collinsvilles rate was 7 percent and Granite Citys rate was 7.7 percent. Over the past year, the St. Louis MSA labor force decreased by 12,127 to 330,720 in January, down from 342,847 in January 2020. The number of employed people was down 21,626 during the same period to 308,989. There were also 21,731 on unemployment, an increase of 9,499 from the previous year. The biggest decreases in employment over the year were in the leisure and hospitality industry, and educational and health services, according to the IDES. The largest gains were in transportation, warehousing and utilities, and professional and business services. Fuhrmann noted that there are jobs available, but people simply are not looking right now. He said there are several reasons. Part of it is that people are staying home with their children. Thats sort of easing up now, he said. More and more school districts are going back to in-person. I think well see our big push in early summer and late fall. He said the extension of, and additional federal support for unemployment benefits has also had an impact. The American Rescue Act is expected to extend benefits through September, give those on unemployment additional money, and make part of unemployment tax-free. Sarah Lorio, MCETs work-based learning coordinator, who deals with businesses, said they are still seeing a lot of jobs in a number of different industries. That includes healthcare, retail transportation and, increasingly, the hospitality industry. Theyre having a hard time getting people back to work, she said. Fuhrmann said MCET, located in the countys Wood River Facility, has a large number of resources, ranging from job postings to help with resumes and money for training. For information call 618-296-4301, visit the Madison County website at https://www.co.madison.il.us/ or visit the departments Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MCETD. GoldenTree's proposal would provide significant debt service relief and leave the Province in a sustainable position that would enable the Province to invest and grow over the coming years. Despite numerous subsequent conversations that evidenced GoldenTree's willingness to continue engaging with the Province in a constructive dialogue and further contact from the Province's financial advisor regarding process, the Province did not make any further proposals and terminated the negotiations. While GoldenTree entered into the discussions with the Province in good faith with the aim of achieving a consensual resolution, our hope that the Province would pursue a realistic approach to the bond restructuring process was not realized. The amended restructuring terms provided to us by the Province, which were published yesterday, do not come close to reflecting the current payment capacity and economic prospects of the Province. This is not a case of a Province that cannot pay a reasonable amount of debt service to its bondholders due to fiscal constraints, but rather of one which is simply unwilling to do so. The choice of the authorities to pursue this path is unacceptable and risks permanently impairing the Province's access to capital markets. We remain open to considering proposals from the Province that fairly reflect the reality of the Province's financial and economic position, but in the mean time we will take any and all actions appropriate to protect our legal and contractual rights. About GoldenTree GoldenTree is an employee-owned, global asset management firm that specializes in opportunities across the credit universe in sectors such as high yield bonds, leveraged loans, distressed debt, structured products, emerging markets, private equity and credit-themed equities. GoldenTree was founded in 2000 and is one of the largest independent asset managers focused on credit. GoldenTree manages over $41 billion for institutional investors including leading public and corporate pensions, endowments, foundations, insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds. For more information, please visit www.goldentree.com. Media Steve Bruce and Mary Beth Grover ASC Advisors 203-992-1230 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE GoldenTree Related Links http://www.goldentree.com In a deliberate escalation of geo-political tensions, the European Union joined the US, as well as Britain and Canada, in imposing coordinated sanctions against Chinese officials on Monday for alleged human rights abuses against the Muslim Uyghur minority in Chinas Xinjiang province. The intensifying demonisation of China follows the modus operandi of US imperialism and its allies over the past three decades as they have prepared for one criminal war after another in the Middle East, the Balkans and Central Asia. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken (Creative Commons/Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs) The sanctions follow a fractious meeting between top US and Chinese officials in Alaska. The talks commenced last Friday with provocative public US condemnations of China across a range of issues, including its treatment of the Uyghursclaims that were rebutted by China. The two days of talks ended without agreement or a joint statement. The US set the stage for the showdown in Alaska by imposing sanctions on Chinese officials over a new law tightening the electoral system in Hong Kong. Now it has targeted Wang Junzheng, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) secretary of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and Chen Mingguo, director of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau, for serious human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims. The US froze assets and imposed travel restrictions. In a statement reeking of hypocrisy, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused China of continuing to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and called on Beijing to release all those arbitrarily held in internment camps and detention facilities. While the CCP regime undoubtedly uses police-state measures in Xinjiang, as it does more broadly against the Chinese working class, Washingtonwhich is guilty of war crimes in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhereis again selectively exploiting human rights to advance its imperialist interests. Blinkens accusation of Uyghur genocide by Chinaa designation only made by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the dying days of the Trump administrationis intentionally inflammatory. While the term conjures up images of mass killings, it rests on nothing more than grossly distorted and largely unsubstantiated claims that Chinas birth control methods in Xinjiang constitute genocide. The European Union has cynically jumped on board the US human rights wagon as a means of extracting concessions from the US as the Biden administration seeks to revitalise relations with Europe that soured under Trump. Significantly, the coordinated sanctions on China were announced immediately prior to Blinken landing in Brussels for talks with European officials. The EU formally announced travel and asset sanctions against four Chinese officials, including two punished by the US. These are the first EU penalties against China since 1989 when the European authorities imposed an arms embargo following the Tiananmen Square massacre. The EU statement stopped short of accusing China of genocide, but alleged that Beijing was responsible for arbitrary detentions and degrading treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, as well as systematic violations of their religious freedom. The US also released a joint statement condemning China by Blinken and the foreign ministers of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence alliance, consisting of the US, Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The UK and Canada have imposed their own sanctions on China, but Australia and New Zealand have yet to do so. The joint statement declared: The evidence, including from the Chinese governments own documents, satellite imagery, and eyewitness testimony is overwhelming. Chinas extensive program of repression includes severe restrictions on religious freedoms, the use of forced labor, mass detention in internment camps, forced sterilisations, and the concerted destruction of Uyghur heritage. The evidence, in fact, is far from overwhelming. Eyewitness accounts derive in the main from Uyghur exiles associated with CIA-funded organisations such as the World Uyghur Congress and the American Uyghur Association, while satellite photos and supposedly leaked Chinese documents provide no direct evidence and are inevitably interpreted through the jaundiced eyes of pro-US analysts. In the absence of independent evidence, no more faith should be placed in Western propaganda than claims by the Chinese government that no abuses are taking place. The Chinese government immediately hit back, accusing the EU of disregarding and distorting the facts and grossly interfering in Chinas internal affairs. Beijing imposed its own sanctions on 10 European politicians and individuals, as well as four entities. The latter included the right-wing, pro-US Alliance of Democracies Foundation established in 2017 by former NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Among the individuals sanctioned by China was Adrian Zenz, a right-wing German academic and self-described born-again Christian. While he claims that he was led by God to research into Chinese minorities, Zenz has undoubtedly been driven by more earthly motives. He is well connected in anti-communist circles in Europe and the United States, including to the anti-communist Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. US and European allegations against China rely heavily on his tendentious research. With the latest round of sanctions barely announced, the Biden administration hinted that more is to come. Yesterday, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki, after reiterating Washingtons grave concerns over Chinas treatment of Uyghurs, stated: We will be evaluating what the appropriate next steps are in close coordination with our allies around the world. Less than three months in office, the extraordinary rapidity with which the Biden administration is ramping up the US confrontation with China, as well as Russia, has even surprised some hardened US propagandists. David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, entitled his comment yesterday: That was fast: Blowups with China and Russia in Bidens first 60 Days. Sanger declared that the US had entered a new era of bitter superpower competition, marked by perhaps the worst relationship Washington has had with Russia since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and with China since it opened diplomatic relations with the United States. Sanger also pointed, at least indirectly, to the underlying driving force for the escalating US war drive against Chinathe fear in Washington that the Chinese economy will eclipse that of the US within a decade. The power of the Chinese, he wrote, arises not from their relatively small nuclear arsenal or their expanding stockpile of conventional weapons. Instead, it arises from their expanding economic might. Sanger highlighted Chinas growing expertise in hi-tech areas, such as 5G technology, that are critical to the US maintaining its global economic and strategic dominance. The speed with which the Biden administration is ratcheting up its anti-China propaganda, alongside the expansion of its military forces in Asia, flows from a sense in Washington that time is running against it. US imperialism cannot tolerate any threat to its hegemony and is prepared to use all means, including military conflict, to subordinate China. Outside of the political intervention of the international working class on the basis of a unified socialist perspective, the world is rapidly descending into war between nuclear-armed powers. The results of Romanian universities are "absolutely remarkable" at the international level, considering how much has been invested in them, Minister of Education Sorin Cimpeanu said on Tuesday. "The results of the Romanian universities at the international level, compared to how much has been invested in higher education, are absolutely remarkable. I do not know examples of universities that are better positioned with the same resources. So, there is a direct link between the quality of higher education and funding," said Cimpeanu, at a debate on the financing of higher education in Romania, organized by the Senate. According to him, the budget of the entire higher education in Romania is 1.15 billion euros, while the top universities in the world do not fall below 2 billion euros.He announced the funding on performance criteria from the budget of the ministry of scientific research in universities.The Minister of Education also informed that 500,000 lei will be awarded as a performance prize for universities that have fields present in the most well-known international tops. Fredericton, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - TRU Precious Metals Corp. (TSXV: TRU), (OTCQB: TRUIF) ("TRU" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has hired Pearce Bradley, BSc, P.Geo. as Exploration Manager for the Company's district-scale property portfolio in the Central Newfoundland Gold Belt. Mr. Bradley will oversee the planning, managing, and overall implementation of the Company's mineral exploration programs, working closely with the Company's Vice President of Property Development, Barry Greene, P.Geo. A geologist with over 35 years' experience, Mr. Bradley has worked across Canada in multiple roles in mineral exploration, mining, geotechnical and wellsite geology. He has performed many leadership and project management functions in each of these aspects, with a significant focus on Newfoundland exploration and mining development projects. Mr. Bradley most recently worked for Maritime Resources Corp. on its Hammerdown and Whisker Valley gold projects in the Baie Verte-Springdale Mining District in Newfoundland. TRU Co-Founder and CEO Joel Freudman commented, "I am delighted to welcome Pearce to TRU. He is an excellent choice as our Exploration Manager, bringing a wealth of geological knowledge of Newfoundland. Pearce also has familiarity with the mine development process, both open pit and underground, from his prior employment with numerous gold and copper mining projects in Newfoundland. Pearce's addition further amplifies our exploration team, to which we have also just added a Field Geologist for the 2021 exploration season. With TRU's recent over-subscribed $3.5 million financing closed earlier this month, and the ongoing build-out of our team, TRU is increasingly well-positioned to unlock value for our enlarged shareholder base." TRU Exploration Manager Pearce Bradley added: "I am very excited about this opportunity to work with TRU on its exploration projects within the Central Newfoundland Gold Belt, including the Company's flagship Golden Rose Project. I look forward to helping the entire team advance and build on the work that has already been done in amassing a promising land package in the region, and contributing to TRU's systematic approach to its current and future exploration projects." The Company also wishes to provide an update that it continues to work with the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") in order to complete its Change of Business (as defined in Exchange policies) as expeditiously as possible, and thereafter to resume the trading of the Company's common shares on the Exchange. The Company filed its comprehensive submission with the Exchange in mid-March, and will provide a further update in this regard when there is any material development. About TRU Precious Metals Corp. TRU has assembled a portfolio of 5 gold exploration properties in the highly prospective Central Newfoundland Gold Belt. The Company has entered into a definitive option agreement with a subsidiary of TSX-listed Altius Minerals Corporation for the option to purchase 100% of the Golden Rose Project, located along the deposit-bearing Cape Ray - Valentine Lake Shear Zone. TRU also owns 100% of the Twilite Gold Project, located along the same Shear Zone, and 3 under-explored properties including its Rolling Pond Property (under option) bordering New Found Gold Corp.'s high-grade Queensway Project. TRU's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "TRU" and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol "TRUIF". TRU is a portfolio company of Resurgent Capital Corp. ("Resurgent"), a merchant bank providing venture capital markets advisory services and proprietary financing. Resurgent works with promising public and pre-public micro-capitalization Canadian companies. For more information on Resurgent and its portfolio companies, please visit Resurgent's LinkedIn profile at https://ca.linkedin.com/company/resurgent-capital-corp. For further information about TRU, please contact: Joel Freudman Co-Founder, President & CEO TRU Precious Metals Corp. Phone: (647) 880-6414 Email: info@trupreciousmetals.com Website: www.trupreciousmetals.com To connect with TRU via social media, below are links: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TRU-Precious-Metals-Corp-100919195193616 Twitter https://twitter.com/corp_tru LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/tru-precious-metals-corp YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHghHMDQaYgS1rDHiZIeLUg/ Cautionary Statements Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including those relating to Mr. Bradley's expected contributions to the Company; the Company's corporate strategy, and hiring and exploration plans; and the Change of Business. These statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding, among other things, Mr. Bradley's involvement, the Company's prospects, and Exchange review processes, that are believed by management to be reasonable in the circumstances, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation: challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel; the exploration or monetization potential of the Company's mineral properties; risks inherent in mineral exploration activities; regulatory approval processes; volatility in financial markets, economic conditions, and precious metals prices; and those other risks described in the Company's continuous disclosure documents. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements herein. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements herein except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78331 Kabul, March 23 : Two people were killed and two others injured as an avalanche swept away a house in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province on Tuesday, an official has confirmed. The incident took place early morning in the Sangich village of the mountainous Shakai district, killing a father and a son and injuring two others from the same family, the official said. Badakhshan and the neighbouring Takhar, Kunduz and Baghlan provinces have witnessed rains and snow over the past couple of days. Earlier this month, 14 people were killed in an avalanche in Badakhshan's Raghistan district. In 2017, a series of avalanches that struck villages on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border between February 4 and 6, 2017, killed more than 100 people. At least 310 people were killed in deadly avalanches that struck Panjshir province in 2015. By JENNIFER PELTZ, COREY WILLIAMS and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, The Associated Press Three were gunned down while putting in a days work at a Colorado supermarket. Another was a police officer who raced in to try to rescue them and others from the attack that left 10 dead. A picture of the victims of Mondays shooting began to emerge as the suspect in the killings remained hospitalized Tuesday but was expected to be booked into jail on murder charges. Those who lost their lives at the King Soopers store in Boulder ranged from 20 years old to 65. They were identified as Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; police Officer Eric Talley, 51; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jodi Waters, 65. Leiker, Olds and Stong worked at the supermarket, said former co-worker Jordan Sailas, who never got the chance to bring his baby son into the store to meet them. Olds grandmother choked up on the phone as she described the young woman she played a large role in raising. She was just a very kind and loving, bubbly person who lit up the room when she walked in, said Jeanette Olds, 71, of Lafayette, Colorado. This photo tweeted by the Boulder Police Department late Monday, March 22, 2021, shows Officer Eric Talley. (Courtesy of Boulder Police Department via AP)AP Talley joined the police force in Boulder in 2010 with a background that included a masters degree in computer communications, his father said. At age 40, he decided he wanted to serve his community, Homer Shay Talley, 74, told The Associated Press from his ranch in central Texas. He left his desk job. He just wanted to serve, and thats what he did. He just enjoyed the police family. Officer Talley was the first to arrive after a call about shots being fired and someone carrying a rifle, Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said Talley was by all accounts, one of the outstanding officers in the department. With seven children, ages 7 to 20, Talley was a devoted father who knew the Lord, his father said. When everyone else in the parking lot was running away, he ran toward it, Shay Talley said. We know where he is, he added. He loved his family more the anything. He wasnt afraid of dying. He was afraid of putting them through it. ___ Associated Press writer Patty Nieberg in Boulder, Colorado, contributed. Nieberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. There's a lot of money at stake close to $1 billion from just one federal law alone to help the government of Guam and the public it serve Read more Farmers Insurance has launched a range of insurance products in Louisiana that consumers can customize. The company said Louisiana customers can now access quotes and purchase auto, home, condo, and renters products in a direct-to-consumer model, combining a personalized approach with a digital-first experience through the Farmers mobile app and Farmers.com. Farmers has expanded access to its branded products into the southern and eastern U.S. including Florida, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Kentucky and Mississippi since 2011. Louisiana joins Massachusetts as the two newest additions in 2021. Source: Farmers Insurance Topics Louisiana Agribusiness Bill to block websites with money transfers to online casinos brought before State Duma RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 15:48 23/03/2021 MOSCOW, March 23 (RAPSI) A draft law envisaging out-of-court blocking of websites wherethrough funds are transferred to the benefit of illegal online casinos and lotteries has been submitted to the lower house of Russian parliament. According to a statement published on the State Duma website, amendments are proposed to Russias Law On the State Regulation of Gambling Activities, Law Concerning Lotteries and Law On Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation. Under the bill, a decision on the website blocking will be taken by the Federal Tax Service. It will be empowered to forwarf information on the revealed cases of such illegal transfers by Russian and foreign banks to the Central Bank. Authors of the initiative are Chair of the State Duma Committee on Informational Policy Alexander Khinshtein and head of the Committee for Economic Policy, Innovative Development and Enterprise Sergey Zhigarev. This story is part of the In-Between, Slates series on how life is slowly getting back to normal. In the spring and summer of 2020, before we quite understood how weirdly uneven the American experience of COVID would be, the media produced a spate of COVID will change everything articles. Remember COVID will be the end of the brick-and-mortar college? Or COVID will kill public transit? Obviously, we cant say with any real confidence yet what COVID has done, in terms of societal shifts. But, looking at the cultural remnants of past infectious diseases, we can get a general sense of the sorts of things that might stick around as hangovers. Chances are Americans will be left with a grab bag of COVID-related adaptations: some useless, some useful; some cruel, some generous; some intelligent and wonderful, some regressive and restrictive. The verdict will be decades in the making. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many familiarand good!features of our houses and cities came about as responses to 19th century epidemics of contagious disease. Terrifying bouts with cholera in the first half of the 19th century led to the building of municipal sewer systems and better regulation of housing; in the baby city of Chicago, in 1833, officials prompted by fears of the contagious waterborne disease banned disposal of animal carcasses in waterways and instituted practices of street cleaning and waste disposal. Because some people believed disease was spread by miasma, or foul air, architectural responses to 19th century epidemics included verandas, wider spacing between buildings, outdoor courtyards, and tree planting. The discovery of germ theory in the late 19th century prompted new changes to the way houses were built, like the switch from armoires to closets to make rooms easier to clean, and the inclusion of a half-bath on the first floor to contain visitors germs away from where the family might bathe. Advertisement Cholera-inspired sanitation regulations aside, cities experiences of epidemics didnt always translate into upgrades in quality of life for those whose living conditions werent great. Last year, I interviewed Kathryn Olivarius, a historian who is writing a book about yellow fever and social inequity in New Orleans in the 19th century. What happened in that city, I wondered, after that disease ceased to be a threat? Wealthy people in New Orleans, Olivarius said in an email, kept up with their seasonal migrations: The rich would still leave town at the beginning of summer and come back in the early autumn, well into the 20th century. Their business schedules and social lives had been organized around the possibility of warm-weather epidemics, and the habit persisted after yellow fever became a bad memory. Plus, she wrote, New Orleans is just hot in the summer, so it made sense. The more meaningful hangover from yellow fever, she thought, was political. I think that the legacies of small state thinking, disease denialism, and a libertarian rather than communitarian approach to health are an outcropping from yellow fever epidemics, she added. Advertisement Advertisement And indeed, quite often in the United States, epidemics lead to a proliferation of individual consumer solutions to disease. In the 20th century, as major threats from most infectious diseases receded with better sanitation, vaccines, and medical treatments, their memory lived on in the marketplace. What historian Nancy Tomes calls the germ sell was huge in the 1920s and 1930s, as advertisers used the fear of microbes to sell a wide array of consumer goods: VapoRub, Absorbine Jr. (a treatment for athletes foot), Cremo cigars (rolled by machine, to reduce risk of germ transmission from workers). In her work, Tomes analyzes editorials published in advertising trade journals during the 191819 influenza pandemic, noting that some bigger and more prestigious advertisers tried to step carefully around current events. Some chose to avoid looking mercenarytoning down the scare copy, selling products like toothpaste with a straight appeal to the value of retaining good health. But after the pandemic, advertisers harked back to the bad memories of that experience by referring obliquely to it, calling for people to purchase their stuff to achieve the vague goal of hygiene. It helped that nobody really understood why the recent influenza had been so deadlyan uncertainty that left the door open for advertisers to hawk health remedies by referring to the need not to neglect a cold, or it might turn into something worse. This approach, Tomes writes, worked a deep vein of anxiety going back to the fear around the 191819 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Paper products and cellophane packaging exploded in popularity after germ theory became common knowledge and after the pandemic concluded. Before World War I, Tomes points out, public health efforts to sell people on buying a paper cup instead of sharing a communal one at public water fountains failed completely. In those prewar, pre-pandemic times, the only kind of disposable paper product many Americans bought was toilet paper. After the war and the pandemic were over, wrapped food, paper cups, paper plates, Kleenex, and Kotex became quotidian purchases. In her book The Gospel of Germs, Tomes describes how the manufacturer DuPont capitalized on the mood, using advertising copy that invoked the possibility that the food people were buying had been touched by others: Strange hands, inquisitive hands, dirty hands. Touching, feeling, examining the things you buy in storesack! Give me that cellophane! Advertisement The new knowledge, and maybe peoples experiences of the flu, contributed to a widespread mood of consumer paranoia. Even as tuberculosis death rates declined in the 1920s, and chronic diseases replaced infectious ones as the leading causes of death in the United States, newspaper and magazine editors got hooked on covering germ diseasesespecially epidemics. Tomes found evidence that the press had a very specific understanding of what worked: Disease stories, in the form of exposes that overthrew conventional wisdom, warned of a secret consumer danger and prodded people to change their behavior immediately. Editors looked to medical literature to find out about outbreaks of unusual diseases (brucellosis, amoebic dysentery, psittacosis)little flare-ups that affected small numbers of people and were serious enough to cause concern without being so overwhelming as to produce extreme denial or despair. Advertisement Advertisement The same memory of past epidemics that sold products was also used to perpetuate segregation. Sara Jensen Carr, whose book The Topography of Wellness: How Health and Disease Shaped the American Landscape is coming out later this year, found that housing covenants governing the development of suburbs from the 1920s through the 1960s used language around infectious disease to justify racial exclusion. There was a lot of language in these housing ordinances that said that white families couldnt sell to people of races with higher disease rates than them, and argued this was backed up by science, Carr said. Of course, this was another justification for something they would have tried to do, anyway. There were also ecological consequences to Americans epidemic memories. In the midcentury period, the fear of polio led American towns and cities to clamor for the use of DDT, a chemical that we can still find in our ecosystems almost 50 years after it was banned. The much-heralded use of DDT in the war effort, in service of controlling malaria and typhus, led to postwar public acceptance of the use of the chemical in the United States. And because some people thought that flies might carry polio (they didnt), the miracle chemical began to look like the answer to the terrifying polio outbreaks that haunted American parents; for about 15 years, people sprayed DDT and thought that it would keep polio away. Historian Elena Conis article on the use of DDT for polio between the end of World War II and the early 1950s describes health officials in San Antonio spraying every block in the city, asking householders to leave windows and doors open so the fog could penetrate their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The long-term impact of the midcentury polio epidemics was also felt in the political sphere. Polio survivors, historian Naomi Rogers said, made a big impact in the world of disability rights. By the early 60s, she said, you see some polio survivors start to say theyre just sick and tired of being treated as imbeciles or feeble-minded, and they began to try to organize for their civil rights. Among the people Rogers pointed to is Ed Roberts, who sued the University of California, Berkeley to accommodate his attendance, then became a leader of the independent living movement, and Paul Longmore, an activist and a leading light in the field of disability history. In the 1980s, many older polio survivors were struck by post-polio syndromea worsening of their symptoms, decades after their illness and initial rehabilitation. That experience radicalized still more survivors, and many of them joined other disability rights activists in lobbying for the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. Advertisement The post-epidemic effects that give historians of medicine the most pause in considering what the post-COVID world will be like are the ones that Nancy Tomes, in an interview, compared to the Maginot linethe massive and sophisticated set of fortifications, built by France in the 1930s to keep Germany out, that Germany bypassed in 1940 by invading through Belgium at a part of the line that was poorly defended. In his history of venereal disease, Allan Brandt writes about how, after the midcentury discovery of antibiotics radically changed the treatment of syphilis and gonorrhea, public health officials struggled to keep up, spending more and more money on programs that served the wrong populations. In 1976 in New York City, Brandt reported, officials performed 116,000 premarital examinations at a cost of $2.3 million, looking for cases of disease in prospective brides and grooms; they found only 39 new cases of syphilis, at a cost of about $60,000 per case, when they would have been more effective looking for cases among higher-risk populations, such as homosexuals, college students, and sexually active teenagers. Advertisement And so the disease that you spend a lot of time fighting and worrying about creates grooves in your habits that dont serve you well when the next disease comes along. Some of it is the persistence of behaviors that you learn as a child, that you just repeat. Some of it is generational memory, Tomes said. When she was researching her book about the culture that sprang up around infectious disease in the early 20th century, she was deeply interested in the way that the health practices people learned back then, which focused on things like fomites and spit, didnt work at all to prevent the transmission of HIVyet people learning about HIV couldnt seem to pivot away from them. Advertisement HIV/AIDS wasnt spread by casual contact, Tomes said, and the amount of suffering inflicted on people who became HIV-positive because of this misapplication got me thinking about how we basically learn one set of rules that we apply to everything contagious. But in fact, the world of bacteria and viruses is far more complex than that. Its possible the next viral variant that comes along will spread in some new way. It could spread through water, I dont know! We are really unprepared. As COVID subsides, will we keep our masks and wear them as a matter of course during coming flu seasons? Will we lobby for more workers to have paid sick leave so they can stay home when theyre not well? Will we stock more toilet paper and canned beans, remembering those weeks when we couldnt get any? Time will tell which, if any, of these hangovers will become habit. President Muhammadu Buhari considered a grant for all employees of private schools in the country to help them mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, but backed off after it became clear such payments would be too costly, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said Monday. Mr Osinbajo said the government decided instead to rationalise, and pay some employees. About 100,000 workers in private schools have so far been paid, the government said. A statement by Laolu Akande, the spokesperson to Mr Osinbajo, said the vice president said this during two virtual interactive sessions on Monday. What the President wanted was to pay every private sector employee in the education sector. But the cost was humongous so we had to rationalize, he said. The government has rolled out multiple initiatives that provide cash payments and other support to some businesses and individuals in response to the economic impact of the pandemic. But those interventions, under the Economic Sustainability Plan, ESP, are seen as largely ineffective as they have only reached a tiny percentage of the population. The statement said so far over 146, 811 transport sector beneficiaries have been paid N30,000 one-off grant each, while 114,557 artisans have received payments. One of the very important things for us, when we were drafting the Plan and design, was that we wanted to look at certain critical sectors of the Nigerian economy that required intervention in the wake of the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, we recognized that schools were vital, the vice president said. We designed the ESP to focus on certain critical sectors, and the education sector, particularly private schools, was one of them because, during the lockdown, private schools were in a much difficult place. So, we felt that we should also support private schools through the MSME Survival Fund platform, he added. The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum, said since the enumeration of the first set of beneficiaries on 17th January 2021, a total of 155,920 beneficiaries in the transport track have so far been approved for payment while 9,109 pending cases are being processed for payment. She added that the balance to be enumerated is about 19,689 but noted that only 22 per cent of female beneficiaries in the track were reached because of the peculiar nature of the transportation business. According to her, the education sector alone had about 850,000 applications during the one week the survival portal was reopened, compared to about half of the number when the portal was first opened for six weeks. She said that so far, 43 per cent of the Survival Fund beneficiaries are females. At least 100,000 employees in the education sector have been paid as at the last count, and more employees in this sector have been whitelisted for approval of payment. Private schools play an important role, the government cannot do it alone in terms of educational provision. So going forward, whenever we find the opportunity to assist, we would do as much as we could, she said. Preparations are ongoing to pay the balance of beneficiaries under the various tracks while prospective beneficiaries of the General Grant and Guaranteed Off-take Scheme are being enumerated for payment, the statement said. ADVERTISEMENT Commendations The statement quoted the president of the Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN), Musa Muhammed, as saying that the implementation of the Survival Fund was unprecedented in the history of the country, noting that beneficiaries remained indebted to the government for the show of concern during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Mr Muhammed urged authorities to do more for the sector by creating a Transportation Bank to cater to the growing needs of road transport operators in the country. In the statement, the deputy general secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Tony Asogwa, while appreciating the effort of the vice president and the coordinating committee for a smooth implementation of the scheme, noted that the scheme was not a tribalistic programme as beneficiaries are spread across persons from the different ethno-religious backgrounds. Also, Yusuf Usman of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), said over 60 per cent of members of the group had received payments under the scheme and appealed to the federal government to also look into the plight of the owners having catered for the workers. On her part, Precious Ukpe, representative of Bookyard International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said the intervention from the federal government has been very impactful, noting that it enabled many schools to resume normal activities. Another beneficiary of the Payroll Support, the Proprietor, Adebabs Inland Montessori School, Babatunde Lateef, thanked the Buhari administration for the payroll support for private schools, adding that I wish this scheme can continue for long for private schools across Nigeria. Speaking on the transparency of the scheme, Mr Osinbajo noted that the first problem is that we are limited by the resources available to us. But it was very important for us that this process be a transparent process so that it is an auditable process, anybody can check where the money is going, who is receiving money and how many people have received the money. And this is one of the reasons why we are extremely proud of the work that has been done by the survival fund steering committee under the very able leadership of the Honourable. Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment. They had ensured that this is a transparent process. It was at the urging of the Honourable Minister that we brought in one of the very important private sector players the Chairperson of First Bank Nigeria PLC, Ibukun Awosika, to co-chair the MSMEs Survival Fund, so that we could bring in private sector discipline and the efficiency of the private sector into this whole thing, Mr Osinbajo added. Mr Osinbajo appreciated the feedback from both the private school owners under Payroll Support and beneficiaries from the Transport sector, noting that their positive response was evidence of the excellent work being done by the Survival Fund scheme. He added that the Project Delivery Office of the MSME Survival Fund will also look at the suggestions and address the issues raised. I can assure you that we will look at the suggestions raised and see how we can address them, he said. The Fox Soul personality noted that she and Owen have been friends for two decades. Sometimes, said Jordan, people just break up. Talk show host Claudia Jordan has denied any involvement in the divorce of Gary Owen and his wife of nearly two decades, Kenya Duke, with whom the comedian has three children. Duke recently filed papers to end the 18-year marriage, and rumors of infidelity are starting to swirl in earnest. Claudia Jordan (left) went to social media to address rumors that shes somehow responsible for the recently-announced divorce of (far right and center) comedian Gary Owen and Kenya Duke. (Photos by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images and Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards) In a now-deleted Instagram post, Duke reportedly called out a friend of Jordans, referring to her as Dallas, TX. I have all your info. I am going to deal with you in a minute, I am a little busy now, Duke wrote. You can have him but you cant disrespect me and my kids in the process. She added: Tried to be quiet out of respect for my kids but @claudiajordan has me on one this morning. 23 years together Gary didnt have s*** but a raggedy pickup and good credit, no place to live. Read More: Dating expert Derrick Jaxn called out for cheating on wife, apologizes in video In the post, which was captured by The Jasmine Brand, Duke indicated that she was not speaking to Jordan in several hashtags. #whitewomenarenotinvolved #notclaudia #claudiasfriend #draggingmebackto98th/MacArthur street mindset, she wrote. In an Instagram Live video, Jordan denied her involvement in the couples split. I have nothing to do with whatever is the reason for their divorce Sometimes people just break up, she said. The Fox Soul personality noted that she and Owen have been friends for two decades, saying, thats my buddy, and the fact that I am being dragged into this is stupid and just not true. Read More: Detective files for divorce after wife pictured at Capitol riots with another man Jordan said she has reached out to Duke to try to talk to her directly, maintaining that shes even reached out to friends of Kenya so we can talk women-to-women and not play this out in front of everybody. But, she said, I also feel like I want to keep it 100 with my peoples, and tell the facts. Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now! TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku. Download theGrio.com today! The post Claudia Jordan denies role in Gary Owen divorce: Thats my buddy appeared first on TheGrio. CLEVELAND, Ohio A 21-year-old man is accused of disposing of three guns used in the fatal shooting of Cleveland police Det. James Skernivitz and a police informant. Rodney Cremeans of Cleveland faces third-degree felony charges of obstructing official business and tampering with evidence. Deputy U.S. Marshals and Cleveland police arrested him Tuesday, shortly after a warrant was issued for his arrest. After the Sept. 3 shooting, the three people who ambushed Skernivitz and Scott Dingess went to Cremeans home, where the group watched news coverage of the shooting on television, according to court records. Cremeans took the three guns used in the shooting and made arrangements to dispose of them, court records say. The records do not say if investigators recovered them. Cremeans is the fourth person charged in the fatal shooting that prosecutors said was a random killing. The trio shot Skernivitz and Dingess during an attempted robbery behind a shopping plaza on West 67th Place near West 65th Street and Storer Avenue as the two met in Skernivitzs car during an undercover drug investigation, according to police and prosecutors. David McDaniel Jr., 18, is charged with two counts of aggravated murder and other charges in connection with the shooting. He has pleaded not guilty. A teen who was 17 at the time but turned 18 last month and a 15-year-old boy are both charged with aggravated murder in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. Cuyahoga County prosecutors on Wednesday will seek to get their cases bound over to adult court, where they would be tried as adults. The 15-year-old boy previously admitted to police that he took part in the shooting, according to prosecutors. Skernivitz worked undercover for Cleveland polices gang unit and had been assigned to the federal task force dubbed Operation Legend days before he was killed. He was a 22-year veteran officer, and left behind a wife and three children. Read more from cleveland.com: Slain Cleveland police officer remembered as dedicated, generous, funny officer at funeral attended by U.S. Attorney General Cuyahoga County prosecutors seek to charge teens as adults in fatal shooting of Cleveland police officer, informant Man charged in fatal shooting of Cleveland police officer, informant held on $3 million bond Man indicted in random killing of Cleveland police detective, informant SUMMARY The United States has extended the flawed New START agreement with Russia for five yearsreceiving not a single reform for its agreement to extend. The New START extension does not equate to nuclear stability, and the U.S. should not expect it to moderate Russias aggressive behavior. Russia and China will continue to advance their nuclear forces as part of their strategies for implementing their respective revisionist agendas. The United States must not become lulled into a false sense of security offered by another five years of New START; instead, the Biden Administration, with Congress, must remain committed to ensuring the credibility of the U.S. nuclear deterrent and assurance of allies. The Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for a class-action suit against Facebook by users who said the social media giant invaded their privacy and violated federal law by tracking their browsing history, then selling the information to advertisers. The suit, filed in San Jose, involved Facebooks former practice of leaving cookie tracking attachments operating after a user logged off. The cookies charted the users visits to other websites, which, according to the suit, were then compiled by Facebook and sold to advertisers to generate revenue. Facebook changed the practice in September 2011 after it was revealed by an Australian blogger, Nik Cubrilovic. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with the company in 2012 but later reopened the case, found that Facebook had violated the terms of the agreement and the privacy of its users, and imposed a record $5 billion penalty as part of a new settlement in 2019. The class-action lawsuit, if it succeeds, could also yield substantial damages to users of Facebook between May 2010 and September 2011. Filed in 2012, it was dismissed by a federal judge but reinstated in April 2020 by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The court said the allegations, if proved, could show violations of California privacy law and the federal Wiretap Act, which prohibits interception of electronic communications without the users permission. The Supreme Court allowed the suit to proceed Monday by denying review of Facebooks appeal. In its ruling last year, the appeals court said the plaintiffs had alleged that the information Facebook compiled and sold to advertisers included both their browsing history and their personal Facebook profiles, which could include their political and religious affiliations as well as their employment records. Those profiles would allegedly reveal an individuals likes, dislikes, interests and habits over a significant amount of time, without affording users a meaningful opportunity to control or prevent the unauthorized exploration of their private lives, Chief Judge Sidney Thomas said in the 3-0 ruling. Facebook argued that the users could not show any economic harm because they had not intended to sell their profiles. But Thomas said California law allows recovery of profits from unjust enrichment, and noted that a study had valued individual users browsing history at $52 per year. Lawyers for Facebook could not be reached for comment Monday. In their Supreme Court appeal, attorneys said the company was deeply committed to user privacy but did not invade anyones privacy by tracking its own communications with its users. The Ninth Circuit ruling threatens to upend common internet practices and chill the creativity that allows the internet to flourish, Facebook told the court. The case is Facebook vs. Perrin Akins Davis, 20-727. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko [March 23, 2021] New Book Shares Ardeo's Ivy League Inspired Secret on How to Take the Risk out of Student Debt A new book entitled "A Powerful Promise: The Ivy League Inspired Secret Improving Access and Recruitment at Colleges Today," serves as a roadmap to understanding how both schools and students are benefitting from a financial safety-net called Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs). Written by students and college administrators, the book gives readers an inside look at how colleges and universities are leveraging LRAPs to promote access and improve enrollment. Readers will also hear stories on the positive, life-changing impact LRAPs have had on over 20,000 students across more than 200 American colleges and universities to date. The "powerful promise" in the book's title specifically refers to the concept that LRAPs are not loan programs, but rather a formal guarantee or "safety-net." If a student's post-graduation income is modest - typically less than $45,000-$50,000 - the LRAP will help the students and their families repay their loans until the students' income exceeds the predetermined threshold or the loans are paid off entirely. "A Powerful Promise" is divided into three parts. In Part I, the book traces the origin of LRAPs to Yale Law School's (YLS) Career Options Assistance Program (COAP) and provides a comparison of LRAPs to traditional financial aid. In Part II, students share their personal stories on how LRAPs impacted their lives and positively influenced their college and career decisions. Part III includes testimonials from college administrators from 10 colleges and universities across the U.S. about their successes, lessons learned, strategies tested and students impacted through LRAPs. "I honestly did not want to leave Judson (University), but at the time it felt like all the cards were stacked against me," said Rachelle Gasior, contributor to the book, LRAP recipient and Judson University graduate. "When I doubted everything, my career path included, LRAP was the affirmation I really needed." The book was published by Ardeo Education Solutions, a mission-driven company increasing student access to higher education and driving enrollment at partner colleges and universities through LRAPs. "We are thrilled to share the story of how LRAPs help advance institutional goals and empower students and graduates," said Peter Samuelson, founder and president of Ardeo Education Solutions. "By the end of this book, the reader will have a thorough understanding of how we have helped tens of thousands of students attend hundreds of colleges across the US, and we look forward to helping many more in the future." For more information or to purchase "A Powerful Promise," please visit Amazon. Schools interested in more information on Ardeo Education Solutions and LRAPs should contact Drew.Melendres@ardeoeducation.org. Prospective students and families wanting to learn more about schools offering LRAPs should visit mylrap.org. About Ardeo Education Solutions Ardeo Education Solutions increases access to higher education by overcoming the fear of student debt. We help colleges and universities enroll more students. Our Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs) change the enrollment decisions of students who would not enroll due to the fear of student debt. As a public benefit company, we are committed to helping our clients, our students and our community. Learn more at ardeoeducation.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005862/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Forms a complete Mainframe Applications-to-Cloud Platform Migrate IBM Z Unisys Mainframe Applications and Databases to any Cloud In today's environment, many organizations have a "Cloud First" strategy for deploying business applications. Since most of the important business applications reside on mainframes, moving these applications and databases to any Cloud platform requires expert skills and technology. The combination of Astadia's Replatforming solutions, plus the Anubex Refactoring capabilities, offers a complete mainframe migration RoadMap. Astadia now offers all solution sets required to migrate from any IBM Z Series, or Unisys ClearPath platform, to the Cloud platform of their choosing. "This is an exciting time to be in the Mainframe Migration business. The rapidly shrinking pool of people with mainframe software and hardware skills has given a new sense of urgency to IT buyers. The shortage of these critical skills is exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic," said Scott G. Silk, Chairman and CEO of Astadia. "With this wave of Cloud computing, organizations are rapidly moving their applications and databases from mainframes. The Cloud enables incredible software innovation and developer productivity, access to AI and Predictive Analytics, while only charging the client for the resources they consume," said Mr. Silk. "Combining the forces of Astadia and Anubex leads to a unique combination of sales and delivery power with an exceptional portfolio of solutions for the migration market. This team is ready to accompany the largest organizations on their journey to the Cloud and becomes an important player in the top tier of mainframe migration companies," said Louis Heymans, Managing Director of Anubex. The acquisition of Anubex by Astadia allows the Anubex R&D team to continue to focus on extending their portfolio of products (CodeTurn, DataTurn, TestMatch and DataMatch) to automate refactoring and testing of legacy systems. The development of these products started well over 20 years ago, and today includes legacy technologies such as Assembler, COBOL, IDMS and Natural ADABAS that can be migrated to, among others, Java or C# in combination with all the leading SQL-databases with the resulting applications ready for deployment in the (public) Cloud. These solutions using a Cloud-based "Migration Factory" model will be available to Astadia partners and clients worldwide. For more details, take advantage of Astadia's FREE Mainframe-to-Cloud Modernization Guide series, where we assist our clients as they plan and move into a safe and secure, high performance, cloud environment. This series covers IBM (NYSE:IBM) and UNISYS (NYSE:UIS) mainframes, and all popular target Cloud Platforms. In these Mainframe-to-Cloud Migration Guides, readers will explore 20 pages of: Why migrate mainframe applications databases to the Cloud? The challenges associated with mainframe modernization Detailed diagrams of mainframe software mappings to Cloud Platforms Programming languages database translation tables The Mainframe-to-Cloud Guide series is FREE, and may be downloaded. Click on this link to view the Astadia Mainframe-to-Cloud Modernization Guide Series. For more information visit http://www.astadia.com and follow Astadia at @AstadiaInc, Facebook/AstadiaInc LinkedIn/Astadia About Anubex Anubex is an industry leader providing core software solutions, know-how, and support for complex mainframe-to-cloud migration and modernization projects. With over 25 years of experience, demonstrated solutions and high-performing software tools, we help enterprises and government organizations boost their innovation capacity, competitiveness and agility by accelerating their digital transformation. We are migration specialists, independent of the legacy or target technology stack. Our core competence lies in the know-how, the unique software solutions, and the extensive experience in how complex migration projects should be undertaken: what the stages and steps are, how the project should be structured, what the typical pitfalls and risks are, and how processes should be automated. Our automated conversion and testing tools, combined with an innovative migration methodology, enable our team to support complex modernization projects and be one of the most competitive and reliable migration companies in the world. Contacts Headquarters www.anubex.com Anubex HQ Anubex NV Veldkant 13 2550 Kontich Belgium +32 3 450 42 50 migrations@anubex.com About Astadia Astadia is the market leading mainframe modernization consulting and systems integration boutique. A worldwide IT consulting firm, we specialize in moving IBM and Unisys mainframe applications and databases to distributed and cloud platforms. In fact, we were recently named Microsoft's Mainframe-to-Azure partner of the year. Clients select Astadia for the following reasons: mainframe to cloud market focus, 28 years of mainframe experience, and hybrid READI methodology. Upon project completion, customers often select Astadia to manage their cloud environment as well. We have successfully completed over 200 mainframe modernization projects and are recognized industrywide as the mainframe to cloud experts. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005241/en/ Contacts: Wilson Rains Astadia +1.877.727.8234 wilson.rains@astadia.com Jadhav was an Indian Navy officer, attached to RAW. His mission was to covertly carry out espionage and terrorism in Pakistan. by Amjed Jaaved Yet another book (Terror in Islamabad) has been published by an officer Amar Bhushan who happened to have served as a diplomat at the Indian High Commission Islamabad. Before being posted to Islamabad, Bhushan had served an officer of Indias premier intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing, Border Security Force Intelligence, and State Special Branch for quarter of a century. His book mentions another RAW officer, Amit Munshi (real name Veer Singh) posted as Cultural Attache. Since times immemorial diplomats have enjoyed immunity in countries where they are posted. International conventions govern their conduct in host countries. If , a diplomat is caught red handed violating norms of diplomatic conduct, he is declared a persona non grata. Bhushans book reveals that Singhs assignment was to identify potential Pakistanis for subversion. The familiar elements of intelligence craft are espionage, sabotage and subversion. India added one more element insurgency to the intelligence craft if we go through another RAW officers book The Kaoboys of R&AW: Down Memory Lane. B. Raman makes no bones about Indias involvement up to the level of prime minister in Bangladeshs insurgency. RAW officers Ramans and RK Yadavs disclosures In a published letter, Yadav made startling revelation that Indias prime minister Indira Gandhi, parliament, RAW and armed forces acted in tandem to dismember Pakistans eastern wing. The confessions in his letter are corroborated by B. Ramans book The Kaoboys of R&AW. He reminds `Indian parliament passed resolution on March 31, 1971 to support insurgency. Indira Gandhi had then confided with Kao that in case Mujib was prevented , from ruling Pakistan, she would liberate East Pakistan from the clutches of the military junta. Kao, through one RAW agent, got a Fokker Friendship, the Ganga, of Indian Airlines hijacked from Srinagar to Lahore. Indian army chief Manekshaw initially refused to carry out Indira Gandhis order because of the impending monsoon when rivers flooded in East Pakistan and troops movement became difficult. Not only intelligence officers but also officers of armed forces are employed to carry out subversion and sabotage inside Pakistan. Kulbushan Jadhav unmasked Jadhav was an Indian Navy officer, attached to RAW. His mission was to covertly carry out espionage and terrorism in Pakistan. Pakistan alleged there were Indian markings on arms deliveries to Baloch rebels pushed by Jadhav. To Indias chagrin, Indias investigative journalist Praveen Swami ferreted out the truth from Services Gazettes of India that he was commissioned in the Indian Navy in 1987 with the service ID of 41558Z Kulbhushan Sudhir. A later edition of the Gazette showed his promotion to the rank of commander after 13 years of service in 2000. His passport, E6934766, indicated he traveled to Iran from Pune as Hussein Mubarak Patel in December 2003. Another of his Passports, No. L9630722 (issued from Thane in 2014), inadvertently exposed his correct address: Jasdanwala Complex, old Mumbai-Pune Road, cutting through Navi Mumbai. The municipal records confirmed that the flat he lived in was owned by his mother, Avanti Jadhav. Furthermore, in his testimony before a Karachi magistrate, Karachi underworld figure Uzair Baloch confessed he had links with Jadhav. Indias prestigious magazine Frontline surmised that Jadhav still served with the Indian Navy. Gazette of India files bore no record of Jadhavs retirement. India told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Jadhav was a retired naval officer. But, it refrained from stating exactly when he retired. The spy initially worked for Naval Intelligence, but later moved on to the Intelligence Bureau. He came in contact with RAW in 2010. India portrays the freedom movement in Kashmir as `terrorism. What about Indias terrorism in neighbouring countries? Will the world take notice of confessions by Indias former intelligence officers and diplomats? The World Courts verdict is a signature victory confirming Indias `espionage and terrorism against Pakistan, documented in Raman s book, and Yadavs letter of 14 August 2015 published in Indian and Nepalese media. The court did not absolve Jhadav of being a spy or saboteur. It confirmed that he was an Indian national despite having passports in multiple names. Through Jhadav, India wanted to replay the Mukti Bahini experience in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Doval doctrine In line with Indias security czar Ajit Dovals Doctrine, RAW aims at fomenting insurgency in Pakistans sensitive provinces. Doval is inspired by Indias nefarious efforts which resulted in the secession of East Pakistan. Naila Balochs `free Balochistan office has been working in New Delhi since 23 June 2018. BJP MLAs and RAW officers attended its inauguration. Doval publicly claims that he acted as a spy under a pseudonym in Pakistan for 11 years, seven years in Lahore. Doval is a retired director of Indian Intelligence Bureau. He boastfully dons the title of Indian James Bond . He lived in Pakistans Lahore, disguised as a Muslim for seven years. During his years in the country, he befriended the locals visiting mosques and lived among the predominantly Muslim population. Acknowledged as a master of psychological welfare in India , Doval, as a part of his job also spied on Pakistans intelligence agency, Inter Services Intelligence. DOval, credits himself with brainwashing a group of freedom fighters led Kukkay Parey who detected freedom fighters and killed them. Sharing an incident from his time in Pakistan, he said that he was once identified as a Hindu by a local from his pierced ears. Doval then underwent plastic surgery to prevent his cover from blowing. Narrating his account, Doval shared, I was coming back from a Masjid. A man sitting in the corner, who had an intriguing personality and a white beard, called me. He asked, are you a Hindu? I replied saying no. He asked me to come with him, and took me to a small room and shut the door. He told me, See you are a Hindu. Your ears are pierced. The place I come from, as a child there is a tradition to pierce the ear. I told him it was pierced when I was born. He told me, get plastic surgery for this, its not safe to walk like that. Then I got it (plastic surgery) done. In the late 1980s. Doval snuck inside the Golden Temple posing as a Pakistani agent to the Khalistani militants and passed significant information during Operation Black Thunder in 1988. After his stint as an undercover agent, Doval worked in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. A close-associate of PM Modi, Doval is also responsible for master-minding the surgical strike in 2016. Indias ambassador Bharath Raj Muthu Kumars role in Afghan insurgency With the consent of then foreign minister Jaswant Singh, he `coordinated military and medical assistance that India was secretly giving to Massoud and his forces `helicopters, uniforms, ordnance, mortars, small armaments, refurbished Kalashnikovs seized in Kashmir, combat and winter clothes, packaged food, medicines, and funds through his brother in London, Wali Massoud, delivered circuitously with the help of other countries who helped this outreach. When New Delhi queried about the benefit of costly support to Northern Alliance chief Massoud, Kumar explained, He is battling someone we should be battling. When Massoud fights the Taliban, he fights Pakistan. Inference The conduct of Indian diplomats amounts to state-sponsored terrorism. For one thing, India should close the `Free Balochistan office on her soil, and stop resuscitating propaganda skeletons of pre-Bangladesh days. India portrays the freedom movement in Kashmir as `terrorism. What about Indias terrorism in neighbouring countries? Will the world take notice of confessions by Indias former intelligence officers and diplomats? Mr. Amjed Jaaved has been contributing free-lance for over five decades. His contributions stand published in the leading dailies at home and abroad (Nepal. Bangladesh, et. al.). He is author of seven e-books including Terrorism, Jihad, Nukes and other Issues in Focus (ISBN: 9781301505944). He holds degrees in economics, business administration, and law. This article originally appeared in Modern Diplomat Funding to support progression of PLK1 program, for treatment of brain cancer, into the clinic within 18 months Company is advancing its pipeline of novel therapies for oncology and diseases of ageing, and developing novel therapeutic modalities in the targeted protein degradation space Oversubscribed investment round led by BGF, with XtalPi, Astellas Venture Management, Trend Investment Group, o2h ventures, Parkwalk Advisors, Morningside Ventures, and Jonathan Milner Dr Catherine Beech appointed Chair and Tim Rea, BGF; Dr Alan Jiang, XtalPi; and Neil Pegg, Morningside Ventures, join Board of Directors CAMBRIDGE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PhoreMost Ltd., the UK-based biopharmaceutical company dedicated to Drugging the Undruggable disease targets, today announced it has completed an oversubscribed 33m ($46m) Series B investment round. The round was led by BGF, the UKs most active growth economy investor, and included new investors XtalPi Inc., Astellas Venture Management, Trend Investment Group, and o2h ventures. Existing investors Parkwalk Advisors, Morningside Ventures, and Jonathan Milner also contributed. The funding will be used to progress PhoreMosts preclinical Allosteric PLK1 collaboration with Sentinel Oncology into the clinic in 2022. The programme is initially targeted towards Glioma. PhoreMost will also progress multiple additional internal first-in-class drug discovery programmes across both oncology and ageing therapeutic indications. PhoreMosts SITESEEKER platform can identify the best new therapeutic targets for any chosen disease setting, and rapidly identify how to develop novel drugs to these targets. This has the potential to significantly increase the diversity of novel treatments for cancer and other unmet diseases. Significantly, PhoreMost has recently deployed SITESEEKER towards the identification of novel E3-ligands, the progression of which has the potential to be highly disruptive within the important new targeted protein degradation therapeutic modality space. Following the investment round, Dr Catherine Beech will assume the Chair of PhoreMosts Board of Directors, succeeding Dr Jonathan Milner who will stay on the Board as an NED. Catherine joined PhoreMost as Non-Executive Director in February 2020. Also joining the Board are Tim Rea, investor at BGF, Alan Jiang, Chief Strategy Officer of XtalPi, and Neil Pegg representing Morningside Ventures. PhoreMost raised 11M ($15M) in a series A round in 2018, after which the Company expanded its SITESEEKER capabilities in both target discovery and drug discovery. Dr Chris Torrance CEO, PhoreMost, commented: We are thrilled to include this exceptional group of investors in PhoreMosts Series B funding round. We are grateful for the continued support of existing investors and are delighted to welcome BGF, alongside strategic investors XtalPi with whom we have a highly valued ongoing research collaboration, and Astellas Venture Management. PhoreMost is at an incredibly exciting phase of development, having made tremendous progress since the Series A funding. Our lead Allosteric PLK1 asset is well positioned for clinical entry and our SITESEEKER platform has made valuable discoveries within the targeted protein degradation, oncology and ageing fields. This funding now positions PhoreMost well to prosecute asset development across these high value therapeutic areas. I would like to thank the PhoreMost team and all of our partner organisations for helping us to achieve such excellent progress toward realising our important mission. I also welcome Catherine Beech to the PhoreMost Chair and thank our outgoing Chair Jonathan Milner for his exceptional stewardship over the past five years. Tim Rea, investor, BGF, said: The team at BGF has been actively engaged in expanding our support for life sciences companies in the UK and we are excited to join the PhoreMost team on the next phase of their journey. The Companys SITESEEKER technology is highly differentiated, addressing an important market need in the identification of novel drug sites within targets previously considered undruggable. We have been consistently impressed with the strong and experienced management team, and we believe PhoreMost is now in an ideal position to capitalise on the potential of its lead asset and innovative pipeline. Dr Catherine Beech, Chair, PhoreMost, said: Since joining PhoreMosts Board I have continued to be impressed by the progress the Company has made, both in terms of its own internal programmes as well as with a range of strategic collaborations. I am honoured to be appointed as Chair and look forward to working even more closely with Chris and the team during this exciting time for PhoreMost. Dr Alan Jiang, CSO of XtalPi, said: XtalPi and PhoreMost share the same goal of addressing bottleneck challenges in biopharmaceutical research with innovative technologies. We are excited to support PhoreMost in fulfilling its mission and further strengthen the collaboration between our platforms with complementary capabilities. PhoreMosts expertise in identifying and validating valuable novel targets, combined with XtalPis advantage in using AI to discover and design drug molecules for challenging biding sites, will allow us to generate pipeline assets more efficiently, particularly in underserved therapeutic areas, to the ultimate benefit of patients with few or no treatment options. Alastair Kilgour, Chief Investment Officer, Parkwalk Advisors, said: PhoreMosts technology has the potential to significantly increase the diversity of novel therapeutics for cancer and other unmet diseases, where treatment options are currently severely limited, and therefore improve the lives of millions suffering with untreated conditions. Since our original investment we have been impressed by the whole PhoreMost team, who have gone from strength to strength. It made perfect sense for us to follow on that original investment and help them accelerate, grow, and continue to meet this important challenge. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005517/en/ Katie Odgaard Zyme Communications E-mail: katie.odgaard@zymecommunications.com Source: PhoreMost Ltd. Japan's government has held its first examination in Vietnam for people to get work visas including residential status for specified vocational skills. The government in 2019 introduced a new visa category that gives residential status to foreigners with specified skills to work in nursing care and restaurant services and other sectors. Vietnam established the methods for operating the new program and holding the test. More than 20 Vietnamese took the exam in Hanoi on Tuesday. The exam included a test of practical skills for processing rebar. Vietnamese account for about half of foreign technical intern trainees in Japan, making them the largest such group. Tuesday's exam was held amid high expectations in Japan for skilled Vietnamese workers. A 29-year-old man said the test was difficult but that he thinks he will pass, as he was well-prepared. He said he wants to work in Japan to help his family lead a good life. The number of foreigners holding residential status for specified vocational skills was about 15,000 at the end of 2020. The number is far lower than the Japanese government expected. The government plans to actively accept workers from abroad and introduce more areas of vocational skills for such exams in Vietnam. Which school district would you like your child to attend? District A employs multiple reading specialists/school building, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers, humanities directors and mathematics specialists. In addition, the class size is guaranteed to fall under 20 students. It has a history of receiving adequate state funding from Governor Cuomo. District B cannot afford to maintain enough teachers with specialized degrees in reading or math, there are no STEM teachers, the fine arts gets marginalized, and class sizes can reach up to 30 students. It has a history of receiving Governor Cuomos inadequate funding. If you picked District A, you will have to move out of the Auburn Enlarged City School District (AECSD). District B describes the educational environment that AECSD students endure year after year. My husband and I both teach in the district and have lived the inadequacy that an antiquated state aid formula has resulted in; our administration has had no choice but to make difficult decisions that result in a negative outcome for students. In addition, our three children attend Auburns schools, and each one of them is being denied access to an education that is equitable compared to other schools in our area. If you are an Auburn resident, so has your child, your neighbor, your grandchild, etc. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 02:33:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RABAT, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's COVID-19 tally rose to 492,403 on Tuesday after 569 new cases were added during the past 24 hours. According to a statement by the Ministry of Health, the death toll mounted to 8,775 as six COVID-19 patients died in the last 24 hours. The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco increased to 480,100 after 543 new ones were added, while 411 people are in intensive care units, the statement said. The COVID-19 fatality rate in Morocco stands at 1.8 percent while the recovery rate is 97.5 percent. A total of 4,265,196 people have received the first vaccine shot against COVID-19 in Morocco, and 2,593,204 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 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. 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. MIAMI, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vacationers looking to soak up the sun and walk the pink sand beaches of Bermuda and the white sandy beaches of The Bahamas this summer need look no further than Vision of the Seas. Beginning June and through August, Royal Caribbean International will bring more adventure to the tropics with a series of new 7-night cruises from first-time homeport Bermuda. In store for guests who sail on Vision is an overnight to explore Bermuda's culture, history and cuisine as well as a full day at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's top-rated private island destination in The Bahamas. March 2021 Royal Caribbean will mark its 2021 return to the Caribbean with summer cruises departing in June. Adventure and Vision of the Seas will sail from The Bahamas and Bermuda, respectively, through August 2021 on new 7-night Caribbean itineraries. The ships will both set course to Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise lines top-rated private island destination in The Bahamas, and Adventure will also visit Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas and Cozumel, Mexico; while Vision offers travelers an overnight to experience Bermuda. March 2021 Royal Caribbeans Vision of the Seas is set to return to the Caribbean in June 2021. Visions 7-night cruises from Bermuda offer travelers a full day and overnight in Bermuda and a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay as well as a variety of onboard dining options, including Izumi and signature steakhouse Chops Grille, entertainment, and activities such as the deck-defying rock-climbing wall and movie nights under the stars courtesy of the outdoor movie screen. The new 2021 summer itineraries from Bermuda will open for bookings on Monday, March 29 and depart as soon as June 26. Sailing with vaccinated crew, the cruises at this time will be available to adult guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and those under the age of 18 with negative test results. This current health and safety measure, like others, may evolve as they are evaluated on an ongoing basis. "We are thankful to the government and people of Bermuda for welcoming us to their beautiful island nation with open arms as Vision of the Seas' new homeport. This is another step in our safe and measured return to sailing beginning in June," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "Travelers are eager to venture out gradually and start cruising again. By adding a second unique option to sail the Caribbean from a destination as rich and vibrant as Bermuda, we're offering guests choice in how they can enjoy their well-deserved vacations this summer." The pink sand beaches and charming, colorful homes of Bermuda will be where vacationers can start and end their 7-night cruise in paradise, a destination that is also a prime spot for travelers to extend their time ashore, before or after the cruise, by staying at one of the island's world-class hotels and resorts. While Vision is docked at the Royal Naval Dockyard, guests can enjoy quality time exploring the island nation's culture and natural beauty throughout an overnight stay. Plus, guests of all ages will have the chance to add to the excitement with a visit to Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay. The private island destination is home to a lineup of first-of-their-kind thrills and one-of-a-kind ways to chill, ranging from 13 jaw-dropping waterslides at Thrill Waterpark, including the tallest waterslide in North America Daredevil's Peak; Oasis Lagoon, the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean; Up, Up & Away, the helium balloon that floats up to 450 feet in the air; and the first floating cabanas in The Bahamas at Coco Beach Club. "Bermuda has safely and responsibly managed the reopening of its tourism economy by air, and we will meet the challenge of doing the same for the cruise industry. We look forward to homeporting Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas this June as part of the island's strategic tourism recovery planning which, as always, is guided by science," said Premier the Hon. E. David Burt, JP, MP, Bermuda. Vacationers can rest assured their well-being and that of the crew members and communities visited are Royal Caribbean's top priorities. Details on the health and safety measures to be implemented will be announced at a later date. The comprehensive, multilayered health and safety measures to come will continue to be led by science and leverage expert guidance from the Healthy Sail Panel, Royal Caribbean Group's Head of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer, and local government and health authorities. In addition, travelers must meet the travel requirements of Bermuda. This currently includes receiving a negative PCR test result before traveling, testing upon arrival into the country and filling out appropriate entry forms. The most up-to-date policies can be found on Bermuda's website. "We look forward to welcoming Royal Caribbean passengers back to our shores and the opportunity for pre- and post-cruise stays in Bermuda. I am very excited that Bermuda will commence safe cruising this summer with our partner Royal Caribbean for their homeporting initiative from Bermuda to their private island Perfect Day at CocoCay," said The Hon. W. Lawrence Scott, JP, MP, Minister of Transport, Bermuda. Royal Caribbean's 7-night sailings from Bermuda continue the cruise line's measured and safe return to cruising the world once again, following months of successful cruises in Singapore with more than 50,000 guests to date who have now sailed aboard Quantum of the Seas, and the recent announcements of plans for the highly anticipated Odyssey of the Seas to cruise from Haifa, Israel and cruises from The Bahamas with Adventure of the Seas. For more information on Vision's new summer cruises, click here. About Royal Caribbean International Royal Caribbean International has been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel featuring the latest technology and guest experiences for today's adventurous traveler. The cruise line continues to revolutionize vacations with itineraries to more than 270 destinations in 72 countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean's private island destination in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has also been voted "Best Cruise Line Overall" for 18 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards. Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers can call their travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN. Royal Caribbean International is applying the recommendations of its Healthy Sail Panel of public health and scientific experts to provide a safer and healthier cruise vacation on all of its sailings. Health and safety protocols, regional travel restrictions and clearance to visit ports of call, are subject to change based on ongoing evaluation, public health standards, and government requirements. U.S. cruises and guests: For more information on the latest health and travel alerts, U.S. government travel advisories, please visit www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates or consult travel advisories, warnings or recommendations relating to cruise travel on applicable government websites. SOURCE Royal Caribbean International Related Links www.rclcorporate.com Burma Dissidents Fleeing Myanmar Junta Find Shelter and Support with Ethnic Armed Groups KNU troops during a parade in 2018. / The Irrawaddy An increasing number of activists, dissidents and politicians have sought refuge in Myanmars eastern borderlands with ethnic armed groups, in particular the Karen National Union (KNU). But this situation is not new for the ethnic armed groups. In 1988, thousands of students and activists fled to the Thai-Myanmar border and the border with India to seek shelter and to take up the armed struggle against the then junta. Those areas were known as liberated areas. Now hundreds of newly-arrived activists (including journalists fleeing the military regime) have taken refuge in insurgent-controlled areas in Karen, Kayah, Mon and Shan States along Myanmars eastern border with Thailand. On Monday, military-owned Myawaddy Television announced that the regime was looking into reports that many NLD members and supporters had fled to KNU-controlled areas in the countrys southeast. Military information team leader Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said during a press conference on Tuesday that more than 1,000 people had fled to border areas in the countrys southeast to evade arrest. Known as ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), the ethnic groups have publicly denounced the juntas Feb.1 coup and the rule of the militarys State Administration Council (SAC). Karen insurgents in Karen State deployed troops to protect peaceful anti-regime protesters. The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) has stated publicly that it will shelter and support any victims of the SAC and the military. Several ethnic groups, with the notable exception of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), in the north of Myanmar along the border with China are supportive of the coup and will likely focus more on signing ceasefire agreements with the military. Most notably, a parallel government the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) has formed in the areas under the control of the EAOs. The CRPH is made up of elected lawmakers from the ousted National League for Democracy-led (NLD) government. The same thing happened in 1990 after the then military regime refused to hand over power to the elected representatives of the NLD following its 1990 election victory. Then, many MPs fled to the eastern borderlands to escape imprisonment and the juntas crackdown. Those MPs formed the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB). That government in exile was known to be ineffective but received backing from the US and the West. The exiled government was dissolved in September 2012. Talks between the CRPH and several ethnic groups in the south are ongoing. Sources said that without military representatives sitting in the meetings, there is a free flow of discussion between the CRPH and EAOs without fear. There has been some talk on social media about the idea of creating a federal army. Just like in 1988, some young activists who have fled to areas controlled by the EAOs now want to receive military training from those ethnic armies. But it is not known how and where they will find support and resources. A number of new EAOs, such as the Arakan Army and the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) have emerged in the last 10 years, but initially they received assistance and backing from the KIA and, subsequently, from other powerful ethnic armies along the Chinese border. They have been allowed to open offices and to run businesses in China. The SAC has warned ethnic groups not to establish contact with the CRPH. But a member of the Peace Process Steering Team along the Thai-Myanmar border said that the two sides continue to hold talks. Last week, the CRPH removed all EAOs in Myanmar from the terrorist and unlawful associations list. Several ethnic armies have had unstable relationships with the NLD government in the past. The junta has now invited EAOs to attend the upcoming Armed Forces Day on the 27thof March in Myanmars capital Naypyitaw. Many have declined the invitation. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Fires Striking Ministry of Foreign Affairs Staff KNU Blocks Food Deliveries to Myanmar Military Regime Soldiers in Karen State Myanmar Gem Traders Warned of Blacklist for Joining Naypyitaw Emporium by CRPH SPRINGFIELD Illinois gun owners would pay a 1% tax on ammunition under a bill that was added to a General Assembly committee list. Under House Bill 238, any ammunition sold in Illinois would have an additional 1% surcharge tacked onto the sale price after adding on existing taxes and fees. The money would be directed to a Trauma Response Fund, an account that would be distributed to public school districts to help pay for a new state-mandated program to prepare for mass trauma events. The program is also created by the legislation. The bill was filed Jan. 22 by Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, but sat idle until earlier this month when it was assigned to be heard by a subcommittee scheduled to meet Thursday. As is common in the Illinois Legislature, theres no guarantee the legislation will be voted on Thursday. Harper didnt respond to a request for comment about her legislation. State Rep. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport, who also sits on the House Sales, Amusement, & Other Taxes Subcommittee, supports the idea of better preparing local officials to deal with any kind of trauma. However, he said paying for it with an infringement on residents Second Amendment rights is a non-starter for him. There is not a Republican or Democrat in the General Assembly that is opposed to helping people in an emergency or trauma response, he said. The question is how to pay for it, how its implemented, the size of that safety net, and the size of the program. But, that is not what this bill does, which is regressively zeroes in on 2nd Amendment supporters. Excise taxes like these, Chesney said, disproportionately affect low-income gun owners. These types of taxes disproportionately impact the poor and working poor, he said, adding that he lives 10 minutes from the Wisconsin border and cheaper ammunition. Firearms safety instructors often tell gun owners to continually train with their firearm, something that becomes more expensive with higher taxes on ammunition. Other studies failed to show a correlation between safer gun use and continual training. The bill also raises a number of questions about whether the tax would be applied to online purchases. Local units of government would not be required to pay the additional tax when purchasing ammunition for their police forces to train and carry. Illinois lawmakers have sought to increase taxes on firearms and ammunition on multiple occasions. Legislation that died in the previous General Assembly would have imposed a one cent-per-cartridge tax on ammunition to pay for mental health services. Another piece of legislation that failed last year was a proposed 2% tax on ammunition meant to pay for a safe school program. The city of Chicago imposes a $25 tax on firearm sales in the city. Chesney noted that Illinois was the last state in the nation to allow for concealed carry of firearms after a federal appellate court ruled they were violating the Second Amendment rights of residents by not allowing for any type of carry provision. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. CAIRO (Reuters) - The Arab league on Tuesday urged Lebanese politicians to work quickly to end a political deadlock in their country and offered to intervene to help Lebanon to overcome the crisis. Lebanon's financial crisis intensified on Monday, after Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri and President Michel Aoun again failed to agree a government, dashing hopes for an end to five months of political bickering that has stalled efforts to reverse a financial collapse. "The Secretary-General, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, feels great concern due to the debates in the political field that suggest that the country is sliding into a severe crisis situation, the features of which are now clearly visible," the Arab league said in its statement. The organization warned that the political deadlock "aggravates the suffering of the Lebanese people," and offered "to do whatever was asked from it to heal the current rift". (Reporting by Nadeen Ebrahim; Writing by Mahmoud Mourad; Editing by Alex Richardson) 03/23/2021 Photo (c) MicroStockHub - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.) Total U.S. confirmed cases: 29,872,398 (29,821,403) Total U.S. deaths: 543,057 (542,382) Total global cases: 123,839,047 (123,321,541) Total global deaths: 2,726,061 (2,716,990) U.S. agency questions AstraZeneca vaccine results A day after drugmaker AstraZeneca released the results of a U.S. trial for its coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, U.S. health officials are calling those results into question. The National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is headed by Dr. Anthony Fauci, issued a statement saying AstraZeneca may have relied on out-of-date information and provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. The drugmaker said the vaccine showed a 79 percent efficacy rate. NIAID said AstraZeneca should review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible. COVID-19 cases rise in 27 states At a time when millions of Americans are being vaccinated and businesses are beginning to return to normal, health officials warn that were not out of the woods just yet. According to Johns Hopkins Universitys compilation of data, the U.S. seven-day average of daily new coronavirus cases is up by at least 5 percent in 27 states. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is cautioning policymakers about lifting COVID-19 restrictions too soon, saying that could be a serious threat to recent progress against the pandemic. We are at a critical point in this pandemic, a fork in the road, she said at a briefing. Former CDC director: vaccines have saved 40,000 lives More than a half-million Americans have died from COVID-19 in the last year, but a lot of people are still breathing because theyve been vaccinated. Thats the assessment being given by former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden. Frieden credits the vaccines, which have been administered to more than 80 million Americans so far, with already saving 40,000 lives. Because of the variants that are now circulating, Frieden believes the U.S. is likely to see another surge in virus cases but far fewer deaths. "These are really good vaccines and the quicker we get them out the better," he told CNN. Another theater chain is ready to reopen In a sign that things may be getting back to normal, another theater chain has announced reopening plans. Regal Cinemas says it is ready to reopen its U.S. theaters that have been empty for the last six months. The chain said it plans to reopen about 500 locations on April 2. The theaters will operate at a limited capacity based on local guidelines. In most cases, that will be no more than 50 percent capacity. The move follows AMCs decision, announced last week, to reopen 98 percent of its theaters with capacity limits and social distancing. Study finds pandemic causes humans to be nicer to machines We humans often take machines for granted and get angry when they dont perform as expected. But researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) say people affected by COVID-19 are showing more goodwill to both their fellow humans and to machines. "The new discovery here is that when people are distracted by something distressing, they treat machines socially like they would treat other people, said Jonathan Gratch, senior author of the study. Gratch said the study found that as people interacted more via machines during the past year, perceptions about the value of technology increased, which led to more favorable responses to machines. Around the nation 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. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 In 2016, the Vietnamese retail market welcomed the entry of Zara, the famous Spanish fashion brand. The experience of buying well known fashion brands in home country, which earlier were available only for those who traveled abroad, is truly a luxury. This explains the excitement of Vietnamese people in general and fashion followers in particular, when hundreds of people waited in line for the Zara store to open. Just five years later, shopping options in Vietnam have become even more exciting. Popular brands around the world such as Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, and Decathlon are drawing crowds in malls across the country. Uniqlo stores on Dong Khoi street in Ho Chi Minh City and on Pham Ngoc Thach street in Hanoi are among top four largest Uniqlo stores in Southeast Asia. Seeing great opportunities in Vietnam, leading Japanese international brands Matsumoto Kiyoshi, MUJI, Haidilao, Uniqlo, and Fila have expanded their network, choosing to open large stores in prominent locations in busy downtown districts of Vietnams two biggest cities. In 2020, when the entire world was reeling under the disastrous effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam was able to reach a GDP increase of 2.91%, one of the highest in the world. Vietnam is also the only country in ASEAN to have shown positive growth in 2020. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecast that Vietnam's economy will quickly recover to 6.3% by 2021. In the effort towards a strong economic recovery, retail is being seen as a bright spot. According to the General Statistics Office, the size of this market increased by about USD 11 bn in 2020. Experts forecast that if the growth rate continues to be as high as previous years, then in just two years, Vietnam's retail market can reach USD 200 bn. Therefore, the resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic in February 2021 did not significantly affect the growth forecast for 2021. According to trade economists, Vietnam's retail market is forecast to have a strong rebound with 11% revenue growth in 2021, outperforming any other Southeast Asian country. Vietnam is also the 6th ranking market in the group of 30 countries with attractive investments in the global retail sector in recent years. The more optimistic signals will become clearer when the disease situation has been brought under control, and Vietnam has imported the vaccine for general population use. While many other countries are still looking for a thaw in their economies, Vietnam has shown and proven its resilience. The consumer trend among the Vietnamese people has also changed in a positive direction. According to an Ipsos report on consumer behavior, 55% of Vietnamese still believe that the domestic economy will get better in the next six month period. This figure in other countries in the region, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, is only 45%. Many experts forecast that Vietnam will attract investment flow of big international brands in 2021, especially in the retail segment. Saigon Investment The Painter and the Thief Directed by Benjamin Ree 107 minutes, rated M Selected cinemas A muse is a mysterious thing, as is the mindset of the painter who finds one. Neither would seem to be great subjects for a film, but how wrong one can be. The Painter and the Thief is a superb Norwegian documentary about a painter who befriended the criminal who stole two of her paintings. He then became her muse. Karl-Bertil Nordland sits for his portrait. When he first saw the work he burst into tears. About five years ago, Barbora Kysilkova, a Czech artist, had recently arrived in Oslo from Berlin. Though not well-known, her photo-realist paintings attracted some attention at her first show, in the Gallery Nobel, in Oslo. The gallery put them in its feature windows - a large picture of two entwined swans, entitled Swan Song, and another of two women, called Chloe & Emma. Soon afterwards, two men broke in and stole both paintings, taking the time to remove about 100 nails from the frames, rather than cutting the canvases out. They were meticulous but dumb: closed circuit cameras filmed the whole thing. The police nabbed them within a few days, but did not recover the pictures. Kysilkova attended the trial of one of the defendants. Karl-Bertil Nordland was a heroin addict with severe emotional problems, who had spent years in prison on previous offences. Kysilkova asked him why he stole her paintings. Because they were beautiful, he replied. She then asked him if he would allow her to paint his portrait - not exactly the reaction I was expecting. 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. Ras Aswad Nkrabeah, one of the parents at the centre of the Achimota Rastafarian saga, has served notice of suing the school for discriminating against Rastafarian children with dreadlocks. Speaking on Asaase Radio Tuesday 23 March 2021, he said it is a class action being taken by concerned parents to address their grievances. Nkrabeah also disclosed that he is on the verge of securing admission for his 16-year-old son at a new school after the Achimota School defied a Ghana Education Service (GES) directive to admit two Rastafarian students. According to him, the school discriminated against them based on their faith and culture. It is a class action lawsuit involving other parents on the basis of discrimination on faith and culture, Nkrabeah said. He added: When I went to a meeting yesterday (Monday), the headmistress gave herself away by saying it wasnt two, I didnt know it was three students. So now I am realising that it is something they do and they do it with pleasure. When I went to the office you know what the assistant principal told me, he said last year we turned away a few of them and they took us to court and we won. So if you want to take it to court, go ahead and do that, and he said this is not the first and wont be the last, this is what he told me. He further questioned why authorities of the school allows white children with different hairstyles and not those with dreadlocks. Why did they allow the white people with their long hair in schools at Achimota School and the black people they are prejudicing against their own Ghanaians, Nkrabeah said. Background The GES over the weekend instructed authorities of the Achimota School to admit two first-year students who reported on campus with dreadlocks. It follows massive debate on social media after reports that the school had refused to admit the children although they gained admission. Reports suggest the school authorities had claimed it is against the rules of the school for students to have dreadlocks. Source: asaaseradio Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Government minister Helen Whately tells BBC Breakfast people should hold off on booking a foreign holiday. Video Transcript HELEN WHATELY: I think what I would counsel is caution at the moment for people to hold off on booking. Because as anybody can see, we're in a situation where there are rising rates in many countries in Europe. And you know, we know that also something that comes with rising rates is the increased risk of variance, where it's so important that we're going to be able to test more rapidly for variants and concern, as I've outlined. So I would say to people, just hold off. What matters for us at the moment is that we keep pressing on with our vaccination program. And we've got this tremendous situation where half of UK adults have been vaccinated-- 844,000 people on Saturday, as I said. And you know, let's keep pressing ahead with that and the steps that we're taking to control the virus here in the UK. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! [March 23, 2021] Cybersixgill Accelerates Vulnerability Management with Intent-Based Exploit Score TEL AVIV, Israel, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cybersixgill , the leader in threat intelligence enablement, launched today a first-of-its-kind predictive vulnerability management solution -- its Dynamic Vulnerability Exploit Score (DVE). Designed to fuel rapid prioritization and mitigation of dangerous vulnerabilities using threat intelligence from the cybercrime underground, DVE Score relies on machine learning to quantify the intent of threat actors and anticipate the exploitation of a vulnerability up to 90 days in advance. This unique, data-driven insight into the inner workings of malicious hacker communities can accelerate threat response and decision making, effectively giving security teams a head start on vulnerability management. DVE Score is generated by the continuous, AI-driven, real-time analysis of several streams of threat intelligence - including dark web discourse, code repositories, clear web, social media, blogs, and more - to propel a risk-based vulnerability management program of unparalleled prowess. Fueled by automation of the most comprehensive collection of vulnerability-related threat intelligence available on the market and organized and arranged for easy consumption, DVE Score helps security teams maximize performance and results by accelerating the pace of mitigation. "As of today, there are over 159,000 known vulnerabilities, yet only 6 percent of them are being exploited," said Omer Carmi, VP of intelligence at Cybersixgill. "Because the vast majority of exploitation happens on the first day of a vulnerability's public release, it is crucial for security teams to understand on a real-time basis how prominent a threat is. DVE Score allows security teams to see true threats as they emerge, saving crucial time as otential threats materialize into active ones. It provides an extra-layer of real-time context that helps security teams better prioritize and manage their patching cadence. " DVE Score relies on a unique algorithm which empowers security teams to better understand the severity of the vulnerability and the approach threat actors are taking to exploit. For each CVE, the DVE scoring algorithm supplies a timeline and an event log that includes dark web chatter as well as POC codes written by threat actors to exploit that vulnerability. Each score is backed by an audit-trail, explaining its rationale for the score. This audit-trail gives security teams visibility into the objective evidence powering the prioritization of the vulnerability, making it easier to justify actions to peers and superiors within their organization and providing visibility and governance like never before. The new DVE Score is designed to integrate smoothly into enterprise security teams that rely on Cybersixgill's Continuous Investigation/Continuous Protection. Users can further investigate to learn more about a vulnerability's popularity, potential exploits, relevant actors and more, generating fresh analysis from newly-found intelligence. "I participated in Cybersixgill's DVE beta and look forward to using it," said Maitreyee Palker, security engineer of the multi-cloud security and application delivery company, F5. "Cybersixgill's DVE Score helps us measure the attack surface and severity while giving us the ability to watch how a particular vulnerability is evolving. It also serves as a force multiplier for me, as I can easily see all relevant vulnerabilities along with any POC exploit." Cybersixgill's DVE Score is available as a feed, through the company's Investigative Portal or through an API. It can seamlessly integrate with TIP, SIEM, SOAR, and VM platforms. Learn more about Cybersixgill's DVE Score. About Cybersixgill Sixgill's fully automated threat intelligence solutions help organizations fight cyber crime, detect phishing, data leaks, fraud and vulnerabilities as well as amplify incident response in real-time. The Sixgill Investigative Portal empowers security teams with contextual and actionable insights as well as the ability to conduct real-time investigations. Rich data feeds such as Darkfeed and DVE Score harness Sigill's unmatched intelligence collection capabilities and deliver real-time intel into organizations' existing security systems. Most recently, Sixgill introduced agility to threat intel with their CI/CP methodology (Continuous Investigation/Continuous Protection). Current customers include enterprises, financial services, MSSPs, governments and law enforcement entities. To learn more, visit https://www.cybersixgill.com/ and follow us on Twitter: @CyberSixgill and LinkedIn . Media Contacts Matt McLoughlin Gregory FCA on behalf of Cybersixgill Matt@gregoryfca.com Laurie Ben-Haim Cybersixgill +1-646-300-9549 +972-52-7831911 laurie@cyberCyberSixgill.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cybersixgill-accelerates-vulnerability-management-with-intent-based-exploit-score-301254072.html SOURCE Cybersixgill [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Millions of people across New South Wales will be prevented from travel over the coming days with an extensive list of closed highways across the state. State Emergency Services and the NSW Government have been adding to an increasingly long list of closures as a once-in-a-century rain event continues to batter the east coast of Australia. People in flood-affected areas are being urged to stay at home and not attempt to travel across and into dangerous zones. So far, 34 NSW councils have declared 'natural disaster zones', with the powerful storm that lashed the state's north coast and western Sydney now spreading to the Illawarra region on the south coast. The region is forecast for a 200mm rain dump on Tuesday, peaking at 300mm in some parts. Millions of people across New South Wales will be prevented from travel over the coming days with an extensive list of closed highways across the state (pictured, Windsor on Monday) State Emergency Services and the NSW Government have been adding to an increasingly long list of closures (pictured, McGraths Hill in north west Sydney on Monday) Residents of NSW and QLD are being urged to stay home and not travel across dangerous areas The weather trough causing the havoc is due to collide with another system coming in from the southwest, meaning Sydney and the Mid-North Coast could cop another 100mm in the next day or so, and a season's worth of rain is possible in the west. The NSW Transport Management Centre released a list of roads that have been closed or affected by the mass floods that have brought NSW to a state of natural disaster. The list, released Tuesday morning, indicates areas that motorists should avoid while also recommending everyone able to should work from home. The NSW Transport Management Centre released a list of roads that have been closed or affected by the mass floods The new Windsor Bridge, which was meant to be 'flood proof' is now completely engulfed by rising waters 'Motorists and public transport passengers in flood-affected areas of the state are advised to avoid non-essential travel and work from home again today,' the Transport Management Centre said in a statement. 'Motorists needing to travel should take extreme care, be prepared for conditions to change quickly and never drive through floodwaters. 'Public transport passengers who need to travel are also advised to allow plenty of extra travel time and take extreme care.' The SES on Tuesday morning reported crews attending 9,700 calls for help across NSW, including 870 flood rescues. More than 20,000 people have been evacuated by SES so far with 870 flood rescues (pictured, Kempsey in northern NSW on Monday) The once-in-a-century flood event has turned streets across New South Wales into canals (pictured, McGraths Hill in north west Sydney on Monday) A Fire and Rescue NSW crew was surprised by snakes jumping on to their life raft as they waded 1km in the darkness to reach a family of two adults and four children stranded at a house isolated by floodwater in Sancrox near Port Macquarie. Some locations have experienced almost a metre of rain in a week, the Bureau of Meteorology said. 'I've been a flood forecaster in the bureau for 20 years and this is probably the worst flooding that I've experienced and I've had to forecast,' Bureau of Meteorology flood manager Justin Robinson said. Read the list of closed and impact roads and highways below: A Tokyo-based restaurant chain operator filed a damages suit on Monday against the Tokyo metropolitan government for ordering that business hours be reduced as a public safety measure during the coronavirus pandemic. Global Dining Inc claims the order "is illegal and unconstitutional as it infringes the right to freedom of business" in the first such lawsuit anywhere in Japan. The company runs dozens of restaurants in the Tokyo area including the Gonpachi izakaya Japanese-style pubs, one of which is famous for its scene in Quentin Tarantino's film "Kill Bill," and for the site of a dinner in 2002 between then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W Bush. The restaurant operator, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Second Section, is seeking only 104 yen in damages, saying it is looking to shine light on the impact of government-enforced anti-virus measures that it believes excessively hamper business operations and people's lives. The plaintiff's lawyer Rintaro Kuramochi said imposing blanket restrictions without offering evidence that restaurants are a source of infections violates the freedom of business guaranteed under the Constitution. After a revision to the coronavirus special measures law last month, prefectures can give an order to businesses such as restaurants to shorten business hours during a state of emergency if the businesses defy the initial request without a valid reason. Under the revised law, businesses can be fined up to 300,000 yen if they do not comply. Russian ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov arrived in Moscow on Sunday morning, having been called back to the capital in response to American President Joseph Bidens affirmation on Wednesday, March 17, in an interview with ABC News, that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a killer. The diplomatic crisis coincides with new allegations by the American intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2020 elections by attempting to undermine popular support for Biden. Despite the fact that no evidence has been published to substantiate these claims, Washington and leading press outlets in the US have seized on them to ratchet up anti-Russia hysteria and imply that Vladimir Putin is somehow responsible for the diseased state of Americas political system. The Kremlin in Moscow (Photo: A.Savin/Wikipedia) As Antonov returned to Moscow, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MID) warned that the White House is risking an irreversible deterioration of relations. It added, however, that the Kremlin is committed to open lines of communication and rectifying Russia-US relations. Russias envoy will remain at home for an undetermined period, during which time officials say he will hold discussions with different branches of government. The day following Bidens provocative statement, President Putin responded to the charge of being a murderer with a quip from a childrens story, The one who is name calling, is the one who is called by that namein other words, It takes one to know one, A case of the pot calling the kettle black. Putin went on to list a handful of bloody episodes in American history, beginning with the extermination of the native population. The Kremlin leader also wished Biden good health, playing on the idea, which has been widely circulated in the Russian press, that the American presidents accusation was a sign of his deteriorating mental faculties. Putin invited his counterpart to a live, open-air discussion of relations between the two countries, an invitation which the White House publicly declined on March 22. That same day, Russian Minister of Foreign Relations Sergei Lavrov met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, in the first high-level diplomatic exchange since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The press reports that the conversation between the government representatives focused on their respective countries worsening relationships with the United States and the need to strengthen ties between Moscow and Beijing. A theme that emerged was the prospect of increasingly using Russia and Chinas national currencies in bilateral trade. Currently, while dollar-denominated exchange has fallen to less than 50 percent of overall trade between the two countries, much of this has been made up by the euro, not the ruble or the yuan. As coverage of Lavrov and Yis meeting was appearing in news outlets, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov issued a statement warning that the United States may intensify economic sanctions directed against Russia, including cutting off the country from the international financial exchange system SWIFT, through which 33.6 million banking transactions a day happen around the globe. The intense financial isolation caused by such a move, which has thus far only been taken against Iran, could be worsened by an attack on the ruble, which would send its value falling and drastically increase the size of Russias ruble-denominated state debt. The Ministry of Finance commented that in the event of such a development, its only option would be to turn on the printing presses. Tensions between Russia and the United States penetrate every sphere. Earlier this week, the US-allied regime in Ukraine announced plans to retake the now Russian-controlled territory of Crimea by force. In mid-March the US conducted joint training exercises with nuclear-capable B-12 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers in territorial waters near the shores of Iceland, Greenland, and Great Britain where Russian warships are known to surface. By its own admission, the United States pressured Brazilwhich is confronting an out-of-control COVID-19 surgeto not make purchases of Russia Sputnik V vaccine, despite the fact that it has now been determined safe and effective by both Russian and European medical researchers. As manifested in Lavrovs and Yis recent visit, the ceaseless geopolitical and economic pressure being exerted on Russia by the United States and leading powers in Europe is driving sections of the countrys elite to look toward China as a counterweight. Speaking recently to Russia in Global Affairs, a leading think tank journal, political scientist Sergei Karganov emphasized the importance of Russia deepening its turn to the east under conditions of what is now and will continue to be an extremely unpredictable international environment: Thirty years ago when Russia ceased to be the Soviet Union we tried to form a strategic union with the West, above all with Europe. The project failed. And now we are a strategic, in the military-political sense, support for China. And they are our support. And it was precisely because of Siberian resources that we became a great European power, and then a great world power. We, of course, need to act carefully, to develop ties with other Asian countries, engage more actively with India, more actively with the countries of ASEAN, and not fall into too great a dependence on the PRC [Peoples Republic of China]. The Russian ruling class search right and left, for alliances and new arrangements that will rescue it from the geopolitical and economic crisis it is facing, is fraught with contradictions. The idea that Russia, as part of a Russo-Chinese anti-American bloc, will come to some sort of lasting, mutually-acceptable agreement over control of the Siberian landmass with its Chinese neighborwith 10 times the population, 8.5 times the size of the economy, and triple the annual military spendingis implausible. The oligarchs of each country wish to have the unreserved right to exploit the resources and people of Eurasia. And the United States, driven to insane attempts to dominate the globe because of the diseased state of American capitalism, will not rest in its efforts to gain control of the region. The working class of Russia, like its counterpart in China, can only defend itself against the predatory interests of American capitalism and its own capitalist class in a common struggle with the workers of the United States and the world. LONDON (AP): Britain plans to cut the size of its army and boost spending on drones, robots and a new cyber force under defence plans announced by the government on Monday. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the British Army would shrink from 76,500 soldiers to 72,500 by 2025. He said the army hadn't been at its established strength of 82,500 for several years. Wallace said the military would no longer be overstretched and under-equipped and that new investment in equipment, infrastructure and technology marks a shift from mass mobilisation to information age speed, readiness and relevance for confronting the threats of the future. Wallace said the armed forces will no longer be held as a force of last resort, but become more present and active around the world. Britain is the second-biggest military spender in NATO, after the United States. In November the government announced a 16.5 billion-pound ( 23 billion) increase in defence spending over the next four years, focusing on the future battlefields of space and cyber rather than traditional resources such as army troops. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday that the reforms would give the military "the kit now that they will need to make themselves all the more useful, all the more, I'm afraid, lethal, and effective around the world...Therefore, all the more valuable to our allies, and all the more deterring to our foes". Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring has officially arrived, and for the first time in more than a year, some of us will finally be able to safely gather with friends and family for Easter dinner, Sunday brunches and other seasonal celebrations. Whatever the reason for getting together, White Castle wants to help make the occasion memorable. So the 100-year-old, family-owned home of the Original Slider suggests a few ideas for turning any event into a very special celebration. White Castle helps make Easter brunch and other spring celebrations more memorable. Tweet this White Castle's Brunch Benedict featuring a regular Slider is an ideal recipe for Easter brunch and other spring meals with friends and family. The Cravey Boat in the background is perfect for hollandaise and other sauces and gravies. Photo assets can be downloaded through Dropbox here. First, try adding White Castle's Original Slider Stuffing to your Easter table. Sure, this Thanksgiving staple goes great with turkey, but it also complements ham, lamb, beef and other traditional Easter fare. White Castle introduced the savory stuffing in 1991, using the Original Slider as the primary ingredient. In 2019, White Castle released a new version of the recipe, using the Impossible Slider for Cravers who want a nonmeat option. Both the traditional and meat-free recipes can be found on White Castle's website under "Recipes." Next, Cravers can adorn their dining tables with White Castle's new, limited-edition Cravey Boat, now available on White Castle's House of Crave website. White Castle created its first-ever Cravey Boat for Thanksgiving 2020 and tested it with a small group of Cravers. They responded so favorably to the exclusive piece that White Castle opted to create a new 100th birthday edition and make it available to the public. With a sleek look inspired by fine design and a spirit of great taste, the Cravey Boat is perfect for gravy, fondue, hollandaise and other craveable sauces. It's available for just $25 (plus tax and shipping). "However and whenever people set their tables this spring, White Castle wants to be right there with them," said Jamie Richardson, a vice president at White Castle. "In these still uncertain yet very hopeful times, our recipes and Cravey Boat are perfectly suited to help Cravers capitalize on their seasonal celebrations." In addition to the stuffing recipe, White Castle also suggests three more recipes that will make gatherings more memorable: Bunny Sliders Here's a delicious dish that the youngest Cravers will have as much fun making as eating, so hop to it! All that's needed is a Slider for the body, apple slice ears, a carrot nose and a miniature marshmallow tail. Brunch Craver's Benedict Top your favorite Slider with a poached egg, Canadian bacon and classic hollandaise sauce poured from your new Cravey Boat. White Castle Slider Bloody Mary This recipe features a traditional Bloody Mary garnished with celery stalks and five skewers stacked with Sliders, sausage links, bacon strips, mini-waffles, cheese cubes, cherry tomatoes and a hard-boiled egg. The Original Slider and Impossible Slider can be purchased at White Castle restaurants. The Original Slider along with four other Slider varieties can also be picked up in freezer aisles at retail stores across the country. Whichever Slider is used, the recipes are all fantastic. About White Castle White Castle, America's first fast-food hamburger chain, has been making hot and tasty Sliders as a family-owned business for 100 years. Based in Columbus, Ohio, White Castle started serving The Original Slider in 1921. Today, White Castle owns and operates more than 360 restaurants dedicated to satisfying customers' cravings morning, noon and night and sells its famous fare in retail stores nationwide. The Original Slider, named in 2014 as Time Magazine's most influential burger of all time, is served alongside a menu of creatively crafted sliders and other mouthwatering food options, including White Castle's Impossible Slider, named by Thrillist in 2019 as the "Best Plant-Based Fast Food Burger." White Castle's commitment to maintaining the highest quality products extends to the company owning and operating its own meat processing plants, bakeries and frozen-food processing plants. White Castle is known for the legendary loyalty of its team members, more than 1 in 4 of whom have worked for White Castle for at least 10 years, and of its faithful fans, affectionately referred to as Cravers, many of whom compete each year for entry into the Cravers Hall of Fame. The official White Castle app, available at iTunes App Store or Google Play, makes it easy for Cravers to access sweet deals and place pickup orders any time. They can also have their orders delivered using one of White Castle's delivery partners. For more information on White Castle, visit whitecastle.com. SOURCE White Castle Related Links http://www.whitecastle.com On the occasion of Pakistan's National Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended his greetings to the people of the neighbouring country. In a letter to his counterpart Imran Khan, PM Modi expressed that India desires cordial relations with Pakistan. However, he emphasized that to achieve it, an environment of trust, 'devoid of terror and hostility' is imperative. "Excellence, at this difficult time for humanity, I would like to convey my best wishes to you and the people of Pakistan for dealing with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic," PM Modi wrote in his letter to Imran Khan. Pakistan celebrates March 23 as its Republic Day, commemorating the Lahore Resolution passed on this day in 1940 when it adopted its constitution. The day celebrates the adoption of the Pakistan Resolution by the Muslim League at the Minar-e-Pakistan and also witnesses a parade by the armed forces of the country. As per reports, President Ram Nath Kovind also extended his greetings to his counterpart Arif Alvi. 'Talks & terror cannot go together' PM Modi's emphasis on an environment devoid of terror comes at a time Imran Khan has been attempting to push the onus of progressing peace talks on India. Earlier this month, Khan had acknowledged India's tough stance on no talks without an environment stance free of terror, hostility and violence. Addressing the Islamabad Security Dialogue, PM Khan noted, "India has told Pakistan that talks and terror cannot go together." In the same address, he discussed Pakistan's vision of comprehensive national security and spoke at length on the issue of peace in the region, including peace between his country and India. "The unresolved Kashmir issue was the biggest hurdle between the two countries," Khan added. Notably, in February this year, India and Pakistan had issued a joint statement agreeing to strictly observe the 2003 Ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control (LoC). The move which has been welcomed by global leaders came in the aftermath of repeated LoC violations by Pakistan including multiple infiltration attempts foiled by the Indian Army. Incidentally, the consensus on ceasefire came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan called for resolving differences with India via dialogue. On his maiden visit to Sri Lanka, Khan made this comment during his address at the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Conference on Wednesday. Claiming that he had unsuccessfully attempted to diffuse tensions in the bilateral relationship after assuming power in 2018, he stressed the need to improve trading ties with India. PM wishes Imran Khan speedy recovery Recently, PM Modi also wished Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan a 'speedy recovery' on Saturday after the latter tested positive for COVID-19. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi conveyed his best wishes to Imran Khan wishing him a quick recovery. Imran Khan had tested positive for COVID-19 nearly two days after being administered the first dose of China's Sinopharm vaccine. Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to the Pakistan PM on National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination made this announcement on Twitter, adding that Khan is self-isolating at home. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Ministry of National Health Services has clarified that PM Khan was not 'fully vaccinated' yet and had only undergone the 1st dose of the Chinese vaccine. As per the Ministry, antibodies kick-in after almost 2-3 weeks from the second dose of 2-dose vaccines like Sinopharm. Mumbai, March 23 : Actor Arjun Mathur, who is currently shooting for the second season of "Made In Heaven", hit the gym on Tuesday and updated fans about his fitness gameplan. The actor, who got an Emmy Nomination for his role in the first season of the show, said that he is going to workout with "no substitutes" and "no shortcuts". Posting the picture on his Instagram from the gym, Arjun captioned: "Finally starting to get somewhere.No shortcuts. No substitutes. Just 4 months of extreme discipline, self-control, will-power and hard bloody work after an extremely toxic and unhealthy lockdown. Under the immaculate guidance of @samir_jaura and @thephysiquearchitect. No pain, no gainzzz." The actor got an encouraging response from industry colleagues like Sanjay Kapoor, Karsh Kale and Shweta Tripathi. Arjun will also be seen in the series "The Gone Game 2" and "U-Special". Toyota Kentucky celebrates milestones Toyota Kentucky celebrates milestones with $1.3 million commitment to education and workforce programs across the Commonwealth GEORGETOWN, Ky. (March 16, 2021) A very special RAV4 Hybrid rolled off the line at Toyotas largest plant worldwide in Georgetown, Ky., earlier this month. What is so unique about it? Its striking exterior finish or its finely tuned hybrid powertrain capable of thrilling performance and efficiency? Yes! But the bestselling SUV also marked the 13th millionth vehicle assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) since production started in 1988. On one hand, its hard to believe we have produced 13 million vehicles, said Susan Elkington, TMMK president. However, when you consider the dedication and skill of our Kentucky team it isnt so hard to imagine. Its incredible to think about our customers, their families, and all the places theyve gone in our 13 million vehicles. Looking forward, we are excited about the future of mobility and being able to take more people, more places. TMMK, best known for producing the Camry and Avalon, began production of the RAV4 Hybrid in January 2020 as the result of multiple investments by Toyota, totaling over $1.5 billion since 2017. These investments were part of a larger commitment by the company to invest over $13 billion in its North American manufacturing operations from 2017 to 2021. That goal was reached a year early while creating over 6,500 jobs. The 1,300-acre Georgetown campus, Toyotas first plant in North America, represents an $8 billion investment and employs over 10,000 Kentuckians. It is also home to a powertrain facility on track to reach its own milestone this year, producing its 13 millionth engine. The engine is the heart of every vehicle and our powertrain team takes that responsibility very seriously, said David Rosier, TMMK powertrain head. Were especially proud to be a part of Toyotas commitment to alternative fueled vehicles and the future of mobility in North America. For 21 consecutive years, Toyota has been the leading manufacturer of alternative powered vehicle sales in the United States. By 2025, Toyotas goal is to have 40% of new vehicle sales be electrified models, and by 2030 expects that to increase to nearly 70%. Globally, this commitment to alternative fueled vehicles has resulted in the avoidance of an estimated 139 million tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) into the atmosphere. Toyota Kentucky is proud to recognize both milestones with a $1.3 million commitment to furthering STEM education and workforce development programs across the Commonwealth. Funds will be utilized to engage diverse and under-resourced youth by exposing them to great manufacturing career opportunities. A few of the grant recipients include: Rise STEM Academy for Girls Jobs for Americas Graduates (JAG) Black Male Working (BMW) Academy Prichard Committee Partners for Youth 2021 is a year full of milestones for the automaker. In February, the company celebrated its 30 millionth North American produced vehicle a Toyota Sienna produced at its Princeton, Ind., plant. Later this year, Toyota Kentucky will celebrate its 35th anniversary and the production of its 10 millionth Camry. Mumbai, March 23 : Actor Rana Daggubati's ambitious jungle adventure drama "Haathi Mere Saathi", which was set to release on March 26, has been postponed due to rising Covid cases. However, the film's Tamil and Telugu versions -- "Kaadan" and "Aranya" respectively -- will release on the scheduled date. A statement from the film's production house Eros International read: "Dear viewers, It pains us to share this news but given the Covid-19 situation in the Hindi markets, the team of Haathi Mere Saathi has decided to hold on to the release of the film. We shall keep you posted on further developments. However, we will be releasing Aranya and Kaadan in the South markets on the 26th of March." This is not the only film to have been postponed owing to the surge in Covid cases. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma's "D Company" has also been postponed. The filmmaker had tweeted earlier, informing his fans about the update. "Due to the sudden severe Covid rise in many parts of the country and also amid continuous news of new lockdowns, we at SPARK decided to postpone the release of D COMPANY ..A new date will be announced ASAP #DCompany @SparkSagar1," RGV wrote. Reflecting on how the cases are affecting the film industry, trade analyst Atul Mohan told IANS: "Looking at the current situation, it is a good move. We can wait for a little long, when we have waited for so long. In the end safety is the priority." However, the decision of releasing "Aranya" and "Kaadan" can have adverse effects, too. "People would watch the film in the South but the buzz will not be lost. There are many portals that allow easy piracy, and transfer of movie links. In such cases, there should not be partial or staggered release," said Atul Mohan. The Ekiti State government, on Monday, said it had concluded plans to enter into partnership with a Brazilian organization, AfricaBrazil International Forum, in agribusiness, monorail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Governor Kayode Fayemi, who made this known when he met with officials of the organisation in his office in Ado-Ekiti, said that improving transportation and agriculture in Ekiti State were part of his administrations plans. He said his government would gladly partner with the organisation to actualise some of his laudable programmes, particularly in agriculture and transportation. The governor noted that Brazil had taken some giant strides in agriculture, having the most successful agricultural research organisations in the world, and hence the interest of Ekiti to tap from their wealth of experience, particularly in the areas of research and technology. He said that Ekiti and Brazil had a lot in common, including climate and the types of crops available in the two zones. This is because everything I saw in Brazil, climate wise, soil wise was almost as if I was back in Ekiti. During my first term in office I spent some time in Brazil and I visited one of the most successful agricultural research organizations in the whole world, and we were able to learn a lot about what makes agriculture successful there. The successful crops are those that we have here, cocoa, tubers and grains. But Brazilians have done more to advance via technology, via research and there is a lot for us to learn from the experience of Brazil, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Fayemi also urged more national and international business consortiums to come and invest in the state, saying that Ekiti was ready and open for business collaboration that would impact positively on the lives of the people. He said the states Investment and Development Promotion Agency would drive the partnership alongside the Ministry of Arts and Culture, in an effort to strengthen the bond of cooperation. Mr Fayemi further said: For us, this is the beginning of an exciting relationship on the practical side, in terms of agricultural cooperation but also on the cultural side. For us, culture is very central to development and if we connect the two worlds, I know that we would make giant strides in our partnership. Response Earlier, the General Secretary of the Forum, Lucas Andrade, said that his association had over one million farmers, with a team of over 25 investors, ready to work with the state government to bring more development to the state. Mr Andrade, whose Yoruba name is Adeyemi Awurela, said the technical project was expected to bring a lot of food to the state through its agricultural programme, adding that the mobility system would help bring radical development to the state. The State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Rasak Bakare, said the visit of the Brazilians was sequel to a trip by the Ministrys top officials to Brazil last year. He explained that the trip had yielded positive results, not only for the tourism industry, but also for other areas of the states economy. Mr Bakare said that over 25 investors had shown interests in coming to Ekiti to invest, in the different areas of the economy, under what he called the Brazil-Ekiti Project (BRAKIT). (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT EU states summon Chinese envoys over sanctions The German foreign ministry in Berlin. Germany was one of several European countries to summon Chinese ambassadors. File image: Shutterstock Germany and other EU nations called in Chinese ambassadors on Tuesday to protest at sanctions imposed by Beijing targeting their citizens, as China and Europe faced off over claims of rights abuses against China's Muslim Uyghur minority. The diplomatic spat erupted after the EU, Britain and Canada on Monday blacklisted four former and current officials in the Xinjiang region, while Washington, which had already sanctioned two of those officials in July 2020, extended them to the two others. The tensions come as the EU seeks to formulate a strategy on China at a time when tensions between Beijing and Washington are emerging as the world's number one geopolitical issue. The European Union and China had in December approved "in principle" a major investment pact that Brussels hopes will open up lucrative opportunities despite concerns on human rights. China has angrily rejected the claims of a crackdown against the Uyghurs, and responded with entry bans on 10 Europeans including five members of the European Parliament as well as two EU bodies and two think-tanks. Germany, a key EU proponent of strong ties with Beijing, called in China's ambassador Wu Ken for "urgent talks" at the foreign ministry. The envoy was told "that China's sanctions against European MPs, scientists and political institutions as well as non-governmental organisations represent an inappropriate escalation that unnecessarily strains ties between the EU and China," the ministry said. In Brussels, a Belgian government source said China's ambassador was expected to attend a meeting later on Tuesday over the sanctions against lawmaker Samuel Cogolati, who proposed a motion in parliament to describe the crackdown on the Uyghurs as a "genocide". Lithuania's foreign ministry also summoned Beijing's envoy since one of its lawmakers was targeted by the sanctions imposed in response to "blatant" abuses. "China was urged to address the human rights violations instead of imposing countermeasures," it said in a statement. And in Copenhagen, China's ambassador Feng Tie was summoned to appear at the foreign ministry after Beijing sanctioned Alliance of Democracies, a non-profit founded by Denmark's former premier and ex-Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Earlier, France reacted angrily after China's ambassador failed to respond to a summons on Monday, citing scheduling problems. (AFP) Pfizer Inc plans to tap the mRNA technology to make new vaccines for other viruses following the success of its COVID-19 shot, which was developed jointly with German partner BioNTech SE, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The drugmaker said it was ready to pursue mRNA on its own following its experience in the past year working on the COVID-19 vaccine, the WSJ reported, citing an interview with Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla. It did not, however, disclose any details about the viruses it was targeting. Pfizer and BioNTech did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Pfizer/BioNTech and Modernas COVID-19 vaccines, authorized for emergency use in the United States, use mRNA technology. The success of the technology is prompting drug developers to consider its use in other areas of medicine beyond vaccines, attracting billions of dollars in investment. For the past several weeks, coronavirus cases and the test positivity rates in Huron County and elsewhere around the Upper Thumb have been on the rise, prompting concern and frustration by public health officials like Huron County Health Department Public Health Officer Ann Hepfer. I am mad, Hepfer said. I want to go back to normal as much as everyone else right now. As January drew to a close, the number of confirmed cases in Huron County and elsewhere around the state continued to improve and the curve was beginning to flatten. However, the improvement was short lived and as March began the number of new cases in the Upper Thumb started to increase. Hepfer said the root cause of the increase is unknown, but she attributes a portion of the increase to a segment of the population that isnt wearing masks or is doing so improperly. We carry this infection in our noses, so when you wear a mask below your nose it isnt doing you any good, Hepfer said. According to Hepfer, there are plenty of photos from people within Huron County in a group setting and not wearing a mask. They need to understand COVID is real, Hepfer said. It has not gone away. We are on another surge. These are real infections and these are people who are infectious. Every positive case has a risk of infection. According to the state, the Upper Thumb saw 88 new confirmed cases and one new death reported March 23. In Huron County there were 10 new cases reported, bringing the county to 1,981 confirmed cases and 59 deaths. Tuscola County saw a larger increase of 31 cases, bringing the county to 3,187 confirmed cases and 130 deaths. Sanilac County led the region with 47 new cases and one new death, bringing the county to 2,306 confirmed cases and 75 deaths. Hepfers frustrations are spurred by the sudden change in numbers as restrictions were loosened. We were doing so good, Hepfer said. But it seems like every time we give an inch, they take a mile. According to Hepfer, her concerns extend beyond public health. The rise in cases is drawing the attention from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and if trends continue, restrictions could be put back in place. This isnt just Ann Hepfers, or my husbands, or Scott Nunns responsibility, Hepfer said. This is everyones responsibility. I am mad. I dont know what else to do. I dont want additional lockdowns. Despite the rising cases, currently the average amount of deaths due to COVID has not increased in the region. Hepfer said this is likely due to several reasons, with the first being a delay between new cases and new deaths. It always lags, Hepfer said. You are always a good four to six weeks out before you start to see it. Additionally, Hepfer said the average age of people infected has decreased. She said younger people without underlying health issues are better able to fight off the coronavirus infection. Lastly, Hepfer attributed the stable death statistics on the continually improving understanding of the virus among health professionals, which has resulted in improved treatments. Hepfer said although hospitalization rates remain low, the increases will have an impact if the situation doesnt improve. We cannot sustain this for very long before we start to see hospitalization rates up again, Hepfer said. Despite the improved death statistics, for several weeks the region has surpassed the state averages on testing positivity rates. The increase has prompted Huron County Courts to once again postpone all jury trials until at least June. According to Chief Judge David Herrington, the decision was because court protocols dictate when the two-week average positivity rate exceeds 10%, no in-person hearings may be held. Hepfer said Huron County currently had a seven-day average of 25%. The state average for the same timeframe is only an 8% positivity rate. State testing data March 22 showed a slight improvement for Huron County, with its test positivity rate dropping to 13%. However, those totals were based on three positive tests out of only 20 processed. Tuscola County's positivity rate was up to 30.7%, with 31 positive tests out of 101 processed. Sanilac County's positivity rate was 25%, with 31 positive tests out of 122 processed. Hepfer said it is important for the sake of the community, the businesses and the residents that everyone including elected officials and community leaders follow the protocols, which she noted continue to be the best defense. Nothing has changed, Hepfer said. Mask up, wash your hands and maintain 6 feet of distance. In addition to following protocols, Hepfer said people need to get vaccinated. According to Hepfer, anyone over the age of 16 who wants to be vaccinated can beginning April 5. You will still have to be on the list, Hepfer said. But everyone that wants it can start getting vaccinated April 5. However, Hepfer noted that despite the vaccine, people will still need to use caution. No vaccination is 100%, she said. Even with a vaccination you can get COVID. Hepfer said people need to remember the virus is only spread by not observing proper safety. This virus isnt walking around on its own two feet, Hepfer said. We are passing this around. She said the recent increases among schools, which have prompted most to convert to remote learning, should be cause for concern among community members. The safest place for our kids is schools, hands down, Hepfer said. Kids are better off at school, learning face-to-face with their peers. Hepfer said with spring break and Easter right around the corner, the increase in cases is only going to get worse if people dont follow the protocols. Maintaining 6 feet of space and wearing a mask is going to fight that infection, Hepfer said. This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong! Beyond Productions UK has appointed executive producer and showrunner Hamo Forsyth to the new role of creative director, factual. He will lead the development of factual content for UK commissions but will also work with the development teams in the Australian and US offices on co-production opportunities. John Luscombe, Beyond Productions president, comments: We are delighted to welcome Hamo to the Beyond Productions teams in London and Manchester (Beyond Productions North) and excited to broaden our UK focus to include specialist factual content. The UK office, which only came into being mid-2020 when Beyond acquired Seven Studios UK, has hit the ground running with the hugely successful Pooch Perfect for BBC One and My Lottery Dream Home International, which is launching next month on HGTV in the US. However, the time is now right to expand our offer. Hamo has an impressive track record in factual television and his experience will perfectly compliment Damon Pattisons in formats. Our UK office could not be in better hands with these two and is now well positioned for growth. Hamo Forsyth adds: This is a fantastic brief for me, and I relish the challenge of helping Damon to drive the Beyond Productions business in the UK, while also being part of, and contributing to, the larger international business. There is a great appetite for strong factual content at the moment, both from UK broadcasters and the global streamers, and my experience of working with both means I look forward to creating fresh content that will be in demand here and overseas. Forsyth will report into Beyond Productions president John Luscombe, and will work closely with Damon Pattison, also a creative director in the UK office. Hamos most recent projects include showrunner / executive producer for Wall to Wall on Apple TVs landmark series Becoming You and co-executive producer for Nutopia on a major, yet-to-be-named, documentary series for a global streaming platform. He was executive producer and head of programmes at The Garden Productions for six years, working on a range of shows including the BAFTA-nominated and Bulldog Award-winning titles 24 Hours in Police Custody and 24 Hours in A&E. Before that he was at North One TV, where he worked across the Channel 4 series How Britain Worked with Guy Martin, winner of an RTS Best Factual Programme award. Prior to that, Hamo was at the BBC where projects included Donald Trump: All-American Billionaire, The Foods That Make Billions and Mary Portas: Save Our Shops. He also originated and piloted BBC Ones Rogue Restaurants and long-running Rogue Traders series. In addition, Hamo spent four years in New York as a series producer for BBC Productions, producing and directing several local factual entertainment formats, including Honey Were Killing the Kids USA and What Not to Wear USA. Related Global Energy Metals (CVE: GEMC- OTC: GBLEF) Project Development Manager Timothy Strong joined Steve Darling from Proactive to bring details the company is looking to drill their Lovelock Mine Project in the Cottonwood Canyon area of the Stillwater Range in Nevada for the very first time. Strong says the company has submitted their amended application to the Bureau of Land Management for drill activities to begin in May. Press Release March 23, 2021 De Lima slams slow vaccine rollout, gov't plan to ban vaccine procurement by private sector Amid the recent surge of COVID-19 infections in the country, Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has criticized the Duterte administration not only for the slow pace of vaccine rollout but also for its alleged plan to prohibit several companies from procuring vaccines for their employees. De Lima, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, said preventing select companies from having access to vaccines is illegal as it is deplorable. "Where are the vaccines? Why prevent the private sector to import vaccines, who can do better and faster, to provide for the needs of their own workforce and even donate for a portion of the over-all requirements, at least for the priority sectors? Walang masama kung gusto nilang protektahan ang kanilang mga empleyado at pamilya, lalo pa't walang sinasanto ang COVID-19," she said. "Our government's goal should be to protect the lives of as many Filipinos as possible and not to discriminate against the private sector. With the slow pace of its vaccination program, the government, at the very least, should be thankful that the private sector is doing their part in preventing employees from getting infected," she added. In a leaked draft administrative order, it was said that the National Task Force against COVID-19, together with the Department of Health (DOH), "shall review the 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 industries in conflict with public health." After the said proposal received nationwide backlash, the DOH reasoned that it was still finalizing the draft, which would contain some sections of the draft Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Law. The government reportedly aims to vaccinate 50 to 70 million Filipinos or a third of its population to achieve herd immunity this year but Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega admitted that the country has so far inoculated only "below 50 percent" of its health workers nationwide. De Lima, a staunch social justice and human rights champion, likewise slammed the Duterte regime for its "lack of urgency" in vaccinating the millions of Filipinos. "The people from the positions of powers, including influential government officials, can afford to have regular tests conducted and will be immediately attended to, at government's expense, in case they tested positive for COVID-19. How about the ordinary Juan and Juana?" she asked. "The lack of urgency of this administration in terms of inoculating the public is unacceptable. Mahigit isang taon na, pataas pa rin nang pataas ang kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa, at hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring kasiguraduhan kung kailan makatatanggap ng bakuna ang marami nating kababayan," added the lady Senator from Bicol. The Philippines has reportedly reached a new all-time high in its single-day increase of COVID-19 cases at 8,019, as the nationwide total case count now stands at 671,792, on March 22. RALEIGH, N.C., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Great Business Schools ( https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/ ), a free online guide that takes students from the decision to attend business school all the way to an application and acceptance, has released three 2021 rankings of the best Contract Management degree programs in the US: 10 Best Master's in Contract Management for 2021 ( https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/best-contract-management-masters/ ) 10 Best Bachelor's in Contract Management for 2021 ( https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/best-contract-management-degrees/ ) 20 Best Online Contract Management Certificate Programs for 2021 ( https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/best-contract-management-certification-online/ ) The Top 10 Best Contract Management Bachelor's Programs for 2021 are: 1. American Military University - Charles Town, WV 2. University of Alabama in Huntsville - Huntsville, AL 3. St. Ambrose University - Davenport, IA 4. Athens State University - Athens, AL 5. Grantham University - Lenexa, KS 6. Norwich University - Northfield, VT 7. University of the Potomac - Washington, DC 8. University of the District of Columbia - Washington, DC 9. Strayer University - Herndon, VA 10. Trident University - Cypress, CA The Top 10 Best Contract Management Master's Programs for 2021 are: 1. Arizona State University - Tempe, AZ 2. Bellevue University - Bellevue, NE 3. Florida Institute of Technology - Melbourne, FL 4. University of Central Florida - Orlando, FL 5. University of Maryland Global Campus - Largo, MD 6. University of West Florida - Pensacola, FL 7. Norwich University - Northfield, VT 8. Webster University - Webster Groves, MO 9. American Graduate University - Covina, CA 10. Naval Postgraduate School - Monterey, CA The Top 20 Best Contract Management Certificate Programs for 2021 are: 1. University of Washington - Seattle, WA 2. UCLA Extension - Los Angeles, CA 3. University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA 4. University of California, Irvine - Irvine, CA 5. Cornell University - Ithaca, NY 6. Washington University in St Louis - St Louis, MO 7. San Diego State University - San Diego, CA 8. Villanova University - Villanova, PA 9. University of Alabama in Huntsville - Huntsville, AL 10. University of Central Florida - Orlando, FL 11. California State University, Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara, CA 12. University of Illinois Springfield - Springfield, IL 13. Sacramento State University - Sacramento, CA 14. Saint Louis University - St Louis, MO 15. University of West Florida - Pensacola, FL 16. Old Dominion University - Norfolk, VA 17. Weber State University - Ogden, UT 18. The Catholic University of America - Washington, DC 19. Oklahoma City University - Oklahoma City, OK 20. University of the District of Columbia - Washington, DC A complete list of all institutions ranked is included at the end of this release. Contract management is not an occupation college students often think of, but for working adults in the field, it can be a smart career move. "Just about everything in both the public and private sector is managed by contract," the editors of Great Business Schools explain; "Someone needs to get the contract details right, make sure the language of the contract works, analyze contract proposals, negotiate on contract terms, and do everything else that's inherent in a contract of any type." "Contract management isn't a single thing, as the job duties of a contract manager can vary widely depending on what types of contracts or industries the contract manager works with," they explain; " This means there's a lot of room for specialization in contract management as well as a lot of different avenues a contract management professional can take." According to Great Business Schools, "These are incredibly important positions and job types and a contract management degree is the first step towards becoming part of that process." GBS editors know that prospective students want a degree they can use. Because most students interested in contract management are probably already working, Great Business Schools ranks both online and traditional programs. By featuring accredited, reputable institutions, GBS ensures that prospective students can trust their choices. Going to the right school is important for every student. Great Business Schools doesn't get caught up about which schools are the "best." They focus on what makes business schools great places for students to learn and grow. Rankings and resources that reflect a wide range of needs and priorities are what set GBS apart. Marie Benson Lead Editor, Great Business Schools [email protected] https://www.greatbusinessschools.org/about/ (336) 629-7903 SOURCE Great Business Schools System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. 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Sure sounds like it, if the word of Jen Psaki is to be believed. Yes, I know that sounds funny. But according to the Daily Caller: President Joe Biden and his policy teams have been in "regular touch" with President Barack Obama on "a range of issues," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday. A reporter questioned Psaki on if and how frequently Biden has consulted with Obama since gaining office. Psaki said Biden and Obama are close friends and have spoken over the phone several times. She also said Biden expects to continue consulting with Obama on healthcare issues as he works to improve upon the Affordable Care Act. "I expect given former President Obama's work on the Affordable Care Act and President Biden's commitment to expanding access to healthcare throughout his presidency that, yeah it's an issue they'll talk about," Psaki said. The reporter then asks how many times Biden and Obama have spoken since January 20. "I don't have an exact number for you," Psaki responded. "They keep in regular touch and our teams are in regular touch about a range of issues." Let's parse this a little, first for the bee ess. Psaki said they talked a lot and that it was "a number of issues." Then she said they talked about Obamacare, which is hardly a number of issues; it's just one one that has Obama's name in it so it doesn't seem controversial. What's more, Obamacare hasn't been in the news, and no action to cut its costs has been bruited by leftists. Leftists, and certainly Obama, don't care about the cost. If anything, they like the idea of raising the costs, the better to tax all those Trump voters who have no choice but to buy it. In their minds, not even Trump could get rid of it, so they're home free. They're more likely to talk about how to make it more horrible since there's no threat to the basic structure, and certainly none now. Heard anything about Obamacare lately? Somehow, it doesn't seem as though that's what Obama and Biden would have talked about. More likely, they talked about what's in the news and what might threaten Democrat power: the human-wave border crisis, the failed summit with red China, the ways to misuse troops to intimidate Republicans, the ways to hunt their political enemies down. They probably discussed a cooked up narrative about anti-Asian racism that casts all blame on President Trump. They likely decided how to bail out blue-city governments and fill their bloated pension plans through stimulus so that those critical political allies at election time counting can keep expanding as usual. Those are the topics that sound like Obama playing consigliere to Biden. Obamacare is a non-issue. And who says it was all over the phone? It's worth noting that the Biden White House has refused to release its White House logs of virtual meetings and meetings off the White House grounds where Biden and his aides travel, according to Politico. They're hiding something, and it might be Obama. All signs point to Biden's ineptness for the presidency. He's senile. He's doddering. He's enfeebled. And he's making a lot of mistakes. That he doesn't seem to be in charge at all seems to be a given. Rep. Ronny Jackson, former physician to several presidents, said "something's not right" with Biden's health. Andrew Malcolm, now writing at RedState, amassed a first-rate pile of evidence of Joe's insentience, which includes a lot of incidents that didn't make much news. Biden, in fact, is so out of it that I found reason to compare him to former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and after me, others did, too. But Brezhnev was different in that he held a lot of power for many, many years. He was sort of doddering in his late years, but he didn't arrive senile. The Soviet character most comparable to Joe is the transitory Konstantin Chernenko, who doddered through his Soviet presidency and was promptly replaced after about a year. Here's what the Soviets went through in the mid-1980s with Chernenko, according to Wikipedia: Historian John Lewis Gaddis describes him as "an enfeebled geriatric so zombie-like as to be beyond assessing intelligence reports, alarming or not" when he succeeded Andropov in 1984. In early 1984, Chernenko was hospitalised for over a month but kept working by sending the Politburo notes and letters. During the summer, his doctors sent him to Kislovodsk for the mineral spas, but on the day of his arrival at the resort Chernenko's health deteriorated, and he contracted pneumonia. Chernenko did not return to the Kremlin until later in 1984. He awarded Orders to cosmonauts and writers in his office, but was unable to walk through the corridors of his office and was driven in a wheelchair. By the end of 1984, Chernenko could hardly leave the Central Clinical Hospital, a heavily guarded facility in west Moscow, and the Politburo was affixing a facsimile of his signature to all letters, as Chernenko had done with Andropov's when he was dying. Chernenko's illness was first acknowledged publicly on 22 February 1985 during a televised election rally in Kuibyshev Borough of northeast Moscow, where the General Secretary stood as candidate for the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR, when Politburo member Viktor Grishin revealed that the General Secretary was absent in accordance with doctors' advice. Two days later, in a televised scene that shocked the nation, Grishin dragged the terminally ill Chernenko from his hospital bed to a ballot box to vote. On 28 February 1985, Chernenko appeared once more on television to receive parliamentary credentials and read out a brief statement on his electoral victory: "the election campaign is over and now it is time to carry out the tasks set for us by the voters and the Communists who have spoken out". Emphysema and the associated lung and heart damage worsened significantly for Chernenko in the last three weeks of February 1985. According to the Chief Kremlin doctor, Yevgeny I. Chazov, Chernenko had also developed both chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. On 10 March at 15:00, Chernenko fell into a coma and died later that evening at 19:20. He was 73 years old. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be a combination of chronic emphysema, an enlarged and damaged heart, congestive heart failure and liver cirrhosis. The whole Joe senile-a-thon has given way to speculation about puppetmasters, same as happened in the enfeebled Soviet power void desperate to cling to power. In Joe's case, who are they? Maybe hedge fund guys, or Jill Biden playing Edith Wilson, or the California political machine of Gavin Newsom, Nancy Pelosi, Kamala Harris, and that bunch, or moneybags like George Soros. But Obama is particularly salient in the mix, given his greed for power, desire to defend his sorry legacy, and actual experience in the job. If anyone is telling Joe what to do, it's probably Obama, who, unlike Joe, still has popularity and charisma. Does this amount to a third term for Obama? It definitely looks like it. And that's creepy, given that not only was Joe Biden not elected freely and fairly, given his fraudulent election, but neither was Obama. Bad as Joe is, he got some votes, though, and Obama got none. Obama's not allowed a third term, but we can recall how much he talked about one. Here's another thing: he doesn't even like Joe. His contempt for the dotard is legendary. It appears that despite all these factors, Obama seems to be taking charge. Joe's out of commission, and this is sorry stuff. Just don't call it "democracy." Image credit: Ari Levinson via Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0. Image filtered with Graphite by BeCasso. The lack of state-owned pipe-borne water in the homes of Lagos residents has continued to be a source of concern, a non-profit group, Corporate Accountability and Public Advocacy Africa (CAPPA) has said. At a press event to mark this years World Water Day, the group said its monitoring teams visit to state-owned waterworks showed that most of them are not operational. The group said the waterworks it visited include the ones at Maryland, Mushin, Ikorodu, Obalende, Agbowa, Onikan, Ikoyi, and Amuwo Odofin. Only the one in Ikoyi is producing water, according to CAPPA. The Lagos Water Corporation press and public relations office did not respond to requests for comments. World Way Day is celebrated every March 22 and the theme for this years United Nations World Water Day is Valuing Water. Valuing Water, the theme for the year specifically recognizes the crucial role of healthy ecosystems in maintaining water supplies around the world, said CAPPAs executive director, Akinbode Oluwafemi. The United Nations reminds governments that the value of water is about much more than its price water has enormous and complex value for our households, food, culture, health, education, economics, and the integrity of our natural environment. If we overlook any of these values, we risk mismanaging this finite, irreplaceable resource, he said. Mr Oluwafemi urged the Lagos State government to convene an emergency session on the water crisis in the state, adding that the government should show seriousness in addressing the water challenge. The Lagos State Government should reject all forms of water privatization and commodification and fully uphold the human right to water as an obligation of the government, representing the people. The government must build a political will to prioritize water for citizens, leading to a comprehensive plan that invests in water infrastructure necessary to provide universal water access, jobs, improved public health, and invigoration of the Lagos economy, he said. PREMIUM TIMES had earlier published a report by CAPPA on how acute water shortage may jeopardise COVID-19 Response in Lagos and Nigeria. About one year after the report, the water crisis has persisted, the group said. Aderonke Ige, the Director of Programmes, CAPPA, said the water infrastructure across Lagos state is begging for attention. She said residents, especially women and girls are suffering from the dire water situation. Today, we are marking the world water day and we cannot say we have made improvements. She said low and middle-range communities visited groan in lack of water with no recourse in view. ADVERTISEMENT Meanwhile, Sylvester Ejiofor, a unionist who was also at the event, said there is a need to take the campaign for clean and potable water beyond World Water days. 60 years of independence is enough time to say that we have done well with water but it is not so. Water is a right and it cannot be a right when it is made a commercial venture. Water infrastructure has collapsed and the government is doing little or nothing about it. Borehole and sewage in every compound is unsafe water which is bad for the health, Mr Ejiofor said. He urged the Nigerian government to begin taking actions on making potable and safe water available for its citizens. The group also called on the government to revitalise the water sector and jettison the idea of privatising water either at the state or federal level. 24,370 individuals have been allowed to renounce their Vietnamese citizenship to apply for foreign passports in the 2016-2020 period. Taiwan had the largest number of Vietnamese citizens applying for citizenship (10,245), followed by Germany (9,924) and South Korea (1,418), Party Chief and State President Nguyen Phu Trong said in a review report submitted to the National Assembly Monday. Other countries and territories where Vietnamese nationals sought to acquire new citizenship included Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Norway, the Netherlands and the U.S. The report also said 1,598 foreign citizens and stateless people have been allowed to gain Vietnamese citizenship in the past five years. Laos had the highest number of its citizens applying for Vietnamese citizenship at 1,443. Vietnam is one of the countries that only accept one nationality, which means those who want to apply for Vietnamese citizenship should give up their existing nationality and vice-versa, except for when they are the parent/child of a Vietnamese citizen, or have made special contributions to the development of Vietnam. In some special cases, one can hold dual nationality with Vietnamese president's permit. Official data says nearly 100,000 Vietnamese citizens leave the country each year to live in more developed nations. The trend is also apparent in the growing number of Vietnamese investors moving overseas and wealthy families deciding to emigrate, despite the higher costs of living, cultural differences, language barrier and complex visa requirements. As of last year, the overseas Vietnamese community in 130 countries and territories totaled 5.3 million. Among these, about 300,000 are directly involved in scientific and technological development, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also said Vietnam needs their expertise in the homeland. Some experts have expressed concern over the brain drain that can result from the growing trend of Vietnamese people choosing to settle down in other countries. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) talks to reporters following the weekly Senate Republican caucus luncheon in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 16, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) McConnell: Democrats Infrastructure Proposal Will Be Trojan Horse of Massive Tax Hikes, Job-Killing Policies Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday said that he expects Democrats infrastructure proposal will likely be a Trojan horse that includes other Democratic priorities such as tax hikes. Were hearing the next few months might bring a so-called infrastructure proposal that may actually be a Trojan horse for massive tax hikes and other job-killing left-wing policies, McConnell said on the Senate floor on Monday. The Senate is working on a major infrastructure bill that lawmakers hope will be signed by President Joe Biden by the end of September. Biden first floated a $2 trillion infrastructure bill while campaigning. The starting point for infrastructure costs stands at $320 billion from a transportation bill previously passed in the House. However, the White House has so far declined to specify an overall price tag amid concerns of how to pay for it. Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday that Biden will be discussing the proposal with his policy team in days ahead. Addressing the Senate floor, McConnell suggested that the Biden administration is pushing policies that do not serve the long-term interests of a majority of workers, making reference to Bidens cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Both working Americans and domestic energy took a back seat to left-wing signaling, he said of the shutdown. Remember, the House Democrats tipped their hand last year. They published a proposal that was a sprawling proposal that pretended to be a highway bill. But it was really just a multi-thousand-page cousin of the green new deal, McConnell continued, expressing skepticism over Democrats infrastructure proposal. Look, we know what kinds of policies are actually pro-job and pro-worker. We know what kind of agenda helps American workers build all-American prosperity, up and down the income scale, he said. Pro-worker prosperity does not entail having big-government politicians or big-labor bosses micromanage every aspect of the economy to suit liberal fads. It means remembering what kind of pro-worker, pro-growth, pro-opportunity policies built the best job market in recent history, right before this pandemic. Those are the ideas and the solutions that were unlocking more money and more opportunities for American workers before COVID-19 took the world by storm. And those are the ideas and solutions the American people elected 50 Republican senators to fight for, McConnell added. The White House and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) didnt immediately respond to requests for comment by The Epoch Times. Although the goal is a bipartisan infrastructure package, Democrats in Congress have signaled a willingness to go it alone if they are blocked by Republicans, given their current majorities in both houses. We need to get it done, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) ahead of a virtual meeting with the president at the senators annual retreat Monday evening. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said last week that he plans to attempt passing the infrastructure bill by using a budget process to cut out Republicans, even though several Democrat senators have said they wont support utilizing the method. One always wants to try to go a bipartisan route. But what I have seen this year and in past years is that if we want to do something significant, it is very hard to get Republican support. So the devil is of course in the details, Sanders told reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. The COVID-19 relief package was passed with zero Republican votes after Congressional Democrats used the reconciliation budget process to bypass the filibuster, which lowered the threshold required in the upper chamber from 60 to 50. An infrastructure package would include roughly $1 trillion for roads, bridges, rail lines, electrical vehicle charging stations and the cellular network, among other items, Democrats have said. The goal would be to facilitate the shift to cleaner energy while improving economic competitiveness. A second component would propose benefits for workers, including free community college, universal pre-kindergarten, and paid family leave. No part of the proposal has been finalized and the eventual details of any spending could change. McConnell last week signaled that Republicans wont back tax hikes to pay for Bidens infrastructure bill after a wealth tax was put forward by Democrats as a potential funding mechanism. Zachary Stieber and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 11:22:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, waves to tourists while visiting a park dedicated to Zhu Xi, a renowned Chinese philosopher in the 12th century, in Nanping City, Fujian Province, March 22, 2021. Xi Jinping on Monday arrived in Fujian Province for inspection. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) FUZHOU, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Monday highlighted cultural confidence during a visit to a park dedicated to Zhu Xi, a renowned Chinese philosopher of the 12th century. "Without the 5,000-year-long Chinese civilization, how could we have found the road to achieve today's success," Xi said when he visited the park in the city of Wuyishan, east China's Fujian Province. "Taking the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must continue to adapt Marxism to China's conditions," Xi noted. Special attention should be paid to tapping the essence of the 5,000-year-long Chinese civilization, promoting fine traditional culture, integrating its essence with the Marxist stance, viewpoint and methodology, and unswervingly following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said. As one of the main ancient Confucian scholars, Zhu Xi was famous for his expositions on Confucian classics. He put forward concepts such as "the people are the foundation of a nation," embodying the people-based philosophy in ancient China. Enditem Despite the interruptions to supply, the recent suspension of the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and the slow pace of the European Unions campaign when compared to the United States, Israel or the United Kingdom, Spain is still on course to get its hands on enough Covid-19 vaccine doses to vaccinate 70% of the adult population by the summer. Spain has committed to reaching this level by September 21, but if there are no problems with the supply levels that have been agreed upon and the campaign can be rolled out as planned, this could happen as early as June. Thierry Breton, the head of the collective purchasing of vaccines for the European Union, stated on Sunday during an interview on French television that the forecast is to deliver between 300 and 350 million doses to the blocs 27 countries in the second quarter of the year. Being conservative, Spain is due around 30 million of these doses. Taking into account that there are 1.3 million doses in reserve, and nearly a million more due to arrive this week, thats a total of 32.3 million doses. Considering the number of people who have already been vaccinated in Spain, this will be sufficient for the complete protection (i.e. two doses) of 58% of the population between the end of June and the start of July. By early June, however, at least 70% of the population may have had their first shot. According to the latest Health Ministry data, 2.1 million people have received the full vaccination and another 2.1 million are awaiting the second dose The key for reaching the higher figure of 70% will be for the manufacture of the vaccines to be ramped up as the months go by. The problems that have been seen until now would disappear should these plans be met. Even the failure of AstraZeneca to deliver what it has promised and the commercial battles that the pharmaceutical company is having with Europe would be just a minor obstacle that would not stop this figure from being reached, provided there are no new problems with other manufacturers. There could, however, be a bottleneck if EU states are unable to administer the doses that they have at their disposal. While it is still unknown exactly how many doses of each vaccine will arrive, the Spanish Health Minister Carolina Darias said on Sunday during a television interview with La Sexta channel that in the second quarter of the year Spain will receive 5.5 million doses of the Janssen vaccine, which only needs one shot for full protection. This allows for calculations that were, until now, impossible, given that the speed of the campaign will vary substantially if just a single injection is required. For Spain to reach 70% of its adult population, it will need to vaccinate 27.4 million people. According to the latest Health Ministry data, there are already 2.1 million people with full vaccinations and another 2.1 million who have had one dose and are awaiting the second. Whats more, it should be taken into account that the under-55s who have tested positive for the virus in the previous six months will only be given one dose, given that this is sufficient for a complete activation of the immune system. While this figure is not public, an estimate can be made based on the data from the Health Ministry and the age ranges that the Carlos III Health Institute has been publishing since June. There are likely around 1.2 million people in this situation. Health workers vaccinate the 80-and-over population in Pamplona. Jesus Diges / EFE If you take into account the 5.5 million people who will receive the single-dose Janssen vaccine, as well as the 2.1 million people who are awaiting their second dose, plus the 1.2 million under-55s who have already had the coronavirus and as such will only receive one shot, the result is that to completely inoculate this population a total of 8.8 million doses are needed. Adding the 2.1 million people who have already had their two shots, that gives a total of 10.9 million people who will have been completely immunized. If the 8.8 million doses are subtracted from the 32.3 million doses forecast, in the second quarter that would leave another 23.5 million shots. With these, the two doses could be administered to nearly 11.8 million more people. Adding this to the aforementioned 10.9 million people gives a total of 22.7 million people 58% of the adult population. Half of Spaniards do not trust the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, according to a recent survey But this will not be the exact order of the campaign. If all of the vaccines that arrive are administered, there will be a higher percentage of people with the first dose and a lower percentage with the complete protection. And from July, the arrival of vaccines should speed up. The conclusion, with these forecasts, is that any bottleneck will not be with the number of doses but rather with the speed at which the system is able to administer them. In an interview with EL PAIS, Health Minister Darias sought to assure the public that this would not be a problem, with extra staff to be drafted in as necessary. It will also be necessary to see whether the public rejects the AstraZeneca vaccine, given its troubled history so far. This is despite the fact that the European Medicines Agency, the World Health Organization and the Health Ministry all insist that it is safe and that its benefits far outweigh its risks. Even so, half of Spaniards do not trust the medication, according to a recent YouGov survey. English version by Simon Hunter. 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. New York City will be bringing remote-working municipal employees back to their offices on May 3 in another big step towards reopening the city. Mayor Bill de Blasio made the declaration on Tuesday, vowing to bring back the 80,000 employees who have been working from home during the pandemic. Approximately 300,000 people work for the city, but that includes jobs like police officers and sanitation workers who didn't have the option of working remotely. De Blasio estimated that about 80 percent of the workforce for the city were already back working on site prior to this announcement because they have frontline roles. 'We're going to make it safe, but we need our city workers back in their offices where they can do the most to help their fellow New Yorkers,' de Blasio said. 'And it's also going to send a powerful message about this city moving forward.' On Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an in-person return for municipal office workers 'A lot of work going on in the next few weeks, working with the municipal labor movement, make sure we get things right, and we are devoted to health and safety in all things.' 'But this is an important step for the city and it's another other important step on the way to the full recovery of New York City.' The New York Times reports city employees will not be required to be vaccinated upon their return to the office, due to legal concerns, but it will be encouraged. De Blasio made reference to safety measures being put in place, from social distancing to improved ventilation. The mayor also made mention of his expectations to see commerce and tourism increase over the summer as the city attempts to return to a sense of normalcy. Employees who are unable to socially distance from other people will be required to wear a facemask, according to Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin. She said: 'We will be doing staggered schedules, you know, making sure that people are in the office sometimes, working remotely sometimes, so that we can ensure enough space to keep our employees safe.' It wasn't immediately clear what the staggered schedules will look like. A spokesman for the mayor said that the return to offices will be delayed if coronavirus cases surge again, according to the New York Times. Around 80,000 employees will be returning to offices such as City Hall in Manhattan Pictured: The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building in downtown Manhattan Pictured: The newly named Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Municipal Building in Brooklyn The amount of occupants in a space will not be allowed to exceed 50 percent of the maximum occupancy limit. De Blasio appears to be signaling that it's okay for businesses to bring back employees, less than two weeks after a Partnership for New York City survey found that employers expected only 45 percent of office employees to be back in person by September. Only 10 percent of office employees were back in person at the beginning of this month. Morgan Stanley, which is headquartered in midtown Manhattan, is among those looking to bring employees back to the office. 'We plan a full return to the Midtown office when it is safe to do so, but we expect some flexibility for employees to work from home during some of the week,' a spokesperson told the Commercial Observer. 'Those arrangements will vary widely based on the employee and the job.' One important aspect in the return to offices is the use of public transport, which has seen a decline in ridership during the pandemic. The announcement comes as New York City continues to break through the coronavirus cases, which has seen a slight rise recently as fears of worrisome variants spread. The first case of the Brazilian variant in the city was reported in a Brooklyn man with no travel history earlier this week. In total, over 29 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19, with 542,991 deaths Cases have hovered around the 60,000-mark most days, with almost 56,000 on March 22 The amount of daily deaths from COVID-19 nationwide appears to be trending down recently The seven-day average of positive cases in New York City hit 7.10 percent on Wednesday - the most recent day the city released data - the highest rate since February 23. In brighter news, the seven-day average of hospitalizations dropped to 168, the lowest mark of the winter. There were 43 deaths on March 17, the third time in four days there were less than 45 deaths in the city. As of March 22, over 3.4 million total vaccine doses have been administered in the city, with approximately 14 percent of adults in the city fully vaccinated and 28 percent partially vaccinated. ABC7 reports that Gov. Cuomo expects the 300,000-400,000 dose distribution to double in the coming weeks, furthering the vaccination effort. On Tuesday, the state opened up vaccine eligibility to anyone 50 years old or older. Indoor fitness classes were recently allowed to resume in New York City, as were in-person classes for high school students. In the United States, over 29.87 million people have tested positive for COVID-19, with 542,991 dying from the illness. From March 21 to March 22, there was an uptick in both coronavirus cases and deaths nationwide. The vaccination effort across the nation continues, however, with the CDC reporting 25.3 percent of the population received at least one dose, with 13.7 percent of the country fully vaccinated. Amid the worsening humanitarian situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, several UN officials on March 22 asked to stop indiscriminate and targeted attacks against civilians. In a joint statement, officials including UN aid chief Mark Lowcock, rights chief Michelle Bachelet and refugee chief Filippo Grandi, noted the reports of rape and other horrific forms of sexual violence. They called on the warring parties to protect civilians from human rights abuse, condemn sexual violence and hold perpetrators accountable. The UN officials said that women and children in affected areas are reporting significant challenges in accessing health, social welfare and justice services. They said that the initial assessments of 106 facilities in Tigray between December 2020 and March 2021 show that nearly 70 per cent of health facilities were looted, 30 per cent damaged and only 13 per cent in Tigray were functional. They also noted that most collective centres, where displaced civilians are sheltering, do not include separate spaces for women and men, girls and boys, thus increasing risks of gender-based violence and the spread of certain infectious diseases. The statement read, Preventing and responding to the grave human suffering resulting from this conflict will require a concerted effort at all levels. It is essential that an independent investigation into conflict-related sexual violence in Tigray be initiated, with the involvement of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Ethiopian conflict It is worth noting that no one knows how many thousands of civilians or combatants have been killed since months of political tensions between PM Abiy Ahmeds government and the Tigray leaders, who once dominated Ethiopias government, exploded in November into war. The 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) Twenty years before modern spaceflight companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin began designing rockets that launch and land vertically, the DC-X had already done it. Manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, the DC-X, short for Delta Clipper Experimental, was a single stage reusable rocket that was conceived to demonstrate the vertical takeoff and vertical land capability that was previously only possible in the realms of science fiction. Indeed, the DC-X looked something straight from the future. An elongated, white pyramid standing on four slender legs. It was only 12 meters tall, a dwarf among rockets. The first test flight of the Delta Clipper-Experimental Advanced. Photo: NASA The DC-Xs small stature is evidence that the rocket was never meant to reach orbital altitudes, but only to prove a concept, an idea that aerospace engineer Max Hunter had been nurturing for thirty years. Hunter wanted to design and built a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle, one that reached orbit without expending fuel tanks, engines, and other major hardware. In essence, a reusable rocket. Hunter was not the originator of the idea, but it was his former colleague Philip Bono, an engineer for Douglas Aircraft Company, who first proposed the concept. Bono designed a One-Stage Orbital Space Truck called OOST, a Recoverable One Stage Orbital Space Truck called ROOST, and a Reusable Orbital Module, Booster, and Utility Shuttle called ROMBUS. None of these progressed further than an idea on paper. The first vehicle that came close to vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) was the two-stage Apollo Lunar Module. It landed vertically on the lunar surface, and then took off leaving the descent stage behind, so it was not a reusable rocket. The technology for building a truly reusable rocket didnt exist then. But Hunter was intrigued by VTVL. For several years, he tried in vain to sell the idea to Lockheed Martin before he retired. In 1989, Hunter teamed up with science fiction author Jerry Pournelle and retired Army Lieutenant General Daniel O, and the trio was able to procure a meeting with Vice President Dan Quayle. They managed to convince the politician that the countrys defense lacked a reliable rocket that could be launched repeatedly and readied in the shortest possible time in between launches. Such a vehicle was essential in USs arsenal should the country wanted to invest in space-based weapons system. With the uncertainties of Cold War looming over, the project was quickly approved and funded by the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, the agency running the missile defense program. Given the complexity of the project, Hunter and his team at McDonnell Douglas focused on creating a basic test vehicle that could demonstrate that a small crew could launch a spacecraft with lightning-fast turnaround times and at low cost. The final design was a one-third-size scale prototype, the Delta Clipper Experimental. On its maiden flight, on 18 August 1993, the craft took off from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, reached an altitude of 151 feet, hovered briefly, and still maintaining its vertical attitude, moved sideways for 350 feet. Then the engines throttled back in power, and the DC-X descended slowly and landed softly on its tail. The entire flight took only 59 seconds. It was the first time a rocket had landed vertically on Earth. On successive tests, the Delta Clipper climbed higher and higher, until it reached a maximum altitude of 3 km, and each time it made perfect landing. By then, the program was taken over by NASA and had progressed to the second stagethe Delta Clipper Experimental Advanced, or DC-XA. The DC-XA demonstrated a 26-hour turnaround time, a record that is yet to be beaten. Its 12th flight on July 31, 1996, proved to be its last. The rockets descent went off without a hitch, but as it approached the ground, a malfunction in the landing legs prevented one from deploying. Without the crucial support, the DC-XA fell over and exploded. The cost of a new Delta Clipper was USD 50 million, which wasnt much by NASA standard, but NASA decided not to rebuild the craft anyway and instead began pursuing its own reusable launch idea, the Lockheed Martin X-33 VentureStar which was expected to replace the Space Shuttle. Eventually, VentureStar itself was cancelled because of development cost. In recent years, private aerospace companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin are spearheading the development in reusable rockets with VTVL capabilities. In 2013, SpaceX's Grasshopper rocket became the first privately build rocket to make a successful vertical landing after reaching an altitude of 744 meters. Two years later, Blue Origin's New Shepard booster rocket made the first-ever successful vertical landing after reaching space. Two solid rocket boosters of SpaceXs Falcon land at the Kennedy Space Center. The VTVL fever is catching on. NASA is working on its own Project Morpheus, a VTVL vehicle using green propellent and autonomous landing and hazard detection technology. The German, French and Japanese space agencies are working together on a reusable VTVL rocket called CALLISTO. The Chinese private space company LinkSpace successfully tested its reusable experimental orbital rocket with a successful vertical takeoff, and Indias national space agency ISRO also announced they are developing a VTVL rocket. References: # Hailey Rose McLaughlin, DC-X: The NASA Rocket That Inspired SpaceX and Blue Origin, Discover Magazine # Preston Lerner, Black Day at White Sands, Air & Space # The Delta Clipper Experimental, NASA Guest Column China and Myanmar: No interference? Anti-regime protesters confront security forces in Yangon on March 16. / The Irrawaddy Enough with the interference in Myanmar already! read the headline of an article on the China Global Television Networks (CGTN) website on March 16. Beyond the poorly worded banner, the write-up consisted of an unusually vitriolic attack by a Chinese state-operated news agency on the Wests reaction to the Feb. 1 coup in Myanmar. The piece mentions how the United States stated that it intervened in Iraq and Afghanistan with the goal of helping people but its military response has brought death and chaos in those two countries and made the people living in fear. The article went on to claim that voices from the West are encouraging unrest in Myanmar and if it continues, the country risks falling into civil war, as if there wasnt already a decades-long civil war there. Egging the demonstrators on with empty words of support is irresponsible, CGTN concluded. China by contrast has, as stated in many official declarations from Beijing, always adhered to its longstanding policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The fundamentals of that policy, Chinas powerholders claim, is the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity; mutual non-aggression; non-interference in each others internal affairs; equality and mutual benefit; and, peaceful coexistence. But, as Sherif A. Elgebeily, the director of the United Kingdom-based Center for the Study of International Peace and Security, wrote in an op-ed piece for the South China Morning Post on April 30, 2017, this stance is used both to justify outward-facing actions, such as its voting record at the UN Security Council for instance, to block attempts by other council members who would like to see collective, UN-sponsored punitive actions against Myanmars generals and to reject foreign criticism of its own internal affairs. Whenever China is criticized by the West for human-rights abuses against political dissidents, the Tibetans and Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, Beijings defense has always been that no one has the right to interfere in its internal affairs. Most recently, China condemned what it termed interference in its internal issues when the US in November last year sanctioned four Chinese officials over the introduction of a new draconian national security law in Hong Kong. Human rights abuses are not an internal affair of any country and criticizing such behavior is not infringement of national sovereignty, as authoritarian regimes often have it. International human-rights bodies like the UN Human Rights Council were founded with the specific aim of safeguarding civil rights worldwide. In addition, the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convenant of Civil and Political Rights, and the International Convenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights both adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1966 before they went into force in 1976 are international human-rights instruments that no country can ignore and brush aside. China has signed and ratified the economic, social and cultural rights treaty and signed, but not ratified, the one on civil and political rights. China has at least in theory also recognized the 1948 declaration, but its president Xi Jinping presented in a speech on Geneva in 2017 a different vision for the future of mankind in which he emphasized the absolute sovereignty of each state and that the international community would have to be accept and tolerate cultural and political differences or, as a long-time China watcher once put it, the leaders in Beijing and likeminded regimes such as the one in Myanmar are trying to protect what they believe is their sovereign right to be beastly. In the context of Myanmar, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release in January last year that since the two countries established diplomatic relations 70 years ago, China-Myanmar relations have enjoyed constant development on the basis of mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual assistance, and have set an example of harmonious co-existence and win-win cooperation between big and small countries. The Chinese side adheres to non-interference in Myanmars internal affairs and supports Myanmar in safeguarding national dignity and legitimate rights and interests. That, to anyone familiar with Myanmars recent history, is pure balderdash. No country has interfered in Myanmar politics and internal conflicts as much as China. It began in the early 1950s when 143 cadres from the Communist Party of Burma (CPB) trekked to China to request assistance for their armed insurrection against the government in Yangon. About the same time, 200-300 Kachins led by World War II-veteran-turned-rebel Naw Seng had retreated into China after being defeated by the Myanmar Army in northern Shan State. The Myanmar communists were settled in Chengdu, Sichuan, where they were given political training and also attended classes in Marxism-Leninism at a Chinese Communist Party school in Beijing. The Kachins, who were not communists, were allowed to stay in a peoples commune in Guizhou province. At that time, China had good relations with U Nus government in Yangon and the Myanmar exiles were not given any military support or training. That changed after General Ne Wins coup in March 1962. Long wary of the ambitious and unpredictable general, China decided to give all-out support for an armed insurrection in Myanmar. The CPB was for the first time allowed to print propaganda leaflets and other material in Beijing, and party veterans were sent down to the Myanmar border to survey possible infiltration routes. The Myanmar communists were ardent Maoists but had little or no experience in military matters, so they were introduced to the battle-hardened Kachins in Guizhou. The nucleus of a new CPB army was formed and, in a strange twist of historical events, it was Ne Wins government that unwittingly provided an opportunity for the CPB exiles in China to re-establish links with their comrades who were holding out in the Bago Yoma mountains and other pockets in central Myanmar. In 1963, Ne Win called for peace talks with all rebels in the country, and 29 CPB members arrived by air from Beijing ostensibly to take part in the negotiations. One of them was Thakin Ba Thein Tin, later party chairman, who seized the opportunity to sneak out of Yangon and visit the Bago Yoma, He had brought with him radio transmitters and other aid from China. The cadres in the Bago Yoma were told that more help would be coming and that grand schemes were being hatched in China. The talks failed, predicted and planned by the CPB and the Chinese. Thakin Ba Thein Tin and other CPB cadre returned to Beijing while the other 27, called the Beijing returnees, stayed in Myanmar. They assumed leadership of the party at home while staying in touch with the exiles in China over the newly delivered radios. After years of planning, anti-Chinese riots in Yangon in June 1967 caused by local Sino-Burman support for the Cultural Revolution in China provided the leadership in Beijing and their Myanmar comrades with the pretext they needed to make their move. On New Years Day 1968, Naw Seng and his Kachins along with CPB political commissars, crossed the border into Mong Ko, a small village in northeastern Shan State. That was the beginning of a bloody, Chinese-supported civil war that lasted for two decades. China poured more aid into the CPB effort than any other Communist movement outside Indochina. Automatic assault rifles, heavy machine-guns, anti-aircraft guns, mortars and recoilless rifles were sent across the border along with radio equipment, jeeps, trucks, petrol, medical supplies, and even rice and assorted foodstuff. A clandestine radio station, the Peoples Voice of Burma, began transmitting from the Chinese side of the border in 1971 and was only later moved to the partys new headquarters at Panghsang on the Chinese border in the Wa Hills. During the first years of fighting, the CPBs army consisted mainly of young volunteers from China. It was only in the mid-1970s they were replaced by Wa tribesmen and other recruits from the border mountains. But the plan failed. The CPB never managed to push down to the Bago Yoma. It became isolated in the north and northeast and, after the death of Mao Zedong in 1976 and the rise of the economic reformer Deng Xiaoping, Beijing was no longer interested in exporting revolution to the rest of the world. It was more interested in economic development and trade with its neighbors Then, in March and April 1989, the hill-tribe rank-and-file of the CPB mutinied and drove the old Maoist party leaders into exile in China. Most of the mutineers were Wa and they formed the United Wa State Party and Army (UWSP/UWSA) which made peace with the government in exchange for retaining control over most of the former CPB area on the Sino-Myanmar frontier. They also maintained close relations with China and managed to acquire new, sophisticated weaponry from across the border. The UWSA soon became stronger and better equipped than the CPB had ever been, and it was obvious that the Chinese were playing a double-game in Myanmar: trade, loans and credits to the government in Yangon became the carrot and support for groups like the UWSA the stick. The UWSA does not fight the Myanmar Army, but it is strong enough to deter government forces from trying to wrest control over its base area along the Chinese frontier. Even coup-maker Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said during a visit to Moscow in June 2020 in an interview with Russian news agency ZVEZDA: A country may be able to suppress terrorist organizations on its soil. But in cases when there are strong forces behind that terrorist organization, the country alone may not be able to handle it. It was clear that he meant China because, in 2019, the Myanmar army seized a large cache of Chinese-made weapons from the Taang National Liberation Army a UWSA ally in northern Shan State. It reportedly included newly manufactured RPGs and antiaircraft guns. In line with this dual-track policy party-to-party ties with the rebel forces and government-to-government relations with Myanmars military government China was already in the 1990s the main supplier of military hardware to the generals in Yangon while Western countries sanctioned and boycotted the junta after a bloody crackdown on a 1988 uprising for democracy. China also became the largest importer of minerals, seafood and agricultural produce from Myanmar. And vast quantities of timber. The outcome has been a virtual deforestation of northern Myanmar with catastrophic impacts on the environment. China actually started to penetrate the Myanmar market through an extensive economic intelligence reporting system as early as the late 1980s. The network monitored the availability of domestically manufactured Myanmar products as well as the nature and volume of trade with neighboring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and India. China could then respond to market conditions by producing goods in its own state sector factories and, by the early 1990s, more than 2,000 carefully selected items began to flood Myanmar markets. Chinese-made consumer goods were not only made deliberately cheaper than those from other neighboring countries, but were also less expensive than local Myanmar products. Myanmars dependence on China eventually became so overwhelming that the ruling military felt it had to open up to the West in order to counter what internal, classified army documents seen by this writer described as a threat to the countrys sovereignty and independence. That succeeded after an election was held in November 2010, political prisoners were released, press freedom was guaranteed and political parties were allowed to work openly. And then, in September 2011, president Thein Sein, a former army general, announced that he had ordered the suspension of a US $3.6 billion hydro-electric power plant at Myitsone in Kachin State with 90% of the electricity earmarked for export to China. Myanmar went from being an international pariah to becoming the darling of the West. But that didnt last long. In 2016 and 2017, several hundred thousand Rohingya Muslims from Rakhine State fled to Bangladesh following a brutal crackdown by the Myanmar army. They brought with them horrific tales of mass murder, rape and the destruction of entire villages and Western nations once again turned their backs on Myanmar. China, not surprisingly, took full advantage of the situation, shielded the Myanmar military in the UN Security Council and stepped up its public relations campaigns inside the country. Those came in the form of all-paid-for junket tours to China for Myanmar politicians and journalists, money being funneled through local businessmen to political parties, and attempts, also through intermediaries, to buy influence in locally produced newspapers and journals. Then came the Feb. 1 coup which China handled extremely badly. The Chinese authorities described it as a cabinet reshuffle and while they refused to condemn the killings of unarmed people anti-coup demonstrators, they urged the Myanmar military to take firm action against people who had attacked Chinese-owned businesses in Yangon. And, predictably, China and Russia forced the UNSC to water down a statement sponsored by the UK that was meant to unequivocally condemn the coup. Together with Russia, India and Vietnam, China also blocked further attempts to get the UNSC to punish Myanmars coup makers. Anti-coup demonstrations in Yangon and elsewhere were described in the March 16 CGTN article as people on the streets burning buildings and factories. Myanmar may be the clearest and most aggressive example of Chinese interference in another countrys internal affairs. Elsewhere and across the globe it has taken other shapes and forms, but has been no less intrusive. In neighboring Thailand, Chinese envoys tried last year to press their Thai counterparts to share information about individuals Thais as well as foreigners that had been stored on the Thai Chana and Mor Chana tracing apps which are meant to track down Covid-19 carriers and contain local outbreaks. The Chinese authorities also told the Thais that any decision to allow Chinese tourists to resume travel to Thailand would be contingent on sharing Thai Chana and Mor Chana information. The Thais skillfully responded to Chinas first attempt to monitor large numbers of people outside its own borders that it would be difficult to gather all that information in a single application as the details were stored in many different databases. Australia has been rocked by one spy scandal after another involving Chinese secret agents. Most recently in November 2019, the BBC as well as the Australian press reported on a case involving a suspected Chinese espionage ring that had approached a Chinese-Australian man to run as an MP. The 32-year-old man has since died in unexplained circumstances, the BBC reported, adding that China has denied the allegations, which Australias domestic spy agency has confirmed it is investigating. Gui Congyou, Chinas ambassador to Stockholm, has been summoned by the Swedish foreign ministry no less than 40 times for threatening local journalists, Swedish PEN and even the countrys culture minister Amanda Lind with consequences for raising the case of the publisher book store owner Gui Minhai, a Swedish citizen of Chinese origin who was abducted in 2015 and is being kept incommunicado and without trial in Chinese custody. Gui Congyou has also been outspoken on other issues and as a consequence, public opinion polls shows that 70% of Swedes view China unfavorably. In Singapore in 2017, Chinese-American academic Huang Jing had his residence permit revoked after the city states Home Ministry called him an agent of influence of a foreign country. In New Zealand in 2017, the home and office of academic and China critic Anne-Marie Bradly were burgled, her car was tempered with, she received a series of anonymous phone calls and a threatening letter It all came after she had published a paper on the influence on the Chinese Communist Party in the Pacific. Brady believes that she has become the target of a campaign of intimidation and psy-ops directed by Beijing towards her and her family. But the Chinese government has not responded to requests for comment, The Guardian newspaper reported on January 23, 2019. How China will handle the rising tide of anti-China sentiment in Myanmar remains to be seen. But, as far as the general public is concerned, Chinas silence on the increasingly thuggish behavior of the Myanmar military and police are viewed as complicity in human rights abuses. And it is more than the question of over 200 people who have been killed by the military and police. People are being dragged out of tea shops and beaten and a video on social media shows policemen storming into a restaurant in Mandalay, smashing up everything in sight while the customers fled. Only a whisky bottle, which one of the policemen grabbed, was saved from destruction. Cars and motorcycles have also been smashed up by policemen and soldiers, and a popular art gallery in Yangon with paintings by Myanmars most famous artists was burned down and pro-military social media trolls then tried to blame the demonstrators for the crime. They are not just cracking down on the anti-coup movement, said a Myanmar source. They are trying to destroy peoples lives. Public anger at Chinas lackluster reaction to the coup and its brutal aftermath should have come as no surprise. It was simply the trigger that set off anti-China feelings that many people in Myanmar had harbored for years: the plundering of the countrys national resources, constant interference in the countrys civil war, and meddling behind the scenes in domestic politics and the media landscape. There should indeed by now be enough interference in Myanmars internal affairs but with China being the main offender. If China wants to restore even a minimum of rapport with the Myanmar public, it would first have to look critically at itself. Condemning and attacking those who have expressed support and sympathy for the anti-coup movement, as CGTN did on March 16, can only backfire and lead to ever stronger resentment toward Beijing and its policies. Bertil Lintner is a Swedish journalist, author and strategic consultant who has been writing about Asia for nearly four decades. He currently works as a correspondent for Asia Times. His views are his own. You may also like these stories: Another Bloody Day in Myanmar as Death Toll Reaches 254 Social Media Campaign Shames Adult Children of Senior Myanmar Junta Members When Myanmars Police Joined Civil Disobedience Movement 75 Years Ago Qualcomm is rumoured to be developing a new high-end SoC for laptops this year, and someone may have already benchmarked it on Geekbench. The so-called Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 offers a huge performance leap over its predecessor and the Microsoft SQ2, with scores that rival the Core i7-1065G7 and Core i7-1165G7. The Apple M1 has the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 well beaten, though. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 5G , Accessory , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel Evo / Project Athena , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Linux / Unix , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Rumor , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) Ticker Last month, Roland Quandt claimed that Qualcomm was testing a Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 successor, referred to internally as the SC8280. The report added that the SoC would have Gold+ and Gold cores, eschewing the power-efficiency cores that it included in the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2. Apparently, Qualcomm has been testing its Gold+ cores at 2.7 GHz and the Gold ones at 2.43 GHz. Now, a Qualcomm Reference Design (QRD) supposedly containing the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 has made its way to Geekbench. According to the listing, the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 has eight cores and a 2.69 GHz clock speed. While we cannot verify the listing, its ARMv8 (64-bit) Family 8 Model D4B Revision 0' identifier does not correlate with any other chipsets we are aware of. The listing does not provide any other details about the QRD, but it offers insight into its relative performance. COLUMBIA A Columbia motorcycle dealership employee is the fourth person charged in a parking lot brawl at the shop March 11 that left a man dead. Dawonda Thomas-Powell, 49 of Columbia, was arrested March 22 and charged with first-degree mob assault and obstruction, the Richland County Sheriff's Department. Thomas-Powell is an employee at Capital City Cycles, the shop on Two Notch Road where authorities say rival bike gangs clashed in the parking lot and an Aiken County man died from his injuries. The sheriff's department said in a release that Thomas-Powell allegedly was charge with allegedly conspiring with members of one gang to confront the other. She was also accused of trying to cover up her involvement. She was booked at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center and remained jailed March 23 awaiting a bond hearing, online records showed. Thomas-Powell does not yet have an attorney listed on court records. An employee who answered the phone at Capital City Cycles on March 23 said the business declined to comment. Sheriff Leon Lott described "mayhem" during the late afternoon confrontation near a busy stretch of Two Notch Road at Interstate 77. Charles Lilly, 55, of Beech Island died in the scrum. Lilly was shot twice but died from blows from a cane, Lott said. James Hill, 58 of Powersville, Georgia, was charged with murder and felony assault in Lilly's death and remains in jail. Investigators believe Hill and Lilly were members of the same gang. A phone message for Hill's attorney wasn't immediately returned March 23. Another man, Kristopher Wheat, was arrested March 12 and faces a felony mob assault charge in addition to charges for obstruction and unlawful weapon possession. Wheat is free on $100,000 bond and has no attorney listed, Richland County court records show. A fourth person arrested in the melee was 25-year-old Corey Booth. He was accused of firing a gun during the fight to defend himself as he was being piled on and stabbed, hitting a member of his own gang and two people affiliated with the other gang. Booth was charged March 19 with unlawful possession of the gun. Booth also was arrested March 16 by Lexington County Sheriff's Department on charges of first-degree domestic violence and possessing a weapon during a violent crime, court records show. He is free on $8,000 bond on the domestic violence charge and $2,000 on the weapon charge, according to the records. Booth doesn't have an attorney listed on Lexington County court records. The US, UK, EU and Canada have simultaneously implemented new sanctions against Chinese officials in yet another reminder that these nations consistently function as member states of a single empire on foreign policy, and that the Biden administration is continuing right where the Trump administration left off on anti-China hawkishness. Blinkens allegations are unfounded, as explained in this recent article from The Grayzone and in this comprehensive video by the Youtube channel Bay Area 415 . While its entirely possible that human rights violations could be happening in Xinjiang in some form and to some extent, the extremely flimsy and blatantly manipulated evidence weve seen so far for western claims of genocide and crimes against humanity should draw immediate incredulity from anyone who remembers the lead-up to the Iraq invasion . The only sane response to unfounded claims by known liars is skepticism and agnosticism until we are presented with proof that rises to the level required in a post-Iraq invasion world. These talking points issued by the State Department chief look even more off-base when we remember that a leaked 2017 State Department memo confirmed that the United States has a standing policy of using allegations of human rights violations as a bludgeon against nations like China while ignoring known human rights violations against member states of the empire like Egypt and Saudi Arabia. In December 2017 Politico published an internal memo that had been sent the previous May to then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson by virulent neocon Brian Hook. The memo provided useful insight into what it looks like when a toxic swamp monster orients a political neophyte to the inner mechanics of the empire, explaining the way human rights are really just a tool to be cynically exploited to advance the goal of planetary hegemony like an old veteran explaining the backstory to the new guy in the pilot episode of a new TV series. In the case of US allies such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines, the Administration is fully justified in emphasizing good relations for a variety of important reasons, including counter-terrorism, and in honestly facing up to the difficult tradeoffs with regard to human rights, Hook explained in the memo. One useful guideline for a realistic and successful foreign policy is that allies should be treated differently and better than adversaries, Hook wrote. We do not look to bolster Americas adversaries overseas; we look to pressure, compete with, and outmaneuver them. For this reason, we should consider human rights as an important issue in regard to US relations with China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. And this is not only because of moral concern for practices inside those countries. It is also because pressing those regimes on human rights is one way to impose costs, apply counter-pressure, and regain the initiative from them strategically. So if it wasnt already clear to you that the US empire is faking its concern for the wellbeing of Muslim lives (and a quick glance at Americas actions in the Middle East should make that read like the punchline of a bad joke anyway), it should be clear to you now. Neither Washington nor its vassal states harbor any interest in protecting the interests of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, they are only using that narrative to, as Brian Hook put it, impose costs, apply counter-pressure, and regain the initiative from them strategically. This is exactly what a steadily escalating international sanctions campaign helps accomplish. The illusion is that the US and its allies have seen evidence of genocide and crimes against humanity and taken action against China in the interest of human rights. The reality is that actions against China were already planned, and a narrative was used to justify them. Meanwhile we ordinary people are watching two nuclear-armed nations escalate against one another with increasing aggression, with escalations against nuclear-armed Russia complicating things even further. This incredibly dangerous flirtation with the unthinkable is the most important thing happening in our world, and we should all oppose it tooth and claw. You dont need to believe that the Chinese government is run by a bunch of saints to understand that these great power confrontations serve no one and threaten everyone economically, politically, and existentially. There is no legitimate reason we cant all begin collaborating with each other toward the common good of humanity instead of brandishing armageddon weapons at one another with increasing recklessness in the name of unipolar hegemony. ____________________ Thanks for reading! The best way to get around the internet censors and make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list for at my website or on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking me on Facebook, following my antics on Twitter, or throwing some money into my tip jar on Ko-fi, Patreon or Paypal. If you want to read more you can buy my new book Poems For Rebels (you can also download a PDF for five bucks) or my old book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. For more info on who I am, where I stand, and what Im trying to do with this platform, click here. Everyone, racist platforms excluded, has my permission to republish, use or translate any part of this work (or anything else Ive written) in any way they like free of charge. (Natural News) Nursing home residents were considered high-risk to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic for obvious reasons. But the Democrat governors of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Michigan failed to recognize the obvious as they implemented policies that forced nursing homes to accept patients who have tested positive for COVID-19. So it came as no surprise that a total of 40,058 COVID-19 deaths had been recorded from the long-term care (LTC) residents of those states, accounting for 23 percent of the 174,474 COVID-19 deaths from LTC facilities across the United States. Among the four states, New York had the most LTC residents who died from COVID-19 with 14,450, followed by Pennsylvania with 12,565, New Jersey with 7,969 and Michigan with 5,074. The numbers were derived from the COVID Tracking Project. Overall, more than 500,000 Americans have died from coronavirus and one in every three was a nursing home resident. It was very clear that elders were vulnerable to the disease, but some politicians just couldnt see it. Democrat governors issue death sentence to nursing home residents New York Gov. Andrew Cuomos policy requiring nursing homes to admit COVID-19 positive patients has been the most maligned. In January, New York State Attorney General Letitia James released a report that said the New York State Department of Health (NYDOH) had drastically under-reported COVID-19 deaths from nursing home residents. (Related: Will Andrew Cuomo be prosecuted for hiding data on nursing home coronavirus deaths?) The NYDOH immediately corrected the number, but doubts lingered about the datas credibility. A report released last month by the Empire Center for Public Policy concluded that Cuomos policy had a direct impact on nursing home COVID-19 death rates. The report titled COVID-positive Admissions Were Correlated with Higher Death Rates in New York Nursing Homes stated: The admission of coronavirus-positive patients into New York nursing homes under March 25 guidance from the New York State Department of Health was associated with a statistically significant increase in resident deaths. Cuomos policy was in effect from March 25 to May 10 last year. The report noted that there were 6,327 COVID-positive new admissions in nursing homes across the state between late March and early May and that they were associated with possibly more than a thousand resident deaths. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf issued interim guidelines on March 18 last year, telling nursing homes to admit stable patients from hospitals. The state provided more detailed guidelines on May 12, telling hospitals to test patients for COVID-19 before releasing them to a nursing home. But the guidelines stated that the nursing homes should admit the patients whether or not they tested positive for COVID-19. Wolf had been investigated by the Pennsylvania House for his handling of long-term care facilities during the coronavirus pandemic. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, through the New Jersey Department of Health, required nursing homes to admit COVID-19 positive patients on March 31 last year, less than a week after its neighboring state of New York did the same. Sen. Joe Pennacchio of New Jersey obtained copies of both guidelines and highlighted the similarities. Seems to me that New Jersey was taking directions from New York on its handling of COVID-19 patients in nursing homes, said Pennacchio. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order requiring nursing homes to accept COVID-19 positive patients on April 15 last year. A long-term care facility must not prohibit admission or readmission of a resident based on COVID-19 testing requirements or results in a manner that is inconsistent with relevant guidance issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, the executive order stated. Democrat governors may have violated CRIPA During the Trump administration, the Department of Justice (DOJ) requested COVID-19 data from the governors of states that issued orders which may have resulted in the deaths of thousands of elderly nursing home residents. The DOJs Civil Rights Division evaluated whether to initiate investigations under the federal Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), which protects the civil rights of persons in state-run nursing homes, among others. The division wanted to determine if the state orders requiring admission of COVID-19 patients to nursing homes is responsible for the deaths of nursing home residents. It wasnt clear if the DOJ under President Joe Biden would proceed with the investigation. In Michigan, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido is establishing a protocol for the families of those who died in nursing homes from COVID-19 to file a criminal complaint against the state and Whitmer. If we find theres been willful neglect of office if we find theres been reckless endangerment of a persons life by bringing them in then we would move forward with charges against the governor, Lucido said. Of course, we would. Nobodys above the law in this state. Lucido started looking into the matter last year as a Michigan senator. He issued a statement in August last year that said more than 2,000 residents and 21 staff died in nursing homes, accounting for 32 percent of all COVID-19 deaths in the state. Why did my mom or why did my dad, brother, sister or aunt die? Was it because of the policy by bringing in COVID-infected patients that spread to my mom that killed my mother? Lucido said. This is not political, everyone. This is about people who passed away at the behest of a policy that was created by the governor. Follow Pandemic.news for more news and information related to the coronavirus pandemic. Sources include: Breitbart.com COVIDTracking.com Justice.gov MacombDaily.com This story was first published on Dec. 21, 2020. It has been updated. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, some New Jerseyans have been able to work at home. But now that vaccination efforts are in full swing, some employers are asking their workers to return to the office. It raises a lot of questions. Employers are required to keep their workplaces safe, but what happens if some workers dont want to take a vaccine? Can your boss require it? What if you take the vaccine but your coworkers dont? Do you have any rights? Can my employer require me to be vaccinated for COVID? Yes, in certain circumstances, according to two employment lawyers. Employers may require vaccines if the failure to vaccinate will result in a direct threat to other employees, said Timothy Ford, partner and member of the employment and litigation departments at Einhorn, Barbarito, Frost & Botwinick in Denville. But that doesnt mean employers should be in a rush to institute new vaccine rules. The Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued guidance late last year that employment law experts had been expecting. The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which gives workers some rights when it comes to an employer requiring certain medical exams, doesnt apply when it comes to COVID vaccines because the employer is not seeking information about health status, and, therefore, it is not a medical examination, the EEOC said on its website. It added that the requirement of a COVID vaccine would be permitted. Employers have an obligation to ensure that their employees have a healthy and safe work environment, said Dennis Alessi, a partner and co-chair of the employment law group at Mandelbaum Salsburg on Roseland. My experience, and those of other employment lawyers is that most employers are not mandating vaccination as a condition for continued employment, because they are concerned with potential backlash from employees, Alessi said. Instead, employers, primarily midsize companies, are using a `carrot instead of a `stick by permitting employees a certain number of paid hours off to get vaccinated. Are there exceptions for certain workers? Yes. The EEOC has said that employees may be exempt from a mandatory vaccine if the employee has a covered disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that prevents them from taking the vaccine, Ford said. There are other exceptions. Ford said an employee may be excused from the vaccine requirement under the religious accommodation provision of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which could cover religious and other exemptions. These are generally the exceptions for certain vaccinations like the flu shot, Ford said. Alessi said there could also be exceptions for employees that have underlying medical conditions. Because of the two exceptions, for heath conditions and particularly for sincerely held religious beliefs, many employers consider it too sensitive, from an HR perspective, and too difficult, from a legal perspective, to mandate vaccination, Alessi said. What if my boss doesnt require it? Can I be fired if I dont want to work with unvaccinated coworkers? You have options. Ford said that COVID-19 has presented employers with many unprecedented challenges, but each workers case presents variables and should be handled on a case-by-case basis. There may also be different circumstances depending on the job and the industry. Generally, an employer may terminate an employee for his or her refusal to fulfill the requirements of his or her position and/or failure to be present at work, Ford said. However, if an employee has a recognized disability under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination or ADA which would impact his or her ability to return to work in an environment with unvaccinated co-workers, reasonable accommodations shall be required to the employee. Alessi said employees can file a complaint under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), saying the employer is creating an unsafe, unhealthy work environment because the employer is not requiring all employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19. If the employee is fired for making such a complaint, the employee probably has a claim of retaliatory discharge for exercising his or her rights under OSHA, Alessi said. If I have to show proof of a vaccine, isnt it an invasion of privacy? Yes, it is invasion of privacy, Alessi said. However, employers were permitted to invade employee privacy in requiring COVID-19 testing, he said, noting that a vaccine requirement would be a continuation of the employers obligation to maintain a safe and healthy work environment. Vaccines are already required in some industries, Ford said, such as the flu vaccine. A certificate of immunization may be required, limiting the information provided, he said. Even if an employer can mandate a vaccine, that doesnt mean an employer should, Ford said. Employers may not want to lose valuable employees based on their refusal to be vaccinated, Ford said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. SALT LAKE CITY, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Justice Party (www.justiceparty.us), has announced its new plan to vigorously recruit supporters, generate the formation of state parties, and become a "big tent," diverse majority national party to effectively challenge the money-corrupted duopoly of the Republican and Democratic parties. In 2011, the Justice Party nominated Rocky Anderson, a civil rights lawyer, former Mayor of Salt Lake City (20002008), and 1996 Democratic Congressional candidate (www.rockyanderson.org), as the Party's 2012 presidential nominee. Award-winning writer and activist Luis Rodriguez (www.luisjrodriguez.com) was the Party's Vice-Presidential nominee. (Media coverage of the 2012 race is at https://rockyanderson.org/campaigns/2012-president/.) The major goals of the 2012 campaign were to advocate for and raise awareness about positions ignored by the duopolist parties and to contribute toward a long-term movement for economic, social, and environmental justice. Those goals included eliminating the corrupting influence of money in our political system, fiscal responsibility, climate protection, and eradicating systemic racism. The Justice Party plans to grow into a diverse majority political party, drawing independent voters, dissatisfied present and former members of the Republican and Democratic parties, and members of third parties that consistently fail to garner meaningful electoral support. Most of the Justice Party's positions are supported by the majority of people in the United States, while the positions and policies of the duopolist Republican and Democratic parties primarily serve the interests of their funders. See https://rockyanderson.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/PressPacket_08_13_12_ Final.pdf (pages 1519). Rodriguez noted that "Justice Party members are not expected to agree on every issue, but can, together, effectively challenge the dominance of the duopolist parties that have failed our nation and its people in many crucial areas for far too long." The Justice Party will not be a "spoiler" party. In a contest like the Trump/Biden or Bush/Gore races, if it is apparent the Justice Party will not prevail in the election, it will engage in a "safe states" strategy, withdrawing from "battleground states" (i.e., states where the result of an election is uncertain), where it might draw votes away from the significantly better of the major party candidates. In such cases, the Justice Party will continue to vigorously run in "safe states" where the result is substantially certain, to build the Party long-term and to aggressively advocate for justice-promoting measures. Anderson stated: "The Republican Party is being torn to shreds by Trump and his enablers and the Democratic Party is losing members in droves because of its obeisance to the medical-insurance-pharmaceutical complex, its past support of unjust and illegal wars, its failure to adopt a universal health care system supported by the majority of U.S. voters, and its failure to meaningfully address the growing, obscene disparity in wealth throughout the U.S." The Justice Party is supportive of certain measures of the Biden administration, but the need for a new, diverse, principled majority party not controlled by wealthy donors is greater than ever. Contact: Rocky Anderson Direct: (801)349-1690 Email: [email protected]pr.com SOURCE Justice Party Related Links https://www.justiceparty.us/ YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Artsakh Artur Tovmasyan has made an appeal to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk and to the World Council of Churches, over the danger threatening the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories of Artsakh which have come under the Azerbaijani military occupation. Armenpress presents the text of the appeal: I address You to alert to the mounting threat to the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories of Artsakh subject to military occupation by Azerbaijan during the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh on September 27, 2020 and following the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020 on complete ceasefire and termination of all hostilities in the area of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Cases of deliberate and overt irremediable damage to, utter ruining and misappropriation and alienation by Azerbaijan of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage have been documented since 1920s which served as precedent for renewed brutality and defacing demonstrated wantonly towards historical landmarks, pieces of art and places of worship as constituting Armenian cultural and religious heritage, as well as monumental tributes to the Great Patriotic War and Artsakh National-Liberation War, in territories which fell under Azerbaijans occupation during the 44-Day War of 2020 and in the months following it. We also consider it pertinent to point out that following the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020 on complete ceasefire and termination of all hostilities in the area of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan has embarked on, at the highest state level and even more ruthlessly, the calculated policy of legitimization of the false logic and fallacy of Caucasian-albanization of Armenian apostolic churches, misappropriation of the Armenian religious heritage, their desecration and utter destruction on a case-by-case basis. The statements made by Azerbaijani high authorities on replanning and coercive remoulding of the Armenian apostolic churches with the far-reaching aim of their albanization, on erasing Armenian inscriptions, are reprehensible. The most recent examples include presenting the 12th century Holy Mother Armenian Church in the village of Tsakuri of Artsakh Republics Hadrut region, occupied by Azerbaijan, as an Albanian church, or destroying the St. John the Baptist church in Shushi. is thereby true to its modus operandi of historical revisionism, fabrication of history, legitimization of its presence in the occupied territories of the Artsakh Republic and strengthening its ties to these lands. It is obvious that these carefully planned institutionalized attacks and aggressive campaign by Azerbaijan on Armenian cultural and religious property, pursued with flagrant violation of treaty and customary international humanitarian law, are aimed at eradicating Armenian peoples historical roots to the region, destroying historical records of their self-definition, dismantling the Armenian cultural capacity, obliterating the Armenian identity, as well as appropriating the Armenian cultural and religious heritage. Whereas, as opposed to the policy of extermination of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage adopted by the Azerbaijani authorities, the Republic of Artsakh has always remained committed to promoting ethnic and religious tolerance in its territory. The restoration of Gohar Agha Upper Mosque in Shushi in 2019 is a clear example and ample proof of it. The relevant entities of the Republic of Artsakh and Republic of Armenia have time and again raised serious concern over the systematic and deliberate destruction and appropriation cases by Azerbaijan of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage based on open-source data. The Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh issued an ad hoc comprehensive report on cases of vandalism and the risk of destruction by Azerbaijan of the Armenian cultural and religious monuments in the territories of the Republic of Artsakh under Azerbaijans occupation. No doubt the urgent warnings were heeded by relevant international organisations and international community at large. As far back as during the 44-Day War in 2020 the deliberate targeting by Azerbaijan of the cultural and religious monuments in Artsakh was duly condemned. In this context we acknowledge the concerns raised by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries the Russian Federation and France most notably over the fate of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Artsakh, their willingness to deliver practical support, and statements and calls on engaging international specialized organisations to protect the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Artsakh and prevent further damage. We appreciate the international actors determination to share responsibility of solving this human rights issue. We also appreciate UNESCOs proposal to carry out an independent mission of experts to draw an inventory of cultural property to safeguard effectively the regions cultural and religious heritage which was welcomed by the intergovernmental Committee of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, with both the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan parties to it, and its Second Protocol. We reaffirm our readiness to facilitate the UNESCO fact-finding mission to the region. We are obliged to note that Azerbaijan politicizes the issue and prevents the UN agency from carrying out their fact-finding mission in the region, thus jeopardizing seriously the very essence of UNESCO and its universal dimension. The rich Armenian cultural and religious heritage of Artsakh is an inseparable part of the global cultural and religious heritage, and Azerbaijans explicit criminal intent to destroy the Armenian cultural and religious monuments in Artsakh is a challenge to all of humanity. Condemnation by the international community of states of the intolerance by Azerbaijan towards the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Artsakh and inviting their attention to it is certainly one of the means of preventing further damage to the endangered Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories under the military occupation of Azerbaijan. We still look forward to go beyond statements of concern and take practical steps to fight against the intentional destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage pursued by Azerbaijan. We call on to make sound use of international standards the UNESCO 1954 Hague Conventions and its Protocols, as well as UN SC Resolution 2347, and to take urgent, effective and consistent measures to work out efficient mechanisms to hold Azerbaijan accountable and bring the country to honor duly its commitments with regard to respecting cultural property of other peoples and refraining from hostility directed against it. We reconfirm our commitment to promoting an understanding of the worlds cultural heritage and its universal value, and tolerance and mutual respect when it comes to the protection of peoples cultural and religious heritage. We would like to remind that intentional attacks on the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories of the Republic of Artsakh currently under military occupation of Azerbaijan which could legitimately be considered as an intent to ethnically cleanse the Armenian people have negative implications for fostering peace, stability and security in the region, and the protection of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage, including introducing observation and risk reduction mechanisms, should be addressed within the framework of holistic strategies to promote stability and security in the region. The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. If the disparate, and occasionally warring, tribes of modern conservatism could agree, the closest thing to a united throne would be found in the c-suite on the eighth floor at the Heritage Foundation, the leading think tank on the right that enjoyed increased influence in the Trump era. But it will soon be empty. Again. Heritage President Kay Coles James announced her resignation Monday afternoon, to the surprise of many. There is no clear successor. In news first reported by RealClearPolitics, Heritage now must find a new chief executive as the Republican Party searches for its own post-Trump identity. James told close colleagues that she had informed the Heritage Foundation board that I am committed to a smooth transition. My mother always told me to leave a place a little better than when you found it. I am proud to say that the entire Heritage enterprise is in a much stronger position now than it was in 2018, the outgoing executive wrote in a resignation letter first obtained by RCP. I have accomplished the goals I set out to achieve when I first became president. It was James who stepped in to help steady the ship after the contentious ouster of former South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint rattled the organization. She led the search committee on behalf of the board, and after eight months the Bush-era director of the Office of Personnel Management settled on a candidate capable of taking the helm: herself. We got a good person, a board member told this reporter at the time. Harmony reigns. There was little public drama three years later when James announced her exit. Unlike the departure of DeMint, staffers didnt divide into opposing camps to wage a war in the press as the board deliberated. She wrote the resignation letter, and Heritage released a statement. Staffers were still caught by surprise, though, with many asking questions rather than offering details. Of particular interest to policy wonks and political operatives was the fact that James isnt leaving alone. Kim Holmes, the executive vice president of the foundation, is also stepping down. I have greatly valued your friendship and counsel, Holmes wrote in announcing his parallel resignation, effective April 16, and wish you all the very best. A source with direct knowledge of the situation told RCP that James who will remain in the job for up to six months, until a successor is found -- is leaving on schedule. She said she would do three to five years. It has been three to five years. The job had clear requirements before James took it. We were Ronald Reagan's favorite think tank," Ed Feulner, who was the Heritage president from 1977 to 2013, told staffers shaken up by the DeMint defenestration. And today we are, and will continue to be, Donald Trump's favorite think tank." James delivered on that front, telling the New York Times a year into her role that Trumps administration is doing quite well in terms of advancing a conservative agenda clearly, quite well. Heritage should know: It helped staff the White House and delivered many of its policy papers. By the think tanks count, Trump implemented two-thirds of its agenda. And the relationship between Heritage and Trump World has been more than symbiotic. After leaving office, former Vice President Mike Pence took a post at the organization as a distinguished visiting fellow. Many other former Trump staffers have found refuge with the conservative mothership, as the foundation likes to call itself. They just dont know who to call their next president. There's not a successor in mind, a source with direct knowledge of the boards thinking told RCP. This is a true six-month window to figure it out. That board is expected to meet in April to chart a course forward. Meanwhile conservatives in Washington have a new favorite parlor game: speculating about Heritages next leader. Several prominent politicians who would seem to fit the bill were scooped up elsewhere in the last year. Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker now leads Young Americas Foundation; Mark Meadows, Trumps last chief of staff, recently joined the Conservative Partnership Institute; and Russ Vought, the former OMB director, founded the Center for American Restoration. Whoever eventually gets the nod, according to a source close to the situation, will have to embrace the organizations big tent mentality: The truth is that Heritage has always considered itself, and will always consider itself, a fusionist organization. In this vision, preserved through the past two think tank presidents, Heritage would serve as a forum for competing conservative factions to hash out their differences without too much bloodletting or at least not permanent alienation. Pence could serve as that sort of peacemaker while remaining a presidential candidate in waiting, according to Brian Darling, a Heritage alum and Sen. Rand Pauls former legal counsel. If Vice President Pence is keeping the door open to running in 2024, he told RCP, he still could helm Heritage and use the next two years to show the stark contrast between conservative and liberal ideas, then take a leave of absence if he decides to throw his hat into the ring. A spokeswoman for Pence did not respond to request for comment. Infighting has been kept at a minimum as conservatives begin life in the minority. They are focused not on ideological flaws of fellow Republicans but on holding back Democrats in the majority. The person who becomes the next president of The Heritage Foundation, Darling said, will be running point against the socialist ideas coming from the White House and congressional Democrats. One name floated by staffers inside and outside the building? Mick Mulvaney. The former South Carolina congressman is seen as having respectable pre-and post-Trump credentials. He led the Office of Management and Budget for that president before becoming his chief of staff and then later decamping to serve as special envoy to Northern Ireland. Samsung will convert one of its OLED lines dedicated for Apple to produce LTPO panels within the first half of 2021. OLED panels based on the LTPO TFT technology consume less power and feature refresh rate as high as 120Hz. Samsung is already using LTPO OLED panels on its flagship devices, including the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and the Galaxy S21 series. The Elec report also claims that Samsung will be the exclusive supplier of LTPO TFT OLED panels to Apple this year, with LG Display supplying LTPS TFT panels to it. The report notes that Apple will be using the LTPO 120Hz OLED panels on the higher-end Pro iPhone 13 models, with the regular variants featuring regular LTPS 60Hz OLED panels. Once Apple converts its dedicated A3 factory line to produce LTPO TFT OLED panels, its manufacturing capacity will see a drop. Previously, the A3 line produced 105,000 LTPS TFT substrate per month. This would go down to 70,000 substrates when producing LTPO TFT substrates. Apart from Samsung, Chinese display maker BOE is also building a dedicated OLED panel line for Apple at its B12 plant in Chongqing. It aims to start production in November this year. Apple was widely rumored to use 120Hz OLED panels on the iPhone 12 lineup last year, but that did not happen due to time constraints and other issues. This year though, rumors strongly indicate Apple will use 120Hz OLED panels on at least the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The regular iPhone 13 models will stick to 60Hz OLED panels. [Via The Elec Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Floodwaters recede in the Nepean river, NSW on March 22, 2021. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images) Hundreds of Homes Inundated, Thousands Evacuated in Aussie Floods Flooding rains continue to wreak havoc in the state of New South Wales (NSW) with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting the deluge will continue until Wednesday. Hundreds of homes have been inundated and many thousands of people have been evacuated as rivers swell and break their banks. More than 18,000 people have been told to evacuate and a further 15,000 were put on notice to standby for evacuation orders across the state. A total of 54,000 people may be displaced. Over 200 schools have closed and emergency crews have rescued 870 people from flooding, while emergency service fielded some 9,700 emergency calls. The Bureau of Meteorology has released a long list of warnings for affected areas. Western, Southern, and Northern Sydney Three thousand people have been evacuated from along the Hawkesbury River which has seen the worst flooding since 1961. Evacuation orders were issued for low-lying areas and an evacuation warning for caravan parks along the Hawkesbury River from Windsor to Wisemans Ferry is in place. Major flooding is occurring along the Hawkesbury River at North Richmond, Windsor, as well as on the Colo River at Upper Colo and Putty Rd bridge where river levels are still rising. Moderate flooding is occurring along the Nepean River. Major risks remain for residents in western Sydney, with another 50-100mm of rainfall expected before Wednesday. Mid North Coast, Hunter, Western NSW With Macleay River and Hastings River overflowing 15,000 people were told to evacuate from low-lying areas, including Macksville, Port Macquarie, Lower Macleay, and Kempsey CBD. The region is facing the worst flooding in nearly a century, with another 100mm of rainfall expected before the rain is forecast to stop on Wednesday. Major flooding has occurred at Bulga in the Hunter Valley while minor flooding may occur in the Lower Hunter. The danger alert has not been lifted yet. The level of Macquarie River has peaked at Bathurst with minor flooding continuing. Parts of the region may gain a seasons amount of rainfall as another weather system hits from the south. Illawarra and South Coast Flood watch alerts have been issued for Shoalhaven River, Bega River, and St Georges Basin. State Emergency Service volunteers patrol a flooded residential area in Richmond, NSW on March 22, 2021. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images) Government Assistance and Public Support The federal governments natural disaster arrangements are activated for 38 local government areas, offering $1,000 per adult and $400 per child for those affected in these areas. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will run two search and rescue helicopters out of the south coast. Up to 1,000 ADF personnel is expected to be deployed, while 1,700 SES volunteers are involved in rescue and clean-up efforts, helped by NSW RFS and Fire and Rescue Services. St John Ambulance NSW volunteers are providing health services, first aid, and mental health support to the affected. Flood victims can ask for free advice from the Disaster Response Legal Service. St Vincent de Paul Society has launched a flood appeal. Almost $250,000 were raised on GoFundMe, including more than $100,000 for a Taree couple whose home was washed away on their wedding day. [March 23, 2021] Platform Launches to Monitor Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Variants on COVID-19 Tests ROSALIND, a software leader in extracting meaningful insights from diverse pools of life science data, today announced the launch of a web-based platform for monitoring the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and evaluating the effects on the performance of diagnostic tests. The new platform, called the ROSALIND Diagnostic Monitoring (DxM) system, is available starting today and will be used by diagnostic test manufacturers and regulators to monitor assay performance against the rapidly evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants. With the rapid emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, global awareness has led to rising concern over the detection of new viral strains using the existing diagnostic assays. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert in January that false negative results may occur with any molecular test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 if a mutation occurs in the part of the virus' genome assessed by that test. The agency urged test makers to perform periodic in silico assessment (computer simulations) of molecular tests to identify impacts on performance. ROSALIND developed the DxM system with support from the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADxSM) Tech program, part of the National Institutes of Health's RADx initiative launched in April 2020 to speed innovation in the development, commercialization, and implementation of technologies for COVID-19 testing. Recognizing the importance of a centralized bioinformatics system, RADx Tech issued a request for proposals to develop and implement a bioinformatics pipeline with a user-friendly web-based interface that would provide regular updates of the frequency of the variants, mapping/alignment of the probe/detection sequences of the NIH RADx projects and to assess the effect of the variants on the performace of the tests. ROSALIND was awarded the contract in late February 2021 and today released the first version of the new platform. "We are honored to be a collaborator in this important project and inspired to support the NIH in the fight against COVID-19. The DxM system has the potential to play a crucial role in identifying risks to diagnostic tests from this evolving virus, and aids test manufacturers and agencies with consistent analyses and recommendations," said Tim Wesselman, CEO of ROSALIND. "This collaborative project is an extension of our vision to empower scientists to extract meaningful insights from genomic data. Leveraging our existing ROSALIND platform has enabled us to respond with incredible speed while providing a highly secure and consistent analysis system that will be utilized across many organizations and agencies." ROSALIND is working with SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic manufacturers to provision system access and provide on-going analysis and reporting based on sequencing data from scientists and laboratories across the globe. "With all the complexity in the SARS-CoV-2 sequence data and the many different types of diagnostic tests - PCR (News - Alert) , antigen, CRISPR, and more - we understood right from the start that diagnostic manufacturers and agencies needed an intuitive platform where they could define their tests and immediately detect potential issues against all available sequence data," said Jean Lozach, Chief Science Officer of ROSALIND. "ROSALIND continuously queries each test against a database of all available sequencing data and emerging variants. When a risk is detected, an alert is sent via a secure message with a report out of the findings. After receiving the alert, users can engage with interactive dashboards to investigate variant details and look up specimens for wet-lab verification of in silico assessments." The RADx initiative has supported 150 companies in advancing their diagnostic technologies and the development of 16 COVID-19 tests that have received FDA authorization. This project has been funded in whole or in part through a $1.5 billion investment of federal funds from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Health and Human Services. ROSALIND is supporting this project as a subcontractor of VentureWell under Contract 75N92020P00171. For more information on the DxM System and other RADx funded programs, visit: https://www.nih.gov/research-training/medical-research-initiatives/radx. About ROSALIND Based in San Diego, ROSALIND enables the world's life science researchers to derive more value from their data and complete projects faster. We believe the potential of biomedical and multi-omic data is maximized when it is accessible, interactive, and shareable. Extracting meaningful insights from pools of data takes a truly interoperable ecosystem that breaks down silos of complex information and sparks collaboration. The ROSALIND platform harnesses the power of scientific collaboration, cloud-computing, and data science to enable integrated analyses that unify knowledge through an intuitive user interface that is built for any researcher. For more information, please visit www.rosalind.bio. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005909/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron accused Iran on Thursday of continuing to violate a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, and said Tehran should act responsibly. France, along with Britain, Germany and the European Union, is trying to bring the United States and Iran to the table for informal talks that would be a first step to reviving the 2015 deal, which lifted international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs to its nuclear programme. Both sides so far appear unwilling to compromise. The Iranian New Year this week and campaigning for the country's presidential election in June are also likely to complicate matters. "Iran must stop aggravating a serious nuclear situation with an accumulation of violations of the Vienna accord," Macron said alongside President Reuven Rivlin of Israel, an arch foe of Iran in the Middle East region. "Iran must make the expected gestures and behave in a responsible way," Macron added. Macron said Paris would continue to work to revive a credible process to end this crisis. "That means a return to control and supervision of the nuclear programme, but also to integrating - as we have called for since 2017 - the control of Iran's ballistic missile activity," he added. Iran has ruled out broadening nuclear talks to other subjects. Since the United States quit the 2015 deal when Donald Trump was president, Iran has progressively reduced its compliance with the pact. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Alison Williams and Gareth Jones) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (2nd R), joined by national security adviser Jake Sullivan (R), speaks while facing Yang Jiechi (2nd L), director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office, and Wang Yi (L), China's state councilor and foreign minister, at the opening session of U.S.-China talks at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 18, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/Pool via Reuters) China Incites Anti-US Sentiment After Clash at Alaska Meeting Commentary After the U.S.-China high-level talks concluded on March 19 in Alaska, Chinese authorities immediately mobilized Chinas state-run media to distort facts about the clash at the meeting and incite anti-U.S. sentiment in China. The two-day meeting in Anchorage was the first high-level talks between Beijing and the Biden administration. The U.S. delegation was headed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and the Chinese side was represented by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and senior foreign policy diplomat Yang Jiechi. While most of the meeting was held behind closed doors, the opening remarks were public. Each representative was given two minutes to speak. However, due to its intensity, the session ended up lasting for more than an hour. Blinkens opening speech lasted for two minutes and 27 seconds, Sullivan completed his speech in 2 minutes 17 seconds; while on Chinas side, Yang spoke for 16 minutes and 14 seconds, and the interpreter spent three minutes and 26 seconds translating Yangs words, followed by Wangs opening speech which lasted for four minutes and nine seconds. However, China Central Television (CCTV), Chinas largest TV network, blatantly reported contrary to the facts, claiming that the Chinese delegates attended the meeting with sincerity and were willing to follow the rules. However, when delivering opening remarks first, the U.S. side seriously overran the agreed time and provocatively launched groundless attacks and accusations against Chinas domestic and foreign policies, the CCTV report said. It is not the proper way of hosting guests, nor is it compatible with diplomatic protocol, and the Chinese side solemnly responded. CCP Furious When Biden Continues Trumps Anti-CCP Policies The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had believed that President Joe Biden would reverse the Trump administrations anti-CCP policies as soon as he took office. However, the Biden administration and both U.S. political parties have reached a high degree of consensus on the issue of countering the CCP. State-run media Xinhua specifically quoted the following statements from Yang Jiechis speech at the meeting. In front of the Chinese side, the United States does not have the qualification to say that it wants to speak to China from a position of strength. The U.S. side was not even qualified to say such things even 20 years or 30 years back, because this is not the way to deal with the Chinese people. If the United States wants to deal properly with the Chinese side, then lets follow the necessary protocols and do things the right way. Our history will show that one can only cause damage to himself if he wants to strangle or suppress the Chinese people. Xinhua also quoted a similar statement by Wang Yi. Wang said, China certainly in the past has not and in the future will not accept unwarranted accusations from the U.S. side China urges the U.S. side to fully abandon the hegemonic practice of willfully interfering in Chinas internal affairs. This has been a longstanding issue, and it should be changed. Yangs quotes went viral on Chinese social media, such as We thought too well of the United States, The United States itself does not represent international public opinion, and We Chinese dont accept it. Chinese netizens applauded the sharp responses from the Chinese delegation. For instance, a comparison chart was circulated online, with a photo of the signing of Xinchou Treaty on top and a photo of the Alaska meeting at the bottom. The Xinchou Treaty, also known as the Boxer Protocol, was an unequal treaty signed in 1901 after the Qing Dynasty surrendered to the Eight-Nation Alliance. Based on Chinas 60-year cycle system, the years 1901 and 2021 are both Xinchou Years. The comparison is meant to say that China suffered humiliation in a Xinchou Year before, but it is becoming a powerful nation in the current Xinchou Year. According to Chinese news portal Sina Weibo, this Xinchou comparison chart has been viewed 740 million times and received over 305,000 comments. Almost all these comments were berating the United States such as, The United States should recognize the new reality, This is a major change unseen in a century, and China is no longer the weak nation in the Qing Dynasty. Xi Jinpings Eye-Level Theory Hu Xijin, the editor-in-chief of Chinas hawkish publication Global Times, touted that this meeting may be written into the annals of history because it is an unprecedented face-to-face public confrontation between the two major powers of China and the United States, which is of great significance. Regarding the perception of what China is, the Chinese delegation gave the U.S. politicians a clear lesson, and also gave the U.S. allies a chance to see how China is dealing with the United Stateswhoever provokes China, dont expect China to act softly. Just two weeks ago, in a group discussion at the CCPs Two Sessions (Chinas top political annual meetings), Chinese leader Xi Jinping said, Younger people born in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s are now in a position to look at this world at eye level when they go out to see the world, because China can now look at the world at eye level. The younger generation is no longer as old-fashioned and backward as we were back then. Looking at the world at eye level is a new phrase Xi created. It means that the Chinese people do not have to look up to the rest of the world; instead, they can treat others as their equals. When the Chinese diplomats acted aggressively at the high-level meeting in Alaska, was it an implementation of Xis eye level theory? Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. India and Pakistan on Tuesday here began the annual meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC). The meeting is being held after a gap of more than two-and-a-half years. A delegation from Pakistan reached New Delhi on Monday to hold talks with India under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT). The treaty warrants the two sides to meet once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan. However, the last year's meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi was cancelled in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. "This will be an important meeting. We will engage with India in accordance with the Indus Water treaty. We are hopeful regarding this meeting," Mehran Ali Shah, Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters told ANI. During the talks, Islamabad is likely to raise objections to power projects on the Chenab River, Dawn reported. The PIC is a bilateral commission of officials from India and Pakistan, created to implement and manage goals of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, brokered by the World Bank. It comprises the Indus Commissioners from both sides and discusses technical matters related to the implementation of the treaty. The last India-Pakistan PIC was held in Lahore, Pakistan in August 2018. The Indian delegation was led by PK Saxena, the Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed between then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former Pakistan President Ayub Khan in 1960. The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding their use of the rivers, known as the Permanent Indus Commission which includes a commissioner from each of the two countries. It also sets out a process for resolving so-called "questions", "differences" and "disputes" that may arise between the parties. India and Pakistan have engaged in a long outstanding water dispute over two hydroelectric projects. Pakistan has raised objection to the building of the Kishanganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) hydroelectric plants by India, saying that it violates the provisions of the treaty. India insists on its right to build these projects and hold that their design is fully in compliance with the guidelines of the treaty. The World Bank had asked both countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements over the Indus Water Treaty Dispute in 1960. (ANI) Also Read: ED approaches Kerala HC, seeks CBI probe in Crime Branch case against its officers Miami Beach has extended its state of emergency as excited spring breakers continued to crowd the place amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities have already made hundreds of arrests concerning the crowds overrunning the city. This includes the two spring breakers arrested after being accused of drugging, raping, and stealing from a woman who died later in a Miami Beach hotel, NBC News reported. The suspects were identified as Evoire Collier, 21, and Dorian Taylor, 24, both from Greensboro, North Carolina. According to court records, the two men face charges of sexual battery, burglary, and other crimes. The victim was 24-year-old Christine Englehardt, who was given a "green pill" and was taken back to her hotel in South Beach. Englehardt was only visiting from Pennsylvania, according to a Daily Mail report. The two men allegedly raped Englehardt before stealing her phone, cash, and credits, which they used to party. She was then found semi-naked and dead on the bed at her hotel room on Thursday. READ NEXT: Is Spring Break in Mexico a Good Idea? Investigation Upon looking at the obtained video surveillance footage, detectives saw the two men entering the Albion Hotel on Thursday with Englehardt and then leaving less than an hour later without the woman. Reports said Collier fit the description of one of the two men in the footage and was found in an area crowded with spring breakers. He was wearing the same pants like the one in the video, Miami Herald reported. Collier eventually confessed to police that he and Taylor met Englehardt at a local restaurant. It was still unclear if the victim took the pill willingly or was given to her clandestinely. Collier admitted to the police that he thought the drug they gave to Englehardt was Percocet, a powerful pain reliever. During a bond hearing on Monday, Miami Beach Detective Luis Alsina said that they sent it to the lab, adding that they don't know if it was fentanyl or some other narcotic. The victim was already staggering when they entered the hotel, and Taylor was trying to hold her up as they walked into the elevator, the detective said. "The defendant was holding her from behind, holding her by the neck so she could stand," Alsina noted. Collier claimed that they each had sex with the woman, and Taylor had to force himself at one point since she was unconscious. A police report said there was no way the victim could have consented to have sex with the defendants as she was under the influence of alcohol and narcotics. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office has yet to determine the cause of her death and doing further tests to learn if she died from an overdose from the pill. Spring Breakers Partying More than 1,000 people have been arrested since the start of spring break season, with around 80 guns confiscated, according to Miami Beach Police. Police Chief Richard Clements said the chaos intensified when an unusual huge crowd of spring breakers blocked Ocean Drive and had an "impromptu street party," Associated Press reported. Clements said the crowd was out of control by Friday night, with one restaurant turned upside down and used chairs as weapons. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has maintained statewide no mask rules or other health restrictions, saying it's keeping the tourism economy working. READ MORE: Domino Effect: Florida College Students Test Positive For COVID-19 After Spring Break WATCH: Men Accused of Drugging and Raping Woman on Miami Beach Held With No Bond - From WPLG Local 10 The Australian political and media elite largely treated the second anniversary of the March 15, 2019 terror attack in Christchurch, New Zealand as a non-event. The fact that the perpetrator, Brenton Tarrant, was an Australian fascist, whose political radicalisation began in Australia, and who had documented links to extreme right-wing organisations in the country, was almost completely passed over. None of the major corporate media outlets published commentaries, let alone editorials, marking the anniversary or examining the political implications of an Australian citizen carrying out one of the bloodiest far-right terror attacks in recent years. A vigil in Wellington after the Christchurch fascist terror attack Acknowledgements of the victims of the massacre, from the 51 people murdered, to the 40 others maimed and the scores more traumatised for life, were sparse. To the extent that their fate was mentioned, it was perfunctory and even off-handed. The editorial disinterest extended from Murdoch-owned publications, such as the Australian, to the Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, and the publicly-funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Under conditions in which the true crime genre has reached saturation point on commercial television, there was not a single program devoted to the largest mass murder perpetrated by an Australian citizen in recent decades. As is so often the case, the media coverage dovetailed with the line of the official political set-up, which in this instance has been to say as little as possible. Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not issue a statement, and nor did any other member of his Liberal-National Coalition government. Labor leader Anthony Albanese and his colleagues were also mum. The purpose of the silence was to suppress any discussion of the questions that arise from the anniversary. Chief among them: Was there a relationship between the trajectory of official Australian politics over the past two decades, and Tarrants attack? Two years on, has the danger of far-right terrorism abated or has it intensified, and if so, why? The answer to the first question is obvious to anyone with even a passing familiarity with Australian politics. In his murderous onslaught on the two Christchurch mosques, Tarrant was targeting Muslims and immigrants, who have been subjected to relentless vilification by the Australian political and media establishment over the past 20 years. Tarrant was born in 1990. He would have become conscious of political events in the early 2000s. These were the opening years of the war on terror, launched in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terror attack. Australian governments, Labor and Liberal-National alike, joined the US and Britain in declaring that society is in an all-sided war against Islamic extremism. In the first instance, this sought to legitimise the predatory and illegal invasions of Afghanistan, in 2001, and Iraq, in 2003, which together killed as many as a million civilians. There is more than a passing resemblance between Tarrants attack, and footage of coalition troops gunning down Iraqi civilians from Apache helicopters, and the extensively documented war crimes perpetrated by Australian troops in Afghanistan, which included mass killings, slashing the throats of children and generally terrorising the population. Alongside a battery of anti-democratic legislation, used for frame-ups and entrapment operations, especially against Muslim youth, and a dramatic expansion of police powers, the war on terror has an ideological component. Day in and day out, the official media and senior politicians have insisted that Australian society is imperilled by Muslims, who are routinely depicted as a hostile force. The most noxious examples of this xenophobia, from radio shock jocks and in the tabloids, are virtually identical to the positions advanced in Tarrants manifesto justifying his attack. As the WSWS has previously noted, Tarrant was 15 when a drunken mob carried out a race riot, directed at Muslim and Lebanese youth in the Sydney suburb of Cronulla. People who appeared to be of foreign extraction were set upon and beaten, as the crowd chanted nationalist slogans. They had been incited by right-wing media commentators and the states Labor premier. The promotion of Islamophobia is part of a broader onslaught against immigrants. Labor and Coalition governments have transformed Australia into a model for the persecution of refugees, denying them the right to seek asylum and in many cases, consigning them to concentration camps in the Pacific Ocean. Condemnations of these illegal practices by the United Nations and other international organisations have been dismissed with contempt. At the same time, Labor and the trade unions, which abandoned any, even nominal, defence of the interests of the working class in the 1980s, scapegoat immigrants for the social crisis produced by their own pro-business policies. They routinely denounce foreign workers for stealing Aussie jobs. Tarrants manifesto favourably referenced this promotion of economic nationalism by the unions. Tarrant was not only influenced by this reactionary political climate. He emerged directly out of the official promotion of anti-immigrant movements. Tarrants first documented political statements were online comments in support of groups involved in the Reclaim Australia protests that began in 2015. Attended only by dozens or hundreds of people, these anti-Muslim demonstrations were given extensive and often favourable coverage in the corporate press and were addressed by prominent politicians, including members of the Coalition government. Every extreme right-wing organisation that has emerged over the past six years, including the now defunct United Patriots Front, for which Tarrant expressed support, traces its origins to Reclaim Australia. As for the ongoing dangers posed by right-wing terrorism, it is clear that they are substantial. Early last year, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) chief Mike Burgess stated: In Australia, the extreme right-wing threat is real and it is growing In suburbs around Australia, small cells regularly meet to salute Nazi flags, inspect weapons, train in combat and share their hateful ideology. Last November, Phillip Galea, who was also involved in Reclaim Australia, was convicted in a Melbourne court of plotting to attack Muslims and lefties, including by blowing up the headquarters of left-wing organisations. In December, an 18-year-old from the New South Wales town of Albury was arrested and charged with encouraging a mass casualty event. The National Socialist Network (NSN), an avowedly neo-Nazi organisation, later admitted that the teenager had sought to join it. The NSN is led by Thomas Sewell, who was in contact with Tarrant in the years before the Christchurch attack. The Coalition government has responded with hostility to any reference to the danger of right-wing violence, including from ASIO, whose pronouncements are generally treated as sacrosanct within the political establishment. Over the past year, government MPs have insisted that the real danger is from the extreme left. Last week, just days after the Christchurch anniversary, Burgess announced that ASIO would no longer refer to right-wing extremism but to ideological extremism. This change was clearly made at the governments behest. In a warning of how this new catch-all phrase will be used, Burgess referred to ideological extremists who were reactive to world events, such as Black Lives Matter. The clear implication was that left-wing activists involved in protests against police violence would be treated as extremists and potential terrorists. The governments line is part of a broader promotion of the extreme-right by the Coalition, which has intensified since Morrisons installation as prime minister in August 2018. In January, Morrison and senior government ministers refused to condemn former US President Donald Trump for inciting fascists to attack the US Capitol. Some government backbenchers openly supported the coup attempt. As is the case internationally, the promotion of fascistic tendencies is aimed at shifting official politics even further to the right, diverting mounting social anger and discontent into reactionary and xenophobic channels, and cultivating a base that can be mobilised against the emerging struggles of the working class. Labor, which is fully complicit in the elevation of anti-immigrant nationalism to centre stage, has sought to cover this up. In one of the only references to the Christchurch anniversary by a Labor MP, Kristina Keneally, the shadow minister for immigration, wrote an article in the Australian calling for greater online censorship as the only means of tackling extremism. In addition to absolving the political establishment of any responsibility for Tarrants positions, such anti-democratic measures will inevitably target left-wing opposition, as evidenced by the censorship of the WSWS and other alternative publications already conducted by Google and Facebook. Days after her article was published, Keneally was on the ABCs Insiders program, demanding that the government drop plans to increase the migrant intake when the coronavirus pandemic subsides, thus again promoting right-wing Australian nationalism. Francesca Paris is The Eagle's data and public records reporter. She was previously the North Adams reporter. A California native and Williams College alumna, she has worked at NPR in Washington, D.C. and WBUR in Boston. Find her on Twitter at @fparises. MELBOURNE, Australia, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- One plumber in Footscray, NLK Plumbing, states that several things could cause blocked drains. Whether it's too much food going down the drain, a hard object slipping in unnoticed, or even tree roots blocking your pipes. It's good to get a professional to check it out. With blocked drains in Melbourne, there is always the potential for flooding. If there are any warning signs of blocked pipes such as a bad odour, slow draining toilets and basins or overflowing outdoor drains, homeowners should immediately get in touch with a plumber. NLK Plumbing Melbourne If blocked drains in Footscray and surrounding areas aren't dealt with immediately, the backup of water could overflow, flooding houses or businesses. In this case, a small, blocked drain could cause costly damage to the house. In some cases, it can even permanently damage structural supports. NLK Plumbing advises against at-home remedies such as chemical products and drains snakes. These may push obstructions farther down the pipes and, in some cases, can even damage the drains further. Calling a professional is the way to go when dealing with this type of complicated plumbing issue. While we move into the colder seasons, local residents may also find themselves in need of other plumbing assistance. Hot water repairs in Footscray & Melbourne are an essential service at this time of year, ensuring that homes and businesses are properly set up. It's always safe to assume that winter will be rainy and cold in Victoria, and many have their heaters running whenever they're at home. According to NLK Plumbing, servicing these systems in preparation for winter is a good idea; otherwise, homeowners may be stuck without hot water when a cold snap hits. When Autumn weather hits and Victorians head indoors to spend their weekends and evenings dry and warm, they should also be aware of proper plumbing maintenance. With good care and knowledge of warning signs, prepping for winter can be easy. Related Images nlk-pumbing-melbourne.png NLK Pumbing Melbourne NLK Plumbing Melbourne Related Links Plumber Footscray Hot Water Repairs Melbourne SOURCE NLK Plumbing Tamales are the go-to meal (and snack) of the holiday season, but a day honoring the delicious staple is actually March 23. Thats right, today is National Tamale Day! To celebrate its namesake, Delias is giving away a dozen free tamales to customers who buy a dozen tamales. After having to pivot due to COVID-19 in 2020, SCAPE was able to mentor, support, and launch its accelerator cohort virtually through Zoom, while also hosting its Annual Startup Showcase online. The event saw much success with nearly 1000 pitch video views across the Western Slope versus the historical in-person event with 150 attendees in Durango, CO. Due in part because of its remote sessions, SCAPE is able to further support companies across the four corners including its new territory in Northern New Mexico . "We are so inspired by the interest in entrepreneurship right now and were blown away with 50 applications across the four corners." said SCAPE Executive Director, Elizabeth Marsh. This being the 8th class to go through the program, SCAPE has selected 6 companies ranging from the outdoor recreation, technology, transportation, and material manufacturing industries. Meet the new 2021 class: Eclipse DOT , Rerouted , S.J. Eco Materials , Analytical Technologies, Inc. , Solvent , and Wanderful Wheels . Read more about the companies: www.goscape.org/blog/announcing-the-scape-2021-cohort SCAPE's portfolio companies include MUNIRevs, Agile Space Industries, and Impact Fenders that have seen growth in spite of the 2020 pandemic. MUNIRevs , a technology company that automates sales tax revenue collection for municipalities continually increases its annual recurring revenue and its client base. This female founded company has 34 full time employees and 13 contractors. Agile Space , performing diagnostic testing and developing space propulsion technologies, was awarded the contract to deliver the Attitude Control System (ACS) for a NASA lunar mission, flying in 2022. They have over 30 employees. Impact Fenders , a leading-edge solution to protect boats and docks, impressively grew in 2020 in light of trade and boat shows being cancelled. Their online sales grew and their product is 100% manufactured in Durango with 75% of the materials from recycled products. With the new cohort, SCAPE looks forward to continuing to foster innovation in the four corners and support entrepreneurs by shining a light on their big idea. To learn more about SCAPE, its program, companies, in addition to the entrepreneur ecosystem in Southwest Colorado, visit www.goscape.org . SOURCE SCAPE Related Links https://www.goscape.org New Delhi, March 23 : The Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT) Delhi incubated startup, Geliose Mobility, has launched an electric scooter 'HOPE'. The running cost of this scooter is only 20 paise per kilometre. 'HOPE' is a cost-effective scooter for delivery and local commuting. It gives a top speed of 25 km. Along with this, it also falls in the discount category available for the e-vehicles and does not require a driving license or registration for driving. 'HOPE' comes with a portable charger and portable lithium-ion battery, which can be fully charged in common sockets used at home. This battery is fully charged in 4 hours. The customers have the option to select two different ranges of 50 km and 75 km of battery capacity. IIT Delhi said that this scooter is equipped with modern technology like battery management system, data monitoring system and pedal-assist unit. It comprises IoT which always informs customers about their scooters through data analytics. Due to such features, 'HOPE' falls into the category of smart and connected scooters of the future. Geliose Mobility is one of the few companies which provides special features such as the pedal-assist system present in the scooter. During the journey, customers can choose the option of pedal or throttle as per their convenience. 'HOPE' is equipped with special reverse mode technology for convenient parking, with the help of which the scooter can be parked even in difficult places. 'HOPE' has a strong and lightweight frame built for ultra-modern usage. The structure of the scooter and its lean design gives it the ability to easily move through dense traffic. The vehicle has a revolutionary slide and rides feature that allows riders to attach different load carrying accessories or rear seat depending on the requirement. Geliose Mobility is collaborating with logistics and delivery companies to meet local delivery requirements in food, e-commerce, grocery, essentials and other distribution applications. Hubs for charging and maintenance of the scooters will be set up by the company on frequent routes of the delivery partners. In case of an emergency, contingency services such as roadside assistance and roadside battery replacement will be provided by the company. Aditya Tiwari, Founder and CEO, Geliose Mobility, said, "We are going through an era of increasing pollution and climate change every day, and there is a need for sustained efforts in all the industries, especially in the field of automobiles. We started Geliose Mobility three years ago. 'HOPE' is our flagship step in the effort to build the vehicle ecosystem. The starting price of 'HOPE' is Rs 46,999, which makes it the most affordable Internet connected scooter in the market." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text EDITORS NOTE: NJ Cannabis Insider produces exclusive content and events for those getting in or expanding their operations in the billion-dollar medical marijuana, hemp and legal weed industries. By Lou Bordi Parents, police and school leaders rightfully expressed outrage at the governor and state Legislators for effectively decriminalizing the use and possession of pot for kids while putting cops at risk of being arrested for simply trying to do their job. The original legislation, S-3454, inexplicably bans police officers from notifying parents whose kids commit a first-time offense of marijuana or alcohol use or possession. After significant public backlash, all indications signal Trenton will enact a clean-up bill to allow officers to notify parents when their children are caught using or possessing marijuana or alcohol. The language in the clean-up bill, however, only corrects this one problem from the original legislation, which contains multiple flaws and unclear language forcing New Jersey police officers into risky and dangerous situations. Under the original legislation, officers who, in good faith and utilizing common sense, investigate the underage use or possession of marijuana or alcohol can be held criminally liable if mistaken in their well-intentioned search. The potential of serious criminal deprivation of civil rights charges will inevitably deter officers from intervening in underage drug use and possession situations. Should we ask an officer to risk their livelihood just for doing their job? Instead of deterring police from searching for underage marijuana or alcohol use, standards should be set to hold officers liable if they act to intimidate or discriminate in a search based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation. The potential of criminal liability for officers leaves them virtually powerless to investigate and address underage marijuana and alcohol abuse in New Jerseys schools and parks, as well as beaches, which will soon become hotspots for underage smoking and drinking in the summer. The inability of the police to investigate will, in turn, continue to prevent parents from being notified about their childrens drug and alcohol use. How will parents find out if police cannot address the situation in the first place? Language in the original legislation also prevents officers from having any interactions with minors for longer than necessary. What constitutes longer than necessary? How does one officers definition of longer than necessary differ from another officers definition? Vague language like this discourages officers from intervening to avoid any potential discipline and criminal liability and creates inconsistencies from officer to officer for best practices. Public health and safety dangers, including increases in intoxicated drivers and the exacerbation of the marijuana black market, may follow when kids learn their marijuana and alcohol use will largely go unchecked by police. When about two-thirds of the state voted to approve legal cannabis use, they did so based on the November ballot question, which stated, only persons at least 21 years of age could use cannabis products legally. Voters did not agree to decriminalize marijuana and alcohol for children. The legislation prevents police officers from performing their everyday duties and turns our children into collateral damage through this ill-conceived compromise. By fixing the issue of parental notification by police in the clean-up bill, state legislators are addressing the tip of the iceberg and ignoring the inherent problems with the original legislation to legalize marijuana. We, as parents and community members, must come together to point out the legislative flaws and challenge the governor and state legislators for change before its too late. Chief Lou Bordi is the president of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. AUSTIN, Texas, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- RapidDeploy , a cloud-based emergency response platform, announced today that it will supply every California 9-1-1 center with real-time Automatic Crash Response notifications through a first-of-its-kind agreement with General Motors' OnStar . Beginning in May, a majority of Telecommunicators at over 400 public safety answering points (PSAPs) will have direct access to available OnStar crash data on RapidDeploy's RadiusPlus 9-1-1 map screen, without having to rely on verbal relay of information. "California is continuing to set the bar with innovation in Public Safety and emergency response," said Budge Currier, California's 9-1-1 emergency communications branch manager. "RapidDeploy's mapping software brings previously inaccessible data directly to Telecommunicators on the frontlines in each of our state's PSAPs and, now, with the addition of OnStar vehicle crash data, first responders can receive potentially life-saving information in real-time to be more prepared than ever." Each vehicle crash requires a unique response plan based on medical necessity, location and factors relating to the vehicle itself. If properly equipped, OnStar's Automatic Crash Response1 technology provides Telecommunicators with a more accurate location, the make and model of the vehicle, available critical crash details, and whether there is a high probability of severe injury. OnStar's data and technology can indicate whether the vehicle involved in a crash is electric or being operated by an automated driving system providing emergency personnel with critical information they need to safely respond and quickly rescue the vehicle occupants, when applicable. "Data is very much the future of emergency response. The more relevant data we can make available to emergency personnel, the better they can respond," said Steven Raucher, CEO and co-founder of RapidDeploy. "9-1-1 centers are transitioning away from a reliance on voice-centric calls and toward a more data-driven response that better prepares first responders to take action and save lives." OnStar responds to more than 3,500 cases of Automatic Crash Response notifications per month, including about 200 in California alone. "Integrating OnStar's Automatic Crash Response notifications directly with RapidDeploy's mapping software can provide first responders with critical information about a vehicle accident and injury severity prediction mere seconds after it has taken place," said Catherine Bishop, Senior Manager, OnStar Emergency Services. "This partnership helps to facilitate the appropriate resources being dispatched to the crash site while enhancing patient care and transport decisions to improve outcomes during the 'golden hour'. Sending the right help to the right location, with the right priority is key to saving lives." RapidDeploy's RadiusPlus mapping software integrates supplemental emergency data from the most trusted names in technology and Public Safety to offer Unified Critical Response to 9-1-1 agencies of all sizes. This data increases situational awareness, reduces emergency response times and better prepares first responders for each emergency. With scalable, cloud-based mapping software, every PSAP no matter its size or location, can access this data. To learn more about RapidDeploy and its integrated mapping solution RadiusPlus, visit RapidDeploy's website . 1. OnStar links to emergency services. Not all vehicles may transmit all crash data. About RapidDeploy: RapidDeploy is the industry's only truly open and integrated response platform, transforming 9-1-1 communications centers of any size into data-centric organizations. RapidDeploy achieves new levels of situational awareness and reduces 9-1-1 response time by seamlessly integrating third-party data ensuring it is available when, where and how Telecommunicators and First Responders need it. The company's web-based cloud platform includes analytics, mapping, dispatch and first responder applications. To learn more, visit https://www.rapiddeploy.com/ . About OnStar: Launched in 1996, OnStar is a wholly owned subsidiary of GM Holdings LLC ("GM") and offers emergency, security and navigation services in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models. OnStar offers a range of subscription services such as Automatic Crash Response, Emergency Services and Stolen Vehicle Assistance. Media Contact: Joel Weyrauch BLASTmedia for RapidDeploy [email protected] 317-806-1900 x. 117 SOURCE RapidDeploy Related Links https://www.rapiddeploy.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. LAS VEGAS, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's 'Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast' report offers detailed coverage of historical and forecasted epidemiological analysis in the 7MM (the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and United Kingdom), and Japan) for the study period 2018-30. The report is created to project true opportunities in the market landscape, help clients form collaborations and agreements that give them a competitive advantage, and plan strategic moves to yield maximum ROI. Some of the crucial highlights from the Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market report: The total PNH prevalent cases in the 7MM were estimated to be 8,385 in 2020 and is expected to increase owing to various factors during the forecasted period. in 2020 and is expected to increase owing to various factors during the forecasted period. The only disease-modifying therapies in the PNH therapy market are complement inhibition therapy (Alexion Pharmaceuticals' Eculizumab and Ravulizumab ) and bone marrow transplantation. and ) and bone marrow transplantation. Eculizumab has managed to reduce hemolysis, decrease the number of the required number of transfusions, as well as reducing the rate of thrombosis. has managed to reduce hemolysis, decrease the number of the required number of transfusions, as well as reducing the rate of thrombosis. Alexion developed another eculizumab-like monoclonal antibody, Ravulizumab , however, is more convenient to administer and has an effective dosing schedule than Eculizumab, thus, is expected to add to the company's revenue. . , however, is more convenient to administer and has an effective dosing schedule than Eculizumab, thus, is expected to add to the company's revenue. . The present PNH emerging market consists of second-generation C5 Inhibitors , C3 inhibitors , factor D and Factor B inhibitors . , , and . Key pharmaceutical companies operating in the Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria therapeutics market are Apellis Pharmaceuticals , Hoffmann-La Roche , Novartis , Alexion Pharmaceutical , Regeneron Pharmaceuticals , RA Pharmaceuticals and others. , , , , , and others. The total PNH market size, as per DelveInsght's market analysis, was found to be USD 358.04 million in 7MM in 2020. In the 7MM, the US accounted for approximately 63% of the overall market size of PNH in 2020. in 7MM in 2020. In the 7MM, the US accounted for approximately 63% of the overall market size of PNH in 2020. A number of emerging therapies comprising mAbderived compounds , siRNA , C3 inhibitors , Factor B and D inhibitors are currently in the PNH pipeline. , , , and are currently in the PNH pipeline. The Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria market has several unmet needs such as hemolysis, anemia, transfusions, and severe fatigue that might affect bone marrow function, which need to be addressed. Further, the launch of self-administered therapies in the Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria therapy market is expected to lower down the treatment burden. Want to know more? Get comprehensive insights @ Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market Landscape, Epidemiological Insights, and Pipeline Therapies The Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria market report offers available therapies, treatment landscape, emerging therapies, changing market landscape, individual market share of pipeline therapies, PNH market drivers, and market barriers, PNH market size during the study period 2018-30 in the 7MM (the US, EU5 (the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and France), and Japan). Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria is a rare acquired disorder of the pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell; therefore, it can affect erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes, and probably some endothelial cells. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria diagnosis is made based on clinical evaluation, patient history, and several tests that are specialized to identify Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria cells such as flow cytometry. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria symptoms often include fatigue, difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia), shortness of breath (dyspnea), pain in the abdomen, anemia, erectile dysfunction, and dark-colored urine (hemoglobinuria). However, hemolysis in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria that leads to thrombosis remains to be the most devastating consequence of the blood disorder and can often prove to be fatal. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Epidemiological Analysis & Forecast Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria is an ultra-rare blood disorder, and DelveInsight's 7MM Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria epidemiological analysis demonstrates that it is primarily more common in females than males. Further, the US accounted for the highest diagnosed prevalent cases, approximately 51% of the total cases in the 7MM, followed by Germany. The PNH market analysis report proffers historical as well as forecasted epidemiological segmentation for the study period 2018-30: Total diagnosed Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria prevalent cases Gender-specific Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria cases Dive deeper for rich insights into Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Epidemiological Analysis Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Treatment Landscape Before the approval of anti-C5 agent-Eculizumab, Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria was a devastating disease that would lead to breaking of red blood cells prematurely. However, Eculizumab transformed the Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria treatment landscape. The therapeutic agent not only helped in the management of hemolysis, but also helped in reducing the rate of thrombosis and the number of transfusions. It managed to push bone marrow transplantation to second-line therapy for hemolytic PNH in countries where the drug is available. Visit to know more about Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Marketed Drugs Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market The Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria market is experiencing an influx of several pharmaceutical companies investigating numerous second-generation C5 inhibitors to bridge the treatment gap. Key pharmaceutical players such as Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Hoffmann-La Roche, Novartis, Alexion Pharmaceutical, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, RA Pharmaceuticals and several others are energetically operating in the domain. The PNH pipeline therapies involve second-generation C5 Inhibitors, C3 inhibitors, factor D and Factor B inhibitors expected to get launched in the coming decade and revolutionize the Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria market owing to the option of self-administration that shall significantly lower down the treatment burden. However, there is a need for clinical trials that study the efficiency of emerging therapies in multicentric versus reference laboratory settings. There are several unmet needs in the PNH market in the form of the availability of limited treatment options, high rates of morbidity in PNH patients, and a lack of well-defined protocols to manage the disorder. Moreover, the rarity of the disorder also causes unawareness among the physicians and people regarding Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria symptoms, treatment and diagnosis. Interested in knowing more? Drop by @ Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market Domain and Key Companies Nevertheless, the studies demonstrated that terminal complement blockade offers a safe and effective treatment option to PNH patients. The Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria drug pipeline involves several alternative therapies with convenient RoA that have increased half-life which reduces the dose-burden and improved the quality of life. Better diagnosis modalities for such rare diseases are as important as their treatments. Better diagnostics methods over the past decade undoubtedly have lowered down the PNH treatment burden. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Pipeline Therapies Pegcetacoplan (APL-2): Apellis Pharmaceuticals Crovalimab: Hoffmann-La Roche Iptacopan or LNP023: Novartis ALXN2040 (or Danicopan): Alexion Pharmaceutical Pozelimab: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals RA101495: UCB Pharma/RA Pharmaceuticals Know more about the pipeline therapies @ PNH Emerging Drug Therapies Scope of the Report Coverage: 7MM (the US, EU5, and Japan) Study Period: 2018-30 Key Companies: Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Hoffmann-La Roche, Novartis, Alexion Pharmaceutical, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, RA Pharmaceuticals and several others. Key Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Pipeline Therapies: Pegcetacoplan (APL-2), Crovalimab, Iptacopan or LNP023, ALXN2040 (or Danicopan), Pozelimab, RA101495, and others. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market Segmentation: By Geography, By Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Therapies Analysis: Comparative and conjoint analysis of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria emerging therapies Tools used: SWOT analysis, Conjoint Analysis, Porter's Five Forces, PESTLE analysis, BCG Matrix analysis methods. Case Studies KOL's Views Analyst's Views Get in touch to know more about the report scope @ PNH Market Landscape and Future Trends Table of Contents 1 Key Insights 2 Report Introduction 3 Competitive Intelligence Analysis for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria 4 Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market Overview at a Glance 5 Executive Summary of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria 6 PNH Epidemiology and Market Methodology 7 Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Epidemiology and Patient Population 8 PNH Patient Journey 9 Treatment Algorithm, Current Treatment, and Medical Practices 10 Key Endpoints in PNH Clinical Trials 11 PNH Marketed Therapies 12 Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Emerging Therapies 13 Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria: 7 Major Market Analysis 14 Attribute analysis 15 Access and Reimbursement Overview of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria 16 KOL Reviews 17 Case Reports 18 Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market Drivers 19 PNH Market Barriers 20 SWOT Analysis 21 Disclaimer 21 DelveInsight Capabilities 22 About DelveInsight Know more about the report offerings @ Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market Related Reports Hemophilia B Market Get comprehensive historical and forecast analysis of Hemophilia B Market, Epidemiological and Therapeutics market domain with a special focus on key companies such as UniQure Biopharma B.V./ CSL Behring, Pfizer/Spark Therapeutics, Genzyme (Sanofi Company/ Alnylam Pharmaceuticals), Novo Nordisk, UniQure Biopharma B.V., ApcinteX, Freeline Therapeutics, Sangamo Therapeutics and several others. 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Contact Us Shruti Thakur [email protected] +1(919)321-6187 www.delveinsight.com SOURCE DelveInsight Business Research, LLP Japan's messaging app Line has stopped its Chinese affiliates and contractors from accessing the personal information of Japanese users, the company said Tuesday, in response to growing scrutiny over its data management practices. Line also said it would transfer some information stored in data centers in South Korea, such as such as images and videos posted by users in Japan and payment histories from its LinePay service, to Japan by September. Japanese media reported last week that four employees of Line's Chinese affiliate had access to information about users in Japan, including names, IDs and phone numbers. Line used Chinese affiliates and contractors to develop services, as well as a local subsidiary of its parent company, South Korea's Naver. The use of foreign contractors and the storage of data overseas "were done appropriately," Line CEO Takeshi Idezawa said in a news conference. "But the big issue was that the name of the country was not specified in our privacy policy." It is not unusual for technology companies to outsource part of their operations overseas. But China's National Intelligence Law allows authorities there to potentially access users' personal data managed by private-sector companies. Using overseas contractors is not a violation of Japanese privacy rules. Still, Idezawa said the company needed to respond to regain user trust. "It's not a question of legality. There was a lack of consideration for users," he said. "Thankfully, there has been no major change in the number of users," Idezawa said. Line launched its instant messaging service in June 2011 and now counts roughly 86 million users in Japan. The company has since expanded into e-payments, advertisements and other services, and is used by Japan's national and municipal governments as a way to communicate with the public and allow electronic filings. "Line is becoming part of the social infrastructure," said University of Tokyo professor George Shishido, citing the company's unrivaled market share in instant messaging in Japan. The company has only expanded its footprint at home with a merger with SoftBank-controlled Z Holdings, formerly known as Yahoo Japan, completed this month. Line said there had been no unauthorized access or leak of user information. But it has apologized for inadequately explaining to its users and changing its practices, as the company eyes global expansion amid growing scrutiny worldwide over data management. Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Verde Bio Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink: VBHI) ("the Company"), a growing U.S. Energy Company based in Frisco, Texas, engaged in the acquisition and management of Mineral and Royalty interests in lower risk, onshore oil and gas properties within the major oil and gas plays in the U.S. CEO of the Company, Scott Cox, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly. Jolly began the interview by asking about the Company's background and current projects. "Verde Bio Holdings is an oil and gas company that essentially operates almost like a financial services company; we acquire assets, as in minerals, but we look for assets that are actually cash flowing," explained Cox. "Ultimately, our main goal is to build a nice, diversified portfolio of oil and natural gas properties." "On March 5th, you put out a press release stating that you are doing a Reg A+. Could you bring myself and my listeners up to speed on that?" asked Jolly. "We got our Reg A+ qualified and to date we've raised significant money to date on that and we also expect to do some multiple tranches on the Reg A+ itself," said Cox. "The goal is to put out quite a bit of money this year and bring in some assets as quickly as possible." "Why should investors consider taking a look at Verde Bio Holdings?" asked Jolly. "Verde is unique in the fact that we're buying mineral assets that are actually considered real property assets," said Cox. "We're building value in our balance sheet and we're bringing revenue into the company," he continued. "The other key thing is that when we acquire these assets, we have no further liabilities associated with these deals," added Cox. "It's simply cash flow and assets coming into the company." Jolly then commented on a recent press release detailing the Company's acquisition of revenue producing mineral and royalty interests in Colorado. "This is a great deal; we like Colorado a lot," said Cox. "Colorado has a great history of oil production," he added. "We believe that they're going to continue to operate these wells," explained Cox, noting that there are currently nine wells on site. "We also believe that they're going to continue to develop the property through new wells, as well as the drilled and uncompleted wells on the property." "How do you pick your investments?" asked Jolly. "When we look for deals, we're pretty much geography agnostic," explained Cox. "What we look for is a good cash flowing property that's available at somewhat of a reasonable price, and then we start looking at the operator," said Cox. "We make sure that the operator is well funded," he added. "Ultimately, we just look for good deals that will add value and diversification to the company." To close the interview, Cox elaborated on the Company's responsible and strategic growth plan, as well as their potential as a unique player in the oil and gas industry. "It is my goal to get this company up on the OTCQB, really make this the best company it can be, and increase the value for shareholders." To hear Scott Cox's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7828585-verde-bio-holdings-inc-discusses-reg-a-offering-and-acquisition-of-colorado-mineral-and-royalt Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/ About Verde Bio Holdings, Inc. Verde Bio Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink: VBHI), is a growing U.S. Energy Company based in Frisco, Texas, engaged in the acquisition and management of Mineral and Royalty interests in lower risk, onshore oil and gas properties within the major oil and gas plays in the U.S. The Company's dual-focused growth strategy relies primarily on leveraging management's expertise to grow through the strategic acquisition of revenue producing royalty interest and strategic and opportunistic non-operated working interests. Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty, are predictions only and actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include the uncertainty regarding viability and market acceptance of the Company's products and services, the ability to complete software development plans in a timely manner, changes in relationships with third parties, product mix sold by the Company and other factors described in the Company's most recent periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Contact: Paul Knopick E & E Communications pknopick@eandecommunications.com 940.262.3584 About The "Stock Day" Podcast Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. SOURCE: Stock Day Media (602) 821-1102 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78289 Anheuser Busch InBev (AB InBev), the worlds leading brewer, today announced Vineet Sharma as Vice President - Marketing and New Business Development in South Asia. Vineet most recently held the title of Trade Marketing Director, South Asia. This leadership announcement underscores the brewers commitment to drive sustained growth in India, by cultivating consumer-centric innovation, building iconic brands, elevating go-to-market strategies while developing talent from within the company. In his new role, Vineet will focus on accelerating growth within the companys existing portfolio of global brands while unlocking new avenues for products and experiences to address the evolving consumer and retail landscape, playing a key role in shaping AB InBevs strategy for growth in India. In addition to his new responsibilities, Vineet will continue to spearhead the companys trade marketing initiatives. Commenting on this, Kartikeya Sharma, President India & South East Asia, AB InBev said, I am excited to welcome Vineet to this new challenge at AB InBev. His strategic and purpose-driven vision has been instrumental in shaping the marketing strategy for Budweiser and our game plan for consumer and customer-focused initiatives in the trade. Vineet brings a profound knowledge of our brands and the market, a wealth of experience across industries coupled with creative and commercial acumen. He will play a critical role in revolutionizing our marketing strategies, innovations and engagement with consumers while finding whitespace opportunities to lead AB InBev to continued and sustainable success. Vineet joined AB InBev in 2016 and during this time has held key positions including Associate Marketing Director for Budweiser and most recently, Trade Marketing Director for South Asia. Commenting on his new role, Vineet Sharma, Vice President - Marketing and New Business Development, South Asia opined, I am thrilled to embark on this new journey to accelerate AB InBevs business transformation agenda in South Asia. With consumers at the center of everything that we do, I look forward to championing strong growth and breakthrough innovations, bringing to life our world-class brands in exciting ways, and deepening our relationships with consumers. I am excited to work closely with our teams, business associates and partners to lead the charge through a diverse portfolio of global brands, and further build AB InBevs leadership position in India. Vineet has over a decades experience in global business management and has been at the forefront of crucial brand projects across multiple FMCG companies such as ITC Limited, Dabur International Limited and Unilever in South East Asia, India, Middle East and North Africa. Vineet holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing & Strategy from XLRI Jamshedpur. EDGC's co-CEO Shin Shang-cheol / Courtesy of EDGC By Ko Dong-hwan Eone Diagnomics Genome Center's (EDGC) advanced cancer detecting technology using liquid biopsy has been approved by the government for good manufacturing practice (GMP) for clinical trials a giant step forward for the Incheon-based genetic sequencing and medical service company. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's approval on March 22, according to EDGC, has resolved a prerequisite condition for commercialization of "Onco-Catch," an in-vitro cancer-diagnosing service based on the technology which the company aims to introduce in the second half of 2022. "Onco" derives from oncology. "Clinical trials are essential to commercialization of Onco-Catch, and getting the government's approval of GMP for clinical trials was a crucial step," an EDGC official told The Korea Times. He said the company will perform clinical trials on samples from cancer patients and non-patients who were authorized by medical facilities' institutional review boards. With the liquid biopsy technology, the company has been working on completing the predictive diagnosis of cancer by detecting signs of a circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) a precursor to developing cancer. If there is any ctDNA, it exists in an extremely small amount amongst circulating free DNA (cfDNA) in blood. How Onco-Catch screens cancer from a drop of blood of a human with potential cancer / Courtesy of EDGC EDGC says its super-precision medical technology, once commercialized, can benefit people by enabling them to preemptively discover whether they will have cancer, find out if a cancer they had treated will relapse, and how effectively anti-cancerous treatments will progress in their bodies. EDGC says the precision medical industry is a "new paradigm" that will enable people to overcome diseases via prognosis, customized treatments and individualized health management instead of drugs and operations. The company, citing the Biotech Policy Research Center, said that the global precision medical industry is expected to expand its market to about 112 trillion won ($99 billion) by 2023. "Once the industry gets mixed with the existing bio-health industries that involve medical, health and IT devices, the market pie will grow exponentially," the EDGC official said. In 2017, the global bio-health market was valued at about $1.73 trillion, according to the company. Along with America's GRAIL, EDGC is one of the leading companies in liquid biopsy based on next-generation genome sequencing. PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. A fugitive wanted in an Arizona shooting incident and a parole violation in Oregon has been killed, authorities said Tuesday. Yavapai County Sheriffs officials said 42-year-old Edward Kayer was fatally shot by deputies Monday night following a chase in Prescott Valley. Kayer, of Carefree, was wanted by Sedona police for allegedly firing more than a dozen shots outside a restaurant on Feb. 27 after an argument. Nobody was injured, but Kayer had fled the scene by the time authorities arrived. Sedona police received a tip Monday afternoon that Kayer was in Prescott Valley and he was spotted on a motorcycle. Prescott Valley police said Kayer refused to pull over and dumped his motorcycle so he could flee. He was found hiding in a field around 10 p.m. and reportedly fired multiple shots at deputies before they returned fire. Authorities said Kayer was pronounced dead at the scene. Kayer was convicted of manslaughter in Oregon and served a 15-year prison sentence. He was prohibited from possessing a gun and was wanted for a parole violation in connection to the manslaughter case, authorities said. --The Associated Press Medical staff prepare an AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccine center in Ebersberg near Munich, Germany, on March 22, 2021. (Matthias Schrader/AP Photo) AstraZeneca May Have Used Outdated Information in COVID-19 Vaccine Trial: US Results from a U.S. clinical trial testing the efficacy and safety of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine may have included outdated information, American officials said early Tuesday. The Data Safety Monitoring Board notified the company and two health agencies late Monday that it was worried by the information AstraZeneca released on its trial. The board, which monitors trials and reviews data collected at regular intervals, expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the agencies. The institute urged AstraZeneca to work with the board to review the data and ensure the release of the most accurate, up-to-date information as quickly as possible. AstraZeneca, based in England, said earlier Monday that an interim analysis of phase three trial data showed its vaccine is safe and effective. The company said the vaccine was well tolerated and the Data Safety Monitoring Board identified no safety concerns related to the vaccine. But the board didnt necessarily agree. This likely a very good vaccine, Dr. Anthony Fauci, NIAIDs chief, said during an appearance on ABCs Good Morning America. But the monitoring board got concerned and wrote a rather harsh note to AstraZeneca after seeing the press release, he added, saying that in fact they felt the data that were in the press release were somewhat outdated and might, in fact, be misleading a bit, and wanted them to straighten them out. Over a dozen countries this month suspended use of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine after patients died after being injected. Others experienced blood clots. The logo for AstraZeneca is seen outside its North America headquarters in Wilmington, Del., on March 22, 2021. (Rachel Wisniewski/Reuters) The European Unions drug regulator said last week the vaccine is safe and effective, finding the shot wasnt linked with an increase in overall risk in developing blood clots, and that the benefits of using it outweigh potential risks. The United States hasnt yet cleared AstraZenecas vaccine for use. The company said in announcing the trial results that it was preparing to apply for emergency authorization in the coming weeks. American drug regulators have authorized three shots so far. Regulators authorized shots from Moderna and Pfizer late last year. Johnson & Johnsons vaccine was granted emergency authorization on Feb. 27. The Food and Drug Administration, which reviews requests for emergency authorization, last year suspended a U.S. trial for AstraZenecas shot for six weeks. The trial resumed in October after regulators reviewed all safety data from trials globally and concluded it was safe to resume the trial, the company said. Officials said then that results were expected by the end of the year. AstraZenecas vaccine was co-developed by the University of Oxford. The United States has vaccinated nearly 45 million people fully against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19, as of early Monday. Another roughly 38 million have received one shot, but are waiting for another. Both Moderna and Pfizer recommend people get two shots, spaced several weeks apart. Johnson & Johnsons is a single shot. Rep. Steel, Sen. Cruz Call to Move Olympics Out of China Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) insisting the 2022 Olympics be moved out of Beijing due to gross human rights violations in China. Steel told The Epoch Times: [In China,] you can see lots of victims. They have human rights abuses, and theyre going after the Uyghur [Muslims], and actually they are taking children away without their parents consent and putting them into orphanages. Theyre putting Uyghur members into labor camps, and theres a lot of torture, abuse, and organ harvesting, and censorship. The letter, sent March 19 and addressed to Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, argued that the stated goal of the Olympics is to promote a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity. Yet the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is responsible for the violent repression of dissenting minorities and of civil liberties in Hong Kong. Steel and Cruz have not received a response from the IOC yet. Steel said that while they have just sent a letter so far, both her office and Cruzs are working on a bicameral resolution to call for the Olympics to be moved. Well see how many people are going to join [the resolution], but a lot of people, I think they really agreea lot of members of Congress and the Senate side. Steel and Cruzs letter states that an estimated 1.8 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Hui, and others are being detained in mass internment camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The detainees endure mass rape, political indoctrination, and torture. The letter says the CCP has dismantled the rule of law in Hong Kong and targeted pro-democracy leaders and journalists. Steel was recently appointed to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, which monitors human rights and rule-of-law developments in China. Im the only freshman that actually got appointed for that commission. I read what they did last year, in the 116th Congress, and it was amazing, she said. In last years report, the commission stated that CCP officials had taken unprecedented steps to extend their repressive policies through censorship, intimidation, and the detention of people in China for exercising their fundamental human rights. It suggested the United States put pressure on the CCP through sanctions and other means to address many problems, including intense surveillance and control of the Chinese people through digital authoritarianism. It highlighted the detrimental influence the CCP tries to exert internationally, including how it takes advantage of U.S. openness to exert influence over U.S. policy, acquire critical technologies, and transmit disinformation and propaganda to advance the Chinese governments messages and interests. It also noted the need for transparency regarding infectious outbreaks. You dont know what the Chinese Communist Party is going to do. We cannot really trust them, Steel said. We want to send our athletes to a safe place, and they can really have a fair competition. Steel said the Olympic athletes have been working so hard to train and she doesnt want the Olympics to be canceled. If they agree just to change the location of the Olympic Games, I think that can be really perfect. 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. WASHINGTON (AP) A tool designed to help businesses protect themselves from further compromises after a global hack of Microsoft email server software has been downloaded more than 25,000 times since it was released last week, the White Houses National Security Council said Monday. As a result, the number of vulnerable systems has fallen by 45%, according to an NSC spokesperson. The one-click Microsoft tool was created to protect against cyberattacks and to scan systems for compromises and fix them. It was developed after a massive hack affecting an estimated tens of thousands of users of servers running Microsofts Exchange email program. The breach was discovered in early January and was attributed to Chinese cyber spies targeting U.S. policy think tanks. Then in late February, five days before Microsoft Corp. issued a patch on March 2, there was an explosion of infiltrations by other intruders, piggybacking on the initial breach. The White House earlier this month described the hack as an active threat that was being addressed by senior national security officials. The administrations response is being led by deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger, who convened government officials and private sector experts to brainstorm solutions, particularly given that smaller businesses often lack resources to counter cyber attacks and to clean up after hacks. The administration pressed Microsoft to come up with a more simplified and streamlined fix and to track the number of compromised systems. Since the release of the tool, the number of vulnerable systems in the United States has fallen to fewer than 10,000 from at least 120,000 at the peak. Many of the remaining vulnerable systems are tied to small businesses but not limited to any one sector. While Microsoft has taken considerable heat for being the provider of software that elite hackers have exploited, Charles Carmakal, senior vice president and chief technical officer of prominent cybersecurity firm FireEye, said that Microsoft deserves credit for working hard to help people who run its software defend themselves. He cited, especially, the downloadable turnkey script that people can use to apply patches and see if their systems have been compromised. The level of effort that they put into this to help companies defend themselves is terrific, he said. Its a tough situation that organizations are in with the vulnerability in general. Associated Press writer Frank Bajak in Boston contributed to this report. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Worker paid 5,000 after council loses employment tribunal By Chris Cave - Local Democracy Reporter Douglas Borough Council has been ordered to pay a worker of 36 years more than 5,000 after losing an employment tribunal. It ruled William Pye, a gully operative, had suffered unlawful deductions from his salary. He had been receiving sick pay after a holiday to Cyprus saw him stranded in the country for three months due to coronavirus restrictions. Despite obtaining sick notes from his doctor, the Council stopped paying him as it attempted to claw back what it alleged was overpayment of wages. A three-day hearing was told Mr Pyes trip to Cyprus in March last year was not unusual as he visited the country on holiday each year. The Council had argued the decision to go on holiday was reckless but a report concluded there was no official warning from the Isle of Man Government that travelling at that time could have an impact on pay. Borders in Cyprus were shut shortly after he arrived and Mr Pye was unable to return to the Isle of Man until 2 July, where he was instructed to self-isolate for a further two weeks. Notes from his doctor entitled Mr Pye to sick pay equal to his normal pay during his time off work, however, the Council stopped this on 5 July. The authority was attempting to recoup money paid to Mr Pye at a rate of 100 per week until it had been fully reimbursed. This was ruled to be an unlawful decision under the Employment Act 2006, with Mr Pye suffering deductions of more than ,3,500. A report found that Mr Pye had been certified as a vulnerable person under the Isle of Man Governments Emergency Powers, forming part of the reason for him not reporting for work between 31 March and 20 July. Four-weeks salary was also awarded to the complainant as part of the compensation package, meaning a final sum of 5,208.54. By Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Senator Chris Murphy on Tuesday urged the Biden administration to restore a diesel fuel swap, banned by the previous U.S. president, to provide humanitarian relief to Venezuelan people suffering from economic collapse. Days before the U.S. election last November, former President Donald Trump's administration banned non-U.S. companies, mainly ones in Europe and India, from swapping diesel for Venezuelan crude oil. It was part of Trump's escalation of unilateral sanctions on state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), in an unsuccessful bid to oust President Nicolas Maduro, who Washington says rigged his 2018 re-election. The ban has added to shortages for the fuel used by truckers to transport food and medicine, to generate electricity, and to power agricultural vehicles. Farmers have warned for months that shortages were jeopardizing the planting and harvesting of crops. "I urge you to restore diesel swaps to help provide much-needed relief to the Venezuelan people as we work toward a political solution to this crisis," Murphy said in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a copy of which was seen by Reuters. Murphy said the ban has created no political leverage with Maduro, threatens to "severely worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in the country" and increased the export of discounted Venezuelan crude to China to raise cash. The letter was first reported by the Associated Press. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The diesel shortage forced PDVSA this month to begin unprecedented rationing of the fuel to truckers. Industry groups said the rationing would create delays delivering goods to markets in the OPEC nation, reeling from a prolonged economic crisis. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by David Gregorio) Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with government officials via video conference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Monday, March 22, 2021. AP President Vladimir Putin said he will get a coronavirus vaccine shot on Tuesday, several months after widespread vaccination started in Russia. Kremlin opponents have criticized Putin for not getting vaccinated amid a comparatively slow rollout of the shot in Russia, arguing that his reluctance is contributing to the already extensive hesitance about the vaccine. Russia, where only 4.3% of the 146-million population have received at least one dose, lags behind a number of countries in terms of the vaccination rate. Surveys by Russia's top independent pollster Levada Center have shown that a number of Russians reluctant to get vaccinated with Sputnik V has grown in recent months _ to 62% in February from 58% in December. The Kremlin has said it doesn't see a connection between Putin not getting vaccinated and public trust in the Russian COVID-19 vaccine. Putin, 68, told a meeting with government officials and vaccine developers on Monday that he will get his shot ''tomorrow,'' without specifying which coronavirus vaccine out of the three authorized for use in Russia he will take. Russian authorities have given regulatory approval to three domestically developed shots. Sputnik V has been approved last August with much fanfare at home and criticism abroad, because at the time it had only been tested on a few dozen people. But a recent study published in British medical journal The Lancet showed the Sputnik V is 91% effective and appears to prevent inoculated individuals from becoming severely ill with COVID-19, although it's still unclear if the vaccine can prevent the spread of the disease. Two other Russian vaccines, EpiVacCorona and CoviVac, have also received regulatory approval before completing late-stage trials experts say are necessary to ensure their safety and effectiveness in line with established scientific protocol. EpiVacCorona is still undergoing these trials, while CoviVac was to begin them in March. No data on efficacy of these two vaccines have been released. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov also wouldn't say which one of the three Putin will take on Tuesday, saying only that ''all of them are good and reliable.'' According to the Russian president, 6.3 million people in Russia have already received at least one shot, and more than 4.3 million have had two doses. Putin said that 60% of Russian adults need to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity, which requires a total of 69.8 million vaccines. As of March 17, around 8.9 million two-dose sets of Sputnik V have been released into circulation in Russia, as well as over 115,000 two-dose sets of EpiVacCorona, the Russian leader said. ''Today we can confidently say ... that the Russian vaccines are absolutely reliable and safe,'' Putin said. ''It is an absolute success of our scientists and specialists.'' Putin and his spokesman have been repeatedly asked why the president hasn't been vaccinated so far. In December, the Russian leader said Sputnik V wasn't being recommended to people of a certain age, adding that ''vaccines have not yet reached people like me.'' At the time, the shot was only being offered to people ages 18 to 60, but in less then two weeks after Putin's remarks Russian health authorities cleared the vaccine for those older than 60. Last month, Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported that Putin planned to get vaccinated in the end of the summer or beginning of the fall this year. The newspaper quoted Putin telling Russian media managers at a closed-door meeting that he didn't want to do it for publicity's sake in front of cameras and that he had other vaccinations scheduled already. Peskov said Monday he didn't ''expect'' Putin's vaccination on Tuesday ''to be a public event.'' Russia has been actively marketing Sputnik V abroad, despite the slow rollout at home, in what some analysts see as an effort to score geopolitical points. Dozens of countries have approved the use of Sputnik V and signed deals with Russia to get shipments of the shot. Exporting the vaccines, however, has not been without delays, and questions remained whether Moscow had the capacity to deliver on its promises. In order to boost production, the Russian Direct Investment Fund that bankrolled the vaccine signed agreements with pharmaceutical companies in several countries, including India, South Korea, Brazil, Turkey and most recently Italy. Putin said on Monday such agreements amounted to a total of 700 million vaccines a year. ''The geography of using the Russian Sputnik V is actively growing. Even despite deliberate discrediting of our vaccine, various hoaxes and sometimes outright nonsense, more states all around the world express interest in our vaccine,'' Putin said. The Russian president took aim at officials in the European Union, some of whom have expressed reluctance about using Sputnik V even though the bloc has been criticized for a slow vaccine rollout. On Sunday, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, who heads the European Commission's vaccine task force, told French television that the EU ''has absolutely no need'' for Sputnik V. Putin called the statement ''bizarre'' and insisted that Russia was ''not imposing anything on anyone,'' questioning whether European officials protect the interests ''some pharmaceutical companies or the interests of citizens of European countries.'' Sputnik V hasn't yet been approved for use in the EU, but the body's regulator, the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, started a rolling review of the vaccine earlier this month. Some EU nations have decided not to wait for the EMA's approval, and Hungary became the first EU country to authorize Sputnik V for use last month while Slovakia announced a deal last week to acquire 2 million Sputnik V doses in a move that prompted a political crisis in the country. (AP) A gunman killed 10 people Monday afternoon after opening fire at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado. Little is known about the victims yet, other than one Boulder police officer, 51-year-old Eric Talley, was among the dead. The shooting started around 2:30 p.m. when witnesses said a man with a rifle entered the supermarket and without saying a word opened fire on customers. Details are still unknown about the shooter and the motive for the mass shooting, though the gunman was taken into custody and treated for minor injuries. Advertisement Witnesses described a chaotic scene in the supermarket, which sits 2 miles from the University of Colorados Boulder campus. The scene played out over several hours with local police lifting a shelter-in-place order at 5:41 p.m. local time. Two roommates told the Denver Post they were buying pizza at the self-checkout area when the shooter entered the store. He just came in and started shooting without saying a word, they said. Adding that the gunman let off a couple of shots, then was silent, and then he let off a couple more. He wasnt spraying. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Photos: Shooting at King Soopers in Boulder https://t.co/lvnfJLGrOt pic.twitter.com/4szwZcvCvU Daily Camera (@dailycamera) March 23, 2021 Advertisement One grocery store worker, Alex Arellano, described hearing gunshots and scrambling to hide in the meat department, where he worked, with two others as the sound of gunfire approached. The shots are getting closer, the 35-year-old recalled in an interview with the New York Times. Im thinking of my parents, and I was freaking out. Arellano was ultimately able to escape through the back of the building. We were like sitting ducks, you know, and thats one thing that Im reliving it and looking at it in my head, Arellano said in an interview later with Denver ABC affiliate KMGH. And that, that bothers me, Im still shivering, Im still shaking. CNN's @DonLemon speaks with Ryan Borowski, one of the people inside the King Soopers grocery store when a shooter started firing shots. "I don't remember anybody screaming. It was just go, go, go, get out of here... I knew I had to move." pic.twitter.com/9HQopVgxWj CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) March 23, 2021 Advertisement According to footage taken from livestreams at the scene and eyewitness accounts, law enforcement in tactical gear surrounded the small mall complex and customers were instructed to shelter in place. In one video, officers can be heard saying over a loudspeaker: The entire building is surrounded. You need to surrender. Come out with your hands up. A video of the scene later showed police escorting a shirtless man wearing handcuffs from the building. Little is known about how the suspect was apprehended, other than he was wounded during the arrest, seen bleeding from the leg while being taken from the store by police, and was treated at an area hospital. The mass shooting comes on the heels of last weeks shooting at several massage parlors in the Atlanta area that left eight dead. The Boulder shooting, CNN notes, is the seventh mass shooting in the U.S. in the last seven days. Colorado has seen a number of mass shootings in the recent past, including the 2012 Aurora shooting, where a gunman killed 12 and injured 70 in a movie theater rampage, as well as the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. Hours after COVID-19 vaccine collaborators AstraZeneca and Oxford University released data on their large clinical trial, federal officials said that information may have been missing a month's worth of data. The pair touted their vaccine trial results Monday in a news release and news conference, saying the two-dose shot would prevent 79% of symptomatic cases of COVID-19 and 100% of all severe cases and hospitalizations. But a few minutes after midnight, the federal government took the unusual step of issuing its own news release saying the data may have been based on "outdated information." According to the statement, an independent review board that examined the AstraZeneca-Oxford data told the government and the company "that it was concerned by information released by AstraZeneca on initial data from its COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial." That independent group, called the Data Safety Monitoring Board, or DSMB, "expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. We urge the company to work with the DSMB to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible." Early Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the government agency that released the information, said on ABC's "Good Morning America" that the company released data available only through Feb. 17 while presenting it as if it were current information. It's unclear how much the up-to-date information may change the reported effectiveness rate. "It really is unfortunate that this happened," said Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "This is very likely a very good vaccine." He said such missteps can contribute to hesitancy about vaccination. "It was not necessary," he said. "If you look at it, the data really are quite good, but when they put it into the press release, the data wasn't quite accurate." Story continues The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has been considered the least-expensive COVID-19 vaccine and easiest to distribute across the world, but it has experienced problems in development and distribution. Fauci also praised the monitoring board's decision to go public when it saw the information AstraZeneca and Oxford had put out. That body is one of many "safeguards" in place to ensure the public it is getting transparent, accurate information about vaccines, he said. "The DSMB picking up this discrepancy was an example of a safeguard." Another, he said, is the Food and Drug Administration, which will review the data again, as will an independent advisory committee to the FDA. For its part, AstraZeneca said Tuesday that it had released a "pre-specified interim analysis with a data cut-off of 17 February." In its previous news release, the company had referred to the data as "interim" but did not explain that it was out of date. "We have reviewed the preliminary assessment of the primary analysis and the results were consistent with the interim analysis. We are now completing the validation of the statistical analysis," the company said in a statement. It said it intended to release results of that analysis within 48 hours. Vaccine experts reacted to the news Tuesday with confusion and exasperation at a company that already has made several missteps in the vaccine development process. "I just cant quite understand the story, its so confusing," said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "I worry about the vaccines reputation and acceptance, especially in low and middle income countries," he said via email. "We dont have much to offer Africa and Latin America in terms of COVID-19 vaccines and this was supposed to be one of our workhorse vaccines in resource poor settings." The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has been considered the least-expensive COVID-19 vaccine and easiest to distribute across the world. But its development and distribution have been riddled with problems, unlike the other COVID-19 vaccines, which have sailed through research trials and early production. Most recently, the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine was put on hold in many European countries after reports that a small number of the 20 million people who received the shot developed a rare form of blood clot. Last week, European drug regulators determined that the vaccine was safe and effective but could not rule out that the vaccine contributed to the blood clots. Regulators are now monitoring vaccine recipients to see whether more clots occur. The company also has had production problems, made a dosing error in a global trial and was forced to pause its trials last fall after a vaccine recipient suffered an unusual neurological condition. The study released Monday included more than 30,000 participants from the U.S., Peru and Chile and showed strong protection against COVID-19 in all age groups and across health status, ethnicity and race. The study reported no severe safety issues, including no blood clots, and side effects comparable with other vaccines'. Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AstraZeneca COVID vaccine trial may have used outdated info, US says OSLO, Norway, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Saga Pure ASA (Saga, OSE: SAGA) has entered into an agreement to invest NOK 75 million in Heimdall Power AS (Heimdall Power), to help accelerate the company's growth strategy. Heimdall Power provides digital solutions for efficient power grid monitoring and operations. Saga Pure will hold 16,5 percent of the company following the transaction, and will be appointed to the Board of Directors. "Heimdall Power is an extremely exciting technology company with proprietary smart grid solutions that help grid companies digitalize their power grids and improve operations. The electric grid is the worlds' largest man-made machine, spanning the entire globe. It's also an essential infrastructure to enable a sustainable, green energy transition. However, the grid needs to become smarter and more digital like everything else. It needs an upgrade to prepare for a new energy future. Heimdall has a proven technology which combines state-of-the-art sensors with artificial intelligence to ensure optimized grid performance. We look forward to supporting the company in the upcoming growth and expansion phase," says Bjrn Simonsen, CEO of Saga Pure. Saga Pure has entered into agreement to invest NOK 75 million in Heimdall Power. Saga Pure will also hold a position on the Board of Directors. Heimdall Power makes the power grid smarter by installing neurons; intelligent sensors on high-voltage lines, and providing insight for improved operations, better utilisation and reduced need for investments. The key highlights for the company include: The Heimdall Neuron is an advanced, low-cost monitoring device that leverages various sensor technologies and a patented system design The company sells access to data and insights through a subscription-based model The product has been in the market since 2020 and the company is currently positioning for a substantial near-term scale up Currently, the Heimdall team consists of 25 FTEs with high expertise within sensor technology, wireless communication and infrastructure "The investment from Saga Pure and their participation in the Board of Directors, as well as the continued support form existing shareholders, will enable us to realize the high ambitions of our company. The market potential is global, and the Green Shift is dependent on an optimized, digitized and robust grid," says Brage W. Johansen, Chief Executive Officer of Heimdall Power. Heimdall Power will use capital from the private placement to implement the Heimdall Power growth strategy towards 2025 as the company expects significant growth and expansion. The completion of the transaction is subject to all necessary corporate resolutions being validly made by Heimdall Power, including approval of an extraordinary general meeting to be held on or about end of March 2021. For further information, please contact: Bjrn Simonsen, CEO, Saga Pure, +47 971 79 821 Espen Lundaas, CFO, Saga Pure, +47 924 31 417 Brage W. Johansen, CEO, Heimdall Power, +47 91 18 11 29 About Saga Pure ASA | www.saga-pure.com Saga Pure is an investment company focusing on opportunities within renewable energy, hydrogen, circular economy and CO 2 -reductions. About Heimdall Power AS | www.heimdallpower.com Heimdall Power digitizes the grid by installing power neurons on high-voltage lines and providing insight for improved operations. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/saga-pure-asa/r/saga-pure-asa--to-invest-nok-75-million-in-heimdall-power,c3312082 SOURCE Saga Pure ASA Aftab Hasan Khan, Charge d' Affaires, Pakistan High Commission on Tuesday said his country wants good neighbourly relations especially with India and wants to solve all bilateral issues with negotiations through dialogues. "I would like to emphasise that peace and stability in this region are essential for the development of all the countries. Pakistan would like to have good neighbourly relations with all its neighbours especially India for durable peace and stability, it is essential that we solve all bilateral issues with negotiations through dialogues," Khan told ANI here. Meanwhile, after a gap of nearly two years, the top officials of India and Pakistan are holding a two-day meeting to discuss Indus water sharing between the two nations. The annual dialogue is being held between Indus commissioners of the two countries. A seven-member Pakistani delegation led by the country's Indus Commissioner Syed Muhammad Meher Ali Shah arrived here on Monday. The Indian delegation is being led by PK Saxena and he has been joined by his advisors from the Central Water Commission, the Central Electricity Authority and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation. The treaty warrants the two sides to meet once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. (Natural News) Despite the fact that the garbage mainstream media tried to bury the story and all the Big Tech Marxists censored it, tens of millions of Americans learned about a lot of damaging information about Hunter Biden from a laptop he abandoned at a Delaware computer shop in 2019. We discovered that, based on the information gleaned from the devices hard drive, that Hunter had a lot of business relationships and odd sexual preferences. We also learned that he was very likely an economic pimp for his now-president father, with one text message indicating that he paid his father a portion of whatever he earned from doing deals based in large part on his dads famous, politically connected name deals with Ukrainian and Chinese officials. The Ukraine deals, while reeking of D.C. swamp stench, are just that dirty, stinking deals of the kind made by the political elite all the time. But its the deals with Chinese entities that should really worry Americans because China is a direct threat to U.S. national security and global dominance, not Ukraine. And those deals, if they were also dirty, represent the best way for Communist China to squeeze the Biden administration because they have the goods on the presidents son. And it looks like thats the case. According to Lifesite News: Stunning revelations about Hunter Biden and his familys notorious business dealings came to light in this weeks episode of the John-Henry Westen Show during an interview with Jack Maxey, former co-host of Steve Bannons War Room and one of the first people to go through the contents of Bidens alleged laptop last October. Maxey revealed that Hunter Biden may have had business ties to Chinas Xi Jinping, based on emails from the laptop. Correspondence also links the Bidens to possible Chinese espionage and illegal Beijing-backed business arrangements. As the Biden familys China dealings went south, Hunter may have gone so far as to try to purposefully incriminate his own his father, now the President of the United States, Maxey said. You may recall that the owner of the Delaware computer repair shop eventually took ownership of Hunters laptop, per the service agreement, and began making copies of the hard drive once he discovered a wealth of damning evidence it contained. In late 2019, he provided the laptop to the FBI but he made several copies of the hard drive first. He gave one to Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who provided a version of it to the New York Post, which began publishing details about the contents in the weeks before the Nov. 3 election. Some of the contents of the hard drive, in particular many of the foreign business dealings, have been corroborated by former Biden business partner Tony Bobulinski. And at least one key email has been confirmed as valid by cybersecurity experts, while law enforcement officials have indicated that the laptop is genuine (and not Russian propaganda, as Democrats have asserted). And in fact, Maxey also confirmed that the laptop data is 100 percent real. Well, for example, I had several retired CIA agents look at it, a former contractor from the NSA, cybersecurity experts. Everybody who has looked at this confirms that it is 100 percent real, he said. As one person said to me, if we devoted all the resources of (the CIA) for a decade, we couldnt recreate this because theres so much metadata connecting everything together, Maxey added. It seems almost as if every time I chase down a rabbit hole, I find something more horrible each and every time. Maxey went on to cite emails that indicate Hunter Biden and then-business partner Devon Archer, both of whom co-founded Bohai Harvest RST Partners (BHR) and began doing business with Chinese entities in 2014, appeared to be in on coordinating a visit to Los Angeles by Chinese President Xi Jinping the following year. And recall, this was all during Joe Bidens vice presidency. President Xi will be making a stop in L.A. during his visit where LeTV has recently acquired an R&D center committing to invest between US$3-5 billion towards the research and design of electrical cars and intelligent vehicles, a 2015 email to Biden and Archer notes. LeTV has enlisted our help to arrange for President Xi to visit their facilities, or, if that cannot be arranged, for (LeTV founder) Mr. Jia Yueting to speak at any of the meet-and-greet functions to be attended by President Xi, it adds. The email also mentions a one-time advisory fee payable to BHR and an opportunity to co-invest with LeTV and Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) in exchange for setting up the meet-and-greet. More importantly, this would mark the beginning of a long-term and comprehensive cooperation with LeTV and an opportunity to participate in all of its future activities, it added. Xi never stopped in California in 2015, so its not clear if there is any direct connection to Hunter Biden other than the emails. But when you have the son of the Vice President and his crooked partner essentially defining the schedule for the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party on a trip to the United States, with the purpose of using his influence to get to American companies to sell to the Chinese, that is a (Foreign Agents Registration Act) violation like one cant believe, Maxey said. See more reporting like this at Corruption.news. Sources include: LifesiteNews.com NaturalNews.com PHOENIX, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Make-A-Wish America strives to bring the life-changing power of a wish to every child with a critical illness in the U.S. and its territories. The wish granting organization is taking another step closer to its goal by announcing four impressive additions to the Make-A-W-Wish National Board of Directors. Rebecca Messina of Mckinsey & Company, former U.S. Ambassador Daniel Yohannes, U.S. Bank's Reba Dominski and Dr. Shirley Davis of SDS Global Enterprises, Inc. have committed their time and talent to Make-A-Wish because they believe that every child deserves a childhood. The diversity of the newest board members reflects the organization's commitment to being an industry leader in diversity, equity and inclusion in all facets of business operations and mission delivery. Rebecca Messina, senior advisor for consulting firm Mckinsey & Company, holds the distinction of being the first-ever global chief marketing officer for Uber where she focused on building a world class marketing network with the mission of helping the company define a strong brand in the hearts and minds of the consumers, drivers and communities it serves. Messina honed her marketing, branding and strategy skills through a 22-year stint at The Coca-Cola Company. Messina said, "It is an honor to be a part of Make-A-Wish and support the tremendous mission focused on bringing hope through once-in-a-lifetime experiences to children all over the world." Daniel Yohannes is the former U.S. ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an international forum promoting economic growth, prosperity, sustainable development and energy security through better policies. Before his ambassadorship, Yohannes served as chief executive of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and prior to that, president of M&R Investments. "I am honored and pleased to be part of this wonderful organization, and to support its commitment to realize the wishes of our children," Yohannes said. Reba Dominski joined U.S. Bank in June 2015 as the president of the U.S. Bank Foundation and senior vice president of corporate social responsibility. In 2017, she added chief social responsibility officer to her title and was promoted to executive vice president in 2019 overseeing all U.S. Bank community efforts. Previously, Dominski spent 21 years with Target Corporation where she held several senior roles. "I am deeply honored to serve on the Make-A-Wish board and to support the mission of this important organization doing life-saving work in service of families and children," Dominski said. Dr. Shirley Davis is a global thought leader in HR and diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, a best-selling author and world-renowned speaker. In her current role as president and CEO of SDS Global Enterprises, Inc., she delivers the strategic solutions that enable organizational leaders to build high performing and inclusive cultures where all talent can thrive. Dr. Davis previously served as chief diversity and inclusion officer at several Fortune 100 companies and at the world's largest HR membership association, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Dr. Davis said, "One of the most rewarding things we can do is to make the lives of children and families much better, and I am extremely honored to be serving on the Make-A-Wish national board that does this in such a meaningful way." "Board members often hold the keys to unlocking the new ideas and strategies that, when put into practice by our skilled staff members, translate into more experiences of hope for wish kids and their families," said Richard K. Davis, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. "We are fortunate to have Rebecca, Daniel, Reba and Shirley join such a diverse and talented group of leaders who believe in the Make-A-Wish mission and the ability for wishes to help children build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness." In addition to the newest board members, George Barrios, founder and co-CEO of Isos Capital Management, who has served on the national board since 2014, has been appointed to chairman of the board. Barrios is an award-winning c-suite executive, who most recently served as co-president and board member of WWE. He will guide the national board and its 27 esteemed members, who represent the best and brightest in the areas of human resources, finance, fundraising, management, marketing and operations. "I have been blessed to see the impact of wishes firsthand and look forward to working with Richard and the board on continuing to further the mission," Barrios said. "George has proven himself to be a tried and true leader amongst leaders in the board room for the last seven years," Davis said. "He is absolutely the right person to have at the helm steering this incredibly passionate and prolific group of board members in the direction that will have the greatest impact on Make-A-Wish and the children and families that we serve." Make-A-Wish America is responsible for providing guidance, support, national programs, policies and performance standards to the 59 chapters of Make-A-Wish located throughout the United States and its territories. To learn more about Make-A-Wish and to find out how to get involved, visit https://wish.org/ About Make-A-Wish Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the world's leading children's wish-granting organization, operating in every community in the United States and in nearly 50 countries worldwide. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 30,000 volunteers across the U.S., Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 500,000 wishes worldwide; more than 340,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit https://wish.org/ Make-A-Wish, Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Make-A-Wish swirl-and-star logo are marks of Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. SOURCE Make-A-Wish Foundation of America Related Links http://www.wish.org The White House will host security officials from Japan and South Korea in Washington, D.C., next week for intensive consultations on North Korea, senior Biden administration officials told reporters on Tuesday. Driving the news: Officials acknowledged reports that North Korea performed a series of missile tests over the weekend, first reported by the Washington Post, but downplayed that news by calling it normal military activity. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. The tests do not mean diplomacy with Pyongyang is off the table, per officials. Calling this an "intensive period for Indo-Pacific diplomacy," the officials did not divulge any further details on the missile tests, like exactly how many missiles were tested. While acknowledging that such short-range systems are not covered by UNSC resolutions, the officials said they do not respond to every kind of test performed by North Korea. National Security adviser Jake Sullivan will host his counterparts from Japan and South Korea. Details: Biden administration officials said that engaging North Korea did come up during the first bilateral high-level meeting between the U.S. and China in Anchorage last week. The U.S. will brief China on its approach to North Korea as it develops, but officials stressed that the priority is to first engage American allies. What theyre saying: We are under no illusions of the difficulty this task presents to us, said one administration official. We have a long history of disappointment in diplomacy with North Korea. Recently, Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns sister, issued a warning in her first statement to the Biden administration. "If it wants to sleep in peace for coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step, she said. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free ALTADENA, Calif. (AP) Authorities detained a person of interest after two people were stabbed to death Monday at a home near Los Angeles, officials said. Deputies responding to reports of a stabbing discovered a man in his 60s dead in the driveway of the residence in Altadena, Los Angeles County sheriffs officials said. A woman in her 60s was found dead inside the house, ABC 7 reported. As deputies were investigating, a man drove up in the victims car and said he lived at the home, the news station reported. The man was detained. Were not calling him a suspect at this point, said Lt. Barry Hall with the sheriffs homicide bureau. Were calling him a person of interest. The mans relationship to the victims was not immediately clear. Officials said they do not believe theres any threat to others in the neighborhood about 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of downtown Los Angeles. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. North Korean Embassy official Kim Yu Song carries luggage inside the compound in Kuala Lumpur after the country severed diplomatic ties with Malaysia, March 21, 2021. The first North Korean national to be extradited to the United States a possible financial crime information windfall for the U.S. appeared in court to face money-laundering charges on Monday in Washington, where an FBI official said we hope he will be the first of many. Mun Chol Myong, 55, who was extradited from Malaysia in a decision that led Pyongyang to cut diplomatic ties with Kuala Lumpur, appeared in federal court in the Washington to face six counts of money laundering, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement. This case represents the first-ever extradition to the United States of a DPRK national. Mun is accused of laundering money through the U.S. financial system as part of a scheme to provide luxury items to the DPRK, it said, using North Koreas official name, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The indictment alleges that Mun defrauded banks and laundered money in an effort to evade counter-proliferation sanctions imposed on North Korea by the United States and the United Nations, said Assistant Attorney Gen. John C. Demers of the Justice Departments National Security Division in a statement. Malaysias decision to extradite Mun nearly two years after his arrest in May 2019 caused an irate Pyongyang to sever decades-old diplomatic ties last week. Malaysia then ordered the North Korean diplomats out in 48 hours, and accused Pyongyang of attempting to meddle in its judicial system, where Mun Chol Myong lost a battle to halt his extradition. Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in a statement Sunday that the expulsion of the diplomats was 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. 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. [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, said North Korean Charge daffaires Kim Yu Song on Sunday, reading a statement from Friday. The Malaysian authority will bear full responsibility for all consequences to be incurred between the two countries, Kim said. Sanctions-busting operation Malaysias Federal Court earlier this month dismissed Muns final appeal against the extradition to face four counts of money laundering and two counts of conspiracy to launder money. 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. Mun, who had lived in Malaysia since 2008, 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, imposed to curb the regimes access to hard currency to fund its nuclear and missile programs. 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. Mun and his conspirators went to great lengths to avoid detection of their sanctions-busting operation. They used a web of front companies and bank accounts registered to false names and removed references to the DPRK from international wire transfer and transactional documents, said the DOJ statement, citing the indictment. By intentionally concealing that their transactions were for the benefit of DPRK entities, Mun and his conspirators deceived U.S. correspondent banks into processing U.S. dollar transactions for the benefit of DPRK entities, which the correspondent banks would have otherwise not processed, the Justice Department said. David Maxwell of the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said Muns extradition is very, very important because it is the first case, and this North Korean is, of course, part of Kim Jong Uns illicit activities network. Hes laundering money for the regime, and so its a significant, significant event. They probably fear that this gentleman will provide information about how North Koreas illicit activities network works, he said. They are shutting down activities in Malaysia to protect the rest of their global network, so it really is a significant event. North Korea reacted angrily to Muns case because it does give the U.S. a tool if its able to extradite people to the United States. It takes them off of the playing field, said Ken Gause, research program director at the Virginia-based CNA think tank. Its people that the North Koreans normally would be able to get out of a situation in a particular country, especially like Malaysia which North Korea has very close relationships with, he told Radio Free Asia, a sister entity of BenarNews. Thats going to potentially give the United States a weapon for gathering information about North Korea and what the North Koreans are up to, Gause said. In a comment published by the Justice Department, Alan E. Kohler Jr., assistant director of the FBIs Counterintelligence Division, said, One of the FBIs biggest counterintelligence challenges is bringing overseas defendants to justice, especially in the case of North Korea. Thanks to the FBIs partnership with foreign authorities, were proud to bring Mun Chol Myong to the United States to face justice, and we hope he will be the first of many, he said. Vaccines: France, reservations open for ages 65-74 Macron announces, starting next Saturday (ANSAmed) - PARIGI, 23 MAR - French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday that vaccinations will start next Saturday for those over 70 years old without other illnesses. Macron spoke on the sidelines of a visit to Valenciennes, in the north. Thus far, citizens aged 65-74 with at least one illness have been permitted to reserve a vaccination. (ANSAmed). China bristled Tuesday after western nations lined up to impose sanctions over its crackdown on Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, the first concerted international action against Beijing since Joe Biden took office. Rights groups believe at least one million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in the northwestern region, where China is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour. China has strongly denied the allegations and says training programmes, work schemes and better education have helped stamp out extremism in the region. On Monday, the EU, Britain and Canada blacklisted four former and current officials in the Xinjiang region, while Washington, which had already sanctioned two of those officials in July 2020, added the other pair to the list. New Zealand and Australia on Tuesday welcomed the measures, but both stopped short of introducing their own on China, a major export market for their goods. Beijing snapped back immediately, announcing entry bans on 10 Europeans including five members of the European Parliament as well as two EU bodies and two think-tanks. Then Chinas vice foreign minister Qin Geng summoned the head of the European Union delegation to China. The EU sanctions against China, based on Xinjiang-related lies and false information, are inconsistent with the facts, have no legal basis and are unreasonable, the foreign ministry said after the meeting. China urges the European side to realise the seriousness of its mistake, correct it and stop confrontation so as to avoid causing greater damage to China-EU relations. The unified action signalled a possible watershed in the diplomatic approach towards China. Britains foreign ministry said the sanctions were the clearest possible signal that the international community is united in its condemnation of Chinas human rights violations in Xinjiang. Under Bidens new administration Washington has cajoled allies to come together against Beijing, with abuses in Xinjiang the first and sorest of a range of sticking points between China and the West, that also include the crackdown on Hong Kong and perceived trade abuses. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and called on Beijing to bring an end to the repression of Uyghurs. The sanctions, whose impact is mainly symbolic, mark the first time Brussels and London have targeted China over accusations of widespread abuses and forced labour in Xinjiang. They last hit Beijing over human rights breaches when they imposed an arms embargo in 1989 after the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Brazen and ridiculous Chinas tit-for-tat sanctions drew condemnation from the EU. Reinhard Butikofer, a German legislator targeted by the sanctions, told AFP the response was brazen and ridiculous. The EU faces a delicate balancing act over relations with China, as it treats Beijing as a rival but also a potential economic partner. Late last year Brussels sealed a major investment pact with China after seven years of negotiations. The pact will eventually need to be approved by the European parliament but there has been growing opposition to signing off on the deal. Bidens top diplomat Blinken is on his way to Brussels, where he will discuss foreign policy with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. Blinken exchanged fiery barbs with Chinese officials during their first high-level talks last week, dimming the potential for a quick reset to relations between the countries which hit a nadir under Donald Trump. Hopes will be high in Abbeyleix that the problems highlighted about the dire state of the local national school will be finally be taken seriously with confirmation that the school is to get a chance to make its case to Minister for Education Norma Foley. Laois Offaly Sean Fleming TD and Minister of State at the Department of Finance confirm that a meeting has been arranged between Minister of Education & Skills Norma Foley and Scoil Mhuire Abbeyleix for Thursday, March 25. While the meeting will be held online/virtually, due to the Covid restrictions, Minister Fleming said it presents an opportunity to the school to make their case. "This will be an opportunity for the school to raise the major structural problems with the school building," said the Fianna Fail TD. He added: "The roof of the building has so many leaks it is beyond repair. The sewerage system under the school building is not fit for purpose. Insulation of the walls and the building is non-existant. "I look forward to Minister Foley hearing first hand from the school authorities who will highlight to her that the continuing effort to patch and repair the school building is no longer sustainable. "I will be calling on the Minister to take on board all the comments from the school and to respond to their very reasonable request for a full comprehensive approach to solving the unacceptable situation the school finds itself in. "Finally, I also want to thank the school principal, staff, Board of Management, parents and above all the students in the school who are coping with the very difficult situation," concluded the TD. It is more than a year since parents raised their concerns with Laois Offaly politicians at a public meeting organised by the INTO in Portlaoise. All the Laois TDs were given a first-hand tour of the building in 2019. Published on 2021/03/22 | Source Lee Jung-eun is Lee Jung-eun. No matter what role she plays, Lee Jung-eun brings out her own color and erases it at the same time. But this time, she's coming back with films that are incomparable to the existing characters she's played. Lee Jung-eun will continue her hard work with the movies "The Book of Fish" which will be released on the 31st and "Law School" which will be first broadcast on the 14th of next month. "The Book of Fish" is a historical drama with black and white images, and "Law School" is a modern drama that evokes real empathy, standing out from the differentiation of the genre. Against the backdrop of the past and present, Lee Jung-eun will also show off her completely different character. Her character in "The Book of Fish" and Kim Eun-sook in "Law School" are expected to be able to identify Lee Jung-eun's new charm, which she has never seen before. "The Book of Fish" is a movie about Jeong Yak-jeon, a scholar who becomes curious about the sea rather than books after he's exiled to the mountains, and Changdae, a young fisherman who wants to get out of the sea and get on his way to the world, becoming friends by writing The Book of Fish. In the drama, Lee Jung-eun is the Woma from Gageo who helps Jeong Yak-jeon to exile and shows perfect daily life performance. Mrs. Gageo, who gives Jeong Yak-jeon a place to live without anything in return, seems shy in front of Jeong Yak-jeon, but not only does she not refrain from saying what's on her mind, but she sometimes throws a note beyond the perspective of the times, never boring Jeong Yak-jeon. Her warm personality and honest charm give the movie a boost, further enhancing her charm. Lee Jung-eun described "The Book of Fish" as a movie that asks questions about what kind of indicators of life people in the present era should live with regard to "The Book of Fish". Lee Jung-eun's efforts in visiting Mokpo and Sinan areas to learn to speak in the Jeolla-do dialect and to learn how to trim fish directly from experts, are expected to reach the audience with sincerity. On the other hand, in "Law School", Lee Jung-eun is dressed as an elite professor and gives off intellectual charisma. "Law School" is a campus mystery drama that unfolds as Korea's most prestigious law school professors and students get involved in unprecedented events. Lee Jung-eun, turns into Kim Eun-sook, a judge-turned-civil law professor and head of the Korea National University Regal Clinic Center. She is a career woman with unique and warm humanity. Lee Jung-eun pulls off a graceful hairstyle and a neat suit. Eun-sook, who is known as the master of mediation in prosecution, is also called the queen of communication who can compromise with everyone in law school. She is a one-of-a-kind teacher who makes assumptions and gives wise solutions based on students' worries. Since Lee Jung-eun's existence gives credibility, viewers are expected to be fascinated, persuaded, and drenched with every single word Kim Eun-sook says. Lee Jung-eun, who has not lost her homely appearance even after the mega-hit film "Parasite", is excited about what kind of beauty she might have melt into this time. An official said, "When the "The Book of Fish" stills were first released, the synchronization rate was so surprising. "Law School" presents a professor character that is bound to exist in any kind of university. Lee Jung-eun's strength is that she sucks characters in and out like a sponge", he said. "Lee Jung-eun's presence definitely gives the work a lot of confidence". STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Yes, Theyre Open is a web series highlighting local bars and restaurants that are open for takeout, delivery, pickup or dining during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Live streams from the featured restaurants are broadcast on the Advance Facebook page every weekday at around 3 p.m. On Tuesday, the Advance/SILive.com visited Lorenzos Pizzeria at 1910 Hylan Blvd., which offers indoor dining, pickup and delivery from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Lunch specials are offered from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. For more information, call 718-979-4700 or visit https://lorenzosnewyork.com. YES, THEYRE OPEN: Lorenzos Pizza is open for indoor dining, pickup and delivery at 1910 Hylan Blvd. The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. For more information, call 718-979-4700 or visit https://lorenzosnewyork.com. Posted by Staten Island Advance on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 Staten Island restaurant owners: If you would like your establishment featured for free as part of Yes, Theyre Open, email reporter Victoria Priola at vpriola@siadvance.com. WANT MORE YES, THEYRE OPEN? Saladworks, 3010 Veterans Road W. Lebanese Eatery, 1686 Forest Ave. Cantina Mexicana, 140 New Dorp Lane Nurnberger Bierhaus, 817 Castleton Ave. HoBrah, 31 New Dorp Plaza Trackside Bar & Grill, 61 New Dorp Plaza A gunman opened fire at a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday afternoon, killing 10 people, including a police officer who was the first responder on the scene. The suspect, named as 21 year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, was charged with 10 counts of murder in the first degree, and faces his first appearance in court on Thursday. Police told reporters that a motive is yet to be found for the shooting, which occurred six days after eight women were killed in three separate shootings in Atlanta, Georgia. Investigations could take a time, and are complex, according to police. Eyewitnesses told the police that the suspect was clad in black and holding a rifle when he entered a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder around 3pm local time on Monday and opened fire on workers, shoppers, and the first police officer on the scene, Eric Talley. Boulder police Chief Maris Herold said the deceased officer had been with the department since 2010, and was recently awarded for his contribution to to the force. The 51-year-old was the father of seven children between the ages of 5 and 18, Ms Herold added on Tuesday. Read more: Nine others were also killed in the shooting, and on Tuesday were named as Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62 and Jody Waters, 65. According to the Denver Post, the shooting started in the parking lot of the store at 3600 Table Mesa Drive. A livestream video, taken by local videographer Dean Schiller who had just walked out of the store, showed what appeared to be a man wearing a King Soopers employee uniform saying the shooter was inside the store, the Post reported. Then what sounded like two gunshots could be heard over the video. The affidavit said employees told 911 dispatchers that they "observed the suspect shoot an elderly man in the parking lot. The suspect then walked up to the elderly man, stood over him and shot him multiple additional times. He just came in and started shooting without saying a word, two customers, who had seen the gunman come into the store, told reporters. News reports quoted the anonymous customer saying that the gunman let off a couple of shots, then was silent, and then he let off a couple more. He wasnt spraying. Customers at the self-checkout at King Soopers told reporters what they saw as soon as the shots were heard. Panic spread and everyone started running. Some, the reports said, froze at the scene. Soon law enforcement officers arrived at the scene of the mass shooting which is just two miles away from the University of Colorados campus, and engaged with the suspect. The 21-year-old was transported to hospital for a through and through gunshot wound to the right upper thigh after he was apprehended by officers. Officers soon blocked off all the roads leading to the shopping centre where King Soopers is located. Officers arrived in fire trucks, ambulances, armoured vehicles, helicopters and regular police cars, reports said. Drones were also deployed at the scene of the shooting. Several people who had been sheltering inside the store were escorted to safety by police officers on Monday afternoon. The Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty, according to news reports, said that This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder County, and that the FBI is helping investigate this senseless murder of ten, at the request of Boulder police. On Tuesday, the suspect was transferred from hospital and booked in at Boulder County Jail, as accounts from family and friends emerged. His brother told The Daily Beast that the 21 year-old was very anti-social and paranoid. An arrest affidavit stated the suspect was from Arvada, Colorado, and had a Colorado drivers license. Police revealed that the suspect bought an assault weapon in the days before the shooting at King Soopers. As the Denver Post reported, the purchase was possible because a court overruled a ban on assault rifles by the city of Boulder on 12 March, in a case brought by the National Rifle Association and others. Unfortunately, this is not the first mass shooting in Colorado. Mr Dougherty told reporters that he was incredibly sorry for all the victims who were killed in King Soopers. These were people going about their day, doing their food shopping and their lives were cut abruptly and tragically short by the shooter who is now in custody. In a statement, former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a gun control advocate and mass shooting survivor herself, said that Mondays shooting in Colorado was yet another reminder that it is beyond time for our leaders to take action to address gun control in the country. Mr Dougherty, the district attorney, promised families of the victims that he will do everything he can to get justice in this case, as details of the deceased also emerged on Tuesday. The youngest victim of the shooting, Denny Strong, was employed at King Soopers, and had written on Facebook : "I can't stay home. I am a grocery store worker". President Joe Biden on Tuesday called for Congress to take up gun reform legislation that would include banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines following the events that took place in Boulder and Atlanta, Georgia, this past week. This is not and should not be a partisan issue, Mr Biden said on Tuesday about gun reform. This is an American issue. It will save lives, American lives. We have to act. And we should also ban assault weapons in the process. Colorado has a long history of mass shootings, including the horrific Columbine High School shooting in 1999. In 2012 a mass shooting occurred inside a movie theatre in Aurora during a midnight screening of the film The Dark Knight Rises. The King Soopers shooting incident happened four years after shooter Scott Ostrem walked into a Walmart Supercentre in Thornton, Colorado, and fired seven shots. Ostrem was given three life sentences for the November 2017 shooting. The last incident of mass shooting at a grocery store was at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, in 2019. Twenty-two people died and 26 were injured in the shooting. A 2019 analysis by the Denver Post found that Colorado had more mass shootings per capita than all but four states. The Census-designated Denver metropolitan statistical area had more school shootings per capita since 1999 than any of the countrys 24 other largest metro areas. Hollywood model and reality tv star Claudia Jordan has responded after Gary Owen's wife, Kenya Duke, accused her of being involved in the reason behind their divorce. The model has denied all accusations and claims made by Duke. In an Instagram live session, Jordan said many things about her so-called involvement. Claudia Jordan and Gary Owen have been friends for about 20 years, according to Jordan who also added, "the fact that I'm being dragged into this is stupid and it's just not true". She then continued to say that she wanted to "tell the facts" and said, "I understand that divorce is difficult, but you dont have to drag people in". Claudia then claimed that none of her friends has ever been involved with Gary and said, "I have nothing to do with whatever the reason is for the divorce". Claudia also clarified, "I don't have a friend in Dallas or anywhere that is his mistress. I don't know any woman that is his mistress", also adding, "all my girls are in a relationship or married". She also claimed that she has now supposedly reached out to one of Kenya's friends so they can talk about it "woman to woman" as she does not wish to "play this in front of everybody". More about the scandal Claudia Jordan's clarifications come after Kenya Duke in an Instagram post, now deleted, claimed that her husband Gary Owens cheated on her with a Texan woman. In the post, Kenya alleged many things talking about how she wanted to keep quiet about it but couldn't. "Have all your info. I am going to deal with you in a minute, I am a little busy now. You can have him but you cant disrespect me and my kids in the process," Kenya wrote in the now deleted post, adding, "Let her know a storm is coming". She also made it clear that her anger wasn't meant to be directed at Jordan mentioning how it was her friend whom she was mad at with the hashtags, "#whitewomenarenotinvolved #notclaudia #claudiasfriend". According to multiple reports, it was established that Kenya Duke filed for divorce from Gary Owen after eighteen years of marriage. According to texasnewstoday, Gary Owen's wife filed the divorce papers on March 19, 2021. Details of their separation are still unknown. Gary Owen has yet to make any comment regarding the split or the accusations about cheating. Image Source - Claudia Jordan Instagram, Kenya Owen Instagram Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. The shooting of six Asian massage parlor workers and three Caucasians in Georgia has prompted a massively dishonest media campaign to blame "white supremacy" for violence against Asian-Americans. Andrew Sullivan documented the fraud well in this justly renowned essay on Substack, titled "When the narrative replaces the news." But the truth, as Shakespeare put it, "will out," especially when the victims of the wave of violence speak up, or when surveillance video of the attacks makes it to the internet. Melissa Chen has had it with the phoniness and writes in Spectator USA (picked up by the New York Post): [T]he cognoscenti can only think one way, so it ascribed blame on Trump's rhetoric surrounding the 'China virus' and the eternal boogeyman of white supremacy. Vox showcased impressive mental gymnastics to explain that it was white supremacy that fueled the black-Asian racial hostilities while a sitting member of the Oakland City Council wrote in an op-ed that 'anti-black and anti-Asian violence comes from the same root causes: white supremacy and capitalism'. Meanwhile, it was plain to see from viral surveillance videos that it wasn't MAGA-hatted assailants chanting 'Chy-na virus' or 'Kung Flu' as they took out defenseless elderly Asians. These attacks, mostly carried out by minorities in progressive cities like Oakland, San Francisco and New York, make it really hard to argue that the rhetoric of a former president is responsible for pulling the puppet strings of constituents who most likely didn't vote for him. Indeed, Department of Justice statistics show that while victims of violence tend to be targeted by perpetrators within their ethnicities far more than any other, Asian victims are targeted more by other races at the following rates: 27.5 percent black, 24.1 percent white, 21.4 percent Hispanic (compared to 24.1 percent Asian). This seems to suggest that the white supremacy thesis is extremely weak. Considering that Blacks account for 13% of the population, individually, they are 8 or 9 times as likely to attack Asians as whites. And while there are some Whites who harbor racist sentiments against Asians, the evidence is that such racism is far more prevalent among Blacks. Consider the Black school board member in San Francisco whose anti-Asian tweets have been in the news, and who refuses to be canceled. Yaron Steinbuch reports in the New York Post: The school district's entire senior staff on Sunday denounced vice president Alison Collins, saying she hasn't adequately taken responsibility for the shocking tweets, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. In the thread of tweets from Dec. 4, 2016, Collins said that Asian American teachers, students and parents had used "white supremacist thinking to assimilate and 'get ahead.'" Collins explained that she was seeking to "combat anti-black racism in the Asian community" and "at my daughters' mostly Asian Am school." Her posts also contained racial epithets, including a reference comparing Asian Americans to "house n-s." Here are some of her tweets: Source. The underlying reality is that many Asian Americans have excelled academically in this country, because most Asian cultures emphasize study and hard work as the path to success. And their experience in this country shows that despite any racism here, many Asian ethnic nationalities are out earning whites substantially. Census data show average household income in 2019 as follows: Indian Americans 126,705 Taiwanese Americans 102,405 Filipino Americans 100,273 Indonesian Americans 93,501 Japanese Americans 85,007 White Americans 65,902 I sure don't see any white supremacy in these data. It makes the assertion that racism is the cause of minorities failing to achieve difficult to defend. That may be why some African-Americans resent Asian-Americans. Meanwhile, Asian-American applicants to highly competitive colleges face rampant discrimination, as schools like Harvard require much higher scores on standardized tests and grades from Asians than from other groups. To many Asian American voters, this attempt to, limit the educational achievement of their children is deeply upsetting, enough so to even motivate voting against Democrats, the party overwhelmingly supported by the higher education industry that almost universally discriminates against them Meanwhile, back to violence. The racial hate-mongers have been on a campaign to defund police, let criminals out of jail, and lessen sentences and allow cash-free bail based on the contention that Blacks are unfairly (disproportionately) arrested and convicted of crimes. District attorneys like George Gascon and Chesa Boudin, elected with Soros money, have been doing their utmost to free or not prosecute criminals based on this racialist ideology. That's why a bill was introduced in California that would reclassify violent robbery as a misdemeanor, not a felony, if no deadly weapon was involved, or if "grave bodily harm" was not inflicted. This bill has raised alarms among Asians, including: The Asian American Prosecutors Association issued a statement voicing their concerns over the bill, "vehemently" opposing it. They cited a number of ABC7 News stories including one about three men attacking and robbing an older Asian man along the Nob Hill, Chinatown border in San Francisco. The group believes with the passing of SB82 this case would serve as a prime example of justice not being served since the older man seen on surveillance video did not suffer serious physical injuries and a deadly weapon was not used. Source. The political restructuring of American politics kicked off by the Trump presidency continues. African-American and Hispanic voters have been moving away from overwhelming support of Democrats, as the populist appeal of Republicans increases. If this trend continues and Asian-Americans abandon them in significant numbers, the Democrats will be left dependent on highly indoctrinated college educated professionals, far from a majority, as their base. That's why the media are lying about violence against Asians. New York, March 23 : US-based National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) expressed concern on Tuesday that British-Swedish pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca may have provided outdated information on the efficacy data related to the clinical trial of its Covid-19 vaccine, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. On Monday, the drug maker showed that its vaccine's efficacy is 79 per cent in preventing symptomatic illness in a large trial in the US. However, in an unusual statement, the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), which reviewed the trial results, notified NIAID, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), and AstraZeneca that it is concerned over the information released by AstraZeneca on the initial data from the clinical trial of its Covid-19 vaccine. "We urge the company to work with the DSMB to review the efficacy data and ensure that the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data is made public as quickly as possible," the US-based agency said. "Authorisation and guidelines for use of the vaccine in the US will be determined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after a thorough review of the data by independent advisory committees," it added. Earlier, the Phase III AstraZeneca trials in the US showed an efficacy of 80 per cent in people over the age of 65, the most vulnerable group for contracting Covid-19 with deadly consequences. Twenty per cent of the trial participants were over the age of 65. The vaccine, known by the scientific name 'AZD1222', was 100 per cent effective in preventing hospitalisation, the company had said in a statement. It means that even those who contracted Covid-19 after vaccination had only less severe symptoms and did not need intensive treatment in a hospital. Initially, the DSMB conducted a specific review of thrombotic events, as well as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), which refers to the presence of a blood clot in the dural venous sinuses, with the assistance of an independent neurologist. The board found no increased risk of thrombosis or events characterised by thrombosis among the 21,583 participants receiving at least one dose of the vaccine. The specific search for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis found no events in this trial, AstraZeneca said, adding that vaccine efficacy was consistent across ethnicity and age. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The latest figures for Covid-19 cases and deaths in Ireland this Tuesday show more cases for Laois and a continued surge in Offaly. However five counties have no new cases reported today. The latest figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) reveal a further eight new cases in Laois, the same as yesterday. The new cases have kept the daily average to nine per day over the past five days. The incidence is about to tip past the 100 again in Laois. It is now at 99.2 per 100,000 population on the back of 84 cases in Laois in the past fortnight. The Laois population incidence is still less than the national average which has also risen to 158.3 per 100k due to a surge of 7,538 cases around the country in the past two weeks. Compared to many other counties however, Laois is improving, now at the 8th best containment record in Ireland according to the figures published on March 23. SEE COUNTY BY COUNTY TABLE AT END OF STORY. Neighbouring Offaly and Kildare continue to have a high incidence and a large number of new cases each day. Offaly still has the highest incidence in Ireland. It now has a new case average of 31 each day. The incidence is 443.8 per 100 K on the back of 346 in two weeks. Kildare is improved slightly today, with 14 new cases, a daily average of 29 and a population incidence of 249.4 per 100 k on the back of 555 new cases in two weeks. Five counties have no new cases today: Longford, Leitrim, Roscommon, Monaghan and Kerry. Nationally, NPHET said the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has today been notified of 24 additional deaths related to COVID-19. 12 deaths occurred in March, 10 in February and 2 in January. The median age of those who died was 82 years and the age range was 49 - 100 years. There has been a total of 4,610* COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland (denotification of 2 deaths) There are less new cases today than in recent days. As of midnight, Monday 22 March, the HPSC has been notified of 371 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 231,484** confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 183 are men / 187 are women 75% are under 45 years of age The median age is 30 years old There are 151 in Dublin, 31 in Offaly, 27 in Donegal, 25 in Galway, 21 in Meath and the remaining 116 cases are spread across 16 other counties***. As of 8am today, 357 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 76 are in ICU. 25 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. As of March 20 2021, 675,946 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland: 492,106 people have received their first dose 183,840 people have received their second dose The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community including daily data on Irelands COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Five people are feared dead and at least 20,000 Rohingya have fled a huge blaze engulfing shanty homes at refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh, officials said Monday, in the third fire to hit the settlements in four days. Nearly one million of the Muslim minority from Myanmar, many of whom fled a military crackdown in their homeland in 2017, live in cramped and squalid conditions at the camps in the Cox's Bazar district. Officials said the fire started in one of the 34 camps which span about 8,000 acres of land, before spreading to three other camps, with refugees fleeing the shanties with whatever belongings they could carry. Five people are feared dead and at least 20,000 Rohingya have fled a huge blaze engulfing shanty homes at refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh Officials said the fire apparently started in one of the 34 camps which span about 8,000 acres of land A view from the Balukhali Rohingya camp after a huge fire broken out in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh Nearly one million of the Muslim minority from Myanmar, many of whom fled a military crackdown in their homeland in 2017, live in cramped and squalid conditions at the camps Thick columns of smoke could be seen billowing from blazing shanties in video shared on social media, as hundreds of firefighters and aid workers battled the flames and pulled the refugees to safety. 'It is a massive fire. At least 20,000 people fled their homes as the fire spread,' Cox's Bazar administrator, Mamunur Rashid, told AFP. 'We doused the fire in one place and it spreads to other places.' Gazi Salahuddin, a police inspector, said the fire was doused at around midnight and officers have heard that five people including three children and two women have died from the fire. 'We heard five people have died from the fire and their bodies are in the camps,' Salahuddin told AFP, adding police can't put out any statement unless they recovered the bodies. Thick columns of smoke could be seen billowing from blazing shanties in video shared on social media Hundreds of firefighters and aid workers battled the flames and pulled the refugees to safety Salahuddin said the fire was initially small and confined to a narrow strip, but it grew and raced to other camps after gas cylinders used for cooking exploded. Officials told AFP a preliminary assessment found that more than 900 shanties, home to about 7,400 refugees, had been gutted, with the blaze still burning. Mohammad Yasin, a Rohingya helping with the firefighting, told AFP the blaze raged for more than ten hours after it started and was the worst he had seen since 2017. A Save the Children volunteer, Tayeba Begum, said 'people were screaming and running here and there (and) children were also running scattered crying for their family'. The fire was doused at around midnight and officers have heard that five people including three children and two women have died from the fi Mohammad Yasin, a Rohingya helping with the firefighting, told AFP the blaze raged for more than ten hours after it started and was the worst he had seen since 2017 More than 900 shanties, home to about 7,400 refugees, had been gutted, with the blaze still burning Refugees stand next to burning homes after a fire broke out at a Rohingya refugee camp Two separate fires at the camps on Friday destroyed scores of shanties, officials said It was the third blaze to hit the camps in four days, fire brigade official Sikder, who only goes by one name, told AFP. Two separate fires at the camps on Friday destroyed scores of shanties, officials said then. Sikder said the cause of the fires were not yet known. Two big blazes had also hit the camps in January, leaving thousands homeless and gutting four UNICEF schools. The government has meanwhile been pushing for the refugees to relocate to a remote island in the Bay of Bengal, saying the camps were too crowded So far, 13,000 Rohingya have been moved to the flood-prone island that critics say is in the path of deadly cyclones Amnesty International's South Asia campaigner, Saad Hammadi, tweeted that the 'frequency of fire in the camps is too coincidental, especially when outcomes of previous investigations into the incidents are not known and they keep repeating'. The government has meanwhile been pushing for the refugees to relocate to a remote island in the Bay of Bengal, saying the camps were too crowded. So far, 13,000 Rohingya have been moved to the flood-prone island that critics say is in the path of deadly cyclones. Reung Kiet is a lepidolite-style lithium project northeast of Phuket in Phang Nga Province in southern Thailand where the company holds a 100% interest in three contiguous special prospecting licences covering 38 square kilometres. ( ) has intersected pegmatite dyke swarms over substantial widths in all six diamond drill holes completed at Bang I Tum (BIT) prospect within the wider Reung Kiet Lithium Project (RKLP) in southern Thailand. The drilling program totalled 963 metres with the pegmatite containing quartz, feldspar and potentially lithium-bearing muscovite and local lepidolite extending to plus 100 metres below surface. Spot hand-held XRF analysis of drill core by the company identified the presence of elevated tin and niobium along with elevated lithium indicator elements, such as rubidium and manganese. "Pleased with results" Managing director Paul Lock said: We are very pleased with the drilling results. The pegmatite dyke swarms are relatively wide and extend to significant depths beneath the old pit and along strike to the south. Whilst we await results from the lab we are buoyed by the hhXRF results and visual indications which support the presence of lepidolite and muscovite and therefore the potential for lithium to be hosted in both. The presence of elevated tin and niobium, the latter as a proxy for tantalum, is also very encouraging. Lithium potential Reung Kiet, which is one of the companys key Thai projects, is a hard rock project with demonstrated potential for lithium hosted in lepidolite and mica rich pegmatites chiefly composed of quartz, albite, muscovite and lepidolite, with minor cassiterite and tantalite as well as other accessory minerals, including some rare earths. Recent drilling at Bang I Tum was designed to test beneath the old open pit and also along strike to the southwest in the vicinity of Lepidolite Hill. Core is being cut and sampled for dispatch to the laboratory for analysis with the drill rig now mobilised to the Reung Kiet prospect. Spot handheld analysis The company conducted spot handheld X-Ray fluorescence (hhXRF) analysis at regular spacing along the drill core, especially in the sections of pegmatite with sample points typically at 0.3-0.5 metres. This method is used by PAM geologists to take readings on drill core to evaluate the presence or otherwise of targeted mineralisation and associated pathfinder elements and this assists with onsite decision making and in the selection of intervals to sample and dispatch for laboratory analysis. Many of the pegmatites returned anomalous to locally highly elevated spot hhXRF values for tin, rubidium, manganese and niobium. The company is now cutting and sampling the drill core for dispatch to the laboratory for analysis. Looking ahead Pan Asia Metals has further drill holes planned at BIT, with additional drilling contingent on positive results from holes BTDD001-006. The company has relocated the drill rig to the nearby Reung Kiet lithium prospect to conduct additional drilling that will target lepidolite rich pegmatites identified in previous trenching and mapping programs conducted by PAM. With continued success the company may elect to report a drill supported exploration target and then proceed to defining a mineral resource. Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 50 Master's in Education Administration Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 202 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 202 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 50 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school. Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Master's in Education Administration Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-masters-in-education-administration-degree-programs/ 2021 Master's in Education Administration Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order): Angelo State University Arizona State University Ball State University Caldwell University, New Jersey California State University, North Ridge Chadron State College Columbia International University Concordia University, Irvine Concordia University, Wisconsin Dakota Wesleyan University Drexel University Emporia State University Fordham University Fort Hays State University George Washington University Georgia Southern University Indiana State University Indiana University Bloomington Iowa State University Lamar University Liberty University Louisiana State University, Shreveport Michigan State University Midwestern State University, Texas Mississippi College National University New Mexico State University North Carolina State University Northern Arizona University Old Dominion University Sam Houston State University Southern Wesleyan University State University of New York, Stony Brook Texas A & M University, College Station Texas A&M International University University of Florida University of Houston University of Idaho University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Kansas University of Nebraska University of Nebraska, Lincoln University of South Carolina University of South Dakota University of Southern Mississippi University of Texas, Austin University of Washington University of Wyoming Wayne State College West Virginia University About Intelligent.com Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/. The rate of sea-level rise in the 20th century along much of the U.S. Atlantic coast was the fastest in 2,000 years, and southern New Jersey had the fastest rates, according to a Rutgers-led study. The global rise in sea-level from melting ice and warming oceans from 1900 to 2000 led to a rate that's more than twice the average for the years 0 to 1800 - the most significant change, according to the study in the journal Nature Communications. The study for the first time looked at the phenomena that contributed to sea-level change over 2,000 years at six sites along the coast (in Connecticut, New York City, New Jersey and North Carolina), using a sea-level budget. A budget enhances understanding of the processes driving sea-level change. The processes are global, regional (including geological, such as land subsidence) and local, such as groundwater withdrawal. "Having a thorough understanding of sea-level change at sites over the long-term is imperative for regional and local planning and responding to future sea-level rise," said lead author Jennifer S. Walker, a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. "By learning how different processes vary over time and contribute to sea-level change, we can more accurately estimate future contributions at specific sites." Sea-level rise stemming from climate change threatens to permanently inundate low-lying islands, cities and lands. It also heightens their vulnerability to flooding and damage from coastal and other storms. Most sea-level budget studies are global and limited to the 20th and 21st centuries. Rutgers-led researchers estimated sea-level budgets for longer timeframes over 2,000 years. The goal was to better understand how the processes driving sea-level have changed and could shape future change, and this sea-level budget method could be applied to other sites around the world. Using a statistical model, scientists developed sea-level budgets for six sites, dividing sea-level records into global, regional and local components. They found that regional land subsidence - sinking of the land since the Laurentide ice sheet retreated thousands of years ago - dominates each site's budget over the last 2,000 years. Other regional factors, such as ocean dynamics, and site-specific local processes, such as groundwater withdrawal that helps cause land to sink, contribute much less to each budget and vary over time and by location. The total rate of sea-level rise for each of the six sites in the 20th century (ranging from 2.6 to 3.6 millimeters per year, or about 1 to 1.4 inches per decade) was the fastest in 2,000 years. Southern New Jersey had the fastest rates over the 2,000-year period: 1.6 millimeters a year (about 0.63 inches per decade) at Edwin Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Leeds Point, in Atlantic County and 1.5 millimeters a year (about 0.6 inches per decade) at Cape May Court House, Cape May County. Other sites included East River Marsh in Guilford, Connecticut; Pelham Bay, The Bronx, New York City; Cheesequake State Park in Old Bridge, New Jersey; and Roanoke Island in North Carolina. ### Rutgers coauthors include Robert E. Kopp, a professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick and director of the Rutgers Institute of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences; and Erica L. Ashe, a post-doctoral scientist in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Maynooth University, The University of Hong Kong, Bryn Mawr College, Durham University, Liverpool Hope University and East Carolina University contributed to the study. TBILISI -- Georgian Deputy Interior Minister Kakhaber Sabanadze has resigned amid media reports he ordered the intentional disruption of a gathering of opposition groups and used illegal surveillance to keep track of some politicians. Sabanadze announced his decision to step down from the post on March 23 after the Mtavari Arkhi and TV Pirveli television channels published an interview over the weekend with an ex-employee of the State Security Service, Vano Gulashvili, who claimed that a meeting of opposition groups in 2019 in Tbilisi had been disrupted on Sabanadze's orders. "The allegations must be studied and an unbiased and comprehensive investigation must be conducted to find the truth. Therefore, I am stepping down to secure a fair investigation. I am confident that my decision will be an example for other officials to act in line with high standards of responsibility," Sabanadze wrote. He did not comment directly on the allegations. The television channels said Gulashvili was interviewed by Mtavari Arkhi in November 2019, after which he was arrested on a charge of disclosing classified data. He is currently being held in detention. Gulashvili said in the interview that he was following orders handed down by Sabanadze and other Interior Ministry officials in 2014, and that he installed surveillance cameras in the house of former Deputy Defense Minister Ana Dolidze and malware on the laptop of Georgian Muslim leader Vagif Askerov to record his personal life. The Georgian Chief Prosecutors Office said earlier in the day that it had launched a probe into the information provided by Gulashvili. Dolidze, who is currently the leader of the Movement for the People political group, told RFE/RL on March 23 that she wants a probe launched into how surveillance cameras were installed in her house to determine why they were there, who exactly ordered the surveillance operation, and whether the materials obtained from the cameras were destroyed. Dolidze added that she wants the Public Defenders office to be involved in the probe to ensure the rights of Gulashvili are respected during the investigation. BRAVERY MEDAL (BM) Mr Joven Toribio ESTRADA Mr Joven Estrada displayed considerable bravery during the rescue of a man from a burning vehicle at Malanda in Queensland on 7 March 2019. In the afternoon, Mr Estrada and his girlfriend were travelling along Old Cairns Track when they noticed a vehicle had crashed into trees and burst into flames. Mr Estrada stopped his car and ran towards the burning vehicle. Despite the heat and flames, he located the physically disabled driver, who was semi-conscious and unable to get himself out of the car. Mr Estrada reached into the front seat of the burning vehicle, pulled the driver out, and dragged him away to a safe distance. Moments later, the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames. Mr Estrada and his girlfriend tended to the injured driver until emergency services arrived. Mr Vincent Gavin MELBIN Mr Vincent Melbin displayed considerable bravery during the rescue of a man from the Brisbane River in Queensland on 15 March 2019. At 2:50am Mr Melbin and a companion were walking on the Goodwill Bridge over the Brisbane River when they saw a man about to jump from the bridge. They attempted to talk to the man, however he jumped off the bridge into the water 15 metres below. When he surfaced he was barely able to keep his head above the water. Mr Melbin removed his shoes and shirt and jumped into the water, whilst his companion called 000. Mr Melbin grabbed hold of the now unconscious man and supported him as he swam towards a nearby jetty. Unable to climb up onto the jetty, Mr Melbin managed to keep afloat and continued to struggle to keep the man's head above the water. Police arrived and threw a rope into the water. Mr Melbin secured the rope around the man who was then pulled out of the river and onto the jetty where first aid was applied until paramedics arrived. Exhausted, Mr Melbin was helped from the water. Sergeant Andrew Linden PARKER Sergeant Andrew Parker displayed considerable bravery during the rescue of race yacht crews in treacherous seas off the coast near Port Stephens in New South Wales on 6 January 2016. Sergeant Parker, then a Senior Constable, together with three other officers from New South Wales Police Marine Area Command, received five mayday calls simultaneously for assistance. The officers took Water Police Vessel WP24 out in cyclone-like conditions, spending more than 24 hours rescuing embattled yachts and their crews. The officers endured the treacherous conditions, towing boats safely back to shore, as well as conducting an extensive search for a man who had fallen overboard. During the rescue of one of the yachts, Sergeant Parker and the other officers had to repair a tow rope after it snapped six times in the turbulent seas. On another occasion the officers were coming through the heads at Nelson Bay when they were hit by a series of large waves. The waves crashed over the top of the boat and through the cabin, causing concerns the electronics would fail. The severe weather made navigation and searching extremely difficult, and significantly increased the fatigue levels and seasickness of the officers. Mr Michael Anthony SMITH Mr Michael Smith displayed considerable bravery during the rescue attempt of a race yacht crew in treacherous seas off the coast near Port Stephens in New South Wales on 6 January 2016. Mr Smith was the engineer, and one of seven crewman, on-board rescue vessel Port Stephens 40 who volunteered to go into cyclonic seas to aid a racing yacht and its crew that were encountering treacherous conditions near Port Stephens. After battling exceptionally rough seas and strong winds in pitch darkness for five hours they caught-up with the distressed yacht, just south of Seal Rocks. Mr Smith was manning a searchlight on the upper deck when at 2am the rescue vessel was hit by a wall of water which tipped the boat onto its port side, throwing the crew on deck off their feet, and causing the boat's propellers to lift out of the water. As the boat righted itself, a second large wave hit and the crew on deck were again tossed off their feet with one sustaining a serious facial injury, another a dislocated shoulder, and a third was pinned to the deck by his safety line and debris. As another crew member went to the assistance of the men, a third large wave struck the boat, knocking it over and causing one of its engines to stop. As the boat righted itself the battered crew were able to restart the engine, clear ropes away from the propellers, and then begin the arduous journey back to Port Stephens while battling large waves, cyclone-like headwinds, injuries and severe sea sickness. The crew of the stricken race yacht later made it safely to shore in a life raft. Mr Adam WHITEHOUSE Mr Adam Whitehouse displayed considerable bravery during the rescue of two boys at Tin Can Bay in Queensland on 12 February 2017. In the afternoon Mr Whitehouse became aware that two young boys were struggling in deep water and an outgoing tide after being separated from their inflatable tube. He entered the water and swam towards the boys. On reaching them they clung to him as he tread water in the strong currents. Mr Whitehouse began to tire with the effort of keeping both boys afloat. He was swamped by water several times and one of the boys became unresponsive. On realising the distress Mr Whitehouse and the boys were in, a nearby yachtsman navigated his small tinny over to the trio. Both boys were lifted into the tinny and CPR was commenced on the unresponsive boy. Due to exhaustion, Mr Whitehouse was unable to get into the vessel and slipped into the water and began to float away before the yachtsman grabbed him from underwater. He then secured Mr Whitehouse to the boat and took the group towards the shore. Members of the public continued to perform CPR on the unresponsive boy until paramedics arrived. Sadly the young boy was unable to be resuscitated. COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT Mr Paul BRENNAN Mr Paul Brennan is commended for brave conduct for his actions during a domestic violence incident in Townsville, Queensland on 5 December 2016. Mr Brennan was driving towards the city area of Townsville when he noticed a silver car stopped on the side of the road. As he slowed his vehicle a young woman, without warning, ran into the middle of the road, directly in front of his car. He slammed on his brakes to avoid hitting her. The young woman was distraught and hysterical and she threw herself onto the bonnet of Mr Brennan's car and, holding onto the windshield wipers, screamed at him to speed away. As he began to accelerate his car the young woman climbed into the vehicle through the passenger side window. Mr Brennan saw a male return to the silver car which then began to pursue Mr Brennan's vehicle, ramming it several times. On two occasions Mr Brennan's car spun uncontrollably on being rammed. He continued to sound the vehicle's horn as a warning to other motorists as he sped through red lights and roundabouts in an attempt to escape the silver car. His passenger alerted emergency services as they raced towards the nearest police station. On arrival, they exited the damaged vehicle, seeking refuge inside the station. Mr Matthew EDDISON Mr Matthew Eddison is commended for brave conduct for his actions in rescuing a person from floodwaters at Murphy's Creek in Queensland on 10 January 2011. In the afternoon a vehicle attempted to cross a flooded causeway. The driver began to drive slowly across the causeway before the vehicle stalled and the force of the water turned it sideways and carried it into the surging water. Two women inside the vehicle managed to scramble onto the roof as the vehicle was swept away. A motorist who had witnessed the incident went to get help from his friend, Mr Matthew Eddison, who lived close by, and to also call emergency services. Mr Eddison, together with his friend, returned to the swollen creek. They ran through bushes and spotted one of the women at the creek's edge. After checking that she was alright, Mr Eddison and his friend continued running until they located the second woman clinging to a sapling in the surging waters. The strong water surge kept pushing her head under. Mr Eddison and his friend entered the turbulent water. Using a monkey grip hold they formed a human chain and stretched out towards the woman who let go of the sapling and was grabbed by Mr Eddison. Together the men pulled the exhausted woman out of the fast-rising water and took her to the safety of the bank. The late Mr Henry Herbert GRANT The late Mr (then Police Constable) Henry Grant is commended for brave conduct for his actions during the rescue of a man from a well in Temora in New South Wales on 3 May 1921. The late Police Constable Henry Grant, and another officer, were on duty in Temora when they attended a property after a man became trapped in a well shaft. The man was cleaning a 15 metre deep well shaft when he was overcome by foul air and was unable to extricate himself. Constable Grant lowered the other officer into the well who located the man and began carrying him up on a rope. The pair slipped and both fell back down the well shaft sustaining a number of injuries and were unable to recommence the climb out. Immediately Constable Grant entered the contaminated well and made his way down the shaft to reach the other officer and injured man. Constable Grant was able to bring the man to safety whilst the other officer, who was also injured, managed to make his own way out of the well. The man didn't survive his injuries. Mr Ian HODDINOTT Mr Ian Hoddinott is commended for brave conduct for his actions in rescuing a person from floodwaters at Murphy's Creek in Queensland on 10 January 2011. In the afternoon, Mr Ian Hoddinott was driving through heavy rain when he saw a vehicle attempt to cross a flooded causeway. The driver began to drive slowly across the causeway before the vehicle stalled and the force of the water turned it sideways and carried it into the surging water. Two women inside the vehicle managed to scramble onto the roof as the vehicle was swept away. Mr Hoddinott quickly went to get help from a friend who lived close by, and to also call emergency services. Mr Hoddinott, together with his friend, returned to the swollen creek. They ran through bushes and spotted one of the women at the creek's edge. After checking that she was alright, Mr Hoddinott and his friend continued running until they located the second woman clinging to a sapling in the surging waters. The strong water surge kept pushing her head under. Mr Hoddinott and his friend entered the turbulent water. Using a monkey grip hold they formed a human chain and stretched out towards the woman who let go of the sapling and was grabbed by Mr Hoddinott's friend. Together the men pulled the exhausted woman out of the fast rising water and took her to the safety of the bank. Constable Cecelia Ann JARVIS Constable Cecelia Jarvis is commended for brave conduct for her actions during an incident with a distressed person at Eimeo in Queensland on 23 February 2019. On that morning, Constable Jarvis and another officer were on duty at Mackay Northern Beaches police station when they attended a residence in response to a call that a distressed woman had locked herself inside the house, poured fuel on herself, and was threatening to ignite it. On arrival, Constable Jarvis called several times for the distressed woman to open the door. Eventually the woman unlocked the door but didn't open it. Constable Jarvis and the other officer entered the house and located the woman now in the garage, next to a jerry can of fuel, and fumbling with a cigarette lighter. The other officer quickly opened windows to ventilate the fume-filled garage, before going to the police vehicle to alert other agencies, grabbing a fire extinguisher, and returning to the garage. Meanwhile the distressed woman refused to heed Constable Jarvis' instructions to hand over the cigarette lighter, instead pouring more fuel over herself and trying to spark the lighter. Constable Jarvis lunged towards the woman and, after a struggle, was able to remove the lighter from the woman. The woman was restrained by both officers, removed from the garage, and later taken to Mackay hospital. Sergeant David William RAYMOND BM Sergeant David Raymond is commended for brave conduct for his actions at a building fire at Mermaid Beach in Queensland on the 28th of December 2018. In the late afternoon, off duty policeman, Sergeant Raymond, and other family members were travelling near Mermaid Beach when they saw a large plume of grey smoke coming from the roof of a three story unit block. They immediately stopped and Sergeant Raymond and his son went to investigate. They noticed gas bottles located on the balcony of a top floor unit, and a large dog on the balcony of a first floor unit. Bystanders were unable to confirm if any of the units were occupied. Sergeant Raymond and his son attempted to gain entry to the block but a locked entry barred their way. They quickly made a makeshift ladder, scaled a wall, and climbed onto the balcony of the first floor unit where the large dog was located. Both men entered the unit to search for occupants. Not finding anyone, Sergeant Raymond's son took the large dog to safety. Sergeant Raymond went to the smoke filled unit on the third floor. His son then re-joined him and both men entered and searched the unit. Once they established that there were no occupants in the burning building, both men returned downstairs. Mr Jacob Alexander RAYMOND Mr Jacob Raymond is commended for brave conduct for his actions at a building fire at Mermaid Beach in Queensland on 28 December 2018. In the late afternoon, Mr Raymond and other family members were travelling near Mermaid Beach when they saw a large plume of grey smoke coming from the roof of a three-story unit block. They immediately stopped and Mr Raymond and his father went to investigate. They noticed gas bottles located on the balcony of a top floor unit, and a large dog on the balcony of a first-floor unit. Bystanders were unable to confirm if any of the units were occupied. Mr Raymond and his father attempted to gain entry to the block, but a locked entry barred their way. They quickly made a makeshift ladder, scaled a wall, and climbed onto the balcony of the first-floor unit where the large dog was located. Both men entered the unit to search for occupants. Not finding anyone, Mr Raymond took the large dog to safety while his father went to the smoke-filled unit on the third floor. He then re-joined his father and both men entered and searched the unit. Once they established that there were no occupants in the burning building, both men returned downstairs. Mr Grant SCHOLZ Mr Grant Scholz is commended for brave conduct for his actions during a knife attack at a hostel in Home Hill in Queensland on 23 August 2016. In the late evening a man armed with a large knife dragged a young woman from her bed at the hostel and out onto a balcony. He held the knife to her throat and told other guests who had gathered to leave the area. On hearing the commotion, Mr Scholz, the manager of the hostel, and another guest appeared on the balcony and approached the offender, pleading with him to put down the weapon. The offender inflicted a wound to the young woman and she fell to the floor. As Mr Scholz moved to protect the woman he was also wounded in the leg by the offender. The young woman got to her feet and ran down a corridor towards the safety of a bathroom. Two other guests went to assist her and the offender followed. He entered the bathroom and began assaulting one of the guests. Police arrived and the offender was arrested. Paramedics arrived and began treating the injured man and woman. Sadly, neither the man nor the woman survived the injuries they had sustained. GROUP BRAVERY CITATION The recipients are recognised with the award of the Group Bravery Citation for their actions during an incident with a man at Coombabah in Queensland on7 December 1999. Senior Sergeant Desmond James HEARN Sergeant David Christopher IVES Major Gregory Mark NEWMAN Detective Senior Sergeant Adrian Vincent SALA Senior Constable Karen Joyce WAKEFIELD Sergeant Matthew WAKERLEY Sergeant Lyle Anthony WISS In the early hours of 7 December 1999, seven Queensland Police Officers attended a domestic situation where they encountered a distressed man threatening to self-harm and cause injury to others by igniting fuel in a car next to a unit complex. Whilst an officer negotiated with the man for several hours, other officers were able to evacuate the surrounding area. When the distressed man learnt that the area had been evacuated he became further agitated and drove away from the complex. As three officers pursued the vehicle, other officers deployed road spikes and the man's vehicle was disabled. As officers approached the vehicle, the man attempted to ignite the fuel inside the car. An officer used a baton to break the front driver's window, another broke the front passenger side window and climbed into the vehicle and assisted other officers to restrain the offender who lit a match and threw it towards the open container of fuel. The fuel failed to ignite and several officers worked to restrain the offender sufficiently to remove him from the fume-filled vehicle. The recipients are recognised with the award of the Group Bravery Citation for their actions following a multiple vehicle collision and fire at Strathpine in Queensland on 31 December 2018. Mr James Peter DALE Mr Anthony George LEWIS Just after midday on 31 December 2018 five members of the public went to the assistance of a trapped driver after a four vehicle collision on Gympie Road. One vehicle had rolled onto its side and was engulfed in flames. A motorist, whose vehicle was hit, grabbed a fire extinguisher, approached the burning vehicle, and attempted to put out the fire, but it intensified. Another motorist climbed up onto the passenger side of the vehicle and, with the assistance of another motorist, opened the door and reached into the vehicle to help the driver who was having a medical seizure. Smoke began to fill the cabin. Other motorists who had stopped then tried to rock the vehicle into the upright position, despite the increasing heat from the flames. Two motorists managed to kick in the windscreen and remove the aggressive and agitated driver from the burning vehicle and to safety. The recipients are recognised with the award of the Group Bravery Citation for their actions during the rescue of people from crocodile infested waters at Innisfail in Queensland on 2 March 2018. Mr Scott Anthony JOHNSON Mr Edward Gerard POSAR Mr Shane Autun RADANOVIC During the morning of 2 March 2018, a distressed 16-year-old woman jumped from the Geraldton Bridge into the Johnstone River, a well-known crocodile habitat. One young man, who had tried to dissuade the young woman from jumping, ran to the riverbank and into the water, but he was quickly overwhelmed by the deep water and became fatigued. Two men who were nearby, and who witnessed the young woman jump and the young man's efforts to save her, noticed the pair were in difficulty and quickly entered the water and swam out to them. They then dragged the young man and woman back to the safety of the river bank and emergency services arrived. Stock market-listed property investor Yew Grove Reit hopes to spend more than 100m on commercial property acquisitions in Ireland this year. The company, which is mainly focused on regional towns and cities here, increased its rent roll last year to 10.9m from 8.9m at the end of 2019. This has further increased to 11.3m from January 1 this year. In response to a question on its spending plans, Jonathan Laredo, chief executive of Yew Grove, said the answer depends on the capital markets, not on the property market. The capital markets determine how much they are prepared to give you, I hope that because we have proved we can operate well in a very bad market that we are trusted by the capital markets and they give us money we ask for, but it is a free market but I would hope we can add at least 100m to our portfolio this year, Mr Laredo said. The company has an extraordinarily rich pipeline, he said. Yew Grove experienced 100pc rent collections for both the final quarter of 2020 and the first three months of this year, according to annual results from the group. Its portfolio valuation on 31 December 2020 was 141.9m, up from 115.8m at the end of 2019. Yew Grove said its properties benefit from attractive leases, with two-thirds of its rent coming from multinationals. A further 26pc of rent comes from the Government and other state bodies, while 4pc is from large businesses. Despite the challenges [the pandemic] presented to our business, we have managed to grow our portfolio, reduce vacancy, increase the rent roll and improve our profitability and begin the process of greening our portfolio, Mr Laredo said. The company has seen rents increase by over 15pc in the past two and a half years in its regional properties, and it expects its rent to increase by a similar amount outside of Dublin over the next two years. In Dublin, the company recently signed a new lease with the ESB for a building on East Wall Road. The rent we signed at was 16pc higher than what the valuers said the market rent was, now to me that is because they are being very conservative on their views. We knew we were going to get that sort of rent. We think that the right parts of Dublin will do wellI do think there is going to be more competition, Mr Laredo said. Earlier this month Yew Grove said it will pay 9.3m for the construction of an extension to the existing premises of US life sciences group PPD at an IDA business park in Athlone in a move that will help the US firm grow its Irish business and workforce. In December last year Yew Grove said it had progressed in its plans to sell non-core properties. As part of this, the company sold a vacant industrial unit in Stillorgan for 1.46m in November. The company also sold units at Centrepoint Business Park, Clondalkin, county Dublin, for 950,000 in December. The quality of Yew Groves tenant base has provided security and growth, and with a major emphasis on the life-sciences sector, there is support for a strong financial year 2021, said Goodbody analyst Colm Lauder. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Partly cloudy. High 78F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Rep. Cuellar Calls for Law and Order at the Border Warns of summer migration pattern Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) on Tuesday said he wants to see enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border, a day after he leaked images showing crowded conditions in border detention facilities. I dont believe in open borders. I want to see law and order at the border, Cuellar said on Fox & Friends on Tuesday. If somebody has an asylum claim, a credible fear claim, then I think they should ask for that. But I would rather have them do it in their country instead of coming down here and then being released and not knowing if they are going to show up later at a different time. When authorities release illegal immigrants, they give them notices to appear in court. A judge decides whether to grant asylum claims. Only about one in five claims are granted. Cuellar said about 150 people were released this month without a notice to appear, which immigration experts have described as unprecedented. How do you release somebody into the country without a notice to appear? Customs and Border Protection didnt respond to a request for comment. Cuellar on Monday gave photographs his team took during a recent trip to a Border Patrol facility to The Epoch Times, with his office describing the conditions as terrible, especially for children. During an appearance on CNBC, the Democrat said he leaked the images for the same reason he did in 2014. I released them again, because I think its important to have the public know whats happening, he said. An overflow facility in Donna, Texas, in an undated photo. (Courtesy of Rep. Henry Cuellars office) A U.S. Customs and Border Protection temporary processing center is seen in this aerial view from a drone in Donna, Texas on March 15, 2021. (Adrees Latif/Reuters) Cuellar warned the White House shortly after President Joe Biden took office that the number of migrants was rising, based on alerts he received from border agents and non-governmental organizations. Biden rolled back a number of Trump era immigration rules, including the Migration Policy Protocols (MPP), which kept asylum seekers waiting in Mexico for their claims to be heard. Cuellar told Fox that the administration should have taken a more cautious approach before making big changes, such as reforming MPP instead of abolishing it. While top federal officials have called on migrants not to travel to the United States, at least for now, that messaging is being drowned out by information from relatives and friends who cross the border, according to Cuellar, in addition to aggressive marketing by drug cartels. Cuellar cited illegal immigrants he spoke to at a federally-run facility in Carrizo Springs, Texas. The White House on Monday said the photographs highlighted how Border Patrol facilities are not made for children and that it shows the Biden administration is making the right choice by not expelling any minors, a dramatic change from the Trump era. Under Title 42 powers, during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials can expel illegal immigrants because they may be carrying the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the disease. The shift has led to the recent opening and reopening of at least five facilities to hold migrant children, including two convention centers. COVID-19 outbreaks have taken place at two of them, Texas officials have said. At the Midland facility, the operating organization was ordered to stop using well water because it wasnt verified as safe. Using a common steroid to treat coronavirus patients has saved 22,000 lives in the UK and up to 1.4million worldwide, say health officials. Figures from NHS England revealed the success of the discovery by Oxford University scientists about dexamethasone. They found that the steroid, which costs around 50p a day, can cut deaths among the sickest patients by a third. Dexamethasone, which costs around 50p a day, can cut deaths among the sickest patients by a third Last month it was also revealed that the steroid cuts death rates and hospital stays when combined with the arthritis drug tocilizumab The drug was made available to patients on English hospital wards last June just hours after the findings of a government-funded trial were reported. NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: Thanks to the exceptional work of our researchers, NHS staff and patients, around one million lives may have been saved around the world. Research that would usually take years produced answers in record time - with results that have reverberated across the globe. Just as this virus has spread across borders, so too must the treatments and vaccinations that are humanitys shared exit strategy from this pandemic. Last month it was also revealed that the steroid cuts death rates and hospital stays when combined with the arthritis drug tocilizumab. Just one dose of the anti-inflammatory drug normally used to treat arthritis, dramatically improves a patients survival chances, when taken alongside dexamethasone. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the lives saved showed that the UK is a world-class force in identifying and rolling out lifesaving treatments for both NHS patients and the global public. He added: Finding dexamethasone through our Government-funded Recovery trial was a true success story for British research and its fantastic to see the real impact its having saving lives here and around the world. BETHESDA, Md., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) issued a new framework today to help leaders across many sectorsincluding healthcare, business, education, employer, workforce, and governmentdevelop and implement communications that will promote vaccine acceptance and encourage the public to follow evidence-based COVID-19 prevention measures. The framework outlined in the report, COVID-19 Communications: Promoting Prevention Measures and Vaccine Confidence, offers a scalable approach with strategies and messaging for COVID-19 education and outreach efforts. The new report is based on discussions among a multidisciplinary group of experts at an NFID-led virtual roundtable with participants from more than 50 leading organizations and agencies, including the American College Health Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration, Johns Hopkins University, Kaiser Family Foundation, National Association of County and City Health Officials, National Business Group on Health, National Institutes of Health, National Medical Association, and Service Employees International Union. With more than 28 million cases of COVID-19 and 500,000 deaths in the US as of March 1, 2021, adherence to mitigation efforts remains paramount. To control the spread of COVID-19, CDC recommends wearing a mask that covers the nose and mouth, socially distancing, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, washing hands, staying home, especially when sick, and getting vaccinated when eligible. Roundtable participants noted that the unprecedented pandemic situation calls for leaders across all sectorsincluding business, religious organizations, public health, and educationto be part of the solution and to help keep the public informed of the most up-to-date recommendations. "Since the early days of the pandemic, CDC has recommended preventive measures such as masks and social distancing to control the spread of the virus, but hesitancy has persisted among several groups," said NFID Medical Director William Schaffner, MD. "Public health and medical professionals cannot do this alone. The only way we can address these challenges is by ensuring consistent communication that addresses concerns, meets the needs of various target audiences, and offers practical solutions to help people follow public health guidance." The NFID roundtable was held in late January 2021, as vaccination efforts started to accelerate across the country, and states were shifting their public health requirements. According to data presented at the roundtable by the Kaiser Family Foundation, challenges to ensuring consistent adherence to public health recommendations include misconceptions, personal views (wearing a mask should be a personal choice), and confusion over current guidelines. "By their very nature, pandemics are evolving public health crises, in which new scientific discoveries are made at a rapid pace," said NFID President-Elect Patricia A. Stinchfield, MS, CPNP. "Unfortunately, this can mean that the general public receives changing recommendations about how to keep themselves and others healthy, or they hear seemingly conflicting information about vaccineswhich can all be a bit overwhelming. Our role is to earn the trust of the people we want to protect and to listen and meet them where they are literally and figuratively." The Kaiser Family Foundation also shared data showing an increase in vaccine confidence among the public. As of February 2021, more than half of US adults (55 percent) said they want to get vaccinated as soon as possible (37 percent) or have already received at least one dose (18 percent), compared to 34 percent who wanted to get vaccinated as soon as possible in December 2020. About 22 percent said they would wait and see before they would get a vaccine, and the remaining 22 percent were unwilling to get vaccinated. For the wait-and-see group, the biggest concerns revolved around whether the vaccines are safe and the potential for serious and long-term side effects. Experts participating in the NFID roundtable agreed that in order to get the public to accept vaccination as a social norm, it is necessary to listen and respond to valid concerns. "To get through this pandemic, we need to continue to educate people about how best to minimize COVID-19 risks and build trust in the available vaccines," said NFID Executive Director and CEO Marla Dalton. "But these messages need to come from more than just public health and government organizations. They also need to be shared by trusted healthcare professionals, businesses, civic groups, and community leaders. Through this report, NFID is arming leaders across sectors with a framework they can use, to help ensure the safety of all." NFID issued the report on March 23, 2021marking the one-year anniversary of closing its Bethesda, MD office and shifting to a fully virtual work environment, following the US government declaration of COVID-19 as a national emergency on March 13, 2020. Additional resources about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines are available at www.nfid.org/coronavirus. About the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Founded in 1973, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating the public and healthcare professionals about the burden, causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases across the lifespan. Visit www.nfid.org for more information about NFID. Contact: Diana Olson, [email protected], 301-656-0003 x140 SOURCE National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Related Links http://www.nfid.org Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre listens to speakers during a change of command parade for the Canadian Army on Parliament Hill on August 20, 2019 in Ottawa. Acting chief of the defence staff Lt.-Gen. Eyre says he has asked for military officials to develop a "play book" for handling future misconduct allegations against senior officers. (Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press) Canadian Forces Writing Playbook for Handling Allegations Involving Top Brass OTTAWAThe Canadian Armed Forces is developing a suite of new initiatives aimed at tackling inappropriate behaviour in the ranks, the militarys acting commander revealed Tuesday, including a playbook for handling misconduct allegations against senior officers. The Armed Forces is also looking to update its existing code of conduct to more clearly define actions that are unacceptable, acting chief of the defence staff Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre said, and are looking at ways to better select military leaders. Eyre revealed the pending new measures in testimony to the House of Commons committee on the status of women, the second to probe the Liberal governments handling of allegations of sexual misconduct against senior military officers. Those include former defence chief Gen. Jonathan Vance and his successor, Admiral Art McDonald, whose seat Eyre is filling after McDonald temporarily stepped aside last month, only a few weeks after taking over from Vance. During his testimony, Eyre acknowledged the allegations against senior leaders had shaken service members, and suggested the military was at an inflection point when it came to misconduct in the ranks. He repeatedly linked the problem of inappropriate sexual behaviour in the military to power dynamics, and said that is one of the areas that the military needs to better understand if it is to eliminate such misconduct. One of the things we have to get much better at understanding is human power dynamics, especially in a fairly rigid military hierarchy, Eyre told members of the committee. Understanding what constitutes the use of that power. Such analysis is unlikely to develop overnight. In the meantime, Eyre listed a number of different initiatives in the works to address sexual misconduct on a shorter timeline. That includes coming up with the playbook, the development of which Eyre said was one of his first orders upon being named acting defence chief on Feb. 24, to help me deal with any further incidents of senior leader misconduct, so we can rapidly deal with those. Eyre did not provide further details, except to say the document is now in draft form. The Canadian Armed Forces is also planning to update its existing code of conduct, Eyre said, to add much more detail is to what is expected under each of our values, and then we need to hold ourselves to account. The acting defence chief also indicated the military was looking at ending Operation Honour, the allencompassing effort to eliminate sexual misconduct that was first launched by Vance upon his taking command of the Armed Forces in July 2015. Some, most notably Lt.Col. Eleanor Taylor, who recently announced that she was quitting the military following its failure to address misconduct in the ranks, have suggested that Operation Honour was poisoned because senior leaders failed to set a good example. I believe, and Ive heard from many, that perhaps this operation has culminated and we need to harvest what has worked from there, learn from what hasnt, and go forward with a deliberate change plan, Eyre told the committee. The acting defence chief, who was appearing with Lt.Gen. Frances Allen, the first woman to have been named second in command of the Canadian Armed Forces, also said work had already started on new ways to select and promote military leaders. That includes psychological testing and giving subordinates more say in how prospective leaders are assessed in an attempt to identify toxic behaviours. (Natural News) A federal judge opined on the increasingly left-wing nature of the mainstream media, saying its a threat to American democracy. (Article by Evan James republished from BigLeaguePolitics.com) Laurence Silberman, a conservative US circuit judge, included these remarks in his dissent on a defamation case. He called the New York Times, Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal news section, NPR, most network and cable news outlets, and Big Tech social media companies [virtual] Democratic Party broadsheets. One-party control of the press and media is a threat to a viable democracy, he said. Interestingly, Silberman also noted its not all that good for [one] man and his sonRupert and Lachlan Murdochto control Fox News, the New York Post, and the Wall Street Journal editorial page either. His dissent came in a 2-1 decision to throw out a case filed by two Liberian government officials against Global Witness, an environmental and human rights group. The officials argued that a Global Witness report implied their acceptance of bribes. But the majority opinion said that Global Witness was protected by the actual malice precedent of the 1964 SCOTUS decision in New York Times v. Sullivan. Silberman not only used his dissent to argue the opposite, but also to say that the Supreme Court should overturn its actual malice precedent altogether. He claims that this protection allows major media corporations and newspapers to cast false aspersions on public figures with near impunity, which is particularly harmful because most of them are not much more than Democratic Party mouthpieces. Read more at: BigLeaguePolitics.com and MediaFactWatch.com. Reporters from mainstream media are getting frustrated over the lack of border access. The White House said it would do something but has not scheduled a visit. The U.S. Mexico Border is getting to be the Biden's Administration's weak point. Failure to stop illegals and is causing problems for the United States. Lack of Border Access, or is the administration hiding something? The White House and lack of transparency is scathing President Biden, reported The Epoch Times. Mainstream media sees one of the biggest stories, but they are not allowed to cover it. The administration is failing to prove commitment to allow press access. Jen Psaki has been avoiding relevant questions from the press. Even retracting the word 'Crisis' in one of her comments. Even so, the DHS is not as open to questions about border problems. Reporters asked to visit the place where illegals stay have been ignored repeatedly. One official reason is the pandemic that might spread infection. Even direct requests to the U.S. Border Patrol have been denied. One network 'Radio Television Digital News Association' called out the administration to allow press coverage. Everyone knows the border is a mess and getting worse. Access to where illegals are is wanted to see what's really happening. Dan Shelley gave a letter to the White House explaining a position. He said that an information blackout from concerned agencies with lack of border access. Zero information from the Border Patrol and Department of Homeland Security protects the administration from serious questions. White House Still Denies Surging Border Crisis Keeping the press and public blind about the situation is not beneficial. Shelley questions why restricted access and blocking the real border news are needed. He said the migrant surge is a serious issue to cover. Overflowing migrants coming from mistakes by the administration must be revealed. The press should be allowed to act on its own. The condition of the illegals should also be exposed, if the facilities are suitable for the increased numbers of migrants. According to CNN, lack of transparency is suspected at the U.S. Mexico Border. CNN said that Department of Homeland (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas's trip to the border should be press-covered. Members of the press should be covering him as standard. Instead, Biden officials did not have press members in their border visits. Reporters need to be there first hand to send the information to newsrooms. The government is not giving any idea when they will allow actual border coverage when the news blackout is removed. An awarded Getty Photographer was not allowed to visit the border, saying that photos on the US side should be allowed. John Moore asked the US Customs and Border Protection to allow media border access. He tweeted that past administrations allowed access, but Biden is not. He added all photos taken were from the Mexican side. Like CNN and most of the press, the border situation is questionable. The media is telling the administration what they are hiding. There is a lack of border access, and information blackout by the Democrat administration and media is needed to see what's happening at the border; stonewalling makes it worse. Joe Biden's Policies to Blame for Sending Children to U.S. Border Biden Administration to Use Taxpayers' Money to Pay for Migrants' Hotel Accommodations Biden Promises Migrants Entry at the Border @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Polish writer is facing a possible three-year prison sentence after calling President Andrzej Duda a 'moron' on Facebook. Jakub Zulczyk said that prosecutors had charged him under an article in the criminal code for insulting the head of state over comments Duda made about US President Joe Biden's election victory. 'I am, I suspect, the first writer in this country in a very long time to be tried for what he wrote,' Zulczyk, who is the screenwriter behind the popular series Blinded by the Lights and Belfer, said in a Facebook post. On November 7 last year, Zulczyk commented on a curiously worded tweet in which Duda congratulated Biden for his 'successful presidential campaign' but said he was waiting for 'the nomination by the Electoral College'. Duda, who is supported by the populist right-wing Law and Justice (Pis) party, was a close ally of Biden's predecessor Donald Trump who unsuccessfully contested the election result. Jakub Zulczyk (pictured) said that prosecutors had charged him under an article in the criminal code for insulting the head of state over comments Duda made about US President Joe Biden's election victory In his comment, Zulczyk said that 'there is no such thing as 'nomination by the Electoral College'', adding that Biden's confirmation as US president was 'a mere formality'. 'Andrzej Duda is a moron', he wrote. Aleksandra Skrzyniarz, a spokeswoman for Warsaw district prosecutors, told Polish news agency PAP on Monday that charges had been filed against a man, naming him only as 'Jakub Z'. 'The defendant was accused of committing an act of public insult on 7 November last year on a social network website against the President of the Republic of Poland, by using a term commonly recognised as insulting,' Skrzyniarz said. On November 7 last year, Zulczyk commented on a curiously worded tweet in which President Andrzej Duda (pictured) congratulated Biden for his 'successful presidential campaign' but said he was waiting for 'the nomination by the Electoral College' [File photo] She added that the charge had been filed earlier this month and that the suspect had been questioned but 'did not admit to committing the alleged act and gave explanations.' 'He indicated that the statement constituted a critical assessment of the president's actions,' she said. Poland has been criticised repeatedly for its different insult laws, including one on offending religious feeling and another on insulting the flags of Poland or other countries. 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. Born less than a year ago, this is Betty's first Easter, and she's very excited to represent her amphibian friends. Betty sleeps during the day, but when the lights go out, the real fun begins. She enjoys snacking, bathing in her favorite bowl, jumping around and hanging out with her fellow frog friends. Aside from being the contest's smallest winner to-date and a natural at the bunny hop, Betty is also making history as the first amphibian and first female winner. "Betty's been a great addition to our home and we are so glad we get to share her with the rest of the world!" said Kaitlyn V., Betty's owner. "She has been a wonderful companion at college and thanks to the support of my friends, family and the amphibian community, I know she'll make Cadbury proud as she inherits the bunny ears." With over 12,000 entries nationwide, 2021 was a record year for the Cadbury Bunny Tryouts. Together, the Cadbury team judges and last year's winner and guest judge, Lieutenant Dan, narrowed the contenders down to the most diverse 10 finalists ever, including a frog, donkey, miniature horse and goat. For the second year in a row, the winner selected by the judges was also chosen by America and this year, Betty was the fan favorite! "Thank you to all of our amazing finalists in the Cadbury Bunny Tryouts this year and congratulations to Betty the frog, our newest Cadbury Bunny! We are so excited to pass the coveted ears to her and know that she is going make a great addition to our Cadbury Bunny 'hall of fame,'" said Trevor Jakubek, Senior Associate Brand Manager, Cadbury Brand team. In celebration of her win, Betty will not only star in the 2021 Cadbury Clucking Bunny Commercial, set to appear this Easter season, but will also receive a $5,000 cash prize. To honor animals nationwide, the Cadbury brand is also donating $15,000 to the The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), continuing its partnership with the nation's leading animal welfare organization. Get the latest information on Cadbury USA at: https://www.facebook.com/CadburyUSA/ https://www.instagram.com/cadburyusa/ https://twitter.com/CadburyUSA *The Hershey Company sells Cadbury products under license from Cadbury UK Ltd. About The Hershey Company The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pa., and is an industry-leading snacks company known for bringing goodness to the world through its iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to help children succeed. Hershey has approximately 17,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 80 brands around the world that drive more than $8 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, SkinnyPop, and Pirate's Booty. For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on helping children succeed. To learn more visit www.thehersheycompany.com Follow: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook YouTube Instagram SOURCE The Hershey Company Related Links https://www.thehersheycompany.com ADVERTISEMENT A total number of 91 cases of rape were recorded between January and February in Lagos, while that of gender-based violence were 127, Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu has said. Mr Odumosu said this on Monday during a press briefing on the cases handled by the command in the first two months of 2021. Rape is not only perpetrated by adults as teenagers were recently arrested raping another minor, the Commissioner said. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how four teenagers gang-raped a girl at the Ejigbo area of Lagos. The suspects, all 16 years old, raped the girl in a room at 33, Alhaji Obe Street Ejigbo, around 10 p.m on February 18. Other cases of rape and gender-based violence were also recorded in the state during the period. The Commissioner did not clarify if all suspects involved in the rape and gender-based violence cases were apprehended. Meanwhile, the police commissioner disclosed that a total number of 3,258 cases were charged to court between January and February for different offences. Out of this number, 1,107 persons have been convicted and fined, he said. Mr Odumosu reiterated the commands resolve to combat crimes and improve the security architecture of Lagos State. I taught both my children about consent when they were still at daycare. I explained that sometimes they would be playing in the sandpit and see another child with a toy they wanted to play with. I explained that they had to ask first. I also explained that just because someone says you can play with their toy it doesnt mean you can play with it indefinitely, break it or take it home. If they want it back you have to give it back. Women are angry and theyre not going away ... the March 4 Justice at Parliament House last week. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Given all the debates about consent going on in this country youd be forgiven for thinking consent is a bafflingly complex issue. In fact, its something we deal with every day. We ask permission. We pay attention to other peoples words and body language. We negotiate. Supplier News 23 March 2021 Zurich/Copenhagen/Berlin/Oakland - Beekeeper, the leading mobile workforce productivity and collaboration platform designed specifically for frontline workers, today announced the acquisition of Lua. The acquisition of this prime operational workflow platform underlines Beekeeper's commitment to providing a full-stack mobile platform to enable frontline teams to operate more efficiently and effectively. Lua, with a presence in Denmark and the U.S., digitizes how work is coordinated and orchestrated across frontline teams. Beekeeper and Lua will use their combined expertise to digitize manual, paper-based processes to enable companies globally several trillion dollars in productivity gains. With two billion frontline workers worldwide working in essential industries like healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and hospitality, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the inadequacy of the tools they have been given to do their jobs. In the past, frontline workers have been overlooked in terms of technology investments. Frontline technologies receive only 1% of all venture capital each year, despite frontliners accounting for 80% of the global workforce. The predominant way their work is orchestrated today is manual on paper or with antiquated software that is only available to supervisors. The lack of automation of recurring frontline processes is highly inefficient and is costing companies almost three hours per frontline worker per week. These are the savings that Beekeeper and Lua aim to achieve for their customers. "Lua is a godsend to the frontline world," said Anja Luthje, CEO of Unique Hospitality Solutions and former executive at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. "What is special about Lua is that workflows can be digitized in an interactive and personalized manner. It's a great technology that you can start using in less than 24 hours. The fact that it's very user friendly and allows employees to communicate in their preferred language leads to fast team adoption. It boosts team productivity right away and supports efficiency in a lean departmental structure that so many organizations are working with currently." Leading global brands currently rely on Lua to power their standard operating procedures to save time and increase quality. Their workflow engine supports the process every step along the chain, for example from a housekeeper cleaning a room to a supervisor inspecting it. By adding Lua's unique technology and talent in building and connecting frontline workflows, Beekeeper will further strengthen its operational capabilities to tackle the massive productivity gain opportunity that exists in the market. Frontline teams will benefit from having access to a full-stack mobile collaboration platform that will allow them to orchestrate their work in a truly agile and dynamic way. "Joining Beekeeper is an incredible moment for our team. We have spent the last three years building the best frontline workflow platform in the market that is at the very core of the work these teams do. Today, customers in five continents around the world rely on our system to run their teams and to run their companies, enabling them to become more efficient and effective," said Hugh O'Flanagan, CEO and Co-Founder of Lua. "We will continue to work, now as one team, to turn businesses from manual to magical and we cannot wait for what we will achieve together." "Frontline workers are often the most public-facing employees, and even those who aren't, they still guide the customer journey. They are the forefront of our businesses, as well as the backbone of the economy, and deserve to be given the right tools to succeed," said Cristian Grossmann, CEO and Co-Founder of Beekeeper. "With the acquisition of Lua, Beekeeper continues to accelerate its position as the leading mobile workforce productivity and collaboration platform for frontline workers. We will continue to put their needs first and are excited to spearhead the digitalization of this trillion-dollar market." About Lua Lua digitizes how work is coordinated and orchestrated across frontline teams, empowering them to ditch manual, paper processes and work like it's actually the 21st century. With everything teams need to get work done in a simple, consumer-grade platform, businesses across the world use Lua to become more efficient and effective every day. Website: www.lua.work, Blog: blog.lua.work Sources: The Connected Worker, 2018 Deloitte UK / 8% working time lost (page 12) Breakdown Workers Per Industry, Worldbank, http://desklessworkforce2018.com/ - EURUSD spot rate is 1.18689 (-0.53%) - MUFG: Break of support to see further selling. - Commerzbank: also bearish on Euro-Dollar exchange rate. Foreign exchange analysts at MUFG note that the ECB move to increase bond purchases has made the Euro more vulnerable on yield grounds. Any retreat below key support near 1.1850 for the Euro-to-Dollar exchange rate (EUR/USD) would increase the threat of further selling. On Monday, the ECB reported that the pace of bond purchases under the PEPP programme was increased to EUR21bn in the latest week, an increase of close to 50% from the average over the previous four weeks and the second-highest weekly amount over the past six months. There will be weekly volatility, but the monthly pace is likely to be notably higher from the EUR50bn seen over the past few months. The ECB said it will ramp up the pace of its purchases of eurozone debt after a recent rise in bond yields, diverging from the Federal Reserve https://t.co/u0wOTZVfKU Real Time Economics (@WSJecon) March 16, 2021 Yield trends sap Euro support The increase in bond purchases has helped curb Euro-zone bond yields and stands in contrast to the more relaxed tone from the Federal Reserve and Bank of England. The stronger pushback from the ECB against rising long-term yields compared to the Fed and BoE which have adopted a more hands off approach has contributed in part to the sharp widening in yield spreads against the euro. The bank looks at the EUR/USD dynamics as the pair approaches a key support area. The pair has not traded below the 200-day moving average since May of last year, and if broken would send bearish signal that the correction lower so far this year is likely to extend further. The Euro actually posted net gains on Monday, but EUR/USD hit resistance just below 1.1950 and was back on the defensive on Tuesday to trade below 1.1900. Commerzbank also maintains a negative bias on the EURUSD exchange rate; we look for a slide back to the 200 day ma and last weeks low at 1.1853/35. Failure here will target 1.1750 and the 1.1695/02 support. Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh: Rescuers recovered at least 15 charred bodies from a Rohingya refugee camp in southern Bangladesh after a devastating fire that destroyed thousands of shelters, officials said on Tuesday. At least 400 people were still missing and around 560 were injured by the fire, according to Louise Donovan, a spokesperson for the United Nations refugee agency. The UNHCR said around 45,000 people were displaced by the fire, which broke out Monday afternoon and burned well into the night. Rohingya refugees stand at the site of Mondays fire at a refugee camp in Balukhali, southern Bangladesh. Credit:AP In the aftermath, refugees picked through the burned debris looking for their belongings. Others wept. Yesterday before the fire started, my kids went to study at the Islamic school. I did not see them after they came back. I found two of my older kids but I still cant find my youngest son, said Shappuni, Rohingya refugee who uses only one name. PHOENIX, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CND Life Sciences, Inc. (https://cndlifesciences.com/), an innovative medical technology company pioneering the detection, visualization, and quantification of protein deposition in cutaneous nerve fibers, announced today the closing of a $2.4 million series seed financing round. HonorHealth, a local health system serving 1.6 million people in the greater Phoenix area, joined several experienced financial investors in funding the round. "The seed capital enables us to expand laboratory operations and accelerate sales and marketing initiatives for our Syn-One TestTM, an evidence-based tool that aids the diagnosis of serious neurological disorders including Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies," said Richard Morello, Chief Executive Officer, CND Life Sciences. "We look forward to broadening the reach of our Syn-One Test and increasing our support for neurologists and patients nationwide." The Syn-One Test is a breakthrough in diagnosing a group of neurodegenerative diseases called synucleinopathies. These serious disorders share a common pathological marker - an abnormal form of a protein known as alpha-synuclein that accumulates in nerve cells and causes progressive decline in neurological functions. Syn-One is the only commercially available test that uses a simple skin biopsy to make it easy for physicians and patients to obtain visual, pathological proof of abnormal alpha-synuclein, increasing confidence in the diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan. "HonorHealth recognizes the importance of world-class technology to advance the care of our patients, and our support for the work of CND Life Sciences reflects this commitment to those we care for," said Todd LaPorte, CEO HonorHealth. "Diagnosing and treating neurodegenerative diseases with novel, evidence-based tools is a priority for HonorHealth. CND is playing an important role to advance the science of diagnostic testing in this field." Since launching in late 2019, the Syn-One Test has been ordered by more than 100 neurologists in 20 states to help diagnose patients early in the disease process as possible. Multiple biopharmaceutical companies are also using the test to help optimize clinical trials for investigational drugs intended to treat the underlying causes of synucleinopathies like Parkinson's disease. "We are excited to work with the founders and management team of CND Life Sciences to fulfill its important mission," said Peter Harris, Chairman of the Board, CND Life Sciences, and the seed round's lead investor. "CND is a fast-growing pioneer in neurodiagnostics, and we have assembled an outstanding group of investors to help drive the company's plan." About the Syn-One Test The Syn-One Test leverages a decade of published science by world experts and carefully honed laboratory techniques to identify an abnormal form of a protein known as alpha-synuclein. By obtaining three small punch skin biopsies performed in office by the patient's clinician, CND applies specialized methods to detect folded, phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in dermal layers of the skin. This abnormal form is a well-known biomarker for a family of diseases called synucleinopathies, the most prominent type being Parkinson's disease. A physician ordering Syn-One receives a detailed report of the pathologic findings of the test, including visual images of the patient's cutaneous nerve fibers and a determination of the presence of abnormal synuclein. About Synucleinopathies There are over 20 million people in the US who suffer from movement disorders, cognitive impairment, autonomic dysfunction, and sleep disorders collectively. A percentage of these patients exhibit signs and symptoms indicative of a synucleinopathy, a group of serious neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's and dementia with Lewy bodies, that universally feature abnormal alpha-synuclein. For a portion of these patients, the absence of objective pathological proof makes a physician's diagnosis and treatment choices difficult to determine with confidence. Published studies suggest that even the most experienced neurologists specializing in movement disorders have challenges making positive diagnoses of synucleinopathies in over 30% of cases early in the disease course. About CND Life Sciences Founded in 2017, CND Life Sciences is dedicated to supporting the care of patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases and other related conditions. Operating a CLIA-certified laboratory in Phoenix, Arizona, CND launched the Syn-One Test as the world's first commercially available test to detect, visualize, and quantify the presence of abnormal, phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in cutaneous nerve fibers. The test is intended to serve as an objective, evidence-based diagnostic tool to aid in the confirmation of synucleinopathy in patients with suspected Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy body (DLB), multiple system atrophy (MSA), pure autonomic failure (PAF) or REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Through proprietary staining and analysis of three (3) small punch skin biopsies performed and provided by a referring clinician, CND offers a convenient, accurate, minimally invasive alternative to add clarity and confidence in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. The company has research collaborations with multiple biopharmaceutical companies and in 2020 was awarded a prestigious NIH SBIR award to advance the validation and clinical utility of its Syn-One Test. For more information visit www.cndlifesciences.com . Disclosure: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R44NS117214. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. SOURCE CND Life Sciences Related Links http://www.cndlifesciences.com Strategically focusing on smaller-sized loans that support women- and minority-owned businesses, my company American Lending Center (ALC), a community non-bank lender, has provided over $152 million in relief funds to enterprises in 49 states across the country almost exclusively under SBA programs Today over 70 percent of business owners throughout the U.S. have turned to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) - a loan process created by the federal government for struggling enterprises to mitigate the economic effects of COVID-19 - for assistance in keeping their companies afloat. President Biden recently announced revisions to the PPP to better target our nations smallest businesses, specifically mandating a two-week period that started on February 24th wherein only businesses with fewer than 20 employees could apply. As we near a full year of pandemic lockdowns and closures, over 70 percent of business owners throughout the U.S. have turned to the PPP for assistance in keeping their companies afloat. Strategically focusing on smaller-sized loans that support women- and minority-owned businesses, my company American Lending Center (ALC), a community non-bank lender, has provided over $152 million in relief funds to enterprises in 49 states across the country almost exclusively under SBA programs. And while ALC has been able to make a marked impact throughout the country, in California specifically, ALC has funded over 300 PPP loans, delivering approximately $12.5 million into Californias small business ecosystem. Unlike the national average loan size of over $100,000, ALCs average PPP loan amount was only $27,075 in 2020, with 89% of recipients being minority or women owned businesses and 60% being self-employed. Additionally, most first-time borrowers were funded within just three days of their SBA processing by ALC. ALC recognizes that small businesses make up more than 99 percent of California businesses and employ nearly half of all working Californians. At 4.2 million, California has the most small businesses of any state, employing 7.2 million people and creating approximately 215,000 jobs in 2019 alone. With such a significant impact, putting these businesses at the forefront of COVID relief is vital to protecting main street economies, in particular minority- and women-owned enterprises. The initial bumpy rollout of PPP was due in large part to a backlog of applications at big banks, leaving small main street enterprises behind. Community non-bank lenders, including ALC, stepped up to provide alternative lending sources and secured expedited approval from the SBA to receive PPP applications. Ultimately, being intimately familiar with the local business landscape and effectively circumventing many of the bureaucratic hurdles that prevent large banks from getting money out the door, we can get crucial funds into the pockets of business owners quickly. Particularly for small companies with limited resources and for many in new immigrant communities, PPP loans can still seem unattainable. To combat this, ALC developed an innovative new partnership program increasing access to capital for our most vulnerable American companies via collaboration with multi-lingual CPAs and financial advisors. For many business owners for whom English is a second language, the PPP loan process can be overly daunting, leading to an increasing number of new immigrant businesses closing their doors. Effectively bridging this barrier to success, ALC has made sure that language differences will not inhibit achievement of the American dream for which so many have come to the United States. Amid this uncertain time, one thing remains clear: fighting this pandemic and its economic fallout requires a united effort. As the private sector shifts to dedicate financial resources, supply chains and manpower to help better understand and control this disease, we continue to make significant progress in treating COVID-19 and mitigating the economic fallout that has resulted from it. At American Lending Center we have long supported the small business community and ALC will continue to act on the longstanding belief that small businesses and grassroots entrepreneurs are the true engines of the U.S. economy. Find the ALC PPP application portal at: alcppp.com Learn more about ALC at http://AmericanLendingCenter.com The daily Southwest border updates are generating nationwide concern, except in Washington, D.C., where indifference reigns. The latest Department of Homeland Security report showed that in February, more than 100,000 people were either apprehended by or surrendered to federal immigration officials on the U.S.-Mexico border. Those totals, a 14-year high, include about 9,460 unaccompanied minors and more than 19,240 family units, which reflect 62% and 38% increases, respectively, when compared to Januarys statistics. Nonetheless, President Biden, DHS Secretary Alejandro Majorkas, and press secretary Jen Psaki refuse to even hint that the administrations lax border policies need immediate reining in. For his part, Biden has not spoken officially about what his administration calls a border challenge. But Psaki refused to call the border rush a crisis, instead labeling it an enormous challenge. Mayorkas, when asked a similar question about whether the border events represented a crisis, answered with a flat out no. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott didnt hesitate to call the growing border chaos a crisis. Abbott has a better perspective on the border influx than White House operatives, and the governor formed Operation Lone Star to deploy personnel from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard to the border to secure the area. Abbott said Operation Lone Stars goal is to deny Mexican cartels and other smugglers the ability to move drugs and people into Texas. While the White House border rhetoric has focused almost exclusively on what it describes as the need for a humanitarian response to migration, its ignored the undeniable connection between open borders and human smuggling. Ohio Sen. Rob Portman is the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs top Republican who has overseen three separate committee investigations that date back over several administrations. Portmans 2016 investigation, Protecting Unaccompanied Alien Children from Trafficking and Other Abuses, uncovered that the Department of Health and Human Services failed to adequately vet or to conduct in-depth background checks on the Ohio adults to whom it released minor children. The adults turned out to be human smugglers. The 2018 report, Oversight of the Care of Unaccompanied Minor Children, came to similarly shocking and dangerous conclusions. HHS and DHS didnt make the recommended post-2016 changes to trafficking crimes and to tracking whether released aliens report for their designated immigration court dates. Biden appears either under-informed or indifferent. After ending the Remain in Mexico policy, the latest federal governments inducement for more unaccompanied children to rush the border is that HHS will pay for minors in its custody to be flown to their sponsor or family members home, often illegal immigrants, when, as is invariably the case, the receiving adult cannot pay. Furthermore, Bidens DHS submitted a notice to the Federal Register to withdraw an existing proposed rule that would require the receiving immigrant to sponsor and care for an arriving migrant once he or she becomes a lawful permanent resident. While Biden and those close to him debate semantics, DHS has reached its breaking point, and begged ICE deportation officers to travel to the border ASAP to help with what the agency called security operations for the illegal immigrant children and families that have overwhelmed a swamped Border Patrol. Michael Meade, Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director, pleaded for immediate action. Volunteers would include civilians with medical or legal experience as well as drivers and food servers. Officials on the scene wont speculate on when the emergency request for increased border assistance might be called off. The Biden administration is in full denial, and the president refuses to travel to the border to evaluate conditions. As the surge with its associated criminal and COVID-19 risks intensifies daily, an educated guess is that the existing calamitous circumstances will remain unchanged well into the peak summer months. Joe Guzzardi is a Progressives for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years. Contact him at jguzzardi@pfirdc.org. The Government needs to outline what percentage of the population needs to be vaccinated before pubs will be allowed open, an Oireachtas committee has heard. Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) chief executive Donall OKeeffe said publicans have been hit extraordinarily hard since the onset of the pandemic. The organisation, which represents publicans in Dublin, called for clarification on reopening dates and further financial supports for the sector. Mr OKeeffe said: The LVA understands the specific reopening dates cannot be provided at this time. However, we are calling on the Government to publicly communicate the circumstances that must apply to allow the full reopening of the hospitality sector, and the trading environment post-reopening. Expand Close Chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association Donall OKeeffe (Julien Behal/PA Wire) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association Donall OKeeffe (Julien Behal/PA Wire) What percentage of the adult population will need to be vaccinated to allow all pubs/hospitality businesses to reopen? What level of community transmission will need to apply to allow our sector to reopen and will it be the case the pubs/hospitality can only reopen for vaccinated customers? Mr OKeeffe said that as of Tuesday traditional pubs that do not serve food have been closed for 372 days and assuming a June reopening will have been closed for 15 months. They have also had to deal with the appalling will they, wont they reopen? through several Nphet/Government review dates July-October of last year, he said. Expand Close People walk past Sinnotts pub in Dublins city centre (Brian Lawless/PA Wire) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People walk past Sinnotts pub in Dublins city centre (Brian Lawless/PA Wire) He also told the committee there was no justification for so-called wet pubs to be kept shut while pubs serving food are allowed open. Mr OKeeffe was among a number of representatives appearing before the Tourism Committee on Tuesday. The committee also heard that half of all restaurants are on the brink of collapse because of a build-up of debt due to Covid-19. Restaurants Association of Ireland chief executive Adrian Cummins said businesses are treading water and in need of additional Government support if they are going to survive the pandemic. Mr Cummins urged a doubling of the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) payment to assist businesses because the grant only coves 50% of businesses fixed costs. Our CEO @adriancummins speaking today at the Joint Committee on Tourism. It is clear that continued & expanded supports for survival are needed An outline of where the country needs to be before reopening - including metrics is needed & a detailed plan for reopening pic.twitter.com/gtQqmDH6BC Restaurants Association of Ireland (@RAI_ie) March 23, 2021 Mr Cummins said: Businesses are treading water, and were pushing businesses into the liquidation zone and we can see from our own internal research and data that 50% of businesses are on the brink of collapse because of outstanding build-up of debt that theyve acquired over the last number of years. So (we need) a doubling of the CRSS, a restart grant, the commercial rate waiver has to go to the end of this year and the Vat rate (of 9%) until 2025. Theyre the key ones that Government have to have policy-wise going forward. The Vintners Federation of Ireland also called on the Government to provide the industry with some targets for reopening. VFI chief executive Padraig Cribben appealed for the Government not to leave it until the last minute to inform them. "What's the criteria for reopening?" asks @padraigcribben at @OireachtasNews Committee meeting. "Don't leave it until last minute". VFI (@VFIpubs) March 23, 2021 Mr Cribben said: Were not looking for specific dates we need to know the level of vaccination thats going to be required to reopen. He said outdoor dining was not a viable option for the majority of Irish pubs and restaurants. The one thing we know is that we can get a bout of hailstones as much as a bout of sunshine in the month of July or August, he said. Talking about outdoor dining in an Irish context is, by and large, a red herring. Businesses will not be viable as outdoor (operations) particularly if you take constituencies where there is a big dependency on tourism. He also told the committee that the artificial divide between pubs that serve food and those that do not has created unnecessary divisions and pressures. New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the gruesome incident of rape of a five-year-old girl in a Gandhinagar private school. Kejriwal termed the incident as a Shameful act and said such incident will not be tolerated. He said the state govt will develop a protocol for all private schools to ensure children's safety. Shameful. Won't be tolerated. Police doing its job. Ordered magisterial enquiry. Will develop a protocol for all schools to ensure children's safety, CM Kejriwal tweeted. The magisterial inquiry will be headed by SDM Vivek Vihar who will submit a report within three-days. Also Read | Ryan school murder: Police lathi charge parents demanding CBI probe, govt accepts negligence on schools part The class one student of a private school in east Delhis Raghubarpura near Gandhinagar was raped inside an empty classroom allegedly by a peon on Saturday. The girl came home in a critical condition and told her mother about the horrific tale. The parents of the victim took her to a hospital where medical examination confirmed the sexual assault. Vikas, the accused peon has been arrested by the Delhi police hours after the incident. He has been working there for past three years. Editor: I am a U.S. citizen and the spouse of a foreign national. I feel my family is being left behind as bills with immigration reform provisions are being introduced, like the Farm Workers Modernization Act. The waiver language in this bill provides relief for minor unlawful presences for farm laborers while ignoring the similar plight of members of 1.8 million family members of U.S. citizens. This bill would create a disparity in outcome and equity in favor of workers and fail to support families who have a citizens spouse that tries to navigate a sea of technical immigration law land mines. I support waiving past unlawful presence in the country for farm workers, but doing so is only fair and equitable if it includes members of citizens families with similar issues. When we talk about family values lets consider if people living in fear is a value for society. Broken immigration laws disrupt nuclear families and hobble the foundations of our communities. We need laws that value families, that support family unity and do not undermine the cornerstone of our society, the family unit. Members of Congress should make changes to the Farm Workers Act to put citizens families on equal footing with farm laborers. OCTAVIO RODRIGUEZ TAYLOR Editor: I cant believe people who want to restrict immigration into the United States. Who do they expect to clean the toilets in hotels, wash the dishes in restaurants, pick the crops for the food we eat and do low-level jobs in construction, warehouses, meatpacking plants and so forth? Since this country was founded, successive waves of immigrants have filled those types of jobs. Nearly all of us have ancestors who worked in the mines and did other low-level jobs. Thats the American story. Many of the people who want to restrict immigration are followers of former President Trump. These are the same people who believed that he was going to build a wall on the southern border and, get this, Mexico was going to pay for it. Like the great showman P.T. Barnum said, theres a sucker born every minute. JOE COGNETTI SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. Editor: It appears that, in the end, the Republican fallback position is all about immigration, which, truthfully, is the only issue President Trumps supporters had. Trump played off of various real economic issues during his 2016 campaign, but did very little to address those issues once he was in office. The American industrial economy began taking on water in the 1970s, went under during the years under President Reagan in the 1980s and hit bottom in the 1990s under President Clinton. Corporations moved production to China, India and other offshore locations because labor is cheap there. The only way manufacturing would come back to the United States is if the cost of moving freight across the sea becomes prohibitive. So, were back to border issues and the supposed hordes of non-Anglo immigrants that are pouring in. Some members of whats left of traditional, white America have become hysterical because they dont look like us. That is exactly how White America felt about the Irish, Poles and Italians about a century ago. Its called irony. JEFFREY M. McHALE OLYPHANT Editor: A multitude of unorthodox Catholics surely are upset about the recent Vatican decree concerning same-sex unions described in the recent Chris Kelly column: Gay priest answering to God, not the Vatican (March 17). The Vatican simply reaffirmed what always has been taught. Same-sex attraction is not sinful. What is sinful is living out the same-sex attraction in public or private life. Orthodox Catholics have heard the concerns of Catholic homosexuals disassociation in the Catholic Church since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2015. Same-sex advocates speak louder and louder for Rome to change the churchs catechism concerning the issues of same-sex attraction. Its not just the laity. The Rev. James Martin, S.J., a writer and editor, is known all the way to Rome for his progressive homosexual agenda. Martin publicly advocates changing this abusive language in the Catechism... which states that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. But before the catechism could change, Rome would have to change parts of the Bible to reflect todays progressive thinking about the issue. The Catholic Church can draw directly from the Bible to affirm its moral position on homosexuality. Would anyone, especially a priest, actually dare to deny the word of God in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 or Romans 1:26-27? The Bible is inspired by God. Where are the same-sex advocates going to appeal for changing the Bible? DAN PRYOR BELVIDERE, NEW JERSEY Editor: Scrantons city fathers seem to be in a quandary about whether to rename a major thoroughfare in honor of our new president, who is a native of Scranton. The solution could be easy. Someone should simply go to President Biden and ask him to change his name to Joe Wyoming. ELMER ZELLA GREENFIELD TWP. Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk. Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen. If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned. I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country. It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously. Vote View Results A man who jumped from his car and tore down an activist banner blocking traffic in Perths CBD has been charged with numerous offences. Dennis Huts, 52, from Southern River, was arrested on Tuesday after ripping an Extinction Rebellion climate change sign out of the hands of protesters outside Perth Train Station on Wellington Street. He was immediately tackled to the ground by police officers watching over the demonstration and was later charged with common assault, obstructing public officers and disorderly conduct. One of the officers suffered a knee injury while arresting Mr Huts. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WLFI) - People gathered at the Indiana Statehouse on Tuesday to mourn the losses of COVID-19, and to send a message to lawmakers across the state. Hoosier Action hosted the event. They are a non-partisan, statewide member-led community organization advocating at the statehouse for issues everyday Hoosiers face. As we've previously reported, March marks one year since COVID-19 struck Indiana. Tuesday's event began with a vigil and words from faith leaders from several different religions. "We are one in our humanity," said Rabbi Brett Krichiver from the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. "Plague has brought us together in sacrifice and celebrating our freedom." "Put grief into God's hands and don't let it become bigger than life," said Imam Michael Saahir of the Nur-Allah Islamic Center in Indianapolis. "There are lessons in this situation we must listen to." "Death won't get the last word," said Pastor Amanda Meade from First Christian Church in Jeffersonville. "We must acknowledge our grief and finding meaning in it." As a list of people lost to COVID-19 was read, people brought up flowers and photographs of their loved ones lost to honor their legacies. Kim White-Mills is a leader with Hoosier Action. She said they have been advocating for bills at the Statehouse for three weeks now, with much of their advocacy falling on deaf ears. They want to see elected leaders take action to help their fellow Hoosiers. "The hope for the future is that our legislators can take a look at the individual experiences of Hoosiers from across the state and they should take that into account as they pass legislation," she said. Speakers at the event talked about how COVID has exacerbated other issues facing Hoosiers that need addressed. Such as the opioid and addiction crisis, mental health, unemployment, access to health care environmental impacts on health and workplace accommodations for pregnant mothers. Local lawmakers say they understand the pain people have gone through, and will do their best to stand up for those people. "Yes we are facing some huge issues this year, but we face these issues every year and we have neglected to invest in people," said State Representative Chris Campbell, (D) District 26. "I know I've thought about my parents a lot in this when helping people and thought to myself if that was my mom and dad, what would I want?" said State Senator Ron Alting, (R) District 22. Both State Rep. Campbell and State Sen. Alting said they have lost friends at the hands of COVID and have received dozens of calls from constituents who are concerned about their quality of life. Both also said they plan to use those experiences to impact their decision making as they vote on legislation. The Hoosier Action Resource Center will also release a white paper report detailing the struggles Hoosiers have faced in the past year. White-Mills said this document was put together by a research team at Hoosier Action. They spent several months putting together a report on the many issues they are advocating for. It will eventually be published to the Hoosier Action LinkTree website. There is still some time for bills to be addressed here at the statehouse. We are a little over a month away from the end of the legislative session on April 29th. Paraguays INC sets 70,000bags/day output target ICR Newsroom By 23 March 2021 Paraguay-based Industria Nacional de Cemento (INC) reported that the production of cement at its Vallemi plant is normalising at nearly 50,000 bags/day. The state-owned cement producer currently has a production target of 70,000 bags/day. INC President, Ernesto Benitez, said that once imported stock is sold, the INC product will be able to reach the market via the usual channels. There is still a significant amount of this imported cement in the warehouses and this delays the departure of the INC cements. The distributors themselves need to get rid of these imported goods since our cement is of higher quality and then the imported one will stop being sold, he explained. He added that the price of a bag of cement is normalising at around PYG48,000 (US$7.27) for the central region. Published under Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21) - The Department of Health on Sunday said the draft of the implementing rules and regulations for the COVID-19 vaccination law is still being finalized. The DOH, together with the government agencies composing the Vaccine Cluster of the National Task Force against COVID-19, as provided by law, are still in the process of reconciling the proposed provisions with other existing laws and guidelines, read the statement. The DOH made the statement after a copy of the administrative order, which outlined some sections of the draft of the IRR, was supposedly leaked. An alleged portion of the leaked document stated that the National Task Force against COVID-19 and the DOH shall review requests of private entities to procure vaccines to ensure that they are not related to the industry manufacturing tobacco and other products in conflict with public health. Some senators were alarmed over the reports, saying the exemption of some industries would slow down the vaccination of Filipinos and delay governments aim to achieve herd immunity. We are about to see a total wipeout of the 50% donation of vaccines by these large companies, donations which are stipulated in each tripartite agreement among private entities, vaccine manufacturers and the government, said Senator Imee Marcos in a statement. For his part, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said that such a provision, if true, is considered discriminatory. The law does not discriminate against or exclude companies based on their products, services, or lines of business, he said. The supposed administrative order, therefore, is discriminatory and it would go beyond the law and would constitute an actionable wrong. He noted that the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, which was signed into law last February, clearly states that "private entities may procure COVID-19 vaccines only in cooperation with the DOH and the NTF through a multiparty agreement, which shall include the DOH and the relevant supplier of COVID-19 vaccine." Of the 17 million vaccine doses ordered by the private sector from AstraZeneca, 2.5 million are expected to arrive either in May or June, while the remaining doses will be delivered by the third quarter. There were also supply deals with pharmaceutical firms Moderna and Novavax. The DOH said the government has no intention of discriminating against any sector from accessing vaccines. The DOH emphasizes that the national government commits to provide all Filipinos equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines following the prioritization criteria and list approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, said the agency. The development of the IRR is guided by the principles of equal respect, national equity and legitimacy, found in the WHO SAGE Values Framework. Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said government officials would look into laws supposedly banning the private sector from procuring vaccines. Pero sa panahon ng pandemya, lahat po 'yan ay susuriin at rerepasuhin. Dahil mas maraming bakuna ang mapaparating natin, mas mabuti para sa ating bayan. This will be discussed po, he said in a press briefing. [Translation: In this time of pandemic, we will look into and polish everything. Because the more vaccines that we can distribute, the better for our country. This will be discussed.] The DOH assured that a multiparty agreement among the agency, National Task Force against COVID-19, vaccine manufacturers, and other procuring entities will be honored by the national government. All comments and recommendations from different stakeholders are still welcome until the finalization and approval of the IRR, said the DOH. Some TikTok users said that they are having a hard time messaging another account. This is because these people don't follow the individuals they want to DM. If you are one of the users who don't want some people to know that you are messaging a certain individual, this quick guide is exactly what you need. However, there's a catch since your ability to message another user will depend on their account's settings. How to message on TikTok According to Support TikTok's latest post, the popular video platform offers the Direct Message feature that allows its users to DM their friends and other people they are currently following. To do this, all you need to do is follow these steps: Go to the person's profile that you want to message. Click the message icon. After that, all you need to do is type in your message. Also Read: Twitter to Debut YouTube Videos to Directly Play and Run via the iOS and Android App Without Switching! On the other hand, you can also send videos to them using the app's Direct Message feature. Just follow these simple steps: Click the Share button on the video and choose the TikTok app. After that, click the message and select the user you want to send the video to. Once you find that specific user, all you need to do is click the Send option. Can you DM a TikTok user without following them? TikTok confirmed that it had implemented new restrictions on the users who can use the app's Direct Message feature, which includes the age limit of 16 years old and above. On the other hand, ByteDance also said that you still need to follow the TikTok users you want to message. But, there's still a chance to message them since it will depend on their settings if the people who don't follow them can slide into their DM. If you want to send a message to someone you don't follow, here's what they need to do: Go to Me. Click the three-do symbol, which is located in the top right corner. Select Privacy > Who can send me direct messages. Choose Everyone, Friends, or No one. Is TikTok now safe to use? According to The Hill's latest report, TikTok is now safer compared to other social media platforms, such as Facebook, since the app's source code is not intrusive anymore. If you want to know further details, all you need to do is click here. For more news updates about TikTok and other social media platforms, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Fitness Tracker Fitbit User Catches Boyfriend Cheating, Thanks to Fitbit App; Here's How to Sync the Application This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. ALBANY Albany County Judge William Carter is retiring. The 61-year-old judge, who in January 2002 became the city of Albany's first Black judge, is expected to retire at the end of the month. Carter told the Times Union on Tuesday that he started the retirement process in January. He was considering retiring in September when he turned 62, he wrote. "On many days, working through the pandemic, I felt like I was already retired," Carter said. Last spring, the coronavirus forced the state to close its courts. Once the courts reopened, surges in cases twice prompted postponement of jury trials. "Being a judge is a very important job and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve our community," the judge said. "It is also very stressful. I now have over 30 years of state service, with almost 20 of those as a judge. Most of my friends retired long ago and others are retiring this year. I think it is time that I join them in retirement and enjoy some quality time with my friends and family while the courts are still in the process of reopening." Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the states Office of Court Administration, said the court system was notified March 15 of Carter's pending retirement. The judge indicated that this was a decision that was under consideration for some time and chose to go ahead with it now, Chalfen said. Carter, a former state trooper and graduate of Albany Law School on the bar since January 1992, has served as an Albany County assistant district attorney, chief assistant district attorney, assistant attorney general, defense attorney and judge. He has also served as an adjunct Albany Law School professor and was an acting County Court judge in domestic violence cases. In January 2002, Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings appointed Carter to the City Court bench, making Carter the first Black judge to serve the city. Carter was re-elected and remained there until 2016, when he was elected to County Court to replace retiring Judge Stephen Herrick, now the county's public defender. Carter blazed a trail for Black jurists, three of whom currently serve on the bench. Since his appointment, Christina Ryba was elected as a state Supreme Court justice in the district that includes Albany and Rensselaer counties, Sherri Brooks-Morton was elected to Albany County Family Court, and Helena Heath was elected to Albany City Court. Carter's tenure on the bench has included several disagreements with Albany County District Attorney David Soares' office, including one spat over Soares' decision not to prosecute Occupy Albany protesters that reached the state's highest court. Last year, the judge was taken off all cases involving the district attorney as a state watchdog organization for judges probed a complaint filed by Soares' office. The state Commission on Judicial Conduct later censured Carter because it determined he improperly had a phone conversation with a sheriffs deputy who was scheduled to testify before the judge the next day in a pre-trial hearing for a murder case. It also noted he did not file accurate reports of 16 post-trial motions or appeals. In the decision, the commission said Carter's past disciplinary history was an aggravating factor. In 2006, the commission censured Carter because he came off the bench to physically confront a defendant in City Court. The commission said Carter was privately cautioned two other times -- in 2004 because he failed to disqualify himself in arraignments of unrepresented defendants and in 2012 for appearing as a guest of honor at a fundraising event for a civic group. Attorney Laurie Shanks, a past professor of Carter's at Albany Law, wrote a letter on the judge's behalf to the commission. "He used everything he had learned to become a zealous, professional, ethical and effective criminal defense attorney. Importantly, he carried those attributes back to the district attorney's office when he became chief assistant," Shanks said. "He had the respect of his colleagues, the defense bar and the judges and was known for both his knowledge of the law and his willingness to listen to all sides of a case." NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / Goldplay Mining Inc. ("Goldplay" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has closed an oversubscribed non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of flow-through units of the Company (the "FT Units") for a total of $443,657 and the first tranche of the private placement for non-flow through units of the Company (the "Non-FT Units") for a total $441,645, asoriginally announced in the Company's press releases dated March 2, 2021, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $885,602. The Company has issued a total of 2,611,512 FT Units at a price of $0.17 per FT Unit, for gross proceeds of $443,667 and a total of 2,944,298 Non-FT Units at a purchase price of $0.15 per Non-FT Unit, for gross proceeds of $441,635. Each FT Unit and Non-FT Unit is comprised of one "flow-through" share and non-flow through share (a "Common Share") respectively and one half non-transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Common Share the Company at an exercise price of $0.20 until March 23 2022. For further details on the FT Units and the Non-FT Units, please see the Company's press release dated March 2, 2021.The proceeds from the sale of the FT Units will be used to fund phase one of Company's 2021 exploration program on Company's Scottie West Project located in the Golden Triangle of BC. The proceeds from the Non-FT Units will be used for general corporate purposes. All securities issued pursuant to the private placement are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day expiring on July 24, 2021 in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, in addition to any other restrictions applicable under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange or securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada where the FT Units and Non-FT Units are sold. In connection with the Offering, the Company paid aggregate cash finders' fees to qualified finders of $32,502 representing 6% of the gross proceeds in respect of certain subscriptions. The Company also issued 198,026 non-transferable finders' warrants to qualified finders, with each finders' warrant being exercisable to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.17 until March 23, 2023. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering have not been nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to an account for the benefit of US persons, absent such registration or an exemption from registration. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale, or solicitation would be unlawful. Warrants Exercise & Working Capital The Company also wishes to announce that pursuant to the Company's news release dated February 24, 2021 whereby certain Company warrants were accelerated to an expiry date of March 24, 2021, the Company has raised an additional $940,792 from investors that have exercised their warrants (the "Warrant Exercise"). Following the completion of the Offering and the Warrant Exercise the Company has a net working capital in excess of $2 million available to begin an ambitious growth strategy. About Goldplay Mining Goldplay Mining is a Canadian public company focused on exploring and advancing gold copper projects located in top mining jurisdictions that host the potential for making world class discoveries. Goldplay has received conditional acceptance to list its common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The listing on the Exchange is anticipated to occur under the trading symbol "AUC". The trading symbol has been chosen to reflect Company's focus on Gold ("AU") and Copper ("C"). For more information concerning the Company, please refer to the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.goldplaymining.ca. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Catalin Kilofliski" Catalin Kilofliski President, CEO & Director For further information please contact: Goldplay Mining Inc. Mr. Catalin Kilofliski, President & CEO Suite 650 - 1021 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6E 0C3 T: (604) 655-1420 E: catalin@goldplaymining.ca www.goldplaymining.ca Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the potential listing of the company on a stock exchange, the use of proceeds of the Offering and the Warrant Exercise, the Company's growth strategy and other associated matters. Although the Company believes current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered are appropriate and that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct or enduring. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to execute on its growth strategy and management retains discretion as to the use of proceeds from the Offering and the Warrant Exercise. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, that the outcome of exploration results may not be as currently expected, that the listing on a stock exchange may not happen on a timely basis, or at all. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Goldplay Mining Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/637087/Goldplay-Announces-Closing-of-Oversubscibed-Flow-Through-Private-Placement-and-First-Tranche-of-Non-Flow-Through-Private-Placement-for-a-Total-885000 Nestle Ghana, producers of Milo, Cerelac, Maggi, Ideal Milk and Nescafe, in collaboration with the Ghana Red Cross Society has commissioned a portable system at Amanhyia, a community of over 4,000 residents, in the Suhum Municipality in the Eastern Region. The water system commissioned on World Water Day has three major water points in the community. Prior to this, the community relied mainly on a source far from the community. This is in addition to 65 water systems provided to over 119,532 residents in 64 communities in the Eastern and the Ashanti Regions of Ghana through their sustainable WASH partnership. Speaking at a ceremony to commission the water system in Amanhyia, Georgios Badaro, Managing Director of Nestle Ghana, highlighted the importance of water to life as a basic requirement for health and wellbeing of individuals and families; the absence of it compromises the quality of life. Nestle believes in helping build thriving and resilient communities through strategic partnership such as the one we have built with the Ghana Red Cross Society and with ECOM. Nestle will continue to contribute to societal and economic development in Ghana through its purpose of unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone today and for generations to come. We are thankful to Red Cross our implementing partner for working together with us to ensure water reaches deprived communities and to ECOM for being Nestle Cocoa Plan implementors in the Amanhyia community. Secretary-General of the Ghana Red Cross Society, Samuel Kofi Addo noted at the ceremony that water plays a vital role in strengthening human security and maintaining the health of the planets ecosystems. Ghana Red Cross Society in collaboration with its partners will continue to aid deprived communities through provision of safe water and education to help improve livelihoods in deprived communities. This Nestle-Red Cross GhanaWash Project contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6- Clean Water and Sanitation for all. In other endeavours, Nestle and the Red Cross Society have supported Government with Covid-19 relief efforts, this includes clinical equipment, food for the less privileged, deployment of 250 handwashing stations with education in selected communities. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Remember when a New Jersey high school wrestler was forced to cut off his dreadlocks or forfeit a match? The state Legislature responded in December 2019 by making New Jersey only the third state in the nation to ban discrimination based on someone ones hair style or texture. Five other states have passed similar laws since then. And on Monday, two New Jersey members of Congress, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist., proposed federal legislation blocking discrimination against hair styles associated with race or national origin, including tightly coiled or tightly-curled, locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots and Afros. Systemic racism comes in many forms, Watson Coleman said. One way is discrimination and bias against ethnic and natural hair styles that contributes to higher levels of disciplinary actions against students of color in our schools. Dress codes that forbid natural hair often lead to suspensions, creating harmful breaks in their classroom continuity at best, and giving students their first brushes with the criminal justice system at worst. Students have enough to worry about without the fear that their own natural hair will cause them to miss class. From D.C. to Trenton to your town, the N.J. Politics newsletter brings the news right to your inbox. Sign up with your email here: Booker initially introduced the bill in December 2019, a year after referee Alan Maloney told Buena High School student Andrew Johnson that he couldnt wrestle without a haircut. Johnson cut his hair. Maloney later was suspended. Discrimination against Black hair is discrimination against Black people, Booker said. Implicit and explicit biases against natural hair are deeply ingrained in workplace norms and society at large and continue the legacy of dehumanizing Black people. This is a violation of our civil rights, and it happens every day across the country. The federal legislation passed the House by voice vote in September 2020 but never came up in the Senate. It is known as the Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, or CROWN, Act. Watson Coleman and three female co-sponsors, all members of the Congressional Black Caucus, asked Vice President Kamala Harris, the first African American vice president and a co-sponsor of Bookers bill in the last Congress, to put the legislation among your priorities. The New Jersey congresswoman and the two other co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, Reps. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., and Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to make the bill a priority as well. Schumer co-sponsored the bill in the last Congress. There are few steps so simple, nor so impactful, to help ensure a fair playing field for Black women than this one, they wrote. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @JDSalant. Start your day with the latest from Trenton, D.C. and your town. Get the N.J. Politics newsletter now. By Kohei Miyazaki TOKYO (Reuters) - An early spring in Japan is drawing cherry blossom fans to Tokyo's parks but the government has urged people to limit traditional festivities to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 infections. The flowers known as "sakura" were in full bloom on Tuesday, almost two weeks earlier than usual. The tradition of "hanami" typically attracts throngs of people to parks to sit under cherry trees for picnics, singing and drinking. People wearing masks strolled around the perimeter of the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo, taking pictures and posing for selfies among the trees. "Many people came here today to see cherry blossoms because the news reported yesterday that they'd be in full bloom," said Mieko Ozawa, a Tokyo resident in her 70s. In a video address on Monday, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike stopped short of telling people not to go out to enjoy the flowers but asked that they keep hanami activities to "just looking". Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures on Sunday emerged from a state of emergency declared just after New Year as a third wave of COVID-19 infections brought the medical system to the brink of collapse. Under the emergency, the government asked businesses to close early and for citizens to work from home and limit gatherings. New daily infections were at 337 in Tokyo on Tuesday, lower than the peak of 2,520 on Jan. 7 but too high for the government to completely relax its stance. Many parks in the capital region are prohibiting hanami, with some erecting temporary fences to keep people from gathering near the trees. "Since it's outside, I think it's fine as long as it doesn't get overcrowded," said 73-year-old Hideo Mizutani. "Of course we need to be more careful." (Reporting by Kohei Miyazaki and Rocky Swift in Tokyo; Editing by Janet Lawrence) To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Vancouver, British Columbia - March 23, 2021 (Investorideas.com Newswire, MiningSectorStocks.com and RenewableEnergyStocks.com) - Mining / Metals / Green Energy Stock News - Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals") (TSX-V:DEFN / OTCQB:DFMTF/ 35D: FSE) is pleased to announce that it has recently been notified by Welsbach Holdings Pte Ltd. ("Welsbach") that is has received requests from two interested third-part Rare Earth Element (REE) processors for samples of high-grade REE mineral concentrate for the purposes of evaluation prior to entering discussions with respect to the negotiation of an initial memorandum of understanding (MOU) and subsequent potential mineral concentrate offtake agreements. Defense Metals is currently advancing the road accessible Wicheeda Critical Rare Earth Element (REE) Property, which is located close to infrastructure approximately 80 kilometres northeast of Prince George, British Columbia (BC). The Wicheeda project has indicated mineral resources of 4,890,000 tonnes averaging 3.02% LREO (Light Rare Earth Elements) and inferred mineral resources of 12,100,000 tonnes averaging 2.90% LREO[1]. Since completing its flotation pilot plant test-work resulting in a 1,200 kilogram bulk concentrate sample (see Defense Metals news release dated September 23, 2020), the Company and its advisors have contacted several potential offtake and strategic partners. The two REE processors requesting samples of Wicheeda REE mineral concentrate represent major and mid-tier REE processors. The requests from each potential buyer in Asia are for 2-6 kilogram size samples of REE concentrate. The requests resulted from conversations held between the interested parties known to Welsbach. Defense Metals has initiated the process of preparing Canadian government export permit documentation required to export these critical REE mineral concentrate samples internationally. Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense Metals, stated: "We are extremely pleased that Welsbach has successfully identified two REE processors interested in receiving representative samples of our high-grade Wicheeda REE Deposit mineral concentrate. These requests represent a major step forward in our efforts to assess the market potential of long-term REE mineral concentrate offtake sale agreements." Mr. Brendan Jephcott of Weslbach says: "Potential partners in Asia are seeking a secure, long-term supply of rare earth concentrate to cover projected shortages in NdFeB magnet supply as demand for electric motors used in new energy vehicles continues to grow." About the Wicheeda REE Property The 1,708 hectare Wicheeda REE Property, located approximately 80 km northeast of the city of Prince George, British Columbia, is readily accessible by all-weather gravel roads and is nearby to infrastructure, including power transmission lines, the CN railway and major highways. Geologically, the property is situated in the Foreland Belt and within the Rocky Mountain Trench, a major continental geologic feature. The Foreland Belt contains part of a large alkaline igneous province, stretching from the Canadian Cordillera to the southwestern United States, which includes several carbonatite and alkaline intrusive complexes hosting the Aley (niobium), Rock Canyon (REE), and Wicheeda (REE) deposits. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it relates to the Wicheeda REE Property has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC) Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, a director of Defense Metals and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Raffle verified the data disclosed which includes a review of the analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions contained therein. About Defense Metals Corp. Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition of mineral deposits containing metals and elements commonly used in the electric power market, military, national security and the production of "GREEN" energy technologies, such as, high strength alloys and rare earth magnets. Defense Metals has an option to acquire 100% of the 1,708 hectare Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Property located near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Defense Metals Corp. trades in Canada under the symbol "DEFN" on the TSX Venture Exchange, in the United States, under "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D". For further information, please contact: Todd Hanas, Bluesky Corporate Communications Ltd. Vice President, Investor Relations Tel: (778) 994 8072 Email: todd@blueskycorp.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to potential MOU and offtake agreements for REE mineral concentrate, obtaining government export permits, plans for its Wicheeda Property, the advancement and development of the Wicheeda Property, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. 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 may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law. Paid News -Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Disclosure : this news release featuring Defense Metals Corp. is a paid for service on Investorideas.com ($750) More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp About Investorideas.com https://www.investorideas.com/About/ Sign up for free stock news alerts at Investorideas.com https://www.investorideas.com/Resources/Newsletter.asp [1] Technical Report on the Wicheeda Property, British Columbia, effective June 27, 2020 and prepared by APEX Geoscience Ltd. (Steven J. Nicholls, B.A. Sc., MAIG and Kristopher J. Raffle, B.Sc., P.Geo.) is available under Defense Metals Corp.'s profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? MSC Auriga, a Portugal-flagged cargo vessel with the largest shipping container volume to ever call a Vietnamese port, has docked at SP-SSA International Terminal (SSIT), located on the Thi Vai River in Vietnams southern Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province. SSIT safely received MSC Auriga on Monday afternoon. The container ship, built in 2020 with the overall length of 366 meters and width of 51 meters, is operating as a direct container service belonging to the Switzerland-based MSC shipping line. The total volume of cargo from the MSC Auriga handled at SSIT tops 11,000 container boxes, equivalent to over 15,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), which is recorded as the highest container volume per vessel ever handled in Vietnam. Of the 15,000 TEUs, over 12,000 will be unloaded at SSIT, while more than 3,000 will be loaded onto the vessel for export to the United States. Portugal-flagged cargo vessel MSC Auriga arrives at SP-SSA International Terminal (SSIT) in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, Vietnam, March 22, 2021. Photo: Dong Ha / Tuoi Tre Notably, the majority of the 12,000 TEUs to be unloaded are empty containers, which have become scarce in the Vietnamese maritime market recently. According to the plan, MSC Auriga will complete unloading and loading the 15,000 TEUs by Wednesday. SSIT is a deep-sea terminal located in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port area in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province. It is a joint venture established in 2006 by the U.S.-based SSA Marine and the two Vietnamese companies, Vinalines and Saigon Port. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Batavia, NY (14020) Today Generally cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 70F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Abutani Trucking, an authorized dealer of BharatBenz trucks in Assam since 2017, celebrated a sales milestone of delivering 1000 BharatBenz trucks to customers in the North East. BharatBenz tankers and mining applications are widely favoured in the region thanks to their reputation for safety and best-in-class features. The sales milestone is a testament to growing customer faith and confidence in BharatBenz products. Abutani Trucking provides sales and service for the complete range of 9-49 tonne BharatBenz trucks. Mr. Rajaram Krishnamurthy, VP, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), said, We are delighted to congratulate Abutani Trucking on their delivery of 1000 BharatBenz trucks. The North East region has a high demand for tipper trucks and that has helped us increase our market penetration. With a product portfolio offering best-in-class features, excellent safety, Swift servicing, and smooth driving, BharatBenz is quickly becoming the CV manufacturer of choice. DICV continues to invest in the expansion of its presence across the country. In the North East, Abutani Trucking is present in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura. Last year DICV inaugurated 10 new dealerships in a single day, taking total touch-points beyond 250, and increasing servicing capacity by 13,000 vehicles a year. BharatBenz Power stocks were trading in the positive zone, with the S&P BSE Power index rising 38.18 points or 1.5% at 2583.76 at 09:49 IST. Among the components of the S&P BSE Power index, Adani Transmission Ltd (up 7.4%), Adani Green Energy Ltd (up 5%),Adani Power Ltd (up 4.96%),K E C International Ltd (up 2.98%),Thermax Ltd (up 1.82%), were the top gainers. Among the other gainers were CESC Ltd (up 1.58%), Siemens Ltd (up 1.32%), NHPC Ltd (up 0.83%), Tata Power Company Ltd (up 0.53%), and ABB India Ltd (up 0.52%). On the other hand, NTPC Ltd (down 0.91%), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (down 0.83%), and Torrent Power Ltd (down 0.8%) moved lower. At 09:49 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 166.01 or 0.33% at 49937.3. The Nifty 50 index was up 58.3 points or 0.4% at 14794.7. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 184.19 points or 0.89% at 20803.48. The S&P BSE 150 Midcap Index index was up 55.92 points or 0.82% at 6889.83. On BSE,1594 shares were trading in green, 604 were trading in red and 103 were unchanged. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hudson, NY (12534) Today Cloudy this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 76F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. C-17's 'Sightseeing Tour' Over Ireland That Drew Complaints from Locals Was Pre-Approved, Base Says The C-17 made headlines overseas after aircraft spotters noticed the massive aircraft moving through Irish airspace. The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) is in discussions with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to acquire part of the forest land next to Langata cemetery and convert it into Nairobis new cemetery. NMS Director-General Mohammed Badi said negotiations are on-going with the Ministry of Environment to establish if the land can be used to replace the already full Langata cemetery. According to Badi, the KFS land is more suitable and convenient for Nairobi residents. The alternative was a bit far away and we found it inconveniencing to have Nairobi residents travel many kilometers to bury their kin, he said. Badi also noted that money had already been set aside to buy the land if a deal is agreed upon. NMS has set aside a budget of Sh150 million in the current financial year towards the purchase of land. Badi, however, faces a challenge in that KFS is against cutting down trees. They are doing their best and mostly they dont negotiate when it comes to cutting down trees to create bare land, Badi noted. The NMS Director-General, however, said the agency would plant trees to replace the ones cut down for the new cemetery. Carrie Campbell Severino accurately described Vanita Guptas testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee as rife with obfuscation and double standards. The obfuscation continued in her answers to written questions, as I demonstrated here. The same is true of the double standards. When Gupta was obsessed with opposing President Trumps judicial nominees (around 70 of them, I understand), she blasted them for their responses to the question of whether Brown v. Board of Education was correctly decided. The Trump nominees answered that they would follow Brown as settled law and binding precedent, but did not want to give a thumbs up or a thumbs down (to use Elena Kagans words) to particular Supreme Court decisions. Gupta lashed out at Trump nominees for this answer. In a letter to the Senate, she announced that by not declaring Brown to be correctly decided, these nominees failed to meet the moral floor for a federal judgeship. Gupta construed this failure as evidence of a desire to roll back federal civil rights protections. Accordingly, in his written questions to Gupta, Sen. Grassley asked her to answer yes or no whether a series of cases, starting with Brown, was correctly decided. Gupta answered: If confirmed as a Department of Justice official, I will seek to ensure that the Department follows Supreme Court precedent as the law of the land. She would not say whether Brown was correctly decided. Thus, unless Gupta believes that the moral floor for being a top Justice Department official is lower than that for being a judge, Gupta, by her own standards, fails to meet the moral floor for the DOJ job she covets. Furthermore, by her own standards, Guptas answer to Grassleys question about Brown v. Board can be viewed as evidence that she wants to roll back civil rights protections (as she likely does for groups not favored by the left). Double standards also drive Guptas view of whether apologies offered by nominees should be considered sincere. During the Trump years, Gupta believed they shouldnt be, even if the apology was for something a nominee wrote while in college. Yet, at her confirmation hearing, she wanted Senators to accept as sincere the apology she offered for the viciousness with which she attacked political adversaries. When Sen. Lee asked Gupta whether her apologies should be held to the same standard she had insisted on for other nominees, the best she could do was to mutter something about a second chance. Yet, when given another chance to take a consistent position on apologies and second chances, Gupta didnt take it. In his written questions, Lee asked her whether the nominee she had excoriated for his college writings deserved a second chance. Gupta would not say that he did. Perhaps Gupta now believes she has the votes needed for confirmation, and thus can back to being her nasty self. I hope she doesnt have the votes. Her hyper-partisan viciousness is on a par with that of Neera Tanden, whom the Senate rejected on that basis. And Guptas views on substantive matters are well to the left of Tandens. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Tel Aviv, March 23 : Voting was underway on Tuesday for Israel's parliamentary polls, the fourth such elections in a span of two years, amidst a lingering political deadlock and with polls suggesting a tight race between blocs that back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and those that seek to oust him. Voting started at 7 a.m. in 13,685 polling stations across the country, and is due to end at 10 p.m., reports Xinhua news agency. According to the Central Election Committee, some 6,578,084 Israeli citizens are eligible to vote in this election. Drones will be deployed to monitor about 751 ballots designated for people on Covid-19 quarantine, according to Committee chief Orly Ades. Some 38 polling stations have been installed for patients in coronavirus units inside hospitals. Four ballots will be operated at the Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv to enable returning Israelis to vote after two-month-long restrictions on entering the country was lifted earlier this week. Polls predict that Netanyahu's right-wing Likud will emerge again as the biggest party in Israel's Knesset, dpa news agency reported. But they also indicate the 71-year-old will face great difficulty in building a functioning coalition that can command at least 61 lawmakers in the 120-seat legislature. Tuesday's election comes two weeks ahead of the start on April 5 of the evidence phase of Netanyahu's corruption trial. When voters headed to the polls in March 2020, the fact that the trial was set to start in May did not stop them from returning Netanyahu to power at the head of the country's largest party. Netanyahu hopes that Israel's successful vaccination campaign under his leadership, as well as the historic US-brokered normalisation deals he signed in September 2020 with Gulf states, will boost his chances in this fourth round. Antigovernment protesters in Serbia have staged small demonstrations over the weekend closing of restaurants and bars, and public health experts in Hungary have complained about the Orban governments inconsistent response to the pandemic. In Slovakia, a decision to import vaccines from Russia pushed a coalition government to the brink of collapse early this month after a rift among lawmakers over the move. Slovakias per capita coronavirus death rate is twice that of France and just behind that of the Czech Republic. The painted crosses that appeared on Monday in Old Town Square in Prague, the Czech capital, were the work of A Million Moments for Democracy, a group of activists who oppose Prime Minister Andrej Babis and have organized large street protests against him. The crosses, numbering more than 20,000, represented the nearly 25,000 people who have died from the virus in the country a huge number in a nation with a population of about 10 million. The Czech Republic, like Slovakia, is bitterly split over Russias Sputnik V vaccine. Although published data indicates that it has an efficacy rate of more than 90 percent, critics of Moscow in Europe see it as a tool of hybrid war that is being deployed to divide the West. The Czech president, Milos Zeman, long known for pro-Kremlin views, said last month that he had asked President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to arrange deliveries of Sputnik to his country. When the Czech health ministry balked at the idea, Mr. Zeman demanded, without success, that the minister be fired. By the Rev. Judy Young Retired history professor Charlotte Smith Bode was born in 1920 and like many of our Greatest Generation, now lives in a nursing home. Im proud to be her daughter. While my father was earning the Croix de Guerre in North Africa, Charlotte was doing assembly-line quality control for B-52s, both to support the Allies and to pay her way through earning a Phd in American history. She then combined her academic career with sewing, cooking, cottage construction, and devotion first to my brother and me, then to her grandsons. As Charlotte aged, the family became increasingly devoted to her, in turn. Four times a year my brother flew back from Washington State to Maryland for week-long visits. I live within driving distance and was able to spend a day with Mom weekly. I reminded her of herself by reading and talking with her, and I kept track of her health issues, hearing aid, glasses, clothing, and books. I didnt think of this as essential care until my weekly Mom day was removed by Covid restrictions. When Charlottes excellent facility opened up again last June, it was for brief weekly outdoor visits. By the following October we came indoors, but still for just 45 minutes a week. Then came the second complete lockdown. No more reading to keep Charlottes dementia at bay, no keeping track of her other conditions. At her age, some of the cognitive and physical decline we noted on weekly Zoom calls seemed normal. We hired private caregivers to help the staff with her physical needs. And we waited for the vaccine. First Charlotte, her caregivers, and her whole unit received both doses. At 65, I was then fully vaccinated. Yet to our dismay, there was still no plan for normal visitation. And after I started studying nursing home visitation and regulations, I found that my mothers decline was nothing to what other residents lacking family visits have been suffering. An Associated Press report estimated that by November 19th, 2020, there had been about 40,000 excess deaths (deaths beyond the normal rate of fatalities in nursing homes) since March. These were deaths from causes other than COVID. While 90,000 had then died of Covid in under-staffed nursing homes (now it is 130,000), overworked aides were also unable to take on jobs that had been done by family members, such as the slow process of feeding some residents three times a day. It was not physically possible for aides responsible for 20 residents or more to add this to their other tasks, after family caregivers were banned. Groups like Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care have now gathered story after story of residents becoming skeletal, and dying, as well as dying from other neglected conditions. Family visits are not just a feel-good preference. Nursing home visitation can be a matter of life and death. Regulations come first from the CDC. Then the CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, uses these to issue guidelines for visiting nursing homes. These are then interpreted by state, and then county health departments. Then the administrations of the nursing homes interpret these guidelines, and make their rules. My mothers care is good, and her home did allow 45-minute visits again, and even hugs between vaccinated people, after new CMS guidelines were issued on March 10. But this is not enough. Not only my mother, but all long-term care residents need what is now a visitation policy in some states other than PA. Residents need to be allowed to designate an Essential Support Person (or ESP), who can visit and provide care as needed. It takes more than 45 minutes to help Charlotte as she needs. Dr. Jason Karlawish, a co-director of the Penn Memory Center, stated in a Feb. 19, 2021 New York Times article, blanket bans on dementia caregivers are akin to taking away a wheelchair from a person with physical disabilities. Even more seriously for residents with eating problems, mealtime help several times a day can be what keeps them alive. Of course, states that allow the designation of an ESP by residents require that these caregivers follow the same infection control testing and protocols as other caregivers. Director of the Nursing Homes Division of the CMS, Evan Shulman, seems unaware of the life-saving potential of this policy. Mr. Shulman presented the March 10 CMS Nursing Home Visitation Guidelines at a Consumer Voice Webinar on the subject on March 12th. In the Q & A following, Mr. Shulman discouraged family members from performing tasks for residents that should be done by the facility, however much family may want to help. In reality, family members end up performing tasks that otherwise are not done. I have deep respect for the care provided by overworked and dedicated nursing home aides. But even they cannot be in more than two or three places at once. Especially in the most understaffed facilities and in times of crisis, family help has always been needed. Please encourage your representatives to support ESP designation, as well as a return to normal nursing home visitation as it becomes safe. Judy Young is a retired United Methodist pastor and the daughter of Dr. Charlotte Bode. MT. MORRIS TOWNSHIP, MI -- A man who admitted to kicking a 5-month-old baby who later died of his injuries has been sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison with three years of credit for time served. Rico A. Riggs, 22, of Flint was sentenced Tuesday, March 23 by Genesee Circuit Court Judge Mark W. Latchana to a minimum of 10 years and maximum of 15 years on single counts of manslaughter and first-degree child abuse. Riggs pleaded no contest to both counts on Feb. 17, with a first-degree murder charged amended to manslaughter and a second child abuse charge dropped as part of a plea agreement. He was given credit for 1,094 time served on the concurrent sentence. The sentence today is wholly inadequate for what you did, Latchana said in court on Tuesday. You should go to prison for the rest of your life. Mt. Morris Township police were called out March 25, 2018 by the Genesee County Medical Examiners Office to a home following the death of 5-month-old Jordan Algee Jr., police previously said. Algee was the son of Temara Reed, who was sentenced by Latchana to nine days in jail in May 2020 after pleading guilty to a single count of lying to a police officer, according to circuit court documents. The plea required Reed to provide testimony against Riggs. It also meant former charges of tampering with police evidence, accessory after the fact and third degree child abuse against Reed were dropped. Related: Mom charged in connection to infant sons killing may lose custody of daughter Between being around you and having Ms. Reed as a parental figure who ultimately was convicted of other felonies and demonstrated her willingness to lie on your behalf during the investigation on this matter, this child had no chance, Latchana told Riggs during his sentencing. If Reed had cooperated with authorities and told the truth, Latchana said he believed Riggs would have been convicted of murder. Because she decided to lie and because you lied repeatedly about what happened, the case had some proof problems and the prosecutors office made a disciplinary agreement and this resolution and I understand why they had to do that, the judge said. Theres no amount of time that can make up for taking the life, let alone of a child, Latchana said. There can never be any justification for doing that to anybody no matter what they do to you and this child certainly did nothing, he said. So you have to live with the fact that you did that. Latchana asked how Riggs will act when he gets out of prison. During his response, Riggs said, Im a family man to which Latchana, alarmed, told Riggs You should never be around a child again. If youre capable of kicking a (child) and lacerating his liver and killing him, you shouldnt be around children ever again in your life, Latchana said. You cant be trusted to do that. Riggs has 44 days to appeal the conviction and sentence. Read more on MLive: Mother, Flint man arraigned after death of 5-month-old Neighbor dispute in Burton leads to shooting and arrest, police say Man shot to death outside Flint liquor store Man arraigned on 11 felony charges after shot by Michigan trooper Human trafficking task force launches in Upper Peninsula modeled after Genesee Countys GHOST Flint looks to reopen sleeping giant police mini stations manned by community volunteers A HOSTEL resident brandished a blood-filled syringe and threatened other men that he was going to put the needle straight into their necks, it is alleged. A court was told Eoin Dempsey (36), who had got into a row with another resident, was arrested after he eventually dropped the syringe when gardai arrived and intervened. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest at Dublin District Court when he failed to appear for his case. The accused, of no fixed address, is charged with possession of a syringe intended unlawfully to cause or threaten to cause injury to, or to intimidate another. Garda Sergeant Michelle Lynch said the DPP directed summary disposal of the case at district court level subject to the judge considering the issue of jurisdiction. Outlining the prosecutions case, she told Judge Bryan at a premises at New Cabra Road on May 7 last year. Gardai were called to the scene when it was reported that an argument had broken out between male residents at the premises. Smyth the incident happened It was reported that one man was threatening another with a blood-filled syringe. The gardai entered the hostel and were brought by staff to a room where they saw the accused with a syringe in his hand, it was alleged. The syringe was filled with blood, the court was told. The accused was allegedly threatening other residents, saying he was going to put the syringe straight into their necks. The gardai managed to get him to put down the syringe, Sgt Lynch said. Other people were present at the time of the incident, the court heard. Gardai were told there had been a previous argument between the accused and another resident. Judge Smyth accepted jurisdiction to deal with the case, allowing it to remain in the district court. However, the court was told he was not present. Defence solicitor Luke Staines said he had not been able to contact Mr Dempsey for a significant period of time. Sgt Lynch said bench warrants had been issued for the accuseds arrest previously. The judge granted a warrant at her request. The accused has not yet entered a plea. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. For Turkle, the rest is history. In time she became persuaded that the image of two people sitting in a restaurant, each looking intently at an iPhone instead of talking to the other, is horrifying. Worse yet is when only one of them is glued to the phone and the other is staring into space. No matter what people tell themselves or each other, she now says, the one not on the phone feels discounted. Feeling discounted, Turkle sincerely believes, one develops defenses that tamper dangerously with the ability to see oneself in others: the essence of what it means to be a human among humans. Her mission became, and still is, to sound a warning. This highly compressed summary of Sherry Turkles intellectual progress toward the study of how computers change not only what we do but who we are does not do justice to the pleasure a reader gets from following it in the pages of The Empathy Diaries, where it is recorded with a grace and lucidity that are inspiriting. In a memoir written by a person of accomplishment, the interwoven account of childhood and early influences is valuable only insofar as it sheds light on the evolution of the individual into the author of the memoir we are reading. For me, the ongoing story of Turkles family life seemed to hit a single note one of sympathy and gratitude, to be sure, but one that did not necessarily deepen the main narrative. However, with Turkles story of her marriage to Seymour Papert her personal adventures struck gold. Papert himself was an original. A gifted computer scientist, he, along with most of his colleagues, was something of a sociopath. For example: Expected home for a dinner party he and Sherry are giving, he is hours late; then, instead of appearing, he calls to say hes at the airport because a conversation with a mathematician doing work in Tunisia has grown so compelling he is flying to Tunis with him. Dinner party? What dinner party? Paperts inability ever to put himself in Sherrys place was monumental. At M.I.T., she tells us, most of the engineers and scientists felt the greatest joy in imagining the mind as a computational machine behavior as programs, as software as yet undetermined. In this scenario emotional influences on behavior went unacknowledged. In Paperts world a good conversation was valued more highly than common courtesy. To be interesting, Seymour did not have to be kind. He had to be brilliant. And if you werent the sort of brilliant that he was, you were something less than real to him. The anecdotes that illustrate this marriage encapsulate, in an inspired way, the dilemma Turkle has spent her whole life exploring: the rupture in understanding between someone devoted to the old-fashioned practice of humanist values and someone who doesnt know what the word human really means. This isn't a pandemic prediction, we just hope to share a few headlines that offer an alternative perspective on the "progress" in the fight against the ongoing plague. Also in the top photo, that's German Chancellor Angela Merkel extending a healing hand over the mostly complaint people of her nation. And all of that brings us to this tragic fact of life that we hope isn't foreshadowing . . . 'New pandemic' in Germany caused by virus variant prompts lockdown through Easter Per ushe, the Germans thought they were winning, overextended themselves, and then reality quickly turned against them. On the bright side, here in Kansas City the vaxx game seems to be going well . . . Up-Down arcade bar incentivizes vaccinations with free gaming tokens However, there's trouble on the horizon as "the chin mask" dominates the local fashion scene. Kansas City doctors 'definitely concerned' about post-spring break surge in COVID cases 'It just looked dangerous': Doctors warn of concerning COVID-19 behavior as weather warms up in KC Developing . . . 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. Detectives were last night hunting for up to 500 members of the 'extremist' mob responsible for one of Britain's worst riots in a decade - with eight people arrested so far. Some 21 officers were injured when individuals hijacked a peaceful protest and brought anarchy to Bristol streets on Sunday night. Two officers were hospitalised, including one who suffered a punctured lung and broken ribs when he was stamped on by thugs. Do you know any of the Bristol rioters? E-mail: tips@dailymail.com Advertisement Three police vehicles were set alight and nine seriously damaged during the chaos, which left officers fearing for their lives in shocking scenes reminiscent of the 2011 riots. Avon and Somerset Police Federation chairman Andy Roebuck said some individuals tried to set fire to police vans while officers were still inside. 'To my mind that is attempted murder,' he said. So far, eight arrests have been made six for violent disorder and two for possession of an offensive weapon. Footage of the carnage shows rioters hurling missiles at officers defending Bridewell police station in the city centre. Rioters were filmed celebrating atop burning police vehicles. The violence erupted as night fell following a day of demonstrations, when more than 3,000 people marched through the city to protest against planned legislation to hand police more powers to deal with peaceful demonstrations. Police chiefs say the largely peaceful protest was infiltrated by individuals hell-bent on clashing with police. Andy Marsh, the chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police, said: 'I believe the events were hijacked by extremists, people who were determined to commit criminal damage, to generate very negative sentiment about policing and to assault our brave officers. 'There was a hardcore of serious criminals hidden within those 3,000 people perhaps 400 or 500 people and we certainly didn't trigger this. 'The officers were incredibly patient, incredibly professional and I pay tribute to them.' Police have made eight arrests. Rioters set police vehicles on fire as protesters clashed with officers in the shocking scenes on Sunday night Some of the protesters proudly posed above a burning police car in the city centre in the riot All are male and one is understood to be from Reading. The rest are from Bristol. A clean-up operation was under way yesterday around the police station after thugs smashed the station's windows and wrote 'f*** the police' on the walls. Home Secretary Priti Patel was among those to criticise the 'appalling thuggery'. She told MPs: 'The scenes in Bristol were utterly shameful. 'I will work with everybody to make sure that where the police need the powers to tackle the type of appalling thuggery and criminality that we saw yesterday, we will achieve that while absolutely protecting the right to protest peacefully in our country.' Investigators have begun watching hours of CCTV, body-worn cameras and witnesses' videos, and hope to identify the rioters in the coming days. Scenes of officers being pelted by stones, bottles and fireworks have been shared widely on social media. Pictures apparently showed street furniture or roadworks equipment being destroyed Avon and Somerset Police Federation chairman Andy Roebuck said some people tried to set fire to police vans while officers were still inside. 'To my mind that is attempted murder. 'When the protesters started to disperse, the feral criminals took the opportunity to hijack the protest. Officers said they felt they were going to be killed, such was the level of violence. You look into their eyes and hear how their voices were cracking they were in fear for their lives.' Sir Peter Fahy, former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, blamed the backlash from the policing of the Sarah Everard vigil, in south London, for the violence against officers. 'I worry that police officers in Bristol were inhibited from using necessary force to stop 'protesters' from attacking them because of the lack of support they saw the Met receive,' he said. Investigators will be able to narrow down those who could help them with their enquiries A significant investigation into the violent disorder in Bristol city centre has been launched with more than 100 officers and staff working on the inquiry. A total of 21 officers were injured two of them seriously when they were violently confronted by people gathered outside the Bridewell Police Station in Bridewell Street. Officers were attacked and threatened, police vehicles including a community police station were set on fire and criminal damage was caused to the police station exterior. The Major Crime Investigation Team is leading the inquiry, with support from colleagues in CID, Operational Support, Intelligence and Forensics, to track down those responsible for the violence and damage. Det Chief Supt Carolyn Belafonte said the investigation would be comprehensive and could result in the release of the largest number of images for wanted suspects in the force's history. She said: 'What happened on the streets of Bristol on Sunday was nothing short of disgraceful and it's provoked widespread condemnation over the past 24 hours. 'We've been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and kindness that we've received from the public, as well as from organisations and agencies across the city. It's greatly appreciated and means a lot to all the officers and staff who work day in, day out to keep the public safe. 'We have an enormous amount of digital evidence to go through including CCTV footage, Body Worn Video, social media coverage and footage/photos provided by people at the scene. 'We've already started receiving a large amount of digital material from the public, which we're grateful for, but to ensure we capture all available evidence, we've set up a dedicated form via our website where people can provide video footage and photos 'Once we've carried out an initial view of the material we've collated, we'll be in a position to release images to the public to help us identify suspects. From what we've already collated, we're confident more arrests are imminent. 'A full forensic examination of the scene has been carried out today and this has resulted in forensic evidence being obtained, including fingerprints, which will also be used to help identify suspects. 'This will be a lengthy investigation but we're wholly committed to tracking down all those who engaged in the wanton disorder yesterday. To those who took part in this spree of offending, you can expect a knock at your door in the days or weeks to come it may come sooner than you think.' Detectives are hunting what they believe to be a 'hardcore of serious criminals' who infiltrated 3,000 legitimate demonstrators protesting the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on Sunday. Among the thousands who massed at the city's College Green were members of known anarchist groups, and those hostile to law enforcement. And with hours of CCTV, body-worn police camera footage and eyewitness videos posted online to pore over, investigators will be working to identify activists who could help them with their enquiries. They will include those seen proudly posing above a burning police car in the city centre and celebrating in front of smouldering emergency vehicles. Pictures have also captured moments of clear criminal damage being carried out, such as street furniture or roadworks equipment being destroyed and people invading a police station. The local Bridewell police station was also trashed, 12 police vans were set on fire or damaged, windows were smashed with graffiti sprayed across walls and buidlings. Avon and Somerset Police's Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: 'This will undoubtedly lead to one of the biggest appeals for wanted suspects that we've ever done. There will be significant consequences for behaviour like this and we will leave no stone unturned' A police van was the subject of other activity as some of the activists climbed on board The protest was billed as being against the Government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which will see the police handed new powers to tackle demonstrations. But the rally turned sour as darkness began to fall as the pocket of criminals inside the demonstration began their work. Groups understood to be at the march included Sisters Uncut, who already organised Kill the Bill marches in cities around the country, as well as regional anarchist organisations. Members of the Bristol Anarchist Federation were also there, with one member seemingly blaming the police for what happened. Most of the protesters were masked, meaning police could have a tough time with identity Twenty police officers were injured, two seriously, when what started as a non-violent demonstration turned violent after hundreds of protesters descended on the New Bridewell police station What legislation is behind the protests to Kill the Bill? The Government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill could see the police handed more powers to tackle demonstrations. The wide-ranging proposals include laws to reform sentencing, the courts and handling offenders. If passed, some of the measures will be UK-wide while others may only apply in England and Wales. They include: - Whole life orders for premeditated murder of a child, allowing judges to also hand out the maximum sentence to 18 to 20-year-olds in exceptional cases, like for acts of terrorism leading to mass loss of life. - The legislation looks to toughen up powers the police have to tackle 'non-violent' protests which are significantly disruptive to the public or on access to Parliament. - The proposed law includes an offence of 'intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance'. According to the Bill, someone commits this crime if they cause 'serious harm to the public', which can include 'serious annoyance, serious inconvenience or serious loss of amenity'. Those convicted could face a fine or jail. Meanwhile, the Government is also seeking to increase the maximum penalty for criminal damage to a memorial from three months to 10 years, under the Bill. The laws could also see police have more powers to crack down on unauthorised encampments which interfere with the ability to use the land. Officers could also be allowed to stop and search people more if plans for serious violence reduction orders go ahead. This would make it easier to carry out checks on those who have previously been convicted of carrying a knife. Advertisement He wrote on a blog: 'When the police took the gloves off and really struck out the people struck back. 'Batons, pepper spray and shields were met with fists and sticks. 'The police vans that drove into the crowd were attacked with bottles and spray paint.' Twenty police officers were injured, two seriously, when what started as a non-violent demonstration turned violent after hundreds of protesters descended on the New Bridewell police station. Two of these injured were treated in hospital after suffering broken ribs and an arm. Both have since been discharged. Mr Marsh said the demonstration had been 'hijacked' by several hundred 'extremists'. 'I believe the events of yesterday were hijacked by extremists, people who were determined to commit criminal damage, to generate very negative sentiment about policing and to assault our brave officers,' he said. 'Officers were very patient. From the initial gathering of around 2,000 to 3,000, which was more than we anticipated, there were about 50 officers engaging with those present and encouraging them to disperse. 'Many were complying, in fairness. 'There was a hardcore of serious criminals hidden within those 3,000 people - perhaps 400 or 500 people - and we certainly didn't trigger this. Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, who said he had 'major concerns' about the Government's Bill, condemned the thuggery but said the disorder would be used to justify the legislation. 'It's selfish, it is self-indulgent and self-centred activity - people living out their revolutionary fantasies,' he said. 'This has nothing to do with being in lockdown for a year. What has injuring police officers, smashing windows, burning cars got to do with the challenges we face as a city right now? 'But the violence that happened last night goes nowhere to actually reducing the likelihood of this Bill winning support. In fact it does quite the contrary. 'People from those communities who have been on the rough end of the criminal justice system are now in more danger. It doesn't put them closer to justice, it puts them further away. Some of the people at the protests were seen on top of structures risking public order offences Other demonstrators could be seen celebrating in front of 999 vehicles being torched 'It runs absolutely against what they claim to be fighting for - political illiteracy at large.' Sue Mountstevens, police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset, said seven people had been arrested so far and there would be 'many more' detained. 'It's disgraceful and outrageous. Police officers went to work yesterday, and some have returned home via hospital battered and bruised,' she said. 'There will be warrants, there will be arrests and police will be checking on the CCTV. There will be further arrests in the next few hours and days. 'I believe there have been seven arrests so far and there will be many more.' 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. Avon and Somerset Police Federation chairman Andy Roebuck condemned the violence as 'disgusting scenes in Bristol by a mob of animals'. John Apter, the 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.' Darren Jones, the Labour MP for Bristol North West, said: 'You don't campaign for the right to peaceful protest by setting police vans on fire or graffitiing buildings.' McCracken County to Hold Four Graduation Events By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - McCracken County High School will hold four graduation ceremonies this year at Marquette Stadium.McCracken County Public Schools says the first two ceremonies will take place on Friday, May 21 at 5:30 and 8 p.m. The second two will be held on Saturday, May 22 at 5:30 and 8 p.m.Each student will be allotted 10 tickets for reserved seating.Mr. Houser will send out a Google form on Monday, March 29 for students to sign up for a session.The district is holding multiple ceremonies so social distancing can be observed due to the pandemic. Photo: Contributed Wanda Lock used to paint in secret, up in her bedroom. Why? She didnt want to be labelled because she didnt fit the artistic stereotype. Labels have expectations, a prescribed path of who you are, she said. As soon as you are called an artist, it restricts you as a person." For someone who didnt want to be limited by labels, she has collected some along the way to becoming who she is today a full-time professional artist and part-time curator. Wanda the artist grew up on a farm in Oyama. Topics important to her, such as art and feminism, weren't talked about. After high school, she began to search for her artist self, and studied at Okanagan University College from 1987-89. She attended Emily Carr University of Art +Design, Vancouver, 1989-92, and received a four-year diploma in studio practice. People went to Emily Carr to become an artist not a teacher in those days, certainly not a curator. These were heady times for artists. It was the middle of the Grunge music movement, Nirvana was at its height and Generation X was flexing its muscles. After graduation from Emily Carr, she shared a studio with eight other female artists on Hastings and Cambie streets in Vancouver. These years when in her 20s were good times. A time for exploration and growth while surrounded by fellow artists. Vancouver soon became too expensive, so she returned to the Okanagan. She renewed her friendship with her childhood friend, Greg, and they eventually married and settled down in Okanagan Centre. Opus Art Supplies was her go-to art store in Vancouver. When she heard they were opening one in Kelowna, she applied to work there. Soon she was managing it. Opus Art Supplies is a place where artists meet, teach, share ideas and grow. She would work there all day she only left in 2006 and paint all night. During her Opus time, after it and continuing today, she has a serious art practice. She is in her studio every day unless she is out of town. Her studio is a working one, not a gallery for people to come and buy. I felt privileged to sit among her artistic off-springs. She explained that she often has three to four projects going at once. Her inspirations come from readings that make her contemplate the plight of women and life. I admired her current three projects: Emerging wallpaper inspired from the book, The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman She used three kinds of stencils one bought, one cut by hand and one made by her. "Why?" I asked. Because they feel different, she said. An 8 by 38 wall hanging for Kelowna Airport in 2022. A Day In The Life Of Ulysses inspired by Molly Bloom's soliloquy from James Joyces Ulysses. The colours and layering of objects open up ones imagination and interpretation and I only saw five feet of it. Her new series inspired by COVID experiences with flowers and science. She is not one to take the low-hanging fruit. Rather she ponders and crystallizes ideas and puts them on canvas to tantalize the viewer to do the same. Although her works are often themed; they dont corral thoughts, but rather open the viewer's mind to other interpretations. She creates a dialogue between herself and her viewers. Her solo exhibitions exemplify this: A Studio Of Ones Own 2018, Headbones Gallery in Vernon It was inspired by Virginia Woolfs essays,. A Room Of Ones Own The Year We Disappeared 2020 Vernon Public Art Gallery. The theme is from the book Unless by Carole Shields about how women disappear after a certain age. Turning 50 brought these thoughts to her. Six years ago, Wanda, the curator, came into being when she began to curate at the Lake Country Art Gallery (LCAG), a public art gallery with eight exhibitions a year four member-community-based and four curated exhibitions with the artists. A curated show often pays the artist. Historically, you wouldnt normally find an artist in a curator position. A curator is employed by a museum or gallery to manage a collection of artworks or artifacts. Curators care for, restore, and develop collections through exhibitions, publications, events, and presentations. Curators are interested in an artists work and what they are trying to convey. The word curator, like the world, is constantly changing. Universities now have degree programs for learning the art of curation under their art degree umbrella. The rapport between artists and curator can be brilliant. After all, I have been with the LCAG for six years now. I bring the mature artist-curator artist dynamics to curating. What a bonus for us. She didnt want to be labelled and kept her art a secret. These labels dont limit her, but rather give her freedom to explore, execute and excite. To spend an afternoon with her among her works was like spring a riotous joyous thing. A study of young men with COVID-19 has revealed a genetic variant linked to disease severity. The discovery, published recently in eLife, means that men with severe disease could be genetically screened to identify who has the variant and may benefit from interferon treatment. For most people, COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, causes only mild or no symptoms. However, severe cases can rapidly progress towards respiratory distress syndrome. "Although older age and the presence of long-term conditions such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes are known risk factors, they alone do not fully explain differences in severity," explains first author Chiara Fallerini, Research Fellow in Medical Genetics at the Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Italy. "Some younger men without pre-existing medical conditions are more likely to be hospitalised, admitted to intensive care and to die of COVID-19, which suggests that some factors must cause a deficiency in their immune system." Recent research has suggested that genes controlling interferon are important in regulating the immune response to COVID-19. Interferon is produced by immune cells during viral infection. It works alongside molecules on the surface of immune cells called Toll-like receptors (TLR) which detect viruses and kickstart the immune response. "When a recent study identified rare mutations in a TLR gene, TLR7, in young men with severe COVID-19, we wanted to investigate whether this was an ultra-rare situation or just the tip of the iceberg," says co-senior author Mario Mondelli, Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Division of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Italy. The team studied a subset of 156 male COVID-19 patients younger than 60 years old, selected from a large multicentre study in Italy, called GEN-COVID, which started its activity on March 16, 2020. GEN-COVID is a network of more than 40 Italian hospitals coordinated by co-senior author Alessandra Renieri, Full Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of Siena, and Director of Medical Genetics at Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy. The team first analysed all the genes on the X chromosome of men with both mild and severe cases of COVID-19, and identified the TLR7 gene as one of the most important genes linked to disease severity. They then searched the entire GEN-COVID database, and selected for younger men (less than 60 years old). This identified rare TLR7 missense mutations in five of 79 patients (6.3%) with life-threatening COVID-19 and no similar mutations in the 77 men who had few symptoms. They also found the same mutation in three men aged over 60: two who had severe COVID-19 and one who had few symptoms - although the mutation found in the man with few symptoms had little effect on TLR function. To link these mutations to the immune cell response, they treated white blood cells from recovered patients with a drug that switches TLR7 genes on. They found that the TLR7 genes were dampened down in immune cells from patients with mutations, compared to the TLR7 activity seen in normal immune cells. They also found lower levels of interferon in the cells containing the mutation compared to normal white blood cells. This confirmed that the mutations identified directly affect the control of interferon as part of the innate immune response. To confirm the impact of the mutations on COVID-19 response, the team studied two brothers, one with a mutation in an interferon gene and one without. The levels of interferon gene activity were much lower in the man with the missense mutation, compared with his brother. Moreover, the brother with the mutation had severe COVID-19, while his brother with normal interferon genes was asymptomatic. "Our results show that young men with severe COVID-19 who have lost function in their interferon-regulating genes represent a small but important subset of more vulnerable COVID-19 patients," says co-senior author Elisa Frullanti, Researcher of Medical Genetics at the University of Siena. Co-senior author Alessandra Renieri adds: "These mutations could potentially account for disease severity in up to 2% of young men with COVID-19. We believe that screening for these mutations in men who are admitted with severe disease and promptly treating them with interferon could prevent more deaths." ### For more information about GEN-COVID, visit https:/ / sites. google. com/ dbm. unisi. it/ gen-covid . This study was originally published in eLife as an accepted manuscript on March 2, 2021, and appears in full on March 23, 2021. Media contact Emily Packer, Media Relations Manager eLife e.packer@elifesciences.org +44 (0)1223 855373 About eLife eLife is a non-profit organisation created by funders and led by researchers. Our mission is to accelerate discovery by operating a platform for research communication that encourages and recognises the most responsible behaviours. We aim to publish work of the highest standards and importance in all areas of biology and medicine, including Genetics and Genomics, and Medicine, while exploring creative new ways to improve how research is assessed and published. eLife receives financial support and strategic guidance from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Max Planck Society and Wellcome. Learn more at https:/ / elifesciences. org/ about . To read the latest Genetics and Genomics research published in eLife, visit https:/ / elifesciences. org/ subjects/ genetics-genomics . Tripoli, March 23 : The Unicef has expressed concerns that it was saddened by reports of injury of children in celebratory gun firing in the Libyan city of Benghazi. Seven boys were injured in Benghazi on March 19 as a result of celebratory shoot out during a social event, Unicef said in a statement on Monday, citing reports. "Unicef calls out to authorities, armed groups to strictly abide by the October 2020 ceasefire agreement and proceed with disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of armed groups including children," Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying. The UN agency also called upon the new Government of National Unity to enforce laws and legislation prohibiting illegal possession of weapons and ammunition and to reinforce the implementation of the cease-fire agreement towards long-lasting peace. All of the injured children were admitted to the hospital for treatment. Six of them have been discharged and the other one is still fighting for his life in the operation theatre of the orthopaedic department in Benghazi. Incidents of indiscriminate shooting at the social events are a common practice in Benghazi and in many other cities in Libya, mostly occurring during holidays and often resulting in the death and injury of civilians including children. In 2020 alone, more than 28 incidents of heavy weaponry misuse have been reported, allegedly causing damage to the properties of civilians in Benghazi, according to the Unicef. London: She was the philanthropic heavyweight hired to spearhead the Sussexes Stateside relaunch post Megxit. Having advised Bill and Melinda Gates, Catherine St-Laurent appeared the perfect fit as Harry and Meghans new chief of staff and executive director of their non-profit organisation, the Archewell Foundation, when she was handpicked last April. Yet just 11 months on, the Montreal-born big hitter is stepping down from a position many thought would occupy her for years to come. Not least because she had resigned from a highly sought-after role, advising Melinda Gatess Pivotal Ventures social progress project in the US, to take up the new post. Catherine St-Laurent was the chief of staff for Prince Harry and Meghan for less than a year. Credit:Facebook Hence why eyebrows were raised at the news of the mother-of-twos decision to transition to an advisory role. She will be replaced by James Holt, UK spokesman for the Duke and Duchess. Holt has worked for them for five years. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to interfere with decision of Centre, RBI to not extend loan moratorium period beyond Aug 31, 2020, saying it is policy decision. No compound, penal interest be charged from borrowers during loan moratorium period, amount already charged shall be credited or adjusted, the SC said. The apex court also added that it cannot do judicial review of Centre's financial policy decision unless it is malafide, arbitrary. The top court is hearing a batch of pleas of various bodies including from real estate and power seeking sector wise relief in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. What was loan moratorium all about? The RBI had on March 27 issued the circular which allowed lending institutions to grant a moratorium on payment of instalments of term loans falling due between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2020, due to the pandemic. Later, the moratorium was extended till August 31 this year. The pleas pertained to charging of interest on interest by banks on EMIs which have not been paid by borrowers after availing the loan moratorium scheme of RBI during March 1 to August 31. PIL filed over interest on interest issue A PIL was later filed in the SC seeking directions to declare the notification dated March 27, 2020 issued by Reserve Bank of India as ultra vires to the extent it charges interest on the loan amount during the moratorium period. After several rounds of hearing, Centre informed the SC that lenders have been directed to credit in the accounts of eligible borrowers the difference between compound interest and simple interest collected on loans of up to Rs 2 crore during the RBI's loan moratorium scheme. Live TV #mute While the Supreme Court has directed the government make sure that all steps be taken to implement its decision to forego interest on eight specified categories of loans paid upto Rs two crore in view of the coronavirus pandemic, the Centre maintains that if it were to consider waiving interest on all the loans and advances to all categories of borrowers, then the amount foregone would be more than Rs 6 lakh crore. Costa Rica does not have a tuna fleet and sells licenses to foreign vessels usually from Venezuela and Nicaragua. They could operate within 12 miles of the coast and in 2014 were moved out to 45 miles. Since then, the populations of dolphins and other species that are bycatch in tuna boats like, turtles, sharks, manta rays, and sport fish have flourished in the 45 mile protected zone. There are two bills in Congress in Costa Rica that have been in debate the last two years for tuna reform that would move the tuna boats out between 80 and 100 miles. The dolphin super pods are coastal animals and the move would save many from harassment or death. They passed the first vote and then this week the bills were suddenly pulled for a further six month review. Both national fishermen and conservationists have been lobbying to move the tuna boats out 200 miles and the proposals from the government is 80 and 100 miles. The only ones against the plan is the tuna industry. Those in favor are afraid the delay will push the issue into the next electoral period and delay the process even further. Costa Rica who is famous internationally for its "green image" and has great protection in place for people interacting with dolphins. It doesnt seem to feel the same way when it comes to tuna purse sein boats fishing over them. Learn more at fecop.org SOURCE FECOP Costa Rica Related Links http://www.fecop.org Britain faces a 'Covid decade' with the 'profound social damage' caused by the pandemic set to dog the country. A grim report urges a major policy overhaul to help the country recover from the impact of coronavirus on health, education and economic prospects. The assessment from the British Academy - funded by the government but independent - was launched on the anniversary of the first lockdown. It warns significant intervention will be needed to avoid more extreme inequality and ongoing misery for swathes of the population. The report, The Covid decade: Understanding the long-term societal impacts of Covid-19, highlights a number of interconnected trends. They include low and unstable levels of trust in the national government that undermine the ability to mobilise public behaviour. It cautions that following a short-lived initial increase, faith the UK government and feelings of national unity are in decline. A grim report urges a major policy overhaul to help the country recover from the impact of coronavirus on health, education and economic prospects. Pictured, boarded up shops in London today Commuters packed on to the Tube in face coverings today after a year of upheaval Other worrying trends are widening geographic inequalities in health and wellbeing, local economic risk and resilience, and poverty and worsening social development, relationships and mental health. The review suggests the impact of these will vary according to age, gender, race and ethnicity, and levels of social deprivation. The lost and likely unrecoverable access to education at all levels will exacerbate existing disadvantage. The hit to digital and technology skills will also impede progress towards a prosperous, high-skilled economy. The experts warn that consequences of lost access to education at all levels, coupled with changes to assessments, will be felt for years to come. The paper argues the pandemic has exposed major gaps in public policy that the Government must now address. They include tensions between the roles of local and central authorities, and strengthening community-led social infrastructure. It suggested closing the 'digital divide' by treating access to infrastructure such as broadband as essential. The British Academy the UK's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences convened and engaged with more than 200 academics, practitioners and policy specialists to put together the report. Dominic Abrams, professor of social psychology at the University of Kent and lead author of the documents, said: 'The evidence provides us with a vital insight into the immense social impact of Covid-19 and the substantial challenges we must address in the coming decade. 'There are multiple forms of inequality that create personal and societal obstacles to progress. 'Finding ways to create greater inclusiveness, tackle underlying mechanisms of inequality, and create the resourcefulness to share a better future will be our biggest challenge during this 'Covid decade'. 'The Covid decade will also be profoundly shaped by policy decisions, and this offers us many opportunities. Government will need to establish a longer-term vision to tackle the impacts of Covid-19. 'This will involve working in partnership with places and people to address structural problems systematically, not just in a piecemeal way.' Hetan Shah, chief executive of the British Academy, said: 'A year from the start of the first lockdown, we all want this to be over. 'However, in truth, we are at the beginning of a Covid decade. A car drives past a coronavirus warning sign in Brookwood, Surrey 'Policymakers must look beyond the immediate health crisis to repair the profound social damage wrought by the pandemic.' A Government spokeswoman said: 'Coronavirus is the biggest public health challenge the UK has faced in decades and as we recover from this pandemic this Government is committed to building back better and levelling up outcomes for every individual across the country. 'That's why we've implemented robust support to those who need it most raising the living wage, spending billions to safeguard jobs, investing 2.4 billion each year for disadvantaged pupils, and boosting welfare support and local authority funding. 'On top of that, we are providing an additional 500m for mental health services and 79 million to expand mental health support teams in schools and colleges.' A bus picks up a group of illegal aliens for Border Patrol near the U.S.-Mexico border in Yuma, Ariz., on April 13, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Arizona Town to Declare State of Emergency Over Border Crisis The mayor of an Arizona town said he will declare a state of emergency over the crisis at the southern border. Gila Bend, a town near Arizonas border with Mexico, has a population of only 2,000 people. Mayor Chris Riggs told Fox News he is placing the blame on the Biden administration for transporting illegal immigrants on buses to his town, noting that, particularly due to the ongoing CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, they dont have the necessary resources to take care of the influx. Border Patrol let us know that they were going to be dropping migrants that had been detained for 72 hours in our town, which we really didnt understand because we have nothing here, Riggs told Fox. We have no charity organizations that can help, no non-governmental organizations that a lot of the larger cities and towns do have to assist these people. He explained that they have not received any federal or state assistance, and that the illegal immigrants being dropped off in his town cant get food, lodging, or COVID testing. The mayor told the news outlet that crime has gone up in Gila Bend recently, with about 20 illegal crossers coming into the town on foot almost daily. Riggs said that the cost for COVID-19 testing of two busloads of people a week would cost around $600,000 over a year. Last week, the National Sheriffs Association said that up to 50 percent of illegal immigrants are testing positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Earlier this month, Arizona took legal action (pdf) to block new federal immigration regulations, saying that these would cause negative consequences for the state. The new rules would limit the capability of ICE to detain some illegal immigrants unless they pose a threat to national security, entered through the border after Nov. 1, or committed aggravated felonies. The Biden administration says that the rules dont impair arresting or deporting people, but the officers in the field would need to request permission from their superiors to arrest people outside of the aforementioned cases. If asked about the poorest policy choice Ive ever seen in government, this would be a strong contender, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said in a statement. Blindly releasing thousands of people, including convicted criminals and those who may be spreading COVID-19 into our state, is both unconscionable and a violation of federal law. This must be stopped now to avoid a dangerous humanitarian crisis for the immigrants and the people of Arizona. Most Ukrainians believe that Ukraine needs to join the European Union. This is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted by the Razumkov Center in March 2021. Ukraine's accession to the European Union is supported by 59% of respondents, while 26% are of the opposite opinion. The share of those who support EU accession exceeds the share of those who adhere to the opposite point of view in the west (84% and 8.5%, respectively) and in the center of the country (63% and 19%, respectively). In the east, there are slightly more of those who believe that there is no need to join (38.5% and 46%, respectively), and in the south, the shares of the former and the latter do not differ statistically significantly (41.5% and 42%, respectively). Accession to the European Union is mainly supported by young people (76% "for" in the age group from 18 to 29 years old, some 44% "for" among respondents over 60). At the same time, in all age groups, the share of those who support accession to the EU exceeds the share of those who oppose it. In the event of a referendum on Ukraine's accession to the European Union, some 59% of those polled (80% of those who intend to take part in the referendum) voted in favor of joining, and, respectively, 26% and 17% were against. At the same time, among fans of joining the European Union, some 96% of those polled expressed their readiness to vote in the referendum, and among opponents some 46%. The share of those who intend to vote for accession to the EU exceeds the share of those who intend to vote against in the western (84% and 8%, respectively) and in the central regions (64% and 18%, respectively). In the eastern regions, there are slightly more of those who are going to vote against joining (39% and 46%, respectively), and in the south, the shares of the former and the latter are the same (42% each). Among respondents aged 18 to 29 years, some 75% intend to vote for accession to the European Union, among respondents over 60 years old some 44%. Among the representatives of the electorate of the European Solidarity party some 91% intend to vote for joining the European Union (against some 5%). Among the respondents who intend to vote for the Servant of the People party at the parliamentary elections were 78% and 13%, respectively, for the Batkivschyna party some 60% and 21%, respectively. At the same time, the overwhelming majority among the representatives of the electorate of the Opposition Platform - For Life party would vote against 15% and 73%, respectively. The share of those who believe that relations between Ukraine and the EU will improve is highest in the western region (34.5%), lower in the central (27.5%) and lowest in the southern (22%) and eastern (17.5%) regions. In the same regional sequence, the share of those who believe that they will worsen is growing (4%, 6%, 15% and 21%, respectively). Optimism is more often expressed by representatives of young people (34% among respondents from 18 to 29 years old, some 19% among respondents over 60 years old). The research was conducted by the sociological service of the Razumkov Center from March 5 to March 9, 2021 using the method of face-to-face interviews at the place of residence of the respondents. A total of 2018 respondents aged 18 and over were interviewed in all regions of Ukraine, with the exception of Crimea and the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, according to a sample representing the adult population in terms of basic social and demographic indicators. The theoretical sampling error (excluding the design effect) does not exceed 2.3% with a probability of 0.95. by Francis Khoo Thwe About 300 soldiers entered a neighbourhood to clear the activists' barricades. Seven weeks after the coup, the death toll has reached 261. The army spokesman blames violence on demonstrators and recalls that nine soldiers have also died. The European Union imposes sanctions on 11 junta generals. Indonesia and Malaysia are pushing for an urgent ASEAN meeting. Yangon (AsiaNews) - A 14-year-old boy is among the 8 people killed yesterday in Mandalay by the security forces who entered the Chanmyathazi residential neighborhood to clear the barricades built by activists to defend their strike and civil disobedience. Chanmyathazi is a neighbourhood where many civil servants and retirees live. Others killed include an unidentified woman; the others are between 19 and 38 years old. Two of the murdered died while trying to recover the bodies of their lifeless comrades. According to Myanmar Now, there were at least 300 soldiers and dozens of arrests. The Association for Aid to Political Prisoners says that the number of people killed by the junta in the seven weeks since the coup has reached 261 victims. Although the number of dead is growing, demonstrations are also multiplying, trying to avoid direct clashes with soldiers. In Yangon marches are held on side streets of the road where the security forces are stationed, or there are gatherings at night, by candles light. In other cities, balloons with messages are used, or mannequins with signs critical of the junta. The western international community has condemned the coup and demands the release of political prisoners. Yesterday the European Union (EU) imposed sanctions on 11 generals who ousted the democratic government. They include current head of the junta, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, already hit by sanctions in 2018 for his work against the Rohingya. The EU has also implemented an embargo on the sale of arms to Myanmar. Some European diplomats have said that in the near future they will move to sanctions against commercial activities held by the military. Until now, the junta had remained silent without any sign or reaction to the barrage of global criticism. This afternoon, the junta spokesman, Zaw Min Tun, criticized the violence of activists and demonstrators, citing the fires that broke out in the Chinese factory district in Yangon as a justification for the armys violence against them. Zaw also said nine soldiers have died so far. He then repeated the allegations of fraud in the elections last November and those of corruption for Aung San Suu Kyi, showing videos of "witnesses". Zaws intervention appears to be aimed at justifying the attitude of China, India and the ASEAN countries that are Myanmars major trading partners, which continue not to condemn the coup. However, Indonesia and Malaysia are pushing for an urgent ASEAN meeting to discuss the Burmese crisis. Former President Donald Trump revealed that he left a 'couple' page letter written 'the heart' for Joe Biden in the Oval Office as he mocked his successor's border policies. Donald Trump left a letter written from his heart to Joe Biden In an interview with Lisa Boothe for her podcast, Donal Trump said he basically wished Joe Biden 'luck'. It's traditional for a departing president to leave a letter to his successor. Still, considering the tensed election between Trump and Biden, there were doubts about whether Trump would do so. However, when Biden reached the Oval Office on January 20th, he found a letter on the Resolute Desk. At the time, Biden said, "The president sent a very generous letter. Because it was personal, I won't say anything until I speak with him." Meanwhile, Trump said, it was "a couple of pages long and it was from the heart because I want to see him succeed." He wouldn't reveal what he wrote in detail. Biden had said that he would not disclose the letter's contents until he speaks with Trump, although it is unknown when the two men last spoke. In October 2020, it was expected to be the final presidential debate. According to Daily Mail, when Boothe asked the former President what he wrote, he answered, "I don't want to say. That's, you know, perhaps up to him (Joe Biden) and I guess he said he wouldn't do it without my approval." The letter will finally be made available since all notes that outgoing presidents leave with their successors are archived and sent to the National Archives and Records Administration under the Presidential Records Act. Trump Aids Biden's Stimulus Bill, Leaves a Massive Cash Pile Trump repeated several of his old allegations in the almost 60-minute podcast interview, including his false assertion that he won the 2020 election, that he was the target of a 'witch hunt' by special counsel Robert Mueller, and that Republicans, including his own Vice President Mike Pence, did not help his bid to reverse the election outcome illegally. Trump also said that he never gave in to Biden's requests. And though Trump wished Biden well, he slammed his successor for his immigration policy and inability to build the border wall. Past leaders have a habit of not criticizing the current commander in chief. During their tenure in office, Barack Obama and George W. Bush largely avoided commenting on Trump. On the border, Trump told Biden that he should 'finish the wall.' He also said that his long-promised border wall is almost over. According to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) records, the Trump administration constructed 452 miles of wall along the 1,954-mile US-Mexico border. However, only 80 miles of the new wall had been constructed. The overwhelming majority of the barriers built by the Trump administration replaced barriers by previous administrations. Trump has reaffirmed his claim that 'dangerous criminals' are crossing the border. Trump's criticism came as the Biden administration tries to address the border crisis. As of Saturday, the number of unaccompanied migrant children in US custody had reached 15,000 people. Agents are said to have kept over 1,000 children for more than ten days. Axios obtained new images that show the children living in crowded conditions, with many of them lying on the floor. Republicans have mocked Biden for repealing some of Trump's hardline policies, which they say have resulted in an influx of migrants at the border. During his campaign, Biden said that he would introduce "more humane" border measures, which others have interpreted as a sign that crossing the border would be simpler. Donald Trump Slams Joe Biden for Turning the Southern Border Into a 'National Disaster' Trump wrote a letter despite believing Biden is 'paid for by China' Even though he insists Biden is "bought and paid for" by China, former President Donald Trump claims to have sent him a lengthy letter "from the heart" before leaving the White House. Because of his son Hunter Biden's business interests in China, Trump said that China would "own" the US if Biden won during the campaign last year. The first son also held 10% of an investment fund operated by Chinese state-owned companies last month. Hunter Biden joined his father on board Air Force Two for a trip to Beijing in December 2013, and the fund was formed 12 days later. In a 2017 email retrieved from Hunter Biden's hard drive, a 10% set-aside for "the big guy" was identified as part of a potential transaction involving China's largest private energy firm. While the sale fell through, Tony Bobulinski, a former Hunter Biden business associate, described the elder Biden as the "big guy," NY Post reported. Trump Encourages Supporters to Get COVID-19 Vaccines @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. EasyOrder is an immediate and dramatic improvement over taking orders by phone, fax, and email, which slows sales cycles and leads to errors and delays, said Farzad Dibachi, CEO and co-founder of Inxeption. Inxeption, the pioneer of Industrial commerce, today announced the launch of Inxeption EasyOrder, a digital commerce order-entry portal for manufacturers and other B2B businesses to streamline sales. The new product provides digital tools that allow businesses to move from inefficient, error-prone manual sales processes to a system that captures accurate data and automatically updates distributors and customers on order status. Inxeption EasyOrder, which is now available on Inxeptions I-commerce platform, enables B2B businesses to offer buyers a password-protected portal that reflects their customized, negotiated prices. Companies using EasyOrder can accept payment by purchase order or provide payment terms to buyers. EasyOrder also seamlessly integrates with Inxeptions all-mode logistics services, enabling companies to better manage shipping costs and keep buyers informed of order and shipping status with automated emails. EasyOrder is an immediate and dramatic improvement over taking orders by phone, fax, and email, which slows sales cycles and leads to errors and delays. Plus, digital orders capture current data about the customer that tends to be far more accurate and up to date than that stored in CRM systems, said Farzad Dibachi, CEO and co-founder of Inxeption. EasyOrder is a win-win for both buyers, who get the right order faster, and sellers, who get paid faster. A recent study from McKinsey and Company found that 68% of B2B customers prefer digital sales interaction, yet less than 30% of B2B companies with $500M+ market cap have an ecommerce site. EasyOrder gives companies a quick way to capture digital orders from both distributors and even from large volume buyers who make frequent, repeat orders. "We are thrilled to implement this new technology from Inxeption, which finally makes e-commerce for industrial equipment manufacturers like ours possible," said Jim Perkins, President of U.S. Air Filtration. "We have a large network of resellers and distributors who have been buying over the phone or by email until now. Inxeption's EasyOrder portal is able to handle the complexity of our products, pricing, and payment methods while making the purchasing experience much faster and easier for our resellers and our employees. Coupled with their flat-rate shipping, it's a true game changer!" Learn more at Inxeption.com. About Inxeption: Inxeption is the pioneer of Industrial commerce ("I-commerce"). Its secure and scalable cloud-based digital commerce platform brings the ease of consumer e-commerce to B2B. From one digital dashboard, companies of any size in any industry can drive more sales, gain operational visibility, and realize cost savings. Its integrated service offerings include merchant cash advances and other financial services, flat-rate logistics with shipping protection, web design, and strategic marketing. Inxeption's invitation to companies of any size is: Let's Do Business Better. Google users recently complained that their Google apps are continuously crashing. The software giant confirmed that the issue was caused by the Android WebView service, which is a Chrome-powered feature that allows users to view webpages in Android apps. To temporarily fix this, Google previously advised its users to use the web versions of the apps instead. The recent issue affected various applications and Google services such as Gmail, Google Play, and more. On Tuesday, Mar. 23, the tech giant company said that it would provide a fix for the previous issue, as reported by Business Today Economy's latest report. Google fixes Chrome browser and WebView Now, Google finally released an update to solve the Android system's problem. Google is now advising the users to update their Google Chrome browser and Android System WebView. Also Read: YouTube Web Icon and Fonts Resemble the Android App Interface, Complete with New Motif and Look! "We have resolved the issue with WebView that caused some apps on Android to crash for some users. Updating Android System WebView and Google Chrome via Google Play should now resolve the issue," said an anonymous Google spokesperson via BBC News. Previously, DownDetector showed the outages in Android apps. Aside from this website issue detector, Twitter users were also sharing their experience on the popular social media site. What you need to do Google provided the steps that users should follow so that their Android apps issue will be solved. Here is the exact guide you need to follow: The first thing you need to do is open your device and access your Google Play Store app. After that, you need to search for the Android System WebView. Once you find it, you need to click the Update option so that your WebView will receive the fix. When the update is complete, all you need to do is follow these steps for Google Chrome. For more news updates about Google and its upcoming innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Google Apps Android Server Down: Early Reports of YouTube, Gmail, and MORE Are Unresponsive-How to Fix? This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. [March 23, 2021] On World Water Day 2021, Sensus unveils exclusive whitepaper - 'Smart Cities need Smart Water' Reducing Non-Revenue Water with Intelligent Solutions Announces plans to help State Water Utilities transition to futuristic, smart water solutions NEW DELHI, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Paper highlights India's water crisis scenario, NRW cases, challenges, and implications, Govt initiatives Outlines apparent losses , challenges faced by utilities globally Points out how smart water tech and real-time data monitoring systems can rectify NRW loss Sensus in talks with water utilities of states, to develop a tech-smart approach towards NRW correction Sensus, a Xylem brand and a global leader in smart water solutions, with 80 million+ metering devices installed worldwide, unveiled a whitepaper and report on - 'Smart Cities need Smart Water' - Reducing Non-Revenue Water with Intelligent Solutions, on the occasion of World Water Day 2021. The whitepaper interestingly highlights that as per estimates of the Central Water Commission, India is not a water-scarce country and the water resources potential of the country is 1869 BCM. However, more than 40% of the water produced in many cities is wasted before reaching the final consumer due to leaks or theft, emphasizing the need for smart, real-time monitoring to strengthen utilities with effective control over water usage. Establishing India's smart urban dream would be a distant reality without smart water, the white paper details the implications of Non-Revenue-Water (NRW), lists the key challenges for Indian utilities, and reiterates the importance and benefits of smart water infrastructure deployment by utilities to reduce the high NRW. Sensus also announced that it is in talks with municipal corporations and utilities of leading states across India, to consult and help them with smart water meters and other technology deployments to enable them to reduce NRW and resultant apparent water loss. Larsen & Toubro's (L&T) and Pune unicipal Corporation (PMC) chose Sensus iPERL smart water meters for effecting PMC's innovative 24x7 water distribution project, aimed to ensure continuous water supply and increase operational efficiency. Speaking at the occasion, Nitin Bhate, Managing Director, Xylem India, said, "It is critical to raise the awareness around NRW concern. At Xylem, We are committed to delivering innovative and smart technology solutions to solve water. The pandemic has reiterated more than ever before the need to not only conserve our natural resources better but also, more importantly, adopt futuristic technology solutions that enable us in more effective management and prevention of unnecessary loss. With our metrology brand Sensus, We are providing cutting-edge technology for utilities to be able to accurately measure water consumption, communicate effectively that accurate data, and ensure early-stage leak detection, tampering and other incidents to enable utilities to save significant costs and derive better ROI." Amit Vaidya, Director, India - Metrology Business, Xylem, added, "The purpose of this whitepaper is to highlight the current water crisis across India in both large and growing cities, where NRW is posing a threat to utilities causing ineffective water supply and management. Globally, countries are accelerating the adoption of intelligent water solutions and it's time Indian utilities get inspired from these global water loss program management and invest in futuristic, smart water technologies and particularly in advanced metering systems to conserve and better utilize water resources. We are glad that our Indian Govt. has been vocal and welcoming about the digital water economy and has already deployed smart water infrastructure in key cities. We are in talks with the State Governments and municipalities to enable them to deploy smart water meters." The Pandemic has raised water demand and water stress across India. India's average NRW (38%) is above the global average range of 30% to 35% according to the World Bank, and almost a third of 100 cities qualify as high-risk zones by 2050. With deteriorating water infrastructure, increased operational costs, and reduced revenue, water utilities might soon find it challenging to balance the demand-supply in cities, in the years to come. About Sensus, a Xylem brand: Sensus, a Xylem brand, helps water utilities to reach further through the application of technology and data-driven insights that deliver efficiency and responsiveness - enabling them to do more with their infrastructure to improve quality of life in their communities. Sensus, founded in 1870, was acquired by Xylem Inc. in August 2016, as part of their global acquisition strategy to create a full end-to-end solution for the global water market. The US-based company started its India metering operations in 2014 headquartered out of Mumbai In its journey in India, Sensus has worked closely with various utility bodies and organizations offering its expertise in Smart Metering, Data Analytics, Smart Water Networks, Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). Sensus brings the unique experience and learnings from its successful execution of one of the world's largest smart water projects to date - The Thames Water Smart Metering Program. Thames Water is installing 3 million+ smart water meters to address the shortfall in water supply that is predicted in London, UK, by 2040. It's also selected as Larsen & Toubro's (L&T) technology partner to successfully implement Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) innovative 24x7 water distribution project which aims to ensure continuous water supply and increased operational efficiency. PMC has invested in over 300,000 Sensus iPERL smart water meters to measure and manage water supply across its network. Learn more at: https://sensus.com/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Bahraini authorities have announced that steady progress is being made on the project related to the Bridge 17 at Um Al Saad Avenue near Bandar Al Dar in the Sitra area of the kingdom. The current bridge suffers from cracks linked to the high number of heavy vehicles passing on Um Al Saad Avenue, reported BNA. Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam bin Abdullah Khalaf toured the project site along with other ministry officials. The project, designed as two bridges to accommodate traffic on the avenue and the housing and industrial expansion in the area, will see the replacement of the current bridge with another one with two lanes in either direction, stated the report. It will also have an emergency lane to enhance traffic movement and boost safety levels, it added. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. (Natural News) Aegle marmelos, commonly known as bael in Nepal and India, is a plant that belongs to the Rutaceae, or citrus, family. It is native to Northern India but can also be found in Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand. Also called shivaduma, or the tree of Shiva, bael is sacred to the Hindus and is commonly found growing near temples. The Hindus believe that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune, resides in bael leaves; hence, the plant is often used as a religious offering. Bael is also widely used in traditional Indian medicine. In a recent article published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine, researchers from Australia and South Korea reviewed scientific evidence supporting the pharmacological activities of bael. The plant has long attracted scientific interest because of the many medicinal uses associated with its various parts. For more than 5,000 years, ethnic communities residing in the Indian subcontinent have been using the leaves, bark, stem, fruits and seeds of bael to treat a wide variety of diseases. The root of bael, for instance, is used to treat intermittent fever, hypochondriasis, melancholia and heart palpitations. It is also an important ingredient of dasmula or dasamula, an Ayurvedic medicine used for the management of pain, arthritis and inflammatory disorders. Bael leaves and bark, meanwhile, are used in medicated enemas. The leaves are also said to be effective against diabetes mellitus and related complications. But the part of bael most used for medicinal purposes is its fruit. A well-known remedy for diarrhea thats been included in the British Pharmacopoeia, the unripe fruit of bael is also used to treat dysentery, or intestinal infections, peptic ulcers and respiratory infections. Studies have also reported that bael fruit is effective in experimental models of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The fruit has been called a rasayana by early scholars, which, in Ayurvedic medicine, means something that can invigorate the body and prolong a persons lifespan. The anti-cancer properties of bael Recently, studies have emerged supporting the use of bael as anti-cancer medicine. For instance, a study published in the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences reported that bael leaf extracts have significant antiproliferative activity against leukemia, colon and breast cancer cells. Phytochemical analysis of the bael leaf extracts revealed that the plant is rich in alkaloids, anthraquinones, terpenoids, tannins and reducing sugars. Researchers also identified a compound called imperatorin that contributes to the anti-cancer activity of baels ethanol extract against leukemia cells. In a separate study published in Nature, Indian researchers reported that bael fruit extracts also have anti-cancer properties. Using rats with chemically induced breast cancer, they looked at the plants ability to reduce tumor formation. The researchers found that treatment with bael fruit extract for five weeks significantly reduced mammary tumor volume in the breast cancer model. The extract also decreased serum levels of tumor growth biomarkers and improved kidney and liver serum biomarkers. Altogether these results suggest that bael fruit is a promising natural medicine for breast cancer that also confers kidney- and liver-protective effects. Many other phytochemicals in bael have been identified as anti-cancer agents. Marmelin, a compound unique to bael, has been found to inhibit the growth of epithelial cancer cells by decreasing cancer cell survival, proliferation and invasiveness. Lupeol, another active compound in bael, prevents tumor formation in neoplastic cell lines. Eugenol shows cytotoxic effects on malignant liver tumors, colon cancer and melanomas, while citral induces apoptosis in hematopoietic cancer cell lines. Many studies have validated the medicinal uses of bael, as well as the plants antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, antidiarrheal, gastroprotective, anti-ulcerative colitis, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, radioprotective and anti-cancer activities. However, more studies are needed in order to identify other useful phytochemicals in bael and develop them into potent medicines that can be used in clinical practice. Sources include: Science.news BMCComplementMedTherapies.BiomedCentral.com ScienceDirect.com GreenPharmacy.info NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 1 NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov 2 Nature.com Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives in Seoul on Tuesday evening for a three-day visit after wrapping up a trip to China. The last time Lavrov visited Korea was in 2013 when he accompanied President Vladimir Putin on a state visit. The official purpose of Lavrov's visit is to mark the 30th anniversary of bilateral relations, but a trip during the coronavirus pandemic sends a special message of interest in strengthening ties with Korea. Lavrov will attend an anniversary ceremony on Wednesday and meet with Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong on Thursday. In an interview with Chinese media on Monday, Lavrov said, "The formation of a truly multipolar and democratic world, are unfortunately being hindered by Western countries, particularly the United States." He added that Russia and China should strengthen their independence from the U.S. Lavrov's visit to Korea comes after Seoul last week appeared to distance itself from an anti-China alliance being pushed by the U.S. The world's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, Serum Institute of India, has sought permission from the Centre to supply 50 lakh doses of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield to the United Kingdom, citing an agreement with AstraZeneca in this regard. It has, however, assured India that its own anti- vaccination programme will not be disturbed because of this supply. This development came amid reports that the UK's anti- inoculation programme has been hit due to a delay in the supply of the second batch of vaccines. In a communique to Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday, the Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs at the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), Prakash Kumar Singh, sought permission to supply 50 lakh doses of Covishield stating that India's anti- vaccination programme will not be affected. It referred to a license agreement between AstraZeneca UK Limited and the Serum Institute of India in June 2020 with relation to technology transfer from AZ for manufacture and supply of Covishield. "Under this agreement, it was agreed that Serum Institute of India will supply any AstraZeneca country where AstraZeneca has commitments anywhere in the world. It was further agreed that, in return for getting access to the AZ technology AZD1222, Serum Institute Of India Pvt. Ltd will treat AstraZeneca as a priority customer, whether it is for drug substance or finished product," Singh stated. According to the agreement, Serum Institute has to supply millions of doses of Covishield to AstraZeneca according to their requirement. "We have to supply at least 50 lakh doses to AstraZeneca immediately for use in the UK." "This is of utmost priority as AstraZeneca has conveyed and is also reminding us of our obligation to supply Covishield to them according to the agreement. AstraZeneca and representative of the UK Government have also conveyed to us today morning that if these minimum 50 lakh doses are not supplied to the UK immediately this week then the UK government might have to halt the vaccination programme," Singh said. The letter also reminded the government that the Serum Institute has received the technology to manufacture Covishield from AstraZeneca-Oxford and need to honour the commitment to supply at least 50 lakh doses of the vaccine. "We are sure, considering the gravity of the situation and prestige of our company as well as our country is at stake, you will definitely intervene and give permission to us to supply at least 50 lakh doses of Covishield to the UK this week. We will be highly obliged for the same. We assure you that the Government of India's vaccination programme will not be disturbed because of this supply," Singh stated. (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.) Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. (Natural News) The longer Democrats remain in power, the more America has begun to resemble a militarized police state akin to a third-world banana republic. Following the Jan. 6 riot in Washington, D.C., which the Donkeys falsely labeled an insurrection that was incited by former President Donald Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in collusion with the left-wing Capitol Police chief, installed a tall fence laced with razor wire around the entire complex, staffing it with thousands of cops and National Guard troops. Initially, we were told, the Guard troops as many as 27,000 at one point were only going to be deployed long enough to protect Joe Biden during his inauguration from the white supremacist hordes and militias, all of whom are Trump supporters, of course. But when those attacks didnt materialize, the troops didnt go home; some states recalled theirs, however, thousands of others remain. Its not clear when or even if they will be dismissed at this point, because Pelosi and the rest of the liars in her party are insisting that Trump-aligned domestic terrorists are going to come streaming out of the woods surrounding D.C. and take over the country by force. (Related: Pentagon says military does not have resources for urban combat in dystopian megacities.) Now, the same situation is developing in Minneapolis as the first trial of a police officer involved in George Floyds death, Derek Chauvin, prepares to get underway. The Washington Examiner notes: Minneapolis will prepare and fortify key government buildings ahead of the first trial over the death of George Floyd while in the citys police custody. Additional law enforcement and National Guard forces are expected to arrive in the coming days as preventive preparation for the city of Minneapolis after weeks of civil unrest and property damage sent the city into turmoil during the summer. Security fencing and barricades will be brought to cover government buildings ahead of the trial, said Hennepin County Board Chairwoman Marion Greene. We want to make sure that its understood in the community that what we are working to do is preserve safety for those involved in the trial to ensure that the trial can proceed without any hindrance or disruption, he told KSTP this week. FOX9 reporter Paul Blume tweeted photos of barricades and barriers that are being set up to provide Super Bowl-like security around the courthouse and surrounding area. Fencing & barricades going up around #Mpls city hall today. Law enforcement sources confirm it is beginning of #GeorgeFloyd security infrastructure build up for upcoming Chauvin murder trial. Told to expect Super Bowl-like security around Gov Center area : Phillip Murphy. @FOX9 pic.twitter.com/vBMTikBdCS Paul Blume (@PaulBlume_FOX9) February 17, 2021 Jury selection began March 8; Chauvin faces second-degree murder charges for his part in using his knee to pin Floyd to the pavement for nearly nine minutes, which later led to Floyds death, according to prosecutors. Now, given what happened in Minneapolis after the Floyd incident the city exploded in violence, rioting and looting deploying extra security is understandable. The Minnesota National Guard was eventually called into help local police regain control of the streets in the days after the riots began in late May 2020. But are militarized streets in American cities going to become the new norm? Thats very likely at least in blue states and cities and heres why. For all their accusations against Trump being a tyrant, in reality its the Democrat Party that is full of authoritarians. Thats why Pelosi has troops still deployed in D.C.; authoritarians like to be protected. And frankly, Democrats probably feel like they need to be, given that their far-left policy agenda is not popular with most of America (and Biden didnt really win the presidency in the first place). America is changing rapidly, under the lefts control and not for the better. If we dont slow the militarization, the cancel culture, the wokeness and the destruction of societal norms, our country will break apart, just like every other country that has undergone such seismic changes. See more reporting like this at MilitaryTech.news. Sources include: NationalSecurity.news WashingtonExaminer.com According to Playgon, the US gaming and betting market is expected to exceed US$12.9 billion in addressable market size by 2025 Playgons technology combines high definition live streaming dealers with state of the art augmented reality betting to provide an authentic casino experience Inc ( ) ( ) said Tuesday that it plans to gain a foothold in the booming US gaming sector by licensing its Live Dealer technology south of the border. The Canadian iGaming company said it has engaged legal firm Duane Morris LLP to represent the company in its application process to license the technology in the US. Playgons technology combines high definition live streaming dealers with state of the art augmented reality betting to provide an authentic casino experience. According to Playgon, the US gaming and betting market is expected to exceed US$12.9 billion in addressable market size by 2025. The firm said it plans to submit applications in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan, where iGaming is currently legal. Once it receives its license, Playgon said it will be able to license and operate its proprietary Live Dealer technology before formalizing licensing deals with gaming operators in each state. The company added that it anticipates considerable demand for its mobile-focused Live Dealer casino games, which include Roulette, Baccarat and Blackjack. Playgon CEO Darcy Krogh told investors that the company is launching its US entry much quicker than anticipated, calling the US market a blue sky opportunity We are now in the process of pursuing licenses in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan for our Live Dealer technology and are confident that Duane Morris will successfully guide us through the process, Krogh said in a statement. In tandem, we will remain in active conversations with operators throughout the US to increase interest and opportunities while also focusing on going live and developing business in the regulated markets we are currently approved in. Vancouver-based Playgon provides a multi-tenant gateway that allows online operators the ability to offer their customers innovative iGaming software solutions. Its current software platform includes Live Dealer Casino, E-Table games and Daily Fantasy Sports. Shares of Playgon were trading 3.5% higher on Tuesday morning in Toronto at C$0.60. Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas Singapore: The presence of more than 200 suspected Chinese militia vessels at a disputed reef off the Philippines could be a prelude to violent clashes, according to a leading analyst who says the flotilla is only the latest example of the superpower tightening the noose in the worlds most contested waterway. In the latest diplomatic flare-up over competing claims to the South China Sea, the Philippines has protested after its coastguard discovered the vessels moored at a boomerang-shaped reef that both nations claim. Chinese vessels photographed at Whitsun reef by the Philippines coast guard. Credit:Philippine Coast Guard Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana voiced grave concern about the appearance of 220 ships at Whitsun reef, part of the Spratly Islands about 300km west of the Philippine province of Palawan. Lorenzana labelled it a clear provocative action of militarising the area and called on China to cease encroaching on an area he said lay well within the Philippines exclusive economic zone. A 22-year-old woman has been charged in the traffic crash death of a passing motorist while the suspect was racing. Carmesia Flannigan, of Birmingham, is charged with murder, leaving the scene of an accident with injury and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. She will be held in the Jefferson County Jail on bonds totaling $175,000. Earlier Monday the Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the woman as Brandy Lee Moore Ballard. She was 52 and lived in Birmingham. Authorities said Ballard was the driver of a 2007 Ford Focus traveling south in the 800 block of Arkadelphia Road Sunday morning. Her vehicle was struck head on by a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro traveling north on Arkadelphia Road that crossed over the center line into Ballards lane of traffic. Police and coroners officials said investigators believe the Camaro was racing another vehicle at the time of the deadly crash. The crash happened at 6:10 a.m. and Ballard was pronounced dead on the scene at 6:14 a.m. Authorities have not said whether anyone else was injured in the crash. Sgt. Rod Mauldin said witnesses observed vehicles racing prior to the accident. It was determined that one of the drivers who was reportedly racing left the scene of the accident. Ballard, he said, was a passing motorist and not affiliated with racing when her vehicle was struck. Birmingham police have been trying to crack down on street racing throughout the city. In late February, they carried out an operation aimed at catching those who take part. They said several traffic deaths in the city have been linked to street racing. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. EgyptAir Tourism and Duty Free has signed a new agreement with IBM to leverage IBM Cloud capabilities to scale and modernize EgyptAir Duty Free back-end operations and host its SAP Travel Retail System. By adopting IBM Cloud, EgyptAir will also leverage IBM Watson Assistant, an AI virtual agent, to transform their travellers shopping experience. The agreement was signed by Wael Abdoush, General Manager IBM Egypt and Reda Metwally, head of EgyptAir Tourism and Duty Free Co, in the presence of Pilot Roshdy Zakaria, EgyptAir Holding Chairman and CEO, a group of leaders of the two companies, and Atef Roshdy, ECS Company manager - Agent of SAP Company, which participated in setting up the project. With a hybrid cloud approach from IBM, EgyptAir Duty Free will migrate its ERP workload to IBM Cloud while staying connected and fully integrated with the Frequent-Flyer Program of EgyptAir Airlines and Star Alliance companies to provide shopping services from EgyptAir's duty free outlets and attract new customers. For example, EgyptAir Duty Free customers will make all payment transactions through a secure point of sale that is part of IBM Cloud infrastructure. As part of this engagement, IBM will provide technology and industry expertise to enhance the digital services for EgyptAir Duty-Free by using IBM Watson Assistant, running on IBM Cloud. The AI virtual agent will provide EgyptAir Duty-Free customers with a differentiated shopping experience, enabling them to do online shopping through the Duty-Free website including orders placement, payment and delivery inside the plane, thus ensuring seamless retail experience. Pilot Roshdy Zakaria said: "We have a long history of cooperation with IBM, as our partner for more than 30 years. The technology transformation journey has included many progressive steps to develop our operations, by leveraging IBM Cloud capabilities and providing our customers with a world-class personal experience." "The new technology will help us to reinvent our services and unlock an array of new choices for our customers, said Reda Metwally Chairman and CEO, EgyptAir Duty Free. With IBM and SAP technology, we will modernize our operations through the supply chain to meet the evolving needs of our customers and suppliers. In the era of Covid-19, maximizing capabilities and developing new opportunities are critical business opportunities for the aviation sector. Were very pleased to partner with EgyptAir Duty Free in their digital transformation journey, said Wael Abdoush, General Manager, IBM Egypt. Through technologies like hybrid cloud and AI, EgyptAir will take their customers relationship to the next level, surfacing distinct new trends to change travellers experience and ensure security, agility and operational efficiency. IBM has a long history of working with the airlines industry as well as with leading travel and transportation companies around the world for over 70 years. IBM has collaborated with EgyptAir for over 30 years hosting core applications on both IBM hardware and software. TradeArabia News Service North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks at a course for the chief secretaries of local party committees in Pyongyang, March 4, 2021. The Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea announced last week through state media that it was severing diplomatic relations with Malaysia. The next day, Malaysia followed suit by giving North Korean diplomats and their dependents 48 hours to leave the Southeast Asian country. At the center of the tiff with the DPRK was the fate of Mun Chol Myong, a North Korean businessman who Malaysia had arrested in May 2019, at the request of the United States, for allegedly evading U.N. sanctions over Pyongyangs nuclear weapons program. Mun, who had lived in Malaysia since 2008, was charged with multiple counts of money laundering and attempted money laundering. After exhausting his appeals in the Malaysian courts earlier this month, Mun on March 17 was quietly deported to the United States, where he will become the first North Korean to stand trial after being extradited stateside. Through agreeing to send him to the U.S., Malaysia had committed an unpardonable crime, Pyongyang said. The North Koreans had demanded that the Malaysian government intercede in the courts to have Mun freed and returned to North Korea. They argued he was engaged in lawful trade and that the United States was bullying Malaysia into handing him over. It was a self-defeating move by North Korea, which has few friends. The communist state, which is led today by Kim Jong Un, has formal diplomatic ties with more than 160 countries but mostly on paper. Only 24 countries have embassies in Pyongyang, while North Korea has a few dozen diplomatic missions abroad. Beyond serving basic functions of diplomacy, Pyongyangs embassies have an essential function of procuring hard currency, evading sanctions, and procuring technology and luxury goods for the regime, as well documented by reports. They are essential sources of funding largely illicit for the cash-strapped and constantly sanctioned government in Pyongyang. They have functioned as vehicles for the laundering of Pyongyangs famed super notes, high-quality forgeries of U.S. $100 bills, as well as illegal narcotics. The embassy in Malaysia was no exception. It was long suspected for both illicit business activity and money laundering. The embassy assisted in the marketing of North Korean military communications equipment, among other activities. But most important, the embassy was tied to the procurement of communications and computer equipment for Pyongyang. Muns extradition to the U.S. was very important because the businessman was part of Kim Jong Uns illicit activities network, as David Maxwell, an expert with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Radio Free Asia, a BenarNews sister entity. And, according to an indictment unsealed in a U.S. federal court on March 22, Mun was affiliated with the DPRKs primary intelligence organization, the Reconnaissance General Bureau, which is the subject of U.S. and U.N. sanctions. 2017 assassination Malaysias shuttering of the embassy was long overdue. In 2017, North Korean agents hired two women, Vietnamese and Indonesian nationals, to take part in assassinating Kim Jong Nam, the North Korean dictators half-brother, with VX, a nerve agent, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Using an internationally banned weapons-grade nerve agent on foreign soil is an act of war. While several North Korean agents quickly slipped out of the country, the Malaysian government could not take more aggressive action against the embassy staff, including suspects in Kims murder, because Pyongyang was effectively holding Malaysian diplomats and their dependents there hostage. Ultimately, all nine North Korean suspects were able to leave Malaysia. Only the two women were ever arrested and tried, though in both cases the government eventually dropped the charges against them. Though both countries withdrew their ambassadors, diplomatic tensions were largely papered over. So why has Pyongyang escalated the situation today? The over-reaction to the extradition is telling. The best answer is that it demonstrates just how important money laundering is to the regime. Mun is an experienced operative with nearly 20 years of experience in money laundering, procuring luxury items, and technology that is essential to keeping the Kim family in power. On an individual level, should Mun negotiate a plea bargain with U.S. prosecutors, he could fill in important details in the American governments understanding of how North Korea funds itself, procures high technology, and evades sanctions. But Muns extradition is emblematic of a larger concern for Pyongyang. North Korea is a criminal state, not just in terms of its proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but the fact that it survives through crime. In the past few years, North Korean hackers have stolen some $670 million in currencies and virtual currencies, including $81 million from Bangladeshs central bank. But no cyber fraud is too small. And the economy has been hard hit. In a speech last October, Kim Jong Un broke down in tears and acknowledged a significant economic slowdown, grave challenges, and unprecedented disasters. Which makes the evasion of sanctions and the import of luxury goods so important to Kim: it is how he buys loyalty to the regime. Geopolitical stakes The new administration in Washington will need to ratchet up sanctions if it hopes to force North Korea back to the negotiating table. Once formidable, with broad international support, international enforcement of the sanctions quickly ebbed after President Trumps June 2018 summit with Kim in Singapore. After the collapse of the Hanoi summit in February 2019, the sanctions regime was never fully reinstated, with countries like Malaysia all too willing to continue low levels of trade and allow North Korea to conduct commercial activities. The United States and China, meanwhile, have a host of contentions issues, as was played out in last weeks testy bilateral meeting in Alaska. The rival superpowers desperately need to find issues upon which they can cooperate. North Korea, however, is not one of them. Beijing has too much to lose should Pyongyang collapse. Which means the United States under the Biden administration has no choice but to target North Korean operations in the 45 other countries where their diplomats are laundering money, peddling drugs, and skirting sanctions. Expect North Korea to retaliate in the way it knows how: through provocations. North Korea has tested nuclear weapons six times since 2006, including four during Kim Jung Uns tenure. We are likely to see a resumption of missile tests by North Korea, which were scaled back in 2020. North Korea has been a challenge for every U.S. president, and things are unlikely to change for the Biden administration in stepping up sanctions on Pyongyang. Countries like Malaysia, where North Koreans have operated with relative impunity, will be key to sanctions enforcement. Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College and an adjunct at Georgetown University in Washington. He is a regular expert commentator for BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. (TNS) In 2019, the city of Seattle wanted to know more about who was using new transportation services, things like Uber, car share and bike share.So it did what it often does: Hired a research firm to design and conduct a survey. The firm had to reach out to potential respondents by mail, by phone, online and through community groups. It had to reach a "diverse pool of respondents reflective of the local communities" based on race, income, language, age, gender and disability status. The requirements were spelled out in the contract.The firm surveyed 2,854 people and submitted its report four months later. It was paid $69,000.Last year, the Seattle City Council wanted to learn more about strategies to cut funding to the Police Department, reinvest in community programs and how to use a participatory budgeting process to do that. The City Council hired a group to do research and conduct a survey. There were no specifications on how the firm should contact survey respondents and it was not intended to reach a representative sample of the community. Rather, it aimed to reach groups that often can be left out of policy discussions: Black people, gender nonbinary people, immigrants and others. Few requirements were spelled out in the contract.The group spoke with more than 4,000 people, surveyed 1,463 people and submitted its report three months later. It was paid $3 million.That contract, which the City Council signed with Freedom Project and King County Equity Now (KCEN) to conduct the Black Brilliance Research Project, is among the most expensive consultant contracts the city has awarded in recent memory.It was awarded without being put out for bids, as the Seattle City Council moved quickly last year to cut police funding in the midst of widespread protests of biased policing and systemic racism. It was initially intended to be awarded to KCEN, a coalition of community groups that helped lead the summer's protests and lobbied hard for the money, but was instead awarded to Freedom Project, a low-profile nonprofit that runs nonviolent communication classes at jails and prisons, because KCEN didn't meet contracting guidelines. KCEN was then hired as a subcontractor. And Freedom Project was hired as a sub-subcontractor. The partnership ended in an acrimonious breakup in the last several months, with KCEN shut out of the process, Seattle City Council Insight reported.When the final report was presented last month, the two lead researchers were affiliated with neither organization.KCEN, in a prepared statement, said the participatory budgeting efforts outlined in the report "have not reflected our initial understanding and have been anti-Black.""We advocated for funds vigorously divested from the police budget to go directly to Black communities not watered down and reduced broadly to investment in BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and people of color] communities," the group said.Shaun Glaze, one of the two principal authors of the report, disputed the notion that funding wouldn't be directed toward Black communities."I'm surprised to hear anyone say that it is watered down when this is probably the Blackest thing that Seattle has ever funded," Glaze said. "Over and over again, it says 'follow Black leadership.'"Isaac Joy, president and community builder of KCEN, said delayed payments from the city created "tremendous tension" in facilitating the research project.He said the research project needs to be viewed in the larger context of centuries of anti-Black racism, a staggering wealth gap between Black and white families, a pandemic that disproportionately hit people of color and the largest sustained protests since the civil rights era."I count this as COVID relief funding, this is funding that was awarded during the COVID era, specifically to the Black community," Joy said of the research project."In order for the Black community to receive any sort of COVID relief we had to put forth proposals such as this first ever research program to get any type of investment in our community," Joy said. "We were asking for hundreds of millions to invest in the black community."Sauda Abdul-Mumin, a Freedom Project spokesperson said, in an email: "We are committed to being an exemplary steward of public funds and to remaining aligned in our commitment to making our communities safe for everyone, especially those who have for so long been targeted by systemic racism and oppression."Payments from the contract went to more than 100 researchers, most of whom got a little over $3,000 every two weeks. Subcontractors were paid hundreds of thousands for producing reports, including videos and podcasts, about the views of the communities they represent: Black trans people, East African immigrants and others.Seattle has awarded more than 2,500 consultant contracts since the beginning of 2018, according to areview of city clerk records. The contract awarded to Freedom Project and King County Equity Now is the 36th most expensive during that time. All of the contracts that cost more were for technical work design, IT work, engineering or construction management for public utilities or transportation projects or were for programs in Seattle Public Schools.The contract with Freedom Project and KCEN was awarded last fall by the Seattle City Council, over the veto of Mayor Jenny Durkan. Durkan said she was supportive of seeking community input as the city moves to rethink policing and public safety, but that it should be put out for bids. Also, she wrote, some of the work the City Council was outsourcing could be done by city agencies "for much less money."The City Council voted unanimously to override Durkan's veto."Historically, proposals for city spending or research projects are completed at a fraction of the cost," Kamaria Hightower a Durkan spokesperson wrote, last week. Hightower, in an emailed statement, criticized the City Council for cutting city departments out of the contracting process.The contract is now under examination by the state auditor and a report is expected in early summer, a spokesperson said.In response to a request from Durkan's administration, the auditor's office said it was considering whether it was appropriate for the City Council to award the contract to Freedom Project without putting it out for bids. The auditor's office also said it was considering whether it was appropriate for the funds to be essentially earmarked to KCEN.Durkan, in an emailed statement, said "there have been some missteps and conflict in the City Council-led process" but she has confidence the auditor will "ensure full accounting of the funds."What is the Black Brilliance Project?The end product, the Black Brilliance Research Project Report, runs nearly 1,300 pages long, although the vast majority of the report, more than 1,100 pages, consists of other publications or subcontractors' reports, reprinted as appendices.It intends to answer two fundamental questions: How should Seattle redirect funding to create "true community safety" and how should the city set up a "participatory budgeting" process, to let people propose and vote on spending priorities.On the first question, the answers were not surprising.The report recommends five areas for investment: Housing, mental health care, children's programs, economic development and an alternative to the current 911 system, focused on wellness.All five focus areas are already the subject of either significant investment, significant debate, or both."It's a fair point, why are we doing studies over and over again and not acting on them," said Councilmember Tammy Morales, whose Community Economic Development Committee is overseeing the work. "What was unique for me was hearing from those who are most often left out in the research and in the survey talking about what specifically do you mean by community safety."That means, Morales said, things like affordable housing, health care, food security and livable wage jobs, not "911 response times."Councilmember Lisa Herbold pointed to several items in the report that wouldn't have been identified otherwise: A survey from East African Community Services found 39 to 50 percent of youth are experiencing mental health challenges, she noted, and the city needs to fund culturally appropriate mental health services."Residents need access to therapists and other healers who understand that Seattle is a predominately white city and that BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and people of color] residents constantly experience micro- and macro-level aggressions, overt systemic racism, and covert daily discrimination," Herbold wrote in an email, quoting the report.Council President M. Lorena Gonzalez, who signed the contract with Freedom Project on behalf of the council, declined an interview request and asked for questions to be submitted in writing. She also declined to respond to a list of written questions.Morales, Herbold, Gonzalez and Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda chose, in November, to award the contract to Freedom Project, without putting it out for bids.The report also lays out a proposed process for participatory budgeting, in which community members decide and vote on how to spend $28 million that the City Council budgeted for community-led projects.The report envisions a steering committee to design and guide the process, work groups to provide outreach and oversight and budget delegates to develop ideas into projects. All would be paid, at rates around $100,000 a year.The seven people on the steering committee would have to, among them, meet nearly a dozen different criteria: At least one member must have been incarcerated, one must have been homeless, have disabilities, be trans, nonbinary or gender nonconforming, be a Black woman, be an older adult, be from the African diaspora. At least two of seven members must be youth and at least one must be appointed by the Duwamish Tribe.Those criteria, Glaze said, came from talking to people and asking them "who hasn't been represented in decision-making spaces."Once project ideas are developed, the community would vote on which ones to fund.Eligible voters, the report says, should include not just Seattle residents, but anyone who "lives, works, worships, studies, accesses services, or plays in Seattle." Voting would be available in person, by mail, online, through thumb drives and by other avenues.The criteria for voters, Glaze said, is the same the city has used for the last few years in a much smaller version of participatory budgeting, to allocate funds to small streets and parks projects.Costs to administer the selection process could be significant. It generally costs between $700,000 and $870,000 to administer an election in Seattle in odd- numbered years, and between $1.4 million and $1.55 million in even years, according to King County Elections.The steering committee, perhaps in consultation with King County Elections or other government agencies, would determine details and feasibility, Glaze said.Several city departments are currently working to come up with a proposed spending plan for participatory budgeting, which will then be presented to the City Council, for its approval.At the same time, work is quietly progressing on Durkan's Equitable Communities Initiative Task Force, a 25-person group intended to guide a proposed $100 million in new investments in communities of color, that Durkan pledged last year. The full task force has met, privately, 15 times since October, the mayor's office said, with final recommendations potentially coming next month. An outside facilitator is being paid up to $200,000 to guide the task force."The national civil rights reckoning showed we needed to do more, to dismantle systemic racism and invest in BIPOC communities," Durkan said. "My administration's sole focus will be on getting these investments into the community as quickly as possible so they can start making a difference." The CM inquired about the functioning of integrated call centre 155251 at RBKs and asked officials to check the functioning of the number periodically. (Photo: Twitter @AndhraPradeshCM) VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed authorities to fill up all vacant posts of veterinary doctors in Andhra Pradesh. Reviewing with ministers and senior officials working of animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries departments at his camp office on Monday, the CM said veterinary doctors are essential for extending services as per schedule at the Rytu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs). He directed officials to provide quality fodder and medicines at RBK kiosks. Jagan Mohan Reddy asked officials to fix Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health tags on cattle being offered to farmers under the YSR Cheyutha programme. He instructed collectors to clear insurance claims every three months and directed the release of Rs. 98 crore dues for the purpose immediately. The CM inquired about the functioning of integrated call centre 155251 at RBKs and asked officials to check the functioning of the number periodically. He cautioned officials that they will be held responsible in case substandard inputs are supplied to farmers. The Chief Minister gave a green signal for filling up 6,099 vacant posts of animal husbandry assistants in the state. He directed officials to make ready buildings for accommodating YSR integrated veterinary labs by June 1, 2021. He permitted the authorities to fill up new posts of 21 lab technicians and 21 lab assistants. He asked officials to ensure one call centre with one number for veterinary, agriculture and horticulture. A proposal to launch a mobile veterinary ambulance service for livestock, similar to 108 ambulances, was discussed. Such a facility is already available in Tamil Nadu. Officials informed the CM that a similar ambulance will help move sick animals from villages to veterinary hospitals for treatment. The CM also reviewed the Amul Pala Velluva programme to be launched in the Guntur district next week and in West Godavari from April onwards. He further instructed officials to fill up posts of village fisheries assistants and asked officials to lay stress on promoting cage culture in water bodies. Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials to take up works related to fishing harbours at Juvvaladinne, Uppada, Nizampatnam and Machilipatnam under Phase-1 and at Budagatlapalem, Kothapatnam, Biyyaputippa, Pudimadaka and Manchineellapeta in Phase-2. Christer Rosen, Chairman-CEO & Founder of Jupiter Orphan Therapeutics, Inc, Raymond Scott Turner MD, Professor Neurology, Georgetown University (Alzheimers scientist) and Mark Dant, Executive Director, Ryan Foundation IPO Edge, in partnership with The Palm Beach Hedge Fund Association, a Florida trade association for financial professionals and ultra high net worth investors, will host a fireside chat Tuesday, March 30 at 12 pm EST with Jupiter Orphan Therapeutics, Inc. (JOT) Investing in Alzheimers Treatment, How JOTROL is Leading the Way. The event, hosted by IPO Edge Editor-in-Chief John Jannarone will last approximately one hour with time set aside for public audience Q&A. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER The virtual event will feature Christer Rosen, Chairman-CEO & Founder of Jupiter Orphan Therapeutics, Inc; Raymond Scott Turner MD, Professor Neurology, Georgetown University (Alzheimers scientist); and Mark Dant, Executive Director Ryan Foundation (rare disease patient advocate). JOT is seeking a minimum of $5 million and up to $10 million equity investment, to be followed by a public listing. The company is investigating a possible reverse merger and/or SPAC to generate a favorable value position and capitalize on expected positive results from upcoming Phase II trials. By identifying the problem, poor bioavailability, as well as finding a solution in JOTROL , JOT is positioned to, reach several value inflexion points in the near term. JOT is staged as a low-risk entity with high upside potential based on existing research data, relatively short-term to reach Phase II results and several indications to target. So far, JOT has been financed without significant outside investments which means the founders and management together with the next investor group have the opportunity to decide on strategy and exit opportunities. Several large pharmaceutical companies are following the developments of the Phase II projects and it is reasonable to expect that an offer, product licensing, merger, or company purchase will be presented to JOT once Phase II data is available. A distribution deal in Japan and/or China is projected to occur already in 2022. Story continues Messrs. Rosen, Turner and Dant will discuss: What and who is Jupiter Orphan Therapeutics (JOT)? Why isnt regular resveratrol as good as JOTROL? What are the treatment needs for the rare disease market? We have all heard about the problems finding an Alzheimers treatment. Why and how can JOTROL play a role? So how and when can JOT get to product approval and distribution? How has JOT been financed and what are the future financing plans? About Mr. Rosen: Primary Founder and Chairman & CEO of Jupiter Orphan Therapeutics, Inc. Seasoned entrepreneur with over 19 years of pharmaceutical experience Originally from Halmstad, Sweden Past business ventures include founding Effrx Pharmaceuticals as well as 10 companies in various industries One of the few individuals that has invented a pharmaceutical product, Binosto, developed it, received marketing approval by FDA, EU, MENA and Asian markets and sold through distribution partners around the world. About Dr. Turner: Professor of Neurology and Director of the Memory Disorders Program at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. Previously, he was Chief of the Neurology Service at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and Associate Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Obtained his MD and Ph.D. degrees from Emory University, Atlanta, and completed his internship, residency, and fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Board-certified in Psychiatry and Neurology About Mr. Dant: Retired from police work in 2016 as Assistant Chief of Police after serving 32 years as a Patrol Officer, Detective, and Commander leading multiple divisions and Bureaus to include Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Intel, and SWAT Mark spends his time now volunteering for the EveryLife Foundation, the Ryan Foundation, and numerous other rare disease organizations to help empower the patient advocate through the understanding that all of us have the power to turn action to hope and hope to reality IPO Edge Contact: John Jannarone, Editor-in-Chief editor@IPO-Edge.com www.IPO-Edge.com Editor@IPO-Edge.com Twitter: @IPOEdge Instagram: @IPOEdge Photo: Family photo UPDATE: 7:30 a.m. Health officials in Montreal say they will ask the coroner to investigate the death of an 86-year-old woman reportedly found lifeless on the floor in a hospital emergency room. Candida Macarine, 86, was admitted to Lakeshore General Hospital on the night of Feb. 26 due to respiratory distress, and her family says she died several hours later from cardiac arrest. On Monday, her family said it hadn't been able to obtain answers after a CBC report about an elderly woman who was found dead on the floor of an isolation room in the hospital's emergency room on Feb. 27, matching the timing of Macarine's death. The family only learned of those circumstances through the media on the eve of her funeral. In a statement today, the health authority that oversees the hospital says that after the family on Monday demanded a coroner's probe, it has asked the coroner to investigate as well as carrying out an internal review. Health officials admitted their communications with the family were lacking, and the head of the regional health authority has written to the family to propose a meeting and offer support. ORIGINAL: 6:30 a.m. The family of a woman who died in a Montreal-area hospital last month is calling on the coroner's office to investigate after troubling circumstances of her death came to light in a published report. Candida Macarine, 86, was admitted to Lakeshore General Hospital on the night of Feb. 26 due to respiratory distress, and her family says she died several hours later from cardiac arrest. But the family now wants further answers after connecting the dots between the timing of their mother's death and a CBC report that an elderly woman was found dead on the floor of an isolation room in the hospital's emergency room on Feb. 27. Placido Macarine told a virtual news conference Monday the family had come to terms with his mother's death "as everyone's natural destiny." But the day before she was to be laid to rest, the media report came as a blow. "My emotions suddenly took another turn as I found out that something unbelievable, deplorable happened that could be the cause of her untimely death," he said from Alberta. The family says the hospital has told them it launched an internal probe but has refused to confirm the family's suspicion that Macarine was the patient found on the floor. Nearly two weeks after her funeral, the family is no closer to having any real accounting of what happened. "I wish that the incident was not reported at all, I would be able to move on with my life peacefully today," Placido Macarine said. "But why are they hiding the truth? To cover up and protect the accountable staff or to hide the reputation of the hospital over the human dignity of my mother and our human right to know as her family?" Gilda Macarine, a Montreal nurse, said at first she accepted her mother's death since she had medical issues that could have led to cardiac arrest. But she feels abandoned by the system and said she has not received a reply to a letter to the head of the health authority on Montreal's West Island. "What happened to my mom was the result of wilful and gross neglect," she said. "My mom was old, nobody was with her, no family was around her at the time." In a statement Monday, the regional health authority that oversees the hospital in the Montreal suburb of Pointe Claire expressed its condolences to the family. It said it "take the situation seriously and is currently conducting an internal investigation." The health authority said it remains in contact wit the family but would not comment further in order not to impede its investigation. Close Lego is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the first space shuttle mission and the Hubble Space Telescope launch, which took place 31 years ago. Hence, they developed the Space Shuttle Discovery kit - which includes the telescope - in collaboration with NASA. The 2,354-piece adult-targeted build is a 1:70 scale replica of the real thing. A working landing gear, payload bay doors, elevons, and rudder are included in this Discovery edition. Launch a legend. The new NASA Space Shuttle Discovery with Hubble Space telescope celebrates two icons in space exploration. https://t.co/FwEfKiqCrD pic.twitter.com/fTmOrq52q6 LEGO (@LEGO_Group) March 22, 2021 Story Behind Lego Discovery Shuttle Milan Madge, a Lego set builder, told Space.com that he grew up in England watching the space shuttle program and playing with Lego sets in the backyard. He said he would constantly drop bricks in the lawn, much to his aunt's chagrin, who liked to create sets for him. Madge, who is now in Denmark, described designing a functional shuttle that would still hold together in Lego format as an imaginative challenge. "We've done a lot of space shuttles in the past, around half a dozen, but they tended to be fairly small-scale to include the solid rocket boosters and the external tank," Madge said. He explained that they're making a bigger version because they wanted to capture lots of little details. The payload bay, where Hubble was housed and deployed during several shuttle launches, was one of the most difficult construction problems. For full realism, the payload bay must be hollow, but Madge's concept team struggled at first to prevent the front and back from breaking off. Finally, innovative middle-section reinforcement was implemented, not least to maintain the landing gear operational. Madge explained that they needed to link the front and rear landing gears and a landing feature - via a hollow payload bay. Madge went on to say that the shuttle is a "new expression of how we do space things," drawing on past Lego collections that included high-fidelity replicas of the Saturn V moon rocket, the International Space Station, and the Apollo 11 lunar module. He said of the new space shuttle, "To go to this size to target this adult market gives you a sense of the grandeur and the technological detail." ALSO READ: Soyuz Relocates To New Docking Port on the ISS Before Next Crew Arrives Like any previous space packages, the space shuttle package commemorates a significant milestone; April 12, 2021, will be the 40th anniversary of STS-1's launch, the first crewed mission of the space shuttle program's 135 flights. What's Inside the Lego Discovery Shuttle? Both Hubble and the space shuttle are included in the 2,354-piece package. It contains features such as openable cargo bay doors, working landing gear, and reflective stickers that imitate the cooling radiators used on the actual space shuttle. The entire collection spans approximately 8.5 inches by 14 inches by 22 inches (22 cm by 35 cm by 56 cm). It contains two stands and plaques for the orbiter and Hubble. CNN said Lego sought the assistance of NASA astronaut Kathy Sullivan, who was part of the STS-31 crew that launched the Hubble Telescope on April 25, 1990. Lego shot an exclusive interview with Sullivan in which she discussed her space experience and demonstrated a finished Lego model. "I was thrilled to see the space shuttle in Lego form ... Hubble is definitely the highlight of my career," Sullivan said in the news release. In contrast to many other space shuttle packages made for children in previous decades, this collection is aimed at adults. Sullivan didn't play with Legos as a child, but she did with erector sets. She claims that the complexities of bringing things together correctly - and though you make an error during construction - extend to real-life space missions as well. Starting April 1, the Lego Space Shuttle Discovery pack will be available in Lego shops and on Lego.com. Lego also launched a version of the Ulysses space probe and is also available to Lego VIP participants. Ulysses is available in a limited quantity and will cost 1,800 VIP points. RELATED ARTICLE: International Space Station Can Be Visibly Seen Soon: Here's How and When to Spot It! Check out more news and information on Space on Science Times. President Joe Biden speaks as Vice President Kamala Harris looks on, in the East Room of the White House in Washington on March 18, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) The Biden-Harris Trip to Atlanta Raises Questions About Bidens Future Commentary Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, it has been Americas security policy to avoid having the president and vice president travel together. It was therefore unusual that the president and vice president flew together on Air Force One to Atlanta last week. The fact that the two of them traveled together raises questions about Bidens future as president. Even before 9/11, presidents and vice presidents avoided traveling together. Going back to the Kennedy presidency, in the infamous trip to Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson flew to Texas on Air Force Two, while President John F. Kennedy and his team traveled on Air Force One. (After the assassination, Johnson returned to Washington on Air Force One and, in fact, was sworn in while onboard.) On 9/11, both the president and vice president were moved to separate locations while New York and Washington were under attack. This wasnt just an instinctive move by the U.S. Secret Service. In 1998, President Bill Clinton issued Presidential Decision Directive 67, which set up a Continuity of [Government] Operations Plan (COOP) in case of emergency. Not only the president and vice president, but a raft of senior officials were under COOP tasked to go to special secret locations if COOP was activated. There they would continue to operate the government and control U.S. strategic military forces, including nuclear missiles. When there is a heightened alert, the Secret Servicethe organization that protects the president and vice presidentsteps in to make sure full protection is operating. Such was the case this month. Washington is currently guarded by National Guardsmen deployed to the city. Alert On March 17, the D.C. Police issued an alert that a person of concern was on the loose in Washington. The next day, on March 18, that person was arrested by the Secret Service. He was allegedly stalking the vice presidential residence at the Naval Observatory on Massachusetts Avenue, where he was apprehended. By the morning of March 19, no one knew for sure if others may have been looking to carry out an attack on the president or vice president. Yet, Air Force One departed Joint Base Andrews, just outside of Washington, for Atlanta with both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on board. As the president climbed the stairway to Air Force One, he stumbled three times, causing a sensation in the media. Social media was alive with speculation that the president might be in physical and mental trouble. A president can decide what level of protection he wants and tell the Secret Service his preference. The current Secret Service team is one that Biden changed at the end of December 2020 (even before he took office) in order to remove persons regarded as too closely associated with former President Donald Trump. That is the prerogative of the president and previous presidents have also selected Secret Service personnel they favored. Its highly unlikely, even with the changes, that the Secret Service would have wanted the president and vice president traveling together, especially under heightened alert conditions when security is all-important. The real reason for the two of them traveling together must have been for a reason different from a security imperative. Shielding the President Given the White Houses intention to shield the president from talking to the press or interacting with the public, Harris no doubt went with him to Atlanta to protect the president and keep him away from making mistakes or blunders in responding to questions. This fits in quite well with the fact that Biden has held no press conferences and is kept very isolated and controlled by the White House staff of overseers. Even more worrying has been Bidens uncalled for and risky conversations with foreign leadersmost dangerous of all are the alleged accusations Biden leveled at Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusations that, in Bidens better days, he would have avoided. His similar attacks on Saudi Arabias Mohammed bin Sultan also plunged the Gulf area into great danger and led to increasing Houthi attacks on the Kingdom. It appears the president has a poor grip on the reality of his office. Two very serious questions arise: the first is, how long can the White House staff, the vice president, and others (including First Lady Jill Biden) protect Biden? The second question is, can the public be assured that Biden is capable of exercising presidential responsibilities including that most critical task of acting as commander-in-chief of Americas armed forces? Building public confidence in Bidens ability to discharge his responsibilities could well grow increasingly difficult. If he cant, what is to be done? The 25th Amendment to the Constitution deals with presidential disability. It says that the president should inform Congress he cant carry out his responsibilities, in which case the vice president becomes the acting president. Alternatively, the vice president and the principal Cabinet officers can inform Congress if the president is unable to carry out his duties. Presidents have been very reluctant to invoke the 25th Amendment. In 1981, when President Ronald Reagan was shot and taken to G.W. Hospital in Washington for emergency surgery, Vice President George H.W. Bush was on an airplane heading back to the Capitol. Reagan could have invoked the 25th Amendment (he was conscious enough to crack jokes to the surgeon that he hoped his surgeon was a Republican), but didnt. By the time Bushs plane landed, Reagan was out of surgery and was starting to recover. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson had an incapacitating stroke. He was protected for the next two years by his wife. Yet he remained in office until 1921. There was no 25th Amendmentit was passed in 1965 and ratified in 1967. Edith Wilson secretly but effectively discharged presidential responsibilities. There has never been a case in which the provisions of Article 4 of the 25th Amendment empowering the vice president and Cabinet officers to intervene were invoked. An additional element is mental health, which isnt directly addressed by the 25th Amendment. If a president suffered from mental illness, would his supporters invoke Article 4 or would they try to cover up the problem? Equally important is mental decline, not mental illness. Dementia falls into that category. The 25th Amendment doesnt directly address mental decline or speak about two well-known maladies: dementia and Alzheimers disease. Presidential health checkups dont take into account mental health issues, or mental decline, although with aging presidents, such assessments might make sense. Other countries have had similar problems. The most famous case is that of King George III, king of Great Britain and Ireland. He suffered from recurrent mental problems caused possibly by bipolar disorder or porphyria, a type of blood disorder. His story was portrayed in the popular film, The Madness of King George. While the film ends on a happy note, with George restored to health and back on the throne, the real story ended when a Regency was established in 1811 because George couldnt carry out his responsibilities or even recognize people around him. In his last years, he became blind and deaf and had dementia (perhaps Alzheimers disease). He died in 1820. Stephen Bryen is regarded as a thought leader on technology security policy, twice being awarded the Defense Departments highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service Medal. His most recent book is Technology Security and National Power: Winners and Losers. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) second enforcement action to date under its cybersecurity regulation underscores the importance of promptly investigating potential cybersecurity events. It also raises questions about whether insurance coverage would be available for amounts paid for alleged violations of the regulation. On March 3, 2021, DFS announced that it had entered into a settlement with a mortgage lender, Residential Mortgage Services Inc. (RMS), over violations of DFS Cybersecurity Requirements for Financial Services Companies. The regulatory enforcement action against RMS is the second such action to date brought under the cybersecurity regulation, which first took effect on March 1, 2017. Its also the first settlement under the regulation. DFS first enforcement action under the cybersecurity regulation against First American Title Insurance Company was announced in July 2020 and was pending at the time of publication. The cybersecurity regulation contains various requirements that apply to companies regulated by DFS, such as banks and insurance companies. Among other things, the regulation requires companies to adopt a cybersecurity program to protect consumers private information and to conduct periodic risk assessments of their information systems. In addition, the regulation requires companies to provide notice to DFS within 72 hours of certain cybersecurity incidents. Under this recent settlement, RMS agreed to pay a $1.5 million penalty to DFS and to take certain other steps directed by DFS, including submitting a cybersecurity incident response plan. The enforcement action against RMS arose out of a cyber breach that occurred in 2019, which RMS had not reported to DFS. Rather, DFS independently discovered the breach during a routine examination of RMSs general compliance with the New York Banking Law around September 2020. DFS contended that the failure to timely report the breach, as well as RMSs failure to conduct a further investigation once it learned of the breach, among other failures, constituted a violation of the cybersecurity regulation. The RMS Enforcement Action and Consent Order According to the consent order DFS entered with RMS on March 3, the email account of an RMS employee, a privately held mortgage lender, was compromised by an unauthorized intruder on March 5, 2019. The employee had received a phishing email containing a hyperlink to a malicious website and clicked on the link. Upon following the link, the employee provided the username and password required to log-in to her RMS email account. The employee then passed the multi-factor identification system by tapping her phone screen four times to provide authentication and permit remote access to her email account. Ultimately, after continued activity, the employee grew suspicious and notified RMS IT staff, who determined that a hacker had gained access to the employees email account and blocked further access. The March 2019 incident was not discovered by DFS until 18 months later during a general compliance examination conducted by DFSs Mortgage Banking Division, which included a review of compliance with the cybersecurity regulation. Following the discovery by DFS, RMS took steps to investigate which consumers were impacted by the March 2019 incident, hiring outside counsel specializing in data privacy as well as a cybersecurity consultant. In December 2020, RMS notified the appropriate state agencies and impacted customers. DFS acknowledged that RMS cooperation with the investigation commitment to further efforts to remediate the issues identified in the consent order was commendable. However, the DFS consent order is critical of RMS IT staff for failing to conduct any further inquiry after concluding that the unauthorized access had occurred. DFS noted that this failure was egregious given that the employees email account had access to the private data of mortgage loan consumers, including social security numbers and bank account numbers. As a result of the employees access to such information, DFS concluded that this incident constituted a cybersecurity event triggering notification requirements. The consent order states that RMS failed to take appropriate action to satisfy the notification requirements and failed to conduct a comprehensive cybersecurity risk assessment. RMS agreed to pay a $1.5 million civil money penalty to DFS and to take further steps to comply with the cybersecurity regulation. Penalties and Insurance Coverage Issues Under New York Banking Law 44, DFS is authorized to impose a penalty on regulated entities for failure to comply with applicable statutes or regulations, payable to the people of New York State. Similarly, under Banking Law 44-a, DFS may impose a penalty for failure to submit any report required under the Banking Law or for submitting a report that contains false or misleading information. In some situations where a government agency or regulator imposes a fine or civil money penalty, the order will contain a provision prohibiting the company hit with the fine or penalty from seeking insurance coverage for such amounts, in order to preserve the deterrent effect of the civil penalty. Here, the DFS consent order does not contain such a provision, raising the question of whether RMS could potentially seek insurance coverage for the penalty. New York law has long prohibited the insurability of punitive damages as a matter of public policy. In 2018, the New York Appellate Division, First Department, held in J.P. Morgan Securities v. Vigilant Ins. Co., 166 A.D.3d 1 (App. Div. 2018) that a $140 million disgorgement payment to the SEC constituted a penalty, and therefore, did not fall within the policys definition of loss. This decision is currently on appeal before the New York Court of Appeals, so businesses and insurers should closely watch for the Court of Appeals to weigh in on this issue. The First Department has also previously held that where damages are intended to be compensatory in nature, public policy does not bar their insurability. Because Banking Law 44 and 44-a provide that the penalties are payable to the people of the state, and there is no provision in the law that requires such funds to be used as compensation for affected consumers, this might suggest that the penalties imposed under these statutes are punitive, rather than compensatory in nature. The latest enforcement action and settlement under the cybersecurity regulation underscores the importance for businesses and individuals to continually assess their compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and where necessary, consult with qualified counsel and experts. Further, it is important for business and insurers to monitor the impact of ongoing case law on the potential insurability of fines and penalties. Finally, due to the developing regulatory landscape of data privacy, it is important for every business to work with competent counsel in developing a plan for protecting data, investigating breaches and planning post-breach response to ensure compliance and avoid fines and penalties that may follow such events. Topics Cyber New York Posted Monday, March 22, 2021 8:29 am On Thursday, March 18, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, sent a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee requesting his commitment in providing certainty that Southwest Washington taxpayers will not face new or higher taxes, according to a news release from Herrera Beutlers office. In the letter, Herrera Beutler expressed her concern over several tax increases proposed in the 2021 state legislative session, including the advancement of the first-ever state income tax. The full text of Herrera Beutlers letter can be read at jhb.house.gov/uploadedfiles/letter_to_gov_inslee_-_taxes.pdf 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. Digital identity solutions The advantage of BlockBases technology over traditional ones is its capability to record every identity shared within the global network, thereby continually maintain reconciled data in the network. Global IT organization Blockbase Consultants matches rhythm with the wave of digitization, thereby prioritizing unique identity by providing blockchain digital identity services to financial institutions. Being hassle-free and secure, Blockbases blockchain digital identity services necessitate a unique identification of every user as the owner of transactions under his or her name. Global financial institutions, thawing the demand for blockchain-bached systems for reinforcing security and preserving customer data, look forward to the creation of digital identities. With Blockbases solutions, financial institutions now have the scope to access digital identity solutions, thereby ensuring standardization and interoperability in risk management practices, in-house operations, and customer-facing processes for reaping additional benefits. Speaking about blockchain digital identity with the media, Raj Chowdhury, CEO of Blockbase Consultants, commented, Blockchain backed digital identity solutions happen to be immutable, easily accessible, secure and economical, thereby offering a legitimate audit trail. The blockchain serves to be a repository of each transaction within hashed digital packets known as blocks. The advantage of BlockBases technology over traditional ones is its capability to record every identity shared within the global network, thereby continually maintain reconciled data in the network. Blockbases solutions work on the public-key cryptography principle, thereby considering each identity a key pair. Owing to the utilization of data transfer to addresses, Blockbases DLT-based digital identity serves to be a private key for reading data when it comes to financial institutions. Owing to enhanced social media network usage and the alarming rate of cybercrimes, Blockbase aims to make a persistent digital change, thereby necessitating enhanced security with their services. Preserving customers trust, the organization fully looks forward to motivating users with their service. About Blockbase Consultants: Blockbase Consultants is a global technology consulting and services company, helping enterprises marry scale with agility to achieve competitive advantage. Operating in more than 15 countries across the world, they are consistently regarded as one of the best places to work, embodied every day by their winning culture made up of over 22,000 entrepreneurial, collaborative, and dedicated consultants They offer Blockchain, AI, IoT, and Big data products, platforms and services that blend with traditional software to create a competitive advantage for clients around the world. Chennai, March 23 : Global credit rating agency Moody's Investors Service on Tuesday said it has withdrawn the ratings, assessments and outlooks of the Indian Overseas Bank, IOB's Hong Kong Branch and the Central Bank of India. Moody's said it has decided to withdraw the ratings for its own business reasons. As regards the IOB, the following ratings and the outlook has been withdrawn: the Long-term Counterparty Risk Ratings (Foreign and Local Currency) of Ba2, the Short-term Counterparty Risk Ratings (Foreign and Local Currency) of NP, and the Long-term Deposit Ratings (Foreign and Local Currency) of Ba2; Outlook Stable. The Short-term Deposit Ratings (Foreign Currency) of NP, the Long-term Counterparty Risk Assessment of Ba2 (cr), the Short-term Counterparty Risk Assessment of NP (cr), the Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and Adjusted BCA of b2, and Stable Outlook have also been withdrawn. In the case of IOB, Hong Kong Branch, the following ratings have been withdrawn: The Long-term Counterparty Risk Ratings (Foreign and Local Currency) of Ba2, the Short-term Counterparty Risk Ratings (Foreign and Local Currency) of NP, the Long-term Counterparty Risk Assessment of Ba2 (cr), the Short-term Counterparty Risk Assessment of NP (cr), and Stable Outlook. The ratings that were withdrawn for Central Bank of India are: the Long-term Counterparty Risk Ratings (Foreign and Local Currency) of Ba2, the Short-term Counterparty Risk Ratings (Foreign and Local Currency) of NP, the Long-term Deposit Ratings (Foreign and Local Currency) of Ba2; Outlook Stable, and the Short-term Deposit Ratings (Foreign and Local Currency) of NP. The Long-term Counterparty Risk Assessment of Ba2 (cr), the Short-term Counterparty Risk Assessment of NP (cr), the Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and Adjusted BCA of b2, and Outlook Stable were also withdrawn. Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? Jodie Whittaker looked in good spirits as she filmed scenes for Doctor Who alongside her co-star John Bishop in Liverpool on Monday. The actress, 38, was seen laughing and joking with members of the crew as she stood alongside the TARDIS while filming an evening scene. Fans of the programme were sent wild when passers-by in Liverpool claimed they saw former show star Catherine Tate in the city, prompting speculation she could be returning to the sci-fi series. On location: Jodie Whittaker looked in good spirits as she filmed scenes for Doctor Who alongside her co-star John Bishop in Liverpool on Monday Jodie was dressed in her Doctor outfit of a light grey coat with a dark striped jumper while her locks were styled into a bob. John, 54, is a new addition to the series and is playing the Doctor's latest companion Dan. The comedian was seen posing for a photo with a passer-by wearing only a speedo during the evening shoot. Some passers by claimed they saw Catherine, who played Donna Noble in series four of the show along with several specials, in Liverpool near where Doctor Who was filming. Return? Fans of the programme were sent wild when passers-by in Liverpool claimed they saw former show star Catherine Tate in the city, prompting speculation she could be returning (pictured with David Tennant) This led many fans to speculate the actress could potentially reprise the role she played opposite David Tennant. One user wrote: 'So I met Catherine Tate and John Bishop today in Liverpool, been a good day.' Another said: 'Catherine Tate being spotted in the same location as the Doctor Who finale filming is making complete sense with my fantasy.' Another added: 'If Catherine Tate is coming back to Doctor Who I will love it.' Shoot: John, 54, is a new addition to the series and is playing the Doctor's latest companion Dan In character: Jodie was dressed in her Doctor outfit of a light grey coat with a dark striped jumper while her locks were styled into a bob However, other users insisted the comedian would not be returning to the series. One said: 'Catherine Tate is in Liverpool to film a new comedy series for Channel 4 and just happens to be good friends with fellow comic John Bishop. She isn't filming Doctor Who'. MailOnline has contacted BBC representatives for comment. It comes after rumours emerged that Jodie Whittaker will leave Doctor Who after series 13. Surprise: The comedian was seen posing for a photo with a passerby wearing only a speedo during the evening shoot Earlier this month, the BBC refused to comment on speculation, after it was reported that the screen star handed in her notice for the show. Jodie reportedly told BBC bosses that she won't be returning to the popular series following the conclusion of the upcoming series 13. That will mark a three-year run for the actress, which is about average for recent actors playing the time-traveling alien. Matt Smith, David Tennant and Peter Capaldi also appeared on Doctor Who for three series each, while Christopher Eccleston only appeared on one series after the show was revived in 2005. Speculation: Some passers by claimed they saw Catherine, who played Donna Noble in series four of the show along with several specials, in Liverpool near where Doctor Who was filming Not happening: However, other users insisted the comedian would not be returning to the series According to a source for The Mirror, the show is already at work on figuring out how Whittaker will be replaced by the Fourteenth Doctor. 'Its all very hush-hush but it is known on set that Jodie is leaving and they are gearing up for a regeneration,' a source said. 'Her departure is top secret but at some point over the coming months the arrival of the 14th Doctor will need to be filmed. Its very exciting.' As with previous Doctors, at the end of Whittaker's tenure her character will 'regenerate' into a new form, at which point the next actor will take over the role. Jodie made history in July 2017 when she was announced as the first-ever female doctor after Peter Capaldi ended his run. In Philadelphia, city office employees are still working from home when possible. The new policy in New York, which will be rolled out in phases over several weeks, will affect about 80,000 employees who have been working remotely, including caseworkers, computer specialists and clerical associates. The rest of the citys roughly 300,000-person work force, many of them uniformed personnel including police officers, firefighters and sanitation workers, have already been reporting to work sites. Vaccination will not be mandatory for those returning to the office because of legal concerns, according to a City Hall spokesman. City officials are strongly encouraging their workers to get vaccinated and are trying to facilitate that process. Even so, a survey of the city work force in January suggested that vaccine hesitancy varied significantly by agency, and City Hall was unable to provide an estimate of how many municipal workers had already received vaccines. Facial masks will also be strongly encouraged but not required in all workplace situations: A March 18 presentation from the citys Department of Citywide Administrative Services said agency leaders should encourage face coverings to be worn at all times even if six-feet distancing can be maintained. On Tuesday, deputy mayor Laura Anglin clarified the policy, saying that if employees cannot socially distance, they must wear masks. Henry Garrido, executive director of the citys largest municipal labor union, District Council 37, expressed particular concern about his members who work in densely packed call centers as well as those in social services offices, where interactions with maskless clients can be common. All city workers who deal directly with the public are currently eligible for vaccination, regardless of age. About 200 D.C. 37 members have died from the coronavirus, a result of what Mr. Garrido described as foggy, unclear public health guidelines early in the pandemic, a lack of protective equipment and inconsistent city and state policies. We dont want to repeat those mistakes, Mr. Garrido said. I want to make sure that those offices are absolutely ready for workers to come back. A mum of two who threw a glass bottle in the face of a bouncer, causing a substantial chip in his tooth and a facial laceration, has been placed on Probation Bond for one year. Emma Evans (22) claimed the bouncer passed a derogatory comment causing her to react in the way she did in what a judge called a serious assault. However, Sergeant Patricia McGarrity told Swords District Court the injured party did not make any derogatory comment to the defendant or anyone on the night. Part-time cleaner Evans was on a night out with friends at Wrights Cafe Bar in Swords when they were asked to leave the premises at 1.25am. Ms Evans then threw the glass bottle at the face of the bouncer causing a chipped tooth and a laceration to his face after she claimed the bouncer made a derogatory comment. Read More The defendant, of Rathvale Drive, Airfield in Dublin 13 pleaded guilty to assaulting Graham Dunne causing him harm at Wrights Cafe Bar in Swords on December 28, 2019. She has no previous convictions. She claimed she was only meant to throw the contents of the bottle but the bottle then left her hand, hitting Mr Dunne in the face. Mr Dunne did not wish to make a Victim Impact Statement, the court heard. The court heard the defendant attended Swords Garda Station where she admitted throwing the bottle and expressed her sincere apologies saying it was totally out of character. She admitted she had consumed some alcohol on the night and did not intend to hit the bouncer with the bottle. Defence barrister Annette Kealy said the defendant has suffered a lot and cant believe she did what she did. She is traumatised, said Ms Kealy, handing in letters from the defendants parents. Ms Kealy said the defendant has also written a letter of apology to Mr Dunne and has 500 with her in court. Judge Sandra Dunne said she accepted the assault was out of character and the defendant has expressed remorse. However, the judge remarked: She threw a bottle, it hit someone leaving them with a chipped tooth and a laceration. Its a serious assault. I have to also think of Mr Dunne, the judge said. The judge ordered the defendant enter into a Probation Bond of good behaviour for one year and pay 250 to the victim and a further 250 to St Francis Hospice. Read More Napa resident Frank Thompson, 77, put a portion of the first stimulus check last year toward repairs on both his home and his daughters home in Napa, which he owns, he said. He used the $600 check for medical expenses; he intends to put this most recent check toward property taxes. Thompson lives off of his Social Security benefit, which puts him on a tight budget, he added. Spending patterns this time around could be swayed by the pandemics lessening severity, according to Eriksson: not only are there more businesses allowed to open in at least some capacity, but case rates are dropping, and California residents are being vaccinated with increasing frequency. Its not only is the hairdresser open, but I can afford to go there and I want to go there, Eriksson said. I would think a lot of the money, in terms of expenditure, would go to local economies (as) we enjoy things we havent been able to do for a year. Napa residents Dave and Janis Wagner were donating the whole of their stimulus checks to a very special small business: their sons restaurant, Seville Tapas, two hours southwest of Napa in Half Moon Bay, Dave Wagner said in an email. [March 22, 2021] $ 1.14 Billion Growth in Global Configure Price And Quote (CPQ) Software Market 2020-2024 | Technavio NEW YORK, March 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The configure price and quote (CPQ) software market is expected to grow by USD 1.14 billion during 2020-2024, according to Technavio. The report offers a detailed analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the configure price and quote (CPQ) software market in optimistic, probable, and pessimistic forecast scenarios. Enterprises will go through the Response, Recovery, and Renew phases. Download Free Sample Report The configure price and quote (CPQ) software market will witness a positive impact during the forecast period owing to the widespread growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Technavio's pandemic-focused market research, market growth increased in 2020 as compared to 2019. With the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through response, recovery, and renewal phases. Building business resilience and enabling agility will aid organizations to move forward in their journey out of the COVID-19 crisis towards the Next Normal. This post-pandemic business planning research will aid clients to: Adjust their strategic planning to move ahead once business stability kicks in. to move ahead once business stability kicks in. Build Resilience by making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines. making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines. Conceptualize scenario-based planning to mitigate future crisis situations. Download the Post-Pandemic Business Planning Structure Key Considerations for Market Forecast: Impact of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, demand destruction, and change in customer behavior Optimistic, probable, and pessimistic scenarios for all markets as the impact of pandemic unfolds Pre- as well as post-COVID-19 market estimates Quarterly impact analysis and updates on market estimates Related Report on Information Technology: Global Direct Carrier Billing Platform Market - Global direct carrier billing platform market is segmented by end-user (apps and games, online media, and others), geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA). p>Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Labor Management Software Market - Global labor management software market is segmented by deployment (on-premise and cloud-based) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA). Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report Major Three Configure Price and Quote (CPQ) Software Market Participants: Accenture Plc Accenture Plc operates its business through segments such as Communications, Media & Technology, Financial Services, Health & Public Service, Products, and Resources. The company offers a range of CPQ software such as BIT2WIN cloud suite. Apttus Corp. Apttus Corp. operates its business through segments such as Intelligent Middle Office, Quote-to-Cash, Configure price quote, Contract lifecycle management, Revenue Management, E-Commerce, Artificial Intelligence-Max, and X-AUTHOR. The company offers a range of CPQ software such as Apttus CPQ. Aspire Technologies Inc. Aspire Technologies Inc. operates its business through segments such as Products and Solutions. The company offers a range of CPQ software such as QuoteWerks CPQ software. If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extract FREE! Get report snapshot here to get a detailed market share analysis of market participants during COVID-19 lockdown: https://www.technavio.com/report/configure-price-and-quote-software-market-industry-analysis Configure Price and Quote (CPQ) Software Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Configure price and quote (CPQ) software market is segmented as below: Deployment On-premise Cloud-Based Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America The configure price and quote (CPQ) software market is driven by the increasing need for higher productivity. In addition, other factors such as the increasing need for CPQ software from APAC are expected to trigger the configure price and quote (CPQ) software market toward witnessing a CAGR of over 13% during the forecast period. Get more insights about the global trends impacting the future of the configure price and quote (CPQ) software market, Request Free Sample @ https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR41048 Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Report: www.technavio.com/report/configure-price-and-quote-software-market-industry-analysis View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/-1-14-billion-growth-in-global-configure-price-and-quote-cpq-software-market-2020-2024--technavio-301251061.html SOURCE Technavio [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] KYODO NEWS - Mar 23, 2021 - 23:47 | All, Japan The Japanese government's advisory panel on securing a stable line of imperial succession held its first meeting on Tuesday, with discussions over the coming months set to focus on whether the country should break with tradition and allow female members of the emperor's family to ascend the throne. The six-member panel will hear from experts in various fields and is aiming to reach a conclusion by this fall, at which point it will present its findings to parliament. "The topic you are discussing is an important issue concerning the nation's basis," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at the start of the meeting. "I hope you will hear a range of views and sort them in a way that is easy to understand." The panel was formed amid mounting concern over the dwindling number of imperial family members and what that means for the future of the Chrysanthemum Throne. Under Japan's patrilineal male-only imperial succession, 61-year-old Emperor Naruhito only has three heirs -- his brother Crown Prince Fumihito, 55, his nephew Prince Hisahito, 14, and his uncle Prince Hitachi, 85. The emperor and Empress Masako have one daughter, 19-year-old Princess Aiko. The panel agreed to ask experts about 10 key points including their positions on including female or matrilineal imperial members in the line of succession, the current rule requiring women marrying commoners to abandon their imperial status, and adoption of male heirs from former branches of the imperial family. According to a government official, a total of about 20 experts will be called upon to give their views. The Japanese public is increasingly in favor of allowing a woman to ascend the throne, with 85 percent of respondents in a Kyodo News poll conducted last spring supporting the move. But conservatives in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are reluctant to make significant changes to rules on imperial succession. Japan's imperial system dates back to the fifth century and there have been eight female monarchs between the sixth and 18th centuries. But none of them was from a female line of descent. The current law went into force in 1947. The panel was established in response to a nonbinding resolution by the parliament in 2017 calling on the government to step up debate after then Emperor Akihito expressed his desire to abdicate due to old age. Former Keio University President Atsushi Seike was chosen to chair the panel by the other members, which include Tetsuro Tomita, chairman of East Japan Railway Co., and Mayumi Ohashi, a law professor at Sophia University. Sports commentator and political analyst Joe Brolly was disconnected from RTEs Claire Byrne Live last night, following a series of comments he made about the DUP. Mr Brolly was one of a handful of guests on the show who gave their opinions on what a United Ireland might look like and how it would operate. In his opening remarks, Mr Brolly described Northern Ireland as a dysfunctional entity. However, he said the country had become a new place because of the transformations it had undergone since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Brolly said that England and its people had "zero kinship" with Northern Irish Unionists. Referring to earlier remarks made by DUP MLA Gregory Campbell, Mr Brolly said Mr Campbell was living in "a fantasy land." "One of the big problems in the North has been the very very poor leadership of the DUP, who have been interested in triumphalism and short-termism," he said. Speaking over video chat, Mr Brolly said he himself didnt care whether a united Ireland was achieved, but rather he wanted "a sensible long-term solution" to problems faced by Northern Ireland and Ireland. He then took aim at the DUP leadership who, he said, often appeared to be publicly "chuckling and guffawing when people are trying to have a serious discussion." He accused the DUP of "laughing at the Irish language, laughing at Gaelic sports" and claimed the party had made homophobic and racist statements. At this point, host Claire Byrne said Mr Campbell, who was no longer present on the show, would likely deny some of the charges made by Mr Brolly. Given Mr Campbells absence and therefore his inability to defend himself from Mr Brollys comments, Ms Byrne moved away from Mr Brolly and back to the guests in-studio. The link to Mr Brollys video chat was then removed from the screen RTE studio screen. After the show, Mr Brolly wrote on Twitter that he was "taken off air" due to his remarks, and shared screenshots of news stories which, he claimed, backed up his points. Earlier in the show, Mr Campbell said that a United Ireland was not going to happen. Were not going to agree to it, so lets get on in the real world," he said. "On the island of Ireland we have people who want to be and identify as British, and we have people who want to be and identify as Irish. "Where are those groups - and a third group who may not be comfortable identifying as either - in which jurisdiction are those identifications more clearly outlined and more comfortable with each other at the moment? "The answer is within Northern Ireland. People can be Irish, they can British or they can be neither. You cant say that of the Irish republic." Mr Campbell said people in Northern Ireland would be better served by politicians working within the concept of what was in place at the moment, rather than going into "cloud cuckoo land to devise mechanisms that wont be agreed with. A host of contributors spoke on last night's show, including Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, former Taoiseach John Bruton, former Irish rugby international Andrew Trimble, loyalist activist Jamie Bryson and Northern Ireland Alliance Party leader Naomi Long. A Georgia delivery driver has told of seeing his masseuse shot in the head and killed by the Atlanta spa gunman. Marcus Lyon, 31, was a first-time visitor at Young's Asian Massage in Acworth, a northwest suburb of Atlanta. The spa was the first of three that Robert Aaron Long, 21, targeted on Tuesday in what he said was retaliation for his sex addiction. Eight people, six of them Asian women, died - including Lyon's masseuse. Lyon went to the spa for treatment for his bad back. Marcus Lyon, a 31-year-old delivery driver, was at Young's Asian Massage in Acworth Tuesday Marcus Lyon, a survivor of the Atlanta-area spa shootings, shares his harrowing story, saying he believe his massage therapist, who was killed, ultimately saved his life. https://t.co/yo14ZG3DxO pic.twitter.com/VEs2eOsbML CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) March 22, 2021 The salon owner, Xiaojie Tan, 49, was among four people to die at her spa in the shooting Delaina Yaun, 33, who was at the spa for a massage, died in Tuesday night's rampage Xiaojie Tan, the owner of the spa, died in the shooting - on the day before her 50th birthday About two minutes into his massage appointment on Tuesday, he heard the first gunshots. 'We both stood up and looked around and heard that other gunshot,' Lyon told CNN's Briana Keilar. 'She was by the door. That's when I jumped behind the bed. 'Once she opened up that door, I heard the third gunshot, and she actually dropped. I'm pretty sure she got shot in her head. I wasn't even longer than two feet away from her. I see blood coming out of her head. 'I constantly heard more gunshots after that, and from there, you know, I heard a ringing bell on the door. 'I'm guessing the suspect ran out.' Ashley Zhang takes a moment before laying flowers at a makeshift memorial outside Young's Ashley Zhang and Lily Yang lay flowers at a makeshift memorial outside Young's Asian Massage Lyon told Keilar he had a handgun in his car, but by the time he ran outside it was too late. Three women - Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, who was at the spa for a massage; Daoyou Feng, a 44-year-old massage therapist; and the spa owner, Xiaojie Tan, 49 - died at the spa, along with one man, Paul Andre Michels, 54, who had been doing maintenance work at the site. Lyon credited the unidentified masseuse with helping him survive the shooting. 'I felt like she kind of saved my life,' he said. Four more people, all Asian women - Hyun Jung Grant, 51; Soon Chung Park, 74; Suncha Kim, 69; and Yong Ae Yue, 63 - were later killed at two salons across the street from each other in Buckhead. Lyon said that he considers himself 'lucky' that he made it out alive from the massacre. 'I felt like my mom was watching over me,' he told 11Alive. 'She died of stage four colon cancer two years ago so I felt like she was watching over me or something. 'It was crazy. I really couldn't believe it.' Lyon spoke as the husband of one of the victims told how he had initially believed the spa attack was a robbery, with the gunman firing blanks. Gwangho Lee, 38, said when he arrived at the Gold Spa in Atlanta last Tuesday after getting a text message about the shooting, he found his wife, 74-year-old Soon Chung Park, bleeding from her mouth and unresponsive. Lee, who was told by Park's co-worker that she had fainted, attempted CPR but could not revive her. He claimed that a police officer who was on the scene stood by and did nothing to help. Gwangho Lee, 38 (right), the husband of Atlanta spa shooting victim Soon Chung Park, 74 (left), said he was initially told the attack was a robbery and the intruder was shooting blanks When Lee entered the Gold Spa in Atlanta last Tuesday, he found his wife lying unresponsive in the hallway with blood around her mouth Robert Aaron Long, 21, has been accused of shooting and killing eight people, including six Asian women, at three Atlanta-area massage parlors Long, the son of a youth minister who was said to be a customer at two out of the three targeted spas, told police that the attacks were not racially motivated, but had to do with his sex addiction, and his purported desire to eliminate the sources of his temptation. Park, a native of South Korea, worked as a day manager and cook at the Gold Spa. She was one of three women who were killed inside the business. Park's son-in-law Scott Lee told the New York Times and the Washington Post that she had spent much of her life in New York and New Jersey, before moving to Georgia and starting a new life in the Gwinnett County suburb of Duluth with her husband. Lee told The Daily Beast that he accepted Park's marriage proposal after the two met in 2017. Lee, a Lyft driver, told the Daily Beast he was already on the way to Gold Spa on Tuesday to pick up his wife's co-worker when the woman texted him about an apparent robbery, and urged him to 'send the police' and 'do it faster.' (Newser) Two spring breakers are accused of drugging and raping a woman who died soon after they left her unconscious in her hotel room bed. Police say Evoire Collier, 21, and Dorian Taylor, 24, of North Carolina, met the victim at a restaurant in Miami Beach last week and one of them gave her a pill he believed to be the powerful painkiller Percocet. The 24-year-old woman was visiting Florida from Pennsylvania, and the trio went back to her hotel room, with the suspects holding her up because she was struggling to stand, police say. They are both accused of raping her, even after she lost consciousness, and then stealing her cash, credit cards, and phone before leaving her in the room, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Police say they used the stolen cards to continue to party. The woman was found partially naked and dead in her bed Thursday. story continues below Police spotted the suspects entering the hotel with her on surveillance video around 1am Thursday, NBC Miami reports, and they were arrested over the weekend. They currently face charges of burglary with battery, sexual battery, petty theft, and fraudulent use of a credit card, but manslaughter or murder charges could be added if police determine the woman died of an overdose related to the pill. It's not clear whether she took it willingly, nor has her cause of death yet been determined. Police found more of the pills on one of the suspects, and they are being analyzed at the lab, the Greensboro News & Record reports. "We dont know if it was fentanyl or some other narcotic," says a Miami Beach detective. The men will be jailed before trial as authorities are concerned they may otherwise leave the state. (Read more Miami Beach stories.) Transaero bankruptcy trustee seeks to bring Aeroflot to subsidiary liability RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 14:02 23/03/2021 MOSCOW, March 23 (RAPSI) The bankruptcy commissioner of Transaero air carrier has challenged a ruling of the St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region Commercial Court dismissing the move to bring Aeroflot - Russian Airlines company to subsidiary liability for the debtor's obligations, according to a court decision. Bankruptcy commissioner Alexey Belokopyt appealed against the ruling of a first instance court of January 22 in the Thirteenth Commercial Court of Appeals. As the court noted at that time, the arguments and circumstances referred to by Belokopyt had previously been repeatedly presented by the commissioner, nevertheless, after being examined had been rejected by judicial acts that had entered into legal force with respect to several disputes. Thus, the decision said, actions carried out by Aeroflot to fulfill previously taken obligations of Transaero in the period from September to October 2015 were aimed to replenish the debtor's working capital for the transportation of the airline's passengers, including to pay for refueling aircraft, servicing aircraft, passengers and crews at airports, preventing a complete stop of Transaero's activities and suffering of even greater losses, the commercial court noted. In its ruling, the court noted that Aeroflot company had never been an entity controlling Transaero, either within the framework of corporate relations, or within the framework of any other relations. In October 2020, the commercial court satisfied an application of the Transaero bankruptcy commissioner as to bringing the former general director of the company Alexander Burdin to subsidiary liability for the obligations of the air carrier. The amount of subsidiary liability is to be determined upon completion of settlements with the airline's creditors. The decision states that from November 16, 2015 to September 13, 2017, Burdin committed actions that significantly worsened the financial situation of Transaero and created conditions for a further significant increase in the disproportion between the value of the debtor's assets and the size of his liabilities. The court also indicated that a causal relationship existed between Burdin's illegal actions to evade the transfer of documents, material assets of the debtor and the impossibility of satisfying the claims of creditors. Moreover, the court is to decide on a statement by VTB bank seeking to recover 249.2 billion rubles ($3.4 billion) from the founder of the debtor Alexander Pleshakov, his mother, and ex-chairman of the board of directors Olga Pleshakova. The Commercial Court of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region declared Transaero air carrier bankrupt in September 2017. The airline was unable to service its debts, which, according to some estimates, make about 250 billion rubles ($3.4 billion). The company has not operated flights since October 26, 2015. Burdin acted as Transaero CEO from late 2015 to September 2017 and headed the company after revocation of the air carriers flying license. On August 28, 2018, a Moscow court arrested Burdin in absentia, he was put on the international wanted list. Burdin stands charged with failure to pay wages, pensions, scholarships, benefits and other payments for more than two months, embezzlement committed by an organized group or in an especially large amount, and abuse of office, which entailed grave consequences. According to investigators, ex-Transaero CEO has embezzled over 1.3 billion rubles (about $17.5 million) and has not paid wages to employees for well over two months. As a result, a salary debt to nearly 7,000 employees reached about 400 million rubles ($5.4 million). The defendant has pleaded not guilty. Besides, in August 2020 a Moscow court sentenced former Transaero bankruptcy manager Mikhail Kotov to 5.5 years in a general regime colony in a criminal case over embezzlement of the airline's property in the amount of over 1 billion rubles ($13.5 million). The ex-manager was also found guilty of abuse of office. Kotovs action resulted in embezzlement of the airlines property worth over 1 billion rubles ($15.3 million). Moreover, he forged some documents to suppress crimes allegedly committed in conspiracy with the former Transaero CEO Alexander Burdin, the statement reads. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (left) in Baja California in February. GOBIERNO DE MEXICO Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is employing an increasingly confrontational tone as federal and local elections loom in June, but fears that he is overstepping the bounds of his power have to contend with a lack of real alternatives from the opposition. In the last few weeks alone, the center-left populist has taken on the energy sector, the judiciary and the feminist movement, deploying a strategy of attacking almost anything he terms the neoliberal model. But with a weak opposition and little evidence his battles are hitting his influence, many say Lopez Obrador will keep doing as he pleases. Mexicans elected Lopez Obrador as president in 2018, motivated by his anti-corruption message and promise to take on cronyism in the private sector. He swept to victory on a wave of anger unleashed by the violence and poverty that have plagued Latin Americas second-largest economy for decades. His agenda comes up against his caution not to touch the interests of the real millionaires of this country through a progressive tax reform Santiago Rodriguez, political scientist These days, from the fight against the coronavirus pandemic to the management of natural resources, the Mexican president deploys slogans about fighting corruption or capitalist greed almost indiscriminately. The latest example is an electricity reform that gives supply priority to a state utility, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE in its Mexican acronym), over private companies. The measure is particularly controversial because it discourages private investment, especially in renewable sources, although it may prove profitable at the ballot box due to a promise to reduce the size of household electricity bills. Soon after the law came into effect, a judge temporarily suspended it upon the appeal of a renewable energy company. Lopez Obrador openly demanded an investigation into the judge who halted the reform. Despite criticism from the legal sector that he had overstepped his constitutional remit, he warned that he would do the same in all cases. The president of the Supreme Court, Arturo Zaldivar, along with Mexican judges and lawyers, have called on Lopez Obrador to respect the independence of the judiciary, although the investigation of the judge in the electricity reform case will proceed. Lopez Obrador also attacked the former president of the Court, Jose Ramon Cossio, and media outlets who have criticised him. Cossio, an EL PAIS contributor, said Mexico is witnessing a dispute as to what extent the president will accept judicial decisions.Meanwhile, Mexicos leader has also angered feminists by offering his full backing to gubernatorial candidate Felix Salgado Macedonio, who faces two rape allegations and other accusations of sexual harassment as he prepares his candidacy to lead Guerrero state in the June polls. Feminist activists protesting on March 8, International Women's Day, in Mexico City. Sashenka Gutierrez / EFE Paola Zavala Saeb, lawyer and director of Organizacion Comunitaria por la Paz (Community Organization for Peace), said this came as little surprise. The president is not interested in the feminist movement, he is not interested in transforming the country with feminism in mind. However, Zavala Saeb added that no major political party in Mexico had allied with the feminist movement, leaving voters with womens rights in mind few compelling options. The criticism of Lopez Obrador continues to mount from other sectors. He also faced an outcry this month from teachers unions for announcing an austerity plan for the education ministry, which will entail budget cuts and layoffs. Then there is the countrys Covid-19 strategy, as Mexico approaches 200,000 deaths from the virus according to official data. With the third highest death toll globally, a slow vaccine rollout is of deep concern. Lopez Obrador spends every day defending his policies as progressive, with carefully placed references to the most vulnerable sectors of society, but he has also been criticized for not doing enough. For some of his traditional leftist supporters, poverty and inequality are central to his government agenda. However, there has been no concrete and forceful action towards redistribution of wealth, said Santiago Rodriguez, a political scientist. Welfare spending as a percentage of GDP has not shifted significantly with this government in respect to the past. The names of the programs have changed and in some cases the recipients, but not the total amount. The main explanation for this is that tax collection continues to be very low. In Rodriguezs opinion, [Lopez Obradors] agenda comes up against his caution not to touch the interests of the real millionaires of this country through a progressive tax reform. Mexico was one of the few countries in Latin America and the world that did not increase emergency spending to bolster citizens falling incomes during the pandemic, Rodriguez noted. Despite everything, the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA in its Spanish acronym), the party founded by Lopez Obrador and which supports his presidency, is well ahead in the legislative polls, and is expected to form an absolute majority with support from allies in the Labor Party. Womens rights, human rights in general and climate change are mere accessories to the central push of his government: cracking down on corruption, said Rodriguez. That is the discussion he wants to have, and it bothers him that people want to talk about other things. The opposition is so weak in Mexico that political polarization is not a concern, but even a strategy, he added, as lower turnout would likely boost the share of the National Regeneration Movement. Although some are uncomfortable with the presidents style, he maintained an approval rating at the end of February of 65%. LONDON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- We Fight Fraud (WFF) has used its unique access to the criminal underworld to discover how Covid-19 is transforming business within the illicit economy. The findings, announced today, include a move towards transacting the proceeds of crime via bank transfers and trading illegal goods on social media. This will alarm legitimate businesses, especially banks and FinTech organisations, who are being used to launder money, in breach of the regulations governing them. Legitimate businesses are also being used to facilitate fraud. The implications of the findings will be published in a whitepaper, to be discussed at the WFF Live conference on 28th April a free to attend, virtual event for business professionals, supported by fraud prevention specialists, LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Dr Nicola Harding, WFF Advisor and academic specialising in fraud, is lead author of the whitepaper. She explained: "The operational changes we found mirror those experienced by legitimate businesses during the pandemic, who reported a dramatic decrease in the use of cash. We found that the preferred option for criminals is now bank transfers, while some are also using PayPal or premium rate telephone numbers to send funds." The whitepaper's findings also demonstrate how significant social media has become in connecting the legitimate economy with the underworld. Simon, who works in IT, shared with the researchers the process of buying cannabis from a page on Instagram. He paid by bank transfer and the drugs were delivered to his house via Royal Mail all within 36 hours. The WFF team will all be speaking at the event and include: Tony Sales dubbed 'Britain's Greatest Fraudster' by the Sun newspaper who now helps household-name brands avoid fraud; Andy McDonald, former head of counter terrorist, organised crime and fraud teams at New Scotland Yard; and Solomon Gilbert, former child hacker, who has since worked with the National Crime Agency. Tony Sales explained: "Criminal behaviour has adapted, innovated and evolved during the current crisis. We Fight Fraud uniquely talks to criminals to understand their activities. There was an assumption that the decline of cash would make life more difficult for criminals. Our findings show that the reverse is true." Ellie Burns, a Fraud and Identity specialist with lead sponsors, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, explains the significance of the conference and the report: "The pandemic has had a profound impact on the way all businesses operate. The WFF findings show that it is no different with the criminal underworld. In order to keep pace with the constantly shifting cybercrime landscape, we must come together to share trends, insights and knowledge. We Fight Fraud Live is a unique opportunity to do exactly that and we are delighted to be involved." To book a seat at the free conference go to www.wefightfraud.org/live . The virtual conference will be sending delegate packs to 500 people registering to attend from the industry and the media. These will include a copy of the whitepaper, offers and goods. SOURCE We Fight Fraud (WFF) Related Links http://www.wefightfraud.org/ BALA CYNWYD, Pa. and ALBANY, N.Y., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Connect America, a nationally recognized provider of connected health solutions, announced today that the New York City, Department of Social Services, Human Resources Administration (DSS) awarded the company a three-year contract to provide Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) and smoke detectors to Medicaid recipients in New York City. DSS has been seeking ways to provide emergency services to city residents struggling with poverty, age-related infirmities, physical disabilities and other challenges associated with social determinants of health (SDOH). Under the Agreement, Connect America will provide PERS to approximately 28,800 low-income and underserved residents of New York City that are enrolled in Medicaid. "Connect America is honored to be selected as the exclusive provider of Personal Emergency Response Systems and smoke detectors to Medicaid populations in New York City," said Richard Brooks, president of the company's healthcare division. "We value our long-standing relationship with New York City, and we remain committed to helping their most vulnerable populations safely age in place. This project will help increase access to much-needed emergency assistance for thousands of individuals in need, providing them with the life-saving benefits of receiving access to the right care at the right time." According to data from the National Council for Aging Care, one in four seniors falls each year, and every 19 minutes, an older adult in the U.S. dies from a fall. The cost of these falls to the healthcare system is enormous, averaging $30,000 to treat an elderly victim and an estimated $67 billion total in 2020. Rapid response times and access to urgent care can help reduce poor outcomes and complications associated with falls, long lie times and other major health events. Connect America has been a provider of PERS for New York City for over 25 years. They are the nation's largest independent PERS provider, with more than 1 million lives protected since the 1980s. The company's at-home systems, mobile systems and fall-detection pendants enable individuals to connect with highly trained emergency response operators who can assess the situation and send the help they need anytime, anywhere. To learn more about Connect America, visit www.connectamerica.com. About Connect America Connect America's flexible, scalable, reliable connected health platform has helped aging Americans and other at-risk populations live safely in their own homes for 35 years. With easy-to-use personal emergency response, remote patient monitoring and medication management systems Connect America processes more than 250,000 emergency signals and data transmissions each month and has protected more than 1 million lives. Connect America is more than just technology. Its expert advisors help to build and tailor systems that achieve targeted quality, risk and health outcomes today while developing the tools and strategies to manage tomorrow's challenges. More than 1,000 provider partners and health plans in the U.S. trust Connect America as the safe choice for preventing unnecessary readmissions and emergency department visits. For more information, visit www.connectamerica.com Media Contact: Kim Warth, Amendola Communications, [email protected] SOURCE Connect America Related Links http://www.connectamerica.com Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday publicly acknowledged for the first time the possibility of war crimes in the country's northern region of Tigray, where the national army has been fighting the Tigray People's Liberation Front since late last year. "Reports indicate that atrocities have been committed in Tigray region," Abiy said while addressing lawmakers in the capital, Addis Ababa. There have been allegations against Ethiopian soldiers for months now, but journalists and aid agencies have increasingly gained access to the region in recent weeks, providing a clearer picture of what's happening on the ground. Last week, for example, CNN published a report detailing accounts of sexual violence against Tigrayan women. Abiy said Tuesday that any soldiers who were found to have raped women or committed other crimes would be held responsible, though he still hedged, suggesting that at least some of the claims are TPLF "propaganda." He also accused fighters loyal to the TPLF of committing a massacre in the town of Mai Kadra, which he called "the worst" in the conflict. "But it's not getting enough attention," he said. Tuesday also marks the first time Abiy admitted the Eritrean army, whose soldiers have also been accused of committing atrocities, did indeed cross the border into Tigray. He claims it did so only because it feared being attacked by Tigrayan forces, but said "any damage it did to our people was unacceptable." Read more at The Associated Press and Al Jazeera. More stories from theweek.com 5 blisteringly funny cartoons about spring break superspreaders The radical future of the pro-life movement Late night hosts laugh at the giant ship blocking the Suez Canal, chide Fox News for fake Kamala Harris scandal Highlights Nokia C20 could be the next entry-level phone from HMD Global. HMD Global has scheduled an event for April 8 for the launch of new Nokia phones. HMD is expected to also launch the Nokia G10 and Nokia X20 phones. A bunch of Nokia smartphones are coming your way. HMD Global's April 8 event has so far been expected for the launch of the Nokia G10, and possibly, the Nokia X20 and X10 phones. And now, a new report has suggested there could be one more smartphone in the offing. HMD is likely to launch the next Nokia C-series phone called the Nokia C20. Now, the Nokia C-series has always been centric to entry-level customers who are not much demanding. So maybe, the C20 will come as a new option for the low-end alongside the other phones. As reported by Nokiapoweruser, the Nokia C20 will arrive in a single 1GB RAM and 16GB storage option, which is standard for entry-level devices. The last 1GB RAM phone from HMD Global was Nokia 1.4 that was launched last month in select markets. Now, a recent report suggested HMD Global is looking to change the naming convention for its Nokia phones. This would involve dropping the dot from the names of Nokia smartphones. And while that change is not going to be as significant, the Nokia C-series is the first for the new naming convention. Some previous Nokia C-series smartphones, such as Nokia C1 Plus and Nokia C3, however, came with more than 1GB RAM. While the former has 2GB of RAM, last year's C3 has 3GB of RAM. So, the fact that the Nokia C20 could be a 1GB RAM phone makes it a little difficult for us to position it in the series. Alternatively, it could be the successor of the Nokia 1.4 with the alleged rebranding because otherwise, there could, at least, have been 2GB RAM on this phone. HMD Global has not said anything official on this. Furthermore, the Nokia C20 is going to be available in Sand and Blue colours. It is said to come running Android 11 Go edition, which is the suitable operating system for a phone with 1GB of RAM. This means that there will be apps such as Gmail Go, YouTube Go, Google Assistant Go, and Maps Go. These are all lighter app versions of the standard Google apps. The processor, screen, camera, and battery details of the Nokia C20 are not clear at the moment. But the report has mentioned one important thing, the price. Nokia C20 price is said to be around EUR 89, which translates to roughly Rs 7,700. At this point, it is unclear whether this phone will make it to markets outside of Europe, such as India where not all Nokia phones have been launched in the past. REMi is a three-part system comprising of flexible sensors integrated into a medical grade mattress cover, the backend platform that analyzes the data and the front-end user interface delivering valuable insights for the aged care workforce. Credit: Sleeptite Pioneering technology that can deliver real-time and non-invasive resident monitoring and alerts for the aged care industry has been unveiled. The world-first smart monitoring system, REMi, featuring sensor technology developed by RMIT University, has been launched by Australian research and advanced manufacturing company Sleeptite. REMi sees fundamental research taken from the labs of RMIT and translated into a commercial outcome, supported by an Australian Government Cooperative Research CentresProject (CRC-P) grant. Australian Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, joined Sleeptite at their Melbourne test facility and manufacturing home for the launch and to learn more about the next phase for the technologyaged care field trials and an advanced manufacturing push. "Innovative partnerships like this between researchers and industry are crucial to solving problems and then translating them into commercial outcomes," Andrews said. Integrated sensing and data platform REMi is a three-part system comprising of flexible sensors integrated into a medical grade mattress cover, the backend platform that analyzes the data and the front-end user interface delivering valuable insights for the aged care workforce. Setting the REMi system apart from existing aged care monitoring devices are two world-first advancements: flexible and stretchable sensors that can monitor movement and vital signs when embedded in materials sitting external to the human body, developed by RMIT; and the advanced manufacturing equipment and processes, developed by Sleepeezee Bedding Australia, required to take the sensors made in a laboratory environment and mass produce them at scale for use in the real world. Sleeptite CEO Cameron van den Dungen said the system gave the aged care sector the opportunity to both increase the quality of healthcare they offer and the quality of residents' lives, through technology. The new technology features flexible and stretchable sensors that can monitor movement and vital signs when embedded in materials sitting external to the human body, developed by RMIT University Credit: Sleeptite "Technology like Sleeptite's REMi not only supports the valuable care workers but enables them to provide greater care than they believe is possible," van den Dungen said. "REMi takes the data that we extract from the person, from the environment in an aged care bedroomwhether it's at home or whether it's in a facilityand sorts out what is valuable to the user that needs that information. "Whether it's the carers wanting to know that whenever their attention is turned they have a safety net behind them monitoring all residents, or their loved ones wanting to feel reassured at all times, or a CEO, or a board making a decision based on benchmark of care or the standard of care in multiple sights." Professor Madhu Bhaskaran, co-leader of the Functional Materials and Microsystems Research Group at RMIT, said the collaboration was a model for deep engagement between universities and industry. "REMi shows the power of true partnership and the extraordinary results we can achieve through a collaboration built on mutual respect and clear, shared goals," Bhaskaran said. "We've gone from lab bench to commercialisation in just three yearssolving myriad challenges along the wayto deliver smart home-grown tech that will be manufactured right here in Australia. "It's incredibly exciting to see the sensor we developed leaping out from our lab and into the world, to improve the care of some of our most vulnerable people." Advanced monitoring and care REMi has been designed to enable the aged care workforce to non-intrusively monitor residents during the night and receive alerts at critical moments such as if a resident falls, or is at risk of falling. Using the technology, carers will be able to determine not only the presence or absence of a person in bed, but also vital information about their position on the mattress. Sleeptite CEO Cameron van den Dungen and Professor Madhu Bhaskaran (left) explain the technology behind REMi to Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews (right). Credit: Lucas Dawson This allows them to detect signs of abnormality or potential health risks, such as their state of sleep or distress, as well as providing valuable insights in the understanding or prevention of falls. REMi can provide macro-data to facility mangers ensuring that quality care can be benchmarked and easily monitored and that facilities can easily, accurately and scientifically provide evidence of quality care to regulatory bodies, government and families. Further testing is already proving that the technology is also able to monitor more health parameters including respiratory and heart rate readings, with future developments to be added as field trials begin in coming months. Collaborative partnerships RMIT Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation and Vice-President, Professor Calum Drummond, said strong partnerships with industry were at the heart of RMIT research. "Our goal is to bridge the gap between research and impact, for the benefit of our communities," Drummond said. "It's through these kinds of deep collaborations that we can accelerate the translation of university research into new technologies and play a critical role in boosting Australia's sovereign capability, to help drive our economic recovery." Bill Mantzis, Managing Director Sleepeezee Bedding Australia, said advanced manufacturing techniques would ensure Australia's global competitiveness and generate demand for local jobs. "Companies that invest in innovation, research and development of new technologies and ideas will set the scene for the (manufacturing) industry and the industries for whom they are developing products," Mantzis said. Explore further Personalized nutrition smart patch to reduce diabetes risk 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. 's ( ) Richard Barfield talks to Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam about their audited full year results for the year which ended 31 December 2020. Barfield talks through the details which include adjusted EBITDA 19.4 million, up 55.2%, and revenue of 86.4 million, up 26.5%. He goes on to explain the reasons behind these numbers, with strategic acquisitions in CRO and pharmacovigilance in the US. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. 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. Physician: Kids 12-15 know COVID-19 vaccine is 'ticket to freedom' New Delhi, March 23 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to consider a plea by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) challenging its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for hybrid hearing, even as the lawyers' association warned it may take recourse to an "agitational path". A bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said that the matter is connected with the administrative working of the court, and on the judicial side, not much can be done about it. Senior advocate and SCBA President Vikas Singh protested against this observation of the top court. "We have no choice but to take the agitational path," he said. At this, the bench replied: "It would take you nowhere." On March 12, the Supreme Court had sought minutes of the meeting between its registry and the SCBA, which led to the SOP for hybrid hearing. Singh had claimed that no consultation was done with the Bar members before a decision was taken for hybrid-style hearings, which was scheduled to begin from March 15. However, the top court found the Bar members were, in fact, consulted. The SCBA had filed a plea in the top court to issue direction to quash the SOP issued on March 5 for hybrid hearing, as they were issued without due consultation with the lawyers' body. In the writ petition, it said it is an equal stakeholder in the dispensation of the justice delivery system and the suggestions given by it ought to have been taken into consideration. Citing the SCBA's President letter, the plea said he had given suggestions on March 2 for resumption of physical hearing, which has not been considered by the apex court. "That even if before resumption of full physical hearing before this court, a hybrid hearing was to be introduced as an interim measure, in that case the hybrid hearing should have been for all days i.e. from Monday to Friday. In the SOP dated 05.03.2021, there is no provision for hybrid hearing for the matters listed on Monday and Friday, i.e. miscellaneous days when primarily fresh matters are listed," said the plea by the SCBA. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 20:55:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, March 23 (Xinhua) -- "Our lettuce is free from pesticides and other industrial chemicals," 47-year-old Mwamy Mlangwa confidently puts the tagline on her business card. Mlangwa is the owner of Mwamy Green Veggies, a Tanzanian local company that grows vegetables through hydroponic farming, one among the first of its kind in the east African nation. Hydroponic farming is the practice of growing plants in nutrient solutions without the use of soil. Compared with traditional farming, it requires less space and has better temperature control to cope with the tropical climate here, said Mlangwa, whose farm is located on the outskirts of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. "By running a hydroponic farm, we do not need to go outside the city to be a farmer, this kind of farming caters for the needs of the people in the city who has limited space, " she said. Besides, since the vegetables are grown inside the greenhouse, the damage brought about by pests, weeds and diseases can be reduced to minimum, she said, adding that vegetables harvest quickly in nutrient solutions, only taking 28 to 30 days. Mlangwa, the mother of two children, started the business four years ago after acquiring the technology in Israel, and is now selling her high-quality vegetables to restaurants, hotels, safari camps and international airlines. Without using pesticides, her vegetable are very popular in these places. Like many other businesses domestically and globally, Mlangwa said her business was also much affected after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year as hotels are closed due to reduced number of tourists to Tanzania. However, she is optimistic about the future of her business as she already started another farm outside Dar es Salaam where she can expand the vegetable varieties to include tomatoes, eggplants, red, yellow and green peppers. The farm is also a popular place for field research. Mlangwa told Xinhua that students majoring in horticulture and agriculture from the University of Dar es Salaam and the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro region come to her farm every three months for field attachment programs and case study. Many greenhouses do not survive here because the farmers do not have sufficient knowledge on how to run them, like how to control the water and heat for the vegetables to grow in greenhouses, she said. Mlangwa said she was delighted to see these young students are interested in learning hydroponics and also have the energy and capability to engage in hydroponic farming in the future. Enditem Huntington, WV (25701) Today Cloudy with rain this morning...then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. The announcement follows the news earlier today of Helpshift being named a Unity Verified Solutions Partner . The integrations are part of Helpshift's broader strategy to modernize support and retention experiences for the consumer mobile era, focusing on giving users and players the fast, always-on help they expect, and making it easier for game publishers and studios to deliver world-class player support inside the apps. "Mobile gaming companies are experiencing explosive growth and, now more than ever, they understand the importance of delighting and retaining their players. We are proud to support so much of the gaming industry's top brands and the needs of their players to have an always-on mobile support experience," said Eric Vermillion, Helpshift CEO . "Our impressive traction in mobile gaming is just the beginning of our next chapter of growth as we help companies provide in-app support for the mobile apps that now power our lives -- from gaming to fintech and beyond." Growth and Impact Helpshift is reinventing the support experience -- enabling mobile-first companies to provide their users with the fast in-app issue resolution that they expect. Helpshift provides a modern alternative to email and phone support with asynchronous messaging, chatbots that can speak 180 languages, and AI-based automation . This frees up agents to focus on more complex issue resolution and gives them more time back for each customer engagement. Helpshift customers typically report more than 85 percent of their issues can be fully automated without the need of an agent, and that Helpshift's in-game support delivers over a full point higher CSAT ratings than email. Currently, Helpshift powers the mobile-first customer support for apps that reach 3 billion devices. In 2020 alone, the number of apps powered by Helpshift grew by 65 percent. Over the same period, customer adoption of bots and automation doubled to over 60 million total issues handled for the year. About Helpshift Helpshift provides software designed to rid the world of bad customer service. Purpose-built for the needs of modern, mobile-first businesses, Helpshift gives users the simplest mobile "always-on'' help experience that is fast and feels as natural and personal as talking to friends and family. Helpshift's in-app chat, bots and automation combine to provide immediate, automated solutions to many issues. Leading brands like Glu Mobile, Playrix, and Brex use Helpshift to serve billions of support interactions monthly. Helpshift is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe. To learn more about Helpshift, visit www.helpshift.com and follow @helpshift on Twitter. Media contact [email protected] SOURCE Helpshift Related Links http://www.helpshift.com By Michael Gartland | New York Daily News New York A surge in coronavirus variants in the Big Apple should prompt Gov. Andrew Cuomo to reassess the pace of reopening businesses, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday, just hours after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced he plans to put the brakes on rolling back Covid restrictions. De Blasio pointed to his administrations disagreement with the states decision last week to reopen fitness classes and noted that when it comes to expanding indoor seating at restaurants, the state should sit tight at 50% capacity until more data emerges on more virulent strains of the virus. Its time to reassess for sure. A good example is with indoor dining, de Blasio said Monday morning. In the city now, getting up to 50% certainly we gotta stop there. That would be my strong view while we see what happens with these variants and the overall situation. Under an order issued by Cuomo earlier this month, indoor dining capacity expanded to 50% last week. Fitness classes re-opened Monday in the city at 33% capacity. Murphy on Monday defended his decision to re-open restaurants at 50% capacity in New Jersey, but suggested that high Covid caseloads caused by variants means capacity wont increase again anytime soon. Last week, Mayor de Blasio accused Cuomo of basing his loosening of Covid restrictions on a cynical political calculus rather than scientific data and said the governor has been a central part of corruption in Albany for years. Is he capable of making decisions that are that crass and that political and about his personal needs? 110 percent, de Blasio said Friday. Cuomo is deeply immersed in two major scandals. Several women have accused him of sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact, and federal investigators are probing his administrations efforts to withhold data on the number of Covid deaths in nursing homes. The state Assembly is conducting an impeachment inquiry. Against that backdrop, de Blasio has been demanding the state cede emergency Covid powers to localities to allow city leaders to decide when and how to manage restrictions on businesses. More virulent strains of Covid have added urgency to the debate, although much is still unknown about those variants, which originated in New York City, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Brazil. All of those variants have now been identified in the Big Apple, and earlier this month, city officials said variants make up more than half of overall cases in the city. One of the reasons we see the very high plateau, or very slow decline here in New York, is due to these variants, Dr. Jay Varma, de Blasios senior public health advisor, said Monday. There is some indication that some variants respond a little less effectively to vaccination, but they still appear to be effective enough. Varma noted, though, that the same precautions used to protect against the dominant strain of Covid apply to its variants as well getting vaccinated, wearing a mask and social distancing. Now is not the time to throw caution to the wind, added city Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi. Now is the time to redouble our efforts, particularly now that we have vaccination as such an important tool in our arsenal. by Emanuele Scimia Reinhard Butikofer, one of the EU lawmakers sanctioned yesterday by China, warns against this kind of actions by Beijing. The EU has targeted four senior officials and a government entity for cracking down on the Uyghurs. The Chinese responded with counter-sanctions. EU, US, UK and Canada have coordinated their anti-China move. Brussels (AsiaNews) China has decided to sanction ten European officials in response to the European Union's punitive measures over human rights violation in Xinjiang, the first the EU has imposed on the China since the Tiananmen massacre in 1989. The Chinese leadership is apparently no longer satisfied with suppressing freedom of expression only in the People's Republic, including Hong Kong, but now also wants to intimidate people in Europe from openly criticising the brutal crimes against humanity in China, said Reinhard Butikofer, head of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with China and one of the people targeted by China, speaking to AsiaNews. Yesterday, EU foreign ministers decided to freeze assets held in Europe by four senior officials and a government entity in Xinjiang, namely Zhu Hailun, Wang Junzheng, Wang Mingshan, Chen Mingguo, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Public Security Bureau. They are accused of cracking down Uyghurs and other Turkic-speaking and Muslim groups. As a result, the people involved are also banned from entering the EU. According to expert data, confirmed by the United Nations, Chinese authorities hold or held more than a million Muslims in concentration camps in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, which Uyghurs, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz call East Turkestan. Recent media reports have also highlighted the existence of labour camps in this region, where hundreds of thousands of Muslims are said to be forced to work, especially in cotton fields. According to some researchers, the Chinese government is also conducting a campaign of forced sterilisations to control the growth of the Uyghur population. The Chinese deny all accusations, claiming that the camps in Xinjiang are vocational centres involved in projects designed to reduce poverty and fight terrorism and separatism. According to China's Foreign Ministry, the EU's decision is based on falsehoods and misinformation. Beijing's sanctions target five Members of the European Parliament, three other European political leaders and two researchers, including Adrian Zenz, who was among the first to document humanitarian abuses in Xinjiang. Chinese sanctions also target the EU Council's Political and Security Committee, the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights, the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies, and a Danish foundation created by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former NATO Secretary General. European Parliament President David Sassoli has pledged to respond to Chinese sanctions, but has not specified what actual actions the European Union could take. European governments have also condemned Chinas sanctions. For Butikofer, who tops Beijings blacklist, the move will backfire: As the Chinese proverb says: The stone they have lifted will fall on their own feet. The only dissenting voice in the EU comes from Hungary. After agreeing to restrictive measures against China, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called them "harmful" and "pointless." Immediately after the EU's decision, in what appears to be coordinated action, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada announced their own sanctions against China. Australia and New Zealand have not taken restrictive measures against the Chinese for violations in Xinjiang, but have said they welcome the announcement by their US, UK, EU and Canadian partners and allies. The sanctions imposed by Western powers are limited however, and are unlikely to change China's position towards Xinjiang. Nevertheless, according to several observers, the most important fact and worrisome for Beijing is the Biden administrations capability of coordinating joint efforts to globally counter China's authoritarian model. As recently as three months ago, this was by no means a foregone conclusion. in late December, the EU and China reached in principle a major bilateral agreement on investment. The Australian government is in the process to deport an Indian family because their child was born with a disability, ABC news reported. Kayaan Katyal, the six-year-old boy was born in Australia with cerebral palsy to an Indian family that has been residing in the country for more than 8 years. The fact that he has an Australian birth certificate but he still doesnt really have any rights in Australia. That just breaks our heart, his father Varun told the news website. Varun Katyal shifted to Australia 12 years ago to study European cookery and has been staying there since. His wife also moved there after they got married eight years ago. After paying all the taxes, passing criminal checks, the family was awaiting permanent residency and wanted to open a restaurant there, the report said. This is so heartbreaking. If Australian-born Kayaan Katyal didn't have a disability, he'd likely be an Australian permanent resident by now. Instead, he is facing deportation. Kayaan was born premature at 32 weeks with cerebral palsy. https://t.co/YkvFDWATNI pic.twitter.com/ljAO7Zj3F9 Elaine Pearson (@PearsonElaine) March 22, 2021 The only thing that was wrong with our visa application was not in our hands. The things that were in our hands, we did right, Varun added. Under the Australian Migration Act, families who arent permanent residents are supposed to be deported if their children have a disability. However, data on how many children have been deported because of their disability is not clear. But the report said that many advocacy groups have come across about a dozen cases each year. The Australian media outlet quoted Jan Gothard, the co-founder of the advocacy group Welcoming Disability saying, They're on a permanent trajectory [for residency], then a child with a disability is born and all of a sudden they're just not good enough for us. The United Nations, in its 2019 report also called out Australia for its immigration rules and asked the country to make it more equitable. Another family in the country has been fighting for their permanent residency for the last nine years, but have got a red signal from the government because their child has a medical condition. However, the Department of Home Affairs in Australia denied the claim of discrimination among people and said that the current rules were pragmatic and balanced compassion and cost containment. One dealer from Germany is probably counting on it. Elferspot , which specializes in new and used Porsches, sells a 1983 Porsche 911 Cabriolet Junior that is best described as a must-have collectors item. The mini-car is brand new, in impeccable condition, and would come to complete any Porsche collectors fleetin addition to making their kid happy.As noted above, this is the 1983 model year. Porsche made only some 200 examples of this car back in the 80s, so its a rare get . Pricing at the time was around $4,500, which is roughly $12,000 in todays money. It was expensive back then, and it is expensive today, as well: the listing has it at 16,900, meaning just a hair over $20,000. Thats real, adult-size car type of money.The Junior is a single-seater powered by an 83cc Honda engine producing 2 hp. For safety reasons, it has two speed modes: 6 kph (3.7 mph) or a maximum of 25 kph (15.5 mph). Power goes to the front wheels clad in pneumatic tires via a three-speed manual transmission. In terms of delivering the closest thing to the real driving experience, this definitely beats what you could get your kid from a supermarket today.Painted bright red over a black leather combo interior, this is also the closest thing to a Porsche for kids, down to the Fuchs wheels and the iconic rear spoiler. As with other established marques, Porsche built and sold these to instill the love of Porsche in future customers from a very young age . Plus, its always nice when you and your kid match wheels.The listing notes that this particular example has just 10 km (6 miles) on the odometer, so if what weve been told by Pixar in Toy Story is true, its high time it got a kid to love it as it deserves to be loved. Edelweiss Financial Services gained 3.45% to Rs 84 after the NBFC announced completion of a strategic investment by PAG in the Edelweiss Wealth Management (EWM) consequent to receipt of all regulatory approvals and closure of all formalities. PAG has made an investment of Rs 2,366 crore in Edelweiss Wealth Management (EWM), including primary and secondary investment. Pursuant to transaction, PAG Group and Edelweiss Financial Services will be the shareholders in EWM, of which PAG will hold a controlling stake. PAG is one of the world's largest Asia-focused private investment firms. The primary capital infusion in the EWM business from PAG will further strengthen the equity base of EWM and ensure availability of growth capital. Edelweiss further said that it will continue to work together with PAG towards value unlocking through demerger and listing of EWM business. EWM reported revenues of Rs 880 crore and profit after tax of Rs 180 crores for the nine-month period ended 31 December 2020. Meanwhile, the company informed that the Board of Directors will meet on Thursday, 25 March 2021, to consider, the declaration of interim dividend. The Edelweiss Group is one of India's leading diversified financial services companies, providing a broad range of financial products and services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, institutions and individuals. Its businesses include Corporate Credit, Retail Credit, Wealth Management, Asset Management, Life Insurance and General Insurance. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Huntington, WV (25701) Today Cloudy with rain this morning...then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Over the decades, there has been a notable increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer all over the world. This is strengthening the focus of pharmaceutical manufacturers all over the world to develop more effective medicine and treatment methods for the same. Increasing demand for biotechnological and biopharmaceuticals products using various cell culture lines is gaining importance. This increasing demand for cell culture will boost the growth of the cell culture media market over the coming years. How About Looking Through The Sample Of Cell Culture Media Market Report? https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/samples/31338 Company Profiles Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Merck KGaA GE Healthcare Lonza Corning Incorporated Irvine Scientific STEMCELL Technologies Inc. PAN Biotech MP Biomedicals, LLC PromoCell GmbH Becton, Dickinson and Company Hi-Media Laboratories As such, the global cell culture media market was valued at US$ 2.4 Bn in 2018, and is expected to witness a healthy CAGR of 7% over the forecast period (20192029). Key Takeaways of Cell Culture Media Market Study Serum-free media contributed maximum share to the cell culture media market in 2018 , due to high product availability and increasing adoption of the same. , due to high product availability and increasing adoption of the same. Cancer research accounted for a prominent share in the global cell culture media market in 2018 , attributable to the rising prevalence of cancer and increased cancer research funding. , attributable to the rising prevalence of cancer and increased cancer research funding. The biopharmaceutical companies segment is the most lucrative segment, due to increased usage of cell culture media in biopharmaceutical production. Increase in the number of pharmaceutical manufacturers has contributed to the dominance of North America in the global cell culture media market. Attributed to growing awareness regarding various diseases such as cancer and its rising prevalence, East Asia is expected to offer notable growth opportunities for the cell culture media market through 2029. How About Step-By-Step Insights To Cell Culture Media Market? Look Through The Methodology Employed! https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/methodology/31338 Cell culture media not only helps in drug development but also collects extensive data that is valuable for future research. Rising demand for serum-free culture media will offer significant growth opportunities for the cell culture media market in the coming years, says a PMR analyst. Trends in Cell Culture Media Technologies There are many research and pipeline products that have the ability to treat chronic diseases. This is attributed to the current state of technology and more funding by government toward research & development activities. Also, rising awareness about cell culture-based vaccines and increasing demand for biopharmaceutical products will boost the growth of the cell culture media market. Increasing collaborations between contract manufacturing organizations and key players will surge market growth further. Serum-free cell culture media, among other cell culture media, has the potential to grow at a relatively faster rate over the forecast period. Want To Keep A Tab On The Latest Findings In The Cell Culture Media Market? Purchase Our Cell Culture Media Market Report Now! https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/31338 More Valuable Insights on Cell culture media Market Persistence Market Research offers a unique perspective and actionable insights on the cell culture media market in its latest study, presenting historical demand assessment of 20142018 and projections for 20192029 , on the basis of product (serum containing media, serum-free media , protein-free media, and chemically defined media), application (cancer research, biopharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine & tissue engineering, stem cell technologies, and others), and end user (biopharmaceutical companies, clinical research organizations, and academic research centers), across six regions. About Us: - Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 00:22:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A damaged police vehicle is seen at the blast site in Chaman city, Pakistan, on March 23, 2021. A blast hit Pakistan's southwest Chaman city of Balochistan province on Tuesday, leaving at least four people dead including a child and 14 others injured, police said. (Str/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A blast hit Pakistan's southwest Chaman city of Balochistan province on Tuesday, leaving at least four people dead including a child and 14 others injured, police said. Police officials in the area told local media that a vehicle of paramilitary Pakistan Levies forces came under the blast attack on the Taj Road area of Chaman, bordering Afghanistan. However, the officials did not confirm whether any security personnel were killed or injured in the explosion. The bomb was planted on a motorbike parked near the vehicle and it was detonated with a remote-controlled device, said police. Following the explosion, rescue teams, police and security forces rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and the injured to a nearby hospital where several among the injured were in critical condition. Police and security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to arrest the culprits. So far, no group or individual has claimed the attack. Enditem A married couple fighting extradition to Hungary over allegations that they scammed pensioners in a 3m 'grandparent' fraud claim they would face prejudice there because of their Roma ethnicity. Erno Horvath, 41, and his wife Marina Horvath, 32, are accused of tricking elderly people into handing over cash by telling them their relatives had been in a car crash. It is claimed 220 victims, aged between 70 and 96, were convinced that their loved ones needed help paying damages or had been injured. Erno Horvath, 41, left, and his wife Marina , 32, right, are accused of tricking elderly people into handing over cash by telling them their relatives had been in a car crash. They are fighting extradition attempts to bring them back to Hungary The pair were allegedly 'at the top' of a fraud ring, calling pensioners and hiring recruits to wait outside the victims' homes and demand money once the conversation ended. They are fighting extradition to Hungary where they would face up to a decade behind bars if convicted of the alleged con which took place between January and July 2019. Fugitive Erno is accused of masterminding the scam while he was wanted for four unrelated convictions, He had fled the eastern European country and was sentenced in his absence. The total amount of jail time he has yet to serve is seven years and eight months, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard today. A second married couple Maria Lakatos, 41, and Csaba Nemeth, 42, are also wanted in Hungary for their alleged involvement in the con. Prosecutor Amanda Bostock said: 'There's a large-scale conspiracy in Hungary that has been taking place to defraud elderly victims. The Hungarian authorities term them grandchild frauds. 'An elderly person is contacted by these alleged persons and others in the UK. They are told their relative, usually a grandchild, has been involved in a car accident and that they need money urgently to resolve an incident. A second married couple, Maria Lakatos, 41, and Csaba Nemeth, 42, are also wanted in Hungary for their alleged involvement in the con 'In some cases it's that they will be injured if the money isn't paid.' 'There's currently 220 victims aged between 70 and 96. 'There's a hierarchy in which these alleged persons are said to be at the top in that they make the phone calls, recruited lower individuals who wait outside the property of the person being contacted so that as soon as they make the phone call the money is collected - usually jewellery - before they have time to check with their grandchild the real situation. '500,000 has been taken from these victims but several attempts have been made so the total loss is much higher and the damages are significant.' The court heard Marina faces 12 counts of fraud and one count of laundering 7,200 - lesser charges than her spouse, who stands accused of founding the ring. The mother-of-three is currently on bail while her husband Erno, who is charged with 32 counts of fraud, is remanded into custody. Erno appeared in the dock today wearing a grey prison tracksuit while his wife sat in the well of the court wearing a studded leather jacket. The two couples are fighting extradition to Hungary at Westminster Magistrates' Court Their lawyers are arguing that 'appalling levels of discrimination' against the Roma community - to which the suspects belong - within the eastern European state would prejudice their trial. Malcolm Hawkes, defending Erno Horvath, said anti-Roma hate goes to the highest echelons of Hungarian society, including comments made by PM Viktor Orban and 'gossip of judges... of 'dirty gypsies'. A suspect's extradition can be barred if the court finds they might be prejudiced at their trial or punished by reason of their race, religion, nationality, gender, sexuality and political views. Mr Hawkes said: 'Individuals [in Hungary] are prejudiced on account of race.. It's a reasonable chance or serious possibility of that prejudice being manifested. 'We have a weighty and persuasive volume of evidence that quite appalling and quite shocking levels of discrimination that have persisted over many years, persist even today, in all spheres of life. 'Notwithstanding this gross discrimination against Roma, that their children are "mentally retarded", that half of Roma don't even have running water in their home, but that the criminal justice system is an oasis of propriety where the discrimination evaporates, I submit that's clearly not true. '[There is] the gossip of judges behind closed doors of quote "dirty gypsies" and the whispering that goes on, and comments from the Prime Minister of Hungary encouraging discrimination, speaking about Roma.' Graham Hall, defending Marina Horvath, added that the couple could be forced to wait three years for their trial to start due to delays in the Hungarian criminal justice system. Mr Hall argued the mother was the 'sole carer' of a toddler and faced the prospect of being remanded into custody once extradited. He said: 'From Ms Horvath's perspective...[the same two issues] apply. The additional points which are raised on behalf of Ms Horvath relate to delay, both under pre-trial delay and the right to a trial within a reasonable period of time... There is endemic and extensive pre-trial delay [in Hungary]..' Both defence teams are also arguing that prison conditions in Hungary would breach the couple's human rights under Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). Erno, from Sheffield, faces 32 counts of fraud, while Marina, of the same address, faces 12 counts of fraud and one count of money laundering. The extradition hearing continues. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will attend the Heart of Asia meeting, which will also see the participation of his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar, a media report said on Tuesday. The meeting will take place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, the Dawn news report said. The development comes a week after Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa asked India "to bury the past and move forward" while saying the military was ready to enter talks to resolve "all our outstanding issues". The Heart of Asia process provides a platform for regional cooperation with Afghanistan at its centre and with the recognition by the participants that a secure and stable Afghanistan is vital to the prosperity of the region. The process involves 15 participating countries, 17 supporting countries and 12 regional and international organizations. Bajwa's comments came following Prime Minister Imran Khan call for a resolution on Kashmir, which he described as "the one issue that holds us back". If Qureshi and Jaishankar meet in Dushanbe it would be the first meeting between the two top officials, the Dawn news report said. In May 2019, Qureshi met the then Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during an informal interaction in Bishkek on the sidelines of an SCO meeting. According to the report, Pakistani officials have not yet commented on the Qureshi-Jaishankar meeting but did not rule out a possibility. "In view of the events taking place around us, we cannot say it's impossible," the Dawn news report quoted one of the officials as saying. UK decides to significantly reduce numbers of soldiers Niger: 137 dead in village attacks near Mali know why Australia: Pandemic recovery plan to ramp up Australian exporters online presence A healthy hot chocolate has been praised as the secret to a good night's sleep - with fans saying the benefits can be felt within 15 minutes of your first sip. The $39.95 Hot Choc Moon Mylk powder by Australian natural supplements brand Naked Harvest promises to help customers 'relax, unwind and recover' with a fusion of unique herbs, vitamins and minerals known to calm the nervous system. The drink, which becomes rich and creamy with the addition of hot water, contains just 39 calories per serve and is both vegan-friendly and gluten-free. A healthy hot chocolate has been praised by hundreds as the secret to a good night's sleep - and the benefits can be felt within 15 minutes of your first sip Moon Mylk contains ingredients promoted as calming the body and aiding healing: ashwagandha root, magnesium, zinc and L-Tryptophan. The organic ashwagandha root has been hailed for reducing anxiety and fighting off depression while magnesium has been scientifically proven to improve sleep by calming the nervous system and relaxing muscles. L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that helps build proteins and certain brain-signalling chemicals like serotonin (mood stabiliser) and zinc plays an essential role in neurotransmitter function that helps maintain cognition. Zinc is also necessary for the metabolism of melatonin - a key hormone for healthy sleep. The $39.95 'Hot Choc Moon Mylk' powder by Australian natural supplements brand Naked Harvest promises to help customers 'relax, unwind and recover' with a fusion of unique herbs, vitamins and minerals known to calm the nervous system What makes Moon Mylk so good for you? Organic Ashwagandha Root: Organic Ashwagandha Root may help to reduce anxiety, help fight depression, boost fertility and testosterone in men, and even boost brain function. Magnesium: Magnesium may improve sleep, as it plays a huge role in your nervous system, helping activate mechanisms that help to quiet and calm you. L-Tryptophan: L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that helps build proteins and certain brain-signalling chemicals like Serotonin! It may also help to control your mood and assist in a better night sleep. Zinc: Zinc plays an essential role in neurotransmitter function that helps maintain cognition. It's necessary for the metabolism of Melatonin which is a key hormone for healthy sleep. It also has a sedative effect on the nervous system and it also thought to help mental recovery post-stress. Camu Camu: Camu Camu can help to fight off viral infections in the body and contains many antioxidants that may help to boost immunity. Glycine: Glycine is an amino acid responsible for producing a powerful antioxidant that helps to fight free radicals in the body. Research has shown that it elevates Serotonin, therefore reducing symptoms of insomnia and can help improve sleep quality. Passion-Flower: Some researchers believe that Passion-Flower can help treat anxiety, insomnia, and certain forms of pain because it may increase levels of gamma-aminobutyic acid (GABA), a chemical that the brain makes to help regulate your mood. Organic Cacao: Organic Cacao is packed with heaps of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that may help with brainpower, stronger muscles and bones, and improved general health. It has also been called a natural mood enhancer! Advertisement The chocolate drink has attracted hundreds of five-star reviews, with many claiming the 'magic potion' has transformed their sleep quality. 'I have a sweet tooth and bought this hoping for a healthy alternative to night time chocolate snacks and it is so much more than that,' one woman wrote. 'I didn't expect it to help my husband and I sleep so well. We have an 8 month old baby and it has helped us feel so much more rested and I get back to sleep much quicker between night time feeds. We would highly recommend and will definitely be purchasing more of this amazing product.' Others praised the drink's 'smooth chocolate consistency', 'calming effect' and 'delicious, sweet taste'. Naked Harvest was started in 2019 by social media health star Georgie Stevenson (pictured) and her brother Coopa, who wanted to revolutionise the standard of men and women's health supplements The pair set off to develop supplements without artificial nasties or misleading information that catered to both men and womens nutritional needs and now have a range of protein powders, pre-workout drinks and collagen beauty elixirs 'This drink is my new obsession! It helps me wind down before bed and I genuinely believe it helps me sleep. Honestly I dont think I could go a night without it now. And it tastes delicious! Couldnt recommend higher,' one added. 'I struggle with anxiety and it affects my sleep to the point where I only get a few hours of sleep each night. Within a couple of nights having this I don't think I was moving that much from the position I went to sleep in!' Naked Harvest was started in 2019 by social media health star Georgie Stevenson and her brother Coopa, who wanted to revolutionise the standard of men and women's health supplements. The pair intended to develop supplements without artificial nasties or misleading information that catered to both men and womens nutritional needs and now have a range of protein powders, pre-workout drinks and collagen beauty elixirs. The 200g tub of Moon Mylk has 20 servings ($39.95) while the 400g tub has 40 servings ($74.95). ARCHIVED - Spanish Government lifts restrictions on flights from United Kingdom Whether the British Government will permit tourists to fly to Spain is another thing altogether The confusion for British nationals wanting to fly to Spain has become even more complicated following an announcement by the Spanish government on Tuesday March 23 that the restrictions on entry which have been applied to UK nationals since before Christmas, will be lifted. The same restrictions expressly prohibit the entry of UK nationals to Spain for anything other than essential reasons or for returning residents in the same way as those relating to Brazil and South Africa. The normal process is for these to be reviewed every fortnight and up until today the restrictions have been automatically renewed. However, today the Spanish government has announced that the restrictions which are in place until March 30th and relate to the subsequent period until April 13 will only be re-applied to Brazil and South Africa and not to British residents. "The extension of flight restrictions is maintained with South Africa and Brazil, not with the United Kingdom. The situation in relation to the Schengen Area can now be normalized," said Government spokeswoman, Maria Jesus Montero. British citizens entering Spain will be required to have a negative PCR carried out a maximum of 72 hours in advance, as is the same situation with European countries. UK on the verge of imposing fines on anyone travelling for leisure purposes Overseas travel ban to be extended until July due to third wave fears The confusing message for those attempting to travel coming from the UK however, effectively nullifies the announcement made by the Spanish authorities today and comes on top of an announcement by the British government that they are about to introduce legislation banning British residents from going on holiday abroad until the end of June. The original date of May 17 which was pencilled-in by the UK Gov as being the date on which international travel was set to resume is now looking distinctly unlikely, and according to reports in the UK media on Tuesday, the Govt. is set to not only extend the ban on taking foreign holidays until the end of June, but also add in a fine of 5,000 for those who ignore the ban. Boris Johnson warned yesterday that a third wave of coronavirus in Europe would wash up on our shores and it is now more than likely that quarantine-free holidays may not be possible to most destinations until August or September. Draft laws laying out Johnsons road map out of lockdown, will make leaving the UK without a reasonable excuse impossible until the end of June, destroying the plans of all those who had rushed to book flights to Spain when the date of May 17th was originally given. The plans still have to be agreed by Parliament on Thursday, but the recent hint by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps who said it was "too early to tell" when holidays abroad would be allowed, allied with comments made by Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the government's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, which feeds into Sage, who said: "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, for instance, and August because of the potential for bringing more of these new variants back into the country and the comment by his colleague Prof Andrew Hayward, from Sage, who said it was "unlikely" the government would want to encourage travel to European countries currently experiencing high levels of coronavirus infections, should have been more than enough warning that the Government was about to make another dramatic change to the plans announced earlier. ."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," he said. On April 12 the governments global travel task force reports, and by that date a clearer indication should be forthcoming about whether domestic UK holidays will be permitted, starting with the re-opening of self-catering accommodation. Hotels are not scheduled to re-open until May 17th, but of course, all this may yet change, depending on the evolution of the virus in Europe. At the moment there have been new surges in France, German, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands and to a lesser degree in Germany, leading to further restrictions and some lockdowns. Germany has just announced a short, sharp, shock lockdown for 5 days ahead of the Easter celebrations. Mixed messages have also been criticised from the German government after thousands of Germans rushed to book holidays to Spain when travel restrictions were removed. Although ministers insisted that the removal of a restriction was not an invitation to travel, the situation has provoked fierce criticism within Spain , leading to the insane situation that a German may travel to the Alicante province for a holiday, but a resident of Madrid may not travel to the apartment next door as movement within Spain is prohibited. Yesterday the EU requested greater coherence in restrictions, but today the situation is even more confusing for Brits trying to book a holiday in Spain this summer. CORVALLIS, Ore. The Oregon State University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to accept the resignation of President F. King Alexander, during a meeting Tuesday morning. The board agreed to pay Alexander a lump sum of $630,000, plus $40,000 for relocation. All of the money will come from private donors, not taxpayer or tuition funds. The board announced Tuesday morning that Alexander had offered to resign, effective April 1. The news of the resignation offer came less than one week after the board placed Alexander on probation. Administrators said the dynamics of the situation had changed since its last meeting. Simply stated, Dr. Alexander no longer has the confidence of the OSU community. This broken trust was expressed not only by the faculty senate, but an outpouring of heartfelt statements from students, alumni and survivors, said board of trustees chair Rani Borkar. The OSU board had been facing mounting pressure in recent weeks to take stronger action against Alexander, with a growing number of students and even some Oregon state lawmakers calling for his resignation. On Monday, the Louisiana State Board of Supervisors went as a far as to pen a letter to the chair of the OSU Board of Trustees in which they placed blame on Alexander and called some of his recent statements arrogant and condescending. This is a developing story and will be updated. Ikeas French subsidiary and several of its former executives have gone on trial over accusations that they illegally spied on employees and customers. Trade unions reported the furniture and home goods company to French authorities in 2012, accusing it of collecting personal data by fraudulent means and the illicit disclosure of personal information. The unions specifically alleged that Ikea France had paid to gain access to police files which contained information about targeted individuals. The company fired four executives and changed its internal policy after French prosecutors opened a criminal probe in 2012. But at Mondays trial in a Versailles court, lawyers for Ikea France denied any strategy of generalised espionage. An Ikea employee and CGT union activist, Hocine Redouane, said at the trial that the company wrongly suspected him of being a bank robber because their investigation system found criminal records involving a bank robber with the same name. Such a system can easily slip into abuse, Mr Redouane said. One accusation alleged that Ikea France used unauthorised data to try to catch an employee who had claimed unemployment benefits but drove a Porsche. Another said the subsidiary investigated an employees criminal record to determine how they were able to own a BMW on a low income. Customers the company was in a dispute with also allegedly had their personal information inappropriately accessed. Ikea France said on Monday it has co-operated with French judicial authorities and that such activities seriously undermine the companys values and ethical standards. Ikea France takes the protection of its employees and customers data very seriously, the company said in a statement. It said it adopted compliance and training procedures to prevent illegal activity after the investigation was opened in 2012. The former head of Ikea Frances risk management department, Jean-Francois Paris, acknowledged to French judges that 530,000 to 630,000 euros a year (454,600 to 540,400) were earmarked for such investigations. Paris, who is among those accused, said his department was responsible for handling it. Former Ikea France chief executives Jean-Louis Baillot and Stefan Vanoverbeke, and former chief financial officer Dariusz Rychert and store managers are also going on trial. If convicted, the two ex-CEOs face sentences of up to 10 years in prison and fines of 750,000 euros (643,300). Ikea France faces a maximum penalty of 3.75 million euros (3.2 million). The trial is scheduled to last until April 2. The company also faces potential damages from civil lawsuits filed by unions and 74 employees. Anne-Solene Bouvier, lawyer for the employees, argued that the case is important for French society as a whole. The right to privacy for employees should be sacred, she said. A lawyer for Ikea France, Emmanuel Daoud, said therewas no proof of a widespread system of spying. The lawyer for the companys former human resources director called the case a fairy tale invented by union activists. In France, Ikea employs more than 10,000 people in 34 stores, an e-commerce site and a customer support centre. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 20:26:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANGZHOU, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Europe-bound freight trains departing from China's small commodity hub Yiwu have seen surging deliveries this year, railway sources said Tuesday. A train loaded with 100 TEUs of cargo departed from Yiwu for Minsk, Belarus, on Tuesday afternoon. It was the 300th China-Europe freight train passing through the city since Jan. 1. The 300 trains have carried a total of 25,058 TEUs of commodities, an increase of 373.9 percent compared with the same period last year. Since the cargo route linking Yiwu with Europe via Xinjiang in northwest China was launched in 2014, Yiwu has handled over 2,900 China-Europe freight trains, delivering over 240,000 TEUs. Enditem This will amend an existing approved permit for drilling at the asset, which comprises 81 unpatented claims for around 642 hectares "This is a dynamic and exciting time for the company," said Timothy Strong, the company's project development manager Global Energy Metals Corporation ( ) (OTCMKTS:GBLEF) (FRA:5GE2) revealed it expects to start drilling at the Lovelock mine battery metals Project in Nevada in May this year, subject to the weather, adding it will submit a permit amendment application to greenlight the work. This will amend an existing approved permit for drilling at the asset, which comprises 81 unpatented claims for around 642 hectares (1,586 acres), including the past-producing high-grade cobalt-nickel Lovelock mine. Proposed are eight targets for the maiden 1,400 metres (m) short-hole drill program, which are aimed at confirming intersections of cobalt-nickel-copper-bearing structures within historical workings. Earlier this month, GEMC announced plans to acquire a 50% interest in three new battery metal projects, entering into a letter of intent with DG Resource Management for a portion of its Monument Peak copper-silver-gold project in Idaho; Chance Lake nickel-copper-cobalt project in Quebec, and Amiral nickel-copper-PGEs in Quebec. Today, the company announced that it had now struck a definitive agreement with DG Resource Management over the deal. "This is a dynamic and exciting time for the company," said Timothy Strong, the company's project development manager in a statement. "The announcement of the company expanding its portfolio into Idaho and Quebec comes at a time when there is highlighted need for critical metals in North America. "Whilst we look forward to working with our partners on these new projects, we are delighted to be actively progressing the Lovelock mine project in Nevada, and are excited to be initiating this maiden drill program on the property, which we hope will provide us with important structural data and confirmation of the high-grade mineralization historically recorded on the property. In conjunction with the acquisition of the three new properties, GEMC today also announced a private placement offering for a minimum 2 million units at C$0.25 each, the net proceeds of which, will be used for the acquisition as well as business development and for working capital. Each unit comprises one share and one transferrable share purchase warrant. Each transferrable warrant will be exercisable to buy a further company share for two years months from closing at C$0.30 Global Energy Metals is focused on offering investors exposure to the raw materials deemed critical for the growing rechargeable battery market, by building a global portfolio of assets. Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) and the Comite des Armeniens de Belgique (CAB) has addressed a letter to Belgian Prime Minister Alexandro De Croo, calling on to condemn any state sponsorship of terrorism, reminding that during the 44th day of war in Artsakh, Azerbaijan and Turkey have used mercenaries, the EAFJD told Armenpress. The letter was addressed to the PM in memory of the innocent victims of terror attack in Brussels in 2016. In the letter the Armenian community of Belgium expresses its support and solidarity to the Belgian government and citizens who became the victims of that tragic event, highlighting the need for fighting against terrorism and thus, protecting the free, democratic public. The letter addressed to the Belgian PM also states that the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh also suffered from the atrocities of terrorist fighters deployed by Turkey and Azerbaijan during the Nagorno Karabakh war of September-November 2020. The letter calls on the Belgian government to condemn any state sponsorship of terrorism and expresses confidence that it is not in Belgiums interest to have partner countries that use such means to achieve their geopolitical goals, the statement says. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 18:55:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a message of condolences to new Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan over the passing of the country's President John Magufuli. In his message, on behalf of the Chinese government and people as well as in his own name, Xi expressed deep condolences, and extended sincere sympathies to the Tanzanian government and people as well as President Magufuli's relatives. Calling him an outstanding leader of Tanzania, Xi said that President Magufuli had made positive contributions to promoting friendly cooperation between China and Tanzania and between China and Africa during his lifetime. Magufuli's death is a huge loss to the Tanzanian people, and the Chinese people have also lost a good friend, Xi said. Noting that China cherishes the profound traditional friendship between China and Tanzania, Xi said that China is willing to work with the Tanzanian side to deepen their comprehensive cooperative partnership, so as to bring more benefits to both countries and their peoples. Enditem In brief: Will LG phones soon become a thing of the past? Its starting to look increasingly likely. According to a recent report, the LG Electronics division has failed to secure a buyer for its mobile business, leaving it at risk of shuttering completely. While LG continues to be a leader in televisions, monitors, and home appliances, the company has spent years watching its share of the smartphone market diminish. The 6.5 million devices it shipped in Q3 2020 marked a 7.2 million decline compared to the same quarter a year earlier, and the smartphone group has lost about 5 trillion won ($4.5 billion) across the last five years. In January, LGs CEO said the company was considering all possible measures regarding the smartphone business, including its sale, withdrawal, and downsizing. According to a DongA Ilbo report (via Bloomberg), Germanys Volkswagen AG and Vietnams Vingroup JSC were looking into acquiring LGs smartphone arm, but negotiations have fallen through. As they were the only two interested parties, it leaves LGs withdrawal from the phone industry a more likely prospect. LG has already outsourced the manufacture of its low- to mid-range phones to Chinese firms, and the company is said to have stopped production of its rollable handset, despite its recent listing on Bluetooth SIG. Additionally, the planned first-half rollout of all its new smartphones has reportedly been shelved. Weve already heard that the successor to the LG Rainbow has been delayed indefinitely. The cessation of its smartphone operations would likely spell the end for its current Velvet, Wing, and the V60 ThinQ flagships, too. LG may tell employees its decision regarding the smartphone businesses next month. Its likely that affected workers will be relocated to other divisions within the firm. Below is s an extremely important article from Children's Health Defense. How many friends and family have told you they "had" to get the Covid jab to "keep their job." The jabs are experimental, and recipients are clinical trial participants. Their use is for emergency purposes during a pandemic, they are not FDA approved. They were made faster and more "successfully" than any previous vaccines, even during the H1N1 flu pandemic, for which the vaccines were a catastrophe. No means no. We should not have to submit to a medical procedure to make another person feel "safer or better. Haste makes waste. Measure twice cut once. Vaccinate in haste, repent in leisure. ### Employees of the second-largest school district in the U.S. filed suit last week to prevent the district from mandating COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of employment. California Educators for Medical Freedom, with assistance from the Health Freedom Defense Fund (HFDF), filed a federal lawsuit March 17 against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). In a press release, HFDF said LAUSDs vaccine mandate violates federal law and basic human rights by requiring employees to take an experimental vaccine in order to remain employed. All COVID vaccines available in the U.S. Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are approved under the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). By the FDAs own definition, that makes the vaccines experimental until or unless the FDA licenses them. School employees alleged in their complaint that the statute granting the FDA power to authorize a medical product for emergency use, 21 U.S.C. Section 360bbb-3, requires that the person being administered the unapproved product be advised of the benefits and risks, and of his or her right to refuse the product. The FDA issued a Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers and a Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers for each of the three vaccines approved for emergency use. The fact sheets state, among other things, that a provider must communicate information to the recipient prior to administering the vaccine including that the recipient has the option to accept or refuse the vaccine. Read more at The Defender. [March 23, 2021] Dassault Systemes Simulates Airflow in Paris Hospital to Reduce Risks of Exposure to COVID-19 Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) (Paris:DSY) is helping the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in Paris - part of AP-HP, Europe's largest university hospital system - evaluate the risks of coronavirus infection during the COVID-19 pandemic by using airflow simulation technology. AP-HP is relying on Dassault Systemes' (News - Alert) 3D simulation solutions to reinforce its existing hospital safety measures for reducing exposure risks in both patient care and workplace environments. When France entered its second nationwide lockdown in October 2020, Dassault Systemes' simulation engineers collaborated with hospital teams and the Paris architect Arnaud Delloye. The hospital wanted to evaluate the refurbishment of a post-operative monitoring room before starting any work. They simulated different scenarios in the room shared by a dozen infected and uninfected patients, and examined possible solutions that would complement the hospital's existing safety measures, in order to proactively reduce the risk of exposure for the uninfected patients as well as staff. Dassault Systemes' SIMULIA simulation software was used to model and analyze the airflow as well as the deposits of droplets in the room. Simulation enabled them to determine that the optimal solution combines a dedicated exhaust fan above each infected patient, an airflow system similar to one that the architect had created for a Paris restaurant, and a partition. The combination of the hospital staff's medical and site expertise and Dassault Systemes' simulation offered a new approach for the purpose of scientific understanding. This project is the latest in a pro bono program by Dassault Systemes since the pandemic's outset that has already enabled another AP-HP hospital in Paris, Bichat - Claude Bernard, to rearrange a hospital trauma bay, optimize the layout of patient beds, help understand surface contamination, and add air filtration systems during an unprecedented health crisis. Each project i part of a targeted approach that must take an area's particular characteristics into account in order to identify risks and solutions specific to that space. As part of this ongoing collective effort, the projects have also included inputs by students from France's leading engineering university, Ecole Polytechnique. In the coming weeks, Dassault Systemes will simulate and identify virus propagation risks in two AP-HP hospital cafeterias in order to recommend measures that reinforce those already in place for hospital personnel. "We must continue to take a proactive approach in helping minimize the impact of this virus on our fellow citizens and healthcare systems," said Claire Biot, Vice President, Life Sciences Industry, Dassault Systemes. "Simulation can be used to improve safety in hospitals, nursing homes and specialized clinics, as well as to optimize the floor plans of hospitals that have not yet been built. This collaboration is all part of our mission to harmonize product, nature and life, and make the world a better, safer, healthier place." Social media: Connect with Dassault Systemes on Twitter; Facebook; LinkedIn; YouTube For more information: Dassault Systemes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions: http://www.3ds.com About Dassault Systemes Dassault Systemes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, is a catalyst for human progress. We provide business and people with collaborative 3D virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations. By creating virtual experience twins of the real world with our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and applications, our customers push the boundaries of innovation, learning and production. Dassault Systemes brings value to more than 290,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com 3DEXPERIENCE, the Compass (News - Alert) icon, the 3DS logo, CATIA, BIOVIA, GEOVIA, SOLIDWORKS, 3DVIA, ENOVIA, EXALEAD, NETVIBES, MEDIDATA, CENTRIC PLM, 3DEXCITE, SIMULIA, DELMIA, and IFWE are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systemes, a French "societe europeenne" (Versailles Commercial Register # B 322 306 440), or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005187/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] MEADVILLE, Pa., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allegheny College, one of the nation's oldest and most innovative four-year colleges where multidisciplinary learning breaks the conventional mold, has announced its president's Renaissance Vision and a new administrative realignment to become a leading college for future generations -- preparing students for a life, not merely a job. The new structure will be fully implemented by June 30, 2021, and is part of an ambitious plan led by President Hilary L. Link, Ph.D., to innovate, educate and serve Gen Z students while keeping the college financially viable. President Link's student-centric plan aims to propel Allegheny College forward before the arrival of the enrollment or demographic "cliff" Nathan D. Grawe highlighted to draw attention to the declining U.S. birthrate expected to impact college campuses beginning in 2026. That is when the number of college-aged students is predicted to drop almost 15 percent, which has the higher education community braced for lower enrollments and decreasing revenue. While many colleges and universities have been tackling the enrollment cliff with cuts to admissions, programs and services, President Link is determined to focus on making the college more compelling to future students. As a global interdisciplinary scholar of Italian Renaissance art and literature, she has developed a strategy for success with a very Gen Z twist on Renaissance ideals: the desire for an education that prepares one to solve complex issues using multidisciplinary tools to make a greater impact. Importantly, President Link is doubling down on an innovative approach to enable Allegheny College to raise its profile and meet the preferences, needs and opportunities of Gen Z. One of her favorite sayings is: "When you change where you stand, you change what you see." "At Allegheny College, today's Renaissance students are pulled toward our core of inclusion and success, then as graduates, propelled forward with the tools to impact the world," said President Link. "We've put aside the more rigid, discipline-specific and vocational nature of education to meet the self-view of Gen Zers multidisciplinary learners and people who embody a Renaissance perspective. They want to be lots of different things, and we are preparing them to make their own futures and solve problems they care about." In her first year and a half leading the college, President Link has been communicating with thousands of students, alumni, faculty and staff; consulting higher education professionals and local and national business leaders; and pulling inspiration from international thought-leaders to frame the college's next transformation. Allegheny College's Renaissance Vision is realigned across four interlocking priorities: Holistic Student Success/Inclusive Excellence , to make the best student experience at Allegheny College the common experience for every student. This will be reflected along a continuum of access, completion and engagement, from recruiting and enrolling students to career planning and placement and ongoing alumni engagement. , to make the best student experience at the common experience for every student. This will be reflected along a continuum of access, completion and engagement, from recruiting and enrolling students to career planning and placement and ongoing alumni engagement. Owning Allegheny College's Distinct Academic Brand, an intersectional approach to educate students for a life, not just a job. an intersectional approach to educate students for a life, not just a job. Relevance to Global, Regional and Local Social Context, expanding on the college's strong history and work in civic engagement by taking a more active role in economic development and by having a stronger and more cohesive community presence. expanding on the college's strong history and work in civic engagement by taking a more active role in economic development and by having a stronger and more cohesive community presence. Financial Stability, putting in place strategic initiatives intended to balance the college's budget and steer the college to a continuing robust future. To successfully implement her plan, President Link has deployed an Entrepreneurial Operating System employed frequently by the leadership teams of growth-oriented companies, but rarely used at institutes of higher education, to engage the management and staff of Allegheny College in becoming more nimble and freed from higher education's more deliberate approach to change. The process establishes weekly metrics for communication, accountability and measurement, with opportunities for adjustments and improvements every 90 days. President Link believes this inclusive process of vision-building and swift action is required to deliver on the college's promise to produce thinkers who are nimble, flexible, analytical problem-solvers. Allegheny College has been working towards a new model of student support and retention initiatives over the past several years and is one of 11 colleges across the country recently selected to participate in the first cohort of the new Gardner Institute Equity in Retention Academy. To further the new vision for organizational realignment, President Link's direct reports now include an expanded mix of functions that elevate student success and diversity, equity and inclusion. The college also will realign some areas, including career education and marketing/communications, and is adding a Class Dean structure to further support students. About Allegheny College Allegheny College, founded in 1815, is one of the nation's oldest and most innovative four-year colleges where multidisciplinary learning breaks the conventional mold. It is one of the few colleges in the United States with a unique requirement to choose both a major and minor for graduation, to provide students with a cross-disciplinary path in the sciences and humanities for educational depth and intellectual growth. Located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Allegheny College is one of 40 colleges featured in Loren Pope's "Colleges That Change Lives." In its 2021 rankings, U.S. News & World Report recognized Allegheny College in its Top 20 Best in Undergraduate Teaching and Top 30 Most Innovative National Liberal Arts Colleges. Media Contact Susan Salton Allegheny College 814-332-4793 [email protected] SOURCE Allegheny College Related Links https://allegheny.edu/ U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday the Nord Stream 2 pipeline being built from Russia to Germany ran counter to the European Unions own interests and could undermine Ukraine. Germany is pushing for the pipelines completion, despite sustained U.S. opposition over more than a decade. Speaking on his first visit to NATO, Blinken said he was due to meet his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, to discuss the issue. "President (Joe) Biden has been very clear, he believes the pipeline is a bad idea, bad for Europe, bad for the United States, ultimately it is in contradiction to the EUs own security goals," Blinken said as he met NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. "It has the potential to undermine the interests of Ukraine, Poland and a number of close partners and allies," Blinken said, saying that a U.S. law required Washington to impose sanctions on companies participating in the Nord Stream 2 project. To learn more about The Alabama Education Lab and to get alerts about future work and events, sign up for its newsletter, Ed Chat. See recent stories here. Just as soon as the COVID-19 vaccine was offered, Jacqueline Brooks rolled up her sleeve and got her shot. The scene is now familiar across the country. But what sets Brooks apart from the more than 1 million Alabamians who also have gotten shots is her family history two great-grandfathers were part of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment and her position of authority in her hometown in Alabamas Black Belt, as the superintendent of Macon County School District. Brooks has turned that personal and professional history to her advantage, and has worked tirelessly, even despite some of her own misgivings, to help her staff and community get vaccinated. This is greater than me. This is for the greater good, she said. Yes, I want to live, but its about more than me. This is about the 3,000 or 4,000 people I interact with. Since January, 70% of district teachers and 100% of custodians, lunchroom workers and bus drivers have received the vaccine, she said. The district serves 1,800 students with 270 employees overall. Those numbers are far above the statewide estimate for teachers officials recently gave AL.com, 20%, or the national average for adults, 24%, and are remarkable given the history the community has endured. Along the way, they also have helped bely some experts fears that African American communities might be more hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine. We see a number of people now getting shots because they see people they know, people they have a personal experience with, getting it, said Mayor Tony Hagood in a recent town hall. Macon County is home to Tuskegee University, where, beginning in 1932, treatment was purposefully withheld from African American men who had syphilis so doctors could study the progression of the disease. The project went on for 40 years, even after penicillin became available. Alabama attorney Fred Gray sued the government after the abuse was exposed and won a settlement for families subjected to that abuse. Brooks was born and raised in Macon County and has a personal connection to the notorious study. As the great-granddaughter of two great-grandfathers who were subjects in the unethical and inhumane Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, I thought long and hard about whether or not to take the COVID-19 vaccine, Brooks wrote in a Feb. 16 Facebook post, describing her choice to take the vaccine and conversations with family members, health care experts and a local doctor. So, after all the pondering, my decision was yes to the vaccine and no to the virus! Both shots taken! Hoping for a better day. " Brooks said concerns and questions about the coronavirus and vaccine are not the same as those stemming from the infamous Tuskegee experiments. In the syphilis study, you had treatment withheld. This is completely opposite of what is happening now, she said. Vaccine hesitancy While demographic data compiled by the state has big gaps, at various stages throughout the vaccine rollout, numbers indicated that Alabama was vaccinating significantly more white residents than Black residents relative to its population. Read more: Alabamas next battle is equalizing the vaccine Initially, some experts feared that vaccine hesitancy along with some peoples difficulty finding transportation or Internet to access appointment options was affecting Black residents willingness to get shots. That matched a national narrative developing. Americans all over the country had questions as federal officials approved vaccines for emergency use authorization this winter, but surveys in 2020 suggested Black and Hispanic respondents might be less likely than white respondents to get vaccinated, citing fears of possible side effects and lack of trust in the government and the vaccine development process. Some national reporting specifically noted the Tuskegee study as contributing to Black Americans hesitancy, and some local experts and officials agreed at least in part. When you think about it, Black people have been disserved by the health care system for many years, said Omar Neal, former mayor of Tuskegee, in the town hall. More recent surveys, however, suggest a racial gap in reluctance to get vaccinated has diminished. The state health department does not report vaccine distribution in each county by race or ethnicity, but a recent data analysis by AL.com shows promising vaccination rates, so far, among some counties in Alabama with high Black populations. In Macon County, 23% of the adult population has received at least one shot, at a slightly higher rate than the overall state. Of 18,000 Macon County residents, the Census Bureau says 80% of the population is Black. More than 90% of the students, educators and staff in the county are Black, according to the Alabama Education Report Card. Brooks noted various reasons she had heard that might cause Black neighbors to be skeptical, beyond the legacy of government experiments including theories that the vaccine had been developed to decimate the Black community, or that it was the Mark of the Beast that would indicate loyalty to the Antichrist. Again, she said, seeing elderly church members get vaccinated with no side effects as well as seeing COVID-19 ravage community members who fell ill reminded her that, as a friend told her, " I personally know a lot of people who have been extremely ill and some now buried from a COVID-19 death. But I dont know anyone whos has been buried from taking the vaccine. Wariness in Macon and Tuskegee is real, experts agree, but individual attention from local government and health officials and trusted leaders, as well as coordinated public health messaging, goes a long way. If we are not to take the vaccine, then we are making ourselves even more vulnerable, said Neal. Thats why I chose to take the vaccine. Other leaders in the community, including members of the local chamber of commerce and government officials, have been vocal and visible about getting vaccinated. Hesitancy doesnt mean people arent going to take the vaccine, said Dr. Karen Landers, assistant chief health officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health. Its very helpful for people to hear the answers to their questions from local leaders, local physicians, local pharmacists, basically the local trusted people. Thats where Brooks leadership in Macon County comes into play. How they did it It wasnt just word of mouth. Brooks and local officials, including those at the East Alabama Medical Center and other school districts, had already been talking about how to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. Then they turned their attention to getting teachers and schools staff vaccinated. In the rest of the state, educators were not in the initial primary group, Brooks said. But East Alabama Medical Center basically put us at the top of the list. On Jan. 18, Brooks said, her staff became eligible for shots from the hospital earlier than most in the state. Support staff on the front lines, including custodians and bus drivers, jumped at the chance to get vaccinated, she said. We had a dedicated person [at EAMC] who worked with all of our staff to get everybody who wanted one an appointment, she said, adding that she also allowed staff to take any time needed off to get vaccinated, without using a personal day. The districts lead nurse, along with another nurse on staff, helped administer vaccines. That made everybody feel comfortable, she said. Brooks celebrated the first round of vaccines given to teachers on Jan. 23 through a Facebook post: So proud to be from East Alabama. Macon County teachers/staff get first vaccine dose today. I am so grateful to EAMCs admin for professional development... Posted by Supt Jacqueline Brooks on Saturday, January 23, 2021 In her weekly roundup email to employees, Brooks sung the praises of the 96 employees who chose to be vaccinated in the first wave, writing, Special thanks and praises to our colleagues who made an incredible sacrifice and took an unprecedented risk for personal, professional and community safety by taking the COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday. Not everyone signed up for the first round. Many were in wait-and-see mode, Brooks said, and shes quick to say she understands the hesitancy and questions some may have. But after seeing that there were no side effects or complications, more and more teachers and support staff decided to get the vaccine. It was a combination of faith and trust in science that guided her own decision, she said, and now shes trying to give those around her the same tools. She hopes the strategy, and relentless messaging, will be helpful to other school officials trying to reopen schools while battling low vaccination rates or high infection rates. For the last two months, she has been using every means necessary Facebook Lives, virtual events with state officials, individual conversations with staff and community members to encourage those around her to get vaccinated. Brooks now posts frequently on social media accounts about where shots are available and shares others posts and vaccine selfies. Thank you for this sacrifice. We pray for brighter days and full schools real soon! Fighting for fairness for educators is a must! Posted by Supt Jacqueline Brooks on Saturday, January 23, 2021 Parents also were interested to know if their childs teacher was vaccinated. Brooks cant share that information due to privacy regulations, but she said it was a sign of parents concern about the potential for the virus to circulate in classrooms and how families are making decisions around whether to continue remote schooling. The district started the year remotely but has returned to some in-person learning for families who chose to do so. Brooks hopes to return to full in-person instruction, but says that depends on getting everyone who is willing vaccinated. Until then, she plans to continue working to get the word out and, as more staff and community members get their shots, telling them, Thank you for your sacrifice. KYODO NEWS - Mar 23, 2021 - 13:49 | All, Japan The Japan Patent Office rejected a trademark application by an individual in Shenzhen, southern China, for using the name of Japan's indigenous Ainu people, documents showed Tuesday. The application for "AINU" was filed in March 2020 for products such as smartphone cases and computer mice, according to the documents disclosed by the office. The move was criticized by the Ainu people, who are indigenous to Hokkaido, northern Japan, as an attempt to commercialize their culture. The office rejected the application on the grounds that the Romanized name would "easily" be confused with that of the indigenous people. "An exclusive use of the trademark is against the benefits of our country's society and the public, and may harm public order and moral standards," it said. Stipulating for the first time that Ainu are indigenous people, a 2019 legislation protects and promotes Ainu culture as a way to right historic discrimination and socio-economic disparities. In a separate case, China's National Intellectual Property Administration has agreed to revoke the "Kyoto Uji" trademark that had been registered in China for tea products by Chinese companies, according to a tea cooperative in Kyoto, western Japan. The Kyoto Tea Cooperative made the request with the administration in November 2019, arguing its "Uji" tea brand would be harmed. The Chinese agency made the decision in late January, according to the cooperative. FORT COLLINS, Colo., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Synergetics has been awarded the General Services Administration (GSA) IT MAS Contract, after a thorough assessment from the GSA. This award is a testament to Synergetics' competencies, execution, and customer success. Buying through IT MAS streamlines Government procurement by shortening buying cycles, ensuring compliance, and delivering the best value from pre-vetted vendors. Synergetics has continuously excelled in delivering critical custom software and data solutions to Federal Agencies. The company develops and manages the official platform for all military parts and products, the backbone through which billions of dollars of Federal supply chain procurement occurs annually and the official source of identification and standardization for over 16 million unique parts. Synergetics' IT MAS Schedule allows Federal, State, and Local Agencies to license cloud-ready software with unified user experiences, auditable interactions, configurable data architecture, and hardened security. Product Offerings include: Cloud-Ready Software Suite (Licensed Products) IMD: our dynamic data platform that syndicates, catalogs, searches, and retrieves data from one or more sources OpenFLIS: our cloud-scale, modular platform for data syndication, schema configuration, cataloging, search, dissemination, secure access, and reporting. OpenFIS supports mobiles and API options for flexibility. Services Application Development Services Systems Administration Services Software Maintenance Services Database Consolidation Services About Synergetics is a longstanding Colorado software engineering company and services provider focused on Federal modernization initiatives for over 25 years. Synergetics' software solutions have been used by a variety of Government agencies including, the Department of Defense (DoD), the National Institute of Health (NIH), the US Geological Survey (USGS), and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), among others. Synergetics' IT MAS Contract Number is 47QTCA21D005F and is valid until February 2026 with options for renewal. For more information on our products and services, please contact: Kabir Mehta, COO Synergetics Incorporated 1520 South College Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80524 https://synergetics.com/ Phone: 970.498.9723 Fax: 970.498.9775 Email: [email protected] This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com SOURCE Synergetics AUSTIN, Texas In March 2020, the outlook in Austin was bleak after the pandemic forced business closures, lockdown orders and the cancellation of South by Southwest, the annual festival that brings in millions of dollars for the city. A year later, optimism has replaced despair. Across the nation, the coronavirus remains a threat and empty office buildings and restaurants have hampered growth, but Austin, the Texas capital, has emerged as a hot spot for commercial real estate investment and a magnet for out-of-state corporate relocations that are strengthening its allure as a center of high-tech industry. Its the hottest market in the country right now, said Mike McDonald, vice chairman at Cushman & Wakefield who represents pension funds, insurance companies and real estate investment trusts. Millennials are moving to the Sun Belt, and companies are following the millennials. Investors are following the companies. The city has become the No. 1 destination in the United States for potential commercial real estate investment, according to the CBRE Group, a national real estate services and investment firm. It displaced Greater Los Angeles as the most preferred market for 2021 because of the resilience in its labor market and an outlook for steady growth, according to an investor survey that CBRE released this week. Motilal Oswal AMC raised the curtain on midcap and smallcap funds in 2019 by introducing Nifty Midcap 150 and Nifty Smallcap 250. Now, Aditya Birla AMC has rolled out the Nifty Midcap 150 Index Fund and Nifty Smallcap 50 Index Fund The NFOs for Aditya Birla funds are currently open and will close on March 26 The choice between investing in active and passive mutual funds is a tricky one. A passive mutual fund (also called an index fund) invests in stocks that form the index whereas active MFs rely on stock-picking by fund managers. While there are multiple index funds tracking Nifty50, and Sensex, there are hardly any in the midcap and smallcap space. Motilal Oswal AMC raised the curtain on midcap and smallcap funds in 2019 by introducing Nifty Midcap 150 and Nifty Smallcap 250. Now, Aditya Birla AMC has rolled out the Nifty Midcap 150 Index Fund and Nifty Smallcap 50 Index Fund. The NFOs for Aditya Birla funds are currently open and will close on March 26. Should you invest? Investing in index funds gives average market return. While it does work with largecap stocks, some experts feel active management plays an important role in mid and smallcap space. They feel investors can choose active mid and smallcap funds over passive funds. The performance of these funds in the past one year tells a different story. In last one year, Motilal Oswal Nifty Midcap 150 Idx RegGr and Motilal Oswal Nifty Smcp 250 Idx Reg Gr have given a whopping 84-100 per cent returns -- in line with the top performing active mutual funds in the midcap and smallcap space. (SEE TABLEs). Since inception in August 2019, these funds have returned 34.20 per cent and 32.79 per cent, respectively. The two funds had Rs 136.90 crore and Rs 126.74 crore funds under management as on February-end. Kaustubh Belapurkar, Director - Manager Research, Morningstar India believes a longer timeframe may see active funds outperforming the passive ones. "Traditionally active mid and smallcap funds have witnessed greater success rates and outperformance versus relevant benchmarks when compared to their largecap counterparts. We think active and passive strategies can co-exist in all market cap categories. There will be managers that will be able to outperform their benchmarks over longer periods of time, but investors need to be patient with temporary underperformance when the market cycle is not in favour of the fund managers' style." Index valuation If we look at the performance of underlying mid and smallcap indices earlier this month, they have hit fresh highs. So, will it be prudent to invest at these levels? "Though we believe that midcap and smallcap Indices are not a great proxy for investing in India's GDP, sometimes these indices trade at very cheap valuations, which can make them more attractive than Nifty 50/500 Index. However, the current valuations do not suggest that the mid and smallcap space is horribly cheaper than the Nifty 50/500 Index," says Varun Malhotra, founder & director, EIFS, a financial literacy firm. He advises to invest in Nifty/BSE 500 index fund, which has a small exposure to mid and smallcap companies. A. Balasubramanian, MD & CEO, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC agrees that the indices are trading near all-time highs, but the valuations (PE) aren't still at comparable levels. "As earnings expand (our view on corporate earnings is very constructive) the PE should deflate, the price can continue to remain higher. Hence the nominal price (or value) of index isn't important, it is the valuations that are important," he says. "These two index funds, as part of our product offering, provide one more alternative to investors to complement their existing portfolio along with their actively managed funds. Investments are meant for the long term, so the focus should be to leverage the economic recovery ahead of us." Who should invest? If you are interested in mid and smallcap funds, index investing is the safest. If you want to take some risk, go for active funds, but do note that if there are best performing active mutual funds then there are loss-making ones too. You never know how your fund will perform. Ultimately, your risk appetite should reflect in your investment choice. "Investors looking to invest in these funds should have a minimum seven-to-ten-year investment horizon and the ability to withstand large drawdowns in the interim. Investors who meet this criterion and are unsure which midcap or smallcap fund to choose can look to invest in these," says Belapurkar of Morningstar India. Also read: PLI scheme effect! This local manufacturer plans to invest Rs 500 crore in 3 years Also read: Mutual funds offer 'near-zero' credit risk debt schemes; who should invest? Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. New Delhi, March 23 : The total number of coronavirus cases of the UK, South Africa and Brazil variants in India stand at 795 till date, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday. On March 18, the country had recorded a total of 400 cases with these variants and 242 on March 4. The data shows that the cases have doubled in merely five days. Earlier on Tuesday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said that 81 per cent of the 401 samples sent by the state for genome sequencing tested positive for the UK Covid variant. Expressing concern over the surging cases, he stressed the need for the Central government to urgently open up the vaccination for a bigger section of the populace. The Union Cabinet has now decided to allow vaccination of those over 45 and above, without any co-morbid conditions. A genomic consortium of 10 regional laboratories with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as the apex laboratory has been established to perform genomic sequencing of the samples from positive travellers and 5 per cent of the positive test samples from the community. This comes against the backdrop of Maharashtra, Punjab and Gujarat reporting an upsurge in Covid-19 cases. Maharashtra accounts for over 60 per cent of the daily cases. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The Indian stock market, Sensex and Nifty, are likely to open higher on Tuesday, tracking firm global cues and positive trading at Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange. Among the individual stocks, shares of Future Retail, Mindtree, Piramal Enterprises, IndusInd Bank, Tata Communications, BPCL, Edelweiss, KNR Constructions, RailTel Corporation and ONGC will be in focus in Tuesday's trading session. Also read: Share Market LIVE Updates: Sensex, Nifty seen opening higher; Future Retail, Mindtree, IndusInd Bank in focus Stocks to watch today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus Tuesday's trading session. Future Retail: Shares of Kishore Biyani's firm will be in focus today as Delhi High Court has stayed on the single-judge bench order, which restrained the flagship company Future Retail from selling its assets to Reliance Retail. The US e-commerce giant Amazon had raised objection against Rs 24,713 crore deal between Reliance and Future, and got a favourable award from Singapore's Emergency Arbitrator in October 2020. Based on the award, the single bench of Delhi High Court had disallowed the parties from going ahead with the deal. The hearing will continue from the last week of April. Mindtree Ltd: The IT company has inked a multi-year deal with Knauf, a global manufacturer of building materials and construction systems, to boost the company's IT transformation. The Bengaluru-based IT firm will provide application development services, help digitising their infrastructure, transforming their supply chain systems, and further develop digital platforms. Piramal Enterprises: The company has raised Rs 4,050 crore through issuance of long term five-year non-convertible debentures (NCDs) in two tranches. IndusInd Bank: Global rating agency Moody's has affirmed the long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings of IndusInd Bank Ltd at Ba1. It has also revised its outlook to stable from negative, citing the lender's strong capital and core profitability. Tata Communications: The government has raised Rs 8,846 crore by divesting its 26.12 per cent shares in Tata Communications. BPCL: The state-owned oil marketing company has said that its board has approved the scheme of amalgamation of Bharat Gas Resources Ltd with the company and their respective shareholders. Edelweiss Group: Edelweiss Group said that wealth management firm PAG Group has invested Rs 2,366 crore in Edelweiss Wealth Management. KNR Constructions Ltd: The company has bagged a Rs 1,100 highway contract on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis in the Karnataka. RailTel Corporation of India Ltd: The state-owned company has reported a 60.4 per cent growth in its consolidated net profit at Rs 69.6 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020. The company's board has also declared an interim dividend of Rs 1 per share which will be paid on April 5, 2021. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation: S&P Global Ratings has affirmed ONGC's senior unsecured notes at 'BBB-' with stable outlook. It has also affirmed ONGC's senior unsecured notes at BBB-, outlook stable. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A San Francisco judge said on Monday he will decide in a week or so whether to issue a preliminary injunction against the San Francisco Unified School District and Board of Education to force them to reopen schools as soon as possible. Last month, City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed a lawsuit to compel the district and school board to come up with a plan to reopen schools for all students for the remainder of the school year, as public schools have been closed for a year and replaced with distance learning. The suit alleges the district has impeded students' rights to attend public school under the state's Constitution; discriminated against students due to wealth, in violation of the state Constitution's equal protection clause; and violated state law by failing to offer in-person learning "to the greatest extent possible." During a hearing on Monday, Deputy City Attorney Sara Eisenberg argued that the definition of "to the greatest extent possible" should be interpreted as to the greatest extent allowed by state health authorities. "In the context of a pandemic, what is possible has to be left to the discretion of the health authorities. It can't be left to the discretion of the individual regulating industries to decide what is or is not possible," she said. "As soon as it is possible under the local and state health orders to resume in-person instruction, I believe there is a mandatory duty to do so." Although the district announced plans to begin opening elementary schools in phases starting on April 12, plans to open middle schools and high schools for the current school year have not yet been announced. The preliminary injunction seeks to open all schools in the district in April, which Eisenberg said would be a "reasonable amount of time." Judge Ethan Schulman, however, said that ordering the reopening all of the district's 123 schools in such short time would be "enormously complicated." "The district can't flip a switch and send everyone back to school overnight," he said. It is a process to reopen schools because ventilation systems have to be turned on and classroom sizes approved by local health officials. Suzanne Solomon, attorney for SFUSD, said the district is in accord with state health orders that have called for districts to prioritize in-person learning for the youngest students since COVID-19 is less transmissible in that group. "The greatest extent possible under the existing health and safety orders up until now has required a focus on the younger students and that's what the district has done," she said. "But shouldn't there also be a plan and deadlines, or at least targets, for older kids?" Schulman said. "Because after all, those older kids are suffering the same harms, and in some cases maybe even worse harms when we talk about depression and anxiety and substance abuse and worse, suicide." Solomon said although reopening dates for grades six through 12 haven't been announced, plans to reopen those schools are indeed underway. At the end of the hearing, Schulman said he would likely make a ruling on the preliminary injunction request "within a week or so." In a statement following the hearing, Herrera said, "Today SFUSD basically said, 'Trust us. We're working on it.' Well, that's just not good enough. I didn't want to sue the school district, but it was sadly necessary. The toll on families, the mental health crisis gripping our children, the devastating learning loss are all too much," he said. "It's unfortunate that it took a lawsuit and families rallying in the streets to get the school district to focus on the most important thing -- its students. After a year away from teachers, friends and schoolmates, we're hopeful once again for San Francisco's students and families. It's time for kids of all grade levels to be able to go safely back to school, not be stuck in front of a screen," he said. Although public schools remain closed, most of the city's parochial and private schools of all grades have reopened for in-person learning. Copyright 2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Remediant, a leading privileged access management (PAM) provider that enables customers to protect against ransomware by preventing lateral movement, today announced interoperability between its SecureONE solution and VMware Carbon Black Cloud to deliver integrated PAM and endpoint detection and response. The new capability combines the power of Remediant's privileged identity security context with VMware Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint, enabling organizations to implement Zero Trust security without adding an additional PAM agent. Today, organizations require visibility to privileged identities to reduce overall enterprise risk by stopping attacks before endpoints are compromised. VMware Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint provides device-centric visibility and monitors for malicious behavior. Remediant focuses on "Zero Standing Privilege" (ZSP) by removing 24x7 admin rights ("Just-In-Case" administrator / privileged rights) from endpoints in favor of Just-In-Time (JIT) access. The interoperability with VMware Carbon Black Cloud will help prevent: Unnecessary administrator user accounts, which attackers use to expand the scope of their attack Persistent standing privileged access that attackers use to compromise an organization broadly. For example: An attacker with a compromised admin account can disable endpoint agents can disable endpoint agents Changing system configuration Lateral movement of an attacker posing as a real administrator using compromised credentials Now, Remediant SecureONE customers using VMware Carbon Black Cloud can extend their reach to maintain ZSP and JIT access when endpoints are outside the corporate network and VPN. Organizations can maintain SecureONE management of Windows systems with VMware Carbon Black Cloud even when SecureONE cannot reach them. Together, SecureONE and VMware Carbon Black Cloud can help enhance security for the growing remote workforce. Key use cases include: Helpdesk staff can enable their privileged access to support the systems outside the network Security Operations (SecOps) can determine privileged access and enforce the desired JIT privileged access on a system Remote users such as software developers (DevOps) can install software and make system config changes using privileged access Traditional PAM strategies have left companies ill-prepared for the identity-based attacks on endpoints. The interoperability between Remediant and VMware Carbon Black Cloud better enables organizations of all sizes to protect their endpoints by discovering and restricting 24X7 privileged account sprawl. "As the threat landscape evolves, security and IT teams must be empowered to detect and stop emerging attacks," said Chris Goodman, director of technical alliances, Security business unit, VMware. "Leveraging the VMware Carbon Black Cloud, Remediant can help customers bolster their defenses by deploying Zero Trust privileged access management that helps better detect and prevent lateral movement in compromised accounts." "The damage caused by compromised privileged accounts increases rapidly over time as attackers move laterally through the network environment. It's critical to detect and prevent lateral movement and ransomware as soon as possible after an attacker enters the network," said Paul Lanzi, COO and co-founder of Remediant. "The combined capabilities of Remediant's Zero Standing Privilege (ZSP) approach and JIT access with VMware Carbon Black's Cloud EDR turns the tables, putting attackers on the defensive and stopping attacks well before valuable endpoints are compromised." VMware and Carbon Black are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions. About Remediant: San Francisco-based Remediant is disrupting the Privileged Access Management (PAM) market by solving the root cause of most cyber-attacks: (24x7/always on/persistent) administrator (rights/privileges/access) on the network. Built upon the principle of Zero Standing Privilege, Remediant's award-winning SecureONE PAM software delivers just enough, just-in-time privileged access and continuous discovery with agentless, vaultless simplicity. SecureONE protects millions of endpoints worldwide and has been adopted by major enterprises across a number of industries. For more information, please visit: https://www.remediant.com. Media Contact for Remediant: [email protected] For more information, visit www.remediant.com, contact us at [email protected] or follow on LinkedIn, on Twitter and Facebook. SOURCE Remediant Related Links http://www.remediant.com The hominin fossil record of Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) indicates that at least two super-archaic species, Homo luzonensis and Homo floresiensis, were present around the time anatomically modern humans arrived in the region 50,000-60,000 years ago. In new research, an international team of scientists examined more than 400 modern human genomes to investigate ancient interbreeding events between super-archaic and modern human species. Their results corroborate widespread Denisovan ancestry in ISEA populations, but fail to detect any substantial super-archaic admixture signals compatible with the fossil record. ISEA, also known as Maritime Southeast Asia, is a region that includes the countries of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and East Timor. It hosts a unique and diverse fossil record of hominin presence throughout the Pleistocene epoch. The island of Java in modern Indonesia marks the southeastern extent of the range of Homo erectus, the first hominin species thought to have successfully dispersed outside Africa, where it maintained a presence from 1.49 million years ago until 117,000-108,000 years ago. At least two additional endemic species lived in ISEA during the Pleistocene and are likely to have survived until the arrival of anatomically modern humans over 50,000 years ago: Homo floresiensis on Flores, in the Lesser Sunda Islands (also part of modern Indonesia), and Homo luzonensis on Luzon, in the northern Philippines. Recent interpretations suggest that Homo floresiensis is either a close relative of Homo erectus, or alternatively represents an even more archaic species of Homo that independently reached ISEA in a separate dispersal event out Africa. The current classification of Homo luzonensis is also uncertain; the available specimens share similarities with various hominin species including Australopithecus, Asian Homo erectus, Homo floresiensis and Homo sapiens. In the new study, University of Adelaides Dr. Joao Teixeira and colleagues examined the genomes of more than 400 modern humans, including over 200 from ISEA, to investigate the interbreeding events between the super-archaic species and modern human populations who arrived at ISEA 50,000-60,000 years ago. In particular, they focused on detecting signatures that suggest interbreeding from deeply divergent species known from the fossil record of the area. Their results showed no evidence of interbreeding; nevertheless, they were able to confirm previous results showing high levels of Denisovan ancestry in the region. While the known fossils of Homo erectus, Homo floresiensis and Homo luzonensis might seem to be in the right place and time to represent the mysterious southern Denisovans, their ancestors were likely to have been in Island Southeast Asia at least 700,000 years ago, said Professor Chris Stringer, a researcher at the Natural History Museum, London. Meaning their lineages are too ancient to represent the Denisovans who, from their DNA, were more closely related to the Neanderthals and modern humans. These analyses provide an important window into human evolution in a fascinating region, and demonstrate the need for more archaeological research in the region between mainland Asia and Australia, said Professor Kris Helgen, director of the Australian Museum Research Institute. We know from our own genetic records that the Denisovans mixed with modern humans who came out of Africa 50,000-60,000 years ago both in Asia, and as the modern humans moved through ISEA on their way to Australia, Dr. Teixeira said. The levels of Denisovan DNA in contemporary populations indicate that significant interbreeding happened in ISEA. The mystery then remains, why havent we found their fossils alongside the other ancient humans in the region? Do we need to re-examine the existing fossil record to consider other possibilities? The findings were published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution. _____ J.C. Teixeira et al. Widespread Denisovan ancestry in Island Southeast Asia but no evidence of substantial super-archaic hominin admixture. Nat Ecol Evol, published online March 22, 2021; doi: 10.1038/s41559-021-01408-0 Covid: Air Serbia to resume Belgrade-Rome flights 30/4 Two flights a week, a third starting 13/6 (ANSAmed) - BELGRADE, 23 MAR - Air Serbia announced it will resume direct flights between Belgrade and Rome starting April 30. According to media reports, initially there will be two flights per week between the two capitals, one on Monday and one on Friday. Then, depending on the epidemiological situation and restrictions to travel, a third weekly flight on Sunday is scheduled to start June 13. Air Serbia will be the only airline to guarantee a connection between the two countries. Flights between Belgrade and Rome were suspended in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. They resumed last July but were once again suspended two weeks later due to the worsening epidemiological situation in Europe. Air Serbia's commercial and strategic director Jirzi Marek said Italy is a very important market for Serbia both from a tourism point of view as well as that of economic and trade relations. (ANSAmed). (Alliance News) - Old Mutual Ltd on Tuesday said it fell into loss in 2020 amid a slump in revenue and the hefty cost of Covid-19. The Anglo-South African financial services firm swung to a pretax loss in 2020 of ZAR3.27 billion from ZAR13.80 billion in profit a year prior. This was off of revenue and other income of ZAR146.53 billion, sinking 17% from ZAR176.12 billion. Gross insurance premium revenue increased, however, by 1.0% to ZAR81.57 billion from ZAR80.76 billion. Costs related to Covid-19 amounted to ZAR6.08 billion. "2020 was one of the most challenging years our organisation has ever faced," said Chief Executive Iain Williamson. "Our business remained well capitalised through decisive management actions and our liquidity position was strong, despite the material negative impact Covid-19 had on our earnings. The fundamentals of our business were tested through this extreme scenario, but we remained true to our purpose of championing mutually positive futures every day and our diversified business model enabled us to demonstrate resilience in this environment." Old Mutual declared an annual payout of 35.00 rand cents per share, down 53% from 75.00 cents in 2019. Going forward, Old Mutual said: "We will complete the rollout of Old Mutual Protect to our alternative channels. Our expansion into the funeral services industry was negatively impacted by the pandemic but we will continue to pursue this to access more customers and have end to end value chain capabilities. Various initiatives remain in place to deliver cost savings in the short term and shape future spend. We will continue to invest in alternative channel capabilities to reduce the level of dependency on our adviser force. Growing our rewards base and expanding our offering will remain a key focus as we continue to give value back to our customers whilst rewarding and driving good financial behaviour." Old Mutual sees a third wave of Covid-19 infections coming in the approaching winter months in South Africa, and has therefore increased its Covid-19 pandemic reserve to cover expected excess deaths before the government's vaccination efforts take effect. Old Mutual said that ultimately the rate of economic recovery will determine when sales will return to prior year levels. By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Palmdale, CA (93550) Today Sunny skies. Becoming windy late. Hot. High near 100F. SW winds at 10 to 20 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 68F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. The world lost a great soul, said Officer Talleys father, Homer Talley, a retired optics engineer who now lives on a ranch in Rising Star, Texas, near Abilene. He was a devoted father seven kids. The youngest was 7 and the oldest was 20, and his family was the joy of his life. Officer Talley was born in Houston and raised in Albuquerque. He joined the police force as a second career when he was 40, quitting a job in cloud communications, his father said in an interview on Tuesday morning. He wanted to be a servant, Mr. Talley said. He wanted to serve people. And you know, all kids want to be a policeman, and in many ways, he was a big kid. On Twitter, a woman who described herself as Officer Talleys sister, Kirstin, posted: Officer Eric Talley is my big brother. He died today in the Boulder shooting. My heart is broken. I cannot explain how beautiful he was and what a devastating loss this is to so many. Fly high my sweet brother. You always wanted to be a pilot (damn color blindness). Soar. In 2013, the local newspaper, The Boulder Daily Camera, featured Officer Talley and two other members of the force who had waded into a drainage ditch to rescue a trapped mother duck and 11 ducklings. He was drenched after this, Sgt. Jack Walker told the paper about Talley. They would go into these little pipes and he would have to try and fish them out. Labor is reviving a plan to cement the purpose of superannuation in the law in a bid to block proposals from Coalition MPs to tap into retirement savings to solve a host of financial woes facing workers. Opposition financial services and superannuation spokesman Stephen Jones said Labor remained committed to legislating a purpose for the super system to enable it to cut through all of the crazy propositions that have been advanced over the last year. Labors Stephen Jones: The purpose of superannuation is to provide financial security and a dignified standard of living for Australians in retirement. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Legislating an objective would mean all new policies affecting the super sector would need to be considered with this purpose in mind. The purpose of super is to provide a secure dignified retirement not to fix every other area of this governments policy neglect, Mr Jones said. Cade Metz, a New York Times technology correspondent, and NYUs Yann LeCun will discuss Metzs newly released Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought AI to Google, Facebook, and the World in a webinar, Fri., April 9, 1-2 p.m. EDT. Metzs book chronicles how scientists from disparate fields of expertise worked to bring artificial intelligence (AI) into major companies, ushering in a new era of technology that has influenced our social discourse and altered our daily lives. Genius Makers also considers the work of LeCun, a professor at NYUs Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and NYUs Center for Data Science (CDS) who is Facebooks chief AI scientist. LeCun, who founded CDS, was a recipient of the Turing Award in 2019 for his breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and, specifically, deep learning and convolutional neural networksthe foundation of modern computer vision, speech recognition, speech synthesis, image synthesis, and natural language processing. The conversation will be moderated by Michael Picheny, a research professor at the Courant Institute and Center for Data Science who was part of the IBM team that developed the companys speech-recognition systems. To RSVP, please visit the events registration page. For more information, please email em3388@nyu.edu. (Alliance News) - Brussels said Tuesday it will toughen its checks on Covid-19 vaccine exports from the EU, as a top health official warned the bloc is "taking action" on AstraZeneca PLC supplies. The European Commission will on Wednesday adopt "a revision of the export transparency and authorisation mechanism," a spokesman told journalists. The issue is also expected be discussed during a Thursday to Friday video summit of EU leaders. Officials said the revision would not amount to a general export ban, but would support what EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has dubbed the principle of "reciprocity". But it will strengthen the commission's hand when it comes to preventing exports to countries which have a better vaccination record and which produce vaccines but do not export to the EU. This implicitly targets Britain, which has moved more quickly than its neighbours to vaccinate its population, while importing millions of doses from plants based in the EU. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed concern over the EU move, but also hope that a negotiated solution could be found. "We in this country don't believe in blockades of any kind of vaccines or vaccine material," Johnson told a news conference.A "It's not something this country would dream of engaging in and I'm encouraged by some of the things I've heard in the continent in the same sense." The European Commission said last week it was ready to put stricter conditions on vaccine exports from Europe, in a step targeting UK-based AstraZeneca. Sandra Gallina, head of the commission's health directorate, told MEPs that the EU has "a serious problem" with AstraZeneca. The Anglo-Swedish company delivered less than a quarter of the 100-million-plus doses it had pledged to supply in the first three months of this year, she said. "On AstraZeneca, I would like to indicate that we are taking action," Gallina said, adding that the company had created a "bad reputation" for Europe by hobbling its early vaccination rollout. Von der Leyen has threatened an export ban on AstraZeneca doses, fuelling a row between Brussels and London accompanied by mutual accusations of vaccine "nationalism". The EU is angry that AstraZeneca had, until this month, maintained smooth deliveries to the UK while severely undersupplying the bloc.A Britain is now facing its own AstraZeneca shortfall, with expected doses from a huge plant in India being delayed. It wants to access AstraZeneca doses being made in the Netherlands in a factory expected shortly to be approved for operation. A Under the EU's export-checking mechanism created at the end of January, a vaccine-maker needs to ask for authorisation to send doses out of the bloc.A So far, one shipment of AstraZeneca doses has been blocked, from Italy to Australia. EU member states are split on whether to step up export bans.A Some see it as a way to prod pharmaceutical companies into honouring their European delivery schedules, noting in particular that the EU exported more than 10 million vaccine doses to Britain from early February to mid-March but received none at all from the UK. Other countries fear it could trigger retaliation that would choke international vaccine supply chains, some of which furnish crucial ingredients. The Netherlands is among the wary, with one of its officials saying an EU export ban would be a "lose-lose" scenario, but is willing to follow the commission in its decision. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday voiced her support for von der Leyen. She said that Johnson was in "constant contact" with the commission on the issue, after having spoken in the past few days to her, French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. By Marc Burleigh source: AFP Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. ADVERTISEMENT this TAM is different because it will enable the replacement of aging/obsolete equipment Nigerians will benefit immensely as PMS and other petroleum products will become available locally, jobs will be created from the value chain of activities, and the current strain on forex for importation of products will reduce. Mixed reactions have continued to trail the move by the Federal Government to rehabilitate the Port-Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved the sum of $1.5 billion for the immediate rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery. This followed a memo by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva , on its rehabilitation, which was presented to FEC, and its subsequent approval on March 17. Indeed, Nigerias refineries have suffered years of neglect. In particular, the PHRC has experienced decline in performance over the past two decades due to delays in conducting the mandatory turn around maintenance (TAM). The last time a TAM was conducted on the refinery was 21 years ago (2000)! Isnt it time the nations refineries are brought back to their optimal capacities? Some critics have argued that it is more economical to build a new refinery, than just waste $1.5 billion to rehabilitate the PHRC, which holds 210,000bpd, out of Nigerias 445,000bpd refining capacity. On the contrary, a cursory look at brand new refineries built across the world reveals that building a refinery of similar capacity as the PHRC is estimated at over $6 billion, depending on a number of technical and non-technical factors. For example, $10 billion was spent on building the Aramco Oil Refinery (250,000-300,000 bpd capacity) in Pakistan, $12 billion was spent on building Abrue Lima Project (230,000 bpd) in Brazil; while $27 billion was spent on building Pengerang Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development, RAPID (300,000 bpd + 3 mtpa naptha steam cracker) in Indonesia. In Nigeria, $19 billion has been spent so far on the Dangote Refinery (650,000 bpd), prior to commissioning and start-up of the plant. It is interesting to note that despite the abundance of hydrocarbon resources, Nigeria is, sadly, the only oil producer in the world that does not refine petroleum products. Instead, the country relies heavily on importation for most of its petrol needs locally. This is not a good record to be proud of. Armchair critics also come up with a shallow argument that it is better to sell off these refineries since they can no longer meet up the nations refining needs. Which country sells off its strategic national assets, such as refineries, to the highest bidder? Armchair critics usually think a mere mention of TAM means another round of business as usual, where resources are drained with nothing to show for it at the end of the day. While some of these arguments are genuine, it is instructive to note that this TAM is different because it will enable the replacement of aging/obsolete equipment, as well as ensure that the refinery operates at a minimum of 90 per cent capacity utilisation. On the flipside, Nigerians will benefit immensely as PMS and other petroleum products will become available locally, jobs will be created from the value chain of activities, and the current strain on forex for importation of products will reduce. In addition, interested parties who benefited from the age-long importation largesse and have fleeced the nation dry will potentially be out of business. This is the same for critics of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. These detractors probably forgot that this is an administration that, from its inception, made clear its intention to bring back the refineries to their optimal capacities. The Buhari Presidency also threw its full weight and support behind the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to execute the project. It is worthy to note that for African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), which is the reliable lender for the project, to have raised $1 billion towards the initiative, it goes to show that the multilateral institution understands how crucial the project is. In the same vein, the Federal Government will raise the sum of $550 million. Clearly, a credible and capable lender like Afreximbank would never agree to put such huge amount of money where there will be no value. Also, the right governance structures have been instituted around the project implementation to ensure success. Similarly, Tecnimont SpA, the Original Refinery Builder (ORB), which is also the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation and Commissioning (EPCIC) contractor, is globally reputable and capable, with requisite experience of similar jobs across the globe. There are still a number of other genuine reasons why the current refineries rehabilitation project is different. Firstly, the project implementation governance structure includes key independent external stakeholders: the Ministry of Finance, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the two labour unions in the oil and gas industry Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ( PENGASSAN) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers ( NUPENG). It is also expected to result in job creation across the value chain (crude supply, operating and maintaining the refinery, product supply, etc.), including several third party contractors that will supply outsourced services or goods. Secondly, it involves the significant replacement of key equipment within the refinerys major units and components. Thirdly, it is funded through part-loan and part-government funds, with the financiers actively monitoring the execution of the project. KBR and NETCO are also acting as NNPC Engineers, who will be supervising the EPC contract to ensure the project is delivered in line on schedule, within budget and at the right quality. Sylva has urged Nigerians who are opposed to the project to hold him accountable for every dollar that will be spent on rehabilitating the refinery. They (Nigerians) can hold me accountable and hold this government accountable for every dollar, every cent on this refinery and ensure that we deliver a refinery that works, he said. Sylva has also explained that the rehabilitation will take 18 months and the first phase will get the refinery to 90 per cent operational capacity, stressing that President Muhammadu Buhari was bent on leaving a legacy, including making sure that the refineries are working. It is not going to be all debts, we are not going to borrow all the monies that are going into the rehabilitation. Furthermore, the minister explained that the project would be in three phases, adding that the first phase was going to be within the tenure of this administration. You should hold us. It is 18 months and we are going to take the refinery to 90 per cent of its main capacity and that is what you should hold us to, he posited. While defending the project, the former governor of Bayelsa State noted that the Federal Government also plans to rehabilitate other refineries in the country, explaining that the move is not a waste of funds, as believed by many Nigerians. According to him, the refinery will benefit Nigerians and be commercially viable to return profits for the government and satisfy the domestic needs of the country, especially in addition to the Dangote Refinery. This rehabilitation will bring a lot of gains for Nigerians. First, we are gaining from savings in the foreign exchange end, savings from importation of premium motor spirit (PMS); and we will gain from the operations of the refineries itself, he noted. The minister also debunked insinuations that the rehabilitation could have taken less than N500 million, saying that the rehabilitation of the refinery was being handled by professionals. It is also expected to result in job creation across the value chain (crude supply, operating and maintaining the refinery, product supply, etc.), including several third party contractors that will supply outsourced services or goods. The refined products are also feedstock for small scale local manufacturing. The most significant and visible benefit is the energy security of the country. Imagine if the COVID-19 lockdown became global and we couldnt import, it would have been a disaster as there is no capacity to refine crude in-country and as such, there would be no products. the Federal Government must be given all the support to see that the Port Harcourt Refinery is revived and becomes operational once more in order to save the government its scarce forex revenue, as well as create the much-needed jobs. A group like the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, which understands the importance of this laudable move has described it as a signal that the Federal Government has woken up from its slumber. The IYC President, Peter Igbifa, said though reviving and optimising the refinery was long overdue, it was better late than never. Igbifa, who described the move as a welcome development said it would create employment for the teeming jobless youths in the Niger Delta region and increase the countrys refining capacity. The IYC boss also expressed optimism that the project, when completed, would reduce youth restiveness and criminality in the region. He advised the Federal Government not to play politics with the project. Igbifa called on the government to swing into action by releasing money immediately to back up its approval. Igbifa said: This should not end in funds approval, money should be released as and when due. We dont want to hear the usual excuse that the project is being delayed for lack of funds. We listened carefully as the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, reeled out the timeline for the project and we are expecting the rehabilitation to follow the timeline. As a council, which fights for the interest of Ijaw youths and other youths in the Niger Delta, we will be constituting an action committee to work closely with the ministry of petroleum and the contractors that will be in charge of the rehabilitation project. We will monitor the execution of this project from the beginning to the end and if we notice any foul play, we will surely raise the alarm. Igbifa said it smacked of unseriousness and irresponsibility for an oil-producing country like Nigeria to be selling crude oil and importing refined products, adding that the move to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt refinery would gradually bring an end to the economic disaster. On his part, an environmental justice activist, Mr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, welcomed the planned rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery, saying it will create jobs and also curb incessant fuel hike when completed. Fyneface also urged the government to consider funding artisanal refiners to own modular refineries, in order to contribute to energy sufficiency in the country. The approval, coming at a time that Nigerians are grumbling over incessant hike in fuel price and energy crisis would go a long way to address these issues when completed. During the rehabilitation, jobs will be created for youths and experts across board, he added. Therefore, the Federal Government must be given all the support to see that the Port Harcourt Refinery is revived and becomes operational once more in order to save the government its scarce forex revenue, as well as create the much-needed jobs. Alexander Adejoh writes from Lokoja, Kogi State. New Delhi, March 23 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the Centre's reply on pleas seeking framing of guidelines for compensation to victims of wrongful prosecution. A bench headed by Justice UU Lalit issued notice to the Centre on separate pleas filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay and former MLA Kapil Mishra. The petitioners cited the January 28, 2021 decision of a division bench of the Allahabad High Court, which declared one Vishnu Tiwari, who was jailed for 20 years, as innocent. Tiwari was sent behind bars after being booked for rape and atrocities under the SC/ST Act, due to a land dispute. The petitioners in the top court were represented by senior advocates Vijay Hansaria and Arijit Prasad. The plea filed by Upadhyay contended that there are many startling cases which show the gross abuse of power and authority by the state, which caused absolute "miscarriage of justice". The plea argued that failure of justice causes irreparable damage to right to life, liberty and dignity of innocent citizens and no relief is given by the courts. The petitioner said being the custodian of the Constitution, the Supreme Court may use its plenary constitutional power, as an alternative, to frame guidelines for compensation to victims who have faced wrongful prosecution. Citing the NCRB Annual Statistical Report called Prison Statistics India (PSI), Upadhyay's plea said according to PSI 2015, there were 4,19,623 prisoners across the country out of which, 67.2 per cent were under trial; substantially higher than the convict population, 1,34,168 (32 per cent). "A review of the data in PSI shows that across the country as well as in states, under trial prisoners continue to be higher in numbers than the convict population. The States with the highest percentage of undertrials were Meghalaya - 91.4 per cent, Bihar - 82.4 per cent, Manipur - 81.9 per cent, Jammu & Kashmir - 81.5 per cent, Nagaland - 79.6 per cent, Odisha - 78.8 per cent, Jharkhand 77.1 per cent, and Delhi - 76.7 per cent," added the plea. Today Partly cloudy this morning with thunderstorms becoming likely this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 81F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Tomorrow Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds light and variable. The Rail and Maritime Transport Union says it is inevitable that New Zealand will eventually stop the importation of phosphate rock mined in the disputed territory of Western Sahara. It comes after the High Court of New Zealand recently threw out an application for a judicial review into the New Zealand superannuation funds investment into assets connected with mining in the North African nation. Both Ballance Agri-Nutrients, whose head office is based in Mount Maunganui, and Ravensdown source phosphate rock from the Boucra mine in Western Sahara. The Polisario Front, representing the indigenous Saharawi people, seek independence and consider ongoing Moroccan rule an invasion of their territory. Kamal Fadel, the Polisario Front representative to Australia and New Zealand, and Mike Barton, of Western Sahara Campaign New Zealand, submitted the application against Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation. A ceasefire, which had been in place since 1991 between the Polisario Front and Morocco, ended in November last year. The disputed sovereignty has led to the popularisation of the controversial term blood phosphate among activists. The argument in court was that continued investment from the fund contravened a mandate to avoid potentially prejudicing New Zealands reputation. The High Court ruled that the Guardians of the superannuation fund have done all they can to minimise any risk to New Zealands reputation by developing policies based on widely accepted international standards to protect the fund from reputational damage. The Fertiliser Association of New Zealand, of which Ballance and Ravensdown are a part of, acted as an intervener in the case. They felt the case had no legal merit and suggested the application was a political tactic. However, the High Court did conclude that a reputational risk to wider New Zealand interests remains and, with reference to that, the RMTU believe an end must be in sight for the importation of what they refer to as blood phosphate. RMTU National Secretary Wayne Butson says the ongoing importation of blood phosphate is unacceptable and is disappointed the Court dismissed the application for a judicial review. "However, the Court has sent a clear message by noting blood phosphate imports pose a reputational risk to New Zealands wider interests." Wayne believes that growing international concern about the plight of the Saharawi people of Western Sahara makes it certain the imports will end. In 2019, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions passed a resolution condemning Moroccos illegal occupation of Western Sahara and calling upon the New Zealand government to halt importation of phosphates from the area. The RMTU represents port workers in several New Zealand ports the phosphate is imported into. As a CTU affiliate, the RMTU has taken a number of actions to raise awareness of the situation in ports. The RMTU delivered a letter of protest to the captain of the IVS Phoenix, a vessel carrying 56,000 metric tonnes of phosphate rock chartered by Ballance, when it arrived at the Port of Tauranga on February, 27. The RMTU says its committed to continuing its protest action with the goal of ending the importation of phosphate rock mined in Western Sahara into New Zealand. UPDATED: A car going down a bank on State Highway 2 is causing traffic chaos this afternoon. A police spokesperson says police were advised at 4.20pm that a car had gone down "a bank" near the intersection of SH2 and Youngson Road. The driver was the only occupant in the car and fortunately she only has moderate injuries. A SunLive reader says traffic is backed up in both directions on the highway. EARLIER: Reports are coming in of a crash on State Highway 2 near Omokoroa Road. A Sunlive reader says emergency services are at the scene of a crash just south of the Omokoroa Road turn off. He says traffic is at a standstill heading north. Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency is advising that stop / go traffic management is in place between Barret Road and Omokoroa road. Traffic on SH2: Image: Google Maps. Motorists are advised to expect delays in the area, says a Waka Kotahi statement. SunLive is working to get more information and will update the story when possible. At the scene? Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 05:41:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Amidst a period of "heightened intensity," a United Nations official told the Security Council on Tuesday that the killing, displacement and suffering of the Afghan people "must end now." More than six months after formal Afghan peace negotiations between the government and Taliban representatives were launched in September, Deborah Lyons, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said via video conference that now was "a timely moment to take stock" and assess what must be done to support the path towards peace. She told the 15-member Council that she was encouraged to hear from both sides gathered in Doha, Qatar, that "real substantive progress" was being made on key agenda items but upheld that "more must be done to demonstrate to Afghans that the negotiations are progressing in the real interests of the Afghan people." The UNAMA chief said that from neighbors to regional players and international partners, everyone has the responsibility to ensure that actions are "integrated, mutually reinforcing, and, most importantly, are in the best interests of the Afghan people." Lyons noted that the recent phase of peace talks has not had a positive influence on civic life or civilian casualties, as targeted and brutal attacks persist. "I am very sorry to report that in the first two months of 2021, we have witnessed the continued trend of rising civilian casualties, documented since the start of the Afghanistan Peace Negotiations," she told the Council. Pointing to more than 80 UNAMA-documented Afghans killed, she said that "this does not convey the full and crippling impact of the violence." "For every Afghan killed, there are many more who leave their professions, or sadly, feel that they must leave their country." Reminding that this is not the Afghanistan of 20 years ago, she recalled that half of the population was born after the Bonn Agreement was signed in 2001 - following the invasion of the country in response to 9/11 - and has grown up with aspirations for a proper education, in a country where women have economic and political power and civil society has the space to flourish. "They deserve to have their voices heard during the negotiations - and to have the inherent right to an active and substantial role in Afghan society after a peace agreement is concluded," Lyons stated. The UNAMA chief also spoke of a "deepening humanitarian crisis" with food security at unprecedented levels as drought spreads and pledges of support dwindle. She pointed to the "illegal and unjustified" targeting of humanitarian workers that are triggering "grave consequences for the lives and livelihoods of Afghans." "We need the violence to decrease, we need the access to increase, we need additional funding, and we need the all-important NGO community to be allowed to do their important work," Lyons spelled out. Citing the withdrawal of international troops, Lyons said that the coming months could mark a turning point for the country and assured that UNAMA would continue working with all partners "to foster a coherent process for the much-needed peace." Enditem Beck Zemek's cruel and dismissive attitude towards her husband Jake Edwards has earned her the 'villain' label on this year's season of Married At First Sight. But on Tuesday, the Perth business manager, 27, revealed there were many 'red flags' about Jake's behaviour that weren't shown on television. 'Jake is great but there is one quality that is a non-negotiable in any relationship that keeps happening,' Beck told The Kyle and Jackie O Show. More than meets the eye? Married At First Sight's Rebecca Zemek (pictured) has revealed the 'red flags' about husband Jake Edwards that weren't shown on television 'It really just did come down to where my values are and I just really didn't enjoy or appreciate some of the things that were happening, resulting in confrontation with me,' she added. Radio host Kyle Sandilands then asked Beck to be more specific about why she was having problems with Jake, but she was reluctant to answer. 'Are you saying there may be legal reasons why we aren't seeing this stuff?' he asked, to which she replied: 'Potentially... I feel that.' Red flags: 'Jake is great but there is one quality that is a non-negotiable in any relationship that keeps happening,' Beck told The Kyle and Jackie O Show. Pictured on their wedding day Why so shy? Radio host Kyle Sandilands (pictured) then asked Beck to be more specific about why she was having problems with Jake, but she was reluctant to answer Beck also revealed the real reason why her mother, Theresa, had been so hostile towards Jake during Monday's episode. She said Theresa had watched 'an unedited version' of the commitment ceremony - including things viewers didn't see - which riled her up. During a Zoom call with their families, Beck's mum slammed Jake's behaviour as 'destructive', but the reason for her disapproval wasn't entirely clear. 'That's a big red flag for me, I'm sorry. I'm hearing you're going out with the boys. Has that destructive behaviour continued?' she said angrily. Not happy: Beck also revealed the real reason why her mother, Theresa (pictured), had been so hostile towards Jake during Monday's episode. She said Theresa had watched 'an unedited version' of the commitment ceremony - including things viewers didn't see - which riled her up Beck told The Kyle and Jackie O Show: 'All is not what it seems. When my mum is talking about red flags, she isn't talking about being objectified.' This reference to being 'objectified' was alluding to how Jake had supposedly looked at his wife in a lewd manner on their wedding day. 'That's just how the conversation started and then we moved on to a commitment ceremony and she got to see an unedited version,' Beck added. 'And she was not impressed at all, and I'm not either.' Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine Millions of workers have fled New York due to the pandemic and the remote work opportunities its created. Theres a chance these workers may not return, even when offices open back up. Lawmakers must answer a difficult question: In an increasingly mobile economy, what policies are going to drive more people away from New York, and what policies could make them stay? There is good news. Throughout the pandemic, the states revenues have remained largely stable. But this may not remain the story. Businesses are looking to a post-COVID-19 world, one where workers will demand greater flexibility in where they work. As policymakers balance budget needs with the need to keep people working in the state, they cannot let fears of migration-induced revenue declines become a self-fulfilling prophesy by dramatically increasing tax burdens on those who stayed or would otherwise return. An overreaction now could have adverse effects for years to come. When considering potential revenue options, there are three specific tax proposals that would hurt New Yorks recovery, and three that would aid its recovery. The most talked about idea is the mark-to-market taxation of capital gains income, often branded as a wealth tax, which could force business startups to be liquidated to pay heavy taxes on rising business value that exists only on paper. The tax likely violates the state constitution, and its administration involves complexities that champions of the proposal have yet to address. Another proposal is a tax hike aimed at top earners, dubbed a millionaires tax. Currently, filers with more than $1 million in taxable income make up just .6 percent of New York taxpayers but are responsible for 15.2 percent of all small-business income and 74.3 percent of all capital gains income in the state. They pay 41.8 percent of all state taxes. Raising their rates again sends a stay where you are message to high earners who temporarily relocated out of state. There is also a proposal to reestablish a stock transfer tax. Financial services make up 29.1 percent of New York states economy. Nonpartisan analyses estimate that a tax at half this rate could slash up to 60,000 jobs in New York City aloneand that was 17 years ago. Its becoming increasingly easier for markets to shift in this country. Why give markets an excuse to leave, especially now? The good news is for every anti-growth tax policy proposal, there are alternatives that would benefit New York. One option is to broaden and modernize New Yorks outdated sales tax. If done right, this would make New Yorks tax code more progressive, stabilize collections, and generate additional revenue, particularly from higher-net-worth New Yorkers who are more likely to consume currently untaxed personal services. The state could also legalize and tax gaming and marijuana. The benefits of this are twofold. Not only would it cut into current black markets, but it also could prove a viable long-term revenue stream for the statenot just from excise taxes, but also from general taxation of newly legalized markets. And lastly, lawmakers should revisit some costly tax incentives that are not generating much economic growth. For example, the film tax incentive creates almost no jobs but costs New Yorkers over $400 million each year. Modifications to these tax incentives could free up more revenue for the state. There will always be something special about New York. Mobility, though, is the watchword of a post-pandemic economy. For the Empire State to remain a major player in the global economy, policymakers must prioritize sustainable, economically efficient revenue decisions and must not let their fear of the future dictate drastic tax increases. Jared Walczak is vice president of state projects with The Tax Foundation. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 InScribe's digital communities cut across the traditional support silos in higher education, giving students a single place to turn when they need helpno matter the topic or time of day. "Our students jumped right in and we can see that InScribe is already having a positive impact on student engagement, connection, and emotional well-being," said Dr. Andrew Feldstein, Assistant Provost for Teaching Innovation and Learning Technologies, Fort Hays State University. InScribe, which delivers game-changing digital community solutions, today announced it has launched a new community-powered support system for students at Fort Hays State University (FHSU). This innovative, digital community is designed to enhance student communication and engagement, help students build relationships, and boost student success. "We pride ourselves on being a close-knit community, and we are committed to doing everything we can to help our students stay engaged and motivated," said Dr. Andrew Feldstein, Assistant Provost for Teaching Innovation and Learning Technologies, Fort Hays State University. 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It provides an easy way for students to meet classmates, share ideas, and get help and advice - even when learning at a distance. Students are able to form connections and build new relationships that otherwise might never exist. "The relationships students build in college can have significant, long-lasting, positive impacts on their confidence, motivation, and happiness," said Katy Kappler, CEO of InScribe. We are thrilled to help FHSUs students build new, authentic relationships with their classmates despite the distance between them. About InScribe InScribe is a digital student support platform that leverages the power of community and artificial intelligence to connect students with the answers, resources, and individuals they need to succeed. InScribe's digital communities cut across the traditional support silos in higher education, giving students a single place to turn when they need helpno matter the topic or time of day. Students benefit from on-demand, peer-to-peer, and student-to-expert collaboration that helps them feel more connected, increasing student engagement, satisfaction, and retention. Learn more about InScribe at https://www.inscribeapp.com/. About Fort Hays State University Fort Hays State University serves Kansas and the world through an innovative community of teacher-scholars and professionals providing accessible higher education to all who seek it. Our more than 15,000 students are found in every county in Kansas and around the world. FHSU excels at developing engaged global citizen-leaders through innovative online and on-campus programs designed to push the boundaries of what is known and drive solutions that serve the public good. Learn more about Fort Hays State University at https://www.fhsu.edu/. Lighthouse Senior Living at Hopkins Creek It is a direct reflection of our high-touch customer service and caring staff here at Lighthouse that makes us the premier option for assisted living. Lighthouse Senior Living at Hopkins Creek, an assisted living community in Baltimore, Maryland has been awarded the 2021 Reader Approved honor. The Avenue News polled readers throughout the Baltimore area to identify top quality businesses in multiple categories and Lighthouse Senior Living at Hopkins Creek was voted the best Assisted Living community through countless nominations and thousands of votes. Lighthouse Senior Living at Hopkins Creek is located in the Middle River area of Baltimore County. Lighthouse offers a variety of services from independent living to adaptive personal assistance including memory care and respite stays. Their flexible approach allows Lighthouse to continually meet the changing needs of their residents. Lighthouse provides an environment for seniors that is secure, but also fun and exciting. Driven by a vision of excellence and caring, the staff is committed to helping seniors preserve their happiness and dignity in a stimulating and familiar environment. We are extremely proud to have been voted the best Assisted Living community in the area, said Lighthouse at Hopkins Creek Executive Director, Darlene Marshall. It is a direct reflection of our high-touch customer service and caring staff here at Lighthouse that makes us the premier option for assisted living. The Lighthouse staff members are dedicated to upholding the quality of life that seniors and their family members desire and expect. They encourage appropriate self-reliance within a supportive community. Lighthouse residents can often be found joyfully interacting with friends, family and neighbors or participating in one of the many engaging activities and events. If you or a family member would like more information about assisted living or memory care options at Lighthouse Senior Living at Hopkins Creek, you can visit their website at LighthouseSeniorLiving.com or you can call 410.918.0400. Huntington, WV (25701) Today Cloudy with rain this morning...then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Storing these high-quality logs in water prevents access to oxygen for bacteria and fungi, which can impact the quality of the timber," says operations manager. Logs under sprinklers at the Macgill plantation on Kangaroo Island. ( ) has activated sprinklers at the dam on its Macgill property where the company plans to store more than 100,000 tonnes of fire-damaged pine logs. The logs have been harvested from the Gosse West plantation which was damaged in the severe bushfires on Kangaroo Island in the summer of 2019 and 2020. Storage in water will help preserve the logs while KPT awaits approval and construction of the Smith Bay export facility. Bundles of logs already in the dam are about 80% submerged, like icebergs, and the sprinklers will keep the top logs moist and assist in submerging the bundles completely. Preserves logs KPT operations manager Rob Heathcote said the system had been developed using intelligence from previous water storage in South Australia's South-East after the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires and with the assistance of Harvestco, the companys harvesting contractor. Storing these high-quality logs in water prevents access to oxygen for bacteria and fungi, which can impact the quality of the timber. Burnt pine will deteriorate over time so its important to act quickly, he added. KPT managing director Keith Lamb inspects A-Grade logs at Gosse West. The company consulted with regulatory bodies regarding the water storage and will monitor water quality and implement measures to prevent logs and debris from escaping into other watercourses. Further storage plans KPT plans further storage facilities on other properties it owns in the west of the island as it acts to preserve premium logs, which make about half of the 500,000 tonnes of pine it plans to harvest by the middle of 2022. Remaining fire-damaged stock, which makes up about half of the companys pine estate, will be left on-site in the plantations for later collection for other uses as feedstock for future biomass operations. Meanwhile, KPT continues to find ways to export logs from the island in relatively small loads as an interim measure because it will not have enough water storage capacity for its pine. The pine makes up about 20 per cent of the KPT estate and planning for harvesting and exporting its blue gums continues. First barge-load A first barge-load of pine logs from Kingscote wharf is scheduled for Thursday. The 300 tonnes of logs will be shipped to Port Adelaide, containerised and shipped to a South Korean customer. New Delhi, March 24 : Terming the current Maharashtra government as the most confused government in the history of the state, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Tuesday that Uddhav Thackeray has lost the moral right to govern the state. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, Prasad said, "Who is running the show of Maharashtra? Is it the most confused government in the history of Maharashtra where politicians are in power but do not have the authority? What's happening in the state is not 'vikas' (development), it is 'vasuli' (extortion). The three-party alliance government in Maharashtra is 'of extortion, by extortion and for extortion'." Prasad asked NCP Chief Sharad Pawar to explain the reasons for his defending Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. "I want to know from Sharad Pawar that what is the reason for defending Anil Deshmukh for all the wrong reasons. First, it was said that the state Home Minister is under quarantine but he was addressing a press conference. Whom is he trying to fool," he said. Prasad further stated that a serious dent has been caused to his (Pawar) political credibility by the blatant falsehood in which he was made to speak about the illness and non-availability of Deshmukh. "Pawar's credibility can be restored only if he ensures resignation of Deshmukh," he said. He pointed that every time questions raised regarding the functioning of the Maharashtra government it is always said that it is done to defame the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Referring to former Mumbai Police Chief Param Bir Singh's letter, Prasad said that for the first time in the history of this country that a police commissioner levelled such an allegation against a Home Minister. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Police officers stand outside the parking lot of the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, March 22, 2021 after reports of an active shooter. AFP A shooting at a Colorado supermarket killed 10 people Monday, including a police officer who was the first to respond to the scene, authorities said. Police arrested a suspect, but didn't reveal his name or any details about the shooting at an evening news conference where Boulder police Chief Maris Herold fought back tears. Investigators had just begun sorting through evidence and witness interviews and didn't have details on a motive for the shooting at the King Soopers store in Boulder, which is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado, said Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty. ''This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder County,'' Dougherty said. ''These were people going about their day, doing their shopping. I promise the victims and the people of the state of Colorado that we will secure justice.'' The attack was the seventh mass killing this year in the U.S., following the March 16 shooting that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. It follows a lull in mass killings during the pandemic in 2020, which had the smallest number of such attacks in more than a decade, according to the database, which tracks mass killings defined as four or more dead, not including the shooter. The slain officer was identified as Eric Talley, 51, who had been with Boulder police since 2010, Herold said. He went to the store after a call about shots fired and someone carrying a rifle, she said. ''He was by all accounts one of the outstanding officers of the Boulder Police Department, and his life was cut too short,'' Dougherty said of Talley. Identities of the other nine victims were not disclosed Monday night as police were still notifying their family members. Matthew Kirsch, the acting U.S. attorney for Colorado, pledged that ''the full weight of federal law enforcement'' will support the investigation. He said investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the crime scene, along with FBI agents. Officers had escorted a shirtless man with blood running down his leg out of the store in handcuffs but authorities would not say if he was the suspect. They did say the suspect was receiving medical care and was the only person injured who did not die. Officials have not said whether the suspect is the person who was taken from the shooting scene to Foothills Hospital in Boulder. The hospital will not release any further information on the patient, said Rich Sheehan, spokesman for Boulder Community Health, which operates the hospital. Boulder residents Jessica Adams and her daughter Ruby Lopez bring flowers to the site of a shooting in Boulder, Colorado, March 22. Reuters Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A female doctor has been beaten and thrown to her death from her apartment in Egypt in a so-called honour killing after she invited a male colleague back to the flat. The 34-year-old, who has not been publicly identified, plunged to her death from her apartment balcony in Cairo two weeks ago, local media reported. Three men - her landlord, doorman and neighbour - have now been arrested amid an investigation into her death. The trio are accused of breaking into the apartment and beating her because she had spent time alone with a male colleague. A 34-year-old female doctor was allegedly beaten and pushed to her death from an apartment in Cairo in an 'honour killing' because she spent time alone with a male colleague (file image) Strict social codes in Egypt mean it is considered deeply shameful for a woman to be alone with an unrelated man, though the law does not expressly forbid it. The men have not yet been charged, according to The New Arab, as police continue to investigate the case. Reports of the attack vary, with some saying the woman was pushed to her death while others say she fell while being attacked. The landlord has reportedly denied all wrongdoing, saying the woman killed herself during a 'psychological crisis'. Women's rights activists have called for the men to be punished, and condemned ongoing discrimination against women in Egypt. The killing comes just weeks after Egyptian politicians put forward a series of new laws that would curtail the rights of women, sparking outrage. The proposed laws - amendments to the country's Personal Status Law - would mean women are unable to sign marriage contracts, and that a male relative must approve of their match before it can become legal. The woman's landlord, doorman and neighbour have been arrested over the death but deny being responsible, saying the woman killed herself due to a 'psychological crisis' (file image) Men would also be able to annul a marriage without consulting their wives, would be given priority over women in terms of child custody. Men would have the sole right to register a child's birth, obtain identity documents for them, and choose their education. The law would also give men the power to stop women from travelling without their permission, even if for work. Activists condemned the bill, which they said takes the country back '200 years.' UN figures compiled in 2013 found that 99 per cent of women in Egypt had suffered some form of sexual harassment, while nearly half experienced domestic violence. Egyptian laws do not explicitly criminalize domestic violence or martial rape, meaning that women who report such crimes are often ignored, the report added. Support services for victims are almost non-existent, UN investigators said, while 'discriminatory' divorce laws make it almost impossible for women to escape abusive relationships. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. High 81F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 67F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. UTICA, N.Y. -- Travel agencies are reporting a record number of people are looking to book their next vacation. This comes as travel destinations are loosening restrictions as the number of people vaccinated increases and the number of COVID cases decreases. The AAA branch in the Mohawk Valley said so far this year, their offices have brought in over $2.5 million dollars in sales this year so far. Regional Director of Public Affairs, Patti Artessa, said people are just looking to get away. So many people were being locked down for a year, they just want to getaway. You know I think that urge is there," said Artessa. AAA reports that so far the most popular destination being booked is Orlando. It covers 30% of their sales so far. Aruba comes in second with 10% of sales and then Cancun with 6% of sales. The Mccarthy family in Rome just booked their 9th trip to Disney. The family went last November and witnessed the strict covid restrictions first hand. "I talked to the kids and said things are going to be restricted there will be things that we cannot do. And I asked them do you feel comfortable and I decided us being the Disney family no mask or social distancing was going to stop us," said Julie Mccarthy. The family booked their next trip in August. AAA recommends you book your trip as early as possible. Artessa said airlines are eager to get people on board so prices are low, but they won't stay there. Airlines are also allowing people to do last-minute changes and cancellations at no charge. Artessa recommends people pay the extra money for travelers insurance. If you're interested in booking a trip or learning more, you can head to AAA's website. The Bishops of Northern Ireland voice their opposition to the introduction of extreme and discriminatory abortion "services" in Northern Ireland. By Vatican News staff reporter In a statement issued on Monday, the Bishops of Northern Ireland express their deep concern that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland intends to bypass the NI Assembly to force the Minister for Health to commission some of the most extreme and liberal abortion services on these islands. They add that such a development should be a matter of grave concern for anyone who upholds the principle of devolution at the heart of the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement. Abortion laws in the region were decriminalized by MPs at Westminster in 2019 at a time when power sharing was collapsed. The Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis, is taking legislative action in order to end an impasse over commissioning abortion services in Northern Ireland. Right to life The Bishops reiterate the equal right to life of every mother and her unborn baby must always be upheld and protected. "What Westminster seeks to impose, against the clear will of a majority of people here," they underline, is a law which blatantly undermines the right to life of unborn children and promotes an abhorrent and indefensible prejudice against persons with disabilities, even before they are born. No time for silence In the statement, the Bishops call on Northern Ireland Assembly members and political parties to speak out against the extreme and profoundly discriminatory nature of these abortion regulations, which the Secretary of State seeks to impose over their heads. This is not a time for silence or strategic opting out, they stress. The Bishops also urge elected representatives to publicly defend the rights of all children in the womb to be treated equally and to have their right and that of their mothers to love, care and protection by our society respected and upheld. Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 68F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Donald Trump has accused U.S. press outlets of ignoring President Joe Biden's repeated stumbles on the stairs of Air Force One, and suggested Vice President Kamala Harris will soon take over the Oval Office. 'That tumble was terrible. It wasn't really one, it was three, and it wasn't mentioned for the most part in the lamestream media,' Trump told Newsmax in a phone interview on Monday. 'It's terrible, the whole thing is incredible. There's no longer freedom of the press,' he added. On Friday afternoon, the homepages of MSNBC, CBS News, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and New York Times had no mention of Biden's stumbling incident hours earlier in the day at Joint Base Andrews. 'That tumble was terrible. It wasn't really one, it was three, and it wasn't mentioned for the most part in the lamestream media,' Trump said of Biden's stumbles In Monday's interview, Trump again defended his West Point shuffling, which he has been vociferous about since the day of the incident last year Foreign press outlets were much more willing to cover Biden's repeated stumbles, with major outlets of all political stripes in the UK, Australia and even Spain devoting prominent homepage coverage to the incident. The White House quickly issued assurances that Biden was not injured in the incident, and has tried to downplay it with various explanations, but the lack of U.S. coverage quickly drew comparisons to an incident at West Point last year. In June, Trump was seen taking shuffling baby-steps down a West Point ramp after delivering a commencement speech, leading pundits from CNN and MSNBC to quickly raise concerns about his health. In Monday's interview, Trump again defended his West Point shuffling, which he has been vociferous about since the day of the incident. 'Actually when I went down the ramp at West Point, which was like a sheet of ice with no railing, no nothing -- great planning -- I wanted to go inch by inch because the last thing I wanted to do was take a tumble like Biden did,' he said. Newsmax host Greg Kelly asked Trump whether he was surprised by the different approaches many U.S. outlets took in covering his shuffle and Biden's tumble. Newsmax host Greg Kelly asked Trump whether he was surprised by the different approaches many U.S. outlets took in covering his shuffle and Biden's tumble 'Were you as shocked as I was, or maybe you weren't maybe you expected that to happen?' Kelly asked. 'I expected it, actually,' Trump replied. Trump also told Kelly that he believes that Biden may also be in mental decline and too confused to understand the executive orders he signs. 'There's something going on, it's crazy. What's happening is crazy and you wonder whether or not all of the things that he's signing, whether or not he understands what he's signing, because this is worse than Bernie Sanders at its worst point,' Trump said. 'We never thought this could happen. Bernie Sanders on steroids wouldn't be signing what this guy is signing,' Trump said. Kelly pressed Trump on whether he believes Democrats will try to use the 25th Amendment to remove Biden and install Harris as president, a claim Trump frequently made on the campaign trail. 'That's right. Now, well, a lot of people said when they brought it out because it takes a while to institute and when they brought it out, they said they really need it for Biden, just in case he gets in. So we'll see,' Trump said. Trump suggested that Biden is too confused to understand his own executive orders, and predicted that Vice President Kamala Harris would soon take over the Oval Office 'Look, I hope that's a very serious thing and I hope that never happens,' he added. On Monday, the White House blamed the 'tricky' stairs on Air Force One for Biden's stumbles, after initially blaming the wind. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden, 78, was '100 per cent fine' but she didn't say whether or not he was examined by a doctor after he fell multiple times trying to board the 747 presidential aircraft for his trip to Atlanta. A medical team always travels with the president where ever he goes. 'He's 100% fine, I don't know if you've been up those steps they're a little tricky sometimes,' Psaki said Monday at her daily press briefing. And she punted on whether or not a doctor examined the president. 'I'm not aware of that being required. There's, of course, a doctor who travels with the president, any president of the United States, but I'm not aware of it needing actual, extensive medical attention,' she said. She didn't clarify when reporters at the briefing pointed out she didn't say no. 'I'm not trying to be a, there's a doctor who travels with him. He was walking around, as you all saw, by the end of the day so I'm just trying to be completely transparent. He is absolutely fine,' she noted. Biden was boarding the aircraft at Joint Base Andrews just before noon on Friday for a flight to Atlanta when he stumbled. He gripped on to the railing, steadied himself and kept going but lost his footing a second time and then a third. On the third trip, he fell to his knees. He got back up then carried on up the stairs before giving a salute at the top then disappearing into the aircraft. He walked around Atlanta after his slip, including boarding and exiting Marine One without incident. During his several hours on the ground he walked around Emory College campus for meetings with local officials and Asian American groups. He also gave remarks on the rising tide of hate crimes against Asian Americans. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / BeMetals Corp. (TSXV:BMET)(OTCQB:BMTLF)(Frankfurt:1OI.F) (the "Company" or "BeMetals") is pleased to announce it has entered into a Joint Exploration and Option Agreement with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation ("JOGMEC") that provides an initial investment of US$1.5 million for money-in-the-ground exploration at the Pangeni Copper Project ("Pangeni" or the "Project" or the "Property") in Zambia with additional ongoing pro-rata contributions. The Pangeni Project is located on the prospective western extension of the Central African Copperbelt in Zambia (the "Zambian Copperbelt") where copper mineralization discovered on the Property is covered by a thin veneer of Kalahari sand (See Figure 1). This investment from JOGMEC further strengthens our ability to advance the Project using our existing technical and local community relationships with both Copper Cross Zambia Limited and Pangeni Mineral Resources Limited, respectively the optionees of this Property. BeMetals is planning to report the analytical results of its 2020 aircore and core drilling exploration programs in the coming weeks when available for release. Highlights: JOGMEC to initially invest US$1 million into copper exploration at the Project by March 31, 2021, by way of a cash payment to BeMetals for exploration activities completed in the 2020 field program and a further US$0.5 million by December 31, 2021 with additional pro-rata funding required for future exploration programs to earn and maintain its interest in the Project Upon completion of the above investment, JOGMEC will have earned 27.8% interest of BeMetals' option of up to 72% interest in the Property, which interest is to be maintained through ongoing 27.8% pro-rata funding of the Project's future exploration expenditures. This 27.8% interest in BeMetals' option equals approximately a net 20% stake in the overall Project with BeMetals retaining rights to approximately 52% of the overall Project. In addition provided that JOGMEC maintains certain interest in the Project until December 31, 2024, it shall be entitled to both a right of first offer and a right of first refusal for up to 50% of any mine production from the Property ( See sections below for further agreement description and details ) The Company is now designing an accelerated and expanded 2021 exploration program including further aircore and diamond drilling at existing prospects where copper mineralization has been discovered during its previous drilling programs and to test other priority exploration targets BeMetals President and CEO, John Wilton stated, "We are very pleased to be bringing a group of the pedigree and international reputation of JOGMEC to complement our existing strong Pangeni exploration team in Zambia. This joint exploration investment from JOGMEC will enhance an already robust Project team with additional funding and technical expertise. Importantly it will support our, soon to commence, 2021 field work for our largest single season work plan to follow up on the encouraging results to date and the testing of other high priority copper targets. It will also allow the Company to sustain the early stage exploration investments in Pangeni through continued disciplined, efficient money-in-the-ground focused exploration, and shared funding with JOGMEC. Since inception the Pangeni Copper Project has continued to deliver very encouraging drill results that motivate the ongoing exploration of this Project. We believe Pangeni has the potential for discovery of large-scale copper mineralization concealed under a thin veneer of Kalahari sand. We have also noted throughout the exploration of this Property to date that certain prospects have returned anomalous cobalt grades associated with the predominant copper mineralization. This includes for example the Central Target (see news release dated September, 5, 2018). We look forward to adding JOGMEC to our continued longstanding strong relationships with the existing optionees and technical partners of the Pangeni Project to advance this high-quality copper exploration program." Figure 1: Location of Pangeni Copper Project, Zambia JOINT EXPLORATION AND OPTION AGREEMENT BeMetals has entered into a Joint Exploration and Option Agreement with JOGMEC for an investment into the Pangeni Copper Project. This investment will allow BeMetals to both accelerate and potentially expand exploration activities at the Property. EXPLORATION PROJECT INVESTMENT Under the terms of the Agreement JOGMEC will fund US$ 1,000,000 for exploration expenditures before 31st of March, 2021 by way of payment to BeMetals for exploration activities completed in the 2020 field program. JOGMEC will also fund a minimum additional US$ 500,000 in exploration expenditures, after which JOGMEC will be deemed to have earned an 27.8% interest in BeMetals' option to acquire up to a 72% interest in the Project. Upon earning its interest in the BeMetals option, for the remainder of the agreed exploration program for 2021, JOGMEC will fund exploration expenditures pro-rata in accordance with its 27.8% interest. In total JOGMEC will therefore solely fund US$ 1,500,000 of exploration expenditures, and thereafter fund exploration expenditures pro-rata in accordance with its proportionate interest in the BeMetals option for the Property. The above investments will provide JOGMEC with rights to 27.8% of BeMetals' option to earn up to a 72% interest in the Project, for approximately a net JOGMEC 20% stake in the Project. Assuming the full exercise of all applicable underlying parties and optionees, BeMetals will retain rights approximately to a net 52% of the Project. BeMetals retains overall management control through the Project's technical committee. OFF-TAKE OPTION RIGHTS Provided JOGMEC maintains its 27.8% interest in the BeMetals option by pro-rata funding its proportionate share of exploration expenditures until December, 31, 2024, it will have earned the First Off-take Option, whereby, through annual Right of First Offer ("ROFO") and Right of First Refusal ("ROFR") provisions, JOGMEC will have the right to purchase up to 30% of the off-take from any mining operation on the Property. JOGMEC would be entitled to exercise such ROFO/ROFR rights beginning on December 31, 2024 until the 10 year anniversary of the commencement of commercial production (with any purchases of off-take to begin on the commencement of commercial production). Furthermore, should JOGMEC maintain at least a net 10% interest in the Project at the time a production decision is made for the Project, it will be entitled to an additional Second Off-take Option, whereby, through an annual ROFR right, JOGMEC will have the right to purchase up to an additional 20% of the off-take from any mining operation on the Property (for an aggregate 50% purchase right). JOGMEC would be entitled to exercise such Second Off-take ROFR rights beginning on the date a production decision is made until the end of the life of mine on the Property (with any purchases of off-take pursuant to the Second Off-take Option to begin on the commencement of commercial production). If this Second Off-take Option is earned by JOGMEC, the term of the Offtake Option will also be extended, such that it will continue until the end of the life of mine. The remaining 70% or 50%, as applicable, of production from any mining operation remains unencumbered by JOGMEC's rights. THE PANGENI COPPER PROJECT The Pangeni Project is located on the western extension of the Zambian Copperbelt, within the Lufilian Arc, underlain by Katangan Supergroup metasediments situated unconformably on basement schists and gneisses, which are covered by a thin veneer of Kalahari sands. The open pit Sentinel Copper Mine is operated by First Quantum Minerals Ltd. some 130 kilometres to the northeast of the Pangeni Project (See Figure 1). A number of major international mining companies have identified this region of the Zambian Copperbelt to be prospective for the discovery of tier one copper mines and are also conducting extensive exploration work in this area. The Pangeni Project property is geologically prospective for the following deposit types; Basement-hosted Cu (analogues: the Lumwana Deposit, Nyungu Prospect), Sediment-hosted stratiform Cu-Co (analogues: Nchanga, Konkola, Nkana, and Mufulira Deposits), other Domes Region Deposits e.g. Sentinel, and Kansanshi and DRC Copperbelt Deposits e.g. Lonshi, Frontier, Kamoa-Kakula). About BeMetals Corp. BeMetals is a precious and base metals exploration and development company focused on becoming a leading metal producer through the acquisition of quality exploration, development and potentially production stage projects. The Company is establishing itself in the gold sector with the acquisition of certain exploration projects in Japan, subject to shareholder and TSXV approval. BeMetals is also progressing both its advanced high-grade, zinc-silver-gold-copper polymetallic underground exploration at the South Mountain Project in Idaho through a preliminary economic assessment, and its tier-one targeted, Pangeni Copper Exploration Project in Zambia. Leading BeMetals' growth strategy is a strong board and management team, founders and significant shareholders of the Company, who have an extensive proven record of delivering considerable value in the mining sector through the discovery, construction and operation of mines around the world. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release for BeMetals has been reviewed and approved by John Wilton, CGeol FGS, CEO and President of BeMetals, and a "Qualified Person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101. On Behalf of BeMetals Corp. "John Wilton" John Wilton President, CEO and Director For further information about BeMetals please visit our website at www.bemetalscorp.com and sign-up to our email list to receive timely updates, or contact: Derek Iwanaka Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development Telephone: 604-609-6141 Email: diwanaka@bemetalscorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management's best estimates, assumptions and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to the completion of the exploration investment in the Pangeni Project by JOGMEC and JOGMEC maintaining its pro-rata funding of future exploration programs, plans for an accelerated exploration program in 2021 at the Pangeni Project, the potential for future mining operations at the Pangeni Project, future exploration and development of the South Mountain Project, the Pangeni project and the Japan properties, and the acquisition of additional base and/or precious metal projects. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts", "anticipates", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: JOGMEC completing the exploration investment in the Pangeni Project by the deadlines or at all, JOGMEC funding its pro-rata portion of future exploration programs at the Pangeni Project, the actual results of exploration activities, the availability of financing and/or cash flow to fund the current and future plans and expenditures, the ability of the Company to satisfy the conditions of the option agreements for the South Mountain Project and/or the Pangeni Project, receipt of required shareholder approvals and TSX Venture Exchange approval for the Japan properties acquisition, and changes in the world commodity markets or equity markets. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any forward-looking statements or forward looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Please refer to the Company's most recent filings under its profile at www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks affecting the Company and its business. SOURCE: BeMetals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636828/BeMetals-to-Accelerate-Copper-Exploration-at-Pangeni-Project-in-Zambia-with-JOGMEC-Exploration-Investment A study evaluating the consumer experience of online shoppers has highlighted the challenges that continue to face online retailers including ensuring sufficient stock, transaction and delivery issues and unclear refund practices. Jenni-Ruth Coggin BMi Research to launch online mystery shopping tool BMi Research will launch an online customer experience solution that measures and provides insights to help companies improve their customers' online shopping experience... The study, conducted by research and insights company BMi Research in 2020, surveyed six online e-commerce stores with each store evaluated by 10 experienced online mystery shoppers. The study forms part of the companys launch of an online customer experience solution that measures and provides insights to help companies improve their customers online shopping experience. BMi Research will be one of the first to launch an online customer experience solution.South Africas e-commerce market has traditionally lagged global trends. The Covid-19 pandemic, however, accelerated the growth of online shopping in South Africa with more consumers willing to try online shopping. According to Nielsen, online shopping has jumped 9% to 44%. In order to capitalise on this trend, a growing number of retailers have introduced an e-commerce offering with varying degrees of success.BMi Researchs CX Online tool takes traditional mystery shopping solutions focused on in-store evaluations a logical step further given the accelerated penetration of e-commerce and online shopping. It measures the overall experience from the perspective of the online customer including the online shopping experience, the transaction process and the delivery experience, allowing retailers to adapt their offering in order to ensure an optimal customer experience.Same-day delivery is key to remaining competitive in the online shopping space, says Jenni-Ruth Coggin, general manager for consumer behaviour and business insights at BMi Research. To be successful online platforms need to meet the expectations of customers. Consumers that have a disappointing online experience tend not to give those retailers or brands a second chance, which is why it is so important to ensure a positive overall experience each and every time.The registration process new shoppers must complete could be a barrier as this is their first experience of the brand in an online shopping environment. When it comes to online shopping first experiences count, says Coggin. Registration should be as simple as possible both to lower the barrier to entry and in order to make the barrier lower than the next competitor.Encouragingly, most shoppers found the registration process easy to moderately easy to navigate, while 60% of shoppers found the websites easy to navigate.In terms of the visual appeal of websites, and how engaging and user friendly they were, shoppers reported that there was room for improvement in the pharmacy sector. Only 70% of shoppers in pharmacy and retail sites were shown the correct product after a search, indicating an area that needs to be addressed.While overall promotional offers were easy for shoppers to find, only 55% of promotional items were in stock. A third of shoppers on retail sites were informed that items were out of stock only as they were checking out. Ideally, this information should be given during the shopping process, says Coggin.All the online shopping sites reviewed do well at communicating payment options and order confirmations. However, the study found that all categories need to provide shoppers with more assurances that their transactions are safe and secure with email and sms communication that is sent immediately at payment.Coggin adds that once the order is placed and paid for, trust in the online shopping experience is either built or lost at the point of delivery. However, the study revealed that online delivery booking systems are weak with just over a third of respondents not receiving their delivery at the arranged date and time, while 20% did not receive the correct items they had ordered. There also appears to be confusion over the refund process for products missing from the order. Ultimately, only 50% of shoppers found the overall delivery experience to be excellent.Dean McElwee, the integrated commercial lead of e-commerce for Europe at The Kellogg Company, points out that speed is of the essence when it comes to online shopping. The customer wants to get the product as soon as possible so the whole online process needs to be speeded up, he says.McElwee, an e-commerce expert with more than 18 years of experience across both emerging and developed markets across multiple channels, was the guest speaker at the launch of CX Online.Succeeding in the online space is very different to succeeding in the offline space, he added. The reality is that online shopping utilises different spaces and has different constraints to an offline shopping environment. Not only does it have eyeball constraints given that search narrows the number of items seen, it also has resource constraints, and it has size relativity constraints.Online, he concluded, is significantly more complex than anticipated requiring businesses to get all three components right: convenience, price and speed of delivery. Critically important is to test your online offering in order to refine and improve the online shopping experience.For further information regarding CX Online please contact Jenni-Ruth Coggin on 076 170 6989 or visit https://www.bmi.co.za/cx-online/ Toxic fumes emanating from the 12 thermal power plants located in the 300km-radius of Delhi could be killing 218 people each year in the national capital, a new study has suggested. According to the study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that estimated 4,830 annual deaths nationally due to emissions from power plants. Out of this, 682 was across Delhi-NCR. BCCL Worrying numbers The report, titled 'Health and economic impacts of unabated coal power generation in Delhi-NCR' found that if the power plants would have followed the 2015 emission standard notification, they would have negated 3.2 million work absence days, over 4,700 preterm births, about 7,700 asthma emergency room visits, and approximately 3,000 COPD cases in 2018 across the country. The installation of emission control technologies would prevent 62% of these deaths across the country, which would translate to around 2,976 to 5,084 lives saved annually, Sunil Dahiya, an analyst at CREA and the primary author of the report said. BCCL Delays in installing sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NOx) control facilities are leading to over 13 deaths and Rs 19 crore cost burden daily in the country, which could be reduced by 63%, if all the power plants install pollution-control devices and operate at same plant load factor (measure of the output of power plant against its overall operating capacity) as they operated in 2018, stated the report. The report also highlights that the operation of the power plants in Delhi-NCR with control of pollution as per the emission standard notification would have negated 3000 lives lost, 3.2 million work absence days, > 4700 preterm births, > 7700 Asthma emergency room visits and ~ 3000 COPD cases in 2018. BCCL The assessment of the emissions showed that coal-fired power plants operational within 300-km of Delhi-NCR in 2018 led to a cost burden of nearly Rs 6,700 crore to the population in the country, and of these, Delhi faced the burden of Rs 292 crore. The study also revealed that during 2018, over 2,110kg mercury was emitted into the atmosphere by the 12 operational coal fired power plants in and around the national capital. The findings also highlighted that pollution from the 12 plants had economic impacts far beyond Delhi-NCR. The state-wise distribution of economic impacts of power plant operation in Delhi-NCR suggests that the highest cost burden was faced by Uttar Pradesh ( Rs 2,301 crore) followed by Rajasthan ( Rs 1,125 crore), Madhya Pradesh ( Rs 1,100 crore), Haryana ( Rs 395 crore), Gujarat ( Rs 362 crore), Delhi ( Rs 292 crore) and Punjab ( Rs 242 crore). Amber Fischer, an editor at Patch in Boulder, Colorado, joined CBSN to discuss the mass shooting that left 10 people dead at a supermarket and local views on guns and politics. Video Transcript VLADIMIR DUTHERS: The police investigation into the deadly mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado is underway, but law enforcement officials say it will take at least five days to complete. 10 people are dead, including one police officer. With us now, over the phone, is "Patch" editor Amber Fischer. She covers news in Denver's metro area and in Boulder, Colorado. Amber, what are you hearing is the latest on the shooting? What else do we know? AMBER FISCHER: Well, of course, everything is very preliminary. The police held two press conferences last night, and they were able to release very few details about the shooter, his motive. And at this point, they're gathering information from witnesses. They're interviewing everyone possible. They sent out their phone number to ask anyone who was, of course, in the store to phone in and give their account of what happened. They will, of course, be interviewing the suspect as well. And, you know, people want answers. But unfortunately, at this point, few of those answers have been given. ANNE-MARIE GREEN: So we just showed a little bit of video of a man handcuffed walking with police. Police have not confirmed that the individual in that video is, in fact, the suspect. But what we do know is that the suspect was arrested, and he was the only person injured that did not die. Any more information about him? AMBER FISCHER: No. I mean, the district attorney for Boulder County said that he does know-- he does believe that that man was indeed the shooter at this point, according to preliminary information. But other than the profile of this man, we know very few details about, you know, again, any motive or why he may-- you know, we do believe that he may have been carrying a rifle, and he opened fire perhaps outside in the parking lot and then made his way to the inside-- a motive and all of the important information about the investigation. We do not know at this point. Story continues VLADIMIR DUTHERS: So let me get your perspective as somebody who covers what is happening on the ground there in Colorado. As you know, we've been talking all morning long about the assault weapon ban that was meant to stop shootings in Boulder-- a local law that was meant to stop shootings in Boulder-- was blocked 10 days before yesterday's attack. So the question becomes-- the citizens of Colorado, given that there have been three significant mass shootings in that state over the course of the last 20 years or so, what are you hearing from people about how they feel about these assault weapons, these assault-style weapons? I mean, I can understand where, you know, politicians, local politicians, may vote in a particular way. But I'm just curious what regular people think. AMBER FISCHER: Absolutely. So Colorado, I mean, like many other places in the US, is a very polarized state. You have Boulder and Denver that are very-- you know, they're very much-- the general population is against, you know, weapons, assault weapons. And they're more liberal, Democrat-leaning populations. And then you have the rest of Colorado, which, for the most part-- and of course, I'm speaking in sweeping terms here-- but for the most part, a lot of the rural areas are more Republican. And very many people are pro-NRA and pro-gun rights. And so, you know, you have a very polarized state. And it is interesting that we have almost an exact split on this topic when it comes to a lot of forums and polls. And it's been very hard to push legislation because of this either way. ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Thanks for giving us a little bit of a snapshot. We should sort of make it clear that at this point, we don't know what sort of gun was used, or firearm was used, as you pointed out. AMBER FISCHER: Exactly, yeah. ANNE-MARIE GREEN: We know that it's a rifle. We don't know if it would have been any of the firearms that would have been on this list of banned firearms. But Amber Fischer, thank you very much. AMBER FISCHER: Thank you. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 (Photo : Egon Filter via NASA) SpaceX's Starlink satellite system is in the talks to launch in the Philippines - a country considered to have one of the worst internet connections across the globe. The talks come as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk continues to launch satellites in space as part of SpaceX's vision to deliver low-latency, nearly instantaneous internet to every inch of the world. SpaceX's Starlink Ambitious Plan Musk had always been vocal with his outrageous ambitions in all of his ventures, and SpaceX's Starlink plan is no exception. On Mar. 5, Business Insider revisited the tech CEO's plan to launch 42,000 satellites over the next few decades for the Starlink constellation. This is 15 times the number of operational satellites orbiting our planet as of this writing. To put this plan into action, SpaceX has been continuously launching satellites in batches of 60 using the company's trusty Falcon 9 rocket. Also Read: SpaceX Launches Falcon 9 Rocket's 9th Flight, Carrying 60 Starlink Satellites The latest launch happened on Mar. 14, which not only brought the number of active Starlink satellites up to 1,100, the Falcon 9 rocket also broke its own record for orbital-class rocket reuse. "Today's Starlink launch is particularly special as this is the first time that we are flying a Falcon 9 rocket for the ninth flight," Kate Tice, senior certification engineer at SpaceX, said according to The Independent's March 15 report. SpaceX's Starlink coverage is currently limited to the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Germany, but Musk assures that the coverage would extend to "most of Earth by end of year." What is in it for the Philippines? Given the country's notorious internet speed situation, it would be a huge step for the Philippines should the Starlink launch push through. As of February 2021, the Speedtest Global Index ranked the Southeast Asian country 83rd for mobile internet speeds and 92nd for fixed broadband. These figures are downright ironic for the country, as a December 2020 report from Statista reveals that the Philippines ranks high as the most social-media active in the world. To put it in numbers, Statista reports that about 76.2 million Filipinos spend at least four hours using social media apps such as Facebook and Instagram. The country's average download speeds currently sit between 26 Mbps and 38 Mbps and could shoot up to 50 Mbps to 150 Mbps should the Starlink launch proceed. These numbers could go even higher, as the SpaceX CEO promised to double Starlink's internet speed "later this year." Speed will double to ~300Mb/s & latency will drop to ~20ms later this year Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 22, 2021 The move could also prove the advantages of utilizing satellite-based internet versus its land-based counterpart. Part of the reason why the Philippines suffers from dragging internet access is its geography, with over 7,000 islands across the country, of which some remain extremely remote until today. SpaceX is working with Philippine internet service provider Converge Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Solutions to get the plan off the ground. Related Article: SpaceX Launches New Batch of 60 Starlink Satellites as Starlink Internet Begins Global Expansion This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Lee Mercado 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gina Kim-Folston shed her Korean name, Heejung, after she came to the United States at age 5 in the 1980s. This small act chips at my identity, she said. On Tuesday, Kim-Folston and other Asian American community leaders and activists called for the country to learn our names in the aftermath of three Atlanta-area shootings last week that killed eight people, six of whom were Asian women. A small act is to learn our names, said Kim-Folston, a board member of the Korean American Coalition Oregon chapter. Dont dehumanize us. Local leaders from the National Organization for Women, Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Philippine American Chamber of Commerce, and Pacific Islander and Asian Family Center as well as Beaverton City Councilor Nadia Hasan spoke at the gathering at Southeast Portlands Revolution Hall. Attendees carried signs that read #LearnOurNames to emphasize that part of who we are is our names, said Jenny Kim from the Korean American Coalition, and that it wasnt just faceless Asian women who were killed. 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. Many of these names are Chinese and Korean, and the Asian American Journalists Association has released a pronunciation guide for people to say their names in a respectful manner. The names of the victims were not read aloud at the event out of respect for a few of the families wishes, according to Kim, who has been in contact with the Korean families. Although the names have already been released to the media, Kim said several of the families are still grieving and making funeral arrangements. One of the organizers, Christine Chin Ryan, president of the Oregon chapter of the National Organization for Women, called for the community to take action by calling state and federal representatives and asking them to support anti-hate crime and gun background check legislation. Hate crimes targeting Asian people in major U.S. cities rose by nearly 150% in 2020, even though hate crimes overall decreased by 7%, according to a study by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino. Stop AAPI Hate, an organization that tracks and reports bias crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, 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. The speakers urged unity and allyship between the Asian American Pacific Islander community as well as the Black, Indigenous and other communities of color in Portland. More than 200 community members gathered for a vigil last Saturday to honor the victims of the shooting. This Friday, the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans is organizing a virtual National Day of Action and Healing to bring awareness to anti-Asian racism. -- Jaimie Ding jding@oregonian.com; 503-221-4395; @j_dingdingding Tuesday, 23 March 2021 17:11:39 (GMT+3) | Istanbul Uzbekistan has remained the largest buyer of steel products from Russias MMK in Central Asia, accounting for 415,600 mt of exports in 2020, slightly below the figure for the previous year. Overall, steel shipments to Uzbekistan last year made up 82 percent of MMKs total sales to Central Asia in the given year. In 2020, MMK increased its share of supplies to Uzbekistans automotive industry to 43 percent, shipping 37,000 mt of rolled metal, the companys official statement reads. In addition, MMK strengthened its cooperation with Tashkent Metallurgical Plant and Artel Group, shipping 15,500 mt and 24,000 mt to them, respectively, last year SteelOrbis has learned. (Newser) A Florida man who tried to BASE jump from a high-rise condo complex died over the weekend after his parachute apparently didn't open, and local authorities have now identified him. Per a release from the Panama City Beach Police Department cited by the Panama City News Herald, deputies found the body of 31-year-old resident Timothy Dale Ackerman at around 6:45pm Sunday in front of the Sunrise Beach Resort. It's not clear what floor Ackerman leaped fromthe release says it may have been the 23rd floor, but police previously told WKMG it was the 14th floor. In the incident report, a witness who was cruising by on a motorcycle says he spotted Ackerman plummeting "from about halfway" up the 23-story building. What is clear is that the parachute attached to Ackerman, said to have been an experienced jumper, doesn't seem to have deployed. story continues below WMBB reports that witnesses remain shaken. "He had landed kind of in the ditch," Brianna Stevens, who was at a nearby restaurant when the dad of two jumped, tells the outlet. "I don't want to describe him, it was not a very pleasant scene." The outlet reports that police in Panama City Beach are "no stranger" to BASE jumping incidents, which Stevens backs up. "Every year somebody attempts this, whether it be a local or a spring breaker, usually spring breakers, and every year somebody is lost because of it," she notes. Meanwhile, authorities are now issuing a warning to others who might have the same idea. "The Panama City Beach Police Department would like to remind everyone it is against the law to trespass and there is no legal place in Florida that allows BASE jumping," the agency notes in its release. (Read more BASE jumping stories.) The Jawaharlal Nehru University administration on Tuesday condemned a small section of faculty members for spreading "downright falsehood and malicious propaganda" about the 157th Academic Council Meeting held on March 22. The Teachers' Association (JNUTA) on Monday had alleged that vice chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar "allowed only some select members to speak", while "denying certain members of the academic council, including former deans and chairpersons, their right to table their opinion even once, despite consistent raising of hands during the course of the two-and-a-half hour long meeting". In a statement released by registrar Anirban Chakraborti, the administration said that the academic council meeting was held in a "very cordial and positive atmosphere with an attendance exceeding 100 members". "These faculty members seem to be only interested in damaging the reputation and public image of by spreading trumpet up stories about the conduct of the academic council meeting and decisions taken in it. "During the two-and-a half hours of the meeting, a large number of council members from assistant professors to senior professors and deans of schools, participated in the council deliberations in a very democratic and enthusiastic manner, and arrived at the decisions," it said. Among the decisions taken during the meeting, the academic council resolved to conduct the JNU entrance examination 2020-2021 in collaboration with the Testing Agency (NTA). It said that the varsity will admit students through the Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET) whenever the NTA decides to conduct it for all the central universities. The academic council also decided to start a new MA programme in Hindi translation in the Centre of Indian Languages, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies. The council also approved granting of recognition to Arun Jaitley Institute of Financial and Management (AJNIFM), Faridabad, Haryana, to award PG Diploma in Management (Finance) and PG Diploma Management (Financial Management). The administration also criticised the JNUTA for referring to Kumar as the "caretaker vice chancellor" and said that according to the JNU Act and its statutes, there is no nomenclature as "caretaker VC", "officiating VC", and "interim administrator". "The statute 3(4) of JNU very clear states that 'provided that the vice-chancellor shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold his office until his successor is appointed and enters upon his office'. The order issued by the Ministry of Education based on the statute 34 of the JNU Act 1966 does not mention any nomenclature other than the incumbent vice-chancellor," the administration said. Kumar was allowed to continue in the office, beyond the expiry of his term on January 26, till a successor is appointed, according to education ministry officials. (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.) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 This particular drone has got to be one of the coolest things I've ever seen, possibly even the coolest thing youve seen. Its called the DJI FPV Combo , and as you can see, its a drone. Still, to consider this setup just a drone, is far from the truth. If you havent scrolled through the photos yet, please do so. Oh, and check out the video below; it will really do this whole trinket the most justice.The team behind this idea is none other than DJI. Originating in Shenzhen, China, DJI is responsible for creating some of the most successful aerial drones around, not only for play but also for professional use. The company produces everything from stabilizers to batteries, cameras, drones, like the one we see here, and so much more. Some of their products are even used in fire assessment and rescue operations DJI has been redefining what drones can do since our company began in 2006, and as we celebrate our 15-year anniversary this year, we honor that heritage of innovation by redefining what drone flight can be with DJI FPV. Right out of the box, DJI FPV combines the best available technology for a hybrid drone like no other," explains Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director of DJI Europe."It can fly like a racer, hover like a traditional drone, accelerate like a homebuilt project and stop faster than any of them. DJI FPV lets the world experience the absolute thrill of immersive drone flight without being intimidated by the technology or spending hours building a system from scratch. We cant wait for the world to try it.To put it simply, when you gift yourself a Combo, you get a completely immersive experience. But in what? Everyone knows what a drone can do and how it moves. Now, take that drone and strap on a 4K/60fps Super-Wide 150-degree FOV camera. You can imagine what the results may be. Guess what, thats only half of the story This sort of setup has been used to make videos the likes of Red Bull scenes, commercials, and a whole array of filmmaking. These functions are still available here, but with one major factor in all of it, you. What sets the Combo apart from other photo/video drones is the experience offered to the flyer, or even viewer. A pair of goggles, the DJI FPV V2, will relay the image from the camera directly to your frontal lobe. Imagine that.Aside from a drone, a camera, and goggles, youll also receive a dedicated remote controller. If you happen to get bored of the X-Box-like controller, upgrade it to a Nintendo-Wii-like intuitive motion controller. This handheld device allows you to control the drone with a simple flick of the wrist. Move your wrist left to turn left, right for right, up for up, and a forward tilt to fly.For imaging, a wide range of systems allow for ultra-smooth and stable 4K resolution video at 60 fps. RockSteady electronic image stabilization helps eliminate any inexperience the pilot may have. High-quality mode lets you see the world in 1440x810p with a latency as low as less than or equal to 40 milliseconds. Low-latency mode reduces latency and offers a cinematic shot feel. Audience mode shares the pilots perspective with up to eight additional goggle sets.Three different flight modes also allow for a wide range of maneuverability and control. Normal mode is for less experienced flyers and engages several sensors and other visual positing systems used for obstacle detection and an overall safe flight. Manual mode unleashes full control of the drone. No safety features will be engaged, meaning you can corkscrew the next shot, backflip it, or whatever else your creative mind can come up with. One other mode, Sport mode, combines the two previous ones and offers a more controlled setting to explore your skills.Now, all of this will be done at speeds up to 87 mph (140 kph), and that's not even the best part. Ready for it? The Combo will only run you $1,299.Ill be honest. When I first ran across the Combo, the first thing I did after finding out what the hell I just witnessed was to search for one locally. Guess what? Nearly any photo video shop has one or can get you one, and most even have a payment plan available to get moving right away. I've always wanted to know what its like to fly, and since I'm afraid of heights, this is the next best thing. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 Sarah Hebert hoped her 5-year-old daughter, Posy, would enter kindergarten and develop a love of learning. But starting the school experience remotely has been turbulent. My 5-year-old has been saying that she hates school, Hebert said in an interview with MassLive. It breaks my heart to have my own child say that she hates school when she hasnt even really begun to experience it. Hebert is in grad school and loves being a student, she said, something she wants for Posy. But entering kindergarten during the COVID-19 pandemic and getting to know school from the walls of her home has proved difficult. Hebert also has a 2-year-old and had a baby just before the academic year began. Theres no way with a kindergartener that you can just have them set up in their bedroom or set up in a separate room. We tried everything. I set up a special area for her in the dining room, I decorated it, I made it look like a school area, and I had a 5-year-old crying, saying she felt like she wasnt part of the family and that we didnt love her anymore, Hebert said. The Heberts are among many Worcester families and parents and students across Massachusetts dealing with the challenges of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic while balancing the educational needs of children and safety concerns -- for teachers, children and the general public. The majority of Worcester Public Schools parents who took a questionnaire sent to readers by MassLive want children back in schools five days a week. Of 158 responses, 74.5% are already sending their child/children back for hybrid learning and 70.3% said they want their child/children learning in school buildings five days a week. With two younger siblings around, there are distractions through the day as Posy tries to learn, Hebert said. A 5-year-old has zero concept of the fact that her home now has to be set up with the social expectations of a classroom, a classroom shes never been in before, Hebert said. Heberts husband is working remotely from home and took the first two weeks of the school year off to help Posy transition into online kindergarten as a student of the Midland Street Elementary School. In the beginning, I have to say, there was no possible way a 5-year-old could do this by themselves, Hebert said. She cant read. She had never been on an iPad before. She had never done any of this. Hebert is among parents in Worcester who are advocating for a full-time return to in-person learning on the states schedule or sooner. Worcester students have been learning remotely this year. A small group of students started hybrid learning last week and thousands more will go back to classrooms before the end of the month. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has put out a timeline for the return to five days a week of in-person learning, requiring districts to have full-time learning for K-5 students by April 5 and for grades 6-8 students by April 28. Worcester is applying for a waiver to delay that process, aiming for a K-8 full-time return on May 3. Parents can opt to keep their children at home for remote learning through the end of the school year. While some parents have become fed up with online learning, others are still cautious about sending kids into school buildings amid the pandemic. Concerns include the new virus variants detected in Massachusetts, and the fact that not all teachers have been fully vaccinated. Even if its just for a few weeks, Hebert feels full-time schooling will have a significant positive impact on Posy. Shes a social extroverted child whos full of energy and she has missed out on all of the experiences that a kindergartener should be having, Hebert said. Schooling for special needs students has also been a challenge during the pandemic, parents say. Michael Donovan said his 6-year-old son Owen, a first-grader, has an IEP for one-on-one instruction, occupational therapy, speech therapy and physical therapy. Donovan doesnt feel his son has received those services during remote learning. I dont know that theres been any talk, or any plan, on how Worcesters going to make up those services for children, Donovan said. Parents see their kids, day to day, suffering. And they see their kids regressing. I see my son, he has lost skills he had last year. Literally. Its not a joke. Donovan said he wishes Worcester brought back students with high needs earlier this school year and utilized all district buildings to keep children at a distance. Ive watched him regress for a year. His behavior, his learning has regressed, he gets very frustrated, Donovan said. Owens ADHD makes online learning difficult, Donovan said. Donovans son started back in school on March 15 for hybrid learning. That day marked the start of in-person learning for students with high needs, who on the hybrid plan, will be in buildings four days a week. Donovan questioned why the district couldnt add the fifth day into the schedule. My son, first grade, every single day he would be excited to go to school and see his friends. He would wake up in the morning and literally run to brush his teeth and wash his face to get ready for school. Now when you say come on, buddy, weve got to sit down and log into the classroom, he could not possibly be less interested, Donovan said. About 12,600 students in K-12 are heading back into buildings on March 29 to start the hybrid model. Students will be grouped into cohorts and will learn in buildings two days a week and remote on other days. Worcester has roughly 24,000 students enrolled. A group of Worcester Public Schools students returned back to classrooms Monday (Tom Matthews/MassLive) Remote learning has been challenging for some families in Worcester, like in other communities. When schools first closed last spring, many students did not have access to the internet or a Chromebook. As the 2020-2021 academic year started in the fall, the district handed out thousands of devices and internet hot spots to families to address the gap. Learning online has caused some children to feel isolated, some parents report. Physicians in Massachusetts say they are concerned about student mental health impacted by remote learning and have been seeing more children with suicidal ideation. While some parents reported that children have lost skills during the remote year, other parents saw their childs grades improve. Some have been able to find silver linings in the pandemic. Several parents noted that their children learned how to use a computer and became tech-savvy. One parent said online school taught their child about responsibilities and deadlines. Varied experiences through the pandemic, coupled with issues like access to the internet, illustrate that not one single plan will be best for all families in a year that has caused massive disruption to the education system. While the majority of questionnaire respondents want children back in schools, parents do still have worries. One parent who was sending children back for hybrid learning questioned if it was safe to do five full days of in-person instruction. The parent wrote, If we still need to make appointments at city hall then why is it safe to send them all back? Some parents noted concerns about safety for family members and extended family members as hesitation to send students back into buildings. Rachel Waterhouse said the decision to send her son, Kane, a sixth-grader, back for hybrid learning was a difficult one because he has done so well with remote learning. He actually has had better grades since being home, Waterhouse said. Hes always been a good student but hes been getting like all As the entire time hes been home and I think its the normal distractions of being in the classroom being eliminated. Waterhouse said she made the decision to do hybrid because Kane really misses his friends and teachers. With the vaccine now being available, that changes things for us too, she said. I just wish I had the assurance that all the teachers were going to be vaccinated before the kids go back but Im hoping that will happen. Waterhouse said shes also worried that it may be tough for teachers to instruct students in-person and remotely while also keeping up with all the COVID-19 safety protocols. Thats not to say that teachers arent amazing, but thats just a lot to put on one person, she said. Im concerned about how the logistics of how pickup and drop off is going to work. The logistics of the whole thing I think are going to be really hard to navigate and to keep the kids safe. Though Waterhouse is OK with hybrid learning, she said shes not currently comfortable with the timeline laid out by the state for full-time in-person learning. I think it would be a lot to ask of the children and the teachers and school staff to go from an entire year of being remote and not being around other kids and not having this routine, then to do two days a week for like a week and then five days a week in person, she said. I dont think that would work for the kids and I dont see how the schools could make that pivot so quickly to do that and I think socially that would be a lot to ask of these kids that have been home with their parents for an entire year. Patricia Rivers said her son, a 10th grader, has no joy for school anymore during remote learning. Typically an A and B student, his grades are dropping in some courses, Rivers said, as he tries to keep up with the pace of AP courses through the internet. Rivers said she thinks hybrid learning should have started months ago and feels that high school students should have been prioritized. But when Worcester finally settled on a date for hybrid learning, there was a glimmer of hope. When they brought it up he had a smile on his face, she said. Related Content: The deadly combination of worsening working conditions and the uncontrolled acceleration of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil is provoking strikes and work stoppages at Petrobras refineries since the beginning of March. On Monday, the strike by nearly 900 oil workers at the Landulpho Alves Refinery (RLAM), in Bahia, entered its 18th day. It has been strengthened by the walkout of fellow Petrobras workers at the Gabriel Passos Refinery (Regap), in Minas Gerais. Both refineries have suffered severe COVID-19 outbreaks. At RLAM, two oil workers died this month after being infected with the coronavirus: operations technician Carlos Alberto, 55, and shift coordinator Wagner Plech, 52. In addition to these fatalities, more than 80 other workers have tested positive for COVID-19 at the facility, with eight of them being hospitalized and three admitted to an Intensive Care Unit. Striking workers at the Landulpho Alves refinery (RLAM) in Bahia, Brazil (Twitter) The coronavirus outbreak at RLAM began after management took action to prevent a strike in February, when workers were protesting against the sale of the refinery. Workers report that cases of contamination by the virus began to multiply about six days after the eve of their [scheduled] strike [on February 17], when RLAMs General Manager authorized the entry into the facility, without any kind of safety controls, of contract and outsourced workers, placing up to three teams of operators in CCLs [Local Control Houses], who slept on mattresses on the floor and in a closed environment, the union reported. At Regap, the decision to stop the work was taken after more than 200 workers, including contract and outsourced employees, tested positive for COVID-19 in March alone. Eleven of them had to be hospitalized due to severe cases of COVID-19. The cases at Regap skyrocketed during a maintenance stop, a periodic procedure for check-up and renovation of the structure that requires the presence of up to 2,000 extra workers. The procedure was started on February 28 and was supposed to last about 30 days. The coronavirus is also spreading uncontrollably through Petrobras terminals and offshore platforms. According to a Reuters report, oil workers at the Campos Basin in Rio de Janeiro have pressed charges at the Labor Prosecutors Office demanding that Petrobras provides clarification on the spread of the coronavirus on oil and gas platforms, following a spike in cases in March. Considered by the government as essential, oil workers are being pushed into highly infected workplaces to ensure a high production of fuels and oil derivatives and meet Petrobras demand for profits. While subjecting its employees to deadly conditions, the company has closed 2020 with a net profit of 7 billion reais (US$ 1.27 billion). From the beginning of the pandemic until mid-February, 60 oil workers had already died from COVID-19. According to the Oil Workers Federation (FUP) website, More than 11 percent of Petrobras workers have already been infected. This is twice the national average. Each week, more than 400 workers are infected and an average of 20 are hospitalized. According to the FUP, these numbers are an undercount, because Petrobras insists on not releasing data regarding outsourced workers. The spread of COVID-19 in Brazil, which has reached the staggering average of over 2,000 deaths a day, was the last drop of water for Petrobras workers, who were already on the point of exhaustion. In the midst of a privatization process over recent years, Petrobras has substantially reduced its workforce, forcing workers into exhausting shifts and exacerbating the risk of accidents. Today, in several units, the majority workers are outsourced. This set of conditions has led to a wider mobilization of workers. Besides the ongoing strike at the RLAM and Regap refineries, frequent work stoppages are taking place at the Manaus Refinery (Reman), in Amazonas, at the Abreu & Lima refinery and at the Suape water transportation terminal, in Pernambuco, as well as at facilities in Espirito Santo and Sao Paulo. Although presented by the unions as regional strikes, with specific demands, these mobilizations express a common demand for safe working conditions, more jobs and better salaries. They also represent a continuation of the long strike that the oil workers carried out in 2020. Just as with the strike last year, the recent walkouts have taken place in the midst of a rise in fuel prices. At the beginning of the month, protests against the rising fuel prices by truck drivers, app delivery workers and app drivers spread through various parts of the country. Some of these strikes included demonstrations outside the refineries, pointing to their powerful unity with the oil workers. The necessary unification of these workers, however, faces major resistance from the trade unions, which are fighting to keep oil workers divided from each other, insisting on the separate and particular character of the struggles at each refinery, and, above all, isolated from the working class as a whole. To respond to the murderous policy of the ruling class, which combines massive layoffs and pay cuts with deliberate exposure of workers to the deadly virus, oil workers must form rank-and-file committees independent of the unions and unite with their class brothers and sisters to fight for the shutdown of all non-essential economic activities, establishing workers control over the workplaces that continue to operate, and demanding full income for all working families. Yes, theres some history to it. The original car wax that put Turtle Wax on the map was developed in founder Ben Hirschs bathtub! The company at that time was called Plastone, which later evolved into the celebrated Turtle Wax brand it is today. From its humble Chicago roots to distribution in more than 120 countries, Turtle Wax products continue to outshine the competition, providing car enthusiasts with formulas to meet their ever-changing needs. This year, Turtle Wax, the award-winning car care company celebrates its 75 years of innovation and leadership in the industry. While Turtle Wax entered India in 2020, it carved its name across the globe for producing some of the worlds most technologically advanced car-care solutions across multiple categories. To kick-off its 75th year's celebration, Turtle Wax is celebrating its past while laying the groundwork for the future with the announcement of the Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic + Graphene Paste Wax. This new paste wax features the brand's patent-pending graphene technology, one of the top, recent ingredient trends in car care. The combined key benefits of this limited-edition wax include incredible gloss, slickness, water repellence, chemical resistance along with heat dissipation for increased UV protection, and helps keep water and contaminants from sticking to the vehicle resulting in a clean, protected, and easier-to-maintain finish. The Hybrid Solutions Ceramic + Graphene Paste Wax will be available on Amazon, Turtle Wax Car Care Studios, and leading Car Care outlets across India. Its been an incredible journey over the last 75 years, and Im so lucky to have had a front-row seat to it all, including our foray into the Indian market, said Mr. Denis John Healy, Executive Chairman, Turtle Wax. The fact that we continue to expand to new channels and territories - yet stay true to our values - and make sure our products continue to be easy to use, are grounded in technology, and always come at a great price, is a testament to the foundation built by my grandparents and parents. Im honoured to continue their legacy and excited for what we have in store for 2021 and beyond for India and the world. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close New Delhi, March 23 : The Union Cabinet on Tuesday allowed administration of coronavirus vaccination for people above 45 years of age from April 1, irrespective of the co-morbidities. Briefing the media on the Cabinet decisions, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said: "I urge all above the age of 45 to register and get themselves vaccinated from April 1. There are enough vaccines available and there should not be any concern on this." So far, 4.84 crore doses of corona vaccine have been administered in the country. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out for healthcare workers on January 16 and vaccination of frontline workers 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 specific co-morbid conditions. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text NC counties test satellite broadband Three rural North Carolina counties are participating in a pilot program aimed at improving internet access for families of school-age children via the SpaceX Starlink service. The Satellite Internet Technologies for Student Connectivity Pilot will allow students in Hyde, Swain and Warren counties to access the Starlink internet service, thanks to support from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology Broadband Infrastructure Office, the Friday Institute at NC State University and a number of other partners. By 2024, Starlink plans to provide high-speed internet service via a constellation of 4,400 low earth orbit satellites, capable of providing high-speed internet to residents in remote areas. In January 2020, the company was awarded $885 million from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to deliver broadband and standalone voice services in 35 states. In a Feb. 3 filing with the Federal Communications Commission, the company said it currently has over 1,000 satellites in orbit, surpassing the size necessary to provide uninterrupted coverage to much of the United States. Starlink satellites are over 60 times closer to Earth than traditional satellites, resulting in lower latency and the ability to support services typically not possible with traditional satellite internet, according to the companys website. The satellites communicate with a ground station network consisting of dozens of gateways connected to fiber across the country. Beta customers need a Starlink user terminal, power supply and Wi-Fi router that cost $499 upfront, plus a $99 monthly fee for service. For the North Carolina pilots, families will receive the Starlink equipment through a contract with the school system, according to a report in Mountain Times. Through the pilot, school districts will be able to test the feasibility of the service for K-12 students who live in areas with no broadband infrastructure or reliable cellular service. Starlink will be testing is to see what level of loss might there be, what kind of latency might there be, what download and upload speeds are they going to have, Swain County Schools Superintendent Mark Sale told the Mountain Times. Theyre going to require families to do speed tests on occasion, things like that. Its all part of the agreement. By using the Starlink service, these remote students will soon have equal access to the educational resources of their peers who live in more densely populated areas, Friday Institute Technology Infrastructure Lab Director Ray Zeisz said. We will be conducting performance measurements and monitoring service reliability to ensure future state funding for rural broadband expansion includes all technology options that meet the requirements, in the most cost-effective manner. The pilot is supported by $264,000 in CARES Act funding and will foster research, analysis and the development of recommendations on the use of satellite technologies that may help reduce the homework gap, improve rural health care and further rural economic development. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The issue, though, is what spending restorations the Legislature will demand in budget talks. Members have floated double-digit spending increases for many programs, so some higher taxes will likely end up in the final budget deal. Cuomo has opposed going anywhere near what Democrats who run the Legislature have in mind for people making over $1 million annually. He has said that is partly because of the impact it could have on the rich moving from New York to lower-tax states. Mike Murphy, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Westchester County Democrat, called it "amazing that they found $5 billion just a week after our one-house budget passed." "Our position remains the same: We need to ensure all New Yorkers are protected and we can pass a budget that doesn't rely on one-shots and austerity, but creates long-term equity," Murphy said. Michael Whyland, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Bronx Democrat, said that Cuomo's proposed cuts have been unacceptable to Assembly Democrats. He said that the state will still "require additional revenue" to fund programs addressing problems in New York that existed prior to the pandemic. He used nearly the same language as the Senate Democrats in saying that the final budget can't rely on "one-shots and austerity" to balance its books. 2 - 22 - 2022: A new premier international B2B jewellery marketplace HONG KONG, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Get ready for one of the jewellery world's most powerful marketplaces for product discovery, meaningful connections and inspired thinking - Jewellery, Gem & Technology Dubai (JGT Dubai). Envisioned as a high-impact jewellery sourcing experience, JGT Dubai will have its inaugural edition on 22 - 24 February 2022 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The sourcing event is a joint venture of two of the industry's leading events groups - Informa Markets Jewellery, organiser of the world's biggest fine jewellery marketplace - Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong - and the Italian Exhibition Group SpA (IEG), organiser of Vicenzaoro, Italy's most influential jewellery show and the top European trade fair in the sector. Their unbeatable combination of resources, expertise, global reach and local knowledge is further enhanced by the support of DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre), JGT Dubai's official partner, and Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group as an industry partner. "As the jewellery sector's leading trade show organiser, Informa Markets Jewellery is heeding the industry's call as a strategic partner. Our industry is undergoing a significant transformation, and it is up to us to create and embrace opportunities that will shape the long-term path for our industry," said David Bondi, Senior Vice President of Informa Markets in Asia. "JGT Dubai's launch is symbolic of how fast the industry has transformed in the new world, and how adaptable, nimble and open we are to exploring new ideas and possibilities," Bondi continued. "Our collaboration with IEG is unprecedented in the events industry, and it won't certainly be the last," he said. "During these unique times, our priority is to create opportunities that will deliver the best results for our community, and JGT Dubai is something that we can do better - together." Created as a global hub for creativity and innovation, JGT Dubai leverages Informa Markets Jewellery's capabilities, including an incomparable global portfolio of fairs and events, and one of the industry's most prestigious awards programmes - the Jewellery World Awards (JWA). IEG, the driving force behind Vicenzaoro, is deploying its resources, focus and deep local knowledge to ensure JGT Dubai's success. Corrado Peraboni, Chief Executive Officer of IEG, commented, "Our jewellery sourcing events in core markets around the world - be it in Europe, North America or the Middle East - highlight the true scale of our reach as an industry partner. In February 2022, expect us to bring our global experience and local expertise to bear in delivering one of the industry's premier meeting points." JGT Dubai offers suppliers the opportunity to unlock the full potential of a combined market of 4 billion consumers - all within seven hours of flying time from Dubai. The buying opportunity is focused on wholesalers, retailers and manufacturers from the Middle East, India, Russia, Southern Europe and North Africa. For buyers, the marketplace grants them exclusive access to global resources. JGT Dubai is further enriched by an exclusive networking programme, including the highly anticipated Dubai Diamond Conference, organised by DMCC, and Informa Markets Jewellery's JWA Dubai presentation ceremony. Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC, and Chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange added: "JGT Dubai will be an event like no other. Hospitality and the ability to bring people together is in Dubai's DNA, and we are fast becoming the capital of the precious metals and jewellery trade. Held before the major shows in Las Vegas and Hong Kong, JGT Dubai will set the scene and be a showcase of invention." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1471587/JGT_Dubai_Speakers.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1471588/JGT_Dubai.jpg A 43-year-old woman died Monday after she fell from the roof of a moving vehicle on a beach in southern Oregon, officials said. April Garrett of Coos Bay was on the roof of a Mercury Mountaineer being driven by 46-year-old Jerry Garrett on Whiskey Run Beach near Bandon, according to the Oregon State Police. April Garrett fell and suffered fatal injuries, state police said. Investigators did not say what the relationship was between April and Jerry Garrett, why she was riding on the roof of the vehicle or how she was injured. A spokesman for the Oregon State Police said the investigation is ongoing. -- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale A seven-year-old girl died of bullet wounds in Myanmar's second city Mandalay on Tuesday, people working for a funeral service told Reuters news agency. Witnesses said the girl had been shot inside her home when security forces opened fire in the Chan Mya Thazi township, a suburb of the central city. According to local news outlet Myanmar Now, the girl's sister said authorities were shooting at her father but instead hit the girl who was sitting on his lap. Two men were also killed in the township, the outlet said. The military had no immediate comment on the incident. Residents said at least one person had been killed in shooting elsewhere in Mandalay, while charity Save the Children said on Tuesday that at least 20 children have so far been killed as the country's military continues its crackdown on protests. Authorities have not hesitated to use lethal force to break up demonstrations staged against last month's military coup and detention of the country's de-facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021. A further 17 children are being held in arbitrary detention, the charity said, as it called a separate killing of a teenage boy 'horrifying'. A seven-year-old girl died of bullet wounds in Myanmar's second city Mandalay on Tuesday, people working for a funeral service told Reuters news agency. Pictured: A photograph reportedly of the girl's body Pictured: Family members cry over the dead body of a teenage boy Tun Tun Aung who was shot dead by security forces in front of his home on Monday, in Mandalay, March 23, 2021 According to multiple sources on social media, the boy's sister said he was at home in a 'squatters' area', which was 'not strong enough to stop bullets'. Footage of the boy's grieving mother is also circulating social media. The teenage boy was due to turn 15 in July. In addition to child detainees, other protesters, many of them young students, continue to be arrested, with at least 488 students currently being held in detention according to the latest estimates from Save the Children. At least twenty of those arrested are high-school students whose ages are unknown, though some of them could also be under 18, the charity added. 'We are horrified that children continue to be among the targets of these fatal attacks on peaceful protesters,' Save the Children said in a statement. 'The death of the boy is especially concerning given that he reportedly was killed while being at home, where he should have been safe from harm. 'The fact that so many children are being killed on an almost daily basis now shows a complete disregard for human life by security forces. 'The safety of children must be protected under all circumstances and we once again call on security forces to end these deadly attacks against protesters immediately.' The charity also said that security forces have reportedly occupied more than 60 schools and university campuses across the country. In at least one incident, security forces reportedly beat two teachers while entering premises, and left several others injured. Pictured: Protesters take cover during clashes with security forces in Monywa, Myanmar March 21, 2021. Authorities have not hesitated to use lethal force to break up demonstrations staged against last month's military coup and detention of the country's de-facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021 Myanmar's junta on Tuesday defended its seven-week crackdown that has left more than 260 democracy protesters dead, insisting it would not tolerate 'anarchy'. The junta has unleashed deadly violence as it struggles to quell nationwide protests against the February 1 ousting of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. In a news conference in the capital Naypyidaw, junta spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun put the death toll lower at 164. 'I am sad because these violent terrorist people who died are our nationals,' he said. The streets of towns and cities across the country have seen chaotic scenes for weeks as security forces clash with protesters demanding the restoration of democracy and the release of Suu Kyi. The authorities have used tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse protests, prompting a senior UN rights expert to warn they may be committing 'crimes against humanity'. But despite widespread international condemnation, Zaw Min Tun defended the response, saying that the security forces were dealing with 'insurgents holding weapons' and five police and four soldiers had been killed. 'We have to crack down on the anarchy. Which countries in the world accept anarchy?' he said. Anti-coup protesters prepare against a police crackdown at Taketa township in Yangon, Myanmar Saturday, March 20, 2021 Despite the bloodshed, protesters took to the streets again on Tuesday, staging dawn demonstrations in parts of the commercial capital Yangon. As well as breaking up protests, the military has sought to stem the flow of news about the crackdown, banning several local media outlets and arresting dozens of journalists. Mobile data networks are suspended and Zaw Min Tun said there were presently no plans to restore them. Suu Kyi, not seen in public since being detained on February 1, is facing several criminal charges as well as allegations of accepting illegal payments of gold and cash. Sean Turnell, an Australian adviser to the 75-year-old Nobel laureate, is being investigated under immigration and state secrets laws, the junta spokesman announced Tuesday. Turnell, an economist and university professor, was the first foreign national arrested following the coup. At a news conference in the capital Naypyitaw, the military presented a video of a former political colleague of ousted Aung San Suu Kyi claiming he had handed over large amounts of cash and gold to her personally, in what the military has characterised as corruption. Such allegations were previously denied by her lawyer. The mother of Khant Ngar Hein weeps during his funeral in Yangon, Myanmar Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Khant Ngar Hein, an 18-year old medical student, was fatally shot by security forces during an anti-crop protest on Sunday, March 14, in Tamwe, Yangon Many of the protests Tuesday were staged in a way that avoided confrontations with authorities, who have not hesitated to use lethal force to break up demonstrations. Some marches were held before dawn in Yangon, the country's biggest city, and elsewhere and went unmolested. Other protests adopted the tactic of having signboards or other inanimate objects lined up in the street to serve as proxies for human demonstrators. The independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has verified 261 protesters' deaths nationwide but says the actual total, including cases where verification has been difficult, is probably much higher. It said 2,682 people have also been arrested or charged since the coup, with 2,302 still detained or sought for arrest. In its news conference, the military presented displays of seized homemade weapons and videos of street battles to argue that the demonstrators are violent and that its efforts to stop them are justified. Images of Myanmar ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi are displayed during a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, 18 March 2021 However, in the weeks since the February 1 coup, protesters only began using organised violence after more than 100 demonstrators had been shot dead by police and soldiers. The allegations against Suu Kyi made by former Yangon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein were first mentioned by the military several weeks ago. Last week the military-controlled Myawaddy TV station aired a similar video with a construction magnate who also claimed to have made large payoffs to Suu Kyi. That video was replayed at Tuesday's news conference. No supporting evidence for the allegations has been offered, and they are generally dismissed as an effort by the military to frame Suu Kyi so she can be discredited and tried on a serious criminal charge. She is already being held on several more minor charges. A report in the state-controlled Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Tuesday said the junta has expressed fresh concern about civil servants, teachers and medical workers joining the Civil Disobedience Movement that is the vanguard group opposing last month's military takeover. The report referred to the opposition group as CDM, the initials by which it is popularly known. The group encourages employees of key enterprises, such as government offices, to stay away from work. Pictured: Residents prepare to free balloons with the 'R2P' message, or the 'Responsibility to Protect' principle that the international community is justified in taking action against a state that is deemed to have failed to protect its population from atrocities, in Myanmar, March 22 In what was a relatively conciliatory tone compared with earlier threats, the junta at its Monday meeting was reported to have described failing to show up at work as 'not a crime but a violation of the civil service disciplines.' It said that for first offences, civil servants would have to sign confessions, but further offences would be dealt with according to civil service rules. Previously, government employees have been detained for joining the CDM, and striking state railway workers have been kicked out of their government-supplied housing if they don't agree to go back to work. Myanmar labor unions on March 7 issued a joint call for an extended nationwide work stoppage, with the goal of a 'full, extended shutdown of the Myanmar economy.' In a statement, they called for the strike to continue 'until we receive our democracy back.' Tuesday's report of the junta's meeting also highlighted teachers' absences from work, saying some have joined the CDM, as have health workers. The junta repeated its claims that civil servants, teachers and doctors joined the CDM under threat. 'They should make a complaint to the respective authorities about the matter,' said the newspaper's account of the junta meeting. 'Some teachers and doctors are still absent from work as they are worried that they may face punishment if they return to the unit,' junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing was cited saying. Although the CDM does not advocate violence, the movement has painted those who don't give it support as collaborators with the junta with blood on their hands, who may be ostracised. Ellen DeGeneres opened up about her wife Portia de Rossi's emergency surgery scare at the start of Tuesday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The 63-year-old comedienne revealed in her humorous monologue that she found Portia on the floor in extreme pain after she went to bed early. People previously reported that the 48-year-old Arrested Development star had been rushed to the hospital to undergo emergency surgery, though she's now at home and 'doing well.' Setting the record straight: Ellen DeGeneres, 63, opened up about her rush to the hospital with her wife Portia de Rosi, 48, after the actress came down with appendicitis on the monologue for Tuesday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show 'It started on Friday in the evening around 7:30' Ellen said after explaining that she'd had a cannabis drink to relax in the evening. 'Im sitting there watching TV with Portia and Portia said, "Im not feeling well. I want to go to bed." And it was like 8:00 and thats early. Im not used to going to bed that early. We go to bed around 8:30,' she joked. The Finding Dori star admitted she has had trouble sleeping for much of her life, so she took an over-the-counter 'sleep vitamin' to help her get to bed. But as she was starting to fall asleep, she heard a noise and noticed that Portia wasn't next to her. 'I look over and Portia is not in bed next to me I get out of bed and I find Portia on the floor on all fours. And Im like, "Baby are you okay?" And she says, "Yeah, Im okay." And I said, "Well youre okay if youre playing Twister by yourself, but youre not okay."' Something's off: 'Im sitting there watching TV with Portia and Portia said, "Im not feeling well. I want to go to bed." And it was like 8:00 and thats early. Im not used to going to bed that early. We go to bed around 8:30,' she joked; seen in January 2020 Something's wrong: As she was falling asleep, she noticed Portia wasn't in bed and found her on the ground in excruciating pain Quick transport: Ellen drove Portia to the hospital, where doctors did a CT scan to confirm she had appendicitis Ellen got behind the wheel to rush Portia to the hospital, where doctors gave her a CT scan, though Ellen wasn't allowed to stay there due to Covid-19 protocols. 'They said we have to admit her to the hospital and they wont let me stay because of COVID and so thats upsetting to me. They sent me home and Im crying,' the host continued, adding, 'Because someone was chopping onions at the nurses station.' She joked that Portia was in so much pain that she begged a nurse for more pain killers. When she couldn't give her any extra without the doctor's approval, Ellen said the actress tried to offer her tickets to The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which are free. 'I am happy to report Portia is feeling much better now. Shes home. She came home late yesterday. Not all of her, she left her appendix at the hospital,' Ellen said. She concluded her monologue by joking that she would be auctioning off Portia's removed appendix on eBay. Having a laugh: Ellen joked that Portia bargained with a nurse for more pain meds by offering tickets to her talk show. She also joked that she would auction the appendix on eBay; seen together in 2011 People first reported Ellen's trip to the hospital with Portia earlier on Monday. 'Ellen rushed Portia to the hospital on Friday night, she was in a lot of pain,' a source told the publication. 'It was appendicitis and she had surgery.' The source added that Portia is 'now resting at home, doing well and Ellen is taking care of her. It was a scare at first, but all good.' Appendicitis is condition where the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus, which can be excruciatingly painful. Treatment generally involves removing the infected organ. If it's not treated quickly, the appendix can burst, spreading the infection throughout the body, which can be deadly. Ellen was pictured out on Sunday talking a stroll on the beach in Santa Barbara with a pal after a lunch outing. This is the second health scare to rock the couple, who married in 2008, in the past six months after Ellen battled coronavirus in December. On the mend: A source told People that Portia, 48, is 'now resting at home, doing well and Ellen is taking care of her. It was a scare at first, but all good; seen in 2019 in NYC Fresh air: Ellen was pictured out on Sunday taking a walk with a friend in Santa Barbara after a lunch outing At the time, Ellen, 63, revealed she was positive for COVID-19 on social media, writing: 'Hi Everyone, I want to let you all know that I tested positive for Covid-19. 'Fortunately, I'm feeling fine right now. Anyone who has been in close contact with me has been notified, and I am following all proper CDC guidelines.' 'Please stay healthy and safe,' she concluded. 'Love, Ellen.' Portia previously talked about how the pandemic has made the couple stronger. 'We've grown together as a couple, and we really consider each other and put our relationship first,' she told People in February. 'By doing that, you become a lot more solid. I can't imagine spending time with anyone but her.' Ellen added: 'We think the same things, say the same things at the same time, finish each other's sandwiches no, sentences. We're in a rhythm that's easy.' Got through it: This is the second health scare to rock the couple, who married in 2008, in the past six months after Ellen battled coronavirus in December 'We've grown together as a couple, and we really consider each other and put our relationship first,' Portia, who married Ellen in 2008, told People in February. The couple are seen here in January 2020 Meanwhile, Ellen has inked an exclusive multi-year deal with the Discovery Channel to produce natural history documentaries, according to Deadline. The talk show host, who faced accusations from both current and former employees that she fostered a toxic workplace last year, is slated to narrate and executive produce a documentary titled Endangered. Endangered, which will be released on Earth Day, April 22, on Discovery+, will follow a 'dedicated wildlife conservationists across the globe' as 'they compile the latest version of The Red List.' 'Ellen's dedication to the environment and her love for all animals, including the most endangered creatures who call our planet home, is unmatched,' Nancy Daniels, Chief Brand Officer, Discovery and Factual told the outlet. A "hook echo" and tornado as mapped at fine-scale resolution by a Doppler On Wheels (DOW) radar. Credit: Center for Severe Weather Research. A small team of researchers with the Center for Severe Weather Research, in Boulder, Colorado, has found evidence that suggests many tornados in the U.S. are bigger and stronger than their classification would suggest. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study of tornadic activity in the U.S. and what they found. The United States has more tornados than any other country in the worldit also has the most violent and destructive tornados. In 2020, over 1,200 tornados were reported, resulting in billions of dollars in damage. Tornados also kill 80 people in the U.S. each year on average, and injure nearly 2000. They also terrify millions. In the U.S., tornado strength is measured by officials with the National Weather Service. Since these personnel are generally not present when a tornado occurs, they must rely on an analysis of the damage that occurred. Tornados are rated using the Enhanced Fujita scalewith ratings running from EF0 to EF5. But as the researchers with this new effort point out, using this scale ignores the strength of tornados that do no tear down man-made constructs. A tornado touching down on the prairie, for example, may produce winds strong enough to tear down a house, but if it never comes in contact with one, officials with the NWS would classify it as an EF0. To learn more about problems with the current scaling system, the researchers built a mobile radar tracking system they call Doppler on Wheels. They used the vehicle to track tornados over the years 1995 to 2006. In all, they were able to collect data on 82 tornados. Comparing their data with storm strength estimates from the NWS, the researchers found multiple discrepancies. More specifically, they found multiple instances of tornados that were bigger and stronger than the classifications given to them by the NWS. They also found evidence that the percentage of EF5 tornados was greater than has been thought. Up until now, most weather scientists have believed that they make up just 1% of all tornados. Using Doppler on Wheels, the researchers found that the more likely percentage is 20%. Overall, they found that the ratings given by the NWS were 1.2 to 1.5 points too low. A Doppler On Wheels (DOW) radar scanning a tornado in Wyoming. Image courtesy of the Center for Severe Weather Research. Credit: Center for Severe Weather Research. Explore further Data shows fewer tornado days in U.S. but more per event over past couple decades More information: Joshua Wurman et al. Supercell tornadoes are much stronger and wider than damage-based ratings indicate, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Joshua Wurman et al. Supercell tornadoes are much stronger and wider than damage-based ratings indicate,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2021535118 2021 Science X Network www.NAELA.org NAELA member attorneys support legislation that acts in the best interest of older adults and persons with disabilities, as well as their caregivers," The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) celebrates the passage of the latest COVID-19 relief package, "The American Rescue Plan Act," that was signed by President Biden on Thursday, March 11. The package will aid in two of NAELA's public policy priorities for 2021, including ending the institutional bias in Medicaid and supporting older adults and people with disabilities during COVID-19. NAELA member attorneys support legislation that acts in the best interest of older adults and persons with disabilities, as well as their caregivers, said NAELA President Wendy Shparago Cappelletto, Esq., CAP. Provides additional funding for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). With such high death rates in nursing homes during COVID-19, additional funding for HCBS is needed now more than ever because HCBS allows older adults and people with disabilities to receive services at home. The American Rescue Plan Act provides $12.67 billion in extra funding for HCBS across states due to the Act including a 10 percent increase in the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for HCBS through March 2022. This additional funding could allow states to reduce their HCBS waiting lists or add new services and programs for older adults or people with disabilities that use HCBS. Ensures adult dependents qualify for the latest stimulus payments. Earlier rounds of stimulus payments did not include adult dependents as eligible for a stimulus payment. This third stimulus payment, included in the American Rescue Plan Act, ensures that families who list an older adult or a person with a disability as a dependent would receive an additional $1,400. This additional stimulus payment could support families serving as caregivers during the pandemic who may be struggling to cover essential needs or care of a loved one. About NAELA Members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of all ages with disabilities. Upon joining, NAELA member attorneys agree to adhere to the NAELA Aspirational Standards. Established in 1987, NAELA is a non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations, and others. The mission of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is to educate, inspire, serve, and provide community to attorneys with practices in elder and special needs law. NAELA currently has members across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit NAELA.org, or to locate a NAELA member attorney in your area, visit NAELA.org/findlawyer. # # # Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 01:42:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Cameroonian National Assembly House Speaker Cavaye Yeguie Djibril (C) and Minister of External Relations Lejeune Mbella Mbella (2nd L, Front), accompanied by Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon Wang Yingwu (Center R) visit the construction site of the country's new National Assembly building in Yaounde, Cameroon, on March 23, 2021. Two senior officials of Cameroon on Tuesday made an inspection visit to the site of the country's new National Assembly building, a China-aided project under construction. The project of construction includes a 400-seat hemicycle and a 14-floor building, according to officials. (Photo by Jean Pierre Kepseu/Xinhua) YAOUNDE, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Two senior officials of Cameroon on Tuesday made an inspection visit to the site of the country's new National Assembly building, a China-aided project under construction. During the visit, Cameroonian National Assembly House Speaker Cavaye Yeguie Djibril and Minister of External Relations Lejeune Mbella Mbella both expressed admiration for the quality and progress of the work and thanked China for contributing to the development of the Central African nation. For the Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon Wang Yingwu who accompanied the two Cameroonian officials in the visit, the project bears the witness of the friendly long-term relationship between both countries which will celebrate 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations on March 26. "For 50 years, our cooperation has been sincere, fraternal and fruitful. The construction of the new building of the National Assembly is a very significant project," Wang said. The project of construction includes a 400-seat hemicycle and a 14-floor building, according to officials. Enditem More and more people in Germany are permanently affected by povertya development that is being further accelerated and exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. This is shown by the recently published Data Report 2021, which was presented on March 10. People walk in a shopping mall in Cologne Germany, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 during a spike in new cases of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) The Social Report for the Federal Republic of Germany is produced every two years by the Social Science Research Centre Berlin (WZB), the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB), the SOEP (Socio-Economic Panel) and the Federal Statistical Office and published by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (BPB). It contains a great deal of information on the social and economic situation. In 2018, the year covered by the report, the poverty threshold was 1,040 per month net income for a one-person household and 1,352 for a one-parent household with a child under 14. Almost one in six inhabitants in Germany lived below the poverty line in 2018. Of the poor in 2018, 88 percent had already been affected by poverty at least once in the four preceding years, with half (44 percent) living consistently in poverty. This means that the proportion of people permanently living in poverty has more than doubled since 1998. At that time, they constituted 20 percent. The main impetus for the increase in poverty was provided by the Hartz IV labour and welfare reforms and other measures of the Social Democratic PartyGreen Party government of Gerhard Schroder and Joschka Fischer, which led to a massive increase in the low-wage sector in Germany. In the meantime, poverty has continued to rise. The latest poverty report by the Paritatischer Wohlfahrtsverband (Parity Welfare Association), from November last year, reports an increase in poverty from 15.5 percent in 2018 to 15.9 percent in 2019, or 13.2 million people. The risk of poverty is particularly high for single parents (41 percent), people with a Certificate of Secondary Education but no vocational qualification (35 percent) and people with an immigration background (29 percent). The great social divide is also reflected in perceptions and attitudes. For example, only just under half of the population consider their own gross income to be fair. Low incomes in particular are seen as unfair. The last chapter of the Data Report 2021 looks at the initial effects of the pandemic on the social situation in the period from the end of March to the beginning of July 2020. Seventeen percent of semi-skilled and unskilled workers and just under 14 percent of ordinary white-collar employees report financial difficulties. Among low-income earners, one in five was affected by financial problems. Among skilled workers, master craftsmen and qualified white-collar workers, the proportion was lower at 9 percent. Again, single parents were most affected by financial difficulties (25 percent), the self-employed (20 percent) and people with an immigration background (15 percent). One-fifth of all working people living in Germany receive a low income. Speaking about their hardship under the conditions of the pandemic, WZB expert Philip Wotschak said at the presentation of the report: They had run into payment difficulties, had to take out loans, had run into serious money problems, may have had to fall back on savings, apply for social benefits or drastically reduce their standard of living. The Economic and Social Science Institute (WSI) of the trade unionowned Hans Bockler Foundation had already investigated the loss of income of these people during the last months, in December last year. The WSWS reported on this. The 2021 Data Report also shows that few workers had the opportunity to protect themselves from coronavirus infection by working from home. In the first lockdown from March to April 2020, the proportion of those who were able to work entirely from home was 26.3 percent. These were mainly white-collar workers in offices and administration with relatively good training and pay. After the relaxations in May, the share dropped to 11.5 and in the summer to 6 percent. However, more than one in five continued to work from home temporarily. During the first lockdown, considered the harshest yet, 60 percent of employees had to continue working on-site without adequate protection from the life-threatening virus. Factories were only closed for short periods when there were supply problems due to interrupted supply chains. In such cases, workers were put on short-time work or given short-term leave. Workers in temporary employment often lost their jobs altogether and received no support. This mainly affected the retail, catering, hotel, cultural and event sectors, as well as solo self-employed workers. Short-time working affected almost 7 million workers in April 2020, far more than during the 2008/2009 financial crisis, with corresponding income losses. Workers without children receive 60 and workers with children receive 67 percent of net wages. Only from the seventh month onwards is the short-time working allowance increased to 80 and 87 percent, respectively. Unemployment has also increased in the first months of the pandemic, with more than half a million people becoming unemployed since it began. Schools and day-care centres are among the most important spreaders of the pandemic. Although children are less likely to show symptoms, they spread the virus like adults, carry it into the family and infect teachers and educators. Despite this, schools and day-care centres were not closed or were only closed for a short period, so that parents could continue to work to generate profits for big business. Government and the media often cited child welfare, the educational and psychological damage caused by long school closures, as justification. The Data Report 2021 shows that this is pure hypocrisy. Households with a monthly net income of 5,000 to 18,000 have, on average, four personal computers, compared to households with an income of less than 2,000, with an average of two devices. In poor households, there are often no devices at all with which children can participate in digital education. Also, conditions are often cramped, making learning and concentration difficult or impossible. For single parents, it is also extremely difficult to adequately care for and support their children in home schooling when they must go to work themselves. Help and support from grandparents was also not possible, as they are one of the most vulnerable groups. Even for parents able to work from home, it is a permanent balancing act to reconcile ones own work and providing support and care for children under stressful conditions. Although all these problems were known, the federal government provided almost no support for working-class and poor families. There was no aid for technical equipment, masks, and hygiene items, nor paid time-off for child-care. Instead, hundreds of billions of euros were thrown down the throats of banks, corporations, and the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces). The number of people who have died from COVID-19 in Germany has now risen to 75,000. There is still no comprehensive data on the number of people, including children, suffering from the long-term effects (long COVID). The lives, health, wages and jobs of the working class are most affected, with poorer people disproportionately so. The figures from the 2021 Data Report only shed light on the first few months of the pandemic, and the trend has worsened since then. Corporations and the wealthy at the top of society, on the other hand, have benefited from the pandemic. Share prices have reached new historic highs. The net wealth of the ultra-rich in Germany increased by almost 80 billion to 486 billion between March and July 2020 alone. Amid death and suffering, a new layer of pandemic profiteers has grown. Between January and June, the number of US-dollar millionaires increased by 58,000, and the number of billionaires rose from 114 to 119. Deutsche Bank just reported that in 2020 it employed 684 investment bankers who earned more than 1 million including bonuses. Deutsche Bank, like many other companies, has also cut thousands of jobs under the pretext of the pandemic. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Charges were imminent against a man suspected of killing his ex-wife and three others in New Mexico in a series of slayings that include the beating death of a New Jersey resident he claimed sexually abused him as a child, authorities said Monday. Investigators over the weekend searched a house where Sean Lannon, his ex-wife and their children were believed to have lived in the city of Grants, about 80 miles west of Albuquerque. Police Lt. David Chavez would not specify what investigators were looking for, only that the warrants were for anything of evidentiary value as local and federal authorities try to piece together what happened. Its a complicated case, Chavez said. It wasnt just one event, so were having to look at many things. Authorities also were still looking into Lannons claims that he killed 11 other people in New Mexico. Chavez reiterated Monday that while anything is possible, it was not probable given that there were no records of people missing from the area or other police reports that would indicate there are potential victims. Authorities said in court documents that Lannon, 47, admitted to the additional killings in a phone call to a relative, who told investigators he expressed remorse. The case began March 5, when the bodies of Lannons ex-wife and three other people were found in a vehicle in a parking garage at Albuquerque International Sunport, New Mexicos largest airport. They were identified as Jennifer Lannon, 39; Matthew Miller, 21; Jesten Mata, 40; and Randal Apostalon, 60. Its not clear how or when they were killed. Chavez said the first indication something was wrong was when Millers girlfriend reported him missing in late January. When detectives talked to his friends and associates in Grants, they learned the others might also be missing. Chavez said charges related to the deaths were imminent but that authorities feel they have time to build their case and gather as much evidence as possible because Lannon is in custody in New Jersey, where hes charged with killing Michael Dabkowski. Lannon is accused of breaking in to Dabkowskis New Jersey home, just south of Philadelphia, and beating the 66-year-old to death with a hammer, according to an affidavit. His body was discovered March 8, three days after the remains were found in New Mexico. Lannon told investigators that Dabkowski had sexually abused him as a child and that he had gone to the home to retrieve sexually explicit photos. Dabkowski mentored Lannon and his twin brother through a Big Brothers program in the 1980s, NJ.com reported. Assistant deputy public defender Ronald Appleby declined to comment on the New Jersey charge, saying hes only representing Lannon in that case. Theyre scheduled to return to court on April 8, Appleby said. The Lannons lived in New Jersey before moving to New Mexico, and it was not clear how long they had been there. Chavez said New Mexicos child welfare agency had contact with the family but it wasnt known whether the children were at home when their mother disappeared. Court records related to the couples divorce and custody case showed that Sean Lannon was awarded sole custody of the children in 2019 and that a protective plan from the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department included only supervised visitation by their mother over concerns at the time about the potential for neglect due to prescription drug abuse. Whitman siblings, left to right, Sarah, Chris, Jennifer and Kim pose for an October 2020 photo during Jennifer Lannings last visit to New Jersey.(Provided photo) Relatives say Sean Lannon flew to New Jersey in early March with the couples three children 6- and 7-year-old girls and a 4-year-old boy. He took them to his parents house and left again, saying he was going to look for Jennifer Lannon. Her family grew more concerned, saying it wasnt like her to be without her children. Lannon was arrested in St. Louis on March 10, and officials say he was driving Dabkowskis car. Thats the same day prosecutors in New Jersey announced Lannon was charged with murder, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft and weapons counts. Officials are trying to determine why Lannon was in St. Louis. Albuquerque detectives traveled there to interview her. It appeared one of the New Mexico victims was killed in Albuquerque, and the other three died in the Grants area, Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos Jr. said. Chris Whitman, Jennifer Lannons brother, said Sean Lannon told the family in January that she had run off with some friends, possibly to Arizona. Whitman said Saturday that the story didnt sound right because she was a great mom and, just, it would be uncharacteristic of her to not be with her children. ___ Susan Montaya Bryan of The Associated Press wrote this story. AP reporters Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, and Allen G. Breed in Raleigh, N.C., contributed to this story. Apples trouble with app maker only seems to be mounting. The Cupertino company has taken the flak for high App Store fees as regulators across many regions have launched an investigation. Now the founder of Proton technologies, Andy Yen, has written an open letter to Apple. Proton Technologies is the company behind ProtonVPN iOS and Proton Mail. In his letter, Andy Yen has accused Apple of standing in the way of human rights. Apple has not approved a ProtonVPN iOS app update amidst the political unrest in Myanmar. He also adds that every corporation is responsible for protecting fundamental human rights and accuses Apple of not sharing this philosophy. Proton has long been a defender of freedom and democracy around the world. Protecting these fundamental human rights was one of the main reasons we founded ProtonMail back in 2014. From Hong Kong to Belarus, activists, protesters, journalists, and citizens of the world have turned to our services to securely and privately communicate, express themselves, and overcome internet blocks. The founder subtly accuses Apple of siding with the government and not ensuring that whistleblowers are protected. Myanmar is currently in the midst of turmoil. The military has carried a coup and declared a year-long emergency. Furthermore, the army has also captured top leaders. Moreover, Myanmar army wrongfully killed 250 peaceful protesters and detained others. Thats not all; the military has forced telecom companies to shut down the internet and block social media access. ProtonVPN witnessed a 250X spike for new users and is blocked. Interestingly, Apple stopped the VPN app update after the UN suggested Myanmar citizens use ProtonMail and Signal. Apple rejected a crucial VPN update that offered better security features. Apples Response Apple responded that the app was rejected because it flouted local laws. The App Store guideline 5.4 says VPN apps should not violate local laws. Lastly, Andy Accused Apple of challenging local governments only when it is in the companys interest. [via ProtonVPN NEW HAVEN Dr. Bandy Lee, a psychiatrist who has been outspoken in calling former President Donald Trump a danger to the country, has sued Yale University after she was not reappointed. Her federal lawsuit claims breach of contract, lack of good faith and wrongful termination and states she was fired for her public statements about Trump and his inner circle, including attorney Alan Dershowitz. Lee claims she was threatened with termination in January 2020 by Dr. John Krystal, chairman of the Yale School of Medicines Psychiatry Department, after Dershowitz wrote to Yale officials stating that Lee has publicly diagnosed me as psychotic, based on my legal and political views, and without ever examining or even meeting me. According to the complaint, Lees termination letter, dated May 17, 2020, said the reason for her termination was because she did not have a formal teaching role. Lee gained national attention when she held a conference at Yale in April 2017 about Trumps mental state, which led to a book, The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President. Lee declined to comment on the lawsuit, which seeks reinstatement to the faculty, economic and non-economic damages, including lost income, lost benefits, lost resources, lost privileges, lost indirect but significant remuneration, future economic losses, emotional distress, harm to reputation and loss of enjoyment of life and punitive damages. In an email to the Register, Lee did comment about her assessment of Trump: As a violence scholar, I projected that Donald Trump was dangerous, not as much for specific acts of violence but for the groundwork he would lay for a culture of violence that would then give rise to epidemics of suicides, homicides, and mass violence. Although his election in the first place served as a barometer for a poor state of collective mental health, once in office and being kept there, he vastly exacerbated and legitimized violence. Lee who is not a member of the American Psychiatric Association, said the group had reinterpreted its Goldwater Rule, which states that psychiatrists should not offer a professional opinion about public figures whom they have not examined, a gag rule of its member psychiatrists. In her email to the Register, Lee said, The American Psychiatric Association, by declaring me and others who would speak up as unethical, based on its trade association rule, arguably violated our universal pledge under the Geneva Declaration not to collude with destructive governments and its own code to serve society. It enabled the president not to be held accountable for his mental unfitness and facilitated the deaths of 500,000+ Americans, which many scientific reports now confirm were largely unnecessary. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed more than 539,000 lives. In her complaint, Lee restated a characterization she made of Dershowitz, a Yale Law School graduate, in which she alleged he has wholly taken on Trumps symptoms by contagion and referred to shared psychosis. The comparison was an apparent reference to Dershowitz employing the odd use of perfect in describing his sex life. Trump has called his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which he allegedly suggested Zelensky investigate Joe Biden, a perfect phone call. Dershowitz said Tuesday that Lee attributed to me a lot more power than I think I actually have. All I did was alert the Yale authorities to her unprofessional conduct. The facts are the facts. Dershowitz said he has never met Lee. He said his use of the word perfect, which he said merely described his relationship with his wife, preceded Trumps. I think her own words prove that she acted unprofessionally, in violation of academic standards and in violation of the rules of psychiatry, Dershowitz said. I also think that it is unethical to falsely diagnose somebody whom she hasnt met for political and ideological reasons. He said he called for Yale to investigate Lees conduct. I think that Yale was right to look into it and then its their decision, he said. Lees lawsuit states, When Dr. Lee stated symptoms by contagion, she was not diagnosing Mr. Dershowitz, but rather commenting on a widespread phenomenon of shared psychosis, also known as folie a plusieurs, which refers to the contagion of symptoms that can happen in a situation where a highly symptomatic individual is placed in an influential position. Under such conditions, the persons symptoms may spread through the population through emotional bonds: heightening existing pathologies ... triggering personality predisposition ... or inducing symptoms in previously healthy individuals. The complaint continues, Despite the English phrase, psychosis is not always present, but the more commonly induced symptoms are delusions, paranoia and propensity for violence. Dr. Lee has extensive experience with this phenomenon, having worked almost exclusively in public-sector and prison settings, where severely symptomatic individuals often go untreated and influence entire families or gangs. She believed that President Trumps followers were likely to be influenced to some degree by his pathology because of the level of exposure, not necessarily because of the specific use of the word perfect but by the exaggerated sense of self and impunity they seemed to share. Yale spokeswoman Karen Peart said in an email, Dr. Lee was a voluntary faculty member in the School of Medicine, and her request for reappointment was considered in accordance with Yales policies and practices. Yale does not consider the political opinions of faculty members when making appointment decisions. Peart added, Voluntary faculty members in the Department of Psychiatry are unpaid, but, in exchange for up to four hours of departmentally-sanctioned teaching activity per week, they receive a Yale faculty affiliation. In her lawsuit, Lee quotes an email from Dr. John Krystal, chairman of the Psychiatry Department, which warned Dr. Lee that the department would be compelled to terminate [her] teaching role at Yale University if her behavior d[id] not change. Referring to her statements about Trump and Dershowitz, Krystal wrote, according to the complaint: It seems to me ... that the published quotes suggest that you are not making cautious, reasoned statements qualified by the limitations of the information you have .... Worse, the recklessness of your comments creates the appearance that they are self-serving in relation to your personal political beliefs and other possible personal aspirations. You are putting me in a position where I have to ask, Is this the sort of person that I can trust to teach medical students, residents, and forensic psychiatry fellows? edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382 The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged MintBroker International Ltd., f/k/a Swiss America Securities, Ltd. and d/b/a as SureTrader, a Bahamas-based broker-dealer, with unlawfully operating as a broker-dealer in the United States without being registered. The SEC also charged Puerto Rico-based Guy Gentile, SureTrader's founder, owner, and CEO, as SureTrader's control person with respect to SureTrader's unlawful activities. According to the SEC's complaint, beginning in March 2016 and continuing through November 2019, SureTrader, under Gentile's leadership, operated an offshore broker-dealer that marketed its ability to help novice day traders in the United States circumvent U.S. rules that regulate "pattern day trading." A pattern day trader is any margin customer that day trades four or more times in five business days, provided the number of day trades are more than six percent of the customer's total trading activity for that same period. The SEC alleges that SureTrader, through its website, by email, and by means of advertisements on popular U.S.-based day trading websites, solicited thousands of U.S.-based customers to open accounts with and trade through SureTrader. The SEC further alleges that, although it was not registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer during this period, SureTrader nevertheless engaged in ongoing securities relationships with U.S. customers, including by holding funds and executing transactions on their behalf. According to the complaint, as a result of their efforts, SureTrader and Gentile received millions of dollars in transaction-based compensation. The SEC's complaint, filed in the Southern District of Florida, charges SureTrader with violating the broker-dealer registration provisions of Section 15(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and charges Gentile with control person liability under Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and with violating Section 15(a)(1) of the Exchange Act through or by means of SureTrader in violation of Section 20(b) of the Exchange Act. The SEC seeks injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with pre-judgment interest, and civil penalties. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Jessica Weissman and Tonya Tullis of the Miami Regional Office and supervised by Glenn S. Gordon. The litigation is being led by Amie Riggle Berlin and Alice Sum and supervised by Andrew Schiff. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Securities Commission of the Bahamas and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. "We look forward to further cooperation with Qatar Petroleum in the future. Sinopec has always advocated for the development of green and clean energy and the long-term LNG supply agreement will not only meet the needs of the Chinese market but will also demonstrate Sinopec's commitment to a low-carbon, green, safe, responsible and sustainable development path," remarked Zhang. "We firmly believe that it's the responsibility of the entire industry and every company to reach peak carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutral, which is needed for the industry's transformation and development." Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs of the State of Qatar, the president and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, expressed that signing the first long-term LNG contract with Sinopec has further consolidated the sound bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as the beginning of establishing a long-term, fruitful cooperative relationship between Qatar Petroleum and Sinopec. China and Qatar's cooperation in the energy sector started in 2009, and this cooperation will further enhance Qatar's ability to supply the Chinese market to meet growing demand as well as highlighting Qatar Petroleum's leading position in the industry. China is a key and strategic energy partner for the State of Qatar throughout the entire energy value chain having supplied 62 million tons of LNG to China since 2009. With the government introducing a series of environmental protection measures, China's LNG market will maintain steady growth in the future, bringing broad prospects for cooperation between both parties. Qatar Petroleum is the national oil corporation of Qatar, established in November 1974. It is responsible for the development of the oil and gas industry in the State of Qatar and its main businesses include oil and gas exploration and development. About Sinopec Sinopec Corp. is one of the largest integrated energy and chemical companies in China. Its principal operations include the exploration and production, pipeline transportation and sale of petroleum and natural gas; the sale, storage and transportation of petroleum products, petrochemical products, coal chemical products, synthetic fiber, fertilizer and other chemical products; the import and export, including an import and export agency business, of petroleum, natural gas, petroleum products, petrochemical and chemical products, and other commodities and technologies; and research, development and application of technologies and information. Sinopec sets 'fueling beautiful life' as its corporate mission, puts 'people, responsibility, integrity, precision, innovation and win-win' as its corporate core values, pursues strategies of value-orientation, innovation-driven development, integrated resource allocation, open cooperation, and green and low-carbon growth, and strives to achieve its corporate vision of building a world leading energy and chemical company. For more information, please visit http://www.sinopec.com/ SOURCE Sinopec Group Related Links http://www.sinopec.com/ UK agri-food businesses are currently grappling with 'outright export bans' as high trade friction with the EU continues, peers have warned. Peers who sit on the EU Environment Sub-Committee are 'dismayed' at the growing food and farming trade friction many businesses are experiencing post-Brexit. In a new report, they say that UK agri-food firms are facing 'structural' barriers to trade with Europe, including more paperwork and higher transport costs. Some exports such as seed potatoes 'have come to a complete halt' following the end of the Brexit transition period. And trade in food and agricultural produce between Britain and the EU will suffer even more if policy differences lead to tariffs and more checks, the report warns. Peers have called on both sides to 'thoroughly assess' potential trade barriers as regulations and support for producers and growers are developed. Systems should be fully electronic, streamlined and integrated quickly to make it easier for businesses to submit documentation. The sub-committee urges the government to fix problems affecting groupage transport - a cost-saving method where several batches of goods are combined in one load. Lord Teverson, sub-committee chair said: Were dismayed that our agri-food sector is facing such high trade frictions. The increases in paperwork and preparation required for food and agri exports to the EU are presenting very difficult challenges, particularly for small businesses." He added that higher haulage rates and issues with groupage and parcel deliveries were putting further pressure on food and agricultural produce exporters. And despite possible improvements, there were now 'new barriers' to UK-EU relations, with new administrative costs and burdens 'structural and long-term'. We are a third country now as far as the EU is concerned," Lord Teverson said. "The UK and EU have largely achieved their objectives and now have to accept the consequences - both the good and the inconvenient. In the report, peers said they were disappointed that the government and EU did not achieve more on food and plant health measures. Lord Teverson added: This could ultimately reduce the profitability of Great Britains food and agricultural produce sectors. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 03:41:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NICOSIA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- All people in Cyprus older than 45 years are expected to be administered at least the first COVID-19 vaccine shot by the first week of May, the Health Ministry said in a statement on Monday. It said that Cyprus is set to receive 270,000 additional doses of all four vaccines authorized in the country by the end of April. This, it said, will enable Cyprus' vaccination campaign to be accelerated. The ministry said that 131,000 people, or about 14.5 percent of the population, had been vaccinated as of Sunday, with another 195,000 expected to receive the first dose in the first week of May. This will raise ratio of vaccinated people to about 34 percent of the population. Cyprus currently uses four vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), those made by Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson. The ministry said that it also plans to buy 50,000 Russia's Sputnik V vaccine doses once their use is approved by the EMA. Cyprus plans to open its airports to tourists by the middle of May, and it expects to have about half of its 900,000 population vaccinated by the middle of June to be able to kickstart tourism, the most important sector of its economy. 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. Enditem By Steve Scherer OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada on Tuesday said the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is safe and will continue to be recommended for use despite criticism from U.S. officials of the drugmaker's analysis of the shot's efficacy in a large trial, health officials said. "The message is that the efficacy and the safety of the vaccine have been shown," senior Health Canada official Marc Berthiaume said. "It continues to be beneficial for Canadians to prevent COVID-19." Deliveries of coronavirus vaccines are ramping up in Canada, with some 2 million doses of the Pfizer Inc/BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc vaccines coming this week. The United States said it is sharing 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine with Canada as early as this week. The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said on Monday that the independent monitoring board charged with ensuring the safety and accuracy of AstraZeneca's latest trial said the company may have given an incomplete view of the shot's effectiveness. The company has since said it will publish up-to-date results https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2BF1RE from its latest trial within 48 hours. "We will look at the complete data package (from the U.S.) sometime in April, and will assess and communicate the results," said Supriya Sharma, chief medical adviser at Health Canada, the federal health ministry. "The bottom line is that doesn't change recommendations on the AstraZeneca vaccine at this time." There will be a delay of a day or two on delivery of Moderna vaccines this week, Alberta's chief medical officer of health said, adding that bookings for shots will not be affected. Canada also said it would give C$23.7 million ($18.9 million) to Ontario to open more voluntary isolation sites for those who become infected with the virus and need a place to quarantine as cases surge. Saskatchewan's provincial government imposed new restrictions in the city of Regina and surrounding area, including a ban on private indoor gatherings, due to a spike in infections caused by highly contagious new virus variants. Story continues Quebec, which has avoided a third wave of infections, will allow its older high school students to attend class daily starting March 29. Canada has recorded 940,000 virus infections and more than 22,700 deaths from COVID-19. ($1 = 1.2561 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Steve Scherer; Additional reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg and Allison Lampert in Montreal; Editing by Grant McCool and Bill Berkrot) The team of jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny is making a new push to free the anti-corruption campaigner with plans for the largest anti-Kremlin protest in Russia's modern history. In an announcement on Navalny's website on March 23, the team said the date and site of the rally will be announced once at least 500,000 people express their willingness to participate. The group also launched a special website to register those who would like to take part in the event as part of the push to get Navalny released from prison. Leonid Volkov, the coordinator of Navalny's network of teams, said that some 60,000 people had signed up to the event within hours of the website going operational. "You know who our biggest enemy is? No, not Putin. Putin can't stop the wonderful Russia of the future however much he wants to. Our main enemy is indifference, apathy and apoliticism," Volkov said. Navalny's associates and supporters have been under pressure since the 44-year-old Kremlin critic was arrested on January 17 as he arrived from Germany where he had ben treated for a poisoning attack with what was determined by several European labs as a Novichok-like nerve agent. Thousands rallied across Russia on January 23 and January 31 in protest at Navalny's detention. Police violently put down the protests, arresting almost 10,000 people in the process. On February 2, Navalny was found guilty of violating the terms of his suspended sentence relating to an embezzlement case that he has called politically motivated. The court converted the sentence to 3 1/2 years in prison. Given credit for time already spent in detention, the court said the Kremlin critic would have to serve 2 years and 8 months behind bars. The ruling sparked new mass protests across the country that were also violently dispersed by police. Another 1,400 people were detained by police in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other Russian cities on that day. Navalny is currently being held in Correctional Colony No. 2, known as one of the toughest prisons in Russia. The push also comes as Russians prepare to head to the polls in parliamentary elections in September where they hope to derail the ruling United Russia party's stranglehold on power. Navalny and his supporters have developed a "smart voting" system, which is aimed at undercutting United Russia candidates. Under the system, voters can enter their address into a special app, which will then give them a list of the candidates deemed most likely to defeat their United Russia rivals regardless of their party affiliation. [March 23, 2021] Emerging Markets Report: A Marriage Made in Manama An Emerging Markets Sponsored Commentary ORLANDO, Fla., March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As rabid fans of the fintech space we are pleased to continue to report on AppTech Corp. (OTC: APCX), a financial technology company utilizing innovative payment processing technologies to complement its core merchant services capabilities. Its patented and proprietary software for merchant services, text marketing and lead generation are licensable or available through a suite of synergistic offerings. Thats the description from the Company and plainly spoken, AppTech is innovating within Fintech with novel product offerings including a text payment app we reported on previously. Click here to read A Bright Future for Fintech and FinTEXT AppTech Corp. (OTC: APCX) and NEC Payments B.S.C(c) announced on March 08, 2021, the financial closure of the agreement entered into by the parties in October 2020. NECP is based in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. The deal is an important catalyst for AppTech as NECP will provide a digital banking and payment technology solution that will enable AppTech to extend its product offering to include flexible, scalable, and secure payment acceptance and issuer payment processing. Through the deployment of NECPs technologies, AppTech will be empowered to drive the digitization of business and consumer payments flows and migrate cash, along with other legacy payment types to distanced, contactless card, and real-time payment transactions. In other words, a ton of new verticals just opened up. It is interesting that there is a compelling quid pro quo as AppTechwill license its own Intellectual Property to NECP. It is also important to mention that NECP will assist AppTech by providing best in class software to complete the development of its text payment solution. Again, we believe the text payment solution has the potential to be highly market disruptive if deployed successfully. According to the release, The merging of AppTechs merchant services and secure text payment solution with NECPs digital account and multi-channel issuer payment processing capabilities will open up many value-added digital financial services opportunities including: end-to-end payment acceptance and digital banking for small to medium-sized enterprises; and the ability to embed B2B payments at multiple points in the supply chain to facilitate straight-through processing, eliminate manual administration, and automate financial control and reconciliation on behalf of customers. And perhaps the most intriguing part of this marriage is that NECP will become AppTechs single largest shareholder. This means that a Company steeped in tech and extremely well-versed in AppTechs own Intellectual Property decided to take an enormous position. About The Emerging Markets Report: The Emerging Markets Report is owned and operated by Emerging Markets Consulting (EMC), a syndicate of investor relations consultants representing years of experience. Our network consists of stockbrokers, investment bankers, fund managers, and institutions that actively seek opportunities in the micro and small-cap equity markets. For more informative reports such as this, please sign up at http://www.emergingmarketsllc.com/newsletter.php Must Read OTC Markets/SEC policy on stock promotion and investor protection https://www.otcmarkets.com/learn/policy-on-stock-promotion https://www.otcmarkets.com/learn/investor-protection https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2017-79 https://www.sec.gov/oiea/investor-alerts-bulletins/ia_promotions.html Section 17(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 requires that any person that uses the mails to publish, give publicity to, or circulate any publication or communication that describes a security in return for consideration received or to be received directly or indirectly from an issuer, underwriter, or dealer, must fully disclose the type of consideration (i.e. cash, free trading stock, restricted stock, stock options, stock warrants) and the specific amount of the consideration. In connection therewith, EMC has received the following compensation and/or has an agreement to receive in the future certain compensation, as described below. We may purchase Securities of the Profiled Company prior to their securities becoming publicly traded, which we may later sell publicly before, during or after our dissemination of the Information, and make profits therefrom. EMC has been paid 250,000 Restricted shares and will be paid $95,000 dollars by Apptech Corp. for various marketing services including this report. EMC does not independently verify any of the content linked-to from this editorial. http://emergingmarketsllc.com/disclaimer.php Emerging Markets Consulting, LLC Florida Office 390 North Orange Avenue Suite 2300 Orlando, FL 32801 E-mail: jamespainter@emergingmarketsllc.com Web: http://www.emergingmarketsllc.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. By Aislinn Laing SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile will extend a coronavirus rescue package to help poor and middle class families and small businesses stay afloat until June as the Latin American nation struggles to slow a second wave of cases despite a rapid vaccine rollout. President Sebastian Pinera said the latest announcements represented a 50% increase to the $12 billion package announced last June, when Chile was engulfed in a first wave of cases, to $18 billion, representing 2% of Chile's gross domestic product. Emergency Family Income payouts of between 25,000 Chilean pesos ($34) and 100,000 pesos will be extended from March until June, with the amounts determined by how long households had been in lockdown. Payouts and soft loans will also be available to the middle classes, along with improved unemployment benefits and grants for small businesses and truckers hit by movement restrictions. Pinera said in an evening address on national television that the measures were aimed at preserving jobs and restarting the economy once the current COVID wave had passed. But his government faces a number of more populist calls from opposition politicians to address pressing needs generated by the pandemic. On Tuesday, lawmakers in the lower house will debate a bill brought by deputies representing some mining areas to increase royalties paid by lithium and copper miners to fund social packages. The measure - including a direct tax on sales - has gained momentum in recent weeks as copper prices hit their highest in a decade. There is also growing support for a third drawdown from Chile's privately held pension pots, something the government has staunchly but fruitlessly opposed twice before. Chile at the weekend recorded 7,084 daily cases of COVID, the highest since the pandemic started and despite 5.7 million people having received at least one dose of a vaccine and 2.9 million people with two. (Reporting by Aislinn Laing; Editing by Sam Holmes) GLEN CARBON The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that intermittent lane restrictions will begin Wednesday, March 24 on Illinois 157 between Horseshoe Lake Road and Chain of Rocks Road, weather permitting. The lane closure is needed to complete a new asphalt surface. The project is expected to be completed by the end of July. Huntington, WV (25701) Today Cloudy with rain this morning...then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Greens senator Lidia Thorpe says in the six months she has spent in Federal Parliament a male government senator and another government MP have followed her, put their arms around her, made comments about her clothes and eating and persistently hassled her to go out for dinner. The harassment has got so bad she no longer feels safe in the corridors of Parliament House, especially late at night, but insists she will not be hounded out of her job. Greens senator Lidia Thorpe says she has been shocked by the attitude of some men in Parliament House towards women. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Senator Thorpe described how one Senate colleague frequently waited to walk behind her, saying he linger around until she exited her office. He also put his arm around her when they were walking down to the Senate chamber for question time. Another MP had put his arm around her during a parliamentary committee meeting they both attended, she said. Another time, an MP saw her at her office, looked me up and down and said, I want to take you out for dinner then contacted her staff every other day to see why she hadnt responded. And there have been persistent suggestive comments on her clothes, her hairstyle, and comments like what have you got in your mouth when she is eating. Four new local coronavirus infections reported Four new local Covid-19 infections were reported on Tuesday. Image: Shutterstock Health authorities reported 12 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, with four of the cases being locally acquired. Officials were unable to ascertain the source of infection for one local case an 88-year-old retiree who was taken to the United Christian Hospital on Monday because of a fever and shortness of breath. The man, who lives in Lam Tim, developed his fever on March 17. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Monday it was investigating how he might have contracted the virus, noting he had been to a Chinese restaurant in Lam Tin where two other customers had recently been infected. They said he also lives in the same public housing building as one of the infected customers. The eight imported cases reported on Tuesday had flown in to Hong Kong from France, Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines. Despite a general downward trend in the number of new cases in recent days, a press release by the CHP said the pandemic situation remains severe. MOSCOW -- A Moscow book fair has prompted accusations of censorship after it canceled an appearance by a debut author who is a top aide to jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny. Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's longtime spokeswoman and a prominent activist in her own right, was set to present her novel Incredible Incidents In Women's Cell No. 3 at the Non/Fiction book festival, which will be held at an exhibition space near the Kremlin from March 24 to 28. But the book's publisher, Corpus, revealed that its parent company had given in to pressure by the event's organizers to withdraw Yarmysh's appearance from the event. "It's the typical argument," Corpus chief editor Varvara Gornostayeva wrote in a Facebook post on March 23. "We need to preserve the book fair at any price, and an appearance by a opposition figure, and Aleksei Navalny's spokesperson at that, places the fair's existence under threat." Vitaly Kogtyev, a representative of the book fair, confirmed the decision to withdraw Yarmysh's invitation in comments to Russian media, though he did not cite a reason. Non/Fiction did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the event program published on its website includes no mention of Yarmysh or her book. The controversial decision comes at a tense time for Russia's opposition, and specifically Navalny and his regional network of campaign offices. The anti-corruption crusader incited a nationwide wave of protests in January that was brutally suppressed by police, and on February 2 he was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison over a parole violation charge he contends is absurd. Since his return to Russia in mid-January after five months in Germany recovering from the effects of a nerve-agent poisoning he blames on President Vladimir Putin, Navalny's movement has faced a targeted campaign against its activists and coordinators throughout Russia, some of whom are in custody or face criminal prosecution in connection with rallies. Last week, Navalny's award nomination for a series of investigative documentaries revealing evidence of corruption among the country's top officials prompted a bitter conflict in Russia's filmmaking community and led the Russian Guild of Film Critics to drop its prestigious cinema prize. Yarmysh's book, about six women who share stories while stuck in a jail cell, came out in the fall. Since February 2, she has been under house arrest pending trial on charges that she and nine other defendants created a risk to public health by promoting the January protests. On March 18, a Moscow court extended her confinement by another three months, rendering her incapable of attending the scheduled book presentation even if it had gone ahead. Yarmysh faces up to two years in prison if she's convicted, and she is banned from communicating online. But in a post to her Facebook account, published by her aides, she issued a scathing assessment of the decision, calling it "base and cowardly" and a case of "direct collaboration with the authorities." "Censorship and self-censorship are among the worst traits of authoritarianism," she wrote. "This can't be explained with any virtuous intention to 'save the book fair'.... On the contrary, silent tolerance of a division between permitted and prohibited writers is what will sooner or later destroy it." PHOENIX, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Since EHS Restoration began serving the Valley in 2008, it's been a well-respected leader of the small business community in Phoenix. Known for their exceptional customer service and unmatched quality of work, the father and son team behind EHS Restoration has also demonstrated an outstanding commitment to community service. It's the combination of their charitable efforts and high standards of excellence that have earned the family-owned company a spot on the Best of AZ list from Rankings Arizona for five years running. Owners of EHS Restoration Company in Louisiana For most Phoenix restoration companies, the geographical span of their work is limited to the Valley - but for EHS Restoration, becoming Arizona's only restoration company to take their talents beyond state lines was an easy decision. Their highly-trained team jumped into action on five different occasions to provide catastrophe relief to hurricane victims in the American Southeast. They also traveled to California during the record-breaking wildfire season. During the recent freeze in Texas, EHS Restoration was there to help people facing burst pipes and flooded homes. And their desire to help others doesn't end there: EHS Restoration also helps under- and uninsured individuals in need. Their pro-bono services have made a difference in the lives of countless families, repairing damaged spaces and structures to ensure a safe, comfortable place for people to call home. EHS Restoration also supports the Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities, providing that even a small business can make a big impact on the world in more ways than one. As admirable as their charitable efforts may be, equally impressive are the everyday jobs that EHS Restoration takes on throughout the Valley. When unexpected occurs, both home and business owners call on the company, turning to the EHS Restoration team to tackle mold, water damage, fire damage, and big cleanup jobs. Using their extensive experience and state-of-the-art equipment, the company provides 24/7 emergency help whenever - and wherever - disaster strikes. Within just 60 minutes, the team can be on-site and ready to help inspect, clean, restore, and reconstruct virtually any home or business within the greater Phoenix area. It's difficult to find just one thing that sets EHS Restoration apart from other restoration companies in Phoenix or pinpoint a single reason that Arizona homeowners consistently choose them over other companies throughout the state. What really makes them the state's most widely-trusted service provider (preferred by both customers and insurance companies) is their integrity, compassion, and commitment to their customers. EHS Restoration demonstrates that good business isn't something you can simply learn anywhere; it's something that comes from the heart. About EHS Restoration Based in Phoenix, Arizona, EHS Restoration provides a broad range of repair and restoration services throughout the stage, including mold removal, commercial services, cleanup, emergency response, and fire/water damage repair. Veteran-owned and operated, EHS Restoration has Arizona's top-rated restoration company for five years running. Run by a father and son who are deeply dedicated to serving the community, the company partners with numerous local and nationwide charities in addition to performing voluntary, pro-bono work for victims of natural disasters. Fully licensed and insured, EHS Restoration is a fully-certified restorative service provider and a preferred vendor for one of the largest insurance companies in the nation. If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Keith Pomonis at 480-307-5583 or email at [email protected]. Contact: Keith Pomonis Telephone: 480-307-5583 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.ehsrestoration.com/ SOURCE EHS Restoration Related Links http://www.ehsrestoration.com We visited the firms portfolio on multiple occasions to admire the tastiest exploits brewed under their roof, including a gorgeous Honda CB750 F2-based undertaking and a classic BMW K100RS that took a serious dose of bespoke wizardry Today, we have a quick look at the workshops achievements on a 1977 Moto Guzzi 850 T3. The Italian warrior packs a fierce V-twin powerplant within its steel frame that prides itself with two valves per cylinder and a displacement of 844cc. At 7,000 rpm, Mandello del Larios air-cooled engine summons up to 68 untamed ponies, along with 54 pound-feet (73 Nm) of twisting force at approximately 5,800 rpm. A five-speed transmission is tasked with carrying this oomph to the rear wheel via a shaft final drive. Long story short, the MY1977 850 T3 is one competent donor.Nitrocycles began the transformation by stripping the machine naked of its factory bodywork items. After discarding the original panels, the team gave the aging V-twin mill a comprehensive makeover to ensure flawless performance. The standard exhaust system was tweaked to accommodate a pair of free-flowing reverse megaphone mufflers, while the T3s DellOrto carburetors received conical air filters.For ample stopping power, the team subjected the Brembo brakes to a thorough overhaul. In terms of handling upgrades, the front and rear suspension setups were rebuilt using an assortment of modern components. Additionally, the craftspeople discarded the stock lighting modules in favor of fresh aftermarket alternatives. In the cockpit, the custom goodness continues with clip-on handlebars and an aluminum top clamp manufactured in-house.The finishing touch comes in the form of a unique outfit that manages to look sensational. It consists of a removable tail section and a new fuel tank resembling an iconic Norton Manx. Oh, and how could you possibly miss that breathtaking paintwork covering Nitrocycles T3 from head to toe? Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Katie Hou, 37, who is Chinese-American, said a man punched her twice in the face after she left a rally in Union Square with her 7-year-old daughter. Later that day, a 41-year-old woman was thrown to the ground in Midtown, and a 54-year-old woman on the Lower East Side was struck in the face with a metal pipe, the police said. The authorities said that least four of the attacks were being investigated as hate crimes. People need to be vigilant about their safety, but at the same time, we need to do something to stop this from happening again, Ms. Hou told my colleague Mihir Zaveri. The context Over the last year, nearly 3,800 hate incidents have been reported against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders nationwide, according to Stop AAPI Hate, an anti-discrimination group. The New York Police Department recorded 29 attacks against people of Asian descent last year. Investigators said they believed that 25 of the incidents stemmed from anti-Asian sentiment and the perception that the victim was carrying the coronavirus, according to police statistics. The reaction Many of the citys mayoral candidates have participated in news conferences and rallies to support local Asian communities. Among them is Andrew Yang, who would become the first Asian-American mayor in the citys history. We have to start building bonds of connection with the Asian-American community to let them know that this city is theirs, this city is ours, Mr. Yang said at a rally on Sunday. Community leaders say that security and bias are among the most urgent issues facing Asian-Americans. On Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city would amp up the police presence in Asian communities. The list of candidates for MP of the Civil Contract Party will mainly comprise the current members of the My Step faction of the National Assembly. This is what Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. I take pride in my colleagues because we underwent many trials and tribulations together in a short period of time, he said. When told that there are deputies of the My Step faction who havent stood out with statements and havent presented bills over the past three years, Simonyan opposed and said some of those deputies have already left the faction and are currently independent MPs. Based on my evaluation, Sofia Hovsepyan, Gor Gevorgyan and Vardan Atabekyan cant take pride in being active deputies in the past and present. Sofia Hovsepyan might be able to take pride as a public figure, but not the others. There are deputies who are involved in activities that are not visible in parliament. When the list is ready, some people might move from the government to parliament and vice versa, Simonyan said. Representatives of the My Step faction have already declared that the ruling party will be represented by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during the upcoming snap elections and that Pashinyan will be the candidate for Prime Minister in the future. In response to this, Simonyan said the following: Based on all surveys conducted in Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan is the most desired politician and head of state, and the Civil Contract Party, which reflects the opinion of the citizens of Armenia, shares this opinion. I know the motives behind Pashinyans actions, and he has done and will do everything, even the impossible, Simonyan said. Touching upon the fact that people were brought to Republic Square through administrative resources during the rally that the government held on March 1 and the disclosed audio recording featuring the advisor to the regional governor of Lori Province, Simonyan insisted that the authorities didnt use any administrative resources during the rally held on March 1. On February 28, Dejavu Telegram channel disclosed audio recordings in which one can hear that the crowds at Nikol Pashinyans rally will be ensured through the use of administrative resources. During the phone conversation, Advisor to the Governor of Lori Province Armen Harutyunyan assured the young man who presented himself as a member of Civil Contract Party that there will be a normal number of people from schools. A general view of a Rohingya refugee camp after a fire burned down all the shelters in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, on March 23, 2021. (Ro Yassin Abdumonab/Reuters) Devastating Fire at Rohingya Camp in Bangladesh Kills 15, Leaves 400 Missing: UN DHAKAAt least 15 people have been killed in a massive fire that ripped through a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh, while at least 400 remain missing, the UN refugee agency said on Tuesday. It is massive, it is devastating, said UNHCRs Johannes Van der Klaauw, who joined a Geneva briefing virtually from Dhaka, Bangladesh. We still have 400 people unaccounted for, maybe somewhere in the rubble. He said the UNHCR had reports of more than 550 people injured and about 45,000 displaced. Bangladeshi officials are investigating the cause of the blaze even as emergency and aid workers and families sift through the debris looking for further victims. The fire ripped through the Balukhali camp near the southeastern town of Coxs Bazar late on Monday, burning through thousands of shanties as people scrambled to save their meager possessions. Everything has gone. Thousands are without homes, Aman Ullah, a Rohingya refugee from the Balukhali camp, told Reuters. The fire was brought under control after six hours but some parts of the camp could be seen smoking all night long. Authorities in Bangladesh have so far confirmed 11 deaths. A fire is seen at a Balukhali refugee camp in Coxs Bazar, in this picture obtained from social media, Bangladesh, on March 22, 2021. (Rohingya Right Team/Md Arakani/via Reuters) Some 40,000 huts in the camp were burned down, said Mohammad Mohsin, secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, after visiting the camp. Two major hospitals of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Turkish government were also destroyed, he told reporters in Coxs Bazar. A seven-member committee has been formed to investigate the matter, he said. Sanjeev Kafley, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies delegation head in Bangladesh, said more than 17,000 shelters had been destroyed and tens of thousands of people displaced. More than a thousand Red Cross staff and volunteers worked with fire services to extinguish the blaze, spread over four sections of the camp containing roughly 124,000 people, he said. That represents around one-tenth of an estimated 1 million Rohingya refugees in the area, Kafley said. I have been in Coxs Bazar for three-and-a-half years and have never seen such a fire, he told Reuters. These people have been displaced two times. For many, there is nothing left. Barbed Wire Some witnesses said that barbed wire fencing around the camp trapped many people, hurting some and leading international humanitarian agencies to call for its removal. A fire is seen at a Balukhali refugee camp in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, on March 22, 2021. (Courtesy of Rohingya Right Team/MD Arakani/Handout via Reuters) Humanitarian organization Refugees International, which estimated 50,000 people had been displaced, said the extent of the damage may not be known for some time. Many children are missing, and some were unable to flee because of barbed wire set up in the camps, it said in a statement. John Quinley of Fortify Rights, a rights organization working with Rohingya, said he had heard similar reports, adding the fences had hampered the distribution of humanitarian aid and vital services at the camps in the past. The government must remove the fences and protect refugees, Quinley said. There have now been a number of large fires in the camps including a large fire in January this year. The authorities must do a proper investigation into the cause of the fires. The vast majority of the people in the camps fled Burma (also known as Myanmar) in 2017 amid a military-led crackdown on the Rohingya that UN investigators said was executed with genocidal intent, charges Burma denies. By Ruma Paul and Emma Farge A year after European leaders ordered people into their homes to curb a deadly pandemic, thousands are pouring into streets and squares. Often, they are met by batons and shields, raising questions about the tactics and role of the police in societies where personal liberties have already given way to public health concerns. From Spain and Denmark to Austria and Romania, frustrated people are lashing out at the restrictions on their daily lives. With much of Europe facing a third wave of infections that could keep these stifling lockdowns in place weeks or even months longer, analysts warn that tensions on the streets are likely to escalate. In Britain, where the rapid pace of vaccinations has raised hopes for a faster opening of the economy than the government is willing to countenance, frustration over recent police conduct has swelled into a national debate over the legitimacy of the police one that carries distant echoes of the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. What were seeing is a growing level of discontent among members of our society who see a fundamental illegitimacy in law enforcement under the pandemic, said Clifford Stott, a professor of social psychology at Keele University in England and an expert in crowd behavior. And it has created strange bedfellows. LEWISTON - Two Lewis-Clark State College faculty members, Rachel Jameton and Jennifer Anderson, along with student Kiara Garcia and community member Elizabeth (Liz) Way are the four recipients of the colleges fourth annual Womens Leadership Awards, which were announced earlier this month during the virtual LC State Womens Leadership Conference, an event open to all. The LC State Womens Leadership Awards honor an LC State employee, a member of the community and a current LC State student who exemplify leadership in their field of expertise or workplace, serve as a role model to other women and girls, who give back to and are respected in the community, and who advocate for positive change to close the leadership gap for women. The winners are chosen by a selection committee consisting of community leaders and LC State personnel. This year, event organizers decided to honor two LC employees, who were named co-winners of the award. Rachel Jameton Jameton serves the director of the colleges Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and also is a half-time chemistry professor. Jameton started teaching at LC State in 2003 and took over as the CTL director when it was established in 2014. She established an advisory board to facilitate the overall vision and goals of the CTL, which supports the personal and intellectual growth of faculty in the pursuit of teaching excellence, inclusive practices, service, and professional development. Jameton has assisted female faculty colleagues to enhance their instructional excellence through peer classroom observation, encouraging them to step up and serve on the CTLs working board, and to provide campus presentations on their areas of expertise and interest. Jameton has also worked with the Center for Arts & History and the Lewiston School District on an after-school program for young women. Jameton also works with Camp Invention, a summer science program, where she has provided an opportunity for young girls and boys to explore science in a fun and engaging way. She is one of the sponsors of the new Faculty Leadership Institute in a coordination role, and as the liaison with campus administration, sharing ideas, seeking input, and advocating for resources for this program. A former Peace Corps volunteer, Jameton received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., and her doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Utah. Jennifer Anderson Anderson is an assistant professor of Publishing Arts and Creative Writing in the Humanities Division. She is the faculty editor for Talking River Review, the colleges literary publication, which allows for mentoring and leading students in hands-on practices. She advises her students through the process of designing the journal's website and getting works ready for publication. Anderson also runs the Visiting Writer series and schedules the Stegner Lecture speakers. For these lectures, Anderson relies on the women in the Humanities Division or in her Publishing Arts class to present the speakers, as well as helping the students prepare a brief introduction and to read the guest speakers essays, poems, stories, or book. During the pandemic, Anderson has continued the Visiting Writers series and the Stegner Lecture via Zoom and YouTube, making sure that the community has access to these talks. In 2019, Anderson received the Editors Prize at The Missouri Review for her essay, The Trailer, which is grounded in the LC Valley. Later this year, The Carolina Quarterly will publish Jennifers essay Undulation. She regularly publishes creative nonfiction in addition to creating unique and experimental documentaries with her husband, the latest an 8-hour exploration called #monalisa. Additionally, she volunteers with Meals on Wheels in Lewiston. Liz Way Way is a nurse director at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston where among her several duties she oversees that discharge plans are in place before patients are released from the hospital. In her nomination form, she was commended for possessing a willingness to continually learn, adapt and grow to best serve patients in the ever-changing world of healthcare. From her first day as a registered nurse, to being recognized by her peers, to being recognized across the larger enterprise by the organizations leadership team, she is a well-respected nurse director. Liz exemplifies the behaviors representative of a high performing clinical leader. Working in the industry as an RN, Way returned to school at LC State and earned her BSN. She continues to put value on education, improvement and growth. In her daily role at St. Joes, she and her team are regularly working with new mothers and babies in need of social services, including teenage moms needing an additional layer of support. Outside of work, Way volunteers on Wednesday night to provide food and ministry to children from struggling families in the community. She works with a team to minister to and mentor youth, providing a strong, positive female role model to young boys and girls. She has served on 10 mission trips and is a regional coordinator for missionaries with 75 different churches. From organizing charitable events that raise the funds needed to make the trips possible to digging latrines and providing medical care in third-world countries, Way provides the needed servant leadership that makes these trips possible. Kiara Garcia The Rising Star Award goes to an LC student and Garcia is a senior in the Social Work program. She is an engaged student leader who is serving in multiple roles as an LC Work Scholars, Resident Assistant, President of the Native American Club, and as a member of the Presidents Diversity Commission. She has served on several search committees for new professional level employees at LC State. Away from campus, Garcia improved electronic communications for the LC Valleys Resilience Coalition, and continues to make a difference serving others through Blue Mountain Heart to Heart, and several area food banks (both on and off campus). Erin Cassetto, who nominated Garcia and is the director of Student Employment at LC State, said because of Garcias involvement, she is able to demonstrate the ability to be involved on campus, work, and still be a successful student. Garcia shows how all of these extra activities fit together connecting learning, life, her activities, and her future career as a social worker. As president of the Native American Club, Garcia has been a role model for other club members and potential students. She has also worked with the campus and community attending LC State's Tribal Advisory meetings. DALLAS - March 23, 2021 - Vaccinating health care workers resulted in an immediate and notable reduction of positive COVID-19 cases among employees, reducing the number of required isolations and quarantines by more than 90 percent, according to data at UT Southwestern Medical Center published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Health care workers were among the first groups to be eligible for vaccination. "Real-world experience with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination at UT Southwestern demonstrated a marked reduction in the incidence of infections among our employees, preserving the workforce when it was most needed," notes Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., president of UT Southwestern and senior author. During the first 31 days of vaccinations becoming available, UT Southwestern provided a first dose to 59 percent of roughly 23,000 employees, while 30 percent were able to be fully vaccinated in that time frame. Among the findings: 1.5 percent became infected. Infection rates were highest - 2.6 percent - among nonvaccinated employees. Infection rates were lowest - .05 percent - among those fully vaccinated. "Our ability to quickly vaccinate a majority of our workforce in the midst of what became the largest surge to date in the region made a critical difference in ensuring we were able to continue providing top-flight care while health systems were strained," says John Warner, M.D., executive vice president for health system affairs at UT Southwestern. Researchers also saw advantages among partially vaccinated individuals, and from Jan. 9, the actual number of positive tests among all UT Southwestern employees was consistently lower than the number projected. The data also show continued need to address vaccine hesitancy, with UT Southwestern now approaching 70 percent immunization among its workforce. "In light of this real-world experience clearly demonstrating the effectiveness of immunization, further understanding of the reticence of some individuals to take advantage of vaccination bears even greater importance," says first author William Daniel, M.D., vice president and chief quality officer at UT Southwestern. UT Southwestern has provided educational outreach to community groups and businesses, developed extensive online resources including Q&As and blogs, and is preparing to launch a multilingual public service announcement campaign to help educate diverse communities about vaccination and address issues of hesitancy. "It is important to reach out across multiple platforms to effectively address people's questions so that we can continue to make progress on vaccine hesitancy," says Marc Nivet, Ed.D., executive vice president for institutional advancement at UT Southwestern. ### Dr. Daniel, professor of internal medicine, holds the William T. Solomon Professorship in Clinical Quality Improvement at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Nivet is associate professor of family and community medicine. Dr. Podolsky, professor of internal medicine, holds the Philip O'Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Presidential Chair in Academic Administration and the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science. Dr. Warner, professor of internal medicine, holds the Nancy and Jeremy Halbreich, Susan and Theodore Strauss Professorship in Cardiology and the Jim and Norma Smith Distinguished Chair for Interventional Cardiology. About UT Southwestern Medical Center UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution's faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 23 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 17 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 2,500 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in about 80 specialties to more than 105,000 hospitalized patients, nearly 370,000 emergency room cases, and oversee approximately 3 million outpatient visits a year. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. She rarely puts a a foot wrong when it comes to her fashion choices, even during her relaxed outings. And Lady Victoria Hervey looked sensational when she took her pooch D'artagnan for a stroll while shopping at Bristol farms in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday. The socialite, 44, put on an effortlessly chic display in a white blazer that she donned over a loose-fitting shirt and skinny, dark-blue jeans. Outing: Lady Victoria Hervey put on a stylish display in a white jacket and skinny jeans as she went shopping and took her dog D'artagnan for a stroll in Los Angeles on Tuesday Lady Victoria boosted her statuesque figure in a pair of suede heeled boots, and she kept her personal items in a Chanel handbag. Her golden locks were styled into loose waves and she covered her hair with a white fedora hat that had a blue velvet trim. Adding a glittering touch to her ensemble, Lady Victoria accessorised with a large pendant necklace and an array of gold and beaded bracelets. Lady Victoria picked up a number of items during her outing, including a colourful bouquet of flowers and items from a hair salon. Glamorous: Lady Victoria also wore a loose-fitting white shirt and boosted her statuesque figure in a pair of suede heeled boots Stylish: Lady Victoria's golden locks were styled into loose waves and she covered her hair with a white fedora hat that had a blue velvet trim Lady Victoria hinted she'd had enough of living in Los Angeles when she took aim at 'ultra-zombies walking around Hollywood' last month. The daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bristol said on Instagram: 'Hollywood is like a bunch of ultra-zombies walking around, 'I used to watch CNN and believe what I saw. BLM [Black Lives Matter], global mass voter fraud, Hollywood's dark satanic cults, Wall Street, the federal reserve are finally being exposed. The cabal is falling enjoy the ride.' Despite her disenchantment with American politics, the socialite appeared upbeat as she took a stroll in the Californian sunshine. All that glitters: Adding a glittering touch to her ensemble, Lady Victoria accessorised with a large pendant necklace and an array of gold and beaded bracelets Purchases: Lady Victoria picked up a number of items during her outing, including a colourful bouquet of flowers and items from a hair salon Lady Victoria has previously revealed she froze her eggs at a fertility clinic, costing her 11,000 in the hope of becoming a mother before she reaches the age of 45. Speaking in January 2018, Victoria told The Mail On Sunday: 'I had six eggs removed from my ovaries and frozen in a fertility clinic. 'At the end of this month, I intend to go through the exhausting procedure again in the hope that I will produce another half-dozen or so eggs. It will, I hope, fill what has become rather a hole in my life.' The socialite said she would like 'two children' and turned to freezing her eggs amid fears she had 'left it too late' to become a mother. Morning clouds and possible patchy fog are likely early Tuesday before skies clear and Portland enjoys a mostly sunny day. A quick check of traffic cameras showed no fog as of 5:30 a.m. in the metro area, but theres still a chance for some to form in outlying areas. Temperatures were cool, with Washington County seeing some locations below freezing. Under sunny skies, the high temp should reach about 56 degrees at Portland International Airport. Much of the west side of the Willamette Valley is near freezing this morning. Clouds are keeping temperatures warmer on the east side. Expect these clouds to dissipate later today with high temperatures climbing into the low to mid 50s this afternoon. #pdxtst #orwx #wawx pic.twitter.com/sMS4MVEDjD NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) March 23, 2021 The National Weather Service warns this dry weather will be short-lived. A new system currently moving south out of the Gulf of Alaska will hit western Washington overnight and move into northwestern Oregon early Wednesday. Portland is likely to start seeing rain about 11 a.m. The front could drop as much as a quarter inch of rain across the metro area. The high temperature will reach about 50 degrees. Higher elevations should see a good hit of new snow from this system. Snow levels will start about 3,000-4,000 feet before lowering to around 2,000 feet by the evening. The ski resorts should see as much as 4-8 new inches. Travel across the passes will be challenging, especially from afternoon into evening. Post frontal showers will linger across the metro area overnight and into Thursday. Most of the rain should fall in the morning hours. The snow level will start at 2,000 feet and then rise to 2,500. Foothill locations could see some light accumulation in the morning. The high temp is likely to reach about 53 degrees under mostly cloudy skies. Forecasters are looking ahead to some drier and warmer weather beginning Friday. Current long-range forecasts are looking at possible temperatures in the mid 60s by Saturday. A resident of Laurelton Drive said sometime during the night an unknown suspect got inside his 2007 Toyota FJC, which was parked in the driveway. Once inside, the suspect opened the passenger's side console and took $100 cash plus a gas card. He believes that his son is the one who took the money. He said they had a falling out a year ago and have not spoken since. The son said he had nothing to do with the break-in and seemed to not even know that his father had moved from their past house in another subdivision. * * * A man said he needed to go to his ex-girlfriend's house on Campbell Street to get some of his belongings. When police arrived at her house, her daughter answered the door and said her mother was not there but she had left the man's belongings in the living room for him to get. The man got his things and left the residence without incident. * * * A woman on Starview Lane said an unknown person is sending explicit pictures and videos of her to her friends and other people. She said this started about two days ago. She provided the phone they were sent from. She said she keeps these types of pictures and videos of herself on her cellphone. * * * A woman at E. 25th Street Court said she came outside to find her vehicle damaged. She said someone kicked her vehicle on the passenger back window and busted both tail lights out. Upon further investigation, there was a footprint on the back passenger window and both tail lights were indeed busted out. * * * An anonymous caller reported seeing a fire behind the apartments that are being renovated on Fisher Avenue. The Chattanooga Fire Department extinguished a small trash fire behind the building. An officer made contact with a man who reported he is a worker who got his vehicle stuck and decided to continue working at the construction site. He said he made the fire to warm up. * * * A woman on Metro Park Lane said she heard glass breaking outside her back door. She then called her neighbor, who saw a tall, skinny male wearing a ski mask fleeing from the property. The woman said nothing was taken from the property. Police drove through the area and did not locate anyone matching the suspect description. * * * A man who works for Prime Precast Solution said he was driving one of the company's work trucks, a 2011 Nissan Titan (GA tag). When he stopped at a gas station on Rossville Boulevard the previous night at approximately 11 p.m., he left the keys inside the vehicle because he was only running inside for a minute. When he came back outside he found that the truck had been stolen. The only identifying information on the vehicle was that there is a black tool box in the bed of the truck. An officer later located the stolen vehicle at 4700 Wilson Road with the keys in it. The owner was contacted and the vehicle was picked up. * * * Police were notified by a woman on Noah Reid Road that her vehicle had been taken sometime in the night. She thinks it was around 5 a.m. as she remembers hearing her dogs barking around this time. She noticed that her garage door was open as someone had pulled the safety release this morning when she checked the garage. How suspects entered the garage is unknown at this time. There is no suspect information or video evidence at the scene that could be located at this time. The woman said her key fob is still in the vehicle and it is push to start. She was able to track the vehicle via parking assistance to somewhere in Georgia but an exact address is not known at this time. The vehicle has been entered into NCIC. * * * A woman on Citico Avenue said sometime between 5:45 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. someone slashed the tires on her vehicle and shoved a candy bar in the gas tank. She said she did not see who did it and as far as she knows at this time no one else saw the suspects. She said she had been in an argument with some females on Facebook last night and one of them may have done it, but she does not have a proof at this time. * * * A manager of Hunter Utilities on Shallowford Road said about 12:45 p.m. a light blue Honda Civic covered in mud pulled up, a black male jumped out, grabbed a Stihl concrete saw from the back of his truck, got back in the vehicle and it sped off. He said the driver remained in the vehicle while the passenger grabbed the saw. The incident and description of the suspect vehicle was bolo'd by dispatch. * * * A resident of Hickory Valley Road showed an officer a video of a white male going through his Jeep and stealing things. The vehicle that the white male got into looked like a silver Ford Fusion. The man gave a list of things that were stolen. * * * While clearing the scene of a shoplifting call, loss prevention at Walmart on Highway 153 reported an additional theft that occurred earlier in the day. Loss prevention told police that a woman stole approximately $600 worth of items from the store. The suspect in the video appeared to be the woman named by Walmart LP, but police were unable to get a positive identification due to the suspect wearing a mask. The suspect left the scene in a Honda Civic (TN tag). This tag is registered to a woman, who was said to be the ex-girlfriend of the suspected shoplifter. * * * Police observed a man walking on Cummings Highway in a very dangerous spot for pedestrian travel. Police gave him a ride across the ridge to the Mountain Hotel. * * * At the Home Depot at 7421 Commons Blvd., officers spoke with a loss prevention employee who said a young black female walked past all points of sale with nine containers of detergent. The LP was able to recover the merchandise before the suspect could make it to their vehicle. The suspect left in a gray SUV with an unknown tag. * * * On Montview Drive, a man reported a stolen Mazda 6SP. He said his mother primarily uses this vehicle and he was speaking for her due to a language barrier. He said the vehicle was parked in the front of the house while it was still running and after 10 minutes went by the car was gone. His mother still has the keys because it is a push start vehicle. There is a dint on the back right bumper and it has tinted windows. The vehicle was put into NCIC. * * * A man said he left his 2007 Honda Pilot in the parking lot of Publix on East Brainerd Road. He said he found about 9 p.m. that someone had cut off the catalytic converter. * * * A resident of St Elmo Avenue said he last saw his bike about 7 p.m. and it was secured with a bike chain/lock outside. The next morning around 9 a.m., he discovered that the chain had been cut and the bike was gone. There were no security cameras that covered the area where his Honda was parked. * * * A woman on Allemande Way said someone broke into her 2015 Honda Civic and ransacked it. She said the contents of the glove compartment and the console were strewn all over the inside of her car. As best as she can tell, there was nothing stolen. She said her vehicle was locked and she does not know how entry was made. She found no damage to her vehicle. * * * An officer met with a female on Cameron Lane who said she attempted to buy a Yorkie dog online. She tried to purchase the dog from a website called Happy Pet Companion. She was under the impression that the dog would be shipped from Azle, Tx. to her address. She showed the officer that she paid multiple amounts toward the company using Apple Pay and Cash App. It added up to $2,945 total for acquiring the dog. She said the business was supposedly run by Cathryn and Robert Green. The address for the business is listed as 7355 Reed Road, Azle, Texas. She has multiple text messages where the business was attempting to get more money from her, but she eventually stopped sending extra money. She said the dog had the delivery date for the following Monday. * * * Police spoke on the phone with a woman who said she arrived at work on E. Third Street around 8 a.m. and left around 3:30 p.m. She said she started her vehicle and it sounded terrible so she called for help. Shortly thereafter, she was notified that her catalytic converter was cut from her vehicle. Her vehicle was towed by A-1 Towing. * * * An officer said at the Walmart on Signal Mountain Road he advised a manager that he had seen a suspected homeless person walking with three shopping carts filled with various items. He informed him that in another part of town, some stores have been charging homeless people who remove shopping carts from the premises of the store with theft. The manager stated he would speak with his management about doing the same and then follow up with police. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - Sun Summit Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SMN) (OTC: SMREF) ("Sun Summit" or the "Company") provides an update on the Company's current exploration drill program at its 100% controlled Buck Property, north-central British Columbia. Since mobilization of crews, Sun Summit has completed 10 drill holes for over 4,000 metres focused on investigating zones of high-grade and bulk-tonnage style gold mineralization. Drilling will continue to test these targets as well as other targets going forward. Highlights Five out of 10 drill holes intersected zones of visible gold mineralization in a new and highly-prospective area between the Horseshoe and Trench zones. Metallic screen fire assay analyses of visible gold-bearing samples from discovery hole BK20-012 demonstrates a local increase in gold grade compared to traditional fire assay methods. Regional exploration targets within the 33,000-hectare land package are being refined and prioritised. Bob Willis, Sun Summit's CEO, stated, "Our current drill program at Buck is on track to achieve all three goals we initially set for the team. These goals are targeting high-grade gold mineralization peripheral to our discovery hole, testing newly identified chargeability anomalies, and investigating the strike extent of near-surface breccia-hosted mineralization." "The fact that 50% of our drill holes so far have cut zones of visible gold mineralization attests to the significance of our discovery and the high-grade potential of the area between the Horseshoe and Trench zones. All holes have intersected mineralized zones similar to those that reported gold in earlier campaigns." "Buck contains a large-scale system created by multiple mineralizing events that have deposited gold in several environments. It will take more drilling to fully explore Buck's multiple gold zones, but we are very pleased with what we are seeing as work progresses. Furthermore, based on results from our metallic screen study, we are now systematically and selectively using the metallic screen method to fully evaluate the gold grade of these significant zones. We look forward to presenting assays from this drill phase." Drill Program Sun Summit has now completed 10 diamond drill holes in the Company's fully-funded 2021 program, previously announced on February 9th, 2021. Drill holes to date have tested areas peripheral to the high-grade intersections of the discovery hole BK20-012 (e.g., 17 metres of 5.86 grams per tonne (g/t) gold including 3 metres of 23.05 g/t gold, and 7.5 metres of 10.19 g/t gold; see the Company's news release dated January 5th, 2021), as well as areas along strike and down-dip from the near-surface breccia hosted mineralization intersected in numerous holes in 2020 (e.g., BK20-006; 46 meters of 1.12 g/t gold equivalent (AuEQ); see the Company's news release dated January 5th, 2021). Samples from the first four holes are in the analytical lab and results will be released once they are received, modelled, and interpreted. Visible gold has been identified in five of the 10 holes drilled to date. Gold is associated with discrete sphalerite + pyrite + quartz + carbonate veins and also in sulfide cemented breccias (Figure 1). Vein- and breccia-controlled mineralization is hosted in pervasively silica and sericite altered volcaniclastic rocks and locally porphyritic dacitic intrusions. The presence of sub-millimetre to millimetre-scale visible gold in numerous drill holes covering a distance of at least 300 metres east-west, demonstrates the high-grade gold potential of the structurally complex hydrothermal system at Buck. Additional drilling is focusing on investigating the true orientation and thickness of this newly interpreted high-grade gold mineralized corridor. Figure 1. Photos of key mineralization textures and sulfide assemblages. A. quartz + pyrite + gold vein cutting altered volcanics (BK-21-021 at 326m), B. sphalerite + carbonate + gold vein cutting altered dacitic intrusion (BK21-023 at 132.5m), C. sphalerite + pyrite + gold bearing breccia cement (BK21-017 @ 137.5m), and D. parallel sphalerite bearing veins cutting pervasively altered volcanics (BK21-021 at 147.5m). Abbreviations, py = pyrite, sph = sphalerite, cpy = chalcopyrite and carb = carbonate. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6142/78195_3d95e0ab141dc870_001full.jpg Metallic Screen Fire Assay Results from the selective metallic screen study have been received. Sample C355022 reported an increase in grade from 49.6 g/t gold (Au) by traditional 30 gram fire assay (ALS Au-AA23 method) to 141 g/t Au by the metallic screen method (ALS Au-SCR21). The results suggest that metallic screen methods should be performed on drill core samples containing visible gold. These methods utilize a larger sample and a tailored preparation procedure to systematically capture native gold, thus providing a more robust estimate of gold grade. A summary of metallic screen results from all samples with logged visible gold is shown in Table 1. Sun Summit is using these data to modify its analytical workflow for all samples with logged visible gold or samples that return >5 g/t Au by traditional fire assay. Table 1. Metallic screen fire assay data from BK20-012 intervals with visible gold Fire Assay Metallic Screen Au-SCR21 Au-SCR21 Au-SCR21 Length Au-AA23 Au Total (+)(-) Combined Au (+) Fraction Au (-) Fraction Sample (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) C318455 1.5 31.4 26.3 79.5 22.7 C318456 1.5 14.7 14.7 29.7 13.7 C318466 1.5 19.1 14.4 147 4.20 C355022 1.5 49.6 141.0 1160 71.2 C355042 1.0 6.96 7.41 5.24 7.66 Quality Assurance and Quality Control Coarse reject material from drill hole BK20-012 was dispatched from the Yellowknife, NT-based ALS Global preparation facility to the ALS Global analytical laboratories in North Vancouver, BC, for metallic screen fire assay. There, a one kilogram sample was passed through a 100 micron screen (Tyler 150 mesh). Any +100 micron material was retained and analysed completely by fire assay with a gravimetric finish (+ fraction result in Table 1). The -100 micron fraction was homogenized, and two sub-samples are analyzed by fire assay with AAS (atomic absorption spectroscopy) finish (Au-AA25 and Au-AA25D). The average of the two AAS results is reported as the Au (-) fraction in Table 1. All three values are then used to calculate the combined gold content of the (+) and (-) fractions (Au total in Table 1). Property-scale Exploration Sun Summit is planning a significant regional exploration program to rigorously investigate existing gold-silver targets and to define new targets across the 33,000-hectare land position. Central to this land package is an approximately 24 kilometre long, northwest-trending, fault-bound belt of Late Cretaceous Kasalka Group volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks, host to epithermal-related mineralization at Buck. Kasalka Group volcanic rocks also host bulk-tonnage epithermal-related mineralization at the Blackwater and Capoose Au-Ag development projects of Artemis Gold Inc. (Angen et al., 2018). The Company is currently compiling all regional (e.g., geology, stream sediment and till geochemistry) and project-scale historic data (e.g., ground, and airborne geophysics, soil and rock geochemistry) to better define areas of interest in these prospective, yet under-explored rocks. Exploration plans for this summer will be released once budgets are set and targets are ranked and prioritized. Community Engagement Sun Summit is working to engage with First Nations whose territory includes the Buck Property, to discuss their interests and identify contract and work opportunities, as well as opportunities to support community initiatives. We look forward to continuing to work with local and regional First Nations as the project continues. Buck Property The recently expanded 33,000-hectare property, approximately 12 kilometres south of Houston, British Columbia, has excellent nearby infrastructure and allows for year-round road-accessible exploration. National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure This news release has been approved by Sun Summit's CEO, Robert D. Willis, P. Eng. a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has also verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical and test data, underlying the technical information in this news release. Health and Safety The Company's exploration programs are being carried out in full compliance with federal, provincial, and municipal guidelines established in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Sun Summit has a rigorous infection prevention and control protocol in place to protect the health of employees and contractors, as well as surrounding communities in which the Company works. About Sun Summit Sun Summit Minerals Corp. (formerly San Marco Resources Inc.) is a Canadian mineral exploration company actively pursuing world class gold and silver projects with a focus in mining friendly jurisdictions. The Company's principal focus is the Buck Property in north-central British Columbia that has bulk-tonnage gold and silver potential. The property is located in a mining-friendly region that includes many formerly operating mines and current exploration projects. Sun Summit is committed to environmental and social responsibility with a focus on responsible development to generate positive outcomes for all stakeholders. Further details are available at www.sunsummitminerals.com References Angen, J.J., Hart, C.J.R., Kim, R.S., and Rahimi, M. (2018): Geology and Mineral Potential of the TREK Area, Northern Interior Plateau, Central British Columbia, Parts of 1:250,000 NTS Sheets 093B, C, F and G; Geoscience BC Report 2018-12, MDRU Publication 411.175 p. Additional Figure Buck Drill Hole Locations To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6142/78195_3d95e0ab141dc870_002full.jpg For further information, contact: Sharyn Alexander, M.Sc. VP Technical Services Nancy Curry Corporate Communications info@sunsummitminerals.com Tel. 778-588-9606 Forward-Looking Information Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements, which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences, without limiting the generality of the following, include: risks inherent in exploration activities; volatility and sensitivity to market prices; volatility and sensitivity to capital market fluctuations; the impact of exploration competition; the ability to raise funds through private or public equity financings; environmental and safety risks including increased regulatory burdens; unexpected geological or hydrological conditions; changes in government regulations and policies, including trade laws and policies; failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government authorities; weather and other natural phenomena; and other exploration, development, operating, financial market and regulatory risks. Except as required by applicable securities laws and regulation, Sun Summit Minerals Corp. (SMN) disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78195 Paul Jackson, whose springy and grooving electric bass lines drove much of Herbie Hancocks pioneering jazz-funk in the 1970s, died on Thursday at a hospital in Japan, where he had lived for more than 30 years. He was 73. Mike Clark, a drummer and lifelong Jackson collaborator, said the cause was sepsis brought on by complications of diabetes. In 1973, inspired by the music of Sly Stone and the Pointer Sisters, and frustrated by many jazz musicians habit of dismissing groove-based music offhand, Mr. Hancock started the Headhunters, with Mr. Jackson on bass. I didnt want to make a record that combined jazz and funk, Mr. Hancock remembered in Possibilities, his 2014 autobiography, written with Lisa Dickey. I wanted pure funk. Since 2016, women have been allowed to serve in every role in the military, including ground combat. Unlike men, though, they are not required to register with the Selective Service System, the government agency that maintains a database of Americans who would be eligible for the draft were it reinstated. Almost all other sex-based distinctions in federal law have been eliminated, in no small part because of the pioneering work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who litigated womens rights cases in the Supreme Court before she joined it. But the requirement that only men must register for the draft remains. The Supreme Court will soon decide whether to hear a challenge to the requirement, in language that could have been drafted by Justice Ginsburg when she ran the Womens Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union. It imposes selective burdens on men, reinforces the notion that women are not full and equal citizens, and perpetuates stereotypes about mens and womens capabilities, lawyers with the A.C.L.U. wrote in a petition on behalf of two men who were required to register and the National Coalition for Men. Mobile mayoral politics could be surfacing in the ongoing debate over the fate of passenger rail service to downtown Mobile. During Tuesdays city council meeting, Councilman Fred Richardson asked Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson if he was going to release a letter or statement of support for Amtraks return to the Gulf Coast. Richardson is running against Stimpson during the August 24 mayoral election. Also running is Karlos Finley, a longtime Mobile attorney and municipal court judge. Stimpson, in response to Richardson, said he was taking a wait-and-see approach before issuing a statement. Other mayors along the Gulf Coast line have released supportive statements of Amtraks decision to file a petition with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board seeking the return of passenger rail between New Orleans and Mobile. Amtrak wants to start the service on or about Jan. 1, 2022, and is asking the STB for expedited consideration. The route would connect Mobile to New Orleans with two daily trips. Each trip will include four stops in Mississippi Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport and Bay St. Louis. At this time, there is a controversy between Amtrak and the freight carriers, said Stimpson. I dont want the city of Mobile pulled into that fight until (the STB) determines what the pathway forward is. Once that is determined, the city council and mayor will be in a position to make a prudent decision. Richardson then requested the city council to write a letter or statement in support of Amtraks return, sparking debate with some of his colleagues. Amtrak is bringing passenger service to the city of Mobile that can increase our tourism and provide additional revenue to us, said Richardson. The freight people have to work their own things out. That is not our problem. Councilman Joel Daves, who has long raised concerns about how Amtrak trains could disrupt business activity at the Alabama State Port Authority, said it is absolutely our problem when the Port of Mobile is the single largest driver of our economy. Daves blamed Amtrak for unilaterally ending a rail traffic control study that Mobile city leaders sought last year as part of a contingency to spend up to $3 million over three years for the operations of the Gulf Coast route. The study, which started in January 2020, involved CSX and Norfolk Southern the two freight operators on the existing line. The study was supposed to determine the impact of Amtrak service on the freight trains that travel through downtown Mobile, a chief concern for representatives of the port authority. Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson speaks during a news conference on Monday, March 22, 2021, at the Five Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). An Amtrak official said last month that they halted participating in the study after it appeared to have no conclusion in site. The nations passenger rail entity also has federal priority rights over freight trains to operate on a rail line that is shared by both operators. Judith Adams, a spokeswoman with the Alabama State Port Authority, said last week that the group welcomes an independent and thorough investigation by the STB into the actual data and facts. Right now, there is absolutely no proof whatsoever that the restoration of passenger rail service wont significantly affect port operations and therefore the single largest driver of our economy, Daves said. Until Amtrak comes back to the table and engages in an impact study, I wont support any such resolution. Said Richardson, Thats your position, not mine. He then recalled a variety of passenger rail options through Mobile before Amtrak became the nations passenger rail operator in 1971. He then accused freight operators of blocking passenger service to Mobile. Both of them can exist, said Richardson, regarding Amtrak and the freight trains. Richardson then later released a statement in which he called the Amtrak commitment to restore the service as a game-changer for our city and citizens. He said that Amtraks return is key in our continuing efforts to make Mobile a major tourist destination, and improve the quality of life for residents. This development has been a long-time coming and we are more than ready, said Richardson. Finley, the other mayoral candidate, in a statement to AL.com, said he believes its important to support Amtrak and would support issuing a letter or statement enumerating the same. Finley, unlike Richardson, said there were specifics that need to be worked out to ensure that the relationship is fair and equitable to all parties involved. I think we can all agree that having passenger rail in our city is an enhancement to the quality of life for our citizens, as well as our burgeoning tourist industry, Finley said. The more we can enrich that experience, the better it will be toward its overall growth. Karlos Finley (Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com)Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com Richardson said his Amtrak push was not necessarily related to the mayors race. He said hes elected to represent the city of Mobile as a councilman and that he does not believe Amtraks return to the Gulf Coast will harm Mobile economically. He said one issue hes concerned with is that Amtrak, which is subsidized by the federal government, makes its tickets available to low-and moderate-income people and that Republican politicians are fighting it all over the nation for some reason. The return of Gulf Coast passenger service, however, has been spearheaded by mostly Republican politicians in Mississippi. The leading champion for the project is Republican U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, who has eyed the restoration effort since the passenger rail service was halted after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the rail line in 2005. In January, he personally invited new U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to visit the Gulf Coast to learn more about the project, to which Buttigieg verbally committed. Local officials in cities along the Gulf Coast line issued statements last week in support of Amtraks decision to petition the STB to restore the service by 2022. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called the service a critical economic driver for our region, while Biloxi Mayor Andrew Fofo Gilich said the service will create a synergy all along the Gulf Coast. Bay St. Louis Mayor Michael Favre said the rail service could also play a role in evacuating residents during times of disaster. Each community is making its own decision and choosing how to speak, said Marc Magliari, spokesman with Amtrak. Wiley Blankenship, chairman of the Southern Rail Commission, said he did not see anything wrong with Stimpsons wait-and-see approach. Youre looking at a city with (a large port) and a director with some questions he needs answered, said Blankenship. I believe we err on the side of caution until these questions are answered and the port, as a whole, feels comfortable that the questions, as it relates to the negative impact to their operations, are answered. He added, That is the position we are in right now. But until these questions are answered, its hard to celebrate anything when you dont know the facts. BEIJING (AP) China on Tuesday said it summoned foreign diplomats in protest after the United States, the European Union, Canada and Britain jointly imposed sanctions on senior Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses in Chinas far western Xinjiang region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Tuesday called the new sanctions a slander and an affront to the reputation and dignity of the Chinese people. I admonish them that they should not underestimate the firm determination of the Chinese people to defend their national interests and dignity, and they will pay the price for their folly and arrogance, Hua told reporters at a daily briefing. That came hours after the Chinese and Russian foreign ministers denounced a new wave of criticism and sanctions against both countries over human rights. At a news conference in the southern Chinese city of Nanning, China's Wang Yi and Russia's Sergei Lavrov rejected outside critiques of their authoritarian political systems and said they were working to further global progress on issues from climate change to the coronavirus pandemic. Countries should stand together to oppose all forms of unilateral sanctions, Wang said. These measures will not be embraced by the international community. Russia is also under Western sanctions over human rights abuses and military aggression against Ukraine. Lavrov said Russias ties with China grew stronger as Moscows relations with the EU suffered damage, while accusing the West of imposing their own rules on everyone else, which they believe should underpin the world order. If Europe broke these relations, simply destroying all the mechanisms that have been created for many years ... then, probably, objectively, this leads to the fact that our relations with China are developing faster than whats left of relations with European countries, Lavrov said. In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the two ministers said no country should seek to impose its form of democracy on others. Story continues Interference in a sovereign nations internal affairs under the excuse of advancing democracy is unacceptable, the statement said. China says members of the Uyghur and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang have voluntarily taken part in job training and de-radicalization courses, denying charges that more than 1 million have been locked up in prison-like reeducation camps where they are forced to reject their native culture and pledge loyalty to the ruling Communist Party and its leader Xi Jinping. Media outlets, foreign governments and activist groups say abuses, including forced labor and coerced birth control, are ongoing. The Australian and New Zealand governments reiterated their grave concerns about the growing number of credible reports of severe human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The two, whose economies are heavily reliant on trade with China, have not imposed sanctions themselves. We share these countries deep concerns, which are held across the Australian and New Zealand communities, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and her New Zealand counterpart Nanaia Mahuta said in a joint statement. Today, we underscore the importance of transparency and accountability, and reiterate our call on China to grant meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for United Nations experts, and other independent observers, the statement added. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the multi-national measures were part of intensive diplomacy by the U.K., the United States, Canada and the 27-nation EU to force action amid mounting evidence of serious rights abuses against Uyghurs. The sanctions will be imposed immediately and include travel bans and asset freezes against four officials, Raab said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement the united response "sends a strong signal to those who violate or abuse international human rights, and we will take further actions in coordination with likeminded partners." Sanctions have also been opposed by the U.S. on Chinese and Hong Kong officials accused of rolling back freedoms in the former British colony that was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997. Britain has offered residency and a path to citizenship to millions born before the handover, further infuriating the authorities in Beijing. Beijing swiftly responded to Monday's move by the EU by in turn slapping sanctions on 10 European individuals and four institutions that it said had damaged Chinas interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation. Germany on Tuesday summoned the Chinese ambassador in Berlin to complain about the move, saying sanctions against EU lawmakers, scientists, political institutions and non-governmental organizations represented an unreasonable escalation that will unnecessarily strain relations between the EU and China. ___ McGuirck reported from Canberra, Australia. Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report. Offers all-in-one data security services in a single, secure platform with information stored in Switzerland Blue-chip partners include America Movil, the third-largest telecoms operator globally with over 300 million subscribers Cybersecurity market set to exceed US$300 billion by 2024 What does: Ltd ( ) ( ) (WKN:A2PN34) is a cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss-hosted solutions for secure communications and secure data management. The company distributes a suite of secure cloud-based storage, disaster recovery, document management, encrypted e-mails, and secure communication tools. It sells its products through approved wholesalers and distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide and also serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide. GlobeX Data's privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) of June 19, 1992, (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner. Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved. The company's Sekur software solution is a product designed for strategic use by key personnel in large organizations (C-Level and Board Members) and High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) and geared for users sensitive to privacy and security. Sekur includes SekurMessenger as part of a bundle of email, messaging and file transfer into one app solutions, and includes the companys latest SekurMail technology. It includes a proprietary anti-phishing and privacy feature called SekurSend which lets a user send an email to any other recipient, whether they have Sekur or not, in full privacy and security as the email never leaves Sekurs encrypted email servers based in Switzerland. The recipient can then click on the notification and reply in the same manner using SekurReply, without the recipient having to register for a Sekur account. The sender can also decide to protect any email sent by adding a password to open it, a read-limit and a self-destruct timer as well. Additionally, SekurMail includes full control of email delivery, automatic data export for large Enterprises and an automatic Data Loss Prevention technology (DLP) with real-time continuous archiving. SekurMessenger, meanwhile, eliminates many of the privacy and security risks by not only not requiring a phone number, which would divulge a users phone device ID, but also by not social engineering a users phone or computer contact list and infecting the contacts by default as well, eliminating a huge loophole in security and privacy. SekurPro offer svoice and video conferencing in addition to secure email and messaging. The company is eyeing a global mass-market launch of its Sekur secure communications solution in April 2021, while the first launch, in the US, is on track to be completed before the end of March. GlobeX Data CEO Alain Ghiai has said the company is "targeting several million consumers and business executives globally, in search of a secure and private application for all their communications needs". How is it doing: GlobeX Data has made a very brisk start to 2021, adding to its coffers and expanding its reach around the globe as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic focuses companies on the need for greater cyber-security as more staff work from home, while a series of cyber-hacks for Microsoft software has also provided a greater impetus for the company's products. At the end of February, GlobeX revealed that it was in the final stages of signing a distribution deal in South Asia with a large telecommunications operator for its Sekur encrypted email, encrypted messaging and secure file-share solution. GlobeX said the distribution agreement was with a publicly listed company and, for that reason, the name of the telecom operator would remain confidential until the agreement has been executed and signed by both parties and a formal announcement can be made. It noted that the telecom company operates in several countries in South Asia and has a global mobile subscriber base of over 150 million subscribers. The company pointed out that this would be the second telecom conglomerate it has signed up in emerging markets, already having an agreement in place with America Movil, the seventh-largest telecom in the world and largest in Latin America. At the start of February, the firm announced plans to launch its Sekur and SekurSafe communications products in Colombia and Panama. The company said it expects the release to take place early in the second quarter of 2021 in partnership with Micronet, it's Latin America cybersecurity distributor. Micronet, which is headquartered in Spain, manages a network of 3,000 resellers in 11 countries through Central and Latin America. In the same month, GlobeX also announced its first distribution deal in Australia, signing an agreement for its Sekur communications product with an IT managed security provider to start sales in the Sydney area. The agreement is part of its wider strategy to expand in Australia and New Zealand, the company said. At the start of March, GlobeX revealed that it had been receiving an increased number of inquiries about its secure communications solutions over recent weeks. The company attributed the uptick to major security breaches on Microsoft Exchange servers and business emails. On March 16, GlobeX revealed that it had received a new order for its Sekur technology from stem cell therapy company, Hemostemix Inc. The company said Hemostemix was looking for an alternative to Microsoft Office365 for a secure and private communications solution in order to communicate with regulatory authorities, such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On the financing front, at the start of the year, GlobeX announced an oversubscribed C$1.08 million private placement consisting of 9 million units, at a price of C$0.12 per unit, with the company's CEO and CFO participating in the placement with subscriptions of 2,017,355 units, or almost 23% of the total offering. Net proceeds to the company were C$999,500. Then on March 22, 2021, the group announced that it had secured firm commitments for a further C$1.25 million in equity financing. Each unit in the financing consists of one GlobeX common share priced at C$0.30 per share, and one-half of one share purchase warrant. Each full warrant will entitle the holder to purchase a share at a price of $0.50 per share for a two-year term. The company's CEO also participated in the latest private placement with subscriptions for 1,750,000 units, or almost 42% of the total offering. GlobeX said the proceeds of the financing will be used to accelerate the marketing of the company's Sekur encrypted email and messaging solution to the US market, and for general purposes. In January, also announced the start of trading in its shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The company said it anticipated that the Frankfurt listing would help increase trading liquidity and facilitate investment in the company by institutional and retail investors across the European Union and Switzerland. Inflection points: Imminent US launch of Sekur services secure communications solution Global mass-market launch of Sekur in April Further deals with biotech and medical research companies What the boss says: In a March statement, CEO Alain Ghiai said: We have been educating our clients for the past several years on the dangers of the everything connected Big Tech movements. We have always preferred a more cautious approach of creating an independent platform, not connected to Big Tech and not using open-source coding, for greater security and privacy. This strategy is now showing its fruits, as the scandals of WhatsApp breach of privacy and Microsoft hacks privacy are now getting the attention of more business users. He added: Security and privacy are becoming a global concern, with the latest Microsoft business emails and exchange servers being attacked, and the new WhatsApp rules to share all users' data with Facebook; and we plan on capitalizing on this concern as much as possible and offer the privacy and security businesses and consumers deserve. Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com KYODO NEWS - Mar 23, 2021 - 18:15 | All, Japan Former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai announced his resignation as a lawmaker Tuesday after pleading guilty at a Tokyo court to vote-buying in a bid to secure a seat for his wife in a 2019 Japanese upper house election. Kawai, a House of Representatives member, is accused of violating the election law by handing out cash to politicians and supporters in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan, to reward them for votes secured in the campaign to get his wife Anri Kawai elected in July 2019. During questioning by prosecutors at the Tokyo District Court, Kawai, 58, said, "I will not fight the vote-buying charge by and large," reversing his earlier pleas of innocence in previous court hearings. "I cannot deny that I had desired to get Anri elected," he added and expressed his intention to quit as a lawmaker, saying, "I will take all the blame." According to the indictment, Kawai handed out a total of about 29 million yen ($266,000) to 100 local politicians and supporters in return for securing votes for his wife in the 2019 House of Councillors election. Kawai, however, denied Tuesday that he had conspired with his 47-year-old wife, although she was convicted in January of conspiring with her husband and sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for five years. Anri Kawai resigned as an upper house member in February. The former minister also denied part of the charges, saying money he gave to the campaign staff was not intended to secure votes for his wife. Kawai said he had continued to plead innocent "to protect the dignity of my wife and supporters." But he said he changed his mind after seeing his supporters testify in court. By February, 94 of the 100 people who allegedly received cash from Kawai had said they understood the money was intended for vote-buying. Japan's top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, said it was "very unfortunate" that a former justice minister was facing criminal charges. "Elections are fundamental to democracy, so it goes without saying that rules need to be followed," said Kato, who served alongside Kawai as health minister under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "Politicians and those who aim to become politicians must act with this in mind." Appointed justice minister in September 2019, Kawai stepped down just over a month later after the Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine reported on possible election law violations during his wife's campaign. Kawai apologized several times in court, saying, "I have taken actions that undermine the (public) trust in elections." He was released on 50 million yen bail on March 3 after his defense team filed a fifth request for his release. The Kawais were arrested last June. Both of them left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party shortly before their arrest. Their arrests shed light on the LDP headquarters' provision of 150 million yen, an unusually large sum, to Kawai's camp, which was backed by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, now prime minister, and other heavyweight LDP politicians. Related coverage: Former Japan justice minister released on bail in vote-buying case Lawmaker Anri Kawai resigns over 2019 vote-buying scandal Japan lawmaker Anri Kawai found guilty of vote-buying in 2019 election The co-founder of Apollo Global Management has stepped down from all his leadership roles at the firm following an outcry over his ties to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Leon Black, who helped launch the prominent New York private equity giant 30 years ago, had already given up the role of chief executive but had indicated he planned to remain as chairman. Those plans were officially abandoned yesterday as Apollo said Jay Clayton, the former chairman of US regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission, would head Apollo's board. Leon Black, who helped launch Apollo Global Management 30 years ago, has stepped down from all his leadership roles at the firm following an outcry over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein Billionaire Black, 69, had faced intense scrutiny and anger from investors over his relationship with Epstein, who died in jail awaiting trial on further charges of child sex offences in 2019. In an email to staff on Sunday, Black said the 'relentless public attention and media scrutiny' had 'taken a toll on my health and have caused me to wish to take some time away from the public spotlight'. In an official statement yesterday, he added: 'I view this as the ideal moment to step back and focus on my family, my wife Debra's and my health issues, and my many other interests.' A report by law firm Dechert, commissioned by Apollo and published in January, revealed that Black had paid Epstein $158million between 2012 and 2017 to handle art transactions and give tax advice. By that time, Epstein had already been convicted of procuring a child for prostitution in 2008 and had served a 13-month sentence, much of it on work release. The Dechert report found that Black viewed Epstein as a 'confirmed bachelor with eclectic tastes, who often employed attractive women', but it did not find any evidence that the Apollo boss had been involved in criminal activity or had any knowledge of Epstein's sex trafficking. But Black's position at the firm he co-founded has become increasingly tenuous in the wake of the Epstein scandal. Investors were considering pulling their money, as Black's continued influence at the top of Apollo did not align with the principles of good governance and social responsibility which many institutions are now pushing for. But in the email to staff, Black hinted that his departure may be temporary as he said: 'I hope to return at some point.' Marc Rowan, another Apollo co-founder who had been announced as chief executive in January, picked up the role yesterday. In the UK, Barclays chief executive Jes Staley is still being investigated by the Financial Conduct Authority over whether he adequately disclosed his own relationship with Epstein to his employer. Staley, a friend and business associate of Epstein, visited him while he served his sentence on work release. There is no suggestion that Staley was involved in any criminal activity. Federal health officials said early on Tuesday that results from a US trial of AstraZenecas Covid-19 vaccine may have relied on outdated information that may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data, casting doubt on an announcement Monday that had been seen as good news for the company as well as the global vaccination drive. In a highly unusual statement released after midnight, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said that the data and safety monitoring board, an independent panel of medical experts under the National Institutes of Health that has been helping to oversee AstraZenecas U.S. trial, had notified government agencies and AstraZeneca late Monday that it was concerned by information the drugmaker had released that morning. The institute urged AstraZeneca to work with the monitoring board to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible. Also read: AstraZeneca US trial data shows Covid-19 vaccine 79% effective, safe In a news release Monday announcing the results of the US trial, AstraZeneca said that the vaccine it developed with the University of Oxford was 79% effective against Covid-19, higher than observed in previous trials, and completely prevented the worst outcomes from the disease. The long-anticipated results were seen as encouraging global confidence in the vaccine, which was shaken this month when more than a dozen countries, mostly in Europe, temporarily suspended the shots use over concerns about possible rare side effects. In recent days, the monitoring boards analysis was delayed several times because the board had to ask AstraZeneca for revised reports from those handling trial data on behalf of the company, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. The monitoring board ultimately conveyed the results of the study to AstraZeneca in a meeting over the weekend, leading to the companys announcement Monday morning. Asked about the issues with data submission to the monitoring board, an AstraZeneca spokesperson, whom AstraZeneca declined to name, said Friday that it was completely incorrect that the trial data had formatting problems or had not been submitted to the study monitor in a clean fashion. Read more: European trust in AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine plunges, poll shows As is often the case, the spokesperson said, monitoring boards can request new or clarifying analyses of data from the trial. This would enable them to ensure the robustness of their determinations. AstraZeneca did not immediately return a request for comment early Tuesday. Dr. Eric Topol, a clinical trials expert at Scripps Research in San Diego, said it was highly irregular to see such a public display of friction between a monitoring board and a study sponsor, which are typically in close concordance. Ive never seen anything like this, he said in an interview after the institutes statement was released. Its so, so troubling. AstraZenecas U.S. trial, which involved more than 32,000 participants, was the largest test of its kind for the shot. Although no clinical trial is large enough to rule out extremely rare side effects, AstraZeneca reported that its study turned up no serious safety issues. Also read: UK warns EU vaccine export ban would be 'counter-productive' The fresh data may have arrived too late to make much difference in the United States, where the vaccine is not yet authorized and is unlikely to become available before May. By then, federal officials predict, there will be enough vaccine doses for all of the nations adults from the three vaccines that have already been authorized: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Even so, the better-than-expected results were seen as a heartening turn for AstraZenecas shot, whose low cost and simple storage requirements have made it a vital piece of the drive to vaccinate the world. The results were also thought to ease concerns about the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe. In an effort to increase public confidence, many European political leaders have gotten the injections in recent days. Regulators in Europe initiated a safety review of AstraZenecas vaccine earlier this month after a small number of people who had recently been inoculated developed blood clots and abnormal bleeding. The trial did not turn up any sign of such problems, although some safety issues can only be detected in the real world, once a drug or vaccine has been given to millions of people. AstraZeneca said Monday that it would continue to analyze the new data and prepare to apply in the coming weeks for emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. The vaccine has already been approved in more than 70 countries, but clearance from American regulators would bolster its global reputation. Kusoldharm Foundation joins efforts to help COVID-afflicted PHUKET: The Kusoldharm Foundation has handed out 1,500 packs of essential goods to local people suffering financial hardship during the ongoing COVID-19 economic crisis, with more to come. charityCOVID-19Coronaviruseconomics By The Phuket News Tuesday 23 March 2021, 02:49PM A total 500 packs of the essential items were handed out at the foundations headquarters on Takua Pa Rd in Phuket Town each day over three days, from last Friday through Sunday. The packs contained rice, canned foods and eggs, explained foundation president Benjawan Tumpanuruk. The next donation of 3,000 packs of essential good will be held in May to celebrate the birthday of the Poy Jun Sia Hook, the patron god of the Kusoldharm Foundation, Ms Benjawan said. For people who are interested in receiving the pecks of goods, please follow our Facebook page or contact our foundation, Mrs Benjawan said. The Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation can be contacted as follows: 076-355301-2 (Phuket Town); 076-621338 (Thalang); 076-344432 (Patong). One hundred years ago or more, if you had problems in your marriage or suffered from depression, you might turn to your pastor. In response, hed address your problems in explicitly Christian terms. The problem was sin, and the solution was salvation, writes John Bernau, a sociologist at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University. Christian clergy held the clear monopoly on helping people attend to their problems for centuries. But during the early 20th century, religion and medicine were engaged in a dialogue on emerging psychological care. Offering a slice of that discussion, a February article in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion documents trends in the way pastors wrote about their role as counselors as it became commonplace for people to turn to psychologists rather than spiritual leaders with their problems. Using computational text analysis, Bernau read through over 70 years of articles in the Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling, an interdisciplinary journal including both spiritual care and psychotherapy. The sociologist found the words God, Christian, Jesus, Christ, and church were used in about 5 percent of the article content in the early 1950s, dropping to about 1 percent today. Now, the word God is used alongside other words like love, heart, life, and care. He suggests the religious language is replaced with individualistic language, favoring the kind of personal narrative and experience that came to be the norm in therapy by mental health professionals. He noted that since the 1960s, pastors language lost its denominational specificity in favor of a more ecumenical and open approach, deferring to meeting on believers terms. (A persons) stories, experience, and narrative construction are welcomed by an occupation whose professional identity is increasingly focused on listening, reflection, and conversation, wrote Bernau. By focusing on the terms used in the journal, the study can track a shift in how pastors portray their counseling work, but not necessarily whether the terminology they used with congregants changed as well. Bernau clarified that the analysis can offer researchers the ability to map the broad currents of the profession but is not meant to replace close historical analysis. In another trend, pastors also became more likely to use psychological terms in their writing but less likely to discuss the related professions of psychology, psychoanalysis, and psychiatry. Bernau wrote, this decline may signal a solidification of jurisdictional boundaries after the lively debate arising in the 1960s, which has resulted in a menu of spiritual and mental care options, from therapistsboth secular and Christianto nouthetic or biblical counselors to pastors. As CT reported, some pastors today have continued to view psychological counseling with suspicion, while others see differences in approach as jurisdictions, requiring pastors to partner with other mental health professionals to provide holistic care. As more people stopped trusting pastors as an authority on mental health, the chaplaincyreligious positions within secular institutions like hospitals or the militaryrose as a reaction, a way to offer faith-based guidance from within more trusted spaces. Since the 1980s, raw word counts of chaplain, clergy, pastor, and priest illustrate how chaplaincy has come to dominate the journal. Bernau offers two takeaways. First, dont be afraid to offer a distinct message. In fact, Christian counselors can be clearer about what their tradition offers over secular guidance. If you believe the message of Christ has meaning in todays world, dont be afraid to communicate that message in clear and explicit language, he said. Secondly, he suggested that Christian theology can be reinterpreted for contemporary pastoral care. Instead of the aggressive, proscriptive counseling of the past, Christian theology might be called to provide a gentler, more subtle message vis-a-vis St. Francis of Assisi, who believed the gospel wasnt communicated only through wordslistening belongs in pastoral care, too. 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. Astis fight made her a celebrity in the LGBTQ community at a time when transgender rights were just beginning to be a national issue. She embraced her newfound role, giving speeches, marching in pride parades and simply living a full life as an older transgender woman. In November 2020, Out magazine named her to its annual Out 100 list. Her telling her story had a huge impact for the transgender community, Mr Levasseur said. Because of violence against transgender people, many of us dont get to grow old, but here she was, enjoying her life in her 90s. Astis greatest enjoyment came in the air. A licensed pilot and instructor since her 20s, she continued to fly every weekend well into her 90s, travelling from her home in Manhattan to a New Jersey airport. She moved to San Diego at the beginning of the pandemic, having lived most of her life in New York. She took her last flight, with a student, in July, and was in the process of establishing a Guinness world record as the worlds oldest active pilot and oldest flight instructor. What do I like about flying? she said in Flying Solo, a 2018 documentary about her life. I guess its being a bird. Robina Fedora Asti was born on April 7, 1921, in Manhattan and raised in Greenwich Village. Her father, David Astey, was a featherweight boxer who had Anglicised his surname after his manager said he needed to sound less Italian. Asti began using the original spelling after she transitioned. Her mother, Helen (Jund) Astey, was a homemaker. Along with her daughter, Coca, Asti is survived by another daughter, Eamonn Gunther, a son, Trevor Astey, and five grandchildren. Another son, Pepe, died in childhood. Asti showed an interest in electrical devices from an early age. By the time she was a teenager, she had a steady business fixing radios around her Greenwich Village neighbourhood. She attended Brooklyn Technical High School but dropped out at 17 to join the Navy. Her training in electrical engineering took her to Wake Island, a military outpost in the Pacific Ocean, where she installed radios in naval aircraft, a priority as war with Japan loomed. Asti served throughout World War II and was discharged as a lieutenant commander after the war ended. She returned to New York, where she and three Navy pals opened a supper club in White Plains, north of New York City. She soon tired of the restaurant business. She sold her stake and took a job with EW Axe, a mutual fund company. She married Evangelina Diaz-Perez in 1958. Asti began to transition in the mid-1970s, a time when transgender people were poorly understood, even in New York City. She would dress as a man at work, then come home and change into womens clothing. Eventually the pressure of leading multiple lives got to be too much; she quit her job, came out as a woman and amicably divorced Ms Diaz-Perez. To more fully inhabit her new gender expression, she took a series of jobs viewed as typically female. For several years she worked as a make-up artist at Bloomingdales, a housekeeper and an off-the-books hairdresser. She also began trading stocks, eventually earning enough money to be her full-time source of income. In 1980, she met Norwood Patton, an artist, at a bar on the Upper East Side. They married in 2004 in an airplane hangar in upstate New York. He died in 2012. By her own account, Asti was no activist. She lived largely outside the movement for LGBTQ rights of the 1980s and 90s, despite its significant presence in New York City. But she took a stand when it was necessary. Soon after her transition, her doctor told her that as part of her application to renew her pilots license, he had to give her an internal physical exam, as required by the Federal Aviation Administration. She found the requirement invasive and demeaning. With the help of the Ninety-Nines, an organisation for female pilots, she petitioned the government to change its rule, which it promptly did. After her husband died, Asti grew especially close to one of her grandsons, Erik Hummel, who lived with her for six years after he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. She became something of a den mother to his friends, fixing them Sunday dinner and regaling them with stories about growing up during the Great Depression or fighting in World War II. In 2019, she and her grandson founded the Cloud Dancers Foundation, which provides assistance and awareness for older transgender people. She would say that she had been through a depression, through a world war, and that she had learned to just keep living, Hummel said. She wanted to remind other transgender people who feel alone that there are people who care about them. Cloud Dancer is a nickname for an acrobatically inclined pilot, and Asti seemed to see a strong connection between flying and living as a transgender person. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Charlie McConalogue wants to make the next CAP as farmer-friendly as possible The contentious issue of how EU farm supports should be targeted will be discussed at an EU leaders summit today, ahead of a super trilogue meeting between the parliament, commission and council later this week. The discussions will include debate on the crucial definitions of active farmer and new farmer; the voluntary/obligatory reduction of payments (capping); and voluntary/mandatory payments for small farmers. It is understood Ireland will push for member state flexibility on how an active or genuine farmer should be defined. If Ireland succeed, pressure will mount on farm organisations to define the concept, while addressing the practice of farmers leasing out entitlements having exited farming. IFAs genuine farmer and entitlements position is expected to be discussed at its next National Council meeting. There are fears in the organisation that if the issue is not tackled, more money will move away from active farmers, while its also understood that those leasing out entitlements may not be considered a genuine farmer by the association. It is said to be considering a number of options including a definition based on levels of minimum stocking/arable rate, and on-farm economic output (sales excluding direct payments) in a previous year. On entitlements it is understood IFA is examining the prohibiting of long-term leasing (> one year) of entitlements to non-family members, while leasing entitlements to family members or related parties is permitted. It is understood that a 12-month leasing timeframe on entitlements with a maximum of just two consecutive annual leases to be allowed is also being considered with suggestions of a once-off tax-free allowance on the sale. The possibility of an entitlement exchange scheme to give opportunity for farmers to buy and sell entitlements is also said to be in the mix. Todays EU meeting will also see Ireland back a CAP reform proposal to allow farmers to correct EU scheme applications mistakes without incurring penalties. It is jointly supported by Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania and Spain. In a paper, seen by the Farming Independent, it is proposed that it should be possible to modify aid applications in some situations (including after deadlines). This may include: forgetting to tick an aid application although it has been applied for previously; forgetting to send a supporting document; and failure to declare animal numbers for area-based payment aid with density livestock obligations. It would allow for corrections where there are small variations in land parcel size too. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said he wants to further explore the proposal as it is part of his ambition to make the next CAP as farmer-friendly as possible. EDWARDSVILLE From providing an Easter morning thrill for children to helping families in need with new dinner ideas, the Metro East Community Rotary Club continues to make an impact. This is the fourth year for the clubs Egg My House fundraising event, where club members will put eggs filled with candy or small toys in your front yard for Easter, which is April 4. Rotarians will come to your house from 6 to 9 p.m. the night before Easter and place the eggs in visible hiding spots, said Krystal West, club secretary for Metro East Community Rotary Club. We invite our families to help us hide eggs and we invite the other Rotary Clubs in the community as well. The kids are surprised the next morning when their front yard is full of eggs. The response had been growing each year, but it was down a little last year due to the pandemic, which had just started. We hope to do a lot more houses this year. The money collected from Egg My House goes toward a variety of community service projects that the Metro East Community Rotary Club supports. The eggs are stuffed with candy and small toys by residents at Stillwater Senior Living in Edwardsville. We pick up the eggs at Stillwater and then we deliver them, said West, who is also the assistant governor for Rotary International District 6460. We combine activities together to help everybody out. Communities served by Egg My House include Alton, Bethalto, Caseyville, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Granite City, Hamel, Maryville and Troy. The cost is $20 for 24 eggs, $40 for 48 eggs, $60 for 72 eggs, $80 for 96 eggs and $100 for 120 eggs. Orders must be placed by Wednesday, March 31. Provide a delivery address and make payment via PayPal to metroeastcommunity.rotary@gmail.com. You can purchase for friends or family or grandparents can purchase for their grandkids, West said. Another current project for Metro East Community Rotary Club is supplying grocery items to Glen-Ed Pantry. We got some grant money late last year from Rotary International, but we didnt want to compete with people and companies donating food during the holidays, said Marge Ogle, who is president-elect for the club. We waited to start buying things until after the holidays when the food pantry has gone through its Christmas and family food items and it needs to be replenished. The main focus of our project is to help supplement donations to the pantry with items that will allow patrons to have new dinner ideas. Because people may be on a limited income because of the pandemic, the pantry has had more families come in and ask for essentials. We came up with recipe cards and meal packages for various types of food. The recipe cards and meal packets, which include salads and side dishes, offer selections such as Asian Night and Italian Night. One of our Rotary members had her kids actually make the meal for Asian Night. That was also part of our focus, to make this a family event, Ogle said. Meatballs, parmesan cheese, pasta and sauce are items that are usually donated to the pantry, so were adding that for Italian Night, and chicken tetrazzini is another possibility because were adding frozen chicken breasts to the pantry. During the project, club members found out that spices, butter, vegetable oils, and other basic ingredients are considered rare, luxury items for some Glen-Ed pantry families. The club reached out to Code 3 Spices in Collinsville, which has donated items. Code 3 Spices also provided some barbecue sauce so now you can make barbecued burgers with frozen ground beef or you can grill the chicken breasts and have barbecued chicken, Ogle said. During the pandemic, the partnership between Glen-Ed Pantry and Metro East Community Rotary Club has been especially satisfying for both organizations. The pantry now has fresh food Wednesday, where they have a cooler of fresh foods, Ogle said. Were providing some fresh vegetables as well. The pantry has done a great job during the pandemic, and for their patrons, its like a trip to the grocery store. They give them a cart and they have a lot of things to offer them, so its a full grocery experience. On Saturday, members of the Metro East Community Rotary Club are helping the Edwardsville Childrens Museum with its Micro Forest project, where Cedarhurst Senior Living is donating two acres to Edwardsville Childrens Museum to plant the citys first micro-forest of 100 trees. If anybody needs a volunteer for a project, contact us and we will help you get volunteers, West said. Since she went public, a string of more powerful people than the junior staffer have either failed to report the allegations to police, failed to support her in reporting the allegation, failed to get themselves across the detail of what happened, or failed to contact her directly, either to satisfy themselves of the facts to offer her proper care. Senator Reynolds says it was not her place to bring the matter to police attention out of respect for Higgins privacy. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he didnt know about it until it hit the media (even though senior staff in his office had direct knowledge dating back to 2019). Philip Gaetjens, the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, has been charged by Morrison to establish who knew what and when about the communication of Higgins allegations; yet the nations most senior mandarin has not spoken to Higgins and says he does not need to. What Higgins has been subjected to is about as traumatic as it gets, but I want to focus on the incentives and the structures. And the structural problems are not confined to federal politics. Three women who worked in the electorate office of WA Labor MLA for Kalamunda Matthew Hughes have all come forward with similar allegations about the way he treated them in the office. One of the women, Janelle Sewell, alleges she was subjected to put-downs and bullying over two years, including one day in April 2019, when Hughes began swearing and banged her desk with a fist. Loading In June 2020 she claims she asked Hughes for clarification about the process for paying a bill, prompting him to complain that he had already told her this hundreds of times before. For me the problem was I kept trying to escape his raging and he followed me everywhere and he wouldnt let it go, Sewell told WAtodays Hamish Hastie. He was in my space and I kept having to move around him. She claims another staffer stepped in and she reported the matter to the Department of Premier and Cabinets human resources team the next morning, requesting help or a transfer to another office. Six hours later, Hughes called her to sack her, she claims, because of a breach of trust after she contacted HR. If that sequence is correct it is astonishing and totally out of step with proper HR practice. Hughes, a former school principal at John Septimus Roe Anglican school, denies any wrongdoing. The allegations first became public in the week leading up to the state election. Matthew is a decent man, Premier Mark McGowan said, adding that there were obviously different versions of events. The Department of Premier and Cabinet has managed all of those issues Im advised the principal complainant was happy with the way it was managed. McGowan has spoken to his MP, but not to Janelle Sewell, who isnt happy at all. That was not the case, she said. Three women found Matthew to be the problem, not us. The Premier is wrong on that count. Hughes is not the only MP to deny running a toxic office. Deputy Premier Roger Cook has also been forced to confront claims from a former trusted electorate officer, Sanja Spasojevic, about bullying and harassment. When he addressed the media to deny the claims, he was surrounded for the cameras by female Labor figures including Minister for Womens Interests Simone McGurk and Bicton MLA Lisa OMalley. The message to the party was unmistakable. Under the Electorate Officers Award of 1986, the President of the Legislative Council, or the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, are defined as the employers. This is a bad starting point. The awards termination clause reads: The employer may summarily dismiss an employee deemed guilty of gross misconduct or neglect of duty and the employee shall not be entitled to any notice or payment in lieu of notice. Loading Thats not much of a protection, especially when theres no incentive for the employer a politician to get to the truth of the matter. Earn your Associate of Applied Business in Business IT (BIT) degree online from the University of Cincinnati. This program can be completed fully online, with curriculum customized to fit your schedule, interests and how quickly you want to complete your degree. Application deadline July 1, 2021. Learn More Some cybersecurity experts agree with a report by Cybersecurity Ventures and expect financial damages from cybercrime to reach $6 trillion by the end of this year. Industry studies show that cyberattacks are among the fastest-growing crimes in the United States. Cyberattacks are absolutely on the rise. Based on everything we know and every single analyst we have spoken with, there is no doubt that attacks are increasing, according to Robert McKay, senior vice president, risk solutions at Neustar. "Cybersecurity experts predict that in 2021 there will be a cyberattack incident every 11 seconds. This is nearly twice what it was in 2019 (every 19 seconds), and four times the rate five years ago (every 40 seconds in 2016)," he told TechNewsWorld. The rapidly growing increase in cyberattacks worldwide comes at a hefty cost for businesses in order to better protect their computer networks from intrusions. Cyberattacks not only are increasing in frequency, but they are costing victims larger financial losses. The Growing Price of Cyber Risk Worldwide, cybercrime cost businesses, government agencies, and consumers in general more than $1 trillion in 2020, according to the data analyzed by researchers at Atlas VPN. That is around one percent of the global GDP. While $945 billion was lost to cyber incidents, $145 billion was spent on cybersecurity. Those costs increased by more than 50 percent compared to 2018, when over $600 billion was spent to handle cybercrime. But twenty percent of organizations worldwide have no plans on how to protect against cybercrime events, according to the Atlas VPN report. That leaves a gaping hole in networks for cybercriminals to extend their attack strategies to steal even millions of dollars more. The only sure defense, warn cybersecurity experts, is to step up efforts to pass legislation that bolsters technological defenses. That may be the only way to alter the course of ongoing cyberattacks. Despite all the efforts into protecting systems and data, cloud breaches are likely to increase in both velocity and scale, said John Kinsella, chief architect at Accurics about his company's 2020 summer research report on the State of DevSecOps. "This [analysis] comes as cloud breaches have been rampant over the last two years. More than 30 billion records have been exposed as a result of cloud infrastructure misconfigurations," he told TechNewsWorld. In order to keep pace with an evolving economy that requires more digital transformation, organizations must place cyber resilience and the practice of DevSecOps at the top of their priority list, he added. Not Just in the Clouds Much more results in the growing pace of cyberattacks than rampant migration to cloud storage and misconfigured cloud infrastructure. Still, misconfigurations in cloud infrastructure lead to data exposure and are among the biggest concerns for cyberthreats facing business and government agencies today, noted Kinsella. Nearly 98 percent of all cyberattacks rely on some form of social engineering to deliver a payload such as malware or ransomware. One of the most successful attack formats cybercriminals use regularly to initiate a social engineering attack is through phishing emails. Therefore, threat actors distribute malware via email approximately 92 percent of the time. Cloud use and the continued stampede to cloud services is not going away. That ongoing shift in computing practices must be managed with more vigilance. COVID has accelerated organizations' digital transformation. Therefore, the ability to set up workloads in the cloud and get them through compliance and security challenges is in demand, noted Mohit Tiwari, co-founder and CEO at Symmetry Systems. "Part of the reason is that the workloads that had resisted moving to the cloud were exactly the highly regulated ones, and the forced move out of on-site data centers managed by IT staff is driving up demand for cloud-based compliance and security skills," he told TechNewsWorld. Thus, cloud-based security techniques will be vital in the fight to curtail the worsening cybersecurity landscape. These include learning to work with cloud-native identity and access management (IAM), he noted. "Those looking after cloud-based security need to broadly learn to manage infrastructure through structured programs, instead of shell scripts pieced together. As networks and application tiers become ephemeral, the most important persistent asset for any enterprise will likely be their own and their customers' data. So data-security on the cloud will be a major theme going forward," he cautioned. Providing Cloud Cover The world pandemic has hastened the cyber intrusions. So has complacency and poor training among office workers and inadequate IT surveillance. Organizations need to consider a balanced approach to training their employees and investing in automation tools to minimize the risks of cyberattacks, offered Brendan O'Connor, CEO and co-founder at AppOmni. Extensive training and around-the-clock manual monitoring are not necessary when the right automation tools can complement the IT staff as they build up their skill set. "IT workers specializing in security need to shift their focus to supporting the new model of business many enterprises are adopting. Some enterprises are shifting their business model to focus on virtual workforce, de-emphasizing the need to secure office networks," O'Connor told TechNewsWorld. In other cases, offices are being eliminated altogether. IT workers need to change their focus from traditional network security of a campus/office to application security of the work-anywhere model, he continued. "With the employee location and devices under constant flux, organizations will rely on the consistency and security of cloud service applications. IT workers should look to the management and security of these SaaS (software as service) applications as the new skills and technology to embrace," O'Connor said. Looming Threats Over the next year, ransomware will continue to be the biggest threat and financial risk to enterprises, observed Joseph Carson, chief security scientist and advisory CISO at Thycotic. Most organizations should be very concerned about ransomware as the biggest cybersecurity challenge and threat, he advised. "Organizations should prioritize to invest in security solutions that help reduce the risks and also plan and test an incident response plan to help ensure the business is resilient to high-risk attacks," he told TechNewsWorld. Ransomware continues to evolve into more than just a security incident. Cybercriminals now seek data breaches with organized cybercrime groups to steal the data before they encrypt on corporate servers. Companies are not just worried about getting their data back but also who it gets shared with publicly. Cybercriminals use ransomware to target anyone, any company, and any government including hospitals and transportation industries at a time when they are under extreme pressure, Carson added. Another major cybersecurity attack trend focuses on the protective tools and security vendors within the industry, noted Brandon Hoffman, chief information security officer at Netenrich. The tools that the industry relies on and their providers are becoming more targets for attacks. "It is a big concern because practitioners need tools they can depend on for detection and defense. By crippling or repurposing the very tools meant to thwart these attempts, the adversaries stand to gain a complete upper hand in the ongoing battle to combat cyber threats," Hoffman told TechNewsWorld. "The attacks targeting security organizations and vendors were always high up on the adversary list, but success begets further success." Fighting the Battle The trust factor is an internal battle of sorts between security vendors and the corporations hiring them for cyber protection. That trust must be constantly reassessed, suggested Tim Wade, technical director of the CTO Team at Vectra AI. "Strategically, security practitioners must continue to pivot away from preventative-based security architecture into resilience-based security architecture," Wade told TechNewsWorld. That is where the focus shifts to accepting the reality that things will go wrong, but when they do, the impact is minimized through rapid detection, response, and recovery, he added. Vendors and suppliers have always been lucrative targets for adversaries. Many of the cyberattackers belong to organized criminal gangs that are sanctioned by foreign nations. The best defense such adversaries is acknowledging that you cannot stop them. But then focus on making their lives as difficult as possible, Wade said. Cybersecurity Higher Education One of the often unspoken ways of safeguarding against cybersecurity assaults is through education. This approach goes beyond teaching company workers to be better aware of safe computing ideals. Rather, recruiting the next crop of computer specialists to pursue a degree in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity prospers because so many professionals come from different backgrounds and skill sets, noted Heather Paunet, senior vice president at Untangle. "Groups who are traditionally marginalized in other industries, when pivoting or starting a career in cybersecurity, can benefit from multiple industry-leading organizations offering certification programs," she told TechNewsWorld. The emerging field of cybersecurity is a very viable career path, noted Michael Kaczmarek, vice president of product management at Neustar. Industry reports show that the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs is expected to grow by 35 percent. "Given the increases in attacks and the changes in tactics used by bad actors and organizations, cybersecurity will most certainly be a career choice that will see net employment for the long term," he told TechNewsWorld. The demand for cybersecurity jobs has certainly increased in the past year, agreed Dov Lerner, security research lead at Cybersixgill. A career path in the field is a great choice for someone interested in IT and security. "An increase in the number of tools utilized increases security operations and analytics complexity and requires an increase in personnel. However, according to a recent ESG survey, nearly 70 percent of security teams say it is difficult to recruit and hire additional SOC (security operations center) staff," Lerner told TechNewsWorld. Security analysts have the opportunity to impact more than just their specific industry. Cybersecurity reaches into the world of politics, economics, and other sectors of the world. While breaking into the field can be challenging, it is incredibly rewarding, he concluded. Jack M. Germain has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His main areas of focus are enterprise IT, Linux and open-source technologies. He is an esteemed reviewer of Linux distros and other open-source software. In addition, Jack extensively covers business technology and privacy issues, as well as developments in e-commerce and consumer electronics. Email Jack. Researchers have found a new species of parasitic flowering plant in the forests of Pulau Tioman, an island in Malaysia. Rafflesia is a genus of holoparasitic plants without leaves and true roots that exclusively infect lianas of the genus Tetrastigma. They inhabit the tropical rainforests to the west of Wallaces Line: from southern Thailand to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Some members of the genus are the largest flowers in the world they can grow up to 1 m (3.3 feet) in diameter, weighing 10 kg. When in bloom, all Rafflesia flowers emit a repulsive odor, similar to that of rotting flesh. In Peninsular Malaysia, seven species of Rafflesia are currently recognized, said Dr. Siti-Munirah Mat Yunoh of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia and colleagues. All of these species are endemic to Peninsular Malaysia except Rafflesia kerrii, which is known to inhabit both Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand. The newly-identified species, scientifically named Rafflesia tiomanensis, occurs on Pulau Tioman in Malaysias federal state of Pahang. Pulau Tioman is the southern island in Pahang and is known as one of the most beautiful tropical islands in the world, the scientists said. Most part of Pulau Tioman remains covered by pristine primary tropical rainforests, including the highest point of Gunung Kajang, which lies about 1,038 m (3,406 feet) above sea level. In the context of ecotourism in the Pulau Tioman forest area, Rafflesia, or Bunga pakma, is an iconic flower, and many tourists hike to see it while visiting the island. While exploring the Tioman forest area during a routine nature trip in the area of Kg. Juara, the third author, Mr. Razelan Mohd Shah, first encountered this notable new species, they added. After careful examination, the flower was found to have a unique combination of characteristics that do not match any known species. According to the authors, Rafflesia tiomanensis is characterized by small discrete warts on the perigone lobes, the absence of warts on the diaphragm upper surface, lack of processes on the disk, the absence of disk rims, and the irregular shape whose opening aperture is variably lobed. All other species in Peninsular Malaysia have warts on the diaphragm upper surface, processes, and disk rims. This new species is thus entirely unique, they said. The discovery of Rafflesia tiomanensis is reported in the Malayan Nature Journal. _____ Siti-Munirah Mat Yunoh et al. 2021. Rafflesia tiomanensis (Rafflesiaceae), a new species from Pulau Tioman, Pahang, Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal 73 (1): 19-26 Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. 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%. Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) recently announced the inaugural cohort of the Entrepreneurs Access Network (EAN), a business accelerator and comprehensive, executive program designed to help Black- and Latinx-owned companies transcend barriers and scale their business. The inaugural cohort includes select entrepreneurs across the US, including Ebbah Realzola, CEO, of MEXZIM Corporation based in Dallas, Texas. The Entrepreneurs Access Network supports Black and Latinx entrepreneurs to further grow their businesses and reinvest in their communities. Black and Latinx business owners who applied for the program were evaluated based on certain criteria and placed within Curated and OnDemand categories. They will receive access to resources, networks and capital connections through a planned curriculum and teaming of collaborating companies and organizations. Ebbah Realzola added, Im always looking for ways to grow the business, and this EY program sounded like a great fit. Educational programs help me push myself and the company, and networking connects me to other business owners as well as large corporations. I look forward to an exciting and challenging year ahead. MEXZIM Corporation, founded in 2017, specializes in commercial construction interior finish-out services for office buildings, warehouses, distribution centers, fulfillment centers, manufacturing facilities, restaurants, hotels, retail, medical facilities, and schools. A recent Dallas Morning News article named Dallas-Fort Worth as the second-busiest building market in the country last year with almost $22.5 billion in construction. Only New York City had more total construction than the D-FW area, according to information from Dodge Data & Analytics. About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, strategy, transaction and consulting services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available viaey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com or ey.com/EAN. About MEXZIM MEXZIM Corporation, based in Dallas, Texas, specializes in commercial construction interior finish-out services for office buildings, warehouses, distribution centers, fulfillment centers, manufacturing facilities, restaurants, hotels, retail, medical facilities, and schools. The company is woman owned, minority owned, and holds the following certifications: WBE, MBE, DBE, WOSB, EDWOSB, AABE, SDB, HUB. For more information visit mexzim.com Secure cyberspace is a growing demand in this digital world. Nepal, with its adoption of digital systems and institutions and growing digital footprint, has also become susceptible to growing cybercrime incidents. Although it is difficult to determine when the term cybersecurity was first realised or discussed in Nepal, it was around 2013, the topic came into the limelight. Around that time, the Crime Investigation Department of Nepal Police reported 19 cases of social media crimes. Meanwhile, efforts started from the private sector also to defend and further solidify Nepali cyberspace. Here are 10 interesting and basic facts that you need to know about the field: 1. Pioneers in Nepali cyberspace LogPoint Nepal Pvt Ltd is known to be the first company to introduce security information and event management (SIEM) products aimed to secure cyberspace. Meanwhile, institutions like Eminence Ways and Rigo Technology were the first ones to start working in the field and give services. 2. Early reported cases in Nepal Out of the many cybercrime incidents that occur, many of them go unnoticed or unreported, because of which the exact first incident that occurred is difficult to point out. Nonetheless, some of the noted earlier cases include: In July 2013, a young woman fell victim to online swindling as she ended up transferring money for an online airline ticket booking. She got Rs 15,000 back of the total Rs 110,000 she transferred with the help of the district court. The first known case of cyberbullying was reported on October 7, 2014, in Kathmandu School of Law. Nepal Police caught an 18-year-old, operating in the name of Anonymous #Opnep, for hacking government websites, including Nepal Telecom, National Tuberculosis Centre, in 2016. 3. Common incidents reported in Nepal Among the many cybercrime incidents reported in Nepal, some of the commonly reported incidents include ATM attacks, ransomware, spear phishing, privacy leaks, and social media-related crimes such as harassments, identify theft, child pornography and dissemination of false information. 4. Common mistakes that make you prone to cyber attack Photo: Pexels/ Fernando Arcos The digital activities and digital footprint one leaves behind are a few of the prominent factors that lead to cybercrime in Nepal. Some of the common mistakes include the use of poor credentials such as easy and repeated passwords on many platforms. Poor judgement and lack of awareness also lead them to phishing and scams. Other factors include the use of outdated and pirated software, application, and hardware. 5. 2017 was a bad year Photo: Pexels/ Saksham Choudhary The official website of the Department of Passport got hacked on June 27, 2017, by a group of Turkish hackers and defaced with threatening note to reveal the governments data. On July 25, 2017, 58 government websites were reportedly hacked by a group called Paradox Cyber Ghost making it one of the biggest breaches of all times in Nepal. The same year on October 23, the SWIFT system of NIC Asia Bank was reportedly hacked by an unidentified hacker. They intercepted USD 4.4 million from the user accounts to six different countries. The bank claimed they recovered about USD 4 million. On November 28, 2017, Onlinekhabar, one of the popular online news portals of Nepal, was accessed by a third party to install a JavaScript mining application to mine cryptocurrency called Monero. 6. Data breach is a serious issue Photo: Pexels/ Markus Spiske On April 8, 2020, customer data of more than 160,000 customers of Vianet Communication were leaked. A hacker using the Twitter handle, Narpichas @paapi_kto_mah, made public data that included customers emails, phone numbers, and addresses. On March 8, 2020, a hacker using the Twitter handle, Mr Mugger, hacked and dumped data of 50,000 users of Foodmandu including names, mailing addresses, email addresses and phone numbers. 7. Nepal Police has a dedicated bureau Given the increasing number of cybercrimes, the Nepal Police established a dedicated cyber bureau on June 10, 2018. It has its head office in Bhotahiti of Kathmandu. 8. Number of people working Photo: Pexels/ Cottonbro Professionally, there are about 60 men and about 10 women working in the field. Including the students and junior workforce, there are over 120 people associated with the field. 9. Private organisations working today Photo: Pexels/ Nikita Belokhonov Some of the prominent organisations actively working in the field of cybersecurity are Eminence Ways, Vairav Tech, CryptoGen Nepal, ThreatNix, One Cover Pvt Ltd., Reanda Biz Serve, and Cynical Technology. 10. Nepalis in the international scenario Screenshot of Facebooks appreciation page [2015]. Professionals working in the field of Nepali cyberspace have made their mark in the international hall of fame. From Nepal, Sachin Thakuri and Prakash Sharma were included in Facebooks hall of fame in 2015 for their ethical reporting of bugs on the social media platform. Over the years, ethical hackers including Nirmal Dahal, Santosh Bhandari, Nirmal Thapa, Ajay Gautam, Saugat Pokhrel, Aaditya Khati, Bishal Shrestha, etc have been enlisted on the hall of fame of Facebook, Google, Sony, Microsoft, HackerOne and Bugcrowd. The article has been prepared with the help of Mona Nyachhon (Director of Intellisoft Nepal and Founder/CEO for Monal Tech), Aaditya Khati (Senior Security Analyst at Cryptogen) and Abiral Shrestha (Security Researcher at ThreatNix). NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 Bennington, VT (05201) Today Partly cloudy early. Thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 75F. Winds SSW 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 near a half an inch. Unlike his musical compatriot Lee Scratch Perry, who has not only dismissed any notion of taking the COVID-19 vaccine, but questioned the uprightness of Rastas who are accepting inoculation, Reggae Legend Burning Spear has reportedly taken his two shots in New York. A captioned photo of the Slavery Days artist being injected with his second dose by a military medic, wearing a mask bearing the Jamaican national colors, was posted by New York City-based radio disc jockey and independent Reggae promoter Amy Wachtel, also known as the Night Nurse, on her Twitter page yesterday. Mr. Winston Rodney, aka Burning Spear, receives his second dose of the #CovidVaccine today. People, are you ready? @burningmusic #vaccinated #VaccinteNY $BurningSpear #ChantDownBabylon, the publicist, who has been promoting and writing about Reggae music since the early 1980s wrote. Burning Spears decision is in glaring contrast to that of Lee Scratch Perry who announced in late February, that he would not take the COVID-19 vaccine and will have no choice but to stop doing live shows, if the taking the jab becomes mandatory for international travel. The 85-year-old had said that his UK tour was being rescheduled for the third time and that while he was looking forward to performing and seeing his fans once again, he was hoping that he would be able to travel at least for this year without the shot passport as once that gets required for traveling I will sadly have to say goodbye to live-shows. Perry had also questioned the integrity of people purporting to be Rastafarians who have been encouraging others to get vaccinated and wear masks, which in his eyes are part of the Babylonian system. But there is something Im wondering about: isnt Rasta supposed to stand for freedom, against slavery and against Babylon system? How comes that some of them calling themselves Rasta are promoting exactly that system by telling people to maskup and get the shot, while we should know what that means? Perry had noted. Similar sentiments have been echoed by Rastafarian artists including Buju Banton, Spragga Benz, Tony Rebel, Queen Ifrica, Chronixx, and Kabaka Pyramid as well as Sizzla who has labeled the vaccine The Babylon Curse. Over the last week, Sizzla has been demanding that all Jamaicans, including the Governor-General, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, and all other politicians, refuse to take the vaccine as it was designed with bad intentions. Stop scare us with this coronavirus and dis vaccine ting; it aint go work. And mi a meck sure mi a warn yuh, mi nuh wan si nobaddy in di Jamaica Parliament taking no coronavirus vaccine, no one in di military nor di constabulary force; no doctor, no nurse.., Sizzla had said. Burning Spear, 76, began recording in 1969 penning songs about Marcus Garvey, the repatriation, and the oppression of the black race. He took his name from a military award given by Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of an independent Kenya. Burning Spear, who is a six-time Grammy nominee, has released more than twenty albums throughout his music career, copping the Grammy Award twice for Best Reggae Album for his 2000 release Calling Rastafari and again in 2009 for Jah Is Real. He was also bestowed with the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican Government in 2007 for his contribution to the music industry and retired from touring in June 2016. Huntington, WV (25701) Today Cloudy with rain this morning...then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. 'We must put the politics aside of these things, and we must recognise this problem, acknowledgment, we must fix it. 'This has been a very traumatic month. It began with Brittany Higgins and her revelations of what took place in this very building. 'I remember that day very well, I was equally shocked and stunned at receiving that use also. 'These events have triggered, right across this building and indeed right across the country, women who have put up with this rubbish and this crap for their entire lives, as their mothers did, as their grandmothers did. 'It has been going on, we have been talking about it in this place for a month, they have been living with it for their entire lives. 'The women listening to me today know that to be true, so as much as it has been a topic of discussion here, and around the country specifically in relation to these disgraceful acts, it is something that has been the lived experience of Australian women for a very long time, and I welcome the spotlight that has now been placed on this. 'I acknowledge that many have not liked or unappreciated some of my own personal responses to this over the course of the last month, I accept that. 'Whether that was seeking to openly share how I try and deal with such dramatic events, people might like the fact I discuss these with my family, they are the closest people in my world to me. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny at the annual Mid Winter Ball at Parliament House in September 2019. He told his family emotionally during Tuesday's press conference: 'They motivate me every day on this issue' 'But is how I deal with things, I always have. I have grown up in a loving and supportive family, and I discussed this is my family and those who are closest to me - no offence was intended by me by saying that I discuss these issues with my wife. 'Equally, that is in no way indicated that these events had not already dramatically affected me already at that point. Equally, I accept that many were unhappy with the labels that are used on the day of the protest. No offence was intended by that either. 'I could have chosen different words, I have already explained those matters in the house. What I am even more concerned about, even more importantly, I acknowledge that many Australians, especially women, believe that I have not heard them, and that greatly distresses me. 'I have been doing a lot of listening over this past month, not for the first time, now is not the time for me to run over whether as a Minister for immigration or a Treasurer, or a Minister for Social Services, the keen interest I have shown in these issues, I'm not going to do that today. Brittany Higgins (pictured) went public with the allegation she was raped by a male colleague inside Defence Minister Linda Reynolds' office in 2019 'Particularly on these issues over the last because of mother I have been listening carefully, I have had many colleagues, I have had many friends and others that I have regular contact with, talk with me openly about the issues, other traumatic things that they have had to deal with over their lifetimes and members of their family. 'Let me tell you what I have heard. Women are too afraid to call out, bad behaviour for fear of losing a job for being intimidated in the workplace. 'That is not OK, it is not their fault, it is the environment we have allowed to be created. Women who are afraid to walk to their car from the train, and they carry their keys in their hand like a knife for fear of being attacked. That is not OK. That is not acceptable. 'In this country, our country as great as Australia, women walk daily that fear. I have heard that women are overlooked, talked over, by men, whether it is in board rooms, meeting rooms, rooms, media conferences, cabinets, or anywhere else. 'Overlooked and treated like they have nothing valuable to contribute. I have heard about being marginalised, women being intimidated, women being belittled, women being diminished, and women being objectified. That is not OK. 'I have heard that women, when offered a job, take the salary offered because they do not feel they can ask for more. Whereas the blokes do. And they get it. That is not OK. 'Whether this is unconscious deafness and blindness, or whether it is wilful malevolence that is behind all of this, it must be acknowledged, it must be called out, and it must stop. 'That is all our job, it is my job, it is my ministers jobs, it is my members and senators jobs, it is your job. 'This is not something that is of a scale that any government can simply change, it is something we must change as a society because we know it happens all over this country, but for me and my house, the house I work in here, then we must take responsibility, it is our problem here, it is our responsibility here, and I'm committed to dealing with that. 'We must do better in this place. All of us, and in our country we must do better. 'Now, forgive me this indulgence, I want women to have at least the same opportunities and the same voice and the same safety as men in this country. 'I have the deepest of vested interest, criticise me if you like for speaking about my daughters, but they are the centre of my life. My wife is the centre of my life. My mother, my widowed mother is the centre of my life. 'They motivate me every day on this issue. They have motivated me my entire life, they have taught me the values and the faith has sustains me every single day in this job. 'Which is why I am here, I owe them everything. And to them I say to you girls, I will not let you down. 'To the many other women who are in this place, who have shared their stories with me, I thank you for your feedback, your honesty, your support, your council, and your courage. 'I know there are plenty of women who work in this building today, whether they be members or senators, investors, shadow ministers, staff, journalists, who say why should I bother? Why should I bother? Why should I not just walk away? 'There has never been a more important time for women to stand in this place. 'I want to see more women in this place, I have done anything to get more women in this place and I intend to do more. I have put more women in my cabinet than any other Prime Minister has before, and I look forward to doing more. I need women to stand with me as we go about this, as we stand together, I needed that you stated this place, I need them to stand right where they are, I did that to continue to blaze the trail right here this place, by their courage and I call for question.' Insulation giant Kingspan is to buy Logstor, a global supplier and manufacturer of pre-insulated pipe systems, for around 253m. Cavan-headquartered Kingspan has entered into an agreement with Langley Co-Invest to buy 100pc of the shares of Logstor International Holding, the holding company of the Logstor Group. The price for the business will be 1.9bn Danish crowns (253m) including debt, which will vary depending on the specific amount of working capital and debt on completion of the purchase, according to a statement from Kingspan. The deal will be fully funded from Kingspan's existing credit facilities. In 2020, Logstor had audited revenues of 1.8bn crowns and trading profit of 210m crowns. At the end of last year, Logstor had gross assets of 1.4bn crowns and on completion net assets excluding intangibles and goodwill are expected to be 543m crowns. The acquisition is expected to enhance Kingspan's earnings on an annualised basis by around nine cent per share, the group said. Logstors management team will remain with the company and will continue to manage and develop the business under the Logstor brand. "The acquisition of Logstor marks an important step for Kingspan, as part of our strategy to develop our technical insulation proposition as a complementary business to core building insulation," said Kingspan CEO Gene Murtagh. Logstor is a great company with a dedicated workforce and superior products in an industry that will see strong growth in the years to come, he added. The companys primary markets are in Scandinavia, Germany, Netherlands, Poland and France, but it also operates in North America, and the Middle East. It has seven manufacturing facilities situated in Denmark, Finland, Poland and Sweden, and employs around 1,100 people in 14 different countries. The acquisition is conditional on regulatory clearance and is expected to complete around the middle of the year. Davy analyst Flor O'Donoghue said the price Kingspan is paying for the company will not extend it, and leaves it with substantial room for further deals. With the agreement to acquire Logstor, Kingspan has taken an important step forward in developing its technical insulation offering, he said. Shares in Kingspan were up over 1.6pc in mid-morning trading in Dublin on Tuesday. Last year, Kingspan saw its profit increase on the back of acquisitions. Trading profit was up 2pc to 508.2m after the company accounted for the repayment of government Covid-19 supports worldwide. Acquisitions contributed 7pc to sales growth and 6pc to trading profit growth in the year, according to annual results from the group. Revenue fell by 2pc to 4.6bn when compared to 2019. Kingspan chairman Eugene Murtagh will step down from the board after the companys AGM next month, in a move that was first announced by the company last February. Right now, you would be aware that in your own organisation that there is a person who has had a complaint made against them for harassment of a woman in a womens toilet and that matter is being pursued by your own HR department, he said. So lets not all of us who sit in glass houses here start getting into that. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video News Corp executive chairman Michael Miller said the extraordinary public claims were untrue. Prime Minister Scott Morrison was wrong today to claim an investigation is under way into a complaint accusing an employee of harassment against a woman in a female toilet, Mr Miller said in a statement. No complaint has been received and News Corp and Sky News are not dealing with a complaint. Loading Mr Miller said News Corp and Sky News took the issues seriously and were only responding because Mr Morrison had made the claim in a live press conference aired nationwide on Tuesday. I want to put to rest any suggestion that an employee of our company is being investigated for conduct suggested by Mr Morrison, he said. In recent weeks, following the reporting of matters of sexually inappropriate behaviour at Parliament House, our HR team proactively gave our staff the opportunity to talk to us in confidence about their wellbeing. I thank those who did so. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age know of a disagreement between two News Corp journalists but it was not a case of sexual harassment, the subject that dominated Mr Morrisons press conference on Tuesday. Mr Miller said there was a verbal exchange between two News Corp employees in Parliament House in Canberra last year. The exchange was about a workplace-related issue, it was not of a sexual nature, it did not take place in a toilet and neither person made a complaint, he said. Following those inquiries, our HR team wrote to one of the people involved and the matter was resolved. The Prime Minister appears to have joined these two matters and conflated them into an episode of harassment in a toilet that is under current investigation. This is simply untrue and it undermines the principle that people must be able to raise issues safely and in confidence. Mr Morrisons claim led one journalist to ask how he could know of an incident in the media but not about the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins until almost two years after it happened. The suggestion was made by a member of the press gallery that things like this dont happen in the media and I think that would be unfair, Mr Morrison replied. But the journalists in the press conference did not claim sexual harassment did not happen in the media, with Mr Clennell instead saying the workplace standards in the media were better than those in the Parliament. Greens leader Adam Bandt said the Prime Minister had to explain immediately if he had fabricated an allegation against the media to deflect from the crisis over gendered violence. Loading Labors Tanya Plibersek, the shadow minister for women, accused Mr Morrison of using an attack on the media to avoid questions about his own response to rape and sexual assault. Is it any wonder victims of sexual assault and harassment in this building and around Australia are afraid of coming forward when the Prime Minister of this country uses a confidential complaint in a nationally televised media conference as a way to try to stop journalists asking questions about these important issues? she asked in question time. Mr Morrison said he had made the remark in an anonymised way to make a broader point about the problem going beyond politics. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. ADVERTISEMENT A former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of holding meetings with political wanderers while neglecting security. Mr Fayose said the president should focus more on addressing the challenges rocking the nation rather than welcoming opposition party members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Aso Rock. PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Buhari, on Monday, met with two high profile politicians, former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, and Dimeji Bankole, former speaker of House of Representatives. Both politicians recently joined the APC and were welcomed to the party by the president in Aso Villa, Abuja. Reacting to this, Mr Fayose in a post on his verified Twitter handle on Monday evening, said Nigerians are not interested receiving recycled politicians. Nigerians are not interested in the president receiving political wanderers in the Villa. They are more interested in their well-being, especially security. They want to see a president who is proactive in handling affairs of the country, rather than receiving recycled politicians. Nigerians are not interested in the President receiving political wanderers in the Villa.They are more interested in their well-being, especially security.They want to see a president who's proactive in handling affairs of the country,rather than receiving recycled politicians. Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) March 22, 2021 Most importantly, Nigerians are not interested in how many politicians that decamp to APC, which is already a dead party. The president should rather make himself available to Nigerians who can help solve our unending financial and security challenges amongst others. Most importantly, Nigerians are not interested in how many politicians that decamp to APC, which is already a dead party. The President should rather make himself available to Nigerians who can help solve our unending financial and security challenges amongst others. Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) March 22, 2021 Above all, I wish the president knows how disappointed Nigerians are about him and his failed promises. Above all, I wish the President knows how disappointed Nigerians are about him and his failed promises. Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) March 22, 2021 Mr Fayose is one of the major critics of the current administration. He has, on several occasions, called out the president on the security challenges in the country. [March 23, 2021] Beekeeper acquires Lua to tackle trillion-dollar opportunity in the frontline workforce productivity and collaboration space ZURICH and COPENHAGEN, Denmark and BERLIN and OAKLAND, Calif., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Beekeeper, the leading mobile workforce productivity and collaboration platform designed specifically for frontline workers, today announced the acquisition of Lua. The acquisition of this prime operational workflow platform underlines Beekeeper's commitment to providing a full-stack mobile platform to enable frontline teams to operate more efficiently and effectively. Lua, with a presence in Denmark and the U.S., digitizes how work is coordinated and orchestrated across frontline teams. Beekeeper and Lua will use their combined expertise to digitize manual, paper-based processes to enable companies globally several trillion dollars in productivity gains. With two billion frontline workers worldwide working in essential industries like healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and hospitality, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the inadequacy of the tools they have been given to do their jobs. In the past, frontline workers have been overlooked in terms of technology investments. Frontline technologies receive only 1% of all venture capital each year, despite frontliners accounting for 80% of the global workforce. The predominant way their work is orchestrated today is manual on paper or with antiquated software that is only available to supervisors. The lack of automation of recurring frontline processes is highly inefficient and is costing companies almost three hours per frontline worker per week. These are the savings that Beekeeper and Lua aim to achieve for their customers. "Lua is a godsend to the frontline world," said Anja Luthje, CEO of Unique Hospitality Solutions and former executive at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. "What is special about Lua is that workflows can be digitized in an interactive and personalized manner. It's a great technology that you can start using in less than 24 hous. The fact that it's very user friendly and allows employees to communicate in their preferred language leads to fast team adoption. It boosts team productivity right away and supports efficiency in a lean departmental structure that so many organizations are working with currently." Leading global brands currently rely on Lua to power their standard operating procedures to save time and increase quality. Their workflow engine supports the process every step along the chain, for example from a housekeeper cleaning a room to a supervisor inspecting it. By adding Lua's unique technology and talent in building and connecting frontline workflows, Beekeeper will further strengthen its operational capabilities to tackle the massive productivity gain opportunity that exists in the market. Frontline teams will benefit from having access to a full-stack mobile collaboration platform that will allow them to orchestrate their work in a truly agile and dynamic way. "Joining Beekeeper is an incredible moment for our team. We have spent the last three years building the best frontline workflow platform in the market that is at the very core of the work these teams do. Today, customers in five continents around the world rely on our system to run their teams and to run their companies, enabling them to become more efficient and effective," said Hugh O'Flanagan, CEO and Co-Founder of Lua. "We will continue to work, now as one team, to turn businesses from manual to magical and we cannot wait for what we will achieve together." "Frontline workers are often the most public-facing employees, and even those who aren't, they still guide the customer journey. They are the forefront of our businesses, as well as the backbone of the economy, and deserve to be given the right tools to succeed," said Cristian Grossmann, CEO and Co-Founder of Beekeeper. "With the acquisition of Lua, Beekeeper continues to accelerate its position as the leading mobile workforce productivity and collaboration platform for frontline workers. We will continue to put their needs first and are excited to spearhead the digitalization of this trillion-dollar market." About Lua Lua digitizes how work is coordinated and orchestrated across frontline teams, empowering them to ditch manual, paper processes and work like it's actually the 21st century. With everything teams need to get work done in a simple, consumer-grade platform, businesses across the world use Lua to become more efficient and effective every day. Website: www.lua.work , Blog: blog.lua.work About Beekeeper Beekeeper is the leading mobile workforce productivity and collaboration platform for frontline workers. With all communications and tools in one place, teams can improve business agility, productivity, and safety. Teams can resolve issues faster and manage non-routine work more efficiently, thanks to an intuitive employee experience and seamless integrations. Website: www.beekeeper.io , Blog: www.beekeeper.io/blog , Twitter: @beekeepersocial Sources: The Connected Worker, 2018 Deloitte UK / 8% working time lost (page 12) Breakdown Workers Per Industry, Worldbank View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/beekeeper-acquires-lua-to-tackle-trillion-dollar-opportunity-in-the-frontline-workforce-productivity-and-collaboration-space-301253118.html SOURCE Beekeeper [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi: The impasse over registry of thousands of flats in Noida continues as not many builders have come forward for part-payment plan being thought out by the Noida Authority. As per a report in the Times of India, on March 15, meeting was held betwen the chief secretary, Noida Authority and the builders during which the latter had agreed to make part payments to clear the registry impasse of Noida flats. However, the idea has not conceptualised as not many builders have come forward for the purpose. The TOI report further added that officials are yet to recover more than Rs 10,000 crores in dues from the builders. 10,060 flats are awaiting immediate registry, out of which 9,476 flats Amrapali Group project while 584 flats belong to 13 group housing projects, the TOI report said. As of 2018 figures, around 50,000 families are living in different apartments of Noida and Greater Noida without any legal documents for their flats. Previously authorities had even planned signing of a "sub lease agreement" to ward off legal hassles. Several buyers were facing problems due to lack of legal recognition and running from pillar to post to get their issues resolved. The builders explained that they have dues pending to the local authorities which is why they are not getting the no objection certificates and completion certificates (which are required to give buyers the occupancy certificate). Live TV #mute In Noida and Greater Noida, it's a tripartite agreement with the local authority also being involved. 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. Odisha might have to stop its coronavirus immunisation drive for four days starting at the end of March because of a shortage of vaccine doses, according to a letter to the federal government reviewed by Reuters. As India battles a second surge in coronavirus infections that has lifted its caseload to 11.69 million, many states have asked the government to replenish vaccine stocks so that they can cover more people faster. India has reported the third-highest total of coronavirus infections after the United States and Brazil. Also read India reports 40,715 new Covid-19 cases, 199 deaths India, the world's biggest vaccine maker, has donated or sold more than 60 million doses to 76 countries, compared with nearly 48 million doses given at home, leading to criticisms of its vaccine diplomacy. If supply tightens at home, many countries reliant on India for doses could also suffer. In a letter to the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare dated March 22, P K Mohapatra, Odisha's additional chief secretary for health, warned the state only had enough doses to run its vaccination drive until March 30. It is expecting another batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine, locally known as Covishield, only on April 2. "We will have no vaccines for four days," he said. "Hence, adequate doses of Covishield vaccine may be supplied in time so as to continue uninterrupted vaccination drive in our state. Your urgent attention is drawn to the above issue." Odisha has nearly 44 million people and its capital Bhubaneswar is located about 360 km (224 miles) southwest of Kolkata. The health ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Other states, including Rajasthan, have also flagged a supply crunch, even though the federal government has advised limiting vaccinations to the elderly and people above 45 suffering from other health conditions. Also read Karnataka to face Covid-19 vaccine shortage for 2 days: Here's why Many states have sought to expand their vaccination campaigns to cover all adults because infections have risen since late February after the economy fully reopened and as most people still go without masks and flout social distancing advice. Some states have also administered doses to a small number of people outside the prioritised groups to avoid vaccine wastage as vials need to be consumed within four hours after opening. About 6.5 per cent of coronavirus vaccine doses in India are going to waste, the health ministry said last week, making it vital for health workers to coordinate the flow of recipients. The sudden surge in demand is piling pressure on vaccine makers the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech to boost production. SII has already had to delay further shipments of the AstraZeneca shot to the United Kingdom, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Morocco. India reported 40,715 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours. Deaths rose by 199 to 160,166. Money Mail today lays bare the bully-boy tactics used by TV licence fee collectors to hound the elderly and vulnerable. Scores of pensioners are being bombarded with terrifying letters threatening fines and court action. Many are being chased for money they don't owe and end up paying twice out of fear. In one case, a 90-year-old woman was sent menacing mail after moving into a care home following a stroke. Harassed: Scores of pensioners are being bombarded with letters threatening fines and court action (Stock image) Another elderly dementia sufferer reported enforcement agents twice turning up at her home. And a bereaved wife in her late 60s said she was threatened with prosecution a week after informing TV Licensing her husband had died. Others are being forced to battle for months to prove their disability is severe enough to qualify for vital discounts. Concerned family members are now pleading with the BBC to step in and stop fee collectors hounding their loved ones. They say it is unacceptable that vulnerable relatives are living in fear of bailiffs turning up at the door. 'The BBC should be ashamed' Prior to August last year, all over-75s were entitled to a free TV Licence. But this perk was stripped away for all but lower income households who claim Pension Credit. This left around 4.2 million people facing an annual bill of 157.50 (159 from April 1) for the first time. Around 700,000 households are yet to take action, with some ignoring reminder letters on purpose because they do not think they should have to pay. TV Licensing is responsible for collecting the BBC licence fee. It also maintains a database of licensed and unlicensed addresses in the UK so it can identify households watching television without a valid licence. Most of the administration and enforcement work is contracted out to Capita Business Services Ltd, a technology firm based in London. Atrocious way to treat us Margaret Freeth, 85, was bombarded with bullying letters from TV Licensing months after she moved into a new bungalow Margaret Freeth, 85, was bombarded with bullying letters from TV Licensing months after she moved into a new bungalow in March 2019. Her son Chris, 62, contacted the service which said it had no record of her on its system. He sent in a copy of her passport and her National Insurance number to prove she was entitled to a free licence. But letters demanding payment kept arriving. By November, Margaret, who lives in Market Drayton, Shropshire, was showing signs of dementia. So Chris, who runs a construction company, sent a Notice of Removal of Implied Right to Access to prevent a visit from an enforcement officer. This is a declaration to stop unwanted visitors, such as cold-callers. Yet just weeks later an agent turned up at her door. Chris says: My mum told me someone called round. She was frightened. I had explained her circumstances to TV Licensing and even offered to make an appointment so me or my brother could be there. Either it does not read correspondence or it does not care. The way older people are being treated is atrocious. TV Licensing says it did not know she was over 75 and has no record of the Removal of Implied Right to Access. If you fail to pay the licence fee you risk a maximum 1,000 penalty plus legal costs if you are chased through the courts. Ministry of Justice figures show 122,603 people were prosecuted for evading the TV Licence fee in 2019. Of these, 114,531 were found guilty and the average fine was 172. The highest penalty of between 750 and 1,000 was paid by just two people. Figures also show that officers visited 2.3 million homes in 2019/2020 yet just 174,416 were found to be watching television without a licence. During the same period TV Licensing received 11,100 complaints. Over-75s have been promised a grace period. TV Licensing says those who have previously held a free licence should not be fined or prosecuted. It says it has also suspended all house visits from agents during lockdown. Yet despite these assurances, there has been widespread criticism over the heavy-handed tactics being used to force pensioners to pay up. Money Mail has also previously reported how scores of households have been billed twice and left chasing for months to get a refund. Earlier this month Lord Botham and 27 other peers wrote to Tim Davie, director-general of the BBC, urging him to treat elderly pensioners fairly. Lord Botham said the aggressive payment demands sent to the over-75s was causing 'immense distress among the vulnerable'. Julian Knight MP, chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, says: 'The BBC is a great British institution but needs to start behaving like one. 'Menacing elderly people who have paid a licence fee all their lives is no way to win hearts and minds. The BBC needs to take a much more considerate approach.' And Dennis Reed, director of senior citizens' campaign group Silver Voices, adds: 'The BBC should be thoroughly ashamed. It scrapped the free licence for the over-75s in the middle of a pandemic, when the reliance of older people on their TV has never been greater. 'TV Licensing has not stopped sending multiple reminders and threatening letters to the elderly and other households with vulnerable and hard-up families. Action by the Capita bully boys has undermined support both for the licence system and the BBC itself.' 'Not blind enough' for a discount Denied: Graham Oldroyd is blind in one eye and severely visually impaired in the other Grandfather-of-six Graham Oldroyd, from Tyne-and-Wear, was notified in October that his licence fee was due. As he is blind in one eye and severely visually impaired in the other, he ticked the box stating he was sight disabled and entitled to a 50 per cent discount. He included a certificate from his local authority as proof and posted a cheque for 78.75. But two months later Graham, 79, received a letter saying he did not qualify for the discount as he was not registered blind or severely sight impaired. He says: I am totally blind in one eye and have had two corneal grafts on the other. I am also registered as visually disabled with my local authority. Yet the BBC says I am not blind enough. How can the BBC demand full payment from disabled pensioners while paying obscene salaries to so-called celebrities and other staff? TV Licensing says Grahams registration card said he is sight impaired rather than severely impaired or blind. It has now processed the refund. A fine threat despite paying Retired GP Tim Cantor was horrified when his recently widowed father Jack, 95, who has dementia, was sent an intimidating letter in January, two months after his licence had been paid. The letter, addressed to The Occupier, told him he could face a 1,000 fine and prosecution, if he failed to pay. Tim, 70, who lives in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, says: 'Luckily my father's carer intercepted the letter before he did but I am concerned that an elderly, confused man should get a letter like that. 'TV Licensing clearly does not know how to speak to older adults and really needs to think through its procedures.' TV Licensing says its records incorrectly stated Jack's address had changed so had thought his home was unlicensed. It apologises for the time taken to resolve the matter. Bombarded with menacing letters Town councillor Stuart Davies says his 90-year-old mother-in-law Jean has received a deluge of menacing letters. He had contacted TV Licensing when she moved into a care home in April last year after suffering a stroke. How to get a free licence If you are 75 or over you can claim a free TV Licence if you receive Pension Credit. This is a benefit paid to those of State Pension age to top up their weekly income to 173.75, or 265.20 for couples. Those with higher incomes may also be eligible if they meet certain criteria such as being severely disabled or acting as a carer. Around 1.5 million older people benefit from Pension Credit. But about 900,000 pensioners who may be eligible are yet to make a claim, according to the Department for Work and Pensions. Apply online (apply-for-pension-credit.service.gov.uk/start) or call 0800 99 1234. Postal applications are accepted but you need to print out a form or call the claim line to request one. Send to: The Pension Service 8, Post Handling Site B, Wolverhampton, WV99 1AN. But letters have continued to arrive and become increasingly threatening. In July, one letter warned that her flat in Llangollen, Denbighshire, was unlicensed and an investigation would be authorised if a licence was not paid for. Another sent in September was headed with bold text on a red banner stating 'YOUR ATTENTION IS REQUIRED'. It said: 'As long as this property remains unlicensed, our investigation will continue. 'If you fail to get in touch, you risk prosecution and a fine of up to 1,000.' It also boasted a 99 per cent conviction rate for licence fee evasion cases taken to court. Two months later an 'official notice from Chester Enforcement division' stated a visit from an enforcement officer was imminent. And three more letters have arrived since the start of the year. Stuart, 74, says: 'We ignored the letters which were unnecessarily heavy handed. The licence was not even due until August. If she had seen these letters she would have been scared to death. 'Even if she had been at home she is not mobile, so could not reply by letter, nor can she use the internet. She also finds the phone confusing. This is sheer bullying by corporate thugs.' TV Licensing admits Jean should not have received these letters as an elderly customer. It says there was confusion over whether her address was occupied and it will contact her to resolve the situation. Hounded after husband died Ann Horsley was sent a threatening letter by TV Licensing just one week after her husband Keith died, aged 84, in November last year. She notified TV Licensing within two days of his death and was told she would receive a new direct debit mandate to set up payment in her name. Instead, the retired bank clerk, who lives in Derbyshire, was sent a threatening letter giving her three weeks to buy a new licence or her address would be passed to the Enforcement Division, after which she could be fined or prosecuted. Ann, 69, says: 'I was disgusted and shocked at how I was treated at such a vulnerable time. 'There was no sympathy and it was very distressing to get a letter like that at such a painful time. I have still not received an apology.' TV Licensing says Ann was mistakenly sent a reminder due to an administration error and apologises for the concern caused. A TV Licensing spokesman says: 'We have implemented these changes with the greatest care and have worked to make the process as fair and straightforward as possible. 'We have processed more than 3.5 million applications and the vast majority have been dealt with without an issue. Where customer experience has fallen short of the standards we expect, we apologise to those customers.' a.murray@dailymail.co.uk The Challenge star Wes Bergmann has competed in four consecutive seasons and already announced a break from the regular series. However, the reality competition show is returning with a spinoff featuring only old-school players, All-Stars. Even though Bergmann classifies as an OG competitor, he didnt appear on the show. Wes Bergmann attends the 2019 MTV Movie & TV Awards | David Crotty/Patrick McMullan Wes Bergmann has competed in 14 seasons of The Challenge Following his appearance on The Real World: Austin, Kansas native Wes Bergmann made his Challenge debut on Fresh Meat, proving himself a threat by winning five eliminations. He and his partner Casey Cooper ended up finishing third overall, each earning $10,000. The Real World star returned for the following season, The Duel, and walked with the victory and $150,000. Probably the most infamous Hall Brawl to date Wes vs. Big Easy Will tonight's elimination give us another magical moment? Tune into @MTV at 9/8c to find out #TheChallenge33 pic.twitter.com/H1aciRGjbg Bad Gal TJ (@ChallengeMTV) May 1, 2019 RELATED: The Challenge: Wes Bergmann Responds to Performance-Enhancing Drug Rumors While Bergmann competed in two more seasons, he failed to make the finals again until Rivals, where he clocked a second-place finish. After two more early exits, the Kansas native won Rivals II alongside CT Tamburello, giving him his second victory. Since returning for six more seasons, Bergmann has only finished as a finalist in War of the Worlds. Bergmann recently appeared in season 36 After longtime rival turned ally Johnny Bananas Devenanzio sent him home in Total Madness, the 36-year-old returned for the following season, Double Agents. However, his extensive resume and choice to partner with one of the biggest female threats, rookie Natalie Anderson backfired as he found himself in the first elimination. CT really helped Wes put his foot in his mouth. #TheChallenge36 pic.twitter.com/U55NW827RM Bad Gal TJ (@ChallengeMTV) December 10, 2020 RELATED: The Challenge: Wes Bergmann Called This Rookie the Nicest Man on the Planet Even though the team survived, they quickly landed in another Crater where ally Devin Walker sent him home. When the veteran is not competing on the reality show, he works as an engineer at a private equity company that assists startups. Additionally, Bergmann regularly updates a Patreon account that includes The Challenge episode recaps with behind-the-scenes information. The Kansas native also launched a reality show featuring several MTV stars living together and doing community service. Bergmann on why he didnt compete in All-Stars In summer 2020, two-time champion Mark Long initially pitched an idea for a season of The Challenge, including only old-school competitors on Twitter. Several OG players responded, noting they would return for special, and he began to make merchandise, causing his proposal to gain traction. Therefore, the production company took meetings with Long and ultimately greenlit the series. Premiering on streaming service Paramount+, at least 20 old school competitors will return, including Katie Doyle, Trishelle Cannatella, Derrick Kosinski, and Nehemiah Clark. Double Agents Aneesa Ferreira and Darrell Taylor joined the cast, and returning veteran Eric Big Easy Banks competed on Fresh Meat along with Bergmann as rookies. I cut the cable chord 2 months ago. I bought 4 streaming services, including Paramount+, including one that gets me all cable channels. The total bill is less than I was paying for cable. This is why Im not on All Stars, I had too much good shit to watch. Wes Bergmann (@WestonBergmann) March 20, 2021 RELATED: The Challenge Star Devyn Simone Says She Turned Down Offer to Compete on All-Stars Therefore, the 36-year-old qualified for the spinoff series and likely received an invitation to return but declined. After the All-Stars announcement, Bergmann tweeted his excitement to watch the show and his decision to cut the cable cord. The Kansas native claimed he purchased multiple streaming services, giving him too much good s**t to watch to return for All-Stars. Additionally, Bergmann has already stated he wants to take a break from the series to focus on his other ventures. The Challenge: All-Stars premieres in Apr. 2021 on Paramount+. There are two simultaneously occurring pandemics in the U.S.: Racism and COVID-19. "These mutualistic pandemics have thrown into stark focus the separate and unequal systems through which people access health care," explained corresponding author Emily Cleveland Manchanda, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. Cleveland Manchanda and colleagues authored a JAMA Network Open commentary explaining that it is imperative that crisis standards of care (CSC), guidelines designed to ensure the fair allocation of scarce hospital resources across racial and ethnic groups, do not exacerbate racial inequities further. Their commentary is in response to a study also published in JAMA Network Open that found no racial disparities in simulated patient prioritization for resource allocation using CSC guidelines at two Miami hospitals. Throughout this past year Black, Latinx, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) have suffered grossly disproportionate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Cleveland Manchanda, under-resourced communities of color typically rely on health care facilities, especially safety-net hospitals that have been hit the hardest by surges in COVID-19. Ill-equipped to handle these surges, many of these safety-net hospitals have had to cancel income-generating elective surgical procedures because their inpatient beds are filled with COVID-19 admissions. Safety-net hospitals thus become reliant on a tenuous stream of government funding and may be more likely to enact CSC than better-resourced facilities. Additionally, the resource constraints at safety-net hospitals in diverse communities may lead to compromised care even before CSC enactment." Cleveland Manchanda, Director for Equity Initiatives in the Emergency Medicine Department at Boston Medical Center Cleveland Manchanda stresses that to prevent CSC from compounding harm during a public health crisis, resource allocation criteria must be developed, revised and implemented through an identity-conscious lens. "Failure to explicitly consider the particular risks faced by BIPOC, disabled and other marginalized populations may lead to unintended harms." Cleveland Manchanda believes that if we are forced to activate CSC guidelines for critical care resource allocation, we must ensure that they equitably serve our most marginalized and at-risk patients populations. "Further prospective and validation studies are needed before CSC can be deemed free of racial and other biases." SACRAMENTO California legislators approved three politically connected appointees Monday to the state board that licenses and regulates doctors, seven months after Gov. Gavin Newsom used his emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic to extend their confirmation deadlines. The appointees are Asif Mahmood, a Los Angeles County doctor who shared campaign consultants with Newsom when they both ran for statewide office in 2018, and Richard Thorp and Dev GnanaDev, past presidents of the California Medical Association. The organization represents physicians and has longstanding ties to the governor, who dined with its chief executive and top lobbyist at the French Laundry in November. The state Senate confirmed Mahmood and Thorp by votes of 36-0. But the 30-1 reappointment of GnanaDev, who was first named to the Medical Board of California by then-Gov. Jerry Brown in 2011, hinted at a brewing battle over the board itself. During a testy hearing last week, lawmakers questioned whether the physician-majority board was doing enough to hold doctors accountable when they violate patients rights. Sen. Melissa Hurtado, a Sanger (Fresno County) Democrat who cast the only vote against GnanaDev, echoed those complaints Monday. Health care consumers in my district have not received the care they deserve, she said. I am concerned that members of the board have not properly maintained objectivity and could do better in upholding the boards mission of protecting patients. Mahmood, Thorp and GnanaDev were appointed or reappointed to the 15-member board in June and July of 2019. Ordinarily, they would have to have been confirmed by the Senate within a year to retain the positions. But a committee hearing to consider their appointments was pulled from the calendar in March 2020, shortly after the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog wrote to Newsom and legislators to object. Consumer Watchdog, which is in a battle with doctors over the monetary limit for medical malpractice settlements, argued that filling the board with former presidents of an organization that lobbies for doctors would be contrary to its oversight mission. At the end of August, as the legislative session drew to a close without any of the three receiving a hearing, Newsom issued an executive order moving the confirmation deadline to April 1, 2021. The Senate Rules Committee finally gave Mahmood, Thorp and GnanaDev a hearing in early February, 11 months after originally scheduled. The three defended themselves against suggestions that their past work would prevent them from serving as advocates for consumers, though Thorp said there needed to be balance with doctors rights. Patient protection is extremely important and needs to be a priority, but without a profession, its going to be much worse for consumers, he said. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff Singapore: The presence of more than 200 suspected Chinese militia vessels at a disputed reef off the Philippines could be a prelude to violent clashes, according to a leading analyst who says the flotilla is only the latest example of the superpower tightening the noose in the worlds most contested waterway. In the latest diplomatic flare-up over competing claims to the South China Sea, the Philippines has protested after its coastguard discovered the vessels moored at a boomerang-shaped reef that both nations claim. Chinese vessels photographed at Whitsun reef by the Philippines coast guard. Credit:Philippine Coast Guard Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana voiced grave concern about the appearance of 220 ships at Whitsun reef, part of the Spratly Islands about 300km west of the Philippine province of Palawan. Lorenzana labelled it a clear provocative action of militarising the area and called on China to cease encroaching on an area he said lay well within the Philippines exclusive economic zone. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 22) Two more contagious COVID-19 variants have spread in all 17 cities and municipality in the National Capital Region, the Department of Health confirmed on Monday. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the SARS-CoV-2 variants first detected in United Kingdom (B.1.1.7) and South Africa (B.1.351) are present in all parts of Metro Manila, with some even recording cases of the two variants. Hindi po natin ipagkakaila na nakikita na natin itong mga variants sa lahat na ng cities dito sa Metro Nanila at iyan po ay factual na. Meron na tayo either the UK variant or the South African variant. Also in other cities meron na siyang both UK variant and South African variant," she said in a media briefing. [Translation: We will not deny that these variants were recorded in all cities in Metro Manila. We either have the UK or South Africa variant, while other cities have both.] DOH said there are 76 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant and 105 patients with the B.1.351 variant in Metro Manila. The B.1.1.7 variant is not only more easily transmitted, but a study by the British Medical Journal or BJM also said it appears to be more fatal meaning a patient with the UK variant has a 64% higher risk of dying from COVID-19. The B.1.351 variant, meanwhile, has a component of immune escape wherein the vaccine may have trouble in helping the inoculated patient build antibodies to fight the virus because of the presence of the E484K mutation, Vergeire earlier explained. The country has recorded at least 223 cases of the variant from the UK, 152 with the variant from South Africa, and 104 of the variant from the Philippines called P.3. Vergeire said the variants have contributed to the spike in cases in the country. She added they are still waiting for the World Health Organization to declare if there is already community transmission of the new variants. March 23, 2021 Software-as-a-service ( SaaS (News - Alert) ) providers, like pretty much any other software and web app vendor, rely on email marketing to boost their revenue. Why wouldnt they? Targeted content translating to high open rates could bring in additional customers and higher returns on their investment. But effective email marketing may require good email hygiene apart from reliable campaigns to truly work. That is where email validation in Python or other programming languages may come in handy, as it: Allows your signup pages to catch typos that registrants may make while typing their email addresses into forms, something that may result in incorrect syntax or failed SMTP connection checks. Lets you email customers instantly for credit card expiration, receipt, or new feature information issues; or enables users to reset their passwords securely if they forget it. Again, without verifying that the email address is valid, that may not be possible. Prevents potential fraudsters and abusers from signing up for your service with disposable email addresses. Why Would Threat Actors or Abusers Have an Interest in SaaS Businesses? The pandemic pushed almost every business establishment to go digital to survive, which naturally led industry experts like Gartner (News - Alert) to predict that the SaaS segment would grow significantly in 2021. The increased adoption meant more companies would buy from todays leading providers. But it also meant more opportunities for SaaS abuse in a way. 3 Ways Email Validation Helps SaaS Vendors You may be wondering how exactly email address verification helps SaaS businesses. Here are three ways. Phishing Protection SaaS vendors, or any organization really, can reduce the chance of becoming a phishing victim by validating every email address that communicates with their networks. For example, they can detect and possibly filter addresses provided by free or disposable service providers. After all, its unlikely that legitimate businesses would not want to use branded domains for their employees email address. Therefore, addresses such as paypal-payment123@gmail[.]com most certainly doesnt belong to someone working for the organization and should thus be treated with suspicion. Freemium Abuse Prevention Online business ventures typically offer freemium services to encourage users to sign up and eventually turn into paying customers. But are they really protected against potential freemium abusers? We put this to a test by signing up for free to Zapier. We created a temporary email address for this test on TempMail and used it. We successfully created a Zapier account. Note that freemium abusers can easily prey on Zapier by just generating temporary email addresses and signing up for free each time, thus enjoying the SaaS providers services without spending a dime. Disposable email domain databases can help detect temporary email addresses like the one we used to sign up for a free account. That said, it can help Zapier and other SaaS providers protect against freemium abuse. Marketing Database Cleanup SaaS providers marketing teams are critical in that they generate leads. And email marketing is a huge part of that but it has its challenges. Boosting open rate, reducing bounce rate, and improving overall email marketing metrics are three of those, which you can improve by maintaining a clean marketing database. A clean database should not have disposable, fake, or unverified email addresses, as these may land your emails straight to your recipients spam folder. Subjecting every email address in your database to an email validation check can boost your marketing performance while helping you avoid tarnishing your senders reputation. Such a service can tell you which email addresses are improperly formatted, do not have matching SMTP servers or DNS records, are disposable, or point to a catch-all inbox. All these points may be signs of leads that are not worth or even feasible pursuing and so should probably be left out of your database. --- While SaaS vendors have a bright future ahead, as predictions show, they are also bound to face several challenges. An email validation software can help to some extent not just bolster their marketing efforts but also detect suspicious email addresses. Attorney General Nessel Announces $188.6 Million Multistate Settlement with Medical Device Manufacturer Boston Scientific Corporation Attorney General Nessel Announces $188.6 Million Multistate Settlement with Medical Device Manufacturer Boston Scientific Corporation Kelly Rossman-McKinney 517-512-9342 Attorney General March 23, 2021 LANSING Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today announced a multistate settlement with Boston Scientific Corporation (Boston) to resolve allegations of deceptive marketing of its surgical mesh products for women. The settlement requires Boston to pay $188.6 million to 47 states and the District of Columbia to resolve allegations that it deceptively marketed transvaginal surgical mesh devices to patients. Michigans share of the settlement is $4,425,830. Boston Scientific Corporation failed to clearly and adequately disclose the risks associated with its product. It is essential that companies that provide medical devices live up to their obligation to provide accurate and up-to-date information to both doctors and patients, said Nessel. The dangers associated with the surgical mesh product were not always clearly communicated to the women who used them. Businesses that fail to disclose crucial information to the public must be held accountable, and thats what this settlement achieves by requiring Boston Scientific Corporation to make a number of marketing and training reforms going forward. Surgical mesh is a synthetic woven fabric that is implanted in the pelvic floor through the vagina to treat common health conditions in women such as stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. These are common conditions faced by women due to a weakening in their pelvic floor muscles caused by childbirth, age, or other factors. Although use of surgical mesh involves the risk of serious complications and is not proven to be any more effective than traditional tissue repair, millions of women were implanted with the devices and thousands of women are alleged to have suffered serious complications resulting from these devices. The complaint alleges that Boston misrepresented the safety of these products by failing to disclose the full range of potential serious and irreversible complications caused by mesh, including chronic pain, voiding dysfunction, and new onset of incontinence. The settlement provides comprehensive injunctive relief. Under the terms of the settlement, Boston is required to implement a number of reforms. Marketing Reforms: For marketing materials intended for consumers, describe complications in understandable terms; For certain marketing materials, disclose significant complications, including the inherent risks of mesh; Refrain from representing that any inherent risks of mesh are risks common to any pelvic floor or other surgery not involving mesh; Refrain from representing that inherent mesh complications can be eliminated with surgical experience or technique; Refrain from representing that surgical mesh does not cause a foreign body reaction; Refrain from representing that surgical mesh remains soft, supple, or pliable after mesh is implanted inside the body; Refrain from representing that surgical mesh does not potentiate infection or does not increase the likelihood of infection; and Refrain from representing that surgical mesh repair is superior to native tissue repair unless such representations are supported by valid scientific evidence. Training Reforms: Inform healthcare providers of significant complications when providing training regarding procedures for insertion and implantation; and Maintain policies requiring that its independent contractors, agents, and employees who sell, market, or promote mesh are adequately trained to report patient complaints and adverse events to the company. Clinical Trial Reforms: When submitting a clinical study or clinical data regarding mesh for publication, disclose the companys role as a sponsor and any authors potential conflict of interest; Refrain from citing any clinical study, clinical data, preclinical data, research, or article regarding mesh for which the company has not complied with the disclosure requirements in the injunction; Include a sponsorship disclosure provision requiring consultants to contractually agree to disclose in any public presentation or submission for publication any sponsorships by Boston related to the contracted-for activity; and Register all Boston-sponsored clinical studies regarding mesh with ClinicalTrials.gov. The investigation that resulted in todays settlement was led by California and Washington along with Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas. Joining Michigan in this multistate settlement are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The city of Boulder, Colo., barred assault weapons in 2018 as a way to prevent mass shootings like the one that killed 17 at a high school in Parkland., Fla., earlier that year. But 10 days after that ban was blocked in court this month, the city was rocked by its own tragedy: Ten people were killed at a supermarket Monday after a gunman opened fire, law enforcement officials said. In announcing the arrest Tuesday of the suspected 21-year-old gunman - who has been charged with 10 counts of murder in the first degree - investigators determined that the suspect had purchased a Ruger AR-556 pistol March 16, according to the arrest affidavit. No other details were released as to when or how the suspect obtained the AR-15-style firearm six days before the shooting, or whether the gun was used at the King Soopers grocery store. Police have yet to say whether the ordinance would have prevented him from buying or possessing the weapon within city limits. Boulder City Attorney Tom Carr declined to comment to The Washington Post, but pointed to language in the city's code on assault weapons suggesting that the AR-556 pistol linked to the suspected shooter would have been included in the ban that was recently overturned. Rachel Friend, a city council member, said the events that led to a mass shooting unfolding shortly after a judge blocked the weapons ban left her frustrated and overwhelmed with sadness. "I am still too numb or in shock to say how this happened so quickly on the heels of it being struck down - except to say this is why we wanted to pass the ban in the first place," Friend told The Post. "It hurts." The Colorado State Shooting Association, one of the plaintiffs that sued Boulder over the assault weapons ban, rejected that sentiment, arguing in a statement that "emotional sensationalism" about gun laws would cloud remembrance of the victims. "There will be a time for the debate on gun laws. There will be a time for the discussion on motives. There will be a time for a conversation on how this could have been prevented," the group said in a statement. "But today is not the time." Though the weapon linked to the suspected gunman is modeled after AR-15-style semiautomatic rifles and includes similar mechanisms, ammunition and magazines, there are some key differences, such as how quickly and easily they can be purchased AR-15-style pistols have much shorter barrels than their rifle counterparts and don't use traditional stocks. The barrel length for the weapon implicated in Boulder is 10.5 inches, or about half a foot shorter than its rifle cousin. The National Firearms Act regulates short barrel rifles differently than regular rifles because they can be concealed in a bag or under a coat easier than a long rifle, according to a former special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Buying a short barrel rifle requires a lengthy background check that could take months that includes fingerprints, a photo, a purchase from a specialized dealer and $200 tax, according to the former agent, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. But AR-15 pistols aren't defined as short barrel rifles after gun manufacturers made specific designs to skirt definitions of what makes a rifle a rifle, he said. AR-15 pistols are also deadlier than a typical handgun because they fire more powerful rifle rounds at higher velocity than slower pistol rounds, such as 9mm bullets. "It's treated just like a Glock," he said. "But it's not just a Glock."According to the affidavit, witnesses interviewed by authorities said that the suspect had been talking about and playing around with a gun in the days before the shooting. Weapons like the Ruger AR-556 pistol include a stabilizing brace that helps the operator secure the weapon to their forearm for one-handed firing, like a typical pistol. But the brace can also just be used like a regular stock, as shown in videos, making the pistol functionally identical to the rifle. The ATF in December sought to examine how a brace affects the classification of a firearm. The agency abandoned its proposal days later after public outcry from gun advocates. The three-year court fight over Boulder's ordinance seems likely to preview a similar public debate over whether new gun control measures are warranted after the latest attack in a part of the country that has seen many such incidents. In mourning the 10 victims Tuesday, President Biden called on the Senate to pass two background-check bills already approved by the House and for Congress to reenact an assault-weapons ban. The North Central region of Colorado has seen as many as nine school shootings since the Columbine massacre in 1999, which left 12 students and a teacher dead. Four other major shootings have occurred within 20 miles of the high school, including a 2012 shooting at a movie theater in Aurora that left 12 dead. The earliest of those incidents, as well as the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida in 2018, pushed Boulder officials to take action. Some said they wanted to prevent a similar massacre from occurring again. "I hope and pray we never have a mass shooting in Boulder," Carr told the Daily Camera in March 2018. "What this ordinance is about is reducing, on the margins, the ease with which somebody could do that." With unanimous support from the council, the law banned the possession, transfer and sale of most shotguns and certain pistols and semiautomatic rifles with pistol grips, a thumbhole stock, or any protruding grip that allows a weapon to be stabilized with the non-trigger hand. It also established a permit system for people who had previously owned any of those guns and banned large-capacity magazines, which it defined as "any ammunition-feeding device with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds." "If you look at most of the mass shootings, the guns were purchased legally," Carr said. "I see this as an ordinance that throws in one more barrier to someone who's contemplating such a horrible act." While city officials had acknowledged the law faced likely legal challenges, they pointed to the city's home-rule provisions as well as its history of trailblazing on liberal issues, like the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses. With few steps taken by state or federal government officials, "we had to start somewhere," Reinfeld said. "When there continues to be mass shootings, when do we take a stand?" The ordinance generated vigorous opposition from gun rights activists across the state. On the day of the vote, advocates from around Colorado descended on Boulder, many of them carrying concealed rifles with them into city government buildings. A month after it passed, the law was challenged in state district court by two Boulder residents, a local gun shop and the Colorado State Shooting Association, according to the Denver Post. Richard Westfall, the residents' attorney, did not immediately respond to a message from The Post early on Tuesday. On March 12, Boulder County District Judge Andrew Hartman sided with the plaintiffs, saying that, according to a 2003 Colorado state law, cities and counties cannot restrict guns that are otherwise legal under federal and state law. The "need for statewide uniformity favors the state's interest in regulating assault weapons," Hartman wrote. He said Boulder's ordinance "could create a ripple effect across the state" by encouraging other municipalities to pass their own bans. The National Rifle Association cheered the ruling on Twitter last week, noting that its lobbying arm had supported the lawsuit against the ban. The day after Hartman's ruling, city officials instructed Boulder police to stop enforcing the ban. Carr, the city attorney, declined to comment on whether he planned to appeal the decision. But in the wake of the Boulder shooting, gun violence prevention advocates said the importance of preserving such a ban had only become more evident. Colorado State Rep. Tom Sullivan, a Democrat, who ran for office after his son Alex was killed in the Aurora movie theater shooting, said he helped lobby the statehouse in Denver for background checks and magazine limits. Neither Congress nor the state legislature, he noted, had the political capital to go as far as Boulder City Council. "The assault weapons put the 'mass' in the 'shootings,' " Sullivan, who wore a jacket honoring his late son in the state Capitol on Tuesday, told The Post. "That's what gets the numbers up. That's what gets the assault weapons that were able to fire as many rounds as were fired. "I really want us to not continue to let this happen to communities," she said to The Post. "We're reeling and it hurts to be here right now. But I don't see why we can't change that for the future." - - - The Washington Post's Annie Gowen contributed to this report. New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear the plea of former Mumbai Police chief Param Bir Singh in connection with the row surrounding Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Wednesday (March 24). Singh approached the top court seeking a CBI investigation in the matter. He has also challenged his transfer ordered by the state government. Under flak for the handling of the recent bomb scare, the Maharashtra government on March 17 transferred Singh from the post and appointed senior IPS officer Hemant Nagrale, who was holding additional charge of Maharashtra DGP, as the new commissioner of Mumbai Police. Following the transfer order, Singh wrote a letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray levelling serious charges on the state home minister. He alleged that Deshmukh ran an extortion racket of which suspended API Sachin Waze was a part. Waze was allegedly asked by Deshmukh to make collections to the tune of Rs 100 crores every month. BJP Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis has mounted a sharp attack on the ruling Thackeray-led government, demanding the resignation of Deshmukh. He also hit out at NCP chief Sharad Pawar for defending Deshmukh. "This is an attempt to protect Deshmukh. Pawar Saheb is not being briefed properly and hence not speaking the truth. They are getting exposed in the process," Fadnavis said on Tuesday. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also held a press conference on Tuesday to question the Maharashtra government. "The Maharashtra government is 'of extortion (vasooli), by extortion and for extortion'," said Prasad. He added that the state government has lost moral authority to govern. Live TV GALWAY - The family of Betty Conley, who was shot and killed while working an overnight shift at a convenience store, has established a scholarship in her name. Her daughter Linda Conley created a GoFundMe page to fund the scholarship that will go to a graduating student at Galway High School. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 03:35:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A nurse prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Ankara, Turkey, on March 22, 2021. Turkey on Monday reported 22,216 new COVID-19 cases, including 981 symptomatic patients, raising the total number in the country to 3,035,338, according to its health ministry. The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 117 to 30,178, while the total recoveries climbed to 2,844,681 after 19,494 more cases recovered in the last 24 hours. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) ANKARA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Monday reported 22,216 new COVID-19 cases, including 981 symptomatic patients, raising the total number in the country to 3,035,338, according to its health ministry. The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 117 to 30,178, while the total recoveries climbed to 2,844,681 after 19,494 more cases recovered in the last 24 hours. The rate of pneumonia in COVID-19 patients stands at 4.2 percent and the number of seriously ill patients is 1,644 in the country, said the ministry. A total of 201,215 tests were conducted over the past day, taking the overall number of tests in Turkey to 36,556,589. Turkey started mass COVID-19 vaccination on Jan. 14 after the authorities approved the emergency use of the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine. More than 8,083,000 people have been vaccinated so far. Turkey reported its first COVID-19 case on March 11, 2020. Enditem With its lush landscape, distinctive trees, unique animals and turquoise waters home to dolphins, Yemen is hoping its Socotra archipelago will become a dream destination despite the country's nightmarish conflict. Lying in the Indian Ocean some 200 kilometres (120 miles) off the Yemeni coast, the four islands and two rocky islets are home to some 50,000 people and have remained relatively untouched by the war that has devastated the mainland. While most of Yemen is embroiled in a conflict that erupted in 2014 between Huthi rebels and the government -- plus the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic -- adventurous travellers are showing a growing interest in visiting Socotra. Many set off from the wealthy United Arab Emirates, which is close to the authorities that control the islands. "Fortunately, Socotra has never been affected by the war dynamics of the Yemeni mainland," local travel agency Welcome to Socotra told AFP. "No tensions or fights have ever been reported, hence there is no reason for tourists to worry." Since flights resumed with a chartered Air Arabia aircraft once a week from Abu Dhabi, the agency has received "hundreds" of requests, it said. Yemen, already the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula even before the war, has for years been trying to develop the archipelago into a hub for ecotourism. But despite the reassuring words and the lure of the pure white beaches, Socotra hit the headlines in June 2020 when Yemen's UAE-trained southern separatists seized it from the government. The two sides have since established a power-sharing deal, substantially dialling down tensions in the south. Socotra is located just 250 kilometres (155 miles) from the Horn of Africa, and 1,000 kilometres from the southern city of Aden where Yemen's government is based. It is famed for its unique biodiversity: nearly one-third of its 825 plants and 90 percent of its reptile species are considered unique to the island, according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO. Story continues The unique and spectacular vegetation, such as the Dragon's Blood Tree with its distinctive umbrella-shaped canopy and red sap, has earned it a listing as a World Heritage Site. "Socotra is of particular importance to the Horn of Africa's biodiversity hotspot," UNESCO says on its website. "As one of the most biodiversity rich and distinct islands in the world, (it) has been termed the 'Galapagos of the Indian Ocean'." vid-mk-aem/dm/sls/par/reb Curious thrill seekers are urged not to jump into boats or kayaks to explore flooded areas as they risk being killed by loose debris. Couches, fridges, and other debris from destroyed houses have been spotting floating around flooded areas in NSW after five days of heavy rain. With several warnings in places, rescue workers had to urge people not to jump into boats or kayaks and gawk at flooded areas. Ben Deller paddles down a flooded street in a kayak loaded with groceries for his family in Windsor, northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Tuesday, March 23 Couches, fridges and debris from destroyed houses have been spotting floating around flooded areas in NSW 'We urge people to cease all non-essential boating activity while fast moving and potentially deadly debris is flowing through large areas of the NSW river systems and waterways,' NSW Maritime said. It shared photos online of a couches and fridges floating in the water which could pose serious risk to those in the way. 'The clean-up work will start once the hazardous conditions have eased,' it said. A police helicopter was forced to monitor four people kayaking for leisure in flooded waters at Glenbrook Gorge on Monday. A fridge is seen floating in a flooded area in NSW following five days of heavy rain across the state After a while, the helicopter was forced to stop monitoring the group to attend to more 'urgent' cases. 'Although the group could not be stopped and spoken to, police remind people that if you are caught undertaking a dangerous activity in a closed section of the National Park you will be prosecuted,' local police said in a statement, 7News reported. NSW has been battered by heavy rains for five days and are set for some reprieve on Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to reach a warm 27C and the sun is expected to shine throughout the day. The funds will be used to accelerate the rollout of Mesh Bios solution, DARA - a predictive analytics and clinical workflow automation solution for healthcare providers Singapore-based healthtech startup Mesh Bio has raised $1.8 million (SGD2.4 million) in Seed funding, led by deep tech investors Elev8.vc and Enterprise Singapores investment arm Seeds Capital, along with Citrine Capital and Tael Partners. The funds will be used to accelerate the rollout of Mesh Bios solution, DARA - a predictive analytics and clinical workflow automation solution for healthcare providers - in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. The funding will also support clinical partnerships and collaborations. Our vision is to deliver cutting-edge digital solutions to address challenges in patient management and rising chronic diseases in the region. Through the support of Elev8.vc, Seeds Capital, Citrine Capital and Tael Partners, we see tremendous opportunity to help healthcare providers cope with the rise in cases and simultaneously, improve patient treatment and outcomes with DARA, said Andrew Wu, Mesh Bio Co-founder, and CEO. DARA draws in real-time, multidimensional patient data: health history, lab tests and medical images. DARA delivers a patient-centric visual report, helping doctors counsel patients and allowing patients to understand their laboratory reports, and the diseases they live with. In-built with clinical best practices, guidelines and holistic patient assessments, DARA helps doctors leverage knowledge from the global community of healthcare practitioners. Its risk assessment algorithms are compliant with local clinical practice guidelines. Other key features include: multiple diseases in one report; quantifiable risk contributors; Up to 10 years risk projection; and clinical as well as actionable lifestyle recommendations. DARA has helped healthcare providers in Singapore analyse patient data quickly and effectively, increasing report generation by five times and reducing human error. The solution has delivered over 60 percent in operational savings and 99 percent in revenue growth. 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. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Two teachers from Zion Academy in Kibwezi who allegedly sexually assaulted two pupils under their care were arraigned in court on Monday. Fredrick Kioko and Joseph Nduva appeared at the Makindu Law Courts where they were charged with indecent acts against minors. The teachers had been tasked with chaperoning 32 KCPE candidates on a weekend trip to Tsavo Inn Hotel in Mtito Andei. According to a police report, a customer saw Kioko and Nduva fondling two school-girls at a swimming pool on Saturday, March 20. The customer alerted police who arrived at the scene and arrested Nduva in a dramatic arrest that saw Kioko escape. He was, however, arrested by Monday, when the suspects appeared before Magistrate Jackline Karani. The primary school teachers denied the charges.. The magistrate freed Kioko on a cash bail of Sh300,000, whereas Nduva was released on Sh100,000 cash bail. Their case will be mentioned on April 7 and April 8. The Trinamool Congress has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission accusing BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari of "harbouring criminals" in Nandigram, where he is pitted against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The ruling party in the state also alleged that outsiders of the high-profile constituency have been staying at four locations there. The TMC also charged Adhikari, the protege-turned- adversary of Banerjee, of visiting one of these locations. "It has come to our knowledge that Suvendu Adhikari, the candidate fielded by BJP in Nandigram has been harbouring criminals, who are non-residents of Nandigram," the letter dated March 22 said. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O' Brien alleged in the letter that no action has been taken by the local police and sought the Election Commission's intervention into the matter. "We request you to immediately intervene and direct necessary steps to be taken by police to forthwith apprehend all the outside anti-social elements hired and harboured by Suvendu Adhikari," the letter said. The Nandigram assembly constituency will go to the poll on April 1. (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.) DURHAM, N.C., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Durham, NC studio Horizon Productions has received the prestigious Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for its documentary film, Shaw Rising. The award was announced at the 35th annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award ceremony on February 27, 2021. Shaw Rising tells the tumultuous and inspiring story of Shaw University, the first historically black college and university (HBCU) in the South and among the oldest in the nation. The school was founded in Raleigh, NC in 1865 by Dr. Henry Martin Tupper, a Massachusetts native, who served as a chaplain in the Union Army during the Civil War. Shaw boasts many "firsts": the first college in the nation to offer a four-year medical program, the first historically Black college in the nation to open its doors to women, and the first historically Black college in North Carolina to be granted an "A" rating by the State Department of Public Instruction. Dr. Paulette Dillard currently serves as the University's 18th President. Shaw Rising traces Shaw's story from its founding and growth during Reconstruction, through the challenges of the Jim Crow system and the modern Civil Rights movement, to today. The film production was led by Horizon's Chief Production Officer Tim Finkbiner, in partnership with Hal Goodtree of Goodtree Studio. This is the second Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for Finkbiner and Horizon, who won the Emmy in 2011 for their documentary film, Birth of a Colony, about the early history of North Carolina. Funded by the AJ Fletcher Foundation, additional collaborators and supporters of the Shaw Rising documentary include, Travis Mitchell, formerly Chief Content Officer for UNC-TV, and the leadership of Shaw University. The film is available to view on PBS North Carolina and on the Shaw University YouTube channel. Founded in 1957, The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy Award for News & Documentary. SOURCE Horizon Productions In a private Facebook group called the Pittsburgh Area Police Breakroom, many current and retired officers spent the year criticizing chiefs who took a knee or officers who marched with Black Lives Matter protesters, whom they called terrorists or thugs. They made transphobic posts and bullied members who supported anti-police brutality protesters or Joe Biden in a forum billed as a place officers can decompress, rant, share ideas. Many of the deluge of daily posts were jokes about the hardships of being officers, memorials to deceased colleagues or conversations about training and equipment. But over the groups almost 4-year existence, a few dozen members became more vocal with posts that shifted toward pro-Donald Trump memes and harsh criticism of anyone perceived to support so-called demoncrats, Black Lives Matter or coronavirus safety measures. In June, Tim Huschak, a corporal at the Borough of Lincoln Police Department, posted a screenshot of an Allegheny County 911 dispatchers Facebook page indicating that the phrase Blue Lives Matter used by law enforcement supporters is not equivalent to the slogan Black Lives Matter because policing is a choice, not a fact of birth. He wrote: Many negative posts on police. And we should trust her with our lives??? Some angry members rallied quickly and organized phone calls to her supervisor demanding she be fired. Multiple officers should call and report it. Remember NO JUSTICE NO PEACE LOL, West Mifflin Borough Police Department officer Tommy Trieu responded under his Facebook name, Tommy Bear. Trieu was one of two West Mifflin officers seen in a video last year restraining a 15-year-old Black girl after responding to a call about a fight on a school bus. Activists called for firing the officers, but borough officials said the recording started after a student hit an officer and that they did nothing wrong. A few members of the group also were bullied or left the page, including an officer who said the Fraternal Order of Polices Trump endorsement did not represent her and a Black officer who was accused of creating a fake Facebook account to complain about the lack of diversity in local departments. The Associated Press was able to view posts and comments from the group, which has 2,200 members, including about a dozen current and former police chiefs -- from mainly Allegheny County and some surrounding areas stretching into Ohio -- and at least one judge and one councilman. After the AP began asking about posts last week, the group appeared to have been deleted or suspended from view. Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone said Monday that the group was removed for violating our policies before the AP published its story, but could not say whether it came after a complaint or as part of routine monitoring. Last year, Facebook released an update to its community standards: People turn to Facebook Groups to connect with others who share their interests, but even if they decide to make a group private, they have to play by the same rules as everyone else. Contacted by the AP, Lincoln Borough Police Chief Richard Bosco said departmental policy prohibited Huschak from talking to the media. He said the officer wasnt aware that others had posted insults under his post or that things had gotten out of hand. There is and there needs to be a higher professional standard for police, especially when it comes to social media, Bosco said. Trieu defended his comment, telling the AP that he was merely advising fellow officers that they could file a grievance with a dispatchers supervisor if they feared for their safety. Concerns about explicit bias on officers social media accounts were renewed after a summer of protests demanding an end to racial injustice in policing and the violent U.S. Capitol siege in January. The private Facebook page showed embattled officers hostile to criticism, with many entries possibly violating some department social media policies that prohibit disparaging comments about race or harassing others. Joe Hoffman, a West Mifflin Borough Police officer, denounced Webster, Mass., Police Chief Michael Shaw, who lay on his stomach on his stations steps for about eight minutes -- a reference to George Floyd dying after being held on the ground by Minneapolis police. If you are a law enforcement officer and you kneel or lie on the ground so easily over the false narrative of police brutality, you will one day be executed on your knees or your stomach without a fight by the same criminals that you are currently pandering to, he wrote, calling the organization Black Lies Matter. Hoffman did not return two requests for comment. Mount Pleasant Township Police Chief Lou McQuillan, who is running for a vacant magisterial district judge post, was listed as one of the Facebook groups four administrators. McQuillan posted an article in June 2017 about a civil settlement reached in the police shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, remarking on how the amount of the award was determined: future earnings? lol. What about Ofc Wilson? What about his lost earnings? Joke. Several officers replied that Browns earnings would have derived from crimes or welfare checks. In response to the AP, McQuillan said: Of course, I regret the loss of any life. My comments and posts from four years ago were meant to support law enforcement and police officers everywhere. Dozens of group members fueled days of transphobic posts about former Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine for her role in statewide social-distancing mandates to stop the spread of COVID-19. Levine, who is transgender, has since been tapped by Biden to be assistant health secretary. Someone needs to shoot this thing!! one retired officer wrote. The Pittsburgh police department has revised its social media policy to emphasize that officers may face discipline for online comments, especially those undermining public trust in the force. Some of the smaller police departments contacted by the AP either did not have policies or had policies less specific about offenses. Pittsburghs new policy explicitly states officers may face disciplinary action for sharing any content involving discourteous or disrespectful remarks pertaining to issues of ethnicity, race, religion, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, and/or disability. It also says officers are forbidden from advocating harassment or violence. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 TURIN, MAR 23 - Some 18 Italian anarchists and anticapitalists were indicted in Turin Tuesday for setting up illegal pro-migrant squats on the Italian-French border. The group, which calls itself "Brisez Les Frontieres" (Break down the borders), will stand trial beginning October 5, a preliminary hearings judge ruled. Prosecutors have charged the squatters with breach of domicile for occupying a church at Claviere, which they turned into the Chez Jesus refuge, and for invading a stone house once used by crossborder workers at Oulx. The group helped migrants, who are sometimes found shoeless in deep snow, cross the border into France. They operated in the Upper Val di Susa. A 19th defendant has asked for an alternative trial. (ANSA). New Delhi: Former Kerala Mahila Congress chief Lathika Subhash, who recently shaved her head off after being denied a ticket from the party, has said she will contest the polls as an Independent candidate. Subhash will contest the elections from the Ettumanoor constituency. Last week, she got her head tonsured in front of the party office in Thiruvananthapuram to mark her protest. She had resigned from her post as Mahila Congress Kerala State President but denied joining any other party. "I am not joining any party but I'll resign from my post," she had said. The senior leader took the step shortly after the Congress party in New Delhi released the list of candidates for the April 6 state assembly polls. Subhash, 56, said the party was short of women candidates and pointed out that in the list of 86 candidates released by Congress there are only nine women. "I am saddened by the candidate selection of KPCC. We sought for 20 per cent seats for women. But at least expected one woman candidate from each district. But those women leaders who used to work for the party have been totally ignored," she told reporters outside the Congress office. The elections in the state will be held in a single phase on April 6. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. Live TV As a young girl, Joanna McClinton found inspiration for what she wanted to be when she grew up by watching the courtroom drama Matlock on TV. She wanted to become a criminal defense lawyer like Ben Matlock, portrayed by the late actor Andy Griffith. 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. 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. SEATTLE, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The SERIES-5 MyoVision is an FDA-cleared, Class II medical device patented for diagnosing soft tissue injury. It effectively invalidates expert opinion by providing objective evidence of injury proving injury and exposing symptom magnifiers. The device simultaneously measures range of motion and the muscular guarding response during motion, providing a truly objective answer to the age-old question, "Are you really in pain?" Abnormal muscle activation, known as muscle guarding, is the body's natural response to pain. By documenting muscle guarding during motion, the SERIES-5 provides doctors, jurors, IMEs and patients with consistent objective outcomes. The SERIES-5 increases sensitivity and specificity of range of motion to a level that improves the accuracy of clinical evaluation. It proves with clinical certainty if a patient is injured and in pain or if they are not. Unlike static evaluations (e.g. MRI, CT or Endpoint ROM), the test is performed in motion, making it a functional test which elicits the pain response. Further enhancing the SERIES-5 sensitivity and specificity and what lowers the percentage of false negatives is that the test is performed in all motions (flexion, extension, lateral and rotation). The SERIES-5 utilizes a 100% WireFree technology suitable for hospital use and takes essentially the same time as traditional ROM. Its proprietary receiver provides sophisticated noise reduction and seamless connectivity to any computer in any clinical environment. It was developed by David Marcarian, MA, a NASA trained engineer who was recently honored with an appointment as Clinical Instructor at the University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, teaching radiology students how to utilize this new technology. Featured in the AMA's guidebook "The Practical Guide to Range of Motion Assessment", the SERIES-5 is being hailed as the New Gold Standard in injury evaluation. About MyoVision A passion for excellence. A passion for innovation. A passion for quality. These are the driving forces behind the MyoVision success story. Developed under a prestigious NIH Grant, the new SERIES-5 is the result of thousands of hours of R&D and clinical application in the healthcare arena. MyoVision has been manufacturing medical equipment in the US for the past 30 years. For more information, visit myovision.com . or email [email protected]. SOURCE MyoVision Related Links https://www.myovision.com/ NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 [March 23, 2021] Study: 85 Percent of CFOs Expect Digitization to Improve Cash Flow, Profitability and Revenue HOUSTON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DiCentral, a global B2Bi and API solutions provider, and the Center for Supply Chain Research at Lehigh University (CSCRL), today announced the results of a year-long study focused on uncovering the impact that supply chain digitization has on a company's bottom line. Available for download here, the study authored by Zach Zacharia, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Supply Chain Research at Lehigh, is based on both survey data and interviews with 125 North American-based CEOs and CFOs at organizations with an average of $150 million in annual revenue. Among its top findings is the idea that more than 85% of C-level executives expect digitization efforts to enhance cash flow and reduce Days Sales Outstanding (DSO). "Throughout this study, we have taken an in-depth look at supply chain collaboration and digitization, covering many different aspects such as when revenue is initially recognized, integration efforts with customers, suppliers, and banks, and even companies' stance on electronic payments," Zacharia said. "While many companies have made great strides toward improving their supply chain processes, this study has discovered that companies still face many physical and financial challenges. After analyzing the data collected, we concluded that none of the respondents are entirely satisfied with their digitization level and all the respondents believe that the investment in these projects would be of signifiant benefit to their corporate bottom line." A look at some of the other notable numbers in the study: 95% of manufacturing companies surveyed have initiated a process to digitize the purchase order engagement activity with customers. The same percentage of respondents had started their journey to digitize invoices sent to customers. Companies whose supply chains are not fully digitized have buried manual data entry activity in numerous departments throughout their organizations, revealing that very few companies have a true understanding of the actual cost associated with the manual data entry processes. The average annual cost tied to manually entering data into ERP and back-end systems was over $1 million . . Over $600,000 was the average annual cost associated with manually entering invoices from suppliers. was the average annual cost associated with manually entering invoices from suppliers. 40% of buying organizations pay manufacturers digitally. 80% of the respondents said they would increase their cash forecasting frequency if reconciliation times were improved. Nearly 1/3 of the respondents would aim to move from monthly cash forecasting to weekly cash forecasting if the process were more digitized. "We frequently only think about a physical item and the delivery of this item when we consider the 'supply chain,'" said Steve Scala, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at DiCentral. "However, a supply chain encompasses all the individuals, organizations, resources, operations, and technology involved in supplying a product or service to a customer. In this research, we not only looked at the physical supply chain, but also the financial supply chain, and the interaction between the two. The importance of understanding this impact is underscored by the frequency by which investors and external appraisers base company valuations on the financial performance of key metrics and ratios." Download the study at https://go.dicentral.com/downloads/lehigh-study-finance. About The College of Business at Lehigh University Lehigh Business is an internationally renowned college dedicated to the scholarship of the next generation of business makers. Aligning business with technology and data analytics, their global curriculum makes the critical connections today's business world demands. Lehigh Business breaks boundaries, encouraging and facilitating learning beyond disciplines, borders, and classroom walls. With a distinguished faculty at the forefront of research, Lehigh delivers the highest caliber education for the business elites of tomorrow to undergraduates, graduates, and working professionals. For more information about the Center for Supply Chain Research at Lehigh University, visit https://business.lehigh.edu/centers/center-for-supply-chain-research-at-lehigh. About DiCentral Founded in 2000, DiCentral is a leading global provider of business-to-business and application integration solutions, with over two decades of experience solving complex EDI and API challenges. As market conditions continue to ?uctuate and technology is deployed to manage process changes, leading organizations rely on DiCentral's cloud-based integration platform and global team of specialized experts to integrate and leverage data across multiple cloud and on-premise systems and applications. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, DiCentral has 11 offices worldwide, supporting customers in more than 35 countries. DiCentral utilizes a vast library of integrations with ERPs and applications to seamlessly exchange transactional data with trading partners worldwide to maximize ROI while maintaining existing data infrastructure. DiCentral's services and solutions are leveraged by many Fortune 1000 companies, processing over $200 billion in transactions for over 30,000 organizations worldwide. For more information, visit www.dicentral.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/study-85-percent-of-cfos-expect-digitization-to-improve-cash-flow-profitability-and-revenue-301253454.html SOURCE DiCentral [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] RingCentral Acquires Kindite's Technology and Engineering Team By Luke Bellos , Editor, Business VoIP Cloud communications and contact center solutions provider RingCentral has announced the acquisition of Kindites Technology and Engineering team. RingCentral plans to utilize Kindites security and cryptographic technologies to mitigate risk and vulnerabilities. Engineers at Kindite have created a data-protection platform that uses cryptographic orchestration that allows cloud applications to process encrypted data without decryption. RingCentral will incorporate this technology into its own platform to provide users with end to end encryption and privacy across all communication channels. Security and reliability are paramount in enabling employees to work from anywhere, said Heather Hinton, Chief information Security Officer at RingCentral. With this teams leading-edge security technology, we will accelerate our ability to deliver end-to-end encryption and continue to enhance our commitment to deliver the highest level of security capabilities for our global communications platform, benefiting customers everywhere. The need for increased security has been a common talking point for the cloud communications sector as the industry continues its expansion into 2021. RingCentrals decision to incorporate Kindites team is yet another instance of companies joining forces to tackle the growing security concerns that have risen out of the remote conditions of the pandemic. We established Kindite to bring the very latest technological capabilities to address security and privacy in the cloud, said Maor Cohen, co-founder and CEO of Kindite. Its fantastic we can bring these security capabilities to customers around the world while enhancing the RingCentral platform with the next generation of security technologies. [March 23, 2021] Survey Suggests the Behaviour of Remote Workers is Adding Extra Cybersecurity Risk to Their Employers' Business LONDON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- What's the news? The COVID-19 generation of remote workers are admitting to playing a significant part in increasing the cybersecurity risks facing their companies. New AT&T* research shows 54% are regularly using their work device for personal purposes, including sharing work equipment with family members. The survey, conducted by Opinium, questioned 3,000 workers in the UK and Germany who are now operating remotely because of new policies brought in to combat the global Coronavirus pandemic. More than a third of those questioned admitted to using work equipment to connect to smart home devices (35%) such as voice assistants (14%) smart speakers (14%), fitness monitors (13%), smart lighting (12%) and smart kitchen appliances (12%). Why is this important? The data clearly shows workers understand the problem. Two thirds (66%) said they are more aware of cyber security threats since shifting to home working. Nearly half believe they personally (49% in the UK; 38% in Germany) and their companies (52% in the UK; 42% in Germany) are at increased risk of cyberattacks. 55% have been the target of a cybersecurity threat while working remotely over the past year, and nearly a third of those surveyed (29%) said their company isn't doing enough to protect them from cybersecurity threats. Yet when it comes to taking responsibility, two in three remote workers (66%) say that practicing good cybersecurity at work is challenging; citing a lack of adequate training or technical support (22%), lack of prioritisation by senior management (18%) and it taking too much time/being too much hassle (16%). One in five employees (20%) say there is no way they could be encouraged to care about cybersecurity risk. What else does the data tell us? The results of the 2021 research correspond with a July 2020 AT&T urvey of 800 EMEA cybersecurity experts, which found that 70% of large businesses with more than 5,000 employees believed widespread remote working was making their companies more vulnerable to cyberattacks. That survey identified employees (31%) as the biggest risk to implementing good cybersecurity practices. At that time, experts believed that one in three (35%) employees were using devices for both work and personal uses but the new research suggests that number is much higher. While many businesses did introduce new cybersecurity measures to mitigate risks since the onset of COVID-19, employees indicated that many employers have not taken basic steps to improve cybersecurity. One in three (32%) say their company hasn't implemented additional login protocols to protect from web-based threats and 50% have not required any additional cybersecurity training since shifting to remote working. John V. Slamecka, region president EMEA & LATAM, AT&T Business "The lines between our professional and personal lives are blurring and that includes our online behaviours. It's clear that businesses can only protect their networks by mitigating for those behaviours. Cybercriminals are launching cyberattacks at the most vulnerable point the remote worker. Businesses who initially compromised on cybersecurity to speed up the transition to homeworking are taking a tremendous risk. They must address cyber risks now to provide for business continuity and help protect their workforce and business for the future. "Just as companies have introduced measures to support the physical and mental well-being of their employees, they should educate and support their employees' to help them better understand cyber safety while working outside the office. This includes steps like ensuring employees can access secure internet connectivity and web based applications, and providing enhanced cybersecurity training to help employees decrease the risk from attack surfaces should be mandatory to help protect the individual and the company now and as we move into a new hybrid working environment." Rupesh Chokshi, VP, AT&T Cybersecurity "With today's hyper distributed workforce, there is a need for Zero Trust. Zero Trust assumes that traditional access credentials are no longer sufficient to accurately establish trusted identities for user, device and application access. Rather, organisations should undertake continuous, risk-informed assessment and deploy granular security controls to manage, monitor, and enforce access." *About AT&T Communications We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). For more information, please visit us at att.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/survey-suggests-the-behaviour-of-remote-workers-is-adding-extra-cybersecurity-risk-to-their-employers-business-301252707.html SOURCE AT&T Communications [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Lawton, OK (73501) Today Morning sunshine will give way to isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. High 84F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 62F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Cameras later picked up video of the cars in an alley near the 5000 block of West Ohio Street in the Austin neighborhood, prosecutors said. Keaton, who was identified in the video by gang intelligence officers, is seen getting out of the front passenger seat with a bottle of lighter fluid. He and another person wipe down the interior of the white car and Keaton pours lighter fluid on the interior and exterior of the car. The other person then ignites the car. BOSTON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the essential role nurses play when it comes to caring for seriously ill patients and providing support to their families. Working in partnership with the Massachusetts Coalition for Serious Illness Care (the Coalition), the Massachusetts Association of Colleges of Nursing (MACN) aims to ensure that nursing students are given the foundation and competencies they'll need to provide compassionate, evidence-based palliative care over the course of serious illness and through the end-of-life. MACN today announced their unanimous decision to endorse the CARES competencies ( C ompetencies A nd R ecommendations for E ducating Undergraduate Nursing S tudents), a set of 17 key competencies necessary for nurses to provide high-quality care to patients and families facing serious illness, along with the G-CARES competencies for graduate level nursing students. The CARES competencies, originally endorsed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in 2016 (developed with funding from the Cambia Health Foundation), provide direction for undergraduate nursing schools to ensure that new nurses are skilled in critical palliative care skills including: Providing competent, compassionate, and culturally sensitive care for patients and their families at the time of diagnosis of a serious illness through the end of life. Demonstrating respect for the values, preferences, and goals of care of patients and their families, as well as respect for their cultural, spiritual, and other forms of diversity in the provision of palliative care services. Educating and communicating effectively and compassionately with patients, family, members, health care team members and the public about palliative care issues. Assisting the patient, family, informal caregivers, and professional colleagues to cope with and build resilience for dealing with suffering, grief, loss, and bereavement associated with serious illness. Implementing self-care strategies to support coping with suffering, loss, moral distress, and compassion fatigue. The G-CARES competencies build on and expand this framework for graduate-level nursing students. "Nurses are called to the work most often because they want to address suffering," said Diane Welsh, president of MACN. "All patients will benefit from the skill, understanding and compassion that these nursing competencies underscore." Anna Gosline, executive director of the Coalition, believes the competencies reinforce the important role of nurses, since they often are the ones who the patients turn to for support. "Caring has always been at the core of what nurses are trained to do," Gosline noted. "Embedding these nursing competencies into their education will prepare students for the crucial conversations they will have with patients living with serious illness." The Coalition's partnership with MACN aligns with its work ensuring that we all get care that supports what matters most to us throughout our lives and especially when facing a serious illness. "We are grateful to MACN for this endorsement and hope that bringing these competencies to the forefront of nursing education in Massachusetts will focus attention on equipping new nurses with the critical skills they need to help patients and families coping with serious illness," said Susan Lysaght Hurley, co-chair of the Coalition's Nursing Taskforce and a nurse researcher at Care Dimensions. The Coalition's Nursing Taskforce is now beginning to partner with the schools to assess how their current curriculum supports the CARES competencies and will share the findings in the coming months. About the Massachusetts Coalition for Serious Illness Care The Massachusetts Coalition for Serious Illness Care includes over 125 members organizations committed to ensuring that we all get care that supports what matters most to us throughout our lives, especially if we're seriously ill. These organizations represent physicians, nurses, hospice workers, counselors, clergy, hospital and health plan administrators, social workers, attorneys, policymakers, researchers, and other health professionals. The Coalition is funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and a variety of sponsoring organizations. To learn more, visit maseriouscare.org . About the Massachusetts Association of Colleges of Nursing The Massachusetts Association of Colleges of Nursing (MACN), comprised of Deans, Directors and Chairpersons of nursing programs of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Nursing Programs in Massachusetts, serves as a leading voice and advocate for nursing education in the Commonwealth. As nurse leaders, educators and scholars, MACN members examine, assess and evaluate evidence in order to arrive at conclusions that then serve to direct improvement and change in nursing education and the nursing profession at large. To learn more, visit http://macn-nursing.org. SOURCE Massachusetts Coalition for Serious Illness Care By Elvira Pollina MILAN (Reuters) - workers in went on a 24-hour strike on Monday in the first such action by the U.S. company's entire logistics operation in the country, including third-party delivery service providers. Trade unions estimate Amazon's delivery systems rely on 40,000 workers in including staff at its logistics arm, which employs most of Amazon's 9,500 long-term staff in the country. Italy's FILT-CGIL, FIT-CISL and Uiltrasporti unions called the 24-hour strike after failing to reach common ground at two meetings in January with and the collapse of negotiations with employers association Assoespressi, which represents delivery firms. Marco Odone of Uiltrasporti said protests were widespread across sites and preliminary estimates found 70% to 75% of workers did not report to their jobs. A spokeswoman for Amazon, which has over 40 logistics centres in Italy, said fewer than 10% of its employees and around 20% of third-party workers had joined the strike. "We're not asking for pay rises right now, but for a more humane working schedule," FIT-CISL Secretary Generale Salvatore Pellecchia told Reuters. The Italian protest comes after an e-commerce surge, with goods sold online in 2020 rising by a record 31% to 23.4 billion euros, data from Milan's Politecnico University shows. "Sometime you can't find parking or people aren't home, to make sure you meet your schedule, you drive fast risking fines or worse," Bruno Gambardella, who has worked since 2017 for an Amazon supplier, said. Mariangela Marseglia, country manager for Amazon in Italy, said in a letter to customers that the company put workers first, whether its own or contractors, and offered a safe and inclusive work environment, competitive pay as well as benefits. Unions had called on Amazon to enter talks regarding workers for the company's contractors, but the company refused. Workers at Amazon's fulfilment centre in Bessemer, Alabama, are voting on whether to become the first unionized Amazon facility in the United States Last week, Amazon said it would invest 120 million euros ($143 million) in a new distribution centre near the northern city of Bergamo, hiring 900 staff with a permanent contract within three years. Amazon, whose turnover in was 4.5 billion euros in 2019, has invested 5.8 billion euros in the country since 2010. "We don't want to stop Amazon's growth in Italy, we just want to make it more sustainable for workers," Odone said. ($1 = 0.8384 euros) (Reporting by Elvira Pollina; Writing by Valentina Za; Editing by Alexander Smith and Cynthia Osterman) (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.) Haiti - News : Zapping... Haitian Ambassador denies rape accusations Ambassador Monesty Junior Fanfil, in a press release dated March 21, formally denies "the accusations, which he considers fallacious and false", of an employee of the Embassy of Haiti in Chile, Mickel Ange Joseph, who accused him of having beaten and raped her https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33295-haiti-flash-the-ambassador-of-haiti-in-chile-accused-of-rape.htmll "The charges in question result from the dismissal of Ms. Joseph from the diplomatic mission," said the Ambassador. The opposition announces the overthrow of the current power This weekend, at a press conference, the radical opposition of the so-called "democratic and popular" sector announced three days of demonstration on March 28, 29 and 30, 2021 aimed at overthrowing the power in place and proceeding with the installation of a disruptive transitional government. Arrest of SPNH-17 lawyer On Monday March 22, the Haitian National Police (PNH) arrested Jean Fritz Magny, one of the lawyers for the PNH Union (SPNH-17), while he was preparing to testify, to the Secretariat of the Departmental Direction of the West (DDO) of the PNH a notification informing the police authorities of a sit-in, Tuesday March 23, 2021, in front of the SPNH-17 premises. According to SPNH-17 coordinator Jean Elder Lundi, former police inspector Jean Fritz Magny was taken to the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) after his arrest. Legal system : 5th week of paralysis On Monday, the Magistrates began their 5th consecutive week of strike action. Jean Wilner Morin, the President of the National Association of Haitian Magistrates (ANAMAH) declared "The strike is not due to an increase in salary or privileges, but because of the independence of the judiciary. We do not defend a particular magistrate, but principles." DR : The strengthening of the border continues The strengthening of the border continues due to the politico-social situation in Haiti. Faced with the crisis of violence in the neighboring country of Haiti, the Dominican authorities continue to strengthen the border with the installation of new security and checkpoints, as well as with the integration of more military staff. HL/ HaitiLibre Angie Kamath NYUs School of Professional Studies, which includes its MS programs in integrated marketing, event management, and public relations and corporate communications, has named Angie Kamath dean, effective July 1. Kamath comes to NYU from the City University of New York, where she served as university dean. While at CUNY, she built partnerships with the private, public, and non-profit sectors to create pipelines for a diverse, local workforce; and fundraised more than $20 million for initiatives in workforce development. NYU President Andrew Hamilton said that Kamath impressed us deeply with her entrepreneurial energy and the spirit and vision she had brought to her role at CUNY. Drew Butler Icon Source, a digital marketplace that connects brands with professional and college athletes, has hired Drew Butler to head its collegiate division. Butler was a punter for the University of Georgia from 2007-2011, and then played professionally with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals. He now runs his own consulting business, 4th Down Consulting. Butler joins Icon Source as the company expands in response to the NCAA decision to allow college players to profit from their name, image and likeness (NIL), as early as July 1. We are beyond excited to have a former athlete of Drews caliber leading our efforts in awareness and education as we navigate the changing regulations around student athlete compensation, said Icon Source founder and CEO Chase Garrett. Payal Pathak Walker Sands has promoted Payal Pathak to vice president of public relations and Ann Hagner to vice president. Pathak has been with Walker Sands since 2013, most recently serving as senior public relations director. In her new post, she will continue to advise public and private company marketing and communications executives as well as mentoring agency employees. Previously serving as creative director, Hagner partners with the firm's PR, demand generation, editorial content and marketing strategy teams to build and execute creative work for B2B brands. "Payal and Ann have been instrumental to the success of Walker Sands, demonstrating their ability to lead with conviction and compassion," said Walker Sands CEO Mike Santoro. Roxana Diba Golin names Roxana Diba managing director of its office in Bucharest, Romania. Diba has been with the agency since 2020, most recently serving as head of brand communication. She succeeds Irina Roncea in the managing director position. Our organizational culture is built around people, and the most eloquent example is Roxana, who joined Golin 10 years ago as an intern, and today takes over the management of the company, said Veronica Savanciuc, president & CEO of Lowe Group, which includes Golin Romania. Cristina Butunoi, who came on as Golin Romanias head of corporate in 2020, has been promoted to deputy managing director. Sentinelle. Photo: Netflix/YouTube Five years ago, I undertook a foolhardy mission somewhere between the quixotic and the Sisyphean: to maintain a comprehensive list assessing and ranking every single new Netflix original film, excepting only the documentaries and the shorts for the sake of sanity. My mental fortitude would nevertheless unravel over the coming years as the studio beefed up its production and acquisitions departments, leading to a breakneck rate of a dozen premieres in a slow month. I saw it all, from the unsung gems of Chinese realist drama to the accursed knockoffs-of-knockoffs baiting the lowest common denominator of viewer. And even as the articles page grew past 500 entries to an untenable length, even as I came to fear the thud and hum of the big red N logo like one of Pavlovs dogs, I felt there was a real worthiness to this mad labor of love. A lot of these releases would come and go with near-zero coverage, if not for this ongoing assignment; someone needed to champion the good stuff and take the bad to task. As a whole, the behemoth of a list forms a birds-eye history of a disruptive-industry newcomers expansion and evolution into one of the businesss most dominant forces. So while the original list has been laid to rest, the great work continues. We intend to stay on the Netflix beat in a less unwieldy capacity, compiling a monthly digest of the latest titles with accompanying capsule reviews. The big-budget awards contenders and the slapstick comedies imported from Basque Country, the Indian issue pictures and the Hollywood action spectacles, the next Scorsese epic and the output of McG all will have their fair day in court. Along the way, regular readers may even develop the algorithmic sixth sense Ive gained over the past half-decade and start to get an inkling of how and why Netflix does what it does. Though things at Netflix have cooled off somewhat as it has finished unloading all of its awards contenders before the Academy cutoff at the end of February, this month still boasts an eclectic spread of fresh offerings. A no-b.s. beat-em-up thriller in from France, a one-of-a-kind animated marvel imported from India, the latest directorial effort from the former Leslie Knope, and Jennifer Garners cinematic guide to perfectly-imperfect parenting all fill out the docket, so read on for the full lowdown on your next streaming obsession. Essential Streaming Sentinelle The Netflix library has no shortage of sturdy middlebrow Euro-action, but Julien Leclercqs take on a real-life counterterrorism force in France winnows away the extraneous fat until all thats left is sinew and bone. With only 80 fleet minutes on the clock, we have time for little more than Olga Kurylenko (splitting the difference between Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde and Claire Danes in Homeland) beating up bad guys like crazy. The plot doesnt do much more than guide her from one face-off to the next as she hunts her sisters rapist through the ranks of a Russian organized-crime operation, but those set pieces have a remorseless crunch to them, closer to the low-budget savagery of a latter Universal Soldier installment than the tight choreography of clear influence John Wick. She trades gracefulness for brute force, and visually its an even exchange. Bombay Rose In a digital equivalent to the groundbreaking oil-painting-in-motion Loving Vincent, thousands of computerized drawings comprise the novel animation technique of Gitanjali Raos ambitious social fantasy. In hazy strokes apt for the films constant blending of reality and daydream, she envisions a bustling Mumbai wherein a Hindu flower salesgirl (voice of Cyli Khare) falls in love with a Muslim refugee from Kashmir (Amit Deondi), their differences charging their affaire de coeur with the melodramatic flair of the Bollywood romances to which the film pays homage. In practice, that classical bent can sometimes come off as heavy-handedness, as in the subplot that sees our gal paying bills by dancing in the employ of a shark-toothed pimp character. But those attuned to the soaring highs and tear-soaked lows of old-school Indian cinema will luxuriate in the opulently rendered passion. The Mitchells vs. the Machines With the hyperactively playful spirit of The LEGO Movie (from producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller) and the pop-art savvy of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (from studio Sony Pictures Animation), this plugged-in adventure places itself among the finest mainstream animation in recent years. Gravity Falls veteran and first-time feature director Mike Rianda reimagines his own family as a dysfunctional clan of kooks led by an outdoorsy dad (voice of Danny McBride) resentful of how much time his wife (voice of Maya Rudolph) and kids (voices of Abbi Jacobson and Rianda) spend glued to their screens. But when smart devices get a little too smart and stage a hostile world takeover, he and his YouTuber daughter Katie come to appreciate the way the other sees their brightly colored, frenetically edited world. Internet-hued humor involving cross-eyed pugs and gigantic demonic Furbies can cater to the whole family without dumbing itself down. The Disciple A sobering rejoinder to the scores of feel-good dramas about following your dreams wherever they might lead, Chaitanya Tamhanes intrepidly introspective character portrait dares to ask when we need to stop pursuing a greatness we have no hope of attaining. Green young sitar player Sharad (Aditya Modak) can think of nothing but music, pledging his entire self to study and practice until he reaches the perfection that continues to elude him through the films decades-spanning timeline. As his mentor (Arun Dravid) crumbles into frailty, Sharad must accept the gap between his abilities and the virtuosic skill on which hes modeled his adult life, which hes now watching vanish before his eyes. Tamhane deepens the old canard about how work isnt everything, her corollary suggestion being that what we might perceive as a calling higher than any mere job can still be a trap we set for ourselves. Also Showing Yes Day Once each year, Jennifer Garner treats her real-life kids to a daylong grace period during which the parents let their youngsters call the shots, leading to all manner of family-friendly high jinks. She produces and stars alongside Edgar Ramirez in this wacky movie treatment of the festivities, somewhat domesticated by placing its focus on the frustrations and insecurities of motherhood. Though the Disney Channel tone suggests a grade-school-age audience, the actual children get little to do and less to be, leaving Garner and Ramirez to carry the arc of the film as they get back in touch with the carefree sides that had been retired by responsibility. This odd dissonance notwithstanding, its a serviceable way to occupy an hour and a half for quarantine-bound little ones; though an ice-cream binge may leave Daddy Ramirez incapacitated, the film itself isnt overly sugary. Moxie Amy Poehler improves upon her dull directorial debut, Wine Country, with this squeaky-clean riot-grrrl comedy, but not by much. Shes clearly coming from a good place in her adaptation of Jennifer Mathieus paperback about one girl (Hadley Robinson) who had enough of her high schools toxically male culture and pushed back by starting a Gen-X-styled zine. But her brand of feminism is more spunky than punky, its you-go-girl demonstrations lacking in anything like the ideological piss and vinegar that defined the movement imitated here. More worrisome still, she steps in some problematics while going out of her way to avoid others; the appearance of a trans character ticks its box without allowing her a developed personhood, and a sudden and unusually public rape confession is used to tie up the messy plot in a bow. Dogwashers An inability to impregnate ones wife doesnt have to trigger a crisis of masculinity in an aging husband its a medical thing, pure and simple and yet in the movies, it always does. For graying narco kingpin Don Oscar (Christian Tappan), the reproductive trouble hammers the final nail into his self-confidence and fiefdom with it, as rival gangsters and authorities close in while his alternately untrustworthy and incompetent underlings flail around him. This Guy Ritchieish black comedy melds the natural humor of boneheaded tough guys with a dash of the elegiac, though we arent made to miss Don Oscar badly enough to weigh down the twisted buoyancy. Hes on the way out, and director Carlos Moreno knows that we have to take pleasure in watching him go. Coven of Sisters This Spanish-language horror fable turns back the calendar on Robert Eggerss The Witch two decades to the 1610s and moves everything to Basque Country, where repressed religious officials were also hard at work persecuting the women they feared and misunderstood. Writer-director Pablo Aguero reiterates the key points about stifling patriarchal rule and the dangerous potential of pent-up feminine power, but he seems strangely preoccupied with the literalist question of whether the accused young women really were witches or not. A handful of girls hatch a scheme to hoist the tormentors by their own lecherous petards, and its commentary on how the men in authority channeled their denied urges into external superstition couldve sustained the film on its own. But Agueros choice to clarify a final note of ambiguity weakens the overall dramatic impact, bringing a story with a hint of mystique crashing back down to Earth. Paper Lives Mehmet may not be doing so well, but he wants to do good. Turkeys former No. 1 male model Cagatay Ulusoy portrays our trash-picking hero as a de facto father figure to the many street children in his run-down neighborhood of Istanbul, destitute and sick yet rich in magnanimous spirit. In Can Ulkays modest human drama, he takes in the hopeless Ali (Emir Ali Dogrul), an abuse survivor with as little to his name as his new caretaker. This entry in the sizable Guy Lets Wayward Kid Under His Wing section of the Netflix library sets itself apart by refraining from putting up walls just to take them down again. This formula generally casts the older fellow as a withdrawn brick wall taught empathy by their charge, but Mehmet isnt repressed enough to require this tedious evolution. If not for the why-bother twist torpedoing the conclusion, it would be one of the services better character studies. Bad Trip At the wheel of a stolen hot-pink Bad Bitch-mobile with Lil Rel Howery riding shotgun, Eric Andre tears ass across America (often literally his hindquarters get a lot of play) in this fearless prankumentary. He and Howery play a couple of Joe Schmoes driving from Miami to New York with the vehicles fuming owner (Tiffany Haddish) busted out of jail and close behind, but the wispy plot is only there to provide a fame for the stunts bridging the gap between the puerile and the inspired. The unsuspecting folks caught on camera are the real stars, their candid, fascinated, nosy reactions to the projectile vomiting and gorilla fornication the source of the laughs. Fans of Andres anarchic Adult Swim talk show may find the content mild in comparison, but for everyone else, its a welcoming point of entry to his batty body of work. Things Heard and Seen Dad (James Norton, rakish and loathsome) packs the family up for a move from the city out the country, where unrestful phantoms from a past incident most foul turn their dream home into a nightmare. Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcinis paperback horror-thriller adaptation sure sounds like another brick in the haunted-house wall, except that the ghostly squatters seem to be trying to tell our gal Catherine (Amanda Seyfried) something, rather than simply kill her. While this rehashing of old genre formula knows enough to distinguish itself with a couple zags where its forebears have zigged, the writer-directors fail to meet the text halfway, staging each scene and exchange of dialogue for maximum blandness. They privilege suspense over all else, even as the story at hand starts to contend with more advanced ideas and textures, chief among them that death may not be the real thing we have to be afraid of. The Reds have agreed to a minor league contract with right-handed reliever Heath Hembree, the team announced. The deal includes an invitation to major league spring training. Hembree, who has appeared in the bigs with the Giants, Red Sox and Phillies since he debuted in 2013, signed a minors deal with Cleveland during the offseason. He became available again when the Indians released him over the weekend. The 32-year-old Hembree could now compete for a spot in Cincinnatis bullpen, which has lost Raisel Iglesias and Archie Bradley since last season. Hembree carries a 3.90 ERA/3.80 SIERA over 272 2/3 innings in the majors, though he struggled last season between Boston and Philadelphia. He gave up 19 earned runs on 26 hits and eight walks (against 20 strikeouts) in 19 innings, leading the Phillies to outright him in October. The global semiconductor shortage plaguing the auto industry is forcing Ford to cut the number of shifts at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville and shut down the Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake this week. The global semiconductor shortage plaguing the auto industry is forcing Ford to cut the number of shifts at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville and shut down the Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake this week. Ohio Assembly will be down completely and Kentucky Truck will be working two of three shifts because of a parts shortage, Kelli Felker, Ford global manufacturing and labour communications manager, said Monday. Both plants are scheduled to return to full production next Monday. Last Thursday, Ford announced it would be building F-150 pickups without all the parts needed because of the parts shortage. "The global semiconductor shortage combined with parts shortages created by the central U.S. winter storm in February is prompting Ford to build F-150 trucks and Edge SUVs in North America without certain parts, including some electronic modules that contain scarce semiconductors," the company said in a news release. "Ford will build and hold the vehicles for a number of weeks, then ship the vehicles to dealers once the modules are available and comprehensive quality checks are complete," Ford said last week. At Kentucky Truck, Ford UAW members build Super Duty trucks, the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. At Ohio Assembly, Ford workers build the E-series Vans, Super Duty chassis cabs and medium-duty trucks. Semiconductors, also called chips, are integral in automobile automation, digital connectivity and security, among other things powering items from brakes to windshield wipers. As cars have continually modernized, the reliance on semiconductors also has increased. The pandemic has disrupted the supply chain, affecting various industries including automobile production both domestic and foreign. "People understand its affecting (production) across the whole industry," said Todd Dunn, president of UAW Local 862, which includes 14,300 members working at the Kentucky Truck Plant and Louisville Assembly Plant. "I like what (New York Sen.) Chuck Schumer said, that we need to build our own semiconductor plant here in the United States." Detroit Free Press FRANKFORT, N.Y. The Red Cross is helping four people who are out of a home following a fire on Tuesday afternoon on Second Avenue Extension in Frankfort. 911 calls came in just after 4 p.m. When firefighters arrived the entire front of the home was fully engulfed in flames. Frankfort Fire Chief Eric Conigliaro tells NEWSChannel 2 that neighbors had to put up a ladder to get the upstairs tennants out as the fire had blocked the exit. Everyone made it out safely. Crews were able to put the fire out in less than an hour. The Chief says there is extensive structural damage to the front of the home and water and smoke damage to the rest of the home. The family puppy was also found under the sofa unharmed. The cause of the fire is under investigation but the Fire Chief did say following an interview with neighbors that the fire started on the front porch. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. LONDON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fairfield Market Research's latest report highlights that the efforts to reduce dependency on fossil fuels is directing attention to Bio LPG. With growing efforts to reduce pollution, the latest report predicts that the global Bio LPG market will surge at a phenomenal CAGR of 47% between the forecast years of 2020-2025. Investments by energy companies to push for Bio LPG adoption is expected to help the market achieve a valuation of US$1,020.32 Mn by the end of 2025. Get Sample of this Report (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures): https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/bio-lpg-market/ The demand for Bio LPG is fast catching up across industries as this energy solution is identical to conventional LPG and promises to cut down CO2 emissions by 80%. Also, known as renewable propane and biopropane, analysts state that its versatility will boost uptake. Today, Bio LPG can be easily used for industrial applications, agricultural uses, and heating and cooking purposes. Residential Demand for LPG to Create Opportunities for Bio LPG As urban landscapes change, Fairfield Market Research predicts that they will turn into lucrative business opportunities for players in the Bio LPG market. As Bio LPG is chemically the same as LPG it can seamlessly replace the latter. It requires no additional supply chain or equipment, which makes it an ideal solution for household and commercial use. Bio-oil to Remain Dominant Raw Material While Cellulosic Organic Waste Demand R&D Bio LPG is made out of bio-oil, cellulosic organic waste, and other feedstocks such as wet waste, sugar, and glycerine. Out of these, bio-oil feedstock remains the most popularly used raw material and constitutes about a 100% market share. Bio LPG is primarily recovered from biodiesel plant as a by-product. Analysts anticipate that the dominance of bio-oil will push players to invest in research and development of methods to use cellulosic organic waste to derive Bio LPG. The sheer abundance of agricultural, forest, energy crops wastes, if channelised and commercialised, can yield a great amount of Bio LPG in the forthcoming years. Tapping into the unused amount of municipal waste will also lift the burden off bio-oil feedstock and help other segments make their mark in the market. Europe Paves the Way with Strong Commitment to Sustainability Europe is the leading region in the global Bio LPG market as the countries such as Sweden allow tax exemption on its use for heating and vehicular fuel. Strong commitment by the governments in the European region towards sustainability is paving the way for commercial usage of Bio LPG. In recent news, Poland's Ekobenz Sp. z o.o. has agreed to supply Bio LPG to UGI International's facilities in Gothenburg, Sweden. The company will further sell Bio LPG in a business-to-business manner through its subsidiaries in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. Thus, strong initiatives to capitalize on the emerging demand in a young market will bode well for the regional market. According to Fairfield Market Research, about 90% of the Bio LPG is produced in Europe. In light of these statistics, the regional market is expected to retain its lead in the forthcoming years. In Order to place the Purchase Query Click Here: [email protected] Players in the global Bio LPG market are focussing on making decarbonizing strategies accessible. For the same purpose, companies are expected to explore new opportunities in the global market. For instance, in 2019, SHV Energy started supplying twice as much Bio LPG to European markets. Some of the key players operating in the global Bio LPG market are Neste, Total, Eni, SHV Energy, Preem AB., Renewable Energy Group, Inc., AvantiGas, Irving Oil, Global Bioenergies, and Diamond Green Diesel. About Us Fairfield Market Research is a UK-based market research provider. Fairfield offers a wide spectrum of services, ranging from customized reports to consulting solutions. With a strong European footprint, Fairfield operates globally and helps businesses navigate through business cycles, with quick responses and multi-pronged approaches. The company values an eye for insightful take on global matters, ably backed by a team of exceptionally experienced researchers. With a strong repository of syndicated market research reports that are continuously published & updated to ensure the ever-changing needs of customers are met with absolute promptness. Contact Fairfield Market Research London, UK UK +44 (0)20 30025888 USA +1 (844) 3829746 (Toll-free) Email: [email protected] Follow us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3voYIm9 SOURCE Fairfield Market Research Police outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place in Boulder, Colo., on March 22, 2021. (David Zalubowski/AP Photo) 10 Dead, Including Police Officer, in Shooting at Colorado Supermarket At least 10 people are dead, including a police officer, after a shooting incident on Monday at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, a city about 25 miles northwest of Denver. Video posted online appeared to show people on the floor inside the King Soopers store and two more outside on the ground, but the extent of their injuries wasnt clear. Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold announced at a press conference at 8:15 p.m. that Police Officer Eric Talley was among the fatalities. Talley, 51, was among the first responders on the scene. Herold called the officers actions heroic. The names of other victims will not be released until their families have been notified. Herold said that she acknowledges there are families awaiting news of their loved ones. I am sensitive to that, and we will work around the clock to get this accomplished, she said. Boulder District Attorney Michael Doherty expressed condolences to all the victims, including Talley. His life was cut much too short, Doherty said, promising a painstaking investigation. Boulder police commander Kerry Yamaguchi told a press conference earlier in the evening that one person of interest was taken into custody and was being treated at a hospital for his injuries. Video footage showed officers escorting a shirtless man with blood running down his leg out of the store in handcuffs, before he was put on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance. Doherty said that the man is the alleged shooter. Police officers and an ambulance are seen at the scene where an active shooter was reported at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, on March 22, 2021. (Cecil Disharoon/via Reuters) Police vehicles are seen at the scene where an active shooter was reported at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, on March 22, 2021. (Cecil Disharoon/via Reuters) The incident drew a massive response from law enforcement, including multiple police vehicles, SWAT teams, and at least three helicopters were on the roof. The situation remained active more than two hours after the first reports of the incident, according to multiple reports. Yamaguchi said the police department received a call about the incident just before 3 p.m. He thanked the police response, including from Boulder law enforcement, the FBI, the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives), and other Denver metro agencies. Without that quick response we dont know if there would have been more loss of life, he said. He noted that authorities were processing the crime scene. Police outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place in Boulder, Colorado, on March 22, 2021. (David Zalubowski/AP Photo) An incident at an apartment building three miles away turned out to be unrelated to the supermarket shooting, Yamaguchi added. Doherty said there will be a coordinated response between local, state, and federal law enforcement. This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder county, he said, later adding, well stand united in support of the victims and their families to ensure that justice is done. Kelli McGannon, spokesperson for King Soopers, said the chain will defer all questions to law enforcement for the integrity of the investigation. Our hearts are broken over this senseless act of violence. The entire King Soopers family offers our thoughts, prayers, and support to our associates, our customers, and first responders who so bravely responded to these acts of violence, she said at a press conference. White House press secretary Jen Psaki wrote on Twitter that President Joe Biden was briefed on the shooting and will be kept up to date by his team as there are additional developments. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced on Twitter, My heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community. Im incredibly grateful to the brave men and women who have responded to the scene to help the victims of this senseless tragedy. At the time, he asked for patience from the public to allow local law enforcement to secure the site. The Associated Press contributed to this report. HALIFAX, NS / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / Silver Tiger Metals Inc. (TSXV:SLVR)(OTCQX:SLVTF) ("Silver Tiger" or the "Corporation") ") has intersected 1.6 meters grading 1,355.4 g/t silver equivalent in the Sooy Vein and 2.3 meters of 870.7 g/t silver equivalent in the Sooy Footwall Zone in Drill Hole ET-21-213. This hole was drilled on Section 4812.2N to test the Vein and the Footwall Zone about 90 meters to the south along strike from Discovery Hole ET-20-202. Drill Hole ET-21-211 has intersected 1.3 meters grading 1,346.7 g/t silver equivalent within 4.9 meters grading 384.9 g/t silver equivalent and was collared on Section 4850N to test the Vein and Footwall Zone about 50 meters to the south along strike from Discovery Hole ET-20-202. See attached El Tigre Cross Sections 4850N and 4812.2N. Plan Map of El Tigre Veins and Drill Holes is also attached. As previously reported, Discovery Drill Hole ET-20-202 intersected 11.75 meters grading 667.9 g/t silver equivalent within 22.2 meters grading 381.9 g/t silver equivalent approximately 12 meters beyond the footwall of the Sooy Vein. Drill Hole 202 was drilled to test the down dip potential of the Sooy Vein targeting just under the lowest mine level approximately 150 meters from surface where mining ceased abruptly with the onset of the Great Depression in 1930. Drill Hole 202 passed through mine workings on the Sooy Vein as it was not targeted deep enough below the workings. The technical team opted to continue drilling beyond the footwall of the Sooy Vein and discovered a new style of wide high grade mineralization in the Flat Formation that is not the traditional quartz vein ore that had been previously mined at El Tigre (refer to Silver Tiger press release dated February 2, 2021). See details in Drill Hole ET-20-211 and 213 Results Table below for the calculation of the silver equivalent grades. Silver Equivalent ("EqAg") grades are based on a silver to gold price ratio of 75:1 (Au:Ag). Copper, lead and zinc are converted using $3.66/lb copper, $0.90/lb lead, $1.26/lb zinc at 100% metal recoveries based on a silver price of $26.00/oz. Silver Tiger's CEO, Glenn Jessome, stated, "The new holes continue to show the high-grade silver mineralization in both the Sooy Vein and the newly discovered Sooy Footwall Zone. No historical workings were cut in the southern most drill hole ET-21-213 and we are now following both the Sooy Vein and the Footwall Zone southwards along strike. The parallel El Tigre Vein was mined along strike for another 1,000 meters to the south from hole ET-21-213 and the Sooy Vein and potentially the Sooy Footwall Zone also continue south along strike for over 1,000 meters and have never been drilled." Drill Holes ET-21-211 and 213 Results Table Hole ID Comment From To Length (1) Gold Silver Copper Lead Zinc AgEq Total m m m g/t g/t % % % g/t ET-21-211 Sooy Vein 226.9 240.9 14.0 0.11 131.4 0.06 0.44 0.00 155.6 including 226.9 231.8 4.9 0.24 325.4 0.14 1.21 0.00 384.9 including 227.9 229.3 1.4 0.67 1,148.7 0.47 4.30 0.00 1,346.7 Sooy Footwall Zone 234.0 240.9 6.8 0.04 33.0 0.02 0.03 0.05 40.1 including 234.9 236.9 2.0 0.06 61.5 0.03 0.04 0.08 71.9 and 321.8 322.9 1.1 0.43 33.1 0.03 0.03 0.01 68.4 and 345.8 347.3 1.5 0.01 198.0 0.00 0.00 0.01 199.4 ET-21-213 Sooy Vein 261.6 270.0 8.4 0.02 246.3 0.29 0.05 0.08 279.4 including 266.5 268.1 1.6 0.05 1,206.1 1.41 0.04 0.25 1,355.4 Sooy Footwall Zone 285.7 293.3 7.6 0.22 266.2 0.13 0.21 0.14 304.5 including 289.7 292.0 2.3 0.12 808.4 0.35 0.45 0.26 870.7 including 291.4 292.0 0.6 0.17 3,046.0 1.35 1.54 0.86 3,253.7 Notes: Not true width. Silver Equivalent ("EqAg") ratios are based on a silver to gold price ratio of 75:1 (Au:Ag). Copper, lead and zinc are converted using $3.66/lb copper, $0.90/lb lead, $1.26/lb zinc at 100% metal recoveries based on a silver price of $26.00/oz. Drill Hole Location Table Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Az Dip Length ET-21-211 670726 3384850 1867 90 -60 350.7 ET-21-213 670687 3384807 1881 90 -54 314.2 El Tigre Cross Sections 4850N El Tigre Cross Sections 4812.2N Plan Map of El Tigre Veins and Drill Holes El Tigre Resource Estimate After acquiring El Tigre, Silver Tiger drilled 12,500 meters to define the wide halo of near surface gold mineralization around the mined high-grade veins of the historic El Tigre Mine. This allowed Silver Tiger to deliver a maiden resource estimate for the El Tigre Property to a depth of 150 meters containing indicated resources of 661,000 gold equivalent ounces at 0.77 g/t (21 g/t silver and 0.51 g/t gold) and inferred resources of 341,000 gold equivalent ounces at 1.59 g/t (88 g/t silver and 0.52 g/t gold). The National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate on the El Tigre Project, Sonora, Mexico" effective as of September 7, 2017 and dated October 26, 2017 prepared by David Burga, P.Geo., Yungang Wu, P.Geo., Fred Brown, P.Geo., Jarita Barry, P.Geo., Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET, Alfred Hayden, P.Eng. and Richard H. Sutcliffe, Ph.D., P.Geo. of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. is available on the Corporation's website at www.silvertigermetals.com and on www.sedar.com under the Corporation's profile. About the El Tigre Historic Mine District Silver Tiger Metals Inc. is a Canadian company whose management has more than 25 years' experience discovering, financing and building large hydrothermal silver projects in Mexico. Silver Tiger's 100% owned 28,414 hectare Historic El Tigre Mining District is located in Sonora, Mexico. Principled environmental, social and governance practices are core priorities at Silver Tiger. The El Tigre historic mine district is located in Sonora, Mexico and lies at the northern end of the Sierra Madre silver and gold belt which hosts many epithermal silver and gold deposits, including Dolores, Santa Elena and Las Chispas at the northern end. In 1896, gold was first discovered on the property in the Gold Hill area and mining started with the Brown Shaft in 1903. The focus soon changed to mining high-grade silver veins in the area with production coming from 3 parallel veins the El Tigre Vein, the Seitz Kelley Vein and the Sooy Vein. Underground mining on the middle El Tigre vein extended 1,450 meters along strike and was mined on 14 levels to a depth of approximately 450 meters. The Seitz Kelley Vein was mined along strike for 1 kilometer to a depth of approximately 200 meters. The Sooy Vein was only mined along strike for 250 meters to a depth of approximately 150 meters. Mining abruptly stopped on all 3 of these veins when the price of silver collapsed to less than 20 per ounce with the onset of the Great Depression. By the time the mine closed in 1930, it is reported to have produced a total of 353,000 ounces of gold and 67.4 million ounces of silver from 1.87 million tons (Craig, 2012). The average grade mined during this period was over 2 kilograms silver equivalent per ton. The El Tigre silver and gold deposit is related to a series of high-grade epithermal veins controlled by a north-south trending structure cutting across the andesitic and rhyolitic tuffs of the Sierra Madre Volcanic Complex within a broad silver and gold mineralized prophylitic alteration zone developed in the El Tigre Formation that can be up to 150 meters wide. The veins dip steeply to the west and are typically 0.5 meter wide but locally can be up to 5 meters in width. The veins, structures and mineralized zones outcrop on surface and have been traced for 5.3 kilometers along strike in our brownfield exploration area. Historical mining and exploration activities focused on a 1.5 kilometer portion of the southern end of the deposits, principally on the El Tigre, Seitz Kelly and Sooy veins. The under explored Caleigh, Benjamin, Protectora and the Fundadora exposed veins continue north for more than 3 kilometers. Silver Tiger has delivered its maiden 43-101 compliant resource estimate and is currently drilling to update its resource estimate and publish a PEA. VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation - Silver Tiger's El Tigre Project VRIFY is a platform being used by companies to communicate with investors using 360 virtual tours of remote mining assets, 3D models and interactive presentations. VRIFY can be accessed by website and with the VRIFY iOS and Android apps. Access the Silver Tiger Metals Inc. Company Profile on VRIFY at: https://vrify.com The VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation for Silver Tiger Metals Inc. can be viewed at: https://vrify.com/explore/decks/492 and on the Company's website at: www.silvertigermetals.com. Procedure, Quality Assurance / Quality Control and Data Verification The diamond drill core (HQ size) is geologically logged, photographed and marked for sampling. When the sample lengths are determined, the full core is sawn with a diamond blade core saw with one half of the core being bagged and tagged for assay. The remaining half portion is returned to the core trays for storage and/or for metallurgical test work. The sealed and tagged sample bags are transported to the Bureau Veritas facility in Hermosillo, Mexico. Bureau Veritas crushes the samples (Code PRP70-250) and prepares 200-300 gram pulp samples with ninety percent passing Tyler 200 mesh (Code PUL85). The pulps are assayed for gold using a 30-gram charge by fire assay (Code FA630) and over limits greater than 10 grams per tonne are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code FA530). Silver and multi-element analysis is completed using total digestion (Code MA200 Total Digestion ICP). Over limits greater than 100 grams per tonne silver are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code FA530). Quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures monitor the chain-of-custody of the samples and includes the systematic insertion and monitoring of appropriate reference materials (certified standards, blanks and duplicates) into the sample strings. The results of the assaying of the QA/QC material included in each batch are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data. All results stated in this announcement have passed Silver Tiger's QA/QC protocols. Qualified Person David R. Duncan, P. Geo., V.P. Exploration of the Corporation, is the Qualified Person for Silver Tiger as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Duncan has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. For further information, please contact: Glenn Jessome President and CEO 902 492 0298 jessome@silvertigermetals.com CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, resources and reserves, the ability to convert inferred resources to indicated resources, the ability to complete future drilling programs and infill sampling, the ability to extend resource blocks, the similarity of mineralization at El Tigre to Delores, Santa Elena and Chispas, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of Silver Tiger, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "may", "is expected to", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans", "projection", "could", "vision", "goals", "objective" and "outlook" and other similar words. Although Silver Tiger believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Silver Tiger's expectations include risks and uncertainties related to exploration, development, operations, commodity prices and global financial volatility, risk and uncertainties of operating in a foreign jurisdiction as well as additional risks described from time to time in the filings made by Silver Tiger with securities regulators. SOURCE: Silver Tiger Metals Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636902/Silver-Tiger-Intersects-16-meters-Grading-13554-gt-AgEq-in-the-Sooy-Vein-and-23-meters-of-8707-gt-AgEq-in-the-Sooy-Footwall-Zone-in-Hole-ET-21-213 Children who were born in Ireland but whose parents are not Irish citizens will be able to apply for citizenship within three years of residency under plans to be considered by Cabinet. Justice Minister Helen McEntee will bring a memo to Cabinet to amend the citizenship rules for children. Under current legislation, children whose parents are not Irish citizens have to wait at least five years to apply for citizenship. However, this will be cut back to three years under Ms McEntees plan. The proposal first emerged in a Private Members Bill proposed by Labour Senator Ivana Bacik in the Seanad. At present, a child born here to non-Irish citizens needs to be resident in Ireland for four of the previous eight years before they can become an Irish citizen. Additionally, there is a requirement to have a full years residency in Ireland prior to date of an application for citizenship. This means the total residency requirement for minors is currently five years. Under the new legislation, the number of years a minor must be resident in Ireland will be reduced to two years out of the previous eight. The one-year residency prior to applying for citizenship will remain in place. The rules will not apply to the children of parents who are illegally resident in the country. A referendum in 2004 saw the country vote in favour of not giving automatic citizenship rights to children born in Ireland if neither of their parents are, or are not entitled to be, Irish citizens. Almost 80pc of voters supported the amendment but the referendum result has proved controversial in recent years and led to rising debate about Irish citizenship rights. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Israelis went to the polls on Tuesday for the fourth time in two years, hoping to end a political deadlock that has left the country without a national budget or stable government in the middle of a pandemic. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is running for re-election despite standing trial on corruption charges, a decision that has divided the country and turned the election into a referendum on Mr. Netanyahu himself. If re-elected, Mr. Netanyahu has promised to curb the power of the courts, setting the stage for a showdown between the judicial and executive branches of government that critics fear would cause a constitutional crisis. His opponents believe he wants to change the law to give himself immunity in his court case, a charge he denies. While pre-election polls suggest that Mr. Netanyahus right-wing party, Likud, will emerge as the largest in the next Parliament, it is unclear whether his wider alliance of conservative, ultra-Orthodox Jewish and ultranationalist parties will win enough seats to form a parliamentary majority. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Gripping tightly to his forgiving wifes hand on Monday, popular Christian relationship guru Derrick Jaxn, who is well known for preaching a message that black men shouldn't cheat, confessed to his millions of social media followers that he had been unfaithful to his wife multiple times. This chapter of our marriage was one that was preceded by a marriage that I completely failed," Jaxn (also known as Jackson) revealed in a video posted on Facebook, with his wife Da'Naia by his side. "I would say it started around August or September of last year. But a lot has been said already about what was the cause. And some of it is true, some of it is completely false. But the truth is, and Im saying it here now, is that Derek Jackson was involved with other women outside the marriage." "And by involved, I want to be clear: Im not just talking about casually kicking it maybe at lunch or something like that," he continued. "Im talking about as serious as sex, sexual flirtation and that kind of thing." Jaxns confession comes just days after vlogger Tasha K. interviewed a woman identified as Candice De Medeiros, who said she had an affair with Jaxn. She alleges that Jaxn told her he was separated from his wife of four years. Source:The Christian Post Brian McGregor moved into Wilberforce caravan park backing onto the Hawkesbury River one month ago. On Tuesday he fled by boat after floodwaters cut off towns and properties in north-west Sydney. Muddy water stretching for kilometres covered the new Windsor Bridge, inundated homes and blocked roads throughout the region as the Hawkesbury River peaked at 12.75 metres overnight on Tuesday. SES volunteers picking up Brian McGregor and Jason Pemberton from their home at Wilberforce caravan park on Tuesday afternoon. Credit:Louise Kennerley Its shocking, Mr McGregor said as he surveyed the damage from a NSW State Emergency Services vessel on Tuesday afternoon. Im just glad were out of there. ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxygen Forensics, a global leader in digital forensics for law enforcement, federal agencies, and corporate clients, announced today the release of the latest version to its all-in-one forensic solution Oxygen Forensic Detective. With long-awaited features, improved user functionality and increased customization in exports, Oxygen Forensics continues the momentum it has been building since the tail end of last year. Oxygen Forensic Detective v.13.4 marks the return of the long-awaited hashing capability for image imports. Discontinued during a previous software update, this tool is now back with an extra feature. All hash values will be automatically saved under the notes section of the software after hashing is complete. COO Lee Reiber talks about the importance of hash files in investigations. "Conducting an investigation that can be reproduced is a foundational requirement in today's digital forensic landscape. Having and maintaining a digital fingerprint of the original piece of evidence should be an essential part of any investigation," said Reiber. When called upon, an investigator can demonstrate case integrity with the display of the computed hash values of each piece of evidence as well as each hashed file contained in the case. Furthermore, investigators can now export to .txt or .csv from the built-in hash sets manager to share the sets with other investigators. When it comes time to export, investigators will now have the ability to customize their reports even more than before. This update allows users to set time intervals for data exports. Previous versions of Oxygen Forensic Detective gave investigators the ability to specify one or more date ranges for exports. With this update, reports can be filtered to include data that fits into the specified date and time settings. Reports will denote which date and time intervals the exported data is from. Building on the export capabilities and large data sets, the ability to now process files concurrently revolutionizes the creation and compilation of large reports. After 21 years in the industry, Oxygen Forensic Detective has accrued support for over 30,000 devices. All are now listed and can be searched using various filters, including vendor, SoC, OS or name within the robust interface. Now, the newly added devices supporting Samsung Exynos and Huawei Kirin can easily be located using filters and even a search bar. With the addition of Discord, TikTok, Lime, and Bird to the app-parsing section, the company's leadership in today's forensic market is clearly shown. This is another momentous release for Oxygen Forensics. It seems that Oxygen Forensics has hit a stride that it is committed to maintaining, and they are going to do that by continuing to put out valuable, effective tools that expedite and simplify the investigative process. The full list of 13.4 updates can be found here. CONTACT: Cristian Rojas Oxygen Forensics, Inc. [email protected] SOURCE Oxygen Forensics, Inc. Microscopy image of a T-cell population harboring a shortened form of the HIV virus that expresses a green fluorescent protein. Different drug treatments result in the various amounts of cell-to-cell variability in gene expression. Credit: Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign When the human immunodeficiency virus infects cells, it can either exploit the cells to start making more copies of itself or remain dormanta phenomenon called latency. Keeping these reservoirs latent is a challenge. A new paper, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has found a way to look for chemicals that can keep the virus suppressed into its dormant state. "The current drug treatments block healthy cells from becoming infected by the virus," said Yiyang Lu, a Ph.D. student in the Dar lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. "The latent reservoir poses a bigger problem because it can start producing the virus at any time. Consequently, patients have to remain on antiretroviral therapy all their lives to prevent a viral rebound." So far, there are two types of drug treatment strategies: shock-and-kill, where reactivated cells are killed due to HIV, and a second drug cocktail prevents other cells from being infected, or block-and-lock, which forces the virus into a deep latent state so that it does not reactivate again. The problem with the first approach is that there are always some leftover reservoirs that do not get activated. The problem with the second approach, which the researchers are trying to solve, is that there aren't many drugs that have been discovered. Since the transition from latency occurs randomly, measuring the fluctuations in gene expression can provide more coverage than the average gene expression. "Commercial drug screens usually look at mean gene expression. Instead, we used a drug screen that looks at fluctuations in gene expression. Our screen allowed us to therefore find more compounds that could have been overlooked," Lu said. "We implemented a time-series drug screening approach that are less commonly used in other labs," said Roy Dar, an assistant professor of bioengineering at Illinois and faculty member of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. The researchers used a T- cell population, which is a reservoir for HIV, that had been infected by the virus. They imaged the cells in 15-minute intervals for 48 hours and tested over 1800 compounds. They looked at noise maps to identify which drugs can modulate the gene expression. Using the screen, they were able to find five new latency-promoting chemicals, raising the possibility that similar screens can be successfully adapted to study other systems that exhibit variability in gene expression, such as cancer. They are currently working on understanding how the five novel drugs suppress viral reactivation. "We want to test if these drugs have off-target effects in terms of how many other genes they affect in the host cells," Dar said. "We also want to test these drugs in patient samples to see whether these drugs suppress HIV in them." Explore further Researchers identify basic mechanisms that regulate HIV expression More information: Yiyang Lu et al, Screening for gene expression fluctuations reveals latency-promoting agents of HIV, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Yiyang Lu et al, Screening for gene expression fluctuations reveals latency-promoting agents of HIV,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012191118 MONTREAL - Quebec lowered the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility age in Montreal to those 60 and up as pharmacies in the city began administering shots Monday in the city. People wear face masks as they walk along a street in Montreal, Sunday, March 21, 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes MONTREAL - Quebec lowered the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility age in Montreal to those 60 and up as pharmacies in the city began administering shots Monday in the city. Health authorities announced the change for the Montreal region late Sunday while keeping the age limit at 65 and older for the rest of the province. Meanwhile, about 350 pharmacies joined the province's mass vaccination campaign,inoculating those 65 and older by appointment. The latest vaccination developments come as Quebec reported 712 new COVID-19 cases and 15 additional deaths linked to the novel coronavirus, including three in the previous 24 hours. Provincial health authorities also saw a jump in hospitalizations and intensive care cases, with a dozen more cases in each category for a total of 513 patients in hospital and 114 requiring intensive care. There are 6,755 active COVID-19 cases in the province. "We are monitoring the situation closely, especially the progression of variants, which is worrying," Health Minister Christian Dube wrote on Twitter. "We must continue to respect the measures, despite the arrival of good weather, if we want to avoid a third wave." Nicole Picard receives a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from pharmacist Nabil Chikh as pharmacies begin giving COVID-19 vaccinations Monday, March 22, 2021 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz Pharmacies in Montreal started booking appointments last Monday, with plans to enlarge the program to the rest of the province in the coming weeks. Benoit Morin, head of the association representing pharmacy owners, says each participating pharmacy has received a first delivery of 100 doses but adds he's confident new deliveries will allow for more appointments. In regions neighbouring Montreal such as Laval, Monteregie, Lanaudiere and the Laurentians, the government has targeted March 29 as the first date to make appointments at participating pharmacies, with vaccinations to begin during the week of April 5. The association expects about 1,500 pharmacies will eventually take part in the campaign across the province. Premier Francois Legault told reporters in Trois-Rivieres that the government plans to bring the vaccination age down to 60 across the province before lowering the age again in Montreal. With the number of new cases and hospitalizations no longer on the decline in Quebec, Legault urged Quebecers to keep their guard up. "We look at what's happening in Ontario, in New York, in New Jersey and France and we have to worry," he said. "We have to be very careful for a certain number of weeks until vulnerable people will be vaccinated." About 11.4 per cent of Quebec's population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, with a total of 966,566 shots administered so far, including 21,180 on Sunday. Quebec officials expect to receive 271,440 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 58,500 doses of Moderna this week but none of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Meanwhile, authorities in Laval handed out more than $200,000 in fines after a massive gathering in a parking lot Sunday evening. Officers arrived at around 8 p.m. after receiving calls about the gathering and said there were about 150 vehicles, with many people milling about outside their cars. A police spokeswoman says 130 tickets at $1,550 each were given out for breaking public health restrictions on gatherings, and police hope participants get the message such gatherings won't be tolerated during the pandemic. Asked about people gathering, Legault called on Quebecers to avoid visits with others for at least another month. "I can understand that citizens are fed up about the measures, but we're talking about lives, we're talking about our hospitals being able to treat all kinds of sickness," he said. Since the pandemic began last year, the province has reported 303,051 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 10,614 deaths and 285,682 recoveries. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 22, 2021. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. 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Shakira Murray of Little China Dog Rescue first spoke to the Sunday World of her amazing work back in 2018, revealing how she, her colleagues and volunteers were successfully flying dogs from Chinese dog meat markets, where they were being tortured and prepared for slaughter, to loving families in Northern Ireland where they could happily live out the rest of their years. Speaking of the groups charity status being granted on February 12, Shakira explained: Its been about three years now weve been rescuing dogs we were told it would be roughly a three-year process to get charity status so we were really happy that we were able to get it within that time frame, given the problems caused by the pandemic. We thought we might have to wait until everything got back to normal again, but we were absolutely delighted and we couldnt believe it when we got the news. It could not have come through at a better time for us, both because we felt very down about everything that was going on with the pandemic and also about our lack of fundraising because of the crisis. Read More We were feeling really deflated, but getting that news picked everybody up. While the dog meat market in China has been made illegal by the government, it still continues in some areas, as does the abuse. Unfortunately, the dogs destined for human consumption are routinely tortured, with those who eat the animals believing this adds a number of benefits to the dog meat. Shakira explained: In the Chinese markets, everything seems to be focused on the torture of the dogs. Its that which really pulls at your heartstrings. The torture is supposed to make the consumed meat increase the sexual potency of those who eat it and things like that. Expand Close Ricky before being rehomed by Naughty Mutt Nice dog groomers / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ricky before being rehomed by Naughty Mutt Nice dog groomers While the dog meat trade in China is illegal, it does continue. Even though the trade is supposed to have stopped, the shelters are still overrun with dogs. We have witnessed sad incidents ourselves in China. In one instance we were at the shelter and a lady turned up with a German shepherd saying she didnt want it, but when she turned it over she asked for the collar back because she said she was going to get another dog. We were actually able to rehome that dog back here where he found a family and now he is living his best life ever. With the younger generation in China there seems to be more of an opposition towards the dog meat trade, and hopefully at some point I think it will stop. Speaking of how Little China Dog Rescue (LCDR) has fared during the pandemic, Shakira, who comes from Castlewellan, Co Down, and is the groups deputy chairperson, said she and founder Gabby Gardiner have seen numbers drop dramatically in terms of the amount of dogs they have been able to fly over to Northern Ireland from China, but that interest from members of the public inquiring about adopting a rescue dog has remained strong. Expand Close Ricky after being rehomed by Naughty Mutt Nice dog groomers / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ricky after being rehomed by Naughty Mutt Nice dog groomers We do have a lot of people, more so now, looking for dogs and we also have a lot of people offering to foster, but what were finding is that whenever you back to that person saying you may have a dog for them, theyre then saying they might have to go back to work and might not be able to look after it. Shakira also explained how the pandemic has had a massive hit to the charity in terms of fundraising. Its so expensive to get the dogs out of China, and there are so many restrictions on at the moment that its nearly impossible. China is like everywhere else in that everything has stopped because of the pandemic. We havent really been able to get any more dogs out since the pandemic started just a handful have been rescued. Begging Our biggest problem at the moment is that we obviously cant get out fundraising. We feel as if were constantly begging at the moment. We still have to pay the boarding fees and our food bills. While LCDR has access to sanctuaries in China where rescued dogs are looked after before being flown to their new homes, Shakira says it is the aim of the charity to have their own sanctuary in Northern Ireland where pooches can receive medical care and treatment. In China we have a safe haven for the dogs, and the people there are amazing they look after the dogs as if they were their own. In the future we would love to have a centre here where were able to look after the dogs before theyre rehomed. At the moment the process we have is that we already have homes lined up for the dogs while they are still in China, so they have families waiting for them when they arrive here. If they need more thorough medical care when they first arrive we send them to rehab foster homes first. She added: Up until now in terms of dogs finding new homes, with had a very high success rate, and becoming an official charity will help us even more when things get back to normal, but were really struggling for funding and need the publics help to continue to save dogs from the cruel meat trade, now more than ever before. *For more information on LCDR, or to donate, visit www.littlechinadogrescue.co.uk/donate or you can donate through Paypal directly at www.paypal.me/doggy911. Read More "This past year provided the opportunity to develop and implement online learning practices as we adjusted to a new way of operating during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Provost Scott Stallman. "That opportunity has opened the door for us to reach students in new areas of the country, and we are excited to deliver Dunwoody's exceptional education, and the great careers that follow, to students beyond Minnesota." Dunwoody, a nonprofit institution of higher education and a leader in technical instruction, was approved to be a nation-wide provider of online education by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) in December 2020. The approval allows the college to offer the bachelor of science in construction management and the bachelor of architecture as online-only options to students from states outside of Minnesota. "For more than a century, Dunwoody has been a leader in hands-on, applied technical education, preparing students for high-skill, in-demand career fields," said Cindy Olson, Dunwoody's vice president of enrollment management. "That tradition will continue as the college expands into the online learning space. Students will benefit from small classes taught by faculty who have worked in the field. In addition, students enrolled in the program will receive a laptop loaded with state-of-the-industry software and technology. " The construction management completion program is designed for students and working professionals who need the flexibility of an online program that allows them to attend part or full-time and finish at their own pace. During the program, students learn how to successfully influence and lead production teams, develop projects, and grow businesses. Students will complete real-world service learning projects and work with renowned organizations and industry professionals. With the shortest path to licensure, combined with a unique stackable degree format, Dunwoody's bachelor of architecture is the perfect fit for those that want to become a licensed, practicing architect, but need the flexibility of an online degree. The program is rooted in a tradition of community engagement, social responsibility, and leadership in the profession, both locally and globally. Dunwoody's bachelor of architecture is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). The application for admission is now open and interested students should contact Admissions at [email protected] for information or fill out the online application . About Dunwoody: Founded in 1914, Dunwoody College of Technology is the only private, not-for-profit technical college in the Upper Midwest. Having provided hands-on, applied technical education to more than 250,000 men and women, Dunwoody is the college for experimenters and makers, a place where the curious and the confident learn by doing. Located in Minneapolis, Dunwoody offers a unique campus experience in dedicated labs, studios, and shops that treats students like future professionals from day one. With certificates, associate's, and bachelor's degrees in more than 45 majors including engineering, robotics, design and other STEM-related fields Dunwoody challenges students to come determined and graduate destined. More information can be found at www.dunwoody.edu , Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . SOURCE Dunwoody College of Technology She joined an illustrious list of ladies as a CoverGirl ambassador in 2019, and has since been promoted to the face of its Clean Fresh line. As part of her commitment, the actress has been out in force on social media using her star power to promote the latest of the legendary brand's iconic tagline, 'Easy, Breezy, Beautiful.' And on Monday she gave her 28.3 million Instagram fans and followers an eyeful when she struck a pose with the left side of her dress pulled down to reveal part of her bra. Seductive: Lili Reinhart, 24, struck a provocative pose by having part of her dress pulled down to reveal part of her bra in an advert for CoverGirl For the black-and-white photo, the Riverdale sat back under a canopy with her legs crossed, decked out in a sequin dress. She flashed a seductive look straight into the camera as she ruffled her hands through her teased tresses, which were styled in a right part. The Ohio native, 24, also took the voluminous approach when it came to her CoverGirl eye makeup. '@Covergirl LashBlast Clean Mascara giving me voluminous lashes for my glam look #easybreezybeautiful #lashblastclean' Busty: The new photo appears to be from a photoshoot by photographer Sasha Samsonova earlier this month; she posed in the same dress in a photo shared on March 8 The new photo appears to be from a photoshoot by Jenner-beloved photographer Sasha Samsonova earlier this month. Back on March 8, in recognition of International Women's Day, Reinhart shared a similar black-and-white photo where she's wearing that very same dress. 'Happy International Women's Day cheers to the unstoppable, powerful, and magical beings that we are,' she wrote in the caption at the time. Pin-up: The photoshoot with Sasha Samsonova also showed Reinhart decked out in a retro 1950 look under that same white canopy As a CoverGirl ambassador, Reinhart prides herself as a spokesperson who's all about a natural look. 'Right now, we are living in world with a lot of heavy makeup looks. It's been an honor to represent a line that is focused on natural beauty and clean skin,' she said in an interview with Harper's Bazaar last summer. 'I appreciate a more natural look because it's what I can personally achieve.' She added, 'CoverGirl has allowed me to embrace the real side of myself and my natural philosophy when it comes to makeup.' Old school in color: Reinhart's retro 1950s look was also documented in color photos There has been an array of successful models and high-profile celebrities who have represented CoverGirl over the years, including Tyra Banks, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Dania Ramirez, Christobelle Grierson-Ryrie, Rihanna, Queen Latifah and Sofia Vergara. Also among the list: Taylor Swift, Zendaya, Pink, Drew Barrymore, Zooey Deschanel, Ellen DeGeneres, Molly Sims, Faith Hill, Paula Patton, Keri Russell and Jennifer O'Neil, who had a wildly successful 30-year relationship with CoverGirl as a spokeswoman. Reinhart came to prominence after playing the role of Betty Cooper on the CW teen drama series Riverdale (2017-present). She's also known for starring alongside Jennifer Lopez in Hustlers (2019) and in the romantic drama film Chemical Hearts (2020) with Austin Abrams. Shoppers are evacuated from a King Soopers grocery store after a gunman opened fire on Monday in Boulder, Colorado. Chet Strange/Getty Images A man livestreamed the mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday on YouTube. The video shows two motionless bodies on the ground outside the store and another inside the store. An expert said he would "absolutely not" recommend that a civilian enter and livestream a shooting. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A man livestreamed the mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday afternoon, uploading the footage on YouTube. The shooting at a King Soopers grocery store left 10 people dead, including one police officer. A suspect who was "significantly" injured was taken into custody, officials said. The YouTube video shows three motionless bodies on the ground: one outside in the parking lot, one outside near the store's entrance, and one just inside the store. Within 10 hours, the nearly 3-1/2-hour video had more than 526,000 views. In the video, the police and the state's SWAT team arrive, and officers later take a handcuffed man who appeared to be wearing only underwear and no shoes into custody. Police cars outside the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, where 10 people were killed in a shooting on Monday. Chet Strange/Getty Images The Colorado Springs Gazette identified the man who filmed the video as Dean Schiller, who identifies himself as a citizen journalist. The description of the YouTube video provided a link for media organizations to license the video for $87.97. In the video, Schiller says he was loading groceries into his car when he heard gunshots. He says he then started a YouTube livestream on his phone and walked toward the entrance. "I don't know what's going on," Schiller can be heard saying in the video as he approaches the entrance. "I'm at King Soopers in South Boulder. I heard gunshots. They were very close. Someone's down, right here." Schiller films a motionless body lying on the concrete outside the entrance near a shopping-cart corral, and another body out in the parking lot. He asks someone who appears to be a King Soopers employee whether he saw which way the shooter went. Story continues "He went in there," the employee says, pointing inside the store. Schiller walks in the store and films another body on the ground, saying, "Oh my God. Guys, we got people down inside King Soopers." Two gunshots can be heard. Schiller exits the store and continues filming from the parking lot. People walking out of the King Soopers. Chet Strange/Getty Images About 10 minutes into the video, Schiller says that his friend was inside the store and that the friend had just tried to call him but he couldn't answer. Schiller did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment for this story. 'It's very hard to understand the benefit of doing something like that' Matthew Johnson, the director of training at Cohen Security, a California company that provides active-shooter trainings to civilians and first responders, told Insider that he had not watched the YouTube video but would "absolutely not" recommend that a civilian enter an active-shooter scene. "If you're just a civilian and not an authorized first responder and you really want to help, the best thing you can do is observe and report to 911 from a safe distance," said Johnson, who served for six years in the Israel Defense Forces. Bystanders should minimize the chance of interference with first responders and law enforcement, who are trained to respond to such events, he said. In the YouTube video, police officers can repeatedly be heard asking Schiller to move back for his own safety. At one point, Schiller tells a police officer urging him to move to "f--- off." Authorities outside the store. Matthew Jonas/MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images The YouTube video may not even be helpful to the police, Johnson said. "In general, there can be a great benefit for law enforcement after the fact for footage that was taken at the incident," Johnson said. But most supermarkets are equipped with many security cameras, making the chance that the livestreamed footage is helpful to the police in this case "pretty much slim to none," he said. Johnson said he didn't think that livestreaming a mass shooting was appropriate under any circumstances. "It's very hard to understand the benefit of doing something like that in the middle of a situation like this," he said. The video was still available on YouTube 10 hours after it was posted The video remained on YouTube at the time of this article's publication, 10 hours after it was livestreamed. YouTube's policy says the site doesn't allow "violent, shocking" content that's intended to shock or disgust viewers or encourage violence. This includes footage that involves physical attacks or corpses. Schiller's footage did appear to show corpses, but YouTube said it kept the video up for its news context. "Following today's tragic shooting, bystander video of the incident was detected by our teams," Elena Hernandez, a YouTube representative, told Insider. "While violent content intended to shock or disgust viewers is not allowed on YouTube, we do allow videos with enough news or documentary context. We applied an age restriction to the content and will continue to monitor the situation." When considering removing content, YouTube also considers whether violent or gory imagery is the focus of the video, the amount of time violent imagery is seen, and whether the title or description of the video indicates an intent to shock or disgust viewers, the company says. Read the original article on Insider Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices The Supreme Court turned away a major challenge to the presidents ability to protect marine ecosystems on Monday, a victory for the environment that comes with a caveat: Chief Justice John Roberts expressed his desire to narrowreally, evisceratethe executive branchs power to safeguard large areas of environmentally sensitive lands, especially those underwater, in the future. Roberts opinion invites industry groups to challenge the scope of submerged national monuments, and it suggests that, next time around, the chief justice will shrink these critical habitats down to a fraction of their former size. It is an ominous sign for conservationists and a direct attack on one of Americas most important environmental laws. Advertisement That law, the Antiquities Act of 1906, empowers presidents to designate land controlled by the federal government as a national monument, shielding it from development and destruction. Some monuments, like the Gila and Navajo cliff dwellings, are relatively small, but others are massive: President Theodore Roosevelt, a staunch advocate of the measure, reserved more than 800,000 acres of land when he created the Grand Canyon National Monument. Congress can always alter the size of these monuments, or upgrade themas it did when it transformed the Grand Canyon into a national park in 1919. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Since 2006, presidents have designated five large underwater areas as national monuments to protect unique and valuable ecosystems. Their actions have prevented commercial fishing and mineral extraction in these highly sensitive areas. Roberts opinion on Monday involved the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, off the northeast Atlantic coast, which President Barack Obama established in 2016. Obama explicitly designated three underwater canyons, four extinct undersea volcanoes, and the natural resources and ecosystems in and around them. This natural wonder, as a federal judge described it, is more than 100 million years old; it is home to an extraordinary range of biodiverse marine life, including multiple species of endangered whales. Advertisement The monument is big, covering about 4,913 square miles, completely beneath the ocean. Only four other national monuments are larger, and they are all underwater as well: Rose Atoll, Marianas Trench, Pacific Remote Islands, and Papahanaumokuakea. All were designated by President George W. Bush. These large marine monuments displease industries, like commercial fishing and deep-sea mining companies, that seek to exploit the oceans natural resources. Industry groups successfully pushed the Trump administration to begin the process of substantially downsizing underwater monuments, as well as two on land in Utah. The administration also allowed commercial fishing within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. On his first day in office, President Joe Biden ordered a review of these policies and is almost certain to reverse them. Advertisement Advertisement Worried about shifting political winds, industry groups turned to the federal judiciary, which Donald Trump stacked with hard-right conservatives. They claimed that the Antiquities Act does not apply to underwater areas, including the entire Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. That is a curious claim, because the Antiquities Act is quite broad: It allows the president to name objects of scientific interest as national monuments, and to incorporate parcels of land so long as they are confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected. To narrow this language, industry groups argued that underwater monuments are not land and ecosystems are not objects under the act. They also asserted that, either way, Obama had failed to protect the smallest area possible when designating the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. Federal courts, they declared, must shrink or abolish it. Advertisement Congress sought to protect much more than indigenous pottery. As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit explained in 2019, there are a few problems with this argument. First, the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that underwater land does qualify for protection as a national monument. Second, it is also settled precedent that submerged ecosystems are objects of scientific interest. Third, the challengers did not demonstrate that Obama violated the smallest area requirement. Obama, the court noted, did not only protect the canyons and volcanoes; he also designated the natural resources and ecosystems in and around them as part of the monument. The challengers could not back up their allegations that any portion of the monument lacked the natural resources and ecosystems that Obama wanted to protect. Their case rested on mere conjecture. Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, though, the chief justice bought into these arguments against Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument hook, line, and sinker. Roberts wrote that the Antiquities Act originated as a response to widespread defacement of Pueblo ruins in the American Southwest and complained that this case demonstrates how far we have come from indigenous pottery. He implied that Congress never intended to let presidents protect thousands of miles of ocean. And he hinted that unelected federal judgesnot presidents, accountable to the people and advised by scientific expertsshould decide whether a monument really encompasses the smallest area necessary to protect designated ecosystems. This is bad history, and it would make bad law. As historian Douglas Brinkley revealed in his exhaustive study of the campaign that led to the Antiquities Act, Congress sought to protect much more than indigenous pottery. Egged on by Roosevelt, lawmakers attempted to inaugurate a new era of environmentalism in America and envisioned the Antiquities Act as a powerful tool that presidents could use to preserve endangered species, critical habitats, and natural phenomena. Thats why Roosevelt promptly designated more than 1,250 square miles of the Grand Canyon as a national monument. At the time, no one thought federal judges should decide if he had truly selected the smallest area compatible with preservation of the land. For 115 years, courts have deferred to the presidents determination of how much land is necessary for the management of each monument. Advertisement But why should the history of the Antiquities Act even matter to Roberts? If he truly believes that the text of the law is what counts, then congressional intent should be irrelevant to his analysis. Even if the Congress of 1906 was only thinking about native artifacts (and it wasnt), the act it passed swept far beyond indigenous pottery. The laws text is so expansive that its foes must resort to feeble word games (submerged land isnt land; ecosystems arent objects) to subvert it. It is an encouraging sign that no other justice joined Roberts assault on underwater monuments. There will, however, be many more opportunities for the Supreme Court to gut the Antiquities Act. Roberts concluded that this particular case was not worth taking up, in part because Biden has not yet restored the fishing ban that so infuriated the plaintiffs. But he pointed to five other cases pending in federal courts concerning the boundaries of other national monuments, suggesting that the court might hear one in the near future. Trump may be out of office, but the campaign that his administration launched on the governments ability to protect vulnerable natural wonders will live on in the federal judiciary for years to come. Akima is honored that one of our companies will provide construction support to a project with an important connection to our nations military history, said Bill Monet, Akima President and CEO. Akima today announced that its subsidiary, Portico, has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force to provide renovation services, as well as infrastructure repairs and upgrades, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The contract is valued a $43.7 million and was awarded by the USAF 480th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Group HQ at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. Portico will provide renovation services and oversee multiple hangar upgrades at the base, including to historic Hangar 5, which was damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The contract will also include repairs and upgrades to electrical, mechanical, and communications infrastructure. Akima is honored that one of our companies will provide construction support to a project with an important connection to our nations military history, said Bill Monet, Akima President and CEO. We work tirelessly to offer best-fit solutions for our military customers, and this work with the U.S. Air Force represents another opportunity to deliver efficient support that will provide long-lasting value. Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam is one of the Navy's busiest harbors. Its mission is to enable maximum mission readiness of tenant commands and activities by providing the highest quality installation services, facilities support, and quality of life programs. Annually, Naval Station Pearl Harbor completes an average of 65,000 boat runs and transports 2.4 million passengers between Ford Island and other harbor locations. About Portico Portico, an Akima Company, provides end-to-end construction services to a wide variety of federal, state, local, and commercial clients. Through relentless pursuit of the peak standards of design, construction, safety, project management, and business operations, Portico delivers highest quality, lowest cost, and long-lasting value for customers. As a small business, wholly owned by an Alaska Native Corporation, Portico is a strategic partner for comprehensive facility renovation and complex electrical and heavy highway construction services. To learn more about Portico, visit http://www.porticoservices.com. About Akima Akima is a global enterprise with more than 7,500 employees, delivering agile solutions to the federal government in the core areas of aviation, construction, facilities and logistics, IT and mission support, protective services and detention management, and systems engineering. As a subsidiary of NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation owned by more than 14,000 Inupiat shareholders, Akimas core mission is to enable superior outcomes for our customers missions while simultaneously creating a long-lived asset for NANA consistent with our Inupiat values. In 2020, Washington Technology ranked Akima #39 amongst the top 100 government contractors. To learn more about Akima, visit http://www.akima.com. AMSTERDAM, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooperation of Jotun international group of companies and ITGLOBAL.COM counts already 5 years. Jotun placed its infrastructure in ITGLOBAL.COM private cloud and backed it up, using VMware vCloud Availability solution. Let us share why we consider this an exemplary project. Jotun is an international company, a manufacturer of decorative paints, and industrial, powder and protective coatings. Jotun branches and plants are in 45 countries around the world, from the USA to South Korea; the head office is in Sandefjord, Norway. The company employs more than 10.000 staff. The tasks Jotun adheres to the highest quality standards. It's applicable to all business aspects, from eco-friendly production to IT infrastructure. The latter is defined by strict requirements on equipment in use, availability (SLA), IT provider level of service. The previous partner ceased to meet Jotun requirements. The company addressed one of our partners for the new partnership; that partner, in turn, recommended us - as one of the best IaaS providers of Russia. Thus in 2016 cooperation between Jotun and ITGLOBAL.COM started. The main tasks for ITGLOBAL.COM were: construction of VMware cloud, based on Enterprise-level equipment; and help in creation of a back-up facility for disaster recovery. The solution Jotun cloud was compiled on ITGLOBAL.COM servers in DataSpace Tier III Data Center (Moscow, Russia). Total volume of VM resources is: hundreds of CPUs and hundreds of GB RAM. The client placed several servers - file server, database, IBM Domino Server - in cloud infrastructure. Servers are used for operating business-critical applications (ERP, CRM), customer data storage and processing. The next step was creation of a back-up facility: Jotun's own Data Center is located on-premise, in the company's office. VMware vCloud Availability software was used in the process. The partner's specialists performed the majority of works independently; ITGLOBAL.COM engineers acted as consultants when needed. In the outcome full-fledged "hot" back-up was built for Jotun's main infrastructure, which is placed in ITGLOBAL.COM cloud. Why we consider this an exemplary project Creation of full-fledged back-up facility is the paradoxical trend: many talk about it, a few put it to practice. Yet this is but the best way to provide IT infrastructure fault-proof, and so to lower the chances for business being idle. For companies like Jotun even the minimal idle time is critical: from there come requirements for super-reliable infrastructure and services availability. (Please note that ITGLOBAL.COM already provides the high availability level: SLA = 99,9 %.) With VMware vCloud Availability help and ITGLOBAL.COM support a client is capable of creating an infrastructure compatible with the corporate standards. In 5 years the solution implemented in the Jotun project has proven its reliability and efficiency. We use the Jotun case as the example for companies who target fault-proof close to 100 %. Related Images jotun.jpg Jotun Jotun Prime minister Boris Johnson has praised Britains great spirit to mark the anniversary of the lockdown imposed by his government last year for tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Johnson, who has been under heavy criticism for his handling of the pandemic, stated that the country is now on a cautious road to easing restrictions due to everyones efforts. The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in over 4.3 million cases so far, including over 146,000 deaths, which is next only to the death tally of the US, Brazil and India. The British prime minister, in a statement on Tuesday, said: Today, the anniversary of the first lockdown, is an opportunity to reflect on the past year, one of the most difficult in our countrys history. He said that the past year had taken a huge toll on all and offered his condolences to those who lost their loved ones. We should also remember the great spirit shown by our nation over this past year... its because of every person in this country that lives have been saved, our NHS (National Health Service) was protected, and we have started on our cautious road to easing restrictions once and for all, Mr Johnson said. Read more: Last year, while announcing the lockdown for three weeks, the prime minister had said that if too many people became seriously unwell at a single time, the National Health Service (NHS) will be unable to handle it. The UK started the Covid-19 vaccination process in December 2020, and about 28 million people have received the first dose of the vaccine. On Tuesday, a minutes silence will be observed at noon followed by a bell toll. The prime minister will observe the minutes silence privately. People are also being encouraged to stand at their doorsteps later at 8 pm with phones, candles and torches to signify a "beacon of remembrance". Londons skyline will also turn yellow with many landmarks including the London Eye, Trafalgar Square and Wembley Stadium lighting up at nightfall. Prince Charles, lending his support to the national day of reflection, said: "Whatever our faith or philosophy may be, let us take a moment together to remember those who have been lost, to give thanks for their lives, and to acknowledge the inexpressible pain of parting. "In their memory, let us resolve to work for a future inspired by our highest values, that have been displayed so clearly by the people of this country through this most challenging of times," he said. In February 2021, Mr Johnson unveiled a roadmap to ease the lockdown in England, starting with the reopening of schools two weeks ago. The prime minister had earlier said that he was hopeful that the restrictions could be lifted by 21 June if conditions were met. But not everyone is impressed with the prime ministers plans. Alastair Campbell, a writer and a mental health campaigner, tweeted: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY - year to the day that [Boris Johnson] told us not to visit mothers on Mothers Day, two days after telling us he intended to visit his mother on Mothers Day. Additional reporting by agencies Sheriffs deputies were searching for a suspect after a possible homicide Tuesday morning in northern Lane County. The sheriffs office said investigators had responded to a call near Junction City northwest of Eugene and were searching for 52-year-old Travis Crum. The Eugene Register-Guard reported that deputies were called around 8:30 a.m. by a man who said Crum was violating a restraining order in the 25500 block of Hall Road. When deputies got to the scene, they found a man deceased, the newspaper reported. Residents in the area were told to shelter in place, and drivers on Oregon 36 were cautioned not to pick up hitchhikers in the area. Officials did not say what crime Crum was suspected of, only that the call was for a possible homicide. More information on the incident was not immediately available, but a spokesman said the sheriffs office would be making a statement about 11:30 a.m. Crum was described as standing 6 feet tall with a medium build and short gray hair, possibly wearing glasses, a red jacket and brown pants. This story will be updated. -- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale Victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA bombings have heavily criticised the Government for failing to publish a report on its ill-fated efforts to secure compensation from the north African state. They also reacted angrily to the Governments continued insistence that it is unable to use billions of pounds of Libyan assets linked to the Gaddafi regime that are frozen in the UK to compensate them. In a written statement to Parliament, Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly ruled out publishing the report penned by William Shawcross or using the 12 billion of assets to fund a compensation scheme. Mr Cleverly said the Government would also not fund a specific scheme for compensating those affected by Libyan arms, insisting the responsibility for paying victims lay with the Libyan state. He said the Government would continue to press the current Libyan authorities on the issue and he highlighted that a wider compensation schemes for those injured in criminal acts were available in the UK, including a new payment scheme for Troubles victims. Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi armed the IRA with the powerful plastic explosive used in atrocities such as the bombing of Harrods in 1983, the Remembrance Day ceremony in Enniskillen in 1987, Warrington in 1993 and Londons Docklands in 1996. Those bereaved and injured by the attacks have long been pressing for Government support for their bid for compensation paid out of the 12 billion of assets linked to the toppled Gaddafi regime that were frozen in the UK in 2011 under UN sanction. A view of the memorial during events to remember the 12 victims of the IRAs 1987 Remembrance Sunday bomb attack in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh (Phil Fitzpatrick/PA) Mr Shawcross, a former chairman of the Charity Commission, was appointed by the Foreign Office in 2019 to examine the issue of compensation. He handed his report to the Government in 2020 but its contents were not publicised. Mr Cleverlys statement ruling out future publication came less than 24 hours before Mr Shawcross is due to face questions from MPs on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee about his work. Since it was commissioned as an internal scoping report, to provide internal advice to Ministers, and draws on private and confidential conversations held by Mr Shawcross, the Government will not be publishing the report, said Mr Cleverly. These important issues have needed careful and thorough consideration across Government given the complexity and sensitivity of the issues raised. He added: The responsibility for providing compensation specifically for the actions of the Gaddafi regime lies with the Libyan State. The Government has therefore repeatedly urged the Libyan authorities, including at the highest levels of the Libyan government, to engage with UK victims and their representatives, and to address their claims for compensation. However, there are clear practical difficulties in obtaining compensation from Libya for Gaddafi-sponsored IRA terrorism. The conflict, political instability and economic instability that have prevailed in Libya for most of the last 10 years since the fall of the Gaddafi regime present particular challenges. Mr Cleverly said it would be difficult to define UK victims of Libyan arms, given the extensive nature of Libyan support for the IRA. The Governments considered view is that an additional, UK-funded mechanism for providing compensation to victims of the Troubles would not provide accountability for the specific role of the Gaddafi regime in supporting the IRA, he added. Mr Shawcross also considered whether compensation for UK victims should be funded from Libyan frozen assets in the UK. Under international law, when assets are frozen, they continue to belong to the designated individual or entity. Frozen assets may not be seized by the UK Government. Mr Cleverly said the Government was obliged to comply with UN rules requiring that the assets be unfrozen if the sanctions are lifted. There is also no legal basis for the UK to refuse the release of frozen assets once conditions for delisting or unfreezing those assets set out in UN Security Council Resolution 2009 of 2011 are met, he said. Therefore, regrettably, the UK has no legal basis to seize frozen Libyan assets or to refuse the release of frozen assets. The Government cannot lawfully use Libyan assets frozen in the UK to provide compensation to victims. He added: The UK will continue to press the Libyan authorities to address the Libyan States historic responsibility for the Gaddafi regimes support for the IRA. Solicitor Barry ODonnell, who represents some of the victims, said: The British government must explain its position on Gaddafi-Libyan sponsored IRA terrorism to relatives of victims and survivors and provide financial compensation from the billions of dollars-worth of Libyan funds frozen by the international community. This is what Shawcross was commissioned to investigate and he must be able to explain his findings and recommendations. It would appear that todays Ministerial Statement is another piece of political choreography designed to undermine the authority of NIAC and to frustrate the hopes and expectations of victims and survivors of Gaddafi-Libyan sponsored IRA terrorism. A victims umbrella group, Innocent Victims United, criticised the ministerial statement. Spokesman Kenny Donaldson said: For two years the UK Government has been responsible for heaping further pain upon those already treated so shamefully. The Shawcross Report cant even be described as a whitewash because it continues to be held back from victims, the full contents remain hidden. DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds has said the Government had behaved disgracefully and let down victims. The appalling refusal to publish this report is the wrong approach by the Government and raises more questions than answers, he said. In 2019, it was established that the UK Government had received some 17 million in tax revenue from Libyan assets linked to Colonel Gaddafi, which are frozen in the UK. Yet this money which could have been earmarked for victims, now also seems to have been diverted to tackling other financial pressures. Chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Simon Hoare said: This announcement will be a bitter blow to those who have waited so long for recognition and justice and who were urged to put all of their hopes and dreams into Mr Shawcrosss appointment. He added: In my opinion this important issue has never been treated with the seriousness and urgency it required. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 New Delhi, March 23 : It was 4 p.m. on the afternoon of September 17, 2009, when a SUV stopped at a bus stop below Bhikaji Cama Place in Delhi and half a dozen toughs pounced on him. They pushed him on the ground , dragged the then 62-year-old into the car, and sped away. Social activist Kobad Gandhy was in fact abducted by the Andhra Pradesh IB and kept in illegal detention for three days (the IB does not have the power to arrest) at a safe house in the capital before being produced before the Special Cell of Delhi Police on September 20 after the news of his 'disappearance' reached the media. While being in the SUV, the officers were in constant touch with their bosses on the phone and spoke in Telugu, and all he could understand was the word 'airport'. "Now, the AP Intelligence Bureau was known to fly people in helicopters to jungles in their state and bump them off. I assumed it was the end. But having faced worse with the sudden death of Anuradha (his wife) this fear was cushioned," Ghandy told IANS. Charged with being a member of a banned outfit (CPI -Maoist) and furthering its activities under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA, a charge which ultimately didn't hold in the court, Ghandy was finally released after 10 years in different prisons as a undertrial. In his latest book, 'Fractured Freedom': A Prison memoir published by Lotus Roli, the activist not only looks back at the time spent in prison but also the ideology he has believed in for more than half a century. An Indian communist activist and ideologue, Gandhy, hailing from a wealthy Parsi family became involved in revolutionary politics whilst a student in England in the 1970s. Attending the prestigious Doon School and later St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, he was the founding member of the Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights. Going on to 'declassing' to live in a dalit slum in Nagpur along with his wife Anuradha and leading a frugal existence. Talking about how he maintained his sanity in a place in Tihar, Gandhy remembers that the period between the 2014 -16 was a nightmare when he would be transferred from one jail to another within Tihar every three months. "This was until I went on a hunger strike and the then DG stopped it. But even after that on the pretext of cell repairs, I was shifted from my cell and put with three lumpens including that vile Nirbhaya killer. For no real reason I was roughed up physically by the jail staff and then punished by the superintendent for not 'obeying'. Worse was the uncertainty of the legal process where, for example in Delhi, a fast track court took nearly seven years with excellent judges and a top lawyer. Also I was prevented from simultaneously going to other courts in the other states with 18 cases put on me mostly in places I had never even heard about. Of course it seems the other courts, except Jharkhand were more efficient. And then after release in December 2017 I was re-arrested within three days. Seeing the legal system it was enough to break anyone -- even the most hardened person." In fact during the entire incarceration he never thought of writing a book considering he was unsure of ever being released, "and if released at all whether I would be in a condition to write and not a cripple". "It was only in Surat jail on the last lap of my jail journey when it looked that I may finally be released and the police and jail staff were so cooperative that I thought of a jail diary and began making notes in the one month that I was there." While the media has painted a very different picture of Ghandy, he would call himself a radical seeking a socialist transformation of the economy built on genuine swadeshi and an end to the system of crony capitalism and the neo-liberal economy. "The methods of change depend on the conditions prevailing. We have seen that the armed form has so far been successful only during the two world wars where the rulers were themselves involved in violent conflict with each other. But also we have seen how peaceful change attempts in many countries, like Chile, Indonesia, and numerous others, have been brutally crushed by the US, French, British and their local henchmen. So the issue has to be studied more and we have to observe our local and the international conditions. In fact it is the history of capitalism that has been the most violent ever, yet they talk the most of peace." Despite the horrible conditions in Tihar, he did meet some interesting characters there, for example the dons from different states. "Well, I found them to be very interesting. They had a sort of Robin Hood type respect for naxals. People like Barjesh Singh and his right hand Tribhuvan Singh were probably the biggest dons of the country. I found Brajesh somewhat reserved but very disciplined. Sunil Rathi of the Meerut area and Titu Sharma of Jharkhand were more jovial and socially knowledgeable. The Haryana dons were more localised in their own jaat environment and the conflicts within." Ghandy, who would have his morning tea with Afzal Guru in Tihar says the latter brought him in touch with many issues which I knew nothing about earlier, not to mention Kashmir and the progressive aspects of Islam and how the fundamentalists distort it. "Guru was a fan of Rumi and considered himself a Sufi. He had all the six volumes of Rumi in Urdu and had studied them thoroughly. He was well read and led a very disciplined life, he also introduced me to the writings of Iqbal." Talking about the huge number of undertrials in Indian jails, which he feels is the most pernicious aspect of the Indian legal system, Ghandy says unlike India, in most other countries, one is sent to jail only after conviction. "And even though undertrials have not even been sentenced, inside the jails they enjoy an inferior status compared to the convicts. In fact in the jails the bigger the crime and conviction the higher the status. This was the worst aspect of the jail system. No one should be sent to jail unless proven guilty. But in India our jails are packed primarily with undertrials. I noticed in Jharkhand the courts would not give bail for even petty crimes and civil wrongs. Of course it am told this varies considerably from state to state where in some states bail is the norm and jail the exception." For someone who has spent the last 50 years believing in the socialist way of life, he does feel sad that in his own lifetime, he has seen the fall of communism. However, Ghandy maintains that rather than getting disillusioned, he is trying to seek the causes of the setback worldwide and in India, and how future generations can build better and a more stable alternative. "The entire third section of the book is focussed in that direction and I am hoping to draw responses so that it can be fine-tuned in future books. Basically I maintain the capitalist system has no answers for the mass of the people while socialism all over has helped to lift the masses from acute poverty. But then they reverted or failed. This has to be studied and how to deal with the question of money and power which tends to corrupt one and all." Adding that Indian and communists around the world need to introspect, the author believes that they are not willing to give a thought and conceptualise the reasons for the short-comings. "I have heard some say: 'What is there to review, there are always ups and downs, revolution is inevitable'. Others just go on with their routine of what they have been doing afraid to even think beyond their nose. Many who have had negative experiences find the fault in the individuals and turn bitter but not able to generalise. I may be totally wrong in my assessment but the question needs to be addressed as to why communism has faced a setback worldwide and why it is merely marking time in India - going one step forward, two steps backward. Only if such thinking is there can we debate constructively and build better in the future." Ask him if he still plans to work at the grassroots level, and the activist smiles that everyone retires after a particular age and so should communists as age and health conditions hit them too. "But power prevents this. Frankly, at 74, I neither have the health nor the stamina for grassroots work of any type. I plan, if I can gather the resources to survive, to do further research into the subjects touched upon in this book and produce more books. Health and conditions permitting. Even retiring is not that easy when one does not have the resources to do so." Remembering his wife Anuradha Ghandy who died of causes related to Falciparum malaria, he says it were attributes like simplicity, straightforwardness, honesty, committment, discipline, hard work, intelligence and lack of arrogance that made her special. "The fact that she is not aroundis a great loss for me - a warm companion and a comrade with such excellent qualities. Our joint efforts would have been equal to that of ten." While he talks about the fact that happiness for all should be the aim, Ghandy clarifies that he is not referring to it in some esoteric way but as a key aspect in social relations. "One should not restrict the project for change merely to an economic issue - though that may be the starting point i.e. a reasonable living condition of the masses. But the Utopia that Marx refers to and I have quoted is very much linked to happiness, freedom and well-being all linked to a new set of values." Ask him how he looks back at his life now, and Ghandy smiled, "A very rich life with varied experiences, both positive and negative. And I feel I acted to serve the oppressed of our country to the best of my ability. Now the important thing is to draw extensive lessons." Gurugram-based ACME will set up a large-scale facility for production of green hydrogen and green ammonia in This will be in collaboration with the Company for the Development of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Al-Duqm SAOC (Tatweer). The facility will be set up with an initial investment of $2.5 billion and will produce 2,200 tonnes of green ammonia a day. Tatweer and ACME have identified the land parcel in the Duqm region. ACME has opted for for its first large-scale green ammonia commercial project, considering the strategic location of Oman, the support received from the government bodies, and high solar irradiation in the country, said ACME. ACME has a pilot at work in Rajasthan for producing green hydrogen and ammonia. The firm said it is under construction and will be operational by April. Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis from renewable energy, which becomes the raw material to make green ammonia. Manoj Kumar Upadhyay, founder and chairman, ACME Group, said, This large-scale plant is strategically planned to cater to international markets for supply of green ammonia across Europe, America, and Asia. Salim Al Sulaimani, chief executive of Tatweer, said this facility is aimed towards achieving Oman Vision 2040 in alternative energy and to boost bilateral ties with India. At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Martin Vargas Arellano begged a U.S. judge to be released from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement center in Adelanto, California, saying he wanted to lead a quiet life and be at peace. Arellano, 55, was part of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union in March 2020 asking that ICE detainees be released because their health conditions place them at serious risk of life-threatening illness or death due to COVID-19. Arellano, who had diabetes, hypertension and hepatitis C, according to the lawsuit, was released from ICE days after he suffered a stroke on March 3, NBC News reported. Arellano was in the hospital and died on March 8 due to complications from COVID-19, according to the publication. He had been infected with COVID-19 in December. ICE said in a statement to McClatchy News that it does not comment on pending litigation. Jessica Bansal, an attorney for the ACLU, said Arellanos requests were denied multiple times due to his criminal record, according to NBC. They rejected these requests every time until he was about to die, Bansal said. Margaret Hellerstein, Arellanos immigration attorney, told the San Bernardino Sun that she thinks Arellanos death was intentionally covered up by ICE to under-count the number of detainee deaths. There were all these separate class-action lawsuits where (Arellano) was a class member and was at a very high risk for COVID, and they declined to release him because they said he was a threat to public safety, Hellerstein said. Arellano was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor under 14 in 1985 when he was 19 and convicted of domestic violence in 1993, according to the Sun. His serious crimes were more than 30 years ago. He was gravely disabled. He used a wheelchair much of the time. He was on insulin. This was not somebody who was capable of a violent offense, Hellerstein said. Hellerstein told the Los Angeles Times that she wasnt notified about Arellanos release and she filed a missing persons report before learning of his death because she was concerned that he was out on the street. U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter Jr. in California has ordered ICE to explain why Arellano was released by the agency days before his death and why his family and attorneys werent notified that he had died, Law360 reported. Based on the notice of death, it appears that the government actively concealed the seriousness of Mr. Arellanos condition, and his subsequent death, from his counsel and the court by reporting that Mr. Arellano was released from detention on March 5, 2021, Hatter said. Tristar Transport, a leading global integrated liquid logistics solutions provider headquartered in Dubai, UAE, has announced its intention to proceed with an initial public offering (IPO) on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM). Established in 1998 as a road transport service provider for the petroleum industry in the UAE, Tristar has evolved into a leading integrated energy logistics company serving a diversified customer base of blue-chip investment grade companies. The group has operations in 21 countries and territories across three continents and has over 2,000 road transport assets and 35 maritime vessels, including the operation of 69 fuel farms and over 100 remote fuel sites, providing a wide spectrum of integrated service offerings. With a strong reputation for quality, built over two decades of operations and a commitment to safety and operational excellence, Tristar has become a trusted brand in the global logistics industry. The Group is a partner of choice for leading International Oil Companies (IOCs) and National Oil Companies (NOCs) in the energy sector. Tristars diversified and integrated offering spans fuel logistics services to support Intergovernmental Organisations (IGO) peacekeeping and humanitarian missions in remote geographies (remote fuels) as well as commercial enterprises (commercial fuels), maritime logistics, road transport and warehousing as well as fuel farms. Tristar has a unique position as an integrated, end-to-end energy logistics solution provider to an enviable blue-chip global client base. The Group has a strong track record of growth demonstrated by a 12.4% CAGR in operating cash flows between 2018 and 2020 and a consistent EBITDA margin between 20.1% to 22.8% in the years 2018 to 2020. In the year ended 31 December 2020, the Group had a consolidated revenue of $453.4 million, and EBITDA of $103.6 million. This record is underpinned by a strong business model, operational excellence and rigorous financial management. Commenting on the announcement, Eugene Mayne, Group CEO of Tristar said: I am proud to have witnessed the evolution of Tristar from a local road transportation business into a global world-class integrated energy logistics solutions provider serving blue-chip clients, with an offering that spans road and maritime transportation, specialised warehousing, fuel farms, and fuel supply operations. Our business, which enjoys a strong reputation, developed through years of operational excellence, underpinned by a customer centric model, and a commitment to the highest quality and safety standards, has become a trusted logistics partner for major oil companies globally. Tristar has always been a Business for Purpose with the ambition to make a positive impact on our communities and to keep our corporate responsibility at the core of everything we do. In 2011, we signed on to the United Nations Global Compact supporting the advancement of Human Rights, Anti-Corruption, Labour and Environment, demonstrating the extent of our commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen. Tristars IPO marks an exciting milestone in the Groups story as we continue to grow, innovate and shape the future of the logistics industry. OFFERING HIGHLIGHTS *Offer size is expected to represent up to 24% of the total issued ordinary shares after the Offering in the capital of Tristar. *The offering is expected to comprise new shares issued by Tristar and shares to be sold by existing shareholders. Tristar expects to receive between $120 million to $160 million of gross primary proceeds from the offering. * Admission of shares on the DFM is expected in April 2021, subject to market conditions and obtaining relevant regulatory approvals in the UAE, including from the Securities and Commodities Authority of the UAE. * The offering will be made available to qualified investors. Five percent of the offering will be reserved for offer to the Emirates Investment Authority. * The offering is expected to be declared Sharia compliant, subject to confirmation by the Sharia Supervision Committee, on the date of the receipt of the net proceeds of the Offering and upon the use of a portion of the proceeds to repay around AED197 million in loans and payables due to related parties. ABOUT THE OFFERING If all of the Offer Shares are allocated, the Offer Shares will represent up to 24% of the Shares. The Offering will comprise a primary issuance of 199,000,000 New Shares in addition to a secondary offering of up to 88,760,000 Existing Shares by the existing shareholders. The Existing Shares are being offered by Agility Tristar SPV Ltd (of which Agility Public Warehousing Company K.S.C.P. is the sole ultimate beneficial owner), Star Holdings Ltd (of which Gulf Investment Corporation is the sole ultimate beneficial owner), and Diamond SPV Limited (of which Mayne is the sole ultimate beneficial owner) (the Selling Shareholders), who currently own 65.12%, 19.61%, and 15.27% of the Shares of the Company respectively. The Offering comprises an offering of the Offer Shares to qualified investors in the United Arab Emirates and in a number of jurisdictions. The Offering is expected to be allocated to certain types of juridical persons and high net worth individuals and who are qualified investors as defined by SCA , with a minimum application size of AED500,000. In addition, the EIA has the right to subscribe for 5% of the Offer Shares in accordance with the requirements of article 127 of the UAE Federal Law No. 2 for the year 2015 with regard to commercial companies, and its amendments. If the EIA does not exercise its preferential rights to apply for Offer Shares, then those Offer Shares will be made available. The completion of the Offering is currently expected to take place in April 2021, subject to market conditions and obtaining relevant regulatory approvals in the UAE, including from the SCA. Furthermore, the Offering is expected to be declared Sharia compliant, subject to confirmation by the Sharia Supervision Committee, on the date of the receipt of the net proceeds of the Offering and upon the use of the proceeds to repay around AED197 million in loans and payables due to related parties. A syndicate of banks has been appointed for the Offering comprising BofA Securities and Citigroup Global Markets Limited as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners, First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC as Joint Regional Coordinator, Lead Manager and Joint Bookrunner, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited as Joint Regional Coordinator and Joint Bookrunner, Societe Generale as Joint Bookrunner and Kuwait Financial Centre K.P.S.C. (Markaz) as Co-Lead Manager. BofA Securities, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, Societe Generale and Markaz are herein referred to as Managers. Moelis & Company is acting as Independent Financial Advisor to Tristar. -- Tradearabia News Service Joe Bidens administration is preparing to allow for media access to border facilities and will release details in the coming days, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday, amid criticism over the ability of reporters and photographers to gain entry to facilities housing a surge in migrant children. First of all, we are working to finalize details, and I hope to have an update in the coming days, Psaki told reporters at the White House press briefing. We are working through with the Department of Health and Human Services, and also the Department of Homeland Security to ensure privacy and to ensure that we are following Covid protocols. We remain committed to transparency, and of course as I noted last week, we certainly want to make sure the media has access to this sites. More from Deadline The issue of media access has drawn attention from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have been hammering the Biden administration, while Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) told NPR over the weekend, We want to make sure that the press has access to hold the administration accountable. Thats the reason I was there, to hold them accountable. And theyve seen a surge that began last year, that began under the Trump administration, but its real. Its pressing their resources. And right now, these kids are staying, you know, too long in detention centers. At the briefing, reporters pressed Psaki on reports of overcrowding in the holding facilities housing the minors. Murphy visited the border in El Paso on Friday as part of a delegation of senators, but that briefing was closed to the press. Murphy said that the rise in children coming to the border has happened so quickly that it has been difficult to move them out of these detention facilities in under three days, as is required. He defended the Biden administration, and said that they were trying as quickly as they can to process these kids in a humane way. He and others argue that the surge started before Biden took office. Story continues NBC News and MSNBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff, author of Separated: Inside an American Tragedy, said last week that the Biden administration is doing itself no favors by keeping us out of these facilities. I understand that Covid is happening right now. You need to have precautions inside of these places. But the Trump administration let us in. And they let us in because they wanted to explain and show us the cruelty of the separation policy. They wanted everyone to see that. Now it is the Biden administrations turn to open the doors so that we can fully tell the story of not just where they want to go but why they want to go to that place. Last week, the Radio Television Digital News Association sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security calling for immediate access to journalists at Border Patrol processing facilities. The lack of information and collaboration from the Border Patrol and Department of Homeland Security has also created a vacuum of sorts that traditionally biased sources are filling with information that serves only their political interests, wrote Dan Shelley, the organizations executive director. This dynamic is not conducive to efforts by journalists to communicate unbiased information to the public nor is it constructive to the heated dialogue of elected officials both locally and nationally. In a call in interview with Fox News Harris Faulkner on Monday, Trump blamed the Biden administration for the surge in migrants at the border. At one point in the interview, Faulkner interrupted him to announce, The DHS secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, has resigned, Mr. President. Trump said he was not surprised. But then Faulkner said, Hold on. Let me stop. Let me listen to the team one more timeForgive me, that has not happened. And I apologize. OK, cross off that victory, Trump said. A Fox News spokesperson said that the error stemmed from an audio issue in a virtual working environment. We corrected the mistake and continued on with the interview. Trump had issued a statement over the weekend calling for Mayorkas resignation. At the briefing, NBC News Kelly ODonnell asked Psaki what metrics would have to be in place for the administration to call the migrant surge a crisis. Children presenting at our border who are fleeing violence, or fleeing prosecution, who are fleeing terrible situations, is not a crisis, Psaki said. We feel it is our responsibility to humanely approach this circumstances and make sure they are treated and put in conditions that are safe. She said that their policy is not to send children back, but to expedite processing at the border, opening up additional facilities and restarting the Central American minors program. Fox News Peter Doocy asked Psaki whether Biden had concerns that the minors were being crowded together and created a superspreader event. These kids are tested, she said. If they need to be quarantined they are quarantined. We also follow CDC guidelines to ensure that they are kept safe. But Doocy asked, where else in the country would it be OK to have 400 people in a space for 260 during the pandemic? We want to move these kids as quickly as possible through these facilities and into the shelters where there is safe spacing and then move them into homes where there is safe spacing, she said. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Conservative Party of Canada delegates voted against the adoption of new, more aggressive language on climate change into their policy book but that doesnt mean the party is denying climate change, Manitoba representatives say. Conservative Party of Canada delegates voted against the adoption of new, more aggressive language on climate change into their policy book but that doesnt mean the party is denying climate change, Manitoba representatives say. The vote took place over the weekend at the federal partys virtual convention. Will Gerrard is a grain farmer from Minnedosa, as well as a delegate who cast his vote against the resolution. "I don't think it's a matter of delegates saying, We don't believe in climate change. I think it was just that some delegates didnt like the wording of that change to the policy statement," Gerrard told the Free Press. The statement that would have been added to the Conservatives policy text read, "We recognize that climate change is real. The Conservative Party is willing to act." But it also included reference to large emitters being responsible and accountable for lowering emissions. To Gerrard, this part of the amendment sparked concern over the potential impact for farmers and other related industries such as fertilizer production; both are significant sources of greenhouse gases. In speaking with other rural delegates, he says thats the main concern hes heard. "We are worried about our competitiveness versus countries that don't charge for carbon emissions. That's probably the biggest concern," he said. Gerrard said the media has made a mockery of the Conservatives and labelled everyone in the party as climate-change deniers, but no one hes spoken to has denied its existence. The vote failed to pass, with 54 per cent voting against the resolution, despite the encouragement of party Leader Erin OToole who, over the weekend said, "We must also recognize that Canadians expect us to have a real plan for the environment. We need to boldly reclaim the environment as an area where Conservatives are leaders." Dan Mazier, Tory MP for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa voted in support of adopting the climate change resolution, but he understands the hesitation many delegates have in supporting it. (Tyler Clarke / Brandon Sun files) Manitoba delegates were very divided on the issue, with the vote split 51 to 49 per cent against the change in language. Dan Mazier, Tory MP for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa voted in support of adopting the resolution, but he understands the hesitation many delegates have in supporting it. Part of the drawback, Mazier said, was that the convention was being held in the virtual format. Where there is typically space to debate wording in person, that was absent at this years event. "There wasn't that opportunity to shape the resolutions," he said Monday. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister expressed disappointment that the resolution wasnt accepted. "I am confident that the federal leader is disappointed, as well," Pallister told reporters in a scrum at the legislature Monday. "I thought that the federal leader presented himself well, with integrity." "The issue is the actions you take. I think Erin OToole will present a program to address climate change before the next federal election if hes wise and I think hes wise." Mazier agreed with Pallister, saying that he didnt think the rejection of the new language would materially affect the partys policies going forward. With files from Carol Sanders sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca Subscriber content preview REDMOND (AP) Microsoft will begin bringing workers back to its suburban Seattle global headquarters on March 29 as the tech giant starts to reopen more facilities it largely shuttered during the coronavirus pandemic. In a post Monday on the company's corporate blog, Executive Vice President Kurt DelBene said Microsoft has been monitoring local health data and decided it can bring more employees back to its Redmond, Washington, campus. . . . Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The number of U.S. air travelers exceeded 1.5 million on Sunday, for the first time since the middle of March 2020, in a good sign for oil demand as U.S. citizens start to travel more, including by plane. According to data from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), as many as 1,543,115 travelers passed through security checkpoints at U.S. airports this past Sunday, the highest number of travelers since March 13, 2020. The last time U.S. airline passenger numbers topped 1.5 million was on March 15, 2020, when 1,519,192 travelers were screened at American airports, just before flights began being grounded as mobility was restricted at the start of the pandemic. The U.S. air traveler numbers have now been above 1 million for a 12th straight day to March 22, the TSA data showed. TSA screened 1,360,290 people at checkpoints yesterday, Monday, March 22, in spite of the fact that the @CDCgov does not recommend traveling at this time, TSA Public Affairs spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said on Tuesday. The number of airline passengers is still below pre-COVID levels, with international travel still restricted for Americans in many countries. But the recent signs of higher passenger traffic at airports signal increased mobility and demand for fuels, including jet fuel that was the hardest hit in the pandemic. Travel and consumption patterns in the worlds top oil consumer, the United States, and in the worlds top oil importer, China, point to recovering demand for petroleum products. Those two countriesmajor consumers of crudecould lead global oil demand out of the woods and lead the global consumption rebound later this year. Moreover, U.S. gasoline demand has also been rising in recent weeks. Weekly U.S. gasoline demand in the week to March 20 reached pre-COVID level seasonally, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, tweeted on Sunday. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 19:32:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, March 23 (Xinhua) -- "Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights lists out the right to freedom of speech. This basic human right was seriously damaged by 'black violence' in June 2019, but the implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR made the violence disappear," Joephy Chan Wing-yan said at a UN meeting recently. Chan, as a youth representative from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), made the remarks online at the 46th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council to tell the Western world the truth of Hong Kong. In the speech that last one and a half minutes, she upheld justice and fought back against Western prejudice in her own way. Speaking on the UN human rights platform, Chan opened her statement with the experience of Annie Wu Suk-ching, a Hong Kong businesswomen who, prior to Chan, spoke at the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in September 2019. At the 2019 UN meeting, Wu pointed out that radicals did not represent Hong Kong people and the escalating violence that year devastated Hong Kong as well as the livelihood of many local residents. However, what followed Wu's speech was systematic and planned violent attacks on Wu's family business carried out by black-clad thugs, and Wu herself being vilified. Taking Wu's story for an example, Chan in her speech highlighted the significance of the national security law in Hong Kong. "The international media downplayed or ignored reports of violent attacks by radicals on Ms. Wu's family business. Ms. Wu stood up for us, but she was wronged," Chan explained why she had told Wu's story. Chan added that her personal experience also made her feel obliged to tell the outside world the truth about Hong Kong in a rational way. Chan recalled what herself suffered in 2019 when she ran for re-election as a member of the District Council of the HKSAR. During that period, she was often subjected to physical and property threats in the community, including being vilified and attacked at street counters. "Even so, I still think we should stand up, because what we are doing is right and we should not give in," Chan said. "The West usually discredits us, saying the national security law in Hong Kong deprives us of human rights and freedoms, but I told them that the law only targets few individuals," Chan said. As of February this year, only a few people were arrested for violating the law, she added. Chan said it was a great honor and a rare opportunity to speak on the UN platform, and she had received a lot of support and encouragement since. "I feel that our country values us youth a lot and gives us many opportunities," she said: "I must do things well, hoping to show the responsibilities we younger generation takes." Enditem Geoscientist Jon Hronsky outlines his thoughts on mineral exploration and why it is not speculation. Mineral exploration has always been thought of as highly speculative and hence is a high-risk investment. Jon Hronsky, a geoscientist who has been on the scene for the last 37 years, shares his thoughts on why this is actually not true. I met Jon way back in late 1989 when in the second year of my undergraduate geology studies and I have been following his work since then and value his high-level (regional) targeting strategies. One of the hardest things to research is the myriad of projects that exist in companies on the ASX. Over the years, I have been asked many times what I think of the projects in different companies. What is hard to comment on is the legacy that exists in these projects. If you do not know the history or the content of management, it is extremely difficult to give a correct answer. The general consensus is that if there is a historical record of mineralisation, it will be a better project. As many experienced proponents of this sector will tell you, this is not anywhere near sufficient information to make an 'intellectual' comment. There is way too much information required before one can come anywhere near the point of making an 'educated' estimation. Jon Hronsky comes from a breed of mineral explorers who look at the picture and this is what I call the need for the right ingredients. I am talking about greenfield projects where the 'out of the box' thinking has taken the 'risk' to chase the potential. These kinds of projects normally offer the greatest rewards for investors. In this episode, Jon shares with us his thoughts on mineral exploration and why he thinks the Empress Springs project is a great example of the first-mover strategy for Moho Resources Ltd ( ). Jon has looked at the work that was initiated in conjunction with Ryan Noble from the CSIRO and made the following comment: This is the biggest coherent anomaly I have seen - Jon Hronsky on the Empress Springs project. This was part of the Coffee with entitled 'Applying Scientific Sampling Methods into Mineral Exploration - CSIRO'. Another interesting point that came up during our chat is that Jon shares very similar thoughts about the level of risk in exploration projects. The risk for investors is realistically less for greenfield exploration as opposed to advanced projects. I have included timestamps for the video below: Chapters: 0:39 Jon Hronsky introduction 2:42 Where is the current market going? 5:50 Renewed funding giving life to projects 6:39 Time to understand project and management quality 7:52 The Empress Springs story: ( ) 13:51 First-mover strategy 14:39 The Olympic Dam discovery analogy 15:00 The bigger deposit is the easiest to find 15:23 The upside-down lightning bolt theory 20:10 Understanding the pathway of source rocks 21:16 The project generator model for exploration company 22:50 The Boddington Gold Mine 24:07 The new exploration region 25:11 The myth of risk-reward ratio 25:38 The beauty of exploration 26:08 Exploration vs brownfields 27:25 The biggest challenge for an investor 28:08 Reasons to be a member of the CET (Centre for Exploration Targeting). PODCAST: This is a good time to download the first Ebook (FREE) from Samso as it is all about VMS (Volcanogenic Massive Sulphides). About Jon Hronsky Jon Hronsky OAM (BAppSci, PhD) Jon Hronsky has more than 35 years of experience in the global mineral exploration industry, primarily focusing on project generation, technical innovation and exploration strategy development. He has worked across a diverse range of commodities and geographies and has particular expertise in targeting nickel sulphide and gold deposits. His targeting work led to the discovery of the West Musgrave nickel sulphide province in Western Australia. His experience includes leadership roles in both major mining and junior mining companies and he has consulted globally for the last 12 years. In January 2019 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the mining industry. Jon is currently chairman of the board of the Centre for Exploration Targeting in Western Australia, Chairman of the Australian Geoscience Council (the peak body for geoscience organisations in Australia) and an Adjunct Professor at both the University of WA and Macquarie University. He was the 2009 Society of Economic Geology Distinguished Lecturer. Jon joined WMS in 2007 and prior to that, was manager - Strategy & Generative Services for BHP Billiton Mineral Exploration and Global Geoscience leader for WMC Resources Ltd. About Western Mining Services Western Mining Services (WMS) provides the best in geoscientific and risk management advice and services to mineral explorers globally. WMS offers a range of essential services: Advice on exploration strategy development both brownfield and greenfield Review and critique of mineral exploration strategies, plans and programs Assistance with the organisational structures Metallogenic framework and mineral targeting studies that deliver viable greenfield targets Brownfield and near-mine studies and target generation Support for target validation at all scales Technical due diligence and new opportunity analysis Deal terms review and evaluation Commercial risk analysis WMS' proven track record: Over the last 12 years, WMS helped more than 60 companies pursue exploration programs and opportunities globally. The resulting rewards include the largest gold-copper skarn discovery in the Americas and major nickel and gold discoveries in Australia. More than 600 students attended their popular Senior Exploration Management (SEM) Course which, by many accounts, ranks as one of the best. WMS offers the SEM Course annually in Perth WA and Denver CO, and also offers the course in-house for clients who want a course tailored to their strategy and exploration program. WMS developed an on-line Senior Exploration Management (SEM) course that tracks in-person SEM Course and that will make excellent, experienced training services more available to exploration groups worldwide. WMS Team is experienced, focused and eager to help achieve the mineral exploration mission. Please contact us, and lets discuss how we can help. Please let Samso know your thoughts and send any comments to info@Samso.com.au. Remember to Subscribe to the YouTube Channel, Samso Media and the mail list to stay informed and make comments where appropriate. Other than that, also feel free to provide a Review on Google. For further information about Coffee with Samso and Rooster Talks visit: www.samso.com.au About Samso Samso is a renowned resource among the investment community for keen market analysis and insights into the companies and business trends that matter. Investors seek out Samso for knowledgeable evaluations of current industry developments across a variety of business sectors and considered forecasts of future performances. With a compelling format of relaxed online video interviews, Samso provides clear answers to questions they may not have the opportunity to ask and lays out the big picture to help them complete their investment research. And in doing so, Samso also enables companies featured in interviews to build valuable engagement with their investment communities and customers. Headed by industry veteran Noel Ong and based in Perth, Western Australia, Samsos Coffee with Samso and Rooster Talk interviews both feature friendly conversations with business figures that give insights into Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) companies, related concepts and industry trends. Noel Ong is a geologist with nearly 30 years of industry experience and a strong background in capital markets, corporate finance and the mineral resource sector. He was founder and managing director of ASX-listed company Siburan Resources Limited from 2009-2017 and has also been involved in several other ASX listings, providing advice, procuring projects and helping to raise capital. He brings all this experience and expertise to the Samso interviews, where his engaging conversation style creates a relaxed dialogue, revealing insights that can pique investor interest. Noel Ong travels across Australia to record the interviews, only requiring a coffee shop environment where they can be set up. The interviews are posted on Samsos website and podcasts, YouTube and other relevant online environments where they can be shared among investment communities. Samso also has a track record of developing successful business concepts in the Australasia region and provides bespoke research and counsel to businesses seeking to raise capital and procuring projects for ASX listings. Disclaimer Tehran, March 23 : Iran's Energy Ministry has issued a top-level flood warning for five provinces, adding that 36 hours of rains are expected to start on Tuesday. In a statement on Monday, the Ministry's Institute of Water Research said that provinces of Ardabil, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan and Zanjan could receive up to 150 mm of rain in the coming days, Press TV reported. It said the record rainfall could cause rivers to burst their banks and lead to flash floods. The warning comes exactly two years after massive floods swept through areas in northeast, north and southwestern Iran, displacing tens of thousands of people. Those floods caused over $2.5 billion in damage to homes, infrastructure facilities and farming lands while leaving nearly 80 people dead. Iran has witnessed record rainfalls in recent years after nearly three decades of drought that had affected farming and businesses in many regions across the country. NEW DELHI Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar, who is on an official visit to India, met Monday evening with his Indian counterpart, Mr. S. Jaishankar to discuss the expansion of bilateral relations, the strengthening of regional and international consensus on the Afghan peace talks, economic cooperation, and regional connectivity. During the meeting, Mr. Atmar presented good wishes and messages of his excellency the Afghan President to the leadership of the friendly country of India, thanking and appreciating Indias approximately $ 3 billion in economic and development assistance to Afghanistan over the past two decades. Speaking about India's recent commitments and cooperation, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the construction of the Shatoot Dam, the delivery of 500,000 doses of Corona Vaccine, and the sending of 75,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan, the Indian Minister of External Affairs said that India, as a friend and partner of Afghanistan, would continue to support the reconstruction and developmental projects for the welfare and prosperity of Afghanistan people. The two sides also discussed regional connectivity projects, including the development of railways from Central Asia to South Asia via Afghanistan, the expansion of the Chabahar port, and enhancing trade between the two countries, considering these projects important for strengthening economic cooperation and regional stability. They agreed to form specialized working groups in various fields to strengthen economic and development cooperation and to follow up on the planned projects at technical levels. In connection with the peace process, the two sides reviewed the Troika Peace Meeting in Moscow and assessed the final declaration of the meeting as positive for strengthening and advancing the peace process. India stated its readiness to participate in regional conferences on peace and development in Afghanistan, including the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process in Tajikistan and Peace Talks in Turkey, and stressed that New Delhi strongly supported the peace process and the achievements of the Afghan people over the last two decades. Mr. Atmar emphasized India's role in the Afghan peace process and called for its enhanced role in strengthening regional and international consensus for the success of peace talks. The Indian Minister of External Affairs expressed readiness to help strengthen the regional and international consensus for peace in Afghanistan, saying that national consensus and unity within Afghanistan would further strengthen and contribute to the regional and international consensus. Data from the Landsat 8 satellite can help resource managers identify potentially harmful algal blooms in water bodies like Utah Lake, seen here. Credit: NASA/USGS Come summer, Utahns will flock to the state's lakes and reservoirs to boat, swim and picnic along the shore. And every week, if not every day, scientists like Kate Fickas of Utah State University in Logan will use satellite images and other data to monitor recreation sites to check for rapid growth of algae into a bloom, and make sure the water is safe for people and pets. From the vantage point of space, satellites, including the NASA and U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Landsat 8, can help scientists identify lakes where a bloom has formed. It's a complicated data analysis process, but one that researchers are automating to assist resource managers in identifying potential problems. "I grew up swimming in the Willamette River in Oregon, and diving in lakes over the summer," said Fickas. "So it means a lot to me that I'm able to not only help develop algorithms for monitoring cyanobacteria blooms, which is interesting in itself, but to be able to take that next step and keep the public safe, and allow them to safely recreate and enjoy the water the way that I do." Blooms are made up of naturally occurring algae, phytoplankton, and cyanobacteria that explode in number under the right conditions: warm temperatures, lots of nutrients, and calm waters. Many water bodies in Utah meet those conditions, Fickas said, especially with warming temperatures due to climate change, as well as nutrient-rich runoff from agricultural fields and other sources. Satellites including Landsat 8 and ESA's (the European Space Agency) Sentinel-3 can detect when a lake changes color due to the mats of greenish organismsallowing scientists like Fickas to tell water managers where to test to see if the waters are harmful or not. The two satellites have different strengths: Sentinel-3 collects data on individual lakes more frequently and measures wavelengths of light that are more indicative of phytoplankton, but Landsat 8 has a higher spatial resolution, so it can observe smaller lakes and identify specific problem areas within a larger lake. Landsat satellite-based detection of a 2017 bloom in Lake Utah helped save an estimated $370,000 in healthcare and related costs for the area, according to a 2020 study published in the journal GeoHealth. The case study builds on a larger multi-agency project to track algal blooms. When Landsat 8 measures a bloom, it detects chlorophyll-a, a green pigment found in phytoplankton, said Nima Pahlevan, a scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Water is a tricky thing for Landsat satellites to measure since it's dark compared to brightly reflective trees, buildings, and other landscapes. But Landsat 8 is more sensitive than its predecessors, able to distinguish between many more intensities of light, essentially detecting more shades of green. From space, satellites such as the NASA and USGS Landsat 8 can help scientists identify where an algal bloom has formed in lakes or rivers. Its a complicated data analysis process, but one that researchers are automating so resource managers around the country can use the satellite data to identify potential problems. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center "Any increased level of chlorophyll-a over the norm could be alarming, and that's what we're looking for from the satellite data," he said. Nima and his team have developed an algorithm to take the data collected by Landsat 8 over lakes, analyze it, and create a product that tells local water or recreation managers where that increase in chlorophyll-a might be. To get from the raw data to the usable product involves multiple steps, including accounting for atmospheric particles and gases that might otherwise skew the results. "Not everyone has access to the computing power to be able to process satellite images, or the time or expertise," Pahlevan said. "Having these products readily available to the community will significantly increase the number of people who can use the satellite data products." These Landsat aquatic reflectance products are still provisional, he stressed, but they are newly available from the USGS, which provides all Landsat data as well as other data products for free. While this data product could help decision-makers spot potential problem areas for boaters and swimmers, other Landsat data products measure things like forested areas, burned areas, and snow cover. "Data products convert the complex observations made by the instrument to the kind of information people need," said Jeff Masek of NASA Goddard, project scientist for the upcoming Landsat 9 satellite. "They allow allow people who aren't as familiar with remote sensing complexities to make use of the data." Landsat 9, which is scheduled to launch in September 2021, has all the attributes of Landsat 8 that allow it to quantify chlorophyll-a, and will have added capabilities to distinguish between even more intensities of light reflecting from water bodies and other surfaces. Scientists are looking forward to future satellites as well. Landsat Next, the satellite following Landsat 9, could have additional capabilities that allow it to better detect the specific organisms that cause harmful blooms, and not just benign phytoplankton growth that doesn't release any concerning toxins. "We're seeing more water quality issues around the world," Masek said, "which is why we're so interested in the capability to monitor them." Explore further NASA helps warn of harmful algal blooms in lakes, reservoirs And a third man came forward earlier this month alleging Pfleger once grabbed him in a sexual manner at St. Sabina in summer 1979, when the accuser was 18. The man said he does not plan to sue but felt compelled to submit an affidavit to the archdiocese to support the brothers, whom he said he does not know. BRUSSELS - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, acknowledged the US's differences with Turkey but said the country remains a valid ally. "It's not a secret that we have differences with Turkey, but at the same time we are certain that Ankara is a valid ally and therefore we have a strong interest in having it remain in NATO, and the same interest is also shared by Turkey," Blinken said. Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 68F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Saudi Arabia has announced a plan to offer Yemens Houthi rebels a ceasefire in the countrys years long war and allow a major airport to reopen in its capital. It is the kingdoms latest attempt to halt fighting that has sparked the worlds worst humanitarian crisis in the Arab worlds poorest nation. Saudi Arabias move comes after the rebels stepped up a campaign of drone and missile attacks targeting the kingdoms oil sites, briefly shaking global energy prices amid the coronavirus pandemic. It also comes as Riyadh tries to rehabilitate its image with the US under President Joe Biden. Saudi Arabia has waged a war that has seen it internationally criticised for airstrikes killing civilians and embargoes exacerbating hunger in a nation on the brink of famine. A unilaterally declared Saudi ceasefire collapsed last year. Fighting rages around the crucial city of Marib, and the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes as recently as Sunday targeting Yemens capital, Sanaa. A United Nations mission said another suspected airstrike hit a food-production company in the port city of Hodeida. The Houthis did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is up to the Houthis now, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told journalists in a televised news conference in Riyadh. The Houthis must decide whether to put their interests first or Irans interests first. Saudi Arabia said the plan would be presented both to the Houthis and Yemens internationally recognised government last night. Both would need to accept the plan in order for it to move forward. A crane moves a container next to livestock ship "Karim Allah", that carries nearly a thousand Spanish cattle stranded on board with suspected bluetongue disease, at Escombreras port, in Cartagena, Spain, February 27, 2021. REUTERS/Juan Medina FILE PHOTO: Livestock ship "Karim Allah" carrying nearly a thousand Spanish cattle stranded on ship with suspected bluetongue disease is docked at Escombreras port in Cartagena, Spain February 26, 2021. REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo Spain on Monday ordered the slaughter of 1,610 cattle which have been stuck aboard the Elbeik livestock ship since December, just weeks after hundreds of cattle on another vessel met a similar fate. The agriculture ministry said the animals were unfit for further travel and could not be re-imported into the European Union, meaning they must be isolated and killed in the coming days. In December, Turkish authorities rejected the animals and another 850 Spanish cattle aboard the Lebanon-flagged Karim Allah over concerns they had bovine bluetongue virus, turning both vessels into international pariahs. Having failed to find a new buyer after months wandering the Mediterranean, the Karim Allah returned to the port of Cartagena on Spain's east coast in February and the Elbeik followed suit last week. A report by government veterinarians uploaded to animal-rights group Igualdad Animal's website said 179 cows on the Elbeik had died during the journey and were thrown overboard. Several of the remaining animals were malnourished and dehydrated, while some were barely conscious after being crammed into unsanitary pens without room to lie down, the report said. An Agriculture Ministry spokeswoman declined to comment on the authenticity of the report. A Portland man who misrepresented himself as a successful investor and defrauded his own family and his ex-wifes relatives out of more than $650,000 was sentenced Monday to three years and 10 months in federal prison after his father helped the FBI track him down. U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman said Joseph David Galvans crimes involved a level of almost perverse mendacity and cruelness and callousness that caused a wide circle of collateral harm, making it more serious than most other similar white-collar fraud cases. He ordered that Galvan, 46, be sent to a federal prison far from the state of Oregon so he wont be able to threaten or hurt his family further and that he pay $658.060.39 in restitution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claire M. Fay described Galvan as a deceitful, abusive, emotional and financial predator. His illegal Ponzi and bogus escrow schemes lasted several years, from January 2018 through this past August and affected 18 victims, the prosecutor said. One of Galvans most outspoken victims at the sentencing was his father, Daniel Galvan, 71, who urged the judge to send his son away for the maximum prison term. Joseph Galvan convinced his father and disabled stepmother to give him tens of thousands of dollars so he could hang on to a luxury Lake Oswego home that he told them he bought for $900,000, according to the prosecutor. His dad diverted money he had set aside for the downpayment on a single-level home for himself and his wife, only to later learn that the Lake Oswego real estate deal was a complete sham, according to court records. Joseph Galvan lied to his family that he had reached a deal with the owners of the Lake Oswego home, who refused to leave. He said he had sued them and obtained a judgment that was placed in an escrow account and had grown to $1 million. But he said he couldnt access the funds until certain conditions were met with his own bank account and he convinced his father to pay for various fees and costs associated with the purported house purchase. Yet he never bought a home in Lake Oswego and there never was a legitimate escrow account, according to Fay. Instead, he used his relatives money to finance a gambling habit and also spent it on dining, gun purchases and cosmetic procedures, according to Fay. Now the elder Galvan is at the brink of financial ruin with bankruptcy looming, according to court records. He manipulated us, took advantage of us, his own family, and then disposed of us, as though we were strangers without having any meaning in his life, Daniel Galvan said. It was all about his narcissistic self-personal benefit and financial gain. ... Your Honor, there are no words to express the embarrassment, the disappointment and the anger that we feel towards our son for all the grief, psychological, emotional and financial hardships and irreversible damage and humiliation he has caused us and so many other families, the father said. Daniel Galvan told the court he helped the FBI locate his son to arrest him because he wanted his son brought to justice before he could harm anyone else. He called his oldest son his greatest disappointment. You want to trust and help your children. But now we know thats not always doable. Who would have thought that your own kid could do this to you? We never did. Instead of asking us for help, he chose to lie and steal from us and other family members, Daniel Galvan said. I am ashamed of him, the father said. He is not a Galvan. Joseph Galvan created the illusion that he was a savvy high-rolling investment trader by flashing thousands of dollars of cash while pitching another investment program to family and friends, Fay said. He promised people that if they gave him money, hed invest on their behalf so they could retire early and live financially secure lives, according to Fay. For some, he falsely promised that he would never lose their money but if they did suffer any losses, hed pay them with his own money. I cant guarantee the level of results, of course. Just know, this is what I do and I do it very, very well, read one of his text messages, according to a sentencing memo. I have just under 15m in bonds and stocks and cash-point is, you wont lose anything. The longer you keep it in, the more you will make. Its hard at times to look back and realize what you've done, and how you could have done it," Joseph D. Galvan said at his sentencing Monday. "And I understand that their suffering is far worse than mine. And they didnt deserve it, where I fully do. Though family members transferred their money into an account controlled by Galvan, he failed to open investment accounts on their behalf as promised, according to court records. Galvan used an app called StockMaster to create false investment profile accounts for those who gave him money and would periodically send them phony screenshots of their profiles, the prosecutor said. Many of his victims had come to the United States from Romania or were of Romanian descent, and others were elderly and spoke English as a second language, the prosecutor said. Galvan pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. He appeared at the sentencing via video conference from the Columbia County Jail. Just before his sentence was issued, Galvan told the judge to ignore his defense lawyers sentencing memo, which sought a lesser sentence of three years and one month, and to send him away for the full term sought by the prosecutors. The judge agreed, giving him the full three years and 10 months. I think any words that I speak will only be more hurtful to the family. I am sorry, beyond words, Galvan said. Its hard at times to look back and realize what youve done, and how you could have done it. And I understand that their suffering is far worse than mine. And they didnt deserve it, where I fully do. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian A controversial gold-silver-copper mine in Co Tyrone would bring a "significant and timely stimulus" to the economy for over 25 years if it gets planning permission, a review said today. Research by business advisory firm EY, commissioned by Canadian mining company Dalradian, said the Curraghinalt mine would build "a more prosperous, competitive and regionally balanced economy". It has said that the building of the mine would bring a 158m boost to the construction sector and when up and running, would generate a further 21m in salaries and 46m in supply chain expenditure annually. An additional 360m will be invested in capital equipment. The firm has said the two-year construction would employ 300 people directly, and support another 910 jobs. It claims that when up and running, the mine will employ 350 people directly and support around 570 indirect and induced jobs. Dalradian has been working on its proposals for the Sperrin Mountains site since 2010, submitting a planning application in late 2017. Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has ordered a public inquiry into the plans, which have drawn over 34,000 objections. The company believes up to 3bn worth of gold could be deposited in the mountains. However, campaigners against the mine have said they have grave concerns about its potential impact on the environment. Sean Tracey said opposition remained strong, adding: "I believe that opposition has increased and the longer this application has taken the more people have become aware of the major negatives... As far as the majority of the local community is concerned this company does not and will not have a social license for this project. "This can be reflected in the number of objections letters and the resolve the campaign still shows four and a half years later." The EY report also says the mine would provide more highly skilled jobs, which would mean fewer people being forced to travel for work outside the area. Patrick F N Anderson, Dalradian's president and CEO, said: "EY's review highlights that our proposal will have a major positive impact on the economy. 'Furthermore, it comments on the social and environmental aspects of the project, which are key considerations for us and our local community. "The mine will provide a minimum of 4m in community funding, deliver a multi-million investment in training and further enhance the region's STEM skills which are essential for leveraging its existing strong manufacturing and engineering base," he added. "Our project has been designed to respect the environment. It will be Europe's first carbon neutral mine, operating in tandem with the local environment and within strict regulatory standards." Cindy Marten, the Biden administrations pick for deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, faces a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday amid uncommon pushback for one nominated to the number two spot. Like Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Marten would bring local school- and district-level experience to the department. But the hearing comes after weeks of mounting opposition to her nomination from parents and advocates that has spread from local groups to national organizations. Complaints include discipline disparities in her California district of San Diego Unified as well as Martens handling of open records requests. Scheduled for the same day as Cardonas Safe School Reopening Summit, the hearing also draws attention to the fact that Martens district hasnt reopened, even though several in San Diego County have. The district is scheduled to bring students back in a hybrid schedule in mid-April, but some districts, such as the Cajon Valley Union schools, have been mostly open since September. Related: Cardona, in Mostly Gentle Prodding From Senate, Offers Views on Testing, Transgender Students and Reopening Schools We were hopeful when she was nominated to this team, it would [speed up reopening] for us here locally, but our kids are not in school, said Emily Diaz, a parent involved in Reopen SDUSD, which advocates for more in-person learning. There is this targeted date, but it hangs on all these contingencies. Reopening is just one topic that might surface during questions from the Senate education committee. Cardonas nomination was largely well received among unions, charter school supporters and advocacy groups and his Senate hearing was mostly congenial. But the prospect of Marten as second-in-charge stirred controversy from the start. Its unclear, however, whether opposition from parent groups would be enough for any Democrats to object to her confirmation. It seems like folks are still figuring out where they stand on her nomination, said Julia Martin, legislative director of Brustein and Manasevit, a Washington-based education law firm. Story continues Related: Charter School Advocates, San Diego NAACP Raise Objections to Bidens Pick for Number Two Spot at Education Department Meanwhile, organizations such as the National Parents Union, with its #NoMarten hashtag, has made its position clear. It produced a video featuring San Diego parents who dont want to see Marten at the department. One of those is Tasha Williamson, a former San Diego mayoral candidate and mother of a special education student. Williamson has watched Martens career since she served as a successful principal at Central Elementary, a low-income school in the City Heights neighborhood. She was calm and considerate. She thought about her students, Williamson said. When she became superintendent, she somehow got lost. Williamson noted low performance at the citys Lincoln High School and concerns that the district didnt act quick enough to report sexual abuse of a student by a teacher. The district did not respond to requests for comment. A working relationship with unions Others who worked with Marten since her days as principal said she has skillfully navigated the politics of running a district in a state with strong unions and the most charter schools in the country. Ian Pumpian, a professor emeritus in educational leadership at San Diego State University and CEO of Health Sciences High School and Middle College, a charter school, said he saw no evidence that her relationship with the union affected her ability to collaborate with charter leaders. There is no possible way a superintendent of a large school district can be effective in managing and leading schools without establishing a working relationship with unions, Pumpian said, and she has done that effectively. Some charter advocates note that she has aligned herself with the unions position on limiting charter growth, but sent her son to a high-performing charter school in San Diego, High Tech High. That her son attended a charter school means she is willing to deny other parents the school choice she readily took advantage of for her own child. Thats hypocritical. said Margaret Fortune, who leads a network of nine charter schools in California serving mostly Black students and served with Marten on a charter school task force in 2019. Related: Opinion: As Biden Signs Orders Addressing Systemic Racism, Why Isnt He Listening to What Black Parents Have to Say About His No. 2 Ed Department Pick? Organizations such as the National Parent Union support charter schools and receive funding from foundations supporting choice and homeschooling. Even though critics are concerned about Martens views on charters, the district notes that the majority have been renewed over the past seven years. If she is confirmed, there will be a significant amount of work to do to earn the trust of parents and grandparents like us, who are fighting every day for fairness on behalf of children nationwide, reads a statement from the Powerful Parent Movement, another advocacy organization. Related: Sign up for The 74s newsletter Georgian Deputy Interior Minister Kakhaber Sabanadze resigned earlier today amid reports from Mtavari Arkhi and TV Pirveli TV channels on illegal surveillance and hampering an opposition protest back in 2019. The TV channels released an interview of a former employee of the State Security Service, currently imprisoned Vano Gulashvili, who says that he damaged the oppositions projector in central Tbilisi on June 20 during the rallies and that he illegally installed cameras in the houses of different individuals according to the demands of Sabanadze and other top figures of the ministry. In a Facebook post Sabanadze has called for 'an unbiased and comprehensive' investigation into the allegations, and stated that he resigned to ensure trust in the investigation process. "I believe my decision will be an example for other officials to act in line with high responsibility standards in the case of questions towards them," Sabanadze said. Mtavari Arkhi says that they recorded the interview with Gulashvili back in November 2019 when Gulashvili was still free. The channel reports that Gulashvili was arrested shortly after giving the interview for disclosing a state secret. Gulashvili was cited as saying that he was tired of his job. The channel said that Gulashvili accepted the interview because he disliked his job and promised to provide evidence which could confirm his allegations. However, the channel says that Gulashvili was arrested shortly after. Mtavari Arkhi says that they decided to release the interview after the reports of TV Pirveli on alleged release of personal videos from the State Security Service. In the interview Gulashvili says that he was receiving demands from Sabanadze and Nikoloz Shanidze, who currently serves as the border police chief of the Interior Ministry, Agenda.ge reported. Gulashvili says that in 2014 he allegedly installed surveillance cameras in the house of former deputy Defence Minister Anna Dolidze, who later created a political party. He says that he also installed a virus on the laptop of head of Administration of All Muslims of Georgia Vagif Askerov to record his personal life. The Georgian Chief Prosecutors Office has launched an investigation into the case earlier today. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Since March 4, Pariss Odeon Theatre has been occupied by protesters demanding increased support for the cultural sector and a reopening of cultural venues. Currently, at least 60 venues across France are being occupied by protesters compromising mostly students and cultural workers. This follows a wave of similar protests in December, including an appeal to the high court that was rejected. A number of speeches at the 46th Cesars, held on March 12, expressed solidarity with protesters. Most prominently, actress Corinne Masiero stripped naked at the film and television award ceremony, revealing demands for increased financial support for cultural workers during the pandemic written across her body. Theatre Montparnasse in Paris, France (Britchi Mirela/Wikimedia Commons) The protests take place in the context of an uncontrolled and accelerating spread of the virus in France. The announcement of inadequate lockdown measures in Paris at the end of last week will not halt the rapid spread of the virus driven by deadly new variants. The seven-day average for daily cases has exceeded 30,000 for the first time since mid-November. Total COVID-19 deaths exceed 90,000. The impact of the pandemic on the French cultural sector has been catastrophic. According to screendaily.com, last year French live performing artists revenue dropped 72 percent or 4.2 billion, and the television and film industry experienced a 20 percent drop, equivalent to 4.8 billion. Many independent artists, freelance film workers, and workers at cultural institutions have seen their income reduced to zero over the past 12 months. At the same time, Europes richest man, Bernard Arnault, saw his fortune more than double to 135 billion since March 2020. The governments only response has been to waive the threshold for the number of hours worked before an artist can qualify for miserly state support. Hagop Demirdjian, a jazz musician, told France24 that the governments response was the absolute minimum: [it] stopped artists of dying of hunger. Despite the pandemic, government plans to implement further cuts to the social support system in July 2021 remain in place. A 7.5 billion bailout was handed to businesses in the cultural sector in 2020. However, as has been the case with bailouts in all major industries, only a tiny fraction has been received by workers, with the vast majority lining the pockets of owners and executives of large companies. While many cultural workers concern is their living conditions throughout the pandemic, the unions and media are driving a campaign to channel this anger behind deadly calls for a reopening. The CGT Spectacle union demanded a meeting with the minister of culture, Roselyne Bachelot, to determine the issues of the profession and the conditions that will allow us to return to work. The occupations began one day after the French Directors Association penned an open letter, titled President Macron: Reopen cinemas now! on March 3. The media has presented the protests as singularly concerned with loosening lockdown measures. France24 ran the headline, Protesters occupy Paris theatres to protest against COVID-19 shutdowns. Le Monde wrote, several hundred people [gathered] from the Place de la Republic to demand the reopening of cultural venues. Le Figaro stated that protesters came to demand the reopening of cultural venues. In fact, the interviews featured in the articles with protesters focus on the financial crisis facing workers. Demand for reopenings is however in line with the Macron governments deadly herd immunity policy, which was only extended with the implementation of another pseudo-lockdown that will not stem the spread of the virus. Minister of Culture Bachelot met with protesters in the Odeon theatre on March 6 and pledged to continue discussions. In contrast, yellow vest protests and demonstrations against the build-up of police state laws are met with tear gas, rubber bullets, mass arrests and riot police assaults. While there is undoubtedly confusion and even desperation amongst cultural workers facing poverty and unemployment during the pandemic, legitimate demands for full income and access to cultural life during the pandemic must not be subordinated to deadly calls for a reopening. The latter demand reflects the narrow interests of an upper-middle class layer, including in the cultural and media industry and union officials, whose wealth is tied to profits in the sector. This interest is laid bare in the Directors Associations open letter, published in Le Monde. It was signed by more than 800 figures in the film industry, some of them well-known actors and directors. The letter complains, Today, and for many long months, the 5,913 screens of Frances 2,046 cinemas have been kept closed in the name of a health precautionary principle. Indicating the lack of public support for reopening demands, they note, we would like to clarify something that public opinion does not knowthe nightmare that the film industry and its workers are living through. The letter cites a German coronavirus study to claim that cinemas are twice as safe as supermarkets and three times safer than train travel, and that cinemas should therefore reopen. Yet even if one accepts the findings of the studywhich does not control for air circulation in cultural venues, and lumps together cinemas, museums and theatres into one categorythe conclusion to be drawn from such data would not be for the reopening of cinemas. It points to the danger posed by full supermarkets and public transport to the spread of the virus. The Macron government is opposed to the closure of non-essential workplaces and schools, which contribute to packed public transportation, because such measures would impact the profits of major French corporations. The authors conclude: Each week of closure adds to the disaster in progress. It is the future of a profession that is mortgaged, as finished films pile up on distributors shelves every week. To the extent that this is tied to a demand for a reopening of cultural centres, this means that the pandemic cannot be allowed to impact the careers, awards, and incomes of a wealthy layer in the film industry, and the profits of massive media conglomerations from large-scale theatrical releases. This has nothing to do with the physical or cultural welfare of the 340,000 film-industry workers or 250,000 uncontracted performers and artists in the country. Moreover, the reopening of cultural venues would lead to an increase in COVID-19 deaths, and to a further delay in the period until the virus is controlled so cultural venues can be safely opened. The poorest members of society would make up the majority of the victims. The demand for the reopening of cinemas is also absurd from any economic perspective other than the short-term profit motives of the large production and distribution companies. It would not be sufficient to save independent cinemas, theatres, or museums from ruin, and would not lead to a significant increase in the income of small and independent artists. In June, when the pandemic was at its lowest point, many cultural venues performed to less than half-capacity, operating at a loss throughout the period. Now that the virus is much more widespread, attendance would be even lower. Opposition to the irresponsible reopening campaign does not imply any indifference to the decimation of the arts and cultural sector, resulting from decades of funding cuts and exacerbated by the pandemic. Access to art and culture is a basic social right of the working class in France and internationally. It cannot be subordinated to the profit interests of giant media and distribution conglomerates and their shareholders. A socially progressive response to the crisis in the arts would include the demand for massive investment in the cultural sector, for the free distribution of films and other online cultural exhibitions that can be displayed under conditions of social isolation, and massive support for artists, so that they can continue to produce when the pandemic has been stopped. This must be implemented as part of a lockdown policy, involving the provision of a living wage to everyone, the closure of schools and non-essential workplaces, so that the population can shelter at home until the vaccines can be distributed. The resources exist for such policies, but they are monopolised by a corporate and financial oligarchy. The defence of art and culture is indissolubly connected to the development of a new revolutionary movement in the working class internationally in defence of all social rights, for social equality and socialism. Serious artists should consciously oppose the campaign for a reopening and orient themselves toward this progressive international social force. Antigua, March 23 : Rahkeem Cornwall made his highest Test score, sharing a record partnership with Joshua da Silva, as West Indies secured a vital 99-run lead at the end of the second day of the first Test in North Sound. The imposing all-rounder closed on 60 not out to push West Indies to 268/8 off 101 overs, in reply to Sri Lanka's 169, made on the first day. Cornwall has so far hit two sixes -- both from savage pulls into the western side of the ground, as well as nine fours. He is the first Antiguan to score a half-century at this venue and also has the highest score by a No. 9 batsman at the ground. Cornwall has also reached the the highest score by a West Indies No. 9 against Sri Lanka in Tests. He featured in a vital eighth-wicket stand with da Silva, who made 46 in his first knock on home soil. It changed the course of the match as it hauled the West Indies around from relative trouble 171-7 to 261-8 and a healthy lead. da Silva fell just before the close, caught behind as he tried to ramp a ball from Dushmantha Chameera down to third man. "I told myself I had to do the job for the team. I was always confident I knew I was hitting the ball very well coming into the match so I just had to settle in and support Josh at the other end," Cornwall said after the day's play. "I know I have good bating skills. Tomorrow the first hour will be crucial. They will come back fresh and will look to knock us over, so we have to be mindful of that and look to play well and gather as many runs as we can," he further said. Earlier, a 56-run second-wicket partnership between John Campbell (42) and Nkrumah Bonner (31) was the best effort by the West Indies top-order. However, Sri Lanka pacer Suranga Lakmal made inroads with figures of 5/45, his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests. Lakmal dismissed captain Kraigg Brathwaite (3), then removed Kyle Mayers for an attacking 45 off 70 balls in an hour-and-a-half. The left-hander played some brilliant shots, including a hook over the midwicket fence as he struck six fours and two sixes. Lakmal returned to bowl Jermaine Blackwood (2) and Jason Holder (19), leaving the West Indies 169-6. Alzarri Joseph was his fifth wicket, caught at point as he flashed a firm drive at an outswinger, before Cornwall and Da Silva came together in the final session. Brief scores: Sri Lanka 169 all out (Lahiru Thirimanne 70; Jason Holder 5/27, Kemar Roach 3/47) vs West Indies 268/8 (Rahkeem Cornwall 60 not out, Joshua da Silva 46; Suranga Lakmal 5/24) Leopard ray in reef tank at Underwater World Singapore. (PHOTO: Court documents) SINGAPORE Underwater World Singapore (UWS) was fined $105,000 on Tuesday (23 March) over safety lapses following the death of its head diver, who was stung by a stingray at its Sentosa premises in 2016. UWS had closed its doors to visitors on 26 June 2016 before its lease ended to facilitate the transfer of its marine animals. On 4 October 2016, head diver Chan Kum Weng was transferring a stingray into a net when the animal pierced him in the chest. Chan died that day. Passing the sentence, District Judge Adam Nakhoda noted that there were four breaches and that it was essential to identify the risks and mitigate measures. While Chan was an expert, his expertise was not a substitute for risk assessment and ensuring safe work procedures, the judge added. Earlier in January, a company representative admitted to failing to take measures necessary to ensure the safety and health of its employees, by failing to provide an adequate risk assessment and safe work procedures, failing to provide supervision and lookout for divers performing vacuuming and feeding works, failing to provide adequate recovery procedures in an emergency during diving operations, and failing to implement a system to document checks on the diving equipment before use. The DJ said that it was essential that there were detailed recovery processes such as standby divers to act immediately in the case of emergencies. He added that there was clearly a need for a standardised set of checks and to ensure that equipment used was fit for the purpose. However, he took into consideration that it was not the case the company had not implemented any safety measures at all. The prosecution had earlier argued for a fine of $150,000 while UWS' lawyer sought a fine of $40,000. What actually happened UWS had appointed Chan, who had 25 years of experience, to plan and execute the transferring of marine animals before and after it had ceased operations. Chan adopted the typical method of capturing marine animals, then briefed workers on the risks and precautions to be taken. Story continues However, investigations revealed that UWS did not document safe procedures for capturing marine animals, which was undertaken by Chan, who would decide on the allocation of manpower, equipment needed, the risks involved and precaution needed. The risks and the appropriate control measures of capturing marine animals were not documented within UWS' risk assessment. There was also inadequate supervision of diving work, with no proper lookout maintained while divers performed vacuum works in tanks. During feeding periods, there would be a lack of communication channels between the diver and the worker at the surface, with the worker at the surface only observing an air bubble trail to ensure that the diver was breathing properly. There was also inadequate recovery procedure, as there were no divers on standby. Should a diver lose consciousness during an emergency situation, he would not be picked up by a buddy immediately, as there was no line of sight or any lifeline provided, a Ministry of Manpower prosecutor told the court. The Ministry of Manpower also found that there was no system or checklist for pre-diving equipment checks. For failing to take measures to ensure the safety and health of employees, UWS could have been fined up to $500,000. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related story Underwater World Singapore admits to safety lapses following diver's death Underwater World Singapore charged with safety violations on day stingray killed its head diver 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. HONG KONG, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobilesquared, the leader in business messaging market intelligence, and Vox Carrier, an pioneering vendor of mobile monetization solutions, have partnered to release a new white paper entitled 'Protecting A2P SMS revenues into the roaring 20's'. The paper, authored by Mobilesquared, provides never before published statistics of the historic and forecasted impact of grey routes on the messaging business from 2010 to 2024. Key findings include: Of the almost 2 trillion A2P SMS projected to be sent in 2024, just under one-quarter of these will be via grey routes The total opportunity for A2P SMS could reach $27.48 billion in 2024 (based on 100% white route traffic) in 2024 (based on 100% white route traffic) As we entered the second decade of A2P SMS business messaging, 48% of mobile operators were yet to have deployed a next-generation SMS firewall Between 2020-2024, revenue leakage to grey routes remains unacceptably high, with a cumulative loss of $37.1 billion , or an annual average leakage of $7.69 billion . 'In 10 years the A2P SMS market has thrived and become a key revenue stream for mobile operators monetising white route traffic via their next-generation SMS firewalls. A little over half of mobile operators are doing so today, which means much work is still to be done to make every network secure and every subscriber safe' said Nick Lane, Founder of Mobilesquared. Considering the significant impact grey routes have on mobile operators' business, it is becoming imperative for them to deploy next generation SMS firewalls. The potential uplift in revenue of such a leading edge tool is staggering. "Across 3 mobile operators in Africa, Asia and Latin America, with which we partner to implement such a solution, we saw an average immediate uplift in A2P SMS revenue in the order of 413% in the first year, rising to 1,425% in the second year. Truly astonishing," said Ehsan Ahmadi, CEO of Vox Carrier. "Which is why we partnered with Mobilesquared to write this paper. We believe it is crucial for MNOs to be aware of the importance of next-generation SMS firewalls to realise an immediate uplift of their A2P SMS revenue." The white paper concludes by reinforcing that mobile operators must not only consider today's revenue, but the future. A fully-managed SMS firewall must therefore evolve to protect 5G messaging, whatever form that might take, whether RCS or something different. The white paper is available for complimentary download at: https://www.voxcarrier.com/white-paper/ About Vox Carrier Vox Carrier optimises, accelerates and simplifies International Voice and Messaging through innovation in technology, platforms and processes. We serve operators, service providers, carriers, aggregators and enterprises worldwide, delivering an array of services such as Voice, A2P Messaging, service monetization and operational outsourcing. Vox Carrier's technologies initiative, Vox Technologies, has also launched Vox360, which won 'The Best Anti-Fraud Innovation' at the 2019 Messaging and SMS Global Awards. Vox360 is an anti-fraud solution designed to simplify the fight against fraud in telecommunications. To learn more, get in touch at www.voxcarrier.com About Mobilesquared The Mobilesquared team have been covering mobile since phones were brick-sized, and have tracked the evolution of mobile data and technology every step of the way. We are immersed in the mobile industry sitting on the judging panel for the MEFFYs, EMMAs, and Global Mobile Awards, delivering the Annual Market Review report for UK regulator Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA), and partnering with global mobile trade organisations including the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF).To learn more, get in touch at www.mobilesquared.co.uk SOURCE Vox Carrier; Mobilesquared (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and foreign ministers of Britain, Germany and France met on Tuesday to discuss peace initiatives for Yemen, British foreign minister Dominic Raab said. "From pushing for peace in Yemen to preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power, Britain, U.S., France, Germany stand together as force for good," Raab said in a tweet, using images of the flags of the four countries instead of naming them in words in his message. "Today @ABlinken @HeikoMaas @JY_LeDrian & I met in-person for the first time to discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead." (Reporting by Aakriti Bhalla in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler) Mohammad Murad (left, 12) along with his sister Aisha (10), brother Oweis (4), and father Mohammed (38) were resettled to the UK in April 2016. Mohammed and his family were living in Damascus, Syria when war broke out in 2011. In March 2013 his family fled to Domis Camp in northern Iraq where they stayed for three years before eventually being resettled in Scotland. UNHCR/Andrew McConnell LONDON - The UK has just announced the closure of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS), which offered safety to 20,000 refugees fleeing the Syrian crisis over the last five years or so. Below are answers to some questions about the programme, and what might come next, as well examples of lives transformed. What was the VPRS? Resettlement is the transfer of refugees from an asylum country to another state that has agreed to admit them and ultimately grant them permanent residence and, usually, a path to citizenship. The VPRS was a resettlement programme announced by the UK in 2014 to bring victims of the crisis to safety in the UK and due to be completed in 2020. Under the VPRS, UNHCR referred potential cases to the UK Home Office, which then verified cases against eligibility criteria and carried out checks. Those accepted were referred to the devolved administrations and local authorities, which received support from central government. In July 2017, the Government expanded the scope of the scheme to include refugees who had fled the conflict in Syria but did not have Syrian nationality. The completion of the VPRS was delayed in 2020 after arrivals were suspended during the pandemic, but the 20,000 refugees have now arrived. It was the largest formal resettlement programme that the UK has undertaken in the modern era. Was it Successful? UNHCR believes that it was transformative to the refugees who were able to benefit. VPRS offered a lifeline to 20,000 refugees, all victims of the Syria crisis that has been running for ten long years, said Rossella Pagliuchi-Lor, UNHCRs Representative in the UK. The programme has been hugely beneficial for the refugees, who have been able to rebuild their lives in safety, thanks to the generosity of the British people. It was a great example of responsibility-sharing and set a high standard in refugee resettlement. Ms. Pagliuchi-Lor added: The Government launched this scheme with UNHCR but IOM, local authorities, NGOs, and local volunteers have been critical to its success. In 2017, UNHCR released a study on the integration outcomes for refugees resettled under VPRS. Two-thirds of arrivals at that stage were survivors of violence and torture or had specific medical needs. While the study showed the programme working well, it nevertheless highlighted areas for improvement, notably in English language provision, and further support for housing and employment. Life-changing Over the years, UNHCR UK profiled some of those who benefitted from the life-changing impact of the VPRS, and locals who helped make it a success. Many of these stories are profiled through our Great British Welcome series from all parts of the United Kingdom. Back in 2017, we met Ramzy and Hamza, among the first arrivals and part of a small group of refugees who had been settled in South Oxfordshire. In Abingdon, they found a circle of people centred around St Ethelswolds House eager to help and support. In Hastings, Rossana Leal, who had herself fled from Chile decades earlier, set up the Buddy Project to help Syrian refugees weighed down by paperwork and bureaucracy as they struggle to find their feet in a new country. Today, there are more than 100 buddies and they share Sunday roasts, visit local sites and festivals, run sewing groups, driving lessons and childrens activities for the refugees. In Ipswich, we met Suffolk Refugee Support, a charity that works closely with the local authority to offer resettled refugees a brighter future. One of the refugees, Shireen, 21, felt she had found her feet and was working as an assistant at a chemist. She aimed to become a pharmacist after training. I feel Im doing something. I can give my mum money and I have some independence. I also feel Im giving to society, she said. In Northern Ireland, Rada spoke about the specialist medical care that her daughter Daria would receive, after suffering injuries and losing a kidney following a blast in Syria. In Ulster, government ministers praised the local community for welcoming the refugees, as well as the role played by those resettled in enhancing the cultural life in the region. Whats Next for UK Resettlement? The UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) was announced by the Home Office in June 2019. The start was delayed by the suspension of resettlement due to the pandemic (as was the completion of VPRS). The first refugees under UKRS have started arriving. The UKRS is meant to consolidate three programmes: the VPRS, the Vulnerable Childrens Resettlement Scheme (VCRS) and the Gateway Protection Programme. As such, it will enhance the flexibility and geographical diversity of resettlement, and should include a contingency for emergency resettlement and retain the Community Sponsorship programme (see below). UNHCR continues to identify refugees facing protection risks around the world for the new programme. UNHCR hopes the UK will provide more details on its UK resettlement plans soon. Confirming new quotas will offer hope for desperate refugees and allow UNHCR and those working on the crucial programme -- like local authorities -- to make plans. What is Community Sponsorship? The Governments Community Sponsorship programme, running since 2016, enables community groups to become directly involved in supporting refugee families resettled in the UK, previously through VPRS and in future through UKRS. Under community sponsorship, volunteers provide specific support in the early days of arrival including arranging English lessons and schools, helping with access to benefits, housing, healthcare and employment or training. There are commitments for 12 months (longer for housing) and the rest is up to the supporters and the families. The aim is for refugees to be able to stand on their own feet over time and create truly independent and anchored lives in the UK. UNHCR recently travelled across the UK to meet refugees who have settled here under the scheme, and locals lending them a hand. The stories can be seen here. Rosie Hall, from a group in Devon, said: Its been good for us. The towns been really supportive and its actually brought the community together. What about global resettlement? Unfortunately the numbers are falling. UNHCR estimates that 1.44 million refugees globally are in need of resettlement, but only 22,770 were resettled through UNHCR last year, with 829 arriving in the UK. These are the lowest numbers we have seen in almost two decades just when refugees needs are extremely acute and rising, UNHCRs Ms. Pagliuchi-Lor said. There are hopes for larger numbers being able to resettle in the years ahead, but even the most optimistic forecast falls woefully short of needs. More details on global resettlement are available on the UNHCR website. The U.S. should consider leading a multilateral coalition with South American nations to push back against China's illegal fishing and trade practices, a U.S. intelligence agency has recommended in a document obtained by Axios. Why it matters: China's illegal fishing industry is the largest in the world. Beijing has made distant-water fishing a geopolitical priority, viewing private Chinese fishing fleets as a way to extend state power far beyond its coasts. A senior U.S. administration official confirmed to Axios that several agencies across the government are "taking a look at this in light of the president's priorities," which include "deepening cooperation with allies and partners on the challenges we face to our economy and national security." What's happening: Huge fleets of hundreds of Chinese vessels have had boats fish illegally in the territorial waters of South American countries, including off the Galapagos Islands. The activity has depleted stocks and disrupted food chains, in a practice referred to as illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) fishing. South American nations say these fleets are a challenge to their economic and environmental security, but their navies often lack the resources to effectively monitor and patrol their own waters. Last year, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru stated they would join forces to defend their territorial waters from incursions by Chinese vessels. Details: "South American countries probably would welcome a coalition effort to increase trade pressure on China and enforcement of fishing standards," according to a Feb. 5 document, labeled sensitive but unclassified, from the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security. "Unilateral pressure by the United States would likely result in China enforcing similar sanctions, just as Beijing did by enacting a new law to counter U.S. restrictions on technology firms," according to the document. Several offices and agencies are working together on this effort, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Office of Naval Intelligence, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the State Department, according to the document and government sources. The document assessed with "high confidence" that Chinese fishing in South American waters would also "cause continued economic harm to U.S. domestic fisheries as a result of anticompetitive tactics." It assessed with "medium confidence" that China is likely to "continue exploitative fishing practices in South American waters despite recent actions by governments and an intergovernmental organization to limit these activities." It also assessed with "medium confidence" that South American countries would welcome a coalition to increase the enforcement of fishing standards. What they're saying: "Theres a lack of understanding of this problem, that its a global problem, that fisheries are quite stressed," the senior administration official told Axios. The Trump administration "started some work on the counter-IUU issue globally on Chinas role since theyve emerged as the biggest perpetrator on this," said the official, who added the Biden administration continues to see this as a priority. Background: Former Chinese President Hu Jintao called for building China into a great maritime power, and in 2013 China's State Council elevated the fishing industry to the level of a strategic industry. The Chinese government provides subsidies to the fishing industry, which enables boats to cover the fuel costs of sailing to distant coasts, including near West Africa and South America. "Chinas leaders see distant water fleets as a way to project presence around the world, so that when it comes time to set up regulatory frameworks, that they will have a big say in how those frameworks are set up," said Tabitha Mallory, CEO of the consulting firm China Ocean Institute and affiliate professor at the University of Washington. The aim is to be "present all over the worlds oceans so that they can direct the outcomes of international agreements that cover maritime resources," said Mallory, "including not just fishing but seabed mining, the Arctic" and other key issues and regions. The U.S. government has paid closer attention to China's increasingly global deep-water fishing fleets in recent years. The Maritime Security and Fisheries Enforcement (SAFE) Act, passed in December 2019, established a "whole-of-government approach" to combating IUU fishing. In May 2020, President Trump issued an executive order to combat illegal deep-sea fishing and help promote U.S. competitiveness in the industry. In September 2020, the State Department added fish caught by China's distant water fishing fleets to its list of goods produced with forced labor a potential concern also raised in the DHS document. The bottom line: Other countries need to weigh in on these issues too," Mallory said. "Anything that the U.S does alone will be seen by the Chinese as simply part of the backdrop of rising power competition." Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. After the first oil price war launched by the Saudis against the then-nascent U.S. shale sector in 2014, Washington took the view that the Kingdom had broken the core 1945 agreement made between the two countries and that consequently, the U.S. needed to begin to reduce its dependence on Saudi oil imports down to insignificant levels over time. This view was reinforced when the Saudis launched another oil price war in 2020, again principally aimed at damaging the U.S. shale sector, that was only ended with the direct threat from former President Donald Trump to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) that unless Saudi stopped the oil price war then the U.S. would withdraw its military support for the country in general, and the ruling Al-Saud family in particular. Given this backdrop, it is unsurprising that the U.S.s new cornerstone strategy to counter growing Chinese influence in the Middle Easts oil and gas sector appears to barely involve Saudi Arabia at all. The new strategy is centered on putting into place a series of U.S.-brokered deals between its key representative in the Middle East, Israel, and as many Arab states as possible. The overt purpose of this alliance is to counter the increasing power of Iran in the region, about which both Israel and many Arab states share a profound concern, but more than that the alliance will act as a bulwark for the U.S, against the increase of influence of China especially in the Middle East, and wielded in the first instance through Iran. So far this alliance has been able to strike cooperation deals formally, relationship normalisation deals with the UAE and Bahrain in the Middle East (and also with Morocco) but hopes are high in Washington that this roster will be expanded shortly to include such regular U.S. allies as Kuwait and others. The U.S. view on the Saudis being a part of this new alliance at some point is a function of the broader view in the White House before Trump lost the election, which was: Were not going to put up with any more crap from the Saudis. More specifically, the U.S. will be happy enough to have the Saudis as part of the U.S.-Israel-Arab states alliance should it wish to join (MbS is thought to be personally in favour of it) but it will not put up with any crap from Saudi as the price to get it to join. With or without Saudi Arabia formally being part of the U.S. alliance it can continue to act as the principal lightning rod for Irans attacks against U.S. influence in the region. Related Video: Can Saudis Defend Aramco from Houthis? Given its huge economic growth potential even from its currently high base and the corollary lift to its oil and gas demand that this will bring India is being touted by the U.S. as a viable counterpoint to Chinas enormous demand for energy products in the future. Specifically, according to a recent major report from the IEA, Indias energy consumption is expected to nearly double as its gross domestic product expands to an estimated US$8.6 trillion by 2040 under its current national policy scenario (the equivalent of adding another economy the size of Japan to the world economy in less than 20 years). Particularly of note to Middle Eastern hydrocarbons producers will be the projection that Indias oil demand is expected to rise to at least 8.7 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2040 from about 5 million bpd in 2019, while its natural gas needs are projected to more than triple to 201 billion cubic metres. In this precise context, last week saw comments from Indias Oil Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, that he and the chief executive officer of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC), Sultan Al Jaber, had discussed ways to strengthen energy cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector and beyond between the two countries. This co-operation has already grown extremely quickly after the relationship normalisation deal was signed by the UAE on 15 September last year. ADNOC is being seen by the U.S. as a key oil supplier in the new Middle East order, with plans to swiftly increase its crude oil production by around 1 million barrels per day (bpd) to at least 5 million bpd by 2030 at the latest, and to increase its gas output as well. Further weight was added to this joint effort with the recent award by the UAE of a second major oil and gas exploration block concession to the U.S.s Occidental. The U.S., for its part, was extremely supportive of ensuring Indias compliance as an end-buyer for any oil that ADNOC might produce with India approving a proposal that allows ADNOC to become the only overseas company entitled to hold and store Indias vitally-important strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) and to export oil from the SPR if there is no domestic demand for it. In addition to this, the UAE has become a partner in an Indian joint venture to build a 1.2 million bpd refinery and petrochemical complex on the countrys west coast. Related: The 3 Nations Vying For Global LNG Dominance At the same time that India is looking to expand its imports of oil from the UAE, and to extend its cooperation further with ADNOC, it is seeking to cut oil imports from Saudi Arabia, various sources in Indias oil sector commented last week. According to these reports, the Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, as well as Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals and other state refiners, are preparing to lift about 10.8 million barrels in May compared to the average state refiners take of 14.7-14.8 million barrels of Saudi oil per month. This is in line with Oil Minister Pradhans repeated criticism of Saudi Arabias additional oil production cuts to the OPEC+ cuts being a key cause for the recent spikes in oil prices that have negatively affected Indias budget. This move away from Saudi oil and towards oil from the UAE follows the displacement of Saudi Arabia from the number two oil supplier position to India by the UAEs sponsor in the Arab States alliance the U.S. itself. Specifically, oil industry figures for February showed that the total volume of Indias crude oil imports from the U.S. overtook those from Saudi Arabia in the month, with the U.S. moving from number five to number two in the supply table. US crude imports jumping to the second spot in February, from fifth in 2020. This change in supplier rankings was partly a deliberate move by India to signal its displeasure with Saudi over its surprise voluntary oil production cuts and partly due to refiners targeting different oil grades in anticipation of higher gasoline demand, according to local analysts. Even before this switch, according to industry data, U.S. crude imports to India stood at 12.69 million metric tons in 2020, up nearly 29 per cent from a year earlier. In February, though, inflows from the U.S. was 2.11 million metric ton, around 32 per cent higher than the 1.61 million metric tons from Saudi Arabia. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Pippa Middleton enjoyed a break from mum duties today as she was spotted out for a walk with two companions in leafy west London, without new daughter Grace. The mother-of-two, who welcomed her second child with husband James Matthews last week, was seen beaming as she chatted to a pair of women clutching coffees, one of whom was walking a dog. The Duchess of Cambridge's younger sister, 37, looked stylish in a long belted blue coat over a check dress, which she teamed with black tights and black suede ankle boots with buckle detailing. She finished the look with a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses. Meeting up with more than one person you don't live with is currently against lockdown rules in England. You're allowed to meet outside with other people if you live with them or they're in your bubble. If you meet someone from another household, you should try to keep two metres away from them. Pippa Middleton enjoyed a break from mum duties today as she was spotted out for a walk with two companions in leafy west London, without new daughter Grace The Duchess of Cambridge's younger sister, 37, looked stylish in a long belted blue coat over a check dress, which she teamed with black tights and black suede ankle boots with buckle detailing. She finished the look with a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses It isn't clear who the women Pippa was spotted with are, or if they planned to meet up, though the trio were seen laughing and joking. It's possible she bumped into them while on a solo stroll. Pippa was yesterday spotted pushing Grace - who was born in the early hours of March 15, weighing 6lbs 7oz - in her pram, clearly besotted with her newborn as she gazed down at her little one. Proud parents Pippa and James, 45, also share two-year-old son Arthur. Grace's middle names - Elizabeth and Jane - are a nod to her grandmothers, Carole Elizabeth Middleton and Jane Matthews, while Elizabeth might also be a subtle acknowledgement of the family's royal ties. The mother-of-two, who welcomed her second child with husband James Matthews last week, was seen beaming as she chatted to two other women clutching coffees, one of whom was walking a dog It isn't clear who the women Pippa was spotted with are, or if they planned to meet up, though the trio were seen laughing and joking. It's possible Pippa bumped into them while on a solo stroll Rumours of Pippa's pregnancy first swirled shortly before Christmas when Page Six reported the couple were expecting another baby. A source close to the Middleton family told Page Six in December Kate's sister was expecting, saying: 'Pippa and James are thrilled, it's fantastic news amid a difficult year. The entire family is delighted.' Pippa has never commented on her pregnancy and prefers to keep a low public profile. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will no doubt be delighted at the arrival of their baby niece, which comes at an exceedingly difficult time for the Royal Family in the wake of the fallout of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's bombshell Oprah interview. As well as the Cambridge children, Grace has two cousins on her father's side of the family: Theodore Frederick Michael, two, and Gigi Margaux Matthews, five months, the children of Made In Chelsea's Spencer Matthews and his Irish model wife Vogue Williams. Pippa was yesterday spotted pushing Grace - who was born in the early hours of March 15, weighing 6lbs 7oz - in her pram, clearly besotted with her newborn as she gazed down at her little one. Today she left her at home Pippa looked to be enjoying the women's company as they strolled along the pavement, with the Duchess' sister clutching her phone in her hand Kate and Pippa's brother James Middleton, 33, is engaged to Alizee Thevenet. Pippa and James enjoy a close relationship with both families. The Middletons enjoy holidays with the Matthews clan at the family's exclusive Eden Rock St Barts resort, proving just how well they all get on. How the lockdown rules for socialising changed on March 8 You can now spend time in outdoor public spaces for recreation on your own, with your household or support bubble, or with one other person. This means you can sit down for a drink or picnic. You must continue to maintain social distance from those outside your household. This is in addition to outdoor exercise, which is already permitted. Advertisement Pippa and James also raise their children with the support of their parents, with Carole telling Good Housekeeping that she is a hands-on grandmother. 'I want to run down the hills, climb the trees, and go through the tunnel at the playground,' she said. 'As long as I am able to, that's what I'll be doing. I cook with them, I muck around dancing, we go on bike rides.' She said she would hope to pass down a love of the countryside and hoped she could help them 'really see the value of being able to appreciate nature and be active outdoors.' Describing herself as 'very family-orientated', Carole said she has always 'tried hard to be a listening grandmother and mother-in-law' to Prince William, 38, and Pippa's husband James Matthews. Pippa and James tied the knot in 2017 at St Mark's Church in Englefield, the estate of former Conservative MP Richard Benyon. In 2018, Pippa welcomed baby Arthur in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital, the same place where sister Kate gave birth to all three of her children. Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 50 Master's in Data Science Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 167 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 167 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 50 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school. Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Master's in Data Science Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-masters-in-data-science-degree-programs/ 2021 Master's in Data Science Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order): Arizona State University Bay Path University Brandeis University Brown University Carnegie Mellon University Clarkson University Colorado State University Colorado State University, Global Campus Columbia University DePaul University Drexel University Duke University George Washington University Georgia Institute of Technology Harrisburg University Illinois Institute of Technology Indiana University Bloomington Johns Hopkins University Lewis University Loyola University Maryland Merrimack College Michigan State University New York University North Carolina State University Northeastern University Northwestern University Oklahoma State University Purdue University Santa Clara University Seattle University Slippery Rock University South Dakota State University Southern Methodist University Syracuse University Texas Tech University University of California, Berkeley University of California, San Diego University of Chicago University of Cincinnati University of Connecticut University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Minnesota University of Missouri University of Oklahoma University of Rochester University of San Francisco University of Southern California University of Texas, Austin University of Texas, Dallas University of Virginia About Intelligent.com Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/. Verizon Media Group, the media division within Verizon, has 3 million people that pay for subscriptions across its portfolio of Yahoo-related products, like Yahoo Fantasy, Yahoo Finance and others, executives tell Axios. Why it matters: Moving forward, the goal will be to rebrand most of its media franchises as Yahoo products, and to focus on selling subscriptions to those products via a rebranded subscription portfolio called "Yahoo Plus." Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. Driving the news: "Yahoo is the future of our consumer facing brand," says Joanna Lambert, Head of Consumer at Verizon Media. "Over time, we will be moving non-Yahoo brands and centralizing them around Yahoo," she says. Already, the company has rebranded its media studio RYOT as Yahoo Ryot Lab, as well as its women's brand "Makers" as "Makers by Yahoo." Other media outlets, like TechCrunch, AutoBlog and Engadget have not yet been renamed or rebranded. Those niche brands are now integrated across the Yahoo ecosystem in relevant categories. MAKERS by Yahoo is a part of Yahoo Life, Autoblog is part of Yahoo Autos, and Engadget and TechCrunch are part of Yahoo News and Yahoo Finance. A Yahoo Tech category is on its way. As part of the "Yahoo Plus," portfolio, Yahoo will offer several subscriptions some already offered in beta including: Yahoo Fantasy Plus: Research tools, trade insights for Fantasy games Yahoo Finance Plus: Formerly called Finance Premium, which will offer tiers for retail investors (Plus Lite) and seasoned traders (Plus Essentials) Yahoo Mail Plus: Ad-free email, as well as customization features, like disposable addresses or domain blocking. Yahoo Plus Protect: Device protection and tech support plans in conjunction with Asurion, a device insurance company. TechCrunch: ExtraCrunch, a members-only community from TechCrunch, charges users for access to investor surveys, market analysis, expert interviews, etc. The company is also experimenting with "Tastemakers," which gives users free access to Yahoo subscription brand premium features, like investor reports. Story continues The idea behind the Tastemakers program is to help lure more people to subscribe to Yahoo products. For now, all Yahoo-branded products are offered as separate subscriptions. In the future, the company may consider combining them. For each additional subscription a user buys within the Yahoo Plus, they get a deeper discount to others, allowing consumers to mix and match subscriptions. The idea is to create a highly-personalized subscription experience. Between the lines: Verizon acquired Yahoo for $4.48 billion in 2017. At the time, the deal was meant to give Verizon lots of data so that it could sell targeted advertising against its entire portfolio of brands, including AOL, which it purchased two years prior for $4.4 billion. Today, media giants are shifting away from depending solely on digital advertising and instead are diversifying their revenue streams with subscriptions, commerce and events. The big picture: It became clear a few years ago that Verizon Media Group's strategy to create an advertising network that could compete with Google and Facebook wouldn't be enough to float its business. Verizon took a $4.6 billion write-down for its media unit in late 2018. Two years later, the company is starting to find some success in subscriptions, as well as advertising revenues recovering from early on in the pandemic. Verizon Media revenues were $2.3 billion last quarter making it the first quarter of year over year growth since the Yahoo acquisition in 2017. Yahoo is the biggest entity within Verizon Media Group, which also includes AOL, and some of its smaller sites like Engadget and Autoblog. The company has sold some of the other sites, like Tumblr and HuffPost. "Being a tech media company, we have much more to offer than just content, but also tools and utilities," says Lambert. "From a strategy perspective, we have enormous scale that is unlike most media companies in the world," says Lambert. "The question becomes, 'how do we take that audience and drive them from being free users to subscribers of really valuable paid offerings?'" According to Comscore, Verizon Media was the fourth most-trafficked media entity across desktop and mobile last month in the U.S., behind Google, Facebook and Microsoft. Lambert says the company also sees deeper subscription engagement as an opportunity to invest more into commerce. What to watch: Yahoo News products do not have a subscription, but the company is doing user exploration on what that could look like right now. "It's a significant and growing brand and business for us, especially as we have been focusing primarily on reaching younger generations," Lambert says, noting the company has over 1.1 million TikTok subscribers. What's next: Lambert says that Verizon Media Group's goal is to diversify its revenue to be evenly split between advertising, subscription and commerce. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The chief prosecutor in Seoul has refused to undergo questioning in connection with an alleged illegal overseas travel ban on a former senior official, his lawyer said Tuesday. Prosecutors in Suwon, south of Seoul, last week requested Lee Sung-yoon, chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, appear for questioning over allegations that he abused power to block an investigation into an exit ban imposed on a scandal-ridden former vice justice minister in 2019. Lee refused to comply with the subpoenas, repeating his demand that the case be transferred to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), his lawyer said. In a statement to the prosecution, he cited a provision in the CIO law that stipulates crimes by high-level prosecutors should be probed by the agency. Early this month, the Suwon prosecution office transferred the case to the CIO, which began operation in January to investigate public corruption. But the CIO returned the case to Suwon, saying it was not ready for full operation, with its hiring process still going on. This was the fourth time that Lee had refused to appear before Suwon prosecutors. In March 2019, former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui was stopped at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, from leaving the country, as prosecutors sought to reinvestigate allegations that he received sexual favors from a local constructor more than a decade ago. A whistleblower filed a complaint with the state anti-corruption watchdog body in December, saying the travel ban enforced by the justice ministry did not follow due procedures. Kim was not a criminal suspect in any case at that time, and the ministry illegally accessed Kim's travel records, he claimed. He later filed an additional complaint, claiming the anti-corruption team of the Supreme Prosecutors Office, led by Lee at that time, attempted to dismiss the ongoing probe into the exit ban in July 2019. Lee denied the allegations, saying he relayed an investigation report on the case from a district prosecution office to the then-prosecution chief and correctly conveyed his order to a related investigation team. (Yonhap) This is all so beautifully acted under the direction of Gelb and Katie Rose McLaughlin that I forgot that the characters, except for Greta, are disembodied voices on the other end of her phone. And even Greta, in a way, is disembodied, piped as she is through Gelbs rather fearless 36-year-old cisgender maleness. Whether Greta is cisgender or gay or something else is unclear probably to her, as well; shes 13. But in Honestly Sincere (the title is taken from another Bye Bye Birdie song), Birkenmeier is less interested in pinning down identity than in tracing the lovely way a girl in the comfort of her chosen safe space (and with the help of her chosen technology and friends) sets out to discover it. Which brings us back to Theater in Quarantine and its own chosen space, technology and friends. Ive not usually been a fan of the avant-garde, which too often strikes me as intellectualized and chilly, fogged in a machismo musk. But these closet productions, fully odd though they may be, are nearly always warmer, more penetrating and more speculative in exploring gender than the works of the old-school male gurus. It matters that so many of them including Heather Christians I Am Sending You the Sacred Face and Madeleine Georges lovely Mute Swan are written by women. Their characters, even when embodied by a man, seem safe enough in the cozy closet to represent and thus honor more than just themselves. Honestly Sincere On the Theater in Quarantine YouTube page Regulated Industries is on the move far too late for one unlucky soul following a widely reported early morning brawl. Here's the aftermath and a preview of Springtime POST-COVID nightlife . . . Read more: New Delhi: Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Sunday slammed ML Khattar government over attack on media during protest at Ryan International School in Gurugram. He said attack on media is condemnable and in a democracy, governments do not work with lathis and bullets. Hooda said media is one of the pillars of democracy and raised concerns of the people. He said it should not be suppressed. CPI leader D Raja also condemned the police attack on media. He said Haryana police is gaining notoriety of attacking media as it was happened during Dera agitation too. ANI personnel attacked by Haryana police, lathi-charged during coverage of #RyanInternationalSchool protest in Gurugram pic.twitter.com/pBEap0WZyh ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2017 An ANI journalist sustained injuries during police lathicharge when parents were staging protest. Attack on media is condemnable. In a democracy, govts don't work with lathis &bullets: BS Hooda on Haryana Police targeting media #Gurugram pic.twitter.com/LBKYslTG6i ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2017 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. By Elizabeth Howcroft LONDON (Reuters) - boss sold his first tweet as an NFT for just over $2.9 million dollars on Monday. The tweet is in the form of a non-fungible token (NFT) - a kind of unique digital asset that has exploded in popularity so far in 2021. Each NFT has its own blockchain-based digital signature, which serves as a public ledger, allowing anyone to verify the asset's authenticity and ownership. The tweet - "just setting up my twttr" - was Dorsey's first tweet, made on March 21, 2006. The NFT was sold via auction on a platform called Valuables, which is owned by the U.S.-based company Cent. It was bought using the Ether, for 1630.5825601 ETH, which was worth $2,915,835.47 at the time of sale, Cameron Hejazi, the CEO and co-founder of Cent confirmed. Cent confirmed the buyer is Sina Estavi. Estavi's profile, @sinaEstavi, says he is based in Malaysia and is CEO of the company Bridge Oracle. Estavi told Reuters he was "thankful" when asked for comment about the purchase. On March 6, Dorsey, who is a bitcoin enthusiast, tweeted a link to the website where the NFT was listed for sale. He then said in another tweet on March 9 that he would convert the proceeds from the auction into bitcoin and donate them to people impacted by COVID-19 in Africa. Dorsey receives 95% of the proceeds of the primary sale, while Cent receives 5%. Cent CEO Cameron Hejazi said that his platform allows people to show support for a tweet that goes beyond the current options to like, comment and retweet. "These assets might go up in value, they might go down in value, but what will stay is the ledger and the history of 'I purchased this from you at this moment in time' and that's going to be in both the buyer, the seller and the public spectators' memory," Hejazi said, adding that this was "inherently valuable." (Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft; Editing by Aurora Ellis) (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.) Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a disease of the stem cells in the bone marrow, which disturbs the maturing and differentiation of blood cells. Annually, some 200 Finns are diagnosed with MDS, which can develop into acute leukemia. Globally, the incidence of MDS is 4 cases per 100,000 person years. To diagnose MDS, a bone marrow sample is needed to also investigate genetic changes in bone marrow cells. The syndrome is classified into groups to determine the nature of the disorder in more detail. In the study conducted at the University of Helsinki, microscopic images of MDS patients' bone marrow samples were examined utilizing an image analysis technique based on machine learning. The samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E staining), a procedure that is part of the routine diagnostics for the disease. The slides were digitized and analyzed with the help of computational deep learning models. The study was published in the Blood Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, and the results can also be explored with an interactive tool: http://hruh-20. it. helsinki. fi/ mds_visualization/ . By employing machine learning, the digital image dataset could be analyzed to accurately identify the most common genetic mutations affecting the progression of the syndrome, such as acquired mutations and chromosomal aberrations. The higher the number of aberrant cells in the samples, the higher the reliability of the results generated by the prognostic models. Diagnosis supported by data analysis One of the greatest challenges of utilizing neural network models is understanding the criteria on which they base their conclusions drawn from data, such as information contained in images. The recently released study succeeded in determining what deep learning models see in tissue samples when they have been taught to look for, for example, genetic mutations related to MDS. The technique provides new information on the effects of complex diseases on bone marrow cells and the surrounding tissues. The study confirms that computational analysis helps to identify features that elude the human eye. Moreover, data analysis helps to collect quantitative data on cellular changes and their relevance to the patient's prognosis." Professor Satu Mustjoki Part of the analytics carried out in the study was implemented using the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) data lake environment, which enables the efficient collection and analysis of extensive clinical datasets. "We've developed solutions to structure and analyze data stored in the HUS data lake. Image analysis helps us analyze large quantities of biopsies and rapidly produce diverse information on disease progression. The techniques developed in the project are suited to other projects as well, and they are perfect examples of the digitalizing medical science," says doctoral student Oscar Bruck. "This study provides new insights into the pathobiology of MDS and paves the way for increased use of artificial intelligence for the assessment and diagnosis of hematological malignancies," says PhD Olivier Elemento from the Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine in his commentary to the article in Blood Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. NEWS FLASH Air Serbia will restore operations between Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport and Romes Fiumicino Airport in April after nine months. Services will resume on April 30 and operate twice per week, each Monday and Friday, with the Airbus A319 aircraft. Depending on the epidemiological situation and the consequential travel restrictions, a third weekly rotation it scheduled for Sundays, starting June 13. Air Serbia will be the only airline linking Serbia and Italy, offering up to 864 seats per week in both directions during the summer season. We are glad to re-establish the air link to Italy and add another destination to our current network. We are committed to re-establishing flights wherever the epidemiological situation and consequential travel restriction allow us to do so and we aim to offer wider scale connectivity to Serbia and the entire region. Italy represents a very important market for us, not only because it is traditionally of interest for our passengers, but also because of its importance in terms of economic cooperation and trade, Jiri Marek, Air Serbias General Manager for Commercial and Strategy, said. Services to Bologna, Milan and Venice, which were operated by Air Serbia prior to the Covid-19 pandemic are yet to be scheduled. Air Serbia discontinued flights to Rome in March 2020 and restored the service for a two-week period in July before Italy introduced a ban on flights from a number of countries from the former Yugoslavia, including Serbia. In April 2020, Air Serbia operated eight special flights to Rome, delivering aid to combat the pandemic. The Justice Department has charged a Swiss hacker with computer intrusion and identity theft, just over a week after the hacker embarrassed a U.S. security-camera startup and its clients by showing how easy it was to spy on the cameras watching over hospitals, schools and corporate offices. An indictment against 21-year-old Tillie Kottmann was brought Thursday by a grand jury in the Seattle-based Western District of Washington. Federal prosecutors said Thursday that Kottmann, of Lucerne, Switzerland, was initially charged in September. The range of allegations date back to 2019 and involve the alleged theft of credentials and data and publishing source code and proprietary information from more than 100 entities, including companies and government agencies. Kottmann has described the most recent leak of camera footage taken from customers of California security-camera provider Verkada as part of a hacktivist cause of exposing the dangers of mass surveillance. Kottmann told The Associated Press in an online chat last week that they found the credentials needed to enter the site exposed on the open internet. In conversations with other reporters last year, Kottmann, who uses they/them pronouns, said data they obtained and posted online had been exposed by poor security practices and they sought to shame organizations into buttoning up their networks. Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman rejected that approach in a statement Thursday. These actions can increase vulnerabilities for everyone from large corporations to individual consumers, Gorman wrote. Wrapping oneself in an allegedly altruistic motive does not remove the criminal stench from such intrusion, theft, and fraud. Kottmann didnt return an online request for comment. Swiss lawyer Marcel Bosonnet said he is representing Kottmann but declined further comment Friday. Bosonnet at one time represented Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who was charged in 2013 with disclosing details of highly classified government surveillance programs. Snowden had considered seeking asylum in Switzerland. Swiss authorities said they had raided Kottmanns home in Lucerne late last week at the request of U.S. authorities. Prosecutors said the FBI recently seized a website domain that Kottmann used to publish hacked data online. Its not clear if U.S. prosecutors will to try to extradite Kottmann, who remains in Lucerne and was notified of the pending charges. Swiss law limits certain forms of extradition, especially when the charges could be prosecuted in local courts. The public prosecutors office in Lucerne declined comment Friday, deferring to U.S. authorities. Kottmann expressed confidence in the online chat with the AP last week that the U.S. cannot extradite me even though they know exactly who I am. Thursdays indictment ties a number of hacks to Kottmann over the past year, including one targeting an unnamed security device manufacturer based in the Seattle region and another affecting a maker of tactical equipment. In several cases, prosecutors said Kottmann improperly used valid employee credentials to gain access to source code databases. The indictment says Kottmann also hacked the Washington state Department of Transportation, an automobile manufacturer and a financial investment company. The indictment doesnt specifically mention last weeks high-profile hack of Verkada, which drew attention because it exposed live camera feeds and archived video footage from schools, jails, factories, gyms and corporate offices. Kottmann told the AP last week they belonged to a group nicknamed APT-69420 Arson Cats, a small collective of primarily queer hackers, not backed by any nations or capital but instead backed by the desire for fun, being gay and a better world. Kottmann has previously attracted attention for leaking hacked material to expose security flaws, including from U.S. chipmaker Intel last year. The indictment does not accuse Kottmann of trying to extract money from hacking victims _ a typical motive for many cyber crimes. But prosecutors do attempt to tie Kottmanns efforts at self-promotion, including the design and sale of clothing related to hacking and anti-intellectual-property ideology, into part of a broader conspiracy to commit computer fraud. AP writers Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Frank Bajak in Boston contributed to this report. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. I still believe in that location, very much just not for us, Watters said. I think we could have made it work, but it really is about focus: Do we put all our attention on making it successful, or do we pay attention to our home base? COVID has allowed us to sit back and determine who we want to be. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. A Korean Air plane takes off from Incheon International Airport in this undated photo. Courtesy of Incheon International Airport Corp. Incheon airport to mark 20th anniversary March 29 By Jun Ji-hye Incheon International Airport, which opened on March 29, 2001, with an aim of becoming the hub of Northeast Asian air traffic, will celebrate its 20th anniversary next Monday. Though the airport has been facing difficulties since last year due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, it had continued its high growth since opening, showing an average annual growth rate of 8 percent in terms of the number of users on the back of rapid increases in demand for air travel, until right up to the virus outbreak. The airport has also played a role as the country's main gateway, with 77.6 percent of international passengers from and to Korea in 2019 having used it. The country first came up with the idea of constructing a new international airport in the Seoul metropolitan area, in addition to the existing Gimpo International Airport, in November 1992. After that, some 5.6 trillion won ($4.96 billion) was injected into the construction, which took more than eight years until the new airport opened in 2001 on reclaimed land among Incheon's islands, according to the Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC), the airport operator. Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport / Courtesy of Incheon International Airport Corp. Since its opening, the airport's facilities and capacity have consistently been expanded through the second phase of development from 2001 to 2008 and the third phase from 2009 to 2017, despite several challenges including the global financial meltdown in 2008. The airport's second passenger terminal, or Terminal 2 (T2), designed to handle some 18 million passengers per year, opened in January 2017 through the third phase of the development plans to better meet increasing demand and have a bigger presence in Northeast Asia. T2 has also helped relieve the workload from existing facilities and speed up passenger processing times. Compared to 2002, the numbers of the airport's flights and passengers were 3.1 times and 3.4 times larger, respectively, in 2019 before the COVID-19 outbreak with the airport becoming the world's third-largest by international cargo and the fifth by international passengers. Authorities are currently undertaking the fourth phase of the airport's expansion, scheduled to be completed in 2024. This phase is aimed at building a fourth runway and expanding T2, as well as strengthening overall ICT infrastructure. Once the fourth phase is completed, the airport will be able to process 106 million passengers every year, which would help it jump to become one of the world's top 3 airports and solidify its status as one of the main transportation hubs in all of Northeast Asia, according to IIAC. As well as its quantitative expansion, the airport has achieved qualitative growth as it has won the world's best airport award for the 12th consecutive year since 2005, winning the title given by the annual Airport Service Quality Award presented by the Airports Council International. The IIAC has also actively exported its global airport operations knowhow, winning orders for 30 airport projects in 15 countries. The total price of the contracts IIAC won amounts to $226.6 million. Last month, the airport operator clinched a deal to offer consulting services as a strategic adviser for an airport project in Poland for the next three years. But the IIAC suffered a net loss of 426.8 billion won last year, its first in 17 years, with the number of international passengers using the airport falling 83 percent from a year earlier due to the pandemic. Incheon International Airport Corp. President and CEO Kim Kyung-wook poses in front of Terminal 1 of the airport in this undated photo. Courtesy of Incheon International Airport Corp. Jersey barriers around the Creperie's outdoor seating structure are pictured from last summer. The Aspen City Council on Monday considered what the 2021 summer season's barriers should look like, from both safety and aesthetic perspectives and who should pay for it. The Education Minister has said there will be a certain element of trust placed in schools not to over test pupils as teachers begin to assess work for grading at A Level, AS Level and GSCE. Some students have expressed fears that they will face a barrage of exam conditions testing ahead of the assessed teacher grades, but Peter Weir said all schools have been told by examining body the CCEA, that there is no specific requirement for multiple testing as pupils return to the classroom. These tests are being provided by the CCEA, as a tool which can be used, Mr Weir told Stormonts Education Committee yesterday, but there is no obligation on schools to use them. Mr Weir said it was important, though, for schools to use as much recent work from pupils as possible in assisting the grading process. Judging where pupils are today is more relevant than where they were six months ago, he said. These are still major qualifications. There has to be robust evidence, but there is no need for schools to overuse testing to the extent where they overburden pupils. The Minister also dismissed any suggestion of cancelling next summers transfer test, saying another abandonment of the tests for a second year would deprive many children of going to the post-primary schools they wanted to attend. The tests, run by independent groups the AQE and the PPTC on behalf of grammar schools, are due to take place in November, with concerns that the current P6 pupils will not have had time to prepare. Even if I was suddenly convinced of the merits of doing that (cancelling the tests) I do not legally have the power to prevent schools using academic selection, he said I also believe that for many children this will actually be denying them levels of choice and denying the families levels of choice which otherwise would exist. So its not a route Im going to go down. Read More Meanwhile, the Minister said he would like to be in a better place after admitting only around 20% of the 3,200 staff at special education schools have so far received their first Covid vaccination. The vaccination of SEN staff was a wider decision and health was not supportive of all staff receiving the vaccination as it would move outside JVCI guidelines, he said. The Minister had pressed or all SEN staff to be offered a Covid vaccination. We have had a lengthy period of work with health to reach this position, but at least there has been a level of progress, he added. Its not the ideal situation any of us would have liked to reach. He also confirmed that Covid testing in post primary schools was ready to begin this week, with schools receiving their testing kits and preparing to demonstrations for pupils and staff. This week is largely about familiarisation, the Minister told the Education Committee. The aim is to target the initial batch (of 700,000 tests) on years 12-14. Generally speaking, levels of transmission between staff and between pupils has been limited. This week is largely a trial. There is a level of optionality to demonstrate either physically or by video presentation, he added. Over the Easter period tests will be conducted at home, not directly in the school situation. But he did warn parents of their responsibilities of maintaining social distancing and wearing face coverings while dropping off and picking up pupils from school. "After Easter we will have approximately a third of a million pupils in school, he said. Schools remain the safest place for our children, but its not what happens in schools, but beyond that in terms of the level of mixing. Theres a strong message there for parents. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/23/2021 -- Stay up-to-date and exploit latest trends of Software Publishers Market with latest edition released by AMA. Software Publishers Market Comprehensive Study is an expert and top to bottom investigation on the momentum condition of the worldwide Software Publishers industry with an attention on the Global market. The report gives key insights available status of the Software Publishers producers and is an important wellspring of direction and course for organizations and people keen on the business. By and large, the report gives an inside and out understanding of 2020-2025 worldwide Software Publishers Market covering extremely significant parameters. Key Players in This Report Include, Microsoft Corporation (United States),Adobe Inc. (United States),IBM (United States),1E (United States),Recurly (United States),NewsCred, Inc. (United States),Kaltura (United States),Cloudflare, Inc. (United States),Convio, Inc (United States),Sketchfab (United States),LORENZ Life Sciences Group (Germany) Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/62263-global-software-publishers-market Brief Summary of Software Publishers: The software publishers are involved in all aspects of producing and distributing computer software categorized into system and application software consisting of various software. The software publishers distribute the licenses to customers for the right to execute the software on their own computers. They also distribute software products and also designs the software, product support tools and provide other software-related services. The organizations and companies that develop the markets the software market research, software productions, and its distribution. These publishers may create their own software program, contract the outside development and also obtain off the self program packages. Market Trends: - Software Publishers are more Inclined Towards Video Games and Graphics Packages - Emerging Services Associated with Software Publishers for better User Engagement Market Drivers: - Rising Number of Software Developers Around the Globe - The Demand for Product Distribution and Marketing of Software Market Restraints: - Less Technical Skilled Professionals The Global Software Publishers Market segments and Market Data Break Down are illuminated below: by Type (Application Software, System Software), Application (Commercial, Personal), Platform (Desktop, Laptop, Tablets, Mobiles), Product (Operating Systems, Business Analytics, Spreadsheet Packages, Database Storage Package, Games and Graphic Packages, Design, Editing Package, Others), Deployment (Cloud-based, On-premise, Web-based) This research report represents a 360-degree overview of the competitive landscape of the Global Software Publishers Market. Furthermore, it offers massive data relating to recent trends, technological, advancements, tools, and methodologies. The research report analyzes the Global Software Publishers Market in a detailed and concise manner for better insights into the businesses. Regions Covered in the Software Publishers Market: - The Middle East and Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Egypt, etc.) - North America (United States, Mexico & Canada) - South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, etc.) - Europe (Turkey, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.) - Asia-Pacific (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia). Enquire for customization in Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/62263-global-software-publishers-market The research study has taken the help of graphical presentation techniques such as infographics, charts, tables, and pictures. It provides guidelines for both established players and new entrants in the Global Software Publishers Market. The detailed elaboration of the Global Software Publishers Market has been provided by applying industry analysis techniques such as SWOT and Porter's five-technique. Collectively, this research report offers a reliable evaluation of the global market to present the overall framework of businesses. Attractions of the Software Publishers Market Report: - The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, historic market (2014-2018) and forecast (2019-2025) - The report covers in-detail insights about the competitor's overview, company share analysis, key market developments, and their key strategies - The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market - The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and start-up's details that are actively working in the market - The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, regulatory framework and reimbursement scenario Get 10% - 25% Discount on The Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/request-discount/62263-global-software-publishers-market Key Points Covered in the Table of Content: Chapter 1 to explain Introduction, market review, market risk and opportunities, market driving force, product scope of Software Publishers Market; Chapter 2 to inspect the leading manufacturers (Cost Structure, Raw Material) with sales Analysis, revenue Analysis, and price Analysis of Software Publishers Market; Chapter 3 to show the focused circumstance among the best producers, with deals, income, and Software Publishers market share 2020; Chapter 4 to display the regional analysis of Global Software Publishers Market with revenue and sales of an industry, from 2020 to 2022; Chapter 5, 6, 7 to analyze the key countries (United States, China, Europe, Japan, Korea & Taiwan), with sales, revenue and market share in key regions; Chapter 8 and 9 to exhibit International and Regional Marketing Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis, Trade Type Analysis; Chapter 10 and 11 to analyze the market by product type and application/end users (industry sales, share, and growth rate) from 2020 to 2026 Chapter 12 to show Software Publishers Market forecast by regions, forecast by type and forecast by application with revenue and sales, from 2020 to 2025; Chapter 13, 14 & 15 to specify Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source of Software Publishers market buyers, merchants, dealers, sales channel. Browse for Full Report at @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/62263-global-software-publishers-market Software Publishers Market research provides answers to the following key questions: ? What is the expected growth rate of the Software Publishers Market? ? What will be the Software Publishers Market size for the forecast period, 2020 2026? ? What are the main driving forces responsible for changing the Software Publishers Market trajectory? ? Who are the big suppliers that dominate the Software Publishers Market across different regions? Which are their wins to stay ahead in the competition? ? What are the Software Publishers Market trends business owners can rely upon in the coming years? ? What are the threats and challenges expected to restrict the progress of the Software Publishers Market across different countries? Contact US: Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) AMA Research & Media LLP Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA 08837 Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218 sales@advancemarketanalytics.com (Natural News) Government emails and recently released documents revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) went looking for the fabled Civil War-era gold three years ago this month in a remote woodland site in Pennsylvania. Legend has it that in the summer of 1863, a special Union detachment was tasked with transporting 26 gold bars, each weighing 50 pounds, from West Virginia to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. That detachment, as the story goes, was ambushed, the gold lost and supposedly buried. The story had inspired generations of treasure hunters, including Dennis Parada and his son Kem the co-owners of treasure-hunting outfit Finders Keepers. They were working with Warren Getler, author of Rebel Gold, a book exploring the possibility of buried Civil War-era caches of gold and silver. In January 2018, the Paradas and Getler came to Philadelphia in January 2018 to meet with agents from the FBIs Art Crime Team. They told the agents that their detector had registered a hunk of metal they suspected was the long-lost Union gold in Dents Run, Elk County, Pennsylvania. The FBI hired geophysical consulting firm Enviroscan to survey the hilltop site using gravimeter, which indicated a large metallic mass with the density of gold. An FBI agent told them the location of the mass was one or two feet off Dennys sweet spot, recalled Getler. Then I went to ask how big it is. And he said, seven to nine tons. And I literally said, Youve got to be kidding!' That much gold would have been worth hundreds of millions. Enviroscan co-founder Timothy Bechtel declined to comment about what his instruments detected, citing client confidentiality. He told the Associated Press that the FBI asked him to keep quiet about his findings. John Louie, a geophysics professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, said the gravimeter is a powerful tool that can yield important clues about whats underground. But it doesnt prove it, he said. It doesnt make any elemental analysis. Its indicative, its suggestive, but it cant prove it. Theres only one way to prove it. On March 13, 2018, the FBI went digging in Dents Run, about 135 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The bureau has concocted a story that agents only went there for a court-authorized excavation of what evidence suggested may have been a cultural heritage site. In any event, the FBI said, the dig came up empty. The FBI unequivocally rejects any claims or speculation to the contrary, the bureaus Public Affairs Specialist Carrie Adamowski said in a statement Tuesday, March 9. But the Paradas were not convinced and let their lawyer, Bill Cluck, dig up evidence to prove that the FBI uncovered something during the dig. Documents prove FBI goes after buried treasure Cluck didnt come up empty, successfully suing for access to government emails about the dig. The documents showed that the federal law enforcement indeed went after buried treasure. We believe the cache itself is in the neighborhood of 3x5x8 (feet) to 5x5x8, wrote K.T. Newton, an assistant U.S attorney in Philadelphia, in a 2018 email marked Confidential. The FBI needed to secure a federal court order to gain access to the site because it was located on a state-owned land. The legal maneuvering generated emails between Newton and Audrey Miner, chief lawyer for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Can you please provide the basis upon which the Office of the United States Attorney asserts that the gold, if found, belongs to the federal government? Miner asked Newton on the same day FBI agents started digging on the site. According to email records released by the state under court order, Newton replied that a federal affidavit in the case was sealed. She instead offered to discuss this generally with you on the phone. Getler said the FBIs demeanor changed from friendly to adversarial during the dig. He said he and the Paradas were led away from the site and then kept far away at the base of a hill. At the end of the second and final day of the dig, they were escorted to the site to see a large, empty hole. (Related: The FBI is a corrupt, rogue agency with a history of extreme deceit and even terrorism against America.) On March 16, 2018, two days after the dig ended, Newton emailed Miner that we are all disappointed and scratching our heads over the several scientific test results. The dig drew plenty of media attention. On March 28, 2018, Miner asked Newton for an update on the federal investigation, telling her the gold story still has legs, and the DCNR is now getting a lot of gold-diggers interested in Dents Run. In her reply, Newton told Miner: For your knowledge only we have no other scientific evidence, other than what the excavation had been based on, that any gold is hidden in that area. Miner emailed back: I guess you cant come right out and state there is no gold to be found at Dents Run? Unfortunately, we cannot, Newton replied. Dents Run dig is becoming a legend itself Three years later, the Dents Run story is not likely to go away. Residents in the area claimed that theyve heard a backhoe and jackhammer overnight when the excavation was supposed to have been paused and saw a convoy of FBI vehicles, including large armored trucks. The question now is how much they found and where did it go to, Dennis Parada said, insisting that the FBIs assertion of an empty hole is insulting all the credible people who did this kind of work. It was a slap in the face, really, to think all these people could make that kind of mistake, he said. Meanwhile, Cluck is still pursuing government material on the case. The FBI promised to turnover nearly 2,400 pages of documents, as well as video files, in response to his Freedom of Information Act request. But the lawyer didnt really have a golden touch. A state appeals judge recently declined Clucks petition to order the DCNR to give him the federal writ of entry and seizure warrant that the FBI agents relied on to gain access to the site. However, in rejecting Clucks petition, Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania Judge Kevin Brobson revealed for the first time in a footnote of his Jan. 28 opinion the name of the sealed federal case: In the Matter of: Seizure of One or More Tons of United States Gold. Follow FBICorruption.news for more news and information related to the corrupt practices of the FBI. Sources include: HotAir.com APNews.com Inquirer.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 21:04:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUSAKA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Tuesday reiterated his government's commitment to ensure that elections slated for this year were held in a peaceful and transparent manner. "The Zambian people have a proud record of holding peaceful elections since embracing multipartyism in 1990 and my government is committed to ensuring that the legacy which Zambia is renowned for is upheld," the Zambian leader said when he held a virtual annual greeting of ambassadors accredited to the southern African nation. The Zambian leader said the government will ensure that law and order prevail during the elections to enable people freely choose their preferred leaders and called on all stakeholders to continue sensitizing people on the importance of preserving peace and stability. The government, he said, will soon commence the process of sending out invitations for the deployment of regional and international electoral observation missions for the elections as the government considers election observers as partners in strengthening the country's democracy. Zambia's commitment to democracy, good governance and the rule of law are unwavering, he added. Zambia will hold general elections on August 12. Over 7 million voters are expected to vote following a voter registration exercise conducted by the country's electoral body last year. Enditem This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong! Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) National Assembly President Artur Tovmasyan has made an appeal to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, and to the World Council of Churches. Tovmasyans appeal reads as follows: I address You to alert to the mounting threat to the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories of Artsakh subject to military occupation by Azerbaijan during the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh on September 27, 2020 and following the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020 on complete ceasefire and termination of all hostilities in the area of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Cases of deliberate and overt irremediable damage to, utter ruining and misappropriation and alienation by Azerbaijan of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage have been documented since 1920s which served as precedent for renewed brutality and defacing demonstrated wantonly towards historical landmarks, pieces of art and places of worship as constituting Armenian cultural and religious heritage, as well as monumental tributes to the Great Patriotic War and Artsakh National-Liberation War, in territories which fell under Azerbaijans occupation during the 44-Day War of 2020 and in the months following it. We also consider it pertinent to point out that following the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020 on complete ceasefire and termination of all hostilities in the area of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan has embarked on, at the highest state level and even more ruthlessly, the calculated policy of legitimization of the false logic and fallacy of Caucasian-albanization of Armenian apostolic churches, misappropriation of the Armenian religious heritage, their desecration and utter destruction on a case-by-case basis. The statements made by Azerbaijani high authorities on replanning and coercive remoulding of the Armenian apostolic churches with the far-reaching aim of their albanization, on erasing Armenian inscriptions, are reprehensible. The most recent examples include presenting the 12th century Holy Mother Armenian Church in the village of Tsakuri of Artsakh Republics Hadrut region, occupied by Azerbaijan, as an Albanian church, or destroying the St. John the Baptist church in Shushi. is thereby true to its modus operandi of historical revisionism, fabrication of history, legitimization of its presence in the occupied territories of the Artsakh Republic and strengthening its ties to these lands. It is obvious that these carefully planned institutionalized attacks and aggressive campaign by Azerbaijan on Armenian cultural and religious property, pursued with flagrant violation of treaty and customary international humanitarian law, are aimed at eradicating Armenian peoples historical roots to the region, destroying histori[c]al records of their self-definition, dismantling the Armenian cultural capacity, obliterating the Armenian identity, as well as appropriating the Armenian cultural and religious heritage. Whereas, as opposed to the policy of extermination of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage adopted by the Azerbaijani authorities, the Republic of Artsakh has always remained committed to promoting ethnic and religious tolerance in its territory. The restoration of Gohar Agha Upper Mosque in Shushi in 2019 is a clear example and ample proof of it. The relevant entities of the Republic of Artsakh and Republic of Armenia have time and again raised serious concern over the systematic and deliberate destruction and appropriation cases by Azerbaijan of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage based on open-source data. The Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh issued an ad hoc comprehensive report on cases of vandalism and the risk of destruction by Azerbaijan of the Armenian cultural and religious monuments in the territories of the Republic of Artsakh under Azerbaijans occupation. No doubt the urgent warnings were heeded by relevant international organisations and international community at large. As far back as during the 44-Day War in 2020 the deliberate targeting by Azerbaijan of the cultural and religious monuments in Artsakh was duly condemned. In this context we acknowledge the concerns raised by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries the Russian Federation and France most notably over the fate of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Artsakh, their willingness to deliver practical support, and statements and calls on engaging international specialized organisations to protect the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Artsakh and prevent further damage. We appreciate the international actors determination to share responsibility of solving this human rights issue. We also appreciate UNESCOs proposal to carry out an independent mission of experts to draw an inventory of cultural property to safeguard effectively the regions cultural and religious heritage which was welcomed by the intergovernmental Committee of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, with both the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan parties to it, and its Second Protocol. We reaffirm our readiness to facilitate the UNESCO fact-finding mission to the region. We are obliged to note that Azerbaijan politicizes the issue and prevents the UN agency from carrying out their fact-finding mission in the region, thus jeopardizing seriously the very essence of UNESCO and its universal dimension. The rich Armenian cultural and religious heritage of Artsakh is an inseparable part of the global cultural and religious heritage, and Azerbaijans explicit criminal intent to destroy the Armenian cultural and religious monuments in Artsakh is a challenge to all of humanity. Condemnation by the international community of states of the intolerance by Azerbaijan towards the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in Artsakh and inviting their attention to it is certainly one of the means of preventing further damage to the endangered Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories under the military occupation of Azerbaijan. We still look forward to go beyond statements of concern and take practical steps to fight against the intentional destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage pursued by Azerbaijan. We call on to make sound use of international standards the UNESCO 1954 Hague Conventions and its Protocols, as well as UN SC Resolution 2347, and to take urgent, effective and consistent measures to work out efficient mechanisms to hold Azerbaijan accountable and bring the country to honor duly its commitments with regard to respecting cultural property of other peoples and refraining from hostility directed against it. We reconfirm our commitment to promoting an understanding of the worlds cultural heritage and its universal value, and tolerance and mutual respect when it comes to the protection of peoples cultural and religious heritage. We would like to remind that intentional attacks on the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories of the Republic of Artsakh currently under military occupation of Azerbaijan which could legitimately be considered as an intent to ethnically cleanse the Armenian people have negative implications for fostering peace, stability and security in the region, and the protection of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage, including introducing observation and risk reduction mechanisms, should be addressed within the framework of holistic strategies to promote stability and security in the region. The operator of an oil terminal operated by Venezuelas state oil company PDVSA has declared bankruptcy, blaming it on U.S. sanctions, Reuters has reported, citing court documents. According to the court documents, the operator of the terminal on the Caribbean island of Bonaire filed for bankruptcy earlier this month, saying it could not keep paying its debts because U.S. sanctions had cut off its access to international trade and to cash in bank accounts. However, the company, Bonaire Petroleum Corporation, said in its filing that there was a third party that could provide the money it needed to satisfy its preferred creditors and offer a settlement to its unsecured creditors. The Reuters report notes that Bonaire Petroleum Corporation could store up to 10 million barrels of crude at its terminal and load tankers from deepwater docks. The company was ordered last year to remove the oil because of the danger of tank leaks. There must have been hope in Venezuela that the new U.S. administration would lift sanctions, similar to its positive signals to Iran. However, President Biden is in no hurry to do that until his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro gives a stronger signal that he is ready to negotiate with the opposition. Meanwhile, the Maduro government is trying to turn things around for its battered oil industry that was the focal point of U.S. sanctions because of its vital importance for the Venezuelan economy. Earlier this month, Maduro said the Venezuelan National Assembly would consider reforms to the countrys oil law that would open the door to new business models. Foreign companies have expressed interest in getting their hands on some of Venezuelas massive oil reserves, the biggest crude reserves in the world. But most international oil firms, especially the biggest ones with exposure to the U.S. stock and banking markets, will wait for U.S. sanctions to potentially ease before trying to enter the Venezuelan oil sector again. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Global Market Intelligence released its annual rankings for 2020's best-performing community banks with assets between $3 billion and $10 billion, community banks with assets less than $3 billion, and top-performing credit unions. "Despite going through a challenging year filled with economic uncertainty, we have seen community banks and credit unions play a significant role in their regional markets, providing support and essential services needed in their local communities. I'm thrilled to see these community banks and credit unions thrive in a challenging time and proud to recognize these top performing local financial institutions in our annual rankings," said Jimmy Pittenger, Senior Director of Financial Institutions at S&P Global Market Intelligence. United National Corp. earned the top spot among the best-performing community banks with assets between $3 billion and $10 billion. This Sioux Falls, S.D.-based bank outperformed the industry median in four of the six ranking metrics analyzed and achieved the highest net interest margin among the top 50 banks in the group at 18.84%. Among community banks with less than $3 billion in assets, Montana-based Yellowstone Bank ranked number one, up 32 spots from 2019. Founded over a century ago, the bank has established itself as an active commercial, agricultural, and real estate lender in Montana with eight brick-and-mortar branches and one facility operating across six different cities. Yellowstone Bank was highly profitable during 2020, yielding a return on average tangible common equity, or ROATCE, of 21.4% while also growing operating revenues to 36.2% year over year. This year's top performing credit union designation was awarded to Philadelphia's Police and Fire Credit Union. The 82-year-old credit union outperformed the industry median in all five ranking metrics. In addition, the credit union saw an 11.6% increase in member growth year over year while its delinquency ratio fell to 0.18%, down 13 basis points from year-ago levels. Click here to access the full list of top performing U.S. community banks and credit unions for 2020. About S&P Global Market Intelligence At S&P Global Market Intelligence, we understand the importance of accurate, deep and insightful information. We integrate financial and industry data, research and news into tools that help track performance, generate alpha, identify investment ideas, perform valuations and assess credit risk. Investment professionals, government agencies, corporations and universities around the world use this essential intelligence to make business and financial decisions with conviction. S&P Global Market Intelligence is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics in the global capital and commodity markets, offering ESG solutions, deep data and insights on critical business factors. S&P Global has been providing essential intelligence that unlocks opportunity, fosters growth and accelerates progress for more than 160 years. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence. Media Contact Amanda Oey S&P Global | Market Intelligence P. +1 (212) 438-1904 E. [email protected] SOURCE S&P Global Market Intelligence Related Links http://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence Thick smoke engulfs structures after a massive fire breaks out in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, March 22, 2021. A massive fire damaged thousands of makeshift shelters at a Rohingya refugee camp in southeastern Bangladesh on Monday, officials said, but could not immediately confirm reports that there were casualties. Firefighters took more than eight hours to extinguish the blaze, which was fanned by high winds after it broke out in the afternoon at the Balukhali camp, Bangladeshi refugee relief and repatriation officials said. As of now, as many as 7,000 houses have been damaged - 2,000 houses are completely gutted, the remaining 5,000 houses are partially burned, Mohammad Shamsud Douza, an additional commissioner for refugee relief and repatriation, told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. There were reports of casualties from various sources, said Rashedul Hasan, another official with Bangladeshs refugee relief agency. But that cant be confirmed now. The fire spread very quickly as the houses were in a very congested environment and there were strong winds, he said. It will take a long time to tell the extent of the damage caused by the fire, Douza said, adding that the blaze was the largest of at least 25 major fires in Coxs Bazar camps since 2017. Most of the 1 million Rohingya who fled from neighboring Myanmar live in 34 refugee camps in and around the district, including more than 740,000 who escaped a brutal military crackdown in nearby Rakhine state in 2017. Many refugees said they were still looking for their relatives after Mondays fire. I dont know if they are alive. This is the worst fire incident in the camp, Noor Habib, a resident of the Balukhali camp, told BenarNews. Many children cannot be located one of my grandsons is also lost, Shamsul Alam, another resident, said. The AFP news agency reported that five people were feared dead in Mondays blaze. Richard Ragan, Bangladesh director of the United Nations World Food Program, said the number of houses damaged in the fire was many more than 7,000. The blaze destroyed more than 15,000 shelters and displaced more than 50,000 refugees, he said via Twitter. Seven fire-fighting units as well as army personnel worked to douse the flames, officials said. We have learned that the fire broke out at camp number eight and spread swiftly to the shelters in the congested camp, Hasan said. Tayeba Begum, a volunteer at Save the Children, an NGO, said refugees were running helter-skelter as they tried to escape the flames. The fire spread so quickly that before we understood what happened, it caught our house, Tayeba said, according to a news release from the NGO. People were screaming and running here and there. Children were also running scattered, crying for their family. It is the most horrific incident I have witnessed recently. Rohingya refugees flee with their belongings after a huge fire in the Balukhali camp in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, March 22, 2021. [Sunil Barua/BenarNews] UNICEF said it heard reports that children were among those injured. While the situation continues to evolve into the late night, initial reports are that children are among the injured, and that there are also children who have been separated from their families, the U.N. agency said in a statement. While large-scale evacuations have taken place, the full extent of the disaster is yet to be confirmed. Thousands of refugees who lost their homes are looking for alternative shelters, refugees said. They have lost everything. Some are moving towards the Kutupalong camp, Md. Sukkur Majhi, a Rohingya leader, told BenarNews. Douza said officials were trying to relocate the displaced Rohingya. Camps: At high-risk for fires According to the fire service, a total of five fires have taken place in refugee camps this year, including Mondays incident. In a massive fire at a camp on Jan. 14, more than 550 shelters were gutted, leaving some 3,000 Rohingya homeless, but there were no fatalities. The risk of fires is high in the sprawling camps, said Onno Van Manen, country director for Save the Children. It is another devastating blow to the Rohingya refugees who live here. Just a couple of days ago we lost one of our health facilities in another fire. The risks of fires in these extremely densely populated and confined areas are enormous, Van Manen said in a statement. We are worried about the impact this event will have on children: those who will have lost their homes, learning centers and child-friendly spaces in the blaze. We are also concerned with the mental health impacts of experiencing such a traumatic event, he added. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. The collapse of the gallery was attributed to the weakness of the structure. However, the exact cause of the mishap would be known only after investigation, police said. (Image by arrangement) Hyderabad: Some 80 spectators were injured when a makeshift spectator gallery collapsed during the 47th Junior National-level kabaddi tournament in Suryapet here on Monday. The tournament was inaugurated by energy minister G. Jagadish Reddy at the police grounds. The Telangana Kabaddi Association in a tie-up with the Kabaddi Association of Suryapet district had organised the event in which 29 states participated. The energy minister said, "Four members suffered leg fractures and are being treated. A thorough investigation will be done into the mishap and identify the reason. Nearly 3,000 spectators were present at the time. Around 1,000 of them were sitting on one side of the gallery in excess of its capacity. Suryapet superintendent of police R. Bhaskaran said, "It appears the structure of the gallery was weak." The collapse of the gallery was attributed to the weakness of the structure. However, the exact cause of the mishap would be known only after investigation, police said. Footage from the accident went viral on social media. All those trapped under the makeshift gallery were rescued and the injured shifted to Suryapet government hospital and to some private hospitals for treatment. Four people were critically injured, said the SP. The energy minister said, "The Kabaddi Association has approached me to hold the national event in Suryapet. As in-charge minister for the district, I lent all support. The organisers held the event in memory of my mother Savitramma. I am deeply pained at the incident. Only six persons were seriously injured while nearly 40 were admitted with minor injuries and will be discharged soon. The government will extend all assistance to the injured. The tournament will go on as scheduled." Claudia Conway and American Idol duet partner Hannah Everhart had difficulty finding common ground during Monday nights episode. The contestants were paired up and performed duets on the show. Conway and Everhart sang Sign Of The Times, by Harry Styles. But the two didnt hit it off right away. Conway is most known for commenting on her high profile parents political beliefs on TikTok, including her mother, Kellyanne Conway. Everhart is from a small town in Mississippi, and doesnt spend time on TikTok. After being paired, Everhart walked off to collect her thoughts and Conway was unable to find her. Shes walking away, Conway said after spotting her partner. She just ignored me. Finally the two were able to come together to practice. Judge Katy Perry told the two they needed to work on teamwork. Related: Live stream American Idol on Fubo or Hulu Live TV. Youre on the same ship, she said. Its either going to float or sink. Eventually the two were able to form a friendship, including a promise to send Conway a chicken. But it wasnt enough. Conways journey came to an end Monday night. This is going to be the end of the American Idol journey for right now, Perry told Conway. Her partner, however, made it to next week. And Conway will be rooting for her throughout the competition. Im so proud of her, Conway said. Im going to be cheering for you. You could win this thing. The two had nothing but kind words for each other after the performance, with Everhart even offering Conway a chicken named Helen. Watch the performance here. Related Content: Nouakchott, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Mar, 2021 ) :Mauritania re-established diplomatic relations with Qatar, its foreign ministry announced Sunday, almost four years after breaking them off in the midst of a Saudi-led freeze on ties with Doha. Nouakchott had followed Riyadh and its allies in cutting ties and transport links with Qatar in June 2017, alleging it backed radical Islamist groups and was too close to Iran, claims Doha has always denied. But in January, following a flurry of diplomatic activity by former US president Donald Trump's administration, the boycott was lifted and Qatar was brought back into the regional fold. "After intensive contacts over the past week and with much appreciated support from the Sultanate of Oman, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and Qatar decided to resume diplomatic ties," the ministry said in a statement released to the Mauritanian news Agency. The announcement came after a meeting in Doha between the foreign minister and his Qatari counterpart, at which "the long-standing brotherly relations between the two countries" was discussed. The two countries will reopen their respective embassies "as soon as possible," the statement added. McLeod's Daughters star Bridie Carter has spoken of the devastating impact the NSW floods have had on her home town of Byron Bay. The 50-year-old actress told The Morning Show on Tuesday she was one of the many farmers in the region affected by the floods. 'I am one of those farmers, but thank goodness the majority of my property is quite high,' she said. Scroll down for video Crisis: McLeod's Daughters star Bridie Carter (pictured) has spoken of the devastating impact the NSW floods have had on her home town of Byron Bay 'But the infrastructure that's been destroyed, the crops and people's livelihoods and homes, it's devastating,' she added. More than a week of torrential rain has led to flooding in Byron Bay and other regions in New South Wales. Byron Bay, which is typically overrun this time of year with holidaymakers, recorded 18mm of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on Sunday. Floods: The actress, 50, told The Morning Show on Tuesday she was one of the farmers in the region affected by the floods, but said 'the majority of my property is quite high' The NSW State Emergency Service has responded to 9,700 calls for help across the state's eastern coast and conducted 870 flood rescues. Already, 34 NSW councils have declared natural disaster zones. There have been several cases of cars being carried away by raging waters during the past week's once-in-a-century floods. Destroyed: Bridie also said 'the infrastructure that's been destroyed, the crops and people's livelihoods and homes is devastating' Weather event: Bridie shared this Instagram photo from her farm in Byron Bay on Monday Rain: Byron Bay, which is typically overrun this time of year with holidaymakers, recorded 18mm of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on Sunday The incidents have sparked fresh warnings from State Emergency Services and Police, urging people to avoid driving through flood-stricken areas or face risking not only their own lives but also the lives of those attempting to help them. The weather trough causing the havoc is due to collide with another system coming in from the southwest, meaning Sydney and the Mid-North Coast could cop another 100mm in the next day or so, and a season's worth of rain is possible in the west. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said locals affected by the catastrophic weather were exasperated, as the state was hit by another disaster, following on from the 2019 bushfires and then the 2020 Covid epidemic. New Delhi/Jammu, March 23 : Former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti knew arrested Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Naveed Babu and had also spoken to him once, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) claimed in a chargesheet filed in connection with the case related to arrested former J&K DSP Davinder Singh. This is for the first time that name of Mufti has come up in any of the cases being probed by the NIA in Jammu and Kashmir. An NIA official related to the probe told IANS, "The name of the former Chief Minister has emerged in the case related to arrested DSP Davinder Singh and HM terrorist Naveed Babu." The NIA has filed a supplementary chargesheet against three persons, including arrested Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth wing chief Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, who allegedly worked as a financier for Hizbul Mujahideen in connection with the case. The official said that Mufti knew Hizbul terrorist Naveed Babu and had even spoken to him once. However, the official refused to share more details. The NIA in its supplementary chargesheet has claimed that Parra was part of the "conspiracy" to raise and transfer terror funds to Hizbul Mujahideen militants for the procurement of terrorist hardware and was also a crucial player in sustaining the political-separatist-terrorist nexus in J&K. Parra was instrumental in the revival of the PDP in south Kashmir, especially in the militancy-affected Pulwama district. Besides Parra, the NIA has also named two gun runners -- Shaheen Ahmad Lone and Tafazul Hussain Parimoo -- in connection with the case. Suspended police officer Singh is currently lodged in Kathua jail at Hiranagar in Jammu division. He was arrested by the police on January 11 last year from the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway while transporting two Hizabul terrorists -- Naveed Babu and Rafi Ahmad Rather -- and a law school dropout, Irfan Shafi Mir, to Jammu. After the arrest of Singh, initial investigations were done by the J&K Police before the case was handed over to the NIA. The police had said that the two terrorists and the lawyer had planned to travel to Pakistan. The NIA had earlier claimed that its probe has revealed that the accused were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the Hizabul and Pakistan to commit violent acts and wage war against India. Mufti had recently skipped an Enforcement Directorate (ED) summon for questioning in connection with a money laundering probe. (Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in) A man who sexually abused a teenage boy he met on a dating app and then asked the boy to lie to police has been jailed. Harley Shore met the teen on Grindr in 2017. The County Court was told the boy misled the app about his age to establish an account and made the initial contact with Shore. When Shore commented that he looked young, the boy, then 14, told him he was 19, the court heard. Soon after, the boy was shopping with his mother in country Victoria and sent Shore a message on Grindr. The pair agreed to meet at the public toilets after the teen told his mother he felt unwell. Shore sexually abused the boy in the public toilets and then again over the following weeks, outside the boys home and at another secluded place. HOUSTON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) will host a conference call and webcast to discuss first quarter 2021 results on Friday, May 7, 2021, at 9 a.m. Central time (10 a.m. Eastern time). Please visit the Investors/Events & Presentations page on the EOG website to access a live webcast of the conference call. If you are unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay will be available for one year. If you have any questions, please contact Angie Lewis at 713-651-6722. About EOG EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE: EOG) is one of the largest crude oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the United States with proved reserves in the United States, Trinidad and China. To learn more visit www.eogresources.com. Investor Contacts David Streit 713-571-4902 Neel Panchal 713-571-4884 Media and Investor Contact Kimberly Ehmer 713-571-4676 SOURCE EOG Resources, Inc. Related Links http://www.eogresources.com To the organizer of Kelowna's "freedom rallies," So you don't believe in paying taxes. You don't believe Covid is a real issue. You don't believe in public health requirements. No problem... So if or when you get sick you don't get care? You don't get to go to a taxpayer paid for hospital with taxpayer paid health care workers. Please don't call 911 if you need a first responder. They are paid by taxpayers. Please don't walk on a sidewalk or drive on a road as they too are paid for with tax dollars. I don't know if you have kids, but if so please pull them out of school or university. Don't worry about the safety of the food you eat or the security of our borders - not your problem as only taxpayers should care about that. It's nice that your demonstrations are during the day, as street and sidewalk lights are public. Don't worry about the rights of others who Want to stay safe - or cover your rally - because all that matters is what you want, what you think, what you say. It must be so nice to be you. Not a care in the world. Not a responsibility or an obligation on you to live in a civil society. You just get to do whatever you want and no one or nothing else matters. Oh, to be you Shawn Thomas, West Kelowna International Jubilee featuring SRAL and Finland - Way Up North The Finnish Amateur Radio League (SRAL) is celebrating its 100th Anniversary and a special award is available The press release reads: Finland is a small, modern Republic of 5 million inhabitants located on the very northern frontier of Europe. Finns live life between the East and the West, belonging to the alliance of the European Union. SRALs strength lies in having one of the highest membership percentages among the IARU R1 membership societies. So, this is all of us OHs welcoming you to our centennial year activity. Earn the highest recognition from your OH friends Just contact 100 (one hundred) of your OH friends during 2021 and 10 (ten) specially featured Finnish stations to earn the OH Northern Light 100-year certificate (OH-NL-100) and the featured story, explaining the magic of the OH-land and the Northern Lights; Your 100 contact should include 50 OH stations and 50 OF stations, a total of 100. A special OF prefix will be launched to all OH stations on September15th, 2021. Your maximum point value can be 100. The number of your OF/OH contacts. Ten Special Activity Multipliers SRAL and its members are active in a wide range of Amateur Radio activities and each of the ten multipliers represent some of those activities. The multiplying stations are; OH100SRAL, OH2A, OH0W, OJ0C, OF2HQ, OH2YOTA, OG2B, OH6SRAL, OI3AX and OF9X. Multiplying your QSO points (maximum 100) by your multiplier value (max 10) will give you your score maximum of 1000 points. OH Boy! All who score 1000 points and the top-ten continental highest scorers will receive their OH-NL-100 certificate signed by Santa Claus. A special lottery will feature additional special prizes that will be announced later. Your log extract should be sent to the Santa Claus offices at; of9x@sral.fi during January 2022. The same address will answer all questions relating to this centennial activity. What is the story on these ten multipliers? OH100SRAL: This is the official SRAL centennial jubilee station which is circulating all year throughout Finland and is activated by SRALs member societies (120) and special activity groups. OH2A: This is the SRAL HQ station in our capital, Helsinki. It is rarely active internationally but to honor this special year you can catch it occasionally. Surely A is first in the alphabets. OF2HQ: With the country-wide unified SRAL-team it is expected that all of Finland will be active in IARU radio sport, July 10-11, one way or another. Mid-summer is the time when all OHs smile. OH boy! OH0W: Aland Islands is Finlands share in the DXCC program. But also, the most beautiful archipelago to visit and enjoy. It is home to three HF superstations and the historical battlefield of all OH contesters for once winning the world -- CQWW at OH0W 1982. OJ0C: Market Reef is a rare one with adventure and challenges right on its doorstep. So many from far and near have experienced DXotica over the barren rock in the midst of stormy seas. It is a dream for landlubbers not to see anything in the horizon. OH2YOTA: The Finnish youth are the movers and shakers in the YOTA movement and hosted one of the early ones in Finland. At the core of SRAL activities the theme in Finland is that only youth can communicate with youth. OH Boy! Also, only youth would know what makes them tick!! OG2B: The IARU/NCDXF beacon network has been supported by the SRAL and its dedicated members for almost 40 years. While OH2B is busy at work, the alternative OG2B will be its substitute during this centennial jubilee. Surely you have used the network; www.ncdxf.org.beacon/ OI3AX: Amateur Radio activity in the Finnish Signal Corps (OI prefix) have a brilliant history of cooperation with SRAL. Many well-known OHs have caught the bug while doing their service to their country. OI3AX will represent the country-wide network of 35 OI-locations. OH6SRAL: Every Saturday at 3 PM SRAL transmits its radio news to its entire membership. OH6 is in the middle of the country and has a long history of such transmissions. The chief, Heikki, OH6ZS has done those transmissions for more than 40 years and his dedication to this duty continues. OF9X: Old-Father-Nine-Xmas, has excited the little radio operators and their families for many years from the land of Christmas. Once Santa Claus was pushed to the North Pole but these Santa transmissions from Finland have finally proved that Finland is the same as the North Pole. Thank You, You are most welcome to join the party as you have now made yourself familiar with Finland and SRAL, now celebrating its centennial. Just jump into the sleigh of Santa and go for 1000 points and greet your fellow OHs along the way. Good luck and see you on our way to Cycle 25! SRAL https://tinyurl.com/IARU-Finland 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. London, March 23 : Staring from March 29, the UK will impose a 5,000 pound fine on anyone from England travelling abroad without a valid reason, such as a medical emergency, as part of the government's new Covid-19 laws, the media reported on Tuesday. MPs are due to vote on a legislation, which includes the penalty, on Thursday, the BBC reported. According to the UK government's "roadmap" exiting the lockdown, the earliest date people in England could go for a foreign holiday is May 17. Currently for the Britons, foreign holidays are not allowed and returning travellers have to quarantine. Under the new Covid-19 laws,anyone who leaves England for a destination outside the UK without a reasonable excuse, such as for work, education or medical treatment, could face the hefty fine. Anyone travelling abroad has to fill in a "Declaration to Travel" form, stating a valid reason for leaving the country. Speaking to the BBC, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said restrictions on travelling abroad was necessary in order to curb the spread of the disease, as well as to restrict the entry of new variants of the virus. As of Thursday, the UK's overall Covid-19 caseload and death toll stood at 4,315,602 and 126,411, respectively. While the caseload is the sixth largest in the world, the death toll is the fifth highest. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The UAE has announced that it will invest $10 billion with the Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Indonesia Investment Authority. The investment follows the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said a Wam news agency report. Investments will focus on strategic sectors in Indonesia, including infrastructure, roads, ports, tourism, agriculture, and other promising sectors that have potential for growth and can contribute to growth as well as economic and social progress. Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, last month announced the members of the Indonesia Investment Authoritys Board of Supervisors and Board of Directors, which was formed under the Omnibus Job Creation Law passed in October 2020. The setting up of the board is considered a turning point in the governance and development of the investment system in Indonesia. The Indonesian sovereign fund aims to implement strategic projects that support national development, including the development of infrastructure and the construction of the new capital in Kalimantan. The UAE and Indonesia enjoy strong political, economic and cultural ties. Official diplomatic relations between the two countries began in 1976, with the Indonesian embassy in Abu Dhabi opening on October 28, 1978. The UAE embassy in Jakarta was inaugurated in 1991, following a historic visit by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to Indonesia in 1990. Relations between the two countries have witnessed tremendous growth in recent years with an increase in mutual visits at the level of top leadership and senior officials, most notably the visit by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in September 2015 to the UAE, and the visit by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Indonesia in July 2019. The two countries signed several agreements and cooperation deals. The two sides recently concluded the UAE-Indonesia Week 2021, during which several cooperation agreements were signed relating to ports, logistics, strategic and defence industries, energy, tourism, the creative economy and mangrove farms. In terms of trade and economic ties, there was remarkable growth, with the volume of trade exchange reaching about $3.7 billion, the report said. Chinese-based tech giant Xiaomi will host a 'mega launch' event on March 29. While the smartphone manufacturer hasn't revealed any details of the upcoming products, it is likely to unveil three phones - Mi 11 Lite, Mi 11 Pro, and Mi 11 Ultra. The company, via its official Twitter handle, announced that the launch event will start at 11:30 GMT and it will be streamed live via Xiaomi's social media platforms like Reddit, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. Xiaomi, in the Weibo post, said the new phones will challenge the "best Android smartphone" and will be perfect for "all the thousands of fans who want an ultimate experience". Xiaomi launched the Mi 11 smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, a hole-punch selfie camera design, and a 2K display in China in December last year and globally on February 8. Xiaomi's Mi 11 Ultra is expected to come with a 6.8-inch curved OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone is also expected to debut as the flagship model in the company's Mi 11 series and is likely to feature the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC as in the Mi 11. Xiaomi's Mi 11 Pro, on the other hand, has been tipped to feature a periscope lens with 120x zoom on the back. The Mi 11 Pro's other features are likely to have similar specifications as the Mi 11. The Mi 11 Ultra is likely to come with a 5,000mAh lithium-ion battery, support 67W fast wired charging and 10W reverse wireless charging. Mi 11 Ultra's speakers are said to be tuned by Harman Kardon. The device may come with an IP68 dust and water resistance certification and feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection on the front. In terms of camera, the Mi 11 Ultra is rumoured to come with a 50-MP primary camera, 48-MP wide-angle lens and a 48-MP periscopic telephoto lens. At the front, there could be a 20-MP selfie camera housed in a hole-punch cut-out. Also Read: Investor wealth rises 102% since last year's historic market crash Also Read: PLI scheme effect! This local manufacturer plans to invest Rs 500 crore in 3 years Also Read: 19 equity mutual funds gave 100% returns in 1 year; should you invest? [March 23, 2021] Recent Cyber Attacks Show Increased Nation State Activity, Says Former NSA Director Cyber attacks launched by nation states are becoming more proficient and more aggressive. This was the message from Admiral (ret.) Michael S. Rogers at the NetDiligence Cyber War Webinar Series. Speaking at the online event, Admiral Rogers, the former Director of the National Security Agency (News - Alert) and Commander of US Cyber Command who is on the board of directors at cyber risk analytics specialist CyberCube, said that the breadth of activity by states including Russia and China had increased following a lull after the impact of 2017's allegedly Russian ransomware attack, NotPetya. He also stated that the boundaries between nation states and criminal gangs were blurring as some states employed organised cyber criminals to launch attacks on their behalf. Talking about the recent resurgence of nation state-inspired cyber-attacks, Admiral Rogers said: "We went through a period between about 2011 and 2017, during which nation states increased levels of activity. This includes the NotPetya hits in the summer of 2017, probably the largest global event we've ever seen. And after that, given its repercussions, there seems to have been a bit of a step back." Admiral Rogers said in the following three years, the breadth of activity has changed with the SolarWinds (News - Alert) attack in December 2020 and the attack on Microsoft Exchange this month both arguably evidence of increased nation state activity. Admiral Rogers added: "You're seeing criminal groups share tools, and you're seeing the lines between nation state and criminal group blur a little bit. The Russians in particular, often tend to use criminal groups to engage in state-associated activity. This proliferation of tools is creating a challenging environment." Admiral Rogers touched on a variety of topis including cyber war definitions and when a nation state might define an event as criminal activity. Focusing on the impact of COVID-19, he noted that the nature of working from home meant that traditional approaches to cyber security had been rendered partially redundant as infrastructure is shared with family. "We're not all sitting behind a central security stack right now. Now we're dispersed," he explained. "We've blurred the lines between what is 'business infrastructure' and what is 'personal infrastructure'. The bottom line is the attack surface is just proliferated as a result." Admiral Rogers was speaking to Darren Thomson (News - Alert) , CyberCube's Head of Cyber Security Strategy. CyberCube is one of the sponsors of NetDiligence's Cyber War Webinar Series. The NetDiligence Cyber War and Terrorism Summit runs from 22-25 March 2021. To watch the video, click here. ENDS About CyberCube CyberCube delivers the world's leading cyber risk analytics for the insurance industry. With best-in-class data access and advanced multi-disciplinary analytics, the company's cloud-based platform helps insurance organizations make better decisions when placing insurance, underwriting cyber risk and managing cyber risk aggregation. CyberCube's enterprise intelligence layer provides insights on millions of companies globally and includes modelling on thousands of points of technology failure. The CyberCube platform was established in 2015 within Symantec (News - Alert) and now operates as a standalone company exclusively focused on the insurance industry, with access to an unparalleled ecosystem of data partners and backing from ForgePoint Capital, HSCM Bermuda, MTech Capital and individuals from Stone Point Capital. For more information, please visit www.cybcube.com or email info@cybcube.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005992/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The efficacy of biosensors used in clinical tests depends critically on the surface of the device on which the biorecognition molecules are immobilized. This surface can be adjusted and sometimes controlled using self-assembled molecular monolayers as matrices. The monolayers are films made up of organic molecules that under the right conditions assemble spontaneously on metal surfaces via chemical bonds between the sulfur atoms and the metal. A study conducted at the University of Sao Paulo's Sao Carlos Physics Institute (IFSC-USP) in Brazil compared the performances of two types of self-assembled monolayers, one consisting of mercaptoacetic acid (MAA) in water and ethanol, and another of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (11-MUA) in ethanol. The respective films were evaluated in terms of their capacity to produce sensors for detection of the gene PCA3, which is specific to prostate cancer cells. We showed that efficient immobilization of a simple DNA strip to detect the gene PCA3 can be achieved even in less organized monolayers, provided the terminal groups are ionized." Paulo Augusto Raymundo Pereira, Study Lead Author, University of Sao Paulo's Sao Carlos Physics Institute (IFSC-USP), Brazil An article reporting the findings is published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. The study was supported by Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP via a postdoctoral fellowship awarded to Raymundo-Pereira, and a scholarship and a Regular Research Grant awarded to other participants. Another source of funding was the Thematic Project "Toward a convergence of technologies: from sensing and biosensing to information visualization and machine learning for data analysis in clinical diagnosis", led by Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Junior, Raymundo-Pereira's research advisor. "The study showed that the differences in performance between biosensors made with MAA film and 11-MUA film are not due solely to monolayer organization. Carboxylate group ionization is important. For this reason, it's necessary to know the right conditions for formation of the film with these characteristics," Raymundo-Pereira said. Because MAA has proved promising for biosensor matrices, the comparison of the different preparation conditions investigated in the study can contribute to the production of high-quality films. "This knowledge can help construct other types of matrix prepared with monolayers," Raymundo-Pereira said. "It's now available to any researcher. As a side-effect, our own group has created another biosensor to detect the novel coronavirus." He stressed the importance of constructing non-invasive biosensors, especially in light of the growing use of telemedicine during the pandemic because of social distancing. "In the diagnosis and monitoring of prostate cancer, which was our proof of concept, the standard procedure is to quantify the level of prostate-specific antigen or PSA," he said. "This entails taking a blood sample from the patient, which is an invasive procedure. Moreover, the result isn't always conclusive as a large proportion of false-positives result from high levels of PSA associated with inflammation of the prostate, for example. In this case, the medical recommendation is biopsy, which is even more invasive. The antigen expressed by the gene PCA3 can be detected in urine by users of a biosensor that could be sold by drugstores." "Both contributions of the study relate to more accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer and the possibility of replacing such detection methods as PCR (polymerase chain reaction), which is essential to diagnose not just cancer but also other diseases, including COVID-19," Oliveira Junior said. A YMCA staff member assists a child as she attends online classes at a learning hub inside the Crenshaw Family YMCA, as schools remain closed to in-person instruction, in Los Angeles on Feb. 17, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) Los Angeles Teachers Union Approves Plan to Reopen Schools in April A teachers union in Los Angeles approved an agreement with the local school district on March 21 to physically reopen schools starting in mid-April. United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) announced that after four days of voting, 89 percent of union members approved an agreement with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) on safe physical return to classrooms and hybrid instruction. UTLA and LAUSD reached a tentative agreement on March 9; the LAUSD Board of Education ratified the agreement on March 11. Currently, the district is tentatively planning for a physical return for students from transitional kindergarten (TK) to 6th grade starting mid-April. And for students in grades 7 to 12, the return time is expected to be by the end of April or early May. The agreement (pdf) states that all adults and studentsincluding students in Early Education and from TK to grade 2must wear masks at all times on campus and keep a minimum distance of 6 feet. UTLA specifically pointed out that the recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of 3 feet distance in schools doesnt affect the agreementteachers and students still need to keep a minimum distance of 6 feet at school. On March 19, the CDC recommended a 3-foot physical distance between students in the classroom. The agreement prevents the dangerous erosion of safety standards that we have seen over the course of this pandemic. If members ratify the agreement, the safety measures are locked in, and nothing the CDC or any other body does can weaken the protocols, the union stated on its website. Signs calling for schools to reopen are displayed by people in passing vehicles during an Open Schools Now rally in Los Angeles on Feb. 15, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) Every step of the way, UTLA educators have kept our students and communities safer, from the call to close down schools early in the pandemic to holding the line against an unsafe return, UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz said in a statement. LAUSD schools closed a year ago, on March 16, 2020. While the improving COVID-19 situation is still fragile, we believe this agreement puts LAUSD on the path to a physical reopening of schools that puts safety first, she said. Austin Beutner, superintendent of LAUSD, announced March 22 that elementary students would return to school as early as April 13. He said that LAUSD schools have the highest COVID safety standards in the nation. Weve upgraded the air filtration systems in every classroom, reconfigured school facilities to keep all at a school appropriately distanceddoubled the custodial staff, and well provide weekly COVID testing at school for every student and staff member. Beutner said that about 28 percent of elementary school students would attend school in person. About 17 percent of middle schoolers and 10 percent of high schoolers would return to school physically. UTLA noted that the school district has the right to open the schools and require teachers to return, but without the agreement, the district will be able to act unilaterally on most conditions of a return. C-17's 'Sightseeing Tour' Over Ireland That Drew Complaints from Locals Was Pre-Approved, Base Says The C-17 made headlines overseas after aircraft spotters noticed the massive aircraft moving through Irish airspace. "I think part of it was the practicality. And maybe another part of it was a way of her pushing gender equality, saying that men and women should be able to pretty much wear what they wanted to wear without clothing being labeled, Kaminski said. While Walker was able to successfully push boundaries with her style of dress and occupation, she was never able to become a commissioned officer within the Army. However, she did secure a paid position as a civilian-contracted assistant surgeon. In the spring of 1864, Walker was stationed at Lee and Gordon's Mills in Chickamauga, Georgia, an area held by U.S. troops that was very close to Confederate territory. "She was encouraged to go out and treat southern civilians who hadn't had access to medical care in a long time, Kaminski said. She would go out into the countryside, often on her own, knowing how dangerous it was to treat civilians who were in need." While out on her own she would listen for any information on troop movements and brought the intel back to her commanding officer, who presumably passed it up the chain of command. During one of her forays into enemy territory, Walker was captured by Confederate soldiers and held as a prisoner of war at a female military prison in Virginia. Her imprisonment caused negative effects on her health, including problems with her eye, which prevented her from continuing to perform surgery after the war ended. Receiving the military's top honor Walker and her supporters brought her desire to be a commissioned officer to the attention of President Abraham Lincoln. However, after Lincoln's assassination, President Andrew Johnson did not feel that it was in his power to provide her a commission in the military. Instead, he awarded her a Medal of Honor. "The grounds upon which the Medal of Honor could be awarded were broader than they are today and rather ambiguous in a number of cases, said Ed Lengel, chief historian for the National Medal of Honor Museum. It did not necessarily have to be combat service to qualify for the award, i.e., not just wartime service, but service actually under fire. Although, in many cases, Mary Walker came close to that." After the Civil War, many service members wrote their congressmen stating that they deserved the award, which pushed the military to tighten its eligibility parameters on who could qualify to receive the top military decoration. "Pressure could be applied within the military to get a medal awarded to them simply by pulling strings. So there were quite a few egregious cases, said Lengel. By the beginning of the U.S. entry into World War I in 1917, a review of Medal of Honor awards resulted in 911 individuals being stripped of their award, including Walker. However, she was among the few who refused to return the medal and continued to wear it until her death in 1919. Behind the scenes, a campaign was launched in the 1920s to get Walker's medal restored. The efforts intensified in the 1970s, including a local campaign in her hometown of Oswego, New York. Eventually, the reinstatement of her medal was supported through a bipartisan effort in Congress and posthumously restored by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency's Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English. This picture shows vials of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine and a syringe in Paris on March 11. Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images/TNS California Employment Development Department Headquarters View Photo Sacramento, CA The California Employment Development Departments website has been experiencing intermittent problems over the past couple of days. It has caused delays for some people who have been trying to certify their eligibility so that they can keep receiving benefits. It is a requirement to certify eligibility every two weeks. The website has been crashing off-and-on since Sunday, and the EDD reports that anyone unable to certify their eligibility should simply try back later. Some lawmakers are voicing concern about the situation, and Republican Assemblyman Jim Patterson says hell request a report about what has led to the problem. Californias EDD has experienced occasional issues, and backlogs, since the COVID-19 pandemic began over a year ago. EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2021 Helga Zepp-LaRouches Schiller Institute Conference Breaks Through March 22 , 2021 (EIRNS)The Schiller Institutes two-day international conference just concluded March 21 achieved a number of breakthroughs which no other organization is capable of having done, which are extraordinarily important in this crisis of pandemic, spreading hunger and military and social conflict. Two were most obvious. High-ranking representatives of Russia and China gave important presentations on the second, strategic panel of the conference, on a weekend in which tensions among the three superpowers spiked up, with the Russian Ambassador recalled from Washington and the public confrontation U.S.-China meeting of top officials in Alaska. These representatives understand that the Schiller Institutes activists in the United States and Europe who organized the meeting are a unique cultural and political force for peace and development. And on the third panel Sunday morning, a decorated U.S. Marine combat veteran, former Virginia State Senator and conservative Republican, Col. Richard Black (ret.), was bold and brave enough to denounce the war policies of the United States and NATO in Southwest Asia, especially Syria, and demand, This has to stop! On that third panel representatives of the popular governments of Yemen, Syria and Iraq were able to speak directly to Americans, Europeans and to young people in Ibero-Americasomething which was a first for numerous of the several thousand people who watched the conference online. A way was presented in detailthe North American Belt and Road Initiativefor the United States and China to cooperate for the economic advantage of both, in aiding high-technology development of the nations of Mexico, Central and South America. Two of this unique conferences sessions, taken together, completely exposed and debunked the so-called Green New Deal as both scientifically fraudulent and economically destructive, in a way comprehensible to professionals and laymen alike. Princeton physicist Dr. William Happer, formerly on the National Security Council in 2018-19, discredited the case against carbon dioxide itself as a substance supposedly dangerous to the planet. And Richard Freeman of EIR showed the British Royal Family origin and steering of the Green New Deal as a torpedo aimed to destroy industrial civilization. Perhaps most important, the Committee on the Coincidence of Oppositions came forward at this conference, a collaboration of leading medical professionals from minority communities, and American farm leaders, and veteran military officers, dedicated to seeing modern healthcare systems in every nation to fight the pandemic, to training youth Health Corps, and to doubling food production to fight the famine that is spreading. This Committee, the idea of Helga Zepp-LaRouche and former U.S. Surgeon-General Joycelyn Elders, is itself unique in the social force of opposites it is creating. The same conference was able, in its opening session devoted to a new cultural Renaissance, to convey the necessity of Classical poetry and music to political leaders and citizens who are going to solve these problems. The basic solutions to this crisis of economic collapse and debt explosion remain as Lyndon and Helga LaRouche have said: Glass-Steagall breakup of the megabanks; a New Bretton Woods international credit system; national bank credit institutions in every nation, crash programs at the space and fusion frontiers. But as Helga Zepp-LaRouche pointed out as the conference ended, Populations have become numbed by misfortune, prejudice, disease, social conflict and a degenerated popular cultureall of these issues have also to be taken on, and the grave danger of the Great Reset and Green New Deal fully understood. Next we will publish a mass-circulation pamphlet form of EIRs Special Report, The Great Leap Backward: LaRouche Exposes the Green New Deal. Conferences on these subjects will continue. How quickly, may depend on you. Find the times to watch this one in full, at the link here. The Schiller Institute does not have enough activist forces to hold the range of such events which it could command. We need those who have seen this conference, to join with Helga Zepp-LaRouche. Kaia Gerber was spotted emerging from lockdown in Los Angeles this Tuesday morning to enjoy a workout at a nearby Pilates class. The 19-year-old daughter of Cindy Crawford kept herself bundled up against the early springtime chill in a navy jacket. She pulled her socks over her brown leggings and warded off the California rays with a pair of dark sunglasses for her latest outing. On the go: Kaia Gerber was spotted emerging from lockdown in Los Angeles this Tuesday morning to enjoy a workout Kaia, whose friends include Andie MacDowell's daughter Margaret Qualley as well as model Cara Delevingne, made sure to take the precaution of wearing a mask. Last summer Kaia became one of the many Americans to adopt dogs while self-isolating and welcomed her little pooch Milo. For the past few months she has been dating 23-year-old Australian actor Jacob Elordi who stars in the Kissing Booth film series on Netflix. Jacob used to date his Kissing Booth co-star Joey King and there were also once unconfirmed rumors he was involved with his Euphoria castmate Zendaya. Off she goes: The 19-year-old daughter of Cindy Crawford kept herself bundled up against the early springtime chill in a navy jacket In a recent interview with W magazine he dished that the first time he had a crush on someone in a movie it was Orlando Bloom. 'It would have probably been Orlando Bloom, who played Legolas from The Lord Of The Rings. I was like: "Wow, this guy is perfect." He was so pure and fine,' said Jacob. Meanwhile in 2019 Kaia had a relationship with Saturday Night Live funnyman Pete Davidson who is seven years her senior. Reports of their split circulated at the start of last year with an E! News insider saying that Pete was 'taking a break to work on his mental health.' Careful: Kaia, whose friends include Andie MacDowell's daughter Margaret Qualley as well as model Cara Delevingne, made sure to take the precaution of wearing a mask Housemate: Last summer Kaia became one of the many Americans to adopt dogs while self-isolating and welcomed her little pooch Milo Cindy and Rande had been filmed by Page Six in December 2019 talking emphatically outside their daughter's apartment. DailyMail.com learned from a bystander that Rande had a conversation with someone upstairs - likely Pete - who was 'freaking out' and had 'scratched eyes.' Shortly thereafter he quipped during the Weekend Update section of Saturday Night Live that he was about to take 'the kind of vacation where, like, insurance pays for some of it, and they take your phone and shoelaces.' As Americans increasingly seek an outdoor lifestyle in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, including enjoyment of shooting sports such as hunting and target shooting, Bangers LP enjoys a continual increase in demand for shooting sports products. Yet, the company has also achieved significant market share gains by deploying new warehouse technologies and processes that position the company for rapid growth in scale. Bangers LP continues to invest in technology, people, and innovative shipping processes to move product as quickly and efficiently through the warehouse and into the hands of the customers, as evidenced by continual increasing sales and shipping output. The privately held company has doubled its warehouse staff and added a total of 48 new positions in a 12-month period. Bangers is on track for record revenue growth in 2021. "The industry is growing quickly, but we are outpacing our competitors by a significant margin. We are committed to providing our customers with the fastest, most efficient processes for delivering products from our vendors to their storefronts. Our customers' success is dependent on us maintaining fast shipping output, and we will continue to implement new technology to that end throughout 2021." --Brent Wouters, CEO. About Bangers LP Bangers LP, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading sporting goods distributor specializing in shooting sports. The privately held company utilizes the latest technology and innovative methods in its distribution processes and is committed to successful partnerships with their customers. www.bangersusa.com SOURCE Bangers USA Related Links https://www.bangersusa.com We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Fifteen women in a circle amused themselves hastily passing blue and green balloons hand to hand trying not to let them fall to the floor. The scene would seem like a childrens game, everyone laughing and jumping, until one of the women dropped a balloon, triggering her turn to speak and a sudden change into a sober mood in the room, all eyes on her. The topic at the workshop they were attending in late February was gender-based violence. And as immigrant women who came into the country without authorization, that is something the majority of them have experienced, often of the worst kind, said Iris Canizares. Canizares is the facilitator of a new educational and empowering program that the nonprofit Central American Resource Center began offering this year in Houston. The program helps women understand and integrate into American society, she said. We also work to build their self-esteem. They are hard workers who contribute to this country, she said. But they have gone through a lot of things that are very difficult for them to express. We have several cases of women who have been raped at the border recently. The routes to come into the United States from the southern border have always been infected with criminal enterprises. But experts say a program implemented by the Trump administration, known as Remain in Mexico, left a legacy of unprecedented sexual violence and brutality against women and children that should be tackled by President Joe Bidens government. The program, officially called Migrant Protection Protocols, was a controversial policy implemented in January 2019. It expelled non-Mexican asylum seekers to Mexico, where they had to stay for the duration of their immigration proceedings. The policy ended the traditional practice of letting petitioners join family members or sponsors living in America while following the usually lengthy legal process. More than 71,000 migrants were expelled to Mexico under the Trump program. Of that number, 76 percent were assigned to Texas courts. Only 650 of all cases were granted legal relief as of the end of February, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. The Biden administration suspended new enrollments in January and started a phased programto allow the entrance of more than 20,000 migrants with active cases into the country. While the Trump administration asserted Remain in Mexico would also reduce the ability of smugglers and traffickers to prey on vulnerable immigrant populations, experts and advocates say the program has produced the opposite outcome. Immigrants, and particularly women and children are even more vulnerable. I have never met so many victims of sexual assault and rape in my life since the MPP program began, said Linda Rivas, an immigration lawyer and executive director of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso. She said she has worked for nearly a decade with victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse. Rivas said lawyers and advocates have not only noticed more cases, but unprecedented levels of brutality and impunity. Not only rape, but rape in front of their children, she said. Measuring the actual impact of violence against women, and sexual assault in particular, is exceptionally difficult across the board because it is such a traumatic experience that most victims dont report and are afraid or unable to talk about, said Paola Luisi, communications director of Families Belong Together, a national campaign by a coalition of immigrant advocacy groups. The international organization Human Rights First, headquartered in Washington, D.C., has tracked 1,314 incidents of murder, rape, kidnapping, torture and assaults among migrants in the Remain in Mexico program. The Instituto para la Mujer en la Inmigracion (Institute for Women in Migration), a nonprofit promoting migrant womens rights in Mexico, said that 90 percent of those known cases involve women victims. Still, that statistic is considered a substantial undercount as the overwhelming majority of return to Mexico under MPP have not spoken with human rights investigators or journalists, Luisi said. Far from alleviating criminal enterprises as the Trump administration promised, Remain in Mexico handed predators thousands of vulnerable women, and immigrants in general, on a silver platter by forcing them to remain for long periods of time in concentrated areas of the border, advocates said. The policy created a funnel of migrants stuck at the border, said Maria Antonieta Alcalde. Alcalde is the director of Central America and Mexico for IPAS, an international organization for the advancement of womens sexual and reproductive rights. The immigrants are completely uprooted and unable to return to their countries because theyve spent everything to make the trip to the U.S. border, where they then find themselves forced to stay there to be able to follow their immigration cases in court. Spanish media outlets and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have reported numerous cases of women abused by local law enforcement officers, forced into prostitution against their will, or having to pay for sustenance for their child and themselves with sexual favors, in many cases resulting in unplanned pregnancies. Were really at a point where this issue at the border and violence against women is a moral one, said Luisi of the Families Belong Together campaign. She added that the Biden-Harris administration should consider policies to specifically target violence against women among immigrants. Alcalde said that investing in developing programs in Central America that were cut during the Trump administration is a good start. It would tackle the root of the large exodus from the Northern Triangle which includes El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, countries devastated by natural disasters, including two recent destructive hurricanes. The Biden administration proposed an immigration reform bill that includes the allocation of $4 billion for a four-year plan to assist the region in reducing endemic corruption, violence and poverty. Experts said, however, that the aid should include programs specifically targeting the empowerment of women by investing in their economic advancement, community development, and reproductive and sexual health. Thats what CRECEN, the Houston group, is trying to do on a smaller scale with the empowerment program for recent and unauthorized immigrants. With the assistance of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, the women are learning labor and social skills to become active protagonists of their own future, Canizares said. She said that another goal is for the women to learn CPR and other skills because they want to create a brigade to be activated in disaster situations to help in their communities. The sorority they are creating is very important because its women helping women, said Canizares. After the workshop in late February, the women celebrated a baby shower for Kenia Luna. Luna, a Honduran woman who arrived that month, doesnt like to talk about the man who fathered her child while she was stranded in Mexico. She began crying profusely and stopped talking when asked about experiences of rape among immigrant women. Canizares said the resource group and national organization are talking with two psychologists to create a group of health care providers who could volunteer in helping undocumented immigrant women with mental traumas. Luna gave birth March 20 at a Houston hospital. She had a girl named Lia. olivia.tallet@chron.com Twitter.com/oliviaptallet OTTAWA - The federal government will release a highly anticipated budget in about four weeks, giving Canadians a detailed accounting of pandemic spending and how the Liberals plan to spend billions more on the road out of COVID-19. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland speak virtually during a news conference in Ottawa, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - The federal government will release a highly anticipated budget in about four weeks, giving Canadians a detailed accounting of pandemic spending and how the Liberals plan to spend billions more on the road out of COVID-19. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced Tuesday the federal Liberals will table a budget on April 19. It will be the first federal budget in more than two years, after the government opted not to introduce one in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in Canada. It will also be Freelands first budget as finance minister; she took on the portfolio last summer following Bill Morneaus resignation. Freeland said the government went into the pandemic with strong finances, which allowed it to provide unprecedented support to Canadians. "We will continue to do whatever it takes to support Canadians and Canadian businesses," Freeland told the House of Commons Tuesday. "And we have a plan for jobs and robust growth." The budget is expected to provide a full accounting of all government spending through the pandemic, which has sent the deficit for the fiscal year to almost $400 billion. It is also expected to outline the Liberals plan to spend between $70 billion and $100 billion over the coming years in fiscal stimulus to help the economy recover. Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada, said in a statement that the government needs to provide economic hope to Canadians with an end in sight to the pandemic. To build confidence, the federal government must present a comprehensive and credible plan that spurs investment, private-sector job creation, and long-term economic growth," he said. The government will need to get the support of at least one major opposition party to pass its budget. Failure would mean the government falls and would almost certainly provoke a federal election. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, in a statement, said the government has left far too many Canadians behind during the pandemic. He contrasted Liberal policies with those his own party would unveil, saying he would focus on "growth in every sector of the economy and in every part of the country. The government has previously said this years budget will include measures to create a national child-care system, invest in skills training and help green the economy. Additional measures pitched by departments have faced a simple question: how much economic growth can this buy? The budget is likely to include spending on traditional areas like infrastructure, including for public-sector projects that could act as a catalyst for private projects, said Deloitte Canada chief economist Craig Alexander. But he also noted that spending on social programs could also provide an economic boost in the short and long term, pointing specifically to child care. By Alexanders estimates, governments receive between $1.50 and $6 for every dollar invested in child care, suggesting it can help break down economic barriers by raising labour-force participation rates for parents, and mothers in particular. I don't think the economy needs the government to just go and spend money on things that would just accelerate economic growth in 2021, Alexander said in an interview. What we need is strategic investments that will provide a boost to the economy over the medium to long term. The budget will be the first one since March 2019 after the government opted not to introduce one in 2020, pointing to the uncertainty the pandemic had caused to the domestic and global economic outlook. Freeland asked the Finance Department in the fall to detail the difference between a budget and a fall economic statement. A footnote in the responding briefing note, a copy of which The Canadian Press obtained under the Access to Information Act, said "while a budget is typically presented every year, the government is under no obligation to do so." Freeland delivered an economic statement in late November, which pegged the deficit at $381.6 billion this year, but closing in on $400 billion if widespread lockdowns caused demand for aid to increase again. The federal debt was likely to top $1.2 trillion. The Liberals argue the debt is manageable because economic growth should outpace interest rates, meaning more money coming in than the federal treasury will have to pay out over time. A report Tuesday from the C.D. Howe Institute said the fiscal sustainability the Liberals outline is possible, but far from guaranteed. If repayments are bigger than economic growth, that could mean spending cuts, tax increases or a combination of the two may be needed to keep deficits from spiralling. The think-tanks paper argued for the government to cut business subsidies that dont address a clear market failure. If tax increases are necessary, the think tank said taxes on business investment should be avoided because they drive capital overseas and could push down wages here. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2021. The Tabakorole Gold Project has an existing resource of 910,000 ounces grading 1.2 g/t gold, with opportunities to expand along strike and through regional exploration. Results have been received for the remaining 20 holes drilled for 2,760 metres, which confirm the northwest strike extension s ( ) (FRA:GR2) latest reverse circulation (RC) drilling aimed at expanding the 910,000-ounce resource at Tabakorole Gold Project in southern Mali has confirmed further strike extensions that are expected to grow the resource along strike to the west. Two holes in particular, 20TBKRC015 and 20TBKRC014, intersected high-grade mineralisation and are expected to improve the existing JORC-compliant resource with 6 metres at 5.8 g/t gold from 61 metres in the former and 16 metres at 2.0 g/t from 75 metres in the latter, and this is outside the resource. As well, two holes in the northwest strike extension returned 4 metres at 1.9 g/t from 16 metres (20TBKRC025) and 15 metres at 2.0 g/t from 25 metres (20TBKRC018), both on the same section, which have confirmed further strike extensions beyond the currently modelled resource. Results exceed average grade Managing director Phil Hoskins said: The grade of these results is particularly encouraging, exceeding the average grade of the northwest portion of the resource. The intersection of 16 metres at 2.0 g/t gold is also very exciting as it sits outside previously modelled mineralisation and potentially represents the discovery of a new zone of mineralisation. This drill program is expected to achieve its objective of defining additional mineralisation, confirming strike extensions in both directions, and delivering impressive results within the existing resource. There are numerous follow-up targets coming out of this drill program which, combined with the extensive regional soils and ground magnetics, give us ample opportunity for continued resource growth at Tabakorole. Diamond drilling completion Since completing the RC drilling program, Marvel Gold has also completed a five-hole diamond drilling program in the southeast portion of the deposit with results expected in April. This drilling is seeking to infill the area between the existing resource and hole 21TBKRC-001 which intersected 23 metres at 2.0 g/t gold. There are also follow-up targets from the most recent RC drill program which the company expects to drill prior to updating the JORC mineral resource estimate. Air core drilling targeting strike potential Marvel Gold has started a 6,000-metre aircore program to the southeast of the Tabakorole deposit to further target the strike potential in this area. Shallow aircore drilling will continue to be utilised over the entire 300 square kilometres landholding where the company has collected extensive multi-element soil geochemistry and high-resolution ground magnetics to define regional targets. The discovery of satellite deposits would complement continued resource growth around the existing deposit. (Newser) A Democratic lawmaker from Texas has released photos of children being held at overcrowded conditions at a Border Patrol facility, saying he wants to raise awareness of the "terrible conditions for the children." Rep. Henry Cuellar, who provided photos of the temporary overflow center in Donna, Texas to Axios, says he believes Border Patrol agents are "doing the best they can in the circumstances," but they are "not equipped to care for kids" and need more help from the administration amid an ongoing surge in border crossings. He says the overcrowding exceeds even pre-pandemic limits, with 400 unaccompanied male minors in one "pod" meant to hold no more than 260. Cuellar says the administration should work to transfer the children to Health and Human Services a lot more speedily. story continues below The photos at the tent facility were taken over the weekend. Immigration lawyers have previously told ABC that the facility is severely overcrowded, with some children forced to sleep on the floor. According to documents seen by ABC, the facility is currently at 1,556% capacity. The AP reports that the administration has fought to keep images of children in overcrowded facilities out of the media. Lawyers who conduct oversight have been barred from the Border Patrol tents and dozens of media requests for access have been denied. "These pictures show you that even under our best intentions, and the Biden administration has the best intentions, its still very difficult," Cueller says. (Read more Border Patrol stories.) Susan and Joo Byun sat on their front porch on Tuesday morning, watching helplessly as a bevy of swans swam through the enormous lake across the road from their heritage listed house. The retired couple, who originally hail from South Korea but live in Canberra, were anxiously monitoring the rising floodwaters surrounding their holiday home in McGraths Hill, in Sydney's west. They sipped their tea and took photos on their iPhones to show their friends and family. 'We don't normally have water views,' Susan explained. 'There are usually two tiny lakes across the road, and then lots of grass for the horses next door.' Susan Byun and her husband Joo stayed back at their heritage listed holiday home to watch as the floodwaters rose 'We don't normally have water views,' Susan explained. 'There are usually two tiny lakes across the road, and then lots of grass for the horses next door' The water was beginning to encroach on their property by Tuesday morning But the horses are gone, as are their neighbours, because the green grass has been replaced by floodwaters which are slowly encroaching on their 1830's home. The heritage home has stood untouched for 191 years. They aren't allowed to make any changes to its structure. Not the handcrafted glass windows or the wooden panels that hold the tin roof in place. Susan and Joo can't rip up the front porch, which is slowly falling to pieces as rain soaks into the convict-laid concrete. Normally they don't mind. They accepted the property as is when they purchased it in 2017 to use as a Sydney base when they wanted to get away from Canberra. They sipped their tea and took photos on their iPhones to show their friends and family An aerial view shows the damage already done to the property next door and how close it is to the Byun's home But now they're worried about what they do if the floodwaters continue to rise and if the grimy brown water soaks into their beloved little home. 'We don't have anything we love inside the house, but we won't be able to fix the house itself if it floods,' Susan explained. She doesn't think the home is insured for floods, but she said she 'didn't mind' when she bought the place because they were assured it would be safe. 'We were told ''there have only been floods once here in the last 100 years'',' Susan laughed as she pointed out to the rising waters beneath her. 'It looks like this is the next one.' The house next door, which is also heritage listed and even older than Susan and Joo's, is moments away from going under as water laps at its front door The couple said they have been praying the floodwaters start to lower. They pointed to faraway areas now covered in water and explained how quickly it has risen Both homes are heritage listed and structurally cannot be altered or changed The couple said they have been praying the floodwaters start to lower. They pointed to faraway areas now covered in water and explained how quickly it has risen. 'On Sunday we stood by a tree down in that corner. All of us neighbours. Now its gone. And cars could drive halfway down the road until Sunday afternoon.' Now the road is blocked at the top of the hill and all of Susan and Joo's neighbours have left, seeking higher ground. Because the couple don't permanently reside in McGrath's Hill, they haven't been getting the emergency evacuation texts from emergency services like others have. The house next door, which is also heritage listed and even older than Susan and Joo's, is moments away from going under as water laps at its front door The two homes are almost entirely surrounded by water as of Tuesday morning They fled last night to ensure their car was safe, but walked back down to assess the damage and make their next decision. The home is entirely surrounded by water. Behind them, roads have turned to swamps. Beside them the house next door, which is also heritage listed and even older than Susan and Joo's, is moments away from going under as water laps at its front door. The owners reportedly got away early as they had to move all of their horses and animals up to higher, safer grounds. The couple were told the road was subject to flooding but that there hadn't been 'serious flooding' in 100 years Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov notes the constructive cooperation between Ukraine and Luxembourg at the inter-parliamentary level at international platforms, the Ukrainian parliament said on its website. "Our states are constructively cooperating on international platforms, in particular, within the PACE. Ukraine appreciates the support that Luxembourg provided even at the beginning of the annexation of Crimea," Razumkov said at a meeting with representatives of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday. According to the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, the exchange of visits and the format of personal meetings at various levels are important elements of inter-parliamentary cooperation. "Cooperation and coordination of our parliamentary delegations at international platforms are also important," he said. After that, Razumkov invited a delegation from the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg to visit Ukraine. The chairman of the parliament believes the members of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg will continue to support Ukraine's efforts to restore its territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders. He drew attention to Ukraine's attempts to achieve progress in a peaceful settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict. Razumkov also expressed gratitude to Luxembourg for the constant sanctions policy against Russia. "We remember well that Luxembourg was a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and it was your representatives who had a clear position and provided assistance to our country," Razumkov said. According to the chairman of the parliament, in 2014 Ukraine chose its own path, to the EU and NATO, and this decision is enshrined in the Constitution. "We have made our choice and will not withdraw from it. However, part of our territories is occupied, and we continue to lose our servicemen. We have lost two servicemen over the last four days," Razumkov said. MERIDIAN, Idaho, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cottonwood Creek Behavioral Hospital ("Cottonwood Creek") is providing notice of a recent cyber-security incident so that potentially affected individuals may take additional steps to protect their personal information, should they feel it appropriate to do so. On or around September 27, 2020, Cottonwood Creek observed unusual activity on certain systems. Upon discovering this activity, Cottonwood Creek began an investigation, including working with third party forensic specialists, to identify the source of the activity and determine its impact on Cottonwood Creek affiliated systems. The investigation determined that certain files were potentially accessible on a system that may have been subject to unauthorized access between September 24, 2020 and September 27, 2020. Upon determining that certain files may have been accessible on the impacted system, Cottonwood Creek began a review of these files to learn what might have been accessible at the time of this incident. Cottonwood Creek immediately undertook a comprehensive review of the contents of the impacted files, to identify anyone who may have personal information within the potentially impacted data. Cottonwood Creek's investigation cannot determine specifically what files, if any, were actually viewed by the unauthorized actor(s), but the review recently indicates that names and certain information of some individuals were present. This review was completed on March 11, 2021. Cottonwood Creek is mailing notices to those individuals whose information was present. While, to date, the investigation has found no evidence of actual or attempted misuse of the information present in the potentially impacted files, Cottonwood Creek's review determined that the documents affected by this incident may include some combination of the following types of information: name, date of birth, medical history, treatment information, provider information, patient identification number, and health insurance information. The confidentiality, privacy, and security of personal information within Cottonwood Creek's custody is among its highest priorities. Cottonwood Creek is taking steps to further strengthen the security of its information systems. Cottonwood Creek also continues to review its security policies and procedures as part of its ongoing commitment to protect and maintain information security. Cottonwood Creek is providing a dedicated call center to those who may be impacted to learn more and is also offering them access to credit monitoring as well as general guidance on how to protect against identity theft and fraud. Impacted individuals can learn more by contacting us at (833) 416-0845 (toll free), Monday through Friday, 9 am to 9 pm ET. SOURCE Haven Behavioral Healthcare Recently I learned that a friends child was hospitalized following an incident of self-harm. The details surrounding this event will remain undisclosed for obvious reasons, but it motivated me to write about an overlooked tragedy of the past year. We have paid a tremendous cost for the policies our leadership class foisted upon us and we should examine what those costs are and who is paying them. Political leaders and television pundits like to say, we are all in this together, but the fact is that some of us are more in more than others, particularly young people. According to Fairhealths March 2021 white paper, incidents of pediatric self-harm increased 334% as a percentage of all insurance claims in August 2020 over August 2019. Less dramatic, but still alarming increases were seen in the spring but received little attention in the media. These numbers reflect only situations in which health coverage could be claimed, so it is likely that the rate of self-harm among young people is higher. Children of parents who lost their jobs and medical coverage because of mandated lockdowns would not be reflected in these statistics. What is also hidden are the costs associated with millions of children missing an academic year of school. It is unlikely that schools will administer extensive standardized testing to assess the damage of a missed school year; if it is, the teachers' unions and school boards will bury the results. Our leadership class has done something that has never been done before and the effects cannot be undone. Particularly damaged in this debacle are children on the margins, those in single-parent households, and those with less access to resources such as laptops and high-speed internet. In a school district where I live, the school board has decided to decrease online instruction so that those who have fallen behind will not fall further behind. Instead of stepping up and filling the holes the lockdown and hybrid school models created, the teachers and administrators decided it was equitable to slow all students down in a perverse flatten the curve effort. Adults too have suffered from the lockdowns, as deaths of despair such as suicide and drug overdose are trending higher. In fact, death by overdose is trending up 17% over the staggering 2019 number of approximately 70,000. In the 12 month period ending in May 2020 (after just three months of lockdowns), 81,000 people were dead from overdoses. The final numbers for all of 2020 will almost certainly exceed the numbers for 2019. Self-harm, suicide, and drug overdoses are just the tip of the iceberg. There is no way for us to quantify the dreams smashed and lives derailed by the policies and mandates of the ruling class. Consider what they have done to our youngest and weakest. As most parents know, infants form bonds and develop their first links to communication through observing facial expressions. They develop a sense of self in relationship to others by observing the faces of mothers, fathers, family members, and strangers. Imagine the impact of covering all the faces except those of immediate family members. It may be years or decades before we know the results of this hideous experiment. It would be foolish to understate the dangers of COVID-19. It is a dangerous virus for a significant portion of our population, specifically those 60 years or older. It should also be kept in proper perspective. There have been worse pandemics in human history and there will be worse in the future. There were three critical failures making this pandemic much worse than it need be: the media, the political class, and the technocrats. The newsreaders, writers, editors, pundits, and cable news talking heads used the pandemic to boost ratings and tilt the political scales in favor of their candidates and party. It was used as a weapon to divide and isolate Americans, to control the narrative, and to facilitate change using fear. As they oozed manufactured empathy, how many in the media class died of COVID? Or lost their jobs? How many were sitting at home worried about their futures while trying to get their kid to participate in Zoom lessons? How many politicians missed months of income? How many elected officials took a job at Walmart or Target to put food on the table? How many pols lost sleep over missed mortgage payments or their childrens mental well-being? Our leadership class was insulated from the effects of their decisions. Their children attend private schools beyond the reach of teachers unions and many state mandates; their paychecks continued to roll in; and their pensions continued to be funded. In 1944, F.A. Hayek warned us about the technocratic state. He saw that the computational power and reasoning ability of the experts could never match the collective wisdom of an informed citizenry. Jacque Barzun warned us of relinquishing power to experts whose knowledge was deep but dangerously narrow. And yet we gave immense power over our culture and economy to professional technocrats such as Anthony Fauci, who were happy to exercise such power without any concern for the effects. I wonder if my friend, while his child laid in a hospital bed, reflected on the costs of the COVID shutdowns. I suspect he did, but we can be certain the media celebrities, politicians, and technocrats have no such concerns. They continue to tell us we are all in this together, but some are more in than others. Chris Boland can be contacted at cboland7@outlook.com. IMAGE: Sad person by Emiliano Vittoriosi on Unsplash. KALAMAZOO, MI The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) is warning residents to avoid walking on sediment deposits from the Morrow Dam found on the Kalamazoo River. The sediment deposits in the Kalamazoo River are incredibly dangerous and should be avoided at all costs, KDPS Assistant Chief Matt Huber said in a March 23 news release. In some places, the deposits can be 10 feet deep, or more, and are like quick-sand. One wrong step could spell disaster. Sediment deposits developed after a hydroelectric dam operator unexpectedly drained its impoundment. In February, Eagle Creek Renewable Energy submitted a field investigation report that estimated 114,000 cubic yards of sediment was coating about seven to eight miles of the river, downstream of Morrow Dam. Dredging is still underway in Comstock Township, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) suggests more dredging may be needed, the city said. As the weather warms up this week, we know more and more people will be drawn to the Kalamazoo River, which is why we are warning residents about the dangers of these sediment deposits, Huber said. Read more: 11,400 dump trucks worth of dam sludge befouls Kalamazoo River stretch 369k cubic yards of sediment came through Morrow Dam, says river expert 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. Boris Johnson tonight claimed the UK 'wouldn't dream' of blocking exports of Covid jabs to the EU as he sought to defuse the vaccine war brewing on the continent. Bloc bosses are threatening to ban supplies of AstraZeneca's jabs from coming into the UK amid a row over millions of unclaimed doses manufactured at a plant in the Netherlands. EU chiefs are furious that the drug giant has missed its delivery targets, accusing the Anglo-Swedish firm of breaching its contract. They want doses made in Britain to be exported to Europe to plug the shortfall but No10 has a deal with AstraZeneca for first access to UK-made jabs. The Prime Minister, who is thought to be working behind the scenes to find a compromise with the EU, claimed Britain did not 'believe in blockades of any kind of vaccine'. Calling for unity at tonight's Downing Street press conference, he added: 'We are all fighting the same pandemic'. But despite Mr Johnson's push to find a compromise, Brussels will press ahead tomorrow with plans to block vaccine exports to Britain. The European Commission announced it would publish new proposals tomorrow morning to widen the criteria for restricting vaccine exports from the bloc. The powers will aim to restrict exports to countries that have higher vaccination rates, which means they are likely to be targeted directly at Britain. France and Germany have both come out in favour of the EU-first policy, after the sluggish vaccine rollout on the continent has seen just 10 per cent of Europeans immunised. It's unclear if the ban will apply solely to AstraZeneca's vaccine or if it will include Pfizer's jab, which is manufactured in Belgium. Boris Johnson tonight claimed the UK 'wouldn't dream' of blocking exports of Covid jabs to the EU as he sought to defuse the vaccine trade war brewing on the continent French Europe Minister Clement Beaune, a close ally of President Macron, directly threatened exports to the UK today, telling France Info radio: 'AstraZeneca says ''I am experiencing delays'', we say ''mobilise your plants for us and if you don't, we will block exports to the UK''.' German Chancellor Angela Merkel has come out in favour of a vaccines export ban if Europe can't get a handle on its struggling vaccine programme Britain makes enough of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK to be self-sufficient but jumped at the opportunity to buy extra stocks from a factory in the Netherlands, which has angered politicians in Europe, where deliveries of the AZ jab have been smaller than expected EUROPE FACING 'NEW PANDEMIC' AS THIRD WAVE HITS Germany is going back into lockdown over Easter with Angela Merkel warning 'we are in a new pandemic' as mutant Covid strains cause cases to spike, with France seeing infections double in a week. Europe's coronavirus third wave, which has been gathering pace for weeks now, has reached crisis point over the last few days with leaders across the continent forced to reimpose strict measures to keep cases down. Mrs Merkel announced last night that all non-essential shops in Germany will be closed over the Easter period with church services moved online and public gatherings banned as infections rise 'exponentially'. Meanwhile the head of France's hospital federation warned that case figures are 'exploding' in his country and the health system is heading for an 'unprecedented violent shock' in about three weeks unless strong action is taken. Frederic Valletoux spoke out after Prime Minister Jean Castex imposed tough measures on 16 French regions including the cities of Paris, Lille and Nice last week - measures which experts say do not go far enough. In Spain, experts have begun warning of a fourth wave of Covid after deaths from the virus rose to 633 on Monday compared to 298 a week ago. The country is currently under a nationwide curfew and while exact measures vary from region to region, most have imposed curbs on movement, gatherings, and closed some businesses. Covid cases and deaths also remain high in Italy where new lockdown measures were imposed across much of the country last week, although infection data has begun trending downwards since then. Mrs Merkel last night pointed to the so-called Kent variant of coronavirus as being responsible, saying: 'Essentially, we have a new virus... it is much deadlier, much more infectious and infectious for much longer.' Advertisement Mr Johnson told tonight's Downing Street press conference: 'We'll continue to work with European partners to deliver the vaccine rollout. 'All I can say is we in this country don't believe in blockades of any kind of vaccines or vaccine materials. 'It's not something that this country would dream of engaging in and I'm encouraged in some of the things I've heard from the continent in the same sense.' Downing Street did not deny reports that AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured at the Halix facility in the Netherlands could be shared with the EU as a peace offering to prevent an export ban. Chancellor Angela Merkel threw her support behind the move today, which has also been advocated by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen - her former defence minister. A spokesman for Mrs Merkel said factories in EU countries had exported 34million doses to 30 countries, but that those in Britain and the US had shipped 'almost nothing' the other way. A senior French minister also explicitly warned exports of the jab to Britain could be halted unless more were supplied to EU nations. In a sign of how far Europe is behind the UK, Emmanuel Macron announced today that the age from which people can be vaccinated against Covid-19 virus would be lowered to 70 from 75 from Saturday. French Europe Minister Clement Beaune, a close ally of President Macron, directly threatened exports to the UK today, telling France Info radio: 'AstraZeneca says ''I am experiencing delays'', we say ''mobilise your plants for us and if you don't, we will block exports to the UK''.' He said that such a move would be discussed at a European summit at the end of this week, adding: 'We want to avoid that AstraZeneca doses produced in Europe go to Britain when we are not receiving anything.' The hardline approach of some EU states - which has been attacked as 'vaccine nationalism - has created a schism in the block, as other countries including Ireland warning it would be disastrous. Tensions are surging as world leaders argue over millions of doses of the Oxford jab that are reportedly being stored in a factory in the Netherlands. Neither the EU nor UK has an obvious claim to the stockpile but both want a slice of it. Boris Johnson is allegedly considering an offer to split the stash with the EU to avoid a blockade. Mrs Merkel this morning said: 'I support Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. We have a problem with AstraZeneca.' And one of her ministers also deepened the ongoing row with an attack on the Anglo-Swedish firm. 'For us, it is very, very important that everyone lives up to their responsibilities,' Europe minister Michael Roth said this morning. 'Everyone has to stick to their commitments, this is clearly also true for companies that have promised the delivery of vaccine contingents.' The row appears to be revolving around vaccine supplies being made at a factory in Leiden, Netherlands. Neither the UK nor EU is currently using the vaccine the plant is making but Britain has ruffled feathers by importing some to add to stocks being made in its own factories at a time when the EU claims AstraZeneca is under-delivering in Europe. Although the UK is miles ahead in its vaccination programme, officials are still worried about the disruption an EU ban would cause. A source in Whitehall told The Times 'we're very worried about it'. Merkel's comment comes as European leaders are divided over whether to press ahead with an extraordinary ban on vaccine exports to Britain. Brussels sources confirmed that the EU is ready to block a shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the UK from a plant in the Netherlands. But the issue has triggered a major rift among leaders of member states ahead of a key summit on Thursday. One senior EU official described internal talks on the issue as a 'total s*** show'. Boris Johnson has launched a diplomatic offensive in recent days in a bid to head off a ban which could delay the UK's vaccine programme. The PM has sent his senior adviser Lord Lister to India for talks on unblocking a shipment of five million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine delayed last week on orders of the New Delhi government. Government sources confirmed that the Prime Minister held private talks with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron on Sunday in a bid to defuse the row. But he appears to have failed as both have come out in favour of the ban if Europe can't negotiate a better supply deal with AstraZeneca. Mr Johnson played down the threat yesterday, saying he was 'reassured by talking to EU partners over the last few months that they don't want to see blockades'. However, some ministers are alarmed by the protectionist rhetoric emerging from the EU and fear Brussels will press ahead with the ban in a bid to distract attention from the dismal performance of its own vaccine rollout. One insider said: 'It is madness, but for some politicians it is easier to have a row with AstraZeneca and Britain than to have people focusing on the contracts they didn't get.' Mrs von der Leyen warned last week she was ready to block vaccine exports to the UK as part of a 'Europe first' agenda designed to ensure that AstraZeneca and other drug firms meet their commitments to the bloc before supplying others. A spokesman for Mrs Merkel said factories in EU countries had exported 34million doses to 30 countries, but that those in Britain and the US had shipped 'almost nothing'. During a phone call on Sunday she told Mr Johnson that Mrs von der Leyen was right to be considering ways to further restrict shipments. French Europe Minister Clement Beaune, a close ally of Mr Macron, said Paris also backed Mrs von der Leyen's plans. 'This must be the strategy of a Europe that moves faster and defends its interests: produce more, enforce contracts, and control exports,' he said. But a string of other EU countries are alarmed by the idea of blocking exports, amid fears it could do serious international damage to its reputation as a place to do business. Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin warned that a ban would be 'a very retrograde step' which would prove counter-productive. Mr Martin, who could face the prospect of the EU imposing a hard border with Northern Ireland to prevent vaccines entering the UK, said he had made it 'very clear' to fellow leaders he was opposed. 'They're not EU vaccines,' he said. 'These are vaccines paid for by other countries that are manufactured in Europe.' President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has been leading calls for Europe to stop shipping Covid vaccines to other countries before it can provide for its own citizens The row appears to be revolving around vaccine supplies being made at a factory in Leiden, Netherlands. Neither the UK nor EU is currently using the vaccine the plant is making but Britain has ruffled feathers by importing some to add to stocks being made in its own factories at a time when AstraZeneca is under-delivering in Europe The Netherlands also opposes the jab ban, with Dutch PM Mark Rutte pushing for emergency talks between Mr Johnson, Mrs von der Leyen and AstraZeneca to thrash out a compromise. UK COULD RETALIATE BY BLOCKING EXPORTS FROM YORKSHIRE FACTORY A British chemicals maker could disrupt the EU supply of Pfizer jabs if the bloc tries to bring in an export ban. Croda International, based in Snaith, East Yorkshire, makes key ingredients for the fatty droplet used to deliver the genetic code within the vaccine into the body. This has reportedly allowed Pfizer to warn EU leaders that production at its main factory in Belgium could 'grind to a halt' within weeks if the UK stopped Croda deliveries from crossing the Channel. Croda, better known for making ingredients in shampoo and sun cream, has a five-year deal with Pfizer which it has said will boost sales by at least 90million this year. The contract means there could be an option to fight back if the EU does stop vaccine exports to the UK. A spokesman for Croda, which does not make the vaccine ingredients in Snaith but elsewhere in the UK, said the company 'is supplying lipid components manufactured in the UK and the US to multiple Pfizer facilities'. Advertisement EU sources yesterday suggested the first action against the UK was likely to be a block on the export of AstraZeneca vaccines from the Halix plant in the Netherlands. The Dutch plan would see No 10 agree to free up some production capacity at the plant, which currently supplies only Britain, to make jabs for Europe as well. A senior Dutch government source said Mr Rutte wants to avoid a 'lose-lose scenario' where Brussels forces his country to block exports: 'We must avoid a tipping point whereby exporting to third countries becomes problematic.' Belgium also opposes the ban, fearing it could hamper supply chains worldwide. The Pfizer jab is produced there. UK sources played down the idea of a compromise that would allow the sharing of vaccines produced at the Halix plant. A source said there had been 'no indication of that'. Health sources insisted that the bulk of the Britain's AstraZeneca supplies are manufactured in the UK. The PM's spokesman said: 'We have said throughout the vaccination programme that supplies will fluctuate, but we remain confident in our supplies.' However, one independent analysis suggested a total EU export ban could push the UK's vaccination programme back by two months, potentially delaying Mr Johnson's road map for lifting the Covid lockdown. Whitehall sources played down this estimate but confirmed ministers had been warned a ban by the EU could hit supplies during May and June. Vaccine supplies are already due to dip next month because of the delay to the shipment from India. Downing Street said the vaccine rollout had to remain an 'international effort'. The PM's spokesman told reporters Britain expects the EU to continue to stand by its commitment, adding: 'It's important that the whole world works together.' US health chiefs accuse AstraZeneca of providing 'outdated' information from its vaccine trial - when it claimed the shot was 79% effective - in a bid to get approval in America US health chiefs have accused AstraZeneca of sending 'outdated information' as part of an application to get its Covid vaccine approved for use on Americans. The drug giant, which is manufacturing Oxford University's jab, revealed yesterday that a US-specific trial found the vaccine prevented 100 percent of hospital admissions and deaths from Covid, along with 79 percent of all symptomatic infections. It said it hoped to get a licence from drug regulators within weeks. Experts on the Data and Safety Monitoring Board, a secretive committee inside the National Institutes for Health that is vetting Covid vaccines, raised the alarm yesterday when AstraZeneca announced interim results. The issue only came to light when the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) put out an 'unprecedented' public statement accusing the drug-maker of not giving watchdogs the full details from a study of the jab, urging the firm to share more information 'as soon as possible'. Dr Fauci called the NIAID note 'quite harsh' and assured Americans that AstraZeneca's 'data really are quite good' in a Tuesday Good Morning America interview. But, he added: 'It really is unfortunate that this happened. This is really what you call an unforced error because the fact is this is really very likely a very good vaccine, and this kind of thing does...nothing but really cast some doubt about the vaccines and maybe contribute to the hesitancy [of Americans to get the shot].' The hiccup is latest in a string of PR disasters for AstraZeneca, which has faced constant criticism over its jab with European officials first claiming it didn't work on older people and later that it caused blood clots neither of which turned out to be true. UK and EU officials are now rowing over supplies. Real-world data proves that the vaccine is protecting people against Covid in the UK, which has given the jab to over 13 million people since it was approved in January. It means any updated figures are unlikely to change the regulator's decision but must be examined thoroughly. Experts reacting to the NIAID's statement released last night described it as 'unusual' and said airing grievances in the public domain was 'unprecedented'. They criticized AstraZeneca for 'confusing' officials with the way it was sending its data. So far, there is no indication that the scuffle over AstraZeneca's press release will change its plans to ask the FDA for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize its vaccine in the coming weeks, or the shots odds of getting the expected green light from regulators next month. AstraZeneca, whose North American headquarters (pictured left) are in Wilmington, Delaware, was asked Monday for more data. Pictured right, vials of the firm's vaccine However, the FDA had already said AstraZeneca would likely face more scrutiny during its review meeting and process. And the allegedly 'outdated' data in Monday's press release will undoubtedly be added to regulators' list of questions. The full statement read: 'Late Monday, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) notified NIAID, BARDA, and AstraZeneca that it was concerned by information released by AstraZeneca on initial data from its Covid vaccine clinical trial. 'The DSMB expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. 'We urge the company to work with the DSMB to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible.' Covid vaccines can't be rolled out in the US until they are approved by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), who rely on independent committees such as the DSMB to rigorously review the evidence. The DSMB - which is run through the NIAID - is made up of around 10 to 15 leading scientists and statisticians who have no ties to the Government or the drug firms making the jabs. 'It is not unknown for a [regulator] to disagree with investigators over interpretation of trial results but it is usually done in private, so this is unprecedented in my opinion,' said Professor Stephen Evans, a vaccines expert at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. 'I have said frequently that 'headline' estimates of efficacy being compared between trials is very unreliable. 'The DSMB [Data and Safety Monitoring Board] has responsibility essentially for safety of participants, not efficacy unless it is either so high or so low or negative that it is unethical to continue to randomize, so in some senses they might be seen to be exceeding their brief... 'One explanation might well be that this trial is currently being conducted when there is a large amount of a new variant about more recently, and, as might be expected, the efficacy against that variant might be less, so more recent data shows reduced efficacy. Of course the other vaccines may also show such reduced efficacy and we don't know by how much. 'It does not leave me concerned particularly unless they had found a safety issue that was being hidden, which does not appear to be the case.' Dr Peter English, former editor of Vaccines in Practice Magazine and a former British Medical Association official, said the statement was 'problematic in various ways'. He said: 'In my opinion this is shamefully bad communication by NIH as with their lack of clarity they have left room for speculation which could be damaging for vaccine uptake.' And Dr Stephen Griffin, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Leeds, said the issue 'highlights the importance of data being provided at the same time as summaries being made public'. He added: 'Naturally, the news yesterday was taken in good faith and the issues raised by the DSMB may be a mere technicality, yet this won't be clear until we have full disclosure. 'Nevertheless, we must ensure that issues such as this are dealt with appropriately and that idle speculation is not seized upon by groups seeking to undermine faith in vaccination programmes.' Oxford University yesterday published interim results of a trial done in the US, Chile and Peru that found its jab prevented 100 percent of severe Covid cases and 79 percent of all symptomatic infections. It had been carried out because US regulators the FDA wanted a trial done on Americans before it would approve the jab, choosing not to use data from Oxford's tests in the UK, South Africa and Brazil. And the study found the vaccine works just as well in over-65s as it does in younger people it was the largest one so far conducted on older people, including more than 6,000 of them. It isn't the jab you need to fear - even mild Covid can trigger deadly clots Three days after testing positive, Robin suddenly felt so weak while out in the garden he couldn't lift his arms to use the hedge clippers Robin McNelis's Covid-19 symptoms were so mild he didn't know he'd had the disease. It was only when a routine test at the hospital where he works as a respiratory physiotherapist came back positive that he found out his headache and fatigue were caused by the virus. 'I was surprised to be told I had tested positive and should stay off work,' says Robin, 47, who lives in Stapleford Abbotts, Essex, with his wife Nikki, 45, a project manager, and daughter Maya, 13. 'I'd had no temperature or dry cough, but had lost my senses of taste and smell. I thought I'd got off lightly.' But three days after testing positive, Robin suddenly felt so weak while out in the garden he couldn't lift his arms to use the hedge clippers. 'I lost my balance and felt dizzy, falling to the ground, twice,' he says. 'I sat down on a garden bench and immediately fell asleep for about five minutes. Then I got up and went back into the house, but struggled to walk up the stairs.' None of this made sense. As a seasoned marathon runner, Robin was exceptionally fit. But the problems continued. He had to keep stopping when walking uphill, and felt a tightness across his chest and back when exercising. After three weeks off, he returned to work at the private Wellington Hospital in London. However, he was still struggling with fatigue, chest pain and weak legs, so he was referred for a telephone assessment with a GP. 'The GP asked me to measure my blood oxygen levels after climbing the stairs,' says Robin, who used a pulse oximeter, which measures blood oxygen levels by sending light through the tiny blood vessels in the fingertip. 'My levels were good but, two hours later, I was still short of breath,' he recalls. A respiratory consultant sent Robin for a lung scan, which revealed that a small blood clot was causing the symptoms. Robin was told that the virus had made his blood 'sticky', encouraging blood cells to clump together to form a clot, which can be fatal if it blocks blood flow to the lungs. Smaller clots, as in Robin's case, can cause breathlessness as well as chest pain. 'They weren't sure if the clot had formed in the lung, or whether it was a clot that had developed in the deep veins of the legs or pelvis, that had broken off and travelled to the lungs,' says Robin. He was put on blood thinners to disperse the clot and prevent more forming. But he was fortunate that the outcome wasn't far worse. Advertisement The trial which involved 32,000 people in total also confirmed the vaccine doesn't increase the risk of blood clots, which is a confidence boost after safety concerns in Europe rattled public faith in the jab last week. Two doses were given four weeks apart in the study and the effectiveness of a single dose was not reported. Full results from the trial are expected to be published later in the year. Trump's administration made a deal with AstraZeneca last year for 300 million doses and the federal government is currently sitting on nearly 30million which can't be used until the shot is authorized by the FDA. But this process has been delayed now, too, with officials having to wait until AstraZeneca sends the specific data they want. It is unclear how much of a delay the issue will cause, but the authorisation had been expected in April. Experts said the news about the hold-up was concerning. Professor Francois Balloux, a biologist at University College London, said: 'This is a highly unusual statement by the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). 'It comes close to accusing Oxford/AZ of having willfully misrepresented some results from their recent US vaccine trial.' And Professor Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Georgetown University, said: 'If nothing else Oxford/AstraZeneca continues their perfect record of sharing trial data in the most confusing way possible.' AstraZeneca said it still expected to get approval for the vaccine and one of its vice-presidents, Ruud Dobber, said on CNBC yesterday: 'Assuming that the approval will take place in a fast way, we hope to deliver 30million doses instantly after the EUA [Emergency Use Approval] for Americans to get vaccinated.' Oxford's Professor Andrew Pollard, who runs the vaccine trials, said the results were 'remarkable', and its inventor Professor Sarah Gilbert said she was 'very pleased'. Dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, Dr Ashish Jha, called the results 'fabulous news' in a tweet and told the Today Show that the AstraZeneca shot is the 'best ticket towards vaccinating the world.' The jab-makers were in need of good press after the past fortnight saw more than a dozen European countries shun the jab amid fears it could cause blood clots on the brain on which most have now backed down, although Sweden, Denmark and Norway are still hesitating and refusing to use it. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is preparing to call for EU leaders to shun 'vaccine nationalism' amid fears they will ban exports of vaccines because AstraZeneca is delivery on expectations in Britain but not in Europe, where it has allegedly only provided a third of the number of doses that were expected by the end of March. Britain will also have to cope with five million fewer doses of the jab than expected in April because an expected shipment from India has been cancelled. This is expected to mean the vaccine drive, which gave out a record 844,285 jabs on Sunday, will have to stick mainly to second doses instead of new patients. Some 32,449 people across all age groups took part in the phase three trial in the US, Chile and Peru, with a total of 141 cases of symptomatic Covid reported. Around two thirds of all the participants had the real vaccine 21,583 and the rest had a fake jab so the effects could be compared. Full results of the trial have not yet been published. The initial results showed that among people aged 65 and over, there was 80 percent protection against developing symptomatic Covid, Oxford said. This comes after officials in Europe, who had smeared the vaccine on yet another occasion, claimed that the vaccine didn't work on people over 55 and tried to prevent it being used on elderly people. The US trial initially found that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was more effective than expected after results from the UK trial while both found it to be 100 percent effective at preventing hospital admission or death, the US one saw it prevent 79 percent of all infections compared to 76 percent in the UK EUROPE'S UNPROVEN BLOOD CLOT CLAIMS SHAKE PUBLIC FAITH IN OXFORD'S JAB Confidence in Oxford/AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine has plunged across Europe, polls show. European leaders paused the rollout of the jab last week over fears it caused blood clots. The European Medicines Agency later said the vaccine was not associated with a higher clotting risk. Nevertheless, more people in France (61 percent), Germany (55 percent) and Italy (43 percent) now believe the jab is unsafe, according to YouGov. In France, this was a jump of 18 points since February, while in Italy it was a mammoth 27-point rise. Faith in the vaccine in the UK was dented less but still fell. Nine percent of people said the jab was unsafe, a jump of four points. But more than three quarters of Britons still say both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer jabs are safe. YouGov lead data journalist Matt Smith said the European leaders' concerns over the vaccine undoubtedly damaged its reputation. He said: 'Not only have we seen considerable rises in those who consider it unsafe in the last two weeks in Europe, the AstraZeneca vaccine continues to be seen as substantially less safe than its Pfizer and Moderna counterparts. 'With a third wave of infections potentially emerging now across the Channel, officials everywhere will be worried if ongoing rows about AstraZeneca's vaccine ends up damaging the rollout.' Advertisement Overall the study, which officials said was incomplete, found that the effectiveness of the jab against symptomatic Covid was even higher than it had been in the original trials that took place in the UK, South Africa and Brazil. 'These results are great news as they show the remarkable efficacy of the vaccine in a new population and are consistent with the results from Oxford-led trials,' said Professor Pollard. 'We can expect strong impact against COVID-19 across all ages and for people of all different backgrounds from widespread use of the vaccine.' AstraZeneca has not yet published the full results of the trial, but its press release does not address whether or not the US trial screened participants for variants. The older 'wild-type' coronavirus is still dominant in the US, but the UK's B117 variant is gaining ground, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists four additional variants as 'concerning.' In prior trials, the AstraZeneca shot was equally effective against B117, and worked well in Brazil where the P1 variant is dominant. But it performed poorly in South Africa, where the B1351 variant is dominant. Nonetheless, US health authorities are eager to add a fourth vaccine to the American arsenal. AstraZeneca's shot has already been authorized in more than 50 countries around the world, and has helped the UK's vaccination campaign to race ahead of the America's. AstraZeneca's US trial got a late start compared to its other global tests, beginning on August 28. Trials were also protracted after the death of a participant in Brazil last year. American regulators dragged out the trial pause even after other countries resumed their tests. AstraZeneca's trial wasn't allowed to resume for more than six weeks. After European leaders this month claimed people were developing brain blood clots and even dying after having the AstraZeneca vaccine, inspectors looked at the risk of blood clots and found it was not increased at all. They looked at a specific condition that had scared officials in Germany, called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, and found there wasn't a single case recorded in the clinical trial. The European Medicines Agency itself which first launched an investigation and triggered panic across the continent last week admitted there was no proof of a link to blood clots and backed down on its warning. Health officials around the world, including Britain's regulator the MHRA and the World Health Organization, have urged countries to keep using the vaccine to stamp out coronavirus. Professor Sarah Gilbert, the Oxford scientist who invented the jab, said on BBC Radio 4 today: 'I'm very pleased to see these results. 'Another large trial in different countries to what we had before again reporting on the safety and high efficacy of this vaccine, so it's really good news to see that.' She added: '20 percent of people in this trial were over the age of 65 and there was no drop in protection for those people. It was just as good in the over-65s as it was in the younger people and that's very clear from this trial.' On Europe's concerns, Professor Gilbert said: 'I'd say the balance remains hugely in favour of using this vaccine. Across Europe there are thousands of deaths a day occurring from COVID. 'It's really important that we get the chance to protect people as quickly as possible, this vaccine is available for use in Europe and it will save lives.' AstraZeneca said leaving an interval longer than four weeks as is happening in the UK can increase efficacy and 'accelerates the number of people who can receive their first dose'. This is understood to be because it allows the body to cement the immunity from the first dose before the second the booster dose provokes a second, separate reaction and lets the already established protection strengthen itself. As part of an agreement with Oxford, AstraZeneca is supplying the vaccine on a not-for-profit basis for the duration of the pandemic and in perpetuity for low and middle-income countries. The news comes as polling for YouGov suggests confidence in the safety of the vaccine has dropped in the last two weeks in Spain, Germany, France and Italy. Some 55 percent of Germans said the AstraZeneca vaccine is unsafe while 32 percent said it is safe. AstraZeneca's vaccine was already seen as unsafe in France but concerns have increased even further, with 61 percent now saying it is unsafe while 23 percent say it is safe, according to the survey of almost 9,000 people in seven countries. More than a dozen European countries suspended use of the vaccine over concerns about blood clots, although most have now resumed its use. The European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization (WHO) have ruled that the AstraZeneca jab is safe and effective. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. ("Lincoln" or the "Company") (TSXV:LMG) is pleased to announce that it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent ("LOI") with Lyon Grove LLC to reduce the royalties on its Wilson property to 1% which comprises a substantial part of the Company's Pine Grove project in Nevada. Under the terms of the LOI, the Company will buydown the current net smelter returns royalty ("NSR) on the Wilson property from 2.5% to 1.0% on the patented claims and from 5.0% to 1.0% on the claims that fall within the area of interest - for an aggregate consideration of US$450,000 payable in quarterly instalments over six years commencing April 30, 2021. The LOI is subject to, amongst other things, the execution of a definitive agreement, project financing, and regulatory approval, as applicable. The Company believes that the significantly reduced NSR on the Wilson property will greatly enhance the financing opportunities as it plans for the final stages of permitting and development of the Pine Grove project. About Lincoln Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. is an advanced-stage gold mine exploration and development company holding a 100% interest in the Pine Grove Gold Project, in the Walker Lane structural zone of western Nevada. The Company has prepared a preliminary economic assessment of the Pine Grove Gold Project pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Lincoln is working with the USFS to secure the permits necessary to develop the Pine Grove Gold Project into a low-cost heap leach operation with a high-grade gravity circuit. Lincoln also owns an interest in a joint venture in respect of the Oro Cruz Gold Property in California. Lincoln's joint venture partner is advancing the Oro Cruz Gold Property towards further exploration, development and production. Lincoln holds its interests in these projects through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Lincoln Resource Group Corp. and Lincoln Gold US Corporation, both Nevada corporations. For more information, please contact Paul Saxton, President and CEO of the Company. On behalf of Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. Paul Saxton President and CEO, Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. Tel: (604) 688-7377 Email: saxton @ lincolnmining.com CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release relative to markets about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to the royalty buydown, permitting process, future production of Pine Grove Gold Project, budget and timing estimates, the Company's working capital and financing opportunities and statements regarding the exploration and mineralization potential of the Company's properties, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Lincoln's expectations include fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; and uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Lincoln does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. SOURCE: Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/637069/Lincoln-Signs-Letter-of-Intent-Reducing-Wilson-Royalty-to-1 The United States Border Patrol detained over 11,000 unaccompanied minors attempting to cross the U.S. border illegally just three weeks into March. This number is more than that of the entire month of February, based on a report on Monday. The preliminary data of the U.S. Border Patrol shows that the detentions of migrant children have jumped from only 5,600 in January to 9,300 in February, and now with only three weeks past March, the number rose into 11,000 unaccompanied minors. The current number of unaccompanied minors detained in March 2021 is predicted to surpass the May 2019 record with 11,400 detentions. According to National Review, Representative Henry Cuellar (D., Texas), the head of the district that sits on the border in the Rio Grande valley, shared that there is a surge of migrants who are minors, which has caused overpopulation at detention facilities along the U.S.-Mexico border. The representative also mentioned on Monday that despite the efforts of Border Patrol agents in doing their best under any unexpected circumstance, Cuellar pointed out that those agents are not equipped to care for the kids. A top official from the Biden administration shared this week that the number of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border this year is on a path to be the highest in 20 years, and it is also due to the rise of unaccompanied minors among immigrants. While Republicans blamed Biden for the lax immigration policies, Democrats were concerned regarding the conditions of the unaccompanied minors in facilities and the duration of their stay in those detention facilities, CNN reported. ALSO READ: California Universities Condemn Hate Crimes on Asian-Americans, Increase Efforts to Curb Racism Why Unaccompanied Minors Are Coming to the Border As of Tuesday, around 9,200 unaccompanied minors were already in the custody of a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or the HHS refugee office, a government shelter system that manages the kids. Based on the HHS, it is the highest number since 2019, Reuters reported. Moreover, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection or CBP, stated that since October 1, 2020, about two-thirds of unaccompanied children who were caught at the border were natives from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. While the majority of the remaining one-third, composed of Mexican children. In addition, immigration experts stated that there are multiple reasons why minors want to cross the border and risked their lives, it is either to reunite with family members or escape poverty and violence in their homeland. Also, they have cited the recent catastrophic weather conditions that hit Central America while experiencing a slump in their economies in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, as it prompted more migration. Aside from concerns regarding the possibility of more COVID-19 infections due to the rise of immigrants on the border, immigration experts also addressed that some unaccompanied minors are potential victims of human trafficking and on a dangerous trip to the border for smugglers. Also, children are supposed to be transferred out within 72 hours from the custody of CBP to HHS-run shelters. But as the shelter space runs out, children can get stuck in border detention centers. During the time that they're in the shelters, children can be released to their parents, other sponsors or even be placed in foster care. Also, they can pursue asylum cases while seeking other ways to stay in the US or can be deported. But the deportation process will not take a short period of time. WATCH: Record Number Of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Held In Border Patrol Custody | NBC News NOW - from NBC News RELATED ARTICLE: Biden Deploys Top Officials to Mexico and Guatemala, Vows to be More Humane in Border Disputes Geneva, March 23 : A top World Health Organization official said that the "inequitable" distribution of vaccines against Covid-19 was a "catastrophic moral failure" and a "failed opportunity". Speaking at a virtual press conference here on Monday about the recent rise of cases in Europe, which was up by 12 per cent in the last week, Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO's Health Emergencies Program, stressed that there was no "golden solution" to end the pandemic. He said that many countries have the strategy to "get enough vaccine" and "push enough vaccine to people", assuming that the pandemic would be shaken off with vaccine rollouts, reports Xinhua news agency. "I'm sorry, it's not (the case)... There aren't enough vaccines in the world, and they're distributed terribly iniquitously. "In fact, we've missed a huge opportunity to bring vaccines on board as a comprehensive measure. "It's not only a catastrophic moral failure, but it's (also) an epidemiologic failure," Ryan said. Global infections rose up in the last week. Among the most affected places was South Asia, which saw a surge of 49 per cent in the number of cases, with India taking the bulk of the rise. Another hotspot was Western Pacific, with the Philippines and Papua New Guinea accounting for most of the 29 percent increase. Also addressing the same conference, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the gap in vaccine procurement between richer and poorer countries "is growing every single day". "In January, I said that the world was on the brink of a catastrophic moral failure unless urgent steps were taken to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines. We have the means to avert this failure, but it's shocking how little has been done to avert it," he said. "The world's poorest countries wonder whether rich countries really mean what they say when they talk about solidarity... Some countries are racing to vaccinate their entire populations while other countries have nothing. This may buy short-term security, but it's a false sense of security." He appealed to high-income countries to share vaccine doses through COVAX, an international vaccine campaign led by WHO and partners, while urging manufacturers to increase the production and equitable distribution of vaccines. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Do you have a news tip? Want to share good news story, or do you have information that should see the light of day? Then we want to hear from you. More here 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. Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during a memorial service on the first anniversary of Kentucky's first COVID-19 case. PHOTO:Gov. Andy Beshear Facebook page Beshear Vetoes Bills Shifting Executive Powers By The Associated Press FRANKFORT - Kentuckys Democratic governor has vetoed Republican-backed bills seeking to shift authority from his office.Gov. Andy Beshear summed it up Monday as an attempt at playing switcheroo with executive powers.House Speaker David Osborne says Kentuckians elected Republican supermajorities to serve as a check on the governors authority.Two vetoed bills would shift authority to Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles.Another would give more power over state money to Treasurer Alison Ball.Another vetoed bill would allow the state fish and wildlife board to appoint its own commissioner and set the salary.Lawmakers can consider overriding the vetoes later this month. This two-part blog series will provide insights on advanced SD-WAN platform capabilities that can help enterprises simplify their journey towards a better integration of the WAN to multi-cloud providers. When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, companies around the world had to shift their focus toward launching new and expanded digital services to support a fully remote workforce and accelerate the transition to a more cloud-connected world all virtually overnight. The consequence of the global pandemic highlighted the importance of accelerating cloud and digital transformation, resulting in more than 90% of enterprises purporting to now have a multi-cloud strategy in place, according to the Flexera 2020 State of the Cloud Report. So, fast forward to today. Have enterprises also considered and adapted their IT and network infrastructure to support applications in a multi-cloud connected environment? Here are five common challenges enterprise IT managers face when it comes to supporting multi-cloud connectivity of applications across the enterprise WAN: How do I assure the highest levels of performance for mission-critical SaaS applications that are carried over broadband? How can I integrate and enforce unique security policies for trusted or untrusted cloud-hosted applications with the increased use of broadband? How can I easily integrate and extend WAN applications to be hosted in public cloud environments? How can I automate the integration of my SD-WAN with AWS, Azure and GCP public cloud backbone networks? How can I automate the orchestration of cloud security services hosted by best-of-breed cloud security vendors within my SD-WAN? When it comes to the enterprise multi-cloud connectivity, there are five pillars of an SD-WAN platform that explicitly address these challenges and form the foundation for enabling an effective multi-cloud enterprise strategy: SaaS Optimization for the Best User Experience The majority of applications are now delivered as SaaS, so backhauling ALL cloud-destined traffic back to the data center impairs application performance due to added latency. Aruba SaaS Optimization connects users from branch sites to SaaS applications in a seamless and secure way, while continuously monitoring the SaaS Quality of Experience (QoE). There are a number of capabilities that come together to do this including: First-packet iQ automatically identifies and classifies applications on the first packet, enabling dynamic application traffic steering to the data center, cloud provider or cloud security service. Application-aware traffic steering minimizes latency resulting in better application performance while ensuring enforcement of business-driven security policies. Intelligent Cloud Breakout allows enterprises to deploy virtual EdgeConnect appliances in their public cloud IaaS instances. Connections between branch locations and the cloud benefit from Aruba path conditioning and optional Aruba Boost WAN Optimization. This ruggedizes the first mile between the branch and the cloud, providing improved network quality as well as application performance and availability. Microsoft Office 365 API integration ensures secure Internet breakout directly from the branch office to the closest Office 365 entry point using the latest Office 365 end-point data. This supports delivery of optimal Office 365 connectivity and performance. Intelligent Local Internet Breakout The Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN edge platform employs a virtual WAN overlay model and enforces end-to-end micro-segmentation to enable differentiated treatment including security policies and controls for different classes of applications. A business-driven cloud-app security policy might be defined as: Send all known, trusted business SaaS (Office 365, SAP, Oracle, Zoom) traffic directly to the closest SaaS instance or doorstep using the Internet as the primary WAN transport service Send home from work recreational applications, such as Facebook and YouTube, to a secure web gateway service such as Zscaler, Netskope, McAfee or Symantec for verification Send all untrusted, suspicious or unknown traffic to a hub or headquarters-based next generation firewall Having a unified zone-based stateful firewall at the WAN edge is essential for a complete, secure local Internet breakout solution for direct connectivity to trusted SaaS applications and IaaS from branch offices, blocking any unwanted or unauthorized traffic attempting to enter the branch network from the enterprise LAN. Aruba EdgeConnect overlays allow for easier micro-segmentation based on application characteristics, performance requirements and security policies. This helps with security compliance by taking automatic action to isolate affected branches from the wider network where a security breach is found to have occurred. So far, we have discovered how easy it is to securely classify, route and breakout cloud-based applications with an advanced SD-WAN platform. In the second part of this blog series, we will examine additional SD-WAN capabilities that help automate WAN connectivity in a multi-cloud environment. Silver Peak, now part of Aruba, has been named a leader for a third consecutive year in Gartners 2020 Magic Quadrant for WAN Edge Infrastructure. Get the full report. The Department of Veterans Affairs just received over $17 billion as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. How will they spend that money? Of the $17 billion-plus in emergency funding that will add to the departments $243 billion fiscal 2021 budget, which runs through Sept. 30, $10 billion is earmarked directly for health-care and homeless programs. Another $4 billion is allocated to the Community Care or MISSION program that provides medical care from civilian providers in certain cases. That means that the majority of the emergency funding will go right back to caring for veterans. While no special or individual programs have been announced by the VA, the fact that the funding is earmarked to provide services directly to veterans is not a bad thing. Another $1 billion of the emergency funding goes to cover the medical bills of veterans. According to the law, that money is earmarked to write off veterans copayments for medical care provided by the VA from April 2020 through September 2021. Still more money is going to help veterans who were affected economically by the COVID-19 crisis. A total of $386 million is designated for the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program, which offers up to 12 months of cash payments to eligible veterans who enroll in job training programs for high-demand jobs. The remaining money is divided between several programs, including: $100 million to modernize VAs health-care supply chain $750 million in grants to state veterans homes and nursing homes $272 million to speed up compensation claims processing and appeals $80 million to pay for special medical leave for VA employees affected by COVID-19 $10 million to the VAs Inspector General program to keep tabs on all that money. This $17 billion is in addition to $19.5 billion in emergency funding provided to the VA as part of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Stay on Top of Your Veteran Benefits Military benefits are always changing. Keep up with everything from pay to health care by subscribing to Military.com, and get access to up-to-date pay charts and more with all latest benefits delivered straight to your inbox. An Australian medical team flew to Papua New Guinea on Tuesday with emergency COVID-19 vaccines to help try to contain a concerning wave of infections. The team made up of Australian Medical Assistance Teams (AUSMAT) health specialists left Brisbane with the vaccine and other supplies. The AstraZeneca vaccines are from Australia's own supply, and the Australian government will ask AstraZeneca to send more to try to contain infections. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced last week that 8,000 doses would be sent for front-line health workers and he and his Papua New Guinea counterpart would ask AstraZeneca to send another 1 million doses. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Many older, but also increasingly younger, people suffer from several diseases at the same time. Scientists at the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, together with colleagues from Munich and the United Kingdom, have now identified common risk factors that predispose to multiple even seemingly unrelated diseases. They achieved this by evaluating data from more than 11,000 study participants, from whom both disease progressions and extensive blood values were available. The results argue for a comprehensive approach to disease prevention. The scientists have now published their findings in the journal Nature Medicine. Many elderly people suffer simultaneously from several, frequently very different diseases, a condition also known as multimorbidity. Their quality of life is severely restricted, and they receive medication from different doctors, a process which is difficult and often insufficiently coordinated. Observations indicate that certain diseases commonly occur together, but the causes of this are largely unknown. Data from over 11,000 participants In a recent study, a team led by Dr. Claudia Langenberg, BIH Professor of Computational Medicine, and scientists from Munich and the United Kingdom have now identified a number of metabolic processes that are associated not only with one, but simultaneously with up to 14 diseases. The scientists analyzed data from more than 11,000 participants in the EPIC-Norfolk prospective cohort study. This records hundreds of measurements from blood samples, as well as clinical data on diseases over more than 20 years of follow-up. We wanted to know whether there are certain markers in the blood that indicate a risk, not only for one but for several diseases at the same time." Dr. Claudia Langenberg, BIH Professor of Computational Medicine To do this, the scientists first examined the concentration of hundreds of different molecules in the blood samples of a total of 11,000 study participants. They then examined how the concentration of individual metabolites was related to the onset of a total of 27 serious diseases in the participants. The metabolites included not only known metabolic products such as sugars, fats and vitamins, but also substances whose concentration depends on genetic or environmental factors. For example, the scientists were able to detect the degradation products of medications, coffee consumption or the presence of gut bacteria using a process known as "molecular profiling." Over 20 years of electronic medical data The blood samples had already been taken from the participants more than 20 years ago and been stored at minus 196 degrees Celsius since then. At that time, the people were mostly healthy. The diseases they developed afterwards were systematically recorded in detail for more than 20 years through electronic hospital data. "This allowed us to explore how the concentration of hundreds of molecules in the blood is linked to the development of one or multiple diseases," Langenberg explains. For example, the team found that the concentration of many metabolites in the blood that were associated with disease onset were explained by impaired liver and kidney function, obesity or chronic inflammation. But they also discovered that certain lifestyle factors or a reduced diversity of intestinal bacteria, also known as the gut microbiome, influence blood levels and can thus provide clues to the development of diseases over time. It turned out that half of all detected molecules were associated with an increased or decreased risk of at least one disease - the majority with multiple, sometimes very different, diseases, pointing to metabolic pathways that increase the risk of multimorbidity. Two-thirds of all metabolites associated with more than one disease "We found, for example, that an increased concentration of the sugar-like molecule N-acetylneuraminate increased the risk of no less than 14 diseases," explains Maik Pietzner, a scientist working with Claudia Langenberg and lead author of the paper. "Gamma-glutamylglycine, on the other hand, is exclusively associated with the occurrence of diabetes. Other members of the same molecular groups simultaneously increase the risk of liver and heart disease." Langenberg adds: "Overall, we observed that two-thirds of the molecules are associated with the occurrence of more than one disease. This is in line with the fact that patients often develop a range of diseases in the course of their lives. If we succeed in influencing these key factors, this could make it possible to counter multiple diseases simultaneously." All results are publicly available The scientists' extensive analysis enables insights into the various factors influencing human metabolism that were previously not possible in this level of detail. To make this reference available to scientists around the world, the authors have developed a web application called "omicscience.org." It makes all the results publicly available in graphical form so that they can be used in new studies. Langenberg adds: "The website enables scientists to determine key influencing factors for any molecule they are interested in or to uncover completely new connections between diseases. All of this was only possible due to our systematic, data-driven approach." Advertisement Riot police have arrested 14 people after another night of violence in Bristol as officers on horseback and dog handlers clash with 150 'Kill The Bill' activists who refused to leave streets - two days after Sunday's carnage. Officers with riot shields and helmets, were called in to clear College Green in the centre of the city at 10pm on Tuesday. Around 150 protesters had earlier erected tents on the green in a protest at how the police crime sentencing and courts bill will impact on travellers, squatters and the homeless. Avon and Somerset Police said it arrested 14 people overnight - compared to just seven on Sunday night when scenes of violence first erupted in the city. One of last night's arrest is in connection with scenes from the weekend. The 14 arrests were for offences including breaches of Covid-19 legislation and obstruction of a highway, with specially trained public order officers deployed from from Avon and Somerset Police, British Transport Police, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Welsh forces, before the protest was brought to a close at around 2.40am. Chief Superintendent Claire Armes said: 'Officers had engaged with protestors and asked them to disperse, but tents and a sound system were set up so it was abundantly clear they were intent on remaining at the location, in spite of legislation in place to protect public health. 'After the scenes of violence witnessed in the city at the weekend it was necessary to bring in additional resources from our neighbouring forces to ensure the protest was safely brought to a swift conclusion. 'Throughout the operation officers continued to urge protestors to move on - at no time were they contained - but there came a time when enforcement was necessary as gatherings are still not permitted.' They had ignored calls to comply with Covid regulations and to go home, prompting 100 officers to move in to disperse them. It is the latest 'Kill the Bill' protest in the city against the Government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which will see the police handed new powers to tackle demonstrations. On Sunday, some 21 officers were injured after shocking scenes of violence broke out on Bristol streets following a protest against the bill. Two officers were hospitalised, including one who suffered a punctured lung and broken ribs when he was stamped on. Police investigating the riot that marred Sunday's protest in Bristol released images of 10 people they wish to trace. The national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales has said his colleagues in Bristol feel 'under siege' after another night of protest in the city. Police and protesters at College Green in Bristol where police said around 150 protesters gathered earlier in the evening The protesters had ignored calls to comply with Covid regulations and to go home. Pictured: A protester approaches a police officer in riot gear Police are dispersing the protest on College Green in Bristol after another outbreak of violence As of 11pm, there was a sit in protest by some 30 protesters who crouched down in front of a line of officers and refused to move Police arrest a protester at College Green in Bristol after around 130 gathered to protest over the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill John Apter told BBC Breakfast: 'I really feel for my colleagues in Bristol. There is a sense that you really feel under siege. And for some, whatever they do, is not enough and for others, it's too much.' Mr Apter said: 'This was on an evening where the vast majority of the country were remembering those many thousands of people who have been lost to this horrible virus, so it was not good scenes to see, and this was on the back of the most horrendous violence that we'd seen on Sunday evening. 'So my colleagues are battered and bruised, in some cases physically. We've got a number of officers who were injured on Sunday evening, some very seriously. This is completely unacceptable, completely unacceptable.' Home Secretary Priti Patel criticised 'criminality and violent behaviour' during protests in Bristol. She told BBC Breakfast: 'I saw some of the scenes, as I did on Sunday evening as well, and protests are unlawful right now and quite frankly we've seen more criminality and violent behaviour which is simply unacceptable. 'We live in an open society and a democracy so the principle to protest and to have your voice heard is absolutely crucial but there is no acceptability at all for criminality, thuggish behaviour and the type of violent scenes we've seen over recent evenings, they included the most appalling assaults and criminal attacks on police officers, there's a fundamental difference between the two.' Last night, shortly before 11pm, police said protesters had been moved off College Green but that a 'significant number' remained on Deanery Road 'and continue to refuse to leave the area'. The force tweeted: 'Officers will take proportionate action to disperse crowds. They are not containing anyone and we continue to urge people to move on.' Officers were drafted in from as far as Salisbury in Wiltshire with one heard shouting at onlookers to 'go home'. Two separate groups of riot police are understood to have swept through the green from different directions in a show of force after Sunday's violence. Police in riot gear moved in on the camp and forcibly pushed and pulled up sitting protesters - including one man who was dragged back through police lines by his hair. Officers were seen trampling over tents and shoving protesters back with their riot shields. A police officer at the scene said: 'There was a gathering on the Green that was in contravention of covid laws so it was the police's intention to clear the area as quickly and as safely as possible: 'Due to the ferocity of the violence on Sunday, officers needed to be in riot gear and needed to take robust action.' At 11pm, there was a sit in protest by some 30 protesters who crouched down in front of a line of officers and refused to move. Two female protesters told how they were sitting down on the green when police came in with force. One said: 'They just came at us and gave us no warning whatsoever. 'I shouted to one 'what are you doing' and he hit me in the face. He hit my friend too and made her nose bleed. Nasty, nasty people.' There was a sit in protest by some 30 protesters who crouched down in front of a line of officers and refused to move Protesters sat on the floor whilst raising their arms during the protest this evening in Bristol Protesters sat on the floor in front of a line of riot police officers and police on horseback this evening Police were seen wrenching tents away from people as they forced them back. What legislation is behind the protests to Kill the Bill? The Government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill could see the police handed more powers to tackle demonstrations. The wide-ranging proposals include laws to reform sentencing, the courts and handling offenders. If passed, some of the measures will be UK-wide while others may only apply in England and Wales. They include: - Whole life orders for premeditated murder of a child, allowing judges to also hand out the maximum sentence to 18 to 20-year-olds in exceptional cases, like for acts of terrorism leading to mass loss of life. - The legislation looks to toughen up powers the police have to tackle 'non-violent' protests which are significantly disruptive to the public or on access to Parliament. - The proposed law includes an offence of 'intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance'. According to the Bill, someone commits this crime if they cause 'serious harm to the public', which can include 'serious annoyance, serious inconvenience or serious loss of amenity'. Those convicted could face a fine or jail. Meanwhile, the Government is also seeking to increase the maximum penalty for criminal damage to a memorial from three months to 10 years, under the Bill. The laws could also see police have more powers to crack down on unauthorised encampments which interfere with the ability to use the land. Officers could also be allowed to stop and search people more if plans for serious violence reduction orders go ahead. This would make it easier to carry out checks on those who have previously been convicted of carrying a knife. Advertisement The protesters were chanting slogans like 'Whose streets? Our streets!' and 'Kill the Bill' but officers didn't appear to have been pelted with any missiles like at Sunday's protest. A police officer at the scene said: 'There was a gathering on the Green that was in contravention of covid laws so it was the police's intention to clear the area as quickly and as safely as possible: 'Due to the ferocity of the violence on Sunday, officers needed to be in riot gear and needed to take robust action.' A police helicopter was buzzing overhead as officers continued to cordon off the streets around College Green. A YouTube livestream appearing to be from the demonstration showed large numbers of police with some officers on horseback and others with dogs. Shouts of 'Our streets' and 'Shame on You' could be heard. Last night's protest comes after shocking scenes of violence erupted in the city on Sunday night. Avon and Somerset Police today released images of ten people in connection with the violence at the weekend in which two police vehicles were torched, 22 officers were injured, including two who were hospitalised and a police station was vandalised. Seven men, aged between 20 and 44, were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and have all been released under investigation. A 28-year-old man, from the Bedminster Down area of Bristol, has been charged with possessing an offensive weapon and appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court earlier. He is next due to appear at the same court on June 10. Around 3,000 people attended the peaceful demonstration on College Green on Sunday but events turned violent after around 500 people descended on the New Bridewell police station. Detective Chief Superintendent Carolyn Belafonte said: 'The investigation into Sunday's disgraceful scenes of violence will undoubtedly be one of the largest in Avon and Somerset Police's history. 'More than 100 officers and staff continue to work on the inquiry which is being led by our major crime investigation team. 'Hundreds of hours of digital material has already been reviewed and images of the first 10 people detectives want to talk to about Sunday's events have been identified. 'Officers and staff are working their way through images and footage as quickly as they can but with more than two terabytes worth of CCTV footage as well as nearly 100 officers' body worn video cameras and more than 100 videos already sent in by members of the public to review, this will take a considerable amount of time. 'We expect to release images of many more people in the coming days and ask anyone who recognises anyone to contact us.' The protesters were chanting slogans like 'Whose streets? Our streets!' and 'Kill the Bill' but they didn't appear to have been pelted with any missiles like at Sunday's protest Officers stand in their riot gear at College Green in Bristol after around 130 protesters gathered in the evening Police were seen wrenching tents away from people as they forced them back in Bristol Police and protesters at College Green in Bristol where police said around 130 people had gathered earlier in the evening A police helicopter was buzzing overhead as officers continued to cordon off the streets around College Green Prime Minister Boris Johnson led the condemnation of the riot describing the scenes as 'unacceptable', Home Secretary Priti Patel said 'thuggery and disorder' would never be tolerated. Andy Marsh, chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police, said the demonstration had been 'hijacked' by several hundred 'extremists'. Footage of the carnage shows rioters hurling missiles at officers defending Bridewell police station in the city centre. Rioters were filmed celebrating atop burning police vehicles. Mr Marsh said: 'I believe the events were hijacked by extremists, people who were determined to commit criminal damage, to generate very negative sentiment about policing and to assault our brave officers. 'There was a hardcore of serious criminals hidden within those 3,000 people perhaps 400 or 500 people and we certainly didn't trigger this. 'The officers were incredibly patient, incredibly professional and I pay tribute to them.' Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, who said he had 'major concerns' about the Government's Bill, condemned the thuggery but said the disorder would be used to justify the legislation. 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. On Tuesday night, it was revealed that a grinning protester photographed giving a two-fingered salute while sprawled across the front of a torched police van at the height of the Bristol anarchy on Sunday is the son of a senior civil servant working for the courts service. ON SUNDAY NIGHT: Dressed in a hoodie with cargo pants and boots and a roll-up dangling from his mouth, son of a civil servant Richard Cooper posed for this photo outside Bristol's Bridewell police station during the riot on Sunday night while the mayhem reigned around him ON SUNDAY NIGHT: Some of the protesters proudly posed above a burning police car in the city centre in the riot ON SUNDAY NIGHT: Rioters set police vehicles on fire as protesters clashed with officers in the shocking scenes on Sunday night With his hoodie and cargo pants, musician Richard Cooper, 27, looked every inch the anarchist as he joined in with the chaos. However, his father Mark, 58, is a legal team manager for HM Courts and Tribunal Service in Kent, where Richard is believed to have been brought up, before moving to Bristol. Dressed in a hoodie with cargo pants and boots and a roll-up dangling from his mouth, Cooper posed for this photo outside Bristol's Bridewell police station during the riot on Sunday night while the mayhem reigned around him. Neighbours described Mark Cooper and his wife Susan, 57, as polite, though one said their son 'looked a rebel'. Approached by MailOnline, Mr Cooper turned crimson-faced when shown the photo of his son posing in front of a police van amid the violence. 'I'm not going to talk to you,' he said before marching inside. Given Mr Cooper's position, dealing with lawyers, judges and police officers, his son's appearance amid the carnage in Bristol will doubtless cause him grave embarrassment. Wanted: Police release new pictures of 10 'Kill the Bill' protesters they want to trace as they probe violent Bristol riot By Henry Martin for the MailOnline Police are appealing for help identifying ten people as part of the investigation into the 'Kill the Bill' riots. Bristol saw 3,000 legitimate demonstrators protesting the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on Sunday, but moments of clear criminal damage were pictured being carried out, such as street furniture or roadworks equipment being destroyed. Officers from Avon and Somerset Police have now issued pictures of ten people they want to speak to in connection with the Bristol riots. Eight men aged between 20 and 44 arrested for violent disorder have been released under investigation. One 28-year-old man from the Bedminster Down area of Bristol, appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court this morning. He was charged with possessing an offensive weapon and is next due to appear at the same court on June 10. Officers from Avon and Somerset Police have now issued pictures of ten people they want to speak to in connection with the Bristol riots Officers from Avon and Somerset Police have now issued pictures of ten people they want to speak to in connection with the Bristol riots A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said it will be one of their biggest ever investigations Pictured: Two of the ten people Avon and Somerset Police wish to speak to in connection with the Bristol event A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said it will be one of their biggest ever investigations. They said: 'We're appealing for the public's help to identify ten people we'd like to speak to as part of our investigation into the violent disorder in Bristol on Sunday. 'A total of 21 officers were injured - two of them seriously - when they were violently confronted by people gathered outside the Bridewell Police Station in Bridewell Street. 'Officers were attacked and threatened, police vehicles including a community police station were set on fire and criminal damage was caused to the police station exterior. 'The disorder followed a protest in the city centre attended by an estimated 3,000 people.' Police have released 10 pictures of people they would like to speak to in connection with Sunday's events in Bristol Officers from Avon and Somerset Police have now issued pictures of ten people they want to speak to in connection with the Bristol riots Detective Chief Superintendent Carolyn Belafonte said: 'The investigation into Sunday's disgraceful scenes of violence will undoubtedly be one of the largest in Avon and Somerset Police's history. 'More than 100 officers and staff continue to work on the inquiry which is being led by our Major Crime Investigation Team. 'Hundreds of hours of digital material has already been reviewed and images of the first 10 people detectives want to talk to about Sunday's events have been identified and published on a gallery on our website. 'Officers and staff are working their way through images and footage as quickly as they can but with more than two terabytes worth of CCTV footage as well as nearly 100 officers' body worn video cameras and more than 100 videos already sent in by members of the public to review, this will take a considerable amount of time. Rioters set police vehicles on fire as protesters clashed with officers in the shocking scenes on Sunday night 'We expect to release images of many more people in the coming days and ask anyone who recognises anyone to contact us. We'd also ask anyone who recognises themselves in the images to pick up the phone and dial 101 or visit their nearest police station so we can arrange for officers to talk to you to get your account of events.' Det Ch Supt added: 'The incident attracted worldwide attention and we continue to be humbled by the incredible support shown to us from the public, as well as from organisations and agencies across the city and beyond. 'The public response in particular has been nothing short of amazing and I want all those who've shown us support and kindness to know how much we appreciate it. 'In addition to asking for help to identify the people in the images we're releasing, we also continue to ask people to submit any footage or photos they may have captured of Sunday's events. We've set up a dedicated form on our website where people can submit material or provide us with information. 'Other lines of enquiry are also being progressed, including forensic evidence, which will help us identify those involved. We may have only arrested eight people so for but I guarantee we're wholly committed to tracking down those who carried out offences and with the help of the public we will be making more arrests very soon.' The woman accused of killing new mom Heidi Broussard in order to steal her infant baby has made her first appearance in court. Magen Fieramusca, 35, appeared via Zoom from the Travis County Jail in Austin Monday for a hearing on charges of capital murder, tampering with a corpse and two counts of kidnapping. Her attorneys requested another month to work on the case and a judge reset the hearing to April 28. The accused killer is being held on a $1.6 million bond. Fieramusca and Broussard had been best friends for two decades after meeting at a church camp as children. But in December 2019, Fieramusca allegedly strangled Broussard to death with a dog leash in a brazen plot to take her two-week-old baby, Margot, and pass the tot off as her own. Baby Margot was found safe and well at Fieramusca's home, before she was reunited with her father, Broussard's fiance, Shane Carey. Megan Fieramusca (left), the woman accused of killing her best friend Heidi Broussard in order to steal her infant baby, Margot (pictured right), has made her first appearance in court Fieramusca, 35, appeared via Zoom from the Travis County Jail in Austin Monday for a hearing on charges of capital murder, tampering with a corpse and two counts of kidnapping. Broussard (right) and Fieramusca (left) had been best friends for two decades after meeting at a church camp as children Carey and Broussard also shared a son, Silas, who is now seven years old. New photos from Facebook show that Carey is taking sole care of both children. He also appears to have found love again following his fiancee's brutal murder, as his Facebook page shows an update from February stating that he is in a relationship. The shocking case captured the attention of the nation, and Carey was initially believed to be a suspect after Broussard vanished with two-week-old Margot on December 12, 2019 after leaving their Austin home. Her disappearance sparked a widespread search of the area in and around the city. A tip-off led investigators to a home reportedly rented by Fieramusca in Jersey Village, more than 140 miles away. Broussard's body was found stuffed in the trunk of a car registered to Fieramusca outside the residence. Baby Margot was found alive and well. She is now being raised by her dad, Shane Carey. Margot is pictured with big brother, Silas, in a recent social media snap shared on Carey's Facebook page Carey is pictured at Broussard's grave in a recent social media snap. He appears to have found love again following his fiancee's brutal murder Growing up without mom: Broussard's children, Silas and Margot, are pictured in a social media snap shared by their dad, Shane Carey, who is now raising them on his own Baby Margot was found inside the home, but Fieramusca reportedly claimed the infant was her own. According to investigators, Fieramusca was a 'womb raider' who had faked her own pregnancy for nine months with sinister plans to snatch her best friend's baby after she had given birth. Detectives allege Fieramusca strangled Broussard sometime between December 12 and December 19, before claiming baby Margot as her own. Law enforcement claims Fieramusca pretended to be pregnant herself at the same time as Broussard and even set a fake due date for December 1. She additionally set up a Target baby registry. Friends of Fieramusca claim they told her that she had given birth to a baby girl named 'Luna Mae' in early December. Even Broussard's fiance, Shane Carey, believed Fieramusca was expecting. 'Heidi loved Magen, they had a great relationship. She was a friend. You would not suspect this at all. Like, at all,' he said after her arrest. If convicted of capital murder, Fieramusca faces the death penalty or life in prison. Broussard's body was found stuffed in the trunk of a car registered to Fieramusca outside a home in Jersey Village (pictured) If convicted of capital murder, Fieramusca faces the death penalty or life in prison. Chandigarh: To reduce the cost of electricity in the government schools of the state, the Punjab government would install 3KW solar panels in 183 primary schools at a cost of Rs 2.74 crore. The Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla said that education department is making continuous efforts to further strengthen the infrastructure in the government primary schools. Installation of solar panels in schools are a very useful step to solve the problem of electricity. Vijay Inder Singla Singla said that solar energy is the need of the hour. The efforts are being made to make government schools smarter. The use of solar energy in schools will also reduce the power consumption and electricity cost. Singla said that solar energy projects were being set up in 3214 schools at a cost of Rs 97.55 crore. With this new initiative, 183 more government primary schools of Ferozepur district would get solar energy. There are fears a fourth wave of Covid-19 cases in the Republic could spread north of the border, slowing down our lockdown exit strategy. Concern was expressed as the UK Government announced Northern Ireland will get 220m of additional funding to help combat the disease. Professor Martin Cormican of the Republic's Health Service Executive described case numbers as "stuck" and possibly rising. However, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said a fourth wave can be avoided if people stick to public health guidance and avoid indoor gatherings. Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned yesterday the UK must brace for another wave of infections as cases rise across Europe. Chair of the British Medical Association in Northern Ireland Dr Tom Black said we must "keep an eye" on infection rates in border counties. Public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally warned if there was a "lot of the virus about" in Ireland it could lead to a specific variant. The warnings came after the Department of Health yesterday reported fewer than 100 new cases of the virus here for the first time since September. Some 87 people tested positive in the previous 24 hours, with one further death. The department also hit out at vaccination queue-jumpers. Patricia Donnelly, head of the vaccine programme, said she was aware a number of bookings had been made by people who were not yet eligible. She added: "Whilst it may look like you have booked successfully, you will have to prove your eligibility at the vaccination centre and you will not be vaccinated otherwise. I urge the public to check you qualify before booking otherwise your journey will have been wasted." The death toll here from the virus now stands at 2,105, and 116,019 people have tested positive. The Republic reported a further 769 cases and two deaths on Sunday. Dr Black said the infection rate in the Derry City and Strabane area had jumped from 50 per 100,000 people to over 70 in just a week, but said Northern Ireland was in a "good place" as case and hospital numbers remained low, combined with the vaccination rollout. "We've known in the past that when the infection rate increases in one jurisdiction or the other, that the border counties become involved," he said. "In the past it's been Monaghan, Cavan and Armagh, and you've had Louth and Newry, and Derry and Donegal. "It's definitely something we have to keep an eye on. The big concern would be that as restrictions are eased people adopt an a la carte menu to the non-essential retail, hospitality and the other easing of restrictions we are going to see, so I think we do need to stay within our own areas. "By that I don't just mean between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but even between counties." Dr Scally said the warnings of a fourth wave of the virus in the Republic were "serious" and could potentially spread and affect those here who have not yet received their first jab. The Executive's roadmap out of lockdown is dependent on the R-rate remaining low, but that will rise if a fourth wave spreads over the border. "We know that the vaccine isn't effective for everyone - maybe one out of 10 people - so there are a small percentage of people vaccinated who will not be immune," Dr Scally said. "There are people who couldn't be vaccinated because of some allergies or other problems. "There will be people who have refused vaccination for whatever reason, and then there are all the young people because there is no vaccine approved for children and young people yet. "That's a lot of people who can still get the virus, but obviously the situation is much, much better for older people, which is great." He added the UK vaccination programme had left him "very optimistic" but said it all depended on the Covid variants. Meanwhile, Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she would be very supportive of a round-the-clock vaccination programme. Her comments came after DUP MP Gregory Campbell questioned the effectiveness of the local vaccine rollout after the UK repeatedly smashed its record for daily vaccines administered last week. While the UK as a whole managed a record 844,285 vaccine doses administered on Saturday, we recorded 6,423. Mr Campbell said it was "difficult to understand why Northern Ireland completes not just yet another low daily number, but has the second consecutive week with low numbers". The Department of Health said it had "always been clear that progress with the vaccination programme will be dependent on availability of supplies". "Supplies to GPs had been limited for a period up until last week, when a significant new consignment was received. This has now been delivered to GPs and will be reflected in the vaccine numbers in the coming days," it added. Last night Secretary of State Brandon Lewis said the extra 220m will help Stormont deliver "essential healthcare to all those in need during these challenging times". Advertisement Bethenny Frankel showcased her jaw-dropping $3 million engagement ring as she hit the beaches of Boca Raton, Florida on Tuesday. The reality star, 50, has reportedly accepted a proposal from her boyfriend Paul Bernan, and was more than happy to show off her diamond ring as she enjoyed a day at the beach with her 10-year-old daughter Bryn Hoppy. Surprisingly, the star risked losing the new accessory as she ventured out into the ocean wearing the massive ring. Making a splash! Bethenny Frankel showcased her jaw-dropping $3 million engagement ring as she hit the beaches of Boca Raton, Florida on Tuesday Soaking up the sun: Frankel showed off her amazing gym-honed body as she basked in the sunshine Fortunately, Bethenny's ring remained safely lodged onto her finger as she frolicked in the sunshine. Accessory aside, Bethenny was a sight to behold as she splashed around in the water in her itty bitty blue bikini. The star showcased her fabulous abs and gym-honed legs as she made her way through the waves. Bethenny protected herself from the spring sunshine with a floppy straw hat and a pair of large sunglasses. Hat's off to her! The star protected herself from the sunshine with a floppy straw hat and shades Life's a beach! Frankel showed off her jaw-dropping ring as she trekked through the shallow depths of the water Making waves: Once she was done with her dip, Bethenny returned to dry land with a relaxed spring in her step She wore her raven hair down, allowing them to dangle down in their loose ringlets. Bethenny appeared at peace as she carefully trekked through the water, and at one point raised her arms ever-so-slightly as a wave rolled by. Once she was done with her dip, Bethenny returned to dry land with a relaxed spring in her step. Not seen with Bethenny was her beau Paul, whom she has been on-off with since 2018. Surf's up! Frankel raised her arms as a wave rolled by her Legs get together: The star put her envy-inducing figure on display Best tressed! Frankel worked a head full of natural, loose waves for her beach adventure People reported Tuesday that the couple had become engaged, and Bethenny was spotted wearing her engagement ring in Miami over the weekend. Frankel's spokesperson did not immediately return calls to DailyMail.com for comment. The star has also recently finalized her divorce from Jason Hoppy after a long and contentious divorce process, according to PageSix. They reached a financial agreement in 2016, but spent the next five years arguing over the custody of their only child, Bryn. Paris, March 23 : The French Interior Ministry has strongly condemned an unauthorised carnival parade attended mostly by young people in the city of Marseille. On Monday, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the organisers should be found out and prosecuted, reports Xinhua news agency. "This is unacceptable," Ministry spokeswoman Camille Chaize told the BFMTV news channel, calling the event an affront to nurses and medical staff amid the pandemic. The event had not been registered with the local authorities. On Sunday, some 6,500 people joined the parade, many not wearing protective face masks, according to media reports. Police intervened, breaking up the event in the evening near the Old Port in the city centre. Nine people were arrested and dozens were given penalty notices, according to the ministry Mpokeswoman. Yannick Ohanessian, one of Marseille's deputy mayors, asked participants to be tested for the virus as soon as possible. In France, larger events are generally allowed to take place outdoors during the day, provided participants follow health regulations including wearing protective masks. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. THERE has been a wave of racist assaults and verbal attacks during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest report from The Irish Network Against Racism. Findings from its 2020 iReport.ie racist incident reporting system, which allows people to log racist incidents online using an app, reveals a surge in the number of racially motivated incidents since the start of the pandemic. There were 700 complaints logged in 2020 compared with 530 in 2019 as well as 159 racially-motivated crimes on top of a record 51 racist assaults and 594 incidents of racial slurs or hate speech incidents, according to INAR. Traveller activist and author Oein DeBhairduin said: Contrary to what we might expect, the pandemic and associated lockdowns did not result in a quieter time for minorities in Ireland. "In fact, the situation worsened for minorities, both in terms of the absolute number of online and on-the-street hate incidents, and in terms of the disproportional impacts of Covid on almost all minority groups. Its been a bad year for everyone and racism and hate crime have made it an even worse one for all minorities. Dr Lucy Michael, research lead at INAR and author of the report said: The report findings are also disappointing in what they tell us about our institutions and how they respond to minorities. Minorities making complaints about repeat harassment have told us about more instances of inappropriate responses from gardai than before she said. Weve also sadly logged an increase in instances of racial profiling by gardai, she added. Meanwhile Mr DeBhairduin said while INAR welcomes the Governments intention to bring in hate crime legislation this year, we also need measures to tackle hate speech in the online environment. He added institutional racism and the systemic racism it enables are still issues that need to be addressed. "This requires taking bold measures for eliminating structural, institutional and cultural racism in all areas of life. For us to be able to make these aspirations real, we need focus, ample resourcing and real leadership from our government, and we need it now, he said. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. A male off-duty police officer convicted of drunkenly assaulting a woman has resigned from West Midlands Police. Pc Oliver Banfield was spared jail for the assault, which sparked criticism from MP Harriet Harman that the 'system fails women and protects men'. Pc Banfield, who had been suspended by the force, will still face a misconduct hearing in due course, police said. PC Oliver Banfield drunkenly assaulted Emma Homer, right, in Bidford-on-Avon on July 26, 2020. He avoided a jail sentence after admitting assault by beating. He has just resigned from West Midlands Police ahead of a disciplinary hearing The shocking assault was captured on CCTV. He was handed a curfew and ordered to pay compensation and costs at Leicester Magistrates' Court Deputy Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine, of West Midlands Police, said: 'Today I have accepted the resignation of Pc Oliver Banfield. 'I want to stress that former Pc Banfield will still face an accelerated misconduct hearing, chaired by the Chief Constable, in the near future.' Pc Oliver Banfield admitted a charge of assault by beating on Emma Homer and was handed a curfew and ordered to pay compensation and costs at Leicester Magistrates' Court. Reacting to the sentence, Labour MP Harriet Harman said on Twitter: 'Policeman attacks woman walking home alone after dark. 'Must have been terrifying for her but no prison sentence. 'He continues in post. @WMPolice (West Midlands Police) must review. 'This is proof, if any needed, that system fails women and protects men.' Banfield, 25, was given a 14-week curfew banning him from leaving his house between 7pm and 7am, and must pay 500 compensation together with a 95 victim surcharge and 85 court costs. West Midlands Police said Banfield was 'removed from public-facing duties after the assault' while a criminal investigation into the incident in Bidford-on-Avon was carried out by Warwickshire Police. Meanwhile, the 37-year-old victim, Emma Homer, hit out at Warwickshire Police's initial handling of her complaint after she was attacked by a 'drunk' Banfield while walking home at about 1am on July 26 2020. She said that despite reporting the assault within hours of it happening, it took 'more than 30 hours for an officer to take a telephone statement', 'nine days for an officer to come and see her' and 'eight weeks for an officer to conduct house-to-house enquiries'. In a victim impact statement issued through a relative, Mrs Homer said the effects of the assault had left her with 'anxiety, insomnia and stress' which had been 'compounded by the slow response from Warwickshire Police'. The force has since personally apologised to Mrs Homer stating its 'initial response to the report of the assault was not as swift as it should have been'. Banfield, 25, was given a 14-week curfew banning him from leaving his house between 7pm and 7am, and must pay 500 compensation together with a 95 victim surcharge and 85 court costs by Leicester Magistrates' Court Mrs Homer added that when the Warwickshire force presented a case file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in September 2020, it was decided not to charge Banfield. However, aided by the Women's Justice Centre, Mrs Homer had the CPS's decision reviewed and the CPS charged Banfield in December 2020. He admitted assault by beating in court at Leamington Spa in January this year. Describing the assault, Mrs Homer said: 'I often ask myself if the impact of the attack would have been so severe if my assailant was not a police officer. 'During the assault as I struggled to get to safety, I was sure this drunk man was fulfilling a violent cop movie fantasy. 'To be verbally abused with misogynistic slang, grabbed by the neck, and forced to the floor on a dark road by a drunk man a foot taller than me is terrifying, but to then find that he was a police officer shook my belief system to its core.' She said: 'I considered myself a confident, relaxed, and independent wife and mother but since the attack I live with constant anxiety. 'I have changed simple things like my route home, and I have had to ask my family not to discuss the case as it sends me into a panic attack indeed whenever the subject is brought up I feel a rush of anxiety and a tightening at my throat.' Bob Owen /San Antonio Express-News Roadways were clogged across San Antonio over the past weekend, but traffic seemed to be especially problematic near tourist destinations like SeaWorld. Residents of neighborhoods near the far West Side park voiced their concerns about the traffic backing up over the weekend. Tucson, AZ, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Applied Energetics, Inc. (OTCQB: AERG), today announced that it will relocate its corporate headquarters to UA Tech Park, a research and technology park owned and operated by the University of Arizona. The new strategic location will support the Company's anticipated future growth and provide greater capacity for research, product development and production activities. The move, expected to take place over the next 60 days, will provide the Company with an ITAR and laser safety compliant facility totaling approximately 13,000 square feet, of which approximately 4,800 square feet is dedicated to a Class 1000 (ISO 6) Cleanroom. Applied Energetics is benefiting from millions of dollars of capital investment made by the previous occupant which was a global provider of lasers and laser-based technology for scientific, commercial and industrial customers. Applied Energetics joins over 60 other technology companies and organizations that call UA Tech Park home. The UA Tech Park provides the infrastructure for business, community and the University of Arizona to connect and advance leading edge technology, a place where emerging businesses and tech giants work side by side. Located in one of Arizonas fast-growing suburban settings on Tucsons southeast side at Rita Road, the Parks spacious campus encompasses 1,282 acres and has 2 million square feet of space for high-tech offices, R&D, and laboratory facilities. Gregory J. Quarles, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Applied Energetics, commented, Our new headquarters at UA Tech Park will enable Applied Energetics to grow to the next level, as we look to further our strategic plan of innovation, development and commercialization of our proprietary technologies in the field of ultra-short pulse lasers. This facility, with its research labs and state-of-the-art clean room, is perfectly suited and move-in ready to align with our defense industry and production roadmap. This move also eliminates the downtime of a buildout and nearly triples our floor space with a rent schedule that is aligned with our balance sheet but built for our long-term growth profile. Quarles added, The Tucson region, and specifically UA Tech Park, is home to many companies in the technology and defense industry and offers a professional, well-educated workforce that will allow us to recruit top scientific, engineering, and commercial talent with laser and defense industry expertise. We are excited to bring our headquarters to this dynamic and collaborative tech park. About UA Tech Park The University of Arizona Science and Technology Park (UA Tech Park at Rita Road) is one of the nations premier university research parks. The UA Tech Park is directed by Tech Parks Arizona which creates the Interactive Ground, that connects the University, community, and industry in pursuit of technology innovation and commercialization. The Park links cutting-edge technology companies with the resources of the University of Arizona, creating an environment in which companies incubate, innovate, grow and succeed. For more information, visit www.techparks.arizona.edu About Applied Energetics, Inc. Applied Energetics, Inc., AE based in Tucson, Arizona, specializes in development and manufacture of advanced high-performance lasers, high voltage electronics, advanced optical systems, and integrated guided energy systems for defense, aerospace, industrial, and scientific customers worldwide. Applied Energetics pioneered and holds all crucial intellectual property rights to the development and use of Laser Guided Energy (LGETM) technology and related solutions for commercial, defense and security applications, and are protected by 26 patents and 11 additional Government Sensitive Patent Applications GSPA. The companys 11 GSPAs are held under secrecy orders of the US government and allow AE greatly extended protection rights. For more information, visit www.aergs.com Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to the historical or current facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "believe", "will", "expect", "project", "anticipate", estimates", "plans", "strategy", "target", "prospects" or "continue", and words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of our management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect our current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition and may cause our actual results, performances or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking statements. For more information contact:Cameron Associates, Inc.Investor Relations - Kevin McGrath, Managing DirectorT: 212-245-4577kevin@cameronassoc.com Source: Applied Energetics, Inc. A married fire chief under investigation for visiting his former secretary at her home during lockdown has been fined 200 for breaking Covid restrictions. Mark Andrews, 49, the 100,000-a-year Deputy Chief Officer at West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, drove 20 miles to see Anna Colwell, 34, even though she no longer works for him. The father-of-two initially claimed they were 'work colleagues' but later admitted that Mrs Colwell is now employed by an entirely separate fire brigade. He was pictured visiting Mrs Colwell's home in Worthing, West Sussex and the pair were also photographed driving around in her white Mini Cooper without masks. Mark Andrews (left), 49, the 100,000-a-year Deputy Chief Officer at West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, is being investigated for visiting his former secretary Anna Colwell, 34, (right) Married Mr Andrews and his former secretary Mrs Colwall were pictured travelling in her Mini without wearing masks despite the fact that they are not in the same household In August, Mr Andrews re-joined West Sussex Fire Service where he began his career Now Mr Andrews and his former secretary, who works for the neighbouring East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, have both been fined 200 for breaking lockdown rules. He could also lose his 105,000 job as deputy fire chief of West Sussex if he is found to have visited his former secretary during work hours. Both Mr Andrews, who lives in a 1.5m mansion with his wife Judy, 58, and Mrs Colwell, 34, who is believed to be separated from her husband, Richard, are under investigation by their respective fire brigades for their conduct. However, despite the pair being paid by the taxpayer both brigades have refused to reveal whether the are still working for them. Both brigades have also refused to make public the outcome of their disciplinary investigations. Mr Andrews is married to Judy Andrews (left), 58, with whom he has a son and daughter. Mrs Colwell (right) was hired as his assistant last April, in which he chaired the recruiting panel Government rules state that two households should not mix to help battle the spread of Covid-19. Mr Andrews has been a strong supporter of the anti-Covid rules and is vice-chair of the Sussex Resilience Forum, a body made up of emergency and contingency support groups. Last month it tweeted: 'Not only are we in a national lockdown but the Sussex LRF has declared a major incident in order that public services can escalate their response to the unprecedented pressures of #Covid19 on the county. Please follow government rules and stay at home.' Mr Andrews and Mrs Colwell, a mother of two young boys, met while she was working as a civilian worker for Sussex Police which shares the same HQ in Lewes as the East Sussex fire service. When Mr Andrews was looking for an assistant last April, she applied for the job and he chaired the interview panel which appointed her. In August, he re-joined West Sussex Fire Service where he began his career more than 25 years ago, but their friendship continued after his departure. Neither fire brigade would indicate how long the investigations would last or when they would conclude. A spokesperson for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said: 'A disciplinary investigation is continuing. The outcome of disciplinary investigations are not made public. 'West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service takes any breach of COVID-19 regulations very seriously and will take appropriate action where necessary.' A spokesperson for East Sussex Fire & Rescue said: 'The service does not make public any internal disciplinary investigations or outcomes. 'We take seriously any allegations of breaches of Covid regulations and take appropriate action where necessary.' YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian received Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Mesrop Arakelyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. The minister reported the President on the ongoing activities and programs of the ministry, in particular introducing the assistance programs for the population of Artsakh, as well as for the persons who became disabled due to the recent war. President Sarkissian said the complete and proper implementation of these and similar other programs is a priority. The cooperation opportunities between the Presidential administration and the ministry on a number of programs were discussed at the meeting. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan If I ever met U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I would love to ask him: What did billionaires, such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, ever do to him? So, Amazon recorded record profits during the pandemic. Bravo! Behold the awesome power of capitalism! Remember, we American consumers had little choice as to where we could spend our money during state-ordered lockdowns last spring. Having friends who work at the local Amazon distribution warehouse in Logan Township, they say that its a great company to work for. It pays respectably well and offers many generous benefits. Some of these workers have even left union-represented jobs to work for Amazon. Sanders, the Vermont independent, supports a unionization drive among Amazon workers and has said in the past that hed look at breaking up the company. Having formerly been a union member myself, I can say to those Amazon employees trying to unionize at their facilities that unions do absolutely nothing for the benefit of their members. All they do is involuntarily contribute your hard-earned dues to Democrat Party political campaigns. The public employee unions in New Jersey do this all the time in exchange for favorable treatment. And, if and when a union votes to strike, as Ive seen with the 2016 strike at Verizon, this becomes a futile contest about which side can hold out the longest. As the strike drags on, union members abandon the picket lines to find other work because bill collectors are calling. And, the company guy with the checkbook always comes out on top. George I. Anderson, Vineland This time, listen to Sweeney on N.J. schools reboot State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, recently put forward revised legislation to explore countywide school districts and greater regionalization of districts in New Jersey. I believe this is a very good idea that would benefit both students and taxpayers. All children are deserving of a great education no matter in which ZIP code they reside. Sweeneys legislation upholds that belief, since it strengthens curriculum coordination by encouraging or compelling districts that go all the way from kindergarten through 12th grade. This plan should also create new paths to lower costs for taxpayers, something that absolutely needs to happen. Im glad that Sweeney is still pushing for bold reforms that will improve policies and reduce costs. Jean Garozzo, Woolwich Township Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks edged lower on Tuesday as Covid worries persisted, with EU leaders due to discuss a possible ban on vaccine exports to Britain at a summit on Thursday. Meanwhile, official data showed Britain's jobless rate unexpectedly fell to 5.0 percent in the three months to January, when the country entered a new virus lockdown. That was below economists' forecast of 5.2 percent. The benchmark FTSE 100 slid 14 points, or 0.2 percent, to 6,712 after rising 0.3 percent the previous day. Banks fell broadly, with Barclays falling more than 1 percent on concerns over the pace of economic recovery. BP Plc lost 2 percent and Royal Dutch Shell gave up 1.6 percent as oil prices fell about 1 percent on concerns that new pandemic curbs and slow vaccine rollouts in Europe will slow a recovery in demand. Cineworld declined 2.7 percent after saying it planned to reopen its U.S. cinemas in April and its U.K. cinemas in May. Chemicals businesses Elementis dropped 2.3 percent after it reported a loss for 2020. AstraZeneca gave up 1 percent. A U.S. health agency said the drugmaker 'may have included outdated information' in its initial data of the U.S. arm of Covid-19 vaccine trials. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Over the last several days and reaching a crescendo today, the mainstream media has been sounding the newsroom equivalent of a four-alarm fire over the growing chaos at the southern border, because the Biden team are persisting with their Baghdad Bob act over the matter. See, for example, how the morning news shows depicted the matter: All of the media stories right now should be understood as memos from the PR wing to Biden and the rest of the Democratic leadership that the chaos at the southern border threatens political catastrophe. Start with this New York Times story: The surge appears to have surprised the Biden administration, as Doris Meissner of the Migration Policy Institute, who ran the Immigration and Naturalization Service in the 1990s, told me. Republicans have pounced, accusing Democrats of favoring an open border. Some Democrats are unhappy, too. Bidens policy incentivizes droves of people to come, and the only way to slow it down is by changing policy at our doorstep, Representative Vicente Gonzalezof Texas told The Washington Post. Henry Cuellar, another House Democrat from Texas, said the administration was sending a terrible message. It all stems from the fact that the Democratic Party no longer has a clear policy on immigration. Reminds me a little of the scene from Yes, Prime Minister where Jim Hacker says, Our policy is not to have a policy! More: Polls show that while public opinion favors a pathway to citizenship for many undocumented immigrants, it also favors rigorous border security and the enforcement of existing immigration laws. Im not even sure that these views should be described as conservative. Historically, many progressives supported immigration restrictions as a way to keep U.S. wages high. Today, working-class Americans including many Asian-American, Black and Latino voters tend to favor more restrictions than progressive Democrats, who are often high-earning professionals, do. This contrast may play a role in Republicans recent gains among minority voters. The Washington Post is also alarmed at the growing political vulnerability of Democrats: WASHINGTON Democrats who long blistered the Trump administrations hard-line immigration policies are suddenly in a tough political bind. The Biden administration is responding to a wave of children crossing the southern border into the U.S. with some of the very tactics that evoked moral outrage from Democrats when former President Donald Trump embraced them. That includes accommodating children in hastily improvised lockups, spurring Republicans to argue that Democrats are now the ones throwing kids in cages. The moment leaves many Democrats with few good options. I predict that by degrees, the Biden Administration will slowly ease its way back to employing many of Trumps policies, though they will disguise this and sugarcoat it, and enforce it half-heartedly and only half the time. Biden is already leaning on Mexico as Trump did to reduce the flow of migrants transiting the country. Look for the next step to be making asylum seekers stay on the Mexico side of the border. In fact, the New York Times reports this is already being done: When 149 migrants were escorted onto a bridge by U.S. Border Patrol agents, they had no idea where they were being taken. Many collapsed, crying, when they learned they were back in Mexico. Faces contorted from confusion to anguish. Many of the parents started sobbing, tears of frustration falling on the children they cradled. They cheated us! yelled one parent. They promised they would help us! wailed another. Yes, well, Democrat promises are often like that in practice. Heck, Biden might even start patching up and extending the Border wall, though hell call it a fence, because good fences make good neighbors and such. UPDATE by JOHN: A couple of hours ago, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tried to spin chaos at the border into a positivechildren are presenting at the border because they are fleeing persecution, so there is no crisis: Biden's Press Secretary Jen Psaki doubles down that theres not a crisis on the border https://t.co/ZCPgz38Si8 pic.twitter.com/C2aLDih5P4 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 22, 2021 Good luck with that, Jen. Kenya Moore has apologized for attending to a Halloween soiree dressed as an indigenous person, now calling her culturally insensitive costume 'disrespectful.' The Real Housewives Of Atlanta, along with network Bravo, said sorry after audiences and fellow castmembers called Kenya out for cultural appropriation after this week's episode showed the actress, 50, in what she called a 'warrior princess' look. The star explained herself in a statement shared with Page Six, saying: 'I want to sincerely apologize for inappropriately wearing the Native American headdress as a costume.' 'I now realize that this was both disrespectful and insensitive and would never have done it if I had that knowledge and understanding beforehand. I regret it. When you know better, you do better. I am genuinely sorry.' Poor form: Kenya Moore has apologized for her 'disrespectful and insensitive' Halloween costume after being accused of cultural appropriation for dressing in a headdress and generic 'Native American' attire during the latest episode of the Real Housewives of Atlanta Bravo addressed the outrage as well, acknowledging how they failed to address the incident appropriately. 'We had hoped it would provide a teachable moment, however in retrospect it is clear that the network did not address this properly given the gravity of the situation,' the network added. 'We apologize to both the Native American community and our audience as a whole.' This week was tense episode for the star, as Kenya's RHOA costars were quick to call her out about her tasteless party look at the party, confronting the reality star to her face and in their solo confessionals. During the night of the event Kenya described her costume as a 'warrior princess'. However, between the full feathered headdress and the fact that the show wrote 'Native American' on the screen, people were clearly not buying it. Fellow Housewife Drew Sidora made a crack about the ensemble during her confessional. Bravo, Bravo: Network Bravo also addressed the outrage, issuing a statement that said 'We had hoped it would provide a teachable moment, however in retrospect it is clear that the network did not address this properly given the gravity of the situation Drama: This week was tense episode for the star, as Kenya's RHOA costars were quick to call her out about her tasteless party look at the party, confronting the reality star to her face and in their solo confessionals 'Kenya's Native American costume is super problematic but I ain't trying to ruffle no feathers for this girls trip,' she said. 'It seems like I'm the only one who sees the issues with Kenya Moore's decisions.' Drew was decidedly not the only person in the group to take umbrage with Kenya's costume as Porsha Williams also made her distaste known during the part. 'Kenya is a Native American warrior,' she quipped. 'I thought we weren't doing that no more. I knew that this girl was crazy, but add lame to the list, add whack to the list.' And on social media, users wasted no time in calling Kenya out for her cultural appropriation and the mother of one actually jumped in to defend herself at one point. 'Kenya is a Native American warrior. I thought we weren't doing that no more. I knew that this girl was crazy, but add lame to the list, add whack to the list,' Porsha Williams quipped, her comments echoed on social media Problematic: People on Twitter wasted no time in calling Kenya out for her cultural appropriation and the mother of one actually jumped in to defend herself at one point In one exchange where she was called out for not only wearing the costume but for previously throwing 'shade' at Porsha for her work with Black Lives Matter, Kenya responded that her costume was 'also part of my heritage.' Several people dubbed the cultural appropriation 'disgusting'. In one exchange where she was called out for not only wearing the costume but for previously throwing 'shade' at Porsha for her work with Black Lives Matter, Kenya responded that her costume was 'also part of my heritage.' The issue about Kenya's costume came amid a tense episode where she protested that there was no reason for her costars to be so unkind to her. 'I have done nothing to those b****es; nothing,' she insisted. The Real Housewives Of Atlanta season 13 airs on Sunday nights on Bravo. Holiday firm TUI has announced it will be closing a further 48 retail stores across the UK. It comes as the government announced travellers will face 5,000 fine for going abroad on holiday without 'reasonable excuse'. The UK's biggest tour operator said the travel industry and the high street 'are both facing unprecedented pressure' due to the coronavirus pandemic. All 273 employees affected by the decision will be offered new roles in other locations, the company confirmed. Holiday giant TUI has announced it plans to close a further 48 retail stores across the UK. Picture: Stock It comes after TUI announced in July last year that 166 shops closed due to the virus crisis would not reopen, which was nearly a third of its total. The firm is not publishing a list of the latest potential store closures. But it issued a statement which read: 'We want to be in the best position to provide excellent customer service, whether it's in a high street store, over the telephone or online, and will continue to put the customer at the heart of what we do. 'It is therefore imperative that we make these difficult cost decisions and do our best to look after our colleagues during such unprecedented uncertainty. The latest closures will see employees offered new roles in different locations and comes after 166 stores were closed in July last year. Picture: Stock 'We believe Covid-19 has only strengthened a change in purchasing habits, with people looking to buy online or wishing to speak with travel experts from the comfort of their own home. 'We have world class travel advisors at Tui, so we hope many of them will become homeworkers and continue to offer the personalised service we know our customers value.' The travel industry has been badly hit by Government restrictions and the collapse in demand during the pandemic. The Anglo-German firm's revenues in the three months to the end of 2020 fell from 3.86 billion euros (3.39 billion) to just 468.1 million euros (410 million) a drop of 88%. When the closures were announced in July, TUI said that it would seek to move 70 per cent of the 900 staff affected by the closures to homeworking sales and services roles. The travel industry has been badly hit by Government restrictions and the collapse in demand during the pandemic. Pictured: Heathrow It also said it would aim to relocate other employees in the remaining high street stores. It announced it would cut 8,000 roles worldwide after posting losses of 747million in 2020 compared to 255million in the same period last year. TUI is unable to send people from the UK on holiday due to lockdown restrictions. So what IS a reasonable excuse to leave the UK? The 5,000 fine, set out in legislation laid in the Commons yesterday, is on top of the previously announced 200 fine for not filling out a travel declaration form on reasons for leaving the country. The foreign travel ban does not apply to those going to the common travel area of the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland unless that is not the final destination. Exemptions also apply including: Those needing to travel for work, study, for legal obligations or to vote. People can go abroad for some childcare reasons or to be present at a birth, to visit a dying relative or close friend. They are also allowed to leave the UK to attend a funeral, to get married or to attend the wedding of a close relative, for medical appointments or to escape a risk of harm. They can also go abroad to view houses to buy or rent, to visit an estate agent or a show home, or to move house. Advertisement Travellers face a 5,000 fine for going abroad on holiday when a ban on leaving the UK without 'reasonable excuse' comes into force on Monday. The threat of fines has been extended until the end of June, making foreign summer holidays look increasingly unlikely as a third wave of coronavirus sweeps across Europe. And France is likely to be added to a 'red list' of countries requiring hotel quarantine by the end of the week. Health officials are increasingly concerned by a surge in cases of the South African Covid variant across the Channel. A senior minister even suggested the whole of the Continent could be put on the red list because of the botched vaccine rollout. Quarantine-free holidays may not be possible until August, killing off hopes of trips abroad until late summer. A 'traffic light' system is under consideration, allowing travel to 'green' countries without the need for quarantine on return. Government sources stressed however that no decision has yet been made. The revelation comes amid warnings from Boris Johnson about a third wave of coronavirus currently sweeping across Europe - which could 'wash up on our shores'. The travel ban does not apply to those going to the common travel area of the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland unless that is not the final destination. Exemptions also apply including for those needing to travel for work, study, for legal obligations or to vote, if they are moving, selling or renting property, for some childcare reasons or to be present at a birth. Other reasons include to visit a dying relative or close friend, to attend a funeral, for those getting married or to attend the wedding of a close relative, for medical appointments or to escape a risk of harm. 805 S Griffin Shores Dr, Saint Augustine, FL, 32080 By utilizing Engel & Volkers superior global reach and our most beautiful and effective luxury publication, Private Residences, I was able to craft the story of the home and create a vision for the future buyer. Engel & Volkers Florida today announced the record breaking sale of 805 S Griffin Shores Drive. Jenn Bryndal, License Partner of Engel & Volkers St. Augustine, held the listing. At $3,300,000, the sale marks the highest sales price for an intracoastal-front home in St. Augustine ever, and is also the highest sales price the market has seen so far this year. As this was going to be a record-breaking sales price, I knew we needed a strong emotional connection to the home to overcome that obstacle, said Bryndal. I chose a very bespoke marketing path, presenting the home as a family estate to cherish lifes most pleasurable moments together. By utilizing Engel & Volkers superior global reach and our most beautiful and effective luxury publication, Private Residences, I was able to craft the story of the home and create a vision for the future buyer. To my delight, we found our perfect buyers, a young family of five who will grow into their forever home over time. The notable transaction represents the highest sales price for a single-family home on an intracoastal lot in St. Augustine, as well as the highest sales price the market has seen thus far in 2021. According to Zillow, this home is valued 757-percent higher than the typical home in the same zip code. Home values in Butler Beach have gone up nearly 7-percent over the past twelve months and predictions indicate home values will continue to increase an additional 6-percent within the next year. When we met Jenn and learned about Engel & Volkers global reach, we knew we wanted to list our home with her, said Steven Champney, former Chief of Global Consumer Audit for CitiBank. We were very impressed with her laser-focused marketing and relationship-building with interested parties. She handled objections with a calm and fair approach, and we couldnt be happier. Jenn is fantastic, especially with higher price point homes. The 8,180 square-foot home features six bedrooms, six bathrooms, and an acre of pristine land bordering the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, an oasis for both nature lovers and boaters alike. No detail was missed while planning this grand estate. The overall design and polished finishes are accentuated by astounding natural beauty to create a poised and serene environment. The luxury real estate market in Florida continues to be highly sought after by buyers from around the globe, said Peter Giese, Chief Growth Officer at Engel & Volkers Florida. Jenn has demonstrated once again that Engel & Volkers is the right choice for affluent clientele who want to achieve the maximum purchase price that the market will pay for their home. Butler Beach is located eight miles south of St. Augustine's historic district and offers wide stretches of white sand beaches perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Rich with history, Butler Beach is named after Frank B. Butler, a local pioneer in civil rights. In the mid-1900s, Butler began purchasing oceanfront property on Anastasia Island to counteract the racial injustice, and was eventually able to acquire a tract stretching across the island from the Atlantic Ocean to the Matanzas River. The area became the only stretch of beach between Daytona Beach and American Beach where African-Americans were allowed to enjoy the sand and the sea. Bryndal left Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty in 2019 to start her own brokerage by partnering with Engel & Volkers. With over 15-years of industry experience at the time, she was a top-producing agent, transacting over 20-million-dollars annually. She also enjoyed success as a top producer at Coldwell Banker Premier Properties. Prior, Bryndal got her start at Prudential American Group in Las Vegas where she trained directly with CEO, Mark Stark. Engel & Volkers St. Augustine had an average listing price of $1,480,625 for the month of February in 2021 and produced more than $16.7 million in 2020. Press contact: Linzee Werkmeister, Junior Vice President, Marketing & Franchise Support Email: Linzee.Werkmeister(at)evrealestate.com Tel: (239) 348-9000 About Engel & Volkers: Engel & Volkers is a global luxury real estate brand. Founded in Hamburg, Germany in 1977, Engel & Volkers draws on its rich European history to deliver a fresh approach to luxury real estate in the Americas with a focus on creating a personalized client experience at every stage of the home buying or selling process for today's savvy homeowner. Engel & Volkers currently operates approximately 225 shop locations with 4,500 real estate advisors in the Americas, contributing to the brand's global network of over 13,500 real estate professionals in more than 30 countries, offering both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of luxury services, including real estate, yachting and aviation. Committed to exceptional service, Engel & Volkers supports its advisors with an array of premium quality business services; marketing programs and platforms; as well as access to its global network of real estate professionals, property listings and market data. Each brokerage is independently owned and operated. For more information, visit http://www.evrealestate.com. About Engel & Volkers Florida: Engel & Volkers Florida is the Master License Partner of the global luxury real estate brand Engel & Volkers in the state of Florida. Recognized for uniquely recruiting, training and equipping some of the top professionals in the real estate industry, Engel & Volkers Floridas exclusive franchise model positions its license partners at the top of the premium market to gain market share and support their bottom line. The company represents franchise locations in: 30A Beaches, Amelia Island, Belleair, Boca Raton, Bonita Springs-Estero, Cape Coral, Clermont, Delray Beach, Destin, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers Downtown, Gainesville, Hollywood Beach, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Jupiter, Madeira Beach, Marco Island, Melbourne Beachside, Melbourne Central, Melbourne Downtown, Miami Coconut Grove, Neptune Beach, Olde Naples, Orlando, Orlando Downtown, Orlando-Winter Park, Palm Beach, Palm Coast, South Tampa, St. Augustine, St. Pete, St. Pete Beach, Stuart, Wellington, and Windermere. Engel & Volkers Florida is continuing to strategically strengthen and expand its presence in premium real estate markets across the state of Florida. If you would like to know more about the Engel & Volkers brand or how to join its global networkwhich is known for demonstrating competence, exclusivity and passion, feel free to call our corporate office, located at 633 Tamiami Trl N, Suite 201, Naples, FL 34102 USA. Tel: +1 239-348-9000. For more information about Engel & Volkers Florida, please visit http://www.florida.evrealestate.com Scientists detected 109 chemicals during a study of 30 pregnant women, including 55 never seen in humans and 42 'mystery chemicals' with no sources or known uses. It is also believed that all 96 chemicals have long been in the body, but have only now been detected through the use of high-resolution spectrometry a technology that has become accessible in just the last decade. A team at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) observed the chemicals in the women's blood as well as in their newborn children, suggesting they are traveling through the mother's placenta. Although the chemicals are unknown, researchers suspect they most likely came from consumer products such as cosmetics and plastics. Scientists detected 109 chemicals during a study of pregnant women, including 55 never seen in humans and 42 'mystery chemicals' with no sources or known uses. Scientists observed the chemicals in the women's blood as well as in their newborn children High-resolution spectrometry (HRMS) was first developed some 50 years ago, but it was only in the last 10 years was it made affordable to the scientific community. This powerful tool is capable of analyzing dissolved organic matter by striking it with a beam of light that shines through a sample and breaks it into different pieces based on the particles, Popular Mechanics reports. And each chemical element and compound in the sample produces its own signature, allowing scientists to determine them individually. The team from UCSF collected 60 blood samples from 30 different pregnant women, along with 30 samples from their umbilical cords. The team from UCSF collected 60 blood samples from 30 different pregnant women, along with 30 samples from their umbilical cords (stock photo) Through HRMS, the analysis revealed 662 chemical signatures when hit with positive ions and 788 with negative. Researchers then combined similar samples, sorted them and identified 109 unique results - many of which derived from different consumer products. Approximately 40 are used as plasticizers, 28 in cosmetics, 25 in consumer products, 29 as pharmaceuticals, 23 as pesticides and three as flame retardants. The team also identified seven are PFAS compounds that the EPA states are a group of man-made chemicals' that has been 'manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe, including in the United States, since the 1940s.' These compounds are mostly used in carpeting and upholstery, among other construction-like tasks. The plasticizers, according to the study, most likely came from food packaging and plastic utensils, along with appliances. Approximately 40 are used as plasticizers (this includes plastic food containers), 28 in cosmetics, 25 in consumer products, 29 as pharmaceuticals, 23 as pesticides and three as flame retardants Tracey J. Woodruff, PhD, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at UCSF, said: 'These chemicals have probably been in people for quite some time, but our technology is now helping us to identify more of them. 'It's very concerning that we are unable to identify the uses or sources of so many of these chemicals.' 'EPA must do a better job of requiring the chemical industry to standardize its reporting of chemical compounds and uses. 'And they need to use their authority to ensure that we have adequate information to evaluate potential health harms and remove chemicals from the market that pose a risk.' Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). SKY News political reporter Andrew Clennell has denied any HR investigation underway at the broadcaster regarding claims made this morning by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Morrison and @aclennell clash at presser: "Let's not all of us who sit in glass houses here start getting into that" #MediaWatch #auspol pic.twitter.com/Q5BpVmCCo3 Media Watch (@ABCmediawatch) March 22, 2021 This morning Clennell queried the PM in a press conference. Andrew Clennell: If youre the boss at a business and there had been an alleged rape on your watch and this incident we heard about right on your watch, your job would probably be in a bit of jeopardy wouldnt it? Doesnt it look like you have lost control of your ministerial staff? Scott Morrison: I will let you editorialise as you like, but if anyone in this room wants to offer up the standards in their own work places as comparison I would invite you to do so. Andrew Clennell: They seem better than what is in yours. Morrison: Let me take you up on that. Right now, you would be aware that in your own organisation that there is a person who has had a complaint made against them for harassment of a woman in a womens toilet. And that matter is being pursued by your own HR department. Andrew Clennell: I am not aware of it. Morrison: You are not aware of it. So lets not all of us who sit in glass houses here start getting into that. Its about taking responsibility What I am suggesting to you is that there are serious issues here that no single individual can overwatch on every single inch of this place every second of the day. I dont think any Australian has that reasonable expectation. As far as Im aware, the incident that was reported last night occurred long before I was prime minister of this place. So it is not a matter that occurred while I was even prime minister. That goes to a long-standing culture of despicable behaviour in this place. That is not something that I could be directly held accountable [for] even when I wasnt in the role. When I am held accountable is what I do nowadays, what I am outlining outlining to you today. You are free to make your criticisms and to stand on that pedestal, but be careful. Following the exchange Clennell on air said no HR investigation was underway at SKY News. From tears to smears in no time flat. pic.twitter.com/yj0V6fieoa Stephen Jones MP (@StephenJonesMP) March 23, 2021 Update: News Corp statement from Executive Chairman Michael Miller: Prime Minister Scott Morrison was wrong today to claim an investigation is under way into a complaint accusing an employee of harassment against a woman in a female toilet. No complaint has been received and News Corp and Sky News are not dealing with a complaint. News Corp and Sky News take seriously any issues raised by staff and our utmost priority is to respect their privacy and confidentiality. This is standard business practice and because of this, we do not normally comment on private matters. However given the Prime Ministers extraordinary public claims made at a press conference broadcast live across the nation, I want to put to rest any suggestion that an employee of our company is being investigated for conduct suggested by Mr Morrison. In recent weeks, following the reporting of matters of sexually inappropriate behaviour at Parliament House, our HR team proactively gave our staff the opportunity to talk to us in confidence about their well-being. I thank those who did so. During these proactive conversations, the News Corps HR team learned of a verbal exchange between two News Corp employees in Parliament House in Canberra last year. The exchange was about a workplace-related issue, it was not of a sexual nature, it did not take place in a toilet and neither person made a complaint. Following those inquiries, our HR team wrote to one of the people involved and the matter was resolved. The Prime Minister appears to have joined these two matters and conflated them into an episode of harassment in a toilet that is under current investigation. This is simply untrue and it undermines the principle that people must be able to raise issues safely and in confidence. News Corp has no further statements to make on this matter. Source: Guardian Australia Related NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes says he doesnt want the cruise ship terminal at White Bay and would rather it was moved to Garden Island, site of naval activity since 1788. Mr Stokes said the terminal on the southern side of the Balmain peninsula wasnt well integrated into the industrial western harbour, but he had to work with existing planning constraints in mapping the future of Bays West, where the government hopes to create a tech hub, housing and waterfront parks. Cruise ships have caused problems for nearby residents since they began docking in White Bay in 2013. Credit:Wolter Peeters Ideally, would there be a cruise ship terminal there? Absolutely not. But we have to see how we can integrate that into the wider neighbourhood, Mr Stokes told The Sydney Morning Herald this week. The obvious spot to put a cruise terminal would be Garden Island. NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Animal Medical Center (AMC), the largest non-profit animal hospital in the world, announced today that the popular SiriusXM show Ask The Vet is now available as a podcast on all major platforms. The monthly, one-hour talk show hosted by Dr. Ann Hohenhaus debuted on SiriusXM Stars channel 109 in 2017 and covers a variety of pet health topics. Each episode features: an interview with a newsmaker in the pet health community; timely pet health information and tips; interesting animal stories from around the globe; and an in-depth Q&A with pet parents. The debut podcast episode of Ask The Vet features an interview with Eileen Hanavan, Director, Volunteer & Foster Engagement at the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York City, discussing the recent surge in interest to foster and adopt animals; how animal shelters across the country have adapted to continue to help animals in need amid the COVID-19 crisis; and the benefits of volunteering as a foster caregiver or adopting a pet from a shelter. "For 110 years, education has been at the core of the Animal Medical Center's mission. The new Ask The Vet podcast broadens our reach, enabling us to bring AMC's knowledge and expertise in veterinary medicine to pet parents around the globe," said Kathryn Coyne, President and Chief Executive Officer of AMC. "We are so grateful to SiriusXM for another amazing opportunity." "Ask The Vet was recently awarded a Maxwell Medallion for excellence in audio communication by the Dog Writers Association of America," said Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology and Small Animal Internal Medicine), Staff Doctor at AMC and host of Ask The Vet. "With the new Ask The Vet podcast, I'm excited to bring timely, relevant, and award-winning pet health content to pet parents everywhere to help them better care for their animals." The Ask The Vet podcast will be available on the Animal Medical Center's website www.amcny.org/AsktheVet and on all major podcast platforms, including Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Pandora. About the Host Dr. Ann Hohenhaus is a third-generation veterinarian who is a board certified specialist in both Oncology and Small Animal Internal Medicine by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She is an avid blogger and has written for multiple media outlets including www.amcny.org and vetstreet.com. In 2019, Dr. Hohenhaus was honored by the New York City Veterinary Medical Association with their Outstanding Service to Veterinary Medicine Award. Previously, she received the DeBakey Award for Excellence in Journalism from the Foundation for Biomedical Research for "Dogs Go To Bat Against Lou Gehrig's Disease." Dr. Hohenhaus has also created content for publications such as Ladies Home Journal and Real Simple Magazine. Dr. Hohenhaus is an active participant in AMC's research mission and has written extensively in the veterinary literature. She is listed as an author on over 40 publications in PubMed in the disciplines of oncology, internal medicine, and transfusion medicine, including: squamous cell carcinoma, mast cell tumors, melanoma, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and anemia. She has authored over 20 veterinary textbook chapters and is currently investigating immunotherapy for hemangiosarcoma in dogs. Dr. Hohenhaus lectures nationally and internationally, most recently in Tokyo, Japan and Lima, Peru. In her spare time, Dr. Hohenhaus raises foster kittens as a member of the ASPCA Foster Kitten Team. About the Animal Medical Center The Animal Medical Center (AMC) is the world's largest non-profit animal hospital with 100+ veterinarians providing the highest quality medical care across more than 20 specialties and services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our mission to provide the best in care, research, and education has been the foundation of our work for over a century. We've launched the Gift of Love campaign to ensure we're here for the next century, and beyond. Learn more at www.amcny.org/giftoflove Contact: Barbara Ross 201-236-1771 [email protected] SOURCE Animal Medical Center-NYC Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. New Delhi, March 23 : Supreme Court judge, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul on Tuesday inaugurated the web portal of 'Sahyog', a project aiming to further the constitutional goal of access to justice, by providing a platform connecting student research assistants to lawyers and organisitions who have taken up pro bono cases. In his address at the gathering, he said: "I congratulate the team of students at NUJS and the legal aid clinic for this initiative meant at helping law practitioners and the underprivileged citizens by facilitating pro bono legal services through the 'Sahyog' portal. This initiative is of great significance in these trying times of Covid-19. I wish this initiative and the team behind it great success." "I am sure the judiciary can equally utilise in some way the opportunity of interaction with these dynamic youngsters," he added. 'Sahyog', founded by Adya Jha and Dakshita Chopra, alumni of the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, in September 2019, has so far contributed over 2,500 pro bono hours with association of several lawyers. Their work has encompassed issues of labour law, slum dwellers, tribal communities, and human trafficking victims among others. In furtherance of their objective, the Sahyog web portal has been launched to scale up the initiative and widen its reach to a larger cross section of legal professionals and students. Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, Odisha's Advocate General Ashok Parija, and senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan were among those who joined the e-inauguration. Japan share market finished volatile session lower on Tuesday, 23 March 2021, after wiping out earlier gains, as a planned lockdown in Germany amid a resurgence of virus cases cast doubt on the region's nascent global economic recovery. Meanwhile, escalation of EU-China Tensions also weighed down sentiments. At closing bell, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average declined 178.23 points, or 0.61%, to 28,995.92. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange dropped 18.70 points, or 0.94%, to 1,971.48. Total 32 out of 33 industry category of Topix index ended into negative territory, with Air Transportation, Marine Transportation, Land Transportation, Banks, Iron & Steel, and Textiles & Apparels issues being notable losers. The Tokyo market commenced trading with firm footing as investors bought back hard-hit shares after the benchmark Nikkei shed over 1,000 points over the past two trading days. But, the market failed to hold momentum as lacklustre performance in regional markets amid escalation of EU-China Tensions and the volatility of U. S. bond yields dampened risk appetite. Chancellor Angela Merkel put Germany into hard lockdown over Easter to try to defuse another wave of infections. The move come amid signs that progress against the pandemic is stalling as global deaths and cases creep higher. Turmoil in Turkish assets continued in the wake of the central bank chief's surprise dismissal over the weekend, with a drop in the main stock index triggering a circuit breaker. Meanwhile, escalation of EU-China Tensions also weighed down sentiments. A coalition of western nations announced sanctions on Chinese officials for alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims. China immediately announced retaliatory sanctions against the EU that appeared broader. CURRENCY NEWS: The Japanese yen traded at 108.74 per dollar, following an earlier high of 108.66 against the greenback. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police are hunting a man who carried out a horrifying attack on an Asian American woman on the New York subway as other passengers looked on. Authorities say that the man urinated on the woman onboard the citys F train as it was travelling towards the borough of Queens over the weekend. The woman, who is 25, said that she moved down the train when the man, who was wearing all black and a ski mask, began to relieve himself but he followed her and continued to go on the seat next to her. He started standing really close to me and I began to feel uncomfortable, the woman told the AsianFeed blog. So I scooted to my right and noticed that his penis was pointed at me and that there was urine on my bag and jacket. Read more: I only said one thing, Are you serious?! As I looked around, none of the bystanders said or did anything. The victim took a photo of the man with her phone as he got off the train and provided it to police and filed a harassment report. No arrest has yet been made. The incident comes amid a wave of violence targeted at the Asian community since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. A 68-year-old Sri Lankan man was left in a critical condition when a subway passenger yelled a racial slur and punched him in the head, among a string of recent anti-Asian attacks in the city. Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said that the NYPD was investigating 10 anti-Asian hate crimes reported by the middle of March, compared to zero in the same period in 2020. Last week a mass shooting at Asian-owned spas in Atlanta, Georgia, killed eight people, including six Asian women. Robert Aaron Long, 21, faces murder charges in the case but has denied the killings were racially motivated. Mexico City, March 23 : Mexico has deployed more than 8,700 soldiers along its borders to combat illegal migration to the US amid a surge in the number of crossings, Defence Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval said here. The soldiers and members of the National Guard are deployed at 347 checkpoints along popular migration routes, dpa news agency quoted Sandoval as saying. After an increase in the number of mostly Central American migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, the Mexican government announced stricter migration controls last week. Land borders have also been shut for non-essential travel to prevent the spread of infection amid the pandemic. Under pressure from former US President Donald Trump, Mexico had already deployed soldiers to prevent migrants from crossing the border to the US since June 2019. Thousands of migrants came to the border after the victory of President Joe Biden, who promised a more humane immigration policy. Most are fleeing poverty, violence and the aftermath of two devastating hurricanes in Central America. US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said the government is expecting a significant increase in the number of refugees and migrants, possibly more people than in the past 20 years. Just over 14,000 unaccompanied minor migrants and refugees are currently in the custody of US authorities, officials said. New Delhi, March 23 : India recorded 40,715 infections in the last 24 hours on Tuesday, 13 per cent lower than a day before, taking the total tally to 1,16,86,796. A single-day spike of 46,951 infections was recorded on March 22, highest since November 11. Prior to this, the country registered an increase in the new cases for 12 consecutive days. According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh were exhibiting a steep rise in the 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 199 people in the last 24 hours, the toll has reached 1,60,166 in India. The active caseload in the country has mounted to 3,45,377. With the discharge of 29,785 patients in a day, a total of 1,11,81,253 persons have been discharged so far. A total of 9,67,459 tests were done on Monday. So far, 4.84 crore doses of corona vaccine have been administered in the country since the drive began on January 16 after approval for 'Covishield' and 'Covaxin'. India has also decided to extend the interval between doses of Covishield vaccine to 4-8 weeks, the Health Ministry said on Monday. Earlier, the duration of gap between two doses was 4-6 week. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. The success of COVID-19 vaccines based on messenger RNA (mRNA) is increasing the use of the new technology on other medical treatments. And scientists say that mRNA could possibly target diseases that do not respond to other drugs. Last December, the United States Food and Drug Administration and European health agencies approved the first two coronavirus vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. They both used mRNA to develop the vaccines in record time. Health officials also found the two vaccines to be safe and 95 percent effective against COVID-19. This is well above the requirement to be considered for emergency use. The mRNA technology is often likened to the operating system on a computer. It permits drug makers to change their target by putting new genetic code into a manufactured form of mRNA. In the coronavirus vaccine, the code gives instructions for our cells to make what is called the spike protein, a substance found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19. The cell then breaks down the instructions and gets rid of them. The human body recognizes that the protein does not belong there and starts producing antibodies to fight against COVID-19. At the end of the process, the body learns how to protect against future infection. More money coming to mRNA development Glenn Hunzinger is with the firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. He told Reuters news agency, There is more attention and focus on mRNA now that it has proven to be a technology that works. During the pandemic, more than $5.2 billion was invested in companies that were developing mRNA vaccines and other treatments. This amount is up from $596 million from 2019. These numbers come from the research firm Roots Analysis. Roots Analysis say over 150 mRNA vaccines and treatments are in development around the world. Most are still in early animal testing. And more than 30 have reached human testing. Most of last years money went to COVID-19 projects. But this also permitted companies to research other diseases. For example, Moderna is working on treatments for heart disease, cancer, and rare diseases. Its most advanced non-COVID program is a vaccine for cytomegalovirus, the leading cause of birth defects in the U.S. mRNA could be difficult to work with However, mRNA can be very difficult to work with. This makes future successes with treatments uncertain. Dr. Drew Weissman is a professor at the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine. He and Hungarian-born scientist Katalin Kariko are credited with an important discovery in 2005 that enables the use of mRNA technology in medicine. At the time, mRNA was difficult to work with and not approved for medical treatment. When they injected lab mice with the genetic material, some died. The two then replaced one of mRNAs four chemical building blocks with a slightly modified substance called pseudouridine in order to get it past the bodys defenses. Instructions from mRNA are brief and non-specific about where in the body it goes. This works well when telling cells to make a harmless substance to force the production of antibodies against the virus. It is more difficult to send those orders to a specific tissue, like the lungs or heart muscle. This requires different delivery methods to protect the somewhat weak mRNA molecule. Translate Bio is a Massachusetts-based company working on an mRNA treatment for cystic fibrosis, a life-shortening lung disease. People with this disease cannot produce protein to fight lung infections and other serious health issues. The drug-maker aims to become the first company to bring an mRNA drug to market. Last week, Translate Bio released some results from its ongoing drug trials. The results showed no clear improvement among patients receiving the experimental drug. Most drugs treat the effects of the disease. However, mRNA is in the business of replacing whats missing, said Joe Payne. He is the head of Arcturus. That company is currently working to develop mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 and influenza, as well as medicines for liver disease and cystic fibrosis. Whats next for mRNA? With FDA acceptance of the vaccines, experts say top scientists are also moving to the field of mRNA study. Kariko now works for BioNTech. She supervises development of its mRNA product. And Weissman said 20 companies working in the field of mRNA have asked him to join their boards of directors. And thats the Health & Lifestyle report. Im Anna Matteo and Im Dan Friedell. Deena Beasley reported this story for Reuters. Anna Matteo and Hai Do added additional information for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was also the editor. Quiz - Resources Going to mRNA after COVID-19 Success Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story focus n. a main purpose or interest genetic code biology n. the arrangement of chemical groups within the genes which specify particular kinds of amino acids used to make proteins instruction n. an order or command immune response medical n. a bodily response to an antigen that occurs when lymphocytes identify the antigenic molecule as foreign and induce the formation of antibodies and lymphocytes capable of reacting with it and rendering it harmless birth defect n. a physical or biochemical defect that is present at birth and may be inherited or environmentally induced delivery n. the transfer of something from one place or person to another mutation n. a change in a gene or the resulting new trait it produces in an individual replace v. to be used instead of (something) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 BERLIN, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chaired on C-MET's side by Dr. Vijay Bhaktar and inaugurated by Dr. Holger Thorsten Schubart, head of the Neutrino Energy Group, this cooperative effort had its start with the inaugural International Conference on Multifunctional Electronic Materials & Processing (MEMP 2021). The Car Pi: Invisible radiation converted by metamaterials will power the electrical vehicles of tomorrow Neutrino Energy Will Shape the Future of Society Dr. Bhaktar began the discussion by remarking on the unimaginable impact neutrino energy is bound to have upon international society. He pointed out a few of the many immediate applications the world will find for neutrinovoltaic technologies. At the same time, Dr. Bhaktar cautioned that the time has come for Indian scientists to come together on the subject of neutrino energy. As an internationally renowned laboratory for materials research and development, C-MET Pune is perfectly poised to lead the Indian scientific community in a wholehearted embrace of the seemingly unimaginable benefits of neutrinovoltaics. Neutrinovoltaic Technology Has Surpassed the Theoretical Dr. Schubart didn't show up at C-MET Pune empty-handed. Far from some far-fetched dream of pseudoscience, neutrino energy is a proven reality, and the Neutrino Energy Group already has some successes to brag about. In addition to demonstrating the viability of neutrinovoltaic technology at the University of Chicago, Schubart has also worked with Dr. Bharat Kale, a colleague of Dr. Bhaktar, to develop the Car Pi, a prototypical metamaterial vehicle that will be powered by neutrino energy. Known as the Car Pi, the Neutrino Energy Group's proposed electric vehicle will be powered with the endless stream of elementary particles, electromagnetic waves, temperature differences, electro smog, neutrinos and other natural and artificial invisible radiation that pass through us and everything we see during every moment of every day. This revolutionary innovation in the automotive industry will forever change the way that people around the world use cars. C-MET's Novel Nanostructures Will Prove Critical Under the Memorandum of Cooperation signed by C-MET Pune and the Neutrino Energy Group, the two organizations will work together to develop new neutrinovoltaic technologies and start building out the infrastructure for mass-production of neutrino energy devices. Having proved itself one of the world's preeminent institutes of revolutionary nanomaterial research, C-MET Pune is an ideal match for neutrinovoltaic technologies, which center around graphene, a simple, abundant, yet tricky nanostructure. An Active Collaboration Strategy Will Train C-MET's Skilled Human Resources The Neutrino Energy Group intends to lean on the expertise of C-MET Pune's engineering talent while simultaneously training the first generation of neutrinovoltaic technicians. Various areas of C-MET Pune's expertise, including 2D materials and quantum dots, will prove highly useful in developing efficient, powerful, and mass-producible neutrino energy technologies. With a Single Memorandum, Two Nations Benefit At the conclusion of the conference, Dr. Holger Thorsten Schubart, Dr. Bharat Kale, and Dr. Vijar Bhatkar unanimously agreed to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with Dr. Schubart representing the international research team behind the Neutrino Energy Group and Dr. Kale and Dr. Bhaktar representing C-MET Pune. Together, the Neutrino Energy Group and C-MET Pune will light the beacon of Neutrinovoltaic technologies for the rest of the world to follow. The age of infinite sustainable energy of the next generation is upon us; all we need to do is reach out and grasp it. Author: Stefan Kuhne Neutrino Deutschland GmbH Unter den Linden 21-23 10117 Berlin Tel.:+493020924013 Related Images the-car-pi.jpg The Car Pi The Car Pi: Invisible radiation converted by metamaterials will power the electrical vehicles of tomorrow SOURCE Neutrino Energy Group Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Many organisms use sunlight to fuel cellular functions. But exactly how does this conversion of solar energy into chemical energy unfold? In a recent experiment, an international team of scientists, including two researchers from UWM, sought answers using an advanced imaging technique called time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography to watch a pigment found in some marine bacteria as it was exposed to sunlight outside the cell. For this experiment, the researchers documented, for the first time, the dynamics of the "chloride ion-pumping rhodopsin," an atomic "pump," which is jump-started by sunlight and moves chloride ions unidirectionally into the bacterial cells. These pumps may also serve as a kind of molecular solar cell for energy conversion. Once inside, the chloride ions create a negatively charged environment, while the outside of the cell remains neutral. This results in an electric field that the bacteria could use to move, grow and maintain other vital functions. The imaging method is capable of capturing sequential pictures of the molecular changes of biological macromolecules at work. How chloride is pumped and transported within the rhodopsin has been elusive, said Marius Schmidt, UWM professor of physics who is one of the corresponding authors on the paper, which appeared March 22 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Recent UWM graduate and postdoctoral researcher Suraj Pandey also contributed substantially to this research. "We intended to find out how sunlight drives the pump," Schmidt said. "The rhodopsin's response to light starts the mechanism. The response is extremely fast - at picoseconds, a trillionth of a second. So, we needed to make a molecular movie on extremely fast time scales to follow the 'pumping' action." The movie shows both the mechanics of the pump and the movements of the pump's piston in a cylinder, which displaces the chloride ions. The size of this piston, however, is one billion times smaller than a piston in the macroscopic world. The movie shows in atomic detail how the piston pushes the chloride ions into the bacterial cell. Imaging was done with Free Electron Laser (XFEL) equipment at the Linac Coherent Light Source in California that uses ultra-short and intense X-ray pulses that repeat rapidly to capture the frames of the molecular movie. X-rays hit protein molecules that are located in tiny crystals and which diffract into certain patterns, revealing where the atoms are at a single instance of time. With so many pulses per second, the equipment's camera can work at blistering speed, churning out a multitude of "snapshots." Those are then mathematically reconstructed into 3D moving images that depict the arrangement of atoms over time - the structural changes that occur when proteins accomplish a task. The work is relatable to human biology, he said, because the structure of the chloride pump is very similar to the rhodopsin and the photopsins in the human eye. While it doesn't pump chloride, rhodopsin enables the human eye to absorb light and convert it into the generation of electrical signals that communicate with the brain. The structure of this chloride-ion pump also resembles that of other G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in humans, which regulate functions such as blood pressure and hormone management. GPRCs are of interest to the pharmaceutical industry because they are prime drug targets. Although the imaging is being used to advance fundamental biological science, this mechanism could also be applied in the future, Schmidt said, to design light-sensitive molecular pumps. "The chloride pump could be inserted into other organisms, and you'd be able to manipulate their behavior with light through a method called optogenetics," he said. ### In addition to the UWM researchers, other members of the scientific team on the paper include researchers from Yonsei University in South Korea, Beijing Computational Science Research Center in China, Tsinghua University in China, Beijing Normal University in China, Arizona State University, Linac Coherent Light Source, La Trobe University in Australia, and Yokohama City University in Japan. The work at UWM was funded by the National Science Foundation through the BioXFEL Science and Technology Center. DUBLIN, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Biochar Market Research Report by Row Material (Biochar Source Material and Soil/Substrate), by Feedstock (Agricultural Waste, Animal Manure, and Woody Biomass), by Technology, by Application - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Biochar Market is expected to grow from USD 1,594.47 Million in 2020 to USD 3,305.51 Million by the end of 2025. This research report categorizes the Biochar to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Row Material, the Biochar Market is examined across Biochar Source Material and Soil/Substrate. The Biochar Source Material further studied across Citrus wood, Gasifed Rice Hulls, Hardwood, and wheat Straw. The Soil/Substrate further studied across Coconut Fiber, Peat, Peat Moss, Pine Bark, and Soil. Based on Feedstock, the Biochar Market is examined across Agricultural Waste, Animal Manure, and Woody Biomass. Based on Technology, the Biochar Market is examined across Gasification and Pyrolysis. Based on Application, the Biochar Market is examined across Agriculture, Energy Production, and Water & Waste Water Treatment. The Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period Based on Geography, the Biochar Market is examined across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region surveyed across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region surveyed across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region surveyed across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. The Americas commanded the largest size in the Biochar Market in 2020. On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Company Usability Profiles: The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Biochar Market including 3R ENVIRO TECH Group, Agri-Tech Producers, LLC, Airex Energy, Aries Clean Energy, ArSta Eco, Biochar Products, Inc., Biochar Supreme, LLC, Carbon Gold, Clean Fuels B.V., Cool Planet Energy Systems Inc., Diacarbon Energy Inc., Earth Systems PTY. LTD., Pacific Pyrolysis, Phoenix Energy, The Biochar Company, and Vega Biofuels, Inc.. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. the ongoing research amplifies the research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Biochar Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. Competitive Strategic Window: The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Biochar Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Biochar Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Biochar Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Biochar Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Biochar Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Biochar Market? Key Topics Covered: 1. Preface 1.1. Objectives of the Study 1.2. Market Segmentation & Coverage 1.3. Years Considered for the Study 1.4. Currency & Pricing 1.5. Language 1.6. Limitations 1.7. Stakeholders 2. Research Methodology 2.1. Research Process 2.1.1. Define: Research Objective 2.1.2. Determine: Research Design 2.1.3. Prepare: Research Instrument 2.1.4. Collect: Data Source 2.1.5. Analyze: Data Interpretation 2.1.6. Formulate: Data Verification 2.1.7. Publish: Research Report 2.1.8. Repeat: Report Update 2.2. Research Execution 2.2.1. Initiation: Research Process 2.2.2. Planning: Develop Research Plan 2.2.3. Execution: Conduct Research 2.2.4. Verification: Finding & Analysis 2.2.5. Publication: Research Report 2.3. Research Outcome 3. Executive Summary 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Market Outlook 3.3. Row Material Outlook 3.4. Feedstock Outlook 3.5. Technology Outlook 3.6. Application Outlook 3.7. Geography Outlook 3.8. Competitor Outlook 4. Market Overview 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 5. Market Insights 5.1. Market Dynamics 5.1.1. Drivers 5.1.1.1. Globally increasing demand for the product in organic farming 5.1.1.2. Increasing consumption in livestock feed and awareness pertaining to the benefits of biochar 5.1.1.3. Increasing use to improves soil fertility 5.1.2. Restraints 5.1.2.1. Undefined standard procedure resulting in highly variable Biochar pH 5.1.3. Opportunities 5.1.3.1. Energy production and greenhouse gas remediation 5.1.3.2. Wide commercial production 5.1.3.3. Collaboration to deliver technology-oriented services and financing services for biochar projects 5.1.4. Challenges 5.1.4.1. Potential emission of toxins 5.1.4.2. Limited Social acceptance 5.2. Porters Five Forces Analysis 5.2.1. Threat of New Entrants 5.2.2. Threat of Substitutes 5.2.3. Bargaining Power of Customers 5.2.4. Bargaining Power of Suppliers 5.2.5. Industry Rivalry 6. Global Biochar Market, By Row Material 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Biochar Source Material 6.2.1. Citrus wood 6.2.2. Gasifed Rice Hulls 6.2.3. Hardwood 6.2.4. wheat Straw 6.3. Soil/Substrate 6.3.1. Coconut Fiber 6.3.2. Peat 6.3.3. Peat Moss 6.3.4. Pine Bark 6.3.5. Soil 7. Global Biochar Market, By Feedstock 7.1. Introduction 7.2. Agricultural Waste 7.3. Animal Manure 7.4. Woody Biomass 8. Global Biochar Market, By Technology 8.1. Introduction 8.2. Gasification 8.3. Pyrolysis 9. Global Biochar Market, By Application 9.1. Introduction 9.2. Agriculture 9.3. Energy Production 9.4. Water & Waste Water Treatment 10. Americas Biochar Market 10.1. Introduction 10.2. Argentina 10.3. Brazil 10.4. Canada 10.5. Mexico 10.6. United States 11. Asia-Pacific Biochar Market 11.1. Introduction 11.2. Australia 11.3. China 11.4. India 11.5. Indonesia 11.6. Japan 11.7. Malaysia 11.8. Philippines 11.9. South Korea 11.10. Thailand 12. Europe, Middle East & Africa Biochar Market 12.1. Introduction 12.2. France 12.3. Germany 12.4. Italy 12.5. Netherlands 12.6. Qatar 12.7. Russia 12.8. Saudi Arabia 12.9. South Africa 12.10. Spain 12.11. United Arab Emirates 12.12. United Kingdom 13. Competitive Landscape 13.1. FPNV Positioning Matrix 13.1.1. Quadrants 13.1.2. Business Strategy 13.1.3. Product Satisfaction 13.2. Market Ranking Analysis 13.3. Market Share Analysis 13.4. Competitor SWOT Analysis 13.5. Competitive Scenario 13.5.1. Merger & Acquisition 13.5.2. Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership 13.5.3. New Product Launch & Enhancement 13.5.4. Investment & Funding 13.5.5. Award, Recognition, & Expansion 14. Company Usability Profiles 14.1. 3R ENVIRO TECH Group 14.2. Agri-Tech Producers, LLC 14.3. Airex Energy 14.4. Aries Clean Energy 14.5. ArSta Eco 14.6. Biochar Products, Inc. 14.7. Biochar Supreme, LLC 14.8. Carbon Gold 14.9. Clean Fuels B.V. 14.10. Cool Planet Energy Systems Inc. 14.11. Diacarbon Energy Inc. 14.12. Earth Systems PTY. LTD. 14.13. Pacific Pyrolysis 14.14. Phoenix Energy 14.15. The Biochar Company 14.16. Vega Biofuels, Inc. 15. Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/hwbvp9 Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com A Welsh government bill would soon ask schools in Wales to incorporate humanism in their curriculum. Christian parents worry on their child's education. The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill, first introduced in July 2020, is now one stage short to its completion. On March 9, the Welsh parliament agreed for its passage. First reported by The Christian Post, this bill would amount to "transferring the right of parents to decide their child's best interests about sex and religious education to the State." This was underscored by Elizabeth Francis, a legal officer for human rights group Alliance Defending Freedom, U.K., in her critique published in The Conservative Woman. Francis said that this should concern parents as the proposed approach for children's education in the bill would subtly slip in humanist ideologies. This was initially noticed in the terminologies where the bill changes "religious education" to "religion, values, and ethics." Other Christians working in firms were equally concerned as other governments in England and Wales seem to be, in Francis words, "legislating deliberately to neglect parental rights - principles long upheld both domestic and internationally." According to The Christian Institute, this new 'Religion, Values and Ethics' (RVE) curriculum will teach non-religious worldviews alongside Christianity and other religious beliefs. There is also a provision in the bill that allows a "disproportionate time to be spent for the study of Humanism or atheism." Additionally, after parental objections on teachings they object to like sex education will be removed, lessons on humanism will become compulsory. There would no limit to the teaching time for these subjects, thereby pitting them against Christian values. Gareth Edwards, the Institute's Wales Officer, said that the Welsh Government ignored two public consultations which should technically halt the bill's passage. "In the last census, only 815 people said they were humanists in the whole of Wales. Why have they been handed such influence over the content of religious teaching in schools?" wondered Edwards. Also under the new law is the controversial Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) subject which would allow unsuitable contents to be taught in schools. Although the new bill's provision for teaching and learning has the clause that RSE must be "developmentally appropriate for pupils or children," the exclusion of parental consent or even consultation over which material is appropriate to use negates the principle. Counselor Francis from the ADF laments the soon erosion of the "UK's long history of recognizing and upholding parental rights in education." "Particularly when it comes to sensitive topics, the primary role of parents has always been respected as they are best placed to determine what is age-appropriate for the background, culture, and developmental maturity of their children," said Francis. Edwards refuses to throw in the towel. "While this is a setback, Christians will still be able to have a positive influence in schools by responding to the public consultation on the RSE code in due course, and parents should also expect to be consulted by their schools before changes are brought in," he suggested. (Natural News) The World Health Organization (WHO) is facilitating a global health dictatorship, commanding all member states to enforce totalitarian lock downs and far-reaching medical edicts that empower government authorities and the vaccine industry not human health. WHOs authoritarian recommendations were adopted in rapid fashion by almost every government on Earth. The behavioral controls and livelihood restrictions imposed by WHO have no basis in immune system health, mental health, or general well being. WHO operates like a global oligarchy, forcing all member states to carry out their orders. In 2020 and beyond, WHO has ordered populations into isolation, avoidance, and unlawful quarantines. WHO has forced perpetual oxygen restrictions, coercive DNA harvesting, and mRNA vaccines experiments, while instructing governments around the world to quash civil liberties and promote medical martial law. This dictatorship is giving rise to a medical apartheid a system of segregation that punishes healthy people for not complying. Bill Gates Vaccine Alliance is the source of terror behind WHOs lock downs and coercive vaccine passports Where is WHO coming up with these restrictive medical edicts and coercive vaccine policies? According to WHO insider Astrid Stuckelberger, Ph.D., WHO serves the financial interests of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance run by Bill Gates. GAVI was formed in 2000 and set up as an international institution in Switzerland. GAVI operates tax free and enjoys blanket immunity against criminal sanctions. Bill Gates leveraged GAVI and bought his influence into the WHO. He even asked to become a member state in 2017, with the privilege of being on WHOs executive board. Bill Gates now controls Swissmedic, the FDA of Switzerland, due to a three-way vaccine distribution contract agreement reached by Gates, WHO, and the Swiss regulatory agency. By controlling WHO, Gates funnels tens of billions of dollars through his GAVI Vaccine Alliance, with the ultimate power of controlling member states. As the controller of information and the arbiter of science, Gates and the vaccine industry has the power to suppress prophylactics, treatments, phytonutrients, adaptogens, and antivirals. Bill Gates and GAVI is the source of terror behind WHO, the lock downs, restrictions, and authoritarian medical edicts that are compelling vaccination experiments. WHO insider, Astrid Stuckelberger came clean about WHOs political motivations and how the science is manipulated and leveraged to force populations to comply with vaccine experiments. Stuckelberger is an international expert who evaluates scientific research and advises policymakers. She has written more than 180 scientific articles, policy papers and governmental reports. She admits that this research is conducted to support political agendas and to justify government policy. Since 2009, she managed WHOs international health regulations, which were primarily used to prepare member states to act in unison during a future pandemic. At the center of this world government plandemic is Bill Gates and the GAVI Vaccine Alliance. GAVI and WHO control governments around the world now, threaten populations Bill Gates has more power and influence over WHO than entire nations. The United Nations originally established WHO, but has repeatedly refused to rein in their dictatorial powers, illegal quarantine procedures, coercive vaccine passports, and undemocratic power grabs. Justus Hoffmann, Ph.D., one of the German Corona Extra-Parliamentary Inquiry Committee members, pointed out that GAVI has no political power but enjoys qualified diplomatic immunity. GAVI is immune from all criminal business dealing, as well, whether their potential criminal actions are intentional or inadvertent. They can do whatever they want, Stuckelberger confirmed, and they answer to no authority. No law enforcement is allowed to investigate GAVI, even if the Vaccine Alliance was implicated in a criminal conspiracy to defraud or coerce people. Stuckelberger, who worked four years on the ethics committee for the WHO, said its disturbing that GAVI enjoys blanket immunity especially when GAVI is directing, as a corporate entity, the WHO. The director general of WHO forces all member states to follow GAVIs orders, from the type of diagnostic tests, to the type of treatments allowed, to top-down populations controls, pandemic messaging, and most importantly, vaccine experimentation. The WHO has been set up over the years to assume dictatorial power over world governments and GAVI is the source of their authoritarianism, terror, and coercive vaccination push. After months of using high cycle PCR tests to diagnose covid-19, the WHO finally alerted the world in January of 2021 that these tests were producing mostly false positives all along. As laboratories dial back the cycle threshold on the PCR tests, the official number of covid cases and deaths will slowly dissipate. This medical fraud will not stop the wave of hospital dependence, ventilator-associated pneumonia, lung infections, stress induced heart disease, drug overdoses, severe mental illness, and vaccine injury that is now taking hold of the world. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com NaturalNews.com GAVI.org NaturalNews.com SAN CLEMENTE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / Global WholeHealth Partners Corp, (OTC PINK:GWHP) a multinational supplier of over 70+ FDA approved tests including Dengue, Ebola, Zika, Malaria also offering one of the largest lines of tests for CoViD19 SARS2, is prepared to help in the fight against CoViD19 SARS2. With the vaccine rollout in progress, continued testing for COVID-19 is imperative and needs to remain a top priority to stop the spread of this deadly virus. Global WholeHealth Partners, Corp (OTC PINK:GWHP) Secures Distribution Rights to sell the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine anywhere in the world pending FDA Approval as Biden Administration Increases Stockpile in preparation of a quick roll out. Charles Strongo, CEO of Global WholeHealth Partners, Corp. said, "We were so impressed by the progress that AstraZeneca has made thus far with their vaccine, that we (Global) have secures the distribution rights to sell this vaccine anywhere in the world." "We think the Biden Administration is being strategically proactive with their plan to accumulate the AstraZeneca vaccines ahead of time," Charles Strongo commented White House press secretary Jen Psaki recently said "We want to be oversupplied and over prepared," saying Biden wanted contingencies in the event of any unforeseen issues with the existing production timeline. A copy of the Global WholeHealth Partners, Corp 8K filing dated 03/02/2021 related to the distribution rights of the AstraZeneca vaccine can be found here. "The CDC is still recommending that individuals who are already fully vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus continue to get tested if they are experiencing any of the symptoms," Charles Strongo reiterated. CDC Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People can be found here. "There is no better way to Stop the Spread of COVID-19 and it's various mutated strains then by utilizing the rapid antibody test kits that we offer to accurately detect those who have become infected and having them immediately quarantine," says Charles Strong, CEO of Global WholeHealth Partners, Corp. Global WholeHealth Partners recognizes that there is a crucial need for faster testing and faster results when it comes to fighting the COVID. Global WholeHealth Partners knows that the quicker the test results can be reviewed by a Front-Line Healthcare Worker, the quicker we can stop the spread of this disease. With results in minutes versus hours or days with other diagnostic kits, the more lives that can be saved with the only FDA authorized COVID-19 POC serology Point of Care Test. With the new fingerstick test, healthcare providers can prick a patient's finger and get results in minutes without having to wait for venous blood. Global WholeHealth Partners will be able to distribute these tests to more urgent cares, hospitals, and - to help curb the spread of CoViD19 SARS2. Global Wholehealth Partners Corp. provides cutting edge technology using In-vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Real-Time PCR Machines for detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG antibodies in human serum, plasma, or whole blood. It has led the fight against vector borne terminal diseases such as Ebola, ZIKA, Dengue, Malaria, Influenza and Tuberculosis, Corona Viruses, and among other vector borne diseases. The company was founded on March 7, 2013 and is headquartered in San Clemente, CA. GWHP develops, manufactures, and markets in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests for OTC, or consumer-use as well as professional rapid diagnostic point-of-care (POC) test kits for hospitals, physicians' offices, and medical clinics in the US and abroad. Notably, GWHP offers a CE Mark for its high quality, rapid antibody test for COVID-19 and an EUA filing with the FDA is pending approval. In the interim, the US Navy in California has been using the test during 2Q20 and the Company has the capacity to deliver hundreds of thousands of tests, ramping up to 1 million per day. Currently, the Company has 56 products FDA approved and many are Approved for OTC use, and 9 POC products approved by the FDA. Disclaimer: The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the Covid-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time Media Contact: Name: Charles Strongo, CEO, Global WholeHealth Partners Corp. Email: Sales@gwhpcorp.com; Sales CStrongo@gwhpcorp.com Media www.gwhpcorp.com This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) market acceptance of our existing and new products, (ii) negative clinical trial results or lengthy product delays in key markets, (iii) an inability to secure regulatory approvals for the sale of our products, (iv) intense competition in the medical device industry from much larger, multinational companies, (v) product liability claims, (vi) product malfunctions, (vii) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on subcontractors for assistance, (viii) insufficient or inadequate reimbursement by governmental and other third party payers for our products, (ix) our efforts to successfully obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products, which may not be successful, (x) legislative or regulatory reform of the healthcare system in both the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, (xi) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, (xii) the fact that we will need to raise additional capital to meet our business requirements in the future and that such capital raising may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain and (xiii) the fact that we conduct business in multiple foreign jurisdictions, exposing us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical and communications challenges, burdens and costs of compliance with foreign laws and political and economic instability in each jurisdiction. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html SOURCE: Global WholeHealth Partners Corp, View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636843/Global-WholeHealth-Partners-Corp-OTCGWHP-Secures-Global-Distribution-Rights-to-Sell-the-AstraZeneca-COVID-19-Vaccine-Anywhere-in-the-World-Pending-FDA-Approval-as-Biden-Administration-Stockpiles-Vaccine Eric Talley, a police officer in Boulder, Colorado state, who was killed in a mass shooting on Monday, March 22, 2021. (Photo: Boulder Police) Image Source: IANS News Police at the scene of the mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado state, in which ten people were killed on Monday, March 22, 2021. (Photo: Boulder Police) Image Source: IANS News New York, March 23 : Ten people have been killed in a mass shooting in Boulder in Colorado state putting the focus on gun violence, the intractable scourge of the US that is deeply rooted in ideology. At a news conference on Tuesday, Boulder Police chief Maris Herold identified the shooter in the Monday evening incident as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, a 21-year-old man. The killings at a grocery shop followed another another massacre last Tuesday in which eight people were killed in Atlanta. Herold said that Alissa, who was taken to a hospital after being taken into custody, was in a stable condition. She said that he has been charged with ten murders but did not provide a motive. FBI Special Agent Michael Schneider said officials were conducting a "thorough investigation which includes identifying the subject's motives". A Senate committee started a previously scheduled hearing on gun violence on Tuesday morning, which brought out the political differences between the Democrats and Republicans on guns. "We face a pandemic of coronavirus. We have another epidemic in America called guns," said Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat Senator. According to the Gun Violence Archive, 19,223 people were killed in the US in shootings last year, an increase of 25 per cent over the previous year. One of those killed in Boulder was a police officer, Eri Talley, Herold said. Calling the shootings "an absolute tragedy", Vice President Kamala Harris said: "A police officer who is performing his duties, and with great courage and heroism" is a victim. She added that ten people "going about their day, living their lives, not bothering anybody" have been killed. President Joe Biden has ordered flags to be flown at half-mast to mourn the victims and he is to speak to the nation about the gun violence later on Tuesday, the White House said. The shootings brought renewed calls for stricter laws to control gun violence. At the Senate committee hearing on "Constitutional and Common Sense Steps to Reduce Gun Violence", Durbin asked: "What are we doing, other than reflecting and praying?" The House of Representatives passed two bills to tighten background checks for gun-buyers but faces Republicans opposition making it unlikely to pass the Senate. Republican Senator Ted Cruz expressed his party's scepticism over laws to restrict gun ownership, saying: "Every time there's a shooting we play this ridiculous theatre where this committee gets together and proposes a bunch of laws that would do nothing to stop these murders." The shootings in the Atlanta region by a White man last Tuesday targeted three massage parlours and six of the victims were Asian women raising fears of racial violence against Asians. According to officials, the killer in the Atlanta region, also 21 years old, told them he had a sex addiction and shot the massage places to root out the source of temptation for him. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. WASHINGTON Its more than just concrete and steel. President Bidens advisers are preparing a giant infrastructure plan, which would include close to $1 trillion of spending on the construction of roads, bridges, rail lines and ports. But for a president who campaigned on addressing the existential threat of climate change, as well as racial inequality, Mr. Biden clearly expects his infrastructure plan to be a lot more ambitious than simply repaving the nations roads. You have to look at his words from the campaign and where hes positioned this, said John D. Podesta, a former top adviser to Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. He said in order to build the economy back better, we need to tackle the interlocking nature of the Covid crisis, the climate crisis and the racial justice crisis. I think thats what they intend to do with this package. Heres a look at what we know about the administrations plans so far and what questions remain. Traditional Projects Mr. Bidens infrastructure plan will deal with the meat-and-potato issues that Republicans and Democrats agree are an urgent need. It seeks to rebuild roads, bridges, transit, rail and ports, while also improving power grids and increasing the number of electric vehicle charging stations. The plan makes the development of universal broadband, a major issue in rural communities, a priority. It includes a goal of training millions of workers. And it makes the case that these upgrades are needed to keep the United States competitive with powers abroad. Victorias coronavirus restrictions will ease again on Friday, with masks no longer mandatory in retail stores, caps on public and private gatherings lifted and companies no longer required to permit employees to work from home. Under the new rules, the most relaxed since the start of last years second wave, Victorians will be able to have up to 100 people visit their home every day, up from the previous limit of 30. The changes will take effect from 6pm on Friday, which will, if no new infections are recorded, mark 28 consecutive days without a new local case of COVID-19. The cap on the number of people permitted to attend public gatherings will increase from 100 to 200. Face masks will no longer be required in retail settings, but will still be needed on public transport, in taxis and ride-share vehicles. Masks will also remain mandatory at hospitals and in aged care settings. Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries not only in Asia but across the globe, making it an excellent option for global expansion. Its Asian location serves as the perfect gateway to markets across the continent and its highly skilled workforce offers a wealth of opportunities for growing a business of any kind. But even if you only plan to conquer the Japanese market, youre already aiming high. Japan is already one of the largest markets across the globe, competing with giants like China and the United States. If your business targets high end clientele, Japan may be the ideal destination, with its high quality of life and taste for the finer things. Hosting the upcoming Olympic Games is another indicator of Japans international clout. It also helps that the government in Japan is extremely stable, making it easier to plan an expansion compared to less developed countries known for political volatility. But before opening a business in Japan and hiring employees locally, there are several employment facts to consider carefully. Like every country, Japan has its unique laws and procedures. The more you know in advance, the smoother the expansion process will go. Calculating Real Employment Costs One of the challenges of hiring abroad is the difficulty in calculating the true costs of international employees. The salary figures are just the beginning. Then there are layers of taxes. In Japan, employer payroll tax can reach nearly 25% of the employees salary. Those taxes are distributed among the various social institutions in Japan. They include a mandatory 9.5% for pensions, as much as 5.8% for health insurance, 0.6% for unemployment insurance, a small percentage for family allowance and even as much as 8.8% for insurance for work injuries (depending on the risk level of the business; the insurance can go as low as 0.25% for very low risk work) Understanding the social security structure in Japan is a good beginning for understand the costs of hiring. Its also a good idea to be familiar with the range of labor laws in the country. That could save costs on several levels. One is the actual cost of doing business, because youll know what is required and what is optional when it comes to employment laws. The second level is avoiding the government fines that go with violating the law code, not to mention the damage to your companys reputation. A Most Generous Parental Leave It has often been said that one could learn a great deal about the character of a country by looking at its labor laws. The levels of minimum wage and protection from exploitation by the government go a long way in showing the true values of the country, or at least its current priorities. In Japan, one of the most striking labor laws in Japan others is the emphasis on granting fathers time with their newborn children. While Japans maternity leave policy 14 weeks divided into six weeks before birth and eight weeks after birth is on par or ahead of many western countries, the laws also grant fathers up to a year off to spend with their newborn. It is easily one of the longest periods of parental leave granted to fathers in the world. The fathers are paid 66% of their regular salary by the state. It is also designed to combat some of the cultural norms in society, as demonstrated by the fact that only 3% of fathers actually take advantage of the opportunity. In a country with an aging population and a low birth rate, the culture expectation that women will care for infants appears deeply set. Of course, you dont have to worry about losing all the fathers for a year immediately after hiring them. The law requires that a father spend at least a year at the company before becoming eligible for parental leave. Termination Can Be Difficult It is also important to be aware of the termination process in Japan, which often results in a settlement between the employer and the employee and some form of compensation for the employee. In Japan, an employee facing termination can challenge the decision and the employer must prove that there was a good reason to terminate the employee. Otherwise, the termination may be considered unjust, making the employee eligible for compensation. Termination under any circumstances must include 30 days advance notice. The standard compensation agreement typically involves one month of pay for every year of employment. It is also standard practice to begin employment with a trial period that normally runs for three months, though it may legally be extended to six months. In the event of layoffs, the employer must demonstrate that there was an effort made to avoid laying off workers, that there is a necessity to reduce the size of the workforce, that the workers chosen for layoff were selected deliberately, and that there was a process in place that included consultations with the employees and, if appropriate, labor unions. As a pandemic hijacked the nations attention, we pushed aside other, even bigger problems. But now that COVID-19 is being cornered, the crisis of climate change is returning to page one. The threat of a rapidly warming planet is actually harder to deal with. It cant be fixed with a vaccine. Slower-moving, its easier to put off addressing the impending disaster. And worldwide in scope, its politically hard for America to step forward. After all, the United States produces 13% of the worlds greenhouse emissions, but China is responsible for 26%. Left unchecked, however, climate change will visit catastrophe on places where millions of Americans live. It will unleash global mass migrations that are dangerous and difficult to control. And it will pile on any number of medical crises. Some health emergencies are already upon us. The wildfires in the western U.S. set off an epidemic of respiratory ailments. The surge of heat waves, floods and storms said to be churned by higher temperatures has produced growing numbers of injuries and deaths. Hotter and wetter conditions are spawning huge populations of mosquitoes and ticks. These insects spread such infectious diseases as malaria, Lyme disease and West Nile virus. Extreme weather events are breaking water, sanitation, food distribution and electric systems. Hospitals caught in these disruptions can hardly manage their usual patient loads, much less take on the newly distressed. Then there is drought. The 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California took 85 lives and incinerated 11,000 homes, plus schools and businesses. Some residents are building back, but many are moving elsewhere. All are suffering from PTSD. Warming waters are increasing the number and intensity of storms and feeding the emotional turmoil that follows. Even as the focus in 2020 was on the virus, the Atlantic hurricane season broke the record for the most named storms. Twelve of them made landfall in the continental U.S. Louisiana was hit by a parade of five Tropical Storms Cristobal and Marco, and Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta. Each one caused dislocation, personal stress and economic loss. The nonprofit research firm First Street Foundation estimates that the flooding caused by climate change will be worse than government estimates. Its models suggest that by 2050, up to 84% of the buildings in Cape Coral, Florida, and nearly all buildings in New Orleans will be at substantial risk of flood damage. The Department of Defense has labeled climate change a threat multiplier. This means that security threats already out there will become more ominous. They include poverty, environmental degradation, political instability and social tensions any of which can enable terrorism and spawn other forms of violence. Climate change is endangering U.S. military installations themselves. Rising seas now imperil the giant Navy station in Norfolk, Virginia. As retired Rear Adm. David Titley, a naval oceanographer, put it, These guys are in a whole heap ton of trouble. More and more places are becoming uninhabitable. As one example, a doctor at a public hospital in New York writes of two patients whose villages in northeast Africa, plagued by drought and scorching temperatures, can no longer support human life. Climate change is expected to turn millions of Americans into migrants as well. Matt Hauer, a sociologist at Florida State University, projects that the homes of 13 million Americans living on the coasts will sink under the waves. The residents will obviously have to go somewhere else. Those who think President Joe Bidens aggressive climate change agenda is radical should think about how very radically their world will change if the trend continues unhindered. Meeting the challenge will be the ultimate moon shot making the defeat of COVID seem easy by comparison. (Harrop is a writer for Creators Syndicate) The Northern Ireland Consumer Council have blasted a planned price increase by the natural gas company firmus energy. The Antrim based gas distribution and supply company said tariffs in its greater Belfast network would increase by 14% from 15 April. This area covers Belfast as well as Lisburn, Carrickfergus, Larne and large parts of Co Down. While the company said this followed two previous price reductions of 20% over the last 18-months, they added that the increase was in response to a global wholesale rise in gas prices. It is expected that the average household bill will rise by around 1.32 per week or around 69 per year. It is thought the company has around 50,000 customers here. The Consumer Council Northern Ireland described the announcement as unwelcome news and said the price hike follows similar news of a 17.75% increase within the companys Ten Towns network area. While the Consumer Council said it understood the main driver for the increase being the significant rise in the cost of wholesale gas, it encouraged customers to reach out for help. Consumers who are experiencing financial difficulty and are struggling to pay their energy bills should contact their supplier without delay to talk about how they can help during these times, they said. The Consumer Council would encourage firmus energy customers in the Greater Belfast area to shop around to ensure they are on the best energy deal. In a statement, firmus energy said: We know that price stability is important for our customers but the increase of wholesale natural gas costs on the global market, which are beyond our control, have unfortunately made this increase inevitable. Any increase is never welcome news and we recognise this comes at a particularly difficult time for many. We want to assure our customers that we will continue to monitor and review our tariffs to ensure customers are getting the best prices possible. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close DETROIT -- Nicole Curtis says she paid $17,000 for a house in Detroit in 2017 and has made around $60,000 in repairs in the hopes of turning the once dilapidated house into a desirable property. Now shes suing the Detroit Land Bank Authority for the property because it turns out the person who sold her the house didnt actually have the right to do so, according to the Associated Press. I feel bad for Nicole, Mayor Mike Duggan said Monday. It appears she was scammed. It appears she paid somebody who didnt own the house and paid them to buy it. But the land bank cant legally just give her the property. Curtis is the star of the HGTV series Rehab Addict Rescue which has been on the air since 2010. A Michigan native, Curtis is seeking to be paid for the property or to keep it. I didnt become so successful in business by being somebody who backs down, Curtis said, adding that she doesnt think the land bank should benefit from her work. The scam began in 2017 when Curtis thought she bought the property from the previous owner. However, the property had already been returned to the Detroit Land Bank Authority after that previous owner failed to renovate it as expected. When Curtis Detroit Land Renovation LLC bought the property, the previous owners executed a quit claim deed to Detroit Renovations, despite not having the legal authority to do so. The land bank listed the property for sale last week for $40,000, leading to Curtis filing her lawsuit. Duggan says the courts have already weighed in on the manner saying the land bank owns the property, but he hopes Curtis will stick with the project and that some sort of agreement can be made. They cant turn the property over without getting value, Duggan said of the land bank. READ MORE: I dont know what to do, says business owner after massive fire destroys 40 customer pianos Soo Locks to open this week, view freighters with live webcams Half a million dollars raised for Michigan family involved in fatal crash 'Transformative' is the word Huw Jones uses to describe the recent 11million fundraising by Evgen Pharma. 'It allows us to accelerate some substantial work now,' the company's CEO says. So, what was it the new investors liked about Evgen; what did they see that the wider market didn't? Well, it's the same thing that persuaded Jones to join the company last October: SFX-01. Evgen makes SFX-01 - a compound that has potential applications in cancers, inflammation and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), including Covid For those unfamiliar with the Evgen story, SFX-01 is the company's lead compound that has potential applications in cancers, inflammation and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), including Covid ARDS. It is derived from sulforaphane, a compound from nature that Evgen has converted into a fully synthetic, patented drug. In Sulforadex, the company's core technology, Evgen has found a method for synthesising and stabilising the naturally occurring compound to a pharmaceutical standard. And the group's lead product, SFX-01, is a patented composition of synthetic sulforaphane and alpha-cyclodextrin. 'In our hands, it's a drug that is massively biologically active,' says Jones. The injection of funds will allow Evgen to improve the manufacturing process around SFX-01 to refine and rescale output. 'This allows us now to really take it to the pharmaceutical level rather than the prototype formulation, which everybody starts with,' says Jones. With a financial runway out to mid-2023, there will be enough in the coffers to fund an ambitious programme, including further work on SFX-01's potential use in treating metastatic breast cancer and glioma (brain cancer). On the latter, pre-clinical work will continue before a possible move onto human trials, depending on the data. An ambition (and a potential significant landmark/catalyst for the business) will be the filing of an investigational new drug application (IND) in the US for SFX-01, though medical indication for the drug hasn't been decided. Evgen is also planning to make two key senior hires to support these ambitious plans a chief business officer and chief scientific and medical officer. Their job will be to build on the significant progress already made to date in cancers, Covid and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The company has successfully completed a phase IIa trial of SFX-01 in women with oestrogen-positive (ER+) metastatic breast cancer. Evgen has successfully completed a phase IIa trial of SFX-01 in women with oestrogen-positive (ER+) metastatic breast cancer. Data from this trial provided strong early signs of efficacy in this hard-to-treat patient group with the compound either halting the tumour growth or, in some cases, significantly reducing it. Preclinical work is now being carried out with Manchester University to assess the possible impact of its discovery in patients that have become resistant to CDK4/6 inhibitor drugs such as the blockbuster Ibrance. If successful, this evaluation would pave the way for a second phase II trial. In cancer, SFX-01 has been shown to halt or even shrink tumours. The drug candidate also stimulates, or 'upregulates', the Nrf2 pathway, which is part of the natural human defence against inflammatory and oxidative stress that occurs during severe viral infection. With this in mind, Evgen has embarked on a phase II/III clinical trial to assess the potential efficacy of SFX-01 in patients with acute respiratory problems, the majority of whom are likely to have been infected by coronavirus. Specifically, researchers will investigate whether SFX-01 can reduce the severity or prevent the onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in pneumonia patients. Even before the pandemic, there were 190,000 ARDS cases a year in the US. It has a very poor prognosis and few effective treatment options. Analysts expect top-line results from the research, which is being carried out by scientists from Dundee University and funded by the medical charity Life Arc, towards the end of the year. A total of 109 people have been recruited to the 'randomised' STAR trial. 'In collaboration with Dundee we also want to take [an early] peek at the efficacy data,' says Jones. SFX-01 appears to be the gift that keeps on giving if the results from pre-clinical models of glioma and glioblastoma are anything to go by. Jones called the results 'compelling' and it is easy to see why. Lab work carried out in collaboration with the University of L'Aquila in Abruzzo, Italy, showed tumour shrinkage and significantly extended survival times. SFX-01 was also found to substantially increase the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy in these models. While research is currently at the very preliminary stage, it does at least point to a future method of combatting this form of brain cancer, which has a poor prognosis. Jones says Evgen is likely to follow the initial research being carried out by the collaboration partner with a phase II clinical trial. 'It's not a very crowded space either in terms of the pipeline or products in the market, which consists of radiotherapy and one chemotherapy drug,' he explains. 'So, in terms of indication selection, we couldn't be in a better place particularly given the power of the data we've got, and the unmet clinical need.' What comes through clearly from the foregoing and a point spotted by the new investors joining the Evgen register is the company is not some binary life-sciences one-trick pony. Each area or drug indication for SFX-01 represents a value inflexion point that could deliver significant upfront and milestone payments as well as royalties on sales of a commercial product. Analysts and investors refer to a company in this position as having multiple shots on goal the idea being the more shots a life sciences business has the more likely it is to score a drug success. A sleeper in the Evgen portfolio is its deal with entrepreneur Jim Mellon's Juvenescence, which has licensed the non-pharmaceutical/nutraceutical rights to the Sulforadex platform. The tie-up is worth around $10.5million in milestone payments and future royalties to Evgen. FinnCap, the company's broker, has assessed the nascent potential of Evgen and come up with a 29p a share valuation (using a risk-adjusted discounted cash flow calculation) some 20p more than the current share price. Analyst Mark Brewer describes Evgen as 'not without risk' but adds that 'multiple shots on goal provide investors substantial upside potential, given the number of opportunities that exist for monetising SFX-01 and Sulforadex'. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 01:55:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, speaks at a teleconference on the country's COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Beijing, capital of China, March 22, 2021. The teleconference was held by the State Council inter-agency task force for COVID-19 response. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan has urged accelerating the country's COVID-19 vaccination campaign and boosting its vaccination rate. Sun said this on Monday at a teleconference on vaccination held by the State Council inter-agency task force for COVID-19 response. China has approved four vaccines against COVID-19 for conditional marketing and another vaccine for emergency use, with a vastly increased production capacity, she noted. Sun urged departments and localities to improve organization and coordination to ensure that vaccination objectives are achieved on schedule. Enditem Influencer Chiara Ferragni has given birth. The social media star, 33, and her husband Fedez, 31, both shared the same picture of their daughter, writing 'Our Vittoria', meaning Victory. alongside a pink ribbon. The couple are already parents to son Leone, three, who they call Leo for short. Fans of the couple had been guessing what the child's name would be' because Fedez had been seen wearing a shirt with the initials of Chiara, Leone and a 'V'. Happy news: Chiara Ferragni has given birth to baby girl: Influencer and husband Fedez announced the arrival of second child Vittoria with a sweet photo on Instagram on Tuesday Celebration: Chiara revealed her daughter's name, Vittoria as a host of celebrities sent their well wishes They had kept their baby's gender a secret up until the birth but their latest post garnered almost three million likes in a short space of time. The couple finally tied the knot in a glamorous ceremony in Sicily back in 2018, just a few months after Leone was born. Federico Leonardo Lucia, or Fedez, proposed to Chiara in May 2017 during one of his concerts at Veronas Arena venue which the blogger was attending with friends as part of her 30th birthday celebrations, as reported on WWD. Blooming: Chiara has been documenting her pregnancy journey on social media Happy tears: She shared a snap of her husband crying over the new addition to the family soon after The concert and proposal was broadcasted live on the Italian radio and TV channel RTL 102.5 and shared on social media. The couple then headed to Venice to celebrate and Chiara went on to host a part in Milan. The engagement came a year after the pair started dating and they welcomed their son, Leone, on March 19, 2018. Chiara and Fedez split their time between Los Angeles and Milan. Italian blogger Chiara opted to sport three Dior bridal gowns on her wedding day, designed by Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri. Happy families: Chiara and husband Fedez are already parents to son Leone, aka Leo Born on May 7 1987 in Cremona, a city located in northern Italy, Chiara Ferragni garnered fame after the launch of her blog The Blonde Salad in 2009. Since then, she has become the Creative Director of her own clothing line, a magazine cover star and has collaborated with a number of fashion houses. Two years after the launch of her blog, while still studying at Bocconi University, she had reached more than one million unique visitors and 12 million views per month and in addition to this, was featured in Teen Vogue as their Blogger of the Moment. After modelling for Guess in 2013, she collaborated with Steve Madden to design a nine-shoe collection for Spring 2014. The show mogul said: Chiara is fashions Italian goddess. Im excited to give our customers shoes that combine her flair with a twist of Steve Madden. Chiara added: My inspiration for this collection comes from all the shoes Ive been wearing over the years and all the shoes Ive always looked for but never found: every pair is unique and tells a different story. Following this, she went on to present the Italian TRL Awards and made an appearance on Chiambretti Night. After appearing as a guest judge on Project Runway, Chiaras shoe collection was set to make her $8 million (6.2m), making her one of the first to use a personal blog to launch a career and establish a fully realised brand and global business, according to WWD. In April 2015, she also became the first blogger to ever grace the cover of an edition of Vogue and since then, Chiara has appeared on over 50 magazine covers. She was then named the global ambassador of Pantene with Mattel created a Barbie version of the model in 2016. A year later, Chiara opened her first Chiara Ferragni Collection store in Milan and her success also resulted in her taking the top spot on Forbes Top Influencers list in the Fashion category and becoming a Harvard Business School case study. The Ivy League school predicted that Chiara was making up to $9 million (7m) revenue for herself and her team and since the report was published in 2015, she has gone from strength to strength, now employing 20 members of staff. will exchange currency with under a 10 billion yuan (about USD 1.5 billion) agreement aimed at promoting trade and investment between the two countries, the island nation's central bank said on Monday. So-called currency swaps allow central banks to ensure banks in their countries can borrow ready cash in any of the currencies involved. remains Sri Lanka's largest source of imports. In 2020, imports from amounted to USD 3.6 billion, or just over 22 per cent of Sri Lanka's imports. The agreement signed between the Central Bank of and the People's Bank of China is valid for three years. The deal comes as is undergoing a difficult time with COVID-19, dealing a severe blow to its economy, especially its USD 4.5 billion tourism industry. Sri Lanka also must pay nearly USD 4.5 billion in foreign debts annually until 2025. China granted USD 90 million in October after a visit by a Chinese delegation led by Yang Jiechi, a communist party politburo member and a former foreign minister. China considers Sri Lanka to be a critical link in its massive "Belt and Road" global infrastructure-building initiative and has provided billions of dollars in loans for Sri Lankan projects over the past decade. The projects include a seaport, airport, port-city, highways and power stations. Critics say the Chinese-funded projects are not financially viable and that Sri Lanka will face difficulties in repaying the loans. In 2017, Sri Lanka leased a Chinese-built port near busy shipping routes to a Chinese company for 99 years to recover from the heavy burden of repaying the Chinese loan the country received to build it. The facility is part of Beijing's plan for a line of ports stretching from Chinese waters to the Persian Gulf. China has also agreed to provide a USD 989 million loan to Sri Lanka to build an expressway that will connect its tea-growing central region to the Chinese-run seaport. China expanded its footprint in Sri Lanka during the leadership of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, the older brother of the current leader. Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is currently prime minister, held separate talks with Yang on Friday. China's economic influence over Sri Lanka has worried its closest neighbour, India, which considers the Indian Ocean region to be its strategic backyard. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [March 23, 2021] RiskIQ Named a Strong Performer in External Threat Intelligence Services by Leading Independent Research Firm SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RiskIQ , a leader in Internet Threat Intelligence, today announced it was among the twelve select companies invited to participate in The Forrester Wave: External Threat Intelligence Services, Q1 2021. In this evaluation for educating security and risk professionals, RiskIQ was cited as a Strong Performer. According to the report, [RiskIQ] excels in uncovering infrastructure masquerading as a brand and, via its managed service, has a robust takedown service, relieving clients of adding headcount Its PassiveTotal product is exceptional at tracking threat infrastructure. Participants were evaluated on 26 criteria to determine rank. RiskIQs new Illuminate Platform received the highest possible scores in the Brand Threat Intelligence, Innovation Roadmap, Market Approach, Information Quality, and Strategic Partners criteria, with the Forrester report stating that RiskIQ is "best for customers that prioritize open source technical intelligence. The Forrester Wave: External Threat Intelligence Services, Q1 2021 recommends that customers look for external threat intelligence services providers that specialize in protecting brand reputation and have primary source intelligence. According to Forrester, as the number and sophistication of cyberthreats increase and IT environments become more complex, "S&R pros seek out threat intelligence providers that have just the right visibility into threats most relevant to their organization and industry." In the Wave, RiskIQ received the highest possible scores in the criteria of Brand Threat Intelligence and Strategic Partners. The Forrester report notes, [RiskIQ] excels in uncovering infrastructure asquerading as a brand and, via its managed service, has a robust takedown service, relieving clients of adding headcount. The report also states, [RiskIQ]s PassiveTotal product is exceptional at tracking threat infrastructure. Delivering real-time intelligence combining knowledge of customers unique attack surface and adversary infrastructure, RiskIQ helps organizations rapidly classify threats uniquely relevant to their internet footprint. This crucial capability enables them to prioritize analysis, triage, and response for what matters most. The extended enterprise attack surface has become a fluid, dynamic, and entangled digital threat landscape where adversaries can easily hide, said RiskIQ CEO Lou Manousos. Security teams now require next-gen intelligence that combines knowledge of the organization's unique attack surface with adversary infrastructure. The breakneck speed of digital transformation has emboldened modern threat actors, whose campaigns have grown global in scale across the internet ecosystem. RiskIQ believes just gathering intelligence from open sources or network telemetry isn't enough to tackle this growing security challenge. Security and Risk professionals must have access to real-world observations of an organization's attack surface and threat indicators from adversaries worldwide. Learn more by reading RiskIQ's blog and download your copy of the Forrester Wave: External Threat Intelligence Services, Q1 2021 here . About RiskIQ RiskIQ is the leader in digital threat management, providing the most comprehensive discovery, intelligence, and mitigation of threats associated with an organizations digital presence. With more than 75% of attacks originating outside the firewall, RiskIQ allows enterprises to gain unified insight and control over web, social and mobile exposures. Trusted by thousands of security analysts, security teams, and CISOs, RiskIQs platform combines advanced internet data reconnaissance and analytics to expedite investigations, understand digital attack surfaces, assess risk, and take action to protect the business, brand, and customers. Based in San Francisco, the company is backed by Summit Partners, Battery Ventures, Georgian Partners, and MassMutual Ventures. Try RiskIQ Community Edition for free by visiting https://www.riskiq.com/community/. To learn more about RiskIQ, visit www.riskiq.com. 2021 RiskIQ, Inc. All rights reserved. RiskIQ is a registered trademark of RiskIQ, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are property of their respective owners. Media Contact Holly Hitchcock Front Lines Media holly@frontlines.io [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi: BJP Chief JP Nadda will release the party's manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections in Assam on Tuesday (March 23). Apart from unveiling the party's manifesto in Guwahati at 10 am, he will also hold a road show in West Bengal at 3 pm. BJP announced Naddas schedule with a post on Twitter. The BJP Chief has been on a two-day visit to the states of Assam and West Bengal since Monday. On Sunday, BJP released its manifesto for West Bengal polls. "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'," a statement released by BJP said. 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. Live TV Kathleen Folbigg, jailed for killing her four children, will learn on Wednesday if a former senior judge was right to conclude her guilt was 'even more certain' following a special review. Former NSW District Court chief judge Reginald Blanch QC in 2019 found significant investigations had failed to find a reasonable natural explanation for any of the deaths of Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Laura, who all died before their second birthday in the decade to 1999. Folbigg's own explanations and behaviour in respect of her diaries, which weren't available in any of the mother's criminal appeals, made 'her guilt of these offences even more certain', Mr Blanch concluded. Kathleen Folbigg, jailed for killing her four children, will learn on Wednesday if a former senior judge was right to conclude her guilt was 'even more certain' following a special review Folbigg, who has already served 18 of a minimum 25-year jail term, lost three appeals against conviction, including one in the High Court in the mid-2000s She was also found guilty of the manslaughter of her first child, Caleb (left), who was 19 days old when he died in Newcastle in 1989. Patrick Folbigg pictured right But the jailed woman challenged the conclusions in the NSW Court of Appeal, claiming Mr Blanch had failed in the obligation to conduct an inquiry about the potential for the deaths to have been natural. Justice John Basten, one of three judges to hear the two-day appeal in February, is due to deliver the court's judgment on Wednesday morning. Folbigg's lawyer said there was evidence that Caleb potentially died in 1989 of a floppy larynx - undermining Mr Blanch's conclusion that there was no identifiable natural cause of Caleb's death. Jeremy Morris SC also suggested Folbigg's contemporaneous diaries had only been read from the perspective the mother was guilty. Folbigg, who has already served 18 of a minimum 25-year jail term, lost three appeals against conviction, including one in the High Court in the mid-2000s. Folbigg was jailed in 2003 for at least 25 years for murdering her children Patrick, Sarah (right) and Laura (left) - aged from eight months to 19 months - between 1991 and 1999 Folbigg's supporters say Sarah, Laura and their mother share a genetic mutation that has been linked to sudden deaths in young children - a theory Mr Blanch concluded didn't raise reasonable doubt. Three weeks ago, a group of prominent scientists put their name to a petition calling for a pardon and Folbigg's immediate release, saying the genetic data was compelling evidence she did not kill her children. The list of 90 scientists included Australian Academy of Science president John Shine, epidemiologist Professor Fiona Stanley, Nobel laureate Professor Peter Doherty and former chief scientist Professor Ian Chubb. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. STAMFORD A person was robbed at gunpoint on Sunday night in Stamfords West Side, according to police. Lt. Thomas Scanlon said the victim was walking on Greenwich Avenue near Richmond Hill Avenue around 10:15 p.m. Sunday when they were approached by an individual clad in all black with a black face mask on. But the new bill would offer much broader powers for the police. It will leave much to their own discretion, and potentially allow them to criminalize protests they deem a public nuisance. The police, for example, would be allowed to set time and noise limits on rallies. Protesters who do not follow restrictions they ought to know about, even if they have not received a direct order from an officer, would be vulnerable to prosecution. The bill also makes it possible for those who damage memorials to be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. That provision comes months after a statue commemorating a slave trader, Edward Colston, was toppled in Bristol last year during a Black Lives Matter demonstration. There had already been pushback. The government maintains that the bill provides for better policing and community protection. Priti Patel, the home secretary, said last week that there was a balance to be struck between the rights of the protester and the rights of individuals to go about their daily lives. In recent years, we have seen a significant change of protest tactics, with protesters exploiting gaps in the law which have led to disproportionate amounts of disruption, Ms. Patel said, speaking in front of Parliament last week. She pointed specifically to tactics used by Extinction Rebellion climate change protesters to block trains and shut down cities. Opposition lawmakers and rights groups have denounced what they see as a move to give police overly broad, and potentially problematic, powers. Many say they need more time to work through the potential implications. The Local Government Association, a cross-party organization, said that certain aspects of the bill, particularly those focused on public protests, warrant further formal consultation. The group expressed concerns that a rushed timetable to vote on the bill left little time to scrutinize the bill in sufficient detail. Thiruvananthapuram, March 23 : Kerala Assembly Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan on Tuesday rubbished the reported grave allegations levelled against him by two accused in the gold smuggling case. Sreeramakrishnan, who failed to appear before the Customs on March 12 for questioning, said, in a statement, that baseless canards were being spread against him. His response came hours after the media reported on the statement of the two prime accused in the gold smuggling case that was filed in the Kerala High Court which contained major charges against him. Swapna Suresh, in her statement, said that Sreeramakrishnan had investment in an educational institution based in Oman and was planning to set up its campus in Sharjah too and, in fact, had started talks for it with the ruler of Sharjah, when he visited the state capital. Accused Sarith accused him of giving a big bag of currency notes to the UAE Consul General here at a flat near the airport. Sreeramakrishnan dismissed the charges. "The statements that are being shown in the media are baseless and have no merit. Of late, it has become a habit of the Central agencies to release similar statements for vested political interests. I know the person who owns this educational institution, but that doesn't mean I am an investor. I have never met the UAE ruler in private, either here or abroad. We have had met only at an official banquet when he was here," he said. "All these which are now coming out are because the elections are round the corner. I am prepared to face any probe but it should be a free and fair one. I have no interests in any of these educational ventures and I am stating all this to clear all doubts of the people," he added. It was in December last year that it surfaced that top people had a role in helping the smuggling accused like Swapna Suresh, and Sreeramakrishnan's name was also mentioned. Since then, he had been facing flak, including from the Opposition which moved a motion demanding his removal in January, but it was rejected. A young medical student once asked Dr. Walter Wally Wilkerson if hed ever experienced a miracle? He thought for a minute and then said, Why yes and told the young student about the time he felt like he experienced a miracle at the Montgomery County Hospital on First Street in Conroe. A young healthy man, an oil field worker, had come in on a Saturday afternoon with abdominal pain. The nurse said she thought the man had appendicitis. Wilkerson examined him and agreed. At the time, operations required two doctors. Dr. Deane Sadler was called in. He agreed with Dr. Wilkersons assessment. They took the mans appendix out. As they were closing the incision, the nurse said I cant get a pulse. At the time, there was no such thing as a defibrillator. I had heard about this doctor up East who had been using cardiac massage, Wilkerson said. I had been reading about it. There wasnt a lot of time, so we opened his chest and began squeezing his heart. We both stood there, probably as white as a sheet. Suddenly the nurse said, I can get a pulse now. Wilkerson said it was one of the most difficult things he had to do by telling his wife he didnt know if her husband was going to live. The man got up and walked out of the hospital seven days later. Thats the miracle, Wilkerson said. Thats just one of the many, many memories Wilkerson has of the Montgomery County Hospital where he spent countless hours as a young doctor in Conroe. Hes now hopeful that the Overland Property Group is able to be successful with their renovation of the building into senior living apartments. But he acknowledges the developers have got a big job on their hands. History of the hospital Organized medical care in Conroe began with the construction of the Mary Swain Sanitarium in the early 1920s. It was located on East Davis Street and Dr. Thomas Falvey, a respected community doctor, served as its chief surgeon. Larry Foerster, Montgmoery County Historical Commission Chairman, feels like Falvey probably advocated for a larger and better-equipped hospital as Conroe was updating its facilities in the 1930s. The city of Conroe benefited from the local oil boom in the 1930s. During this time, roads were improved, the Montgomery County Courthouse was built as was the Crighton Theatre. Conroe ISD built Sam Houston Elementary and Travis Junior High and Crockett High School were added as well. The Montgomery County Hospital was built in 1938. There were maybe a dozen doctors in the area. They wanted a state of the art facility and the county was able to built it for them, Foerster said. He said its interesting where the facility was located as the location suggests that the area was a vibrant part of the city in the 1930s. Prior to the county hospitals, most Conroe doctors had their practices in downtown Conroe above the pharmacies on the square. When the hospital was built, their practices sprung up around the hospital. Albert Johnson, who owned the Sparkle Icehouse in downtown Conroe, also owned a cleaners. This cleaners has two sets of sheets for each hospital bed. The sheets were rotated daily, Forester said. Memories of a young doctor Dr. Wilkerson came to Conroe in 1958 and joined Dr. Sadlers practice. He said the building itself was well built and well constructed, but the service was still quite limited at the time. When he came there was no emergency room or x-ray machine. When someone would come to the hospital, theyd ring a bell to alert the nurse, the nurse would come and see what the problem was and then shed call one of the on-call doctors, Wilkerson said. There was also no blood bank. If there was an emergency and blood was needed, the doctor would contact the local Red Cross contact and she had a record of the blood types of different Conroe residents. Wilkerson said shed call the person up and theyd show up at the hospital, no matter what time of night to give the needed blood. Or if you knew you were going to need blood ahead of time, youd call the blood bank in Waco and theyd put it on a bus and youd go pick it up from the buss station. Ambulance service was also quite different then. The local funeral homes ran the ambulance service. But there was no medical intervention while en route. This was quite a shock to me as a young doctor, Wilkerson said. But one thing that was always on top of things was the lab at the hospital. He said he was run by a husband and wife, Sam and Hetti Alford. The kept the lab up to date and its amazing what we were able to accomplish with their help, he said. As the country grew, Wilkerson said the hospital grew with it. The facility served the county through the 1970s when the Montgomery County Hospital District was formed for the creation of a new hospital for Conroe. A new Conroe medical complex opened in 1982 on Conroes south side and the old county hospital was abandoned. New life in the old hospital The East Texas Dream Center, a nonprofit, faith-based charitable organization, eventually found a new home at the property. Shawn and Shannon Nelson with the Dream Center purchased the 57,000-square-foot building in 2013 for $10,000. But a fire struck the property in May 2018 and after discovering numerous code violations the city closed the building. It has been uninhabited ever since. On Jan. 27, Brett Johnson with Overland Property Group based near Kansas City gave a presentation to the Conroe City Council laying out his plans to redevelop the property. Johnsons group has renovated 65 historic properties since the company started in 2002. Nineteen of those properties are in Texas. His plan calls for 42 to 45 senior living apartments in the space. He is seeking affordable housing tax credits from the government to complete the project. The project is estimated to cost $12 million, $10 million of which will be handled through the tax credits. The application is currently submitted to receive the tax credits. Johnson said his company has a purchasing option on the facility through January 2022. He told the council if they arent granted the tax credits this year, they plan to try again next year. In touring the building, Johnson said while some lobby renovations have been done, the guts of the building are still a hospital. He noted theres still hospital equipment there. In late January, the council took action to expand the Old Marketplace District south to encompass several city blocks including the 57,000 square-foot hospital to aid in applying for the tax credits. In 2018, the council adopted the Downtown Conroe Development Plan to help promote the revitalization of the area. That plan divided the area into districts, each with guidelines and goals for development. The district includes Neartown, Arts and Honors, Uptown, Central Business, Homestead and Old Town Marketplace. Foerster believes the renovation of the old hospital could be a positive change for the community around it. The charm of the old building, along with the history of the old building and the people who worked there, who were born there, who recovered there and who passed away there are all a part of the mystique of the community itself, Foerster said. The building could also be a key to revitalizing the area around the hospital. If they can build a nice functional senior living facility it will attract other investors to look at innovative things to revitalize the community around it. See https://www.ovpgroup.com/ for more about Overland Property Group. From more information about the Montgomery County Historical Commission, visit https://www.montgomerycountyhistoricalcommission.com/. Catherine Domingeuz contributed to this report. shernandez@hcnonline.com Indian state chief minister tests positive for COVID-19 Xinhua) 16:14, March 22, 2021 NEW DELHI, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Chief Minister of India's northern hilly state of Uttarakhand Tirath Singh Rawat said on Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19. "I have tested positive for COVID-19. I am fine and facing no difficulty. I have self-isolated myself under the observation of doctors. Those who came in my contact over the past few days should take precautions and get themselves tested, " he tweeted. Rawat was earlier this month sworn in as the chief minister of his state. India has recently seen a spike in the pandemic cases. On Sunday evening it was confirmed that parliament Speaker Om Birla had tested positive for COVID-19. He is at the COVID center in Delhi-based All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for observation. As many as 46,951 new COVID-19 cases were reported across the Asian country in the past 24 hours, taking India's total tally to 11,646,081, while 212 new deaths took the death toll to 159,967, showed the data issued by the health ministry on Monday. The daily new cases and deaths registered in the past 24 hours both reached a record high so far this year. Last week Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern at the surge in COVID-19 cases, calling for immediate steps to curb a possible second wave of the coronavirus epidemic in the country. A 14-year-old Indiana boy has been charged with murder and child molestation in the asphyxiation death of a 6-year-old girl in northern Indiana, prosecutors said. St. Joseph County prosecutors filed a petition for delinquency in juvenile court Monday against the teenager, who was not identified, the South Bend Tribune reported. Deputy Prosecutor Chris Fronk said the petition for delinquency alleges three counts against the teenager in the death of Grace Ross, including murder, felony murder and child molesting. Grace was found dead March 12 in New Carlisle, about 75 miles east of Chicago. She was located in the woods approximately two hours after she was reported missing. A preliminary autopsy report said the cause of death was homicide by asphyxiation. Grace Ross, 6, was found dead March 12. A 14-year-old boy has been charged with murder and child molesting New Carlisle is located in Indiana, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Chicago St. Joseph County prosecutors filed a petition for delinquency in juvenile court Monday against the teenager, who was not identified Authorities have withheld the name of the boy because he was not charged as an adult. To move the case to superior court, a judge must grant a waiver submitted by the state to transfer the case. In general, the state's decision to transfer the case to superior court is based on a number of factors, including the alleged offense and the juvenile's history and age, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office said. The state will consider the results of a psychological and competency evaluation before making a decision on whether to move the case to adult court, Fronk said. 'In juvenile court there a lot of options that arent available in adult court,' Fronk said. 'We want to make sure whatever course we take is well thought out, well reasoned and the best course to ensure we are seeking justice and protecting the community.' The boy's attorney filed a motion to close court proceedings to the public, saying the high-profile nature of the case may introduce 'prejudice.' Probate court magistrate Graham Polando did not rule on the motion Monday. The next conference in the case was scheduled for April 19. The Tribune reported the teenager sat still with his hands in his lap for most of the hearing Monday. When asked if he understood the accusations made by prosecutors he answered, 'I don't understand much of what's going on.' Members of the girl's family who attended the hearing said they would like to see the boy tried in superior court, considering the allegations of sexual abuse. 'I looked at that young man, he looked like a baby,' said Timothy Howard, Grace's grandfather. 'I don't know what he was thinking.' Howard described Grace as 'bubbly' and said she loved fashion-related activities, including making herself look like a princess. 'Grace was a mommy's girl,' Howard said, 'very silly and I'm sure in heaven she's made plenty of friends.' Steve Case, here in his Washington, D.C., offices, started the Rise of the Rest seed fund to support startups outside of Startup Country. He likes what hes getting for his money. Photograph by Gabriela Celeste High Alpha calls itself a venture studio. That's a combination incubator, early-stage investor, and startup consultancy. But it might better be called a venture catapult. Last year, the Indianapolis company showed its Midwestern can-do-ness in the midst of a raging pandemic by flinging out 10 startups--double the number to its credit in 2019. High Alpha did this in part by converting some challenges created by Covid-19 into businesses. "Where we start is with problems," says Kristian Andersen, a High Alpha co-founder. "And 2020 presented no shortage of problems." Your employees are scattered? High Alpha launched Filo, a service that improves your remote working experience. Can't hear live music? High Alpha orchestrated Mandolin, which runs livestream concerts and fan portals for music venues and touring bands. And to hire the people needed to run these outfits, the company created Luma, an A.I.-based service that manages the interviewing process. Something else changed last year in Indy and other parts of the Midwest and South: access to a deeper pool of funding. VCs who once spurned Indy because they couldn't get there and back from the West Coast in a day are now airlifting cash into the city--not to mention Atlanta, Miami, Denver, and other towns that were never on their shortlist before. "When you have a total and absolute moratorium on physical travel, yet those dollars are being deployed, almost overnight things change," says Andersen. "We've been breaking down this legacy venture capital model." That's exactly what America Online co-founder Steve Case, the CEO and founder of Revolution, has been doing for the past six years. Case started Revolution to fund innovative startups but kept running into the same problem: Too many VCs lived on the coasts, meaning that firms in Boston, New York City, and Silicon Valley were sucking up 75 percent of the VC money. Out of that experience came Rise of the Rest, a campaign that kicked off in 2014 to bring attention to the heartland via a splashy annual bus tour. Three years ago, Case started the Rise of the Rest seed fund to put some capital behind the concept. Now into a second fund, Rise of the Rest has raised $300 million and invested in more than 154 companies in 73 cities. The strategy is to land and expand: Start with $250,000 to $500,000 for a seed round and follow with up to $5 million in Series A or B rounds. Investment is only part of the plan. Case thinks more cities need to replicate the Silicon Valley ecosystem, in which new companies attract new talent and not only create new products but also spew out more new companies. "One of the great things about Silicon Valley is that sense of wonder," he says. It's an ethos that creates a culture of the possible. Case has a lot of experience rowing against the tide. In the late 1980s and '90s, he relentlessly marketed AOL's clunky, dial-up web hosting service by raining millions of CD-ROMs on households across the country. (You once needed a computer and CD-ROM to ... oh, never mind.) He was a WWW evangelist who popularized email and chatrooms until a service that once attracted only gamers and geeks became ubiquitous--and AOL one of its earliest powers. He sees a similar transition taking place as the digital world meets the real world in industries such as food and health care. It's where the rubber meets the road in cities that actually used to manufacture tires. And, last year, he gained some serious traction. Rise of the Rest "is really looking prophetic now," tweeted Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian after ROTR released its 2021 "playbook," an annual guide to funding and networking. For his part, Case hasn't spiked the ball just yet, but he's allowing himself a little told-ya-so. "It definitely feels like a tipping point," he tells Inc. "Suddenly, maybe things are possible that we didn't think were possible before." Case's investing hypothesis is that the Rust Belt cities and corporate towns in the Midwest are a value play--you get a better deal on a startup in Cleveland than in Cupertino, because there's less competition. Costs are lower. You also get entrepreneurs who are more focused. "I've always believed there's an arbitrage here because most venture capital goes to safety. It's so hard to raise capital if you're in Ohio or Pennsylvania or Michigan," he says. It doesn't hurt that Case has the cachet to attract cash. His investors include Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Starbucks creator Howard Schultz, hedge fund guru Ray Dalio, and members of the Walton family and the Pritzker family. Also in the fold is J.D. Vance, a former Revolution senior adviser and now a private equity player whose book, Hillbilly Elegy, speaks to the social destruction brought about by job losses in industrial Ohio, where he grew up. (Disclosure: Inc.'s parent company, Mansueto Ventures, is owned by Joe Mansueto, who is an investor in Rise of the Rest.) ROTR scored a number of notable exits last year, including BacklotCars, an online wholesale car platform in Kansas City, Missouri, bought for $425 million by KAR Global; Pear Deck in Des Moines, a remote learning company that merged with GoGuardian; and AppHarvest, a vertical-farming company that grows vegetables in Kentucky, which went public with a $1 billion valuation. "By and large, the majority of the portfolio has gone up and to the right," notes David Hall, managing director of the ROTR portfolio. In other words, the investments are growing. One of those growing companies is 120Water, in the Indianapolis suburb of Zionsville and part of the tech hub that continues to blossom in that city. There, co-founder and CEO Megan Glover is taking her startup into its next phase of growth, having just concluded a Series A round. An experienced software executive, Glover is solving a problem that is both mundane and widespread: Public authorities lack an efficient and reliable testing kit and a data-collection platform to monitor water quality. Coastal VCs who wouldn't have set foot in Indy even when they could get there lined up for a piece. "I target the boomerang Hoosiers. Young pros who have gone to Apple and Twitter are coming back." 120Water is also evidence of the changing tide in the talent pool created by the pandemic. "I target the boomerang Hoosiers," says Glover. "Young pros who have gone to the coast working at Apple and Twitter are interested in coming back. We have campaigns to show them the tech opportunities here in Indiana." That, and the fact that you can buy a 3,000-square-foot house for the price of a one-bedroom condo in SoMA. It's not just the where that was different last year; it was the who, too. The Black Lives Matter movement has made funding Black entrepreneurs ever more urgent. Last year, Case & Co. had to park their tour bus. So they contacted mayors, incubators, universities, and civic groups to put together a virtual tour that focused on Black entrepreneurs such as Aaron Walker, the founder of Camelback Ventures, an accelerator in New Orleans, and Shelly Bell of Black Girl Ventures in Washington, D.C., which will fund 60 founders in 15 cities. Diversity fits easily into the ROTR brief because so many Black entrepreneurs are in the very cities the fund has targeted, and conventional VCs just weren't looking for them. The ROTR tour arranged more than 300 meetings between VCs and Black founders, resulting in a flood of funding. "Camelback raised more money in 2020 than we've ever raised before," said Walker during the virtual tour. "I call it found money: It's like you're walking down the street and see $5. Except it's not $5, it's 5,000, or 50,000, or 500,000. And you say, where did this come from? But you'll take it." He'll be taking it to fund more Black- and women-led startups. In Cincinnati, two of the Queen City's legacy Fortune 500 companies, Procter & Gamble and Kroger--one makes, the other sells--are connecting with Black entrepreneurs to increase supplier diversity. In February, both firms broadened their collaboration with Mortar, an entrepreneurial support organization. Mortar's initial focus was community-centered consumer products and services in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Mortar has launched a number of businesses during the pandemic, including Esoteric Brewing, which was co-founded by Brian Jackson, who was part of its initial entrepreneurs program. With the corporate giants, the idea is to create B-to-B companies that can become part of the supply chain or an innovation link. "They understand that there are entrepreneurs on the ground who have ideas and the ability to facilitate the growth," says Allen Woods, a co-founder and Mortar's executive director. Just north of the city, Mason, Ohio, provides more evidence that this corporate hub--German in its history and conservative by nature--is becoming a more dynamic place for startups. Mason is where you'll find Peeyush Shrivastava and his company, Genetesis, which may revolutionize medical imaging. Genetesis has created an MRI-like machine, called the CardioFlux Magnetocardiograph, that can tell ER doctors in five minutes whether you are having a heart attack or something a lot less lethal, eliminating the need for a ton of intrusive, time-consuming testing. It represents a leap in emergency medicine. Shrivastava is 25 and got the idea while he was in high school, most likely before the words venture and capital entered his vocabulary. He dropped out of Ohio State to start the company, as did another co-founder, Manny Setegn; a third, Vineet Erasala, left Case Western to join them. Despite his relative youth, even Shrivastava can savor the change in the Cincy startup community. "One thing that wasn't available here a couple of years ago is risk capital," he says. "The availability of risk capital means the availability of entrepreneurs to take risks." One of his capital suppliers is Shark Tank titan and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Corporate restructurings being what they are, Cincinnati is rich in science talent--people who can create innovative products and companies--which Mason's civic leadership turned into an asset in economic development. "These big companies spit out smart people who become entrepreneurs," says Michele Blair, Mason's economic development boss. "A lot of the time, big companies just don't know how to do it." In 2012, the town handed over some space in its community center to a health care startup to see what would happen. The result was Assurex Health, which uses genetic analysis to predict what medications will work best for patients under treatment for mental health disorders such as depression. That company grew from four to 400 employees and was sold in 2016 to Myriad Genetics for $225 million. Part of the operation still resides in the Mason municipal campus. Mason eventually replicated the action in downtown Cincinnati, where CincyTech, the city's technology incubator, has been the focal point of startup life. Mason, a CincyTech partner, built its own Tech Elevator on the town's municipal campus. The idea, in fact, is to keep the line moving by creating a tech corridor running along Interstate 71 from Cincinnati to Columbus. The city of Mason has helped start or build 18 companies, attracting roughly $150 million in VC funding and creating 450 jobs and two exits. "We've learned to speak this language," says Blair. Or relearned it. In some respects, Midwestern cities and Rise of the Rest are trying to reinvent the past. In places such as Cleveland or Pittsburgh, the historic industries have left behind enormous institutional resources that haven't been fully exploited. "The reality is, when you get on the ground, most of these tier-two or -three markets have a lot of the core ingredients--the university that is bringing kids in, big corporations that are sustaining the economy, and a deep industrial legacy," says Hall. "And yet they have this problem." "A lot of the time, big companies just don't know how to do it. We've learned to speak this language." The essence of that problem has been the lack of a sustainable startup economy. In the past, there were company towns; today, towns full of companies is more like it. Cities such as Indianapolis, Denver, and Cincinnati, as well as a number of state governments, including Ohio's, are now benefitting by focusing their attention on entrepreneurs. "There is more collaboration, which has been a problem in these cities," says Case. Silicon Valley benefits from network density--that swirl of startup society in which entrepreneurs are constantly interacting and competing with one another. Plus, the culture tends toward caution away from the coasts, says Case. In Boston, the bias is toward yes--hearing a pitch and imagining how it might work. Elsewhere, it's the opposite: What could go wrong? Indianapolis is a good example of how evolution can happen and how a connected web of entrepreneurs can spawn company after company. The city has become a SaaS hub over the past 10 years. This phenomenon used to be known as a cluster: One company starts up and thrives, attracting others. Nike made Portland, Oregon, a sports center, for instance. In Indianapolis, that company was ExactTarget, which was co-founded in 2000 by one of High Alpha's co-founders, Scott Dorsey, and became a power in hyperlocal digital marketing, eventually growing to 2,000 employees after Salesforce bought it for $2.5 billion in 2013. ExactTarget was born in Indianapolis not because of any geographic advantage the city offered, but because its founders had moved there for various reasons. Dorsey was looking for an opportunity to put his MBA to work when his brother-in-law suggested they collaborate on a startup. They had a strong belief that digital marketing was the next wave. Kristian Andersen had gone to college in Indianapolis and then opened a design business. One of his clients was Dorsey. In 2015, the pair hatched High Alpha with two Salesforce executives who had moved to Indianapolis after Salesforce bought ExactTarget. "For me, the headline is 'The business got better when they moved home.' " Their concept for High Alpha was an idea factory that could print high-value, high-growth startups on a regular basis: "We knew we wanted to do something with entrepreneurs and startups that was design-led with a capital D," says Andersen. "And we wanted to do something for Indy," which was to build a big, valuable business and draw a flood of capital and talent. And then, he adds, "the restaurants miraculously will get better." (You think you're a community booster? Andersen named his son Indy.) High Alpha now has a staff of 40 that operates a skunk works for entrepreneurs. With the office closed by Covid-19, High Alpha had to reinvent itself on the fly. Several times a year, the company holds a "sprint," a weeklong series of meetings designed to convert the best ideas into startups. Unable to meet in person, the founders assigned an entrepreneur-in-residence to create a tool for better remote collaboration. That tool became a startup called Filo.com, which helps users make better use of meeting apps such as BlueJeans or Zoom--for instance, by letting them create a whiteboard. Along those lines, one of Andersen's partners had the misfortune to buy a nightclub just before the onset of the pandemic. When live music shut down, music venues and music acts lost touch with their audiences. High Alpha's solution is called Mandolin. It's a company that connects bands and venues with their fans through paid livestreams but also through virtual meet-and-greets during which you can say hello to your favorite drummer. "It's a down market for music, but there are huge opportunities if you can give arts managers and venues tools to produce revenue," says Andersen. Mandolin now has more than 65 employees. It's led by co-founder Mary Kay Huse, another former Salesforce executive. The company has signed deals with the City Winery chain and with Nashville's Ryman Auditorium to stage livestream concerts. Music fans pay $10 to $25 for concerts and up to $130 for VIP meetups. Mandolin has also announced a $5 million seed round whose investors include Marc Benioff--founder of Salesforce. The same of-the-moment inspiration begat Luma, the A.I. interviewing platform that High Alpha launched in February. Hiring has become particularly difficult in the era of remote work. Luma coaches interviewers through Zoom meetings with job candidates, and then helps the user edit and annotate the call and move the pertinent parts to other team members who are part of the hiring process. High Alpha says it can launch a new company every four to five weeks, but it's only one part of the Indianapolis startup flywheel. The city's most eminent accelerator, TechPoint, counts legacy companies Lilly and Cummins among its partners. And its newest, Next Studios, is a venture shop designed to distribute startup know-how throughout Indiana. The reach of the city's ecosystem came into play in the creation of 120Water. The impetus for it came when Glover--who had previously worked for Angie's List, health care company Hc1, and Compendium, a digital marketing firm--got worried about the water her kids were drinking and couldn't find anything useful to measure the quality of the water in her home. "There was not a solution on the market," she says. "I could get my DNA tested, but not my water." In classic bootstrap fashion, she raised $130,000 from other entrepreneurs--including her co-founder, Chris Baggott, who also co-founded ExactTarget and Compendium--and was soon producing a water-testing kit for consumers, packing boxes on her dining-room table, which she had moved to her parents' garage. Glover soon realized that her biggest customers were not consumers but municipalities such as Pittsburgh--a city with an old infrastructure looking for new ways to manage it. To raise funds, she pushed Case's Midwestern value proposition: "I know this capital will last longer; it is more efficient here," she says. "That was actually an interesting selling point." And a successful one. Sales grew 250 percent last year, to more than $8 million, as the company added features such as testing for contaminants like arsenic in drinking water and for coronavirus in wastewater. 120Water nearly doubled its workforce and announced plans to hire 157 more workers by the end of 2022. And it will be easier to find them now that California and New York have lost some of their magnetism. "We don't have mountains or the ocean or the coast of California," Glover says, "but there's been investment in public transit, in parks, and in culture." These are the kinds of opportunities Case has been envisioning for years. And they are luring talent back home. Take Understory, another ROTR investment. The company, which generates microforecasting models to insure businesses against severe weather risk (hail, for instance, is a big one for car dealers), was founded in Madison, Wisconsin, in 2012 but moved to Boston a year later to join an accelerator. The founders decided to move back to Madison in 2016, where the company thrived and became the rallying point of an increasingly robust startup hub. Says ROTR's Hall: "For me, the headline is 'The business got better when they moved home.' " Is it realistic to think that Madison can become Boston? Or Indianapolis a new San Francisco? Absolutely, says High Alpha's Andersen: "Markets like Madison, Nashville, Salt Lake City are just beginning to percolate. They have loyal citizenry who want to be there. It's not where the wagon broke down." High Alpha Innovation, a spinoff designed to export High Alpha's magic, just signed a deal to expand to Madison. Not all of the hinterland will benefit. Sorry, Topeka, says Andersen, but the scope of opportunity is defined by the presence of universities, talent, and legacy companies, which are thin on the ground in some places. But a lot of cities will be able to chase Case's vision. It's clearly happening in Miami and Atlanta and Denver. Diehards remain. Some people still want to live in a vibrant tech hub on the Eastern Seaboard, close to beach and mountain getaways. And as 120Water's Glover points out, even though the pandemic has made Indianapolis more desirable, today's new work-from-wherever attitude means she also has employees in Boston. Seven people on a truck carrying timber were killed after the vehicle crashed into the mountainside in the north-central Vietnamese province of Thanh Hoa on Monday night. The deadly crash took place along provincial highway No. 530 in Tri Nang Commune, Lang Chanh District, at around 9:15 pm, Nguyen Xuan Hong, chairman of the Lang Chanh Peoples Committee, confirmed on Tuesday morning. The truck carrying acacia wood was descending a slope when it slammed into the mountainside. All seven people on the vehicle, including the driver, his assistant, and five timber porters, were killed. Police officers arrived at the crash site to carry out their investigation and identify the victims. Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, head of the National Committee for Traffic Safety, and Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The have extended their condolences to the victims families. Khuat Viet Hung, deputy head of the National Committee for Traffic Safety, and officials from the Minister of Transport and Ministry of Public Security arrived in Thanh Hoa to assist local authorities in dealing with the serious case. Data showed that the truck was traveling within the speed limit prior to the accident, VnExpress online newspaper quoted the Ministry of Public Security as saying. In their preliminary assessment, competent authorities believed that the truck was overloaded, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Foodies are now making French onion chicken bake, sparking a new TikTok trend following the 'famous' baked feta pasta craze. The recipe is very simple to follow - all you'll need is French onion soup sachets, thickened cream, bacon rashes, cheddar, chicken breast and chives. After seeing the recipe online, home cook Dee decided to try it herself and shared the end result with others on Facebook. 'I am so surprised it tastes THIS good. I added onion, salt and pepper, and that's it,' she wrote. 'Probably cost $16 and would easily feed six adults!' Scroll down for video In a new TikTok trend, foodies are now making French onion chicken bake using onion soup sachets, thickened cream, bacon rashes, cheddar, chicken breast and chives After seeing the recipe online, home cook Dee decided to try it herself and shared the end result with others on Facebook On TikTok, the hashtag 'French onion chicken' has been searched more than 348,000 times by users. To make the dish, first chop the chicken into small pieces and place in an oven-proof tray. Combine the cream and French onion together in a bowl then pour over the chicken. Next, add the bacon and place the tray into a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees Celsius. 'I am so surprised it tastes THIS good. I added onion, salt and pepper, and that's it,' she wrote The baked Feta pasta dish has been going on viral on TikTok since January Dee said the dish should take no longer than 40 minutes to bake if the chicken is cut into small pieces. Once cooked the end result will look golden brown with a bubbling outer layer. 'Wow looks amazing! Thanks for sharing! Do you think this would work with evaporated milk?' one woman asked online, to which Dee replied: 'Oh no clue unfortunately, I'm not a chef at the best of times.' The easy dish would be perfect for those who are time poor or can't be bothered cooking after a long day. 'Been doing this for yearsso delicious,' another person wrote. [March 23, 2021] Cardify.ai Launches 2021 Stimulus Spending Tracker TORONTO, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardify.ai announces the launch of its 2021 Stimulus Spending Tracker to measure the real-time economic impact of US government funds to be distributed this month to more than 100 million American consumers. Cardify's 2021 Stimulus Spending Tracker monitors the effects of the stimulus checks, the individual companies benefiting from the 2021 stimulus, and how spending behavior for recipients is impacted in real-time. The 2021 Stimulus Spending Tracker covers consumer transaction data across discretionary spending, retail investing, cryptocurrency investing, and buy-now pay-later, increasingly used by consumers to finance purchases. "Through Cardify's 2021 Stimulus Spending Tracker, we gain a better understanding of how stimulus check recipients put recovery funds to work, and whether the payments are truly driving economic growth," said Derrick Fung, CEO of Cardify.ai. "Our data uncovered key brands that really captured the 2020 consumer spend as a result of the stimulus checks and we are interested to see if those trends continue." Following the first round of stimulus that was issued between April and July of 2020 to support Americans in the aftermath of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cardify data uneiled unique insights into how 238,000 Americans of the 2020 stimulus recipients changed their spending across categories and brands vs. those who did not receive a stimulus check. This new stimulus spending tracker will provide similar unique insights and data for investing decision makers. When 2020 stimulus checks were issued, Cardify data tracked spending at top consumer brands like Home Depot and Etsy after consumers received funds. At Home Depot, stimulus check recipients spent 200% more after getting funds. As online purchasing fueled Etsy's rise in the pandemic, the online retailer saw spending from federal fund recipients rise more than 300%, compared to prior spending levels. As a component of the tracker, Cardify released the results of a check recipient spending intentions survey on March 22, 2021. The survey data shows that 32% will be investing their stimulus check into stocks or cryptocurrencies while 82% of recipients plan to save at least a portion of their checks. The 2021 Stimulus Tracker will also analyze themes such as the return to travel and ongoing interest for home improvement projects. As the economy reopens and consumers are vaccinated, Cardify's Stimulus Tracker will provide unique, real-time insights on which trends are subject to thrive, and which ones reached their peak during the pandemic. For more information on the Stimulus Tracker and insights contact Cardify@cardify.ai or this link . About Cardify: Cardify is a market research company that unlocks transactional data to provide real-time answers to key business questions. Cardify is powered and owned by Drop Technologies. Based in Toronto, Drop is a personalized rewards program focused on bringing value to its members by making their everyday more rewarding. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cardifyai-launches-2021-stimulus-spending-tracker-301253892.html SOURCE Cardify.ai [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Islamist radical threat to stop Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from entering Dhaka on Friday when he is guest of honour at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the country's independence is the latest in the long sequence of organised trouble-making our country has witnessed in the last two years. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government will doubtlessly resort to tough policing to foil this threat. Just after India despatched vaccines, manufactured by its Serum Institute, to friendly neighbour Bangladesh, opposition parties in Dhaka sank in shock. A carefully developed social media and propaganda narrative that India will never provide Bangladesh with vaccines, like it has not signed the Teesta water-sharing agreement, just fell apart. The opposition eco-system, comprising the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the de-registered Jamaat-e-Islam and a host of fringe radical Islamists, swung back with innuendos and falsehoods to stoke another wave of vitriolic smear campaign on social media platforms. "India is holding us guinea pig", "Administration of Indian made vaccines would inject spy cams inside human body", "Indian vaccine made up of water and cow urine", are some of such pearls of wisdom floated by a section of Islamist leaders turbo charged by covert Pakistan funding and moral backing that started doing rounds on Facebook and YouTube. And as expected, they took aim at Hasina . "Sheikh Hasina, with Indian vaccine, will cripple opposition activists," Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, a senior joint secretary general of the BNP, said at an event. An array of other party leaders attempted to tear down the public image of Hasina as the single most popular leader in Bangladesh and projected her as an Indian surrogate. They were joined in this by a section of civil society vendors and a handful of journalists in Bangladesh. The aim was to tear down projects meant for common public good of India and Bangladesh. With an oblique reference of government's turning down of Chinese Sinovac proposal from holding clinical trial, an editor of a Dhaka-based English daily, came down heavily on Facebook, saying: "India refuses to provide Corona vaccine when we cancelled other options." Posted in the wake of an AP story that wrongly attributed an interview with Serum Institute CEO to possible delay in the delivery of Vaccines abroad, the post by the editor -- and many such by leading opposition figures -- stood out like sore thumbs when the Indian vaccines arrived. Angry Awami League netizens attacked these India-bashers, asking them to desist from taking Indian vaccines and leaving them for poor Bangladeshis who needed them most. But there are some in the Bangladesh opposition eco-system who are shameless to continue India-bashing even when their arguments appeared undone by facts. "It's a husband wife relation. Pity the domestic violence," commented Shahidul Alam on the India-Bangladesh relationship, his sarcasm counter productive because they were borne out by facts. In addition of a concerted government response, a timely counter offensive run by Awami League web team exposed the those misinformation campaign. Even Sunday, a fake declaration of a general holiday from March 26 ran rife on social media. Interestingly, in the face of an outright rejection from the mainstream national outlets, social media platforms including Facebook and YouTube emerged as the last force multiplier option in this battle, the radical elements and their backers in political parties like BNP started screaming "India will invade Bangladesh". A new phenomenon is discernible the last two years. Masquerading as journalists and true patriots, Kanak Sarwar, Mahmudur Rahman, once an advisor of the BNP led government back in 2001-06, retired Colonels Shaheed and Major Delwar have unleashed a smear and fake news campaign on YouTube and Facebook to bring down the regime. The extensive use of social media to fan hatred to incite communal violence between Hindus and Muslims in rural parts across the country was complemented by defaming secular bloggers by projecting them as atheists and tagging them with a systemic smear offensive against India. Attacks on the minorities were controlled by tough policing but they continued to recur. A favourite social media smear was to fire some blasphemous material from mobile phones of Hindus and then using it to whip up a frenzy against them. On top of that virulent social media campaign, a violent agitation, defying the Covid guidelines, was started against installation of Mujib statues in his birth centenary on the plea that it was un-Islamic. Once that was controlled, the Islamists whipped up frenzy over events in France. But finally it was India, their favourite target, that figured prominently as the opposition eco-system turned on Indian vaccines. First they said the vaccines would never come but when they did, the smear turned on quality and adverse effects. That overwhelming reliance on social media became apparent with the growing number of country-folk entering social media owing to an electoral pledge of Digital Bangladesh made by Awami League in 2008 that made accessible to internet cost effective more than ever. On another note, during Covid times, from school learning to mobile money transaction and to e-health service dividends of Digital bangladesh paid off. In recent times India has become a hub of technological globalisation. From hardware manufacturing to start-up ecosystem, the country has achieved potential of surpassing other super powers like the US and China by 2031 in terms of GDP. Moreover the vision of Digital Bangladesh was one of the boldest dream that we have already achieved in making a reality. The architecture of digital Bangladesh consists four major pillars. Industry Infrastructures with high-end technological facilities Skilled, Equipped and Digital Ready Human Resources Digital Connectivity reaching out the grassroots 4. E-governance and Smart & accessible Public Services Many government initiatives has grown into a national innovation ecosystem in the making eying for a national start-up ecosystem with complete mapping in near future. Here are the potential collaboration these two neighbouring nations in following areas 1. Knowledge sharing between the academic institutions of Bangladesh and India on research and Studies of Frontier Technologies India is the home of most of the world's most successful IT CEOs, mostly graduates from IIT. On the other hand, Bangladesh has already established a Digital University specialised on technology-based unique sectors and has initiated the Plan on establishing a dedicated institution for Tech-entrepreneurs and Experts as Sheikh Hasina Institute of Frontier Technologies (SHIFT) integrating the phenomenon based learning methodologies and lifelong learning platform alongside with frontier innovations such as: neurotechnology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, etc. which will have their own impact on the global economy in near future according to the new trends and waves of innovation and K-wave data. 2. Policy Level cooperation for building sustainable start-up ecosystem for the youth Bangladesh government and private industry has already marching forward to build an innovative environment as well as ensuring the availability of all the elements required to build a sustainable start-up ecosystem in the country. Hi-tech parks, software technology parks, iDEA Project, Startup Bangladesh Ltd, Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation ecosystem development project are just some of the examples of government's priority and seriousness regarding this sector. On the contrary, start-up ecosystem established in Bengaluru has made it's own mark in global list of best ecosystems due to it's policies and supports provided by Indian government. There are plenty of verticals where both nations can cooperate in terms of exchanging the experiences of youth entrepreneurs as well as policy level personals for building a cross border connectivity based start-ups ecosystem which eventually will help start-ups from both nations . 3. Preparing the youth while facing the challenges of global pandemic The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has already established e-skillindia.org platform in order to ensure virtual training and skill development opportunities for the working age population which already collaborated with universities and institutions from the countries likes of the UK for globally recognized and accredited professional courses. Bangladesh has also established National Skill Development Authority (NSDA) which is just getting started and still in it's early days of executing such initiatives. Establishing a globally collaborated platform for preparing the youth from both nations might help these countries face the challenges of uncertain future. 4. Boosting up local manufacturing industry of digital device and innovations of both nations is a distinct possibility. India has become one of the major hubs of hardware manufacturing in recent time for global industry. Moreover, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) has been working on establishing specialised economic zones for Hi-Tech Industries throughout the nation focusing on the incentives and policy based supports such as: tax exemptions, Duty Free Import, etc. Provided by the government. Both nations are already collaborating on setting up 12 IT parks as well as creating Trainers and Skilled Human Resources through the BDSET project. This might open up a new door of partnership in establishing hi-end hardware manufacturing industries in Bangladesh as well as boosting up the local manufacturing sources of Indian Industry. The opposition and detractors of the Hasina government try to project that Bangladesh's IT industry can only grow at India's expense. That is a misplaced perception, if not a deliberate spin. India is home to the best IT companies of Asia and if they move into Bangladesh big-time with large enough investments to take advantage of the IT resources created by the Digital Bangladesh campaign, developed assiduously under the guidance of Hasina's son and IT adviser Sajeeb Wajed Joy, they will not only raise their own profit margins but also boost Bangladesh's IT industry and exports. Bangladesh needs to diversify its economy by expanding the basket beyond garments and labour exports that boost foreign exchange remittances. Indian technology and capital can create a win-win for both neighbours, one of the many examples of possible cooperation that can boost Indian and Bangladesh's economy. The two neighbours are destined to grow together. (Engineer Tonmoy Ahmed is member of science and technology sub-committee of Bangladesh's ruling Awami League) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text WALNUT CREEK, Calif., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Heffernan Insurance Brokers, one of the largest full-service, independent insurance brokerage firms in the United States, today announced participating in a $3 million early investment round for GloveBox, an innovator in the mobile insurtech marketplace. Additional participants in the round include Mercato Partner's Prelude Fund and other insurance industry partners. The investment will enhance and expand the platform for both agencies and policyholders. Co-founders Ryan and Andy Mathisen, Sean Mulhern, and Alex Rolex created GloveBox based on their experiences at Colorado Insurance. They set out to provide a completely tech-forward mobile marketplace that enables independent agencies to win against larger, incumbent carriers. "As former insurance executives, we know the issues facing smaller, independent carriers, including the lack of technology at their disposal," said Ryan Mathisen, co-founder and CEO of GloveBox. "With this funding, we will dramatically expand and accelerate our platform development reaching more agency partners faster and more efficiently. GloveBox is changing the way that policyholders interface with the independent channel and this is only the beginning for us." GloveBox's technology increases customer satisfaction, reduces service inquiries, and decreases service costs. As a result, agencies run more efficiently and profitably, consumers enjoy better service and lower prices. Since its launch in March 2020, GloveBox has signed up over 100 agencies and is averaging five new entities a week. For more information on GloveBox, visit gloveboxapp.com . About Heffernan Insurance Brokers Heffernan Insurance Brokers, formed in 1988, is one of the largest independent insurance brokerage firms in the United States. Heffernan provides insurance and financial services products to a range of businesses and individuals. Headquartered in Walnut Creek, Calif., Heffernan has offices in San Francisco, Petaluma, Menlo Park, Truckee, Bakersfield, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles and Irvine, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; Seattle and Olympia, WA; St. Louis, MO; Philadelphia, PA; and London UK. Employee-owned, Heffernan Insurance Brokers was named the Top Mid-Sized Broker in the United States to work for in 2009 by Business Insurance Magazine. The firm has been among the Top Greater Bay Area Philanthropists since 2003. For more information, visit www.heffins.com. License #0564249 About GloveBox Founded in 2019 and launched in 2020, Denver-based insurtech GloveBox has quickly established itself as a major innovator within the P&C insurance sector by simplifying the customer experience while significantly reducing service costs for independent insurance agents and carriers. Dedicated to removing the frustrations out of the insurance process, GloveBox enables customers to access all policy documents directly from their insurance carrier, pay a bill and initiate a claim through its easy-to-use mobile and web application. As the platform evolves, GloveBox will become the premier customer-interfacing solution for independent agents to leverage with all of their policyholders, at any stage in the insurance lifecycle. For more information on GloveBox, visit gloveboxapp.com . SOURCE Heffernan Insurance Brokers Related Links http://www.heffins.com Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in West Bengal in the upcoming assembly elections, the deltaic Sunderbans region would be declared as a separate district. "In 2015, 2016 and 2019, Didi had announced that her government would declare Sunderbans as a district. But the Trinamool Congress government has not done anything so far. If the BJP is voted to power this time, we will make the Sunderbans a separate district within one year of coming to power in Bengal," Shah said, while addressing a public meeting at Gosaba on Tuesday. The Union minister also promised to set up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) unit in the Sunderbans if the BJP came to power in West Bengal. "Has the Sunderbans region got its due that it deserves? Every fisherman will get an insurance cover of Rs. 3 lakh in the islands. Besides this, the government will take up special initiatives to protect tigers in the mangrove belts," he said. Shah further said that the Mamata Banerjee-led ruling Trinamool government had not met the expectations of the people in the Sunderbans. "We will make the Sunderbans region into one of the exceptionally developed areas of the country," he pointed out. At present, the Sunderbans, a UNESCO world heritage site, is carved out of two West Bengal districts - South 24-Parganas and North 24-Parganas. Considered to be one of the richest but most fragile ecosystems on the planet, the Sundarbans delta, formed by the myriad branches of the Ganga, has forest tracts that reach the 130-km inland from the coastline. The alluvial archipelago, formed by 56 riverine islands is home to the famous Royal Bengal Tiger. It is a vast area covering 4,262 sq km, including a mangrove cover of 2,125 sq-km in India alone, and a larger portion in Bangladesh. (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.) Extreme temperatures in South Africa Pasha 101: Two researchers unpack these events. Extreme heat and extreme cold can both have an impact on human health. With a changing climate, these events are set to occur more often. They are also becoming increasingly difficult to predict. Extreme heat stress can result in heatstroke and can affect peoples cardiovascular health. There are significant health concerns related to extreme heat events, particularly when people arent prepared for them. Extreme cold temperatures present a different set of challenges. For example, they can affect low income communities who live in vulnerable housing. Extreme temperatures can also affect plants and animals. In todays episode of Pasha, Jennifer Fitchett, an associate professor of physical geography at the University of the Witwatersrand, and Adriaan van der Walt, a lecturer in geography at the University of the Free State, discuss their research on these extreme heat and cold events and why its important to try to track them. LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to New Haven Friday on her first visit to the state as vice president, the White House announced Tuesday. Part of the administrations Help is Here campaign, Harris visit is expected to focus on how the administrations coronavirus relief legislation, called the American Rescue Plan, helps children and child care providers, sources said. The visit may also touch on vaccines and other aspects of pandemic recovery supported by the bill. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who represents New Haven, will give a speech along with Harris in the city Friday. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Reps. Jahana Hayes, D-5, and Joe Courtney, D-2, are also expected to attend. DeLauro championed a temporary expansion of the child tax credit in the American Rescue Plan a measure that will soon send families up to $3,000 per child in an effort to slash child poverty. DeLauro and other Democrats are now pushing to make the change permanent. I am excited to hear that Vice President Kamala Harris is coming to New Haven to join congresswomen DeLauro and Hayes, said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker on Tuesday. This is critical in emphasizing the importance of the American Rescue Plan and how our leaders at the federal government are working tirelessly to help those who are struggling, especially in our community. I especially want to thank Rep. DeLauro for fighting for decades for the child tax credit. The American Rescue Plan also included billions in funding to help shuttered child care centers reopen. Unlike some states in the region, Connecticut supported child care providers remaining open during the pandemic if they could implement certain safety protocols. Blumenthal said he looks forward to showing Harris how American Rescue Plan dollars are already working in Connecticut. Vice President Harris has made helping families a priority since her days as my Senate deskmate, Blumenthal said. Under her leadership, and the leadership of President Biden, the American Rescue Plan is injecting billions of dollars directly into Connecticut state and local governments. The new law sends $2.7 billion to the state government and $1.6 billion to town governments to use as they see fit, along with over $1.2 billion for Connecticut schools and millions more to back vaccine distribution, transportation and other items. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, we have seen an accelerated vaccine distribution effort, and we cant wait to have the Vice President spend time in New Haven, touting the American Rescue Plan Act, which will help move our state and country forward, said Max Reiss, communications director for Gov. Ned Lamont. The vice president and other administration leaders have been making other trips around the country highlighting various aspects of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed into law earlier this month. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson Budapest, March 24 : Hungary has granted China's CanSino vaccine emergency use authorisation, making it the second China-developed Covid-19 vaccine approved in the European country, Hungarian Chief Medical Officer Cecilia Muller said. Apart from the CanSino vaccine, the National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition has also approved the import of CoviShield, the Indian version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Muller told a news conference, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday. "We will search the four corners of the world to have enough vaccines in the country," she said. The Hungarian government has been enriching its inoculation program with multiple vaccines in the fight against a third wave of the pandemic. So far, it has gained access to vaccines from five producers worldwide, including China's Sinopharm. The use of Russian and Chinese vaccines has greatly contributed to the acceleration of the Hungarian vaccine program, according to Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto. "Vaccine is not a question of ideology for us; it is a matter of saving lives. And if we had not contracted Chinese and Russian vaccines, we could not have saved the health and lives of so many Hungarians," the minister said in a recent interview with Russia Today. Hungary, the first European Union member state to purchase a Chinese vaccine and authorize its use, started to administer the Sinopharm vaccine on February 24. Salem, Oregons capital city of 170K people, is looking for a firm to handle its $2M annual destination marketing program. The mother of Britain's largest family has said how 'incredibly lucky' she is after being gifted a Land Rover Discovery for her 46th birthday. Bakery owner Noel Radford, 50, treated his wife Sue, 46, to a brand new luxury car worth upwards of 30,000 and the mother took to Instagram to show off her lavish gift. The couple have 22 children, with 19 still living at their 10-bedroom home in Morecambe, Lancashire, and rely solely on Noel's pie shop to fund their ever-growing brood. Bakery owner Noel Radford, 50, treated his wife Sue, 45, to a brand new luxury car worth upwards of 30,000 and the mother took to Instagram to show off her lavish gift The mother re-posted a sweet picture of Noel and Sue shared by a fan account wishing the mum a happy birthday Sharing a picture of the car, Sue wrote: 'Happy birthday to me. Im so incredibly lucky to have such an amazing hubby who works so hard for us all.I love you @noelradford.' Sophie Radford, 27, who is the couple's second oldest child, also shared a message wishing her mum a 'huge happy birthday' and hailing her the 'rock of the family'. The mother also re-posted a sweet picture of Noel and Sue shared by a fan account wishing her a happy birthday. Earlier this month, the family revealed their pie shop was doing so well they were forced to temporarily close after a huge surge in sales. The couple have 22 children, with 19 still living at their 10-bedroom home in Morecambe, Lancashire. Pictured, the couple's large brood at home Sharing pictures of the luxury car, Sue wrote: 'Happy birthday to me. Im so incredibly lucky to have such an amazing hubby who works so hard for us all.I love you @noelradford' Following the ratings success of their latest TV endeavour - Channel 5's 22 Kids and Counting - the family revealed they temporarily shutdown online sales to catch up an unprecedented amount of orders. The four-part series sees Sue and Noel tackle life in lockdown with the 19 kids that are still living at home, and after the latest show debuted in February pies ordered boomed. WHO ARE THE RADFORD FAMILY? Dubbed Britain's largest family, the Radford family is made up of Sue and Noel Radford and their 22 children. Sue and Noel's most recent child is Heidi, who was born in April last year, with the others being Chris, 31, Sophie, 27, Chloe, 25, Jack, 23, Daniel, 21, Luke, 20, Millie, 19, Katie, 18, James, 17, Ellie, 15, Aimee, 14, Josh, 13, Max, 12, Tillie, 10, Oscar, nine, Casper, eight, Hallie, five , Phoebe, four, Archie threeand Bonnie, one. The couple met for the first time when Sue was seven, before going on to have their first child when Sue was 14 and Noel was 18. They got married in 1993 when Sue turned 18, and went on to have nine children before Noel had a vasectomy - which he later had reversed. Sadly Alfie, the couple's 17th child, was stillborn on July 6th 2014. Oldest siblings Chris, 31, and Sophie, 26, have moved out of the family home to start their own families. Meanwhile, daughter Millie, 19, has now added to the brood with her daughter Ophelia, five months. Advertisement Taking to Facebook, the family wrote: ' For everyone enquiring about order[ing] pies online. We have closed the website site for a few days just so we can try and catch up with the orders that came in after our program aired on Monday. 'We had plenty of stock ready to go but we were inundated with orders. 'We took the decision to close for a few days rather than you placing a order and having to wait a few weeks to receive your order. 'We would like to thank you all for your continued support we very much appreciated it.' However, their website is now back up and running and they appear to be taking orders again. The family have owned the bakery since 1999, and has recently expanded to accept online orders made from around the UK. Dad Noel runs the shop with Chloe, 25, and Daniel, 21, also helping out, while mum Sue stays at home to look after the younger kids. Sue, Noel and children Chloe, 25, Jack, 23, Daniel, 21, Luke, 20, Millie, 19, Katie, 18, James, 17, Ellie, 15, Aimee, 14, Josh, 13, Max, 12, Tillie, 10, Oscar, nine, Casper, eight, Hallie, five, Phoebe, four, Archie, three, Bonnie, two, and 10-month-old Heidie all living under one roof. Oldest children Chris, 31, and Sophie, 27, have moved out. Elsewhere on the show The Radfords revealed their food bills skyrocketed during the Covid-19 pandemic because their 22 children are 'constantly eating.' On average, the family consumes 16 pints of milk and four loaves of bread a day, and 24 toilet rolls, three tubes of toothpaste and 80 yoghurts a week. Sue told The Mirror: 'Our food bill has nearly doubled as the children are constantly eating.' They can often serve up 56 sausages for BBQs, while a Mexican will set them back 5kg of chicken, 1kg of cheese and four packets of tortilla wraps. Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca declared on Tuesday, during a visit to the "Nicolae Balcescu" Land Forces Academy in Sibiu, that this academy is "one of the most modern higher education institutions in Romania", informs a press release sent to AGERPRES. On Tuesday, Minister Nicolae Ciuca visited the military academy in Sibiu together with the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Daniel Petrescu and the members of the two committees for defence, public order and national security in the Parliament. Minister Ciuca emphasized the importance of the fact that the first visit to the Ministry of Defence units by the members of the defence committees was in a higher education institution "to see what are the values of the system of formation, education and development of military leadership.""You are now in one of the most modern higher educational institutions in Romania, an institution of great value. As I have assumed since the hearings in the Parliament, we want to ensure for you total transparency of the military institution, of missions, activity and endowment programs," said Minister Nicolae Ciuca.In recent years, the Sibiu military academy has undergone an extensive modernization process, which has succeeded in creating an integrated military campus with facilities for training, academic training, sports, accommodation and leisure adapted to the requirements of the current educational environment. STORY LINK Pound to Dollar Rate Slides Sharply Pound Dollar Exchange Rate Sinks as UK-EU Vaccine Tensions Dampen UK Market Confidence US Dollar (USD) Exchange Rates Rise as Risk-Off Market Mood Drives Demand for Greenback GBP to USD Forecast: UK Services PMI in Focus Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The Pound US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate fell by -0.5% following yesterdays comments from Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who warned that Europes third-wave of Covid-19 infections will wash up on our shores. The pairing is currently fluctuating around $1.37.Added to the UKs concerns are possible shortages of AstraZeneca vaccines, which the EU has threatened to ban from exporting to Britain.However, today saw the news that the UK Government would be keen to offer support to the EU in the form of AstraZenecas vaccine production plant in the Netherlands.Sources within the Dutch government said:There hasnt been a request but the system means that whatever decision we make it has to go to European commission and if they want to block it they can.It would be better if we didnt get to that point and AstraZeneca, the British government and the European commission could just find an agreement. AstraZeneca has oversold what they could do to everyone.Meanwhile, today saw the publication of the latest UK unemployment report for January, which fell below forecasts and rose by 5% instead of the projected 5.2% figure.Now that joblessness has fallen for the first time since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, GBP investors are becoming more hopeful about Britains economy in the months ahead.The US Dollar (USD) has benefited from its safe-haven status today because of growing tensions between many Western nations including the US and the EU and Beijing.The UKs Foreign Ministry described the situation:Acting together sends the clearest possible signal that the international community is united in its condemnation of Chinas human rights violations in Xinjiang and the need for Beijing to end its discriminatory and oppressive practices in the region.Consequently, demand for safe-haven currencies like the Greenback have risen as tensions between China the worlds second-largest economy and key Western nations are dampening risk appetite.US Dollar (USD) traders will be awaiting todays testimony from eh Federal Reserves Chairman, Jerome Powell.Any dovishness about the outlook for the American economy, however, could further drive-up demand for the safe-haven Greenback.US Dollar (USD) traders will be awaiting tomorrows release of the latest US Durable Goods Orders figure.If this points to an improvement in the US economy, however, then we could see the Greenback shed some of its gains as global risk sentiment improves.Pound (GBP) traders will be eyeing tomorrows publication of the latest flash UK Services PMI for March.Any improvement in the UKs largest sector would boost the Pound to Dollar exchange rate. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: American Dollar Forecasts Pound Dollar Forecasts Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman says criminal charges are not warranted against either Officer Mark Ringgenberg or Officer Dustin Schwarze in the fatal shooting of Jamar Clark. Before the announcement, County Attorney Mike Freeman detailed events leading up to Clarks shooting. He says during the struggle, Officer Ringgenberg repeatedly told Officer Schwarze hes got my gun. Freeman says Ringenberg told investigators he felt Clarks whole hand on the gun, Schwarze dropped his handcuffs and took out his gun. According to the investigation: Schwarze said he put the gun to the edge of Clarks mouth and said, Let go, or Im going to shoot you. Schwarze recalls Clark looking directly at him and saying, Im ready to die. Schwarze said the only thing I could think of to do was to save our lives and everyone else in the immediate area, so I pulled the trigger. Black community leaders told Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman they don't buy his narrative of what happened when Jamar Clark was shot. Nekima Levy Pounds is head of the NAACP and says they're not giving up and will continue to seek justice for Jamar. Pounds says Minneapolis Police were first on scene and the investigation was unfair from the beginning. This woman says the decision not to charge the officers for murder --- is all on Attorney Freeman. WCCO-TV provides video of Freeman's announcement through this link. BRENTWOOD, Tenn., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Premise Health, the world's largest direct health care provider, has added Find Help with Premise to its digital offerings, a platform that connects members with programs in their communities that can offer assistance and resources for needs ranging from childcare to transportation and hunger. The platform will integrate with Premise's electronic health record, allowing its providers to view local resources during appointments and make seamless referrals to social services at the point of care. The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened the needs of Americans over the past year through layoffs, decreased household incomes, and large medical bills. Premise recognized the challenges brought by 2020 and saw a need for a solution to address social determinants of health and associated barriers, while empowering its providers with the right resources to help members. By expanding its digital capabilities with this platform, Premise will better support its most at-risk members and help them live healthier. Social determinants of health, the conditions in the environments where people live, work, and play, affect a wide range of health and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. When people lack access to a healthy environment and basic needs, it can impact health as much or more than serious medical conditions. For its members in need, Premise providers can access Find Help within its integrated electronic health record by simply entering a member's zip code. The platform will populate all applicable programs in the member's area, allowing the provider to make referrals during an appointment in the same way they would refer out to a specialist. This helps members overcome challenges to help them lead healthy, productive lives and keep them safe. "Our members are central to what we do, and our goal is always to help them live healthier. Social determinants of health, such as access to food, transportation, and even green spaces can have a large impact on someone's spiritual, emotional, and physical health," said Premise chief medical officer Jon Leizman, MD. "Our new Find Help platform will extend our clinicians' ability to address these aspects of health and better serve our patients. By connecting members with the resources they need, our providers will be able to have an even more profound impact on their health and wellbeing." Not only will the Find Help platform be available to providers, but members and their families will also be able to access it for free on a dedicated external website. For even more convenient access, the platform will soon be embedded within the My Premise Health app, which members can download in the Apple or Google Play stores, making it easy to get assistance whenever needed. The platform includes a wide variety of resources for social services and programs such as food, shelter, health care, financial assistance, and more. Premise is offering the platform to its clients at no additional cost. Providers and members now have access to Find Help, which currently boasts over 450,000 program listings and is constantly growing. The new Premise offering will be periodically assessed to ensure it evolves in the most meaningful and valuable way possible for members and their families. ABOUT PREMISE HEALTH Premise Health is the leading direct health care company serving over 11 million eligible lives across more than 2,200 of the largest commercial and municipal employers in the U.S. Premise partners with its clients to connect their populations to high-quality, cost-effective health care through physical (onsite and nearsite wellness centers, mobile units, and events) and digital (24/7 virtual care, remote monitoring, and connected devices) access models. It operates more than 800 onsite and nearsite wellness centers in 45 states and Guam. Premise delivers value by removing barriers to care and creating seamless experiences for members and dependents with nearly 30 products including primary care, occupational health, pharmacy, fitness, and wellness. As the premier provider of employer-based health care, Premise offers unmatched access, enhanced clinical quality, and an exceptional member experience. The result is health care that raises the bar and delivers true financial return for the ultimate payor, the employer. For more information on Premise Health, visit www.premisehealth.com. ABOUT FIND HELP Find Help is the leading referral platform for social services in America, serving the biggest cities and smallest towns. We connect people seeking help and the verified social care providers that serve them, with dignity and ease. We make it easy for people to find social services in their communities, for nonprofits to coordinate their efforts, and for organizations to integrate social care into the work they already do. We serve millions of users and our platform is used in a wide range of industries including education, government, housing, and health care. Media Contact: Lacey Hunter 615-419-7722 [email protected] SOURCE Premise Health Andersen Global unifies its platform in North America as its member firms in Canada adopt the brand "Andersen," reflecting the organization's ability to provide a full suite of integrated services through its member and collaborating firms globally. Formerly operating under the brand name Andersen Tax, the Canadian member firms now share the common brand "Andersen" with the U.S. member firm regionally, along with member firms globally in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The U.S. member firm previously transitioned to the Andersen brand in 2019, which initiated the adoption globally by the organization's member firms throughout 2020 and early 2021. "This unification under a common brand demonstrates our shared culture, values and commitment to serving our clients in a seamless manner globally," Andersen Global Chairman and Andersen CEO Mark Vorsatz said. "This is a significant step in our global organization's development as we continue to expand and solidify our global platform." Founded in 2002 by 23 former tax partners from Arthur Andersen, Andersen started its journey as WTAS LLC, a tax-only firm that established WTAS Global in 2013. The founding U.S. member firm then began operating as Andersen Tax in 2014 and the global organization became known as Andersen Global. The global organization entered the Canadian market in 2016 and now operates with five partners and nearly 40 professionals through offices in Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. "We believe this is a milestone that reinforces the values and vision that remain at the core of our firm, both locally and globally," said Office Managing Director at Andersen in Montreal, Simon Davari. "This transition supports our growth and development, highlights the breadth and depth of our expertise, and strengthens our position in the Canadian market." Warren Dueck, Office Managing Director at Andersen in Vancouver, added, "Over the last few years, our firm has grown significantly, and its evolution highlights our 'one firm' culture as we work seamlessly to build on the existing foundation of the Andersen brand in North America, alongside our colleagues in the U.S. As we look forward to this next step of our firm's development, our team remains dedicated to providing clients with best-in-class services, especially as it relates to U.S. and Canadian cross-border tax services." Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 7,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 261 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005321/en/ Contacts: Megan Tsuei Andersen Global 415-764-2700 M&C Saatchi Abel has appointed Keke Mahlelebe, Mohlalifi Lentsoane and Ille Potgieter into three key leadership roles across its Cape Town and Johannesburg offices. L to R: Keke Mahlelebe, Mohlalifi Lentsoane and Ille Potgieter M&C Saatchi Abel has announced promotions of three dynamic talents that have been crucial to the agencys growth, with their new roles designed to further enhance the creative companys bold ambitions and bolster the long-term relationships it shares with its clients.Effective 1 April 2021, Keke Mahlelebe moves from strategy partner to head of strategy for M&C Saatchi Abel Cape Town; Mohlalifi Lentsoane moves from creative director to joint executive creative director for M&C Saatchi Abel Johannesburg alongside James Cloete and Ille Potgieter steps up from business partner to managing director of M&C Saatchi Abel Cape Town.Our Partner Model is about having the right depth of talent and tenure to ensure we can continue to bring diverse, talented and fresh thinkers into leadership positions and importantly, provide clients with access to senior management on a day-to-day basis. We deeply believe in the philosophy of Diversity of Thought as a powerful orientation, and we work with talented individuals for many years to help unlock their potential and fast track them & their skills in preparation for this new challenge. Ille and Keke are huge talents and the Cape Town office is in very capable hands, says Jason Harrison, co-founder and group managing director of M&C Saatchi AbelSpeaking about Lentsoane, Neo Mashigo, group chief creative officer at M&C Saatchi, says: In Johannesburg, Mo joins James as joint executive creative director because his considered approach to solving the most complicated problems with the power of creativity has been crucial to our successes across clients. He is a gifted creative and with this promotion he will have a broader canvas to continue his positive influence.Potgieter says shared values have underpinned her growth in the agency. Ive been part of this family for seven years and witnessed immense growth. Often when an agency undergoes so much growth, so quickly, it loses its DNA. This is what I love about M&C Saatchi Abel our foundational values remain, and with them our DNA remains intact and, in fact, underpins everything we do.This is important to me, as values matter immensely. I am excited about the opportunity to lead the Cape Town business and do what I love: grow and mentor diverse talent so that we deliver meaningful work, she says.Mahlelebe says he is excited to bring authentic and resonant work to more South Africans. Historically, strategists were obsessed with trying to be more locally relevant to the market. Our focus and certainly the fuel in my tank, is to be a whole lot more resonant to more South African people. Resonance is not what you think, but how you feel. As part of a fresh injection of leadership, I could not be more excited to unlock more Brutal Simplicity of Thought to influence how consumers feel, he says.This, along with the diversely skilled team I will oversee in Cape Town as we work on a portfolio of iconic brands, means the future of M&C Saatchi Abel is bright and I am honoured to be on the front line of this hot, fast-moving family of Partners and friends.Lentsoane says his animating force is a commitment to creativity. Creativity is more than just creating something beautiful, he says. Creativity is about problem-solving to find surprising, exciting, relevant and compelling solutions that resonate with people. I am incredibly excited to be part of the senior leadership team in this fast-growing, dynamic creative agency. RYALTRIS is currently under review by Health Canada with a proposed indication for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and children over 12 years of age Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has announced that its subsidiary Glenmark Specialty SA in Switzerland and an affiliate of Bausch Health Companies Inc have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for the commercialisation of Glenmarks innovative nasal spray RYALTRIS under review by Health Canada. Under the terms of the agreement, Glenmark will be responsible for regulatory approvals and supply of RYALTRIS for the Canadian market. Bausch Health, Canada will be responsible for the commercialisation of RYALTRIS in the Canadian market, following regulatory approval. Glenmark will receive an upfront payment, launch and salesbased milestone payments in addition to royalties and supply price from sales of RYALTRIS. RYALTRIS (Olopatadine Hydrochloride 665 mcg and Mometasone Furoate 25 mcg), is currently under review by Health Canada with a proposed indication for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and children over 12 years of age. Commenting on the agreement, Sanjeev Krishan, President & Business Head North America, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, said, We are pleased to partner with Bausch Health Canada, and recognise their strong foothold in the prescription and OTC market in Canada. This agreement will help us reach a larger patient population and extend the multiple benefits of RYALTRIS to a significant market. Glenmark continues to build a strong portfolio in respiratory medicine, and RYALTRIS marks our first true global brand launch till date. We are pleased to add Ryaltris to our allergy product portfolio and eager to make it available to Canadian patients suffering from allergies, said Richard Lajoie, President, Bausch Health, Canada. In Canada, allergic rhinitis is estimated to afflict 25 per cent of the population, and can have a significant impact on sleep, work and school performance. A bipartisan group of Oregon lawmakers have introduced a bill that would enable businesses that saw big payroll tax hikes due to the COVID-19 pandemic to have a portion of those bills forgiven. Oregon employers pay higher unemployment insurance taxes when the states jobless rate goes up. Those taxes help replenish Oregons unemployment insurance trust fund, which is used to pay jobless claims. The trust funds reserves dropped from $5.1 billion to $3.8 billion in the first 10 months of the pandemic as the state received an unprecedented flood of jobless claims. The state requires the bulk of those increased taxes to be paid by the businesses that cut the most jobs. That has worked in ordinary times, but led to businesses that suffered the most from the coronavirus pandemic last year seeing the biggest tax hikes in 2021. Approximately 20% of Oregon employers -- including the restaurants, bars, gyms and other businesses hardest hit by the pandemic -- are currently set to cover nearly all of the projected $183 million increase in unemployment taxes during 2021 and their tax burden could continue to rise in the next several years, if state lawmakers dont act, because the states formula allocates cost increases over a three-year period. However, House Bill 3389 aims to ease the burden on those employers. The Oregon Employment Department is already allowing businesses that saw their unemployment insurance tax rate increase by half a percent or more in 2021 to defer a third of this years payments until June 2022. But the House bill would go further, enabling employers that saw their bills increase by more than 2% to have one third of their total bill forgiven. Those that saw their bills increase by between 1% to 2% would be eligible to defer one third of their bill and have a smaller percentage of that deferment forgiven as well. I really appreciate the bipartisan work that went into developing this bill, said Rep. Paul Holvey, D-Eugene, who is one of the bills sponsors. As we continue our economic recovery, the legislature is looking to do everything we can to help businesses that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Jason Brandt, the president of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, said he has heard from businesses that have seen their payroll tax burden triple this year because of the number of employees they had to lay off in 2020 due to the states pandemic restrictions. Brandt said he is happy to see lawmakers taking steps to ease the impact of that tax spike, but urged lawmakers to allow businesses to defer more than one third of their unemployment insurance taxes until next year. Even after deferring a third of their bills, Brandt said, business owners struggling to survive the pandemic could be put in a tough position if they are asked to pay the remainder of their spiking payroll taxes this year. We have an opportunity with this deferral program to help protect cash in the industry right now as people are getting back up to speed, Brandt said. We think the deferral needs to be much larger to be a stronger short-term fix, but the infrastructure is there and in place in the bill for I think long-term solutions. State lawmakers estimate that the cost of forgiving a portion of those payroll taxes will lead to the states trust fund receiving $84 million less than it otherwise would. However, Oregons trust fund was among the best positioned in the nation coming into the pandemic, with more than $5 billion in reserve, which may make it better positioned to deal with the economic impact of forgiving some of those payroll taxes. The bill would also require that the state use the same formula that was used to determine an employers tax rate in 2020 to calculate their rate for 2022 through 2024, ensuring that employers that had to lay off a large number of employees during the pandemic dont face increased tax burdens in the next several years. The bill would also make changes to how the Oregon Employment Department determines the solvency of its trust fund, which is used to determine yearly increases in unemployment insurance taxes. The bill would reduce targets for the trust fund by 10%, increase the period used for determining the funds solvency level from 10 to 20 years and require that 2020 and 2021 be omitted when determining whether the fund has enough resources to meet its long-term obligations to unemployed Oregonians. We have heard from businesses across our state whose unemployment insurance tax rates have increased substantially because they were forced to lay off workers during the COVID pandemic shutdown, said Nathaniel Brown, a spokesperson for Oregon Business & Industry. We are glad that there is bipartisan agreement that this issue must be addressed. -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg Graves Couple Jailed on Meth, LSD Charges By West Kentucky Star Staff LOWES - A Graves County couple was arrested Tuesday on various drug charges.Kentucky State Police said Andrew Redden and Marcy Redden were arrested Tuesday morning after a multi-agency investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at the couple's Lowes home.During the search, Troopers, along with deputies from the Graves County Sheriff's Office and McCracken County Sheriff's Office, reportedly found methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, prescription medications and other narcotics. The Reddens were both charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, trafficking in methamphetamine, two counts of possession of controlled substance - drug unspecified and possession of LSD. They were lodged in the Graves County Jail. Abu Dhabi and Singapore have expressed interest in exploring collaboration in strategic areas, including technology, innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), space technologies and public sector partnerships. At the 13th session of the Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum (ADSJF), which was held virtually under the co-chairmanship, and in attendance of, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi and S Iswaran, Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations, the UAE Space Agency and Singapores national space office, the Office for Space Technology and Industry (OSTIn) signed a Letter of Intent signalling their shared interest to collaborate in the areas of space technologies, space law and policies, as well as human capital development. A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed by the Abu Dhabi School of Government and the Civil Service College Singapore to facilitate greater and more in-depth exchanges between the public sectors of Singapore and Abu Dhabi. This knowledge and experience initiative will focus on current and emerging topics such as public sector leadership, governance, public administration and management, digital literacy, and well-being, a WAM report said. Ambassadors of both countries were also present, in addition to officials and senior representatives from a number of key public and private entities in the UAE and Singapore. During the session, the Co-Chairs reaffirmed the strong bilateral relations between the UAE and Singapore. For more than 35 years, the UAE and Singapore have enjoyed a productive and positive bilateral relationship anchored by active trade and investment. To broaden cooperation, the Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum was established in 2007 as part of a joint commitment between both countries to explore mutual areas of strategic interest. Further to this agreement, in 2019, the two governments established a Joint Declaration on a Singapore-UAE Comprehensive Partnership, articulating both countries ambition to deepen existing areas of cooperation and explore new sectors, including: political exchanges, trade, industry & investment, financial cooperation, sustainable development and energy, education & human resource development, and health. -- Tradearabia News Service Leon Black, the Wall Street billionaire who appeared to be a main client of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, is stepping down as chief executive officer of Apollo Global Management months ahead of schedule. Mr Black's departure from that role had been announced in January, though the firm said at the time that he would leave by July 1. A statement yesterday confirmed his immediate exit from the position as well as the chairmanship he'd been expected to keep. Apollo has been active in Ireland since the global financial crisis, buying hundreds of millions of euro of distressed loans from lenders including Ulster Bank, and in recent weeks AIB. In 2018, it bought the Tifco hotel chain for a reported 600m from Goldman Sachs. The Irish hotel chain has been selected by the Government here for a contract to provide quarantine space for travelers in a bid to contain the Covid pandemic. Apollo said its co-founder Marc Rowan has taken over as CEO, Jay Clayton was named non-executive chairman, and Apollo added two more independent directors to its board, according to the statement. It's an abrupt turn for Mr Black, 69, a Wall Street legend who built Apollo into one of the most fearsome and profitable names in American finance. He cited unspecified health issues for himself and his wife in announcing his exit. "Marc has seamlessly transitioned into the CEO role and I am confident Apollo will soar to new heights under his leadership," Mr Black said in the statement. Mr Black and Apollo have been dealing with the fallout from his extensive links with convicted sex offender Epstein, which brought unprecedented scrutiny and unsettled clients and shareholders. After new evidence of Mr Black's ties to the late financier surfaced last year, Apollo hired a law firm to look into the matter. The investigation found that Mr Black paid Mr Epstein $158m (132m) between 2012 and 2017 after Mr Epstein pleaded guilty to felony charges in 2008. Apollo has long maintained it never hired Epstein for any services, and Mr Black was never accused of any involvement in his criminal activities. Throughout his career, Mr Black earned a reputation for overcoming disasters. He founded Apollo in 1990 with partners from Drexel Burnham Lambert, the junk-bond shop led by Michael Milken that collapsed in a scandal. Following the 2008 financial crisis, Apollo came up with ways to protect its investments even when some of the companies it backed failed. But Mr Black's ties with Epstein brought unprecedented scrutiny upon the firm, unsettling clients and shareholders. Some public pension plans halted their commitments, threatening fundraising. Now is "the ideal moment to step back and focus on my family, my wife Debra's and my health issues, and my many other interests", Mr Black said. "I intend to remain Apollo's largest shareholder, and strongest supporter." March 23, 2021 Afghanistan - More Dead End Proposals Seek Time To Allow U.S. Face Saving Exit The Doha agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban includes a promise by the Taliban to not attack U.S. troops or major cities. In exchange the U.S. promised to leave Afghanistan by May 1. The problem for the U.S. is that leaving Afghanistan will inevitable lead to a new Taliban regime, likely within a few months. It would make the U.S. look weak. That is something that Washington inherently dislikes. In early March the Biden administration launched a new Afghanistan peace initiative. It proposed to create a new interim government with participation of the Taliban and under a new constitution. The idea is to uphold some picture of normalcy that can hold for a few months while the U.S. skips out. We said that the idea was unlikely to fly: President Ghani is furious about Blinken's letter. Other interest groups in the Afghan government also reject it. They think it is a bluff. Unless the U.S. stops the money flow to Kabul and pulls out its troops there is no need for Ghani and other to proceed. The Taliban will also reject the proposals. They want the U.S. to leave and they feel sure that, after that, they can win the civil war and reinstall their Islamic Emirate. Their backers in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are likewise convinced that there is no need to change course. The new U.S. proposal is a dead end. Today President Ashraf Ghani made a counterproposal which has a similar chance to be realized: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will propose a new presidential election within six months, under a peace plan he will put forward as a counter-offer to a U.S. proposal that he rejects, two senior government officials told Reuters. Ghani will unveil his proposal at an international gathering in Turkey next month, signalling his refusal to accept Washington's plan for his elected government to be replaced by an interim administration, the officials said. ... "The counterproposal which we are going to present at the Istanbul meeting would be to call for early presidential elections if the Taliban agree on a ceasefire," one senior government official said on condition of anonymity. Another Afghan government official said: "The president would never agree to step aside and any future government should be formed through democratic process, not a political deal." A third senior official also said Ghani's proposal would include possible early elections, although he did not specify the exact time frame for the vote. The third official said Ghani had already shared his road map with Khalilzad. ...The Afghan officials said that as part of Ghani's counter-proposal, his government would ask the U.N. to closely observe the new election to ensure it is accepted by all sides. There is no way that a credible election could happen in Afghanistan within the next few years. If the U.S. wants to get out of Afghanistan while leaving behind some functioning government its must move Ghani out of the way. As The U.S. holds the purse without which Ghani can't do anything that should not be too hard to do. Meanwhile the Taliban have offered their own plan which would allow for the U.S. to have some time to save face: The Taliban has confirmed that they have shared a 90-day reduction in violence (RIV) plan with the US, but said there has been no overall agreement on the plan so far. Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem told TOLOnews that the reduction in violence will not mean a ceasefire, but it will result in a decrease in all operations by the group in Afghanistan. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in his letter to President Ashraf Ghani referred to this plan and has reiterated that it will stop the Taliban from announcing its so-called spring offensive. But Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem said the plan was proposed by the Taliban in December and an agreement has not yet been reached. We proposed a draft in December, which involved all operations being reduced, but so far a final agreement has not been reached, Naeem said on Monday. When the Soviet Union had troops in Afghanistan it trained the Afghan army to a reasonable standard. It also provided weapons that were easy to use and needed little maintenance. After the Soviets left Afghanistan that army held out against the U.S. supported Mujahedins for another three years. It only faltered when the Soviet Union cut off its financial and material assistance. The U.S. never managed to train the Afghan army and police to any reasonable standard. It also provided weapons and systems that can not be maintained without external assistance. Without U.S. backing on the ground and in the air that army will likely fold within days: Over the past two decades, the United States has invested more than $88 billion to build, train and equip Afghan troops and police and yet the Taliban is clearly a superior fighting force. ... John Sopko, the brutally honest inspector general for reconstruction in Afghanistan, has been sounding the alarm for years about how corruption, waste, and fraud was effectively neutering the U.S. governments effort to breathe life into the Afghan security forces. The Afghan military and particularly the Afghan police has been a hopeless nightmare and a disaster, Sopko warned Congress in January 2020. ... Based on all the work weve done, it seems obvious that the biggest mistake weve made was to try to build an Afghan Army in our own image and likeness, Sopko said. In other words, an Army that uses the systems and the equipment and the weapons that our army does. And yet, this is a country where a huge portion of the population are illiterate, where theres very little electricity, and very little internet. ... Currently, the Afghan government has limited capability to move food, ammunition, medical supplies, and so on, to units in the field, Sopko said. As SIGAR [the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction] has highlighted recently, the Afghans also lack any capability to maintain their equipment. Without development of these core functions, the ANDSF will never be able to sustain itself. ... Despite two decades and billions of dollars of support, Afghan security forces cannot survive without outside assistance. The Taliban can. That advantage will be decisive whenever U.S. troops leave the country. The money and time was wasted because the U.S. never had the strategic foresight to plan for leaving Afghanistan. But leave it must. Just a few days ago there was a warning that a renewal of a U.S. fight against the Taliban would likely create high U.S. casualties with little chances of success. Lotfullah Najafizada @LNajafizada - 8:13 UTC Mar 20, 2021 Exclusive TOLOnews footage shows the downing of the army helicopter immediately after take off from Behsud where the helicopters were lifting police casualties. Sources tell us that an anti-aircraft missile was used in the attack by AliPoors militias. video Alipoor is a warlord and leader of ethnic Hazaras, a mainly Shiite community. His militia are currently in conflict with the government but also mistrust the Taliban. But if Alipoor's militia have access to man portable air defense missiles (MANPADs) and know how to use them, the Taliban will also have those capabilities. The U.S. military is highly dependent on air transport and air support. A renewed fight would be too costly. There is nothing left for the U.S. but to leave. Posted by b on March 23, 2021 at 18:18 UTC | Permalink Comments Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Senior leaders with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, warned on Monday of the urgent need to address the growing humanitarian crisis in the Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique, where an ongoing insurgency has uprooted hundreds of thousands of people Results from a US trial of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine may have used "outdated information," US federal health officials said in a statement early Tuesday. Late Monday, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board said in a statement that it was concerned that may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. Late Monday, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board said in a statement that it was concerned that the included outdated information from that trial may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. reported Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine provided strong protection among adults of all ages in a long-anticipated U.S. study, a finding that could help rebuild public confidence in the shot around the world and move it a step closer to clearance in the U.S. In the study of 30,000 people, the vaccine was 79% effective at preventing symptomatic cases of COVID-19 including in older adults. There were no severe illnesses or hospitalizations among vaccinated volunteers, compared with five such cases in participants who received dummy shots a small number, but consistent with findings from Britain and other countries that the vaccine protects against the worst of the disease. AstraZeneca also said the study's independent safety monitors found no serious side effects, including no increased risk of rare blood clots like those identified in Europe, a scare that led numerous countries to briefly suspend vaccinations last week. The company aims to file an application with the Food and Drug Administration in the coming weeks, and the government's outside advisers will publicly debate the evidence before the agency makes a decision. Authorization and guidelines for use of the vaccine in the United States will be determined by the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after thorough review of the data by independent advisory committees. (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.) Schumer urges three Black nominees for top U.S. attorney jobs in New York U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) holds a news conference to announce the "For the People" act, aimed voting rights and campaign finance, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, (Photo : REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst) U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday called on President Joe Biden to choose Damian Williams as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, which would make him the first Black man to oversee the powerful federal prosecutor's office in Manhattan. Schumer, a New York Democrat, also urged the president to name two other Black lawyers for top U.S. attorney posts in New York: Breon Peace for New York state's Eastern District, which covers Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island, and Trini Ross for upstate New York's Western District, based in Buffalo and Rochester. Advertisement "All three of these superb and accomplished attorneys have dedicated their careers to equal justice under the law and will bring a passion for the rule of law, civil rights and justice to their respective posts," he wrote in a statement. Schumer's role as the top Democrat in the U.S. Senate and senior senator in New York gives his recommendations weight. All three would have to be nominated by the White House and confirmed in a narrowly divided Senate led by Schumer and Biden's fellow Democrats. Asked about Williams' chances of becoming U.S. attorney for the Southern District, a source close to Schumer said it was all but virtually certain. Representatives for the White House could not be immediately reached for comment. The U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan is at the heart of high-profile cases ranging from terrorism to wrongdoing on Wall Street, cyber attacks and corruption. It has been investigating former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who headed the office in the 1980s, and more recently became known for representing then-President Donald Trump. The office also has been pursuing a case over an alleged border wall fundraising scam involving Trump's former adviser Steve Bannon, who was pardoned after he was charged. In addition, it is handling a case against British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who was charged with helping financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein groom teenage girls for sex. She has pleaded not guilty. Williams is now chief of a securities task force in the prosecutor's office. Before his current post, he prosecuted former New York state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for bribery and extortion. He also prosecuted the case against former U.S. Representative Christopher Collins for insider trading and lying to the FBI. Williams graduated from Yale Law School and clerked for U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, when Garland was a judge at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Peace, who is up for the top post in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, is currently a partner at the law firm of Cleary Gottlieb. He is a former assistant U.S. attorney in the criminal division of the federal prosecutor's office in Brooklyn, which also handles high-profile matters, currently including a case against Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications equipment maker, and its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou. Meng was arrested in Canada on behalf of the United States for allegedly misleading HSBC about business in Iran, and the case has strained ties between the United States, China and Canada. Huawei has pleaded not guilty and Meng has said she is innocent. By PATTY NIEBERG and THOMAS PEIPERT, The Associated Press BOULDER, Colo. (AP) Police on Tuesday identified a 21-year-old man as the suspect who opened fire inside a crowded Colorado supermarket in an attack that killed 10 people, including an officer, and sent terrorized shoppers and employees scrambling for cover. Authorities said Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa was from the Denver suburb of Arvada and that he engaged in a shootout with police Monday afternoon inside the Boulder store. The suspect was being treated at a hospital and was expected to be booked into the county jail later in the day on murder charges. Investigators have not established a motive, but authorities believe he was the only shooter, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. A law enforcement official briefed on the shooting told The Associated Press that the gunman used an AR-15 rifle, a lightweight semi-automatic rifle. Officials were trying to trace the weapon. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. Hundreds of police officers from throughout the Denver area responded to the attack, converging on a King Soopers supermarket in a busy shopping plaza in southern Boulder. SWAT officers carrying ballistic shields slowly approached the store as others escorted frightened people away from the building, which had some of its windows shattered. Customers and employees fled through a back loading dock to safety. Others took refuge in nearby shops. This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder County, Dougherty said. These were people going about their day, doing their shopping. I promise the victims and the people of the state of Colorado that we will secure justice. Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold identified the slain officer as Eric Talley, 51, who had been with the force since 2010. He was the first to arrive after responding to a call about shots fired and someone carrying a rifle, she said. He was by all accounts one of the outstanding officers of the Boulder Police Department, and his life was cut too short, Dougherty said. Dozens of police and emergency vehicles, their lights flashing, escorted an ambulance carrying the slain officer from the shooting scene after nightfall. Some residents stood along the route, their arms raised in salute. The other dead ranged in age from 20 to 65. They were identified as Denny Strong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jodi Waters, 65. The attack in Boulder, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado, stunned a state that has seen several mass shootings, including the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting. Mondays attack was the seventh mass killing this year in the U.S., following the March 16 shooting that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. It follows a lull in mass killings during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, which had the smallest number of such attacks in eight years, according to the database, which tracks mass killings defined as four or more dead, not including the shooter. Rep. Joe Neguse, a Democrat whose district includes Boulder, said Tuesday on CBS This Morning that enough is enough when it comes to political impasses that keep gun control laws from passing Congress. The time for inaction is over. It does not have to be this way. There are commonsense gun legislation reform proposals that have been debated in Congress for far too long, Neguse said. The gun lobby and so many others have stopped the ability to make meaningful reforms in the past, but thats no excuse. I think the American people are tired of excuses. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the U.S. House stands with gun violence victims who say enough is enough. Action is needed now to prevent this scourge from continuing to ravage our communities, she said in a statement Tuesday in which she cited House passage of two background checks bills. Those bills are now pending before the Senate. While we await further information on the details of this heinous crime, we continue to stand with victims, families and young people across the country saying, Enough is enough. Sarah Moonshadow and her son, Nicolas Edwards, had just bought strawberries inside the supermarket when they heard gunfire. Moonshadow told The Denver Post they ducked and just ran. Outside, Edwards said, arriving police pulled up next to a body in the parking lot. I knew we couldnt do anything for the guy, he said. We had to go. Video posted on YouTube showed one person on the floor inside the store and two more outside on the ground. What sounds like two gunshots are heard at the beginning of the video. Investigators had just started sorting through the crime scene and conducting witness interviews, Dougherty said. Matthew Kirsch, the acting U.S. attorney for Colorado, pledged that the full weight of federal law enforcement would support the investigation. He said investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the crime scene, along with FBI agents. President Joe Biden announced that flags nationwide would be lowered in memory of the victims an order that comes just as a previous flag-lowering proclamation expired for those killed in the Atlanta-area shootings. Together the two orders mean near-continuous national mourning for almost two weeks. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement that the state had seen the face of evil. The King Soopers chain said in a statement that it was offering prayers and support to our associates, customers, and the first responders who so bravely responded to this tragic situation. ___ Associated Press writers Michael Balsamo in Washington and Colleen Slevin and Jim Anderson in Denver contributed. Nieberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. ___ This version corrects that 2020 had the smallest number of mass killing in eight years, not in more than a decade One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 Tokyo, March 23 : Former Japanese Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai pleaded guilty at a court on Tuesday to a bribery scandal and said he will step down as a lower house lawmaker. At the Tokyo District Court, Kawai, an ally of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, admitted that he had paid bribes to local politicians and supporters in Hiroshima in return for securing votes for his wife Anri Kawai in the 2019 upper house elections, dpa news agency quoted a local media report as saying. Tsutomu Sato, chairperson of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) told a news conference that Kawai, who is currently an MP, should quit. Kawai and his wife Anri, who won the race to become an upper house lawmaker, were indicted in July 2020 on charges of violating the nation's election law by buying votes in the 2019 campaign. According to the indictment, Kawai, who once served as Abe's special adviser for foreign affairs, handed out a total of about 29 million yen ($267,000) to 100 local politicians and supporters in return for their efforts to secure votes for his wife, the report said. Most of the 100 people questioned by prosecutors have admitted to receiving the cash, it added. The LDP injected an unusually large amount of 150 million yen into Kawai's camp during the campaign. Anri Kawai was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for five years, for conspiring with her husband. She quit as a lawmaker in February. North Korean embassy counsellor Kim Yu Song carries a luggage inside the compounds of the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur on March 21, 2021, after the country severed diplomatic ties with Malaysia in response to the extradition of a North Korean citizen to the US earlier this month. The first North Korean national to be extradited to the United Statesa possible financial crime information windfall for the U.Sappeared in court to face money-laundering charges on Monday in Washington, where an FBI official said we hope he will be the first of many. Mun Chol Myong, 55, who was extradited from Malaysia in a decision that led Pyongyang to cut diplomatic ties with Kuala Lumpur, appeared in federal court in the Washington, D.C. to face six counts of money laundering, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement. This case represents the first ever extradition to the United States of a DPRK national. Mun is accused of laundering money through the U.S. financial system as part of a scheme to provide luxury items to the DPRK, it said, using North Koreas official name, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The indictment alleges that Mun defrauded banks and laundered money in an effort to evade counter-proliferation sanctions imposed on North Korea by the United States and the United Nations, said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers of the Justice Departments National Security Division in a statement. Malaysias decision to extradite Mun nearly two years after his arrest in May 2019 caused an irate Pyongyang to sever decades-old diplomatic ties last week. Malaysia then ordered the Norths 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. Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in a statement Sunday that the expulsion of the diplomats was 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. 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. [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, said North Korean Charge d'affaires Kim Yu Song on Sunday, reading a statement from Friday. The Malaysian authority will bear full responsibility for all consequences to be incurred between the two countries, Kim said. 'Sanctions-busting operation' 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. 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. Mun, who had lived in Malaysia since 2008, 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, imposed to curb the regime's access to hard currency to fund its nuclear and missile programs. 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. "Mun and his conspirators went to great lengths to avoid detection of their sanctions-busting operation. They used a web of front companies and bank accounts registered to false names and removed references to the DPRK from international wire transfer and transactional documents," said the DOJ statement, citing the indictment. "By intentionally concealing that their transactions were for the benefit of DPRK entities, Mun and his conspirators deceived U.S. correspondent banks into processing U.S. dollar transactions for the benefit of DPRK entities, which the correspondent banks would have otherwise not processed," said the DOJ. David Maxwell of the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies said Muns extradition is very, very important because it is the first case, and this North Korean is, of course, part of Kim Jong Un's illicit activities network. He's laundering money for the regime, and so it's a significant, significant event. They probably fear that this gentleman will provide information about how North Korea's illicit activities network works, he added. They are shutting down activities in Malaysia to protect the rest of their global network, so it really is a significant event. North Korea reacted angrily to Muns case because it does give the U.S. a tool if it's able to extradite people to the United States. It takes them off of the playing field, said Ken Gause, research program director at the Virginia-based CNA think tank It's people that the North Koreans normally would be able to get out of a situation in a particular country especially like Malaysia which North Korea has very close relationships with, he told RFA. That's going to potentially give the United States a weapon for gathering information about North Korea and what the North Koreans are up to, added Gause. In a comment published by the DOJ, Alan E. Kohler Jr., assistant director of the FBIs Counterintelligence Division, said One of the FBIs biggest counterintelligence challenges is bringing overseas defendants to justice, especially in the case of North Korea. Thanks to the FBIs partnership with foreign authorities, were proud to bring Mun Chol Myong to the United States to face justice, and we hope he will be the first of many, he said. With reporting by Erin Ji of RFAs Korean Service and by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Three students have filed class-action lawsuits against Oregons two largest colleges claiming they were charged full-price for online classes of poorer quality than traditional in-person classes. When the University of Oregon and Oregon State University shut down their campuses due to the pandemic, they did not offer to refund any or all of students tuition bills. In order to provide quality education now and in the future, we cannot discount tuition, the University of Oregon states on its website. The universities did agree to refund portions of their room and board. The plaintiff students allege their colleges breached their contract with them. College students pay universities for libraries, gyms, campus facilities, activities, in-person access to professors and other hands-on experiences, said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman and attorney for students in the class action. The University of Oregon, we believe, has unfairly continued to charge tuition payers for all of the things they were not allowed to experience and use during the COVID-19 campus closure and switch to online classes. Caine Smith filed the suit against Oregon. Danielle Pranger and Garrett Harris filed the complaint against Oregon State. As class actions, other qualifying students, can join the plaintiff group. The complaints were filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court earlier this month. The suits did not specify how much they are seeking in damages. In the complaint against OSU, students allege before the pandemic the college charged significantly lower tuition for remote students using the Ecampus program. While in-person, in-state students paid between $312 to $812 per credit, e-campus students paid $224 to $360 per credit. But when the in-person students were forced to go online only, they continued to be charged the full in-person tuition, the lawsuit claims. Spokesman Steve Clark said OSU prorated charges for room and board. Students were billed only for the days they stayed there before the campus was closed. The lawsuit is wrong on the law and the facts, the University of Oregon said in a statement. Despite what the lawsuit suggests, the universitys costs for delivering instruction have not decreased as a result of the pandemic. Our faculty, as well as our academic and student staff, continue to serve students. In fact, our costs have increased due to a variety of new technology and infrastructure investments. Hagens Berman, based in Seattle, has filed similar suits on behalf of students against 16 other colleges, including Harvard, the University of Southern California and the University of Washington. Nationally, more than 200 similar suits have been filed against colleges and universities Its too early to discern a trend in how the courts are viewing the merits of these claims. Some judges have allowed the lawsuits to proceed, others have dismissed them. Two lawsuits accusing Montana State University of failing to properly investigate sexual assault cases involving students reached a settlement out of court and have been dismissed. Unidentified Jane Does who were students at the time of their rapes brought lawsuits accusing the university of deliberate indifference and of violating federal Title IX requirements by failing to complete the investigations in a timely manner. A joint settlement conference for the cases of both Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 3 was held on Feb. 1, according to court filings. The cases were closed on March 1, but the details of the settlement were not made public. A spokesman for MSU said the university does not comment on pending, in-process or concluded litigation. Veronica Procter, attorney representing the Jane Does, did not respond to request for comment by press time. Previously, Procter said Title IX, a federal civil rights law that prohibits institutions of higher education from discriminating on the basis of sex, applies to all institutions that receive federal funds, like MSU. Title IX is important because it requires universities to respond promptly and effectively to address any report of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct and actively take steps to prevent the same, Procter said in October. The lawsuits alleged MSU failed to take appropriate action on reports from three women, resulting in harm. Three lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court in October 2019, March 2020 and July 2020. The first Jane Doe suit was closed after a motion to dismiss was filed on Dec. 31, 2020. Judge Sam Haddon on January 4 dismissed the suit with prejudice, meaning another suit cannot be brought by the same person on the same allegations again. Both parties were required to pay their own fees. The other two suits involving Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 3 went through a closed settlement session on Feb. 1. On March 1, Judge Haddon dismissed the case involving Jane Doe 2 and Judge Brian Morris dismissed the case involving Jane Doe 3. Both cases were dismissed with prejudice with each side required to pay their own costs and attorneys fees. Although the details and circumstances of the sexual assaults involving the Jane Does which occurred between Feb. 2017 and Sept. 2017 are different, the suits alleged similar violations of Title IX and accused MSUs Office of Institutional Equity with failure to take timely action. MSU acted with gender based discriminatory intent in failing to provide OIE with the resources needed to timely and affectively respond to complains of sexual assault and harassment, the lawsuits stated. Under the Trump administration, former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos oversaw controversial Title IX rule changes that increased protections for students accused of sexual harassment. Although the Biden administration has promised to strengthen Title IX protections for victims, it could take up to two years. Universities also spent more than a year changing their own Title IX rules to match federal requirements under the Trump administration. 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. Last weeks shooting spree at three Atlanta-area spas followed a recent swell of reported attacks against Asian Americans and was the culmination of a year of that community feeling scapegoated for the coronavirus pandemic first detected in Wuhan, China. But for Asian American women who spoke to the Tribune, the killings last week were all the more painful because the violence reminded them of their own encounters with racism and misogyny. President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja met behind closed doors with Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, who escaped attack by gunmen while on inspection of his farm. Mr Ortom was attacked by some unknown gunmen last Saturday while on inspection of his farm along Makurdi-Gboko road. While reacting to the incident on Sunday, Mr Buhari welcomed the dispatch of a high level team of crack investigators to Benue from the police headquarters in Abuja, urging the officers to uncover who, or whatsoever, was behind the attacks and bring them to justice. He also expressed his sympathy and that of the federal government to Mr Ortom and Benue indigenes. Mr Buhari, however, maintained that the unfortunate incident must not be politicised, reiterating that an attack on one Nigerian is an attack on all Nigerians. Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Mr Ortom, stressed the need for all Nigerians to unite against crime and criminals terrorizing innocent citizens across the country. He added that all Nigerians must forget about their political or ethnic differences and join hands to address the nations security challenges. I am aware that the security challenges in our country today are not about the president or we governors, they are about every citizen of this country so we must work together to surmount this. I also want Nigerians to know, especially those who are responsible for making inflammatory statements, that we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder and everybody is not in doubt in Nigeria today about the security situation. Without security there can be no meaningful progress and so it is important to put heads together. Lets do the things that are lawful, protect the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria so that everybody will be secured. Let there be equity, fairness and justice. That is what I stand for, he said. Mr Ortom revealed that he used the opportunity of the meeting to make some recommendations to the president on how to ameliorate the situation. The governor dismissed the allegation that he was attacked by aggrieved villagers over land acquisition matter, saying already a group had claimed responsibility for the assassination attempt. Mr Ortom also thanked Mr Buhari for his prompt reaction to last Saturdays assassination attempt on his life. He also thanked the Nigeria Governors Forum, APC Governors Forum, PDP Governors Forum and the Northern Governors Forum for their support and words of encouragement. The governor, who also spoke on Benues controversial anti-grazing law, said the law was not targeted at any ethnic group as being insinuated. We cannot continue in this manner. Democracy is anchored on the rule of law (and) that is why for some of us., You see that I have not done anything illegal including the prohibition of open grazing, which my people told me to present to the House of Assembly and eventually it was signed into law. That law is not targeted against any ethnic group or individual but it is meant to regulate the activities of herdsmen and farmers and I think we have very good stories to talk about this. Today in Benue, those who trespass against this law, who are herders, are arrested, their cattle impounded and they are prosecuted. ADVERTISEMENT Those who rustle cattle from herdsmen, we also go after them so nobody is spared; even the people in Benue, Idoma, Tiv and other ethnic groups have also been prosecuted when they contravene the provisions of the law, he said. (NAN) UCD Professor Dolores Cahill has resigned as chair of the Irish Freedom Party, it emerged last night. Her resignation as party chair comes after the students union at UCD - where Prof Cahill is a member of the universitys medical school faculty - called on college authorities to investigate Prof Cahills attendance at an anti-lockdown protest on St Patricks Day. Prof Cahill spoke to protestors at the event in Herbert Park, Dublin, last Wednesday, which she helped to organise. Ms Cahill created the Facebook event page for the Le Cheile Day protest in Herbert Park, which was promoted as being a demonstration highlighting mental health issues arising from the pandemic. Several hundred people attended the protest, where Prof Cahill spoke to the crowd. Read More Video footage on her Facebook page shows Prof Cahill speaking through a microphone, saying that the globalists are enforcing the wearing of masks because oxygen-deprived people are easy to manipulate. If everybody just stopped wearing masks this would be over, she said. The World Health Organisation has said that in the battle against Covid-19, masks should be used as part a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission and save lives. This lockdown is based on lies, Prof Cahill said, to cheers from the crowd. UCD distanced itself from Ms Cahills comments in a statement to Independent.ie last week, and said the university said it does not discuss individual staff members. It also said that Prof Cahill is not scheduled to teach students or co-ordinate modules this semester. "The views expressed by Dolores Cahill are her own. They do not reflect the position of the University, said a spokesperson. "Dolores Cahill is not scheduled to teach or coordinate modules this semester. The University does not discuss individual staff members. It said that the university continues to fully support the public health position taken by the Irish Government concerning Covid-19. This includes vaccination rollout, treatment for Covid-19 patients and societal restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus, the spokesperson added. A statement released by the Irish Freedom Party this evening confirmed Prof Cahills resignation and expressed the partys immense gratitude for her contribution to the party. She has played a key role in developing the organisation, enhancing the party profile and attracting new members. She publicly defended our natural freedoms to travel, work, worship and meet our families in a time of lockdown. Professor Cahill is an exceptionally talented person, one of Irelands top academics who is involved in a number of different organisations. She is a fearless advocate of freedom at a time of great upheaval in Ireland and around the world. We wish her every success in the future, the statement read. Professor Cahill was unavailable for comment this evening. The party, which has no elected councillors or Oireachtas members, confirmed that Michael Leahy was unanimously voted in as new chairman. Mr Leahy, an architect and former member of the board of An Bord Pleanala ran in the 2020 General Election in Clare but was eliminated in the third count. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. In testimony before lawmakers Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker denied criticisms that some residents have much less access to COVID-19 vaccines than others. Massachusetts residents live within 30 miles of a mass vaccination site or 15 miles of a site run by a regional collaborative, Baker said. Residents also have access to pharmacies, community health centers and their doctors. Theres no region of the state that lacks access, the Republican governor told lawmakers. Nor were local health departments cut off from the Baker administration when the state stopped sending doses, Baker said. While local health officials learned they would not receive new shipments in February, Baker testified that they could get new shipments if they requested them under a regional collaborative or created their own regional collaborative. Now the state has 13 regional collaboratives, but local health officials and lawmakers argue those collaboratives are not getting as many vaccine doses as they should compared to the large-scale sites run by private vendors. Tensions between Baker and lawmakers reached a new height Tuesday as the governor and committee disagreed over what constitutes vaccine access and equity. Baker said residents have a variety of vaccine sites at their disposal, albeit the state gets limited supplies from the federal government. Local health officials and public health advocates argue that access is not only defined by how far one lives from a vaccination site, but whether someone can reach a site by public transit or afford to miss work to get to a vaccine site. Bakers comments came as a shock to lawmakers on the Joint Committee on COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management. Sen. Cindy Friedman said she was taken aback by the governors comments, saying Latino residents are getting vaccinated less than white residents even in communities that are majority Latino. I guess your understanding of whats going on and my understanding of whats going on are really different, Friedman said. How are we going to get to those people who work, who are the dishwashers, who are the Mrs. Jones afraid to leave her house, who are the people who dont have transportation? Sen. Jo Comerford, co-chair of the committee, said Bakers remarks contradict the complaints she heard from local health officials at each step of the vaccine rollout. This is where we were in two worlds. The committee was in one world. The Baker administration was in another, the Northampton Democrat said. I was there with my local public health officials as a senator of this region when [local health boards] got capped at 100 without any conversation. I was there when they were told you have to apply to be whats called a regional collaborative. I was there when they applied and they were told build the capacity for 750 a day times five days. Local people are clamoring for the vaccine in Hampshire County, but Comerford said the Northampton and Amherst regional collaborative is being underutilized because it has not received as many doses as officials prepared to handle. Rep. Bill Driscoll, committee co-chair, said hed have to check a map to see if all residents really live as close to a regional collaborative site or a mass vaccination site as Baker suggests. But he has also heard from residents who cant get appointments with local providers who are supposed to have doses. People are having to drive hours in some cases to access a mass vaccination site, as we know, because of the approach that has been taken to fulfilling vaccine appointments, the first available appointment may not be one of the sites down the street. It might be much farther away from someones home, the Milton Democrat said. Baker touted the states milestone of fully vaccinating more than a million people. While he said Massachusetts has more work to do, he noted the state ranks top in the nation for vaccinations per capita among the 25 states with populations of 5 million or more. At a glance, the latest vaccination rates appear to mirror the states demographics: Black residents make up roughly 7% of the population and 7% of first-dose vaccinations, while Latinos make up at least 12% of the population and 12% of first-dose vaccinations. But a closer look at vaccination data shows that Black, Latino and Asian residents are getting vaccinated at lower levels than their white counterparts, even in majority-minority communities. Springfield is home to an estimated 76,339 Latino residents, about half of the citys population, but only 6% of those residents have received at least one vaccine dose. Another 30,000 Black residents live in Springfield, about 19% of the population, but 6% of Black residents have gotten at least one vaccine dose. In Chelsea, where Latinos make up at least 68% of the population, 9% of Latinos have been vaccinated. MassDems Chair Gus Bickford called Baker out of touch for defending the states vaccine rollout. With tired excuses and cherry-picked statistics, Baker minimized the frustration and fear felt by some of our most vulnerable communities and discounted the expertise of local health officials, Bickford said. The reality is this: Bakers own management, technological, and leadership failures have made this rollout a disaster. Its time our governor stop making excuses and take responsibility. Throughout the hearing, lawmakers heard from Chief Information Officer Curtis Wood, lawmakers and local health officials to discuss the states reliance on private vendors to run mass vaccination sites and online applications to coordinate vaccine appointments through the state website. Dawn Carmen Sibor, president of the Massachusetts Health Officers Association, said she also had drafted Emergency Dispensing Site plans when she worked with Brookline. Neither those plans nor others local health officials drafted and practiced to prepare for mass vaccination efforts were used by the COVID-19 Command Center during the pandemic. I asked why is the administration spending hundreds of millions more dollars to private organizations to do this work? asked Sibor, whose organization represents more than 600 current and retired health officials. What is being done so that when they close up shop, our local health departments will have more infrastructure for the next emergency? Sibor added: This can be an opportunity to build our local public heath infrastructure, to prepare for the next pandemic, measles outbreak or severe flu season. When asked why EDS plans werent used, Baker cited the low-temperature storage needs with the two-dose regiment the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require as reasons. Thats why, he said, retail pharmacies and hospitals account for more than half of the vaccines administered in Massachusetts. He also said local health officials cant compare the success of the plans in responding to H1N1 and the plans usefulness during the COVID-19 pandemic because the pandemic has led to an exponentially larger number of infections and deaths. Sean OBrien, the regional emergency planning committee coordinator for Barnstable County, said before Bakers testimony that his office had purchased freezers to properly store the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Baker reiterated that regional collaboratives launched to ensure vaccinations would be available in wider swaths of the state, but he said theres more work to do. We have a long way to go and a ton of work to do and I wouldnt begin to say for a minute, we dont, Baker said, but I do believe given all the issues associated with supply, the nature of the supply, the nature of the rollout, how fast it has to happen and how people needed to manage the product itself we made the right decision. Related Content: James Fisher, a leading provider of innovative marine solutions and specialised engineering services, has announced the launch of James Fisher Renewables, which consolidates the groups capabilities into a comprehensive solutions provider. Recognising significant growth opportunities in the renewables sector, the new structure will see James Fisher leverage its specialist expertise working in extreme environments. The move will support pure-play renewables developers, marine civil constructors and oil and gas majors alike in pushing the boundaries of what is possible to accelerate the energy transition, while maintaining existing energy infrastructure. JF Renewables will offer services through the project lifecycle including site preparation, UXO EOD, noise attenuation, cabling and HV commissioning management, operations and maintenance, and digital solutions. Clients will also benefit from seamless provision of James Fisher Subtechs newly consolidated subsea capabilities. Giovanni Corbetta, Managing Director of James Fisher Marine Contracting Division explains: Accelerating trends within the energy industry, particularly the energy transition brought on by the climate emergency, present an opportunity for the group to focus on what it does best providing expertise for the extremes. Complexity is where we excel, helping to deliver the worlds most complex, technically demanding, and environmentally challenging energy projects in construction and operations and maintenance. By realigning our business, revitalising the leadership team and reinvigorating our culture of trust, integrity and operational excellence, there will be no project too complex for us to deliver on. Established in 1847, James Fisher has operated in the offshore wind sector for 14 years, from supporting clients on those initial pilot projects through to today; developing further offshore and into deeper waters. Rooted in its experience in Europe, James Fisher continues to grow its service into emerging markets including the USA, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. The companys realignment, along with its network of trusted industry partners, will unlock new synergies to position James Fisher as a comprehensive solutions provider. Clients will also benefit from enhanced cost, risk and schedule management underpinned by streamlined supply chain management and professional services. Talking of the opportunities in the energy sector, Jonathan Parkes, Divisional Strategy, Sales & Commercial Director of James Fisher Marine Contracting Division remarks: As demand for offshore wind increases to meet nation states global net zero goals and energy independence, the volume and scale of viable sites will need to increase. This will give rise to more offshore wind developers needing specialist capability to execute complex, technical energy projects in harsh environments. There is also a marked increase in renewable investments being made by oil and gas supermajors which makes a compelling case for us to position James Fisher to serve across the energy space. All complex infrastructure projects share the need to be delivered, operated, maintained and decommissioned in a way that is safe, on time and to budget while taking advantage of the latest technologies and digital innovation. James Fisher is here to do just that, delivering excellence in execution at every stage in the project lifecycle with pioneering spirit. Alongside providing expertise for the construction of infrastructure projects, JF Renewables and JF Subtech will also bring its specialist expertise to bear to optimise operations and maintenance in extreme environments. With social distancing due to COVID-19 ongoing, the group will continue to support clients to innovate new ways of working safely including remote working, digital twin and Internet of Things capabilities, digital asset integrity techniques and upskilling of technical and local content teams. -TradeArabia News Service Flash flooding is possible in metro New Orleans through Thursday night as two storm systems through the region, forecasters said. Up to eight inches of rain could fall in southeast Louisiana. Here's what to know from the National Weather Service in Slidell as of Tuesday morning. Timing A slow-moving cold front will move into the region Tuesday and stall over southeast Louisiana and coastal Mississippi through Wednesday, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service in Slidell. It will move north Thursday and a second cold front from Texas will push through late Thursday or Thursday night, forecasters said. Driving with flashing lights in a storm is illegal and unsafe; State Police explains why When the rain starts to pour, there always seems to be people on the road who drive with their flashers on. Multiple rounds of moderate to heavy rain are expected through Thursday night. The ground will be saturated with the first round of heavy rain Tuesday, and forecasters said successive bouts of rain could cause more issues in places that don't have issues with the first wave. Each day through Thursday will hold the potential for an isolated strong or severe thunderstorm. The main threats will be heavy rainfall, wind and hail, forecasters said. How much rain? Rainfall totals from now until Thursday night are expected to be around 4 to 6 inches in New Orleans and Covington, forecasters said, with locally higher amounts possible. Slidell could get 6 to 8 inches, forecasters said. Early estimates had New Orleans getting up to 10 inches of rain, but the estimated rainfall total was lowered Tuesday morning. Flash flood watch A flash flood watch is in effect from 8 a.m. Tuesday through midnight Thursday for New Orleans, the north shore and southeast Louisiana. Heavy rainfall is expected and it could lead to flash flooding. Flooding in low-lying and flood-prone areas is also possible, forecasters 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 Residents and motorists should not enter or cross flooded roads. Read the full flash flood watch. OK to park on neutral ground Parking restrictions are lifted as of 9 a.m. Tuesday. You can park your vehicles on the neutral ground, city officials said, but you should not block streetcar tracks, bike lanes, sidewalks or intersections. Neutral ground parking rules to be lifted Tuesday in New Orleans ahead of heavy rains New Orleans residents looking to keep water out of their cars this week can park on city neutral grounds starting Tuesday morning, City Hall said. Wind advisory in effect for south shore A wind advisory is in effect Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. for New Orleans and areas south of Lake Pontchartrain. Southeast winds of 15 to 25 mph are expected. The gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects and tree limbs could be blow down, causing a few power outages. Driving on elevated roadways could be difficult as well, forecasters said. The advisory includes: Orleans Jefferson St. John The Baptist Lafourche St. Charles Plaquemines St. Bernard Terrebonne Severe weather threats possible There's a slight risk of severe weather for metro New Orleans through Thursday night. Threats include: Flash flooding Damaging winds Hail Isolated tornadoes Waterspouts Live radar MANZINI - Rapid screening for COVID-19 at roadblocks is back. Following reports that the third wave of COVID-19 has already hit some countries in the African continent, government has brought back the rapid screening at roadblocks. As a result, people who are using public transport when travelling to Manzini had to alight from the buses and kombis and queue for temperature screening at a roadblock at Mhlaleni in Matsapha, along the MR 3 Highway. Mainly, the police officers and officers from His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS), who are deployed at the roadblock, screen the public by checking their body temperatures. Even though this process is meant to protect lives, members of the public have raised a concern that the screening process was affecting them as most of the time, the queue would be long, something which delayed them. Some of them suggested that government should at least buy more thermo-scanners and deploy more officers to conduct the screening so that the queues of vaccinators could move fast. One of the passengers claimed that it took him over 30 minutes to arrive in Manzini from Eteni in Matsapha, because of the queue at the roadblock. Under normal circumstances, he said he usually took between 10 and 15 minutes to travel from his place of residence to Manzini. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said they were continuing to screen members of the public at roadblocks. Restrictions She said since government had adjusted the COVID-19 restrictions, there was a need to tighten their monitoring strategies. However, we are doing it using guidance from the Ministry of Health, the police mouthpiece said. Thereafter, she urged members of the public to cooperate with the officers who were deployed at the roadblocks as the process was meant to protect their lives. It is worth noting that by close of business on Sunday, the country had recorded a total 17 286 cases of COVID-19 and 16 044 of them had recovered. The country had also recorded 665 deaths that are related to COVID-19. Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. A former evangelical vicar was allegedly left to subject his victims to naked beatings and ice bath punishments whilst performing sex acts in front of people after church bosses took 'little or no action' over the claims, an investigation has revealed. Rev Jonathan Fletcher, 78, was 'spiritually abusive' to at least 27 vulnerable adults at his church in Wimbledon, south west London, according to an independent review of complaints made against him. The disgraced vicar, who worked at the church from 1982 until his retirement in 2012, allegedly forced his victims to endure 'forfeits' such as being 'smacked with a gym shoe' and ice baths. Another victim claimed Mr Fletcher had told him to perform a sex act in front of him but when he refused to do so, the vicar performed the act instead. Rev Jonathan Fletcher, 78, was 'spiritually abusive' to at least 27 vulnerable adults at his church in Wimbledon, south west London, according to an independent review of complaints made against him The alleged bullying and spiritual abuse was able to continue because leaders at the Emmanuel Church in Wimbledon took 'little or no action' to address it. The church leaders issued their first public apology since the allegations came to light in 2017. They admitted to failed to 'call out' Mr Fletcher and the lack of accountability meant the vicar was 'untouchable' but said no leaders 'knew of the [alleged] massages, beatings or sexual behaviours'. The independent review by Thirtyone:eight, a Christian safeguarding charity, today said: 'Various forms of harmful behaviour from Jonathan Fletcher were reported by participants. 'These included coercion and control, bullying and some referred to their experiences as spiritual abuse. 'There were reports of naked messages and saunas, forfeits including smacking with a gym shoe, and ice baths.' The alleged bullying and spiritual abuse was able to continue because leaders at the Emmanuel Church in Wimbledon (pictured) took 'little or no action' to address it Mr Fletcher's permission to officiate in the Diocese of Southwark was revoked in 2017 over allegations dating back to his tenure as vicar of Emmanuel Church in Wimbledon between 1982 and 2012. Further abuse allegations were made in September 2018 but police did not continue their investigation. The review added that a 'serious incident of a sexual nature was reported' whereby a participant claimed Mr Fletcher 'told him to perform a sex act in front of him and when he did not, Mr Fletcher performed the act instead'. 'This behaviour demonstrates a gross abuse of power and in the opinion of the reviewers is far beyond anything which can be deemed acceptable or appropriate from a minister in a position of power, trust and responsibility,' the report said. The church was criticised for their lack of action against the abuse by the review. 'On the balance of evidence, it is clear that bullying and spiritual abuse was known about prior to 2017 and little or no action was taken to address this by role holders and leaders at Emmanuel Church in Wimbledon at the time. 'The massages and saunas were also not hidden behaviours. We consider on the basis of all the information gathered that at least some of these behaviours were known about prior to 2017 and there were opportunities for action to have taken place sooner.' Mr Fletcher declined to comment about the allegations, reports The Times. The report said that whilst the vicar was invited to participate in the review, Mr Fletcher 'did not take up the offers to participate by phone, online or written questions and therefore did not contribute to the Review process'. He has apologised in the past for his behaviours, telling The Daily Telegraph in April last year that he is 'deeply, deeply sorry for the people I've harmed'. Mr Fletcher also told the newspaper: 'Anything that happened was totally consensual and non-sexual'. Boston has a new mayor in Kim Janey, who became the citys first female and first person of colour to take the office Monday. FILE - In this This Jan. 6, 2020, file photo, Boston City Council President Kim Janey attends an event at Boston City Hall. Boston has a new mayor in Janey, who became the citys first female and first person of color to take the office Monday, March 22, 2021. Marty Walsh resigned Monday evening to become President Joe Bidens labor secretary. Janey, who is Black, stepped into the role of acting mayor and is scheduled to be sworn in Wednesday. (David L Ryan/The Boston Globe via AP, File) Boston has a new mayor in Kim Janey, who became the citys first female and first person of colour to take the office Monday. Marty Walsh resigned Monday evening to become President Joe Bidens labour secretary. The Boston City Council President Janey, who is Black, stepped into the role of acting mayor and is scheduled to have a ceremonial swearing in Wednesday. Walsh, the latest in a long line of largely Irish-American Boston mayors stretching back the better part of a century with one notable Italian-American exception said he welcomed the change. "History will be made tonight," Walsh said earlier in the evening. "We're an extremely diverse city from different backgrounds and different nationalities and different skin colours. I think it's a good thing for our city. I think it's a great thing for our city." Janey took to Twitter to wish Walsh well following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate. "Congratulations on your confirmation, Secretary Walsh. You are a proud son of Dorchester who will bring our city with you," she tweeted. "The working people of America will benefit greatly from your passion." "Now, we look ahead to a new day a new chapter in Bostons history," Janey, a fellow Democrat, added. Walsh said for the past two months he's had regular meetings and conversations with Janey. The two have also held extensive planning sessions, he said. "Together the council president and myself and our teams have worked diligently to ensure a smooth transition," he said. By any typical political stopwatch, Janey's rise has been lightning quick. She was first sworn in as a city councillor just three years ago. Although Janey, 55, is holding the office only on an interim basis, she's widely seen as hailing a new chapter in Bostons political history. Those actively seeking the office include three women of colour current city councillors Michelle Wu, Andrea Campbell and Annissa Essaibi George. John Barros, who is of Cape Verdean descent and state Rep. Jon Santiago are also running. Barros served as chief of economic development under Walsh. Janey has a long history of activism in Boston, with deep roots in Roxbury, the heart of the citys Black community. He grandfather, Daniel Benjamin Janey, was a member of Twelfth Baptist Church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. worshipped while attending Boston University. Her father was one of only eight Black students to graduate from the citys prestigious Boston Latin School in 1964. While spending time in her great grandmothers home in the citys South End neighbourhood, Janey was also exposed to the city's political culture as she watched a neighbour Black community activist and former state Rep. Mel King launch a bid for mayor in 1983, losing to Ray Flynn, an Irish-American city councillor. During the second phase of Bostons tumultuous school desegregation era, Janey would recall the rocks and racial slurs she said were hurled at her as an 11-year-old girl riding the bus to the largely white neighbourhood of Charlestown. She would later take part in a program that allowed her to attend school outside the city. Janey began her career in advocacy with Massachusetts Advocates for Children, pushing for policy changes she said were aimed at ensuring equity and excellence for public school students in Boston. In 2017, she won a 13-candidate race and became the first woman to represent her district, which includes most of Roxbury, parts of the South End, Dorchester, and Fenway areas of the city. Although she hasnt said yet if shell run for mayor in the fall, there is precedent for an interim mayor using the temporary post as a stepping stone to winning the seat outright. When former Mayor Raymond Flynn stepped down to become President Bill Clintons ambassador to the Vatican, then-city council president Thomas Menino stepped in as interim mayor in July 1993, won the mayoral election later that year, and ended up serving in the office longer than anyone in the citys history. This story has been corrected to show that Kim Janey is 55 years old, not 56. According to The Hershey Company, Betty is less than a year old. This is Bettys first Easter, and shes very excited to represent her amphibian friends. Betty sleeps during the day, but when the lights go out, the real fun begins. She enjoys snacking, bathing in her favorite bowl, jumping around and hanging out with her fellow frog friends. Bettys owner, Kaitlyn V. said, Bettys been a great addition to our home and we are so glad we get to share her with the rest of the world! She has been a wonderful companion at college and thanks to the support of my friends, family and the amphibian community, I know shell make Cadbury proud as she inherits the bunny ears. You can see Bettys tryout video here. The Hershey Company said 2021 was a record year for the Bunny Tryouts with more than 12,000 entries. The field was narrowed to 10 finalists - including Sheldon and Archie. The public then voted to choose a winner. In addition to starring in the commercial, Betty will receive $5,000 and Cadbury will donate $15,000 to the The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Union Pacific's historic No. 4141 train, built in honor of former President George H.W. Bush, has taken its final trip. The iconic blue and white locomotive painted to match Air Force One will be permanently located on the grounds of Bush's presidential library and museum, according to a press release. HISTORIC THEATRE CLOSES: Farewell, River Oaks Theatre: Negotiations fail, forcing venue to close Blanketed under a blue cover, the train was pulled into College Station by No. 1943 "The Spirit" on Sunday and lifted off the tracks by two 500-ton cranes and transported across the Texas A&M campus to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Chancellor John Sharp of the Texas A&M University System welcomed the train home. What a historic day for our community, Sharp said. President Bush loved trains and we love everything associated with the legacy of President Bush. Congratulations to the crew at Union Pacific, our hauling contractor and everyone at the Bush Center at Texas A&M who worked to bring 4141 home. The No. 4141 engine led the Bush funeral train from Houston to College Station in 2018, where the former president was laid to rest next to former First Lady Barbara Bush on the library grounds. In 2019, Union Pacific announced it would donate the train built in 2005 to the museum, according to the release. "The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved a $1 per-year lease which allotted two acres to expand the grounds of the museum." ABC 13 reported. The multi-million dollar expansion is part of the George and Barbara Bush Presidential Foundation and will include exhibits for the locomotive and later a Marine One Helicopter, according to the release. Officials hope to have the expansion completed by 2024 to mark the 100th anniversary of Bush's birth. Sorry! This content is not available in your region 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. By Vinny Vella, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) Mar. 23A former Delaware County child services caseworker was sentenced Monday to six years of probation for coercing one of her clients to join a ring of sex workers with the promise of expediting her child custody case. Candace Talley, 28, of Sicklerville, N.J., apologized to County Judge John Capuzzi and characterized her actions as a terrible mistake. Though the sentence spared Talley from prison, the judge told her his decision was rooted in concern over the victims well-being: He didnt want the woman to face a public criminal trial, he said, given the trauma she had already suffered. I dont want you to think by giving you probation, Im minimizing what youve done, Capuzzi said during a hearing at the county courthouse in Media. You took advantage of a woman in a bad mental and physical state who was trying to get her life back. You should know how hurtful that was. Talley pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution and human trafficking earlier this month. Former Delco child services caseworker is charged with human trafficking, promoting prostitution Assistant District Attorney Christopher Boggs, who prosecuted the case, had asked Capuzzi to impose a harsh sentence for a crime he described as heinous. Unless the victim had been a child, I cant imagine a more serious set of facts, Boggs said. The defendant used the situation with the victims children to leverage her back to a life of prostitution. In 2017, Talley, then newly out of college and a recent hire at the countys Office of Children and Youth Services, began working with a woman seeking to regain custody of her children from foster care, prosecutors said. The woman told detectives that Talley recruited her to join a ring of sex workers operating out of Upland, according to the affidavit of probable cause for Talleys arrest. Talley promised her that she could make as much as $1,000 a day and that the ring had more than 2,000 customers. The woman had previously been charged with prostitution and drug dealing, information investigators believed Talley gleaned from state records. In addition to the money, Talley promised to help her with her childrens situation, which she took to mean taking them out of the foster-care system, the affidavit said. Talley also told the woman that she would help her pass all of her drug tests, regardless if she was using drugs. The woman, eager to get her children back, agreed and joined the sex ring, investigators said. Text messages later recovered by investigators showed that Talley had an arrangement with an organizer in the ring to get 50% of the money earned by the sex workers, according to the affidavit. It was unclear how much money she made. She was not accused of pressing any other women to join the ring. Talley was fired in 2017, shortly after the woman reported her to county officials. After a little more than two years of investigation, detectives arrested her in January 2020. Her attorney, Troy Archie, said he felt Capuzzis sentence was appropriate, given the circumstances of the case. It was a serious case, and we feel bad for the victim, Archie said. We never tried to downplay the seriousness of what happened. It was a big mistake, and she is paying for it. More: Child abuse reports have dropped sharply in Pa. and experts are worried Pa. mom who assaulted son, 11, because she thought he had stolen her drugs cant beat prison sentence The communist Chinese smell a weakened United States. That was patently obvious at last week's U.S.-China meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. The chances of a war with China appear to increase thanks to the pretext of the exchange of harsh words and allegations of racism, an effort to fan Chinese nationalism. As many in the West cringed while watching the video of President Joe Biden stumbling up the stairs to Air Force 1, the Chinese were in Anchorage saying there was a "strong smell of gunpowder" in the air, one of the words Beijing uses when it is contemplating war. The symbolism is stark and telling. The Chinese "gunpowder" statement was intended to be divisive, a reminder of past white exploitation of China in the 19th-century Opium War, whipping up Chinese nationalist sentiment and making her neighbors anxious. The communist dictators are clearly feeling their oats and testing the Biden administration. At the Alaska conference, Yang Jiechi, China's chief diplomat, used prepared comments to scold the U.S. by blasting it for racist policies and even mentioned Black Lives Matter, an unexpected frontal assault on the American delegation. Obviously, Beijing is watching the U.S. administration's response to an array of domestic troubles that began last summer with the George Floyd race riots, and it smells blood in the water. The Chinese delegation's race allegation was intended to portray Beijing as the protector of all Asians as opposed to America's failure to protect minorities. Also, its media mouthpiece, the Global Times, ran a long article the same day (March 18) entitled "Elite US Groups Accomplices of Crimes Against Asian Americans." That piece was palpably race-baiting and effective. The Times' article reminded the Chinese reader of the lethal shootings of Asian-Americans last week at three massage and spa parlors in Atlanta and then called out an alleged "surge in anti-Asian sentiment and hate crimes directed at Asian Americans." Those incidents, wrote the Times, are evidence of a widening social division, which it labeled "deepening Sinophobia." One can almost feel Chinese nationalism rising as they read about the racist Americans. Team Biden failed to deflect the race-related criticism at the Alaska bilateral conference. Rather, secretary of state Antony Blinken laid out the predictable challenges to Chinese behavior in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Taiwan, but his finger-wagging paled rhetorically in comparison to Beijing's long list of accusations against American aggressive international actions and the domestic race problems mentioned above. Besides, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian fanned nationalism at home when he feigned offense in responding to Secretary Blinken's human rights accusations as evidence of American "condescension." Predictably, the Alaska talks ruffled American feathers while failing to "reset" relations, as the Biden administration had hoped. Rather, they set the tone for a troubled future one that is growing in hostility between the two superpowers. What's especially clear is that statements by both sides were really targeted at domestic audiences such as the Biden administration's message that it wasn't weak on China, a sign to the home front as well as to allies and partners. However, it's pretty obvious that the Chinese rejected that view and in fact are pushing back and hard, fanning nationalism at home at our expense. On the same day as the Chinese were offering up a rebuke of the U.S. in Alaska, deputy defense secretary Kathleen Hicks spoke at the National Defense University saying that Beijing represents "a threat to regional peace and stability, and to the rules based international order on which our security and prosperity, and those of our allies, depend." Ms. Hicks, who spoke virtually from the Pentagon, said Beijing "has demonstrated increased military confidence and a willingness to take risks, and it has adopted a more coercive and aggressive approach to the Indo-Pacific region." She continued by citing examples in which "Beijing escalated tensions between itself and a number of its neighbors," such as Australia and Vietnam. She concluded, "I believe that the [communist Chinese are] the pacing challenge for the United States military." What's clear is that U.S.-China relations under Mr. Biden have a rocky future, mostly because the powers in Beijing assessed the new American administration and found it weak. Evidently, President Xi Jinping sized up Mr. Biden before the Alaska meeting and concluded he's no Donald Trump. Rather, the 78-year-old American president is a weak adversary, given the stairs incident, his never-ending stream of verbal gaffes, and his long absences from the public eye. Further, the pre-planned use of the race card is especially helpful to Mr. Xi because it evokes Chinese nationalist memories of Imperial Japan's Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, the 1930s Japanese effort to fan Asian racial strife against Western whites another strategic step to psychologically prepare the Chinese people for likely future confrontations with America. Further, as Beijing stoked nationalism with its racial allegations, here in Washington, Ms. Hicks soberly reminded us that that Beijing is "a threat to regional peace and stability." Her boss, defense secretary Lloyd Austin said while in India last Friday that the U.S. and her allies "have a lot to look forward to as together we address global security challenges and engage in a long-term strategic competition with China." Clearly, that "competition" is accelerating and getting rather ugly and threatening. The combined perception of a weakened U.S. leader, our weakened domestic situation, and our lack of significant forward stationed manpower and firepower may indicate to President Xi that he can further consolidate power and muscle his way against our Indo-Pacific allies. If true, then I anticipate that the chances of an assault against Taiwan, a tougher stand in the South China Sea, and perhaps a quick annexation of Hong Kong are all a little more likely today than this time last week. You see, the communist Chinese tested the U.S. administration in Alaska and found it lacking in the willpower to push back against strong Chinese rhetoric, a test was the pretext for the next step, the use of real "gunpowder" in places we are unprepared to go. Mr. Maginnis is a retired U.S. Army officer and the author of Alliance of Evil: Russia, China, the United States and a New Cold War. His new book, Give Me Liberty, Not Marxism, comes out this spring and chronicles the Marxist threat and how China seeks to radically transform America. Image via Max Pixel. Right now, you would be aware that in your own organisation that there is a person who has had a complaint made against them for harassment of a woman in a womens toilet and that matter is being pursued by your own HR department, he said. So lets not all of us who sit in glass houses here start getting into that. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video News Corp executive chairman Michael Miller said the extraordinary public claims were untrue. Prime Minister Scott Morrison was wrong today to claim an investigation is under way into a complaint accusing an employee of harassment against a woman in a female toilet, Mr Miller said in a statement. No complaint has been received and News Corp and Sky News are not dealing with a complaint. Loading Mr Miller said News Corp and Sky News took the issues seriously and were only responding because Mr Morrison had made the claim in a live press conference aired nationwide on Tuesday. I want to put to rest any suggestion that an employee of our company is being investigated for conduct suggested by Mr Morrison, he said. In recent weeks, following the reporting of matters of sexually inappropriate behaviour at Parliament House, our HR team proactively gave our staff the opportunity to talk to us in confidence about their wellbeing. I thank those who did so. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age know of a disagreement between two News Corp journalists but it was not a case of sexual harassment, the subject that dominated Mr Morrisons press conference on Tuesday. Mr Miller said there was a verbal exchange between two News Corp employees in Parliament House in Canberra last year. The exchange was about a workplace-related issue, it was not of a sexual nature, it did not take place in a toilet and neither person made a complaint, he said. Following those inquiries, our HR team wrote to one of the people involved and the matter was resolved. The Prime Minister appears to have joined these two matters and conflated them into an episode of harassment in a toilet that is under current investigation. This is simply untrue and it undermines the principle that people must be able to raise issues safely and in confidence. Mr Morrisons claim led one journalist to ask how he could know of an incident in the media but not about the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins until almost two years after it happened. The suggestion was made by a member of the press gallery that things like this dont happen in the media and I think that would be unfair, Mr Morrison replied. But the journalists in the press conference did not claim sexual harassment did not happen in the media, with Mr Clennell instead saying the workplace standards in the media were better than those in the Parliament. Greens leader Adam Bandt said the Prime Minister had to explain immediately if he had fabricated an allegation against the media to deflect from the crisis over gendered violence. Loading Labors Tanya Plibersek, the shadow minister for women, accused Mr Morrison of using an attack on the media to avoid questions about his own response to rape and sexual assault. Is it any wonder victims of sexual assault and harassment in this building and around Australia are afraid of coming forward when the Prime Minister of this country uses a confidential complaint in a nationally televised media conference as a way to try to stop journalists asking questions about these important issues? she asked in question time. Mr Morrison said he had made the remark in an anonymised way to make a broader point about the problem going beyond politics. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A massive fire broke out at the Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar late on Monday, leaving at least 15 refugees dead. According to the UN refugee agency, an estimated 400 people are still missing, while over 560 were left injured during the incident. The fire has triggered a massive crisis at the refugee camp, which was already suffering from a lack of basic amenities. UNHCR estimate suggests that some 45,000 refugees have been rendered homeless by the fire. According to reports, Bangladeshi authorities have launched a probe to establish the cause behind the devastating blaze. The United Nations has said that some 10,000 shelters have been destroyed in the fire, but numbers are expected to climb in the coming days as the assessment of damage moves forward. Search for more victims is underway as Bangladeshi authorities, aid workers and Rohingya volunteers continue to look for bodies under the debris. UNHCR has said that it is working with other aid agencies and the Bangladeshi authorities to provide support and protection to some 45,000 Rohingyas who have been left without shelter. The UN agency has said that it is also working on the re-issuance of refugee registration documents to those who may have lost theirs in the devastating fire. "With an unknown number of refugees having sustained burn injuries, UNHCR has provided medical supplies through ICRC in support of the management of burn patients. So far, UNHCR has provided some 3,000 blankets, 14,500 solar lamps, 10,400 kitchen sets, and 11,500 mosquito nets. Together with Oxfam, it has also made available emergency water and sanitation assistance, including the construction of 20 emergency latrines, emergency tap stands, water tanks, jerry cans, and water purification tablets. Four water tankers are delivering safe water to areas where those displaced by the fire are congregating," Johannes van der Klaauw, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh said on Tuesday. Bangladeshi authorities have said the cause of the fire is still unknown. Bangladesh has been at the receiving end over the treatment of Rohingya refugees at camps in Coxs Bazar. The camps are often described as unlivable and unhygienic as thousands of people have been forced to live in cramped spaces. According to reports, Bangladeshi authorities have also fenced the camps with barbed wires, which has garnered a lot of criticism from the international community. Persecution of Rohingyas According to the United Nations, more than 8,70,000 Rohingya refugees reside in camps at Coxs Bazar, the majority of whom came flocking into Bangladesh in 2017 after Myanmars military began persecuting members of the minority community in Rakhine province. Myanmar, which is a Buddhist majority country, has a long history of persecuting minorities, mainly the Rohingya Muslims. (Image Credit: AP) PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Oregon officials continue to refuse to publicly disclose how much money the state has lost to unemployment insurance fraud during the pandemic, despite the fact that neighboring states Washington and California have reported huge sums of money wrongly paid after their systems were targeted by sophisticated hackers. Reporters and some lawmakers contend that the time has come for the state to disclose the information but officials from the Oregon Employment Department have refused. They say doing so could provide criminals an opening to exploit their systems further. Unemployment fraud in the U.S. has reached dramatic levels during the pandemic: more than $63 billion has been paid out improperly through fraud or errors since March 2020. Criminals are seizing on the opportunity created by the pandemic and are making false claims using stolen information. The problem cuts deep for victims, who can face delays getting their legitimate benefits, are at risk for further fraud and left to sort out the recovery themselves. Experts say everyone should be on alert, keeping an eye out for signs of fraud, protecting themselves online and taking proactive steps if they have been victimized. A government watchdog agency says that as of December, nearly two dozen states had not started using a key system to block fraud. An Associated Press review finds that many states will not even publicly acknowledge the extent of the problem. At the beginning of March, a California prisoner was one of two people accused of stealing more than $100,000 in unemployment benefits. It's the latest allegation related to what authorities say is a multibillion-dollar fraud aided by lax safeguards at a state agency. Califoria officials say the state has paid at least $11 billion to people whose identities it has been unable to verify, with $810 million paid in the names of ineligible prisoners. Two U.S. Postal Service employees were also charged with abusing their positions to purchase postal money orders with thousands of dollars in California unemployment benefits obtained through false claims of pandemic-related job losses. A criminal complaint alleges conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud and fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits. The two allegedly obtained debit cards that had been issued by the California Employment Development Department based on applications submitted under 10 stolen identities. In addition to buying and cashing the money orders, some cards were allegedly used for ATM cash withdrawals. By Sonali Paul MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian police said on Tuesday that they had found nothing criminal in the transfer of A$9.5 million ($7.3 million) from the Vatican to Australia between 2014 and 2020. Financial crime watchdog AUSTRAC scrutinised the transactions after Italian media reported in September that large sums of money had been sent to Australia during the trial of former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell, who had faced charges of historical child sexual assault. There was speculation in the media that some of the funds were sent to cover Pell's legal costs or that some was sent by a rival in the Vatican to help build cases against him. Pell was acquitted by Australia's High Court last April after serving 13 months in jail on charges he assaulted two choirboys. He returned to Rome last September. After reviewing data provided by AUSTRAC, the Australian Federal Police said nothing illegal had been uncovered related to the transactions. "No criminal misconduct has been identified," a spokeswoman for the police said in emailed comments, without elaborating on how the funds were used. AUSTRAC had originally put the sum transferred at A$2.3 billion, but slashed its estimate to a fraction of that amount after a shocked Vatican called for the watchdog to check its calculations. AUSTRAC blamed its miscalculation on complexities and inconsistencies in data it had received from international institutions. ($1 = 1.2968 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) Irans President Hassan Rouhani spoke at a Cabinet meeting on March 23 for the first time since the Iranian new year to address the countrys fight against the novel coronavirus and addressed the US offer to help. That the Americans say 'We are ready to help' under the difficult conditions of the coronavirus is one of the great lies of history, Rouhani said. Its as if someone has taken a well and does not permit you to have clear water and then brings you a glass of muddy water and offers it to you and says 'I know you are thirsty; I have come here to help,' he added. Rouhani continued, If you want to help, remove your boots from the path and step aside from the movement of a nation. You have come and closed the well. You have made problems for the sale of oil. You have made problems for banking transactions, for medicine, for food, raw material. We dont want your muddy water; just step to the side, remove the obstacles, Rouhani said, adding, "Leave alone the other nations and companies and buyers and exporters and importers. The offer of US help is in reference to comments made by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Feb. 28 when he told reporters, We have made offers to the Islamic Republic of Iran to help, and weve made it clear to others around the world and in the region that assistance, humanitarian assistance to push back against the coronavirus in Iran is something the United States of America fully supports. Immediately in response to Pompeos offer, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Iran had not believed the offer was genuine and that Pompeo had notified the US media of the offer to help before the offer was made officially to the Swiss, who act as intermediaries between the two countries given they have no formal diplomatic relations. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the final decision-maker in the country, also spoke about the US offer of help Iran during his address March 22, rejecting any US assistance. In his Nowruz speech typically given in the city of Mashhad at the Imam Reza shrine but this time given via video due to the ban on public gatherings because of the coronavirus Khamenei said, The comments by the Americans are very strange because they have a shortage of medicine and equipment, so if they have the ability, they should help their own people. Khamenei said the Americans themselves are spreading the coronavirus but are not even aware of it; therefore, What reasonable person would accept the help of this country? He also said its possible the United States would send medicine that would help spread the coronavirus to make it last longer or send medical staff to gather information. Iran continues to struggle to combat the spread of the coronavirus. As of March 23, there have been a total of 23,049 cases and 1,812 deaths. In the last 24 hours, there have been 1,411 new cases and 127 deaths. While these are the official numbers, Iranian officials have previously said the actual numbers are higher. Longitudinal and cross section of fossils that could turn out to be the first known form of a cephalopod. Credit: Gregor Austermann / Communications Biology Possibly the oldest cephalopods in the Earth's history stem from the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland (Canada) discovered by scientists from Heidelberg University. The 522-million-year-old fossils could turn out to be the first known form of these highly evolved invertebrate organisms, whose living descendants today include species such as the cuttlefish, octopus and nautilus. The find would indicate that cephalopods evolved about 30 million years earlier than has been assumed. "If they should actually be cephalopods, we would have to backdate the origin of cephalopods into the early Cambrian period," says Dr. Anne Hildenbrand from the Institute of Earth Sciences. Together with Dr. Gregor Austermann, she headed the research projects carried out in cooperation with the Bavarian Natural History Collections. "That would mean that cephalopods emerged at the very beginning of the evolution of multicellular organisms during the Cambrian explosion." The chalky shells of the fossils found on the eastern Avalon Peninsula are shaped like a longish cone and are subdivided into individual chambers. These are connected by a tube called the siphuncle. The cephalopods were thus the first organisms able to move actively up and down in the water and thus settle in the open ocean as their habitat. The fossils are distant relatives of the spiral-shaped nautilus, but clearly differ in shape from early finds and the still existing representatives of that class. "This find is extraordinary," says Dr. Austermann. "In scientific circles, it was long suspected that the evolution of these highly developed organisms had begun much earlier than hitherto assumed. But there was a lack of fossil evidence to back up this theory." According to the Heidelberg scientists, the fossils from the Avalon Peninsula might supply this evidence, as on the one hand, they resemble other known early cephalopods but, on the other, differ so much from them that they might conceivably form a link leading to the early Cambrian. The former and little explored micro-continent of Avalonia, whichnot including the east coast of Newfoundlandcomprises parts of Europe, is particularly suited to paleontological research, since many creatures from the Cambrian period are still preserved in its rocks. The researchers hope that other, better preserved finds will confirm the classification of their discoveries as early cephalopods. The research results about the 522 million-year-old fossils were published in Communications Biology. Logistic support was given by the province of Newfoundland and the Manuels River Natural Heritage Society located there. The publication in open-access format was enabled in the context of Project DEAL. Explore further Fossils' soft tissues helping to solve puzzle that vexed Darwin More information: Anne Hildenbrand et al. A potential cephalopod from the early Cambrian of eastern Newfoundland, Canada, Communications Biology (2021). Journal information: Communications Biology Anne Hildenbrand et al. A potential cephalopod from the early Cambrian of eastern Newfoundland, Canada,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01885-w 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. Testifying before the state Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, 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-aged 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 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. CHICAGO and MUNICH, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ProGlove, the leader in ergonomic wearable technology for industry, adds new process analytics capabilities to boost the workflow improvements and worker well-being functionalities of its advanced analytics platform ProGlove Insight . This extension drives ProGlove's initiative to provide an entire ecosystem of solutions to improve efficiency on the shop floor while strengthening the role of the human worker. ProGlove Insight collects a unique set of data by using its MARK barcode scanner family of products. The Insight ecosystem contextualizes the data and allows users to consume it according to their needs. More than 100 customer sites already use ProGlove Insight to drive efficiency, profitability and above all human-centered workflows. This includes renowned organizations like DPD, a member of Europe's second largest parcel delivery network, and global agriculture technology manufacturer, Horsch. ProGlove Introduces Process Analytics Capabilities to Boost Insight Platform ProGlove Introduces Process Analytics Capabilities to Boost Insight Platform Capitalizing on Data Improving the Warehouse Process ProGlove Insight is a one-stop-shop to improve workflows and processes by leveraging device data and time motion studies. The platform draws on the unique capability of ProGlove's MARK barcode scanners to not only capture barcode data but also seize metadata and information collected via the numerous sensors the devices feature. This data contextualizes barcode symbologies, device configurations, time stamps, temperature readings, battery health and other raw data to pave the way for actionable insights. ProGlove Insight eliminates the restrictions of workstation silos because it picks up data from the shop floor and drives it bottom up to the management level. This allows for an overview of a business's entire warehouse process and thus supports data-driven decision making. Some of ProGlove Insight's key functionalities include: Safeguarding frontline workers: Allow for time-motion studies and measure the effort to complete assigned jobs. The number of scans can be correlated with a worker's step count to determine the workload on each worker. This way, organizations can assess whether the number of assigned workers per workstation needs adjustments to respond to peaks. Determine the time needed to process scans and identify recurring errors because of poor barcode quality to reduce the stress level for workers on site. Additionally, push audio, visual and haptic alerts on the deployed devices to provide guidance with all senses and help shop floor staff avoid accidents and injuries. At the same time, it enacts non-intrusive social distancing. Comprehensive Layout & Levels capabilities: Visualize shop floor activities and drill down to individual workstations and devices to compare processes. This lets businesses redesign workstations or other infrastructure components when necessary. Superior Insight analytics: Monitor all scans and refine the collected information with relevant metadata to understand jobs, processes, and workloads to compare them to previous jobs and tailor your setup accordingly. This puts a magnifying glass on running jobs, allowing you to precisely measure ROI on new initiatives. Effortless device management with the ability to deploy zero-touch updates: Push firmware and configuration updates from one central point to your entire device fleet and know when to swap devices before they run out of charge to allow for undisrupted operations. Insights into the Logistics Ecosystem ProGlove Insight is an API-first platform that relies on an entire ecosystem of solutions. The award-winning MARK family of barcode scanners is at the center of this ecosystem. They are complemented by the Insight web portal which allows for effortless plug-and-play visualization of the above described processes. Through a set of APIs, organizations can also choose to consume the Insight data via their Enterprise Resource Planning, Warehouse Management or Business Intelligence systems. This refines the data already available in these systems. The ProGlove Insight Mobile apps, along with the ProGlove Gateway, enable easy access to the shop floor and provide means to push alerts to the workers in action. "Parcel logistics is a low-margin game that comes with a lot of manual work," said Ville Heimgartner, Smart Urban Logistics Consultant at DPD. "Therefore, efficiency and worker well-being is key, especially since the workload in our business is volatile. We need to make sure we have the right amount of people available at the right time and at the right spots in our depots. The number of scans, where we make them, and how fast they can be processed are key indicators that determine our business efficiency and productivity. ProGlove Insight gives us the means to best support our workers, make arrangements accordingly, and allow for sustainable growth." The value of the shop floor: frontline workers "It is safe to assume that 70 percent of the added value on the shop floor is created by the hands of human frontline workers," said Andreas Koenig, CEO at ProGlove. "That's why we need means to optimize processes while strengthening the role of the human worker. ProGlove Insight is an amalgam of device management, advanced analytics, and the Human Digital Twin that strikes the right balance between business needs and worker wellbeing. We look upon this as a responsibility we have to pioneer a pathway to a future that comes with opportunities for everyone. ProGlove Insight is our contribution in that regard." More information about ProGlove Insight is available at: https://www.proglove.com/products/insight/ About ProGlove ProGlove builds the smallest, lightest, and toughest barcode scanners in the world, connecting workers to the Internet of Things. This promotes human-machine collaboration and drives the digitization of the shop floor. More than 500 renowned organizations in manufacturing, production, logistics, and retail use these smarter workforce solutions. ProGlove was founded in December 2014 after winning the Intel "Make it Wearable" Challenge and is backed by growth-focused investors Summit Partners, DICP Deutsche Invest Capital Partners, and Bayern Capital. The company employs more than 200 people from over 30 countries with offices in Chicago, Munich (Germany), and Belgrade (Serbia). The World Economic Forum named ProGlove a Technology Pioneer in 2020. More information is available at www.proglove.com . Media Contact ProGlove Axel Schmidt Senior Communications Manager E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: +49-89-262035036 SOURCE ProGlove Related Links http://www.proglove.com Even though coronavirus vaccines are here, cases in India are on a steep rise. As such, the go-to way to keep safe is to wear masks. The Delhi Police took to social media to spread awareness about the risk of not wearing a mask. And what better way to do it than jump on the 'pawri' bandwagon? Delhi Police tweeted a handmade image with the caption, "Wear mask to protect yourself and stop the spread of COVID-19". The handmade image begins with a cartoon COVID-19 virus saying, "Yeh hum hain (This is us)". Moving on, it shows three types of coronavirus that say, "Yeh humaare mutations hain (these are our mutations) aur yeh hamari pawri ho rahi hai (we are having a party)." The tweet by DCP, Central Delhi has garnered over 2,600 likes and 576 retweets so far. Thanks to the creativity of the person who made this sketch. DCP Central Delhi (@DCPCentralDelhi) March 19, 2021 The sketch shared by the DCP, Central Delhi is inspired by the viral pawri trend started by the Pakistani social media influencer Dananeer Mobeen. Netizens could not help but appreciate the Delhi Police for such an innovative way to drive the point home. Loved this tweet! Priti Gandhi - (@MrsGandhi) March 19, 2021 this should add up too.... pic.twitter.com/qUtglmMLMG Purush (@anshumankshah) March 20, 2021 This is very creative and interesting way of driving home a point. Well done! Neel (@neelshas) March 20, 2021 The man behind the innovative cartoon, senior HDFC Bank executive Rajiv Banerjee thanked the Delhi Police for sharing his cartoon. Its really great sir . Message well conveyed . Now its for people to understand & follow covid appropriate behaviour . I think this should be put as hoardings on all public places . Rita (@ritachechani) March 21, 2021 The national capital has reported over 6.48 lakh coronavirus cases. Out of these, over 6.33 lakh people have recovered whereas 10,963 have succumbed to the contagion. The national capital has 3,934 active cases so far. Also read: COVID-19 vaccinations cross 4.72 crore-mark in India: Health Ministry Also read: COVID-19 in India: Active cases cross 3.45 lakh-mark, recovery rate tumbles to 95.67% 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. DETROIT -- Nicole Curtis says she paid $17,000 for a house in Detroit in 2017 and has made around $60,000 in repairs in the hopes of turning the once dilapidated house into a desirable property. Now shes suing the Detroit Land Bank Authority for the property because it turns out the person who sold her the house didnt actually have the right to do so, according to the Associated Press. I feel bad for Nicole, Mayor Mike Duggan said Monday. It appears she was scammed. It appears she paid somebody who didnt own the house and paid them to buy it. But the land bank cant legally just give her the property. Curtis is the star of the HGTV series Rehab Addict Rescue which has been on the air since 2010. A Michigan native, Curtis is seeking to be paid for the property or to keep it. I didnt become so successful in business by being somebody who backs down, Curtis said, adding that she doesnt think the land bank should benefit from her work. The scam began in 2017 when Curtis thought she bought the property from the previous owner. However, the property had already been returned to the Detroit Land Bank Authority after that previous owner failed to renovate it as expected. When Curtis Detroit Land Renovation LLC bought the property, the previous owners executed a quit claim deed to Detroit Renovations, despite not having the legal authority to do so. The land bank listed the property for sale last week for $40,000, leading to Curtis filing her lawsuit. Duggan says the courts have already weighed in on the manner saying the land bank owns the property, but he hopes Curtis will stick with the project and that some sort of agreement can be made. They cant turn the property over without getting value, Duggan said of the land bank. READ MORE: Poor countries are being left behind in COVID-19 vaccine distribution leading to an unacceptable global disaster. On January 20, 2021, about four weeks since the first American was immunized against the coronavirus, almost 6 million people have taken one of the vaccines, which was reported well short of the 20 million goal established by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last year. Moving forward two months, United States President Joe Biden announced his intention to have all adults vaccine-eligible by May 1 and begin to label our freedom from this virus by July 4. According to the CDC, as of March 23, 2021, since at least 82,772,416 Americans have received one dose and 44,910,946 have been fully vaccinated. In contrast to other less fortunate and less wealthy countries in the world, these statistics differ significantly. In fact, at least 30 countries have yet to inject even one human. Not one person! As reported by The New York Times, Kenyans are one of those peoples left behind. Kenyans like Stella Githaiga contracted the coronavirus while working in Kenyas largest public hospital. During an outreach trip to rural villages in February, she believes, putting her on the sidelines even as the nation faces a vicious third wave of infections. Ms. Githaiga and her coworkers have been subjected to one of the most heinous inequities in a pandemic that has exposed so many: Across the global south, health staff are becoming ill and dying as a result of an infection from which physicians and nurses in many developed countries are still highly susceptible to the Covid-19. That is only the most apparent detriment of a rich-poor gap that has widened in the pandemics second year. Just around three-quarters of the vaccine doses administered internationally have gone to ten nations. Again I am repeating, at least 30 countries have yet to inject even one human. Scientists have long cautioned that such inequitable care could wreak havoc not just on developing nations but also on wealthy ones if the virus manages to propagate and mutates in ways that disrupt vaccines. However, the highest human losses would almost certainly be faced by less developed countries. Unvaccinated doctors and nurses have died in Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, depleting health services that can ill afford to lose even more staff and threatening to reduce the standard of treatment in countries overwhelmed by variants. The toll in Africa may be severe. While having 17 percent of the worlds population, the continent has only received around 2% of all vaccination doses delivered worldwide. I dont think we have the ability, as a nation, or even as Africa, to treat our own, said Hazel Miseda Mumbo, vice-chancellor of the Kenyas Great Lakes University of Kisumu and a researcher of the countrys health system. While these Western nations scramble for vaccinations, Africa may have to wait. It may be a depressing situation. Kenya, one of the continents wealthiest nations, is faring poorly, indicating how unequal distribution is. On March 2, shortly before midnight, the first million Covid-19 vaccine doses arrived. Mutahi Kagwe, the countrys ecstatic health minister, declared that the country had been battling this epidemic with rubber bullets but had now gained the metaphorical equivalent of machine weapons, bazookas, and tanks. But the arsenal was not as it seemed. The doses arrived a month late and were just a fifth of what was promised. India recently moved in with a modest yet welcome contribution of 100,000 doses. Kenya is unsure when the next shipment of vaccinations will come. Although in ideal conditions, the nation expects to vaccinate just 30% of its population, or about 16 million out of nearly 50 million, by the middle of 2023. Nobody knows where the majority of people can have their vaccines. The first shipment of doses is being sent to health care staff and other critical workers. Kenyas immunization timetable is unthinkable in developed nations. Waiting months appears to be challenging enough, particularly with risky variants circulating the globe. President Biden also vowed that all adults in the United States would receive vaccinations before the end of May. Israel has vaccinated 60% of its population, while Britain has vaccinated 41%. Like many developed nations, Kenya relies on Covax, a multinational system for procuring and administering vaccines. The scheme was designed to expect that many nations, even wealthy ones, would use it to buy vaccines to distribute their bets around vaccine manufacturers. Instead, scores of developed countries purchased doses directly from pharmaceutical suppliers, pushing the foreign initiative aside and halting exports to the developing world. Nonetheless, according to economists, developing nations are in a better situation than they might have been without the campaign. Covax hopes to reach at least 20% of the population in participating countries before the end of the year. In Kenya, tight prohibitions lockdowns, curfews, flight bans, and school closures that ultimately caused children to replay the school year prevented the epidemic from sweeping the world last year, as did the countrys comparatively young population. However, control mechanisms such as lockdowns, which apply to wealthy and poor nations, are no longer the only protection against the coronavirus. Vaccines are now the most expensive currency, creating a huge disparity for those who can afford them and those who cannot. The pandemic has intensified in Africa after a version is first seen in South Africa, which has been proven to be able to reinfect humans, started pushing up cases in the continents south. Before that, it was said that Africa had survived this pandemic, said Tulio de Oliveira, a geneticist at South Africas Nelson Mandela School of Medicine. Unfortunately, it was not the case. With cases on the rise in Kenya, vaccination delays will result in further deaths. The confirmed number of Covid-19 events more than 120,000 infections that have resulted in about 2,000 deaths is believed to be an undercount. Covax was supposed to provide further vaccine doses to the world. However, health officials hoped that the countrys strong protection and trade ties with the European Union and the United Kingdom would help it obtain vaccinations. Kenya had often dismissed other countries concerns over being used as guinea pigs in vaccine experiments, boosting hopes for early shipments. Vaccines were produced as a consequence of the clinical trials, said Dr. David Ngira, a postdoctoral researcher in public health law at Cardiff University. He has been monitoring vaccination rollouts in Africa. On this basis, the Kenyan applicants, as well as the surrounding populations and the nation as a whole, should have received some preference in vaccine access. However, this has not occurred. Even Kenyas low hopes have been reduced: the 4.1 million doses promised by Covax could be reduced to 3.6 million doses. A total of 24 million doses have been requested by the government. Health officials express their gratitude, but even Covax shots come with a catch. Vaccines for the first 20% of Kenyas population are free, but only on the condition that the government compensates for adequate doses to reach the remaining 10%. The bill is estimated to cost Kenya close to $130 million, putting a burden on its finances. An African Union vaccination task force is attempting to alleviate the pressure by assisting countries in obtaining adequate doses to vaccinate 60% of the continents citizens by mid-2022. Vaccine shortages are projected to have well-reaching economic consequences far outside the nations running low on doses. According to one community of experts, if developing nations are overwhelmingly denied access to vaccinations this year, the world economy might incur losses in excess of $9 trillion, almost half of which will fall on developed countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. However, in Africa, the expenses of the slow rollout of individuals and health services are now skyrocketing. The cost is by far more reaching than just a financial price tag. Covid-19 claimed the life of a heart surgeon in Zimbabwe in late January, a tutor to younger physicians and a cornerstone of the countrys health system. In the same month, a senior doctor in northern Nigeria died from the virus after being quarantined in an isolation hospital. Myanmars military junta Tuesday accused the leaders of the ongoing nationwide protests of arson and inciting violence and sought to justify last months coup by repeating accusations of fraud against deposed de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The comments come a day after the United States and European Union imposed new sanctions against the military leaders for their February 1 coup and the subsequent crackdown on the protests against it. At a lengthy news conference Tuesday, the military presented displays of seized homemade weapons and videos of street battles to argue that the demonstrators are violent and that efforts to stop them are justified. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun compared the military response to U.S. police responding to the January 6 siege at the U.S. capitol, saying, "Which country would accept these kind of violent acts? The spokesman said 164 protesters had been killed in Myanmars violence and expressed sadness at the deaths. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group says it can verify at least 261 people have been killed by Myanmar security forces, but the total is likely much higher. It also reports, from their Twitter account, 2,682 have been arrested, charged or sentenced and 2,302 are still in detention or have outstanding warrants. Several of Myanmars neighboring countries have condemned the violence, including Bangladesh, China, India, Laos and Thailand. Zaw Min Tun told reporters the junta has been cooperating with those countries and wants to maintain good relations with them, as well as all the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the rest of the world. Junta leaders also justified their coup by saying the Nov. 8 election won by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) was fraudulent - an accusation the electoral commission rejected. They also claim Suu Kyi accepted bribes, a charge her lawyer has denied. She has been in detention since the coup. COMMENTARY Six forces pushing rapid change in the public sector 2021 will be a year of rapid change in government as we emerge from the pandemic and respond to shifting citizen needs and expectations. In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic acceleratedin some cases, by yearsthe advance of the future of government. From telehealth to telework, virtual courts to virtual education, agile regulation to rapid digitizationrarely in modern history have we seen so many large-scale experiments in government rolled out so quickly and at such a massive scale. COVID-19 isnt the only force driving change in government. The exponential pace of technological advancement, rising citizen expectations for greater transparency, and the erosion of trust in government have been building for years. These challenges overlap with systemic and daunting challenges such as climate change, massive demographic shifts, and a rising inequality and economic disillusionment. This outlook identifies six areas for governments to proactively address in 2021: Rebuilding trust in government Building greater public health resiliency Accelerating digitzation Delivering personalized services Adaptable workplaces Establishing a climate resilient government Rebuilding Trust in Government As the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe, citizens around the world looked to their governments to provide economic relief, contain the virus spread, and provide a steady flow of information. For the first time in two decades, government was the most trusted institution globally, according to a May 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer report. An unprecedented global crisis was unfolding, and the "rallying around the flag" effect was clearly visible in the data on a global level. One big outlier among developed nations was the United States. Trust in the federal government was at only 20% in August 2020a slight increase from 2019 (17%), but still near historic lows. In short, America is experiencing a crisis of trust. Rebuilding trust in government is imperative for governments to deliver on their various missions such as policymaking, regulating markets, enforcing rules and compliance, and protecting citizens. Take vaccines, for example. As vaccines have received regulatory approval, government agencies will need active cooperation from citizens to get everyone vaccinated quickly. But this becomes far more difficult in an atmosphere of distrust. Our research suggests governments can build and sustain trust by focusing on four areas: humanity, transparency, capability, and reliability. These trust signals, which have been statistically validated as significant contributors of trust for customers and employees, can be measured and improved through specific government actions. In the US, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) boasts one of the more remarkable turnaround stories in the federal government. Just a few years back, the VA was challenged with concerns around customer experience, long wait-times, and creaky IT infrastructure. But in May 2020, a survey put veterans' trust in the VA's outpatient services at an all-time high of 90%, despite a raging pandemic. This transformation was largely due to a cultural shift at the VA that focused on leading with trust. Building public health resiliency The pandemic has placed historic strain on our public health system at the federal, state, and local levels. As our nation continues to respond and recover, we must build a more resilient and trusted public health system that can better anticipate and react to future public health emergencies. Greater emphasis on effective public health surveillance through policy, technology, and the strengthening of partnerships at all levels of government and between sectors will be critical to more effectively countering future public health threats. Adequate funding and a sustained focus from policymakers, not only during a crisis but also before one emerges, is important for developing meaningful public health solutions. Consistent with the discussion in the last section, an overarching element of building a more resilient public health system is establishing trust with the American public through consistent, transparent, and targeted communication and outreach. Public health leaders should make greater use of social media and other communication tools, such as peer-to-peer trusted influencers, that can help reach segments of the population not reached through traditional media and increase the level of trust in the response to public health imperatives. Building trust likely will require government officials to clearly and transparently articulate a public health policy vision and outline steps to fund the vision and achieve sustainable goals. While innovative technology and data strategies are crucial elements, results will be less effective without a clear policy infrastructure in place to maximize utilization of these new approaches. Accelerated digitization Pre-pandemic, governments across the world were making digital advances, albeit at an uneven pace. Then the global pandemic hit, and everything changed. Digital was no longer a nice to have for government, but an imperative. Consider digital governments most compelling features: the abilities to serve efficiently, to scale, and to adapt quickly. The disruption of the pandemic made these features more vital than ever before. Public agencies in the US are dramatically scaling digitization as the pandemic has forced them to provide new services, support a much higher volume of requests for existing services, and provide all of these in a primarily digital model. Agencies have turned to three key digital approaches to tackle COVID-19 disruptions which include- Ramping up AI and automation has enabled faster service delivery and reduced human workload. has enabled faster service delivery and reduced human workload. Harnessing cloud solutions has allowed public agencies to meet the sudden surge in service demand while ensuring a seamless transition to telework. allowed public agencies to meet the sudden surge in service demand while ensuring a seamless transition to telework. Building a whole of government digital architecture has encouraged interoperability of digital solutions and helped with ensuring business continuity across the public sector. Personalized service delivery For years, technology companies like Amazon, eBay, and Netflix have offered services that are frictionless, personalized and anticipatory. To catch up, many government agencies are increasingly shifting to citizen-tailored services, taking cues from their commercial counterparts, to better understand citizen needs and wants and even move towards anticipating citizen needs. The proactive service model integrates the back end, and stores and analyzes data to predict when a particular service might be needed. In some cases, citizens no longer need to even apply for benefits, saving countless hours and improving government efficiency. In Austria, for example, childbirth triggers enrollment in the countrys family allowance program with no need for citizens to file a claim, savings 39,000 hours of time for Austrian citizens. Governments have further improved service delivery by shifting from a traditional department-based model to a life events approach. This model bundles services across agencies to respond to life events such as job loss, retirement, injury or illness, home purchase, childbirth, the death of a loved one, or college enrollment. In the event of a natural disaster, for example, such a model could integrate services across government agencies to respond to injuries, rebuild infrastructure, and repair local economies. Finally, to provide services that are anticipatory, personalized, and frictionless, governments would need to collect, store, and process data of citizens. This would require deploying advanced identity technologies and putting in place appropriate cybersecurity safeguards to protect data and build trust in government digital services and solutions. Adaptive workplaces: The future of work in government As many employees in the public and private sectors continue to work at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations may be undergoing a transition that they cannot easily reverse. Workflows will have to adapt, and workforces will settle into a different kind of life balance. When its safe to return to the office for all workers, employees may not be returning to the same work. Some may find that the nature of their jobs, and expectations about their roles, have changed. The pandemic has forced organizations to go beyond the simple choice between working on site or teleworking. Many have begun embracing the concept of adaptive workplaces, based on the notion that people and teams should work where they are the most productive and engaged, depending on the task. The adaptive workplaces concept includes adaptable time, allowing employees to vary their work hours or days; adaptable leave policies; adaptable work locations, and adaptable work (rearchitecting work via the use of a chatbot/self-service channel). It even includes adaptable roles, using models such as phased retirement and seasonal work to let employees shape their careers. Exhausted and stressed by the struggle to balance personal and professional demands, many employers and employees are assigning greater value to well-being, both physical and mental. Government agencies are also trying to help employees cope. San Mateo County, California, for example, gives government departments grants to help improve wellness among the staff. A program focused on back health produced a 250% return on investment. Climate resilient government President Bidens plans for climate change are elaborate from drafting orders to reduce planet-warming pollution to seeking nominees who will embed climate policy not only in environmental agencies but in departments from Defense to Treasury to Transportation. As the world recovers from the fallout of COVID-19, investing in Climate Action-related infrastructure and programs can build resilience in governments and economies. Scaling the focus on climate change will be crucial for governments in the coming year. To fully address climate resilience, government leaders at all levels are beginning to look at climate-change from three different lenses. Climate change and sustainability as a primary mission. How to lead climate-change and sustainability actions in government. For example, the Department of Energy supports research and innovation that makes fossil energy technologies cleaner and less harmful to the people and the environment." How to lead climate-change and sustainability actions in government. For example, the Department of Energy supports research and innovation that makes fossil energy technologies cleaner and less harmful to the people and the environment." Climate change and sustainability as a strategic priority. How to make the agencys operations more sustainable. For instance, the Department of States grassroots Greening Diplomacy Initiative fosters sustainable practices that reduce the Departments environmental footprint. How to make the agencys operations more sustainable. For instance, the Department of States grassroots Greening Diplomacy Initiative fosters sustainable practices that reduce the Departments environmental footprint. Futureproofing the impact of climate change. How to mitigate risks to the agency mission posed by climate change. For instance, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has looked at three key regions and created a strategy for realigning their geographic footprint in part to improve climate resilience. By Jan Wolfe (Reuters) - Sidney Powell, a lawyer who advised President Donald Trump's campaign, asked a judge on Monday to throw out a $1.3 billion lawsuit accusing her of spreading false conspiracy theories about the November presidential election. Powell said in a filing in federal court in Washington that there was a "no basis" for the lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems Inc in January. Powell, represented by three lawyers, argued that claims she made about Denver-based Dominion were protected by the right to free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. She said her claims about Dominion were meant to be hyperbolic, and that "reasonable people would not accept such statements as fact but view them only as claims that await testing by the courts through the adversary process." Powell, appearing with longtime Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, charged without evidence at a November news conference that Dominions electronic voting systems had switched millions of ballots to Democrat Joe Biden. In later media appearances, Powell falsely claimed that Dominion was created in Venezuela to rig elections for that countrys late president, Hugo Chavez, and that Dominion bribed Georgia officials for a no-bid contract. Powells wild accusations are demonstrably false, Dominions lawyers said in their lawsuit. Trump referred to Powell as one of his wonderful lawyers and representatives in a Nov. 14 tweet. Giuliani and another Trump legal adviser, Jenna Ellis, later distanced themselves from Powell, saying in a statement released by the campaign that Powell "is not a member of the Trump Legal Team." Dominion has a similar lawsuit pending against Giuliani, which also seeks $1.3 billion in damages. He has also said his remarks were constitutionally protected speech. For two months after losing his re-election bid to Biden, Trump loudly argued that he lost due to rampant electoral fraud, claims that were rejected by multiple courts and state election officials. (Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by Scott Malone and Peter Cooney) Asian American pastors Sunday sermon to issue call for prayers and action after Atlanta shooting Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The pastor of a Korean church in the Atlanta area said he plans to tell his congregation its time for us to act when he delivers his sermon on the first Sunday after a 21-year-old man, Robert Aaron Long, was charged with killing eight people at three massage parlors in the vicinity of the church. Christians should not just pray, not just worry its time for us to act, the Rev. Byeong Han of Korean Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, told The Associated Press. Im going to urge people with love and peace that we need to step up and address this issue, so that ... our next generation should not be involved in tragic ... violence, the pastor said. Thats what Christians need to do. Another Asian American pastor, the Rev. Jong Kim of Grace Korean Presbyterian Church in the Atlanta suburb of Roswell, was quoted as saying that he had spoken to other Korean pastors in the area, urging them to join the group Asian Americans Advancing Justice, to discuss issues of race and ethnicity and also help the victims' families to organize funeral services. The groups Atlanta chapter believes the shooting on Tuesday happened under the trauma of increasing violence against Asian Americans nationwide, fueled by white supremacy and systemic racism. The 21-year-old suspect, who's now facing multiple murder charges, struggled with sexual sins he committed in these establishments, a former roommate said. I lived with Robert Aaron Long for a few months. I can tell you right now that this is not racially motivated killing, but the product of an emotionally disturbed young man who was religious to the point of mania and who felt deep shame about why he frequented these places, Tyler Bayless revealed in a Facebook post Wednesday. I wonder how this would have gone if he had been in an environment where he wasnt repeatedly told how sinful he was for the things that drove him. What a tragic loss of life, and a kid that was all around one of the sweeter people youd meet. Seven of the eight people Long killed were women, and six of them were of Asian descent. Two of the victims were white. Long told law enforcement that he would regularly visit two of the massage parlors he attacked, according to The Washington Post, which reported that police had identified the spas as places where sex work and possible sexual exploitation regularly occurred. The suspect told police he saw the people who worked at the spas as temptations he needed to eliminate. The Post reported that the Atlanta Police Department had earlier raided Gold Spa, one of the spas attacked by Long, at least seven times and arrested 10 of its workers. Police had received complaints alleging that Aromatherapy Spa, another massage parlor attacked by Long, was into prostitution. And the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office has been investigating Youngs Asian Massage, the third spa targeted by Long, since 2019, the Post added. Those killed by Long included 33-year-old Delaina Ashley Yaun, 54-year-old Paul Andre Michels, 44-year-old Daoyou Feng, and 49-year-old Xiaojie Tan, according to The Epoch Times. Yaun and her husband had arranged for a babysitter for their 8-month-old daughter when they went to Young's Asian Massage on Tuesday. They were in separate rooms inside the spa when Long opened fire and killed Yaun. Michels, who owned a security systems business after leaving the military, had been thinking about opening a spa himself, his younger brother, John Michels, was quoted as saying. He was a good, hard-working man who would do what he could do to help people. Hed loan you money if you needed it sometimes. You never went away from his place hungry, he added. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden indicated that the killing was an outcome of former President Trump calling COVID-19 China virus, a term that was first used by mainstream media, including CNN and MSNBC, whose lead anchors and medical experts called COVID-19 the "Chinese virus," "Wuhan virus," and Chinese coronavirus." Words have consequences. Its the coronavirus full stop, Biden told community leaders in Georgia on Friday, according to The Washington Times. Vice President Kamala Harris also appeared to attribute the shooting to hate against Asian Americans, alluding to Trump. For the past year, weve had people in positions of incredible power scapegoating Asian Americans, Harris said at Emory University in Atlanta on Friday. She added that people with the biggest pulpits were spreading this kind of hate. Robert Cherry, a retired Brooklyn College economist, wrote in an article for The Spectator magazine that the majority of attacks on Asians in the U.S. cannot be attributed to white Americans. Sharing his research based on 2019 FBI statistics, where he looked at black and white perpetrators of hate crimes as a percentage of men 18 to 44 years old in their populations, he wrote, The black rate was 40 percent, 76 percent and 303 percent higher than the white rate for hate crimes against the Asian/Pacific Island, Latino and LGBTQ communities respectively. He added, Even more troubling, black rates for hate-crime assaults were 94 percent higher while for property destruction and vandalism, they were 14 percent lower than white rates. Land and property prices are pushing upwards in areas such as Long Bien and Hadong in Hanoi. Photo: Duc Thanh Thu Huong recently returned to work as a freelance broker when she realised the rising attraction of land and property in the outskirts of Hanoi. She explained that her former company used to sell apartments, land plots, and adjacent villas in Hadong and Hoang Mai districts. These areas are far from the city centre and were offered at a more reasonable price range, targeting mostly homebuyers looking for a place to live. However, a few months ago, these and neighbouring suburban districts like Hoai Duc and Dong Anh suddenly heated up. A few years ago, vacant lots next to the abandoned villas of the Geleximco project on Le Trong Tan street in Hadong district were hard-pressed to get customers attention but have doubled or even tripled in price since then. Most shophouses are priced at around VND120-130 million ($5,200-5,650) per square metre, while apartments fetch VND25-27 million ($1,000-1,200) per sq.m, said Huong. Meanwhile, brokers offer residential land in the area at VND60-70 million ($2,600-3,000) per sq.m depending on proximity to the main road. In peri-urban villages such as Tay Mo (South Tu Liem district), Vinh Ngoc (Dong Anh district), and La Duong, La Phu (Hadong), prices range from VND25-50 million ($1,000-2,200) per sq.m. Some areas such as Kim Chung-Di Trach (Hoai Duc district) now come at up to $2,200 per sq.m and continue to fluctuate by day, while one square metre of residential land in An Khanh, An Thuong, and Van Canh (Hoai Duc) can fetch over $3,500. Estate transactions are bustling, and many older projects that could not be filled for 10 years are now almost completely sold out, said Huong. Explaining this increase, Nguyen Thi Hong Van, associate director of Valuation Services, Savills Hanoi, said inner-city land funds are growing gradually limited and complicated investment procedures have reduced investors interest. Meanwhile, infrastructure at peri-urban areas is rapidly improving, making these areas more appealing to investors. However, she warned prices are moving at a wide spectrum in these areas so buyers should make thorough comparisons and estimate the correct value of the property before entering into a transaction. Indeed, investors and property buyers have been turning to peri-urban areas with a lot more gusto since Hanoi announced the master plan of Hoa Lac Urban Area last July. This has had a buoyant effect on property prices in villages and communes around the capital. Additionally, prices in Dong Anh, Gia Lam, Thanh Tri, and Dan Phuong districts (all just outside Hanoi) started to increase after the investment project was approved to build these four districts into urban hubs from 2025. In areas in Dong Anh district where Lien Ha, Duc Tu, and Thuy Lam industrial clusters will be established, prices have also received heavy upward momentum. Recently, as rumours took flight about the Red River urban zoning plan being approved and issued by Hanoi in June, land prices in neighbouring areas began shooting up. Last week, prices at the riverside areas of Xuan Canh commune, Dong Anh district fluctuated around VND17-18 million ($740-780) per sq.m. Since then, however, they have risen to VND28-30 million ($1,200-1,300). Nguyen Van Minh, a real estate broker in the area, shared that he had just dealt with a customer of a nearly 200sq.m of land with the price of VND28 million per sq.m, only to be offered VND30-35 million ($1,300-1,500) by someone else. At another land lot near the Red River dykes, adjacent to Vinhomes Co Loa, Minh said that offer prices have nearly doubled, reaching $2,200 per sq.m and by the time the project breaks ground, they could reach as much as $3,500. Land prices in neighbouring areas such as around Thach Cau street in Long Bien district also increased by about $130-220 per sq.m compared to last year. Many plots along the Red River in the districts Ngoc Thuy ward are offered at similar prices, two or three times as much as before. Linh Nam ward of Hoang Mai district has been quite active with prices along the main road at VND65 million ($2,800) per sq.m, while properties on smaller streets and alleys are offered for VND35 million ($1,500). The buoyant effects have in fact been rubbing off in a radius of 50km of Hanoi, with the prices of residential land steadily increasing, especially in provinces that have many industrial zones with modern infrastructure such as Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hai Duong, Thai Nguyen, and Ha Nam. Indias impending regulations on cryptocurrencies, which in all likelihood will not be favourable, have spurred a comparison with laws in other countries. Sure, and cryptocurrencies are a Western phenomenon (which the Chinese caught onto) and it is understandable that friendly regulations have been behind their organic growth. An overview reveals that in most major countries and blocs, regulators treat cryptocurrencies as assets and gains in these are taxed like financial transactions. Moreover, crypto-related business entities are often licensed by local financial regulators in line with defined conditions. Recently, was back in the limelight after its price zoomed 4x to $60,000, mostly because it received extraordinary interest during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, when regular investment asset classes (debt and equity) slumped. Also during the Covid-19 pandemic, several major firms like Sqaure and Tesla revealed treasury holdings in bitcoin, in what was a huge backing. Growing also, in the background, are initial coin offerings (ICOs) and things like Facebooks Libra and Chinas digital Yuan. The world of cryptocurrencies is far bigger than just It includes tokens backed against fiat, tokens meant for cross-border payments by banks, tokens to raise funds similar to equity financing, and a growing trove of businesses around lending and financial services in crypto. Market participants, dead against the blanket ban, say that this nuance is missing in Indias stance, and also argue that in most countries regulators are approaching laws from the point of view of safeguarding the customer, as against a blanket ban. 2020 was the year most of the governments listened to industry experts and citizens and came out with positive regulatory outcomes said Darshan Bathija, founder of Vauld, a Singapore-based crypto-lending and trading platform. With a blanket ban (proposed in India), what it will do is hurt those who are trying to legitimately bring innovation, he said. Below is a brief over-view of how crypto-currencies are regulated in major nations: United Kingdom: The United Kingdom does not have an overarching law for dealing with cryptocurrencies. As such, all cryptocurrency-related businesses, including the exchanges, have to secure a license from Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), UKs financial markets regulator. There are stringent rules for at least those entities that are involved involved in crypto-related futures and options trading. The UK treats as money, and gains are taxed. Corporate tax rules apply to businesses for the profits or losses in currency exchanges, which includes cryptocurrencies. For unincorporated businesses, income tax is chargeable to the profits and losses that can be attributed to transactions. Individuals pay income tax. That said, FCA has spelled warnings for crypto in the past. In 2017, it came out strongly against initial coin offerings (ICOs) and online trading scams involving cryptocurrencies. Early this year, too, it warned retail users saying that they should be prepared to lose all their money" if they invest in cryptocurrencies, explaining its stance. In 2018, Bank of England said that country-wide regulation maybe on the horizon. US: Like other laws, regulations pertaining to cryptocurrencies vary across states in the US, but broadly, the outlook and regulations are friendly. New York stands out as an example. As early as 2016, and the first to do so, New York launched "BitLicense" schemea comprehensive framework to license crypto-exchanges and related businesses. Entities engaged in transmission, holding, buying and selling of cryptocurrencies as a customer business, providing exchange services, and issuing cryptocurrency, operating in New York, must secure a license from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). The licensees are tightly regulated at par with financial services firms. Wyoming is another widely quoted example for favourable regulation. In 2018, the state deemed some crypto-currencies as a utility tokens and exempted their developers or sellers from securities laws under the caveat that they meet certain conditions. The favourable climate has led to creation of big crypto-firms including Coinbase, an IPO-bound firm valued at $68 billion. Also, big US firms, like JP Morgan and Facebook are planning to issue their own digital tokens. European Union: For long, European countries exercised their own soft-touch regulatory frameworks on crypto-currencies independently. Now, the European Union (EU) has sought to create a bloc-wide framework. In September 2020, the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, put out a draft titled, Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). Like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), MiCA is meant to set a global standard. Under MiCA, cryptocurrencies will be deemed regulated financial instruments. Any firm engaged in custody, brokerage, trading, or investment advice related to crypto-currency will require prior approval from national supervisory authorities under MiCA. A welcome feature is that the bill recognises different kinds of tokens (bundles as crypto-assets, utility tokens, asset-referenced token, and E-money token) and proposes unique treatment. For instance, if an entity floats a new token, it must publish a white paper and send it in advance for notification to the respective national financial supervisory authority (for example, BaFin in Germany). This has implications for Facebooks Libra (now Diem) proposal. MiCA, which will be applicable to all 27 member states, may not kick in till next year. China: China, home to the worlds biggest Bitcoin mining operations, does not recognise cryptocurrencies and does not allow for their use as means of payment. In fact, Beijing has showed little tolerance in the past. Initial coin offerings (ICOs) were banned in China in 2017. Exchange platforms were also ordered to close following the crackdown on ICO. At the time, most exchanges moved to friendlier jurisdictions like Japan, Hong Kong, or Korea. For China, the beef was against ICOs and as far crypto-currencies are concerned, it is not illegal to hold or trade in Bitcoin and other cryptos. Moreover, China has consistently shown great enthusiasm towards the application of blockchain for modernising China's financial systems and becoming a world leader in this new technology. In recent years, various guidelines and papers issued have endorsed blockchain, leading to spurred activity in blockchain start-ups. China now wants to create a digital Yuan, as part of its push to be the leader in emerging technologies including blockchain. The Peoples Bank of China has been developing the sovereign for local transactions on the internet, as well as cross border transfers. It has already started real-world trials for the in a number of cities. The digital Yuan is not decentralised like Bitcoin and will have completely different features and attributes. This year's teams have demonstrated a commitment to an inclusive workplace through the creation of assistive technology. Tweet this "SourceAmerica is committed to improving the employment opportunities, economic empowerment, and upward mobility of people with disabilities," said SourceAmerica Interim President and CEO Richard Belden. "The SourceAmerica Design Challenge gives high school and college students an opportunity to address the obstacles that people with disabilities encounter in the workplace and solve them with unique engineering solutions." How it works Student teams chose from a list of pre-approved projects spanning several disciplines. The teams then designed technology to address the project's requirements. Over the course of several months, the teams worked together virtually to fine-tune and document their project's iterations until a final design was submitted. The SourceAmerica 2021 Design Challenge Finals event will be held virtually in order to address the additional complexity of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finalist teams will present their projects, receive rankings from the judges, and participate in an awards ceremony. The virtual Design Challenge Finals is open to the public. Judges for the Design Challenge are comprised of SourceAmerica subject matter experts in workforce development and productivity engineering. Projects are evaluated based on their potential impact on the workplace. Through innovation and imagination SourceAmerica is encouraging the next generation of engineers to discover solutions that improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities. This year's teams have demonstrated a commitment to an inclusive workplace through the creation of assistive technology. College Team Finalists The three college team finalists for this year's national competition include: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California Project: Just Kitting Workstation The California Polytechnic State University senior project team created a kitting workstation designed to reduce errors and increase efficiency for employees experiencing dexterity issues. California State University, Los Angeles Project: Midas Touch Team Midas Touch created a kitting and packing station utilizing pattern boards and a semi-automated heat sealer to increase accuracy and safety for employees with disabilities. California State University, Los Angeles Project: Zeno Effect A second team from California State University, Los Angeles designed a web-based data tracking platform that increases efficiency in the assembly process for employees with disabilities and also assists managers to spot areas needing attention. High School Team Finalists The five high school finalists for the 2021 SourceAmerica Design Challenge include: Brentwood High School Brentwood, New York Project: The Quick Stamper The Quick Stamper incorporates an easy-to-follow, four-step process that increases the accuracy of placing labels onto the center of boxes using a stamping method. Catlin Gabel School Portland, Oregon Project: ZipBag The ZipBag presents a safe and easy way for people with limb differences and lower dexterity to better handle the opening and closing of resealable bags. Diamond Bar High School Diamond Bar, California Project: Time Clocking and Office Supply Jigs The engineering team from Diamond Bar High School created a time clock and several jigs for an office space environment for labeling, opening bags and thread cutting, to minimize the need of manual dexterity in the workplace. Oswego East High School Oswego, Illinois Project: Robo-Sticker The Robo-Sticker is made from Lego Technics and custom 3D printed parts and helps people place labels on a wide variety of box sizes. Poolesville High School Poolesville, Maryland Project: Time Clock The Time Clock focuses on design elements for people with disabilities, utilizing a linked barcode scanner to accommodate those who are unable to log in manually. For more information For questions or additional details about the SourceAmerica Design Challenge, please visit https://www.sourceamerica.org/get-involved/design-challenge. About SourceAmerica SourceAmerica connects government and corporate customers to a national network of approximately 700 nonprofit agencies that hire a talented segment of the workforce people with disabilities. Established in 1974, SourceAmerica is committed to increasing economic and social inclusion and advocating for a more accessible future of work for people with differing abilities. As a leading job creator within the disability community and distinguished as an AbilityOne authorized enterprise, SourceAmerica harnesses the momentum and boosts the capability of its network and customers. To learn more, visit SourceAmerica.org and follow the organization on Facebook (@SourceAmerica), Twitter (@SourceAmerica), Instagram (@SourceAmerica), and LinkedIn (@SourceAmerica). SOURCE SourceAmerica Related Links http://www.sourceamerica.org Washington, D.C., March 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recognizing the value of Americas next-generation renewable, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have issued a new report that identifies the potential of marine energy resources (wave, tidal, ocean current, ocean thermal, and riverine marine) titled Marine Energy in the United States: An Overview of Opportunities. Utilizing national and state level data, the report finds that the total marine energy technical resource in the 50 states to be 2,300 TWh/yr or the equivalent to roughly 57% of 2019 U.S. electricity generation enough to power 220 million U.S. homes. The new report demonstrates that marine energy technologies could be the missing link for meeting our nations clean energy goals and decarbonizing our electricity grid, said Malcolm Woolf, NHA President and CEO. Much like the development of solar energy, with each passing day, marine energy moves one step closer to full scale commercialization. We believe that the marine energy industry is poised for gigawatt (GW) scale deployment in the United States in the coming decade. President Biden and Congress have proposed an ambitious target of achieving 100 percent clean electricity by 2035, and tapping into just a fraction of marine energys potential could help make that a reality. Report Pinpoints National, Regional and State Potential In the report, NREL identified specific areas within the U.S. where marine energy devices could be deployed and its potential contribution for generation. For example, On the West Coast, wave energy would be the dominant source, where there is a potential for 250 TWh/yr, which is equivalent to 67% of the regions net electricity generation in 2019, enough to power 23 million homes. On the East Coast, ocean thermal would be the dominant source, where there is a potential 460 TWh/y, which is equivalent to 49% of the regions net electricity generation in 2019 enough to power 43-million homes. Ongoing U.S Marine Energy Device Deployments Throughout the country, marine energy developers are working to develop and deploy new power generation devices. For example, last October, Verdant Power deployed its TriFrame Mounted Gen-5 Tidal Turbines, in New York Citys East River. To date, the device has exceeded expectations and generated 100 MWh in only the first 85 days of continuous operation, a record for marine energy production in the United States. This is far earlier than projected, which means the demonstration project is on track to generate more than 430 MWh in one year of operation. In Igiugig, Alaska, the Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) has demonstrated its 40-kW RivGen Power System in the Kvichak River. It operated throughout 2020 and proved its ability to survive the harsh Alaskan winters. A second RivGen Power System is being prepared for deployment at Igiugig this summer. Marine energy isnt theoretical anymore, as innovations within the industry are leading to deployments that are proving the viability of the technologies said Woolf. One of the most significant challenges to the domestic marine energy industry is the need to continually attract private investment to fund innovation and initial demonstrations during the pre-competitive stages of technology development, primarily due to the timelines and technical risks involved. As with more mature power generation technologies, such as advanced gas turbines or solar converter systems, support from the U.S. Federal Government for critical early stage innovation and technology deployment efforts is key to igniting commercialization of the marine energy industry. Research Leads the March Towards Commercialization For domestic marine energy developers, research and testing devices remains front and center. Assisting this effort, today, there are now four National Marine Energy Centers: Pacific Marine Energy Center (Oregon State University, University of Washington, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks); Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center at Florida Atlantic University; Hawaii National Marine Renewable Energy Center at the University of Hawaii; and Atlantic Marine Energy Center based at the University of New Hampshire. Additionally, on March 1, 2021, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a 25-year hydroelectric production license for Oregon State Universitys PacWave South testing facility to deploy and test technologies to generate energy from ocean waves. Its FERCs first-ever license for a wave energy facility. The ability to test devices in the unforgiving waters of the Pacific Ocean, about 6 nautical miles off the coast of Newport, Oregon, is expected to go a long way in proving the viability of devices. Establishing and expanding critical testing infrastructure, including grid connection and deployment equipment, for pre-commercial marine energy devices along with support for technology validation activities is critical to moving forward, said Woolf. We are encouraged by the network of U.S. companies, supported by universities and the National Labs, that are working to unlock the global marine energy resource and the new Blue Economy. About NHA The National Hydropower Association (NHA) is a nonprofit association dedicated exclusively to promoting the growth of clean, renewable hydropower and marine energy. On April 28-30, NHA will be hosting the virtual International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE) 2021, supported by the International Energy Agency (IEA) through Ocean Energy Systems (OES). Every two years, ICOE brings together international stakeholders, experts and exhibitors from the marine energy sectors (tidal, wave, ocean currents, ocean thermal gradients) to discuss device innovation, new market developments and regulatory frameworks to spur commercialization. This is the first time the United States has hosted this important international event. For more information on ICOE 2021 visit www.icoe2021.org. ### LeRoy Coleman National Hydropower Association 2027508405 leroy@hydro.org Source: National Hydropower Association Yemen: Riyadh offers ceasefire to Houthis, who reject it 'To end the conflict, under UN supervision' (ANSAmed) - ROME, 23 MAR - Saudi Arabia has proposed a ceasefire in Yemen to the Houthi rebels allied with Iran, who however rejected the offer as "nothing new". Riyadh's offer should be enacted with UN supervision ahead of opening talks between the internationally recognised Yemeni government and the Houthis, said Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on Monday evening. "We will do everything possible to put the necessary pressure on the Houthis so that they come to the negotiating table and lay down their arms, because we believe that the end of fighting and a political solution are the only way," said the minister, cited by pan-Arab broadcaster Al Arabiya. But the spokesman for the Shiite Yemeni rebels, Mohammed Abdulsalam, cited by broadcaster Houthi Al Masirah, said that before talking about negotiations Riyadh should "put an end to the aggression and completely remove the naval and air blockade" it put on the Yemeni regions under Houthi control. "We welcome the announcement by Saudi Arabia of its intention to take up a series of measures to help put an end to the conflict in Yemen, which are in line with the initiative of the United Nations," said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Monday evening. Since the time the conflict broke out in 2015 between the Houthis and the coalition of Gulf countries led by the Saudis, estimates place the number of civilians killed at over 100,000. (ANSAmed). There have been countless calls for the unity in the opposition to the Castro dictatorship, but few seem to know how to achieve this, or what to do with it. When it comes to such appeals for unity, they are regularly issued in a routine and vague way, without specifying what kind of unity, or who its agents or protagonists should be. The history of Cuba that began in 1959 shows us how, from the outset of the revolutionary process, the regime's strategy was based on the maximum dissolution of formal and informal ties between all citizens. This infinite set of inter-citizen relationships is what today is called "social capital," which, in an imperceptible way, makes up the connective tissue of every society, its unifying element of social cohesion. However, from the beginning, analysts of the revolutionary process primarily focused on the most easily observable and measurable aspects of what happened during the first two years, especially the expropriation of companies' physical and financial capital, much of the citizens' real estate (buildings and land), and the loss of a major portion of the country's human capital through an exodus abroad. But social capital is not alienable. Thus, it was simply diluted, along with the suppression of the freedom of expression and communication. The elementary inter-citizen relations that still exist without government intervention are limited in scope, restricted to families, neighbors, colleagues from a few unions and workplaces, students and members of religious orders. Soon the Cuban Government monopolized ties between the people through the State's organizations and companies, the Armed Forces, the Communist Party, and mass organizations. In a very short time Cubans lost their freedom to organize not only political activities, but also those of any other nature. Along with a reduction in private property, freedom of commerce and business, and other liberties that were respected even during the Batista dictatorship, the new government soon restricted the entire gamut of freedoms of organization and expression. Thus, citizens were isolated from each other, and therefore, exposed to arbitrary manipulation by the new governmental order. That is, Cubans' connective means to carry out any independent, collaborative tasks in favor of their individual interests was reduced to a bare minimum. In their respective evolutions, societies gradually amass various forms of wealth, some tangible and others less tangible, or entirely intangible. Among the former we can include physical, financial and human capital; and among the latter, cultural capital and social capital, this being a relatively modern concept in the social sciences, but one that has been become more prominent and, increasingly, been assigned greater methodological and analytical utility. The identification of social capital and its evolution within the framework of Cuba serves to enrich study of the country and, above all, to illuminate some critical aspects of its anomalous development during the revolutionary process. As an intangible form of wealth that cannot be easily quantified or measured, social capital adds an extremely useful analytical dimension to describe and explain what has happened in Cuba since 1959, in addition to facilitating study and the formulation of strategies and policies for change in the country through civil society. A change that could guide others The practical importance of this concept cannot be overstated in light of what happened in Havana in November 2020 with the San Isidro Movement (MSI), when some 300 Cuban artists and intellectuals gathered in front of the Ministry of Culture to demand dialogue with the authorities and express their discontent over restrictions on their freedom. This event was followed in February by a similar, although smaller, demonstration before the Ministry of Agriculture, to complain to the authorities about the lack of action to prevent the mistreatment of animals and the government's disinterest in this situation. Both events are examples of the preliminary power of social capital, and evoke the impact of the Solidarity movement in Poland in the 1980s. In all three cases, the protests came about because a certain unity was achieved thanks to the fact that the participants, connected to each other because they belonged to a certain social group, were able to define and express a concrete and practical objective rooted in a common interest. In all three cases interpersonal relationships not only facilitated collective action, but also the expression of a common interest because the people in question belonged to a certain sector. Belonging to a professional community facilitates personal contact, exchange and communications, as well as the identification of common interests and levels of interpersonal trust necessary to carry out actions that can be successful over the long run. What is interesting and promising about these events is that they disarm the members of the Cuban Government, who, with great arrogance, oppose all forms of dialogue, even simply listening to the opinions of citizens, hiding behind false statements about the origins and motivations of these initiatives, and accusing their participants of being agents of the United States and harboring subversive motives. It is also interesting to note that these initiatives can be carried out in accord with the Cuban constitution and its legal system, although the authorities do not recognize this. After more than 60 years of popular impotence in the face of the abuses of Castro's totalitarianism, and stubborn government refusals to address the serious problems that affect the country, two examples of citizen initiatives have appeared on the Cuban scene that, replicated on more occasions, and by other actors, could pave a path to some form of change on the island. In the absence of other feasible strategies for change, and given the regime's ostensible inability to improve living conditions in Cuba, sustained and diversified pressure from the opposition to force dialogue with those in power opens up possibilities that must be explored with patience and wisdom. This could be the formula to bring about some kind of change in the country, which could lead to more. After a year of residents fighting to get their unemployment benefits, New Jersey lawmakers could get extra help from unemployment agents working directly with them under a recently introduced bill. The bill, S3505, would require the Department of Labor to assign at least one unemployment claims handler to each legislative district and partisan office during the coronavirus pandemic, appropriating $1.8 million of the CARES Act funds. It advanced out of the state Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee unanimously Monday. In the last year, more than 2 million unemployment claims have been filed to the state Department of Labor, and tens of thousands of claimants have faced major delays and issues in getting their benefits, due to the sudden flood of claims and technological hurdles. New Jerseys unemployment rate currently sits at 7.6%. While we have seen a decline in claims so far into 2021, the Department of Labor and Workforce has been overwhelmed with handling this excess of claims due to a lack of staff. With additional individuals working to file these claims, this bill would alleviate some of this stress, allowing for claims to be filed at an increased rate, said Senator Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, primary sponsor of the bill. Residents have reported going weeks and months without receiving their benefits, commonly held up by fraud checks, year-end benefit reviews, and mistakes made while certifying or filing. Often, the only way to fix it is by calling the Labor Department, but its extremely difficult to get ahold of an agent. And lawmakers havent been able to communicate with the Labor Department, reporting ignored emails and repeated requests for information the department already has. Several federal lawmakers also say their offices are inundated with complaints of the overloaded system. If the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is not going to open offices around the state the least they can do is assign case managers to the district offices, said state Senator Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen. For the last year, our offices have been inundated with constituent calls looking for help with their unemployment claims, leaving our staff no choice but to work around the clock trying to assist them. Labor spokeswoman Angela Delli-Santi said the majority of One Stop Career Centers do not offer in-person unemployment services, and all transactions can be completed online or over the phone when it comes to receiving unemployment benefits. Since the pandemic began, the department has distributed $24.8 billion to 1.5 million claimants. In the $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus package, roughly $2 billion was allocated toward funding improving state unemployment insurance programs. Under Gov. Phil Murphys proposed budget, $7.75 million would go to modernizing the state unemployment system, more than double from the previous year. A measure has also been introduced in the Assembly, but is not scheduled for a vote. Statehouse Reporter Jonathan D. Salant contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com . Follow her at @snietomunoz . Find NJ.com on Facebook . Dhaka, March 23 : At least seven people died and dozens others injured in a massive blaze that ravaged parts of sprawling Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district, a fire department official said on Tuesday. Firefighters extinguished the flames overnight and found the charred bodies of three men, two women and two children in the debris, Mohammad Abdullah, district head of the Fire Service and Civil Defence department, told dpa news agency. He said the injured are undergoing treatment at various health facilities run by aid agencies, and that the government was assessing the damage. The cause of the fire was yet to be determined, Abdullah said. The fire broke out on Monday afternoon at one of the camps and spread to four adjoining ones, leaving thousands of Rohingya Muslims homeless, according to Mohammad Shamsud Douza, deputy chief of the government's Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission. He estimated more than 9,500 shanties have been destroyed. The UN Refugee Agency said in a statement said the fire has affected shelters, health centres, distribution points and other facilities. More than 1 million Rohingya Muslims have been living in 34 squalid camps built on more than 3,000 hectares of hilly land in Cox's Bazar after they fled persecution in Myanmar. Nearly 750,000 of them crossed the border after Myanmar launched a military crackdown on the ethnic group in 2017. NATO Foreign Ministerial Statement issued by NATO Foreign Ministers: We are meeting in Brussels to reaffirm the enduring transatlantic bond between Europe and North America, with NATO at its heart. We are bound together by our shared democratic values, and by our adherence to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. NATO is the foundation of our collective defence: together we reaffirm our solemn commitment to the Washington Treaty, including that an attack against one Ally shall be considered an attack against us all, as enshrined in Article 5. NATO is the strongest alliance in history, guaranteeing the freedom of a billion people, the integrity of our territory, and the protection of our values. NATO is a defensive Alliance and poses no threat to any country. In response to a more dangerous and unpredictable security environment, we are considerably strengthening NATOs deterrence and defence capabilities, posture and resilience, underpinned by seven consecutive years of rising defence spending, more capable and ready forces, significant deployments in missions and operations, and deeper engagement with partners. We are making good progress on fairer transatlantic burden sharing; we welcome the efforts made by all Allies in Europe and North America that contribute to our indivisible security. We must and will do more. NATO will continue to adapt. We face rising threats and systemic competition. Russias aggressive actions constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security; terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains a persistent threat to us all. Assertive and authoritarian powers, and non-state actors, challenge the rules-based international order, including through hybrid and cyber threats, the malicious use of new technologies, as well as other asymmetric threats. The Covid-19 pandemic once again illustrates that we face constantly evolving challenges; we will continue to ensure our defence and operational effectiveness throughout this crisis. We pay tribute to all those who combat this pandemic in all our countries and around the world. The transatlantic partnership remains the cornerstone of our collective defence, central to our political cohesion, and an essential pillar of the rules-based international order. The upcoming NATO Summit will open a new chapter in transatlantic relations and set the direction for the future of our Alliance to 2030 and beyond. In line with the decision by our Leaders in London in December 2019, we will further strengthen NATOs political dimension, including consultation. We welcome the reflection process, including the recommendation to update NATOs Strategic Concept. We will further reinforce NATOs resilience, military strength and global outlook, connecting more closely with other nations and international organisations that share our goals. We will continue to stand together and to work together, to guarantee our security, prosperity, democracy and freedoms. Spain is set to lift its ban on British visitors from 30 March. The ban, put in place just before Christmas 2020, was imposed to halt the spread of Covid-19 variants. Visitors will be required to present a negative Covid test either PCR, TMA or LAMP tests taken within 72 hours of departure. British tourists will not be required to self-isolate on arrival. Spain is the most-visited country by British tourists, and had previously signalled it was ready and willing to accept visitors this summer either vaccinated or with a negative PCR test certificate. The country generates 12 per cent of GDP from tourism. Read more: The success of the UKs Covid vaccination programme more than half of UK adults have now received at least one dose and a sharp reduction in the number of coronavirus cases have led many countries to ease entry restrictions. On Sunday, Germany ended its flight ban, and on Monday, Pakistan eased restrictions on UK travellers. European countries including Greece, Cyprus and Iceland have set firm dates for when theyre willing to accept British tourists this summer. However, the Spanish rules being eased wont necessarily mean a huge bump in tourism. At present all non-essential international travel from the UK is banned, with 5,000 fixed penalties threatened for people in England who go to an airport intending to fly away on holiday. The governments Global Travel Taskforce will report on 12 April about possible arrangements for reopening international travel no earlier than 17 May. The governors of West Virginia, Tennessee and Arizona have announced plans to make their vaccinations against COVID-19 available to anyone over 16 within the next two weeks, as the U.S. continues its race against time with mutations spreading. Two states - Mississippi and Alaska - are already inoculating residents 16 and up, but the three other states revealed plans to expand access by May 3. The news comes as new coronavirus infections are rising in several U.S. states - something being attributed to pandemic fatigue plus new variants from the UK, Brazil, South Africa and within the U.S. The seven-day average of newly reported cases climbed 2.6 per cent on Sunday, even as overall hospitalizations and deaths remain down. A man in a West Virginia t-shirt is given his vaccination on March 11 in Martinsburg, WV U.S. Army National Guard Spc. Savaughna Johnson directs patients to receive their vaccine during a community vaccination event in Martinsburg, West Virginia As of Monday, the U.S. has recorded 29,867,415 cases and 542,888 deaths. Dr Rochelle Walensky, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned on Monday about the growing threat from variants. California's homegrown coronavirus variant is now dominant there. Rates of the UK's potentially deadlier 'super-COVID' variant have tripled in Ohio in two weeks while rising to eight and nine percent in Florida and New Jersey, respectively. California's homegrown variant, known as B.1.427/B.1.429, now makes up more than 52 per cent of infections in the state and 20 to 40 per cent of cases in neighboring states. Meanwhile, the UK variant, known as B.1.1.7, has spread to every single US state and makes up nearly one in 10 cases in at least two states. The CDC has previously suggested B.1.1.7 would become the dominant strain in the U.S. by March, which so far hasn't turned out to be the case. The latest estimate from outbreak.info is that the UK variant accounts for 35 per cent of all cases in the country. At least, 6,638 cases of varying mutant strains have been identified across the country, according to the CDC. In a press briefing on Monday, Walensky said steps must be taken in light of variants until more people can get vaccinated. 'I get it. We all want to return to our everyday activities and spend time with our family, friends and loved ones. But we must find the fortitude to hang in there for just a little bit longer,' she said. 'We must act now and I am worried that if we don't take the right actions now, we will have another avoidable surge.' The prevalence of all coronavirus variants - both those first detected and those homegrown- are spreading across the U.S. In a press briefing on Monday (pictured), CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky said steps must be taken in light of variants until more people can get vaccinated During the press briefing, Walensky discussed the prevalence of the California variant, which was first identified in May 2020 and virtually nonexistent until October. In a recent study, the University of California, San Francisco looked at 2,172 samples of the virus collected between September 2020 and January 2021 across California. By January, the new variant accounted for more than 50 percent of all the genetically analyzed coronavirus samples. Currently, according to Walensky, the variant makes up 52 percent of infections in California, 41 percent in Nevada and 25 percent in Arizona. Dr Charles Chiu, a professor of laboratory medicine and infectious diseases expert at UCSF, told the Los Angeles Times that the virus appeared to be more transmissible than prior strains by between 19 percent to 24 percent. In lab studies performed at UCSF, the researchers analyzed genetic material found on nasal swabs that were used to perform coronavirus tests. They found that B.1.427/B.1.429 produced a viral load that was twice as that triggered by other variants. That suggest the homegrown variant is better at copying itself more quickly once it gets inside the human body and hijacks its machinery. Although this hasn't been tested definitively yet, a higher viral load is a sign that someone infected with the variant might be especially contagious, spreading the virus more efficiently and effectively. In addition, the California variant was more effective at evading antibodies produced naturally by the bodies of survivors of COVID-19 or produced by vaccines. Levels of antibodies produced in response to the California variant were two-fold lower. On Monday, Walensky revealed that California's homegrown variant, B.1.427/B.1.429, now accounts for 52% of state cases It has also spread to nearby states and now making up 41% of COVID-19 infections in Nevada and 25% in Arizona WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE CALIFORNIAN VARIANTS 'CALIFORNIAN' VARIANTS - B1427 AND B1429 IS IT MORE INFECTIOUS? Yes, they are estimated to be 20% more infectious. IS IT MORE DEADLY? Unclear. There is not enough data to show an increase in mortality risks. CAN IT 'ESCAPE' VACCINES OR REINFECT PEOPLE? Both variants make the antibodies triggered by vaccines somewhat weaker in lab tests. A 'monoclonal' antibody therapy from Eli Lilly doesn't appear to work well against them, though combination antibody 'cocktails' from Lilly and Regeneron still seem to work. Advertisement Walensky also discussed the prevalence of the UK variant, which is known as, B.1.1.7 due to the location of its most significant mutations. It now accounts for at least 80 percent of all cases in Britain and most estimates put it at about 70 percent more infectious than older 'wild-type' coronavirus variants. In a new study published last month, on pre-print server medRxiv.org, a team sequenced 500,000 samples of the virus, called SARS-CoV-2, tested at Helix facilities since July 2020. Beginning the week of October 18, 2020, just 0.2 percent of daily positive cases appeared to be linked to the UK variant. The first case was identified in the U.S. on December 31, showing that the variant was in the country much earlier than previously believed. However, the increase rapidly took off in January. The nationwide proportion of B 1.1.7. cases increased from 0.8 percent of all positive tests during the first week of January 2021 to 3.6 percent in the last week. According to Walensky, B.1.1.7 accounts for eight percent of all cases in Florida and nine percent in New Jersey The UK variant, known as B.1.1.7, has also become more widespread, making up 9% of coronavirus cases in New Jersey and 8% in Florida Cases linked to B.1.1.7. have tripled in Ohio over the course of two weeks from 33 on March 7 to 128 on Monday WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT UK VARIANT 'UK VARIANT' -B117 IS IT MORE INFECTIOUS? Yes, estimated to be 50-70% more infectious IS IT MORE DEADLY? That isn't well-established. The latest research suggests it may be up to 55% more fatal. CAN IT 'ESCAPE' VACCINES OR REINFECT PEOPLE? No. Vaccines appear so far to work just as well against B117 and it does not seem to reinfect people. Advertisement In addition, cases of the UK variant have tripled in Ohio over the course of two weeks from 33 on March 7 to 128 on Monday. 'We are frankly in a race and we don't frankly know what the enemy is doing,' Ohio Gov Mike DeWine said during a briefing last week. 'But we do know from talking to the scientists and epidemiologists that they believe the variants are spreading in Ohio.' Ohio health officials have suspected that the UK variant will become the dominant strain in the state by April. Social Democratic Party (PSD) MEP Victor Negrescu said on Tuesday that the National Recovery and Resilience Plan presented by the Government does not meet European requirements, being "oversized" from a financial point of view. "This form of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) does not correspond to European requirements and this form approved by the Romanian Executive will not be in any case the final form of the plan. (...) We are not necessarily talking about a rejection, we are talking about the need to change this plan, because it is going before the European Executive with an oversized plan from a financial point of view. (...)," Negrescu told a press conference at the PSD headquarters. He added that the PNRR objectives should be implemented by the end of August 2026, but they cannot be achieved within this period. Loading the player... Increase gap between 2 doses of Covishield to up to 8 weeks: Centre tells states The government has asked state and union territory governments to increase the gap between two doses of Serum Institute's vaccine Covishield to 6-8 weeks, instead of the practiced interval of 4-6 weeks. The Centre said that immunity is enhanced if the second dose is administered after a gap of 6-8 weeks instead of the current gap of 28 days. The decision was taken on the basis of recommendations by two expert panels. LG Electronics may shut mobile phone business South Korean electronics major LG Electronics may soon shut its mobile communication business as its tentative plans for sale failed to materialise. LG's discussions with two potential companies - Germany's Volkswagen AG and Vietnam's Vingroup JSC - on the possible sale of the smartphone business fell apart. Now, LG is likely to opt for pulling the plug on its phone business instead of searching for more candidates. Future Group on the brink of bankruptcy despite respite in Reliance deal Kishore Biyani's Future Group companies are in the last leg of their survival battle as the suspension of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) is going to end on March 31. The group companies, which have outstanding debt of around Rs 17,000 crore, are in negotiations with the banks for one-time restructuring of loans. While the banks are yet to finalise the repayment reliefs, the group companies are worried about the non-bank lenders and operational creditors, who can also take the companies to the bankruptcy court post March. Delhi reduces legal drinking age to 21 from 25 Delhi government on Monday announced that it will reduce legal drinking age to 21 years. The current legal drinking age is 25 years. Additionally, the government stated that it will close all government liquor stores. This announcement comes as the Arvind Kejriwal-helmed AAP government made a slew of changes to the Excise Policy of Delhi. Shooting at Colorado supermarket, bloodied man shown in handcuffs Police in Boulder, Colorado, reported an "active shooter" at a grocery store on Monday, and aerial footage broadcast live from the scene by local media showed a bloodied man being escorted away in handcuffs and loaded into an ambulance. The Twitter alert from police said the incident unfolded at a King Soopers grocery store in the Table Mesa area of Boulder, a city at the eastern foot of the Rockies about 28 miles northwest of Denver. Global coronavirus deaths rise again after six weeks, says WHO The global count of deaths from COVID-19 is rising again in a span of six weeks, said a top World Health Organisation (WHO) expert on the coronavirus pandemic. The rise in global COVID-19 related deaths is followed by an increase in the active cases for the fifth straight week. WHO emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan acknowledged the urge among the public in many places to emerge from pandemic restrictions. Advertisement Bridges, homes, and entire towns are underwater and raging rivers are continuing to rise as the flood emergency gripping New South Wales is predicted to continue for months. Floods not seen since the 1961 disaster have swamped hundreds of homes and forced thousands to evacuate between Sydney and Byron Bay after five days of torrential rain. Rain is forecast to finally stop today, but the NSW State Emergency Service said the floodwaters could remain for weeks or months to come in many areas. The SES said the near-record floods were so widespread and will take so long to recede for two reasons - the torrential rain over the past five days and the wet weather in 2020. 'Because NSW had so much rain consistently for months in 2020, the soil is saturated which means it cannot take any more water in and that is why we have such a big flood event,' the SES told Daily Mail Australia. The NSW SES said the near-record floods were so widespread and will take so long to recede for two reasons - the torrential rain over the past five days and the wet weather in 2020 Floods not seen since the 1961 disaster have swamped hundreds of homes and forced thousands to evacuate between Sydney and Byron Bay after five days of torrential rain Rain will finally stop today, but the NSW SES said dangerous floodwaters could remain for weeks or months in many areas 'I'm not saying we wouldn't have had a flood, but it's much worse than had we not had months of rain before the last four to five days because the ground was already saturated. 'Also, not everyone knows this, but water has to flow down a river system and a lot of our river systems flow up towards Queensland before they flow down to South Australia. 'This means flooding can continue for several weeks or months even in areas where rain did not fall. This is called "riverine flooding".' Despite the rain easing, more flood warnings were issued on Tuesday night because water is moving downstream and impacting new areas. 'The soil cannot take any more water so the water needs to travel somewhere. In the case of the Hawkesbury-Nepean, it will travel out to sea,' the SES said. 'Which is why we are now starting to see evacuation warnings for places like Wiseman's Ferry - because the water is starting to travel down that catchment. 'Water travels in wonderfully mysterious ways. It builds and then travels through a river system - it doesn't only flood in the area where the rain fell. 'For this floodwater to completely subside, even if does not rain, would take weeks in some areas and months in others.' Eight months worth of rain fell on parts of NSW in just the past seven days with some towns receiving a full metre of water and some hit by four times their monthly average in just a day. Bureau of Meteorology forecaster, Agata Imielska, said many low-lying inland areas were still under serious threat with more rain falling on flooded areas. 'With those dangerous conditions that flood risk is very much with us and it is very important for the communities to stay across the current flood and severe weather warnings,' she said. 'We're not out of the woods yet.' People are seen on a jet-ski in a flooded street in Windsor, northwest of Sydney Members of the SES take medical supplies and relief goods to flood-affected residents during rescue operations in Windsor Members of the SES with supplies in Windsor Kids on canoes in front of properties ravaged by floodwaters in Windsor Comboyne and Mount Seaview, both on the Mid North Coast, were among the areas to get more than a metre of rain, with 1034mm and 1083mm falling respectively. Flood warnings for the swollen Nepean, Hawkesbury, and Colo rivers on Sydney's outskirts remain in place. SES Commissioner, Carlene York, said more flooding was expected in Colo, northwest of Sydney, overnight. 'This rain is incredible and it's just not stopping,' she told 2GB radio. 'The Colo River is rising much more rapidly than we expected. There are around 200 homes that are already isolated and access is quite difficult.' The Hunter River is expected to reach 11.5m on Wednesday, prompting evacuation orders for low-lying areas downstream of Singleton, 70km northwest of Newcastle. 'Storm and flood impacts may interrupt essential services such as electricity, phones, internet, water and sewerage,' the SES Hunter Unit. 'People in these areas need to closely monitor weather and road closures and make informed decisions early based on individual circumstances. 'Residents should monitor the situation and be prepared to evacuate when instructed to do so.' A family of four, including two young children, were plucked from the raging Hawkesbury on Tuesday after their SES rescue boat capsized A family and dog rescued by a SES crew make it to safety after being trapped by rising floodwaters in Sackville North, 80km northwest of Sydney A girl is carried to safety by a State Emergency Service member after a floodwater rescue operation in Sackville North People are evacuated by a rescue boat after getting trapped by floodwaters on the Hawkesbury River A young girl from North Richmond, 62km northwest of Sydney, is transported across the floodwater by SES to visit her sister in a nearby hospital The south coast of NSW is now under threat as well, with the weather system that drenched northern parts of the state and Sydney now moving south. 'When that low pressure system comes through later today, we will see heavy rainfall and flood risk on the south coast as well,' Ms Imielska said. Elsewhere, flooding is expected to create further chaos and mass evacuations in Southeast Queensland, as an emerging risk develops for eastern Victoria and eastern Tasmania due to the weather system moving south. Homeowners in the town of Beaudesert, 50km south of Brisbane, were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday night after the Logan River reached major flood levels over 12.22m. 'Residents in the area have been asked to secure their belongings, warn their neighbours and move to higher ground,' the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said. The Bureau of Meteorology warns the extreme weather battering all mainland states and territories except Western Australia is far from over. 'After days of heavy rain we're finally seeing it start to ease,' the bureau tweeted on Tuesday night. 'While it's some good news for hard-hit communities, it's not the end of the story. Many areas are still facing significant flood risk, and in some communities waters are yet to peak.' People are seen in a flooded street in Windsor, 45km northwest of Sydney People inspect what's left of the Windsor Bridge after the Hawkesbury River flooded A house is surrounded by flood waters in Londonderry in western Sydney In northern NSW, residents in low-lying areas of Southgate along the Clarence River were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday night. 'Once floodwater passes 5.4m on the Grafton gauge roads in and around Southgate will begin to close and properties may become inundated,' an SES alert stated. Moree residents on the NSW northern tablelands were issued with a similar warning with the Mehi River predicted to peak at 10.4m on Wednesday night. A flooded farm land near Lismore in northern NSW A farmer paddles his kayak through a field near Kempsey on the NSW Mid North Coast on Tuesday Sydney's north-west isn't out of the woods just yet with major flood warning still in place. Pictured is Windsor inundated with water on Tuesday The Australian national flag pokes out of the swollen Hawkesbury River as NSW experiences severe flooding An inland weather system coming across from the Northern Territory is impacting the towns of Grafton and Lismore in the NSW northern rivers region. Evacuation warnings remain at Kempsey on the NSW Mid North Coast, while the Hunter, the Central Tablelands and the south coast are in for a drenching. A major flood warning also remains place for the Orara River at Glenreagh and Coutts Crossing in northern NSW. The flooding crisis in Sydney isn't over either with warnings of moderate flooding along the Nepean River at Penrith. A major flood warning was issued for the Upper Nepean-Hawkesbury River at North Richmond was issued on Tuesday night. Rain began to ease in coastal areas on Tuesday evening, but the Bureau of Meteorology says conditions will remain severe for inland NSW. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said locals affected by the catastrophic weather event were at 'breaking point'. Pictured: McGraths Hill, north west of Sydney Residents place their furniture on stools in the hope it will protect to from flooding in Londonderry, western Sydney A man on a kayak makes the most of a bad situation by knocking back a beer as he paddles through floodwaters in Windsor A man is standing on a paddle board in Richmond Sydney. Evacuation warnings are in place for parts of Western Sydney as floodwaters continue to rise NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has also warned that floodwaters will continue to rise after the rain has stopped. 'If you have been asked to be on alert for evacuation, please get together your precious belongings, make sure you are safe and make sure you're ready to leave at very short notice,' Ms Berejiklian said. Already, 34 NSW council areas have been declared natural disaster zones due to the massive floods. A Swift Water Rescue team from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services rescued two men from their car in floodwaters at Beaudesert near Brisbane on Tuesday Flash flooding cuts a road at Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast on Tuesday with more road closures expected on Wednesday In Queensland, four homes on the Gold Coast were evacuated due to landslide risk while more than 100 properties were inspected for damage in the southeast. East of Brisbane, Lake Manchester Dam is spilling water and Seqwater has warned those downstream to avoid fast-flowing waterways and flood plains. The Nerang and Coomera rivers on the Gold Coast have burst their banks, and there's a flood warning for Maroochy and Mooloolah rivers on the Sunshine Coast. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services co-ordinator Brian Cox urged residents not to leave their homes. 'It will not take much with the current rainfall they've already experienced, and the saturation levels we've currently got across southeast Queensland, for any minor storm to hit, to raise those flood levels and water levels across roads and as you know that can be quite dangerous,' he said on Tuesday. To the relief of many, the weather in NSW and Queensland is set to clear, and the focus will now turn south. 'This stubborn weather system finally clears NSW and Queensland on Wednesday, leaving them relatively weather free,' BOM meteorologist Jackson Browne said. 'The coastal low moves into eastern Bass Strait on Wednesday, shifting our focus to the south. 'Very heavy rain is forecast for exposed and elevated areas of the eastern Bass Strait and eastern Tasmania.' Up to 100mm is expected to fall with up to 200mm on higher terrain. Alicia Pitt and son Travis are evacuated by a rescue boat after getting trapped by floodwaters on the Hawkesbury River on Tuesday Various civil society organizations on Tuesday evening held a candle light vigil at Jalukie Town square to honour the three persons killed on March 22 along Dimapur-Peren border area. Meanwhile, the three persons were laid to rest on Tuesday morning. DIMAPUR, MAR 23 (NPN): In a statement, deputy chief minister Y Patton expressed shock and condemned the incident in the strongest term. He said inhuman killing of three persons was outrageous and numbing, adding that such killings went against the very tenets of life. Urging all to maintain peace and tranquillity in the area, Patton said the State government has taken cognizance of serious issue and assured that law would take its own course and that befitting punishment would be awarded to the culprits in accordance with the law of the land. He said the police have set up a SIT to probe the incident, headed by a senior police officer. WSH: Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) has highly condemned the killing of three persons by unknown miscreants on March 22, which it said has sparked communal tension. WSH through its media cell asserted that such action has brought great disharmony and mistrust amongst the tribes and demanded that the state government investigate the matter thoroughly. WSH also urged all responsible to desist from making the incident a tribal issue and not to create any animosity amongst the tribes, which it said will only bring more hatred, division and violence amongst us only. Asserting that there had been a long-standing land dispute between Lamhainamdi and some neighbouring villages, WSH said its delegation, in order to apprise the matter and pursue a solution for the conflict, met the chief minister in 2019 as we did not want to let any village or group to take the law into their hands. WSH said it had also brought up the issue with the state government and demanded that a status quo be maintained over the disputed area. However, WSH said failure to maintain the status quo order led to the escalation of violence. As a result, it said there has been unfortunate clashes at regular intervals over this issue. Also, yearning for a peaceful co-existence amongst us, WSH said it had also met the Zeliangrong civil society organisations (CSOs) in Jalukie in 2020 and recently at Thahekhu Dimapur. However, WSH lamented that the recent incidents like cutting of plantations and burning of houses at Khehoi village and the incident at Lamhainamdi has put a dent on all the peace efforts and jeopardized the hard initiatives of the WSH with the Zeliangrong CSOs. WSH has demanded that the cabinet sub-committee appointed for the particular dispute should step up its efforts immediately and be serious so that the long-standing dispute was brought to an amicable solution at the earliest. WSH has also appealed to the public not to flare up further tension by instigating the matter on social media platforms, but to act responsibly and maturely for peaceful existence amongst the tribes. Meanwhile, the WSH has conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved families over the loss of the three lives, which it said was truly a very dark and an unfortunate moment for all us, and prayed that the Almighty grant the bereaved families strength and solace. NMA: Naga Mothers Association (NMA) has expressed deep pain and strongly condemned the brutal killing of three precious lives and destroying of properties at Lamhainamdi. The association in a statement said, As women and mothers, we fervently appeal all citizens to shun violence and killings, besides appealing to all national workers not to indulge in any land disputes. Let there be recognition of rights and peace through peaceful dialogue and not through the barrel of guns. As victims of conflict, we appeal that initiatives for peace be upheld for the sake of people, the unarmed population whose lives and property are endangered through such violent incidents, the statement stressed. NMA also appealed to the State government to ensure that safety, security and respect for precious human lives was upheld and take strong preventives measures to prevent recurrence of violence and killings in the State. Demanding that law enforcing agencies should punish the perpetrators as per law and ensure that rule of law prevailed, the association also urged all citizens to maintain peace and exercise utmost restraint and avoid spreading of rumours, provocative comments to avoid further escalation of tension. It conveyed its deepest condolences to the victims and their families and prayed so that God comforted them in this time of sorrow and difficulties. DNSU: Dimapur Naga Students Union (DNSU) strongly condemned the heartless and merciless killing of three innocent villagers of Lamhainamdi. Asserting that there was no room for such heartless criminals in modern society, the union demanded that no individual involved in the barbaric killing should be left unpunished. Conveying deepest condolences to the bereaved families, DNSU urged the law enforcing agencies to take up the issue with utmost importance and act swiftly to book the culprits without delay. The union further appealed to the public to abstain from instigating communal hatred and let law take its own course. TSUD: Tenyimi Students Union Dimapur (TSUD) has strongly condemned the brutal murder of three innocent villagers of Lamhainamdi. Alleging that not only were their limbs cut off but even their bodies burnt after killing them, TSUD president Rukewezo Wetsah and finance secretary Asin Rengma said use of automatic weapons clearly showed that it was the handiwork of some anti-social elements hell-bent on creating tension and disturbing peaceful coexistence amongst members of the Naga family. Declaring that there was no place for such barbaric actions in a civilised society, TSUD appealed to the law enforcing agencies and the government to leave no stone unturned in arresting the perpetrators and award befitting punishment. It also appealed to leaders of Naga communities to solve any issue with wisdom amicably and not to encourage any sort of violence. The union extended its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and solidarity to Zeliang brothers. TUD: Tangkhul Union Dimapur (TUD) has expressed deep concern over reports of the killing of three persons and burning down of vehicles and other properties at Lamhainamdi village. Unions president Ayo Vashum in a release admitted that Naga story was replete with violence, but added that we have come a long way in bringing about an end to the violence amongst fellow Naga brethrens. However, he said Mondays unfortunate incident gave flashbacks of the internecine fratricidal killings of the past wherein thousands of Nagas had lost their lives. Pointing out that the incident had the potential to explode into further tit for tat uncontrollable violence like in the past as passions boil over, the TUD president called for restraint and allowing better sense to prevail. He emphasised that violence in any form was unacceptable, stating that TUD condemned the killings unequivocally. Calling upon the law enforcing agencies to ensure that the culprits were booked at the earliest and speedy justice delivered, Vashum said the union shared the grief of the families of victims and extended heartfelt condolences. He prayed for eternal rest of the souls. NIPF: Nagaland Indigenous Peoples Forum (NIPF) said it was deeply disturbed at the news of killing and burning down of properties at Lamhainamdi. Extending its deepest condolence to the bereaved families in a release, the forum prayed for God to comfort the families in this hour of sorrow and pain. NIPF asserted that it did not subscribe to the idea of violence in any form to resolve any dispute and appealed to the people to show utmost restraint and resolve disputes through cordial discussions and denounce violence. LSU: Strongly condemning the cowardly act, Lamhai Students Union (LSU) asserted that such barbaric act had no place in todays civilised society. Unions president Rampaukulung Ilungheing and general secretary Chudi Ndachung in a release also urged every right thinking citizen and organisation to voice out against such crimes. Terming it as a serious breach of trust and goodwill between Lamhainamdi and surrounding Sumi villages, the LSU leaders said the Monday evenings incident left the whole community in total shock and pain. The gruesome murder of three villagers and attack on property while they were out working in the field was unprecedented and the union strongly condemned the cowardly act, they added. Conveying condolences to the bereaved, LSU appealed to the State government to nab the perpetrators at the earliest and deliver justice. ANSU: All Nchangram Students Union (ANSU) said it was anguished by the cruel murder of three innocent lives on March 22 at Lamhainamdi Village, Peren in a broad daylight by unscrupulous anti-social elements. ANSU condemned the notorious act with cowardice mindset by using sophisticated arms ammunition to slay these innocent lives, adding that there was no place for such barbaric and nasty actions in a civilized society. ANSU further urged law enforcing agencies and the government to spare no effort in arresting the perpetrators and award commensurate punishment. ANSU extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed that God grant them strength and solace to withstand the irreparable loss and also for the departed souls to rest in eternal peace. The Registrar-Generals Department has reiterated its decision to delete all dormant companies from its database to clean up the register. This follows two earlier notices issued on 12 May and on 18th December 2020 in the media and on the Departments website respectively, informing companies about the intended cleanup of the Departments register. In a final notice to companies issued and signed by Mrs Jemima Oware, the Registrar-General, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, the Department said companies had up to June 30, 2021, to comply with the directive. It explained that the Departments database was over-bloated with names of 740,628 dormant companies registered between 1963 and 2011 (Legacy database), with only 70,346 of them being updated into the Department's database. It noted that the remaining companies had neither ever filed their Annual Returns nor re-registered with the Department. More so, only 266,765 Companies have filed their Annual Returns out of the total 524,006 registered Companies in the new Company database (eRegistrar) since 2012 to 2020 which renders the rest of the Companies not in good standing with the Department. Provisions under Section 289 of the Companies Act 2019, (Act 992) says a Company can be stricken off the Register due to the failure of the Company to file its Annual Returns on time or due to a change in the Companys Registered Office and Principal Place of Business without notifying the Registrar of Companies timeously. The Companies Act further mandates the Registrar of Companies to notify the General Public with three notices after, which a grace period of three months would be given to make all the mandatory filings after the final notice. After the expiration of the three months from the date of the notice, the names of the Companies/Partnerships that have still failed to comply with the moratoriums granted would be stricken off the register and the Company would be deemed dissolved, the statement added. It said companies must, therefore, take the necessary steps to act on the final notice, as the Department would deem those who failed to update their records as not carrying on business or not in operation and unless the cause was shown to the contrary. The statement urged all clients to visit the Departments website www.rgd.gov.gh, click on News, and Scroll down to view the list of Companies the Registrar intended to strike off the Register. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Foxhound releases a new free digital ad tool. The global pandemic is greatly accelerating the rate of digital transformation in marketing. The SEO Budget Calculator, available for free on the Foxhound website and coming soon to the App Store and Play Store, provides companies with an estimate of their digital ad spend. Foxhound LLC, a leading digital marketing and PR firm in Tampa Bay, has announced the release of a free-to-use digital advertising tool. Its release comes amid a global pandemic, one that has prompted more companies to pour more resources into digital marketing, search advertising, and social media, greatly accelerating the rate of digital transformation in marketing. Established companies, even large organizations, need assistance with moving more of their marketing efforts to the digital space, Sam Knox, co-founder and CEO of Foxhound explained. By offering free tools like the SEO Budget Calculator and other free resources, we endeavor to make the digital marketing and digital advertising space less daunting to organizations and individuals alike. According to Statista, digital advertising spend is set to top $171 billion in the United States alone. Unfortunately, many companies have found that their digital marketing efforts have less-than-ideal results. While advertising spend is decidedly on the rise, return-on-ad-spend (ROAS) remains shockingly low. There has been a marked increase in content marketing and organic marketing efforts like SEO, partly due to how expensive Google Adwords and other search advertising campaigns can be. According to Foxhound, the SEO Budget Calculator can be the first step to increasing your marketing ROI. We were inspired to create an elegant solution to some of the fundamental pain-points of search engine marketing, Jacqueline Carter, founder of Foxhound said. To be truly effective, every organization needs to invest in both paid and organic keywords. Forecasting the cost is the first step to integrating organic and paid strategies. The SEO Budget Calculator, available for free on the Foxhound website and coming soon to the App Store and Play Store, provides companies with an estimate of their digital ad spend. Users can input their companys industry, the keywords they are interested in, and the number of days they plan to run their ad, in addition to how aggressively they plan to advertise. Planning is key to success in search engine marketing, Sam Knox added. So often, just a little bit of planning can save an organization thousands of dollars in unnecessary ad spend. Google Adwords, the most popular digital advertising providers, provides companies of all sizes to compete for space on the first page of search results. Many customers fail to recognize that they must bid in order to win out against competitors. Whether or not a bid wins is based on numerous factors, from quality score to past performance. Advertisers pay per click on keywords. The most expensive keywords go for as much as $50 per click. Without an optimization strategy, advertisers can spend thousands of dollars without netting a single conversion. Worse still, businesses often neglect to track easily measurable digital marketing data. While there are aggregators of data that can automate this process for some metrics through Keyword Planners and customer relationship management software, its of the utmost importance to collate, track, and create meaningful data manually as well. We hope to empower small businesses, Sam Knox said. At a time when things are at their most uncertain, we need to work together to find strategic pathways to growth. Without a clear strategy in mind, companies are vulnerable to exceeding their budget in a short amount of time, leading to a significant decrease in campaign effectiveness, which proves deleterious for long-term marketing goals. The SEO Budget Calculator is available for free and will remain so indefinitely according to Foxhound. Several improvements and updates are in the works and will be made available at zero cost to the consumer. The SEO Budget Calculator will always be free, Jacqueline Carter said. We want to transform how companies of all sizes approach digital advertising. No matter your budget, you deserve a chance to succeed. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. CANBERRA, March 24, 2021 -- Quantum Brilliance, a venture-backed Australian quantum computing startup from The Australian National University, will install the world's first diamond quantum accelerator at the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre. Quantum Brilliance harnesses synthetic diamonds to build quantum accelerators that do not require near absolute zero temperature or complex laser systems to operate like mainframe quantum computers. Quantum Brilliance is one of only a few companies worldwide able to deliver market-ready quantum computing systems for customers to operate on-site. With the installation, Pawsey will become one of the first supercomputing centres globally to host a universal quantum computer onsite. Pawsey and Quantum Brilliance will join forces with other Australian industry leaders and researchers as part of Pawsey's Quantum Pioneer Program to develop cutting-edge quantum applications in machine learning, logistics, defence, aerospace, quantum finance and quantum research. "I am delighted to see active industry and researcher engagement with quantum computing," said Pawsey's Executive Director Mark Stickells. "We are excited to explore the potential of this technology for Australian researchers to further accelerate their scientific workflows using the potential of quantum computing within the advanced infrastructure of a national research supercomputing centre." The world's first commercial room temperature diamond quantum accelerator at Pawsey was designed on campus at The Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. This journey was made possible through the support of both ANU and the Australian Government's Accelerating Commercialisation grant, which has spurred the growth of Australia's sovereign advanced manufacturing capabilities in quantum computing. ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said Quantum Brilliance represents the future of quantum computing. "As Australia's national university, ANU is committed to creating the technologies and industries of tomorrow, today. This work is vital to ensuring the future prosperity of our nation and the world," Professor Schmidt said. "Quantum Brilliance and its work to develop an affordable room temperature, lunchbox-sized quantum computer that will become part of everyday life is the perfect example of this. "The university's goal to create a billion-dollar company in the next five years will happen by supporting research commercialisation for spin-outs like Quantum Brilliance," Schmidt said. "Quantum Brilliance is a company in its early days. But while it is early days, backing it now could lead to huge payoffs for all of us." In contrast to quantum computers being developed by technology giants such as Google and IBM, Quantum Brilliance's vision is to develop quantum computing into an everyday technology, which can be mass deployed in data centres, hospitals, mines, space and even in laptops. Despite the COVID recession, Quantum Brilliance has grown rapidly, with over 20 staff and international partners in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. "It has been a privilege working towards this goal with the fantastic team at Pawsey. We are only starting to see how quantum accelerators can transform industries in Australia and around the world." said Quantum Brilliance CEO Andrew Horsley, Ph.D. "Because of our unique diamond-based technology, customers can run our quantum computers themselves, and we provide them a full set of tools to explore how quantum can help create new capabilities. We are one of a very small handful of companies with the capability to deliver quantum computing hardware directly to customers." Quantum Brilliance and Pawsey technicians are finalizing the quantum accelerator's configuration with installation at the centre scheduled for June. The ongoing growth of Australia's growing diversity in the quantum computing landscape brings Australia one step closer towards the nucleation of a National Quantum Computing Facility, one of the recommendations within CSIRO's 2020 Quantum Technology Roadmap. ### About Pawsey Supercomputing Centre The Pawsey Supercomputing Centre is a world-class high-performance computing facility accelerating scientific discoveries for Australia's researchers. Named for Australian scientist Joseph Pawsey, known as one of the pioneers of Australian radio astronomy for his work in the field of interferometry, the Centre enables science and accelerates discovery, by contributing to the delivery of globally important research. Pawsey is currently serving over 40 organisations and achieving unprecedented results, in domains such as radio astronomy, energy and resources, engineering, bioinformatics and health sciences. The Pawsey Centre is an unincorporated joint venture of CSIRO - Australia's national science agency, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University and The University of Western Australia. Pawsey is funded by the Australian Government under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), the Western Australian Government and its partner organisations. About Quantum Brilliance Founded in 2019, Quantum Brilliance is a venture-backed Australian-German quantum computing hardware company, providing diamond quantum accelerators supported by a full stack of software and application tools. Quantum Brilliance's vision to enable mass deployment of quantum accelerators will propel industries to harness edge computing applications and next generation supercomputers. Quantum Brilliance's international partnerships extend into North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific, working with governments, supercomputing centres, research organisations and industry leaders. About the Quantum Supercomputing Innovation Hub Established in 2020, the Quantum Supercomputing Innovation Hub is an Australia-first commercial partnership between a supercomputing centre (Pawsey Supercomputing Centre) and a quantum computing company (Quantum Brilliance). This collaboration is one of the positive examples which was inspired from recommendations within CSIRO's 2020 Quantum Technology Roadmap. The Roadmap conservatively estimates Australia's quantum industry to be worth over AU$4.3 billion and create 16,000 new jobs within the next two decades. The Innovation Hub is a beacon for how Australia's sovereign quantum industry can grow, by simultaneously supporting the creation of a quantum applications industry and accelerate the growth of Australia's sovereign quantum hardware manufacturing capability. About the Australian National University The Australian National University (ANU) is a national research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton encompasses seven teaching and research colleges, in addition to several national academies and institutes. It is ranked as the number one university in Australia and number one in the southern hemisphere by the 2021 QS World University Rankings. ANU counts six Nobel laureates and 49 Rhodes scholars among its faculty and alumni. The university has educated two prime ministers, 30 current Australian ambassadors and more than a dozen current heads of government departments of Australia. The 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, calls out the Biden administration's handling of media, particularly the access it gives to reporters with regards to the Texas border. Former President Donald Trump in a podcast interview with Fox News Network Contributor Lisa Boothe on Monday said that America no long has a "free press" following President Joe Biden's media blackout on the influx of illegal migrants on the Texas border. The Epoch Times reported that Trump decried the United States' media landscape as devoid of a "free press" citing the lack of proper coverage on the current border crisis and preferential coverage for the Democrats. "This is a press that we have to be very, very smart to get around, but they don't cover bad things if it happens to be bad for Democrats. It's pretty amazing. You take a look at some of the coverage and some of the travesty that's taking place at the border, and the coverage is not commensurate," Trump said in the podcast. "If you look at NBC, ABC, CBS, and of course CNN and MSNBC, and see--if you look at some of those networks-it's just not covered. It's covered so little," he pointed out. "It's amazing. And it's a massive story because it's going to destroy--it's going to destroy our country." The Epoch Times cited the president repeatedly condemning mainstream media for purporting "fake news" against him and his "America First" supporters and repeatedly called CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times as "wings" of the Democrats. Trump actually endorsed the podcast--The Truth With Lisa Boothe--through a Media Advisory sent to Boothe who posted it in her Twitter account on Monday. In the Media Advisory, Trump praised Boothe for "doing an outstanding job at Fox News" and invited everyone to support her new podcast where he agreed to "talk about Election Fraud, Joe Biden's dangerously radical policies" and the "future of the Republican Party." Trump's interview was the podcast's Episode 1 and was entitled "Do You Miss Me Yet? A Tell-All with President Donald J. Trump". In her tweet, Boothe, founder of the public affairs and political communications firm High Noon Strategies, thanked the president's "kind words" and expressed her "honor" for he was his first guest in the podcast that began on March 15 with the intention to go against the "pressure of political correctness" that "too many journalists now bow to." The Epoch Times in a previous report said the White House is giving "zero access" to border patrol operations citing a tweet on Friday by Getty Images correspondent John Moore, which echoes Trump's reference to a "media blackout" about it. "I respectfully ask US Customs and Border Protection to stop blocking media access to their border operations. 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 said. In succeeding tweets, Moore pointed out that the "full physical ban on media access to CBP border operations" is not a good precedent to a situation in need of the media's role to show "the US response to the current immigrant surge". News circulating last week online report that the White House has been encountering issues with the Media on its new press policies such that a Christian reporter revealed the restrictions they have on media access to the White House. This has led to a clamor involving several journalists against the policies that were already raised to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. If youre seeking a nice beachside getaway, look no further than Massachusetts. Two communities in the Bay State were named among the 10 best beach towns on the entire East Coast. The rankings came from the luxury and lifestyle travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler, which took a look at prime seaside locations in the 14 states on the Atlantic seaboard, from Cape Cod to the Florida Keys. Rockport on the North Shore of Massachusetts and Oak Bluffs on Marthas Vineyard both made it onto the magazines list of some of the best beach towns on the East Coast, which was published last week. Other New England beach towns the landed a place on Conde Nast Travelers list are Bar Harbor, Maine and Newport, Rhode Island. Elsewhere in the Northeast, Montauk, New York and Cape May, New Jersey earned a spot in the magazines rankings. Rockport, Massachusetts. (Lisa Poole/AP) Rockport With more than 360 boats resting in its four harbors, Rockport is about as coastal as it can get. Rockports located in the North Shore, a culturally important section of Massachusetts, known for its stellar food, beaches and historic landmarks, Conde Nast Traveler noted. There are many towns worth visiting, but Rockport is a favorite among travelers, the magazine said. Forty miles north of Boston, the town has a cant-miss natural gem in Halibut Point State Park, from which visitors can spot Maine in the distance 80 miles away. The seaside community is also appreciated by art-history buffs, home to lobstermen and artists alike, Conde Nast Traveler pointed out. One of the towns most famous landmarks is Motif No. 1, considered the most painted building in the world and the most celebrated fishing shack. The building sits on Bearskin Neck, a stretch of old fishing shacks that has been converted into a tourist attraction. The communitys rocky beaches and seaside parks only add to the towns beauty, particularly during the summer months. People walk past cottage homes decorated with lanterns during the "Grand Illumination Night," an annual tradition since 1868 when multitudes of paper lanterns are lit for one night in a historic neighborhood known as the "Camp Ground," Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, in Oak Bluffs, Mass., on the island of Martha's Vineyard. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Oak Bluffs Located on the northeast shore of Marthas Vineyard, Oak Bluffs was originally incorporated in 1880 as Cottage City. The name wasnt inaccurate. Likely the island towns biggest draws is its more than 300 whimsical, fairy-like cottages that were built by Methodists in the late 1800s as a place for religious meetings. As time progressed, residents would try to outdo one another with the decorations of their homes. Called the Gingerbread Cottages, the stretch of quirky, colorful homes can be found tucked away on Clinton Avenue. In 1907, the towns name was changed due to the growth of the islands year-round population and the changing face of the resort, according to Oak Bluffs municipal government. Today, year-round residents, seasonal residents and hundreds of thousands of short-term visitors live on or come to the island, attracted by the unique natural, ecological, historical, cultural and scientific values that define the beauty and character of Marthas Vineyard, the governments website says. Ferries deliver visitors to the town every day. According to Conde Nast Traveler, travelers can walk off their boats into Ocean Park, a circular green overlooking the sea, encircled by said houses, with a frothy, delicate gazebo sitting in the center. Related Content: The European Union, the United States, Britain and Canada on Monday imposed fresh sanctions on Chinese officials over the crackdown on Uighurs and other Muslim minorities, and Beijing responded by hitting Europeans with immediate tit-for-tat measures. Brussels, London and Ottawa blacklisted former and current officials in the Xinjiang region Zhu Hailun, Wang Junzheng, Wang Mingshan and Chen Mingguo over alleged abuses, which have sparked international outrage. The coordinated strike also targeted the state-run Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Washington, which had sanctioned two of those officials in July 2020, added the other two to the list on Monday. Acting together sends the clearest possible signal that the international community is united in its condemnation of Chinas human rights violations in Xinjiang and the need for Beijing to end its discriminatory and oppressive practices in the region, Britains foreign ministry said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and called on Beijing to bring an end to the repression of Uighurs. Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau said the sanctions underscore grave concerns with the ongoing human rights violations in Xinjiang. The symbolic move is the first time Brussels and London in other matters increasingly at odds with each other since Brexit have targeted China over accusations of widespread abuses and forced labour in Xinjiang. They last hit Beijing over human rights breaches when they imposed an arms embargo in 1989 after the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Beijing blasted the EU measures and immediately hit back by announcing entry bans on 10 Europeans including five members of the European Parliament as well as two EU bodies and two think-tanks. Chinas foreign ministry said the EUs move grossly interferes in Chinas internal affairs and severely undermines China-EU relations. Brazen and ridiculous The retaliatory strike drew condemnation from across the political spectrum in the EU. Rather than change its policies and address our legitimate concerns, China has again turned a blind eye and these measures are regrettable and unacceptable, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after a meeting of foreign ministers. Reinhard Butikofer, a German legislator targeted by the sanctions, told AFP that Chinas response was brazen and ridiculous. As the Chinese proverb says: the stone they have lifted will fall on their own feet, he said. The Dutch government summoned the Chinese ambassador after one of its national lawmakers was among those sanctioned. Chinas decision is a totally unjustified response, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said. In France, the foreign ministry slammed the sanctions and, in a sign of rising tensions, summoned the Chinese ambassador to Paris over unacceptable comments he made in recent days. Rights groups believe at least one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in the northwestern region, where China is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour. China has strongly denied allegations of forced labour involving Uighurs and says training programmes, work schemes and better education have helped stamp out extremism in the region. The EU faces a delicate balancing act over relations with China, as it treats Beijing as a rival but also a potential economic partner. Brussels late last year sealed a major investment pact with China after seven years of negotiations, but is under pressure from the administration of new US President Joe Biden. Biden has been looking to marshal a united front against Beijing as he drops the unilateral approach of his predecessor Donald Trump. Blinken is currently on his way for a three-day visit to Brussels, during which he will discuss foreign policy with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. Blinken exchanged fiery barbs with Chinese officials during their first high-level talks last week, amid rising tensions between the rival world powers. The European investment pact would eventually need to be approved by the European parliament but there has been growing opposition to signing off on the deal. Parliament chief David Sassoli insisted the Chinese move will have consequences. Mondays measures from the EU were part of a package of human rights sanctions that also included figures in Russia, North Korea, Eritrea, South Sudan and Libya. A mechanism designed to make it easier for the bloc to target rights abusers worldwide was launched this month with sanctions on four Russian officials over the jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. The listings published in the EUs official journal included two senior officials in Russias Chechnya over the persecution of gay men in the region. They also targeted two North Korean ministers, two Libyan militia leaders, a senior commander in South Sudans army and Eritreas national security agency. There have been calls for the cafe culture to be expanded in Dundalk with funding to help coffee shops and restaurants develop outdoor dining. While it is hoped Covid-19 restrictions will be further eased with the rollout of vaccinations, National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) member Philip Nolan has said its clear were looking at an outdoor summer in 2021. The Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District Emma Coffey called for Louth County Council to demand to be included as one of the local authorities to avail of the Failte Ireland outdoor dining Scheme. She highlighted that only eight areas were to be included in the outdoor dining scheme - Dublin, Killarney, Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Cork, Athlone and Kilkenny while 18 counties, including Louth, were being excluded. However, Cllr Coffey said she understood from information she had received last Monday morning before the Louth County Council meeting where she was putting forward the motion - that the funding is now open to all counties. She urged Louth County Council to think outside the box to help the hospitality industry develop outdoor areas for dining in Dundalk and the rest of the county. The outdoor dining scheme was only including a small number of counties, basically city counties, the Fianna Fail councillor said. Louth County Council has taken the initiative a number of months ago in relation to outdoor dining and supports. I have a serious issue that Failte Ireland is neglecting counties that are outside the main city areas. I understand from information I have received that this funding is now open to all 26 counties which is positive. I know Louth county Council made a request to Irelands Ancient East and Failte Ireland to be included in the scheme, which I thank them for. I am conscious of the strains of space and space will become a premium, but I think it is more important than ever that we think outside the box in relation to assisting our service industry. There have been a lot of negatives throughout the pandemic, but the positives are people are spending a lot more time at outdoor areas and perhaps the cafe culture can be expanded, particularly in the evening time. I see it in Dundalk myself walking around town in the evening; there are a lot of people and families out and about and I would call on the council to support that aspect of living now and maybe take some positives out of this pandemic. BEIJING, Mar.23 -- Lieutenant General Ricardo Costa Neves, Force Commander of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), came to the Chinese peacekeeping troops' barrack located in Bukavu of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to inspect the 24th Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent on March 20, local time. The commander met with the representatives of the Chinese peacekeepers and took a group photo. He then came to the dormitory and club to learn about their daily life, where he enjoyed some Chinese traditional programs performed by the peacekeepers. Such cultural displays with Chinese characteristics won warm applause on the spot. During the inspection, Commander Ricardo Costa Neves and his entourage also boarded a rigid-hull inflatable boat to inspect the defense facilities of the barrack and the surrounding security condition along the shore of Lake Kivu. He put forward suggestions on defense work of the Chinese contingent based on recent surrounding security situations and encouraged them to make more remarkable achievements in the future. It is learnt that the 24th Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent had completed more than 30 engineering tasks such as bridge repairs, road construction and emergency rescue since the deployment. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. VLADIMIR, Russia -- Ivan Tumanov was born three days before Vladimir Putin first became Russia's president at the turn of the millennium. Now the 21-year-old who lives with his mother is the newest coordinator of an opposition movement that Putin, still president, is accused of using brutal tactics to dismantle. Since Putin's biggest critic, Aleksei Navalny, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison on February 2, his acolytes throughout Russia have been systematically targeted with raids, criminal charges, and police beatings amid a sweeping crackdown ahead of parliamentary elections expected in September. But far from capitulating, his team this month announced the launch of 10 new regional offices to add to its Russia-wide network of branches that investigate local corruption, organize protests, and contest elections. Tumanov, a straight-talking, bearded third-year law student, got the nod in his native Vladimir, a placid provincial city 180 kilometers northeast of Moscow. "We're once again gathering force," the newly minted Navalny coordinator said in an interview near a former nail salon he is turning into a campaign office. "And the danger we face by opening an opposition hub is nothing compared to the danger that our country faces if we don't engage in politics." The regions chosen to host the new branches are seen by Navalny's team as offering fertile ground for the opposition to make inroads in advance of the crucial elections to the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament and a major staging point for turning Kremlin initiatives into law. Vladimir, a historic city of 350,000 named after a medieval prince, saw its largest protest in years on January 23, when some 2,000 people came out to denounce state corruption and Navalny's jailing after he returned from Germany following treatment for a nerve-agent poisoning he blames on Putin. Nationwide, more than 100,000 people joined protests that day and on January 31, prompting a violent crackdown that saw some 10,000 arrested. Vladimir is less than two hours by train from Moscow but average monthly salaries, at 35,000 rubles ($460), pale in comparison. Residents complain about crumbling infrastructure and potholed roads, but living standards are the biggest gripe. Disposable incomes plunged in the second quarter of 2020 by the largest margin since Russia's 1998 default, and years of falling wages and rising consumer prices are fueling the protest mood even as the Kremlin works to limit dissent. "People just don't have money," says Vladimir Usachyov, a 45-year-old Vladimir entrepreneur who closed his once-thriving furniture business after almost two decades due to lack of demand. Usachyov blames the government, saying it has squeezed citizens dry and made it impossible for most small businesses to survive. "Because of Putin's policies, life has become much tougher," he said. He didn't warn his wife when he left home to join the protest on January 23, and he returned home more than two days later after a stint in a police cell with other protesters and a fine of 14,000 rubles ($187) for attending an illegal gathering. The unemployed father of three sons now hopes to join Tumanov's team as a volunteer, but said, "I don't see a future for my children while this government is in place." 'Job Of Your Dreams' Against this backdrop, the mandate of Navalny coordinators across Russia is to reach new constituencies while highlighting the results of the corruption they expose. In January, Navalny's video report about a sumptuous Black Sea estate allegedly built for Putin went viral online and helped spark the protest wave - Tumanov and his colleagues hope their future investigations have the same kind of impact. "We can't lock a Putin supporter up in an asylum, slap an electric helmet on him, and tell him what freedom is," Tumanov said. "No, we must show people: 'This is how well you could live, and this is why you don't. Because members of our government have palaces.'" Tumanov is part of a generation that embraced activism during a nationwide protest wave in March 2017 prompted by the release of another Navalny probe targeting then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's wealth. Navalny had launched a bid to challenge Putin in the 2018 presidential election, and he arrived in Vladimir that month to open a campaign office. Tumanov signed on as a volunteer tasked with managing its social-media presence. When the government barred Navalny from running, the Vladimir campaign office and another several dozen across Russia closed, though some 40 remained to coordinate local activism during Putin's fourth presidential term. But this month, Leonid Volkov, who is responsible for Navalny's regional network, announced an expansion and a series of vacancies for regional managers. "A friendly youthful team, the chance to improve Russia, parcels to your jail cell as part of the benefits package -- simply put, we have the job of your dreams," Volkov wrote in an acerbic post on his website on March 9. Tumanov sent his resume and aced a set of interviews that focused heavily on his past experience in opposition politics. He was asked about his biography and his convictions, and questioned on ways the authorities might apply pressure on him and his family. His first tasks on the job were to build a team and secure office space with natural light and street access for residents seeking help or involvement in the movement. The former nail salon on the city's main drag fit the bill perfectly. 'Enormous Pressure' But in a particularly fraught time for the opposition, many landlords are loath to take the risk. A bid to open a Navalny office in Makhachkala, the capital of the Daghestan region in Russia's North Caucasus, ended when Navalny coordinator Ruslan Ablyakimov failed to find a willing landlord and ultimately fled Daghestan in February after multiple threats and an attack by unknown assailants outside the city. Navalny is serving out his sentence at a prison just 80 kilometers from Vladimir, in the town of Pokrov, and many of Tumanov's counterparts across Russia are serving jail time or facing criminal prosecution. In Nizhny Novgorod, a city on the same eastward railway route out of Moscow as Vladimir, Roman Tregubov appeared in a video renouncing Navalny and urging his supporters to boycott the protests, only to later reveal the clip was recorded under duress in police custody. He has since been charged with creating a risk to public health by advocating street rallies. "The pressure on us is enormous," he told RFE/RL in a phone interview. In Kurgan, near the border with Kazakhstan, 24-year-old Aleksei Shvarts spent two months in jail and faces potential prison time for publishing a leaked conversation in which two officials appear to be plotting voter fraud. Anton Talykov, Shvarts's deputy, told RFE/RL the persecution signaled a far darker stage in the authorities' campaign against activists in Kurgan. Neither of the officials in the leaked call has been charged. Tumanov was also briefly swept up in the dragnet. The evening before the January 23 rally, a group of plainclothes police officers arrested him outside his home, and he spent 48 hours in custody before a judge sentenced him to five days in jail for organizing the protests. Tumanov, who has a year of school left and regularly finds himself assuring his worried mother, predicts a dark future for Russia if its citizens shy from challenging the state on the streets and at the ballot box, and if opposition activists like himself are prevented from playing a part. He acknowledges the risks that come with his position, but believes that in Navalny's absence, the movement he built will only gather strength. And having spent his whole life under Putin's rule, he wants a key role in that process. "Is it dangerous? Yes, it's dangerous," he says of his work. "But if today we don't sacrifice some of our welfare or sit out our five days in jail, then later on, our whole country will pay a far higher price." Newsfrom Japan Doraemon, the blue cat-robot from the future in a popular Japanese comic series, has turned green to deliver the message of the need for a sustainable society. Green Doraemon has been tapped as casual clothing brand Uniqlo's special envoy for that goal, its operator Fast Retailing Co. said Monday. "I'm Doraemon and now I am Green! I'll do my best as Uniqlo Global Sustainability Ambassador to help create a much brighter future!" the Japanese apparel maker quoted the robot as saying. "Doraemon Sustainability Mode" will be featured in Uniqlo stores and on the brand's websites together with his me... (Natural News) After developing coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines for adults, Big Pharma companies are now aiming for a younger demographic. Vaccine manufacturers have commenced trials for Wuhan coronavirus jabs on children. However, the need to immunize children against the disease raised serious questions as juveniles have a very high COVID-19 survival rate. Furthermore, children have very low chances of being hospitalized and dying from it. Four vaccine makers have started conducting clinical trials of their respective COVID-19 jabs to scrutinize the effects of the shots on younger patients. In January, Moderna announced that it began vaccine trials for young volunteers enrolling 3,000 volunteers between 12 and 17 years old. The Boston-based firm will use the same vaccine doses for adults for the new clinical trials. Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School will be in charge of the vaccine trials. Meanwhile, Pfizer also expanded its clinical trials to include children aged 12 to 15 years old. CNBC reported in the same month that the firms vaccine trials for younger volunteers were already fully enrolled. Its vaccine, developed with German company BioNTech, received emergency approval for use with people 16 years old and above. In February, British drug manufacturer AstraZeneca began testing its vaccine on children. The University of Oxford, AstraZenecas partner, said its clinical trials that month will look at the immune response on volunteers aged six to 17 years old triggered by the vaccine. Pediatric infection and immunity professor Andrew Pollard said: While most children are relatively unaffected by the [Wuhan] coronavirus, it is important to establish the safety and immune response to the vaccine in children and young people. Johnson & Johnson also announced on Feb. 28 that it intends to test its one-dose Wuhan coronavirus jab on infants, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems. The Baltimore Sun reported that a spokesperson for Janssen Biotech the J&J subsidiary in charge of the jab confirmed the trials. Dr. Ofer Levy, a member of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee that examined J&Js vaccine data, remarked: [J&J] did not get into a lot of detail about it, but [the company] did make it clear [it] will be pursuing pediatric and maternal coronavirus immunization studies. Levy personally believes that children need not get the jab as a requirement for schools to reopen. The necessity of a Wuhan coronavirus vaccine for kids comes into question due to their very high survival rate There are huge questions regarding the need to vaccinate children for COVID-19. Earlier studies have shown that the survival rate for birth-age to 19-year-old individuals is 99.997 percent. A 2021 paper noted that hospitalizations and hospital deaths for children diagnosed with COVID-19 are rare with only 0.19 percent dying from the disease. Furthermore, the vaccines are primarily designed to address the symptoms experienced when someone contracts the Wuhan coronavirus. It does not prevent them from transmitting the pathogen responsible for COVID-19. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) remarked that there is no guarantee that the COVID-19 jabs will prevent people from being infected with SARS-CoV-2 pathogen and transmitting it to others. (Related: Coronavirus transmission rates: Every ONE patient infects TWO to THREE other people.) During a Dec. 28 virtual press conference, WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan said the global health body currently has no evidence that any of the vaccines could prevent people from actually getting the infection and being able to pass [the virus] on. She added: We need to assume that people who have been vaccinated also need to take the same precautions [as those who havent.] WHO Health Emergencies Program Executive Director Dr. Mike Ryan seconded Swaminathans remarks. He commented: The existence of a vaccine, even at high efficacy, is no guarantee of eliminating or eradicating an infectious disease. National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci echoed the WHOs opinion on vaccines during a Jan. 1 Newsweek interview. He said health officials do not know if COVID-19 vaccines prevent infection, or if people who got inoculated can still spread the Wuhan coronavirus to others. We do not know if the vaccines that prevent clinical disease also prevent infection. They very well might, but we have not proven that yet, the countrys top infectious disease doctor told the magazine. (Related: WHO backtracks on coronavirus vaccines, admits they wont work.) In December 2020, the FDA authorized the Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162b2 and Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccines for emergency use in the U.S. However, the companies only presented clinical trial data showing that their jabs prevented mild to severe COVID-19 symptoms in vaccinated volunteers. They did not examine if their vaccines prevented people from contracting asymptomatic coronavirus infection and transmitting the pathogen to others. Visit Vaccines.news to read more about vaccines for addressing the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. Sources include: WakingTimes.com UMassMed.edu CNBC.com Ox.ac.uk BaltimoreSun.com WHO.int Newsweek.com China's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned the head of the European Union's (EU) delegation to in protest after the bloc imposed sanctions on Chinese officials over human rights abuses against the Uighurs in Xinjiang. In a statement, the Ministry said that Nicolas Chapuis was summoned during talks on Monday after Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang said the punitive measures were based on "lies and false information", reports dpa news agency. The sanctions are contrary to reality and reason, and the EU is not qualified to act as a human rights teacher, Qin Gang was cited as saying. China is urging the EU to recognise the seriousness of its mistake, correct it and end the confrontation "in order to not harm Chinese-European relations any further", the statement added. The EU sanctioned four Chinese officials and one entity in Xinjiang on Monday, targeting them with assets freezes and travel bans. They are the first such sanctions against China since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. The US, the UK and Canada followed with their own sanctions. Within hours, responded with a tit-for-tat move, imposing sanctions on 10 European lawmakers and four European institutions. In the last few years, hundreds of Uighurs, Kazakhs and Huis have testified that they were held in internment camps in Xinjiang province as part of what observers say is a government campaign to forcibly assimilate ethnic minorities. The Chinese government says the camps, estimated to have held more than 1 million people since 2017, are "vocational education centres" to eradicate extremism and terrorism. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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The "ABCs of Racial Literacy" is part of Coming Together, Sesame Workshop's ongoing commitment to racial justice. Designed to provide families with the tools they need to build racial literacy, to have open conversations with young children, to engage allies and advocates to become upstanders against racism, and more, Coming Together includes a racial justice educational framework, ongoing research, and a rolling release of new content on SesameWorkshop.org/ComingTogether. Courtesy of Sesame Workshop Coming Together is rooted in extensive research and consultation with experts to develop a groundbreaking Racial Justice educational framework and curriculum for young children. Like the science-based whole-child model that Sesame Street is known for, this framework will help guide and inform the creation of new Sesame Workshop content going forwardincluding future seasons of Sesame Street. Today's announcement, which is part of the Sesame Street in Communities initiative, builds on recent efforts focused on tackling racism and its impact on children, including The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special, the CNN Town Hall Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism, and related short-form content. "At Sesame Workshop, we look at every issue through the lens of a child. Children are not colorblindnot only do they first notice differences in race in infancy, but they also start forming their own sense of identity at a very young age," said Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, Senior Vice President, Sesame Workshop. "'The ABCs of Racial Literacy' is designed to foster open, age-appropriate conversations among families and support them in building racial literacy. By encouraging these much-needed conversations through Coming Together, we can help children build a positive sense of identity and value the identities of others." The new 'ABCs of Racial Literacy' resources launching today are designed to help all families celebrate their own unique identities, while also providing age-appropriate language and strategies to answer sometimes-tough questions around race and racism. In one video featuring two new Muppets, 5-year-old Wes and his father Elijah, Elmo wants to know why Wes's skin is brown. Elijah explains the concept of melanin and that the color of our skin is an important part of who we are. In a new music video, the Sesame Street Muppets celebrate their own unique identities; the song, "Giant," is available on all major platforms through Warner Music Group's Arts Music. In another video coming soon, Rosita's mom and her friend Sofia help Rosita cope with a racist incident in the grocery store, while also celebrating speaking Spanish. Additional resources include videos featuring real families talking about their experiences , activities for families to do together, and talking points and conversation starters for families. The new Coming Together: The ABCs of Racial Literacy resources launching today are available at no cost to families at SesameWorkshop.org/ComingTogether. The resources, which are available in English and Spanish, will also be distributed through a wide range of national and community providers as part of Sesame Street in Communities, Sesame Workshop's program to support children and families, particularly those most vulnerable. Additional professional development materials for providers like social workers, educators, and healthcare providers will also be available. "Sesame Workshop has always stood for diversity, inclusion, equity, and kindness. As a trusted source for families, we have a responsibility to speak out for racial justice and empower families to have conversations about race and identity with their children at a young age," said Kay Wilson Stallings, Executive Vice President of Creative and Production, Sesame Workshop. "The work to dismantle racism begins by helping children understand what racism is and how it hurts and impacts people. Sadly, today's announcement comes at a time of racial and social discord when many families are in need of support in talking to their children about racism. We're proud to reaffirm our Coming Together commitment to racial justice, which will be woven into new Sesame Workshop content for years to come." According to a recent Children and Racism study commissioned by Sesame Workshop to capture and elevate the voices of children ages 6-11 and their parents, racism was top of mind for nearly half the children surveyed with racism more prevalent in responses of Black children. The majority of parents were comfortable with children learning about race and racism through media, books, or school, yet only 23% of parents report that specific resources helped them prepare for discussions with their children. The new ABCs of Racial Literacy resources seek to fill a gap for parents and caregivers as they embark on conversations with their children about race and racism. A full report of the study findings will be released this spring. More to read, listen, and play is coming soon from across the Workshop to continue the conversation as part of Coming Together. In the coming year, Sesame Workshop will release additional Sesame Street in Communities resources made possible by the generous support of donors including PNC Foundation, USAA, and the Joan Ganz Cooney Fund for Vulnerable Children. SesameWorkshop.org/ComingTogether will be regularly updated with new content for children and families promoting racial justice. About Sesame Workshop Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit media and educational organization behind Sesame Street, the pioneering television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969. Today, Sesame Workshop is an innovative force for change, with a mission to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. We're active in more than 150 countries, serving vulnerable children through a wide range of media, formal education, and philanthropically funded social impact programs, each grounded in rigorous research and tailored to the needs and cultures of the communities we serve. For more information, please visit sesameworkshop.org. SOURCE Sesame Workshop Related Links https://www.sesameworkshop.org A Little Grand Rapids man charged in the death of a three-year-old disabled boy who had been placed in his care has a long criminal history, including multiple convictions for assault. A Little Grand Rapids man charged in the death of a three-year-old disabled boy who had been placed in his care has a long criminal history, including multiple convictions for assault. RCMP arrested Houston Bushie, 24, as well as his partner, Alayna Flett, 21, on March 10. Both have been charged with failure to provide the child with the necessaries of life. FACEBOOK Houston Bushie and Alayna Flett The charges come more than two years after the boy was taken unresponsive to a nursing station in the remote, fly-in community, located 280 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. The boy was pronounced dead Aug. 23, 2018 and the RCMP major crimes unit launched an investigation. At the time of the child's death, Bushie and Flett were the temporary guardians of the boy and his three older siblings, all of whom were under the age of 10. Bushie would have been roughly 21, while Flett would have been a teenager. Details of the case including the cause and manner of death remain a mystery. The Manitoba government and the Southeast Child and Family Services agency did not respond to requests for comment Monday. The Mounties issued a short press release on the arrests but declined further comment. Flett and Bushie have been released from custody on a promise to appear in court April 21. A review of court records shows Bushie has a long criminal history, with four convictions for assault in the three years leading up to the childs death, as well as a conviction for possessing a weapon contrary to a court order in April 2017. It remains unclear how the deceased toddler and his siblings ended up in the care of the young couple. The other children were removed from the home shortly after the boys death. At the time of the child's death, then-families minister Heather Stefanson said the boy had not been in provincial CFS care. She also asked for patience as the department worked to untangle the "complex case." But Little Grand Rapids leadership disputed Stefansons statement and other provincial officials. Local First Nations leadership said CFS had previously apprehended the children and was involved in the file. To back up those claims, they released a letter on Southeast CFS letterhead dated July 3, 2018, which the agency sent to the communitys welfare office. The letter identified Flett who was the niece of the kids mother as their primary caregiver and authorized their welfare cheques to be released to her. The provincial government later said in a written statement that CFS can sign financial letters like the one outlined above, but it doesnt necessarily mean the agency is involved in the case. In a past interview with the Free Press, Little Grand Rapids Couns. Wendy Leveque and Nelson Keeper both disputed the provincial governments contention that CFS was not involved. "CFS is saying theyre not involved, but they apprehended the kids twice and they put them in (Fletts) care," Leveque said in 2018. The local First Nations leadership also revealed the boy needed constant care due to a congenital handicap that left him unable to walk and prone to seizures. A review of social media posts by the two accused show that in the summer of 2018, on at least one occasion, Flett complained about having a lack of food to feed herself, Bushie and the children. In a court document, the RCMP listed the offence date for failing to provide the necessaries of life as being from June 22, 2018 to Aug. 23, 2018. ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe NEW YORK CITYPleasure product manufacturer New York Toy Collective (NYTC) has just released an improvement on its classic Trans Masc Pump with the official launch of its Trans Masc Pump Deluxe, whose "mission" is to increase genital size and sensitivity for queer, trans masculine and non-binary bodies. Last year, the company released its Trans Masc Pump, which offers users a one-size-fits-all custom translucent cylinder with a comfortable wide-flanged base, but the new Trans Masc Pump Deluxe was designed to accommodate more body types, and includes three cylinders in different sizes to ensure a more secure and satisfying fit. We are so excited to offer more options to include more bodies with the release of the Trans Masc Pump Deluxe, said NYTC co-founder Chelsea Downs. We spent months of development on the original Trans Masc Pump, and while it was a great success, we wanted to take it a step further for the benefit of everyone who wants to experience heightened sensations and pleasure I believe we have succeeded. The Trans Masc Pump Deluxe kit is easy to assemble, with an easy-to-use one-hand pull system for convenient pumping to stimulate blood flow, and a quick-release mechanism for added safety. The kit also comes with optional measuring tape decals to gauge post-pump growth. With nearly a decade of creations for the pleasure products industry, NYTC is renowned for its "quality silicone dildos for a sex positive culture," offering a large selection of dildos, binders, vibes, pumps, inserts, harnesses, play kits and more at the NYTC online store. To learn more about New York Toy Collective, visit NewYorkToyCollective.com and follow on Twitter @nytoycollective and Instagram @newyorktoycollective. "Our new inpatient center includes a full array of amenities to meet the needs of both patients and their loved ones. Heart to Heart Hospice, a leader in hospice services since 2003, has opened a new hospice inpatient center in Fort Worth, Texas, located for easy access to patients and families living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond. The new hospice inpatient facility is designed to create a home-like environment for hospice patients in the event of a medical crisis or when caregivers need a break from their duties. Although most hospice care is provided in the home, a patient may qualify for inpatient care to control acute pain and other symptoms, or to provide a respite for caregivers. Our goal is to provide comfort and dignity, said Kelly Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer of Heart to Heart Hospice, and our new inpatient center includes a full array of amenities to meet the needs of both patients and their loved ones. The inpatient center is staffed by healthcare professionals specially trained in hospice care. The Heart to Heart Hospice interdisciplinary team consists of physicians, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, and bereavement specialists. Together, they provide the specific medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support patients and their families need. The new facility, located at 6940 River Park Circle in Fort Worth, is convenient for patients in Fort Worth and those coming from Arlington, Mansfield, the Mid-Cities, North Tarrant County, Cleburne, and Weatherford, as well as the Dallas Metroplex. Heart to Heart Hospice invites the community to find out more at an Open House on Tuesday, March 30, and Thursday, April 1, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. both days. About Heart to Heart Hospice Heart to Heart Hospice, founded in 2003, is one of the largest private providers of hospice care in the United States. Headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Heart to Heart provides a broad range of hospice services to patients with life-limiting illnesses across 43 locations in Texas, Michigan and Indiana. At Heart to Heart, we understand both the physical and emotional challenges for our patients and their loved ones and our care team is committed to providing them with what they need most: comfort and dignity. Learn more about Heart to Heart Hospice. An islander at heart, she enjoys the laid-back island lifestyle and believes that owning real estate in Hawaii is like owning a piece of heaven on earth. "I love the community. I joined Real for the very supportive agent atmosphere, along with the mission of 'Work Hard, Be Kind,'" said Kealaluhi. Rene Sands, who has prior experience as a state broker managing over 480 agents, is leading the growth for Real on the island of Maui. "As inventory tightens in Hawaii, listings and sales will be much more competitive. This is where Real will be beneficial to agents and their business, as it offers agents the opportunity to diversify by building a network of agents nationwide and additional financial opportunities through revenue share and equity," Sands said. "Starr and Sands bring the local expertise, as well as the collaborative, customer-focused perspective that is driving Real's growth in the United States," said Real co-founder and CEO Tamir Poleg. Contact: Lynda Radosevich 917-922-7020 About Real Real ( www.joinreal.com ) is a technology-powered real estate brokerage operating in 27 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Real is on a mission to make agents' lives better, creating financial opportunities for agents through higher commission splits, best-in-class technology, revenue sharing and equity incentives. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act) Forward-looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as " seek", " anticipate", " believe", " plan", " estimate", " expect", " likely" and " intend" and statements that an event or result " may", " will", " should", " could" or " might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, without limiting the foregoing, Information relating to Real's future growth plans and strategy, and eligibility of agents to receive performance-based or equity incentives as part of Real's incentive program. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including but not limited to Real's business objectives, expected growth, results of operations, performance, business projects and opportunities and financial results. Real considers these assumptions to be reasonable in the circumstances. However, forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. These factors should be carefully considered and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Real cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Real assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, and the OTCQX has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. SOURCE The Real Brokerage Inc. Boris Johnson risked inflaming the EU row last night by joking with MPs that Britain had got the jabs 'because of greed'. In an online meeting with Tory backbenchers, the Prime Minister hailed 'big pharma' for making the vaccines quickly. He told a private meeting of the 1922 Committee: 'The reason we have the vaccine success is because of capitalism, because of greed my friends.' He later added: 'Actually I regret saying it', and repeatedly asked MPs to 'forget I said that'. Boris Johnson (pictured getting his jab) risked inflaming the EU row last night by joking with MPs that Britain had got the jabs 'because of greed' A Tory source said reports of the joke 'misrepresent his views', adding that he went on to heap praise on AstraZeneca, which is making the jab on a non-profit basis. At the meeting, the PM also said: 'It was giant corporations that wanted to give good returns to shareholders. 'It was driven by big pharma and I don't just mean the Chief Whip.' The Chief Whip Mark Spencer was previously a farmer. His comments were at odds with those made at the Downing Street press conference earlier, when he sought to strike a conciliatory note. Mr Johnson also singled out that AstraZenca were producing the vaccine at cost and thanked the company for its work (French President Emmanuel Macron pictured talking with people waiting to be vaccinated) Patients wait to get vaccinated against the Covid-19 during a vaccination campaign in France 'We don't believe in blockades of any kind of vaccines or vaccine materials,' he said then. 'That's not something this country would dream of engaging in. We'll continue to work with European partners to deliver the vaccine rollout.' The PM said that he was 'encouraged' by the attitude of EU capitals towards finding a solution. Mr Johnson also singled out that AstraZenca were producing the vaccine at cost and thanked the company for its work. Great River Energy crews handling an after-hours callout during winter. Every minute spent on a manual callout is a distraction that reduces situational awareness in the control center," said Mark Peterson, system operations manager for Great River Energy. This summer, ARCOS LLC, the market leader for utility and critical infrastructure resource-management solutions, will roll out its ARCOS Callout and Scheduling Suite for Minn.-based cooperative Great River Energy, a provider of wholesale electricity to 28 member-owned cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin, so the co-op can automatically identify available employees after business hours and direct them to restoration work. For years, Great River Energy has made manual calls for communications between our control center and field crews, said Mark Peterson, system operations manager for Great River Energy. Automating callouts will save time for our control center staff, so they can focus on their core responsibility, operations. With Great River Energys manual, after-hours callout process, control center operators search (one call at a time) for available employees. Once they reach a worker, they describe the problem and dispatch them. Staff manually input worker status through established work rules tied to seniority, hours worked, scheduled time off and proximity to a job site. A recent winter storm sped up the decision by Great River Energy to take the chore of manual callouts off the operators, so they could automatically launch calls with ARCOS and focus, instead, on front-end analysis linked to restoring substations, identifying transmission infrastructure damage, or starting peaking generation. Our operators have tools to pinpoint issues and analyze conditions, but it takes concentration and dedicated time to make the most of these tools, added Peterson. Every minute spent on a manual callout is a distraction that reduces situational awareness in the control center. Approximately 200 Great River Energy employees will be listed in the ARCOS System including control center workers who log in to launch and analyze callouts. According to Great River Energy, managers will measure the success of automated callout in two ways: First, the number of people reached through the system (versus a manual process) and the success rate for each call; second, how much time automation shaves off the callout process per event. About ARCOS LLC ARCOS is a leader in delivering SaaS solutions for managing resources, ensuring accurate, compliant shift scheduling and automatically planning for all types of events. The ARCOS solution reports on the up-to-the-minute location and status of equipment and crews via mobile technology for utilities and other critical infrastructure like airlines, manufacturers and industrial facilities. The ARCOS resource management platform helps organizations save time and money, while improving customer satisfaction and the efficiency, safety and accuracy of operations. Learn about ARCOS resource management software at http://www.arcos-inc.com. # # # STOCKHOLM, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SEB and Google Cloud today announced that they have entered into a strategic, long-term partnership to accelerate the bank's digitization journey. SEB, a leading Nordic financial services company, will use Google Cloud's innovative cloud technologies, and collaborate to create pioneering new banking services for its customers. SEB's innovation studio and next-generation banking platform, SEBx , is already benefiting from Google's Infrastructure and Data Cloud technologies, such as Kubernetes Engine and Cloud SQL, helping the bank achieve greater cost efficiency, flexibility, and network scalability. As part of the extended partnership announced today, SEB will use Google Cloud more broadly throughout the banking group to speed up its digitization efforts and provide new solutions to its customers. "This is an important step in SEB's technological transformation," said Johan Torgeby, president and CEO of SEB. "Together with Google Cloud, we will start the journey to the cloud and accelerate our digitization plan. The partnership will enable us to use data in a more intelligent way and speed up the creation of new innovative solutions for our customers. Google Cloud will be a key partner in our data journey, both on the infrastructure side and also as world-leading artificial intelligence experts." SEB will use Google Cloud across the company to: Create innovative services in retail and corporate banking for customers based on data, analytics, and processing technologies. Refine risk analysis through Google Cloud's computational scalability. Augment financial reporting capabilities by using Google Cloud's data management tools. Explore digital assistants to increase customer service levels and allow SEB employees to provide more qualified personal service to customers. Collaborate on new innovative products and services to provide a better user experience for customers, like providing customers with improved sustainability transparency and savings offerings based on new data sets. Thomas Kurian, CEO at Google Cloud said, "The financial services industry is rapidly changing to meet rising customer expectations. Together with SEB, we'll collaborate on new products based on data, analytics, and AI that will create even better user experiences and will transform the industry as a whole. We are pleased to work with a market leader like SEB." About SEB SEB is a leading Nordic financial services group with a strong belief that entrepreneurial minds and innovative companies are key in creating a better world. SEB takes a long-term perspective and supports its customers in good times and bad. In Sweden and the Baltic countries, SEB offers financial advice and a wide range of financial services. In Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany and the United Kingdom, the bank's operations have a strong focus on corporate and investment banking based on a full-service offering to corporate and institutional clients. The international nature of SEB's business is reflected in its presence in some 20 countries worldwide. At 31 December 2020, the Group's total assets amounted to SEK 3,040bn while its assets under management totalled SEK 2,106bn. The Group has around 15,500 employees Read more about SEB at https://www.sebgroup.com About Google Cloud Google Cloud accelerates organizations' ability to digitally transform their business with the best infrastructure, platform, industry solutions and expertise. We deliver enterprise-grade cloud solutions that leverage Google's cutting-edge technology to help companies operate more efficiently and adapt to changing needs, giving customers a foundation for the future. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to solve their most critical business problems. SOURCE Google Cloud Vitalik Buterin, a Russian-Canadian entrepreneur and programmer from Toronto, envisioned second-largest cryptocurrency Ethereum when he was 19 years old. In 2011, the year Buterin first grew interested in Bitcoin, Buterin co-founded the online news website Bitcoin Magazine, writing hundreds of articles on the cryptocurrency world. He went on to code for the privacy-minded Dark Wallet and the marketplace Egora. Along this journey, he came up with the idea for the Ethereum ecosystem, a platform inspired by Bitcoin that could go beyond the financial use cases. Related: Robinhood Files Confidentially for IPO: Report He released a white paper in 2013 describing an alternative platform designed for any type of decentralized application developers would want to build. Many developers were drawn to this idea of creating decentralized applications because they would be accessible to a global audience, be free from censorship and would give users more control over their data than most apps, which have intermediaries in the middle managing users finances and data. To accomplish this, Ethereum makes it easy to create smart contracts, or code that automatically creates an outcome when certain conditions are met. For his work, Buterin was named a 2014 Thiel fellow, winning a $100,000 grant to work on Ethereum. Buterin FAQs Who helped Buterin create Ethereum? After Buterin unveiled the Ethereum white paper, several other developers joined the ranks including CEO of IOG Charles Hoskinson, Decentral CEO Anthony Di Iorio and Akasha Founder Mihai Alisie. Buterin also introduced two new co-founders to the team: Co-founder Dr. Gavin Wood did much of the early programming and architecting of the platform. He wrote the Ethereum yellow paper, the technical bible that outlines the specification for the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), which is responsible for handling the state of the ledger and runs smart contracts. Co-founder Joseph Lubin went on to found the Brooklyn-based ConsenSys, a startup that focuses on building decentralized apps. How much money does Buterin have? Story continues Since Ethereum data and transaction information is public, users can track how much money Buterin has stored in ether, Ethereums native token. Related: South Koreas Largest Social Gaming App to Mint Low-Carbon NFTs for Millions of Users Buterins main address is this one, which shows that he owns 333,348 ether, worth approximately $568 million at the time this article was published. What was Ethereum like in its early days? To get the project off the ground, Buterin and the other founders launched a crowdfunding campaign in July 2014 where participants purchased ether, the Ethereum tokens that function as shares in the project. Raising more than $18 million, it was the most successful crowd sale at that time. It took another year, but the first live release, Frontier, launched on 30th July, 2015. It wasnt a particularly attractive platform, but the command line interface offered developers a platform for creating their own decentralized apps. The smart contract platform took off, swelling into todays ecosystem of hundreds of developers and even drawing the attention of tech giants like IBM and Microsoft. The funds from Ethereums initial $18 million crowd sale and project development are now managed by the Ethereum Foundation, a non-profit entity based in Zug, Switzerland. Related Stories A North Korean flag flies over the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 20, 2021. A rancorous U.S.-China rivalry that appears to have brought North Korea and China even closer is casting a pall over cooperation between the major powers in charting a course for Pyongyang's denuclearization, experts say. EPA A rancorous Sino-U.S. rivalry that appears to be bringing North Korea and China even closer is casting a pall over cooperation between the major powers in charting a course for Pyongyang's denuclearization, analysts said Tuesday. The bitter public war of words among top U.S. and Chinese officials in Alaska last week marked a sobering reminder of key geopolitical fault lines between their countries and of the challenge to fostering their cooperation on diverse tricky issues, including peace on the Korean Peninsula. Compounding the challenge are emerging signs of Beijing and Pyongyang seeking to tighten their unity against "hostile forces" with Moscow's sour ties with Washington feared to dim the prospects of cooperation for regional stability. "The overall geopolitical landscape is apparently making it difficult to create momentum for cooperation among the big powers, though we never know whether things will turn for the better or worse down the road," said Kim Tae-hyung, a professor of international politics at Soongsil University. "As the U.S. has taken a jab at China's sore spots, China could signal that it may also hit back by touching on things where its cooperation is necessary," he added. Thursday's testy exchanges between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi and State Councilor Wang Yi raised questions over whether the two countries can find common ground on the North Korean nuclear issue that has bedeviled both the U.S. and China for decades. Noting that the Sino-U.S. ties will be "collaborative where it can be, adversarial where it must be," Blinken used the talks to rebuke Beijing's policies on China's western Xinjiang region and Hong Kong as well as its alleged cyber attacks on the U.S. and "economic coercion" toward U.S. allies. In an angry retort, Yang stressed the need to "abandon the Cold War mentality and the zero-sum game approach," while Wang stressed that China will not accept the "unwarranted accusations from the U.S. side." The exchange of barbs came amid lingering hopes that Seoul's drive to resume stalled dialogue with Pyongyang and move forward denuclearization efforts would not be impeded by the friction between Washington and Beijing. China's spring farming goes high-tech thanks to modern agricultural technologies, machines People's Daily Online) 16:08, March 22, 2021 Modern agricultural technologies and machines are now largely at work in China, facilitating the country's farming activities as spring plowing begins to unfold across its rural landscape. During the spring plowing season, east China's Anhui province took the lead in deploying satellite remote sensing technology in order to grant loans to farmers, provided in collaboration with MYbank, an online digital bank. A major grain grower shows the scope of his farmland on his mobile phone in Mengcheng county, east China's Anhui province. (People's Daily Online/Yang Saijun) After farmers confirm the size of their farmland by tracing its boundaries on a maps app on their mobile phones, the bank will accurately identify the potential growth of the crops and estimate their yields with the help of satellite remote sensing images of the farmland, in this way granting credit to farmers corresponding to the value of their production. Farmers in all 16 major grain-producing counties in the province can apply for spring farming loans and enjoy an interest-free period for up to two months after applying on their mobile phones during the plowing season. Yu Kai, a major grain grower in Anhui's Mengcheng county, received a spring farming loan of 290,000 yuan ($44,570) to buy chemical fertilizers and lease agricultural machines. Photo shows unmanned rotary cultivators in a field of the Datian rural cooperative in Jiangxiang town, Nanchang county, east China's Jiangxi province. (Photo/Xinhua) In the province's Changfeng county, agricultural scientists developed a pest recognition system to help farmers handle pests more precisely. It's a selfie stick-like device equipped with a camera to capture images of pests, as well as temperature and moisture sensors and a navigation system. Using AI technology, the system can automatically identify the type and number of pests as well as any crop diseases according to the images captured by the tool, said Du Jianming, a researcher of the Institute of Intelligent Machines at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Du claimed that the system could identify more than 400 different pests. Officers from Qingdao Customs in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province, check bumblebees imported for artificial pollination at vegetable greenhouses. (Photo/Science and Technology Daily) In Jiangxiang town, Nanchang county of east China's Jiangxi province, farms at the Datian rural cooperative greeted a "smart" spring plowing season on March 12, during which unmanned plowing machines and agricultural drones were deployed to advance new solutions for modern agriculture in China. With the help of these new technologies, only 26 people will be needed to manage 10,000 mu (about 666.67 hectares) of farmland. Another rural cooperative in Shanggao county, Yichun city in Jiangxi, has established automated greenhouses for raising seedlings, which when brought into operation will reduce farmers' financial and labor burdens by assisting in the cultivation of early rice seedlings before planting. Lu Yong, a major rice grower in the county, has already placed an order for rice seedlings from the cooperative. I can plant rice seedlings with a transplanter, said Lu, who contracted 300 mu of rice paddies this year. Modern agricultural machines, including highly efficient water-saving irrigation equipment, rotary cultivators, agricultural drones, transplanters, and unmanned tractors, have also been deployed to help farmers in completing their spring farming across China. Photo shows a transplanter growing vegetables in a field in Taibai county, northwest China's Shaanxi province. (Photo/Shaanxi Daily) South China's Guangdong province will use rotary cultivators to plow over 12 million mu of farmland and put 450,000 machines and over 1,500 agricultural drones into operation during this year's spring plowing season, according to incomplete statistics from the province's department of agriculture and rural affairs. Lianshan County in Guangdong has built a digital platform to automatically collect data, such as meteorological conditions, pesticide and fertilization use in fields, and so forth. The data, analyzed via a big data center, will help farmers make decisions, including what kind of fertilizers and pesticides to use, and when to irrigate their farmlands. A staff member operates an agricultural drone in Jiaoyi village, Taishan city, south China's Guangdong province. (Photo/Xinhua) Self-driving tractors aided by the BeiDou navigation satellite system have been used to explore precision farming in sugarcane fields at a modern agricultural industrial park in Laibin city, south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Now, the rate of mechanization for the plowing, sowing, and harvesting of sugarcane in the city is about 65 percent, said Mo Tingjin, an agricultural official of Laibin. In a rural cooperative in Taibai county, northwest China's Shaanxi province, rotary cultivators, drones and other machines were deployed to improve spring farming efficiency. The cooperative also established a smart organic vegetable base, where agricultural technicians can use mobile phones to monitor real-time temperatures, humidity and lighting conditions, and control sun shield, irrigation and fertilization systems in greenhouses. Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company (SRC) has announced the successful completion of the dual tenor (7 and 10-year) sukuk issuances worth SR4 billion ($1.06 billion), thus underscoring the investor confidence in the strength of the kingdom's housing market while providing liquidity to the Saudi housing market. A subsidiary of the kingdom's wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF), SRC was established in 2017 to be the pillar of Saudi Arabia housing market by acting as a catalyst for accessible and affordable home financing solutions. According to SRC, the issuance was part of the newly-launched SR10 billion sukuk programme under which the company will issue sovereign-guaranteed sukuk targeting local investors. Over 30% of the issuance was subscribed by a mix of asset managers, pension fund, government funds, and insurance companies, it stated. HSBC Saudi Arabia acted as the sole arranger on the establishment of the sukuk programme and as a sole lead co-ordinator, sukukholders agent and payment administrator on the issuances under the programme. Aljazira Capital, HSBC Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Fransi Capital acted as Joint Lead Managers and Bookrunners on the issuances under the programmer. The issuances were a private offering to Saudi-based institutional investors attracting an orderbook in excess of SR8 billion which represents an oversubscription of 2.15 times, said the statement from SRC. This underscores the investor confidence in the strength of the Saudi housing market which witnessed an increase in homeownership from 45% in 2017 to 62% in 2020, it added. Majed Al Hogail, the Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing and Chairman of SRC, said: "The successful sukuk issuance demonstrates confidence among the investor community and trust in a robust housing market in the kingdom and more broadly a resilient Saudi economy." He pointed out that the favourable cost of funding for SRC ultimately translates to an ecosystem where mortgages are more affordable and accessible to Saudi families. "The sukuk programme brings us one step closer to achieving the strategic objectives of the housing programme under Vision 2030," he noted. CEO Fabrice Susini said SRC's successful completion of issuances under the new sukuk programme marks an important step towards the development of a robust secondary mortgage market and the wider housing sector in the kingdom. "Our role in sustaining a healthy housing market is further validated by the strong investor interest in our issuance which helps achieve our funding objectives. The latest sovereign-guaranteed offering, underpinned by favourable cost of funding and terms, will further provide liquidity to the Saudi housing market that helps our citizens climb the housing ladder," noted Susini. "This issuance will also contribute to the realisation of the Public Investment Funds strategy, a key driver in promoting the growth of the Saudi economy and diversifying sources of income by launching new sectors, including a secondary market for real estate financing," he added. Lauding the SRC milestone, Faisal Qadri, Managing Director, Head of Debt Capital Markets & Structured Finance, HSBC Saudi Arabia, said: "This is yet another groundbreaking achievement for SRC, and stands as a testament of the confidence local investors have in this fast emerging name which is playing a critical role in the development of the housing sector." "The growing presence and importance as a catalyst in the housing sector is demonstrated by SRCs ability to attract an investor orderbook in excess of SR8 billion," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Chennai, March 23 : Online food delivery player Swiggy on Tuesday announced the launch of Health Hub here where customers can order healthy food. According to Swiggy, customers can order healthy food options on Swiggy app. With people looking out for healthy food options, Swiggy worked with nutritionists and restaurants here to come out with over 9,000 dishes from 700 outlets. For instance, millet based dosa/idli like Kambu Dosa, Kuthraivalli Dosa, Millet Idli, Millet Karuvepilai Idli, Wheat Dosa, are all available on Swiggy's Health Hub. Consumers can choose from high-protein, low-carb, vegan, and keto meals across soups, salads, wraps and desserts. While Health Hub provides healthy alternatives to South Indian cuisines in Chennai, it also offers healthy alternatives across all popular cuisines such as Continental, Pan Asian, North Indian, along with a wide selection of juices and desserts, Swiggy said. We want to dispel the common notion that healthy food is hard to find, lacking in taste and expensive, said Vivek Sunder, COO, Swiggy. News Release Basel, March 23, 2021 Dufry announces the launch of c. CHF 500 million new convertible bonds and a voluntary incentivised conversion offer to holders of the CHF 350 million 1.0% convertible bonds due 2023 Dufry AG ("Dufry" or the "Company") announces the launch of an offering of approximately CHF 500 million new convertible bonds (the "New Convertible Bonds") and a voluntary incentivised conversion offer (the "Incentive Offer") to holders of the CHF 350 million 1.0% convertible bonds due 2023 issued by Dufry One B.V., a subsidiary of the Company (ISIN CH0540633051 and Ticker-Symbol DUFN20) (the "Existing ConvertibleBonds"). The New Convertible Bonds and acceptance of the Incentive Offer will allow Dufry to further strengthen its balance sheet and financial flexibility as the business environment for travel retail shows signs of recovery. In addition, Dufry has initiated the refinancing process of its debt positions with upcoming maturities until 2023. New Convertible Bonds Dufry launches the placement of senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2026 in an aggregate principal amount of approximately CHF 500 million, conditionally convertible into shares of the Company. The New Convertible Bonds will be issued by Dufry One B.V. and be guaranteed by the Company and two of its subsidiaries (Dufry International AG and Dufry Financial Services B.V.). The shares to be delivered upon conversion of the New Convertible Bonds will be sourced from conditional capital or from existing shares. For this purpose, the Board of Directors will be seeking shareholders' approval at the next ordinary general meeting, scheduled for 18 May 2021, for the creation of conditional capital sufficient to enable the physical settlement of the New Convertible Bonds upon conversion. If shareholder approval for the creation of conditional capital is not passed and registered before 30 June 2021, the New Convertible Bonds will be redeemed in cash at 102% of the greater of the principal amount and the fair market value of the New Convertible Bonds, plus accrued but unpaid interest, and otherwise in accordance with their terms. The New Convertible Bonds with a denomination of CHF 200,000 will be issued at par and are expected to carry a coupon between 0.50-1.00%, payable semi-annually in arrears. Unless previously converted, redeemed, or re-purchased and cancelled, the New Convertible Bonds will be redeemed at par at maturity on 30 March 2026. The New Convertible Bonds will be convertible into shares of the Company at an initial conversion price expected to be set at a premium between 42.5-47.5% over the reference share price in a concurrent share placement of Shares organised by the Joint Global Coordinators for the purpose of facilitating delta hedging as further described below. Dufry may redeem the New Convertible Bonds at par, plus accrued interest (if any): No earlier than 21 calendar days after the third anniversary of the closing date, if the volume-weighted average price of the shares is at least 130% of the conversion price on at least 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days; or At any time, if less than 15% of the aggregate principal amount of such bonds is outstanding Dufry agreed to a lock-up period of 90 days following closing of the New Convertible Bonds issuance, subject to customary exceptions and waiver by the Joint Global Coordinators. Incentive Offer Dufry One B.V. offers to pay holders of the Existing Convertible Bonds who elect to early exercise their right to convert their Existing Convertible Bonds into Dufry shares a cash incentive of CHF 13,965.65 per CHF 200,000 principal amount of the Existing Convertible Bonds (which amount includes accrued interest) and a share price adjustment amount, as further set out in the official offer document dated 23 March 2021. The Incentive Offer will commence today, 23 March 2021, and end at 16.00 CET on 6 April 2021 (the "Acceptance Period"). Pursuant to Condition 5.3(a) of the Existing Convertible Bonds, if at any time less than 15% of the aggregate principal amount of the Existing Convertible Bonds originally issued are outstanding and held by persons other than the Parent Guarantor and any Subsidiary, the Company may redeem such Existing Convertible Bonds at their principal amount (in accordance with the Conditions) together with accrued but unpaid interest to such date. Share placement Concurrently with the offering of New Convertible Bonds and Incentive Offer, the Joint Global Coordinators will be facilitating delta hedging by certain current and future holders of convertible bonds issued by Dufry One B.V. The number of Dufry shares sold is estimated to be no more than c. 3.9 million shares. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the share placement. The New Convertible Bonds offering, Incentive Offer and delta hedging have received very strong interest from existing bondholders as well as potential new investors. For further information please click here. DISCLAIMER This announcement may not be published, distributed or transmitted, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America (including its territories and possessions), Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, South Africa or any other jurisdiction where such announcement could be unlawful. The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons who are in possession of this document or other information referred to herein should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement does not constitute an offer of, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, securities of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries in the United States of America or any other jurisdiction. Neither this announcement nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, an offer in any jurisdiction. The securities offered will not be and have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, (as amended the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act. In the United Kingdom, this announcement is only directed at persons who (i) are investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended the "Order") or (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc. (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons")). This document must not be acted on, or relied upon, by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. In member states of the European Economic Area the placement of securities described in this announcement is directed exclusively at persons who are "qualified investors" with-in the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 (Prospectus Regulation). The New Convertible Bonds are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For these purposes, a "Retail Investor" means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU ("MIFID II"); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (as amended, the "Insurance Distribution Directive"), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of article 4(1) of MIFID II. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (the "PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the New Convertible Bonds or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the New Convertible Bonds or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. The offering of the New Convertible Bonds in Switzerland is exempt from the requirement to prepare and publish a prospectus under the Swiss Financial Services Act of 15 June 2018 (as amended, the "FinSA") because the New Convertible Bonds have a minimum denomination of CHF 100,000 (or equivalent in another currency) or more. This announcement does not constitute a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and no such prospectus has been or will be prepared for, or in connection with, the offering of the New Convertible Bonds. The New Convertible Bonds are not intended, to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom ("UK"). For the purposes of this provision the expression "retail investor" means a person who is one (or more) of the following: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("EUWA"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the "FSMA") and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation. No action has been taken that would permit an offering or an acquisition of the securities or a distribution of this announcement in any jurisdiction where such action would be unlawful. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. This announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning the placement. Investors should consult a professional advisor as to the suitability of the placement for the person concerned. This announcement may contain forward looking statements, estimates, opinions and projections with respect to anticipated future performance of the Company ("forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "may," "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on the current views, expectations and assumptions of the management of the Company and involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements included herein only speak as at the date of this release. We undertake no obligation, and do not expect to publicly update, or publicly revise, any of the information, forward-looking statements or the conclusions contained herein or to reflect new events or circumstances or to correct any inaccuracies which may become apparent subsequent to the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. We accept no liability whatsoever in respect of the achievement of such forward-looking statements and assumptions. For further information please contact: Dr. Kristin Kohler Renzo Radice Global Head Investor Relations Phone: +41 79 563 18 09 Global Head Corporate Communications & Public Affairs Phone: +41 61 266 44 19 kristin.koehler@dufry.com renzo.radice@dufry.com Dufry Group - A leading global travel retailer Dufry AG (SIX: DUFN) is the leading global travel retailer operating over 2,300 duty-free and duty-paid shops in airports, cruise lines, seaports, railway stations and downtown tourist areas, in more than 430 locations in 64 countries across all six continents. The Company, founded in 1865 and headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is offering customers a first-class shopping experience, global brands, a unique market access and landlords a reliable, value-enhancing partnership. To learn more about Dufry, please visit www.dufry.com. Social Responsibility Dufry cares for children and supports social projects from SOS Kinderdorf in Brazil, Cambodia, Mexico, Morocco and Ivory Coast. SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-political and non-demonstrational organization established for orphaned and destitute children all over the world. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Elizabeth Bitsa Freeman, Founder of Boulevard Real Estate We aim to provide a real estate experience as magical as Marin. Boulevard Real Estate today announced its partnership with Side, the only real estate brokerage that exclusively partners with high-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages to transform them into boutique brands and businesses. The affiliation will ensure that Boulevard Real Estate, which has a comprehensive understanding of the market and deep respect for the planet, is powered by the most advanced platform in the industry. Founded by Elizabeth Bitsa Freeman, Boulevard Real Estate is a leading luxury real estate firm based in Marin County, California. As a fourth-generation Marin native, Freeman uses her deep understanding of Marins unique neighborhoods and exceptional properties to provide her clients with an advantage. Community is of the utmost importance to Freeman, and she currently serves as a member of the Kentfield Planning Advisory Board. She is a past president of the Kent Woodlands Property Owners Association and a former trustee of the award-winning Kentfield School District. Freeman is also on the board of Cool the Earth, a local nonprofit aiming to inspire people to combat climate change. Partnering with Side will ensure that Boulevard Real Estate remains at the cutting edge of the evolving real estate market while allowing its agents to continue to deliver premium services to their clients. Boulevard Real Estate agents are fully supported by a one-of-a-kind premium brokerage platform, which provides transaction management, property marketing, lead generation, business growth opportunities, vendor management, and infrastructure solutions. Boulevard Real Estate was founded to serve the Marin community at the absolute highest level, said Freeman. This means providing a sophisticated, boutique-like experience. Using Sides state-of-the-art platform, we are empowered to focus on our clients and deliver on our mission. We aim to provide a real estate experience as magical as Marin. Side is led by experienced industry professionals and world-class engineers who develop technology designed to improve agent productivity and enhance the client experience. Based on its belief that homeownership is a fundamental human right, Side is on a mission to improve the public good by providing top-performing real estate agents, teams, and indie brokerages with the best system, support, service, experience, and results. About Boulevard Real Estate Boulevard Real Estate provides outstanding real estate services throughout Marin County, California. With vast knowledge of the areas distinctive homes, dynamic neighborhoods, and award-winning school districts, the firm provides clients with an advantage when searching for the perfect home or selling their home at top market value. Boulevard Real Estate provides a real estate experience as magical as the Marin lifestyle. To learn more, visit http://www.boulevardmarin.com. About Side Side transforms high-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages into successful businesses and boutique brands that are 100% agent-owned. Side exclusively partners with the best agents, empowering them with proprietary technology and a premier support team so they can be more productive, grow their business, and focus on serving their clients. Side is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit http://www.sideinc.com. A new Covid variant spotted in Britain is not a threat because it does not appear to carry any vaccine-resistant mutations, an infectious diseases expert has said. Samples of the New York B.1.526 variant taken from infected US patients were found to contain the troublesome E484K mutation, which can partially evade the immune system. But MailOnline last night revealed the genetic change has not been identified in any of the three cases spotted in the UK. Professor Wendy Barclay, an Imperial College London virologist and Government adviser, said this suggested it 'did not pose much of a threat, at least compared to the Brazilian or South African lineages'. Scientists tracking the constantly-evolving virus say the New York variant has been lurking in the UK for at least a month. The strain is spreading quickly in New York, where it was responsible for roughly 27 per cent of infections by mid-February. For comparison, it was linked to around one in twenty positive cases in late January. PHE told MailOnline it was 'monitoring the situation closely'. The E484K mutation is also found on the Brazilian and South African variants. Three cases of the New York variant have been identified in the UK, which may have been here for at least a month. They carry the E484K mutation, which can make vaccines less effective Professor Wendy Barclay, an infectious diseases expert, said the three cases likely 'do not pose a threat' in the UK because they do not carry the E484K mutation The New York variant is centered in the US, but cases have also been detected in Britain, Germany, Ireland and Croatia, according to a scientific database The US has registered the most cases of the New York variant, official figures show. Infectious diseases experts there fear it could dodge vaccine-triggered immunity NEW YORK COVID VARIANT: Q & A Should I be concerned? The New York variant carries the E484K mutation in about half of cases, which studies have shown can make vaccines less effective. But none of the three infections detected in the UK had this worrisome genetic change, according to Public Health England. Professor Wendy Barclay, an infectious diseases expert, said it was therefore likely these cases 'do not pose much of a threat'. Boris Johnson has set out four key criteria for lifting lockdown, including that no risky new variants emerge that could scupper the progress of the vaccine roll-out. Where have the cases been detected? Public Health England does not give away further details, including where these cases have been detected. But the fact ministers didn't choose to trigger surge-testing in response to the finds suggests they are not considered to be much of a threat. A spokesman at PHE suggested they may be linked to travellers arriving in the UK and then quarantining. The US is not on the travel 'red list', with arrivals instead asked to self-isolate at home for ten days. Could the strain dodge vaccine-triggered immunity? Experts in the US have suggested it can dodge jab triggered immunity in around half of cases. These will be cases carrying the E484K mutation, which is also present in the worrisome South African and Brazilian strains. Dr Anthony Fauci, America's top infectious disease expert, said New York should try to snuff out all cases of the variant. Advertisement It is not clear where Britain's cases were found because PHE does not give away any further details. But Pango lineages which publishes figures on the number of variants identified by sequencing across the world says Europe's first case was detected on January 21, and the most recent was on February 27. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, said yesterday that any variant was a 'cause for concern'. 'This find reinforces how important it is to keep an eye on things, we are not out of the woods yet,' he told MailOnline. 'It reinforces the fact that while things are looking really good right now there is no room for complacency.' He added: 'We need to keep Test and Trace going and stamp out what are inevitably going to be local outbreaks.' Britain's plan to ease lockdown once and for all over the coming months could be scuppered by the emergence of a new variant that drastically weakens jabs. The US is not currently on Number 10's quarantine 'red list', with arrivals instead asked to isolate at home for ten days. New York's public health officials have warned the strain shares key similarities with the South African variant, and can elude 'some protection' from antibodies made by the vaccines. America's top infectious diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci last week warned that it is spreading 'pretty efficiently' in the city. The UK launched door-to-door testing in dozens of postcodes when cases of the South African and Brazilian variants were found, in an attempt to stamp out all cases. But they are yet to spark the same action for this strain, suggesting they are not as concerned by the variant. Three other European countries have reported cases of the B.1.526 variant, including Ireland (five), Croatia (three) and Germany (one), according to the database. Britain has a superior sequencing capacity compared to other countries, which is now allowing it to check half of all virus cases detected for strains. But its world-leading ability led to it becoming an international pariah last year after it raised the flag about the more infectious Kent variant, causing other countries to close their borders. Experts say Britain was likely 'caught out' by its sequencing, and that it was possible the variant emerged elsewhere before being spotted in the UK. Boris Johnson has set out four key criteria for lifting lockdown, including that no risky new variants emerge that could scupper the progress of the vaccine roll-out. The earliest all restrictions will end in the UK is June 21. The former head of the US medicines regulator, Dr Scott Gottlieb, warned on Sunday it shared key mutations with the South African variant, which has been shown to re-infect people 'in certain cases'. The expert added on CBS: 'What we dont understand with B.1.526 is whether or not people are being re-infected with it and whether or not people who might have been vaccinated are now getting infected with it.' Dr Anthony Fauci (left), a top US diseases expert, has warned the New York variant could get around vaccines. And Dr Scott Gottlieb, the former head of the US drugs regulator, warned it shares key mutations with the South African variant It comes after MailOnline revealed yesterday the UK is now sequencing half of all Covid cases found through testing to check for variants that could delay the lockdown exit. Scientists tasked with tracking the ever-evolving virus have been sequencing more than 20,000 positive swabs a week for strains since February. But fewer than 40,000 positive Covid tests were detected last week, meaning No10 is now getting a clearer picture of the spread of variants. Scientists say it is crucial to keep an eye out for variants, which may make vaccines slightly less effective. The Government is aiming to eventually screen every positive test for variants. Ministers have warned the emergence of new mutant Covid strains could threaten the 'roadmap' back to normality, amid fears they may spark a surge in infections or evade the current crop of jabs. Europe is currently suffering a spike in cases of the South African variant, which has been spotted 351 times in the UK but yet to gain a foothold. The revelation the New York variant is in Britain also comes six days after Public Health England announced a variant linked to travel to the Philippines had also landed on Britain's shores. The strain, which has been named P.3, has a number of concerning mutations that are also present on the South African, Brazilian and Kent variants. It was picked up in two people in England, PHE said, one of whom had international travel links. The other case is still under investigation and it's not clear if the pair knew each other. All of their close contacts have been reached and told to isolate. The P.3 variant contains the spike mutation E484K and N501Y, also present on the Kent strain. Those alterations help make the virus more transmissible and evade antibodies. 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. Advertisement More than two million people in Florida have had COVID-19 as of Tuesday, making it the third state in the U.S. to pass the grim milestone. Only Texas and California have seen more all-time infections that Florida now. And cases could be set to surge again in the Sunshine State and countless Spring Breakers continue to party in the streets despite police patrols and curfews in destinations like South Beach in Miami. The maskless revelers are doing all the things that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn could fuel a fourth wave of coronavirus in the U.S. But for the moment, national cases continue to fall, with just 50,584 new infections and 590 additional deaths reported on Monday. Even in Florida, new cases have yet to spike. Monday saw another 2,862 cases and 37 deaths in the state - a slight decline from daily infections last week. Perhaps most worrying however, Florida is now the nation's top hotspot for coronavirus variants. It has more cases of the UK's super-covid than any other state in the nation and reached 1,000 B117 infections yesterday. US coronavirus cases could be set to surge again in the Sunshine State and countless Spring Breakers continue to party in the streets despite police patrols and curfews in destinations like South Beach in Miami. Pictured: crowds ignore social distancing guidelines on Ocean Drive in South Beach, Miami on Monday Monday saw another 2,862 cases and 37 deaths in Florida - a slight decline from daily infections last week Total cases of COVID-19 in Florida have risen to 2,011,211 and the state's death toll is nearing 33,000. The variant now represents eight percent of all COVID-19 cases in the state, CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky warned Monday. And Florida has 21 cases of the Brazilian variant as well as nine cases of the South African variant. 'I get it. We all want to return to our everyday activities and spend time with our family, friends and loved ones. But we must find the fortitude to hang in there for just a little bit longer,' CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky said during a press briefing on Monday. Spring Breakers are not interested in waiting any longer to party, however. Miami's South Beach area has been overrun with reveling visitors since last week, after Governor Ron DeSantis declared the state fully open for business. South Florida officials have begged the governor to reinstate more enforceable restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus, and struggled to get parties under control in their absence. More than 1,000 people have been arrested in South Beach and 100 guns have been seized. Police have been patrolling the streets with noise cannons telling people to disperse and respect the 8pm curfew instated in the area. But the chaos has escalated from flouting social distancing to open rebellion and violence as SWAT teams have shot pepper bullets into the crowds. Meanwhile, public health experts are worried that the roving packs of maskless, largely unvaccinated people will fuel not just violent skirmishes but a rise in coronavirus cases and deaths just when vaccines were starting to turn the tide. Curiously, even as the prevalence of the UK's super-covid variant has risen to about a third of all cases in the US, according to estimates from Outbreak.info, they've actually decreased in the latest batch of sequenced samples tracked by the site. This could be just a matter of how many sequences are being done, however. More than 32,000 people have died of COVID-19 in Florida, according to Johns Hopkins University. Yet the state ranks only 27th for the highest death rate per capita in the U.S - below New York, New Jersey and Texas, and just slightly about California. Police officers have arrested at least 1,000 people in South Beach and SWAT teams have been called in to use pepper balls to break up crowds of partiers The US city of Miami Beach, overrun by crowds of spring break tourists throwing Covid caution to the wind, has extended a state of emergency to stem the chaos, drawing accusations of unfairly tough tactics against mostly Black revelers Florida health officials may be hanging their hopes on speeding up the vaccination campaign in the state to help combat the rise of variants and the stubbornly high case load. The number of Floridians eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine expanded on Monday as the state allowed anybody age 50 and up to get the shot, and the county that is home to the state's biggest theme parks set the bar even lower by allowing anyone age 40 and up to get an injection. With the loosening of the statewide qualifications, more than a third of Floridians were now eligible to get a vaccine solely based on age at all vaccination sites in the state. Starting Monday, Orange County expanded the age eligibility a decade lower than the statewide requirement at its county-run facility at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Reservations were required for the drive-thru site at the convention center, and 7,000 appointments were filled within 13 minutes, officials said. In expanding the eligibility, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said last week there has been decreasing demand at the convention center site. He said he had notified the state and felt he had the authority to expand eligibility in the county. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of a mega-sized rest stop in Daytona Beach, DeSantis said he had concerns about Orange County 'choosing to prioritize a healthy 40-year-old' over older residents. 'It's not authorized,' said DeSantis. But Demings, a Democrat, said Monday that his goal was to get as many people in Orange County vaccinated, and he wasn't intending to take a political or partisan position against the Republican governor. 'My goal here is not to make this a personal issue,' Demings said. 'This is about the safety of the people in this community.' The Lockheed Martin F-35A stealth fighter launched a Kongsberg Anti-Surface Joint Strike Missile (JSM). One of the first times that the jet dropped a missile. Air Force technician adapted the 5th Gen jet carrying a variety of weapons. Having a jet that can attack in many ways is an advantage. F-35A stealth fighter will be a key player A Norwegian defense firm made a drop test of the JSM missile from the F-35A's internal bay. The test was done at the Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California. One of the first kind of F-35 weapons testing reported Eurasian Times. The dedicated stealth fighter will destroy tactical ground targets without getting detected. A selection of weapons will be armed on the nearly invisible plane. Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency supervised the weapon drops from the plane. How the weapon is launched allows adjustments before fully used on the F-35. A relatively new weapon in the USAF arsenal undergoes testing before approval. Crucial testing of launching and releasing is part of the operation of weapons. One of the stages done before the weapon is approved for the F-35As to use is to make sure that both are compatible with each other. The F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) that the US Air Force uses. It differs from the B and C variants. Other military services like the Navy and Army use a different variant. JSM standoff weapon Improved air defenses are a danger even to a nearly invisible F-35A stealth fighter. The Kongsberg (Joint Strike Missile) is the latest technology used in missiles. This standoff missile is also getting developed for Norway's armed forces. US F-35 Stealth Fighters Debut at Cope North Drills in Guam Standoff weapons are for long-range attacks on sea or ground targets. In 2014, the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organization (NDLO) and Kongsberg made a deal to make the JSM for F-35As. Carried on fix-wing aircraft (planes) that carry the JSM missiles for attack or defense, the missile is used against land and naval targets as its main use. Other uses are anti-surface, naval support, and bombardment for all environments. The weapon is expected to destroy enemy targets inland, oceans, shallow shorelines. This makes testing a big deal to prove it works. Why test the JSM? Coordination with the JPO (Joint Program Office) of the US military to allow testing is needed. Authorities of the JPO will evaluate both the F-35A and JSM. Brigadier Jarle Nergard, who heads the drop test for F-35As, said this about trails. He said the weapon must separate safely from its holder, not endanger the plane. Planes used are specially fitted for the JSM drop tests. It's dangerous for bombs to drop the wrong way. F-35s store weapons inside a cover weapons bay; any accident is deadly. The first test was simple drops on the ground in padded pits. The first drop from the air worked out. Inside the internal bay are three cameras to see inside the plane. Another camera-equipped pod is on the wing, said Nergard. Tests are more complicated with the need to analyze what's happening during a drop. All the cameras detect a photo mark on the JSM to see what's happening inside an F-35A stealth fighter and how the missile reacts during a drop. 20 American F-35s Arms South Korea Light Carrier similar to US Light Carrier Design US F-35 Stealth Fighters Debut at Cope North Drills in Guam Fifth Generation Fighter: Most Advanced Plane in Use @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. MASON CITY, Iowa - The Mason City Police Department is warning residents of a new sort of deceptive phone call crooks are using to coax personal information out of you. Residents have contacted law enforcement about calls from supposed U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. The callers claim the resident they're calling is being investigated regarding a package of drugs was found at the border that has the resident's name on it, with the caller trying to gain personally identifying information. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released a statement saying these calls are phishing attempts. Mason City Police Captain Mike McKelvey has seen the evolution of how suspicious callers get you to hand over your information, including the ways they try to gain personal information. "The flavor changes periodically. U.S. Marshal Service, the IRS, Border Patrol, you name it. It's something that sounds official. It's that scariness of the unknown, the official sound. A lot of times, these persons use a sense of urgency to cause the people receiving these calls to panic." Whether it's through phone calls, texts, emails or online sales, McKelvey advises residents to be vigilant and note of anything that sounds suspicious and to trust your instincts. "What they're trying to get you to do is see if someone answers and then the more they get you on the line, the more likely it is that that person will be a victim, the longer they stay on the phone." If you do receive one of these calls, McKelvey says to not answer it. If there's any suspicion, he also advises to take note of the caller ID, and report it to police. 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. Drug cartels in Mexico are taking advantage of the border crisis in the United States. Apart from smuggling drugs, the cartels are reportedly using children as decoys in smuggling their members into the U.S. The number of unaccompanied migrant children trying to seek asylum at the southern border is soaring. And the relaxed immigration policies of the Biden administration paved the way for the drug cartels to pursue new tactics in bringing their members inside the border, New York Post reported. RELATED ARTICLE: Biden Admin Weighs Flying Latin American Migrants to Canadian Border Drug Cartels and Migrant Children The new tactics of the drug cartels involve migrant families in smuggling their members. The cartels reportedly separate the children from their immigrant parents, then have members pose as the kids' relatives to cross the U.S. border. Citing an example, Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. Guerra explained that for a mother with three children, the drug cartels would say, "You can cross with one child, we're going to take two children. And we're going to use those two children to smuggle two others and pretend that those are family units." ABC11 reported that as of March 21, 2020, about 5,000 unaccompanied migrant children are under the custody of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Guerra noted that young criminals would also pose as struggling migrants to cross the border and help fuel the drug trade of their bosses. He said individuals who might be 21 or 22 years old would claim that they are 16 or 17 years old and tell the authorities that they are unaccompanied minors. The sheriff further noted that these individuals might also give false names, and they might even have a criminal record in their respective countries. Some of the young drug criminals have also tried to disguise themselves by removing their clothes and blend in with the rest of the migrants. However, Guerra said authorities could identify them by not wearing muddy shoes with cleaner clothes, and they do not smell. Mexico Smugglers and Migrants Apart from blending in with migrant children and using migrant families to bring their members inside the U.S., drug cartels also use bracelets to track the migrants once they are already inside the country. Reuters noted that the plastic bands are colored green, blue, white, and red. Some of them are labeled with "arrivals" or "entries," written in Spanish. Border Patrol agents were able to encounter migrants with the said wristbands during several apprehensions. "Information on the bracelets represents a multitude of data that is used by smuggling organizations," said Matthew Dyman, a spokesperson for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Dyman added that the bracelets could symbolize "payment status or affiliation with smuggling groups." Guerra noted that the current immigration policy makes the drug cartels' business be in a "boom." Aside from using migrant children to smuggle their members into the country, he said the drug cartels are also charging immigrants to help them illegally cross the border. "Anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500 for every single body, and you put the number to it," he said, adding that drug cartels from Mexico are now making more money on humans than they are on drugs. Meanwhile, Guerra said they are focusing on stopping the distribution of drugs in going up "north." RELATED ARTICLE: $1.3 Million Methamphetamine Confiscated by the US Customs and Border Protection WATCH: The Kids Being Trained and Armed to Fight Mexican Cartels - From VICE News Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. There is hope that the search for the remains of Red Hugh ODonnell in Spain can resume. A major excavation in the historic city of Valladolid in the Castille Y Leon region took place last May. O'Donnell is believed to be interred in the now buried Chapel of Wonders in the convent of San Francisco. Around 20 sets of skeletal remains were unearthed during last years archaeological dig. It had been hoped that the Donegal chieftains remains would be among them. But preliminary investigations suggest that they all predate ODonnells burial. Archaeologists now believe that the Chapel of Wonders extends beneath the Santander Bank in Valladolid. Authorities in the city are in negotiations with the bank to resume the excavation with a view to finding the remains of Red Hugh ODonnell. The Donegal chieftan arrived in Spain in early 1602. His journey followed the famous unsuccessful attempt in Kinsale to break the English siege on Spanish troops during the Nine Years War against the occupying English. O'Donnell's mission was to garner further support from King Felipe III. The king promised troops but they never materialised. In 1602 while awaiting an audience with the Spanish king, O'Donnell died suddenly while en route to the then capital of Spain, Valladolid. He was just 29 years of age. One theory is that he was poisoned by an Irish traitor paid by the English. It has also been suggested that he died from a parasitic infection. Such was his regard in Spain that King Felipe III ordered a funeral with full honours. O'Donnell was laid to rest in the convent of San Francisco at Valladolid. According to the Annals of the Four Masters: His body was conveyed to the kings palace at Valladolid in a four-wheeled hearse, surrounded by countless numbers of the kings state officers, council, and guards, with luminous torches and bright flambeaux of beautiful wax-light burning on each side of him. Historians say O'Donnell's skeleton will be easily identifiable since it is well documented that he lost toes to frostbite following his escape from Dublin Castle in 1591. Last years excavation generated huge interest, not just in Donegal and Ireland but around the world. O'Donnell was described in international news coverage as the William Wallace of Ireland. The Spanish are greatly interested in this major excavation of their former capital city. Authorities, archaeologists and historians are all hoping that the dig can resume and the chieftains remains will be found. Burma Myanmar Junta Fires Striking Ministry of Foreign Affairs Staff Anti-regime protesters urge civil servants to join the civil disobedience movement. / The Irrawaddy Myanmars military regime has dismissed a total of 56 staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) who have gone on strike in protest against military rule and the juntas Feb.1 coup. The regimes foreign affairs ministry notified the civil servants of their dismissal last week, claiming that they had breached the civil service code of conduct, according to leaked documents. The staff fired range from assistant directors to clerks who are refusing to work for the regimes cabinet. Thousands of civil servants across the country have joined the civil disobedience movement (CDM) in protest at the juntas overthrowing of the democratically-elected civilian government. On Monday Myanmar coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing urged civil servants to return to work saying that despite their different opinions, they need to serve dutifully no matter what government takes office. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that civil servants must follow civil service rules and codes of conduct. He warned that civil servants will have to sign confessions the first time they fail to go to work. For any subsequent violations, action will be taken against them in accordance with civil service rules. Other MOFA staff, including over two dozen Myanmar diplomats in foreign missions, have been on strike since early March in protest at the security forces increasingly lethal crackdown on peaceful anti-regime protesters. The junta has also recalled at least 100 staff from overseas missions in at least 19 countries, including the US and UK, after Myanmars United Nations (UN) envoy U Kyaw Moe Tun broke ranks with the regime to condemn their coup in front of the UN General Assembly in New York and pleaded for the international communitys help in restoring democracy to Myanmar. In late February, nine MOFA staff in Myanmars capital Naypyitaw were arrested and charged for refusing to work for the military regime. You may also like these stories: KNU Blocks Food Deliveries to Myanmar Military Regime Soldiers in Karen State Myanmar Gem Traders Warned of Blacklist for Joining Naypyitaw Emporium by CRPH Lawyer Helping Secure Release of Detained Protesters Beaten, Arrested by Myanmar Troops Burma KNU Blocks Food Deliveries to Myanmar Military Regime Soldiers in Karen State Rice sacks being unloaded on the Thai side of the Salween River. An ethnic armed organization, the Karen National Union (KNU) said its Brigade 5 will ensure that no food is supplied to Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) soldiers isolated in Karen States Papun District. KNU Brigade 5 has blocked the routes to Papun, effectively preventing the Tatmadaw from transporting food supplies to its troops based there. Unable to use supply routes inside Myanmar, the Tatmadaw bought 700 sacks of rice and oil from Thailand, on the opposite bank of the Salween River to Karen State. On Saturday, the food was unloaded on the Thai side of the Salween River, but the rice and oil has been stranded there ever since. We have stopped them from sending the sacks of rice. If they carry rice in defiance of our order, we will do what we are authorized to do in our territory. We want to throw water before the fire starts. We are taking pre-emptive action to prevent conflicts from escalating. If something happens because they dont comply with our request, we wont take responsibility, said KNU Brigade 5 spokesman Major Saw Kler Doh. The KNU said it is blocking the food delivery because 500 local Karen people are currently affected by armed conflicts in Papun District, and also because it does not support the military regime and cannot accept the junta killing innocent people across the country. KNU Brigade 5 issued a warning in both the Burmese and Thai languages saying that it would not tolerate anyone who carries food for the soldiers of Myanmars military regime. Normally, they send food supplies [to troops in Papun] at this time of year. But this year, they staged a coup and oppressed the people. They are not a legitimate government. The military dictatorship will survive if they can sustain their troops in our territory. We are therefore preventing them from delivering food. People dont support them and we are standing by the people, said Major Saw Kler Doh. The Tatmadaw has made no public statement about food supplies being cut off in Papun District. Nor has the military asked the KNU to allow the food to be delivered. After the rice and oil were unloaded by the Thais, Karen people and Karen civil social organizations, as well as citizens from other parts of the country, expressed their disapproval at the Thai militarys decision to sell food to the Myanmar junta. Myanmar people rushed to condemn the Thai militarys move on Twitter and Facebook. They called on the Thai army not to support the military regimes security forces who are murdering peaceful protesters demonstrating against the juntas Feb.1 coup. The Thai army is not supplying the Myanmar army and there has been no contact from the Myanmar army requesting help or demanding any assistance from us, Major General Amnat Srimak, commander of the Naresuan Force of the Thai army said in a statement. If there are any supplies, I think it is regular commerce at normal border crossings. We are not blocking this if the product is not against the law and follows customs procedures, said the Major General. The stretch of the Salween River in Papun is under the control of KNU Brigade 5 and is home to KNU outposts, Karen villages and camps for internally displaced Karen people, as well as military outposts of the junta. Locals said that the rice and oil are not part of the regular trade between the two countries, but are being supplied solely to Tatmadaw units. In 2015 the KNU signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, but conflicts with the Tatmadaw in Karen State have never really ended because of increased militarization and road construction by Tatmadaw units in areas under the control of Brigade 5. There have been fresh clashes between the KNU and the military regimes troops since the coup. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Gem Traders Warned of Blacklist for Joining Naypyitaw Emporium by CRPH Lawyer Helping Secure Release of Detained Protesters Beaten, Arrested by Myanmar Troops French Energy Giant Halts Myanmar Hydropower Project Over Human Rights Concerns *Warning - this article contains graphic images* A police rural crime team has shared graphic photos of a dog that was shot dead by a farmer after it went on a 'killing rampage'. Gloucestershire Constabulary showed the images on social media to encourage dog walkers to act responsibly when near livestock. In the incident, a loose Husky attacked and killed numerous sheep in the Cotswolds. In the post dated 18 March, the force's rural crime team said: "Is this upsetting and offensive? Probably, but this is what happened. "The Husky was unfortunately shot whilst on a killing rampage. "Keep dogs on a lead, it's lambing season." Is this upsetting and offensive? Probably, but this is what happened. The Husky was unfortunately shot whilst on a killing rampage. Keep dogs on a lead, it's lambing season!@NFU_Glos @CLAtweets@nfum@nfum_cotswolds.@natsheep @sheepwatchU. pic.twitter.com/LKPXpuicaZ Rural Crime Team - Gloucestershire Constabulary (@GlosPol_Rural) March 18, 2021 Newly-released figures show that the cost of dog attacks on livestock increased by over 10% to 1.3 million last year as the pandemic saw a surge in people visiting the countryside. Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, if a dog worries sheep on agricultural land, the person in charge of the dog is guilty of an offence. The Act considers sheep worrying to include attacking sheep, chasing them in a way that may cause injury, suffering, abortion or loss of produce or being at large in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep. The National Sheep Association (NSA) says it recommends that farmers only shoot dogs as a last resort, as the legality depends on whether a farmer had a lawful excuse for shooting the dog in that individual circumstance. Corey Brettschneider is a political science professor at Brown University As this years Carl F. Cranor Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar, Brettschneider paid a virtual visit to the Bowdoin campus recently to meet with students, with faculty, and with President Clayton Rose and to participate in classes and seminars. He also delivered a talk to the Bowdoin community on March 8. He began the event, moderated by Thomas Brackett Reed Professor of Government Andrew Rudalevige, by asking another question: Why would anyone want to be president? You get to travel on Air Force One and live in the White House, said Brettschneider, a professor of political science at Brown University. On top of that, he explained, as president you would get to try to enact your own policy goals, maybe reshaping foreign policy and Americas place in the world. Or you might just be thinking over the past four years, pretty much every day, You know what? I think I might just be better at this than the current incumbent. Brettschneider soon made it clear, though, that he wanted to talk about a very different idea of the presidency, one that is embodied in the oath, found in Article II of the Constitution, sworn by every incoming president: I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States. And will to the best of my Ability preserve protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Its a legal and constitutional requirement that every president swear this oath, he explained. Notice the president is committing not to just do a good job or implement policy or cater to a political constituency, but to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. In other words, he continued, the oath is a symbol of the idea that a president cannot do anything he or she wants, but is constrained by the duties laid out in the Constitution. Despite such constraints, said Brettschneider, presidents still have considerable freedom in how they act and speak. Being president, he said, involves pulling off a delicate balancing act between upholding the values of the Constitution and protecting peoples First Amendment rights to all viewpointseven ones that are antithetical to those values, such as white supremacy. Presidents are expected to use this bully pulpit responsibly, and not all of them have done this, he added, including, notably, the forty-sixth president, Donald Trump. One of the worst moments of the last four years was in Charlottesville when the president talked about there being good people on both sides. This wasn't just a bad statement, said Brettschneider, it was to my mind a failure of the duty to condemn opponents of the Constitution even while, and this is the tricky part, we don't imprison them. We protect their rights to free speech. This is a principle that wont be enforced by the courts, he said, but one that the president should uphold if he wants to adhere to his oath of office. Watch Brettscheiders talk: Professor Corey Brettschneiders visit was sponsored by Bowdoin's Phi Beta Kappa chapter as well as the Department of Government and Legal Studies, with support from the John C. Donovan Lecture Fund. The deposits of non-government resident customers were 1.3 percent up this February from the previous month, to RON 427.789 billion; compared to the year-ago period, the advance is 16.4 percent (12.8 percent in real terms), the National Bank of Romania (BNR) informs in a release on Tuesday, according to AGERPRES. RON-denominated deposits of residents, accounting for 65 percent of the total deposits of non-government customers, increased 1.1 percent from January 2021 to RON 277.999 billion and 16.2 percent (12.6 percent in real terms) YoY. RON-denominated household deposits inched up 1 percent to RON 154.812 billion from January 2021, and were 15.9 percent (12.3 percent in real terms) higher on a YoY basis. RON-denominated deposits of other sectors (non-financial corporations and non-monetary financial institutions) picked up 1.3 percent to RON 123.187 billion compared to January 2021, and were 16.6 percent (13 percent in real terms) higher from the year-ago level. Forex-denominated deposits of residents expressed in RON (at 35 percent of the total deposits of non-government customers) edged up 1.8 percent from the previous month to RON 149.789 billion (when expressed in EUR, forex deposits moved up 1.8 percent to EUR 30.729 billion). Compared to February 2020, the amount was 16.8 percent higher expressed in RON and 15.3 percent up when expressed in EUR. Forex deposits of households advanced month on month 0.9 percent when expressed in domestic currency to RON 107.652 billion (the advance is similar when expressed in EUR). The increase from the year-ago level was 15.5 percent when expressed in RON (14.1 percent when expressed in EUR). Forex-denominated deposits of other sectors advanced 4 percent from the previous month to RON 42.138 billion when expressed in RON (the advance is the same when expressed in EUR). YoY, the amount was 20.1 percent up when expressed in RON, and 18.6 percent higher when expressed in EUR. I dont want to block it, I just want to give the neighbors a chance to get involved, and, I hope, to get excited about the idea, King said of the Waters museum plan. Right now, anyone, by right, can just open a museum in the middle of a block of homes in Chicago and start welcoming busloads of visitors. Thats something that people who live on a block probably didnt sign up for. They should get a chance to learn about it and have their voices heard as part of the process. New Delhi, March 23 : The CBI on Tuesday said that it has arrested CGST Inspector Swapnil Mondal, posted in Tripura's Agartala, in connection with cloning of 53 cheques of Madhya Pradesh's Bargi Division Project and then withdrawing Rs 4.09 crore from the government account. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered a case on the request of Madhya Pradesh government and orders from the Union Home Ministry following the alleged Rs 4.09 crore fraud from the government account of the land acquisition officer of the Bargi Diversion Project of Madhya Pradesh's Katni through the cloned cheques. A case was earlier registered by MP Police. It was alleged in the FIR that the proceeds of the cheques had gone to Kolkata-based bank accounts which were opened in fake names by using forged and false KYC documents and the amounts were subsequently withdrawn from these accounts through ATMs or transfers. In the FIR, it was said that the real identity of the perpetrators who fraudulently withdrew money by forging the signature of the land acquisition officer through 53 cloned cheques and diverted the amount to several Kolkata-based bank accounts, opened in fake names was not known. "After strenuous efforts, it was found that Mondal had allegedly opened two bank accounts in Kolkata branches of United Bank of India and Allahabad Bank in the name of a private firm or proprietor by using forged KYC documents such as Voter ID and PAN card," the official said. Mondal had allegedly affixed his photographs in the account opening forms as well as in the KYC documents. The CBI official said that a sum of Rs 2.16 lakh out of defrauded amount of Rs 4.09 crore, had finally landed up in the accounts which were opened by the said accused and he had withdrawn the amount through ATMs. Mondal was produced before a court, which sent him to police custody till March 31. The role played by school children in transmitting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a controversial issue in many countries. Although infection rates can be high in children, they rarely develop severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms or health outcomes. Despite that, schools in many countries were shut down during the first wave of the pandemic to control the transmission of the virus, which resulted in disruption of education for over 1.5 billion students worldwide. Analyzing longitudinal changes in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and clustering in school children in Zurich during the first and second waves of the pandemic Researchers from Switzerland recently presented the results of a longitudinal cohort study they conducted in the city of Zurich. The prospective cohort study's key objective was to analyze the longitudinal changes in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and assess the clustering of seropositive children in school classes from June to November 2020 in Zurich, Switzerland. Switzerland is one of the countries most affected by the second wave of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic during autumn 2020 in Europe. Since the schools in Switzerland stayed open, they offered a moderate to high exposure environment to study SARS-CoV-2 infections. Children were randomly chosen from different schools and classes, stratified by district, and were invited for serological SARS-CoV-2 testing. Parents of the selected children completed questionnaires on health and sociodemographic-related questions. The participants of the study were from 275 classes in 55 schools. A total of 2,603 children participated in the study in June-July 2020, and 2,552 children participated in October-November 2020. The age range of the children was between 6 and 16 years. Primary outcomes measured included SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in June-July and October-November 2020, clustering of seropositive children within classes, and the presence of symptoms in children. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 2.4% in the summer and 4.5% in late autumn In June-July 2020, 74 children were seropositive out of 2496 children whose serological results were available. In October-November 2020, the number of seropositive children increased to 173 out of 2,503 children. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in the summer was 2.4% and that in late autumn was 4.5% in children who were not seropositive earlier. This led to a total of 7.8% of seropositive children. Seroprevalence varied across different districts. In the autumn, it was between 1.7 and 15.0%. No significant differences were observed among lower, middle, and upper school levels or among children aged 6-9 years, 9-13 years, and 12-16 years, respectively. Out of the 2,223 children who were tested both in the summer and in the autumn, 28/70 or 40% of previously seropositive children became seronegative, and 109/2,153 or 5% of previously seronegative children became seropositive. 22% of seronegative children and 29% of newly seropositive children since the summer showed symptoms. The ratio of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection to seropositive children was 1 to 8 between July and November 2020. At least one child was detected in 47 out of 55 schools and in 90 out of 275 classes who was newly seropositive. Out of 130 classes with a high participation rate, no seropositive children were found in 73 or 56% of classes; 1 or 2 children were seropositive in 50 classes (38%), and at least 3 children were seropositive in 7 classes (5%). In the multilevel logistic regression models, school level explained 8% and class level explained 24% of seropositivity variance. Findings show that clusters of SARS-CoV-2 infection are rare within school classes With schools in Switzerland open since August 2020 and some preventive strategies in place, clustering of seropositive children occurred in only a few classes despite a spike in overall seroprevalence during a period of moderate to high SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the community. Whether these findings will be different with the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and dynamic community transmission levels remains uncertain. "Future testing rounds of this study will provide insights on transmission within classes over prolonged periods during dynamic levels of community transmission and the spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants." NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 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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 ADVERTISEMENT Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has assured the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and Jaiz Bank that his administration will continue to work in partnership with them in order to enable low income earners in the state reap the benefits of the newly introduced Hajj Savings Scheme. The governor stated this at the launching/sensitisation programme on Hajj Savings Scheme, organised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria in conjunction with Jaiz Bank in Gombe. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Njodi, the governor described the initiative by NAHCON and Jaiz Bank to create a saving scheme for prospective low income Muslim pilgrims as an excellent move which will go a long way in actualising the dreams of individual Muslims who hope to undertake the religious journey. While assuring NAHCON and Jaiz Bank of his administrations unwavering support towards the success of the scheme, Mr Yahaya said the state government under his leadership will trigger a policing mechanism to judiciously guard and protect the wealth of the people who will open accounts with the scheme. He advised both organisations to intensify their sensitisation campaign to towns and villages so that Muslims across the state can benefit from the scheme. He challenged Jaiz Bank in particular to make justice and fairness their watch words as their actions can either make or mar the success of the scheme. Mr Yahaya equally used the occasion to remind the people of the state that the Covid-19 pandemic is still very much in existence and appealed to traditional and religious leaders to embrace the AstraZeneca vaccine in order to safe human lives. The Chair and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Zikirullah Hassan, said under the Hajj Saving Scheme, subscribers can get reward of their intentions before actualising the journey. Represented by a national commissioner in the Commission, Prince Momoh, the NAHCON boss said every Muslim can participate and will have the opportunity to perform the holy pilgrimage without having to sell off his or her assets. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Jaiz Bank, Hassan Usman, in his remark, said the National Hajj Savings Scheme is a significant milestone for all Hajj stakeholders in Nigeria. Earlier, the Executive Secretary of Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Saadu Hassan, said the board will galvanise support for the successful implementation and patronage of the scheme in the state. He said following the suspension of Hajj operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the board is mindful of pilgrims whose monies are still with it and will give priority to them when restrictions on pilgrimage are finally lifted. RTHK: Banksy piece to raise millions for UK health service A painting by UK street artist Banksy is expected to raise millions of pounds for the staff of Britain's state-run National Health Service (NHS) at auction on Tuesday. The painting by the elusive artist, titled "Game Changer", first appeared at Southampton General Hospital on England's south coast, during the first wave of the global health crisis last May. The black-and-white painting shows a small boy playing with a nurse doll wearing a mask and a cape. Spiderman and Batman superhero toys lie discarded in a bin behind him. The artist who first emerged out of Bristol's graffiti scene in southwest England in the 1990s left a note with the painting thanking hospital staff for their work battling the pandemic. "Thanks for all you're doing. I hope this brightens up the place a bit, even if it's only in black and white," he wrote. Christie's auction house has placed a pre-sale estimate of between 2.5 million and 3.5 million on the artwork. Proceeds from the auction will go to NHS charities and a reproduction of the piece will continue to hang at Southampton General Hospital. Christie's said in a statement the painting was a departure from Banksy's usual irreverent style and was instead "a personal tribute to those who continue to turn the tide of the pandemic". "As an artwork, however, it will remain forever a symbol of its time: a reminder of the world's real game changers, and of the vital work they perform," the international art seller said. The painting may also have a political subtext though, as it was donated shortly after Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the public antibody tests could be a "game changer" in the pandemic only to have experts quickly pour cold water on the idea. Speaking in a video shared by Southampton Hospitals Charity earlier this month, staff at Southampton General Hospital thanked Banksy for the painting and shared their enthusiasm for the work. Steph Gurney, a senior nurse with the hospital's Acute Medical Unit, said the appearance of the painting had come as a "real shock and a surprise" and that it "meant so much that a world-renowned artist would want to donate a piece of work to our hospital". (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-03-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Just hours after AstraZeneca said the late-stage trials of its COVID-19 vaccine proves its 100% efficacy against severe or critical disease and hospitalization, a key U.S. government oversight agency expressed concern about the information released by the drug maker. The Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) issued a statement early Tuesday that the British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant may have included outdated information from the late-stage clinical trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. FILE - Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson receives the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine administered by nurse and Clinical Pod Lead, Lily Harrington at St.Thomas' Hospital in London, March 19, 2021. AstraZeneca said Monday that its analysis of the safety and efficacy of its vaccine, developed jointly with Britains University of Oxford, was based on more than 30,000 participants in U.S. trials. Researchers at Oxford also said the vaccine is 79% effective against preventing symptomatic coronavirus. The DSMB urged AstraZeneca to work with it to review the data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible. The statement from the independent board of experts is just the latest setback for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which has had a troubled rollout across the world. Several European countries had recently stopped use of the AstraZeneca vaccine because of reports that it was associated with blood clots in recipients. And South Africa stopped using the shot due to concerns about its efficacy against a local variant of the virus. The country sold at least a million of its AstraZeneca COVID vaccines to the African Union. But the European Medicines Agency, the drug approval body for the European Union, said the vaccine is safe and does not raise the overall risk of blood clots. The World Health Organization has subsequently recommended the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine against variants of the coronavirus, and that it considers its benefits outweighs its risks. FILE - Dr. Ngong Cyprian, left, is the first Nigerian to receive the first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine at the National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria, March 5, 2021. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been the leading choice among the developing world because of its low-cost and simple storage requirements. South Korean President Moon Jae-in was inoculated with the vaccine on Tuesday. Germany extend lockdown Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday the government is extending the countrys lockdown until April 18, citing the steady rise of new infections. The extended restrictions include a total lockdown between April 1-5 during the upcoming Easter holiday, with a request for all Germans to stay home during the period. German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a news conference after a meeting with state leaders to discuss options beyond the end of the pandemic lockdown, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Berlin, Germany, March 23, 2021. Merkel and all of the countrys 16 state governors had recently crafted a plan to gradually lift the coronavirus restrictions by March 28. But Germany has been plagued by a spike in new infections due to the more infectious B.1.1.7 variant, along with the slow pace of vaccinations, with only 9% of the population having received at least one shot of the vaccine. We basically have a new pandemic, Merkel told reporters in Berlin Tuesday. The B.1.1.7 variant was first detected in the United Kingdom and it is easily transmitted and more deadly, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned during a White House press conference on Friday. The Chicago suburb of Evanston has become the first US city to make reparations available to its black residents for past discrimination and the lingering effects of slavery. The City Council voted 8-1 to begin making good on its pledge to distribute 10 million US dollars over the next 10 years with the distribution of 400,000 dollars to eligible black households. Each qualifying household would receive 25,000 dollars for home repairs, down payments on property, and interest or late penalties on property in the city. The move by the Illinois community comes as hundreds of communities and organisations across the country are considering providing reparations. In Evanston, besides revenue from a 3% tax on the sale of recreational marijuana, a small portion of the money 21,340 dollars is coming to the city in private donations. Expand Close Reparation efforts gained momentum in the US following the death of George Floyd last year (Jonathan Brady/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Reparation efforts gained momentum in the US following the death of George Floyd last year (Jonathan Brady/PA) Qualifying residents must have either lived in or been a direct descendant of a black person who lived in Evanston between 1919 to 1969, or that persons direct descendant, who suffered discrimination in housing because of city ordinances, policies or practices. Also, residents who also experienced discrimination due to the citys policies or practices after 1969 can qualify. Alderman Robin Rue Simmons, who proposed the programme that was adopted in 2019, said groups in support of reparations have offered pro-bono legal assistance if the programme is challenged in court. This is set aside for an injured community that happens to be black, that was injured by the city of Evanston for anti-black housing policies, Ms Simmons said. At the same time, Ms Simmons suggested that the money is just a start to right the wrongs of the past. Ms Simmons said: We all know that the road to repair and justice in the black community is going to be a generation of work. Its going to be many programmes and initiatives, and more funding. The City Council acted after dozens of citizens addressed the body and the plan received some pushback. Expand Close Joe Biden has expressed support for creating a federal commission to study black reparations (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joe Biden has expressed support for creating a federal commission to study black reparations (Niall Carson/PA) Alderman Cicely Fleming, the lone vote against the plan, said she supports reparations, but what the City Council was debating is a housing plan that is being called reparations. She said the people should dictate the terms of how their grievances are repaired. Ms Fleming described the programme as paternalistic, and it assumes black people cannot manage their own money. Other communities and organisations considering providing reparations range from the state of California to cities like Amherst, Massachusetts, Providence, Rhode Island, Asheville, North Carolina, and Iowa City, Iowa; religious denominations like the Episcopal Church; and prominent colleges like Georgetown University in Washington. The efforts, some of which have been under way for years, have gained momentum in the wake of the death of George Floyd in police custody last May in Minneapolis. President Joe Biden has even expressed support for creating a federal commission to study black reparations, a proposal that has languished for decades in Congress. The communications technology and solution provider worked with the Mexican broadcaster to examine video transmission use cases using 5G standalone and edge computing, exploring latency reduction, as well as identifying improvements in efficiency, flexibility and cost.The trial was carried out using 100 MHz spectrum in the 3.5GHz mid-band 5G frequency with Nokia 5G technology for core and radio access (RAN). TV Azteca part of Grupo Salinas, and the second-largest media producer in the world tested the transfer of raw HD/4K video from cameras to the encoding server of TV Azteca, for its subsequent distribution without the need communication for additional infrastructure. It also looked to demonstrate the potential of new applications for TV coverage in smart stadiums, as well as leveraging edge computing platforms to host augmented reality (AR) services or run event-related analytics.TV Azteca part of Grupo Salinas is the second-largest producer of content for Spanish-language television in the world, with TV transmission operations in Mexico, the United States and Latin America. The trial was conducted at TV Aztecas premises in Mexico City to also identify how 5G technology could bring technological and financial benefits to Grupo Salinas, as part of its Industry 4.0 digitalisation strategy.The partners said that the tests showed that 5G connectivity enabled more agile camera deployment and repositioning during live events, resulting in a more dynamic viewing experience. It also demonstrated the feasibility of other use cases that benefit from the flexibility of video streaming, including improved operations, security, fleet monitoring, and network, but also provided the groundwork for other use cases across Grupo Salinas. automation in industries such as retail, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas.Were committed to delivering the best possible viewing experience to our audience, observed TV Azteca chief technology officer Pedro Manuel Carmona Ortiz. Our partnership with Nokia has not only allowed us to successfully test our video transmission capabilities across a secure 5G network, but also provided the groundwork for other use cases across Grupo Salinas. Marcelo Entreconti, head of enterprise, Latin America at Nokia, added: 5G technology has the potential to transform the broadcast industry, thanks to its reduced latency and cost benefits. This trial has shown that TV Azteca can transmit events live, in real time and without compromising quality, giving them a competitive advantage in the market and demonstrating the opportunities that come with embracing 5G. The government on Tuesday raised the deposit threshold limit to Rs 5 lakh per annum in provident fund for which interest would continue to be tax exempt. This would be applicable to those cases where no contribution is made employers to the retirement fund. In her Budget presented to Parliament on February 1, Finance Minister had provided that interest on employee contributions to provident fund over Rs 2.5 lakh per annum would be taxed from April 1, 2021. Replying to the debate on the Finance Bill 2021 in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman made the announcement regarding raising the limit to Rs 5 lakh in cases where employers do not make contributions to the provident fund. The Finance Bill, which gives effect to tax proposals for 2021-22, was approved by voice vote. The bill was passed after acceptance of 127 amendments to the proposed legislation. The minister also stressed that tax on interest on provident fund contribution affects only 1 per cent of the contributors, and the remaining are not impacted as their contribution is less than Rs 2.5 lakh per annum. Referring to the issues raised by various members on higher taxes on motor fuel, Sitharaman said she would love to discuss the issue of bringing petrol and diesel under GST in the next GST Council meeting. She also sought to remind members that it was not just the Centre which taxes motor fuel and states too impose levies. The finance minister also said rationalisation of customs duty structure will be undertaken to help domestic businesses, especially the MSME segment. On taxes, she emphasised on the need for widening the tax base. With regards to the equalisation levy, she said this is meant to provide a level playing field to domestic businesses which pay taxes in India. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All full-time employees in Alabamas largest school system will get a $1,200 bonus as early as later this week. The Mobile County School Board of Commissioners approved the bonuses during a meeting on Monday, and Superintendent Chresal Threadgill said the checks could be issued via direct deposit by the end of the week. The faculty and staff have gone above and beyond and have worked really hard in the past and will really hard in the future, Threadgill said. Im proud of the work they have done. Approximately 7,300 employees are eligible for the bonus, which will cost the schools system around $8.8 million. This has been an exceptional year with the pandemic, said board member Don Stringfellow. Its been truly extraordinary. Our teachers have done double and triple duty. Stringfellow said the bonuses have been considered for some time. He said the commissioners were aware that other schools in Alabama were issuing bonuses to their teachers and support staff, but added that Mobile County wanted to make sure we did it right. It was about taking our time to make sure our finances were in order, said Stringfellow. I know money doesnt always compensate for the extra hard work and stress that goes on in our system with our teachers and staff. Its one way to show appreciation. Schools throughout Alabama issued one-time bonuses, or otherwise referred to as extraordinary compensation, late last year before the Christmas holiday. Schools varied in how much they provided teachers and staff. In Baldwin County, teachers and staff received an extra $1,000 issued to approximately 4,000 employees. Birmingham City Schools provided a $500 one-time bonus to its teaches and staff. In most cases, the bonus money was not paid for directly by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was endorsed by Congress last spring and provided millions of dollars in funding to schools for technology upgrades and new computers to accommodate increasing digital learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the addition of the CARES Act money allowed the schools to free up local tax money to provide the one-time compensation. [March 23, 2021] Trust Stamp Competes in Hague Innovators Challenge with Medical QR Code Technology THE HAGUE, Netherlands, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Trust Stamp (OTCQX: IDAI, Euronext Growth: AIID ID), a global provider of AI-powered identity services for use in multiple sectors, competes as a finalist in ImpactCity's Hague Innovators Challenge 2021 , a program that recognises innovative ideas for global issues. Trust Stamp's privacy-protected, secure, and equitable Medical QR Code (MQRC) technology joins seven other solutions selected from over 60 applicants to compete in the final round of competition, with winners announced in May. Trust Stamp delivers universally accessible identity solutions that drive financial and societal inclusion as a key factor in reaching global Sustainable Development Goals, including the target of their MQRC solution that aims to promote access to quality essential health services and safe, effective, and affordable medicines and vaccines, United Nations SDG 3.8 . Melissa Salyk-Virk, Vice President for Transnational Projects at Trust Stamp comments, "The COVID-19 pandemic highlights opportunities to transform healthcare by leveraging accessible, patient-centric technologies to unlock the benefits that efficient access and permissioned sharing of medical information have on consistency and quality of care, patient and community outcomes, and the potential for public health initiatives to create lasting impact." Built on Trust Stamp's Irreversibly Transformed Identity Token (IT2) solution, the MQRC system uses proven, fraud-resistant biometric identity technology to enable user-controlled access, maintenance, and sharing of protected personal health information via a simple QR code. The technology reaches beyond limitations like access to existing medical or identity records and online connectivity, allowing individuals to actively leverage identity and medical information to gain equitable access to essential services, without risking exposure or misuse of sensitive data. "By combining touchless biometric verification with data-protection and portability solutions that prioritise individual needs for privacy and accessibility when managing health information, we can deliver an efficient, secure, and trusted data management framework that underpins a robust healthcare ecosystem," says Salyk-Virk. Trust Stamp first established a presence at the Hague Humanity Hub in early 2020 while involved with Accenture's Netherlands-based Blue Tulip Awards program, a competition recognising innovations that address the forefront global challenges of today, where they were named the Top Finance Innovation. A branch office of Trust Stamp Malta Limited, the Company's location in The Hague is headquarters to AIID (Artificial Intelligence for Identity), a Public Benefit Corporation subsidiary focused on delivering trusted identity solutions to accelerate secure societal and financial inclusion in emerging markets. If selected during the final round of competition, Trust Stamp and AIID plan to use the proceeds to support the pilot launch of the MQRC solution in the Netherlands. About Trust Stamp Trust Stamp is a global provider of AI-powered identity services for use in multiple sectors including banking and finance, regulatory compliance, government, real estate, communications, and humanitarian services. Its technology empowers organisations with biometric identity solutions that reduce fraud, protect personal data privacy, increase operational efficiency and reach a broader base of users worldwide through its unique data transformation and comparison capabilities. Located in six countries across North America, Europe and Asia, Trust Stamp trades on the OTCQX Best Market (OTCQX: IDAI) and is listed on Euronext Growth in Dublin (Euronext Growth: AIID ID). Founded in 2016 by Gareth Genner and Andrew Gowasack, the company now employs over 60 people with flagship customers including Mastercard International, Synchrony Financial, and FIS. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trust-stamp-competes-in-hague-innovators-challenge-with-medical-qr-code-technology-301253641.html SOURCE Trust Stamp [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Beijing, March 23 : China's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned the head of the European Union's (EU) delegation to Beijing in protest after the bloc imposed sanctions on Chinese officials over human rights abuses against the Uighurs in Xinjiang. In a statement, the Ministry said that Nicolas Chapuis was summoned during talks on Monday after Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang said the punitive measures were based on "lies and false information", reports dpa news agency. The sanctions are contrary to reality and reason, and the EU is not qualified to act as a human rights teacher, Qin Gang was cited as saying. China is urging the EU to recognise the seriousness of its mistake, correct it and end the confrontation "in order to not harm Chinese-European relations any further", the statement added. The EU sanctioned four Chinese officials and one entity in Xinjiang on Monday, targeting them with assets freezes and travel bans. They are the first such sanctions against China since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. The US, the UK and Canada followed with their own sanctions. Within hours, Beijing responded with a tit-for-tat move, imposing sanctions on 10 European lawmakers and four European institutions. In the last few years, hundreds of Uighurs, Kazakhs and Huis have testified that they were held in internment camps in Xinjiang province as part of what observers say is a government campaign to forcibly assimilate ethnic minorities. The Chinese government says the camps, estimated to have held more than 1 million people since 2017, are "vocational education centres" to eradicate extremism and terrorism. Chandigarh: The Chandigarh administration on Monday directed restaurants and hotels in the Union Territory to operate at 50 per cent capacity amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Besides, all restaurants in the city will close by 11 pm and the last order can be taken till 10 pm. RestaurantSchools, colleges and other educational institutions in Chandigarh will remain closed till March 31, according to an official statement. All public "Holi-Milan" gatherings have been banned and clubs and hotels will not allow any ceremonial gatherings. "The residents must celebrate the Holi festival at home while following appropriate Covid protocol," the statement said. Museums, libraries, auditoriums and theatres, etc. run by the Chandigarh administration will also remain closed till further orders. Cinema halls No new permission will be granted for holding any exhibition/mela to entertain gatherings. However, all those exhibitions which were given permission earlier might be allowed as per their schedule, the statement said. Permission from the Chandigarh deputy commissioner will be mandatory for holding any event, including political and social gatherings and even wedding functions. Strict monitoring of Covid appropriate behaviour will be done in crowded places like Sukhna lake, 'Apni Mandis', markets and malls, the statement said. The decisions were taken in a meeting here presided over by Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore, who is also the administrator of UT Chandigarh. Punjab Governor VP Singh BadnoreThe meeting was attended by Manoj Parida, adviser to the administrator, the DGP Chandigarh and PGIMER director, among others. He also mentioned that visitors coming to Chandigarh by bus, train, air and other public transport modes should be invariably screened and wherever symptoms found, those people must be tested to check infection. In the meeting, it was also decided to allow vegetable/fruit vendors to sell their items in carts by visiting various residential areas, as it will reduce the crowd in Apni Mandis and the wholesale market in Sector 26 here. Hosts in various events such as weddings and political gatherings should ensure that all participants wear masks, the statement said. Badnore appealed to medical authorities to ensure that they are in readiness to handle the increasing number of coronavirus patients, who are coming for treatment in the hospitals. DENVER, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ONE Cannabis Group (OCG Inc.), the parent company to the cannabis dispensary franchise Unity Rd., announced today that it has been acquired by Item 9 Labs Corp. The newly formed entity is the first vertically integrated cannabis franchisor in the United States. The combined business will escalate lead flow for Unity Rd. franchise development and mitigate challenges new and existing dispensary owners face. Founded in 2018, the cannabis franchise currently has multiple agreements with 10 entrepreneurial groups who are in various stages of development nationwide. As Unity Rd. continues to grow its network by awarding the franchise opportunity to qualified entrepreneurs across the country, Item 9 Labs will help solve an all-too-common challenge that many dispensaries face: securing access to a trusted supply chain. Since cannabis products cannot cross state lines, Item 9 Labs plans to develop or partner with cultivation facilities in states where Unity Rd. franchise partners open cannabis retail shops, giving them front-of-the-line access to award-winning products. Known for its impressive catalogue of products, Item 9 Labs currently offers 75-plus active cannabis strains and more than 150 differentiated cannabis vape products as well as premium concentrates. The award-winning cannabis operator is headquartered in Arizona, where the company is currently expanding its operations space by 650,000+ square feet on its 50-acre site one of the largest properties in the state that is zoned to grow and cultivate flower. Just this January, adult-use was made legal in Arizona, revealing the health and promise of the industry at large. "Item 9 Labs has garnered a reputation as a trusted source for high-quality cannabis products that also offer transparency, consistency and well-being to those relying on us," said Item 9 Labs CEO Andrew Bowden. The company's products are currently in nearly half of the cannabis dispensaries in Arizona. He added, "We've grown intentionally with all brands centered on helping others become the best versions of themselves. This fits well with Unity Rd.'s mission of inspiring confidence in the benefits of cannabis for all." Item 9 Labs also owns and operates DispensaryPermits.com and DispensaryTemplates.com, the leading online platforms for information surrounding cannabis business applications, regulations and state updates. The acquisition offers their customers a solution for long-term guidance and support through the Unity Rd. franchise opportunity. With news of the acquisition as it progressed as well as increased U.S. cannabis legalization, Unity Rd. has seen a surge in franchise lead activity over the past six months. The dispensary franchise is currently targeting Colorado, Oklahoma, Michigan, New Jersey, Maine, and Arizona among other markets, as part of its strategic franchise expansion plan. Together, the combined team has a proven track record of winning cannabis licenses in 15 states. Mike Weinberger, COO of ONE Cannabis who is now appointed Chief Franchise Officer of Item 9 Labs Corp. with this announcement, explains, "Extending our in-house knowledge in dispensary applications will strengthen our traction in emerging markets. This, along with direct access to Item 9 Labs' deep bench of premium products are added benefits that puts Unity Rd. franchise partners far ahead of any future competition." Unity Rd. offers the safest route for entrepreneurs looking to enter an industry that boasts unrivaled potential, helping franchise partners confidently enter the complex cannabis space. With a collective 120-plus years in the legal cannabis industry, the franchisor's time-tested Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) guide franchise partners through every operational function of the business. The veteran team passes on their knowledge and trusted resources, as well as provides the ongoing support needed to compliantly and successfully operate a dispensary. 2020 was a defining year for cannabis as five states approved legalization during the November elections and the overall acceptance of cannabis flourished as several states deemed the industry essential. Despite economic challenges brought on by the pandemic, the demand for cannabis products surged to unprecedented levels with nearly every state experiencing record sales throughout the year. 2021 is poised to be a big year for cannabis law reform on both the state and federal levels opening opportunities for the industry to explode, projected to top $24 billion by year-end. "If there was ever a time to invest in the cannabis industry, it's now," added Weinberger. "With cannabis sales increasing during the pandemic and several states looking at how tax revenue from legal cannabis could greatly offset the economic damage caused by COVID-19, the industry is poised to take-off. Those eager to enter now will greatly benefit from the knowledge and support of a franchisor to help navigate the complexities and vast inconsistencies on how states regulate." To learn more about Unity Rd. franchise opportunities, contact [email protected] or 720-923-5262, or visit unityrd.com. ABOUT UNITY RD. : Unity Rd., the retail brand of ONE Cannabis Group, is bridging the two previously disconnected worlds of cannabis and franchising. The industry trailblazer is the first to bring the cannabis dispensary franchise model to the United Stateswith duality of prowess in both industries to back it up. Built up from a collective 200 years in the legal cannabis industry and franchising, the company helps eager operators enter the complex industry with ease. The cannabis franchise pioneer offers its partners the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support needed to compliantly and successfully operate a dispensary. Launched in 2018, Unity Rd. currently has signed multiple agreements with 10 entrepreneurial groups across the country. Recently, it was named one of the top cannabis retail leaders in the nation by MJBizDaily magazine and one of the "Best Cannabis Companies to Work For" in both the dispensary and cultivation categories in Cannabis Business Times' elite 2020 list. The company is also the first cannabis business to earn a Franchise Times Dealmakers award. For more information, visit unityrd.com. ABOUT ITEM 9 LABS CORP. : Item 9 Labs Corp. is a vertically integrated cannabis operator delivering premium products from its large-scale cultivation and production facilities in the United States. The award-winning Item 9 Labs brand specializes in best-in-class products and user experience across several cannabis categories. The Company brings the best industry practices to markets nationwide through distinctive retail experience, cultivation capabilities, and production innovation. The veteran management team combines a diverse skill set with deep experience in the cannabis sector and capital markets to lead a new generation of public cannabis companies that provide transparency, consistency, and well-being. Headquartered in Arizona, the Company is expanding its operations space by 650,000+ square feet on its 50-acre site, one of the largest properties in Arizona zoned to grow and cultivate flower. For additional information, visit item9labscorp.com. SOURCE Unity Rd. Related Links http://unityrd.com He was looking for a job to keep himself off of the front lines and was learning to be a drone operator. He didnt want to put his family through something like this, Homer Talley said. He had seven children. The youngest is seven-years-old. He loved his kids and his family more than anything. Dozens of police and emergency vehicles, their lights flashing, escorted an ambulance carrying the officer from the shooting scene after nightfall. Some residents stood along the route, their arms raised in salute. Identities of the other nine victims were not disclosed as police were still notifying their family members. Police said it was too early to speculate on a motive and that the investigation involving local, state and federal agencies would take days. The attack in Boulder, about 40 kilometres north-west of Denver and home to the University of Colorado, stunned a state that has seen several mass shootings, including the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and the 2012 Aurora movie theatre shooting. It was the seventh mass killing this year in the US, following the March 16 shooting that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. It follows a lull in mass killings during the pandemic in 2020, which had the smallest number of such attacks in more than a decade, according to the database, which tracks mass killings defined as four or more dead, not including the shooter. Police work on the scene outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place in Boulder, Colorado. Credit:AP Dean Schiller told The Associated Press that he had just left the supermarket when he heard gunshots and saw three people lying face down, two in the parking lot and one near the doorway. He said he couldnt tell if they were breathing. Video posted on YouTube showed one person on the floor inside the store and two more outside on the ground. What sounds like two gunshots are also heard at the beginning of the video. Sarah Moonshadow told the Denver Post that two shots rang out just after she and her son, Nicolas Edwards, finished buying strawberries. She said she told her son to get down and then we just ran. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Once they got outside, she said they saw a body in the parking lot. Edwards said police were speeding into the lot and pulled up next to the body. I knew we couldnt do anything for the guy, he said. We had to go. James Bentz told the Post that he was in the meat section when he heard what he thought was a misfire, then a series of pops. I was then at the front of a stampede, he said. Bentz said he jumped off a loading dock out back to escape and that younger people were helping older people off of it. Colorado Governor Jared Polis tweeted a statement that his heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community. Police had told people to shelter in place amid a report of an armed, dangerous individual about 5 kilometres away from the grocery store but said at the news conference later that it wasnt related to the shooting. Loading The FBI said it was helping in the investigation at the request of police. White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the shooting. In a statement, the King Soopers chain offered thoughts, prayers and support to our associates, customers, and the first responders who so bravely responded to this tragic situation. We will continue to cooperate with local law enforcement and our store will remain closed during the police investigation. Kevin Daly, owner of Under the Sun Eatery and Pizzeria Restaurant a block or so from the supermarket, said he was in his shop when he saw police cars arriving and shoppers running from the grocery store. He said he took in several people to keep them warm, and others boarded a bus provided by Boulder police and were taken away. A witness who spoke to The Denver Post said the shooter did not say anything - he just came in and started shooting. A man told a TV station that his grandchildren were in the store during the shooting. He said they hid in a closet as the incident unfolded and as police dropped in through the roof. Police work on the scene outside of a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place in Boulder, Colorado. Credit:AP Daniel Douglas was in the store, picking up lunch and flowers for his girlfriend when the gunshots began. Nobody knew what was going on, so we started screaming: Hit the ground, he told Fox 31 Denver. At some point, he said, the shooter moved to the front of the shop, while Douglas and other customers rushed to the back of the building, where he said many others were hiding and trying to escape. A co-worker kicked open the emergency-exit door so people could get out, he said. A lot of people were petrified. A lot of people were crying, he said. Ryan Borowski, another survivor, expressed the same shock and disbelief about the shooting. Boulder feels like a bubble and that bubble burst, Borowski told CNN. It feels like nowhere is safe. Borowski said he was inside the supermarket to get a bag of chips and a drink when the shooting started. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Huntington, WV (25701) Today Cloudy with rain this morning...then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. ROME, MAR 23 - Francesco Vaia, the director of Rome's Spallanzani infectious-diseases hospital, said Tuesday that his institute was close to a deal for research involving Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. "We are about to sign a memorandum of understanding with Moscow's Gamaleya centre, which developed Sputnik V, for an exchange of biological material and researchers," Vaia told an Italian-Russian round table devoted to Sputnik V. "I am very proud because this a a first for Europe. "Science is neutral. It must be distant from geopolitical interests. "We and the Gamaleya have put the need to have vaccines that work to the fore. "We have seen great willingness to cooperate and be transparent in our Gamaleya colleagues". The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Adienne recently reached an agreement to produce Sputnik V in Italy, one of several deal to produce the vaccine outside Russia. "Italy is a priority for us within the scenario of relations with the European Union," said RDIF Director Vladimir Prima. "It is the country that we have the most active dialogue with for support to register Sputnik V." (ANSA). Pioneering technology that can deliver real-time and non-invasive resident monitoring and alerts for the aged care industry has been unveiled. The world-first smart monitoring system, REMi, featuring sensor technology developed by RMIT University, has been launched by Australian research and advanced manufacturing company Sleeptite. REMi sees fundamental research taken from the labs of RMIT and translated into a commercial outcome, supported by an Australian Government Cooperative Research Centres - Project (CRC-P) grant. Australian Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, joined Sleeptite at their Melbourne test facility and manufacturing home for the launch and to learn more about the next phase for the technology - aged care field trials and an advanced manufacturing push. "Innovative partnerships like this between researchers and industry are crucial to solving problems and then translating them into commercial outcomes," Andrews said. Integrated sensing and data platform REMi is a three-part system comprising of flexible sensors integrated into a medical grade mattress cover, the backend platform that analyses the data and the front-end user interface delivering valuable insights for the aged care workforce. Setting the REMi system apart from existing aged care monitoring devices are two world-first advancements: flexible and stretchable sensors that can monitor movement and vital signs when embedded in materials sitting external to the human body, developed by RMIT; and the advanced manufacturing equipment and processes, developed by Sleepeezee Bedding Australia, required to take the sensors made in a laboratory environment and mass produce them at scale for use in the real world. Sleeptite CEO Cameron van den Dungen said the system gave the aged care sector the opportunity to both increase the quality of healthcare they offer and the quality of residents' lives, through technology. "Technology like Sleeptite's REMi not only supports the valuable care workers but enables them to provide greater care than they believe is possible," van den Dungen said. "REMi takes the data that we extract from the person, from the environment in an aged care bedroom - whether it's at home or whether it's in a facility - and sorts out what is valuable to the user that needs that information. "Whether it's the carers wanting to know that whenever their attention is turned they have a safety net behind them monitoring all residents, or their loved ones wanting to feel reassured at all times, or a CEO, or a board making a decision based on benchmark of care or the standard of care in multiple sights." Professor Madhu Bhaskaran, co-leader of the Functional Materials and Microsystems Research Group at RMIT, said the collaboration was a model for deep engagement between universities and industry. "REMi shows the power of true partnership and the extraordinary results we can achieve through a collaboration built on mutual respect and clear, shared goals," Bhaskaran said. "We've gone from lab bench to commercialisation in just three years - solving myriad challenges along the way - to deliver smart home-grown tech that will be manufactured right here in Australia. "It's incredibly exciting to see the sensor we developed leaping out from our lab and into the world, to improve the care of some of our most vulnerable people." Advanced monitoring and care REMi has been designed to enable the aged care workforce to non-intrusively monitor residents during the night and receive alerts at critical moments such as if a resident falls, or is at risk of falling. Using the technology, carers will be able to determine not only the presence or absence of a person in bed, but also vital information about their position on the mattress. This allows them to detect signs of abnormality or potential health risks, such as their state of sleep or distress, as well as providing valuable insights in the understanding or prevention of falls. REMi can provide macro-data to facility mangers ensuring that quality care can be benchmarked and easily monitored and that facilities can easily, accurately and scientifically provide evidence of quality care to regulatory bodies, government and families. Further testing is already proving that the technology is also able to monitor more health parameters including respiratory and heart rate readings, with future developments to be added as field trials begin in coming months. Collaborative partnerships RMIT Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation and Vice-President, Professor Calum Drummond, said strong partnerships with industry were at the heart of RMIT research. "Our goal is to bridge the gap between research and impact, for the benefit of our communities," Drummond said. "It's through these kinds of deep collaborations that we can accelerate the translation of university research into new technologies and play a critical role in boosting Australia's sovereign capability, to help drive our economic recovery." Bill Mantzis, Managing Director Sleepeezee Bedding Australia, said advanced manufacturing techniques would ensure Australia's global competitiveness and generate demand for local jobs. "Companies that invest in innovation, research and development of new technologies and ideas will set the scene for the (manufacturing) industry and the industries for whom they are developing products," Mantzis said. ### When Chris George looks at the surge of unaccompanied children seeking asylum at the Southwest border, he sees a role for refugee resettlement organizations like his in helping to ease the crisis. New Haven-based Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, known as IRIS, has told the federal government it can help connect these minors, once they are placed with family members or sponsors in the U.S., with services including health care and legal aid to apply for asylum, enroll in school and provide English language training. Were ready to do that. We have the capacity to do that, said George, executive director of IRIS. We have the experience. Weve got federal contacts already, so the government knows about us. Connecticut would love to welcome some of these families. The expertise these agencies have in resettling refugees could be leveraged to aid those seeking asylum to the U.S. George said he is in discussions with officials from the Office of Refugee Resettlement about how IRIS could be of service. George joined U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D- Conn., at a news conference Monday that the senator, and new chair of the Senate subcommittee with oversight of the homeland security budget, held in Hartford following his visit to a detention facility in El Paso, Texas. The conditions are better than 2019. These are not cages. There are now child care workers and medical professionals. But I still wouldnt want my child in these detention facilities for more than 30 seconds, Murphy said. Just about everyone connected with immigration issues, on all aides of the issue, agrees the nation needs a reform and overhaul of its policies on who can come into the United States, when, and under what circumstances. For now, the Biden administration is turning away adults and families seeking asylum at the border, but not unaccompanied children, many of whom are fleeing their home countries of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico. The U.S. Border Patrol facilities have become overcrowded as migrant children await relocation to shelters run by the Department of Health and Human Services. Murphy described 100 kids per room, so many that their mattresses are lined up only a few inches or a few feet from each other. They spend four to five days in these detention facilities and then they get moved to group homes and eventually, after a few weeks, they get reunited with family members in the United States where they can make their asylum claim, Murphy said. George said these children, in some cases, are also experiencing delays in being placed with sponsors or relatives already living in the U.S. One reason why theyre not moving out of the shelters quickly is because the Trump administration was sharing information about sponsors and relatives with ICE, he said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That had a chilling effect on potential sponsors and relatives who wanted to step forward and receive these children. George said he has been told that practice has stopped under the Biden administration. But it will take a while to recover from that, he said. For the last six years, the Bridgeport-based organization Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants has helped to resettle unaccompanied minors, mostly seeking asylum from Central America, under a contract with the federal government. Susan Schnitzer, president and CEO of CIRI, was not at Murphys press conference, but agrees with George that resettlement agencies could play a larger role in the asylum process. The organization usually helps about 75 youth each year as they move from shelters to living with their sponsors. CIRI conducts home visits to ensure the sponsors home is safe and appropriate and helps connect the youth with legal and other services. The organization spends about three months in this case management role but is looking to secure private funding to do this work for at least a year, Schnitzer said. Resettlement agencies such as CIRI and IRIS are awaiting final determination from the Biden administration on the number of refugees the government intends to allow into the U.S. this year. The Trump administration set the refugee cap for this fiscal year at 15,000, the lowest number since 1980. We can do both. We can deal with the emergency at the border and at the same time we can increase the refugee resettlement program, George said. To resettle a refugee in the U.S. costs about $60,000, George said, bringing them from overseas to the U.S. and helping them get on their feet. That investment begins to pay off after a few years, he said, because asylum seekers, who receive work authorization when they are approved for asylum, begin working and paying taxes. Murphy agrees that increasing the number of refugees in the U.S. could help solve the problem at the border. We bring in very few refugees from Mexico and Central America. We should greatly expand the number of refugees that we bring in from those countries, and we should set up new processing facilities, Murphy said. The senator also wants to enable these migrant children to apply for asylum in their home countries, a practice allowed under the Obama administration but stopped under the Trump administration. So right now, the only way these kids can apply for asylum is to show up at our border, he said. A Queensland politician has shared a repulsive email sent to her husband in which she was called an 'unf***able wh**e' and a 'poorly educated goblin'. Labor MP and shadow minister for the environment Terri Butler said the message was sent by an anonymous troll to her husband's professional email on Tuesday. Troy Spence was told to put his wife and two children in a car and have a fatal accident in the vulgar message, which the MP explained is typical of the abuse her family endures. Queensland Labor MP Terri Butler (pictured) has revealed just one instance of the horrifying abuse she has suffered in her politics career The anonymous troll sent the vicious email (pictured) to Ms Butler's husband Troy Spence in the early hours of Tuesday morning Ms Butler said she has received a constant stream of anonymous abuse throughout her career in politics, but said the most recent incident inspired her to speak up. In a post on her Instagram, the politician explained this troll had not directly attacked her but had instead chosen to bully her husband. 'Someone went to the trouble to look up his name and his professional email address,' Ms Butler wrote. 'I don't usually share things like this because the trolls see it as a victory when they get your attention. But in the context of the last few weeks I thought it useful to say something about it.' The email was headed with the subject line 'Your worthless w***e of a wife' and was sent to Mr Spence in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Ms Butler (pictured) said she was inspired to share the post off the back of the March 4 Justice Rallies where tens of thousands of people protested across the nation 'Subhuman pinko, how do you have children when your low-IQ and poorly educated goblin of a wife is unf***able?', the email began. 'Do the world a favor, simp, and pack your misbegotten family and w***e of a wife into the family vehicle and have a fatal single-vehicle accident.' The politician said she was inspired to share the post off the back of the March 4 Justice Rallies where tens of thousands of people protested across the nation. Crowds took to the streets to protest sexual violence against women, following several rape allegations that have thrown government into chaos. The Labor MP said Australia had a long way to go before women can participate fully in society, saying there needed to be more women in male-dominated occupations. The politician said her colleagues copped abuse much worse than the vile email, and said Western Australian MP Anne Aly was regularly called an 'ISIS whore' by an anonymous troll because of her Islamic fatih. Ms Butler said some people may question why women would enter politics after seeing evidence of such abuse. 'My answer is that I don't think it's about women wanting to enter politics so much as seeing the problems and feeling a sense of duty to contribute to dealing with them,' she said. 'Obviously there are preconditions, impediments, and caveats, but some feel that if you can be in the fight, you should be in it.' Ms Butler's Instagram post was flooded with positive messages, many standing in solidarity with the politician. The anonymous troll told Ms Butler (left) and Mr Spence (right) to load their children into the family vehicle and get into a fatal car accident 'This is awful. Thank you for calling this out. We need *more* people like you in Parliament', Perth Labor MP Patrick Gorman commented. 'Gutless and grubby. Right to call it out', Victorian MP Josh Burns agreed. The MP's stark message comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison held a press conference on Tuesday where he vowed to do better in confronting the nation's sexual harassment crisis. Mr Morrison said he was 'greatly distressed' Australian women felt they had not been heard by him and said he was determined to create a safer environment for women. The prime minister addressed the nation after a report on Monday showed images allegedly shared by senior staffers of disturbing sex acts in Parliament House. In a press conference on Tuesday Prime Minister Scott Morrison vowed to 'do better' to confront the nation's sexual harassment crisis The release of the lewd images comes five weeks after former political staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped inside Parliament House. Mr Morrison received criticism on the subject after he said a discussion with his wife Jenny gave him new perspective when she asked him to imagine their daughters in the same scenario. The prime minister has said he meant no offence by his comments and has always discussed important issues with his wife. 'I acknowledge that many have not liked or appreciated some of my own personal responses to this over the course of the last month, I accept that,' he said. 'Whether that was seeking to openly share how I try and deal with such dramatic events, people might like the fact that I discuss these with my family - they are the closest people in my world to me.' Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 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. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global invisible orthodontics market is evolving dramatically with the rapid technological advances in dentistry. Invisible orthodontics have gained extensive popularity over the past few years, and a number of products such as bracket-less aligners and clear retainers have launched recently. Moreover, the growing incidences of dental diseases and inclination towards the correction of teeth deformities are accelerating the growth of the market on the global platform. According to Market Research Future (MRFR), the global Invisible Orthodontics Market Share had reached a valuation of USD 2598.8 Million in 2018, which is further projected to grow at 13.99% CAGR during the assessment period (2019 2025). The growing focus of Public as well as private organizations on catering to changing needs of customers by providing demos, conducting campaigns, and dental check-ups, is in turn, encouraging the growth of the invisible orthodontics substantially. Latest Free Sample PDF Available @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/8581 Besides, increasing support by regulatory authorities, in terms of investment and product approvals, acts as a significant growth driver for the invisible orthodontics market. Additionally, the rising prevalence of dental diseases fuels the growth of the market, pushing the need for newer treatment options. Moreover, the presence of a large number of players, increasing awareness among consumers, and advancements in dental technology have been driving the invisible orthodontics market. On the other hand, high costs of invisible orthodontics are impeding the market growth, especially in developing and underdeveloped nations. Also, the emerging grey market for dental distribution, involved in illegal selling of low cost, poor quality products is hampering the growth of the market. In addition, poor compliance of patients with dentists instructions would inhibit the market growth, leading to other complications of using these products. Invisible Orthodontics Market Segments The report is segmented into four main dynamics to widen the scope of understanding, By Product Type : Clear Braces, Aligners, Retainers, and others. By Age Group : Below 15, 16-35, and Above 35. By Application : Excessive Spacing, Crowding, Malocclusion, and others. By Regions : Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Rest-of-the-World. Global Invisible Orthodontics Market Regional Analysis North America accounts for a significantly larger share in the global invisible orthodontics market. The market is majorly driven by strategic approaches employed by prominent players in the major countries in the region. Besides, major strides in 3D technology and its early implementation in the development of dental products foster the growth of the market. Also, factors such as high per capita healthcare expenditures and the proliferating healthcare sector led by the well-developed economy in the region act as major growth propellers for the market growth. Additionally, the high GDP allows North America to gain an edge over other regions in terms of every aspect. Resultantly, the overall demographics in these regions take aesthetical approaches for every aspect of life. With the presence of a large aesthetician population, the North American invisible orthodontics market is projected to retain its dominance throughout the predicted period. Europe holds the second-largest share in the global invisible orthodontics market due to the increasing support from regulatory authorities as well as the large presence of distributors across the regional countries. Besides, well-spread awareness for oral health and efforts that people take to maintain oral health, functions, and appearance, foster the growth of the European invisible orthodontics market. Countries such as Canada, the US, and the UK support market growth on a large scale. The invisible orthodontics market in the Asia Pacific region is emerging as a lucrative market. Burgeoning industries such as dental treatments and cosmetic dentistry drive market growth, hugely. Direct marketing initiatives by the manufacturers are playing a substantial role in the development of the regional market, increasing the target audience, and thus increasing the market size. Also, strategic alliances between key players are contributing to the growth of the market. APAC countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia contribute to the regional market growth substantially. The APAC Invisible Orthodontics market is expected to create a considerable revenue pocket over the forecast period. Invisible Orthodontics Market Competitive Analysis Highly competitive, the invisible orthodontics market appears to be fragmented, with several well-established players forming a competitive landscape. These players are adopting strategic initiatives such as mergers & acquisitions, collaborations, and innovations, to meet their business expansion plans. Also, the well-established players involved are vigorously focusing on product approvals to expand their customer base and brace their position in the market. To ensure their mission success, they acquire promising companies in emerging markets, focusing on optimized situational awareness. They also make heavy investments in R&D activities and build state-of-the-art facilities that can aid in the development of a cost-effective product portfolio and a stable marketing network, which can help them to gain the leadership position in the market. Major Players: Players leading the global invisible orthodontics market includes 3M (US), Clarus Company (US), Align Technology, Inc. (US), ClearPath Healthcare Services (US), Dentsply Sirona (US), Danaher Corporation (US), DynaFlex (US ), Institut Straumann AG (Switzerland), Henry Schein, Inc. (US), and Ormco (US), among others. Industry / Innovation / Related News: January 17, 2020 - Western Dental & Orthodontics (the US), a countrywide leader in accessible, affordable oral healthcare and the leading orthodontics provider, launched new orthodontic aligners - ClearArc to offer affordable care. ClearArc is being rolled out to 233 Western Dental offices in California and Texas in January and in Arizona and Nevada, in February. Developed after extensive research and testing, ClearArc is available for 40% less than the leading brand and offers unique advantages over rivals. To view the full report, visit at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/invisible-orthodontics-market-8581 About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR) ), and Market Research & Consulting Services. By Denis Slattery | New York Daily News Albany, N.Y. Better than expected revenues and additional federal aid will negate the need for cuts proposed as part of Gov. Cuomos budget plan without the need for any significant tax hikes, the governors top fiscal planner said Monday. State budget director Robert Mujica appeared to throw cold water on the idea of hiking taxes on the wealthy, which Democrats in control of the Legislature have backed as a way to cover spending increases linked to schools and health care. So as of now, and our latest talks with the Legislature, and staffs have been meeting throughout last week and over the weekend, and weve identified over $5 billion in resources available, Mujica said. So you wouldnt require any significant level in tax increases. Both the Assembly and Senate passed their non-binding one-house budget bills last week, outlining their fiscal priorities. Dems in both chambers are proposing various tax increases on upper-income earners and corporations that could generate around $7 billion. The governor has mostly resisted calls to increase taxes on the wealthy, arguing it could scare rich New Yorkers into moving elsewhere. Mike Murphy, a spokesman for the Senate Democrats, said the proposals from lawmakers are about ensuring funding for the future. It is amazing that they found 5 billion dollars just a week after our one house budget passed, he said. Our position remains the same: we need to ensure all New Yorkers are protected and we can pass a budget that doesnt rely on one-shots and austerity but creates long-term equity. That dovetails with comments made by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D- Bronx) who said last week that the proposals were about more than addressing New Yorks current budget deficit. One of the reasons why we felt like we needed to do the revenue raisers because we need to start to make investments if this state is really going to recover from this pandemic, Heastie said. Lawmakers are looking to increase taxes on anyone making more than $1 million a year and institute other revenue-generating measures such as creating new tax brackets for people making between $5 million and $25 million and more than $25 million. The state entered 2021 with a $15 billion deficit for the next two years, prompting Cuomo to propose best and worst case budget scenarios riddled with spending cuts. However, that hole has been largely filled thanks to $12.6 billion in state aid from a federal coronavirus stimulus package approved earlier this month and higher-than-expected tax revenue. The impasse sets up an interesting dynamic with little more than a week to go before the states fiscal deadline of April 1. Already overshadowing budget negotiations between the administration and the Legislature have been the growing calls on Cuomo to resign as multiple women have come forward with sexual harassment claims against him. Old (green) and newly made (orange) dopamine-producing nerve cells in the zebrafish brain. Credit: University of Sheffield A pioneering study, published in Scientific Reports, found that the Parkinon's gene PINK1 is important for the generation of dopamine-producing neurons throughout life, and is not just responsible for the premature death of these neuronsThe international research, led by University of Sheffield's Neuroscience Institute, used two model systems to examine how neurons are produced throughout our lifetimeParkinson's disease is a relentlessly progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects around 145,000 people in the UKA gene defect linked to Parkinson's disease may not only cause the early death of neurons, but also impair the process that generates neurons in the brain throughout our lifetime, a new study has revealed. The international study, led by the University of Sheffield's Neuroscience Institute, may have a significant impact on the future treatment of Parkinson's patients who develop the illness due to PINK1 defect or similar gene defects. The development of novel treatments and therapies to slow down disease progression, halt or reverse Parkinson's may now focus on enhancing the generation of new dopamine-producing neurons, rather than just trying to protect these neurons from dying later. The findings, published today in Scientific Reports, used two model systems to measure how inactivation of the PINK1 gene affects dopamine-producing neurons in the adult brain. Dopamine-producing neurons are the most severely affected brain cells in Parkinson's disease. It is typically thought that Parkinson's genes, such as PINK1, cause early death of these neurons, with symptoms developing when neuron numbers fall. However, here, researchers found that a deficiency in PINK1 resulted in fewer dopamine-producing neurons being made throughout life. Professor Oliver Bandmann, Professor of Movement Disorders Neurology at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), said: "Neurogenesis is the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain. Recent evidence suggests that this process is ongoing throughout life but the relevance of this is poorly understood in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease." "We know that mutations in the PINK1 gene cause an early onset, inherited form of Parkinson's disease. If we can further our understanding about the impact of this genetic mutation on the dopamine-producing neurons we can develop new therapeutic approaches that aim to mitigate those effects." In collaboration with the University of Luxembourg, researchers used two complementary model systems to examine how neurons are reproduced throughout our lifetime. Professor Marysia Placzek, Professor of Developmental Neurobiology in the Department of Biomedical Science, said: "This study attests to the power of using simple model organisms for pre-clinical translational research. We used the zebrafish to demonstrate that dopamine-producing neurons are generated into adulthood at a rate that decreases with age and that PINK1-deficiency impairs neurogenesis of these neurons, significantly in early adult life. Our international collaborators then confirmed these results in a human organoid cell model." The observation of impaired adult dopaminergic neurogenesis in PINK1 deficiency in two complementing model systems may have significant consequences for future therapeutic approaches in Parkinson's disease. Future research will aim to identify the precise mechanisms that link Parkinson's genes to neurogenesis. This will allow us to explore the development of gene therapy or small molecule approaches to enhance neurogenesis in the brain of patients with Parkinson's. The development of new therapies for brain diseases like Parkinson's is the main focus of the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN). The research was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), Parkinson's UK and the Wellcome Trust. Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, with approximately 10 million people affected worldwide. Currently, only symptomatic treatment options are available to patients. The University of Sheffield launched a sustained fundraising effort for Parkinson's disease research at the end of 2019. Since then, Sheffield staff, students, alumni and the general public have come together to raise more than 350,000 so far. The ongoing efforts of this campaign are set to continue as Sheffield dedicates itself to backing the next breakthrough. Explore further New Parkinson's disease therapeutics discovered (@ChaudhryMAli88) UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd March, 2021) The the immediate needs of the children and families, UNICEF and its partners are on the ground at a Rohingya refugee camp in southern Bangladesh amid a major fire to address UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh Tomoo Hozumi said in a statement on Monday. A massive fire ripped through the Balukhali Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar earlier on Monday, gutting hundreds of tents and another facilities. "UNICEF and our partners are on the ground addressing the immediate and urgent needs of children and families. UNICEF has mobilized health teams for first aid support as well as volunteers to evacuate refugees from their shelters," Hozumi said. Hozumi said the fire has already caused enormous devastation, spreading rapidly through refugee camps and displacing thousands of people. While large-scale evacuations have taken place, the full extent of the disaster is yet to be confirmed. Hozumi also mentioned initial reports that there are children are among the injured in addition to children separated from their families. "UNICEF child protection personnel and their partner organizations are working to assist children in need including separated children," Hozumi said. "Our partners are also delivering emergency supplies and clean drinking water." According to the UN Refugee Agency, some 860,000 Rohingya refugees are currently based in camps in Cox's Bazar district after fleeing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state. By Kate Kelland and Julie Steenhuysen LONDON/CHICAGO (Reuters) - AstraZeneca will publish up-to-date results from its major U.S. COVID-19 vaccine trial within 48 hours after health officials publicly criticized the drugmaker for using "outdated information" to show how well the immunization worked. The rare public rebuke marks the latest setback for the vaccine once hailed as a milestone in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that has since been dogged by questions over its effectiveness and possible side effects. AstraZeneca said results it published on Monday in which the vaccine had demonstrated 79% efficacy were based on an interim analysis of data through Feb. 17, and it would now "immediately engage" with the independent panel monitoring the trial to share its full analysis. The British-based drugmaker on Tuesday said it had reviewed the preliminary assessment of its full, or primary, analysis and found it to be consistent with the interim report. But the Washington Post reported that the data monitoring panel told federal officials they had been working with the company through March, had seen data that showed the vaccine might be 69% to 74% effective, and had "strongly recommended" AstraZeneca include that information in its public statement. AstraZeneca shares fell 1.8% in London trading. The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said on Monday that the independent monitoring panel had expressed concern the company may have included outdated data that gave an incomplete view of the shot's effectiveness. NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci called the whole issue a really unfortunate unforced error. "This kind of thing does ... nothing but really cast some doubt about the vaccines and may contribute to the hesitancy," he told ABC's "Good Morning America." "The data really are quite good but when they put it into the press release it wasn't completely accurate," he said. Story continues In addition to the 79% efficacy in stopping symptomatic illness in the trial conducted in the United States, Chile and Peru, the data reported on Monday also showed the shot was 100% effective against severe or critical forms of the disease and posed no increased risk of blood clots. Dr. Larry Corey, co-leader of the U.S. Coronavirus Vaccine Prevention Network, which helped design AstraZeneca's U.S. trial, said the monitoring panel's rebuke was something he had not seen before. The virologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, praised the panel for speaking up, saying it showed the system of checks and balances worked. One U.S.-based investigator who was not authorized to speak publicly said AstraZeneca was not wrong to publish an analysis it had described as interim and expressed concern over the public controversy. "It's just a little bit like shooting yourself in the foot, because the science is good," the person said. 'NEGATIVE REPORTS' The new questions about the shot's efficacy coincide with its rollout in dozens of countries and clouds the timeline for its potential emergency use authorization in the United States. "This is indeed an extraordinary act. The negative reports about this vaccine do not stop, although my assessment is that it is well tolerated and safe, but clearly less effective than the two mRNA vaccines," said Peter Kremsner, from the University Hospital in Tuebingen, Germany. Vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna that use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to produce an immune response both had efficacy rates of about 95% in their pivotal clinical trials, far above the 50% benchmark set by global regulators. AstraZeneca's COVID-19 shot has faced questions since late last year when the drugmaker and Oxford University published data from an earlier trial with two different efficacy readings as a result of a dosing error. Confidence in the vaccine took a further hit this month, when more than a dozen countries, mostly in Europe, temporarily suspended giving out the shot after reports linked it to a rare blood clotting disorder in a very small number of people. The European Union's drug regulator said last week the vaccine was clearly safe, but an opinion poll on Monday showed Europeans remained skeptical about its safety. The AstraZeneca vaccine is seen as crucial in tackling the spread of COVID-19 across the globe because it is easier and cheaper to transport than rival shots. It has been granted conditional marketing or emergency use authorization in more than 70 countries. Many countries are relying heavily on the shot to end the pandemic, and several state leaders have taken it publicly to boost confidence. (Reporting by Miyoung Kim in Singapore, Shubham Kalia and Pushkala Aripakain Bengaluru, Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt, Kate Kelland in London and Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; Writing by Josephine Mason, Caroline Humer and Peter Henderson; Editing by Edwina Gibbs, David Clarke and Bill Berkrot) (Reuters) - Cerberus Capital Management LP said on Monday Matt Zames was stepping down as president of the private equity firm and chairman of Cerberus Technology Solutions (CTS). A former chief operating officer at JPMorgan Chase & Co, Zames was instrumental in the establishment of CTS, a subsidiary of Cerberus that is focused on the application of technology and advanced analytics for businesses. Zames, who joined Cerberus in 2018 after a 13-year-long stint at JPM, oversaw all of Cerberus' investments in the financial services industry and supervised the building of its proprietary technology, data as well as artificial intelligence capabilities. Cerberus did not say when Zames was leaving. (Reporting by Sohini Podder in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) Charleston, WV (25301) Today Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts for the full episode. For the past month, thousands of residents of Jackson, Mississippi simply havent had water: not safe water, not reliable water. After winter storms knocked out electricity there, as they did throughout the South, the damage also wreaked havoc on Jacksons brittle water system. Each issue is connected to the other: the aging pipes that need to be replaced, the lead that can seep into the water when the pipes burst, the condition of the water treatment plants. The faucets are back on in Jackson for now, but the pipes arent going to hold up much longer. On Tuesdays episode of What Next, I spoke with Nick Judin, a reporter at the Mississippi Free Press, about how Jackson became a city without water, and how it could happen again, all too soon. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mary Harris: Last week, the citys boil-water order was lifted. Do you feel like the crisis is over? Nick Judin: The underlying problems behind the crisis have not even begun to be solved. Please dont look away now, because a permanent solution has to be found, and we havent even begun that yet. The crisis is really a chain reaction that gives us a map of the water infrastructure problems that the city has. In the middle of February comes these two severe freezes, the kind the state is completely unused to. Water comes in from a reservoir northeast of the city that then hits these water screens at the water treatment plants. Its so cold that it cant get through the screens that freeze. Advertisement Its ice. Its ice. Now, what happens then is the basin that is supplying the citys pipes with water runs low and the pressure in the system drops. People no longer have water. Thats just the beginning of the problem. Thats why no one had water at the beginning. The problem is, once that system loses pressure and everyone loses water, you have miles of pipes in the system that are over 100 years old. So after they freeze, the act of refilling them is absolutely destructive to these pipes. We had more than 100 water main breaks at the final count over the month. Advertisement When you went outside, did you see cones everywhere? You see breaks in the street. You see water running out. You see work crews everywhere, and you dont see any water coming out of your faucet. It was this process of slowly refilling, slowly pushing the pressure back up and then repairing every main break. Thats why it took a month. Advertisement To get to the root of Jacksons current crisis, you have to go back more than 50 years and talk about how the city itself has changed. Because this water problem cant be disentangled from larger changes in the state of Mississippi: the desegregation of schools, white flight. In 1969, the clock finally runs out on the state of Mississippi segregated school system, with Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education. The 1970 school year in Mississippi was like a lightning bolt. You could just see kids being pulled out of school, and the creation of a lot of segregation academies, many of which are still relatively well-regarded schools in Mississippi today. By the time the dust settles in 1980, Jackson never sees population growth ever again. At its height, I think the city had a little bit more than 200,000 people. Today, the best estimate for that is 160,000. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to What Next Get more news from Mary Harris and her team every day. Subscribe What does that have to do with the water? You build a water infrastructure for the people you have at the time. What ends up happening is you build that system and then you have white flight, you have capital flight, you have the suburbanization of many of the metropolitan areas around the country. Then that tax base now lives outside the city limits. And theres no commuter tax or bridge and tunnel fare. To my knowledge, there is not nearly enough support coming from the cities and towns around Jackson to support its burden. Youre saying Jackson built its system to meet this larger population, which to me says, they must have a really robust system with fewer people using it. How did that become a problem for the city? Advertisement In 1972, there was a serious amendment to the Clean Water Act that put the burden of responsibility for a lot of wastewater treatment in the municipalities around the United States on the core of these metropolitan areas. A huge, huge amount of this construction was supported with federal grants. By 1987, in our era of austerity and federal pullback, theres a transition. We stop paying for a lot of these systems with federal money and it devolves to whats called the state revolving loan funds. Now, you may notice the problem with that. The issue with the loan is that its loan. So when you see an end to the federal money that supports a lot of these systems, theres then a system thats made for a certain population and that population is no longer there. That becomes a real problem for any city looking to keep its system afloat. Advertisement Because youre having to maintain something thats much bigger than you need. Youre having to maintain something thats much bigger than you need and you no longer have the federal support that made it possible in the first place. Youve said Gov. Tate Reeves has been uniquely resistant to addressing the crisis in Mississippis waters. Do you think he doesnt necessarily feel like he needs to fix this problem? There doesnt seem to be any direct communication between the governor and the mayor. Im not really sure how something like that happens if the governor really, really wants to fix the problem. You spoke to a representative from Jackson who worried that federal involvement actually might not help the state, because it might mean that state legislators feel like they are off the hook and dont need to step in and help the city. Advertisement Well, let me be very clear: Federal involvement will absolutely help the state. I dont think theres any situation in which the state gets out of this problem without federal assistance. I dont think that should be surprising, because, if you want to go and look back at the last time the city really had a working water system, there was immense federal aid coming in to the Public Works Department to make the entire system whole. So when you want to talk about how to get out of this situation, you need improvement at the level of the city, you need investment at the level of the state, and then you need involvement at the federal level. I dont think any one of those pieces can be missing. I think his concern is not that federal help might not help, but that, with federal engagement, the state will kind of bow out of the whole situation. The state has to address the relationship it has with its capital city. Its incredibly cheap and easy for representatives and senators who dont live in the urban areas of the state to complain about Jackson. Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. A LIMERICK woman is to shave off her blonde locks in a bid to raise money for her friend who is battling cancer. Mum-of-five Marion McGuane is to have her hair subjected to clippers and scissors, with all the money from donations going to help her friend Ger Tracey, who is battling stage four bowel cancer. As reported in last Mondays Limerick Leader, 40-year-old Ger is facing the fight of his life to tackle a cancer which he says has ravaged his body. The father-of-one has been in-and-out of hospital for the last two years after doctors found a 6.5cm tumour in his bowel. After Ger exhausted his sources of income, his friends rallied to his aid, and launched the fundraiser to ensure he can get the extra treatments crucial to tackling cancer. Marion, who lives in the Lee Estate, will go under the knife once the combined appeal hits 50,000, she said. I dont think its brave what Im doing, she said, I only see it as a little gesture of solidarity and kindness to Ger. I stand among any woman who has to lose her hair. Hair doesn't define who a human being is. I'm willing to shave my hair so I can help a gentleman get more time with his family. Marion said after some initial reservation, her children are proud and supportive of her. My 11-year-old daughter Madison was screaming but mum, your hair. But it will grow back. Now she thinks what I am doing is really cool, she said. Gers appeal has seen tens of thousands of euro donated, and Marion says its reflective of how well thought of Ger who now lives in Spain is. I know Limerick people are so kind. the community spirit is there. But he is just a really genuine nice bloke. If I can shave my head to get funds to allow a man and a woman spend more time together with their daughter. You just can't put a price on that, she added. If you would like to donate, please contact Marion at 085-7072562 or click here. A man walks across an ice-melt region outside Maduo on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in a file photo. The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) this month gave the green light to a massive hydroelectric power project on the Yarlung Zangbo River in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, sparking concerns over potentially catastrophic environmental effects to come. The project is now enshrined in the CCP's 14th Five-Year Plan and in the party's long-range objectives through 2035, following an annual meeting of the country's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC). A source close to the design of the project told the CCP-run Global Times newspaper that the project will take the form of a cascade of power plants. The paper quoted Yan Zhiyong, chairman of the Power Construction Corp of China, or POWERCHINA, as saying that the Yarlung Zangbo River project could provide 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean, renewable, and zero-carbon electricity annually. But Indian scientists have warned that hydropower projects can lead to catastrophic consequences, citing the bursting of the Nanda Devi glacier in Uttarakhand in February 2021. Around 150 workers at two hydroelectric dams in Tapovan-Reni were missing, believed dead, after being swept away in a torrent of water rushing down from the meltwater, with the power station and surrounding houses completely destroyed. Flood damage to dams and bridges is shown in Tapovan in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, Feb. 12, 2021. Credit: Reuters Germany-based engineer Wang Weiluo said China should be learning a lesson from India about the dangers of hydroelectric dams in the Himalayan region, where seismic changes are expected to the glacier-based ecosystem in the next few decades. "As Indian scientists have said, there are two issues worthy of attention," Wang told RFA. "The first is that the glacier collapsed during the coldest time of year, although glaciers are more prone to collapse or rupture in summer and autumn." "The second is that there is a link between rising [water] temperatures [leading to meltwater build-up] and the large number of hydroelectric dams that have been built on the southern slopes of the Himalayas," he said. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the seat of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan ice sheet, an area that has been called the Third Pole. It contains around 15 percent of the world's snow and ice, the largest quantity outside of the Arctic and Antarctica, but there has been dramatic shrinkage in recent years as it absorbs energy caused by global heating. Entire region unstable Wang Chung-ho, a researcher at the Institute of Earth Sciences at Taiwan's Academia Sinica, said the entire region is now unstable due to global heating, making glacier-related disasters even more likely in future. "Glaciers in the Himalayas are receding at a rate of 10 to 15 meters per year right now," Wang Chung-ho said. "The amount of ice melting has doubled in the last 20 years compared with the previous 20 years." "As the glaciers melt and disappear, the surrounding population will also increase, with hundreds of millions of people in India, China, Nepal, and other countries facing dangerous water shortages," he said. He said glaciers on Mount Everest and surrounding areas have shrunk by 13 percent in the past 50 years, and the snowline has risen by nearly 200 meters. Wang Weiluo said Tibet is already experiencing the effects of global heating. In 2016, there were two glacier collapses in the Ngari region of Tibet on the northern side of the Himalayas, and the scale was much larger than the Indian incident. he said. "And the glaciers of the Ngari region were considered among the most stable by Chinese scientists." Earlier this year, the Chinese Academy of Sciences published a study in the international journal "The Cryosphere" saying that the Ngari glacier collapses had released 150 million cubic meters of ice and water into downstream areas between 2016 and 2019, boosting water levels in Lake Manasarovar by 23 percent. "As glaciers melt, many glacial lakes will appear downstream," Wang Chung-ho predicted. "New glacial lakes will be formed, and the area of the existing glacial lakes will expand." He said international experts have been using satellite photos to analyze the Himalayan regions near the borders of China, Nepal, and India, and have found 3,624 glacial lakes, of which 47 are considered extremely dangerous. "They are very likely to burst their banks and cause flooding in downstream areas. They are disasters waiting to happen," Wang Chung-ho said. The Yarlung Zangbo River is shown on the Tibetan Plateau in a satellite image. Credit: NASA Huge threat to dams Glacier bursts and lake overflows pose a huge threat to hydroelectric dams, Wang Weiluo said. "Many reservoirs in Tibet are directly downstream of glaciers, and they rely on glacier meltwater," he said. Manla reservoir on the Nianchu river, a tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo River, has about 83 glaciers upstream of it, 130 square kilometers in total." He said a glacier had slid down the river valley in 1954, causing "many casualties." "The speed and energy of the glacier sliding down was much stronger than any dam-breaking flood," Wang Weiluo said. He said the pace of reservoir and dam-building in the region has nonetheless been frenetic, with 100 small reservoirs, 11 medium-sized reservoirs, and 10 large-scale reservoirs in high risk areas. Despite the risks, China's State Development and Reform Commission has vowed to press ahead with the development of hydropower in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, a project that will have three times the capacity of the massive and controversial Three Gorges hydroelectric power project on the Yangtze River. Wang Weiluo also cited fragile ecosystems and seismic instability in the region as good reasons not to push ahead with the project, in the face of likely opposition from India, which like Bangladesh, refers to the Yarlung Zangbo as the Brahmaputra River. He said China is already building two hydroelectric dams on the river at Zangmu. In addition, construction is under way at a hydroelectric power station on the Jinsha river, as well as several hydroelectric dams on the Lancang River. He said the 14th Five-Year Plan also contains plans to develop the Nu River in Tibet, the only river that still has no dams on it at all. Thinning rate doubles Meanwhile, Wang Chung-ho said the sheer force and energy of glacier bursts and collapses exceeds maximum safety specifications of dams that are currently in operation. In June 2019, research published by Columbia University and the University of Utah showed that the rate at which glaciers in the Himalayan region are thinning doubled between 2000 to 2016, from 0.25 meters a year to 0.5 meters annually. At this rate, there will be no glaciers left in the Himalayas by the end of the century, Wang Weiluo said. Chinese scientists have also concluded that the Qinghai-Tibet plateau is heating up twice as fast as glaciers elsewhere in the world, he said. While the melting of glaciers will initially boost water levels in lakes and rivers, this process isn't sustainable, and will eventually result in dry riverbeds, Wang Weiluo said. Wang Chung-ho cited climate scientists as saying that the Earth has absorbed energy from global heating equivalent to five Hiroshima atomic bombs per second since the Industrial Revolution. "These are alarming and terrifying numbers," he said. Reported by Mai Xiaotian for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced on Tuesday there would be no military parade in Beijing's Tiananmen Square to mark its centenary on July 1, state media reported. "There will be no military parade during this year's celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CCP," state news agency Xinhua reported, quoted Li Jun, assistant director of the Political Work Department of the CCP's Central Military Commission (CMC), as saying at a news conference in Beijing. Instead, Li said the CMC had made "unified arrangements" for military celebrations, including meetings, party history study events, and seminars. Plans will also include an exhibit titled "Forward under the Banner of the Party" at the China Military Museum, and other displays and exhibits by different sections of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Beijing last saw a massive military parade roll through Tiananmen Square in 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Analysts told RFA the scaled-down celebrations likely reflected changing geopolitical factors, including worsening relations with Washington, as well as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Hebei-based current affairs commentator Yue Jun said that nothing particularly special is being laid on to mark the date. "There isn't any really exciting major event planned," Yue said. "The 100th anniversary of the founding of the CCP doesn't really lend itself to big ticket events." "I think that these celebrations will be fairly superficial." Commentator Ji Feng said it is possible that earlier plans for a military parade had been scuppered by changing world events. "So many countries have been harmed by the pandemic, and that harm was brought to them by [the CCP]," Ji said. "[Also], Sino-U.S. ties have gotten worse, then there is the relationship with the European Union, Canada, Australia, and Japan, all of which have deteriorated." "Things aren't looking good [diplomatically] from any direction," he said. "If they compound that by [having a military parade], then people will see them as despicable." Counterproductive Meanwhile, current affairs commentator Cai Shenkun said the decision was in keeping with past practice in Beijing. "Military parades are mostly held on anniversaries of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and at times of stability," Cai told RFA. "If they had one [this year], it would be counterproductive." He said too great an emphasis on the history of the CCP, as opposed to the People's Republic of China, would run the risk of reawakening political debate about the role of the former Soviet Union's Comintern in the founding of the Chinese party. "There has been so much water under the bridge in the past 100 years, and all of the former leaders have been purged during that time," Cai said. "So if you are looking to mark the centenary with a high-profile figure, whom would you choose?" he said. Vice propaganda minister Wang Xiaohui said the CCP itself will mark the centenary with a plenary meeting hosted by the CCP Central Committee in Beijing, at which general secretary Xi Jinping will make a major speech. The party will hand out honors medals to those considered to have made a contribution of excellence to the nation. Mass education activities will also be run for the general public, Wang told the news conference on Tuesday. The announcement regarding the centenary comes amid growing concern over Beijing's threat to invade the democratic island of Taiwan. Combat ready Earlier this month, Xi Jinping told the country's military and armed police force to get 'combat ready' to defend national sovereignty and security. The top U.S. military commander in the region has warned that China could be preparing to bring forward plans to invade Taiwan as early as 2027. Admiral Philip Davidson, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Beijing could launch an invasion within the next six years. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has flown multiple aircraft into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) since the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden took office on Jan. 20. In 2018, the Pentagon warned that the PLA is gradually preparing for a possible invasion of Taiwan, as the CCP "continued to develop and deploy increasingly advanced military capabilities intended to coerce Taiwan, signal Chinese resolve, and gradually improve capabilities for an invasion." Taiwan has never been ruled by Beijing nor formed part of the People's Republic of China, but has been locked out of international diplomacy and agencies at the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s insistence. Washington has said it will no longer seek to "appease" China on Taiwan, as the State Department announced an end to a ban on high-level official and diplomatic contact with Taiwanese officials on Jan. 9, at the tail end of the Trump administration. Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Google Fuchsia OS has been making for a long time but is finally unveiled to the public on Monday, March 22. What will this preview of the Fuchsia OS bring with it? How will it stack up the current Android version and replace Android when it's finally released to the public? Introducing Google Fuchsia OS Googled Fuchsia is a new operating system based on a new microkernel called Zircon that is expected to support running Android and Linux application procedures. According to Gizchina, this specific OS is similar to AOSP that will run on multiple devices, including, smart home devices, laptops, mobile phones, and more. As of now, Nest Hub, Google's smart home device will be one of the testing devices of the said new OS. This statement means many devices will be supported for Fuchsia shortly whenever it becomes available. Fuchsia also comes with Flutter that allows Android apps to run on anything allowing for a large variety of devices to run on the operating system. Read Also: Microsoft Exchange Server Patches Still Didn't Work for 10,000 Computers! Is Microsoft in Deep Trouble? What is Flutter, and why is it important? According to BGR, Flutter is Google's Development kit that allows the developer to code an app once and release it to multiple devices at the same time. Before, Google also released Flutter 2.0 that targets developers across all platforms. Flutter is essentially an all-in-one development kit that allows developers to make an app once and send it out to multiple platforms without changing the coding it. This is a great tool as it will no longer be needed to wait for developers to update their app for each operating system. It will allow Fushcia developers and other app makers to not worry about making different versions of software anymore and only focus on one app. Can you download Fuchsia? Unfortunately, Fuchsia OS is not yet available for any non-developers to use. Not to worry, as Google will be presented Fuchsia soon to the public as a developer preview for everyone to view and see. To those who are tech savy enough you can get Fuchsia on their development site. Google has been updating their branches of Fuchsia more regularly as at the end of January. Google has released the first branch of Fuchsia, and as of now, they have released two more branches to Fushia, signifying major progress in development. The exact release date isn't known, but it is expected to come out this year. It is speculated that Google's Fuchsia OS is coming soon, with many more updates after that. Related Article: Google Apps Android Server Down: Early Reports of YouTube, Gmail, and MORE Are Unresponsive-How to Fix? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Lionell Moore 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The State has been given two weeks by a High Court judge to clarify whether there is a legal basis for restrictions on people attending Mass or whether they are merely advisory. The issue arose during a mention of the challenge brought by businessman Declan Ganley over Covid-19 Level 5 restrictions on religious services. The Co Galway-based businessman, a practising Roman Catholic, claims that, as a result of the restrictions, he cannot leave his home to attend Mass in breach of the State's guarantee of the free practice of religion in Article 44 of the Constitution. Read More While certain religious activities, including weddings and funerals, are permitted, the restrictions prevent him and others attending Mass or similar religious services, he says. Last November, he sought leave to bring judicial review proceedings against the Minister for Health, with Ireland and the Attorney General as notice parties. The sides have since agreed the action can be dealt with via a telescoped hearing in which the leave application and full case are heard together. Extensive opposition papers have been filed by the State, including a series of affidavits addressing the public health basis of the restrictions. Mr Ganleys side had sought time to address those. When the matter was again mentioned before Mr Justice Charles Meenan on Tuesday, Neil Steen SC, for Mr Ganley, referred to recent publications by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and by Trinity College Dublin Professor of Law Oran Doyle concerning the States Covid-19 response. Counsel said those publications include criticism about the lack of clarity concerning whether certain restrictions have a legal basis or are merely advisory. It appeared it may not actually be an offence to celebrate or attend Mass, he said. He said the States opposition papers have not clarified whether there is a legal ban on leaving your home to attend Mass and clarity is necessary for his side to determine whether it is necessary to proceed with the case. The State had addressed the matter in a very technical way, effectively saying the issue of whether it is an offence to attend Mass, or it is advisory not to, did not arise because there are no Masses to attend, he outlined. The State has avoided specifically saying whether the regulations prevent you attending Mass or not, he said. If they do not, Mr Ganleys case may be unnecessary. Catherine Donnelly SC, for the State, said the matters raised by counsel had not been raised in correspondence with her side and she needed time to take instructions. Mr Justice Meenan said Mr Steens side should write to the State about the matter by Friday, the State had two weeks to respond, and he would adjourn the case to April 13. Mr Ganley is challenging certain temporary regulations introduced by the Health Minister to deal with the pandemic - Regulation 5(1) and (3) of the 1947 Health Act. He claims the regulations are incompatible with various articles of the Constitution, including Article 44 where the State acknowledges the right to the free practice of religion. Alternatively, he wants a declaration the regulations do not prevent him leaving his residence for the purpose of practising his religion. If you have Asian friends, especially women, youve heard and seen the anguish, the frustration and the pain as thousands process the horrible homicides of eight people in and near Atlanta. Seven of those killed were women. Six of the seven were Asian women. After hearing a White officer repeat what the murder suspect told police, it seemed that he and others might be inclined to believe a man who had just shot eight people to death, saying it was revenge for a sex addiction and maybe not a hate crime. Oh, really? If you feel connected to the majority of the victims, you didnt believe that for a second. If youre a part of an underserved population or a group that faces discrimination, you likely didnt believe it either. If youre not one of us, maybe you listened or read the reports and asked, Why all the fuss? Thats the difference between bystanders and upstanders. You can choose to say whats happened has nothing to do with you. You can see wrong and say nothing. Or you can see it, speak up and do something. People who are discriminated against, figuratively or literally spat upon, or otherwise recipients of hate get tired of this. They get angry, pissed off. Sometimes these things are closer than we care to acknowledge. Anti-Asian violence has been going on since about the 1850s. Chinese immigrants were arriving in this nation in large numbers, and some people were not welcoming. They were nasty. Its still happening. A few days ago, an Asian University of Louisiana at Lafayette professor wrote about her own experiences in Lafayette. In a sobering piece in The Current, she drove home the point by sharing things that had happened to her where she lives. Go back where you come from, she was told. One person purposely sneezed in her direction, saying kung-flu. Someone who doesnt know her had the nerve to say shes not American. In February, before the recent Georgia homicides, a Harvard Business School professor was blasted on Twitter because she wondered in a tweet whether those supportive of Black Lives Matter would be as passionate about reducing and stopping Asian hate crimes as Asians experienced more assaults and attacks. She clearly questioned whether people standing up for Black lives would stand up against Asian violence. The summer police incident resulting in the death of George Floyd is not the same thing as a man going into three massage parlors and shooting and killing eight people. But each ugly incident sparked greater national attention after those affected had been shouting, begging for help and support. They were tipping points for those not paying enough attention, but they were not new for those already experiencing the pain. Black people had been victims of police violence and killings for years. This time, the Floyd death was on video. The Georgia murders were the culmination of anti-Asian violence that had been happening for decades, but especially in recent years. New Orleans Councilwoman Cyndi Nguyen is the first Vietnamese-American council representative in the city. She represents a largely Black district that includes New Orleans East and the Lower 9th Ward. She wouldnt be in that seat without being sensitive to issues of importance to her Black constituents, and she knows her Asian and Vietnamese community base is hurting. I want to be clear, Nguyen said in a statement released last week. We are not shaken, we are resolute in our determination to end hate and race or nationality-related violence in all forms against all people. Hate and violence are not welcome in our city. Whether you have Asian friends or not, and whether youve experienced slights, microaggressions or not, you decide where youll stand. Its easy to be a bystander, watching wrongs, saying nothing. Its harder to be an upstander, speaking up and saying something when you witness wrongdoings, knowing its the right thing to do. White supremacists often aim to divide the people they think are less than they are, the people they want to oppress. We can be for Black lives and against Asian hate. Theres no reason to choose. The right, upstander thing to do is to be against White supremacy that too often is the reason for violence against Black, Asian and other people. Be an upstander for equality for all. New research from Copenhagen Business School finds sexual harassment in the workplace severely hurts company value. "Sexual harassment has serious consequences for the victim. But it is also something managers and investors should be interested in for purely financial reasons, as it can wipe off enormous amounts of market value in a matter of days," says Associate Professor Ulf Nielsson from the Department of Finance at Copenhagen Business School. The research found that the stock market value of a listed company drops by 1.5% following sexual harassment reports, which corresponds to an average impact of $450m million for the companies. In the long term the affected firms recovered only about half of that lost value. The study looked at nearly 200 sexual harassment incidents, many of them taking place in well-known companies such as Disney, Tesla, Amazon, Google, and Facebook, financial firms like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, and popular media brands such as The New York Times, Fox, and CBS. The researchers found that this was amplified if the CEO was involved. If the incident received high news coverage, then the effect could be up to 6.5% of the share price, whereas the impact was mitigated if the firm itself reported on the incident before the media attention. The study is published in the Journal of Corporate Finance. New insight To assemble their data the researchers scoured through English-language news archives from January 2005 to February 2019 in the Nexis Uni research database to identify sexual harassment incidents, ranging from verbal abuse comments to unwanted physical advances and forced sexual relations. Moreover, they made a combined Nexis Uni and Google News search from Standard & Poor's 500 Index companies. This returned almost 200 incidents worldwide with 78% of the scandals taking place in the USA. They also identified it was a female who came forward to report the harassment in 88% of all cases. In contrast to the fields of psychology and sociology, which have widely documented the negative consequences of sexual harassment on the individual, the instant impact of sexual harassment on company value has not been separately studied. Moreover, sexual harassment scandals are different from typical corporate scandals such as fraud or labour violations in that they are arguably not motivated by profit or monetary betterment. "This research moves things forward by offering new insight into quantifying the size of the financial impact a sexual harassment scandal has on company value," adds Ulf Nielsson. The bottom line The researchers recommend that it makes good business sense for companies to have a preventive strategy in place as sexual harassment is a real business risk and the impact is economically significant. The potential detrimental impact will justify considerable cost and effort from businesses to prevent such cases occuring and to react swiftly and firmly if they do happen. "Companies need to realise that it is also in their benefit (not only in the victim's benefit) to prevent and react to incidents of sexual harassment as this ultimately affects their bottom line," concludes Ulf Nielsson. ### The study #MeToo: Sexual harassment and company value was authored by Mads Borelli-Kjaer and Laurids Moehl Schack from Boston Consulting Group and Associate Professor Ulf Nielsson from Copenhagen Business School. The triumph of some Asian Americans should not be attributed to an innate work ethic, scholars Min Zhou and Jennifer Lee argue in their 2017 paper Understanding the Asian American Achievement Paradox. They say that since the 1965 immigration act allowed more Asians to come to the U.S., a hyper-selectivity took root as immigrants from countries such as China were more likely to have bachelors degrees compared with the rest of their originating countrys population. Protesters forced a Wegmans store in Upstate New York to close Tuesday on the one-year anniversary of Daniel Prudes fatal encounter with police. WIVB reports activists marked Daniels Day to demand justice for Prude, a Black man who was unarmed and naked when Rochester police officers handcuffed him, put a hood over his head and then pressed his body against the pavement until he stopped breathing March 23, 2020. Prude was taken off life support a week later, and outrage ensued six months later when body camera video showed the full incident. We join the Prude family in calling for a day of action and remembrance on the one year anniversary of Daniel Prudes murder by the RPD. Call out of work, walk out of class, and join us in the streets to demand justice for Daniel Prude! a Facebook post from organizers Free the People Rochester said. According to WIVB, a rally began at 8 a.m. in downtown Rochester, with demonstrators marching to several locations, briefly shutting down a bus station and blocking traffic at multiple intersections on East Avenue. Around 11 a.m., they reached the Wegmans store on East Avenue and blocked off the entryway. The Democrat & Chronicle reports doors to the grocery store were closed due to the demonstration and customers were briefly kept inside. They were let out shortly afterwards and the company announced the store would stay closed for the duration of the protest. Our East Ave. store in Rochester, NY is currently closed due to protest activity taking place outside of the store, Wegmans said in a statement early Tuesday afternoon. At this time, no customers remain in the store, and the doors will remain closed. Our number one priority is the safety of our employees and customers. #danielprude Protest had come to Wegmans. The store has closed all of its entrances as demonstrators chant Black Lives Matter pic.twitter.com/EpCD5MtAB7 Rob Bell (@byrobbell) March 23, 2021 On the 1 year anniversary of Daniel Prude's death, protesters are here at East Ave Wegmans still calling for justice in a celebration of life day. @News_8 #DanielPrude pic.twitter.com/jVFgl04AjE Atyia Collins (@Atyia_Collins) March 23, 2021 Heres some raw video of protesters trying to make their way in the Wegmans. This is the entrance near the pharmacy. East Ave Wegmans. #roc pic.twitter.com/tamFWUfkYc scott barstow (@barstow_scott) March 23, 2021 Our East Ave. store in Rochester, NY is currently closed due to protest activity taking place outside of the store. At this time, no customers remain in the store, and the doors will remain closed. Our number one priority is the safety of our employees and customers. Wegmans Food Markets (@Wegmans) March 23, 2021 According to WIVB, protesters were still outside the Wegmans location as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, eating pizza and listening to music. The group used their own vehicles to block entrances, set up a tent and tables outside the store, and wrote messages like Black Lives Matter in chalk in the parking lot. Free the People Rochester leader Ashley Gantt said they picked Wegmans for a demonstration because uniformed RPD officers are used as security in stores. Wegmans is a system that upholds white supremacy, Gantt said, according to the D&C. The group reportedly plans to stay at Wegmans until close to 5 p.m., when a Celebration of Life event is scheduled at 72 Child Street. Unrest has continued since New York Attorney General Letitia James announced last month that the Rochester cops involved in Prudes death will not face charges. James said her office presented the strongest case possible to the grand jury, but couldnt persuade it that the officers had committed a crime. She said Prudes family and the Rochester community are rightfully disappointed by the outcome and condemned a system that she said had frustrated efforts to hold law enforcement officers accountable for the unjustified killing of African Americans. Rochester Police Department officers Troy Taladay, Paul Ricotta, Francisco Santiago, Andrew Specksgoor, Josiah Harris and Mark Vaughn, along with Sgt. Michael Magri, were suspended after Prudes death became public in September. The officers remain on leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. An investigation, completed earlier this month, blamed Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren and former police chief LaRon Singletary for keeping critical details of the case secret for months and lying to the public about what they knew. The report, commissioned by Rochesters city council, said Warren knew officers used physical restraint on the day of the incident, and that she, Singletary and others knew Prude had died of homicide, caused by complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint, in April. The group is eating pizza and listening to music. Leaders say they picked Wegman's because uniformed RPD officers are used as security in stores, and in order to disrupt commerce. Everyone in the store has been cleared out. pic.twitter.com/S4qlDZK0mV Atyia Collins (@Atyia_Collins) March 23, 2021 The group is less than half a mile from Wegmans on East Avenue. Their possible intended destination for this leg of the March. Been told they plan to March all day @News_8 pic.twitter.com/or12dGK4ol eric schedlbauer (@NG_NewGuy) March 23, 2021 The Evanston, Ill., city council voted 81 on Monday to approve a first-of-its-kind initiative to distribute $400,000 to eligible black households as a form of reparations over past discrimination and the lasting effects of slavery. Qualifying households will be eligible to receive $25,000 for home repairs or down payments on property, according to the Associated Press. Residents who have either lived in or been a direct descendant of a black person who lived in Evanston between 1919 to 1969 and who suffered discrimination in housing because of city ordinances, policies, or practices will be eligible to receive the funds. The program will be funded by a 3 percent tax on the sale of recreational marijuana, as well as donations. The $400,000 in grants is the first phase of spending from a reparations fund that the city created in 2019. The city expects to pay out roughly $10 million over ten years. Alderman Robin Rue Simmons, the lawmaker who first proposed the measure back in 2019, said Monday that it is, alone, not enough. We all know that the road to repair and justice in the Black community is going to be a generation of work. Its going to be many programs and initiatives and more funding, she said, according to the Chicago Tribune. City officials noted that it is unclear how many residents would qualify and the number of available grants is small. Evanstons population is 17 percent black, 59 percent white, and 12 percent Latino, according to census data. Cicely Fleming, the lone council member who voted against the first phase of the plan on Monday, said she was concerned with the decision to give housing grants rather than cash payments. I want to be clear, I 100 percent support reparations, she told the New York Times. What I cant support is a housing program being termed as reparations. We are potentially setting precedent. The topic of reparations, particularly on the national level, is a controversial one. Some Democrats have supported paying reparations to African Americans: Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas reintroduced legislation earlier this year that would fund a commission for studying and creating proposals for doing so. However, such plans have received pushback from Republicans. Story continues White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last month that President Biden certainly would support a study of reparations. He understands we dont need a study to take action right now on systemic racism, so he wants to take actions within his own government in the meantime, she said. More from National Review CARLSBAD, Calif., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ALASTIN Skincare, Inc., a specialty aesthetics company dedicated to developing and marketing innovative, clinically-tested physician-dispensed skin care products, today announced it has been recognized and honored by Forbes as one of America's Best Startup Employers for 2021. This prestigious award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. It is the second time ALASTIN has been named to the list, which recognizes the most dynamic and innovative startups to work for in the United States. America's Best Startup Employers were selected based upon a methodology for evaluating employer excellence in three ways, based on over 7 million data points: Employee Satisfaction: Extensive research was conducted on 'Average Length of Employment' and 'Online Employer Reviews.' Employer Reputation: Company-specific information was algorithmically extracted from social media channels such as news sites, micro-blogs, blogs and social networks. Company Growth: Comprehensive evaluations were assessed related to 'Website Traffic,' 'Headcount Growth Rates,' and 'Industry-Referenced Job Openings.' "We are honored to be recognized a second time by Forbes and Statista as one of the best startup companies in the U.S.," says Diane S. Goostree, President and CEO of ALASTIN Skincare. Ms. Goostree continues, "I especially want to thank our employees who have maintained and even strengthened ALASTIN's culture during the past year when we have all been working from home. Our team has worked together to develop and launch breakthrough products in the physician-dispensed skincare space, resulting in ALASTIN being recognized not only as a great place to work in 2020 and 2021, but also as the fastest growing company in the professional skincare channel for the last two years. We look forward to continuing to provide new and innovative peri-procedure and daily skincare products to our physician customers and their patients." Visit www.alastin.com to find a physician retailer near you. About ALASTIN Skincare, Inc. ALASTIN Skincare is dedicated to developing innovative, clinically tested skin care products that correct, protect and maintain healthy skin for a lifetime. Our unparalleled Procedure Enhancement and Restore & Renew products are formulated with our TriHex Technology, a patented combination of key peptides and other synergistic ingredients using the latest technology and are clinically tested to demonstrate safety and their ability to help reawaken the skin's youthful regenerating processes. @AlastinSkincare #AlastinSkincare SOURCE ALASTIN Skincare An undercover TV researcher who worked on Channel 4's Dispatches went on the run for 16 years after torturing a father-of-two drug dealer to death in front of his children at a cannabis farm, a court heard today. Christopher Guest More Jr, 43, is charged with murdering Brian Waters, 44, at a Cheshire farmhouse over a drugs debt on June 19, 2003, the court heard. A jury at Chester Crown Court was told that Mr Waters was killed in a disused cow shed at Burnt House Farm in Tabley, near Knutsford, and another man, Suleman Razak, was tortured at the same time. Mr Waters' son Gavin, then 25, and daughter Natalie, who turned 21 the day before his death, were also at the farm, the court heard. His wife Julie, then 42, was abducted from their family home in Nantwich and taken there. Prosecuting, Nigel Power QC said three men - John Wilson, James Raven and Otis Matthews - were convicted of Mr Waters' murder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to him and to Mr Razak following trials between 2004 and 2007. He said: 'This defendant, Christopher Guest More Jr, the man you are to try, fled the country on June 21, 2003 and for 16 years evaded capture until 2019, when he was discovered living a new life under an assumed name in Malta.' Christopher Guest More Jr (left) is charged with murdering Brian Waters (right), who was tortured and killed at a Cheshire farmhouse over a drugs debt, the court heard Christopher Guest More Jr fled the UK after the murder of Brian Waters, who was killed in front of his two adult children at Burnt House Farm (pictured) in Tabley, in June 2003 Christopher Guest More Jr arriving at Chester Crown Court under high security The jury was told More, who was 25 at the time and living in Lymm, had been involved in undercover work for television programmes, often working with Raven, his cousin. In 2002, More and Raven were asked to locate a cannabis farm for covert filming by a production company working for Channel 4 show Dispatches, which was filming a programme about the reclassification of the drug, the court heard. Mr Power said: 'But, although they said that they had located an illegal grow, what is sometimes called a cannabis farm, this avenue was not pursued and the programme was transmitted without any work from Mr More or Mr Raven.' The court heard Mr Waters had set up a cannabis farm with his friend Mujahid Majid, known as Johnny, in June 2002. Mr Power said: 'The farm was set up at Burnt House Farm in Tabley, that area where ultimately he was to be murdered.' Brian Waters was tortured to death in front of his family at the farmhouse The jury was told Mr Waters also had a cannabis farm in Holland, where he would regularly travel and broker deals for other people, including drug dealer Wilson, now 71. Mr Power said Mr Waters owed money to Wilson and at one point had to work to pay off 20,000 which was confiscated from him as he travelled back from Holland. 'When we come to tell you about about drug dealing shortly, you will hear that John Wilson was a drug dealer and provided this defendant with cocaine from time to time,' Mr Power said. The court heard More, who drove a Porsche Boxster, did not pay for cocaine supplied to him by Wilson. Mr Power said mobile phone evidence from nine days before the murder showed the defendant, who was described as a private investigator, appeared to drive to the Waters' home and follow the victim's son Gavin to Crewe. The prosecutor told the court: 'As Mr More was travelling, following Gavin Waters to Crewe, who was he keeping in contact with but John Wilson. 'John Wilson, convicted of murder, John Wilson, to who Brian Waters owed a 20,000 drug debt.' He said More then followed Gavin to his father's cannabis farm, which Mr Waters had kept secret from Wilson. Phone records show More continued to call Wilson while near Burnt House Farm, the court heard. Mr Power said: 'Could that call, while Gavin's at the farm, be Mr More telling John Wilson 'bingo, I've found it'.' More denies the murder of Mr Waters and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Waters and Mr Razak. Kolkata, March 23 : The BJP in West Bengal on Tuesday released its final list of candidates for the upcoming eight-phase Assembly elections in the state, featuring a total 13 new names. Surprisingly, Bollywood superstar Mithun Chakraborty, who recently joined the saffron camp, did not feature in the list of new candidates, eventually ending all speculation of Bengal's beloved 'Dada' contesting the high-voltage electoral battle. Chakraborty had joined the BJP's grand rally at Kolkata's Brigade Parade Ground on March 7, when he shared the podium with Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with many other senior BJP leaders. Days after joining the BJP, the actor recently enrolled himself as a voter from Kolkata's Kashipur-Belgachia constituency with an address of his cousin's place. Earlier, Chakraborty was a registered voter in Mumbai. The BJP has pitted retired Lieutenant General Subrata Saha from Kolkata's Rashbihari constituency, while former Chief Economic Advisor Ashok Lahiri has been fielded from South Dinajpur's Balurghat. Earlier, Lahiri was fielded from Alipurduar in North Bengal, but was replaced following agitation by a section of party workers. Sen. Blackburn: Ban on Media at Border Unjustified Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said on March 23 that she didnt see anything during her time on March 21 in Arizona to justify barring journalists from covering the growing crisis at the U.S. border area with Mexico. I didnt see anything that would justify keeping media out. Media embed in war zones, they do that, and they do it well, Blackburn told reporters during a telephone news conference following her visit to Cochise County, which is on the ArizonaMexico border, and Pinal County, just north of the border area. So I cant imagine why there would be this push to keep media out other than they just dont want people reporting on what is going on. A flood of illegal immigrants has surged across the U.S. border with Mexico since President Joe Biden signed multiple executive orders reversing his predecessors immigration policies, including immediately stopping work on the border wall President Donald Trump spent several years improving, which he extended hundreds of miles into previously open areas. According to the Hill, more than 15,000 unaccompanied minors are said to have been processed thus far by U.S. border immigration officials, with thousands more children and adults, most not tested for the CCP virus, also known as the novel coronavirus, crossing the border and being released into the U.S. interior. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on CNN on March 21 that reporters wont be allowed until the federal government can guarantee their safety from the virus. We are in the midst of a pandemic, we are dealing with crowded Border Patrol facilities, we are focused on our operations and the needs of the children, and at the same time, we are working to provide access to those border patrol facilities when we can do so in a safe manner, Mayorkas said on State of the Union. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) wrote on Twitter on March 22 that denying the press the ability to observe, film, and report on the conditions at the border is not openness or transparencyit is hiding the truth from the American people. Cruz demanded that Biden reverse the previous decision and allow journalists to accompany the Texas senator and 14 Senate colleagues on an oversight border visit on March 26. Mayorkas also said on March 21 that the present border crisis was caused by Trump dismantling the immigration system he inherited from his predecessor, President Barack Obama. We are rebuilding the orderly systems that the Trump administration tore down to avoid the need for these children to actually take the perilous journey, Mayorkas said. But Blackburn said she talked with private citizens and local law enforcement authorities in Arizona, all of whom pointed to policy changes implemented by the Biden administration as the cause of the growing crisis. Everyone says the uptick has been significant since Joe Biden won in November. They all know that this is a crisis of Bidens making, it is the Biden open-border policy, it is the Biden immigration policy, she said. Blackburn called for an immediate return to the Trump administrations Remain in Mexico policy, which forced immigrants seeking to enter the United States to remain in Mexico until allowed to cross the border for the adjudication of their cases. She also said the Biden administration should cease its resumption of the catch-and-release policy of the Obama era in which illegals stopped at the border would be given a court date to appear for processing, then be released into the United States. Few of them actually returned for their court dates and have simply remained in the country illegally. Blackburn also emphasized the importance of resuming construction of the Trump wall, both to complete it as a barrier to illegal crossings and to deny Mexican drug cartels the ability to use the construction access roads built by the United States as drug-smuggling resources. I think one of the things many people dont realize is the sophistication of the cartels. These are big international businesses, and in the Arizona border, that border South into Mexico is controlled by El Chapos cartel, Blackburn said. The drug cartels use extremely sophisticated surveillance resources to track where U.S. law enforcement units are located so they can be avoided by drug smugglers and human traffickers. Fifty percent of all the street drugs that come into the U.S. come in through Arizona, Blackburn said. So this is where the cartels have set up their surveillance systems, and with the border wall construction being pulled to a halt, these roads, having already been cut into the mountains, the cartels are using them to more quickly move up people who are signed on with their cartel. In addition to the drugs, Blackburn said the cartels are rapidly expanding rent-a-child programs that utilize children to pose with unrelated adults as family units. Blackburn has introduced legislation that requires DNA testing to confirm familial claims before the individual adults and children are allowed into the country. Congressional reporter Mark Tapscott may be reached at mark.tapscott@epochtimes.nyc >>> Meeting marks 60 years of sending Vietnamese public security experts to Laos Speaking at the event, Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Sengphet Houngboungnuang highlighted the important contributions of Vietnamese public security experts in building a strong public security force of Laos during the period. He affirmed the successful cooperation between the Vietnamese and Lao public security ministries has helped ensure political stability and social safety and order, creating favourable conditions for socio-economic and cultural development in both nations. Politburo member cum Minister of Public Security General To Lam took the occasion to thank the Lao Government, State, and people for their support for and collaboration with Vietnamese experts in completing their missions for the sake of the two countries' people. He also thanked the generations of experts for excellently fulfilling their assigned tasks and hoped they would continue making contributions to the two nations revolutionary causes. Minister Lam noted that the effective and comprehensive cooperation between the two ministries will be further expanded across all areas in the future, particularly in building forces and providing equipment and tools serving the work of ensuring national security and social order and safety of each country. Spring is here and with the pandemic winding down, its time to get out of the house. One way is to take a tour of Manhattan with CitySights NY, a Manhattan tour company that has 63 different tours of New York City waiting to be booked. Prices range from $28 for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and work their way up to The Ultimate Helicopter Tour (17-20 Minute Tour), which costs $244 now on the web. Let CitySights NY take you on a tour of some of New Yorks hidden treasures like the Empire State Building Observatory, the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets and admission to Ghost Collector, Runaway Subway Train or Mission Galaxy. Priced at $47.20, the Big Bus Classic Tour (1 Day) is one of the popular tours. Also, the Sopranos Sites Tour (On Location Tours) is just $62. The tours for all the attractions, which vary in time, leave from Manhattan so its easy for Staten Islanders to hop on the Staten Island Ferry and head to the city to catch their tour. All pandemic protocols (face masks and social distancing) will be followed until further notice so tickets may be limited per tour. VISIT CITYSIGHTS NY HERE Related stories Buy New York Yankees fan gear Time for new luggage Nordstroms Loungewear is cozy and priced right These TVs turn into artwork when they are turned off Lululemons Scuba wear is comfy VISIT OUR NEW SILIVE BARGAIN HUNTERS FACEBOOK PAGE OTHER VRBO OPPORTUNITIES Places to stay when visiting Hershey Park 5 great Pennsylvania getaways Where to stay when visiting Niagara Falls LONDON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Localz, leading experts in digital customer engagement, location, and communications technology today announced a partnership with leading fleet management services and solutions supplier, Masternaut to enhance its customer experience and communications. Part of the Michelin Group, Masternaut is already renowned for its market-leading scheduling and routing technology. The partnership with Localz will see its services used to power its new "On Time" customer offering. Masternaut On Time supports operations professionals by giving them more visibility of their team in the field. In real-time, they can see planned job schedules against actual activity, automate job dispatching, and deliver text messages to end-customers with an estimated time of arrival (ETA). If an unexpected event throws an engineer off-schedule for the day, managers are notified via automated live alerts, which allows them to be proactive and agile in redirecting a resource to where it's most needed. "Over recent months we have received an increased demand for services that are reflective of a consumer model. Customers want to be able to manage their personal schedules so real-time updates have become a vital part of all services, whether this is a parcel delivery or service appointment. As a customer-centric business, we wanted to bring a similar tool to our customers to help them manage their business operations more effectively. This is why we have partnered with Localz to provide the best technology to power our On Time solution," said Gilson Santiago, CEO at Masternaut. Engineers, through an app, can receive live updates on appointment schedules and communicate directly with customers, keeping them up to date of their ETA. Field workers can also log live updates to jobs which are then fed back into the main system, ensuring a holistic view of all jobs. "Today's consumers are connected and justifiably impatient as they place a high value on their time. Localz solutions are enabling leading fleet management platforms like Masternaut to offer customer experiences traditionally only seen in the consumer world. Real-time tracking and online communication are crucial to enabling not only customers, but businesses to keep track of their stock and service deliveries, ensuring great experiences for both alike. We are delighted to have been selected as the partner to power Masternaut's On Time solution to help them continue to deliver world-class customer experiences in years to come, " said Tim Andrew, CEO at Localz. About Masternaut Masternaut, part of the Michelin Group Company, is a leading fleet management service and solution supplier. Masternaut specialises in transformative insights for fleet management. Their goals are to; delight customers with faster deliveries and innovative service; help customers choose the right vehicle make and model for each job type; to increase utilisation and productivity; to analyse cost to service and identify new revenue streams; and to lower insurance and running costs as well as CO2 for its customers. For more information: https://www.masternaut.com/ About Localz Localz are experts at digital customer engagement, combining real-time location tracking and two-way communication to provide awesome experiences on the day of service. Localz takes the communication complexity out of the day of service, providing businesses with configurable solutions to deliver a frictionless customer experience. The Localz platform enables click and collect order management, real-time tracking of the service technician, accurate ETAs, and two-way communication. Localz "on my way" messaging increases customer satisfaction and first-time access rates. Localz is used by leading global utility, business services and retail brands such as RAC, HSS Hire, OVO Energy, Autoglass, Rentokil, and Woolworths. For more information: www.localz.com SOURCE Localz NEW DELHI, March 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dhir & Dhir Associates, a full-service law firm founded in 1993, has serviced clients globally as a single-window legal and regulatory advisor. It has offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad and a representative office in Japan. The firm has set up the ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) Practice led by Sonal Verma, who is a veteran in the Governance, Risk and Compliance space. "India Inc. is now leaning seriously towards ESG related aspects as a matter of global business consciousness. Of course, the courts will have to dive further into the related laws and carve out a holistic approach covering elements like CSR, gender justice, etc. It is indeed a pleasure to have Sonal lead this practice as he comes with significant experience in the GRC space and global know-how on ESG best practices. We will ascertain and support our clients on the ESG front as well here on," said Alok Dhir, Founding & Managing Partner, Dhir & Dhir Associates. Amidst many other strategic plans, the firm has recently forayed into an international partnership with Beyond Governance Ltd., London,UK, led by Ms. Erika Percival. They offer award-winning governance solutions and the synergy would provide world class qualitative advantage to clients globally. "I am thankful and equally grateful to the firm for having entrusted me with the responsibility to lead the ESG Practice. For a decent time now, I have been working on the concept and discussing it with various stakeholders. It is indeed encouraging to have Mr. Dhir's belief in setting up this dedicated practice desk," said Sonal Verma, Partner & Global Leader - Markets & Strategy. As a major industry engagement drive, the firm will organize discussions, brainstorming sessions, strategic alliances, publish whitepapers, etc. "As a firm, we have always focussed on a diversified approach as far as building practice areas are concerned. It is a very strategic plan to expand the bouquet of services offered by the firm wherein we launched a dedicated COVID-19 advisory desk a few months back and now have forayed into ESG as a domain expert. We look forward to setting up more of such niche areas of practice so that we deliver much beyond the mainstream advisory practices," said Poonam Bisht, Chief Executive Officer, Dhir & Dhir Associates. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1174510/Dhir_and_Dhir_Associates_Logo.jpg SOURCE Dhir & Dhir Associates Recent rumors suggest that iPhone x13 will use the new LTPO displays from Samsung, enabling lower power consumption and higher refresh up to 120Hz. The company will reportedly be introducing these new iPhone models sometime this 2021. Information from The Elec and their UBI Research said that Samsung Displays is converting OLED to LTPO for Apple this year. Samsung is the main supplier of OLED screens used in Apple iPhones. The South Korean company is making adjustments in production to meet the company's demands. Samsung's organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is said to be turning over its A3 factory line for the production of low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) panels for their largest customer Apple. The factory is also manufacturing low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT OLED panels. LTPO TFT Production for Apple LTPO TFT screens support a 120Hz refresh rate and consume less power, gaining an edge against the LTPS technology. Samsung Display calls this incredible performance as LTPO TFT technology Adaptive Frequency. The same technology was first applied to Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and more recently applied to the Asus ROG 5 smartphone's OLED panels. Aside from Samsung Displays, LG Displays are also raising their production for LTPO TFT technology. LG Displays plan 25,000 substrates per month in their monthly production rate to prepare supplies for iPhone models, extending through 2022. Samsung Displays is securing their LTPO TFT OLED panels at 30,000 Gen 6 substrates per month capacity for Apple-dedicated production extending until next year. Samsung Displays aim to complete converting their OLED display to LTPO by the first half of 2021. Read Also: iPhone 13 Rumor: Size, Specification, Release Date, Price- Are Future Apple Phones Portless? Apple iPhone 13 Rumors Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo hinted at some features to look forward to with the iPhone 13. The iPhone 13 might be similar to the iPhone 12 series, where different models were released in the same screen sizes. The iPhone models will reportedly feature Lightning connectors instead of the USB-C. Using the new power-efficient LTPO technology, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are expected to perform similar to the ProMotion display of the iPad Pro. The new iPhone 13 is also said to feature upgrades on ultra-wide cameras, going from 5P (f/2.4) and fixed focus (FF) to 6P (f/1.8) and autofocus (AF). Other tidbits include a longer battery life but heavier weight compared to the iPhone 12, a space-saving design with reduced front optical modules' thickness by integrating the SIM card slot directly into the mainboard, Qualcomm's 5G modem upgraded to 5nm X60M and LiDAR equipped technology to iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. All these rumors have to be taken with a grain of salt. Features and specs remain unofficial until Apple's iPhone 13 release date. It is entirely possible that Apple continues to upgrade their features beyond what is mentioned in the time of writing. What is certain is that Apple, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max all bring exciting new technologies in the market. Related Article: iPhone 13 Rumored to Have Up to 1TB of Storage--But Is Apple Way Behind Samsung and Asus? Ankara, March 23 : Turkish authorities on Tuesday detained at least 150 suspected supporters of US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, including soldiers on active duty, over their links to the failed 2016 coup. Police and gendarmerie were searching for 34 other suspects in 53 towns and cities, dpa news agency quoted Turkey's Anadolu media as saying in a report. The suspects include 123 active duty soldiers from the land, air, naval and gendarmerie forces. Thirty-eight others are former cadets who were purged following a failed coup by a faction in the military on July 15, 2016. More than four years later, Ankara continues to round up suspected Gulen loyalists who are accused of infiltrating the state apparatus for decades with the aim of eventually orchestrating the coup. Turkey sees Gulen's movement as a terrorist group, and has jailed thousands over alleged links to the cleric. Tens of thousands were separately purged from public service. Gulen had denied any role in the failed coup. LARAMIE, Wyo., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WyoTech is proud to announce a partnership with Larry H. Miller Dealerships in bringing Ford's Automotive Career Exploration Program (ACE) to its Laramie, Wyoming, campus. The intent of the program is to raise awareness and increase interest in career opportunities within the automotive industry. WyoTech students receiving hands on instruction "The introduction of the Ford ACE program will add manufacturer information into our lessons, the repair processes and diagnostic procedures that are taught every day in our shops at WyoTech," says Shawn Nunley, WyoTech Director of Training. "This will allow us to develop shop performance evaluations that give us the ability to further test the student's aptitude in different subject areas." Ford Automotive Career Exploration is a partnership program between Ford Motor Company, Larry H. Miller Dealerships, and WyoTech. Students attending WyoTech and participating in this program will obtain valuable knowledge of Ford/Lincoln vehicle systems by completing Web-Based Training (WBT) via the Ford Learning Management System (LMS). Mirroring the same courses offered in the field, the students are one step closer towards a career in the automotive industry, beginning as an entry-level technician at a Ford/Lincoln dealership. Larry H. Miller Dealerships is a strong supporter of WyoTech: "We know the importance of training the next generation of Ford technicians," said Ken King, Corporate Recruiter for Larry H. Miller Dealerships. "We're proud to partner with WyoTech and Ford, and play an active role in rolling out the Ford ACE program in Laramie." With the addition of the (ACE) program, students will work on Ford's new vehicle models. Students will train through Ford's inspection process and its proprietary technology for electrical, suspension and brake systems. WyoTech students will have access to all of Ford's learning courses, the credits earned in this process can be used for later certifications to advance their career within Ford Motor Company. WyoTech was founded in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1966 with the goal to provide top-notch, concentrated training programs that prepare students for the growing demand for technicians in the automotive and diesel industry. WyoTech provides one of the best hands-on experiences with its nine-month training programs. "WyoTech students are in the shop, hands-on, working on vehicles 60% of the time, gaining real-life experience and knowledge on automotive repairs," said Mark Muhsman, WyoTech Core Program Coordinator." By completing the Ford ACE program, students will have an advantage in their career with one of our nation's leading employers, Ford Motor Company. WyoTech differs from other schools in the way its curriculum is designed, and delivered, and developing the "whole" technician. Attending class and shop for eight hours a day, the training focuses on developing "soft skills," like customer service, professional demeanor and appearance, and a heavy focus on attendance. Many employers have provided feedback that these requirements lead to a well-rounded graduate who acclimates well to the workplace. For more information on WyoTech, please call us at our campus number of 1-800-521-7158 or visit us at WyoTech.edu Related Images wyotech-and-ford-lincoln-partner.jpg WyoTech and Ford Lincoln Partner in ACE Program WyoTech students receiving hands on instruction SOURCE WyoTech Peter Szijjarto has become the first European official to receive the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, as his nation prepares to receive another batch of hundreds of thousands of doses from Russia. Peter Szijjarto spoke to RT on Sunday, a couple of days after he received the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine. The minister said he has not experienced any side effects. "I had not felt anything neither during vaccination nor after it. I received the first shot in the evening of Friday, so I can tell you that so far so good." he said. Photo: FM's Facebook page Advertisement The Queen today reflected on the 'grief and loss felt by so many' as she marked the poignant Covid lockdown anniversary by sending flowers to the hospital where the Duke of Edinburgh had heart surgery. The monarch paid tribute to the 'immeasurable service of those who have supported us all over the last year' in a message honouring the national day of reflection. A bouquet of irises, tulips, mixed narcissi and ranunculus and the message were taken to St Bartholomew's Hospital in London from Windsor Castle, where the Queen and Philip have been staying during the pandemic. The Queen is understood to have wanted to mark the day during which Covid-19 victims are being remembered across the nation with a minute's silence at midday. She chose St Bartholomew's to receive the flowers following the duke's successful procedure and recent stay. The Queen also wrote of how the nation was looking forward to a 'brighter future together'. The flowers and letter from Queen Elizabeth II to staff at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London are pictured today Staff at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London pose for a photograph after receiving flowers from Queen Elizabeth II today Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh are pictured in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle in June last year Professor Charles Knight, chief executive of St Bartholomew's Hospital, receives flowers from Queen Elizabeth II today The message read: 'As we look forward to a brighter future together, today we pause to reflect on the grief and loss that continues to be felt by so many people and families, and pay tribute to the immeasurable service of those who have supported us all over the last year.' The floral gift and message was handed to the hospital's chief executive, consultant cardiologist Professor Charles Knight. William and Kate's private moment of reflection on lockdown anniversary The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have observed a private moment of reflection in Westminster Abbey to remember those who lost their lives in pandemic. On the anniversary of the first national lockdown, William and Kate held a minute's silence at midday in the abbey's Shrine of St Edward the Confessor. Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey today The Cambridges were joined by the Dean of Westminster the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle and stood in silence before the Dean delivered a series of short prayers. William then lit a candle in remembrance at the altar of the Shrine, and Kate placed fresh daffodils next to the candle. The Shrine is where William and Kate privately signed their marriage register during their wedding ceremony - the 10th anniversary of which is next month. Advertisement It was presented by an official from Windsor Castle in a small outdoor handover ceremony in the hospital's historic square, watched by a group of frontline medics, who gathered for the minute's silence. Philip, 99, and the Queen, who have been married for 73 years, were reunited at Windsor in Berkshire last week after the duke spent a month in hospital. The duke had a successful procedure on his heart at St Bartholomew's on March 3 three months ahead of his 100th birthday in June. He was discharged on March 16. Philip had been moved to the NHS hospital by ambulance, after initially being treated at the private King Edward VII's Hospital in central London and then returning there to recuperate after surgery. The Queen and Philip moved to Windsor on March 19, 2020 for their safety amid the spread of Covid-19. They are being cared for by a reduced household of staff of about 20 people dubbed HMS Bubble. The Queen has served as a symbol of national stability during the pandemic, delivering two rare televised addresses to the nation just weeks apart. She reassured the country that the virus would be overcome, telling those in isolation: 'We will meet again.' In the confines of the castle grounds, the Queen and Philip were pictured together to mark the duke turning 99 in June 2020. Both have had their first Covid vaccinations. The Queen, 94, is facing the fallout from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Oprah interview, which was broadcast while Philip was in hospital. Harry and Meghan praised the Queen, but accused the royal family of racism and the institution of ignoring their pleas for help when Meghan was having suicidal thoughts. Professor Knight, who led the development of the Barts Heart Centre, which is Europe's largest specialised cardiovascular service, also works at the private King Edward VII's Hospital, where Philip was also treated. He expressed his thanks for the bouquet, and told the staff at St Barts he was in 'awe of them' for their work during the pandemic. 'I'm delighted to accept the bouquet on behalf of the hospital and for everyone being remembered on this day of national reflection,' he said. 'I would like to thank all our staff at St Bartholomew's for going above and beyond to care for our patients and support one another during the Covid-19 pandemic. Staff at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London stand apart after receiving flowers from Queen Elizabeth II today A medical worker at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London holds the flowers given to staff by Queen Elizabeth II today The Duke of Edinburgh leaves King Edward VII's Hospital in London on March 16 after treatment following his heart surgery Police officers outside St Bartholomew's Hospital in London on March 5 where the Duke of Edinburgh had heart surgery 'These flowers are for you and represent all that you continue to do every day. I'm in awe of you.' Professor Knight also thanked hospital staff and frontline workers across the UK. He said the day of reflection is a chance for us 'to come together and remember all those that we have lost through the pandemic and all those still bearing the burden of grief'. He added: 'Reflecting on the past year inevitably brings a lot of sadness but it also is an immense source of pride when I recall the heroic efforts of the staff at St Bartholomew's to cope with the unprecedented challenge of the pandemic. 'The gift is for each and every one of them. To close, we would all like to wish His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh a full and complete and speedy recovery.' Make sure you're ready to hit the ground running with the Ultimate Guide to Going Freelance MANSFIELD, England, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the last year, many have had a taste of working from home. As people begin to return to their workplaces, it's only natural to consider making the home-based lifestyle permanent. 20i can help. For skilled workers like designers, writers, business and IT professionals, that could mean going freelance. It's been estimated that there are over 2 million1 freelancers in the UK. It's a popular career choice, growing 14% in last decade2. The lockdowns have only increased people's desire to set up shop independently. Employees are returning to the horrors of the commute and wondering if there's a better way. With Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey expecting GDP to 'recover rapidly'3, it could be a good time to consider going freelance. However, a freelance business isn't without risk: 1 in 5 sole traders fail to make it through their first year4. To avoid this, expert advice is needed. The Ultimate Guide to Going Freelance UK web host 20i has created the Ultimate Guide to Going Freelance to help. Written by Rachael Ryder - a freelancer herself - the Guide offers all the advice, checklists and resources needed to hit the ground running as a freelancer. First, it asks a series of questions to help determine if freelancing is right for the reader. For example, "is your personality and home life suitable for freelancing?" Next, it goes through when to do it. While freelancing might be an exciting prospect, not everyone will be at the right life stage to take the plunge. For those who are certain that freelancing is right for them, then the Guide goes on to explain how to do it. It covers how to plan a business and has a handy 'How to become a freelancer' checklist. Then it's on to business advice: how to brand and market a freelance business. Finance and legal matters are covered, including links to business resources and where to get further help. One question that's common among freelancers is "how much to charge"? So it covers setting fees, different ways to charge, and how to protect your business from losses. Finally, it discusses the different ways to expand and evolve, and how to handle the setbacks that any business might suffer. 20i Director Lloyd Cobb says "If you're thinking of becoming a freelancer, it's important that you start off on the right foot. By being confident that you've made the right decision, and knowing how to plan, prepare and manage your business, you're far more likely to be successful. This guide is a perfect way to ensure that." About 20i 20i is the UK's most-loved5 web hosting company, helping businesses achieve their dreams, whatever their size. Their unlimited Reseller Hosting package is used by freelance web designers, developers, agencies and entrepreneurs to sell web hosting to their clients. References: 1. https://www.ipse.co.uk/policy/research/the-self-employed-landscape/the-self-employed-landscape-report-2019.html 2. https://benrmatthews.com/freelance-statistics 3. https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/monetary-policy-summary-and-minutes/2021/february-2021.pdf 4. https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/14243 5. Top web host on Trustpilot: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/20i.com Contact: Richard Chambers (marketing@20i.com) Related Images guide-to-freelancing.png Guide to Freelancing A woman works on a laptop in a coffee shop ABERDEEN, Miss. (WTVA) - Deputies say a man was under the influence when his vehicle collided with a lawnmower in Monroe County. According to the Monroe County Sheriffs Department, the collision happened Monday afternoon in the Camargo community. Melvin Earl Holland, Source: Monroe County Sheriff's Department Melvin Earl Holland, Source: Monroe County Sheriff's Department Two individuals related to the victim followed the vehicle to a nearby gas station where they kept the driver, Melvin Earl Holland, from leaving until deputies arrived. Deputies arrested Holland and charged him with DUI-second, leaving the scene of an accident, careless driving, and driving with a suspended license. According to the sheriffs department, the victim is out of the hospital. The Camargo community is west of Amory near the Chickasaw County border. Anniversary of Deadly Fire Calls for Annual Moment of Silence 146 lives were lost in a deadly fire; ASSP wants the tragedy to never be forgotten. March 25th is the 110th anniversary of the New York City Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire costing 146 workers lives. The deadly accident eventually led to the creation of the American Society of Safety Professionals, a society which is now calling for a moment of silence on this day to reflect on those whose lives were lost. ASSP encourages companies and workers to observe a moment of silence at 4:45 ET on March 25th the exact time the alarm was sounded to pay tribute to the workers who died in the fire while also refocusing on creating safe work environments The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was the deadliest industrial disaster in New York City history, and it inspired our country to address workplace safety in an organized way that didnt exist before the tragedy, said ASSP President Deborah Roy, M.P.H., RN, COHN-S, CSP, CIT, FASSP, FAAOHN. The horrific fire led to a series of laws and regulations that improved workplace safety. It also caused a concerned group of insurance company safety engineers to start what is now ASSP." The factory fire killed mostly women as young as 14 years old. The fire exit doors were locked and other doors only opened inwards making it impossible for workers to get out. The fire escape didnt meet weight requirements, and fire department ladders couldnt reach the top of the 10-story-building forcing workers to jump out of windows and take elevators, both routes killing them, according to an article. ASSP has grown into a global membership organization of nearly 40,000 occupational safety and health professionals whose work through the decades has contributed to dramatic drops in workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities. Srinagar, March 23 : Authorities on Tuesday shut a secondary level school in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district after nine students tested positive for Covid-19. An official said the students of a higher secondary (10 plus 2) school tested positive during a mass testing campaign of teachers and students. Authorities said the school would remain closed for the next five days as a preventive measure. Of late, there has been a spurt in the Covid positive cases in the union territory. The number of active cases that had come down to less than a 1,000 has again increased as more and more positive cases are being reported in the union territory. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed The idea behind this expansion drive is to facilitate multi-specialty level healthcare opinion accessible to the people residing in tier-2 and tier-3 cities Gurugram based startup Tattvan is all set to expand its presence in major districts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Tattvan will launch its new e-clinics in districts of Kairakat, Balrampur, Phoolpur, Sonbhadraand, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and in Malsisar district in Rajasthan. The idea behind this expansion drive is to facilitate multi-specialty level healthcare opinion accessible to the people residing in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, small towns and other rural areas. Residents can access the comprehensive and holistic healthcare solutions from the comfort of their hometowns, without having to travel anywhere, including tele-consultations and primary to advanced healthcare. Speaking about the expansion, Ayush Mishra, CEO, Tattvan E-clinics said that The launch of every newTattvan E-Clinic takes us one step closer to fulfilling our aim of primary healthcare coverage across tier-2 and tier-3 cities and the rural India. We at Tattvan are focused on advanced care tele-consultations and second medical opinion concentrating on small cities and parts of rural India. The idea is to enable the patient and the family avail advance care opinion from the best specialists across the country from the comfort of their homes without having to travel across the big cities and waiting in queues for the appointments. With this expansion drive, Tattvan aims to raise awareness about its services and also how telemedicine is an effective alternative for those who cannot afford to travel to big cities every time there is a need to consult doctors. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 05:04:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's total COVID-19 cases surpassed 800,000 on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Lebanon set new daily record of coronavirus infections in two weeks with 3,851 new cases. The Iraqi Ministry of Health said the total nationwide COVID-19 infections in Iraq climbed to 803,041 after 4,494 new cases were added. The ministry also reported 30 more fatalities, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 14,066, while the total recoveries in Iraq climbed by 4,125 to 723,286. Riyadh Abdul-Amir, head of the Iraqi health ministry's Public Health Department, said in a press release that there are only about 68,000 people registered on the online platform established early in the month by the ministry for coronavirus vaccination. Lebanon registered 3,851 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily spike since March 9, raising the total number of infections to 444,865. The death toll from the virus in Lebanon went up by 42 to 5,850, while its tally of recoveries climbed by 1,660 to 349,223. Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan announced on Tuesday that the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines will arrive in Lebanon on Wednesday. Turkey on Tuesday confirmed 26,182 new COVID-19 cases, including 1,006 symptomatic patients, raising the total number in the country to 3,061,520. The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 138 to 30,316, while the total recoveries climbed to 2,863,882 after 19,201 more cases recovered in the last 24 hours. More than 8,119,000 people have been vaccinated with the Chinese Sinovac vaccine in Turkey since the start of its mass COVID-19 vaccination on Jan. 14. Iran reported 7,290 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, raising its nationwide caseload to 1,815,712. The pandemic has so far claimed 61,951 lives in Iran, up by 74 in the past 24 hours, said Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education. A total of 1,555,766 people have recovered from the disease in Iran, while 3,865 remained in intensive care units, Lari said. Jordan confirmed 9,003 new infections and 92 more deaths from the coronavirus, raising its COVID-19 caseload to 553,727 and its death toll to 6,077. The tally of recoveries in Jordan surged by 6,649 to 447,888. Morocco's COVID-19 tally rose to 492,403 after 569 new cases were added during the past 24 hours. The COVID-19 death toll in Morocco rose by six to 8,775. The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco climbed to 480,100 after 543 new ones were added, while 411 people were in intensive care units. The Kuwaiti Health Ministry reported 1,288 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed number in the country to 221,743. The ministry also announced 13 more deaths, taking the death toll to 1,246, while the tally of recoveries rose by 1,202 to 206,180. The Qatari health ministry announced 534 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 174,762. It also confirmed 349 new recovered cases and one more death from the virus, bringing the overall recoveries to 161,111 and the death toll to 275. In Oman, the health ministry recorded 836 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total confirmed cases in the country to 152,364. It also reported 404 recovered cases, raising the overall recoveries in the country to 139,846, while its death toll rose by four to 1,633. Algeria on Tuesday reported 94 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total confirmed cases in the North African country to 116,349. The death toll from the virus rose to 3,066 after five new fatalities were added, while the tally of recoveries increased by 89 to 80,899. Enditem Georgia expects 29500 Pfizer doses, 3,818 medical workers vaccinated By Veronika Malinboym On March 22, Minister of Health Ekaterine Tikaradze announced that Georgia is expecting to receive 29500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and added that once they arrive, Georgians will be able to choose the vaccine with which they wish to be administered:The principle of equality and solidarity is one of the core values of the healthcare sector and is shared by the world. Therefore, all vaccines will be available to all our citizens. 29500 doses of Pfizer vaccines will be delivered to Georgia, but we are currently waiting to receive further details to announce to the public the exact date of the vaccine arrival to Georgia, Tsikaradze said.The Health Minister also announced that citizens aged 65 or older will be able to register to receive a vaccine starting from March 25 and that as of right now, the registration for vaccination via the Ministry of Healths official website is open to Georgias medical workers.As of today, 3,818 medical workers have already been vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, 43,200 doses of which arrived in Georgia on March 15. Since the vaccines arrival, a 27-year-old Georgian nurse, Megi Bakradze went into an anaphylactic shock and died a day after receiving a shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the town of Akhaltsikhe. The exact cause of death is yet to be determined. Following the nurses death, Georgia refused to stop using the purchased doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines. Vaccination can only be carried out in clinics with intensive care units (ICUs).In her yesterday's statement, Tikaradze noted that the State Regulation Agency for Medical Activities would publish an interim report on the death of 27-year-old Megi Bakradze. The minister added that although the medical facility where Megi Bakradze received a shot of vaccine did have an intensive care unit, it is the Ministry of Healths goal to improve the quality of each clinic in the regions.As of the last 24 hours, 170 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Georgia, as well as 396 recoveries and 10 deaths. Since February last year, a total of 277,650 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Georgia, with 277,650 recovering and 3,710 dying of the COVID-19. As of today, 3,545 individuals remain infected with coronavirus in Georgia. ADVERTISEMENT The right thing can still be done by relevant prosecutorial agencies to remedy the situation and right the wrongs. The AGF should immediately proceed to terminate the ongoing proceedings in Nigeria and offer a public apology to all the parties concerned. That is the main take-away from Italy. I have written on this subject before now: the politics and drama of OPL 245 involving ENI, Royal Dutch Shell, Malabu Oil and Gas, and the manner in which President Goodluck Jonathans officials were dragged into the matter, particularly Emeritus Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke. The big issue is that there were allegations of corruption, money laundering and unsavoury practices in the transactions. On Thursday last week, after more than three years, and 74 hearings, and about 200 witnesses, the Italian court looking into the matter ruled that none of the parties involved in the matter has a case to answer. In other words, the trial court discharged and acquitted, Etete, Adoke, ENI, AGIP, and Shell. What the Italian court has said is that there was not any fraud over the transfer of the ownership of the OPL 245 and governments management of the process. OPL 245 was projected by interested parties as one of the biggest symbols of corruption in Nigeria, from Presidents Obasanjo to YarAdua, and as a major minus for the Jonathan administration. The Italians, in whose courts the matter was first initiated, have now just ruled that there is no case to answer. We are right now at this point after reputations have been destroyed, family lives have been disrupted, and the wrong narrative has been put out there. It is terrible and condemnable the way the Nigerian government, in the last six years, has gone about this particular matter. What is even more telling is that in a public statement titled, A Trilogy of Acquittals, Chief Dan Etete insists that the agreements on the transfer from Malabu to Shell and ENI were never cancelled by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Court, he points out, has confirmed that no bribes were paid to anyone and that there is indeed no case to answer. This point must be made: Nigeria must not be made to look like a rogue state in the eyes of the international community where things can never be done right or government business is conducted in such a manner as to promote ulterior motives. In other words, the prosecution raised the following issues: The legality of the transaction has been affirmed by the Italian courts. Before now, the impression given to Nigerians was that the OPL 245 Resolution Agreement was tainted with corruption, hence the prosecutions going on in Milan and Nigeria. Now that the transaction has been confirmed to be legitimate, it is expected that the Nigerian authorities will do the needful by terminating proceedings in Nigeria and publicly apologise to those maligned unduly by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and other state actors and their cohorts. In some jurisdictions, compensation will be offered. Nigeria ought to learn useful lessons from the Italian prosecutions and the subsequent discharge and acquittal of the parties. Public Officers such as the Attorney General and other prosecutorial agencies must be guided by the pursuit of justice and national interest in the advice they give to ground a prosecution rather than serve narrow selfish private interests or the desire to even scores with people who have held public office. What exactly is the level of investigation that our prosecutorial agencies carry out before they decide to charge someone to court? We target people and try to rope them in, based on prejudices. Malicious prosecution is a direct assault on the rule of law. This point must be made: Nigeria must not be made to look like a rogue state in the eyes of the international community where things can never be done right or government business is conducted in such a manner as to promote ulterior motives. In addition, malicious prosecution should be avoided because of its inherent danger to the state and the colossal loss it can occasion for the state when redress is sought against it. What if Etete, Adoke, and the oil companies proceed against the government for the losses incurred during these years? Nigerias image has been badly damaged internationally needlessly and public confidence in our state institutions greatly eroded by the actions taken by the EFCC, the Federal Ministry of Justice and other state actors to discredit a transaction that to all intents and purposes was legitimate The Attorney General of the Federation indeed failed the legal community, the Justice system and his Oath of Office when he failed to give effect to the Judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Coram, Binta Nyako, J to the effect that Mr. Adoke could not be held personally liable for carrying out the lawful directives and/approval of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to implement the OPL 245 Settlement Agreement of 2006. In other climes, the Attorney General of the Federation would have moved to terminate all proceedings in obedience to the Judgment of the Court. Nigerias image has been badly damaged internationally needlessly and public confidence in our state institutions greatly eroded by the actions taken by the EFCC, the Federal Ministry of Justice and other state actors to discredit a transaction that to all intents and purposes was legitimate and beneficial to the country. Now is the time to close the book on the OPL 245 saga. The right thing can still be done by relevant prosecutorial agencies to remedy the situation and right the wrongs. The AGF should immediately proceed to terminate the ongoing proceedings in Nigeria and offer a public apology to all the parties concerned. That is the main take-away from Italy. II. Much Ado About Ogun Cargo Airport I have no doubts that Amosuns kinsmen will praise him for his Egba nationalism but we cannot afford to have an atomistic Ogun State, where every governor that emerges is more interested in his or her own narrow goals. A cargo airport in Remo will be a cargo airport for all the people of Ogun State. Can we just focus on that and subtract the politics of it? Ogun State has been in the news for the wrong reasons lately over what I prefer to call for the want of a better term: much ado about a cargo airport. All the parties involved need to be told that the provision of a cargo Airport in the state should not become a matter of geography, individual ego, arrogance, mischief or ethnicity. The main consideration should be the interest of the people of Ogun State. A cargo airport in Ogun State will, to state the obvious, create employment, open up the State, deepen the development process, and also provide an alternative to the congested Lagos port facilities. It will shore up State revenue. The great advantage or disadvantage that Ogun State has is its proximity to Lagos. With regard to the former, the increasing scarcity of space, and the over-congestion in Lagos, has resulted, in the last two decades, in an urban sprawl from Lagos towards every part of Ogun State, which is its nearest neighbour. The effect is that housing schemes, industrial projects and other investments that could ordinarily have been located in Lagos, are being moved to Ogun State, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on the Southern front, and towards Epe and Ijebu Ode on the Northern axis. Whoever runs Ogun State as Governor therefore has a responsibility to prepare Ogun State for this advantage, for it is the best option for turning the state into an industrial hub, not just for proximity purposes but also as the gateway to the East and the neighbouring countries of Benin, and Togo. The disadvantage, which needs to be addressed, is that as Ogun State merges with Lagos, and with many Ogun State residents working in Lagos, commuting daily between the two States, the bulk of the tax that should go to Ogun State ends up in he coffers of Lagos State. No governor has been able to find an answer to that yet. Most of the people living in Ifo 2 Constituency and Obafemi Owode Local Government, for example, live in Ogun State and pay tax in Lagos. The proximity between both States is such that in places like Alagbole, for example, some of the residents have their living rooms in Lagos State and their bedrooms on the Ogun State side of the divide! The new governor also saw the good sense in what had been initiated by his predecessor but rather than continue with what he met on the ground, Amosun decided to start an entirely new cargo airport and chose as new location, a part of the State called Wasimi. But that is not the real subject matter. It is this: In 2007, Engineer Gbenga Daniel as governor of Ogun State decided to set up a cargo airport in the state, to attract business and investment, and TO take full advantage of the proximity of Ogun State to Lagos. Lagos, Nigerias main commercial centre and the host of two sea ports and an international airport, is congested, creating nightmares for both residents and businesses. The clearing of cargoes in Lagos at the time and even now, was an abiding source of frustration for business and industry. Why not set up an alternative in Ogun State and draw economic benefits? This was the vision of the Gbenga Daniel administration. And it made sense. The chosen location for the cargo airport was the Ilishan-Remo part of the State, close to Sagamu. Governor Daniel got the necessary approvals from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and did the ground work. But the cargo airport was not completed before the end of his tenure. In 2007, Governor Daniel was succeeded by Senator Ibikunle Amosun as governor of Ogun State. The new governor also saw the good sense in what had been initiated by his predecessor but rather than continue with what he met on the ground, Amosun decided to start an entirely new cargo airport and chose as new location, a part of the State called Wasimi. This is where the problem lies. Daniel was a governor of Remo extraction. When he decided to locate the cargo airport in Remoland, the Egbas accused Daniel of taking every important project to his part of the State. When Amosun took over, he looked towards his own territory, Egbaland and hence decided that the proposed cargo airport was best for his own people. Wasimi to Ilishan Remo is less than 30 minutes. The change of location served no special purpose other than the psychological comfort it brings and the ethnic rivalry it projects. Amosun would end up doing a lot for his Egba people. He changed the face of Abeokuta, the capital of the State. He also gave them a flyover in Ijebu Ode. But the cargo airport has now become a source of concern. This whole hustle over location is just across the bridge and less than 30 minutes in terms of distance! Ogun State does not need two cargo airports. One is enough. The State cannot afford two airports. That is a fact. The Senate panel on Aviation must be truthful and not take any decision just to please Amosun, who is currently in the Senate. A week ago, the matter came up before the Senate Committee on Aviation, following disagreements between Governor Dapo Abiodun and former governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. The former is interested in building the Ilishan-Remo airport. Governor Abiodun, like Daniel is from Remo. Amosun wants the Agricultural Cargo Airport in Wasimi, in Egbaland. The Senate Committee on Aviation reportedly visited the two sites, and both governors have been struggling to persuade the Senate to include their preferred project in the federal budget. By the way, the last time I checked, Senator Amosun was no longer the governor of Ogun State. With due respect, why is he trying to dictate to his successor? He would never have accepted such meddlesomeness as he now allegedly puts up, from his own predecessors: Governor Olusegun Osoba or Governor Gbenga Daniel. As it turned out, the representative of the NCAA told the Senate Committee on Aviation that the agency has no record of any approval for the establishment of a Wasimi Cargo Airport, but it has all the necessary documentation for the Sagamu cargo airport. The Chairman of the Senate panel, Senator Smart Adeyemi subsequently resolved the matter by saying that Ogun State has the capacity to manage two airports. What kind of talk is that? Smart Adeyemis statement is supported by politics, double-talk and hypocrisy, and not the facts. Ogun State does not need two cargo airports. One is enough. The State cannot afford two airports. That is a fact. The Senate panel on Aviation must be truthful and not take any decision just to please Amosun, who is currently in the Senate. It is most unfortunate that governance in Ogun State, as is the case in other states of the Federation, has been reduced to the distribution of privileges on the basis of ethnicity. I think Governor Abiodun has done well by continuing with a worthy project introduced by Daniel, which Amosun abandoned. It is completely beside the point that Abiodun and Daniel are from the same geographical zone. The overall target should be continuity in governance. That is how they do it in sane and developed economies. Abiodun has completed some of Senator Amosuns projects, even in Egbaland, and the most conspicuous is the road leading to Abeokuta all the way to Kuto. He should also pay attention to Amosuns projects in Ifo 2 Constituency to show good faith. As for Senator Amosun, can he just concentrate on his new assignment in Abuja and allow his successor to govern, the same way his own predecessors gave him breathing space? Dapo Abiodun was our opponent in the 2019 gubernatorial election in Ogun State but having won, he should be allowed to govern and make his own choices and mistakes. The State should not and cannot have two governors. All that talk about what Amosun wants is mere politics and very cheap politics at that. I have no doubts that Amosuns kinsmen will praise him for his Egba nationalism but we cannot afford to have an atomistic Ogun State, where every governor that emerges is more interested in his or her own narrow goals. A cargo airport in Remo will be a cargo airport for all the people of Ogun State. Can we just focus on that and subtract the politics of it? Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, writes from Lagos. We want everyone who is wearing or has worn a military uniform to be aware of the range of business support offered to them by the State of Utah. The Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs (UDVMA) and the Utah Veterans Business Resource Center (VBRC), located at Salt Lake Community Colleges business support hub called The Mill, are pleased to announce the launch of the VBRC Outreach Program. The VBRC Outreach Program is designed to reach all veterans, active duty, reserve, National Guard and spouses (veterans and military) throughout the State of Utah said Gary Harter, the Executive Director of the UDVMA. We want everyone who is wearing or has worn a military uniform to be aware of the range of business support offered to them by the State of Utah. The mission of the VBRC is to assist veterans, active duty, reserve, National Guard and spouses across Utah with assistance in starting and building their businesses. VBRC support begins with clients business ideas and works with them in testing the idea with the target customer, creating the legal form of business, providing financial analysis and developing a business and marketing plan. The business support never stops. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the VBRC assisted existing and new clients with working through the EIDL and PPP loans offered through the SBA and funding opportunities offered by state and local programs. The mission of the VBRC is accomplished through one-on-one meetings and group educational programs such as the Veteran Everyday Entrepreneur Program, said Rick Brown, the program manager. There is no charge for these services because veteran and military members have already done so much for Utah through their military service. The VBRC has transitioned to offering all these services online via video conferencing, allowing veterans and military members in rural areas and across the state to easily access support. The Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs is committed to making Utah the best place in the nation to perform military missions and have it recognized as a premier location for veterans, service members and their families to live and succeed. To effectuate this vision, the UDVMAs focus is on delivery of responsive, well-planned and effective services to veterans, military members and their families through coordination with government agencies, academia, private partners and nonprofit organizations. Salt Lake Community College is Utahs largest open-access college, proudly educating the states most diverse student body in 8 areas of study at 12 locations and online. The majority of SLCC graduates transfer to four-year institutions, and thousands more are trained in direct-to-workforce programs. In 2023, the institution will celebrate 75 years of providing Utahns with education and training in fields that contribute to the states vibrant economy and high quality of life. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Hawaii's famed beaches are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels as a spring break surge of travelers floods the islands and many are coming from states that do not have outdoor mask mandates, which Hawaii does. Hawaii saw 28,000 travelers enter the state on Saturday, the highest number since the pandemic locked down the state in March, HawaiiNewsNow reported. The local TV station reported many of these tourists aren't wearing masks outdoors, with a number of them telling the station that their home states don't require it. Seventeen states recommend but do not require masks be worn in public. Eighty-one per cent of the 401 samples sent by the government for genome sequencing have tested positive for the UK variant of COVID-19, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said. He further asked the Centre to widen the vaccination net to cover those younger than 60. Expressing concern over the COVID-19 situation, the chief minister also appealed to people to get themselves vaccinated and stressed the need for the Central government to urgently open up vaccination for a larger section of the population. Reuters He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to widen the vaccination ambit to cover those younger than 60 as the mutant has been found to be infecting young people more, an official statement quoting him said. The process needs to be expedited, he said, pointing to the fact that experts had found the existing Covishield vaccine to be equally effective against the UK variant, B.1.1.7. It was essential to vaccinate more and more people to break the chain of transmission, he said. Why the urgency? Captain Amarinder also urged the people to strictly adhere to all Covid safety protocols, including wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. The state government, which has already announced fresh restrictions, would be forced to impose more curbs if the people do not follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, he warned. REUTERS The appeal from the chief minister came after the states Covid expert committee head, Dr KK Talwar, apprised him of the developments on the new variant in the state, which has been witnessing a surge in the number of Covid-19 positive cases during the last few weeks. The state health department had sent 478 Covid positive samples to NIB, IGIB, and NCDC for genome sequencing, of which the results of 90 samples were received and those showed only two samples for N440K variant. Why are the numbers worrying? Subsequently, a team from the ministry of health and family welfare, Government of India, visited the state to review the increase in positivity. The team was informed about the pending results of genome sequencing. Thereafter, 401 more samples, collected between January 1, 2021, to March 10, 2021, were sent to NCDC for genome sequencing. PTI The result of these samples was worrying as it showed the presence of B.1.1.7 variant in 326 Covid samples, said Dr Talwar. The B.1.1.7 variant is now spreading rapidly in many parts of the world, representing 98% of the new cases in the UK and 90% in Spain. The UK authorities have suggested it is up to 70% more transmissible than the original virus. Covid crisis and fresh curbs Punjab reported 2,319 fresh COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the tally to 2,15,409, while 58 fatalities pushed the death toll to 6,382. The districts which saw fatalities included Hoshiarpur (10), Jalandhar (9), SBS Nagar (9), Amritsar (4) and Gurdaspur (4), according to a bulletin. ANI The infection tally climbed to 2,15,409 with over 2,300 more people getting infected, the bulletin said. Ludhiana reported a maximum of 341 COVID-19 cases, Jalandhar 309, Mohali 295, Hoshiarpur 230 and Amritsar 210, among districts, which witnessed new cases. Night curfew has been imposed in several cities in the state. The Chandigarh administration has shut schools and colleges till March 31. Holi gatherings have also been banned in view of the spiralling COVID cases. Charleston, WV (25301) Today Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. The dogma was born. Like any dogma, its extremely difficult to change peoples minds and change the dogmas. Last year, one of the top aerosol scientists in Australia, a woman called Lidia Morawska, likened social distancing regulations to a cult ritual. So why is that research still guiding public health policy in this country in 2021? What the CDC didnt tell us was that Karl Flugg had been dead for a hundred years. His research on social distancing was published in the 19 th century, before most Americans had electricity or indoor plumbing. It was Flugg who determined that six foot separations were necessary to slow the spread of pathogen. It turns out that the research that formed the basis of that law came from a German hygienist, Carl Flugge. Somebody should have asked that question last spring, but as far as we know, nobody did ask. Carlson: But where did that law come from? Who did the scientific research that determined that six feet was the safest distance apart from other people you could be? Here Carlson asks questions about the orders for a social distance of six feet to stop the spread of COVID19. Tucker Carlson Tonight' host examines differing COVID guidance from leaders and health experts over the past year Its time someone asked why Fauci has so much power over our lives at the same time he doesnt have to respond to the issues Carlson brings up here. It turns out there are things we dont know about the effects of this vaccine and all vaccines by the way. Its always a tradeoff. Carlson raised concerns about blood clots associated with three of the COVID vaccines. How necessary is it to take the vaccine? He asked two questions about the vaccines that everyone should be asking and noted that no one has answered them. About 12 minutes into the show Carlson brought up the push for the COVID19 vaccine. What is the science out there that supports Faucis demands that we social distance at six feet and get a COVID19 vaccine? Carlson looked into it. Ive watched lots of news coverage at MSNBC and CNN where Fauci is always given the last word unchallenged, so it was refreshing to see Carlson examine the restrictions on American life that weve been forced to endure because Fauci said so. By Anne Dachel On Mar. 16, 2021 Tucker Carlson over at Fox News devoted almost 20 minutes of his show to exposing the duplicity and control practices of Dr. Anthony Fauci. is an evidence-based profession dedicated to improvingand preventing disease. Theprocess is howpolicy decisionslaws, regulations, tax policies, and the allocation of scarceresourcesare made by elected officials. It was all just faith-based and had massive consequences. Millions of American school children have not been educated for a year because the CDC turned century old German theories about tuberculosis into a kind of modern state-enforced religious faith. Yes, our authorities are just that mediocre. But the most infuriating part of it all is not that they were wrong, but that they wont admit that they were wrong and apologize for it. Watch Tony Fauci pretend as if six feet apart were some kind of unquestioned universally recognized physics principle like gravity or photosynthesis. Fauci: Everything on here, one way or the other, points to physical separation. Whether its no crowds, whether its six feet, go out, wear a mask, stay feet away from anyone. When youre outside, stay at least six feet apart from someone. I think if you stay six feet apart with masks, you can do whatever it is you need to do. Every aspect of that ending the COVID outbreak in 30 days has some aspect of physical separation, whether thats avoiding crowds, whether thats staying six feet away from people. Carlson: If you stay six feet apart with masks you can do whatever it is you need to do. Of course it sounds so simple. Thats why every elevator you get into, every airport check-in line you see, every convenience store has on the floor six feet apart on stickers. Its not hard. Just change every part of your life, every interaction you have with other human beings, and its totally fine. Its not a big deal. In the state of Washington, high schools tried their best to comply with Anthony Faucis pronouncement. Heres how one school adapted its band practice to conform to German germ research from the 1890s. Wenatchee High School finding a socially distance solution to get the band back together. These so-called pods,set up in the band and choir rooms. Individual students getting inside sipping themselves in and then removing their masks to play their instruments or to sing. Carlson: Getting less oxygen is good for you, so get inside your little plastic pod like freeze dried people. Its dystopia. The kids had no choice. The science was settled. Thats what we were told. Well it was settled until last Wednesday when the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases found the law of six foot social distancing isnt actually real. Its not a law. It was a guess and its wrong. Researchers looked at corona virus case rates in the state of Massachusetts, the school districts there, schools that required six foot social distancing and compared those with school districts that required only three feet of social distancing, and there were some. Researchers found there was no statistically significant difference in corona virus cases between the two. And it wasnt just for students. It was also true for adult staff members. The study also controlled for corona virus rates in the surrounding community. It was not shoddy research. It was real, and heres the conclusion: Lower physical distancing policies can be adopted in school settings with masking mandates without negatively affecting student or staff safety. This has massive implications, but mostly for people like Tony Fauci, people who spent the last year assuring everyone, the science is clear. So if you had spent the last year saying that, insisting that 19th century German hygiene research was the last word on social distancing, if youd staked your rapidly diminishing credibility on that fact, wouldnt you apologize, now that the fact turns out to be a lie? But Tony Fauci didnt apologize for the fake science hes imposed on the entire country. He just nodded and kept going. Fauci on CNN was asked, Does this study suggest to you that three feet is good enough? Fauci: It does indeed. Carlson: It does. Not a big deal, just kept an entire generation of kids from learning anything. Well just move forward with the new science. The charitable interpretation of the clip you just saw is that maybe Tony Fauci is finally learning something about science, because despite what they tell you, science is never final or absolute. There is no settled science. Thats an oxymoron. Real scientists adjust their conclusions based on the evidence which is always changing. They ignore partisan considerations, but Tony Fauci didnt. If he had, hed already have known this because the study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases was not the first study to reach this conclusion. In fact back in June of last year one of the leading scientific journals in the world, the Lancet, not a small publication, came out with a study on social distancing, and it found this: For the general public, [that would include schools] evidence shows that physical distancing of more than a meter is highly effective. So three feet was enough in June, they just didnt tell us that. Other medical experts were saying the same thing. In fact last summer Dr. Mark Escott, the medical director for the Austin Public Health System, put it this way: I know that at three feet theres about an 80 percent reduction of the transmission of the disease. So its not actually new information. It was ignored information, and we made policy on the basis of bad information, not on the basis of science, on the basis of lies justified by 19th century research into tuberculosis. So why are they telling us this now? Heres one reason: the political balance of the country has changed. With Joe Biden in charge, Faucis party wants to see the schools reopen because the public wants it. Parents are upset, and they should be. So all of a sudden theyre changing the so-called scientific recommendation . If that seems too cynical to be real, keep in mind theyve done it before. Last summer dozens of public health experts exempted BLM from corona virus restrictions, not because science demanded that BLM get a pass, but because they personally supported BLM. The so-called scientific community signed a letter that will live forever in infamy claiming, The risks of congregating during a global pandemic shouldnt keep people from protesting racism. The scourge of white supremacy, the letter said, is a lethal public health issue that predates and contributes to COVID19. Oh, it contributes to COVID19. So you thought it may have escaped from a lab in Wuhan that was in part funded by the US government, with the knowledge of Tony Fauci. So maybe Tony Fauci and the government of China might have something to answer for, but now we learn from the scientific community that your racism caused COVID. In June Johns Hopkins epidemiologist Jennifer Nuzzo delared, In this moment the public health risks of not protesting to demand an end to systemic racism greatly exceed the harms of the virus. Its hard to believe that a so-called scientist could write something like that on paper and not be held accountable for it. That same month the governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, praised the BLM riots that broke out after the death of George Floyd on Memorial Day. Yes, there was a mandatory stay-at-home order in New Jersey and a public health emergency, of course, that justified it. But Phil Murphy wasnt bothered. He said that rioters were taking to the streets peacefully to create a better future for our entire New Jersey family. So if they can justify a riot on the basis of public health, What cant they justify? What arent they justifying? Our leaders and public health experts are clearly guided, some of them anyway, by politics. And whats also becoming clear is how much these experts actually know about some of the topic they claim to be expert in. Its just very hard to know what this virus is going to do. Viruses are hard to understand. This one is new, but no one will admit it. So out of nowhere news stories pop up that seem to have no explanation. Heres one example, South Africa. Epidemiologists there predicted a surge in corona virus cases this year. Vacationers were returning from around the world, South Africa was still not under a strict lockdown, there was a new strain There was no vaccine for most people in South Africa. It seemed like the perfect place for what Tony Fauci might call a super spreader event, a disaster. But thats not what happened. Since mid January, corona virus infections in South Africa have plummeted from more than 20,000 a day to about 1,000 a day. Less than 5 percent of corona virus tests administered in South Africa are now coming back positive. The question is why. What is going on in South Africa? And the answer is, we dont know. The problem is when the people in charge of our public health systems wont admit that they dont know. 12:00 So all of this should prompt some pretty tough questions for our public health experts in this country. And one of those questions is: How effective is this corona virus vaccine? How necessary is it to take the vaccine? Dont dismiss those questions from anti-vaxxers. Dont kick people off social media for asking them. Answer the questions, especially now. The administration would like you to take this vaccine. Joe Biden told you last week, if you dont, you cant celebrate the Fourth of July. It turns out there are things we dont know about the effects of this vaccine and all vaccines by the way. Its always a tradeoff. But in this specific case, Germany, France, Italy and Spainthese are not third world countrieshave just suspended the distribution of Astra Zenecas vaccine. Theyre saying it could be linked to deadly blood clots. A month ago the New York Times reported the FDA and the CDC were looking into reports the Moderna and Pfizers vaccine could be causing blood clots as well. The paper reported that one 56 year old physician called Gregory Michael developed a severe case of a blood disorder, platelets in his blood dropped three days after taking the vaccine. Without those platelets his blood couldnt clot. He died of a brain hemorrhage after two weeks in the hospital. Should this scare you? We dont know, but the rest of us deserve an answer. Instead our leaders are acting, once again, as if the science were totally settled, and youre not allowed to ask a question. Look at the vaccination rates in certain states and its pretty clear some people are not taking the vaccine on purpose. If you want them to take the vaccine, dont berate them. Dont issue more commands. Calm their fear by rationally explaining the benefits and the risks of taking the vaccine. Thats how you deal with adults. But instead theyre telling you, if you want to see your grandparents ever again, youll shut up and take the shot. CDC spokesperson clip: If you and a friend or you and a family member are both vaccinated, you can have dinner together, wearing masks without distancing. You can visit your grandparents if you have been vaccinated and they have been too. So instead they just lecture us like theyre our parents, which they are absolutely not. The patronizing never stops. As Joe Biden has told us, its possible that you can cook a hot dog in your own backyard in July if youre obedient. They tell you this is all about protecting the elderly and flattening the curve The question is in real life what happens if you are an older person and you dont obey. Well we have an answer to that. A 65 year old woman in Galveston, Texas learned on March 11th what happens when you dont obey. This was one day after the governor of Texas lifted that states mask mandate and reopened Texas. That woman, apparently believing news reports that it was a free country, walked into a Bank of America branch. Thats when, to keep her safe, Texas police officers violently attacked her. (VIDEO SHOWS THE WOMEN SUBDUED AND HANDCUFFED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72UEvQGj_Dk ) So just to be clear, she wasnt trying to rob the bank. She didnt pass the teller a note saying she had a bomb or a firearm, she just wasnt wearing a mask in a state where there is no mask mandate. Is anyone going to get real here? she asked, she screamed as shes thrown to the ground by the police. But they did it though to keep her safe. She was under the impression she could go into a Bank of America branch in full compliance with state law without being thrown to the ground. Texas could be in trouble. But to be fair, if that woman had read more CNN articles shed know that actually she had it coming. According to CNN, facemasks are a sign of respect. No mention of respecting people who dont wear facemasks. Theyre not worthy of respect. But wearing a facemask will help the US return to normal, because it is totally normal to shield your face from the people around you. Wearing your mask is a sign of respect and if you dont do it, youll be beaten in public for your own good. And as our media will tell you, its not just banks that mandate this new sign of respect. Over at NBC News, a similar piece is now advising readers on how they ought to behave at the gym, unless they too want to get thrown to the ground. Instead of taking your mask off to drink from a water bottle, slip the straw under chin of your mask. If you need to shower at the gym, shower as quickly as possible and only remove your mask when your face and head is going to get wet. So NBC News is now telling you how long youre allowed to shower and how youre allowed to drink your water with your mask on. This is science. Dont dare question the competence of the people who told you to never wear a mask just a year ago. That would be disrespectful to our public health experts. And you know what happens to people who show disrespect to public health experts. Is she trying to force the issue in order to end the marriage, or is she trying to come clean in order to save the marriage? Is she trying to punish you, or does she want to punish herself? Does she have an STD? Did she become pregnant? The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. The construction workers who traveled to central Kansas to erect a wind farm for utility giant American Electric Power thought it would be a good job. Then they fell victim to the troubling side of the renewable power industry. The nomadic band of workers had come to the Flat Ridge III project from Texas, Michigan and other states to install 62 turbines with towers as tall as 300 feet using cranes and heavy machinery. But after a few months the project broke down. Subcontractor C2 Logistics Solutions stopped paying the crew, causing workers to protest and walk off the job. Some quit in disgust. At least 60 employees and possibly dozens more are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in wages, overtime and travel expenses, according to workers and a lawsuit against the company. We still havent been paid, from the supervisors on down to the hands, says David Saucedo, the former C2 general foreman who say hes owed about $10,000. You have to understand, I went late on my rent and car payments because I didnt get paid. Flat Ridge III is a cautionary tale as renewable power balloons into a big industry that may eventually employ a few million mostly blue-collar workers. The Biden administration stresses the good-paying jobs that await Americans in selling its plans for a fast expansion of clean power to curb climate change. Marketers burnish this upbeat image, with photos on company websites of men and women smiling under hardhats amid sunshine and blue skies. But thats not the on-the-ground reality in many states today. Sure, skilled workers who hook up with established wind and solar contractors can make a solid middle-class living, particularly in a handful of states with strong labor practices like California, Minnesota and New York. Elsewhere, the influx of smaller operators and a lack of labor standards are spurring complaints about wage theft, starting pay as low as $10 an hour, scant training and safety lapses causing injuries and death, according to interviews with workers, union organizers, developers and state regulators. Every little construction company wants to get into wind, but they dont know what they are doing and sometimes they dont have the money, says Saucedo, who has built wind farms for big and small firms for eight years. I hear lots of complaints about small companies that don't pay, or pay late, and treat workers like dogs. A Prevailing (i.e., Union-Scale) Wage Trade union leaders have taken the battle to Washington, pressing President Biden to keep his green-jobs promise. Their top priority in Americas clean energy transition is a set of labor standards particularly a guarantee of a prevailing wage, says Yvette Pena-OSullivan, executive director of the 500,000-member Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA). A prevailing wage, which typically equals union rates and benefits, is about more than paychecks. It could transform the growing renewable industry by triggering the use of apprenticeship programs and attracting more skilled workers and reliable companies that invest in training, says Carol Zabin, an economist at UC Berkeley who researches low-wage labor markets and green energy. Climate politics come into play too. If Biden can deliver a win for construction workers, he may get something in return less resistance from trade and utilities unions to his anticipated push to slash carbon emissions. Good union jobs in hundreds of uneconomical coal power plants and mines would be first in line to go. But a prevailing wage for clean energy, which could be part of the upcoming infrastructure package, is certain to face strong opposition in a divided Senate. Republicans and business groups have long denounced the countrys most prominent prevailing wage law, a Great Depression relic called Davis-Bacon. It applies only to federal public work projects such as highways but is touted as a model to use in the private renewable energy industry. Critics say Davis-Bacon distorts the market by boosting labor costs, which in turn can reduce the number of workers a company hires in order to control expenses. Budget hawks point out that repealing Davis-Bacon would save the government about 1% of what it spends on construction, or $12 billion in the decade ending in 2028, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Green energy workers make more money than Walmart clerks but less than union members doing similar tasks. A report commissioned by Environmental Entrepreneurs and other business groups found that in 2019 wind technicians made a median hourly wage of about $25 and solar installers somewhat less along with some health care and retirement benefits. The wages are above the national median average but not enough to support a small family in many states, according to the Living Wage Calculator created by a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The vast majority of our jobs are high-paying, secure jobs, says Erin Duncan, vice president of congressional affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association. Over the next decade, the solar industry will be creating hundreds of thousands of careers. The Labor Brakes on Breakneck Growth The industry posted another year of record growth in 2020, thanks to a combination of federal tax credits, state requirements for supplying clean energy and rapidly declining costs. It has installed 4,900 wind and solar farms in the U.S., at times working closely with unions, particularly when developers need a large skilled workforce for difficult projects. The 2020 deal between Denmarks Orsted and North Americas Building Trades Unions to erect offshore wind farms in the Atlantic Ocean was heralded by both sides as a breakthrough for labor-industry collaboration on clean energy. But labor issues threatened the industrys ability to grow at the breakneck pace needed to meet Bidens ambitious goal of cleaning the power grid of carbon emissions by 2035. The industry suffers from a shortage of managers, engineers, technicians and installers, with 83% of solar firms reporting difficulty in hiring the qualified employees they need, according to a 2019 jobs census from the Solar Foundation. The industry is trying to fill the gap by tapping groups like Hiring Our Heroes for military veterans who want training for solar jobs. But we certainly dont have the numbers of people that we need to facilitate the increasing growth of the industry, Duncan says. The industrys poor labor practices are part of the problem in luring blue-collar talent, says UC Berkeleys Zabin. To keep costs in check, developers often rely on a peripatetic workforce of manual laborers, electricians, ironworkers and heavy-machine operators. They travel almost year-round from state to state and job to job, sleeping in cheap hotels and campgrounds. Many of them report to temporary staffing agencies and brokers, which across various industries often tend to depress wages and blur the lines of accountability when labor disputes over pay and unsafe conditions erupt, according to research by the National Employment Law Project. Job training would help these roving green workers build careers that can support a family. But training is hard to find other than at the biggest firms like GE and Vestas, says a worker who asked to remain anonymous. He dropped out of Southern Texas University for a wind job and was certified as a gearbox technician. But after five years in the business hes stuck making about $25 an hour. I love working in wind but I need to get to the right company that will give me the opportunity to learn, he says. Occupational Hazards One major developer can spot a reckless contractor with poorly trained crews by the crazy low bids it submits. There are some contractors with crews that put on Wild West shows, says an executive at the renewables company who asked to remain anonymous. Things happen on land where theyre not supposed to, equipment being in places where its not supposed to be, and there are safety issues too. At least eight workers have died in the dangerous occupation of wind farm construction since 2008, according interviews with employees, filings with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and media reports. Workers are suspended from towers hundreds of feet in the air as huge cranes swing massive steel parts into place in sometimes windy and mountainous conditions. The deaths include a man in South Dakota who was run over by a semi-trailer truck and a worker in California who fell to the ground through an open hatch on a tower. Last year, a 24-year-old man suffered what authorities called a preventable death on a wind farm in Washington. He jumped into a deep and unshored-up trench to rescue a trapped co-worker when it collapsed and buried him alive. A group of workers spent hours trying to dig him out of an enormous dirt pile. Renewable Energy Systems Americas, a major player in clean energy, was among the companies fined a total of more than $500,000 for many safety violations. A state agency found that digging such a deep trench after days of rain without bracing the walls was a recipe for disaster. Most large firms like Mortenson and White Construction are known as safe operators that follow rules. But some companies disregard time-consuming safety procedures in order to meet milestones, such as quickly erecting 10 towers, to get paid. In order to get these paychecks, they tell us to do really risky things, says Grant Schermitzler, who has worked on many wind crews over the years. In 42-mile-an-hour winds, above the legal limit, they have us lift tower parts with a crane. They dont understand how dangerous it is. It happens all the time. Big Labor Goes to Bat Unions often intervene to address safety concerns with employers. But they have only a very small presence in wind and solar construction because of the difficulties in organizing workers employed by temp agencies -- workers who dont stay in one place long enough for a union campaign, says Steve Schwartz, LiUNAs director of organizing. So organizers resort to other tactics, such as going directly to developers and urging them to sign project labor agreements on wages, benefits and training in exchange for a skilled workforce. The agreements are widely used in Californias buildout of renewables. When developers in other states reject them, unions make their case to regulators -- with mixed results. In Minnesota, where unions have long held sway over jobs, a perfect storm was brewing a few years ago. While coal plants in the state were set to be retired, thus eliminating union jobs, wind and solar projects were springing up and being built by traveling workers with out-of-state license plates. Union leaders complained to the state Public Utilities Commission. Developers had sold these projects to regulators as job creators for Minnesotans, but they werent getting the work, says Kevin Pranis, LiUNAs marketing manager in the state. The PUC responded by telling developers to begin disclosing the local composition of their workforce, sending a clear signal to hire more Minnesotans without actually requiring it. Renewable goliath NextEra Energy and RES Americas protested. They complained that local hiring is too hard and costs more and will mess everything up, Commissioner Joe Sullivan says. But developers came to realize that the commission wants to promote economic development, and they have complied and continue to build projects. The number of Minnesotans hired, often from unions, has shot up in a state with 477 wind and solar farms. Locals made up less than a fifth of workers on a project in 2018, just after the reporting requirement began. Two years later, on another wind farm, the number had increased to three-quarters. In Colorado, unions have watched from the sidelines as traveling workers built most of 125 renewable plants. The Keep Jobs in Colorado Act of 2013 seemed like a win for organized labor in a state where it has a small footprint. It required the utilities commission to consider labor practices such as wages, training and local hiring in approving energy construction and acquisitions. But commission delays implementing the statute and a loophole for companies to avoid reporting their labor practices undermined it. Theres a race to the bottom on labor costs, and that hurts the economy in Colorado and nationwide, says former Commissioner Frances Koncilja, who found the PUC to be unsupportive of unions. State Democrats recently put teeth into the law to force developers to report labor practices. It gives unions leverage as Xcel Energy, Colorados largest utility, prepares to double renewable energy generation by 2030. But unions arent celebrating. Thats because the commission is still free to take the low-cost road, says Gary Arnold, business manager of a Denver Pipefitters local. We always seek ways to use union labor on projects where it does not put us at a competitive disadvantage and allows us to deliver the lowest cost energy to our customers, Xcel spokeswoman Julie Borgen says. Who Foots the Bigger-Paycheck Bill? Faced with a hodgepodge of state practices, LiUNA and other big unions are now lobbying for a federal prevailing wage law to set a floor on pay across the country. They want the pay requirement to apply to projects that receive federal tax credits and other incentives, arguing that if developers get a government handout, then workers should benefit too. Will energy consumers foot the bill for green workers bigger paychecks? For decades, academic researchers have examined whether prevailing wage laws, which exist in many states, boost labor costs. Their answer is sometimes. In most of the many peer-reviewed studies since 2000, costs didnt go up because higher wages attracted more skilled and productive workers and prompted developers to shave other expenses, according to researchers at the Midwest Economic Policy Institute and Colorado State University. After losing a bid for a prevailing wage mandate in December, unions are banking on support from the labor-friendly Biden administration and Democratic heavyweights in Congress. Rep. Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, is an outspoken proponent. And Sen. Joe Manchin, a key swing vote, defended a prevailing wage law in his home state of West Virginia before it was repealed. The solar trade group, which has joined the discussions in Washington, has a more nuanced position. It might support a pay standard if its optional and tied to an additional subsidy for developers, says SEIAs Duncan. Its a stark choice, says Zabin at UC Berkeley. Either we have low-wage, dead-end jobs or we use the tools of government to make companies better employers and create real careers. Conclusion of a Cautionary Tale C2 Logistics, which was building the Kansas wind farm, shut down in December after failing to pay its crew. Owner Jim Clark didnt have experience in the construction or energy industries before moving into the wind business, according to his LinkedIn page. He ran a trucking company. Wood, a global engineering and consulting firm that hired C2 to build Flat Ridge III, took over the messy project and hired the workers after Clark left. The crews morale and productivity tanked after the paychecks stopped coming, and the wind farm has since missed its deadline for completion, former employees say. Flat Ridge III is also ensnarled in lawsuits. The workers are suing both Wood and C2 Logistics for backpay and damages. U.K.-based Wood says it wont pay the employees money that Clark allegedly owes them because thats his responsibility. Wood is also suing Clark for defaulting on his agreements to the workers and the project. And C2 is suing Wood and a subsidiary, claiming they withheld funds from the small wind company, which is why it didn't pay its workers. Wind farm owner American Electric Power which earned $2.2 billion in net profits in 2020 could easily pay the crew and make this controversy go away. But the utility doesnt plan to make the workers whole. We expect our suppliers to fulfill their commitments, a spokesman says. Meanwhile, Clark has been plotting his return. He aims to start another wind business and tried to recruit some of his former C2 workers, says crewman Schermitzler, who served on the Kansas project. Over a meal in Texas, he says, Clark asked him not to join the lawsuit and instead come aboard his new venture. Clark denies he is trying to launch a new business. Schermitzler, who is owed about $6,400, has learned his lesson. He joined the lawsuit. I want to get the word out so what happened to me doesnt happen to anyone else, he says. Jaipur, March 23 : The COVID numbers in Rajasthan have multiplied by six times since the beginning of March, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Tuesday. On March 2, a total of 102 new cases were registered in the state and 20 days later, on Monday the number was 602. Five deaths were also reported -- 2 each in Udaipur and Chittaurgarh and one in Jaipur, the highest reported after two months. The state capital, Jaipur, registered 148 fresh cases which were the highest since December 25. Besides Jaipur, Kota registered 79 cases, Jodhpur had 53 cases, Udaipur had 47 cases, Dungarpur had 44 cases, Chittaurgarh and Bhilwara had 28 cases each, Rajsamand had 34, Sirohi had 19, Pratapgarh had 15, Alwar had 14, Banswara had 12, Ajmer had 11 cases. The active cases in Rajasthan have increased to 4,006 with the highest number reported in Jaipur, which is 838. Also, five deaths in the state have been reported after two months. Looking at the surging figures, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has warned the people to follow all corona guidelines or else strict decisions will have to be taken. In his tweet, he said, "On March 11, there were 203 COVID patients in the state while by March 22, this number surged to 602. In 11 days, COVID numbers increased to three times. The situation can turn worse if carelessness continues. So wear masks, wash hands and maintain social distancing," he added. The CM said that the state government wants to check the Covid spread with the public's help and not by strict decisions. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Supplier News 23 March 2021 San Francisco - Grupo Posadas has contracted with Duetto, hospitality's innovative software as a service provider of revenue strategy solutions, to bring pricing optimization and revenue automation to its limited-service one Hotels brand in Mexico. Launched in 2006, one Hotels is an innovative three-star hotel brand providing practical and comfortable accommodation for those traveling on a budget. In total, 47 one Hotels properties comprising nearly 6,000 rooms will be integrated with Duetto's GameChanger pricing application. Duetto's GameChanger is a flexible revenue solution that enables revenue teams to yield unlimited segments, channels, and room types in real-time. While Grupo Posadas is a long-time client of Duetto, one Hotels is a convenient hosting brand part of their portfolio, and as such, Duetto competed to secure the deal. Duetto's refined focus on efficiency and agility, along with the new AutoPilot product enhancements rolled out in the Fall Release, were key factors in the decision-making process for Grupo Posadas and one Hotels. one Hotels did not have a revenue management system in place. The brand was looking for ways to become more efficient and automate revenue processes to enable it to roll out a centralized strategy that could be easily adapted in line with market changes. "We were looking for a system that provided full automation to support our one Hotels revenue operations. We also want to drive incremental revenue and price more dynamically. Using GameChanger and following Duetto's Open Pricing methodology will enable us to achieve this," said Jose Lorenzo, Revenue Management, Technology and Distribution Director of Posadas. "We pride ourselves on delivering solutions that can easily be used by all segments of the hospitality industry, from full-service resorts to serviced apartments and limited-service operators. Grupo Posadas' decision to choose Duetto for its one Hotels brand is a great endorsement of what we do for the parent brand and shows how adaptable our solutions are. We look forward to developing this relationship further and helping one Hotels on its path to full revenue automation," said David Woolenberg, CEO, Duetto. Using GameChanger, one Hotels will fully automate revenue across its entire portfolio of 47 properties. The efficiencies this brings will enable the brand to manage all revenue centrally. NEW YORK The Yang Gang descended on the New York City Board of Election office on Tuesday, cheering on their hero as he dropped off signatures to get on the mayoral primary ballot. We did it through volunteer energy and passion and dedication, Andrew Yang told supporters as he showed off about 9,400 petition signatures outside the BOE office in lower Manhattan. I am so proud of the fact that we got it done through all of you, through the passion of volunteers on this campaign! Coming off a series of polls that place him as the front-runner, Yang also took a shot at rivals in the packed Democratic primary, set for June 22. As far as we can tell, the other campaigns did not have this kind of energy. So you know what they did? They paid someone, he said, though he did not name names. The candidate at one point burst out in song, crooning, How many signatures could you get in a year? to the tune of Seasons of Love from the musical Rent. Yang rose to national prominence during his unsuccessful run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and along the way, created the active online group of supporters known as the Yang Gang. He boasted of having over 4,000 volunteers for his mayoral run. Yang has faced strong criticism for saying at the start of the campaign that he couldnt imagine living as a family in a two-bedroom apartment during the height of the pandemic. He and his wife and kids spent significant time in New Paltz, New York, last year. Subsequent gaffes, like a tweet appearing to show he believed the A Train goes to the Bronx, have also drawn scrutiny. Im learning a ton about my city, Yang said Tuesday while discussing petition gathering. Even though Ive lived here for 25 years, theres so much to learn. This years process came amid heightened concern of potential coronavirus spread. Both Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and city Comptroller Scott Stringer gathered more than 20,000 petition signatures each, according to their campaigns. Former Citigroup executive Ray McGuire had gathered 18,000 signatures, his campaign said. Story continues A spokeswoman for former nonprofit CEO Dianne Morales said she had over 13,000 signatures. Shaun Donovan, a former top official in the administration of former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and the Obama administration, has gathered about 8,000 signatures, according to his campaign. Former Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia said shed gathered a little shy of 8,000 signatures. Maya Wileys campaign didnt immediately provide numbers. Garcia didnt intend to drop her petitions off in person, telling the New York Daily News, Ive got other things I want to take care of and I want to be out talking to voters. With petition-gathering requirements reduced this year due to COVID-19, it takes just 2,250 signatures to get on the mayoral ballot, according to the city Board of Elections. The board is charged with enforcing stringent eligibility requirements for the petitions. Candidates have until midnight Thursday to submit their signatures. The ancient Maya made salt by boiling brine in pots over fires in salt kitchens, according to a paper by Louisiana State Universitys Professor Heather McKillop. The first documented record of salt as an ancient Maya commodity at a marketplace is depicted in a mural painted more than 2,500 years ago at Calakmul in Mexico. In the mural that portrays daily life, a salt vendor shows what appears to be a salt cake wrapped in leaves to another person, who holds a large spoon over a basket, presumably of loose, granular salt. This is the earliest known record of salt being sold at a marketplace in the Maya region. Salt cakes could have been easily transported in canoes along the coast and up rivers in southern Belize, said Professor McKillop, an archaeologist in the Department of Geography and Anthropology Louisiana State University. In 2004, Professor McKillop and her colleagues discovered the first remnants of ancient Maya salt kitchen buildings made of pole and thatch that had been submerged and preserved in a saltwater lagoon in a mangrove forest in Belize. Since then, they have mapped 70 sites that comprise an extensive network of rooms and buildings of the Paynes Creek Salt Works. Its like a blueprint for what happened in the past. They were boiling brine in pots over fires to make salt, Professor McKillop said. At the Paynes Creek Salt Works, the archaeologists discovered 4,042 submerged architectural wooden posts, a canoe, an oar, a high-quality jadeite tool, stone tools used to salt fish and meat and hundreds of pieces of pottery. I think the ancient Maya who worked here were producer-vendors and they would take the salt by canoe up the river, Professor McKillop noted. They were making large quantities of salt, much more than they needed for their immediate families. This was their living. In the study, Professor McKillop examined hundreds of pieces of pottery including 449 rims of ceramic vessels used to make salt. She discovered that the ceramic jars used to boil the brine were standardized in volume. Thus, the salt producers were making standardized units of salt. Produced as homogeneous units, salt may have been used as money in exchanges, Professor McKillop said. Her paper was published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology. _____ Heather McKillop. 2021. Salt as a commodity or money in the Classic Maya economy. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 62: 101277; doi: 10.1016/j.jaa.2021.101277 Washington, March 23 : At least 10 people, including a police officer, were killed when a gunman opened fire at a grocery store in the US state of Colorado, authorities said, adding that a suspect was in custody. The shooting took place on Monday in the city of Boulder. According to a BBC news report, the incident began around 2.30 p.m. when the suspect entered the King Soopers grocery store and began firing. Then at about 2.50 p.m., the Boulder Police Department tweeted an alert about an "active shooter" at the store. Police said officers arrived at the scene "within minutes" of receiving a 911 call and entered building "very quickly". Two hours later, the police again warned people to avoid the area, the BBC reported. "Do not broadcast on social media any tactical information you might see," the tweet added. However, the shooting was live-streamed by witnesses and broadcast on YouTube. After the incident, the Department confirmed that a person of interest was in custody and there was "no ongoing public threat", dpa news agency reported. The man was injured and was being treated. Police said that more information would be released "as facts are confirmed", adding the only known injured person was the suspect. In a tweet, Colorado Governor Jared Polis said: "My prayers are with our fellow Coloradans in this time of sadness and grief as we learn more about the extent of the tragedy." The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden has been briefed about the carnage. China summons EU ambassador to lodge protest over Xinjiang-related sanctions Xinhua) 15:39, March 23, 2021 A woman walks past the European Commission headquarters at the European Quarter in Brussels, Belgium, July 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Monday summoned Nicolas Chapuis, ambassador of the European Union (EU) to China, to lodge solemn protest against sanctions imposed by the bloc over Xinjiang-related affairs. The vice minister, on behalf of the Chinese government, expressed strong condemnation of the unilateral sanctions imposed by the EU under the pretext of so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang. Notifying China's relevant countermeasures to the envoy, Qin pointed out that the sanctions imposed by the EU side were based on lies and misleading information related to Xinjiang and are inconsistent with facts, laws and justification. He added that the EU side is not qualified to play the role of "a human rights preacher." China urges the EU side to recognize the seriousness of its wrongdoings, rectify them and put an end to the confrontation in order to avoid greater damage to China-EU ties, the vice minister said. "China's will and determination to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests are unwavering," Qin added. (Web editor: Meng Bin, Liang Jun) Stockholm March 23: Aino Health announces today that they have signed an agreement for the SaaS solution HealthManager with DHL Supply Chain Sweden AB regarding a pilot project for two chosen locations. The project will start during the first quarter of 2021. By implementing Aino HealthManager, DHL wants to create long-term support for their managers for handling sickness-related absences among the personnel, as well as enabling proactive valuable dialogues between the managers and employees where the managers have large possibilities to improve the wellbeing and engagement among the personnel. " We look forward to starting to using HealthManager as additional support for our managers to increase the wellbeing of our personnel. After seeing how HealthManager works and what data we can get from the analytics part, we are very impressed and sure that we will have good cooperation with Aino Health.", says Eija Komulainen, Head of HR. " We are very happy and proud to welcome DHL as a customer. We look forward to together with DHL increase their personnel's' wellbeing and engagement", says Jyrki Eklund, CEO Aino Health. HealthManager is a SaaS solution that supports managers with internal health-related processes and absence management. It also offers reporting and analytic tools to follow key metrics related to corporate health management. The goal of the solution is to decrease sick leave and to increase employee engagement. For more information: Jyrki Eklund, VD Aino Health Phone: +358 40 042 4221 jyrki.eklund@ainohealth.com Certified adviser Erik Penser Bank +46 8 463 83 00 certifiedadviser@penser.se DHL - The logistics company for the world DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivaled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 380,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences, and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as "The logistics company for the world". DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 63 billion euros in 2019. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve zero-emissions logistics by 2050. About Aino Health (publ) Aino Health is the leading supplier of Software as a Service solutions in Corporate Health Management. The company's complete system of SaaS platforms and services reduces sick leave, lowers related costs, and improves business results through increased productivity and employee engagement by making health, wellbeing, and safety an integrated part of everyday work. For more information visit ainohealth.com. WALTHAM, Mass. and LONDON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Weintraub, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Ardan Equity ("Ardan"), has joined the CorEvitas board of directors. CorEvitas [kohr-eh'-vi-tahs], formerly known as Corrona, LLC, is a built-for-purpose provider of gold-standard real-world evidence, advancing patient care by generating high quality curated data on newly approved therapies. Noted Michael Weintraub, "We are excited to partner with CorEvitas and Audax Private Equity in this next chapter. CoreEvitas is a pioneer and leader in real world evidence, with a twenty-year track record of innovation and growth. As a de-facto standard for pharmacovigilance across a rapidly growing therapeutic portfolio with a marquee global customer footprint and a best-in-class data asset, CorEvitas is uniquely poised to leverage its platform and solutions moving forward." Mr. Weintraub is a managing partner of Ardan Equity, the first private equity firm to focus exclusively on healthcare and life sciences software and data. He is also the Founding Chair of Phreesia. Throughout his career, Mr. Weintraub has been a pioneer and leader in the field of healthcare and life sciences data and analytics. He was the Co-Founder and CEO of Humedica (acquired by Optum), and the CEO of PharMetrics (acquired by IMS/ IQVIA). Mr. Weintraub serves in multiple capacities as investor, director, and advisor to a portfolio of market leading companies in digital health, both in the U.S. and globally, and is among the industry's foremost experts in data-based SaaS digital health business models. Mr. Weintraub serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Harvard Business School, where he is also an alumnus. "We see a future of innovation providing a deeper, more complete picture of a patient, where real-world evidence is central to ensuring their health and safety. We are excited to have Michael leverage his significant and relevant experience to help shape the future or our organization," said Raymond Hill, CEO and Chairman of CorEvitas. Joe Rogers, Managing Director at Audax added, "We are very excited to welcome Michael to the board of directors at CorEvitas. We believe his deep industry knowledge and experience will be instrumental to the future growth of the company." CorEvitas is building a leading position in real world evidence across registries, patient experience, electronic medical records, claims and data analytics, as well as biosamples. The organization is committed to ensuring the best therapies and care are delivered to the patients that need them the most by systematically collecting high quality data and applying rigorous analytic methods. About Ardan Equity Ardan Equity is the Healthcare Enterprise Software Private Equity Firm the first alternative investment manager dedicated exclusively to the healthcare and life sciences software and data sector. Ardan partners collaboratively with founders and management teams to accelerate growth and create differentiated, market leading platforms. As founders, operators and investors, Ardan has built many of the defining healthcare software pillars across life sciences, payer, provider and employer markets. Ardan uniquely leverages its proprietary growth strategies, trusted network and proven executives to drive superior risk-adjusted performance. For more information, please visit the Ardan Equity website www.ardanequity.com About Audax Private Equity Audax Group is a leading alternative investment manager with offices in Boston, New York, and San Francisco. Since its founding in 1999, the firm has raised over $27 billion in capital across its Private Equity and Private Debt businesses. Audax Private Equity has invested over $6 billion in more than 135 platforms and over 925 add-on acquisitions, and is currently investing out of its $3.5 billion, sixth private equity fund. Through its disciplined Buy & Build approach, Audax seeks to help platform companies execute add-on acquisitions that fuel revenue growth, optimize operations, and significantly increase equity value. With more than 250 employees and over 100 investment professionals, the firm is a leading capital partner for North American middle market companies. For more information, please visit the Audax Group website www.audaxgroup.com. About CorEvitasSM CorEvitas is the built-for-purpose gold-standard provider of real-world evidence. Through syndicated registry data and analytic services, CorEvitas helps biopharmaceutical companies demonstrate the value of their products to clinicians, patients, payers, and regulators. CorEvitas operates eight major autoimmune and inflammatory registries across the US, Canada, and Japan, collecting data from nearly 500 participating investigator sites. In addition to supporting hundreds of manuscripts and abstracts, CorEvitas has supported post approval safety commitments for multiple newly approved treatments in autoimmune diseases for both U.S. and European regulators. CorEvitas is headquartered in Waltham, MA. Its subsidiary, HealthiVibe, complements and strengthens the company's strong presence in disease registries by providing market-leading expertise in supporting innovative, evidence-based patient engagement initiatives across the product lifecycle. The HealthUnlocked technology platform hosts over 1.4 million patients in hundreds of condition-specific communities and significantly expands the scope of patient experiential data. Through Health iQ, CorEvitas has access to a broad range of UK and international data sets across primary and secondary care, as well as deep relationships with the NHS and leading UK academic institutions. CorEvitas is a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity. CONTACT INFORMATION: CorEvitasSM, LLC Erem Latif (+1) 508-408-5529 [email protected] SOURCE CorEvitas Coronavirus conspiracy theorist Eve Black has made a bizarre court appearance with a man named 'Zeb Secured Party Creditor' who had a noisy parrot sitting on his shoulder for the entire appearance. Black, whose real name is Eve Limberiou, faces fines of up to $10,000 for filming herself driving through a police checkpoint in defiance of COVID lockdown laws. The 28-year-old became a national disgrace after performing the stunt and uploading the video to Facebook, where she was largely slammed. Eve Black (pictured) was arrested on Wednesday while again refusing to give police her details at a checkpoint in Carlton, Melbourne How Black Ran The Guantlet Black had filmed and uploaded to Facebook her first, successful, attempt at gaming the system during the height of the COBID_19 pandemic last year. When the officer asked her where she was headed and why she was attempting to leave, Black simply told him she didn't need to share that information. The officer eventually waved her through as she sped off laughing and celebrating. Black was widely condemned after posting the video and was threatened with arrest by Victoria's assistant police commissioner. After that video went viral, the 28-year-old tried the same trick again in the inner-city suburb of Carlton but was far less successful. Advertisement Black appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Tuesday via a phone link where a man who identified himself as 'Zeb Secured Party Creditor' represented her as a 'friend of the court'. Such representatives are permitted when a person appears in court without a lawyer. Mr Secured Party Creditor - who advised the court that he had changed his name through 'uniform commercial code filings' - advised he would appear for Black as a 'McKenzie friend' as he was not a certified lawyer. He appeared in court with a parrot, which proceeded to squawk throughout the farcical proceeding. Black's representative claimed he had 20 years experience as a legal practitioner before making a submission the magistrate had never heard of. Black faces a charge of failing to provide her details to police when they pounced on her in Carlton last year. 'We're seeking either a plea of abatement due to some very incorrect filing being done and/or to have this discharged and/or thrown out due to the misleading and contrary, conflicting claims and statements and charges that she's been presented with,' Mr Secured Party Creditor said. Black claims that she did give police her correct details when asked by police. 'Okay, so what you're saying then on behalf of Ms Limberiou is that she's wanting to plead not guilty,' Judicial Registrar Alison Paton responded. 'What do you mean by a plea and abatement? That's not a term that's available in this court.' In the now viral video she shared on Thursday, Black is seen speeding off while laughing and celebrating Eve Black dances in Melbourne under the name Eden. She wore more clothes when she was arrested by police this week Court documents reveal police allege Black locked herself inside her car and refused to comply with directions when they found her in Carlton on July 29. The officers claim she filmed them on her mobile phone before they were forced to smash their way into the vehicle and arrest her. She eventually complied after spending some time in the back of a divisional van. Black's representative continued to complain that police had mucked up his friend's charges, claiming she had been referred to as a male. In August, it was revealed Black was all woman and had in fact appeared in raunchy photographs on stripper website Chase Strippers. She had been arrested after a manhunt where police were allegedly forced to smash her car window in to arrest her. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews lashed out at the Black at the time, declaring the COVID restrictions were not about human rights. 'This is about human life', he said. Mr Andrew's takedown of Black came at a time when coronavirus deniers were making life hell for police and shop workers trying to enforce mask wearing. Black had gloated in a Facebook video about making it through a Melbourne COVID-19 roadblock without telling officers where she was going. After that video went viral, she tried the same trick again in the inner-city suburb of Carlton but was far less successful. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) warned that people who film themselves ignoring police could face 'significant fines' of up to $10,000 in court 'She was asked to provide her name and address which she refused to do. Police then directed her to produce her driver's licence and explain her reason for travel, which she also refused to comply with,' Victoria Police said at the time. 'This led to police arresting her. During the arrest, police were forced to break the woman's car window as she refused to speak to them, wind down her window, or step out of the vehicle. Black, who has since moved to Brisbane, was arrested and charged with failing to hand over her driver's licence, not giving her name and address, breaching coronavirus public health orders, and traffic offences. She was released on summons to face court. Mr Secured Party Creditor attempted to get details of Black's alleged offending suppressed from the public, citing privacy laws - which do apply in the magistrate's court. 'She's copped enough by the media in the past 12-months or so since this started and she would like to maintain her privacy and there is no consent given from Ms Limberiou for any media or public outlets to access any of her information or to tarnish her good name in the media any further,' he said. The request was refused and a summary of Black's alleged offending and charge sheets were handed over by the court to all media outlets. The matter was adjourned until July to allow Black to have discussions with police about how the matter might progress. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 69F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Overcast. Low 59F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. At least 10 people, including a police officer were killed when a gunman opened fire at a grocery store in the US state of Colorado, authorities said, adding that a suspect was in custody. The shooting took place on Monday at the King Soopers grocery store in the city of Boulder. Addressing a press conference, Boulder Police chief Maris Herold said that the officer, identified as 51-year-old Eric Talley, was one of the first responders at the scene, dpa news reported. She called his actions "heroic". Herold said that police began receiving calls about shots fired and a call about a person with a "patrol rifle" at around 2.30 p.m. Talley was one of the first officers at the scene and was "fatally shot." "This is a very complex investigation that will take no less than five days to complete," Herold said at the conference. CNN cited an unnamed senior law enforcement source as saying that the weapon used in the shooting was an AR-15-style rifle. Police said that the names of the victims would not be released until their families are notified. The Boulder Police Department tweeted an alert about an "active shooter" at a grocery store at around 2.50 p.m. Police said officers arrived at the scene "within minutes" of receiving a 911 call and entered building "very quickly." Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said that the "alleged shooter" was injured and in custody. The Boulder Police Department also confirmed that there was "no ongoing public threat". In a tweet, Colorado Governor Jared Polis said: "My prayers are with our fellow Coloradans in this time of sadness and grief as we learn more about the extent of the tragedy." The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden has been briefed about the carnage. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan posted the following on his Facebook page: "AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES UNDER GLOBAL RESTRICTIONS AGAINST WAR USED THE COVID-19 VIRUS TO CAUSE MASS DEATHS AND OTHER SUFFERINGS TO THE POPULATIONS OF ARTSAKH AND ARMENIA Due to the Azerbaijani armed attacks under conditions of COVID-19, this deadly virus had a rapid growth not only in Artsakh, but also in Armenia. If according to the data of the 7 months before the war 951 people were registered, then during the war alone that number reached 658, and only during the half a month after the war 584 people died. In doing so, the Azerbaijani armed forces committed not only war crimes, but also crimes against humanity. Gross violations of life, health, dignity and other rights have also been carried out. Exactly 1 year ago, on March 23, 2020, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the world to establish a COVID-19 ceasefire to focus on "the real struggle of our lives." The Azerbaijani attacks began in gross violation of international calls for avoidance of war, and a global ceasefire, including a direct demand by the UN Security Council to end all hostilities during COVID-19 immediately. It was clear that the attack during the COVID-19 global pandemic would significantly contribute to the humanitarian catastrophe. No country's healthcare system is able to resist against this deadly virus in the face of large-scale war. The fact-finding work of the Republic of Armenia (RA) and Artsakh Human Rights Defenders proves that it was the global restrictions of this virus that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces used to cause mass deaths and other sufferings to the populations of Artsakh and Armenia. The details are reflected in the special report of the RA Human Rights Defender." Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Customs clearance and other new administrative challenges are still impeding the flow of goods almost three months since post-Brexit trade rules were introduced Customs clearance issues and other new administrative challenges continue to hinder the flow of goods at the UK-EU border almost three months since the new rules governing trade in the post-Brexit era were introduced, a leading European road haulier has told Lloyds Loading List. While there is more familiarity (with the new trading requirements), errors are still made by officials in the EU and UK, some of whom are unable to provide accurate guidance, and there continues to be a shortage of Customs agents, claimed Jason Breakwell, commercial director at Luxembourg-based Wallenborn Transports, whose core business is the European air cargo road feeder services (RFS) market. This can result in longer transit times and higher costs. The initial problems and extra charges faced by small traders and UK exporters of animal and plant-based products have not gone away. He said the UK government decision this month to postpone the phased introduction of import controls from 1 April and 1 July this year gives traders and logistics operators some breathing space. Closer alignment needed But we need closer alignment and simplification of processes, he added. For example, the integration of GVMS (the Goods Vehicle Movement Service) with the S&S (Safety and Security) GB service (which handles digital communications between customs administrators and carriers or their appointed representatives) before the UK introduces import controls in January 2022 would help, as would the alignment of the requirements of EU members states. He continued: The expected chaos at Channel ports didnt happen, so the Kent Access Permit needs to be retired. Breakwell also highlighted how the current arrangements also further increased the already substantial imbalance on UK-EU road freight trades. He observed: As long as controls apply at EU borders and not at UK borders, EU exporters have a significant advantage over their UK competitors. 40% drop in UK-EU exports The UKs Office for National Statistics (ONS) recently published official figures highlighting the extent that UK-EU trade collapsed in January, including a more than 40% drop in UK exports to the EU, as traders and their freight and logistics providers adjusted to new post-Brexit trading arrangements and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Asked if there was evidence of such trends in Wallenborns own volumes, Breakwell replied: The vast majority of cargo we move from the UK is booked on flights from EU hubs to the rest of the world so its not UK-EU trade. We experienced a dip in demand during the first ten days of January but once it was clear our services were not disrupted, demand quickly returned and is currently extremely high. He continued: The ONS data showed a slight increase in exports to the rest of the world in January in stark contrast to the 40% collapse in exports to the EU. Our UK export volumes (again, to the rest of the world) in the first two months of this year were up by approximately 6%. Demand for our services has been higher in every country this year compared with 2020 but this variance will settle down from March onwards as thats when demand increased last year. But he rejected the idea that the UKs drop in exports to the EU reflected a drop in overall trade, or that it was primarily due to pre-stocking ahead of anticipated post-Brexit border problems, noting: The ONS stats show that UK trade outside the EU was not as heavily affected in January as trade with the EU27, indeed export values were better than every month last year except January. Pre-stocking red herring I think pre-stocking is a red herring because UK exports fell by 38% YoY whereas imports fell by 16%. He added: Its clear many traders are still not back to normal after Brexit and trade volumes especially from the UK to the EU are depressed by a combination of extra costs, longer transit times, extra Customs procedures and SPS requirements at EU borders. Various freight industry sources have highlighted that although UK-EU road freight vehicle numbers may have recovered towards their pre-Brexit levels, the numbers of trucks travelling empty from the UK to the EU had risen sharply. For example, at the start March 2021, the Road Haulage Association estimated that trucks were going back to the continent about 40% empty, compared to around 20% empty pre-Brexit. Breakwell noted: Im not sure anyone can say whether the proportion of empty trips has increased because prior to this year, the contents of trucks werent reported as there were no Customs controls. He added: Well need another two months of ONS data before we know if there is a structural problem. Other UK and European freight operators have highlighted that there appears to be a structural problem for groupage and smaller or lower-value shipments, as well as SPS goods, which appeared to be particularly affecting small and medium enterprises (SMEs). One freight specialist noted that a lot of the small parcels and sole trader volumes selling B2C have dropped significantly with the high cost of export and import customs entries as well as VAT. It just doesnt make the process worthwhile for goods with a purchase value under 500. He added that stories of 40% of trailers travelling empty from the UK to the EU may be accurate, but pre-Brexit, 25% were returning empty. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - Kaizen Discovery Inc. (TSXV: KZD) ("Kaizen" or "the Company") announces that the legal action against the Company initiated by AM Gold in 2017 through the Supreme Court of British Columbia has been dismissed by the Court, which "concluded that AMG's claims are all without merit." The judgment will be available on the Supreme Court's website. Kaizen's interim Chief Executive Officer Eric Finlayson commented: "While Kaizen has maintained throughout that AM Gold's claims were unfounded, defending this action has been a significant drain on Kaizen's financial resources and management time since July of 2017. I am pleased to see such a comprehensive dismissal of the action by the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Company will now ask the trial judge to order that AM Gold pay Kaizen's costs on a full indemnity, 'special costs' basis." About Kaizen Kaizen is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company with exploration projects in Peru and Canada. More information on Kaizen is available at www.kaizendiscovery.com. ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY Eric Finlayson, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Information contact Investor Relations +1-604-689-8765 info@kaizendiscovery.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking statements This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to recovering costs from AM Gold. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, unknown impact related to potential business disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak, or another infectious illness, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78251 At least a dozen similar bills have been filed in states including Kansas, Minnesota and Ohio. But in Texas, the bill has been pushed as a response to the power outages caused by last months winter storm. $1 BILLION: Here's how CPS is paying $1 billion for the natural gas used during February's winter storm Now labeled a priority for lawmakers, House Bill 17 would bar cities and municipalities from banning, limiting, restricting or discriminating against the type or source of energy used for utility connections. It was included in a slate of bills that the Texas House State Affairs Committee quickly voted out of committee Thursday that are intended to address the storm-related power outages, which left more than 4.8 million people without electricity and killed dozens of people in Texas. The bill was first filed in January as House Bill 1282. Its sponsor, state Rep. Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, said the legislation is a response to what is happening on the West coast where cities have passed energy efficiency plans that prohibit new subdivisions from offering natural gas heating, requiring instead that new homes be heated by electricity. The purpose of this bill is to prevent a city from prohibiting choice of fuel for homes, Deshotel told the House State Affairs Committee. Using electricity to heat homes rather than natural gas reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The bulk of emissions from residential and commercial buildings in San Francisco are attributed to burning natural gas, which spurred the citys efforts to mandate a transition, Inside Climate News reported in November. In Austin, the citys initial climate action plan would have virtually eliminated gas use in new buildings by 2030, but was altered after Texas Gas Service opposed the measure, the Texas Observer reported earlier this month. BLAME GAME: Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republicans blamed green energy for Texas' power woes Elected officials have promoted Deshotels bill as a response to the trend toward electrifying new home construction, defending the use of natural gas to heat homes and buildings. While visiting Midland in January where oil and natural gas production dominates the local economy Gov. Greg Abbott railed against San Franciscos ban and announced his support for legislation that prohibits counties from restricting use of natural gas appliances. Yet the bill has taken on new prominence in the aftermath of the Texas power outages in February. Deshotels bill was included in the slate of legislation considered a priority for ensuring the state does not experience such long-lasting and deadly power outages again. The House State Affairs Committee on Thursday advanced a number of bills responding to the power outages, including one that would require power plants to be upgraded and built for extreme weather events and another that reforms the board of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the independent operator of the power grid that covers most of Texas. Environmental and consumer advocacy groups which supported the other bills responding to the power outages opposed House Bill 17, raising concerns that as filed, it could be interpreted to prevent cities from offering rebates and other incentives to encourage use of renewable power generation. Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas, called the bill grossly irresponsible. Cyrus Reed, conservation director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, said the bill is too broadly written. It makes us nervous that the bill could be used to prevent what we view as good programs happening in cities throughout Texas like rebates for heat pumps or changes in code that encourage electric vehicles, Reed said during the hearing. REVERSING CHARGES: Electricity repricing bill hits wall in House, marking first major schism with Senate this session Deshotel promised to add an amendment at a later date to address the concerns raised by environmental groups that the language is too broad, reiterating that the bill would not prohibit rebates or other incentive programs for renewable sources of power. Regardless, Reed said Sierra Club would remain opposed because the bill takes away the rights of local political subdivisions to pursue the actions theyd like to pursue. Companies that supply natural gas to households voiced their support. Jason Ryan, senior vice president of regulatory services and government affairs at CenterPoint Energy, said at the hearing that the company was proud of how its natural gas utilities served customers during the power outages last month, experiencing few disruptions. Lawmakers agreed, pointing to the ability of natural gas providers to largely continue supplying gas to homes during the February storm. Gas fired furnaces cannot run without power, but some people with gas service were able to use gas fireplaces and stoves. A lot of people lost electricity, said State Rep. Chris Paddie, R-Marshall, chair of the committee, but folks still had that gas going. During the storm, a supply shortage of natural gas worsened the power outages. While delivery to homes was the first priority, the second priority was to deliver gas to natural gas-fired power plants to generate electricity. However, several electric generation executives testified in hearings last month that their plants were not able to run due to a shortage of fuel. Many plants were also offline due to the cold weather. That fuel shortage was in part due to increased demand for natural gas during the winter for heating homes, James Cisarik, chairman of the Texas Energy Reliability Council, testified last month. Ahead of the vote out of committee, some Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about the legislation. Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, said her office has received dozens of emails about House Bill 17 all opposed. Deshotel responded that there has been misinformation about the bill. I understand [the] people calling you and complaining, he said, referring to news coverage and statements from environmental groups characterizing the bill as a handout to the natural gas industry. I would be calling too, and saying, Is this guy crazy? he said. But you know, thats not what this bill does. So, Im certainly willing to work with all the parties here. Its not about forcing anything on anybody. Disclosure: CenterPoint Energy and Texas Gas Service have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Indian Railways has announced the operation of 18 pairs of Holi Special Trains in order to deal with the huge crowds of people who would be travelling through the railway network due to Holi. Holi this year will be celebrated on March 28-29. These special trains will run on a daily, bi-weekly, tri-weekly and weekly basis and are being operated for the convenience of the passengers. Northern Railways General Manager Ashutosh Gangal had told ANI, "In anticipation of a huge crowd in trains during Holi, Northern Railway will run 18 pairs of additional trains between March 21 and March 31.18 pairs of puja special trains have been extended." All passengers aboard these Holi Special Trains will have to follow all COVID-19 protocols and guidelines. For any query related to the operation of these trains, passengers can give a call of the helpline number 139. They can also visit the following link for enquiries - https://enquiry.indianrail.gov.in/ntes/index.html. Here is the full of Holi Special Trains 2021: 03512 Asansol-Tatanagar Special Train (Sunday, Tuesday and Friday) 03511 Tatanagar-Asansol Special Train (Sunday, Tuesday and Friday) 03509 Asansol-Gonda Special Train (Monday) 03507 Asansol-Gorakhpur Special Train (Friday) 02335 Bhagalpur-Lokmanya Tilak T Special Train (Daily) 02336 Lokmanya Tilak T-Bhagalpur Special Train (Daily) 03510 Gonda-Asansol Special Train (Wednesday) 03508 Gorakhpur-Asansol Special Train (Saturday) 03402 Danapur-Bhagalpur Special Train (Daily) 03419 Bhagalpur-Muzaffarpur Special Train (Daily) 03420 Muzaffarpur-Bhagalpur Special Train (Daily) 03023 Howrah-Gaya Special Via Sahibganj Train (Daily) 03024 Gaya-Howrah Special Via Sahibganj Train (Daily) 02315 Kolkata-Udaipur City Special Train (Thursday) 02316 Udaipur City-Kolkata Special Train (Monday) 02361 Asansol-CST Mumbai Special Train (Sunday) 02362 CST Mumbai-Asansol Special train (Wednesday) 03002 Siudihawada Special Train (Daily) 03506 Asansol-Digha Special Train (Sunday) 03505 Digha-Asansol Special Train (Sunday) 03418 Malda Town-Digha Special Train (Thursday) 03417 Digha-Malda Town Special Train (Thursday) 03425 Malda Town-Surat Special Train (Saturday) 03415 Malda Town-Patna Special Train (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) 03416 Patna-Malda Town Special Train (Thursday, Saturday and Monday) 03165 Kolkata-Sitamarhi Special Train (Saturday) 03166 Sitamari-Kholakata Special Train (Sunday) 03502 Asansol-Haldia Special Train (except Sunday) 03501 Haldia-Asansol Special Train (except Sunday) Also Read: Indian Railways issues guidelines to prevent incidents of crime against women Also Read: Indian Railways received over 40 lakh complaints on helpline numbers in past 5 years CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to reopen safely, several large event venues have selected and installed needlepoint bipolar ionization (NPBI) technology from Global Plasma Solutions (GPS), the leader in indoor air quality (IAQ) solutions, to enhance cleaning protocols in response to COVID-19. When the coronavirus first hit, theaters, conference and convention centers, arenas, stadiums and other venues quickly adopted enhanced cleaning policies but were swiftly forced to cancel events and close their doors as the country quarantined. Twelve months later, and in step with the rest of the hospitality industry, they are exploring reopening in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state guidelines. In addition to following guidelines for capacity, social distancing and mask requirements, venues are expanding cleaning protocols including air purification as research on the spread of the virus has shifted focus from surface contact to airborne transmission. One such example is the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) in Charlotte, North Carolina, which recently announced the installation of GPS NPBI technology in all of its managed venues including the Charlotte Convention Center, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bojangles Coliseum, Ovens Auditorium and Spectrum Center. Additionally, these venues are utilizing enhanced cleaning measures, and thermal camera units have been added to the Charlotte Convention Center to continuously measure body temperatures in large groups of employees and guests entering the building. "The NPBI technology and thermal camera systems allow us to add an additional layer of cleanliness, mitigate risk and enhance the already-robust cleaning practices in place within our managed venues," said Tom Murray, chief executive officer of the CRVA. "The health and well-being of our guests, employees and visitors to Charlotte are always our top priority, and we appreciate our partnership with the City of Charlotte and their commitment to using CARES Act funding in support of the hospitality industry." The Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida, installed GPS NPBI technology at the recommendation of TLC Engineering in December 2020 as part of its ongoing COVID-19 response plan. The venue has been hosting outdoor events and smaller-capacity indoor events but was looking for a way to improve the indoor air quality as it sought to welcome more patrons into its various spaces. "Indoor air quality has been very high on our radar in addition to increased surface sanitization and implementing Health screening, temperature checks, masks and social distancing measures," said Tom Wright, Senior Director of Facilities for the Straz Center. "We thought sanitizing the air and maximizing the amount of outside air flow should be high priority. With such humid and hot air in Florida, you can only get so far with bringing outdoor air into the building; that's why we decided on the needlepoint bipolar ionization technology to better optimize our indoor air quality." The team conducts regular ionization and volt measurements to ensure the technology is producing the appropriate number of positive and negative ions and has worked closely with GPS on installations and troubleshooting. "We're giving something back to the community by continuing to safely offer performances," Wright added. "We're going to do everything we can to welcome audiences back into our venues while keeping them safe and feel that GPS NPBI technology is a very effective tool in reaching this goal." Meetings, conferences, events and exhibitions are key drivers of tourism destinations across the globe. In the United States, they generate almost $1 trillion dollars in direct, indirect and induced spending, according to a recent article by Glion Institute of Higher Education, which specializes in hospitality management. Conference and convention centers have been quietly transforming the very heart and infrastructure of the destinations they serve for years and continue to raise the expectations for what meeting planners and, in turn, visitors demand. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, modernization of venues now includes additional technologies for air purification, social distancing measures and sanitization. GPS-patented NPBI technology plays a pivotal role in efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus when paired with a venue's existing practices and cleaning technologies. NPBI technology delivers safer, cleaner indoor air by reducing harmful particles and pathogens including mold, bacteria, allergens and viruses and is highly effective in eliminating disease-causing pathogens, such as those responsible for COVID-19. GPS NPBI technology is the only product to achieve 99.8% efficacy after 30 minutes, based on independent laboratory testing. Additionally, NPBI also tackles odor-causing VOCs. That means less outdoor air intake is required to keep things fresh. With lower air intake requirements, facilities can reduce upfront HVAC equipment costs and cut ongoing energy costs by as much as 30%. GPS is the only company on the market to offer self-cleaning product solutions that do not produce ozone during the ionization process. "Indoor air quality will continue to be a consideration for the hospitality industry long after COVID-19, as it's an integral part of one's experience within a space, whether it's attending a convention or enjoying a sporting event or performance," said Charles Waddell, founder and chief technology officer of Global Plasma Solutions. "Our products are built to be long-lasting so that venues such as these can continue to offer their guests a safer, more comfortable experience." Additional venues currently utilizing GPS are the Minneapolis Convention Center, the Oklahoma Convention Center, the Cleveland Convention Center, the Philadelphia Convention Center and AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. For more information on GPS NPBI technology, please visit globalplasmasolutions.com. About Global Plasma Solutions Global Plasma Solutions Inc. (GPS) is the leader in indoor air quality, with over 30 patents and more than 250,000 installations worldwide using our needlepoint bipolar ionization (NPBI) technology to deliver clean indoor air that is safe and healthy, producing neither ozone nor other harmful byproducts. All of our NPBI products are UL and CE certified and registered and use NPBI to purify the air by eliminating airborne particulates, odors and pathogens. GPS was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. SOURCE Global Plasma Solutions Related Links https://globalplasmasolutions.com New Delhi: Day after the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed in the Lok Sabha, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday (March 23) approached all opposition parties seeking their support to halt the Bill in the upper house. The AAP leaders requested opposition members in Rajya Sabha to oppose the Bill which seeks to transfer more power to the Lieutenant Governor of the national capital. "Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena and DMK will oppose the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in Rajya Sabha," said AAP MP Sanjay Singh. The Bill proposes that the 'government' referred to in any law passed by the legislative assembly would refer to the Lieutenant Governor. According to the Bill, the Delhi government must obtain the opinion of the LG before implementing any policy decision. Several opposition parties have extended their support to AAP in the matter including Congress, TMC and RJD. The contentious Bill was passed in the lower house amidst strong opposition from Congress and the AAP which said that the legislation was "unconstitutional". "Passage of GNCTD Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha today is an insult to the people of Delhi. The Bill effectively takes away powers from those who were voted by people and gives powers to run Delhi to those who were defeated. BJP has cheated the people," Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had tweeted on Monday. Live TV [March 23, 2021] Real Estate Leads University Helping Agents Scale to 6-Figures Rapidly Portland, OR, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nate Stafford, the leading real estate marketing consultant reveals his systems through Real Estate Leads University Real Estate Leads University by Nate Stafford is all about helping real estate agents scale their business to 6-figures rapidly. Nate has put together a winning strategy using both predictable and repeatable systems which he learned the hard through many years of trial and error. Today, Nate is one of the world's leading real estate marketing consultants and has helped many real estate professionals all over the US implement his strategies. He has been featured for his success on Yahoo Finance, Market Watch, The Washington Post and USA Today. Nate has recently put out a free on-demand training which reveals his exact strategies that he uses to help agents get more clients with predictability. His free training reveals the 5 things that all 6 figure agents focus on that others ignore, how to leverage your time using systems so you can do more with less, ad most importantly how to scale your real estate business to 6-figures using predictable, repeatable systems, instead of guesswork. When it comes to getting more clients and scaling your real estate business, Nate is among the best in the world at it. Nate has experienced a business loss in 2014 and ever since he set out to find the missing piece in his strategy. He realised that a successful business is not just excelling in the subject matter but in being proactive in the fiercely competitive world. The missing piece that was 'marketing', opened Nate's eyes to his profession. He started an on-demand free training to pass on everything he had learned and is still learning to whoever needs it the most. Today students from all over the US take up his classes and have reported positive feedback on Nate's systems. Nate has helped his clients achieve financial-freedom and more importantly time-freedom and all his success stories are all the more reasons to attend his free training and enroll in the Real Estate Leads University program. The free training has content spanning a duration of roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes. Once the free training is completed the participants will receive a special invitation for enrollment in Nate's flagship program, Real Estate Leads University. Media Details Company: Real Estate Leads University Email: info@releadsuniversity.com Website: https://releadsuniversity.com/webinar [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 9 Master's in Crime Scene Investigation Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 54 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 54 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 9 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school. Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Master's in Crime Scene Investigation Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-masters-in-crime-scene-investigation-degree-programs/ 2021 Master's in Crime Scene Investigation Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order): Bellevue University California University of Pennsylvania George Washington University National University Nova Southeastern University Stevenson University University of Florida University Of New Haven West Virginia University About Intelligent.com Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/. Jaipur, March 23 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday appealed to the Central government to make maximum Covid vaccines available so that the second wave of coronavirus can be controlled, adding the age group limit on the vaccines should be removed. "As Covid-19 cases are surging in India, the Government should focus on vaccination. Public security can be ensured against Covid-19 with maximum vaccination. Hence, age group criteria should be removed and vaccination should be available for all," he said in a tweet. "Bengaluru doctor Devi Shetty's suggestion that people under the age category of 24-45 years should also be vaccinated sounds apt because these are the people who stay out of their house for professional reasons and hence can become super spreaders. India has a huge capacity to produce vaccines which should be utilised fully," he added. "I appeal to the Government to make the maximum number of vaccines available so that the second wave of Covid can be checked upon. One more lockdown can prove deadly for the public's livelihood," he added. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Two storms crossing Turkey into the weekend will usher in colder air leading to a late-season snowfall in many areas. The stormy pattern over Turkey also increased winds and lead to a dust storm across northern Egypt. The strong wind gusts pushed a container ship, causing it to become grounded in the Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest trade routes. While many areas saw precipitation begin as rain on Tuesday, colder air moving into the region will lead to rain changing to snow from Ankara to Erzincan and Erzurum through the end of the week. Where precipitation remains all rain along the southern coast, isolated instances of flooding are possible. CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP The first storm began to spread moisture across the country on Tuesday, and with temperatures above freezing, most locations had rain. From Tuesday night into Wednesday, colder air swept into the region and caused rain to change to snow in many areas. After high temperatures of 10-12 C (lower 50s F) the past several days in Ankara, plummeting temperatures allowed 4-10 cm (2-4 inches) of snow to accumulate from Tuesday evening through Wednesday. Slippery conditions also developed late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as temperatures fell below freezing and previously wet surfaces turned icy, making for slow and potentially dangerous travel conditions. A similar scene will unfold in cities farther to the east like Erzincan and Erzurum. While it will turn colder nearly everywhere across the Turkey, not all areas will see the rain change to snow. Areas along the southern coast are most likely to receive all rain, some of which could be heavy with thunderstorms possible as well. Some of this rain could spark isolated flooding concern in areas like Mersin and Adana, though general rainfall off 13-25 mm (0.50-1.00 inch) should keep any flooding at a minimum and in low-lying, flood-prone areas. While rain will not be as heavy as compared to southern areas, Istanbul can see rounds of showers throughout much of the week. With temperatures dropping, it is not out of the question some of the hills around the city can have snow mixing with the rain. However, accumulation should largely be confined to the Pontic Mountains south and east off the city. Story continues This first storm that will bring rain and snow through Wednesday is expected to be closely followed by a second late in the week and into the weekend. With cold air already expected to be in place across the country, this second storm can bring another round of late-season snow to areas that receive snow from the first storm. This can lead to more slow and dangerous travel from Friday night into Saturday, especially in the eastern half of the country. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. [March 23, 2021] Compass Announces Launch of Initial Public Offering NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Compass, Inc. (Compass) today announced that it plans to commence the roadshow for its proposed initial public offering of its common stock. Compass has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to offer 36,000,000 shares of its Class A common stock to the public. In addition, Compass intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 5,400,000 shares of its Class A common stock. The initial public offering price is expected to be between $23.00 to $26.00 per share. Compass has applied to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "COMP." Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Morgan Stanley and Barclays Capital Inc. are acting as the lead bookrunning managers for the proposed offering. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and UBS Investment Bank are acting as bookrunning managers. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Needham & Company, LLC, Zelman Partners LLC, Loop Capital Markets LLC, Academy Securities Inc., Blaylock Van, LLC, Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc. and Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC are acting as co-managers for the proposedoffering. The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the preliminary prospectus relating to the proposed offering may be obtained from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, or by telephone at 866-471-2526, or by email at prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014; or Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, by telephone at 1-888-603-5847 or by email at barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com. A registration statement relating to the proposed sale of these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Investor Contact Ben Barrett investorrelations@compass.com Media Contact Chris O'Brien press@compass.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/compass-announces-launch-of-initial-public-offering-301253631.html SOURCE Compass [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 23, 2021] Cambria Solutions Promotes Two Longtime Executives to Chief Financial Officer and Account Lead for Its California Portfolio Cambria Solutions, an award-winning national technology and management consulting firm that helps government deliver results better, faster and with greater consistency, has promoted two executives with almost three decades of combined experience at the company to key positions. Ki Kim has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer and will oversee financial operations for the fast-growing company that has doubled revenue every three years since he joined in 2005. Cambria Solutions hired Kim as Operations Manager and he was promoted to Vice President of Finance in 2018. Senior Executive Director Diana Lee, who has more than two decades of consulting experience, has been appointed to Account Lead for its California portfolio. Lee, a dynamic leader, has been with the company since 2009. "Ki has been integral in the growth and evolution of Cambria Solutions from its earliest days, helping shape our infrastructure, build our labor force and expand our footprint nationally as we've opened more and more offices," said Cambria President Suzanne Vitale. "Diana is the perfect choice for leading our California portfolio, having established and grown our Southern California market from the onset. She has been a trusted advisor to many of our clients in the region. Diana will continue to build partnerships with our long-standing California clients and cultivate business relationships with other consulting and product companies that we work with to deliver high-quality services and solutions." Kim and Lee are among the longest-tenured employees with Cambria Solutions. The Sacramento-based company - a startup when they joined, where executive strategy meetings were held around the dining room table at the house of founder and CEO Robert Rodriguez - has grown tremendously since founded in 2003. Today, Cambria Solutions has eight offices across the country and been recognized nine times by Inc. magazine as one of the nation's 5,000 fastest-growing private companies, most recently in 2020. "I'm comfortable and effective operating with constant change, and quickly shiftingto meet new organizational demands," said Kim, who earned a bachelor's degree in Managerial Economics from University of California, Davis. "I've helped the company build and rebuild, evolve, scale and innovate." Kim helped Cambria Solutions navigate through the challenges of the Great Recession - including avoiding layoffs during that period - and later the development and implementation of a new business unit model in 2016, which has generated impressive growth the past five years. "Organizationally, we've refined the company's culture and values over the past 15 years, while the mainstays of what we find most important have been more solidified," he said. Lee agrees that the corporate culture remains the same as those early years - and helps the company and its clients succeed. "I get motivated by their energy and enthusiasm, and inspired by their creative ingenuity to help solve our communities' problems," Lee said of the management team and other team members. As Account Lead for the California portfolio, Lee will oversee all efforts and projects in the state, including those with cities and counties. She has already been working closely with many of the clients and their projects, serving as the Account Lead for Southern California and Deputy Director for the state portfolio. "I'm proud of contributing to the success of our public-sector projects that impact the lives of residents," she said. "Often our work is behind the scenes such as building a technology system that helps low-income, disabled riders qualify for and schedule low-cost, door-to-door transportation or rolling out a mental health services application for smartphones that helps with self-monitoring and alerts a therapist if additional crisis support is needed." Lee, who earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine, and a master's in Health Administration from the University of Southern California (USC), says the always-evolving consulting industry and its ever-changing opportunities keep her energized. "I enjoy the methodical problem-solving and making a difference by being innovative and creative, and constantly seeing and learning different segments of the public sector and how they operate," said Lee, who was with Deloitte (News - Alert) Consulting before joining Cambria Solutions. "I hope to mature what we've built, bring creative ideas to the table, lead our people to bring their best every day, and continue to make this a fun and rewarding place to work." About Cambria Solutions Inc. Cambria Solutions is an information technology and management consulting firm based in Sacramento, Calif., with offices in Baton Rouge, La.; Jackson, Miss.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Olympia, Wash.; Tallahassee, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga; and Washington, D.C. Founded in 2003, Cambria Solutions builds solutions that feature ingenuity and a distinctively humanized approach. Since its founding, the company has experienced double-digit growth and has been recognized nine times by Inc. magazine as one of the nation's 5,000 fastest-growing private companies, most recently in 2020. In 2017, Cambria Solutions was recognized by Silicon Review as one of the "50 Smartest Companies of the Year" and was named California's Top IT Company of the Year in 2015 by LISTA, the Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association. For more information about Cambria Solutions, visit cambriasolutions.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005372/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A couple who left Essex to live a self-sufficient life on the Isle of Rum have revealed how the dream became a nightmare, forcing them to relocate to the mainland after only a couple of years. Adrian and Nicola Goddard appeared on Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild five years ago, and introduced the adventurer to their life on the isolated Scottish Island. The pair, who have two children, Davies, now 19, and Scarlett, now 17, used to have a comfortable life in Worthing, Essex, where Adrian worked as a sales executive and earned 45,000 a year. But in 2012, they left everything to live in a static caravan on the Isle of Rum, costing 100 a year for 8 acres, where they homeschooled their children, kept farm animals and grew their own vegetables, while being battered by the elements on a daily basis. And the couple admitted in tonight's episode of the Channel 5 show, airing at 9pm, which sees Ben catching up with them five years on, that the dream was no longer meeting their expectations. The family have now relocated to a comfortable yet secluded home in 'the middle of nowhere in Scotland', and have scaled back their self-sufficient philosophy significantly, with both Adrian and Nicola taking part-time jobs. Scroll down for video Ben Fogle travels to the Scottish Highlands to visit Adrian and Nicola Goddard, a couple who left Essex in 2012 he met five years ago for New Lives in the Wild on Channel 5 Ben is surprised to see the couple have backtracked, but Adrian and Nicola said they don't regret their change of plan. 'It wasn't an easy decision but it was no longer meeting our needs as much as we wanted it to,' the mother-of-two said. 'I think it's always the danger that you keep on the dream and instead of becoming a dream, it becomes a nightmare. And you can see it's become a nightmare,' Adrian said, adding that it was a family decision. 'We were getting older, the kids were getting older and the caravan was getting tired,' he explained. When Ben first visited in 2015, the family lived in a cramped caravan. They now live in a comfortable four bedroom house, pictured Nicola admitted life on the Isle of Rum was becoming unsustainable. 'It's really difficult, there's six hours of daylight a day, any other day there's a gale storm,' she said. 'We felt like we were doing nothing nothing productive. We literally spent our days gathering firewood and keeping animals alive for the winter.' The biggest detriment to their lifestyle were the harsh weather conditions, which soon took a toll on their lives. 'It is just a constant battle. The outside didn't stay outside when you shut the door, it was coming inside with us, whether it was condensation on windows or walls rocking because of the wind. 'The worry becomes that you get to bound up in your life up here so that actually, staying here feels like staying here is the safest option and that going back to mainland is big and scary. Ben finds that Adrian and Nicola and their children, Davies, left, 19 and Scarlett, right, 17, had moved from the Isle of Rum to the mainland due to bad weather 'The reality is, when you're standing there in a hailing gale, you live in a caravan halfway up a muddy hill with no connection to the grid and that feels like the safe option, you may need to question some of your choices and motivations.' Ben agreed that it takes unique character to power through repeated storms, combined with island isolation. 'They don't consider it as a failure that they had to leave the island. They decided small island life wasn't for them and they started all over again and it's not the end of a book, it's the start of a new chapter,' he said. On Rum, the couple bred and looked after their own animals: they had pigs, geese and several birds, but they had to leave some behind in the move. 'The whole thing has been scaled down dramatically from 8 acres to an allotment,' Adrian told Ben. The father-of-two admitted there were some elements of island life that he missed, especially the animals. Adrian and Nicola admitted living in the wilderness was harder than they had ever thought and relocated their family, pictured, to the mainland 'It was a lot harder than we thought it was going to be. We just didn't have the resources we needed to do it,' he told Ben. 'We put 110 percent into it and you know this, Ben, you came to help us for a while. It's just such hard work so we just sort of thought we're gonna kill ourselves doing that. 'We never went there to build a house, we just went there to live a dream,' he added. Adrian left his high paying job to adopt a self-sufficient lifestyle on Rum, but now that the family are back on the mainland, he's taken a part-time job with the NHS to pay the bills. He explained the couple were not back to working full-time because they didn't want to work themselves 'to death,' and still wanted to spend quality time as a family. The couple went from a four bedroom house in Worthing to a cramped caravan they had to drag cross country to settle on the Isle of Rum, back in 2012. The 7,000 caravan was not enough to sustain the repeated assaults from the weather, and the couple planned to build their own mud house on a hill, with Nicola estimating the building cost under 10,000. The two children are now grown up, and Davies, left, has a girlfriend in America and wants to go to university At the time, their efforts felt worth it, and it allowed them to befriend the local community. Nicola, who was the driving force behind the move, said she couldn't imagine herself go back to her old Essex life after living for three years in the Scottish wilderness. Davies and Scarlett, who were 14 and 12 at the time of Ben's first visit, where home-schooled and didn't want to go to university. Instead, they wanted to take over the animals from their parents and travel the world. Davies admitted he missed his friends but added he talked to them online when the family could get an internet connection. Five years on, the teens were all grown up, and Davies explained he wanted to go to university to study psychology, a choice that didn't delight mother Nicola, who said she hoped people wouldn't say 'he turned out alright in spite of being home-schooled.' Davies also revealed he had a girlfriend who lives in America, who had come to visit a few times, and that he wanted to go to see her. The family are now staying in a modern four bedroom house with central heating, internet and a TV, but Nicola still holds nature dear, and invited Ben to have a dip in the chilly Scottish waters nearby. Reflecting on her choice to leaving Rum, the mother-of-two said she didn't regret anything. 'I think that everything that we did has led up to who we are today,' she told Ben, adding she'd rather regret the things she did than the things she didn't do. Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 5. Crash Sends Murray Man to Hospital By West Kentucky Star Staff MURRAY - A Murray man went to the hospital Sunday evening after a two-vehicle crash on North 12th Street.The Murray Police Department said 77-year-old Eugene Blanton told them he was traveling on 12th Street and entered the center turn lane near Diuguid Drive when he struck another vehicle driven by 78-year-old Eddie Hunt of Murray.Blanton was taken to the emergency room for treatment of possible injuries. Orange County Cop Accused of Impersonating Colleague Online A Huntington Beach police officer is facing charges after allegedly posting a co-workers photo and personal phone number on a dating website. The victim became aware of the personal ad on doublelist.com after receiving texts from unknown numbers, the Orange County District Attorneys (OCDA) office said in a statement. The posts were created last September after the victim began dating the culprits girlfriend, the OCDA said. Impersonating another individual on the Internet is not a joke, said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. It is a crime that could result in serious harm. This is not boys will be boys or cops will be cops behavior. It is curious and beyond disturbing that a sworn police officer would engage in such reckless behavior to endanger the safety of a fellow officer. The Huntington Beach Police Department launched an investigation after the victim reported the harassment to a supervisor. Steven Tennant, 32, of Yorba Linda, has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of internet impersonation for the purpose of harming, intimidating, threatening, and defrauding. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum sentence of two years in Orange County jail. 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THE Taoiseach has reiterated his belief that putting dates on a potential border poll is not conducive to a United Ireland as the issue runs deeper than that. The Cork TD was speaking as part of a cross-party and broader debate involving well-known politicians and personalities on the Claire Byrne Live show. Mr Martin said he has created the Shared Island unit to facilitate dialogue between all the various stakeholders. Having an immediate poll is not the way to go. We must work the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement. I have created this unit to initiate dialogue and to give voice to people with different perspectives. The only way we can bring a divided people together is by agreement. Through this initiative, I want to initiate dialogue and I want to fund projects across the island that will help bring people together. "We are looking at the broader picture in relation to health, education, and tourism. I have met with the North-South bodies and we are hoping to create more projects for them. We need to adopt the John Hume approach of uniting people and their hearts and minds. There is so much more we can do, he said. Mr Martin said his interest in politics initially came about due to the Troubles, but he admitted his earlier views have changed substantially. I grew up as a child listening to daily stories about bombs and bullets. I never thought the violence would end. I joined politics because of Northern Ireland. "I had simplistic views about the North when I was younger. It was Brits out and everything would be solved." I went up to Belfast when I was a young student in UCC. I was a member of Ogra Fianna Fail at the time and I met every political party. I went back to Cork with a changed perspective. I learned this isnt about rhetoric and it isnt about slogans. We had a view down here that was simplistic. We have to build relationships with people to make things happen. I want more voices to be brought to the table, he added. Deputy Martin said that while relations with the UK Government have become choppy since the referendum on Brexit, he is committed to engaging in constructive dialogue. We need the same approach we had with the Good Friday agreement. It needs engagement with all parties. We have to develop a stronger British-Irish relationship post Brexit which Boris Johnson and I have agreed to do. Before we get to a referendum at all there should be substantive engagement and agreement on core issues just like the Good Friday Agreement. That happened through engaging with people on an ongoing basis and being very patient. The structures would need to reflect parity of esteem. Putting dates on it is not helpful. Let us work on shared understandings and getting advances on things that matter to people such as the economy, the jobs, their education. We can do this together for the mutual benefit of all, he added. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Interest among Democrats appears to be growing; a majority of the caucus now backs the bill, and several moderates have recently signed on as sponsors, including Representative Frank Pallone Jr., Democrat of New Jersey and the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the measure. He has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday to consider legislation to expand health coverage and lower costs. The energy around it is largely stoked by the horrible things weve seen over the last year, said Representative Pramila Jayapal, Democrat of Washington, the lead sponsor of the Medicare for All Act. She added, Even if we do the things we are doing right now, we are still leaving out too many people, and we are still not addressing the cost issues of this unsustainable for-profit system. Mr. Biden, however, rejected Medicare for all during his campaign, and a senior administration official said Wednesday that the president did not intend to embrace the plan. About 30 million Americans remain uninsured, and the Kaiser Family Foundation recently estimated that the number of people with employer-based insurance dropped by two million to three million from March to September last year. But the foundation has also estimated that 85 percent of those who lost coverage were eligible for either Medicaid or for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act an option that did not exist during the last major recession. This is really the first true test of the A.C.A., said Cynthia Cox, who directs a Kaiser Family Foundation program on the law. In past recessions, you usually see the uninsured rate increase significantly. We dont know for sure yet, but all indications are that the uninsured rate has not gone up by much, likely in large part thanks to the A.C.A. Expanding access to health care has been a core issue for Mr. Biden, both when he was vice president and during his campaign for the White House. When the act was signed into law, he memorably used an expletive to whisper in Mr. Obamas ear that it was a big deal. A San Francisco woman was the victim of a cruel robbery Sunday. The woman, identified by KGO as Clarisse, a 33-year-old Asian woman, was walking home from church with a friend when three unidentified individuals targeted her Sunday afternoon on Polk and Bush streets. A member of the trio grabbed her handbag, but she held on; as a result, the suspects punched her in the face three times. And as they were making their way to the getaway car, she held on even though the attackers drove away, forcing her to hold on to the car while it careened down the street. The car sped up, and she was knocked off the car and hit the pavement. Bystanders rushed to her aid. She was later treated for her injuries. Her friend, 53, was kicked repeatedly trying to help secure the purse. Benjamin Freemantle, a principal dancer at SF Ballet, recorded the incident and shared the footage of the robbers' escape with SFGATE. Google Street View/Screenshot When asked about the harrowing attack, Clarisse offered words of kindness and generosity, and added that she's indebted to her faith in God: "Know that you're loved, know people are there to help you, she told KGO. I know its hard now but we need to get back and have people in work and school so they are productively occupied, she added. It remains unclear if Clarisse was targeted for her race. The robbery took place a mere day after crowds showed up in droves to anti-racism protests throughout the Bay Area. San Francisco police ask anyone with more information to contact the SFPD tipline, 415-575-4444. 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. Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier for Relations with English-Speaking Quebecers and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism Christopher Skeete: After making introductions, many groups "are surprised" how approachable these bodies are. It's your government. You should expect to be able to approach these people. MANZINI Nurses want to buy their own COVID-19 vaccine. This was disclosed by the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) President Bheki Mamba. He said this was because nurses wanted to have an alternative in terms of the medication given that there had been negative reports about the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. Last week, a host of European countries put all vaccinations with the AstraZaneca on hold, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Norway and Ireland, while others such as Estonia and Austria suspended vaccinations from particular batches of the vaccine. Isolated This was because of a small number of isolated cases of blood clotting conditions among those who had received the vaccine were reported in some countries. However, other countries resumed vaccination with the same vaccine. Mamba said the union was in the process of engaging its members and international partners who had in the past assisted them. He said in the past years, using the same strategy, they were able to receive vaccine for hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is a liver disease that can cause mild illness lasting a few weeks, or it can lead to a serious, lifelong illness. Even now, we want to seek assistance in getting COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson for our 2 000 members, he said. Wellness Mamba said they would be engaging their international partners on how they could get the vaccine. He said they would be using their wellness clinic to vaccinate and disseminate information to their members. He said they would also seek the assistance of government when bringing the vaccine into the country. To this move by the nurses, the Director of Health Services, Dr Vusi Magagula, said government would also procure the same brand the nurses were seeking. He said the country bought vaccines that were approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Dr Magagula said the vaccine that was donated to the country was safe and it had a high efficacy. Meanwhile, it was yesterday reported that trials in a Phase III study of the Oxford AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine conducted by AstraZeneca plc in the USA, Chile and Peru had shown that the vaccine was safe and highly effective, adding to previous trial data from the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa, as well as real-world impact data from the United Kingdom. On the other hand, last week, another public sector association (PSA) Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) said it was still consulting on the COVID-19 vaccine as they were of a strong belief that its efficacy was not good for the kingdom as the country had a strain similar to that of South Africa. SPRINGFIELD The city received 24 applications by Mondays deadline from companies interested in opening marijuana businesses, most of which made voluntary public presentations last week. Theo Theocles, the citys deputy procurement director, said the applications were opened and then forwarded to a city review committee for a full evaluation and recommendations. The information in the proposals is being kept confidential pending the review, Theocles said. Its clear that the interest for opening a marijuana enterprise in the city remains high, Theocles said. Im lookin forward to working with committee to review all the proposals in order to determine the best fit for the city. The city, in its new second phase of applications, is planning to negotiate host community agreements with up to four retail stores and at least one cultivation facility, along with other types of cannabis businesses, officials said. There is a tentative date of April 12 for the review committee to forward its recommendations to Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. Any new marijuana businesses will need a host community agreement approved by Sarno and the City Council, as well as approval from the state Cannabis Control Commission. Theocles and the citys consultant, attorney Julie Steiner, will be working with the city review committee in evaluating the proposals. The committee consists of representatives of various city departments. The city approved four recreational retail marijuana stores in 2019, with one open thus far on Boston Road and three preparing to open. The following companies submitted proposals Monday. Proposed locations were disclosed during last weeks public presentations. Diem Springfield LLC of Worcester, doing business as Diem, retail, 1685 Boston Road, first floor Diem Springfield LLC of Worcester, doing business as Diem, cultivation, 1685 Boston Road, second floor Liberty Street Farms, of Springfield, cultivation Springfield Buds, of Springfield, retail The House of Cannabis, of Springfield, cultivation, 135-155 Lyman St. Seashore Enterprises LLC of Avon, doing business as 365 Recreational Cannabis, retail, 822 Boston Road Green Biz LLC, of Northampton, retail, 250 Albany St. Enlite Cannabis Dispensary, of Springfield, retail Hoop City Ventures LLC of Boston, doing businesses as Dazed Cannabis, retail, 357 Cottage St. Page Cultivate LLC, of Boston, cultivation, 299 Page Blvd. American Transport of Springfield, transportation, 200 Taylor St. Tree N Brick, of Springfield, combination, 1860 Main St. Green Leaf Dispensary, of Springfield, retail, 1168 Boston Road Origins Sale East LLC of Redmond, Washington, doing business as Origins, retail, 1391 Main St. Lemonnade Springfield LLC, of Boston, retail, 595 Main St. RelaxMD, of Yonkers, New York, retail Seven Thirty-Two Cottage Street Inc., of Springfield, retail, 732 Cottage St. Green Gold Group Inc., of North Brookfield, combination, 333-337 East Columbus Ave. Apical Inc., of Easthampton, retail, 785 Page Blvd. Primus LLC, of Springfield, retail, 666 State St. Springfield Strain LLC, of Springfield, retail FFD Enterprises MA Inc., of Hartford, retail Kur Retailers LLC, of East Longmeadow, retail, 461 Boston Road Boston Bud Factory Inc., of Holyoke, retail, 67 Allen St. and 77 Warehouse St. Related content: Maia came to us right at a time where we were thick into just trying to help our neighbors and the families we enroll in our programs to have an opportunity to have healthy food, said Carol Teske, executive director of Childcare Network of Evanston, which connects families to affordable, quality early childhood education. This past year our mission really had to change to raising money to get people food and emergency assistance. 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. Were certainly not out of the woods in terms of the immediate flood danger, but we have to turn our minds to how we start the clean-up and the recovery, Ms Berejiklian said. Life wont be normal for a lot of people for a long time, and we have to face that. For some people, the clean-up and recovery will take longer than what we would like. The Nepean river on Tuesday after days of heavy rain. Credit:Wolter Peeters NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York said flood waters in the Hawkesbury-Nepean area were not expected to recede until Saturday, urging residents not to rush back to their homes. Please take the directions of the emergency services personnel out there and watch for when we make an all clear order, she said. We will not make an all clear order until we know that it is safe to go back into those houses or businesses, and there is no further risk. Loading NSW SES volunteers have been active around Grafton, the Hunter and the north-west slopes overnight, as well as in North Richmond where they delivered essential items. Yesterday we did start the resupply for the North Richmond township, which was running very low on essential items. We redirected a number of flood rescue boats, Ms York said. She said the fine weather meant helicopters could assist in delivering essentials to supermarkets in the north-west. A clean-up strike force comprising the Australian Defence Force, Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue. Their efforts are expected to start on the Mid North Coast from on Thursday. The priority will be ensuring roads are accessible, making places safe for people to return and removing bulk waste to provide initial relief. Police and SES Volunteers transporting goods to isolated people in Windsor. Credit:Louise Kennerley It comes as NSW Police and SES have done several supply deliveries for residents isolated by floodings, including along the Hawkesbury. Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said there had been 11,000 requests for assistance to the NSW SES, including 950 flood rescues. Loading There will be 1500 SES volunteers deployed to assist with the recovery, assisted by another 100 ACS volunteers from interstate. Water has replaced the land between the homes of Peter Cserhalmi and his father on the family farm. Since the flood swept through the Colo region, in the Central Tablelands, Mr Cserhalmi has been unable to get home, but is prepared for the worst. The father and son were hit by the 2019-20 bushfires and, now, the flood. Farming machinery, cars and personal belongings have all been taken. What the fires didnt get, the floods have taken, he said. Before the floods swept through on Tuesday, the father and son had 24 hours to move items to higher ground, but they were unable to save everything. Mr Cserhalmi said hes lost almost everything, bar a freezer which had a few meals, including a roast, left in it. I got into the house and its just upside down, he said. It was like a bomb had gone off inside. Mr Cserhalmi is planning to return home and mop up on Wednesday afternoon, before things start to rot. Then hell turn his attention to helping the rest of the Colo community start cleaning up. An evacuation order is still in place for some residents in the Colo region. On Wednesday Sydneysiders can expect clear skies, with a top of 30 degrees and a 5 per cent chance of rain. Some areas to the west, including along the Nepean and Hawkesbury River catchments, are still on high alert for flood warnings. Overnight an evacuation warning has been issued for the lower reaches along the Hawkesbury River from Wisemans Ferry to Brooklyn. Residents in this area should prepare to evacuate. Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who has been tasked with leading the clean-up effort, said three levels of government would be sharing the burden of the massive recovery effort. This morning I will be working through with my agency what we do with the clean-up and support for individuals, he told ABC RN on Wednesday. For further assistance, the Public Information Inquiry Centre operates on a 24-hour basis and can be contacted on 1800 227 228. If you require emergency assistance during floods or storms, call SES on 132 500. [March 23, 2021] Does Your Mask/Respirator Filter Live Viruses? MIRABEL, Quebec, Canada, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- i3 Biomedical inc., a medical device corporation, releases today the comparative results of Live viruses Filtration performances of numerous Medical Face masks and Respirators in the tables included. For a comprehensive understanding, the results are rendered in the form of number of viruses inhaled per Minute per Mask/Respirator based on the average volume of air of 7 liter per minute required by humans. The scientific data is the result of advanced testing executed by GAP EnviroMicrobial Services Ltd., an independent Canadian ISO certified laboratory. All Procedure masks, Medical Masks and Respirators (further referred to as Masks) following the European and/or American regulatory standards are not required to be tested against live viruses, but only against either a solid particle (example: salt particles) or against bacteria (which are approximately 100 times bigger in size than viruses). The only regulated standards currently used in the Americas and in Europe that include testing the assessment of the filtration performances of microbes are respectively the North American ASTM 2100 and the European EN14683 Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE). While it is not a government requirement, the substitution of the Bacteria for a Live Virus to test Viral Filtration Efficiency (VFE) is accepted. These standardized testing protocols require a concentration of 10^5 viruses per liter of air for only a 2-minute testing time, hence providing the filtration performance of Masks in use for 2 minutes only. GAP EnviroMicrobial Services Ltd. was mandated to test the (VFE) following the same protocols but for a testing time of 30 minutes at the NIOSH1 recommended air speed of 85 LPM, on various masks (Prcedure masks, Surgical/Medical masks ASTM Level 3, CE Type IIR, KN 95 masks, N95 masks and FFP2 masks). The above-mentioned testing is done on the filter materials only of the masks as per protocol requirements. For reference, a single cough from an infected subject can release an average of 4,914,600 aerosolized viral particles2. Find the answer to: Does your mask/respirator filter live Viruses in the Tables included. For more information on the TrioMed Active face masks, visit www.triomed.com or send an email to triomed@triomed.com About i3 BioMedical Inc: i3 BioMedical is a Canadian medical device corporation, focused on the development and manufacturing of novel antimicrobial products incorporating the TrioMed Active Technology. About GAP EnviroMicrobial Services Ltd.: GAP EnviroMicrobial Services Ltd. (GAP), established in 1996, is ISO/IEC 17025:2005 compliant with accreditation by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA), CALA accreditation is recognized by almost 60 accrediting bodies in 40 countries around the world. 1 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 2 Lee, J., Yoo, D., Ryu, S., Ham, S., Lee, K., Yeo, M., Min, K. and Yoon, C. (2019). Quantity, Size Distribution, and Characteristics of Cough-generated Aerosol Produced by Patients with an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection. Aerosol Air Qual. Res. 19: 840-853. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2018.01.0031 Photos: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6b7816c8-e759-424c-883e-08620c20283e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ca1644fd-d4c7-464d-b277-e83e986707b7 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8ce6b02b-2bbf-4d04-a8a3-2d37eaa0d15f [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] CaverStem: Regenerative Stem Cell Procedure for Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction in Men FemCelz: Regenerative Stem Cell Procedure for Vaginal Rejuvenation As additional products are commercialized, (i.e. StemSpine - Regenerative Stem Cell Procedure for Treatment of Degenerative Disc Disease), the platform will expand to include these products. Furthermore, the company plans to build out Virtual Physician to include additional products outside of their proprietary procedures focused on regenerative medicine. "While our primary interest is in supporting our providers and to educate, recruit and retain patients for our proprietary procedures through this innovative platform, we are also aware of the power of telehealth to accelerate acceptance for regenerative medicine more broadly", said Timothy Warbington, President and CEO of Creative Medical Technology Holdings Inc. "While several telehealth companies have emerged (i.e. Teladoc with market cap of $29B; HIMS & HERS Health with market cap of $2.5B), none address this area of breakthrough medicine. As a company at the forefront of this cutting-edge industry, we see it as our responsibility to drive broad adoption." Virtual Physician creates three unique opportunities to drive shareholder value: Management Service Organization (MSO): Charging a fee per qualified patient to providers conversations with existing providers validates this as highly valuable Charging a fee per qualified patient to providers conversations with existing providers validates this as highly valuable Royalty for promotion of products from external partners: As the platform grows in popularity, company can charge a fee from other manufacturers for featuring their products As the platform grows in popularity, company can charge a fee from other manufacturers for featuring their products Direct sales of ancillary products to consumers on platform: Become a one-stop shop for our patients by curating and consolidating additional products to improve underlying medical conditions About Creative Medical Technology Holdings Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. is a commercial stage biotechnology company specializing in regenerative medicine-stem cell technology in the fields of immunotherapy, urology, neurology and orthopedics and is listed on the OTC under the ticker symbol CELZ. For further information about the company, please visit www.creativemedicaltechnology.com. Forward Looking Statements OTC Markets has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming clinical trials and laboratory results, marketing efforts, funding, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and, therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. See the periodic and other reports filed by Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the Commission's website at www.sec.gov. www.CreativeMedicalTechnology.com www.CaverStem.com www.FemCelz.com www.StemSpine.com SOURCE Creative Medical Technology Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://creativemedicaltechnology.com For several months, I have been experiencing symptoms my GP cant explain, including heart palpitations, chest pain, weight loss and my toes turning purple. Tests for an overactive thyroid were inconclusive. Could my symptoms be caused by an undiagnosed hiatus hernia? Im 65 and otherwise healthy. Lynne Rees, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan. Your concern about your unexplained symptoms is understandable, but let me reassure you that further investigation should help confirm a diagnosis. The weight loss from 8 st 3 lb to 7 st, as you indicate in your longer letter is significant, given that you are eating well. This symptom, in common with the heart palpitations, does point to an overactive thyroid gland as the possible cause. Your symptoms do not suggest you have a hiatus hernia, which is where the abdominal organs slip up through a weak spot in the diaphragm and into the chest, causing symptoms such as heartburn and acid reflux (pictured) Another factor to consider is that widespread bone pain (including, for instance, the chest pain you mention) occurs in up to 15 per cent of people with an overactive thyroid. (Ive not been able to find a reference to purple toes as a result of thyroid problems it may be these are due to an unrelated circulation issue.) Furthermore, your symptoms do not suggest you have a hiatus hernia, which is where the abdominal organs slip up through a weak spot in the diaphragm and into the chest, causing symptoms such as heartburn and acid reflux. On the assumption that your thyroid is the cause, the apparently unconnected symptoms reflect the fact that this gland (which sits in the front of the neck) produces hormones that influence some key body functions, including heart rate and metabolism. This may well be a reason the blood test was inconclusive, as a number of treatments and pills, including zoledronic acid, a drug given intravenously for osteoporosis, have been reported to cause changes in thyroid function tests For a variety of reasons, the gland can produce too much of these hormones, causing the type of symptoms youve experienced. The inconclusive blood tests for thyroid function are the sticking point here, and Id suggest asking your GP to repeat them. Needing a repeat thyroid test is common when lab tests produce unexpected results (the test you want is the one that checks levels of thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH). In your longer letter, you mention that you had intravenous drug treatment for osteoporosis in July 2019, and again in 2020. This may well be a reason the blood test was inconclusive, as a number of treatments and pills, including zoledronic acid, a drug given intravenously for osteoporosis, have been reported to cause changes in thyroid function tests. The relationship between your osteoporosis treatment (if it did indeed include zoledronic acid) and the timing of the thyroid function blood test is important, as it may explain why the test was inconclusive. My suggestion is that you are investigated once again. For several years, Ive had two small sores, one on my right temple and one on my right ear. My GP treated them with a freezing spray, but they came back. The practice nurse calls them sunspots. Should I be concerned? Nigel Fortnam, via email. I am always at pains to stress that treating any skin condition must be a spectator activity that is, a GP needs the patient in front of them as its hard for anyone to make a judgment without seeing the problem. Nevertheless, it is likely that your GP and the practice nurse are correct, that the skin lesions you describe are sunspots rather than local skin cancers, even though they may well be the legacy of a lifetime of sun exposure. These spots are probably both actinic keratoses, also known as solar keratoses, which are benign manifestations of damage caused by ultraviolet light (UV light), and which can be removed with cryotherapy the freezing procedure you describe. The skin lesions you describe are sunspots rather than local skin cancers, even though they may well be the legacy of a lifetime of sun exposure The idea is that first freezing the area, then allowing it to thaw, then freezing it again destroys the cells in that region. It is essential not to over-treat patients by applying this technique for too long, as this can cause a scar. But under-treatment may result in recurrence. A freezing time of five or ten seconds is usually sufficient, and I suspect that your doctor has been treading warily. When there are recurrences, your doctor may decide to ratchet up the treatment, with two freeze-thaw cycles in one session in future, which can be more effective at fully removing the lesions. Write to Dr Scurr Write to Dr Scurr at Good Health, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email drmartin@dailymail.co.uk include your contact details. Dr Scurr cannot enter into personal correspondence. Replies should be taken in a general context and always consult your own GP with any health worries. In my view... GPs must keep seeing patients face to face In-person consultations are vital not only for diagnosing skin conditions (see letter above), but for all complaints. They are as important to medical care as diagnosis itself and must be preserved. Some years after I qualified as a doctor, it became compulsory for those wanting to enter general practice to undergo training for certain special skills. A cornerstone of that training was to study the work of psycho-analyst and physician Michael Balint and his book, The Doctor, His Patient, And The Illness. This sets out the idea that the very process of a medical consultation can be in itself a form of treatment in other words, theres something magical in the appointment thats therapeutic. Thanks to the pandemic, the remote GP consultation has truly arrived and is clearly here to stay. But as the chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Professor Martin Marshall, reminded us in a recent ironically virtual conference, the emphasis on phone and video consultation is risking the loss of key elements of general practice. For me, this loss includes that sixth sense, a feeling that theres something unsaid which might be the real reason the patient has booked an appointment. Their posture, demeanour and appearance can offer vital clues. Equally, the non-verbal cues from the doctors themselves support, empathy, understanding can only happen when face to face with a patient. Of course, theres a place for conducting some elements of care online (for example, simple questions about treatment updates). But as Professor Marshall said: The relationship between a patient and their GP is as important as a scalpel is to a surgeon. The personal connection is a vital component of medical care that we must honour and conserve. Allows the creation of truly bespoke pricing CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- oneZero, a global leader in multi-asset enterprise trading technology solutions, today released the Algorithmic Pricing Module, an advanced price creation tool which facilitates the formation of customised pricing for each recipient, utilising brokers' own data constructs and algorithms. There are many factors beyond traditional market data inputs that affect how brokers formulate their pricing to clients. While oneZero has previously offered a robust set of tools to facilitate out-of-the-box capabilities for price creation, the new Algorithmic Pricing Module gives brokers the ability to construct a price using their own proprietary algorithms which can access market data, market risk positions and other information which is unique to them. This powerful addition to the oneZero Institutional Hub empowers more sophisticated clients to fine tune their pricing function, taking relevant parameters through a combination of API inputs and exposed user-defined settings. Utilising the Algorithmic Pricing Module, clients are now able to create a truly bespoke price. oneZero's Algorithmic Pricing Module offers a coding interface that feeds directly into the heart of the company's recently unveiled Institutional Hub. It enables clients to insert their own native code for greater control of the elements used and the construction of the price algorithms which run in real time on the same hardware as their oneZero Hub to maximize performance. As an additional benefit, brokers need not expose proprietary processes, allowing them to maintain their edge in a crowded market. oneZero CEO Andrew Ralich commented: "The initial response to this module has been staggering. Clients are already developing applications previously not thought possible, including the construction of new and innovative derivative product offerings whose prices can be perfectly calibrated for the intended end user. For institutional clients, enabling protection of their unique 'secret sauce' and providing the ability for the customer to make real time changes to their pricing strategy to be responsive to market dynamics was something oneZero was keen to offer." About oneZero oneZero Financial Systems has been a leading innovator in multi-asset class trading technology for over a decade. Its powerful software encompasses the Hub, EcoSystem and Data Source - three components that separately solve specific organizational challenges and together provide a complete solution for trading technology, distribution and analytics. Through reliable connectivity, technology, infrastructure and market access, oneZero empowers financial institutions and brokers to compete effectively in the global financial markets through a globally compliant, liquidity-neutral solution. For more information, please contact: Talia Geberovich Head of Marketing and Communications [email protected] SOURCE oneZero Financial Systems Related Links https://www.onezero.com New York, like much of the United States, has begun acting as though its battle against COVID-19 has been won. Vaccines are becoming more readily available, the prevalence of COVID-19 has dropped since its post-Christmas peak and COVID-19 restrictions are being steadily rolled back as many New Yorkers are eager to resume their normal life. However, health experts have warned that if the state rushes to reopen, as the virus continues to circulate and more infectious mutations of the disease emerge, it may undermine the progress that has been made. On March 8, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that beginning on March 19, the entire state, with the exception of New York City, would be allowed to increase indoor dining capacity to 75%. However, more local restaurants in the states counties have been forced to temporarily shutter due to the emergence of new COVID-19 cases. Last Wednesday, the governor announced that the city would be allowed to increase indoor dining capacity from 35% to 50% on March 19. Cuomo has also allowed movie theaters to reopen at 25% capacity beginning this month, loosened restrictions on social gatherings, allowed indoor fitness classes to resume at reduced capacity and ended the need for vaccinated domestic travellers coming to the state to quarantine for 14 days. On Thursday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio accused Cuomo of rushing to reopen the state in an attempt to divert attention away from the recent sexual harassment allegations made against him. Is this being done because of what the data and science is telling us or is this being done for political reasons? de Blasio asked during a press conference, regarding new restrictions being lifted. Because it sure as hell looks like a lot of these decisions are being made by the governor because of his political needs. Cuomos office did not respond to a request for comment. Over the past few weeks, the number of individuals testing positive for the virus in New York Cityhas oscillated between 6% and 7%, over seven-day periods. This is down from a rate of positive cases of 7.42% coming up from a very low positivity rate attained over the summer after the holidays, which peaked in early January. The total number of new daily cases also peaked in early January at over 6,000 per day, and is now around half of that. Still, epidemiologists are concerned that they wont be able to further lower the positivity rate, especially due to new variants. About 50% of all new positive cases in the city are infections caused by new COVID-19 variants. During a press appearance on CNNs State of the Union, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that the best way to reduce the threat of new variants is to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we possibly can and continue adhering to public health measures. "If you wait just a bit longer to give the vaccine program the chance to increase the protection in the community, then it makes pulling back much less risky," Fauci said on "Fox News Sunday." "But if you do it prematurely there really is a danger of triggering another surge." While New Yorks vaccination distribution has been speeding up, only 11.6% of the states population has been fully vaccinated as of last Thursday, while 23.6% has received at least one dose of the vaccine. Public health experts have argued over what the ideal percentage of vaccinations that would need to be met before restrictions are relaxed. Some have said 60%, others have said over 80%, Dr. Tiffany Harris, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Columbia University Medical Center, told City & State. Whatever the exact percentage, experts are nearly unanimous in their agreement that full reopening is premature, as too few individuals have been vaccinated and too little is known about the variants that have spread across the state and the rest of country. At this level of cases, with variants spreading, we stand to completely lose the hard-earned ground we have gained." Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told Newsday on March 1, in regard to rolling back restrictions. There are two main variants of concern that have been spreading around the state, known as the New York and UK variants, which researchers have found to be more infectious, though that doesnt necessarily mean theyre more deadly to those who are infected. The New York variant, known as B.1.526, first began showing up in November. Caltech researchers found that by mid-February, the variant accounted for 27% of viral sequences in the city, according to its database. That it has rapidly come to account for a large share of cases means its likely more transmissible. It has travelled through much of the metropolitan area and has been detected in other states. Some vaccinated individuals may not be fully inoculated against the mutated virus according to research conducted at Caltech and Columbia University. Not all variants are of public health concern, Dr. Jay Varma, a senior public health adviser to de Blasio, said during a press conference on Thursday. We need to just consider this a variant of interest something that is interesting that we need to follow and track. But it doesnt change anything about our public health concern. We need more data and studies to understand that. The most worrisome aspect of loosening restrictions so quickly is that the state may see a surge in new infections, which could lead to more health risks. Right now, they (the variants) do appear to be more contagious or more infectious, so more easily transmissible. But they don't seem to be causing increased morbidity and mortality. However, if more people are getting infected that can translate to increased hospitalizations and deaths. Public health experts are also concerned about reinfections becoming more common, as the virus and its variants continue to be transmitted. The more time that goes on (that COVID-19 continues to infect people), the more mutations happen, the more that variants develop, the likelihood that you're going to get ones (variants) that the vaccines are not effective against (increases), Harris said. Assembly Member Richard Gottfried, who has chaired the Assembly Health Committee since 1987, told City & State that we have to move slowly and carefully on all steps in reopening and understand that, like it or not, we may need to take a step or two back at some point we may need to take a lot of steps back, depending on what happens. I think people need to listen to what the doctors and scientists and epidemiologists are telling us and use that as the guide for policy, not ideology or our wishes, he said. Unfortunately, from the start there have been a lot of people who have been reacting to this pandemic based on their personal politics or their wishes and hundreds of thousands of people died as a result. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Morocco 'told of delay in Covid jabs from India' India's Serum Institute of India (SII) has told Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Morocco that further supplies of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine will be delayed because of surging demand at home and work on capacity expansion, according to a report in the Guardian. India, the worlds biggest vaccine maker, is being criticised domestically for donating or selling more doses than it administers at home, despite reporting the most number of infections after the US and Brazil. Read here Let's look at the global statistics Global infections: 123,691,979 Global deaths: 2,723,353 Nations with most cases: US (29,869,518), Brazil (12,047,526), India (11,686,796), Russia (4,416,226), United Kingdom (4,358,910). Source: John Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center UK faces 'Covid decade' due to damage done by pandemic Britain faces a Covid decade of social and cultural upheaval marked by growing inequality and deepening economic deprivation, according to a British Academy report. Major changes to the way society is run in the wake of the pandemic are needed to mitigate the impact of the long shadow cast by the virus, including declining public trust and an explosion in mental illness. The British Academy warned that failure to understand the scale of the challenge ahead and deliver changes would result in a rapid slide towards poorer societal health, more extreme patterns of inequality and fragmenting national unity. Read here US health body questions robustness of AstraZeneca's data AstraZeneca may have provided an incomplete view of efficacy data on its Covid-19 vaccine from a large-scale US trial, the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says, in a fresh setback for the shot. The drugmaker said a day earlier that its vaccine developed with Oxford University was 79 per cent effective in preventing symptomatic illness in a large trial. "There are concerns that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data," the US agency said. Read here Germany introduces a strict, five-day lockdown over Easter Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, announced a five-day lockdown over Easter and the extension of existing restrictions until mid-April in an effort to break a spike in cases. She warned that the country is facing a significantly more deadly wave of the Starting April 1, Germany will effectively shut down for an extended Easter break, with private meetings limited to only two groups of up to five adults and all stores ordered shuttered, with only supermarkets allowed to open on the Saturday. Churches are asked to hold services online, and people are being asked to stay home and not travel. Read here DECORAH, Iowa A northeast Iowa man is pleading not guilty to a string of burglaries. Brandon Scott Thibadeau, 27 of West Union, is charged with eight counts of third-degree burglary and possession of methamphetamine. Authorities say he committed multiple burglaries in the Fort Atkinson area between February 2 and February 11. Thibadeau is now scheduled to stand trial beginning April 21 in Winneshiek County District Court. Japans world-famous cherry trees are expected to be in full bloom in most of the country this week, but once again the coronavirus pandemic will keep the usual crowds away. Spring in Japan has long meant cherry blossoms, or sakura, with scores of picnickers welcoming the warmer weather over bento box lunches or barbecue as well as copious amounts of sake and other alcohol. But last spring, with the coronavirus spreading, officials were quick to curb cherry-blossom viewing despite its cultural significance. Yuriko Koike, the governor of Tokyo, compared the loss to taking hugs away from Italians. Ms. Koike warned the public again last week not to have cherry-blossom parties, even though other restrictions were being loosened. On Sunday, the government lifted a state of emergency in Tokyo that had been in effect since early January, despite concerns that new case reports were still too high. Tokyo reported 337 new cases on Tuesday, about one-third of the daily average two months ago. Other city officials have reinforced Ms. Koikes message. In a video posted on YouTube last week, Eiji Aoki, the mayor of the Meguro ward, appeared at the Meguro River, which is known as one of the best spots for cherry blossoms, and held up a sign asking people to refrain from viewing the blossoms. Trusted cloud services offered to 8,000 institutions and 50 million users in Europe Designed to accelerate cloud adoption in European research groups Orange Business Services has been selected by GEANT as one of its preferred partners in its Open Clouds for Research Environments project (OCRE). OCRE is designed to provide academic and research institutions with all the benefits of cloud, including enhanced security, flexibility, improved efficiencies and collaboration, for their projects. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005522/en/ Orange Business Services has been selected by GEANT as one of its preferred partners in its Open Clouds for Research Environments project (OCRE). (Photo credit: Orange Business Services) The OCRE project aims to accelerate cloud adoption in the European research community by bringing together cloud providers with earth observation, health, research and education groups. The agreement enables Orange Business Services to sell public cloud services to National Research Education Networks (NREN) and more than 8,000 institutions across Europe covering over 50 million users and leverages Orange local, in-country support and capabilities across Europe. GEANT is a fundamental part of Europe's e-infrastructure, delivering a pan-European network for scientific excellence, research, education and innovation. It provides a catalog of connectivity, collaboration and identity services to its users, as well as IT resources through the OCRE program. OCRE delivers a process for the selection and adoption of cloud-based tools via a framework of agreements with service providers. These are designed to meet the specific requirements of all the various research and education communities. Accelerating cloud adoption in the European research and education communities with Orange trusted cloud and cloud expert services Orange Business Services will provide its trusted public cloud platform Flexible Engine, a high-performance infrastructure capable of supporting emerging technologies, such as big data management and artificial intelligence (AI), with a security perimeter to guarantee the security of the platform. Flexible Engine services are already leveraged in numerous European initiatives and will be part of the sovereign offers within the GAIA-X ecosystem, which was set up to develop and promote common requirements for a transparent and interoperable European data infrastructure. Orange is one of the 22 founding members of GAIA-X, contributing to the development of the guidelines and core services for this new federated, open data infrastructure based on European values. "The knowledge and expertise of Orange in the cloud environment will enable us to give our members the right combination of governance, services and pricing. This will allow our members to tap into the power of a future-proofed cloud infrastructure that will significantly expand their research capabilities," said Dave Heyns, Director Cloud and Digital Services, GEANT. "We are thrilled to be a chosen cloud provider in the Open Clouds for Research Environments (OCRE) project. By teaming with Orange Business Services, GEANT has a trusted and global digital services partner capable of delivering the agility of cloud and associated professional services to research and education groups across Europe. This will enable them to remain at the forefront of research and innovation. With our extensive GDPR and European regulatory expertise, researchers can have a trusted environment for their own intellectual properties," said Kristof Symons, Executive Vice President, International, Orange Business Services. About Orange Business Services Orange Business Services is a network-native digital services company and the global enterprise division of the Orange Group. It connects, protects and innovates for enterprises around the world to support sustainable business growth. Leveraging its connectivity and system integration expertise throughout the digital value chain, Orange Business Services is well placed to support global businesses in areas such as software-defined networks, multi-cloud services, Data and AI, smart mobility services, and cybersecurity. It securely accompanies enterprises across every stage of the data lifecycle end-to-end, from collection, transport, storage and processing to analysis and sharing. With companies thriving on innovation, Orange Business Services places its customers at the heart of an open collaborative ecosystem. This includes its 28,500 employees, the assets and expertise of the Orange Group, its technology and business partners, and a pool of finely selected start-ups. More than 3,000 multinational enterprises, as well as two million professionals, companies and local communities in France, put their trust in Orange Business Services. For more information, visit www.orange-business.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and our blogs. Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with revenues of 42.3 billion euros in 2020 and 259 million customers worldwide at 31 December 2020. Orange is listed on the Euronext Paris (ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (ORAN). In December 2019, Orange presented its new "Engage 2025" strategic plan, guided by social and environmental accountability. While accelerating in growth areas, such as B-to-B services and placing data and AI at the heart of innovation, the entire Orange Group will be an attractive and responsible employer. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005522/en/ Contacts: Press: Elizabeth Mayeri, Orange Business Services, elizabeth.mayeri@orange.com, +1 212 251 2086 PLEASANTON, Calif., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nolo Press is celebrating a distinctive milestone: 50 years of helping everyday Americans maneuver the legal system. Along the way, Nolo has grown into one of the leading publishers of do-it-yourself legal information, helping millions of Americans navigate all types of legal issues. Born to help people Nolo was founded in Berkeley, Calif. by Jake Warner and Ed Sherman, two former legal aid lawyers who opened a law practice to help everyday people with straightforward legal tasks. They soon found that there was no reason why many of their potential clients couldn't do the job themselves if they only had some guidance. Jake and Ed began publishing a comprehensive series of informative, plain-English legal guides, forms, and other materials. Nolo's products cover an array of common legal topics, including estate planning, wills, divorce, taxes, landlord-tenant issues, real estate, small business, and taxes, along with many others. Their mission was reflected in their slogan, "Law for All." "Few digital content brandsin the legal space and beyondhave a history as deep, rich and noble as that of Nolo," said Steve Noel, General Manager of Nolo. "Every day, we continue to be driven by Nolo's original mission of helping people. Now more than ever, we are proud to help make the legal system accessible to anyone, regardless of background, situation, or station in life." Evolving with the times As the world moved from print to digital, Nolo evolved along with it, establishing Nolo.com and transitioning into a digital-first publisher. Nolo's acquisition by Internet Brands in 2011 accelerated this digital shift, and the vast majority of Nolo content is now available free of charge online though many popular print titles and other products remain available for purchase . Nolo rapidly expands into new subject areas as needs arise. The latest example is Nolo's COVID-19 Resource Hub , which covers a huge range of legal issues related to the pandemic, from unemployment to evictions to travel bans. Nolo's reputation for current, credible legal information has made Nolo a go-to source for media outlets looking for objective legal expertise. Nolo data, content, and in-house experts are cited in hundreds of media reports each year. Celebration through innovation To celebrate its anniversary, Nolo turned special attention to two of its flagship products. Nolo's WillMaker & Trust software has been helping people create their own wills and estate plans for 35 years. This year, WillMaker will expand its offerings by giving users the ability to create Transfer-on-Death deeds, which transfer real estate to beneficiaries and eliminate the need for probate court proceedings. Nolo has also launched a fully redesigned web interface at Nolo.com in celebration of the anniversary, with a focus on an improved mobile user experience and faster, more responsive performance for all visitors. SOURCE Nolo Related Links http://Nolo.com Story Highlights 32% of Americans are satisfied with direction of the U.S. Economic Confidence Index less negative than in recent months Congress approval remains relatively high WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans' satisfaction with the way things are going in the U.S. continued to improve in March, as 32% say they are satisfied with the direction of the country. This is the second monthly increase Gallup has recorded after the measure fell to its lowest point in nearly a decade in January. Still, Americans are more than twice as likely to report being dissatisfied with the country's direction (67%). Line graph. Americans' satisfaction with the direction of the U.S., trend from January 2020 to March 2021. 32% of Americans in March are satisfied with the direction of the U.S., up from 27% in February. The current level of satisfaction, from a March 1-15 Gallup poll, is the highest Gallup has recorded since May 2020, though Gallup has previously noted that recent increases are largely driven by Democrats and, to a lesser extent, independents. Republicans' level of satisfaction, meanwhile, has decreased significantly since Democratic President Joe Biden took office in January. Currently, 52% of Democrats, 30% of independents and 7% of Republicans are satisfied. U.S. Economic Confidence Less Negative The overall increase in satisfaction with the country's direction may partly be related to improved confidence in the U.S. economy. The latest measurement of Gallup's Economic Confidence Index still has overall confidence in negative territory, at -7. But this reading shows continued improvement from February after a dip in confidence at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021. Current assessments of the economy are far better than last April's -33, in the early weeks of the pandemic, but far below pre-pandemic estimates. Line graph. Gallup's economic confidence index, trend from January 2020 through March 2021. The index currently stands at -7, up from -13 in February. Gallup regularly tracks Americans' ratings of national economic conditions as excellent, good, only fair or poor, and whether the economy is getting better or getting worse. The combined answers are used to create the Gallup Economic Confidence Index, which has a theoretical range of +100 (if all respondents say the economy is excellent or good and that it is getting better) to -100 (if all say it is poor and getting worse). Currently, 23% of Americans say the economy is "excellent" or "good," and 31% say it is "poor." Meanwhile, 44% say economic conditions are "getting better" and 50% say they are "getting worse." Improvement in the latter figures -- from 39% better and 54% worse in February -- accounts for most of the increase in the overall index. In fact, the 44% saying the economy is getting better is the highest for that measure since early March 2020, when the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were just beginning to take root. Congress Approval Remains Relatively High More than a third of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing (36%), similar to the rating Gallup recorded in February -- which at the time marked the legislative body's highest approval rating in nearly 12 years. As with other measures, the recent increase reflects a surge in Democrats' approval of Congress after having taken control of the U.S. Senate earlier this year. The latest rating represents a period during which Congress passed the $1.9 trillion relief bill. Ratings of Congress hardly budged after its passage, however, with the overall figure -- as well as individual ratings among party groups -- nearly identical to February ratings. This is in contrast to the increase in congressional job approval that occurred last spring, after passage of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, and the increase in January after passage of a relief package. The 2020 relief laws were passed by large bipartisan majorities, while the 2021 version was passed with only Democratic votes. Line graph, 2008-2021 trend. Americans' approval of the job Congress is doing. In March 2021, 36% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, little changed from 35% in February. Currently, 59% of Democrats, 34% of independents and 9% of Republicans approve of Congress' performance. Bottom Line Americans have received some good news recently -- an acceleration of vaccinations across the country, a relief bill that will provide aid to struggling families and an unemployment rate that continues to tick down from its 2020 heights. But, as with many other measures Gallup tracks, much of the recent increases is a function of partisanship -- with Democrats' recent optimism fueling the increases after having taken control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. It is possible that satisfaction with the country's direction will extend beyond party lines if the government continues to make headway in combating the spread of COVID-19 and the U.S. economy continues to show signs of meaningful recovery. But it is also possible that Republicans will remain dissatisfied while Democrats' recent boost of enthusiasm wears off as the year progresses. View complete question responses and trends (PDF download). Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works. The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye as part of his working tour, has visited various drainage sites in Accra to assess drainage works being undertaken by the Ministry. The sites included the Odaw- Onyasia confluence at Caprice, Kwame Nkrumah circle project, Upper and Lower Korle lagoons. Messrs Dredge Masters is currently undertaking the dredging of the Odaw drain from Caprice to the outfall including the Lower and Upper Lagoons. Other sites toured by the Minister included the Santa Maria Drainage Project site and Apenkwa Drainage Project site among others. Following the surge in flood cases, especially in the capital, the government has in the past four (4) years committed a significant amount of resources into dredging works and drainage provision which has led to massive reduction in flooding. While assuring the public that government will continue to implement programmes to mitigate the effects of flooding in the country, Mr. Asenso-Boakye also entreated Ghanaians to adhere to proper solid waste disposal practices, which is one of the main causes of flooding in the country. I am impressed with the work done so far by Dredge Masters and the other contractors. It is my expectation that we, as citizens will give them the needed support by engaging in proper sanitation practices to end the perennial flooding especially Accra, he said. The Minister also charged various Assemblies to strictly enforce planning laws and building regulations and see to it that structures are not built on water ways. He assured of the Ministrys continued collaboration with the Ministries of Sanitation and Water Resources and the Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development to deepen education on solid waste management. He also urged the media to also use its platform to educate and sensitize the people not to throw solid waste into our drainage channels, but rather adopt proper solid waste disposal measures to support the efforts of government. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Huntington, WV (25701) Today Cloudy with rain this morning...then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. They've admitted to having a drunken kiss with one another. And TOWIE's Ella-Rae Wise, 20, and her love interest Pete Wicks, 32, were pictured heading to pick up coffee and filming inside the shop on Tuesday. The outing comes after the show was hit by Ofcom complaints after the stars were seen visiting pubs and restaurants while the UK is in lockdown. Golden girl: Ella Rae Wise, 20, on her way to meet love interest Peter Wicks, 32, inside an Essex cafe on Sunday. Ella looked fab in knee-high metallic boots and a beige shirt dress Sharp: TOWIE veteran Peter showcased his flamboyant style in white jeans and a matching wide-brimmed hat, teaming the rockabilly staples with grey boots and a blue sweatshirt Pete showcased his flamboyant style in white jeans and a matching wide-brimmed hat, teaming the rockabilly staples with grey boots and a blue sweatshirt. Ella opted for knee-high metallic boots and a beige shirt dress for their meeting. While things appear to be hotting up between the two, Pete recently said: 'I think Ella's a lovely girl, I really do, but for me at the minute it's more about doing me than it is going forward and doing anything with anyone else. 'I would hope that Ella's not expecting anything from that.' Full throttle: The outing came after Clelia Theodorou, 26, joined her cast mates for a high-speed go-kart session on Sunday Winner: Liam Gatsby, 32, seemed to have been the fastest man on the track and was pictured with a trophy Elsewhere, Clelia Theodorou, 26, joined Liam Gatsby, 32, for a whizz around a go-kart racetrack. The pair got suited and booted alongside newcomers Rem Larue and Dani Imbert for their high-adrenaline afternoon, cracking smiles as they made laps of the circuit. Keeping her feet firmly on the ground was Amy Childs, 30, and co-stars Chloe Brockett, 20, Bobby Cole Norris, 34, and Joey Turner, 19. Amy showcased her enviable style credentials, stepping out for filming in bell bottom jeans, a black tank top and chic tartan print jacket. Joey, too, let his love for checkerboard prints be known, donning a pair of grey tartan bottoms and a crisp T-shirt. All smiles: Dani Imbert seemed to be having a whale of a time as she stomped around the race track with a grin on her face On your marks: Liam and Dani prepared to put the medal to the petal as they got ready to speed away Suited and booted: The reality stars seemed to enjoy their high-adrenaline afternoon making laps of the circuit Meanwhile, Chloe showcased her curves in a gorgeous white jumpsuit teamed effortlessly with studded biker boots, while Bobby looked fresh in slim-fitting grey suit bottoms, a smart black shirt and leather loafers. Earlier this month, 64 people contacted the government regulatory body to complain about the programme since its launch. Before the new series began, bosses clarified in a disclaimer that scenes for the 28th series were shot within strict Covid-19 protocol. The announcement read: 'The show will still be bringing you the cast's real lives and stories, but to keep everyone safe TOWIE have had to create its own little world to film in. Stylish: Amy Childs, 30, (left) showcased her enviable style credentials, stepping out for filming in bell bottom jeans, a black tank top and chic tartan print jacket On point: Bobby Cole Norris, 34, looked smart in slim-fitting grey suit bottoms, a smart black shirt and leather loafers 'So, although you may see cast in pubs and restaurants, don't 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.' During the first episode, stars such as Chloe Sims and her sister Demi were seen at a bar while the cast also celebrated a birthday party and visited each other's houses. 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.' PLA deploys VR tech for more efficient training Global Times) 14:59, March 23, 2021 Soldiers in a brigade attached to the 83rd Group Army of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army conduct virtual reality exercises. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has started to use virtual reality (VR) technologies in training as it allows officers and soldiers to gain enhanced combat capability more efficiently, analysts said on Monday. A logistics support unit affiliated with the PLA Northern Theater Command Navy recently held a wartime fuel support drill. But unlike usual, the drill did not take place at a dock, but in a simulation room, in which the participants used VR simulators to practice the disassembly of equipment, location of malfunctions and fixing of pipelines, the PLA Daily reported on Sunday. The VR training system was developed by the naval unit together with civilian developers with the aim of enhancing troops capability to deal with complicated and emergency situations, the report said, noting that more functionality will be updated to the VR training software to simulate more training scenarios. The VR training platform is not restricted by the availability of training sites, weather conditions or the consumption of equipment. This means we can enhance training efficiency and shorten the period in which combat capability is generated, the PLA Daily quoted an unnamed officer at the unit as saying. The navy is not the only PLA service that uses VR. A brigade attached to the 83rd Group Army of the army has set up more than 10 VR training simulation rooms for training in multiple areas including individual combat skills, coordinated action and command, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Saturday. Video footage in the CCTV report showed a type of simulator which takes the exact form of the cabin of an infantry fighting vehicle, with the driver practicing in a virtual battlefield and the simulator bumping as if the driver is in the real thing. It also showed a large VR training room with a squad of soldiers wearing VR headsets. He Zhandong, staff officer of the brigade, told CCTV that VR training saves ammunition and fuel and produces good results. According to a separate report by the PLA Daily on Thursday, the Rocket Force is also using similar simulation technologies to practice launching missiles, as a missile launch exercise was conducted in mid-March. Training with VR shows the PLAs deployment of high technologies and innovation, a Beijing-based military expert who requested not to be named told the Global Times on Monday. In the future, VR training devices for different units and services of the PLA across the country will be interconnected, so that even large-scale joint operations can be practiced through VR remotely, the expert predicted, noting that this will massively enhance the coordination in joint missions. VR cannot replace real exercises, but it is a helpful addition, the expert said. In this years two sessions held earlier this month, Li Xiang, a national political advisor and professor at the National Defense University of the PLA, suggested that China should develop more military-themed video games that reflect features of the Chinese military and use them for supplementary training. VR simulators used by the PLA could eventually be customized, simplified and declassified into video games that normal people can gain access to, so they can be used for the purpose of national defense education and to encourage more young people to join military service, analysts said. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) KONNOR PERRIN, Chariho boys lacrosse, freshman: Perrin established a school record for assists in a game with nine in the Chargers 22-0 win over Ponaganset. Perrin leads the team with 21 assists to go with 14 goals. LILA RICH, Stonington girls track, senior: Rich won two events at the ECC Division I track meet. Rich was first in the high jump (5-0) and the pole vault (10-0) as the Bears finished third at the meet. MADIGAN HILTZ, Westerly boys lacrosse, senior: Hiltz scored seven goals and had three assists in pair of victories for the Bulldogs. Hiltz has 17 goals and seven assists for the season. ADDIE HAUPTMANN, Wheeler softball, junior: Hauptmann was 4 for 9 with a home run and six RBIs in two games. For the season, Hauptmann is hitting .617 with eight homers and 42 RBIs. She has 50 hits. Vote View Results A serial killer who murdered as many as 14 men in San Francisco in the 1970s and is believed to be the most prolific murderer of gay men in modern US history could still be alive and may soon be brought to justice, according to a new podcast. Known as 'The Doodler', the killer would stalk his victims at bars and diners in gay neighborhoods, drawing sketches to lure them in and then suggesting they go somewhere quieter. He would then stab, slash and beat them repeatedly, before dumping their bodies at beaches around the Bay Area. Police say the killer committed five murders between late 1974 and 1975, and have linked him to another nine open cases. He was given the nickname the 'The Doodler' after a survivor who met the the man at a late-night diner told police he was drawing on a napkin while they talked and said he was a cartoonist. A police artist released a sketch of the man soon afterwards in 1975, and San Francisco detectives identified a prime suspect in the case. However, the suspect was never charged. In a 1977 Associated Press story, police said they had identified a suspect, but he could not be charged because three survivors, including a 'well-known entertainer' and a diplomat were reluctant to 'come out of the closet' to testify against him. This pair of sketches provided by the San Francisco Police Department shows what a serial killer might look like now in a cold case involving at least five stabbing deaths of gay men in the mid-1970s in San Francisco The Doodler's first known victim was 50-year-old Gerald Cavanaugh (left), second victim was 27-year-old drag queen named Joseph Stevens (center), and the third 31-year-old Klaus Christmann (right) Now, veteran crime investigator and San Francisco Chronicle reporter Kevin Fagan believes police may finally have uncovered the evidence that will lead to an arrest in the case. In a just-released podcast, 'The Doodler', Fagan teams up with private investigator Michael Taylor to reexamine the case and shed light on the killer's victims, who were largely overlooked in coverage of the case at the time. A promo for the podcast promises: 'This time, the Doodler wont walk away free'. Fagan reveals that police believe the killer is still alive today and that they have the original suspect from the 1970s firmly in their sights. Fagan, who has covered several serial killer cases including the Zodiac and the Unabomber, said the initial police inquiry was 'plagued by a flawed investigation, a frightened public, and hesitation from victims friends and associates' who were afraid of being outed as gay. He said the case still 'angers and confounds' him. The 1970s had marked the beginning of a vibrant gay nightlife scene in San Francisco. However homophobic attitudes meant many from the LGBTQ community were desperate to keep their sexuality hidden. Reports of the brutal murders, and the nature of the killer's predatory pick-up methods, remained buried on the back pages of papers like The Chronicle. The Doodler would select his victims as they danced or ate, and sketch their portraits on cocktail napkins. He'd then approach the unsuspecting men and show them the drawings, before suggesting they go somewhere quieter. While the murders did not gain much publicity among the wider public, they terrorized the gay community in San Francisco. The original 1975 police sketch of 'The Doodler', who terrorized San Francisco's gay community and remained free due to a flawed investigation and reluctance of survivors to testify In the 1970s, San Francisco, and the Castro district pictured here in 1977, was seen as more gay-friendly than most US cities. But discrimination persisted, and many were afraid to tell police what they knew about 'The Doodler' for fear of being outed The killer preyed on gay men in bars and diners in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco. This file picture from 1977 was taken at a time when the gay 'social movement roared into life in the city' His first victim was Gerald Cavanagh, a 50-year-old mattress factory worker. Cavanagh's body was discovered in 27 January 1974 on Ocean Beach. Detectives at the time thought it was a random killing, but the ferocity of the stab wounds pointed to a deliberate murder. His next victim was a 27-year-old drag artist Joseph Jae Stevens, who was discovered six months later on 25 June 1974 in Golden Gate Park with multiple stab wounds. The Doodler's other known victims were Klaus Christmann, 31, who was found on July 7, 1974; Vietnam War hero Fredrick Capin, 32, on May 12, 1975; and Harald Gullberg, 66, who was fatally attacked on June 4, 1975. At the time, police described the killer as an African-American male, about 5 feet, 11 inches tall with a lanky build who was likely in his early 20s. A suspect was detained in 1976 but he has never been charged. The Doodler was active in the Bay Area during the same period as the Zodiac Killer, but garnered only a fraction of the attention and notoriety. In an interview in 1977, gay rights advocate and former San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk told the AP that homophobic attitudes made it especially difficult for victims to testify. 'I can understand their position,' said the activist, who was portrayed by Sean Penn in the 2008 film Milk, earning him an Academy Award for Best Actor. 'I respect the pressure society has put on them.' Just over a year later on November 27 1978, , Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California, was assassinated along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone at City Hall by political rival and former city supervisor Dan White. Pioneering politician Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California, said gay men would have been reluctant to speak about 'The Doodler' for fear of being outed. A year later, he was assassinated by political rival Dan White Inspector Dan Cunningham, pictured in 2020 at Ocean Beach, where some of The Doodler's victims were found, said last year DNA samples were helping police zero in on their suspect In 2018, California police revealed that they believed a suspect who was identified by police in the 1970s but never charged was in fact 'The Doodler'. They released a new sketch of the suspect, showing what he would look like 40 years later. Inspector Dan Cunningham told CNN the San Francisco Police Department's crime lab hoping that modern technology might manage to extract a usable DNA sample from evidence gathered at two of the crime scenes. 'We made a lot of effort to collect a lot of blood samples at that time,' Inspector Kenneth Moses, who worked at the lab in the 1970s, told CNN. 'If there's no moisture, there will be no decomposition. And it was standard procedure then to dry samples thoroughly.' 'We have a suspect in the assault that spawned the sketch,' he said at the time. The inspector said he was working on five murders connected to The Doodler but he'd 'be a fool to say he didn't do more'. At the time, Cunningham said a police artist had drawn an updated sketch of The Doodler showing what he would look like now, but they refused to release it until a year later. 'Even now, the story gives me chills,' prominent gay activist Cleve Jones said in 2019 when police unveiled the updated police sketch for the first time. 'Imagine, you're out at a club having a drink, and someone hands you a sketch they've done of you. I can't think of a more disarming ploy to gain someone's trust.' The podcast host Fagan said the victims had largely been 'forgotten' to history. 'Everyone deserves attention and sympathy and justice, these five guys were just swept under the waves totally. One of the goals of this project has been to illuminate who they were'. McCracken Man Killed, Two Hurt in Cairo Road Crash By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - A McCracken County man was killed, and two people were seriously hurt in a crash Monday morning on Cairo Road.The McCracken County Sheriff's Office says deputies responded at around 10 a.m. to a crash in the 7400 block of Cairo Road.The investigation revealed a vehicle driven by 72-year-old John Harris of West Paducah collided head-on with another vehicle, driven by 19-year-old Jerimiah Beck of Mayfield.Harris was pronounced dead later at a local hospital. Beck and his passenger, 18-year-old Emily Thorn of Mayfield, were both transferred to out-of-state hospitals for treatment of serious injuries.Cairo Road was closed for several hours after the crash. Deputies said their investigation is ongoing. Shares of Easy Trip Planners, on Tuesday, slipped 7 per cent to Rs 183.60, on the BSE in intra-day trade, thereby falling below its issue price of Rs 187 per share. The online travel company had made its stock market debut on Friday, March 19. With todays decline, it has slipped 21 per cent from its high of Rs 233.15 hit on the debut day. At 10:40 am, the stock was trading 5 per cent lower at Rs 187, as compared to 0.38 per cent risen in the S&P BSE Sensex. A combined around 3 million equity shares have changed hands on the counter on the NSE and BSE, so far. Easy Trip Planners offers a comprehensive range of travel-related products and services for end-to-end travel solutions, including airline tickets (94 per cent of revenues), hotels and holiday packages(5 per cent of revenues), rail tickets, bus tickets and taxis as well as ancillary value added services such as travel insurance, visa processing and tickets for activities and attractions. According to a Business Standard report, hotels and resorts in tourist places in Maharashtra have seen up to 30 per cent rise in cancellations and new bookings as the state reports the sharpest increase in new Covid-19 cases. Domestic travel has been on an upswing for the past few months with resorts and holiday homes in driving distance from cities seeing good demand. Pent up demand and restrictions on international travel too have contributed to growth. Online portals too are expecting strong sequential growth. Mia Fevola's boyfriend has delivered a heartfelt message to her after she was inundated with trolling messages from fans on social media. On Tuesday, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, 18, shared a series of photos of him kissing Mia to Instagram. 'God she's good,' he captioned the adorable photos of the pair. Loved-up: Mia Fevola's boyfriend Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, 18, has delivered a heartfelt message to her after a photo of the pair set off a firestorm of abusive trolling It comes after Mia, 21, posted a romantic black and white image of herself cuddling up with the Western Bulldogs' number one draft pick. The innocent photo, which was captioned with a simple heart emoji, was soon swamped with vile abuse from trolls. In response, Mia shared a comment, made by a fan, condemning the 'slut shaming' from fans. The Instagram Stories post read: 'Wow we're slut shaming now, today of all days where hundreds and thousands of women across the nation marched for the right to be safe wherever they are and with whomever they are with, be it on a social scale or professional. Too cute: 'God she's good,' he captioned the adorable photos of the pair 'This is precisely the toxic masculinity and culture we're up against, you should be [ashamed] of yourself for this comment.' The comment referred in part to the 'March 4 Justice' protest around Australia. Mia confirmed her romance with Jamarra earlier this month, with the model cuddling up to her new man in a photo shared to his Instagram profile, with the AFL star liking comments congratulating the pair on going 'Instagram official'. Key forward Jamarra has been dubbed 'Buddy Franklin 2.0'. Sweet: On Monday, 21-year-old Mia posted this romantic black and white image of herself cuddling up with Jamarra. The innocent photo, which was captioned with a simple heart emoji, was soon swamped with vile abuse from trolls Rising star: Jamarra is the Western Bulldogs' number one draft pick and has been dubbed 'Buddy Franklin 2.0' In December 2020, Jamarra told The Age that he tried to model himself on the Sydney Swans star: 'I just use him as a person that sets goals for me... Everyone has that person you want to become, or even do better [than].' He is the first Indigenous player to be taken at pick one since Des Headland in 1998, and becomes the first Bulldog to top the AFL draft since Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney had his name called out first in 2003. Mia, who is the stepdaughter of Carlton great Brendan Fevola, will no doubt become a WAG to watch in Jamarra's upcoming season. Budding romance: They couple were previously spotted together for Mia's 21st birthday celebrations (pictured) but Mia told the Herald Sun at the time that the pair were 'just friends' and in the same social circle They were previously spotted together for Mia's 21st birthday celebrations, but Mia told the Herald Sun at the time that the pair were 'just friends' and in the same social circle. Mia split from Richmond Tigers star Daniel Rioli, 23, in February 2020 after two years of dating. 'Daniel and I are no longer together; however, we still love and care for each other very much and remain the best of friends,' she wrote on Instagram. Over: Mia split from Richmond Tigers star Daniel Rioli, 23,(left) in February 2020 after two years of dating. Pictured in 2019 Mia is the eldest child of Brendan's longtime partner, Alex. The former footy star adopted Mia as his own daughter after he married Alex in 2005, and they have remained close even during times when the couple were separated. Aside from Mia, Brendan and Alex share three daughters, Leni, Lulu, and Tobi. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has named a longtime government employee already working on the states flooding recovery efforts as the states first chief resilience officer. Ben Duncan, who currently directs the states Disaster Recovery Office, will marshal the states efforts in stemming floodwaters and coordinating recovery and relief work, the governor said. He must still be confirmed to the Cabinet-level position by the state Senate. Duncan has worked in the Disaster Recovery Office since it was established in 2015, after historic flooding in parts of the state broke dams, destroyed homes and businesses and killed 19 people. The office has managed the grant programs that help people rebuild or repair homes damaged in major flood events over the past six years, as well as federal disaster aid. South Carolina legislators passed an act creating the Office of Resilience last fall. The office will incorporate the current Disaster Recovery Office and oversee a statewide plan addressing flood risks and mitigation efforts. Towns and counties will be required to fold resiliency measures into their comprehensive plans as well. Among the tasks the new agency will take on is figuring out how to allocate $162 million in federal dollars for mitigation efforts across the state. So far, nine towns and counties have been approved for a total of $45 million, officials said Tuesday. Those funds will go toward buyouts of repeatedly flooded properties and infrastructure projects intended to fix flooding issues. Among the largest sums are $9.9 million to the city of Charleston, to address flooding in its medical district, and $13.1 million to Horry County for property buyouts. The Disaster Recovery Office has administered grants to repair and rebuild more than 2,800 homes damaged and destroyed in the 2015 storm and Hurricane Matthew the following year. Officials said they are beginning to start construction on homes damaged by Hurricane Florence in 2018. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics South Carolina Established SoC, first C5 inhibitors are set to be challenged in the Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) market by second generation C5 inhibitors and novel C3 inhibitors. LAS VEGAS, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's 'Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast' report offers detailed coverage of historical and forecasted epidemiological analysis in the 7MM (the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and United Kingdom), and Japan) for the study period 2018-30. The report is created to project true opportunities in the market landscape, help clients form collaborations and agreements that give them a competitive advantage, and plan strategic moves to yield maximum ROI. Some of the crucial highlights from the Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market report: The total PNH prevalent cases in the 7MM were estimated to be 8,385 in 2020 and is expected to increase owing to various factors during the forecasted period. in 2020 and is expected to increase owing to various factors during the forecasted period. The only disease-modifying therapies in the PNH therapy market are complement inhibition therapy (Alexion Pharmaceuticals' Eculizumab and Ravulizumab ) and bone marrow transplantation. and ) and bone marrow transplantation. Eculizumab has managed to reduce hemolysis, decrease the number of the required number of transfusions, as well as reducing the rate of thrombosis. has managed to reduce hemolysis, decrease the number of the required number of transfusions, as well as reducing the rate of thrombosis. Alexion developed another eculizumab-like monoclonal antibody, Ravulizumab , however, is more convenient to administer and has an effective dosing schedule than Eculizumab, thus, is expected to add to the company's revenue. . , however, is more convenient to administer and has an effective dosing schedule than Eculizumab, thus, is expected to add to the company's revenue. . The present PNH emerging market consists of second-generation C5 Inhibitors , C3 inhibitors , factor D and Factor B inhibitors . , , and . Key pharmaceutical companies operating in the Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria therapeutics market are Apellis Pharmaceuticals , Hoffmann-La Roche , Novartis , Alexion Pharmaceutical , Regeneron Pharmaceuticals , RA Pharmaceuticals and others. , , , , , and others. The total PNH market size, as per DelveInsght's market analysis, was found to be USD 358.04 million in 7MM in 2020. In the 7MM, the US accounted for approximately 63% of the overall market size of PNH in 2020. in 7MM in 2020. In the 7MM, the US accounted for approximately 63% of the overall market size of PNH in 2020. A number of emerging therapies comprising mAb-derived compounds , siRNA , C3 inhibitors , Factor B and D inhibitors are currently in the PNH pipeline. , , , and are currently in the PNH pipeline. The Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria market has several unmet needs such as hemolysis, anemia, transfusions, and severe fatigue that might affect bone marrow function, which need to be addressed. Further, the launch of self-administered therapies in the Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria therapy market is expected to lower down the treatment burden. Want to know more? Get comprehensive insights @ Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market Landscape, Epidemiological Insights, and Pipeline Therapies The Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria market report offers available therapies, treatment landscape, emerging therapies, changing market landscape, individual market share of pipeline therapies, PNH market drivers, and market barriers, PNH market size during the study period 2018-30 in the 7MM (the US, EU5 (the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and France), and Japan). Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria is a rare acquired disorder of the pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell; therefore, it can affect erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes, and probably some endothelial cells. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria diagnosis is made based on clinical evaluation, patient history, and several tests that are specialized to identify Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria cells such as flow cytometry. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria symptoms often include fatigue, difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia), shortness of breath (dyspnea), pain in the abdomen, anemia, erectile dysfunction, and dark-colored urine (hemoglobinuria). However, hemolysis in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria that leads to thrombosis remains to be the most devastating consequence of the blood disorder and can often prove to be fatal. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Epidemiological Analysis & Forecast Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria is an ultra-rare blood disorder, and DelveInsight's 7MM Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria epidemiological analysis demonstrates that it is primarily more common in females than males. Further, the US accounted for the highest diagnosed prevalent cases, approximately 51% of the total cases in the 7MM, followed by Germany. The PNH market analysis report proffers historical as well as forecasted epidemiological segmentation for the study period 2018-30: Total diagnosed Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria prevalent cases Gender-specific Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria cases Dive deeper for rich insights into Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Epidemiological Analysis Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Treatment Landscape Before the approval of anti-C5 agent-Eculizumab, Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria was a devastating disease that would lead to breaking of red blood cells prematurely. However, Eculizumab transformed the Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria treatment landscape. The therapeutic agent not only helped in the management of hemolysis, but also helped in reducing the rate of thrombosis and the number of transfusions. It managed to push bone marrow transplantation to second-line therapy for hemolytic PNH in countries where the drug is available. Visit to know more about Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Marketed Drugs Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market The Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria market is experiencing an influx of several pharmaceutical companies investigating numerous second-generation C5 inhibitors to bridge the treatment gap. Key pharmaceutical players such as Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Hoffmann-La Roche, Novartis, Alexion Pharmaceutical, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, RA Pharmaceuticals and several others are energetically operating in the domain. The PNH pipeline therapies involve second-generation C5 Inhibitors, C3 inhibitors, factor D and Factor B inhibitors expected to get launched in the coming decade and revolutionize the Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria market owing to the option of self-administration that shall significantly lower down the treatment burden. However, there is a need for clinical trials that study the efficiency of emerging therapies in multicentric versus reference laboratory settings. There are several unmet needs in the PNH market in the form of the availability of limited treatment options, high rates of morbidity in PNH patients, and a lack of well-defined protocols to manage the disorder. Moreover, the rarity of the disorder also causes unawareness among the physicians and people regarding Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria symptoms, treatment and diagnosis. Interested in knowing more? Drop by @ Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market Domain and Key Companies Nevertheless, the studies demonstrated that terminal complement blockade offers a safe and effective treatment option to PNH patients. The Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria drug pipeline involves several alternative therapies with convenient RoA that have increased half-life which reduces the dose-burden and improved the quality of life. Better diagnosis modalities for such rare diseases are as important as their treatments. Better diagnostics methods over the past decade undoubtedly have lowered down the PNH treatment burden. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Pipeline Therapies Pegcetacoplan (APL-2): Apellis Pharmaceuticals Crovalimab: Hoffmann-La Roche Iptacopan or LNP023: Novartis ALXN2040 (or Danicopan): Alexion Pharmaceutical Pozelimab: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals RA101495: UCB Pharma/RA Pharmaceuticals Know more about the pipeline therapies @ PNH Emerging Drug Therapies Scope of the Report Coverage: 7MM (the US, EU5, and Japan) Study Period: 2018-30 Key Companies: Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Hoffmann-La Roche, Novartis, Alexion Pharmaceutical, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, RA Pharmaceuticals and several others. Key Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Pipeline Therapies: Pegcetacoplan (APL-2), Crovalimab, Iptacopan or LNP023, ALXN2040 (or Danicopan), Pozelimab, RA101495, and others. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market Segmentation: By Geography, By Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Therapies Analysis: Comparative and conjoint analysis of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria emerging therapies Tools used: SWOT analysis, Conjoint Analysis, Porter's Five Forces, PESTLE analysis, BCG Matrix analysis methods. Case Studies KOL's Views Analyst's Views Get in touch to know more about the report scope @ PNH Market Landscape and Future Trends Table of Contents 1 Key Insights 2 Report Introduction 3 Competitive Intelligence Analysis for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria 4 Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market Overview at a Glance 5 Executive Summary of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria 6 PNH Epidemiology and Market Methodology 7 Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Epidemiology and Patient Population 8 PNH Patient Journey 9 Treatment Algorithm, Current Treatment, and Medical Practices 10 Key Endpoints in PNH Clinical Trials 11 PNH Marketed Therapies 12 Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Emerging Therapies 13 Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria: 7 Major Market Analysis 14 Attribute analysis 15 Access and Reimbursement Overview of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria 16 KOL Reviews 17 Case Reports 18 Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market Drivers 19 PNH Market Barriers 20 SWOT Analysis 21 Disclaimer 21 DelveInsight Capabilities 22 About DelveInsight Know more about the report offerings @ Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Market Related Reports Hemophilia B Market Get comprehensive historical and forecast analysis of Hemophilia B Market, Epidemiological and Therapeutics market domain with a special focus on key companies such as UniQure Biopharma B.V./ CSL Behring, Pfizer/Spark Therapeutics, Genzyme (Sanofi Company/ Alnylam Pharmaceuticals), Novo Nordisk, UniQure Biopharma B.V., ApcinteX, Freeline Therapeutics, Sangamo Therapeutics and several others. 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The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 LONDON (Reuters) - British foreign minister Dominic Raab will throw his support behind NATO as "a strong, united, political bulwark against Moscow's de-stabilising activities", rallying allies to thwart what he said was the threat posed by Russia. Attending a meeting of the U.S.-led military alliance on Wednesday, Raab will underline Britain's assessment that Russia poses the "most acute threat" as set out in a document laying out its post-Brexit foreign priorities last week. Since completing its exit from the European Union at the end of last year, Britain is keen to make its voice heard on the international stage, but some critics say it is much less powerful since leaving the multi-member bloc. "The UK, as a leading defence and diplomatic power, fully backs NATO as a strong military deterrent to the threats from Russia but also as a strong, united, political bulwark against Moscows de-stabilising activities," Raab said in a statement before the meeting. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; editing by Costas Pitas) Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. ABC received around 100 complaints around last Novembers Four Corners episode, Inside the Canberra Bubble. 45 of those were Editorially based and investigated but no breaches were found, it was revealed yesterday. There were also 17 complaints made against the recent follow-up episode Bursting the Canberra Bubble, 4 of which are still under investigation. Managing Director David Anderson told the Senate Estimates Committee given that the Attorney General Christian Porter has now commenced proceedings against the ABC, he was limited in what he could answer. But ABC stood by its reporting. At all times I believe the ABC has acted in accordance with its statutory obligations of impartiality and its Charter in its reporting, he said. The Attorney-General continues to be entitled to the presumption of innocence and the public broadcaster has reflected this in its reporting. The ABC broke the story about a letter concerning the historical rape allegation sent to senior federal politicians with an online piece on February 26, reporting the existence of the anonymous letter and who had been sent it. All the recipients referred the letter to the federal police. No reputable media organisation could have ignored the existence of the letter or the fact that politicians on both sides of the despatch box had referred it to police. We did not name or identify the cabinet minister mentioned in the material. Forty-eight hours passed before the Prime Minister publicly defended the unnamed minister and two days later the Attorney-General revealed the allegation was about him. Four Corners revisited the story in its Bursting the Canberra Bubble episode on March 8, which placed equal emphasis on the Attorney-Generals categorical denial and the untested historical allegation. It also featured an interview with Arthur Moses SC, the former president of the Law Council of Australia, saying that without a sworn statement or a witness there is no criminal case. The program also described how the woman had reported to NSW police, but her plan to make a formal statement was thwarted by the COVID shutdown. She became depressed, was struggling with mental health issues, told police she did not want to proceed and tragically took her own life. The ABC chose never to identify her. No unpixellated image has been used; her voice has not been heard. Her story has been told through her friends who cared deeply about her. Many of the details of her account of the alleged rape have not been reported on ABC platforms. As editorial standards require, the ABC sought to minimise the distress to her bereaved family. A legal affairs commentator in The Australian said last week that he hopes the case will expose Milligan and her supervisors to the scrutiny they deserve. The ABC has also been accused of selectively quoting from the material sent to the politicians. The Statement of Claim filed includes alleged aggravated damages particulars that echo those kinds of allegations. As I said earlier: it is not appropriate that I be drawn on those issues now because many of them may be discussed in open court proceedings. But I will say this: those allegations are denied and I am confident that the journalism was of the highest quality and that this will be borne out in the court proceedings. We will defend the case and our reporting which we believe is in the public interest. Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36 Related Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. MONROE, Ore., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lainey Morse launched Original Goat Yoga in 2016 and since then has licensed her brand to nearly twenty rural farms and households across the United States. The Original Goat brand licensing model is designed for people who just do not have time to do it all. It is also perfect for those that are not proficient in business, marketing or social media and just want to hold amazing events. Their brand automatically ties licensees into years of positive press, search engine optimization, and a respected brand. Her business idea started in Oregon in 2016 since then they estimate there are over five-hundred goat yoga businesses all over the world and a five-million-dollar industry. The Original Goat Yoga closed for most of 2020 and are launching all locations in Spring of 2021. Lainey's licensing opportunities include the Original Goat Yoga as well as new licensing offered to farms that do not want the yoga portion of the business and would just like to do the trademarked Goat Happy Hour Therapy events. They also offer The Goatel licensing which caters to those who are animal-lovers that can work from anywhere who need a change of scenery, a private space to work, study, create or just relax in our goat-themed office space or overnight rentals. Original Goat brand has become a support service for farms nationwide, a mental health service for Corporate Health and Wellness events, a source of joy for ten's of thousands of attendees, and a financial backstop for farms and rural households nationwide. The Original Goat Yoga was launched in 2016 by Founder Lainey Morse. They currently have eight Goat Yoga locations and continue to license their brand across the USA. Goat Yoga is part yoga, part animal assisted therapy. Lainey and her Original Goat Yoga brand have been featured in countless media outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal as well as appeared on CBS Sunday Morning For more information contact Lainey Morse. 888-992-GOAT (4628) or [email protected] This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Original Goat Yoga Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Submit Martha Turner Sothebys International Realty, a longtime Houston residential real estate brokerage, has named Robin Conner as president. Conner succeeds Marilyn Thompson, who is retiring after 30 years with the company. Conner, who began her career with Martha Turner in 2004 as a sales associate, will oversee nearly 300 independent sales agents affiliated with Sothebys six offices across Houston. She was tapped for a management role in January 2015 and rose to senior vice president, leading the sales team, marketing and branding. Robin Conner was a natural choice to assume the role of president and will be an invaluable asset to the company, Sothebys International Realty CEO Philip A. White said in an announcement. Robin is known for her integrity, and sales associates can rely on her unerring judgment, guidance, and optimism. Marilyn Thompson has put a strong team in place, and Id like to thank her for her unwavering leadership and invaluable contributions. Thompson, known for her encyclopedic knowledge of Houston neighborhoods, was named president in 2014. The former elementary school teacher succeeded co-presidents Martha Turner and Tom Anderson, who transitioned to chairman emeritus roles following the brokerage's acquisition by Sotheby's International Realty in early 2014. RELATED: Houston home sales set records despite winter freeze "Houston real estate is in a growth pattern and we are seeing extraordinary sales," Thompson said in an e-mail, adding, "2021 is going to be a dynamite year in our industry and Im so happy to be retiring on such an upward path." Conner will remain based in the firm's Central Houston office at 1717 W. Loop South. The brokerage, which was founded as Turner Owens Real Estate in 1981 and became Martha Turner Properties in 1986, has offices in Cypress, Memorial, The Woodlands, the Bay Area and Kingwood. Conner said she planned to grow the firm internally and well as through strategic recruiting. "The first item on my agenda is meeting agents and employees needs and exceeding their expectations," Conner said in an e-mail. "New ideas and deliverables often stem from the strength of our team and Im extremely excited to roll out the new tools weve been working on including our new listing presentation." The agency provides clients with international exposure through its affiliation with Sotheby's and will continue its investments in online platforms, Conner said. "Weve always been a company dedicated to technology, so at the onset of the pandemic we were able to support our agent team with no changes to our infrastructure," she said. 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. Since January 8, the Government has shut down half of the construction industry in Ireland. Of about 1,500 sites valued over 1m, 730 are deemed essential and continue to operate while over 750 projects have been closed. The essential projects are mainly Government-sponsored or manufacturing facilities for international corporations, while the projects deemed non-essential are largely housing projects and office buildings. To repeat: the Government has deemed that housing and office building are not essential. That can mean that a major office development for an international business investing in Ireland lies dormant, whilst 100 yards away work on a public-sector project continues. So, are public sector projects insulated from Covid-19? The answer is yes. But so are the other projects deemed non-essential by the Government. The HSE has monitored construction sites since September 2020. Their evidence shows that whatever the level of Covid-19 in the community, construction has had no more than 56 cases at any one time. Since the beginning of January, other sectors, fully open, have seen a huge spike in cases and outbreaks, while cases associated with construction sites have remained below 45. By comparison, another monitored industry has seen an increase from 100 to 775 cases over the past 10 weeks. The construction industry has a permanent focus on safety and since Covid-19 it has recalibrated its sites, so they are inherently safe. We instruct our workers with symptoms not to attend work, the asymptomatic are screened by antigen testing and on-site our safety protocols prevent spread. Our online safety induction has been completed 250,000 times and over 1,500 Covid compliance officers have been appointed. Across the industry, we have been working with our clients on our own testing regime in lieu of a Government scheme. Its results show how few workers are reporting for work with symptoms or asymptomatic. Read More Between them, six large companies in the industry have carried out 46,000 on-site tests since January 4, screening around 200 cases. This figure and our low incidence on sites demonstrate our protocols work. In our view they are using a blunt instrument to mitigate the diseases spread. However, by effectively laying off half of our site-based workforce (estimated to be about 40,000 workers) with no return in terms of preventing Covid-19, the Government is creating a calamitous situation that can be avoided. The negative impact of continuing with this unnecessary lockdown was laid bare in a report by EY. Based on the cost of last years lockdown, every week takes 800 new homes out of supply, reduces industry output by 427m, takes 156m profit and wages out of the economy and costs the Exchequer 53m. Most worryingly, we estimate that every week that our sector remains shut down means 2,800 fewer persons are employed in 2021. Already, we are losing talent to other countries where construction is open. Furthermore, with a large proportion of the 55,000 SMEs operating in construction on razor-thin margins and unable to work for 13 weeks, we expect a surge in insolvency cases in the coming months. The potential impact on our international reputation is very serious. In the boardrooms of global corporations, decisions to invest may go against Ireland as building cannot start due to the lack of a clear timetable and return-to-work plan. All other countries have kept their construction industries open because they understand that it can operate safely while contributing to economic recovery. Obviously, the Government is concerned about Covid and other sectors such as hospitality are also suffering. However, in our view they are using a blunt instrument to mitigate the diseases spread. Our frustration is that their own evidence shows the industry can operate safely while fully open and we are unnecessarily wiping 3bn off GDP and potentially extending the housing crisis by at least two years with no trade-off in terms of Covid-19 prevention. The Taoiseach and Tanaiste have repeatedly declared construction safe. As did the construction unions and CIF. The HSEs evidence proves construction is safe. The Health and Safety Authoritys reports show construction is safe. The rest of the world says construction is safe. And yet, we cannot even get clarity around a reopening on April 5 to provide certainty to our employees and clients and our supply chain. Managing in an unprecedented situation is difficult enough without the uncertainty that Government policy has created, and the economy and society is suffering more than is required. As an industry, we have been played a significant part in preventing the spread of Covid and supporting the economy over the past 12 months. Hopefully, on April 5 this positive impact can be doubled as the rest of the industry reopens. Tom Parlon is director general of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) The family of murdered teenager Megan McAlorum say they fear her killer Thomas Purcell, who walked free from prison this week, plans on fleeing the country to escape the conditions of his parole. In 2004, Purcell subjected the 16-year-old to an attack so brutal that her family had to have a closed coffin. He walked free from prison on Monday, having served just under 17-years of a life sentence for a killing that shocked the people of Northern Ireland due to the savage nature of the attack. Purcell, a member of the Traveller community was only 16 at the time but had already a lengthy criminal record and a history of violence. Earlier this month Megan's family were contacted by a 'whistleblower' from the Traveller community who had information that Purcell was planning on skipping parole and flying to America on a false passport. The insider told Megan's grieving family that associates of the killer were already arranging a new identity and safe passage to America where Purcell could live free from his strict parole conditions. Expand Close Killer Thomas Purcell / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Killer Thomas Purcell Purcell had transferred from Hydebank Wood young offenders centre to a prison in England shortly before his 21st birthday, when he was due to be moved to high security Maghaberry jail. Claiming his life would be under threat in the adult prison he was moved to a detention centre in Oxford to serve the remainder of his sentence. Megan's heartbroken mother Margaret, who died in 2017, set about campaigning for a change in the law after discovering her daughter's killer has been transferred out of Northern Ireland through the media. The prison service later issued an apology for the hurt caused and her successful campaign resulted in changes to the victim information scheme so no other family had to through the same ordeal. Fearing Purcell plans flee to the US with a new identity, where women would be unaware of his violent past, Megan's family contacted Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray, who had been the original investigator in the murder case. The veteran detective has assured the family that relevant authorities on both sides of the Atlantic would be on high alert for the killer who is now aged 33. On the Easter Sunday in 2004 when Megan was murdered, she had met up with friends at the Hunting Lodge Bar in west Belfast, after finishing a shift at the Glenowen Inn, where she worked. On the way home she decided to visit a friend at a local fast food outlet. It is believed as she was walking home from the take away Purcell offered her a lift. Expand Close Megan McAlorum / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Megan McAlorum Twelve hours later Megan's badly beaten and partially clothed body was discovered in a forest half a mile from the Glenside Road in Dunmurry. She had suffered 54 fractures to her skull. After murdering Megan, Purcell made his way to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast where he feigned chest pains in an attempt to give himself an alibi. During a sentencing hearing the court was told he returned to where he left Megan's badly beaten body to drag it into a nearby ditch. He returned later with two young relatives, aged 12 and 14, to pretend to police that they had stumbled across the body. Throughout the legal process Purcell showed no remorse and continually denied murdering the popular teenager, pleading guilty at the final hour just as his trial was due to begin. While Purcell denied raping Megan, her postmortem showed physical evidence of a sexual assault that one expert believed may have occurred after her violent death. He was sentenced to serve a minimum of 15-years in 2006 at Belfast Crown Court. While eligible for parole in May 2019 he was deemed unsafe to be released into the community and his application was refused. Earlier this year the parole board reconsidered that decision and Purcell was released on Monday to an approved address with a 90-day curfew in place, he is banned from west Belfast and from going near Megan's grave. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Megan's older sister Lynn Sutcu said the family are "horrified" at the thought of their sister's killer fleeing the country. "He is a danger to women everywhere, he murdered my sister in the most savage way imaginable, he showed her no mercy and he has never shown any remorse for his actions. "That he could be helped start again, somewhere else, in a country where women would be totally unaware of his past and what he's capable of makes my blood run cold. "We have always believed he will kill again, I can't imagine prison has changed him much, I don't think people like him can be rehabilitated. "We live in fear that he will do this to another family and they will have to endure the pain we have been in since we lost our Megan". Taylor Dee, a rising Texas country musician, was killed in a car accident. She was 33 years old at the time. According to CBS DFW, Dee, born Taylor Dawn Carroll, died on March 14 as a result of injuries she received in a rollover accident in Euless, Texas. Officials told the outlet that she was driving an SUV on State Highway 183 around 10:30 p.m. when she may have missed the turn for her exit and slammed into a barrier. Euless police said the SUV rolled, collided with an overhead sign, and kicked Dee from the car because she was not wearing a seat belt. A second person in the SUV suffered minor injuries and is expected to recover completely, according to officials. CBS DFW reported that the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office is conducting a toxicology test to ascertain whether alcohol played a role in the crash, and the case is still under investigation. According to the outlet, Dee's first single, "The Buzz," was released in June 2019 and was played on many Texas radio stations. Many musicians who knew her were saddened by her death. READ ALSO: Tiger Woods' Injuries From Car Crash More Serious Than Previously Thought: Doctor Shares Bad News Songwriter Chad Roland told KURL8, "I first met Taylor in October 2018 but it felt as if we knew each other many lifetimes." "Since then we have played music, laughed, shared stories and a few secrets, wrote, cried, toured, prayed, and fought. Needless to say, we were close. We genuinely loved each other, and we hoped that love spilled into the music." Dee's death shook the music industry, according to Linda Wilson, president of the Texas Country Music Association. "Taylor Dee was the real deal - a true talent with a heart and passion not only for her music but for people," KURL8 quoted her as saying. "In every performance, her talent was evident, but more importantly she allowed her fans to know her heart. She will be missed tremendously." Dee leaves behind a son and a daughter. A GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral costs has nearly reached its $15,000 target. ALSO READ: Tiger Woods Has a Huge Realization Amidst New Disturbing Details From Crash Probe: Insider See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Norway has suspended planned sale by Rolls-Royce Holdings plc. (RYCEF.PK, RR.L, RYCEY.PK) of a Norwegian maritime engine maker Bergen Engines to a Russian-controlled company, TMH , due to the national security concerns. Rolls-Royce said last month that it agreed to sell the Bergen Engines medium speed gas and diesel engines business to TMH International, the international branch of TMH Group, for about 150 million euros. TMH Group, based in Russia, is a engineering company in rail transport technologies and the world's fourth largest supplier of rail rolling stock. Norway's Justice and Public Security Ministry said Tuesday, 'It is absolutely necessary to prevent the company from being sold to a company controlled from a country with which we do not have a security cooperation.' The Ministry also said that the government believes that national security interests may be threatened if the ownership of Bergen Engines is transferred from Rolls-Royce to TMH. A proposed resolution to stop the sale will be submitted for the King in council on Friday, 26 March 2021. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce said that it awaits formal legal notification from the Norwegian Government. The company noted that it followed the appropriate process in contacting the authorities in advance of the announcement of the sale on 4 February 2021. Rolls-Royce said it has co-operated with the Government's subsequent review by pausing the sales process and believed it had identified a new owner willing to invest in the business and its people for the long-term. Rolls-Royce stated that the Norwegian Government's announcement will cause significant uncertainty in Bergen Engines, which employs more than 900 people worldwide including 650 in the main factory in Hordvikneset. The company will seek the assistance of the Norwegian Government to swiftly find another option, which can provide Bergen Engines and its people with the investment required for the future and Rolls-Royce with an appropriate outcome. The company remains committed to its target, as set out originally on 27 August 2020, to raise at least 2 billion pounds from disposals by early 2022. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX ROLLS-ROYCE-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de WESTPORT, Conn. and SAN DIEGO, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Maplewood Senior Living, a premier provider of upscale senior living residences, and Quake Global, Inc., the market leader in IoT automation and process optimization, today announced that Quake's CareCenter RTLS and Emergency Call system will be integrated into its new, luxury Princeton community in addition to Inspir Carnegie Hill high rise on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Maplewood's integration of Quake's CareCenter system started few years ago with its Southport community followed by its Inspir Carnegie Hill location. Maplewood's management is focused on providing residents with the highest level of luxury, amenities, service and safety in every community. With 23 stories accommodating up to 258 residents, Inspir is the latest Maplewood Senior Living creation. Luxury amenity spaces include a restaurant, a large outdoor terrace on the 17th floor known as SkyPark, heated indoor saltwater swimming pool, fitness center, a library, and an art studio. Inspir offers assisted living, memory care and enhanced care options. Quake's system will be used to ensure that staff can provide assistance to all residents on demand and in real time in any location within the residence, as well as safe, controlled environment for residents with dementia. Quake's Global Emergency RTLS and ECall system includes an interactive map display, a data center and communication hub to help staff to manage unpredictable events. Residents can make an emergency call from anywhere in the community with a simple push of a button on their wristband or pendant. Staff is immediately notified via mobile devices and communication panels which are located throughout the community. They can respond to the call or reroute the call to the member nearest the event. In addition to the ECall system, Quake's broader RTLS platform and applications will enable Inspir residence to provide range of customizable solutions including services on demand, fall detection, wander management, and real-time data analytics. According to Maplewood Senior Living COO Shane Herlet, "It's extremely important to us that we provide the best of everything for our residents. This includes integrating best-of-class technologies to ensure the highest standard of resident service and safety. The technology is an integral part of our care experience, and we are pleased to have a partner like Quake Global not only upholding our high standards but providing a model for the rest of the industry." Quake President and CEO Paulina Braunstein commented, "It's really an honor to be selected by Maplewood Senior Living given their extremely high standards, and commitment to provide an efficient and safe environment where everything is not only beautiful but runs to perfection. Quake technology will help Maplewood staff to deliver that unparalleled service on demand." About Maplewood Senior Living Based in Westport, Connecticut, Maplewood Senior Living is known for its upscale senior living residences including its high luxury brand, offering a broad range of premier services and amenities, including independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing and rehabilitation. With communities in multiple states, Maplewood Senior Living is committed to providing its signature standard of excellence to residents. For more information, please call 203-557-4777 or visit http://www.maplewoodseniorliving.com. About Quake Global Based in San Diego, California Quake Global is a technology company known for delivering real time innovative solutions to mission critical operations. Our solutions provide real time-synchronized 360 visibility to everything that matters to you, generates on demand actions, and provide remote data analytics for your controls. For more information, visit https://www.quakeglobal.com . SOURCE QUAKE GLOBAL Related Links https://www.quakeglobal.com State Duma MPs propose seizure of illegally acquired funds in officials bank accounts RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 16:06 23/03/2021 MOSCOW, March 23 (RAPSI) A bill establishing that the funds officials have in their bank accounts may be seized if the owners fail to confirm that those funds were acquired legally has been submitted to the State Duma, according to the official website of the lower house of Russias parliament. The bill envisages that there is to be introduced an option to turn such funds into state revenue if those are in the accounts of officials, employees of state corporations and other structures subject to the requirements of anti-corruption legislation, as well as spouses and children of such persons in the cases where the legality of the origin of these funds exceeding 10,000 rubles (about $130 at the current exchange rate) cannot be confirmed, Chair of the State Duma Committee on Security and Corruption Control Vasily Piskarev explained. The lawmaker reminded that the legislation currently in force already provides for the possibility of turning illegally acquired properties of corrupt officials such as land plots, real estate, cars and securities into state revenue, but there was no provision in the law allowing the seizure of such funds in bank accounts. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office is to be empowered to request all necessary documents to check officials accounts with credit and other organizations and to turn to courts seeking the seizure of the funds depending on the results of such probes, Piskarev specified. Four days ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, BJP President J.P. Nadda on Tuesday released the party's manifesto focusing chronic flood management, protection and development of the Assamese culture, empowerment of youths and women, correction of the NRC and check infiltrations. Announcing the ruling the BJP's "Sankalp Patra", Nadda said that there are 10 main focal issues in the manifesto to be implemented with letter and spirit after the party coming to power for the second time in Assam. Accompanied by other central and state leaders including Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Nadda lauding the efforts of NDA government, said that the party has been working tirelessly for the past five years for the inclusive development of Assam under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, supported by Home Minister Amit Shah and the vision implemented at the grassroots level by Chief Minister, other ministers and leaders. Explaining the 10 commitments in the manifesto, the BJP President said that under the "Mission Brahmaputra", new scientific approaches would be undertaken to stop floods in Assam and save the livelihood of people. "Dredging would be done from Dhubri to Sadiya and build reservoirs to store excess water from Brahmaputra and its tributaries." He said that to empower the women under the state's biggest flagship scheme "Orunodoi", the monthly payments of Rs 830 would be increased to Rs 3,000 covering 30 lakh deserving families. The BJP also promised to strengthen and protect 'Namghars' and 'Satras' (traditional Vaishnavite monasteries of Assam) and grants upto Rs 2.5 lakh to be provided to these traditional institutes. "Namghars", literally meaning prayer house, introduced by Srimanta Sankardeva, are places for congregational worship associated with the entire Assamese community and the Ekasarana sect of Hinduism, in particular, which is native to Assam. While addressing the media, the BJP President said that to boost the future of Assam's Children, free and quality education with trained teachers eould be provided every child under the 'Mission Bala Unnayan' in state government-run institutions. Free bicycles would be given to all school students from Class VIII standard onwards. Nadda said that under the 10 main commitments of the BJP, a process of correction and reconciliation of entries into the National Register of Citizens (NRC) under the Supreme Court mandate, would be initiated in a structured manner to protect genuine Indian citizens and exclude all illegal immigrants. The apex court monitored the NRC published lists on August 31, 2019, excluding the 19.06 lakh people. A total of 3,11,21,004 names were included in the NRC lists out of 3,30,27,661 applicants. A majority of those left out from the list are believed to be Bengali Muslims and Hindus besides Gorkhas. He announced that to safeguard Assam's political rights, delimitation exercises would be undertaken to protect the political rights of the people. The manifesto also promised to make Assam self sufficient in production of essential produce, "Assam Aahar Atmanirbharta Yojana" would be launched which would drive the state towards self sufficiency in essential food items within the next five years. "To make Assam ;India's Fastest Job Creator', two lakh government jobs would be provided to the youth of Assam every year and would also facilitate and enable the provision of eight lakh livelihoods in the private sector," Nadda said. He said that to promote the entrepreneurship, the BJP has promised to enable youths to shine and now the new pledge is to further empower them to dream big, scale newer heights and give them the push to become stakeholders in building an "Aatmanirbhar Bharat". "To empower Assam's citizens with land rights, 'Pattas' would be given to all landless Indian citizens of the state in a phased manner," he added. In the last five years, the BJP government has claimed that it has given 'Pattas' to more than three lakh people. Union Agriculture and Food Processing Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who is the BJP's Assam central observer, state BJP President Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma among other leaders were present in the manifesto release ceremony held at a hotel in Guwahati. Elections for the 126-seat Assam Assembly would take place in three phases -- March 27, April 1 and April 6. The results will be announced on May 2. LOS ANGELESBy March 25 Thursday of this week Utahs Republican Governor Spencer Cox must either sign or veto a bill passed by the states legislature that would require iPhones and other internet-ready devices to come with anti-porn filters installed and already turned on. Cox has not yet announced his decision, but on Friday he may have given an induction of which way he is leaning, saying that the bill sends an important message about the need to shield minors from sexually explicit content online. Even if Cox were to sign the bill, the law would not take effect in Utah until five other states pass a similar law with a deadline of 2031. If five states fail to pass such porn-blocking laws in the next decade, the Utah law would simply expire without ever having taken effect, according to a report by the tech site The Verge. We really want to empower parents, Cox said at a press conference last week. If nothing else it sends an important message. Cox has previously said only that he would carefully consider whether to sign the bill, which was sponsored by Republican state representative Susan Pulsipher. The bill is just the latest shot fired across the bow of the adult industry by Utahs state government. Last year, the Utah legislature enacted a law that requires adult sites to include a warning label before every video streamed or downloaded by users. Though the earlier law has also been, unsurprisingly, controversial, many adult sites, including the network of tube sites owned by Pornhub parent company MindGeek have reportedly complied with the law rather than mount a legal challenge. MindGeek videos now include, in Utah, an opt-in message stating that the state considers adult content to be harmful to minors. But the new, potential porn blocking law appears certain to face Constitutional challenges if it takes effect. The Utah branch of the American Civil Liberties Union has already come out in opposition to the bill, saying that automatically blocking content infringes upon the general publics First Amendment rights to freely access the internet. Under the bill, users of smartphones and other internet connected devices would be free to turn off the filters. But the automatic blocking of large amounts of online content much of which is likely to be non-adult, due to the tendency of such filters to sweep up a wide range of material appears unlikely to stand up to a Constitutional challenge. Utah in 2016 adopted a resolution declaring porn a public health crisis, a measure also taken by at least 14 other states. Under the porn filter law, the makers of internet devices would provide a password to each purchaser, enabling the filters to be disabled. But if the filters were not automatically enabled at the time of purchase, the device manufacturer would be held legally liable for each time a minor uses that phone, tablet or computer to access adult material online. Photo By Adrianna Calvo / Pexels A young woman who was seen stumbling, unable to speak and hugging a pole for a number of minutes before an ambulance arrived to take her to hospital might have just been tired after having consensual sex with four males, a defence lawyer has told a Sydney court. Pizza chef Ricardo Audish is accused of raping the 18-year-old woman along with three teenage males at the western Sydney restaurant where he was working on the night of October 15, 2016. He and his co-accused pleaded not guilty. The teenagers will face a separate trial. Ricardo Audish leaving Downing Centre court on Tuesday. Credit:Kate Geraghty According to the Crown case, the woman had consensual sex with her boyfriend, one of the three teenagers, in the restaurant bathroom. Afterwards, he told her all the other boys want to have sex with you now, to which she replied hell no. The woman was then allegedly given two bongs to smoke, which caused her to cough, become dizzy, and then a short time later, experience periods of unconsciousness, Crown prosecutor Kate Nightingale said in her closing statements on Tuesday. A worker holds up a vial of Nanocovax, a domestic Covid-19 vaccine, in a laboratory in HCMC's District 9. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. Vietnam expects to start producing its own Covid-19 vaccine by the end of the third quarter, according to the Ministry of Health. Currently, four Vietnamese vaccines are in development, produced by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC, the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), Vaccine and Biological Production Company No. 1 (Vabiotech) and the Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals (Polyvac). Nanocovax by Nanogen entered its second phase of human trials last month, while Covivac began its first phase earlier this month. Nguyen Ngo Quang, deputy head of the Administration of Science, Technology and Training under the health ministry, said the vaccine development process has been hastened while still abiding by stringent procedures. Following the first phase of human trials, Nanocovax has succeeded in producing large amounts of antibodies within volunteers and is proven effective against coronavirus variants, Quang said at a Monday meeting by the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control. At the end of April, a clinical report on the vaccine's second phase of human trials is expected, which Quang described as "very promising." Nanocovax is expected to enter its third phase of human trials in May. If all goes well, the third phase would complete by the end of the third quarter, three months earlier than scheduled. Covivacs pre-clinical report has shown the vaccine has "very good quality," according to the health ministry. Its human trials are expected to be carried out faster than that for Nanocovax. The Covid-19 vaccine by Vabiotech, expected to begin human trials next month, is also showing great promise. Its edge lies in the fact it utilizes recombinant viral vectors, allowing it to be quickly modified if needed to combat new variants. The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently discussing the release of instructions on Covid-19 vaccine trials by comparing them with those already approved, which should prove advantageous for Vietnams own third phase human trials, experts told the meeting. Vietnam rolled out its mass Covid-19 vaccination campaign earlier this month, prioritized for frontline workers in the Covid-19 fight. As of Tuesday, over 36,000 Vietnamese have received their first shots of a Covid-19 vaccine produced by British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca. The country aims to obtain a total of 150 million vaccine doses this year to cover 70 percent of its population. REDDING, Calif. - Gov. Gavin Newsom is hoping to get people over the age of 16 vaccinated by the end of April. But for Shasta County, it will all depend on what the vaccine supply will look like by the end of next month. If we continue to get good supply and we continue to get folks in for the appointments that we have, then we certainly are hopeful that by the end of April, that would be possible to open it up to other groups, said Kerri Schuette, the public health information officer for the Shasta Health & Human Services Agency. We'll just have to wait and see. Shasta County Public Health said the more clinics there are the faster they will be able to get through the groups they are currently vaccinating. Public Health said partnering with places like Safeway, Rite Aid, and Dignity Health helps the county move through its vaccination phases faster. That's going to help us get more quickly through the populations we're serving right now, said Schuette. Once we get through all of those groups, then we'll be able to get through a more widespread population. For Kylie Pewitt, being able to get vaccinated means being able to get back to that sense of normalcy. Pewitt said she is waiting for her turn to get the vaccine. I've just been waiting for when Im able to, said Pewitt. I've just been waiting for the go-ahead to get it. Pewitt said even though she would like to get the shot as quickly as possible, it's important to her to see the more vulnerable people get it first. Im definitely anxious to get it and looking forward to getting it, Pewitt explained. But I just wanted to make sure those most at risk get it first. Pewitt said she's looking forward to getting her shot as the past year has been tough, but there is one thing shes looking forward to. I used to go on little getaway trips and drive to the coast or just do random little trips like that, said Pewitt. Whereas I've definitely not done that in a year plus. I'm looking forward to doing stuff like that. Action News Now reached out to the California Department of Public Health for a timeline of when people over the age of 16-years-old without underlying health conditions could get vaccinated, but the department said it could not further elaborate on the governor's comments. Last week, people between the ages of 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions became eligible to get the vaccine. By Ritah Kemigisa As Ugandas parliament marks 100 years of its existence today, renowned writer and African Affairs Commentator Joseph Ochieno believes there is nothing much to celebrate, arguing that the country no longer has parliamentary democracy. According to Ochieno, the recent sets of parliament have not been democratic enough to represent the interest of all people and are instead serving the current president. He argues that the best parliament of all time was the second and fourth that happened during the Milton Obote times. However, parliaments deputy director for communication and public affairs, Hellen Kaweesa, says parliament has proved its worth in the governance of the country over the years. Wild weather in New South Wales has transformed a trickling waterfall just an hour from Sydney into a 'scene from Jurassic Park'. TikTok user walkmyworld shared video footage from the Katoomba Falls Round Walk, in the Blue Mountains, during the crazy weather event. Relentless rain has lashed the NSW coast for days causing major flooding similar to the 1988 and 1990 flood events along the Hawkesbury River. More than 18,000 people have already been ordered to evacuate areas in Sydney and in northern NSW. TikTok user walkmyworld shared video footage from the Katoomba Falls Round Walk, in the Blue Mountains, during the crazy weather event The Katoomba Falls Round Walk is pictured before the once-in-a-century storm, which has turned the typically slow-running waterfall into a gushing stream 'Here's the place to head after all this rain,' walkmyworld wrote alongside vision of the gushing waterfall. 'This walk has come to life and looks like something from Jurassic Park.' A powerful stream of water poured from the waterfall aggressively, splashing the bushwalkers as they stood back from the natural wonder. 'Just be careful and enjoy this spectacle from the path,' walkmyworld wrote. The walking track is about 1.5 hours west of Sydney, in the Blue Mountains. While many TikTok users agreed the waterfall is quite extraordinary, they also noted the dangers of going for a bushwalk during torrential rain. Hundreds of litres of water poured from the waterfall aggressively, splashing the bushwalkers as they stood back from the natural wonder Shallow pools that normally lie at the base of the waterfall (pictured) are now overflowing after days of downpours across New South Wales 'Be careful! But wow that looks amazing,' one person wrote. 'I wouldn't suggest going during a flood, you don't know how fast water can rise, how slippery it ism potential land slips etc... Stay safe,' another said. A third wrote: 'Whilst the walk to the Katoomba Cascades is short, please just hold off going there! All national parks in the Blue Mountains are closed.' Blue Mountains Police Rescue on Saturday said the Blue Mountains National Park was closed due to rainfall and flash flooding. 'Due to the unprecedented heavy rainfall forecast all walking trails are closed to public access,' they wrote on Facebook. 'The public is asked to stay home and not enter the Blue Mountains National Park until further notice.' San Franciscos least vaccinated neighborhood, Treasure Island, will get its first vaccination site this weekend, The Chronicle has learned. Eligible residents will be vaccinated at a mobile clinic set up at the ShipShape Community Center the next three Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., officials said Monday. Then the clinic will move to another location as the city continues to expand its mobile outreach, seeking to drive up vaccination rates in communities that are underserved and that thus far have had comparatively low rates of uptake on vaccines, health officials said. Shots will be administered by city EMTs from the Fire Department, according to the Department of Public Health. Residents can either sign up for an appointment in advance through a community outreach referral or drop in to the site on a first-come first-serve basis, said San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney, who represents the island and plans to help register residents in advance. About 100 doses of the Moderna vaccine will be available the first weekend, and then supplies will be adjusted as needed, according to city health officials. Starting Wednesday morning, Haney and others will go door-to-door to sign up people for appointments and provide information about the vaccine, Haney said. Residents of Treasure Island have had among the least access to vaccines in the city for months. Having this low-barrier vaccine site on the island is critical to the citys recovery and meeting our equity goals, said Haney. Just 14% of the islands 3,064 residents have received at least one shot thus far, compared to a rate of 37% citywide, according to San Franciscos COVID-19 vaccine dashboard. The city states, however, that among the high-priority 65-and-older age group, 75% on Treasure Island have been vaccinated. Treasure Island is also one of just two ZIP codes in San Francisco that California included on its list of the 400 lowest-income ZIP codes that the state was prioritizing for vaccine access. The Treasure Island outreach is a key part of our vaccination strategy to reach those that have been hardest hit by COVID-19 who may have barriers to accessing vaccine at some of the other city sites, said Dr. Grant Colfax, head of the city health department. In Treasure Island, theres only one way on and off the island, Haney said. Treasure Island residents are uniquely isolated, many are older, and having a site on the island is really important. The mobile site will be run by San Franciscos health department and COVID Command Center in partnership with the Fire Department, Treasure Island Development Authority and One Treasure Island, with outreach support from the Latino Task Force and Haneys office. Meghan Bobrowsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: Meghan.bobrowsky@sfchronicle.com, Twitter: @MeghanBobrowsky Queenslands LNP leader David Crisafulli wants to recruit more young women into the conservative coalition as part of his plan to reform the party and sideline backroom bully boys. Foreshadowing how he planned to fix issues within the party ahead of the release of an internal review into the LNPs loss at the October 2020 ballot, Mr Crisafulli said the party needed more diversity. Earlier this month, David Crisafulli admitted party headquarters deliberately cut down his predecessor Deb Frecklington. Credit:Matt Dennien The party I lead must reflect Queenslands diversity, he told Parliament on Tuesday. In the weeks ahead I will be laying out the initiatives I believe are essential to reform our party. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Mayor Francis Suarez of Miami is selling his city as the worlds cryptocurrency capital. We want to be on the next wave of innovation, he told the DealBook newsletter. To make that happen, Mr. Suarez said he was refashioning the citys fun in the sun image. Thanks in part to the mayors marketing efforts, tech and finance titans have flocked to Miami during the pandemic. Last month, Mr. Suarez, a Republican, suggested Miami pay municipal workers and accept tax payments in Bitcoin, as well as invest city funds in the cryptocurrency. Local officials have agreed to study the proposals. The notion has made Mr. Suarez popular in the crypto community, advancing his rebranding campaign. His efforts have also won him campaign donations from tech investors, attracted money to cultivate Miamis growing tech sector and may soon pay a big county bill. Vietnam, Cambodia co-ordinate efforts to combat COIVD-19 and illegal entry As two neighbouring countries that enjoy traditional ties and a close friendship, Vietnam has joined with Cambodia to ramp up efforts to deal with the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, one of the most serious and deadliest pandemics in human history. Ambassador Vu Quang Minh (left) presents medical equipment to the Cambodian Red Cross. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only adversely affected the health of infected individuals, but it has also impacted various aspects of political, economic, and social life, along with the activities regarding external relations. Featuring the motto "friendly neighbours, comprehensive co-operation", the country has joined with Cambodia in the fight against the pandemic. In a recent interview granted to a VOV correspondent based in the neighbouring country, Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Quang Minh stated that the two sides have continued to maintain effective co-operation activities across multiple fields, especially concerning economic and trading ties. With the spirit of offering mutual support during this difficult period, since the initial days of the pandemic, Vietnam has continued to send many medical supplies, locally-produced test kits, as well as essential equipment such as masks and sanitizer to support Cambodia. Health and disease control agencies of both nations also closely co-operated to exchange information and provide treatment advice when Vietnamese people first traveled on cross-border cruise ships which were infected with COVID-19 last year. Both countries quickly agreed on a flexible mechanism with innovative measures in place to both ensure the prevention of the cross-border pandemic whilst maintaining and promoting the exchange of goods between the two nations, including both cross border trade and formal trade channels to facilitate the continuation of trade. Most notably, the transportation of goods, including a range of agricultural products, between localities has remained uninterrupted as a mean of maintaining trade exchanges. Last years two-way trade turnover reached over US$5 billion which can be viewed as a great success in terms of bilateral trade ties. Another bright spot can be considered as the strong co-ordination of the two countries to support the return of students, including providing safe and effective isolation and testing measures which are put in place for COVID-19. The Vietnamese diplomat also went on to express his wishes that competent agencies from both countries would co-operate better in exchanging information when imported cases were detected to be carrying COVID-19. Moving forward, it will continue to be essential to inform each other in a timely manner and provide the travel schedule, residence, and contact information of infected individuals to make it easier for relevant agencies to speed up the effective traceability and zoning off affected areas to guard against the potential spread of the pandemic. The two countries must also strengthen the co-ordination of joint efforts and actions to prevent cross-border crime from taking advantage of the epidemic situation, whilst better controlling the common border, Ambassador Minh added. Airtel Africa, a pan-African operator with a presence in 14 countries across Africa, has announced the signing of agreements to sell its telecommunications tower companies in Madagascar and Malawi to Helios Towers plc, a leading independent telecommunications infrastructure company in Africa. The Group's tower portfolios in Madagascar and Malawi together comprise 1,229 towers. The aggregate gross consideration for the transactions is expected to be approximately $108 million. The group's Airtel Africa subsidiaries will continue to develop, maintain and operate their equipment on the towers under separate lease arrangements, largely made in local currencies, with the purchaser. Airtel Africa has also announced that it has entered into exclusive Memorandum of Understanding agreements for the potential sale of its tower assets in Chad and Gabon another 1,000 or so towers. While this is certainly news, it wasnt unexpected. In November we reported an announcement from Airtel Africa that it planned to shed 4,500 towers across five countries to aid the company in reducing its $3.5 billion debt and prepare for upcoming repayment dates. This involved towers in Tanzania, Madagascar, Gabon, Malawi and Chad. These potential and actual sales are the latest strategic divestment of the groups tower portfolio as it moves towards an asset-light business model and a focus on its core subscriber-facing operations. The proceeds will be used to reduce group external debt and to invest in network and sales infrastructure in the respective operating countries. This continues a trend notable in many regions. Other examples include America Movil announcing in February plans to spin off its telecommunications towers and, last year, the news of Helios Towers acquiring the passive infrastructure assets of Senegals number two mobile player Free Senegal, and Telefonicas intention to sell a number of its towers and tower sites in Ecuador and Colombia. Speaking about the news, Helios Towers CEO Kash Pandya told Developing Telecoms Editor James Barton that Helios Towers has pursued a strategy of expansion into new geographical territories based on certain criteria. It typically operates in emerging markets, with populations of 10 million or more. Ideally, the firm enters markets with three or more MNOs, although it is present in some with fewer such as Congo-Brazzaville. Weve signed 315 contracted build-to-suits lease-up is the key driver for margin improvement in our business, said Pandya. These four markets represent 65 million people, so our total footprint is now almost 327 million people the size of the USA. This population is set to grow, and its urbanizing, with people moving towards urban centres in Africa. We look for low levels of penetration, as this drives subscriber growth. The four markets weve announced today have on average mobile penetration 42% - in fact, without Gabon - which has penetration of around 63% - the other markets are about 35%. These markets will expand, taking on subscriptions; 4G pricing is dropping, with operators such as MTN offering basic 4G for $20. As the technology takes hold, you see densification on networks; 2G needs antennas every kilometre apart, but this halves for 3G, and its even less with 4G the denser data, the less distance it will travel, which is positive for a tower company like ours. By Dat Nguyen March 23, 2021 | 09:30 am GMT+7 A farmer carries a bag of rice in the southern city of Can Tho. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tran. Vietnams rice price in the first two months surged 18.2 percent year-on-year to $547.9 per ton, but with lower volume in most markets. Total volume fell 29.4 percent to over 656,000 tons, according to Vietnam Customs. The Philippines remained the largest importer but with volume down 28 percent year-on-year to 256,000 tons. Other markets that saw volumes drop by double-digits include Malaysia (75 percent), the United Arab Emirates (56 percent) and E.U. (23 percent). China claimed second place with a 140-percent increase to 159,200 tons. Strong rises in volume were seen in Taiwan, up 80 percent, and France, up 47 percent. Vietnams rice exports grew by 9.3 percent last year to $3.07 billion, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry adjusts his protective face mask as he attends a joint news conference (Photo : REUTERS/Benoit Tessier) U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will meet with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday. Sullivan, speaking in an interview on MSNBC, did not give an exact date for the U.S.-China meeting on climate issues. But the two will be speaking on Tuesday at a ministerial meeting on climate action hosted by the EU, Canada and China. Advertisement The meeting will come after top Chinese and U.S. diplomats held their first meeting of Joe Biden's presidency last Thursday and Friday in Alaska and publicly rebuked each other's policies. The Chinese delegation said after the meeting that the two sides were "committed to enhancing communication and cooperation in the field of climate change," Xinhua news agency said on Saturday, and would set up a joint working group on climate change. A State Department official said in a e-mailed statement to Reuters on Sunday that while the world's two biggest greenhouse emitters will engage on climate change, they "did not form a formal working group." The United States is expected to announce its new emission reduction target for the year 2030 under the Paris agreement by April 22, when Biden will host a world leaders' summit on climate change. Last fall, Chinese President Xi announced that China committed to achieve net zero emissions before 2060. The State Department official said while that target "represents a significant step forward, China is not yet on a path that will allow the world to keep a 1.5-degree Celsius limit on global temperature rise within reach, which scientists tell us is necessary to stave off the most catastrophic impacts." Washington, March 23 : Ten people, including a police officer, were killed in a mass shooting at a grocery store in the US state of Colorado, authorities said, adding the suspect has been apprehended. The shooting took place on Monday at the King Soopers grocery store in the city of Boulder. Addressing a press conference later in the day, Boulder Police chief Maris Herold said that the officer, identified as 51-year-old Eric Talley, was one of the first responders at the scene, Xinhua news agency reported. Herold revealed that at about 2.30 p.m., the city's police department received phone calls saying shooting incident occurred, when the crew arrived at the scene, they were shot by the suspect, who was taken into custody. She gave no more information about the shooting, saying the "complex investigation will cost at least five days" to make a conclusion. The Boulder District Attorney confirmed that an injured person was the alleged shooter and the suspect was arrested. Live video from local TV stations showed a large police presence outside the supermarket and people were escorted out of the supermarket by police officers. A shirt-less man with blood on his leg was taken out of the supermarket in handcuffs by three police officers, live TV footage showed. A law enforcement source told ABC News that officers responded to a report of someone shot in the parking area, and when they arrived at the scene, a suspect opened fire at them. CNN cited an unnamed senior law enforcement source as saying that the weapon used in the shooting was an AR-15-style rifle. Two witnesses told The Denver Post that they saw a gunman entering the store. "He just came in and started shooting," one of the witnesses was quoted as saying by the newspaper. The other witness told The Denver Post that the gunman "let off a couple of shots, then was silent, and then he let off a couple more. He wasn't spraying". "Like my fellow Coloradans, I am closely watching unfolding events in Boulder," tweeted Colorado Governor Jared Polis. "My prayers are with our fellow Coloradans in this time of sadness and grief as we learn more about the extent of the tragedy," he added. The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden has been briefed about the carnage. Before this incident, tragic mass shootings has occurred in the state. On July 20, 2012, a shooter set off tear gas grenades and shot inside a movie theatre in Aurora, killing 12 people and injuring 70 others. It was the deadliest shooting in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, in which two young killers murdered 12 students, a teacher and injured 21 others. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 The BET six-part docuseries, "Boiling Point" examines moments of injustice throughout Black American history and their commonalities. The sixth and final episode takes a look at the major protests against injustice from the past and present while examining the 2020 killing of George Floyd. Video Transcript [MUSIC PLAYING] - The trial of the former police officer charged with killing George Floyd is expected to start next week. It has been nearly a year since Floyd died, and Derek Chauvin, the officer, has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter charges. Outrage over Floyd's death and video of Chauvin kneeling on his neck led to what may go down as the largest wave of protests in American history, ongoing in many cases. The protesters have demanded greater police accountability and an end to systemic racism. The unrest that erupted in city after city is reminiscent of the marches and protests for racial equality in the 1950s and 1960s. The Floyd protests are the focus of tonight's sixth and final episode of "Boiling Point," the BET docuseries that looks at issues confronting Black Americans through a critical, social justice, moments of the past, and now also the present. Here's a clip from tonight's episode. - Hands up. - Don't shoot. - Hands up. - Don't shoot. - Hands up. - Don't shoot. - Hands up. - Don't shoot. - Hands up. - What do we need? - Justice. Justice. PHILIP ATIBA GOFF: What we're seeing on the streets of New York, and LA, and Minneapolis, and Houston, and Chicago is not a reaction to a public lynching, though that's what happened. We're not just seeing the reaction to the 1,000 people a year, roughly, they get killed by law enforcement every year since Ferguson. What we're seeing is a past due notice for the unpaid debts owed to Black people for 400 years. - Today is July 4, but I don't feel like celebrating. Do you? - No. - Do you? - No. CHELSEA MILLER: For me, it was really important to show up and not only bear witness to history but help in defining and shaping it. Story continues Today, we are reminded of a delayed promise by this America. Independence, freedom and justice for all. But all we all free? - No. CHELSEA MILLER: Are we all free? HASAN KWAME JEFFRIES: When we look at the protests that occurred during the summer of 2020. - Wake up, wake up. HASAN KWAME JEFFRIES: And you're talking about tens of millions of people, 25 million people, 30 million people, some estimates. That means these are the largest public demonstrations in American history. Like that, by itself, just the numbers say that this is fundamentally different. - That's on BET. And by the way, that's a Viacom CBS. But I hope people tune in. - The series is good, yes. "Boiling Point," yes. - And you can watch that series finale of "Boiling Point" tonight at 11:00, 10:00 Central. Again, it's on BET. We'll be right back. With Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proclaiming March 21-27 as Michigan's Severe Weather Awareness Week, the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) is encouraging residents to participate in a voluntary statewide tornado drill at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24 by using the opportunity to discuss their emergency plans. "Tornadoes can happen at any time but are more prevalent in late spring and early summer. It's important that your household or business has a plan to react quickly," said Capt. Kevin Sweeney, deputy state director of Emergency Management and commander of the MSP/EMHSD. "This year, we are asking that large groups not shelter in place together during the drill, but to instead use the opportunity to go over their emergency plans and update them if necessary." Police said Tuesday they are searching for a man who allegedly threw lukewarm coffee at women on the street in a suspected hate crime against females. Police in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul, received reports that a man on a bicycle hurled coffee at a total of six women who were alone at a bus stop or on a bench at night from March 9-21. The victims are all in their 20s. Police are trying to track down the suspect through closed-circuit TV footage. "As it is suspected as a crime targeting women, we are mobilizing all possible resources to track down the suspect," an officer said. (Yonhap) Khloe Kardashian's size inclusive line, Good American, has expanded into swimwear just in time for summer. On Monday, the 36-year-old reality star flashed her jaw dropping proportions in a skimpy thong style bikini, while holding a fruity beverage with a massive diamond on her left finger. She confirmed last week that she and beau Tristan Thompson are officially back on with a gushing birthday tribute, also sharing that they had made embryos as they gear up for another baby. Summer swim: Khloe Kardashian, 36, shows off her jaw dropping proportions in a skimpy silver bikini for Good American Heating up Instagram, she told her followers: 'SIP ON THIS. Here to serve your curves with yummiest swim collection.' The snakeskin printed bathing suit hit her figure in all the right places, as she continues to show off the fruits of her laborious workouts. She added another shimmering touch to the look with a ribbed blouse, and flashed a belly chain to accentuate her trim stomach. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has been promoting her line for the last week, also pairing a nude swimsuit with Good American jeans for another shot. Yummiest collection: The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has been promoting her line for the last week, also pairing a nude swimsuit with Good American jeans for another shot Heating up: The shoot for the bikini featured a belly chain for an added sparkly touch, also continuing to show off a massive diamond on her left finger Last week the family's hit reality show kicked off their final season, where Khloe opened up about her fertility journey from IVF to thinking about surrogacy. Ahead of its premiere she seemed to confirm that she and Thompson were moving forward as a family while acknowledging that they had their fair share of hardships along the way. 'The ones that are meant to be are the ones who go through everything designed to tear them apart and they come out even stronger than they were before,' she wrote on his 30th birthday with an tribute. Back on: She confirmed she and Tristan were back on with a gushing birthday tribute, before revealing on KUWTK that they had made three healthy embryos in an effort to have another baby; pictured March 13 The premiere episode showcased many candid conversations about her IVF process with Thompson, the Celtics player even driving her to an egg retrieval procedure. She had tried to freeze her eggs but that didn't work, as she shared, 'For some reason, none of mine were strong enough to handle the thawing process,' calling eggs 'really, really delicate.' They had opted to try another procedure, hoping to retrieve eggs and immediately mix them with Thompson's sperm to create fresh embryos. From that procedure she revealed that she was able to make three healthy embryos one daughter and two sons saying she would like to go ahead with the girl first to give True, two, a sister. Pregnancy: Despite carrying True naturally she shared that doctor's warned her she 'most likely, won't be able to carry'; pictured 2018 IVF: She opened up about surrogacy and the IVF process on the premiere episode, as she tweeted: 'God bless anyone who is going through the IV process! That's definitely not easy. My love is with anyone who is on that journey'; pictured November 2018 Much of the journey playing out on the show, Khloe tweeted: 'God bless anyone who is going through the IV process! That's definitely not easy. My love is with anyone who is on that journey.' Additionally she revealed on Twitter that she had done IVF 'three times,' after calling the process 'daunting' and 'stressful' on camera. Her doctors warned her that despite success with the eggs she 'most likely, won't be able to carry,' as she and Kim spoke about surrogacy, the SKIMS founder saying that despite not carrying Saint, Chicago or Psalm, her kids felt every bit like her own. Ultimately Khloe said 'If it's in God's plan, then it will happen,' also having previously revealed that she would have liked to start the process sooner but COVID-19 had provided setbacks. Six classes have been sent home from a national school after five cases of Covid-19 were confirmed. Two of the classes affected at St Colmcille National School affected were "shut down" yesterday with testing underway to ensure the spread of the virus is contained. It's believed the first two positive cases at the north Longford school came on St Patrick's Day night with an additional two cases coming on Friday. The fifth case was confirmed on Monday. It's also understood two staff members are working remotely as they are classified as high risk. Read More Letters have been emailed informing parents and guardians of cases, with text messages also being sent advising families as to whether they are deemed close contacts of confirmed cases. School principal Aideen Mulligan said the school remains open and heaped praise on staff and parents in the wake of the outbreak. She also said it was her belief the virus came via community transmission and did not originate from within the school. "The HSE seems happy that the infections came into the school from outside," she said. "Letters have been emailed to all parents and text messages have also been sent to update them on every case. We are fortunate to have such supportive parents. Three separate classrooms are currently out, involving six different classes of children. Read More "Because there are siblings of those in the school, it means we don't have many (pupils) in." Details surrounding the outbreak at the Co Longford primary school come amid heightened fears among Nphet chiefs and public health experts of a suspected fourth wave of Covid-19. Speaking at a press briefing last night, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said public health teams had witnessed outbreaks in recent days including students and a small number in schools. Washington, March 23 : Serena Williams became the latest Grand Slam champion to pull out of the Miami Open in order to concentrate on her recovery from recent oral surgery. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer announced earlier they would withdraw from the tournament. "Miami is a special tournament for me because it's my home. I am sad I won't be able to see the incredible fans this year, but I look forward to coming back soon," said Serena, who lives in Florida, in a statement according to BBC Sport. The former world No. 1 is an eight-time winner in Miami. Williams' most recent match was a month ago at the Australian Open, where she lost to Naomi Osaka from Japan in the semi-finals. Former world No.1 Andy Murray, who has fallen to 118 on the ATP rankings due to a long injury layoff, has been given a wildcard for the tournament. Independent Offaly county councillor Sean O'Brien has disassociated himself with a statement issued by the Council management on Monday in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Offaly County Council released the public notice after 30 new cases were confirmed in the county on Monday with the 14-day incidence rate for Offaly now standing at 424.6 per 100,000, well above the national average of 157.1. In a statement, Offaly County Council said it "would like to acknowledge the enormous effort that the entire County has put into driving down the rate of Covid infection. We have successfully reduced the pressure on our health service, and we are moving in the right direction, but we are at a crossroads. Infection rates remain relatively high in Offaly. Cllr O'Brien has taken issue with the language used in the statement and has contacted council management to that effect. He said: "I cannot associate myself with the press release issued today [Monday] concerning the Covid-19 situation in Offaly. Quotes such as "moving in the right direction", "making steady progress" and "we are seeing all the key indicators of the disease fall" do not reflect what the key national figures involved are saying or what the people feel. "The Taoiseach stated today [Monday] the situation is "static"; NPHET stated that the situation is "volatile" and the HSE Lead for Infection Control, Professor Martin Corsican, stated that we could be headed for another wave. "The statistics issued today for Offaly are very worrying and we are a national focus. I am requesting that we arrange a special meeting of the Council and invite the appropriate HSE personnel to address that meeting," Cllr O'Brien added. Referring to the growing numbers in Offaly, Offaly County Council's own statement added: "We must also keep in mind that the variant of the virus which is now the most prevalent in the county is significantly more transmissible than the previous strain. The fact that we are making such steady progress is a testament to the effort you are making. "However, we must make sure that we dont experience a further surge of the virus before the benefits of the vaccine can be experienced. We dont ever want to return to the scenes we had in January, the pressure on our health service and the very sad outcomes for many families. "It has not been easy but we are getting there. Ireland is continuing to make good progress and are seeing all the key indicators of disease fall. The emerging data on vaccines is really promising. We are seeing gradual and careful progress towards re-opening our society" The statement continued: "In Offaly, our best protection against this disease remains the trusted public health tools that we have been using effectively since last Spring. We know what works, we know how to do it and we know we can do it well. Maintain a social distance at all times, wear a face covering, do not mix with other households other than for essential reasons, wash your hands. Stay at home and stay safe. "Offaly County Council advises that its service provision continues across all essential services. We continue to support service users while taking mitigating actions to keep the public and our employees safe. Services continue to be provided online, by post and over the phone. Details of these services are provided below and are available on our website www.offaly.ie." "Our dedicated staff in our Community Call Centre are on duty from 8am to 8pm 7 days a week so please call in strictest confidence FREEPHONE 1800 81 81 81 or email covidsupport@offalycoco.ie #CommunityCall#Offaly" The Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA), a UNESCO Category II Centre at the University of Cape Coast, joined fifteen (15) global UNESCO Category II Centres for Education to dialogue and recommend a road map to achieving the UNESCO Medium-term Strategy for 2022-2029 (41/C/4) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4. The virtual meeting highlighted the fact that five years since the adoption of SDGs, progress made globally to its achievement has been "too slow". It also observed that the unprecedented global health crisis (COVID-19) has exacerbated the educational gap while intensifying various social problems, including prejudice, hatred, xenophobia and disinformation. Before the pandemic, it was estimated that in 2030, more than 200 million children will still be unable to complete school; unfortunately, the COVID-19 has worsened the situation with now more than 90% of students being out of school due to the school closures around the globe. Also, technological and economic disparities have further intensified the inequalities in education. The meeting noted positively that the current pandemic has greatly highlighted the centrality of global solidarity and cooperation in tackling critical problems threatening the peace and well-being of all and in addressing the limitations of the global education systems and challenges in realizing SDG 4 in particular. It was in the spirit of this positivity that the virtual conference was organized by the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), South Korea. Strategically, APCEIU formed a Technical Working Group months before the meeting, with members from the UNESCO Category II Centres for Education, to study the UNESCO Medium-term Strategy for 2022-2029 (41/C/4) and come up with recommendations for adoption. All the Category II Centres for Education present at the meeting adopted the recommendations and pledged commitment to the action plans. The recommendations will be presented to UNESCO for consideration. The recommendations centered on: Inclusive Education; Early Childhood Care Education; Higher Education and TVET; Adult Education; Capacity Building of Educational Professionals; Global Citizenship Education; Climate Change Education; and Education in Emergencies. IEPA pledged to prioritize evidence-driven policies, programmes and processes that assist the governments of the member states in West Africa, civil society organizations (CSOs) and stakeholders in education, in promoting and ensuring equitable, quality, inclusive and sustainable education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. Additionally, IEPA committed to ensure that its programmes and strategies are underpinned to reflect principles of gender equality, non-discrimination, accessibility and inclusivity. Speaking on IEPA's commitment to see to the realisation of the UNESCO's Medium-Term Strategy for 2022-2029 (41 C/4), the Director-General of IEPA, Dr. Michael Boakye-Yiadom had this to say: IEPA is excited to lead the implementation of this strategy in the West African sub -region and we believe that in the spirit of inclusivity, all the ministries of education within the region will work together to reduce to the barest minimum the inequality in education provision and learning. It is worthy to note that IEPA was recently established as a UNESCO Category II Centre for the West African sub-region to harness research and innovation to boost development and build related capacities. It is also to network for collaborative work on the priority areas of UNESCO within the West African -sub-region. IEPAs establishment as a UNESCO Category II Centre is a testament to the Government of Ghanas commitment to implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video ROME, MAR 22 - Between 30,000 to 40,000 Amazon workers were staging a one-day strike on Monday to demand better conditions from the online retail giant. It is the first such strike in Italy to involve the whole Amazon supply chain, including its hubs and its delivery drivers. The strike was called by the Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl and Uiltrasporti unions. The striking workers have called on Italian consumers to show solidarity by not making purchases from Amazon on Monday. (ANSA). A Chicago suburb has become the first in the nation to approve reparations to black residents whose families suffered lasting damage from decades of discriminatory practices. Evanston established its reparations program - the first of its kind in the US - in 2019, committing $10 million over a decade using funding from the city's three per cent tax on recreational marijuana sales. On Monday the city council launched the program with a first phase, consisting of a $400,000 round of payments focused on addressing housing inequities. The first phase will provide $25,000 to up to 16 eligible black residents for home repairs, down payments or mortgage payments, in a nod toward historically racist housing policies. Black residents are eligible for the housing program if they, or their ancestors, lived in the city between 1919 and 1969 or if they can show they suffered housing discrimination due to the city's policies. The recipients will be randomly selected if there are more applicants than available funds in the housing program. Robin Sue Simmons, alderman of Evanston's 5th Ward, which voted Monday for reparations Community historian Morris 'Dino' Robinson, who helped shape the Evanston's reparations initiative, points to the borders of the Fifth Ward, which was the area of Evanston the city's black citizens were forced to move to due to redlining between 1919 and 1969 A Black Lives Matter sign is seen near Emerson Street and Dodge Avenue in Evanston on Friday The Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, (pictured in a file photo) is gearing up to hand out its first round of reparations to black residents whose families suffered lasting damage from decades of discriminatory practices Among those praising the landmark effort is Delois Robinson, 58, whose great-grandmother decades ago was forced to run a restaurant out of her kitchen and park cabs for her taxi company in her backyard because black residents were effectively barred from owning or renting storefronts in town. 'It's about time that something has come from the hard work of African Americans in this city, proving that they should be treated as anyone else,' Robinson, 58, told Reuters. Evanston's program could become a model for other cities and states grappling with whether to pursue their own reparations programs. What are reparations and what is being done to implement them in the US? Reparations for slavery is a political justice concept that argues that the descendants of slaves should be compensated for the lasting impression slavery has left on the US. Calls for reparations have been around for centuries but have reached a fever pitch in the past year following the May 25 death of George Floyd. Democrats in Congress introduced a bill - House Resolution 40 - in 2019 that would form a committee to further study the issue of reparations. The House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties met last month to discuss the legislation. Public support for federal reparations remains relatively low. An ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted last June found that 73 percent of Americans do not believe that the federal government should financially compensate black people who are descendants of slaves. But in the absence of federal support, local leaders in some communities including Evanston have worked to come up with their own measures to introduce reparations. Advertisement The burgeoning national movement has gained traction amid a reckoning on racial inequity following the police killing of George Floyd and other black Americans last year. In Congress, a bill that would establish a national reparations commission to study the issue has drawn around 170 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, all Democrats. President Joe Biden has not endorsed the legislation but says he supports a study. Advocates plan to lobby the White House for executive action if the bill, as expected, fails to pass a divided Senate. Other cities, including Chicago; Providence, Rhode Island; Burlington, Vermont; Asheville, North Carolina; and Amherst, Massachusetts, have launched initiatives, though none has yet identified specific funding. California passed a bill modeled after the federal legislation, and lawmakers in New York and Maryland have introduced similar measures. Private institutions have also announced campaigns. The Jesuit order of Catholic priests last week pledged $100 million to benefit the descendants of the enslaved people it once owned. 'Reparations is the public policy prescription that addresses - and redresses - systemic racism,' said Ron Daniels, who oversees the National African American Reparations Commission, which consulted with Evanston on its proposal. The practicality of implementing reparations programs, especially on a national scale, is still a matter of debate. Reuters/Ipsos polls taken in June 2020, at the height of racial justice protests, found only one in five respondents agreed the United States should pay damages to descendants of enslaved people. Some opponents ask whether taxpayers can afford to pay out what could be billions, or even trillions, of dollars. Others question how eligibility for such programs would be determined, whether by race, ancestry or evidence of discrimination. Some black Evanston residents have objected to the city's plan's scope and size as inadequate, highlighting the difficulties inherent in designing a program that by all accounts can never fully ameliorate centuries of discrimination. Boarded up houses are pictured in the Fifth Ward in Evanston on Thursday Robin Simmons (pictured) proposed the legislation for Evanston's reparations program over a decade ago Evanston, home to Northwestern University, lies between Chicago to its south and the wealthy North Shore suburbs along Lake Michigan. About 16 per cent of its 75,000 residents are black. As across the United States, black people in Evanston were subjected to 'redlining' - a practice in which banks refused to make housing loans in predominantly black neighborhoods. That kept black residents from home ownership, a key source of wealth. The impact of historic and systemic discrimination on Evanston's black community persists. The Fifth Ward, where Robinson's great-grandmother ran two businesses out of her home, is predominantly black and struggling with inferior infrastructure. 'We're trying to catch up from hundreds of years of being suppressed, and its just hard to catch up without some assistance,' said Evanston resident and real estate agent Vanessa Johnson-McCoy, who is black. The city's campaign will draw from a new tax on legalized marijuana. Supporters say the funding mechanism is particularly apt, given how devastating the country's criminalization of marijuana has been to black communities. A sign demanding reparations sits in the snow in Evanston Evanston Rejects Racist Reparations, an opposition group, has noted that the initial payments will cover only 16 households. The group also opposes restricting that money to housing needs. 'True reparations repair you - you get a chance to say what it is that repairs you,' said Rose Cannon, a member of the group, who is black. National advocates say viewing reparations as only cash payments is far too reductive and that there is a need for policies that tackle the institutional racism that created the inequities in the first place. 'These vestiges have to be addressed - or they will continue on into the future, no matter how many equity programs are in place,' said Kamm Howard, co-chair of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America, or N'COBRA. Even in cities facing limited resources, local governments can still make restitution by updating school curricula, improving business development, providing housing opportunities and offering apologies for past racism, Howard said. Evanston Alderman Robin Rue Simmons, who is Black, spearheaded her city's initiative. She sees the upcoming payments as a critical first step. 'This is about our humanity,' she said. 'It's overdue, and the time is now.' Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) The new COVID-19 quarantine 'bubble' involving Metro Manila and four nearby provinces is seen to have a significant effect on areas outside of the setup, a fellow of the OCTA Research group said on Tuesday. In terms of preventing transmission outside NCR Plus, it will have a significant effect, OCTAs Guido David told CNN Philippines The Source. At least we will not be infecting other provinces which do not have a high case count right now. David, however, pointed out that its a different story for the capital region, the current epicenter of the pandemic. Basically, youre just containing the pandemic inside this bubble, but it will still run inside this bubble, he explained. Apart from Metro Manila, the so-called NCR Plus is composed of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal the four areas also recently placed under the stricter general community quarantine. The bubble setup restricts and discourages non-essential movement and mass gatherings in an effort to curb the coronavirus spread. National and local government officials earlier expressed optimism that the bubble will help bring down the number of cases a sentiment David echoed, but noted may take a while to achieve. Im not saying its impossible, but it seems very unlikely to happen to get it to reverse in two weeks, David pointed out. Best case scenario it would take us maybe 4 weeks to start having a decrease in cases. COVID-19 cases in the country continued to soar to all-time highs in the past days, with the Philippines logging a record 8,019 new daily infections on Monday. This article will be updated throughout the week with coronavirus case counts and other need-to-know information about the pandemic in San Antonio. Mayor Ron Nirenberg reminded San Antonio residents on Sunday to continue engaging in safe practices to slow the spread of the coronavirus as city officials reported an uptick in new cases. The 317 newly reported cases are the most reported in one day since March 11 and more than two times the number of cases reported Saturday. The rolling seven-day average of new cases now stands at 184, up from 166 on Saturday. That figure was 368 one month ago and 1,459 two months ago. March 27 More than a quarter-million people have been fully vaccinated in Bexar County, city officials said Saturday. The most recent data available shows 257,306 people had received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson as of Thursday, increasing by 7,754 from the previous day. But its no cause for celebration yet. Officials are still urging residents to wear their masks and physically distance as the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District reported 153 new cases Saturday. March 26 As of Friday, 445,651 people in Bexar County had received at least one dose of vaccine. Of those, 249,552 are fully vaccinated, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. At the same time, the virus continues to spread, although much more slowly than during the winter surge. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District reported one new death and 179 new coronavirus cases Friday, a slight drop from Thursdays 210 cases. March 25 The number of coronavirus cases was up Thursday, and three new deaths were reported as well, but Mayor Ron Nirenberg saw reason for optimism, saying recent trends have been promising. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District reported 210 new coronavirus cases and three new deaths Thursday in Bexar County. That was up from Wednesdays mark of 132 new cases. March 24 As more and more people have been vaccinated over the last few months, the strain on area hospitals has eased significantly. San Antonio hospitals were caring for 183 COVID-19 patients on Wednesday, compared with 1,400 or more at the height of the winter surge. Daily case counts also have dropped precipitously since the January surge, when 2,000 or more new COVID-19 infections were reported on some days. The seven-day average of new cases is now below 200 per day. March 23 As Texas prepares to expand eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine to all adults next week, San Antonio officials said Tuesday that the virus continues to be on the wane. Health officials reported 133 new cases of the virus Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began last March to 202,849. March 22 With the positivity rate the lowest it has been since the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District first started tracking it last April, local leaders are urging people not to toss their masks yet. The rate fell to 2.3 percent Monday, from 5.6 percent this time last week, health officials said. On Monday, officials reported 166 new coronavirus cases, down from 193 on Sunday. No new deaths were reported during Mondays briefing. March 21 While the spread of the coronavirus in Bexar County continued to trend in the right direction Sunday, the region reached yet another tragic milestone: more than 3,000 residents have died of COVID-19. Officials reported 193 new coronavirus cases, down from 281 on Saturday. The rolling seven-day average of new cases now stands at 174 per day, down from 312 a month ago and 2,062 two months ago. There were no new deaths reported Sunday, but officials added 74 deaths that only recently were confirmed to have been caused by COVID-19 and 665 backlogged cases from more than two weeks ago. The deaths occurred between Dec. 25 and March 4. Since the pandemic arrived in the region about a year ago, 202,550 Bexar County residents have tested positive for the coronavirus and 3,071 have died of COVID-19. More than half of the total deaths have been reported in the past three months, as transmission of the coronavirus in San Antonio surged following the winter holidays. While the numbers have declined, we continue to see the virus spread through our community, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a statement Sunday. Five men have been arrested in what investigators called a hugely significant operation to disrupt drug dealing by a paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. The suspects, aged between 33 and 43, were all held on suspicion of conspiring to supply class A drugs on Tuesday during raids in the Carrickfergus area. The operation run by the paramilitary crime task force (PCTF) involved more than 80 officers, including from the National Crime Agency and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). It is part of a long-running investigation into alleged organised crime activities by paramilitary group the South East Antrim UDA. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here to do so. The group is a breakaway faction of the UDA and is suspected of being heavily involved in criminality including several murders in recent years. NCA deputy director of investigations Craig Naylor said: This operation is hugely significant, and we believe it will have substantially disrupted the drug dealing activities of the South East Antrim UDA. The investigation will continue with the evidence we have retrieved. The SEA UDA have long been known to be involved in many forms of organised criminality, doing untold damage to the community and exerting fear in neighbourhoods. Working with our partners in the PCTF we are determined to do all we can to bring that to an end. The arrests related to the discovery of more than one kilogram of cocaine that was found during searches of two cars and land in the Greenisland area of County Antrim in November 2020. Police Service of Northern Irelands head of criminal investigations branch, Detective Chief Superintendent John McVea, said: Working with our partners in the paramilitary crime task force, we are committed to continuing to target the organised criminality associated with all paramilitary gangs who exploit their local communities to cause harm and create fear. Todays search and arrest operation is a significant milestone in an investigation into the drug dealing activities of the South East Antrim UDA. The harm caused by illegal drugs to individuals and communities is evident. Drugs cause nothing but destruction and distress, not only to the people who take them, but also to their families who deal with the heartbreaking fallout associated with drugs, including death, spiralling debts and intimidation. Criminals who supply illegal drugs dont care who they harm in the process of making money to line their own pockets and fund other paramilitary activities. Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. Appreciating India for helping various countries by providing them vaccines to fight the deadly coronavirus, Iran's ambassador to India Dr Ali Chegeni on Monday, March 22 said that India is 'now famous for helping all the countries across the globe.' Speaking to ANI, he said that Iran has also developed the vaccine to battle coronavirus and is sharing knowledge with India. Further, he emphasized the close connection between the two countries and said that the event is a message of friendship and coexistence, referring to the occasion of Navroz. Chegani said, This initiative by India is appreciated by (countries) all over the world especially in my country as we received some doses of the India-made vaccine. We also developed our own vaccine and we are sharing knowledge between Iran and India. We have very good cooperation in this field. India is now famous in helping all the countries in the world. We also appreciate them from our side too. He added, India and Iran are very close in nature, in geography and culture. This is a message of friendship, coexisting and leaving the enmity and going towards friendship. Appreciating India Recently, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley also praised India for its efforts in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines across the world. She said that the nation understands that merely administering vaccinations to its own citizens would not be sufficient to solve the world's problems. Lauding India for its 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative, Barbados Prime Minister said that the Indian government's gift (COVID-19 vaccines) is so "significant today". She affirmed, "The one thing that was missing is global coordination in the things that we do to shut down or to coordinate on how we treat the virus and how we distribute vaccines." Earlier this month, India sent stocks of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines to Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Ghana, Nigeria, Guyana, Guatemala and other countries. India's Vaccine Maitri programme that was started around one-and-a-half-month ago aims to help poor countries amid pandemic has won global praise. In this brief period, the country has delivered around 56 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech's indigenous vaccine. So far, India has exported the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech's indigenous vaccine to more than 31 countries and will be providing vaccine doses to 46 more countries in the coming days. (Image Credits: PTI/RepresentativeImage) Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Remote Patient Monitoring System Market Growth & Trends The global remote patient monitoring system market size is expected to reach USD 4.1 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 19.7% from 2021 to 2028. The remote patient monitoring (RPM) system uses digital technology to gather patient data and monitor a patients health remotely. The remote patient monitoring system is expected to witness substantial growth in demand due to its capability to monitor various chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 34.2 million people in the U.S. have diabetes and 88 million have prediabetes. Apart from this, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 422 million people have diabetes at the global level. Companies are consistently engaged in developing tools for monitoring patients with diabetes and other chronic diseases outside of conventional care settings, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic fueling the market growth. Asia Pacific is projected to be a key revenue-generating region in the coming years. The region is backed by developing countries, such as China, South Korea, and Thailand, which are witnessing an increase in the number of chronic diseases owing to lifestyle changes. Cardiovascular disease is among the leading cause of death in these countries. Remote patient monitoring system is expected to play a key role in the early detection and timely management of these diseases. Request a free sample copy or view report summary: Remote Patient Monitoring System Market Report Remote Patient Monitoring System Market Report Highlights Based on product, in the specialized monitors segment, cardiac rhythm monitor is expected to expand at a significant CAGR over the forecast period owing to the increasing incidence of cardiac conditions globally By end use, home healthcare is projected to be the fastest-growing segment with a CAGR of 20.1% from 2021 to 2028 owing to a rise in the number of patients accessing remote monitoring due to the COVID-19 pandemic Asia Pacific is expected to showcase high growth potential in the coming years due to the presence of large unmet needs in emerging economies, such as China and India. This region is also backed by Japan, which has one of the highest numbers of 65+-year-old adults at the global level Access Press Release of Remote Patient Monitoring System Market@ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-remote-patient-monitoring-devices-market Remote Patient Monitoring System Market Segmentation Grand View Research has segmented the global remote patient monitoring system market on the basis of product, application, end-use, and region: RPM System Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Vital Sign Monitors Blood Pressure Monitors Pulse Oximeters Heart Rate Monitor (ECG) Temperature Monitor Respiratory Rate Monitor Brain Monitoring (EEG) Specialized Monitors Anesthesia Monitors Blood Glucose Monitors Cardiac Rhythm Monitor Respiratory Monitor Fetal Heart Monitors Prothrombin Monitors Multi Parameter Monitors (MPM) Others RPM System Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Cancer Cardiovascular Diseases Diabetes Sleep Disorder Weight management and Fitness Monitoring Bronchitis Infections Virus Dehydration Hypertension RPM System End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Hospital Based Patients Ambulatory Patients Home Healthcare RPM System Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) North America US. Canada Europe Germany UK. France Italy Spain Asia Pacific China Japan India Thailand South Korea Latin America Mexico Brazil Argentina Colombia MEA South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE List of Key Players of Remote Patient Monitoring System Market Honeywell American Telecare Roche Philips Healthcare Bosch Biotronik Intel Welch Allyn Health anywhere Inc. Johnson & Johnson Covidien Plc. About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A US health agency raised concerns Tuesday that AstraZeneca may have included out-of-date information during trials of its COVID-19 vaccine, a day after the company said its drug was highly effective in preventing the disease. The Anglo-Swedish pharma giant stood by its assessment of the results of its US trials, saying it would publish new data "within 48 hours" in response to concerns raised by the US National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases. In more bad publicity for AstraZeneca, French authorities said they are investigating the death of a 26-year-old medical student days after he received their COVID-19 vaccine, while stressing that no link had been established yet with the jab. The fresh problems for the drugmaker, which had on Monday hailed its vaccine as 79 percent effective at preventing COVID-19, come as Europe continues to wrangle over shortages of the jab and after weeks of safety concerns. With AstraZeneca delivering only 30 percent of the doses it promised the EU for the first quarter, Germany threw its weight behind a ban on European exports of the jab, while also announcing strict virus measures over Easter to contain spiralling infections. The European Commission will on Wednesday adopt "a revision of the export transparency and authorisation mechanism," a spokesman in Brussels told journalists. Meanwhile, Britain marked the anniversary of its first coronavirus lockdown by holding a minute's silence for the more than 126,000 of its citizens who have died from COVID-19, the fifth-highest death toll in the world. The global death toll now stands at more than 2.7 million. Putin gets jabbed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday received his first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, his spokesman said as Russia looks to boost a vaccination campaign that is faltering despite having produced three home-grown jabs. Putin thus joined other world leaders who have received jabs including US President Joe Biden, Pope Francis and Britain's Queen Elizabeth. But unlike many others who were vaccinated in public, Putin's vaccination took place in private and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not specify which jab was administered. AstraZeneca's vaccine had been hailed as a potential game-changer in the fight against the pandemic as it is cheaper and easier to store and transport than many of its rivals, making it more accessible for poorer nations. But public confidence in the drug has tumbled after more than a dozen countries temporarily suspended its rollout because of isolated cases of blood clots in people who had received a dose. The EU's medicines regulator and the World Health Organization insist there is no evidence linking the vaccine to blood clots. Scant supplies of AstraZeneca doses in Europe have meanwhile hampered the continent's vaccine rollouts, which lag far behind countries like the UK and Israel. French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that his country should be giving vaccines "morning, noon and evening", as his government announced that 35 new mass inoculation centres would open soon. "We're going to change pace from April," he said, adding that there should be "no weekend and days off when it comes to vaccinations". 'Much deadlier' In Germany, Merkel ordered a nationwide shutdown for five days between April 1 and April 5 as Christians celebrate Easter, with almost all shops closed and religious services moved online. A variant first identified in Britain has become the dominant strain circulating in Germany, she said, adding: "We are in a new pandemic." "Essentially, we have a new virus... it is much deadlier, much more infectious and infectious for much longer." The Netherlands announced it is extending its coronavirus restrictions until April 20 as cases are rising. Ukraine said it too was battling a new wave of infections as it reported the highest death toll since the beginning of the crisis, with 300 fatalities in the past 24 hours. And in Slovakia, liberal President Zuzana Caputova demanded the resignation of centrist Premier Igor Matovic as the country struggles with one of the world's highest COVID-19 death rates. Banksy fundraiser In tribute to its COVID dead, Britain held a "National Day of Reflection" on Tuesday, with parliament holding a minute's silence and bells ringing out across the country. The country's state-run National Health Service (NHS) has been under huge strain, and on Tuesday a painting by UK street artist Banksy sold for a record 16.75 million ($23.1 million, 19.4 million euros) in an auction by Christie's to raise money for health workers. The artist left a note with the piece thanking hospital staff for their work battling the pandemic. "Thanks for all you're doing. I hope this brightens up the place a bit, even if it's only in black and white," he wrote. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP ALTON An Alton Police officer injured early Monday morning has been discharged from the hospital. Around 3:30 a.m. Monday, an officer responding to reports of a stolen car pursuit in Godfrey and Alton lost control of a squad car while traveling west on East Broadway in the area of Main Street. The vehicle struck a utility pole and a building, forcing the fire department to extricate the officer before he was flown to a St. Louis hospital. Alton Police Chief Marcos Pulido on Tuesday said the officer has now been discharged from the hospital. He still has a road of recovery ahead of him, but we are so thankful that he has been discharged, Pulido said. He thanked members of the Alton Fire Department, Ameren and Freds Towing for their assistance in freeing the officer. The stolen car was found later; no arrests have been made. The injured officers name has not been released. Pulido said the investigation into the accident is ongoing. Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 50 Master's in Educational Technology Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 185 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 185 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 50 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school. Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Master's in Educational Technology Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-masters-in-educational-technology-degree-programs/ 2021 Master's in Educational Technology Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order): Appalachian State University Ball State University Boise State University California State University, Fullerton Canisius College Columbia University Concordia University, Chicago Concordia University, Saint Paul Concordia University, Wisconsin Dakota State University Drexel University East Carolina University Emporia State University Florida State University Fort Hays State University George Washington University Indiana University Bloomington Iowa State University Jacksonville State University Johns Hopkins University Kansas State University Kent State University Liberty University Michigan State University Minnesota State University, Mankato North Carolina State University Northern Arizona University Ohio State University Oklahoma State University Pennsylvania State University State University of New York, Albany Texas A & M University, College Station Texas Tech University University Of Arkansas University of Central Florida University of Central Missouri University of Dayton University of Florida University of Georgia University of Houston University of Maryland Global Campus University of Missouri University Of North Carolina, Wilmington University of North Dakota University of Oklahoma University Of South Carolina University of Tennessee, Knoxville University of Virginia Virginia Tech Webster University About Intelligent.com Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/. The chief noted that village officials, while not citing Durbins or Slapshots, has suspended or revoked business licenses and that the village will continue to take measures and work with the bar owners until these issues are resolved. The UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday adopted a strong resolution against Sri Lanka's rights record, in a setback to Colombo, which described the move as "unwarranted and unjustified" interference in its internal affairs. The resolution titled Promotion of Reconciliation Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka was adopted by the 47-member Council after 22 members voted in favour of it at the ongoing UNHRC session here. India and Japan were among 14 countries which abstained from voting. Eleven countries, including Pakistan, China and Russia, voted against the resolution. Sri Lanka described the draft resolution as "unwarranted, unjustified and in violations of the relevant articles of the United Nations Charter." The resolution was adopted despite intense lobbying by the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had dubbed the resolution as an act of political vendetta moved by the Western nations against Sri Lanka. India, which abstained from voting, said its approach to the question of human rights in Sri Lanka is guided by two fundamental considerations. Read | AIADMK wants PM Modi to keep promise, support UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka "One is our support to the Tamils of Sri Lanka for equality, justice, dignity and peace. The other is in ensuring the unity, stability and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. We have always believed that these two goals are mutually supportive and Sri Lankas progress is best assured by simultaneously addressing both objectives," said Pawankumar Badhe, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva. He said India supported the call by the international community for the Government of Sri Lanka to fulfill its commitments on the devolution of political authority, including through the early holding of elections for Provincial Councils and to ensure that all Provincial Councils are able to operate effectively, in accordance with the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution. At the same time, he said, India believes that the work of Office of the Human Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) should be in conformity with mandate given by the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly. "We would urge that the Government of Sri Lanka to carry forward the process of reconciliation, address the aspirations of the Tamil community and continue to engage constructively with the international community to ensure that the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all its citizens are fully protected, Badhe added. Sri Lanka was earlier defeated at three consecutive resolutions at the UN rights body when Gotabayas elder brother and incumbent Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was the country's president between 2012 and 2014. In 2015, the Maithripala Sirisenas government had co-sponsored the UNHRC resolution and the action was described as a betrayal of Sri Lanka by Rajapaksa-led opposition then. The government of Gotabaya Rajapaksa had officially withdrawn from co-sponsoring the previous resolution undertaken by the previous government. It had called for an international investigation into alleged war crimes committed by both the government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the final phase of the near-three-decade-long civil war that ended in May 2009. Ahead of the voting on the resolution, President Gotabaya and Prime Minister Mahinda made phone calls to world Muslim leaders. Pakistan, which voted against the resolution, dubbed it as one which was aimed to rekindle the sufferings of the people rather than achieving reconciliation. Pakistan was appreciative of the Lankan governments late decision to allow burials of Muslim Covid-19 victims as a reason to support Sri Lanka. The resolution calls upon "the (Sri Lankan) government to ensure prompt thorough and impartial investigation, if warranted, prosecution of all alleged crimes relating to human rights violations and serious violations of international human rights law". The resolution was tabled by the Core Group on Sri Lanka consisting of the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Malawi, Montenegro, and North Macedonia at the 46th Session of the (UNHRC) in Geneva. The United Kingdom on behalf of the core group on the resolution regretted Sri Lankas lack of commitment and noted that space for human rights defenders had decreased and emblematic human rights cases have been stalled. Austria on behalf of the EU member states echoed the UKs concerns on Sri Lankas right accountability. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) An Omaha police detective says the man charged with murder and other counts in the November shooting death of his friend had been aiming for another man, who was injured. Low-income people who reported better oral health after getting coverage said it helped with their work or job search As the pandemic's economic effects drive more people to enroll in Medicaid as safety-net health insurance, a new study suggests that the program's dental coverage can improve their oral health in ways that help them seek a new job or do better at the one they have. The study focuses on the impact of dental coverage offered through Michigan's Medicaid expansion, called the Healthy Michigan Plan. The researchers, from the University of Michigan, used a survey and interviews to assess the impact of this coverage on the health and lives of low-income people who enrolled. In all, 60% of the 4,090 enrollees surveyed for the new study had visited a dentist at least once since enrolling in the Healthy Michigan Plan a year or two earlier, which the researchers verified with state records. Among those who saw a dentist in that time, 57% said their oral health had improved since enrolling. The percentage who reported better oral health was even higher among Black respondents and those who said they'd been uninsured for a year or more before getting covered. The findings are published in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry by a team from the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation that evaluates the impacts of the Healthy Michigan Plan. The authors hope their findings will inform policy decisions about dental coverage for Medicaid plans in Michigan and other states. Impact on work lives Half of the respondents had jobs or were self-employed, though their incomes were low enough to qualify for the Healthy Michigan Plan - about $15,600 for an individual in the year studied. Just over 39% of all survey respondents, with jobs or without, said their oral health had improved since they enrolled. Of those who had jobs and reported improved oral health, 76% said that their Healthy Michigan Plan coverage had helped them do a better job at work compared to 65% of those who had jobs but hadn't experienced improvements in oral health. Meanwhile, 60% of the unemployed people who said their oral health had improved credited their coverage with helping them look for a job, compared with 51% of those who hadn't experienced improvement in oral health. Although the data were collected before the COVID-19 pandemic began, the findings have implications for the hundreds of thousands of Michiganders who have enrolled in the Healthy Michigan Plan in the past year when they lost jobs or income. The Healthy Michigan Plan includes basic dental care coverage such as cleanings, fillings, X-rays and dentures, and is open to people making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. Enrollment has grown to more than 895,000. Voices of Healthy Michigan Plan enrollees Most respondents had no health insurance coverage in the year before enrolling in Michigan's program. "The Healthy Michigan Plan's dental coverage enabled many to get the dental care they needed," says Edie Kieffer, Ph.D., M.P.H., lead author of the paper and a professor emeritus in the U-M School of Social Work. "In our interviews with enrollees, people talked about the great impact of having this dental coverage. People told us that, without dental coverage, they had to have their teeth pulled. They used their new coverage to get dentures, which improved their appearance, employment options and ability to eat. Dental coverage helped people address dental infections and get preventive dental care." Some enrollees mentioned that previously they had turned to hospital emergency departments for urgent dental care needs, for instance to get an antibiotic to treat an oral infection, but not to address the underlying problem that led to the infection. One interviewee said their first dental visit uncovered a tumor. As one of the middle-aged male participants interviewed by the researchers and quoted in the paper says: "My teeth were pretty bad...and they fixed it up fine, and now...I feel better when I am looking for a job...I feel better because my appearance has changed a lot. That has helped me a lot, physically and mentally." Practice and policy implications The authors note that Medicaid coverage in Michigan improves patients' access to primary health care as well as basic dental care. In both settings, providers can identify patients at risk of oral health problems, and suggest treatments for problems so they can be addressed before they worsen. Nearly half of all survey respondents said their access to dental care had improved thanks to their dental coverage. That percentage was even higher among the 60% of respondents who had been uninsured for at least a year before getting covered under the Healthy Michigan Plan. The findings about Michigan Medicaid expansion coverage's impact on dental health are similar to other findings on health outcomes made by the IHPI team, says John Z. Ayanian, M.D., M.P.P., the study's senior author. "We can clearly see the positive impact of Medicaid coverage of dental care," he says. "These findings have implications for states that have yet to expand Medicaid at all, or to include dental coverage in their Medicaid expansion programs." Ayanian heads the IHPI team that is evaluating the Healthy Michigan Plan through a collaboration with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. He also serves as IHPI's director and a primary care physician and professor of internal medicine at Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center. Access to dental care for Medicaid enrollees depends not just on the availability of coverage, which can vary by state, but also on the number of dental practices that accept Medicaid plans. Low reimbursement rates are a major factor in Michigan, says Romesh Nalliah, D.D.S., M.H.C.M., a co-author of the paper and professor at the U-M School of Dentistry. Dental disparities Nalliah notes that the inclusion of adult dental coverage in Medicaid and other plans could help reduce the disparities in oral health that he and others have documented. In 2019, he and colleagues published data showing that while the oral health gap between Black and white Americans had narrowed between 1999 and 2014 (the year before Medicaid expansion took effect under the Affordable Care Act), there were still disparities in dental visits and tooth loss due to cavities and gum disease. More than 22% of Black Americans over age 65 had lost all their natural teeth by 2014, compared with 14% of whites. The National Poll on Healthy Aging, also based at IHPI, has also studied dental health among adults aged 50 to 64 and adults over 65, finding disparities by income, race/ethnicity and education level in both age groups. Oral health has important influences on people's overall health, Kieffer explains, and poor oral health is very common among low-income adults. Because dental coverage is an optional benefit under state Medicaid and Medicaid expansion plans, she and her colleagues hope policymakers will consider the potential for Medicaid dental coverage to both reduce oral health disparities, and improve the health and socioeconomic well-being of low-income adults. ### In addition to Kieffer, Ayanian and Nalliah, the study's authors include Susan D. Goold, M.D., M.H.S.A., M.A., Tom Buchmueller, Ph.D., Erin Beathard, M.P.H., M.S.W., Matthias A. Kirch, M.S., Erica Solway, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S.W., Renuka Tipirneni, M.D., M.Sc., Sarah J. Clark, M.P.H., Adrianne N. Haggins, M.D., M.Sc., and Minal R. Patel, Ph.D., M.P.H. Jersey City Board of Education President Mussab Ali announced Monday night that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma. The youngest school board member at 24, Ali said he is undergoing intensive chemotherapy treatment that could last for a couple of months. As we face some of the biggest challenges in Jersey Citys history, including managing a safe reopening of our schools and a budget crisis stemming from years of underfunding, I want to be transparent about the personal battle I am now facing, said Ali, who made the announcement during a public board meeting. My doctors are optimistic about my prognosis. We believe this cancer is not only treatable, but curable. He said he will continue as board president as he undergoes treatment. Both children and adults can develop Hodgkins Lymphoma, but its most common in early adulthood, especially people in their 20s. Hodgkins Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, in which cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and may spread beyond it. The five-year survival rate for patients in stage 4 is 81%, according to the American Cancer Society. The cancer is considered stage 4 when the cancer cells have moved beyond the lymph system into other tissues and organs, such as the liver, lungs or bones. Dr. Andrew M. Evens, director of the Lymphoma Program at Rutgers Cancer Institute and medical director at the Oncology Service Line at RWJBarnabas Health said stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma is is a malignancy thankfully thats very treatable and curable in the high majority of patients. The treatment usual consist of chemotherapy thats given as an outpatient every two weeks, usually for about six months, he said. Treatment is usually, especially for younger patients, pretty well tolerated. The immune system can be a little bit low during treatment, but many of our patients will still work during therapy, carefully. " To my constituents: being elected to serve you is the honor of a lifetime, Ali said. There is nothing I would rather do at this time than serve our children. They are our future. With Gods help, I can continue to serve them. Ali, elected in 2017, is both the first Muslim elected to public office in Jersey City and the youngest elected official in the citys history. He was selected board president in January. When he was first elected, Ali was a recent graduate of McNair Academic High School and a student at Rutgers Newark. The son of a schoolteacher, he attended public schools in Jersey City since pre-K, and ran for school board in the hopes of bringing a students perspective to the governing body. My family and I appreciate your thoughts and prayers, and we will continue to keep the people of this resilient city in ours. By Omar Younis SAN CLEMENTE, California (Reuters) - As cheering children and men frantically paddle their inflatable surfboard through the frothy Pacific waves onto the beach, one passenger placidly sits in the bow taking it all in - a large, white goat. California surfer Dana McGregor has always loved the thrill of catching a wave, but it wasn't until he took his pet goat surfing with him one day that he truly found his calling. "I got one goat to clear my poison oak in the backyard and I decided to take it surfing on my birthday and then I just ended up surfing goats," recalled McGregor of the day his goat-surfing journey began almost ten years ago. McGregor, 42, now teaches children how to surf from Pismo Beach, north of Santa Barbara, using his pet goats Pismo and Grover to help them overcome their fear of the water. "When it's your first time it feels scary but actually after you keep on doing it and doing it, it's really fun," said 10-year-old Mileah Robbins, fresh from riding a wave with eight-year-old Pismo. The goats seem to enjoy it too, judging by Pismo's relaxed expression as he hit the waves. "There's a freedom in surfing that you can't find just anywhere," said McGregor, hugging his goats as they stand on the boardwalk, attracting attention from children and other passers-by. "You're riding waves that God brings us, that bring healing and joy and freedom and peace into our lives so I want everyone to experience that." (Reporting by Omar Younis; Writing by Karishma Singh; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) Mike Hoy, of Midland, has a four-legged shadow who answers to the name of Cowboy. Hoy, who has vision and mobility issues, was partnered with Cowboy, a 2 1/2-year-old male black Labrador/golden retriever mix assistance dog, as part of Paws With a Cause. With the help of a specialized trainer, the two are getting to know each other. Hoys history with PAWS, which is based in Wayland, Michigan, goes back to the late 1980s, when he was paired with his first service dog, Taffy. Taffys primary duty was to recognize sounds and alert Hoy in case he didnt hear them. The duo also went around to local middle and high schools to talk about people with disabilities and their connection with their canine companions. Taffy lived a good long life, reaching the age of 12. She was trained to help support me if I fell down, but she wasnt big enough, Hoy stated. Hoy married his wife, Tina, in 1994, and the pair decided they could manage without a service dog for the time being. It was only when Hoys health started to decline that they made the choice to apply once more with PAWS. They were surprised to discover the application process had become more intensive. Hoy submitted his initial request for an assistance dog in June 2019, including medical reports and several references. Once PAWS accepted his application, they got to work to train a canine specifically for Hoys needs. Since the dog would need to cover the areas of service as well as hearing, this process took a little longer than normal. Next, a PAWS representative visited Hoys home with a demonstration dog for an interview and to film him with the dog for a needs assessment. Hoy and Cowboy were introduced on Dec. 10, 2020 and are working with a PAWS trainer to recognize specific sounds, venture out in public and work on basic commands. Shes so knowledgeable about what you should do in every instance with a dog, how you should react. Shes a really great help, Hoy said of the trainer. Cowboy is able to notify Hoy of sounds like a doorbell, phone call and smoke alarm as well as retrieve items he might need. Hoy described one time he and Cowboy were at a Midland Lions Club meeting and Hoy dropped his hat. Although Hoy didnt notice, Cowboy retrieved the hat and gently notified him. Cowboy, Hoy and their trainer have also made field trips to public areas including the mall, community center and restaurants. Cowboy is able to open commercial doors with the help of a specialized door pull and tucks himself under a table if they are going out to eat. When I go out with him in my scooter, I look for things that might distract him and see what he might do, Hoy said, adding that Cowboy is not easily sidetracked. He basically always has one eye on me wherever I go. Training could continue for another month until the pair is certified as a team. Hoy is amazed at Cowboys skill set and considers him as his shadow, a comforting presence. He eventually would like to return to visiting schools and explaining the importance of service dogs. It gives me a little more security to know that hes there and that hell be able to do things Im not able to do. For more information about Paws With A Cause, visit www.pawswithacause.org COLUMBUS, OhioThe Ohio Department of Health on Tuesday officially issued four new orders that relax the states coronavirus restrictions on visits to nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. As announced by Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday, the revised orders again allow residential-care residents to have visitors in their private rooms, as well as physically touch each other so long as masks are worn and the resident is vaccinated. Ohio nursing homes and assisted-living centers are now also required to allow visits of at least 30 minutes so long as coronavirus rules are followed. Until now, such facilities were allowed, but not required, to permit indoor visits of that length. The orders, signed by ODH Director Stephanie McCloud, still keep a number of coronavirus rules in place. All visitors must schedule visits in advance, sign in, wear a face mask during the entire visit, and practice social distancing with staff and other residents. Each resident can still only have two guests per visit. One of the orders also expands the number of circumstances when loved ones can schedule indoor compassionate care visits at nursing homes that arent yet permitted under COVID-19 rules to generally receive visitors. The list of valid reasons for compassionate care visits now includes residents who: Have been re-admitted to the facility after an acute-care admission to the hospital Have a new order for an anti-psychotic, an anti-depressant, or an appetite stimulant Have dementia that has dramatically progressed Are no longer responding to loved ones during virtual visits Show changes in appearance, grooming, or cognition during window or virtual visits. Compassionate care visits can be scheduled by calling the states long-term care ombudsman at 1-800-282-1206. Indoor visits can still be limited when fewer than 70% of residents in the nursing home are vaccinated, the building is in a county with a COVID-19 test positivity rate greater than 10%, or theres an outbreak of coronavirus in the facility. Under the new orders, staff at Ohio nursing homes must be tested for the coronavirus once per week if theyre vaccinated and twice per week if theyre not vaccinated. The number of coronavirus cases at Ohio nursing homes has been steadily dropping in recent weeks, since hitting a high of more than 5,100 patient cases in mid-December. Last week, 570 patients and 423 staff in Ohio had reported cases of the virus, according to the state health department. Read the four new orders in full: FELDA Johor and The One Minerals Mining Sdn Bhd discuss the future of proposed mining project in Johor Johor Bahru, Malaysia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 22, 2021) - Looi Kam Yong through his company, The One Minerals Mining Sdn Bhd, received several land concessions for land of a proposed Mining Project in 2020 from FELDA Johor. Looi Kam Yong in June 2020 also received His Majesty DYMM Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj, the Sultan of Johor's green light for the lease of two jetties, mining license, mineral ore license, and proprietary mining lease amongst others to facilitate the envisaged project. Looi Kam Yong planning with government To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7813/78033_capture1.jpg On November 14, 2020, Looi Kam Yong's land and proposed mining site was visited by representatives of the federal government, namely, YB Dato' Hj. Mohd Rashid Hasnon, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament and Incumbent Member of Parliament of the Batu Pahat region of Johor. In attendance also, was Encik Izwan Salleh from FELDA Johor. During their visit, several topics were discussed which included the environmental and social impact of the project as a result of the bauxite ore mining for aluminum taking place on the land. Water redistribution management viability was explored, in which water used by the mining project shall be pumped from the neighboring river into a retention point. Thereafter, the water is fully utilized at three different circulation points with zero water waste. Land disruption was another topic discussed. The proposed mining activity will use land at every stage of the cycle; exploration, construction, operation, and closure. Looi Kam Yong discussed with the stakeholders and inspectors several ways to minimize the land disruption which include planting forest areas upon the termination of mining activity. As well, Looi Kam Yong also conveyed several strategies his team is implementing to prevent Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) which included adding topsoil, relocation, and isolation of waste AMD material away from water sources. Another environmental strategy discussed was the usage of all AMD sludge for the making of kiln bricks used in construction, with no required waste disposal. Subsequent to this, Looi Kam Yong's meeting with the federal government representative and FELDA Johor representative was joined by FELDA Perkampungan village heads, who came to an agreement about the social welfare, as well as assistance packages Looi Kam Yong's Company, The One Minerals Mining shall provide to ensure the wellbeing of the settlers. It is expected that this mining endeavor will see a spike in available jobs in Johor and give work to the people settled in the neighboring villages. Along with the proceeds of the mined bauxite and apportioned reinvestment, these villages will see sufficient progress in their development. Contact Looi Kam Yong at LooiYong@protonmail.com Related Images looi-kam-yong-planning.jpeg Looi Kam Yong planning Looi Kam Yong planning with government image2.jpeg image3.jpeg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78033 When he was a senior at Arvada West High School, Mr. Alissa was convicted in 2018 of misdemeanor assault against another student in a classroom, and told the police at the time that it was in retaliation for insults and ethnic taunts. Fellow students recall him as having a fierce temper that would flare in response to setbacks or slights. Mr. Alissas brother described him to the Daily Beast as mentally ill, paranoid and antisocial. Among the victims of the massacre on Monday was Officer Eric Talley, 51, with the Boulder Police Department, who had responded to a barrage of 911 calls about the shooting, Chief Maris Herold said. The authorities identified the nine additional victims as Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jody Waters, 65. Chief Herold said at a news conference that police officers had run into the King Soopers grocery store within minutes of the shooting and had shot at the suspect. No other officers were injured during the response, she said. She said Mr. Alissa was taken to a hospital for treatment of a leg injury Court records show he was born in Syria in 1999, as did a Facebook page that appeared to belong to the suspect, giving his name as Ahmad Al Issa; the page was taken down within an hour of his name being released by the authorities. Michael Dougherty, the Boulder County district attorney, said the suspect had lived most of his life in the United States. Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. The Turkish lira has been pummelled by news that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sacked the country's central bank chief US stocks pushed higher on Monday as bond yields pulled back, while turmoil in Turkey and dimming prospects for a return to a pre-pandemic normal weighed on European markets. The Turkish lira plunged nearly 15 percent in early trade after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sacked the country's market-friendly central bank chief Naci Agbal and replaced him with former ruling party lawmaker Sahap Kavcioglu. The currency fell as low as 8.47 per dollar on Monday, having closed at 7.22 at the end of last week. It later recovered somewhat. Turkey's stock market tumbled nearly 10 percent. Erdogan's move has thrown the independence of the central bank into question and raised fears of a new bout of financial turbulence in the country that could have repercussions worldwide. - 'Unexpected' Turkey shock? - "Vaccination program, fresh fiscal stimulus and ongoing monetary stimulus from central banks are all fueling hopes for a strong bounce back in economic output and corporate profits," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould. "But this means investors are potentially more exposed now to unexpected shocks -- and Turkey could yet provide one." He warned that, beside a resurgence of the virus, an "old-fashioned emerging markets wobble" was another factor that could be capable of knocking markets off their stride. While a presidential decree on Friday did not explain why Agbal had been removed, it came just a day after the Turkish central bank hiked interest rates a much more than expected two percentage points to 19 percent to fight inflation. - US tech stock rise - After a year-long rally, investors have been struggling to maintain the momentum as US government bond yields push ever higher -- a sign that investors believe that stimulus money will spark inflation and that the Federal Reserve will be forced to raise interest rates. But US government bond yields pulled back on Monday, lifting Wall Street stocks. The tech-heavy Nasdaq led the major indices, packing on 1.2 percent. Story continues While vaccine rollouts are picking up in Britain and the United States, investors are growing worried about Europe, where the inoculation program has stuttered and a hike in new cases has forced countries to reimpose lockdowns. "Airline stocks are at the forefront of selling pressure due to worries about continental European economies enduring extended lockdowns," noted analyst David Madden at CMC Markets UK. Another missed summer travel season, which is key for earnings, would hammer airlines which are already financially weakened. Shares in IAG, the parent company of British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, plunged 6.5 percent. Lufthansa fell 2.9 percent and Air France-KLM shed 1.4 percent. - Key figures around 2100 GMT - New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 32,731.20 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.7 percent at 3,940.59 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP 1.2 percent at 13,377.54 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 6,726.10 (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.3 percent at 14,657.21 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.5 percent at 5,968.48 (close) EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.1 at 3,833.84 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 2.1 percent at 29,174.15 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.4 percent at 28,885.34 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.1 percent at 3,443.44 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1930 from $1.1904 at 2200 GMT Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3862 from $1.3872 Euro/pound: UP at 86.05 pence from 85.82 pence Dollar/yen: DOWN at 108.83 yen from 108.88 yen Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.1 percent at $64.62 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.2 percent at $61.55 per barrel burs-jmb And McCammond, for the second time, apologized for her old, long-deleted tweets. I should not have tweeted what I did and I have taken full responsibility for that, she said in a statement posted on social media. I look at my work and growth in the years since, and have redoubled my commitment to growing in the years to come as both a person and as a professional. "Our Board of Directors is comprised of a dedicated team of community leaders committed to providing critical leadership and decision-making that is vital to our organization. We are privileged to have such a talented group of board directors and we anticipate that the diverse experience that our new board members bring will add significant value to the board, said Molly MacDonald CEO & Founder of The Pink Fund. Dan Sherman has been in the field of financial navigation services for oncology patients since 2008 at the Lacks Cancer Center in Grand Rapids, MI. He is also founder and president of The NaVectis Group, a consulting company that assists oncology providers with implementation of financial navigation programs within the oncology setting. His financial navigation program has been highlighted as best practice by The Oncology Roundtable and The Association of Community Cancer Centers. His financial navigation program has been implemented in over 60 hospitals across the US. He has been published in the Journal of Access Management, Oncology Issues, American Journal of Managed Care, Journal of Oncology Practice and Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. Mr. Sherman has a degree in Accounting, a bachelors degree in Psychology and a masters degree in Counseling. I am deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve on the board of The Pink Fund. The Pink Fund's mission of decreasing financial distress of breast cancer patients aligns with the mission of my company, NaVectis Group. Financial Toxicity has devastated the lives of countless breast cancer patients across our nation and The Pink Fund is at the forefront of addressing this issue. I am excited to join this organization to help further its mission of decreasing financial distress for breast cancer patients." Katrina Studvent has been in the field of cancer health awareness for more than 10 years and previously held the position of Chief Development Officer for the Karmanos Cancer Institute, one of 51 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers. She also led the Komen Detroit Race for the Cure as director and chair of the annual fundraising event. Katrina has led philanthropic efforts for two major cancer organizations by identifying and bridging stakeholders interest in cancer education, prevention, treatment advancements and clinical research. In addition, Katrina is a member of the Detroit Health Link for Cancer Care Advisory and Oversight Committee, Michigan Cancer Consortiums Membership and Health Equity committees, Sisters Network Greater Detroit Chapter, and the Women's Committee at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Mrs. Studvent holds a B.A. in Political Science, Masters in Social Work degree with a focus in Non-Profit Management and she received a Non-Profit Leadership Certificate from John F. Kennedy School of Executive Education at Harvard University. As a working young professional, wife and mother during the time of my breast cancer diagnosis, I understand the financial burdens a cancer diagnosis can present. I am excited about this opportunity to impact the financial stressors that occur while receiving treatment and help spread awareness of financial toxicity as a critical barrier to care amongst cancer patients nationwide. It is my hope that my knowledge and reach throughout our community locally and nationally will support The Pink Fund's mission to further expand its efforts across the country and allow more cancer patients to redirect their focus to what matters most; returning to a healthy work-life balance." About The Pink Fund The Pink Fund provides financial support to help breast cancer patients in active treatment meet their daily living expenses. Our grant program helps patients and their families by making payments for critical non-medical expenses such as housing, utilities, transportation and health insurance. Payments are made directly to creditors with a cap of up to $3,000 for up to 90 days. To learn more visit: thepinkfund.org The University of Nebraskas Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering recently released results of a study of 50 non-flex fuel vehicles from the State of Nebraska to determine the adaptability, economic feasibility, and environmental impact of using E30 (30% ethanol blend). Twenty-six vehicles were fueled by E15, and 24 vehicles were fueled by E30. Each vehicle was equipped with a monitoring device to track different driving parameters in real time throughout the duration of the demonstration. Furthermore, the drivers were provided with driver logs to track fuel consumption. This data was analyzed to determine the long-term adaptability of non-FFVs to E30 and to demonstrate the economic feasibility and environmental impact of using higher ethanol blends. Long-term fuel trim (LTFT) and O 2 sensor readings were monitored to investigate whether the vehicles engine control module (ECM) can adapt to the increased oxygen concentration resulting from the added ethanol. The ECM controls the air/fuel ratio (AFR) by measuring the voltage generated through the oxygen sensor which indicates the proportion of oxygen in the exhaust. The distribution of these two parameters was compared between vehicles operating on E30 and those operating on E15. The study found an expected average increase in the LTFT of vehicles operating on E30; however, the distribution of O 2 sensor readings for the two conditions were similar. This indicates that the ECM of the tested vehicles was able to account for the increased oxygen content in the fuel. Furthermore, a similar comparison was implemented on coolant temperatures from vehicles running on each fuel type. The researches found that the increase in ethanol concentration does not cause engine coolant temperature to change significantly. Finally, a number of more complex statistical data analyses were conducted to determine the effect of E30 on overall vehicle performance. Results from that analysis indicates no significant change in performance between the two fuel types. The study also found no compromise in fuel efficiency due to the increase ethanol content of E30. Mileage obtained per gallon was comparable throughout the year. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 05:30:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NIAMEY, March 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 137 people were killed on Sunday by unidentified gunmen in several locations in Niger's western region of Tahoua, close to the border with Mali, the Nigerien government confirmed Monday evening. "In the afternoon of March 21, 2021, Intazayene, Bakorat and Wistane, along with other villages and camps in the department of Tilla (region of Tahoua) were attacked by armed bandits," the government said in a press release. Security and sanitary measures have been reinforced in the region, and an investigation has been opened to find the perpetrators, the government added. The government also announced a three-day national mourning starting from March 23, with national flags at half mast across the country. Western Niger has in recent years suffered terrorist attacks on security personnel and civilians, despite the presence of French anti-terror troops. In January 2021, 100 civilians were killed by terrorists in the villages of Tchombangou and Zaroumdareye in this region. Enditem NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 Friends of Princeton Open Space recently announced the winners of its annual Give Thanks to Nature photography contest. In the adult category, Samuel Vovsis Moonlight Sky took first place honors, with Snowy Path by Kristina Corvin earning second place and third place going to Frozen Pond by John Waaben. Organizers noted they received a record number of contest submissions from photographers of all ages this year, inspiring them to add the new student categories to the annual event. Winners in the ages 11-16 student category were Mila Trkov, Gabrielle Kaputa, Ayan Khanna, Nicholas Foong and Milan Vapiwala. Winners in the ages 10 and younger student category included Nik Gono, Nathan Ricciardi, Sarah Burlion, Natan Wysocki, Martin Trkov, Aurelio Marcano, Tristan Wysocki, Matthew Ricciardi and Grayson van Raalte. The winning photographers were awarded gift cards provided by sponsor REI Princeton, the bent spoon, JaZams and LiLLiPiES. Images can be viewed online and an exhibit is planned for this fall at Small World Coffee on Witherspoon Street in Princeton. Send community news to community@njtimes.com The NHS has dropped the gender question from its Covid vaccine booking system in a bid to encourage trans people to get their jabs. Until last week people who used the NHS website to arrange their jab had to specify their gender so their GP record could be linked to the appointment. But this question has now been removed, meaning people don't need to answer the question to get through the booking process. The NHS designer who drove the change, Emma Parnell whose father is trans, argued in a blog post there was 'no clinical need' for the question and that it could distress people. Staff in the health service said forcing patients to answer the question could trigger dysphoria among some transgender people, she added. And NHS records could still be linked without the information because medics can usually confirm people's identities with their name and date of birth. Stonewall, the LGBT+ charity, welcomed the change and said: 'Everyone should be able to book a vaccine easily and safely and we welcome any move that ensures the booking process is more accessible.' People's NHS files can still be linked to their vaccination appointment without them being forced to reveal their sex (Pictured: A person receives the jab at a clinic in Luton) People had been asked to fill out the gender question because the NHS uses it as standard when connecting services to people's medical records. It is used as part of an identity checking service to make sure people's records aren't mixed up. But Ms Parnell a service designer at NHS Digital explained in a blog post: 'I found out early on that while there was no clinical or monitoring need for data on gender, the service was to require it to match peoples vaccination information to their GP record. 'I knew immediately that this would potentially exclude members of the trans community. 'We therefore set about trying to find a solution that would remove the need to ask for gender information, or if absolutely necessary to ask, do so in the most inclusive way possible.' She explained that the old NHS system that the vaccine booking programme was built on directly links gender to biological sex. But transgender people often do not identify with the same sex that is listed on their medical records because they must apply for official documentation and go through legal processes to have this changed. This can lead to them being forced to described themselves as male even if they identify as female, which can be upsetting. The Government estimates there are between 200,000 and 500,000 transgender people in the UK. Identifying as transgender can mean a person is anywhere on a spectrum of simply feeling like they should be a gender other than the one they were born as, to having fully transitioned and had reconstructive surgery or hormone therapy to change their body. Ms Parnell said in her blog that there had been reports of some people considering not getting a vaccine because they were asked about their gender during booking. She added: 'What was most heartening was the testing we did with the trans and non-binary communities. 'Seeing people see themselves in forms they are so used to being excluded from was all the evidence we needed, not just for the implementation of this screen but to make the case for wider change.' Decode Your Future with an Online Computer Science Degree from Drexel Drexel University's online computer science programs are designed to prepare you for work on the cutting edge of technology. The curriculum is designed for students with any level of experience or previous knowledge. Choose the program thats right for you. Learn More. A step toward engineering a new generation of powerful quantum computers has been made by a team of scientists and engineers at the University of Sydney, Microsoft and EQUS, the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems. The team, which published their findings in the Jan. 25 issue of Nature Electronics, invented a cryogenic computer chip capable of functioning at temperatures near absolute zero, which could enable a new crop of high performance quantum computers capable of performing calculations with thousands of qubits, or more. Qubits are the quantum equivalent of the bits used by traditional computers. Because qubits aren't binary -- they don't process information using zeroes and ones -- they're capable of much faster performance. For a variety of reasons, however, quantum computers, up to now, could only accommodate a few dozen qubits. That's why the new cryo chip, called Gooseberry, is such a breakthrough. The Gooseberry chip (red) sits next to a qubit test chip (blue) and resonator chip (purple). [Credit: Microsoft] "If the chip works as the researchers suggest and can be cost effectively produced, the design could simplify and quicken the development of larger quantum systems," Charles King, the principal analyst at Pund-IT , a technology advisory firm, in Hayward, Calif. told TechNewsWorld. EQUS Chief Investigator Professor David Reilly explained in a statement that to realize the potential of quantum computing, machines will need to operate thousands if not millions of qubits. "The world's biggest quantum computers currently operate with just 50 or so qubits," he continued. "This small scale is partly because of limits to the physical architecture that control the qubits." "Our new chip puts an end to those limits," he asserted. Freezing Out Errors Most quantum systems require qubits to operate at temperatures close to absolute zero (-273.15 degrees Celsius). That prevents them losing their "quantumness," the character of matter or light that quantum computers need to perform their specialized computations. "The environment can influence qubits quite a bit," explained Heather West, a senior research analyst at IDC. "When they're influenced, errors can be introduced," she told TechNewsWorld. "By bringing the environment down to really cold temperatures, it helps to eliminate errors." "The more qubits you have," she continued, "the better performance your computer will have. The problem is that when qubits begin working with one another -- a process called entanglement -- because they're so unstable, they can begin working incorrectly, or decoherently. As you scale up, decoherence increases." She added that there's another advantage to working at close to absolute zero. "To achieve super cold temperatures, you need to work in a vacuum, which helps reduce the environmental effects on the qubits," she said. Gilded Birds' Nest As with any computing device, in order to do anything useful, quantum devices need instructions. That means sending and receiving electronic signals to and from the qubits. With current quantum architecture, that involves a lot of wires. "Current machines create a beautiful array of wires to control the signals. They look like an inverted gilded birds' nest or chandelier," Reilly said. "They're pretty, but fundamentally impractical," he continued. "It means we can't scale the machines up to perform useful calculations. There is a real input-output bottleneck." With Gooseberry all wires are eliminated. "With just two wires carrying information as input, it can generate control signals for thousands of qubits," Microsoft Senior Hardware Engineer Kushal Das, a joint inventor of the chip, said in a statement. Reilly compared the current state of quantum computing to the ENIAC stage of computing in the 1940s, when to do anything useful, a computer required rooms of control systems. "Our industry is facing perhaps even bigger challenges to take quantum computing beyond the ENIAC stage," Reilly said. "We need to engineer highly complex silicon chips that operate at 0.1 Kelvin," he continued. "That's an environment 30 times colder than deep space." A Real Quantum Control System Operating at such cold temperatures means the system needs to operate with an incredibly low power budget, noted Sebastian Pauka, whose doctoral research at the University of Sydney was used to interface quantum devices with the chip. "If we try to put more power into the system, we overheat the whole thing," he explained in a statement. To achieve their result, the team built the most advanced integrated circuit to operate at cryogenic temperatures. "We have done this by engineering a system that operates in close proximity to the qubits without disturbing their operations," Reilly explained. "Current control systems for qubits are removed meters away from the action, so to speak," he continued. "They exist mostly at room temperature." "In our system we don't have to come off the cryogenic platform," he said. "The chip is right there with the qubits. This means lower power and higher speeds. It's a real control system for quantum technology." Quantum Computer Race King noted that quantum computing is still in its infancy. "We're still in the early days, both in terms of building commercial quantum systems and in learning how to program and work with them," he said. "Some great things have been achieved, but there's still a lot of ground to cover before quantum computing becomes commercially viable," he added. Today's quantum computers are primarily used to solve optimization problems. "Those problems can be found in almost any industry," West said. Hodan Omaar, a policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, a think tank studying the intersection of data, technology, and public policy in Washington, D.C. noted that in Japan, quantum computers are being used to optimize trash pickups. Meanwhile, Volkswagen is using quantum computing to optimize picking the parts for its cars. "They've shown it's more cost effective to use a quantum computer, compared to a traditional computer," she told TechNewsWorld. "For a small set of applications -- mainly optimization problems right now -- quantum computers are showing they're better at doing some kinds of problems," she said. "As quantum computers improve," West added, "they'll be used to solve more advanced problems in fields such as chemistry and pharmaceuticals." "We still have a long way to go," she continued, "but when we get there, we'll be solving a lot of different problems." One of those problems is already pitting one nation against another. "If a country can figure out how to build a quantum computer big enough and secure enough, it could be used to break any encryption," Omaar explained. "That's created a quantum computer race," she said. "If you're a country, you have to be in that race because if another country figures it out first, then you have a huge national security issue." John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John. Easter Egg Drive-Thru At Noble Park This Morning By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - Paducah Parks and Recreation is holding an Easter egg drive-thru event this morning at Noble Park.Cars will be able to drive past Noble Park shelter 16 from 9 a.m. until noon for kids to receive goodie bags with Easter eggs while supplies last.Shelter 16 is adjacent to the ball fields, and across from the swimming pool. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 For establishing advanced radiotherapy facility in Muzaffarpur and set up three mini cancer units in Bihar Alkem Laboratories has agreed to partner with Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) to establish an advanced Radiotherapy Facility as a part of the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Center (HBCHRC), Muzaffarpur. As part of Alkem's CSR activity, Alkem has sanctioned the purchase of 2 most advanced versions of the teletherapy and brachytherapy units for this facility. This facility being developed as a spoke model shall also provide chemotherapy, minor operation, basic laboratory, treatment planning, etc. To decentralize the cancer care further, Alkem and TMC have collaborated to also establish 3 mini cancer units in the following cities of Bihar namely Buxar, Jehanabad and Bhagalpur. These centers will connect cancer patients of those districts by telemedicine to HBCHRC, Muzaffarpur. In addition, these centers will work with the district administration on community activities such as cancer awareness and screening. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Boulder, Colorado, police officer killed while responding to a shooter at a grocery store was hailed as an "American hero" who "was willing to die to protect others," the president and his chief said Tuesday. Officer Eric Talley, 51, was among the 10 people killed in the shooting at King Soopers in Boulder and the first to respond to the scene, authorities said. Calls came into the police department around 2:30 p.m. local time Monday about shots in the area and "a possible person with a patrol rifle," Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said. Police work was a second career for Talley, and he got into the field because "he felt a higher calling," Herold told reporters Tuesday. "I can tell that you he's a very kind man and he didn't have to go into policing," said the chief, who lives just three blocks away from the supermarket that was attacked on Monday. "He loved this community and he's everything that policing deserves and needs. He cared about this community, he cared the Boulder Police Department and he cared about his family and he was willing to die to protect others." President Joe Biden said Talley's actions were nothing short of heroic. "When the moment to act came, Officer Talley did not hesitate in his duty, making the ultimate sacrifice in his effort to save lives," Biden said from the White House. "Thats the definition of an American hero." Talley joined the Boulder Police Department in 2010. The officer and his family were in Herold's office just two weeks ago to honor one of his sons, the chief revealed on Tuesday. Another son had swallowed a quarter before his big brother jumped into action. "Because Officer Talley taught his children CPR, one of his sons was able to save the little boys life," Herold said. Eric Talley had seven children and the youngest is 7 years old, his father, Homer Talley, said. "He loved his kids and his family more than anything," he said. Story continues Talley's younger sister also paid tribute, describing his death as a "devastating loss." My heart is broken. I cannot explain how beautiful he was, Kirstin Stillwell wrote on Twitter early Tuesday. Fly high my sweet brother. You always wanted to be a pilot (damn color blindness). Soar. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The suspected gunman, 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, was shot in the leg and arrested, officials said. A motive for Monday's attack was not immediately known, police said. Alissa was charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder. Herold said the investigation was complex but would take no less than five days to complete. "Our hearts of this community go out to the victims of this horrific incident," Herold said. Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement that he was grieving along with the entire state. He said Talley lost his life while working to save the lives of others and called the killings senseless. He was by all accounts one of the outstanding officers of the Boulder Police Department, and his life was cut far too short, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. "These were people going about their day, doing their food shopping, and their lives were cut abruptly and tragically short by the shooter who is now in custody," Dougherty said. Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., said the state was once again in mourning. There have been several mass shootings in the state, including in 1999 at Columbine High School and in 2012 at an Aurora movie theater. Our state grieves tonight as we mourn 10 more Coloradans senselessly killed by gun violence including police Officer Eric Talley," Hickenlooper said. "Our thoughts are with the victims' loved ones, and we are grateful to the front-line workers and first responders whose bravery saved lives." CORRECTION (March 22, 2021, 7:27 a.m. ET): A previous version of this article misspelled the last name of the police officer who was killed. He was Eric Talley, not Tally. Bars, discos, and karaoke shops in Hanoi have been permitted to reopen as authorities continue to loosen COVID-19 prevention and control measures in the capital. Vice-chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Chu Xuan Dung said at a meeting on Monday that local bars, discos, and karaoke parlors would be allowed to resume operations from 0:00 on Tuesday. All customers of these venues are required to fill out health declarations and install the Bluezone contact tracing app on their smartphones. Local authorities have been loosening COVID-19 prevention and control measures to focus on socio-economic development in the new situation, Dung stated. However, the risk of virus spread in the capital is still high compared to other localities in the northern region. The vice-chairman tasked competent agencies with carrying out regular inspection at non-essential businesses and services to make sure COVID-19 prevention and control regulations are strictly followed. Bars, discos, and karaoke parlors in Hanoi were previously shut down from February 1 to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The capital has not detected any local infections for over a month. In related news, authorities in the southern province of Dong Nai have also reopened bars, discos, and karaoke shops from Tuesday as the pandemic is currently under control. These services had been shuttered in the province since February 9. Vietnam has documented 2,575 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday morning, with 2,234 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! SDOH are social and economic factors that are often root causes of employee health issues, lost productivity, and reduced engagement. SDOH directly impacts nearly one-third of all working Americans, according to a national survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of ProMedica and Kumanu in December 2020. Factors such as food insecurity, financial stress, housing insecurity, childcare or eldercare struggles, emotional well-being, and a lack of reliable transportation along with behaviors account for over 70% of health outcomes, according to the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. A ProMedica/Harris Poll survey conducted in December 2020 revealed that 24% of full-time workers in the U.S. had experienced food insecurity issues and 20% of respondents were worried about stable housing, and 27% said they were experiencing childcare challenges. "Unmet employee needs related to Social Determinants of Health can have a significant impact on health and business outcomes," said Randy Oostra, president and chief executive officer of ProMedica. "ProMedica's decade-long experience in this area demonstrates that by effectively addressing SDOH needs, employers can help improve quality of life for employees while better positioning their companies for future success." Until now, employers have lacked practical solutions to assess these unrecognized risk factors and, more importantly, meaningful solutions to address them. Resourceful empowers employers that want to demonstrate empathy and care for their employees by identifying unmet needs and by providing appropriate, accessible resources to address them. Resourceful is a customizable platform designed for employers to de-stigmatize these issues and fill critical SDOH gaps unmet by traditional employer benefits and wellness solutions. Resourceful identifies risk factors in an employer's workforce and helps activate people with purpose and connect them with resources available at work, or in their community, confidentially. By identifying and connecting employees to resources, Resourceful can strengthen individuals' resilience to be better able to bring their best selves to work. Employers benefit when employees' emotional well-being and essential needs are being addressed. The ProMedica National Social Determinants of Health Institute and Kumanu's purpose experts will provide consultative services for employers and customize the Resourceful platform to each organization's unique needs to enhance existing employer wellness programs. "People are emotionally and physically burned out and are struggling in many ways. The current mix of employer well-being solutions is falling short and fails to identify all of the factors that cause people hardship," said Vic Strecher, Ph.D., Kumanu founder and CEO. "For the first time, Resourceful empowers employers to address essential needs and improve their employees' sense of dignity by addressing the unmet SDOH needs and providing stigma-free, technology-driven access to resources." To start supporting your employees with Resourceful, visit us at kumanu.com/resourceful/ . About Kumanu Kumanu transforms how organizations approach the emotional and social well-being of their workforce by addressing root causes missed in traditional programs. By blending neuroscience and behavior design into digital and live experiences, we help people live with purpose, connect to opportunities, and bring their best selves into each day. Forward-thinking organizations use our customizable platform and consultative process to create a more authentic experience that builds stronger business performance and a more connected culture. For more information about Kumanu, visit www.kumanu.com. About ProMedica ProMedica is a mission-based, not-for-profit health and well-being organization headquartered in Toledo, Ohio. It serves communities in 28 states. The organization offers acute and ambulatory care, an insurance company with a dental plan, and post-acute and academic business lines. The organization has more than 49,000 employees, 12 hospitals, 2,500+ physicians and advanced practice providers with privileges, 1,000+ healthcare providers employed by ProMedica Physicians, a health plan, and 335+ assisted living facilities, skilled nursing centers, memory care communities, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and hospice and home health care agencies. Driven by its Mission to improve your health and well-being, ProMedica has been nationally recognized for its advocacy programs and efforts to address social determinants of health. For more information about ProMedica, please visit www.promedica.org/aboutus. Media Contact: Brian McCormick 734-822-6662 [email protected] Tausha Moore 567-585-3890 [email protected] SOURCE Kumanu; ProMedica Related Links kumanu.com A man who admitted his role in a money laundering scam, which targeted a Kilkenny company, was handed down a suspended prison sentence at Kilkenny Circuit Court. Zachary Mandungu, 1 Goldenridge Close, Rush, Co Dublin admitted the offence which resulted in a local company lodging over 11,000 to a bank account which they believed to belong to a customer, in an invoice redirect fraud. Sergeant Paul Coleman gave evidence and outlined how on March 27, 2019 a Kilkenny-based company contacted gardai and reported that they were the victim of an invoice redirect fraud. The sergeant said the company got an email purporting to be from a customer stating that they had changed bank account and that into future monies should be paid into a different account. On March 22, 2019 a payment of 7,412 was made into the bank account by the company believing it to be a customer account and another payment of 4,585 was lodged on March 26, 2019. The company contacted the customer and found out that there were the victim of an invoice redirect fraud and contacted gardai. Sgt Coleman told the court that the account was then frozen and 4,593 was returned to the company who suffered a total loss of 7,403.11. An order was obtained by gardai to access the account that the money had been transferred into. The account was in the name of the defendant. Mr Mandungu was arrested and interviewed and co-operated fully with gardai. The court heard that the defendant rented out his bank account to unknown males and that the monies were transferred into that account. The defendant had received a payment of approximately 1,100 for allowing his account to be used in this way. Prosecuting barrister, Dylan Redmond explained the nature of the fraud. Someone contacted him via a social media platform and offered to rent his account for 1,100. Gardai do not believe that he sent the email to the company. That originated from outside the State and cannot be traced, he said. The court heard that the defendant made full admissions and entered an early guilty plea. The defendant has no previous convictions. Sgt Coleman said that while the injured party declined to make a victim impact statement they wanted to convey to the court the seriousness of the offence and the impact of this type of offence on a small to medium sized business. There seemed to be a lack of awareness of the bigger picture by Zachary Mandungu, added Sgt Coleman. Evidence was heard that the defendant was on social welfare at the time of the offence but has recently started in full-time employment. Defence barrister, Sean Rafter told the court that the communication started via the social media platform, Snapchat. Mr Rafter explained that his client had been asked for his bank account details by unknown criminals who then directed that the defendant attend at a bank to withdraw the cash. Someone turned up masked wearing a scarf, Mr Rafter said and added that his client had handed over the cash to the unknown person. The court heard that there was no CCTV available of the person taking the money. Sgt Coleman remarked that Snapchat is an ideal platform for fraud as nothing is retained on the device. The sergeant told the court that he had contacted Snapchat in relation to the fraud but had not received a response. Mr Rafter said that his client was used as a mule by more sophisticated and organised criminal elements who used Snapchat to lure him with the offer of easy money. He described the offence as being at the lowest end of the scale on the basis of recklessness. A sum of 1,100 was paid over in compensation to the injured party. A probation report was also handed into the court along with a number of references, including a letter from a pastor. My client comes from a large black family in West Dublin. He is one of 10 siblings and comes from a strong Christian family, said Mr Rafter, who added that his client is embarrassed and ashamed for his actions. The court heard that the defendant has strong community supports and a letter was handed in from Foroige which described him as a man of incredible promise. My client has a previously unblemished record and is well aware of the seriousness of the offence, he said. Judge Patrick Meghan said that he had to take into consideration that the company was still at a loss as a result of the invoice redirect fraud and the serious effect of such crimes on small and medium-sized businesses. He was not aware of the source of the email or of the funds but nonetheless he benefited from it, he said. The court heard the 22-year-old lives at home with his parents and siblings and has good family and community support. The judge said that in view of the mitigating circumstances and that he repaid what he got as compensation the appropriate sentence was two years. He suspended the sentence in its entirety for three years on condition that he undertake to do 240 hours work with the Probation Services. He also directed that the defendant enter a bond to be of good behaviour and keep the peace [March 23, 2021] TrueNorth and Boost.ai Enter Partnership to Supercharge Digital Customer Experience With Conversational AI TrueNorth, a global fintech software development company, and Boost.ai, a global leader in conversational artificial intelligence for Fortune 1000 companies, today announced a new partnership. This partnership streamlines the process of developing and implementing Boost.ai's AI-powered virtual agents for fintechs, banks, credit unions and other financial institutions in the United States. Enterprises in the financial sector can now take advantage of Boost.ai's market-leading conversational AI platform through TrueNorth as a trusted implementation partner, making it possible to quickly and easily automate internal- and customer-facing service and support at scale. Henry Vaage Iversen, CCO and co-founder of Boost.ai, states, "We are excited to be partnering with TrueNorth to demonstrate how our technology can create value for even more U.S.-based financial institutions. With TrueNorth's pedigree in the fintech space, we see their proven software implementation process as a surefire way for companies to harness the power of chat-led automation, quickly and at scale, staying well ahead of the digitalization curve." More than 200 organizations worldwide, including leading financial brands like Santander, Nordea and MSU Federal Credit Union, use the Boost.ai platform to successfully automate thousands of customer and employee interactions daily with consistent resolution rates of over 90 percent. Boost.ai's unique, no-code approach to conversational AI combines with proprietary self-learning algorithms to allow implementation partners like TrueNorth to deliver to its customers virtual agents that are quick to deploy, easy to maintain and highly scalable. TrueNorth CEO and co-founder Alex Gonikman notes, "The time is now for financial institutions to upgrade their customer experience to remain competitive, and the Boost.ai platform is leading the charge with their conversational AI experience. This is a great partnership as our team isuniquely positioned to integrate and deploy Boost.ai's AI-powered chatbots in a matter of months." TrueNorth's pioneering leaders and software engineers have perfected a development process that brings products to market in a cost-effective way and fast, three to six months. This rare combination has led to the successful execution of 120 digital transformations and 45 original enterprises built from the ground up. About TrueNorth TrueNorth.co is one of the most successful fintech software development companies in the world having built three fintech unicorns from scratch--LendingClub, Upgrade and Dianrong. The company specializes in building digital solutions, including 45 original enterprises, 120 digital transformations and 40 product revamps. TrueNorth's unique Team Captain client-focused process enables its most senior engineers to navigate and apply the latest technologies to develop and integrate cutting-edge digital solutions for banks, credit unions, payment companies, lending firms, wealth management firms, and insurance companies. More recently, TrueNorth has expanded its expertise into additional mission critical industries including healthcare and education. CEO Alex Gonikman, a veteran software architect, leads a staff of more than 60 employees from the company's headquarters in San Francisco, a development center in Buenos Aires, Argentina and strategic offices in Hong Kong, New York City and Austin, Texas. For more information about TrueNorth, visit www.TrueNorth.co About Boost.ai Boost.ai specializes in enterprise-grade conversational artificial intelligence (AI). Inventor of the world's most user-friendly conversational AI platform, Boost.ai empowers frontline customer service teams to automate customer service interactions with proprietary self-learning AI and a no-code solution that's quick to deploy, easy to learn and highly scalable. Able to handle unlimited intents while consistently maintaining resolution rates of 90 percent, Boost.ai's technology is used by companies like Telenor (News - Alert) , DNB and Silvercar by Audi to successfully automate thousands of interactions. Boost.ai is a privately held Norwegian software company founded in 2016 with headquarters in Stavanger and satellite offices in Oslo, Stockholm and Santa Monica. For more information about Boost.ai, visit www.boost.ai View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005831/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Arjuna Capital/Proxy Impact: Over Half of Top U.S. Companies Get an "F" on Racial and Gender Pay Scorecard Of 51 companies examined in the "Racial and Gender Pay Scorecard" released today to mark Equal Pay Day, fewer than one in 10 -- Mastercard, Starbucks, Pfizer, Citigroup, and Bank of New York Mellon - get an "A," while over half (26) get an "F." The 4th edition of the Scorecard is being released today by the investment management firm Arjuna Capital and Proxy Impact. The grades are based on quantitative disclosures (versus qualitative assurances) by companies taking concrete steps to close racial and gender pay gaps. The 51 companies in the ranking have all been engaged by investors through the shareholder proposal process and asked to improve their public pay equity disclosures. Natasha Lamb, managing partner, Arjuna Capital, said: "The world's largest corporations are under intense pressure to close their racial and gender pay gaps in response to investor insistence, the #BLM and #MeToo movements, and increasing public policy and regulation. But despite a wave of corporate statements expressing solidarity with Black Americans and women, there are very few standout companies that actually provide an honest accounting of and commitment to closing racial and gender pay gaps." Michael Passoff, CEO, Proxy Impact, said: "Racial and gender pay gaps at some of the world's largest corporations are an area of increased concern and focus. Pay discrepancies have raised reputational, regulatory, financial, and legal risks for companies. An increasing number of shareholders have asked companies to report on their analyses, policies, and goals to reduce any racial and gender pay gaps. The global Coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated racial and gender pay gaps and underlined the need for action." Key findings of the report include: Some of the biggest names in corporate America earned an "F" grade, including Goldman Sachs, Colgate, AT&T (News - Alert) , McDonalds, Walmart, and Verizon. Nine companies' scores deteriorated year-over-year, including Amazon, Wells Fargo, Intel, Google, Microsoft (News - Alert) , Verizon, Expedia, Starbucks, and Arthur J. Gallagher. Twenty-four companies improved their scores. Only 23 out of 51 companies disclose n racial pay gaps. And there is a noticeable difference in racial/gender pay disclosure by sector. For example, while two-thirds of financial companies have improved their scores from last year, only one-third of tech companies achieved such progress. Bank of New York Mellon and Pfizer earned an "A" grade this year, joining Mastercard, Starbucks, and Citigroup at the top of the list, due to commitments to best-practice disclosures. Eleven companies (in order of rank from best to worst) - Adobe, Nike, Progressive Insurance, American Express (News - Alert) , Reinsurance Group, JP Morgan Chase, Apple, Cincinnati Financial, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Intel-garnered a "B" grade for their efforts to disclose and act on their racial and gender pay gaps. Many of the companies in the Scorecard have provided adjusted pay data, but almost all have refused to provide investors unadjusted (median) pay gap data beyond their U.K. operations, where it is mandated. In fact, the only companies to report both adjusted and unadjusted median global pay gap numbers are Citigroup, Starbucks, Mastercard, and Pfizer, which has earned them top ranks. Bank of New York Mellon has agreed to do so in 2021. Over the last seven years, 132 shareholder proposals on this issue have been filed at more than 69 companies (including the 51 in the Scorecard), and many more have been engaged through shareholder dialogues. ABOUT THE REPORT AUTHORS Arjuna Capital is a sustainable and impact investment firm that works with high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions to invest their assets with a lens toward Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risk and opportunity. Natasha Lamb and Arjuna Capital have been recognized for using shareholder resolutions to promote gender and racial pay equity in the tech, banking, and retail sectors. Lamb was named to the " Bloomberg (News - Alert) 50" list of influencers who defined global business in 2017. For more information, visit www.Arjuna-Capital.com. Proxy Impact provides shareholder advocacy and proxy voting services that promote sustainable and responsible business practices. Proxy Impact's Women's Inclusion Project engages companies on issues of board diversity, workplace diversity, racial and gender pay gaps, and child sexual exploitation online. For more information, visit www.proxyimpact.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005970/en/ Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? South Africa: Japan hands over water training centre to SA Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation (DWS) Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has received the multi-million rand Roodeplaat Training Centre to train artisans to deal with water losses in communities. The centre was officially handed over by the Ambassador of Japan to South Africa, Maruyama Norio, during an event held at the Water and Sanitations Roodeplaat Training Centre outside Pretoria on Monday. It was also attended by the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo, President of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and Polokwane Local Municipality Mayor, Thembi Nkadimeng, and the MMC for Infrastructure in Tshwane, Councillor Phillip Nel. The Japanese government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), funded the construction of the training facility at the Roodeplaat Training Centre of Water and Sanitation. The training yard covers the basics of training artisans to deal with water losses in communities. The designs of the training yard were conducted by the departments engineers with technical support from JICA. The training of artisans comes against the background of growing concerns about the huge amounts of water losses estimated at R9 billion a year in South Africa. A South African company was contracted by JICA to construct the training yard. The departments engineers will handle all the activities, including the maintenance of the training yard, to ensure sustainability of the programme. Sisulu has taken ownership of the training yard on Non-Revenue Water Management built by the Government of Japan from Ambassador Maruyama. Speaking at the event, Maruyama said the objective of his governments assistance in South Africas water sector is to give support for skills development of local municipalities who are faced with challenges of water losses, known as non-revenue water. The area of non-revenue water is one of the major challenges Operation Vulindlela will drive in the economic reform of South Africa. The Japanese assistance will help municipalities to improve their performance in water services and to address challenges of economic reforms at grass root level, Maruyama said. Maruyama described the training centre as more than a skills development project we provide to the municipalities, its a skills development that enables economic reform. Non-revenue water Sisulu said that water is under extreme threat from a growing population, increasing demands of agriculture and industry and the worsening impacts of climate change. The Minister noted that the department and South African Local Government Association (SALGA) are faced with a similar challenge regarding the state of non-revenue water in South Africa. The municipalities do not have the capacity and opportunity to train their officials on non-revenue water and the country does not have a specific functional facility available to offer training on non-revenue water. It is clear that the Japanese model of non-revenue water management is the easiest in that it focusses mainly on the practical side of dealing with non-revenue water than theory, Sisulu said. She said the department will continue to work with SALGA, CoGTA and the metros in ensuring that the project delivers on its intended objectives. Sisulu also emphasised that access to water and sanitation is recognised by the United Nations as human rights, reflecting the fundamental nature of these basics in every persons life, she said. Meanwhile, Dlamini-Zuma said her department is part of a process to establish a non-revenue structure which she hoped would bear fruit. Dlamini-Zuma attributed the problem of water scarcity to the effects of climate change. Water leakages and damaging infrastructure also contributed to water scarcity in South Africa, the Minister said. She also called for the revival of the culture of payment for services, which she said will contribute towards the improvement of water supply. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-03-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A social media relationship guru who is known for encouraging women not to settle for less than they deserve has admitted to being sexually involved with several women outside of his marriage after another social media star exposed him as a cheater. Derrick Jaxn has been married to Da'Naia Jackson for three years and has been in a relationship with her for 12 but last week, a woman named Candice De Medeiros claimed that she'd had an affair with him. Backlash against Derrick quickly swelled on social media, with commenters calling him out as a hypocrite and forcing the Alabama resident to admit that he'd been unfaithful to his wife and was holding himself accountable. Whoops! A social media relationship guru who is known for encouraging women not to settle for less than they deserve has been exposed as a cheater Couple: Derrick Jaxn has been married to Da'Naia Jackson for three years and in a relationship for 12 Cheater: But last week, a woman named Candice De Medeiros (not pictured) claimed that she'd had a prolonged affair with him Derrick has 745,000 YouTube subscribers and 1.3 million followers on Instagram, who come to his pages for healthy relationship advice. In past videos, which Derrick films in his car, he has urged women not to put up with bad behavior from men or believe lies and excuses. Titles of popular lessons include 'Why he gave his new woman everything you deserved,' 'He's not mature enough to handle you,' 'You deserve to be fought for, too!' and 'How to stop being taken for granted.' But on March 19, vlogger Tasha K. revealed that he may not be quite the 'good guy' he claimed to be, and spoke to Derrick's alleged sexual partner Candice De Medeiros. Candice detailed how during their relationship, Derrick claimed to be separated from his wife. They texted throughout the summer of 2020, even spending his birthday together. She also said she slept in the bed that Derrick shares with his wife. Yikes... Vlogger Tasha K. interviewed Derrick's alleged sexual partner Candice De Medeiros, who said she even slept in the bed he shares with his wife Doling it out: Derrick has 745,000 YouTube subscribers and 1.3 million followers on social media, who come to his pages for healthy relationship advice In past videos, which Derrick films in his car, he has urged women not to put up with bad behavior from men or believe their lies and excuses News of the video quickly spread on social media, where critics called Derrick out for not practicing what he preaches. Faces with rumors swirling, Derick shared a video on Instagram on Monday confessing to adultery but insisting the bad behavior was all in the past. In the video, he and his wife sat side-by-side with clasped hands as Derrick admitted to cheating a multiple occasions in August and September of last year. 'This chapter of our marriage is one that was proceeded by a marriage that I completely failed,' he said. 'The truth is... Derrick Jaxn was involved with other women outside of the marriage,' he continued, referring to himself in the third person. 'And by involved, I just want to be clear, I'm not talking about just causally kicking it, maybe a lunch or something like that. I'm taking about as serious as sex, to sexual flirtation and meeting up and that kind of thing,' he went on. He said that his conduct also included flirting with women, including those whom he'd been been sexually involved with in the past. Confession: Faces with rumors swirling, Derick shared a video on Instagram on Monday confessing to adultery but insisting the bad behavior was all in the past 'The truth is... Derrick Jaxn was involved with other women outside of the marriage,' he continued, referring to himself in the third person 'I'm also not a victim,' he said. 'Nobody made me do this. She didn't make me or push me to do it... I made decisions, I made a series of decisions I've gotta account for' 'All of it falls under the umbrella of inappropriate, affair, cheating, stepping out, definitely not in align with the vows that I took,' he said. He explained that he has already been accountable to God and his wife, but since his infidelity has been made public, he wants his followers to know that he doesn't stand by what he did. 'I cannot build a platform preaching certain things ... and then in my real life live contrary to that,' he said. He believes that men and women should be held accountable for their actions, and knows he is know exception. 'I'm also not a victim,' he said. 'Nobody made me do this. She didn't make me or push me to do it... I made decisions, I made a series of decisions I've gotta account for.' For now, the couple is working on 'healing,' and he said he understands if he has lost some followers and supporters. Da'Naia, meanwhile, shared her own feelings about his behavior. 'There is no justification for bringing other women into our marriage on any level, and it was unacceptable and it's not something that I tolerate, or that we tolerate going forward,' she said. Called out: Backlash against Derrick quickly swelled on social media, with commenters calling him out as a hypocrite 'When I found out about it, I left. I did not hesitate or waste time to do so. And I stayed gone ... and stood firm on "I am not coming back." 'And I did not come back until I saw a shift and a change in his mentality and how he carried himself and how he presented himself in conversations that we were able to have, that we had never been able to have in 12 years of knowing each other. She went on: 'Today where I'm at is at peace and I'll probably stand by his side, and I have no hesitation, no hurt, no shame about that, and it's only because of the grace of God and the mercy of God. 'We have already turned a new chapter in this story. We are continuing to move forward. 'I forgave him and most importantly, God has first forgiven him. And I have also forgiven the others as well,' she said. Though Da'Naia is ready to forgive him, Twitter users are not. 'Not Derrick Jaxn cheating on his wife for YEARS with his whole healthy relationship platform. Men will always amaze me,' wrote one critic. Others were also concerned by the confession video, suggesting that Da'Naia was not a completely willing participant 'So yall mean to tell me that whole time when Derrick Jaxn was making videos in his car, he was either bout to go cheat or just got done cheating?' tweeted another. 'Derrick Jaxn built his whole brand around being one of the good guys This is why any guy who refers to himself as one of the good ones is a [red flag emojis],' added a third. 'Now that I think about it, It totally makes sense that Derrick Jaxn does every video sitting in his car. He know damn well he couldnt be in the house lying like that in front of his wife,' added one more. 'Wild part about Derrick Jaxn is his online persona would tell his wife to leave him,' noted yet another. Others were also concerned by the confession video, suggesting that Da'Naia was not a completely willing participant. 'Derrick Jaxn cheating is lame but did he have to make that video with the wife being held captive,' wrote one. Mumbai: Challenging Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawars contentions regarding states Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, BJP Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday hit back alleging that the NCP chief is trying to protect his party leader and not speaking the truth. Refuting Pawar`s statements on Monday that Deshmukh was in-home quarantine in Nagpur during the relevant dates mentioned in the letter by former Mumbai Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh, Fadnavis exhibited a flight manifesto, police VIP movements records and other papers and declared that Deshmukh was actually in Mumbai and not in quarantine. "As per police records of VIP movement, Anil Deshmukh went to Sahyadri Guest House on Feb 17 & Mantralaya on Feb 24. He was in-home quarantine from Feb 15-27 but met officers, wasn't in isolation. I feel Pawar Sahab wasn't briefed properly yesterday,'' Fadnavis said. As per police records of VIP movement, Anil Deshmukh went to Sahyadri Guest House on Feb 17 & Mantralaya on Feb 24. He was in home quarantine from Feb 15-27 but met officers, wasn't in isolation. I feel Pawar Sahab wasn't briefed properly y'day: Maharashtra LoP Devendra Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/gX6TmuO6pZ ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2021 "This is an attempt to protect Deshmukh. Pawar Saheb is not being briefed properly and hence not speaking the truth. They are getting exposed in the process," Fadnavis claimed, addressing a press conference on Tuesday. The BJP leader further announced that he would be meeting the Union Home Secretary to provide full details of the `letter-bomb` and related issues and request a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as very big names are involved. Fadnavis` statements came in the wake of the raging political controversy over Singh`s 'letter-bomb' accusing Deshmukh of making alleged Rs 100-crore `collection` demands from an arrested-suspended Assistant Police Inspector (API) Sachin Vaze from Mumbai bars, eateries and hookah joints. Earlier, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar also took a jibe at Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)-led Maharashtra government, saying that their CMP is not Common Minimum Programme but "Collecting Money through Police". "CMP of Maharashtra government is not Common Minimum Programme, but it is Collecting Money through Police," Javadekar said in a tweet. Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh had on Saturday written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, alleging that state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had indulged in "malpractices" and asked suspended API Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month. The allegations made by Singh had come a day after Deshmukh had said that Singh was moved out as Mumbai Police Commissioner so that cases pertaining to Waze were probed without obstruction. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, meanwhile, on Monday defended Deshmukh stating that the Maharashtra Home Minister was hospitalised from February 5 to 15. Addressing media in the national capital, Pawar said, "If you see the former Commissioner`s (Param Bir Singh) letter, he mentions that in mid-February, he was informed by certain officers that they got such and such instructions from the Home Minister. From 5th-15th February, Deshmukh was admitted in the hospital because of coronavirus." Pawar also displayed a hospital slip which indicated that Deshmukh was in the hospital till February 15. The NCP chief said, "So it`s clear Deshmukh was in Nagpur. CP is saying he was briefed the same day by the home minister. The second week of March, Parambir got the information he says. Why was he waiting the whole month to expose it? Yesterday I also suggested some senior officer should probe the case. I think it is clear who murdered (Mansukh) Hiran. In the investigation, it will be clear why they did this." Live TV Atlanta Shooting Suspect Charged With Malice Murder and Aggravated Assault Atlanta massage parlor shooting suspect 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long has been charged with malice murder and aggravated assault, a county sheriff announced Monday. Cherokee County Sheriffs Office said in a statement that Long, who is accused of opening fire at three spas, killing eight people including six of Asian descent, could still face further charges. Working with jurisdictions across Georgia, Robert Aaron Long was quickly apprehended and now faces malice murder and aggravated assault charges in our jurisdiction, the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office said Monday. Malice murder is an offence in the state of Georgia that alleges express or implied malice. Long took full responsibility for the shootings on the night of March 16, officials said last week, adding that the 21-year-old may not have targeted the parlors out of a racially motivated animus but because he wanted to end his sexual addiction. Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds told reporters last week that Long was apparently a frequent visitor at the massage parlors prior to his shooting spree. Many such parlors are known to illegally offer sexual services and are most commonly staffed by Chinese immigrants, many of whom have fallen victim to human trafficking rings. The suspect has been interviewed, which indicated he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction. He may have frequented some of these places in the past, Reynolds said, adding that allegedly, the gunman sought to eliminate the temptation by committing acts of violence against them. Reynolds added that the indicators right now are it may not be. It may be targets of opportunity. Again, we believe that he frequented these places in the past and maybe have been lashing out. Long has asserted that the shootings were not fueled by racism. Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant also said that officers are just not there yet about whether the shooting was racially motivated. The sheriffs office said Monday that its deputies were still looking into the incident and gathering evidence. In an effort to preserve the case for prosecution, the Cherokee Sheriffs Office will not be making any additional comments about this case at this time, the office added. The FBI is assisting both Cherokee County and Atlanta police in investigating the case. The investigation hasnt so far uncovered an anti-Asian motive on Longs part, however lawmakers are calling on people to stop hurting Asian Americans in the wake of the incident. According to police statistics reported to the FBI, while Asian Americans have increasingly become the victims of hate crimes because of their ancestry in recent years, the incidents remain rare. Jack Phillips and Petr Svab contributed to this report. NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Local Media Consortium (LMC) today announced the launch of NewsNext, a strategic initiative to redefine local media's standing in the digital ecosystem, improve its sustainability and create a more privacy-compliant, scalable way to connect advertisers with consumers. Bringing together working groups of ad operations, technology leaders and audience data experts, the LMC partnered with digital news media and advertising technology veteran Scott Cunningham to design this initiative and chart a new path of sustainability for its members. The working groups' findings resulted in the launch of NewsPassID, a local news advertising network and a single-sign-on solution for consumers. The solution will help publishers create a new consumer and advertising monetization strategy, create transparency and accountability in the advertising supply chain, and address regulatory, self-regulatory and platform changes. Marketers and advertising buyers will benefit from the transparency and scale of the aggregated permissioned first-party data offered via the NewsPassID solution set. Initial research, recommendations and pilot programs are detailed in a newly released white paper available at NewsPassID.com . "The continued disintermediation of publishers' digital revenue, impending changes to advertising attribution and emerging privacy regulations highlight the challenges facing local media at a time when people seek trustworthy news about their communities," said Fran Wills, CEO of the LMC. "NewsNext is an important initiative aimed at leveraging scale to develop viable strategies for consumer access to news and monetization, advertising, and technology to help local media publishers navigate current and future challenges in the digital ecosystem." Local news outlets have struggled for decades to find a financial foothold in the digital ecosystem. They are hampered by a low barrier to entry for online content, consumers' lack of appetite for paying for digital content regardless of journalistic quality, social network content dissemination, and third-party intermediaries in the digital advertising supply chain that result in fewer dollars earned for publishers and less efficiency for advertisers. NewsNext and NewsPassID seek to help news organizations mitigate these negative impacts, first by understanding the landscape. "The LMC was the ideal consortium of assembled practitioners to establish the NewsNext program and architect the NewsPassID solution," said Cunningham, who founded the IAB Tech Lab and is author of the NewsNext whitepaper. "Local news media is at a crossroads, as is its future participation in the open web. With the regulatory and marketplace changes occurring, journalism organizations can either rise to the occasion and take back consumer trust and data ownership or face extinction. We studied how news media aggregation alliances have been recently forged in other parts of the world. It's time journalism be given a new bill of rights here in the United States and the NewsPassID solution begins that process." Introducing NewsPassID: A More Sustainable Model for Journalism A groundbreaking new solution, NewsPassID will create a more sustainable model for journalism through both a Business (B2B) Advertising Network solution and a Business -to-Consumer (B2C) Single-Sign-On solution. While these complementary solutions sets have valuable synergies, they are independent of one another. The Advertising Network (B2B) solution delivers an addressable advertising aggregation of news inventory and first-party data for buyers. The NewsNext initiative is owned by members of the Local Media Consortium, a network of 200 million users across 5,000 website domains, not including mobile apps, CTV or legacy media products. NewsPassID will allow buyers to access customized segments of aggregated local news publisher advertising inventory through preferred programmatic bidding channels. The pilot phase of the NewsPassID identifier and programmatic display advertising controls commenced in Q1 2021. The Single-Sign-On (B2C) solution is a news single sign-on interface for consumers across participating publishers signaling trusted, logged-in experiences. NewsPassID is a new privacy-friendly way for consumers to access credible content at scale through a single login. They can manage their personal data consent and determine their preferred access along the value exchange continuum from advertising to subscriptions. Through NewsPassID, consumers will also have an easier and more affordable way to read news from their hometown and other markets important to them. "The LMC is owned and operated by local media companies across North America and has spent years cultivating a collaborative environment to help its members navigate the complexities of the digital landscape," said Tobias Bennett, LMC VP Revenue and Partnerships. "Based on its success, the LMC is ideally positioned to create a new purpose-built, sustainable solution that reinforces local media relationships with consumers, reestablishes its position with advertisers, and strives to ensure that news creators are the primary beneficiaries of the value created by their work." To read the full white paper, including detailed research finding, recommendations and how to access the NewsPassID solution, visit NewsPassID.com . About the Local Media Consortium The Local Media Consortium delivers economic value through strategic partnerships and initiatives on behalf of over 90 local media companies in top markets across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, and includes more than 5,000 outlets. The LMC delivers over $50M in annual financial benefit to its members by harnessing their combined volume and scale to reduce costs and increase revenue with technology and service providers like Google, Facebook, Monster and others. The LMC has also launched several strategic initiatives to provide cost-effective shared services and aggregated ad revenue opportunities for its members like The Branded Content Project , The Matchup and the Local News Advertiser Inclusion List . According to ComScore, the aggregated LMC audience footprint spans 212 million monthly unique visitors and reaches 80% of the U.S. online audience. More information is available at http://www.localmediaconsortium.com/ . About Scott Cunningham Scott Cunningham is the author of the Defining Brand Safety series by the Brand Safety Institute, Founder of the IAB Tech Lab, principal technology and program Founder of the Trustworthy Accountability Group, former President of Media News Group Interactive and was a pioneer in the development of USATODAY.com and many other digital publishing and ad technology platforms and products. His work involves steering the global digital advertising and news publishing industry towards economic sustainability, best user experience practices, hygiene and standards. He can be reached at [email protected] Media contacts: Christina Gillham, [email protected] Kristin Brocoff, 949-400-4899, [email protected] SOURCE Local Media Consortium Related Links http://www.localmediaconsortium.com This time around, they got about 24 hours to move items to higher ground, but they havent been able to save everything. What the fires didnt take, the floods did take, Mr Cserhalmi said. Weve lost stock around us - there are animals trapped we cant do anything about. Despite the poor phone reception, Mr Cserhalmi said the community has been rallying and checking in on each other. We advised yesterday about 18,000 people have been evacuated and regrettably we now have warnings for an additional 15,000 people that may need to be evacuated, Ms Berejiklian said. The extra areas of concern are around the river in the Hawkesbury but also the Northern Rivers area that was previously not as severe as the Mid North Coast. On Tuesday, a new evacuation warning was issued for areas along the Hawkesbury River from Windsor to Wisemans Ferry. Residents were told to prepare to evacuate if river levels continue to rise following further rainfall expected on Tuesday. Loading Ms Berejiklian said the multiple weather fronts were catastrophic in terms of its dimensions. She said low numbers of people in evacuation centres suggested most people affected by the floods had been able to stay with family and friends. The Premier gave the update on the flood crisis from the State Emergency Operations Centre at Homebush - the headquarters of the Rural Fire Service - which was activated on Monday morning. The State Emergency Operations Centre will access live information, intelligence sharing, digital mapping, as well as public information to quickly get critical information to the public. Now at RFS headquarters, not only are we dealing with the crisis of the flood situation, but already considering the clean-up operation and recovery, Ms Berejiklian said. Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the danger is far from over. Credit:Janie Barrett Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said the NSW SES had responded to 9500 requests for assistance since the floods began, with 1300 in the past 24 hours. He said 850 of those had been flood rescues of motorists. We are statistically crawling towards the inevitable fatality, he said. That must be avoided. Australian Defence Force resources and assets were requested yesterday. Two aviation assets from Nowra will be deployed [and] a second request to the ADF was made last night for the military to provide assistance as quickly as possible for the clean-up efforts. Ms Berejiklian said while some parts of the state might see sunny weather on Wednesday, the danger was not over. Loading Quite the contrary, she said. Many river systems are still taking major flows and continue to rise. So there could be flooding in communities we havent anticipated and thats why please, please listen to the advice. Almost 200 schools across the state are closed on Tuesday due to extreme weather and flooding over the past few days. Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Helen Kirkup said the combination of a coastal and inland trough over the country would result in heavy rain battering the South Coast. The area could receive between 100 and 150mm of rain during the day, while also experiencing strong winds and damaging surf. Hard hit areas, such as the Mid-North Coast and Central Coast, are expected to experience a slight easing in conditions on Tuesday. But Ms Kirkup said there could be some good news for the state, with a possibility of seeing stars overnight in some places as the rain begins to clear. The NSW SES received 1390 requests for assistance in the 24 hours to 7am on Tuesday and completed 114 flood rescues. There are 1800 volunteers working to assist people across the state. More than 536 SES teams have activated since 4pm on Sunday. The Australian Defence Force will also support NSWs flood emergency efforts from Tuesday, with two search and rescue helicopters operating out of the South Coast in 24-hour operations. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 01:47:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Somalia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mohamed Abdirizak discussed here on Monday means of promoting bilateral cooperation in all fields, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement. "The talks tackled the exerted efforts for developing the cooperation between the two sides in a way that reflects the strong mutual relations," said Ahmed Hafez, spokesperson of the Egyptian foreign ministry. "Egypt pays full attention to achieving peace and stability in Somalia, and called on all the Somali sides to continue the dialogue for paving the road to run free and integrated elections," Hafez said. Enditem Xi, Kuwaiti emir exchange congratulations on 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties Xinhua) 08:26, March 23, 2021 BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday exchanged congratulations with Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the two countries' diplomatic relations. In his congratulatory message, Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Kuwait relations, and is willing to work with the Kuwaiti emir to take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship and deepen cooperation in various fields within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to bring benefits to the two countries and peoples. Xi said the traditional friendship between the two countries has withstood the test of time and grown even stronger since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago. In recent years, the two countries have formed a strategic partnership, continuously deepened mutual political trust and achieved fruitful results in cooperation in various fields, Xi said, adding that both sides understand and support each other on issues of the other's core interests and major concerns, and have closely coordinated in international and regional affairs. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi said, the two sides have worked together to fight the disease, which demonstrates the high level of China-Kuwait relations. For his part, the Kuwaiti emir said that Kuwait-China relations are strong and continuing to develop and deepen. The two sides have cooperated on major projects within the framework of their strategic partnership, maintained communication and coordination on international and regional issues and jointly safeguarded world peace and security, he said. The two countries have carried out active coordination and close cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, adding that he is looking forward to further strengthening the bilateral relations and enhancing their cooperation in various fields. On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also exchanged congratulatory messages with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. In his message, Li said that since China and Kuwait established diplomatic ties 50 years ago, bilateral relations have developed smoothly with both sides increasingly deepening their mutual political trust and steadily advancing the Belt and Road cooperation. The two countries have also gained fruitful results in cooperation in such fields as energy, infrastructure, finance and people-to-people exchanges, with mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples continuing to grow, Li added. China is ready to work with the Kuwaiti side to push forward their strategic partnership to achieve greater development, Li added. The Kuwaiti prime minister said in his message that friendly ties between Kuwait and China are sound and close, and bilateral cooperation has achieved fruitful results. The Kuwaiti side highly values the friendly relations with China, and hopes to continue to work with China to promote their strategic relations in all aspects and meet the expectations of their friendly countries and peoples, he said. Election opens Wednesday for 2021-22 student body president UNCSAs Student Government Association will be hosting the election for the 2021-22 student body president on March 24 and 25. This position collaborates with representatives from UNCSAs High School Student Government, SGA Executives (undergraduate SGA), representatives from the Graduate Student Council, the Association of Student Governments, and represents UNCSAs student body as a voting member of UNCSAs Board of Trustees. This year's student body president (SBP) candidates are: Jenna Cusack, a rising fourth-year filmmaking student Rohit Lila Ram, a rising third-year filmmaking student Jenna Cusack's campaign Bridging Communication with Students and Administration Informing students on what conversations occur between the SBP and administration. Creating a medium for students to better voice their concerns. Informing students on the resources available to support them (i.e. HR, Title IX, counseling). Elevating Students' Voices Providing opportunities for more students to have a voice in important decisions. Ensure students are represented in all administrative and dean searches. Creating a system that helps place students who are best fit to serve on different committees and searches. Foster Collaboration Preserving and evolving new collaborations that have presented themselves this year. Encouraging new and untraditional collaboration between the arts schools. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) follow-through Following through with the initiatives created by the EDI committee. Working alongside administration, faculty and staff on implementation, and holding them accountable during this process. Adapting and adjusting the EDI plan as the campus evolves. Rohit Lila Ram's Campaign Transparent Communication with the student body Building a forum to create awareness amongst students. Listen and resolve the concerns of the student body. Advocacy for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Creating more space for discussion on EDI. Student Mental Health Support Increasing resources for students' mental health. How to vote You can cast your vote starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, March 24 and ending at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, March 25. All students (high school, undergraduate and graduate) may cast one vote for their candidate of choice. Vote If you have difficulties accessing the link during the above times, please email Steve Gallagher and attach a screenshot of any error messages. Thank you for your participation in voting for your next student body president. - The 2020-21 SGA Executive team Contact: Steve Gallagher March 23, 2021 Submit an announcement Five people, including four children, have died in a suspected stampede during a public viewing of the body of former Tanzanian president John Magufuli. The tragedy occurred as regional leaders joined Tanzanians to pay their last respects to the controversial leader. Mr Magufuli was one of Africa's most prominent Covid-19 sceptics and his government announced that he had died of a heart failure on Wednesday. Five people, including four children, have died in a suspected stampede during a public viewing of the body of former Tanzanian president John Magufuli Tanzanians line a street to get a glimpse of the body of president John Magufuli passing in a convoy in Dar es Salaam Mr Magufuli was one of Africa's most prominent Covid-19 sceptics and his government announced that he had died of a heart failure on Wednesday But opposition leaders and critics believe that he died of complications from the virus which he had downplayed for months. Ten of thousands of Tanzanians came out to view Mr Magufuli's body at Uhuru Stadium in the country's largest city, Dar es Salaam, over the weekend. Suzan Mtua, 30, died with four school-age children from the same family when there was a stampede of people wanting to view the body on Sunday, said family spokesman Heri Mtua. 'The children had demanded they also attend the funeral of president Magufuli,' he said. 'Later that day we received a call late evening by an unknown person using Suzan's phone.' Opposition leaders and critics believe that he died of complications from the virus which he had downplayed for months Volunteers assist a civilian as she mourns late Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli during the state funeral at Uhuru stadium Military officers escort a gun carriage carrying the coffin of the late Tanzanian President The caller said that the owner of the phone had been taken to a hospital. But her body was eventually found at the morgue, he said. The children were aged between seven and 12. Hundreds of people who attended the funeral fainted in the crush and authorities said they will issue a statement on Tuesday about the number of people killed in the national event. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was Mr Magufuli's vice president and succeeded him, was joined by nine African heads of state on Monday for Mr Magufuli's state funeral. Among them were Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa. African leaders from across the continent gathered to pay their respects for Mr Magafuli Mr Magufuli had been missing from public view since February 27, when he swore in a new chief secretary Janeth Magufuli, the widow of the fifth Tanzanian president John Magufuli, attends his national funeral 'We mourn the loss of our friend, our brother, a hard worker,' said Mr Kenyatta, chairman of the regional bloc East African Community. 'He showed us that, as Africans, we have the potential to liberate ourselves from dependence on foreigners. That we have potential as Africans to manage our economies and ensure that our people get justice,' he said. Mr Magufuli had been missing from public view since February 27, when he swore in a new chief secretary after his predecessor died with what many speculate was Covid-19. For days government officials denied he was ill, claiming he was busy and the president is not duty-bound to make public appearances. Mr Magufuli will be buried on Friday. 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. Australian Zoo Offers Free Trips to 70,000 School Kids Harvey Norman and Sydney Zoo are joining together to offer free zoo excursions to the 70, 000 year two students in New South Wales. Sydney Zoos Managing Director Jake Burgess said that education is the key to encouraging behavioural change. Educating students is one of the best ways that zoos can have the biggest and longest-lasting impact on the grassroots support for conservation, the environment, and wildlife, Burgess said in a media release. Romper the wombat being fed a carrot by keeper Tara Gunter on February 24, 2020, at Sydney Zoo in Sydney, Australia. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) With last years bushfire devastation and wildlife populations declining at rapid rates, it is more important than ever to connect students with wildlife to inspire next generations to take action, he said. Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page echoed Burgess sentiments, commenting that children thrive when their curriculums are brought to life. We are so excited about every aspect of our new Sydney Zoo partnershipa phenomenal new zoo in the heart of Western Sydney, Page said. Year two boys and girls, no matter where they live in NSW, can be inspired and informed by the 2,000 species of animals, indigenous cultural experiences, unique ecosystems combined with the diverse expertise of the team at Sydney Zoo, she said. A Tufted Capuchin sits in a hanging food tray on a tree in its enclosure on Feb. 24, 2020, at Sydney Zoo. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) Students will get an opportunity to observe the wildlife closely, such as walking alongside emus and kangaroos roaming through the zoo, view the lions from the boardwalk, and see the elephants bathe in their swimming holes. A male baboon watches his troop in Capetown, South Africa. (Paula Bronstein /Getty Images) The students will also have a chance to learn about Australian indigenous culture through an immersion project and view baby baboons, chimpanzees, and capuchin monkeys living in their social groups. Opened on Dec. 7, 2019, Sydney Zoo is the first new zoo to be built in Sydney in more than 100 years. It is home to over 1,000 species of exotic and native animals, as well as Australias largest reptile house and aquarium. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) The Catholic Media Network, the broadcasting arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said Tuesday there will be no processions during the Holy Week as the pandemic drags on. Sa Palm Sunday, wala muna ang prusisyon na dala dala mo ang palms, Catholic Media Network President Fr. Francis Lucas said in a briefing. [Translation: On Palm Sunday, there will no procession of palms for the meantime.] He added the Palm Sunday celebration, which commemorates Jesus entry into Jerusalem, should be held within sacred buildings. The priest also said the procession of the Blessed Sacrament, believed to be the body of Christ, as well as the Washing of the Feet religious activities traditionally held during Holy Thursday mass celebrations, will not be observed this year. Washing of the Feet marks the Last Supper of Jesus and the institution of the Holy Eucharist. Lucas noted these rules are based on the guidelines released by the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Ito po ay alituntunin ng Vatican at ito rin ang pinapakalat ng CBCP, he said. [Translation: These are Vatican rules, which are being disseminated by the CBCP.] The mass celebrations during Holy Week next week will go on in churches but the Vatican urged the churches to maximize the use of social media so Catholics can still worship remotely amid the restrictions on religious gatherings due to the health crisis, Lucas said. The Inter-Agency Task Force prohibited until April 4 religious gatherings in the so-called NCR Plus 'bubble' namely Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, and Bulacan amid the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in the country. Meanwhile, in his pastoral instruction for the Holy Week, Bishop Broderick Pabillo said they will not observe any Holy Week rituals such as senakulo, pabasa, processions, motorcades, and visita iglesia. But he said churches in the Archdiocese of Manila can accommodate up to 10 percent of their capacity beginning March 24. Let the worshippers be spread apart within our churches, using the health protocols that we have been so consistently implementing, he added. From Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, the prelate urged the faithful to join the masses online. CNN Philippine sought comment regarding Pabillo's pastoral instruction from Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who speaks for the IATF, but he has yet to respond. [March 22, 2021] Accelerate Acquisition Corp. Closes $400 Million Initial Public Offering Accelerate Acquisition Corp. (the "Company"), a blank check company led by Robert Nardelli, Michael Simoff and Jeffrey Kaplan and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, today announced that it closed its initial public offering of 40,000,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit. Total gross proceeds from the offering were $400,000,000, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses. The units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trade under the ticker symbol "AAQC.U." Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock of the Company and one-third of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock of the Company at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, and only whole warrants are exercisable. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the shares of Class A common stock and warrants are expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols "AAQC" and "AAQC WS," respectively. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. UBS Investment Bank acted as sole ook-running manager for the offering. The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from UBS Securities LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019, telephone: (888) 827-7275 or email: ol-prospectusrequest@ubs.com. A registration statement relating to the securities became effective on March 17, 2021 in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the proposed initial public offering and the anticipated use of the net proceeds. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and prospectus for the Company's offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC (News - Alert) "). Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. For more information, please visit http://www.xlr8ac.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210322005833/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] CNBC noted that many international tourists to Vietnam head north to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay or south to Ho Chi Minh City. Those who do venture to the centre typically go to the old town of Hoi An, the glitzy hotels outside of Da Nang or to the historic sites of Hue and My Son. Another attraction in the countrys interior is the colossal Son Doong Cave. First explored in 2009, only 1,000 travellers are permitted to explore it each year, a limit put in place to protect the cave, which is believed to be one of the largest and most magnificent in the world. With Vietnam continuing the suspension of international flights and the halting of entry for all foreigners, except for special cases, as a measure to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, CNBC has urged its readers to visit the country once the pandemic passes. Traveller habits are changing as people across the world are bypassing big cities in favour of smaller destinations that attract fewer tourists, and outside activities such as hiking and biking are drawing greater interest than before, CNBC said. The channel also included other destinations worth visiting post-pandemic like Normandy in France, Kagawa in Japan, and Dandenong in Australia. A doctor looks at protein samples at Novavax labs, one of the labs developing a vaccine for the COVID-19, in Rockville, Md., on March 20, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Maryland Lawmaker Unveils Bill to Block Firms From Imposing Vaccine Mandate A Maryland lawmaker has unveiled legislation that seeks to ban employers from terminating workers who refuse to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. The bill, sponsored by Democratic Delegate Nick Charles, would prevent businesses from putting forth a vaccine mandate. It also aims to protect companies from being sued by employees who become infected by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, and previously refused to be vaccinated. Prohibiting an employer from terminating an employee solely on the basis of the employees refusal to receive a vaccination against COVID-19, a summary of the bill states. If signed into law, the bill would be effective for a period of two years, until further studies on the safety and efficacy of the existing COVID-19 vaccines emerge, Prince Georges County Delegate Charles said. Charles, who has himself been vaccinated against COVID-19, told Fox 5 DC that his proposal is about protecting some of our most vulnerable citizens. Ive gotten feedback from other colleagues who may not necessarily like the bill. Theyre scared that it may add to some hysteria and I tried to explain to folks. This is not a bill about anti-vaccine, its not a bill about adding to hysteria, said Charles. If mandates are put in place and those who are still scared, what will end up happening wherewe already have a chronic unemploymentthat community will be either further disadvantaged where people in the community will lose their jobs if theyre scared, he added. It comes as lawmakers in at least 27 states have proposed barring employers from mandating workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The majority of those bills have faltered. Federal guidance issued in December 2020 permits businesses to legally require that employees are vaccinated as a condition of going to work, however, employees religious objections must be considered, and vaccine requirements must not discriminate against employees with disabilities. As COVID-19 vaccinations continue to roll out across the United States, businesses, including Starbucks, Kroger, Target, Amtrak and Trader Joes have begun offering incentives for employees to encourage workers to be inoculated. Target announced last month that it will offer up to four hours of pay for frontline and essential employees who are vaccinated. The retailer is providing free COVID-19 vaccines for its more than 350,000 employees. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 43 million adults in the United States have been fully vaccinated against the CCP virusequal to about 13 percent of the U.S. population, or about 1 in 6 adults in the country. 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, authorized by regulators last month, makes up 2.1 million of the doses administered, with another 2.1 million distributed but not yet injected. GENEVA Responding to a decades-long push for accountability in the Sri Lankan civil war, the United Nations will set up a team of investigators to collect evidence of atrocities and abuses, amid deepening concern over the governments backsliding on human rights. The Human Rights Council in Geneva voted decisively to support a resolution led by Britain and Canada that provides funding for a team to collect and analyze evidence of abuses and also to develop possible strategies for pursuing prosecutions of the perpetrators. The resolution is the latest effort to push for accountability for atrocities committed by a guerrilla group, the Tamil Tigers, and by the security forces during the 30-year civil war. In January, a report released by the U.N. human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, urged international action to ensure justice for international crimes committed in the country. Sri Lanka remains deeply scarred by the brutal civil war its largely Sinhala government waged for 30 years against ruthless Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam guerrillas who aimed to create a separate state in the islands Tamil-majority north. (Adds comment from CureVac in fifth paragraph) ZURICH, March 23 (Reuters) - German drugmaker CureVac this week established a Swiss business unit, official records show, a precursor to seeking approval from national drugs regulator Swissmedic for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate. CureVac Swiss AG was established on Monday in Basel, home of big drugmakers including Roche and Novartis, according to the city of Basel's commercial registry. A business must be in the commercial registry as a condition of applying for a licence for a medicinal product from Swissmedic. "The company aims to research, develop and market biotechnological products," said a description of CureVac's purpose in setting up the unit. CureVac has yet to formally apply for approval for its mRNA vaccine candidate, a Swissmedic spokesman said, though the company is gearing up to do so. "Concerning a potential application ... we are currently in discussions with Swissmedic," a spokesman said in an email. Switzerland - which to date has approved COVID-19 shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson but has said it needs more information from AstraZeneca to bless its vaccine - has placed orders for five million doses of CureVac's vaccine. Europe began a real-time review of CureVac's vaccine in February, and the company has said data from trials could come in March or April. (Reporting by John Miller. Editing by Michael Shields and Mark Potter) Advertisement One year ago today, a sweeping national lockdown was imposed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. In what is the biggest crisis since the Second World War, businesses have had to shut their doors, schools were closed and thousands of Britons have lost their jobs. But a little over 100 years ago, the Spanish flu pandemic also wreaked havoc across the world, killing at least 50million people. In the UK, many schools were closed, buses and trains were cancelled and people were advised to self-isolate if they caught influenza. And in an eerie echo of how Mr Johnson came close to death last year after catching coronavirus, the Prime Minister in 1918 David Lloyd George became seriously unwell with influenza. Below, MailOnline looks back at how Britons coped with a pandemic which ended up killing more than 200,000 people in the UK after the First World War had taken more than 800,000 soldiers' lives. A little over 100 years ago, the Spanish flu pandemic also wreaked havoc across the world Prime Minister David Lloyd George's 'attack of influenza' which could have killed him In September 1918, Lloyd George, who had been Prime Minister since 1916, fell ill with Spanish flu at the same age 55 that Mr Johnson was struck down by coronavirus. With Britain still engaged in war with Germany, the PM was on a tour of Manchester and was set to give a series of rousing speeches and attend events. However, he had to cut his plans short because he became so unwell. Speaking on a BBC Radio 4 programme about the pandemic, historian and author Catharine Arnold said Lloyd George was a 'very forceful' man so initially 'pushed himself on' when he began to feel unwell. But the PM then became so ill that his schedule had to be scrapped and he needed to be cared for in a makeshift room in Manchester town hall. Last year, there were few updates about Mr Johnson's condition when he caught coronavirus. The seriousness of the situation only became fully apparent when it was announced he had gone to hospital. In September 1918, Lloyd George, who had been Prime Minister since 1916, fell ill with Spanish flu at the same age 55 that Mr Johnson was struck down by coronavirus A further update then revealed he had been admitted to intensive care. In 1918, there was far less detail about the PM's condition. Officials were worried that, if it were announced that Lloyd George was seriously unwell, it would be a huge propaganda victory to Germany. Ms Arnold said: 'They made up a bed for him in Manchester town hall and they got a top doctor in. 'He immediately said: 'I think he's got Spanish flu, don't tell anyone.' 'Quite a few people thought he was a goner. Basically if it had got out that the PM was mortally ill, it would have been a huge propaganda victory to the Germans.' David Lloyd George became so ill that his schedule had to be scrapped and he needed to be cared for in a makeshift room in Manchester town hall Despite the lack of detail in official pronouncements, Lloyd George in fact needed the help of a respirator to breath. His condition was later described by his valet as 'touch and go'. Ultimately though, like Mr Johnson, Lloyd George did survive his ordeal. He had a fever for a week and needed several months of recuperation but was well enough to lead the British delegation at the Treaty of Versailles in the summer of 1919, which officially brought hostilities with Germany to an end. Pictured: The Daily Mail's coverage in September 2019 about David Lloyd George's 'attack of influenza'. He had a fever for a week and needed several months of recuperation but was well enough to lead the British delegation at the Treaty of Versailles in the summer of 1919, which officially brought hostilities with Germany to an end How schools were closed hundreds of children were kept at home as virus gripped parts of nation Although there was no centrally imposed lockdown like those seen across most of the world in response to coronavirus, steps were taken at a local and regional level to try to slow the spread of Spanish flu. The first wave hit Britain in May 1918, with the first recorded case in Glasgow. Within weeks, the virus had spread southwards before appearing to peter out in the summer. Much like with the second and third wave of the Covid-19 virus, Spanish flu then returned in October 1918 - and spread alarmingly fast. In response, hundreds of elementary schools were closed, although schools in London only shut their doors if staff absences made it impossible to keep them open. There was no nationwide order to close schools during the Spanish flu pandemic, but many did close their doors amid outbreaks in parts of the country. Pictured: Young women wearing masks to guard against influenza In Aberystwyth, Wales, most schools were shut from December until January 1919. In Manchester, the city's education committee agreed to shut all schools on the advice of Dr James Niven. Niven was Manchester's Medical Officer of Health. Speaking on a BBC Radio 4 programme about the pandemic, historian and author Catharine Arnold said there was 'no doubt' that Dr Niven's approach saved 'many, many lives'. The medic also warned people to avoid public gatherings, said that flu sufferers should be kept warm in a ventilated room and warned that sick people should not return to work except under medical advice. Many theatres, dance halls, cinemas closed for months Leisure venues such as theatres and cinemas are closed as part of the current national lockdown, as they were last year when the first nationwide measures were imposed in response to coronavirus. When Spanish flu struck, Dr Aida Milne explained on the BBC Radio 4 programme how cinema owners 'protested' at being forced to shut, because they were worried about going out of business. In an attempt to keep their establishments open, cinema owners agreed to take steps to limit the spread of flu. Dr Milne said: 'So what they did in many places was they agreed that they would allow a time between showings so that they could fumigate and disinfect. 'And they also barred children from coming into it because they considered children to be super spreaders.' With no government-imposed lockdown in place, it was up to the authorities in each town and city to decide what precautions to take. Pictured: A man sprays disinfectant, 1918 to 1919 Buses and trains cancelled, mines forced to close and police shortages Writing in his book The Spanish Flu Epidemic And Its Influence On History, author Jaime Breitnauer explains how daily activities in Britain were severely disrupted by the pandemic. She said: 'Across the nation, daily activities were drawing to a halt, with bus and train services postponed, post offices and bakeries on limited hours due to staff shortages and undertakers turning down orders as they were already struggling to process the number of dead.' After four years of the ravages of the First World War, there were already food and fuel shortages. Nearly everyone was either directly or indirectly affected by the injury, death or disappearance of a soldier in the ongoing conflict. Buses and train services were cancelled and postponed as a result of the impact of Spanish flu. Pictured: A bus being disinfected in London in 1920 Last year, trains on the London Underground were also regularly disinfected to try to stop the spread of coronavirus By July 1918, it was reported how some coal mines in Newcastle had as many as 70 per cent of their workers off sick. This brought production during a time of great need 'practically to a standstill', writes Breitnauer. The author adds that the Prudential insurance company noted during its annual meeting in January 1919 how, between November and the end of December the year before, 650,000 was paid out to cover industrial losses from flu. In the same period, just 279,000 had been paid for losses from war. During the second wave, 1,500 police officers in London a third of the workforce failed to turn up for work because they were unwell. A man spraying the top of a bus with an disinfectant during the Spanish flu pandemic, which lasted until 1920 Thousands of children orphaned and general health hammered Breitnauer also sheds light on how the number of orphans in England, Scotland and Wales 'increased sharply' as a result of Spanish flu. The crisis ended up spawning three charitable organisations to care for them: the National Child Adoption Association (NCAA); the National Adoption Society (NAS) and the National Council for the Unmarried Mother and her Child (NCUMC). They were set up specifically to rehome children. As for general health, the mortality rate for women aged 25 to 30 was 600 times higher in 1918 than in the previous four years. Pregnant women also had a 50 per cent higher chance of developing lung-related illnesses, such as pneumonia. The year of 1918 was also the first on record in which the number of deaths outweighed the number of live births, Breitnauer adds. How bishops said the Government would have to pass legislation forcing churches to close as many refused to shut their doors Boris Johnson's Government was criticised in some quarters for banning communal worship inside churches, synagogues, mosques and other faith venues during the first national lockdown. Whilst there was no nationwide shutdown of churches during the Spanish flu crisis, some local authorities tried to force them to close. However, speaking on the BBC's Radio 4 documentary, Professor Karen Sayer, from Leeds Trinity University said a lot of them defiantly remained open. She said: 'A lot of churches refused to close. Some quite high-flying bishops said the government would have to pass an act to close the churches. '[They said] surely it's all right if we just keep them well ventilated anyway. They were kind of defending that space.' Will Troughton, the curator of photography at the National Library of Wales, said on the BBC's radio documentary about the crisis that people in Wales were asked not to go to church or chapel. He said: 'Not going to church or chapel would seem anathema to most people. That is how they got their information about the world.' Public health posters which warned people to 'wear a mask' and to 'wash your hands' In 2020 and 2021, Britons have been bombarded by official posters and adverts warning them about the risks posed by coronavirus and the need to observe social distancing and wash their hands. When Spanish flu struck the UK, there were similar adverts. One, dating from Christmas 1918, urged Britons to 'wear a mask' and 'wash your hands'. It added: 'Avoid touching your face. Maintain a safe distance from others'. However, the emergence of Spanish flu also gave less scrupulous businessmen the chance to earn money by marketing products which they said would help guard against the infection. When Spanish flu struck the UK, there were similar messages. Pictured: The above poster was issued during Christmas in 1918 Professor John Watkins said to the BBC: 'The medical profession was almost incapable of providing an answer to the flu and there was a whole plethora of people trying to argue that their unctions and potions are going to be efficacious in every way to give you a cure of the flu. 'People claimed that Bovril Oxo would even cure flu.' On advert claimed: 'A cup full of Oxo two or three times a day will prove an immense service as a protective measure. It's a fact a sure preventative against influenza is coco.' Another message from a shop spoke of the 'immense value of Bovril'. The emergence of Spanish flu also gave less scrupulous businessmen the chance to earn money by marketing products which they said would help guard against the infection. Pictured: 'Why catch their influenza?'. An advert for Formamint germ killing throat tablets to ward against the spread of influenza How people were warned to self-isolate Although there were no laws about social-distancing, there was still general advice which warned about how Spanish flu was highly contagious. A report in the Daily Mail in 1918 read: '...the first and obvious measure is to avoid infection as far as possible. If the person could isolate himself on top of a mountain he would certainly escape; if he travels daily in crowded trains and omnibuses and mingles with crowds under cover, he will almost surely fall a victim sooner or later.' It also warned that the virus was present in the 'nose and upper part of the air passages', adding that when a sufferer 'coughs or sneezes' he 'spread infection'. The report continued: 'The danger of catching the disease in the open is not very great, but crowded streets, like the Strand and Cheapside in London are little better than theatres and churches.' If concluded by saying that a man who 'walks two or three miles' to work will 'defy the microbe', but if he travelled in a 'stuffy train or omnibus', the virus would 'have the better of him'. The Spanish Flu Epidemic And Its Influence On History, by Jaime Breitnauer, is published by Pen & Sword. Although there were no laws about social-distancing, there was still general advice which warned about how Spanish flu was highly contagious. Pictured: A report in the Daily Mail warning of the dangers posed by Spanish flu How barbers stayed open A common feature of the coronavirus pandemic on social media has been Britons sharing pictures of their unkempt hair styles after salons were forced to close as part of the nationwide lockdown. It was announced earlier this year that hair and beauty salons would not be able to reopen until April 12. In the Spanish flu pandemic, there were no nationwide laws which forced similar establishments to close. Images show barbers wearing masks as they continue to cut clients' hair. In the Spanish flu pandemic, there were no nationwide laws which forced hair salons to close. Images show barbers wearing masks as they continue to cut clients' hair 'Isolation Hospitals' were set up to cope with increasing patient numbers as public health took a hammering As the NHS grappled to cope with the deluge of coronavirus patients last year, temporary 'Nightingale' hospitals were set up, including at the Excel Centre in London. Although most were barely used due to staffing issues, they were hailed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock as having played a 'critical role' in the pandemic. During the Spanish flu pandemic, makeshift field hospitals were set up as conventional establishments failed to cope with the deluge of patients. Breitnauer explains how ordinary hospitals became 'centres for the spread of the disease' and as patients were kept in wards with 'sealed' windows despite expert insistent they should have access to 'cool, dry and fresh air'. She adds: 'Some statistics even appear to show that those in the makeshift hospitals, especially tent hospitals, fared better than their counterparts on the wards.' During the Spanish flu pandemic, makeshift field hospitals were set up as conventional establishments failed to cope with the deluge of patients. Pictured: Masked doctors and nurses treat flu patients lying on cots and in outdoor tents at a hospital camp, 1918 A ward at Fourth Scottish General Hospital where most patients were influenza cases. The photo was taken in November 1918 As the NHS grappled to cope with the deluge of coronavirus patients last year, temporary 'Nightingale' hospitals were set up, including at the Excel Centre in London How deaths from Spanish flu compare to coronavirus fatalities The global mortality rate for Spanish flu is estimated to have been between 10 and 20 per cent of those who were infected. Young adults aged between 20 and 30 were the hardest hit, with onset devastatingly quick. Overall, around 50million people globally lost their lives. In the UK, the figure was around 228,000. By contrast, 126,000 Britons have lost their lives due to coronavirus. The average age of people who died from the disease in England and Wales is just over 82. The Nifty futures on Singapore Exchange reversed early gains and were trading marginally lower at 14,702, indicating a muted start for benchmark indices on Tuesday. Here are the top stocks to track in today's session: Maruti Suzuki: The company said it will "substantially" increase the prices of its entire product portfolio from next month in order to offset the impact of high input costs. The auto major said the exercise would cover its entire product range in the country. Bank stocks: Shares of bank companies will be in focus today as the Supreme Court will pronounce verdict on a batch of pleas by various trade associations, seeking extension of loan moratorium and other reliefs in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Edelweiss Financial Services: Investment firm PAG has invested Rs 2,366 crore in Edelweiss Wealth Management to acquire controlling stake in the company. BPCL: The board of privatisation-bound Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) on Monday approved the merger of its gas subsidiary, BGRL with itself in a bid to streamline corporate structure. IndusInd Bank: Moody's Investors Service revised upwards its outlook on IndusInd Bank to 'stable' from 'negative' while affirming its rating. Varroc Engineering: The company board has approved the proposed fund raise by way of a qualified institutional placement of equity shares. The QIP issue opened on March 22. Bharti Airtel: The company will acquire an additional 3.3 per cent stake in special purpose vehicle Avaada MHBuldhana that has been formed for owning and operating a captive power plant. LT Foods: LT Foods, which is into basmati and other speciality rice, said it has certified with the highest level of verification L3, by UN-backed Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) ecolabel. This will enable the company to use SRP verified logos on the packs of rice produced by verified 1,000+ farmers growing sustainable rice, LT Foods said in a statement. KEC International: The company has secured new orders worth Rs 1,429 crore across its various businesses. With these orders the company's current year order inflows have exceeded Rs 11,000 crore. Tata Communications: The government has exited its shareholding in the company after selling its entire 26 per cent stake. The government sold 16.12 per cent stake through an OFS, which fetched the government Rs 5,457 crore and the remaining 10 per cent was sold to a strategic partner at OFS discovered price for Rs 3,389 crore. Vaibhav Global: The company board has approved sub-division of one equity share of face value of Rs 10 each into five equity shares of Rs 2 each, subject to shareholders' approval. BEML: Multiple Expressions of Interest received for the privatisation of The transaction will now move to the second stage, DIPAM Secretary said in a tweet. Tata Motors: Goldman Sachs sees 20 per cent downside in Tata Motors' shares as it believes its 70 per cent share price rise this year has overshot fundamentals. The brokerage has retained a sell call with a target price of Rs 241, revised up from Rs 175. Jubilant Ingrevia: Ace investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala said persons acting in his concert have purchased 3,04,009 equity shares in Jubilant Ingrevia on March 19, resulting in an increase in total shareholding in the company to 99,33,809 equity shares i.e. 6.23 per cent of total paid-up equity of Jubilant Ingrevia. New Delhi: After a gap of nearly two years, the top officials of India and Pakistan will hold a two-day meeting beginning Tuesday (March 23) to discuss the Indus water sharing between the two nations. The talks also reflect the normalising of ties between the two-nuclear powered nations. A delegation from Pakistan had reached New Delhi on Monday to hold talks with India under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT). The treaty warrants the two sides to meet once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan. However, the last year`s meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi was cancelled in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. "This will be an important meeting. We will engage with India in accordance with the Indus Water treaty. We are hopeful regarding this meeting," Mehran Ali Shah, Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters said. Pakistans Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Muhammad Mehran Ali Shah will lead the delegation while the Indian delegation will be led by India's Indus Commissioner PK Saxena with his advisors from the Central Water Commission, Central Electricity Authority and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation. India and Pakistan have engaged in a long outstanding water dispute over two hydroelectric projects. Pakistan has raised objection to the building of the Kishanganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) hydroelectric plants by India, saying that it violates the provisions of the treaty. India insists on its right to build these projects and hold that their design is fully in compliance with the guidelines of the treaty. The World Bank had asked both the countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements over the Indus Water Treaty Dispute 1960. Indus Water Treaty The Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) is a bilateral commission of officials from India and Pakistan, created to implement and manage goals of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, brokered by the World Bank. It comprises the Indus Commissioners from both sides and discusses technical matters related to the implementation of the treaty. The last India-Pakistan PIC was held in Lahore, Pakistan in August 2018. The Indian delegation was led by PK Saxena, the Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed between then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former Pakistan President Ayub Khan in 1960. The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding their use of the rivers, known as the Permanent Indus Commission, which includes a commissioner from each of the two countries. It also sets out a process for resolving so-called "questions", "differences" and "disputes" that may arise between the parties. Live TV Westpay AB has signed a frame agreement with a leading European POS provider, and will be their preferred partner for payment solutions. The company provides point of sales (POS) solutions for merchants in the hospitality sector. The initial term of the frame agreement is four years, and deliveries of payment products and services is estimated to commence in Q2 2021. - This is exciting news for us at Westpay. This is one of the major players in Europe, and we are, of course, very proud to be teaming up with them. Now it's all about execution and enable their business by adding our value. Again, we get the confirmation we are looking for that we are on track with a relevant offering powered by the right strategy, says Sten Karlsson, CEO at Westpay AB. For additional information, please contact: Sten Karlsson, CEO Westpay AB Mobile: +46 70-555 6065 Email: sten.karlsson@westpay.se Hans Edin, CCO Westpay AB Mobile: +46 70-688 02 05 Email: hans.edin@westpay.se Westpay's Certified Adviser is Redeye AB phone: +46 8 121 576 90, email: certifiedadviser@redeye.se Attachment Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Featured stories Gov. Mike DeWine authorizes health departments to give extra coronavirus vaccine doses to all Ohioans 16 and up if they cant fill appointments (Read more) Gov. Mike DeWine urges Ohio lawmakers not to override promised veto of bill limiting coronavirus powers (Read more) Cleveland parents want answers after adult son with autism dies in police custody (Read more) Coronavirus in Ohio A healthcare worker in Chillicothe receives a COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, televised as part of Gov. Mike DeWine's coronavirus briefing. Gov. Mike DeWine denies coronavirus vaccine equity plan favors rural areas at expense of urban areas (Read more) Ohio again loosens restrictions on visits to nursing homes, assisted-living facilities (Read more) As expected, Ohio surpasses 1 million coronavirus cases: Monday update (Read more) Is it OK to take over-the-counter or prescription pain medication before getting a COVID-19 vaccine? (Read more) AstraZeneca: U.S. data shows vaccine effective for all ages (Read more) Crime Two people were killed and two others injured, including the suspect, in a shooting at My Friends Restaurant in Cleveland. Two arrested in shootout that left two dead at Cleveland diner, gunmen wounded, police say (Read more) Ohio resident accused of storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in support of Trump (Read more) Parma man robbed at gunpoint in Akron after meeting girl from Snapchat (Read more) Brunswick City Schools receives third bomb threat this year (Read more) Cleveland / Cuyahoga County Indicted Ward 4 Councilman Ken Johnson is facing challenges on another front a host of candidates seeking to foil his re-election this fall.The Plain Dealer Host of candidates lining up to challenge indicted Cleveland Councilman Ken Johnson (Read more) U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear former Commissioner Jimmy Dimoras appeal (Read more) Former City Councilman Zack Reed announces bid for Cleveland mayor (Read more) Cuyahoga County Sheriff allows deputies, jail officers to resume working part-time security at bars following fatal shooting (Read more) Cleveland council OKs borrowing $140M, including money for Sherwin-Williams downtown home and new police headquarters (Read more) More hiring, more problems with Cuyahoga Countys ill-fated IT overhaul (Read more) George Zeller, economist, advocate for the poor and RTA riders, dies in house fire (Read more) Radio giant iHeartMedia will move Cleveland headquarters downtown, build new street-level studio (Read more) New Cleveland land trust group to build affordable housing in hottest West Side real estate markets (Read more) Cleveland confirms 117 new COVID-19 coronavirus cases, no new deaths since Friday: Monday update (Read more) Local news West Rocky River schools placed members of high school staff on administrative leave after a report that they talked about a student in an inappropriate manner, according to a district communication. Rocky River Police investigating report of high school staff talking inappropriately about student (Read more) Rocky River ramps up summer construction projects (Read more) Avon High School offering seminars on common student struggles during the pandemic (Read more) Parma Area Chamber of Commerce cancels second consecutive Rib N Rock Cookoff and Musical Festival (Read more) Akron area FirstEnergy names new ethics and compliance officer; predecessor left after HB6 corruption scandal (Read more) Summit County GOP fundraising to pay for lawsuit against Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRoses ruthless political vendetta (Read more) Medina County Fair marks 175th annual trip around the Ferris wheel (Read more) Medina City Council OKs ordinance against feeding nuisance animals (Read more) Bay Village hopes to light up the sky this Fourth of July (Read more) State Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine voices concern over large crowds as spring break, NCAA playoffs continue (Read more) White House reveals details of President Bidens trip to Columbus (Read more) New federal website offers advice, links to help unemployment fraud victims (Read more) Despite the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Tuberculosis (TB) control programme in Nigeria, the country recorded a 15 per cent increase in TB case notifications in 2020. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, made this known at the launch of the Unified TB campaign in Abuja on Tuesday. The launch was done ahead of the 2021 World Tuberculosis Day, celebrated on March 24 every year to raise public awareness about the health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. It is on record that Nigeria recorded a 15 per cent increase in TB case notifications in 2020 compared with the previous year, Mr Mulombo said. The theme of World TB Day 2021 is The Clock is Ticking and Nigerias localised slogan is That cough fit be Tuberculosis not COVID, check am o. The theme is a wake-up call for Nigeria to accelerate TB response to reach the set targets in the 2021-2025 National TB Strategic Plan, according to Mr Mulombo. Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that often affect the lungs. It is spread from person to person through the air. When people with TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected. Nigeria remains one of the 30 countries globally with the highest burden of the disease. Nigeria also ranks first in Africa in the number of undetected cases. Despite TB being a vaccine-preventable disease, statistics from the WHO show that every year, around 245,000 Nigerians die from TB, and about 590,000 new cases occur (of these, around 140,000 are also HIV-positive). Dangerous but Underfunded Mr Mulombo said about 70 per cent of the TB budget in 2020 were unfunded, posing a major threat to the country efforts in achieving the set targets. He explained that many people are pushed into poverty when they contract TB due to lost income, transport costs and other expenses. He said 71 per cent of TB patients in Nigeria and their household are affected by catastrophic cost due to TB. According to the country representative, TB remains one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide and the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent (ranking above HIV/AIDS). Globally, there are an estimated 10 million people with TB in 2019, with Nigeria and seven other countries accounting for two-thirds of the global total, he said. Low case detection Mr Mulombo said low TB case detection remains a major challenge in the TB control efforts in Nigeria, with the country detecting only 27 per cent of the estimated incident TB cases. The undetected TB cases can further constitute pool of reservoir that fuel on-going transmission of TB in the community, as one undetected infectious TB case is able to infect between 12 15 people per year, he said. He noted that Nigeria is far from achieving the targets set to diagnose and treat over a million TB cases before 2022. ADVERTISEMENT Nigeria at the United Nations High Level Meeting (UNHLM) on TB in 2018 made a commitment to diagnose and treat over 1.1 million TB cases and place about 2.2 million clients on TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) from 2018 to 2022, he said. The country is far away from achieving these targets with less than 2 years to go. He said the international health agency will continue to support Nigeria in developing and implementing guidelines, plans, framework and strategic documents to end TB epidemic. In his remarks, Director-General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the focus of this years theme and slogan is timely in view of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Because the two diseases share similar symptoms, the need to have appropriate diagnosis for both diseases to determine the actual cause of any cough is crucial, Mr Ihekweazu said. He said a patient may be infected by both COVID-19 and Tuberculosis. Mr Ihekweazu said the theme clock is ticking is a call for all stakeholders, communities, and well spirited individuals to join hands in the fight against Tuberculosis. Maharashtra state board exams for Class 12 cancelled in view of COVID-19: Minister Vijay Wadettiwar. in view of COVID-19: Minister Vijay Wadettiwar. Lockdown-like restrictions to be lifted from tomorrow in 18 out of 36 Maharashtra districts: government. in 18 out of 36 Maharashtra districts: government. Marigot: The French government defended its hurricane preparations for the hard-hit Caribbean islands of St Martin and St Barts, rejecting criticism by political opponents and by islanders who felt abandoned as their homes and towns were devastated. French President Emmanuel Macron announced he would be travelling to St Martin on Tuesday on an Airbus carrying aid supplies to show that Paris is committed to both helping and rebuilding its far-away territories pummelled by Hurricane Irma. Some Caribbean officials said Britain was also too slow in responding to destruction on the British Virgin Islands and the Dutch government faced criticism for not acting more quickly to evacuate tourists stranded on St Maarten, the Dutch side of St Martin. The Dutch king is also heading to the region. The hurricane killed at least nine people on St Martin as it hit Wednesday, destroying a huge number of houses, cars and boats and cutting off all water and electricity for days. Extra troops had to be sent to stop the looting of stores. Another four people were killed on St Maarten. The arrival of Hurricane Jose, a Category 4 that passed by Sunday, only delayed recovery efforts across the Leeward Islands. Read more: Hurricane Irma rips through Florida at 130 mph, 3 dead In St Martin on Sunday, authorities were trying to set up the first large distribution points for food and water as the smell of churned-up rotting debris wafted over the island. In the western coastal town of Grand-Case, a 76-year-old man who only gave his first name, Michel, emerged from a grocery store laden with food, explaining that he had nothing else to eat. "Everything has been destroyed where I work. There's nothing there", said Manon Brunet-Vita, 27, as she walked through Grand-Case. "When I got to this neighbourhood, I cried." French government spokesman Christophe Castaner, speaking on Sunday with Europe1-CNews-Les Echos, said he "perfectly (understood) the anger" of island residents. But he insisted that officials had known of the "extremely high risk" posed by the hurricane days in advance and had mobilised military and health care personnel in nearby Guadeloupe. Castaner said many islanders were suffering from"emotional shock, an impact that's extremely hard psychologically." More than 1,000 tons of water and 85 tons of food along with fuel have been shipped to St. Martin and St. Barts, and additional deliveries are expected in upcoming days, government officials in Guadeloupe said. Crews with heavy equipment and chain saws were clearing the roads of debris. St Martin's port of Marigot, which has been too dangerous to enter due to the scores of wrecked boats either sunk or scattered across its shores, was to reopen today morning. A ship is expected to dock with a 5-ton crane capable of unloading large containers. An increase in police and soldiers patrolling the streets has reduced the amount of looting. Authorities in St. Martin have set up some 1,500emergency shelters, doctors have treated around 100 people at a makeshift triage area and nearly 250 people have been evacuated, including seven facing medical emergencies, officials in Guadeloupe said. The French military had positioned two frigates in the area ahead of the storm with helicopters ready to ferry supplies but the sheer violence of Irma seemed to take authorities by surprise. Far-right National Front party leader Marine Le Pen, who lost the presidency to Macron in May, accused the French government of having "totally insufficient" emergency and security measures in place. Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchonand conservative politician Eric Ciotti called today for a parliamentary inquiry into the government's handling of Irma, Macron's first major challenge. The families of some island residents have taken to social media to voice similar criticisms. Macron held emergency meetings Saturday and Sunday about Irma and its successor, Jose, and Prime Minister EdouardPhilippe insisted that the government's support for Irma'svictims isn't "empty words." "I am aware of the fear, the exhaustion, and the anguish that the current situation is causing families in the Antilles and on the mainland," Philippe said. "We are completely mobilised to rescue, to accompany and to rebuild." France's main electricity provider EDF says it transported 140 tons of electrical equipment to help restore the power supply on St Martin and St Barts. Camp beds, sleeping bags, and lifesaving equipment were also sent. With Jose past, French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said on Sunday that authorities were concentrating on getting tons of water to island residents. He praised the hundreds of police and soldiers sent in, saying they ended the looting. On St Maarten, where the airport was badly damaged by Irma, dozens of Dutch tourists were forced to watch as Canadian and American flights picked up their vacationing citizens. They had to hunker down in whatever shelter they could find Saturday night as a second hurricane, Jose, passed to the north of the island. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte defended his government's actions, saying that authorities prioritised evacuations to ensure the safety of patients in St. Maarten's hospital, including 65 people who needed kidney dialysis, pregnant women and other emergency cases. "The Netherlands had one major priority ... that is evacuating the patients," Rutte told reporters. "Other countries with tourists the Canadians, the Americans don't have that." Military cargo planes or aid flights were expected to pick up stranded Dutch tourists later on Sunday and take themto Curacao, from where they would be able to catch flightshome. Some 500 British soldiers, meanwhile, were sent to the Caribbean to help local police re-establish security, including 120 to the British Virgin Islands. The British aidship Mounts Bay landed on Tortola carrying personnel and heavyequipment to fix communications systems and to try to clearairport runways so aid flights can come in. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Trump Reveals What He Wrote to Biden in White House Note Former President Donald Trump revealed what he wrote to President Joe Biden when he left office in January. Basically I wished him luck and, you know, it was a couple of pages long and it was from the heart because I want to see him do well, Trump said during a podcast interview on Monday with Lisa Boothe, describing the letter he left for Biden. The former commander-in-chief added: I want him to do well, but that doesnt include closing up the Keystone Pipeline, which by the way environmentally is much better than having [crude oil] on trains. But [Bidens] friend and supporter Warren Buffett has trains. Nobody ever talks about that. Biden never made reference to the contents of the letter during interviews in January but said it was very generous. In recent years, outgoing presidents have left a letter to their successors. Usually, they leave a note on the Resolute Desk, which was given to the United States by Queen Victoria in the 19th century. Former President Ronald Reagan started the tradition when he left a note for Vice President George H.W. Bush, who succeeded him in the presidency. Former President Barack Obama left a note to Trump, reading in part: This is a unique office, without a clear blueprint for success, so I dont know that any advice from me will be particularly helpful American leadership in this world really is indispensable. Its up to us, through action and example, to sustain the international order thats expanded steadily since the end of the Cold War, and upon which our own wealth and safety depend. And before that, former President George W. Bush left a letter to his successor, Obama: Very few have had the honor of knowing the responsibility you now feel. Very few know the excitement of the moment and the challenges you will face There will be trying moments. The critics will rage. Your friends will disappoint you. But, you will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me. No matter what comes, you will be inspired by the character and compassion of the people you now lead. Also in Mondays interview, Trump suggested that he doesnt miss Twitter, with which he used to generate massive amounts of engagement during his 2016 campaign and presidency. I put out a statement, its much more elegant than a tweet and I think its picked up better. I would almost say better than Twitter, he said about his new method of communication. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. How times change. City & State featured Melissa DeRosa in a 2017 cover story about New York women serving in government. Now, because of recent events involving her boss Andrew Cuomo, the secretary to the governor of New York is once again the focus of a cover story. This second time around, City & State chose an illustration of DeRosa by Philip Burke that depicts her on her cell phone texting from within the halls of the state Capitol to defend the states top executive. This is a reference to the harsh and profane text messages written by DeRosa to state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, a former gubernatorial staffer turned vocal critic of the governor, that were first made public by New York magazine. It was an example of how DeRosas protected Cuomo as part of her job, writes Zach Williams in this weeks cover story. That same job included overseeing a report that undercounted COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents. DeRosas also been alleged to have contributed to an abusive culture that permeates the governors office. City & State recognizes, as former colleagues of DeRosa do in Williams story, that strong-willed men in politics are treated differently than women, who are often portrayed as nasty divas. Thats a stereotype Williams avoids by going deep into DeRosas background and speaking to former colleagues who call out such a double standard. The end result is a comprehensive piece that shows the successes, failures and alleged extremes of a fierce Cuomo loyalist and the price shes now paying. 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. 13.7m Grading 3.26 gpt Gold Including 4.6m Grading 7.23 gpt Gold Near Surface VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / Endurance Gold Corporation (TSXV:EDG) (the "Company") is pleased to report assay results from the five (5) reverse circulation ("RC") drill holes completed at the Imperial Zone of the Reliance Gold Property (the "Property") in southern British Columbia. The Property is located 4 kilometres ("km") east of the village of Gold Bridge with year-round road access, and 10 km north of the historic Bralorne-Pioneer Gold Mining Camp which has produced about 4 million ounces of gold. These five drill holes were planned to intersect near-surface gold mineralization of the Imperial Zone that was untested by historic drilling. The 2020 drill program also tested under the Imperial North Zone identified in 2020 channel sampling. Results are reported below. "These encouraging drill hole results at the Imperial Zone are located 380 metres away from our previously reported high-grade Eagle Zone results. Both zones are hosted within the two kilometer long, largely un-tested Royal Shear trend and demonstrate that the Reliance Property is host to a robust "Epizonal" Orogenic gold mineralizing system" stated Robert Boyd, CEO of Endurance Gold "In addition, the excellent estimated true widths of higher-grade gold at both Imperial and Eagle Zones provide encouragement that tonnes per vertical metre could accumulate quickly when ultimately defined". Imperial Zone - Drill hole RC20-006 intersected 13.7 metres ("m") grading 3.26 gram per tonne gold ("gpt Au") including a higher grade interval of 4.6 m grading 7.23 gpt Au. The hole successfully intersected mineralization within 30 m of surface and represents a 40 m up-dip expansion of the Imperial Zone as shown on Section 5636050N appended to this release. Geologic modelling indicates that the Imperial Zone has a down-dip extent of 290 m and open to expansion with a southwest plunge of -55 degrees. Historic drilling between 1986 and 2008 defined a higher-grade core of the mineralized zone with an approximately true width of 10 to 15 m. The strike extent of the Imperial Zone has been poorly constrained by drilling with very few intersections or testing along strike. The Imperial Zone was discovered by drilling in 1986 with DDH_1986-01 which returned 18.3 m grading 7.01 gpt Au. Other highlight historic drill intervals at the Imperial Zone include 38.1 m grading 9.61 gpt Au from DDH_87-02, and 33.5 m grading 6.69 gpt Au from DDH_2004-01. These historic drill holes were completed prior to the implementation of NI 43-101 and CIM Best Practices for Exploration and thus professional verification by the Company is not possible and historic results should be evaluated with caution. The Imperial Zone was partially validated in 2008 with eight (8) diamond drill holes that were completed and documented in professional manner by the prior owner. Holes DDH_I08-0004 and DDH_I08-0005 intersected the higher-grade Imperial Zone and returned 12.0 m grading 5.70 gpt Au and 17.7 m grading 4.76 gpt Au, respectively. Near-surface gold mineralization up-dip of the Imperial Zone was also intersected with drill holes RC20-003 and RC20-005. The lower-grade mineralization is interpreted to represent the outer halo of the Imperial Zone which has been displaced by approximately 20 m due to a previously unknown fault. RC20-003 intersected 4.6 m grading 1.36 gpt Au while RC20-005 returned 4.6 m of 0.84 gpt Au. Imperial North - Two holes were completed at Imperial North to test for gold mineralization below the outcrop channel samples that returned 6.7 m grading 3.14 gpt Au (see News Release November 23, 2020). Drill holes RC20-001 and RC20-002 intersected near-surface mineralization including 6.1 m of 2.85 gpt Au and 3.0 m of 1.9 gpt Au, respectively as shown on the plan map attached to this release. These results are insufficient to define the structural attitude of the Imperial North Zone nor the structural relationship with the higher grade Imperial Zone. Further work will be completed in the 2021 field season incorporating new ideas on geologic controls. ENDURANCE GOLD CORPORATION Robert T. Boyd FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Endurance Gold Corporation www.endurancegold.com Toll Free: (877) 624 2237, info@endurancegold.com RC samples were collected under the supervision of a geologist at the drilling rig. Drilling was completed using a 3.5 inch hammer bit and rock chip samples were collected using a cyclone. Sample size were reduced to 1/8th size with a riffle splitter at the drilling rig. A second duplicate split and coarse chips were collected for reference material and stored. All RC samples were submitted to ALS Global in North Vancouver, BC, an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited laboratory, where they were crushed to 70% <2 mm then up to 250 gram pulverized to <75 microns. Samples were then submitted for four-acid digestion and analyzed for 48 element ICP-MS (ME-MS61) and gold 30g FA ICP-AES finish (AU-ICP21). Over limit samples returning greater than 10 ppm gold were re-analyzed by Au-GRA21 methodology and over limit antimony returning greater than 10,000 ppm Sb were re-analyzed by Sb-AA08 methodology. The work program was supervised by Darren O'Brien, P.Geo., an independent consultant and qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. Mr. O'Brien has reviewed and approved this news release. Historic assay composites quoted herein are calculated using assay results acquired from various sources and previous operators. Historic assay results from drill holes completed between the years 1986 to 1988 were hand written on paper drill logs and no original assay certificates exist. Assay results for the 2004 drill holes were digitized from scanned assay certificates included in the appendix of a BC government assessment report. Assay results from the 2008 drill holes are from a digital database acquired from a previous operator but without assay certificates. While Endurance Gold believes these results are valid, investors are cautioned that errors could exist in the historic dataset. Endurance Gold will continue to validate these historic results with its ongoing exploration programs. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from the expected results. SOURCE: Endurance Gold Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636960/Endurance-Reports-2020-Drilling-Results-from-Imperial-Zone-at-The-Reliance-Gold-Property She has said Bane was a 'Jekyll and Hyde character' during their marriage, was physically abusive, and she slept with a shotgun during their divorce Ryan Bane is seen in his mugshot after he was arrested in 2011 for attacking his ex-wife The 'Jekyll and Hyde' boat captain at the center of the mystery surrounding missing Sarm Heslop attacked his ex-wife because she kept asking him for directions as she drove home from a wedding, police documents obtained by Daily Mail.com reveal. Ryan Bane, now 44, served 21 days in jail for attacking his then-wife Corie Stevenson at the house they shared in Orion Township, Michigan, in 2011. Bane has now stopped cooperating with police investigating former flight attendant Heslop's disappearance on the island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands on the advice of his lawyer. He previously said Heslop, who he had been dating for eight months, disappeared from his 47ft. catamaran Siren Song more than two weeks ago. In the Michigan complaint, Stevenson said Bane got angry with her because he wanted to sleep as she made the hour-long early-morning drive home from Canton. The report, written by Oakland County Sheriff's Officer Brandon Groleau, states that Stevenson had complained that her husband had 'continually got frustrated with her asking directions while he was trying to sleep.' Corie Stevenson, married to fellow American Mr Bane, 44, for six years, came forward to say her ex 'went to jail for kicking my a**' Sarm Heslop, 41, a former air hostess for Flybe airline, vanished in the dead of night from Ryan Bane's 47ft catamaran Siren Song in the US Virgin Islands two weeks ago The booking card is seen for Bane. He was taken in by the Oakland County Sheriffs office 'She says that Ryan would eventually become so irritated and angry that he began kicking at the dashboard, radio and gearshift of the vehicle and at her legs. 'Corie stated that she punched at Ryan's legs to try to get him to stop.' When they finally arrived home a little after 5am on November 27, 2011, Stevenson said Bane dragged her out of their truck. Cori said Bane was pleasant in public but abusive behind closed doors - once beating her so badly she chipped a tooth 'Corie states thatRyan grabbed her in the dining room, threw her to the ground, and smashed her head into the floor, chipping one of her teeth.' But Bane had a different version of the altercation, saying they had arrived home shortly after 3 am. He told Sheriff's Officer Vincent Lichok that Stevenson had tried to drag him out of the truck and threw things at him in the house. He said he went to bed. 'A short time later, Corie was on top of him, hitting him. He grabbed her and took her out into the hallway, went back into the bedroom and shut the door and locked it,' Lichok wrote. But the cops said the evidence suggested Stevenson's version was correct. 'The interior of the truck was messy and there were marks on the dashboard consistent with Corie's claims,' Groleau wrote. The ground outside of the truck's passenger side was covered with items from inside the truck, consistent with Corie's claims of being dragged out of the truck. 'Corie's front right tooth had a chip out of it that appeared to be fresh,' the officer continued. 'Her right ear lobe was bloody and scratched. Her right shoulder and the right side of her neck showed red scratches. Her right eyelid was scratched and red.' Groleau said that when the cops brought Ryan downstairs 'Corie became noticeably frightened and ran from the area into the laundry room.' Stevenson told the cops that Bane had attacked her about six months earlier so badly that she had to skip work for several days due to the marks on her face. She said she did not report that incident. Police papers obtained by Daily Mail.com reveal Bane attacked his ex-wife because she kept asking him for directions as she drove home from a wedding Stevenson, now 43 and living in Melbourne, Florida, with her fiance Ralph Carpenter, claims she lived in constant fear of Bane during their five-year marriage. 'He must have beat her up 100 times while they were together,' Carpenter told DailyMail.com. She also said in an interview that she was so frightened of him that she slept with a shotgun at her side during their 2013 divorce. 'Ryan's personality changed once we got married,' Stevenson told The Sun. 'He suddenly became a different person and that started on our honeymoon in Spain. We went to Madrid, Valencia, all over. But he was a total Jekyll and Hyde character. She said of the attack for which Bane was arrested: 'I saw the devil behind his eyes and it scared me. It was a totally different person who was there. It was petrifying.' In her divorce filing, Stevenson specifically asked the judge to prevent Bane selling their property or canceling their life insurance because she believed that's what he would do immediately on learning she had filed. She said the marriage had broken down to such an extent that 'objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved.' Stevenson (pictured with her new fiance Ralph Carpenter) said she slept with a shotgun the entire time she was divorcing Bane Stevenson told the cops that Bane had attacked her about six months earlier so badly that she had to skip work for several days due to the marks on her face. She said she did not report that incident A copy of the couple's ex parte restraining order is pictured, issued during their 2013 divorce Heslop, 41, from Southampton, England, met Bane on Tinder eight months ago. She disappeared from Siren Song, which was moored 120ft from Frank Bay on the extreme western end of St. John on March 8. Bane said he had been awoken around 2 am by the anchor alarm that rings if the vessel is straying from its mooring. He said the couple had eaten dinner in a restaurant, leaving at 10pm in line with the local Covid curfew and took their dinghy back to the $500,000 catamaran, which he charters for up to $13,250 for six days, according to the website VISailing. They went to sleep, Bane says, and when he woke, Heslop had gone. Bane called the Coast Guard reporting that 'his girlfriend may have fallen' from the yacht. Heslop, 41, from Southampton, England, met Bane on Tinder eight months ago. She disappeared from Siren Song, which was moored 120ft from Frank Bay on the extreme western end of St. John on March 8. The couple are pictured together Cops and the Coast Guard have been scouring land and sea, but they have been prevented from stepping foot on Siren Song by Bane who is not cooperating in the inquiry. He has handed over her passport, cellphone and iPad to authorities. Virgin Islands Police Department spokesman Toby Derima said officers had performed an 'initial land search', adding: 'Soon after reporting Ms Heslop missing, Mr. Bane acquired the services of an attorney. 'Upon his attorney's advice, Mr. Bane exercised his constitutional right to remain silent and denied officers' requests to search the vessel. 'We would need to get a warrant to search the boat,' Derima added. 'We would need to show the court that we had probable cause to search the boat, as this is not yet a criminal case. We thought we could just ask Mr. Bane to search the boat and he would say yes and he didn't. 'That is his right. Getting the search warrant would be the next step.' Zac Efron and Russell Crowe will be starring in an adaptation of the book The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir Of Friendship, Loyalty, And War. Peter Farrelly, whose movie Green Book controversially won the best picture Oscar two years ago, is directing the project. Negotiations are underway to get Apple Studios behind the new movie and have Bill Murray take on a supporting part, Deadline reports. Incoming: Zac Efron and Russell Crowe will be starring in an adaptation of the book The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty, And War The book recounts the experiences of John 'Chick' Donohue who went on a madcap mission to Vietnam during the war to give beer and moral support to U.S. troops. Donohue co-wrote the memoir with reporter J.T. Molloy and it became a New York Times bestseller after its release last year. The idea for the beer run came when Chick, himself an ex-Marine, was having a drink in his neighborhood of Inwood, Manhattan and chatting to bartender George Lynch. As the antiwar movement reached a fever pitch George and Chick decided the troops could do with a reminder of the love for them back home. Legend: The book recounts the experiences of John 'Chick' Donohue who went on a madcap mission to Vietnam during the war to give beer and moral support to U.S. troops Making it through: In a recent video for Pabst Blue Ribbon he shared some of the hair-raising adventures he survived while traveling through the warzone Nowadays: Chick Donohue is seen in a photograph taken early last year 'Somebody ought to go over to 'Nam, track down the boys from the neighborhood and bring them each a beer!' said George - and Chick took up the challenge. He traveled back to Vietnam - where he had been before as a merchant seaman - and brought brews and messages from home to the Inwood boys fighting overseas. When he returned to Inwood and walked into the bar where it all began George Lynch shouted joyfully: 'He's here! He's alive!' Chick told Pabst Blue Ribbon. Peter Farrelly worked on the screenplay with one of his Green Book co-writers Brian Currie as well one of his Hall Pass co-writers Pete Jones. Smash: Chick Donohue co-wrote the memoir with reporter J.T. Molloy and it became a New York Times bestseller after its release last year He rose to fame with his brother Bobby Farrelly making comedies such as Dumb And Dumber, There's Something About Mary and Stuck On You. However Peter made a pivot into awards bait territory with the 2018 drama Green Book starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen. Mahershala portrayed a gay black pianist who played the Jim Crow South traveling with a New York bouncer played by Viggo in what was based on a true story. With the festivals of Holi and the Mahakumbh in Haridwar just round the corner, and five states in the midst of a hectic election season, India's 'second wave' is firmly upon us, data indicate. "A second wave of Covid-19 in India is very clear from the data now," said Rijo John, a health economist and adjunct professor at Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kerala. This rise comes along with the presence of new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and scientists are still trying to figure out how these variants behave. Is another the answer, or is it somehow getting individuals, communities, businesses and administrators to behave with Covid-19 precautions? Experts point out that lockdowns will once again destroy livelihoods and squeeze the economy. Instead, they say, India must double down on genomic sequencing to spot new variants, the pace of vaccination must pick up, and Covid-19 precautions must continue apace. The numbers "When Covid-19 cases began to fall in early 2021, people began to feel like the pandemic was behind us," said Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India. "With greater mobility and mingling, we gave the SARS-CoV-2 virus an additional chance to surge through." India's confirmed cases of Covid-19 had reached its peak on September 16, 2021, at 97,860 cases confirmed in a single day. From this high point, India's Covid-19 numbers came down to a low of just 8,579 cases confirmed on February 1, 2021. Thus, in the early months of 2021, India's curve of the pandemic had begun to flatten, making it appear like the pandemic was being beaten down. In this same period, testing too reached its high point in September, and similarly fell in February: from 1.49 million tests done on a single day on September 24, 2020, to a low point of just 486,122 tests on February 14, 2021. But cases have been on a rise since then, and on March 21, 2021, the central government reported about 47,000 cases. In other words, India's confirmed cases had risen 4.5 times since the low point of February 1, 2021. At the same time, vaccination has not been happening at the pace needed in order for India to achieve its target, we reported in March 2021. Two months into the programme, India has met 7% of its target to administer 500 million doses by July 2021. It must administer 3.65 million shots per day to achieve this target. "From my regular analysis of Covid-19 data, it shows that daily new cases on a seven-day average has risen by 167% (from its seven-day average low point in February), deaths have increased 71% in the same period, but daily testing has increased only by 31% in this same period," said John. "There is an evident surge ongoing in 10 states and union territories currently." Why are cases rising? "We urgently need deeper dives into the data on Covid-19 cases, hospitalisations, deaths, and genome sequencing data, to understand why there's a spike in cases in India," said Gagandeep Kang, professor at the Christian Medical College in Vellore. Sero-survey data can provide some insight. "For example, are cases rising in places that may have achieved a high level of sero-positivity already? If yes, then one can find out if they are new cases, or are occurring among people who have moved into these areas, or if they are re-infections, or if there is a new variant of the virus, and so on," she said. The 'epidemiological triad' of factors--the agent, the host and the environment--must all be studied, said Giridhar Babu, an epidemiologist with the Public Health Foundation of India. "The agent is the virus which is definitely changing and scientists are still figuring out things about the variants by genome sequencing," he said, "As hosts, whether all of us have been practicing Covid-19 precautions, and getting vaccinated, will explain why there's a rise in numbers. And as for the environment, it is everything happening around us, such as whether the government is allowing cinemas, public transport and events that can allow the spread of the virus." or no "The solution to the rising numbers will not be an easy or quick one. There are two schools of thought, one that thinks a lockdown may be useful because it can protect lives, and another that thinks that a lockdown would destroy livelihoods and thus lives," said Reddy. Numerous cities and states have announced various curbs once again, and some elected leaders have warned of new lockdowns. However, after the first central government-imposed lockdown in March 2020 and its harsh fallouts, including its impact on the economy and stress on people's finances, another lockdown may not be the way forward, analysts told IndiaSpend. "A lockdown was necessary to help India develop its healthcare infrastructure to deal with the Covid-19 crisis. Now that is already in place along with treatment protocols, so there is no need for another lockdown," said Babu. How to balance economic activities and the public health crisis will be key, said Reddy. "So for example, how can we best manage closed work-spaces? As much as possible, people should work from home but where unavoidable, offices should stagger work-days and work timings," he said. "Public transport should also be staggered, in the sense of limiting the number of people who can crowd on a bus or train, while increasing the number of public transport options available. Ventilation is key, and people should not drop their masks." Religious gatherings, political events and other similar mass gatherings should also be regulated, he said. We also need to track chains of transmission, Kang said, and Babu added that each factor in the epidemiological triad needs a different solution. In dealing with the virus, extensive genomic sequencing and contact-tracing is essential. In dealing with people, getting them vaccinated quickly and ensuring they take precautions will help bring down cases. And in order to deal with the environment, instead of a lockdown, a more practicable solution is to ensure that people do not congregate, especially in closed spaces, and ensuring that offices and events follow health norms. Above all, vaccination must be sped up, Babu said, because it is the surest clinical way to protect people from Covid-19, "especially because changing people's daily behaviour is quite hard and Covid-19 appropriate behaviour is not really being practised". Covid-19 variants: What do we know? As on March 18, 2021, 400 cases of the UK, South Africa and Brazil variants of SARS-CoV-2 had been detected in India, according to a text-based media alert from the Union health ministry. This seems like a small and non-threatening number, said Reddy, but this is because this has come out of a very small fraction of all positive cases which are being sent for genomic sequencing. India had planned to do the genome sequencing of 5% of positive Covid-19 samples from every state, the Centre told parliament on March 19. The purpose of this was to identify "potential outbreaks and related strains as part of continuous surveillance." By March 10, various states and union territories had sent 19,092 RT-PCR positive samples of Covid-19 to the government for genome sequencing to check for strains of Covid-19. Of these, 4,869 samples had been processed. Among the processed samples, 284 samples have been detected to be positive for the 'UK strain' and 11 samples positive for the 'South African strain' and 1 sample positive for the 'Brazil strain'. "With new variants of Covid-19 in the country, we still don't know to what extent they are playing a role in the surge in cases, unless we do more extensive genomic testing," said Reddy. And until this can take off at a substantial pace, we will have to keep up with social distancing and mask-wearing, he said. The new Covid-19 variants may be more infectious but not necessarily clinically more severe, said Rakesh Mishra, director of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, in an interview with IndiaSpend in December 2020. While not being clinically more severe, more people catching the infection could mean that more people would crowd hospitals, Reddy told IndiaSpend in December 2020. But the pace of this sequencing has been slow, according to a paper published by Indian government scientists: "India has so far not been sequencing SARS-CoV-2 isolates to full capacity, having deposited only about 6,400 genomes of the over 10.4 million recorded cases (0.06%)." The CEOs of the world's most influential are planning what the 'new reality' will look like post-pandemic. The 2021 KPMG CEO Outlook Pulse Survey finds that almost half (45 per cent) of global executives do not expect to see a return to a 'normal' course of business until sometime in 2022, as opposed to nearly one-third (31 per cent) who anticipate this will happen later this year. As the changes prompted by the pandemic have resulted in one-quarter (24 per cent) of CEOs saying that their business model has been changed forever by the global pandemic. The study conducted by KPMG in February and March of this year asked 500 global CEOs about their response to the pandemic and the outlook over a 3-year horizon. A majority (55 per cent) of CEOs are concerned about employees' access to a Covid-19 vaccine, which is influencing their outlook of when employees will return to the workplace. A significant majority (90 per cent) of CEOs are considering asking employees to report when they have been vaccinated, which may help organisations consider measures to protect their workforce. However, one-third (34 per cent) of global executives are worried about misinformation on Covid-19 vaccine safety and the potential this may have on employees choosing not to have it administered. Bill Thomas, Global Chairman & CEO, KPMG, said: "Before any major decisions are made, CEOs want to be confident that their workforce is protected against this virus. The Covid-19 vaccine rollout is providing leaders with a dose of optimism as they prepare for a new reality. CEOs are scenario planning for difference across certain key markets that could impact their operations, supply chains and people, leading to uneven economic recovery. "Our research shows that some executives have taken strong measures during the crisis to transform their operating model and ways of working, accelerating the rollout of key transformational projects, some by choice, some out of necessity. The pandemic has also been a catalyst for CEOs to evaluate the role their play in society. Many have given voice to issues they may not have previously commented on publicly - from tackling climate change to supporting the diverse communities they operate in - and we need to keep hearing those voices. There is much more to be done." The has brought out key insights into how global CEOs are thinking during the continued run of the pandemic. Nine out of 10 leaders globally (90 per cent) intend to ask their employees to report when they have been vaccinated in order to protect the wider workforce. In India, 94 per cent CEOs intend to do so. Similarly, majority of CEOs globally will wait for more than 50 per cent of population to be vaccinated before returning to the office. In India, this number stood at 76 per cent. Also, 66 per cent CEOs in India as opposed to 74 per cent CEOs globally felt the pandemic has accelerated the digitisation of operations and creation of next-generation models. About three-quarters (76 per cent) of CEOs globally see government encouragement for businesses to return to 'normal' as the prompt for businesses to ask staff to return to the workplace. In India, this number stands at 86 per cent. In addition, 61 per cent of global executives as opposed to 76 per cent Indian executives said that they will also need to see a successful (over 50 per cent of the population vaccinated) Covid-19 vaccine rollout in key markets before taking any action toward a return to offices. When employees can safely return to workplaces, one-fifth of (21 per cent globally as compared to 18 per cent in India) are looking to institute additional precautionary measures by asking clients and other in-person visitors to inform them of their vaccination status. The research finds that only 17 per cent of global executives are looking to downsize their office space as a result of the pandemic as opposed to 22 per cent in India. In contrast, 69 per cent of CEOs surveyed globally in August 2020 said they planned to reduce their office space over 3 years, which demonstrates that either office downsizings have taken place or, as the pandemic has drawn on, strategies have changed. This number stood at 48 per cent in India in 2020 CEOs are considering what the new reality will look like, but post-Covid, only three in 10 (30 per cent) of global executives as compared to 32 per cent Indian executives are considering a hybrid model of working for their staff, where most employees work remotely 2-3 days a week. As a result, only one-fifth (21 per cent) of businesses globally are looking to hire talent that works predominantly remotely. In India this number is at about 22 per cent. This is a significant shift from last year (73 per cent in 2020 globally as compared to 77 per cent in India). --IANS sn/pgh (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.) Actor Ray Fisher has been quite content of late on social media, promoting the HBO Max feature Zack Snyders Justice League cut. But that changed tonight as he spoke out about WarnerMedia Studios CEO Ann Sarnoff regarding her recent statements in a Variety interview about the studios investigation into Joss Whedons alleged misconduct during production on the DC film four years ago. Sarnoff was asked by Varietys Brent Lang whether the studios investigation into Whedon corroborated any of Fishers claims of racism on behalf of the studios employees. Fisher made his initial accusations on social media against Whedon last July, accusing the filmmaker who replaced Snyder of gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable behavior. Fisher also went to great lengths to point a finger at Justice League producers Geoff Johns and Jon Berg, who he says enabled Whedon. WarnerMedia conducted an internal probe late last year at Fishers urging and in December announced that the investigation into the Justice League movie has concluded and remedial action has been taken. More from Deadline Our investigator, Judge Katherine Forrest, has issued statements specifically about (DC Films president) Walter Hamada, saying that there was no evidence of interference by Walter in the investigation. She said that the cuts made in the Joss Whedon version of Justice League were not racially motivated. We took it very seriously, so we hired one of the top investigators out there and gave her a tremendous amount of leeway, Sarnoff told Variety. Story continues Variety also asked whether the WarnerMedia Boss knew about an NDA that Fisher signed which prevented him from publicly sharing further details about what went down on Whedons watch during Justice League. Sarnoff responded that she wasnt aware of such NDA. She did add that Hamada offered Fisher a role in the upcoming Flash movie. In a series of five Tweets, Fisher blasted: Apparently some folks at @WarnerMedia think that a room full of executives saying we cant an angry Black man at the center of the movie (and then reducing/removing all Black and POC from that movie) isnt racist. Odd, wrote the Cyborg actor. The investigator hired by @WarnerMedia was brought on to help the company assess and evade legal liabilities. Continually touting her status as a FORMER federal judge in an attempt to sway public opinion is obvious and desperate. She is now simply a lawyer, he continued. As Ive saidpeople will attempt to shift blame completely to Joss Whedon for the Justice League reshoots. Toby Emmerich, Geoff Johns, and Jon Berg share in that responsibility; with Johns working directly with Joss on restructuring the script based on the execs convos, added Fisher. Furthermore: There really was nothing that Walter did against Ray, in fact he offered him a role in the Flash movie. AND Walter happens to be a person of color, so he knows what that feels like. are the absolute definition of tone deaf, he continued. Final thought for now: Rather than trying to convince people on what the Justice League investigation DIDNT findhow about you start telling them what it DID? The public is a lot smarter than what youre giving them credit for. The proof is there. More soon. A>E. While Fisher hasnt detailed the specifics of what went sideways on the set of Justice League, neither has WarnerMedia to the actors point disclosed its findings. Fisher has continued to rail against Hamada as being an accessory to this mess; however, the executive had no oversee of Justice League when it was initially in production as he was a New Line exec then. During his tirade against WarnerMedia, Fisher was employed by the studio for reshoots on the Snyder cut back in October. The current version of the movie runs four hours and two minutes long and greatly expounds on the character arc of Fishers Cyborg. WarnerMedia had no further comments tonight in regards to Fishers recent slamming of Sarnoff. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. New Delhi: The nation today remembered the supreme sacrifice made by Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru, the three freedom fighters who were martyred this day in 1931. Martyrs' Day is observed on March 23 every year to commemorate the hanging of the three brave sons of the soil by the Britishers who occupied India. Zee News Anchor Mimansa Malik on Tuesday (March 23) narrated the story of the three martyrs, who stood against the British empire and inspired generations of youth to follow in their footsteps. March 23, 1931 - It was on this day that the great revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivram Hari Rajguru had embraced the hanging noose as a necklace of freedom. Shaheed Bhagat Singh used to say that revolution does not come from bombs and pistols, but through the thoughts and ideas of people. He wanted to see India independent of British shackles but was hanged 16 years, 4 months and 23 days before independence came. He embraced his martyrdom smiling. In a letter, Bhagat Singh wrote: "Today I can live on one condition only... I do not want to live like a slave. My name has become a symbol of the revolution of Hindustan. The ideals and sacrifices of the revolutionary groups have raised my stature... As high as I cannot possibly be if I live." These writings of Bhagat Singh still touch the hearts of crores of people. At that time Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev had become role models of the whole of India. The youth were shouting slogans of Vande Mataram on the street of the country. The Britishers were frightened seeing the fire of the movement. Why were Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru hanged? On October 30, 1928, the Simon Commission, a group of seven British reached Lahore. This commission was established in the year 1927, with the aim of working on constitutional reforms in India and consolidating their hold on India. The Commission was met with massive protests. Lala Lajpat Rai led the revolution as he took to the streets against the Commission. The British tried to suppress the movement. Superintendent of Police James A. Scott ordered a lathi-charge on Lala Lajpat Rai and other protesters. Rai, who was severely injured, died on November 18, 1928. His death filled the revolutionaries with fury and then it was decided that his death would be avenged. Several revolutionaries, including Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru and Chandrashekhar Azad, together planned to avenge Rai's death by killing James Scott. However, instead of Scott, John Saunders, who was also part of the brutal lathi-charge on Lala Lajpat Rai, became the target as Bhagat Singh and Rajguru fired bullets at him. Saunders died. Bhagat Singh and Rajguru managed to escape after the incident. While the case was still being investigated, revolutionaries planned to throw a bomb in the Central Assembly. On April 8, 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb in the Assembly, which is the Parliament building today. They showered leaflets from the gallery on the legislators below, shouted slogans, and then allowed the authorities to arrest them. The purpose of the blast was to awaken the deaf and dumb British government. The arrest, and the resulting publicity, brought to light Singh's complicity in the John Saunders case. It is also called the Lahore Conspiracy Case, which was very much discussed at that time. The trial began on May 5, 1930, and lasted until September 11, 1930. Finally, on October 17, 1930, the court sentenced the hanging of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. The sentence was carried out on March 23, 1931, as chants of Inquilab Zindabad filled the Lahore Jail. Bhagat Singh was not a supporter of bombs and pistols. He did not support violence. He only believed that when oppression grows too much and the tune of revolution seems to fade away, then a few loud blasts are needed to pierce through the deaf ears. Live TV Palo Alto, California, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kehillah Presents Laugh Off Lockdown Better than the usual GALA! An enjoyable evening at home In support of our wonderful school. Just thinkNO wondering what to wear, NO parking hassles, NO two-drink minimum. Curl up with your family and LOL together in a fundraiser of lighthearted comedy. Featuring three superb Bay Area entertainers! Lisa Geduldig: The creator of Kung Pao Kosher Comedy Show, one of the longest running shows in San Francisco. Cathy Ladman: one of the writers of King of Queens and winner of the American Comedy Award. Samson Kotelkar, founder of Comedy Oakland, zooming laughter to your living room! Where? Your couch! When? April 25, 2021 at 5:00 PM [PST] How? Live-streamed directly to you and yours. General Admission: $18.00 donation. We have a lot to be grateful for. In addition to joining us for our evening of comedy, we also invite you to consider making a difference in the lives of our students by further supporting Kehillah Jewish High School. 100% OF ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE Come Laugh Off Lockdown with us! Attachment The family of young Daire McDonnell have provided a heartbreaking update on the health of their 'little fighter'. The Edenderry one-year-old who was flown to the UK for specialist treatment for a rare bowel disease in October is now in need of another transplant but is not strong enough to undergo it, according to his family. Daire was flown to Newcastle by the Irish Air Corps after being deemed a match for a potentially life-saving stem cell transplant. He is still in the UK receiving treatment. He was born with multiple atresia of the bowel. He is dependent on total parenteral nutrition (TPN), a form of feeding that bypasses the gastrointestinal tract. A side effect from the TPN is that it affects your liver which has led to Daire being diagnosed with liver disease. His condition, combined with other illnesses, is life-threatening. In recent days, his family posted an update: "Daire had a fairly okay weekend and we had seen some baby steps of improvement. He opened his eyes, he lifted his arms, pointing his finger and we were hoping the consultant would be happy this morning and I was hoping to get a lovely picture of his arm in air. "Unfortunately instead our world came crashing in around us. Daire needs a multi viscular transplant but he's too ill now to be listed. "We're heartbroken. There is nothing more that they can do for our little man and we are trying to get him transferred back to Crumlin so his brothers can spend some time with him as our time is very short. "We are devastated beyond belief poor Rian [brother] knows something is wrong with Daire we don't know how we will break this to him." Dr. Cassandra Johnson uses her computer in her office, Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in the Family and Consumer Sciences building. 2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning -- 4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS. We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover. We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come. (Newser) A worker has been injured by two wolves at the same North Carolina exotic animal center where an escaped lion killed a college intern in 2018. Authorities say animal keeper Hayley Quay was bitten on the elbows and thigh in the wolf enclosure at Conservators Center Saturday afternoon and was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, WFMY reports. The center says no member of public was in danger at any time and the wolves, 2-year-olds that have been at the center since they were puppies, will be placed in quarantine for 10 days, "as would any dog that bit a human." Animal control authorities say they were told that one wolf bit the keeper in fear after being startled and the other wolf then joined the attack. story continues below The center says Quay had been in the enclosure trying to "socialize" the juvenile wolves, a male and female named Sitka and Rayne. "I have been working closely with wolves for my entire professional career and know that sometimes things like this happen, even when everything is done perfectly," Quay said in a statement, per WRAL. She said she is "doing just fine" and is looking forward to getting back to work "caring for Rayne and Sitka and all of the other animals at the animal park." In the 2018 attack, a 22-year-old woman was killed by a lion just 10 days after starting her internship. A witness said a gate was blocked by a large play ball, which allowed the lion to reach workers cleaning part of the enclosure. (Read more wolf stories.) Retired NRL star Sam Burgess has been photographed at an evangelical church on Queensland's Gold Coast as he tries to turn his troubled personal life around. Burgess was spotted in Metro Church on Sunday, two days after he was cleared by a judge of intimidating his former father-in-law Mitch Hooke. 'I just met this legend Sam Burgess at Metro Church today,' a fellow worshipper posted on Instagram with a picture of the pair. 'Congrats to Sam on his first step on a new journey.' A source close to Burgess, who for the past 18 months has been embroiled in a messy break-up with ex-wife Phoebe, said he was 'keeping his head down' and 'making change'. Metro Church at Varsity Lakes is part of the Pentecostal movement known as the Australian Christian Churches, which has about 375,000 followers. 'Find rest, recovery, recharge and resurgence at Metro Church Gold Coast,' the church promotes itself on its website. NRL star Sam Burgess has been photographed at an evangelical church on Queensland's Gold Coast as he tries to steady his troubled personal life. 'Congrats to Sam on his first step on a new journey,' a fellow worshipper posted on Instagram with a picture of the pair Metro Church at Varsity Lakes is part of the Pentecostal movement known as the Australian Christian Churches, which has about 375,000 followers. 'Find rest, recovery, recharge and resurgence at Metro Church Gold Coast,' the church promotes itself on its website 'I just met this legend Sam Burgess at Metro Church today,' a worshipper posted on Instagram alongside a picture of him with the NRL star. Burgess left Sydney before a judge overturned his conviction for intimidating his former father-in-law Mitch Hooke last Friday Burgess escaped the Sydney spotlight before a conviction for intimidating Mr Hooke was overturned by a New South Wales District Court judge last Friday. He will face another court in May after allegedly being detected driving with cocaine in his system while on his way to pick up his children from Bowral on February 22. Burgess was allegedly unlicensed while behind the wheel of his BMW X5 which was unregistered due to his failure to pay $1,200 in parking and traffic fines. The 32-year-old has not spoken publicly about his conviction being overturned or how he will deal with the upcoming charges. Burgess's personal life has been in upheaval since his separation from wife Phoebe and his forced retirement due to a chronic shoulder injury in October 2019. That same month the former South Sydney captain was accused by Mr Hooke of threatening him while visiting his two children at the Hooke family home in the Southern Highlands. Sam Burgess (right) was cleared on March 19 of having intimidated his former father-in-law Mitch Hooke (left) in October 2019. The two men were involved in a confrontation at the Hooke family home in the Southern Highlands shortly after Burgess split from wife Phoebe (centre) Burgess will face another court in May after allegedly being detected driving with cocaine in his system while on his way to pick up his children from Bowral on February 22. He is pictured earlier that month at court while defending a charge of intimidating his father-in-law A year later The Australian newspaper published untested claims against Burgess of wild partying and domestic abuse during his marriage. He has denied the allegations. Burgess watched Judge Mark Williams overturn his intimidation conviction at the District Court in Goulburn via audio visual link, as did Mr Hooke. 'My firm view upon reading the evidence is that the Crown case was not established beyond reasonable doubt,' Judge Williams ruled. Burgess's solicitor Bryan Wrench said outside court his client was relieved by the result. 'This is the judgment he deserves,' Mr Wrench said. 'He never wanted this fight, but he had to fight to clear his name. He is innocent and finally he has been vindicated.' Daily Mail Australia understands Burgess planned to spend at least a week out of Sydney following the decision and did not expect to be seen in public. Metro Church is known for its 'vibey music' and 'strong sense of community' and 'resonates with locals seeking meaning and not "religion",' according to a 2018 newspaper story. 'Since launching on the Gold Coast in 2006, Metro Church has seen thousands of lives authentically changed for the better through its dynamic expression of Christian faith, hope & love,' it states on its website. Senior Metro Church pastors Jenny and Dave Gilpin (pictured) are lead 'a fabulous team of pastors ready to greet you, make you feel at home and create a place that brings out the best in you and your future' Senior pastors Jenny and Dave Gilpin lead 'a fabulous team of pastors ready to greet you, make you feel at home and create a place that brings out the best in you and your future.' 'We believe in seeing the gold in people and helping you (with all the help of the Holy Spirit) to be all God planned for you to be!' the Metro website states. 'Our aim is to be the greatest lifters of people ever!' The Gilpins promote the teachings of Jesus Christ as 'the spirit of grace and not finger-pointing and accusation (that is currently running rampant across the earth).' 'It's the lover of victims and the saviour of perpetrators,' they state. 'It's the heart of forgiveness and the giver of fresh starts and new beginnings!' Burgess and Metro Church have been contacted for comment. US infectious disease chief Dr Anthony Fauci predicts Covid-19 vaccines provide light at the end of pandemic tunnel for Ireland, but warns the current plateau in cases of the virus requires caution. Dr Fauci is due to make his remarks when he is presented with an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) later today. In conversation with RCPI President Professor Mary Horgan he will state that Covid-19 vaccines bring great hope. Read More Although we need to continue to be cautious because this virus has surprised us continually with various surges over the last year to fourteen months ... there is light at the end of the tunnel, particularly now that we have vaccines that have been proven to be highly efficacious and safe. "To me this is going to be, as we call it, a real game-changer in what we've done. We're starting to see in countries that have just even begun to implement the distribution and implementation of vaccine programmes that there is clearly a diminution in hospitalisations and deaths. However, according to Dr Fauci: As we've seen in the United States, the curve very sharply goes down, but for the last couple of weeks it has kind of plateaued a bit. "I don't think that that should cause us to despair, but that it should cause us to be cautious that as we continue to vaccinate more and more people, which will ultimately give us control of the outbreak, we've got to remember we can't just completely turn off all public health measures. "The only time we can do that is when we have the virus very much under control at a very, very low case positivity. An Honorary Fellowship is the colleges highest award and is reserved for world leaders in medical science and those who have made an exceptional contribution to society. Following Dr Fauci's appointment as director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in 1984, he spearheaded the battle against the HIV/AIDS pandemic through research and advocacy; led the research response to infections such as tuberculosis, malaria, Zika and Ebola; and has latterly been a prominent member of the White House coronavirus task force. Awarding the Honorary Fellowship, Professor Horgan, a specialist in infectious diseases who trained in this speciality in the US at the height of the HIV/AIDs pandemic, said it was a huge privilege to welcome Dr Fauci to the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Dr Fauci will highlight the importance of science and data in responding to the pandemic, and the importance of always being honest about what this information shows. We need to hold on to our fundamental principles of integrity we have a responsibility in some respects, more than any other field to make sure that data and evidence drive what we do; that we are consistent; that we never, ever compromise our integrity by [not] going with the science and the evidence, either ignoring it or distorting it. Professor Horgan said: Dr Fauci has long been a highly inspirational figure for medical professionals and scientists around the world, and for me personally, both during my time in the US, and here in Ireland. Having trained and worked in the US as an infectious disease specialist myself from 1990-1997, I witnessed Dr Faucis outstanding work in overseeing the development of a research portfolio that transformed another pandemic, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, from an inevitably fatal infection to one where infected individuals can, with appropriate treatment, have a normal life expectancy. His strong leadership and calm, evidence-based approach have contributed greatly to the US response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The ceremony and conversation between Dr Fauci and Professor Horgan will be premiered by the RCPI at 6.30pm this evening via the RCPIs YouTube Channel. Despite their own difficulties, Le Thi Be, 68, and her daughter-in-law have maintained a free classroom for poor children in their community in Vietnam for the past six years. They run classes for free in the afternoon every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. However, on the remaining days of the week, students can still drop by the small house in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City to ask about anything that they do not understand. With the thought that her children were lucky enough to go to school, Be decided to open a class, believing that other disadvantaged children should have the same opportunities. At first, Bes daughter-in-law, Tran Thi Hong Thi, 48, from the south-central province of Binh Thuan, had to knock on doors to persuade parents to bring their kids to the free classroom. The class has gradually become so popular that a growing number of families are taking their children to the classroom, including some children with mental problems. Thi is a former student of a pedagogical university in Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province. After graduating and getting married, she could not follow a career in teaching because of personal reasons. With her background in education, coupled with the support from her mother-in-law, Thi has become the main teacher of the free class for the past six years. During the daytime, Be and Thi work as tailors to earn a living and also prepare meals for all the family members. In the afternoon, Be helps Thi take care of her children, so the daughter-in-law can have time for teaching. The free class opens at 4:30 pm every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Despite the fixed schedule, students are welcomed to come and ask questions anytime. Some were sent to the class of teacher Thi when they were still three or four years old. A few older children, who are now elementary students, still come to the class after school to gain more knowledge. They consider the class their second home. Even though not all of This students come from poverty, she teaches all of her classes for free. I am extremely happy to be understood and supported by my mother-in-law, who encouraged me to overcome my initial hesitation to teach the children, Thi told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. The main problems to me are the students ages are various and todays learning programs have also changed very much. "So, I must improve my knowledge and skills via media and books, sometimes I even have to ask our students to adjust my lessons properly. "Seeing them studying hard makes me really happy." As she is a senior now and has no teaching skills, she can only instruct the children on simple numbers and characters, according to Be. My daughter-in-law plays a key role in the class; I only take care of them," said the old woman. "I feel happy to lend her a hand to teach the children." Le Thi Be (front) and her daughter-in-law Tran Thi Hong Thi are doing their jobs as tailors during the daytime before becoming teachers of disadvantaged children in the afternoon at her house in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre Children are studying in the free-of-charge classroom at her house in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre Le Thi Be welcomes a boy to the free classroom in the afternoon at her house in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre Tran Thi Hong Thi shows a book page during the class where she instructs poor children for free four days a week at her house in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre Children are studying in the free-of-charge classroom. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre Le Thi Be cares for Tran Thi Hong This child while Thi is holding a boys hand (unseen) to help him write properly during a class at her house in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre Le Thi Be helps her daughter-in-law teach some simple calculations to a boy during a class at her house in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre After free-of-charge classes in the afternoon, the mother and daughter-in-law share a cozy and happy dinner at their house in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Phuong / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Myanmar junta blames protesters as EU, U.S. impose sanctions FILE PHOTO: Landscape view of downtown with ancient pagodas in the background in Mrauk U (Reuters) - Myanmar's military accused anti-junta protesters of arson and violence as Western countries imposed more sanctions on individuals and groups linked to last month's coup and the ensuing bloody crackdown on dissent. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said 164 protesters had been killed in the violence and expressed sadness at the deaths. "They are also our citizens," he told a news conference in the capital Naypyitaw on Tuesday, adding that the military would use the least force possible to quell violence. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group says at least 261 people have been killed in the brutal crackdown by security forces that has left the Southeast Asian nation in turmoil. Three people including a teenage boy were killed in unrest on Monday in Myanmar's second city, Mandalay, witnesses and news reports said. The junta has tried to justify the coup by saying a Nov. 8 election won by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) was fraudulent - an accusation the electoral commission rejected. Military leaders have promised a new election but have not set a date and have declared a state of emergency. Zaw Min Tun blamed protesters for violence and arson and said nine members of the security forces had been killed. "Can we call these peaceful protesters?" he said, while showing a video of factories on fire. "Which country or organisation would regard this violence as peaceful?" He said strikes and hospitals not fully operating had caused deaths, including from COVID-19, calling them "undutiful and unethical". The spokesman also accused media of "fake news" and fanning unrest and said reporters could be prosecuted if they were in contact with the CRPH, as the remnants of Suu Kyi's government is known locally. The military has declared the CRPH an illegal organisation and said membership is punishable by death. Story continues In the over three hour news conference, the spokesman also said the military respected the media and although reporting protests was allowed, leading them was a crime. Zaw Min Tun gave granular details or how the NLD had created hundreds or even thousands of extra ballots in numerous townships by inventing voters, including in Suu Kyi's own constituency. Videos of people saying they were paid by NLD representatives were shown at the news conference. Also shown was video testimony of former Yangon chief minister Phyo Min Thein saying he visited Suu Kyi multiple times and gave her money "whenever needed". Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her campaign to bring democratic civilian rule to Myanmar, has been in detention since the coup. Her lawyer says charges against her are trumped up. 'UNBEARABLE EXTENT' The European Union and the United States imposed sanctions on Monday against individuals involved in the coup and the repression of the demonstrators. The EU sanctions were the bloc's most significant response since the overthrow of Suu Kyi's elected government on Feb. 1. The 11 people it targeted included General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar military and head of the junta that has taken power. The EU already has an arms embargo on Myanmar and has targeted some senior military officials since 2018. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters before the meeting that the military repression "has reached an unbearable extent". Washington had already sanctioned Min Aung Hlaing and the measures announced on Monday expanded the list. There was no immediate response from the junta, which has shown no sign so far of being swayed by international condemnation of its actions. Myanmar's neighbours are also speaking out against the violence, which is rare for countries in the region. "We believe violence against unarmed civilians is inexcusable," Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in Kuala Lumpur after talks with his Malaysian counterpart. "We still believe there should be no external interference in the domestic affairs of a country, but to the maximum extent possible...we stand ready to do our best to support the people of Myanmar who in fact deserve so much better in the future." The junta said it is cooperating with five neighbouring countries - Bangladesh, China, India, Laos and Thailand - and values and respects their words, plus any countries that respect the stability of Myanmar. (Reporting by Reuters Staff; Writing by Ed Davies and Raju Gopalakrishnan; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) Hennessy, a four year old asylum-seeking migrant girl from Honduras, awakes at sunrise next to others who took refuge near a baseball field after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico on rafts, in La Joya, Texas, U.S. US President Joe Biden dispatched US envoys to Mexico and Guatemala for migration talks as he struggles to contain a burgeoning humanitarian challenge along the southwest US border with Mexico. White House border coordinator Roberta Jacobson will travel to Mexico for talks with Mexican officials aimed at developing an effective and humane plan of action to manage migration, White House spokeswoman Emily Horne said. The visit was also announced by Mexicos foreign ministry, which said the talks would take place today. Ms Jacobson will be joined by Juan Gonzalez, the National Security Councils senior director for the Western Hemisphere, and Ricardo Zuniga, just appointed by the State Department as the Northern Triangle special envoy. Mr Zuniga is a Honduran-born US career diplomat, a Cuba specialist, and was top Latin America adviser to then-President Barack Obama. Mr Gonzalez will continue to Guatemala to meet Guatemalan officials, as well as representatives from civil society and non-government organisations. Read More Ms Gonzalez aim in Guatemala is to address root causes of migration in the region and build a more hopeful future in the region, Ms Horne said. Mr Bidens promise to end former President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policies has been complicated by a recent spike in the number of migrants crossing the border illegally. An uptick in the number of migrants fleeing violence, natural disasters and economic hardship in Central America is testing Mr Bidens commitment to a more humane immigration policy. US officials are struggling to house and process an increasing number of unaccompanied children, many of whom have been stuck in jail-like border stations for days while they await placement in overwhelmed government-run shelters. Mexico has beefed up law enforcement at its southern border to stem a sharp increase in migrants entering the country to head for the United States. The main issue to discuss will be cooperation for development in Central America and the south of Mexico, as well as the joint efforts for safe, orderly and regular migration, said Roberto Velasco, the top official at the Mexican foreign ministry for North America. Representatives of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) will also attend the meeting, Mr Velasco said. The US Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said over the weekend: The border is closed. He said immigration authorities are expelling families and single adults, but not children who cross the border alone. We will not expel into the Mexican desert, for example, three orphan children whom I saw over the last two weeks. We just wont do that, Mr Mayorkas said. A major focus for the Biden administration, he said, is rebuilding orderly systems in Mexico and Central America to discourage would-be migrants from traveling to the US border. It takes time, because the entire system was dismantled, by the prior administration, he said on Fox News Sunday. The Homeland chief spoke on four talk shows as pressure mounts on the Mr Biden administration over conditions at the US-Mexico border. We are elevating our messaging, so that the individuals do know that they cannot come to the border, he said on CNNs State of the Union. On Friday, Mayorkas travelled to El Paso, Texas, with two Democratic and two Republican senators to view first-hand the processing and housing for unaccompanied minors. That closed out a week in which the White House heard from members of both parties describing the US southwest border situation as a mess. Congressional Republicans blame Mr Biden for policies they say are encouraging a new wave of immigrants. Democrats say fault lies with former President Donald Trump and his administration, which they argue left behind an inhumane and inadequate system. Not in dispute is that the border crossings have quickly become a political liability for the two-month-old Biden administration, which now owns the responsibility to deal with the problems created. Lawmakers are also raising security and Covid-19 infections as issues. The US has seen a dramatic spike in the number of people encountered by border officials in recent weeks. That includes 18,945 family members encountered in February alone, an increase of 168pc from January, according to the Pew Research Centre. Officials are looking for ways to boost capacity to house and care for migrants now in federal custody. The biggest challenge faced by Bidens administration is that of unaccompanied children. Theyre allowed to enter the country in the custody of Customs and Border Protection, even as most adults and families are sent away. More than 9,600 entered the US in February, triple the number who arrived in February 2020, according to recent data. The man Bend Police arrested Sunday in connection with a suspected double homicide is the same man alleged to have killed a woman who died after an attack Christmas Day. He now faces murder charges in all three deaths. Randall Richard Kilby, 35, was arrested Sunday on suspicion of three counts of murder, Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel confirmed Monday. At least one of the victims discovered Sunday died of hatchet blows. Hummel said in a news conference Monday he couldnt comment on the manner of death in the other case because only the hatchet death was witnessed by another party. According to Hummel, around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, a woman named Darlene Allen was walking with Kilby in the Romaine Village neighborhood in southwest Bend. As she passed another person, Allen mouthed the words help me and the other person called 911, Hummel said. Later in the walk, she broke free of Kilby and ran to another neighbor and told them someone had been murdered in the house where she was living and that her son was involved. Police arrived and Allen allowed them into her home at 60971 Granite Drive. Inside the manufactured home, officers found the bodies of Jeffrey Allen Taylor, 66, and his brother, Benjamin Harlin Taylor, 69. Allen told police that on Saturday, shed been an eyewitness to the death of Jeffrey Taylor, who died of hatchet blows. After the alleged murders on Saturday, Kilby forced his mother, Allen, into his car and drove around town for several hours, Hummel said Monday. Kilby ended the car ride back at her house in Romaine Village, where he watched over her overnight. The next day Sunday she suggested they get some air and go for a walk, which was when she was able to summon help, Hummel said. Officers located Kilby on foot nearby shortly after. He reportedly indicated to police that he was responsible for the deaths of the Taylors and later provided information about the death of Daphne Banks, who was injured on Christmas Day in the same house, allegedly by Kilby. Kilby had been arrested that day after Banks was sent to the emergency room at St. Charles Bend with a serious head injury. Kilby told police she had fallen and hit her head, but police and medical professionals did not believe his story. He was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault and other counts but was later was released from jail. Banks was in a coma for several weeks and died in January after being taken off life support. Kilby and Banks had a romantic relationship, according to Hummel. The Taylor brothers, who lived together at the home on Granite Drive, are described as acquaintances of Kilbys. Hummel said Kilby had a dispute with one of them. Lets put it this way: it wasnt a two-way dispute, Hummel said. Mr. Kilby was angry at one of the roommates about something and he murdered him. Why the second roommate was murdered, Im still figuring out the exact details. Monday morning, Kilby was indicted on three counts of murder for the deaths of the Taylors and Banks. For weeks, Banks two daughters were adamant Kilby should be charged in their mothers death. Following news of the Taylor brothers killings, Banks daughter Rio Killian called for Hummel to resign. Im so saddened by this, she wrote on Facebook. It took 2 more people to die before this was taken seriously. We asked multiple times what it was going to take to lock this man up. We advocated for our community on how unsafe it was for Randall Kilby to be out free It feels like Im reliving my mothers death all over again. I cant take this. Hummel stood by his decision to not charge Kilby for Banks death earlier, saying the information Kilby provided Sunday allowed them to charge him with murder for Banks death. Before, they didnt have enough to go on, he said. If we had that information earlier, he would have been charged earlier, Hummel said. Charging someone prematurely can increase a defendants chances of acquittal and its important to get the case right the first time, he said. We have never held back charging people for homicide, he said. Im confident if we had charged Mr. Kilby with homicide in January, he would have been found not guilty. We did not have sufficient evidence. Kilby was assigned attorney TJ Spear to represent him. Spear declined to comment. Kilby has a lengthy criminal record and two open cases aside from the new murder cases. In the newest allegations, Kilby is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of the Taylors and, for his alleged conduct toward his mother, one count of coercion. Hes charged with one count of second-degree murder for Banks death. Hummel, who has stated opposition to capital punishment, said second-degree murder charges could potentially be upgraded to aggravated murder in the future. Aggravated murder is the only crime in Oregon eligible for the death penalty. The report says Facebook is failing to clamp down on extremist groups using its platform (AP/Thibault Camus, File) A report says Facebook allowed groups to glorify violence during the 2020 US election and in the weeks leading to the deadly riots at the Capitol in January. Avaaz, a non-profit advocacy group that says it seeks to protect democracies from misinformation, identified 267 pages and groups on Facebook that it says spread violence-glorifying material in the heat of the 2020 election to a combined following of 32 million users. More than two-thirds of the groups and pages had names that aligned with several domestic extremist movements, the report found. The first, boogaloo, promotes a second US civil war and the breakdown of modern society. The second is the QAnon conspiracy, which claims that former president Donald Trump is waging a secret battle against the deep state and a sect of powerful Satan-worshipping paedophiles who dominate Hollywood, big business, the media and government. Expand Close QAnon claims former US president Donald Trump is waging a secret battle against the deep state (John Raoux/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp QAnon claims former US president Donald Trump is waging a secret battle against the deep state (John Raoux/AP) The rest are various anti-government militias. All have been largely banned from Facebook since 2020. But despite what Avaaz called clear violations of Facebooks policies, it found that 119 of these pages and groups were still active on the platform as of March 18 and had just under 27 million followers. Facebook said that of the 119 that Avaaz found, only 18 actually violated Facebooks policies. Four had already been removed before Monday and Facebook has now taken down the remaining 14. Facebook acknowledged that its policy enforcement isnt perfect but said the report distorts its work against violent extremism and misinformation. The company said in a statement that it has done more than any other internet company to stem the flow of harmful material, citing its bans of nearly 900 militarised social movements and the removal of tens of thousands of QAnon pages, groups and accounts. It added that it is always improving its efforts against misinformation. On Thursday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai are to give evidence before the US Congress about extremism and misinformation on their platforms. Expand Close Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Niall Carson/PA) Facebook has tightened its rules against violence, hate and misinformation in the past year. In October, it banned QAnon groups across its platform. Before that, it would remove them only if they expressly supported violence. It has also banned extremist and militia movements and boogaloo groups with varying degrees of success. For instance, while Facebook banned Stop the Steal groups from its platform, Avaaz like The Associated Press found that such groups and the #stopthesteal hashtag remained active on the platform after the purge. Avaaz says Facebooks failures helped sweep America down the path from election to insurrection. According to the report, the social network provided a fertile ground for misinformation and toxicity that contributed to radicalising millions of Americans, helping create the conditions in which the storming of the Capitol became a reality. The head of the NSW Police sex crimes squad and consent activist Chanel Contos have joined forces to ask thousands of women who shared their teenage sexual assault stories through an online petition to make an informal report to police. Detective Superintendent Stacey Maloney launched Operation Vest with the support of Ms Contos on Tuesday night, encouraging sexual assault victims to report their experiences using a digital form that does not launch a criminal investigation but keeps complaints on record if alleged perpetrators are reported for sexual offences in the future. It comes after Ms Contos online petition calling for sex education reform collected about 5000 graphic testimonies of teenage sexual assault, detailing Sydney womens experiences of forced anal or oral sex, forced sex while they were intoxicated or passed out, and the distribution of pornographic material without consent. Several women who signed the petition have since made formal complaints. CLEVELAND, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleveland Clinic cardiac surgery expertise is now accessible to eligible Eli Lilly and Company employees, retirees and their family members through the Cleveland Clinic Cardiac Concierge Program, in collaboration with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its affiliated health plans. The program provides access to complex cardiac surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. Cleveland Clinic is a leader in cardiovascular care and provides a top-tier patient experience for those with common to complex heart conditions. For the 26th consecutive year, Cleveland Clinic's heart program has ranked as the best in the nation, earning the No. 1 ranking in U.S. News & World Report's "2020-21 Best Hospitals." "Access to high-quality healthcare has an enormous impact on one's health and wellbeing," said Lars Svensson, M.D., Ph.D., chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. "We are proud to collaborate with Anthem and deliver our top-ranked heart surgery expertise to the employees, retirees and family members of Lilly, no matter where they live." The Cleveland Clinic Cardiac Concierge Program is part of Cleveland Clinic's Center of Excellence (COE) for cardiac surgery, an innovative solution that provides high-quality healthcare while also managing costs. The program helps keep costs down through better outcomes and bundled pricing a single payment that covers a patient's specific treatment over a period of time while giving plan members greater access to the best possible care. "We care about the well-being of our employees, our retirees and their families, and the impact of increasing health care costs," said Steve Fry, senior vice president of human resources at Lilly. "As an innovation-driven company, we are committed to seek solutions that offer high-quality health care at more affordable costs." Lilly employees and non-Medicare eligible retirees will pay nothing towards the cost of their surgery after meeting their deductible. In addition, Lilly will pay 100 percent of travel and accommodation expenses for eligible plan participants and a companion to visit Cleveland Clinic. Anthem will arrange travel from the employee's home to Cleveland Clinic and back again. Launched on Jan. 1, 2021, the cardiac concierge program enables participating members to have their care comprehensively managed by a care coordinator, allowing Lilly families to have one point of contact from pre-surgical appointments through recovery at home. The cardiac concierge program also includes a free second opinion for eligible surgeries from the number one heart center in the country. "Our collaboration with Cleveland Clinic is aimed at simplifying and personalizing treatment for cardiac conditions. This approach provides Lilly employees and their families the support they need so they can focus on recovery and getting back to full health," said Tricia Fringer, president of Anthem National Accounts. About Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Clinic now in its centennial year is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. Among Cleveland Clinic's 70,800 employees worldwide are more than 4,660 salaried physicians and researchers, and 18,500 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,500-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 19 hospitals, more than 220 outpatient facilities, and locations in southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2020, there were 8.7 million total outpatient visits, 273,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 217,000 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic's health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org. SOURCE Cleveland Clinic Related Links www.ccf.org North Korea has fired off a series of short-range missiles, presenting President Joe Biden with a foreign policy challenge while the administration is contending with an influx of immigrants at the southern border. A senior Biden Administration official confirmed the weekend launches, while describing an inactive state of diplomatic communication. 'The outreach from us to North Korea can be described, follows over a year, across two administrations now, without active dialogue with North Korea, despite multiple attempts by the U.S. and across two administrations to engage. We do not see the activity that took place this weekend as closing that door,' the official said on a briefing call with reporters Tuesday. The tests, first reported by the Washington Post, followed a new round of joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korean forces,North Korea has long chafed at the joint exercises, which it considers provocative and a threat to invade the hermetic nation. In this March 21, 2020, file photo provided by the North Korean government shows a rocket launch at an undisclosed location in North Korea. The DPRK launched short-range missiles over the weekend, the Washington Post reported, following a round of U.S.-South Korean military exercises The action comes a week after North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un's sister made a series of caustic remarks about the U.S. Kim Yo-jong warned the U.S. not to 'make a stink' just as U.S. officials were to arrive last week in Seoul. 'A word of advice to the new administration of the United States that is struggling to spread the smell of gunpowder on our land from across the ocean,' the influential Km Yo-jong told official state media. 'If it wants to sleep in peace for the coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step,' she said. Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, issued threatening comments this month about the U.S. Kim Yo-jong is an influential advisor to her brother, the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un The launch comes as President Joe Biden is contending with domestic and international challenges, including an influx of immigrants and domestic gun violence President Donald Trump (R) gestures as he meets with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (L) at the start of their historic US-North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore on June 12, 2018 She added: 'The South Korean government yet again chose the 'March of War', the 'March of Crisis'.' The Biden administration signaled a shift earlier this month with Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling during a trip to Seoul for a 'denuclearization of North Korea.' That was an apparent shift from the Trump administration, which reached a joint statement between President Trump and Kim calling for denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. The DPRK has a long history of using missile launches in an effort to try to force negotiations or extract concessions. A series of launches at the start of the Trump administration led Trump to threaten to unleash 'fire and fury,' although he ended up holding summit meetings with Kim and boasted of their friendship. However there was no apparent progress in the final year of the administration following Trump and Kim's Hanoi summit in 2019. CORRECTION: According to an arrest affidavit, the suspect bought a Ruger AR-556 pistol which is technically a pistol though it resembles an AR-15 rifle with a slightly shorter stock on March 16, six days before the attack. The original story stated it was an assault rifle. BOULDER, Colo. Police on Tuesday identified a 21-year-old man as the suspect who opened fire inside a crowded Colorado supermarket, and court documents showed that he purchased an pistol less than a week before the attack that killed 10 people, including a police officer. Supermarket employees told investigators that Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa shot an elderly man multiple times Monday outside the Boulder grocery store before going inside, according to the documents. Another person was found shot in a vehicle next to a car registered to suspects brother. Authorities said the suspect was from the Denver suburb of Arvada and that he engaged in a shootout with police inside the store. The suspect was being treated at a hospital and was expected to be booked into the county jail later in the day on murder charges. Investigators have not established a motive, but authorities believe he was the only shooter, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. The suspect purchased the pistol just six days before the shooting, on March 16, according to the arrest affidavit released Tuesday. It was not immediately known where the gun was purchased. The shooting came 10 days after a judge blocked a ban on assault rifles passed by the city of Boulder in 2018. That ordinance and another banning large-capacity magazines came after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead. A lawsuit challenging the bans was filed quickly, backed by the National Rifle Association. The judge struck down the ordinance under a Colorado law that blocks cities from making their own rules about guns. A law enforcement official briefed on the shooting said the suspects family told investigators they believed he was suffering some type of mental illness, including delusions. Relatives described times when he told them people were following or chasing him, which they said may have contributed to the violence, the official said. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. The attack sent terrorized shoppers and employees scrambling for cover. It was the nations deadliest mass shooting since a 2019 assault on a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, where a gunman killed 22 people in a rampage that police said targeted Mexicans. SWAT officers carrying ballistic shields slowly approached the King Soopers store while others escorted frightened people away from the building, which had some of its windows shattered. Customers and employees fled through a back loading dock to safety. Others took refuge in nearby shops. Multiple 911 calls paint a picture of a chaotic, terrifying scene, according to the affidavit. One caller said the suspect opened fire out the window of his vehicle. Others called to say they were hiding inside the store as the gunman fired on customers. Witnesses described the shooter as having a black AR-15-style gun and wearing blue jeans and maybe body armor. By the time he was in custody, the suspect had been struck by a bullet that passed through his leg, the affidavit said. He had removed most of his clothing and was dressed only in shorts. Inside the store, he had left the gun, a tactical vest, a semiautomatic handgun and his bloodied clothing, the affidavit said. After the shooting, detectives went to the suspects home and found his sister-in-law, who told them that he had been playing around with a weapon she thought looked like a machine gun, about two days earlier, the document said. A tapestry and a pillow blocked a narrow window next to the front door at the Arvada home believed to be owned by the suspects father. No one answered the door after several knocks, but young children occasionally pulled the pillow aside and peered out of the window. The two-story home with a three-car garage sits in a relatively new middle- and upper-class neighborhood. Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold identified the slain officer as Eric Talley, 51, who had been with the force since 2010. He was the first to arrive after responding to a call about shots fired and someone carrying a rifle, she said. He was, by all accounts, one of the outstanding officers of the Boulder Police Department, and his life was cut too short, Dougherty said. The other dead ranged in age from 20 to 65. They were identified as Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jodi Waters, 65. The attack in Boulder, about 25 miles northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado, stunned a state that has seen several mass shootings, including the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting. Mondays attack was the seventh mass killing this year in the U.S., following the March 16 shooting that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. It follows a lull in mass killings during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, which had the smallest number of such attacks in eight years, according to the database, which tracks mass killings defined as four or more dead, not including the shooter. Sarah Moonshadow and her son, Nicolas Edwards, had just bought strawberries inside the supermarket when they heard gunfire. Moonshadow told The Denver Post they ducked and just ran. Outside, Edwards said, arriving police pulled up next to a body in the parking lot. I knew we couldnt do anything for the guy, he said. We had to go. Video posted on YouTube showed one person on the floor inside the store and two more outside on the ground. What sounds like two gunshots are heard at the beginning of the video. President Joe Biden announced that flags nationwide would be lowered in memory of the victims an order that comes just as a previous flag-lowering proclamation expired for those killed in the Atlanta-area shootings. Together the two orders mean near-continuous national mourning for almost two weeks. --The Associated Press The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Credit: Australian National University Australians have access to a wide variety of untraceable 'ghost guns' online along with a significant market of 3D printed weapon blueprints and kits, according to a new study from The Australian National University (ANU). The report found conventional handguns were most popular on the dark web with illicit market vendors offering stealth packaging to Australia. Glock semi-automatic pistols made up over half, 57%, of all the handguns sold. "There are lots of Glocks available. They are the standard law enforcement side arm, you see them in action movies," lead author Professor Roderic Broadhurst, from the ANU Cybercrime Observatory, said. "They are trendy, slick and popular with gangsters and law enforcement. "We think they are so popular on the dark web because they can be stripped down to their parts and sent through the post in pieces." The researchers say dark web gun vendors take pride in their concealment methods and ability to "ghost" guns. "The prices of these Glocks are roughly the same price as the offline equivalent but they are not registered or their serial numbers have been wiped off," Professor Broadhurst said. "It theoretically makes them untraceable." The study, produced for Australian Institute of Criminology tracked darknet markets between July and December 2019 and found 2,124 weapons for sale1,497 handguns, 219 rifles, 41 submachine guns and 34 shotguns. The most common categories were handguns (70.5%), followed by rifles (10.3%), ammunition (3.7%), submachine guns (1.9%), explosives (1.7%), shotguns (1.6%) and accessories (1.1per cent). Digital products (5.3%), CBRN (0.64%) and miscellaneous weapons (3.3%) were only listed on omnibus markets. Alongside decommissioned military weapons, ammunition and fake weapon advertisements by various law enforcement agencies, 3D printed weapon kits and blueprints are also an emerging online product. "We were surprised how much self-help material there is available. There is kit available for cutting frames for weapons," Professor Broadhurst said. "It is like selling a pattern for a dress. You can then make the main piece of the firearm using 3D printing but without the unique serial numbers required on legally manufactured firearm frames." The researchers say hybrid metal and plastic 3D printed components and kits are also up for sale online. "3D printing is getting better and we are definitely seeing a higher class of products. It used to be thought plastic would be too brittle but they are using harder plastics," Professor Broadhurst said. "It's like standing on a piece of Legothese pieces will not break." The researchers say prices of firearms varied considerably depending on type and calibre and ammunition was often sold with a firearm with Bitcoin typically the preferred payment method. "In Australia, where firearms ownership is strictly regulated, illicit firearms are in demand by organized crime groups and criminals. One gun in the wrong hands can do damage," Professor Broadhurst said. Explore further Weapons trade reveals a darker side to dark web New York, New York and Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - QuantGate Systems Inc. (OTCQB: QGSI) (the "Company"), an Artificial Intelligence ("AI") and Machine Learning ("ML") SaaS based solutions provider, is pleased to announce the launch of QuantGate Crypto, a wholly-owned division of the Company, focused on providing a highly intelligent, SaaS based technology solution for various crypto companies, institutions and platform providers. Launching this new division is a major first step in QuantGate's expansion into the cryptocurrency market, which is inherently volatile and complex, and in dire need of unbiased, performance enhancing solutions such as those provided by QuantGate Crypto. Ilan Yosef, CTO/COO of QuantGate, states: "The focus of QuantGate Crypto is to significantly enhance cryptocurrency platforms and exchanges, by integrating our ground-breaking technology. Our proprietary SaaS solutions and artificial intelligence algorithms are perfectly suited to the dynamic cryptocurrency markets, having already been applied and proven with Forex and Stocks. We are committed to enhance the wide array of blockchain offerings, which includes providing turn-key solutions to serve a rapidly growing market." Mr. Yosef further comments: "QuantGate takes the "speculation" out of investing by being able to anticipate the upcoming price behaviour of cryptocurrencies. Our proprietary algorithms, augmented with AI and machine learning, enhance our capability and intelligence to deliver on our primary mission - anticipate in real time where the market is heading !" QuantGate Crypto will add unique crypto capabilities to QuantGate's core solutions platform. This includes robust smart-order-routing technology to provide best price and execution as well as a variety of turn-key solutions. The first application of its' cryptocurrency intelligent capabilities is already in progress with the development of "Crypto Nuvo", a mobile crypto application powered by QuantGate's algorithms and mobile SaaS infrastructure. Scheduled to launch in Q2 2021, investors can join a waitlist https://cryptonuvo.com/. Crypto Nuvo will offer the following features: Smart order routing technology connects to multiple exchanges and liquidity providers for access to more liquidity and better trade execution Secure and compliant infrastructure End-to-end solution enables integration with crypto wallet and custody solutions Advanced investment features, portfolio management and position monitoring Instant funding and trading of crypto assets with zero-commissions Powered by AI to enhance both novice and advanced investor opportunities About QuantGate Systems Inc. QuantGate System Inc. (OTCQB: QGSI) (www.quantgatesystems.com) is a fintech company operating for 10+ years, developing sophisticated Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and proprietary big-data processing algorithms to deliver SaaS solutions and seamless API integration. Our core intelligence identifies investment opportunities across multiple asset classes, rooted in the financial markets, and perfected for cryptocurrency exchanges, enabling our valued clients to make better informed investment decisions. Turnkey solutions and efficient API's, founded on robust and scalable SaaS architecture, easily allow 3rd party integration for onboarding existing users, and scaling globally. Forward-Looking Statements Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth above may include forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties. Words such as "may", "could", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "plan", and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statement are inherently uncertain and that actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. QuantGate Systems Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements and cautions investors to consider all other risks and uncertainties, including those disclosed in QuantGate filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Media Contacts QuantGate Systems: media@quantgatesystems.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78333 A fire is seen at a Balukhali refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh March 22, 2021. Courtesy of Rohingya Right Team/MD Arakani UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply saddened at the loss of life and immense suffering caused by yesterday's massive fire in the Kutupalong Balukali refugee camp in Coxs Bazar. Based on provisional reports, as of this morning (Tuesday 23 March), 15 refugees are confirmed to have tragically lost their lives in the fire. More than 560 have been injured and an estimated 400 people are still missing. In support of the ongoing response led by the Bangladeshi authorities, UNHCR, in coordination with IOM and other UN and NGO partners as well as refugee volunteers, is rushing to provide critical support and protection to some 45,000 Rohingya refugees who lost their shelters and belongings in the devastating blaze. At least 10,000 shelters are estimated to have been destroyed or damaged, but figures are expected to climb in the coming days as assessments continue. Refugees who have been displaced are being temporarily accomodated within the camp community. With an unknown number of refugees having sustained burn injuries, UNHCR has provided medical supplies through ICRC in support of the management of burn patients. Emergency first aid including psychosocial support is also being provided. Health volunteers from the refugee community are helping to refer those in need of critical support services . Rohingya refugees remain at the centre of the response and have been mobilized since the fire was brought under control last night. UNHCR is preparing to reissue registration documents to those who lost theirs in the fire. So far, UNHCR has provided some 3,000 blankets, 14,500 solar lamps, 10,400 kitchen sets and 11,500 mosquito nets. Together with Oxfam, it has also made available emergency water and sanitation assistance, including construction of 20 emergency latrines, emergency tap stands, water tanks, jerry cans and water purification tablets. Four water tankers are delivering safe water to areas where those displaced by the fire are congregating. Using UNHCRs Interactive Voice Response system, we will be able to call approximately 70 per cent of households in the most affected camps. UNHCR teams are monitoring the safety and security of temporary shelters for those displaced, and ensuring assistance meets the critical needs including for unaccompanied and separated children. Camps at Coxs Bazar currently shelter over 870,000 Rohingya refugees. The vast majority, some 720,000, arrived in 2017, fleeing violence in Myanmars Rakhine state. UNHCR 2021 appeal for Rohingya response totaling US$ 294.5 million is currently only 16 per cent funded. The effects of Mondays lethal and destructive blaze will only exacerbate critical needs and further strain already overstretched resources. UNHCR is appealing for urgent mobilization of government and private sector donors. Their timely contributions are critical for the ongoing humanitarian response and UNHCRs capacity to protect and assist both the Rohingya refugees and their Bangladeshi hosts. For futher information on this topic, please contact: The Covid-19 Crisis is deepening the divide between energy transition frontrunners and laggards. In a new publication, researchers from the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam present an overview of the global impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the energy sector. Their findings show that low- and middle-income countries need more support in their efforts to ditch fossil fuels. The crisis will heighten existing imbalances in an uneven energy transition landscape. Despite the crisis, frontrunners in the global energy transition will continue to expand their renewable energy capacities, while laggards will fall further behind. In Europe, the Green Deal is having an effect and has even encouraged an otherwise sluggish Poland to accelerate its incipient energy transition. In low- and middle-income countries, on the other hand, the pandemic is exacerbating financing challenges and hampering investment in renewable energy infrastructure. This is particularly evident in Latin America, where all auctioning activity in the renewable power sector has ceased. In a number of G20 countries, pandemic-related financial support for fossil fuel industries has dampened efforts to support renewable energies. Crisis has deepened dependency on fossil fuels In countries whose economies are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, governments have pledged significant support to these sectors, further entrenching existing dependencies. In Indonesia, for example, the government has chosen to support the country's coal industry with tax breaks and by lowering regulatory requirements, while plans to replace older, fossil-fuelled power plants with renewable energy solutions have been scaled back. However, aid for the fossil energy industry does not always go hand in hand with a slowdown in the transition to clean energy, explains lead author Rainer Quitzow: "In some large countries, our observations suggest contradictory trends. The USA and Canada, both major oil and gas exporters, were hit hard by the collapse in demand, with the governments of both countries pledging to support the fossil sector. However, it seems unlikely that this will slow the growth of renewables in these countries for the time being, as energy transition pioneers like California continue to move away from fossil fuels." In China, provincial governments have opted to prioritize investment in coal-fired power plants and oil refineries, while the central government has continued to increase its growth targets for the clean energy sector. In the Global South, the crisis has added to the challenges presented by an already difficult investment climate for clean energy projects. On the one hand, falling government revenues are raising concerns about the sustainability of public debt burdens, leading to a depreciation of currencies and increased borrowing costs. Since renewable energies are particularly capital-intensive, this disproportionately affects investments in renewables. On the other hand, economic hardship related to the pandemic is leading to a rise in defaults on consumer electricity bills. In several countries, governments have responded by reducing electricity prices or suspending the billing of residential electricity consumers. This puts additional pressure on the utility sectors in these countries, adding to investment risks in the power sector. Global Green Deal could raise ambitions Science and policymakers must double their efforts to support transitions to a clean energy future in the least developed countries, explains Quitzow: "It is high time that the plight of fossil-fuel dependent economies is addressed at the international level. The Covid-19 crisis has underlined the urgent need to develop programs similar to the European Green Deal in fossil fuel-dependent countries and regions around the world. This will require the development of new international partnerships and financing arrangements that are explicitly tailored to the challenges of fossil-fuel dependent regions." A concerted international effort is needed to confront the twin challenges of economic recovery and the global fight against climate change. ### The parents of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn are finally set to hear face-to-face legal testimony from their son's alleged killer almost two years after his death. Anne Sacoolas, and her husband Jonathan, have been told they will be 'deposed' by July 23 this year - meaning they will give their account of events under oath in front of Mr Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles and father Tim Dunn. The deposition will form part of the 'discovery' process in the Dunn family's civil claim, in which correspondence and documentation relevant to the case will be handed over ahead of a trial at the end of the year. The parents of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn (pictured) are finally set to hear face-to-face legal testimony from their son's alleged killer almost two years after his death Mr Dunn, 19, was killed when a car crashed into his motorbike outside US military base RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in August 2019. Sacoolas, 43, had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf by the US Government following the incident and was able to return to her home country. She was charged with causing death by dangerous driving but the US State Department have described their refusal to extradite her as 'final' on a number of occasions. The Dunn family's civil claim has unearthed a great deal of previously unheard material, such as the State Department roles held by both Mr and Mrs Sacoolas. The Alexandria District Court in the US State of Virginia heard the couple's work in intelligence was a 'factor' in their departure from the UK - with the Sacoolases leaving for 'security reasons'. Lawyers acting on behalf of Mr and Mrs Sacoolas have also submitted their 'answers' to the civil proceedings - asserting their objections to certain parts of the claim. Judge Thomas Ellis gave the civil claim the go-ahead earlier this month. Anne Sacoolas (pictured), and her husband Jonathan, have been told they will be 'deposed' by July 23 this year - meaning they will give their account of events under oath in front of Mr Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles and father Tim Dunn Mr and Mrs Sacoolas's legal team have asserted that various parts of the civil claim are 'not supported by the law of England and Wales' and reject the prospect of a jury trial as that is not 'pursuant to the law of England and Wales'. The scheduling order, issued on Tuesday, has informed both parties that the next hearing in the case will be heard on April 21. Reacting to the scheduling order issued on Tuesday, family spokesman Radd Seiger told the PA news agency: 'The court in Virginia has now set out the timetable for the parties to follow in the civil claim to trial. 'This is another giant step for Harry's family towards achieving justice for Harry. 'We set off to Washington shortly after Harry died in search of answers and justice and by no later than July 23 both Mr and Mrs Sacoolas will be required give testimony under oath in front of Charlotte and Tim. 'This will hopefully allow them to process what happened to Harry as they seek to rebuild their shattered lives.' NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bowery Farming , the largest U.S. vertical farming company serving almost 800 grocery stores and major e-commerce platforms, today announced that it is now providing Albertsons Companies, Inc. with Bowery's wildly flavorful Protected Produce that's local, safe and sustainable, to an initial 275 Safeway and Acme stores across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. "At Bowery we believe that everyone should have access to fresh, healthy produce," said Katie Seawell, Chief Commercial Officer, Bowery Farming. "We're proud to partner with Albertsons Companies to bring millions of shoppers our local, wildly delicious, Protected Produce and meet unprecedented demand for our growing category, which we believe is the next frontier of agriculture." Bowery builds smart indoor farms close to the cities it serves, using technology to create a simplified, agile food system focused on flavor, freshness and safety farming efficiently to feed locally. At the core of its operations is the BoweryOS, its proprietary operating system, which uses sensors, vision systems, machine learning and automation technology to monitor and control all variables contributing to crop growth 24/7. Every new farm built benefits from the collective knowledge of the BoweryOS, making the entire network of farms stronger and more efficient each and every minute. As a result of the BoweryOS, Bowery's farms are more than 100 times more productive than a comparable square foot of traditional farmland, and its crops grow more than two times faster than in the field, using a fraction of the water and land. Bowery's greens and herbs grow in completely controlled environments year-round, independent of weather and seasonality. Bowery produce is harvested at peak freshness, and is available on shelf within just a few days. "Whether our customers shop with us in store or through our websites and apps, they expect to find fresh and sustainable produce for delicious meals at home," said Ricardo Dimarzio, Produce Sales Manager of Albertsons Cos' Mid-Atlantic Division. "We're proud to offer Bowery Farming's innovative and sustainable produce to help meet customer demand for high quality local indoor grown greens and herbs." Five of Bowery's most popular SKUs are now available in 164 Acme stores (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland) and 111 Safeway stores (Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.). The initial five products are: Bowery Baby Butter Lettuce - Crisp yet tender, a mild and smooth baby lettuce with a refreshing finish. - Crisp yet tender, a mild and smooth baby lettuce with a refreshing finish. Bowery Crispy Leaf - Crunchy and refreshing, this mild and versatile green is the ideal base for a salad or grain bowl, and garnish for your culinary whimsy. - Crunchy and refreshing, this mild and versatile green is the ideal base for a salad or grain bowl, and garnish for your culinary whimsy. Bowery Spring Blend - A smooth and satisfying mix of red and green oakleaf, romaine and mustard for a peppery finish, this is Bowery's modern take on a classic lettuce blend. - A smooth and satisfying mix of red and green oakleaf, romaine and mustard for a peppery finish, this is Bowery's modern take on a classic lettuce blend. Baby Kale Blend - Robust and balanced, this versatile, flavorful blend of three types of baby kale works well in any dish, from a saute to a salad to a smoothie. - Robust and balanced, this versatile, flavorful blend of three types of baby kale works well in any dish, from a saute to a salad to a smoothie. Bowery Basil - Aromatic and sweet, with a peppery flavor that adds depth to any dish. The partnership will offer consumers Protected Produce year-round, even in the middle of events that interrupt the traditional supply chain. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Bowery has proven to be a safe, reliable and trustworthy partner for retailers looking to fill holes in the local supply chain. This retail expansion comes at a pivotal time in the company's growth. Bowery, now the largest U.S. vertical farming company, has seen nearly 700% growth in sales since January 2020 with brick-and-mortar grocery retailers, and more than quadrupled its sales with e-commerce platforms, including Amazon. To sustain this growth and meet demand for its produce, Bowery is building its largest and most technologically advanced farm yet in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which will further automate the growing process from seed to store and expand its reach throughout the East Coast. The company also has two commercial farms in Kearny, New Jersey, and Nottingham, Maryland, which are currently serving customers. About Bowery Farming Bowery Farming, the Modern Farming Company, was founded in 2015 with the belief that technology and human ingenuity can grow better food for a better future. Propelled by its proprietary software system, the BoweryOS, Bowery builds smart indoor vertical farms that deliver a wide variety of Protected Produce in little time, near cities they serve, for a truly local approach. Bowery's farms are growing the next generation of vibrant and flavorful produce. They're 100 times more productive on the same footprint of land than traditional agriculture, and grow traceable pesticide-free produce the purest, best expression of what produce is meant to be with a fraction of the water and land. The largest vertical farming company in the U.S., Bowery's produce is available in nearly 800 grocery stores and via e-commerce platforms serving the Tri-state and Mid-Atlantic region, including Amazon Fresh, Giant Food, Hungryroot, Stop & Shop, Walmart, Weis, Whole Foods Market, and specialty grocers. Based in New York City, Bowery has raised more than $172.5 million from leading investors, including Temasek and GV (formerly Google Ventures), General Catalyst, GGV Capital, First Round Capital, Henry Kravis, Jeff Wilke, and Dara Khosrowshahi, as well as some of the foremost thought leaders in food, including Tom Colicchio, Jose Andres, and David Barber of Blue Hill. For more information on Bowery and its products, please visit www.BoweryFarming.com Press kit: https://boweryfarming.com/press/ About Albertsons Companies Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. The company operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs. Albertsons Cos. is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2019 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company gave $225 million in food and financial support. In 2020, Albertsons Cos. made a $53 million commitment to community hunger relief efforts and a $5 million commitment to organizations supporting social justice. These efforts have helped millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, social justice and programs for people with disabilities and veterans' outreach. SOURCE Bowery Farming Related Links https://www.boweryfarming.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The planet's oldest meteor impact crater is not a crater at all, researchers explained in recent research proposing normal forces put the massive indent into the planet's surface. But the jury is however out. The Maniitsoq Structure The ambitious crater, named locally as the Maniitsoq structure, can be found 55 kilometers (34 miles) southeast of the city of Maniitsoq in Greenland. The structure is about 100 km (62 miles) in diameter and was built about 3 billion years ago, though its heritage has been doubted in recent years Geologist Adam Garde, of the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, and colleagues explained in 2012, that they had discovered proof that the Maniitsoq structure was formed by a meteor impact, dubbing it the first recorded instance of its kind in the world. Still, recent research calls into query the 2012 groups' discoveries. The University of Waterloo in Canada geologist and lead author Chris Yakymchuk explained that after a long inquiry of the Maniitsoq area, they have not yet discovered proof of microscopic surprising deformation that is located in almost all other impact craters. "Their data suggest that the building in the place is the property of old plate tectonic activity, heating, and deformation about hundreds of millions of years." Still, Garde reported that he is not certain. ALSO READ: Stargazing: Leonids Meteor Shower to Light the Sky After the November Supermoon The Meteorite Garde and his colleagues determined that the Maniitsoq structure is an impact crater primarily because of the structure of rocks at its core, which they recorded in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters in 2012. The scientists explained that the middle of those rocks and the way they had been exerted into the ground could be described only by the influence of a meteorite. Chris explained that an impact origin was probable, with the data they had at the time and that the goal was to experiment on the effect hypothesis utilizing more data compiled with a larger array of procedures. Other research had already clear several doubts on the 2012 discoveries, but Chris explained that he and his group came with an "open mind" about the structure's legacy when they began their studies in 2016. Zircon Crystals Their major proof against an impact origin arrives from an examination of zircon crystals - incredibly durable and minute layouts made up of zirconium silicate. The group assessed over 5,000 of these mineral grains and could not discover any proof - such as ruptures within the crystals - of them being destroyed by a significant impact. Zircon crystals are microscopic time capsules that can catch the defect created from shock waves provoked during a meteorite impact. Chris explained that they did not discover any defect that suggested old shock waves crossed through these minerals. Age of Impact Lately, researchers have utilized these crystals to indicate that Earth's crust thrived rapidly at about the same time the Maniitsoq structures were created, recent reports suggest this kind of tectonic expansion spurt possibly formed the Maniitsoq structure. When they began to integrate several field notes with data on the age of certain rock units, it started to guide them away from an impact crater heritage. Chris disclosed that the age they recovered was 40 million years younger than the suggested age of impact. RELATED ARTICLE: Meteor Detonates With the Force of 440 Pounds of TNT Over Vermont For more news, updates about meteors and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Two companies have been warned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for illegally selling over-the counter pain relief products labeled as containing cannabidiol or CBD. In a statement, the health regulator said it issued warning letters to Honest Globe Inc. and Biolyte Laboratories LLC for selling the products listing CBD as inactive ingredient, and in ways that violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or FD&C Act. None of these products meet the requirements to be legally marketed without an approved new drug application, the agency said. As per the letters, CBD has known pharmacological effects on humans, and with demonstrated risks, it cannot be legally marketed as an inactive ingredient in OTC drug products that are not reviewed and approved by the FDA. The FDA said it has not approved any over-the-counter or OTC drugs containing CBD. The only CBD-containing approved drug is a prescription drug for the treatment of seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome in human patients. The warning letters also cite substandard manufacturing practices. The agency had sent warning letters to other companies earlier for illegally selling unapproved CBD products that claimed to prevent, diagnose, mitigate, treat or cure various diseases, in violation of the FD&C Act. FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Amy Abernethy" 'It's important that consumers understand that the FDA has only approved one drug containing CBD as an ingredient. These other, unapproved, CBD products may have dangerous health impacts and side effects.' Both affected companies are asked to submit written responses within 15 working days stating how they will address these violations, among others. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has proposed a new peace plan to U.S. officials and the Taliban that envisages a snap presidential election within six months or a year right after a peace deal is signed with the militant group, a senior Afghan government official told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan. The official said on March 23 under condition of anonymity that Ghani will unveil details of his proposal at an international peace conference in Turkey in April. U.S. officials have not commented publicly on the plan so far. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told RFE/RL that the group will share their views on the proposal when they finish their assessment. Mujahid also said the insurgents "dont want to walk paths that lead to failure," describing the previous presidential election as a "deception." The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump struck a deal with the Taliban in February 2020 to withdraw troops by May 1 after nearly two decades. Biden has said the deadline would be "tough" for Washington to meet as peace talks between the militant group and Afghan government, launched in Qatar in September 2020, struggle to advance. U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been circulating a proposal which would replace the Western-backed government in Kabul with an interim administration, but Ghani has rejected any peace plan that requires his government to step aside for unelected successors. The Afghan official told RFE/RL that, under Ghanis proposed plan, a presidential election could be held in six months or a year under the auspices of the United Nations, the European Union, and the United States, if the Taliban agree on a cease-fire. Under the proposal, Ghani's current administration would remain in place until the vote is conducted, but Taliban members could join the government as well as Afghan security and defense forces. The source added that, in order to remove possible suspicions of vote rigging and Taliban concerns, Ghani and his two vice presidents, Amrullah Saleh and Sarwar Danish, are ready to refrain from running in the elections. The official said that the Afghan president had submitted the plan to U.S. officials, who are still "deliberating." Ghani was sworn in as president for a second five-year term in March 2020 after a disputed presidential election. The Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Deputy Election Commissioner Sudip Jain have arrived in Siliguri on Tuesday to review poll preparedness ahead of the first phase of the assembly polls in West Bengal. The Election Commission delegation that also includes ECI observers will hold a review meeting with top officials. The first phase of the is scheduled to take place on March 27. The elections for 30 assembly seats will be conducted during the first phase. All the assembly constituencies of the districts of Purulia and Jhargram will go for polls in the first phase. While the segments of Bankura, Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur districts are going to be covered in the first phase of polls. Meanwhile, central forces have been deployed throughout West Bengal ahead of the polls. Elections to the 294-member assembly will be held from March 27 to April 29 in eight phases. Results will be declared 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.) Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. An international team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) platform that could one day be used in a system to assess vascular diseases, which are characterised by the abnormal condition of blood vessels. The AI-powered platform combines machine learning and a specially-designed microfluidic chip with analysis of 2D video images of blood flow and the application of physical laws, to infer how blood flows in 3D. In tests, it accurately predicted blood flow characteristics such as speed, pressure, and shear stress, which is the stress exerted by the blood flow on the vessel wall. The ability to determine these characteristics accurately could be a critical support for clinicians in detecting and tracking the progression of vascular diseases since the abnormalities that the platform could spot (such as an abrupt change in speed or shear stress of blood flow) may indicate the presence or progression of a vascular disease. The platform and its proof-of-concept findings from the research team led by NTU President and Distinguished University Professor Subra Suresh, Brown Professor George Em Karniadakis, and MIT Principal Research Scientist and NTU Visiting Professor Ming Dao are reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on 22 March. To validate the platform, the scientists tested it on simulated microaneurysms of the eye, using a microfluidic chip that is smaller than a thumbnail. Microaneurysms are bulges in the micro-scale blood vessels of a diabetic patient's eye, and are the earliest signs of diabetic retinopathy, the leading global cause of vision loss and blindless in diabetic working adults. When the AI platform was given images of blood flow in a device that simulates microaneurysms, it successfully predicted the characteristics of blood circulation within it. The AI platform and the microaneurysm-on-a-chip could one day help medical practitioners with monitoring vascular disease progression in humans and may be particularly useful for diseases of the body's smallest blood vessels. Prof Subra Suresh, the study's senior author, said: Currently, measuring the mechanics of blood flow in the smallest blood vessels requires sophisticated equipment and trained personnel. Our AI technology integrates images, experimental data, and the underlying physics, enabling microcirculation blood flow to be analysed easily and accurately to assess vascular injury and disease state. With this platform, we can now gain important mechanical information and insights into disease evolution mechanisms that were previously very cumbersome to extract." While the platform was developed for microaneurysm monitoring, it could be adapted to monitor other diseases of impaired blood vessels, said the scientists. Prof George Karniadakis, the study's co-corresponding author and professor of Engineering and Applied Mathematics at Brown University, said: "We tested our platform on microaneurysms, the earliest symptom of diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of vision loss in working-age diabetic patients globally. Our ultimate goal is to use the platform in clinical settings for diabetic retinopathy diagnosis and prognosis as well as in other diseases involving impaired blood flow." The team hopes to test their platform on clinical imaging data of microaneurysms in order to correlate the blood flow characteristics of microaneurysms to factors such as disease severity and potential risks. The challenge of monitoring blood vessel disease progression Despite rapid advances in imaging techniques such as retinal photography analysis and optical coherence tomography, it is not feasible to observe biological processes in microcirculation in real time, such as the rupture of a microaneurysm in the eye's blood vessels and the development of blood clots. As a result, to learn more about how these diseases progress, scientists have been using traditional microfluidic devices - devices that shuttle around miniscule amounts of fluids in tiny channels carved into a microchip - to mimic the physiological conditions of a vascular disease. These existing methods, which either rely on visual image analysis, or the application of the physical laws underlying blood flow, do not provide an accurate assessment of blood flow characteristics, particularly in vessels with complex geometries, such as a microaneurysm in the eye. The research team demonstrated the AI platform's capabilities on a microaneurysm-on-a-chip, a microfluidic device that the team designed to mimic blood flow in round microaneurysms, the most common type found in diabetic patients . A 20-microlitre blood sample - about half a drop of blood - was loaded onto the chip, and a high-speed camera was used to capture images of blood moving through the microchannels. The scientists found that their AI platform predicted the characteristics of blood flow such as speed, pressure, and stress exerted by the blood flow on the vessel wall in small, intermediate, and large microaneurysms more accurately and efficiently than existing computational methods. The team believes their technology may become a powerful tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of microaneurysms using images taken from actual microaneurysms. It could also potentially be combined with microfluidic devices that simulate other types of disorders involving impaired blood vessels to predict blood flow characteristics and monitor other vascular diseases. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The report helped spur Black journalists to form their own professional organizations in several cities. But Mr. Brock, who had already helped found the Washington Association of Black Journalists, was among those who believed that a national organization was needed to promote more aggressive hiring practices across the industry and to improve how people of color were covered. The idea for a national organization had been floated since 1967, but Mr. Brock, along with the television journalists Maureen Bunyan and Max Robinson, helped make it happen. When several Black journalists were planning to be in Washington in December 1975 to cover a conference of Black elected officials, Mr. Brock, Ms. Bunyan and Mr. Robinson suggested that they take that opportunity to organize. Mr. Brock reached out to more than 100 other Black journalists across the country and encouraged them to join. He was a great organizer, Wayne Dawkins, author of Black Journalists: The NABJ Story (1993), said in a phone interview. This was like building a car while its rolling down the highway, but he did it. The group had intense discussions over its bylaws and mission as well as who would be eligible to join. They decided that members had to be working journalists and could not be involved in public relations, academics or politics or be otherwise perceived as having agendas. Mr. Brock, who had worked chiefly in radio, was by this time the deputy director for communications of the Democratic National Committee and was therefore disqualified from becoming a member of the group he had just helped found. But he had been so pivotal in its formation and committed to its mission, Mr. Dawkins said, that he was given the title of founding executive director and worked in that capacity without pay for several years. As Connecticut officials expressed confidence Monday in the accelerated vaccination plan, they acknowledged the state is nearing 300,000 total COVID cases since the onset of the pandemic amid a rising positivity rate. With increases through the weekend, Connecticut has seen 299,667 total cases of the coronavirus since last year, and the new tests since Friday brought the daily positivity rate to 3.59 percent, data shows. This is no time for us to relax, Gov. Ned Lamont said. We are looking at New York, we are looking at Massachusetts, things that ticked up a little bit there. Like Ive said before, I am a little less anxious about the positivity rate unless I saw a big ramp up. Three days after the state lifted many business restrictions, Lamont said Monday he remains focused on the hospitalization rate, a number that decreased through the weekend by 13 net cases to a total of 389 statewide, among the lowest amounts its been in recent weeks. As the positivity rate continued to sit above 3 percent, officials said Connecticut was on track with its accelerated vaccination rollout plan. Since eligibility opened Friday to people age 45 to 54, state officials said there were about 80,000 scheduled appointments. It marks about 40 percent of those state officials expected would want the vaccine in this group. Unlike previous eligibility expansions, the state said providers were told to limit appointments to mid-April. I encourage people to keep looking each day, said Josh Geballe, the states chief operating officer. If you are still looking for a slot, new ones are opening all the time. We remain confident that we are very much on track to get everyone an appointment by the time we change the phase on April 5. Geballe said Monday it appears the state has been timing the transitions well to ensure appointments do not go unused by moving the dates to when projections show demand diminishes. Our goal is ... as soon as we see a slackening in demand from the prior phase to immediately move into the next phase. I think we really nailed that this time, Geballe said. Lamont said Monday that 22 percent of people age 45 to 54 had already received the vaccine, but that number was bolstered by individuals who already fell in previous stages of the rollout, whether they were teachers or health care workers. The state hopes to get about 60 percent of people in this age group inoculated with a first dose of the vaccine when it transitions to people age 16 to 44, the final stage of eligibility, which includes about 625,000 people who the state projects will be eager to sign up. In an effort to reach more people with vaccines, Lamont said Monday the state Department of Public Health will deploy a fleet of 35 vehicles that will serve as mobile clinics capable of administering up to 160 doses of the vaccine a day as they come online through April. The mobile clinics will work through community partnerships where local leaders will set up appointments. We have to continue our outreach, especially for Black and brown populations, Lamont said. We have some of our towns where you have 70 percent of the eligible population has been vaccinated, and some of our cities where its more like 35 or 40 percent. When the state shifted its vaccine strategy last month to an age-based approach, Lamonts administration announced it would designate 50 priority ZIP codes for increased vaccination efforts. The ZIP codes were chosen based on their high social vulnerability scores, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention metric that weighs factors including health care, housing density, access to transportation and education, among others. More than three weeks into this effort, vaccine distribution to people living in these areas continues to lag substantially behind other communities, officials said. State officials said Monday that 22 percent of people in these priority areas have been vaccinated, falling below the previous goal of 25 percent. Lamont said its not quite where we wanted ... so weve got a little ways to go. The state has emphasized several strategies to increase these numbers, acknowledging that hesitance toward getting the vaccine may be higher in these communities. Providers have been conducting outbound calls, door-knocking campaigns, and other concerted outreach to connect these residents with vaccines. While maintaining large mass vaccine clinics in cities, providers have been partnering with smaller organizations like houses of worship to run targeted vaccination events. Lamont said the new mobile clinic vans will be in the church parking lot at the end of the service or visiting other congregate settings. Were taking the vaccine to you to do everything we can to expand our reach, Lamont said. As these strategies develop to reach vulnerable communities, state officials appear poised to double down on the efforts when the demand for the vaccine wanes by using these mobile clinic vans to reach more people. By the time we get to the late spring to summer, we are going to have more vaccine than people who want to take it, Geballe said. We envision these mobile units operating almost on an ice cream truck model, where you can drive through neighborhoods and you can flag them down and get a vaccination. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has written a petition against three judges of the Supreme Court, accusing them of holding secret meetings with officials of the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding the Imo North senatorial election disputes. Angry about the development, a panel of the Supreme Court led by Dattijo Muhammad, one of the judges accused by the party, adjourned a suit filed in respect of the election dispute indefinitely on Tuesday. There has been an orgy of court actions concerning the Imo North senatorial bye-election held on December 5, 2020 after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APC the winner of the poll but refused to announce the winning candidate due to conflicting court orders on the partys candidacy for the poll. The two leading aspirants on the platform of the party, Ifeanyi Ararume and Chukwuemeka Ibezim, have been locked in legal battles over who is entitled to take benefit of the partys victory. Rather than helping to resolve the matter, the various courts approached by the rival politicians have been issuing conflicting orders further rendering the dispute intractable. Tuesdays hearing Mr Ibezims appeal challenging his disqualification by the Court of Appeal in Abuja was to be heard by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, when Mr Muhammad announced an indefinite postponement of the hearing as a result of the APCs petition. The petition by the APC said to have been signed by its acting national chairperson and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, was said to have accused Mr Muhammad and two of his other colleagues, Helen Ogunwumiju and Abdu Aboki, of holding secret meetings with PDP officials to subvert justice in the case. Mr Muhammad said the APC had by its petition called his integrity and that of his colleagues to question. Confirming the petition at the proceedings, Mr Muhammad who led a five-man panel of the court on Tuesday, said the Interim National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has written a petition against me and two other Justices of this court, namely, Helen Ogunwumiju and Abdu Aboki accusing us of having a meeting with members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to subvert justice in the case. He said it was stated in the petition that he led the two other colleagues to attend a meeting with members of the PDP to strategise on how to subvert the outcome of this case. Allegation denied Mr Muhammad described the allegation as unfortunate. He also said the statement credited to the APC acting chairperson as irresponsible and reckless. I must say that this is most unfortunate and my heart bleeds for this country, he said. The judge added, If people as highly placed as the interim chairperson of the APC would open his mouth and make this weighty statement against innocent Justices of this court, then I say my heart bleeds. We are not interested in any matter and I challenge him and the party to substantiate his allegation that my humble self attended a meeting with members of the PDP with a view to subverting the interest of their party. This is a reckless and irresponsible statement. That is how these useless statements were made in the past and that is why we are not taking it lightly. He also challenged the party to come forward to substantiate the allegation. If they have honour, let them substantiate their allegations and I will not leave a day longer in this court. ADVERTISEMENT So, this matter is adjourned sine die, and parties should approach the Chief Justice of Nigeria, he said. Lawyers distance selves from petition Lawyers representing parties to the suit distanced themselves from the petition on Tuesday. APCs lawyer, Umeh Kalu, who expressed surprise about the development, said he only heard about it for the first time during the proceedings. Mr Kalu said he had never met the APCs interim chairperson, the author of the petition, adding that he had only been dealing with the partys legal adviser. He said, I am taken aback by this. I have never in my life met with the interim chairman of the APC. In matters of this nature, we normally deal with the legal adviser. In the first place, PDP is not a party in this matter. Ahmed Raji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing Mr Ararume in the case, also expressed shock about the development, adding, I condemn it with all the strength in me. I sympathise with your lordships and whatever measure your lordships deem appropriate, we are fully in support. Backstory The appeal that came up before the Supreme Court on Tuesday was filed by Mr Ibezim seeking to upturn the December 4, 2020 judgment of Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, and the February 6, 2021 verdict of the Court of Appeal in Abuja both of which nullified his candidature on the grounds that he made false declaration in the documents he submitted to INEC. Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, had also on March 18, ordered INEC to issue Mr Ararume the certificate of return as the rightful candidate of the APC which was declared the winner of the bye-election. Established in 2016, The Cotton Companies is an innovative sustainable-minded real estate organization in Columbus, Georgia that provides real estate development services, 3rd party coordination services and real estate investment consulting. The firm's President, Chris Woodruff, has a strong tie to Columbus' past with his ancestors arriving in the city in the 1840's and developing much of what the city is today. This, combined with over twenty years of experience in commercial and residential real estate, have resulted in Chris and The Cotton Companies being one of the most innovative development firms in the Southeast. Through their services, the company is able to create real estate assets that positively impact the community in which they do business through adaptive reuse conversions that honor architectural, cultural and historical context. The Cotton Companies is continuing to build off their mission of creating developments that provide a sound financial return, are aesthetically pleasing, rooted in history, culture, people and place and enhance the community with their newest transformative development, Highside Market. "The Cotton Companies has been a driver behind some of the recent revitalization of Columbus' Uptown neighborhood, resulting in alluring destinations that exude both history and charm", says Chris Woodruff, President of The Cotton Companies. "Highside Market is meant to further that growth and serve as an epicenter for community and meaningful experiences for Columbus and beyond." Opening its first phase this Fall, Highside Market will serve as the central connection point for residents and visitors of Columbus. The 55,000 square foot mixed-use destination with four distinct retail, dining, work and gathering spaces will transform the historical site into a thriving community epicenter made for everyone. Highside Market will feature 1.8 acres of full service, dine-in and fast casual restaurants, 20,000 square feet of retail, 10,300 square feet of office space, a green space park and outdoor lounges. Each thoughtfully designed common space will be complemented by a curated collection of programs, events and on-site activations that will bring patrons and visitors together to connect, network and be inspired. Highside Market's flagship structure, the 211 Building, was built in 1939 and previously operated as the premier auto dealership in Columbus for 55 years. A central point that will hum with activity - people eating, shopping, mingling, working and connecting - the building's ground floor will include a bakery, two dine-in restaurants, and an eclectic mix of retail market stalls with office space, pop up space for events and workshops occupying the first floor. An adjacent, circa 1959 Brutalist bank building will be repurposed and transformed into the 201 Building. The former bank building will take on a new life on one of the most high-traffic, high-energy corners in Columbus with a ground floor restaurant, basement bar, and second floor retail or art gallery space. An outdoor common area will provide an added venue for relaxing, gathering and socializing. A ground-up, newly constructed building, the 207 Building, will be home to great food and inviting energy with a ground floor restaurant with expansive windows and sun drenched space, as well as a second story bar with a rooftop deck overlooking 13th Street and the outdoor lounge areas below. The development is completed by the Highside Park and Event Space, a 7,000 square foot urban park with a pop-up airstream bar that will be serving food and libations throughout the day. Each building on the property is easily accessible by foot, bicycle and car with easy and convenient parking located throughout. Highside Market will open in its first phase in Columbus, Georgia this September at 201 13th Street, Columbus, Georgia 31901. The property is currently leasing and a lineup of dining, retail, and more will be unveiled in the coming months. Highside Market is part of the Cotton Qualified Opportunity Zone Fund. For more information on leasing or investments, contact The Cotton Companies at (706) 341-1833. About Highside Market: Opening its first public phase in September 2021, Highside Market is an urban infill and adaptive reuse mixed use development located at the crossroads of 13th Street and 2nd Avenue in Columbus, Georgia. Highside Market will act as the epicenter for community and meaningful culinary, aesthetic, cultural and relational experiences. Highside will reimagine a typical marketplace combining retail, dining, office and unique gathering space across a 1.8 acre site. The development will include over 55,000 square feet of leasable area, to include retail, restaurant and office space. 201 13th Street, Columbus, Georgia 31901. http://highsidemarket.com About Cotton Companies: Founded in 2016, The Cotton Companies is a Columbus-based real estate development and investment firm that creates community, human connection, and prosperity through the built environment. They focus on commercial development, stabilized asset investment, and adaptive reuse conversions that honor architectural, cultural, and historic context. Their flexible, entrepreneurial, and aggressive approach to real estate development focuses on adaptive reuse, sustainability, and transformative change. The end result is an asset that provides a sound financial return, is aesthetically pleasing, rooted in its history, culture, people, and place, and enhances the community it calls home. https://www.thecottoncompanies.com SOURCE Highside Market Related Links http://highsidemarket.com/ NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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? 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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 NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 This article is part of the On Tech newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it weekdays. Heres one more way that technology companies are becoming more like conventional corporations: When they talk about jobs, its often a political message. Google last week detailed its expansion of offices, computer data centers and staff around the United States. The company didnt say so, but it needs more people, buildings and infrastructure to keep growing and making money. Its smarter politics and public relations to rebrand it as investing in America. Google is not alone. Amazon has turned its mammoth work force into its loudest political message that the company is helping Americans and the economy. The iPhone manufacturer Foxconn keeps promising high-tech jobs at its Wisconsin factory, even though it hasnt delivered on three years of hiring promises. Facebook and Apple regularly talk about how they support small businesses and help generate jobs at app companies. Growing corporations are engines of economic growth, and its nothing new for them to brag about what theyre doing for political reasons. Defense contractors might suggest to members of Congress that cutting the Pentagons budget could lead to fewer jobs in a lawmakers district or state. Walmart tallies how much it buys from American suppliers. Almost two years after her stint as The Bachelorette, Angie Kent has spoken out against her former suitor Jess Glasgow. The 31-year-old Gogglebox star infamously asked Jess to leave the show in 2019 after he subjected her to offensive and misogynistic behaviour. Last week, the former Noosa councillor was fined $4,000 following an investigation by the Councillor Conduct Tribunal into his behaviour on the program. Plenty to say: Almost two years after her stint as The Bachelorette, Angie Kent (left) has spoken out against her former suitor Jess Glasgow (right) And Angie had plenty to say about it, sharing a lengthy Instagram post about sexism on Tuesday night. Angie confessed she was 'torn' about whether or not she wanted to speak out, but ultimately decided that if she stayed silent, it would make her 'complicit'. 'I keep seeing a whole lot more of this extremely large-ego-fragility-blame game bulls**t all over my TV, in the media, social media and in this case, on the news back in my hometown,' she wrote. Shown the door: The 31-year-old former Gogglebox star infamously asked Jess to leave the show in 2019 after he subjected her to offensive and misogynistic behaviour Trouble: Last week, the former Noosa councillor was fined $4,000 following an investigation by the Councillor Conduct Tribunal into his behaviour on the show, and Angie had plenty to say about it on Instagram (pictured) 'This situation isn't just about me. It is what we have been enduring overall as women for centuries and I have kept quiet off and on my entire life. I'm sure most of us have!' Angie explained that she wasn't targeting 'Jess alone', and said she didn't 'want this to be a chance to s**t can the bloke even more so than he has already received'. She added: 'Jess did apologise to me right after the episode aired (funny that it had to take the episode to air before I received an apology, but hey c'est la vie). Taking a stand: Angie explained that she wasn't targeting 'Jess alone', and said she didn't 'want this to be a chance to s**t can the bloke even more so than he has already received' 'Am I shocked? Nope. But I did appreciate the apology and thought s**t yeah, maybe this was the chance for growth and recognition from him.' But Angie said she was disappointed to learn that Jess had blamed 'his multiple shameful performances on an edit'. 'If it was hugely edited, then why did I feel so embarrassed and humiliated?' she said. Apology: 'Jess did apologise to me right after the episode aired (funny that it had to take the episode to air before I received an apology, but hey c'est la vie),' she wrote 'Why did other men on the show seem to have quite the issue with him? And members of the crew? And why have I had fathers, mothers, friends reach out to me saying it didn't sit right with them either? 'Not to mention the whopping amount messages from women saying they have had to tolerate this kind of behaviour from men (and this particular person) most of their lives. Far too often.' Angie said she was fed up of being told that she was 'too much', while men were given a pass for their bad behaviour. Independent woman: Angie, who split from Bachelor winner Carlin Sterritt in July last year, said she would 'rather be single for the rest of my life' than allow a man to disrespect her ANGIE KENT'S STATEMENT Last week the Councillor Conduct Tribunal went ahead for the Jess Glasgow investigation into his behaviour on my season of The Bachelorette. I was torn whether or not I wanted to say anything. Probably because of the fear of the unknown, which been conditioned into a lot of women. Then I thought if I don't say anything I feel it would make me complicit? Or that I am okay with this type of behaviour? Or that I'm still scared to speak my truth out of judgement or abuse etc. Or perhaps if I ignore it then maybe it will go away? Well it has almost been two full years since the event occurred, and evidently it has not gone away. Which in a way I now see as a blessing. I keep seeing a whole lot more of this extremely large-ego-fragility-blame game bulls**t all over my TV, in the media, social media and in this case, on the news back in my hometown. This situation isn't just about me. It is what we have been enduring overall as women for centuries and I have kept quiet off and on my entire life. I'm sure most of us have! Before I delve into this too much, by no means is this a post directed specifically at Jess alone. I don't want this to be a chance to s**t can the bloke even more so than he has already received. This is an opportunity to call out unwanted conditioned practices, and celebrate the hope for change! Jess did apologise to me right after the episode aired (funny that it had to take the episode to air before I received an apology, but hey c'est la vie). Am I shocked? Nope. But I did appreciate the apology and thought s**t yeah, maybe this was the chance for growth and recognition from him and for any other man who didn't care for this kind of situation when they were watching it. But sadly, no. To stand there now, two years on and blame his multiple shameful performances on an edit? If it was hugely edited, then why did I feel so embarrassed and humiliated? Why did other men on the show seem to have quite the issue with him? And members of the crew? And why have I had fathers, mothers, friends reach out to me saying it didn't sit right with them either? Not to mention the whopping amount messages from women saying they have had to tolerate this kind of behaviour from men (and this particular person) most of their lives. Far too often. Growing up I was often told I was 'too much', or to be quiet and not get so 'worked up' over men and their actions or comments... To simply get over it or ignore it. Finally the time has come where I don't feel like I expect too much from men by wanting them to respect me. Start owning your s**t and changing your past conditioning by wanting to do more... or soon those of you who lack the ability to own your s**t and make changes you'll see what it feels like to be 'less than half'. Women are not collateral damage for the male ego. We know it's been a culture of learned entitlement... Which we can unlearn! 'It's OK to not originally know your behaviour is toxic due to white male domination, fragility and privilege. But when a whole group of people are screaming out and standing up, and men keep blaming it on "bad days" or "edits" - perhaps it's time to listen and do the work within? Where's the evidence? The evidence is right in front of you fellas!!!! Remember... if a man can't accept and respect what I am puttin' down, I'd rather be single for the rest of my life! I will never allow a man to come in and f**k with my sisterhood! Advertisement 'Finally the time has come where I don't feel like I expect too much from men by wanting them to respect me,' she wrote. 'Women are not collateral damage for the male ego. We know it's been a culture of learned entitlement... Which we can unlearn!' Angie, who split from Bachelor winner Carlin Sterritt in July last year, said she would 'rather be single for the rest of my life' than allow a man to disrespect her. Upsetting: Angie said she was disappointed to learn Jess had blamed 'his multiple shameful performances on an edit' Speaking to ABC News last week, Jess claimed the show's producers had 'told' him to behave the way he did. 'I agree going on that program was a catastrophic error on my behalf,' he added. Angie asked Jess to leave during the second episode, after he repeatedly made inappropriate remarks towards her. Awkward: During a group date photo shoot, Jess was dressed as a horse, and Angie was instructed to sit on his back Vile: He pretended to bite and lick her bottom as she stood beside him, completely oblivious During a group date photo shoot, Jess was dressed as a horse, and Angie was instructed to sit on his back. 'Don't mind if I get some wandering fingers, alright?' he told her, before joking that he'd be 'the first person she gets to ride'. He then pretended to bite and lick her bottom as she stood beside him, completely oblivious. Sizza Kalonji is once again imploring upcoming Jamaican artists to ensure they secure their intellectual property and publishing rights, by engaging in deals that are beneficial to them and not onerous, as has been the fate of numerous entertainers in the past. Di likkle young artiste dem weh a rise up, tiddeh, tiddeh day, mek sure oonu get oonu likkle publishing (rights) an oonu likkle royalties. An rememba dis, all di artiste dem, try own oonu masters, yu hear? Or go 50-50 wid di producers dem. Try own oonu masters. A different time, different age. A di cybernetic age dis enuh, Sizzla cautioned during an Instagram live session a few days ago. In January 2015 following his performance at Rebel Salute, at the Grizzlys Plantation Cove in St Ann, Sizzla called on Jamaican artists to put measures in place to prevent themselves from being exploited by unscrupulous producers and publishing companies. Nuff a dem big music company and publishing company yah, and producers and promoters try teef wi publishing when wi sing and deejay and do wi likkle video. When dem (artiste) did a rise, di people dem boo dem, an run dem, an dem go home go practice and come back betta. Now dem get betta, oonu a set up business and contract fi teef dem likkle money, it naw go work! Sizzla had declared. In further expressing his outrage at the conduct of the unscrupulous producers and publishers, Sizzla had issued a notification to all royalty collection entities including the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), PRS (Performing Right Society), JACAP (Jamaica Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers), PMI (Phoenix Music International) declaring that he was the sole author of his songs and had rights to all associated royalties. Some a oonu producers when oonu get mi song, oonu go register it, bout oonu write it. Well, me a tell ASCAP, PRS, JACAP, PMI everyone a oonu, no man no write fi mi song dem! A mi alone write dem, afta mi sit dung an meditate, see di black people say dem a suffa, caw mi think bout black people. An oonu naw help wi; oonu run lef wi as oonu si Babylon a come, he said. In a September 2017 article titled Business ethics lacking in music Artistes shun Contracts, which was published in The Gleaner, record producer Michael Bell had rebuked Jamaican artists for failing to take steps to ensure they understand the business aspect of the music. Bell had said that in some cases the producer or members of the entourage have had to contribute lines for songs, but oftentimes, the entourage members are exploited as the artists do not give them any publishing rights for their contributions. He also said that after songs are completed, some of the artists refuse to sign inducement letters or the publishing split sheet, the legal document which states who wrote what percentage of a song recorded by a band or an artist. He said it is a regular thing producers face, but no one is complaining because they are afraid of being sidelined. It is hard to do real business with them and that is why international acts are benefiting more from our music than us our artistes are too shifty, dishonest and selfish and then they make the hype get to their heads and kill their careers, he told the newspaper. The Gleaner article also quoted consultant Cara Vickers as saying Jamaican artists have no excuse for poor business practices since information is readily available. She also said that there were too many instances of music being leaked, released or stagnant, due to either party not being able to negotiate, communicate or comply with an agreement. The truth is, producers and beat makers must sign off on a publishing split sheet, agreeing on terms, percentages and release conditions, along with a plan of execution. Unfortunately, very few people conduct business in this manner and so we are left with many people disgruntled because of several reasons, she had said. Vickers had also said it was incumbent on producers to also explain the terms of the agreement to artists in order to avoid confusion or future entanglements. She said that after recording for a label, artistes have the legal right to sign off on the songs release, which if not done prior to its release, could result in lawsuits and removal of content. It is unfair when music is published without the right protocols observed, and artistes need to stop recording without agreeing to terms. Likewise, producers need to stop recording acts before outlining the release contract plan. A song must be signed off by both parties prior to release, Vickers had stated. March 23, 2021 A Grand Rapids man was arraigned Monday in Lake County District Court on charges stemming from a March 20 automobile crash that occurred east of Luther and west of U.S. 131. Devinci Osiris Dumas, 21, is accused of kicking a Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officer in the head numerous times, while attempting to escape custody. The officer credits two passersby with saving his life. Dumas did not enter a plea in court Monday after being arraigned on several charges, including assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation, malicious destruction of fire or police property, resisting and obstructing a conservation officer, escape from lawful custody and being a habitual offender, second offense. He is scheduled to return to court at 1:30 p.m. April 5 for a probable cause conference. "This incident illustrates the type of danger our officers can encounter while on patrol," said Lt. Joe Molnar, of the DNR's Law Enforcement Division. "Fortunately, this situation was resolved without more serious consequences." At 9:54 a.m. March 20, Lake County dispatchers contacted DNR Conservation Officer Josiah Killingbeck. They asked him to respond to a report of a vehicle in a swamp, located near 3 Mile and Hawkins roads. Killingbeck headed to the scene and arrived at the location at 10:03 a.m. to find that a Saturn Vue had failed to stop at stop sign at the intersection, had gone airborne for a short distance and was now situated about 150 feet off the north side of the intersection. Dumas and Hannah Marie Holcomb, 19, of Dorr were found in the vehicle. Neither were injured in the crash. After an initial investigation, Killingbeck placed Dumas under arrest for open intoxicants in a vehicle and providing false information to a peace officer. Dumas was put into the front passenger seat of Killingbeck's patrol truck. He was handcuffed behind his back. The seat belt was secured around him. Not long after Killingbeck began driving to the Lake County Jail in Baldwin, Dumas freed himself from the safety belt and began to attack Killingbeck by turning himself in the seat so he could deliver multiple kicks to the conservation officer. Two passersby stopped at the scene. They were able to help Killingbeck restrain Dumas. Killingbeck was taken to Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital for evaluation. He was later released. Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned state peace officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect citizens by providing general law enforcement duties and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more about Michigan conservation officers at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers. Bengaluru, March 23 : The Election Commission notified by-elections to one Lok Sabha seat and two Assembly seats in Karnataka on April 17 to fill the vacancies, an official said on Tuesday. "By-elections will be held on April 17 for the Belgaum Lok Sabha constituency in the north-west region and Basavakalyan and Mask (ST) assembly seats in Bidar and Raichur districts in the northern region," a poll official told IANS here. Vote count for the three seats is on May 2. The returning officers received four nominations for the Belgaum contest, one for Basavakalyan and nil for Maski on the first day after the by-polls were notified. As per the schedule, last date of nominations is on March 30, scrutiny on March 31 and last date for withdrawal of nominations on March 3. Vacancy for the Belgaum seat was caused due to the Covid death of Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi on September 23, 2020. He was a 4-time BJP member from the high-profile constituency. Similarly, vacancy for the Basavakalyan seat was caused due to the Covid death of opposition Congress legislator B. Narayan Rao on September 24, 2020 at a private hospital in Bengaluru. The Maski reserved seat fell vacant after Congress rebel MLA Pratap Gowda Patil resigned in July 2019 and defected to the ruling BJP. The ruling BJP is yet to name its candidates for the 3 seats though Patil is tipped to re-contest from Maski. Though Congress is also yet to name its candidate for the Belgaum seat, it has nominated Mallamma, widow of Rao for Basavakalyan and Basavanagoud R. Turvihal for Maski. Turvihal, who lost to Patil in the May 2018 assembly elections, joined Congress from BJP recently to contest the by-poll against the former. In the 225-member state Assembly, BJP has 118, Congress (67), Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) (32), Independents (2), BSP (1), speaker (1), nominated (1) and vacant (3). In the 15 assembly by-elections held on December 5, 2019, BJP won 12, Congress (2) and an independent (1). In the twin by-polls held in Bengaluru's RR Nagar and Sira in Tumakur district on November 2020 amid the Covid pandemic, the BJP wrested both seats from the Congress and JD-S respectively. By-election to the Sindgi assembly seat in Vijayapura district is yet to be announced though it fell vacant due to the death of its sitting JD-S member M.C. Managuli due to Covid on January 28 at a private hospital in Bengaluru. Managuli, 85, was a cabinet minister in the 14-month-old JD-S Congress coalition government, which fell on July 23, 2019 after its Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy lost the trust vote in the state legislative assembly following the resignation of 17 legislators of both parties in the same month (July 2019). Managuli's son Ashok, who joined Congress recently, will be its candidate in the by-election when held. [March 23, 2021] Comarch Unveils DIAMETRICS, a Proprietary Loyalty Program Health Check Methodology KRAKOW, Poland, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Comarch, a global provider of software-defined products and services for driving customer loyalty, has revealed the latest addition to its portfolio called DIAMETRICS, which is a proprietary methodology for conducting an in-depth health check of one's loyalty program. Using this framework, Comarch's loyalty experts can evaluate the program's KPIs in reference to industry benchmarks and identify key areas of underperformance. The new DIAMETRICS methodology will allow Comarch's clients to determine exactly what measures they need to take to improve their loyalty programs and, ultimately, increase their customers' engagement. Following the principles of DIAMETRICS, Comarch can perform a detailed analysis of rivaling loyalty programs, measure customer satisfaction via carefully designed surveys, verify program contribution to sales growth, and analyze a given company's loyalty related IT infrastructure. The findings are consolidated into a single DIAMETRICS Loyalty Program Health Check Report, which ncludes recommendations on the design of the loyalty program and advice on how to make improvements in each of the reviewed areas. "What should a loyalty program health check project look like? By working and discussing this matter with our clients, we found that it should refer to the benchmarks of related programs and market trends, that its research branches should correspond directly to the company's core fields of operation (such as marketing, sales, customer service, etc.), and that it should provide a both clear and visually attractive presentation of results and recommendations. The methodology we developed has now become our registered trademark. This will allow Comarch to deliver unique strategy advisory services that will help companies improve customer engagement significantly," says Marcin Sobek, Director Loyalty & Marketing Consulting at Comarch. If you want to know more about DIAMETRICS, please visit the official website or contact Comarch at info@comarch.com. About Comarch Comarch is a global provider of advanced IT services and software for business management, including AI-powered platforms for driving brand loyalty and improving customer engagement. The company has over 25 years of experience in carrying out loyalty management projects all over the world. Among its clients are JetBlue Airways, Heathrow Airport, BP, Carrefour, Heineken, Goodyear, Pepsi, and Vodafone. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1139881/Comarch_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] PHILADELPHIA, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hosting Solutions and Library Consulting (HSLC) is a recipient of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations' (PANO) Seal of Excellence for successfully completing their rigorous Standards for Excellence accreditation program. HSLC voluntarily opened itself up to analysis by a "jury of its peers." The peer review team examined HSLC for compliance with the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector, in areas including: Mission, Strategy and Evaluation; Leadership: Board, Staff, and Volunteers; Legal Compliance and Ethics; Finance and Operations; Resource Development; and Public Awareness, Engagement, and Advocacy. PANO evaluates fundamental values such as honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility, and accountability, all of which are inherently important in the nonprofit world. HSLC's programs and services, management, and financial practices were subjected to in-depth examination prior to earning accreditation. Maryam Phillips, Executive Director of HSLC comments, "The Standards for Excellence program accreditation publicly affirms HSLC's commitment to excellence in both governance and operations. As a support organization for other non-profit organizations, and especially for libraries, it is important for HSLC to demonstrate the principles and values that inform our technology and consulting services. Accreditation provides assurances in our ability to serve other non-profits, and to effectively and efficiently manage the public funds that pay for our services and programs." "This two-year process toward Standards for Excellence accreditation required the Board of Directors to examine all of our policies, practices, procedures and programs, and has ensured that every aspect of our organization is held to the highest ethical and fiscal standards," says Karen Sterling, Chairperson of HSLC's Board of Directors. "The Seal of Excellence is granted to well-managed, responsibly governed organizations that are deserving of the public's trust," explains Tish Mogan, Standards for Excellence Director for PANO. "HSLC's Board and staff have shown an extensive level of commitment to this process, and their pursuit of the Seal of Excellence confirms that they believe strongly in promoting a culture of ethics in their operations and governance." PANO's Executive Director, Anne Gingerich, adds: "HSLC can focus even more fully on advancing its mission of partnering for library success, because the Standards set the conditions for their internal systems to run as efficiently and effectively as possible. The Seal of Excellence is truly one of the ways that organizations can better position themselves to reach their fullest potential." PANO is committed to raising the level of principled and responsible practices within the nonprofit sector. PANO is licensed by the Standards for Excellence Institute to offer a model for organizations to implement in their operating plans so they can gain a deeper understanding of their effectiveness, improve their decision-making and minimize risks. About Hosting Solutions and Library Consulting HSLC is a tax exempt nonprofit whose mission is to deliver technical solutions and consulting services to libraries. Based in Philadelphia, PA, HSLC has over 30 years' experience partnering with academic, K12 and public libraries, in addition to managing the POWER Library project on behalf of the Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries. For more information about HSLC, visit www.hslc.org. About Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations PANO is a statewide membership organization amplifying the impact of the community benefit sector through advocacy, collaboration, learning, communication and support services. PANO exists to support the incredible work of the nonprofit sector and highlight the critical role nonprofits serve. By coming together and recognizing our collective value, Pennsylvania communities and the power to do good will thrive. For more information on PANO and PANO's Standards for Excellence Program, visit www.pano.org. About the Standards for Excellence Institute The Standards for Excellence originated as a special initiative of Maryland Nonprofits in 1998 and has since expanded into a national program to help nonprofit organizations achieve the highest benchmarks of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management and operations. The program has been formally adopted by ten state, regional and national affiliate organizations, and is supported by 66 Licensed Consultants and over 100 volunteers with professional experience in nonprofit governance and administration. Since its inception, the program has accredited or recognized over 200 individual nonprofit organizations that completed a rigorous application and review process to demonstrate adherence to the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. www.standardsforexcellenceinstitute.org. For more press information contact: Maryam Phillips, Executive Director Hosting Solutions and Library Consulting 3600 Market Street, Suite 550 Philadelphia, PA 19104-2649 215-222-1532 [email protected] SOURCE Hosting Solutions and Library Consulting Related Links https://www.hslc.org Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A businesswoman who lost everything after her cafe was damaged during the once-in-a-century floods battering New South Wales has accused her local mayor of stopping by her ruined shop for a 'camera opportunity'. Coralei Mason's Bohemian Cafe in Taree, on the state's mid-north coast, was inundated with a torrent of water on Saturday after the area was lashed by wild weather. Startling pictures posted to social media showed staff wading through waist-deep water as they made their way across the Pulteney Arcade to salvage what they could from the cafe. Mid Coast Council Mayor David West visited the arcade on Tuesday and was interviewed by Sky News about the floods, as the cafe's devastated owner Ms Mason continued with her daunting clean-up task. Bohemian Cafe owner Coralei Mason (left) accused Mid North Coast Mayor David West (right) of turning up to her business for a 'camera opportunity' A fired-up Ms Mason slammed Mr West for the visit, claiming he had only turned up to show his face for the cameras and demanded he take part in clean-up efforts. 'You've come down here for a camera opportunity. Where's your gloves, mate? Seriously, where's your gloves?,' Ms Mason asked Mr West. 'You don't understand - I've lost everything here.' When Mr West responded 'I know you have', Ms Mason hit back: 'You don't know. This was my livelihood. This was my everything. And I have lost it. 'I'm still paying people for my business. I've got no income now to generate repayments,' she said. 'Don't stand here and tell my you understand.' Startling pictures posted to social media show wait-deep water inside Taree's Pulteney Arcade, just outside the cafe The Bohemian Cafe was swamped by water after wild weather lashed the New South Wales mid-north coast on Saturday Ms Mason revealed how the business was quickly swamped with water when heavy rain hit the area and told how other business owners inside the arcade were scrambling to save their shops. '(The rain) poured in from the gutters. And we're here running around trying to save our businesses,' she said. Mr West denied he was there simply for a camera opportunity and said he visited to help out in any way he could. A disaster declaration has been made for the Mid Coast Council area, allowing eligible residents to claim financial assistance. Ms Mason has faced a daunting task to clean-up her Taree cafe after it was severely damaged by floods (pictured) Pictures posted to social media offer a glimpse inside the flood damaged Bohemian Cafe Mr West on Monday told Sky News how he was concerned 'we aren't talking about the after-effects of the flood'. 'We will get out of this, but how long will our communities have to pay the penalty? This is going to cost this community hundreds of millions of dollars - how will we get the work done,' he said. The mid-north coast was hit hard by flooding, with 15,000 residents ordered to evacuate low-lying areas, including Macksville, Port Macquarie, Lower Macleay and Kempsey. Another 100mm of rain is expected to fall across the region before Wednesday. Its a tremendous honor to be recognized for MOREs revenue growth, and I couldnt be more proud of our incredible U.S./Canada-based team that just keeps delivering, said Steve Wolf, CEO and Co-Founder. Inc. magazine revealed last week that MORE Surface Care is No. 152 on its second annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: California list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing California-based private companies. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the California economys most dynamic segment - independent small businesses. Its a tremendous honor to be recognized for MOREs revenue growth, and I couldnt be more proud of our incredible U.S./Canada-based team that just keeps delivering, said Steve Wolf, CEO and Co-Founder. Im also incredibly grateful for our network of awesome AntiEtch applicators around the world and our loyal dealers that have been there since the beginning. The companies on this list show stunning rates of growth across all industries in California. Between 2017 and 2019, these 250 private companies had an average growth rate of 535 percent and, in 2019 alone, they employed more than 40,000 people and added nearly $7 billion to the California economy. Companies based in major metro areas - Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and San Diego - brought in the highest revenue overall. Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: California, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at https://www.inc.com/inc5000/regionals/california. This list proves the power of companies in California no matter the industry, says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. The impressive revenues and growth rates prove the insight and diligence of CEOs and that these businesses are here to stay. About MORE Surface Care Founded in 2015 and headquartered in California, MORE Surface Care develops, manufactures, and markets premium water-based chemical solutions designed to care for a wide range of hard surfaces in residential and commercial environments. The Companys current product portfolio consists of products targeted at both consumers and professionals needing to protect, restore, maintain, and enhance the appearance of natural stone, quartz, ceramic and porcelain, grout, and concrete/masonry. The MORE-branded line of care products is distributed primarily through natural stone and tile dealers in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Macau, Vietnam, and Singapore. The Companys products are also sold online through moresurfacecare.com and Amazon. MORE recently launched a professionally applied UV-cured treatment (AntiEtch) designed to protect marble and other acid-sensitive surfaces from the damaging effects of everyday acidic liquids like coffee, wine, vinegar, and lemon juice. This product has been recognized consistently at key industry trade shows and has been featured on HGTV. MEDIA CONTACT: Steve Wolf MORE Surface Care (650) 665-1480 steve@moresurfacecare.com About Inc. Media The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com. Joe Brolly was taken off air last night during a Claire Byrne debate about a united Ireland, following a series of comments about the DUP. In opening remarks he also described Northern Ireland as a dysfunctional entity. Some of the reasons behind his strong-held views were outlined in this extract from a piece first published in the Sunday Independent in November 2017. The original piece below was written a week after PSNI officer Peadar Heffron spoke publicly for the first time about his fury at the dissident republican terrorists who planted a bomb under his car that left him with life-changing injuries. Brolly writes that despite promising a fresh start, many Northern Irish politicians are unable to move on from the past and would be stuck in limbo until an united Ireland came about. *** The elderly Jewish comedian Barry Cryer tells a story about making a pilgrimage to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. It is the holiest public place in the Jewish tradition, believed to be built on foundations laid by King Solomon himself. I have been there. People line up in queues, then when it is their turn to pray, they kneel or stand, often with their foreheads against the wall, praying. Cryer arrived on a searing hot day and found himself behind an ancient Jewish man, who prayed for almost an hour. As Cryer was turning to leave, the old man finished his prayer, slowly got to his feet, and turned to face him. "I am sorry young man," he said, "I am a very old man and it takes me a very long time to pray." Cryer, unsure what to say, blurted out a variation on that male standard when embarrassed. "Do you pray here often?" At this, the old man became very animated. "Every day, for 40 years, I come here. And every day I pray for the same thing. I pray for peace, between the Palestinian and the Jew . . . I might as well talk to the f***ing wall." Read More Peadar Heffron's story, told by him for the first time last weekend, has caused a lot of shock and dismay across the island. But in the North, it has had a profound effect. All week, it has occupied the news, with columns, editorials, phone-ins and discussion panels. It has also been a constant topic of conversation. I listened back again to the tapes of his interview this week. One of the things he said was: "Nothing has changed. We were promised a new start. A new society. But nothing has changed, Joe. Nothing." This is the real question. There are some undeniable, fundamental changes. We are no longer killing each other. There is a genuine peace. These are massive turnarounds. But 20 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, it is hard to disagree with Peadar's bleak assessment. Northern Ireland is a dysfunctional entity, a pretence. The consensus that existed around the 1998 Good Friday Agreement has disappeared. It is worth remembering the crux of that agreement. The signatories accepted that the majority of people in the North wished to remain part of the UK, that a substantial proportion of people in the North and the majority of people on the island wished to bring about a United Ireland, and that both these views were legitimate. The agreement specified that the North would remain part of the UK until a majority of both the people of the North and the South voted otherwise, at which time both the UK and Irish governments have a "binding obligation" to implement a United Ireland. Crucially, the right of people in the North to be treated as "Irish" or " British" was specifically recognised, with "parity of esteem . . . and equal treatment for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both communities." Unionism, in particular the now all-powerful DUP, has systematically squandered that opportunity. They have had almost 20 years to sell the idea of a fair, pluralist, respectful Northern Ireland. Twenty years to make us comfortable with the new state, to create a proper partnership, basically to do what they had signed up to do both in the Good Friday Agreement and later with the St Andrews Agreement. At that point, nationalism, particularly middle-class nationalism, was open to the idea of a modern, pluralist Northern Ireland. Instead, they destroyed that consensus. Peter Robinson did his best to modernise their thinking and behaviour, and could clearly see what was going to happen if they didn't. He extended the hand of friendship to the GAA and generally behaved the way a modern head of state ought to. I believe he will be remembered well by history, but in the end he was overwhelmed by the bigots. Since Peter's resignation, the party, under the hard-line Arlene Foster, has gone back to being comfortable in its own skin, an old-style triumphalist, sneering, Bible-thumping party of creationists, where the Irish language is something to make fun of, homosexuality is an abomination inviting the curse of God, gay blood is poisoned and cannot be donated, and the Catholics can wait in line. Instead of them recognising, even tactically, that they should accommodate nationalists, they have chosen short-term electoral gain and gone right back to the old-style unionism that brought about the civil rights movement in the first place. "Curry me yoghurt can coca cola," said Gregory Campbell (mocking "Go raibh maith agat, Ceann Comhairle") in the Stormont chamber in 2014, to gales of laughter from his party. His party leader Arlene, a passionate Glasgow Rangers supporter, referring to the Irish Language Act earlier this year (2017), said "if you feed a crocodile, it will only come back for more." Dearie, dearie me. A few days before last Christmas, Paul Givan, the DUP's Communities Minister (you couldn't make it up), stopped the tiny 55,000 Liofa scheme which awarded Irish language bursaries to people from poor backgrounds. The decision flew in the face of advice from government officials who wrote that "the advantages of running the scheme were many," just days before he killed it off in a letter which ended with the heart-warming message, "Happy Christmas and happy New Year." The DUP's Edwin Poots, as health minister, banned blood donations from the gay community, saying: "I think that people who engage in high-risk sexual behaviour in general should be excluded from giving blood." Gregory, meanwhile, said gayness was an abomination that "invited the curse of God" and Iris Robinson said homosexuality could be cured. Most of these nut jobs are fervent believers in creationism and think a man in his 90s went to the North Pole, brought back two polar bears and squeezed them onto a ship he had built that was 20 times bigger than the Titanic. The result of all of this insanity is that a United Ireland is now inevitable. Within a decade, Catholics will be in the majority in the North and the statutory mechanism will be activated. But in the meantime, we will be in limbo. Maybe direct rule, maybe a pretence of a government at Stormont. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (right), seen with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, both Democrats from California, speaks about immigration at a press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on March 18. DALCA (Deferred Action for Legal Childhood Arrivals) children have become an issue as more H-1B visa holders, largely workers from India, get stuck in a decades-long queue for a green card. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Angola, IN (46703) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 80F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Clear skies this evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Oswego, N.Y. -- Police charged a man Monday with untying a historic World War II tugboat from its mooring and setting it adrift in Oswego Harbor. Shawn M. Moore, 43, was charged with criminal tampering in the third degree, reckless endangerment in the second degree and reckless endangerment of property, Oswego Police said. Police said they were called to the H. Lee White Maritime Museum at 1 W. First St. about 9:40 a.m. Sunday for a report of an unsecured vessel in the harbor. Officers found the LT-5 tugboat drifting in the harbor with nobody on it, police said. The Oswego Fire Departments Marine Unit responded and was able to secure the vessel. With assistance of private contractors, the tugboat was returned to the pier, according to police. Shawn M. Moore, 43, charged by Oswego City Police with setting the LT-5 tugboat, an historic World War II vessel, adrift in Oswego Harbor.Oswego Police The boat participated in the D-Day invasion of France, leaving from Exmouth, England, as part of a fleet of tugs, barges, merchant ships and concrete caissons. Their mission was to establish temporary artificial harbors off the coast of Normandy to ferry a steady supply of troops and materials needed for the assault on German-occupied France. After a delay caused by heavy winds, the tugboat arrived off the Normandy coast in the early morning of June 7, 1944. For the remainder of the month, it towed barges and landing craft to the artificial harbor code-named Mulberry A off Omaha Beach, according to the Maritime Museum. After the war, the tugboat was returned to the United States and used in the maintenance of harbors and construction projects, including the St. Lawrence Seaway. The vessel is now maintained and operated by the Maritime Museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open for tours and is displayed throughout the year. It is unfortunate that a person had the urge to take such time and energy trying to destroy a local, unique and iconic landmark like the LT-5 tugboat, said Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow. Regardless, we pledged yesterday to do whatever it takes to track down whoever was responsible for this thoughtless act and lets hope the justice system holds this individual accountable. OSWEGO- Oswego Firefighters assisted with the return of the LT-5 to her berth after she came free overnight. Anyone with... Posted by Oswego Fire Department on Sunday, March 21, 2021 Barlow thanked the Oswego Fire Department and Oswego Police Department for their quick response to the incident. I, along with the Oswego Police Department, would also like to thank the United States Border Patrol and the United States Coast Guard for their assistance with the response and investigation, said Barlow. UFG Insurance is looking to diversify across the U.S. by expanding into assumed reinsurance business partly via quota share arrangements, such as the recently announced deal with Topsail Re, a Cayman Islands-based reinsurer. Were looking to grow on a more national scale, and we want to diversify our overall risk profile. This is one channel, one way to accomplish that goal, said UFG Vice President and Chief Risk Officer Micah Woolstenhulme, who is leading the companys reinsurance strategy. Under a program management agreement, Topsail will underwrite and manage commercial casualty, commercial auto and personal auto business on behalf of United Fire & Casualty, which is a subsidiary of UFG Insurance, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Its a win-win for both companies because UFG is seeking to expand its business across the U.S., while Topsail wants to provide additional capacity to its cedents, he explained in an interview with Insurance Journal. Woolstenhulme described United Fire as a super-regional package underwriter, with its biggest class of business being contractors and its biggest state currently Texas, followed by California, Iowa and Missouri. Under the agreement with Topsail, UFG will participate on the reinsurance panel for quota share reinsurance treaties, sourced by Topsail Re Underwriters, which is Topsail Res Greensboro, N.C.-based underwriting agency. The actuarial analysis and underwriting is performed by Topsail Underwriters in North Carolina, but we have our balance sheet and were offering additional capacity on business they already would be authorizing to basically extend their participation on those treaties, he continued. Topsail Chief Executive Officer David Johnson explained that this is treaty business that his company already has on its balance sheet. But our partnership with UFG allows us to expand our line size on particular programs or allows us to grow and do more programs and diversify while also giving them more diversity, said Johnson in the same interview. Were doing exactly the business that we would be doing anyway. Its just that were now able to offer the broker and the cedent a participation from both Topsail Re and UFG, Johnson said, noting that quota share business represents more than 90% of the companys premiums. With the UFG arrangement, Topsail will continue to write its portion of the risk on Topsail paper, while UFGs portion of the risk will be on UFC paper. The quota share agreement requires that Topsail assumes more risk than UFG, so Topsail will always have an equal or greater share than UFG on a particular transaction, explained Johnson. Perfect Fit This relationship with Topsail is a perfect fit for us, given their expertise in this type of reinsurance. So this fits into our overall strategy of growing our reinsurance operations, said Woolstenhulme. During 2020, 3% of UFGs net premium written was reinsurance both in the quota-share and excess areas so theres plenty of room to grow. Woolstenhulme would not, at this time, reveal how much these quota-share arrangements or its excess reinsurance business would increase its net written premiums. Our answer to that question is that this is part of a strategy to expand the reinsurance capacity that were providing in a material way across multiple lines of business, including those that are subject to this agreement with Topsail, he said. Prior to the February 2020 announcement about the quota share deal with Topsail Re, UFG announced it had formed another program management agreement this time with Waypoint Underwriting Management. Based in Basking Ridge, N.J., Waypoint is a specialty reinsurance managing general underwriter that offers property/casualty and accident and health solutions to insurers. Effective Nov. 1, 2020, Waypoint began underwriting and managing workers compensation reinsurance on behalf of United Fire & Casualty Co. Were really excited about these agreements, Woolstenhulme affirmed. We think its a unique way to bring more reinsurance capacity to the market. We think its going to be a real meaningful source of capacity for certain cedents. Topics USA Reinsurance Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Shanghai Coffee Culture Week Less than 10 Days Away By:Zhao Chunyuan | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-03-23 16:37 (Starbucks Reserve Roastery, where baristas make coffee from Starbucks' own Geisha beans) These days, an increasingly common image is of people with a cup of coffee in the streets and alleys of Shanghai. In recent years, the number of cafes in Shanghai has grown rapidly, and the coffee industry is booming. Shanghai ranks first for the scale of coffee consumption and the number of coffee stores among Chinese cities. Data shows that Shanghai's per capita coffee consumption is about 20 cups per year and the total number of coffee shops in Shanghai is over 7,000. The first choice location of all international coffee brands to enter China is in Shanghai. A press conference was held for Shanghai Coffee Culture Week on March 22. From March 29 to April 11, Shanghai Coffee Culture Week will extensively connect various fields and main resources of the city, using coffee as a medium to showcase Shanghai's unique city culture to the general public and visitors. Coffee, as an imported product, has been gradually integrated into the city since its entry into Shanghai in the mid-19th century, blending with the city's development and becoming an important carrier of the Shanghai culture, a microcosm of the citizens' lifestyle and a symbol of spiritual culture. On March 29, Shanghai Coffee Culture Week will open at National Exhibition and Convention CenterShanghai, holding the first Shanghai International Coffee Industry Forum, six international coffee events and the largest coffee festival experience activites, and releasing the Shanghai Coffee Consumption Map. Some districts in Shanghai will give full play to its own advantages and hold extended activities of Shanghai Coffee Culture Week.The activity cycle will last from late March until the end of the year, giving more people the opportunity to experience the unique charm of Shanghai coffee culture. In the first half of this year, Huangpu district will focus on the SHOW LIFE to launch coffee performances, consumer discounts and other activities; Jing'an district will rely on the World Coffee Culture Festival to launch coffee passports and other special activities; Xuhui district will give full play to its regional advantages and bring coffee culture closer to citizens through special coffee exhibitions and urban micro-tours; Changning district will rely on space resources to hold coffee cross-border integration activities. Pudong and Hongkou districts will successively launch their own special coffee activities in the second half of the year. Mumbai, March 23 : Months before the case of suspended encounter specialist Sachin Vaze came to the fore, the State Intelligence Department (SID) of the Maharashtra government had red flagged the transfers of the police officers in the month of August last year, and had also said that it must be brought into the notice of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray immediately, sources said on Tuesday. The SID also demanded a probe against such people involved in the transfer racket by the Crime Investigation Department (CID). According to the SID report, which was sent on August 25 last year to S.K. Jaiswal, the former Director General of Police (DGP) for Maharashtra Police, the report highlighted the transfers of police officers. The letter by the SID, which has been viewed by IANS, said, "A report has been received by SID on August 25, with regard to transfers of police officers. It is a serious matter and necessitates urgent action by the state government." It further said that the issue must be brought to the notice of the Chief Minister at the earliest and an immediate and comprehensive inquiry be ordered by the State CID (Crime) Pune, to identify concerned individuals and take necessary action. In the report, the SID also highlighted the role of the brokers with inclination towards the political parties who were engaged in arranging desired postings for police officers in exchange for massive monetary compensation. The letter addressed to the Maharashtra Police DGP also submitted that the phones of several individuals were put on surveillance with "due regard to the established process" to curtail the commitment of criminal offence and prevent the possible breach. It further said that upon the review of the gathered that, it is clear that there is significant merit in these allegations as it has been discovered that aforementioned brokers are in close contact and embroiled in these negotiations with several influential. It also highlighted that the police officers ranging from Inspectors to several high-ranking IPS officers were in contact with such undesirable individuals, It also cited the result of the surveillance records and said that the evidence gathered is highly incriminating and gravely implicated a number of individuals engaged in this activity. The report further said that Banda Nawaj Maner, who was arrested along with six other persons in 2017 in connection with a Mumbai Police case, is found to be active again. The Mumbai Police has filed a charge sheet in the court and trial is pending in the court against Maner. The letter from SID also demanded a high level inquiry and strict measures against all stakeholders engaging in this activity and further recommended that the matter be brought into the notice of the Chief Minister as this casts sincere aspersions against the credibility and functioning of the government. (Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in) Physician: Kids 12-15 know COVID-19 vaccine is 'ticket to freedom' Andy Murray has been dealt another injury blow with a groin problem prompting him to withdraw from the Miami Open. The former world number one was set to play South African Lloyd Harris in the first round of the Masters 1000 tournament, which begins on Wednesday. Murray is hoping the injury will not keep him off court for long and revealed he developed pain in his groin while sleeping on Friday night. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The 33-year-old told the Miami Herald: I had no issues while training, felt fine, did some gym work Friday, no problem, and then I woke up about 3am, felt pain in the groin not on the side I had my surgery and when I got out of bed I struggled quite a bit to walk. I have no idea what I did. Its one of those freak things. Each day it has gotten progressively better, but its not enough. I have not practised since Friday. Murray is a two-time champion at the tournament and reached the final another two times, while he also had an apartment in Miami and routinely held training blocks in the city. The Scot continued: I am really gutted. This is a place I have done so much training over the years. Its like my second home. Last time I played here was 2016 and so much has happened. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Last year, the day before I was supposed to travel here Covid stopped the tennis tour. Miamis been a place that has given me a lot, but this just wasnt meant to be. This is the latest setback for Murray since he underwent a hip resurfacing operation in January 2019, returning to the match court that summer. He missed the start of last season because of an issue related to the hip and then struggled at the end of 2020 with tendinitis in his psoas muscle, which connects the spine to the femur. The Scot had a strong training block ahead of the new season and was feeling very positive only for an ill-timed bout of coronavirus to force him to miss the Australian Open. Andy Murray will turn his thoughts to the clay season (Andrew Milligan/PA) Murray instead played his first tournament of the year at a second-tier Challenger in Italy, reaching the final, before winning his first ATP match for six months in Rotterdam. Murray then took a two-week break for the birth of his fourth child and will now head home before preparing for the clay season. Murrays withdrawal, meanwhile, is another blow for the Miami Open, which was already without Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. On Monday, March 22, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking the public to submit Internet Broadband Connection reports, whether good or bad, as the federal agency aims to conduct a study on expanding. Internet is a massive need and necessity during the pandemic, as most of the processes are done online and remotely for works and school alike. Instead of ranting to a friend or family member, the complaint sent to the FCC may have significant changes and improvement on one's internet connection in the coming years, particularly as a study is conducted. The federal agency is looking into improving internet connection across the country by updating its broadband maps in certain locations. The FCC's latest study is to collect the consumer broadband availability experiences that aim to seek the opinions and insights of the users that mostly rely on internet connections. Since most of the citizens are users of the internet for work-from-home employment setups or home study online classes, anyone can provide insights to be sent to the agency. Read Also: Elon Musk: 'First Mars City' Construction Happening Within 2020 Decade, Not 2054 FCC Internet Broadband Connection Complaints FCC is looking into collecting the inputs of everyone who uses the internet across the country, despite being from different service providers and technology companies that offer its products. The study would focus on the broadband internet connection, which is the largest community of internet users that are installed in their homes. Here, users can mention everything that has occurred, without limitations, as they would all be official entries that would discuss the quality of internet connections in the country for the FCC to determine its reliability. Apart from that, people are given the chance to name the internet service provider (ISP) that has performed poorly with its connections. FCC Broadband Consumer: How to Report Users and service applicants that have been dissatisfied with their ISP's products and connection can fill out this form, which would then be submitted to the FCC, collecting several personal information. Users may include screenshots and other supporting media to properly discuss the complaints forwarded regarding the broadband services in their area. Moreover, users can take this chance so that they could address the massive problems that are present in their current internet connection, particularly as they cannot be addressed by the ISP. However, this FCC is not a direct complaints platform for the ISPs, and its action may come later than expected, but it would still provide a place to bring up everything that is needed. Related Article: Google Apps Android Server Down: Early Reports of YouTube, Gmail, and MORE Are Unresponsive-How to Fix? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Unsolved Mystery of Jan van Eycks Wedding Portrait Though created nearly six centuries ago, the justly famed double portrait by the Flemish master Jan van Eyck in the National Gallery, London, still holds viewers in thrall. Yet art historians have been unable to determine with certainty who is depicted or what the circumstances and intent of its creation were. The first in-depth analysis of this enduring masterpiece was offered by the eminent art historian Erwin Panofsky in 1934. Prior scholars had generally regarded the picture as portraying an Italian merchant named Giovanni Arnolfini and his young wife, Jeanne Cenami, who were living in the Flemish city of Bruges in the early 15th century. This identification had been based on descriptions of the painting in 16th-century inventories of works owned by Margaret of Austria, which referred to the man in the picture as Hernoul le fin and Arnoult fin. Panofsky accepted this identification and, upon analysis of what he interpreted as the symbolic significance of the images many intriguing details, he proposed that the work was a marriage portrait memorializing the private wedding vows between the couple. New documentary evidence has invalidated his long-accepted interpretation, however. The Arnolfini Portrait, 1434, by Jan van Eyck. Oil on oak panel of 3 vertical boards; 32.4 inches by 23.6 inches. National Gallery, London. (Public Domain) Crucial New Facts The Giovanni Arnolfini Panofsky referred to was Giovanni di Arrigo Arnolfini, the most illustrious member of the Arnolfini family living in Bruges around 1434, when the portrait was painted. (The 1434 date appears prominently in the painting, just below the artists flamboyant signature on the back wall.) But documents have since come to light indicating that the marriage of Giovanni di Arrigo Arnolfini and Jeanne Cenami didnt take place until 1447, 13 years later than the painting and six years after the painters death. Moreover, the earliest documentary evidence placing Giovanni di Arrigo in Bruges dates from 1435. An older Giovanni Arnolfini was living in Bruges at least as early as 1419, however. He was Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini. His only known marriage was to Costanza Trenta, a fellow Lucchese. Their betrothal took place in 1426, when she was just 13 years old; and their marriage presumably followed not long after (very early marriage was then common)too early to be represented in the double portrait. To complicate matters, a letter by Costanzas mother testifies that she had died by 1433. In light of these facts, the Scottish art historian Lorne Campbell (then a research curator at the National Gallery) suggested that the work represented Giovanni di Nicolao with a second wife. No record of a second marriage has been found, however. More crucially, Campbell argued that the painting was simply a secular portrait, unrelated to the sacrament of marriage. His interpretation is reflected in the works description on the National Gallery website, where key details are viewed as merely proclaim[ing] the couples wealth and social status. That mundane reading was echoed by the art historian Carola Hicks in her 2011 book Girl in a Green Gown. In her view, van Eycks meticulous depiction of the couples expensive clothes and other status symbols mainly served to reveal a burgeoning consumer society reveling in vigorous international trade. The glaring problem with such a mundane view is that it ignores the works expressive aurathe qualities that fall under what Panofsky had astutely identified as the primary or natural meanings of a work of art, which emerge from both the factual and the expressional content. As he observed, an atmosphere of mystery and solemnity seems to pervade the Arnolfini portrait. The couple do not look at each other yet seem to be united by a mysterious bond, and the solemnity of the scene is emphasized by the exact symmetry of the compositionand by their somber facial expressions, I would add. Moreover, the husbands raised right hand appears to be a gesture of solemn affirmation, one invested with the humility of a pious prayer. Also significant is the portraits setting in the hallowed seclusion of the couples bedchamber. In Who Says Thats Art? I argue that such qualities are what ultimately make [this] a great work of art, a compelling image that transcends the particular historic moment being represented and conveys something about the gravity of marriage in general. Scholars bent on discrediting Panofskys symbolic interpretation lose sight of those qualities, however. For example, in answer to the key question: Why do we still so like the portrait? Carola Hickss husband has reported (she died before completing her book) that she would have said that its [technically brilliant] precision, clarity and luminosity are what make it particularly appealing to us todaythat the image was (as he puts it) primarily designed to show off social status, wealth and importance. A Poignant Hypothesis Quite a different view based on the latest documentary evidence had been offered by the art historian Margaret L. Koster in 2003, however. She argued that the picture represents Giovanni di Nicolao and Costanzanot at their wedding but sometime after her premature death, which had very likely been in childbirth. Thus it would have served as a memorial to a presumably cherished wife, lost at the tender age of 20. Koster supports this ingenious reading with an informed analysis of the paintings iconography. The chandelier has one lit and one spent candle. A detail from The Arnolfini Portrait, 1434, by Jan van Eyck. National Gallery, London. (Public Domain) Whereas Panofsky had interpreted the single candle burning on the left side of the chandelier above the couple as signifying the all-seeing Christ, and had noted the frequent use of a candle in marriage ceremonies, Koster points out that a second, spent candle is faintly discernible on the right side of the chandelier nearer the woman. She very plausibly argues that the burning candle signifies that Giovanni was still living, while the spent candle betokens Costanzas demise. In addition, while Panofsky had identified the figure of St. Margaret carved on the high-backed chair behind the wife as the patron saint of childbirth, Koster further suggests that it alludes to Costanzas death in childbirth. A gargoyle-like monster appears behind the couples hands. A detail from The Arnolfini Portrait, 1434, by Jan van Eyck. National Gallery, London. (Public Domain) Also viewed by Koster as alluding to Costanzas death is the monster carved on the bench directly behind the couples joined hands, as if threatening their union. Further, infra-red evidence indicates that the monster figure was among other relevant details added late in the creative process, prompting Koster to suggest that the painting had been begun as a straightforward portrait while Costanza was alive and was revised after her death. Most important, Kosters poignant hypothesis is entirely consistent with the paintings solemn auraas was Panofskys (though, surprisingly, Koster scarcely notes the works expressive qualities). We may never know the precise intention of the Arnolfini portrait, for it would depend on evidence that may never be available. What is available to us, however, is the core of meaning discernible from the works expressive content. However intended, what the Arnolfini portrait movingly conveys is a sense of the gravity of conjugal union. That core meaning emerges from van Eycks incomparable handling of the works primary, natural subject matter. In the end, that is what most matters in a work of art. A technically proficient hack could depict a lavish domestic setting and pepper it with symbolic details. The true artistry lies in conceiving and creating such an emotionally compelling image. Michelle Marder Kamhi is co-editor of Aristos, an online review of the arts. Her most recent book is Bucking the Artworld Tide: Reflections on Art, Pseudo Art, Art Education & Theory. This article is based on one previously published on her blog, For Pieros Sake, at mmkamhi.com Tehran, March 23 : Iran has denied reports that an Iraqi vessel was hijacked in its southern waters, official media reported. "No foreign vessels have been hijacked in the territorial waters of Iran and any news in this regard is denied," Xinhua news agency quoted Siavash Arjmandzadeh, director general of ports and maritime of Bushehr province, as saying in the report on Monday. The news published by some foreign media is related to an Iraqi towing vessel that has run ground on the island of Seh Dandan in the littoral waters of Bushehr because of flooding, Arjmandzadeh added. The Iraqi vessel encountered an accident in the international waters of the Gulf on March 12, and was later grounded 12.8 km away from the Bushehr port, he said. Arjmandzadeh added Iranian authorities will make necessary cooperation with the owner of the vessel until the technical problem is fixed and the vessel returns to the sea. Microsoft's Exchange servers still faces security problem despite released patches on March 2. Around 10,000 computers are still compromised due to the recent massive Exchange hack. Will this be a huge issue for the company? Microsoft Exchange Hack update Antti Laatikainen, senior security consultant at F-Secure said "Tens of thousands of servers have been hacked around the world. They're being hacked faster than we can count. Globally, this is a disaster in the making," he said on Sunday, March 22 in MSN. For people worldwide, this is troubling as Microsoft still hasn't fixed the issue fully and is still letting hackers into the system even after these major patches. Microsoft is and can be in more deepwater if this continues. Not only can this lead to many people around the world being affected by ransomware attacks, hackers can also steal information from people who don't know how to protect themselves from these types of attacks. Read Also: Dark Web to be Soon Infiltrated by Police in Australia's New Law Patches still not working? Microsoft has been hard at work fixing the issue themselves. They have started to create safety measures and critical patches to keep the Exchange safe. The company has released a tool that allows its users to patch the software's security flaws. However, those with access to it previously can still cause trouble and issues even with the newest patches and updates to the software and windows security updates that Microsoft is quickly sending out. A spokesperson from Microsoft said on Bloomberg, "We remain committed to supporting our customers against these attacks, to innovating on our security approach, and to partnering closely with governments and the security industry to help keep our customers and communities secure." One of the updates being an anti-mitigation tool added to the windows defender. This tool stops hackers from entering servers that aren't updated to the latest version from being targetted or breached. Microsoft has made progress in making computers that have used the Exchange from being targeted by these attacks. Up to 45% of vulnerable systems have been patched over the week, says National Security Council spokesperson on Bloomberg. They also say that there are only fewer than 10,000 computers still vulnerable today to hackers. Microsoft's continual update was a great improvement from the beginning when over 120,000 systems were affected by these vulnerabilities. Hopefully soon, Microsoft can fully solve the issue and create more safety measures to keep its users safe later on, or will they continue to suffer from hackers entering their systems and continuing to cause trouble. Related Article: Computer Chip Shortage Now in Alarming 'Critical Point:' Price Increase on Smartphone, Car Products to Happen This Year This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Lionell Moore 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Human Rotavirus Vaccine Market provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective The Global Human Rotavirus Vaccine Market is expected to reach US $ 12.3 billion by 2023, and the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of ~ 11.2% during the forecast period 2027 Rotavirus vaccine is used to protect against rotavirus infections which cause severe diarrhoea among young children. Rotavirus vaccine is administered by mouth and requires two or three doses which are given starting around six weeks of age. The vaccine first became available in the United States in 2006. Rotavirus is a double-stranded RNA virus of the family Reoviridae and is transmitted by the faecal-oral route. It infects the cell lining of the small intestine and causes gastroenteritis. According to National Center for Biotechnology Information, rotavirus related diarrhoea is responsible for killing about 600,000 children in 2015, with more than 80% of all rotavirus-related deaths occurring in in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Access Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4171 . Rotavirus-related deaths represent approximately 5% of all deaths in children younger than 5 years of age worldwide. Almost every child in the world is infected with rotavirus at least once by the age of five. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that rotavirus vaccine be included in national routine vaccinations programs. The vaccines is responsible to prevent 15 to 34% of severe diarrhoea in the developing world and 37 to 96% of severe diarrhoea in the developed world. According to World Health Organization (WHO) in Mexico a decline of up to 50% in diarrhoeal deaths in children less than 5 years of age was attributed directly to the use of the vaccine. Product development is the most attractive strategy for the human rotavirus vaccine industry. Latest vaccines have withstood historic safety profiles because intussusception was a complication of the first rotavirus vaccine, RotaShield. Cost effective production remains another challenge as human rotavirus vaccines are many times expensive per dose than the cheapest traditional treatment. Global Human Rotavirus Vaccine Market Players Some of key players profiled in the report are Bharat Biotech, Merck & Co., Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc., Multinational pharmaceutical drug company and others. Segments: The global Rotavirus Vaccine Market has been segmented on the basis of type and end users. Based on type, the market has been segmented as Rotarix, RotaTeq, Rotavac, Rotavin-M1, Lanzhou lamb and others. Based on the end users, the market has been segmented as hospitals & clinics, academic and research and others. Regional analysis: The Americas account for a significant market share owing to extensive use of medications and high expenditure on the health care. Additionally, the fastest uptake of new technology in the US drives the global human rotavirus vaccine market. Also, concentration of major research companies and vaccine research sector in the developed countries of this region is adding fuel to the market growth. Europe is the second largest market in the world due to high income and healthcare penetration. Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly and China and India are likely to lead this market due to fast growing healthcare sector during the forecast period. READ MORE @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/human-rotavirus-vaccine-market-4171 About US: Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services Goa: Spare river Sal by Saude Cardozo March 23,2021 | Source: Herald Goa Its high time we at least, think about this River Sal they call it now inland water No-88. My only request to the government is to spare this river which has fed lots of stomachs of the people living on the banks of this river. We do sustainable dredging but dredging not to dissolve the livelihoods of the people. This river is not for tourism or any maritime movement purpose but for livelihood. We get fresh fish for what our Assolna is famous for or else in coming days we will not see fresh fish in Assolna but the Karwar fish sold in the name of Assolna river fish. Let this river stay for peaceful calmness. When it comes to feeding stomach, this river knows best to...in our young days I remember suddenly we use to get news shell fish (Tisreo) at this part of river or oysters (Kalvam) found at this part of river and the list goes on of the blessings this river gave. Come the rainy season and the red waters of the mountains beside fill the water, and in that lifts the fishing activity. Be it the prawns hatchets of traditional fishing stakes and mullets (Shevte) catching in the river. Lately some small scale tourism activities have been started in the river which includes boat rides for tourist and small parties of river cruises. These boats move along with the traditional fishermen, which causes a bit of disturbance in fishing with nets. As this is being done on a small scale, our fishermen have tolerated and have adjusted to these disturbances. My view is let this be until this, we do not want any harsher disturbances to disturb the ecosystem. Let the tourism stay until the small boats moving around with the fishermens and not with high scale maritime activities of fish and game. The river is marked as MPT property on the CZMP plan. Our question is why? Is it to gain control on the river in the name of economic growth. I must say River Sal is not the place to think of development on national basis. This river is in itself a economy for the people leaving on the banks of the river. Sometimes I feel our government is poor and does not have budget to do sustainable dredging of the river, so include the river as inland waterways of India so that budget can flow through the Sagarmala project to dredge it. We have failed to realise the dire consequences of handing this river to Central government. Today as I write this down, my small community guys do not know what the consequences will be if we keep quite. Thats why there is fewer crowd when asked to attend. They are busy fishing like true Goemkars keeping faith on anyone. They fail to realise the hidden snakes of our land who kept quiet when this river was sanctioned for nationalisation. A request to the Government of Goa, denotify this river, bring it under the government of Goa. Let us do sustainable dredging within the budget of our State, so that no one cheats us in the framing words of agreements. Let Goa be in the hands of us Goans. My only voice ...denotify this River...let it be called River Sal and not NW-88. Chattanooga Fire Department Captain Brad Petty is receiving a special recognition this week for his heroic actions on Interstate 24 earlier this month. He provided medical assistance to a motorist who had been severely injured during a roadway shooting incident. The presentation will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at CFD Fire Station 9, 3250 8th Ave. Gary Farley, assistant commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office, will honor Captain Petty during the ceremony. TDCI Chief Operating Officer/Chief of Staff Jennifer Peck, Chattanooga Fire Chief Phil Hyman and Captain Petty will also make a few brief comments. Captain Petty (Engine 9, Green Shift) on March 6 was off duty and traveling with his family on Interstate 24 following his sons wrestling tournament when he rushed to render aid to a shooting victim in a terrifying incident in Rutherford County. The Petty family was headed home when they saw a car swerve off to the side of the interstate. As they got closer, a man jumped out of the car and was frantically waving for someone to stop and help. Captain Petty pulled over and found a young woman suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Someone shot into their car and a bullet struck her in the back seat. Captain Petty opened her airway and used a shirt to apply pressure to her wounds. As all of this was happening, his daughter, Hannah, relayed important information to dispatch and provided comfort to the other people in the vehicle. They stayed there until more help arrived. Kanan Petty captured video of Life Flight landing on the interstate to take the woman to the hospital. The story made local, state and national news. The Petty family felt compelled to do what they could that day and they continue to pray for the wounded woman as she recovers. 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. [March 23, 2021] Benevity Welcomes New Chief Data Officer CALGARY, Alberta, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Benevity, Inc., the leading provider of global corporate purpose software, today announced Jane Moran will be joining the companys executive leadership team on April 12, 2021 as its new Chief Data Officer. Jane will lead a growing team at Benevity responsible for bolstering data, analytics and measurement capabilities, as well as continuing to scale its suite of products and services. The newly created role elevates Benevitys focus on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) reporting capabilities, and aims to enable companies of all sizes to clearly see where they are in their impact journey, optimize performance, and grow engagement with employees and customers. Benevity has been at the forefront of propelling innovation in corporate purpose for as long as weve been around, said Kelly Schmitt, CEO of Benevity. With the addition of Jane to our team, were positioned to disrupt the sector once again by bringing next-level data intelligence to our platform and clients at scale. Jane is a visionary leader who will make an immediate and major impact toward our growth and accelerate ESG initiatives for our more than 650 client companies and nearly 2 million nonprofits. The Chief Data Officer is the latest in a series of developments focused on delivering and measuring impact at Benevity, including the launch of Benevity Impact Labs and newly appointed Chief Impact Officer Sona Khosla, as well as investment from two world-leading impact and sustainability funds, The Rise Fund and Generation Investment Management . With this, Benevity will sharpen its focus on data and insights to better quantify the efficacy of and return on investment in purpose programs, bake greater insights and analytics into the platform and continue to evolve evidenced-based best practices. With Janes appointment, 75% of Benevitys executive leadership team consists of women, putting us far ahead of other businesses in the technology sector in terms of diversity and exemplifying our commitment to fostering diverse leadership, said Bryan de Lottinville, Benevity Founder and Executive Chairperson. Im extremely proud of the quality and passion of the high-performing team were building at Benevity that will allow us to continue executing on our Goodness moonshot. Jane brings more than 13 years of executive experience in data analytics, AI and machine learning, cloud infrastructure migration and marketing automation and digital personalization at scale. As the Senior Vice President of Data & Technology at AIR MILES (Loyalty One), Jane managed the companys $90 million operating and capital budget and oversaw a team of 330 associates. Jane also served as senior vice president of behavioral data and analytics at Ipsos, where she led global market research and consulting for companies including Google, Microsoft, Disney, ABC, Yahoo and the NFL. Jane has spoken at esteemed conferences including Elevate Tech, AI & Big Data, Adobe Summit, Wise Marketer and CDO Summit. Jane was recently named one of the 10 Most Influential Women in Technology by Analytics Insight Magazine and guest lectures at Wharton College. About Benevity Benevity , a certified B Corporation, is a leading provider of global corporate purpose software, providing the only integrated suite of community investment and employee, customer and nonprofit engagement solutions. A finalist in Fast Companys 2020 World Changing Ideas Awards, many iconic brands rely on Benevitys cloud solutions to power their purpose in ways that better attract, retain and engage todays diverse workforce, embed social action into their customer experiences and positively impact their communities. With software that is available in 20 languages, Benevity has processed more than 7 billion dollars in donations and 38 million hours of volunteering time, 340,000 positive actions and awarded one million grants to 303,000 nonprofits worldwide. Media Contact Andrea Davis Media and Communications Manager 1.403.966.5622 press@benevity.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 02:33:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials in charge of migration issues in the Joe Biden administration are heading to Mexico on Monday to discuss with officials there about the current influx of immigrants into the United States, the White House announced. Roberta Jacobson, special assistant to the president and coordinator for the southwest border, will "engage with Mexican government officials to develop an effective and humane plan of action to manage migration," National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson Emily Horne said in a statement, adding Jacobson will be joined by NSC's senior director for the Western Hemisphere, Juan Gonzalez. Also making the trip is Ricardo Zuniga, the State Department's special envoy for Northern Triangle, which comprises the three Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, according to the statement. From Mexico, Gonzalez, accompanied by Zuniga, will go to Guatemala, where "he will meet with Guatemalan government officials, as well as representatives from civil society and non-government organizations to address root causes of migration in the region and build a more hopeful future in the region," Horne said. The visits came as pressure continued mounting on the Biden administration over its management of the southern border, where the number of unaccompanied migrant children kept rising at a staggering pace, putting extra strain on a government system to accommodate them. According to a report by CBS News on Saturday, the number of unaccompanied migrant children currently detained in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities has topped 5,000, in addition to another 10,500 or so being placed in emergency housing facilities or state-licensed temporary shelters by the Department of Health and Human Services. U.S. law dictates that the detention period for such migrant minors in CBP facilities should not last beyond 72 hours, but the CBS News, citing government records, reported that the kids currently are spending an average of 136 hours in those facilities. Biden, whose administration has most recently been criticized for blocking press access to the CBP facilities, told reporters Sunday as he returned to the White House that he would travel to the border himself "at some point," adding that he was aware of "what's going on in those facilities." The president said his administration is in the process of urging the immigrants to "stay in place and make their case from their home country." Enditem The death toll from a huge blaze that tore through the world's biggest Rohingya refugee camp has risen to 15 with 400 people missing, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) confirmed Tuesday. The UNHCR representative in Bangladesh, Johannes van der Klaauw, said another 560 people have been injured and 45,000 displaced in the massive and devastating blaze. What we have seen ... something we have never seen before in these camps, Mr Klaauw said. We still have 400 people unaccounted for, maybe somewhere in the rubble. The Bangladesh government has launched an investigation into the biggest fire that has hit the settlement of one million Rohingya refugees at Coxs Bazar camp in the southeastern part of the country. A committee has been formed to investigate the causes of the fire, which is still unknown. Read more: The Rohingyas are an ethnic minority group that fled Myanmar in 2017 amid a military crackdown with what UN investigators call genocidal intent, a charge denied by Myanmar. According to officials, the fire started on Monday in one of the 34 camps before it engulfed two other camps. The blaze killed two children. The fire was controlled after almost six hours. Video from the site showed thick columns of smoke billowing from the camps while hundreds of firefighters battled to douse the fire and evacuate people. Witnesses told local media that several people got trapped in the barbed wire fencing around the camp while trying to escape. It was the third incident of fire in the camps in four days, a fire brigade official told AFP. Earlier in January, two huge blazes left thousands of properties destroyed, including four Unicef schools. Saad Hammadi, Amnesty Internationals South Asia campaigner, said in a tweet that the frequency of fire in the camps is too coincidental, especially when outcomes of previous investigations into the incidents are not known and they keep repeating. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 A mystery monkey wandered around St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida, for four years, bewildering dwellers and frustrating the attempt of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to capture the rogue primate. The monkey (a rhesus macaque), which was a native to Asia was finally apprehended after a three-hour inspection in 2012. The tale of the mystery monkey in Florida seemingly came to an end, not until another rhesus macaque touring Tampa was discovered in 2016. Rhesus Monkeys In Florida, free-roaming rhesus monkeys have been a problem since the 1930s when a glass-bottom boat operation's manager allegedly set free six monkeys to entice tourists. These monkeys destroyed mangroves, thereby leading to shoreline erosion and vegetation loss. These rhesus monkeys are an invasive species, and they cause harm to habitats. A new study shows how unwanted animals like the rhesus monkey continue to journey the world through the global pet trade, thereby jeopardizing ecosystems in the course. The researchers suggest that the problem goes beyond monkeys which are stereotypical imported animals turned pets. To know the importance of this issue, the group turned to an improbable pet wandering the world - "The Ant". The finding advocates that the global pet industry is an important contributor to the control of unwanted species across Earth. On Monday, this research was released in the journal. ALSO READ: Study: Legal Trade Still Poses Threat To Many Wildlife Species The Pet Trade Jerome Gippet, a researcher and co-author at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, reports contrary that the pet trade does not only create opportunities for biological invasions, it particularly favors animals that are invasive. Generally, the work of his team suggests that invasive species are disproportionately represented in trade across animals, including birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, and amphibians. How the Researchers Did It The researchers compiled a list of pets that are commonly traded by making use of data from scientific literature and existing databases. They were able to determine which animals are non-native species from the global pet trade by drawing from the "Global Register of Introduced and Invasive species." They discovered that 12.6 percent of animals in the International pet market were invasive species out of a dataset of 7,522 vertebrate animals in the global pet trade. Invasive Species Are Often Recognized On average, the researchers also discovered that invasive species were 7.4 times more often observed in the global pet trade than they were observed in their natural environments. These invasive animals were mostly represented in the trade of fish and amphibians, but the researchers discovered high degrees of non-native species across all the major types of vertebrates. Nevertheless, the researchers had two questions burning in their minds: Did animals become more common in the pet trade as they developed more invasively in real life? Or did being non-native species assist these animals excel on the global pet trade market? Researchers looked for a better way to settle their "chicken-or-egg" doubt by observing an unexpected competitor in the international pet trade: "The Ants." RELATED ARTICLE: The Trade for Exotic Pets in Australia For more news update about pet trades and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! HM Inspector of Police Wendy Williams may have been awarded a top pay packet as a result of positive discrimination, an employment tribunal has concluded A senior civil servant benefited from positive discrimination when she was awarded a top pay packet because she is a black woman, an employment tribunal has concluded. Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary Matthew Parr said he was paid 52,000 less than Wendy Williams to do the same job. He brought an employment tribunal case against the Home Office, claiming he had been discriminated against on the grounds of race and sex because he is a white man. Home Secretary Priti Patel, backed by Mrs Williams, attempted to get salary calculations due to be disclosed by the tribunal made secret - but their case was thrown out. The Central London tribunal court has now ruled that Mr Parr was not discriminated against because he was the first of a new pay scale and therefore could not compare himself to Mrs Williams. But they concluded that the Home Office had feared possible accusations around her salary and she had benefited from positive discrimination. They said positive discrimination was behind her pay hike from 165,000 to 185,791. Mr Parr, one of the five HM Inspectors of Constabulary (HMIs) who oversee the UK's police forces, claimed 'ham-fisted' attempts to lower hefty pay packets left him discriminated against because he is a white man. The former Royal Navy officer and Rear Admiral took the 133,983 job in 2016 when Theresa May was Home Secretary. He was given a further 7,904 London living allowance, but was still paid far less than Ms Williams, appointed 15 months earlier on a salary of more than 185,000 despite her pay bracket then being 165,000 to 185,000. A Central London tribunal court ruled that Matthew Parr was not discriminated against because he was the first of a new pay scale. But it said that Wendy Williams benefited from being a black woman that gave her a negotiating leverage in pay discussions Employment Judge Richard Nicolle said: 'We find that the fact of Ms Williams being a black woman, and the Respondent's perception of the litigation and reputational risk she therefore potentially posed, to be the reason for this sudden and significant increase. 'We do not consider it possible to apportion the extent to which the increase in Ms Williams' pay was attributable to concerns regarding her sex or race.. but rather that her being a black woman gave her a negotiating leverage to increase... her pay and as a result she benefited from what arguably constituted positive discrimination in her favour. 'We find that the Respondent viewed the Claimant as a white male to pose little legal and reputational risk should he seek to challenge his renumeration on equality/discrimination grounds. 'We therefore find that the increase in Ms Williams' salary from 165,000 to 185,791 was influenced by the Respondent's concern that the initially proposed differential between her pay and that of the white incumbents could give rise to legal and reputational risks to the Home Office. 'The differential was not due to the difference of sex but rather due to the positive discrimination from which Ms Williams benefited. ' The Employment Judge continued: 'The decision to increase Ms Williams' pay may have constituted positive discrimination in her favour, at least in part is attributable to the Respondent's perception that she as a black woman posed a greater litigation and reputational risk than the Claimant did at the time of his appointment. 'It did not automatically constitute less favourable treatment of the Claimant on account of his race.' At the time of her appointment, the Treasury was trying to cut costs and discussed paying her a similar salary to that which Mr Parr was later to receive but decided there was a 'risk of a legal challenge on the grounds of discrimination' if they did that. Mr Parr told an employment tribunal that she got her pay because the Home Office were concerned about 'reputational damage' and assumed he would accept the pay and not bring a claim. The Employment Judge continued: 'The decision to increase Ms Williams' pay may have constituted positive discrimination in her favour, at least in part is attributable to the Respondent's perception that she as a black woman posed a greater litigation and reputational risk than the Claimant did at the time of his appointment'. Pictured: Victory House, central London's tribunal court He is responsible for forces in London, Bedfordshire, Northern Ireland, the National Crime Agency, the Counter Terrorism Policing Network, national forces such as British Transport Police and forces in Overseas Territories. He also looks after the London Fire Brigade and five other services. Mrs Williams oversees forces in Wales and the west of England. Mr Parr told the tribunal: 'This is, for me, principally a question of fairness. 'It is fundamentally unfair to pay people wildly different amounts for doing what is, by any measure, identical work.' Employment Judge Richard Nicolle said: 'We consider that cost considerations were a significant factor to the Respondent in assessing and setting the new salary scales. 'The evidence points to significant pressure from the Treasury to reduce HMI pay because of austerity but also a perception that their pay was 'excessive' compared to other comparable public sector positions. 'At the time of his appointment, we find that an equivalent black man would have been offered, and paid, the same remuneration as the Claimant. 'Given that the benchmarking exercise had been undertaken, and the new salary scales set after Ms Williams' appointment the Respondent has reason to pay a different salary to the Claimant. 'Ms Williams is not therefore a correct comparator. We therefore reject the claims for direct race discrimination.' A Home Office Spokesperson said: 'We welcome the Tribunals decision, which re-enforces our position that HMI Parr was not paid differently because of his sex or race. 'HMI pay is set by the Home Office to make sure HMIs are appropriately remunerated, whilst ensuring value for the UK taxpayer. 'We value the crucial work of HMICFRS and will continue to support the inspectorate in its mission to ensure effective and efficient police forces and fire and rescue services.' Long-awaited data from the Oxford/AstraZeneca U.S. trial suggests the vaccine is safe, 79% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19, and fully effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths. Yes, but: The suspension of the vaccine in at least 13 countries due to blood-clotting concerns has severely damaged the shots reputation in Europe, with majorities in France (61%), Germany (55%) and elsewhere now deeming it unsafe, according to a YouGov poll. Driving the news: The rollout has resumed in most of Europe (Nordic countries are holding off), but its unclear how successful it can be when so few people appear prepared to take it. It could be even more damaging if that lack of faith spreads to developing countries, where AstraZeneca's vaccine is the most widely available option. The state of play: Leaders in Brussels are currently more worried about supply than demand. Theyre considering blocking some exports to the U.K. on the grounds that the U.K. is importing doses produced on the continent but not reciprocating. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is lobbying his EU counterparts against a potential ban, and Pfizer has warned that banning exports could weaken supply chains. Between the lines: The U.K. signed a contract with AstraZeneca that called for doses produced in Britain to stay there, much as the U.S. did with several drugmakers. The EU, meanwhile, is exporting around 40% of the doses it produces, with the U.K. receiving the most. Expand chart What to watch: Brussels emphasis on equitable distribution is fading amid a brutally slow rollout and rising case counts. Not only are export bans under consideration, but European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday that plans to donate doses to poorer countries are on hold until the EUs domestic picture improves. The supply shortfalls in Europe have led to a debate over another somewhat controversial vaccine: Russia's Sputnik V. Why it matters: The latest data suggests the vaccine is safe and highly effective, and Russia wants to sell it all over the world particularly within the EU. Several member states want to buy it, and some are prepared to help produce it. The latest data suggests the vaccine is safe and highly effective, and Russia wants to sell it all over the world particularly within the EU. Several member states want to buy it, and some are prepared to help produce it. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she'd be willing to go it alone to order Sputnik V if approved by regulators even if there was no common European decision on using it. The big picture: Having an effective state-funded vaccine could be a diplomatic coup for Moscow, but Russia lags behind the other major players in terms of manufacturing capacity and so is working to cut production deals around the world. What they're saying: We have absolutely no need of Sputnik V, Thierry Breton, the head of the EU's vaccine task force said on Sunday. He argued that the bloc was on pace to have sufficient capacity by the end of June using EU-made vaccines likely long before enough Sputnik V would be available to make a meaningful difference. The other side: The vaccine's developers called Breton "clearly biased against the Sputnik V vaccine just because it is Russian, adding, Biases lead to failures. And Bretons failures are clear to many people in EU." The latest: Meanwhile in Slovakia, Prime Minister Igor Matovic has said he's prepared to resign after announcing the purchase of Sputnik doses without the backing of his coalition partners. Go deeper: Biden's vaccine diplomacy challenge. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. BLOOMFIELD, N.J., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- While the pandemic has severely restricted traveling, Thomas McGovern Jr. has created a solution that will help tourists get the best out of their visit to the Boston region or Savannah, GA. Tourists can now use Ghosts of the Pasts virtual blogging service to explore these historical and beautiful regions nestled in the corners of Massachusetts and Georgia. Travel restrictions are in place due to the pandemic, but history continues to draw curious tourists who want to explore the region to the fullest. Thomas McGovern Jr is passionate about his field, evident from him studying with Professional Tour Management Training. He has recently joined the International Association of Travel Director and Guides. He is an expert on the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, Salem's Maritime and Literary history, and the American Revolution as well as Savannah, GA. He is excellent at writing about destinations for visitors and their explorations of Salem and its environs as well as Savannah GA, giving them suggestions to make their trips as enjoyable and intriguing as possible. Thomas' experiences over the years studying history and a Home Depot sales associate have helped him gather important insights about what customers want. He has used these insights to create a virtual tour guiding/history blogging program that allows him to enhance tourists experiences without needing to travel himself. He is a seasoned professional and an exceptional travel writer who knows the best possible ways of enjoying a trip to the Boston and Savannah area. He is passionate about his field, and his dedication has led him to want to continue pursuing a career in this field despite the odds. People who wish to see Boston, its surrounding communities or Savannah can benefit from his vast knowledge and expertise, helping them enjoy the time they spend in the area. Business contact information Thomas McGovern's Virtual Tour Guiding/Historical Blog Service offers traveler's information on Salem, Boston as well as the Savannah community. He is affiliated with the International Association of Travel Director and Guides and is studying with Professional Tour Management Training to polish his skills further. His areas of expertise are the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, Salems Maritime and Literary history, and the American Revolution including Savannah GA. More information about Ghosts of the Pasts Virtual Tour Guiding/Blogging Service can be found at (www.ghostsofthepasts.com) or via email ([email protected]). Media Contact: Thomas McGovern Jr. (973) 454-5371 [email protected] SOURCE Ghosts of the Pasts Related Links http://www.ghostsofthepasts.com Continue Reading Below Advertisement Yet as the reposted video gained popularity on Gunn's Twitter page, one fan asked the question we'd all been wondering if Groot isn't saying the b-word, what is he saying? Although the director says he doesn't remember the exact line, the answer is what may be Groot's favorite word -- f***. Baby/kid Groot drops constant F-bombs, Gunn elaborated on his page, before describing, in detail, just how much the character enjoys using the four-letter word. I guess that's one way to spew the f-word and slip by with a PG-13 rating. So folks, in light of Groot's apparent penchant for the swearing, remember I am Groot, I am Groot. I am Groot, I am Groot? I am Groot. For more internet nonsense, follow Carly on Instagram at @HuntressThompson_, on Twitch.tv @HuntressThompson_ and on Twitter @TennesAnyone. UPDATE: N.J. man shot by undercover federal agents in exchange of gunfire charged with attempted murder, robbery A Trenton man was critically wounded late Monday after he was shot during an altercation with federal officers in a vehicle outside a Hamilton convenience store, authorities said. The man, who is in his 20s, got into a vehicle with an undercover officer during an investigation involving the FBI and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives about 9 p.m. outside Krauszers Food Store on Greenwood Avenue in Hamilton Township, according to the Mercer County Prosecutors Office. The suspect engaged in an altercation with two federal officers and at some point, an officers weapon was discharged, a spokesman for the prosecutors office said in a statement. The wounded man, whose name was not released, ran and later arrived at Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he was admitted in critical but stable condition with a gunshot wound, the prosecutors office said. The shooting occurred during a federal investigation by the ATF and the FBI, according to local officials. No charges were filed. The shooting is under investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at the direction of the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, officials said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. NASA's Helicopter Ingenuity made its first appearance on the Red Planet as it prepares to take flight in April. The small but mighty helicopter hitched a ride aboard NASA's Perseverance rover on its mission to be the first aircraft to fly "on a world beyond Earth," according to Space.com's Mike Wall. NASA'S MIGHTY HELICOPTER: Here's what we know about NASA's 'small but mighty' Mars Helicopter The Ingenuity rode to Mars attached to the belly of the Perseverance rover. Both arrived safely on Feb. 18, 2021 at Jezero Crater on the Red Planet. On Sunday, March 21, NASA shared a photo via Twitter showing the Perseverance dropping the debris shield protecting the Ingenuity, another step in the process preparing for the copter's upcoming test flight, according to NASA. "Away goes the debris shield, and heres our first look at the helicopter. Its stowed sideways, folded up and locked in place, so theres some reverse origami to do before I can set it down. First though, Ill be off to the designated 'helipad,' a couple days drive from here," NASA officials wrote in a tweet. Since the Mars rover landed on the Red Planet, team members behind the Perseverance have been busy providing updates to its historic mission to Mars. NASA officials are planning a news conference on March 23, at 1:30 p.m. to lay out the next steps before Ingenuity takes flight. Next on the agenda Perseverance will be on the hunt for signs of previous Martian life and collecting samples to return to Earth, according to Wall. Ingenuity is just one of two technology demonstrations onboard the Perseverance. "The MOXIE ('Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment'), is another instrument designed to generate pure oxygen from the Red Planet's thin, carbon dioxide-dominated atmosphere," Wall wrote. To learn more about the Ingenuity and the latest updates on the Perseverance you can visit NASA's website dedicated to the mission here. Bella Hadid glammed up for a Vogue shoot atop one of the observation decks at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan on Monday. The unique rooftop setting allowed for the 24-year-old IMG Model to pose in front of much of the New York City skyline. Bella bared her back in a red-sequin long-sleeved turtleneck gown selected by Vogue.com executive fashion editor Jorden Bickham. Lady in red! Bella Hadid glammed up for a Vogue shoot atop one of the observation decks at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan on Monday The sparkly dress' thigh-high slit revealed that Hadid had recently injured her left knee, which was covered in a bright blue bandage. The DC-born, Malibu-raised beauty reunited with commercial/music video director Bardia Zeinali, whom she last worked with on a 2019 Calvin Klein ad. Bella made sure to share all of the glamorous behind-the-scenes footage with her captive 39.9M Instagram followers. 360-degree views of the Big Apple: The unique rooftop setting allowed for the 24-year-old IMG Model to pose in front of much of the New York City skyline Showstopper: Bella bared her back in a red-sequin long-sleeved turtleneck gown selected by Vogue.com executive fashion editor Jorden Bickham Ouch! The sparkly dress' thigh-high slit revealed that Hadid had recently injured her left knee, which was covered in a bright blue bandage Hello again! The DC-born, Malibu-raised beauty reunited with commercial/music video director Bardia Zeinali (L), whom she last worked with on a 2019 Calvin Klein ad Make-up artist Emi Kaneko made sure Hadid was fully contoured for her shoot where the crew protected themselves and others from the coronavirus by wearing face masks. As of Monday, there have reportedly been 1.79M confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York state (796K in NYC) leading to 48,959 deaths. It's unclear when Vogue will unveil their latest collaboration with the half-Palestinian, half-Dutch socialite, whose mother Yolanda enjoyed a 15-year career as a Ford Model. BTS: Bella made sure to share all of the glamorous behind-the-scenes footage with her captive 39.9M Instagram followers Primping: Make-up artist Emi Kaneko (2-L) made sure Hadid was fully contoured for her shoot where the crew protected themselves and others from the coronavirus by wearing face masks Pandemic: As of Monday, there have reportedly been 1.79M confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York state (796K in NYC) leading to 48,959 deaths Monitor: It's unclear when Vogue will unveil their latest collaboration with the half-Palestinian, half-Dutch socialite, whose mother Yolanda enjoyed a 15-year career as a Ford Model Bella's shoot came five days after The Dirt revealed she put her 2,569-square-foot, two-bedroom SoHo penthouse on the market for $6.5M. Hadid bought the 1877 silk showroom-turned-industrial space following her August 2019 split from Super Bowl LV half-time performer The Weeknd. The Marc Jacobs Eyewear stunner and the Canadian 31-year-old - who previously split in 2016 - first fell in love on the 2015 set of his In the Night music video. For sale! Bella's shoot came five days after The Dirt revealed she put her 2,569-square-foot, two-bedroom SoHo penthouse on the market for $6.5M Myanmars military on Tuesday said it was sad about people killed in its brutal crackdown on anti-coup protests, but vowed to press ahead with stamping out what it called anarchy. The junta has unleashed deadly violence as it struggles to quell nationwide protests against the February 1 ousting of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, drawing international condemnation and sanctions. More than 260 people have been killed since nationwide protests erupted against the coup, according to a local monitoring group. In a news conference in the capital Naypyidaw, junta spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun put the death toll at 164. I am sad because these violent terrorist people who died are our nationals, he said. The streets of towns and cities across the country have seen chaotic scenes for weeks as security forces clash with protesters demanding the restoration of democracy and the release of Suu Kyi. The authorities have used tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse protests, prompting a senior UN rights expert to warn they may be committing crimes against humanity. Zaw Min Tun defended the response, saying the security forces were dealing with insurgents holding weapons and five police and four soldiers had been killed. We have to crack down on the anarchy. Which countries in the world accept anarchy? he said. Despite the bloodshed, protesters took to the streets again on Tuesday, staging dawn demonstrations in parts of the commercial capital Yangon. As well as breaking up protests, the military has sought to stem the flow of news about the crackdown, banning several local media outlets and arresting dozens of journalists. The countrys internet connection has also been throttled and mobile data services suspended. Zaw Min Tun said there were currently no plans to restore mobile data networks. EU, US sanctions International pressure is building on the regime, with the European Union on Monday imposing sanctions on junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing and 10 other senior officials. The bloc said that as commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing was directly responsible for serious human rights violations carried out during the crackdown. And Washington which has already blacklisted the top junta leaders sanctioned Myanmars police chief and an army special operations commander, saying they were responsible for using lethal force against demonstrators. The US Treasury said that since Than Hlaing was made police chief and deputy home affairs minister on February 2, the police had engaged in brutal acts of violence against protesters. Army commander Aung Soe was responsible for sending in troops to confront protesters using battlefield weapons and tactics, demonstrating that lethal force is being used in a planned, premeditated and coordinated manner against the anti-coup protests, the Treasury said. But sanctions and the chorus of global condemnation have so far had little impact on the generals, who have shunned calls for restraint. There are fears that Saturday Myanmars Armed Forces Day, usually marked with a parade in Naypyidaw could be a flashpoint. The junta last week imposed martial law in six townships in Yangon, effectively putting nearly two million people under direct control of military commanders. There has been an exodus from the city the former capital with residents seeking safety elsewhere in the country, and warnings from embassies to foreign nationals. The Australian embassy on Tuesday warned its citizens to prepare to shelter in place with essential supplies, while Myanmars former colonial ruler Britain has already advised its nationals to get out. Neighbouring Thailand is bracing for a possible influx of tens of thousands of refugees if the situation worsens. burs-pdw/dhc/axn Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks announced Monday he is running for U.S. Senate, aiming to replace the retiring Sen. Richard Shelby. The Huntsville Republican, who garnered national attention recently with a controversial speech on the day of the Capitol riots, announced his candidacy at a gun club in front of about 300 supporters. You can read more on Brooks announcement here. Heres what theyre saying around the country about Brooks announcement: NBC News GOP firebrand and Trump supporter Rep. Mo Brooks enters Alabama Senate race A conservative firebrand and staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump who came under fire for remarks preceding the attack on the U.S. Capitol has joined the Alabama GOP primary field to replace Sen. Richard Shelby. Fox News Mo Brooks spotlights support for Trump as he launches Alabama Senate bid Rep. Mo Brooks is showcasing his support for former President Trump and targeting Democrats as he jumps into the race to succeed retiring longtime Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama. The Hill Mo Brooks launches Senate bid in Alabama In a fiery speech, Brooks painted a picture of a society besieged from nefarious forces within our country. He repeatedly evoked Trumps false claims that the 2020 presidential election had been stolen from Republicans, and warned that socialists were quickly taking over another favorite talking point of Trumps. Reuters Firebrand Congressman Mo Brooks, a Trump ally, launches U.S. Senate run Brooks previously said he had spoken to Trump about a possible Senate run. An endorsement from Trump, who easily won Alabama over President Joe Biden in Novembers presidential election, would likely make Brooks the favorite in the race to replace the retiring Republican Senator Richard Shelby, 86. CNN Mo Brooks launches Alabama Senate campaign Brooks is immediately a leading contender for the seat left open by the retiring Republican Sen. Richard Shelby due to his strong connection to the former Presidents supporters. Stephen Miller, a Trump senior adviser, introduced him to the crowd. NY Magazine Capitol Riot Rabble-rouser Mo Brooks Running for Senate Brooks also released an announcement video that makes it clear he is not hiding his extremist light under a bushel. The video features images of him at the January 6 rally, photos with Trump too numerous to count, and statements of praise from Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. Randalls is now providing free COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible people, the grocery store chain recently announced. The initiative is via a partnership with the federal government, and will provide vaccinations to all of the grocers pharmacies. Those looking to register can do so at randalls.com. Other pharmacy chains, including H-E-B and Wal-Mart, have also ramped up their vaccination efforts in recent weeks. Earlier this month, CVS announced it is shipping doses to 74 more Texas stores, bringing its total number of Texas locations at which it is administering vaccines to 180. Public health experts have said community pharmacies will be vital in the broader vaccination effort because they are more accessible to many people, including those without the means to travel for a dose. GOT COVID QUESTIONS?: Ask us here. robert.downen@chron.com New Delhi, March 23 : Former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday handed over some key documents, including the clinching audio tapes related to the transfer-posting racket in Maharashtra, to Union Home Secretary A.K. Bhalla on Tuesday. "I have requested a CBI probe into the placements racket and the Home Secretary has assured me that after examining the documents, the government would take appropriate action," the BJP leader told mediapersons outside the North Block, which houses the Home Ministry's office. The transcripts and telephonic conversations between top IPS officers in Maharashtra and power brokers, recorded by the Commissioner of State Intelligence, give an insight into how at the behest of powerful people in Maharashtra, key police officers were getting desired postings. "Besides giving documentary evidence, I also briefed the Union Home Secretary about the flourishing postings racket in the state. I also provided him with whatever additional information I had on the matter," Fadnavis, the Leader of Opposition in Maharasthra Assembly, said. Meanwhile, sources said that as the Union Home Ministry is the cadre controlling authority of IPS in the country, it can take notice of the 'misconduct' of senior officials and request the country's premiere anti-corruption agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to investigate the matter which has snowballed into a huge political controversy. Revealing the set of documents submitted to the Home Secretary, Fadnavis said that they contain the initial findings, transcripts of phone conversations, and the report of the Commissioner of State Intelligence, Rashmi Shukla, on the transfer-posting racket. "This report was submitted to the state government on August 25, 2020, but it is still under wraps. Why no action has been taken on it till now? Why did the government not take action against the officials and people whose conversations were recorded? After taking note of the report, the then DGP had recommended a CID probe into the matter. But why the CID probe was not initiated ? We want to know who were the people whom the government wanted to shield. All these questions beg for an answer and I hope the Union Home Secretary would take appropriate action," Fadnavis added. On the authenticity of telephone conversations between key officials and power brokers, Fadnavis informed that the recordings were made after seeking due approvals. "I am aware that the then DGP had forwarded the report to the Additional Chief Secretary of Maharashtra... And I have specific information that Chief Minister (Uddhav Thackeray) had also gone through the report as well the recordings. But the CM is silent on the matter and has not given any reaction on this report which is based on solid evidence," Fadnavis said. Rashmi Shukla, who had initially enquired into the postings racket, had stated in her letter dated August 25, 2020 that a network of brokers having political connections had emerged in Mumbai. The brokers were engaged in arranging desired postings for police officers in exchange of monetary gains, Shukla had written in her two-page letter addressed to the DGP of Maharashtra, Subodh Kumar Jaiswal. The approach also holds potential for repairing internal organs such as the heart, intestine and liver, which can become damaged by age and disease LA JOLLA, CA--A discovery involving multiple teams from across Scripps Research has revealed a powerful new approach for treating diabetic foot ulcers, which affect millions of people in the US and often lead to serious complications. By targeting a gene that controls tissue growth and regeneration, the scientists were able to boost cell division at the site of injury and repair chronic wounds quickly. The new research appears in Nature Chemical Biology. Given the growing prevalence of diabetes and limited options for treating foot ulcers--which can lead to amputation, in severe cases--it's clear that more effective treatments are needed, says chemist Michael Bollong, PhD, assistant professor at Scripps Research and senior author of the study. "We developed a way to activate multiple aspects of wound healing using a small-molecule drug that can be applied topically, without affecting other tissues," Bollong says. "Essentially, we were able to trick the cells into proliferating and closing the wound, restoring the outer layers of skin." Bollong's group worked in concert with laboratory of Scripps Research President and CEO Peter Schultz, PhD, and drug discovery teams at Calibr, which screened more than 800,000 molecules to find one that stimulated key regenerative pathways. The drug, PY-60, acts on a previously unknown regulator of tissue growth. The researchers tested their approach in animal models and on "human skin equivalents," which are skin samples from people that are further cultivated in a petri dish. They hope to begin clinical trials within the next year. Beyond treating chronic wounds, Bollong says the approach may lead to new regenerative therapies for heart disease, liver conditions and inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. "We believe the future of this type of regenerative therapy is incredibly bright," Bollong says. In the near term, however, the focus is diabetic foot ulcers, which affect roughly 15 percent of people with diabetes. More than half of those diagnosed with a diabetic foot ulcer will not survive the next five years, Bollong says, and the only existing regenerative therapy was developed more than two decades ago and has limited efficacy. At the core of the new approach is a gene known as YAP, which is known to control organ size and tissue regeneration. YAP is regulated via a pathway called Hippo--often a target of cancer drugs due to its ability to influence cell growth. Through their research, the scientists found a previously unknown player in the Hippo pathway--a protein that works with YAP to communicate cell density; when an organ or other tissue reaches a certain concentration, the cells will stop growing. But by targeting this protein with the new drug molecule, tissue cells bounce back into production mode. The healing process happens quickly and without producing negative side effects; in experiments, the outer skin layer doubled in a week. "We found the results of the study to be incredibly compelling," Bollong says. "We hope this regenerative approach can eventually be added on to existing standards of care for diabetic foot ulcers." ### The study, "YAP-dependent proliferation by a small molecule targeting annexin A2" was authored by Sophia Shalhout, Peng-Yu Yang, Edyta Grzelak, Kayla Nutsch, Sida Shao, Claudio Zambaldo, Jonathan Iaconelli, Lara Ibrahim, Caroline Stanton, Stormi Chadwick, Emily Chen, Michael DeRan, Sijia Li, Mitchell Hull, Xu Wu, Arnab Chatterjee, Weijun Shen, Fernando Camargo, Peter Schultz and Michael Bollong. The research was supported by the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Calibr, the drug discovery and development division of Scripps Research. In late February, a week after Virginia launched a centralized website and call center for covid-19 vaccine preregistration, Zowee Aquino alerted the state to a glitch that could prove fatal for non-English speakers trying to secure a shot. Callers who requested an interpreter on its new 1-877-VAX-IN-VA hotline would be put on hold briefly and then patched through. Then the line would automatically hang up on them. It was a startling discovery for Aquino, a community health manager, and her colleagues at NAKASEC Virginia, a nonprofit that works with Asian Americans across the state. The glitch was a "direct barrier to access," she wrote to senior state officials, "and must be addressed immediately." But that wasn't the only problem. Only two languages were offered when callers dialed in "press 1 for English" or "press 2 for Spanish." But Virginia is home to speakers of many other languages Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic, Mongolian, Amharic and dozens more who would need the help of translators to get their place in line for a vaccine. "There's so much attention to, let's translate flyers, right? We're like, what's the point of translating a flyer that says you can call 'VAX in VA' and we have all these languages, when the phone line doesn't work consistently, or it's not even set up well for non-English, non-Spanish-speaking populations?" said Sookyung Oh, the group's Virginia director. Concerns about equity have loomed large in the nation's mass covid vaccination effort. Distribution of doses has been spotty among underserved populations, many of whom have been hit disproportionately by covid hospitalizations and deaths. As Aquino found, barriers to vaccinating those groups begin with providing basic information about the shots and getting people registered. Several individuals in interviews said the immigrant populations they work with, including Asians and Latinos, are eager to be vaccinated. But the barriers are steep, including lower rates of technology literacy and how well they speak English, if at all. "Especially in stressful situations, they are not trying to struggle through English," said Oh, who described trying to secure a vaccine appointment for her mother a Korean woman who lives in Philadelphia as a "complete clusterf***" because the city's registration portal isn't available in that language. President Joe Biden announced this month that by May 1 the federal government would launch a website and new call center to help people find vaccine appointments, but officials have declined to elaborate on whether the website will be translated into non-English languages and which languages will be available through the call center. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to questions about language access. Approximately 5.3 million U.S. households have limited English proficiency, according to the U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey. And, it found, nearly 68 million people speak a language other than English at home. The CDC's website for covid-19 vaccine information is comprehensively translated into four languages: Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese. The federal agency has drafted other flyers about vaccines, but which languages the materials are available in varies considerably. A "Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines" flyer is translated into nearly two dozen languages, including Arabic, French, Tagalog, Russian, Somali and Urdu. Other documents are not translated at all; if they are, Spanish is the most common translation. "It's really concerning that the information is not available in different languages," said Bert Bayou, director of the Washington, D.C., chapter of African Communities Together, which works with immigrants across the metropolitan area. Virginia in mid-February released a centralized online preregistration system and a new hotline for vaccinations, a full month after residents 65 and older and those with certain medical conditions could register for appointments. As of mid-March, the state health department's portal could be translated only into Spanish, spoken by nearly 8% of the state's population. Similarly, the District of Columbia's vaccine preregistration website that launched this month was initially available only in English, although officials were working to have it translated into additional languages before the month is out. Any agency that fails to inform limited-English speakers of how to access their services in this case, vaccinations could be found to have violated federal laws that prohibit discrimination in health care on the basis of race, color, national origin and other factors, said Mara Youdelman, a managing attorney at the National Health Law Program, a civil rights advocacy organization. "If they launch a website and they choose not to have it translated into multiple languages, I would say at a minimum that they should have some taglines on the webpage about where to get more information," Youdelman said. Even beyond the law, making the vaccination process as accessible as possible to non-English speakers is "the necessary thing to do and the right thing to do." Otherwise, she said, "we're not going to reach the herd immunity we all want and need to get life back to normal." Fairfax County, the most populous county in Virginia, maintained its own registration portal, but officials only on March 15 launched a Spanish registration website, two months after the state significantly broadened vaccine eligibility. In the interim, Spanish speakers had been directed to download a PDF questionnaire, and then call a phone line to relay their information for an eventual appointment. Roughly 14% of the county's population identifies as Spanish-speaking, according to the 2019 American Community Survey. In Virginia, many immigrants are left with the heavily promoted VAX-IN-VA hotline, where access to interpretation services was uneven. The state eventually added a "press 3" menu option for help in a different language although the "press 2" and "press 3" prompts are spoken in English that allowed non-English and non-Spanish speakers to more easily connect with interpreters in more than 100 languages. Yet their needs often fall to the back of the line because the languages are so discrete and, after Spanish, there's no "obvious" third language that's prioritized, Oh said. Census data shows that more than 1.3 million Virginians speak a language other than English at home, including about 310,000 who speak Asian and Pacific Island languages and 295,000 who speak Indo-European languages. A state spokesperson said that, upon reviewing call logs, in some situations the callers were the ones who may have hung up while on hold, and other times call center agents may have accidentally hung up. Records showed that this occurred fewer than 10 times, mostly all during the first week. "We had a small handful of issues but looking forward we have not uncovered any ongoing issues," Vaccinate Virginia spokesperson Dena Potter wrote in an email. She did not respond to questions about whether state officials planned to translate Virginia's preregistration portal into other languages and whether the system might violate federal civil rights laws. Nationally, Asian Americans have had lower covid mortality rates than other minorities, including Black and Latino Americans. However, there are troubling signs that underscore the urgency to boost vaccination rates. According to data compiled by the American Public Media Research Lab, the four-week period between early February and early March was the deadliest stretch of the pandemic for Asian, Latino, white and Indigenous Americans. Roughly 3,730 new deaths were reported among Asian Americans. Among Hispanics, 16,780 new deaths were reported. To figure out whether they're eligible and to get vaccine appointments, non-English speakers rely on the clinics that treat them, English-speaking friends and family, and other nonprofits that serve immigrant communities. Without reliable information across languages, health centers and other nonprofits worry about what fills the void: Rumors and false information proliferate not only on U.S. social media platforms but apps like WhatsApp and WeChat used around the world. "They're not your Facebook and your Instagram chats," said Andrea Caracostis, CEO of the HOPE Clinic in Houston, a federally qualified health center that treats patients from at least 60 countries. "I think language issues and misinformation from abroad is going to erode a lot of the work that we do." The Houston area is home to one of the largest Vietnamese populations in the country. In late January, the clinic prioritized Vietnamese seniors for shots after receiving about 500 doses from the city. To make it happen, Caracostis said, they partnered with local Vietnamese doctors, nurses and even medical students to help. Clinic staff members translated immunization release forms before patients showed up. "It's going to take a village," she said. Groups are assembling teams of volunteers to make preregistration calls and appointments, and setting up pop-up registration sites in church parking lots in poorer neighborhoods. "You can answer questions right on the spot," said Wanda Pierce, co-chair of Arlington County's Complete Vaccination Committee, a 40-plus-person group formed to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines in that Virginia suburb of Washington. County officials have organized preregistration pop-ups, typically done alongside other services for low-income residents, such as clothing and food distribution. A recent pop-up held at Macedonia Baptist Church, a Black church in a lower-income area of the county, saw a handful of limited-English speakers preregister for vaccines, according to organizers. Recent polling has found that vaccine hesitancy is dipping among minority groups; however, they are still more likely to take a "wait and see" approach than white Americans. And many are struggling to secure appointments. A March poll from KFF found that among adults who have gotten at least one dose of vaccine, 39% said someone else had helped them find or schedule an appointment. Hispanic adults were more likely than white adults to say they did not have enough information about where or when they could get vaccinated. Spanish-language needs and outreach to Latinos haven't been adequately prioritized, said Luis Angel Aguilar, the Virginia state director of CASA. In addition to language access, "there's not enough communication and information now on where and who to call," he said. "It's so easy for people to give up and say, 'You know, I tried,'" added Nancy White, president of the Arlington Free Clinic, which treats low-income minorities and counts Spanish, Mongolian and Amharic speakers among its patients. The clinic, instead of signing up patients through Virginia's preregistration portal, is using its own system to get its patients vaccinated since the clinic receives an allocation of doses directly from the county. After an early pilot program to vaccinate seniors 75 and older, Arlington Free Clinic this month began vaccinating people 65 and up and those with chronic medical conditions. It relies on over 100 volunteer interpreters to help patients navigate the health care system. "You can do it," White said of getting around language issues, "but it takes a lot of time and a lot of manpower." It would thus seem India and China are destined to live out the foreseeable future as rivals, if not adversaries Geography and recent history have made the India-China relationship a difficult one, and one in which the United States will find ample space and opportunity to inveigle itself to its advantage. (Representational image: AFP) The Indian and Chinese economies are now in two entirely different stages of development. For a start, Chinas GDP is nearly five times bigger than Indias. Its GDP is now over $15.4 trillion, while India is inching towards $3.2 trillion. How China moves and acts in the future will affect the developed economies enormously as it has become the major provider of world growth for the past two decades, while Indias indifferent growth in the past decade has had little bearing or derived little benefit from it. The shutdown in Chinese production centres due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent slowdowns in manufacturing from Japan to the US and from India to Europe only serves to establish how much world manufacturing has come to depend on China. For India to be a $5 trillion economy by 2024, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi dreamed of, is now not even a faint hope. For India to make that rendezvous and matter to the world, it needs to be posting a frenetic 12-15 per cent growth over the next four years, and to overtake China would mean maintaining a pace of 8-10 per cent for the next four decades at least. There is not even a glimmer of that now. Hope is a good thing, but wishful thinking is a serious mental malady. Despite the immediate gloom, the demographics seem to favour India, but it is still for India to show that it can take advantage of it. But if it doesnt by investing in education, vocational training, public health and job creation, the youth bulge could very well become a millstone? While Chinas population will stabilise at 1.46 billion by around 2030, Indias might stabilise at 1.70 billion around 2060. Because its population will stabilise much before Indias will, China will age rapidly, which means its economic growth will inevitably slow down. Indias youthful demographics favour its continued growth for a much longer period. Thus, even if India keeps growing at about 7-8 per cent, its GDP could only close in on that of a China with a declining growth rate by around 2070. But what does the rise of India and China imply for the worlds power structure? True, the worlds economic fulcrum will shift to Asia. Already Asias GDP exceeds that of the United States and the European Union. By 2030 it will account for about over 60 per cent of world GDP, with China having the biggest GDP. But this is in future and often the future has a habit of not happening as predicted. Therefore, we must look at the present. The real problems in China will get accentuated, as exports to the US and EU slow down, as the US in particular is determined to reduce its trade gap. With low-cost production shifting to other low-cost economies like Vietnam and Indonesia. China will naturally try to overcome this by stimulating domestic and overseas consumption and can even finance it by slowly reducing its foreign reserves, as Saudi Arabia and others are doing now. The high growth period in China is petering off and its the transition we must be wary of. Where will the world get its next growth engine? Demography favours India, but our political discourse gives no inkling of any awareness of this or inclination to put immediate politics aside to set our long-term course. Geography and recent history have made the India-China relationship a difficult one, and one in which the United States will find ample space and opportunity to inveigle itself to its advantage. This is a made-to-order situation for strategists and leaders in the three countries to ply their trade with plenty of worst-case scenarios. It would thus seem India and China are destined to live out the foreseeable future as rivals, if not adversaries. Chinas aggressive soft power diplomacy has widely been seen as arguably the most important element in shaping the Indian Ocean strategic environment, transforming the entire regions dynamics. By giving large loans on generous repayment terms, investing in major infrastructure projects like the building of roads, dams, ports, power plants and railways as a part of its Belt and Road Initiative, and offering military assistance and political support in the UN Security Council through its veto power, China is actively buying goodwill and influence among countries in the Indian Ocean region. India cannot compete with China in pocketbook diplomacy either. Chinas defence budget has almost certainly experienced double-digit growth for two decades. The annual defence spending of China rose from over $30 billion in 2000 to $209 billion in 2021, over three times higher than that of India. Foreign estimates of Chinese military spending suggest that actual spending may be much higher. In 2019, the Chinese government reported an official defence budget of just under $178 billion, while the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimates actual (nominal) spending to have been $261 billion. SIPRI usually adds about 50 per cent to the official figure that China gives for its defence spending, because even basic military items such as research and development are kept off budget. This is not a sum India can match and the last thing we need to get caught in is a numbers game. Now if one were an Indian planner, he/she would look at the China/Pakistan axis with askance. India has had conflicts and still perceives threats from both, jointly and severally. The Tibet plateau, once intended as Indias buffer against the north, has now become Chinas buffer against India. Now if one were a Chinese planner, he or she would be looking with concern at Indias growth and increasing ability to project power in the IOR. The planner will also note what experts are saying about Indias growth trajectory. That it will be growing long after China gets walking sticks. That it is the ultimate pivot state in the grand struggle for primacy between the West led by the US and Japan, and China. In recent times there has been much talk about the Quad the United States, Japan, Australia and India to confront the spread of Chinas dominance. There have been several rounds of talks and virtual meetings of these countries starting 2019. But we must not forget that unlike the US, Japan and Australia, who are physically distant from China, India lives cheek by jowl with it, sharing a long and contested border. It is Indian and Chinese troops which face each other eyeball to eyeball there. By Barbara Heroy John COVID-19 protocols did not prevent the BEES from swarming this fall. Bike rides along the riverin cohorts smaller than 10 personsenabled students to visit Daytons archeological site Sun Watch (which was abandoned by Fort Ancient Native Americans in after a rapid period of resource depletion) and see the areas landfill and sewage treatment plant ... from a healthy distance. A second series of foraysto the Carillon Historical Parkhelped students to make sense of the role of natural resources in Daytons subsequent history, first by appreciating the role of the Great Miami River (in enabling early farmers to export their crops by way of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to NYC) and later the role of canal system (that redirected the commodity flow to Pennsylvania). It was Daytons natural resource endowmentits forests and fertile soil watered by a navigable river system-- that first recommended it to settlers. After deforestation resulted in muddy streets, Daytons quarries contributed limestone (dubbed Dayton marble) to both to pave its downtown streets and to transform its first log cabins into more permanent structures. Deforestation may also have aggravated the periodic flooding suffered by the city, culminating in the devastating 1913 flood. Locals later remembered the promises made in the attic (where most downtown residents awaited rescue by small boats) , making contributions to finance a group of dry dams designed by Arthur Morgan that retain their efficacy to the present day and gives Dayton its enviable the Five Rivers Metropark system. A walking tour of the Woodland cemetery (built on high ground, next to the UD campus) enabled students to identify not only specimens of the trees that once enveloped the area, but also the graves of some of Daytons most famous personages/ The earliest works by the poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar were published by his high school classmates, the local printers/later bicycle shop owners Orville and Wilbur (without the moustache) Wright. The Ritty brothers who ran a downtown bar called The Pony invented the cash register (that led to the founding of National Cash RegisterNCRby enthused coal supplier John H. Patterson). A later visit to the Patterson Homestead enabled students to appreciate the sales methods that gave global dominance to this corporations productoriginally invented to prevent employee theft in a bar in Daytons Oregon District! Visiting a vintage print shop, a replica of one of the Wright brothers bicycle shops and the display of the Wright Flyer II permitted students studying entrepreneurship to distinguish between the vision and talent that informs innovation and the skillsets necessary to bring inventions successfully to market. The Wright brothers manufacturing facility never employed more than 40 people, and beyond a few government contracts, the firm failed to achieve a meaningful market share, despite the acquisition of lucrative patents protecting their designs. The BEES also learned to appreciate the ethical challenges of leadership. John Patterson, renowned not just for founding NCR but also for his role in leading the rescue and recovery effort after the 1913 flood, narrowly escaped federal charges for income tax evasion. Charles Ketteringthe inventor of the electronic ignition system that replaced cranks on early carslater supervised the work of the Cornell chemist Thomas Midgley at GE. Midgley is best known for conceiving leaded gasoline and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)arguably two of the most environmentally damaging innovations of the 20th centurycontributing to smog and the depletion of the ozone layer. The BEES are hoping that spring will enable them to venture farther afield. A visit to a local beehive, a raft trip and a pancake breakfast at an old flourmill are on the to BEE done list. Established in 1998 as a road transport service provider for the petroleum industry in the UAE, Tristar has evolved into a leading integrated energy logistics company serving a diversified customer base of "blue-chip" investment grade companies. The Group has operations in 21 countries and territories across three continents and has over 2,000 road transport assets and 35 maritime vessels, including the operation of 69 fuel farms and over 100 remote fuel sites, providing a wide spectrum of integrated service offerings. With a strong reputation for quality, built over two decades of operations and a commitment to safety and operational excellence, Tristar has become a trusted brand in the global logistics industry. The Group is a partner of choice for leading International Oil Companies ("IOCs") and National Oil Companies ("NOCs") in the energy sector. Tristar's diversified and integrated offering spans fuel logistics services to support Intergovernmental Organisations ("IGO") peacekeeping and humanitarian missions in remote geographies (remote fuels) as well as commercial enterprises (commercial fuels), maritime logistics, road transport and warehousing as well as fuel farms. Tristar has a unique position as an integrated, end-to-end energy logistics solution provider to an enviable blue-chip global client base. The Group has a strong track record of growth demonstrated by a 12.4% CAGR in operating cash flows between 2018 and 2020 and a consistent EBITDA margin between 20.1% to 22.8% in the years 2018 to 2020. In the year ended 31 December 2020, the Group had a consolidated revenue of $453.4 million, and EBITDA of $103.6 million. This record is underpinned by a strong business model, operational excellence and rigorous financial management. Commenting on today's announcement, Eugene Mayne, Group CEO of Tristar said: "I am proud to have witnessed the evolution of Tristar from a local road transportation business into a global world-class integrated energy logistics solutions provider serving blue-chip clients, with an offering that spans road and maritime transportation, specialized warehousing, fuel farms, and fuel supply operations. "Our business, which enjoys a strong reputation, developed through years of operational excellence, underpinned by a customer centric model, and a commitment to the highest quality and safety standards, has become a trusted logistics partner for major oil companies globally. "Tristar has always been a 'Business for Purpose' with the ambition to make a positive impact on our communities and to keep our corporate responsibility at the core of everything we do. In 2011, we signed on to the United Nations Global Compact supporting the advancement of Human Rights, Anti-Corruption, Labour and Environment, demonstrating the extent of our commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen. "Tristar's IPO marks an exciting milestone in the Group's story as we continue to grow, innovate and shape the future of the logistics industry." Offering Highlights Intention to list on the DFM Offer size is expected to represent up to 24% of the total issued ordinary shares after the Offering in the capital of Tristar (the "Shares). The Offering is expected to comprise new shares issued by Tristar (the "New Shares") and shares to be sold by existing shareholders (the "Existing Shares") (collectively the "Offer Shares"). Tristar expects to receive between $120 to $160 million of gross primary proceeds from the Offering. to of gross primary proceeds from the Offering. Admission of Shares on the DFM is expected in April 2021 , subject to market conditions and obtaining relevant regulatory approvals in the UAE, including from the Securities and Commodities Authority of the UAE (the "SCA"). , subject to market conditions and obtaining relevant regulatory approvals in the UAE, including from the Securities and Commodities Authority of the UAE (the "SCA"). The Offering will be made available to qualified investors. Five percent of the Offering will be reserved for offer to the Emirates Investment Authority (the "EIA"). The Offering is expected to be declared Sharia compliant, subject to confirmation by the Sharia Supervision Committee, on the date of the receipt of the net proceeds of the Offering and upon the use of a portion of the proceeds to repay around AED 197 million in loans and payables due to related parties. About the Offering If all of the Offer Shares are allocated, the Offer Shares will represent up to 24% of the Shares. The Offering will comprise a primary issuance of 199,000,000 New Shares in addition to a secondary offering of up to 88,760,000 Existing Shares by the existing shareholders. The Existing Shares are being offered by Agility Tristar SPV Ltd (of which Agility Public Warehousing Company K.S.C.P. is the sole ultimate beneficial owner), Star Holdings Ltd (of which Gulf Investment Corporation is the sole ultimate beneficial owner), and Diamond SPV Limited (of which Mr. Eugene Mayne is the sole ultimate beneficial owner) (the "Selling Shareholders"), who currently own 65.12%, 19.61%, and 15.27% of the Shares of the Company respectively. The Offering comprises an offering of the Offer Shares to qualified investors in the United Arab Emirates and in a number of jurisdictions. The Offering is expected to be allocated to certain types of juridical persons and high net worth individuals and who are qualified investors as defined by SCA , with a minimum application size of AED 500,000 (for further details please see the FAQs set out in Tristar's IPO website https://ipo.tristar-group.co). In addition, the EIA has the right to subscribe for 5% of the Offer Shares in accordance with the requirements of article 127 of the UAE Federal Law No. 2 for the year 2015 with regard to commercial companies, and its amendments. If the EIA does not exercise its preferential rights to apply for Offer Shares, then those Offer Shares will be made available. The completion of the Offering is currently expected to take place in April 2021, subject to market conditions and obtaining relevant regulatory approvals in the UAE, including from the SCA. Furthermore, the Offering is expected to be declared Sharia compliant, subject to confirmation by the Sharia Supervision Committee, on the date of the receipt of the net proceeds of the Offering and upon the use of the proceeds to repay around AED 197 million in loans and payables due to related parties. A syndicate of banks has been appointed for the Offering comprising BofA Securities and Citigroup Global Markets Limited as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners, First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC as Joint Regional Coordinator, Lead Manager and Joint Bookrunner, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited as Joint Regional Coordinator and Joint Bookrunner, Societe Generale as Joint Bookrunner and Kuwait Financial Centre K.P.S.C. ("Markaz") as Co-Lead Manager. BofA Securities, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, Societe Generale and Markaz are herein referred to as "Managers". Moelis & Company is acting as Independent Financial Advisor to Tristar. Overview of Tristar Tristar is an integrated energy logistics solutions provider. Its services include fuels (remote fuels and commercial fuels), maritime logistics, road transport and warehousing and fuel farms. The Group is headquartered in Dubai (UAE) and operates in 21 countries and territories across three continents. With over 2,000 road transport assets and 35 maritime vessels and a wide spectrum of integrated service offerings, including the operation of 69 fuel farms and over 100 remote fuel sites, the Group has built a global and scalable platform, which enables it to provide an integrated logistics offering to the energy industry. Key Investment Highlights Tristar has a differentiated investment proposition as a leading integrated liquid logistics solutions provider to the energy industry globally. The Group's competitive strengths include: Its trusted brand with a proven track record of established partnerships with a diversified, blue-chip client base . In the year ended 31 December 2020 , approximately 67.2% of the Group's consolidated revenue was derived from investment grade customers and only 0.1% were non-investment grade, with 32.7% of customers unrated. . In the year ended , approximately 67.2% of the Group's consolidated revenue was derived from investment grade customers and only 0.1% were non-investment grade, with 32.7% of customers unrated. Its reputation for quality with a track record of safety and operational excellence . The Group's well-established safety systems and best practices have contributed to the Group consistently bettering the UK road fatality benchmark indicator of 0.00487 (fatality rate per million KM). . The Group's well-established safety systems and best practices have contributed to the Group consistently bettering the UK road fatality benchmark indicator of 0.00487 (fatality rate per million KM). Its unique integrated and scalable capabilities with high barriers to entry . The Group's diversified service offering includes fuels (remote fuels and commercial fuels), maritime logistics, road transport and warehousing as well as fuel farms. The Group's operations are extensive and well invested across emerging markets, including Africa and the Middle East . . The Group's diversified service offering includes fuels (remote fuels and commercial fuels), maritime logistics, road transport and warehousing as well as fuel farms. The Group's operations are extensive and well invested across emerging markets, including and the . Growing end verticals with emerging market exposure underpinned by logistics outsourcing trends. The Group's business model is supported by a continued global outsourcing trend, further embedding the Group in its clients' supply chains and thereby increasing customer retention. The Group's business model is supported by a continued global outsourcing trend, further embedding the Group in its clients' supply chains and thereby increasing customer retention. Its customer-centric business model with strong expansion and diversification potential . The Group's service offerings have expanded from one business segment to four, creating further customer penetration potential and further embedding the Group within its customers' supply chains. This is highlighted through multiple diverse long-term contracts secured by the Group with key customers. . The Group's service offerings have expanded from one business segment to four, creating further customer penetration potential and further embedding the Group within its customers' supply chains. This is highlighted through multiple diverse long-term contracts secured by the Group with key customers. Stable cash flow profile, with a history of consistent profitable growth and attractive financial returns , as indicated by revenues derived from long-term contracts consisting 78.9% of total for 2020, operating cash flows at a CAGR of 12.4% from 2018 to 2020 and a 21.0% average EBITDA margin between 2018 to 2020. , as indicated by revenues derived from long-term contracts consisting 78.9% of total for 2020, operating cash flows at a CAGR of 12.4% from 2018 to 2020 and a 21.0% average EBITDA margin between 2018 to 2020. A founder-led management team driving a business for purpose. Led by Eugene Mayne , the Group has grown to become one of the Middle East's largest privately-owned liquid logistics company, since its inception in 1998. Group Strategy The Group developed a business model which places its customers at the centre of what it does and a strategy with multiple growth opportunities arising from: intrinsic organic growth from the Group's existing assets; in-market expansion from the launch and ramp-up of newly signed contracts; and the potential to expand existing capabilities and into adjacent areas as well as consolidation through mergers and acquisitions. The execution of the Group's strategy relies on the following principles: Continuing to deliver high quality services and maintaining the Group's position as partner of choice. Widening its client base in existing segments and expand into adjacent segments. Deepening its range of core services / capabilities and expanding into adjacent offerings. Strengthening its position in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and Africa and enter new markets across the Middle East and South and East Asia . and enter new markets across the and South and . Maintaining attractive and sustainable profitability and returns through disciplined financial management. Remaining a responsible and respected business in its local communities. Capital Structure and Dividend Policy The number of primary shares offered in the Offering is expected to be fixed, as required by the SCA. As such, the amount of primary proceeds to be received by Tristar will depend on the final offer price and is expected to be in the range of $120 to 160 million. The Group is targeting a reduction in the ratio of consolidated net debt to EBITDA (as at 31 December 2020) to approximately 2.2-2.5x as compared to the reported 3.5x. The Company undertakes to repay AED197 million in loans and payables due to related parties on the date of the receipt of the net proceeds of the Offering, with the balance of the net proceeds used for general corporate purposes including the funding of planned capital expenditure. The Group intends to maintain a conservative capital structure with medium term target leverage of 2.0-2.5x while retaining flexibility to execute on sustainable growth opportunities as they arise. The majority of the Group's indebtedness is targeted to remain asset-backed financing secured against maritime vessels with back-to-back contracts and limited recourse to the Group. For the dividend declared with respect to the year ending 31 December 2020, Tristar paid $29.6 million to the Selling Shareholders, $10 million as an ordinary dividend for the year ending 31 December 2020, and the rest as special pre-IPO dividend. The Selling Shareholders will pay all offering expenses (estimated to be $19.6 million), of the IPO. For the dividend to be declared with respect to the year ending 31 December 2021, Tristar targets a pay-out ratio of 60-70% of net income. Tristar intends to pay $12.5 million dividend in the third quarter of 2021 as an interim dividend, with the remainder expected to be paid in the second quarter of 2022 as a final dividend. Thereafter, Tristar intends for dividends to be paid on a yearly basis at a pay-out ratio of up to 60% of net income. Environmental, Social and Governance As a responsible business, Tristar has adopted the Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") framework for a holistic and long-term sustainability approach to its business in line with its mission to be a "Business for Purpose". Operating in 21 countries including conflict zones, in its daily operations the Group cultivates and reinforces the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact (the "UNGC") which focus on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. In line with these principles, the Group takes an active approach to address social issues including access to education, clean water and good health in the communities where it operates, since becoming a signatory of the UNGC in 2011. As a participant and board member of the Global Compact Local Network UAE, the Group actively engages and encourages its stakeholders to adopt sustainable business practices. Tristar's commitment to sustainability is publicly disclosed to its stakeholders through its annual Sustainability Reports published since 2012. As part of its sustainability strategy and ESG initiatives, the Group recognises its responsibility to protect the environment and to reduce its carbon footprint through the adoption of latest technology, resource efficiency and the use of renewable energy. The Group strives to engage with local communities and foster a relationship of trust and collaboration to work towards the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ("United Nations SDGs"). The Group supports the United Nations SDGs through the adoption of local projects and the engagement of employee-volunteers in order to address community needs in the 21 countries and territories in which it operates. Additionally, in 2019, the Group signed the Women Empowerment Principles by reaffirming its commitment towards diversity and Gender Equality. Corporate Governance The Group has established a framework of corporate governance policies, rules and practices which comply with the requirements of the Code of Governance issued by Decree of the Ministry of Economy No. 518 of 2009 and the Chairman of Board of Directors of SCA Decision No. 3 of 2020 concerning the Approval of Joint Stock Companies Governance Guide and take into consideration international best practices as appropriate. The Board of Directors (the "Board") will consist of seven members and is vested with the power to manage Tristar and conduct its business in accordance with the Federal Law No. 2 of 2015 concerning commercial companies of the UAE as amended. The Board will comprise six non-Executive directors and one Executive Director, and four of its members are independent non-Executive directors. An elected Chairman will preside over the Board. The board members are elected for a term of three years and will meet at least every three months. There are currently two permanent Board Committees: the Audit and Risk Committee and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. Offering Subscription Information on how to subscribe for the IPO can be found on Tristar's IPO website (https://ipo.tristar-group.co). The contents of this announcement have been prepared by and are the sole responsibility of the Group. The information contained in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. The information in this announcement is subject to change. No reliance may be placed by any person for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy, fairness or completeness. This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States. This announcement and any subsequent offer of securities may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons receiving this announcement or any subsequent offer should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any Offer Shares or any other securities nor shall it (or any part of it) or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefore. Investors should not subscribe for or purchase any shares referred to in this announcement except on the basis of information in the international offering memorandum (the "IOM") in its final form expected to be published by Tristar in due course in connection with the proposed initial public offering on the Dubai Financial Market. Before subscribing for or purchasing any Offer Shares, persons viewing this announcement should ensure that they fully understand and accept the risks which will be set out in the IOM when published. This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, Offer Share or any other securities into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or in any jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. The Offer Shares referred to herein may not be offered or sold in the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or offered in a transaction exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. The offer and sale of Offer Shares referred to herein has not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada or Japan. Subject to certain exceptions, the Offer Shares may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada or Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of any national, resident or citizen of Australia or Canada. There will be no public offering of the securities described herein in the United States, Australia, Canada or Japan. No offer of the Offer Shares to the public is being made in any member state of the European Economic Area (each, a "Relevant State") that would require the publication of the prospectus or any other offering document in such other Relevant State. This announcement is only being distributed in member states of the European Economic Area , and is only directed at, persons in the European Economic Area that are qualified investors ("qualified investors") within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1120 (the "Prospectus Regulation") or to other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated without the requirement for a prospectus to be approved by any EU competent authority. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available, in any member state of the European Area, only to such persons., This announcement and any offer subsequently made is, and will be, addressed to and directed only at persons, in the United Kingdom, who are (a) both "qualified investors" within the meaning of the UK version of the EU Prospectus Regulation (2017/1129/EU) which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the "UK Prospectus Regulation") and either (i) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (ii) who are high net worth entities falling within Article 49 of the Order; or (b) other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons under (a) and (b) together being referred to as "relevant persons") Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available in the United Kingdom only to relevant persons. Exempt Offer Statement (DIFC): This announcement relates to an Exempt Offer in the DIFC in accordance with the DFSA Rulebook. It is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in those rules. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this announcement nor taken steps to verify the information set out in it and has no responsibility for it. The securities to which this announcement relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers and subscribers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this announcement, you should consult an authorised financial adviser. Exempt Offer Statement (ADGM): This announcement is an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Market Rules of the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority. This Exempt Offer document is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Market Rules. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority has not approved this Exempt Offer document nor taken steps to verify the information set out in it, and has no responsibility for it. The securities to which this Exempt Offer relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this Exempt Offer document you should consult an authorised financial advisor. Notice to Prospective Investors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: This document may not be distributed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia except to such persons as are permitted under the Rules on the Offer of Securities and Continuing Obligations (the "Saudi Regulations") issued by the Board of the Capital Market Authority (the "Capital Market Authority") pursuant to resolution number 3-123-2017, dated 27 December 2017G, based on the Capital Market Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/30 dated 2/6/1424H (as amended by Resolution of the Board of the Capital Market Authority number 1-7-2021 dated 14 January 2021G). The Capital Market Authority does not make any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of this document, and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss arising from, or incurred in reliance upon, any part of this document. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered hereby should conduct their own due diligence on the accuracy of the information relating to the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this document, you should consult an authorised financial advisor. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. In addition, forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "goal", "believe", "will", "may", "should", "would", "could", "is confident", or in each case, their negative or other variations or words of similar meaning, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. Undue reliance should not be placed on any such statements because they speak only as at the date of this document and reflect Tristar's current view with respect to future events. Forward-looking statements are, by their very nature, subject to known and unknown risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Group's business, results of operations, financial position, liquidity, prospects, growth or strategies and can be affected by other factors that could cause actual results, and Tristar's plans and objectives, to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (i) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (ii) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (iii) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Shares to be issued in the Offering have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that the Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Shares may decline and investors could lose all or substantially all of their investment; the Shares to be issued in the Offering offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Shares to be issued in the Offering is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Offering. For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (i) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (ii) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own Target Market Assessment in respect of the Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels. Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements of Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK MiFIR Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the UK MiFIR Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Shares to be issued in the Offering have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that the Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, as respectively defined in paragraphs 3.5 and 3.6 of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels (the "UK Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the UK Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Shares to be issued in the Offering offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Shares to be issued in the Offering is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The UK Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Offering. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the UK Target Market Assessment, the underwriters will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties. For the avoidance of doubt, the UK Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (i) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of Chapters 9A or 10A respectively of the FCA Handbook Conduct Business Sourcebook; or (ii) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own UK Target Market Assessment in respect of the Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels. Each of Merrill Lynch International, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, Societe Generale and Kuwait Financial Centre K.P.S.C. (the "Managers" and each, a "Manager") and their respective affiliates expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update, review or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this announcement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Any purchase of Offer Shares in the proposed Offering should be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the final IOM to be issued by Tristar in connection with the Offering. The information in this announcement is subject to change. The date of Admission may be influenced by things such as market conditions. There is no guarantee that Admission will occur and you should not base your financial decisions on Tristar's intentions in relation to Admission at this stage. Acquiring investments to which this announcement relates may expose an investor to a significant risk of losing all of the amount invested. Persons considering making such investments should consult an authorised person specialising in advising on such investments. This announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning the Offering. The value of shares can decrease as well as increase. Potential investors should consult a professional advisor as to the suitability of the Offering for the person concerned. Merrill Lynch International and Citigroup Global Markets Limited, each of which are authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, are acting exclusively for Tristar and the Selling Shareholders and no-one else in connection with the Offering. They will not regard any other person as their respective clients in relation to the Offering and will not be responsible to anyone other than Tristar and the Selling Shareholders for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offering, the contents of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein. In connection with the Offering of the Offer Shares, the Managers and any of their affiliates, may take up a portion of the shares in the Offering as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell for their own accounts such shares and other securities of Tristar or related investments in connection with the Offering or otherwise. Accordingly, references in the IOM, once published, to the Offer Shares being issued, offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any issue or offer to, or subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by, the Managers and any of their affiliates acting in such capacity. In addition, the Managers and any of their affiliates may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts for differences) with investors in connection with which the Managers and any of their affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of shares. The Managers do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so. Moelis & Company UK LLP ("Moelis UK") is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Moelis & Company UK LLP DIFC Branch ("Moelis Dubai" and together with Moelis UK, "Moelis & Company") is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. Moelis & Company is acting exclusively for Tristar and no-one else in connection with the IPO and it will not be responsible to anyone other than Tristar for providing the protections afforded to its clients, nor for providing advice in relation to the IPO, the contents of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein. None of the Managers, Moelis & Company or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to Tristar, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. SOURCE Tristar Transport Strangers Making Babies viewers branded the show 'wild' after a woman who claimed her job as a high-profile nanny had prevented her from settling down and having children met with three possible co-parents. There are currently 70,000 people in the UK signed up to co-parenting sites, looking for platonic partners to have children with - without the added complication of finding love first. The new Channel 4 series follows a group of single women as they are matched with several men, guided by fertility specialist Marie Wren and matchmaking expert Gillian McCallum as they spend time together and work out whether or not to have a baby together. In tonight's episode, professional nanny Venicia, from Croydon, who has worked for ultra-high net-worth individuals living a life of glamour for 18 years and is now ready for a child of her own, met a divorce, a father-of-two and a man who has always dreamed of being a father. Venicia, 34, from Croydon, who has been a nanny for 18 years, longs to have a child of her own. Pictured, meeting potential co-parent Jean-Paul, aged 50 Venicia explains how her work as a nanny has taken her abroad - including to countries such as South Africa, Turkey and Dubai but now she's ready to settle down and have a child of her own 'I love my job - like really truly,' she explained. 'Knowing who their best friends are, organising their birthdays, knowing how they like their broccoli - all those tiny, tiny things.' 'But when it's time to go nursery, they don't really need a nanny anymore. No one is going to care if they bump their elbow and kiss it - and it's stressing me out. Every time I leave it's getting harder. I feel like I'm definitely ready for a family of my own.' But not everyone who tuned in was convinced by the idea of the show- with one writing: 'Im not sure how I feel about the, ahem, concept of this programme. Should be interesting. #strangersmakingbabies.' Another added: Ok, so #strangersmakingbabies is so far more intriguing and interesting than the trailer suggested. But not everyone who tuned in was convinced by the idea of the show- with one writing: 'Im not sure how I feel about the, ahem, concept of this programme. Should be interesting. #strangersmakingbabies' Marie Wren, who set up a unique project - a blueprint for safe co-parenting schemes - explained: 'We've designed an incredibly extensive vetting process.' She devised the year-long co-parent matching project with other experts based on the adoption system. 'All of the candidates had multiple interviews and had to fill out an incredibly detailed questionnaire,' she added. 'The idea was to make sure each of the candidates was really committed. They all had criminal and medical checks. It has been an incredibly thorough process.' Venicia explains how her work as a nanny has taken her abroad - including to countries such as South Africa, Turkey and Dubai. Nigel (pictured), 47, from Hertfordshire, who has his own fertility issues, is the first possible co-parent who meets Venicia in a bar Vik (pictured), who has 'always wanted to be a dad,' said if you go into a co-parent relationship, you can just 'focus on the child' 'For years I've been very committed to my job and the by-product of that is that I haven't been anywhere for any length of time to actually date,' she said. 'I just feel like I haven't got the luxury of years between dating and getting to know each other and having a child. I just feel like timing isn't on my side.' She added: 'I do want to be a mum because I have a lot of love to give. I raise these babies every day and now I'm ready to keep them.' 'I started one month before the littlest was born. When he came out the hospital, at two days old, his mum handed him to me.' 'I went out and bought all the baby things. The bottom line is they're not my children. I'm done with the upset. It's like the saying, "loss is the price you pay for love." Nigel, 47, from Hertfordshire, who has his own fertility issues, is the first possible co-parent who meets Venicia in a bar. Nigel, 47, from Hertfordshire, who has his own fertility issues, is the first possible co-parent who meets Venicia in a bar Next up, she meets with Vik, who says he has 'always wanted to be a dad'. When Venicia asks what makes him want his own family, Vik repliec: 'For me, it's just something I've always wanted to do 'The difference between meeting a date and a potential co-parent - not a lot I don't think,' he joked. 'Obviously I'm dressed up, I've ironed a shirt. I'm going to be wearing my best aftershave. 'I'm really excited about it. The first meeting, I hope it'd be fun. I don't need to tell them everything.' He added: 'In a co-parent, I want someone who will listen, someone who is open-minded to everything.' As the pair get chatting, Venicia learns how Nigel and his ex gave up their lives to become parents. 'My ex and I set up our lives to become parents,' explained Nigel, who worked in the motor trade. 'I gave up my business and we moved to a big house in the country.' 'We tried naturally, unfortunately it didn't work out so we had IVF, but that didn't work out either, sadly. The biggest one was we went straight from IVF to adoption, then three weeks after we got accepted, we split - but it was the right decision.' Venicia (pictured), who worries that time isn't on her side, is matched with several men, guided by fertility specialist Marie Wren and matchmaking expert Gillian McCallum as they spend time together and work out whether or not to have a baby together Marie Wren (pictured right, and left, matchmaking expert Gillian McCallum), who set up a unique project - a blueprint for safe co-parenting schemes - explained: 'We've designed an incredibly extensive vetting process' Venecia, whose says her age range in a co-parent is 35-42, added: 'Knowing what he has been through to try and have a child and now he's here and putting himself out here potentially having a child...it's amazing and so refreshing.' Next up, she meets with Vik, who says he has 'always wanted to be a dad.' 'Taking that baby home for the first time and having that room set up for them and being able to watch them going to sleep for the first time - it's just something I've always dreamed of doing,' he explained. 'You hear of messy divorces where the child just becomes a pawn. If you go into a co-parent relationship, you can just focus on the child.' 'I work in risk management and I guess co-parenting kind of mirrors that in the fact I'm thinking about what happens if I don't meet the right person, if I don't have a family with them.' And when Venicia asks what makes him want his own family, Vik repliec: 'For me, it's just something I've always wanted to do. In my early twenties I picked out kids names, and when I wanted to get married. 'My last relationship was over three years and she ticked all the boxes - apart from that she didn't want to have kids. It was a deal breaker. It was the hardest decision of my life to make to end it.' 'I thought maybe I could go without kids but seeing my friends with kids, it's just made my desire stronger.' Venicia (pictured) explained how her work as a nanny has taken her abroad - including to countries such as South Africa, Turkey and Dubai After meeting Jean-Paul, Venicia (pictured) admitted that she always thought she'd never co-parent or date someone with children but can see now how that would be beneficial Speaking of Vik after their meeting, Venicia turned to the camera and said: 'He seems nice enough, but in terms of personality, he's quite shy. 'I don't know. Maybe he was out of his comfort zone, or maybe it was just me. I think he was a nice guy but I don't think it's something I will pursue further.' Venicia's third potential co-parent is Jean Paul, 50, from Croydon, who has two children of his own. 'They're grown-ish babies,' he explained. 'My younger son is 14, and my older son has just turned 19. Me and my ex-partner separated about eight years ago. What happened is we did a shared custody arrangement so they'll be with me a week, and then her a week.' Speaking to the camera, he added: 'The kind of dad I am, I'm very hands-on. It gives me a lot of pleasure. I'm ready for my second chance, third chance, fourth chance.' After their meeting, Venicia admitted: 'I always thought I'd never co-parent or date someone with children but I can see now how that would be beneficial. I'm a nanny, he's a parent - so maybe he can teach me a thing or two - and I can correct him!' Strangers Making Babies, 9.15pm, tonight on Channel 4. BOULDER, Colo. A gunman opened fire inside a grocery store in Boulder, Colo., on Monday afternoon, killing 10 people, including a police officer, the authorities in Boulder said. The police said that they had taken a suspect into custody after the shooting. That person was injured, the authorities said. Videos showed a handcuffed man being escorted from the building by officers, shirtless and with his right leg appearing to be covered in blood. People inside the grocery, King Soopers, described a harrowing and chaotic scene inside the store. I thought I was going to die, said Alex Arellano, 35, who was working in the meat department at King Soopers, in the South Boulder area, when he heard a series of gunshots, then saw people running toward an exit near his department. For a while, Mr. Arellano said he and two other men hid in the department. He said that he could hear the gunfire, but could see no one. A lot of the attention around "pandemic pets" has focused on families with children getting a cat, dog or other pet in 2020, during a time when many people were learning or working from home. But a new poll shows that older adults also got in on the trend. According to the National Poll on Healthy Aging, 10% of all people between the ages of 50 and 80 got a new pet between March 2020 and January 2021. The percentage was indeed higher - 16% -- among the people in this age range who have at least one child or teen living with them. But the vast majority of people between the ages of 50 and 80 don't live with someone under age 18 -- and nearly 9% of them also got a pet during the pandemic. All told, 59% of people age 50 to 80 who completed the poll in January 2021 are pet owners. Among those who said in January that they are pet owners, 17% had gotten at least one pet since the pandemic began. The poll did not ask if this was their first pet or an additional pet. Pet ownership was higher among those age 50 to 64, women, white respondents and those who live in single-family detached homes or are employed. Twelve percent of older adults who are employed said they got a pet since March 2020. The poll is based at the University of Michigan's Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation and receives support from AARP and Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center. The new data are an update to a previous report by the poll team, published in April 2019. That full report showed that older adults say having a pet helps them enjoy life, reduce stress, have a sense of purpose, and stick to a routine, as well as connect with other people and be physically active, especially for dog owners. Among those older adults who lived alone or were in fair or poor health when the 2019 poll was done, nearly three-quarters said the pet helped them cope with physical or emotional symptoms. Of those who live alone, the percent having a pet jumped 12 points between the sample reported in 2019 and the January 2021 sample. The role of pets as companions for older adults living alone is an important one, especially during the pandemic when many older adults stayed home because of their higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 if they caught the coronavirus. Poll director Preeti Malani, M.D., has first-hand experience with getting a "pandemic puppy" to join her family, which includes a high schooler studying at home. It's the first time they've had any type of pet. Malani notes that on the one hand, her family's new dog has demanded more attention than they might have expected - especially given that she and her husband are busy physicians working both remotely and face to face with patients. But on the other hand, walking, playing and cuddling with the dog has been a welcome distraction during troubling times. Sully has been a great addition. He makes sure we get outside every day. I've also met several other dog owners in the neighborhood." Preeti Malani, M.D., Poll Director The animal shelter nearest the University of Michigan, the Humane Society of Huron Valley, has seen record-high adoption rates in the past year, says Wendy Welch, director of communications. "We are delighted to see not just worthy animals get homes, but also to see people get much needed unconditional love as well," she says. "While grandparents have sadly been separated from hugging their grandchildren, furry friends have been okay to snuggle. It's well documented that pets can help lower our blood pressure, ease anxiety and improve symptoms of depression. And of particular interest during this isolating pandemic, companion animals certainly stave off the silent killer: loneliness. We are so thankful to the older adults who've opened up their hearts and homes to shelter animals during this time." The poll data from January come from a sample of 2,019 people, similar in size to the sample reported in the previous pet report. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Nearly 34 ha of planted forests in Quang Nam are to be cleared for the construction of the Song Tranh 4 hydropower plant. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh. Central Quang Nam Province has approved the conversion of nearly 35 hectares of forests into a hydropower plant and new urban area. Specifically, 33.7 hectares of planted forests would be cleared for the construction of the Song Tranh 4 hydropower plant, while 1.1 hectares of a mangrove palm forest in Hoi An would be converted into an urban area, the provincial People's Council said last week. The Song Tranh 4 hydropower plant project, spanning Hiep Duc and Tien Phuoc districts, was approved by the provincial People's Committee in 2010. It is projected to have a capacity of 48 MW, capable of producing around 178 kWh a year on average. The palm forest, in Cam Thanh Commune of Hoi An, would be converted into houses for the Con Tien urban area, which spans over 311,000 square meters with a total investment of VND518 billion ($22.4 million) and would have a population of around 2,000. The project was approved in 2016. Provincial authorities said the forest conversion would not affect provincial forest coverage. Quang Nam had aimed for forest coverage of 54 percent in 2020, though the current rate has surpassed 59 percent, with around 628,570 hectares in total, including 466,110 hectares of natural forests. Quang Nam, which suffered from a series of floods and landslides last year that killed at least 43 residents and incurred damage of nearly VND11 trillion ($480 million), stated in January it would suspend hydropower plant projects deemed to pose environmental threats. According to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, dam projects have made it easier for the province to access funding for related infrastructure projects like roads, schools and the supply of water and electricity, creating jobs for locals and improving their living standards. But the department admitted several hydropower plants located in mountainous areas have damaged forest land to greater or lesser extents. As of 2018, Vietnam had 385 hydropower projects in operation and another 143 under construction, according to state-owned power utility Vietnam Electricity. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Advertisement Ahmad Alissa, 21, shown in his booking photo on Tuesday after he was charged with ten counts of murder Ahmad Alissa, the 21-year-old gunman responsible for a mass shooting at a Colorado grocery store on Monday, was known to the FBI and had ranted online about 'racist islamophobes' hacking his phone. Alissa asked if he could speak with his mother after surrendering to police on Monday, having stripped off and laid down his down his Ruger AR-556 rifle, handgun and tactical vest in the supermarket's aisles. A high school wrestler who has been described by his family as 'mentally ill', was born in Syria and moved to the US when he was three. He now lives in Arvada, Colorado, around 30 miles from the grocery store he targeted. At 2.40pm on Monday, he opened fire on the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, killing ten people. He was taken into custody at 3.28pm and was transported to the hospital to be treated for a leg wound. He has since been released from the hospital and is now in Boulder County Jail. Police have not yet confirmed his motive. He has been charged with ten counts of murder. In Facebook posts over the last 18 months, he complained about not having a girlfriend, ranted about President Trump and talked about his Islamic faith. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that he was known to the FBI because he was linked to another person who has been under investigation for something else. They didn't give any more details. In July 2019, the gunman ranted about racist islamophobic people 'hacking his phone'. His motive hasn't been confirmed by police His brother confirmed he was the shooter in an interview with The Daily Beast on Tuesday, saying he was 'paranoid' and 'very antisocial'. He insisted that the shooting was not politically-motivated and said:'[It was] not at all a political statement, its mental illness. 'The guy used to get bullied a lot in high school, he was like an outgoing kid but after he went to high school and got bullied a lot, he started becoming anti-social,' he said. Another told The Denver Post that Alissa was 'violent', 'scary to be around' and once threatened to kill teammates. 'He was kind of scary to be around. His senior year, during the wrestle-offs to see who makes varsity, he actually lost his match and quit the team and yelled out in the wrestling room that he was, like, going to kill everybody. 'Nobody believed him. We were just all kind of freaked out by it, but nobody did anything about it,' Dayton Marvel said. Another, Angel Hernandez, recalled an incident where another wrestler teased him for losing and he just 'started punching him'. Alissa has been arrested at least once before including in 2017 when he punched someone who had made fun of his race. In a July 2019 Facebook post, he ranted: 'Yeah if these racist Islamophobic people would stop hacking my phone and let me have a normal life I probably could.' Scroll down for video Ahmad Alissa, the 21-year-old gunman from Monday's shooting at a Colorado grocery store. He is shown, left, wearing wrestling medals from the North American Grappling Association, in an undated Facebook photo. According to former high school friends he was a sore loser who would throw his head gear on the ground in a tantrum if he lost Alissa is shown being led out of the supermarket in handcuffs. He was fully clothed and wearing a green tactical vest inside the store but he stripped down to be arrested On Facebook, Alissa complained about not having a girlfriend. He also ranted against President Donald Trump's immigration policies Hernandez, the fellow wrestler, added: 'He would talk about him being Muslim and how if anybody tried anything, he would file a hate crime and say they were making it up. 'It was a crazy deal. I just know he was a pretty cool kid until something made him mad, and then whatever made him mad, he went over the edge way too far. 'He was always talking about (how) people were looking at him and there was no one ever where he was pointing people out. We always thought he was messing around with us or something.' His arrest affidavit, which was released on Tuesday morning, reveals that after shooting a man once in the grocery store parking lot, Alissa then approached him while he was still laying on the ground and shot him again, repeatedly. Witnesses described Alissa - who is 200lbs and 5ft 6 - as 'fat' and said he was wearing a green tactical vest. When police arrested him, he'd removed the vest, his top and his shoes, and was wearing shorts. He was shot once in the right leg in a standoff with police. Alissa's sister-in-law told police she had seen him playing with a 'machine gun' gun in the days before the shooting but that she didn't suspect anything. He bought a Ruger AR- 556 pistol exactly a week ago on March 16, 2021. Monday's shooting in Colorado is the seventh mass shooting in the country and comes just a week after a gunman killed eight people at three massage spas in Georgia. On Tuesday, President Biden gave an address to the nation about the shooting. 'He would talk about him being Muslim and how if anybody tried anything, he would file a hate crime and say they were making it up. Former wrestling teammate He said he would not 'speculate' on the shooter's motive but used the shooting to call for a ban on assault weapons across the country. 'Less than a week after the murders of eight people, while a flag was still flying half staff, another American city has been scarred by trauma. 'While we're still waiting for more information. 'I don't need to wait another minute to take common sense steps that will save lives. We can ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines in this country. We should do it again. The Senate should immediately pass the house bills that closed loopholes in the background system. 'This is not and should not be a partisan issue. 'We have to act. We should also ban assault weapons in the process. 'I'll have much more to say... but I want to be clear: those poor folks who died left behind families. We can save lives.' The shooter's brother said he was 'very anti-social', 'paranoid' and thought that people were trying to kill him in high school. He is shown in social media photos from his Facebook page that has now been taken down. His brother also said he was bullied as a teenager Mourners left flowers and tributes to Eric Talley outside the Boulder Police Department More tributes were also left outside the grocery store It's unclear why he unleashed terror on the supermarket or whether the gun he was using - described by witnesses as an AR-15 - was legally purchased. COLORADO SHOOTING VICTIMS Eric Talley Officer Eric Talley, 51 Boulder cop and father-of-seven. One of the first on the scene. He had recently changed jobs because he wanted to work away from the front line. He was given a hero's procession from the grocery store to the funeral home on Monday night. Rikki Olds, 25 Rikki Olds, 25 Olds was identified by her aunt on Facebook. She was an employee at the grocery store. Her aunt on Facebook both paid tribute to her and called for the shooter to 'burn in hell'. 'We lost our beloved Rikki Olds to the monster who shot up the king soopers in Boulder CO yesterday may his rotten a** fry and burn in hell,' her aunt Lori Olds said. Teri Leiker, 51 Teri Leiker, 51 Leiker had worked at the store for 30 years and was dating a colleague, Clint. Clint survived the shooting. Her friends paid tribute to her on Tuesday. 'She loved going to work and enjoyed everything about being there. 'Her boyfriend and her had been good friends and began dating in the fall of 2019. 'He was working yesterday too. He is alive,' her friend said on Facebook. She said Teri signed off all her calls with 'your buddy Teri' and that working in the store was her 'favorite thing to do'. . Kevin Mahoney, 61 Kevin Mahoney with his daughter Kevin's daughter Erika Mahoney revealed that her he was also among the victims. She tweeted a touching photo of Mahoney walking her down the aisle for her wedding last year, alongside the caption: 'I am heartbroken to announce that my Dad, my hero, Kevin Mahoney, was killed in the King Soopers shooting in my hometown of Boulder, CO. 'My dad represents all things Love. 'I'm so thankful he could walk me down the aisle last summer. 'Thank you to the Boulder PD for being so kind through this painful tragedy.' Denny Stong, 20 Denny Stong, 20 Friends said Stong was training to be a pilot. It's unclear if he was in the grocery store to shop, or if he was there to get his vaccine. He was the youngest victim. Lynn Murray, 62 Lynn Murray, a mother-of-two, was a retired New York City magazine photo director who had worked for Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Glamour before relocating to Colorado to raise her children. Jody Waters Her family have revealed she was at the store at the time of the shooting to fill an Instacart order. 'She was an amazing woman, probably the kindest person I've ever known,' her husband John told the New York Times. 'Our lives are ruined, our tomorrows are forever filled with a sorrow that is unimaginable. She was one of the greatest people you'd ever want to know: hard working, loving and compassionate, caring, went out of her way to make sure everyone else had a smile on their face. Tralona Bartkowiak, 49 'I just want her to be remembered as just as this amazing, amazing comet spending 62 years flying across the sky.' Tralona Bartkowiak, 49 Tralona Bartkowiak ran a small clothing and artisan store in Boulder and had recently become engaged. Suzanne Fountain, 59 Her store mainly sold yoga and festival attire. Bartkowiak had, in recent years, regularly attended festivals like Burning Man to advertise her business. Jody Waters, 65 Suzanne Fountain, 59 Suzanne Fountain was a licensed Medicare agent and financial counselor. Neven Stanisic, 23 Advertisement In his arrest affidavit, cops described how he played with the weapon in front of family. 'Alissa was seen playing with a gun she thought looked like a "machine gun" about 2 days ago. She did not believe the gun looked like the rifles she has seen in old Western movies, and that she thought it looked like a "machine gun." 'Alissa had been talking about having a bullet stuck in the gun and was playing with the gun. '{Redacted] and [redacted] were upset with Alissa for playing with the gun in the house and took the gun,' it read. Police have still not yet confirmed that he was the man who was seen being led out of the grocery store in handcuffs, bleeding from the leg, but they did say he was shot in the leg in a standoff with police. The victims have been identified as; Denny Strong, 20, Neven Stanisic, 23, Rikki Olds, 25, Suzanne Fountain, 59, Terri Licher, 51, Eric Talley, 51, Kevin Mahoney, 61, Lynn Murray, 62, and Jodie Waters, 65. Talley was a cop who recently changed jobs to work more away from the front-line. He was also a father-of-seven. Leiker had worked at the grocery store for 30 years. She was dating a colleague who survived the shooting. Officials revealed at a press conference on Tuesday morning that some of the victims were at the store to get their COVID-19 vaccine. Witnesses described him shooting two of three shots then stopping calmly before opening fire again. One survivor said he was not 'spraying'. Harrowing 911 calls reveal how officers feared he was wearing a tactical vest. They told each other to take 'head shots only' to bring him down. A picture of the gunman is also starting to emerge as friends and family share their shock. His 34-year-old brother Ali told the Beast he was 'deeply disturbed'. Others, including some who wrestled with him in high school, say he was a sore loser who sometimes threw tantrums if he lost. 'One thing I can tell you is he didnt take losing very well. 'I remember that in wrestling. 'He would throw his headgear, wouldnt talk to the coaches when he lost. 'If I remember correctly, even cussed out one of the coaches one time.' At a press conference on Tuesday morning, officials said they still did not know what the shooter's motive was. 'We will make sure that the suspect is held accountable for what he did to them yesterday,' Boulder District Attorney Michael Douhgerty said. He was eventually shot in the leg in a standoff with the cops. When police arrived at the scene, they found two victims' bodies in the parking lot. Once inside, they saw another. Authorities were heard over a loudspeaker telling Alissa to surrender before he emerged from the store in handcuffs. Shortly after learning of the incident, Colorado Gov Jared Polis said in a statement: 'My heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community. 'We are making every public safety resource available to assist the Boulder County Sheriff's Department as they work to secure the store. 'I'm incredibly grateful to the brave men and women who have responded to the scene to help the victims of this senseless tragedy.' Alissa's brother told The Beast about an incident when he was in high school and feared he was going to be killed. '[He believed] he was being chased, someone is behind him, someone is looking for him. 'When he was having lunch with my sister in a restaurant, he said, "People are in the parking lot, they are looking for me." 'She went out, and there was no one. We didnt know what was going on in his head,' he said. Boulder Mayor Sam Weaver said that 'words can do no justice to the tragedy that has unfolded this afternoon'. 'Our community will soon grieve our losses, and begin our healing. Our brave police officers and first responders have the gratitude of our entire city.' White House press secretary Jen Psaki shared Monday evening that President Joe Biden 'has been briefed on the shooting in Colorado and he will be kept up to date by his team as there are additional developments'. In Brussels, Biden's secretary of state Antony Blinken began remarks at NATO headquarters by offering his 'deepest condolences to the loved ones of those who were killed, including a law enforcement officer'. Former Rep Gabby Giffords also released a statement about the shooting on Monday, saying: 'This is an especially personal tragedy for me. 'I survived a shooting at a grocery store, in a tragedy that devastated my beloved community of Tucson. 'It's been 10 years, and countless American communities have had to face something similar. 'This is not normal, and it doesn't have to be this way. It's beyond time for our leaders to take action.' Giffords said that every victim 'had hopes, dreams and people who loved them. They are no longer with us because of preventable tragedies'. Colorado previously suffered two of the most infamous mass shootings in US history - massacres that prompted nationwide soul-searching but did not result in major changes to gun ownership laws. In 1999, two boys shot and killed 12 classmates and a teacher at Columbine High School before killing themselves. Then in 2012, a heavily armed man stormed a movie theater in Aurora, murdering 12. The gunman is now serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The city of Boulder imposed a ban on 'assault-style weapons' and large-capacity gun magazines in the wake of the Parkland, Florida shooting in 2018. But a judge last week blocked that ban, local media reported, in a decision hailed by the NRA. In a statement, the King Soopers chain offered 'thoughts, prayers and support to our associates, customers, and the first responders who so bravely responded to this tragic situation'. 'We will continue to cooperate with local law enforcement and our store will remain closed during the police investigation,' the statement reads. The gunman's family home in Arvada, Colorado, some 30 miles from the shooting. Neighbors said they were woken by the sound of police demanding that the relatives come out of the house The gunman is seen being loaded onto a stretcher after the shooting on Monday A victim is shown on the floor of the store after the shooting. Ten people were killed and survivors ran for their lives One video of the incident from YouTube shows two victims (circled) lying on the ground in the parking lot of the store Two people are seen being escorted to safety by three officers out of the store on Monday afternoon Tactical police units respond to the scene of King Soopers. The windows of the store were left broken, likely from gunfire This image is an aerial view of a procession that occurred for Officer Eric Talley who was killed in the shooting at King Soopers Firefighters salute an ambulance carrying the body of Officer Talley as it left the King Soopers grocery store Monday evening A procession of emergency vehicles left King Soopers grocery store where authorities confirmed that 10 people were shot dead The procession of emergency vehicles were seen driving through Boulder Monday night in honor of slain officer Talley A police officer salutes as a procession carrying the body of a fellow officer leaves King Sooper's grocery store Monday night Law enforcement personnel salutes as the motorcade carrying Talley exits the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder King Soopers employees are led away from an active shooter at the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, U.S Healthcare workers walk out of a King Sooper's Grocery store after a gunman opened fire on March 22, 2021 in Boulder Safety officials gather near the Boulder King Soopers grocery store after a shooting that killed multiple people in Boulder Police guard people evacuated after a call of an active shooter at the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, U.S. March 22. 2021 Police officers outside of the Boulder King Soopers grocery store after a shooting that killed multiple people in Boulder SWAT teams advance through a parking lot as a gunman opened fire at a King Sooper's grocery store on March 22, 2021 in Boulder, Colorado. Ten people, including a police officer, were killed in the attack Shoppers are escorted out of a King Soopers grocery where a gunman opened fire on Monday Sarah Moonshadow is comforted by David and Maggie Talley after Moonshadow was inside King Soopers grocery store during a shooting in Boulder on Monday Sarah Moonshadow and her son Nick stand outside the crime scene after being inside Kingsoopers during the shooting A law enforcement officer speaks with a woman outside the perimeter of a shooting site at King Soopers grocery store in Boulder on Monday Heavily-armed officers are seen standing outside the store on Monday afternoon Law enforcement vehicles line up at the perimeter of a shooting site at the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder Boulder (depicted) is located about 25 miles northwest of Denver Harrowing emergency radio obtained by the Colorado Sun revealed some of the initial moments as Officer Talley arrived to the scene. 'Shooter is inside!' an officer frantically called out from inside the store. 'He just shot at us twice.' A few seconds later someone says over the radio: 'Officer down inside the building!' As the incident unfolded, officers from the Boulder Police Department warned locals to 'avoid the area'. One person was taken from the shooting scene to Foothills Hospital in Boulder, said Rich Sheehan, spokesman for Boulder Community Health, which operates the hospital. However, they did not release the condition of the patient. One video of the incident from YouTube shows two victims lying on the ground in the parking lot of the store. At least one victim is seen lying on the floor inside the store just moments before more gunshots are heard. Local reports say one victim is a police officer. Television helicopter video showed law enforcement vehicles and officers massing outside, including SWAT teams, and at least three helicopters on the roof of the store in Boulder, about 25 miles northwest of Denver. Women hug on the corner of Broadway and Table Mesa Drive near a King Soopers grocery store following the shooting Healthcare workers, who were administering COVID vaccinations at the store's pharmacy, and shoppers are tended to after being evacuated from the store Officers from the Boulder Police Department are seen standing outside the grocery store on Monday SWAT teams descend from the roof of a King Soopers grocery store after the shooting Police use firefighting equipment to enter a King Sooper's grocery store where a gunman opened fire on Monday A SWAT team member runs toward the King Soopers grocery store where a gunman opened fire on Monday in Boulder Police stand outside the King Soopers grocery store where the deadly shooting took place on Monday afternoon Officers are seen on an armored truck as it approaches the scene of the shooting on Monday Law enforcement officers sweep the parking lot at the site of a shooting on Monday An armored vehicle is seen parked outside the supermarket on Monday Law enforcement officers sweep the area outside of the King Soopers grocery store Investigators are seen wearing protective gear as they walk inside the supermarket on Monday Officers and EMTs are seen standing outside the grocery store where the incident occurred 'My dad, my hero, he represents all things love': Father, 61, who walked his daughter down the aisle last summer, three grocery store workers and ex-magazine photo director are among 10 killed in Boulder grocery store massacre A 61-year-old father who walked his journalist daughter down the aisle last year, three store workers and a retired magazine photo director are among the 10 victims who were gunned down in the Boulder grocery store massacre. The victims were shot dead at the King Soopers outlet in Boulder on Monday afternoon when the gunman, since identified by police as 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, opened fire. Those killed include: Rikki Olds, 25, Teri Leiker, 51, Denny Stong, 20, Neven Stanisic, 23, Tralona Bartkowiak, 49, Suzanne Fountain, 59, Kevin Mahoney, 61, Lynn Murray, 62, and Jody Waters, 65. Kevin Mahoney's journalist daughter Erika tweeted a touching photo of him walking her down the aisle for her wedding last year as she paid tribute to him. He is among the 10 people shot dead in the Boulder grocery store massacre on Monday Boulder Police officer Eric Talley, 51, was also among those killed after he responded to the shooting. California-based reporter Erika Mahoney posted a touching tribute to her father Kevin as she revealed he was among the victims of the massacre. 'I am heartbroken to announce that my Dad, my hero, Kevin Mahoney, was killed in the King Soopers shooting in my hometown of Boulder, CO,' she wrote alongside photo of him walking her down the aisle at her wedding last year in May. 'My dad represents all things Love. I'm so thankful he could walk me down the aisle last summer. I am now pregnant. I know he wants me to be strong for his granddaughter. Thank you to the Boulder PD for being so kind through this painful tragedy.' Lynn Murray, a mother-of-two, was a retired New York City magazine photo director who had worked for Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Glamour before relocating to Colorado to raise her children. The family of Rikki Olds confirmed that she was among the 10 people killed at a King Soopers outlet in Boulder on Monday afternoon when the gunman opened fire Her family have revealed she was at the store at the time of the shooting to fill an Instacart order. 'She was an amazing woman, probably the kindest person I've ever known,' her husband John told the New York Times. Suzanne Fountain was a licensed Medicare agent and financial counselor 'Our lives are ruined, our tomorrows are forever filled with a sorrow that is unimaginable. She was one of the greatest people you'd ever want to know: hard working, loving and compassionate, caring, went out of her way to make sure everyone else had a smile on their face. 'I just want her to be remembered as just as this amazing, amazing comet spending 62 years flying across the sky.' Rikki Olds, who worked at the store as an assistant front-end manager throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, had been employed there since graduating high school. She was raised by her grandmother after her mother abandoned her and her siblings as a young child. Olds hadn't seen her grandmother in person until recently given the young woman was a frontline worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. They saw each other again only after Olds' grandmother was vaccinated. The young woman's family shared several tributes on social media as the grieving relatives called for the gunman to 'burn in hell'. 'We lost our beloved Rikki Olds to the monster who shot up the king soopers in Boulder CO yesterday may his rotten a** fry and burn in hell,' her aunt Lori Olds said. Teri Leiker, whose boyfriend also worked at the store but survived, had worked there for 30 years. Leiker's friend, Lexi Knutson, said the veteran employee loved working at the store. Jody Waters, 65, (left) and Tralona Bartkowiak, 49, (right) were among those gunned down inside the store Denny Stong, 20, Boulder Police officer Eric Talley, 51, and Neven Stanisic, 23, were also shot dead in the massacre 'She loved going to work and enjoyed everything about being there,' Knutson told Reuters. 'Her boyfriend and her had been good friends and began dating in the fall of 2019. He was working yesterday too. He is alive.' Knuston said she believed Leiker's job had come through a special needs work program. Friends said Denny Stong, who was the youngest victim, was training to be a pilot. He also worked at the store where the shooting unfolded. His Facebook profile photo has the caption: 'I can't stay home. I am a grocery store worker' in reference to the COVID-19 pandemic. 'My heart breaks. My son's best friend, Denny Stong was killed at the Boulder King Soopers yesterday. He was 21 and was training to become a pilot,' Laura Cole Spicer wrote in a Facebook tribute. Tralona Bartkowiak ran a small clothing and artisan store in Boulder and had recently become engaged. Her store mainly sold yoga and festival attire. Bartkowiak had, in recent years, regularly attended festivals like Burning Man to advertise her business. Jody Walters, a mother-of-two and grandmother, described herself as a 'creative entrepreneur'. Suzanne Fountain was a licensed Medicare agent and financial counselor. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 Three-month-old babies should be taught about implicit bias and racial stereotypes, according to a series of experts quoted in The Washington Post. In a much-mocked article last week, entitled 'Social justice for toddlers', parents were given a list of books, websites, YouTube channels and companies offering 'woke' material for babies and young children. 'Children develop implicit bias as early as three months old, and at four years old are categorizing and developing stereotypes,' one expert told author Natalie Jesionka, a Dalla Lana Global Journalism Fellow at the University of Toronto. Another recommended that 'ensuring children have authentic connections to people from different backgrounds is likely to reduce bias'. Jesionka wrote: 'In the era of Black Lives Matter and #MeToo, many parents are wondering when the right time is to talk to their children about social justice. 'Experts say it's never too early, and a new wave of tools and resources can help start the conversation.' The Washington Post author recommended the popular book, Antiracist Baby 'Woke Baby' is another book recommended by The Washington Post author Jesionka also highlighted the work of Canadian drag queens Fay and Fluffy She highlighted books such as Woke Baby and Antiracist Baby - whose cover features a black child protesting with its father, fist raised. Jesionka spoke to Nicole Stamp, a Toronto-based children's TV writer who co-founded ByUs Box - a company which sold a limited run of boxes of toys, books and learning materials 'to dismantle bias'. ByUs Box's offerings included a 'Gender-Expansive Box', a 'LGBT2SQ+ Box' and an 'Indigenous Box', all containing activities, magazines, toys and games, priced at $89 CA ($70). She also highlighted the work of Canadian drag performance duo Fay and Fluffy, who read books and sing songs for their young audiences. Fay Slift, the alter ego of John Paul Kane, and Fluffy Souffle, also known as Kaleb Robertson, have performed across the country and have a popular streaming series. Parents in Philadelphia, meanwhile, could take their children to Mister John's Music - classes organized by John Francisco. Mister John's Music (pictured) teaches children about 'teamwork, sharing and empathy' The Antiracism Academy was set up to provide learning materials for concerned parents 'Through music, rhythm and movement, infants and toddlers learn about self-expression, teamwork, sharing, and empathy. All in a magical environment full of surprises and set to your favorite tunes from your favorite artists,' he writes on his website. Now held online, Francisco's classes mix popular music with educational themes, holding up a colored ball and asking the toddlers: 'Is pink a boy or a girl?' He told them: 'Remember, kids, a color is not a boy or a girl, a color is just a color.' Finally, parents are directed to the Antiracism Academy, run by Brandee Blocker Anderson, a former corporate lawyer. She set up the site to promote anti-racism learning materials. 'There is an opportunity to reach adults and children who want to do better,' she told Jesionka. 'We can give kids the language they need to respond in meaningful ways about race. We are at a point in history where there is a critical mass of people who get it.' Jesionka's article, published on March 18, immediately attracted attention online. 'Can we just teach children to walk, talk, play before we start hoisting our guilt and neuroses on them?' asked one critic. Another replied: 'Can't wait to see the fallout from an entire generation of toddlers who've grown up to hate themselves for the way they were born and have been taught to accept the blame for things their forebears, did as though they carried the sins of Adam on their souls.' 'Indoctrination is wrong, WaPo,' said one man. 'This conversation is one that divides us. Universal identity is what should be centered. Not race. Not gender.' Another remarked: 'This generation of kids is going to need decades of therapy after going through this CRT bulls***. 'One half of them will just crumble under the white guilt pushed into them and turn into fragile ghosts barely resembling human beings. The other half will just get radicalized.' Another concluded: 'This is messed up.' Curry, Lacy vie for Humble City Council Place 1 Humble city voters have two significant decisions to make on May 1 that will shape their city for at least the next two years. Who will be the new mayor? Who will fill Place 1 and Place 2 on the Humble City Council? Norman Funderburk and Arliss Ann Bentley have filed for mayor. Incumbent Charles Andy Curry and Eric Lacy filed for Place 1. Linda Greenan and incumbent Charles Cunningham filed for Place 2 on the Humble City Council. The election is set for May 1. There are six places on the Humble City Council, each serving two-year terms with no term limits. The current council includes Mayor Merle Aaron who is not seeking election, Curry and Cunningham who are both seeking reelection, and Paula Settle, David Ray Pierce and Bruce Davidson who are not up for reelection. - First of three articles featuring Humble City Council candidates - Place 1 Charles Andy Curry Known as Andy, Charles Andy Curry moved with his family to Humble in 1952. He is a 1964 graduate of the original Charles Bender High School. After serving four years in the United States Air Force, Curry earned his bachelors and masters degrees in business administration with a major in accounting and minor in computer science, both from Texas State University. Curry retired from the Humble Independent School District after 28 years serving in the business and computer services departments. He currently provides contract computer programming and database management for several school districts. Andy and wife, Naomi, have been married for almost 30 years. They have four children, 11 grandchildren and two great grandsons. When he is not at City Hall, Curry enjoys antiquing and traveling. They look forward to resuming cruising soon. Do you/have you attended City Council meetings in the past? I was first elected to the city council in 1999 and served until 2011. After a two-year absence, I ran again in 2013 and have served on the council ever since. How/why did you become interested in this position? Having been a resident of Humble most of my life, I have enjoyed seeing the city grow from a small town to a small city. We have great potential, and I wanted to be active in the growth of my city. When I heard there was going to be a vacant cposition on the Council, I decided to run. Is there someone/role model you look up to? I have great respect for the past three mayors, Haden E. McKay Jr., Wilson Archer and Donnie McMannes, and the current mayor, Merle Aaron, for the time and dedication they have devoted to the city. Their leadership made Humble the city that it is today. They inspire me to continue their legacy. Name one good thing about living in Humble. I can name two. We have got a small-town atmosphere that I love and we know how to take care of our seniors. Name your top priorities. Maintaining our police, fire, and EMS departments, ensuring that they have the necessary supplies and support they need. Continue working on our storm drainage and infrastructure that our citizens expect. What qualifications do you bring to this position? In my 28 years with Humble ISD, I gained valuable experience working with the budget and financial operations of a governmental entity. Now, having served the citizens of Humble for 18 years, I have extensive knowledge in the financial and budgetary functions of Humble. What has prepared you for this position? My past work experience and education along with my experience on the council have given me a unique view of what our city requires. Eric Lacy Eric Lacy has lived in the Humble area since 2004. He earned a bachelors degree from Houston Baptist University and is a certified John Maxwell Leadership trainer. His work career has centered on service to children, spending13 years as a public school teacher and currently is founder and owner of True Love Childcare in Humble and founder and pastor of True Love Church. Lacy is a past president of Humble High School Parent Teacher Student Association, board member of the Aldine-Greenspoint YMCA, member of LOVING Houston, an ambassador for Partnership Lake Houston, graduate of Leadership Lake Houston Class 6, member of Humble United Church and a member of the leadership team for the Union Baptist Association of Houston. He and wife, Chantine, have been married for more than 20 years. They have four children and five grandchildren. His favorite nonwork activity is going to church Sundays at True Love Christian Church and bicycle riding with his family. Do you/have you attended City Council meetings in the past? I have attended meetings in the past year and have led the prayer before the meeting. How/why did you become interested in this position? I have several reasons but two are first, having served around Humble for a few years, I noticed last year that a need existed to bring people together, so we sponsored a Unity Walk with at least 15 local churches represented. Second, I want bring resolution to the flooding issue in Humble as my home was close to being flooded. John Maxwell says everything rises and falls on leadership and I am looking to help Humble rise. Is there someone/role model you look up to? I have several people that I look up to and hold in high regard but the one who means most to me is Jesus. My life is lived to model his sacrifice for me. My father, Pastor Donald Lacy, is my number one role model. His model of loving his family and the people around him has shaped who I am today. Name one good thing about living in Humble. I grew up in the small town of Palestine, Texas, so I value the small town feel of Humble. I love the friendly people who have become like family to me. It is a great place to call home. Name something you would like to change in Humble. I would love to see the city have more community support and become a small city that models opportunity. Opportunities to allow local small businesses to thrive in the city again. Small businesses (aka mom and pop shops) are the bedrock to a balanced and growing community. Name your top priorities. 1. Bring people together by inviting citizens to play an active role in city government. I would love to add a diversity committee. 2. Ensure the flooding issues are taken care of so we do not have to go through another Hurricane Harvey incident. 3. Grow our local economy by working with other council members to create an inviting local economy. What qualifications do you bring to this position? I am a visionary working hard to make the future a reality today. As a pastor, I work with all types of people from all walks of life. That pastoral experience will allow me to hear and deliver the desires of the people of Humble. I am a doer. During Harvey I drove displaced people to shelters. During the freeze, I got people together to feed displaced people as well as helped them get hotel rooms. Currently I am working to feed people every day at the Township Apartments in Humble. My biggest gift to the city is I am a leader who looks for solutions and works tirelessly to implement them. What has prepared you for this position? I have 30 years of serving people professionally, having served in leadership positions for some time. I restarted the current PTSA at Humble High. I am a local entrepreneur as owner of True Love Childcare in Humble and founder of True Love Christian Church of Humble. All these positions trained me well in identifying problems and looking for solutions. ------------- Early voting is Monday, April 19 through Tuesday April 27, and Election Day is Saturday, May 1, at the Humble Civic Center. Additional early voting centers are open throughout Harris County. For a complete list, see harrisvotes.com. The last day to register to vote is April 1. To find out if you are registered to vote, votetexas.gov. Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump, attends the Women for America First Summit, at Trump International Hotel in Washington on Oct. 5 (Jan Jekielek/The Epoch Times) Blaming Trump for Border Crisis Is Ridiculous: Lara Trump Blaming former President Donald Trump for the current border crisis is ridiculous, according to Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of the former President. How absolutely ridiculous, Lara Trump told Fox News on Monday night. Donald Trump was the first person to finally call outremember whenever he announced he was running for presidentthis problem. No one had addressed it for so long, and Donald Trump actually did. President Trump promised he would build a wall and make Mexico pay for it when he announced to run for the presidency on June 16, 2015. Its estimated that Trump had built about 450 miles of wall before he left office. Trumps immigration policies, especially the Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP) program, have been touted as the most effective measures to deter illegal border crossings and meritless asylum claims. But President Joe Biden rescinded a series of Trump-era policies starting on Jan. 20, including the MPP. Under Donald Trump, we had the most secure borders we had in America in decades, Lara Trump continued. So for anyone to suggest that this was caused by Donald Trump is absolutely ridiculous. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and other prominent Democrats such as Speaker Nancy Pelosi notably blamed Trump recently for the massive surge of illegal immigrants at the southern border. 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, Mayorkas said on Sunday. Pelosi claimed on Mar. 14 that the humanitarian challenge at the border was because the Biden Administration inherited a broken system. Ill tell you who caused it: Joe Biden, Lara Trump said, pointing out that Biden promised to open borders during his campaign trail. We immediately surge to the borderall those people are seeking asylum, they deserve to be heard. Thats who we are. Were a nation who says if you want to flee, and youre fleeing oppression, you should come, Biden said in the Democratic presidential debate in September 2019. 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). A temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas, as seen in a photo released by Customs and Border Protection on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (CBP) The Biden Administration has refused to call the spike a crisis, only acknowledging it as a big problem or an enormous challenge. Lara Trump also criticized the media focused on Melania Trumps jacket instead of the visit itself when she visited the border in June 2018. The former First Lady visited the border wearing a jacket emblazoned with the words I really dont care, do you? Thats how they covered our family. Thats how they covered the Trump administration, Trump added. They never wanted to actually focus on the positive work that was being done. They only wanted to distract with these ridiculous stories. U.S. First Lady Melania Trump departs Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on June 21, 2018, following her surprise visit with child migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Lara Trump pointed out that Biden hasnt visited the border since he was elected. Biden said on Sunday that he would visit the U.S. southern border at some point. Lara Trump also admitted shes considering running for Senator, but its a big decision and a lot to decide. I think that I got a pretty good sense of what I would be in for if I did decide to run for that seat, Lara Trump said. Jack Phillips and Janita Kan contributed to this report. No one was ticketed by Brandon police after a Saturday rally in opposition to current health restrictions brought approximately 40 people to Brandon City Hall. Advertisement Advertise With Us No one was ticketed by Brandon police after a Saturday rally in opposition to current health restrictions brought approximately 40 people to Brandon City Hall. The rally was to protest current health regulations put in place to stem the spread of COVID-19, which has resulted in the death of a total of 928 people in Manitoba since March 2020. Protesters told the Sun on Saturday they believed masks were not necessary and disagree with rules implemented at the provincial and federal levels. Brandon police public information officer Sgt. Kirby Sararas said officers werent called to the protest and didnt issue any tickets for violating current health orders. Current provincial regulations limit outdoor group gatherings to 10 people. Sararas said the police service did get a "heads up" there would be a protest, but no official notice from organizers. The Brandon Police Service didnt receive any calls complaining of the rally either, so officers werent sent. "If people at (Brandon City Hall) had no reason to call us, we just had no record of it," she said. The Sun sent questions to Manitoba Health asking if the province issued any tickets at the weekend event but did not receive a response by press time. One protester said she hoped to see another similar protest take place in Brandon next month. dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ BOULDER, Colo. (AP) Police have identified a 21-year-old man as the suspect in the killing of 10 people at a Boulder, Colorado, supermarket. He was identified as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa of Arvada, Colorado and a prosecutor says he lived most of his life in the U.S. Eric Talley - Boulder Police Officer was shot and killed in the King Soopers Mass Shooting, Photo Date: Undated Eric Talley - Boulder Police Officer was shot and killed in the King Soopers Mass Shooting, Photo Date: Undated Authorities on Tuesday also identified nine victims after previously identifying a police officer who had been killed. The victims were men and women between the ages of 20 and 65. The shooting Monday at the supermarket sent terrorized shoppers and workers scrambling for safety. Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said Officer Eric Talley was killed when police engaged in a shootout with the suspect. Video - Ten dead in Colorado shooting US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Tuesday discussed China's trade practices in calls with Japanese ministers, as President Joe Biden weighs how to handle trade relations with Beijing. Tai, who was confirmed as Biden's trade negotiator last week, "shared concerns about unfair trading practices from non-market economies, such as China," according to readouts of the calls with Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Kajiyama Hiroshi and Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu. The United States and China in January 2020 signed an accord that cooled tensions after a bruising battle initiated by former president Donald Trump that saw tariffs imposed by both sides. Biden has said he won't immediately change Trump's trade policies, and in her confirmation hearings, Tai said she supported a "holistic review on China" and Washington's strategy with Beijing. She also signaled her openness to using tariffs, adding that the Biden administration may keep in place steep levies Trump imposed against steel and aluminum imports. cs/ft In this Mach 17 file photo, a South Korean army's K1A2 tank moves during a military exercise in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea. AP Arming South Korea with its own nuclear weapons against threats from North Korea would only help justify the North's ongoing pursuit of nuclear weapons, and thus making it impossible to denuclearize the North, a former commander of U.S. Forces Korea said Monday. Vincent Brooks argued the U.S. must instead periodically reaffirm its commitment to the joint defense of South Korea and strengthen its extended nuclear deterrence for South Korea. "My opinion is that the provision of nuclear weapons in South Korea would not be helpful," Brooks said when asked if South Korea should have its own nuclear weapons. "I think that it would further solidify North Korea's lock in on their nuclear weapons, which stays reticent to yield in the first place, to give up in the first place. How do you then resolve the fact that South Korea has them and that South Korea was allowed to have them?" he told a webinar hosted by Washington-based think tank, the Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS). The former Army four-star general also argued South Korea's nuclear armament would raise a number of questions from neighboring Japan and China that will only create a "more tangled Gordian knot for South Korea than it may anticipate." Some South Koreans, as well as Americans, have occasionally voiced a need for South Korea to have its own defense capabilities to counter North Korea's seemingly growing asymmetrical weapons. Pyongyang has so far staged six nuclear tests. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) argues that discussing the possibility of nuclearizing South Korea may force China to finally exert its influence over North Korea to denuclearize the North. "The thing that scares the PRC, that keeps them awake at night, is a nuclear Japan or a nuclear South Korea," Chabot said in a webinar last week, referring to China by its official name, the People's Republic of China. Brooks stressed the need for Washington to continuously reaffirm its defense commitment, as well as its extended nuclear deterrence, to South Korea. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) A South Carolina senator has a proposal to make sure no federal law can ever seize guns make everyone over 17 who can legally own a gun a member of a militia. South Carolina's constitution allows the governor to call up an unorganized militia" of any able bodied male citizens between ages 18 and 45. State Sen. Tom Corbin's proposal would automatically expand membership to everyone who is over 17 and could own a gun. Supporters of the bill said if everyone is a member of a militia, then they all fall under the opening clause of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that starts A well regulated Militia." That way a federal law restricting weapons would not apply in South Carolina since almost all residents would be in the unorganized militia. That would prevent the federal government from ever confiscating any of your weapons. Because at the end of the day, the federal government cannot disarm a standing army," said Corbin, a Republican from Travelers Rest. No one showed up to speak about the bill at a Tuesday Senate subcommittee meeting and the meeting was not streamed on the internet like many of them during the pandemic. The subcommittee approved the bill 2-1 on party lines. It will move on the a full committee meeting Wednesday. Tuesdays meeting was scheduled before the shootings Monday at a Colorado grocery store that killed 10 people. Democratic Sen. Kevin Johnson reminded fellow senators of that mass killing and another the previous week where eight people were shot to death at three massage businesses in the Atlanta area. Johnson said he supports gun rights and he, his wife and three children all have concealed weapons permits, but the bill seemed like a solution seeking a problem. Yall, this country is crazy. We have homegrown terrorists. Im sure those folks who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 probably felt they were members of some type of militia," said Johnson from Manning. Story continues The proposal would allow unorganized militia members to carry any weapons legally allowed at the end of 2020. Anyone who does not want to be a member of the militia could resign and resume his civilian status, according to the bill. The unorganized militia is long in history and short in use in South Carolina's 245 years. The state constitution created it. State law allows the governor to call it up in the event of or imminent danger of war, insurrection, rebellion, invasion, tumult, riot, resistance to law or process or breach of the peace" if the regular National Guard cannot handle the threat. Evidence of a governor calling up anyone to arms is sparse in South Carolina's history. Corbin had to go back to the Revolutionary War and a revered South Carolina military officer. Not since Francis Marion and the Swamp Fox shooting at the British," Corbin said. Corbin first introduced this bill in 2013 on the same day then-President Barack Obama proposed a ban on some assault rifles that did not pass. He said it was no coincidence he proposed it again in 2021 after another Democrat, President Joe Biden, took office. With a Republican administration in control in Washington, I didn't fear any gun confiscation," Corbin said. Johnson noted for more than a decade, Republicans have been stoking fears that Democratic presidents would take away guns and nothing has happened. I would like to see if we have any type of documentation or evidence where the federal government is coming into people's homes. I keep hearing that but I just don't see any indication," Johnson said. "Most of the folks that I know respect people's right to bear arms. ___ Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP. COLLINSVILLE U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, toured the Madison County Health Departments COVID-19 vaccination center in Collinsville Monday morning. He also encouraged people to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Go get the shot; dont wait, he said. The more folks we have here at clinics like this, the more were going to be able to get to that next step of what we used to know as normal about a year ago. Almost 2,100 people were expected to go through the facility on Monday, getting their second shot of the Moderna vaccine. I was seeing for myself the wonderful operation that the county health department has put together along with our brave men and women of the national guard here in Illinois, Davis said after a 20-minute tour. To see the thousands of people coming through to get the vaccine for a disease we didnt even know existed on earth a year and a half ago it just shows you that when everybody in American works together were able to succeed, and were going to beat this virus. The convention center is being used as one of two major vaccination clinics in Madison County, the other being at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey. In addition, the county health department has coordinated with hospitals, long-term care facilities and others for additional vaccinations as well as offering mobile clinics. So far about 102,000 doses of vaccine have been given out. Because two of the three current vaccines available require two shots, a total of about 45,000 of the estimated 200,000 people that need to be fully vaccinated have been, according to Amy Yeager, director of community health and public information officer for the Madison County Health Department. Its still going to take a while to get through, she said. Weve been giving out vaccines since Dec. 18 in Madison County. We still have about 150,000 to go, she said. Its going to take some months. The health department has been using Gateway Convention Center since Jan. 14. Since Feb. 23 the Illinois National Guard and Air National Guard have been providing logistical support. The site can now provide up to about 2,300 shots per day, according to Staff Sgt. Collin Cummings, the non-commissioned officer in charge for Madison Countys operations. Davis said he had also been to vaccination centers in Macoupin County and Decatur, but Gateway Center was the largest, and most organized, he had seen. Well staffed, good planning, he said. He also noted the Madison County Health Department has 37 full-time employees and the National Guard has been a big boost to the operation. Imagine them trying to do it on their own, Davis said. Go get the vaccine, he said at several points while talking to reporters. Weve seen theyre safe and thousands upon thousands a day are being administered right now. Dont believe the anti-vaxxers, or what I call the political anti-vaxxers, because they want to put a political litmus test on the vaccine, he said. Davis said he was glad to be able to get out and visit places such as Gateway and to be able to get out in general. To be able to get back out in the community is really a highlight for me, and really just shows you again what America can accomplish when we all work together, he said. Were learning so much more about this disease. Now we have a year and a few months of statistical data. We can use data, we can use science, to determine whether its much safer to open, he said. At the beginning of this pandemic there was a lot of conflicting advice. I cant wait to get to the day when I can get rid of this mask, he said. The more people get vaccinated, the closer that day will get. For more information or to make an appointment, residents can go through the appointments available link on the Madison County Health Department webpage, www.madisonchd.org, or call 618-650-8445 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information or COVID-related resources, visit www.madisonchd.org, https://cronavirus-respons-madcoil.hub.arcgis.com/, https://www.co.madison.il.us/departments/health/corona virus.PP, on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MadisonCHD, Twitter @MadisonCHD or Instagram at madisoncountyhealth. 2020 completely belonged to digital or technology and small cap space. In the absence of face to face meetings, technology made it possible to work from home, study from home 392 equity mutual fund schemes which have completed at least one year of existence delivered whopping returns of 69 per cent on an average We often hear about multi-bagger stocks but seldom do we see multi-bagger mutual funds. 19 equity mutual fund schemes delivered over 100 per cent returns in the last one year. Quant Small Cap Fund offered the highest returns of 168 per cent among the equity schemes, followed by ICICI Prudential Technology Fund which gave 142 per cent and ICICI Prudential Commodities Fund (138 per cent) in the same time period. We did not exclude the sectoral schemes from the analysis as 2020 remained an unusual year with humongous growth seen in a few sectors amid the pandemic. Equity market which had seen historic low exactly an year ago bounced back to perform like never before. "Markets were largely driven by the liquidity infused by the government in ways like announcing stimulus packages to increase purchasing power of a common man. Even central bank participated by infusing huge money flow in the system by cutting down the bank rates multiple times within a very short span in expectation to wake up the credit demand," says Palka Chopra, Senior Vice President, Master Capital Services. Corporates were not left behind. "They have shown their participation which is reflected in their quarterly earnings which has ultimately made India the most favourite investment destination for the world," Chopra adds. The same can be witnessed in tremendous inflow of foreign investments. Also read: Ask Money Today: How much wealth can I create by investing Rs 5,000 per month? 2020 completely belonged to digital or technology and small cap space. In the absence of face to face meetings, technology made it possible to work from home, study from home. Meetings over various video apps like zoom, webex etc. made interaction possible. The surge in use of technology obviously gave a boom to the tech sector stocks. "Due to pandemic, with the work from home culture taking shape there was a surge in demand for digital services such as cloud computing. This put the sector as a whole under spotlight due to which most of the listed IT names gained momentum," says Sankaran Naren, CIO ICICI Prudential AMC. S Naren manages ICICI Prudential Technology Fund, the biggest and the best performing scheme in one-year period in the technology sector category. The fund manages assets worth Rs 1,580 crore. He says, "The portfolio of ICICI Prudential Technology Fund was largely geared with technology names from the mid and small cap space, which aided in the fund's outperformance. Apart from a few sectoral winners, small caps stole the limelight as well. Small cap funds on an average have delivered 94 per cent returns in the last one year. Out of 24 small cap schemes, five gave triple digit returns in the last one year. "The pandemic led to a rally in Indian equity markets, particularly in small caps due to cheap market valuations around March 2020, money pumped by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) and increased retail participation along with a series of stimulus packages and reforms to boost consumer demand," says Chopra. Also read: Ask Money Today: which are the best mutual funds to invest Rs 2,000 per month? Also, 392 equity mutual fund schemes which have completed at least one year of existence delivered whopping returns of 69 per cent on an average. But are these returns normal? Should you invest in these schemes or sectors on the basis of past performance? Mutual fund analysts suggest investors to focus on their investment goals, risk appetite, time horizon instead. "As someone rightly said, past returns are not yours if you were not invested. Investors should never invest basis just looking at past returns. Instead investors need to have a clear mindset of focusing on their own investment goals, risk return objectives and time horizon, which drives the overall asset allocation in their portfolios," says Kaustubh Belapurkar, Director - Manager Research, Morningstar India. S Naren believes when it comes to sector funds, investors should be mindful that the risk profile of the fund is greater than that of a diversified equity fund. But sophisticated investors who understand the risk involved may invest in tech funds with a two to three-year perspective. Timing the entry and exit in a sector fund is crucial. He says, "This is because digital as a theme is likely to fuel growth in the near term which is a positive for the sector. In terms of ICICI Prudential Technology Fund, we invest largely in high quality companies, with an aim to provide steady returns from a medium term perspective." Also read: Only 13% of MF industry AUM managed by women, but outperform category average In last 7-8 years, the IT sector CAGR has been 15-17% per annum, but fraught with ups and downs, which were largely stock specific in nature. Those looking to invest in small cap funds must have a comparative longer term horizon. "Have a clear investment time horizon of 7-10 years minimum. Be mentally prepared to witness significant drawdown in fund values over the short term. And do not anchor your expectations basis the short term returns that the funds have delivered," says Kaustubh Belapurkar. Equity is a long term investment and will go through bull and bear phases. Kaustubh Belapurkar explains that short term returns can look poor or very attractive as that is the nature of the beast. What is important for investors is to invest with a long term investment horizon in mind, keeping a prudent asset allocation and rebalancing portfolios when markets run up or correct sharply. "Equities is a great long-term investing option. Continue to stay invested for the intended investment period to truly reap the benefits of equity investing," says Belapurkar. Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 47 Master's in Computer Forensics Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 153 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 153 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 47 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school. Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Master's in Computer Forensics Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-masters-in-computer-forensics-degree-programs/ 2021 Master's in Computer Forensics Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order): Albany Law School Bellevue University Boston University Capella University Capitol Technology University Champlain College Colorado State University, Global Campus Colorado Technical University Dakota State University Davenport University DePaul University DeSales University Drexel University George Mason University George Washington University Illinois Institute of Technology James Madison University John Jay College of Criminal Justice Johns Hopkins University Lewis University National University Norwich University Nova Southeastern University Pennsylvania State University Purdue University Regent University Regis University Robert Morris University Saint Leo University Sam Houston State University Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia Southern Utah University Stevenson University Stratford University Syracuse University University of Arizona University of Central Florida University of Dallas University of Detroit Mercy University of Maryland Global Campus University of Rhode Island University of San Diego University of South Florida University of the Cumberlands Utica College Valparaiso University Western Governors University About Intelligent.com Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/. The on Tuesday alleged that economic inequality in the society has been increasing under the NDA government, a charge refuted by the BJP, which said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been sincerely working for the welfare of the poor. Initiating the debate on the Finance Bill, 2021, member Amar Singh said the economic situation in the country is deteriorating and charged that 73 per cent of the country's wealth is going to just 1 per cent of the population. "Inequality is increasing very fast," he said. Singh said except agriculture, all sectors have been suffering due to "wrong" policies adopted by the central government. He said if the central government does a sample survey of the unorganised sector, which contributes 45 to 50 per cent to the economy and provides employment to a similar number of people, it will find that the sector is the worst sufferer. Singh charged that the government has given tax relief only to the rich whereas the common people have been suffering because of the price rise of essential commodities and petroleum products. The member claimed that allocation to the health and agriculture sectors has reduced which will create problems for the poor. He also demanded that the three agricultural laws should be withdrawn as demanded by the agitating farmers. member Rajendra Agrawal said the BJP-led government has been working relentlessly for the welfare of the poor, deprived, backward and women. "Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed charge in 2014, he has been working for the all round development of the poor and downtrodden without taking any break," he said. Agrawal said the three agricultural acts enacted last year have been been beneficial for farmers and many peasants have already benefitted from them. He also blamed the Congress and Left parties for the poor condition of the country's agriculture and industrial sectors. The member charged the Congress cannot go beyond the prism of votes bank politics and when in power, carried out development where it would get votes. (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.) If he remains intransigent, he could be ordered to jail until he complies. That sort of power could unearth protest planning documents, emails among participants and witness testimony about exactly how the president reacted when he watched the Jan. 6 mob surging through the halls of Congress. Trump would have to raise his right hand and swear to tell the truth about what he knew and when he knew it concerning both the Capitol attack and his false claims of election fraud. Criminal evidence is sometimes turned up in civil discovery. And perjury could get the former president into deeper hot water. First, however, Swalwell and Thompsons lawsuits have to overcome hurdles that could get them tossed before discovery begins. One obstacle is whats called standing. In the last 35 years or so, the U.S. Supreme Court, at the instigation of conservative justices beginning with Justice Antonin Scalia, has honed and strictly policed the doctrine of standing. Swalwell and Thompson may not sue Trump, let alone get anything out of him, just because they believe he lied or incited rioters. They must show what the court calls a concrete, particularized injury in fact. KALAMAZOO, MI Municipalities in Kalamazoo County will receive a total of more than $110 million in stimulus grants, according to estimates from the U.S. House Oversight Committee. The city of Kalamazoo will receive an estimated $40,630,000 in federal stimulus funds. Officials are waiting to receive guidance on exactly how the funds can be spent, Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain said on Tuesday, March 23. We are currently reviewing the bills language and are awaiting the final rules on how the funds can be spent, Chamberlain said on Tuesday, March 23. Until we receive the final rules from the federal government we cannot say for certain how the funds will be allocated. For comparison, the citys 2021 budget includes about $213.9 million in expenditures across all funds. City staff are reviewing the citys budget, plans and operations to determine which projects may be eligible for the new funding, Chamberlain said. Broad areas under consideration include city operations and revenue impacted by COVID-19, programs and activities that can assist community members and businesses affected by the consequences of the pandemic and continued implementation of the citys Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 strategic plan, Chamberlain said. City staff have not yet submitted stimulus spending plans to the City Commission, Chamberlain said on Tuesday. Officials in Kalamazoo anticipate further discussions once the final rules are released and more details are known about how funds can, and cannot, be spent. The city of Kalamazoo is considered an entitlement community by the HUD and the federal government, Chamberlain said, which means the city will receive its stimulus money directly from the federal government. Other entities in line for the federal funds are receiving the grant money through the state. Kalamazoo city staff are working closely with the Michigan Municipal League and the National League of Cities to track developments related to the stimulus funding, Chamberlain said. Heres a look at estimated allocations to individual government units across Kalamazoo County: Kalamazoo County $51,410,000 Kalamazoo $40,626,404 Portage $5,528,843. Oshtemo Township $2,289,745 Kalamazoo Township $2,236,525 Texas charter township$1,703,238 Comstock charter township$1,539,727 Cooper charter township $1,092,738 Schoolcraft township $897,631 Richland township $826,935 Pavilion township $635,678 Ross township $489,743 Brady township $449,655 Alamo township $389,819 Climax township $250,697 Prairie Ronde township $238,750 Galesburg $205,475 Charleston Township $205,179 Parchment $180,494 Wakeshma township $134,186 Read more: See how much stimulus money your town gets; Michigan splits $10.3B in funding Police urge residents to stay off sediment deposits on the Kalamazoo River Undetonated bomb found at apartment in Kalamazoos Westnedge Hill neighborhood NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - Dakshidin Corporation (OTC Pink: DKSC) shareholders representing more than 50% of all outstanding shares voted in favor of increasing the authorised share capital by 50%. Dakshidin Corporation had not issued any shares out of treasury for more than 2 years. The total issued and outstanding during that time was within 0.2% of the total authorised. This increase will allow the company to explore various opportunities, the first of which is expected to be announced shortly. Any shares issued out of treasury will have the usual rule 144 restriction. At this time the company is not planning to file a registration statement to lift that restriction. Dakshidin CEO Chris Haigh said: "This past year has been extremely challenging for everyone, however our involvement in the PPE world has proven to be a positive experience, enabling us to work with clients and manufacturing partners all over the world. We have added several products to our product offerings. Four of which we have exclusive agreements with and three of those have their own patents, This increase will allow us the room to look at marketing and distribution deals in our ongoing efforts to increase shareholder value." About Dakshidin Corporation (DKSC) and Whitechapel Holdings DKSC has positioned itself as an innovator and industry leader in the quickly emerging organic health and wellness industry. Dakshidin Corporation - Investor Relations Toll free: 1-800-986-6418 Email: dksc.corp@gmail.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/whitechapelusa Forward looking statements The information in this press release includes certain "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor provisions of Federal Securities Laws. Investors are cautioned that such statements are based upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including the future financial performance of the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations or any of its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events, or circumstances after the date of this release except as required by law. Media Contact: 1-800-986-6418 dksc.corp@gmail.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78341 Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 00:53:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the city of Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Lu Boan) NANNING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks on Tuesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with the two sides reaching strategic consensus. The talks, held in the city of Guilin, in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, were the 51st meeting between Wang and Lavrov. "This shows the high level of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination," Wang said. STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION No matter how the international situation changes, the comprehensive strategic coordination between the two countries will only strengthen and expand, rather than weakening or shrinking, the Chinese foreign minister said. The two sides agreed that strategic guidance by the two heads of state constitutes the political strength of bilateral ties, while jointly fighting the pandemic has further deepened the traditional friendship between the people of both countries. They also agreed that pragmatic cooperation has strongly boosted the two countries' economic and social development, and their international coordination has contributed stability and positive energy to the world. In the face of rapid changes in the international situation, carrying out timely strategic communication and coordination is not only important to China and Russia, but also beneficial to the world, Wang said. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. Noting that the two sides have agreed to renew the treaty and make it more relevant in the new era, Wang said this demonstrates the new heights, new ideas and new results of China-Russia cooperation. The two sides should strengthen strategic coordination, firmly fight back against false information regarding China and Russia, beef up cooperation on information security, support each other in maintaining the security of their own governments and systems, and safeguard their legitimate rights and common interests, as well as maintaining stability in the areas around the two countries, Wang said. China is willing to discuss establishing a mutual recognition mechanism for health codes with Russia, on the basis of friendly consultation and fully accommodating each other's concerns, Wang said, calling on the two sides to further deepen vaccine cooperation and help improve the accessibility of vaccines in developing countries. He also urged the two sides to take their Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation as an opportunity to tap the potential for cooperation on 5G, big data, the green economy, the internet, climate change, environmental protection and the health industry, working towards the goal of 200 billion U.S. dollars in trade volume. Lavrov said the friendship between the two countries is very solid with higher quality. "Russia is willing to work with China to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, maintain close high-level exchanges, make preparations for the extension of the Russia-China Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, and take the bilateral relationship to a higher level," Lavrov said. GLOBAL GOVERNANCE After the talks, the two foreign ministers signed several bilateral-cooperation deals as well as a joint statement on global governance, calling on the international community to put aside their differences, build consensus, strengthen coordination and safeguard world peace and geo-strategic stability. On the topic of human rights, the two sides said all countries should oppose politicizing human rights issues, reject using human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries' internal affairs, abandon double standards, and engage in dialogue on the basis of equality and mutual respect, according to the statement. There is no unified standard for the model of democracy, the statement said. The legitimate right of sovereign countries to choose their own development paths should be respected, and interfering in sovereign countries' internal affairs under the pretext of "advancing democracy" is not acceptable, the statement said. In face of heightened international political turbulence, there is an urgent need to hold a summit of permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, to facilitate direct dialogue and discussion of solutions to problems facing all human beings and help maintain stability of the world, the statement said. China is willing to further strengthen cooperation with Russia under the multilateral framework, jointly safeguard multilateralism, maintain the international system with the UN at the core and the international order based on international law, while firmly opposing unilateral sanctions as well as interference in other countries' internal affairs, Wang said. Enditem CHENNAI (Reuters) - Ltd, the world's largest coal miner, could venture into solar wafer manufacturing and wants to "aggressively" participate in the country's solar energy auctions, its chairman told Reuters on Tuesday. "Coal as you know, we're going to lose business in the next two-three decades. Solar will take over coal slowly as a major energy provider in the coming years," Pramod Agarwal said in an interview. "We are just exploring the possibilities where we can invest in solar wafer production, nobody is (currently) there in the country," he said. Agarwal also said its joint venture with state-run NLC India Ltd plans to invest around 125 billion rupees ($1.73 billion) in solar power projects with a capacity of 3,000 megawatts (MW), of which would invest about 60 billion rupees by March 2024. ($1 = 72.4450 rupees) (Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Susan Fenton) (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) Treatment czar and Department of Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said on Tuesday they are planning to hire additional One Hospital Command Center personnel amid the rise in the number of people who seek help in finding healthcare facilities for COVID-19 cases. Gumagawa kami ng hakbang ngayon na maghire nga bagong mga IT at paramedical personnel to man the One Hospital Command at iimprove natin ang ating call center dahil sa overflow of calls na nakikita natin ngayon, Vega said in a public briefing. [Translation: We are taking steps to hire new IT and paramedical personnel to man the One Hospital Command and improve our call center due to the overflow of calls we are seeing now.] Vega said they now receive an average of 300 calls a day from 66 around three weeks ago. Pagdating po ng surge, dumami po iyong tawag namin, na-overwhelm din iyong capacity namin sa One Hospital Command, he added. [Translation: When the surge happened, our capacity at the One Hospital Command got overwhelmed, too.] The command center located in Makati City oversees the coordination and referral of COVID-19 patients across health facilities and ensure hospitals have enough beds for severely or critically ill COVID-19 patients. It also maximizes the use of the country's temporary treatment and monitoring facilities built for mild and asymptomatic cases. Status of healthcare facilities in Metro Manila Vega noted that Metro Manilas healthcare facilities are under the moderate risk level in terms of bed occupancy for COVID-19 patients. This level means the COVID-19 bed occupancy rate is between 60% and 70%. He said 60% percent of the beds allotted by hospitals in the National Capital Region for COVID-19 cases are already being used. Meanwhile, data from the DOHs COVID-19 tracker as of March 21 showed that 4,799 or 57.9% of the 8,290 beds for COVID-19 patients in hospitals in the region are occupied. The official noted that the command center may refer COVID-19 patients to hospitals in Calabarzon and Central Luzon should health facilities in NCR reach full capacity. Kung talagang mahihirapan tayo maghanap dito ng mga private hospitals ay talagang i-refer namin outside of Metro Manila, he said. [Translation: If we have a hard time finding a private hospital for them, we will refer them to facilities outside of Metro Manila.] He also said they are coordinating with local governments to set up more isolation facilities, noting the isolation facilities in Metro Manila are already 78% occupied. He added 97% of the new COVID-19 cases have mild symptoms or none at all, which he noted reinforces the need for more isolation sites. Vega said they are seeking to open next month a COVID-19 facility that would be an extension of the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila. It could accommodate 110 patients. In a strongly worded letter written to the countys lead prosecutor, the Worcester Patrolmens Union said it will never endorse District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. again after his office dropped charges against more than a dozen people arrested during Black Lives Matter protests in the city last summer. The Worcester District Attorneys Office dropped charges this month against 17 people who were arrested, including four Clark University students. First Assistant District Attorney Jeff Travers noted after a careful review of the case, authorities found insufficient evidence to prosecute the charged crimes. Daniel Gilbert, president of the New England Police Benevolent Association Local 911, said Early will never receive another endorsement from the police union or another vote from him and his family. The police union head was ashamed and disappointed by the decision to drop the charges against the protesters, he added. I write to you to express my disdain and disgust at your decision to drop criminal charges against those who were involved in a riot in June. More than disgust, I want you to know that I am ashamed and disappointed that you have knowingly chosen to turn your back on those of us that have always had your back, Gilbert wrote in his letter to Early. In a statement about the protest over the summer, Early said he opted to recuse himself from the case due to a conflict he has with Clark University. The prosecutor noted his office decided to drop the cases against the 17 defendants after a careful review of the evidence by its senior first assistant and first assistant in charge of appeals. Early stated he fully supports his offices decision to drop the charges. Each and every case was individually reviewed at length with every piece of video, written and testimonial evidence considered before any prosecutorial decisions were made in these matters. It was determined that these misdemeanor charges lacked sufficient evidence for trial, Earlys statement said. Protesters took to the streets of Worcester the night of June 1, 2020, a week after the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a law enforcement in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Following a largely peaceful rally, demonstrators marched downtown, where they clashed with police in the citys Main South neighborhood. Police claimed the group assaulted officers with flares, fireworks, rocks, concrete, bottles and other debris. Gilbert noted the demonstration also led to the vandalization of buildings, including Worcester City Hall and a number of businesses. One officer who was in his police cruiser on Hammond Street had to stop traffic from entering Main Street - so that those walking could avoid being hit by cars, Gilbert said. The officers cruiser was eventually surrounded by those involved in the riot that then started shaking the marked police cruiser with the officer still in the vehicle. Law enforcement, meanwhile, used smoke grenades and pepper ball rounds to disperse the crowd and arrest participants in the demonstration. When confronted with large protests that contain individuals who employ indiscriminate violence, police officers have the extraordinarily difficult task of restoring order, distinguishing perpetrators from protesters, and charging those responsible with crimes, Travers said in his statement about the charges being dropped. The events of June 1, 2020 were such an occasion when police were presented with violent and dangerous conditions and placed themselves in harms way. The majority of these cases involved the application of an 18th Century law that courts have struggled to apply in a modern context. According to Early, none of the defendants were arrested for throwing bricks, rocks, concrete, bottles or anything else at officers. No one was charged with destruction of property whatsoever, he stated. No one was charged with shooting flares, fireworks or surrounding a police cruiser. There was no case involving an assault on a Worcester police officer that was dismissed. The district attorney added he was elected to the position to ensure justice is carried out in our criminal justice system. That is the mission our office carries out every day, Early said. Sometimes this requires making decisions that are unpopular to some, but we have to be independent in our determinations and I always will be. There are several cases that are still pending based on other sets of facts, including one that resulted in a plea, one that is pending and a third that was federally indicted, according to Early. In the wake of the disorder that followed the largely peaceful protest and after the arrests of 19 demonstrators, including the four college students, Clark announced it would sever ties with the Worcester Police Department. The university later hired a Worcester law firm to conduct an independent review of the events. After examining videos, photographs and interviews, the firm found none of the four students who were arrested acted violently and police acted improperly when arresting the individuals. The report accused a Worcester police officer of pinning his knee on the back of student Sarah Drapeau, who told the officer she had lung issues and was in pain. According to the firm, the officer acknowledged Dreapeus pleas but didnt move. Drapeau also claimed police called her a fat [expletive] and said welcome to the real world. The Worcester Police Department announced in July it would conduct its own investigation into the actions of its officers during the arrests of the Clark students on June 1. In his letter, Gilbert said the decision on the part of Earlys office to drop the charges against the protesters showed a lack of will to stand up for public safety has endangered police officers. The police union head claimed it wasnt the first time. He pointed to the case of Jorge Zambrano, who in 2016 shot and killed Auburn police Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. The man had a long criminal history, though, having served seven years in prison for cocaine trafficking. He was arrested again five years ago for assaulting a police officer. Months before the fatal shooting of Tarentino, Zambrano was arrested on domestic assault and resisting arrest charges but later released on $500 bail. A Massachusetts Trial Courts review later found no fault on the part of the judges who were involved in the mans cases. However, Gilbert faults Earlys office for offering Zambrano probation instead of keeping him in prison. Auburn Police Chief Andrew Sluckis Jr. said in 2018 the suspect could have been held for violating pre-trial probation in another case before the officers death, but he wasnt. While free, he murdered Auburn Police Officer and hero Ron Tarentino. Rons funeral was well attended by political folks pledging support for police officers where are they now? Even after that we gave you our support - but again, you are turning your back on us, the Local 911 president said. How many police officers need to be murdered for you to support us? Gilbert recalled how when Early was initially running for district attorney, he went to the NEPBA 911, looking for an endorsement, which he received along with support from the national chapter of the union. I noticed that you still have these accolades listed on your website, Gilbert wrote. I can tell you that you will never receive another endorsement from the NEPBA and further will never receive a vote from me or my family. Editors Note: This story has been updated to note the charges were dropped against 17 people who were arrested. Related Content: Posted Monday, March 22, 2021 7:36 am I greatly appreciate U.S Rep. Jaimie Herrera Beutlers work for our corner of the state. Rep. Herrera Beutler doesnt always take the popular stance on issues, but I believe she takes the right stance. For instance, on the most recent COVID-19 relief bill, she voted no, noting that it is very bloated with special interest payments, like to the city of San Francisco and to the state of California. The Los Angeles Times said their state is getting another $26 billion from Congress even though they have an already robust budget with higher-than-expected tax revenues. Herrera Beutler has been active in seeking more COVID-19 vaccines for Clark County when it appears we were significantly shorted our dosages. I could go on and on about the important work she does for her congressional district and all of Washington. But I am more concerned about how she has been maligned and denigrated lately. Herrera Beutler has recently been a target of members of her own party. She said the toughest challenge is "when your own team does something you don't like, and you have to step out and oppose them." She also said her role may be helping Republicans "return to who we are." Herrera Beutler became one of 10 Republicans to vote yes for the second impeachment of Donald Trump knowing that she might lose support over it. After experiencing threats, Herrera Beutler was not intimidated by the idea of breaking with her party to support Donald J. Trumps impeachment. My vote to impeach our sitting president is not a fear-based decision, she said. I am not choosing a side; Im choosing truth. Its the only way to defeat fear. After her recent vote against Trump, Herrera Beutler was censured by the Clark County Republican Party and sent a scathing letter from the Cowlitz County Republican Party telling her to quit. But a recent meeting of the Lewis County Republican Party didnt end the same way. Instead, it ended in a prayer. It was essentially just for her wellbeing. Quite frankly, something that bothered me was that she had received threats. And thats so unacceptable, Lewis County Republican Chairman Brandon Svenson said. Unfortunately, some people in our party acted like jackwagons Im embarrassed about it. Im embarrassed that people in our party did that. I believe Herrera Beutler deserves support and recognition for speaking the truth in an environment rife with distorted facts. I totally agree with a northern neighbor, Patricia Geraghty of Seattle, who said, By censuring her, the GOP is blatantly taking a stance against the honest representation of facts and demonstrating its willingness to be an active partner in the lies and deception infiltrating our society. I encourage her to stay strong and not be daunted by unjust criticism. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kindbody , a fast-growing health and technology company, today announced the opening of its newest fertility clinic and IVF lab in Los Altos, CA, less than three miles from Stanford University, and around the corner from top Silicon Valley employers. The opening marks the company's second Bay Area location and seventh in total, all providing preconception through postpartum care directly to employers and consumers. Kindbody Los Altos Clinic Kindbody Los Altos Clinic Kindbody is reinventing care by delivering a seamless patient experience through convenient brick-and-mortar locations, telemedicine, mobile pop-ups, and a partner network of 300+ clinics across the country. In addition to the latest Los Altos location, the company owns and operates multiple locations in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New Jersey, with plans to open in Atlanta in April and further accelerate expansion over the next two years. The Los Altos location was selected for its accessibility to Silicon Valley employers and their employees. With 40+ employer customers representing 150,000 covered lives, Kindbody's expansion was needed to serve the growing demand. "Bay Area employers know fertility and family-building benefits are highly coveted with top talent," said Cindy Gentry, Kindbody's Chief Commercial Officer. "Bringing a Kindbody location to the area enables them to provide a premium fertility and family-building benefit with significant cost savings, as a result of working directly with the provider." Kindbody's clinical operations are led by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lynn Westphal, a pioneer in reproductive medicine who was at Stanford University for over 20 years before joining Kindbody, serving as a Professor and Director of the Fertility Preservation Program and the Director of the Reproductive Endocrinology (REI) fellowship program. "I am thrilled to bring Kindbody's accessible, patient-first approach to my Bay Area home," said Dr. Westphal. "The goal is to provide an unparalleled patient experience and to empower all individuals and organizations with the information, tools, and clinical excellence they need to achieve their fertility and family-building goals." "Silicon Valley was the natural next place for a state-of-the-art Kindbody clinic and lab," said Gina Bartasi, Kindbody Founder and CEO. "As we continue to drive change in the industry, our priority is delivering modern, tech-enabled care to employers and their members. Through our brick-and-mortar locations, telehealth platform, and holistic health approach, our offering replaces multiple single-point solutions, making it more efficient and cost-effective, while increasing accessibility and transparency." Growth in the fertility industry has continued to thrive despite the global pandemic as more couples and individuals who have contemplated building a family now say they have the time and desire to pursue treatment. Increasingly, both self-insured and fully-insured employers are sponsoring coverage, contributing to double-digit annual growth in fertility patient numbers across Kindbody clinics. Kindbody is led by Founder and CEO Gina Bartasi, a seasoned entrepreneur with 20+ years' experience in healthtech and the founder of Progyny, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lynn Westphal, previously at Stanford Fertility, Chief Commercial Officer Cindy Gentry, an industry veteran from Mercer, founding OB/GYN, Dr. Fahimeh Sasan, previously of Mount Sinai Health System in New York, and President Annbeth Eschbach, previously the Founder and CEO of Exhale Spa. Kindbody leverages modern technology and state-of-the-art facilities to deliver superior outcomes and a seamless experience for all. To schedule an appointment in Los Altos or any other Kindbody clinic, visit kindbody.com/book . About Kindbody Kindbody provides fertility, gynecology, and family-building services at signature Kindbody clinics and a network of high-quality partner clinics. Kindbody serves patients and employers at 200+ locations, leveraging proprietary technology to deliver a seamless end-to-end experience. Kindbody offers superior outcomes at lower prices with a mission to increase access to care and deliver a more welcoming, inclusive experience. To learn more about Kindbody, visit www.kindbody.com . and follow us on Instagram , Twitter , Facebook and YouTube . Media Inquiries: Rebecca Silver, VP Brand Marketing [email protected] 1-855-KND-BODY SOURCE Kindbody Related Links https://kindbody.com SAVANNAH, Ga., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is proud to partner with Lextant, the world's leading human experience firm, on a new certification program that will prepare SCAD students to be tomorrow's design industry leaders. "We're honored that Lextant is sharing their knowledge with us to make design a better profession," says Victor Ermoli, Dean, SCAD School of Design. "When you apply wisdom and experience that has been not only accumulated but refined by practicing processes over many years, it makes your company stronger, your employees stronger, and the next generation of designers stronger. With Lextant's guidance, we're addressing a huge gap that has been present in design education and in the design community." Lextant is known for its rigorous approach combining the best practices of design and behavioral sciences to strategically model, design, deliver, and measure consumer experiences. With over 500 major clients, Lextant has fueled award-winning brand innovation and data-driven design across automotive, health care, consumer goods, retail and financial services industries. The ability to apply generative research to drive business growth and market success has made Lextant an unparalleled global leader, and the ideal partner for SCAD. In the Lextant Certificate program, SCAD students will learn principles and techniques to conduct future-focused research that is actionable across all functions of an organization. The certification will apply the undergraduate and graduate level industrial design classes in on-ground, virtual, and eLearning iterations. SCAD professor Kwela Hermanns, associate chair, design for sustainability and industrial design, has worked closely with Lextant to understand their trademarked principles of Insight Translation and Sensory Cue Research. "This relationship between SCAD and Lextant provides opportunities for our students to learn best design practices applied to business goals," says Hermanns. "We both want better design research to create a better world." The origin of this newly developed curriculum extends back to when Marty Gage, Lextant VP, Design Research, began guest lecturing at SCAD in 2002. "The idea to develop this partnership came about because Dean Ermoli understands the importance of generative design research," says Gage. "We believe that Lextant's unique approach to research and design will provide SCAD students with great experience they will apply going into the workforce to become future design leaders." SCAD: The University for Creative Careers The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited university offering more than 100 academic degree programs in more than 40 majors across its locations in the U.S., Europe, and online via SCAD eLearning - scad.edu Lextant: The Human Experience Firm For over 20 years, Lextant has fueled award-winning brand innovation and data-driven design for over 500 brands and has developed new approaches and methods including patents awarded in 2019 for its Experience Metrics process - lextant.com Media Contacts JJ Maxwell Executive Director, PR and Marketing at SCAD [email protected] Mickey Kamfjord Director, LMH Consulting for Lextant [email protected] SOURCE Lextant Scantily clad pop-culture figurines in a senior Fair Work Commission officials office didnt breach any workplace health and safety laws, Comcare has found, but their display was considered to be a psychological hazard. The Commonwealth work, health and safety authoritys findings were revealed as NSW Police and Comcare confirmed they were investigating allegations the same official, commission deputy president Gerard Boyce, let off firecrackers at a work function last year. Fair Work Commission deputy president Gerard Boyce and some of the figurines he displayed in his office. A Comcare spokesman said on Tuesday the authority had examined Mr Boyces figurines, which depicted comic-book characters including the Joker, Harley Quinn in fishnets, Captain America and Scarlett Johanssons body-suited character from Ghost in the Shell, after they were revealed at Senate estimates a year ago. Mr Boyce was forced to remove a scantily clad figurine from his office after staff members raised concerns, the Senate hearing was told. He later installed a life-size cutout of then-US president Donald Trump and fake security cameras, which were then removed. A chaotic election Regarding Our most fundamental right is at stake, (A13, March 22): My husband, Ted, and I are both in our 80s now, and the one constant in our lives has been the privilege of casting our votes. The recent presidential election was made extremely difficult for us by the constant barrage of changes made to the voting process. Would we be able to mail our ballots in a timely manner so that our votes were counted? If we had to go into the polling place, what forms of identification would they accept? I couldnt get straight answers in a timely manner, and the governor and state legislators were threatening last-minute action to make thing more difficult. I renewed our passports which had expired within the last three years. But I worried. It was totally unnecessary for the elected officials to causes such chaos in what should be an easily accessible process. In the future I would like a clearly stated process months before the vote and a way to track my vote. Jere Pfister, Houston Todays editorial about Republican plans to curb voting is excellent and very disturbing, but I wish it had not included a myth about George Washingtons dentures. They were not wooden. For details about his dental health, visit www.mountVernon.org. Joseph A. Devine, Houston Forgotten history Regarding U.S. needs to reckon with its anti-Asian roots, (A14, March 19): Anyone who has doubts about the hardships encountered by Asians in America should inform themselves on surprising details of the Asian Exclusion Act of 1882. The U.S. blamed economic issues and low wages on the Chinese. Congress passed the act to appease workers and concerns about keeping white racial purity. Chinese who were already here were not allowed to become citizens, and if they went back home, for example to see their families, they needed certification to re-enter. It survived a Supreme Court test and was in place until 1943 when it was repealed because China was an ally in WWII. An amazing bit of our history that has been largely forgotten. Dave Dyer, Houston Respect Regarding Farewell to the chief, (A14, March 18): Art Acevedo is an amazing public citizen. He did a fantastic job in Austin and did even better helping Houston. Why cant the Houston Chronicle and the rest just respect? Debbie Danna, Houston Bidens first 100 days Blackouts Regarding No real change expected on the grid, (B1, March 21): I appreciated the information provided by Chris Tomlinson. I found the information that came from Loren Steffy cited in his article disturbing, but I cant help but feel that not enough information has been provided to draw the conclusion that no change will be forthcoming. There are a plethora of bills in the Texas Legislature dealing with the matter. Are any of them any good? One specifically seems to mandate weatherization, HB 2687. Is it Tomlinsons conclusion that this bill will be dead on arrival? As Tomlinson suggests, this topic is of extreme importance to all Texans, and I believe that he and the Houston Chronicle need to do a better job of letting the public know what is happening to correct the deficiencies that caused Februarys rolling blackouts. Richard Patyrak, Missouri City Remember Clay Hunt Regarding Mutual aid groups help when services fail, (A17, March 21): Mutual aid groups dont just help victims of disasters, they help those giving the aid. There is no better example of this than Clay Hunt, who grew up in Houston. Clay came home after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan with a longing to help heal the world. He had seen enough suffering during his time at war. This is the story for many veterans who have returned from war. Clay worked with such veterans to form Team Rubicon, an organization to provide on-site assistance to victims of disaster. Unfortunately, in March 2011 the Team Rubicon dream seemed to be fading as the organization was running out of funds. Clay gave up on the world that month. But the news of his death made people realize the need for an organization to provide veterans, and others, a needed sense of purpose. Please remember Team Rubicon as it carries on with the work that Clay Hunt longed for. Thanks taking the time to read this. John Stettler, Dallas A convincing argument Regarding Most over 50 would be dead without vaccines, (A14, March 18): The headline should have grabbed readers attention. As a physician, I hope every single reader reads every single word. Dr. Klotman, who has spent his career researching viruses and the illnesses they cause, details the decades of human life that scientific innovation has saved. I am quite encouraged to see that same innovation is helping us to beat the COVID-19 pandemic. Amazingly, the great race to develop vaccines against this terrible disease took less than a year. It has been remarkable to see how quickly U.S. pharmaceutical companies have researched, developed, tested, and produced safe and effective vaccines for this novel virus. If Dr. Klotmans article doesnt convince the vaccine skeptics to roll up their sleeves, maybe this terrible number will: 5,610. Thats how many Houston-area men, women and children have lost years of their lives to the coronavirus so far. Science and the power of innovation can get us through this pandemic. As Dr. Klotman wrote, Get vaccinated! And, let me add, stay home if you are sick, and keep your children home from school if they are ill. Lisa Ehrlich, MD, Houston Woman arrested in Phuket Town drug raid PHUKET: Police arrested an 18-year-old woman and charged her with possession of crystal methamphetamine (ya ice) in Phuket Town yesterday evening (Mar 22). drugscrime By Eakkapop Thongtub Tuesday 23 March 2021, 04:58PM Acting on information from undercover sources, Chief Col Theerawat Liamsuwan led a Phuket City police team and apprehended Ancharee Bew Wareesri at a house in Soi Anuphas Phuket Karn 5, on Anuphas Phuket Karn Rd in Talad Yai, Phuket Town at approximately 5:50pm last night. Ms Ancharee was caught in possession of 90.28 grammes of ya ice packed in three plastic bags and immediately placed under arrest. She was then taken to Phuket City Police Station and charged with possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell. BANGALORE, India, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Project Portfolio Management Market is Segmented by Component (Software and Service), Deployment Type (On-Premise and Cloud), Organization Size (Large Enterprise and Small & Medium Enterprise), and Industry Vertical (BFSI, IT & Telecom, Retail, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Government & Defense, and Others). This report covers Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast from 2020 to 2027. This report is published on Valuates Reports in the Software Category. The global Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market size was valued at USD 4,336.20 million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 9,161.95 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 9.90% from 2020 to 2027. PPM helps in increasing the level of efficiency and productivity, driving down the cost by bringing greater transparency and execution predictability. Major factors driving the growth of Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market size are rise in need for maximizing the value of project investments, increase in complexity of enterprise projects, and rise in need for collaboration and monitoring tools. Embracing agile methodologies and cloud computing is also helping the market. Inquire For Sample: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/ALLI-Manu-4X38/Project_Portfolio_Management_Market TRENDS INFLUENCING THE PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT MARKET SIZE Reducing project failure rate by embracing agile methods is expected to drive the project portfolio management market size. Project portfolio management tools such as Microsoft Project have begun to build in extra time for feedback loops for projects right from the planning phase, making it easier for project managers to plan projects using agile methods. The agile method breaks a project into smaller increments that can be tested after each phase, and any modifications or enhancements can be addressed in the next phase rather than having to restart the entire project, saving the organisation time and money. Growth in the adoption of cloud-based PPM integrated applications is expected to fuel the project portfolio management market size. Remote access and tracking, real-time data analytics, and automated scheduling are some of the main practical enterprise applications that cloud and project portfolio management tools can provide. Furthermore, advances in the field of cloud and cloud-based applications, as well as the increasing reliance of modern business and business operations on cloud technology, have paved the way for the project portfolio management solutions market to expand at a steady rate over the forecast period. Furthermore, due to the widespread use of PPM solutions in data analytics to provide convenient services to customers at low costs in the BFSI, IT, and telecom sectors, the project portfolio management market size is expected to witness growth. However, the growth of project portfolio management market size is might be hampered due to concerns regarding data privacy and security, as well as a steep learning curve for PPM software. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/ALLI-Manu-4X38/project-portfolio-management PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS By deployment type, the on-premise segment is expected to dominate the project portfolio management market share during the forecast period. On the other hand, due to features like direct IT control, remote accessibility, efficient resource utilization, cost-effectiveness and zero maintenance cloud-based PPM solutions are expected to expand at the fastest rate during the forecast period. Based on the industry vertical, the BFSI segment dominated the global project portfolio management market share in 2019. This dominance is attributed to its transparency control and advanced financial assessment features. However, due to the fact that project portfolio management in healthcare facilities improves decision-making skills and operational efficiencies, the healthcare sector is expected to expand at the fastest rate in the future. Based on the component, the project portfolio management software segment is projected as one of the most lucrative segments during the forecast period. Based on the region, North America is expected to hold the largest project portfolio management market share. At the same time, Asia-Pacific is predicted to exhibit the highest CAGR of 12.6% during 2020-2027. Inquire For Regional Reports: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/ALLI-Manu-4X38/Project_Portfolio_Management_Market Inquire For Customization: https://reports.valuates.com/request/customisation/ALLI-Manu-4X38/Project_Portfolio_Management_Market KEY MARKET SEGMENTS By Component Software Service By Deployment Type By Organization Size Large Enterprise Small & Medium Enterprise By Industry Vertical BFSI IT & Telecom Retail Healthcare Manufacturing Government & Defense Others By Region North America Europe Asia-Pacific LAMEA Key Market Players Oracle Corporation Microsoft Corporation Planview Inc. Broadcom Inc. Workfront ServiceNow Inc. Upland Software Inc. 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SIMILAR REPORTS : - The global Cloud Project Portfolio Management (CPPM) market size is projected to reach USD 6983.7 Million by 2027, from USD 3215.5 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 11.6% during 2021-2027. - Project and Portfolio Management Software Market by Portfolio Management Software, Product-Type: Cloud Based, Web Based, Application: Large Enterprises, SMEs, by key players , by Regions: North America, Europe, China and Japan, etc. - Global Project, Portfolio & Program Management Software Market by Product-Type: Cloud Based, Web Based, Application: Large Enterprises, SMEs, by key players , by Regions: North America, Europe, China and Japan, etc. - Project Portfolio Management Systems Market is segmented By Type - Software, Services, by Application - BFSI, Government, Engineering & Construction, Healthcare, IT & Telecom, Others, by key players , by Regions: North America, Europe, China and Japan, etc. - Project portfolio management (PPM) Solutions empowers managers to execute even advanced projects without complications and complete them on time. Key players - HPE, SAP SE, Upland Software, Workfront, Microsoft Corporation, Mavenlink, ORACLE CORPORATION, Lanisware, Others. - Project Portfolio Management Platform Market helps With industry-standard accuracy in analysis and high data integrity, the report makes a brilliant attempt to unveil key opportunities available in the global Project Portfolio Management Platform market to help players in achieving a strong market position. - The global integrated workplace management system market size was valued at USD 2.34 Billion in 2019, and is projected to reach USD 5.78 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 12.9% from 2020 to 2027. - Global Real Estate Portfolio Management Software Market is segmented By Type - ERP, RSM, PMS, CRM, Other, by Application - Small Enterprise, Medium Enterprise, Large Enterprise, by key players , by Regions: North America, Europe, China and Japan, etc. - Global Stock Portfolio Management Software Market is segmented By Type - BasicUnder $74/Month,Standard$74-169/Month, Senior$169-299/Month, by Application - Personal, Financial Institution, Investment Company, Other, by key players , by Regions: North America, Europe, China and Japan, etc. - Creative Portfolio Management Software Market by Product-Type: On-premise, Cloud-based, Application: Large Enterprises, SMEs, by key players , by Regions: North America, Europe, China and Japan, etc. Click Here To See Related Reports On Project Portfolio Management ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. 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CONTACT US: Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp : +91 9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Linkedin - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports SOURCE Valuates Reports Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The government of Ukraine has prohibited staying in public areas without wearing protective masks or respirators in the "red" zones of epidemic danger for COVID-19. The corresponding norm was included in updated quarantine resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 1236 of December 9, 2020 by resolution No. 230 of March 22, which was published on the government's website. According to it, the operation of aerial cable cars is also prohibited in the "red" zones. At the same time, according to the technical regulations for cable cars, a drag lift is a separate type of cable car and has a different definition. In addition, the government allowed children's health and recreation establishments to work until the end of the shift amid introducing a "red" zone in the region during the health-building session. As reported, by the decision of local authorities from March 13 this year, the work of the largest ski resort in Ukraine Bukovel, located in the "red" zone on COVID-19 in Ivano-Frankivsk region, was suspended for two weeks. However, other ski resorts, including those in the "red" zones, continued to work, although webcams stopped working on many of them. According to the Ministry of Health, currently the "red" zone on COVID-19 includes Kyiv city, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Odesa, Sumy and Lviv regions. From March 25, quarantine restrictions of the "red" zone are also introduced in Dnipro. Professor Neil Ferguson has spoken of his regret following his decision to break the lockdown he helped bring about last year - but says he is now 'hopeful' this shutdown will be the last. The academic had come to be known as 'Professor Lockdown' due to his modelling of the first coronavirus wave scaring ministers into the first spring shutdown in 2020. But Professor Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, stood down from SAGE after it was revealed that his girlfriend Antonia Staats had been visiting him at home. Now, writing in The Telegraph, Prof Ferguson said it was regrettable that his own actions had contributed to the 'increasingly febrile debate around lockdown', as he appeared in the news for violating the strict measures himself. 'I have apologised before and repeat that apology now,' he said. 'I made exactly the sort of risk-based decision (having finished self-isolation after testing positive for coronavirus) which the rules did not permit. Professor Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, stood down from SAGE after it was revealed he had flouted the rules to have secret trysts with his married mistress 'As a generally private person, the experience of suddenly becoming a public figure was quite surreal. I and my fellow scientists are academics, not politicians or civil servants. I have never been motivated by gaining political influence or by driving a particular policy agenda.' He adds that he and the team at Imperial have been spending a lot of time over the last few months modelling how vaccination efforts and new variants effect the situation, revealing that he is 'optimistic overall'. Prof Ferguson says he is 'encouraged' by the Government's 'cautious roadmap' to exit lockdown. He says if Britain relaxes rules too quickly, relative to the pace of the vaccine being rolled out, his research suggests we could see another wave of hospitalisations 'comparable to what we have just endured'. 'But if we don't see a new variant arise which substantially evades the protection provided by vaccines, I am hopeful this third lockdown will really be the last,' he said. Professor Ferguson, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, stood down from SAGE after it was revealed that his girlfriend Antonia Staats had been visiting him at home Professor Ferguson had been accused of catastrophically 'undermining' the government's position by flouting the strict coronavirus social distancing rules he helped draw up to have secret trysts with his lover last year The shamed scientist quit his Government role on the influential SAGE committee - but his employer Imperial College London stood by him. In his resignation statement, the academic admitted he had 'made an error of judgement' but claimed he thought he was 'immune' to the illness. In his most recent article, he explains how in February last year early modelling suggested the national lockdown could help to stop the transmission of coronavirus, but the modelling did not show how reducing contact between people would have an 'enormous social, emotional, and economic impact' - though they were all aware of this. Prof Ferguson says that the decision to advise shutting the country down was not one that was reached 'lightly'. He wrote that the team had modelled policies similar to those that were proposed by the Great Barrington Declaration - which would shield the elderly but leave younger age groups with less restrictions - but this would have led to 250,000 deaths, even with a 75% effective shielding of the over 70s. 'I remember the sense of relief I felt when the lockdown policy had been decided, but also of the enormity of the situation and what would follow. I think all of us on the scientific advisory group, SAGE, shared a sense of responsibility,' he wrote. A Lawrence County commissioner was killed in a wreck on Monday around noon. Lawrence County Coroner Scott Norwood said Lawrence County District Five Commissioner Joey Hargrove, 53, was on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and was hit by a car on Alabama Highway 24 in the East Lawrence Community. According to Alabama State Troopers, it was a Ford Focus driven by David Reed, 58, of Huntsville. Norwood said he received the call from Cullman Regional Medical Center at approximately 2:16 p.m. Emergency crews flew from the accident with a plan to go to Huntsville Hospital, but they were diverted to Cullman Regional Medical Center. Hargrove had been the District 5 Commissioner since 2010. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 01:53:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close President of the Hellenic Parliament Constantine Tassoulas (R) and French Ambassador to Greece Patrick Maisonnave stand in front of a tapestry depicting School of Athens inside the Greek parliament in Athens, Greece, on March 22, 2021. A rare 18th century tapestry depicting Italian Renaissance artist Raphael's masterpiece School of Athens was put on display in the Greek Parliament on Monday. The work, a reproduction of Raphael's fresco inside the Vatican Museum, has been loaned to Greece on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Greek War of Independence, which will be celebrated this Thursday. (George Kontarinis/Eurokinissi/Handout via Xinhua) ATHENS, March 22 (Xinhua) -- A rare 18th century tapestry depicting Italian Renaissance artist Raphael's masterpiece 'School of Athens' was put on display in the Greek Parliament on Monday. The work, a reproduction of Raphael's fresco inside the Vatican Museum, has been loaned to Greece on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Greek War of Independence, which will be celebrated this Thursday. The tapestry is one of two made at the historic Gobelins Manufactory in Paris. One has been kept in the plenary hall of the French National Assembly building since 1879, and the one now on display in Greece adorns the office of Richard Ferrand, president of the same institution. "It is the first time ever since it was manufactured in 1775 that the work left France. We thank you for this kind and substantial gesture," the president of the Hellenic Parliament, Constantine Tassoulas, said, welcoming the work. "The 'School of Athens' symbolizes our commitment to democracy. It reminds us of all those things that western republics owe to Greece," said French Ambassador to Greece Patrick Maisonnave, according to a press statement. The 'School of Athens', painted between 1509 and 1511 by Raphael, depicts great ancient Greek philosophers and scientists, like Plato, Aristotle, Archimedes and Pythagoras, exchanging views, seeking the truth. The tapestry will remain on display in the Greek Parliament for about a year. Enditem This additional funding comes at a pivotal time to fuel our accelerated growth plans, deepen our product development efforts with Sercante Labs, and overall support our clients as they navigate digital transformation, Pardot, and Salesforce, - Andrea Tarrell, CEO & Founder of Sercante Sercante, a Salesforce & Pardot Consultancy based in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada, today announced it is expanding its partnership with Salesforce and Pardot through new funding from Salesforce Ventures. Sercante is a new investment of the SI Trailblazer fund from Salesforce Ventures which opens new opportunities to amplify their partnership with Pardot by aligning on product and regional expansion. With the funding, Sercante plans to expand their team across all departments, increase investment in R&D, and continue to grow their international footprint. This investment will together support both organizations aggressive growth plans and support Sercantes mission of making marketing and sales teams widely successful on the Salesforce platform. This additional funding comes at a pivotal time to fuel our accelerated growth plans, deepen our product development efforts with Sercante Labs, and overall support our clients as they navigate digital transformation, Pardot, and Salesforce, says Andrea Tarrell, CEO & Founder of Sercante. Mike Kostow, SVP & General Manager of Pardot, and Meredith Brown, SVP, Product Management, joined with the Sercante team to kickoff the new partnership and discuss plans for expansion. Mike Kostow commented, Seeing the incredible accomplishments Sercante has made over the past three short years in the Pardot ecosystem, we are and have been proud to be with Andrea and the greater team on this journey, and are excited to continue on. I look at the incredible growth Pardot has seen over the past years, and we would not be where we are without partners likes Sercante. In fact, being the first Pardot specific partner we have invested in, Sercante is going to be a key strategic partner to us as we continue to grow and expand into new markets." Founded in 2017, Sercante started with a small Pardot-focused blog and a handful of consultants with sharp minds and willing hearts. Today, Sercante has grown to over 40 full-time consultants, developers, designers, and architects. If I had to point to one thing that's behind our rapid growth, it would be our core value of Wayfinding. We treat our clients' businesses like they're our own, and our team takes immense pride and ownership in identifying a path forward to help our clients meet their goals, comments Andrea Tarrell on Sercantes growth. Sercante has completed over 250 Pardot projects to date and is a gold Salesforce Partner with a 4.9/5 client satisfaction rating. In addition, Sercante continues to drive career growth and development in the Pardot ecosystem through The Spot For Pardot blog, expert led online training courses, and annual community conference ParDreamin. ABOUT SERCANTE Sercante is a global Salesforce & Pardot consulting firm, offering Pardot implementations, managed services, complex process integration with Sales Cloud, and developing custom third party integrations using the Pardot API. Sercante focuses on helping businesses transform their lead-to-revenue processes by leveraging marketing automation & the Salesforce platform. For more information, visit http://www.Sercante.com ABOUT SALESFORCE VENTURES Salesforce is the global leader in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), bringing companies closer to their customers in the digital age. Salesforce Ventures, the global investment arm of Salesforce, invests in the next generation of enterprise technology that extends the power of the Salesforce Platform. Salesforce Ventures is building the world's largest ecosystem of enterprise cloud companies and extending that technology to customers. Portfolio companies receive funding, strategic advisory, and operating support, and can easily join Pledge 1% to make giving back part of their business model. Salesforce Ventures has invested in more than 400 companies, including DocuSign, GoCardless, Guild Education, nCino, Twilio, Zoom, and others across 22 countries since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.salesforce.com/ventures. Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. There are various ways to analyze the controversial question of whether wearing a mask helps prevent transmission of the Wuhan coronavirus. One way is to examine what happened after mask mandates were imposed in various jurisdictions and compare it to what happened in jurisdictions that declined to impose that mandate. This study used that approach. It considered the top 15 states in terms of coronavirus infections in the period from March 1 through May 18, 2020. Nine of these states imposed a mask-wearing requirement. Six did not. The study found that seven of the states with that requirement saw a flattening of the infection curve afterwards. The six holdout states did not fare as well. The study estimates, perhaps ambitiously, that the total infections prevented by face covering reache[d] ~252,000 on May 18 in seven states. The authors conclude that face covering play[ed] the dominant role in. . .flattening the total infection curve. Other studies using a similar approach have reached the same conclusion. The CDC studied differences in Kansas between counties that imposed a mask-wearing requirement and those that didnt. It found that after July 3, 2020, when the governor mandated the wearing of masks, coronavirus incidence decreased in the 24 counties that followed the mandate, but continued to increase in the 81 counties that didnt. There are, Im sure, imperfections in these studies. However, this type of before/after study seems much more probative than studies that simply compare overall rates of infections and/or death counts in mask-mandate states and states with no such mandate. Comparing counts in states like New York with those in states like South Dakota, for example, doesnt seem illuminating, given the differences in demography, exposure to foreign travelers, etc. Comparing what happened within states or counties after mask-wearing requirements were imposed (or rejected) seems more scientifically sound. Studies like the two discussed above indicate to me that masks, and mask mandates, probably do help prevent the spread of the coronavirus to some degree, or did in 2020. Whether masks still serve this purpose to an appreciable degree now that a goodly percentage of the population has been vaccinated is another question. Whether people who have been vaccinated need to wear masks is yet another. UPDATE: Donald Luskin, one of my favorite analysts going back to the days when he regularly debunked Paul Krugman, has studied the effectiveness of wearing masks (as opposed to mask mandates) in preventing infections. He employed the same basic methodology he uses to dispute the effectiveness of lockdowns. Luskin found strong evidence that, unlike lockdowns, masks are effective. You can listen to his nuanced explanation (about 7 minutes) here. Regarding Kansas, another study, this one by the University of Kansas from last October, found a big drop in cases in counties that adopted a mass-wearing requirement, but not in counties that didnt. However, a reader has done his own analysis of the current county-by-county data and based on his review, tells me that the evidence is now clear that mask mandates had no impact in Kansas. (He distinguishes mask mandates from mask wearing, which he believes probably does prevent transmission in some cases.) ARLINGTON, Va., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg Law today announced the debut of "On The Merits," a weekly podcast that focuses on the biggest legal stories of the week featuring voices and perspectives from across the legal industry, including Bloomberg Law reporters and editors along with legal scholars and attorneys. Listeners can stream and subscribe to the podcast at http://onb-law.com/5exO50E3D8p. Recent episodes of On The Merits explored the emergency changes made to state bar exams in response to the pandemic, the push to increase the minimum wage for tipped workers, and how states are sharing personally identifiable information about Covid-19 vaccine recipients with the CDC, all while staying in compliance with HIPAA, which has become much more flexible during the pandemic. Bloomberg Law has debuted "On The Merits," a weekly podcast that focuses on the biggest legal stories of the week. Tweet this "On The Merits lets listeners hear from our reporters and editors as well as leading voices across the legal profession," said Paul Albergo, executive editor, Bloomberg Industry Group. "It's a an easy, accessible, and engaging way to dive deep into the top legal story of the week." As the newest podcast from Bloomberg Industry Group, On The Merits joins our roster of shows that include the Supreme Court podcast, Cases & Controversies, the longform storytelling podcast, [Un]Common Law, Parts Per Billion which covers environmental law issues, Downballot Counts about congressional elections, and Talking Tax, which covers tax issues from Capitol Hill to the courts and the IRS. On The Merits is hosted by David Schultz. Josh Block is the executive producer of Bloomberg Industry Group's podcasts. About Bloomberg Law Bloomberg Law helps legal professionals provide world-class counsel with access to actionable legal intelligence in a business context. Bloomberg Law delivers a unique combination of comprehensive primary and secondary source material, real-time news, expert analysis, time-saving practice tools including Practical Guidance, market data, and business intelligence. For more information, visit pro.bloomberglaw.com. SOURCE Bloomberg Law Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form In Lucknow, the capital of Indias most-populous state Uttar Pradesh, crowds gathered at three major centers to receive Covid-19 jab, after the city launched a campaign Tuesday that aims to vaccinate over 10,500 people a day. The campaign is part of the state governments drive to vaccinate at least 10 million people this month Jun 03, 2021 05:20 PM A Honduran drug trafficker was convicted of drug trafficking in the United States on Monday. Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez was accused of criminal dealings with Honduras' President Juan Orlando Hernandez and other high-ranking officials. A New York jury found Ramirez guilty on three counts of drug trafficking and related weapons charges. Ramirez was arrested in Miami in March last year. He reportedly smuggled drugs such as cocaine into the U.S. with the help of Hernandez, who has been the Honduran president since 2014, Reuters reported. "Juan Orlando Hernandez didn't just want the defendant's cash, he wanted access to the defendant's cocaine," assistant U.S. attorney Michael Lockard said in the report. Lockard was referring to a cocaine lab Ramirez was said to have control in Honduras. RELATED ARTICLE: U.S. Seeks Life for Honduran President's Brother Convicted of Drug Trafficking Allegations Against Honduran President Hernandez Ramirez pleaded not guilty on the charges against him when his trial started. Hernandez was cited frequently during the trial. Some witnesses also mentioned the Honduran president during the drug-trafficking trial of his brother, Juan Antonio "Tony" Hernandez. Tony, a former Honduran congressman, was convicted for running a state-sponsored drug trafficking conspiracy with his brother in October 2019. He allegedly participated in a conspiracy to smuggle cocaine to the U.S. that involved machineguns' use. U.S. prosecutors claimed that Hernandez had accepted bribes from Ramirez and other drug traffickers, which he has repeatedly denied. Hernandez was a major ally of the United States, particularly under the Obama and Trump administrations. The case is seen to affect future relations and the new Biden administration's efforts to invest $4 billion in Central America to address the root of migration influx. Former leader of the Cachiros cartel, Devis Leonel Rivera Maradiaga, testified during the trial that he had sent $250,000 to Hernandez in 2012 through his sister, ABC News Go reported. This was in exchange for the protection of Maradiaga's smuggling business and to avoid extradition. An accountant also witnessed Hernandez accepting bribes twice from Ramirez in 2013. The witness worked in a rice company, where the meetings between Hernandez and Ramirez happened, Aljazeera reported. Eric Olson, director of policy at the Seattle International Foundation, said that the verdict would greatly affect the people of Honduras than the president. "The Honduran people become more skeptical, more pessimistic, more hopeless about their future in their country when they look at their political leaders as corrupt officials," Olson said in the report. Hernandez was a lawyer who took office in January 2014. He is currently in his second term, and he proclaimed himself as a champion in the fight against illegal drugs. Problems in Honduras Aside from the huge and rampant drug trade, the country also faces violence, with having the highest murder rate in the world, according to a Forbes report. Eighty-seven per 100,000 people were said to have been murdered in 2011. It was seven times higher than the U.S. rate despite the rate being dropped about in half. Extreme poverty is also being experienced in the country, with about 60 percent of the nation living on less than $2 per day. The World Bank's threshold for extreme poverty was at $1.90. Food insecurity and lack of clean water are also among the many things the people of Honduras are facing. READ MORE: "False Testimonies": Honduras President Hernandez Refutes Drug Dealing Allegations WATCH: Honduran President Denies Drug Trafficking Charges by US Prosecutors - From Al Jazeera English The start of the lambing season at Lyons Farm coincided with the arrival of last week's warm and dry conditions As I write this article, I am in the lambing shed with the sunlight streaming in through the Yorkshire boarding, Its making the screen difficult to see, but brings an air of joy as we know the springtime arrival of the new born lambs is, for now at least, being greeted with the warming and grass growing rays of the sun. We will lamb about 80pc of the flock in a week, which makes for a busy but rewarding period. As I write, it is also St. Patricks Day and our second St. Patricks Day without the customary parade or visit to Croke Park for the club finals, and the seeding or reaping of a hangover! My arrival at Lyons was delayed this morning as I had to attend our own parade, organized by my daughter Ailbhe (6) who enlisted her brothers and cousins for the event terminating in sweets and biscuits at their grandparents house. I have resisted mentioning Covid in these articles for the last year, but something it has probably reminded us of is the pleasure to be derived from the simple things in life and the importance of these simple things to us all. Covid-19 also presented a few new challenges when it came to getting our second-year students from the BAgrSc program in UCD out to Lyons for the lambing season. Lambing lexicon This was certainly the first-time terms like pods, social distance and mask wearing entered the lambing lexicon, but one thing that remained unchanged was the enthusiasm of the students for lambing practice - even for milking ewes as part of Jonathan Higgins research trial. The resilience of the students is to be admired. I can hear the naysayers making false comparisons to young people of previous generations going to fight in wars as a reason to devalue the challenges faced by our young people, but that is a false equivalency. The way of life for so many has been changed. Hopefully, it will soon revert to what we had before, but for now it remains a challenge. It is really interesting to hear the students experiences of online learning, conducting most of their socialization and education through electronic platforms. The commonsense sentiment among all the groups is that other groups are more impacted than themselves. This empathy for others is a great trait to see in our young people. The lambing is proceeding as it always does, with its share of highs and lows, difficult births and poor milkers occupying the majority of attention. But the best performers are those that go unnoticed, lambing and rearing lambs without assistance. These ewes are the foundation of any flock and the fact that they go unnoticed, while perhaps a little unfair, speaks volumes of their value to the system. Prof. Tommy Boland; Lecturer in Sheep Production, Lyons Farm, University College Dublin. @Pallastb tommy.boland@ucd.ie DERRY TOWNSHIP Beginning this week, more Derry Township high school students will have the opportunity to return to four-day-a-week, face-to-face instruction. In the meantime, students in the middle and elementary school levels will continue in the current hybrid instructional model for the remainder of this school year. The Derry Township School Board on Monday evening voted to approve a phased return of students to the high school. Starting this week, any student currently enrolled in grades 9 or 12 who may be short credits required to advance to the next grade level, or graduate, will be invited to return to four-day-a-week, face-to-face instruction. The same offer goes to academically struggling students in grades 10 or 11, who will have the opportunity to return starting March 29. In addition, any student who is currently in virtual learning will be able to return to hybrid face-to-face instruction starting March 29. The decision, based on recommendations from the administration, came after several parents spoke out both for and against a return of all students to full-time instruction. Lorena Brown, a district parent as well as a teacher in the middle school, echoed the desire of most people in the district I want kids back in the school building. However, she said, Wed like to be safe as were doing that. Her classroom size, she said, would not allow all students in every class to fit safely inside while also maintaining the CDC recommended 3-foot distance. Her largest class size is 27 students, and she said she could only manage to fit 16 desks. Currently 19 of those 27 students are involved in the hybrid learning model. In addition, because the 6-foot distance is still required for students when not masked mainly during lunch periods Brown said it would be impossible for staff to supervise all students during that time, as they would have to be separated into various locations to maintain that distance. She spoke against the district returning to full in-person instruction before the next school year, and expressed her support for a phased-return approach through the end of the school year, allowing time for all of those who want to get the vaccine to do so. Other district parents also spoke up in the support of not returning to full, in-person learning until the fall. One father of a middle and high schooler said he didnt understand why a hybrid learning model couldnt be continued through the remaining two months of the school year. In response to a call for a number of families for the district to follow a move to full in-person learning that surrounding districts have done, he said the districts schools are set up differently, such as having several elementary schools vs. Derry Townships one. Another district parent said that while she would love to see her children back in school, with spring break coming and many families traveling, it would be unwise for the district to bring students back who could have been exposed during that break. Another district mom said she sympathizes with parents who want their kids back in school full time, but said doing so before the end of the school year would just add more chaos to an already difficult year of adjustments. Others, however, spoke out against the districts choice not to bring students back to full-time in-person instruction. The image of the district has been tarnished, said district resident and parent John Miller. He said everybody is seeing surrounding districts opening up, and he called upon the board and administration to not just try to get by but to Look at things with resiliency. Its succeeding in the face of that adversity, he said. That what we expect out of a blue ribbon school. Said another district mom of a first- and fourth-grader, I am very disappointed in the lack of leadership and initiative in the district administration to serve our students and our families. A teacher in a neighboring school district, she said that her children dont understand how she can go to school but they cant. She said her children are currently on the wait list of a local private school. Shes worried about her fourth-grader, who has been exhibiting anxiety about staking the PSSA test. She feels like she doesnt know enough yet. How is it fair that she is going to take the same PSSA test that my students are going to be taking, who have been getting full-day instruction every day. Shes getting taught like a half-day kindergartner, the woman said. To see her emotionally and mentally distraught every morning, crying about going to school its not the experience she wants. Im seeing everybody else around my children get the education that they need and deserve, the skills they need to go be successful and take the standardized testing. I dont think its fair I think its up to you guys to make the right decision here. Another district father cited recent studies that show an uptick in anxiety and depression the real damage being done to our kids right now. His own daughter, he said, has seen a counselor for depression and his other kids have not been succeeding in a hybrid model. We are paying the most [taxes] for the worst product compared to neighboring districts around us, he said, and called on the district to find a way to do better. A senior at Hershey High School asked the board to consider opening things up especially for seniors to return to school before the end of the year. I just want to be with my friends and say good-bye to everyone, she said. This is it for us. We have nothing after this. It would be nice to all be together for two more months. Derry Township Superintendent Joseph McFarland echoed the desire of many district parents. All of us want our kids back, and have wanted them back. Were trying to navigate this in the most safe and appropriate manner. Weve pivoted many different ways. Last summer, they had to scrap plans to return to full in-person instruction and started the school year with a hybrid model. With updated guidance of the CDC, there was a recommendation to reopen schools, but McFarland said that focus was on those schools that were still operating completely virtually 20 percent of schools currently, he said. We have aligned our health and safety plan with CDC and the Department of Health guidelines, McFarland said, adding, We are planning for a full return of students next school year. The recommendations, approved by the school board 6 to 2 on Monday night, included maintaining the current hybrid models at both the elementary and middle school levels. McFarland said for all students to return full time at the elementary level, a building that houses 1,300 students in total would require reassigning classrooms and teachers for many students. At this point, especially with our youngest learners, we do not feel that is in the best interest of those students. In addition, since lunchtime would require 6 feet of distance between each student, he said the building does not have enough space or time to feed everyone within the guidelines. While the middle school has seen a phased return of some students, McFarland said, weve been trying to look at phased returns that are targeted, that are measured, and that ensure that we can still maintain the appropriate distancing. So far, some students who were struggling and in danger of failing have been brought back to full-time instruction. However, the building could not handle bringing all students back and still maintain the CDC distancing guidelines. Currently, 30 percent of middle school students are involved in full-time virtual learning, he said. At the high school, those students who chose to remain in full-time virtual learning during the third marking period were told they would have the choice to return to the hybrid model in the fourth marking period. Thats about 600 students of which, McFarland said, they dont know how many will choose to return under the new allowances. Based on that number, he said there may be a third wave of invites. District board members Donna Cronin and Lewis Shaw both attempted to make amendments to the vote on Monday night, such as adding seniors as a priority for returning as the requirements would allow. Both amendments were voted down, 6 to 2, with the explanation that prioritizing so specifically might overlook others, such as those struggling with social and emotional needs. District officials urged those parents who are concerned for the mental and emotional needs of their students struggling with virtual or hybrid learning to reach out to their schools guidance counselor. Efforts will be made, as much as possible, to accommodate their students into this current wave of moving more students into fulltime in-person learning. According to board member Lindsay Drew, surveys that the district has sent out to district families show that the community is divided about what the right thing is and we do the best we can in these situations. Weve had a lot of conversations, she added, and its my hope that now we can put our focus on a full return in the fall, that it can be robust, well-communicated and it can be what our students deserve. The Derry Township School District has a total of 3,500 students. PISA, MAR 23 - A 50-year-old Florentine man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of murdering a 29-year-old Ukrainian woman near Pisa in November. The man, Francesco Lupino, is accused of killing Krystyna Novak and disposing of her body, which has never been found. Lupino was a neighbour of Novak's and a partner in the criminal affairs of her boyfriend, Spaniard Airam Negrim Gonzalez , police said. Negrim is a local leather sector businessman and alleged drug dealer. Lupino allegedly "held a deep grudge" against Novak and her boyfriend after she convinced him to get out of the drug business, police said. A few days before the alleged murder the two men had a big row over Gonzalez's intention to quit the drug trade and over his belief that Lupino was secretly skimming the profits of the business for himself, police said. After the row, Lupino threatened Gonzalez with a gun, police said. Lupino also deeply objected to Gonzalez's request that he leave the flat he was renting him, police said. Gonzalez, who has been arrested on drug offences, took police to the villa he shared with Novak and showed them traces of blood in the building. (ANSA). BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) President Joe Biden shut down oil and gas lease sales from the nations vast public lands and waters in his first days in office, citing worries about climate change. Now his administration has to figure out what do with the multi-billion dollar program without crushing a significant sector of the U.S. economy and while fending off sharp criticism from congressional Republicans and the oil industry. The leasing ban is only temporary, although officials have declined to say how long it will last. And its unclear how much legal authority the government has to stop drilling on about 23 million acres (9 million hectares) previously leased to energy companies. Here are some questions hanging over Bidens Interior Department as it launches a months-long review of the governments petroleum sales with a virtual forum Thursday. WHY IS BIDEN TARGETTING OIL AND GAS LEASE SALES? Burning of oil, gas and coal from government-owned lands and waters is a top source of U.S. emissions, accounting for 24% of the nations greenhouse gases. Oil and gas account for the biggest chunk of human-caused fossil fuel emissions from federal lands following a drilling surge under former President Donald Trump. Emission reductions from a permanent leasing ban would be relatively small -- about 100 million tons (91 million metric tons) annually, or less than 1% of global fossil fuel emissions, according to a study by a nonprofit research group. But environmentalists and others who want more aggressive action against climate change say a ban would nudge the economy in a new direction. Biden wants to substitute fossil fuel production and consumption with policies that promote renewable energy on public lands, such as wind and solar power. The federal government is a huge player here. The government has market power, said attorney Max Sarinsky with New York University Law Schools Institute for Policy Integrity. If you restrict the supply (of oil and gas), you alter the market and you create a better environment for more sustainable fuels. Lease sales and royalties companies pay on extracted oil and gas brought in more than $83 billion in revenue over the past decade. Half the money from onshore drilling goes to the state where it occurred. Money from offshore drilling gets shared with states at a lesser rate and pays for a conservation fund used to preserve land nationwide. WHAT'S BEEN DONE SO FAR? The administration postponed lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and in Wyoming, Colorado, Montana and Utah. Biden earlier had suspended leasing in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Interior officials say the fossil fuel program has failed to consider climate impacts and that irresponsible leasing practices carve up wildlife habitat, threaten Native American cultural and sacred sites and lock up public lands that could be used for recreation or conservation. After what they call a fire sale of public energy reserves under Trump, Biden's team argues that companies still have plenty of undeveloped leases almost 14 million acres (6 million hectares) in western states and more than 9 million acres (3.6 million hectares) offshore. Companies also have about 7,700 unused drilling permits enough for years. Despite the moratorium, the Biden administration has continued to issue new permits for existing leases, including more than 200 in March, records show. Environmentalists want that to stop, but an outright drilling ban would raise thorny legal issues. Companies could claim they have the right to extract oil and gas after spending years and millions of dollars to secure leases. WHAT ARE BIDEN'S OPTIONS? A ban on new leases means drilling would fade out as existing ones expire. It would be a heavy blow for western and Gulf Coast states that heavily depend on oil and gas revenue to pay for schools, roads and other services. Another option is to increase royalty fees to reflect the social cost of climate change damage from rising seas, drought, wildfires and other global warming impacts. That would keep revenue flowing and make it more expensive to drill on federal land, forcing companies to concentrate on the most profitable reserves and reducing emissions, though by less than a ban. If its not possible to have a carbon tax on all oil and gas extraction, at least we could do something akin to that on public lands, said James Stock, a Harvard University economist and former member of the White House Council on Economic Advisers under Obama. HOW MANY JOBS COULD BE LOST? Economists say claims by industry groups and allies in Congress that a leasing ban would trigger massive job losses are greatly exaggerated. An industry-promoted University of Wyoming study projected almost 300,000 jobs lost by 2025. But historical data on energy jobs suggest a much smaller impact of about 60,000 jobs, said Jeremy Weber, former chief energy economist for Trump's White House Council of Economic Advisers and now a University of Pittsburgh associate professor That's still a significant number as the U.S. economy recovers from job losses in the pandemic. And even limited job losses could profoundly affect local economies in Wyoming, New Mexico and other oil-dependent states. Theres also no guarantee such impacts would be offset by Biden's promise to deliver millions of new green energy jobs, such as installing solar panels or helping with environmental cleanups of abandoned oil wells and coal mines. Despite promises by renewable energy advocates, such jobs dont fill the bucket like oil and gas does, said Jim Willox, a commissioner in Converse County, Wyoming, the states top crude producer and home to several new wind farms. Aware of such concerns, Biden climate adviser Gina McCarthy met with executives from Exxon Mobil, Chevron and other companies Monday to discuss ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A White House statement said the administration is not fighting the oil and gas sector and wants to create jobs while addressing emissions. American Petroleum Institute CEO Mike Sommers said independent forecasts show natural gas and oil will provide about half of the global energy mix for decades to come. WHATS NEXT? Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, sworn in last week as the first Native American to oversee the nation's public lands and waters, will kick off Thursday's forum, which will include representatives of industry, labor, conservationist groups, Indigenous people and others. Haaland, a former two-term New Mexico congresswoman, said she wants to strike the right balance as Interior manages energy development while seeking to conserve public lands and address climate change. An interim report to be completed this summer will outline recommendations for Interior and Congress to overhaul the fossil fuels program. A similar review of government coal sales during the Obama administration was to last three years, but was canceled by Trump. ___ Daly reported from Washington, D.C. ___ On Twitter follow Matthew Brown: @MatthewBrownAP and Matthew Daly: @MatthewDalyWDC (Natural News) A racist black man who writes for The Root says that white people are a virus that needs to be eradicated in order to cure what he describes as a pandemic of whiteness. Damon Young, whose work had not been published in The Root since last July, opened his most recent piece by declaring: Whiteness is a public health crisis. It shortens life expectancies, it pollutes air, it constricts equilibrium, it devastates forests, it melts ice caps, it sparks (and funds) wars, it flattens dialects, it infests consciousness, and it kills people, Young contends. Youngs anger and hatred is fueled by the recent mainstream media claim that a white supremacist stormed three Atlanta-area massage parlors and killed their owners for being Asian. Even though two of the people killed were not even Asian, Young says they were victims of relentless anti-Asian rhetoric due to the destruction of the global economy by the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19). For pointing out that the alleged novel virus came from Wuhan, China, President Donald Trump was lambasted much of last year for not just calling it Covid-19 like the media and establishment expect. The Chinese virus originated in China, hence why many people call it that. Young, however, believes that identifying the source of this global scourge is an act of white supremacy that is leading to violence against Asian people. Now, if an Asian person dies for any reason, the cause is white supremacy and anti-Asian racism. This is the latest media narrative that once again aims to vilify white people and justify their mistreatment at the hands, or keyboards, of white-hating racists like Young. The former president, and the party of the former president, can and should be blamed for this and the sudden increase of racist violence against Asian Americans, Young contends. The line doesnt stop there, though. It extends back 400 years and has tentacles clawing everywhere white supremacy exists here, in America, which is everywhere. The real problem in this country is black supremacy and anti-white racism It is at this point in Youngs piece that he launches into a critical race theory (CRT) diatribe against all white people going back to the early days of our nation and even further. According to Young, the Tree of Life synagogue shooting, the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting, and pretty much all other media-reported incidents of violence are all the result of white people being supremacists since time immemorial. Young lists gentrification, red-lining, racial profiling, gerrymandering, voter suppression, mass incarceration, and even the subprime mortgage crisis on white supremacy as if white people are somehow the ones controlling the financial system. Alleged disparities in Chinese virus deaths, as well as vaccine prioritization among the races, are also the fault of white people, in Youngs eyes. In Youngs world, white people are a virus that, like other viruses, will not die until there are no bodies left for it to infect. Which means the only way to stop it is to locate it, isolate it, extract it, and kill it, Young adds at the conclusion of his hate piece. I guess a vaccine could work, too. But weve had 400 years to develop one, so I wont hold my breath. Imagine if a person with light skin had written such words against people with dark skin? Had that been the case, we would have very quickly seen which racial group maintains the true privilege in this country to spread hate without consequence. If we simply kill all of the white people, surely then all of our problems will go away, joked Grabien Media founder Tom Elliott about Youngs blatant hatred for white people. More related news about the growing anti-white agenda of white-hating racists can be found at Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: Archive.fo FoxNews.com NaturalNews.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 04:33:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Senior Egyptian and Pakistani military officials discussed on Tuesday cooperation between the two countries in the field of military production, said the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production in a statement. The discussion came during a meeting held in Cairo between Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Ahmed Morsi and a Pakistani high-level delegation led by Chairman of Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) Ali Amir Awan, according to the Egyptian statement. They addressed ways to enhance cooperation between Egyptian military production companies and their Pakistani counterparts to achieve "strategic partnership" that would benefit the two countries. During the meeting, Morsi stressed the "historical relations" between Egypt and Pakistan, expressing his aspiration to develop bilateral cooperation in various fields and strengthen consultation on issues of common concern, including "fighting terrorism and extremist ideology." For his part, the POF chief expressed Pakistan's interest in strengthening partnership with Egypt, especially in the field of military production, noting state-owned POF produces a wide range of arms, ammunition and military equipment. The two sides reviewed the proposed cooperation between Egypt's Heliopolis Company for Chemical Industries (Factory 81) and the Pakistani firearm company POF in technology transfer for manufacturing anti-tank mines, industrial explosives and other military products. Enditem Authorities in New Mexico say they expect to file charges soon against a man suspected in the killings of four people, including his ex-wife, there before he flew across the country and killed another man in New Jersey, where he grew up. Sean M. Lannon, 47, of Grants, New Mexico, is charged with murder in the killing of his youth mentor in New Jersey days after he returned from New Mexico earlier this month. Prosecutors in New Jersey say he has admitted to all five killings and has claimed he killed 11 others in New Mexico, though investigators say they have yet to find any evidence to support that claim. Lannon was ordered jailed pending trial Friday in the killing of Michael Dabkowski, 66, of East Greenwich Township, who was found beaten to death in his home on March 8. Lannons defense attorney argued that Dabkowski sexually abused his client as a teen when they met through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and that Lannon had gone to the home to retrieve explicit photos the older man had taken of the abuse. Lannon had no intention of hurting the man, but ended up beating him with a hammer during a fight when Dabkowski tried to stop him from leaving, his defense counsel argued. Lannon allegedly took the mans wallet and vehicle and was still driving Dabkowskis SUV when he was captured March 10 in St. Louis, Missouri, apparently on his way back to New Mexico. In interviews with investigators and comments to family members, Lannon allegedly admitted to killing his ex-wife, 39-year-old Jennifer Lannon, and three others in New Mexico. Jennifer and two of the victims, Matthew Miller, 21, and Jesten Mata, 40, had been reported missing from Grants in January. The four bodies were found in a pickup truck belonging to the fourth victim, Randal Apostalon, 60, that was left in an Albuquerque airport parking garage, where they were found March 5. Authorities have described the Lannons, Miller and Mata as friends, though the connection to Apostalon remains unclear. Jennifer Lannon(Provided photo) Lannon also admitted to killing 11 others in New Mexico, a prosecutor in New Jersey revealed during Fridays hearing. The status of that claim remains unclear. Investigators are close to charging Lannon in the four New Mexico deaths, according to Grants Police Lt. David Chavez. Weve got one more warrant we need to serve, he said Monday afternoon. Investigators have no open missing persons or homicide cases that would tie in with Lannons claims of killing others, Chavez said. Were not discrediting the fact that it could have happened. Were still investigating that, he said. Is it possible? Anythings possible, but theres no evidence to conclude that its plausible, to be honest with you. But were still searching to make sure. Grants police are handling the Jennifer Lannon, Miller and Mata cases, since all were reported missing from that town, located about 80 miles west of Albuquerque. Investigators believe Apostalon was killed in Albuquerque and police there are handling that investigation. Back in New Jersey, where Jennifer grew up, her family is making funeral arrangements. Sean and Jennifer met in South Jersey, married in 2013 and relocated to New Mexico about four years ago for his job. While they divorced in 2019, they were still together and had told family they planned to return to New Jersey, said Jennifers brother, Chris Whitman. The family was shocked to hear the molestation claims made during Fridays hearing, Whitman said. Lannon had referred to Dabkowski as Uncle Mike, Whitman recalled, adding that he met Dabkowski once at a birthday party for one of Sean and Jennifer kids. Whitman said he doesnt know if the claim that Dabkowski molested Lannon is true. Thats something that we never knew about, Whitman said. I knew that he was a good family friend of Seans. It never struck me as something might have gone wrong between those two. Prior to Fridays hearing, investigators had told Jennifers family about Lannons claims of still more killings. Its shocking, its sickening, Whitman said. We just dont understand what happened to make him go this far. When Lannon returned to New Jersey on March 4 with the couples three kids, he left them with his mother and took off, apparently traveling to Virginia via a ride share service before returning to South Jersey. Lannon allegedly broke into a home in Elk Township and then killed Dabkowski. Authorities have not revealed the purpose of the Virginia trip. Lannon told family he intended to return to New Mexico to search for Jennifer, Whitman said. Sean Lannons mother and sister dropped off the three kids with Jennifers family for a visit on March 7 and they remain with the family, Whitman said. Soon after they were dropped off, New Jersey investigators told them that Jennifers remains had been found along with the other victims in New Mexico and that they were trying to find Sean Lannon. Authorities have not revealed how the New Mexico victims died or exactly where they were killed. Lannon admitted luring several victims to a home in New Mexico and dismembering some of them, a New Jersey prosecutor said during the Friday hearing. His next New Jersey court date is April 8 for a pre-indictment conference. Whitman siblings, left to right, Sarah, Chris, Jennifer and Kim pose for an October 2020 photo during Jennifer Lannon's last visit to New Jersey.(Provided photo) Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Instagram has topped a list of invasive apps and is found to share 79 per cent of users personal data with third parties, including search history, location, contacts as well as your purchases and financial info. Safety-centric cloud storage platform pCloud made this startling discovery after analysing the recently launched privacy labels on the App Store in a bid to provide more transparency around iOS app data collection. Apple Facebook, the parent company of the photo-sharing app, was the second worst offender and it shared 57 per cent of its users data to third parties. Now, the social media giant also collects a staggering 86 per cent of your data to sell you more of their own products and serve you relevant ads on behalf of others. 80% of apps use your data to market their own products in the app and beyond, the report added. This includes things like apps serving you their own ads on other platforms, as well as in-app promotions for their own benefit, or for third parties who pay for the service. The least invasive apps Privacy-centric messaging apps like Signal and Telegram, video conferencing platforms Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Teams as well as streaming giant Netflix are the least invasive apps. pCloud And while social media platforms are the worst offenders for collecting your data for their own marketing, upcoming social media stars BIGO LIVE and Likke are amongst the top 20 safest apps to use. Similarly, food delivery apps Just Eat, Grubhub and My McDonalds were among the few apps that gave away no user data at all. This is in stark contrast to similar platforms like Uber Eats that features in the top 10 alongside LinkedIn, YouTube, Duolingo and eBay. What data does Google collect AFP Apples new privacy labels have forced app developers to publicise exactly how they are tracking people. And after a couple of months of delay, Google finally released the privacy labels and revealed that it collects users location, financial info, browsing history and audio data. Privacy-focussed search engine DuckDuckGo had called out Google for spying on users. The image attached to the tweet shows side-by-side comparisons of the DuckDuckGo App Store privacy label, Chrome, and Google apps. [March 23, 2021] Sunshine Biopharma Reaches $2,000,000+ Financing for Coronavirus Treatment MONTREAL, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sunshine Biopharma Inc. (OTC PINK: SBFM), a pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of oncology and antiviral drugs, today announced that it has received a total of $2,054,000 to date from the recently announced committed minimum financing of $2,000,000 with RB Capital Partners Inc. The financing is in the form of fixed-price convertible debt which now stands at a weighted average conversion price of $0.43 per share. This debt is obligatorily convertible on or before the maturity date. The proceeds will be used for the ongoing development of the Companys Coronavirus Treatment on a priority basis and the clinical development of Adva-27a, the Companys flagship anticancer compound targeted for pancreatic cancer. Development of both projects is currently underway and the research is progressing as planned. On February 1, 2021, Sunshine Biopharma initiated a transgenic mice study for two Anti-Coronavirus compounds in collaboration with the University of Georgia. The goal of the ongoing study is to determine if these protease inhibitors will protect the hACE2-transgenic mice from progression to disease and death following infection with SARS-CoV-2. Should these mice studies prove successful, Sunshine Biopharma plans to submit the results to the FDA and Health Canada for authorization to conduct testing on actual COVID-19 patient volunteers in a Phase I clinical trial setting. Sunshine Biopharmas CFO, Camille Sebaaly stated, We continue to push ahead with the development of our COVID-19 treatment in collaboration with the University of Georgia and our Adva-27a anticancer compound with our corporate partners in Montreal. This investment is integral to our progress in both of these crucial drug development sectors. About Sunshine Biopharmas Coronavirus Treatment Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed the lives of over 2.7 million people worldwide since it first appeared in December 2019. There are currently no drugs that can effectively arrest replication of the virus in people who have contracted the illness. On May 22, 2020, Sunshine Biopharma file a patent application for several molecules which were designed to inhibit the Coronavirus PLpro protease, thus shutting down the ability of the virus to multiply. PLpro is present only in the SARS Coronaviruses (Betacoronaviruses) and is an important antiviral target as it is involved in shutting down the host innate immune system. On February 1, 2021, Sunshine Biopharma entered into an exclusive license agreement with the University of Georgia for two additional Anti-Coronavirus compounds which the University of Georgia had previously developed and patented. Sunshine Biopharma is currently advancing the development of these two compounds in parallel with the Companys own (SBFM-PL4) by conducting a transgenic mice study in collaboration with the University of Georgia. The goal of the ongoing study is to determine if our protease inhibitors will protect the hACE2-transgenic mice from disease progression and death following infection with SARS-CoV-2. Should these mice studies prove successful, Sunshine Biopharma plans to submit the results to the FDA and Health Canada for authorization to conduct testing on actual COVID-19 patient volunteers in a Phase I clinical trial setting. About Sunshine Biopharmas Anticancer Compound In addition, to working on the development of a treatment for COVID-19, Sunshine Biopharma is engaged in the development Adva-27a, a unique anticancer compound. Tests conducted to date have demonstrated the effectiveness of Adva-27a at destroying Multidrug Resistant Cancer Cells, including Pancreatic Cancer cells, Small-Cell Lung Cancer cells, Breast Cancer cells, and Uterine Sarcoma cells. Clinical trials for Pancreatic Cancer indication are planned to be conducted at McGill Universitys Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Canada. Sunshine Biopharma is owner of all patents and intellectual property pertaining to Adva-27a. Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks as well as uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those anticipated or expected, including statements related to the amount and timing of expected revenues statements related to our financial performance, expected income, distributions, and future growth for upcoming quarterly and annual periods. These risks and uncertainties are further defined in filings and reports by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC. Among other matters, the Company may not be able to sustain growth or achieve profitability based upon many factors including but not limited to general stock market conditions. Reference is hereby made to cautionary statements set forth in the Company's most recent SEC filings. We have incurred and will continue to incur significant expenses in our expansion of our existing as well as new service lines noting there is no assurance that we will generate enough revenues to offset those costs in both the near and long term. Additional service offerings may expose us to additional legal and regulatory costs and unknown exposure(s) based upon the various geopolitical locations we will be providing services in, the impact of which cannot be predicted at this time. For Additional Information Contact: Camille Sebaaly, CFO Sunshine Biopharma Inc. Direct Line: 514-814-0464 camille.sebaaly@sunshinebiopharma.com www.sunshinebiopharma.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (Philadelphia, PA) - Lung disease is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Much of this burden is disproportionately spread across populations of non-Hispanic whites, particularly African Americans who smoke. Researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) are now working to understand why smoking is inordinately detrimental to lung health in African Americans, thanks to a $30,000 grant from the CHEST Foundation, a patient-focused philanthropic arm for the American College of Chest Physicians. "We are interested in finding out how sleep modifies the effects of smoking behavior on lung health and exercise tolerance in African Americans as compared to Caucasian smokers," said Andrew J. Gangemi, MD, Assistant Professor of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery at LKSOM. The research is part of a larger, ongoing project led by Aditi Satti, MD, Professor of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery and Professor in the Center for Asian Health at LKSOM. Dr. Satti's work, made possible by a $3 million grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), is focused on identifying potential associations between sleep deficiency, smoking, and lung health disparities in African American adults who are considered to be at high risk of lung disease. "The expected outcome from this work is a clearer, multi-level, understanding of sleep in at-risk African Americans and the extent to which sleep is an up-stream, central risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) progression in African American smokers," Dr. Satti explained. "Given that COPD is one of the fastest growing diseases in African American adults and that this population is more likely to get COPD even with smoking fewer cigarettes, finding new ways to prevent COPD and its progression is important." In a paper published in April 2020 in the journal CHEST, Drs. Gangemi and Satti and colleagues described an association between longer sleep duration and better functional exercise capacity in African American smokers at risk for COPD. "Essentially, we found that longer and better-quality sleep could improve daytime exercise tolerance in heavier smokers to the same extent as an inhaled medication," Dr. Gangemi said. The findings highlight a potentially significant interplay between lung health and smoking, sleep patterns, and activity in African Americans. ### Enrollment in the CHEST study at Temple is now open. Investment company Dragon Capital intends to partially refinance the Grand business center (Kyiv), as well as logistics complexes Diana Lux Logistic (Brovary) and Terminal Kharkiv with a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the amount of $12.5 million, the press service of the company reported. "We are very pleased to begin our cooperation with the EBRD in the field of sustainable real estate investments. This loan will also allow Dragon Capital to expand investments in the commercial real estate sector, especially in the development of our two industrial parks: M10 in Lviv and E40 in Kyiv," Dragon Capital Head Tomas Fiala is quoted as saying in the press release. Dragon Capital has already received green certificates for four buildings in its portfolio (including BC Grand) and expects to double them in 2021. In addition, lease agreements for the company's facilities will now include "green clauses" to minimize environmental impact. Capital BC Grand (leasable area 9,100 sq. m.), Diana Lux Logistic (15,000 sq. m.) and Terminal Kharkiv (11,700 sq. m.) were acquired by the company in 2017-2019. Dragon Capital is one of the largest investment companies in Ukraine. It works in the field of direct investment and financial services, provides a full range of investment banking and brokerage services to corporate and private clients. The commercial real estate portfolio is managed by Dragon Capital Property Management. As of January 2021, it manages 29 commercial properties, including 13 office properties, six retail properties and ten logistics complexes, with a total area of 662,000 square meters. Donald Trump's presidency drove people to their televisions, laptops and phones in horror and fascination. Photo: Reuters/Carlo Allegri Of all Donald Trumps predictions that Mexico would pay for a border wall, that coronavirus would spontaneously disappear, that he would be easily re-elected at least one wasnt entirely wrong. Newspapers, television, all forms of media will tank if Im not there, he augured in 2017, because without me, their ratings are going down the tubes. Barely two months into the post-Trump era, news outlets are indeed losing much of the audience and readership they gained during his chaotic presidency. In other words, journalisms Trump bump may be giving way to a slump. After a record-setting January, traffic to the most popular mainstream news sites in the US, including The Washington Post, plummeted in February, according to the audience tracking firm ComScore. The top sites were also generally doing worse than in February of last year, when the pandemic became a major international news story. The Post, for example, saw the number of unique visitors fall 26pc from January to February, and 7pc from a year ago. The New York Times lost 17pc compared with January and 16pc over last February. Read More The story is largely the same for cable and broadcast news. Audiences grew during the pandemic last spring and summer, remained high in autumn as Mr Trump tried to fight his electoral defeat with false claims of voter fraud, and swelled in the first few weeks of 2021 when a mob attacked the Capitol and Mr Trump became the first president in history to be impeached and acquitted twice. Now that Joe Biden is in the White House and Mr Trump has essentially disappeared from the news cycle, many of those viewers are drifting away. The most deeply affected network is CNN. After surpassing rivals Fox News and MSNBC in January, the network has lost 45pc of its prime-time audience in the past five weeks, according to Nielsen Media Research. MSNBCs audience has dropped 26pc in the same period. Fox News the most Trump-friendly of the three networks in its prime-time opinion shows has essentially regained its leading position by standing still; its ratings have fallen just 6pc since the first weeks of the year. The cable networks declined to discuss their ratings outlook for this article. Its unlikely that media executives expected the furious demand for news in 2020 and early 2021 would last indefinitely. That period was one of the most momentous in living memory, encompassing the onset of a pandemic, the nearly instantaneous collapse of national and global economies, a wave of racial justice protests, and a US presidential election that culminated in an insurrection and impeachment trial. All of it drove people to their TVs, laptops and phones in horror and fascination. Since then, many economies have partially recovered, the roll-out of coronavirus vaccines has raised hopes for an end to the pandemic, and Mr Biden has governed in a more low-key fashion than his predecessor. Yet news organisations plainly benefited from a Trump effect long before the pandemic set in. In 2014, the year before he announced his candidacy, the three leading cable news networks collectively attracted an average of 2.8 million viewers a night during prime-time hours. By 2019, Mr Trumps third year in office, that number had nearly doubled to 5.3 million each night. His rise was so closely linked to the news companies success that some accused the networks of enabling him endlessly broadcasting his racism and sexism-tinged stump speeches in what amounted to free political advertising. CNN president Jeff Zucker expressed regrets late in the 2016 campaign about his networks coverage but acknowledged later that it drew viewers. Weve seen that, any time you break away from the Trump story and cover other events in this era, the audience goes away, he said in 2018. There are still plenty of challenges and plenty of news in a post-Trump democracy, of course. But so far Joe Bidens White House had not produced the daily Twitter outrages, hourly scoops and endless controversies that filled up newspaper columns and cable news panels until a few weeks go. How to fill the void Donald Trump left? Perhaps with more journalism. A ballot on the future of AHDB's potato levy has concluded, with a majority of growers calling for an end to it. The No vote against the continuation of a levy was 66.4 percent versus the Yes vote of 33.6 percent. The overall voter turnout was 64 percent, with 1,196 eligible votes cast. AHDB Chair Nicholas Saphir said he was 'deeply disappointed' by the vote outcome. The call for a ballot on the continuation of a statutory levy in the potato sector came late last year, and a yes/no vote started in February. It comes after a majority of growers voted last month against the continuation of AHDB's statutory horticulture levy. Mr Saphir said: The voting information reported by UK Engage shows that a clear majority of the potato industry feels they are not getting enough value from the current levy set-up. It is now down to ministers to weigh up all the various factors about GB potato industry and make a decision on the future role of a statutory potato levy. Voting analysis by UK Engage according to value of levy paid, showed a similar picture of 63.2 percent No votes versus Yes votes of 36.8 percent. Splitting the result into the two separate potato levies - the potato buyer levy and the potato grower levy - overall buyers voted 82.1 percent No and 17.9 percent Yes. The voting report has been passed to government ministers for a decision on what happens next. Defra minister Victoria Prentis said: "We will now take these results and scrutinise them closely before making a decision on the future of the potato levy. "A joint decision with Scottish and Welsh ministers will be made after the Scottish and Welsh government elections. In the meantime AHDB will continue to collect levy returns from the industry for the 2021/22 year. Responding to the result, NFU horticulture and potatoes board chairman Ali Capper said it was a 'clear signal' that growers did not believe their levy was delivering tangible benefits or value. As with the result of the AHDB Horticulture levy ballot, we expect ministers to respect this result and to fully engage with levy-payers as part of their decision making. Elements such as research and development and work on plant protection products, currently delivered by AHDB Potatoes, will remain crucial for businesses, so it is important there is clarity on the future as soon as possible. "This will ensure businesses are able to prepare how they work on these areas and who with. A lifetime breeding black and whites has convinced Tipperary dairy farmer, John Long, that retaining some of the breeds traditional traits should be part of the future strategy for dairy farming in Ireland. I am a believer that the benefits of the British Friesian have been under-rated because their full worth is not being taken into account, and at the end of the day that is what matters, he says. John runs the Roadmill Pedigree Friesian herd of around 100 cows at Mullawns on the outskirts of Thurles town, and the breeding policy has moved from 50:50 Friesian-Holstein to a ratio of 80:20 in favour of the traditional British Friesian over the past 15 years. Expand Close John Long runs the Roadmill Pedigree Friesian herd of around 100 cows at Mullawns on the outskirts of Thurles town / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John Long runs the Roadmill Pedigree Friesian herd of around 100 cows at Mullawns on the outskirts of Thurles town He makes a very strong case for placing more emphasis on the overall benefits from the British Friesian - more generally known now as Pure Friesian - in maximising the net return from dairy farming. And he is convinced that restrictions on milk production are inevitable and that dairy farmers will need to place more value on the total output value. He emphasises the value of the good black and white bull calf and the cross-bred calves for sale or to finish as beef, both of which he continues to engage in with considerable success. Id defy anyone to show me a man that is milking 90-100 cows and doing better overall than I am doing let them show me where I am making less than they are when everything is put together, he says. The merits of the traditional British Friesian has not been given fair play in the drive for growth in milk production, he maintains, and adds the loss in cross-bred Jersey and Norwegian Red bull calves from Holsteins has to be taken into account in the measure of total farm income. My point is that there are not enough breeders to speak up for the British Friesian as such. We hear a lot about the cross-bred, but they dont take into account what they are putting into them (cows) in extra feed and the worthless bull calves. I cant take that as logic, says John. The one thing that I hate is the saying that bull calves are only a by-product of dairying. They are an industry in themselves. They had paid in the past and probably will do so again. I tried the Holstein for a few years, but when I moved to British Friesian I found that I could do a whole lot better and then people started looking for bulls from my herd and I am now selling 8-10 bulls every year. I limit it at that because it is enough to sell, and I am selling bulls off the best 10-20pc of the cows, he says. My herd is about 70-80pc Friesian, and the people who buy the bulls from me, that is what they are looking for too. They are not looking for 100pc Friesian. The amount of people over the years who contacted me looking for a bull who put down the phone when I told them that I couldnt give them 100pc Friesian were very few. John underlines that he is not anti-Holstein. He acknowledges there are farmers who will prefer to follow that route, and will continue to do so very successfully, but he believes that there is still a definite place for the traditional British Friesian that stocked mixed farms for generations. And he feels very strongly that the message being given to dairy farmers that Jersey and Norwegian Red crosses will give you 500kg of solids and you barely have to feed them is not the full story. Demand The British Friesian will do that and give you another 30-40kg of solids worth in a bull calf that there is plenty of demand for and you get it on day one. Im not factoring in the value of the cull cow, he says. The value of beef from the dairy herd is being talked down by everyone and there seems to be a feeling for a long time that the black and white bull calf is not worth keeping. Expand Close One of the prolific cows in the herd, where one third are fourth lactation or older. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp One of the prolific cows in the herd, where one third are fourth lactation or older. Any of Johns dairy breed bull calves not sold for breeding are finished for beef at 20-22 months with some meal feeding. He says rather than getting a poor price for a forward store in October there is money to finish them for beef in January-February. Two Hereford bulls are kept for a Pedigree Hereford Herd on the farm and for crossbreeding in the dairy herd, and there is a ready market for the calves at 250-280/hd such is the demand for the cross bred for beef. The bonus on Hereford and Angus is the equivalent of an extra animal in the load that is bringing an O+ close to a U- minus equivalent in price. John is continuing a long family history of black and white breeding. His uncles, Jimmy and Toss Boilson, ran the Parkstown herd, and registered their first pedigree Friesians on October 14, 1966. This coincided with the foundation of the Irish Friesian Breeders Association, the forerunner of the IHFA. The brothers farmed in nearby Horse & Jockey, and Jimmy was a founding member of the Tipperary Waterford Friesian Breeders Club. John established his Roadmill herd in 1980. I was keen and ambitious, with an open mind for new ideas and a quest for knowledge, hellbent on being a successful farmer, he recalls. Having a pedigree herd was foremost in my priorities, as it would be the main platform from which to build for the future, to develop the herd and be successful. My uncles Jimmy and Toss Boilsons early influence on pedigree breeding informed my strategic thinking. Bloodlines He recalls the early years as an exciting era of transformational Friesian breeding during which the local Friesian Club sales were a very popular way to disseminate Friesian bloodlines. Some of the first bloodlines to lay the foundation of his herd included the 1978-born Parkstown Angela 2, bred by his uncle Jimmy. He also purchased pedigree Friesians, Kylefarm Electra 56, bred by Tom Fives, Cappoquinn, Co. Waterford, and Stradavoher Rosebud 8, bred by Liam Skehan, Ballycurrane, Thurles, as founding bloodlines for the herd. There was a lot to learn about pedigree breeding for a young farmer and the club field evenings became schooldays in their own way, enriching his knowledge of bloodlines, feeding regimes and milking parlour technology. Within a short time he had made his mark as a judge of dairy stock and qualified as a finalist in the RDS Spring Show Dairy Stockjudging competition for the Fr Collins Trophy three years in a row. Nature comes first on a farm steeped in tradition John Long pursues a holistic approach to protecting the environment in harmony with modern farm management principles for his dairy herd. A beautiful habitat of native Irish species, predominantly ash trees with some sycamore trees, adorn the environs of the farmyard. Some of the trees are estimated to be over 160 years old. Short of these trees becoming a danger, I will never tumble any of them, they are of environmental and historic importance, he says. Expand Close Cows grazing on the Long farm which is dotted with ash and sycamore trees, some of them over 160 years old / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cows grazing on the Long farm which is dotted with ash and sycamore trees, some of them over 160 years old Hedgerows on the farm are carefully maintained, and the farmyard includes carefully preserved stone buildings, preserved in memory of prior generations. Protected urea fertiliser is applied, and slurry is spread via low emission trailing shoe. Combined with with the strong fertility and longevity of the cow families and the integrated beef enterprise, all these factors mean the Long farm has a low environmental footprint and high sustainability credentials. Dairy profile A third of the cows are fourth lactation and older. They recorded 7,785kg milk, 613 kg milk solids, 4.19pcfat, 3.66pc protein last year and currently there are 16 VG/EX cows of sixth lactation or older in the herd. Roadmill Alan Lupin EX90 4E and Roadmill Enigma April 2 VG85, both in their ninth lactation, are the joined-oldest home-bred VG/EX cows. Roadmill Marshall Princess VG86 and Roadmill Sochar Princess VG85 are in their eighth lactation. Roadmill Sochar Princess 2 EX90, Roadmill Kevin Linda VG88 and Roadmill Paj Janet VG85 are all in their seventh lactation. Roadmill Alan Lupin EX90 4E has produced 60,136kg milk, 4,499kg milk solids, 3.76pc fat, 3.69pc protein lifetime yield in eight lactations to date. Roadmill Enigma April 2 VG85, one of the highest fertility cows in the herd, has produced 9,163kg milk, 671kg milk solids, 3.95pc fat, 3.37pc protein in her eighth lactation. An aerial picture shows the four natural-gas power plants "Gersteinwerk" of Germany's RWE Power, (Photo : REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay) The European Union plans to label some gas power plants as sustainable investments, a draft document seen by Reuters showed, after an initial proposal to deny them a green label faced a backlash from some member states. The Commission's new proposal, shared with EU countries on Saturday, would class gas-fuelled plants that generate power plus heating or cooling as a green investment if strict conditions on emissions are met and they are operating by 2025. Advertisement The EU's proposal for gas plants is part of its Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, which defines what economic activities can be marketed in Europe as sustainable investments from next year. The Commission declined to comment on the draft proposal. It plans to finalise the sustainable finance rules by April 21. The EU's aim is to steer more capital into environmentally friendly projects to help it deliver on its plan to rapidly slash the greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change. But the taxonomy has become mired in disputes between EU countries over how to treat investments in natural gas, forcing the Commission to rewrite its original proposal from November. Natural gas, a fossil fuel, produces roughly half the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of coal when burned in a power plant and countries such as Poland and Germany plan to use gas to wean themselves off the more polluting fuel. However, gas is not emissions-free and there are growing concerns that leaks of potent planet-warming methane from gas infrastructure could cancel out the benefits of switching to gas from coal. STRICT CONDITIONS Under the draft plan, gas plants that generate power and also provide heating or cooling can be classed as a green investment if they replace a high-emitting fossil fuel-based facility and result in a cut in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 50% per kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy produced. The gas plant must be operating by 2025, have the potential to use low-carbon fuels in future, and emit no more than 270 grams of CO2 equivalent per kWh of energy. For plants only producing power, or those that also provide heating or cooling but do not replace a more polluting plant, the Commission stuck to its plan to restrict the green label to plants with life-cycle emissions below 100g of CO2 equivalent per kWh, according to the draft document seen by Reuters. That means gas power plants operating now would need to add technology to capture their emissions to qualify. Sean Kidney, chief executive of the Climate Bonds Initiative, said it was a major win for climate action that the Commission had not weakened this 100g emissions limit. "That is a key marker for electricity generation that we need to spread globally," said Kidney, a member of the EU's advisory group on the sustainable finance taxonomy. James Watson, secretary general of gas industry group Eurogas, declined to comment on the draft proposal but said the 100g limit was a barrier to switching to gas from coal. "The taxonomy must leverage all viable technology, including highly efficient gas-fired solutions and renewable and low-carbon gas-ready units," Watson said. The new proposal aims to placate countries split over the finance rules, as it would take a majority of the bloc's 27 members to veto them. A group of 10 EU countries, including Bulgaria and Poland, had urged the Commission to label gas power as green by giving plants a feasible threshold they could meet. States including Denmark and Spain, however, have warned Brussels not to weaken its initial plan to deny gas a green label. Islamabad, Mar 23 (UNI) The Pakistan People's Party(PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday managed to win the crucial support of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) which decided to back the PPP's candidate and former prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for post of the opposition leader in the Senate. The JI said that it agreed with PPP chairman Bilawal Bhuttos contention that the majority party has the right to that important slot in the Senate, Dawn reported. The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) of which the PPP and the JI, an amalgamation of opposition parties in Pakistan formed to oppose the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan saw fissures developing in the alliance when the PML-N and the PPP differed on who should be given the slot of the leader of opposition in the Senate. The schism in the PDM widened when both the PPP and the PML-N hardening their stance on Sunday with Bilawal insisting that the party enjoying a majority in the Senate has the right to nominate leader of the opposition. That is what the parliamentary tradition is and must be respected. UNI XC ACL SB 1212 Almost exactly one year ago, Gorey resident Abbie Doyle pulled up at the rear entrance of Wexford General Hospital. She made a call to inform staff of her arrival and a nurse dressed in full PPE came to let her in. She was told to put on a mask and to keep her hands at her sides, not to touch anything and was immediately brought through a deserted ward and into an isolation room. While the virus had only arrived on our shores in the weeks beforehand and doctors believed there was only a very slim chance she had contracted it, Abbie was to be the first recorded case of Covid-19 in Co Wexford. A native of Newtown, Co Wicklow, Abbie had only moved to Gorey in the weeks before she found herself in hospital. Having made the move with her partner, she was working from home as a Senior Sourcing Specialist since the first week in March. For that reason, opportunities to pick up the virus would have been seemingly limited. 'We didn't know anyone in Gorey at the time and I had been working from home, so we weren't going out much or anything,' she explains. 'At the time though, I had a suppressed immune system, so I was more likely to pick it up in a supermarket or somewhere like that than other people.' Unfortunately, her brush with Covid wasn't Abbie's first encounter with a contagious disease. The previous September she had been diagnosed with TB and had already been through the rigours of isolation. 'I suppose in some ways, the fact I had been through TB had helped me,' she reflects. 'I was used to dealing with doctors and nurses in full PPE and being in isolation. On this occasion, when I was diagnosed with Covid, the doctors were really reassuring and treated it just the same as any other contagious disease.' Expand Close The front page of The Wexford People at the time, March 17, 2020 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The front page of The Wexford People at the time, March 17, 2020 The fact is, however, that back in March of last year, Ireland was a very different place. The use of masks hadn't become widespread. Hand sanitiser etc was only beginning to be rolled out in shops. It was less than a week since the first tentative Covid restrictions were introduced when Abbie was diagnosed and we were still another 11 days from our first full lockdown. Read More 'I was working from home and I remember I just started getting these headaches,' she recalls. 'I assumed it was the stress of moving to a new house and getting used to home working etc. Then I remember that weekend we went to go do the shopping. As we were heading for Lidl, I just felt faint. I couldn't do it, so I told my boyfriend I was going back to the car. I felt awful. I got into the bed when I got home and I felt nauseous and achey and cold. I had no temperature, cough or shortness of breath at the time though, which were given as the symptoms to look out for.' Having called Caredoc, Abbie was advised to go to the hospital, at which point she was brought through an empty Covid ward and into isolation. 'I had to go in around the back, where the ambulances park up. It was kind of surreal,' she said. 'I didn't really know what to expect. I don't think I was aware that I was the first Covid patient until I read the article in the paper. I remember when I was leaving there were one or two others in isolation awaiting test results, but when I was going in the ward was completely empty. It was weird having no one around and a little daunting. 'The staff were great though and the doctor said I looked pretty well. He said I was being tested just in case, but the chances were I didn't have it because, at that time, most cases in Ireland were being linked to foreign travel to Italy. They did the test and I was sent home to isolate there.' At the time Abbie's phone rang to tell her she was positive for Covid-19, there were only around 160 people with the virus in the country. 'He said "your test has returned as Covid-19 positive",' she recalls. 'I said "yeah". Then he repeated it and I remember thinking, "well, what can I say?" They told me to continue to isolate at home and if I felt any worse, to come back to hospital.' Following a call from contact tracing, Abbie's anxiety levels rose and she began to feel ill again. She returned to hospital, which in hindsight was probably for the best. 'The doctors were really reassuring about the whole thing,' she said. 'Even though it was new to them, it felt like they knew exactly what they were doing. They put me into an isolation room and checked me over and told me I was over the worst of it and I was sent home again to isolate. After a couple of days I felt fine and I was back working on the laptop at home.' However, it's worth noting that Covid does have some lingering effects too. 'Towards the end of May or the start of June, I started getting chest pains, tinnitus in my ear and some other weird things like tingling in my hands,' she said. 'Fatigue was also a real issue and I found myself needing naps during the day. I got in touch with the doctor and, although I would've been considered a mild case, they said it was as a result of the virus and I was referred to a post-Covid clinic.' One of the things Abbie was grateful for was that her close contacts, her boyfriend, her mother and her sister in particular, had all tested negative for the virus. Perhaps the thing Abbie found most upsetting from the whole ordeal was the stigma that seemed to surround Covid initially and the commentary on social media, with the virus still being a largely unknown entity which had yet to arrive at many people's doorsteps. 'When I went home, I never kept it a secret from the neighbours or anything,' she said. 'I told them through the window I was sick with Covid and they were really great. We were accepted as part of the community here right away. Everyone is so nice. 'People in general don't seem to have the same level of empathy for contagious diseases as other conditions though. I noticed that when people spoke out about contracting Covid or did interviews etc, they were coming in for a backlash at that time. Back in March, it was harder to speak out and say "I have Covid".' The reporting of figures in relation to Covid often seems to have a de-humanizing effect. People lose touch with the fact that there is a person behind every number and Abbie found it difficult to read some of the commentary surrounding the news that Wexford General had its first confirmed case. 'I struggled with that and found the comments really hurtful,' she said. 'There were people who clearly didn't even read the article taking time out to comment and criticise. It took so much for me not to reply and I was there in a hospital ward, feeling sick. People didn't know the story, but everything was done by the book and I followed all the instructions I was given. 'How would these people like it if it was their sister or daughter in hospital? People can be so judgemental. I know I wasn't named in the piece at the time, but I knew the exact context of what happened and I just found it so sad that people are so quick to assume the worst. The vast majority of people do have the common sense to act in the interest of public health. I just felt "what is the benefit of these people saying these things, other than to hurt someone's feelings?"' Thankfully, feeling fine now, Abbie's advice for anyone who has recently contracted Covid is to be patient and go easy on themselves. 'If I had any advice it would be, just because you feel better after two weeks, don't assume you can immediately go back to what you normally do, running a 5k or whatever. People can struggle for months and your heart rate can be all over the place. You can be really tired. It's like pneumonia. It can take a few months to fully recover. Don't push yourself too hard and take time to recover and build yourself back up.' If a post-work glass of wine is what you look forward to each day, maybe it's time to quit your day job. This month, Murphy-Goode Winery announced a one-year position with its team in Sonoma. But not only will the lucky candidate get to move to sunny California -- they will live there rent-free for a year. "Have you always wanted to live in breathtaking Sonoma Wine Country ... with a $10,000 per month salary, and rent free for a year?" the Geyserville winery wrote. "Do words like Cabernet, Rose, and Chardonnay just roll off your tongue?" Job duties are tailored to your passion Murphy-Goode's new hire should be ready to "pursue (their) passion," the company wrote. For the first few months, work duties are intentionally vast, allowing the new hire to figure out which aspects of winemaking they are interested in. Shadowing winemaker Dave Ready Jr., the son of one of the company's founders, is a part of this exploratory process. After this, Murphy-Goode wrote, it will work with the new employee to define their passions and carve out their place in the wine world. "We have a job that will instantaneously catapult you into the wine stratosphere," the company wrote. More potential job duties include acquiring knowledge of vineyards and winery operations, and learning about the world of e-commerce. The company also wrote that the hire will "develop strong working relationships across functions of the winery," and "work with teams to drive awareness and build demand for Murphy-Goode Winery." The family-owned winery first launched the position in 2009 with an initial focus on documenting the job on social media, according to a company news release. The company, founded in 1985, decided to bring back the position this year "as the country faces a new set of challenges." The company wants someone who 'takes life one sip at a time' The application, open to those 21 years or older authorized to work in the United States, requires a video resume explaining why the candidate believes this is their dream job. The company will evaluate applications on "role value, creativity, and design, applicable experience and skill set." Candidates can apply for the role from now until June 30. The job will roughly begin in September. The most important qualification for Murphy-Goode's "A Really Goode Job" is loving wine -- the position includes 30 cases of it. [March 23, 2021] InfinityQS Software Provides King & Prince Seafood Full Visibility into Product Quality - Across its Supply Chain FAIRFAX, Va., March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InfinityQS International, Inc., (InfinityQS), the global authority on data-driven manufacturing quality, announces King & Prince Seafood has standardized on InfinityQS Quality Intelligence software across all three of its U.S. production plants. For more than 95 years, King & Prince has been committed to providing consumers with high-quality seafood products in adherence with the strictest food safety standards. Using InfinityQS, King & Prince leverages real-time data visibility to uphold its commitment to quality by proactively monitoring more than 100 processes in its plantsas well as incoming raw materials from international suppliers. As part of Nissuithe second largest seafood company in the worldKing & Prince purchases raw seafood materials via an extensive global sourcing network. Because these materials represent 60-75% of the finished product enjoyed by King & Prince consumers, its critical that these raw materials meet quality standards and avoid issues further down the supply chain. By requiring that suppliers digitally collect and share quality data through InfinityQS software, King & Prince achieves total oversight of third-party inspectionsbefore products even leave their country of origin. Tracy McConnell, Vice President of Technical Services at King & Prince, notes, Bringing in high-quality seafood that meets our tight specifications directly translates into a high-end final productwhich positively affects both our revenue and our reputation. The collected supplier data also facilitates purchasing decisions, in which the companys procurement managers use the data to review supplier capability and determine which suppliers to use when producing new items. King & Prince has digitally transformed its quality management program with the ability to access and analyze data from all points of the end-to-end production process in a centralized database. Within its plants, operators useInfinityQS to track and monitor data in real time, including viscosity, temperature measurements, sensor measurements, counts before and after the fryerand more. Operators can now immediately identify when there is variation in the data, enabling them to stop the process, make necessary adjustments, and confirm when everything is back on track. King & Prince uses the quality data entered into InfinityQS all the way up to final product inspections. InfinityQS enables us to see what we provide to our customers, and because of this we are able to react sooner to prevent issues from making it to customers. This has reduced customer complaints to less than one per million pounds soldyear over year, adds McConnell. InfinityQS enables us to ensure that we have a fully-compliant productfrom start to finish. Steve Wise, Vice President, Digital Food Safety, at InfinityQS, says, King & Princes success story illustrates the transformative benefits of centralized and standardized data for todays food manufacturers. Everyone from across the supply chain can work from the same informationand collaborate toward delivering a better and safer product to consumers. In addition to cost savings derived from producing a more consistent product, this level of visibility and quality assurance provides a clear competitive advantage for a brand, driving both customer retention and continued business growth. To learn more about King & Princes quality success story, download the case study In-spec Processes: Upstream & Downstream. About King & Prince Seafood King & Prince Seafood prides itself on delivering the best quality seafood available to operators guaranteeing patron satisfaction. For over 95 years, King & Prince Seafood has been providing patron-pleasing seafood by following strict quality control procedures and maintaining food safety standards that exceed the industry. With one of the industrys most extensive global sourcing networks through Nissui, the worlds second largest seafood company, King & Prince Seafood sources sustainable seafood to ensure availability for future generations. Innovation, foodservice expertise and consistency are what King & Prince Seafood delivers to their customers every day: Sea. Taste. Enjoy! When you taste it, youll love it! For more information about the company or its product brands: King & Prince, Mrs. Fridays, Oceanway, Sensations and Fish Market Fresh, visit www.kpseafood.com. About InfinityQS International, Inc. For over 30 years, InfinityQS has been the leading global provider of Manufacturing Quality Intelligence software and services. Powered by a robust Statistical Process Control (SPC) analytics engine, the companys solutionsEnact and ProFicientdeliver unparalleled visibility and strategic insight across the enterprise, from the shop floor to the boardroom. This extensive deep-dive capability enables manufacturers to improve product quality; decrease cost and risk; improve compliance; and make strategic, data-driven business decisions. Headquartered near Washington, D.C. and with offices in Seattle, London, Beijing, and Delhi, InfinityQS has thousands of customers around the world, including Ball Corporation, Boston Scientific, Graham Packaging, and Medtronic. For more information, visit www.infinityqs.com . Media Contact: Edward Lin DPR Group, Inc. (240) 686-1000 edward@dprgroup.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Market: Geoff Higgins says demand for their software has been very strong Northern Ireland software firm Decision Time has said it's now added 11 government departments to its public sector customers on the island of Ireland. The Antrim-based firm provides governance software for managing meetings, risks and objectives. It's now secured contracts with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Social Protection in the Republic of Ireland, as well as the Northern Ireland Civil Service's nine government departments. A spokesman for the company said Decision Time has won every public sector tender for board meeting software in Ireland for the past two years. Over 80 Irish government bodies are now using its products, which makes it easier for organisations to run effective meetings, manage risk and monitor their strategic performance. Chief executive Geoff Higgins said: "Regulated organisations are complex, and governing them from board level is challenging. "Organisations also know that the impact of ineffective corporate governance can be severe, with potential financial, service, reputational, and particularly in the case of the public sector, societal implications. "So, demand for our software has been very strong in the past few years, something that the pandemic has only served to intensify." He said the public sector in the Republic had become one of its fastest-growing markets. "Corporate governance in Ireland has clearly moved forward dramatically in the last decade or so and is now a very high priority, which means better decision-making, better management, and better outcomes for society. "It's also good news for Decision Time and means our software is likely to remain in strong demand," he added. In the last two years, the company has more than doubled its customers. And it has forecast that revenues will more than double from 2.4m per annum in 2020 to beyond 5m in 2023. The company recently appointed former Novosco chief Patrick McAliskey as chairman.Other customers include NHS Trusts, universities, and housing associations. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! The International Air Transport Association (IATA) must step up its communications efforts, provide common guidelines and rally all industry stakeholders to boost confidence in the aviation sector, observed a panel on Airline Strategies versus todays reality at the eighth Arab Aviation Summit in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Describing the aviation sectors response to the crisis emerging from the pandemic as timid, Sunil John, President Middle East of BCW and Founder of ASDAA BCW, said the sectors current challenges cant be addressed by airlines, airports, or tour operators alone but global organisations such as IATA that must bring a commonality of approach and an industry-wide response regarding the safety and vaccine protocols to benefit the sector. Moderated by broadcast journalist Eithne Treanor, the panel discussion was also addressed by Linus Benjamin Bauer, Founder & Managing Director of Bauer Aviation Consultancy; and Peter Morris, Chief Economist at Flight Ascend Consultancy. John said there is pent-up demand for travel now, but the key is to build confidence among people who are not ready to fly, assure them of their safety and how they can navigate the various protocols. Aviation is sentiment-driven. Right now, the sentiment is all gloom and doom. Building confidence will happen when the aviation sector has clear and honest communication that addresses passenger anxieties. They must lead from the front. A proactive, courageous stance is needed for the aviation industry today. The United Arab Emirates will take a lead role in driving the recovery of the aviation sector, added John, with Expo 2020 Dubai, playing a decisive role in boosting the prospects of both the aviation and tourism sectors. The nation is at the centre of the world and we have the opportunity to convert the pent-up demand for people to get on planes and travel. He cited the success story of Ras Al Khaimah in driving domestic tourism as a smart strategy" that led to near 100 per cent occupancy at hotels in the emirate during the pandemic year, and the RAK International Airport gaining market share despite the pandemic through flexible pricing attracting low-cost airlines. John said an emerging trend for the sector will be the rise of private jet charters that will eat into the business travel segment of commercial airlines. The Uber of the skies will be a real trend offering the opportunity for people who had never had the opportunity to get on a private plane to charter their travel with an App. You are looking at a whole new market that is going to impact commercial airlines, which will likely lose market share in the lucrative first/business class passenger segment. In addition, private companies are increasingly going to look at business travel for essential or unavoidable purposes only. Linus Bauer reiterated the need to build confidence in the industrys ability to carry passengers from A to B safely. He said the decline in business travel was a key challenge, while adding that the opportunities in the Middle East were tremendous, leading to increased appetite for aviation services. Peter Morris said the success of the industry calls for commercial solutions. Only business models that meet the needs of customers will be successful. You cannot force people to travel and there are different sets of parameters for business and leisure. Top priorities include ensuring the continued viability of airlines, airports and tourism providers, he added. A coherent response by governments is lacking and air travel patterns remain complex. The hit to global GDP is another factor that influences the ability to travel. The eighth Arab Aviation Summit is organised by Air Arabia and hosted in collaboration with the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA). The event is held under the theme, Arab Aviation in the New Normal. -TradeArabia News Service After a year of isolation from loved ones and lack of physical contact with their families in some cases, Texas nursing home residents who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are now allowed unlimited hugs and visits from their loved ones as long as the facility permits it, under new rules announced Tuesday by state health officials. The rule change is effective immediately. VACCINES FOR ALL: All Texas adults will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine later this month Nothing can replace a hug and a smile from a loved one, and we anticipate many happy reunions, said Becky Anderson, chief clinical officer for Focused Post Acute Care Partners, which runs 31 facilities in Texas. The new rule also applies to residents of assisted living centers and other long-term care facilities. There are about 1,200 nursing homes in Texas with about 90,000 residents, according to population estimates and state numbers. There are about 2,000 assisted living facilities in Texas, officials said. Nearly 9,000 nursing home residents have died of COVID-related causes, accounting for some 20% of all Texas coronavirus deaths, according to state data. Safely visiting with family and friends is vital to the mental health and well-being of long-term care residents, Victoria Ford, chief policy and regulatory officer for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, said in a statement. We are so pleased these new rules will allow residents to enjoy in-person visits with a wider circle of loved ones. For the last few months, nursing homes that had COVID-19 cases identified in the building outside of areas for sick residents could only allow designated essential caregivers to visit for limited times after training and screening. Birthday parties and holiday celebrations took place largely through windows and over video calls. VACCINE SITES: CVS adds 74 more COVID-19 vaccinations sites in Texas In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott shut down visitation in mid-March in an attempt to keep the coronavirus out of the facilities and away from those most likely to die from the virus. In early August, the state eased restrictions for nursing facilities that didnt have any active COVID-19 cases among residents or confirmed cases among staff in the previous two weeks in the areas of the building where COVID-19 negative residents live. Touching, however, was only allowed for essential caregiver visits and end-of-life visits. Social distancing and other protocols had to remain in place. Under new rules, nursing homes may now allow personal contact, outdoor visitation even if there is an outbreak at the facility, unlimited time on visits and unlimited end-of-life visits. Facilities no longer have to request visitation approval from the state or limit indoor visitation to designated areas with barriers, the new rules say. The new rules will not only benefit residents but also the employees who worked hard to fill the void left by the restrictions, Anderson said. Focused Care appreciates the emotional impact lifting visitation restrictions will have on our residents and team members as well, many of whom have remained the conduit between our vulnerable seniors and their family members over this last year, she said. Anderson said shes hopeful state officials will continue to look for safe ways to relax the remaining restrictions. JUMPING THE LINE: Texans don't have to prove they're eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine Providing skilled nursing care and short-term rehab throughout a raging pandemic has been challenging, but we have proven it can be done as safely as possible when safeguards are in place and mitigation measures followed, she said. We are hopeful that as many of these restrictions are modified and some disappear altogether, we as a community, both inside and outside the walls of our Focused Care buildings, continue to look out for the welfare of those we love and strive to protect. AUSTIN, Texas, March 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens National Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Citizens, Inc. (NYSE: CIA) recently announced its entrance into the Florida insurance market with a new product and new services that capitalizes upon Citizens' long history selling insurance in Latin America. CNLIC has been in the insurance market since 1965 and entered the Florida market earlier this year, bringing its Whole Life insurance product that offers competitive advantages and its unique value proposition of providing outstanding service and dependable products, tailored for the Spanish and Portuguese speaking people of Florida. With over 50 years of experience in the insurance market through the stability and the support of its holding company, Citizens, Inc., and through its family of insurance companies that have clients all around the world, Citizens National is able to broker that experience to serve the needs of the Hispanic community in the Florida market. Our new Whole Life product, the Longevity Max, offers a unique blend of life insurance coverage, lifetime income and savings protection, all with conservative and guaranteed returns in low-risk investments. Longevity Max is designed to provide customers with financial security and peace of mind. Citizens National offers an exclusive, customized service with its understanding of the Spanish and Portuguese languages and the Hispanic culture so customers in Florida can be confident in making the most informed decisions. Our broad trajectory and experience in the life insurance market in Latin American, along with our excellent digital and customized service, make Citizens National a top option. Robert Mauldin, President and Chief Marketing Officer said, "Citizens National Life Insurance Company is committed to delivering a new level of protection. The company's competitive life insurance policies offer the financial strength and confidence to enjoy life with peace of mind while providing financial security. Citizens National's broad experience in the Latin American insurance market makes it a top choice for our valued Hispanic clients." To learn more about Citizens National or its products, you can visit, www.citizensinc.com/citizens-national About Citizens National Life Insurance Company Citizens National Life Insurance Company is a member of the Citizens, Inc. group of life insurance Companies. Citizens National was incorporated in the State of Texas on June 2, 1965 and began transacting business in 1966. CNLIC is licensed in 9 states. The company gains additional financial stability through the long trajectory and strength of its holding company, Citizens, Inc., which adds value to each of our policies by providing state-of-the-art technology systems, strong investment strategies and streamlined operational leadership. About Citizens, Inc. Citizens, Inc. is a financial services company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CIA. The Company utilizes a three-pronged strategy for growth based upon worldwide sales of U.S. Dollar-denominated whole life cash value insurance policies, life insurance product sales in the U.S. and final expense and limited liability property product sales in the U.S. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Citizens, Inc. and its affiliates beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to the Company's expectations regarding business performance, operational strategy, capital expenditures, technological changes, regulatory actions, and other financial and operational measures. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate", "believe", "project" "intends," "continue" or similar expressions. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Citizens, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law. For further information contact: Marketing Department [email protected] SOURCE Citizens, Inc. Related Links http://www.citizensinc.com In this photo released by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi greet each other prior to their talks in Beijing, March 22. AP China bristled Tuesday after western nations lined up to impose sanctions over its crackdown on Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, the first concerted international action against Beijing since Joe Biden took office. Rights groups believe at least one million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in the northwestern region, where China is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour. China has strongly denied the allegations and says training programmes, work schemes and better education have helped stamp out extremism in the region. On Monday, the EU, Britain and Canada blacklisted four former and current officials in the Xinjiang region, while Washington, which had already sanctioned two of those officials in July 2020, added the other pair to the list. New Zealand and Australia on Tuesday welcomed the measures, but both stopped short of introducing their own on China, a major export market for their goods. Beijing snapped back immediately, announcing entry bans on 10 Europeans including five members of the European Parliament as well as two EU bodies and two think-tanks. Then China's vice foreign minister Qin Gang summoned the head of the European Union delegation to China. "The EU sanctions against China, based on Xinjiang-related lies and false information, are inconsistent with the facts, have no legal basis and are unreasonable," the foreign ministry said after the meeting. "China urges the European side to realise the seriousness of its mistake, correct it and stop confrontation so as to avoid causing greater damage to China-EU relations." The unified action signalled a possible watershed in the diplomatic approach towards China. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Efforts in the fight against "the tsunami of hate and xenophobia in social media" appear to be largely failing, because hate is increasing, not diminishing, according to the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Dr Fernand de Varennes. De Varennes was presenting his report on the outcomes of the 13th Forum on Minority Issues to the latest session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. In many countries, three quarters or more of the victims of online hate speech are members of minority groups. Women belonging to these groups are disproportionately targeted. "Too often, hate speech is followed by hate crimes and violence," says de Varennes. "It can too easily prepare the ground for dehumanisation and scapegoating of minorities, and for normalising hate. We need to learn from history and place all our efforts in erasing hate speech from the online space." The Forum on Minority Issues, an annual event which last year took place virtually due to the pandemic's restrictions, brought together human rights defenders from minority communities, internet companies and social media platforms, non-governmental organizations, States, academics and UN experts for an open and interactive dialogue. Last year's theme focused on the disturbing and rising occurrence of online hate speech against minorities, and the summary report delivers a range of recommendations. A call for an international framework driven by human rights Online hate speech is being addressed by many, however the report highlights the frequent inadequacies of the process. It explains the recurrent inaction, but also action which results in breaches of freedom of expression. The report therefore calls for an 'international regulatory framework' which is centred on, and driven by, the protection and promotion of human rights. "The current tsunami of hate and xenophobia requires clarity and consistency in guidance, and understanding built upon international human rights law being at the very centre, rather than an afterthought," stated de Varennes, when presenting the report. Further, an internationally acceptable legal definition of hate speech should be adopted in accordance with international human rights law, particularly on freedom of expression, advises the report. Prioritising minorities is key With minorities forming the overwhelming majority of victims of online hate speech, it is crucial that social media platforms prioritise them in consultations in their efforts to address hate speech. States also have a responsibility, says the report, to protect the needs of all minorities, not just some. When presenting the report, de Varennes recommended that social media platforms must "improve their game" and actively synchronise their community standards with international human rights obligations, particularly to protect minorities. He noted that while moves have begun in this direction, some platforms "invariably seem to ignore or misunderstand what international human rights standards require." Towards a safer online space for minorities A zero tolerance policy for hate speech, hate crime and racism against minorities must be adopted by States and tech and social media companies, recommends the report. Rigorous monitoring of hate speech and racism is also a critical requirement. The report advises that to truly guarantee freedom of expression, and empowerment of members of national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, States need to ensure the Internet and social media platforms represent a safe environment. "Whole societies are currently being poisoned with misinformation and hate," said de Varennes. "We need to put a stop to this. Everyone must have safe and secure access to social media, with the ability to express themselves, without risking being a victim of discrimination, racism, violence or hostility." 23 March 2021 HB 75 provides living organ donors with insurance protections, improving Kentucky's grade on AKF's Living Donor Protection Report Card ROCKVILLE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / The American Kidney Fund (AKF) commends Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear for signing HB 75, the Living Donor Protection Act of 2021, into law. The bill will prohibit life, disability and long-term care insurers from discriminating against living organ donors by charging higher premiums or denying them coverage. "Governor Beshear and the Kentucky General Assembly have taken a critical step toward removing barriers to living organ donation," said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF president and CEO. "HB 75 will ensure that Kentucky residents won't face discrimination by insurers for giving someone a lifesaving organ. We applaud Kentucky for passing this law and hope that it will lead to more people deciding to be living organ donors in the state-ultimately shortening the transplant waiting list." AKF worked closely with sponsors Representative Jerry Miller (R-36) and Representative Shawn McPherson (R-22) to move this bill through the Kentucky General Assembly. AKF is leading a nationwide effort to pass living donor protections at the state level. Kentucky is the first state to enact such legislation this year, joining the 12 other states that have put these protections into place since 2019, thanks to legislation spearheaded by AKF. HB 75 is the second living donor protection legislation signed into law in Kentucky. It will move the state up from a D grade to a C on AKF's annual State of the States: Living Donor Protection Report Card. AKF's Report Card, which was released in February, identifies seven different categories of publicly reported legislation in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia that protect living donors and encourage living organ donation. In the absence of federal legislation to protect living donors, there is an uneven patchwork of protections across the nation, with some states providing no protections at all. Most transplanted organs are from deceased donors, but patients may also receive organs from living donors. Living donation offers an alternative for individuals awaiting transplantation from a deceased donor and increases the existing organ supply. Transplants from living donors generally have fewer complications than deceased-donor transplants and a longer survival of the donor organ. There are 108,000 Americans on the organ transplant waiting list and 93,000 of them, or 86%, are waiting for a kidney. In Kentucky, more than 750 people are on the kidney transplant waiting list. Of the 23,644 kidney transplants performed in the U.S. in 2020, just 5,234 were made possible by living organ donors. In Kentucky, just 39 of 216 kidney transplants were from living donors. Among its many programs, AKF provides long-term financial assistance that makes transplants and post-transplant care possible for low-income kidney failure patients. In 2020, AKF's assistance made 1,615 transplants possible-7% of all kidney transplants performed in the U.S. AKF's program helps post-transplant patients for their full insurance plan year, ensuring continuity of care. About Us As the nation's leading independent nonprofit working on behalf of the 30 million Americans with kidney disease, the American Kidney Fund is dedicated to ensuring that every kidney patient has access to health care, and that every person at risk for kidney disease is empowered to prevent it. AKF provides a complete spectrum of programs and services: prevention outreach, top-rated health educational resources, and direct financial assistance enabling the nation's low-income dialysis and transplant patients to access lifesaving medical care. AKF holds the highest ratings from the nation's charity watchdog groups, including Charity Navigator, which includes AKF on its "top 10" list of nonprofits with the longest track records of outstanding stewardship of the donated dollar, and GuideStar, which has awarded AKF its Platinum Seal of Transparency. For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. CONTACTS Ben Shannon AKF@jpa.com 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852 Work: 202-559-2813 Mobile: 919-360-3039 www.kidneyfund.org/ SOURCE: American Kidney Fund View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/637125/American-Kidney-Fund-Commends-Kentucky-Governor-Andy-Beshear-and-General-Assembly-for-Passing-Living-Organ-Donor-Protections-into-Law Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is moderately less effective against the South African variant, suggests a study. The findings, published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, showed that the vaccine is effective against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and the UK variant, but provides weakened protection against the South African variant and the combined UK-South African variants. "Our findings show that future variants could necessitate a modified vaccine as the virus mutates to increase its infectivity," said researcher Ran Taubea from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. For the study, the research team looked at the effectiveness of the vaccine against the original viral strain, the UK and the South African variants, as well as strains that harbour combined changes in the viral spike. They are continuing to test other circulating variants as they constantly emerge with the hope to identify potentially risky mutations that can compromise the vaccine, the study indicated. The research team also compared neutralising antibody levels following administration of one and two doses of the vaccine, as opposed to levels in patients that have recovered from Covid-19.A The team found that vaccination provided optimal levels of protection, when compared to the lower levels of protection that were observed in recovered patients. A recent study, published in the journal Nature, also indicated that Covid-19 vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech significantly appear less effective against the Covid variant that first emerged in South Africa. Two police officers are lucky to be alive after a wheel flew off a truck in front of them and smashed into their windscreen. The pair were travelling at more than 100km/h along the Pacific Motorway on the Gold Coast near Helensvale about 11.45pm on Monday. The wheel destroyed the windscreen of the police van, showering the two cops in glass but they were both uninjured. Incredibly the two police officers were uninjured in the incident despite being showered in glass The windscreen of the police van was destroyed by the flying wheel Queensland Police released footage of the aftermath showing the full extent of the damage. It shows that the height of point of contact between the van and the wheel means the wheel must have flown into the air once it left the vehicle ahead before hitting the van. The vehicle that owned the wheel did not stop and was not identified. Police are now searching for the driver of the vehicle who was travelling through the Helensvale area. Anyone who may have witnessed or have dashcam of the incident is urged to contact police. The wheel from the light truck or trailer has not been connected to a vehicle yet When Ambreen Tariq was eight years oldnot long after she, her older sister, and her parents emigrated from Hyderabad, India to Minnesotaher father announced that they were going camping: it was what Minnesotans do. That trip and others that followed, with all the attendant ups and downs, sparked a lifelong love of the outdoors. To encourage more people of color to join her in hiking and camping, Tariq began writing about her experiences and launched a digital storytelling project on Instagram, @BrownPeopleCampingwork that eventually caught the attention of Penguins Kokila imprint. A deal was finalized in early 2019, and her first picture book, Fatimas Great Outdoors, makes its debut later this month. We spoke with Tariq by phone while she was in Rochester, N. Y., hand-delivering copies of the books to her family, which now includes a niece, age nine, and two nephews six and three. This book is such a special part of my familys journey, she said. Now it can be on their bookshelf, and theyll see their mother, and their grandparents and me, in these pages. What was the trajectory from your advocacy work to writing to this book? Since 2016 Ive been working really hardcoalition-building, writing, and contributing to magazines as an immigrant advocate about what it feels like to be an underrepresented identity on the trails. We need to encourage everyone to get outside, because the environment needs to be protected through advocacy, and the people who are doing it are still significantly whitethats not keeping up with the demographics of America. If we dont get more people to love the outdoors, were not going to have enough people to protect it. What I didnt expect were the responses I got from incredibly angry, racist people: the entire spectrum of hate. It overwhelmed me. I thought, if we cant explain to all these communities why diversity is important, were in trouble. So in 2017 I wrote an essay for Outside about what it means to get out there as a child, and to bring your own culture out there, and how that allowed me to be confident. I painted this scene about our family camping trips, how we brought our own food, we told jokes in our language, we sang our own songs. People left us alone and it was a moment of joy that was formative in my life. That article and my Instagram posts struck a chord. My agent, Zoe Sandler, connected with the people at Kokila an imprint of Penguin Random House focused on inclusiveness. At first, I didnt realize this was full-on a pitch for me to write a bookIm usually asked to contribute a quote or an excerpt. Im truly grateful to write about my story and share it with children, because my experience, my advocacy, is based on what happened to me as a child. As an experienced writer of personal journalism, what was it like making the transition to writing a childrens book? I still have the first journal from when I was 10 years oldwriting has been a love of my life. We moved around, but I was always involved in the school literary magazine. Still, I had never written for children, and it was daunting. The way I write is very narrative: its about moods and feelings and its literary. Some of those elements made it in, like when I write that Papas bear paw clapped Fatimas shoulder after they put the tent together. I learned that children need less explanation in the narration that sets up scenepartly because theres an illustration accompanying it. Theres a moment when the girls see the white families at the campsite, and I wanted to over-explain how they felt. And my fantastic editor, Joanna Cardenas, said, Youd be surprised how much kids understand. The title took us almost two months to agree on, but I picked the name Fatima because its my middle name and a family name, and I also wanted my South Asian Muslim identity to be obvious. At the same time, its a name thats actually special to a lot of different communitiesand that was important to me, too. It was very much a team environment to put this together, with Joanna and with Zoe, who was incredible for bouncing off ideas. Im completely new to publishing and its hard to keep straight who does what, but it was an incredible collaborative process to help me find my voice to speak to kids. Fatimas family and their experiences are so vividly imaginedhow much of it is biographical, and what does your family think of the book? The book is about 90% what actually happened. My dad literally started spraying lighter fluid on the fire, and he got so frustrated it would roar up and then die down. And my sister and I would see white families sitting around laughing and we were thinking, Why, again, can we not be just like everybody else? There are themes in the story that I find very universal, regardless of whether youre Indian or Muslim or an immigrantthe fact is most kids growing up want to be like everyone else. You dont want to be empowered and unique. And then, especially as an immigrant, you just want to get accepted into the world around you. I was very much struggling; my parents were working two jobs, my sister and I didnt know American English, and we were being bullied in school. We used to take a lot of road trips because thats all we could afford, and at the end Id get this heavy feeling in my heartI didnt want to go home, because home meant wed go back to all of those things. In the book, everything gets better. But in real life, its not so easy, not so linear. My family is very excited. For my parents, its just surrealthis isnt reality, this isnt something that happens to them. To capture a time in our life that was difficult and still joyful while we were struggling in different ways... surreal is a good word for describing it. They also find it hilarious to see themselves illustrated. Im hearing, I wanted to look skinnier; I wanted to look younger, but I told them, I wanted you to look the way you look. Theyre very proud. How did you collaborate with illustrator Stevie Lewis on the art? The illustration process was a constant back and forthI didnt write the book, send it off and not see it again. I gave Stevie family pictures. I said it was important for Fatima to be goofy and awkward because I was goofy and awkward. I remember the first sketch I saw of the family charactersthey looked like white people who were colored brown. There were touches that she would put in and I would say, for example, No, we couldnt afford head lamps [when we went camping]. I didnt know how to articulate what I was seeing and what I wanted. Its been an incredible process working with Stevie, who can take direction and literally visualize my idea, but I also had to learn how to give that directionto say South Asian people have different-shaped features. The texture of our hair is different. Our brown is different. Our bodies are different. Stevie and I worked so closely, and we developed such a great friendship. It was really fun for me as I started to learn how visualization worksI was able to suggest different things. It was really important for me to have bacon [in the campfire lighting scene]. But we dont eat pork, and I explained how we went to a halal butcher and got beef bacon. So youll see in that scene that on the package that Fatimas holding, Stevie was able to write Halal in Arabic. Fatimas Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq, illus. by Stevie Lewis. Kokila, $17.99 Mar. 30 ISBN 978-1-984816-95-5 Thousands of school-age children have benefited from the clean water awareness initiative Understanding the importance of water resources, Coca-Cola has led several initiatives in Vietnam to conserve water and to provide safe water access. Coca-Colas EKOCENTER programme, for example, has provided more than three million litres of clean water to residents in 13 provinces nationwide. On average, EKOCENTER provides 7,000 litres of clean water per day. Since the launch of the first EKOCENTER in Ho Chi Minh City in 2015, Coca-Cola has built 13 EKOCENTERs across the country to improve access to clean water for local communities. Besides providing clean water, EKOCENTERs have become a daily hub in local communities providing residents with free Wi-Fi, filtered water from an advanced solar energy system, multi-purpose gymnasiums and a community home. In addition, kiosks in the EKOCENTER provide a place and opportunity for local women to sell various products, thereby enhancing their economic capacity. Coca-Cola has also been working with the International Union for Conservation of Nature to implement a far-reaching project to help alleviate the twin impacts of both drought and floods in the Mekong Delta. Between 2017 to 2019, the project has invested nearly VND6 billion ($260,870) into sustainably improving the livelihoods of farming communities in flood-affected areas in the Mekong Delta. Coca-Cola has also been helping to provide clean drinking water for secondary schools in Vietnam. It has partnered with the Center for Consultancy on Family Health and Community Development to launch a programme to increase access to clean water in schools and help raise awareness and appreciation among school children on the importance of water. In 2020, the beverage maker poured $110,000 into this programme. In total, 6,244 school children and teachers directly benefited from the programme, as well as 12,488 people who live in the surrounding areas. Furthermore, Coca-Cola has invested VND6.8 billion ($295,600) in conservation efforts at the Tram Chim National Park in cooperation with the World Wide Fund for Nature. Thanks to these efforts, 231 bird species have been successfully protected in the park over the years. Meanwhile, almost 200 households living around the park can participate in the use of natural resources during flooding season. We have a long history in Vietnam and around the world of supporting local water stewardship programmes, said a representative of Coca-Cola. For us, its a business imperative. Water is essential to our products and the communities where we operate. Coca-Cola is supporting communities in water conservation Coca-Cola is utilising state-of-the-art technologies in the name of a cleaner environment Coca-Cola Vietnam is also addressing water conservation through its internal business practices. Every year, the company optimises to reduce the amount of water per litre of product output, and at the same time, convert the water which is used for production from groundwater to tap water from 2019. From 2015 to 2020, water efficiency of Coca-Cola Vietnam improved on average by 25 per cent. As part of its commitment to protect the environment, the company also focuses on wastewater treatment. With a designed capacity of 1,000 cubic metres per day and upgradable to 3.500 cu.m per day, the plants innovative waste water treatment system is upgraded with membrane bioreactor filtration systems featuring superior advantages, ensuring discharged waste water meets A-grade quality which exceeds current required standards. Moving forward, Coca-Cola Vietnam will continue to show leadership in water stewardship and continue to partner in efforts to raise collective action and awareness. The Ministry of Commerce has set five conditions for a foreigner to enter into a partnership with a Saudi investor or own a facility, in accordance with the corrective period for violators of the anti-tasattur regulation, said a report. The first and second requirements are that the establishments total revenues should be over SR40 million ($10.66 million), or the number of employees should exceed 50, a Saudi Gazette report quoting the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce Ayidh Al-Ghwainem said. The third condition is that the commercial register should have been issued before the date of the corrective period, and the fourth is the right to set forth in providing the capital, gradually, for a period of three years, and the fifth of these conditions is the approval of the Saudi sponsor. Al-Ghwainem explained that submitting an application to correct the cover-up (Tasattur) violation does not require the consent of the two parties. In other words, one of the parties can submit a request for rectification, whether to become a partner or the owner of the facility or to obtain a privileged residence permit (Iqama) for small entities, and the corrective period has waived the requirement for the international presence of the beneficiary enterprise. He said that the platform for correcting the status of violators of the anti-cover-up regulation is independent of all government and monitoring regulations. Hence, all the information provided to the platform enjoys total privacy and confidentiality. The information provided by applicants for correction of their status is not shared with any party. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. PHAC President Given Until Friday to Explain Why Two Scientists Let Go OTTAWAThe president of the Public Health Agency of Canada has been given until the end of the week to explain why two Canadian government scientists were let go 18 months after being escorted from Canadas only Level 4 laboratory. Iain Stewart came under fire Monday from opposition MPs after he repeatedly refused to explain why PHAC terminated the employment of Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng, in January. Stewart told the special committee on Canada-China relations that he could not provide details due to privacy issues and security with respect to the investigation still being conducted by the RCMP. He would say only that PHAC conducted its own investigation, that it is now completed and the pair are no longer employed by the agency. Im not at liberty to discuss it further, Stewart said repeatedly. The pair were escorted out of the National Microbiology Laboratory in July 2019 over what was described as a possible policy breach and administrative matter. The Winnipeg lab is Canadas highest-security laboratory, designed to deal safely with deadly contagious germs such as Ebola. PHAC has said their escorted exit had nothing to do with the fact that four months earlier, Qiu had been responsible for a shipment of Ebola and Henipah viruses to Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology. But opposition MPs repeatedly tried to link the two events, and to further link it to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, which first surfaced in Chinas Wuhan province. Dr. Guillaume Poliquin, head of the National Microbiology Laboratory, told the committee that Canada has never transferred any coronaviruses to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Conservative MP Garnett Genuis asked if there has ever been a case in which a Canadian lab fired a scientist over security breaches or the improper transfer of viruses. Stewart replied that he was not able to answer the question as structured. Im glad you have a bloody senior office in this country where youre supposed to account to parliamentarians and the Canadian people. Now answer the damned question, Genuis said. This is such an utter disgrace. Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos interrupted Genuis questioning on a point of order, accusing him of badgering the witness and breaching decorum. But at that point committee chair Geoff Regan briefly lost his Internet connection to the virtual meeting so Genuis, as vice-chair, took over. He dismissed Fragiskatos point of order and similarly denied another Liberal MPs suggestion that the meeting be suspended briefly until the technical issues could be worked out. Genuis eventually turned over the chair to another MP after New Democrat Jack Harris said it was inappropriate for him to act as chair while continuing his questioning and dealing with points of order about his own conduct. Stewart later told the committee he was sorry his refusal to provide details was causing stress and unhappiness. Thats the legal advice I was provided in preparation for this session. Bloc Quebecois MP Stephane Bergeron warned Stewart he could be found in contempt of Parliament if he continued to refuse to provide details. If the details are too sensitive to be revealed publicly, Bergeron suggested that they could be provided in confidence to committee members instead. Stewart said he would consult with legal counsel about that alternative. Conservative MP John Williamson suggested theres another reason for Stewarts refusal to answer questions about the matter and that is just bureaucratic butt-covering, incompetence, malfeasance in the department. The committee eventually agreed to a Genuis motion calling on Stewart to explain to members, in confidence if he wishes, by Friday at 2 p.m. why the two scientists were fired. By Joan Bryden MUMBAI: Bollywood's powerhouse performer Kangana Ranaut celebrates her 34th birthday on March 23. The 'Queen' actress has proved her mettle in the industry and earned her place quite well. Her fans love the versatility she exhibits on-screen, so today we tell you some lesser-known facts about the class actress. Let's take a look: Kangana was born in Bhambla (Surajpur) town in Himachal Pradesh. It has been reported that she was growing up to become a doctor, only to realise later that she actually wanted to be a heroine. She briefly stayed in Chandigarh, Delhi, reportedly. Kangana was born into a Rajput family to Amardeep Ranaut, a businessman, and Asha Ranaut, a school teacher. The full name of Kangana is, Kangana Amardeep Ranaut while her nickname is Arshad. Kangana has two siblingsan elder sister Rangoli and a younger brother Akshat. Interestingly, her sister works as a manager for herhandling all her assignments and work-related deals. Her sister Rangoli Chandel is an acid attack survivor. She was born in a family where her great grandfather, Sarju Singh Ranaut, was a MLA and her grandfather was an officer for the IAS. When Kangana Ranaut announced her decision to join the film industry, her family in Himachal Pradesh cut all ties with her and it was after several years that they reconciled. It is said that her father wasn't happy with her decision of becoming an actress. Kangana arrived in Delhi at age 16 and started modelling for France-based Elite Modelling Agency. She left modelling to join the Asmita Theatre group. She performed in a number of plays directed by Arvind Gaur. Kangy, as she is fondly called by her fans, is a trained theatre actress. She took classes with famous theatre personality Arvind Gaurafter which she bagged her first major role in 'Gangster' in 2006. She is also a trained Kathak dancer and took training under Rajendra Chaturvedi for four years in Nateshwar Nritya Kala Mandir. Very few people know that Kangana was the co-writer of the dialogues in 2014 national-award winner 'Queen, which also starred Rajkummar Rao. Kangana Ranaut is one of the youngest actresses to win the prestigious National Film Awards at the age of 22. She bagged her first National Award in Best Supporting Actress category for her powerful portrayal of a model in 'Fashion' 2008. Later, she went on to win the Best Actress National Award trophy for 'Queen' in 2014 and again in 2015 for 'Tanu Weds Manu Returns'. On March 22, 2021, a day before her birthday, Kangana won National Award for Best Actress for her films 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi' and 'Panga'. In 2020, the Indian government honoured her with the Padma Shri, the countrys fourth-highest civilian award. According to media reports, Kangana is a vegetarian who loves to cook in her free time. In 2013, she was listed as 'Indias hottest vegetarian' by PETA. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testifies during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on the federal coronavirus response on Capitol Hill on March 18 in Washington, D.C. Susan Walsh/Pool/Getty Images/TNS Visakhapatnam, March 24 : The US Consulate in Hyderabad and the Andhra University on Tuesday signed an agreement to establish an American Corner on the varsity campus in Vizag. "We hope that this will be a fun and energetic meeting place where our two cultures and countries can blend together, and where we will welcome youth and people from underserved communities to learn more about the US," said Joel Reifman, Consul General, US Consulate, Hyderabad. Opening in the summer of 2021, the American Corner will provide a plethora of educational and cultural programmes to the people of Andhra Pradesh, especially the youth and students. The education and cultural centre will also provide access to materials and conversations on American life and culture. "It is intended to be the first place to visit for accurate and up-to-date information about political, economic, cultural, educational and social trends in the US," said a consulate official. The American Corner will also serve as a space for dynamic conversations on a wide range of topics and interests for the local community. According to the consulate officials, the US and Indian governments share many top priorities, including being committed to providing young people, especially women from underserved communities, with educational and economic opportunities. With the new American Corner and its programmes, the Consulate aims to improve communication and leadership skills among the local youth. "The American Corner programming will focus on English language learning, STEM education, women's empowerment, American culture, and US higher education," noted Reifman. The Consul General, Andhra Pradesh Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh and Andhra University Vice Chancellor Prasad Reddy were present in the event in which Reifman and Reddy virtually signed the agreement. "This will act as an academic and cultural space that will organise programmes to help our students, young people, and realize the vision of our Chief Minister. The American Corner will contribute to strengthening the relationship between Andhra Pradesh and the US," said Suresh. Incidentally, the Vizag American Corner will be the third one in India and the second one belonging to the Hyderabad consular district, which covers Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha. The on Tuesday stayed the proceedings in pleas connected with the regulation of content on over-the-top (OTT) platforms in various High Courts. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before a bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud though the top court had issued notice on the Centre's transfer plea to club all such petitions, yet the Punjab and High Court is proceeding in a pending matter. The top court stayed further proceedings in various High Courts and said it will hear the matter in the second week after Holi. The top court was hearing a clutch of pleas filed by advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha and NGO Justice for Rights Foundation, seeking regulation of content on OTT platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar etc. During the hearing, Mehta submitted that the transfer petition was filed by the government as more than one High Court was dealing with the matter. He added that it was learnt that High Courts had said they will proceed with the matter till it is stayed by the top court. The bench said when a notice is issued by the top court in a transfer, the judges often say the matter is pending before the The NGO, represented through advocate Satyam Singh, said: "The Rules framed by the Union Government are more in the nature of guidelines without any effective mechanism for its proper implementation. It does not provide for any penalty or punishment for violation of the Rules. Without legislation, there cannot be an effective control of content on OTT platforms." The NGO added that the intent of the government in bringing out guidelines for OTT platforms is indeed commendable, but it suffers from many flaws, defects and loopholes. "The Government of India has palpably failed to take into consideration the screening of content telecast on OTT platforms. In view of lack of proper screening mechanism, the OTT platforms show content which is vulgar, pornographic and profane. The screening of content telecast on OTT platforms are indispensable and need of the hour," added the NGO's rejoinder. --IANS ss/ash (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.) CLIFTON PARK Regal Cinemas will begin opening its 549 U.S. theaters next month, the company said Tuesday. The first ones will open April 2, with the rest to follow later in April. The reopening comes in time for the release of "Godzilla vs. Kong," the company said. Regal's theaters have a total of 7,211 screens in the U.S. and its territories. The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Ms. Osnat Lubrani, calls for a safe transit and delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict in Donbas. Her statement was published by the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. Ms. Lubrani recalled that since the almost complete closure of all crossing points in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the number of people able to cross the contact line in Donbas has decreased by 97%. "After 12 months of stringent movement restrictions, it is clear that the conflict-affected people are reaching a breaking point. They desperately need humanitarian assistance to hold on until life can return to some form of normality," Ms. Lubrani said. She noted that the humanitarian community in Ukraine continues its efforts to ensure that all people in need, wherever they reside, receive appropriate support and in a timely manner. "All relevant actors must facilitate the transit and delivery of humanitarian relief. On-going restrictions on the ability of humanitarian actors to assist people in areas beyond Government control prevent the people in need from getting the help they need and deserve," she stressed. Ms. Lubrani expressed hope that all parties to the conflict will abide by the commitment to avoid politicization of humanitarian aid and ensure that all urgently needed critical assistance that is ready to be delivered, including life-saving health supplies, is permitted to reach those in need in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. ish The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) Not one to mince words, Filipino actress Liza Soberano has lamented what she calls a lack of government support for the poor amid the fresh movement restrictions due to the record high increase in COVID-19 cases in the country. Soberano tweeted Monday night, America has received 2 rounds of stimulus already, waiting on the 3rd. Covid testing is free, vaccination is free. Where is the support for the poor in our country? She added that it would have been easy to stay home if everyone has money to put food on the table and pay the bills. My heart bleeds for all the people who cannot afford not to go out and work. They literally have to choose between dying of starvation or dying of COVID. Is our country really this poor to no be able to provide stimulus?? Genuine question lang po, she said in a separate tweet. Her remarks came after Malacanang said the government will not provide cash aid for families affected by the two-week NCR Plus bubble since people are allowed to work anyway under the setup. Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal also known as the NCR Plus are placed under one bubble until April 4. This means only those considered as authorized persons outside residence or APORs can travel into and out of these areas for essential purposes such as work and delivery of humanitarian aid. The list of APORs can be found here. EXPLAINER: What you need to know about the NCR Plus bubble The government provided two-time P5,000-8,000 cash assistance to millions of low-income families affected by the enhanced community quarantine last year. The Department of Labor and Employment, meanwhile, continues to provide a one-time subsidy for workers who lost their jobs either temporarily or permanently amid the health crisis. 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. Land hikes reach Can Gio Island Can Gio has experienced many land price increases during the last ten years after the Binh Khanh bridge project was initiated to connect the district with Ho Chi Minh City and replace the Binh Khanh ferry. Land fever resumed after Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee in February signed four decisions to approve a detailed plan of sub-regions in the Can Gio Tourist and Urban Development Complex. With the total investment of $9.3 billion from Vingroup, this complex is focused on coastal urban development, tourism resorts, and smart cities. A sub-project of this complex located in a 300-hectare plot of land was reserved for financial and economic centres, office buildings, a port, and a high-end resource and urban area. The project was initially announced in 2000, at a scale of 600ha, managed by Saigon Tourists Can Gio Tourist City. After acquiring a 97-per-cent stake in the unit in 2016, Vingroup proposed scaling up the project to 2,870ha and assigned its Vinhomes unit to participate in the development. In addition to this movement, Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee proposed to reserve VND96 trillion ($4.17 billion) to invest in 15 key transport projects of the whole city, including Binh Khanh Bridge. The ferry linking Can Gio and Vung Tau was put into operation this January and has helped to reduce the travelling time to 30 minutes, saving around three hours compared to using inland roads. In 2020 land prices in Can Thanh commune were traded from around $300 to $950 per square metre, depending on the location an increase of about 50 per cent over the same period in 2019. Land plots on Duyen Hai road, linking Can Thanh park to Rung Sac square were quoted from $870 to $1,300 per sq.m. Land plots in Can Thanh communes streets such as Dang Van Kieu, Tac Suat, and Duyen Hai had increased around 200 per cent compared to the previous year. However property experts also warned that buyers should be careful about increasing land prices on Can Gio. There were almost no businesses on Can Gio, with the area being deemed exceedingly difficult to develop despite its close proximity to Ho Chi Minh City itself. Apart from Vingroups complex, La Maison De Can Gio is now invested in by Phuoc Loc Housing. The owner of a semi-detached house at this project told VIR that he wanted to sell the house at a price of $1,480 per sq.m. I quoted this price because I need to get my investment back. But I will not sell it if I can manage the finances, he said. Meanwhile Nguyen Van Ba, another land owner in Long Hoa commune, said that the more buyers appear, the better it is. As the bridge is going to be ready soon, Vingroups project is also going to commence. Land prices will increase much more compared to the current rate. I will be patient and wait for the upcoming increase, Ba said. Talking with VIR, Cao Huu Phi, general director of COPiHOME, said that almost all land buyers now are aiming for land plots before further infrastructure is added. Whenever the infrastructure is improved including the bridge a range of large-scale projects will be commenced and the market will become hotter, Phi said. Meanwhile Nguyen Van Hau, CEO of Asian Holding said, Buying plots before large-scale projects and infrastructure are planned is like a double-edged sword. Buyers and investors will have high profit as they had bought land with low prices and can re-sell it with much higher rates. On the contrary, they can suffer heavy losses, especially those investors who use loans, said Hau. A Manitoba woman described by a judge as a "good mother, has been sentenced to just under five years in prison after she attacked two of her young children with a knife while high on methamphetamine. A Manitoba woman described by a judge as a "good mother," has been sentenced to just under five years in prison after she attacked two of her young children with a knife while high on methamphetamine. The 31-year-old woman "is profoundly remorseful for her actions and is shocked as anyone she did, or was even capable of doing, what she did," Queens Bench Justice Chris Martin wrote in a decision released Monday. "If there is anything about this case that realistically might have a deterrent effect, it is learning the frightening acts here could happen to anyone using the drug," Martin said. "She abused the basic and vital position of trust young children have for a mother, and there will be a profound impact on those children, and others, for years to come." The Free Press is not naming the woman to protect the identities of her children. Court was told the woman was separated from her husband and living in his house on Wasagamack First Nation on May 31, 2019, when she used meth while caring for her 11-year-old and 18-month-old daughters. The older girl, frightened by her mothers strange and aggressive behaviour, hid in a bedroom with her sister. The woman grabbed a kitchen knife and forced her way inside. The girl was able to disarm the woman and phone her grandparents for help before the woman grabbed the knife back and stabbed the girl five times in the shoulder, back and torso. The woman turned her attention to the younger child, twisting her neck and calling her "a little demon." The woman had the child down on the couch, with one hand holding the knife over her body, when the grandparents arrived and disarmed her. "My mom was trying to kill us," the older girl told emergency responders as she lay bleeding on the floor. The girl was flown to Winnipeg in critical condition and has since recovered. The woman was originally charged with attempted murder, but pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. "It later became an agreed fact she was under the influence of methamphetamine to the extent that she was not able to form the specific intent to kill, respecting either of her children," Martin said. The woman had a supportive upbringing absent of abuse and she and her husband "appear to have been good parents," to their five children, Martin said. Aside from the attack on her children, she has no criminal record. At the time of the attack, the woman was despondent over the state of her marriage and had been abusing meth for about six months. "Although she struggled with meth leading up to this event, overall she was focused and able to take care of her childrens needs," Martin said. "She plans to reintegrate with her children, but knows this will be a slow and difficult process, depending heavily on the childrens feelings and best interests." dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close In another fatal attack, a 31-year-old man was standing on a front porch with another man in the 4400 block of West Jackson Boulevard in the West Garfield Park neighborhood, shortly before 5:30 p.m., police said. A gray vehicle pulled up and someone inside began shooting. The 31-year-old man was struck in the back and the other man, 35, was struck in the left shoulder, according to police. This morning Apple unveiled a new self-paced professional learning offering, Apple Teacher Portfolio, to help educators bring creativity to every lesson and any subject, no matter where learning happens. Apple is also providing updates across its Schoolwork and Classroom apps and the popular Everyone Can Create curriculum, which take advantage of the latest features of iPad and Apple apps. Susan Prescott, Apples vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations and Product Marketing for Enterprise and Education: "For more than 40 years, Apple has worked alongside educators and made products that enhance learning for every student. To support schools in getting the most from Apple products, we developed professional learning as an essential part of our education offering. The new Apple Teacher Portfolio helps build educators confidence in reimagining their lessons and recognizes them for the great work they do every day. After this unprecedented year, we want to continue to inspire every educator as much as they inspire us." (Click on image to Enlarge) For more on this, read the full Apple Press Release here. Disused Underground Parking Lot Repurposed as Organic Mushroom Farm Under Streets of Paris A dormant underground parking lot in Paris has found new purpose serving as a farm for growing organic fungi. The low-light produce is then sold to local organic grocery stores, shortening the distance from farm to table a step further. La Caverne, or The Cave, is one of three converted subterranean spaces founded together by agronomist Jean-Noel Gertz and Cycloponics, a startup specializing in repurposing disused urban undergrounds. Its dark, damp conditions are perfect for growing oyster, shiitake, and white button mushrooms: Cycloponicss main crops. Besides mushrooms, the project also cultivates microgreens and endives (flowering plants with edible leaves common in northern France), which can grow in the dark. La Caverne offers preferential rates for local clientele as well as educational tours for sightseers and schools in the neighborhood. Fungi growing inside La Caverne in Paris. (Courtesy of ICF La Sabliere/Cycloponics) Workers tending their crop inside La Caverne in Paris. (Courtesy of ICF La Sabliere/Cycloponics) Seventy percent of people live in cities today, co-founder of La Caverne Theo Champagnat told Brut, and within this population there is a demand for local and organic products like ours. In the 1960s and 70s, urban housing blocks sprang up throughout Paris, leaving in their wake millions of square meters of parking space under the city, BBC reported. Much of which has since fallen into disuse, due to a decline in car ownership in favor of Uber, public transportation, and rentable scooters and bicycles. In the mid-2010s, Parisian mayor Anne Hidalgo launched a competition in an effort to find new uses for these dormant places. Cycloponics was among the applicants and ended up winning the chance to repurpose one of the lots, helping to revitalize an area that was becoming a hot spot for illicit activity. Mushrooms growing under the streets of Paris. (Courtesy of ICF La Sabliere/Cycloponics) An abandoned Parisian parking lot put to good use growing oyster, shiitake, and white button mushrooms. (Courtesy of ICF La Sabliere/Cycloponics) Meanwhile, another winning submission found a duel use for an old metro stop: setting up a market and food court on one side of the platform, and a cocktail bar on the other, reports Good News Network. Today, Cycloponics harvests between 100 and 200 kilograms (220440 pounds) of mushrooms per day from their underground Parisian premises. The startup also runs an edible bunker in Strasbourg and an agricultural cellar in Bordeaux Floirac. I think it has a big future, said Champagnat. People and consumers are asking for initiatives like this; it will gain momentum in the years to come. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired Newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter China's endeavors to pursue high-quality development expected to create new opportunities for win-win cooperation 08:55, March 23, 2021 By He Yin ( People's Daily A worker is busy working at the plant of a company in Tongcheng, east China's Anhui province, March 10, 2021. (People's Daily Online/Jiang Sheng) The international community pays high attention to China's new journey of fully building a modern socialist country, and the country's route for high-quality development, which was mapped out in its Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035. While praising China's determination and efforts to push forward high-quality development, the international community believes that the country's efforts to pursue high-quality development will effectively increase global confidence in economic recovery and infuse new impetus into global development. Recent articles published by international media outlets have frequently mentioned China's new five-year plan and keywords related to the country's development targets, such as high-quality development, economic stability, people's well-being, green growth, and innovation-driven development. China's ambition of following the path of high-quality development demonstrates the country's deepening understanding of the law of development. For China, high-quality economic and social development is an inevitable choice after the country's rapid growth over the past several decades since its reform and opening-up. In 2015, the fifth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee put forward the concept of innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development, starting a profound reform concerning the overall situation of China's development. Two years later, a report delivered at the 19th National Congress of the CPC pointed out that China's economy had been transitioning from rapid growth to high-quality development. Last year, the fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee made it clear that China would make high-quality development the theme of its economic and social progress from 2021 to 2025. During China's "two sessions" held early in Marchthe fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) and the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country stressed that high-quality development is the theme of China's economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year Plan and even a longer period of time. High-quality development is truly sustainable development. In the context of complex and severe world economic situation and unstable and uneven recovery, China, a major country with a population of 1.4 billion, is making positive contributions to global development by adhering to the path of high-quality development. Ideas are the foundation of actions. Whether a development concept suits a country or not will fundamentally determine the effectiveness and even the success or failure of its development. China's high-quality development, which is believed to be able to meet the people's ever-growing desire for a better life, reflects the new development philosophy: In high quality development innovation is the primary driving force; coordination is an endogenous feature; go-green is a prevailing mode; openness is the only path, and sharing is the fundamental goal. The Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 has fully demonstrated the guiding role of the new development philosophy, displayed China's beautiful visions for high-quality development, and signaled more new opportunities for the win-win cooperation between China and other countries. By clearly stating China's various plans, including implementing an international science and technology cooperation strategy that is more open, inclusive and mutually beneficial, further integrating into the global innovation network, promoting the coordinated development of imports and exports, improving the level of international two-way investment and building a high-standard free trade zone network, the outline shows the world China's determination to advance open cooperation. Gonzalo Tordini, an Argentine expert in international issues, said that China's Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 has reflected the country's great attention to such aspects as sustainable development and scientific and technological innovation, and sent a clear signal that the country is bent on promoting high-quality growth in its new stage of development. American expert Robert Kuhn pointed out that closer cooperation on innovation leads to greater technological advances. China has driven scientific and technological progress in other developing countries through cooperation, which serves the common development of the world, Kuhn said. Many people of insight from the international community have cast a vote of confidence in the prospect of a more open China with greater innovation capabilities. Ronald Coase, a late Nobel laureate in economics, acknowledged the international significance of China's development. Noting that China has great expectations, the economist said that China's struggles represent the struggles of the entire humanity and its experience is of great value for mankind. It is generally believed that China will certainly make new contributions to international economic recovery as it marches on the new journey of fully building a modern socialist country, practices its new development philosophy, builds a new development pattern and advances high-quality development in its new development stage. Vehere announced the appointment of Ramsunder Papineni as President, Global Sales. In his new role, Ramsunder will lead Veheres global Sales and Customer Success efforts to focus on continued acceleration and growing Veheres presence in international markets. Commenting on Rams appointment, Praveen Jaiswal, Founder, Vehere, said, Ramsunder joins us at a very exciting stage and brings with him considerable sales and management experience, which will be vital as we continue our ambitious growth. His illustrious career strongly reflects on his expertise in establishing scalable Sales business operations and his wide-ranging experience across industries makes him an ideal choice. We are thrilled to welcome him to Vehere, and feel absolutely confident that together, we will be able to deliver value to all our customers. Ramsunder brings over three decades of experience in the IT industry, working in leadership roles across General Management, Operations, and Sales positions. He has considerable experience in building and leading organizations with cross-functional teams and growing revenues through accelerated market development and sales. Before joining Vehere, Ramsunder served as Regional Director- India & SAARC, leading the business operations for ForeScout Technologies. Prior to this he also played a pivotal role in leading the business growth for FireEye in India. His prior experience includes leadership roles at McAfee and EMC India. Ram has also served in critical roles, managing sales and key accounts for Newgen Software Technologies and Xerox Corporation. Speaking on his appointment, Ramsunder Papineni, said, I am truly excited to be working closely with the incredibly talented and nimble team at Vehere. Vehere has not only introduced some of the best-in-class solutions to secure large enterprises and government organizations leveraging its situational analysis platform but has also brought a differentiated approach to the market in addressing todays cybersecurity challenges. At a time when organizations across the globe are looking for new ways to tackle the growing complexities with emerging cybersecurity challenges, I see incredible opportunity for Vehere in this emerging global cybersecurity landscape. We are all set to work together to ensure that we deliver value to our customers and also realizing the growth opportunities for Vehere. Ramsunder has completed a General Management Program from Harvard Business School and holds an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi. Hi everyone. I'm planning a trip to the Maldives in Feb 2022 (fingers crossed) and will be flying on Qatar. On the return I'd like to do a several day stopover in Doha. Right now Qatar Airways is not booking the stopover packages due to COVID restrictions on who can enter the country. But I'm not familiar with the process so would like to know a few things about how the stopover worked in the past. My main question is whether a stopover can be added to an existing reservation/itinerary? I'm traveling with several other people, some have already bought their tickets and I may buy mine before stopovers are reinstated. The web site says a stopover can be added up to 3 days before departure but I just wondered if anyone had an experience adding a stopover to an already-purchased ticket? If the answer to the above question is yes, then how does that work? For example I would have a round trip ticket from my home to the Maldives via Doha and then the return. If I add a stopover of 3 nights on the return, then my return flight out of Doha would be changed? And would there be a charge for those changes? If I could book a multi city trip with several days in Doha I would do that, but the system is not allowing this itinerary to be booked. It shows the flights when I search but won't price it out. Thanks I appreciate any advice and experiences you've had. Of course who knows if the past will be repeated in this new world! Salma Hayek let her Instagram followers know on Tuesday that she has sprained her ankle. The 54-year-old Fools Rush In actress posted a photo with her legging propped up and a bag of ice on her ankle as she shared the bad news. 'Nothing like reading a book about #fridakahlo when you sprain an ankle,' said the sire as she shared the hashtag for chill. Ouch: Salma Hayek let her Instagram followers know on Tuesday that she has sprained her ankle. The 54-year-old Fools Rush In actress posted a photo with her legging propped up and a bag of ice on her ankle as she shared the bad news Beach babe: The silver screen goddess appears to be on vacation as white sand could be seen in the photo; this weekend she was seen in a swimsuit while by the beach The beauty had on a light gray dress with her hair down as she reclined on an outdoor sofa with the book, Frida In America, propped in her hands. The Hollywood vet played Mexican artist Kahlo in the 2002 film Frida. Her co-stars were Alfred Molina as Diego Rivera and Ashley Judd as Tina Modotti. The silver screen goddess appears to be on vacation as white sand could be seen in the photo; this weekend she was seen in a swimsuit while by the beach. Hayek has been enjoying her downtime at home with her husband Francois-Henri Pinault and their 13-year-old daughter Valentina. Last month she said she was 'offended' by assumptions she married Pinault for money. A busy year for Salma: Here the Once Upon A Time In Mexico star was seen at the 78th Annual Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton in February in Beverly Hills The actress wed the French businessman in 2009 and she admitted people don't see the 'magic' in her spouse or how he has changed her for the better because they spend too much time focused on his wealth. Speaking to Dax Shepard on his 'Armchair Expert' podcast, she said: 'You know the thing is that in pictures you cannot begin to guess the magic in him. He's made me become a much better person, and grow in such a good, healthy way. 'And you know when I married him, everybody said, "Oh, it's an arranged marriage, she married him for the money." I'm like, "Yeah, whatever, b****." Think what you want: 15 years together, and we are strong in love.' A sweet family: Salma has said she did not marry her husband, with who she has daughter Valentina (now 13), for his money and is very in love The Like A Boss star acknowledged that some people marry for money but she thinks rich men are subjected to 'discrimination' that makes them deemed unworthy of real love. She said: 'Immediately you think because somebody's rich, [they] might not be a good person. Might be somebody materialistic, might be somebody that doesn't have values, might be somebody that is even stupid or that doesn't deserve it. 'In order to have a lot of money, you did it the wrong way, there is all this preconception.' Her early days of fame: The cover girl is seen here at a movie premiere in 1995 And Salma admitted she had her own preconceptions about Francois-Henri, who also has three other children from previous relationships. She added: 'And I had that by the way. It was the last thing I wanted it was not my type at all. And I came in with the preconceptions and he [melted] them all away. 'My guy finishes work, no matter how hard it was and trust me he has a lot of responsibilities [with a] big smile on his face, happy to be home, happy to see me and the kids, make us laugh. 'When we go on vacation he completely shuts off, he's in the moment. And so it's not just an insult to me I'm not the one being judged only. 'Oh, she's an actor, she's going for the money.' They cannot begin to imagine what a joy that human being is.' SUV The Guinness Book of World Records is a mixed bag if were being delicate about describing it. In between incredible feats and accomplishments, and genuine wonders that deserve all the praise and attention, you get silly stuff, ridiculous stuff, and downright WTH stuff involving bodily fluids and functions, and other gross things.Toyota is featured heavily in there, boasting a series of world records that stand to this day. Some are very important, like record sales; others inspire, motivate, and entertain, like the longest driven journey that has been going on since 1983. Some, like the smallest motorized car , mark an important achievement in engineering.And then, theres this: the record for most people crammed into a large car. It too belongs to Toyota and its vastly popular small, RAV4, and its the perfect fit for our current feature Toyota Month This particular record was set on May 16, 2015, in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, by the local Toyota dealership, the Toyota Center Krasnoyarsk Zapad. The Guinness listing doesnt go into the details, but it makes it clear that the record still stands as of the time of writing. It also adds the most important part: 41 people were stuffed into the RAV4 to make silly, Toyota history. Forty-one, its not a typo.We reached out to Toyota for more clarification on this, and hopefully, we will hear back from them because this impressive and totally random achievement went unnoticed at the time. We need a bunch of questions about it answered. Like, did the RAV4 drive afterward with that massive human load? Did all those people fit inside as-is, or what modifications were made to ensure they fit in? Were they acrobats? International Leaders Issues with Equity The Federal Role (TNS) In the late 1990s, California had a problem: More than 80 percent of the state was living in areas that didn't meet federal air quality standards.Policymakers wanted to encourage people to buy low-emission cars, and the carpool lanes on the state's famously congested highways weren't meeting their full potential. Plus, early electric vehicles usually could drive just 20 miles on a single charge and were made more efficient at faster speeds.Enter the state's Clean Air Vehicle decal program, which has given low-emission and electric vehicle owners a golden ticket to breeze past traffic for two decades and driven electric vehicle purchases in the country's largest auto market.As President Joe Biden's administration looks to incentivize electric vehicle adoption nationwide, industry leaders are recommending that policymakers consider strategies like those in California: give electric vehicle owners a leg up in everything from commuting and parking to entering specific areas of cities. While industry leaders say financial incentives like consumer tax credits or research and development grants over time would aid in speeding a switch in the U.S. vehicle fleet to electric drives from internal-combustion engines, some argue the market will respond to more than just money.Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley, formerly a senior executive for Toyota Motor Corp. in North America, said that California's carpool lane policy was a game-changer: "The best thing that ever happened to Prius was that HOV sticker.""We need a clear, longer-term strategy to help customers with the economics of transitioning to (fully electric vehicles)," he said late last month at the Wolfe Auto Conference. "From my experience at Toyota, non-monetary incentives are just, if not more powerful, than incentives flat-out tax credits or a reduction in the transaction price."However, electric vehicle incentives raise questions about equity, as electric vehicles remain more expensive and are less likely to be available used. California is grappling with that issue even as its regulators argue the program has succeeded in driving EV adoption."We wanted people to get in the vehicles, drive them, see how it fit into their daily driving cycle and really understand what an electric car could be," said John Swanton, an air pollution specialist with the California Air Resources Board."You need something to convince people that hey, I'm going to get this benefit to do it. And that helped because people hate traffic and they love getting in the carpool lane."The program which first allowed natural gas vehicles and now only accepts fully electric, hydrogen fuel cell and plug-in hybrids propelled consumer adoption of new technologies, Swanton said."Driving new vehicle sales was what was going to get the volumes that were necessary to start making (electric vehicles) commercially viable," he said.The U.S. cities with the most electric vehicles may be easy to guess: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and New York, according to recent data from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), a research group that specializes in sustainable transportation policy.In China and Europe, cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Oslo and London lead the pack as electric vehicle capitals. China and Europe as a whole still beat out the U.S. in EV adoption to date.But across continents, the cities with the most electric vehicles tend to have something in common, according to the ICCT: In addition to financial incentives offered by state or national governments, most also offer electric vehicle owners some non-financial benefit for choosing an emissions-free ride.Several cities, such as Paris and San Jose, give electric vehicle owners free parking at thousands of metered spaces. Others bar non-EVs from certain areas of the city or charge a fee, such as London's 12.50 daily fee to drive into the central city.Wuhan, Oslo and other cities give electric vehicles free passage on highways, bridges and tunnels that would otherwise be tolled. Several large cities in China limit total new car registrations but exempt electric car owners."It's always challenging to tie one specific action to EV uptake ballooning in one place," said Dale Hall, an electric vehicle researcher at ICCT. "But we do see that the places with the most incentives both financial and non-financial incentives do have higher EV uptake."The push to electrify the U.S. fleet also has raised questions about who benefits from incentive programs like those in electric vehicle capitals. Some argue incentive programs for EV adoption are handouts to the wealthy, who can afford to buy electric vehicles that remain more expensive than those with internal combustion engines.One 2019 working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that 70 percent of people who used tax credits to purchase an EV would have done so even if they didn't get the subsidy, and recommended incentives aimed at lower-income households.Proponents of such programs argue spurring EV purchases will eventually lower the price for all consumers. But as of last month, the average price of a new electric vehicle is nearly $53,400, according to data provided toby Edmunds, an industry research company. In comparison, the average new vehicle price in the U.S. is just under $40,500.Electric vehicles made up just 1.6 percent of total vehicle sales and the share in the used market is minuscule: Around 0.1 percent, according to Edmunds."It appears that the market is transitioning again to closely align with the body styles that consumers like the most: trucks and SUVs. Although these EVs are still more expensive, it seems as if there will be more EVs for sale that meet consumer needs and budgets in the near future," said Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights for Edmunds."And with the Biden administration already signaling its desire to support this technology, there could be a revamp in the federal tax credit system which would make the price point of EVs more affordable."The state of California is attempting to address these inequities by allowing those in lower and middle-income brackets to retain access to the carpool lane decal if they buy a qualifying vehicle used."There was the thought that people who could only afford a used vehicle were cut out of the ability to have this incentive," said Swanton of CARB, so the state expanded the program to secondhand owners who make less than $69,680 at the beginning of 2020.However, the policy is really built to drive new vehicle sales, he said. "It's not that we want to make it so that only people are buying new cars. It's just that if you're not driving new vehicle sales, you're selling the same pool of vehicles over and over again, you're not necessarily getting those numbers that you need" to significantly cut into emissions.While the federal government can support non-monetary incentives, such programs usually are spearheaded by state and local governments, said Hall of the International Council on Clean Transportation.Federal policymakers can make the biggest difference by investing in charging infrastructure, updating building codes to allow for easier charger installation, or updating emissions standards, he said.According to research firm LMC Automotive, the share of electric vehicle sales went from 2.5 percent in 2019 to 6.6 percent in 2020. "That was due to new CO2 emissions regulations kicking in. These are a huge policy tool automakers really listen to," Hall said.Democrats in Congress have proposed funding and policy changes to install thousands of charging stations across the U.S., to change building codes, to increase consumer tax incentives for EV purchases and more. Much of it will be wrapped up in negotiations over a potentially $2 trillion infrastructure spending package that will be the next big legislative hurdle for the Biden administration."It doesn't do you any good to dictate to people unless there's a consumer demand," said U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D- Dearborn, who has proposed legislation that would put billions toward electrification projects.Consumers need to know they can safely and affordably get chargers installed in their homes and buildings and that they can reliably charge their vehicles on long drives, she said: "People need to think of an EV as a practical vehicle. We need to find ways to drive consumer demand for EVs."As the federal government and other states and cities consider programs to encourage people to buy EVs, California's decal program is starting to wind down.Electric vehicles have become common enough in the state that driving in the carpool lane has become nearly as slow as any other in certain circumstances, Swanton said, and the program is set to end in 2025."We knew going into this, even decades ago, that you need to incentivize these types of vehicles to a point and then ... the market just takes over. And at that point you change from incentivizing to essentially subsidizing what's going to happen anyway," he said.But "the incentive for the carpool stickers absolutely was the number one thing that drove interest in the vehicles, and I don't think we would have had the launch curve that we did without it," he said. [March 23, 2021] Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute to Build UAE's First Quantum Computer Work is underway to build a quantum computer in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, ushering an important milestone for the region in this breakthrough era in computing. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005788/en/ H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of ATRC (Photo: AETOSWire) Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the dedicated 'applied research' pillar of Abu Dhabi's newly established Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), today announced that its Quantum (News - Alert) Research Centre (QRC) team led by its Chief Researcher Professor Jose Ignacio Latorre, will construct the quantum computer in the UAE capital, in collaboration with Barcelona-based Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech researchers. "We are at the cusp of a new era with the advent of quantum computing," H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of ATRC, said. "We are proud to embark on building one of these wonderful machines which will help us in various fields, from discovering new medicines to making new materials to designing better batteries to various Artificial Intelligence applications." A quantum computer uses quantum mechanics phenomena such as 'superposition' and 'entanglement' to generate and manipulate subatomic particles like electrons or photons - quantum bits also known as 'qubits' - to create exponentially stronger processing powers that can help perform complex calculations that would take much longer to solve even by the world's most powerful classical supercomputers. Prof. Latorre explained that preparatory work has already begun. "The first step in the process is to build a laboratory, equip it and complete installation of the cleanroom equipment, all of which is on track. Once done, the first qubits will be prepared, chracterised and benchmarked. We expect the first simple quantum chips 'Made in Abu Dhabi' should come by the end of the summer," he said. Prof. Latorre said there are several technologies to construct quantum computers such as superconducting qubits, ion traps, optical qubits, and spin dots, adding QRC has opted to use superconducting qubits, which is the same technology that Google (News - Alert) and IBM use in building their own quantum computers, and they offer the best qubit technology to scale to a larger quantum computer. QRC is one of seven dedicated research centres at Technology Innovation Institute ( TII (News - Alert) ). About Technology Innovation Institute (TII) Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is the dedicated 'applied research' pillar of Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). TII is a pioneering global research and development centre that focuses on applied research and new-age technology capabilities. The Institute has seven initial dedicated research centres in quantum, autonomous robotics, cryptography, advanced materials, digital security, directed energy and secure systems. By working with exceptional talent, universities, research institutions and industry partners from all over the world, the Institute connects an intellectual community and contributes to building an R&D ecosystem reinforcing Abu Dhabi and the UAE's status as a global hub for innovation. For more information, visit www.tii.ae Connect with us on social media: LinkedIn (News - Alert) : https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiiuae/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TIIuae Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiiuae/ About Quantum Research Centre (QRC) Quantum Research Centre - at Technology Innovation Institute (TII) - has been created to develop world-class quantum-theoretical and experimental research by building and operating a quantum computer in the MENA region while advancing quantum communications and quantum sensors. The Centre aims to develop pioneering technologies backed by the expertise of an international team of leading researchers, dedicated to achieving a 'Quantum Advantage' which will transform the power and scope of computers. For more information, visit https://quantum.tii.ae * Source (News - Alert) : AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005788/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi: Even as the COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges before the nation a year ago, it could not affect the functioning of the judiciary, which despite all odds, delivered justice adopting the virtual mode of proceedings. It also served as an opportunity to test the robustness of its digital infrastructure. In the national capital, the courts started hearing cases through video-conferencing from March last year due to the pandemic. However, they are gradually inching back to normalcy with the Supreme Court commencing hybrid hearings since March 15 this year. Hybrid hearing is a combination of both virtual and physical hearing. Last week, physical hearings were resumed in the Delhi High Court which had restricted its functioning to urgent matters only since March 16 last year. It later shifted to the virtual mode of proceedings from March 24. Despite several challenges faced by the judiciary during the lockdown, courts dealt with several unprecedented issues having a far-reaching impact. The apex court took cognisance of many COVID-19 related issues, including migrant workers and providing treatment to patients infected with the virus as well as dignified handling of dead bodies in hospitals. The top court also dealt with issues related to providing adequate PPE kits to doctors and health workers, loan moratorium, and also measures to reduce overcrowding in jails across the country amid the pandemic. The Delhi High Court, however, recently issued a notification stating that hybrid and video-conferencing hearings would be allowed in cases where such requests are made by the parties or their advocates. The directive came in view of the resurgence in COVID-19 cases across the country. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also hailed the Supreme Court for conducting the highest number of hearings via video-conferencing from among the top courts of all the countries in the world during the pandemic. On November 26 last year, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had also complimented the judiciary for hearing over 49 lakh cases digitally during the challenging times of COVID-19 pandemic. Live TV The pandemic also witnessed courts including the apex court and the high court adopting the system of e-filing of cases to curb physical contact. Not only this, the courts also curtailed the summer vacations last year and continuing with the hearing of matters. (With Agency inputs) 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. DZ BANK AG (contact: Ralph Ockert; telephone: +49 69 7447 7051) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014). The security to be stabilised: Issuer: European Union Guarantor (if any): None Aggregate nominal amount: 8bn Description: fixed rate, due 04. March 2026 Offer price: Tba Other offer terms: payment 30.03.2021, denoms 1k/1k, soft bullet Stabilisation: DZ BANK AG Stabilisation Coordinator: Stabilising Managers: DZ BANK AG BNP SocGen Morgan Stanley Bofa Sec. Stabilisation period expected to start on: 23th March 2021 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Luxembourg Stock Exchange (Regulated Market) In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction. In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State. Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? New Delhi: September 11, 2001, attacks on World Trade Towers and the Pentagon in the United States changed the world forever. One of the biggest terrorist attacks in the worlds history resulted in one of the longest wars, on terror. This ongoing global war for 15 years now is not only against the Taliban or Al-Qaeda but their eventual by-product Islamic State as well. The Islamic State also known as ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh was non-existent before the USA and NATO launched the proverbial Global War on Terror. But today, its impact can be felt across the globe. With an aim to establish Sunni Islamic state caliphate, the IS has been killing people mercilessly, including Muslims across the world. The radical Islamist group, which saw its meteoric rise in 2014 after it seized Iraqs second largest city, Mosul and declared an Islamic caliphate covering large swathes of Iraq and Syria, had been building its presence for years. It has emerged from the remains of Jamaat al-Tawhid wa-al-Jihad, founded by Abu Musab al Zarqawi in 1999. Al Zarqawi, after swearing allegiance to Osama bin Laden, renamed the group as al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in 2004 which later became the Islamic State. Suggested Read | 9/11 attack anniversary: Timeline of biggest terrorist attacks on the US Link between Islamic State and 9/11 On September 11, 2001, in one of the biggest terrorist attacks on American soil, 19 members of al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial air crafts. Two planes were crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in New York City while the third one crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. The fourth plane, which was heading towards Washington D.C., crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The attacks resulted in the death of almost 3,000 people while over 6,000 were injured. Property and infrastructure worth $10 billion was destroyed. Investigations pointed fingers towards al-Qaeda. Soon after the deadly attacks, the US invaded al-Qaedas safe haven Afghanistan. The US, with the sole aim to dismantle Al-Qaeda, demanded that the Taliban government hand over Osama-bin-Laden. But Taliban denied and on October 7, 2001, America and Britain launched Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2003, the US, United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland invaded Iraq. The invasion was a continuation of the war in Afghanistan. According to a CBS poll conducted in 2003, 62 per cent Americans believed that the war will further increase terror threats to the USA. The then US President George W Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the coalitions mission was to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Husseins support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people. However, due to the invasion, the regional order in Iraq was destroyed and Sunni discontent fuelled up. The little known Iraqs Sunni extremist group Jamaat al-Tawhid wa-al-Jihad founded by Salafi jihadist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi renamed itself as Al-Qaeda in Iraq. A US airstrike killed al-Zarqawi and Abu Ayyub al Masri took over al-Qaeda in Iraq. In 2006, Al-Masri established the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI) and made Abu Omar al Baghdadi its leader. However, the group remained in silence and US air strikes killed or captured most of its members in 2008. Sectarian tensions increased in 2009 after the then Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki targeted Sunni leaders. Following the attacks on its community leaders, Sunni tribals started supporting the Islamic State. The group started killing majority Shias out of discontent. The United State-run prisons in Iraq were also one of the reasons behind the rise of Islamic State. The Sunni jihadists believed the prison system was their most effective organizing tool. It made it all, it built our ideology, said a senior Islamic State leader in an interview with the Guardian. According to a UN report, the Islamic State has killed over 24,000 Iraqi civilians in the first eight months of 2014 alone. A UK based watch dog AirWars says that 3,800 people have been killed in coalition airstrikes on Islamic State. The number could be even more. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in an interview given to CNN in 2015, partially accepted that without the Iraq war there would be no Islamic State (ISIS) and Iraq invasion which was earlier called Operation Enduring Freedom was a carryover of the war in Afghanistan. John Steinbeck had once said, All war is a symptom of mans failure as a thinking animal. The United States global war on terror post 9/11 has not achieved the purpose in a real sense, rather created more difficult times for the whole world, especially America and its allies. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Dizzee Rascal proved to be a big hit on Tuesday Night's Celebrity Great British Bake Off as he impressed viewers with his hilarious one-liners and novice baking skills. The rapper, 36, left fans in stitches with his antics in the famous tent as which saw him make a 'Rasta' carrot cake and grease a ramekin with a whole knob of butter, leading some to hail him as a 'legend' and pure gold'. But despite Dizzee's efforts, it was actor Reece Shearsmith, 51, who won Star Baker thanks in part to his terrific biscuit showstopper. Popular: Dizzee Rascal proved to be a big hit on Tuesday Night's Celebrity Great British Bake Off as he impressed viewers with his hilarious one-liners and novice baking skills Dizzee and Reece joined psychiatrist and author Philippa Perry and radio DJ Nick Grimshaw in the latest installment of the Stand Up To Cancer special of the Channel 4 show. And despite a stellar line-up, it was Dizzee (real name Dylan Kwabena Mills) who stood out as he enthusiastically threw himself into the challenge - despite having never baked or even watched GBBO before. 'Ill be hosting this thing when Im done, thats how confident I am', he said as the show began, before moments later asking: 'how do you open the oven?' as the first challenge began. Success: But despite Dizzee's efforts, it was actor Reece Shearsmith, 51, who won Star Baker thanks in part to his terrific biscuit showstopper His first effort saw him attempt to make a carrot traybake, complete with a 'Rasta carrot' named Toots. Other hilarious moments saw him attempt to grease a ramekin with a whole knob of butter when tasked with making a Queen of Puddings treat during the technical challenge. The Bassline Junkie hitmaker also sang the famous jingle from the Club biscuit adverts while discussing his love of biscuits. While he also declared he'll name his next album 'stiff peaks' when figuring out how firm to whisk his egg whites. Fun times: The rapper, 36, left fans in stitches with his antics in the famous tent as which saw him make a 'Rasta' carrot cake and grease a ramekin with a whole knob of butter Baking stars: Dizzee and Reece joined psychiatrist and author Philippa Perry and radio DJ Nick Grimshaw in the latest installment of the Stand Up To Cancer special of the Channel 4 show Confidence: 'Ill be hosting this thing when Im done, thats how confident I am', he said as the show began, before moments later asking: 'how do you open the oven?' as the first challenge began Watching the scenes unfold, viewers at home were quick to take to Twitter to comment on how much they loved Dizzee's appearance on the show. 'Loving Dizzee Rascal on Bake Off. Hes such a joy!' commented one. While another gushed: 'I think Im in love with Dizzee', and a third added: 'Dizzee Rascal on GBBO is my new favourite thing.' 'Just cancel this weeks programme and let Dizzee Rascal win because hes the legend' tweeted a fourth watcher. Tasty: His first effort saw him attempt to make a carrot traybake, complete with a 'Rasta carrot' named Toots A big hit? While he also declared he'll name his next album 'stiff peaks' when figuring out how firm to whisk his egg whites 'Dizzee Rascal replying "Sick!" to Paul compliments is possibly my favourite #GBBO moment of all time' said a fifth. A sixth person exclaimed: 'Dizzee Rascal on the Bake Off is pure gold', and another echoed: 'Dizzee Rascal on bake off is everything, what a guy.' With an additional person tweeting: 'What a legend Dizzee Rascal is, hes brilliant on this!' Meanwhile, Reece thoroughly impressed judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with his bakes, going on to win Star Baker and the coveted apron that goes alongside it. Big fans: Watching the scenes unfold, viewers at home were quick to take to Twitter to comment on how much they loved Dizzee's appearance on the show He even bagged the notorious Paul Hollywood handshake for his pumpkin traybake, saying afterwards that he was 'floating on air'. Elsewhere, Phillipa got top spot in the technical challenge, while Nick pulled out all the stops with his Glastonbury-themed showstopper. Across five episodes, the celebrities are doing their bit in aid of Stand Up To Cancer, a joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4. Sarah Lazenby, head of formats and features at Channel 4, said: 'What we all need right now is more joy. 'Bake Off is serving up yet another dollop of fun courtesy of some very willing celebrities. We can't promise a huge helping of baking inspiration, but we can deliver some much-needed laughs.' Good job: Meanwhile, Reece thoroughly impressed judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with his bakes, going on to win Star Baker and the coveted apron that goes alongside it Coveted: He even bagged the notorious Paul Hollywood handshake for his pumpkin traybake, saying afterwards that he was 'floating on air' Valiant effort: Elsewhere, Phillipa got top spot in the technical challenge, while Nick pulled out all the stops with his Glastonbury-themed showstopper Kieran Smith, executive producer of Bake Off creators Love Productions, said: 'Bake Off is extremely proud to support Stand Up To Cancer. 'It has been a difficult year for charities and we sincerely hope that this series will offer a lot of fun, but also some much-needed funds in the fight against cancer.' Stand Up To Cancer has raised more than 62 million, funding 55 clinical trials and projects involving 11,000 cancer patients across the country, Channel 4 said. The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer continues Tuesday at 8pm Channel 4. Jack Whitehall's girlfriend Roxy Horner proudly displayed her new blonde curled tresses on Monday, despite salons being closed during the Covid lockdown. The model, 29, took to Instagram Stories to praise her stylist for transforming her look, three weeks before salons are officially allowed to reopen. The video showed Roxy in a home setting having her hair coloured and styled by Jordanna Cobella and she wrote in the caption: 'How amazing is Jordanna Cobella at hair? She's also got a book out. Make up by Monnie K makeup artist.' Transformation: Jack Whitehall's girlfriend Roxy Horner, 29, proudly displayed her new blonde curled tresses on Monday, despite salons being closed during the Covid lockdown The stylist, Monnie K, also posted a video of Roxy patting her dog as she waited for her colour to set. This comes despite the government's website stating: 'Tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services must also close. These services should not be provided in other people's homes.' Currently hair and beauty salons and other personal care services will be allowed to reopen on Monday 12th April as part of Prime Minster Boris Johnson's roadmap out of the Covid lockdown. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Roxy Horner for comment. Look at me! The model took to Instagram Stories to praise her stylist for transforming her look, three weeks before salons are officially allowed to reopen Gorgeous: The video showed Roxy in a home setting having her hair coloured and styled by Jordanna Cobella Since the first lockdown Roxy has been dating comedian Jack, after the pair met during a trip to Australia, with the model moving into his London home after just a few weeks of dating. Jack previously admitted although the decision 'accelerated' their relationship, they did miss out on doing ordinary things like restaurant and cinema dates. Speaking on the Couples Quarantine podcast, he explained: 'Weirdly that was quite nice because we spent a lot of time together and it accelerates the relationship in a way. 'Then when lockdown ended, there's a lot of things we realised. We'd never gone to see a film together. We'd never been to a restaurant in England because we met in Australia.' New look! She wrote in the caption: 'How amazing is Jordanna Cobella at hair? She's also got a book out. Make up by Monnie K makeup artist' Sweet: The stylist, Monnie K, also posted a video of Roxy patting her dog as she waited for her colour to set Happy together: Since the first lockdown Roxy has been dating comedian Jack, after the pair met during a trip to Australia and moved into his London home after a few weeks of dating Jack dated actress Gemma Chan, 38, between 2011 and 2017, and he previously said that he regretted not marrying her. Speaking to his mother Hilary in an episode of his Netflix series, Travels With My Father, he said: 'I f****d up my chance of that. I did. I could have got married but I messed it up.' In the episode, which was filmed before Jack began dating Roxy, he apologised to his mother for being the only single member of their immediate family as it meant he had to attend his sister Molly's wedding alone. He added: 'I'm sorry I'll be attending the wedding alone and I'm sorry you have two children who have model relationships and one who is going to be there on his own trying to sh*g a bridesmaid.' Ranking Member of the Finance Committee in Parliament and Former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. Casiel Ato Forson, has indicated that even though the 2021 budget presented to Parliament has been approved, the minority group is prepared to fully assess it based on merit and scrutinize the new taxes introduced by government. This, he said, will determine whether the Minority will support or reject some of the new policies that government wishes to introduce. Yes, the taxes are in there, it is government policy; it is the responsibility of government to introduce policies that they deem fit. We also as the minority have a responsibility to either reject or approve them. Going forward, the taxes are yet to be brought to us to evaluate. We will evaluate them one by one, and if we believe that some of them are in good taste we will support them; and if we believe that others are not in good taste, we will oppose them. He said this in an interview with the media shortly after the budget was adopted by the House after it was put to a vote. After the voting, 137 MPs voted in favour of the budget, while 134 MPs voted against it. Prior to the adoption, the Minority raised several concerns about some policies in the budget statement which included the introduction of some new taxes, as well as accusing government and the Finance Ministry of misreporting and misclassifying some government expenditure. Earlier on Thursday, the Minority led by Haruna Iddrisu held a press conference to make their concerns known. According to them, the deficit as reported in the budget is understated. We note some misreporting, misclassifications and below the line treatment of some government expenditure which are deliberately misreported in order to project a good performance of the economy, when in fact the true situation is not so rosy. Also, the Minority expressed their dissatisfaction with the introduction of new taxes; arguing that businesses and individuals have suffered as a result of negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. We note that for the 2019 fiscal year, government reported a fiscal deficit of 4.8% of GDP, while at the same time as confirmed by the IMF in their April 2020 staff report a fiscal deficit of 7.5% of GDP existed. This means an amount of about GH8.2billion was concealed from our expenditure framework. We demand that the fiscal deficit, including arrears for the year 2020, be corrected in the budget statement to reflect the actual figure of 17.5% of GDP. The fiscal deficit for the year 2020 of 13.8% of GDP as stated by the Ministry of Finance excludes an amount of GH6.2billion being what government refers to as Energy sector payments. We demand the inclusion of Energy sector payments of GH6.2billion in the fiscal tables to reflect in the corresponding fiscal deficit. Amid some disagreements during a debate, the Speaker granted the Minoritys application for a headcount. After the voting, 137 MPs voted in favour of the budget while 134 voted against it. Regarding budget estimates which are expected to be presented to the House this week, Dr. Ato Forson stated: Do not let the vote cloud the achievement of today. We are going to evaluate estimate by estimate. We are going to exercise the authority to approve the budget. Parliament is the one that has the authority, it is only us that can appropriate resources to the Executive; and so if we think for any reason that the resources we are going to give to a state agency to perform a particular function is not going to be in the interest of the nation, we will object to it. Source: B&FT Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Biden administration has urged a federal court to certify India's request to extradite Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana, who is sought for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack Assistant US Attorney John J Lulejian, in his submission before a federal US court in Los Angeles, said Rana, 59, meets all the criteria to be extradited to India for his trial in the Mumbai terrorist attack. On February 4, Rana's attorney had opposed his extradition. US District Court Judge in Los Angeles Jacqueline Chooljian has scheduled the extradition hearing for April 22. "The United States respectfully requests that following the April 22, 2021, extradition hearing, the Court certify India's request for Rana's extradition for the Secretary of State's surrender decision," Mr Lulejian said in his 61-page court submission on Monday. Rana, a childhood friend of David Coleman Headley, was re-arrested on June 10 in Los Angeles on an extradition request by India for his involvement in the Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. He has been declared a fugitive by India. "Fugitive Tahawwur Hussain Rana is wanted in India to stand trial for offences related to his role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, that resulted in the death of 166 people, the injury of 239 people, and the damage to property in excess of $1.5 billion," Mr Lulejian said. As per the India-US Extradition Treaty, the Indian government has requested the formal extradition of Rana, and the United States has initiated this extradition proceeding. Mr Lulejian said the criteria warranting certification of extradition are satisfied in this case. These are: the court has both personal and subject matter jurisdiction, there is an extradition treaty between the United States and India that is in full force and effect, and the crimes for which Rana's extradition is sought are covered by the terms of the treaty. India's extradition request contains evidence to establish probable cause that the individual appearing in court is the fugitive who committed the offence for which extradition is requested, Mr Lulejian argued. In his court submission on February 4, Rana's attorney had argued that Rana's extradition is barred under Article 6 of the United States-India extradition treaty because he had previously been acquitted of the offences for which his extradition is sought, and under Article 9 of the treaty because the government has not established probable cause to believe that Rana committed the alleged offences. Mr Lulejian said that the court should find that Rana's extradition is not barred under Article 6 of the India-US Extradition Treaty. Although there is ample evidence that Rana aided and abetted the Mumbai attack, he claims that he should not be extradited because probable cause is lacking. Rana's claim is based on an improper attempt to attack the credibility of a key witness against him. Rana also does not contest that he is the person who India alleges committed the charged crimes. Instead, he challenges only whether Article 6 of the treaty bars his extradition and whether probable cause exists to believe that he committed the offences for which India requests his extradition, the Assistant US Attorney said. Mr Lulejian said Headley's plea agreement is irrelevant because Rana cannot benefit from its terms. Not only is Rana in a different position than Headley because he did not plead guilty or cooperate with the United States, as is his right, but his inability to benefit from the negotiated terms of Headley's plea agreement is confirmed by the text of the plea agreement itself. He said Rana's extradition proceedings are separate from Headley's criminal proceedings and are being litigated by a different United States attorney's office from the one who negotiated the plea agreement with Headley. According to its very terms, Rana has no rights under Headley's plea agreement and is therefore prohibited from relying on it in an attempt to undermine the United States'' position on his extraditability under the treaty, he added. "Rana has failed to demonstrate that he cannot be extradited to India as a result of his prior prosecution in the United States," the attorney said. Rana attempts to undermine India's evidence of probable cause by questioning the credibility of the key witness, David Headley. Not only is Rana's challenge improper in this extradition proceeding, but his claims are also not supported by the law or the evidence, Mr Lulejian said. Also read: FATF retains Pakistan in 'grey list' over terror funding, money laundering charges Haiti - FLASH : Shooting between Phantom 509 and the PNH, 2 police officers killed Monday March 22, another day of tension in Port-au-Prince. On the Delmas highway, barricades of flaming tires have been erected. Heavily armed, hooded individuals, some wearing the Haitian National Police (PNH) uniform claiming to be part of the "Phantom 509" terrorist group, spread panic by firing numerous shots. They denounced the death of 4 police officers during the failure of the anti-gang operation in the village de Dieu on March 12th 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 . In Delmas 32, members of the armed group opened fire on a PNH patrol in surveillance, causing an intense immediate attack. During the shooting, two police officers including a member of the Departmental Unit for the Maintenance of Order (UDMO) were killed according to the first elements of the police investigation reported by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). Reacting to this tragedy, in a note the BINUH said to be "[...] saddened by the news of the death of two PNH agents on March 22, 2021, killed according to the first elements of the investigation by colleagues [...] This an act of fratricidal violence weakens the cohesion essential to the PNH so that the institution can fulfill its mission to serve and protect. BINUH calls on the authorities to prioritize the cohesion of the PNH and the search for peaceful solutions." For its part, the American Embassy in port-au-Prince, issued an Alert message "The criminal organization known as Phantom 509 is currently active in the neighborhoodsof Delmas, Petion-Ville and Port-au-Prince. This group is known for its violent actions and its ability to relocate quickly. We encourage you to limit non-essential travel in these areas." See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33264-haiti-flash-violence-vandalism-and-looting-in-port-au-prince.html 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 SL/ HaitiLibre World Water Day: EU encourages sustainable management of resources March 23,2021 | Source: New Europe Online Access to drinking water and sanitation are basic human needs and rights, and are fundamental for human dignity, EU High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius said in a joint statement on March 22, adding that water is a shared resource, a critical ecosystem, and its use underpins various sectors of the economy. On World Water Day 2021, we celebrate all of the different ways in which water benefits our lives. We resolve to value water properly and safeguard it effectively for everyone, they said. This years theme focuses on the value of water. Yet, access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water remains a challenge in many parts of the world, Borrell and Sinkevicius said. They warned that faced with the urgency of the global climate crisis, many regions in the world face more frequent, severe, and longer lasting extreme weather events, water cycle and temperature changes, or sea level rise putting peoples livelihoods and ecosystems under additional stress. This leads to severe situation of water scarcity, which can have seriously destabilizing effects on countries and regions, affecting peace, security and increases inequalities, Borrell and Sinkevicius said. Water scarcity already affects a quarter of the worlds population. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a severe health and economic crisis that is affecting progress in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Access to clean water and sanitation remains the best protection to reduce the spread of infections and save lives, Borrell and Sinkevicius said. Water stress is increasing in Europe as well. With the European Green Deal and our ambitious climate neutrality target, we will address the pressures on Europes rivers, lakes, coastal waters and groundwater, move towards more sustainable agriculture using fewer pesticides. The protection and restoration of aquatic ecosystems including through nature-based solutions, the increased efficiency of water use and promotion of water reuse are also high on our agenda. With our Zero Pollution Ambition we are revamping our chemicals policy, reducing the presence of pharmaceuticals in water and soil, fighting micro plastics and supporting innovative practices and technologies, Borrell and Sinkevicius said. Based on our long experience of transboundary water management, the EU strongly encourages and where possible directly supports increased cooperation and transparency in water governance at all levels. Just this month we are inaugurating in Djibouti a desalination plant powered with renewable energies and a wastewater treatment plant in the West Bank equipped with collection and irrigation networks to re-use water, they said. According to the EU, sustainable management of water resources requires global action trough strong international cooperation, the benefits of which extend far beyond the water sector. Everyone needs to play their full part in ensuring safe, secure, resilient, ecologically sustainable and inclusive access to water and sanitation worldwide, Borrell and Sinkevicius said, adding, Together we must give water its true value, safeguarding this most precious of natural resources for everyone. Lets make every drop count. Theme(s): Others. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping wave to people on a street in Pyongyang, June 20, 2019. Korea Times file Chinese, Russian top diplomats demonstrate unity against US By Kang Seung-woo The U.S.' moves to rally its allies against North Korea and China are raising the specter of a new Cold War, according to diplomatic observers, with the totalitarian states, along with Russia, teaming up to address the "hostile policy," Tuesday. The new era of geopolitical rivalry is putting South Korea in the hot seat, given that Seoul is maintaining deep partnerships with both Washington and Beijing. The latest sign of a second Cold War came, Tuesday, the day after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged verbal messages, which confirmed the two countries' bilateral cooperation. According to Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim "stressed the need to strengthen the unity and cooperation between the two parties and two countries to cope with the hostile forces' all-round challenges and obstructive moves." In response, Xi unveiled his willingness to work with North Korea and other related parties to "uphold the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue and preserve peace and stability on the peninsula," according to Chinese state media Xinhua. Their exchange came as the U.S. is sharpening its criticism of China and North Korea by strengthening its alliance with friendly Asian countries. Starting with holding a summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), the Joe Biden administration dispatched its secretaries of state and defense to South Korea and Japan and stressed the importance of trilateral cooperation to deal with issues involving North Korea and China. The Quad is an anti-China strategic forum comprised of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S., and the Biden team wants South Korea to join it as part of the Quad Plus along with New Zealand and Vietnam. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also traveling to Europe to strengthen its partnership with NATO, which is now working to address the risks China presents to U.S.-NATO shared security interests, democracy and the rules-based international order, according to them. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, left, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi bump elbows during their meeting in Guilin, China, Monday. EPA-Yonhap A new documentary by British filmmaker Arthur Jones and set for Chinese release in April, reveals the untold story of six Chinese survivors on the doomed ocean liner Titanic, which sank more than a hundred years ago. "The Six: The Untold Story of RMS Titanic's Chinese Passengers" takes audiences on a journey to discover how six Chinese passengers survived after the huge ship they were on sank. Returning to a subject that he helped popularize among a new generation in 1997's blockbuster "Titanic," director James Cameron also joined this project as executive producer. "Titanic, it is a Chinese story," Cameron said, wondering why the records of the Chinese passengers on the Titanic were overlooked, hidden, or excluded. This oversight prompted him to participate in the project. The legendary director also revealed that the last person rescued from the Titanic was Chinese and that they were pulled from the ice-cold seawater, similar to how Rose DeWitt Bukater was saved in the final scene of "Titanic." Ever since the sinking of the British passenger liner in 1912, experts have tried to uncover the truth and details behind the tragedy. At the time of its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City, the Titanic was the largest ship afloat but sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912, after colliding with an iceberg. There were an estimated 2,224 passengers and crew onboard the ship. More than 1,500 died following the collision. Its survivors, along with the mystery that shrouded the disaster, became legends that countless books and movies have told over the decades. One of the most memorable recollections of the tragedy, "Titanic," became one of the highest-grossing films of all time. However, of the over 700 survivors of the Titanic disaster, the six Chinese survivors never had a chance to share their experiences. "Those stories are very well documented for almost every single one of those survivors. But the Chinese are almost uniquely unknown," said Steven Schwankert, lead researcher and historian for "The Six." "They deserve to tell their story as much as any other survivors do. They were there. They lived it. They're out there. We've got to find them." In order to trace the survivors' descendants, Jones and his team consisting of dozens of researchers traveled the world and visited 20 cities in the United States, Britain, Canada, and Cuba, eventually locating some of them. "How did they survive the accident at such a high rate and, afterward, why did they disappear from the history books so completely within 24 hours of arriving in the U.S.?" inquired director Arthur Jones, who has been living and working in China for over 20 years. "While most of the 700 or so survivors of the Titanic were celebrated in their home countries, and to this day are regularly covered in the press on Titanic anniversaries, the Chinese men on the Titanic were never interviewed, and never claimed by relatives, making their experience unique." "The Six" is an extraordinary tale of survival as well as of how a few passengers were able to maintain dignity in the face of bigotry and anti-immigrant policies, making it one that still reverberates today. Following their rescue, the six were not met with compassion but with suspicion and slander. After less than 24 hours, they were expelled from the U.S., soon forgotten, and lost beneath the waves of time. It is because of these factors that the filmmakers also tried to shine a light on the dark legacy of punitive immigration policies, specifically the Chinese Exclusion Act of United States, and on the sacrifices often made by migrants in their search for a better life. Work on "The Six: The Untold Story of RMS Titanic's Chinese Passengers" began as early as 2015 as the researchers slowly started to piece together the forgotten truth of one of the deadliest commercial peacetime maritime disasters in modern history. The film was initially scheduled for release in 2018 but later postponed to 2019 and then 2020 before being postponed again due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film is now set for release in China on April 16, 2021. Sundays clash between protestors and police in Bristol is being used to justify a stepped-up law-and-order agenda. Around 3,000 mainly young people attended a Kill the Bill event on College Green, opposing the governments Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which eviscerates the right to protest. Many carried homemade placards with slogans such as Freedom to protest is fundamental to democracy, Say NO to UK police state, No protest, no democracy, The day democracy becomes dictatorship?, Our silence is not your right and Kill the Bill. Several hundred protestors moved on to New Bridewell police station where there were confrontations with police, who deployed riot gear and police dogs and horses as the crowds chanted Shame on you! Some fireworks were thrown, windows in the police station were smashed and a police car and van set on fire. Seven protestors have been arrestedsix for violent disorder and one for possession of an offensive weapon. Avon and Somerset police have threatened to track down hundreds more in a huge investigation, the biggest appeal for wanted suspects that weve ever done, with very serious consequences for those involved. The events were met with a snarling response in the ruling class. Headlines throughout Sunday evening and Sunday night screamed of the Bristol riot and police with broken bones. Most officials attacked professional demonstrators and extremists, in the manner of former US President Donald Trumps repeated invocation of Antifa as a bogeyman to sanction state repression while solidarising with right-wing extremists. Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted, Unacceptable scenes in Bristol tonight. Thuggery and disorder by a minority will never be tolerated. Chairman of the Avon and Somerset Police Federation, Andy Roebuck, said, Disgusting scenes in Bristol by a mob of animals who are injuring police officers, members of the public and damaging property. John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, declared, This is not about protecting the right to protest, its violent criminality from a hardcore minority who will hijack any situation for their own aims. Andy Marsh, chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police, told the Independent, I believe the events of yesterday were hijacked by extremists, people who were determined to commit criminal damage, to generate very negative sentiment about policing and to assault our brave officers. There was a hardcore of serious criminals hidden within those 3,000 peopleperhaps 400 or 500 peopleand we certainly didnt trigger this. The hijacked by extremists claim is made to legitimise state repression and sanction measures targeting the left. Protest and outbursts of social anger are written off as the work of criminal elements who can be legitimately outlawed and suppressed. The same was said of the George Floyd protests last summer. Last night, the Telegraph chillingly reported that police are now hunting for up to 500 violent extremists. Roebuck indicated they would seek to charge the people who set fire to a police riot van with attempted murderthe same has recently been done in Spain . The Labour Party nominally opposes the Police Bill but wholeheartedly endorsed this authoritarian line. Their comments on Bristol were indistinguishable from those of the Conservative government and the police. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds described the events as appalling and inexcusable. Starmer said, I hope that the perpetrators are identified and prosecuted where thats appropriate. Starmer has form, having cheered on the rubber-stamp sentencing of young people after the 2011 London riots. The filthiest performance was given by Labour Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees, who managed to combine McCarthyite anti-communism, patronising moralism and self-centred racialism. Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees speaking at the 2019 Labour South West Regional Conference in Bristol. February 15, 2020. (credit: Wikimedia Commons) Claiming opposition to the governments Police Bill, he accused the protestors of lawlessness which would be used as evidence and promote the need for the Bill. In words indistinguishable from the ravings of Priti Patel, Rees alleged, Experience would suggest that there are a group of people running around the country looking for any opportunity to enter into physical conflict with the police or representatives of what they see as the establishment, whether its the bill, whether its some other protest, theyll take the opportunity. Elsewhere, Rees attacked self-indulgent, self-centred revolutionary tourists looking for a conflict to take advantage of, people living out their revolutionary fantasies, and people who go around looking for the latest demo. He insisted that the events had nothing to do with Covid and a lockdown and the hardships suffered by millions, or with years of capitalist austerity, departing for a private fantasy land to claim, For five years Bristol has built homes, fed its families, prioritised mental health, recruited black and Asian magistrates, organised work experience for our young people who are least likely to be able to get it, we have addressed poverty and introduced a whole new city approach to welcome in and support refugees and asylum seekers. In February 2017, Bristols Labour-controlled council voted to slash 104 million from public spending by 2022, including 33 million in the first year, affecting 112 different services. In 2018, the citys youth services were cut by 30 percent. The council has announced that more cuts are inevitable to make up an 86 million shortfall built up over the course of the last year. Since the start of the pandemic, official unemployment in Bristol has more than doubled to 5.1 percent. Another 13 percent of jobs are currently supported by the furlough scheme. Nationally, unemployment has fallen hardest on young people. Students at Bristol University have been engaged in a long battle over the unfair charging of rent during lockdown and have reported a heavy-handed police presence on campus. Reess most galling comment used the racialist narrative of police violence put forward by Black Lives Matter to paint himself as a victim of the governments authoritarian agenda, and hence also of the protestors political illiteracy at large. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme, I am from communities who are disproportionately likely to be on the receiving end of the criminal justice system and receive unfair treatment. What they [protesters of the Police Bill] have done has done nothing to make me, and people like me, safer. Passing over the self-pity, there is as much chance of a reconciliation between Meghan Markle and the Royal Family as there is of Rees falling foul of the governments anti-protest laws, which are directed against the working class. This is the function of racialist politics: to blur class lines by claiming that a well-paid political careerist like Rees and a black worker share common problems and interests. It is worth comparing Reess comments on the Bristol protest with his response to the tearing down of a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol harbour last summer. The latter, said the Labour Mayor, was a piece of historical poetry. He continued in an interview with the Guardian: The world is full of contradictions and truths that are difficult bedfellows. I have to uphold order at the same time as being honest with people and saying Im not going to mourn the loss of the statue to the plinth. It seems when it comes to removing a statue reflecting the legacy of slavery, Rees is as radical as they come. But when it comes to fighting the contemporary turn to dictatorship, he whines that protestors are doing nothing for his personal safety. There could hardly be a better indictment of Labourism in its identity politics garb. Undocumented immigrants have been surging to the U.S. border, some wearing T-shirts with the Biden campaign logo and the words "Please let us in!" What gave them the idea that they could just show up and come on in? President Joe Biden did. Oh, Biden didn't exactly say that. He said to not come now, as we rebuild the immigration system. But that isn't the same as saying they can't come illegally later. And since it implies that later on, whoever wants to come can, the migrants can reasonably assume that an arrival now without papers will eventually be overlooked. Adding to that impression, Biden made a show on his first day in office of ditching five of the Trump administration's immigration policies. Sure enough, human smugglers began telling desperate Central Americans that Biden opened the door and the smugglers will get them through it for $6,000. What did Biden think would happen? Officials at U.S. Customs and Border Protection warned the incoming administration of building pressure at the southern border. Fed by worsening poverty and gang violence in Central America and an improving U.S. economy, the rush had already begun in Donald Trump's last months. It took until this weekend for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to firmly say the border of the United States "is closed." Roberta Jacobson, White House coordinator for the southern border, got still more specific. "The message isn't 'Don't come now,'" she said. "It's 'Don't come in this way, ever.'" The earlier sloppy rhetoric handed Republicans a political bomb they are throwing at Democrats. Not that they've entirely earned the right. Trump's card trick was to hurl insults at undocumented immigrants while looking the other way when American businesses employed them as low-cost labor. When Trump was asked whether he supported a national requirement to use E-Verify -- a database that would confirm a new hire's right to work in this country -- he said no. Asked why not, he used the bull argument that farmers don't have computers. Turning off the job magnet is the only way to cut the flow of illegal workers. That is also missing from Biden's proposal for comprehensive immigration reform. He would confer legal status to most of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants. He would offer $4 billion in aid aimed at making life in some Central American countries less terrible. And he would reform the U.S. refugee and asylum systems. All good things. But a plan that doesn't seriously stop Americans from employing people who entered illegally or overstayed their visas is not going to secure the border. Not any more than Trump's dramatics over a border wall. Politicians of both parties should know where the public stands on these matters. A Gallup poll last summer found that for the first time, Americans want more, not less, immigration. Also, nearly 8 in 10 Americans think immigration is good for the country, with some Republicans in agreement. In a 2019 poll, 65 percent thought the situation at the border to be a major or important problem. And 75 percent favored hiring significantly more Border Patrol agents. What we see is that Americans support a large immigration program but want it kept legal. Canada and Australia do both. How sensible of them. An experienced politician who wants to retain public support for a humane immigration program should know by now that an orderly border is essential -- and that given the pressures, any show of laxness is a guarantee of disorder. On this issue, Biden can't be a nice guy without also being a tough guy. He needs to show resolve and show it now. COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM ADVERTISEMENT this TAM is different because it will enable the replacement of aging/obsolete equipment Nigerians will benefit immensely as PMS and other petroleum products will become available locally, jobs will be created from the value chain of activities, and the current strain on forex for importation of products will reduce. Mixed reactions have continued to trail the move by the Federal Government to rehabilitate the Port-Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) The Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved the sum of $1.5 billion for the immediate rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery. This followed a memo by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva , on its rehabilitation, which was presented to FEC, and its subsequent approval on March 17. Indeed, Nigerias refineries have suffered years of neglect. In particular, the PHRC has experienced decline in performance over the past two decades due to delays in conducting the mandatory turn around maintenance (TAM). The last time a TAM was conducted on the refinery was 21 years ago (2000)! Isnt it time the nations refineries are brought back to their optimal capacities? Some critics have argued that it is more economical to build a new refinery, than just waste $1.5 billion to rehabilitate the PHRC, which holds 210,000bpd, out of Nigerias 445,000bpd refining capacity. On the contrary, a cursory look at brand new refineries built across the world reveals that building a refinery of similar capacity as the PHRC is estimated at over $6 billion, depending on a number of technical and non-technical factors. For example, $10 billion was spent on building the Aramco Oil Refinery (250,000-300,000 bpd capacity) in Pakistan, $12 billion was spent on building Abrue Lima Project (230,000 bpd) in Brazil; while $27 billion was spent on building Pengerang Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development, RAPID (300,000 bpd + 3 mtpa naptha steam cracker) in Indonesia. In Nigeria, $19 billion has been spent so far on the Dangote Refinery (650,000 bpd), prior to commissioning and start-up of the plant. It is interesting to note that despite the abundance of hydrocarbon resources, Nigeria is, sadly, the only oil producer in the world that does not refine petroleum products. Instead, the country relies heavily on importation for most of its petrol needs locally. This is not a good record to be proud of. Armchair critics also come up with a shallow argument that it is better to sell off these refineries since they can no longer meet up the nations refining needs. Which country sells off its strategic national assets, such as refineries, to the highest bidder? Armchair critics usually think a mere mention of TAM means another round of business as usual, where resources are drained with nothing to show for it at the end of the day. While some of these arguments are genuine, it is instructive to note that this TAM is different because it will enable the replacement of aging/obsolete equipment, as well as ensure that the refinery operates at a minimum of 90 per cent capacity utilisation. On the flipside, Nigerians will benefit immensely as PMS and other petroleum products will become available locally, jobs will be created from the value chain of activities, and the current strain on forex for importation of products will reduce. In addition, interested parties who benefited from the age-long importation largesse and have fleeced the nation dry will potentially be out of business. This is the same for critics of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. These detractors probably forgot that this is an administration that, from its inception, made clear its intention to bring back the refineries to their optimal capacities. The Buhari Presidency also threw its full weight and support behind the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to execute the project. It is worthy to note that for African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), which is the reliable lender for the project, to have raised $1 billion towards the initiative, it goes to show that the multilateral institution understands how crucial the project is. In the same vein, the Federal Government will raise the sum of $550 million. Clearly, a credible and capable lender like Afreximbank would never agree to put such huge amount of money where there will be no value. Also, the right governance structures have been instituted around the project implementation to ensure success. Similarly, Tecnimont SpA, the Original Refinery Builder (ORB), which is also the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation and Commissioning (EPCIC) contractor, is globally reputable and capable, with requisite experience of similar jobs across the globe. There are still a number of other genuine reasons why the current refineries rehabilitation project is different. Firstly, the project implementation governance structure includes key independent external stakeholders: the Ministry of Finance, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the two labour unions in the oil and gas industry Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ( PENGASSAN) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers ( NUPENG). It is also expected to result in job creation across the value chain (crude supply, operating and maintaining the refinery, product supply, etc.), including several third party contractors that will supply outsourced services or goods. Secondly, it involves the significant replacement of key equipment within the refinerys major units and components. Thirdly, it is funded through part-loan and part-government funds, with the financiers actively monitoring the execution of the project. KBR and NETCO are also acting as NNPC Engineers, who will be supervising the EPC contract to ensure the project is delivered in line on schedule, within budget and at the right quality. Sylva has urged Nigerians who are opposed to the project to hold him accountable for every dollar that will be spent on rehabilitating the refinery. They (Nigerians) can hold me accountable and hold this government accountable for every dollar, every cent on this refinery and ensure that we deliver a refinery that works, he said. Sylva has also explained that the rehabilitation will take 18 months and the first phase will get the refinery to 90 per cent operational capacity, stressing that President Muhammadu Buhari was bent on leaving a legacy, including making sure that the refineries are working. It is not going to be all debts, we are not going to borrow all the monies that are going into the rehabilitation. Furthermore, the minister explained that the project would be in three phases, adding that the first phase was going to be within the tenure of this administration. You should hold us. It is 18 months and we are going to take the refinery to 90 per cent of its main capacity and that is what you should hold us to, he posited. While defending the project, the former governor of Bayelsa State noted that the Federal Government also plans to rehabilitate other refineries in the country, explaining that the move is not a waste of funds, as believed by many Nigerians. According to him, the refinery will benefit Nigerians and be commercially viable to return profits for the government and satisfy the domestic needs of the country, especially in addition to the Dangote Refinery. This rehabilitation will bring a lot of gains for Nigerians. First, we are gaining from savings in the foreign exchange end, savings from importation of premium motor spirit (PMS); and we will gain from the operations of the refineries itself, he noted. The minister also debunked insinuations that the rehabilitation could have taken less than N500 million, saying that the rehabilitation of the refinery was being handled by professionals. It is also expected to result in job creation across the value chain (crude supply, operating and maintaining the refinery, product supply, etc.), including several third party contractors that will supply outsourced services or goods. The refined products are also feedstock for small scale local manufacturing. The most significant and visible benefit is the energy security of the country. Imagine if the COVID-19 lockdown became global and we couldnt import, it would have been a disaster as there is no capacity to refine crude in-country and as such, there would be no products. the Federal Government must be given all the support to see that the Port Harcourt Refinery is revived and becomes operational once more in order to save the government its scarce forex revenue, as well as create the much-needed jobs. A group like the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, which understands the importance of this laudable move has described it as a signal that the Federal Government has woken up from its slumber. The IYC President, Peter Igbifa, said though reviving and optimising the refinery was long overdue, it was better late than never. Igbifa, who described the move as a welcome development said it would create employment for the teeming jobless youths in the Niger Delta region and increase the countrys refining capacity. The IYC boss also expressed optimism that the project, when completed, would reduce youth restiveness and criminality in the region. He advised the Federal Government not to play politics with the project. Igbifa called on the government to swing into action by releasing money immediately to back up its approval. Igbifa said: This should not end in funds approval, money should be released as and when due. We dont want to hear the usual excuse that the project is being delayed for lack of funds. We listened carefully as the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, reeled out the timeline for the project and we are expecting the rehabilitation to follow the timeline. As a council, which fights for the interest of Ijaw youths and other youths in the Niger Delta, we will be constituting an action committee to work closely with the ministry of petroleum and the contractors that will be in charge of the rehabilitation project. We will monitor the execution of this project from the beginning to the end and if we notice any foul play, we will surely raise the alarm. Igbifa said it smacked of unseriousness and irresponsibility for an oil-producing country like Nigeria to be selling crude oil and importing refined products, adding that the move to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt refinery would gradually bring an end to the economic disaster. On his part, an environmental justice activist, Mr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, welcomed the planned rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery, saying it will create jobs and also curb incessant fuel hike when completed. Fyneface also urged the government to consider funding artisanal refiners to own modular refineries, in order to contribute to energy sufficiency in the country. The approval, coming at a time that Nigerians are grumbling over incessant hike in fuel price and energy crisis would go a long way to address these issues when completed. During the rehabilitation, jobs will be created for youths and experts across board, he added. Therefore, the Federal Government must be given all the support to see that the Port Harcourt Refinery is revived and becomes operational once more in order to save the government its scarce forex revenue, as well as create the much-needed jobs. Alexander Adejoh writes from Lokoja, Kogi State. By Benjamin Jumbe The Uganda Prisons Services Commissioner General Johnson Byabashaija has today launched the Covid-19 vaccination for staff. Speaking at the launch held at the prisons headquarters along Parliament Avenue in Kampala, Byabashaija encouraged all Ugandans to embrace this exercise to save their lives. He said the perceived side effects are more bearable than affliction of the virus. Byabashaija also revealed that they have now started allowing visits to prisoners on condition that the visitors have tested negative for Covid-19 or been vaccinated. The prison authorities suspended visiting of inmates as soon as the pandemic broke out in March last year. on Tuesday said it has resolved the issue with WebView that caused some apps on to crash for users globally including in India. "We have resolved the issue with WebView that caused some apps on to crash for some users. Updating System WebView and Chrome via Play should now resolve the issue," a Google spokesperson said in a statement. Earlier, some Android users faced crashing issues with apps on their Android devices, and Google said it was working on a fix. "We're aware of a problem with Gmail affecting a significant subset of users. The affected users are unable to access Gmail. We will provide an update, detailing when we expect to resolve the problem," Google had said in an earlier update. "Affected users can use the desktop Gmail Web interface instead of the Gmail Android app," the company advised. Samsung also acknowledged the issue and suggested a solution. "Please remove the Webview Update and then restart the phone," Samsung tweeted from its US support Twitter account. The issue is apparently owing to a system component called Android System WebView that lets Android apps display web content. Affected users reported that the Gmail app on Android crashed. "Here are the steps: Go settings > apps > tap the three dots in the top right corner > show system apps > search for Android System WebView > select Uninstall updates," Samsung posted. --IANS wh/na (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 Boulder police chief said on Tuesday that a 21-year-old man from a Denver suburb had been charged with 10 counts of murder in the shooting on Monday at a grocery store in Boulder, Colo., that left 10 people dead. The rampage paralyzed parts of Boulder, with law enforcement officers in tactical gear swarming a busy shopping center and at least one other location. Here is what we know about the rampage. What happened? Around 2:30 p.m., the aisles of a King Soopers grocery store a few miles south of the campus of the University of Colorado became a scene of terror when a gunman began shooting using an assault-style rifle, law enforcement officials said. Shoppers and employees ran for cover, and some said they had escaped through an employee stock area and a loading dock at the back of the store. Ryan Borowski, a licensed massage therapist who lives on the other side of Boulder, said in an interview that he had stopped to buy a soda, chips and possibly ice cream at the supermarket when the shooting began. A somber Joe Biden said Tuesday that he and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden were "devastated" over Monday's supermarket shooting in Boulder, Colorado the country's second mass shooting in public in less than a week. Local authorities say 10 people were killed Monday afternoon in the University of Colorado town, six days after a shooting spree in Georgia killed eight people, including six Asian women, at three spas. "While the flag was still flying half-staff for the tragedy, another American city has been scarred by gun violence and the resulting trauma," the president, whose aides often cast him in the role of consoler-in-chief, said Tuesday as he delivered another unexpected address mourning shooting victims. "I even hate to even say it, because we're saying it so often, but my heart goes out," he continued. Biden, 78, said the White House will continue to keep flags at half-staff to honor the victims of gun violence. "I just can't imagine how the families are feeling and the victims whose futures were stolen from them," he said. He vowed to use every tool available to him to combat gun violence and implored lawmakers to pass legislation, such as two bills that would restrict the sale of assault-style weapons and increase background checks on individuals purchasing a weapon. Gun reform has long been stymied by a deeply divided Congress: Democrats calling for change and Republicans opposing them, citing the Second Amendment. RELATED: Victims, Suspect in Boulder Supermarket Shooting Identified: 'We Are Heartbroken' Getty Joe Biden David Zalubowski/AP/Shutterstock The scene outside Monday's mass shooting Chet Strange/Getty Images People rush from the scene of Monday's shooting in Boulder Data from the Gun Violence Archive shows gun violence increased significantly in 2020, though there were no mass shootings most frequently defined as a shooting that kills four or more people amid widespread shutdowns and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Story continues The grocery store and spa massacres were the first mass shootings in public places in a year. The two previous years saw the most mass shootings in public places on record, with 10 mass shootings in 2018 and nine in 2019, according to Jillian Peterson, an associate professor of criminal justice at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a co-founder of the Violence Project, who spoke to The New York Times. Peterson told the Times that, since some shooters mimic the actions of other killers, the media's constant coverage of the coronavirus and a lack of high-profile mass shootings may also have contributed to fewer public mass shootings. Prior to the recent mass shootings, during the year-long lull, "There had been a hope that maybe we broke the cycle and maybe we won't return," said Peterson. "Now that it's back, a number of scholars are really concerned." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Getty Joe Biden RELATED: Celebrities, Others React to Boulder Shooting That Killed 10: 'When Is Enough Enough?' A judge reportedly blocked a ban on assault weapons in Boulder 10 days before Monday's shooting, according to The Denver Post, despite the local city council having unanimously passed a ban preventing the sale of both assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in 2018. "I don't need to wait another minute let alone an hour to take common sense steps that will save lives in the future and to urge my colleagues in the House and the Senate to act," Biden said on Tuesday. He pressed lawmakers to follow suit. "The Senate should immediately pass let me say it again the United States Senate, I hope some are listening, should immediately pass the two House passed bills to close loopholes in the background checks system," Biden said. "It should not be a partisan issue; it's an American issue," he said. "It will save lives. American lives. We have to act." Amid the growing calls by states to make COVID-19 vaccines open for all adults, the Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that from April 1, all people above 45 years of age are entitled to get the jab. Javadekar said even people without comorbidity and above the age of 45 years, can get vaccinated. He requested people entitled to get themselves registered to take the COVID-19 shot. Second dose of #Covishield vaccine can be administered at 4-8 weeks. People above 45 years of age should take vaccine as early as possible - Union Minister @PrakashJavdekar #LargesVaccineDrive #CabinetDecisions pic.twitter.com/3jMGGHckjB PIB India (@PIB_India) March 23, 2021 Move comes amid rising COVID cases The move comes amid an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases across India as fear of a second wave of the pandemic looms. Chief Ministers of several states including Delhi's Arvind Kejriwal and UP's Yogi Adityanath and Punjab's Captain Amarinder Singh had urged the Center to make the COVID-19 vaccines available for all adults. Last week, Adityanath had said that his government has decided to approach the Union Health Ministry with the proposal for opening the vaccination to the people in the 18-45 years bracket. Reuters The Centre should make vaccines open for all those who are 18 years of age and above. India is producing enough COVID-19 vaccines now to get this done. Walk-in centres should be opened for all. I urge the central government to take this up on a war footing. If this is allowed, we can vaccinate everyone in Delhi in three months, Kejriwal had said. AFP On Tuesday, Amarinder Singh said asked the Centre to widen the vaccination net to cover those younger than 60. Eighty-one per cent of the 401 samples sent by the government for genome sequencing have tested positive for the UK variant of COVID-19, Singh had said. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also said that there should be no age restriction for getting the COVID-19 vaccination. AFP Currently, the two COVID-19 vaccines that are being administered in India are only available for frontline healthcare workers, the elderly, and those about the age of 45 with comorbidities. In this Sunday, March 21, 2021 file photo a medical worker wearing protective gear sets up boards with the names of the vaccines at a vaccination center in Belgrade, Serbia. Results from a U.S. trial of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine may have used "outdated information," U.S. federal health officials said early Tuesday March 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File) AstraZeneca's repeated missteps in reporting vaccine data coupled with a blood clot scare could do lasting damage to the credibility of a shot that is the linchpin in the global strategy to stop the coronavirus pandemic, potentially even undermining vaccine confidence more broadly, experts say. The latest stumble for the vaccine came Tuesday, when American officials issued an unusual statement expressing concern that AstraZeneca had included "outdated information" when it reported encouraging results from a U.S. trial a day earlier. That may have provided "an incomplete view of the efficacy data," according to the statement. AstraZeneca responded that the results, which showed its shot was about 79% effective, included information through Feb. 17 but appeared to be consistent with more up-to-date data. It promised an update within 48 hours. An independent panel that oversees the study scolded the company in a letter Monday for cherry-picking data, according to a senior administration official. The panel wrote to AstraZeneca and U.S. health leaders that it was concerned the company chose to use data that was outdated and potentially misleading instead of the most recent findings, according to the official, who discussed the contents on the condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter. "This will likely cause more vaccine hesitancy," said Dr. Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia. Even if the damage is limited to AstraZeneca itself, it would have far-reaching effects since the shot is cheaper and easier to store than many of its rivals' and thus is expected to be widely used in the developing world. International health agencies have repeatedly said the vaccine is safe and effective, but it's not the first time the company has run into problems with public trust. In this Monday, March 22, 2021 file photo, AstraZeneca and Biontech coronavirus vaccine in a fridge at the vaccine center in Ebersberg near Munich, Germany. AstraZeneca's release of encouraging data about its coronavirus vaccine from its U.S. trial raised hopes that the drug company could bury doubts about the shot and put a troubled rollout behind it. But just hours later, U.S. officials released an unusual statement expressing concerns AstraZeneca had included "outdated information" from its study and that it may have provided "an incomplete view of the efficacy data." (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File) Partial results from its first major trialwhich Britain used to authorize the vaccinewere clouded by a manufacturing mistake that researchers didn't immediately acknowledge. Insufficient data about how well the vaccine protected older people led some countries to initially restrict its use to younger populations before reversing course. U.S. officials suspended an AstraZeneca study for an unusual six weeks while they sought details about problems reported in Britain before deciding the vaccine wasn't to blame. Meanwhile, the European Union has complained about delays in vaccine deliveries from the company. Then last week, more than a dozen countries temporarily halted their use of the AstraZeneca shot after reports of rare blood clots in some people who received it. The European Medicines Agency concluded the shot did not increase the overall incidence of clots, but the unwanted attention appears to have left a mark. In Norway, a top official warned Monday it might not be able to resume its use of the vaccine because so many people were rejecting it. "People clearly say that they do not want the AstraZeneca vaccine," Marte Kvittum Tangen, who heads a Norwegian doctors' association, told broadcaster NRK. Last week in Bucharest, Romania, vaccination coordinator Valeriu Gheorghita said 33,000 AstraZeneca immunization appointments had been canceled in 24 hours and that about a third of the 10,000 people scheduled to receive the vaccine did not show up. In Belgrade, Serbia, a sprawling exhibition center set up for people to get the AstraZeneca vaccine was mostly deserted on Monday. "This is unfortunately more about perception than it is the science," said Dr. Bharat Pankhania, an infectious diseases specialist at Britain's University of Exeter. In this Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 file photo, a health worker holds a vial of the AstraZeneca vaccine to be administered to emergency services personnel during a mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign at Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain. AstraZeneca's release of encouraging data about its coronavirus vaccine from its U.S. trial raised hopes that the drug company could bury doubts about the shot and put a troubled rollout behind it. But just hours later, U.S. officials released an unusual statement expressing concerns AstraZeneca had included "outdated information" from its study and that it may have provided "an incomplete view of the efficacy data." (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File) "We have now seen, on several parameters, that the AstraZeneca vaccine provides protection and is safe," he said. "But the narrative for the public has not been as clear." France is a prime example of the confusion. French President Emmanuel Macron initially suggested the vaccine wasn't effective for older people, before backtracking. Still, France only authorized AstraZeneca's vaccine for use in adults 65 and under, citing a lack of data. Then the government changed its mind, based on new data, and said it's fine for all adults. But when there were reports of rare blood clots in some vaccine recipients, the government suspended use of the shot all together. When France restarted AstraZeneca, it banned the shot for anyone under 55. The whiplash-inducing messages come at a time when Francelike much of continental Europeis struggling to speed up its vaccination drive while also facing a spike in cases that is close to overwhelming its hospitals and prompting threats of new lockdowns. At a European Parliament committee Tuesday in Brussels, Sandra Gallina, head of the European Commission's health directorate, described the situation with AstraZeneca as "a shame." She said the struggling vaccination campaigns across Europe were "made much more difficult by the bad performance of AstraZeneca." The company has blamed delays in its deliveries on production issues. In this Monday, March 8, 2021 file photo, a health worker shows the media how she prepares a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to be administered to a patient at a vaccination center set up in front of Rome's Termini central station. AstraZeneca's release of encouraging data about its coronavirus vaccine from its U.S. trial raised hopes that the drug company could bury doubts about the shot and put a troubled rollout behind it. But just hours later, U.S. officials released an unusual statement expressing concerns AstraZeneca had included "outdated information" from its study and that it may have provided "an incomplete view of the efficacy data." (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File) Even if the drugmaker clears up the latest misunderstanding, it could have a lasting impact. Julian Tang, a virologist at the University of Leicester, pointed to the decades-old controversy over the measles vaccine as a cautionary tale. "There was absolutely no evidence to prove the (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine caused autism," he said. But despite the retraction of the paper that made that claim, Tang said some people still worry about the vaccine. The tepid support for the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe stands in contrast to governments in the developing world that are desperate for supplies. Dr. Bruce Aylward, a senior adviser at the World Health Organization, said the U.N. agency has a long list of countries "very keen" to get the shot as soon as possible. "We simply cannot get enough of it," he said. But some experts have worried that the skepticism in Europe could eventually cast a pall over the vaccine worldwide. They suggested one measure that could reassure a jittery public: a green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In this March 8, 2021 file photo, a syringe with the AstraZeneca vaccine is picutred at a new vaccination centre at the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany. AstraZeneca's release of encouraging data about its coronavirus vaccine from its U.S. trial raised hopes that the drug company could bury doubts about the shot and put a troubled rollout behind it. But just hours later, U.S. officials released an unusual statement expressing concerns AstraZeneca had included "outdated information" from its study and that it may have provided "an incomplete view of the efficacy data." (Tobias Schwarz/Pool Photo via AP, File) "If the U.S. regulator looks at this data and authorizes AstraZeneca, that will carry a lot of weight," said Jimmy Whitworth, a professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. AstraZeneca said it would be submitting its data to the FDA within weeks. It's still possible the vaccine can bury the doubts. At a vaccination center in Lisbon, 68-year-old Rui Manuel Martins dismissed the concerns, saying millions had been immunized with very few ill effects. "There's always some cases of people rejecting any medications," he said before receiving his first dose. "It's better to be vaccinated rather than not." 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday refused to grant insurance claim to the legal heir of a man who died of asphyxia due to excessive drinking of alcohol, saying the insurer was only liable to compensate a person who sustains injury solely and directly from the accident. A bench of Justices M M Shantangoudar and Vineet Saran upheld the orders of National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) which had said that the death was not accidental and therefore, the firm had no statutory liability to compensate the loss of life of the deceased as per the terms of the Insurance Policy. In the facts and circumstances of the case, we do not find any reason to interfere with the impugned order dated April 24, 2009 passed by the National Commission.., the bench said. The top court passed the verdict on an appeal filed by Narbada Devi, the legal heir of the man employed as watchman (Chowkidar) with Himachal Pradesh State Forest Corporation (HPSFC), after he died on the thunderous and rainy cold night of October 7-8, 1997, in Chopal Panchayat of Shimla district. From a bare perusal of the Insurance Policy, it is clear that only if the insured sustains any bodily injury resulting solely and directly from accident caused by outward, violent and visible means, the insurance company would be liable to indemnify the insured, the bench said, adding that as per the insurance policy, only accidental death of the insured shall be indemnified. It noted that the post mortem report clearly indicates that there were no injuries found on the body of the deceased and the probable cause of death as per the final opinion is asphyxiation caused by alcohol consumption and regurgitation of food into larynx. As such, we find it difficult to conclude that the deceased's death was accidental, the bench said, adding that in light of the explicit terms of the insurance policy, we find that the National Commission and the State Commission have rightly held that the deceased's death was not accidental, and that the insurance company would not be liable to settle the appellants' claim. According to the legal heir of the man, on the morning of October 8, 1997, on the way to village Thundal, the deceased was found in a hapless condition around 9 am, smelling of alcohol. The appeal said that in the post-mortem report no injury was seen on any part of the body and the cause of death was probably asphyxia resulting from regurgitation of food articles into larynx and trachea after consumption of alcohol. Under the Janta Personal Accident Insurance Scheme, the HPSFC had taken the insurance policy for its 3,008 employees from the New India Assurance Company under with coverage of Rs 1 lakh for those who opt for the said Scheme. When Devi, made the claim for the death of the man before the insurance company it repudiated the claim. Aggrieved with the repudiation of the claim, she approached the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Shimla alleging deficiency in service on part of the insurance company and claiming insurance amount of Rs. 2 lakhs along with interest and cost. The forum held that the insurance company had wrongly repudiated the claim and was liable to make payment and indemnification of the insured amount of Rs. 2 lakhs to the legal heir of the man. Aggrieved by the order, the insurance company approached the state consumer commission, which held that the body of the deceased did not have any external injury or mark of violence, and therefore opined that the death was not accidental. It said that the insurance company could not be held liable under the insurance policy but said that HPSFC was liable to pay the compensation. Live TV #mute Aggrieved with the order HPSFC approached the NCDRC, which held that neither the insurance company had any statutory liability to compensate the loss of life of the deceased nor the HPSFC has any liability under the policy. "Our partnership with Symba is vital in the digital transformation of INROADS, says Forest T. Harper, Jr., president and CEO of INROADS, Inc. Symba, the leading remote internship management platform, announces an expanded partnership with INROADS, in support of its College Links program in a virtual environment. College Links works with underrepresented high school students interested in STEM and business, to prepare and strengthen them for both college and career success. Through the program, students are exposed to career immersion activities, mentoring, and goal planning. Last summer, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, INROADS partnered with Symba to support an innovative virtual internship program called viSHIPS. With Symbas platform and resources provided around program success, INROADS corporate partners were able to build and scale meaningful remote internships for both the students and employees. We are proud to partner with and support the incredible work the team at INROADS is doing to empower underrepresented students with key professional development opportunities. Last year, we organized workshops and resources to help INROADS corporate partners design remote internship experiences. We are excited to grow our partnership and help scale the reach of INROADS initiatives. says Ahva Sadeghi, CEO & Co-Founder of Symba. INROADS has College Links programs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Chicago, Newark, and Washington, DC, and recently launched in Dallas, Oakland, Orlando, and Minneapolis, expanding INROADSs mission of leveling the workforce playing field for diverse students. College Links scholars have gone on to successfully navigate the earliest stages of the career lifecycle and beyond, including the C-Suite. "Our partnership with Symba is vital in the digital transformation of INROADS, says Forest T. Harper, Jr., president and CEO of INROADS, Inc. Due to COVID-19, College Links will be virtual this year. Moving forward, continuing to offer virtual programs through this best in class technology, will allow INROADS to rapidly scale and impact high school students across the country. INROADS and Symba are excited to continue their collaboration to provide early career-building opportunities for underrepresented students. About Symba Symba, an all-female founded tech startup, is the leading remote internship platform. The team has designed 5000+ internship experiences, partnered with over 450 universities, and was featured in the Washington Post and TechCrunch as a leader in the remote internship movement. Symbas platform connects companies with remote interns and supports the management of the remote internship experience. Led by a young and diverse team, Symba is building a platform with a purposeto open up the workforce. Symba helps businesses adapt to the future of workadopting remote operations, investing in the next generation of talent, and committing to diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit symba.io. About INROADS INROADS was founded more than 50 years ago. Inspired by the famed I Have a Dream speech, Frank Carr founded INROADS to remove career barriers to corporate opportunities for people of color. It is the largest nonprofit organization committed to leadership and career development for underrepresented talent in the world. INROADS has prepared more than 154,000 diverse leaders with pre-employment skills and graduated more than 30,000 alumni into full-time professional positions with more than 1,000 corporate partners. Currently, INROADS serves 800-1,300 interns and 200 corporate clients. Learn more at INROADS.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn: @INROADSInc. 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 Vote View Results BOULDER, Colo. - The suspect accused of opening fire inside a crowded Colorado supermarket was a 21-year-old man who purchased an assault weapon less than a week earlier, authorities said Tuesday, a day after the attack that killed 10 people, including a police officer. Police outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) BOULDER, Colo. - The suspect accused of opening fire inside a crowded Colorado supermarket was a 21-year-old man who purchased an assault weapon less than a week earlier, authorities said Tuesday, a day after the attack that killed 10 people, including a police officer. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa bought the weapon on March 16, just six days before the attack at a King Soopers store in Boulder, according to an arrest affidavit. It was not immediately known where the gun was purchased. Alissa, who is from the Denver suburb of Arvada, was booked into the county jail Tuesday on murder charges after being treated at a hospital. He was due to make a first court appearance Thursday. Investigators have not established a motive, but they believe Alissa was the only shooter, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. A law enforcement official briefed on the shooting said the suspects family told investigators they believed Alissa was suffering some type of mental illness, including delusions. Relatives described times when Alissa told them people were following or chasing him, which they said may have contributed to the violence, the official said. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Police stand outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) The attack was the nations deadliest mass shooting since a 2019 assault on a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, where a gunman killed 22 people in a rampage that police said targeted Mexicans. In Washington, President Joe Biden called on Congress to tighten the nations gun laws. "Ten lives have been lost, and more families have been shattered by gun violence in the state of Colorado," Biden said at the White House. Police stand outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to bring forward two House-passed bills to require expanded background checks for gun buyers. Biden supports the measures, but they face a tougher route to passage in a closely divided Senate with a slim Democratic majority. The shooting came 10 days after a judge blocked a ban on assault rifles passed by the city of Boulder in 2018. That ordinance and another banning large-capacity magazines came after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead. A lawsuit challenging the bans was filed quickly, backed by the National Rifle Association. The judge struck down the ordinance under a Colorado law that blocks cities from making their own rules about guns. Police work on the scene outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Supermarket employees told investigators that Alissa shot a man multiple times outside the Boulder grocery store before going inside, according to the affidavit. Another person was found shot in a vehicle next to a car registered to the suspects brother. The gunfire sent terrorized shoppers and employees scrambling for cover. SWAT officers carrying ballistic shields slowly approached the store while others escorted frightened people away from the building, which had some of its windows shattered. Customers and employees fled through a back loading dock to safety. Others took refuge in nearby shops. Multiple 911 calls paint a picture of a chaotic, terrifying scene, according to the affidavit. Police work on the scene outside of a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney) One caller said the suspect opened fire out the window of his vehicle. Others called to say they were hiding inside the store as the gunman fired on customers. Witnesses described the shooter as having a black AR-15-style gun and wearing blue jeans and maybe body armour. By the time he was in custody, Alissa had been struck by a bullet that passed through his leg, the affidavit said. He had removed most of his clothing and was dressed only in shorts. Inside the store, he had left the gun, a tactical vest, a semiautomatic handgun and his bloodied clothing, the affidavit said. After the shooting, detectives went to Alissas home and found his sister-in-law, who told them that he had been playing around with a weapon she thought looked like a "machine-gun," about two days earlier, the document said. Police stand outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place, Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) No one answered the door at the Arvada home believed to be owned by the suspects father. The two-story house with a three-car garage sits in a relatively new middle- and upper-class neighbourhood. When he was a high school senior in 2018, Alissa was found guilty of assaulting a fellow student in class after knocking him to the floor, then climbing on top of him and punching him in the head several times, according to a police affidavit. Alissa "got up in classroom, walked over to the victim & cold cocked him in the head," the affidavit read. Alissa complained that the student had made fun of him and called him "racial names" weeks earlier, according to the affidavit. He was sentenced to probation and community service. Police work on the scene outside of a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney) One of his former wrestling teammates, Angel Hernandez, said Alissa got enraged after losing a match in practice once, letting out a stream of invectives and yelling he would kill everyone. Hernandez said the coach kicked Alissa off the team for the outburst. "He was one of those guys with a short fuse," Hernandez said. "Once he gets mad, its like something takes over and its not him. There is no stopping him at that point." Hernandez said Alissa would also act strangely sometimes, turning around suddenly or glancing over his shoulder. "He would say, Did you see that? Did you see that?" Hernandez recalled. "We wouldnt see anything. We always thought he was messing with us." A small memorial stands along a makeshift fence put up around the parking lot outside a King Soopers grocery store where a mass shooting took place Tuesday, March 23, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Arvada police Detective David Snelling said officers investigated but dropped a separate criminal mischief complaint involving the suspect in 2018 and cited him for speeding in February. "Our community is obviously concerned and upset that the suspect lived here," he said. "Wed absolutely prefer not to have publicity were getting here," said Matt Benz, who lives several houses away from the home that was searched overnight. He said dozens of FBI agents wearing night-vision goggles swarmed the area using a bullhorn to order everyone out of the home and was interviewing the homes occupants. The slain officer was identified as Eric Talley, 51, who had been with the force since 2010. He was the first to arrive after responding to a call about shots fired and someone carrying a gun, she said. A makeshift fence stands around the parking lot outside a King Soopers grocery store where a mass shooting took place a day earlier in Boulder, Colo., Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Homer Talley, 74, described his son as a devoted father who "knew the Lord." He had seven children, ages 7 to 20. "We know where he is," his father told The Associated Press from his ranch in central Texas. "He loved his family more than anything. He wasnt afraid of dying. He was afraid of putting them through it." The other dead ranged in age from 20 to 65. They were identified as Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jodi Waters, 65. Kiefer Johnson places a bouquet of flowers into a makeshift fence put up around the parking lot outside a King Soopers grocery store where a mass shooting took place a day earlier, in Boulder, Colo., Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Well after dark Tuesday night, about 100 people milled about at a makeshift memorial near the supermarket that was adorned with wreaths, candles, banners reading "#Boulderstrong" and 10 crosses with blue hearts and the victims names. Four young girls huddled in the cold, one of them crying as she reminisced about how they had protested the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Leiker, Olds and Stong worked at the supermarket, former co-worker Jordan Sailas said. Olds grandmother choked up on the phone as she described the young woman she played a large role in raising. "She was just a very kind and loving, bubbly person who lit up the room when she walked in," said Jeanette Olds, 71, of Lafayette, Colorado. President Joe Biden speaks about the shooting in Boulder, Colo., Tuesday, March 23, 2021, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) The attack in Boulder, about 25 miles (40 kilometres) northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado, stunned a state that has seen several mass shootings, including the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and the 2012 Aurora movie theatre shooting. Monday's attack was the seventh mass killing this year in the U.S., following the March 16 shooting that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, according to a database compiled by the AP, USA Today and Northeastern University. It follows a lull in mass killings during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, which had the smallest number of such attacks in eight years, according to the database, which tracks mass killings defined as four or more dead, not including the shooter. Biden announced that flags nationwide would be lowered in memory of the victims an order that comes just as a previous flag-lowering proclamation expired for those killed in the Atlanta-area shootings. Together the two orders mean near-continuous national mourning for almost two weeks. Slevin reported from Denver. Associated Press writers Michael Balsamo in Washington, Jim Anderson in Denver and AP staff members from around the U.S. contributed to this report. Nieberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a non-profit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Sen. John Thune at a Republican news conference alongside Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Kevin Dietsch/Pool/AFP Republicans criticized the White House's $3 trillion infrastructure plan on Tuesday. They appeared no likelier to support it even if it's split into two packages. "I don't think our guys are going take the bait on that," Sen. John Thune said. See more stories on Insider's business page. President Joe Biden's economic team is in the early stages of drafting a $3 trillion infrastructure plan that could be split into several packages. But Republicans in Congress panned it on Tuesday, a fresh sign that a bipartisan deal may be hard to reach in the months ahead. Senate Republicans unloaded on the White House proposal, one that hasn't been formally unveiled yet. It includes an initial bill focused on roads, bridges, and climate-related spending. The other would be geared at social infrastructure, featuring measures including universal pre-K, free community college, and a renewal of periodic cash payments for parents. The Biden administration is weighing whether to divide it in two in a bid to attract GOP support. But Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the second-ranked Senate Republican, called it a ruse on Tuesday. "If this is the strategy you're talking about and if this is what they decide to employ, it's a pretty cynical ploy to try and appeal to Republicans to vote for all that stuff, and then do reconciliation to do all the other hard stuff," Thune told reporters, referring to a maneuver that only requires Democrats to obtain a simple majority vote in the Senate to pass certain bills. He said of Republicans: "I don't think our guys are going take the bait on that." Others, like Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, assailed the Biden administration for seeking tax hikes on the highest-earning Americans and multinational corporations to finance the plan. "He won't say massive tax increase, and he wants to allocate the tax responsibility in this country, on the basis of class," Kennedy told reporters. "That's a hell of a way to make tax policy, you don't make tax policy on the basis of class." Story continues The barrage of criticism came as Democrats have signaled they are ready to again bypass Republicans using reconciliation, after they used the tactic to approve the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief law. "We want this to be as bipartisan as possible but we don't want bipartisanship to limit what it does," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters on Tuesday. Pelosi also indicated she wanted the package to expand Medicaid insurance coverage and cut prescription drug costs, both key Democratic priorities. Other top House Democrats indicated earlier this month they were considering a plan to authorize Medicare to negotiate cheaper drug prices with pharmaceutical businesses, and routing savings towards paying for a plan. A Democratic push to pass an infrastructure will likely stretch for many months. Progressives are also urging the Biden administration to move aggressively and implement bold measures to combat economic inequality and climate change. Sen. Bernie Sanders, chair of the Senate Budget Committee, said in a New York Times podcast interview published Tuesday "now we have to deal with the long-term structural problems facing our country that have long, long been neglected way before the pandemic." Still, a plan did not appear to be finalized yet. White House press secretary wrote in a Monday tweet that Biden would not publicly unveil a proposal this week. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday defended the administration's forthcoming plan as a critical measure to secure the nation's economic recovery. "I think a package that consists of investments in people, investments in infrastructure, will help to create good jobs in the American economy, and changes in the tax structure will help to pay for those programs," Yellen said at a congressional hearing. Read the original article on Business Insider Aida Madridejo's respiratory medical issues have in the last year left her working from home, popping out for groceries as few times as possible, and wearing a mask and sanitizing as often as she can. Aida Madridejo's respiratory medical issues have in the last year left her working from home, popping out for groceries as few times as possible, and wearing a mask and sanitizing as often as she can. However, Madridejo recently received the COVID-19 vaccine, and she is not shy about telling others what to do once their turn comes. "Everyone should be getting it," said Madridejo, an adviser and financial officer for the Filipino Seniors Group of Winnipeg. Aida Madridejo: "Everyone should be getting it." (Supplied) "I'm well known in my community. Since I got it, I've been calling my friends; I posted it on Facebook it's not scary. It's for your own good." Madridejo is part of a club of 91,687 Manitobans, whose membership is growing each passing day: they have all received either the Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccine. A further 44,642 have also had the required second dose. On Monday, the province said it has again dropped the age eligibility for inoculation: now 65 and older for the general public, 45 or older for First Nation people. It also said more doses are on the way, with 42,120 Pfizer and 12,300 Moderna doses expected to arrive this week. There is also another priority list for vaccine recipients: 50 to 64 years, who also have a high-risk medical or disability. Madridejo has both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. "I'm at risk," she said. "I called my family physician (to see) if they are vaccinating and they booked me in. I feel it is better to be safe than sorry." Murray Sinclair got his first dose of the Moderna vaccine in January and his second a month later. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) Murray Sinclair has worn many hats, but it is his shirt sleeve he has now rolled up twice. The 70-year-old former provincial court associate chief judge, Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench justice, Canadian senator, and chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, got his first dose of the Moderna vaccine in January and his second a month later. "My wife and I drove out to Peguis (First Nation) to get it," said Sinclair. "We qualified under the Indigenous health initiative. They had us on a list of elders." Sinclair said it was also part of an awareness event to encourage other Indigenous people to get the vaccine. "Given the harm that is prevented, the minor reactions are well-worth it." Murray Sinclair on his body's reaction to the vaccine "It was really important to us to get the vaccination," he said. "I was still a senator when the vaccinations came in (he retired Jan. 31), but I waited until we were called by the reserve. We did a bit of a production there to let people know the vaccine was safe." Sinclair said both his wife and he had minor reactions: she felt fatigued for a day after the first shot, while he slept for most of the 48 hours after his second. "Given the harm that is prevented, the minor reactions are well-worth it," Sinclair said. Cecilia Oduro (Supplied) Cecilia Oduro, a nurse and member of the African Communities of Manitoba, admits she made a conscious choice when she got the vaccine at the end of January. "You can say no, but I chose to get it because I knew the vaccine has proven it helps you build immunity against the COVID-19 virus," she said. As a nurse, she encounters many people every day, so she wanted to protect herself, not only to stay healthy but also to continue caring for people. "It saves lives it could save your life," she said. "If you get (the virus), your chances of dying is higher. The older you are, the more your body is compromised. But even younger people can get it." "It saves lives it could save your life." Cecilia Oduro Coun. Shawn Nason (Transcona) got his first shot last week, but being a Winnipeg city councillor wasn't what got him toward the front of the line. "It certainly wasn't my age," said Nason. "I'm in the high-risk medical needs category. "I've been concerned about getting (COVID) and I'm not in my 70s or 80s. We had a conversation at city hall a few weeks ago about the vaccine and Jay Shaw (assistant chief of emergency management) said to us, don't worry if your turn comes, just get it." Nason said, given his respiratory medical conditions, he has been extremely cautious the past year. "I've been very careful," he said. "But you can't live in fear. I use hand sanitizer. In fact, the hardest part, as a politician, is not handshaking. It is so natural to do, but you can't. "I want to raise awareness with getting the vaccine if you have a high-risk medical condition: there is a list if you get the call, get the shot." Margaret Ward lives at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg and was one of numerous residents who contracted the virus during an outbreak in December. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) Margaret Ward has not only been vaccinated, she has been a firsthand witness to the impacts of COVID-19. Ward, 82, a resident at Convalescent Home of Winnipeg, was one of numerous residents who contracted the virus during an outbreak which started in December. Just a month later, 18 of the facility's 84 residents had died and 63 had contracted it. "I got the shot because I felt it was the right thing to do," said Ward, who had recovered by the time she got her first dose Jan. 19 and her second Feb. 11. "Not only for myself, but for my family. I want to be able to get out again and see our beautiful country and spend quality time visiting with family. "I feel like I am just putting in time now, waiting until we all have been vaccinated and can get back to more normal living." Ward said her message is the same: "Get the shot. I see this as the only way for all of us to regain our lives again." kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca Mar. 22When Mullen Technologies announced plans nearly two years ago to manufacture electric sports cars on the West Plains, it brought promise of more than 800 new jobs in Spokane County and the potential for more. Now that future appears to be in doubt as the California-based company has indicated it chose Memphis, Tennessee, as a new home for an electric vehicle manufacturing plant. Last week, the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis & Shelby County approved a $40.5 million tax break for Mullen as the company pledged to lease an 820,000-square-foot facility to manufacture electric SUVs, beginning in 2024. Mullen executives said in the meeting with EDGE it changed its production focus from the Dragonfly K50 sports car to an electric SUV because it's easier to launch as new business in the electric-vehicle segment with vehicles priced between $58,000 to $70,000. "Mullen has been evaluating other locations for its assembly plant in their home state of California as well as pursuing a new construction project in Spokane," according to EDGE's term sheet with Mullen Technologies. "The Memphis area, however, provides distinct advantages over other opportunities. The Memphis option does not require a time-consuming new building design, financing and construction process." Mullen also has purchased a facility 50 miles from Memphis in Tunica, Mississippi, that will provide "advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities," according to the company. "Memphis' location makes it a primary logistical hub for distribution throughout the U.S. and will provide Mullen with key strategic advantages," John Taylor, vice president of manufacturing for Mullen, said in a statement. "The local and state-level administrations are both fully supportive of our manufacturing plan and are showcasing their commitment with significant financial incentives that will help us grow along with the city and state over the next decade." Story continues Mullen is remaining silent on its plans in Spokane and has not responded to multiple requests for comment on project updates. Memphis city officials declined to comment on whether Mullen committed to the area over other locations for the proposed electric vehicle facility there. In 2019, Mullen signed a letter of intent with S3R3 Solutions calling for the agency to build and lease 1.3 million square feet of assembly, research and development space to produce the Dragonfly K50 electric sports car on the West Plains. The facility would be financed through a revenue bond to be paid back through the lease agreement with Mullen. In the nonbinding agreement, Mullen agreed to raise an equity investment of $50 million before signing a lease with S3R3 Solutions, formerly the West Plains Airport Area Public Development Authority. Mullen was to start assembly of electric vehicles with a goal of bringing the car to market by the second half of 2020. The company, through Mullen Energy, also was interested in bringing research and development of lithium batteries to the area, potentially increasing total jobs to 3,000. Months went by as Mullen's agreement with S3R3 Solutions was extended and the company said it was raising funding for the project, including applying for a $450 million Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan from the U.S Department of Energy. In July, Mullen said it would meet requirements of the letter of intent with S3R3 Solutions by late 2020 and anticipated starting assembly and development of the Dragonfly K50's battery packs in a 500,000-square-foot facility with potential to expand by an additional 800,000 square feet. Mullen also announced plans to merge with Miami-based Net Element, a publicly-traded electronic payment company. The reverse merger, a process in which a privately held company takes control of a publicly traded company, allows Mullen to acquire Net Element and bypass what could be a somewhat lengthy process to go public on its own and generate capital needed to pay its deposit with S3R3 Solutions. S3R3 Solutions Executive Director Todd Coleman told The Spokesman-Review in July the agency's letter of intent requirements remained unchanged and the merger was critical for financing needed to move the project forward. However, Mullen racked up more than $653,317 in late fees payable to Net Element because of its delay in filing a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, according to a letter to Net Element shareholders. Coleman said Spokane remains an option for Mullen Technologies' electric vehicle manufacturing plant, but there are challenges related to incentives the company could receive when compared with other states. Coleman added S3R3 Solutions also has to consider what incentives other cities are offering Mullen and weigh that with the decision on whether it's in the best interest of the community for the agency to subsidize the electric vehicle manufacturing facility. "We want to protect the community and we need to see they have the financing available ... We applaud them and their efforts to continue to push this project forward," Coleman said. "Electrification of vehicles is not an easy industry to move into and they've been very tenacious to push forward to find ways to finance the project, and we'll continue to work with them as we can." Spokane County Commissioner Al French, who also is S3R3 Solutions Board chairman said he had not spoken with Mullen Technologies since it announced plans to open the manufacturing facility in Memphis but believes Spokane is a desirable area for the company. "The deal is never done until the ink is dry, so we continue to work to make an attractive business relationship with them over here," French said. French said S3R3 Solutions' recent deal to bring Amazon Air to the Spokane International Airport illustrates its success with recruiting companies to the area. Construction is anticipated to be complete this year for a rail and truck transload facility on the West Plains where shipments are transferred from trucks to rail and vice versa. The transload facility would be suitable for not only Mullen, but a variety of aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries to transport freight, French said. "We would love to be able to make the deal with Mullen, but if we don't, there will be somebody else," French said. "We structured ourselves so we don't have any financial exposure. If they walk away, we aren't financially hurt by that. We'll just readjust our sites and go after the next company." With the formation of a new coalition, 1Sambayan (One Nation), on March 18, the ruling-class opposition to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte began organizing a united electoral campaign in preparation for the 2022 elections. In a remarkable alignment, every Stalinist political tendency in the Philippines has declared its support for 1Sambayan, joining hands with Magdalo, the far-right political party of military officers who rose to prominence in 2006 when they attempted to carry out a coup detat. 1Sambayan coalition launched on March 18 (Source: ANC 24/7 YouTube) The fundamental concern of 1Sambayan is to bring Philippine foreign policy back into camp of the United States, which is engaged in an aggressive escalation of military threats against China, reversing Dutertes orientation of the countrys ties toward Beijing. The elite opposition, organized in the Liberal Party and headed by Vice President Leni Robredo, suffered a devastating defeat in 2019, marking the first time in the countrys history that opposition candidates failed to secure a single senatorial seat in the midterm elections. 1Sambayan is an attempt to cobble together a viable opposition vehicle prior to the presidential election. An opinion piece in the influential Business World indicated the perspective of the capitalist interests behind the formation of 1Sambayan: I feel betrayed by the Liberal Party (LP). Dont you? As the predominant opposition party, it is their duty to mitigate the policies, decisions, and actions of the executive branch and their allies in the legislature. But this has not been the case. ... As an opposition party, the LP is a national shame. I have never seen an opposition party so weak. The fundamental concern of 1Sambayan is geopolitical. It articulates the interests of layers of the capitalist class in the Philippines whose economic and political orientation is to Washington. These forces are predominantly based in the stock market and the business process outsourcing sector. Significant layers of the Filipino elite have embraced Dutertes reorientation of Philippine economic ties to Beijing. They see in ties with China, and its promise of infrastructural loans and investment, a means of expanding their holdings. Business interests in real estate speculation, malls, infrastructure, and those outside the national capital region have lined up behind this orientation. Duterte has at the same time secured mass support from the sizeable lower-middle class, playing to their prejudices and fears of the working class and poor. His law-and-order campaign, under the guise of a war on drugs, has deployed the apparatus of state and paramilitary repression against any source of possible social unrest. Over 30,000 people have been killed as a direct result in the past five years. In this manner Duterte has secured the support of an unprecedented super-majority in the Philippine legislature, which includes a number of defectors from the Liberal Party in its ranks. Even a glance at the figures behind the convening of 1Sambayan lays bare the interests involved. Three names feature most prominently: Albert del Rosario, Antonio Carpio, and Conchita Carpio Morales. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton shakes hands with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario in Washington on June 23, 2011. (Photo: State Department / Public Domain) Del Rosario was the Secretary of Foreign Affairs for the Benigno Aquino III administration of 20102016. Under del Rosario, Manila came to serve as the most reliable and aggressive partner in South East Asia for Washingtons pivot to Asia. It was on his watch that the Aquino government repeatedly compared China to Nazi Germany, engaged in military, diplomatic and legal disputes over the South China Sea, and signed the Enhanced Defense Co-operation Agreement (EDCA) for the re-establishment of US military bases in the country. Antonio Carpio is a former justice of the Supreme Court. More than any other figure he is the legal face of the Philippine claim to the South China Sea. He has relentlessly and publicly promoted the most expansive claim to the disputed waters. He termed Chinas presence in the Philippine-claimed maritime region an invasion, and declared that the EDCA basing deal was an essential element for defending the country against it. Conchita Carpio-Morales was ombudsman under the Aquino III administration, where she used corruption charges, often with data supplied by the US embassy, to prosecute sections of the political elite who were tied to the Arroyo administration, which had begun the reorientation of Philippine ties to China. In 2019, the triumvirate of del Rosario, Carpio, and Carpio-Morales filed charges of crimes against humanity against China in the International Criminal Court (ICC) for its continued presence in what they term the West Philippine Sea. That these three figures are the leading convenors of 1Sambayan sharply defines the new coalition. They have demonstrated only one common interest over the course of a decade: the strident denunciation of China and the formation of intimate ties with the United States. They are joined in the leadership of 1Sambayan by retired Rear Adm. Rommel Jude Ong, former vice commander of the Philippine Navy. Ong has publicly announced that the forthcoming elections would likely be a contest with China, and decried the forces around Duterte as Manchurian candidates. 1Sambayan stated that it proposes to review possible candidates for president and vice president before announcing its slate. Carpio told the assembly that the prominent names they were considering for nomination were Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Grace Poe, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Senator Nancy Binay, and Senator Antonio Trillanes. The names demonstrate that 1Sambayan do not represent any alternative to the reactionary policies of the Duterte administration. Many of these candidates have supported of Duterte on key measures extending his apparatus of repression, including the imposition of martial law on the southern island of Mindanao. Moreno was part of the Duterte cabinet until he ran for mayor in 2019. He has repeatedly defended Dutertes war on drugs. Moreno has, however, very publicly scapegoated Chinese immigrants in the Philippines for social ills. It is this that wins him the support of 1Sambayan. Trillanes rose to political prominence by staging multiple coup attempts in the first decade of the 21st century. He represents far-right forces, organized in the Magdalo party, oriented to the formation of a military junta. He has repeatedly denounced Duterte as a puppet of China, and called for direct military confrontation with China in the South China Sea. Magdalo is one of the convenors of 1Sambayan. They were joined on the rostrum by representatives of Bayan Muna (Nation First) and Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), rival mass organizations that share the nationalist program of Stalinism. Bayan Muna is an electoral party of the umbrella group, Bayan, which shares a common political line with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). PM represents a Stalinist tendency, founded by Popoy Lagman, that broke from the CPP in the early 1990s. These long-time rivals are joining hands together and uniting with far-right forces, a fact which has been widely commented upon. An editorial in the Philippine Star on March 21, wrote that 1Sambayan represented the joining of the left to the extreme right such as Magdalo party-list. Every Stalinist party and tendency in the Philippines immediately embraced 1Sambayan. The various organizations associated with the political line of the CPP, broadly referred to as the national democratic movement, led the way. Jose Ma. Sison, founder and ideological leader of the CPP described 1Sambayan as a newly risen broad coalition of patriotic and democratic forces that are determined to fight [Dutertes] tyranny and challenge his clique in clean and honest elections. The CPP was directly responsible for facilitating Dutertes rise to power in 2016. The party embraced his presidency, declared him progressive and even offered support for his war on drugs. Teddy Casino of Bayan Muna wrote a rare acknowledgement of this last week, when he admitted that one of the difficulties for the national democratic movement in forming a new alliance was because it opposed the Aquino administration and initially supported Duterte in the first year of his regime. The CPP-aligned forces are repeating the pattern now with their embrace of 1Sambayan. Representative of the Kabataan party-list, a national democratic youth organization, Sarah Elago urged the youth to actively participate in 1Sambayan. Carlos Zarate, elected representative of Bayan Muna, who in 2016 signed a public statement pledging full support to Duterte, stated, We welcome this initiative for a broadest gathering of democratic forces to restore good governance, respect for human rights and an end to tyranny in our country. The rest of the so-called left in the Philippines is comprised of organizations that emerged out of various tendencies known as RJ, or rejectionists, who broke with the CPP in the early 1990s. All of these organizations retained the nationalist, class collaborationist perspective of Stalinism. One of the organizations that emerged out of the RJ forces, Akbayan, has effectively merged with the Liberal Party, and is one of the driving forces behind the formation of 1Sambayan. A number of organizations tied to trade unionism formed under the leadership of Popoy Lagman. When Lagman was assassinated in 2001, these groups broke into various rival tendencies. All of these tendencies have now united in embrace of 1Sambayan. PM is a convening member. The rival Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP, Solidarity of Filipino Workers), associated with the leadership of Sonny Melencio, issued a statement declaring that the founding of 1Sambayan was a breath of fresh air. The splits that occurred in Philippine Stalinism in the 1990s were brutal. They were marked by assassinations, subterfuge, hysterical denunciations, and embezzlement of funds. The rival parties were fighting to retain control over their mass membership, for this is the constituency that they bring to the alliances that they form with the capitalist class. For all their tactical disagreements, there were no principled political differences between these organizations. They shared a common orientation to forming an alliance with a section of the capitalist class in the name of national democracy. As the bourgeois opposition gathers itself, desperately trying to reorient the country back into the ambit of the US, its former colonial ruler, all of the forces of Stalinism have aligned behind them. They stand exposed for what they truly are: agents of the bourgeoisie. The far-right populism of the murderous Duterte administration cannot be successfully opposed on this basis. The only way forward to mobilize mass discontent in opposition to the crisis of capitalism and the threat of dictatorship is the perspective of socialism. The defense of basic democratic rights can only carried out on the basis of an internationalist and socialist program against the threat of war and capitalist onslaught on living standards. This requires a break with every section of the capitalist class and the Stalinist parties which are all based on nationalism, chauvinism and class collaboration. 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. 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Residents came looking for answers but walked away with more questions instead. Seating was limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, but those who did come came in support of the Ilion Fire Department. Many wearing red T-shirts that read I stand with Ilion firefighters. Ilion Mayor Brian Lamica has stated that he would not comment on the ongoing investigation involving the department but felt it was necessary to set the record straight following some statements that had been posted on social media. "We have no choice but to deal with the issues presented. Contrary to the assertions on social and other media, our only focus is to provide a legally compliant workplace not just for a select few, but for our entire workforce. If individuals are found to have acted contrary to law and/or village policy, they must be held accountable." Following the mayors remarks, Bonnie Coffin, a resident there in support of the firefighters, requested to speak about the issue during the public comment session but things got a little heated. "Im not asking about personnel, Im asking about procedure. You're going against procedure. I beg to differ. This concludes this conversation. Some in the crowd insisted the mayor let her speak, but he responded by instructing the Ilion police chief to remove anyone if they continued to disrupt the proceedings. Many people are marking the first anniversary of their COVID-19 infection. What is remarkable is that chronic issues termed post-viral syndrome or Long COVID continue to plague many of them. They complain of days of devastating fatigue brought on by mental exertion or physical activity. They resort to making frequent notes to compensate for short-term memory loss. Sudden onsets of shortness of breath and racing heartbeat provoke anxiety and depression. It remains a mystery why this condition afflicts some and not others. Mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms are typical for millions of people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, usually middle-aged and without the medical comorbidities that define those most at risk for severe disease. However, approximately one-third will develop symptoms that typify what has been come to be known as Long COVID. Also called long haulers, most of them never even required hospitalization, but after clearing their infection, began to complain of symptoms like chronic fatigue or brain fog, leading to cognitive and memory issues and difficulties with concentration. Their persistent loss of smell vexes many. A rendering of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) Children, in this regard, arent spared. Almost 3.2 million children in the US have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Pediatricians have been noting that some are developing problems that have persisted for weeks or months after their infection. Though large-scale data on this issue is sorely lacking, data emerging out of the UK shows that around 13 percent of children under 11 with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing had at least one symptom five weeks after infection. Fatigue, poor sleep, and breathing difficulties were some of the disorders mentioned. For adolescents, that figure was similar, at 15 percent. There is no federal registry in the US that is presently tracking these cases. A National Institutes of Health initiative was announced in late February that promised to study the cause of Long COVID. The UKs Office for National Statistics estimated that by mid-December there were at least 186,000 people in England that had persistent COVID-19 symptoms five to 12 weeks or longer after the acute phase of the infection. If even a small proportion of the vast numbers of people infected with COVID-19 develop Long COVID syndrome, it represents a significant public health concern, said Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institute s of Health (NIH) in January. Though the number of deaths globally is approaching 3 million, the number of confirmed infected individuals is almost 125 million. It is very possible that this virus has already infected about ten percent of the globes population. A report published in Royal Society Open Science from November 2020 remarks, Despite an overall improvement in detection rates as the pandemic has progressed, our estimates showed that as of August 31, 2020, the true number of people to have been infected across our sample of 15 countries was 6.2 (95% CI: 4.310.9) times greater than the reported number of cases. A recent collaborative international study conducted between the UK and US cited by the NIH attempted to characterize Long COVID in an international cohort and its impact on daily life. There were 3,762 participants across 56 countries. Eighty percent were women, and the dominant age group was those in their 40s, accounting for a third of the responders. Less than 10 percent reported being hospitalized, and just over a quarter had received a laboratory confirmation of their infection. Yet, 96 percent reported having persistent symptoms three months after catching the coronavirus. The most frequent symptoms respondents reported after six months were fatigue (77.7 percent), post-exertional malaise or ill-feeling after routine activity (72 percent), and cognitive dysfunction (55.4 percent). They wrote, Respondents with symptoms over six months experienced an average of 13.8 symptoms in month 7. 85.9 percent experienced relapses, with exercise, physical or mental activity, and stress as the main triggers. Many patients, even seven months after their infection, continued to experience significant symptom burden. Nearly half couldnt return to full-time work. In a recently published report in JAMA Network, titled Sequelae in Adults 6 months After COVID-19 Infection, a total of 234 participants were contacted by researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle to complete a questionnaire between three and nine months after their illness. A total of 177 participants completed the survey. The average age among these subjects was 48 years. Only 13 percent had high blood pressure, five percent had been diagnosed with diabetes, and around 4.5 percent were smokers. The study found that with rising age, there was a greater persistence of these chronic symptoms. Six percent had been asymptomatic with COVID-19, while 85 percent had suffered just mild disease and were never hospitalized. Nine percent had been admitted for treatment for moderate to severe illness. The most common persistent symptom reported was a deep sense of being tired, in approximately 14 percent. In a similar number, a loss of taste or smell was described. Overall, 13 percent reported other symptoms, of which the most insidious, brain fog, occurred in 2.3 percent of these subjects. Dr. Ravindra Ganesh, an internist from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said, The brain fogs particularly debilitating to folks who do a lot of intellectual work and often work from home via computer. They cant focus on the computer that long, and the bright lights bother them and give them headaches. Theyre just not as productive as they used to be, and its very frustrating for them. Dr. Thomas Gut, director of ambulatory care services at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City, explained to WebMD that though the Seattle-based study had a small data set of patients, there was an uncanny similarity in pattern with other researchers findings in England, Canada, and China. In still another study, published in The Lancet on January 16, 2021, the authors reported on 1,733 patients discharged from Jin Yin-Tan hospital in Wuhan, China, between January 7 and May 29, 2020. All patients were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire, examined, and blood tests were performed. The follow-up time of this large group was in the range of six months. They were divided into three groups based on their hospital treatmentgroup one did not require supplemental oxygen, group two did, and group three needed ventilation support. Their median age was 57, almost ten years older than the Seattle cohort. Fatigue and muscle weakness were still present in 63 percent. The next most common symptom was sleep difficulties, afflicting 26 percent. Twenty-three percent reported anxiety or depression. Those with the most severe disease requiring ventilation support had more mobility problems, pain, and anxiety. Approximately one in four in all three groups had a reduced walking capacity. However, as baseline data for these patients were not available, direct attribution to their COVID infection remains to be resolved. A small subset of these patients had lung function tests performed. Astonishingly, six months from being discharged, 22 percent in group one, 29 percent in group two, and 56 percent in group three had impairments of their pulmonary functioning. In another subset of patients at the six-month follow-up, 487 of 1,393 patients, or 35 percent, were found to have suffered some level of chronic kidney injury. A study released on medRxiv in preprint form in October 2020 on 201 patients, found that heart, lung, and gastrointestinal issues were prevalent among COVID survivors who had been at low risk for severe COVID. They noted mild impairment in heart (32 percent), lungs (33 percent), kidneys (12 percent), and liver (10 percent), including pancreas and spleen. Multiorgan impairment was observed in 25 percent, while 66 percent had some form of derangement of a single organ. Researchers have referenced older studies from long-term SARS infections in attempting to understand the potential chronic complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections. In a Canadian study, researchers found that 33 percent of SARS survivors noted a significant decline in their mental health one year after the acute phase of their infection. A study out of Hong Kong published in 2009, a four-year follow-up, found that 40 percent of the SARS survivors continued to report chronic fatigue problems. These findings have significant implications for those suffering from chronic debilitating symptoms. A February report published in The Lancet, though encouraged by announcements that public health institutions were acknowledging the disease as a significant public health issue, cautioned that guidelines must represent the complexity of Long COVID, including the areas where evidence is still emerging. Hasty attempts to rename the condition or compare it to other conditions is a disservice to thousands of people and could result in missed pathology to the detriment of the patient. Comprehensive Long COVID guidelines are essential to prevent an epidemic of long-term, chronic disease as a result of early mismanagement of pathology, and the potential implications of such an epidemic for health systems and economies. Grace Semones, a math instructor at LSU Eunice, has been selected by The Association of Junior League International (AJLI), as part of their Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Action Plan. Semones os one of 25 women to join the League Members DEI Workgroup among a group of more than 125,000 members of AJLI. The Workgroup will assist and advise the AJLI CEO in developing and maintaining a centralized, organizational culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Grace moved to the United States 16 years ago to get a quality education. She graduated with a Civil Engineering Degree from Louisiana Tech and later obtained her masters degree in Math and Statistics. She currently is a math instructor for LSU Eunice on the LSUA Campus. Grace is married and has 4 children. Grace is a phenomenal woman. She is strong, confident and inspires the ladies in our League. I cant wait to see Grace continue to grow as an exceptional woman and in doing so enhance our League. says Keary Coffin, President JLA. Grace is a valuable asset to the LSU system serving our LSUE family on the LSU Alexandria campus, LSU Eunice Chancellor Dr. Nancee Sorenson said. We will always strive for a more diverse, equitable and inclusive environment and cannot wait to have Graces experiences and knowledge from the AJLI Workgroup used to better our own community. Grace joined the Junior League of Alexandria (JLA) in 2014 and became an active member in June 2015. She has served in the League in numerous ways on the A Very Merry Market Committee, Community Impact including Kidzfest and Girls on the Runs Inspirational Village, Placement for the League and currently serving on the Nominating Committee. Grace was recently placed on the newly formed Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce at JLA. She volunteers not only for the Junior League of Alexandria, but also the Hope House Board and Rotary. March 23, 1926 Scranton School Board wont recognize Marywood credits By a vote of 7-2, the Scranton School Board voted down a measure to recognize credits received by the districts teachers from Marywood College. School Director W.C. Bruning led the group in voting down the recognition. Bruning said at the meeting that if Marywood College credits were recognized, the college would need to be placed on a list of approved schools for special salary increases for teachers. Bruning said the school district could not grant special salary increases to teachers who earned credits at Marywood when they didnt grant such increases for credits earned at institutions such Yale, Princeton, Lehigh, Brown, Dartmouth, Amherst and Lafayette. James W. Flanagan, one of the two board members who voted to recognize Marywoods credits, said, gentlemen, you may or may not fully recognize Marywood College, but let me assure you that whether you do or not this school is going to grow, is going to prosper, and is going to teach real American education long after the thinking people of Scranton have driven the majority members of this board from political power forever. Charity ball held at armory More than 2,000 people attended the 10th annual charity ball for the Jewish Home of the Friendless at the Watres Armory. The armory was transformed with elaborate decorations that included a special lighting system. Booths were constructed for the purchase of refreshments and novelties. Music for the event was provided by Saxons Orchestra. One of the features of the night was a Charleston dance contest. Taking first place was Mr. Kessler and Miss Pollock, and second place went to 5-year-old Morris Eisenstaff. The Jewish Home for the Friendless took care of and educated young children, and also cared for elderly men and women. Scranton Dry Goods sale Womens Easter dresses and coats were $15, womens Easter suits were $25, silk scarfs were $2.99, silk hosiery in assorted colors were $1.15 a pair, womens Easter footwear was priced between $4.95 and $11, mens spring suits with topcoat for $29 and a 9-by-12-foot extra heavy velvet rug for $45.50. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. ABANO TERME, Italy, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fidia, a multinational pharmaceutical company and world leader in the research, development, production, and marketing of products mainly based on hyaluronic acid and its derivatives, has announced the conclusion of an agreement with Sanofi that involves the acquisition of an integrated portfolio of anti-inflammatory drugs. Based on this recent operation, the company has strengthened its presence in the prescription drug market, in addition to further expanding its range of products and specialities, thus consolidating its leadership in the Joint Care area and bolstering its business in Dermatology. The concluded agreement is the result of a selective competitive process launched in 2020, which led Sanofi to choose Fidia among the various participating companies. The agreement brings to light the company's ability to look to the future and be able to seize opportunities, even during the current global health emergency. Upon completion of the operation, currently conditional on the green light being given by the Antitrust and government authorities for FDI purposes, Fidia will acquire the registrations, trademarks, and related commercial rights of seven products (Urbason: oral and injectable, Esperson, Topicorte, Flubason and Dermatop: topical; Surgam: oral and suppositories; Flebocortid: injectable) that are leading brands within their segments, and have recorded worldwide sales of over 40 million euros in 2019. Specifically, the new offering includes four corticosteroids and one non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) already widely used to treat a broad range of conditions in various therapeutic areas. The brands included in the agreement will be marketed in Europe (with a particular focus on Italy), Brazil, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon, Thailand, and the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. "The acquisition - explains Carlo Pizzocaro, President and CEO of Fidia Farmaceutici - confirms our will, despite the tough challenge created by Covid-19, to continue investing in core pharmaceutical business as part of our international growth, not only thanks to consolidation in the areas in which we are leaders, but also through more solid positioning as a result of entering different therapeutic areas. Furthermore, the acquisition represents an opportunity to strengthen managerial resources, under the framework of a sustainable annual average growth: once again, a development model that is characterised by the ability to face the challenges and seize the opportunities of tomorrow, in the long-term, although the world's economies have been particularly battered." "Established Products is an important growth driver for Sanofi, however, we are re-focusing our efforts as part of the company's overall strategic transformation in order to pioneer new opportunities that will drive strong health outcomes for the millions of lives we touch," commented Olivier Charmeil, Executive Vice President, General Medicines at Sanofi. "Upon completion of appropriate regulatory processes, today's agreement with Fidia Farmaceutici will ensure patients will have continued access to these seven brands, while also allowing for us to further optimize our operating model through our Play to Win strategy." Chiomenti Studio Legale (team headed by Luca Liistro) acted as Fidia's Legal and Tax advisor on international basis. About Fidia Farmaceutici Italian multinational company, with R&D, manufacturing, marketing and sales capabilities, and an extensive product portfolio mainly based on hyaluronic acid (1,100 patents) in joint care, advanced wound care, ophthalmology, aesthetic and regenerative medicine. Manufacturing operations located in Italy - are inspected and approved by major international health authorities, including the US FDA, and comply with the strictest international regulations and safety standards. Fidia extends its global reach through local partners in 100+ countries worldwide, as well as wholly-owned subsidiaries in USA, Germany, Austria, Spain, France, Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Egypt and Middle East. About Sanofi Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term chronic conditions. With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around the globe. Sanofi, Empowering Life Sanofi Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "plans" and similar expressions. Although Sanofi's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Sanofi, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates, the fact that product candidates if approved may not be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, Sanofi's ability to benefit from external growth opportunities, to complete related transactions and/or obtain regulatory clearances, risks associated with intellectual property and any related pending or future litigation and the ultimate outcome of such litigation, trends in exchange rates and prevailing interest rates, volatile economic and market conditions, cost containment initiatives and subsequent changes thereto, and the impact that COVID-19 will have on us, our customers, suppliers, vendors, and other business partners, and the financial condition of any one of them, as well as on our employees and on the global economy as a whole. Any material effect of COVID-19 on any of the foregoing could also adversely impact us. This situation is changing rapidly and additional impacts may arise of which we are not currently aware and may exacerbate other previously identified risks. The risks and uncertainties also include the uncertainties discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in Sanofi's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements. Please find pictures of the Company on the official Fidia Farmaceutici website https://www.fidiapharma.com/it/media-room/gallery/,1219 SOURCE Fidia Farmaceutici Spa Related Links https://www.fidiapharma.com/ OnePlus warmed up the crowd a few weeks ago by announcing its three year, $150 million partnership with legendary camera maker Hasselblad. Hasselblad cameras flew on Apollo 11 to the moon, now they come equipped on the latest Snapdragon 888 flagship. The OnePlus 9 Pro introduces Fluid Display 2.0 and Warp Charge 50 Wireless charging. It also has a bespoke Sony IMX789 image sensor in its main camera. The vanilla model has its own upgrades. OnePlus 9 Pro The headlining feature this generation is the camera that Hasselblad helped develop and the OnePlus 9 Pro has the best version. On its first go-around in the smartphone segment, the Swedish camera maker focused on improving the color science of the two phones. OnePlus 9 Pro in the new Pine Green hero color The main camera uses a IMX789 sensor that was co-developed with Sony. Its a large 1/1.43 sensor with 1.12 m pixels, 48MP resolution. It features the latest camera technologies, including dual native ISO, Digital Overlap HDR (DOL-HDR) and 2x2 on-chip lens (OCL). And OIS, of course. This sensor can produce 12-bit RAW images. The dedicated Hasselblad Pro Mode in the camera app will help you fine-tune your photos for a natural look and feel. The main sensor can also record 8K video at 30 fps as well as 4K at 120 fps. Theres a 2MP black & white camera on board meant to assist the main camera with monochrome shots. Bespoke Sony IMX789 sensor in the main cam the Hasselblad Pro Mode The ultra wide-angle camera boasts another Sony sensor, the 50MP IMX766. The 1/1.56 sensor sits behind a freeform lens, which reduces distortion near the edges to 1% (compared to 10-20% for a typical lens). This camera has an autofocus system that allows it to shoot macro photos at just 4 cm distance. This phone skips the periscope, equipping a standard telephoto lens instead. It offers 3.3x optical magnification (77 mm), bringing ever so slightly closer to the action than 8 Pros 3x lens. The 8MP sensor in that one has 1.0m pixels and OIS. The new Fluid Display 2.0 makes its debut with the OnePlus 9 Pro. Its a 6.7 LTPO panel, which promises up to 50% power savings in general usage. This efficiency stems from the ability to adjust the refresh rate from the top 120Hz (for a smooth UI) all the way down to 1Hz (used when reading text or showing the Always On Display). The display can adapt to its content too, e.g. run at 24Hz for movies or 90Hz for Fortnite. The 1440p+ display is built using the E4 emitting material and native 10-bit color depth. It has ambient light sensors on the front and back so that it can automatically adjust its color temperature. All of this earned it an A+ score from DisplayMate. The display is quite bright too, peaking at 1,300 nits. The 120Hz refresh rate is backed by touch sampling rate of 240Hz, which improves response times when gaming. Speaking of gaming, lets look at the chipset. The OnePlus 9 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 888, of course, paired with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The new Cool Play setup is based on the 8T cooling solution, but with a larger vapor chamber, thicker graphite sheets and more copper foil for a higher capacity to pull heat away. The phone comes with 8GB of RAM as standard, but you can upgrade to 12GB. Base storage is 128GB, with a 256GB option. Check the bottom of this article for a table with the prices. OnePlus 9 Pro: 4,500 mAh battery 1-100% charge in 43 minutes with the new 50W wireless charger Besides a new display, this phone also introduces Warp Charge 50 Wireless. The new wireless charger is bought separately and offers two coils so the 9 Pro can be charged vertically or horizontally (say, while youre watching a movie). A full 1-100% charge takes only 43 minutes. But if you are really in a hurry, then you can just use the Warp Charge 65T wired charger that comes with the phone. Its twice as fast as the 8 Pro charger 1-100% takes 29 minutes, 8 Pros 30W charger only gets to 50% in that time. Also, you can use this to charge other gadgets that support SB Power Delivery: a laptop, a power bank, a Nintendo Switch, etc (PPS is supported). OnePlus 9 Pro in Stellar Black, Pine Green and Morning Mist Finally, a bit about the phones hardware. It has an aluminum frame sandwiched between two panes of glass. The front is a curved pane of Gorilla Glass, the back has several options. The new hero color is Pine Green with a soft double-layer matte finish. Morning Mist shows a silver-to-black gradient and Stellar Black has a frosted finish that recalls the trademark sandstone look. The body is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance. OnePlus 9 The OnePlus 9 gets a parred back version of the Hasselblad camera. The main module switches to the older IMX689 sensor it is still a 1/1.43 48MP sensor with 2x2 on-chip lens, dual native ISO and 12-bit RAW output. DOL-HDR is replaced with traditional HDR. OnePlus 9 in Astral Black OIS is gone and while the camera keeps the 8K 30 fps mode, it loses the 4K 120 fps mode (it tops out at 4K 60 fps). The Hasselblad Pro Mode is still on board, despite the sensor change. The good news is that the 50MP ultrawide camera is the same same IMX766 sensor with freefrom lens and ability to shoot macro photos at 4 cm. The 2MP monochrome camera is still on board, but the biggest loss of going from Pro to vanilla is that you get no telephoto camera. The vanilla OnePlus 9 has a first generation Fluid Display, meaning it has 120Hz refresh mode, but it is not adaptive. Its a flat 6.55 AMOLED panel with 1080p+ resolution, just as we saw on the 8T. It did still earn an A+ score from DisplayMate, though, as it is HDR10+ certified and tops out at 1,100 nits of brightness. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset with the new Cool Play cooling system. The phone is equipped with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage with the same configuration options 8/128GB and 12/256GB. The vanilla model also comes with a 4,500 mAh battery and a wired Warp Charge 65T (1-100% in 29 minutes). This is the first non-Pro model of the family to feature wireless charging (region dependent), though it only supports 15W Qi charging. Note that only the North American and European versions have this. Both OnePlus 9 models feature dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, plus upgraded haptic feedback motors. Both models use the same selfie camera 16 MP sensor (IMX471, 1.0 m), fixed focus f/2.4 lens. OnePlus 9 in Winter Mist The OnePlus 9 has a fiberglass-reinforced polymer frame with new metalization process that gives it a glossy look. Three colors are available: Winter Mist (a subtle purple gradient), Arctic Sky (a matte blue) and Astral Black (a matte film below the glossy glass back). Here are the prices for the two models in the US, Europe and India: A man accused of murdering his wife by setting her on fire said either he would 'vanish her' or he would 'kill her', a Sydney jury has been told. Kulwinder Singh then allegedly said 'and nobody will know what happened to her exactly'. The 42-year-old has pleaded not guilty to murdering Parwinder Kaur, 32, on December 2, 2013, at their Rouse Hill home. Parwinder Kaur (pictured right with husband Kulwinder Singh) was seen engulfed in flames from the neck down with her husband immediately behind her The Crown contends he poured petrol over his wife and then set her alight after arguing over money The Crown contends he poured petrol over his wife and then set her alight after arguing over money. But the defence says she set herself on fire to create a 'drama', confident the blaze would be put out. In the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday, Amanpreet Kaur - who is married to Ms Kaur's brother - told the jury of a conversation she had with her sister-in-law. Kulwinder Singh had visited Parwinder Kaur's family in India in October 2013. Amanpreet Kaur said her sister-in-law told her that she had heard that her husband had yelled and created a scene during the visit. Her sister-in-law said that when she was on the phone to India, she heard her husband saying either he could 'vanish' or 'kill' her. Her sister-in-law also told her she had decided she could not live with her husband anymore, saying: 'I thought he can change but he is not changed over so many years. Kulwinder Singh allegedly said 'and nobody will know what happened to her exactly' But Singh's defence lawyers say Ms Kaur set herself on fire to create a 'drama', confident the blaze would be put out 'She has tried everything. 'He only loves money. 'When he comes back I am going to tell him I don't want to live with him any more.' She saw her sister-in-law on the weekend before she died, when she said she had given her husband an option of having a joint bank account or a divorce. The trial is continuing before Justice Natalie Adams. 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. Feldmann began writing letters after she went searching for ways to stay engaged as a volunteer in the early days of the coronavirus. She stumbled upon a "send-a-note program on the website for Good Samaritan Society, one of the nation's largest providers of nonprofit senior care and services. She'd never heard of the Evangelical Lutheran organization, which has more than 200 facilities, including nearly 160 nursing homes, in 22 states. But the free online tool that lets anyone send messages to the group's locations offering the option to address notes to any resident seemed too easy to ignore. "I looked at it and thought, Wow, I could do this, Feldmann said. I could start this tomorrow." So for a year now, every Monday through Friday she has been logging on to the Good Samaritan Society website, dropping a note in an online form and clicking on individual facilities to send it to, repeating the process for about 80 locations and growing. On the receiving end, a facility staff member prints out the letter to distribute or read aloud to residents or to pin onto a public bulletin board. Other long-term care facilities, organizations and individuals have set up similar pen pal programs or put out calls for letters, cards and kids drawings a sign of how important communication with residents can be, even when it comes from strangers. Feldmann writes about the mundane goings-on in her life, including accounts of her early-morning walks. Attached is a picture of some geese in our neighborhood enjoying a morning swim, she wrote last fall. The signs say no fishing and keep off ice', but no mention of swimming, so they seem to be following the rules! When a goldfinch began showing up at her window, she shared photographs of Frankie and stories of the bird's escapades. Her goal is simple: to bring joy and make sure people know they're not forgotten. She reminds residents to stay active and always ends with the words Keep a smile on your face, and know that you are loved by many. For nursing home residents like Mary Chamberlain, in Indianola, Iowa, the constant letters have been a game changer. In a video produced by Sanford Health News (Sanford Health merged with Good Samaritan two years ago), Chamberlain said the letters make me happy, and I know I'm loved by somebody. Hearing from the outside Feldmann's been connected to long-term care her whole life. Her mother worked as a nurse in a senior community's nursing center in Illinois, and Feldmann grew up listening to residents stories. Now her mother resides in the independent living section of that same community, and Feldmann sees that not everyone there gets visitors. That's been even more true during the pandemic, which sent long-term care facilities into varying degrees of lockdown over the past year. Every weekday morning, Feldmann does her online exercise class, sits down with her breakfast and coffee and pulls out her iPad to start typing. Her first notes, to no one in particular, were met with confusion and emailed questions from the employees who opened them: Do you know anybody that lives here? Do you live in this town? Why are you writing? Feldmann's answers were always the same: Nope. Nope. It just seems like a fun thing to do. It didn't take long for staff members to start sharing her letters. She writes about her husband, John, and shares pictures of the two of them, including one from Halloween, when she dressed up as Betty Crocker and he as the Pillsbury Doughboy. She and John have conjured up weekly competitions to keep homebound pandemic life and her letters interesting. They've gone head-to-head decorating pumpkins, making Valentines and inventing variations of s'mores, all of which she's chronicled. Chamberlain, 73, the Iowa resident, doesn't have a lot of contact from family members, so staff began bringing her Feldmann's notes. She saves them all, filling three binders that she revisits. She gets teary-eyed describing Feldmann, whom she calls a sister." Feldmann's fans also include long-term care staff. Jennifer Batesel, the director of marketing and sales at a Good Samaritan Society site in Mountain Home, Arkansas, says Feldmann has emerged as an icon, a celebrity columnist of sorts renowned for her humor and inspiring words amid pandemic times: It means so much to them to hear from the outside." Sometimes Feldmann writes about her own mother for added motivation. I did my online exercise class as usual. My mom and I will do her exercises early this afternoon, she wrote a while back. "She has decided her favorite number is one because when we do our reps, we count backward so that the last rep is always number one, Feldmann wrote. I hope you are able to get some exercise in today too!" The family of a 28-year-old woman killed in a fatal shooting in Compton, California, is asking the police to look at the incident as a potential hate crime.What happened: Sia Marie Xiong, 28, was shot before 6 a.m. on March 20 on East Kay Street, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said, according to KTLA. Officers discovered the woman with one gunshot wound to her lower torso. Authorities rushed Xiong to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Officers are still investigating what happened before the shooting and the events leading up to it. The aftermath: Xiongs family held a press conference a day after the fatal shooting to urge the local police department to look at all possible angles of the killing, including anti-Asian hate crimes, the Los Angeles Times reported. The backdrop is of course the rise in Asian hate crimes, the familys lawyer, Toni Jaramilla, said of the victim, who was of Cambodian, Black and Native American descent. Were looking to see if the Sheriffs Department can look at it with that lens. Xiong, who had a 3-year-old son, grew up in San Diego and lived in Fontana, Akeisa Lowe, the victims aunt, said. It was still unclear what she was doing in Compton on the day of the shooting. She was a sweet kid, Lowe said. I cant even imagine who would hate her this much. Despite the call for an anti-Asian hate crime investigation, a spokesperson for the sheriffs department believed the case is not related to that. "No one can deny the dramatic increase in Asian women being murdered across the country," Najee Ali, a South L.A. activist, said via KTLA. Authorities have yet to identify the shooter or the motive behind the killing. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help Xiongs son and for her "going away service." She had so much life to live and so much love to give, the campaign reads. The fact that her life has been cut short, in such a violent manner, pains the family to the core. It's hard to grasp that we will never see or speak to her again. Hear her voice or laugh, see her grow older or make new memories with her. Feature Image via Carla Jay Story continues Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Chinese Americans Unite Over WeChat to Fight COVID-19 in NY Despite Experiencing Abuse Iowa Professor Arrested After Husband Found Ziptied and Gagged to Death 6 Suspects Wanted for Attacking Maskless Asian Woman on NY Subway College Professor Quickly 'Cancelled' After Face Mask Comment to Student From Wuhan Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 00:48:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close YAOUNDE, March 23 (Xinhua) -- At least one person has died from cholera outbreak and 10 others are infected in Cameroon's commercial hub of Douala, local health officials said on Tuesday. The outbreak has affected Manoka, Mbange and New Bell neighbourhoods of the city, said James Longsi, a public health official. "The unhygienic living conditions, ignorance about the spread of the disease are the main reasons for the resurgence of the epidemic," Longsi told reporters during a launch of a vaccination campaign against the epidemic in Douala. The campaign, intended to keep children and women safe from the epidemic, will run until March 30. "We are vaccinating as from one year old upward including pregnant women. Vaccination teams will go from door to door," said Nangha Awabeng, head of a local district hospital. Officials said, last year over 200 cases were detected in the city. Cholera is a highly virulent disease characterized in its most severe form by a sudden onset of acute watery diarrhea that can lead to death by severe dehydration. Enditem Boris Johnson threw his backing behind an official memorial to the UK's thousands of Covid dead tonight. As he fronted a press conference on the first anniversary of the UK lockdown the Prime Minister promised a 'fitting and permanent' commemoration. He said that the 'whole period' will be commemorated 'at the right moment', along with the 126,000 people killed buy the deadly disease in the UK over the past year. Addressing the brutal impact of the pandemic on Britain, he told the press conference: 'For month after month, our collective fight against coronavirus was like fighting in the dark against a callous and invisible enemy until science helped us to turn the lights on and gain the upper hand.' Hospital staff observe a minute's silence as part of a day of reflection outside Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool today As he fronted a press conference on the first anniversary of the UK lockdown the Prime Minister promised a 'fitting and permanent' commemoration. Mr Johnson has said the nation is 'step by step, jab by jab' on the path to 'reclaiming our freedoms'. He told the Downing Street press conference: 'It's thanks to all of you therefore that we can continue on our road map to freedom. 'We will meet our targets, offering a first dose to everyone over 50 by the middle of next month, as well as those under 50 who are clinically vulnerable, and offering a first dose of a vaccine to every adult by the end of July. 'And cautiously but irreversibly, step by step, jab by jab, this country is on the path to reclaiming our freedoms.' It came as doctors, teachers and nurses today urged Boris Johnson to formally recognise an annual 'Covid Memorial Day' and erect a monument on Whitehall. More than 50 MPs and peers along with the health unions, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing are backing the calls. Lib Dem MP Layla Moran, chairwoman of the APPG on Coronavirus, said: 'We are reassured to hear that the Prime Minister has already endorsed our calls for a permanent memorial for all the lives lost to the pandemic. 'The London memorial must also be a permanent reminder of the sacrifice made by all key workers who got the UK through this crisis. The only fitting place for it is on Whitehall, where wreaths can be laid. 'We will now launch our public consultation on the design of the monument, to ensure that the British public is at the centre of the memorialisation of the pandemic. 'Memorialisation outside of London will need to be led by local communities, councils and devolved administrations to best reflect their effort in responding to the pandemic. 'It is vital that we remember the lives lost and lives changed with dignity, and commemorate the efforts of our frontline and key workers with pride.' There is also a cross-party campaign for a minute's silence every year on March 23 to remember the lives lost on the anniversary of the first UK-wide lockdown. Schools, workplaces and public venues would hold a silence at noon every year so that people can pay tribute to the efforts of frontline workers during the pandemic. Wreaths would also be laid under the plans at a new coronavirus memorial monument on Whitehall in London, which is also where The Cenotaph is located. There are already plans for Covid memorials in other parts of the country, including Barnsley in South Yorkshire. In a letter to the Prime Minister, MPs said the nation 'must remember the lives lost and lives changed with dignity, and commemorate the efforts of our frontline and key workers with pride'. MPs and peers, including Tory MP Dr Dan Poulter, signed the letter organised by Layla Moran, the MP who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus. Staff observe a minute's silence outside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow at midday today A minute's silence is held at London Waterloo station at midday today to remember those who have died from Covid-19 Boris Johnson takes part in a private minute's silence for the victims of Covid-19 in the Cabinet room at No10 Downing Street today Mr Johnson today led Britain in mourning the victims of coronavirus during a minute's silence. The Prime Minister, who was almost killed by Covid-19 last year, paid a solemn tribute to the 126,172 dead in the Cabinet room of No10 at noon. Ahead of tonight's ptress conference of fronting a Downing Street briefing tonight, he offered his 'sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones.' The Queen and also marked the occasion, releasing a rare statement honoring the victims of the pandemic, while Prince Charles summoned the nation to 'remember the lives tragically cut short'. The monarch said: 'As we look forward to a brighter future together, today we pause to reflect on the grief and loss that continues to be felt by so many people and families, and pay tribute to the immeasurable service of those who have supported us all over the last year.' She sent a bouquet of irises, tulips, mixed narcissi and ranunculus with the message to St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, where her husband Prince Philip had a heart operation earlier this month, from Windsor Castle. Many hospitals, government buildings, schools and religious sites also observed the minute's silence in commemoration. And tonight Britons are being encouraged to stand on their doorsteps at 8pm and light candles as a 'beacon of remembrance' for those who have lost their lives. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 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. Growing up, Lent meant giving up chocolate and the reappearance of the Trocaire box in our house. We scooped up our pennies and even found the odd shiny 50p to donate to famine-afflicted countries in Africa, to islanders ravaged by hurricanes in Central America and other communities impacted by severe poverty. We generously and rightly give to these collections but continued to ignore our own working poor. Workers don't need charity donations, instead they require the Government to act on a measure that should already be a basic entitlement. In August, as Covid-19 swept through our meat plants, serious concerns were raised that employees were being effectively forced to turn up to work even if they had symptoms, as taking time off would also mean a loss of income. In August, as Covid-19 swept through our meat plants, serious concerns were raised that employees were being effectively forced to turn up to work even if they had symptoms. Picture: iStock The pandemic highlighted a persistent issue for mainly minimum-wage or low-paid workers who feel obliged to work even if they are not fit to. "For low paid workers, even if they are on the enhanced illness benefit they still suffer a very significant loss of earnings, that could be 50 a week, which may not be a lot to some people, but it's enormous to others if they are low paid and very much struggling to make ends meet," said Labour senator Marie Sherlock, who brought forward a a statutory sick pay bill back in September. Meat plant workers accounted for 42% of workplace infections between November and February 13. Of course. we cannot say how many of those cases could have been prevented if statutory sick pay was already introduced, but it has been pointed out that the lack of paid sick leave in this country is a fundamental weakness in fighting Covid-19. Between 800,000 and 1m people do not have a sick pay scheme in work, meaning they are totally reliant on what Siptu economist Michael Taft describes as a "woefully inadequate illness benefit from the Department of Social Protection". Ireland is now just one of only five EU countries that doesn't enshrine the right to sick pay in law. The UK also provides statutory sick pay and a new scheme was recently introduced in the US. In the community sector, people who work side-by-side doing the same work can be treated differently when it comes to sick pay, depending on their source of funding, community worker Linda Scully told a webinar entitled 'Healing our Sick Pay System'. "Some might have sick pay and others might not. This creates an arbitrary and unfair discrimination, she said. Speaking at the same event in October, manufacturing worker, John Montgomery said: It can take a week for workers to access the illness benefit payment, which is very small. This means that workers either come into work while they are sick or they take time off and lose their pay." Leo Varadkar, as Minister for Enterprise, launched a public consultation process last November which received a total of 118 submissions. Enterprise Minister Leo Varadkar said he wanted to introduce a statutory sick pay scheme that works for employees and employers. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/Rollingnews.ie Launching the consultation process, Mr Varadkar said he wanted to introduce a statutory sick pay scheme that works for employees and employers. Equally, his department recently stressed the importance of protecting employers. The intention is to develop a scheme that is fair and affordable and that does not place an undue burden of costs on employers. Any move to introduce a statutory sick pay scheme which will place a new financial burden on employers must be balanced with the need to support the viability of the business and enterprise sector, thereby protecting jobs," the department wrote in correspondence to the Oireachtas committee on enterprise and employment earlier this month. Solidarity-PBP picked up on this point and ran with it in the Dail, claiming the Government continues to represent the interests of big business and not vulnerable workers. "If it is a populist conspiracy theory that the Government represents the interests of the beef barons and not the interests of the workers, why, 10 months after this issue was first raised in the Dail, has the Tanaiste not acted to introduce sick pay for meat factory workers?" Paul Murphy asked on March 4. The Tanaiste was quick to point out that "workers need jobs, and we always have to bear that in mind in our policies too". A spokesperson for the Tanaiste said he was committed to introducing a statutory sick pay scheme in Ireland and work is progressing on the heads of a bill. It is hoped a bill will be enacted and up and running before the end of the year. But Ms Sherlock believes the Government has been "hedging its bets" that the pandemic would simply go away and the issue of sick pay would dissipate with it. Statutory sick pay cannot and should not be purely linked to Covid. The Irish Cancer Society has also called for statutory sick pay and enhanced supports which it says are needed to help cancer patients return to work. "There will always be a need for sick pay whether we have a pandemic or not, obviously it's more urgent now because there are large numbers of people who need it," Ms Sherlock said. Covid has provided a new perspective on the term 'essential worker', as many of us had the luxury of safety cocooning from behind laptop screens. Eventually, we will all be vaccinated and Covid will become a distant memory, but the danger is that as normal life resumes, we will also forget about our binmen, our shelf-stackers, our meat plant workers and the issue of sick pay will not be tackled. The Government needs to learn that change must begin at home. While you are here, why not sign up to our new 'On The Plinth' political newsletter. Delivered direct to your inbox every Tuesday. Sign up here exa.mn/ontheplinth Read More Poor contact tracing capacity and travel behind 500-plus per day Covid cases What to look out for this week Tuesday: The pandemic has undoubtedly exposed Ireland's poor planning and provision for life in our later years. the Health Committee will discuss the regulation of nursing homes and a new model of care for older people. The pandemic has undoubtedly exposed Ireland's poor planning and provision for life in our later years. the Health Committee will discuss the regulation of nursing homes and a new model of care for older people. Tuesday: Given the announcement to close over 100 of its branches, the appearance of Bank of Ireland officials at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach is likely to be an interesting one. Given the announcement to close over 100 of its branches, the appearance of Bank of Ireland officials at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach is likely to be an interesting one. Wednesday: The much-anticipated Family Leave Bill (2021) is due for debate in the Dail on Wednesday afternoon. However, Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman has already said a change of mindset is needed, as nearly 50% of dads dont take parental leave already on offer. The much-anticipated Family Leave Bill (2021) is due for debate in the Dail on Wednesday afternoon. However, Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman has already said a change of mindset is needed, as nearly 50% of dads dont take parental leave already on offer. Wednesday: The proposed EU Covid green pass to allow for greater travel signed off on in Brussels last week, is sure to be raised with Transport Minister Eamon Ryan when he takes questions in the Dail. The proposed EU Covid green pass to allow for greater travel signed off on in Brussels last week, is sure to be raised with Transport Minister Eamon Ryan when he takes questions in the Dail. Thursday: The Thursday morning slot has become an almost permanent speaking session for the Health Minister, who will be in for further interrogation on the Government's vaccine rollout and hotel quarantining. The Thursday morning slot has become an almost permanent speaking session for the Health Minister, who will be in for further interrogation on the Government's vaccine rollout and hotel quarantining. Thursday: The Taoiseach will take part in a EU virtual meeting of leaders on Wednesday and Thursday. Items on the agenda include the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the single market, digital transformation and the economy and relations with Russia. The Taoiseach will take part in a EU virtual meeting of leaders on Wednesday and Thursday. Items on the agenda include the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the single market, digital transformation and the economy and relations with Russia. Thursday: The cost of insurance and those making false claims has been a hot topic in recent years and the regional group of nine TDs are bringing forward the Civil Liability and Courts Bill to tackle this. The bill would increase the penalties relating to fraudulent claims and would impose legal costs on those found guilty. Each week An Garda Siochana receive reports of fraudulent insurance claims and there is a perception that fraud and exaggerated claims have been increasing in recent years, however, at present there is no consequence or risk to taking such a claim, independent TD for Galway East Sean Canney said ahead of the debate. 'Bugs and bombshells' was the lead headline, about the deepening crisis concerning then Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan, on the front page of 'The Irish Examiner' on Wednesday, March 26, 2014. This week in years gone by... March 31, 1966: The Tricolour flag flown over the Dublin GPO in 1916 is handed back by the British to representatives of the Irish Government in London. "A cloak and dagger atmosphere permeated the arrangements for the handing over in London yesterday of the historic flag which flew over the GPO during the Easter Rising," the Cork Examiner reported. March 24, 1968: 61 people died in Irelands worst ever air disaster. The following day a report on the front page of the Cork Examiner said Aer Lingus had confirmed that "little hope could be entertained of finding any survivors from the worst tragedy in the history of its operations when a Cork-London Viscount aircraft with 61 people including two babes in arms plunged into the sea off Stumble Head, near Fishguard, Wales, just before noon." March 30, 1981: In the US, Ronald Reagan is shot. The following day the Cork Examiner reported that the president had a bullet removed from a lung after the assassination attempt. He was shot by John Hinckley Jr as left the Washington Hilton hotel after addressing a union convention. March 25, 2003: Tourism minister John ODonoghue launches the 'Value Menu Restaurant Guide' to offer meals at three price points 15, 25 and 35. However, the scheme did not make the front pages as just days before US president George Bush had launched project 'Shock and Awe' on Iraq. March 25, 2014: Garda commissioner Martin Callinan resigned after months of controversy and a now-famous appearance before the Public Accounts Committee during which he described whistleblowers, Maurice McCabe and John Wilson as disgusting. Read More Elaine Loughlin: Spare a thought for the Ministers of Zoom While you are here, why not sign up to our new 'On The Plinth' political newsletter. Delivered direct to your inbox every Tuesday. Sign up here exa.mn/ontheplinth Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Its a challenge that has been around for decades, but it has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Members who were once active have stopped attending worship. Indeed, some of the most frequent questions we get at Church Answers are related to this issue. How can we get those who stopped attending to return? What is the best approach? Is it worth our effort or is it a lost cause? To be blunt, these members are indeed hard to get back. Once they left, they established new patterns and habits, and church was not one of them. Some of them may not be Christians; they attended worship to be accepted or to please someone. But, biblically, we must not give up on the one who has gone astray. Evangelistically, we have an opportunity to keep the gospel before them. Even if the efforts are difficult, they can really make a difference. As we hear from church leaders around the world, we are listening carefully to some of the most effective approaches to reach those who have left. These are five approaches that are used by a number of churches. Call them once. Yes, it can be that simple. One pastor took a Sunday afternoon and called twelve persons representing twelve families. He simply told them that he missed them and hoped they would return. He then prayed for them. Three of the twelve families returned within a month. Pray for them. Many churches have prayer ministries, and some of them have intentional prayer for those who have dropped out of church. One church makes it a point to send a we prayed for you email once every other month. The emails are personal and written specifically to the person who is no longer attending. Keep them on a separate email list. One church leader explained it this way. You dont put them on the email list you send to all members. They would recognize they are on a list that everyone gets; they would not be motivated to return with this approach. Instead, have someone craft an email that addresses these people specifically and pastorally. Be aware of points of need for these people. A pastor in Ohio shared that he finds someone who has a personal relationship with the member who is no longer attending. He asks the active member to let him know when the inactive member has a specific need to which the church can respond. One family of seven returned to his church when several people ministered to them when the primary breadwinner lost his job. Stay in touch with the children of the family. When a family stops attending, many church leaders said they had success getting the children or youth to attend specific activities. One student minister reported success especially when their peers invite them to an event. There is nothing new about church dropouts. But the rate of dropout accelerated during the pandemic and was exacerbated by it. Yes, it is not usually easy to get people back in the discipline of gathering as a church. But God continues to work in many churches and in the lives of those who dropped out. He has not given up on them. Neither should we. Originally published at Church Answers An emergency alert over rising flood levels in the Scenic Rim has been triggered as the south-east region is hit hard by flash flooding, road closures and heavy rainfall. Three evacuation centres were prepared nearby on the Gold Coast as residents braced for another 100 millimetres of rain expected by Wednesday morning. Police were assisting with road closures around south-east Queensland. Pic: Queensland Police Media Credit:Police Media An emergency alert for Beaudesert residents in the Scenic Rim was issued just before 7pm as the Logan River reached the major flood level due to heavy rainfall. Properties in the area may experience flooding. Residents in the area have been asked to secure their belongings, warn their neighbours and move to higher ground, an alert said. The main opposition DMK and its allies, including the MDMK, in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, condemned the Centre over India abstaining from voting on a UN Human Rights Council resolution against Sri Lanka and termed it "an unpardonable betrayal" of the Eelam Tamils. Abstaining from voting only reflected support for Sri Lanka and it was against the Eelam Tamils by the BJP-led Central government, DMK chief M K Stalin alleged. 'Eelam' denotes homeland and 'Eelam' Tamils is a term used by political parties and others in Tamil Nadu to refer to the Tamils in neighbouring Sri Lanka. Read | Assembly election: Washing the dirty linen in public Tamil Nadu style "Today, the Indian representative, without taking part in the voting, has walked out. This is an unpardonable, huge betrayal of Eelam Tamils by the Indian government," Stalin claimed. The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution against Sri Lanka's rights record, which gives the UN body a mandate to collect evidence of crimes committed during the country's brutal civil war (2008-09) against the LTTE. India abstained from voting, saying its approach to the question of human rights in Sri Lanka is guided by two fundamental considerations. One supports Lankan Tamils for equality, justice, dignity and peace and the other is ensuring the unity, stability and territorial integrity of that nation. It urged Colombo to fulfil its commitments on the devolution of political authority, to carry forward the process of reconciliation and address the aspirations of the Tamil community in the island nation. Read: OPS faces 'tough competition' from former party man Thanga Tamilselvan in Bodinayakanur Stalin said days ago he wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence on the matter since Lanka had been hoping that India would support it in the UN body. It did not, however, happen and the Centre did not come up with any proper explanation. "We expected that the Modi government would take a stand in favour of the Eelam Tamils in the UNHRC. But the Modi government has deceived the world Tamils," Stalin, who is in the thick of campaign for the April 6 assembly polls, alleged in a statement. PMK founder leader S Ramadoss said India must have voted against Sri Lanka. However, India not supporting Sri Lanka in the UN council and picking a neutral stand was a matter of solace, he said. "I thank all the nations that have supported the resolution," Ramadoss, whose party has aligned with the ruling AIADMK in which the BJP is also a constituent, said. MDMK chief and Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko, a vocal supporter of Tamil Eelam, too said India abstaining from voting is a 'huge betrayal' of the Eelam Tamils and condemned the Centre for it. Both Stalin and Vaiko claimed that since assembly polls were round the corner in Tamil Nadu, India abstained from voting in the UN body. Otherwise, it would have voted in 'favour' of Sri Lanka, they claimed apparently targeting the Modi government. Earlier in the day, the AIADMK, an ally of the BJP, made an appeal in the Rajya Sabha that India supports the resolution against Sri Lanka. The DMK chief said Sri Lanka thanked India for abstaining, which was for Modi's 'betrayal' of Eelam Tamils. CPI(M) State Secretary K Balakrishnan said it was an act of injustice against the Tamil people. Read | TN people will not allow Stalin to become CM: Panneerselvam "India should have voted to support the resolution, against Sri Lanka." The resolution titled "Promotion of Reconciliation Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka" was adopted by the UNHRC after 22 members out of the 47-member Council voted in favour of it, giving the UN body a mandate to collect evidence of crimes committed during the country's brutal three decade- long civil war against the LTTE. Eleven members voted against the resolution tabled by the Core Group on Sri Lanka consisting of countries like the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany. India was among 14 countries that abstained from voting. India and should resolve all bilateral issues, especially that of Jammu and Kashmir, through dialogue for durable peace and stability in the region, a senior Pakistani diplomat said here on Tuesday. In a statement to reporters on the sidelines of Day celebrations at the High Commission here, Aftab Hasan Khan, Charges D'Affaires of the mission, said, "On this occasion, I would...like to emphasise that peace and stability in this region is essential for development of all the countries." Pakistan would like to have good neighbourly relations with all its neighbours, especially India, he said. "For durable peace and stability, it is essential that we resolve all bilateral issues with negotiations, through dialogue, especially the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir, which is also essential and pending and a long standing issue before the United Nations," he said. Khan did not take any questions from the reporters on the occasion. His remarks come after last month both the countries announced that they would strictly observe "all agreements, understandings and cease firing" along the Line of Control in and "all other sectors" with effect from midnight of February 24 and 25. Earlier this month, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said India desired good neighbourly ties with Pakistan and was committed to addressing issues, if any, bilaterally, but any meaningful dialogue could only be held in a conducive atmosphere and the onus was on Islamabad to create it. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Minister of Families and Integration, Corinne Cahen, confirmed that 22 lives had been claimed by coronavirus over the last month at the "Um Lauterbann" retirement home in Niederkorn, following an outbreak thought to be caused by one of the new variants. The 22 residents, with an average age of 88, make up part of the 324-strong death toll in Luxembourg's care and retirement homes since the pandemic was declared a year ago. The most recent outbreak occurred in spite of regular visits from the large-scale testing teams, explained Cahen, who revealed mobile test units had visited the home on a monthly basis prior to the first patient testing positive on 17 February. Residents and staff will now be tested on a fortnightly basis. Cahen also revealed that several other small clusters had been detected in retirement homes around the country. The affected structures are located in Erpeldange near Ettelbruck, Bofferdange, Rodange, Schifflange and Redange. In Niederkorn, meanwhile, there are still 10 positive cases at "Um Lauterbann", although the majority are asymptomatic. One person is in hospital, while two residents are receiving oxygen treatment. Raoul Vinandy of Servior explained that 12 of the deceased residents were treated in hospital, while the remainder received medical care at the home itself. The source of the outbreak has not yet been traced, but the first cases identified within the home lived in separate areas of the building. Vinandy said management had reacted immediately following the first positive result, implementing isolation and quarantine procedures in line with government advice, but by that point, the virus was already prevalent within the home. Dr. Jean-Claude Schmit, director at the Luxembourg Health Directorate, said a number of the patients in question had suffered from existing health issues. He added that it was feasible that several of them had experienced a second infection after picking the virus up during Luxembourg's first wave. In terms of the outbreak's source, Dr Schmit said retirement homes were not prisons, and that the virus could have been picked up at any stage, as residents were free to mingle or leave the home for appointments when required. He attributed the virulence of the outbreak to the new variant, which is noticeably more transmissible and can have more severe effects on patients. Above all, Dr Schmit wished to underline that the outbreak was not related to the vaccine rollout, which commenced at "Um Lauterbann" on 18 February. He explained that it was necessary to wait a period of some weeks following the jab to develop immunity and that it had been a case of unfortunate timing. Cahen concluded that over 100 of the residents at the home had now received their second jab, with the remainder due to be fully vaccinated by the end of the week, provided they no longer tested positive for the virus. American Idol is continuing with the 7th episode of its 19th season on Monday, March 22 at 8 p.m. The series features host Ryan Seacrest, as well as recurring judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. Bobby Bones will also return as the in-house mentor for the shows contestants. Heres the information youll need to watch a free live stream of American Idol online without cable. When is American Idol on? American Idol begins its 19th seasons 7th episode on Monday, March 22 at 8 p.m. on ABC. It will be followed by a new episode of The Good Doctor at 10 p.m. How to watch American Idol without cable If youre a cord-cutter or dont have cable, its easy to live stream American Idol on Fubo TV (free trial). What channel is ABC? You can use the channel finder on your providers website to locate it: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish. How to watch American Idol online on-demand If you missed an episode of American Idol or want to binge watch the series online as it becomes available, look for it on Fubo TV (free trial). What is American Idol about? According to the official ABC website: The gold standard of all music competition series, American Idol returns for a new season as superstar judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie set out on a journey across the nation to discover a new crop of inspiring talent with a touch of Disney magic on The ABC Television Network... The groundbreaking series launched the careers of superstars Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Katharine McPhee, Jordin Sparks, Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry among many others. Idol alumni are responsible for 13 Grammys, over 61 million album sales, 47 Platinum records, 95 Gold records, 444 Billboard No. 1 hits, 257 million digital downloads, two Golden Globes and an Academy Award. Now, the search is on for the next American Idol. Heres a look at American Idol, courtesy of the ABC official YouTube channel: Related stories about streaming TV services How to get a free month of horror movie streaming service Shudder and what to watch with it How do I watch Soul on Disney Plus? How to watch HBO Max: What is it? How much does it cost? What movies and TV shows does it have? What is Philo? Price, TV channels, how to get a free trial Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Joseph Rejent may be reached at jrejent@njadvancemedia.com. The Secretary of State has laid down new regulations in Westminster on Tuesday, compelling Stormont to implement abortion laws, as more than 80 MPs have signed a letter backing the move. Brandon Lewis laid out the regulations before Parliament on Tuesday under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act which was signed in 2019. Taking effect from March 31, the Government says it's taking these powers as a "necessary and proportionate" step to ensure legal and human rights obligations upheld in line with CEDAW report. The regulation note adds: "These Regulations confer on the Secretary of State the power to direct the First Minister, deputy First Minister, a Northern Ireland Minister, a Northern Ireland department, the Regional Health and Social Care Board, and the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being. "Almost a year has passed since the Abortion Regulations came into effect, and progress should have been made by now. It is not sustainable for medical professionals to take forward service provision without any formal commissioning, support, relevant medical guidance, and funding." The move by the Secretary of State comes as a group of 88 MPs expressed cross-party support for the move in a letter to Stormont ministers. The letter was drawn up by Stella Creasy, the Labour MP who brought the initial amendment that led to the changes in Northern Irelands abortion laws in 2019. Addressed to the Minister of Health, the letter urges Mr Swann to commission abortion services as a matter of priority. While individual health trusts in Northern Ireland are offering services on an ad-hoc basis, Mr Swanns Department of Health has yet to centrally commission the services on a region-wide basis. On Monday, Robin Swann told the Assembly he would not commission the services without the approval of the Executive due to the issue being what he has described as a cross-cutting or controversial decision. Read More Mr Swann also told the Assembly that he had tabled proposals around the commissioning of services in April and May of 2020, but added the Executive has not agreed to this proposal. The letter directed to Robin Swann - also signed by the Northern Ireland MPs Colum Eastwood, Claire Hanna and Stephen Farry goes on to describe it as disappointing the services have not been implemented after the regulations came into force a year ago. Abortion laws in the region were liberalised by MPs at Westminster in 2019 at a time when power sharing was collapsed. The regulations introduced in March 2020 were a welcome step forward, the letter said. It is disappointing that they have not been implemented, and women and girls continue to be advised to travel to England to access basic healthcare. That this has been the case during the Coronavirus pandemic, so undermining important rules to prevent the transmission of this virus, is also unacceptable. This has left women in an impossible position of having to take risks with their health to access services, whether in travelling or seeking to purchase abortion medication online. Also directed towards the First and deputy First Ministers, the letter goes on to say devolution must never be used to deny the human rights of any woman. The move by the Secretary of State Brandon Lewis has been criticised as over-reach by the DUP. Speaking on Sunday, the DUP MP Carla Lockhart said it was a devolved issue and criticised the Westminster intervention by Mr Lewis as unacceptable. Read More This is a health issue and therefore it is for our health minister to bring forward suggested regulations on the commissioning of services, she said. Westminster has done what is required of them. If you actually look at the legislation, it mentions the Department of Health in terms of commissioning, therefore, it is not for them to get involved in this issue. This is a devolved issue, it is a health issue and therefore health is wholly the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. This photo tweeted by the Boulder Police Department late Monday, March 22, 2021, shows Officer Eric Talley. Police say multiple people have been killed in a shooting at a supermarket in Boulder, Colo., including Talley. (Boulder Police Department via AP) A US police officer killed in a mass shooting at a Colorado supermarket on Monday had seven children and had been looking for a new job in order to protect his family, his father said. The shooting in Boulder, Colorado, left nine other people dead while a suspect injured in the violence was arrested, authorities told a news conference late on Monday. Officer Eric Talley was the first on the scene, Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said, lauding his intervention as "heroic." Police gave few immediate details of the latest shooting and no known motive for the violence, which unfolded at about 3 p.m. at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, a north-central Colorado city at the eastern foot of the Rockies, about 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Denver. Frantic shoppers and employees fled for cover through the supermarket as law enforcement officers swarmed the scene, located about 2 miles from the University of Colorado's flagship campus. Read More Sarah Moonshadow, 42, a customer and Boulder resident who was in the store with her son, Nicholas, recounted scenes of pandemonium as gunfire rang out from inside the store. "We were at the checkout, and shots just started going off," Moonshadow told Reuters. "And I said, 'Nicholas get down.' And Nicholas ducked. And we just started listening and there, just repetitive shots ... and I just said, 'Nicholas, run.'" Moonshadow said she tried to go to the aid of a victim she saw lying on the pavement just outside the store, but her son pulled her away, telling her, 'We have to go.'" The woman broke down in sobs, adding, "I couldn't help anybody." Police officer Talley, 51, had joined the police just over a decade ago and had been looking to eventually find a new line of work, his father Homer said in a statement issued to local media. "He was looking for a job to keep himself off of the front lines and was learning to be a drone operator. He didn't want to put his family through something like this," Homer Talley said. "He had seven children. The youngest is seven-years-old. He loved his kids and his family more than anything." A woman named Kirstin said on Twitter that Eric Talley was her older brother. "My heart is broken. I cannot explain how beautiful he was and what a devastating loss this is to so many. Fly high my sweet brother," she wrote in a post that included a photo of them as young children. Amid an outpouring of grief, a man named Jeremy Herko who said he'd met Talley at "the academy," described him as one of his best friends. "He was a devout Christian, he had to buy a 15-passenger van to haul all his kids around, and he was the nicest guy in the world," Herko wrote in a Facebook post. The Boulder Police Department tweeted a photo of Talley in uniform. "Rest In peace Officer Eric Talley. Your service will never be forgotten," the department said. Talley was featured in a 2013 article as one of three police officers who helped save ducks stuck in a drainage ditch. He waded into calf-deep water to rescue the ducks from the pipes, according to the article in the Boulder Daily Camera newspaper. Talley is the sixth on-duty death in the Boulder Police Department's history and the first officer killed in the line of duty since 1994, the Boulder Daily Camera reported. "He was, by all accounts, one of the outstanding officers at the Boulder Police Department and his life was cut far too short," said Michael Dougherty, the Boulder County district attorney. The bloodshed in Boulder marked the second deadly U.S. mass shooting in a week, following gun violence last week that left eight people dead in the wider Atlanta area. A 21-year-old man has been charged with those killings. Philippine justices take part in a session of the full bench of the Supreme Court in Manila, June 19, 2018. In a rare statement on Tuesday, the entire bench of the Philippine Supreme Court condemned the murder of lawyers and threats against judges in recent years, calling these an assault on the judiciary. The countrys top court also asked the lowers courts and law enforcement to compile by next month information about all such killings and intimidation over the last 10 years, so it could decide on the next course of action, which could include amendments to several rules. Every threat to a lawyer or a judge that prevents them from exercising their functions has very serious repercussions on the idea that the rule of law must be accessible in an impartial and transparent manner to all parties, the Supreme Court justices said in its statement. In this light the court condemns in the strongest sense every instance where a lawyer is threatened or killed, or every instance where a judge is threatened or unfairly labelled. The Supreme Court issued the statement after New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said last week that 110 lawyers had been slain in the Philippines since 1972. Of those killed, 61 were slain since 2016, when President Rodrigo Duterte took office, the watchdog group said. More lawyers have been killed in the five years since President Rodrigo Duterte took office than under any other government in Philippine history, HRW said in a statement that cited local media news website Rapplers data on lawyer killings. Many of the high-profile attacks involved members of the NUPL, which represents leftist activists as well as victims of human rights violations. Lawyers in the Philippines have a long history of representing victims of human rights violations, making them targets as well. HRW was referring to the National Union of Peoples Lawyers, a group providing pro-bono work for impoverished clients and who had taken on cases related to the Dutertes administrations deadly war on illegal drugs. In a joint letter on the eve of the statement by the high court, more than 130 lawyers asked the top justices to institute reforms in the issuance of search warrants. The Supreme Court said it would take steps to address concerns over often violent and deadly law enforcement operations, such as coming up with rules on the use of body cameras while serving search and arrest warrants, and similar measures possibly for anti-drug operations. Among the signatories to the lawyers letter were many who represent people challenging a 2020 anti-terror law, and many lawyers themselves challenging the same law. Rights groups here claim that that some of the anti-terror laws provisions are designed to crack down on legitimate dissent. There was no immediate reaction from the Duterte administration to the statement issued by the court. Wayward elements The Supreme Court justices also ordered an investigation into a judge being recently named a communist rebel sympathizer. That judge had dismissed charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against a journalist and a labor union leader earlier this month. The Supreme Court justices said they were aware that there are wayward elements who, in their zeal to do what they think is necessary, would simply brush aside the limitations in our law as mere obstacles. They said such acts should never be countenanced for it is only in the enjoyment of our inalienable and indivisible rights that our freedoms become meaningful. We have coordinated with all concerned to provide security and counselling to the judges concerned, the top courts justices said. They are also ready to provide or coordinate security arrangements for any judge or justice that is similarly threatened, the justices said. A very good start Edre Olalia, president of the NUPL that monitors attacks on lawyers, said most of those killed were counsels for families of those slain in Dutertes controversial war on drugs, and for groups that have questioned some of the presidents policies. NUPL said it was glad the Supreme Court issued such a statement. It is generally both comforting and reassuring to the legal community even [though] it took some precious time to happen and at great cost, NUPLs Olalia said. At this crucial juncture when the other institutions have defaulted on us, we fervently welcome these bold and unequivocal declarations, initial steps and further plans from our very own refuge. Two NUPL members have been victims of attacks since 2018. One of them, Benjamin Ramos, a human rights lawyer who was shot and killed in central Negros Occidental province in November 2018. Local police and the military had accused Ramos of being allied with communist rebels, an allegation the NUPL denied. And this month, another NUPL member, Angelo Karlo Guillen, was critically injured in a knife attack, also in the central Philippines. Guillen is one of the petitioners questioning the anti-terror law before the Supreme Court. Former Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te called the Supreme Courts statement a very good start and said he was gratified" that the statement was strong, clear, and unanimous. Te, who belongs to the Free Legal Assistance Group, said it was significant that the court did not just simply stop at expressing concern or solidarity but also gave specific and clear instructions with a definite and short timeline for compliance. Main Street buzzes with foot traffic during the Lenox Apple Squeeze in 2018. The event, which was canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, will return this year, but on a smaller scale. The first test of a project backed to spray millions of tonnes of chalk into the stratosphere, in an attempt to 'dim the sun' and cool the Earth, could happen in June. Harvard University experts will test the system by sending a large balloon 12 miles above the Swedish town of Kiruna and have it drop 2kg of chalk dust into the stratosphere. The aim of the estimated $3 million mission, backed by billionaire Bill Gates, is to have the chalk deflect a portion of the sun's radiation, stop it from hitting the surface, and cool the planet. The idea has been heavily criticised since its inception, with project director Frank Keutsch even calling the need for this scale of geo-engineering 'terrifying'. And experts have warned that the unusual technique could be disastrous for weather systems in ways nobody can predict. Backed by a range of private donors including Gates, the test mission is launching from Sweden as they could offer a launch by the end of this summer. The test would use a high-altitude scientific balloon (pictured) to raise around 2kg of calcium carbonate dust the size of a bag of flour into the atmosphere 12 miles above the surface The balloon (similar to the example pictured) would take 600kg of equipment up into the stratosphere, and if all goes to plan, the dust would be released The test balloon will lift 600kg of scientific equipment 12 miles above the surface of the Arctic town and if it all goes well, about 2kg of dust will be released. This will then create a dust plume several kilometres in length - not large enough to have any effect on the intensity of the sun's rays hitting the Earth. During that first test the team would gather information on how particles of dust react with the air. The aim of the mission, backed by billionaire Bill Gates, is to have the chalk deflect a portion of the sun's radiation, stop it from hitting the surface, and cool the planet This could then be fed into computer models to determine what would happen if it were ever carried out at scale. Keutsch told the Times he wants to determine the true effects, as current models 'may be too optimistic' and make the technique look attractive. It would takes tonnes of dust and plumes many hundreds of kilometres to make a difference - the theory being that the dust would create a massive sunshade. There are a number of geo-engineering theories being proposed, including 'shinier crops and buildings to reflect more sunlight', microbubbles in the ocean and removing cirrus clouds. This would reflect some of the sun's rays and heat back into space, dimming those that get through and so protecting Earth from the ravages of climate warming. Keutsch, whose Harvard lab is leading the project, says the strategy would only be deployed in desperation to stop parts of the planet becoming uninhabitable. Without any efforts to stop climate change, such as curbs on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and other pollutants, parts of the world will be up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than they are today, studies show. In theory, the airborne dust would create a gigantic sunshade (in a similar way to a solar eclipse, pictured), reflecting some of the Sun's rays and heat back into space, dimming those that get through and so protecting Earth from the worsening ravages of climate warming This would leave parts of the planet uninhabitable by humans, including areas of Australia where maximum temperatures already top 123 degrees Fahrenheit. However, critics of the dust cloud concept say it gives politicians an excuse not to take the difficult action required to properly tackle climate change. University of Edinburgh professor, Stuart Haszeldine, told the Times that blocking the sun would do nothing to remove the main cause of global warming. One fear is that spreading dust (pictured) into the stratosphere may damage the ozone layer that protects us from hazardous ultraviolet radiation which can damage human DNA and cause cancers Aiming powerful low-frequency sound waves at clouds could help to increase rainfall and alleviate droughts, scientists say Low-frequency sound waves aimed at a cloud could help to increase rainfall and alleviate drought in otherwise dry areas, according to a team of Chinese scientists. Researchers from Tsinghua University in Beijing fired sounds at clouds using a frequency of about 50 herts - barely perceptible to human ears - at 160 decibels. Study author Professor Wang Guangqian said sound waves 'excite the cloud' and vibrate it - this leads to a greater probability of water particles colliding and coming together - creating larger droplets and a greater chance of rainfall. The team discovered that there were significantly more water droplets in the cloud after they fired their device - which is about as loud as a running jet engine. Wang and colleagues believe that this technology could bring new and greater levels of rainfall to areas of the world that suffer from drought. Advertisement 'It would cool the planet by reflecting solar radiation but once you're on to that, it's like taking heroin you've got to carry on doing the drug to keep on having the effect,' he said. He explained that without tackling pollution first we would have to keep lifting more and more dust into the stratosphere, which would change the daytime sky to white and if it ever stopped there would be a rise in global temperatures again. Sir David King from the University of Cambridge, told The Times there should be a moratorium on rolling the technique out. He said it could be disastrous for weather systems in ways nobody can predict, so data should be gathered through modelling and other techniques. Keutsch said that is exactly what they are doing with this test. Sending a small enough plume not to cause a problem, but enough to feed into modelling. David Keith, a member of the study team, said the idea was to use the technique alongside other measures, rather than as a solution in its own right. Adding it would 'buy the world some time' while it tackled the wider pollution problem, including finding technologies that can pull carbon from the atmosphere. 'The fact is, whatever opinions I or other people of my generation have about solar engineering, including people who think it should never and can never be used, we're not the ones who are going to decide,' he told the Times. 'The decision we face now is whether to study it seriously. And from my perspective, doing serious investigation of what its risks are and how well it could work provides the next generation with better information to make a more informed decision.' There are a number of geo-engineering theories being proposed, including 'shinier crops and buildings to reflect more sunlight', micro-bubbles in the ocean and removing cirrus clouds. Other proposals include giant space-based mirrors and spraying sea salt into the sky to make clouds more reflective. Joseph V. Micallef is a best-selling military history and world affairs author, and keynote speaker. Follow him on Twitter @JosephVMicallef. Genomics refers to an interdisciplinary field of biological science that deals with the structure, evolution, function, mapping and editing of genomes and how the individual genes that comprise the genome interact with each other and with an individual's environment. A genome is the complete set of an organism's DNA that is expressed across all of its genes. Genomics is the cutting edge of biotechnology today. It offers the possibility of eradicating many congenital disorders and the early identification, if not elimination, of a person's susceptibility to many diseases. However, it could lead to new bioweapons of mass destruction and the creation of super-soldiers whose enhanced capabilities would give them a marked advantage over other humans. Genomics and Bioweapons Biological weapons are nothing new. They've been around since antiquity. In 190 B.C., Hannibal Barca, the Carthaginian general who had been exiled from Carthage following the end of the Second Punic War, found himself in command of Bithynia's fleet during a conflict with Pergamon. Badly outnumbered by Pergamon's larger navy, Hannibal had his men fling clay jars full of poisonous snakes at the opposing ships. When the jars hit the deck of Pergamon's galleys, they shattered, releasing the snakes. The resulting chaos gave Hannibal an easy victory. In 1347, during the Mongol siege of Caffa (Feodosiya) in Crimea, a Genoese trading post, the Mongols catapulted the corpses of bubonic plague victims over the city walls. The resulting plague outbreak led to the downfall of the city. Worse, escaping refugees carried bubonic plague into Europe. The Black Death that followed killed between 30% and 60% of Europe's population. During World War II, Japan's Unit 731 (Manchu Detachment 731) -- headquartered in the Pingfang District of Harbin -- conducted wide-ranging research to identify, produce and test biological weapons. It was the largest of several such units operated by the Japanese Army. Unit 731 conducted at least 12 large-scale field trials using bubonic plague, cholera, anthrax, typhoid and paratyphoid, among other pathogens. It's estimated that approximately half a million Chinese civilians died as a result of these attacks. Japan even had a plan to use biological weapons to attack the city of San Diego (code-named Cherry Blossoms at Night) with balloon-borne bombs carrying fleas infected with bubonic plague. The plan would use 15 Aichi M6a Seiran aircraft launched from five I-400 long-range submarines. The attack was set for Sept. 22, 1945, but was called off as a result of the Japanese surrender on Aug. 15. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States conducted research into biological weapons. The advent of recombinant DNA technology allowed scientists to develop super pathogens that combined lethal elements of several diseases and were more easily transmissible. These pathogens were referred to as chimeras, after the fire-breathing Greek mythological creature that combined a lion's head, a goat's body and a serpent's tail. The Biological Weapons Convention, or BWC, of 1975 banned the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling or use of biological weapons and toxins. The BWC, however, lacks any formal mechanism for verifying compliance. Moreover, it has a broad exemption for research related to biodefense. The distinction between offensive and defensive bioweapons research is subtle. Even a relatively benign pathogen can become a bioweapon if one party has conferred immunity to its population and an opponent has not. There are two ways in which genomics impact biological warfare. First, the gene-mapping and editing capabilities of genomics allow scientists to manipulate a pathogen's DNA and determine what particular genes control how it expresses itself. This can lead to a better understanding of how to counter its effects and the medicines needed to do so. It also can facilitate the creation of super pathogens. Genomics also can be used to anticipate how a virus might mutate and become deadlier. This type of research, called "gain of function," or GOF, is what was being studied at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan. It has been suggested that the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 was the result of a GOF research experiment that escaped the lab. Weaponizing Genomic Data There is another way that genomics can be used in biological warfare. The cost of decoding a person's DNA has dropped precipitously over the last two decades. The Human Genome Project, an international scientific research initiative to determine the base pairs that make up human DNA and identify and map all of the genes that make up the human genome, took 13 years to complete, from 1990 to 2003, and cost $3 billion. Today, an individual can get their DNA sequenced for about $1,000, and costs are dropping quickly. Several companies will do a partial sequencing, focusing on those portions of the genome that can indicate heredity, for under $100. These tests have been extremely popular with individuals curious about their genetic heritage. A full sequencing can shed light on a person's susceptibility to various diseases and give some indication of expected longevity, although the latter can be impacted dramatically by lifestyle and environment. For the first time in history, it's possible to collect enormous amounts of data about a population's DNA. Such data can be extremely useful in understanding how genetics can impact a population's vulnerability to specific diseases and can give insights to possible cures. Selling the aggregate data of the DNA collected for genealogical research to pharmaceutical companies is a lucrative sideline for many gene-sequencing companies that determine your genetic heritage. Such databases also have national security implications. Knowledge of the DNA profile of a country's population could lead to the development of disease pathogens specifically targeted to genetic vulnerabilities among its citizens. The U.S. has the advantage of being a very heterogeneous population, so it is less vulnerable to such targeted pathogens than, say, a country like Japan, which has a lot less genetic diversity. China has become one of several countries that is actively looking to gather DNA data from other countries. Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in the U.S., BGI Group, a global biotech company based in China, offered to build and help run state-of-the-art COVID-19 testing labs for Washington and five other states. The offer set off alarm bells at the White House, given that BGI had strong links to the Chinese government and military, and led Bill Evanina, a counterintelligence official, to warn that "foreign powers can collect, store and exploit biometric information from COVID tests." The state governments turned down the offer, but the proposal underscored the Chinese government's interest in collecting DNA data from other countries. Governments around the world already gather an enormous amount of biometric data for visa applications and when admitting foreign visitors. At least 21 countries currently collect DNA data as part of family reunification applications to verify a biological link between a sponsor and other family members seeking residency. It's probably only a matter of time before DNA collection becomes a standard part of the biometric data collected by countries from foreign visitors. CRISPR and National Security There is another area where genomics can affect national security: CRISPR gene editing. CRISPR, an acronym for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, is a genetic engineering technique that utilizes molecular biology to modify/edit the genome of living organisms. It allows scientists to cut a cell's genome at a desired location to remove an existing gene or allow a new one to be added. The technique can be used to cure genetic abnormalities in utero. It also can be used to create new medicines or modify any living organism, both plant and animal, and it can create designer babies, thus permanently altering the human gene pool. Since 2015, research institutes in China, the U.S. and the United Kingdom, and probably elsewhere, have been investigating the use of CRISPR on human embryos for "human genome engineering." Officially, the use of CRISPR to modify and then implant human embryos is illegal everywhere. In 2019, a Chinese scientist named He Jiankui disclosed that he had used CRISPR to edit the genes of twin girls. He modified human embryos to make them resistant to HIV and then implanted them in a mother. The experiment involved eight couples, each consisting of an HIV-positive father and an HIV-negative mother. In addition to the one mother who gave birth to the twins, a second mother also was pregnant. He was censured by the Health Ministry of Guangdong, fired from his university post and subsequently arrested by the Chinese government and imprisoned. CRISPR is being used in gene-based therapies to treat specific diseases, primarily cancers. For example, a study at the University of Pennsylvania is using CRISPR to remove "immune system cells from patients, genetically modifying them in a lab and infusing the modified cells back into the body." These sorts of applications of CRISPR do not result in a permanent modification of the human genome. However, unconfirmed reports of CRISPR clinics offering designer baby services continue. According to The New York Times, in 2016 an American "fertility doctor named John Zhang announced that he had gone to Mexico to quietly carry out the (CRISPR) procedure on a woman from Jordan with a neurological disease called Leigh syndrome." Several years ago, I toured an Asian-based CRISPR clinic that offered to produce a CRISPR-edited "designer baby" for $200,000. The clinic would not disclose any of its past patients, and I had no way of verifying whether it could deliver on its claim. I later heard that the clinic had been closed by that country's government. It's a foregone conclusion, however, that illegal CRISPR-based designer baby clinics will spring up around the world. They may exist already. As the recent college admissions scandal demonstrated, some parents will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to ensure their children get into top-ranked universities. The willingness of such parents to spend like amounts, if not more, to ensure that their children have a genetic advantage should not surprise us. The national security implications of designer babies revolve around a hostile state's willingness to use CRISPR to create super-soldiers. CRISPR can't create a superman, at least not the comic-book character kind, but it can create humans who are faster, stronger and have greater endurance. In short, super-soldiers with a significant advantage over those who are not genetically enhanced. There are also a range of medical treatments and implants that can be used to enhance human performance and endurance to create super-soldiers in the future. There is a significant difference, however, between medical or mechanical enhancements and genetic modifications that would be inheritable. Over and above the ethical issues that genetically improved soldiers would represent, far-ranging social consequences are created. The defense of the U.S. has always been a shared societal obligation. It wasn't all that long ago that virtually every American had a relative, neighbor or family friend who served in the U.S. military. That is less so now. The creation of a permanent, genetically enhanced military caste, a sort of super Praetorian Guard, would present very troubling issues for American society, to democratic institutions and civil military relations. Genomics is a Pandora's box. It offers far-ranging benefits to medical science and human health, but its weaponization could make it another arena of Sino-American military competition and could precipitate pervasive societal consequences and threats to American national security. -- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Newsfrom Japan The Japan Patent Office rejected a trademark application by an individual in Shenzhen, southern China, for using the name of Japan's indigenous Ainu people, documents showed Tuesday. The application for "AINU" was filed in March 2020 for products such as smartphone cases and computer mice, according to the documents disclosed by the office. The move was criticized by the Ainu people, who are indigenous to Hokkaido, northern Japan, as an attempt to commercialize their culture. The office rejected the application on the grounds that the Romanized name would "easily" be confused with that of the ... Algiers, March 23, 2021 (SPS) - The African Union (AU) is called upon to take coercive measures against any member who does not respect its decisions in order to preserve its credibility, the ambassador of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic said on Monday in Algiers, Abdelkader Taleb Omar. In a statement to APS, in reaction to the rejection by the Kingdom of Morocco of the latest decision of the AU Peace and Security Council (CPS) on the issue of Western Sahara, Taleb Omar stated that this decision "comes at the moment timely ", especially after the blocking of the UN plan to resolve the conflict, stating that" the African Union and all its organs must enforce their decisions with concrete measures. " "After 30 years of postponement and delay by Morocco, the AU and its Council have the right to address the issue of the Western Sahara conflict," said the Saharawi ambassador, reiterating his call for the reactivation of the role of the continental organization in this sense and the application of the pertinent resolutions of the UN. The decision of the PSC sends a strong message to the Moroccan regime, on the one hand, to stop its maneuvers, and to the UN, on the other, to speed up the settlement process by appointing a personal envoy of his SG for Western Sahara and address the issue of opening illegal consulates in the occupied parts of Western Sahara, said Taleb Omar. For the Saharawi diplomat, the CPS decision "inflicts a slap in the face on the Moroccan regime that had tried to secure the support of some states by spending large sums of money for the purchase of consciences," he said. The AU is now called upon to take coercive measures against any member that does not respect its decisions so that Morocco does not flout its resolutions, and this to preserve the effectiveness of its laws and guarantee its credibility. Taleb Omar hopes that the positive and strong role of the AU will be maintained in order to make relevant decisions about many conflicts in the region, to help establish peace and stability and to end expansion, tyranny and contempt of laws. SPS 125/090/TRA For Immediate Release 23 March 2021 ROGUE BARON PLC ("Rogue Baron" or "The Company") Rogue Baron's Washington DC Bar Showing Accelerated Post-Pandemic Growth Outdoor seating allowed to double its overall capacity Rogue Baron PLC (AQSE: SHNJ), a leading company in the premium spirit sector, is seeing a surge in year over year sales at its bar, Bin 1301 ("Bin" or "Bar"), in Washington D.C. Sales are up 90% over last March despite many mandated Covid restrictions still in effect. From March 1st to March 18th of 2020, a day before the first official lockdown in the U.S. went into effect, Bin did $18,624 in gross sales during that time. Those sales happened when there were still zero restrictions in place. A year later, over that same period from March 1st to March 18th of 2021, Bin recorded sales of $35,330. This was achieved even with multiple Covid restrictions in place. The Bar can currently only operate at 25% capacity indoors and must stop serving at 10pm each night, compared to 2am on weeknights and 3am on weekends before Covid. Aside from the capacity being much less, the curfew costs the Bar thirty additional hours of sales opportunity each week. Rogue Baron has spent much of the past year adapting and preparing to take advantage of a post-pandemic hospitality world. Management has made its delivery/to-go business more efficient, created and actively promoting sales of full bottles and cocktails to-go, and petitioned and received approval to expand its outdoor seating capacity. The outdoor seating will allow Bin to double its overall capacity. The District has announced it will allow the extra outdoor seating through at least 2023 with a possibility of extending longer. Ryan Dolder, CEO of Rogue Baron commented: "The pent-up demand and desire from people to just get out to the bars and restaurants is amazing. We knew if our business could survive the pandemic there would be enormous opportunity on the other side. Even at only 25% indoor capacity and less service hours, we are seeing double our sales from a year ago. What is most exciting to us is this is just starting. With the pandemic hopefully coming to an end and restrictions soon removed, we believe consumer spending in hospitality is going to be unlike any time in recent history." Introduction to Rogue Baron Rogue Baron is a diversified holding company in the premium spirits industry. The Company's core focus is on developing brands in high-growth categories where opportunity exists to grow sales and increase its shareholders' value. The Company has multiple brand subsidiaries led by its flagship brand, Shinju Japanese Whisky. The Company's goal is to build each of its brands to the case sale threshold that makes them an attractive buyout target. The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. For further information, please contact: The Company Ryan Dolder rdolder@roguebaron.com AQSE Corporate Adviser: Peterhouse Capital Limited Guy Miller +44 (0) 20 7469 0936 AQSE Corporate Broker: Peterhouse Capital Limited Lucy Williams +44 (0) 20 7469 0936 Investor Relations +44 (0)7464 609025 info@roguebaron.com Two American Airlines passenger got into a squabble that turned physical over who would deplane from their flight that had just landed in Phoenix, Arizona. Clips showed the quick aftermath of the physical altercation that took place as the plane sat in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport after the brief flight from Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday. Multiple people who shared videos noted that they almost missed their connecting flight while waiting for the commotion to settle. One woman on Twitter even admitted to having an 'anxiety attack after witnessing this.' Scroll down for video A fight broke out between two American Airline passenger waiting to deplane from their flight to Phoenix, Arizona, from LAX on Sunday In one clip, passengers on the plane can be heard asking why one woman is fighting with another person. An occasional shove and push can be seen as people try to separate the group. Profanity and other obscenities can be heard as one woman screams at another to get off the seat as people were falling over during the altercation. Another quick clip, from further back in the plane, shows people standing in line as they watch the fight. In one clip, passengers on the plane can be heard asking why one woman is fighting with another person. An occasional shove and push can be seen as people try to separate the group. Exasperated passengers scream for the fighters to get off the plane as arguing continues up ahead Exasperated passengers scream for the fighters to get off the plane as arguing continues up ahead. One woman on the plane, @katebytheocean0 on Twitter, shared that the fight was between two women on the flight who were trying to determine who was getting off first. American Airlines responded to one of the people who shared video of the altercation, expressing happiness that passengers were still able to make their connecting flights after the ordeal. American Airlines responded to one of the people who shared video of the altercation, expressing happiness that passengers were still able to make their connecting flights after the ordeal FAA Administrator Steve Dickson announced last week that he was extending the FAA's unruly-passenger zero-tolerance police The shocking altercation comes after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced last week that it was extending its unruly-passenger zero-tolerance policy past the initial March 30th date. 'The policy directs our safety inspectors and attorneys to take strong enforcement action against any passenger who disrupts or threatens the safety of a flight, with penalties ranging from fines to jail time,' a March 16 press release from FAA Administrator Steve Dickson reads. 'The number of cases we're seeing is still far too high, and it tells us urgent action continues to be required.' The buy now, pay later sector is about to go to a new level with Commonwealth Bank and PayPal saying they will launch new payment options for their customers by the middle of the year. Until now, the BNPL space has been dominated by specialist providers, such as Afterpay and Zip Co. BNPL providers each have their own purchase and credit limits as well as fees for late repayments, though their basic design is the same. Commonwealth Banks move into the buy now, pay later space will likely be matched by the other big banks Credit:AFR They enable consumers to make purchases and pay off their debts in a series of instalments to the BNPL provider, drawn from a customers linked debit or credit card. NetApp announced the general availability of NetApp Astra (formerly known as Project Astra), a fully managed application-aware data management service built for Kubernetes workloads. NetApp Astra allows organisations to protect, recover, and move applications deployed on Kubernetes with no software to download, install, manage, or upgrade, thus enabling them to focus on developing and scaling their applications not on managing infrastructure. Eric Han, Vice President, Product Management, Public Cloud Services at NetApp, said, Backup, cloning, disaster recovery, data lifecycle operations, data optimisation, compliance, and security are all critical to any organisation. Taken together, these challenges increase complexity. Thats directly at odds with Kubernetes goal of simpler, faster and more flexible application development and deployment a vision that NetApp Astra will help to realise. Rushi NS, Chief Architect, SAP, said, I applaud NetApps goal of providing application-aware data management for Kubernetes. Astra will make it dramatically easier to manage, protect, and move data-rich Kubernetes workloads across public clouds and on-premises. I look forward to collaborating with NetApp as they continue to develop Astra. With NetApp Astra, NetApp extends its industry-leading data management services into the Kubernetes ecosystem, helping organisations manage cloud native applications and legacy workloads with key capabilities including: Data protection with snapshots . Teams can take snapshots for local data protection. If the data is accidentally deleted or corrupted, the applications and associated data can be reverted to a previously recorded snapshot in the same Kubernetes cluster. . Teams can take snapshots for local data protection. If the data is accidentally deleted or corrupted, the applications and associated data can be reverted to a previously recorded snapshot in the same Kubernetes cluster. Disaster/data recovery with remote backups . Teams can also take a full application-aware backup of an application and state. The backup can be used to restore the application with its data to a different Kubernetes cluster in the same or a different region to address data recovery use cases. . Teams can also take a full application-aware backup of an application and state. The backup can be used to restore the application with its data to a different Kubernetes cluster in the same or a different region to address data recovery use cases. Simplified application portability and migration with active clones. Entire applications, along with their data, can be moved from one Kubernetes cluster to another, no matter where the clusters are located. Currently supporting Google Cloud, NetApp Astra will soon support Microsoft Azure and AWS public cloud environments, as well as on-prem. The (ED) has attached assets worth over Rs 7.5 crore of a Mumbai-based global recruitment firm and its promoters in a money laundering case linked to the alleged cheating of 900 Kuwait-bound nurses, officials said on Tuesday. In a press release, the central agency said it has provisionally attached properties of PJ Mathew, Celine Mathew and Thomas Mathew worth Rs.7.51 crore in connection with a money-laundering probe. PJ Mathew, owner of Mathew International and others had hired over 900 nurses to be employed in Kuwait by charging them high fees, it added. "It is revealed that PJ Mathew with the help of others recruited more than 900 nurses who were to be employed in Kuwait by charging exorbitant service charge ranging from Rs 18.5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh from each applicant. The investigation revealed that Mathew International illegally collected Rs 205.71 crore," it stated. The ED had found that money collected from illegal nursing recruitment was sent abroad via hawala channels through an agency named Ideal Forex owned by Mohammad Aslam at Penta Menaka shopping complex in Kochi. In a raid conducted in 2018, the ED seized Rs 24.9 lakh worth currencies of 19 countries and Rs 6.42 lakh worth Indian currency. The attached properties include a duplex apartment in Kadavanthara in Kochi, a plot of land in Mumbai, another two cents of land in Ambalapuzha in Alappuzha, a luxury car and Rs 4.55 crore, which were seized by the Income Tax Department in a raid held at Mathew International entities in 2015. (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.) STORY LINK Pound to New Zealand Dollar (GBP/NZD) Exchange Rate Edges Higher as Risk-Off Market Mood Weighs on Kiwi GBP/NZD Exchange Rate Rises as Tensions Between China and the West Dampen Risk Appetite Pound (GBP) Exchange Rate Edges Higher on Encouraging UK Unemployment Data GBP/NZD Forecast: UK Services PMI in Focus Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The Pound to New Zealand Dollar (GBP/NZD) exchange rate rose by 0.6% today as tensions between China New Zealands largest trading partner and the West have escalated over violations of human rights in Xinjiang. The pairing is currently fluctuating around NZ$1.95.US secretary of state, Antony Blinken explained the situation:Amid growing international condemnation, [China] continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang. We will continue to stand with our allies around the world in calling for an immediate end to the PRCs crimes and for justice for the many victims.As a result, NZD investors are becoming more concerned that growing tensions between many key Western nations and China could have negative consequences for New Zealands economy, which relies heavily on its trade with the worlds second-largest economy.In New Zealands economic news, today will see the release of the latest Trade Balance report for February.Any improvement in New Zealands exports could drive-up the NZD/GBP exchange rate, however, as the outlook for the nations economy steadily improves.The Pound (GBP) rose against the Kiwi today after it was revealed that UK joblessness had fallen for the first time since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic last year.The latest ILO Unemployment Rate report for January came in below forecasts, with the figure down from the previous 5.1% to 5%.Suren Thiru, the head of economics at the British Chambers of Commerce, commented on the data:Extending furlough will limit the peak in job losses. However, with many firms struggling with the damage done to their cashflow by a year of Covid restrictions, unemployment is likely to remain on an upward trajectory until well beyond a full reopening of the economy.UK markets are also becoming more confident in the UKs Covid-19 vaccine rollout with daily deaths now at 17, down by -47 against the previous week.Daily cases of Covid-19 in the UK have, however, stabilised, with cases currently at 5,342, up by 253 compared to last week.As a result, GBP investors are becoming more cautious following this weeks tensions between the UK and the EU.The EU has threatened to hold back AstraZeneca exports to the UK, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson continues to seek a compromise with the bloc.Pound (GBP) traders are awaiting tomorrows release of the flash Markit Services PMI for March.Any improvement in the UKs largest sector would further boost the GBP/NZD exchange rate.Tomorrow will also see the latest UK Consumer Price Index figure for February. If this points to a marked improvement in the UKs economic outlook, then Sterling would head higher.New Zealand Dollar (NZD) traders will be monitoring developments between the West and China.Any further signs of escalating divides between the worlds second-largest economy and Western countries would further weigh on confident in risky assets such as the Kiwi.The Pound New Zealand Dollar (GBP/NZD) exchange rate could continue to head higher this week, however, as the outlook for the UKs economy continues to improve as the nations coronavirus infection rates fall. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: New Zealand Dollar Forecasts Pound New Zealand Dollar Forecasts 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. Posted from my mobile device Congrats on your admits!!!Both are great schools. Booth is betteralso Darden is a slightly different program because it uses case method for a lot of the classes. That is often a unique aspect of the program that either draws people or repels them. Its a meaningful factor to consider.I admire the fact that you would save $70,000 for the taxpayers and potentially for your G.I. Bill to use later (or maybe I dont know how it works and you would actually get to pocket the money?) but Im not sure that you would. I wouldnt consider it free money, more like hazard pay for compensation for taking an older piece of gear as a post to the latest version.Booth is meaningfully stronger for consulting. Frankly, many people would consider Booth even if the money was coming out of their own pocket. Its very admirable that you want to be responsible with the GI funds. However, that offer is there for a reason. My cousin was in the army for six years and I know some of the challenges have to go through. He sacrificed a lot of his time and mental energy. I wouldnt feel too guilty taking the money though your situation couldve been different. Coming out of the military, you need all The help and resources you can get. You dont try to find the enemy within the equivalent force, you want to have an overwhelming response. Booth gives you that edge.I would also point out that well many schools report consulting numbers, not all rules are equal. For example Chicago New York offices are the most popular because that is where the strategy teams are and thats where the best management consulting placements exist. There are different offices in different rules and while the pay may be similar, none of that is reflected in the employment reports.My only other suggestion would be to look at the military clubs at both schools and see if one of them is stronger than the other. I couldnt imagine that Darden would beat Booth but who knows... Military club will be a great resource and your additional network for recruiting. It would be worth trading rank for a better military club on campus._________________ Physician: Kids 12-15 know COVID-19 vaccine is 'ticket to freedom' Edinburgh, March 23 : Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is likely to remain in her role despite calls for her resignation over her government's handling of a sexual harassment case. Sturgeon, also the leader of the Scottish National Party, was accused of misleading Parliament during an investigation into her predecessor, Alex Salmond, reports dpa news agency. Salmond was accused of sexual harassment in 2018, which led to the Scottish government to launch the probe. A court ruled in Salmond's favour, stating the government's investigation was unlawful. Sturgeon, who had met Salmond during the government inquiry, meanwhile was accused by lawmakers of failing to record her discussions with him, report back on what happened at the meetings and of attempting to "influence the conduct of the investigation". Despite the claims, an inquiry ruled on Monday that she did not breach the code of conduct as Scotland's leader. Prior to the inquiry's ruling, the opposition party in the Scottish parliament, the Scottish Conservatives, tabled a vote of no confidence in Sturgeon, which will take place on Tuesday. But the vote is unlikely to succeed as the Scottish Green Party said it will not support the motion. A parliament spokesperson told dpa news agency that the vote is still due for Tuesday. Romania supports the development of a new NATO Strategic Concept to better reflect current security realities, Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Tuesday at a meeting of heads of diplomacy from the Alliance's member states, which is taking place in Brussels. The agenda of the first day of the meeting included two working sessions in allied format, during which issues were addressed on the stability in the Southern Neighborhood of the Euro-Atlantic area, developments related to Afghanistan and the NATO 2030 strategic reflection process, reads a Foreign Ministry (MAE) release issued for AGERPRES. On this occasion, Minister Aurescu spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, sending a message from Romania and other allies about the "firm" commitment to a strong transatlantic relationship, based on unity and allied cohesion. The head of the Romanian diplomacy invited his American counterpart to visit Romania this year.Aurescu welcomed the US Secretary of State's commitment to the North Atlantic Alliance, stressing that "the transatlantic relationship is the backbone of NATO and the collective defense provided by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty," the MAE informs.The foreign ministers discussed, in the first session, NATO's approach to the threats in the Southern Neighborhood of the Euro-Atlantic area and the Alliance's contribution to ensuring stability in the Middle East and North Africa region. In this context, the situation in Afghanistan was mentioned - the prospects for the peace process and the implications for the Allied operational presence in that country.The Romanian official pointed out the importance of NATO's increased commitment to supporting its partners in the Middle East and North Africa and stressed the need for the Alliance's continued involvement in the efforts of the international community to combat terrorism.At the same time, he reiterated Romania's support to continue the participation in the efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and showed Romania's substantial contribution to the Resolute Support mission, with 670 troops deployed in the field. Aurescu also underscored the importance of Allied coordination, given security developments on the ground and progress in the peace process.According to the MAE, the second working session of the ministerial meeting was dedicated to the NATO 2030 strategic reflection process, in preparation for this year's Alliance Summit.Minister Bogdan Aurescu underlined the special importance of this process from the perspective of consolidating the political dimension of the Alliance, ensuring a solid military position and developing NATO's partnership relations.He reaffirmed Romania's active support for the NATO 2030 process and for proposals put forward by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, "designed to strengthen NATO's capacity to respond effectively to current and future security challenges," the MAE said.Aurescu said that in the current international context, marked by a proliferation of threats, it is essential that "the Alliance strengthen its position of deterrence and defense, especially on the Eastern Flank, and increase its resilience."He mentioned, in this regard, the contribution that Romania makes to efforts to increase resilience, including through the initiative to establish and host a Euro-Atlantic Center for Resilience.At the same time, Minister Bogdan Aurescu supported the continuation of NATO's "open door" policy, pleading for the revitalization of partnerships, especially with the European Union.Bogdan Aurescu also highlighted the importance of agreeing on a new Strategic Concept of the Alliance in order to better reflect the current security realities, the approach being proposed by the Romanian Minister since the ministerial meeting in November 2019, before starting the reflection process."Updating the Strategic Concept will contribute to increasing Allied unity and cohesion and ensuring a consolidated profile of the Alliance, dedicated to the collective defense of its members and able to project stability through cooperation and dialogue," the MAE said.The talks held by the Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken focused on the bilateral Strategic Partnership relationship, as well as other topics of mutual interest in international relations.Aurescu underlined "the solidity and depth of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States of America". He invited his American counterpart to visit Romania this year, on the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century between Romania and the United States and the entry into force of the Agreement on locating in Romania the missile defense system of the United States. The US Secretary of State received this invitation openly, recalling previous visits to Romania, according to the MAE.The two officials also discussed the initiative of President Joe Biden to organize a Summit of Democracies, Aurescu reiterating Romania's support in this regard.The meeting of NATO foreign ministers will continue with a regional security session on Wednesday. This session will be attended by the Foreign Ministers of Sweden, Finland, as well as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Hospitality and retail workers protesting in Galicia, in northwestern Spain. XOAN REY / EFE Just one in 12 businesses will be eligible for the direct aid approved by the Spanish government to compensate for the effects of the coronavirus crisis. Earlier this month, the executive greenlighted a 11-billion economic relief package that includes 7 billion in direct aid. This kind of non-refundable payout had been a longstanding demand by small and medium companies in Spain, where the crisis has hit the tourism and retail industries hard. But an estimate made by EL PAIS using data from the Tax Agency, the employers association CEOE and the credit risk management company Axesor, indicates that only around 180,000 businesses, out of 2.2 million currently operating in Spain, will be able to request a share of this aid, which is aimed at helping distressed companies cover fixed costs such as rent or supplies. An analysis of the figures shows that some groups that have sustained major losses will be left out of the relief package This is because the government which is run by a coalition of the Socialist Party (PSOE) in partnership with the leftist Unidas Podemos has focused the funds on sectors that applied in significant numbers for the ERTE job retention scheme. In other words, it is concentrating on saving jobs and preventing a cascade of corporate closures that would have a high impact on employment once these schemes are phased out. The government is also aiming to help out firms that were viable before the coronavirus crisis hit, rather than support businesses that were already failing before the pandemic. How quickly this aid will be channeled to recipients is another issue that is up in the air. The fact that the funds will first go through regional governments could mean that applicants will not see any money before the summer. And regional authorities are already asking the central government for changes to ensure they are not overwhelmed by the effort of operating the aid program. The conditions for eligibility are restrictive: only 95 out of 538 existing activities, following the Tax Agencys classification, may file for the aid. These range from taxi drivers and bakers to campsites and betting parlors. In absolute numbers, that means that 355,713 registered companies out of 2.2 million could be eligible. To this figure must be added 397,281 self-employed workers out of a total of 1.3 million, according to Axesor. The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Toledo protesting the lack of government aid in February. Angeles Visdomine / EFE But these potential recipients must additionally have had positive earnings in 2019, a condition that fewer than half meet, according to Tax Agency statistics. This brings down the pool of eligible companies to one out of every 12. As for the self-employed, those who pay their taxes under the modulos system where taxes are paid according to predicted rates for their sector, rather than having to present records of all their earnings will receive a fixed amount regardless of their 2019 earnings. And there is an additional requirement: recipients must prove that they suffered at least a 30% drop in revenues in 2020. According to figures offered by CEOE based on estimates by the National Statistics Institute (INE), only five out of over 80 economic sectors can claim such falls. These are travel agencies (-75% for combined losses of around 19 billion), accommodation (-68% or 18.6 billion), air travel (-60% or 8 billion), the food and drink industry (-43% or 23.2 million) and the movie industry (-34% or 2.2 million). Feeling left out A group called the Retail and Hospitality Alliance on Thursday demanded that the government lower the threshold from 30% to 15%. The CEOE wants the aid to focus on individual businesses rather than on sectors. And regional governments complain that some of their own most important sectors are being left out. An analysis of the figures shows that some groups that have sustained major losses will be left out of the relief package. These include automobile sale and repair establishments, with a 19% drop in revenues (around 17.5 billion), construction (11% or 17.2 billion), automakers (11% or 8.1 million), metal works manufacturers (14% or 5.5 billion), and the advertising and marketing industry (17% or 3.5 billion). A further condition is that applicants must remain in operation until June 2022 an attempt to prevent so-called zombie companies from collecting aid and shutting down soon later. The ratings company S&P said in a report that it is still too early to know how many companies will be saved with these measures, but that they will help some businesses survive the pandemic, contribute to the recovery, and ultimately help banks contain their credit losses. The aid will contribute to sharing out a burden that is being overwhelmingly borne by a few specific sectors, said Angel de la Fuente, executive director of Fedea, an applied economics research group. There are some indications that the governments 11-billion rescue package will fall short. The Bank of Spain had been hoping to see more than 20 billion, and for most of this money to be used to eliminate debt instead of compensating for revenue losses. Meanwhile, corporate debt has reached around 50 billion, and in late 2021 there will still be a 50 billion shortfall in Spains gross domestic product (GDP). English version by Susana Urra. For full access, please log in, register your subscription or subscribe. Try for 99 a month for two months, cancel or pause anytime. UB professors receive Fulbright awards to study educational equity, democracy in Asia and Germany By Marcene Robinson and Charles Anzalone Jaekyung Lee, professor of counseling, school and educational psychology in the UB Graduate School of Education. BUFFALO, N.Y. University at Buffalo professors Jaekyung Lee and Anya Bernstein have received 2020-21 Fulbright Scholar Awards, one of the most widely recognized and prestigious scholarships in the world. Lee, PhD, professor of counseling, school and educational psychology in the UB Graduate School of Education, will journey to South Korea, Vietnam and Kazakhstan to investigate educational equity, and engage in research collaborations and trainings with international universities and think tanks. Bernstein, JD, PhD, professor in the UB School of Law, will travel to Germany to examine how democratic states create legitimacy, and will use interviews and ethnography to study German national administrators. Lee and Bernstein were honored on March 22 at the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program Workshop for Faculty, hosted by UBs Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Office of the Vice Provost for International Education. This is a well-deserved honor and recognition of Dr. Lees excellent scholarship, says Suzanne Rosenblith, PhD, dean and professor of the UB Graduate School of Education. Professor Bernsteins scholarship is critical to our understanding of democracy at a global level, says Aviva Abramovsky, JD, dean and professor of the UB School of Law. We are proud of her exceptional work and pleased that it has been recognized with this prestigious award. The Fulbright Program, coordinated by the United States Department of State, is devoted to improving intercultural relations, diplomacy and competence between the people of the U.S. and other nations through educational exchange. Fulbright alumni have become heads of state, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs and university presidents. They include 60 Nobel Laureates, 86 Pulitzer Prize winners and 74 MacArthur Fellows, as well as leading journalists, artists, scientists and teachers. Protecting vulnerable students An internationally recognized leader in education policy and equity, and international and comparative education, Lee will examine how well public schools in Asia provide protective learning environments for vulnerable students to overcome adversity and succeed in school. Amid rapid economic growth and widening social inequalities, developing nations in Asia are faced with the challenges of providing equitable education for all students, particularly high-risk populations such as female, rural, low-income, immigrant and refugee children. Lee will explore transformative educational policies that close academic achievement and socioemotional well-being gaps for vulnerable students by analyzing international datasets, conducting in-depth case studies, interviewing education policymakers and practitioners, and visiting schools with innovative and inclusive child development programs. What lessons can developing nations in Asia such as Vietnam and Kazakhstan learn from South Korea? While Korea was a war-torn society held back by very low literacy levels in the early 1950s, today its young people achieve the highest level of education. However, schools in Korea struggle to cope with widening educational inequalities and socioemotional well-being problems, says Lee. By pursuing more effective and equitable policy interventions, I hope my Fulbright study can help improve educational opportunities and outcomes for disadvantaged children and youth across the region. My ultimate goal is to inform global education policy initiatives, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on Education, to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all, says Lee. Legitimizing democracy Bernstein, who writes and teaches about administrative law, civil procedure, legal interpretation and the cultures of bureaucracy, will investigate how national administrators in Germany implement legislative policy. Utilizing her training in both law and anthropology, she will interview public officials to learn how they view their own government and what they see as legitimate government action. The research will be completed in affiliation with the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany. This project grows out of my long-term interest in the administration of democracy, which I've studied in Taiwan and the U.S. as well, says Bernstein. At a time when the fragility of democratic institutions has become evident, it is particularly important to understand both how these institutions actually work and how they help legitimize democratic governance to a wider public. She adds, My connections with respected research institutions and government administrators will hopefully help raise awareness of UB as well, and potentially make some long-term international connections for the university. ALBANY -- Court of Appeals Associate Judge Paul Feinman, known as "a champion of the LGBTQ community," tendered his immediate departure from the states highest court due to a health concern, the court announced Tuesday. The Court of Appeals announced on its website that Feinman informed Chief Judge Janet DiFiore of his departure. Feinman, 61, an appointee of Gov. Andrew Cuomo who previously served at the Appellate Division of state Supreme Courts First Department in Manhattan, joined the Court of Appeals in 2017 as the first openly gay member of the court. He took the seat of Associate Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam. Judge Feinman is an exceptional judge and a magnificent human being who has made an extraordinary contribution to this institution during his tenure, DiFiore said in a statement. He will be greatly missed. The state's Commission on Judicial Nomination, a judicial screening committee, will be expected to seek applications from candidates to fill the vacancy left by Feinman's departure, pick a slate of finalists and present it to the governor, who then picks the nominee. The state Senate would need to confirm the choice. Feinman's departure is a "tremendous loss," New York State Bar Association President Scott Karson said in a statement. He said Feinman has been "an exceptional judge, magnificent human being, and a champion of the LGBTQ community". "He has been a wonderful colleague to so many of us at the New York State Bar Association, and we are saddened that his tenure on the states highest court will be so brief," Karson said. "I join with his family, friends and admirers throughout the state in wishing him a speedy recovery. Feinman, who grew up one of five siblings in Merrick, Nassau County, graduated from Columbia University and in 1981 and earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1985, according to his biography on the Court of Appeals website. It said Feinman also studied in France at the Universite de Paris VII (Jussieu),the Universite de Paris II (Assas) and the Universite de Lyon III. Feinman, a Democrat who has worked for the Legal Aid Society in Nassau County and Manhattan, later worked as a law clerk for state Supreme Court Justice Angela Mazzarelli in civil criminal courts and at the Appellate Division's First Department. Feinman was elected to Civil Court in Manhattan in 1996 and began serving as an acting Supreme Court Justice in 2004. Three years later, he was elected to Supreme Court. Cuomo named him to sit on the Appellate Division's First Department in 2012 and to the Court of Appeals five years later. Advertisement US health chiefs have publicly accused AstraZeneca of sending 'outdated information' as part of an application to get its Covid vaccine approved for use on Americans. Dr Fauci called the NIAID note 'quite harsh' and assured Americans that AstraZeneca's 'data really are quite good' in a Tuesday Good Morning America interview. But, he added: 'It really is unfortunate that this happened. This is really what you call an unforced error because the fact is this is really very likely a very good vaccine, and this kind of thing does...nothing but really cast some doubt about the vaccines and maybe contribute to the hesitancy [of Americans to get the shot].' The drug giant, which is manufacturing Oxford University's jab, revealed yesterday that a US-specific trial found the vaccine prevented 100 percent of hospital admissions and deaths from Covid, along with 79 percent of all symptomatic infections. It said it hoped to get a license from drug regulators within weeks. Experts on the Data and Safety Monitoring Board, a secretive committee inside the National Institutes for Health that is vetting Covid vaccines, raised the alarm yesterday when AstraZeneca announced interim results. The issue only came to light when the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) put out an 'unprecedented' public statement accusing the drug-maker of not giving watchdogs the full details from a study of the jab, urging the firm to share more information 'as soon as possible'. The hiccup is latest in a string of PR disasters for AstraZeneca, which has faced constant criticism over its jab with European officials first claiming it didn't work on older people and later that it caused blood clots neither of which turned out to be true. UK and EU officials are now rowing over supplies. Real-world data proves that the vaccine is protecting people against Covid in the UK, which has given the jab to over 13 million people since it was approved in January. It means any updated figures are unlikely to change the regulator's decision but must be examined thoroughly. Experts reacting to the NIAID's statement released last night described it as 'unusual' and said airing grievances in the public domain was 'unprecedented'. They criticized AstraZeneca for 'confusing' officials with the way it was sending its data but said this is an issue that should have been 'resolved internally.' So far, there is no indication that the scuffle over AstraZeneca's press release will change its plans to ask the FDA for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize its vaccine in the coming weeks, or the shots odds of getting the expected green light from regulators next month. AstraZeneca, whose North American headquarters (pictured left) are in Wilmington, Delaware, was asked Monday for more data. Pictured right, vials of the firm's vaccine Dr Fauci called the NIAID note 'quite harsh' and assured Americans that AstraZeneca's 'data really are quite good' in a Tuesday Good Morning America interview However, the FDA had already said AstraZeneca would likely face more scrutiny during its review meeting and process. And the allegedly 'outdated' data in Monday's press release will undoubtedly be added to regulators' list of questions. The full statement read: 'Late Monday, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) notified NIAID, BARDA, and AstraZeneca that it was concerned by information released by AstraZeneca on initial data from its Covid vaccine clinical trial. 'The DSMB expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. 'We urge the company to work with the DSMB to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible.' Covid vaccines can't be rolled out in the US until they are approved by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), who rely on independent committees such as the DSMB to rigorously review the evidence. The DSMB - which is run through the NIAID - is made up of around 10 to 15 leading scientists and statisticians who have no ties to the Government or the drug firms making the jabs. The cloistered nature of the group is intended to prevent them from being influenced by drug industry insiders or members of the public. But the group also typically communicates directly with the company conducting a trial, rather than directly with the public. WHAT IS THE SECRETIVE DATA AND SAFETY MONITORING BOARD? Each time a company or group of firms wants to get a drug or vaccine approved, an independent data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) is assigned to work with the drugmakers and oversee their trial process. These boards are appointed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the US health agency that oversees clinical trials. AstraZeneca's trial has an oversight committee of 10-15 members with expertise in trial data and statistics, infectious diseases and vaccines. The members of these boards receive a small stipend - about $200 - and are kept entirely anonymous. This is done to prevent the companies, investors or members of the public from prying for insider information on how the trials are going, or trying to influence the judgement of the board. Only members of the DSMB know which trial participants got the real treatment and which received a placebo. They oversee how data is being collected and assessed by the company, how well their product is performing and how safe it is shaping up to be in trials. If they spot an issue with any of these parts of the process, the DSMB members can stop a trial in its tracks. In fact, the DSMB assigned to AstraZeneca has already done exactly that with AstraZeneca. After a participant in the Brazil arm of the firm's COVID-19 vaccine trial in December, AstraZeneca's DSMB halted US trials for more than six weeks. The American board continued its own review even after trials resumed in other countries, significantly delaying the US arm of AstraZeneca's trial. Communication between drug developers and the DSMB is typically frequent, and behind closed doors. So a public-facing accusation is an unheard-of move for an oversight committee. Advertisement 'I just dont understand what exactly happened, its such an odd story and I cant understand why this was not resolved internally,' Dr Peter Hotez, dean of the School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine told DailyMail.com in an email. 'We dont have a lot of vaccines for low and middle income countries, this one was supposed to be one of our workhorse global health vaccines.' Experts like Dr Hotez are not so much concerned that the vaccine doesn't work for global communities, but that the latest episode could further undermine the trust of governments and the public in countries that are in desperate need of as many doses of as many coronavirus vaccines as they can get. New York University bioethicist Dr Art Caplan has served on about 20 DSMBs (always assessing drugs, not vaccines) over the course of his career. 'I have never seen anything like this,' he told DailyMail.com. 'I have never seen a DSMB quickly move to undercut claims made publicly by the company they're advising.' This suggests to Dr Caplan that 'they are really concerned that important information was omitted [from the press release].' He added that his read of the sparse statement issued by the secretive group is that the members took issue with the efficacy data released by AstraZeneca, not with its safety assessment - but admits this is largely speculation. 'Either the release was flawed, there was a mistake in what [AstraZeneca] said, which I doubt, or the company didnt' coordinate with its own committee, and that DSMB is probably the least understood but most important protection the public has' in the drug and vaccine approval process, Dr Caplan said. 'They're pretty conservative, they don't talk publicly unless they have a very real concern,' he added of the DSMB. On the other hand, Dr Caplan noted that the UK, where the AstraZeneca vaccine has been used widely for months, is quite happy with the performance of the shot, which has helped drive down cases and deaths dramatically there. 'It's kind of a bizarre vaccine policy asymmetry, where one part of the world - the UK - is using it and is very satisfied,' he said. Whatever issue the DSMB takes with the vaccine is, and regardless of whether it proves to be a valid one, the result is confusion across the globe and a 'rea trust issue' for AstraZeneca, Dr Caplan said. 'It is not unknown for a [regulator] to disagree with investigators over interpretation of trial results but it is usually done in private, so this is unprecedented in my opinion,' said Professor Stephen Evans, a vaccines expert at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. 'I have said frequently that "headline" estimates of efficacy being compared between trials is very unreliable. 'The DSMB [Data and Safety Monitoring Board] has responsibility essentially for safety of participants, not efficacy unless it is either so high or so low or negative that it is unethical to continue to randomize, so in some senses they might be seen to be exceeding their brief... The US trial initially found that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was more effective than expected after results from the UK trial while both found it to be 100 percent effective at preventing hospital admission or death, the US one saw it prevent 79 percent of all infections compared to 76 percent in the UK 'One explanation might well be that this trial is currently being conducted when there is a large amount of a new variant about more recently, and, as might be expected, the efficacy against that variant might be less, so more recent data shows reduced efficacy. Of course the other vaccines may also show such reduced efficacy and we dont know by how much. 'It does not leave me concerned particularly unless they had found a safety issue that was being hidden, which does not appear to be the case.' Dr Peter English, former editor of Vaccines in Practice Magazine and a former British Medical Association official, said the statement was 'problematic in various ways'. He said: 'In my opinion this is shamefully bad communication by NIH as with their lack of clarity they have left room for speculation which could be damaging for vaccine uptake.' And Dr Stephen Griffin, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Leeds, said the issue 'highlights the importance of data being provided at the same time as summaries being made public'. He added: 'Naturally, the news yesterday was taken in good faith and the issues raised by the DSMB may be a mere technicality, yet this wont be clear until we have full disclosure. 'Nevertheless, we must ensure that issues such as this are dealt with appropriately and that idle speculation is not seized upon by groups seeking to undermine faith in vaccination programmes.' Oxford University yesterday published interim results of a trial done in the US, Chile and Peru that found its jab prevented 100 percent of severe Covid cases and 79 percent of all symptomatic infections. It had been carried out because US regulators the FDA wanted a trial done on Americans before it would approve the jab, choosing not to use data from Oxford's tests in the UK, South Africa and Brazil. And the study found the vaccine works just as well in over-65s as it does in younger people it was the largest one so far conducted on older people, including more than 6,000 of them. It isn't the jab you need to fear - even mild Covid can trigger deadly clots Three days after testing positive, Robin suddenly felt so weak while out in the garden he couldnt lift his arms to use the hedge clippers Robin McNeliss Covid-19 symptoms were so mild he didnt know hed had the disease. It was only when a routine test at the hospital where he works as a respiratory physiotherapist came back positive that he found out his headache and fatigue were caused by the virus. I was surprised to be told I had tested positive and should stay off work, says Robin, 47, who lives in Stapleford Abbotts, Essex, with his wife Nikki, 45, a project manager, and daughter Maya, 13. Id had no temperature or dry cough, but had lost my senses of taste and smell. I thought Id got off lightly. But three days after testing positive, Robin suddenly felt so weak while out in the garden he couldnt lift his arms to use the hedge clippers. I lost my balance and felt dizzy, falling to the ground, twice, he says. I sat down on a garden bench and immediately fell asleep for about five minutes. Then I got up and went back into the house, but struggled to walk up the stairs. None of this made sense. As a seasoned marathon runner, Robin was exceptionally fit. But the problems continued. He had to keep stopping when walking uphill, and felt a tightness across his chest and back when exercising. After three weeks off, he returned to work at the private Wellington Hospital in London. However, he was still struggling with fatigue, chest pain and weak legs, so he was referred for a telephone assessment with a GP. The GP asked me to measure my blood oxygen levels after climbing the stairs, says Robin, who used a pulse oximeter, which measures blood oxygen levels by sending light through the tiny blood vessels in the fingertip. My levels were good but, two hours later, I was still short of breath, he recalls. A respiratory consultant sent Robin for a lung scan, which revealed that a small blood clot was causing the symptoms. Robin was told that the virus had made his blood sticky, encouraging blood cells to clump together to form a clot, which can be fatal if it blocks blood flow to the lungs. Smaller clots, as in Robins case, can cause breathlessness as well as chest pain. They werent sure if the clot had formed in the lung, or whether it was a clot that had developed in the deep veins of the legs or pelvis, that had broken off and travelled to the lungs, says Robin. He was put on blood thinners to disperse the clot and prevent more forming. But he was fortunate that the outcome wasnt far worse. Advertisement The trial which involved 32,000 people in total also confirmed the vaccine doesn't increase the risk of blood clots, which is a confidence boost after safety concerns in Europe rattled public faith in the jab last week. Two doses were given four weeks apart in the study and the effectiveness of a single dose was not reported. Full results from the trial are expected to be published later in the year. Trump's administration made a deal with AstraZeneca last year for 300 million doses and the federal government is currently sitting on nearly 30million which can't be used until the shot is authorized by the FDA. But this process has been delayed now, too, with officials having to wait until AstraZeneca sends the specific data they want. It is unclear how much of a delay the issue will cause, but the authorisation had been expected in April. Experts said the news about the hold-up was concerning. Professor Francois Balloux, a biologist at University College London, said: 'This is a highly unusual statement by the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). 'It comes close to accusing Oxford/AZ of having willfully misrepresented some results from their recent US vaccine trial.' And Professor Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Georgetown University, said: 'If nothing else Oxford/AstraZeneca continues their perfect record of sharing trial data in the most confusing way possible.' AstraZeneca said it still expected to get approval for the vaccine and one of its vice-presidents, Ruud Dobber, said on CNBC yesterday: 'Assuming that the approval will take place in a fast way, we hope to deliver 30million doses instantly after the EUA [Emergency Use Approval] for Americans to get vaccinated.' Oxford's Professor Andrew Pollard, who runs the vaccine trials, said the results were 'remarkable', and its inventor Professor Sarah Gilbert said she was 'very pleased'. Dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, Dr Ashish Jha, called the results 'fabulous news' in a tweet and told the Today Show that the AstraZeneca shot is the 'best ticket towards vaccinating the world.' The jab-makers were in need of good press after the past fortnight saw more than a dozen European countries shun the jab amid fears it could cause blood clots on the brain on which most have now backed down, although Sweden, Denmark and Norway are still hesitating and refusing to use it. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is preparing to call for EU leaders to shun 'vaccine nationalism' amid fears they will ban exports of vaccines because AstraZeneca is delivery on expectations in Britain but not in Europe, where it has allegedly only provided a third of the number of doses that were expected by the end of March. Britain will also have to cope with five million fewer doses of the jab than expected in April because an expected shipment from India has been cancelled. This is expected to mean the vaccine drive, which gave out a record 844,285 jabs on Sunday, will have to stick mainly to second doses instead of new patients. Some 32,449 people across all age groups took part in the phase three trial in the US, Chile and Peru, with a total of 141 cases of symptomatic Covid reported. Around two thirds of all the participants had the real vaccine 21,583 and the rest had a fake jab so the effects could be compared. Full results of the trial have not yet been published. The initial results showed that among people aged 65 and over, there was 80 percent protection against developing symptomatic Covid, Oxford said. This comes after officials in Europe, who had smeared the vaccine on yet another occasion, claimed that the vaccine didn't work on people over 55 and tried to prevent it being used on elderly people. EUROPE'S UNPROVEN BLOOD CLOT CLAIMS SHAKE PUBLIC FAITH IN OXFORD'S JAB Confidence in Oxford/AstraZenecas Covid-19 vaccine has plunged across Europe, polls show. European leaders paused the rollout of the jab last week over fears it caused blood clots. The European Medicines Agency later said the vaccine was not associated with a higher clotting risk. Nevertheless, more people in France (61 percent), Germany (55 percent) and Italy (43 percent) now believe the jab is unsafe, according to YouGov. In France, this was a jump of 18 points since February, while in Italy it was a mammoth 27-point rise. Faith in the vaccine in the UK was dented less but still fell. Nine percent of people said the jab was unsafe, a jump of four points. But more than three quarters of Britons still say both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer jabs are safe. YouGov lead data journalist Matt Smith said the European leaders concerns over the vaccine undoubtedly damaged its reputation. He said: 'Not only have we seen considerable rises in those who consider it unsafe in the last two weeks in Europe, the AstraZeneca vaccine continues to be seen as substantially less safe than its Pfizer and Moderna counterparts. 'With a third wave of infections potentially emerging now across the Channel, officials everywhere will be worried if ongoing rows about AstraZenecas vaccine ends up damaging the rollout.' Advertisement Overall the study, which officials said was incomplete, found that the effectiveness of the jab against symptomatic Covid was even higher than it had been in the original trials that took place in the UK, South Africa and Brazil. 'These results are great news as they show the remarkable efficacy of the vaccine in a new population and are consistent with the results from Oxford-led trials,' said Professor Pollard. 'We can expect strong impact against COVID-19 across all ages and for people of all different backgrounds from widespread use of the vaccine.' AstraZeneca has not yet published the full results of the trial, but its press release does not address whether or not the US trial screened participants for variants. The older 'wild-type' coronavirus is still dominant in the US, but the UK's B117 variant is gaining ground, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists four additional variants as 'concerning.' In prior trials, the AstraZeneca shot was equally effective against B117, and worked well in Brazil where the P1 variant is dominant. But it performed poorly in South Africa, where the B1351 variant is dominant. Nonetheless, US health authorities are eager to add a fourth vaccine to the American arsenal. AstraZeneca's shot has already been authorized in more than 50 countries around the world, and has helped the UK's vaccination campaign to race ahead of the America's. AstraZeneca's US trial got a late start compared to its other global tests, beginning on August 28. Trials were also protracted after the death of a participant in Brazil last year. American regulators dragged out the trial pause even after other countries resumed their tests. AstraZeneca's trial wasn't allowed to resume for more than six weeks. After European leaders this month claimed people were developing brain blood clots and even dying after having the AstraZeneca vaccine, inspectors looked at the risk of blood clots and found it was not increased at all. They looked at a specific condition that had scared officials in Germany, called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, and found there wasn't a single case recorded in the clinical trial. The European Medicines Agency itself which first launched an investigation and triggered panic across the continent last week admitted there was no proof of a link to blood clots and backed down on its warning. Health officials around the world, including Britain's regulator the MHRA and the World Health Organization, have urged countries to keep using the vaccine to stamp out coronavirus. Professor Sarah Gilbert, the Oxford scientist who invented the jab, said on BBC Radio 4 today: 'Im very pleased to see these results. 'Another large trial in different countries to what we had before again reporting on the safety and high efficacy of this vaccine, so its really good news to see that.' She added: '20 percent of people in this trial were over the age of 65 and there was no drop in protection for those people. It was just as good in the over-65s as it was in the younger people and thats very clear from this trial.' On Europe's concerns, Professor Gilbert said: 'I'd say the balance remains hugely in favour of using this vaccine. Across Europe there are thousands of deaths a day occurring from COVID. 'It's really important that we get the chance to protect people as quickly as possible, this vaccine is available for use in Europe and it will save lives.' AstraZeneca said leaving an interval longer than four weeks as is happening in the UK can increase efficacy and 'accelerates the number of people who can receive their first dose'. This is understood to be because it allows the body to cement the immunity from the first dose before the second the booster dose provokes a second, separate reaction and lets the already established protection strengthen itself. As part of an agreement with Oxford, AstraZeneca is supplying the vaccine on a not-for-profit basis for the duration of the pandemic and in perpetuity for low and middle-income countries. The news comes as polling for YouGov suggests confidence in the safety of the vaccine has dropped in the last two weeks in Spain, Germany, France and Italy. Some 55 percent of Germans said the AstraZeneca vaccine is unsafe while 32 percent said it is safe. AstraZeneca's vaccine was already seen as unsafe in France but concerns have increased even further, with 61 percent now saying it is unsafe while 23 percent say it is safe, according to the survey of almost 9,000 people in seven countries. More than a dozen European countries suspended use of the vaccine over concerns about blood clots, although most have now resumed its use. The European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization (WHO) have ruled that the AstraZeneca jab is safe and effective. Police have launched an investigation into surveillance footage showing a man violently beating his dog outside his Texas home. The disturbing incident occurred Sunday afternoon in Katy, west of Houston, and was captured on a neighbor's security camera, set up to monitor their front yard. Th sixty-second video begins with the pooch walking across the neighbor's lawn as its owner trails behind and orders the animal to sit. 'Hey! Stop! Sit!' the man can be heard demanding, before the canine complies. However, the animal's obedience does not satisfy the owner, who then starts striking the dog with with an unidentified object. Police have launched an investigation into surveillance footage showing a man violently beating his dog outside his Texas home The dog tries to break free - a move which enrages the owner even more and prompts him to hit the pooch harder. He strikes the animal more than 20 times in total. The shocking footage concludes with the man putting the pup on a leash and walking back in the direction of his home. It's believed concerned neighbors shared the footage with police, who have confirmed they have launched a probe into the incident. Officers say that the perpetrator - who has not been named - could face charges. Harris County Constable Alan Rosen told Click2Houston: 'We'll present [the case] to the DA's office once we complete our investigation. If charges are warranted, we will absolutely seek the charges and this person will then have their day in court'. The dog has since been taken from the man's home and is being evaluated by a veterinarian. The dog tries to break free - a move which enrages the owner even more and prompts him to hit the pooch harder. He strikes the animal more than 20 times in total Local SPCA officials have praised the neighbors for presenting the footage to authorities. 'We rely on our community's eyes and ears, so it's critical that animal abuse be reported immediately, especially when it involves violence towards animals,' SPCA employee Adam Reynolds told Click2Houston. 'You could save a life just by sharing information online or by picking up the phone.' Attorney General Maura Healey said Monday that she believes correctional officers and members of the State Police should be required to receive COVID-19 vaccines. It seems to me that if youre going to sign up, and sign up to be a correction officer, you need to do what is required, Healey said during a radio interview. Now, if there are particular health reasons that are presented, I understand that, but it cant be because you dont believe in vaccines. That is part of your job, and if youre unable to do it and safely take care of those who are incarcerated and captive and cant control what is coming into and out of the prisons, then I think they ought to be looking for another line of work. Correction officers and incarcerated people were made eligible in January as part of the first phase of the states vaccine rollout, after health care workers, nursing home residents and staff, and first responders. Though the vaccines are available to those populations, they are not required. During an interview on GBH radio, Healey answered a question about whether shots should be mandated for correctional workers with I dont see why not. Asked if she thinks COVID-19 vaccines should be required for the State Police, she said, Look, if youre going to serve and do your job, yeah, I do believe that. The attorney general said she was not speaking from a legal perspective but was answering this question as a matter of whats right. If there are certain conditions that you have that preclude you from a vaccination, I understand that, she said. But if youre going to sign up for public work and receive a paycheck from the taxpayers of this state who have sacrificed and lost so much -- Im thinking, too, of our small businesses, right, the whole economy, the devastation of our communities and devastation to communities of color, the heartaches. Think about the deaths of residents in so many nursing homes around the state -- you cant wear a mask? You cant get a vaccination? Its irresponsible. Gubernatorial candidate Ben Downing, an East Boston Democrat and former state senator, said last week that he believes State Police, other first responders and teachers should be required to get the vaccine as a condition of their jobs. Healey, a Charlestown Democrat, has long been eyed as a potential candidate for governor in 2022. Healey said she thinks things are going better now in the states vaccination efforts after some real snafus and mishandling with respect to the initial rollout, particularly regarding the technical issues with the states vaccine website. Look, the Baker administration screwed up. They needed to make adjustments, theyve made adjustments, Healey said. We hope to continue to see the vaccines come into the states. Healey visited a regional vaccine location in Randolph last week, and has also made trips to community-based sites in Chelsea and Mattapan. She said its important that locations like those continue to receive doses along with large-scale operations like the one set up at Gillette Stadium. One of the things Ive been talking about all along is the need for equity and making sure that vaccinations get delivered to those who are the most vulnerable, to those who have been hardest hit, Healey said. We cannot sacrifice equity for efficiency. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Former Kerala Congress' women's wing president Lathika Subhash will contest from the Ettumanoor assembly constituency, Kottayam, as an independent candidate in the forthcoming Assembly polls. She will be contesting under the election symbol of an 'autorickshaw'. "I am not going to any other party for the upcoming Assembly election because I was a worker. How can I go to another party?" Lathika told ANI. "I am facing a lot of problems. But still, I am contesting because of my colleagues and the people in my constituency wanted me to contest as an independent candidate. So I am trying," she added. She said that now people from every caste and every religion could give her a vote, adding that she was a candidate with immense freedom. Speaking about the reason behind getting her head tonsured, she remarked that the shaving was done for the cause of women. "Not only for women in politics but in all walks of life. Women are saying they will vote for me because I raised my voice for the cause of women. So, I am confident they will give me their votes. And youngsters too are promoting me. So, I am confident, I will win," Lathika said. "My protest was against those people who crumbled the womenfolk in all walks of life. Not only the party or CPI (M) or BJP, but every political party. It was for a noble cause, not for my seat. This time, Kerala Students Union (KSU) President got a ticket to contest, Youth President also is going to become the MLA for the third time," Lathika further added. Former Congress leader also said that people commenting that she got many positions while working as Mahila Congress Party didn't know that she worked very hard for 32 years and those positions were not given to her as a gift. (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.) Drill test highest priority shallow oxide resource expansion and untested underlying sulphide "feeder structures" targets - minimum 5,000 meter program Potential to expand drilling to 15,000 meters, if warranted Drill program permitting in progress with drilling expected to start late in Q2 2021 Complete in Q2 2021 a satellite multispectral survey to identify alteration, associated with gold mineralization, on entire 15,965 acres of claims Expand ground geophysics surveys to generate and refine additional oxide and deeper structural targets Further mapping and geochemical sampling on new structural targets KORE's CEO Scott Trebilcock stated: "Our 2021 exploration plans will extend our successful exploration strategy onto our new district-scale 14,105 acres of claims at Long Valley, opening the potential for discovery of new oxide gold deposits. At the main deposit, we remain on track to drill our exciting resource expansion and underlying feeder zone targets in mid-2021." Figure 1 shows the project claims with outlines of the current Long Valley resource. The Company has identified opportunities to expand the shallow oxide mineralization in all directions, further grow by making new discoveries along separate parallel structures and further yet on additional yet unrecognized mineralized structures on the district-scale claims. Additional mineralization could extend mine life, reduce capital intensity and generate higher project economic returns than the 1.2 million ounces of Indicated gold and 0.5 million ounces of Inferred gold from 64 million tonnes of 0.58 grams per tonne and 22 million tonnes of 0.65 grams per tonne, respectively, modelled in the preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") announced October 27, 2020. Additionally, as a fully intact epithermal deposit with a large at surface footprint, Long Valley has the potential for high-grade sulphides and discrete vein zones in the underlying feeder structures. The discovery of high-grade, sulphide dominant gold ("Au")-silver ("Ag") mineralization in addition to near-surface oxide Au-Ag mineralization would open up additional development pathways for the Project, such as underground mining and milling of mineralization. Figure 2 shows a plan of controlling fault structures, drill target areas, drill hole location in permitting and locates cross sections. Figures 3 and 4 layout the highest priority drill targets in section. Drill holes are designed to test both near surface oxide expansion and deeper structures extending below the known resource with multiple holes planned from each pad. Additional details of the Long Valley exploration targets are in KORE news releases dated January 30, 2020 and March 24, 2020. About Long Valley Gold Deposit The Long Valley deposit is an intact low sulphidation epithermal Au-Ag deposit with a large 2.5 km by 2 km oxide footprint, hosted within a melange of fine to coarse volcanogenic sedimentary lithologies. Mineralization at Long Valley has developed due to a combination of deep-rooted fault structures and a resurgence of rhyolite within an active caldera. The Hilton Creek Fault structure transects and served as a fluid conduit for interaction with the underlying hydrothermal system, while the rhyolite resurgence caused brittle fracturing of sediments and created voids or traps for mineralization and gold deposition. The combination of these factors yields strongly altered kaolin and quartz-hematite zones that are the primary host for gold mineralization. The Hilton Creek Fault remains underexplored on-strike north and south and several parallel structures have been defined using geophysics, the eastern one hosting some of the current mineral resource and the western one being unexplored. Long Valley is therefore open to potential new oxide discoveries in all directions. More details on the deposit geology and exploration potential can be found in KORE's January 30, 2020 and March 24, 2020 news releases. About Long Valley Gold Project Long Valley is 100% owned epithermal gold and silver project located in Mono County, California. Figure 1 shows the claims and mineralized area. The 15,965 acre land package is district in scale and covers all deep-rooted fault structures of similar genesis to the Hilton Creek fault, the primary 'conduit' for the current Long Valley deposit. A total of 896 holes have been drilled on the Project, the majority being completed by reverse circulation with lesser core, rotary and air track. The current mineral resource estimate is 1,217,000 ounces of Indicated gold and 456,000 ounces of Inferred gold from 63.7 million tonnes of 0.58 grams per tonne and 22.0 million tonnes of 0.65 grams per tonne, respectively. The mineral resource consists of oxide, transition and sulphides. The estimate was prepared Neil Prenn, P.E. of Mine Development Associates with an effective date of September 15, 2020. A Preliminary Economic Assessment for a shallow, low-strip heap leach Au-Ag project was filed October 27, 2020 with the following highlights: US $273 million NPV5% post-tax with IRR of 48% at US$ 1,600 per ounce gold ; NPV5% post-tax with IRR of 48% at per ounce gold ; Significant leverage to gold: US$ 395 million NPV5% at spot US$ 1,900 per ounce gold; NPV5% at spot per ounce gold; 102,000 ounces gold per year over 7 years mine life; Technically simple: shallow open pit, heap leach with nearby infrastructure; Unmodelled silver potential from metallurgical test-work; and Shallow oxide and sulphide feeder exploration potential to further enhance project. More information is available in the technical report filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on KORE's website at www.koremining.com. About KORE Mining KORE is 100% owner of the Imperial and Long Valley gold projects assets in California. Both projects have positive economic assessments that put KORE on the path to produce up to 350,000 ounces of gold production per year. KORE is supported by strategic investor Eric Sprott who owns 26% of KORE's basic shares. KORE management and Board are aligned with shareholders, owning an additional 38% of the basic shares outstanding. KORE is actively developing its Imperial Gold project and is aggressively exploring across its portfolio of assets. Further information on Long Valley and KORE can be found on the Company's website at www.koremining.com or by contacting us as [email protected] or by telephone at (888) 407-5450. On behalf of KORE Mining Ltd "Scott Trebilcock" Chief Executive Officer (888) 407-5450 Technical information with respect to the Long Valley Gold Project contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Marc Leduc, P.Eng, who is KORE's COO and is the qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 responsible for the technical matters of this news release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects", "intends", "indicates" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the actual timing and implementation of the 2021 exploration plan and strategy for the Long Valley Project, the actual timing of completion of the 2021 exploration plan for the Long Valley Project, the opportunities of expansion at the Long Valley Project, the results of the PEA, including future Project opportunities, the projected NPV, permit timelines, the current mineral resource estimate, and the ability to obtain the requisite permits, the market and future price of and demand for gold, and the ongoing ability to work cooperatively with stakeholders, including the all levels of government. Such forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others: risks related to exploration and development activities at the Company's projects, and factors relating to whether or not mineralization extraction will be commercially viable; risks related to mining operations and the hazards and risks normally encountered in the exploration, development and production of minerals, such as unusual and unexpected geological formations, rock falls, seismic activity, flooding and other conditions involved in the extraction and removal of materials; uncertainties regarding regulatory matters, including obtaining permits and complying with laws and regulations governing exploration, development, production, taxes, labour standards, occupational health, waste disposal, toxic substances, land use, environmental protection, site safety and other matters, and the potential for existing laws and regulations to be amended or more stringently implemented by the relevant authorities; uncertainties regarding estimating mineral resources, which estimates may require revision (either up or down) based on actual production experience; risks relating to fluctuating metals prices and the ability to operate the Company's projects at a profit in the event of declining metals prices and the need to reassess feasibility of a particular project that estimated resources will be recovered or that they will be recovered at the rates estimated; risks related to title to the Company's properties, including the risk that the Company's title may be challenged or impugned by third parties; the ability of the Company to access necessary resources, including mining equipment and crews, on a timely basis and at reasonable cost; competition within the mining industry for the discovery and acquisition of properties from other mining companies, many of which have greater financial, technical and other resources than the Company, for, among other things, the acquisition of mineral claims, leases and other mineral interests as well as for the recruitment and retention of qualified employees and other personnel; access to suitable infrastructure, such as roads, energy and water supplies in the vicinity of the Company's properties; and risks related to the stage of the Company's development, including risks relating to limited financial resources, limited availability of additional financing and potential dilution to existing shareholders; reliance on its management and key personnel; inability to obtain adequate or any insurance; exposure to litigation or similar claims; currently unprofitable operations; risks regarding the ability of the Company and its management to manage growth; and potential conflicts of interest. In addition to the above summary, additional risks and uncertainties are described in the "Risks" section of the Company's management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019 prepared as of April 27, 2020 available under the Company's issuer profile on www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted into mineral reserve. It is uncertain if further exploration will allow improving the classification of the Indicated or Inferred mineral resource. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. SOURCE Kore Mining Related Links http://www.koremining.com The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, is expected to deliberate bills on amending the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) from March 29 to 30. Zang Tiewei, spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, said the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee has decided to convene the 27th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee from March 29 to 30. Proposed agenda of the session includes reviewing draft amendments to Annex I and Annex II to the HKSAR Basic Law, according to Zang. The two annexes govern respectively the selection method of the HKSAR Chief Executive, and the formation method and voting procedures of the Legislative Council, Hong Kong's local legislature. On March 11, the NPC adopted at its annual session a decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR. The decision authorized the NPC Standing Committee to amend the two Basic Law annexes. During this year's "two sessions" of the top legislature and top political advisory body, many lawmakers and political advisors suggested that the NPC Standing Committee initiate the amending process as soon as possible for its early completion, Zang said. The move of the NPC Standing Committee to deliberate the bills is of great significance to upholding and improving the institutional framework of "one country, two systems," safeguarding the constitutional order in the HKSAR as stipulated in China's Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law, improving the electoral system of the HKSAR and developing a democratic political system suited to Hong Kong's realities, Zang said. It is also of great significance to ensuring Hong Kong's long-term stability and prosperity, and safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests, he added. This is the moment two men were caught smuggling gold and cash into an airport, underneath their wigs. Suspects Magroob Akbarali and Zubair Hassan Rafiyutheen were stopped while leaving the airport on Sunday because of their suspicious hairstyles. Officials soon discovered they were wearing wigs concealing two gold paste packets weighing 698 grams. This is the moment Magroob Akbarali and Zubair Hassan Rafiyutheen were caught smuggling gold and cash into an airport, underneath their wigs The suspects were stopped while leaving the airport on Sunday because of their suspicious hairstyles Officials soon discovered they were wearing wigs concealing two gold paste packets weighing 698 grams Officials discovered black packets filled with cash and gold paste glued to the crook's heads. Gold was also recovered form their socks and rectums Airport customs officials seized gold and foreign currency worth a total of $382,943 (277,961) from southern India's Chennai International Airport on March 21 In the footage, officials can be seen peeling back the fake hair to reveal black packets filled with cash and gold paste glued to crook's heads. Gold was also recovered from their socks and rectums. The cash, along with chunks of gold and other illicit items can be seen laid out on the counter as the crooks watch on in embarrassment. The pair were arrested in the airport terminal after arriving at Chennai from Dubai. Airport customs officials seized gold and foreign currency worth a total of $382,943 (277,961) from southern India's Chennai International Airport on March 21. The cash, along with chunks of gold and other illicit items can be seen laid out on the counter as the crooks watch on in embarrassment Magroob Akbarali and Zubair Hassan Rafiyutheen were arrested in the airport terminal after arriving at Chennai from Dubai A similar incident took place on Friday when three men were arrested at Chennai airport for concealing gold under their wigs Three gold paste packets weighing 2410 grams were found on the passengers who had travelled from Dubai and Sharjah on Friday In another case, a 42-year-old man travelling to Chennai from Dubai had concealed three bundles of gold paste in his rectum In a separate incident, gold bars were found in a cloth bag concealed in a hollow pipe under one of the aircraft's seats A similar incident took place on Friday when three men were arrested at Chennai airport for concealing gold under their wigs. Three gold paste packets weighing 2410 grams were found on the passengers who had travelled from Dubai and Sharjah. In another case, a 42-year-old man travelling to Chennai from Dubai had concealed three bundles of gold paste in his rectum. 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. DUBLIN, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Chlorine Trifluoride Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Application (Nuclear Fuel Processing, Semiconductor Manufacturing), by Region (APAC, North America) and Segment Forecasts, 2021-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global chlorine trifluoride market size is expected to reach USD 62.98 million by 2028 registering a CAGR of 4.2% over the forecast period. The demand for the product is expected to be driven by the rapidly growing semiconductor industry. The industry dynamics of chlorine trifluoride (CIF3) are largely influenced by application markets, such as nuclear fuel processing and semiconductor production. Rapid digitalization and automated industrial manufacturing solutions have led to high penetration of electronic gadgets and components on a global scale, which requires various chemicals for constant maintenance and cleaning purposes. In the semiconductor industry, CIF3 is extensively utilized to clean chambers of chemical vapor deposition. The major advantage is that the process of cleaning can be carried out without dismantling the chamber walls as ClF3 doesn't require activation by plasma. The substance also finds application as a fluorinating agent in nuclear reactor fuel processing. Germany's ClF3 gas market is majorly driven by a high concentration of major semiconductor manufacturers across the country. The country is the largest producer of electronics products globally and is one of the largest exporters of semiconductor equipment. Production of industrial electronics accounted for about 50% of the total Europe CIF3 market share in 2020, which indicates noteworthy growth prospects for ClF3. Increasing demand for the gas, which results in a substantial decrease in emissions, longer chamber lifespan, and quicker cleaning rates, is expected to boost the market growth over the forecast period. Chlorine Trifluoride Market Report Highlights The semiconductor manufacturing application segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR, both in terms of volume and revenue, from 2021 to 2028 due to the increasing demand for electronic and chamber cleaning products The rocket propellant systems application segment accounted for a revenue share of 22.3% in 2020 owing to the constant technological advancements and high investments in space exploration activities In the Asia Pacific region, India is anticipated to register the fastest growth rate of 4.6%, in terms of volume, from 2021 to 2028 region, is anticipated to register the fastest growth rate of 4.6%, in terms of volume, from 2021 to 2028 This growth can be attributed to the entry of semiconductor manufacturing companies and significant government investments in space exploration activities South Korea accounted for a market share of 4.7% in the Asia Pacific regional market on account of the thriving semiconductor industry in the country Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope Chapter 2. Executive Summary Chapter 3. Chlorine Trifluoride Market Variables, Trends & Scope 3.1. Market Lineage Outlook 3.2. Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping 3.3. Industry Value Chain Analysis 3.3.1. Raw Material Trends 3.3.2. Manufacturing & Technology Trends 3.3.3. Sales Channel Analysis 3.4. Price Trend Analysis 3.5. Regulatory Framework 3.6. Market Dynamics 3.7. Business Environment Analysis Tools Chapter 4. Chlorine Trifluoride Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis 4.1. Application Market Introduction 4.2. Semiconductor Manufacturing 4.3. Nuclear Fuel Processing 4.4. Rocket Propellant Systems 4.5. Others Chapter 5. Chlorine Trifluoride Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis 5.1. Regional Market Introduction Chapter 6. Competitive Landscape 6.1. Recent Developments by Key Market Participants 6.2. Company Market Categorization 6.3. Company Market Share Analysis, 2020 6.4. Vendor Landscape Chapter 7. Company Profiles 7.1. Company overview 7.2. Financial performance 7.3. Product benchmarking 7.4. Recent developments Central Glass Air Products & Chemicals Air Liquide Advance Research Chemicals Kanto Denka Kogya Co. Ltd. Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation Linde PLC Versum Materials Matheson Tri-Gas Inc. Advance Research Chemicals For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ej9byf Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Church of England may impose black, minority ethnic quota for clergy Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 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? On Tuesday, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel was a guest on RTL.lu's "Wellebriecher" podcast and talked about Luxembourg's strategy out of the coronavirus crisis. Bettel discussed the vaccination campaign, rapid tests, and potential decisions to relax certain restrictions in April. The state council will meet on Wednesday to discuss Luxembourg's strategy in the upcoming weeks. During his interview, Bettel confirmed that there are options on the table that would include the opening of terraces. The Prime Minister stated that if the state council decided to relax certain measures, he would be calling for them to be limited to exterior activities. Bettel explained that the current figures do not allow the government to declare that the virus is no longer a threat in closed spaces. He added that, compared to indoor activities, outdoor activities also required less obligations to be imposed on residents to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The full episode of the "Wellebriecher" podcast (in Luxembourgish) By Brendan J. Lyons | Times Union, Albany Albany, N.Y. The attorney for one of at least seven women who have accused Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of sexual harassment is urging state Attorney General Letitia James to denounce a separate investigation being conducted by the governors administration of another womans allegations that Cuomo had groped her late last year at the Executive Mansion. The separate investigation was reported by the Times Union last week. Beth Garvey, the governors acting counsel, issued a statement after that story was published on Wednesday clarifying that the matter had been referred to the Governors Office of Employee Relations. We fully informed the (attorney generals) office of the required process with this type of allegation and they said to follow it, Garvey said. The matter was referred to GOER ( Governors Office of Employee Relations) and (we) informed local law enforcement and that is the full extent of the action. Days earlier, a senior administration official confirmed the governors administration would be conducting an investigation of the matter despite an ongoing inquiry by the attorney generals office. The attorney generals probe was authorized under Executive Law in a referral letter from Garvey to James on March 1. We have our own inquiries ongoing, a senior aide to the governor told the Times Union on March 13. We have an obligation to investigate any claim of sexual harassment. And we, after reporting (the female aides allegations) to the (attorney general), were directed to continue our own inquiry. ... So there are multiple inquiries. A source in the attorney generals office with knowledge of the matter last week denied that anyone from their office had directed the governors office to conduct a parallel inquiry. Debra Katz, an attorney for Charlotte Bennett, a former Cuomo aide who last year complained to administration officials that the governor appeared to be grooming her for a sexual relationship, said James should condemn any parallel investigation by the administration. Katz characterized it as a deliberate attempt to interfere in the independent probe and also questioned the administrations decision to provide private counsel to any staff members interviewed by the attorney generals inquiry team. The Executive Chambers decision to provide staffers with in-house attorneys to advise them and accompany them to interviews will have a chilling effect on potential witnesses or other accusers who wish to come forward, but fear job-related retaliation if they tell the investigators about the governors sexual harassing behavior and the misconduct of those around him, Katz wrote in the letter released Monday. Witnesses with whom I have spoken fear retaliation if they refuse to cooperate with the Executive Chambers lawyers and feel constrained from sharing information about the governors misconduct and the toxic and sexually hostile work environment in which they have been forced to work with the governors lawyers present. The attorney for the woman who alleged Cuomo had groped her also criticized the decision by the governors office to refer the matter to GOER. The woman has not filed a formal complaint and her allegations were revealed when she disclosed the matter to two co-workers earlier this month after Cuomo spoke at a news conference saying he had never touched women inappropriately. Its absurd. Why would you be doing that? said the attorney for the woman who has accused Cuomo of groping her. Its not appropriate, and obviously were concerned with the ramifications and the effect on witnesses and the quest for the truth. He characterized it as a shadow investigation. Previously, the governors administration has distanced itself from GOER, contending it is a separate office that conducts sexual harassment and other employee investigations without involvement from the Executive Chamber. Last June, the governors office handled Bennetts allegations without referring the matter to GOER. The attorneys enlisted by the attorney general to conduct the ongoing investigation of multiple sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo are Joon H. Kim, a former acting U.S. attorney in Manhattan, and Anne L. Clark, who has extensive experience in sexual harassment cases. The governors staffers were recently informed that an attorney could be made available to accompany them if they are interviewed by the attorney generals investigators. The Executive Chamber staffers also were instructed that an attorney would be available to meet with them ahead of those interviews, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Another senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, last week defended that decision, saying: It was also explicitly said that you can hire your own attorney if you dont want to use the attorneys retained by the governors office. On March 10, in response to questions from the Times Union about the womans groping allegations, Cuomo issued a statement to the newspaper: As I said yesterday, I have never done anything like this. The details of this report are gut-wrenching. I am not going to speak to the specifics of this or any other allegation given the ongoing review, but I am confident in the result of the attorney generals report. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 On Sunday, teachers unions in Oakland and Los Angeles announced that their members had voted in favor of tentative agreements to return to in-person learning. These outcomes followed concerted campaigns of threats and intimidation in favor of yes votes by both the Oakland Education Association (OEA) and the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA). The vote in Oakland was 1,024 to 790 in favor or 56 percent to 44 percent. The UTLA reported 18,127 voting in favor (89 percent) with 2,286 voting against (11 percent). Parents and students line up to pick up school materials outside the Aurora Elementary School in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Approximately 12,000 UTLA members abstained from voting altogether, meaning that in actuality only slightly more than half of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) teachers and other staff voted in favor of returning. About 78 percent of Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) teachers participated in the vote, meaning that less than half of OEA members actually approved the deadly deal to reopen schools. The reckless campaign to reopen schools in both cities has developed as a conspiracy between the teachers unions, school districts, state politicians, the media and the Biden administration. Above all, the teachers unions stand exposed as pliant tools of the Democratic Party and behind them the financial oligarchy. Under conditions in which more infectious and lethal variants of COVID-19 are spreading throughout the US and globally, and the population is nowhere near fully vaccinated, this policy will be a total disaster and lead to further infections and deaths throughout the region. As with the vote last month to reopen Chicago schools which was heavily pushed by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), the votes in Los Angeles and Oakland should in no way be construed as expressions of support for either the UTLA or the OEA. Those who did vote in favor were told repeatedly by the unions that they had no choice but to vote for the agreements, that the schools would reopen regardless of the vote, and that the unions would do nothing to oppose this homicidal policy. As the UTLA told teachers in the lead-up to the vote, 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. Like any good con artist, the UTLA essentially told teachers, Heads I win. Tails you lose. As the West Coast Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees stressed in a statement published Saturday calling for a No vote, The only fight the unions have been engaged in is the fight to reopen schools, isolating educators by district and silencing teacher opposition. After the Los Angeles Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee released a statement on March 1 urging teachers to learn the lessons of the CTUs betrayal, the UTLA felt compelled to release an unprecedented video in advance of its tentative agreement vote falsely claiming that, unlike the CTU, it had held the line until conditions in Los Angeles were safe. Conditions in LA, however, are in fact nothing of the kind. Less than two months ago, the LA metro region was the worldwide epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. A recent decline in coronavirus cases has already plateaued with the city poised to witness a marked increase in cases once again as not only schools, but restaurants, churches, gyms, salons and movie theaters reopen for in-person attendance. The same conditions exist in communities throughout the state of California, as local and state politicians press to reopen schools and nonessential workplaces statewide. The school reopening policies will soon lead to new outbreaks and infections in both cities and their surrounding regions. Under Oaklands reopening agreement, in-person instruction for pre-kindergarten through second grade will begin on March 30, which will then expand through fifth grade on April 19, with one additional secondary grade also returning. Knowing that Oakland teachers were immensely fearful of returning back to classrooms, the tentative agreement sought to bribe them by offering a $200 per week stipend to those who return early on March 25 and a one-time stipend of $2,000 to those who return by April 14. The Los Angeles agreement returns most elementary school students back to classrooms on April 19, while secondary students will return to school later that month. Elementary school students will be divided into two cohorts, with one cohort on campus in the morning and the other on campus in the afternoon. In a meeting held with city religious leaders on Sunday, LAUSD superintendent Austin Beutner announced that teachers at 50 elementary school sites would actually be returning the week of April 12 as part of a pilot program before the broader reopening. All official statements and press prior to the ratification, both from the union and from the districts side, specifically announced April 19 as the official reopening date for elementary schools and mentioned nothing about a pilot program starting a week earlier. As far as secondary school students in Los Angeles are concerned, once they return each student will be placed in the same classroom throughout the day conducting classes with their teachers via online Zoom sessions. In other words, instruction throughout the remainder of the school year for those students will not fundamentally differ from what they received while learning remotely. The key difference, however, is that they will be exposed to coronavirus infection in an in-person learning environment. Despite the claims by the union and district that there will be heightened safety protocols, LAUSD students will now put themselves, their families and their neighborhoods at unnecessary risk of catching the virus and spreading it throughout their communities. Furthermore, the secondary school arrangements give the lie to claims made by district, government and union officials that the return to school plan was driven by concerns over students falling behind academically. At Sundays meeting, Beutner noted a lifetime of consequences if students remain out of classrooms for too long. This was followed, however, with the superintendent highlighting the districts Primary Promise program, which added reading and math teachers to some classrooms. Beutner claimed that elementary students in the program experienced significant advancements in reading and math scores after the program was initiated last August, that is, when all students were still learning remotely. The school reopening deal in LAUSD claims that teachers will return to classrooms after receiving both doses of the coronavirus vaccine, but given the rushed timeline and the fact that many teachers have yet to receive their first dose, this is highly dubious. The OUSD deal only stipulates that all teachers receive at least the first dose of the vaccine by April 19, that is, more than three weeks after many teachers have already returned to school. In both cases, none of the more than 37,000 students in Oakland nor the more than 600,000 in Los Angeles will have received a coronavirus vaccine when they return to classrooms. Survey results released Monday by the Los Angeles Times found that fewer than 3 in 10 students would immediately return to classrooms once they reopen. Only 28 percent of families indicate they will send their elementary school students back, with 17 percent of middle school families and 10 percent of high school families indicating the same. These figures expose the falsity of claims by the unions that teachers would be isolated if they resist in-person learning. On the contrary, teachers have mass support among the working class, which face the same brutal conditions and demands that they sacrifice their health and lives for profits. Educators and students must anticipate that none of the unions promised safety measures will be in place when schools reopen, as has been the case in Chicago, Philadelphia and throughout the country. After schools in Michigan and Illinois reopened for in-person learning, school sites in those states became the primary sources of coronavirus transmission in spite of false claims made by the Biden administration and local and regional governments that children dont spread the virus. The same conditions will exist in Los Angeles, Oakland and across the West Coast as schools start to reopen. Educators, parents, students and all workers must resist this homicidal policy before its too late. We urge all those who oppose the murderous school reopening drive to help build rank-and-file safety committees in every school district today! BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks were moving lower on Tuesday as tensions between China and the west escalated and German leaders agreed to extend the country's coronavirus lockdown until April 18 to contain a new wave of infections. The pan European Stoxx 600 dropped 0.4 percent to 422.46 after closing up 0.2 percent on Monday. The German DAX, France's CAC 40 index and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 were down between 0.3 percent and half a percent. Roche lost 1 percent. The Swiss pharma firm announced that it will discontinue dosing in a Phase III study evaluating its investigational candidate tominersen in manifest Huntington's disease. Novartis AG gained 0.8 percent as it announced positive results from its phase III VISION study evaluating the efficacy and safety of radioligand therapy 177Lu-PSMA-617 in patients with advanced prostate cancer. AstraZeneca gave up 1 percent. A U.S. health agency said the drugmaker 'may have included outdated information' in its initial data of the U.S. arm of Covid-19 vaccine trials. Total SE shed 0.9 percent, BP Plc lost 2 percent and Royal Dutch Shell gave up 1.6 percent as oil prices fell about 1 percent on concerns that new pandemic curbs and slow vaccine rollouts in Europe will slow a recovery in demand. Cineworld declined 2.7 percent after saying it planned to reopen its U.S. cinemas in April and its U.K. cinemas in May. Chemicals businesses Elementis dropped 2.3 percent after it reported a loss for 2020. Nordex surged 6.4 percent after the wind turbine manufacturer said it expects the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on its business to be reduced from the second quarter onwards. In economic releases, official data showed Britain's jobless rate unexpectedly fell to 5.0 percent in the three months to January, when the country entered a new virus lockdown. That was below economists' forecast of 5.2 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. SYDNEY - Engulfed by sex scandals that have shaken the highest levels of office in Australia, the country's leader sought to calm public anger on Tuesday - but ended up digging a deeper political hole after a disastrous news conference. Prime Minister Scott Morrison summoned reporters to discuss the latest incident in which a government adviser was fired after reportedly sharing an image of himself performing a sexual act on a female lawmaker's desk. Morrison appeared to fight back tears as he said it had been a "traumatic month" in Parliament. In February, a former government staff member filed a police complaint alleging she was raped by a colleague nearly two years ago. Since then, four other women have come forward with similar claims. The country's top law official identified himself as the subject of a rape allegation dating back three decades, which he has strenuously denied. Thousands of women took to the streets in protest across Australian cities last Monday. This week, local news outlets reported that a prayer room in Parliament House had been used for sexual encounters. "These events have triggered, right across this building and indeed right across the country, women who have put up with this rubbish and this crap for their entire lives, as their mothers did, as their grandmothers did," Morrison told reporters in Canberra. "We must get this house in order." During a question-and-answer session, however, Morrison hit back at a reporter who asked whether his job would be in jeopardy if he were the boss of a business facing similar complaints. Seeming to go off-script, the prime minister responded by divulging details of a supposed case involving harassment of a woman in a bathroom by someone in the reporter's news organization. "And that matter is being pursued by your own HR department," Morrison said, adding that "all of us who sit in glass houses" should not "start getting into that." The reporter, Andrew Clennell, said he was not aware of any such investigation at his employer, Sky News Australia. "Why is the prime minister telling me to be careful? Is he threatening me?" Clennell said in a live broadcast following the news conference. "I think the PM has got a bit of explaining to do." Sky News Australia is controlled by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. In a statement Tuesday, the media company said the prime minister was wrong to claim an investigation was underway into a complaint of the type he described. News Corp. said that following the reports of sexually inappropriate behavior at Parliament House, it gave staff the opportunity to speak in confidence, and learned of a verbal exchange between two employees in Canberra last year. The exchange was not of a sexual nature, it did not take place in a bathroom and neither person made a complaint. "The prime minister appears to have joined these two matters and conflated them into an episode of harassment in a toilet that is under current investigation," said News Corp. Australasia Executive Chairman Michael Miller. "This is simply untrue." Sparring so publicly with a News Corp. reporter was all the more extraordinary because Murdoch has long been seen as a supporter of Morrison. The prime minister's predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, has suspected the media mogul of helping unseat him in one of the many internal coups that have characterized Australian politics in recent years. Lachlan Murdoch, the CEO of Fox Corp., landed in Australia this month. In a statement on Facebook later Tuesday, Morrison said he accepted the publisher's account and added that he deeply regretted his "insensitive response" earlier during the news conference. "I was wrong to raise it, the emotion of the moment is no excuse," he said, apologizing for his actions. Michael Bradley, a lawyer who has acted for sexual assault victims, said whether he intended to or not, the prime minister had divulged the erroneous experience of harassment "as a weapon for purely political purposes." "Once he went off script, things went very badly, very quickly," Bradley said. "I think the government is in deep trouble on this subject. The issue is not going away. Every time it starts to quiet down, fresh revelations emerge." Bradley was the lawyer for a now-deceased woman who had said she was sexually assaulted by the country's top law official in January 1988, when she was 16. Christian Porter, the attorney general, who would have been 17 at the time, has strenuously denied the allegation. His lawyers last week launched a defamation action against the state broadcaster, saying he had been subject to "trial by media." Support for the ruling Liberal Party - the main conservative party in Australia - has been slowly declining among women for years, even before the assault allegations emerged, said Sarah Cameron, a lecturer in politics at the University of Sydney. At the last election in 2019, the party had a 10-point advantage among men - the biggest gender gap for the party on record. "The Liberal Party has long been perceived as having a 'women problem,'" Cameron said, adding it "ignores this trend at their peril." The conservatives are governing with a wafer-thin majority and must hold an election by 2022. The latest Newspoll of voting intentions showed Morrison's party trailing center-left Labor by 52-48 percent on a two-party preferred basis. Kirstin Ferguson, a leadership and culture specialist who advises the leaders of large corporations, said companies have long been told to hold leaders to account. "The fish rots from the head. Boards are holding CEOs to account, they're sacking them, they're reducing their pay," she said. "I just can't imagine what would happen if there was a board responsible for Parliament House." Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 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. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. PHILIPSBURG:--- On March 15, 2021, the Court of First Instance handed down a decision in which the rejection by the Minister of Justice in an immigration case was nullified. The immigrant in question followed proper procedures to regulate her stay with her Dutch husband in St. Maarten. The case in question is eerily similar to a previous case in which the rejection of an immigrant was also rejected on similar grounds. Seems to be a clear-cut case of the same script different cast. As per procedure, the immigrant who is a Guyanese national received permission from the Immigration Department to marry a Dutch St. Maartener here on Sint Maarten. This permission can only be granted once the immigrant goes through rigorous interviews with the Immigration Department. Once the marriage was approved and eventually done, the immigrant following the advice of the Immigration Department and as per procedure, left St. Maarten so that her husband could apply for her permit for temporary residency. The husband made sure to attach to the application evidence that his wife had left the country prior to the application. Literally, a year later the Minister of Justice rejected the application citing that the immigrant had resided in St. Maarten several years illegally prior to the request for residency and that was considered a violation of the public order. The rejection also alluded to an additional argument that the immigrant was still on the island awaiting a decision on the application despite the Immigration Department receiving clear evidence such as a copy of a stamped passport and travel documentation showing that the immigrant has been abroad. During the pleading phase before the Court of First Instance, the Minister departed from the argument that the immigrant was on the island at the time of submission, but remained firm on her stance that the immigrants prior illegal stay on the island was a violation against the public order. The Minister of Justice also went on a tangent on the previous decision by the Appellate Court despite not being the one who initiated an appeal in that particular case, and therefore legally speaking the Minister agreed with the ruling of the Court of First Instance concerning prior illegal stay. During the hearing, the Minister of Justice was also confronted with a myriad of similar cases where the immigrants in those cases received a permit, insofar that they followed the necessary procedures, yet had an illegal stay prior to their applications. The Minister alluded to an upcoming policy amendment that would serve as a proper legal basis for the rejection, which as we all know was published on February 19, 2021, 4 days after this case was handled. The Court eventually rightfully ruled on March 15, 2021, that at the time that the Minister of Justice could not legally use the previous illegal stay as a ground for rejection as there is no published policy restricting those immigrants from leaving the island and subsequently requesting residency via the lawful channels. The Court nullified the rejection, and the Minister of Justice was condemned to make a new decision within four weeks and to pay Naf.1,550.00 in legal fees. The case was handled by Ashton Richardson, LL.M. of Brooks & Associates, and B&A Consultancy Services under the guidance of Brenda Brooks. (Reuters) - provider Inc is aiming for a valuation of more than $4 billion in a U.S. initial public offering (IPO), a regulatory filing on Monday showed. The company said it planned to offer around 14.66 million shares of its common stock in its and that its selling shareholders were offering around 1.1 million shares, priced at between $30 and $33 apiece. At the upper end of the price range, the company is looking to raise around $519 million. Coursera, a platform used by more than 3,700 colleges and universities, offers courses such as machine learning, cloud computing and language learning, according to its website. Demand for online learning platforms boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic as retrenched employees took online courses to rotate into new careers. The company said expected its shares to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "COUR." Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and UBS Investment Bank are the lead underwriters for the offering. (Reporting by Sohini Podder in Bengaluru; Editing by Aditya Soni) (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.) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against Jason P. Wootten and Ronald Frank Stevenson, two Arizona-based individuals, and the companies they controlled and operated, for registration violations in connection with their unlawful sales of securities of real estate funds managed by Florida-based EquiAlt LLC (the Funds) to retail investors. The SEC previously filed an enforcement action against EquiAlt LLC and the Funds, EquiAlt's CEO Brian Davison, and its Managing Director Barry Rybicki on February 11, 2020, alleging that they were operating a Ponzi scheme which raised more than $170 million from approximately 1,100 investors in 35 states. According to the SEC's complaint, between approximately October 2016 and February 2020, Wootten and his company, Family Tree Estate Planning, LLC, sold over $32 million of the Funds' securities to more than 100 investors. Wootten, through Family Tree Estate Planning, received approximately $3.7 million in commissions from EquiAlt, despite neither Wootten nor Family Tree being registered as a broker-dealer. The complaint also alleges that, between approximately February 2015 and January 2020, Stevenson and his company, American Financial Security, LLC, sold over $19 million of the Funds' securities to more than 100 investors. Stevenson, through American Financial Security, received approximately $1.7 million in commissions, despite neither Stevenson nor American Financial Security being registered as a broker-dealer. The SEC's complaint, which was filed in federal district court in Arizona, charges Wootten, Stevenson, and their companies with violating the registration provisions of Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 and the broker-dealer registration provisions of Section 15(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and seeks disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with interest and financial penalties. The SEC's continuing investigation is being conducted by Chanel T. Rowe and Andre J. Zamorano, with assistance from Mark Dee, and supervised by Thierry Olivier Desmet and Glenn S. Gordon in the Miami Regional Office. The SEC's litigation is being led by Alise Johnson and Christopher E. Martin, supervised by Andrew O. Schiff. The SEC acknowledges the assistance of the Arizona Corporation Commission in connection with the EquiAlt investigation. The SEC encourages investors to check the backgrounds of people selling investments by using the SEC's Investor.gov to identify quickly whether they are registered professionals and confirm their identity. Democrats claim gun violence is a 'public health crisis' similar to the coronavirus pandemic as Senator Ted Cruz blasted on Tuesday the effort from the left to strip 'law abiding citizens' of their 2nd Amendment right in the wake of two mass shootings in the last week. 'It's time to do something,' Cruz said in fiery remarks during a Judiciary Committee hearing on reducing gun violence on Tuesday. 'Every time there's a shooting we play this ridiculous theater where this committee gets together and proposes a bunch of laws that would do nothing to stop these murders.' Cruz is referencing the two mass shootings in the last week, and those that have rocked the nation over the last few decades. 'What they propose,' the Texas senator said of Democrats' gun legislation, 'it makes it worse.' Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin said gun violence in the U.S. is a 'public health crisis' that requires action. Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin said during a hearing Tuesday that gun violence in America is a 'public health crisis' Senator Ted Cruz, who sits on Judiciary, said the hearing was just more 'ridiculous theater' put on by Democrats in the fallout from mass shootings 'Prayer leaders have their important place in this, but we are Senate leaders. What are we doing?' Durbin asked in his opening remarks. 'We won't solve this crisis with prosecutions after funerals. We need prevention before shooting.' Cruz pushed back on that sentiment during his time speaking, claiming he believes in the 'power of prayer' coupled with legislative action. While over 41,000 people were killed in 2020 by gun violence a record driven by the pandemic it doesn't come close to the public health crisis from COVID-19, which in the last year has resulted in more than 543,000 deaths in America alone. Cruz claimed in his opening remarks before the committee Tuesday that all action proposed by Democrats results in 'taking away guns from law abiding citizens'. A bipartisan group of pro and anti-2nd Amendment experts, yielded questions and recommended solutions from several perspectives. The hearing comes the day after a mass shooting at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado Monday that left 10 dead. It was also scheduled to take place exactly one week after a separate string of mass shootings by one suspect at three massage parlors in the Atlanta, Georgia area where eight people were killed six of whom were Asian women. These two events have led to another national debate on gun control, which Democrats in the Senate are turning their attention toward as they hold a majority in both chambers and in the White House. The massage parlor shootings are also leading to increased attention on racism toward Asian Americans and misogyny in the U.S. Cruz said during the hearing Tuesday that he is reintroducing legislation along with Senator Chuck Grassley, who also serves on Judiciary, that seeks to address gun control in a bipartisan manner. The Cruz/Grassley bill almost became law years ago but needed just one more Democratic vote to get it passed in the Senate through reconciliation. Pressure is also mounting on the administration to address gun violence. President Joe Biden ordered on Tuesday that flags at the White House be lowered to half staff in honor of the 10 victims of the shooting in Boulder. The hearing comes in the aftermath of two mass shootings in the last week. Pictured are law enforcement outside a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado where a gunman opened fire Monday, killing 10 President Joe Biden ordered on Tuesday that the flags at the White House be lowered to half staff in honor of the shooting victims Biden gave brief remarks on the tragedy before leaving for his trip to Ohio on Tuesday afternoon. During those remarks, he called for an assault rifle ban and for the Senate to pass House legislation on expanding background checks. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris called the mass shooting 'absolutely baffling.' 'It's tragic. Absolutely tragic,' Harris told reporters in her ceremonial office after she swore in William Burns as the new CIA director. 'It's absolutely baffling, it's 10 people going about their day living their lives, not bothering anybody,' she continued. 'A police officer who is performing his duties, and with great courage and heroism.' Cruz reflected Tuesday on visiting sites of mass shootings. 'I've been to d**n many of these,' he said. MASON CITY, Iowa - A man with a history of driving while intoxicated was arrested Monday night after he attempted to elude authorities. McKinley Dudley, 62, was arrested for OWI-third offense and eluding. A deputy attempted to pull Dudley over for having no taillights, but Dudley continued until authorities were able to box him in at an intersection of in the 100 block of N. Pennsylvania Ave. A search warrant was obtained to determine Dudley's BAC after he refused a PBT test. He's being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $5,000 bond. Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight with light rain possible. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 66F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. The first female president of the NSW Young Liberals, Catherine Cusack, says Prime Minister Scott Morrison has failed to grasp any understanding of how diabolical politics has become for women. Ms Cusack, a long-serving NSW upper house MP, said Mr Morrison no doubt means well but has no idea about the issues that are leaving Liberal women devastated about the state of the party. Upper house MP Catherine Cusack has told Premier Gladys Berejiklian she will no longer sit in the party room. Credit:Facebook Just because you love your wife and your daughters and your mother does not make you an icon for womens rights, Ms Cusack, a former Australian president of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, said. When I heard the Prime Minister say that, I wanted to scream I am not your wife but that does not mean I do not matter, we all matter and Scott Morrison does not seem to get it. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said on Monday that there will be 'double engine' growth in if the BJP-led alliance is voted to power in the Union Territory. Addressing mediapersons at the headquarters in Puducherry, Gadkari said that one engine will be that of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, while the second will be that of the BJP-led alliance government in the UT. Gadkari said that if a BJP-led government is formed in Puducherry, the projects initiated by the Central government will be implemented for the growth of the UT. The Union minister also came down heavily on the previous government led by V. Narayanasamy, saying that it failed to implement several projects sanctioned by the Centre. He said that infrastructure projects worth Rs 20,000 crore have been sanctioned by the Union government for Puducheery and Tamil Nadu, which, once implemented, would change the face of these two states. Gadkari said that some of these projects are in the final stages of implementation while the others are in the process of finalising their detailed project reports. The minister said that the Sagarmala project for the development of the port in will lead to economic development. The total project cost is Rs 305 crore and it would be implemented in three phases. An amount of Rs 75 crore has been sanctioned for the first phase which is for capital dredging, the second phase is for Rs 60 crore which is for constructing berthing facilities in the old port and the third phase is of Rs 170.2 crore which is for the construction of a container terminal and berthing in the new port, the minister informed. The minister said that trawlers which can travel up to 100 nautical miles are being developed at the Cochin Shipyard, which will boost the productivity by up to seven times. Gadkari also refuted the charges of Narayanasamy that the is trying to merge with Tamil Nadu. --IANS aal/arm (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.) But if 24-hour news networks and other mainstream media outlets focus only on the crisis and its political ramifications, nothing will change. And if Republicans and right-wing pundits focus only on the CRISIS! and offer no solutions, it will continue to be difficult to take them seriously or believe they care about the human beings who make up the crises they love to wail about. [March 23, 2021] Open Source Software Leader the Eclipse Foundation Launches the Adoptium Working Group for Multi-Vendor Delivery of Java Runtimes for Enterprises BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Eclipse Foundation, one of the worlds largest open source software foundations, today announced the formal establishment of the Adoptium Working Group in collaboration with the AdoptOpenJDK Technical Steering Committee. With this announcement, the Eclipse Foundation is bringing its proven vendor-neutral governance framework in support of the Eclipse Adoptium top-level project, which is based on the work previously done under the AdoptOpenJDK organization. Adoptium is founded by multiple participants, including many Java developers and vendors such as Alibaba Cloud, Huawei, IBM, iJUG, Karakun AG, Microsoft, New Relic, and Red Hat. The Adoptium Working Group will provide the Java ecosystem with fully compatible, high-quality distributions of Java runtimes based on OpenJDK source code. With the establishment of the Adoptium Working Group, the Eclipse Foundation has cemented its role as the vendor-neutral center of gravity for the open source Java community, said Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation. We are already successfully hosting the Jakarta EE and MicroProfile specification communities and leading Java open source projects such as Eclipse GlassFish, Eclipse Jetty, and Eclipse Vert.x. Adoptium will add the delivery of compatible Java runtimes to that portfolio of key Java technologies for hybrid and multi-cloud enterprise development. Thousands of enterprises and millions of developers that run Java need a reliable source of high-quality Java runtimes under open source licenses that come with timely patches and updates for the mission-critical Java applications. With more than 240 million downloads to date, AdoptOpenJDK provides enterprises with a proven set of open source, high-quality Java runtimes. The Eclipse Adoptium project is the continuation of the original AdoptOpenJDK mission, which was established in 2017 to address the general lack of an open, community-based, and reproducible build and test system for OpenJDK across multiple platforms. Eclipse Adoptium will become the leading provider of high-quality OpenJDK-based binaries used by Java developers in embedded systems, desktops, traditional servers, modern cloud platforms, and mainframes. The Adoptium Working Group (WG) complements the Eclipse Adoptium project, which provides a trusted location where developers and enterprises can download compatible binaries of OpenJDK builds. The goal of the Adoptium WG is to provide the infrastructure, marketing, community building, and developer advocacy work needed to continue to ensure timely releases to the community and further the adoption of Eclipse Adoptium. This new open source working group was only possible through the successful negotiation of the OpenJDK Community TCK License Agreement (OCTLA) with Oracle, the steward of OpenJDK, the Java Community Process, and the Java compatibility brand. Under the terms of this agreement, Adoptium will run compatibility tests to ensure conformance to the Java specification. If your organization is interested in participating in the Adoptium WG, you can view the Charter and Participation Agreement , or email us at membership@eclipse.org. Quotes from Founding Organizations Alibaba Cloud As a founding member of the Adoptium Working Group, we are committed to creating an open, vendor-neutral environment to enable the growth of Java Runtime on our global cloud platform, said Sanhong Li, director of Compiler & Runtime, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. We value the contribution of developers, and we hope to provide the right technology and resources to build a conducive ecosystem for better and more community collaborations. Huawei Huawei is happy to join the Adoptium Working Group as a founding strategic member and promote the growth of the open source Java ecosystem, said Junping Du, Huaweis Cloud & AI Open Source Development Team Leader. Java has long been an important runtime in the industry, as well as for our customers and partners across our heterogeneous cloud and infrastructure platforms. We look forward to collaborating with the community to create and provide the highest quality Java runtimes. IBM IBM is very pleased to announce that we will be joining the Eclipse Adoptium working group as a founding member. We were also one of the founding members of the AdoptOpenJDK community with a long history of contributions and support, said Samir M. Kamerkar, program director, Runtime Technologies at IBM. As the AdoptOpenJDK project moves into the Eclipse Foundation as Adoptium, we look forward to continuing to collaborate with that same vendor-neutral open source Java community to share knowledge and efforts around building JDKs and to help expand and advance the quality bar for all JDK releases that leverage the Adoptium infrastructure. iJUG As an association of German-speaking Java User Groups, iJUG is proud to join the newly established Eclipse Adoptium working group as a founding member, said Jan Westerkamp, iJUG responsible for the cooperation with the Eclipse Foundation. Initiated by LJC, AdoptOpenJDK has become a great success in the Java ecosystem and with the transition to the Eclipse Foundation, we as a community organisation look forward to continue its achievements as Eclipse Adoptium now, following the original mission statement: Providing the Java community with rock-solid runtimes and associated tools that can be used free of charge, without usage restrictions on a wide range of platforms. Karakun AG At Karakun, we strongly believe in Open Source and the power of the community. We are not only active contributors to various open-source projects but we also want Java to be and remain free, said Java Champion and Karakun co-founder Hendrik Ebbers. The community-driven project Adoptium offers some decisive advantages like the Long-Term Support, the large number of supported platforms and maximum transparency. So, it was more than obvious for us to be a founding partner of Adoptium. Microsoft Microsoft has a long history of supporting developer ecosystems and we are pleased to extend this support to the Java ecosystem by joining the Eclipse Adoptium Working Group as a strategic member, said Julia Liuson, corporate vice president, Developer Division, Microsoft. Alongside the other founding members, Microsoft looks forward to contributing to the open source Java effort. We believe Eclipse Adoptium will provide a vendor-neutral home where business-ready, Java-compliant OpenJDK binaries are produced and tested by the AQAVit quality suite. New Relic As an existing sponsor of AdoptOpenJDK, New Relic is thrilled to be a founding member of the next chapter as the project moves to the Eclipse Foundation, said Ben Evans, principal engineer and Instrumentation Lead Architect at New Relic. The market has overwhelmingly chosen a long-term support model, and Eclipse Adoptiums community-based approach has become the de facto standard for open-source Java. Our own Java installations have migrated to it, and among New Relic customers, it has been the fastest growing Java runtime we have ever seen, now taking the lead as the vendor of choice among modern containerized Java applications. We believe that todays enterprises value not just open source products, but open standards and the open communities that grow up around them. By donating our engineers time and experience to those standards and communities, we contribute to their success and in turn benefit our customers and the industry as a whole. Red Hat Red Hat has been a long-term member of the AdoptOpenJDK project and we are proud to continue our involvement as it moves to the Eclipse Foundation, said Tim Ellison, distinguished engineer, Red Hat. The Adoptium Working Group complements our role in OpenJDK to make open source Java SE technology available to all. Under the Foundations governance we look forward to this new working group being successful in raising the bar for runtimes and a closer alignment with cloud-native Java technologies. About the Eclipse Foundation The Eclipse Foundation provides our global community of individuals and organizations with a mature, scalable, and business-friendly environment for open source software collaboration and innovation. The Foundation is home to the Eclipse IDE, Jakarta EE, and over 375 open source projects, including runtimes, tools, and frameworks for cloud and edge applications, IoT, AI, automotive, systems engineering, distributed ledger technologies, open processor designs, and many others. The Eclipse Foundation is a rapidly growing international non-profit association supported by over 300 members, including more than 90 new members added in 2020 alone. These members represent a diverse collection of industry leaders that value open source technology as a key enabler for their business strategies. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @EclipseFdn, LinkedIn or visit eclipse.org. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Media contacts Weber Shandwick Belgium Chris Mill Editor T +32 498 179 577 E cmill@webershandwick.com Weber Shandwick Germany Matthias Wowtscherk Account Director, Media Relations T +49 30 20351245 E mwowtscherk@webershandwick.com Nichols Communications for the Eclipse Foundation, Inc. Jay Nichols jay@nicholscomm.com +1 408-772-1551 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A pharmacy technician prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination event in the parking lot of Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, on Feb. 20, 2021. (Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) 3 Fully Vaccinated Hawaii Residents Test Positive for COVID-19 Three Hawaii residents who were fully vaccinated against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, according to the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH). All three patients had received both doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, reported KITV4. They all experienced mild symptoms and did not appear to spread the disease to others, the DOH told the news station. COVID-19 vaccines dont prevent infection, however they mitigate severe symptoms and lower the risk of hospitalization, health experts say. One of the patients, an Oahu-based health care worker, received the second and final dose of the vaccine in January. The worker traveled to several U.S. cities about a month later, and tested positive following routine testing upon returning to Hawaii as per travel protocol. Contact tracing hasnt identified any additional infections among close contacts of the health care worker. It isnt clear which vaccines each of the three patients received. Lt. Gov. of Hawaii, Josh Green, urged people not to be discouraged by the news, as the vaccines work in a huge percentage of people. Remember, 95 percent of people get immunity from the vaccines and five percent dont from the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine, Green told news station KHON2. Some people are going to dive on to this and say, oh, then the vaccine doesnt work. No, it does work. It works in a huge percentage of people, but not everyone and thats an important message, he added. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who have previously been infected with COVID-19 should still get a vaccine. You should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. Thats because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possiblealthough rarethat you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again, the CDC says on its website. People who received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma should wait 90 days before getting a vaccine, the agency added. Another CDC webpage states that getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection or immunity. Current evidence suggests that reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 is uncommon in the 90 days after initial infection. However, experts dont know for sure how long this protection lasts, and the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity, it states. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness. CDC director Rochelle Walensky on Monday said that fully vaccinated people should not begin traveling. Related to spring break, they are not the demographic weve been focusing in on with regard to travel, she told reporters at a press briefing, adding that even if fully vaccinated people travel, they go out and they mix with people who are not vaccinated. Were so close to vaccinating so many other people, so I would just encourage and remind people that now is not the time to travel, she said. Hawaiis health department didnt immediately respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. Advertisement Officer Eric Talley, 51, was a father to seven children and among the 10 people killed in the shooting Dozens of police cars and emergency vehicles were involved in a flashing light procession last night as they helped escort the body of the slain Boulder police officer away from the scene of the grocery store massacre. Boulder Police officer Eric Talley, 51, was among the 10 people shot dead at King Soopers in Boulder on Monday afternoon when a gunman opened fire. In the hours after the massacre, the slain officer's colleagues honored the father-of-seven with a procession as they followed the ambulance carrying his body to a funeral home. Footage shot by a helicopter news crew captured the flashing lights of emergency vehicles as they snaked their way across the city at dusk. The procession left from the King Soopers grocery store at around 7.45pm. Along the way, officers and first responders saluted the fallen officer. Officer Mark Bliley, head of the Boulder Police Department's union, said Talley was a close friend who was passionate about policing. Bliley said that when on the job, Talley had a unique ability to connect with people. 'He was just a highly respected, well-loved person and officer. Just a solid person I don't know of anyone who didn't like Eric. Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said Talley had been with the Boulder Police Department since 2010. A procession of emergency vehicles snakes their way through Boulder, Colorado on Monday night The tribute was for a police officer who was shot dead as he attended a supermarket shooting in Boulder, Colorado. Firefighters salute an ambulance carrying a fallen police officer as it left the King Soopers grocery store Monday evening A procession of emergency vehicles left King Soopers grocery store where authorities confirmed that 10 people were shot dead The procession of emergency vehicles were seen driving through Boulder Monday night in honor of slain officer Talley 'I'm grateful for the police officers that responded and I am so sorry about the loss of Officer Talley,' Herold said. Talley had joined the force just eleven years ago at the age of 40, according to a statement from Talley's father, Homer Talley. 'He took his job as a police officer very seriously. He had seven children. The youngest is 7 year old. He loved his kids and his family more than anything. He was looking for a job to keep himself off of the front lines and was learning to be a drone operator. He didn't want to put his family through something like this and he believed in Jesus Christ,' his father said. Talley, who had a master's degree, had quit his stable IT job in 2010 after one of his close friends died in a DUI crash to enroll in the police academy. 'He was pretty driven to join law enforcement,' his police academy friend Jeremy Herko told the Washington Post. 'That was his life. He absolutely loved his job and wanted to serve the community. 'It was remarkable to me that somebody would go to law enforcement from IT. He lost pay. He lost time away from his family. He joined the police academy without a guaranteed job.' After joining the force, Talley made headlines in 2013 as one of three officers who helped save 11 ducklings that had become stuck in a drainage ditch with their mother. Talley eventually waded into calf-deep water to rescue the ducks one by one from the pipes, the Boulder Daily Camera reported at the time. A bystander holds a Thin Blue Line flag as a procession carrying the body of the officer leaves King Sooper's grocery store Law enforcement and emergency personnel lined the street and salute the motorcade carrying the fallen Boulder officer A police officer salutes as a procession carrying the body of a fellow officer leaves King Sooper's grocery store where a gunman opened fire on in Boulder, Colorado A Colorado State Patrol trooper salutes as a motorcade carrying fallen Boulder Police officer Eric Talley passes by An ambulance carrying the fallen officer's body was the first of hundreds of emergency vehicles to lead the procession The lights of the emergency vehicles could be seen from some distance away A helicopter news crew was best able to capture the scene from the skies above Boulder on Monday night Following his death on Monday, Boulder police chief Maris Herold described Talley as 'heroic' and confirmed that he was the first to respond to the shooting at a King Soopers supermarket. 'We know of 10 fatalities at the scene, including one of our Boulder PD officers... Officer Talley responded to the scene - was first on the scene - and he was fatally shot,' Herold said when news broke. The Boulder police department shared a photo of Talley in uniform with the caption: 'Rest in peace Officer Eric Talley. Your service will never be forgotten'. Several other police forces in the area have tweeted their sympathies to the Boulder Police Department. 'Our hearts go out to Officer Eric Talley, his family and the families of the other victims from this tragic day,' the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office tweeted. 'Our hearts and prayers are with the Boulder Police family tonight as they face the loss of a heroic brother in blue.' Colorado State Patrol wrote. 'Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Boulder Police Department. To all the victims who lost their lives, and all the brave men and women who responded to the active shooter at King Soopers this afternoon', Westminster Police said. Law enforcement personnel salute as the motorcade carrying fallen Boulder Police officer Eric Talley exits the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder A procession of emergency vehicles are pictured leaving a King Soopers grocery store where ten people were killed Fellow police officers stood by and saluted one of their own on Monday night as the procession made its way along An onlooker reacts by placing their hand over their heart as a procession of emergency vehicles leaves the supermarket Officers stand for a moment to honor their fallen comrade who lost his life during a supermarket shooting on Monday A man holds an American flag as a procession of emergency vehicles leaves a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place The gunman - who is now in custody - opened fire in the parking lot of the King Soopers grocery store shortly before 3pm on Monday. He then went inside where witnesses have described him indiscriminately shooting at staff and shoppers. Survivors hid in food aisles and sheltered while trying to listen to which direction he was coming from, and if he was reloading what they described as an AR-15 rifle. Witnesses recalled hearing multiple loud bangs outside the shop before the sound of gunshots drew closer. Some say the gunman just 'came in and started shooting'. The terror went on for around 20 minutes before he was taken into custody. Police have not yet confirmed whether he is the man who was seen being led out of the store, shirtless and barefoot, with blood dripping down one of his legs. Ahmad Alissa, 21, has now been charged with 10 counts of murder. Ahmad Alissa, the 21-year-old gunman from Monday's shooting at a Colorado grocery store. He is shown, left, wearing wrestling medals from the North American Grappling Association, in an undated Facebook photo A shirtless man with blood running down his leg was escorted out of the store in handcuffs by two police officers, a live TV feed showed It's unclear if the man with the bleeding leg (pictured in handcuffs) is the suspected gunman At least one victim is seen lying on the floor inside the store just moments before more gunshots are heard One video of the incident from YouTube shows two victims (circled) lying on the ground in the parking lot of the store Boulder (depicted) is located about 25 miles northwest of Denver Shortly after learning of the incident, Colorado Gov Jared Polis said in a statement: 'My heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community. We are making every public safety resource available to assist the Boulder County Sheriff's Department as they work to secure the store. 'I'm incredibly grateful to the brave men and women who have responded to the scene to help the victims of this senseless tragedy.' The governor continued: 'This is very much an active situation and we continue to monitor very closely. We ask for your patience as law enforcement works tirelessly to secure the site. Right now, the biggest priority is to let local law enforcement and the City of Boulder do their work to ensure the safety of those involved.' Boulder Mayor Sam Weaver said that 'words can do no justice to the tragedy that has unfolded this afternoon'. 'Our community will soon grieve our losses, and begin our healing. Our brave police officers and first responders have the gratitude of our entire city.' White House press secretary Jen Psaki shared Monday evening that President Joe Biden 'has been briefed on the shooting in Colorado and he will be kept up to date by his team as there are additional developments'. The shirtless man is seen being loaded onto a stretcher after the shooting on Monday Healthcare workers were rushed out of the King Soopers grocery store after a gunman opened fire inside Shoppers held hands as they were evacuated from the supermarket by police officers Monday afternoon Healthcare workers, who were administering COVID vaccinations at the store's pharmacy, and shoppers are tended to after being evacuated from the store Tactical police units respond to the scene of King Soopers. The windows of the store were left broken, likely from gunfire Officers from the Boulder Police Department are seen standing outside the grocery store on Monday SWAT teams descend from the roof of a King Soopers grocery store after the shooting [March 23, 2021] MetLife Investment Management Completed $10.7 Billion in Commercial Real Estate Debt and Equity Investments in 2020 MetLife Investment Management (MIM), the institutional asset management business of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), today announced that it completed $10.7 billion in new commercial real estate debt and equity transactions in 2020, taking MIM's global gross market value of commercial real estate assets under management (AUM) to $106.7 billion1 as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, gross market value of total commercial mortgage loan AUM climbed to $74.0 billion2 and the gross market value of total real estate equity AUM reached $32.7 billion3. "Our markets faced unprecedented challenges in 2020. I am proud of how our real estate team came together and addressed the crisis, leveraging our decades of experience across multiple market cycles," said Robert Merck, global head of Real Estate and Agriculture for MetLife Investment Management. "The strength and stability of our platform along with our culture of risk management allowed us to continue supporting communities with real estate financing and investment initiatives that provide space for people to work, shop and live." MIM's commercial real estate platform comprises debt and equity origination and asset management capabilities across 13 offices in the U.S. and international markets, including the U.K., Japan, Korea, Chile and Mexico. Despite the pandemic, MIM remained a source of debt capital for the commercial real estate market. MIM originated 137 commercial mortgage loans totaling $8.5 billion during the year, providing support for our borrowers even as market liquidity diminished during the early months of the pandemic. This origination and institutional investor activity helped increase the gross market value of total commercial mortgage loan AUM to $74.0 billion as of December 31, 2020. On the equity side, MIM acquired $2.2 billion of properties in 2020, and the gross market value of total real estate equity AUM reached $32.7 billion. In the past several years, MIM has increased exposure to property types such as last-mile distribution centers and suburban apartments, while at the same time underweighting asset classes such as lower quality regional malls. MIM believes its strategic and diversified approach has allowed its real estate equity portfolio to weather the recent stress, and leaves the platform well positioned to seek new opportunities in 2021. MIM also continued to expand its international portfolio in 2020, increasing commercial real estate AUM in several key global markets. In Asia, MIM produced the equivalent of over $843 million in new transactions. MIM also continued to grow its presence in the U.K., with the equivalent of $527 million ofcommercial real estate debt originations in 2020. Commercial Mortgage Loan Production MIM originated a number of significant commercial mortgage loan transactions in 2020, including the following: Blackstone I-94 Industrial Portfolio (Chicago, Ill. and Milwaukee, Wis.) - $218 million industrial portfolio first mortgage 17th & Broadway Apartments (Oakland, Calif.) - $115 million apartment property first mortgage Aegon European Headquarters (Edinburgh, U.K.) - 87 million ($107 million) office property senior loan Marshfield Business Park (Baltimore, Md.) - $108 million industrial portfolio first mortgage Durham ID (Durham, N.C.) - $107 million office / life science property first mortgage Real Estate Equity Investment Production MIM's real estate equity portfolio includes investments in office, apartment, retail, industrial and hotel properties. Transactions closed during 2020 included: Park District (Dallas, Texas) - Acquisition of a recently completed apartment building Shakopee Industrial (Minneapolis, Minn.) - Class A industrial building with total square feet (sf) of 855,000 Memphis & Nashville Core Industrial Portfolio (Tenn.) - Four building, class A industrial portfolio consisting of 2,919,349 sf Sierra Fontana (Fontana, Calif.) - Development of an industrial building totaling 705,280 sf Hanover 8th Street (Washington, District of Columbia) - Development of class A apartment building with 377 units About MetLife Investment Management MetLife Investment Management, the institutional asset management business of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is a global public fixed income, private capital and real estate investment manager providing tailored investment solutions to institutional investors worldwide. MetLife Investment Management provides public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, funds and other institutional clients with a range of bespoke investment and financing solutions that seek to meet a range of long-term investment objectives and risk-adjusted returns over time. MetLife Investment Management has over 150 years of investment experience and, as of December 31, 2020, had $659.6 billion in total assets under management.4 About MetLife MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates (MetLife), is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 markets globally and holds leading positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com. Forward-Looking Statements The forward-looking statements in this news release, such as "believes," "continue," "remains," "seek," and "well positioned," are based on assumptions and expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, including the "Risk Factors" MetLife, Inc. describes in its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. MetLife's future results could differ, and it has no obligation to correct or update any of these statements. Endnotes 1 Gross market value of commercial real estate AUM represents the value of all commercial mortgage loans and real estate equity managed by MIM, at estimated fair value, presented on the basis of gross market value (inclusive of encumbering debt). 2 Gross market value of total commercial mortgage loan AUM represents the value of all commercial mortgage loans managed by MIM, at estimated fair value, including commercial mortgage loans included within certain real estate joint ventures owned by MetLife's general account, presented on the basis of gross market value (inclusive of encumbering debt). 3 Gross market value of total real estate equity AUM represents the value of all real estate equity managed by MIM, at estimated fair value, excluding commercial mortgage loans included within certain real estate joint ventures owned by MetLife's general account, presented on the basis of gross market value (inclusive of encumbering debt). 4 Total AUM is comprised of all MetLife general account and separate account assets and unaffiliated/third party assets, at estimated fair value, managed by MIM. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323006045/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Future FinTech Group Inc. (NASDAQ: FTFT) ("hereinafter referred to as Future FinTech", "FTFT" or "the Company"), a leading blockchain e-commerce company and a service provider for financial technology, today announced that on March 22, 2021, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, Future Commercial Group Co., Ltd., signed an equity acquisition frame agreement ("Frame Agreement") with Guang Zhou Hi-Card Computer Network Service Co., Ltd. ("Guang Zhou") to acquire 60% of the shares of Guang Dong Hi-Card Business Service Co., Ltd. ("Hi-Card"). The Frame Agreement is non-binding except for the 'Confidentiality and Exclusivity' and 'Applicable Law and Dispute Resolution' sections of the Frame Agreement. Hi-Card is a financial technology service provider that provides payment settlement services primarily for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as financial institutions. It is recognized as a national high-tech enterprise and holds a payment business license issued by the People's Bank of China and the Central Bank of China. Hi-Card was named one of "China's Potential Enterprises" from 2013 - 2015 by Forbes China. Hi-Card achieved net profit of RMB 4.8 million (approximately $0.7 million) for fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 based on its audited financials under Chinese GAAP. The acquisition price for the 60% equity interest of Hi-Card is estimated to be RMB 60.0 million (approximately $9.2 million) subject to the results of due diligence by the Company and final negotiation by the parties, with 50% of the payment to be made in cash and 50% in FTFT's common stock, the price of which will be based upon the average closing price of FTFT's common stock on the Nasdaq during the 10 trading days before the signing date of the final definitive share purchase agreement. Mr. Yi Yang, Chairman of Hi-Card, said, "Hi-Card currently serves more than 400,000 merchants, and over the last three years it has recorded an average of processed payments of RMB 20 billion which is approximately US$3 billion per year with average annual transaction volume of RMB 110 billion which is approximately US$17 billion over the last three years. Hi-Card serves many companies in China and has established strong business relationships with China UnionPay, major commercial banks and industry associations, and it has established an excellent reputation in the industry. Future FinTech has a highly experienced management team as well as a team of experts in blockchain technology which will help Hi-Card to expand its growth and market penetration." Story continues Mr. Yang continued, "Hi-Card has focused on the field of electronic transaction payments and information processing for many years and we believe that the cooperation between the two parties will deepen block chain technology applications in the payment and settlement field. We will continue to provide first-class network design, systems integration, technical support, terminal market promotion and other solutions for the finance, public services and electronic payment fields to form a comprehensive financial payment ecological chain." Mr. Shanchun Huang, Chief Executive Officer of Future FinTech, said, "Hi-Card is a highly active player in the payment processing space in China. It has accumulated a great deal of experience and has translated this into success in financial technology, especially in the development and promotion of application systems in the electronic payment field. We are pleased to have entered into this initial frame agreement as it represents yet another major step in expanding our footprint in financial technology services." Mr. Huang continued, "We are confident that we will be able to create synergies to further capitalize upon Hi-Card's success in China to date. Our goal is to build a sustainable and dynamic financial technology services for enterprises, financial institutions and supply chains that offer safe and cost-effective solutions that encompass a wide variety of business and management needs." About Future FinTech Group Inc. Future FinTech Group Inc. ("Future FinTech", "FTFT" or the "Company") is a leading blockchain e-commerce company and a service provider for financial technology incorporated in Florida. The Company's operations include a blockchain-based online shopping mall platform, Chain Cloud Mall ("CCM"), a cross-border e-commerce platform (NONOGIRL), an incubator for blockchain based application projects. The Company is also engaged in the development of blockchain based e-Commerce technology as well as financial technology. For more information, please visit http://www.ftftex.com/. Safe Harbor Statement Certain of the statements made in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning and protections of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions, and future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control, and which may cause the actual results, performance, capital, ownership or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements through our use of words such as "may," "will," "anticipate," "assume," "should," "indicate," "would," "believe," "contemplate," "expect," "estimate," "continue," "plan," "point to," "project," "could," "intend," "target" and other similar words and expressions of the future. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and otherwise in our SEC reports and filings, including the final prospectus for our offering. Such reports are available upon request from the Company, or from the Securities and Exchange Commission, including through the SEC's Internet website at http://www.sec.gov. We have no obligation and do not undertake to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements after the date hereof, or after the respective dates on which any such statements otherwise are made. Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/future-fintech-signs-equity-acquisition-frame-agreement-for-guang-dong-hi-card-business-service-co-ltd-301253339.html SOURCE Future FinTech Group Inc. Military families hoping to see an increased maximum weight allowance for household goods shipments will need to wait a little longer for any announcement, Army officials said Tuesday. The Army launched a cost-benefit analysis of household goods shipments and overages last year, looking at weight utilization, overages and fines. The service sorted the data by demographics, including across rank, family size, family income and other metrics, to determine whether the current weight limits should be adjusted or overage charges reduced or eliminated. Results and recommendations are being presented to senior leadership across the military services, according to Maj. Gen. Michel Russell, director of operations in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4. He declined to disclose the recommendations or say whether he thought they would be adopted during a call with reporters Tuesday. Read Next: Heres What it Costs to Keep US Troops in Japan and South Korea "We have done the analysis, we are going to start briefing the analysis, and then from [there], we will determine what are the best courses of action," Russell said. Last October, during a meeting of the Association of the United States Army, Russell said he hoped a decision would be made before the 2021 military moving season, which runs from roughly mid-May through the beginning of August. He said discussing any recommendations would be "very predecisional" and "may not be where we go." "When you make changes that affect joint travel regulations, it's not a single service that can affect the change. It's a process. You have to have the other services be in agreement, or at least have a quorum in agreement," Russell said. Service members are allotted a certain amount of weight for their household goods shipments based on rank and family size. The amounts range from 5,000 pounds for a single E-1 to 18,000 pounds for an officer the rank of colonel or captain and above, with or without a family. Members who go over their allowance may face thousands of dollars in fines based on the overage amounts. No significant changes have been made to the weight allowance for military families since 2008, when military spouses were allotted 500 pounds for professional books or equipment that didnt count against their families allowance. Russell did not rule out the possibility that changes to the weight limits could come before the PCS season starts in less than two months. Pointing to a change made last year to raise the reimbursement amount for "do-it-yourself moves" from 95% to 100%, Russell said the Army could choose to raise weight allowances in a temporary change that later would be made permanent. Roughly 72,000 soldiers and families moved last year -- a smaller than anticipated number due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The service expects that 90,000 will PCS in 2021. To ease the process, the service has set a goal of issuing orders 120 days before the date of check-in at a new duty station and it has created an Army Relocation Advisory Committee made up of Army leadership and a couple of family members, to provide insight and advice on Army moves. Officials are encouraging service members to use a new Army-developed PCS app that contains resources and references for moves "all in one place," Russell said. According to Russell, the app has been downloaded 13,000 times. The Army performed quality assurance inspections on 95% of moves in 2020 and plans for the same level of scrutiny in 2021, he said. Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. [James] McConville has a people philosophy and a quality-of-life campaign, and he has made the household goods experience an integral part of how he will retain talent and improve the household goods experience for our families and service members," Russell said. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: Travel Restrictions Now Lifted at More than Half of US Military Bases Little Rock, AR -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/23/2021 -- Home Tune Little Rock has given a shot in the arm to home owners in Arkansas and surrounding areas with its impeccable home remodeling services that suit their aesthetics and budgets as well. All home owners have their own vision for their dream homes. However over time compromises are made due to unavoidable reasons. Space and budget constraints can be a dampener on the spirits of home owners. Moreover, with passing years homes go through wear and tear, damages etc. which adversely affect the comfort as well as functionality of their surroundings. Home remodeling is the answer for repairs, personalization of spaces, and beautifying them exactly according to people's tastes. Home Tune Little Rock has been the expert in home remodeling projects for some time now. The company has become the go to destination for home owners in Arkansas and surrounding areas thanks to its impeccable services that are a blend of aesthetics as well quality and functionality. The home remodeling company understands that all home owners have their own specific requirements from the projects. It takes the effort to gain their inputs and insights to complete the projects that meet their expectations. One of the prominent services offered by Home Tune Little Rock includes kitchen remodeling. Home owners who want to declutter their kitchens or wish to incorporate some of the trendy design styles can trust the professionals working with the company. They can not only make these crucial spaces in people's homes more attractive but convenient for use too. Similarly, bathroom remodeling to stunning bold styles is a specialty amongst the services offered by the company. From classy modern baths to Japanese-inspired soaking tubs, Home Tune Little Rock has many diverse solutions that suit home owners' unique tastes. The remodeling company is also renowned for its water damage restoration services, which can save home owners a lot of hassle as well as costs in the long run. Home owners, who are recovering from the impact of water leakages and flooding, can be rest assured that their problems will be fixed at the earliest, to avoid any further structural damages. Home Tune Little Rock has an efficient mobile team, which can answer to clients' needs at the earliest. In fact, it has gained their trust with its quick-effective response rate. Experts working with the company are the best in the business of home building, remodeling and renovations. Moreover, they are friendly and aim to create a smooth experience for customers at every step of the way. The company offers customer support to its clients 24 x 7 thus maintaining complete transparency as well. Those interested in home remodeling services by Home Tune Little Rock can also benefit from the free consultation and price estimation, which is the first step for home owners to make their vision come true. About Home Tune Little Rock The home remodeling company has become the trusted name for home owners in Arkansas and its surrounding areas including Batesville, Benton and Ozark. Media Contact Home Tune Little Rock Address: Little Rock, AR 72223 Phone: 5013828645 Email: support@hometunelittlerock.com URL: https://hometunelittlerock.com/ Angola, IN (46703) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 80F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Clear skies this evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. As most fans know, Rose is currently promoting as a solo artist. To thank her staff members for their hard work, the idol shelled out on some luxury gifts - Yves Saint Laurent goods! BLACKPINK's Rose Gifts Her Staff Members Yves Saint Laurent Goods Throughout the week, Rose has been re-sharing her staff members' Instagram Stories, as well as screenshots she received from her staff, of the Yves Saint Laurent goods she gifted her staff members. The idol appears to have bought handwritten letters, flowers, and Yves Saint Laurent wallets. Each Story or screenshot Rose shared also has a message from her staff members. The one below reads, "Our Chaeyoung is a total sweetie! She prepared these gifts for every single one of us. I am so touched." The one below reads, "I am crying!" Knowing that Yves Saint Laurent is a luxury brand, it is expected that Rose spent a hefty amount of money to thank her staff. Talk about generosity! Another staff member commented that Rose herself picked out gifts for each staff member. The staff members did not hesitate to express their gratitude to Rose, with one of them saying, "Chaeyoung is super duper sweet. I am so touched by the way she prepared everything with such care." Rose definitely showed off her kind heart with her sweet actions. BLACKPINK Rose's Achievements With "-R-" On Mar. 12, Rose debuted as a solo artist with the single album "-R-." The single album includes two songs, "On the Ground" and "GONE." The latter track was teased to tans on Jan. 25 through a teaser uploaded to BLACKPINK's official YouTube channel. Rose then performed the song in BLACKPINK's first virtual concert, "BLACKPINK: THE SHOW," on Jan. 31. Within the first four days of pre-selling, "-R-" surpassed 400,000 pre-orders, making it the best-selling single album by a Korean female soloist. By Mar. 15, "-R-" surpassed half a million pre-order sales. 400,000 pre-orders came from CDs, 48,000 came from the kit, and 52,000 came from vinyl sales. On Mar. 17, "-R-" reportedly broke the record of first-week sales on the Hanteo Charts among female solo artist, selling 28,000 copies in just one day following the single album's release date. "-R-" reached number one on the digital album sales chart in QQ Music, China's biggest music-streaming service. Additionally, "-R-" ranked No. 1 in Cougar Music, another major music site in China. For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Alexa Lewis Britons are keeping their eye out for a walrus that has twice been spotted in the British Isles after 'falling asleep on a drifting iceberg'. The Arctic beast has not been seen since yesterday morning - when it was relaxing on a rock in Wales - six days after it was first seen in Ireland. Experts believe the animal may have dozed off on a block of ice and drifted across the ocean. The walrus is described as 'about the size of a cow' and was first spotted on rocks in County Kerry on March 15. The RSPCA were called out to check on the creature - which is 'underweight' - at the bottom of a cliff near Broad Haven South beach in Pembrokeshire six days later. But it has vanished again, prompting countless locals to fondly call it 'Wally', in a reference to the children's puzzle book series Where's Wally? Britons have their fingers crossed the creature is all right amid a spate of high-profile deaths of marine animals in the UK. Just yesterday, Freddie the seal - who was attacked by a dog on the banks of the Thames - was put down by vets who said it was 'the only ethical and fair option'. 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 Rumours about how the walrus made its way from the Arctic to Ireland have been swirling since the sightings. Some claim that it fell asleep on an iceberg and ended up drifting across the Atlantic. Welsh Marine Life Rescue's Cleopatra Browne was called to the Pembrokeshire coast to investigate the sighting, and found the walrus 'sat there, chilling'. She said 'it was about the size of a cow' adding: 'I've seen them on telly and the news but it was huge.' She told BBC News: 'There is a tale going around that it fell asleep on an iceberg and ended up drifting across and woke up in Ireland - and then ended up in Wales on the way home.' Countless Twitter users rushed online to dub the creature Wally the Walrus - with Ms Browne saying it is 'Wally by name, Wally by nature'. Others said Wally can replace Fungie the Dolphin, who got separated from other dolphins and lived in close contact with humans in Dingle, Ireland. The dolphin went missing in October 2020 and is feared dead. Countless Twitter users rushed online to dub the creature Wally the Walrus - with Ms Browne saying it is 'Wally by name, Wally by nature' RSPCA animal rescue officer Ellie West told Radio 4's Today programme yesterday said the creature is still an 'it' as rescue officers couldn't determine its gender before it swam off again. She said: 'At the moment it is an 'it' I'm afraid. A very unusual call that I received from our colleagues that we work closely with at Welsh Marine Life rescue.' 'Whilst it is a very unusual sight [...] it is quite a sad occurrence because we have to remember that this walrus is a very, very long way from where he should be. 'We're talking about a wild animal that's still very mobile. He's very big, we're talking about much bigger than our normal seals. This one, although he's of a large size he is a bit underweight. 'At the moment we don't know where he is, he swam away.' The walrus seemed to be in a generally good condition, although it appeared to have a few scrapes and was seen swimming well. Ms West added: 'It seems this Arctic walrus has swum over to Wales and was resting on rocks when I went to check on him. 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' 'He was resting and, although appearing slightly underweight, thankfully he wasn't displaying any signs of sickness or injury. '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.' Geoff Edmond, RSPCA national wildlife coordinator called Friday 'a landmark day for the RSPCA's wildlife team.' He said: 'While we've been rescuing animals and responding to welfare calls for almost 200 years, I believe this is our first ever walrus call. 'I will certainly never forget this day', Ms 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.' Ms West told the public if they spot the walrus to keep their distance and not to approach the animal - which 'needs to rest and conserve its 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 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 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 animal was captured on video as it floundered on the rocks of Valentia Island, County Kerry, yesterday Observers said the two-metre beast 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 six 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. 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.' 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 He added 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 said: '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 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 in Ireland by Alan Houlihan and his five-year-old daughter Muireann. Houlihan captured footage of the animal on his phone. 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 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 Other video was shared online and the animal's presence was reported to the authorities. Houlihan told RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland he and his daughter were walking down by the beach when Muireann spotted something in the water. He said: '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. '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.' 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.' 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 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.' Meanwhile Freddie the seal - who was attacked by a dog on the banks of the Thames on Sunday - was put down by vets who said it was 'the only ethical and fair option'. The animal, who was named after Freddie Mercury because of his crowd-pleasing antics, has been entertaining riverside walkers near Hammersmith Bridge in Barnes, west London, since he arrived up stream on the river last month. Yesterday there were widespread calls for dog owners to keep their animals on leads if they cannot be controlled - as others called for the one responsible for the seal attack to be prosecuted. Freddie Mercury, a seal who has been living near Hammersmith Bridge, in west London, was left with severe injuries after a dog off its lead attacked the young pup The scene immediately after the attack, with a woman pictured holding the dog. It is not known if she is the pet's owner The animal, who was named after Freddie Mercury because of his crowd-pleasing antics, has been entertaining riverside walkers near Hammersmith Bridge in Barnes Witnesses described the attack as 'savage' and said the dog would not let go despite of repeated attempts by passers-by Distressing pictures showed the young pup being mauled by a brown cross-breed at around 12.45pm on Sunday. Onlookers including a passing vet rushed over to release the dog's clamped jaws and stayed with the injured seal until emergency services arrived. Photographer Duncan Phillips, 55, who was shooting images of the seal when it was attacked on the slipway, told MyLondon: 'It was quite a vicious attack. The dog just wouldn't let go. 'It wouldn't let go despite repeated attempts by members of the public to separate the animals.' The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) sent medics to treat its severe wounds before taking it to the South Essex Wildlife Hospital (SEWH) in Tilbury by boat with help from the Port of London Authority and London Fire Brigade. But vets said in an update on Monday: 'Ourselves and the experts at British divers marine life rescue have consulted several specialist marine and orthopedic vets and as we strongly suspected having taken X-rays this morning the prognosis is extremely poor. 'Freddie's flipper is fractured and the joint dislocated. Seals do not take anaesthetic well as they have a dive reflex and don't breathe. 'We suspect the infection is spreading and with the other bite wounds to his body he is very miserable. 'At this stage we believe the only ethical and fair option we have is to end his suffering.' Four onlookers, including a vet, repeatedly tried to pry the dog's jaw off the young seal but it refused, leaving severe wounds The onlookers who had stopped to help held the seal in place until the emergency services could get there. Young Freddie was left with severe wounds and had to be taken to South Essex Wildlife Hospital with the help of the London Fire Brigade The animal doctors shared a photo of Freddie's X-ray after he fractured his flipper and disjointed his joint, while an infection also spread NEWPORT, R.I., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Systems Engineering Associates Corporation (SEACORP), a leading provider of engineering services and technology to the United States Navy announced March 19th, 2021 that it is being acquired by Roy Kapani in a private transaction. Mr. Kapani has 30 years of experience building and running successful technology companies that support the National Defense and National Security agencies of the United States of America. Mr. Kapani is the Founder of ECS of Fairfax, VA, which he ran until its sale in 2018. "I am truly excited to be working with the SEACORP team and look forward to helping them grow the company and its people into the future." Roy Kapani, Chairman & CEO Tweet this Roy Kapani Dave Lussier, President of SEACORP and his executive team of Dave Cadorette, Craig McMillian and Tanya Zaleski will continue to lead SEACORP and will ensure that the company continues its employee centric culture and commitment to delivering outstanding products and services to its customers. "The SEACORP team is thrilled to partner with Roy and his team given their respect for our culture, experience in our markets, and a shared vision on how we can continue to grow our company," said Dave Lussier. "This partnership will allow us to further build our brand, broaden our portfolio of capabilities and expand into new customer segments by investing in the business, both organically and with strategic acquisitions." Roy Kapani stated that, "The technologies developed and delivered by SEACORP have been a personal interest of mine for many years. I am truly excited to be working with the SEACORP team and look forward to helping them grow the company and its people into the future. I have deep respect for SEACORP and I am equally committed to maintaining the outstanding culture that their founder Brian Gilligan established and Dave Lussier and his team have nurtured over these past 40 years." Houlihan Lokey served as the exclusive financial advisor to SEACORP. Duffy and Sweeney LLP served as legal counsel to SEACORP. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Piliero Mazza PLLC, served as legal counsel to Mr. Kapani. About SEACORP, LLC. SEACORP's core business is providing systems, software, and hardware engineering services as well as test and evaluation services to the U.S. Navy, chiefly for submarine electronic systems. Those services include development of software and hardware, integration of Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) products, test and evaluation, and logistics products for new systems at the leading edge of information technology. SEACORP's close proximity to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport facilitates our responsiveness to customer and Fleet needs. SEACORP has a robust product development team pursuing innovative prototypes, products and emergent technologies. As a company of less than 500 employees, SEACORP actively participates in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, enabling development and test of innovative concepts for DoD applications. For additional information please visit https://www.seacorp.com/. SOURCE SEACORP Related Links https://www.seacorp.com Philadelphia, March 23, 2021 - Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have discovered that a widely used nutritional supplement may significantly reduce the risk of fatal strokes caused by a rare genetic disorder. Additionally, the findings suggest that the supplement could be used to both block precipitation of and break up the formation of amyloid plaque deposits, a common feature found in serious forms of dementia. The findings were published online today by the journal Nature Communications. The findings centered around a genetic disorder known as hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy (HCCAA). HCCAA is part of a group of diseases in which amyloid proteins build up and deposits form on the walls of blood vessels in the central nervous system. Most people with the leucine to glutamine variant of hCC (L68Q-hCC) that causes this disorder suffer strokes and brain hemorrhages in their 20s, leading to paralysis, dementia and death as these strokes become more frequent. The amyloid deposits observed in cases of HCCAA are implicated in a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Creutzfeldt-Jacob's and Huntingtons diseases. "While this is a rare disease, most patients diagnosed with HCCAA die within five years of their first stroke, so there is an incredible need to study this genetic disorder and find effective treatment options," said Hakon Hakonarson, MD, PhD, Director of the Center for Applied Genomics at CHOP and lead author of the study. Since the formation of amyloid-producing proteins is already implicated in HCCAA and other diseases, researchers have studied whether drugs that reduce the aggregation of these proteins have the potential to reduce the toxic oligomers, or polymers made up of a few different molecules. To properly study this strategy in HCCAA, the research team created cell lines expressing both wild type and L68Q-mutant hCC and then attempted to non-toxically interfere with the aggregation of the amyloid-producing proteins. The researchers also studied a supplement called N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), which is sometimes prescribed to break up mucous in the lung and has also been shown to protect against the toxic liver damage caused by an acetaminophen overdose, to determine whether it had an effect on hCC-amyloid protein deposits in skin biopsies of patients with a known diagnosis of HCCAA. The researchers found that treating these cell lines with NAC breaks the oligomers into monomers, or molecules that have been separated from the chain that brings them together. This in turn helps to prevent the formation of amyloid-producing proteins that lead to the amyloid deposits implicated in strokes and other impairments. The researchers also performed skin biopsies on six patients with the L68Q-hCC variant taking NAC to determine levels of hCC-amyloid protein deposits following treatment. Five of the six patients saw between a 50% and 90% reduction of L68Q-hCC levels, suggesting that this variant is a clinical target for reducing agents such as NAC. This proof-of-concept study led to a clinical trial to see if these results are observed in a larger patient cohort. "Amyloids cannot precipitate without aggregating, so if we can prevent that aggregation with a drug that is already available, then we could make an incredible difference in the lives of these patients," Hakonarson said. "Additionally, since we already have genetic testing available to identify these patients, we could conceivably give this treatment early in life and potentially prevent that first stroke from ever occurring." ### This work was supported by an Institutional Development Fund to the Center for Applied Genomics from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a sponsored research agreement with Artic Therapeutics LLC. Additional funding was provided by the Autonomous Community of Madrid (CAM) Spain with grant number 2017-TI/BMD-5468. March et al, "NAC blocks Cystatin C amyloid complex aggregation in a cell system and in skin 1 of HCCAA patients." Nat Commun, online March 23, 2021. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22120-4. Loyalist community groups have withdrawn from working along with the PSNI, as tensions continue to rise in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol. Sources say that community police officers were informed in recent days that they could no longer seek the assistance of loyalist community workers in east Belfast, Ards and North Down, to help defuse any potential public order situations. A senior member of the DUP was also told by loyalists that there would no longer be any cooperation with local policing. Loyalist community workers refused to help control crowds of youths that gathered on the streets of east Belfast on Sunday following Glasgow's Old Firm game between Celtic and Rangers, just weeks after Rangers' Scottish Premiership win. Sources say that loyalists were approached to ask if they could help prevent any large gatherings in breach of Covid restrictions, but that they refused to cooperate. Hundreds of people later gathered in several locations, despite the efforts of police to appeal to those within the community to use their influence to prevent breaches of Covid legislation. The PSNI has been approached for comment. The fallout from the Brexit withdrawal agreement continues to cause tensions. Yesterday, prominent loyalists warned the body tackling paramilitary activity that the NI Protocol could destabilise the region and bring down Stormont. A delegation from the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) - including chairman David Campbell, and leading loyalists Winston Ervine, Jim Wilson and Jimmy Birch - met with the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) yesterday. The LCC, an umbrella group representing the views of the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando, said it discussed its recent letter to the Prime Minister with the IRC. The letter sparked concern after the loyalist groups said they were withdrawing their support for the Good Friday Agreement due to the NI Protocol, which has created a trade barrier between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. In a statement, the LCC said at their meeting with the IRC, they "emphasised their considered view that the NI Protocol, if not changed to be consistent with the Rights and Guarantees contained within the Belfast Agreement, had the capacity to destabilise Northern Ireland and bring down the Institutions of the Agreement". They added: "The LCC members stressed they would do all within their power to maintain peace and reiterated their appeal that opposition had to be political and constitutional in nature." Over the weekend graffiti stating 'All peace deals off' appeared in the Bowtown estate in Newtownards. It was signed PAF, believed to the Protestant Action Force, a cover name used by the UVF to claim shootings and bombings during the Troubles. It also referenced the Chief Constable and PCTF (Paramilitary Crime Task Force) with crosshair targets. Meanwhile, a DUP minister has rejected a suggestion his party is considering collapsing Stormont in protest at Brexit's Irish Sea trading border. Education Minister Peter Weir was responding to weekend comments by LCC chairman Mr Campbell, who suggested the DUP was contemplating the move. He also dismissed a report that the party was set to block the passage of Irish language legislation at Stormont amid the intensifying row over the NI Protocol. Mr Weir said he was "bemused" by both claims. It's understood that Mr Campbell is standing by his claims. In an interview with the Sunday Independent, he claimed DUP leader Arlene Foster had told the LCC that collapsing the Executive was within her party's "thinking", but only after all other avenues to ditch the protocol had been exhausted. Mr Weir said his party was urging Mr Campbell to clarify his remarks, insisting the issue had not been raised at a recent meeting between the LCC and the DUP leadership. The minister said collapsing Stormont would be "counterproductive". "That is not what we're about," he said. "We're about actually trying to make sure Northern Ireland works, works for everyone." Yesterday, BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show quoted a DUP source claiming the party would not allow the introduction of an Irish Language Act at Stormont while the protocol remained. A commitment to introduce an act was a main plank of the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) deal that restored devolution. But Mr Weir again moved to distance the party from the suggestion it would not honour its NDNA commitments. "We're committed to devolution, we're committed to NDNA," he said. He added: "You know, we're somewhat bemused by some of the reports and I'm not going to get too much into some of the comments that are unattributable comments." A DUP party statement later said "dialogue and political discussion" were the ways to resolve concerns around the protocol. "We remain committed to New Decade, New Approach. All of these issues must be addressed and resolved along with the NDNA commitments if we are to achieve stability for Northern Ireland. The way forward is through dialogue and political discussion." Chennai, March 23 : The management of Siraj newspaper has petitioned the Chief Election Commissioner against appointing Kerala cadre IAS officer, Sreeram Venkitaraman as the poll observer in Tamil Nadu. Sreeram Venkitaraman has been posted by the Election Commission as poll observer for the Thiru.vi.ka Nagar constituency and Egmore constituency in Chennai. The officer was posted overruling the EC's guidelines not to post officers with a tainted background. Venkitaraman is the first accused in a hit and run death case of the Thiruvananthapuram bureau chief of Siraj, KM Basheer who was run over by a car driven by him at midnight in Kerala's capital city. The 2013 batch IAS officer is charged under IPC sections including murder, destruction of evidence and destruction of public property. Saifuddin Haji, Director, Siraj newspaper, while speaking to IANS said, "There is a clear violation of EC's manual which states that spotless IAS officers be recommended by the state Chief Secretary and posted as poll observers. However in this case all these guidelines were violated." The Siraj management has also petitioned the Secretary General in the Election Commission of India, Umesh Sinha, Kerala Chief secretary VP Joy and the Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, Tikkaram Meena against this. Basheer was run over by Sreeram Venkitaraman's car at around 1 a.m. on August 4, 2019. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's President Moon Jae-in received AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday ahead of an overseas trip, as the country began inoculating more senior citizens and health workers in an effort to accelerate its vaccination drive. Moon, 68, got the shot from a community clinic near his office in Seoul to prepare for a planned visit to the United Kingdom for a G7 summit in June. Moon's wife and nine aides who will accompany him on the trip, including National Security Advisor Suh Hoon, were also vaccinated, his office said in a statement. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has invited South Korea, India and Australia to attend the summit as guests. South Korea's government on Tuesday began inoculating nearly 300,000 people at care hospitals and nursing homes who are 65 or older and medical workers there as it steps up its vaccination drive. About 680,000 high-risk healthcare professionals and critically ill people have been vaccinated since the campaign kicked off at the end of February, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Authorities aim to inoculate nearly a quarter of the country's 52 million population by June and achieve herd immunity by November amid a third wave of COVID-19 outbreaks. The KDCA allowed people carrying out a key public mission such as a diplomatic or military task to be vaccinated starting this month. The care facility patients and employees will also get an AstraZeneca shot, the KDCA said, with about 77% of the 375,000 eligible agreeing to get it. Authorities reaffirmed on Monday that they have found no evidence of health risk despite reports of blood clots among those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe. South Korea authorised the product for people 65 and older this month after delaying its use for that age group, citing a lack of clinical data. "I'm willing to get an AstraZeneca vaccine first if that helps reassure people so that they feel safe about participating in the campaign," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a meeting on Tuesday. The KDCA reported 346 new cases as of Monday, bringing the total caseload to 99,421, with 1,704 deaths. (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin. Editing by Gerry Doyle) PPP's Oh becomes single opposition candidate for Seoul mayor Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has emerged as the unified candidate for the conservative opposition bloc in the upcoming mayoral by-election in the capital city. This has turned the mayoral race into a two-way battle between Oh of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and Park Young-sun of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). On Tuesday, Oh was declared the winner of a bipartisan primary against Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the minority People's Party. The primary results were based solely on opinion surveys of 3,200 voters conducted by two pollsters through mobile phones the previous day. The support rates obtained for the two contenders were not made public in accordance with the Public Official Election Act. But it was reported that Oh beat out Ahn, a software magnate-turned politician, by a mere 4 percent. Undoubtedly, fielding a single candidate of the opposition camp raises the chances of election victory. Yet it does not mean that Oh is sure to beat out the DPK's Park automatically. What's imperative for the opposition is to be united to expand its support base by wooing centrist voters who have lost confidence in the Moon Jae-in administration and the ruling party. The opposition bloc has been in tatters ever since former President Park Geun-hye was ousted from power over a massive corruption and power abuse scandal in March 2017. The PPP lost the May 2017 presidential election and the April 2020 general election to the DPK. It has also lost public trust since Park's impeachment. Making matters worse, the party has undergone fierce internal strife between a pro-Park faction and others. It has also failed to present policy options and future visions. Ahn's minor People's Party has also been unable to properly serve as an opposition party to check the government and the governing DPK which has a supermajority. Against this backdrop, the mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan are offering an opportunity for the opposition parties to recover their political clout. The by-elections will be held April 7 following sexual harassment cases involving former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don. Park committed suicide last July over allegations that he sexually harassed his secretary, while Oh resigned in April 2020 over similar allegations. This has dealt a severe blow to the Moon government and the DPK. The DPK has also disappointed the public further by changing its regulations banning the party from fielding candidates for any elected posts which become vacant due to its members' grave criminal acts such as sexual abuse and corruption. After lifting the ban, the party nominated Park Young-sun, a former lawmaker and minister of SMEs and startups, as the candidate for Seoul mayor. It also picked former Oceans Minister Kim Young-choon as the candidate for Busan mayor who will confront former lawmaker and professor Park Heong-joon of the PPP. Most of all, Oh Se-hoon should work together with Ahn who has promised to support the PPP candidate after his defeat. His top priority is to form a united opposition front to win the election. The opposition camp needs to take advantage of the Moon administration's policy failures related to runaway housing prices and the simmering land speculation scandal surrounding public workers. It should not lose a rare chance to put the brakes on the unilateral way of governing by the Moon administration and the DPK. The by-elections are important as they will serve as a bellwether for next year's presidential election. Rival candidates and parties should present policy options and visions to transform Seoul and Busan into better cities to live. Equally important is to ensure a fair election. All the players should engage in fair competition as the two-week campaign period starts Thursday. Keeping Up with the Kardashians star Kim Kardashian supported her 'baby' Demi Lovato at the drive-in premiere of her docuseries Dancing with the Devil in Beverly Hills on Monday. The 40-year-old reality star - who boasts 316.3M social media followers - urged her fans to watch Michael D. Ratner's critically-acclaimed rock-doc, calling it a 'must see!' The 28-year-old pop star briefly left the balcony of her Beverly Hilton room in order to put her four-octave soprano pipes to use singing onstage while accompanied by piano. Supportive gal pal: Keeping Up with the Kardashians star Kim Kardashian (R) supported her 'baby' Demi Lovato (L) at the drive-in premiere of her docuseries Dancing with the Devil in Beverly Hills on Monday 'Must see!' The 40-year-old reality star - who boasts 316.3M social media followers - urged her fans to watch Michael D. Ratner's critically-acclaimed rock-doc It was a nice live touch to Lovato's OBB premiere event where the audience were stuck inside their cars to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. As of Monday, there have been 1.2M confirmed COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles leading to 22,806 deaths - according to Johns Hopkins University. Demi (born Demetria) later held hands with a bald mystery man while clad in a pink and black-dotted blouse and a strand of rhinestones in her raven finger waves. The first two of the four-episode series premieres Tuesday on the two-time Grammy nominee's YouTube channel. 'My baby!' The 28-year-old pop star briefly left the balcony of her Beverly Hilton room in order to put her four-octave soprano pipes to use singing onstage while accompanied by piano Intimate concert: It was a nice live touch to Lovato's OBB premiere event where the audience were stuck inside their cars to avoid the spread of the coronavirus 'Pretty girl!' Demi later held hands with a bald mystery man (L) while clad in a pink and black-dotted blouse and a strand of rhinestones in her raven finger waves Will you stream it? The first two of the four-episode series premieres Tuesday on the two-time Grammy nominee's YouTube channel In it, Lovato details the near-fatal heroin and fentanyl overdose she suffered inside her $8.3M Hollywood Hills mansion back in July 2018. The former Disney Channel star - who's 'California sober' - is now 'legally blind with hearing loss and brain damage' after suffering 'three strokes and a heart attack.' On April 2, Demi will drop her seventh studio album Dancing With the Devil... The Art of Starting Over featuring duets with Ariana Grande, Saweetie, and Noah Cyrus. Tell-all: In it, Lovato details the near-fatal heroin and fentanyl overdose she suffered inside her $8.3M Hollywood Hills mansion back in July 2018 Damage: The former Disney Channel star - who's 'California sober' - is now 'legally blind with hearing loss and brain damage' after suffering 'three strokes and a heart attack' Excited? On April 2, Demi will drop her seventh studio album Dancing With the Devil... The Art of Starting Over featuring duets with Ariana Grande, Saweetie, and Noah Cyrus Meanwhile, Kim currently stars in the 20th (and final) season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which airs Thursdays on E! On December 10, Kardashian and her famous family signed a new multi-year global content deal with Hulu/Star, which starts streaming in late 2021. The newly-separated mother-of-four will also voice a mystery character in Cal Brunker's animated feature PAW Patrol: The Movie, which hits US theaters August 20. 'No Comment': Meanwhile, Kim currently stars in the 20th (and final) season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which airs Thursdays on E! Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Correction: The article previously stated that the Michigan Senate approved Elizabeth Hertels appointment to MDHHS director. It actually opted to motion for the Senate to not vote to disapprove her appointment. This move means that Hertel will remain the MDHHS director. LANSING, MI - The Michigan Senate on Tuesday opted not to block the selection of Elizabeth Hertel as new state health director after weeks of stonewalling other appointments to state agencies by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The Senate voted 18-16 to approve Hertels appointment to lead the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services during session on Thursday, March 23. This is not a majority vote, but by motioning to approve the nomination rather than disapproving, the Senate committed to allowing Hertel to continue as MDHHS director. This breaks a recent string of blocked governor appointments by Michigan Senate Republicans, who nixed 18 of Whitmers appointments over the last two months. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, called the string of rejections a political gesture to urge changes in COVID-19 restrictions. Read more: Republicans block more Whitmer appointees, wont name specific goal of political gesture However, Shirkey cast a vote ensuring more senators than not approve of Hertels appointment, crediting her experience. My vote in favor of Elizabeth Hertels appointment does not reflect agreement with her decisions as deputy director and now as director of MDHHS, but rather my belief that her background and expertise make her qualified for the job, he said in a statement. To her credit, in the short time since her appointment, I have had more conversations with Elizabeth than I did over two years with her predecessor. That communication with the Legislature must continue if we are to repair the damage done by the incompetence of the previous leadership. He added in the statement that he will continue to challenge her legal authority to issue emergency pandemic orders. In our conversations, I have made it clear to Elizabeth that I will continue to push for an end to the nonsensical loophole that allows the department director to control and harm the lives and livelihoods of Michiganders for months or even years on end, he said. During an interview on The Bart Hawley Show on JTV last week, Shirkey said he knows Hertel well, and added she is intelligent, very experienced, very tough, very clear. Hertel, formerly a deputy director of MDHHS, was Gov. Gretchen Whitmers pick to lead the MDHHS after former director Robert Gordon abruptly announced his resignation on Twitter on Jan. 22. She also started her early career working as a staff member for Republicans in the Michigan House of Representatives. The governor has the authority to appoint people to hundreds of state board and commission positions, although the Senate has 60 days to reject certain appointments by majority vote in a process known as advice and consent. Tuesday was the last day for the Senate to make a decision on Hertel. Several Republicans still attempted to block Hertels appointment. Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly, blocked Hertels confirmation, saying the new director would adhere too closely to Whitmers COVID-19 restrictions. During her confirmation hearings, Hertel stated that she could not foresee a situation where she would not disagree with the governor, Johnson said on the Senate floor. Gordon stated in a letter explaining his January resignation that occasionally there were robust conversations about policy issues where reasonable people could disagree and did. Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, called her appointment unacceptable, while Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, voted no in a protest of MDHHS public health orders replacing Whitmers executive orders that were invalidated by the Michigan Supreme Court in October. They tried to figure out new ways to micromanage our lives, Barret said. Then came the pandemic health orders from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which looked suspiciously like the orders the governor had given herself that were later found to be unconstitutional. The Michigan Public Health Code grants broad authority to the MDHHS director to issue emergency orders to prohibit the gathering of people for any purpose and may establish procedures to be followed during the epidemic to insure continuation of essential public health services and enforcement of health laws. No court has found this law to be unconstitutional. Read more: Michigans public health orders are legal under state code, but there will be constitutional challenges Hertel is married to Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing, who recused himself from the vote. He called it the hardest decision of his life, not just because shes the love of his life, but because he said shes the most qualified for the job. I cannot ask this body to vote a particular way, he said. It would be inappropriate for me to do so. What I will ask is that each of you search inside yourself and do what you believe is right. Ongoing tracking, testing and mitigation efforts are necessary to keep the state on a path towards a post-pandemic situation, Hertel said during her Feb. 25 testimony to the Senate Advise and Consent Committee, noting that its her departments responsibility to ensure that happens. In the instance of a public health crisis or a public health emergency, its absolutely the responsibility of the state health department to take action and have that authority, she said at the time. Read more from MLive: Michigan headed in right direction on COVID-19, MDHHS director says during Senate vetting Michigan Senate rejects 13 Whitmer appointments in show of disapproval over coronavirus response Michigan Republican leaders will continue political gestures to lift COVID-19 restrictions Former Michigan health director given $155K severance pay after abrupt resignation The small voice of a neighborhood child carried across the leafless trees behind our house and hit my daughter squarely in the chest. We can hear you, and were not coming! the child said. My then 7-year-old had beckoned her good friend, roving the woods with playmates, to come closer and chat from a distance. But almost a year of isolation had made them something akin to strangers. Later, Id straighten her crown and remind her why she couldnt interact closely with friends or go to in-person school or do so many of the things that had once brought her joy. But really I wanted to say, Im sorry Im sick. The day my office told us to work from home in early March last year, my neurologist was trying to figure out why my heart often raced when I stood up or walked a few steps, and why my legs turned to jelly and my vision went black in those moments. Private equity firm Bluff Point Associates has acquired True North Networks (True North), adding the managed services, private cloud hosting and Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) to its growing portfolio of technology companies serving the financial services industry. The transaction closed on March 12, 2021, and deal terms were not disclosed. Founded in 2002, True North Networks provides SEC-compliant information technology solutions, network security and support to independent registered investment advisors (RIAs) and other financial services organizations across the country. Founder and President Steven Ryder is recognized as a leading expert on the cybersecurity issues facing financial advisors. Technological innovation continues to propel RIAs and the wealth management industry forward as the need for data privacy, network speed and cybersecurity intensifies, said Bluff Point Associates Managing Director Kevin Fahey. We believe theres a considerable demand for secure and flexible cloud-based solutions providers that understand how to serve RIAs and the regulatory framework they operate in, and were committed to helping True North capitalize on this opportunity. Were excited about the next phase in True Norths evolution, which enhances our ability to offer RIAs the most critical and innovative enterprise-level IT solutions that are compliant with regulatory guidance, along with our world-class expertise and support, said Steven Ryder, True Norths President. Were laser-focused on helping our clients use technology to drive their businesses forward securely in any environment and were proud that we can continue to grow alongside them. Ryder will continue to serve as President of True North, which will continue to be headquartered in Swanzey, New Hampshire. The company was previously employee-owned, and accordingly, every True North employee benefited from the acquisition. About Bluff Point Associates Bluff Point Associates is a private equity firm based in Westport, Connecticut. Bluff Point actively invests in the healthcare information services sector as well as information services companies supporting the banking, trust, securities, retirement and wealth management sectors of the financial services industry. Bluff Point's team collectively has decades of experience in recognizing a company's growth potential and working with its management to reach that potential. For more information regarding Bluff Point, visit http://www.bluffpt.com. About True North Networks Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Swanzey, New Hampshire, True North Networks is a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) offering managed IT services, private cloud hosting and support to independent RIAs and other organizations of varying sizes across the country. The company partners with leading technology firms to provide information and network security and support, eliminating IT issues before they cause expensive downtime. For more information, visit http://www.truenorthnetworks.com. Burma Made Homeless by Junta, Myanmar Govt Workers Vow to Continue Strike Till Regime Falls Hospital staff at Mandalay General Hospital vacated their government housing on March 20 rather than abandon the CDM and go back to work under the military regime. In its latest attempt to stifle workers protests, the military regime has given striking workers in several cities an ultimatum: return to work or face eviction from their state-provided housing. On Saturday, the regime issued a letter warning striking railway workers in the countrys second-biggest city, Mandalay, that they would have to move out of their government housing within five days unless they resumed work on Monday. Unbowed, thousands of railway workers moved out of their homes rather than give up their protest against the regime. Myanmar government employeesincluding doctors, nurses, teachers, railway workers, engineers, garbage collectors, electricity workers, administrative staff, bankers and employees of a range of government ministrieshave been taking part in the civil disobedience movement (CDM), a widespread protest movement against the regime, since a few days after the Feb. 1 coup, refusing to work under the men in uniform in an effort to make the country impossible for them to govern. Furious at the collective resistance that has paralyzed the government mechanism for over a month, the regime has attempted to intimidate striking workers by, among other things, firing weapons during nighttime patrols of residential areas, arresting people, and dismissing or suspending workers from their positions. However, the eviction warnings and other threats have failed to deter the protesting workers. We were in tears as we left our homes. Not because we are sad or scared of them. But because we are indignant at being bullied and abused by those armed with weapons, a 50-year-old woman said. Her family moved out of the largest railway staff housing complex in Mandalay Region, where they lived for more than 10 years, on Sunday. We have nothing to fight back withnot even a toothpick. But we will fight [the junta] with the CDM until they fall, she said. Around 450 households in the housing complexmore than 1,000 peoplemoved out over the weekend. Other housing centers for railway workers in Mandalay also saw striking workers leave to continue their protest. All of us are poor. But we dont care, even if we dont have any place to relocate to, or face hunger. No matter what, we will continue the strike. For her, the fight against the junta is a fight for the future of her young son. She said she doesnt want him to experience a repeat of the suffering she faced under the previous military dictatorship after the coup in 1988. Mandalay residents and charity groups helped the workers move out, carrying furniture and other household items and providing free trucks, vans, pickup trucks, meals and temporary shelter. A volunteer group assisting the workers said support will be required to meet the evicted workers basic needs, including shelter and food supplies, in the long term, adding that it is important that all who need such assistance receive it. The evictions compound the hardship for the striking workers, who have already forgone their salaries. A son of a 59-year-old railway worker at the Mahlwagone Railway station in Yangon Region said many families of station employees who had been evicted from staff housing were struggling to find shelter and feed themselves. Around 1,000 workers and their families living at the stations staff quarters fled their homes on March 10 after security forces raided their neighborhood. The son of the striking railway worker said soldiers and police told the strikers that if they returned to work, they could stay in the housing. However, more than 90 percent of the workers there fled their homes rather than return to work under the military regime. Given only a few hours to vacate the premises, the workers were each only able to bring a few items of clothing and some food, leaving furniture and household items behind. My parents were only able to bring their national registration cards and a few clothes with them when they fled, as I was away at that time. My mom left her medicines behind and many other older people in the quarter did too. But at this time we cant afford to buy pills and medicines while we are struggling to find food and shelter, he said. The railway employees son added that many striking workers have no idea how to connect with the support groups and lack secure and systematic channels to do so. Regardless of the hardship, the young man believed all the striking workers and their families were determined to continue their strike until the end. The military regime has issued arrest warrants for several well-known CDM supporters on incitement charges. Leading strike organizers, including several medics who initiated the protest movement among government staff, have also been targeted for arrest. It is estimated that more than 60 civil servants taking part in the CDM have been arrested and charged since Feb. 1. Doctors, engineers, teachers, railway staff, directors and managers of governmental departments and administrative staff are among those who have been detained. A doctor from a hospital in Naypyitaw who went into hiding to evade arrest said hundreds of doctors, nurses and healthcare workers now faced financial hardship as many of them are on the run. More than 400 employees of his hospital had to move out of their staff housing in mid-February to continue the protest, and have been hiding in temporary shelters since then. The number of healthcare workers evicted from government housing in different states and regions has been growing in recent days. The doctor said the threats had failed to stop the CDM, and in fact it was continuing to grow. He estimated that around 90 percent of government staff across the country were now taking part in the movement. On Tuesday morning, 140 railway workers in Mawlamyine, Mon State also moved out of their staff housing rather than return to work. Acknowledging the power of the CDM, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Thomas H. Andrews, said, The junta knows how to fight weapons of war, but it is ill equipped to fight weapons of peace, which is what the CDM [is]. The CDMand the broader opposition to the juntawill be strongest and most effective if it, and its leadership, can resist calls and any impulse to fight violence with violence, he added. You may also like these stories: Dissidents Fleeing Myanmar Junta Find Shelter and Support with Ethnic Armed Groups Myanmar Junta Fires Striking Ministry of Foreign Affairs Staff KNU Blocks Food Deliveries to Myanmar Military Regime Soldiers in Karen State David Cameron came under fire again last night after it emerged he has dodged declaring his lobbying activities including with the watchdog he set up. The former prime minister is already facing demands for an inquiry over text messages he sent to Rishi Sunak last year on behalf of a failed financial firm he was advising. He also contacted officials in the Treasury and No 10 as part of Greensill Capitals bid to gain more access to taxpayer-backed Covid support loans. David Cameron (pictured) came under fire again last night after it emerged he has dodged declaring his lobbying activities But it can be revealed today that Mr Cameron is not on any of the UKs three main registers of lobbyists. He has not signed up with the Register of Consultant Lobbyists that he set up while in No 10. It states that it aims to enhance the transparency of those seeking to lobby Ministers and Permanent Secretaries on behalf of a third party. Anyone whose work involves contacting a UK Government Minister or Permanent Secretary on behalf of a third party, in return for payment is meant to sign up. It does not apply to lobbying by in-house teams or individuals so Mr Cameron may argue that as an adviser to Greensill he was exempt. In-house lobbyists are instead encouraged to consider including themselves on the voluntary registers maintained by industry bodies. The former prime minister is already facing demands for an inquiry over text messages he sent to Rishi Sunak (pictured) last year on behalf of a failed financial firm he was advising Mr Camerons name is not on the latest versions of the two main industry lists either. Rachael Clamp, chairman of CIPR Public Affairs, which runs the UK Lobbying Register, said: It was David Cameron himself who, as prime minister, steered the Lobbying Act through Parliament on the promise that it would improve public trust in lobbying. Now he has taken on a lobbying role that falls outside the scope of the Act he devised. A public register of lobbyists must truly reflect all lobbying activity in a consistent, not selective, way. Liam Herbert, chairman of the PRCA board that runs the Public Affairs Register, said: Transparency and disclosure are vital. We would strongly encourage unregulated lobbyists to embrace rigorous professional standards and to sign up to an independent and enforceable code of conduct. Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said Mr Cameron was guilty of hypocrisy given a warning he gave about lobbying in 2010 and for being in office when the register was set up. Mr Camerons spokesman has declined to comment. Hundreds of people gathered on the streets and protested against the tightening of anti-virus measures in Bosnia as cases continue to surge. According to the reports by AP, people were heard shouting Down with measures as they gathered in the northern town of Banja Luka demanding help from the state for local businesses. Bosnias capital, Sarajevo has tightened measures against coronavirus as authorities struggle to cope with rising infections and a spike in deaths caused by the deadly virus. According to AP, Sarajevo has witnessed dozens of victims this month and the new cases in the country also rose from just a few hundred to more than 1,70. Cases surge in Bosnia In the streets of the capital city, lines of death notices are placed on the main mosque and people cried as they prayed in the old part of the city. On March 19, Bosnia recorded 21 new deaths due to coronavirus. The nation of 3.3 million has seen the virus surge after relaxing restrictive measures and keeping its ski resorts open through the winter. Now, amid rising cases, Sarajevo cantonal government decided to impose an overnight curfew starting Friday evening. Countrys bars and restaurants will also be shut on Saturday, except for food delivery. Bosnia is yet to start a vaccination drive for its citizens. Bosnian Serbs have received a batch of Sputnik V vaccines from Russia and crossed over to neighbouring Serbia for jabs. However, the federation entity has relied on 5,000 Astra-Zeneca jabs donated by Serbia as they await their own shipments. The officials said that those violating the rules will be punished. As per reports, the authorities have cited the dramatically worsened epidemiological situation in the city as the reason for the lockdown. Arman Sarkric, from the Sarajevo virus crisis team, even appealed to citizens to help the country implement the measures. According to a tally by the Johns Hopkins University, Bosnia has reported over 150,000 cases of infections and more than 5,000 deaths. Health experts said that this is partly because Bosnias health system remains weak decades after the 1992-95 war. The rising number of patients in recent days have also put pressure on Sarajevo hospitals, with the main one warning it is running out of space. The Sarajevo morgue has also been overwhelmed and coffins containing bodies of coronavirus victims are lined up on the concrete floor as workers in protective suits spray them with disinfectant. (Image Credits: RepresentativeImage/Unsplash/ClayBanks) TOKYO -- Japans major tour bus firm Hato Bus Co. resumed its operations on Monday following the lifting of a coronavirus state of emergency for the Tokyo area, allowing passengers to enjoy fresh air and cherry blossoms in full bloom from an open top bus. The Japanese government on Sunday lifted the state of emergency for Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures, where restrictions had remained since early January, as the availability of hospital beds had improved in the region. I have been working from home for a long time and had no chance to go out. So, (cherry blossoms) cheered me up very much, Masumi Ishii, a passenger, told Reuters after the tour. On Hato Buss open-top sightseeing bus that departed Tokyo station on Monday, all the 25 seats available on the upper deck were filled with passengers. Passengers wearing protective face masks enjoy viewing blooming cherry blossoms from an open-top sightseeing bus, operated by Hato Bus Co., after Japan's government lifted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) state of emergency in the Tokyo area, in Tokyo, Japan March 22, 2021. Photo: Reuters They enjoyed taking pictures and reached out for cherry blossom petals along the roads. Frankly, I am very happy that we could resume this course, said Satomi Yoshizuka, a tour conductor. We are taking measures and preparations so that our customers can attend without anxiety. Passengers are required to put face masks on and undergo temperature checks. Although the government, eager to jumpstart the economy, lifted the state of emergency, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga last week noted infections were creeping up and pleaded with citizens not to let down their guard. Passengers wearing protective face masks enjoy the viewing of Tokyo Station building from an open-top sightseeing bus, operated by Hato Bus Co., after Japan's government lifted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) state of emergency in the Tokyo area, in Tokyo, Japan March 22, 2021. Photo: Reuters Pedestrians walking outside Tokyo station on Monday morning welcomed the end of the state of emergency and said its effect has been fading. Natsuki Kawakami, a 20-year-old university student visiting Tokyo from her home in Kyoto, said the prolonged state of emergency made people tired of self-restraint and less cautious. I think it is good to make an end for now, and take another measure (in the future), which makes people brace themselves again, Kawakami said. As of Sunday, COVID-19 cases have totalled about 457,000 in Japan, with 8,836 fatalities, according to public broadcaster NHK. A child wearing a face mask poses for a picture as passengers enjoy an open-top sightseeing bus tour, operated by Hato Bus Co., as the tour service resumed after Japan's government lifted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) state of emergency in the Tokyo area, in Tokyo, Japan March 22, 2021. Photo: Reuters IMS Global Learning Consortium (IMS Global/IMS), the world-leading non-profit collaborative advancing edtech and learning impact, announced today the launch of the Standards First program to facilitate digital ecosystem interoperability. The program consists of three key components: Continuous support services, including targeted technical resources and training for both edtech suppliers and school districts A new compatibility certification for edtech suppliers and school districts enabling verification of live product integrations A pledge of support for making open standards the first and primary choice for integrations Over 50 IMS Contributing Members took the lead in supporting this initiative by signing the Standards First pledge. For institutions, the pledge demonstrates their advocacy for standards-based integrations and gives them a voice in the larger educational community. For suppliers, the pledge is an indicator of trust and transparency about their use of open standards. Now, anyone can endorse Standards First by signing the pledge. IMS is launching Standards First with the IMS OneRoster standard. An overwhelming number of school districts across the U.S. use OneRoster to get the digital resources they need on day one of learning. However, inconsistent implementation of the standard means the promise of plug-and-play integrationto securely and reliably exchange student datafalls short. Standards First is the best way to achieve an agile, scalable, data-rich edtech ecosystem that supports every institution and every learner. "Standards First is a call-to-action for the entire edtech community, so all learners and learning institutions can get the choice, cost savings, and data privacy that open standards enable," said Dr. Rob Abel, chief executive officer, IMS Global Learning Consortium. "We are pleased to step up to lead Standards First because our members are those organizations in the edtech sector that are most dedicated to making standards-based integrations the norm in education and learning." IMS Contributing Members signing the Standards First pledge in advance the public launch are Accelerate Learning, Inc., Amplify, Baltimore County Public Schools, Bibb County Public Schools, Blackboard, Broward County Public Schools, Burke County Public Schools, CatchOn, Cengage, Cisco, City Schools of Decatur, Classworks, Clayton County Public Schools, Crosstown High, D2L, EdGate Correlation Services, Edina Public Schools, Edmentum, Examity, Fayette County Public Schools, Forsyth County Schools, Fulton County Schools, Gainesville City Schools, Global Grid for Learning (GG4L), Gwinnett County Public Schools, Hall County Schools, Harford County Public Schools, Henry County Schools, Hudson School District, Idaho Digital Learning Alliance, iDatafy, Identity Automation, Illuminate Education, Infinite Campus, Inc., Instructure, Keller Independent School District, Kimono, Lee County Public Schools, Maryland State Department of Education, Michigan Data Hub, North Allegheny School District, OESIS Network, Oracle, Otus, Partners4Results, Richland School District Two, SAFARI Montage, Savvas Learning Company LLC, School District of Philadelphia, School District of Pickens County, Turnitin, Tyler Technologies, Unicon, Inc., VitalSource, and Volusia County Schools. The Standards First Pledge positions education organizations to leverage our collective voice to require an even playing field when purchasing and implementing instructional tools. Emily E. Bell, Ed.D., Chief Information Officer, Fulton County Schools "The Standards First initiative is critical for districts to be intentional with the adoption and implementation of data systems. Its aspirational goal allows for a deeper partnership between districts and instructional systems as we identify, plan, and implement data interoperability, which benefits all parties." Steve Buettner, Director of Media and Technology, Edina Public Schools "As a smaller district, we can capitalize on the teamwork from IMS Standards First participants to achieve better equity in access to edtech resources for our students and teachers." Jill Hobson, CETL, Chief Technology Officer, Gainesville City Schools "In collaboration with a community of edtech leaders, the Standards First initiative by IMS Global helps my district improve instruction while also providing the necessary support to ensure interoperability among our edtech products and resources." Brian Blanton, Ed.D., Chief Information Services Officer, Henry County Schools "We are excited about IMS Global's Standards First initiative. Putting interoperability at the center of digital learning will help ensure equal access for all students." James Dale Cornelius, Chief Information Officer, Maryland State Department of Education "At Gwinnett County Public Schools, we're encouraged that the Standards First initiative by IMS Global will help continue to move the industry towards full adoption and use of IMS open standards." Dr. Debbie Durrence, Chief Data Officer, Division of Data Governance, Gwinnett County Public Schools "Working with standards creates efficiency in education; standards allow our team to focus on what matters most, students. Standards First is putting students first." Ryan Gravette, Director of Information and Technology, Idaho Digital Learning Alliance In the School District of Pickens County, our commitment to the IMS standards stems from our commitment to provide an easily accessible, secure digital ecosystem for our students and teachers. Our teachers and students have come to expect web applications that work like magic! While they may not understand the technical specs behind making this work, those of us procuring the software do. The magic ingredients are the IMS Standards! IMS Certified products give us the confidence that apps will easily fit into our digital ecosystem with minimal effort, so our students can reap the instructional impact of the software quickly. Barbara Nesbitt, Ph.D., Assistant Superintendent for Technology Services, School District of Pickens County "IMS Global continues to support the students and teachers of Clayton County Public Schools with the Standards First initiative. This initiative is critical relative to supporting access to interoperable edtech tools and resources for all district stakeholders." Rod Smith, Chief Technology Officer, Clayton County Public Schools "Seamless integration of our edtech resources is imperative for an effective digital ecosystem that serves all students and teachers. The IMS Standards First initiative ensures seamless integration with our edtech suppliers." Aaron Turpin, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent of Technology, Hall County School District The IMS Global Standards First initiative is an important step forward at a time when, more than ever, the work of the EdTech community is critical to supporting access and improving outcomes in teaching and learning around the globe. Blackboard is honored to be among the first to take the Standards First Pledge, which aligns clearly with our values and practices. A standards-first approach is at the foundation of our integration frameworks and our architectures. We have long promoted standards as the basis for third-party developers and partners to customize and extend our EdTech platform, and the Standards First initiative will further support this approach. Tim Tomlinson, Chief Product Officer, Blackboard "D2L is thrilled to be part of the IMS Standards First initiative. IMS community-developed and governed standards help institutions achieve a seamless, plug-and-play digital learning ecosystem while providing more choice and reducing total cost of ownership. This approach reflects D2L's mission to transform the way the world learns so that all students reach their full potential." David Koehn, Senior Vice President of Product Management, D2L The Standards First Initiative validates our strategic direction. As an industry collaborative for data exchange between schools and edtech vendors, GG4L is always pleased to promote open standards and the elimination of proprietary integration APIs. This initiative will further accelerate the digital transformation in schools while ensuring equity and improved security best practices. Robert Iskander, Chairman & CEO, Global Grid For Learning (GG4L) "We see IMS Global as a leader of this direction in the education market and are excited about partnering to contribute to the development and expansion of open standards. As an organization that is deeply committed to open standards in education, Standards First is a great way for us to demonstrate that commitment and link arms with our like-minded peers." Michael Webb, CTO, Identity Automation Infinite Campus fully supports IMS Global community efforts to drive digital ecosystem interoperability. Standards First empowers educators to maximize student achievement, which is central to our mission of Transforming K12 Education. Barry Brahier, Ph.D., Chief Product Officer, Infinite Campus "At Instructure, we believe that open standards are central to building highly efficient outcomes-driven learning environments. The Standards First initiative focuses on openness, seamless integration, and simplicity, which allow for a more effective connection at the point of learning between the educator and student, where it matters most." Melissa Loble, Chief Customer Experience Office, Instructure With the current volume of digital learning solutions and resources available to K-12 school districts, Standards First aims to move the bar in terms of ensuring these enterprise systems not only function together but support ecosystems designed to simplify the user experience for students, teachers, administrators, and parents. The program will help remove the complex technical issues that districts face when integrating their systems and allow them to focus on providing meaningful digital learning opportunities for their students. Tim Beekman, President & Co-Founder, SAFARI Montage and Chair of the IMS Board of Directors At Savvas Learning Company, we have always been committed to open standards and consider it a vital way to help our customers, teachers, students, administrators, and caregivers focus on the best teaching and learning experiences. Digital ecosystem interoperability is more important than ever, and we are wholeheartedly committed to the Standards First program. Michael Chai, SVP Product Technology, Savvas Learning Company "Tyler Technologies is honored to be an IMS Contributing Member and very excited to contribute to the early dialogue in support of the Standards First initiative. At Tyler, our vision of Connected Communities drives us to improve technology integration by schools and municipalities. The open integration standards set forward in the Standards First pledge are in alignment with that vision, and we believe it will result in the improved use of technology to drive student success." Sean Marlow, Sr Vice President & General Manager, Schools Division, Tyler Technologies, Inc. About IMS Global Learning Consortium IMS Global Learning Consortium is a non-profit organization that advances technology to scale and improve educational participation and attainment affordably. IMS members are leading suppliers, higher education institutions, K-12 districts and schools, and government organizations that enable better teaching and learning by collaborating on interoperability and adoption initiatives. IMS sponsors the annual Learning Impact program to recognize the impact of innovative technology on educational access, affordability, and quality while developing the leadership and ideas to help shape the future of educational technology. 10 killed in mass shooting in U.S. Colorado Xinhua) 13:23, March 23, 2021 LOS ANGELES, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Ten people, including one police officer, were killed in a mass shooting at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, the United States, police said on Monday. Boulder Police chief Maris Herold said the officer, Eric Talley, 51, was one of the first responders at the scene. Boulder Police Department Commander Kerry Yamaguchi said earlier in a news conference that a person of interest is in custody and there is no ongoing public threat. He said that the person, injured in the incident, is currently being treated. Describing the mass shooting as "a tragedy and a nightmare," officials provided limited information about the suspect and the incident as the investigation is at a "very early stage." According to the update information posted on Boulder Police Department's Twitter account, crime scene analysts are inside the building processing evidence. The Police Department tweeted Monday afternoon that there was an "active Shooter at the King Soopers on Table Mesa" and urged local residents to "avoid the area." Live video from local TV stations showed a large police presence outside the supermarket and people were escorted out of the supermarket by police officers. A shirtless man with blood on his leg was taken out of the supermarket in handcuffs by three police officers, live TV footage showed. A law enforcement source told ABC News that officers responded to a report of someone shot in the parking area, and when they arrived at the scene, a suspect opened fire at them. Two witnesses told The Denver Post that they saw a gunman entering the store. "He didn't say shit," one of the witnesses was quoted as saying by the newspaper. "He just came in and started shooting." The other witness told The Denver Post that the gunman "let off a couple of shots, then was silent, and then he let off a couple more. He wasn't spraying." "Like my fellow Coloradans, I am closely watching unfolding events at King Soopers in Boulder," tweeted Colorado Governor Jared Polis. "My prayers are with our fellow Coloradans in this time of sadness and grief as we learn more about the extent of the tragedy," he said. (Web editor: Wen Ying, Liang Jun) BRUSSELS (AP) NATO foreign ministers on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to defend each other against outside attack and underlined the strength of relations between North America and Europe, after four years of doubt and concern among some allies under the Trump administration. We are now opening a new chapter in our trans-Atlantic relationship, NATO-Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after chairing the talks. He thanked President Joe Biden for committing to rebuild the strength of this alliance and make it future-proof in a more competitive world. In a formal joint statement aimed at turning a page on the Trump era, the ministers said: We are meeting in Brussels to reaffirm the enduring transatlantic bond between Europe and North America, with NATO at its heart. The ministers, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, also committed to the collective defense clause Article 5 of NATOs founding treaty under which an attack against one ally shall be considered an attack against them all. It has only been activated once by NATO, after the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington. Former U.S. President Donald Trump often criticized NATO partners for failing to pay their defense dues, claiming falsely that they owed the alliance or the United States money. Early in his tenure, he threatened not to come to the defense of any country that did not meet NATO spending guidelines, causing deep concern among member nations close to Russias borders, like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The ministers noted that members of the 30-nation alliance are making good progress on fairer trans-Atlantic burden sharing; we welcome the efforts made by all Allies in Europe and North America that contribute to our indivisible security. We must and will do more. They also vowed that NATO would continue to adapt in the face of rising threats and systemic competition, and underlined that Russias aggressive actions constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security. Story continues Earlier, Blinken said that the U.S. is determined to revitalize our alliances, to revitalize our partnerships, starting with NATO. "When we look at virtually all of the challenges that we face as a country and that are actually going to potentially affect the lives of our citizens, not a single one of them can be effectively dealt with by any one country acting alone, even the United States with all of the resources that we have," he said. The U.S. is by far the biggest and most influential member of NATO, and Trump also surprised, confounded and sometimes angered allies with unilateral decisions, like pulling U.S. troops out of Afghanistan and northern Syria. France complained about a lack of U.S. leadership at NATO. Asked about NATO member Turkey, Stoltenberg acknowledged that the allies have differences over Ankara's decision to buy Russian anti-aircraft missiles or its aggressive behavior in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, notably a standoff over energy exploration with Greece and Cyprus. We need to use NATO as a platform and consult when there are differences," he said, expressing hope that a series of proposals he has drafted to address problems within the alliance will be endorsed by Biden and fellow NATO leaders when they meet in Brussels in June. Wits tests the waters at Wakkerstroom Wits scientists provide free testing of water quality in honour of International Water Day in Wakkerstroom. Clean drinking water in South Africa is growing ever more scarce due to the overuse of water resources, increased frequency of drought, and problems associated with the management of water infrastructure such as water treatment plants. In the case of the town of Wakkerstroom, the Pixley Ka Seme Municipality claims that it cannot afford to fix the mismanaged sewage system. The potential for contamination of drinking water is therefore an ongoing and growing problem for the residents of the town. The leakage of polluted water into the wetland also potentially threatens its ecological functioning, and the high plant, bird and invertebrate diversity that it supports. In recognition of International Water Day on the Monday, 22 March 2021, Professor Mary Scholes, lecturer in the School of Animal, Plant, and Environmental Sciences, and Professor Bob Scholes, Director of the Global Change and Sustainability Research Institute, headed to Wakkerstroom for the second Water Awareness Weekend a project jointly organised by the Wakkerstroom Natural Heritage Association (WNHA) and the University of the Witwatersrand. In order to raise awareness about the importance of water in this small, upper-catchment community, WNHA and Wits provided water quality testing at an affordable price to anyone who brought in a sample. Professors Scholes and Scholes quantified pH, total dissolved salts (TDS; mg/litre), and the presence of coliform bacteria, specifically Escherichia coli, which can indicate faecal contamination and can lead to serious diseases. Thirty eight samples in total were tested, and the results of the water quality tests were relayed to the residents of Wakkerstroom at a general feedback session and via SMS. Outcomes All water samples from municipal drinking water (collected from taps) had a pH of close to 7 and a low TDS (40-60 mg/l), whereas water collected from boreholes had a slightly lower pH and a higher TDS (200-400 mg/l). All water samples collected from municipal tap water were clear and contained no coliform or E. coli bacteria. Most of the borehole water samples showed signs of coliform bacteria contamination, and two samples contained E. coli. This contamination is almost certainly due to leaking sewage reticulation, conservancy and septic tanks and French drains, from where it percolates to the groundwater at depths of 40m. In general, the results of the water quality tests showed that despite Wakkerstrooms water management and infrastructural issues, the drinking water sourced from the upper catchment of the Utaga river, and purified and reticulated by the municipality through the towns taps is of excellent quality. The use of borehole water for human consumption is not recommended until first purified. "Making people aware of water quality and increasing demand for water in a water scarce country, is extremely important," says Professor Mary Scholes. "Water is the most important contribution of Wakkerstroom to South Africa," says Professor Bob Scholes, and is therefore an essential location at which quality water should be regularly monitored. Rashmika Mandanna has been making waves in tinsel town with her numerous projects. The star has already carved her niche in the South film industry. She is now making her presence felt in Bollywood and is already looking at her next project post her Mission Majnu schedule wrap opposite Sidharth Malhotra. A close source was quoted saying, Rashmika having a very jam-packed schedule these days, with work coming on to from all industries. She has recently wrapped up a schedule for Mission Majnu in Lucknow. She is now in Chennai for 'Sulthan', post which she will return to Mumbai for her next Bollywood film, which is kept under wraps for now. She is literally living the suitcase life, as she runs back and forth, across multiple industries, and juggling multiple projects all at once." The actress has tried her luck in the comedy genre with films like Geetha Govindam and Sarileru Neekevvaru. Now she is even busier with several movie line-ups from multiple film industries. Among them - Pushpa and Mission Majnu are two of the pan-India films we are looking forward to. The United States Supreme Court ruled on March 4 that federal government agencies may invoke the deliberative process privilege to conceal documents from release under the Freedom of Information Act. It was widely viewed as a setback for government transparency. Sierra Club sued the Fish and Wildlife Service for biological opinions in which they found a rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the intake of cooling water from power plants and industrial facilities would impermissibly affect threatened and endangered species. As Brett Hartle, the government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity, stated, This decision will make it easier for political appointees to meddle secretly in scientific decisions, gut protections for our air and water, and push more of our wildlife toward extinction. He demanded Congress take immediate steps to end this so-called privilege that favors the influence of corporations and special interests over government. The decision by the Supreme Court is the latest example of the erosion in government openness over the past 10-to-15 years. Although Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama both claimed to lead the most transparent administrations ever, they did not leave legacies of transparency. Trumps administration set new lows for the censoring and withholding government documents from journalists and citizens who request records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Media organizations filed more FOIA lawsuits under Trump than the combined presidencies of Obama and George W. Bush. Agency backlogs increased substantially in 2020, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, as the Associated Press reported, Obama censored and withheld a record number of files from requesters, and even spent $36 million in lawsuits against requests in his final year in office. There is minimal interest in Congress in approaching this as a pressing problem. Though President Joe Bidens administration shows a modest interest in restoring government transparency, a wide coalition of activists, journalists, civil liberties, human rights, press freedom, and other nonprofit organizations demand stronger action. Sunshine Week (March 14-20) is an opportunity to take stock of the state of FOIA in the United States and renew the push among journalists, transparency advocates, and press freedom and various civil society organizations for meaningful changes to address a system in crisis. The Trump Administrations Atrocious FOIA Legacy At the Federalist Societys National Lawyers Convention in 2019, Attorney General Bill Barr attacked the Freedom of Information Act, a law passed in the United States over fifty years ago to ensure public access to government records. There is no FOIA for Congress or the Courts, Barr complained. Yet Congress has happily created a regime that allows the public to seek whatever documents it wants from the Executive Branch at the same time that individual congressional committees spend their days trying to publicize the Executives internal decisional process. That process cannot function properly if it is public, nor is it productive to have our government devoting enormous resources to squabbling about what becomes public and when, rather than doing the work of the people, Barr added. Well before the pandemic, during 2018s Sunshine Week, the Associated Press reported, The federal government censored, withheld or said it couldnt find records sought by citizens, journalists and others more often [in 2017]Trumps first year in officethan at any point in the past decade. The AP also found that around 78 percent of requesters received censored files or no records at all, and the Trump administration spent $40.6 million to defend decisions to withhold federal files in court. The number of times the federal government insisted it would be illegal under U.S. laws to release requested material nearly doubled to 63,749. Such claims, the AP noted, can range from officials maintaining the release of information that would jeopardize national security, reveal trade secrets, or expose private identifying information. (Each claim can be abused to conveniently shield records that are in the public interest from disclosure.) Under the records law, citizens and foreigners can compel the U.S. government to turn over copies of federal records for no or little cost, but the AP pointed to a disturbing trend, where the government reversed itself when challenged for improperly withholding files in more than one-in-three cases. Trump withheld tax returns, fought the release of White House visitor logs, returned a Senate torture report to Congress to ensure it stayed secret, revoked a reporting rule for U.S. drone strikes, and broke a pledge by disclosing only some of the remaining records on President John F. Kennedys assassination. When it came to the EPA, Interior Department, and other agencies that oversee policies related to the environment and human health, the secrecy abuses of the Trump administration were particularly hazardous. As a letter to members of Congress from a coalition of environmental organizations pointed out, delays occurred to shield EPA Administrators Scott Pruitt and Andrew Wheeler. Both had ties to the fossil fuel industry, and only on July 8, 2018after Pruitt resigned due to career-ending scandalsdid the EPA agree to search for records from Pruitts personal email accounts. (Notably, many of the scandals occurred as a result of information gleaned from other FOIA requests.) The Center for Biological Diversity requested records generated in connection with meetings and discussions between EPA and CropLife America, an industry trade group that represents and advocates on behalf of pesticide manufacturers, formulators, and distributors, according to the letter. EPA effectively delayed producing the requested records that would reveal improper influence by industry groups, and only released them in November after Trump lost the election. More than 125 regulations aimed at protecting air, water, and land were weakened or entirely wiped out while Trump was president, the Washington Post reported. Disregarding or frustrating FOIA requests helped Trump officials conceal the influence toxic industries had over them. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Trump administration secretly loosened the rules of engagement for U.S. drone strikes and weakened safeguards intended to prevent civilian deaths. The ACLU submitted a FOIA request in October 2017 and was denied a copy of the new rules. The civil liberties organization sued the Trump administration and won in federal court on September 29, 2020, but they still do not have a copy of the rules. Obama Was Not Much Better On Government Transparency To some degree, Trumps FOIA record represented a continuation of secrecy that defined President Barack Obamas administration. In 2015, the last year of Obamas presidency, More than three-quarters of requesters received censored files or nothing at all, the Associated Press reported. It was an unprecedented development and not much lower than the rate of censorship under Trump. The Obama administration spent $36.2 million in 2016 to fight FOIA requests in court (Trump spent $40.6 million). And like the Trump administration, in more than one-third of cases, the government acknowledged it was wrong to deny the release of records when challenged. Journalist Jason Leopold, who is well-known for his FOIA journalism, and the Freedom of the Press Foundation exposed how the Obama administration collaborated with the Justice Department to kill the FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act of 2014. The Justice Department, speaking on behalf of the administration, opposed codifying into law Obamas presidential memorandum in which he instructed agencies to act with the presumption of openness. To see the administration memorialize its position in documents was shocking, Leopold declared. Obama officials even opposed the creation of an online FOIA portal to help the process for fulfilling requests become more efficient. The White House maintained the legislation would somehow increase the FOIA backlog, result in astronomical costs, and cause unforeseen problems with processing requests. Anne Weismann, who was the executive director of the Campaign for Accountability and involved in efforts to reform FOIA, called this notion ludicrous. The breadth of their objections and lack of evidence to back up their claims and their absolute opposition to codifying Obamas memo expose the lie that is the administrations policy, Weismann added. A version of the reform bill was finally passed into law in July 2016, as senators and representatives marked the laws 50th anniversary. Before the ACLU challenged the Trump administration for records on the administrations legal and factual basis for U.S. drone strikes, the ACLU fought the Obama administration for similar records. The CIA tried to pretend their targeted killing program did not exist, but in a FOIA lawsuit, a federal appeals court ruled the CIA could not deny its interest in the program. Still, the ACLU lost their lawsuit in 2016. The organization was unable to pry loose files, which would show when, where, and against whom drone strikes can be authorized, and why officials believe such strikes comply with international law. The Center for Constitutional Rights sought the disclosure of video and photos of Guantanamo Bay prisoner Mohammed al Qahtani so attorneys for Qahtani could publicly confirm whether he was tortured. Separately, 16 U.S. media outlets asked a federal court to order the release of videos showing Abu Wael Dhiab, a Guantanamo Bay prisoner who was force-fed while on hunger strike. In both cases, the Obama administration succeeded in preventing the disclosure of videos that would have likely exposed torture or abuse. Yet, perhaps the most notorious act of secrecy involved instructions to government lawyers to oppose the release of photos of detainee abuse and torture in Iraq. Obama argued the release of photos would have a chilling effect on investigations into detainee abuse, an absurd suggestion since his administration did not attempt to prosecute anyone for torture. After a federal court determined the Obama administration had not properly justified keeping each photo secret, officials turned around and claimed the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria required the re-classification of nearly two thousand photos. Only 200 indistinguishable photos of detainee abuse, like close-ups showing cuts, bruises, swelling, etc, saw the light of day. Officials in the Obama administration also tried to claim credit for being the first administration to release White House visitor logs, but the records were only disclosed because the Obama administration lost a FOIA lawsuit brought by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and Judicial Watch. Steps Biden Can Take To Fix and Strengthen FOIA On March 15, Attorney General Merrick Garland delivered a statement for Sunshine Week that celebrated FOIA. Garland said throughout his career, and at the Justice Department, he has seen firsthand the importance of FOIA and recognizes the responsibility the Justice Department has to ensure FOIAs faithful and effective administration. Garland acknowledged the strain FOIA professionals were under during the COVID-19 pandemic and mentioned that over 770,000 requests were processed. Yet crucial context for understanding this number was not shared, such as how frequently requests were denied or censored and withheld from the public. A coalition of organizations led by the ACLU and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University sent a letter [PDF] to Biden on February 22 that outlined several steps his administration could take if the administration truly is committed to transparency. It urges the Biden administration to direct agencies to proactively disclose records instead of waiting for FOIA requests or litigation. For example, the Justice Department could automatically publish final legal opinions from the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) that represent binding legal interpretations for the executive branch. (Such opinions have been at the center of FOIA lawsuits for records on the legality of torture techniques and drone strikes.) Additionally, the organization recommends enforcement of the foreseeable harm standard when handling FOIA requests. The standard, codified in 2016, is that if the government cannot reasonably foresee that disclosure would cause harm it should process the document. Officials could provide a particularized explanation that connected potential harm to specific information requested instead of giving a boilerplate explanation to justify secrecy. FOIA offices and activities are underfunded, under-resourced, and beleaguered by enormous backlogs of records requests, the coalition notes. Some FOIA requests languish for years, if not decades. Funds could be increased to prioritize recordkeeping and the processing of requests. If Garland believes in the words he read for Sunshine Week, he can immediately order a review of all FOIA litigation and dismiss cases that do not fit Bidens stated commitment to transparency. The Justice Department could also assume greater leadership over FOIA implementation, and instead of sabotaging reform legislation, advocate for changes that would make the process more responsive to journalists and citizens. They could support an amendment to the deliberative process privilege exemption, which the Supreme Court recently bolstered. Biden is already failing in one respecthis administration refuses to release visitor logs for virtual meetings, which POLITICO points out is the primary mode of interaction until the coronavirus pandemic eases. It is incredibly easy to be more transparent than the Trump administration, but merely being a bit better than Trump is unacceptable. The last decade has left FOIA in utter disrepair and requires attention immediately. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, on Monday constituted a joint committee of the House to probe allegations brought against two local government council chairmen in the state. The joint committees on Public Account Committee (Local) and Local Government Administration and Community Affairs are to investigate allegations of unscrupulous activities against the chairmen of Isolo local government and Ikosi-Isheri LCDA respectively. They were accused of incursion into legislative activities in their respective councils and undermining the functionality of the legislative arms of the councils. Mr Obasa, while constituting the joint committees, said: Beyond the issue of the budget, there is need to address the victimisation and threats against councilors by council chairmen. The introduction of thugs into the Local Government chambers to beat up councilors is something we must not allow and wherever it happens we must assert appropriate sanctions; we must ensure that such chairman does not escape the consequence of such act. The allegations were detailed in the petitions titled: Petition against our House Leader, Councilor Remi Shittu, and Fraudulent Misappropriation of Public Funds accruable to Ikosi-Isheri LCDA by the Executive Chairman, Princess Samiat Abolanle Bada and abuse of Office respectively. The two petitions written and signed by aggrieved councillors from Isolo Local Council Development Area and Ikosi Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) respectively, were read on the floor of the House by the Acting Clerk, Olalekan Onafeko. Petitions In one of them, Remi Shittu, Isolo LCDA Council Leader, was alleged to have summarily suspended four councillors over their absence at sitting just before the council chairman, Shamsideen Olaleye, presented a budget. According to the petition, with the four suspended, only three councillors witnessed the budget presentation and expressly passed it within 24 hours. In Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Ajibola Usman, leader of the council, claimed there was a frosty relation between the councillors and the council chairman, Semiat Bada. According to Mr Usman, Ms Bada allegedly misappropriated public funds and instigated some councillors to boycott sittings. Session Discussing the issue on the floor of the House, Rotimi Abiru, a member of the House, urged that the petitions be looked into and that adequate actions be taken. On his part, Rotimi Olowo, another lawmaker, noted that the development is one too many. It is a breach of procedures. I suggest that an ad-hoc committee be constituted to nib it in the bud, Mr Olowo added. In his contribution, Gbolahan Yishawu, said: It is very unfortunate. The budget is a very crucial processThis cannot be possible in 24 hours. He supported the suggestion that a committee be set up to investigate the allegations. Speaking also, Abdulsobur Olawale, reflected on his experience across the councils visited recently in an oversight function. The joint committees have been given till Thursday, March 25, to report back to the House. ADVERTISEMENT Meanwhile, the House received a letter from the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget seeking approval to spend from the special account for the procurement of vehicles for official use by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). According to the letter, the purchase of the vehicles is to aid effective and efficient service. In response, the Speaker committed the request to the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget which is to report to the House on Thursday. William Tanenbaum, an avid traveler and graduate of Columbia University, has completed his new book Future Memories: a gripping and potent story of Jewish teenagers fleeing Nazi persecution in Poland for, what they assume, is a safe haven in Shanghai. Published by Page Publishing, William Tanenbaums captivating tale follows three Jewish teenage students who escape from Poland in 1940 before the German occupation of the country is complete. Although reluctant to go, they leave their families behind, anticipating returning to their families after the war. This gripping novel focuses on their lives from the moment of their departure from Poland through the time spent in Shanghai, and the uncertainty of where they will be after the war. The main characters endure unimaginable fear and suffer hardship in their struggle to reach Shanghai. In Shanghai, they become three of the over 20,000 Jews who have sought refuge from the war raging in Europe. However, with the Japanese occupation and control of Shanghai, the students, as well as the Chinese, suffer intolerable living conditions throughout the war. Memories of family and home help these Jewish students survive. Little do they know these memories will be all that remains of their life from pre-war Europe. This is the enthralling story of the journey of these three students and what will become their future memories. Readers who wish to experience this gripping work can purchase Future Memories at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 69F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Consortium of life sciences and food investors including Section 32, DSM Venturing, Dr. Rick Klausner, Dr. Jeffrey Leiden and existing investors support Meatable for its next phase of growth Meatable, the cultivated meat startup, has closed $47 million USD in its Series A funding round, bringing the company's total funding to $60 million. Meatable finalized its first showcase product in 2020 and aims to use the new funds to advance small-scale production at the Biotech Campus Delft and to diversify its product portfolio. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005394/en/ Krijn de Nood, CEO and co-founder (left) and Daan Luining, CTO and co-founder of Meatable. The Dutch cultivated meat startup recently closed $47 million USD in its Series A funding round, bringing the company's total funding to $60 million. Investors include life sciences and food investors including Section 32, DSM Venturing, Dr. Rick Klausner, Dr. Jeffrey Leiden and others. (Photo: Business Wire) The consortium consists of Dr. Rick Klausner, Section 32, Dr. Jeffrey Leiden, and DSM Venturing, and includes existing investors, such as BlueYard Capital, Agronomics, Humboldt, and Taavet Hinrikus, showing continued support. They recognize the positive impact cultivated meat will have on climate change, see the trillion-dollar potential of the cultivated meat marketplace, and are betting on Meatable to solve the industry's scalability and speed-to-market challenges with its patented opti-ox technology. Dr. Rick Klausner, former director of the US National Cancer Institute and former Executive Director of Global Health at the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, sees great potential in Meatable and its technology. "We are committed to joining Meatable in its mission to address the world's most pressing challenges. We see a smart start-up that has accomplished a lot in a short amount of time. They have a great team and game-changing technology that can address the challenges around the global food insecurity issues our planet is facing," said Klausner. "They have all the right ingredients to become the leading choice for sustainably and efficiently produced meat." Meatable's proprietary platform technology enables a fundamentally more cost effective and scalable production process. It replicates the natural process of fat and muscle growth, in proportions that emulate traditional cuts of meat. The entire process, when fully developed, is expected to take only weeks to produce meat, whereas it takes years to grow a live animal. "To be able to meet the growing demand for meat worldwide, we need breakthrough solutions. Cultivated meat has the potential to continue to produce the product we love meat using a much more efficient production process. Having Rick Klausner, Jeffrey Leiden, Section 32 and DSM Venturing support us in realizing that potential is a huge step for Meatable," said Krijn de Nood, CEO and co-founder of Meatable. "We are honored to welcome a like-minded group of investors who support us on our mission to develop, accelerate and bring to life sustainable, healthy and environmentally sound technologies that can improve the human condition. With this funding we believe we are well on our way to bringing our first products to market to sustainably satisfy the world's appetite for meat." Meatable aims to produce cultivated meat, for which no animals are slaughtered, fewer GHG emissions are released, and significantly less land and water are required. And, unlike plant-based alternatives, the end-product will provide the full experience of eating actual meat, with the same texture, taste, and nutritional benefits. After successfully completing its first pork showcase product, Meatable is currently focused on the further development of cultivated pork and beef. Meatable's technology is adaptable to any cell-based species, including cows, pigs, sheep, and fish, giving the company great opportunity for further product development. About Meatable Meatable is an innovative, Dutch food company, aiming to deliver, at scale, the new natural, cultivated meat that looks like, tastes like, and has the nutritional profile of traditional meat. Its proprietary opti-ox technology enables Meatable to produce meat rapidly, sustainably, and without harming animals. Founded in 2018 by Krijn de Nood (CEO), Daan Luining (CTO), and Dr. Mark Kotter (principal inventor of opti-ox technology), Meatable has brought together a team of experts with unique knowledge in fields including molecular biology, chemistry, tissue engineering, bioprocess development, food safety, and food science to create the new natural meat. Follow Meatable: LinkedIn, Twitter. Note to editors: Facts/figures and photos available upon request View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005394/en/ Contacts: Hilary McCarthy (US) hilary@clearpointagency.com Phone: +1 774.364.1440 Anke van de Vliet (Europe) anke@weare49stories.com Phone: +31 6 3487 3522 The Bachelorette's Ali Oetjen split from former beau Taite Radley in July last year. But on Tuesday, heartache was the last thing on the 34-year-old's mind as she appeared to enjoy an adventure around Adelaide with a male companion. In the gallery of pictures shared to Instagram, Ali can't contain her joy as she visits hotspots around the City of Churches with her friend Shaun Sheahan. Moving on? The Bachelorette's Ali Oetjen cuddled up to a mystery man in loved-up snaps shared to Instagram on Tuesday, following her public breakup with Taite Bradley The two spent their day together enjoying lunch at The German Arms Hotel, feasting on German sausages and lager. The couple then went for a stroll through Old Handorf Village Market and stopped by the Crown Adelaide for an afternoon drink. At one stage, the two stopped to take scenic autumn-themed pictures by a tree with stunning red leaves. In each of their images, the two couldn't wipe the smile off their faces. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Ali Oetjen and Shaun Sheahan for comment. Afternoon drinks: The couple then went for a stroll through Old Handorf Village Market and stopped by the Crown Adelaide for an afternoon drink Happy couple? In the pictures, Ali appears to be beaming Season of love! At one stage, the two stopped to take scenic autumn-themed pictures by a tree with stunning red leaves. In each of their images, the two couldn't wipe the smile off their faces Last month, Ali spoke to the Courier Mail and revealed she'd confirmed that she's fully recovered from her emotional split from ex Taite, 30. When asked if she was single, she simply said: 'I'm just doing me at the moment.' 'I'm into the next chapter. I couldn't be happier,' she said. Recovered: Last month, the yoga teacher spoke to the Courier Mail and revealed she'd confirmed that she's fully recovered from her emotional split from ex Taite, 30 Ali and Taite announced their split via Instagram seven months ago saying they were 'taking time apart' and giving each other 'some space'. The couple shared near identical statements underneath selfies together and said they were making the shock announcement with 'the heaviest heart'. Just weeks later, Ali joined the cast of Seven's military-style show SAS Australia. During an interrogation scene on the program, Ali tearfully explained to the drill sergeants how 'empty' she felt after losing the man she considered her 'soul mate'. Ted Cruz Blasts Gun Control Proposals in the Wake of Colorado Shooting Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Tuesday pushed back on gun control proposals by his Democratic colleagues, accusing them of taking advantage of recent tragedies to advance their goal of taking away guns from Americans. During Tuesdays Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, which took place hours after the deadly shooting in Boulder, Colorado, Democratic senators called for action to address what they described as an epidemic of gun violence. While some proposed to expand gun registration system and background checks for gun sales, a few argued in favor of banning so-called assault weapons, such as AR-15 rifles. Thoughts and prayers are not enough, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in his opening statement. And yet thoughts and prayers is all we have heard from my colleagues on the other side. Thoughts and prayers must lead to action. I agree. It is time for us to do something, Cruz responded. And every time theres a shooting, we play this ridiculous theater where this committee gets together and proposes a bunch of laws that would do nothing to stop these murders. What happens in this committee after every mass shooting is Democrats propose taking away guns from law-abiding citizens, because thats their political objective, Cruz said. When you disarm law-abiding citizens, you make them more likely to be victims, he continued. If you want to stop these murders, go after the murderers. Cruz was joined by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who accused the Democrats of discouraging law enforcement actions against violent crimes in the first place. Before we start looking at controlling the rights of law-biding citizens and regulating their guns and even setting the grounds to confiscate their guns, why dont we look at why this violence has increase to begin with? Cotton asked. There has been extended systematic attacks on our police and law enforcement professionals for years, calling them racist and bigoted and prejudiced, demanding that they be defunded and replaced with social workers, he continued. When you condemn the police, when you make it hard to do their job, you shouldnt be surprised that criminals take advantage of the opportunities that crime raises. In their first major move to push for gun control since President Joe Biden took office, the Democrats passed two gun bills in the House this month. One of the bills would establish background check requirements for gun sales between private parties, making it illegal for anyone who is not a licensed firearm importer, manufacturer, or dealer to trade guns with another person, with few exceptions. The other would increase the amount of time sellers must wait to receive a completed background check before transferring a gun to an unlicensed buyer from three days to 10 days. Biden, in his brief remarks following the Boulder shooting that left 10 dead, called on the Senate to immediately pass those two gun bills. The United States SenateI hope some are listeningshould immediately pass the two House-passed bills that close loopholes in the background check system, he said. The Hanoi Peoples Committee on Monday unveiled a master plan for the historical inner city area, including Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da and Hai Ba Trung Districts, which will involve the relocation of as many as 215,000 local residents. Pursuant to the plan, the population of the four districts must be decreased by 215,000 during the 2020-30 period, said Nguyen Trong Ky Anh, deputy director of the Hanoi Authority for Urban Planning and Architecture. According to Anh, the master plan for the citys core area has assigned distinct dispositions and functions for each neighborhood, including the Old Quarter, the French Quarter, the Hoan Kiem Lake area, and the surrounding area. More specifically, the Hoan Kiem Lake is envisioned as an ancient urban area with historical and cultural values, in which structures for commerce, service, tourism operations as well as residential buildings and public infrastructures would be erected. The Hoan Kiem Lake and its vicinity are seen as a major tourist attraction of Hanoi, where buildings for purposes of culture, administration, commerce, service, tourism as well as residential areas and historical, cultural and religious premises share the space. The French Quarter, including the blocks in Hoan Kiem and Hai Ba Trung Districts, is considered a location with cultural, architectural and historical significance, with functions of historical and cultural sites, religious premises, villas, residential blocks, commercial and financial hubs, healthcare and other public services to be prioritized in the master plan. The master plan also laid down regulations on building heights in the historical quarters, which prescribed that infrastructure in the Old Quarter, as well as the Hoan Kiem Lake and its vicinity, should not soar higher than 16 meters. Meanwhile, buildings in the French Quarter should not have more than six floors or be higher than 22 meters. Buildings in certain areas are also restricted to a height of 25 meters, or less than seven floors. The redevelopment of the historical quarter would be implemented in accordance with the general master plan which was endorsed by the prime minister in 2011. Earlier, Hanoi Party Committee secretary Vuong Dinh Hue pointed out that the 2011 master plan for the capital city only saw 86 percent completion in 2020, with most of the setbacks found in the Red River area, Duong River area, and four downtown districts. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! With adequate knowledge of the various techniques and procedures and the review of case studies, surgeons are able to better understand and provide quality aesthetic solutions to their patients, says Co-Owner and Managing Partner, Dr. Bill Kortesis MD, FACS. Augmentation Mastopexy Mastering the Art in the Management of the Ptotic Breast provides an in-depth review of the challenging procedure of combining breast augmentation and mastopexy as one surgery for plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Dr. Bill Kortesis MD, FACS and Dr. Gaurav Bharti MD, FACS of K&B Management are co-editors of this comprehensive and methodical literature that has been used by industry professionals as a guide for this dual procedure. These are complicated procedures that can safely be combined as one, says Co-Owner and Managing Partner, Dr. Bill Kortesis MD, FACS. With adequate knowledge of the various techniques and procedures and the review of case studies, surgeons are able to better understand and provide quality aesthetic solutions to their patients. Mastopexy is the surgical name for what is more commonly known as a breast lift. For decades, many plastic and reconstructive surgeons have preferred to perform both mastopexy and breast augmentation surgeries as two separate procedures due to the challenges of pairing both surgeries simultaneously. The goal of both breast augmentation and mastopexy is to elevate the position of the beasts while increasing the size of the breasts and can safely be performed with methodical planning and intra operative execution. Our goal of the inception of K&B Management is to drive healthcare innovation for aesthetic practices and with this book, we continue to provide professional medical and aesthetic value to the aesthetic space, states Founding Partner and expert surgeon, Dr. Gaurav Bharti MD, FACS. Augmentation Mastopexy provides practicing aesthetic plastic surgeons, fellows, and residents with comprehensive explanations of mastopexy and the accompanying breast augmentation techniques, potential risks and complications, case studies, as well as full-color medical imaging throughout the book. The book is co-edited by M. Bradley Calobrace MD, FACS and Chet Mays, MD. Augmentation Mastopexy Mastering the Art in the Management of the Ptotic Breast is available for purchase on Amazon and other online retail outlets. K&B Management K&B Management, founded in 2019 by renowned plastic surgeons, Dr. Bill Kortesis MD, FACS and Dr. Gaurav Bharti MD, FACS, offers strategic growth and consulting services to practices and providers in the medical aesthetic space. Charlotte-based with a national reach, K&B Management aims to facilitate the highest standard of aesthetic medicine by bridging the gap between providers and the industry. Through K&B Managements innovative, tactical approach, each provider has the means to thrive and deliver optimal patient experiences. Bill Kortesis MD, FACS Dr. Bill Kortesis is a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and board-certified plastic surgeon who aims to foster and spearhead the next generation of aesthetic medicine. Dr. Kortesis has made huge milestones in the future of aesthetic medicine through the investment of innovative technologies and the training of future plastic surgeons in the highest level of surgical technique. As Co-Owner and Managing Partner of H/K/B Cosmetic Surgery, and Co-Founder of K&B Management, Dr. Kortesis passionately believes in the important of utilizing digital means to provide optimal patient care while producing excellent results in the aesthetic space. Gaurav Bharti MD, FACS Dr. Gaurav Bharti is a board-certified plastic surgeon based out of Charlotte, North Carolina, and practices at H/K/B Cosmetic Surgery, where he also acts as Co-Owner and Managing Partner. Additionally, Dr. Bharti serves as Co-Founder of practice growth consulting firm, K&B Management. Recognized by Castle Connolly as one of its Top Doctors and American Airlines magazine as one of the Best Plastic Surgeons of America, Dr. Bharti has used his expertise to further the medical aesthetics industry and deliver the highest level of patient care. As a fellow mentor to the next generation of aesthetic surgeons, Dr. Bharti believes in the importance of continued education and serves as an influential speaker at conventions, trade shows, and podcasts surrounding the medical aesthetics industry. Ultimately, Dr. Bharti aims to utilize innovative concepts to improve patient outcomes and contribute to cutting-edge advancements in the industry. 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. Flowers left on the fencing surrounding the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, on Tuesday. Photo: Chet Strange/Getty Images Ten people were killed, including a police officer, after a gunman opened fire at a large grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday afternoon the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. in nearly two years. On Tuesday, local officials publicly identified both the victims and the alleged shooter, 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa. He was taken into custody and is speaking to investigators, but the motive for the attack is not yet clear. In the meantime, more information about the victims and the suspect continues to emerge, and the shooting has once again reignited calls for stronger gun-control laws. Below is everything we know about the attack and the aftermath. What Happened Police responded to a call of shots fired around 2:40 p.m. at the King Soopers supermarket, which anchors a shopping center on Table Mesa Drive south of downtown Boulder. Officers from the Boulder Police Department arrived, entered the store, and exchanged gunfire with the shooter, who was reportedly armed with a rifle and a semi-automatic handgun. Officer Eric Talley, who went charging into the line of fire, according to Boulders district attorney, was fatally wounded by the gunman. No other officers were injured, authorities said, and the gunman was captured at 3:28 p.m. In livestreamed video footage shot by someone who had just left the supermarket prior to the attack, three people can be seen lying motionless on the ground two in the parking lot and one just inside the store. Gunshots can be heard inside the store on the video, which captured the arrival of waves of police including SWAT. Many survivors were able to escape during the attack, with some fleeing through a back entrance, while others reportedly tried to find places to hide inside the store. Tactical police units respond to the scene of a King Soopers grocery store after a shooting on Monday in Boulder, Colorado. Photo: Chet Strange/Getty Images A shopper inside the King Soopers told the Denver Post that the shooter didnt say shit He just came in and started shooting. Another witness said the gunman let off a couple of shots, then was silent and then he let off a couple more. He wasnt spraying. Other survivors recounted their terrifying ordeal fleeing the danger: Sarah Moonshadow and her son, Nicolas Edwards, had just finished paying for strawberries when two shots rang out. She told her son to get down. We just ran, Moonshadow said. They felt the concussions of shots as they sprinted out. Outside, a body was lying in the parking lot and Moonshadow started toward it. My son said, No, Mom! We cant do anything. By the time they got outside, Edwards said police were flying into the parking lot and pulled up next to the body. I knew we couldnt do anything for the guy he said. We had to go. They got across the street and hid behind a rock at an apartment. The in-store pharmacy was being used as a COVID vaccination site, and at least some of those inside were apparently there to receive the vaccine. Steven McHugh said his son-in-law and his 2 granddaughters who are 13 & 14 were in the store as their dad got a COVID shot. He said they witnessed people get shot around them and managed to run to a staff area and hide in a coat closet until police rescued them. Elizabeth Hernandez (@ehernandez) March 22, 2021 Other businesses in the shopping center quickly went into lockdown after the attack began. Police eventually cleared the King Soopers and rescued the survivors who had remained inside. This photo. Hard to watch these scenes unfold. pic.twitter.com/ewI2yjNoYj Matthew Jonas (@photojmatthew) March 23, 2021 The Victims Below is what we know about the people who were killed in the attack, according to their family members, friends, and media reports. Talona Bartkowiak, 49 Bartkowiak, who went by Lonna, was recently engaged and was the manager of Umba, a store that sells yoga and festival clothing in Boulder. According to the New York Times, she had moved to the front range to run the store, which was founded by her sister. She was that bridge between artists and the people, Edica Pacha, an artist who sold work at the store, told USA Today. Pacha added that there was always joy radiating out of her. Suzanne Fountain, 59 According to the Denver Post, Fountain was a financial counselor in the health-care industry who helped enroll hundreds of clients in Medicare and was an actress in local theater programs. She was simply a very genuine person with tons of integrity, Hilarie Kavanagh, the owner of the health-care firm where Fountain had been an agent since 2018, told the paper. Fountain is survived by a son. Teri Leiker, 51 She had the biggest, brightest smile, Alexis Knutson, a friend, told the New York Times. Knutson had met Leiker, a 31-year employee of King Soopers, in a program that connects University of Colorado Boulder students with community members who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. She always just had these dimples that, especially when she got excited about something her smile was just huge, Knutson said. Leikers boyfriend, who also worked at the market, also had a shift on Monday. Kevin Mahoney, 61 In a tweet on Tuesday, Mahoneys daughter, Erika, said that her father represents all things Love and that she was so thankful he could walk me down the aisle last summer. She posted a picture of herself and her father, who worked in the hotel business, at the wedding. She also said she is pregnant and knows that her father wants me to be strong for his granddaughter. Lynn Murray, 62 Murray was at King Soopers filling an Instacart order on Monday, a part-time job she had picked up since her retirement from her role as a magazine photo director and editor, in which capacity she had worked at Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, and Glamour. She was an amazing woman, probably the kindest person Ive ever known, her husband, John Mackenzie, told the New York Times. Our lives are ruined, our tomorrows are forever filled with a sorrow that is unimaginable. She was one of the greatest people youd ever want to know: hardworking, loving and compassionate, caring, went out of her way to make sure everyone else had a smile on their face. Murray is also survived by two children in their early 20s. Rikki Olds, 25 A front-end manager at King Soopers, Olds had worked there for close to eight years, according to her uncle, Robert Olds, who spoke with CNN. The oldest of three siblings, she was abandoned by her mother when she was 7 years old and dropped off at her grandparents house in Lafayette, Colorado. Her uncle said she enjoyed the outdoors and spending time with her family, who he says are still in shock. My mom was her mom, he told the New York Times. My mom raised her. Neven Stanisic, 23 According to leaders of the Saint John the Baptist Serbian Orthodox Church in nearby Lakewood, Stanisic and his family fled Bosnia 20 years ago to avoid conflict in the Balkan nation. According to a reverend at the church who spoke with the Denver Post, he was likely heading to the supermarket to fix a coffee machine at the Starbucks inside, so he ended up being in the parking lot. He was an amazing child, Ivana Petrovic, a church member with close ties to the family, told the paper. Weve known the family ever since we became their spiritual father and mother here. He was a very good, shy, hardworking boy and one of those kiddos who listened to his parents the best. Denny Stong, 20 The youngest victim in the shooting, Stong also worked at King Soopers; he started on Christmas Day 2018, according to his Facebook. The superintendent of his high school, where he graduated in 2019, says Stong purchased a motorcycle with money he had saved from working at the supermarket. According to the president of a Civil Warreenactment group, he was also preparing to take part in his first reenactment. I feel angry on top of the sadness, his friend James Noland wrote on a GoFundMe page to raise money for Stongs family. Some people make decisions that lead to their deaths, which allows me to process it more easily. He did nothing wrong and deserved this in no way at all. He made no choice that led to this. He simply showed up to work, and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Officer Eric Talley, 51 Talley was the father of seven children the youngest of whom is 7 years old and his own father said the officer had been looking for a new job as a drone operator to get him off of the front lines because he didnt want to put his family through something like this. Rest In peace Officer Eric Talley. Your service will never be forgotten #BoulderShooting pic.twitter.com/FVximvhS2E Boulder Police Dept. (@boulderpolice) March 23, 2021 Police chief Maris Herold said during a press conference on Tuesday that Talley had been in her office several weeks ago to receive a reward for one of his children, who had saved another childs life using CPR, which Talley had taught all of his children. We can never thank Officer Talley and his family enough for their sacrifice, but we will not forget it, Boulder mayor Sam Weaver said. I was wondering why this article was suddenly getting traffic until I opened it and realized I have now written twice about #Boulder Officer Eric Talley. Once in 2013 when he rescued a bunch of ducklings. And today, when he was killed in the line of duty: https://t.co/VdprBIvjby pic.twitter.com/ATvBAa99Jy Mitchell Byars (@mitchellbyars) March 23, 2021 On Twitter, a person identifying herself as Talleys sister, Kirstin, wrote, Officer Eric Talley is my big brother. He died today in the Boulder shooting. My heart is broken. I cannot explain how beautiful he was and what a devastating loss this is to so many. Fly high my sweet brother. You always wanted to be a pilot (damn color blindness). Soar. A very long procession of police vehicles escorted Talleys body away from the scene of the attack on Monday night. Procession for fallen Boulder PD officer. Our view from Table Mesa and Broadway #9NEWS pic.twitter.com/6R1duMvk4Z Noel Brennan (@Noeltbrennan) March 23, 2021 Jody Waters, 65 Waters, the oldest victim of Mondays attack, was a longtime resident of Boulder, where she worked in fashion boutiques in the citys Pearl Street Mall and had dreamed of one day opening a boutique of her own. Waters reportedly had two daughters, and was originally from Illinois. Someone left this note: I was there that day. It could have been me. It could have been any of us. When will this nightmare end? With their King Scoopers receipt. They checked out at 2:17 pm, about 10 minutes before the shooting started pic.twitter.com/E4uW24A0gZ Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) March 23, 2021 The Suspected Shooter On Tuesday, authorities identified the gunman as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, of Arvada, Colorado. He was taken into custody and has been charged with ten counts of first-degree murder. He was shot in the leg by responding officers and is hospitalized in stable condition. Officials said he will be transported to jail ahead of a court appearance on the murder charges. News footage showed the shooter, wearing nothing but boxer shorts with one of his legs covered in blood, being escorted by police from the supermarket in handcuffs about an hour after the shooting began. Photo: Handout/Boulder Police Department The accused gunman is speaking to investigators, officials said, and the investigation will continue. There is no motive as of yet. An extensive inquiry is underway into his background, Boulder County district attorney Michael Dougherty said on Tuesday. Alissa has lived most of his life in the United States and is believed to be the only person involved in the attack. According to authorities, there is no further threat to public safety. Police reportedly searched the suspects house, where he lived with his family, overnight Monday. According to Alissas arrest affidavit, he purchased an AR-style firearm (a Ruger AR-556 pistol) on March 16. A family member told police they had seen him playing with a machine gun two days prior to the shooting. As Intelligencers Nia Prater noted on Tuesday, ten days before the attack, a district-court judge overturned a ban on assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines in Boulder that the City Council had passed in 2018 in the wake of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. Its not yet clear whether Alissa purchased the firearm in the city. The Denver Post reported Tuesday that the weapon the accused gunman purchased had been banned in the city prior to March 12, but: Boulder police did not issue any citations under the ban during the two years it was in place, according to records received by The Denver Post after filing a public records request. The ordinance also allowed people to keep a banned weapon in their car while traveling in the city. In a now-deleted Facebook page that apparently belonged to him, Alissa said he was born in Syria and moved to the U.S. when he was a toddler. In an interview with The Daily Beast, the accused shooters 34-year-old brother, Ali Al Aliwi Alissa, described Ahmed as paranoid and very antisocial and said he believed Ahmed was suffering from some kind of mental illness. Ali did not believe the shooting was politically motivated: [It was] not at all a political statement, its mental illness The guy used to get bullied a lot in high school; he was like an outgoing kid, but after he went to high school and got bullied a lot, he started becoming antisocial. According to court documents, Alissa was arrested in 2017 and charged with assault after punching a classmate at Arvada West High School whom he said had made fun of him and called him racial names weeks earlier. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation and community service. Former high-school wrestling teammates of Alissa told The Daily Beast and the Denver Post that they remembered him as violent, short-tempered, and paranoid about perceived slights. One said Alissa was often concerned about being targeted because of his Muslim faith. Two agreed that he was normally friendly but prone to sudden fits of rage when angry. The Response to the Attack Tonight Boulder is a city in mourning. Several hundred people are gathered in a park near the King Soopers for a candle light vigil #9News pic.twitter.com/eC8dSR9IaQ Marc Sallinger (@MarcSallinger) March 24, 2021 This is a tragedy and nightmare for Boulder County, Dougherty said on Monday night. Well be doing everything we can to fight for [the victims] and their families to make sure that we reach the right and just outcome. Colorado governor Jared Polis, a Boulder native, said Monday that his heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold and that he is incredibly grateful to the brave men and women who have responded to the scene to help the victims of this senseless tragedy. The Colorado Healing Fund, a disaster-response nonprofit chaired by former Colorado attorney general Cynthia H. Coffman, has announced it is fundraising for the victims of the attack. Representative Joe Neguse, who represents the Boulder area in Congress, said Tuesday, This cannot be our new normal. We should be able to feel safe in our grocery stores, in our schools, in our movie theaters, in our communities. We need to see a change because we have lost too many lives. As Intelligencers Nia Prater wrote on Tuesday, its possible the Boulder shooting will factor into efforts to pass new gun-control legislation: With a Democratic majority in both chambers of Congress and Joe Biden in the White House, gun-control advocates believe now is the time to act. The House recently passed legislation that would require background checks for all gun sales and transfers, but the prospect of the Senate filibuster blocking the measure looms heavily. The idea of getting rid of the filibuster in order to pass substantial legislation has gained more and more support in recent weeks, with President Biden seeming to back modifying the rule rather than dropping it outright. Only four states have had more mass shootings per capita than Colorado, according to a 2019 analysis by the Denver Post, and the Denver metropolitan area has had more school shootings per capita, starting with the Columbine High School attack in 1999, than any other major U.S. city. The attack in Boulder came just days after a series of shootings at Atlanta spas that left eight people dead, including six Asian women. CNN notes the two incidents are among at least seven mass shootings to occur across the U.S. in the past week. This is a developing news story, and this post has been updated to include new information. Oil price Oil is coming back down, all the reasons cited in the last few days remain but right now it is questions over the AZ vaccine and of course as predicted yesterday Germany going back into lockdown until mid-April. Its retail gasoline price day and the growth in the price is slowing. A gallon of Shell will rush you $2.865 up just the 1.2 cents w/w, a decent 23.2c m/m and 74.5c y/y. Oil price, Chariot. And finally WTI $61.55 +13c, Brent $64.62 +9c, Diff -$3.07 -4c, NG $2.58 +4c, UKNG 45.5p +1.91p Oil price Oil is coming back down, all the reasons cited in the last few days remain but right now it is questions over the AZ vaccine and of course as predicted yesterday Germany going back into lockdown until mid-April. Its retail gasoline price day and the growth in the price is slowing. A gallon of Shell will rush you $2.865 up just the 1.2 cents w/w, a decent 23.2c m/m and 74.5c y/y. Chariot Oil & Gas ( ) Chariot has announced the acquisition of a renewable and hybrid power developer focused on the mining sector in Africa by targeting a giant untapped market with Strategic Partner Total Eren, a Global Independent Power Producer (IPP) from Renewable Energy Sources. The company has announced that it has signed share purchase agreements for the acquisition of the business of Africa Energy Management Platform (AEMP) for consideration of up to $2 million payable primarily in Chariot Ordinary Shares, representing up to c.4% of Chariots enlarged share capital. AEMP is a renewable and hybrid energy project developer, with an ongoing strategic partnership with Total Eren, a leading global player in renewable energy, predominantly in solar and wind. Total S.A., the French multinational energy company, has a shareholding of about 30% (directly and indirectly) in Total Eren. AEMP and Total Eren (the Partners) are looking to provide clean, sustainable, and more competitive energy to operational mines in Africa, which represents a giant, largely untapped market in which Chariots management has numerous high-level contacts. AEMP comes with a pipeline of 500MW of African Mining Power Projects and the Partners are in discussions with African mine operators with an aggregate requirement for 500MW of power for whom the Partners could provide viable energy solutions. Chariots management is also looking to leverage its other significant business interests in multiple mining operations across Africa to rapidly grow the pipeline. The African mining power market is estimated to be around the same size as half of the entire UK power market. Through its Strategic Partnership with Total Eren, AEMP has a right to invest in up to 15% project equity at cost in projects developed by the Partners. This provides multiple value accretive opportunities for re-investment of anticipated material cashflows provided by Chariots Transitional Gas Project, the Anchois Development in Morocco. AEMP currently recovers its overhead costs as part of the partnership providing an immediate post-acquisition revenue stream to finance ongoing costs. AEMP has an experienced team with a proven track record of delivery, with the first project in operation, the largest hybrid solar plant in Africa, at the Essakane gold mine in Burkina Faso, successfully completed and currently generating returns providing proof of concept. Under the terms of the deal Chariot will acquire 10% project equity, alongside with Total Eren having 90%, in the operational Essakane power project with positive cashflows pursuant to the SPAs. In addition, the whole of the highly experienced AEMP team are to join Chariot, including founders Benoit Garrivier and Laurent Coche. Fabienne Demol, Executive Vice-President & Global Head of Business Development at Total Eren, commented: Total Eren warmly welcomes Chariot into this strategic partnership. We believe the combination of AEMPs experienced team with Chariots wide reach to the African mining industry will bring further value accretive opportunities to our collaboration. Together, we are determined to address mining companies energy needs and provide them with clean and competitive renewable energy solutions, even in remote areas. Benoit Garrivier, Co-Founder of AEMP, commented: I am very excited about joining the Chariot family. Teaming up with Chariots highly experienced management will allow us to take our partnership with Total Eren to the next level. Building on our award-winning Essakane solar project, we look forward to growing our pipeline of projects to transform the energy market for mining. This is a fantastic opportunity to create an innovative transitional energy group focused on Africa and support our clients in their move towards green energy and reduction of their carbon footprint. Adonis Pouroulis, Acting CEO of Chariot, commented: I am delighted to announce the acquisition of AEMP. We believe this move will provide Chariot with numerous further valuable, exciting and scalable projects that complement and build on our value accretive Transitional Gas project in Morocco. The acquisition also plays to Chariots and its managements significant experience and other business interests within the mining sector in Africa. We are already well advanced in adding to the project pipeline and we look to forward to announcing these when appropriate. This is clearly a 1+1=3 type transaction for all parties. We welcome Benoit, Laurent, and their team into the Chariot family, and we thank Total Eren for their strong support of this transaction. The strategic partnership with Total Eren is a highly valuable relationship, that we will look to strengthen and grow over the coming years. The last nine months has been a busy and transformational period for Chariot under its new management team and over the coming period we will continue to look for other energy transition ventures which will further complement and build upon the high value projects we are currently looking to fast-track. Chariot has a number of times suggested that there were a number of game-changing deals on the go and this certainly ticks that particular box. As a move away from the old elephant hunting days, drilling for oil offshore West Africa, this couldnt be more different as it takes on the move to cleaner, greener more sustainable energy. With a rapidly increasing African population, doubling to some 2bn in 25 years, the demand for renewables is expected to grow out of all proportion. So this deal that gives both companies and countries a chance to deploy in renewables is crucial and with the involvement of Total who add a major perspective and will be a key part of the relationship with the Pella stable in 17 African countries provided by Adonis Pouroulis. It is also suggested that through the JV Chariot will be able to lever off the Total balance sheet giving even more potential. Of course the Lixus tie-in will provide the already decent size Anchois discovery with a market place, with its de-risked project NPV10 of some $500m + it also ticks the scalability box where a potential 3 TCF are anticipated There are a number of sundry positives, for investors who rate the above industry average of ESG compliance the acquisition meets Chariots key ESG value of Positive Impact on the environment, countries, and communities where it operates. It marks the change towards gas on the continent and obviously with a large number of energy hungry mining projects should have medium and long term opportunities. Post completion of the acquisition, the enlarged group plans to formally change its name from Chariot Oil & Gas Limited to Chariot Limited under the tagline of Chariot Transitional Energy, very much a cleaner, greener and more sustainable company. The shares have not taken advantage of what is without doubt a game-changing deal, investors should watch the interview with Adonis and see how the various moving parts in this deal will combine to make the current market cap look positively tiny by what it should be. A key member of the bucket list Chariot is set fair with this deal. And finally England are playing India in the 1st ODI, India scored 317 and England are 217-6 needing 100 NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in its 30-year history, a major New York City youth justice nonprofit is changing its name from Friends of Island Academy to Youth Justice Network, a new name that embodies the organization's long fight to break the cycles of incarceration and disproportionate confinement of young people of color held in New York City's jails. Youth Justice Network created a nationally recognized model of post-release support for the youngest people held on Rikers Island by first connecting with them in custody, and then leveraging those bonds to help youth navigate and move forward when they return home. Youth Justice Network currently works with over 1,000 justice-involved young people annually and is part of the movement to permanently close Rikers Island. The name Youth Justice Network reflects the belief that with a coordinated, consistent support network, young people can be agents of change in their personal lives. Youth Justice Network's neighborhood-based teams help youth enroll in school, prepare for employment, strengthen relationships with families and peers, and work with defense attorneys to advocate in court on behalf of their young clients. "Youth Justice Network captures the dynamic relationships among our participants, staff, neighborhood and City-wide community, and justice partnerships," explained Christine Pahigian, Executive Director. "Young people need strong networks of support throughout their emerging adult years to help protect them, to promote healthy development, and to clear pathways so they can grow, thrive, and lead." Founded in 1990 as a group of educators working at the alternative high school on Rikers Island, Youth Justice Network developed a lasting model for post-release services for the youngest people held on Rikers. Advocates meet young people from their first moments in custody, work with them throughout their period of incarceration, and forge a network of support when they return to their neighborhoods. Youth Justice Network's youth participants, 95% of whom are young people of color, are returning home to neighborhoods that have recorded the highest levels of Covid-19 deaths in New York City. These neighborhoods, from the South Bronx to Far Rockaway, report an unemployment rate of 20-30% due to Covid-19. Armed with a new name and rooted in years of successful work addressing the racism and resulting trauma experienced within New York City's jails, Youth Justice Network is building momentum hand-in-hand with the people whose lives are directly impacted by the justice system. The Network promotes an equitable justice system grounded in innovative practices and individualized, compassionate mentorship as a key solution to over reliance on policing, supervision, courtrooms, and jail. For more information about Youth Justice Network, visit youthjustice.org and view their digital toolkit. CONTACT: Shannon Duer | [email protected] | 631-487-5883 Related Images youth-justice-network.png Youth Justice Network SOURCE Youth Justice Network VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Canadian justice department lawyers said Tuesday there is no evidence to support defense allegations of a covert criminal investigation involving the United States which could result in stopping the extradition hearing for a senior executive for China's Huawei. Meng Wanzhou, Huaweis chief financial officer who is also the daughter of the companys founder, was arrested at the Vancouver airport in late 2018 at the request of the U.S., which wants her extradited to face fraud charges. The arrest infuriated Beijing, which sees her case as a political move designed to prevent Chinas rise. The U.S. accuses Huawei of using a Hong Kong shell company called Skycom to sell equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. It says Meng committed fraud by misleading the HSBC bank about the companys business dealings in Iran. Mengs lawyers claim her extraction should be halted because Canada Border Services Agency officers detained and questioned her without a lawyer, asked questions that benefited U.S. authorities, seized her electronic devices, and put them in special bags to prevent wiping, and compelled her to give up the passcodes before her official arrest. Canadian justice department lawyer Robert Frater said Meng's lawyers offered an exciting narrative but what actually happened is more prosaic. He said the judges duty is not to conduct an audit of the border officials and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police actions but to decide if there was any prejudice that would be aggravated by allowing these proceedings to continue. Frater said the U.S. was entitled to ask that Mengs phones and electronic devices be ceased and said there no evidence that proves information from Mengs devices were shared with the U.S. Mengs lawyers will be back in court next month arguing the U.S. is exceeding the limits of its jurisdiction by prosecuting a foreign citizen for actions that took place in Hong Kong and that Canada was misled by the U.S. about the strength of its case. The extradition case could take years. Story continues Soon after Mengs arrest, China arrested Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in apparent retaliation and charged them with spying. Both have remained in custody with limited access to visits by Canadian consular officials. The two made closed-door court appearances over the last week. Canadian consular officials were barred from attending the proceedings and no verdicts were announced. Meng remains free on bail in Vancouver and is living in a mansion. The Bale Mountains in south-central Ethiopia are considered to be one of the most unique centers of endemism, with an extraordinary number of plants and animals that can only be found there. Numerous species are already known from this Afromontane high-elevation plateau, making it a biodiversity hotspot, but ongoing research continues to reveal the presence of so far unknown and undescribed organisms. Zoologists Thore Koppetsch and Benjamin Wipfler of the Research Museum Alexander Koenig in Bonn, Germany, and Petr Necas from the Czech Republic, describe one such species: a new small-sized chameleon living on the edge of the forest. Their findings were published in the open-access, peer-reviewed life science journal Zoosystematics and Evolution. There were already two species of the chameleon genus Trioceros known to be restricted to the Bale region when Thore Koppetsch and his colleagues discovered another unique representative of this group from the northern slopes of the Bale Mountains. Interestingly, this new chameleon is considered to be part of a species complex of the wide-spread Ethiopian Chameleon Trioceros affinis. Previous studies have indicated divergence between its different populations across the Ethiopian Highlands - with some of them separated by the northern extension of the Great Rift Valley, which also shaped the evolution of early humans. The new chameleon, Trioceros wolfgangboehmei, has a special name. It honours the scientific work of Wolfgang Bohme, senior herpetologist at the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig in Bonn, and his passion for chameleons and other reptiles. Apart from its biogeographical patterns, the new species also has a characteristic appearance, displaying enlarged spiny scales on its back and tail that form a prominent crest. It usually lives on small trees and bushes at an altitude of above 2,500 m above sea level. "Given the variation in colour patterns and morphology between different populations of these chameleons in Ethiopia, it is likely that these groups still bear a higher hidden diversity than expected, which might be revealed by further ongoing investigations" Thore Koppetsch notes. Furthermore, the research team urges for sustainable preservation and conservation of its habitat to mitigate the impact of human activity. ### Original source: NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- First Community Mortgage (FCM) has named mortgage veteran Billy M. Harter as a Vice President based in FCM's Cool Springs office in Franklin. While the majority of his borrowers are in Middle Tennessee (including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Thompson's Station, Spring Hill, Columbia, Murfreesboro, Mt Juliet and more), he can originate mortgages for consumers in the many markets in which FCM is licensed across the country. Billy M. Harter - First Community Mortgage "Billy strategizes so that he helps every borrower meet their short- and long-term needs and financial goals," says Dan Smith, President of First Community Mortgage. "And is especially adept at helping homebuyers and working with a full range of mortgage products, from conventional and jumbo to FHA, VA and USDA. He prides himself on leveraging FCM's internal resources and people power to create a smooth lending process and, whenever possible, quick closings, which makes him a great fit for our team." Harter has been in the financial industry for 15 years, closing over half a billion in mortgage loans. He has been recognized and received awards every year since 2008 by the Nashville Mortgage Bankers Association for loan production. Harter also keeps an umbrella of other resources borrowers may need, such as referrals to trusted insurance, tax, estate or financial planning pros. He was previously with FirstBank Mortgage (formerly Franklin Synergy). "I get to know my borrowers, taking into account current economic conditions," Harter says. "I offer an extensive line of loan products and manage the entire process so that there are no surprises." He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Memphis-Fogelman College of Business & Economics, where he majored in Finance with a concentration in Real Estate. He lives in Columbia with his wife and children. Also joining First Community Mortgage are Harter's colleagues Jason Kaplan and Johnny Smith, as well as the team members who support them across the many aspects of the loan processes. First Community Mortgage, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Community Bank of Tennessee, and includes Wholesale, Correspondent and Retail divisions. FCM is a FNMA, FHLMC, and GNMA seller/servicer and offers mortgage solutions to consumers and financial institutions. It funded over $3.5 billion in home loans in 2020, and was recently ranked 5th among top mortgage lenders in Metro Nashville, based on 2019 volume. First Community Mortgage is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS ID 629700. www.FirstCommunityMortgage.com Harter (NMLS # 659299) can be reached at 615-300-4569 or [email protected]. Media inquiries B. Andrew (Drew) Plant [email protected] 678-637-5532 First Community Mortgage Megan Chastain, VP of Marketing [email protected] 731-610-1504 SOURCE First Community Mortgage Related Links http://www.FirstCommunityMortgage.com Charleston, WV (25301) Today Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Banque Saudi Fransi, a bank based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has gone live with the latest version of Fusion Kondor, Finastras treasury management solution. The move will enhance, automate and standardise the banks treasury and trading operations, including the possibility of introducing new pricing models, trader activity monitoring and risk management features. This will enable the bank to strengthen its product offering, and improve its user experience, all while keeping pace with market changes. Zuhair Mardam, Head of Treasury at Banque Saudi Fransi said: As banks focus on improving returns on capital and meeting new regulatory obligations, the treasury occupies a unique position at the very centre of a banks operations and its revenue stream. Automating this part of the business means that we can manage global treasury trading operations with high levels of efficiency and compliance, yet still manage risk effectively and avoid expensive system costs. Ultimately, this will help us provide an excellent customer experience and help us grow our market share. Thamer Yousef, Chief Operations Officer at Banque Saudi Fransi said: We are on a journey towards transforming and digitising our business by bringing in more innovative nimble services that have a competitive advantage, to make sure that we extend our business capabilities to provide the best experience for all our customers, whether retail or corporate. Treasury is at the heart of this key initiative. Fusion Kondor will enable Banque Saudi Fransi to trade high volumes of treasury while offering the flexibility to support more complex derivatives, options, and structured trades. The solution comes with functionality that can easily be integrated with existing systems and applications and, as it is designed as an open platform, it is also easily customisable. Serge Tohme, Managing Director MEA and Turkey at Finastra said: Finastra has invested significantly in its solutions to introduce new trading and regulatory features, which have resulted in tangible business benefits for customers who have chosen to upgrade. With the latest version of Fusion Kondor in place, Banque Saudi Fransi will have a comprehensive trading, risk management and regulatory compliance solution that will help it to meet todays challenges head on. Further down the line, the bank can explore opportunities to enhance its products and services by using the solutions open APIs and connecting to Finastras platform for open innovation, FusionFabric.cloud - which is in line with SAMAs Open Banking initiative. Since 2018, Finastra has been strengthening its activities in the Middle East through the growth of its Saudi Arabia office, in Riyadh, which contributes to supporting technological and financial innovation in line with the kingdoms Vision 2030.-- Tradearabia News Service West Bengal Chief Minister has accused the BJP government of making false promises to people before Addressing a public meeting here, she accused the Centre of being eager to sell off its stakes in several public sector undertakings. "Those who cast vote last time, I want to ask you: Did BJP transfer Rs 15 lakh to each account? At the time of the election they come and take away your vote by making false promises that they will give you rice and dal," she said. She referred to work done by her government in Bankura to provide tap water supply to people. Referring to BJP promise of quota for women in government jobs, she said Trinamool Congress has already taken several steps for women empowerment. "We have given 50 percent reservation in the village, municipality. Panchayats have 50 per cent reservation. Mothers and sisters are in panchayats and in municipalities," she said. to 294-member state assembly will be held in eight phases from March 27 to 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.) ELK CITY, Idaho March 22, 2021 James Veltmeyer Famela Ramos Timothy Dixon /PRNewswire/ -- Therapeutic Solutions International, Inc., (OTC Markets: TSOI), announced today new data demonstrating its StemVacs-V iPSC derived dendritic cell product stimulates two distinct immunological mechanisms responsible for its anticancer activity in animal studies.In a series of experiments, Company scientists observed that mice bearing B16 melanoma treated with StemVacs-V possessed an increased T cell response towards the tumor associated antigen Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites. Additionally, examination of tumors regressing as a result of StemVacs-V treatment, revealed increased macrophage and natural killer cell infiltration. Depletion of either T cells or natural killer cells in treated mice abrogated the cancer-reducing activity of StemVacs-V."As we advance our stem derived product towards FDA filing, it is critical to demonstrate not only reproducible efficacy but also distinct mechanisms of action" said Dr., Chief Medical Officer of Therapeutic Solutions International. "We are particularly excited by the dual mechanism of action displayed by StemVacs-V, suggesting possible advantages to other cancer therapies which usually only stimulate either adaptive or innate immunity.""Although current immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors have resulted in remissions in numerous types of advanced cancers, these approaches still fail to produce a meaningful response in tumors considered immunologically "cold"" said, Vice President of Business Development for the Company. "Given that tumors which respond to checkpoint inhibitors are usually characterized by natural killer cell infiltration, we are currently exploring the possibility of utilizing StemVacs-V as a sensitizer for other FDA approved immunotherapies.""We are extremely excited about the rapid rate our team is advancing the StemVacs-V product, which promises to be a type of immunotherapy that is: a) easy to produce in large quantities; b) can be tailored to specific biological characteristics of different cancers; and c) appears safe and highly potent in existing animal studies" said, President and CEO of the Company.Therapeutic Solutions International is focused on immune modulation for the treatment of several specific diseases. The Company's corporate website is www.therapeuticsolutionsint.com, and our public forum is https://board.therapeuticsolutionsint.com/ir@tsoimail.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/therapeutic-solutions-international-announces-immunological-mechanism-of-action-of--stemvacs-v-ipsc-derived-cancer-immunotherapeutic-301252742.html SOURCE Therapeutic Solutions International G Systems, Inc. was awarded a contract from the Navy Surface Warfare Center to procure, fabricate, assemble, test and deliver the Vertical Launching System (VLS) Combined Missile Test Set (CMTS) MK 680 MOD 3. This firm fixed price contract was awarded in February of this year and has a value of up to $11.4 million. This is the 19th Navy awarded contract to G Systems related to the design, fabrication and support of critical VLS related equipment. This award reflects G Systems commitment to solving the needs of the U.S. Navy, its allies, and the men and women who serve daily protecting our safety, says Mark Krause, VP Sales and Marketing at G Systems. This closely compliments our work with government primes where we deliver critical systems that help ensure mission success on the air, land, sea and space, adding to our portfolio of missile test systems. About G Systems: G Systems is an internationally recognized test and systems integrator specializing in the modernization of systems of all sizes. G Systems is experienced in the design, integration, assembly, production, and maintenance of custom turnkey test solutions that support customers at all phases of a products maturity cycle. Learn more at http://www.gsystems.com. [March 23, 2021] Dassault Systemes Joins the European Green Digital Coalition as Founding Member Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) today announced that it is a founding member of the European Green Digital Coalition, a first-of-a-kind group of leading technology companies with a joint mission to support the green and digital transformation of the economy both inside and outside Europe. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210322005798/en/ (Graphic: Dassault Systemes (News - Alert) ) The EGDC was formally established by the European Union on March 19, 2021 on the occasion of the "Digital Day 2021" conference, to emphasize the key role that digital networks, technologies and applications can play in delivering environmental and climate benefits that can transform the economy in response to concerns about climate change, the depletion of natural resources, pollution and biodiversity loss. "Dassault Systemes is a world leader in Product Life Cycle Management (PLM). Our science-based industry solution experiences are widely recognized across most of the manufacturing industries sector. Our roots are in Europe. Headquartered in the EU, we are proud to play a role as founder of this important coalition that reflects and actively supports the EU's commitment to the environment," said Bernard Charles, Vice Chairman and CEO, Dassault Systemes. "As part of our purpose to harmonize product, nature and life, we have a strategic ambition to become the world's leading partner for reinventing a sustainable economy. Sustainable innovation can only be achieved by leveraging virtual worlds to imagine radically new materials, products and processes that reduce industry's carbon footprint, and advance the circular economy. By working with other sectors as part of this coalition, we can take actions to drive this innovation and the role of our customers in contributing to a better world." The EGDC will commit to investing in the development and deployment of green digital solutions in a wide range of sectors; developing standardized impact assessment methodologies for such solutions; and working across sectors to create deployment gudelines for them. Dassault Systemes' commitment to the EGDC aligns with its purpose to provide business and people with virtual universes to imagine sustainable innovations that harmonize product, nature and life. The company has outlined a sustainability strategy for 2025 to actively reduce both its own environmental footprint and that of its customers - from multinational corporations to startups. In addition to committing to set its own science-based emissions target and prioritizing partnerships with stakeholders to drive the role of digital technology in global sustainability efforts, this strategy involves helping its customers reduce their emissions by using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to create virtual twins. Already, the company's white paper with Accenture (News - Alert) has confirmed the power of virtual twin technology for significantly reducing global carbon dioxide emissions. Five use cases in the construction, transportation and mobility, consumer packaged goods, life sciences and high tech industries showed that the use of virtual twins could reduce global CO2 emissions by 7.5 gigatons between now and 2030, which is roughly equivalent to the global emissions of the transportation industry every year. Social media: Share this on Twitter (News - Alert) : .@Dassault3DS joins the European Green Digital Coalition as founding member #3DEXPERIENCE #DigitalDay #DigitalEU Connect with Dassault Systemes on Twitter Facebook LinkedIn YouTube For more information: Dassault Systemes' commitment to sustainability: https://www.3ds.com/sustainability "Designing Disruption: The critical role of virtual twins in accelerating sustainability" by Dassault Systemes and Accenture: https://www.3ds.com/sustainability/sustainability-insights/designing-disruption Dassault Systemes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions: http://www.3ds.com About Dassault Systemes Dassault Systemes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, is a catalyst for human progress. We provide business and people with collaborative 3D virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations. By creating virtual experience twins of the real world with our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and applications, our customers push the boundaries of innovation, learning and production. Dassault Systemes brings value to more than 290,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com 3DEXPERIENCE, the Compass (News - Alert) icon, the 3DS logo, CATIA, BIOVIA, GEOVIA, SOLIDWORKS, 3DVIA, ENOVIA, EXALEAD, NETVIBES, MEDIDATA, CENTRIC PLM, 3DEXCITE, SIMULIA, DELMIA, and IFWE are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systemes, a French "societe europeenne" (Versailles Commercial Register # B 322 306 440), or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210322005798/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] For many Bay Area families, Passover is the first holiday theyll celebrate twice during the pandemic. This time around, though, Bay Area restaurants are far more accustomed to creating and packaging special holiday meals for takeout. Passover, which celebrates the liberation of Jewish people in Egypt, starts Saturday, March 27 and ends on Sunday, April 4. While local community groups are hosting outdoor and virtual events, restaurants are stepping in to supply smaller family gatherings with traditional dishes like matzo ball soup, brisket and flourless macaroons during Passover, people must avoid leavened grains and wheat is only allowed in the form of matzo. For some restaurants, deadlines to pre-order for the main event on Saturday are rapidly approaching, while others plan to continue serving specials through the week. Most options are designed for takeout and delivery with some reheating required at home, and several of these restaurants are offering pick-ups or deliveries in multiple regions. A couple of spots are also serving Passover dishes for indoor and outdoor dining. Here are 10 Bay Area restaurants ready to help you plan your Passover celebrations: Canela Castro Spanish restaurant Canela is preparing a four-course Passover meal ($59 per person) with optional extras like braised lamb shank ($22) and a wine pairing dubbed Elijahs 4 Glasses to Redemption ($44). The most basic menu, though, includes a choice of entree fish or duck and a traditional trio of starters with apple-pecan charoset, egg salad and horseradish dip with crudites. Meal kit delivery throughout the entire Bay Area is also available via Feastin. Pre-order for pick-up and delivery March 26-April 4; menu also available for indoor and outdoor dining. 2272 Market St., San Francisco. canelasf.square.site/holiday Erik Ratensperger Che Fico Vegetarians and meat-eaters should be equally pleased by the family-style Passover meals at San Francisco Cal-Italian spot Che Fico. The meat menu ($200 for four) includes matzo ball soup, two salads, braised brisket and sides. The vegetarian menu starts similarly, then diverges for the main with cheesy stuffed peppers. Both come with red wine or a non-alcoholic beverage, and a gluten-free tangelo-almond cake can be added for $35. Pre-order by March 24 for pick-up March 27. 834 Divisadero St., San Francisco. exploretock.com/cheficoalimentari Floodwater Floodwater, a hip bar in Marin County, is prepping a five-course meal ($70 per person) starring gefilte fish made with local rock cod, roasted brisket with potato kugel and fun sweets like white chocolate matcha macarons. A la carte extras like charoset ($12) and essentials for the seder plate ($12) are also available. Pre-order by March 25 for pick-up March 27. 152 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley. floodwatermv.com/passover-to-go Marla Marla a popular bakery that recently moved from San Francisco to Windsor is offering a five-course meal kit ($100) that feeds two. It includes matzo ball soup, salad, roasted asparagus, potato kugel and smoked brisket topped with a matzo crumble. For dessert, add a flourless chocolate torte spiked with candied orange ($40) or chocolate-dipped macaroons ($12). San Francisco fans dont have to drive to Windsor though: Marla will also bring pre-ordered meals to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on March 27 and the Clement Street Farmers Market on March 28. Pre-order for pick-up March 27. 399 Business Park Ct., Suite 404, Windsor. marlabakery.com One Market A reliable spot for holiday celebrations, San Franciscos One Market is offering a four-course dinner ($59 per adult, $29 per child) throughout Passover. It starts with matzo ball soup, moves onto pickled salmon and 12-hour smoked beef brisket, and ends with flourless chocolate cake. And, of course, theres matzo. Pre-order for pick-up and delivery March 27-April 3. 1 Market St., San Francisco. exploretock.com/onemarket One Market Orens Hummus This Israeli mini-chains Passover feast ($75 per person) is available for pick-up and delivery in much of the Bay Area. Each person gets to choose a main course brisket, apricot chicken or grilled vegetables and will also receive eight other dishes, including mazto ball soup, gefilte fish, Moroccan carrots and chocolate mousse. Meals also come with a traditional seder plate with matzo, and smaller versions for kids are available for $20. In addition to the restaurants brick-and-mortar locations, it will pop up in Mill Valley, Piedmont and Lafayette through SF2Bay. Pre-order by emailing catering@orenshummus.com for pick-up and delivery March 27. Locations in San Francisco, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Mountain View and Palo Alto. orenshummus.com/passover Perbacco Matzo ball soup, roasted chicken and horseradish aioli-topped beets are on offer as part of this San Francisco upscale Italian spots Passover dinner. The three-course meal ($78 for two) is available for takeout and delivery, though certain items will also appear as a la carte Passover specials on the menu for indoor and outdoor dining throughout the holiday. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Pre-order by March 25 for pick-up and delivery March 27-28; indoor and outdoor dining March 27-April 3. 230 California St., San Francisco. exploretock.com/perbaccosf Pizzeria Delfina The Stoll familys matzo ball soup has a a huge annual following for its clean-tasting chicken broth and walnut-stuffed matzo balls and once again the Pizzeria Delfina team is ready to feed the masses. The restaurants locations in San Francisco and on the Peninsula will sell the soup frozen by the quart ($18) and half-gallon ($34) through the holiday. Marin County fans can also find it during Pizzeria Delfinas Saturday pop-ups in Mill Valley through SF2Bay. Pre-order for pick-up March 24-April 4. Locations in San Francisco, Burlingame and Palo Alto. pizzeriadelfina.com Sauls Deli This long-running Berkeley deli is ready to help, whether your family wants a full-blown meal or just the essentials for the seder plate, such as a roasted lamb bone with bitter herb and egg ($6). Main attractions include braised brisket tsimmes with prunes ($34 for up to three) and braised chicken with dukkah and apricot ($28 for up to three). There are also several desserts, including matzo kugel ($16) layered with toasted coconut and dried fruit. Pre-order online 48 hours in advance for pick-up March 26-April 2. 1475 Shattuck St., Berkeley. aulsdeli.com/passover Wise Sons The Bay Areas biggest Jewish deli is offering a full-blown meal kit ($132 for four) with roasted brisket, potato kugel, matzo ball soup, coconut macaroons and other holiday staples, but Wise Sons also has a lengthy a la carte menu for those whod rather mix and match. All the necessary items for the ceremonial seder plate arrive as a kit ($17) alongside other options like matzo coated in chocolate and caramel ($9), gefilte fish ($18) and roasted chicken with salsa verde ($15). In addition to serving out of Wise Sons locations, the restaurant will hold pop-ups in Berkeley, Danville, Ladera, Los Gatos, Palo Alto, San Rafael, Sonoma and Walnut Creek. Pre-order by noon two days prior for pick-up and delivery March 26-April 4. Locations in San Francisco and Oakland. wisesonsdeli.com/passover Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. India is now home to the third-largest set of unicorns globally, behind the US and China, and commands a total valuation of $90 billion, suggests a recent Credit Suisse report. Compared to 336 listed companies with $1 billion in market capitalisation (market-cap), there are now 100 unicorns in India with a combined market-cap of $240 billion, the report says. Start-ups, the note said, account for a reasonably high 6-7 per cent of new firms in India, and the ratio has risen over the past decade, with new start - ups incrementally 10 per cent of the new firms created. Our research found 100 unicorns in India in a diverse set of industries, including technology and tech enabled sectors, such as, pharmaceuticals / biotech and consumer goods, benefiting from formalisation and accelerating digital adoption, said Neelkanth Mishra, Co-Head of Equity Strategy, Asia Pacific and India Equity Strategist at Credit Suisse. Besides the usual suspects e-commerce, financial technology (FinTech), education technology, food delivery, and mobility companies there is a rapidly growing number of firms in industries such as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), gaming, new-age distribution and logistics, modern trade, biotech, and pharmaceuticals, Credit Suisse said. While nearly half of BSE500 firms started in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, and about 20 per cent started outside the top 10 cities, the spread of unicorns across the country has been different, according to Credit Suisse, with Bengaluru the dominant centre, followed closely by Delhi NCR and Mumbai. While there are a few firms of old vintage, particularly firms in conventional businesses like the NSE or Parle Biscuits, most of these firms have been formed after 2005. Whereas, just 13 per cent of the BSE500 firms have started after 2000 and 36 per cent had started before 1975, indicating new company formation had been a slow process, Credit Suisse notes. Indian FinTech companies, the note said, have attracted $10 billion of capital and are now at the forefront of Indias startup ecosystem. "Digital payments are primarily leading the FinTech scale-up in India and have grown 10x over the last five years, now having a 30 per cent share totaling $450 billion, said Ashish Gupta, Head of Asia Financials Securities Research and Head of India Securities Research, Credit Suisse. Growing equity cult Meanwhile, the market capitalisation (market-cap) of listed equities in India has risen over the years, making India the 8th largest market globally, and only 7 per cent away from being the 6th largest, suggests a recent report from Credit Suisse. The equity cult in the country - aided by supportive infrastructure and policies - has not only added the number of active investors in the stock market over the years, but has also seen more corporates get their firms listed at the bourses. The number of listed companies, according to Credit Suisse with a market-cap above $1 billion has risen to 336 from 178 in 2010 and just 72 in 2005. Customers won't be going back to the 'old way' of doing things anytime soon. Tweet this "Customers now expect brands to respond to their needs in faster, more understanding ways," said Jeannie Walters, CEO of Experience Investigators and customer experience speaker. "Customers won't be going back to the 'old way' of doing things anytime soon. Customers are valuing how they're saving time and still getting what they need." The report goes on to detail how businesses that successfully navigated 2020 did so with a customer-centric mindset that used technology to support those interactions, not replace them. For example, providing multiple channels for customer interactionssuch as phone and website chatoffered consumers the ease of experience they desired while helping businesses capture more opportunities. "2020 has shown the importance and value of human connections," said Ruby CEO, Kate Winkler. "Even though we couldn't perform business in person, the personal connection customers' crave didn't go awayquite the opposite in fact. The businesses that survived and thrived found ways to deliver on that expectation in new ways." Additional insights are offered in the report by customer experience thought leaders from Wistia, Unbounce, and more. Business owners looking to get a leg up on the competition in 2021 can download a copy of the How 2020 Shifted Customer Experience Trends for 2021 report for free at Ruby.com. About Ruby: Customers in today's on-demand economy expect quick answers and personalized service. At Ruby, we provide small businesses with the services, products, and analytics they need to manage customer interactions and deliver exceptional experiences. Trusted by more than 13,000 business owners, our US-based, live virtual receptionists and chat specialists create meaningful human connections supported by proprietary technologybuilding trust, fostering loyalty, and helping win new business 24/7, 365-days a year. Ruby has helped companies grow since 2003 and has gained national recognition as a Fortune Magazine Best Small Company to Work For in the U.S., Inc. Best Workplaces, repeat Great Places to Work rankings, and a Silver Stevie for Customer Service Training Team of the Year. To learn more, visit ruby.com or experience Ruby for yourself by calling 844-311-7829. Media Contact Katie Hurst Director, Brand & Content [email protected] 866-611-7829 SOURCE Ruby Related Links https://www.ruby.com/ Latin America The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature. Argentine vegetable oil workers strike, block plant over firings Workers in the Oil Workers and Employees Syndicate (SOEA) in San Lorenzo, a port city in Argentinas Santa Fe province, struck and blocked access to a soybean oil refinery on March 18. The measure was taken against the Buyatti plant, where about 70 workers had been terminated recently. The San Lorenzo General Workers Confederation (SOEA) branch called a one-day strike at the nearby Puerto San Martin agroexport terminals for March 19. The SOEA issued a statement saying, We want to show our total rejection of the conduct of the enterprise, generating anguish and desperation in our Buyatti coworkers. Such a situation is the cause of its arbitrary terminations, without having seen compensation that corresponds to the work carried out during so many years. Last year, the oil processing plant workers struck for three weeks before the union signed a wage and bonus agreement with the Ciara-CEC oil industry chamber. When the blockade began, Ciara-CEC issued a communique asking of the intervening authorities the maximum attention and claiming that social peace cannot be held hostage by the strike, which could paralyze the totality of the industrial and port activity, beyond the agroindustrial. Argentine teachers hold one-day walkout over salary demands Teachers in the Entre Rios province of Argentina held a 24-hour strike on March 19 to demand, according to a statement by the Entre Rios Education Association (AGMER), that the provincial government make a salary offer that merits being analyzed by March 29. The union is also calling for improved working conditions. AGMER has called for an additional 48-hour stoppage on March 25 and 26 if no such offers are made. Following failed negotiations in February, the union held a 48-hour strike on March 11 and 12 and set up a canopy in front of the Education Council in the provincial capital of Parana. The canopy for the current strike is located in front of the Casa Gris (Gray House), the governmental headquarters of the executive and legislative branches. State workers in Argentinas Cordoba province hold one-day strike to demand reopening of parity talks Members of the State Workers Association (ATE) in Cordoba province, Argentina struck March 18 to demand the reopening of parity talks. The ATE publicized a list of demands to be discussed at the negotiations, including decent salaries for state workers; permanent status for contracted workers; rehiring of workers fired during the Macri administration; periodic COVID-19 tests for all personnel; vaccinations for essential and on-site, face-to-face workers and safe and sanitary working conditions. The strike included a march from the center of the eponymous capital city to the headquarters of the Labor Ministry, where ATE local head Federico Giuliani told demonstrators that the strike could be extended to other parts of the country if no action was taken by the government. Chilean kindergarten workers strike to demand suspension of return to classes The National Kindergarten Board Workers Association (Ajunji) in Chile called a nationwide 72-hour strike beginning March 17. The action was taken to demand the suspension of the return to in-person classes, with Ajunji alleging that there were no guarantees of adequate sanitation and oversight of protocols related to COVID-19 to allow for the resumption of in-person classes. The walkout was opposed by the National Kindergarten Board (Junji), which claimed that it had updated protocols and trained personnel on how to respond to suspected cases. However, several kindergartens have been shut down due to the lack of sanitary conditions since the protocols were introduced, according to Ajunji President Silvia Silva. Junji claims that no kindergartens have been closed since the protocols were instituted. The conflict over the reopening of kindergartens in the midst of the pandemic has its parallel to the friction between the College of Teachers, who teach elementary and middle school, and the Education Ministry. Ajunji has appealed to the Comptroller General for a pronouncement on the legality of the reopening plan. Peruvian civil construction workers protest for pay Over 50 civil construction workers in Juliaca, a city in the southern Peruvian Puno region, marched down its main streets in a protest against the noncompliance by the municipal and regional governments with salary tables established by law. They denounced the fact that equipment operators, officials and unskilled workers alike have not received the sums owed to them, and the situation has worsened due to the pandemic and recent rises in the cost of fuel. Trinidad and Tobago: National Insurance Board workers protest nonpayment of wages Workers of Trinidad and Tobagos National Insurance Board held a protest on March 15 outside its headquarters in Port of Spain after being informed that the government was not going to pay the nine percent salary increases negotiated in 2020 by their union, the Public Services Association (PSA). The finance minister claims that the agreement was signed without the approval of the Human Resource Advisory Committee of Cabinet as mandated by a 2011 directive from the Finance Ministry. The PSA filed an industrial relations offence against the NIB over its failure to honor the terms of the agreement. Bahamian television workers strike to protest unilateral pay cut Some employees of the Bahamian television broadcaster ZNS struck on March 17 to protest a unilateral wage cut. ZNS decided to deduct about US$100 per month to cover health insurance co-pays. (Bahamian dollars are pegged to the US dollar.) The Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union claimed that ZNS cannot make such a decision without the workers consent but eschewed any further industrial action, saying that it would file for an injunction against the cut while the case is being fought out in court. Belizean teachers protest proposed salary cut Teachers in Belize held protest actions last week against a proposed cut and freeze on raises. Teachers in the coastal town of Dangriga, who had already organized a protest on March 10, held another on March 16. Protest organizers said that they were not acting in unison with the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) but assumed that the union was also against the cuts. One organizer told Love FM, BNTU is against the proposed salary cut and increment freeze. However, BNTU has a way how they act, how they go about showing their discontent. So, we are not against BNTU. I want to make that very clear; we are in solidarity. But our teachers wanted a voice ASAP, and that was the issue. On the same day, in the far southern fishing town of Punta Gorda, their colleagues lined their cars in a mile-long vehicular parade. In Belize City, more than 90 vehicles lined the streets. Similar protests took place in other towns and cities nationwide. Another set of protests are planned for this week preceding the official budget reading on March 26. The motorcades are part of an action plan devised by the BNTU, which in early March received a letter from the government proposing the cuts and freeze for three years. The first proposed cut would be for 10 percent. The missive followed consultations with the countrys unions on ways to shrink government expenditures. The nation of 420,000 is currently about 500 million Belize dollars, or US$250 million, in debt. United States Doctors picket Tacoma, Washington clinics over safety conditions Doctors ended two days of picketing on March 17 at two MultiCare clinics in Tacoma, Washington, charging the hospital with a failure to take provider safety concerns seriously. The Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) accused the hospital of understaffing, patient overload and exhausting 12-hour shifts. Doctors were also reacting to MultiCares decision to appeal a state Department of Labor & Industries (DLI) citation carrying a $28,400 fine that was issued on February 19. The state has cited two locationsthe Indigo Clinic and Good Samaritan Hospitalboth in Puyallup, Washington and implying serious and recurring safety violations. The DLI accused MultiCare of not providing health care workers with a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause serious injury or death. Social distancing was not enforced, and there was no barrier or other means of separation between employees while working at a distance of less than 6 feet. Last November, over 100 doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners struck 20 MultiCare clinics to demand personal protective equipment, including the more effective N95 masks. MultiCare sought to sow confusion, claiming it was providing adequate PPE, using the CDC loophole, which calls N95 respirators a preferred PPE but labels other loose-fitting face masks as an acceptable alternative. Canada Coca-Cola deploys strikebreakers in Calgary Two hundred seventy warehousemen, production, maintenance and delivery workers, members of the Teamsters union, are entering the second week of a strike against Coca-Cola in Calgary, Alberta. The workers voted by 94 percent for strike action after twice rejecting a deal presented to them by the local union leadership. Already, the company has begun ferrying in scabs to perform the work of the strikers. Beverage deliveries, although delayed by picketers, have eventually made their way out of the plant. The strikers are demanding that any new contract contain job protection language after the company began outsourcing work to third party contractors that has reduced the hours of drivers and warehouse workers. They have been without a contract since last October. Since the beginning of the pandemic over a year ago, workers at the Coca-Cola plant have been deemed essential and have laboured there even as the company was steadily reducing their take-home pay through their outsourcing schemes. Local Teamsters business agent Brock Penner issued a statement after the strike began, denouncing the companys attacks on pay and job security. But in an exposure of the unions duplicity, Penner neglected to mention that the union had twice agreed to a contract with management that did not address the issue of outsourcing. Those two deals had been brought to the membership and had been roundly rejected. The struggle in Calgary takes place in the wake of vicious anti-worker legislation passed by the hard right-wing government of United Conservative Party Premier Jason Kenney. The centerpiece of Kenneys attacks has been the so-called Restoring Balance in Workplaces Act that reduces limitations on corporate lobbying and advocacy campaigns whilst restricting the freedom of expression for advocates of workers rights. Since the UCP government came to power in 2019, laws have been passed reducing vacation pay, workplace injury protections, statutory holidays and even break times. Minimum wage protections for young workers and regressive health and safety laws have also been introduced. 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: CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- With an objection lodged to cutting a roughly .75-acre swath out of the remaining Severance Estate woods, city officials have pushed back a meeting date for approving MetroHealth hospitals expansion plan in order to allow for public comment. The special online City Council meeting -- originally set for a 15-minute block of time on Monday (March 22), with no personal communications from residents prior to an executive session -- was rescheduled to Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The citys Board of Control, which oversees zoning at Severance Town Center, as well as the Planning Commission have already recommended that council approve MetroHealths plans to build a new $42 million, 100-bed behavioral health hospital measuring an additional 79,000 square feet. Plans also call for adding a 12-bed behavioral health wing in the existing hospital, along with a reconfiguration of the west parking lot and an overall reduction in required parking to 402 total spaces, which requires a variance from the city. To do that, MetroHealth officials want to remove a 40-foot deep strip of mature forest along the east and north borders of their property, noted resident Deborah Van Kleef, who has asked residents to voice their concerns to City Council. Joe Frolik, MetroHealth senior vice president for communications, government and community relations, said the proposed tree line is not squared off and will vary, from a matter of a few feet in some spots to more than a 40-foot depth in others. The key thing is that were looking at under three-quarters of an acre, Frolik said. Some of it is barely into the woods. A lot is currently grass. And even when were done, there will still be well over 600 feet of woods still between the new tree line and our nearest neighbors to the east. Under the terms of the proposed variance, the city would require a minimum buffer zone of 150 feet. Sierra Club concerns The proposal has drawn scrutiny from the Sierra Clubs Northeast Ohio Group, with conservation co-chair and sustainability specialist Linda Sekura calculating through Google Earth that the total of remaining deep forest stands at about 24 acres. Those estimates may not include the 6 acres that MetroHealth owns, with Frolik saying its closer to 30 acres of total woodland. Severance forests best value is that this is a remnant of the original mature forest, Sekura said. It is not virgin forest, having been cut over decades ago, as most Ohio forests were, but cut long enough ago to have been able to recover somewhat. Sekura argues that in modern times, forest recovery is nearly impossible, given the number of invasive plants, pests and diseases that abound. MetroHealth officials propose replanting with native species to replace any large trees that are cut on a .75-acre section of Severance forest. (Tom Jewell, special to cleveland.com) Intact ecosystems are precious and rare, and this one needs our stewardship, not further fragmentation, Sekura added. It is beyond comprehension that any of this forest would be cut, including mature trees, while there are 50 acres of underutilized paved parking in close walking distance. She was referring to the expanse of parking lot across the street, where opponents of the MetroHealth plan want further consideration given to working out a deal with the current owners of Severance Town Center. Residents are pointing out that directly across Severance Circle from the hospital is a glut of unused parking, where MetroHealth could lease spaces from the mall, Van Kleef said. But this option was dismissed out of hand by MetroHealth and the Planning Commission. Frolik said that all of those avenues were explored and subsequently discussed before the Planning Commission and Board of Control for about six hours. Wed already looked at all of the alternatives in design, Frolik said Monday (March 22). If we could have figured out a way to do this without taking out any trees at all, we would have. Van Kleef noted that the possibility of installing a crosswalk and a light to protect employees and patients crossing the road was not raised. I drive that ring road multiple times a week, and it is hardly a speedway, she said of the largely vacant shopping center. Frolik and MetroHealth hope that the hospital expansion project will provide such a needed improvement, something that Cleveland Heights can be proud of, that it will act as a catalyst for the revitalization of Severance. Green it up Resident Susan Miller contends that the remaining forest area is also home to the headwaters of the Severance stream, which flows into the Dugway Brook watershed. Unfortunately in Ohio, our regulations do not adequately protect these smaller wetland systems, and there are too many work-arounds for development, Sekura said. Also, this forest, from what Im told, has had its streams culverted and other hydrological manipulations. As for composition, Sekura pointed out that beech trees are generally found only in mature, intact forests. And the Severance woods have many, along with shagbark hickories, which are good homes for federally endangered Indiana bats -- although the bats have not been spotted in the immediate area. But it is predominantly a mature oak and hickory forest, with beech trees and sugar maples in the understory. This system shows many indicators of a rich, old woods that likely covered much of the area prior to development, Sekura said. Our position, specifically for this project, is that this is the final deep forest remnant of the original Severance Estate (we are told) and also the final section of deep forest in Cleveland Heights (according to Google Earth), Sekura said. While opponents of the MetroHealth tree-clearing proposal and variance argue that ample parking is available across the street at Severance Town Center, leasing those spaces may not be as easy as it sounds. (Tom Jewell, special to cleveland.com) Its barely hanging on, obviously deteriorating -- and should be preserved and stewarded back to health rather than being further stressed and fragmented, she added. We cannot afford to lose just one more patch of forest for another parking lot, and one that is completely unnecessary. Frolik said the new lot will add 52 spaces for staff, but the reconfiguration will also create an ambulance lane, rather than have the vehicles drive across the parking lot. While its terrible to lose any trees, were hoping that with the new plantings, even the people who are critical will say we did the best we could, Frolik added. In addition to minimizing the woods that will be taken out, MetroHealth plans to green it up again, he said, replacing every sizable tree with native species. Specifics are being worked out with the Sierra Club and the Cleveland Tree Coalition. Were looking for ways to protect as much as we can, and if we didnt have this variance, we would be required (under city zoning code) to have 700 parking spaces, Frolik said of the possibility of chopping down more of the woods to clear the way for 300 more spaces, as opposed to the 52 now proposed. Read more from the Sun Press. When Chris George looks at the surge of unaccompanied children seeking asylum at the Southwest border, he sees a role for refugee resettlement organizations like his in helping to ease the crisis. New Haven-based Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, known as IRIS, has told the federal government it can help connect these minors, once they are placed with family members or sponsors in the U.S., with services including health care and legal aid to apply for asylum, enroll in school and provide English language training. Were ready to do that. We have the capacity to do that, said George, executive director of IRIS. We have the experience. Weve got federal contacts already, so the government knows about us. Connecticut would love to welcome some of these families. The expertise these agencies have in resettling refugees could be leveraged to aid those seeking asylum to the U.S. George said he is in discussions with officials from the Office of Refugee Resettlement about how IRIS could be of service. George joined U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D- Conn., at a news conference Monday that the senator, and new chair of the Senate subcommittee with oversight of the homeland security budget, held in Hartford following his visit to a detention facility in El Paso, Texas. The conditions are better than 2019. These are not cages. There are now child care workers and medical professionals. But I still wouldnt want my child in these detention facilities for more than 30 seconds, Murphy said. Just about everyone connected with immigration issues, on all aides of the issue, agrees the nation needs a reform and overhaul of its policies on who can come into the United States, when, and under what circumstances. For now, the Biden administration is turning away adults and families seeking asylum at the border, but not unaccompanied children, many of whom are fleeing their home countries of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico. The U.S. Border Patrol facilities have become overcrowded as migrant children await relocation to shelters run by the Department of Health and Human Services. Murphy described 100 kids per room, so many that their mattresses are lined up only a few inches or a few feet from each other. They spend four to five days in these detention facilities and then they get moved to group homes and eventually, after a few weeks, they get reunited with family members in the United States where they can make their asylum claim, Murphy said. George said these children, in some cases, are also experiencing delays in being placed with sponsors or relatives already living in the U.S. One reason why theyre not moving out of the shelters quickly is because the Trump administration was sharing information about sponsors and relatives with ICE, he said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That had a chilling effect on potential sponsors and relatives who wanted to step forward and receive these children. George said he has been told that practice has stopped under the Biden administration. But it will take a while to recover from that, he said. For the last six years, the Bridgeport-based organization Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants has helped to resettle unaccompanied minors, mostly seeking asylum from Central America, under a contract with the federal government. Susan Schnitzer, president and CEO of CIRI, was not at Murphys press conference, but agrees with George that resettlement agencies could play a larger role in the asylum process. The organization usually helps about 75 youth each year as they move from shelters to living with their sponsors. CIRI conducts home visits to ensure the sponsors home is safe and appropriate and helps connect the youth with legal and other services. The organization spends about three months in this case management role but is looking to secure private funding to do this work for at least a year, Schnitzer said. Resettlement agencies such as CIRI and IRIS are awaiting final determination from the Biden administration on the number of refugees the government intends to allow into the U.S. this year. The Trump administration set the refugee cap for this fiscal year at 15,000, the lowest number since 1980. We can do both. We can deal with the emergency at the border and at the same time we can increase the refugee resettlement program, George said. To resettle a refugee in the U.S. costs about $60,000, George said, bringing them from overseas to the U.S. and helping them get on their feet. That investment begins to pay off after a few years, he said, because asylum seekers, who receive work authorization when they are approved for asylum, begin working and paying taxes. Murphy agrees that increasing the number of refugees in the U.S. could help solve the problem at the border. We bring in very few refugees from Mexico and Central America. We should greatly expand the number of refugees that we bring in from those countries, and we should set up new processing facilities, Murphy said. The senator also wants to enable these migrant children to apply for asylum in their home countries, a practice allowed under the Obama administration but stopped under the Trump administration. So right now, the only way these kids can apply for asylum is to show up at our border, he said. NEW DELHI The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Haneef Atmar met with a number of former Indian ambassadors to Kabul to discuss the peace process and strengthening people-to-people ties between India and Afghanistan. During the meeting, Mr. Atmar spoke about the outcomes of Extended Troika Peace Talks in Moscow and commended the growing regional and international efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan. Highlighting India's critical role in regional peace-building efforts and engagements, the Foreign Minister stressed that sustainable peace in Afghanistan could be achieved only through a political settlement emanating from the will of Afghans and broadly supported by regional countries and the international community. Mr. Atmar also emphasized that preserving the last twenty years' achievements, especially pluralism, civil and political rights, and democratic structures, including elections, were the essential prerequisites for achieving a nationally accepted settlement leading to sustainable peace in Afghanistan. Confirming Mr. Atmar's remarks, the former Indian ambassadors to Kabul noted that India, as one of the great supporters of Afghanistan's reconstruction and prosperity, has consistently emphasized preserving democratic values within the framework of a republic system in Afghanistan. Advertisement EU leaders are threatening to block shipments of AstraZeneca vaccines to the UK even as its citizens balk at the idea of taking the jab, leaving millions of doses sitting un-used across the continent. There are currently 5.5million shots of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine sitting in storage in Europe, data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control showed today, with the largest stockpiles located in France and Germany - the two countries pushing hardest to block exports to the UK. Meanwhile, a poll released this week showed vaccine hesitancy in Europe at an all-time high - with majorities of people in France, Spain, and Germany now viewing AstraZeneca's jab as 'unsafe' after their governments temporarily halted its use over unfounded fears it causes blood clots. The YouGov survey found that 61 per cent of French, 55 per cent of Germans, 52 per cent of Spaniards and 43 per cent of Italians now think of the vaccine as 'unsafe', up an average of 22 percentage points compared to February. By comparison, just 9 per cent of of people in the UK - where AstraZeneca's jab has been responsible for a rapid roll-out that means lockdown is now easing - believe the jab is unsafe against 77 per cent who say it is safe. The same poll showed that Europeans have overwhelmingly favourable views of the Pfizer vaccine, despite roughly the same number of people suffering from blood clots after taking it - though no link has been proven between either jab and the clots. Europe's vaccine roll-out has been a shambles - plagued by bureaucracy and red tape, supply bottlenecks, and fears over safety that has seen just 9 per cent of its population given at least one dose. Britain, meanwhile, has given first doses to 41 per cent, in what one Italian paper has dubbed 'The British Miracle'. European leaders are threatening to block AstraZeneca jabs coming to the UK, even though they are sitting on millions of un-used doses as people refuse to take the jab due to fears it is unsafe A YouGov poll released yesterday showed people in France, Germany, Italy and Spain now think AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine is mostly unsafe (purple dots) but have much greater confidence in the Pfizer jab (blue dots) UK COULD RETALIATE BY BLOCKING EXPORTS FROM YORKSHIRE FACTORY A British chemicals maker could disrupt the EU supply of Pfizer jabs if the bloc tries to bring in an export ban. Croda International, based in Snaith, East Yorkshire, makes key ingredients for the fatty droplet used to deliver the genetic code within the vaccine into the body. This has reportedly allowed Pfizer to warn EU leaders that production at its main factory in Belgium could 'grind to a halt' within weeks if the UK stopped Croda deliveries from crossing the Channel. Croda, better known for making ingredients in shampoo and sun cream, has a five-year deal with Pfizer which it has said will boost sales by at least 90million this year. The contract means there could be an option to fight back if the EU does stop vaccine exports to the UK. A spokesman for Croda, which does not make the vaccine ingredients in Snaith but elsewhere in the UK, said the company 'is supplying lipid components manufactured in the UK and the US to multiple Pfizer facilities'. Advertisement That has left the continent vulnerable to a third wave of infections and piled pressure on leaders to boost the speed of the roll-out, resulting in threats by Ursula von der Leyen and others to use export controls to stop shipments coming to Britain. A vote is due on Thursday. But, figures show, millions of doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine are sitting un-used on the continent, with people refusing appointments after discovering they are due to take it. Germany and France are sitting on the most jabs - 1.6million and 1.3million respectively - followed by Spain on 830,00 and Romania on 416,164. While it is not certain all of those jabs are going un-used because people are refusing to take them, AstraZeneca stockpiles are building up far faster than Pfizer/BioNTech shots, suggesting hesitancy does play a role - alongside a week-long ban many countries placed on the jab. For example, Luxembourg used just 36.4 per cent of its available AstraZeneca shots, the lowest rate in Europe. Romania has used 36 per cent of its supply, while the Netherlands has used just 39 per cent. By contrast, Luxembourg has used 83 per cent of its available Pfizer supplies, Romanian has used 86 per cent and the Netherlands has used 82 per cent. The countries which have used the largest share of their Astra stockpiles include Lithuania, where every available shot has been used, alongside Hungary on 96.3 per cent and the Cezch Republic on 85 per cent, after their leaders ignored the Astra ban last week. Even before the ban came into effect, doctors in Europe were saying that people refusing to turn up for AstraZeneca appointments, with officials in Germany forced to launch a PR offensive to persuade people to take the jab - insisting it is not 'second class'. Now, Italian medics say they are having an even harder time - particularly after prosecutors opened manslaughter probes into the deaths of two men who passed away shortly after getting the shots. 'How can we be expected to vaccinate millions of people in these conditions?' said Massimo Galli, head of the infectious diseases department of Sacco Hospital in Italy's financial capital Milan. 'The medics that I know are absolutely furious about this absurd situation.' President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has been leading calls for Europe to stop shipping Covid vaccines to other countries before it can provide for its own citizens Germany and France - sitting on 48 per cent and 49 per cent of their Astra stockpile, respectively - are now thought to be among countries most in favour of banning jabs from the UK, with President Emmanuel Macron promising his citizens today that the vaccine drive will 'change pace' in April. EUROPE FACING 'NEW PANDEMIC' AS THIRD WAVE HITS Germany is going back into lockdown over Easter with Angela Merkel warning 'we are in a new pandemic' as mutant Covid strains cause cases to spike, with France seeing infections double in a week. Europe's coronavirus third wave, which has been gathering pace for weeks now, has reached crisis point over the last few days with leaders across the continent forced to reimpose strict measures to keep cases down. Mrs Merkel announced last night that all non-essential shops in Germany will be closed over the Easter period with church services moved online and public gatherings banned as infections rise 'exponentially'. Meanwhile the head of France's hospital federation warned that case figures are 'exploding' in his country and the health system is heading for an 'unprecedented violent shock' in about three weeks unless strong action is taken. Frederic Valletoux spoke out after Prime Minister Jean Castex imposed tough measures on 16 French regions including the cities of Paris, Lille and Nice last week - measures which experts say do not go far enough. In Spain, experts have begun warning of a fourth wave of Covid after deaths from the virus rose to 633 on Monday compared to 298 a week ago. The country is currently under a nationwide curfew and while exact measures vary from region to region, most have imposed curbs on movement, gatherings, and closed some businesses. Covid cases and deaths also remain high in Italy where new lockdown measures were imposed across much of the country last week, although infection data has begun trending downwards since then. Mrs Merkel last night pointed to the so-called Kent variant of coronavirus as being responsible, saying: 'Essentially, we have a new virus... it is much deadlier, much more infectious and infectious for much longer.' Advertisement Europe Minister Clement Beaune, a close ally of President Macron, then directly threatened the UK's jabs, saying: 'We want to avoid AstraZeneca doses produced in Europe go to Britain when we are not receiving anything.' Other European leaders have previously referred to 'countries which have higher vaccination rates than us' without directly mentioning Britain, though listeners were left in little doubt about who they were referring to. It is thought the EU is trying to lay claim to a stockpile of several million doses of AstraZeneca sitting at a factory belonging to drug-maker Healix in the Netherlands. Currently, the factory is only supposed to be supplying the UK - though neither Britain nor the EU has yet granted regulatory approval to jabs made at the factory. Plans being drawn up by Dutch diplomats could see some production capacity freed up at the plant to supply Europe with jabs as well. It was reported on Monday that Boris Johnson was keen on the idea, but Downing Street has since downplayed the suggestion. One independent analysis suggested a total EU export ban could push the UK's vaccination programme back by two months, potentially delaying Mr Johnson's road map for lifting the Covid lockdown. Boris Johnson has launched a diplomatic offensive in recent days in a bid to head off a ban which could delay the UK's vaccine programme. The PM has sent his senior adviser Lord Lister to India for talks on unblocking a shipment of five million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine delayed last week on orders of the New Delhi government. Government sources confirmed that the Prime Minister held private talks with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron on Sunday in a bid to defuse the row. But he appears to have failed as both have come out in favour of the ban if Europe can't negotiate a better supply deal with AstraZeneca. Mr Johnson played down the threat yesterday, saying he was 'reassured by talking to EU partners over the last few months that they don't want to see blockades'. However, some ministers are alarmed by the protectionist rhetoric emerging from the EU and fear Brussels will press ahead with the ban in a bid to distract attention from the dismal performance of its own vaccine rollout. One insider said: 'It is madness, but for some politicians it is easier to have a row with AstraZeneca and Britain than to have people focusing on the contracts they didn't get.' Mrs von der Leyen warned last week she was ready to block vaccine exports to the UK as part of a 'Europe first' agenda designed to ensure that AstraZeneca and other drug firms meet their commitments to the bloc before supplying others. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has come out in favour of a vaccines export ban if Europe can't get a handle on its struggling vaccine programme A spokesman for Mrs Merkel said factories in EU countries had exported 34million doses to 30 countries, but that those in Britain and the US had shipped 'almost nothing'. During a phone call on Sunday she told Mr Johnson that Mrs von der Leyen was right to be considering ways to further restrict shipments. French Europe Minister Clement Beaune, a close ally of Mr Macron, said Paris also backed Mrs von der Leyen's plans. 'This must be the strategy of a Europe that moves faster and defends its interests: produce more, enforce contracts, and control exports,' he said. But a string of other EU countries are alarmed by the idea of blocking exports, amid fears it could do serious international damage to its reputation as a place to do business. Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin warned that a ban would be 'a very retrograde step' which would prove counter-productive. Mr Martin, who could face the prospect of the EU imposing a hard border with Northern Ireland to prevent vaccines entering the UK, said he had made it 'very clear' to fellow leaders he was opposed. 'They're not EU vaccines,' he said. 'These are vaccines paid for by other countries that are manufactured in Europe.' The Netherlands also opposes the jab ban, with Dutch PM Mark Rutte pushing for emergency talks between Mr Johnson, Mrs von der Leyen and AstraZeneca to thrash out a compromise. [March 22, 2021] Global Contact Center Work Workforce Management Product and Market 2021-2022: New-Gen WFM - Uniquely Suited to Address Pandemic-Related Challenges and Beyond DUBLIN, March 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "2021-2022 Workforce Management Product and Market Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The 14th edition of the Workforce Management Product and Market Report presents an in-depth analysis of the contact center WFM market, the competitive landscape, vendors, product suites, technology and innovation. The Report examines the business, market and technology trends and challenges confronting contact centers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores the technology and applications of new-gen WFM, which is an essential part of the transformation taking place in contact centers. The Report analyzes WFM market activity and provides 5-year projections. It also presents customer satisfaction survey results that rate the vendors and their products. The 2021 - 2022 Workforce Management Product and Market Report feature 5 WFM vendors: Aspect, Calabrio, NICE, Puzzel and Verint. It also provides a high-level overview of four new competitors in the WFM arena: Authority Software, Eleveo, Playvox and Salesforce. The workforce management (WFM) market has attracted more investments and research and development (R&D) dollars in 2020 than ever before. This market has been advancing slowly toward digital transformation in the last couple of years. The pandemic has compelled enterprise and contact center executives to recognize the need to speed up the overhaul of their service environments along with their agent onboarding, scheduling and oversight capabilities. New-gen WFM: Uniquely suited to address pandemic-related challenges and beyond The migration of workers to home offices has complicated the scheduling challenge and created new issues for contact center management. For agents working at home, the pandemic has also shifted the work/life balance in often unexpected ways. New-gen WFM solutions have been instrumental in addressing the work-at-home (WAH) staffing challenge, supporting flex scheduling, agent self-service, mobility, and virtual hiring and onboarding of new agents. The more advanced WFM solutions have been essential tools for helping contact center supervisors and managers monitor their staff, regardless of where they are located, and keep them engaged. Among the most important capabilities for this purpose in WFM, suites are real-time adherence, intraday management, mobility, self-service. gamification and bi-directional communication. Once the pandemic eases worldwide, businesses will be confronted with the challenge of bringing some or all of their staff back into the office. This will be another driver of WFM growth, as these solutions will be a critical part of the process. Contact centers will use WFM to build schedules that minimize service disruptions, and innovative WFM vendors will develop features that allow employees to work together safely on-site. The specialized forecasting, scheduling and oversight capbilities of WFM solutions give contact centers a major advantage over other departments that lack these tools. The Report Includes: Overview of the functional components that comprise a WFM solution, including core and optional modules offered in the 5 featured WFM suites, as well as small and mid-size business (SMB)/package solutions Market, business and technology trends and challenges that are driving enterprise investments and influencing product development WFM market innovation, including a review of recently introduced features and functionality and what is planned for the next 12 -18 months Insightful exploration of New Gen WFM, highlighting the features, functionality and capabilities that make it a requirement for contact centers today and fortify its positioning as the future of WFM Examination of WFM vendor opportunities precipitated by the COVID pandemic In-depth analysis of WFM modules that facilitate engagement, empowerment and management of work-at-home (WAH) agents and remote staff Review of the long-term planning capabilities, including hiring managers and workspace allocation capabilities, that will be instrumental in hiring and onboarding WAH/remote staff and facilitating the safe return to the office WFM market activity analysis, adoption rates and 5-year market growth projections Review and assessment of the WFM competitive landscape, including an overview of 4 new contenders in the WFM sector WFM high-level functional summary, including user interfaces, security features and reporting and dashboards. Implementation analysis, including implementation and return on investment (ROI) time frames, best practices, training and workshop offerings Vendor pricing for a 250-seat on-premise and cloud-based voice-only and a voice and digital channel WFM implementation for core forecasting and scheduling plus incremental costs (if applicable) for intraday management, real-time adherence, agent self-service, vacation/time-off management, eLearning/meeting management, timekeeping/payroll management, long-term strategic planning, hiring management, workspace allocation, gamification, mobility, back-office and branch WFM Comprehensive customer satisfaction survey results that measure and rank ratings across 10 product capabilities and 11 vendor categories Detailed company reports for the 5 leading and contending WFM vendors, analyzing their products, functionality and future product development plans Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Introduction 3. Research Methodology 3.1 Report Participation Criteria 4. Workforce Management Defined 4.1 WFM Vendor Suite Overview 4.2 Vendor SMB/Packaged WFM Solutions 5. Workforce Management Trends and Challenges 5.1 Workforce Management Trends 5.2 Workforce Management Challenges 6. Workforce Management Market Innovation 6.1 New Product Features 6.2 Future Enhancements 7. New-Gen WFM is the Future 7.1 Omni-Channel is a Requirement for Delivering a Great Customer Experience 7.1.1 The Growing Importance of Providing Digital Channel Support 7.1.2 Omni-Channel WFM Requirements 7.2 Real-Time Adaptive Scheduling 7.3 Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Automation 8. WFM Opportunities Driven by the Pandemic 9. WFM Keeps WAH and Remote Staff Engaged and in Touch 9.1 Agent Self-Service 9.2 Mobility Features 9.3 Intraday Management 9.4 Real-Time Adherence 9.5 Gamification 9.6 eLearning/Meeting Management 9.7 Vacation/Time-Off Management 9.8 Timekeeping/Payroll Management 10. Looking Ahead: Planning for the New Normal 10.1 Long-Term Strategic Planning 10.2 Hiring Management 10.3 Workspace Allocation Module 11. Consolidating Front and Back-Office Operations 11.1 Functional Capabilities of Back-Office/Branch WFM Solutions 12. Workforce Management Market Activity Analysis 12.1 Validating Market Numbers 12.2 WFM Market Share Analysis 13. WFM Adoption Rate 14. WFM Market Projections 15. WFM Competitive Landscape 15.1 Vendors to Watch 15.2 Company Snapshot 16. High-Level Functional Summary 16.1 User Interfaces 16.2 Security 16.3 Dashboards, Reporting and Analytics 17. WFM Implementation Analysis 18. WFM Vendor Satisfaction Analysis 18.1 Summary of Survey Findings and Analysis: Vendor Categories 18.1.1 Vendor Satisfaction by Category and Customer 18.2 Summary of Survey Findings and Analysis: Product Capabilities 18.2.1 Product Capabilities Satisfaction by Category and Customer 18.3 Customer Background and Insights 18.3.1 Channels Supported 18.3.2 Top 3 - 5 Ways the WFM Solution Helped Address Pandemic-Related Challenges 18.3.3 Top 3 - 5 WFM Challenges 18.3.4 Additional Comments 19. Pricing 19.1 Premise-Based Voice-Only WFM Solution Pricing 19.2 Premise-Based Voice and Digital Channel WFM Solution Pricing 19.3 Cloud-Based Voice-Only WFM Solution Pricing 19.4 Cloud-Based Voice and Digital Channel WFM Solution Pricing 20. Company Reports 20.1 Aspect Software, Inc. 20.2 Calabrio, Inc. 20.3 NICE 20.4 Puzzel Ltd. 20.5 Verint Systems 21. Appendix: WFM Vendor Directory For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2dprih Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-contact-center-work-workforce-management-product-and-market-2021-2022-new-gen-wfm---uniquely-suited-to-address-pandemic-related-challenges-and-beyond-301253004.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ] Xiaomi officially scheduled a Mega Launch yesterday, without revealing what it's going to be about. Today the company lifted the curtain on Weibo, and hardly surprisingly well see the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra at it. The poster does not say anything about a Mi 11 Lite, simply because the Lite series sells under a different name in China, and this particular phone might be launched later for the domestic scene. In the Weibo post, Xiaomi said the two new phones will be challengers for the Best Android smartphone title and will be the perfect devices for all the thousands of fans who want an ultimate experience. In reality, this means both phones will likely have the 50 MP Samsung ISOCELL Bright GN2 sensor with multi-directional autofocus, and we also expect them to have a tiny display on the back for the best selfies and TikTok dance videos. The event next Monday is scheduled for 19:30 Chinese time, which is 11:30 UTC. Source (in Chinese) | Via At least 110 school bus drivers have died from COVID-19 in the past year in the US according to the tracker School Personnel Lost to Covid. In total, 1,145 school personnel have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. School bus drivers are particularly at risk of infection. School buses have been specifically noted as potential areas of high spread, with students and drivers in a largely closed air system lacking proper ventilation. Air conditioning and heating systems can act as conveyors for the virus, while the lowering windows in freezing or raining weather threatens the health of students and drivers through more conventional illnesses. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) From late December to early January, two Southern Regional School District bus drivers in New Jersey died from COVID-19 just weeks after the district switched to remote instruction following a rise in cases on campus and in the community. The district did not release the names of the bus drivers. In Miami-Dade, Florida school bus driver Donna Blatch died from COVID-19 in February after voicing concern that she was not being informed about which of her students had been sent home to quarantine. She was one of three district employees who died from the virus in a two-week period, passing just four days after testing positive for infection. In an interview with the news station Local 10, a co-worker of Blatch commented that The kids are not keeping their mask on their faces, kids are not socially distancing on the bus [and] we are in a closed confined space. They [the district] should treat us with some dignity. She continued by saying I lost my best friend to this COVID. How many more Donna Blatchs is it going to be before it happens to one of us? Were scared; we have underlying conditions, we have families with underlying conditions that we may take this COVID home to our families, and they need to take into consideration when they talk about opening these schools, they need to take our lives in consideration. The teachers can work and do that from home, we cant do that. So, we are asking for our community, pastors, the governor, and the mayor to help us. Make it safer for these kids and us on these Dade County school buses. We have not got any recognition for what we are doing as bus drivers and we are afraid of losing our lives. There are no national statistics on school bus driver infections, but the conditions facing school workers in general provide insight into the potential hazards they face. According to the National COVID-19 School Response Dashboard, among data collected for 1.5 million school employees between August 31 and February 28, roughly 78,000 school workers have been infected. That is more than five percent of the surveyed school staff infected, and a death rate upwards of 1.5 percent of those infected. These deaths and many more come at a time when, after cases have been declining nationally for weeks, school districts are starting to see an increase in cases. These issues have exacerbated the existing general shortage of school bus drivers around the country, making it difficult for districts to fill all positions needed to cover routes. Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington, Kentucky, for example, was forced to delay the reopening of in-person classes earlier this month after the district was only able to fill 229 of 258 driver positions. According to School Transportation News, 20 drivers call out every day while an additional shortage of substitute drivers and mechanics, as well as the numbers of drivers who have taken leave, has strained the student transportation network. The district has reportedly turned to encouraging other district employees to become licensed drivers to fill the gaps. School districts have responded to COVID concerns by lowering the capacity of buses and requiring masks. However, drivers have voiced concerns over students ability to properly wear PPE and social distance. Meanwhile, large outbreaks among bus drivers continue to occur. In early February, the Perkiomen Valley School District in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania was forced to suspend bus services for several days after 30 drivers and bus aides were infected. One of these drivers, Lynn Himes, died from COVID-19 on February 1 at the age of 57. A further 20 bus drivers were infected at the same time in nearby Hatboro-Horsham, forcing the district to also suspend bus services for several days. Just this past week, a further 11 Pennsylvania bus drivers from the Council Rock School District tested positive for the virus. The district announced that families would be informed if their child came into contact with an infected driver, but this may not be fully possible since attendance is not taken on school buses. Speaking on the outbreak, Superintendent Robert Fraser said in a statement that We cannot be sure who exactly is riding a bus on days when infection may have been possible, and buses have multiple daily trips to a variety of [Council Rock] schools, non-public schools, and extracurricular activities. The number of infected could grow in the coming days as well, with seven additional drivers awaiting test results. Cases among students and staff have been declining along with the overall reduction in cases nationwide. However, with schools across the country opening for in-person instruction, data from the past few weeks offers a concerning picture of the impact of school openings. In Michigan, nearly 60 schools were added to the list of new outbreaks on March 15 alone, totaling 265 cases for the preceding week. Coronavirus outbreaks in schools are now the single largest category in terms of outbreaks within the state. Students and staff believed to have contracted the virus from outside of school grounds are not included in Michigans school reporting. In Colorado, COVID-19 cases are declining but cases among young children and teens have increased, including an outbreak in mid-February traced to a school bus in the Douglas County School District. Of the 623 new outbreaks reported on March 17, 147 were related to K-12 schools, accounting for a quarter of active outbreaks over the past week. Minnesota has recorded 7,465 cases among school staff and 8,720 cases among students for a total of 16,185 as of March 18. The Department of Health has also recorded the largest single-week increase in cases related to schools, recording 674 cases on March 18. The weekly report also indicates seven more students and staff have been hospitalized, with at least one in the intensive care unit, and that all these cases have been related to attending or working in a Minnesota school. The Minnesota school system has also recorded two COVID-19 deaths in the past two weeks, bringing the total to five. School bus drivers and school workers in general are facing considerable risks as more students return to in-person learning and cases in schools increase. These risks will only grow as states begin to ease pandemic restrictions and new variants of the virus spread. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D., Ill.) has reportedly given the White House an ultimatum: she will not vote to confirm any of President Bidens non-diversity cabinet nominees until he appoints an Asian-American nominee for key executive branch positions. Until then I am a no vote on the floor on all non-diversity nominees including judicial and sub-cabinet nominees, she reportedly told CBS News Nancy Cordes and a number of other reporters. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. She has suggested roles in the Federal Communications Commission, Office of Management and Budget, or Department of Defense as potential positions for an AAPI nominee and added that she had offered the campaign and transition team lists of highly qualified Asian American potential nominees six months ago. Duckworth noted that after threatening to rescind her support for Bidens candidates, White House senior adviser Steve Richetti told her that they were committed to figuring it out and that they would get back in touch with me. Its representation! We have to have diversity at the highest levels of government, she said. Duckworth told CNN that she was insulted when the White House initially responded to her request for more Asian representation by citing Vice President Kamala Harris, who is part Indian. When I asked about AAPI representation in the second part, the first words out of the staffs mouth is: Were very proud of Vice President Harris, which is incredibly insulting, she said. To be told that you have Kamala Harris, we are proud of her, you dont need anybody else is insultingThats not something you would say to the Black caucus: That you have Kamala, were not going to be put any African Americans in the Cabinet, why would you say that to AAPIs? Losing Duckworths vote could imperil the confirmations of some of Bidens nominees in an evenly divided Senate where Democrats often cannot afford to lose a single Democratic vote. Duckworths demand comes as elected officials warn of a surge in anti-Asian hate crimes driven by hostility about the coronavirus pandemic, which originated in China. A shooting spree at three Atlanta-area spas last week left eight people dead, including six Asian women. Story continues In the wake of the shooting, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said there is no question that the Trump administrations damaging rhetoric has led to elevated threats against Asian Americans. I think theres no question that some of the damaging rhetoric that we saw during the prior administration blaming, calling COVID the Wuhan virus or other things led to perceptions of the Asian American community that are inaccurate, unfair and has elevated threats against Asian Americans, Psaki said during a press briefing last week. More from National Review Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has absolved two top-ranking military officials of possible lapses for red-tagging alumni of the University of the Philippines. In a statement, Lorenzana said Armed Forces of the Philippines Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo and AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Maj. Gen. Alex Luna "were not directly responsible for the lapse." "From the reports submitted to me, I believe that both men were not directly responsible for the lapse over the publication of the unverified and unofficial list of UP students who have been linked to left leaning groups," the Defense chief said. Lorenzana relieved the two officials after Arevalo's office posted on Facebook the list of UP alumni allegedly captured and killed after joining the communist group. The military later apologized after Lorenzana acknowledged the mistake, describing it as an "unpardonable gaffe." "Having said this, I have requested that the AFP reinstate Maj. Gen. Arevalo and Maj. Gen. Luna to their previous commands, but with the stern warning that similar incidents cannot and should not happen again in the future," Lorenzana said. "I am not complete clearing them of liability, in fact they were punished under the principle of command responsibility," Lorenzana added. "Their track records would show that they have always performed their duties conscientiously and competently," he noted. Jodie Foster & Benedict Cumberbatch star in the true story of a Guantanamo Bay prisoners fight for freedom. Wednesday on Amazon Prime. Melbourne Comedy Festival 2021: The Gala Fisk Gogglebox Australia in Colour Amazing Grace Related Gurugram, March 23 : In a shocking incident, a father was arrested in Gurugram for allegedly raping his 14-year-old daughter repeatedly, the police said on Tuesday. "The accused was arrested on Monday and booked under the charges of Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other relevant sections of the IPC at the Manesar women police station. The case is under investigation," Sub-Inspector Munesh, the investigation officer, told IANS. The matter came to the fore when the girl revealed her ordeal to her mother, who reported the matter to the police on Monday. A medical test revealed that she was raped. The victim is a native of Bihar's Madhubani district. She stays with her family in Sector-81, Gurugram. The victim's mother told the police that she works as a domestic help while her husband works as an auto rickshaw driver. "My daughter told me on Monday that her father used to sexually assault her on several occasions in my absence. He also threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed the matter to anyone and even told her that he will kill me and my two minor daughters and expel the four of us from the house. Her father had sexually assaulted her on March 19 last," the victim's mother told the police. "We have nabbed the accused father from his house. The culprit disclosed before the police that he used to rape the daughter on the pretext of money. He is to be produced before a local court on Tuesday for further legal proceedings," the Investigation Officer added. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. [March 23, 2021] Pharma Industry to Spend $4.5 Billion on Digital Transformation by 2030 While the creation, manufacture, and supply of COVID vaccines are grabbing attention, behind the scenes, pharma manufacturers are digitizing at pace LONDON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharma 4.0 concepts are taking hold in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The industry's unique characteristics are driving investments in digital transformation by pharmaceutical manufacturers. Global tech market advisory firm ABI Research forecasts that overall, digital factory revenue will top US$4.5 billion in 2030 with spending by pharmaceutical manufacturers on data analytics forecast to grow by a 27% CAGR and be worth US$1.2 billion in 2030, as manufacturers look to track, optimize their operations, and boost productivity. While regulators encourage, rather than stifle, innovation, the industry's competitive dynamics require pharmaceutical firms to optimize production lines to maximize yield for the time a drug is subject to patent protection. Contract manufacturers look to digital technologies to enable them to support clients simultaneously. After patents expire, generics manufacturers need to produce as many products as possible. The utilization of data analytics will support each type of manufacturer's efforts to increase yield. Moving from manufacturing drugs and vaccines in batches to optimizing the manufacturing process with continuous manufacturing will be critical to increasing yields. "But the active pharmaceutical ingredients are susceptible to changes in their immediate environment. The batch must be scrapped if the condition of the ingredients or formulation fall outside accepted parameters. Manufacturers will need to invest in analytics to help develop digital twins of their operations so that they can prepare their production lines for continuous manufacturing," says Michael Larner, Industrial and Manufacturing Principal Analyst at ABI Research. Another digitization focus for pharmaceutical firms is to remove paper from their perations. "Collecting and storing data via paper-based processes risks reducing productivity and increases the likelihood that errors happen on the production line due to administrative errors," Larner points out. FDA 21 CFR Part 11 is one way the FDA is encouraging the adoption of digital technologies by publishing the criteria for submitting electronic records to the organization and the treatment of electronic signatures. The prevalence of paper illustrates the progress yet to be made by pharmaceutical firms regarding digital transformation. ABI Research has a five-stage digital maturity model outlining the progress made and steps required by manufacturers to optimize their operations. Larner explains, "Currently, pharmaceutical manufacturers are at Stage 2 in that they have modern factory but lack foresight and struggle to adjust production, or Stage 3 where they have started to implement digital transformation but lack expertise reconfiguring production lines. In the coming decade, many firms will upgrade their existing facilities or build greenfield sites, and their operations will be digitally transformed (Stage 4) or operate without humans on-site (Stage 5 - lights out manufacturing)." A notable example of an advanced manufacturing facilities is Sanofi's digitally-enabled, continuous manufacturing facility in Framingham, Massachusetts where all processes are paperless with plant operators using digital collaboration tools, data analytics, and Augmented Reality (AR) solutions so they can make decisions and adjustments in real time. There is a myriad of suppliers helping the pharma industry to digitize and optimize processes. Appian, COPA-DATA, Metastorm, and Metronik, and Neo PLM are among suppliers helping pharma manufacturers move from the pre-digital stage (Stage 1) to connecting their plants (Stage 3). Emerson, Falkonry, Siemens, and Seeq provide solutions that support the production of drugs and medicines from Stage 3, the connected plant, to being predictive (Stage 4) and eventually adaptive (Stage 5). These findings are from Industry 4.0 in the Pharmaceutical Industry application analysis report. This report is part of the company's Industrial and Manufacturing research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights. Based on extensive primary interviews, Application Analysis reports present in-depth analysis on key market trends and factors for a specific application, which could focus on an individual market or geography. About ABI Research ABI Research provides strategic guidance to visionaries, delivering actionable intelligence on the transformative technologies that are dramatically reshaping industries, economies, and workforces across the world. ABI Research's global team of analysts publish groundbreaking studies often years ahead of other technology advisory firms, empowering our clients to stay ahead of their markets and their competitors. ABI Research?????????????,?????????????? ?1990???,????????????????,????,?????????????????????????? ???????????????? For more information about ABI Research's services, contact us at +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific or visit www.abiresearch.com. Contact Info: Global Deborah Petrara Tel: +1.516.624.2558 pr@abiresearch.com SOURCE ABI Research [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A day before his expected announcement Monday night, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks filed paper with the Federal Election Commission for his Senate campaign. The public filings made Sunday to the FEC would appear to confirm that Brooks intends to run for the Senate in 2022. Brooks acknowledges in the statement of organization filing for Mo Brooks for Senate that he intends to run for Senate as a Republican. It also identifies his wife, Martha, as the committees chairman and MoBrooks.com as the Senate campaign website. That website is not yet live. Related: Will Mo Brooks run for Senate? Evidence appears overwhelmingly yes Related: Mo Brooks embraces controversy as he leads longshot fight for Trump Brooks is expected to announce his campaign Monday at 6 p.m. at Bullet & Barrel an indoor shooting range with firearms training and retail shopping -- in his hometown of Huntsville. Brooks will be seeking the seat held by retiring Sen. Richard Shelby. Montgomery businesswoman Lynda Blanchard, a former ambassador to Slovenia during the Trump administration, announced her candidacy last month. Brooks will be joined tonight by Stephen Miller, a former senior adviser to President Donald Trump and an immigration hawk like Brooks. Miller tweeted earlier Monday that he was heading to Huntsville for Brooks big announcement. He also invoked Trumps informal policy campaign in alluding to Brooks. The America First movement is only just beginning, Miller said in the tweet. Heading to Huntsville, Alabama for a big announcement tonight with @MoBrooks_. The America First movement is only just beginning. Stephen Miller (@StephenM) March 22, 2021 Brooks campaign for Senate will also mean he is giving up his seat representing the 5th Congressional District in the House of Representatives. He has held that seat since 2010. NEW YORK A veteran federal prosecutor who was on the trial team that convicted NXIVM leader Keith Raniere has been appointed to temporarily lead the Brooklyn-based U.S. attorneys office for the Eastern District of New York. Mark J. Lesko, formerly a three-time elected Town of Brookhaven supervisor on Long Island and the first assistant to the past two U.S. attorneys in his office, was sworn into the new role by Eastern District Chief Judge Margo Brodie. The role appears to be temporarily. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that President Joe Biden was planning to nominate Breon Peace, who worked under former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, to lead the Eastern District that includes Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens in New York City and both Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island. The office has handled cases in the Capital Region. The Times Union has reported that federal prosecutors in the Eastern District are investigating Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo for his administration's nursing home policies. Lesko, a prosecutor in the Eastern District from 2002 to 2009, returned in 2018, serving under U.S. Attorneys Richard Donoghue and Seth DuCharme. Lesko had previously worked as a federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C. from 1999 to 2002. In a statement, Lesko said: "After having spent many years on the line prosecuting federal crimes, as well as significant time overseeing prosecutions and civil cases in a wide range of supervisory positions, I look forward to leading the office and working with our law enforcement and agency partners to protect and serve the Eastern Districts more than eight million residents." Lesko along with federal prosecutors Moira Kim Penza and Tanya Hajjar was on the team that convicted Raniere on all charges at a nearly two-month trial in 2019. It was Lesko who delivered the government's rebuttal after Raniere's attorney, Marc Agnifilo, gave his closing argument to the jury. Lesko shredded the defense attorney's argument that Ranieres master/slave club, Dominus Obsequious Sororium, known as DOS and "The Vow,' was about women trusting one another and not sex. Lesko reminded jurors about Raniere's plan to order a "jail cell" and "dungeon," among other bondage gear, from a California company that was to be placed inside a home on Milltowne Drive in Halfmoon, where DOS members often met. He questioned how that could be intended for spiritual reasons. "If (DOS) is not created for sex, then what was going to happen in the dungeon? Were they going to knit sweaters in the dungeon?" Lesko asked the jury. "Of course it was about sex." And Lesko reminded jurors that women in DOS "slaves" who answered to "masters" in a pyramid-like structure were coerced into handing over embarrassing "collateral" in the form of naked photos and other compromising information. "What courtroom was (Agnifilo) in in the last six weeks?" Lesko asked jurors. Lesko suggested in his rebuttal that Raniere created DOS as his longtime lover, Pamela Cafritz, who recruited sex partners for him, was dying of cancer. Lesko told jurors that after Cafritz died in 2016, Raniere leveraged his "mind control" in DOS to get women for sex and to keep them through lies, coercion and collateral. Lesko handled the questioning of some key prosecution witnesses, including high-ranking NXIVM defector Mark Vicente, a one-time member of Ranieres inner circle who was the second witness to testify against Raniere in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn. It's a fraud. It's a lie," Vicente said of NXIVM under questioning by Lesko. "It's this well-intended veneer that covers horrible, incredible evil." Lesko's witnesses included a Los Angeles woman who belonged to DOS and The Vow. The woman, a model and actress identified at trial as Jay, testified that Raniere convinced her to move to the Capital Region to start a T-shirt company that never got off the ground. The woman told Lesko that television actress Allison Mack, a high-ranking member of NXIVM and DOS whom she described as emotionally abusive and vindictive, assigned her to seduce Raniere. Women in DOS, known as slaves," were ordered to obey all commands by their "masters," all of whom answered ultimately to Raniere, whose presence in DOS was kept secret. "It was basically my worst nightmare come to life," Jay testified. "The worst thing is it would be a cult and someone would want to sleep with me and that's what it was. Jay told Lesko: "Pardon my French, but I needed to get the f__ out of there I decided first and foremost that I needed to get out of Albany." iAgent Supports ISI's Insurtech Initiatives Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - Xigem Technologies Corporation (CSE: XIGM) (FSE: 2C1) ("Xigem" or the "Company"), a technology provider for the emerging remote economy, today announced that it has signed a letter of intent ("LOI") to enhance its iAgent cloud-based software platform for Insurance Supermarket Inc. ("ISI"). Xigem will work with ISI to further position its insurance technology ("insurtech") initiatives in the fast-evolving North American insurance market. Estimates show that the nearly US$3 billion global insurtech market size is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 48.8% from 2021 to 2028. The increasing need to digitize and simplify the vast array of insurance services accounts for much of the acceleration in the market. [1] "Like most financial sectors, the insurance market is clearly undergoing a shift to service the rapidly emerging digital remote economy," said Brian Kalish, co-founder and CEO of Xigem Technologies. "ISI has been a leader in simplifying the process of delivering an assortment of insurance products and has been on the forefront of the insurtech revolution with its original development of iAgent. We look forward to working with the ISI team to further enhance iAgent to be a considerable part of their digital strategy." Originally developed by ISI and now exclusively licensed to Xigem, iAgent is a U.S. patented and Canadian patent pending cloud-based technology that will provide organizations with the infrastructure necessary to manage employees, assets and operations remotely. iAgent can be tailored for businesses to enable them to remotely track and manage assets, transactions, fulfilment and service cycles while seamlessly integrating with most CRM and ERP systems to profitably optimize the consumer, treatment seeker and learning experience. "Our strategy is based on leapfrogging traditional insurance companies with innovative product offerings and delivery models that directly respond to the needs of today's consumers," said Charles Nastaskin, Chief Technology Innovation Officer, Insurance Supermarket Inc. "New technologies like the enhanced iAgent platform are key to executing on this vision." Pursuant to the LOI, once the custom development work is successfully completed, Xigem will license the iAgent platform to ISI on a Software-as-a-Service ("SaaS") basis for a recurring monthly licensing fee. Insurance Supermarket Inc. is a life insurance provider specializing in providing simple and effective life insurance options to Americans from all walks of life. With plans that are designed to be easy, fast and affordable, ISI is opening up more convenient ways that Americans can find coverage. About Xigem Technologies Corporation Established in Toronto, Ontario, Xigem Technologies Corporation (CSE: XIGM) (FSE: 2C1) is positioned to become a leading SaaS technology platform for the emerging remote economy, with software capable of improving the capacity, productivity, and overall remote operations for businesses, consumers and other organizations. "iAgent," the Company's patented technology, will provide organizations, businesses and consumers with the tools necessary to thrive in a vast array of remote working, learning and treatment environments. iAgent is a mobile, geo-targeted customer acquisition and retention application. iAgent will match sales and services with consumers, treatment seekers and students in real time. For businesses and institutions, iAgent can be tailored to remotely track and manage assets, transactions, fulfilment and service cycles while integrating with most CRM and ERP systems. For consumers, treatment seekers and students, iAgent remotely enables fulfilment and engagement with the everyday goods and services they demand. www.xigemtechnologies.com Instagram: @xigemtechnologies Twitter: @XigemTech Facebook: @xigemtechnologies LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/xigem-technologies CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release may contain certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Xigem undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of Xigem, its securities, or financial or operating results (as applicable). Although Xigem believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, such forward-looking statement has been based on expectations, factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Xigem's control. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and is made as of the date hereof. Xigem disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Xigem Technologies Corporation On behalf of the Company: Brian Kalish, Chief Executive Officer For further information: Phone: (647) 250-9824 ext.4 Investors: investors@xigemtechnologies.com Media: media@xigemtechnologies.com Twitter: @XigemTech Instagram: @xigemtechnologies Facebook: @xigemtechnologies LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/xigem-technologies www.xigemtechnologies.com [1] Source: Grand View Research, January 2021 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78172 Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 19:12:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HARARE, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya has accused the pharmaceutical sector of abusing foreign currency auction privileges by selling imported drugs using black market rates. However, he told Parliament's Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee that the central bank did not have the legal powers to stop them as there was no law to deal with such malpractices, the Herald newspaper reported Tuesday. Mangudya, who appeared before the committee on Monday, said the bank was now asking the government to draft suitable legislation to curb the problem. "We have requested Government that they give more teeth to our instruments. What we have at the moment is not deterrent enough," he said. Mangudya said players in the pharmaceutical industry were some of the major culprits, who obtained foreign currency at the official rates, but were pegging medicines at black market rates. Apart from major retail shops, many traders have refused to display the prices of their commodities in both local and foreign currency with customers getting to know the local currency prices at till points. Mangudya added that the central bank could only suspend bidders from participating, using auction rules, but the rules still lacked legal grounding to make them effective. He also told the committee that RBZ would soon institute audits of entities that were selling commodities in foreign currency but were not banking the proceeds, yet they continued to bid for allocations at the auction. Under auction rules those with foreign currency holdings have to use these first before topping up with auction bids. "We will this week publish another list of those who have benefited from the auction because this has also assisted us in identifying culprits who are abusing the auction as we have received tip-offs from the public," he said. Early this month, RBZ suspended 12 companies that were allegedly involved in transfer pricing from the auction system on suspicion they were offloading some of the money on the parallel market. The auction system was adopted last year and has been credited for bringing stability to prices of commodities on the market. Enditem The Competition Council of Romania is investigating allegations that Telekom Romania exploited its dominance in the market by hiking fees for technical approvals. Obtaining construction permits in Romania requires approvals from administrators or providers of urban utilities. These are known as emplacement approvals, and are listed in town planning certificates. Emplacement approvals are necessary to verify that the proposed construction does not create difficulties in operating municipal networks. Operators provide these approvals for a fee. In a statement, Romanias Competition Authority said that it had heard claims that in 2019, Telekom Romania increased its tariffs for construction approvals far beyond the previous year without having an economic justification. As reported by TeleGeography, the council noted that while it has conducted surprise inspections at Telekom Romanias offices and seized certain documents, it has not confirmed any illegal activity although it noted that its investigation is still at an early stage. That said, if Telekom Romania is found to have violated competition rules, it could be fined as much as 10% of its turnover. This could derail Greek firm OTEs plan, announced in November 2020, to sell its 54% stake in the operator to Orange Group for EUR268 million (US$318.9 million). Kamala Harris was asked if she had plans to visit the US-Mexico border on Monday but appeared to laugh at the question when posed by a reporter. 'Do you have any plans to visit the border?' came the question while on the tarmac in Jacksonville, Florida. 'Not today,' responded Harris, before laughing. 'But I have before, and I'm sure I will again.' Vice President Kamala Harris started laughing when asked if she would be visiting the border amid the surge in illegal immigrants entering the country 'Not today!' Harris said at Jacksonville Airport, before cracking up in response to the reporter's question. 'But I have before and I'm sure I will again.' U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to reporters prior to holding a 'Help is Here' tour event to tout the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act legislation The Vice President's response led to sharp criticism online. 'Hey Kalama: You better get down there', wrote one Twitter user. 'She laughs off a lot of questions because she's incompetent' said one user. 'Translation, 'NO'. She wasn't asking about your vacation plans @KamalaHarris there is a crisis you are ignoring, not a joke, not funny, and people deserve real answers....' I'm sure I will again...', stated another furious contributor. President Biden also said on Sunday that he will be making the trip 'at some point' despite previously saying he had no plans to visit. Harris was in Florida as she promoted the passage of a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. The Biden administration has come under criticism for the way it has responded to its response to the crisis, although it has refused to use that word. 'Children presenting at our border who are fleeing violence, who are fleeing prosecution, who are fleeing terrible situations is not a crisis,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. 'We feel it is our responsibility to humanely approach this circumstance and make sure they are treated, and put into conditions that are safe.' A number of Twitter users were not impressed with the Vice President's response Kamala Harris was asked if she had plans to visit the US-Mexico border on Monday but appeared to laugh at the question when posed by a reporter. Vice President Harris visited a COVID-19 vaccination clinic and held a roundtable discussion at a food bank Thousands of migrants have crossed the border at the highest rate in some 20 years after restrictions that were brought in during the Trump presidency were rolled back. On Monday, the Biden administration came under fire after Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar published photos of a packed migrant facility in Donna, Texas. The photos showed many migrants locked inside clear pens that appeared similar to the ones the Trump administration came under fire for using. There has also been further criticism after the administration appeared to restrict media access to the detention facilities. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has said that journalists will eventually be able to tour border detention facilities. On Monday, the Biden administration came under fire on Monday after Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar published photos of a packed migrant facility in Donna, Texas. Cuellar said they offered an insight into the 'terrible conditions for the children' at the border White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had said there would be organized trips for press to gain access to detention facilities; later, she walked back on those comments and refused to share images from the facilities On Monday, Republicans Senator Ted Cruz wrote to President Joe Biden after after access was refused to both the press and fourteen other senators who visited the border. 'The American people are beginning to understand the gravity of the situation,' Cruz wrote. 'But it is not enough for members of the Senate to see what is happening the American people must see. That is why I requested that members of the media be allowed to join us. But your administration clearly and emphatically refused to offer press access.' 'This is outrageous and hypocritical,' said Cruz who accused Psaki of reneging on the administration's vow of 'transparency'. 'Denying the press the ability to observe, film, and report on the conditions at the border is not openness or transparency it is hiding the truth from the American people,' added Cruz. 'The press and the American people deserve more than denials and excuses from a podium.' Posted Monday, March 22, 2021 8:33 am On Thursday, March 18, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, along with a bipartisan group of representatives, reintroduced the Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act that expands Pell Grant eligibility to qualifying short-term training programs, according to a news release. The bill is the companion to the legislation introduced by United States Senators Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Tim Kaine, D-Virginia. Herrera Beutler said the goal of the legislation was to create a workforce thats prepared to create a better future for themselves and their families, As we look toward recovery from the pandemic, its more important than ever to ensure folks have a clear path to secure good-paying jobs, Herrera Beutler said in the release. Pell Grants exist to help individuals develop the knowledge and skills to enter careers, so Im pleased to help lead this solution to expand their eligibility to cover high-quality job training programs. Bhubaneswar, March 23 : The Odisha Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution to include the word 'Ahimsa' (non-violence) in the Preamble of the Constitution of India. The resolution was passed commemorating the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's first visit to Odisha on March 23, 1921. Mahatma visited Odisha eight times. The House discussed various aspects of Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Odisha during the first hour of the day. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said Odisha had a special place in the heart of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. "Of all the things that this country has given to the world, Gandhi's philosophy and his message stands out as one of its greatest contributions," he said. He said Gandhi's emphasis on the shunning of individual greed and his exhortation to think of the community is the reminder that the world needs. "There is also an increasing polarisation and divisiveness globally. Gandhi's commitment to pluralism and his message of tolerance and harmony is as relevant now as it was then. The Mahatma's non-violent resistance is a spark that ignited peaceful movement around the world," he added. Quoting Martin Luther King, JR, the Chief Minister said, "If Humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable... We may ignore at our own risk". Patnaik said this statement was relevant for today's world as well. The Chief Minister said the state government was totally committed to the principles and ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and renaming the state secretariat as "Loka Seba Bhawan" was not a symbolism. Participating in the debate, leader of opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik said tributes to the Mahatma can only be reflected in ways we all have lived up to inculcate his doctrines in our lives. He said Gandhi's philosophy needed to be reflected in the government's policies. Naik also raised the issue of excess liquor sale and illegal cattle trafficking from the state. The state government is pursuing a policy of gaining taxes from alcohol sale, rewarding people who sell more alcohol. What kind of tribute is paid to Gandhiji, asked the opposition leader. Congress legislature party leader Narasingha Mishra said the people, who are inspired by the ideology of Gandhi's assassin, are ruling the country. Saying that people have started forgetting Mahatma Gandhi, he said life and his teachings should be taught in schools. Congress leader Taraprasad Bahinipati demanded total prohibition and ban on illegal trafficking of cattle. Hyderabad: The ruling TRS and opposition BJP are yet to finalise their candidates for the upcoming Nagarjunasagar Assembly bypoll, even as the Election Commission has issued the election notification on Tuesday. Congress is the only major party to announce its candidate, senior leader K. Jana Reddy, for the bypoll. However, the TRS has stepped up campaigning by deputing a dozen MLAs to the constituency to retain a sitting seat. The legislators have started covering each village. Ministers will join the campaigning after the Assembly session ends on March 26. The BJP on the other hand is waiting for TRS to announce its candidate first. Congress candidate Jana Reddy has already taken up hectic campaigning in the constituency for the past one month. TRS chief and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has kept the candidate selection pending even after obtaining several survey reports on who should be the candidate. TRS official sources say the delay is because of pressure on the party leadership from the deceased Nagarjunasagar MLA Nomula Narasimhaiahs followers to field a family member, in this case his son Nomula Bhagath, as was done in the case of Dubbak, where the widow of the deceased MLA was fielded. However, local TRS leaders are arguing that Nomula Bhagath is a non local and only a local candidate should be given a ticket this time. This has eventually led to a war between local and non-local factions in Nagarjunasgar, delaying the process of finalisation of the candidate. The number of aspirants for TRS ticket has been increasing day after day with the delay, and has now peaked after the party won both the graduate MLC seats. The BJP, on the other hand, is waiting for the TRS to announce its candidate first, with a hope that strong aspirants of TRS, who fail to get a ticket, may switch to the BJP. This was forced on the BJP because it lacks a strong local candidate in Nagarjunasagar, unlike in Dubbak. witnessed repeated adjournments on Tuesday as opposition Congress and AAP members protested against a bill that proposes to give more power to the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) in Delhi. The uproar in the Upper House started when Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh asked Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy to move a motion for the consideration of the Government of Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment ) Bill 2021. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member Sanjay Singh protested against allowing the motion, saying his notice has been pending in the House. The Deputy Chairman assured the AAP member that his notice would be considered after the motion is moved, but Singh called it "unconstitutional". Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said that the bill is dangerous and it will grab rights of the elected government of Delhi and destroy democracy. He alleged that the government wants the L-G as government and the elected dispensation as his servant. The deputy chairman adjourned the House till 5.24 PM. As the House reassembled, the protest by opposition members continued, prompting the chair to adjourn the House for a second time till 5.40 PM. The Government of Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which was passed in Lok Sabha on Monday, seeks to make it clear that the "government" in Delhi means the "Lieutenant Governor". The bill also makes it mandatory for the Delhi government to take the opinion of the L-G before any executive action. The AAP is in power in Delhi. (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.) Key benchmark indices are trading firm in early trade on buying demand in index pivotals. At 9:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 266.17 points or 0.53% at 50,037.46. The Nifty 50 index was up 88.55 points or 0.6% at 14,824.95. The Sensex regained the psychological 50,000 mark in early trade. Asian stocks are trading mixed. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.92%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.93%. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, is strong. On the BSE, 1532 shares rose and 463 shares fell. A total of 78 shares were unchanged. Supreme Court judgement: The Supreme Court would deliver its judgment in the loan moratorium case today, 23 March 2021, as per reports. A batch of pleas were moved before the apex court last year seeking waiver from interest on interest in respect of EMIs which were not paid by the borrowers after availing the loan moratorium scheme. The six-month loan moratorium scheme was extended by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stocks in news: Maruti Suzuki India rose 0.95%. Maruti Suzuki India said that over the past year the cost of company's vehicles has been impacted adversely due to increase in various input costs. Hence, it has become imperative for the company to pass on some impact of the above additional cost to customers through a price increase in April, 2021. This price increase shall vary for different models. Bharti Airtel rose 0.06%. The company has further agreed on March 22, 2021 for acquisition of additional 2,914,100 equity shares (approx. 3.33%) at Rs. 10/- per equity share in Avaada MHBuldhana Private Limited, a special purpose vehicle formed for the purpose of owning and operating the Captive Power Plant, in terms of the regulatory requirement for captive power consumption under electricity laws. The indicative time for completion of the acquisition is April 30, 2021. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) rose 0.74%. M&M said that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Mahindra Defence Systems (MDSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the company for supply of 1,300 Light Specialist Vehicles to the Indian Army, at a cost of Rs 1,056 crore. The induction of vehicles is planned to be completed in four years. KEC International gained 2.84% after the company secured new orders of Rs 1,429 crore across its various businesses. Global Markets: Asian stocks are trading mixed on Tuesday, with Chinese search giant Baidu making its debut in Hong Kong. U.S. stocks jumped on Monday led by technology shares as investors flocked back into growth names amid declining bond yields. The moves came as the 10-year Treasury yield declined 5 basis points to around 1.68% (1 basis point equals 0.01%), following a 14-month high touched last week. It last stood at 1.6964%. U.S. trial data released Monday showed the Covid vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford is 79% effective in preventing symptomatic illness and 100% effective against severe disease and hospitalization. Back home, domestic equity benchmarks ended with minor cuts after a volatile session on Monday. Mixed global cues and rising COVID-19 cases in India spoiled sentiment. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, slipped 86.95 points or 0.17% to 49,771.29. The Nifty 50 index declined 7.60 points or 0.05% to 14,736.40. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 786.98 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net buyers to the tune of Rs 542.70 crore in the Indian equity market on 22 March, provisional data showed. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government has decided to open up its Covid-19 drive for all above 45 years of age from April 1, and requested that all eligible people should immediately register and get vaccinated. The rest of the population could be considered for coverage once the current stage is over. Supply chains and supply lines are intact. We are going stage-wise on the advice of experts and doctors, and will do the same in the next phase as well. I am sure everyone will appreciate todays decision and come forward to get the shot, Union minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. So far, only those above 45 who had certain co-morbidities were allowed to take the after producing a letter from a registered doctor. This requirement will be done away with for this age group from April 1. The government has also approved expanding the dosage interval for Covishield from 28 days to 4-8 weeks in the light of scientific evidence that the latter produces enhanced immunity among the beneficiaries. ALSO READ: Covid-19: Delhi bans public celebrations during Holi, Shab-e-Barat In a communication to all states, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the CoWIN software was being modified to do away with the need for confirmation of co-morbidities at the time of registration. Apart from that, auto-scheduling of second dose of Covishield on the 29th day has been removed. The beneficiaries would be free to choose the second dose date in the four to eight week period. At the Cabinet briefing, Javadekar said an adequate amount of Covid vaccines was available in the country, and that there was no shortage anywhere. Registrations for all above 45 will open from April 1, a official said. Less than 5 per cent of Indias population has been vaccinated against Covid so far. More than 3.25 million doses were administered in the last 24 hours in the country, the highest so far. The government has said the pace will pick up further. With the country witnessing a second wave in several states, Javdekar stressed that masks and social distancing would need to be maintained for the next one or two years. India has vaccinated over 48 million people who have received at least one dose. More than 8 million have received both the doses. In the age group of over 45 years of age, 42,98,310 individuals have received their first dose, according to the data. Indias total active caseload has been rising after touching its lowest mark in mid-February. It stood at 345,377 on Tuesday. Six states -- Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu -- together account for nearly 81 per cent of the new cases. SBS drama "Joseon Exorcist" / Courtesy of Studio Plex, Crave Works, Lotte Cultureworks By Dong Sun-hwa SBS' historical-supernatural TV series "Joseon Exorcist," set in the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom, sparked controversy for "distorting history" after using Chinese foods unnecessarily for important parts of the story and describing Taejong (1367-1422), the third king of the Joseon, as a decimator of his people. In the drama's first episode aired Monday, Prince Chungnyung played by Jang Dong-yoon visits a "gisaengjip" in Joseon, a house with female entertainers, with an exorcist priest named Yohan played by Darcy Paquet. But the foods served on their table were Chinese-style dumplings, baked goods and an egg-based culinary dish. This drew the ire of many viewers in Korea who could not understand why a drama set in early Joseon showcases Chinese cuisine, especially at a time when a cultural feud between the two countries is intensifying over the origins of kimchi and hanbok among others. Critics also point out a completely fictional scene that features King Taejong killing people after having a hallucination can misinform the public about the real historical figure. In the wake of the dispute, the production team issued an apology on Tuesday, saying, "In our series, the gisaengjip is located near the border of Ming China, so we thought a lot of Chinese people would visit the region. That's why we prepared the (Chinese) props we did not have any other intention. We will be more careful in producing our work in the future." But the team did not comment on the issue over King Taejong. The apology has apparently failed to placate critics. A petition to ban the drama immediately "over lies" has so far collected nearly 20,000 signatures on the Cheong Wa Dae website. "Joseon exorcist not only promotes China's Northeast Project, but also twists our history by using real historical figures as its characters," wrote the petitioner. The Northeast Project was launched in 2002 by the Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS) to "restore historical facts" surrounding China's Northeast region, but many Koreans believe Beijing's ultimate goal is to distort history in its favor to make territorial claims. The controversy put the drama's writer Park Kye-ok, who was also behind tvN's "Mr. Queen," under fire. "Mr. Queen" had been criticized for a line that described Korea's national treasure the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty as a "tabloid." "Joseon Exorcist" revolves around Taejong played by Kam Woo-sung and his two sons, Prince Chungnyung and Prince Yangnyeong, who fight evil spirits to save the kingdom. In history, Prince Chungnyung later becomes Sejong the Great (1397-1450) and creates the Korean alphabet Hangeul. The first episode of "Joseon Exorcist" scored an 8.9 percent viewership rating nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea. New Delhi, March 23 : The calm and quaint Himalayan terrain of Kargil and Leh is booming with production activities as a result of the self-sustainable employment created under the government's flagship Prime Minister Employment Generation Program (PMEGP). Since 2017-18, nearly 1000 different small and medium manufacturing units have come up creating over 8200 employment opportunities for local youths. From 2017-18 to 2020, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), the nodal implementing agency for the PMEGP scheme, has established 802 projects in Kargil and 191 projects in the Leh region creating 6781 jobs in Kargil and 1421 jobs in Leh. The KVIC disbursed Rs 26.67 crore as margin money for these projects in Kargil, and Rs 5.68 crore in the Leh region during this period. From manufacturing cement blocks to iron and steel items, automobile repair workshops, tailoring units, wooden furniture manufacturing units, wood carving units, cyber cafe, beauty parlours and making gold jewellery are a few of the initiatives that have been supported under PMEGP, enabling the locals to earn a respectable livelihood. Even during the first six months of 2020-21, which had been marred by the Covid-19 lockdown, KVIC helped locals to set up 26 new projects in Kargil and 24 new projects in Leh in different sectors that created 350 jobs in the two regions. KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena attributed these new employment opportunities in Kargil and Leh to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for all-round development of the environmentally challenging Leh-Ladakh region which is accessible only six months in a year. "Kargil and Leh have shown immense potential for sustaining various manufacturing activities. Leh and Kargil remain disconnected from the rest of the country for almost six months. However, these production units will ensure local availability of goods in these regions throughout the year," Saxena said. Expressing happiness, the beneficiaries in Kargil and Leh said that they did not have to migrate to other states in search of jobs after they started their own production units. This not only created self-employment for them but also created job opportunities for many other unemployed youths in the region. Mohammad Bakir, a resident of Minji village in Kargil, who started a cement block production unit with an initial loan of Rs 10 lakh, is now registering an annual turnover of Rs 52 lakh. He has employed eight persons in his manufacturing unit. Similarly, Ismail Nasiri, engaged in the production of iron and steel items, began his unit in Poyen village in Kargil with Rs 25 lakh. He has now employed 10 persons and is registering an annual turnover of Rs 76 lakh. This has also prompted local women to take up self-employment proactively who were otherwise reluctant to move out and work independently. Supported by KVIC, a number of women entrepreneurs are successfully operating cutting, tailoring units and beauty parlours in these districts. Hamida Banoo, a woman entrepreneur in Baroo in Kargil, took up cutting-tailoring activity and went on to employ three other women in her unit. Hamida's annual turnover has reached Rs 12 lakh. The development of the Leh-Ladakh region has been a prime objective of the Central Government. Special thrust has been given to the creation of local employment in the region ever since its bifurcation from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 20:52:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- India's federal government on Tuesday issued a new set of guidelines to contain the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country. According to the latest figures, 40,715 new cases and 199 more deaths were recorded on Tuesday. The number of daily cases had come down to around 9,000 by the end of January, but the past week has witnessed a sharp spike in new infections. The guidelines, to be implemented from April, are aimed at consolidating the substantial gains achieved in containing the spread of COVID-19, which was visible in the sustained decline in the number of active cases for about five consecutive months, said an official statement. During the next month, the Test-Track-Treat protocol would be strictly enforced across the country. An official statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs said keeping in view a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases in some parts of the country, the guidelines mandate all state governments to strictly enforce the new protocol in all parts of the country. It also called for ensuring observance of COVID-19 appropriate behavior by everyone, and to scale up the vaccination drive to cover all the target groups. The statement also emphasized that in order to ensure that the resumption of activities is successful and to fully overcome the pandemic, there is a need to strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy, and strictly observe the guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the federal government. The guidelines also stated that based on the positive cases and tracking of their contacts, containment zones shall be carefully demarcated by the district authorities at the micro-level, taking into consideration the guidelines prescribed by the federal health ministry in this regard. Enditem Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The government has taken aim at property speculators with investment houses bought from this Saturday, subject to tough new tax rules. However, the two main changes the government will progress are designed to hit investors' back pocket and discourage investors buying multiple properties and flicking them off for a healthy profit. The first is doubling the bright-line test from five to 10 years, the second removes the ability to claim against mortgage interest as a deduction. Finance Minister Grant Robertson disregarded the advice of Treasury, that wanted the bright-line test to go to 20 years. They're part of a whole bag of policies as well as the tax changes, there's nearly $4 billion for roads and pipes for new developments, a push for more public housing and apprentices, and new rules for people to access more money for deposits through government schemes. Under the old bright-line test rules, there were some exemptions for the family home - but they have been changed. From Saturday, if the family home is not used as the primary residence for longer than a year, it's subject to the test, and the tax, calculated on the time it was not being used as a family home. Another change means "short stay accommodation", where it's not the owner's main home, can't be excluded from the bright-line test on the basis it's a business premise. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone. The jury's still out on how much impact the whole package will have - the general consensus is it should start to bring prices back in the medium term but don't expect to see any immediate change. There's been an outcry from property investors who say the only result will be fewer rental properties, in turn making it harder for first-home buyers, who'll end up paying higher rents while trying to save a deposit. Housing Minister Megan Woods yesterday spoke to Checkpoint about how the package would help mitigate those risks of rent hikes. Robertson said during last year's election campaign, there would be no extension to the bright-line test, so the National Party says the tax changes are based on lies and broken promises. "The Labour Party has lied to New Zealanders, they promised to build 100,000 homes under KiwiBuild ... they told New Zealanders there would not be a capital gains tax under their watch, they also told New Zealanders there would be no increase to the bright line test - they have lied on both counts," said leader Judith Collins. Robertson admitted he'd been "too definitive" when ruling out any extension, but denied misleading the public. "We were in an environment last September where we were being advised house prices were going to drop, the opposite has happened, in the interview you're referring to I didn't get that right in terms of Labour's policy, but in terms of the situation we find New Zealand in today, we need to act," he told reporters. Capital gains tax or not? Capital gains tax has always been a sensitive issue for Labour - so sensitive the prime minister has staked her leadership on never introducing one. The bright-line test was introduced by the National Party in 2015 - it's a tax on capital gains made from the sale of houses - other than the family home - bought and sold within a certain period. They insisted - like Labour is now - it is not a capital gains tax, both parties doing so for reasons of political expendiency. ACT Party leader David Seymour said the government should just be upfront: "It's a capital gains tax by stealth because they don't have the honesty to come out and say it". Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone. Jacinda Ardern rejected that, saying the government was "silent on bright-line ... nor did we believe that we would be in a position where a year ago we were talking about a 10 percent decrease in prices, to now being in this situation where we've had a 20 percent increase". Parliament's gone into urgency to get the bright-line test law change through before the weekend. Legislation for other changes, including removing the ability to offset interest expenses against rental income, will be passed at a later date. Those changes will also apply to eligible houses bought after this Saturday, but the tax changes won't actually take effect until 1 October. There will be a four-year transition period for people with existing investment properties; they will be able to claim less as each year passes until 2025. -RNZ/Jane Patterson. BEIJING, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (HKG: 0386, "Sinopec") signed a long-term purchase and sales agreement with Qatar Petroleum on March 22 via online video conference to purchase 2 million tons of liquefied natural gas ("LNG") every year for a term of 10 years. Zhang Yuzhuo, Chairman of Sinopec, noted the long-term LNG contract with Qatar Petroleum is a first in the company's history and of significant importance: "We look forward to further cooperation with Qatar Petroleum in the future. Sinopec has always advocated for the development of green and clean energy and the long-term LNG supply agreement will not only meet the needs of the Chinese market but will also demonstrate Sinopec's commitment to a low-carbon, green, safe, responsible and sustainable development path," remarked Zhang. "We firmly believe that it's the responsibility of the entire industry and every company to reach peak carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutral, which is needed for the industry's transformation and development." Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs of the State of Qatar, the president and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, expressed that signing the first long-term LNG contract with Sinopec has further consolidated the sound bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as the beginning of establishing a long-term, fruitful cooperative relationship between Qatar Petroleum and Sinopec. China and Qatar's cooperation in the energy sector started in 2009, and this cooperation will further enhance Qatar's ability to supply the Chinese market to meet growing demand as well as highlighting Qatar Petroleum's leading position in the industry. China is a key and strategic energy partner for the State of Qatar throughout the entire energy value chain having supplied 62 million tons of LNG to China since 2009. With the government introducing a series of environmental protection measures, China's LNG market will maintain steady growth in the future, bringing broad prospects for cooperation between both parties. Qatar Petroleum is the national oil corporation of Qatar, established in November 1974. It is responsible for the development of the oil and gas industry in the State of Qatar and its main businesses include oil and gas exploration and development. About Sinopec Sinopec Corp. is one of the largest integrated energy and chemical companies in China. Its principal operations include the exploration and production, pipeline transportation and sale of petroleum and natural gas; the sale, storage and transportation of petroleum products, petrochemical products, coal chemical products, synthetic fiber, fertilizer and other chemical products; the import and export, including an import and export agency business, of petroleum, natural gas, petroleum products, petrochemical and chemical products, and other commodities and technologies; and research, development and application of technologies and information. Sinopec sets 'fueling beautiful life' as its corporate mission, puts 'people, responsibility, integrity, precision, innovation and win-win' as its corporate core values, pursues strategies of value-orientation, innovation-driven development, integrated resource allocation, open cooperation, and green and low-carbon growth, and strives to achieve its corporate vision of building a world leading energy and chemical company. For more information, please visit http://www.sinopec.com/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1471770/image1.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/960416/SINOPEC_Logo.jpg Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have admitted they did not get married three days before the Royal wedding after an official certificate blew their claim apart. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex confessed the ceremony with the Archbishop of Canterbury in Kensington Palace saw them just 'privately exchange personal vows'. The U-turn comes two weeks after the couple made the comments in their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey. Britons were left fuming as it raised questions why the 32million taxpayer-funded wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018 was necessary. Meanwhile it emerged yesterday another of the Sussexes' right-hand women in the US is moving to another role after less than a year in her current job. 'Chief of staff' Catherine St Laurent has left her post leading to reports the departure was unexpected. Lawyers for the couple denied this, saying she was employed on a fixed-term contract which was due to expire. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex confessed the ceremony with the Archbishop of Canterbury in Kensington Palace saw them just 'privately exchange personal vows' Meghan claimed that the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby married her and Harry three days before their wedding CATHERINE ST-LAURENT: 'SENIOR ADVISORY ROLE' Catherine St-Laurent Old position: Executive director of the Archewell Foundation New position: A 'senior advisory role' at the Archewell Foundation Catherine St-Laurent took on the position of chief of staff and executive director of the Sussexes' non-profit enterprise the Archewell Foundation in April 2020. The Canadian-born French speaker was previously the director at Pivotal Ventures - Melinda Gates' women and families foundation - and held a top communications role at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. At the time of her appointment, a friend told the Mail that Ms St-Laurent was 'feisty, fair and up for a tough conversation', adding: 'But if all goes wrong, she is good for a laugh and a cocktail afterwards. 'She's a good egg. She'll bring a clean-sheet perspective.' After her hiring last year, the Sussexes had said: 'We are proud to be joined by Catherine St-Laurent in this next chapter with us. 'Her leadership and proven track record working within two organizations that have tremendous impact in the world the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Pivotal Ventures make her an incredible asset and we're excited to have her on our team.' In a departing email to staff, she announced: 'I am thrilled to be able to play a supporting role in realising their vision and enabling them to achieve impact on the issues that matter most to them.' It has now been revealed that mother-of-two Ms St-Laurent will instead take on a senior advisory role for Archewell, and will 'continue to bring high-level strategic guidance' to the foundation, a spokesman told Page Six. Advertisement A spokesman for Harry and Meghan has now confirmed to the Sun their ceremony three days before their wedding was not a marriage. They said they had 'privately exchanged personal vows a few days before their official/legal wedding on May 19'. In the interview with Oprah, Meghan said: 'You know, three days before our wedding, we got married. No one knows that.' She said the couple asked the Archbishop to marry them in private at Nottingham Cottage their home in the grounds of Kensington Palace. But the claim was blown apart yesterday after the General Register Office revealed the couple's wedding certificate for the first time. It proved they did get married on May 19, 2018 in the lavish ceremony at Windsor Castle after all. The official who drew up the licence says Meghan is 'obviously confused' and 'clearly misinformed' over the wedding. Stephen Borton, former chief clerk at the Faculty Office, told the Sun: 'They did not marry three days earlier in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury. 'The Special Licence I helped draw up enabled them to marry at St George's Chapel in Windsor and what happened there on 19 May 2018 and was seen by millions around the world was the official wedding as recognised by the Church of England and the law. 'What I suspect they did was exchange some simple vows they had perhaps written themselves, and which is fashionable, and said that in front of the Archbishop or, and more likely, it was a simple rehearsal.' Mr Borton said they could not have been married in the grounds of Nottingham Cottage because it is not an authorised venue. He also added there were not enough witnesses to make it a valid ceremony. Mr Borton said: 'In order for them to be married a Special Licence was drawn up and the wording from Her Majesty the Queen authorising the wedding and the official venue was recorded.' He said the 325 fee normally paid for couples to have a Special Licence was waived for the couple. The wedding certificate confirmed the ceremony took place at Windsor Castle with the witnesses recorded as Prince Charles and Meghan's mother Doria Ragland. A spokesman for the Archbishop said he would not be commenting on personal or pastoral matters. Rev Mark Edwards, a C of E priest from Newcastle, said: 'When I called Lambeth Palace to ask about this I was told Justin doesn't do private weddings. Meghan doesn't understand. 'But the fact that the Archbishop has not commented publicly needs to be addressed.' General Register Office has now revealed the couple's wedding certificate for the first time, proving they did get married on May 19, 2018 in a lavish ceremony at Windsor Castle after all and not in private in a ceremony officiated by the Archbishop JAMES HOLT: NEW ARCHEWELL EXEC DIRECTOR James Holt Old position: UK PR spokesman New position: Executive director of the Archewell Foundation James Holt previously led communications for the Royal Foundation, the charity headed by the Cambridges. Holt has worked at Kensington Palace for several years as well as for the Liberal Democrats and is passionate about many of the causes championed by Harry and Meghan. He acted as Harry and Meghan's UK spokesman and will now take on the role of executive director of the Archewell Foundation. Holt, a BA Journalism graduate from the University of Lincoln, rose to the position of Head of Media for the Liberal Democrats in 2010 - and stayed in the role until August 2013. He worked as Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister - Nick Clegg - from June 2013 to January 2014, and moved up to become Head of Government Communications for the Deputy PM until September 2014. He took on the voluntary position of Director of Communications for Pride in London between March 2016 and November 2017. In October 2017 he took up the role of Senior Communications Officer for The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry - staying in the role for one year. He then became Head of Communications at The Royal Foundation for one year, until September 2019. Advertisement He decided to look into Meghan's claims because during the Covid outbreak he has been inundated with requests for private weddings which have been declined. Rev Edwards, the vicar at St Matthew's Church, in Dinnington, and St Cuthbert's Church, in Brunswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, said he was told by a Lambeth Palace staff member: 'Justin does not do private weddings. Meghan is an American, she does not understand.' He says the claim has caused confusion among clergy and couples anxious to tie the knot and is asking Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to clarify the situation. Elsewhere yesterday it emerged another of the Sussexes' right-hand women in the US is moving to another role after less than a year in her current job. Catherine St Laurent - head-hunted by the couple from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to become their 'chief of staff' - has left her post leading to reports the departure was unexpected. Lawyers for the couple denied reports that she had left unexpectedly, saying she was employed on a fixed term contract which is due to expire. The couple called her an 'incredible asset' when they announced her appointment, adding: 'We are excited to have her on our team.' But yesterday it emerged the Canadian-born mother-of-two has unexpectedly left her current post. There was no comment from her directly, but according to the New York Post, Miss St Laurent has already stepped down, although she will continue to work with Archewell in an 'advisory' role. She will be replaced as Archewell's executive director by the couple's current communications officer in the UK, James Holt. Reports suggest they have no immediate plans to replace him, leaving the Duke and Duchess of Sussex without any official representation in Britain and all their media relations now being handled in the US. The couple have already appointed Toya Holness as Archewell's 'global press secretary'. Buckingham Palace ceased to act for them after they quit as working royals last spring. Catherine St Laurent was head-hunted by the couple from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to become their 'chief of staff' BEN BROWNING: HEAD OF CONTENT FOR ARCHEWELL Ben Browning New position: Head of content for Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio Veteran producer Mr Browning has previously worked on films including The Big Sick, Arrival, Room and Late Night and is set to head up Archewell's work with Spotify and Netflix. Most recently, Mr Browning worked on Promising Young Woman, starring Carey Mulligan, which was nominated for five Oscars. It is thought that Browning will be working closely with Spotify and Netflix to help bring Archwell's creative partnerships to life, Harpers Bazaar reports. Browning has been nominated for a BAFTA Award, Academy Award and PGA Award for his role in the production of Promising Young Woman, starring Carey Mulligan. He had also previously worked as executive producer on HBO's I Know This Much Is True, which stars Mark Ruffalo. Browning said in a statement: 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have founded a next-generation production company with best-in-class distribution partners in Netflix and Spotify, a clear agenda to inform and entertain, and an unparalleled global reach. 'From the moment they shared their vision for Archewell as a global production company that will spotlight diverse voices and share uplifting stories, I knew I wanted to help with this unique opportunity. 'It's a thrilling company to be starting.' Advertisement One royal insider expressed surprise at Miss St Laurent's departure, telling the Mail: 'She was a huge appointment for them. 'A big hitter with a great track record, poached to head up their new working life in the US. It is really quite astonishing she has left that role after less than a year.' Miss St Laurent is apparently launching her own new 'social impact firm', supported by and working with Archewell. Harry and Meghan were dogged by a spate of departures from their ranks as working royals, losing at least two PAs as well as other key staff from their private office. Earlier this month Buckingham Palace announced it was launching a probe into the handling of claims by their former head of communications that Meghan bullied several female members of their team, forcing at least two to quit. A spokesman for the couple denied the claims, calling it a 'calculated smear campaign'. At the time of her appointment as Harry and Meghan's most senior team member, Miss St Laurent had said she was 'thrilled to be able to play a supporting role in realising their vision'. She added: 'From our very first conversation, Harry and Meghan have expressed a deep commitment to improving lives and having a positive impact on society.' The couple have also made two high-profile new appointments. Ben Browning, who produced the Oscar-nominated film Promising Young Woman, is now head of content for Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio as part of their multi-million dollar link-ups with Netflix and Spotify. Mr Browning said it was a 'unique opportunity' and he wanted to turn Archewell into a 'global production company that will spotlight diverse voices and share uplifting stories'. The couple have also linked up with Invisible Hand a 'social impact and culture change agency'. Intriguingly, given numerous reports suggesting Meghan has political ambitions in the US, its founder Genevieve Roth worked on Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. She will also serve as a 'senior strategic adviser' to the couple. A statement said Invisible Hand would be focusing on 'strategic change through storytelling and community building in support of gender and racial equity'. A spokesman for the Sussexes added: 'They join a rapidly expanding team that's deeply dedicated to advancing systemic cultural change and supporting compassionate communities across the world.' A judge has ordered The Mail on Sunday to publish a statement saying it infringed the Duchess of Sussex's copyright by publishing extracts of a letter she sent her father. Lord Justice Warby said it did not need to be published until the outcome of an appeal process. He also ruled against Meghan on how large the statement needed to be printed, saying it would take up a 'disproportionate amount of the front page' if the font size was the same as the original 2019 headline. Meghan and Harry's sensational claims fact-checked: How friend contradicted Meghan's claim she never Googled Harry, the truth about that secret wedding and whether Archie really should have been a prince Meghan and Harry unleashed bombshell after bombshell in their Oprah interview that was sure to send shockwaves pulsing through the heart of the monarchy. They made jaw-dropping claims of brazen racism and delved into difficult conversations of family rifts. Although much of the interview was an outpouring of emotion, many of the claims can be stood up - or knocked down - with facts. Here, MailOnline drills down into some of the central claims of the interview. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have insisted their interview with Oprah Winfrey would be the 'last word' on them quitting as senior royals Meghan never researched the Royal Family prior to joining Meghan said: 'I didn't do any research about what that would mean,' she said. 'I never looked up my husband online.' Fact check: Unlikely Meghan's claim that she never researched Harry, nor the Royal Family, before entering into the relationship is at odds with claims made in the couple's biography. Although the Sussexes maintain they did not contribute to Finding Freedom, it was written by friendly journalists Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, who say the book was impeccably well-sourced by those closest to the couple. Prior to their first date at Dean Street Townhouse in 2016, the authors write: 'Naturally both participants in this blind date did their homework with a thorough Google search. Harry, who scoped out Meghan on social media, was interested.' A friend is also claimed to have impressed on Meghan the attention she would command for dating Harry, saying: 'This could be crazy...you will be the most wanted woman'. The duchess said she 'didn't do any research' into the monarchy, 'didn't fully understand what the job was', and did not grow up 'knowing much about the Royal Family'. Friends of the duchess have painted a different picture, revealing that she was fascinated by the royals in her youth. Ninaki Priddy, who was Meghan's maid of honour at her first wedding to Trevor Engelson, said her friend was 'always fascinated by the Royal Family. She wants to be Princess Diana 2.0'. She added: 'She had one of Princess Diana's books [Diana: Her True Story] on her bookshelf, and even when she was with Trevor she told me she wanted to go and stay in London for at least a month. I know she used to love The Princess Diaries films.' The mother of Suzy Ardakani, one of the duchess's high school friends, has described how she taped Diana's wedding and would watch it with her daughter and Meghan years later. Meghan Markle is seen heading to a hotel to meet up with some friends in Toronto, Canada, in November 2016 Harry and Meghan were actually secretly wed three days before the Windsor ceremony by the Archbishop of Canterbury Meghan said: 'You know, three days before our wedding, we got married. No one knows that... We called the Archbishop and we just said, 'Look, this thing, this spectacle is for the world but we want our union between us.' Fact check: Unlikely Church of England marriages require at least two witnesses and the public must also have unrestricted access to the building during any marriage ceremony to allow for valid objections against the marriage. At the time the couple were living in the grounds of Kensington Palace, and their residence is off limits to the public. A couple who are already lawfully married cannot choose to re-marry each other, unless there is some doubt as to the validity of the earlier marriage. Reverend David Green, Vicar of St Mary's, West Malling and the Rector of St Michael's, Offham, said it was impossible to have had two weddings, adding: 'I think the Archbishop needs to clarify what did or did not happen three days before.' This means that one of the two ceremonies was more likely just an exchange of vows rather than a legally recognised wedding. 'I was silenced' Meghan said she was 'silenced' by the institution. 'Everyone in my world was given very clear directive, from the moment the world knew Harry and I were dating, to say 'No comment'. Fact check: Contested On the day they announced their engagement, Meghan and Harry gave a lengthy interview to the BBC's Mishal Husain, although the duchess reportedly complained afterwards that the journalist had not been 'warm enough'. On their tour of South Africa, they granted interviews to ITN's Tom Bradby, when Meghan memorably told him: 'Not many people have asked if I'm OK.' Royal insiders have stressed that it was very much the case that Harry and Meghan themselves 'called the shots' when it came to publicity, deciding which charities to support, which engagements to go on, and which media to grant interviews to. Secret: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have revealed that they were married in secret three days before their royal wedding on May 19, 2018 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shared candid footage of Archie playing on a beach during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey Archie has a birthright to be a prince Meghan said: 'Idea of the first member of colour in this family, not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be... It's not their right to take it away' Fact check: False Archie did not have a birthright to be a prince, but could potentially become one when Charles accedes to the throne. That William and Kate's children have the HRH title and are styled as prince and princesses - and Archie is not - stems from a ruling more than 100 years ago. In 1917, King George V issued a written order that only royal offspring who are in the direct line of succession could be made a prince and receive HRH titles. The Letters Patent read: '...the grandchildren of the sons of any such sovereign in the direct male line (save only the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales) shall have and enjoy in all occasions the style and title enjoyed by the children of dukes of these our realms.' Under the rules, only Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge's eldest son Prince George - as a great-grandson of the monarch down the direct line of succession to the throne - was originally entitled to be a prince. The Queen stepped in ahead of George's birth in 2013 to issue a Letters Patent to ensure all George's siblings - as the children of future monarch William - would have fitting titles, meaning they were extended to Charles and Louis. Under the George V rules, Archie would be entitled to be an HRH or a prince when his grandfather Charles, the Prince of Wales, accedes to the throne. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex introduce their baby son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor during a photocall in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle in May 2019 Archie wouldn't get 24/7 security because he wasn't a prince Meghan said: 'In those months when I was pregnant, all around this same time, so we (had) the conversation of he won't be given security, he's not going to be given a title.' Fact check: False Being a prince or princess does not automatically mean royals have police protection. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie's security is no longer paid for by the taxpayer. Harry and Meghan no longer receive British police protection, and are understood to be paying for private security. Help for mental anguish Meghan says she begged in vain for the Palace to help her mental state Feeling that she 'just didn't want to be alive any more' in January 2019, Meghan said she 'went to the institution, and I said that I needed to go somewhere to get help', but was refused because it 'wouldn't be good for the institution'. The duchess claimed: 'I went to human resources, and I said, 'I just really I need help',' but HR could not do anything because she was not a paid member of staff. She longed to check herself into a hospital or similar clinic but 'you can't just do that... I couldn't, you know, call an Uber to the Palace'. Fact check: Difficult to verify Meghan was not asked by Miss Winfrey why she went to HR rather than simply ask her GP to make a referral or seek advice from a mental health clinician herself, in the same way she might have done for any other ailment. One insider pointed out that HR exists for Palace employees while the royals themselves have a private office to help arrange everything from booking a holiday to fixing a medical appointment. Harry, meanwhile, said he was ashamed of admitting to his family that Meghan needed help, and so he did not talk to them. The duke, who is passionate about the mental health campaign he launched, called Heads Together, and has himself sought therapy in the past, said that with his wife he 'had no idea what to do'. The Duchess of Cambridge with Princess Charlotte and other bridesmaids arriving at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan in May 2018 Kate made Meghan cry before her wedding to Harry Responding to claims that she reduced Kate to tears, Meghan said: 'No, no. The reverse happened'. Fact check: Contested Reports of a pre-wedding clash between the duchesses first emerged in November 2018, when sources claimed Meghan had been left displeased with a 'stressful' dress fitting for the flower girls. Accounts differed as to the source of the row. Some said it was a disagreement on whether the bridesmaids should wear tights - Meghan reportedly believed they should not. Other reports said it stemmed from Princess Charlotte's dress not fitting, meaning another had to be scheduled. A source said at the time: 'Kate had only just given birth to her third child, Prince Louis, and was feeling quite emotional.' But during the Oprah interview Meghan flatly denied the reports and claimed it was Kate that left her upset. Couple witnessed racism inside the monarchy Meghan said: [There were] concerns and conversations about how dark his [Archie's] skin might be when he's born' Fact check: Almost impossible to verify Harry and Meghan said they will never reveal the person who made these comments. However Oprah revealed that Harry confirmed it was not the Queen nor Prince Philip. While currently not commenting on the contents interview, Buckingham Palace are almost certain to push back on suggestions of institutional racism. They could launch an investigation - as they have done with claims of bullying. Harry was financially cut off from the royals Harry said: 'My family literally cut me off financially, and I had to afford security for us' Fact check: They wanted to be financially independent When Harry and Meghan announced their intention to step back from being senior royals, they said they wanted to be 'financially independent'. Before cutting ties, 95 per cent of their money came from Prince Charles's income from the Duchy of Cornwall, and 5 per cent from the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant. Princes William and Harry received most of a 13million fortune left by their mother Princess Diana. Harry is also thought to have had millions left to him by the Queen mother. Meghan has not seen Samantha Markle in almost 20 years Meghan said: 'The last time I saw her must have been at least 18, 19 years.' Fact check: False During the interview Meghan distanced herself from her half-sister Samantha, who she said she hardly knows and she grew up 'an only child'. A photograph from 2008 - 13 years ago - shows Meghan with Samantha at her graduation. Samantha last night slammed the royal's interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying 'the truth was totally ignored and omitted' while providing photos and documents to disprove each of the Duchess of Sussex's claims about her. The pregnant Duchess of Sussex told Oprah, 67, that Samantha 'doesn't know' her, claiming she was raised as 'an only child' - but her half-sister has now insisted that couldn't be further from the truth. 'I don't know how she can say I don't know her and she was an only child. We've got photographs over a lifespan of us together. So how can she not know me?' she told Inside Edition, while sharing images of the two women together at different stages throughout their lives - most recently in 2008, just 13 years ago. The Duchess also claimed that Samantha only changed her surname back to Markle after Meghan struck up a romance with Harry - but Samantha insisted that this claim was wholly inaccurate, and shared further evidence to refute it. 'Lost' father who staged photos Meghan said the Press 'created' news about Meghan's father 'to create drama' Fact check: False Meghan Markle's estranged father Thomas denied his daughter's claims he had 'betrayed' her before branding his son-in-law 'snotty' and declaring: 'We all make mistakes - but I've never played naked pool or dressed like Hitler like Harry did'. Mr Markle says that he's apologised '100 times' for doing a deal with a paparazzi photographer before the royal wedding in 2018 and urged the couple to see him now they only live '70 miles away' from his Mexico home in Los Angeles. He also denied the Royal Family - or Britain - is racist, calling Meghan and Harry's claims 'bulls**t' and saying if it is true a royal asked about how 'dark' Archie's skin would be, it was probably just a 'dumb question'. Mr Markle spoke to Good Morning Britain in the UK after watching the Oprah interview with his daughter and her husband. In it Meghan said she cannot fathom hurting her son Archie in the way her own father 'betrayed' her, admitting she 'found it hard to reconcile' with Thomas after he insisted that he had not been speaking to the media. She said: 'I look at Archie, I think about this child, and I genuinely can't imagine doing anything to intentionally cause pain to my child'. Mr Markle said that while he did let her down, she had 'let me down too' by cutting him off after heart surgery almost three years ago. He said: 'The bottom line is she didn't lose me, she made a statement saying she lost me, she didn't lose me, I would've always been there for her, I'm there for her now if she wants me'. He added: 'We all make mistakes - but I've never played naked pool or dressed like Hitler like Harry did'. Mr Markle was referencing Harry's trip to Las Vegas where he stripped off in a hotel to play pool and once wearing a Nazi uniform to a party when he was 20. Describing his last phone call with Harry he said: 'Harry had said to me if you had listened to me, this wouldn't have happened to you. Me, laying in a hospital bed after a having procedure, I had a stint put here and put here and that was kind of snotty so I hung up on him.' But Mr Markle also used the rare interview to urge his daughter to reach out to him. He said: 'I'd like to say again. I'm sorry for what I've done. This was two years ago. But I've tried to make it up to her. I'm now only 70 miles away. I've never stopped loving her. I don't agree with all the things that my children they do. But I will always love them. And I certainly love Meghan'. A photograph from 2008 - 13 years ago - shows Meghan with her half-sister Samantha Markle at her graduation Meghan had to turn over her passport, keys and driving licence to royal aides Meghan said: 'When I joined that family, that was the last time I saw my passport, my driving licence, my keys - all of that gets turned over.' Fact check: Difficult to verify Senior royals are often pictured driving themselves and it is believed there have never been prior claims of a royal having keys and passports held. Harry and Meghan received police protection, meaning their travel was meticulously planned by officers. Meghan's press team didn't defend her when 'things weren't true' Oprah asked Meghan about stories that she made Kate cry, saying: 'So, all the time the stories were out that you had made Kate cry, you knew all along, and people around you knew that that wasn't true.' Meghan replied: 'Everyone in the institution knew it wasn't true.' And Oprah then said: 'So, why didn't somebody just say that?' Meghan said: 'That's a good question.' Fact check: Contested Making a wider point, Mail on Sunday royal correspondent Emily Andrews has said that Meghan's press team did in fact defend untrue stories, saying this was 'just not right'. Ms Andrews said that she interacted with a press team who defended the Sussexes 'again and again and again, told me things were wrong - so didn't publish - and indeed tried to stop me when true.' Palace lied to protect other members of the Royal Family Meghan said: 'I came to understand that not only was I not being protected but that they were willing to lie to protect other members of the family, but they weren't willing to tell the truth to protect me and my husband.' Fact check: Contested There was clearly frustration felt by the couple, with some justification, towards the Palace PR machine, which was sometimes reluctant to 'fight every little fire', as one source put it. But the Palace did robustly stand ground on many other stories that the couple insisted were not true, resulting in the media not running them. The Palace pursued at least one national newspaper all the way to press regulator IPSO over a story about their Frogmore home, and won a decisive victory for Harry and Meghan. The duchess complained that she was 'not protected', but Palace sources have hit back at the idea the duchess was left to fend for herself, suggesting it was her own aides who needed protection from her bullying ways something she strenuously denies. Meghan was banned from going out for lunch with her friends Meghan: 'I remember so often people within The Firm would say, 'Well, you can't do this because it'll look like that. You can't'... so, even, 'Can I go and have lunch with my friends?' 'No, no, no. You're oversaturated. You're everywhere. It would be best for you to not go out to lunch with your friends.' I go, 'Well, I haven't left the house in months.' Fact check: Contested Meghan appears to be talking about a four-year period, and it is likely the situation varied. She was spotted enjoying outings on numerous occasions, including a pub lunch with Harry, going for facials near their Kensington Palace home and shopping trips. Every British newspaper declined to buy photographs of these trips. No member of staff would dare tell Meghan where she could go. Newspaper held story about Thomas Markle until Sunday before Meghan's wedding Meghan: 'If we were going to use the word betrayal, it's because when I asked him, when we were told by the comms team, this is a story that was going to be coming out, which, by the way, the tabloids had apparently known for a month or so and decided to hold until the Sunday before our wedding because they wanted to create drama, which is also a really key point in all this.' Fact check: False Meghan claimed 'the tabloids had apparently known for a month' that Thomas Markle had staged paparazzi photos before the wedding but 'decided to hold till the Sunday before our wedding... to create drama,' adding: 'They did not report the news, they created the news.' She suggested she had 'lost' her father forever as a result. In truth, far from sitting on the paparazzi story, the Mail on Sunday, which broke it, published within 24 hours of getting the proof. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 22, 2021) - Alpha Cognition Inc. (TSXV: CRYS.P) (formerly Crystal Bridge Enterprises Inc.) (the "Company" or "Alpha Cognition") is pleased to announce the closing of its qualifying transaction (the "Transaction"), as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), pursuant to which it completed a plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") with Alpha Cognition Canada Inc. (formerly Alpha Cognition Inc.) ("Alpha Canada"). Pursuant to the Arrangement, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding securities of Alpha Canada in exchange for post-consolidated securities of the Company. Alpha Canada, a company that develops treatments for mild to moderate Alzheimer's and is developing a treatment for ALS, is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Final acceptance of the Transaction will occur upon the issuance of the Final Exchange Bulletin by the TSXV. Subject to final acceptance by the TSXV, the Company will be classified as a Tier 2 Life Sciences issuer pursuant to TSXV policies. The post-consolidated common shares of the Company are expected to commence trading on the TSXV under the new symbol "ACOG" the week of March 29, 2021. The Transaction In connection with the closing of the Transaction, the Company, among other things: Changed its name from Crystal Bridge Enterprises Inc. to Alpha Cognition Inc. Consolidated its issued shares on the basis of 7.14 previously existing common shares for each one new common share. Issued the following post-consolidated securities of the Company to the securityholders of Alpha Canada: 39,843,746 post-consolidated common shares; 7,000,000 restricted voting shares; 7,916,380 preferred shares; 10,008,374 warrants; 78,308 options; and, 9,991,057 performance shares. Completed the conversion of subscription receipts previously issued by the Company and Alpha Canada on December 18, 2020 and February 10, 2021, resulting in a total of 3,360,124 post-consolidated common shares and 1,680,056 warrants of the Company being issued. 588,375 of the common shares and 294,187 of the warrants are subject to resale restrictions in accordance with applicable securities laws, pursuant to which they may not be sold or transferred until April 19, 2021. The Company also issued 130,733 broker warrants to the syndicate of Agents led by Raymond James Ltd. The net proceeds of $4,965,440 were released to the Company and Alpha Canada on closing of the transaction. Following completion of the Transaction, the Company has issued and outstanding: 44,843,927 post-consolidated common shares; 7,000,000 restricted voting shares; and, 7,916,380 preferred shares. In addition, the Company has post-consolidated common shares reserved for issuance on exercise of the following: 11,819,163 warrants and broker warrants; 186,851 stock options; and, 9,991,057 performance shares. Subject to TSXV approval, a further 200,000 options will be issued pursuant to an investor relations agreement. A total of 15,122,221 post-consolidated common shares, 4,452,192 restricted voting shares, 6,149,980 preferred shares, 9,491,057 performance shares and 4,228,039 warrants, are subject to a Tier 2 surplus escrow agreement. A total of 15,409,612 post-consolidated common shares, 1,766,400 preferred shares and 500,000 performance shares held by non-principals of the Company are subject to TSXV seed share resale restrictions. The resale restrictions will be removed from these securities as to 10% on the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin, and an additional 15% every six months thereafter over 36 months. 621,850 post-consolidated common shares of the Company also remain subject to a 36-month staged released escrow under a Tier 2 value escrow agreement. As a result of the Transaction, the directors and officers of the Company are now as follows: Kenneth Cawkell Director, CEO and Corporate Secretary Frederick Sancilio Director and President John Havens Director Len Mertz Director Phillip Mertz Director Rajeev 'Rob' Bakshi Director Denis Kay Chief Scientific Officer Jeremy Wright CFO Additional information regarding management of the Company and the Transaction can be found in the Filing Statement of the Company dated March 16, 2021, available at www.sedar.com. About Alpha Cognition Inc. Alpha Cognition is a clinical stage, biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing treatments for under-served neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. ALPHA-1062, a patented new chemical entity that has demonstrated safety and improved tolerability in human clinical trials. It is being developed as a new acetylcholine esterase inhibitor for the treatment of dementia of the Alzheimer's type, with minimal gastrointestinal side effects and novel routes of administration. ALPHA-0602 is a gene therapy program delivering progranulin, a neurotrophic protein, and is in preclinical development for the treatment of ALS. ALPHA-0602 is patented and has received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA. Kenneth Cawkell, CEO of Alpha Cognition Inc. Email: kcawkell@alphacognition.com Phone: (604) 837-7990 TSX Venture Exchange Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking Statements The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Transaction and the expected trading date of the Company's common shares on the TSXV and expected post-closing matters. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, including with respect to the closing of the Transaction, the timing and receipt of all applicable regulatory, corporate and third party approvals, the anticipated benefits from the Transaction and the satisfaction of other conditions to closing or post-closing conditions, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statement will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. Additional disclosure regarding other assumptions and risks are included under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in the Filing Statement of the Company dated March 16, 2021 and available at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78247 Former Attorney General John Larkin is to represent loyalist Jamie Bryson in a challenge against a decision to prosecute him. The case is linked to evidence given to a Stormont committee investigating the 1.2bn Nama scandal. The leading QC, previously the official legal advisor to the Executive Office, is spearheading a High Court challenge to the decision to prosecute Mr Bryson. Former Sinn Fein MLA Daithi McKay and north Antrim party member Thomas O'Hara are also charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. The charges relate to a 2015 Stormont committee hearing when Mr Bryson alleged, under Assembly privilege, that five people stood to benefit from the 7m moved to an offshore bank account as part of the Nama deal. All five denied the allegation. Mr Larkin also sits as a High Court judge after stepping down as Attorney General in June last year. He is also the senior counsel providing guidance on constitutional law ahead of a judicial review of the Brexit protocol, and is representing TUV leader Jim Allister in the cross-party group of unionist politicians legally challenging the UK Government's post-Brexit trading arrangements. In a case which legal experts say seems destined for the Supreme Court, it is understood that Mr Larkin will challenge the incompatibility of the charge against Mr Bryson with Human Rights law. Earlier this month, representing himself during committal proceedings, the loyalist activist argued that the prosecution case was "wrong in law" and that the case should be dismissed on Human Rights grounds, adding that there was "statutory presumption that inquiry evidence would be given in public". The loyalist also claimed that the restrictions some members of the committee sought to impose had an "improper motive" of seeking to ensure evidence was not heard by the public. Acting on behalf of the prosecution in the preliminary investigation, Mr Toby Hedworth QC argued that there was a "prima facie" case to answer and that the matters of law should be left to a Crown Court judge. District Judge Mark McGarrity returned the case to Belfast Crown Court for trial. However, in papers lodged with the Prosecution Service on March 8, Mr Larkin QC is understood to support the view that Mr Bryson should have succeeded in his application to have the case dismissed. He will now lead a High Court challenge seeking an order quashing the committal proceedings and prohibiting any further prosecution. Mr Bryson confirmed last night that Mr Larkin would be representing him, saying: "Whilst I will continue to act on my own behalf in Crown Court proceedings, if they are indeed to proceed, John Larkin QC will lead the High Court challenge and any subsequent Supreme Court proceedings." He added: "It is an honour to work with Mr Larkin who was in my view a fantastic Attorney General and is one of the most eminent legal minds of his generation." Five men have been arrested on suspicion of drug supply offences, following an investigation by the National Crime Agency and PSNI into the activities of the South East Antrim UDA The operation alongside the Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF),saw more than 80 officers execute six warrants in the Carrickfergus area. The men, aged 33, 38, 39, 40 and 43, were detained on suspicion of conspiring to supply class A drugs are now being questioned by officers at Musgrave Police Station. Tuesday's operation formed part of a long-running PCTF investigation into the alleged organised crime activities of the South East Antrim UDA (SEA UDA). The arrests relate to the seizure over one kilo of cocaine found following searches of two parked cars and nearby land in the Greenisland area of County Antrim in November 2020. Five men have been arrested on suspicion of drug supply offences by officers from @NCA_UK and the @PoliceServiceNI working together as part of the Paramilitary Crime Task Force. Full story ai https://t.co/ZX8FOEKZay pic.twitter.com/kdi4zUpiHA National Crime Agency (NCA) (@NCA_UK) March 23, 2021 Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, the National Crime Agency Director of Investigations Craig Naylor said he believed the operation would "substantially" disrupt the drug dealing activities of the South East Antrim UDA. The SEA UDA have long known to be involved in many forms of organised criminality, doing untold damage to the community and exerting fear in neighbourhoods," he added. Working with our partners in the PCTF we are determined to do all we can to bring that to an end. Police Service of Northern Irelands Head of Criminal Investigations Branch, Detective Chief Superintendent John McVea, said: Todays search and arrest operation is a significant milestone in an investigation into the drug dealing activities of the South East Antrim UDA. The harm caused by illegal drugs to individuals and communities is evident on a daily basis. Drugs cause nothing but destruction and distress, not only to the people who take them, but also to their families who deal with the heartbreaking fall out associated with drugs, including death, spiraling debts and intimidation. Criminals who supply illegal drugs dont care who they harm in the process of making money to line their own pockets and fund other paramilitary activities. The PCTF has the resilience and determination to target, disrupt and frustrate those who continue to do the greatest harm to the people living in our communities. "It is a priority for the task force going forward, to go after those who control the gangs and their criminal activities. The task force has the skills resiliance and determination to target, disrupt and dismantle the leadership of paramilitary organisations. "This is in response to what the community has asked us to do. I would say that anybody who wishes to get themselves involved in paramilitaries, their future involves being arrested being brought before court and spending time in jail." [March 23, 2021] Verizon Media to Caption all New Videos, Donate $5M to Advance Accessibility What you need to know: Starting April 1, 2021 and moving forward, Verizon Media will feature closed captioning on 100% of original and partner video content streamed in its own video players to its nearly 900 Million Consumers on Verizon Media sites and apps including flagship brand Yahoo Verizon Media will donate $5 million in media to a number of disability organizations to support their important advocacy work Verizon Media will also extend video ad captioning to its reserved and programmatic offerings NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon Media, a leader in innovation, content and commerce, announced today at its Yahoo Build It Forward event that the company is donating $5 million in media to a number of disability organizations, including the National Association of the Deaf, the American Council of the Blind, and the American Association of People with Disabilities, in support of their advocacy work. In addition, Verizon Media will ramp up captioning efforts and commit to featuring closed captions on 100 percent of new user-facing video, now including partner content, that is streamed on our own video players starting on April 1, 2021 and going forward. Verizon Media will also extend video ad captioning to its reserved and programmatic offerings, enabling accessibility across all Verizon Media ad platforms. Our mission at Verizon Media is to be the most inclusive scaled digital platform in the industry putting our consumers at the center of what we do by building next-generation experiences that connect people to their passions and empower them to make informed choices affecting their everyday lives, said Joanna Lambert, Head of Cnsumer, Verizon Media. At Verizon Media, we believe we have a responsibility to make a positive impact on society and power a more equitable and just society for everyone. Verizon Media is also launching its Accessibility Council, an internal leadership group created to provide oversight to educate employees and create best practices and accountability to ensure its content and products are accessible to everyone -- including the one billion people in the world who live with some type of disability. As a pioneer in this space, since opening its first accessibility lab over 16 years ago, Verizon Medias state-of-the-art Accessibility Labs in Sunnyvale, CA and New York City are recognized as the model for industry efforts to build inclusive products and have attracted many leading advocacy groups and tech companies to visit and learn industry best practices and serve as the hub for product development. Verizon Media will also continue to leverage its new and emerging technologies such as 5G, and virtual and augmented reality to continue to develop accessible formats of the future. In 2019, Yahoo and Verizon Media partnered with the National Disability Leadership Alliance and Getty Images to create The Disability Collection, a growing collection of stock images that break stereotypes and authentically portray people with disabilities in everyday life. To date, the initiative has 2,700 photos in the collection from 200K+ photographers, and 5,600+ businesses have downloaded images from the collection. Verizon Medias portfolio of brands includes trusted brands including Yahoo, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo News, Autoblog, TechCrunch, Engadget, MAKERS, and more. For more information please visit verizonmedia.com/accessibilit y. About Verizon Media Verizon Media, a division of Verizon Communications, Inc., houses a trusted media ecosystem of premium brands like Yahoo and TechCrunch and helps people stay informed and entertained, communicate and transact, while creating new ways for advertisers and media partners to connect. From XR experiences to advertising and content technology, Verizon Media is an incubator of innovation and is revolutionizing the next generation of content creation in a 5G world. VERIZONS ONLINE MEDIA CENTER: News releases, stories, media contacts and other resources are available at verizon.com/news. News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/. Media contact: Luke Carron luke.carron@verizonmedia.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Australian authorities have launched the weather alert in all but one of the states or territories of the country, warning about 10 million inhabitants - equal to 40% of the population of 25 million inhabitants - for an area with an area equivalent to that of Alaska. According to reports from CNN, in the last few hours new evacuation orders have been issued while torrential rains continue to hit much of the country. "The rain and flood situation remains dynamic and extremely complex," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said during a press conference. So far no victims have been reported, but yesterday about 18 thousand people were evacuated from their homes and the authorities plan to evacuate another 15 thousand in a short time. (Unioneonline / vl) Its been seven months since Alaska native Doren Sanford disappeared while searching for his dog in Fairbanks last August, and his family and local authorities are calling on those with information on his whereabouts to come forward. I am convinced we have already talked to the people who know what happened to Doren, Lieutenant Jess Carson of the Alaska State Troopers told Dateline. Specifically, a young lady. Its time she comes forward and gives us the information we need to find Doren and give his family closure. Doren, who was 34 years old when he went missing, was last seen on August 28, 2020, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Lieutenant Carson added that there has been no activity on his bank account or cell phone since that date, but said there are witness accounts that put him in the area around August 31. Doren Sanford (Find Doren Sanford Facebook page) Doren was raised in Tok with his large extended family, and lived in Anchorage where he worked as a heavy equipment operator/laborer and had recently started his own business, Sanford Home Repair & Remodel. He was always involved in some sort of project, Dorens cousin told Dateline. He was always building stuff, fixing stuff, trading stuff. Its just who he is. Just a few weeks prior to his disappearance in August 2020, Doren was staying with family friends in Fairbanks while he looked at property he was interested in buying, according to his cousin. Jordan told Dateline that in their Alaskan native culture, their extended family remains in close contact with each other every day. They spoke to Doren often when he checked in and were made aware of his plans to buy land, so when no one heard from him in two weeks, the family began to worry. He wouldnt just vanish without contacting someone, his mother, his brother, someone, his cousin told Dateline. Thats when it became alarming to us. She said her cousin was last seen on August 28, 2020, when he was walking in the area of Airport Road in Fairbanks looking for his dog, a Rottweiler named Groot. Doren was wearing a navy blue Tanana Chiefs Conference sweatshirt, a camo Lavelles Taphouse hat and may have been carrying a backpack. Story continues He never went anywhere without Groot, she said. That was his companion. Doren's dog, Groot. (Find Doren Sanford Facebook page) Lieutenant Carson told Dateline that early on in the investigation, troopers followed up on a tip that Groot had been euthanized at the shelter in the area. After reviewing that more closely, we are no longer sure that was actually Groot, he said. The shelter described the dog as being very violent - and no one has ever described Groot with that sort of behavior. Lieutenant Carson added that he believes that finding Groot may lead to more answers on Dorens whereabouts and is asking the public to call authorities if hes spotted. If you have a tip or if a Rottweiler showed up in your area, with a tail that is not cropped, let us know, Lt. Carson said. Any of that information would be very helpful. The Alaska State Troopers have been working closely with the Village Public Safety Officers, the Fairbanks Police Department, the FBI, The Tanana Chiefs Conference, and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Initiative. But Lt. Carson told Dateline that information from the family and from the community has been the most helpful and will be, what he believes, what leads to locating Doren. We couldnt have gotten this far without the help of the family, Lt. Carson said. People who are too scared to come to us with information will go to them and then theyre convinced its safe to come to us. We cant do this on our own and we want you to know that its OK to come to us. Lieutenant Carson told Dateline troopers believe foul play is suspected in Dorens disappearance and reiterated that they believe theyve spoken to people who know what happened to him. Lieutenant Carson added that this includes the young woman who he says has given information to people in the community that places her with Doren and knows what happened to him. Its going to take someones conscience telling them to come forward in order for us to solve this case, Lt. Carson said. Its going to take someone wanting his family to have closure. Searches were held shortly after Doren was reported missing, but the harsh Alaska winter and snowfall has halted all searches. Lieutenant Carson told Dateline they will continue searching for Doren once the snow melts this spring. In the months since Dorens disappearance, dozens of tips have led troopers to different locations, but Lt. Carson would not go into specifics due to the ongoing investigation. But he said he believes its only a matter of time before the truth about what happened to Doren comes out. Were hopeful to know the truth soon, Lt. Carson said. We want to find out what happened for his family. Doren Sanfords mother, Liz Webb, spoke on video released by the Tanana Chiefs Conference, saying shell never give up looking for her son, who she describes as someone with an adventurous spirit who loves the outdoors and who would help anyone in need. On Facebook, we send out the pictures, send out the missing, not just on my son but all that are missing, Liz Webb said in the video. So that it doesnt get quiet. Because everybody continues to live, everybody moves on. For us who have the missing loved one, we can move on but we still have that void and so we cant let it be. She continued, encouraging the public to go to the authorities. No matter how small the detail or how in-depth, this is my child, this is my son, and I would like for him very much to come home, she said. And I ask you to help me and my family. Doren, hes a person Hes still a living person, he belongs to somebody, and he belongs to me and my family. All we are asking is that you let us know Where he is. We love him. Like you are loved by somebody. We love him. And we want him home. Dorens mother ended the video with a plea to the community. For a moment just put down what is aggravating you and just pick up the phone and call the troopers. And Im very thankful if you do. I just hope and pray that whatever is going on in your life that you will turn around and do well. Doren is described as being 510 tall, weighing approximately 140-160 lbs, with brown hair and blue eyes. A Facebook page Find Doren Sanford has been created to share developments in the case. If you have any information on Dorens whereabouts, please contact the Alaska State Troopers (907) 451-5100. A $10,000 reward is being offered by the family for information that leads to Doren. 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. Local Wellness Center finds success with patients providing Diamond CBD products FT. LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink:POTN, "the Company"), announced that the recently established outreach program to assist local wellness centers has been successfully launched with A Better You Wellness Center in South Florida. The pilot program creates an exclusive relationship with First Capital Venture Co., owner of the Diamond CBD brands, to educate and share experiences with patients and other users. The parties are excited to embark on this cooperative effort to battle opioid abuse and addiction as well as promoting general wellness in our communities. With the assistance of A Better You, Diamond CBD has been introduced to various halfway houses and plans to create mutually beneficial programs assisting residents overcome obstacles with healthier alternatives. While facing seemingly insurmountable issues with patients, Dr. Virgile Fausta has proclaimed, "I have learned, experienced, and am now preaching the benefits of cannabidiol and other hemp-derived products." As a proud minority-owned company, Elijah Snell, business development manager for the wellness center, has echoed the sentiment and shared stories of the incredible quick success and experiences with Diamond CBD and Meds Biotech products. Lee Lefkowitz, CEO of POTN, similarly shared the same feelings stating, "We are proud to be part of this community effort and helping those people in need." PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink:POTN), a publicly-traded SEC reporting company, is a holding company for its principal subsidiaries, First Capital Venture Co., the owner of Diamond CBD, Inc., the maker of Diamond CBD products, and PotNetwork Media Group, Inc., the publisher of PotNetwork News. Diamond CBD, our primary operating subsidiary, focuses on the development and marketing of premium hemp extracts containing a broad CBD isolate and full-spectrum CBD oil of natural hemp derivatives. Diamond CBD's team includes hemp industry pioneers and experts dedicated to producing the purest and most effective cannabidiol (CBD) containing products. The result is a robust selection including powerful natural CBD oil, tinctures, smokeables, CBD edibles, and other CBD-containing products, including CBD creams, health and beauty items, as well as CBD pet products, and popular Delta-8 items. For more information, please visit our website at www.DiamondCBD.com. A Better You Wellness Center is a Florida limited liability company serving as a Joint Commission Accredited facility of excellence and compassion, providing holistic and medical services to its patients and community needing clinical treatment and accommodations in a safe, caring, family-oriented setting in South Florida. Safe Harbor: Forward-Looking Statements are included within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, including words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and similar expressions are forward-looking statements and involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. CONTACT: P otNetwork Holdings, Inc. 1-800-915-3060 investor@PotNetworkHolding.com SOURCE: PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636988/Diamond-CBD-Helps-Wellness-Center-Promote-Healthy-Habits-and-Fight-Opiod-Abuse-With-Outreach-Program STOCKHOLM, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KLAR Partners ("KLAR" or "Firm") today announced the final closing of its debut fund, KLAR Partners I ("KLAR I" or the "Fund"), at its hard cap of 600 million. The fund is one of the largest European first-time funds raised in the last 10 years and by far the largest raised during the COVID-19 pandemic1. The Fund was significantly oversubscribed at the hard cap within 12 months of formal launch. "We are thrilled with the level of support shown by our investment partners and the trust they have placed in us as a first-time fund in this market. Establishing KLAR I has been a true team effort and we would like to thank all of those who have supported us and who will continue to support KLAR - individuals and institutions, advisers, investment partners, owners, and management teams," commented Carl Johan Falkenberg, Partner at KLAR. KLAR I will target buyout investments within the mission-critical services and asset-light industrial sectors that are headquartered in the Nordic, DACH and Benelux regions. The team will build on their experience of backing market leaders and utilising a transformational investing approach including growth, operational improvement and buy & build strategies. The Firm has a strong focus on talent management and believes in close and transparent partnerships with management teams based on KLAR's values of Clarity, Community, Curiosity and Courage. The successful completion of the fundraise marks the end of a remarkable first year of operations for KLAR during which it built a high-performing team and completed its first two investments for KLAR I, demonstrating KLAR's execution capabilities and strong networks in its target geographies. KLAR I officially launched in March 2020 and has received strong support from a globally diverse group of top-tier institutional investors driven by high conviction in the robust market opportunity for the Firm's differentiated, transformational strategy as well as the strong track record of KLAR's leadership team. Investors in KLAR I include public pensions, endowments and foundations, fund of funds, family offices, insurance companies and consultants from Europe and North America. Evercore Private Funds Group acted as the exclusive global placement agent for the fundraise. Macfarlanes LLP acted as legal counsel to KLAR. Richard Anthony, CEO of Evercore Private Funds Group, stated: "We are delighted to have advised KLAR on their highly successful debut fundraise, executed in a largely virtual environment. The success of the raise to its hard cap speaks volumes about the calibre of the team at KLAR, especially in these unprecedented times of a global pandemic." For further information: Carl Johan Falkenberg [email protected] +44 7918 941 391 Michael Furth [email protected] +44 7469 256 550 About KLAR Partners KLAR Partners is a European private equity company focused on investments in companies operating in the business services and light industrials. The companies in which KLAR invests each have an annual turnover of approximately 50-500 million and are headquartered in the Nordics, Benelux or DACH regions. With investment professionals located in London, Stockholm, Frankfurt and Brussels, and together with a broad international network in the industry, KLAR has a proven business model to support, develop and grow companies. KLAR's senior professionals have worked together for many years and have more than 50 years of combined investment experience in KLAR's industry-specific and geographical focus area. KLAR Partners is a signatory of United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. More information about KLAR can be found on the company's website at www.klarpartners.com. About Evercore Evercore's Private Funds Group (PFG) provides comprehensive, global advisory services on capital raising for select private fund sponsors. Clients include general partners pursuing a wide spectrum of private markets investments including private equity, private debt, infrastructure and real assets focused strategies. PFG advises and executes on all aspects of the fundraising process, and serves its clients from offices in London, New York, Houston, San Francisco and Hong Kong. More information about Evercore can be found on the Company's website at www.evercore.com. 1 Source: Preqin This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/klar-partners/r/klar-partners-closes-debut-fund-at-its-hard-cap-of--600-million,c3311979 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/19608/3311979/1391114.pdf Read Press Release SOURCE KLAR Partners Mar. 22LIMA A Lima woman indicted in November 2019 for the stabbing two months earlier of an Allen County Sheriff's Office deputy with his own knife on Monday was found to be not guilty by reason of insanity. The indictment charged Mary Spurlock, 45, with a first-degree felony count of felonious assault for stabbing Deputy Evan Thomas as he was attempting to take her against her will to a local hospital for a court-ordered mental health evaluation. Thomas was the lone witness called to testify Monday during Spurlock's trial. Allen County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Reed heard the case in the absence of a jury and found the woman met the criteria for the insanity plea. Thomas testified Spurlock resisted his efforts to take her to the hospital, and the pair ended up scuffling on the floor of her residence. At that point, Spurlock removed the deputy's knife from his utility belt and stabbed him in the finger. Thomas said the incident resulted in a "small laceration with a medium amount of bleeding" on his part. Under cross-examination by Spurlock's attorney about his client's state of mind at the time, Thomas said the woman "said she had a higher security clearance than (then) President Trump." A report from experts at the Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital in Toledo released in January of this year determined that Spurlock was at that time mentally competent and able to assist in her own defense. But her attorney, Bill Kluge, cited an earlier mental evaluation in which it was the opinion of psychologists that Spurlock was suffering from a "severe mental disease" at the time of the stabbing and should not be held responsible for the incident. Reed, in upholding the not guilty by reason of insanity finding, said he believed Spurlock did not have knowledge of the wrongfulness of her acts at the time and did believe her life was in danger due to a "major mental disease." Story continues The judge ordered the woman to be returned to the Toledo hospital for a full risk assessment and re-evaluation of her mental status. She can be held at the psychiatric hospital for no longer than the maximum length of time she could have been sentenced to serve in prison if convicted. Spurlock appeared at a hearing in January via Zoom from the Toledo hospital, where she had been for a year after doctors at the Forensic Psychiatry Center for Western Ohio in Dayton found her incompetent to stand trial. Spurlock during that hearing said the charges against her were "grossly exaggerated." Chinese peacekeeper repairs the concertina wire along the Blue Line on the Lebanon-Israel border in South Lebanon on March 4, 2021. Photo by Liu Pan By Ding Wendong and Zhao Wenhuan BEIRUT, Mar. 22 -- The Blue Line security channels maintenance task performed by the 19th Chinese Construction Engineering Unit (CHINCEU) to Lebanon has passed the acceptance inspection by officials of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on March 18. In the border area between Lebanon and Israel, there is a Blue Line formed by more than 300 connected blue buckets with a length of about 121 kilometers. It serves as a temporary ceasefire line delineated by the UN after the Israeli army withdrew from southern Lebanon and ended its occupation in 2000. It was later regarded as a temporary border between Lebanon and Israel. Many security channels leading to the Blue Line, as well as those blue buckets, have been damaged to varying degrees due to the passage of time. The Chinese peacekeepers completed inspection of the Blue Line on the Lebanon-Israel border along with Cambodian peacekeepers in October 2020 according to an order given by the headquarters of the UNIFIL. On November 3 of the same year, more than 40 CHINCEU members officially began the maintenance task of the Blue Line security channels. According to the UNIFIL standard operating procedures, the maintenance involves path clearance, wire mesh and warning signs repair, blue buckets recoating, etc., so as to restore the original appearance of the security channels and blue buckets. The task aims to create a favorable environment for patrols, boundary demarcation, and other activities in this area in the future. According to Kuang Zhibang, the mine clearance supervisor of the CHINCEU, the Chinese peacekeepers completed the maintenance of 106 Blue Line marking points, with a walking distance of about 900 kilometers during the mission. After the acceptance inspection, the director of the operations department of the UNIFIL headquarters said, "Despite the challenges and difficulties, the Chinese peacekeepers have done an excellent job. This is very important for maintaining peace and stability in South Lebanon." Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A Swiss cyber-security firm says it has accessed servers used by a hacking group tied to the SolarWinds breach, revealing details about who the attackers targeted and how they carried out their operation. The firm, PRODAFT, also said the hackers have continued with their campaign through this month. PRODAFT researchers said they were able to break into the hackers computer infrastructure and review evidence of a massive campaign between August and March, which targeted thousands of companies and government organizations across Europe and the U.S. The aim of the hacking group, dubbed SilverFish by the researchers, was to spy on victims and steal data, according to PRODAFTs report. SilverFish carried out an extremely sophisticated cyber-attack on at least 4,720 targets, including government institutions, global IT providers, dozens of banking institutions in the U.S. and EU, major auditing/consulting firms, one of the worlds leading COVID-19 test kit manufacturers and aviation and defense companies, according to the report. [The] hackers maintained regular working hours and were most active Monday to Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., the report said. The hackers operated servers in Russia and Ukraine, and shared some of the same servers as a notorious Russian criminal hacking group known as Evil Corp. The hackers used other methods to attack their victims besides the vulnerability in SolarWindss software, according to the researchers. The researchers dont attribute the attacks to a known hacking organization or a country, though they describe SilverFish as an APT group. APT stands for advanced persistent threat, and APT groups are often associated with state-backed hacking organizations. PRODAFT researchers said in an interview that the hackers bore some hallmarks of a state-sponsored group, including not being motivated by money and targeting critical infrastructure. But they said more analysis was required to make a definitive determination. As a result, it isnt clear from the report if SilverFish is a hacking organization linked the Russian government, who the U.S. government and other cyber-security firms have said is likely behind the SolarWinds attack, or if some other organization also participated. That cyber-attack, which was disclosed in December, involved hackers inserting malicious code in updates for popular software from Texas-based SolarWinds Corp. As many as 18,000 SolarWinds customers received the malicious update, but far fewer were targeted by the hackers for further infiltration. About 100 private-sector companies and nine U.S. government agencies have been identified, according to the White House. Swiss cyber-security officials said they are in contact with PRODAFT, but declined to comment on the information exchanged for security reasons. The FBI declined to comment about the report, while SolarWinds didnt respond to a request for comment. The report was received with some skepticism among cyber-security researchers in the U.S. who have little doubt that the attack was purely an espionage operation by the Russian Federation, though they declined to criticize the report publicly. Microsoft indicated in December that a second attacker might have played a role in exploiting SolarWinds. Researchers at the cyber research firm Malwarebytes described PRODAFTs findings as sound. We expected to discover more breaches in the aftermath of the SolarWinds disclosure late last year and knew that quite likely multiple different threat groups took advantage of this unprecedented supply-chain attack, said Marcin Kleczynski, chief executive officer and co-founder of Malwarebytes. He said the discovery of SilverFish reinforces the idea that more than one group exploited SolarWinds. Its not known if the 4,720 organizations that PRODAFT says were compromised by SilverFish simply received the malicious update from SolarWinds or were targeted for further attacks by the hackers. The researchers said they werent able to gain that level of visibility into the attackers actions. Nonetheless, the report offers insights into how the hacking organization operated. SilverFishs hackers maintained regular working hours and were most active Monday to Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., the report said. The hackers operated servers in Russia and Ukraine, and shared some of the same servers as a notorious Russian criminal hacking group known as Evil Corp., the report said. PRODAFT said the hackers were an extremely well-organized cyber-espionage group, with four teams named 301, 302, 303 and 304 responsible for breaching their victims computers. The hackers placed emphasis on targeting governments and large corporations, such as Fortune 500 enterprise companies, according to the report. The SilverFish group chose not to pursue attacks against victims originating from countries including Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and Uzbekistan, the report said. The U.S. was by far the region most frequently targeted by hackers, with 2,465 attacks recorded, followed by European states with 1,466 victims originating from Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, France and the UK. The hackers wrote comments in Russian slang and vernacular, while English was the other main language used. Source code also contained ID numbers and nicknames including new hacker, cyberbro netsupport and walter, for 14 people who likely worked under the supervision of four teams, the report says. What is perhaps the most striking from this report is the highly organized professionalism of the threat actor, said Rik Ferguson, vice president of security research at the cyber-security company Trend Micro Inc. and special adviser for Europol, the EUs law enforcement agency, who reviewed the report. He said it was clear that the hackers were highly-skilled, well-funded and is operating with a clearly defined mission brief. PRODAFTs involvement began in December, after a client was compromised as part of the SolarWinds breach. The researchers searched the internet for other servers using the same unique digital fingerprint used in the attack and found about a dozen machines used by the attackers. Among these, PRODAFT found what is known as command and control servers, platforms set up and used by the attackers to monitor and send commands to the infected victims. PRODAFT identified security weaknesses in the configuration of the two servers and gained access to them. The researchers found lists of compromised organizations, along with evidence indicating that the hacking group had been actively targeting its victims since August last year. SilverFish went quiet in late November, according to PRODAFTs report, but returned in January to resume its operations. In what the researchers described as one of the more shocking discoveries, the attackers created a web panel for testing their malicious payloads on victims devices, testing to see if antivirus or threat-hunting products would flag their activities. PRODAFT, which stands for Proactive Defense Against Future Threats, was founded in 2012 and is based in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland. With assistance from Ryan Gallagher and Kartikay Mehrotra. Photograph: Ethernet cables in a supercomputer at the San Diego Supercomputer Center at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) in San Diego, California, U.S., on Monday, March 1, 2021. Photo credit: Bing Guan/Bloomberg. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Cyber Shahid Kapoors next is going to be the remake of Telugu flick Jersey which he has completed shooting for. The original Jersey starring Nani won big last evening at the 67th National Film Awards. The film won Best Telugu Film and also bagged honour for Editing. Now such big wins and Shahid Kapoor had to express his feelings about it. Shahid Kapoor took to his social media and shared a poster of Jersey which proudly states their much deserving win. The actor has then not only congratulated the team in his caption but honestly also agreed that this win brings extra pressure. He said, Huge congratulations to the entire team. Thanks for the extra pressure. Now thats a sweet and quite an honest caption. But well, we are sure that Shahid Kapoor will bring his magic to the remake like he always does. After all, making Arjun Reddy into Kabir Singh was a tough task, but man he got the nation gaga about him. Mexican fan palms, native to the deserts of northwestern Mexico, are a widely-planted ornamental throughout the Los Angeles basin and are contributing substantially to the organic aerosol pollution in the area, according to a UC Berkeley study. Credit: Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons California's restrictions on vehicle emissions have been so effective that in at least one urban area, Los Angeles, the most concerning source of dangerous aerosol pollution may well be trees and other green plants, according to a new study by University of California, Berkeley, chemists. Aerosolsparticles of hydrocarbons referred to as PM2.5 because they are smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter and easily lodge in the lungsare proven to cause cardiovascular and respiratory problems. As a result of strict vehicle emissions laws, organic aerosol levels have been significantly reduced throughout the United States, but the drop has been particularly dramatic in Los Angeles, which started out at a higher level. Based on pollution measurements over the past 20 years, the UC Berkeley scientists found that concentrations of PM2.5 in the Los Angeles basin in 2012 were half what they were in 1999. As a result, from 2016 to 2018, there were almost no PM2.5 violations in the area when temperatures were low, below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. But at warmer temperatures, aerosol concentrations roseover the same time period, 70% to 80% of days over 100 F exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) threshold. "The positive news is that, where we did understand the source and we took action, that action has been incredibly effective," said Ronald Cohen, an atmospheric chemist and UC Berkeley professor of chemistry. "Twenty years ago, just about every day in LA was in violation of a health-based standard. And now it is only the hot days." As vehicle organic chemicalscompounds of carcinogens such as benzene and toluene dropped, air quality experts focused on other potential sources of aerosols in those cities with unhealthful levels. Many researchers believe that personal care and household cleaning productssome seemingly as benign as the citrus scent limonenemay be the culprit. Given the temperature dependence of aerosol levels in Los Angeles, Cohen doubts that. "There is a growing consensus that, as cars became unimportant, household chemicals are dominating the source of organics to the atmosphere and, therefore, dominating the source of aerosols," he said. "I am saying that I don't understand how aerosols from these chemicals could be temperature-dependent, and, therefore, I think it is likely something else. And trees are a good candidate." In 2018, organic aerosols made up about 23% of the aerosol pollutants in Los Angeles (blue on pie chart), a large portion of which is due to chemicals emitted by plants. The right chart shows how aerosol concentrations in LA have declined over time, leveling out around 2012. Credit: UC Berkeley graphics by Clara Nussbaumer and Ronald Cohen Plants are known to release more organic chemicals as the temperature rises and in many forested areas trees are the source of organic chemicals that combine with human-produced nitrogen oxides to form aerosol. President Ronald Reagan was partially correct when he infamously stated in 1981 that, "Trees cause more pollution than automobiles do." At the time, scientists were learning about the role of forests surrounding Atlanta in causing that city's air pollution. Cohen and former Berkeley master's degree student Clara Nussbaumer reviewed organic chemical emissions from various plants known to grow or be cultivated in the Los Angeles area and found that some, such as the city's iconic Mexican fan palms, produce lots of volatile organic compounds. Oak trees are also high emitters of organic chemicals. They estimated that, on average, 25% of the aerosols in the Los Angeles basin come from vegetation, which includes an estimated 18 million or more trees. Plant derived aerosols are likely made of the chemical isoprenethe building block of rubber or plant chemicals such as terpenes, which consist of two or more isoprene building blocks combined to form a more complex molecule. Cohen says that PM2.5 aerosols can be thought of "as little tiny beads of candle wax," with plant-derived aerosols composed of many molecules of isoprene and terpenes, which are found in pine tree resins. "I am not suggesting that we get rid of plants, but I want people who are thinking about large-scale planting to pick the right trees," he said. "They should pick low-emitting trees instead of high-emitting trees." The research was described this month in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Particulate matter, or PM, is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some, like dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, can be seen with the naked eye, while others are too small to see without a microscope. PM2.5 are fine inhalable particles with diameters that are generally 2.5 microns (micrometers) or smaller. The average human hair is about 70 microns in diameter. Credit: Graphic courtesy of EPA How does global warming affect pollutants? Cohen, who has studied the temperature dependence of urban ozone levels for insight into the impact climate change will have on pollutants, decided two years ago to investigate the temperature dependence of ozone and aerosol pollution in five counties in the Los Angeles basin: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and Ventura. He and Nussbaumer looked at data from 22 measurement sites across the basineight in LA County, two in Orange County, five in Riverside County, four in San Bernardino County, and three in Ventura Countyto study aerosols, and at four sitesthree in LA, one in San Bernardinoto study ozone. The researchers found that at the beginning of the 21st century, the relationship between temperature and aerosol pollution was quite varied: if the temperature went up, sometimes PM2.5 concentrations would increase a lot, sometimes a little. Today, the relationship is more linear: If the temperature goes up a degree, PM2.5 concentrations predictably increase by a set amount. Cohen and Nussbaumer focused primarily on secondary organic aerosols (SOA), which form as particles when gaseous pollutantsprimarily nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)react with sunlight. The same conditions produce ozone. Using a simple atmospheric model, they concluded that both regulated chemicals from vehicle exhaust and cookingprimary organic aerosols such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xyleneand isoprene from plants were precursors of the majority of the organic aerosols observed. Their model suggests that about a quarter of the SOA in the LA Basin are formed by isoprene or other very similar compounds, and that these represent most of the temperature-dependent increase. While there is evidence that some temperature-dependent VOCs have been controlled over time, such as those from evaporation of gasoline, isoprene is not one of them. Cohen noted that as electric car use increases, the importance of organic aerosols from vegetation will become more dominant, requiring mitigation measures to keep levels within regulatory limits during heat waves. "Cars are also contributing to ozone, and in the LA basin the ozone level is also high, at high temperatures and for the same reason: There are more organic molecules to drive the chemistry when it is hot ," Cohen said. "We want some strategy for thinking about which plants might emit fewer hydrocarbons as it gets hot or what other emissions we could control that prevent the formation of aerosols." Cohen hopes to look at data from other urban areas, including the San Francisco Bay Area, to see if the temperature-dependent aerosols now dominate, and whether vegetation is the culprit. The study was funded in part by a grant (NA18OAR4310117) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Cohen and Allen Goldstein, a UC Berkeley professor of environmental science, policy and management and of civil and environmental engineering, have also partnered with NOAA scientists and the state and local air quality agencies on an experiment to observe emissions in Los Angeles at different temperatures. Combining these different observing strategies in the LA Basin, Cohen hopes, "will lead to better ideas for reducing high ozone and aerosol events in the basin, ones that can then be used as a guide in other major cities suffering from poor air quality." Explore further Combination of pine scent and ozone as super source of particulate emissions More information: Clara M. Nussbaumer et al, Impact of OA on the Temperature Dependence of PM 2.5 in the Los Angeles Basin, Environmental Science & Technology (2021). Journal information: Environmental Science & Technology Clara M. Nussbaumer et al, Impact of OA on the Temperature Dependence of PM 2.5 in the Los Angeles Basin,(2021). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07144 Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 75F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. A shooting at a Colorado supermarket killed 10 people, including a police officer who was the first to respond to the scene, authorities said. Police arrested a suspect, but did not reveal his name or any details about the shooting at a news conference where Boulder police Chief Maris Herold fought back tears. Investigators have started sorting through evidence and witness interviews and do not yet have details on a motive for the shooting at the King Soopers store in Boulder, which is about 25 miles northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado, said Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty. He said: This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder County. These were people going about their day, doing their shopping. I promise the victims and the people of the state of Colorado that we will secure justice. The attack was the seventh mass killing this year in the US, following last weeks shooting that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area massage businesses. Rest In peace Officer Eric Talley. Your service will never be forgotten #BoulderShooting pic.twitter.com/FVximvhS2E Boulder Police Dept. (@boulderpolice) March 23, 2021 The killed officer was identified as Eric Talley, 51, who had been with Boulder police since 2010, Mr Herold said. He was by all accounts one of the outstanding officers of the Boulder Police Department, and his life was cut too short, Mr Dougherty said. Identities of the other nine victims were not disclosed on Monday night as police were still notifying their family members. Expand Close Police continue their investigation at a King Soopers grocery store where authorities say multiple people were killed in a shooting (David Zalubowski/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police continue their investigation at a King Soopers grocery store where authorities say multiple people were killed in a shooting (David Zalubowski/AP) Matthew Kirsch, the acting US attorney for Colorado, pledged that the full weight of federal law enforcement will support the investigation. He said investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the crime scene, along with FBI agents. Officers had escorted a shirtless man with blood running down his leg out of the store in handcuffs but authorities would not say if he was the suspect. They did say the suspect was receiving medical care and was the only person injured who did not die. Expand Close A man holds an American flag as a procession of emergency vehicles leaves a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place (David Zalubowski/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A man holds an American flag as a procession of emergency vehicles leaves a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place (David Zalubowski/AP) Dean Schiller told The Associated Press that he had just left the supermarket when he heard gunshots and saw three people lying face down, two in the car park and one near the doorway. He said he couldnt tell if they were breathing. Video posted on YouTube showed one person on the floor inside the store and two more outside on the ground. What sounds like two gunshots are also heard at the beginning of the video. Expand Close People are led out of a King Soopers grocery store after a shooting in the store (Hart Van Denburg/Colorado Public Radio/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People are led out of a King Soopers grocery store after a shooting in the store (Hart Van Denburg/Colorado Public Radio/AP) Law enforcement vehicles and officers massed outside the store, including Swat teams, and at least three helicopters landed on the roof. At one point, authorities said over a loudspeaker that the building was surrounded and that you need to surrender. Colorado Governor Jared Polis tweeted a statement that his heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community. Industry Minister Karen Andrews has demanded the removal of Coalition staff who shared images of a man who was sacked on Monday night for filming himself performing a sex act on a Liberal MPs desk. In a furious call for more action, Ms Andrews said the government advisers who shared the mobile phone video should resign or face an investigation to name them and sack them. Industry Minister Karen Andrews said on Tuesday morning she had had a gutful of the stories about mistreat of women in Parliament House. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Those people know who they are, so stop hiding, stand up, get out of the building. Time to go, she said on Tuesday morning. But that cant be the only response. Quite clearly, we do need to look at what the avenues are to identify who those individuals are. The government has sought to contact the whistleblower who revealed the videos but Ms Andrews said she was disappointed they had to be revealed by a whistleblower. More than 8m has been paid out in injury claims resulting from uneven pavements or potholes over a five-year period. The deteriorating state of Northern Irelands roads has been laid bare by figures showing that almost 30,000 defects are awaiting repair. At 4,140, the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon council area had the largest number of problems in the period between January 1 and March 11. It was followed by Fermanagh and Omagh on 3,807, Mid Ulster on 3,702 and Belfast on 1,788. Ards and North Down was the lowest at 1,437. In total, there were 29,798 defects across the road network waiting to be repaired. Stormonts Department for Infrastructure (DfI) had a roads budget of 402million in the 2020/21 financial year. Its investment in capital structural maintenance was 75m, with 12m of this going towards a road recovery fund and 10m to rural roads. Expand Close Map of potholes in Northern Ireland / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Map of potholes in Northern Ireland With 78% of the local road network classed as rural, more problems tend to be found in the countryside. A study published last month found that the combined depth of every pothole in Northern Ireland was 1,338m almost eight times the depth of the English Channel. Recent figures obtained by the Belfast Telegraph showed more than 8m has been paid out in injury claims resulting from uneven pavements or potholes over a five-year period. In the 2015/16 financial year, the compensation total was 1,713,708 from 262 claims. By the 2019/2020 financial year, this had jumped to 2,253,980 from 269 claims a 24% rise. That led to Alliance MLA and Stormont Infrastructure Committee chair Andrew Muir hitting out at the "senseless" approach to road repairs. "Multiple reports have shown the need for increased funding and multi-year budgets to address the state of roads," he said. "The paving-over-the cracks approach is a bad deal for the public both as road users and taxpayers, with a list the length of my arm of roads needing resurfaced in north Down." The Audit Office estimated in a 2019 report that clearing the backlog would cost 1.2bn. It said that while major roads were in a better condition than believed, problems on minor roads were getting worse. The study suggested a number of proposals for tackling the problem, including ring-fenced funding and ensuring repairs are carried out equally across the network. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The European Commission insisted on Monday it was not set on banning vaccine exports amid an escalating row over supplies that has threatened to derail vaccination efforts across the continent. Eric Mamer, spokesman for EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, said the bloc was focused on making sure that companies deliver on their commitments to the member states rather than restricting movement of doses to third countries. There is growing frustration on the continent that the EU is not getting the supplies it expected from AstraZeneca. Boris Johnson spoke with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and French president, Emmanuel Macron, on Monday in a bid to end the stand-off. The EU leaders are to hold a virtual summit on Thursday where the matter will be debated further. The row over supplies has been complicated by the temporary suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine in more than a dozen EU countries over reports of blood clotting. Read more: It left officials simultaneously demanding assurances on future vaccine supply while doses were going unused. After confirmation from the European medicines regulator that the AstraZeneca jab was safe, countries began administering doses again, though with France still opting to impose a restriction for the over 55s. Sweden, Norway and Denmark, which was the first country to pause using AstraZeneca, said they would wait another week before deciding whether to resume. Is the vaccine safe? The World Health Organisation, which has urged vaccinations to continue, said on Friday that more than 20 million doses of the vaccine had been given to European citizens. The rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine has been affected by reports of possible harmful effects centering on blood clotting. But the European Medicines Agency and the UKs Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have concluded it is safe and effective and that the benefits outweigh any potential risks. On Monday, data from a US-led trial showed the vaccine is 79 per cent effective at preventing Covid-19 and offers 100 per cent protection against severe disease. An independent data safety monitoring board also identified no safety concerns relating to the vaccine. Should you worry about the AstraZeneca vaccine? What has the EU said? Last week, Ms von der Leyen grabbed headlines when she threatened to restrict exports of Covid vaccines to the UK and other countries in an effort to safeguard jabs for its own citizens, as parts of the continent face a third wave of the pandemic. She said the bloc would use whatever tool it needed to ensure doses reached its citizens, including seizing production of vaccines. We want reliable deliveries of vaccines, we want an increase in the contracts, we want to see reciprocity and proportionality in exports, and we are ready to use whatever tool we need to deliver on that, she said. This is about making sure that Europe gets its fair share. Over the weekend, in an interview with Germany's Funke Media Group, she repeated that warning: We have the possibility to forbid planned exports. That is the message to AstraZeneca: You fulfill your contract with Europe before you start delivering to other countries. However, speaking on Monday in Brussels, Ms von der Leyens spokesman, Mr Mamer, appeared to soften the EUs stance. While he said the president has given our view of what the situation is and what are the objectives that we are following, he added: This is not about banning vaccine exports, this is about making sure that companies deliver on their commitments to the member states and the European Union that are inscribed in the contracts that they have with us. Therefore, this is our objective, to make sure that the contracts that we have signed are respected. In that context, the president has said that, of course, we see that, actually, companies that manufacture doses in the EU have been exporting very widely which is in itself a good thing but that we want to see reciprocity and proportionality in these exports. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 29 May 2021 Smoke billowing from the Singapore-registered container ship MV X-Press Pearl, which has been burning for the tenth consecutive day in the sea off Sri Lanka's Colombo Harbour, in Colombo Sri Lanka Air Force/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 May 2021 Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accompanied by his dog Peanut welcomes European Council President Charles Michel at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece Reuters World news in pictures 27 May 2021 A man waits to receive a dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, in the rooms of the Claudia Comte exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Castello di Rivoli near Turin AFP/Getty World news in pictures 26 May 2021 A girl, with her face painted with the colours of the opposition flag, looks on during a demonstration against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and presidential elections, in the opposition-held Idlib, Syria Reuters World news in pictures 25 May 2021 A Buddhist monk climbs atop a giant statue of Buddha, to wash and decorate on the eve of Buddha Purnima, a holiday traditionally celebrated for Buddha's birthday also known as Vesak celebrations, in Bhopal AFP/Getty World news in pictures 24 May 2021 Lava from the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo cuts through Buhene north of Goma, Congo AP World news in pictures 23 May 2021 Cyclists at the start of the 15th stage of the Giro dItalia, a 147km race between Grado and Gorizia AFP/Getty World news in pictures 22 May 2021 Swiss Guards take their position prior to the arrival of the European Commission President at San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican for a private audience with the Pope AFP/Getty World news in pictures 21 May 2021 A dog that has been trained to sniff out the coronavirus disease, screens a sweat sample at Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters World news in pictures 20 May 2021 Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr in action during a F1 practice session at the Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo Reuters World news in pictures 18 May 2021 Horse-drawn carriages drive through the mudflats near Cuxhaven, northern Germany dpa via AP World news in pictures 17 May 2021 Kanoya Onishi in action during the Cycling BMX Free Style of Tokyo 2020 Olympics test event at Ariake Urban Sports Park in Japan EPA World news in pictures 16 May 2021 Rescuers carry Suzy Eshkuntana, 6, as they pull her from the rubble of a building at the site of Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City Reuters World news in pictures 15 May 2021 A ball of fire erupts from the Jala Tower as it is destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza city AFP/Getty World news in pictures 14 May 2021 Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers inside the Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh AP World news in pictures 13 May 2021 Muslim girls ride on a mini train after attending the Eid Al-Fitr prayer that marks the end of the Holy month of Ramadan at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Kenya AFP/Getty World news in pictures 12 May 2021 Israeli artillery fire as the escalation continues between Israeli army and Hamas at the Gaza Border EPA World news in pictures 11 May 2021 Maya Nakanishi competes in the womens long jump - T64 category during a para-athletics test event for the 2020 Olympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo AFP/Getty World news in pictures 10 May 2021 A Palestinian man helps a wounded fellow protester amid clashes with Israeli security forces at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque compound, ahead of a planned march to commemorate Israels takeover of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War AFP/Getty World news in pictures 9 May 2021 Falconer Giovanna Piccolo performs with her Eurasian eagle-owl at 'Roma World' theme park, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Rome Reuters World news in pictures 8 May 2021 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) is introduced as a starter against the St. Louis Blues at T-Mobile Arena. USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 6 May 2021 Buddhist monks and believers attend a lantern parade in celebration of the upcoming birthday of Buddha at a temple in Seoul, South Korea Reuters World news in pictures 5 May 2021 Russian MiG-29 jet fighters of the Strizhi (Swifts) and Su-30SM jet fighters of the Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic teams fly in formation over the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin in Moscow during a flypast rehearsal for the WWII Victory Parade AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 May 2021 An elevated metro line collapsed in the Mexican capital on Monday, leaving at least 23 people dead and dozens injured as a train came plunging down, authorities said AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 May 2021 Lightning bolts strike buildings during a thunderstorm in Bangkok AFP/Getty World news in pictures 2 May 2021 Samaritan worshippers arrive to take part in a Passover ceremony on top of Mount Gerizim, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus AFP/Getty World news in pictures 1 May 2021 A Gilet Jaune, or yellow vest, protestor stands in front of a burning barricade holding his hand up with an inscription calling for President Macron to resign as May Day Protest turn violent near Place de la Republique in Paris, France Getty World news in pictures 30 April 2021 A demonstrator from the Rio de Paz human rights activist group digs a symbolic grave in front of rows of bags symbolising bodybags on Copacabana beach, during a protest against the Brazilian governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic, in Rio de Janeiro AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 April 2021 An aerial picture shows dead carp fish flushed to the shores of al-Qaraoun reservoir in Lebanons Western Beqaa District in the countrys east. Tonnes of fish have washed up dead on the shoreline of the highly polluted artificial reservoir in eastern Lebanon in recent days AFP/Getty World news in pictures 28 April 2021 Health workers wearing PPE attends to coronavirus patients inside a banquet hall temporarily converted into a covid care centre in New Delhi AFP/Getty World news in pictures 27 April 2021 The full moon, known as the Super Pink Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City, Reuters World news in pictures 26 April 2021 Balinese people lay wreaths with names of the crew on board the sunk Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala during a prayer at the sea near Labuhan Lalang, Bali, Indonesia EPA World news in pictures 25 April 2021 An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian worshipper walks around the Edicule, the place believed to be where Jesus Christ was buried, during Palm Sunday celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem AFP/Getty World news in pictures 24 April 2021 Fans of Wuhan Three Towns FC cheer for their team during the 1st round match Wuhan Three Towns FC and Beijing Institute of Technology FC during Chinese Football League One in Wuhan, China Getty World news in pictures 23 April 2021 A girl prays in front of the Dome of the Rock, in the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalems Old City, on the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, as coronavirus restrictions ease around the country, in Jerusalem Reuters World news in pictures 22 April 2021 People walk through the art work 'THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS' by Yayoi Kusama, during the press preview of a retrospective exhibition of the Japanese artist at the Martin Gropius Bau museum in Berlin, Germany AP World news in pictures 21 April 2021 Hungary's Sara Peter competes in the Women's floor qualifications during European Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the St Jakobshalle, in Basel AFP/Getty World news in pictures 20 April 2021 South Korea university students gets their heads shaved during a protest against Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, in front of the Japanese embassy, in Seoul Reuters World news in pictures 19 April 2021 A spectator wearing a football jersey of Argentina's forward Lionel Messi attends the ATP Barcelona Open tennis tournament singles match between Japan's Kei Nishikori and Argentina's Guido Pella at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona AFP/Getty World news in pictures 18 April 2021 People raise their fist during a demonstration near the George Floyd Memorial in Minneapolis, Minnesota AFP/Getty World news in pictures 17 April 2021 Security personnel stand guard outside a polling station during the 5th phase of West Bengal's state legislative assembly elections in Kolkata AFP/Getty World news in pictures 16 April 2021 Palestinians take part in the first Friday prayers of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City AFP/Getty World news in pictures 15 April 2021 A firefighter inspects the site of a car bomb attack in Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 14 April 2021 This picture shows the 100 days countdown till the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games displayed on the illuminated Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo on April 14, 2021 AFP/Getty World news in pictures 13 April 2021 This photo taken and received courtesy of an anonymous source shows Buddhist monks gesturing while taking part in a demonstration with protesters against the military coup in Mandalay during the Myanmar New Year festival of Thingyan AFP/Getty World news in pictures 12 April 2021 An Indian holi man during the Kumbh Mela royal bath (Sacred Hindu Pilgrimage) in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. Thousands of pilgrims are gathering and taking holy dip in Kumbh Mela that is a mass Hindu pilgrimage which occurs after every twelve years and rotates among four locations EPA World news in pictures 11 April 2021 Nasa released images of of sand dunes on Mars captured using infrared reflections NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU World news in pictures 10 April 2021 People watch devotees pulling a chariot in Biska Jatra Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal AP World news in pictures 9 April 2021 Maintenance workers clean the monument of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in Moscow on April 9, 2021. - Sixty years ago Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space, marking it a new chapter in the history of space exploration. AFP/Getty World news in pictures 8 April 2021 Protesters hold a banner and burning red flares during a demonstration of called by unions of healthcare and social workers in support of their sector and to demand a bonus in their pay in Paris AFP/Getty What has the UK said? Downing Street responded last week by urging Brussels to stand by its commitment that it would not restrict vaccine exports. Asked about Ms Von der Leyen comments, Boris Johnson's official spokesman said: I would point you back to the conversation the prime minister had with Ursula von der Leyen earlier this year. She confirmed then that the focus of their mechanism was on transparency and not intended to restrict exports by companies where they are fulfilling their contractual responsibilities. It remains the case we would expect the EU to continue to stand by its commitment. Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, added: The world's watching. We've, all of us, including with our European friends, been saying throughout the pandemic, that you'd be wrong to curtail or interfere with lawfully-contracted supply. We all said it last year on PPE. We've been saying it this year, on vaccines and other things. Asked to comment on the situation on Monday, the care minister, Helen Whately, urged the European Commission to stick to its commitment not to block pharmaceutical companies from meeting the terms of contracts to supply vaccines. She told BBC Radio 4's Today: What we're hearing at the moment is some speculation, some conjecture, an element of rhetoric. But what is actually important is that the EU and no country should follow vaccine nationalism or vaccine protectionism. We expect the European Union to stick by their commitments and I'm sure the Prime Minister will be in contact with European counterparts he speaks to European counterparts regularly but I don't think this debate is helpful to anybody. What matters is for all countries to be getting on and deploying and vaccinating their population. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told LBC Radio: I don't think the EU is helping itself here, I don't think it has helped itself much in the last few weeks and months on the whole question of the vaccine. I don't think they should go down this road of banning exports. Is there a shortage of supplies? Intense global demand for vaccines has resulted in a warning of delays down the tracks. The UK announced last week that it would be hit by supply shortages, with new bookings for Covid vaccinations closed for the month of April after health bosses revealed a significant reduction in supply from the week beginning 29 March. NHS leaders received a letter ordering them to concentrate on completing vaccination of over-50s and other priority groups, as well as administering second doses to those who have already had a jab, while people aged under 49 must wait for their turn. The shortage, caused by reductions in national inbound vaccines supply, was likely to last for four weeks, the letter said. Europe is also facing shortages. Germanys health minister, Jens Spahn, warned last week that the country did not have enough vaccines to prevent a third wave of the disease. Who is shipping what, and where? The EU has so far shipped around 10 million vaccine doses to the UK. But it is understood that no vaccine has so far been shipped from Britain to the EU, despite requests from Brussels. Pfizer has a large plant in Belgium where much of the UKs supply has come from part of a 40-million-dose order. Threats to block exports could affect those deliveries. However, a company based in east Yorkshire, Croda, is reported to have a five-year contract worth up to 75m to supply four different chemical ingredients used in the production of the Pfizer vaccine on the continent. So a tit-for-tat export ban would harm all countries. The UK is currently less reliant on the EU for AstraZeneca vaccines, with its own factories in Wrexham, Keele and Oxford. But it has had its rollout disrupted by a delayed shipment of the drug from India. Discussions are also said to be underway over a stockpile of AstraZeneca vaccines at a factory in the Netherlands. The British government has reportedly demanded access to jabs produced in that plant. The Leiden-based factory, 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 Brits are insisting that the Halix plant in the Netherlands must deliver the drug substance produced there to them. That doesnt work, one EU official told Reuters. AstraZeneca has not yet sought approval for vaccines produced at Halix to be used in the EU, but is expected to imminently. Cayuga County Legislator Keith Batman thinks Gov. Andrew Cuomo is no longer in a position to lead New York. Batman, a Democrat, joined nearly 30 other local elected officials from across New York in issuing a joint statement on Monday calling on Cuomo to resign amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and investigations into his administration's withholding of nursing home COVID-19 death data. The statement, which was organized by Local Progress New York, says Cuomo is "failing to govern effectively and move our state out of this crisis." It mentions the sexual misconduct allegations and the handling of data related to COVID-19 in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Between those two controversies, the group says Cuomo has abused his power and "violated the values of equitable governance." In the final paragraph of the statement, the local leaders urge Cuomo to resign immediately. Batman is the only elected official from Cayuga County who signed the statement. There were others from central New York, including Ithaca City Councilor Cynthia Brock and Manlius Councilmember Heather Waters. The State Police Association of Massachusetts is suing the Massachusetts State Police for allegedly miscalculating troopers and sergeants regular rate of pay, resulting in a shortchanging of the officers overtime pay. The lawsuit, filed in Suffolk Superior Court on March 19, alleges that the department failed to accurately calculate the regular rate and overtime rate of pay for its Troopers and Sergeants, specifically by excluding the various stipends in those calculations, documents show. The Massachusetts State Police department and Colonel Christopher Mason are named as defendants in the suit. Those stipends include a clothing allowance, a hazardous duty bonus, body camera pay and a commuting stipend, the lawsuit states. State and federal law require that these stipends be included in determining the regular rate, the suit states. The Department, however, does not include these stipends when it calculates the regular rate, the suit states. The Departments actions constitute a breach of contract, violate the Fair Labor Standards Act and Massachusetts state laws mandating the timely payment of regular and overtime wages. The lawsuit states that the association members sent a letter to Massachusetts State Police in January of 2020 pointing out the alleged underpayments. The state police union, which represents 1,900 troopers and sergeants, alleges the department knew about its miscalculations. The group is seeking compensatory, punitive and liquidated damages, back pay, injunctive and declaratory relief, costs of litigation and attorneys fees on behalf of its members. The union is looking to recover three years of back pay for its members at between $1 to $2 million a year; the group is also seeking triple damages under state law a total payout that could exceed $18 million. The union filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey about the alleged miscalculation of the regular rate and overtime rate on Jan. 15, 2021, who issued a letter authorizing a private right of action two days later, the lawsuit states. According to the Boston Globe, Healeys office received a request from state police that it represent them in the case. David Procopio, a spokesman for the state police, declined to comment on the suit, adding that the department will defer any public statement on our reply until our response to the lawsuit is filed in court. Related Content: New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday (March 23, 2021) announced that now the people above 45 years of age can take the COVID-19 vaccine from April 1. "It has been decided that from April 1, the COVID-19 vaccine will open for everybody above 45 years of age. We request that all eligible should immediately register and get vaccinated," said Union Minister Prakash Javadekar. Javadekar also approved the decision of increasing the time interval between two doses of Covishield. "As per the advice by scientists and world scientist bodies, the second dose can be administered between 4th and 8th week, particularly for Covishield. We appeal that all above 45 should take the vaccine as early as possible that will provide them shield against COVID-19," stated Javadekar. The government also urged people to maintain social distancing and wear masks besides following COVID-19 safety protocols. Second dose of #Covishield vaccine can be administered at 4-8 weeks. People above 45 years of age should take vaccine as early as possible - Union Minister @PrakashJavdekar #LargesVaccineDrive #CabinetDecisions pic.twitter.com/3jMGGHckjB PIB India (@PIB_India) March 23, 2021 The Centre took the decision during a cabinet meeting. So far, over 4.8 crore vaccine doses have been administered through 7,84,612 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am on Tuesday. India also reportedly recorded the highest single-day vaccination on Monday as more than 32.53 lakh doses were given. The announcement comes on a day when the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry informed that India recorded 40,715 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours. With this, India's total COVID-19 caseload has increased to 1,16,86,796. According to the official data, six states namely Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu together account for 80.90 per cent of the new cases. Maharashtra continued to report the highest daily new cases at 24,645 (60.53 per cent). It is followed by Punjab with 2,299 while Gujarat reported 1,640 new cases. #CoronaVirusUpdates: State-wise details of Total Confirmed #COVID19 cases (till 23 March, 2021, 8 AM) States with 1-30000 confirmed cases States with 30001-280000 confirmed cases States with 280000+ confirmed cases Total no. of confirmed cases so far#StaySafe pic.twitter.com/WnBQmrcEwr #IndiaFightsCorona (@COVIDNewsByMIB) March 23, 2021 India has also recorded more than 1.11 crore recoveries. Live TV The telecom sector in India is on the path of recovery and a second round of consolidation has started in the industry which will transform the business model of companies, credit rating agency India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) said on Tuesday. Ind-Ra maintained a stable outlook for Indian telecom sector for FY22 in view of a conducive regulatory environment and its belief that the sector will continue to show signs of recovery. "...the second round of consolidation (Consolidation 2.0) is kicking in the industry, which will bring a transformation in the business models of telecom companies, leading to the evolution of incumbents from the providers of traditional voice-only services to complete digital solutions for households," it said in a release. Ind-Ra said providing one or more of the services such as broadband services, cable TV services (direct-to-home), enterprise solutions, e-payment wallets/ platforms, music applications and over-the-top transmission platform in a bundled form along with traditional wireless mobile services has now become the need of the hour to ensure customer stickiness and widen the market footprint. Besides, it said competition intensity has also reduced among the telecom companies, as evident from narrowing of tariff differentials among them. The entry of Reliance Jio in telecom sector in 2016 had started a tariff war among the companies to acquire customers. However, the telcos have raised rates in the recent past. Also read: Airtel adds 59 lakh mobile subscribers in Jan; Vi, Jio also gain The increasing data usage and rising proportion of higher average revenue per user (ARPU) data customers in the overall subscriber mix indicate that, even without tariff hikes, the sector is structurally moving towards a higher-average revenue per user regime, the rating agency said. "Ind-Ra believes that the evolution of the industry over the coming quarters will remain a key monitorable since it will determine whether the Indian mobility market will remain a 3+1 player market or will transition to a 2.5+1 player market and how the telcos will respond to the next phase of consolidation in the industry," it said. Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea (Vi), Bharti Airtel and state-run BSNL are the major telecom players in the country. Amongst wireless subscribers, Jio had the highest market share at 35.30 per cent as of January 31, followed by Airtel with 29.62 per cent and Vi with 24.58 per cent, as per data of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). BSNL had 10.21 per cent market share. Explaining the stable outlook for telecom companies rated by it, Ind-Ra said the entities have displayed a consistent rising market share, improvement in profitability and comfortable credit metrics. "While the ratings of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd ('IND AAA'/Stable) are supported by timely financial support from its parent Reliance Industries Ltd ('IND AAA'/Stable), the ratings of Bharti Airtel Limited's (debt rated at 'IND A1+') are supported by its diversified revenue profile and sturdy Africa business. The agency believes that the financial and operational profile of its rated entities is resilient enough to adjust to the next phase of consolidation in the industry," it said. Also read: Telecom companies allowed to install only govt-approved gear from June 15 Leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un called for stronger unity and cooperation with China in the face of challenges posed by hostile forces while exchanging messages with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to KCNA and Chinas Xinhua news agency, Xi in his own message to Kim described bilateral relations as a valuable asset to both countries and vowed to make unspecified contributions to the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. KCNA said Xi also expressed a commitment to provide the peoples of the two countries with better life. Some analysts saw this as an indication that China would soon provide North Korea with badly needed food, fertilizer and other aid that had been significantly reduced amid the pandemic border closures. Xinhua said the leaders messages were exchanged during a meeting between Chinese senior diplomat Song Tao and North Korean Ambassador to China Ri Ryong Nam during a meeting in Beijing on Monday. Kims message stressed the need to strengthen the unity and cooperation between the two parties and two countries to cope with the hostile forces all-round challenges and obstructive moves. Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) in Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun States have embarked on an indefinite strike over non-implementation of financial autonomy for state legislatures. Their protests across the south-west states Tuesday grounded legislative activities in the states houses of assemblies. President Muhammadu Buhari had in May 2020, signed an executive order, granting financial autonomy to legislatures across the 36 states. But the association said the executive arm has refused to implement the order. Lagos In Lagos, Taofiq Adele, the PASAN state chairperson, said the strike followed the alleged inability of governors to carry out the order, 10 months after it was given. Recall that the bedrock of parliamentary autonomy hinges on financial independence, Mr Adele said. Autonomy in this context is simply defined as non-dependence and non-subordination of parliaments in relation to the executive. This non-dependence and non-subordination as stated above is in terms of unfettered control, over financial and other related resources. Therefore, according to the best practices, the parliaments should have equitable access to resources. As such, parliaments by constitutional arrangements, are supposed to have enough financial muscle to carry out their legislative mandates, including exercising power over budgets. According to Mr Adele, parliaments should have control of and authority to determine and secure their budgetary requirements unconstrained by the executive. He said such an arrangement would further save for budgetary constraints dictated by national circumstances. The unionist said there was the need for the legislature to assert its role as a separate arm of government. He added that the parliaments should be able to have control over their own timetable and ability to recall themselves outside normal sessions if required by circumstances. The chairman said that the principle of autonomy in practice included parliaments responsibility for their own staffing and control over their own budgets. He alleged that notices had been issued in line with the provisions of the Trade Disputes Act of the Federation, with no response from the government. The chairperson, however, urged members of PASAN to be peaceful from the beginning to the end of the strike and wear legislative uniforms (PASAN cap) to the office on Tuesday in order not to give room for hoodlums to hijack the action. Oyo The Oyo PASAN chapter shut all the entrances of the State Assembly complex in compliance with the directive of the national leadership of the association. ADVERTISEMENT The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protest signals the commencement of an indefinite strike by the legislative workers and the total shut down of the legislative arm. The protesting workers, dressed in their official uniform carried placards and sang solidarity songs to express their agitation against the continuous suppression of the Legislative Arm of Government under the Executive Arm. Some of the grievances as expressed on the placards read: Give us our autonomy. Enough is enough, We say no to executive slavery, Legislative arm is a separate arm of government, AGF, implement Order 10, 2020, Legislative financial autonomy is a constitutional right, among others. The protesting workers, who assembled at the House of Assembly Complex entrance blocked the main entrance with some vehicles while they sang and danced. The situation forced a security readjustment at the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, as only one gate in the complex was opened. Addressing the protesters, Oyo PASAN Chairperson, Yemi Alade, said that they were fighting for the non-implementation of financial autonomy as it was a provisional constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Having observed that with the current emasculation of the legislative arm of government, there can be no true democracy. The bill has been passed since 2018, then in May, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari also capped it with a Presidential Order 10, but up till now, they are yet to implement it. And this is a fundamental provision of the constitution which has been relegated to the background. As a staff of the House of Assembly, if there is no true democracy; no independence, it will affect the democracy of the country. It is affecting the entire country not only the staff of the House of Assembly because the principle of separation of power stipulates that each arm of government must act separately and if there is no financial autonomy, all other arms of government will be in slavery to the executive arm. Our grievances are against both the state and federal government. There is a presidential order that mandated them to implement this financial autonomy but the Governors Forum is the one behind the non-implementation. In solidarity with the protesters, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, said all the lawmakers had earlier been advised to stay away from the complex due to the protest and as such the protest did not come as surprise. He appreciated the workers for choosing to take up the fight in the interest of the independence of the Legislative Arm and deepening of the countrys democracy. I want to use this medium to appreciate the PASAN because, without you, we cant be a legislative arm of government. I know that PASAN remains the landlord of the legislature arm of government and it is our responsibility to build PASAN as well the civil service. The lawmakers and I will always support what will bring development to the legislative arm of government as long as you are united; I can guarantee you that the autonomy for the State House of Assembly nationwide will be granted by the Governors Forum. Mr Ogundoyin said that they had a series of meetings at the conference even with the Governors Forum and with what was on the ground and the progress made, we are almost at the finish line. Details of the meeting at the ongoing Governors Forum will be released at the appropriate time. I thank PASAN for the steps taken because it has been long overdue for the Legislative Arm of Government to have its financial autonomy. The general consensus is that we will use one method for all the states and that will bring about rapid development and independence for the States House of Assembly nationwide, he said. Ogun James Obanla, the Ogun State chairperson of PASAN, also said the assembly staff had joined the strike as directed by the national body. Mr Obanla said all activities at the assembly complex would be grounded indefinitely. The PASAN chair, who noted that the strike would affect correspondences from the executive arm of government, however, expressed confidence in the quick resolution of the issue. Speaking on the benefits of financial autonomy when fully implemented, Mr Obanla said the autonomy would enhance the business of government and also provide room for separation of power. The strike is indefinite, businesses among the three arms of government will be affected. Todays plenary is already affected and the stakeholders forum scheduled for tomorrow will likely be affected too, he said. NAN reports that the lawmakers and staff of the assembly were absent at the complex. (NAN) The father-of-seven police officer killed in the Boulder grocery store massacre had recently been looking to step away from the front lines to protect his family after joining the force a decade ago after his friend was killed in a DUI crash. Boulder Police officer Eric Talley, 51, was among the 10 people shot dead at a King Soopers outlet in Boulder on Monday when a gunman, identified by police as 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, opened fire. In the aftermath of the massacre, Talley's father said the slain officer had been learning to become a drone operator so he could step away from the front line. 'He didn't want to put his family through something like this,' his father Homer Talley said. Talley is survived by his his wife and their seven children. Their youngest child is seven years old. 'He loved his kids and his family more than anything,' his father said. Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold paid tribute to Talley on Tuesday, acknowledging that he became a police officer because he realized he had a 'higher calling'. 'He was a very kind man who didn't have to go into policing. He had a profession before this. He had a higher calling,' an emotional Herold said. 'He's everything policing needs and deserves. He was willing to die to protect others.' Boulder Police officer Eric Talley, 51, was among the 10 people gunned down in Boulder, Colorado on Monday. Talley's sister Kirstin paid tribute to her brother with a heartbreaking childhood photo of them both The sister of the fallen police officer said she could 'not explain how beautiful he was and what a devastating loss this is to so many' Herold said she had Talley and his family in her office just two weeks ago. 'I feel numb. It's heartbreaking to talk to victims, their families. It is tragic,' she said. 'This officer had seven children. I had his whole family in my office to weeks ago to give him an award.' Talley had been working as an officer for just over a decade after enrolling in the Aurora's Police Training Academy when he was 40 years old. Talley, who had a master's degree, had quit his stable IT job in 2010 after one of his close friends died in a DUI crash. His police academy friend Jeremy Herko told the Washington Post: 'He was pretty driven to join law enforcement. 'That was his life. He absolutely loved his job and wanted to serve the community. 'It was remarkable to me that somebody would go to law enforcement from IT. He lost pay. He lost time away from his family. He joined the police academy without a guaranteed job.' In a separate social media tribute, Herko said of his slain friend: 'He was a devout Christian, he had to buy a 15-passenger van to haul all his kids around, and he was the nicest guy in the world.' It comes as Talley's sister Kirstin paid tribute to her brother with a heartbreaking childhood photo of them both, saying she could 'not explain how beautiful he was and what a devastating loss this is to so many'. 'Officer Eric Talley is my big brother. He died today in the Boulder shooting,' she wrote in her tribute. 'My heart is broken. I cannot explain how beautiful he was and what a devastating loss this is to so many. Fly high my sweet brother. You always wanted to be a pilot (damn color blindness). Soar.' Talley had been working as an officer for just over a decade after enrolling in the Aurora's Police Training Academy when he was 40 years old. Talley, who had a master's degree, had quit his stable IT job in 2010 after one of his close friends died in a DUI crash Another friend said Eric Talley (far left) had 'loved serving his community' and said they were 'glad you were a part of my life growing up together' The Boulder police department shared a photo of Talley in uniform with the caption: 'Rest in peace Officer Eric Talley. Your service will never be forgotten' Another friend named Kevin Lederer posted a picture of Talley in his younger days and said that the fallen police officer had loved his job. 'RIP Eric, my old friend. I know you loved serving your community. I am glad you were a part of my life growing up together,' he said. After joining the force, Talley made headlines in 2013 as one of three officers who helped save 11 ducklings that had become stuck in a drainage ditch with their mother. Talley eventually waded into calf-deep water to rescue the ducks one by one from the pipes, the Boulder Daily Camera reported at the time. Following his death on Monday, Boulder police chief Maris Herold described Talley as 'heroic' and confirmed that he was the first to respond to the shooting at a King Soopers supermarket. 'We know of 10 fatalities at the scene, including one of our Boulder PD officers... Officer Talley responded to the scene - was first on the scene - and he was fatally shot,' Herold said when news broke. The Boulder police department shared a photo of Talley in uniform with the caption: 'Rest in peace Officer Eric Talley. Your service will never be forgotten'. His colleagues gave him a hero's procession on Monday evening as his body was removed from the scene. Law enforcement personnel salutes as the motorcade carrying fallen Boulder Police officer Eric Talley exits the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder on Monday night His colleagues gave him a hero's procession on Monday evening as his body was removed from the scene A gunman killed 10 people, including a police officer, at a grocery store in Colorado on Monday as footage showed a handcuffed man covered in blood and injured shoppers lying inside and outside the supermarket. This image is an aerial view of a procession that occurred for Officer Eric Talley who was killed in the shooting at King Soopers Talley is the sixth on-duty death in the Boulder Police Department's history and the first officer killed in the line of duty since 1994. 'He was, by all accounts, one of the outstanding officers at the Boulder Police Department and his life was cut far too short,' Michael Dougherty, the Boulder County district attorney, told local outlets. The gunman - who is now in custody - opened fire at the grocery store shortly before 3pm on Monday. Witnesses have described hiding in food aisles and sheltering while trying to listen to which direction he was coming from, and if he was reloading what they described as an AR-15 rifle. It's unclear who the shooter is, what his motive was or why it is taking so long for him to be formally identified by law enforcement. They have not confirmed whether a white man who was seen emerging from the store, shirtless and barefoot, in handcuffs with blood pouring down his leg, is the shooter. They have said that the only person who was injured and not killed is the gunman. No charges have been filed yet. Colorado has been the scene of some of the most shocking mass shootings in modern US history. In 2012, a young man dressed in tactical gear burst into a movie theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora during a midnight screening and sprayed the audience with gunfire, killing 12 and wounding 70. In 1999, a pair of students went on a shooting rampage at Columbine High School near Littleton, Colorado, killing 12 classmates and a teacher, and then themselves. A gunman shot and killed ten people at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday. It's unclear if this man - who was seen being taken away in handcuffs with blood pouring down his leg - is him. Police won't confirm the shooter's identity yet. They have confirmed that the only person who was injured and survived the shooting was the gunman. Everyone else died Crime scene investigators walk outside the shattered King Soopers supermarket on Monday as they begin their inquiries into the mass shooting 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. Flipping channels to get away from the day's depressing news, I found Berlin: Symphony of a Great City (Berlin: Die Sinfonie der Grostadt) playing on a movie station. It was director Walther Ruttmann's acclaimed 1927 silent film that used innovative montages to move the plot along. The groundbreaking Weimar cinema documentary offers historians a significant window into German life in between the two World Wars. The film documented a full day in 1927 cosmopolitan Berlin from early morning when streets were empty to busy daytime when those same streets were bustling with activity to the evening when adults owned the urban jungle. What made the 79-minute documentary frightening was knowing that just six short years later, many of those same everyday ordinary people would be standing on those same city streets waving flags adorned with black swastikas and shouting, "Heil Hitler!" Could everyday ordinary Americans just as easily, or eventually, embrace socialism? One would be naive to dismiss the possibility, given the results of many respected polls and especially those taken of young Americans. Had the German signage been hidden, viewers might have thought it was 1927 London, Paris, or Manhattan. Just another lively metropolis with people going about their ordinary lives. Traveling to work on trains or buses, eating in restaurants, delivering packages by horse-drawn carts, taking children to playgrounds, visiting the city zoo, sitting and talking with friends, walking down streets, cleaning or sweeping in front of homes, shopping in stores filled with the latest clothes and furniture... ...everyday ordinary people leading everyday ordinary lives on a very ordinary day. Did some of those everyday ordinary people shown in the film paint "Juden" on store windows or beat Jews while Germans shouted their approval and police stood idly by, watching the cruelty? Did some of those same lips that smiled in the film's festive restaurant scenes also smile when Jews were forced to clean dirty streets using toothbrushes? The most painful part of the documentary showcased Berlin's modern mobility: trains pulling both passenger and cattle cars from Potsdam to Berlin. In several years, those same trains would provide different transportation either for Jews being shoved into the cattle cars on their way to labor or extermination camps or for those doing the shoving. Like many of the people depicted in his 1927 film, Ruttman also embraced the diabolical Nazi regime. Using his exceptional talent behind the camera, he assisted director Leni Riefenstahl in 1935, when she made the infamous Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will. Watching ordinary Germans going about their lives, it was impossible to avoid wondering if it could happen in America. After all, "it" happened in Germany, a democratic republic that was the centerpiece of contemporary Europe. As Auschwitz survivor Primo Levi said, "It happened, therefore it can happen again. It can happen everywhere." Alarmingly, there are similarities between Germany's president then and America's president now. In 1933, after Hitler was named Fuhrer of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) by the frail and ailing President Paul von Hindenburg, the Nazis waited patiently for the aging and sick Hindenburg to leave office. When Hindenburg died the next year, Hitler's Nazi Party and its Third Reich agenda controlled Germany. Fast-forward to the questionable (arguably fraudulent) results of the 2020 presidential election that put Joe Biden in the White House. Washington politicos whisper, and others say it out loud, that Vice President Kamala Harris and her supporters are patiently waiting for the frail and ailing President Joe Biden to leave office. Few people deny that Biden suffers from dementia or some cognitive issues, which is why many Americans doubt that Biden will complete his term in office. Notably, President Biden, in his rare public appearances and still not having appeared before Congress, is dazed and confused. He stumbled badly climbing up the stairs to Air Force One. When Biden leaves office, Harris's Democrat Party and its socialist agenda will control the United States. Are these far-fetched comparisons? While Auschwitz-like concentration camps might not be built, we've already heard socialist Democrats talk about re-education camps for Trump-supporters. The Nazi minister of propaganda role has been replaced by Big Tech's censorship of conservative news sources and insane cancel culture demands. Book-burnings have morphed into award-winning acclaimed books and movies being removed from library shelves and online stores. Youth indoctrination starts in elementary school with socialist-leaning teachers brainwashing students to support communist organizations and adore alternative lifestyles. References to God disappear along with reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the National Anthem. Some Americans scoff at the comparisons, erroneously believing that "it" could never happen here. But as George Santayana famously wrote in 1905, long before Russia's Lenin, Germany's Hitler, or China's Mao, "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Viewing the 1927 silent black-and-white documentary Berlin: Symphony of a Great City on a 2021 wide-screen high-definition color television is a frightening reminder of just how quickly a modern society filled with everyday ordinary people can quickly change its personality and embrace evil. Could it happen here? History often repeats itself, and Americans would be foolish to ignore that "it" could repeat itself in the United States of America. To contact Robin Itzler, please email TrumpNeighbors@yahoo.com. Image: Berlin 1927. YouTube screen grab. A masseur who sexually abused two young women he was working on has been jailed. As he handed Eugene Galbraith a four-and-a-half year sentence, Judge Stephen Fowler QC said the offending had a lasting impact on the victims, both of whom were 21 at the time. After abusing one of the women, the defendant, a 50-year-old father-of-three from Pommern Parade in Belfast, told her: "Im a healer not a hurter." He will spent half his sentence in jail and half on licence. Galbraith initially denied any wrongdoing before pleading guilty to sexual assault and sexual assault by penetration. Crown barrister Rosemary Walsh said the first victim organised a massage with the defendant at premises on Lisburn Road on September 26, 2018. She had booked a session with him before, so she felt safe, but things started to go "very, very wrong" when he asked her to lie on her front and started massaging her back. Galbraith proceeded to sexually abuse the woman, telling her to keep her head in the hole on the treatment bed. She flinched, thinking it would make him stop, but he continued and told her afterwards: "If youre not relaxed after that, youll never be." The woman, who felt as if she was "in some kind of nightmare", drove to a police station to report what had happened before attending a sexual assault referral clinic. She told police she felt "like a vegetable lying there" during the abuse and hated herself for not doing something. When Galbraith was arrested, he denied the womans claims and said it was "ridiculous" that he had been taken away in a police car and questioned. Despite being under investigation, he abused a second woman six months later. The 21-year old saw his services advertised on Groupon and booked an appointment for a massage at premises on Belmont Road. During her treatment, Galbraith told her to take leggings off, started working her diaphragm and grabbed her breasts "quite viciously". Ms Walsh said the woman felt scared and asked him to stop, but he told her she had to relax and that he was going to work the bad emotions out of her. He then sexually abused her. After he left the room, she went downstairs, started to cry and told a member of staff she had been abused. When examined at a sexual assault referral clinic, staff found injuries consistent with the abuse she described. When Galbraith was arrested, he again denied any wrongdoing, saying he had given her a deep tissue massage and that she owned him 14. Ms Walsh told the court the defendant had violated the womens trust. "Both were virtually naked and being led to believe that what was happening was part of the treatment," she added. Defence barrister Gavan Duffy QC said his client had a clear criminal record and was someone "who had led a totally blameless life up to that point". He added that the defendants marriage had broken down, he had lost contact with two of his three children and his future employment prospects had been "severely affected". Galbraith showed no emotion as the sentence was passed, but as he was being led into custody in handcuffs by prison staff, he nodded to his mother in the public gallery. When he leaves prison, he will be on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period and will be the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for seven years. Hong Kong stock market finished lower for third session in row on Tuesday, 23 March 2021, as risk aversion selloff triggered after a coalition of western nations announced sanctions on Chinese officials for alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region of the China's northwest. Meanwhile, heightened domestic regulatory risks also turned markets on the defensive mood. At closing bell, the benchmark Hang Seng Index dropped 1.34%, or 387.96 points, to 28,497.38. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell 1.73%, or 195.53 points, to 11,111.18. The Hong Kong share market suffered a risk aversion selloff amid escalation of western nations -China Tensions. A coalition of western nations (The United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada) announced sanctions on Chinese officials for alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region of the China's northwest, where the U. S. says China is committing genocide. China immediately announced retaliatory sanctions against the EU that appeared broader, including European lawmakers, diplomats, institutes and families, and banning their businesses from trading with China. The Chinese government issued draft guidelines to regulate the e-cigarette industry, dealing a major blow to the world's biggest market for tobacco products. Geely Automobile led blue chips lower, falling 6.6% to HK$22.55. The company reported its net profit fell 32% to 5.5 billion yuan in 2020. Meituan dropped 5.2% to HK$303.80, while smartphone maker Xiaomi dropped 4.1% to HK$25.65. Baidu Inc, China's dominant internet search engine company, flopped on its trading debut in Hong Kong with zero premium over its IPO price of HK$252 Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After much deliberation on Monday night, Midland City Council unanimously approved to have some sections of Main Street closed to vehicular traffic this summer for pedestrian plazas. Council also voted to establish a social district and commons area in downtown Midland. The governing body also unanimously approved a $15 million increase in the Sanitary Sewer Improvements Concept 5. This resolution will increase Infiltration and Inflow removal in the Sanitary Sewer Improvements Concept 5 from $3.2 million to $18.2 million, as well as extend the scope of the project beyond Priority 1 areas. The addition of this work to that already directed by City Council will increase total expected expenditures from $34.5 million to approximately $49.5 million. Meanwhile, Selina Tisdale, community affairs director for the City of Midland, presented the pedestrian plaza resolution. Weve had such great weather lately that everyone is chomping at the bit to see what downtown Midland is going to do with its 2021 pedestrian plaza plan, Tisdale said. If 2020 taught us anything, it was how to do life differently and try things that are a little bit new and different to us. The pedestrian plazas will consist of a two-block closure of Main Street from Ashman to Rodd streets, including portions of McDonald Street. While downtown businesses will be able to extend their operations into the sidewalk areas, 15 feet of clearance will be made available for emergency vehicles to pass through if necessary. Tisdale explained last years plazas provided a chance for visitors to shop, eat and gather in a safe yet fun way during the pandemic. The Citys Be Safe campaign will continue, encouraging social distancing, frequent hand washing and the wearing of face masks. An Activation Subcommittee has been looking at what other cities have done and is considering ways to make the plazas more welcoming and comfortable, including street painting, installing turf areas for outdoor games, building semi-permanent enhanced seating areas, and hosting classes and activities. In a survey conducted in February, the City asked residents what they thought about last years pedestrian plazas. Those who enjoyed their experience downtown commented on the community aspect, the energetic feel, and the ability to help local businesses. Some suggested improvements included easier access, more seating, and encouraging retailers to stay open later. Out of the 612 responses, 92% stated they visited downtown Midland between June and September, and nearly 96% spent money at downtown businesses last year, which is what the plazas were meant to encourage, said Tisdale. Weve learned so much last year and were ready to put it to work this year, Tisdale said. The resolution received support from local businesses. During the public comment segment, representatives from downtown retailers, restaurants and business offices spoke up, citing the benefits of last year's plazas. Last years pedestrian plazas were a really great starting point and were very successful. Businesses reported the extra space helped them to navigate what was a really difficult time, said Diane Middleton, of Auburn, a representative with the Midland Business Alliance. The pedestrian plazas allow businesses that flexibility and allow them to continue to safely serve their customers and keep their employees on payroll as well. The pedestrian plazas will be active from June 7 to Nov. 3, allowing Main Street to be open for the annual Memorial Day parade on May 31 and the tentative summer art fair in early June. Once Halloween festivities wrap up, there is expected to be a short transition period to return Main Street to normal. Once City Council approved the pedestrian plazas, Mayor Maureen Donker stated her support for this years plazas, stating its the right thing to do. (Businesses) know what they need to do and I think theyre trying to do anything possible to get through this year. We owe it to them to support them in this, Donker said. Establishing downtown as a social district The conversation smoothly moved on to discuss the formation of a social district and commons area. Social districts and commons area will be a key element of this years activation (of the pedestrian plazas), Tisdale stated. According to House Bill 5781, local governments can designate social districts and commons areas within them where individuals can cross open roadways with an alcoholic beverage as long as the local jurisdiction has approved it as a part of the designated commons area. Since the passage of that bill, over 32 social districts have been created across the state. Tisdale offered a proposal to create a social district in Midland last July, but City Council rejected the proposal 4-1, stating it would encourage people to gather, which is not ideal during a pandemic. On Monday, Tisdale proposed a resolution to designate downtown Midland as a social district and three blocks stretching from Gordon to Rodd streets between Larkin and Main as the commons area. The proposed hours would be from 10 a.m. to midnight every day of the week, and it would be in effect until Dec. 31, 2024. Tisdale outlined the efforts to help educate people about the boundaries and restrictions of the commons area, including signage around its perimeter, providing flyers, asking businesses to recite rules to their customers, and posting information on the Citys website and social media platforms. I think the commons area actually helps the pedestrian plazas fill out a little bit and gives relief to restaurants who might be dealing with seating challenges, Tisdale said. Councilman Steve Arnosky did not agree with having the social districts boundaries be the same as Downtown Midlands perimeter, since residential areas were included. He also wished to shorten the length of time the social district and commons area would be legal. Both of Arnosky's sentiments were supported by Councilman Marty Wazbinski, who presented two amendments: the first to shorten the duration of the social district and the one commons area to Jan. 5, 2022; the second to have the boundaries of the social district extend no further than Buttles and Jerome streets. Both amendments were passed unanimously. Additionally, Arnosky proposed two amendments: to close the social districts boundaries to only encompass the commons area; and to shorten the operational hours. But both proposals died on the floor as no one seconded them. With the amendments approved, the council voted 4-1 in favor of establishing the social district and commons area, with Arnosky opposed. By the way, when youre drinking, you dont have a mask. Now youre permitting the traveling. But if youre comfortable with it Arnosky said. We can change it at any time, Donker interjected. City Council also unanimously approved seven downtown businesses for social district permits, which can participate in the commons area: Pizza Sams, The H Hotel/Cafe Zinc, WhichCraft Taproom, Diamond Jims, Gratzi, Molasses Smokehouse & Bar, and Grape Beginnings Winery. Aster and Three Bridges Distillery are currently in the process of obtaining their liquor licenses and will be brought forward for similar approval at a later date. In other business, the council unanimously approved the following: Exactly one year ago today, Suleiman Achimugu became the first Nigerian to die from COVID-19. About 12 months later, the virus has claimed over 2,000 lives in Africas most populous country. Nigeria, like most African countries, has not suffered from the worst effect of the pandemic, unlike its European and American counterparts. The 2,030 deaths so far in Nigeria as of Tuesday morning is small when compared to the over 2.7 million fatalities worldwide or the over 555,000 lives lost already in the U.S. Nigeria is also the country with the least death toll among the top five Africa countries affected by COVID-19. While Nigerias success in managing the disease reflects in the countrys relatively low death tally and high recovery rate, the government has made some blunders and faced some challenges in managing the virus. PREMIUM TIMES highlighted five of those challenges when the country marked one year of COVID-19 outbreak on February 27. Memory lane About 24 days after Nigerias index case of coronavirus, an Italian national, was confirmed on February 27, 2020, the West African country recorded its first fatality from the virus. The victim, a former Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Mr Achimugu, died on March 23 after showing symptoms of the virus following his return to the country from the United Kingdom, his family said. The death which was reported widely on local media sparked fears resulting in panic buying of cleaning products and eventually the lockdown of Abuja and Lagos a week later on March 30, for 14 days initially. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the victim had underlying medical conditions multiple myeloma and diabetes and was undergoing chemotherapy before returning to Nigeria. Thus far, Nigeria has recorded 161, 737 infections resulting in over 2,030 deaths. The victims have included health workers, politicians, businessmen, public workers and others. On April 17, The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, died at 69, becoming the most popular COVID-19 fatality in West Africa as of then. His burial the following day at the military cemetery in Gudu in Abuja drew immediate backlash from Nigerians because senior government officials who attended the event did not adhere to health advisories and safety protocols against COVID-19. Other prominent people who died from the disease include Abiola Ajimobi, a two-term governor in Nigerias southwestern Oyo State who died from underlying health conditions after contracting coronavirus. He passed away in Lagos at the age of 70 on June 25. The Ondo State commissioner for health, Wahab Adegbenro, died on July 2 at the states infectious disease hospital. Beyond numbers Many Nigerians have questioned the transparency in NCDCs reporting of COVID-19 death victims. They say many fatalities have remained unannounced beyond the daily statistics on the NCDC dashboard. However, it is more than just numbers on the NCDC dashboard for the families of the deceased. For them, life, as it were, will never be the same. The crude reality has been a mix of tears and unforgettable memories of their lost ones. ADVERTISEMENT PREMIUM TIMES understands that putting faces to those who died from COVID-19 would raise the consciousness of everyone that the daily cases and fatalities are more than mere statistics. Last July, we started a series Beyond Numbers aimed at profiling, as many as possible, Nigerians who died from coronavirus complications. In the maiden part of the series, prominent Nigerians killed by the disease were profiled. In the second part, Nigerians who died helping other countries fight the virus were remembered. They were first responders and medical staff who worked diligently and selflessly to stem the tide of the infection and care for the sick. Meanwhile, NCDC recent data suggests that Africas most populous nation may be past the worst phase of the virus as daily infections and deaths declined in recent weeks. Nigeria on Sunday recorded no new death from COVID-19, the fourth day in the past one week that nobody died from the disease. Also, in continuation of a steady run of low infection figures, the country recorded the lowest daily infections in five months with 86 new cases recorded on Sunday. Health experts, however, warned it might be too early to celebrate as there are indications of under-reporting of cases and deaths due to an acute lack of testing. Vaccination Authorities on Monday announced that about 122,410 Nigerians have received jabs of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine that were shipped to the country earlier this month by the Vaccines Global Access facility COVAX. Nigeria is also expecting 41 million doses through the African Union. The west African nation aims to vaccinate approximately 109 million people against the COVID-19 virus over a period of two years. Only eligible population from 18 years and above, including pregnant women, will be vaccinated. To achieve this, authorities said the vaccine roll-out will be in phases, starting with health workers, frontline workers, COVID-19 rapid response team, laboratory attendants, police officers, petrol station workers and strategic leaders. The COVAX arrangement also recommends that countries put the elderly and those with co-morbidities underlying health conditions such as cancer and diabetes at the front of the queue. Also, apart from those being prioritised, other interested Nigerians are registering in the portal and getting vaccinated. Meanwhile, the news that there were side effects among a few people receiving the Oxford jabs in other countries may escalate the already existing skepticism about the vaccines. However, Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), while speaking at the weekly briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 Monday said Nigeria has not recorded any serious adverse reaction following the administration of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. We had mentioned in Mondays closing report that Nifty, Sensex may try to head higher. On Tuesday, the indices opened higher and ended with minor gains. On the NSE, there were 1,115 advances, 776 declines and 79 unchanged. The trends of the major indices in the course of Tuesdays trading are given in the table below: Adani Port and Special Economic Zone signed an agreement to acquire a 58.1% stake in Gangavaram Port for Rs 3,604 crore and is expected to be completed within 6 months Maruti Suzuki India announced an increase in vehicle prices with effect from April 2021. Prior to this, the company had increased its vehicle prices in January this year. Adani Enterprises subsidiary Adani Road Transport Limited bagged a project in Gujarat under toll operate transfer mode. Airtel Africa announced the signing of agreements to sell its telecommunications tower companies in Madagascar and Malawi to Helios Towers PLC in Africa. The transactions are expected to close in or around calendar Q4 2021. Saregama India declared an interim dividend Rs 20 per equity share. KEC International secured new orders worth Rs 1,429 crore across its various businesses. Its transmission & distribution division has secured orders worth Rs 701 crore, while railways, civil and cables divisions secured orders of Rs 366 crore, Rs 318 crore and Rs 44 crore, respectively. The Defence Ministry has placed an order with Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd (MDSL) for supply of 1,300 light specialist vehicles to the Indian Army, at a cost of Rs 1,056 crore on March 22, 2021. The induction of vehicles is planned to be completed in four years. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has become the first domestic drugmaker to get a USD 40-million credit-line from International Finance Corporations USD 8-billion fast-track COVID-19 facility. The loan will help increase the availability of affordable, quality medicines in the country as well in other countries, including treatment for the pandemic. Suzlon Energy announced that the SEBI has appointed a forensic auditor to carry out forensic audit with respect to the financial statements of the company. Bharat Petroleum Corporation board has approved the merger of its gas subsidiary, Bharat Gas Resources Ltd with itself in a bid to streamline corporate structure. The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below: The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below: BEIJING (AP) China on Tuesday said it summoned foreign diplomats in protest after the United States, the European Union, Canada and Britain jointly imposed sanctions on senior Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses in Chinas far western Xinjiang region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Tuesday called the new sanctions a slander and an affront to the reputation and dignity of the Chinese people. I admonish them that they should not underestimate the firm determination of the Chinese people to defend their national interests and dignity, and they will pay the price for their folly and arrogance, Hua told reporters at a daily briefing. That came hours after the Chinese and Russian foreign ministers denounced a new wave of criticism and sanctions against both countries over human rights. At a news conference in the southern Chinese city of Nanning, Chinas Wang Yi and Russias Sergei Lavrov rejected outside critiques of their authoritarian political systems and said they were working to further global progress on issues from climate change to the coronavirus pandemic. Countries should stand together to oppose all forms of unilateral sanctions, Wang said. These measures will not be embraced by the international community. Russia is also under Western sanctions over human rights abuses and military aggression against Ukraine. Lavrov said Russias ties with China grew stronger as Moscows relations with the EU suffered damage, while accusing the West of imposing their own rules on everyone else, which they believe should underpin the world order. If Europe broke these relations, simply destroying all the mechanisms that have been created for many years then, probably, objectively, this leads to the fact that our relations with China are developing faster than whats left of relations with European countries, Lavrov said. In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the two ministers said no country should seek to impose its form of democracy on others. Interference in a sovereign nations internal affairs under the excuse of advancing democracy is unacceptable, the statement said. China says members of the Uyghur and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang have voluntarily taken part in job training and de-radicalization courses, denying charges that more than 1 million have been locked up in prison-like reeducation camps where they are forced to reject their native culture and pledge loyalty to the ruling Communist Party and its leader Xi Jinping. Media outlets, foreign governments and activist groups say abuses, including forced labor and coerced birth control, are ongoing. The Australian and New Zealand governments reiterated their grave concerns about the growing number of credible reports of severe human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The two, whose economies are heavily reliant on trade with China, have not imposed sanctions themselves. We share these countries deep concerns, which are held across the Australian and New Zealand communities, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and her New Zealand counterpart Nanaia Mahuta said in a joint statement. Today, we underscore the importance of transparency and accountability, and reiterate our call on China to grant meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for United Nations experts, and other independent observers, the statement added. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the multi-national measures were part of intensive diplomacy by the U.K., the United States, Canada and the 27-nation EU to force action amid mounting evidence of serious rights abuses against Uyghurs. The sanctions will be imposed immediately and include travel bans and asset freezes against four officials, Raab said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement the united response sends a strong signal to those who violate or abuse international human rights, and we will take further actions in coordination with likeminded partners. Sanctions have also been opposed by the U.S. on Chinese and Hong Kong officials accused of rolling back freedoms in the former British colony that was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997. Britain has offered residency and a path to citizenship to millions born before the handover, further infuriating the authorities in Beijing. Beijing swiftly responded to Mondays move by the EU by in turn slapping sanctions on 10 European individuals and four institutions that it said had damaged Chinas interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation. Germany on Tuesday summoned the Chinese ambassador in Berlin to complain about the move, saying sanctions against EU lawmakers, scientists, political institutions and non-governmental organizations represented an unreasonable escalation that will unnecessarily strain relations between the EU and China. ___ McGuirck reported from Canberra, Australia. Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report. By ROD McGUIRK and KEN MORITSUGU Associated Press The coronavirus crisis is hampering investment in renewable energy, especially in middle- and low-income countries. Credit: Shutterstock/M2020 The COVID-19 Crisis is deepening the divide between energy transition frontrunners and laggards. In a new publication, researchers from the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam present an overview of the global impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the energy sector. Their findings show that low- and middle-income countries need more support in their efforts to ditch fossil fuels. The crisis will heighten existing imbalances in an uneven energy transition landscape. Despite the crisis, frontrunners in the global energy transition will continue to expand their renewable energy capacities, while laggards will fall further behind. In Europe, the Green Deal is having an effect and has even encouraged an otherwise sluggish Poland to accelerate its incipient energy transition. In low- and middle-income countries, on the other hand, the pandemic is exacerbating financing challenges and hampering investment in renewable energy infrastructure. This is particularly evident in Latin America, where all auctioning activity in the renewable power sector has ceased. In a number of G20 countries, pandemic-related financial support for fossil fuel industries has dampened efforts to support renewable energies. Crisis has deepened dependency on fossil fuels In countries whose economies are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, governments have pledged significant support to these sectors, further entrenching existing dependencies. In Indonesia, for example, the government has chosen to support the country's coal industry with tax breaks and by lowering regulatory requirements, while plans to replace older, fossil-fuelled power plants with renewable energy solutions have been scaled back. However, aid for the fossil energy industry does not always go hand in hand with a slowdown in the transition to clean energy, explains lead author Rainer Quitzow: "In some large countries, our observations suggest contradictory trends. The U.S. and Canada, both major oil and gas exporters, were hit hard by the collapse in demand, with the governments of both countries pledging to support the fossil sector. However, it seems unlikely that this will slow the growth of renewables in these countries for the time being, as energy transition pioneers like California continue to move away from fossil fuels." In China, provincial governments have opted to prioritize investment in coal-fired power plants and oil refineries, while the central government has continued to increase its growth targets for the clean energy sector. In the Global South, the crisis has added to the challenges presented by an already difficult investment climate for clean energy projects. On the one hand, falling government revenues are raising concerns about the sustainability of public debt burdens, leading to a depreciation of currencies and increased borrowing costs. Since renewable energies are particularly capital-intensive, this disproportionately affects investments in renewables. On the other hand, economic hardship related to the pandemic is leading to a rise in defaults on consumer electricity bills. In several countries, governments have responded by reducing electricity prices or suspending the billing of residential electricity consumers. This puts additional pressure on the utility sectors in these countries, adding to investment risks in the power sector. Global Green Deal could raise ambitions Science and policymakers must double their efforts to support transitions to a clean energy future in the least developed countries, explains Quitzow: "It is high time that the plight of fossil-fuel dependent economies is addressed at the international level. The COVID-19 crisis has underlined the urgent need to develop programs similar to the European Green Deal in fossil fuel-dependent countries and regions around the world. This will require the development of new international partnerships and financing arrangements that are explicitly tailored to the challenges of fossil-fuel dependent regions." A concerted international effort is needed to confront the twin challenges of economic recovery and the global fight against climate change. Explore further Investors in renewables tripled fossil fuel performance over the past decade More information: Rainer Quitzow et al, The COVID-19 crisis deepens the gulf between leaders and laggards in the global energy transition, Energy Research & Social Science (2021). Rainer Quitzow et al, The COVID-19 crisis deepens the gulf between leaders and laggards in the global energy transition,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.101981 Provided by Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V. (IASS) Demonstration of unconventional transverse thermoelectric generation A NIMS research team devised a new thermoelectric generation mechanism with a hybrid structure composed of thermoelectric and magnetic materials. The team then actually fabricated this structure and observed the record-high thermopower appearing in the direction perpendicular to a temperature gradient (i.e., transverse thermoelectric generation). These results may offer insights into new mechanisms and structural designs applicable to the development of versatile energy harvesting technologies and highly sensitive heat flux sensors. The Seebeck effect is a phenomenon in which a temperature gradient across a metal or semiconductor is converted into a thermoelectric voltage. Because this effect can be used to convert waste heat into electrical energy, its potential applications (e.g., autonomous power sources for IoT devices) have been extensively studied. However, Seebeck-effect-driven thermoelectric generation has disadvantages: a thermopower is generated along the direction of a temperature gradient (i.e., longitudinal thermoelectric generation). Because of this parallel relationship, a thermoelectric material needs to be extended in the direction of a temperature gradient to create large temperature differences and resultant large thermoelectric voltage. Furthermore, in conventional Seebeck devices, a complex structure composed of a serial connection of many pairs of two different thermoelectric materials is necessary to enhance a thermoelectric voltage. However, these arrangements increase production cost, make the material/structure less durable, and limit its practical applicability. In contrast, the anomalous Nernst effect?a thermoelectric phenomenon that occurs only in magnetic materials?can generate a thermoelectric voltage perpendicular to the direction of a temperature gradient. This effect may thus enable generation of a thermopower in a transverse direction, and the thermoelectric voltage can be enhanced simply by increasing the length of the material in the direction perpendicular to a temperature gradient. Transversely extended thermoelectric materials are expected to have significantly greater flexibility when integrated into modules and to offset the aforementioned disadvantages related to the Seebeck effect. However, the anomalous Nernst effect has been shown to generate only a very small thermopower?less than 10 V/K at near room temperature?making its practical application difficult. In this research project, the research team devised and demonstrated a new thermoelectric generation mechanism in which a longitudinal thermopower induced by the Seebeck effect in a thermoelectric material can be converted into a transverse thermopower in a magnetic material via the anomalous Hall effect. The team then simulated this mechanism based on phenomenological model calculations and found it potentially capable of generating very high thermopower beyond 100 V/K perpendicular to the direction of a temperature gradient when materials and structures are optimized. To experimentally verify this result, the team fabricated a hybrid structure composed of Co2MnGa?a magnetic compound capable of producing the large anomalous Hall effect?and semiconducting Si capable of producing the large Seebeck effect. This structure generated the record-high positive and negative transverse thermopowers (+82 V/K and -41 V/K). The magnitude and sign of the measured thermopowers are well reproduced by the prediction based on the model calculations. The thermoelectric generation capability of the composite can further be improved by material and structural optimization. The thermopower observed in this project was more than 10 times larger than the previously recorded highest thermopower generated by the anomalous Nernst effect. This result is expected to significantly advance R&D efforts aiming to put transverse thermoelectric generation into practical use. In future studies, we plan to research and develop effective magnetic and thermoelectric materials, create composite structures using these materials, and optimize their structures. We will then use these hybrid materials to develop energy harvesting technologies capable of powering IoT devices and heat flux sensors that can be used for energy-saving purposes. ### This project was carried out by the research team led by Weinan Zhou (Postdoctoral Researcher, Magnetic Materials Group, NIMS), Yuya Sakuraba (Group Leader of Magnetic Materials Group, NIMS), Ken-ichi Uchida (Group Leader of Spin Caloritronics Group, NIMS), and Kaoru Yamamoto (Postdoctoral Researcher, Spin Theory Group, NIMS; relocated after this research). This work was conducted in conjunction with the following research projects entitled "Development of novel spiral type thermoelectric power generation using anomalous Nernst effect" (research director: Yuya Sakuraba, project number: JPMJPR17R5) supported by the JST Strategic Basic Research Program PRESTO and "Spintronic thermal management" (research director: Ken-ichi Uchida, project number: JPMJCR17I1) supported by the JST Strategic Basic Research Program CREST. This work was also supported by the NEDO Feasibility Study Program under the Uncharted Territory Challenge 2050 category (project code: P14004). This research was published in the online version of Nature Materials, a British scientific journal, at 1:00 am on January 19, 2021, Japan Time (4:00 pm on January 18, GMT). Contacts (Regarding this research) Yuya Sakuraba Group Leader Magnetic Materials Group Research Center for Magnetic and Spintronic Materials National Institute for Materials Science Tel: +81-29-859-2708 Email: SAKURABA.Yuya=nims.go.jp (Please change "=" to "@") URL: https:/ / www. nims. go. jp/ mmu/ mmg/ index. html Ken-ichi Uchida Group Leader Spin Caloritronics Group Research Center for Magnetic and Spintronic Materials National Institute for Materials Science Tel: +81-29-859-2062 Email: UCHIDA.Kenichi=nims.go.jp (Please change "=" to "@") URL: https:/ / www. nims. go. jp/ mmu/ scg/ index. html (General information) Public Relations Office National Institute for Materials Science Tel: +81-29-859-2026, Fax: +81-29-859-2017 Email: pressrelease=ml.nims.go.jp (Please change "=" to "@") Public Relations Division Japan Science and Technology Agency 5-3 Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8666, Japan Tel: +81-3-5214-8404, Fax: +81-3-5214-8432 Email: jstkoho=jst.go.jp (Please change "=" to "@") (Regarding JST programs) Yuko Shimabayashi Green Innovation Group, Department of Innovation Research Japan Science and Technology Agency K's Gobancho, 7 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan Tel: +81-3-3512-3525, Fax: +81-3-3222-2067 Email: presto=jst.go.jp (Please change "=" to "@") This story has been published on: 2021-03-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. EDITORS NOTE: On April 13, NJ Cannabis Insider hosts a virtual networking event, featuring professionals in the legal cannabis industries. Tickets are limited. Another lawmaker is taking a shot at letting people grow their own marijuana now that New Jersey has legalized the drug. Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, introduced a bill (S3582) Monday that would allow anyone 21 and older to grow up to six marijuana plants at home, with a maximum of 12 plants per household. Medical patients could grow up to 10 plants. Currently, growing five plants or less can result in three to five years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Gopals bill is the latest to touch on home grow for recreational use. Another was introduced in February by the late Sen. Gerald Cardinale, R-Bergen. He died before the bill made its way through Legislative committees. Sen. Troy Singleton, D-Burlington, also introduced a bill last month to allow the states medical marijuana patients to grow up to four plants. That could help patients circumvent high prices and supply limitations that have long hampered patient access. Many states with medical cannabis programs allows patients to grow their own medicine at home, but New Jersey lawmakers have shied away from the idea, saying it may come down the line, but for now will is likely to remain banned. Its not clear how popular either home grow bill will be in the coming months. Although New Jersey has legalized cannabis, dispensaries are not expected to begin selling to the public for months. Police can no longer arrest people for possessing marijuana, but there is no legal way for them to buy it. After signing three bills into law last month that will launch the legal cannabis industry and decriminalize marijuana possession, Gov. Phil Murphy declined to address home grow. On Monday, when asked during a press conference where he stood on decriminalizing other drugs, Murphy emphasized the work done on legal weed so far. Am I open-minded to decriminalizations, further decriminalization? I suppose so, but I think weve taken the biggest step, and that is marijuana, and thats done for social justice, Murphy said. I think weve taken a big step and I want to get that step embedded, he said. Thats my personal opinion, and get this right before we consider taking further steps. 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. ANN ARBOR, MI - Students will enter classrooms with excellent air quality and ventilation when they return to Ann Arbor Public Schools classrooms later this week, a district study shows. The ventilation study has determined that 96% of the square footage inside elementary school buildings had an excellent number of air changes per hour. The district commissioned engineering firm Fishbeck to conduct the room-by-room study last April, based on building floor plans. A breakdown of those findings by elementary school building can be found here. The excellent rating, which is determined to be more than five ACH by a Harvard School of Public Health study, means the air in those spaces is replaced by either outside air or recirculated filtered air within one hour. Another 2% of spaces in elementary school buildings are in the good category of between four and five ACH, while another 2% is below ACH and will require corrective actions like installing portable air cleaners or using high volume fans by exterior doors to improve air circulation, said Emile Lauzzana, AAPS executive director for capital projects. Its important because air changes have been shown to reduce the risk of catching diseases in indoor environments, Lauzzana said. Once you get to four or five or six air changes, youve picked up most of the benefit of that risk mitigation strategy - youve maxed out the value of that strategy. Students return to the classroom on March 25, for the first time in more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Preschool, young fives and kindergarten students will start in the hybrid learning format, along with small groups of students in grades 6-12. Building code minimum air changes per hour for schools is between 2.8 and 3.5, Lauzzana said, while AAPS mechanical systems are generally able to provide between five and 11 ACH, depending on the room. All elementary school classrooms are above the excellent rating without any corrective action required, Lauzzana said, adding that most of the additional air quality measures have been done in larger areas like gyms, media centers and multi-purpose rooms. The district purchased portable air cleaners with HEPA filters for those large spaces, where existing mechanical equipment isnt able to provide sufficient ventilation. In a small number of spaces, and in our study, were finding that is in big box spaces such as gyms and multi-purpose rooms, Lauzzana said. We have calculated the air changes to be below five (ACH), so not meeting our minimum threshold, due to the high ceilings in many of those spaces and the extremely large volumes of air in those spaces. As an example, Lauzzana said a classroom that is 30 feet wide by 30 feet long and 10 feet high has 9,000 cubic feet of air inside it. If the ventilation system provides 1,000 cubic feet of fresh or filtered air per minute - or 60,000 cubic feet of air per hour - that equates to 6.6 air changes per hour for that space. Portable air cleaners the district purchased provide about 250 to 300 cubic feet per minute of filtered air, Lauzzana said, by pulling air into them, cleaning it with a HEPA filter and returning clean air into the room. At Lakewood Elementary School, for example, 89% of the buildings square footage has excellent ACH, while 8% falls below what is considered good air quality in the buildings multi-purpose room at 3.2 ACH. With two exterior doors to the room, Lauzanna said AAPS will add four portable air cleaners and one large fan that would increase the rooms ACH to 8.1. Part of the study also looked at exhausting air flow between different zones of buildings - particularly restrooms - by making sure all exhaust fans are operational, Lauzzana said. We view restrooms - and a lot of people do - as places where aerosols are more abundant and easily generated as people wash their hands and blow their nose, he said. By having those bathroom fans operational while the buildings are occupied, that creates a negative pressure so that the air in the restroom is exhausted up and out of the building and isnt allowed to flow back into the classroom or the hallway where it could potentially be a risk factor. With air quality as one of AAPS super six mitigation strategies for safe in-person classes, Superintendent Jeanice Swift said it was important for the district to take those additional measures to ensure air is being circulated at proper levels throughout the districts 3.5 million square feet. Our goal is to increase and improve the level of confidence and comfort for our students and staff in returning to the building, Swift said. The fact that the study accounts for buildings being at full capacity - rather than about 50% via the hybrid format - is a good indication of how air will circulate in the buildings when AAPS returns to fully in-person classes, School Board Vice President Jessica Kelly said. I hope this is something that the public begins to understand when they say we didnt have a plan or we werent doing anything for 10 months, Kelly said. That gives us some assurance that as we turn the dial up and we fill our classrooms over the coming months into the fall, its still good air, even when were running at full capacity for a full day in hopefully the very near future. Increasing air flow in buildings ultimately is more expensive, Lauzzana said, but it is a necessary measure to ensure buildings are safe for students, staff and teachers. We felt that given this extraordinary time, were willing to invest a little more in our utility costs in order to provide a better indoor air environment, he said. READ MORE: Nearly $63M going toward more air conditioning, lighting upgrades at 13 Ann Arbor schools In-person learning coming to Ann Arbor Public Schools in March Two-thirds of Ann Arbor students opt for in-person classes as district prepares for return Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The idea of universal basic income, where every citizen receives a regular amount of money from the government, has long been considered a fringe or radical idea in South Korea. The coronavirus pandemic may be changing that, as VOAs Bill Gallo reports from Seoul. VOA Khmer's Leakhena Sreng narrates the story in Khmer. By: Tourists visit the Summer Palace in Beijing, capital of China, March 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xin) 5 1 [ Editor: WPY ] Gurugram, March 23 : The meat shopkeepers on Tuesday staged a protest against the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) team that reached Shona Chowk in old Gurugram to close meat outlets which were opened despite the MCG orders. The decision was taken during a house meeting of the MCG on March 18. The proposal to keep meat shops shut every Tuesday was approved after a few councillors raised the issue citing 'Hindu sentiments'. Apart from this, the civic body had also decided to increase the license fee for meat shops from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. In case a meat selling store is found to be running illegally, it will have to pay ten times in penalty which has been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000. "There is no law to close meat shops every Tuesday. We will soon approach the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Gurugram and the MCG Commissioner against this restrictions and if our demands are not meet we will approach the court for our rightful justice," Tahir Khan, president, Meat Market Association told IANS. Meanwhile, the MCG officials who faced the ire of the meat shopkeepers said they were just following the orders. "According to the corporation order it was told that if we found any shop opened it would be closed after issuing warning and if the shop remained open despite warning a fine of Rs 5,000 would be issued against the said establishment," said a MCG official. "It is a dictatorship by the MCG. Who has given right to them to close meat shops every Tuesday in Gurugram. The civic body officials without counsulting the meat establishment owners issued such baseless orders. We will soon approach the district administration in connection with the matter," Hazi Shahad Khan, Chairman Muslim Ekta Manch told IANS. Sir Ian McKellen has revealed he could have easily missed out on the chance to play Galdalf in The Lord Of The Rings. The actor, now 82, portrayed the wizard in six feature films between 2001 and 2014. 'I still don't quite know how Gandalf came my way,' he told GQ last week. 'I think because some of the actors who would have been offered it before me were rather put off by the idea of having to live in New Zealand for a year. Near miss: Sir Ian McKellen has revealed he could have easily missed out on the chance to play Galdalf in The Lord Of The Rings '"Where the hell is that?" Well, more fool them!' The films were shot across multiple locations in New Zealand, between 11 October 1999 and 22 December 2000. The first Lord Of The Rings movie was released in 2001. Sir Ian was back in New Zealand to shoot The Hobbit prequel trilogy, which came out across 2012 to 2014. Of the franchise, Sir Ian added: 'I realised the popularity of the books not because I had read them, but I just got so many messages from people who were desperately worried that they were going to see the characters exactly as they had imagined. Their loss: 'I still don't quite know how Gandalf came my way,' he told GQ last week. 'I think because some of the actors who would have been offered it before me were rather put off by the idea of having to live in New Zealand for a year' He said: 'I can't count the number of people who said to me, "Your Gandalf was exactly as I'd always imagined him!" Well how could that be? Because my Gandalf to look at is nothing like the Gandalf described in the books' 'I can't count the number of people who said to me, "Your Gandalf was exactly as I'd always imagined him!" Well how could that be? Because my Gandalf to look at is nothing like the Gandalf described in the books.' Sir Ian and the rest of the cast of the fantasy trilogy will be reuniting for the 20th anniversary of 2001s first instalment in order to encourage movie fans to return to cinemas amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of three consecutive weeks beginning this Thursday, Alamo Drafthouse in Texas will screen the three films and host exclusive Q&A sessions with the likes of Sir Ian and co-stars Viggo Mortensen, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, and director Peter Jackson. Whenever Manoj Bajpayees name is associated with any movie, you just know for sure that he will deliver a praiseworthy performance. Yes, he is a superstar now, but Manoj has struggled immensely on his way to success and it wasnt easy for the actor to create a space for himself in the industry where the competition is brutal. Sony Liv If you have seen his movie Bhonsle, you would agree with the fact that Manoj gave an exemplary performance in the movie. However, what most people dont know is that Manoj and the director of Bhosle, Devashish Makhija were looking for producers to fund their movie. Little did they know that all their hard work will be rewarded in the form of a Best Actor award at the 67th National Film Awards. Sony Liv Bajpayee is currently recovering from COVID but he was overjoyed all the same to know about this achievement. In an interview with HT, he said, I am feeling so happy, not only for myself but also for my director Devashish Makhija, who has put all his beliefs and energy into it. I also feel thankful to Sandiip Kapoor, Piiyush Singh, and all the producers who have put in their energy and support in making this film. Also to each and everyone in the jury who thought it fit to give me this award. Congratulations to @BajpayeeManoj for bagging the Best Actor award for #Bhonsle at the 67th National Film Awards! Watch his award-winning performance in #Bhonsle, streaming exclusively on SonyLIV, now.https://t.co/yxvnm78umJ pic.twitter.com/xF0gI4nmON SonyLIV (@SonyLIV) March 23, 2021 This is the third time that Bajpayee has bagged the National Award which goes on to speak of how immensely talented the actor is. Manoj admitted that there were times when he felt his performance wasnt given enough credit, however, the National Award for Bhonsle made up for all the shortcomings in his past. Many times in the past, I felt many of my deserving ones got somewhere left out, but Bhonsle getting it has completely covered or made me forget everything that I didnt get in the past. I thank everyone, added the actor. Sony Liv Bhonsle was completely sidelined at many award ceremonies and when asked if National Awards are a testimony to critically acclaimed movies as the rest only focus on the mainstream cinema, he said, I dont know, these are very controversial questions. Putting one against the other is not something which is my scene. But it has happened in the past, my film Pinjar didnt get any mention in any of the mainstream awards. He went on to add, Getting the National Award definitely makes you forget everything wrong that has happened in the past. But why think about it? You think about this, celebrate, be thankful to Almighty, to all the people who have shown so much belief. Talking about the film, the actor shared that it almost 4 years to arrange funds for the movie. It is a mission, which has come full circle and completed its journey. It took us four years to arrange the finance, and my association with Devashish started because of this film. There was no taker or support we got in this industry, we have done it all alone, with the help of few people like Sandiip and Piiyush, and many producers who have put in little money into it. I really think this award is not only for me, but all these guys, Bajpayee concluded. In the film, Bajpayee plays the character of a retired cop, who later gets diagnosed with a brain tumour. The film also stars Santosh Juvekar, Ipshita Chakraborty Singh, Virat Vaibhav, Abhishek Banerjee, and Neetu Pande in key roles. If you havent watched the movie yet, you are missing out on a gem. Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to set standard rules for all educational institutions in Ghana. Kwesi Pratt was worried that different schools have different rules, stressing such culture is the reason for the divisions and discriminations in schools. "Let's be careful so we don't have a situation where everyone sets up his or her school. It won't augur well for us," he stated. He was commenting on the protest by a parent of a Rasta student against the decision of Achimota School to enroll his son. Two students with dreadlocks were refused enrolment into the Achimota school and the school will only accept them when they cut their hair. The school's decision have courted controversy with the general public arguing for and against it. The parent's agitation led the Ghana Education Service (GES) to, on Friday, direct the Achimota school to admit the students but in a further meeting with the school and the parents of the Rasta students on Monday, March 22, the GES rescinded its decision. The GES has upheld the policy of Achimota school that the students must cut their dreadlocks before they are accepted into the school. Father of the student, Ras Aswad Nkrabea has threatened to take the matter to ''court and there's no question about that. We are trying to find another school now for him''. He added; "I was shocked at the decision of the GES today after last Friday's directive." Kwesi Pratt has asked the GES to heed his advice to set common rules for all schools so as to encourage unity in the education sector. "We don't have standard rules for all educational institutions. So, there are some rules which belong to a particular school but when you leave that school to another, the rules may be different. I think it's about time the Ghana Education Service and our legislators meet and enact standard rules for all schools . . . All schools have to have a common basic understanding of what education is, what the curriculum is, what the rules ought to be and so on so there will be no discrimination," he said on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Featured on the cover of the Soil Science Society of America Journal, researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) and the Spanish National Research Council partnered to create a new camera allowing for the imaging of wetland soil activity in real time. This camera gives the classic IRIS (indicator of reduction in soils) technology a big upgrade. IRIS is used universally by researchers and soil assessors to determine if soils are behaving like wetland soils and should therefore be classified as such. However, before this new camera, soil assessors couldn't quantify the rate of iron reduction in saturated wetland soils, and researchers had no way to visualize the process in real time. This technology opens up new research avenues in soil science, and gives a compelling peak at how biochemically active wetland soils really are. "The interest in this paper has been really amazing, although it wasn't initially why I created the camera," says Brian Scott, doctoral candidate in Environmental Science and Technology at UMD. "The paper shows that this camera really works, but what interested people was the real time imaging and rates of iron reduction in wetland soils. But to be honest, the real reason I did it wasn't for the practical reason of calculating rates. It was more about trying to explore ways to visualize what's happening in the environment. I study soils, and everything is underground. So I developed this method to look at what is actually happening under the surface, which is really exciting to me." "There are three major parameters needed to classify an area as a wetland: hydrology or water, the plant community, and soil properties," adds Martin Rabenhorst, esteemed soil scientist, professor in Environmental Science and Technology at UMD, and co-author on this paper. "These are all critical because wetlands are highly regulated and protected ecosystems. The soil is perhaps the most complicated piece of the puzzle because you have to confirm that certain biogeochemical processes are actually happening below ground where they are not easily seen." Rabenhorst himself is an inventor of a greener method of IRIS, a technology used to measure the amount of iron reduction occurring in soils. The technology uses iron-oxide coatings on plastic tubes or films that are pushed into the soil and left for 30 days so the soil can react with the paint. As these reactions occur, the paint is partially dissolved from the tube. If 30 percent or more of the paint is stripped off, the soil is behaving like typical wetland soil. "This is really because of the biochemistry of microorganisms in the soil," explains Scott. "The organisms I study breathe iron the same way we breathe oxygen. These microorganisms are anaerobic because they thrive in environments without oxygen and need the iron to respire. Oxygen is toxic to them, so they live in wetlands where the soil is often saturated with water and less oxygen rich. These organisms are so prevalent in wetland soils that they are the basis for our testing to see if a soil is hydric. IRIS testing has therefore become a focal point for biogeochemists that study wetlands." While this technology has the potential to lead scientists down all sorts of new research avenues, it is unclear whether it might lead to improvements down the road for the typical soil assessor using classic IRIS technology. But as Scott describes it, the real findings of the paper come in the methods used to create this camera, which he says is now reproducible by anyone for about $100. He converted a borescope camera used by plumbers and other industry professionals to image down pipes, and coupled that with a wireless system sending information in real time with just a small solar panel to see what is happening 24-7. "Some of the things that are the most important for this paper weren't really the findings; it was the process of development that opens up new applications and research avenues which is really exciting," says Scott. The idea came to Scott while he was volunteering in Osvaldo Sala's lab at Arizona State University using a machine called a mini rhizotron that is used to count tree roots with a camera through a hollow tube in the ground. Scott thought, "If we can take pictures of roots, we should be able to take pictures of other things underground." So eventually, when Scott came to Maryland to pursue his PhD and started working with Rabenhorst, things all fell into place. The process, however, was not without its challenges. "Once somebody has gone through this whole long process of how to make something work, then we can do it again and again easily, but it takes a long time to figure it out," says Scott. "It took a long time to figure out how to make this camera work, and I ran into roadblocks where I almost quit if it weren't for other people's input and ideas." Scott particularly calls out a few people along the way that helped keep this process moving. An undergraduate assistant, Kristin Webb, helped sketch out the initial designs for the camera. Another undergraduate in Environmental Science and Technology and recent graduate, William Jacob Mast, helped design and print the camera shell using a 3-D printer. And Spanish collaborators at the Spanish National Research Council had a similar idea simultaneously and helped find ways to convert the video imagery into flat images that could be analyzed. Scott stresses the importance of collaborative science throughout this process, and wants to make this technology available to others so that it can advance science and ultimately environmental health. "I'm not interested in patenting this particular technology because I want the science to benefit everyone," explains Scott. "It's not about money with this, it's about the impact for the environment. I spent my own money actually to help make sure that this could get built along with the support of the department, and I think that if it works, and if it helps another scientist make some even greater discovery, then that's worth it. It's about helping the world we live in." Scott is pleased to be able to contribute to soil science and focus on the restoration of critical ecosystems like wetlands. "I was an environmental engineer for years, so I have an interest in taking care of the environment, and a lot of what environmental engineers do is clean up messes," says Scott. "Everything I do now is related to ecosystem recovery and restoration. I used to clean up messes, but it's a different animal to actually take ecosystems back to their former glory and restore their ecological functioning." ### This paper, entitled "Macro and Microscopic Visual Imaging Tools to Investigate Metal Reducing Bacteria in Soils," is published in the Soil Science Society of America Journal, DOI: 10.1002/saj2.20092. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A United States health agency raised concerns Tuesday that AstraZeneca may have included out-of-date information during trials of its COVID-19 vaccine, the day after the company said its drug was highly effective in preventing the disease. The news comes as Europe continues to wrangle over supplies of the jab, and after weeks of uncertainty centred on fears it was linked to an increased risk of blood clots. Germany, one of the bloc's key players, on Tuesday threw its weight behind an EU export ban, as it announced strict virus measures would be imposed for five days over Easter to contain spiralling infections. AstraZeneca had said Monday that stage three US trials had shown its vaccine was 79 percent effective at preventing the disease. But in a late night release, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) flagged concerns. NIAID said a monitoring board "expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data." "We urge the company to work with the DSMB (Data and Safety Monitoring Board) to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible." AstraZeneca 'problem' Meanwhile, a spat is simmering between Britain and the EU over much-needed supplies of the AstraZeneca jab, which is cheaper and easier to store than many of its rivals. European officials are furious that the Anglo-Swedish company has been able to deliver its UK contract in full while falling short on its supplies to the EU. German leader Angela Merkel on Tuesday said, "We have a problem with AstraZeneca," as she backed an EU threat to ban AstraZeneca vaccines produced in the EU from being exportedunless it delivers more of the 90 million doses it agreed to supply in the first quarter of 2021. And public confidence in the drug has tumbled after several countries suspended its rollout because of isolated cases of blood clots. A survey by British pollsters YouGov showed that a majority of people in the biggest EU states view the vaccine as unsafe. The EU's medicines regulator and the WHO insist there is no evidence linking the drug to blood clots, and none was found in the large-scale trials in the US. 'We have a new virus' Chancellor Merkel ordered the harsh nationwide shutdown, warning a potent strain of coronavirus was raging through the EU's most populous country. "The situation is serious," she said. "Case numbers are rising exponentially and intensive care beds are filling up again." A variant first identified in the United Kingdom has become the dominant strain circulating in Germany, the under-pressure leader said, adding that "we are in a new pandemic." "Essentially, we have a new virus... it is much deadlier, much more infectious and infectious for much longer." Cultural, leisure and sporting facilities will stay shuttered through to April 18, and a lockdown will come into force between April 1 and 5, as Christians celebrate Easter. Almost all shops will be closed across the five days, and religious services will be moved online. Banksy fundraiser Britain on Tuesday marks the anniversary of its first coronavirus lockdown with a "National Day of Reflection," which will see parliament hold a minute's silence in tribute to the more than 126,000 people who have died. The country ranks fifth in the world for both virus cases and deaths. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the last year has "taken a huge toll" and called the anniversary "an opportunity to reflect on the past yearone of the most difficult in our country's history." The country's state-run National Health Service (NHS) has been under huge strain, and on Tuesday a painting by UK street artist Banksy is expected to raise millions of pounds for health workers. The artist left a note with the piece thanking hospital staff for their work battling the pandemic. "Thanks for all you're doing. I hope this brightens up the place a bit, even if it's only in black and white," he wrote. 'Grotesque' vaccine gap Globally, the coronavirus crisis that first emerged in China in December 2019 has killed more than 2.7 million people and infected over 123 million, according to official data collated by AFP. Vaccination drives are seen as crucial to overcoming the pandemic and navigating countries out of brutal restrictions that continue to paralyse economies around the world. More than 430 million jabs have now been administered, mostly in wealthier nations, and World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has slammed the "grotesque" vaccine gap. Papua New Guinea received its first batch of vaccines Tuesday as the impoverished Melanesian nation races to quell a COVID-19 surge overwhelming its fragile health system. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Providing services like broadband connectivity, cable TV, enterprise solutions, and payment wallets is the need of the hour for telcos, and a second wave of consolidation is upon the industry, a rating agency said on Tuesday. India Ratings and Research said the sector, which was battered following the aggressive entry of Reliance Jio, will continue showing signs of recovery amid conducive regulatory environment and maintained a "stable" outlook for the industry in FY22. The second round of consolidation (Consolidation 2.0) is kicking-in in the industry, which will bring a transformation in the business models of telecom companies, leading to the evolution of incumbents from the providers of traditional voice-only services to complete digital solutions for households, it said. Along with wireless mobility, telcos will have to provide services such as broadband connectivity, cable TV services (direct -to-home), enterprise solutions, e-payment wallets/platforms, music applications and over-the-top transmission platform. Such bundling of services along with the traditional wireless mobile services has become the "need of the hour" to ensure customer stickiness and widen the market footprint, the agency said. It can be noted that the sector was once a very busy field with up to half a dozen operators to choose from. However, in the last five years, operators like Vodafone and Idea went for a meger, some retreated and some were also forced to go into bankruptcy because of the financial difficulties. Among the operators, it said Jio has strong or moderate presence in all the allied services, except enterprise segment where it is non-existent, while Bharti Airtel lacks broadcasting presence and Vodafone Idea doesn not have a presence in broadcasting, payment wallets and direct to home. The increasing data usage and rising proportion of higher average revenue per user data customers in the overall subscriber mix indicate that, even without tariff hikes, the sector is structurally moving towards a higher- average revenue per user regime, it said. Competition intensity has alleviated over the last one year, as evident from narrowing of tariff differentials among telcos, it said. Evolution of the industry over the coming quarters will remain a key monitorable since it will determine whether the Indian mobility market will remain a 3+1 player market or will transition to a 2.5+1 player market and how telcos will respond to the next phase of consolidation in the industry, the agency 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.) Tuatara survive only on a few offshore islands and in sanctuaries. Credit: Shutterstock/Ken Griffiths Islands are biodiversity hotspots. They are home to 20% of the world's plants and animals yet cover only 5% of the global landmass. But island ecosystems are highly vulnerable, threatened by habitat fragmentation and introduced invasive weeds and predators. Climate change adds to all these stresses. In our recent paper, we use Aotearoa New Zealand as a case study to show how climate change accelerates biodiversity decline on islands by exacerbating existing conservation threats. Aotearoa is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, with 80% of vascular plants, 81% of arthropods and 60% of land vertebrate animals found nowhere else. Its evolutionary history is dominated by birds. Before the arrival of people, the only native land mammals were bats. But now, introduced predators threaten the survival of many species. Complex interplay between many threats Conservation efforts have rightly concentrated on the eradication of introduced predators, with world-leading success in the eradication of rats in particular. Potential climate change impacts have been mostly ignored. Successive assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlight the lack of information for Aotearoa. This could be due to insufficient research, system complexity or a lack of impacts. Many native birds are threatened by introduced predators such as rats, possums and cats. Credit: Shutterstock/Imogen Warren In the past, some researchers even dismissed climate change as an issue for biodiversity in Aotearoa. Our maritime climate is comparatively mild and already variable. As a result, organisms are expected to be well adapted to changing conditions. Palaeo-ecological records suggest few species extinctions despite abrupt environmental change during the Quaternary period (from 2.5 million years ago to present). But past climate change provides an incomplete picture of contemporary change because it did not include human-induced threats. Habitat loss and fragmentation, landuse change and complex interactions between native species and introduced predators or invasive weeds all contribute to these threats. How climate change affects biodiversity Species respond to climate change by evolving physiological adjustments, moving to new habitats or, in the worst cases, becoming extinct. These responses then change ecosystem processes, including species interactions and ecosystem functions (such as carbon uptake and storage). Methods for identifying climate change impacts are either empirical and observational (field studies and manipulative experiments) or mechanistic (ecophysiological models). Mechanistic approaches allow predictions of impacts under future climate scenarios. But linking species and ecosystem change directly to climate can be challenging in a complex world where multiple stressors are at play. Every few years, beech trees produce significantly higher amounts of seed. Credit: Shutterstock/sljones There are several well-known examples of climate change impacts on species endemic to Aotearoa. First, warming of tuatara eggs changes the sex ratio of hatchlings. Hotter conditions produce more males, potentially threatening long-term survival of small, isolated populations. Second, mast seeding (years of unusually high production of seed) is highly responsive to temperature and mast events are likely to increase under future climate change. During mast years, the seeds provide more food for invasive species like rats or mice, their populations explode in response to the abundant food and then, when the seed resource is used up, they turn to other food sources such as invertebrates and bird eggs. This has major impacts on native ecosystems. How masting plants respond to climate change is complex and depends on the species. The full influence of climate is still emerging. Indirect effects of climate change We identified a range of known and potential complex impacts of climate change in several ecosystems. The alpine zone is particularly vulnerable. Warming experiments showed rising temperatures extend the overlap between the flowering seasons of native alpine plants and invasive plants. This potentially increases competition for pollinators and could result in lower seed production. Some large alpine birds, including the alpine parrot kea, will have fewer cool places to take refuge from invasive predators. This will causelocal extinctions in a process know as "thermal squeeze". The alpine parrot kea lives in New Zealands mountain ranges. Credit: Shutterstock/Peter Nordbaek Hansen Small alpine lakes, known as tarns, are not well understood but are also likely to suffer from thermal squeeze and increased drought periods. Warmer temperatures may also allow Australian brown tree frogs to invade further into these sensitive systems. Climate change disproportionately affects Indigenous people worldwide. In Aotearoa, culturally significant species such as titi (sooty shearwater) and harakeke (flax) will be influenced by climate change. The breeding success of titi, which are harvested traditionally, is strongly influenced by the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. As ENSO intensifies under climate change, numbers of young surviving are decreasing. For harakeke, future climate projections predict changes in plant distribution, potentially making weaving materials unavailable to some hapu (subtribes). Matauranga, the Indigenous knowledge of Maori, provides insights on climate change that haven't been captured in western science. For instance, the Maori calendar, maramataka, has been developed over centuries of observations. Maramataka for each hapu (subtribe) provide guidance for the timing of gathering mahinga kai (traditional food sources). This includes the gathering of fish and other seafood, planting of crops and harvesting food. Because this calendar is based on knowledge that has accrued over generations, some changes in timing and distributions due to environmental or climate change may be captured in these oral histories. These images show how the Hawkes Bay dried out between the summer (December to February) periods of 2019 (left) and 2020 (right). Credit: NASA, CC BY-SA Climate change is here now Future projections of climate change are complicated in Aotearoabut it is clear the climate is already changing. Last year was the seventh hottest on record for Aotearoa. Many parts of the country suffered severe summer drought. NASA captured images of browned landscapes across the country. Much of the focus of climate change research has been in agricultural and other human landscapes but we need more effort to quantify the threat for our endemic systems. On islands across the world, rising sea levels and more severe extreme weather events are threatening the survival of endemic species and ecosystems. We need to understand the complicated processes through which climate change interacts with other threats to ensure the success of conservation projects. While we focused on terrestrial and freshwater systems, marine and near-shore ecosystems are also suffering because of ocean acidification, rising sea levels and marine heatwaves. These processes threaten marine productivity, fisheries and mahinga kai resources. And for long-term conservation success, we need to consider both direct and indirect impacts of climate change on our unique species and ecosystems. Explore further Climate change could cause decline of some alpine butterfly species This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Iowa University Officials Denied Immunity for Targeting Christian Student Group University of Iowa administrators can be held personally accountable for denying official recognition to a Christian students group because of its faith-based leadership policy, the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday. A panel of three circuit judges ruled in favor of Business Leaders in Christ (BLinC), holding that the university officials do not enjoy qualified immunitya legal shield protecting public officials from individual liability unless they violate a clearly established constitutional rightbecause they violated at least the student groups First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association. The case stemmed from 2017, when BLinC barred a member from serving in a leading position after he came out as gay and refused to forgo romantic same-sex relationships in accordance to the groups interpretation of biblical teachings. The student filed a complaint with the University of Iowa alleging that he was discriminated against for being openly gay, while BLinC argued that the decision was made because of his disagreement to live by [the groups] religious beliefs, not because of his homosexuality. The university eventually stripped BLinCs status as a registered students organization, saying that the group failed to comply with the universitys human rights policy by barring students based on their sexual orientation and religion. The action denied the group access to university funding and campus resources. In 2019, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose, an Obama appointee, found that the university had unevenly enforced its nondiscrimination policy by punishing BLinC, while allowing other campus groups to limit membership based on race, sex, and religion. Rose also ruled that the university officials had qualified immunity and therefore could not be ordered to pay damages sought by BLinC, a decision with which the Eighth Circuit disagreed. The focus of this appeal is limited to whether, for purposes of qualified immunity, the law was clearly established that the individual defendants conduct violated those rights, Chief U.S. Circuit Judge Lavenski Smith, a Bush appointee, wrote in the majority opinion. We hold that the district court erroneously granted the individual defendants motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity on BLinCs free-speech and expressive-association claims. The majority added that the district court did not err in granting qualified immunity to the defendants on BLinCs free-exercise claim, because the law was not clearly established at the time they conducted the violation. U.S. Circuit Judge Jonathan Kobes, a Trump appointee, partially dissented with the majority, saying that the university officials should be liable for their free-exercise violation as well. The law is clear: state organizations may not target religious groups for differential treatment or withhold an otherwise available benefit solely because they are religious, Kobes wrote. That is what happened here. The individual defendants may pick their poison: they are either plainly incompetent or they knowingly violated the Constitution. Either way, they should not get qualified immunity. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a legal group representing the students, said they welcome the Monday decision. University of Iowa officials knew this was wrong, and they did it anyway, said Eric Baxter, vice president at the Washington-based non-profit organization. Were pleased to have the court recognize that blatant religious discrimination brings personal consequences. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) Additional doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government are set to arrive in Manila on Wednesday. A Philippine Airlines flight will leave for Beijing on Monday night to pick up the 400,000 doses of shots manufactured by Sinovac. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. confirmed the return flight carrying the CoronaVac doses will arrive on Wednesday morning. PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna on Tuesday said this will be a "milestone flight" for the flag carrier because it is its first airlift of COVID-19 vaccines from an international hub to Manila. This is the second batch of donations from Beijing, completing the one million doses of CoronaVac vaccines given by China for free. The Philippines received the first batch of 600,000 doses of Sinovac on February 28. The Philippines has so far received 1,125,600 doses of the Sinovac and AstraZeneca brands, which were donations from China and a number of European nations through the global initiative COVAX. In the Philippines, AstraZeneca is the more popular vaccine choice for healthcare workers as they can only choose between this or CoronaVac shots. Many of them opted to defer getting Sinovac to wait for the arrival of AstraZeneca vaccines. Galvez on Monday said the one million Sinovac doses procured by the government using its own funds will be delivered on March 29. The government eyes to start its mass vaccination drive in May after completing the inoculation of the 1.7 million healthcare workers in the country. Over three weeks since the inoculation drive began in the country, only 336,656 have been vaccinated mostly healthcare workers and some national government and local officials who breached the priority list. The low vaccination rate comes despite the fact that 98% or 1,105,600 out of 1,125,600 doses of AstraZeneca and Sinovac doses have been distributed in 1,623 vaccination sites in 17 regions. Twitter founder and CEO Jack Dorsey has sold a digital certificate connected to his first ever tweet for over 2m. The digital certificate was purchased in an auction by Sina Estavi, a Malaysia-based entrepreneur. The tweet, posted by Jack Dorsey on March 21, 2006, reads: "just setting up my twttr" Buyer, Mr Estavi said: "This is not just a tweet!" He added that "years later people will realise the true value of this tweet, like the Mona Lisa painting". Jack Dorsey said the funds raised from the sale of his first ever tweet are being donated to a charity supporting the coronavirus response in Africa, minus a 5% processing fee going to the auctioning platform. Mr Estavi said he was glad the money was being donated to charity. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 18:27:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Colombia has applauded remarks made by Chinese President Xi Jinping as Chinese vaccines arrived in the South American country. President Xi 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 carry out anti-pandemic cooperation. Two other batches of Chinese vaccines purchased by Colombia were delivered to the South American country not long ago, Xi said, adding that the latest batch of vaccines would help boost Colombia's national vaccination program. Xi said he hopes that the governments and peoples of the two countries will make joint efforts to strengthen cooperation in various fields, including the anti-pandemic fight, so as to elevate China-Colombia cooperation to a new level from a new historical starting point, bringing more benefits to the two peoples. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 03:11:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The latest in a deadly series of attacks in the Tillaberi and Tahoua regions of Niger have triggered a humanitarian needs assessment, a UN spokesman said on Tuesday. The government, United Nations and partners are conducting the survey following the raids by "non-state armed groups" on Sunday that claimed 137 civilian deaths, said Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The civilians were killed in the area bordering Mali and Burkina Faso, Haq said. "Since January, at least 290 civilians have been killed in the attacks," he told reporters at a regular briefing. "This is over half of all victims killed in attacks in 2020." The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is moving in to assist with health care and protection services. "The agency reminds us that Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, in the Sahel, are at the epicenter of one of the world's fastest-growing displacement and protection crises," the spokesman said. "The region is already hosting nearly 3 million refugees and people displaced inside their own country." Enditem Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. DIDCOT, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / Altus Strategies Plc (AIM:ALS)(TSXV:ALTS)(OTCQX:ALTUF) announces final results from a 6,300m reverse circulation ("RC") drilling programme at the Tabakorole gold project ("Tabakorole" or the "Project") located in southern Mali. The results include the discovery of a potential new parallel zone of mineralisation, as well as an extension of the current strike length of the Project. Altus holds a 49% equity interest and 2.5% Net Smelter Return ("NSR") royalty on the Project. Exploration activities at Tabakorole are being funded by Marvel Gold Limited (ASX: MVL) ("Marvel Gold") under its joint venture ("JV") with Altus. Highlights: RC drilling discovers potential parallel zone at Tabakorole gold project in southern Mali Intersections from 20 RC holes (2,760m) including (down-the-hole and not true width): 2.0 g/t over 16m from 75m (potential new parallel zone, 50m east of the deposit) 5.8 g/t over 6m from 61m (anticipated to improve the modelled grade of the deposit) 2.0 g/t over 15m from 25m (extending the deposit strike length to the northwest) 1.5 g/t over 28m from 121m Project hosts a mineral deposit for which a Mineral Resource Estimate (" MRE ") has been generated (see Altus' news release dated 30 September 2020 and titled "Substantial Increase in Gold Resource at Tabakorole Project, Southern Mali"), comprising: 16,600,000 tonnes at 1.2 g/t Au for 620,000 ounces in the Inferred category 7,300,000 tonnes at 1.2 g/t Au for 290,000 ounces in the Indicated category ") has been generated (see Altus' news release dated 30 September 2020 and titled "Substantial Increase in Gold Resource at Tabakorole Project, Southern Mali"), comprising: Results from an additional five diamond drill holes to infill the MRE are expected in April 6,000m aircore (" AC ") drilling programme underway to test potential strike extension ") drilling programme underway to test potential strike extension Altus holds a 2.5% NSR royalty on Tabakorole gold production Steven Poulton, Chief Executive of Altus, commented: "These drilling results from the Tabakorole gold project in southern Mali are excellent. An intersection of 2.0 g/t over 16m from 75m located approximately 50m east of the current deposit is significant as it represents the discovery of a potential new and parallel gold zone. Other results from this programme have successfully increased the strike length of the known deposit. Tabakorole currently hosts a significant gold resource, which remains open along strike in both directions as well as at depth. "Our JV partner, ASX-listed Marvel Gold, is currently undertaking a five hole diamond drilling programme and a 6,000m AC programme, in the southeast of the deposit, to infill the current MRE and test potential strike extensions respectively. We look forward to updating shareholders with the results from these programmes when they are received." Tabakorole Resource Expansion Drill Programme The 6,300m RC drilling programme at Tabakorole was undertaken by Marvel Gold, as part of the JV Stage-3 earn-in. The programme was designed primarily to increase the existing resource by extending gold mineralisation along strike in both directions (to the northwest and the southeast). There are also a number of holes within the known strike length of the FT Prospect designed to increase the resource confidence, or further delineate interpreted high-grade plunging shoots within the orebody. The full results received from this programme are presented in Table 1 below. This announcement provides results for the final 20 RC holes (2,760m) from the 39 hole programme. The results are significant in terms of thickness, grade and strike extent, compared to those modelled to date, as well as the discovery of a potential new parallel eastern zone. A 6,000m AC drilling programme is currently underway in the southeast of the Project, to test the potential for the strike to extend in this area. Marvel Gold has also completed a five hole, 750m infill diamond drilling programme in the southeast of the Project, the results of which will be reported in April. Table 1: Tabakorole recent RC drill intersections Hole ID From (m) To (m) Intersection (m) Grade (g/t Au) Previously reported 20TBKRC001 101 104 3 0.74 Yes 20TBKRC002 13 37 24 1.24 Yes 46 50 4 0.44 20TBKRC002A 4 29 25 0.81 Yes 60 66 6 0.35 20TBKRC003 17 31 14 0.83 Yes 85 88 3 0.59 100 103 3 0.55 20TBKRC004 25 28 3 0.79 Yes 38 41 3 1.82 106 127 21 0.94 20TBKRC005 18 30 12 2.13 Yes 53 71 18 1.94 97 107 10 1.55 20TBKRC006 10 13 3 2.00 Yes 56 64 8 0.71 77 99 22 1.84 141 152 11 0.67 20TBKRC007 45 54 9 1.17 No 77 90 13 0.88 20TBKRC008 84 95 11 0.68 No 103 113 10 0.56 121 149 28 1,45 20TBKRC009 9 26 17 0.69 No 40 49 9 1.04 20TBKRC010 5 19 14 0.71 No 26 46 20 1.03 20TBKRC011 66 72 6 0.74 No 20TBKRC012 14 17 3 0.84 No 23 39 16 0.54 63 69 6 1.59 20TBKRC013 109 118 9 0.42 No 20TBKRC014 75 91 16 1.97 No 20TBKRC015 39 44 5 0.54 No 61 67 6 5.75 74 83 9 0.57 20TBKRC016 53 57 4 2.16 No 84 87 3 1.23 20TBKRC017 29 59 30 0.48 No 20TBKRC18 25 40 15 1.96 No 20TBKRC019 8 15 7 0.78 No 23 33 10 0.55 20TBKRC020 No significant result No 20TBKRC021 No significant result No 20TBKRC022 146 177 31 1.12 Yes 20TBKRC023 No significant result No 20TBKRC024 No significant result Yes 20TBKRC025 16 20 4 1.90 No 20TBKRC026 No significant result No 21TBKRC001 178 201 23 2.00 Yes 21TBKRC002 No significant result Yes 21TBKRC003 No significant result Yes 21TBKRC004 Pre-Collar - Not Sampled Yes 21TBKRC005 84 117 33 1.10 Yes 21TBKRC006 No significant result Yes 21TBKRC007 No significant result Yes 21TBKRC008 No significant result Yes 21TBKRC009 Pre-Collar - Not Sampled Yes 21TBKRC010 51 56 5 1.24 Yes 86 126 40 1.00 Yes 21TBKRC011 No significant result Yes 21TBKRC012 49 59 10 2.00 Yes 21TBKRC013 28 36 8 0.61 No 44 53 9 0.39 121 129 8 1.07 21TBKRC014 42 46 4 0.63 No 59 67 8 0.54 Notes: Based on 0.5 g/t Au cut off, minimum length of 3m and 5m maximum internal waste Intersections are down-the-hole and do not represent true widths of mineralisation No grade capping has been applied Summary of Joint Venture with Marvel Gold Marvel Gold has the right to earn up to an 80% interest in Tabakorole by sole funding four stages of exploration, culminating in a definitive feasibility study, and by making certain cash (or cash plus Marvel Gold shares) payments to Altus. Thereafter, Altus has the right to co-finance or dilute its 20% interest in the Project. Altus also retains a 2.5% NSR royalty on the Project. Marvel Gold will have the right to reduce the royalty to 1.0% for a payment to Altus of between US$ 9.99 million and US$ 15.00 million (subject to the size of the resource at Tabakorole). Marvel Gold has currently earned a 51% interest in the Project. The following figures have been prepared and relate to the disclosures in this announcement and are visible in the version of this announcement on the Company's website (www.altus-strategies.com) or in PDF format by following this link: https://altus-strategies.com/site/assets/files/5065/altus_nr_-_tbk_23_mar_2021.pdf Location of Tabakorole and Altus' other projects in Mali is shown in Figure 1. Location of Tabakorole in southern Mali is shown in Figure 2. Plan showing results from Tabakorole drilling programme are shown in Figure 3. Cross-section showing hole 20TBKRC015 and 20TBKRC014 is shown in Figure 4. Tabakorole Project: Location Tabakorole is a 100km2 gold project located in southern Mali, approximately 280km south of the capital city of Bamako. The Project sits on the Massagui Belt which hosts the Morila gold mine (operated by Firefinch Limited, ASX: FFX), located approximately 100km to the north. The Project is 125km southeast of the Yanfolila gold mine (operated by Hummingbird Resources Plc, AIM: HUM) and 100km east of the Kalana gold project (operated by Endeavour Mining Corporation, TSX: EDV). Mineralisation hosted on these properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralisation hosted at Tabakorole. Tabakorole Project: Geology Tabakorole comprises a 3km long shear zone which is up to 200m wide, hosted in the Archaean and Birimian aged Bougouni Basin of the Man Shield of southern Mali. The geology is dominated by clastic sediments, cut by northwest trending deformation zones which host gold mineralisation. At least two, possibly three, Eburnean deformation events are believed to have affected the geology of Tabakorole. The Project hosts the FT Prospect comprised of mylonites, sheared diorite, gabbro, mafic dykes and late stage felsic dykes, within a folded and deformed metasedimentary package of meta-siltstone, meta-wacke and meta-sandstone. Mineralisation is locally most favourably associated where structures cut gabbro and along lithological contacts with gabbro. Tabakorole: Mineral Resource Estimate The FT Prospect at the Tabakorole Project hosts a deposit for which an MRE of 290,000 ounces at 1.2 g/t Au (Indicated resources) and 620,000 ounces at 1.2 g/t Au (Inferred resources) in both oxide and fresh domains has been made as set out in Table 2 below. The MRE was prepared by International Resource Solutions Pty Ltd (Perth, Australia) under the JORC Code and was previously reported by the Company on 30 September 2020 (see Altus' news release titled "Substantial Increase in Gold Resource at Tabakorole Project, Southern Mali"). Currently, 43% of the MRE is situated within 100m of surface. The FT Prospect remains open downdip and along strike. A Qualified Person has not undertaken sufficient work to classify the Mineral Resource Estimate in accordance with NI 43-101, and the Company is not treating it as such. Table 2: Mineral Resource Estimate Summary Table (JORC Code) Domain Indicated Inferred Tonnes (t) Grade (g/t) Contained gold (oz) Tonnes (t) Grade (g/t) Contained gold (oz) OXIDE 1,000,000 1.3 40,000 1,500,000 1.3 60,000 FRESH 6,300,000 1.2 250,000 15,100,000 1.2 560,000 Total 7,300,000 1.2 290,000 16,600,000 1.2 620,000 Notes: Cut-off grade was 0.6 g/t Au. MRE is shown on a gross (100%) basis of the Tabakorole Project. Altus holds a 49% net attributable interest and Marvel Gold holds a 51% net attributable interest in the Project. Marvel Gold is the operator of the JV. Qualified Person The technical disclosure in this announcement has been approved by Steven Poulton, Chief Executive of Altus. A graduate of the University of Southampton in Geology (Hons), he also holds a Master's degree from the Camborne School of Mines (Exeter University) in Mining Geology. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and has over 20 years of experience in mineral exploration and is a Qualified Person under the AIM rules and NI 43-101. For further information you are invited to visit the Company's website www.altus-strategies.com or contact: Altus Strategies Plc Steven Poulton, Chief Executive Tel:+44 (0) 1235 511 767 E-mail: info@altus-strategies.com SP Angel (Nominated Adviser) Richard Morrison / Adam Cowl Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0470 SP Angel (Broker) Grant Barker / Richard Parlons Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0471 Shard Capital (Broker) Isabella Pierre / Damon Heath Tel: +44 (0) 20 7186 9927 Yellow Jersey PR (Financial PR & IR) Charles Goodwin / Henry Wilkinson Tel: +44 (0) 20 3004 9512 E-mail: altus@yellowjerseypr.com About Altus Strategies Plc Altus Strategies (AIM: ALS, TSX-V: ALTS & OTCQX: ALTUF) is a mining royalty company generating a diversified and precious metal focused portfolio of assets. The Company's focus on Africa and differentiated approach, of generating royalties on its own discoveries as well as through financings and acquisitions with third parties, has attracted key institutional investor backing. The Company engages constructively with all stakeholders, working diligently to minimise its environmental impact and to promote positive economic and social outcomes in the communities where it operates. For further information, please visit www.altus-strategies.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information included in this announcement, including information relating to future financial or operating performance and other statements that express the expectations of the Directors or estimates of future performance constitute "forward-looking statements". These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the completion of planned expenditures, the ability to complete exploration programmes on schedule and the success of exploration programmes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date of this announcement and the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information or any forward-looking statements contained in any other announcements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law or regulations. TSX Venture Exchange Disclaimer Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Market Abuse Regulation Disclosure Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 ("MAR") until the release of this announcement. Glossary of Terms The following is a glossary of technical terms: "AC" means air core drilling "Au" means gold "g" means grams "g/t" means grams per tonne "grade(s)" means the quantity of ore or metal in a specified quantity of rock "JORC Code" means the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" prepared by the Joint Ore Reserves Committee of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Australian Institute of Geoscientists and Minerals Council of Australia. The JORC Code is an acceptable foreign code for purposes of NI 43-101 "JV" means Joint Venture "km" means kilometres "m" means metres "MRE" means Mineral Resource Estimate "NI 43-101" means National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" of the Canadian Securities Administrators "Qualified Person" means a person that has the education, skills and professional credentials to qualify as a qualified person under NI 43-101 "NSR" means net smelter return "RC" means reverse circulation drilling "t" means a metric tonne SOURCE: Altus Strategies PLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636853/Potential-New-Zone-Discovered-at-the-Tabakorole-Gold-Project-Southern-Mali Margaret White, a retiree who lives in southern Ohio with her rescue cat, has completed her new book Caught: My Brothers Journey: a gripping and potent analysis of deeply rooted prejudices in American society. The beginning of the books foreword reveals that You are about to enter the stories of two lives that are very different from each other, and one of them will most likely be very different from your own. These two stories began in different times and in different places from each other, but many years later, they intersected and impacted each other. These stories each reflect upon their own individual journeys through life, each one presently hovering on very different circumstances. Published by Page Publishing, Margaret Whites captivating tale compares the many life-altering events of an incarcerated African American man and a white American woman. More than just a discussion of their differences and commonalities, this book explores the prejudices that continue to plague many areas of life in the United States. Touching upon their individual family dynamics, drug usage and its consequences, the judicial system, early United States history, and even God, this powerful work covers a gamut of themes and concerns. Although at times a challenging read, this book has infinite potential to elicit further discussion and, more importantly, bring about self-examination and an awareness that is in tune with the surrounding communities and cultures of many United States residents. Readers who wish to experience this thought-provoking work can purchase Caught: My Brothers Journey at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and the two sides reached strategic consensus ISLAMABAD,APP/ (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Mar, 2021 ) Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and the two sides reached strategic consensus. The talks, held in the city of Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, were the 51st meeting between Wang and Lavrov. "This shows the high level of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination," Wang said. No matter how the international situation changes, the comprehensive strategic coordination between the two countries will only strengthen and expand, rather than weaken or shrink, the Chinese foreign minister said. The two sides agreed that strategic guidance by the two heads of state constitutes the political strength of bilateral ties, and jointly fighting the pandemic has further deepened the traditional friendship between the people of both countries. They also agreed that pragmatic cooperation has strongly boosted the two countries' economic and social development, and their international coordination has contributed stability and positive energy to the world. The two foreign ministers signed some bilateral cooperation deals as well as a joint statement on global governance after the talks, calling on the international community to put aside differences, build consensus, strengthen coordination and safeguard world peace and geo-strategic stability. Former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens has announced his plans to run for the U.S. Senate, two years after resigning in disgrace amid allegations he took nude photos of his secret lover without her permission. Greitens, 46, is a former Navy SEAL officer who rose quickly to top office in the Show-Me State, before the scandal politically sidelined the then-married father of two in 2018. His announcement on Monday came 14 days after fellow Republican Roy Blunt said he would not seek a third Senate term in 2022. Greitens had been laying the groundwork for a return to politics even before Blunt's announcement, with increasingly frequent appearances on conservative radio and television appealing to supporters of former President Donald Trump, who carried Missouri with 57 percent of the vote in 2020. Former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens has announced his plans to run for the U.S. Senate, two years after resigning in disgrace amid blackmail and invasion of privacy allegations His announcement on Monday came 14 days after fellow Republican Roy Blunt (above) said he would not seek a third Senate term in 2022 A number of other Republican candidates initially showed interest in replacing Blunt in heavily Republican Missouri, but the GOP field is narrowing. Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and early favorite Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft have both said they won't run, leaving Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt and several of Missouri's U.S. representatives as potential Greitens opponents. 'My sense is that the Republican Party has probably sent a clear message to all potential candidates for Blunts seat that they want to consolidate their efforts behind one candidate, and a candidate that will be successful,' Webster University political scientist Bill Hall said. Blunt was the fifth Republican senator to announce he will not seek reelection, a retirement wave that might lead to an ugly campaign season next year and give Democrats fresh hope of preserving their Senate majority. Greitens was a political outsider when he ran for governor in 2016, but his resume was impressive. In addition to his role in the elite military outfit, he was a best-selling author, a Rhodes scholar and had started a successful charity for veterans. Greitens defeated establishment Republicans in the primary before winning in November. By the end of his first year in office, Greitens was getting buzz as a potential future presidential contender. Greitens delivers masks to first responders in Columbia, Missouri a year ago. Greitens passed out masks across the state in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic last spring It all began to fall apart in January 2018 when a St. Louis TV station aired a report about an extramarital affair with his hairdresser in 2015, before he was elected. A month later, a grand jury indicted Greitens for invasion of privacy, accusing him of taking a compromising photo of the woman and threatening to use it as blackmail if she ever spoke of the encounter. The photo, taken in March 2015, allegedly displayed the hairstylist blindfolded, bound at the hands, and at least partially in the nude. Greitens admitted to the affair (he and his wife, Sheena, divorced last year) but denied criminal wrongdoing and accused Gardner, a Democrat, of a politically motivated prosecution. Another scandal followed in April when Gardner charged Greitens with another felony, accusing him of illegally using the donor list for his charity, The Mission Continues, to raise money for his 2016 campaign. Greitens admitted to the affair (he and his wife, Sheena, divorced last year) but denied criminal wrongdoing Meanwhile, the Republican-led Missouri Legislature began considering whether to pursue impeachment proceedings. Those discussions and the criminal charges came to an end when Greitens resigned in June 2018. His return to public life has been gradual. He successfully sought reinstatement to the Navy, though not as a SEAL officer, in 2019. He passed out masks to first responders across the state in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic last spring. He has launched his own television show on the internet and Dish TV and is appearing often on conservative TV and radio programs. St. Louis University political scientist Ken Warren said that despite the scandals that drove him from office, polling has shown Greitens with fierce support among about one-third of Missouri Republicans. That support might be enough for a primary win if several establishment candidates siphon votes from each other. 'Republicans want to win back the Senate, and to do so, they must hold Blunt's Republican seat,' Warren said in an email. 'Greitens would be a very risky candidate for the Republicans because he certainly could lose, even in the red state of MO.' Democrats seeking the Senate seat are Marine veteran Lucas Kunce, former state Senator Scott Sifton and activist Timothy Shepard. The old saying closing the stable door after the horse has bolted comes to mind when you look at the IFAs campaign targeting Lidl and Aldis liquid milk branding policy. It now looks likely to end up in the courts, where the lawyers are the only real winners. While the IFA should be credited for generating a campaign that has created a news story in its own right, one would have to say the liquid milk battle being fought is a little past its sell-by date. The balance of power in the supply chain has never been so skewed in favour of the supermarket chains, but in fairness to the German retail giants they have offered very welcome shelf space to many smaller Irish food producers since their arrival here in 1999. The IFAs core gripe with Lidl and Aldi is the creation of what it says are fake farm and creamery brands to market their products. IFA president Tim Cullinan has described it as an aggressive and misleading strategy to drag down the price paid to fresh milk producers. Read More Unfortunately, though, its not today or yesterday that fake farm names and farmers have started to appear on packaging as retailers looked to put a premium moniker on their products. Its called marketing and its not just dairy farmers who have long surrendered control of their product to processors and supermarkets. This process was decades in the making and while action to address the power of retailers is welcome, its probably too late. Unfortunately, the IFA campaign has also dragged up the long-running issue of milk from the South thats processed in Northern Ireland not being allowed to carry the National Dairy Councils coveted Farmed in the Republic of Ireland logo. The whole debate has the potential to become increasingly embarrassing not just for the IFA and NDC, but the wider agri-food sector. If were going to nitpick at the marketing and branding of Irish food products, should we also question the phrase Milk from Irish grass-fed cows slogan that sits on top of Kerrygolds logo? How would we react if German farmers questioned where the Kerrygold creamery was based? Lost in the debate is the fact that its a loss of farmer control over the product on the shelves thats being questioned at the moment. It begs the question, who is really calling the shots? It certainly doesnt seem to be the farmer any more. The Prime Minister says that Corpus Christi, also known as the "Day of Wreaths", is set aside on the Christian calendar to honour the Holy Eucharist which was observed at the last supper before Christ was crucified. [March 23, 2021] White Oak Healthcare MOB REIT Acquires 7 Medical Office Buildings in 5 States White Oak Healthcare MOB REIT today announces the acquisition of seven medical office buildings in five states. The seven assets total 67,110 SF and are 100% leased to Fresenius and DaVita affiliates. The acquisition includes five Fresenius facilities in Berwyn, Illinois, Columbia, South Carolina, Little Rock, Arkansas, Solon, Ohio, and Birmingham, Alabama; as well as two DaVita facilities in Rockford, Illinois. All are located within close proximity to major medical districts. The addition of these seven facilities diversifies the services offered in the medical office building REIT portfolio. Dr. David Lynn, President and Chief Investment Officer of White Oak Healthcare MOB Holdings who is leading the REIT said, "We are pleased to add Fresenius and DaVita, both investment grade companies on long term leases, to our portfolio of medical office buildings." About White Oak Healthcare MOB REIT & White Oak Healthcare Finance White Oak Healthcare MOB REIT is a vertically-integrated healthcare real estate investment platform with extensive capabilities in acquisitions, underwriting, research, asset management and capital markets. The REIT, primarily invests n Class A medical properties in close proximity to large healthcare facilities in primary and secondary markets. It is a business division of White Oak Healthcare Finance, LLC ("WOHCF"), an affiliate of White Oak Global Advisors, LLC. WOHCF is a lender to all subsectors within the healthcare industry including healthcare services, pharma and life sciences, medical devices, healthcare technology, healthcare real estate, hospitals and SNFs. WOHCF has deep domain expertise with a sole focus on healthcare which enables it to provide flexible and creative solutions with certainty of execution. WOHCF offers a differentiated product set including cash flow term loans, asset based loans and ABL Stretch facilities, unitranche facilities, last out financings, real estate financings, equipment financings and opportunistic investments. As a lender with large pools of capital to deploy, WOHCF generally holds its full loan positions to maturity. About White Oak Global Advisors White Oak Global Advisors, LLC ("WOGA") is a leading alternative debt manager specializing in originating and providing financing solutions to facilitate the growth, refinancing and recapitalization of small and medium enterprises. Together with its financing affiliates, WOGA provides over twenty lending products to the market, including term, asset-based, and equipment loans, to all sectors of the economy. Since its inception in 2007, WOGA has deployed over $8 billion across its product lines, utilizing a disciplined investment process that focuses on delivering risk-adjusted investment returns to investors while establishing long term partnerships with our borrowers. More information can be found at www.whiteoaksf.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005041/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] ExxonMobil Fawley will rent out some of its untenanted grazing land in the New Forest to young commoners at a reduced rate. The New Forest National Park remains one of the few places in England where the ancient tradition of commoning is still widely practised. However, the rising price of land in the area has made it difficult for commoners to find affordable back-up grazing, and for young commoners to establish themselves. In a new initiative helping to address the issue, ExxonMobil, which owns one of the UK's largest oil refineries in Fawley, Hampshire, will rent out its grazing land at a lower rate than usual. The first two commoners to benefit from the scheme, Daniel Drodge and Louise England, will rent land at Hardley Halt. New stock fencing, a mobile water tank and a holding pen has been installed at the 10-acre site. Daniel, 27, was born into a commoning family and has a herd of 12 New Forest ponies, which he hopes to extend over time. He will use the land at Hardley Halt for extra feed during the winter and bringing in mares and foals. Louise England and her partner Dan were gifted their first pony in 2014 and have slowly increased their herd since. She said: "We didnt want to expand our herd too much without having enough back-up ground, so when the opportunity came up to apply for grazing, we jumped at the chance. "I am excited for the future for new and young commoners if more affordable grazing like this will be able to be made available." ExxonMobil Fawley first considered how land outside of the Fawley operational footprint could be used following a land review. The New Forest Commoners Defence Association (NFCDA) was contacted to explore the full extent of the lands potential. The initiative advanced with ExxonMobil Fawley, the NFCDA, the New Forest National Park Authority and the New Forest Land Advice Service (NFLAS) working together. Julie Melin-Stubbs, Manager of NFLAS, said: "The two main areas of work for NFLAS come into play through this initiative: supporting commoning and encouraging sustainable, best practice land management to support nature and the environment. "Many of these sites will become better for nature once they are grazed." A graduating student wears a money lei at the Pasadena City College graduation in California in June 2019. ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images For-profit schools across the country have shut down in recent years due to fraudulent activity. The shutdowns left thousands of students with debt they're still struggling to pay off. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona canceled $1 billion in debt for about 72,000 students last week. See more stories on Insider's business page. Last week, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona canceled $1 billion in student loan debt for about 72,000 defrauded borrowers. The decision, his first major one as President Joe Biden's education chief, came after a series of investigations over the past decade of for-profit schools for engaging in fraudulent behavior related to federal loans. Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical Institute were the main institutions connected with the canceled debt, but others were similarly accused, according to a series of legal settlements. Since 2015, more than 200,000 defrauded students filed claims for a complete discharge of their loans, and the Education Department approved nearly 28,000 claims in the six-month period before January 2017. Yet under former President Donald Trump's education secretary, Betsy DeVos, claims processing slowed dramatically and in many cases halted. Cardona said the new process will streamline debt relief determinations for about 72,000 borrowers with approved claims to date. Under Cardona's new rule, anyone with a previously approved claim is now eligible for 100% student-loan forgiveness. Those who haven't submitted claims but believe they have been defrauded can apply for forgiveness on the borrower defense website. "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," House Education and Labor Committee Chair Bobby Scott 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 life-changing for tens of thousands of people across the country." Story continues Here's what Corinthian and ITT did, along with the other notable investigations of fraud among other major for-profit schools: Corinthian Colleges Founded in 1995, Corinthian Colleges once had more than 100 campuses across the country, with 74,000 students enrolled. In 2014, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accused it of illegally collecting high-interest private loans that it marketed to students. The CFPB's action coincided with the filing of more than 100 lawsuits in federal court about Corinthian's practices, and the company lost federal funding because of deceptive marketing and lying about its graduation rates, with high loan defaults being one result. It filed for bankruptcy protection in 2015. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts found in a 2016 investigation that 80,000 former Corinthian students are still under some form of debt collection from the government. When it shut down, the company was liable for $531 million in student loans. ITT Technical Institute In 2016, the government cut off ITT's access to millions of dollars in federal loans and grants, and the institution shut down shortly afterward, ending its 50-year history. The Securities and Exchange Commission had taken ITT to court in 2015 for deceiving investors about high rates of late payment and defaults on student loans. Last year, 48 state attorneys general and the CFPB secured more than $330 million in private student-loan forgiveness for 35,000 former ITT Tech students. Education Corporation of America Education Corporation of America was one the largest closures of a for-profit school after Corinthian and ITT Tech when it closed about 70 campuses across the country in 2018. A report released in 2018 by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training found ECA schools had failed to meet baseline standards for educational quality, did not communicate accurate information to students and regulators, and failed to equip students for employment in their fields. This came after ECA's accreditor, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (also the accreditor for Corinthian and ITT Tech), lost its federal recognition under the Obama administration in 2016. The closure came with little warning, and Education Department spokeswoman Liz Hill said in a statement at the time that instead of "taking the next few months to close in an orderly fashion, ECA took the easy way out and left 19,000 students scrambling to find a way to finish." The department said ECA students had the option to transfer to another school or apply for a loan discharge. Education Management Corporation At its peak, the Education Management Corporation operated 110 for-profit campuses across the country, and at its trough, it filed for bankruptcy in 2018. After a series of federal investigations related to fraud, unlawful recruiting of students, and misleading practices, EMC reached a $99.5 million settlement with the government in 2015. "This settlement should be a warning to other career colleges out there: We will not stand by while you profit illegally off of students and taxpayers," then-Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a statement. "The federal government will continue to work tirelessly with state attorneys general to ensure that all colleges follow the law." EMC also agreed to forgive $100 million in student loans as part of the settlement. The University of Phoenix The nation's largest for-profit chain, the University of Phoenix, agreed to a $191 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission in 2019 over claims of fraud and deceptive marketing. Starting in 2012, the university ran a series of ads that cited its partnerships with corporations like American Red Cross and Yahoo, but in reality, those companies had no curricular ties to the school and could not help with hiring. The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint in federal court asserting that the school had made "deceptive claims" relating to employment for military veterans. The university did not acknowledge wrongdoing in the settlement, and affected students were still required to pay off their loans, though they had the option to apply for debt relief under the borrower defense to repayment system, which allows borrowers to seek forgiveness on debt from fraudulent schools. In Cardona's action last week canceling $1 billion of debt, he also said the Education Department is seeking to reform this largely ineffective system, as it existed under former DeVos. Read the original article on Business Insider NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Essential Oils market will register an incremental spend of about USD 5.1 Billion, growing at a CAGR of 10.15% during the five-year forecast period. A targeted strategic approach to Essential Oils sourcing can unlock several opportunities for buyers. This report also offers market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Download free sample report Essential Oils Market Procurement Research Report Key Highlights Offered in the Report: Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices. Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models. Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers. Get a free sample report for more information Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers: Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Essential Oils market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Essential Oils pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as volume-based pricing, spot pricing, and cost-plus pricing and category management strategies and best practices to fulfill their category objectives. For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers, Click here. Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth: The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 3.2%-4.5%. Identify favorable opportunities in Essential Oils TCO (total cost of ownership). Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes. Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities. Some of the top Essential Oils suppliers listed in this report: This Essential Oils procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies. Story continues doTERRA International LLC Young Living Essential Oils Biolandes Sydney Essential Oil Co. Pty Ltd. The Lebermuth Co. Inc. FAROTTI SRL Moksha Lifestyle Products H.Reynaud & Fils Aromatika BV Jiangsu Taiyang Reducer Co. Ltd. To get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment, Subscribe Now for Free. Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix Get access to regular sourcing and procurement insights to our digital procurement platform- Contact Us. About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more: https://www.spendedge.com/request-for-demo Contacts SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SpendEdge Logo (PRNewsfoto/SpendEdge) Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-essential-oils-market-procurement-intelligence-report-with-covid-19-impact-analysis--global-market-forecasts-analysis-2021-2025--spendedge-301253376.html SOURCE SpendEdge The CM announced an increase in the gratuity ceiling for employees, at retirement, from Rs 12 lakh to Rs 16 lakh. This would benefit around 9,17,797 employees. (Photo: twitter @TelanganaCMO) Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Monday announced a 30 per cent fitment by way of a hike in basic salary for all state government employees and teachers. This is more than what was recommended by the 11th Pay Revision Commission (PRC). The new pay will be effective from April 1, 2021. The PRC had recommended only a 7.5 per cent fitment in its report presented in December last. The pay hike would put an additional burden of Rs 8,500 crore on the state exchequer. The retirement age has been increased for employees and teachers from 58 years to 61 with immediate effect. The aim is to utilize the services of experienced employees, thereby also fulfilling a TRS poll promise made during the 2018 assembly polls, the CM told the state assembly. The CM announced an increase in the gratuity ceiling for employees, at retirement, from Rs 12 lakh to Rs 16 lakh. This would benefit around 9,17,797 employees. For the first time in the state, the government decided to extend the benefits of the PRC recommendations to contract and outsourcing employees, home guards, Anganwadi and ASHAs (accredited social health activists), SERP (society for elimination of rural poverty) employees, Vidya volunteers, KGBV (Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya) and SSA (Sarva Siksha Andolan) employees, grant-in-aid, work charged and daily wage employees. The CM also announced the age-limit for providing the additional quantum of pension of 15 per cent for the employees from 75 years to 70 years. It has been decided to provide family pension to the families of employees covered under the contributory pension scheme in case of the untimely death of the employee. The government will facilitate inter-district transfers for government employee couples who work in different districts, so as to enable them to work in the same district. The CM said, "Government employees and teachers who played an inspirational role in achieving Telangana state are participating with the same commitment in the development of their own state. With their co-operation, the fruits of welfare and development are reaching the people. In view of this, the government is acting as an employee-friendly entity. It respects the rights of all employees. He said that after the formation of the state, the government had announced a special increment for employees in appreciation of the role they played in the statehood movement. In 2014, by revising the 10th pay scales and announcing the highest fitment of 43 per cent, the Telangana government showed the admiration it has for its employees. Explaining the 30 per cent fitment, the chief minister said: The coronavirus disaster had shattered the states economy. Due to the unexpected fiscal deficit, the 11th pay revision was delayed. In the present scenario of a recuperating economy, we are revising the 11th pay scale in a better manner that will cover all the employees and teachers in the state." In other decisions announced by the CM, the government will start the process of filling vacancies caused by promotions. By now, 80 per cent of the promotion process has been done and the government will complete it. After this, all eligible employees will get promotions. The government has constituted a steering committee with employees associations and government officials as stakeholders for evolving new modalities for the employees health scheme (EHS) as per the PRC recommendations. On the basis of seniority in the erstwhile undivided districts and managements wise, the government has decided to undertake promotions and transfers to eligible teachers. It will give permission to the Andhra Pradesh teachers who are working in the Telangana state to return to their home state. The government would provide 180 days maternity leave along with wages to the KGBV women staff. Though the state is facing a severe financial crisis, it has been decided to pay the PRC-related 12-month arrears to the employees, which will be paid along with their retirement benefits. More than two months after he was fully vaccinated against Covid, a doctor in New York woke up with a headache and a dull, heavy feeling of fatigue. A fever and chills soon followed, and his senses of taste and smell began to fade. This, he thought, could not be happening. But it was: He tested positive for the coronavirus. It was a huge shock, he said. He knew that no vaccine was perfect and that the Pfizer-BioNTech shots he received had been found 95 percent effective in a large clinical trial. But somehow in my mind, it was 100 percent, he said. The doctor, who requested anonymity to protect his privacy, is among the few reported cases of people who have been infected after being partly or even fully vaccinated. Nearly 83 million Americans have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, and its unclear just how many of them will have a breakthrough infection, though two new reports suggest the number is very small. One study found that just four out of 8,121 fully vaccinated employees at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas became infected. The other found that only seven out of 14,990 workers at UC San Diego Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles tested positive two or more weeks after receiving a second dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. Both reports, published on Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, show how well the vaccines work in the real world, and during a period of intense transmission. Two former British military chiefs today warned China and Russia will not be worried by the UK's new defence shake-up as they said troop cuts will mean the Armed Forces are 'less able to deploy to conflicts at scale'. Lord Richards and Lord Houghton, who both served as chief of the defence staff in the 2010s, expressed concerns about the Government's modernisation plans and wider defence and security strategy. Lord Richards, who held the role between 2010 and 2013, said cuts included in the Command Paper will leave the UK with a 'much smaller conventional force' while a reduction in the number of aircraft is 'worrying'. Lord Houghton, who held the role between 2013 and 2016, said cuts would mean 'reducing down to a sort of one-shot, quite long notice, not long sustainment set of armed forces'. He said the cuts, which include reducing the size of the British Army by 10,000 by 2025, will result in the UK being 'less able to deploy to conflicts at scale'. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace yesterday unveiled the Government's eagerly-awaited Command Paper, spelling out how ministers intend to modernise Britain's forces. The document was published one week after the Government released its overarching Integrated Review on foreign policy and security. The Defence Secretary faced an immediate backlash as he confirmed the cut to the British Army and claimed new technology means 'greater effect can be delivered by fewer people'. Lord Houghton (pictured left) and Lord Richards (pictured right), who both served as chief of the defence staff in the 2010s, expressed concerns about the Government's modernisation plans and wider defence and security strategy Both China and Russia are highlighted in the Integrated Review as threats to the UK. But Lord Richards said neither country will be worried about the shake-up unveiled by Mr Wallace yesterday. Asked if the countries will be concerned by what they read and whether the changes could prompt a change in behaviour, he told the Defence Select Committee: I dont think China will. 'Listening as best I can to friends of mine in the Far East to what they think of the [aircraft] carrier deployment, they are not worried about that in the slightest. And I suppose to me that poses risk without great strategic advantage. I would have preferred us to focus much more unequivocally on the Euro/Atlantic area, both in our maritime and land and air forces, freeing up American assets if necessary to focus on China on our collective behalf. I certainly dont think Russia is going to be worried by what we are doing. Itll see that we are going to have a much smaller conventional force. As I have said elsewhere, it could suddenly be an asymmetric attraction to those countries with very large armed forces to use those in a more traditional way while we neuter each other in the more sort of high tech areas.' The Command Paper signals a significant shift in the UK's approach to defence, with ministers investing billions of pounds in the technology of the future while retiring some of the nation's ageing aircraft and armoured vehicles, including the first tranche of Typhoon fighter jets by 2025. The RAF will lose a total of 114 manned aircraft as a slew of fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters will be phased out. But at least 6.6billion will be spent on research and development over the next four years to come up with 'next generation capabilities' which will include 'directed energy weapons and swarming drones'. More than 2billion will be invested over the next four years in the Future Combat Air System which is expected to deliver a mix of manned, unmanned and autonomous aircraft. Lord Houghton said reductions to conventional forces will harm the UK's ability to respond to potential major conflicts. He said: We appear to be reducing down to a sort of one-shot, quite long notice, not long sustainment set of armed forces. You have got to be sort of specific to contexts and scenarios to say could we do that, couldnt we do that. But I think it is one of the things that it looks like the result of this review in terms of the numbers that have been reduced in terms of straightforward platforms and boots on ground, that we are less able to deploy to conflicts at scale. Lord Richards warned 'there is a gap in the middle where we are vulnerable' between cutting conventional forces now and the future delivery of more modern capabilities. He said a lack of conventional forces could become a 'real problem', telling the committee: In that respect we are going to take a risk I think, particularly in the next 10 years, in the mid-20s I see a significant dip in conventional capability before the new capabilities have been properly grown. And in that period, an adventurous Russia - I am not suggesting it will try to seize Paris or Berlin - but might just be tempted to cause trouble by seizing a chunk of Estonia or one of the other Baltic states. That becomes a real problem for us. On the issue of reduced aircraft numbers, Lord Richards added: As far as the air is concerned, obviously the reduction in planned numbers of aircraft is worrying. The attrition rate of aircraft in war, proper war, high intensity conflict, can be considerable.' The British Army will see its numbers reduced from a target of 82,000 to 72,500 by 2025 Lord Richards said the UK's allies like the US 'will be disappointed' by the size of the army because the cut in troop numbers 'will have an effect on the army's ability in particular to mount and sustain operations of all kinds'. Mr Wallace yesterday hit out at critics for playing 'top trumps' over military numbers amid widespread criticism of the decision to reduce the size of the Army from 82,000 to 72,500. He said that 'as the threat changes, we must change with it' as he set out the Government's plans for a major overhaul of the Armed Forces which is designed to ensure it is 'truly threat-oriented'. Mr Wallace said: 'The army's increased deployability and technological advantage will mean that greater effect can be delivered by fewer people. 'I have therefore taken the decision to reduce the size of the Army from today's current strength of 76,500 trained personnel to 72,500 by 2025. 'The Army has not been at its established strength of 82,000 since the middle of the last decade. These changes will not require redundancies.' The cut to the size of the Army leaves Boris Johnson open to accusations of breaking a general election promise after he said in November 2019: 'We will not be cutting our armed services in any form. We will be maintaining the size of our armed services.' Vice President Kamala Harris commented on the shooting during the ceremonial swearing in for the new C.I.A. director, William J. Burns, in Washington on Tuesday morning. Its absolutely baffling, Ms. Harris said. Its 10 people going about their day, living their lives, not bothering anybody. A police officer who is performing his duties, and with great courage and heroism. Those who were inside the store on Monday described a chaotic scene. Quinlyn and Neven Sloan, 21-year-old newlyweds, had stopped into the store to pick up supplies for beef stroganoff when they heard the shooting. Ms. Sloan, a student at the University of Colorado, Boulder, said that at first she didnt recognize the noise. The couple had split up in the store he was in produce, she said, and she was standing in front of the dairy case when customers began running. It was muffled at first, she said, and I thought maybe someone had dropped something, but then it went again, probably about 15 to 20 shots, really fast. My husband came up and shoved me out the door, and yelled, Call 911! Then he ran back in to make sure a couple of older ladies who were in the aisles got out OK. Sprinting across the parking lot, she said, she hid behind a building, to be joined minutes later by her husband. Only then, she added, did they look down and realize that, because they hadnt bothered to use a cart, they had fled with their arms full of the meat, noodles and sherry they had intended to buy. Discovered by the folks over at Barn Finds , this Motocompo comes with only 500 miles (805 km) on it, which basically makes it brand-new. And needless to say, it looks sparkling clean on the outside, as well as under the motor cover.This particular example is finished in Shetland White, one of three colors offered by Honda back in the day. The other two are Daisy Yellow and Caribbean red. It's listed at $4,700, which isn't exactly a bargain for such a tiny scooter, but it's a collector's item you won't see very often here in the U.S.Honda sold fewer than 54,000 of these bikes from 1981 to 1983, and probably just a few of them made it no North America as grey import vehicles.Designed as a "trunk bike" that would fit into subcompact cars like the Honda City and Today, the Motocompo features folding handlebars, seat, and foot-pegs. All these fold into the rectangular plastic body, turning the scooter into a box-shaped thing that's only 46.7 inches long, 21.3 inches wide, and 9.4 inches tall (1,185 mm/540 mm/240 mm).Power came from a 49cc single-cylinder, two-stroke motor rated at just 2.5 horsepower. Top speed? Well, you'd probably need some serious wind in your back to hit more than 25 mph (40 kph).The Motocompo was marketed in conjunction with the tiny Honda City. The subcompact car's trunk was developed around the Motocompo, so it provided just enough room to fit a folded scooter . As a result, the Honda City was offered with an optional Motocompo in the luggage compartment.The Motocompo wasn't as successful as Honda had hoped. Honda's initial monthly projection was 10,000 units, but the Japanese company sold fewer than 3,000 per month. But despite its short production run of just two years, the Motocompo maintains a cult status, especially in Japan. ODENTON, Md., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstCall Medical Center is honored to partner with the State of Maryland to provide BAM/Etesvimab (monoclonal antibodies) for the treatment of high-risk COVID-19 patients. They are proud to be the only private company in Maryland working with the state to offer this lifesaving treatment to their community and their patients. FirstCall Medical Center Infusion Center This treatment is for patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are at high risk for hospitalization or decompensation. For those who qualify, the medication is free and the infusion treatment is typically covered by insurance. FirstCall Medical Center is the only center in Anne Arundel County to offer this type of infusion treatment. For physicians, the referral process is simple. FirstCall Medical Center houses its own private call center, which makes getting patients their treatments easy and convenient. Patients and/or health care professionals should call FirstCall Medical Center at (443) 459-1095 and information for treatment will be provided and the qualification process completed. This lifesaving treatment has been shown to keep high-risk patients with COVID-19 out of hospitals and from decompensating/getting worse from COVID-19. Media Contact: Ron Elfenbein, M.D. [email protected] 410-507-9698 SOURCE FirstCall Medical Center A Trenton man shot Monday night by federal agents during an undercover operation has been charged with attempted murder and robbery, authorities said. Jabree Johnson, 26, was shot after he allegedly demanded money from a federal agent sitting in a car about 9 p.m. in the lot of Krauszers Food Store in Hamilton Township, according to the Mercer County Prosecutors Office. The car had been occupied by two federal agents who were there as part of an undercover operation for the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to an affidavit of probable cause. When one of the agents got out of the car, Johnson who was wearing a black mask climbed in and pointed a handgun at the second agent and demanded money, according to the prosecutors office. The second agent threw a bundle of cash at Johnson, authorities said. The agent then fired shots at Johnson, the prosecutors office said. Jabree Johnson, 26, of TrentonMercer County Prosecutor's Office As the suspect exited the vehicle, he fired shots (back) at the agent before fleeing down Atlantic Avenue and out of sight, the prosecutors office said. A short time later, Johnson arrived at Capital Health Regional Medical Center with his white shirt soaked in blood, according to the prosecutors office. The hospital notified Trenton police, who sent a detective to the hospital. Johnson told the detective he had been shot in the area of Walnut Avenue and declined to provide further information, the prosecutors office said. But police said there had not been a report of shots fired in that area. They also said that Johnson had a large amount of cash with him. Video from the scene showed Johnson entering the undercover vehicle, pointing a gun and telling the undercover agent to hand over the money, according to the prosecutors office. The agent tossed a bundle of cash at Johnson, who then ordered the agent out of the car, according to the prosecutors office. At that point, the agent fired at Johnson, who also fired multiple times before running off, the prosecutors office said. No other injuries were reported. Johnson remained hospitalized in stable condition on Monday. He is charged with attempted murder, robbery, aggravated assault, resisting arrest and weapons offenses. The prosecutors office and New Jersey State Police are investigating the shooting at the direction of the state Attorney Generals Office. In 2017, Johnson was arrested on aggravated assault and weapons offenses after police alleged that he fired a shot at a man who argued with him. State prison records show Johnson served three years on weapons charges before he was released on Nov. 4, 2020. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. She was the surprise winner of the Best Actress Academy Awards at the 1999 Oscars. And in an interview with Anna Faris for the Mom star's podcast, Gwyneth Paltrow said she had found the attention that came with the win 'overwhelming'. 'I remember I was staying with my parents at their house in Santa Monica and I just kind of hid for three weeks afterward,' she said. 'It was so intense.' Emotional moment: Gwyneth Paltrow said Monday that she found her 1999 Best Actress Oscar win for Shakespeare In Love 'overwhelming' and 'intense' Paltrow was 26 when she took home Hollywood's top honor for her leading role in Shakespeare In Love. She'd celebrated her big night with her father, director Bruce Paltrow, and her mother, actress Blythe Danner. Looking back now, Paltrow, 48, described the whole Oscar experience as 'really strange' and 'lonely.' 'In L.A. everybody was so supportive,' Paltrow said on Monday's episode of Anna Faris Is Unqualified. 'I remember winning and feeling like the tide sort of turned and there was this feeling of when you have that much attention on you and that much energy, it was really, really overwhelming.' Candid: Paltrow was 26 when she took home Hollywood's top honor. Looking back now, the actress, 48, described the whole Oscar experience as 'really strange' and 'lonely' (pictured with her father, director Bruce Paltrow) Recollections: 'I remember I was staying with my parents at their house in Santa Monica and I just kind of hid for three weeks afterward,' she said on Monday's episode of Anna Faris' podcast (pictured with dad Bruce and her mom, actress Blythe Danner) Winner: Paltrow beat out fellow nominees Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth; Fernanda Montenegro for Central Station; Meryl Streep for One True Thing; and Emily Watson for Hilary and Jackie And while she'd been the focus of a very high profile Oscar campaign for Shakespeare in Love by Harvey Weinstein and Miramax, Paltrow insists she never expected to win. 'It was the weirdest most surreal time,' the actress explained. 'You're also kind of embarrassed that you're nominated for an Oscar and you have imposter syndrome and you think, 'I can't even believe this is happening. I'm not even that good. Does everybody hate me?'' 'I was kind of like, 'Well, of course, I'm not going to win but it's kind of cool, too,' she added. Paltrow beat out fellow nominees Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth; Fernanda Montenegro for Central Station; Meryl Streep for One True Thing; and Emily Watson for Hilary and Jackie. She's now focused more on her GOOP lifestyle brand than her acting career these days. Most recently she's been seen on the big screen as Pepper Pots in the MCU and on the small screen in the Netflix series The Politician. Successful: Paltrow is now focused more on her GOOP lifestyle brand than her acting career these days. Most recently she's been seen on the big screen as Pepper Pots in the MCU and on the small screen in the Netflix series the Politician LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / GB Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB:GBLX) and its Spanish research partners at the Universidad de Sevilla (USE) are pleased to announce the publication of a new scientific paper describing the creation of terpene-containing nanoparticles for use in the treatment of pain. In the journal Industrial Crops and Products, this study entitled "Development of Enhanced Drug Delivery Vehicles for Three Cannabis-Based Terpenes Using Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) Based Nanoparticles" was published by GB Sciences' own Chief Science Officer, Dr. Andrea Small-Howard, with co-authors Dr. Mazen M. El-Hammadi, Dr. Mercedes Fernandez-Arevalo, and Dr. Lucia Martin-Banderas from the Innovative Nanomedicine Group (I+DNanomed) at the Universidad de Sevilla (USE) in Spain. "First of their kind, the development of suitable drug delivery systems for terpenes is a considerable challenge from a technological point of view. Terpenes are small, highly volatile, very lipophilic, and unstable molecules. This is an example of how nanomedicines can offer an elegant solution for the administration of these efficacious molecules and open up new opportunities for their use as a pain medicine," explained Dr. Lucia Martin-Banderas of USE. "Because terpenes have high therapeutic potential, which has been demonstrated by GB Sciences and others, this research represents an important advance in the creation of novel terpene-containing pharmaceutical products for pain that will potentially deliver relief over time in a more efficient manner," said Dr. Mercedes Fernandez-Arevalo of USE. The novel methods, as described in this study, for producing time-released, terpene-containing nanoparticles are patent-pending in a joint application by GB Sciences and USE. In 2020, GB Sciences also received a US Patent that protects these myrcene-containing, optimized therapeutic mixtures for use in the treatment of pain. In the US alone, chronic pain represents an estimated health burden of between $560 and $650 billion dollars, and an estimated 20.4% of U.S. adults suffer from chronic pain that significantly decreases their quality of life. Despite the widespread rates of addiction and death, opioids remain the standard of care treatment for most people with chronic pain. "GB Sciences is proud to be working with USE on the creation of more effective pain relief options for those patients that need them desperately. GB Sciences and USE have created terpene-containing nanoparticles, which are central to GB Sciences' time-released pain formulations," explained Dr. Andrea Small-Howard of GB Sciences. "These nanoparticles are currently in animal trials at the NRC Canada, in preparation for an IND-filing for a US FDA-registered clinical trial." About GB Sciences, Inc. and GBS Global Biopharma, Inc. GB Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB:GBLX), through their Canadian entity, GBS Global Biopharma, Inc., is a phytomedicine research and biopharmaceutical drug development company whose goal is to create patented formulations of plant-inspired, optimized therapeutic mixtures that target a variety of medical conditions. https://gbsciences.com. About Universidad de Sevilla Universidad de Sevilla (USE) is an institution with more than five centuries of history, with an accredited academic tradition, and with recognition as an International Campus of Excellence. All of our qualifications are adapted to the European Higher Education Area and cover all areas of knowledge that provide a public higher education service through study, teaching and research, as well as the generation, development and dissemination of knowledge at the service of Society and Citizenship. USE has made an important effort to improve its research facilities and scientific equipment, which has made it possible to be a Center for Research Excellence that answers public calls for research, engages in collaborations with companies, and creates an important patent portfolio. Our Campus model is integrated into the city of Sevilla, unfolding in several urban areas and contributing to the vibrancy of the city. www.us.es Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain statements relating to future results or events, which are forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import may identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the Company's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. It is possible that the Company's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Further, information concerning the Company and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's business and financial and other results, are contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which we hereafter become aware. CONTACT: GB Sciences, Inc., 3550 West Teco Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89118 1-866-721-0297 info@gbsciences.com MEDIA CONTACT: Alexis Quintal alexis@newswire.com SOURCE: GB Sciences View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636876/GB-Sciences-Publishes-Study-on-Creation-of-Novel-Terpene-Containing-Nanoparticles-for-Pain-Relief Coral reefs off Cham Island have been well conserved with an average coverage of 59.16 per cent at seven sites following an annual reef check and coral clean-up programme. A diver collects waste at coral in the water off Cham Island. Coral population in the area was recorded well protected. Photo courtesy of Cham Island MPA The management board of the Cham Island Maritime Protected Area (MPA) said coral population at the islets off Dai, Kho, La, Mo, Tai, Dau Tai and Xep beaches were seen as the best protected, while key species (living in coral reefs) including grouper and holothurian remained from five to 22 individuals per 100 sq. Meanwhile, starfish and other coral eating species were rarely found during the check programme in early March. However, plastic waste such as ghost nets and fishing lines still occupied 71.4 per cent of total waste collected. Plastic waste including ghost nets and fishing lines is cleaned up in the water of Cham Island during an annual coral check. Photo courtesy Cham Island MPA According to MPA, sea grass coverage was 16.24 per cent 10.2 per cent lower than 2019 check but only areas off the Bac beach recorded the highest rate of well preserved with 34.24 per cent. The MPA warned the excessive travel of speed boats and mass tourism had left harmful sediment on sea grass over past years. Experts from the MPA said less mass tourism activities and waste around the Cham Islands a world biodiversity reserve site would help the marine ecosystem in waters off the islands recover. They said more than 2,700 groups of coral species had been planted over 2,000sq.m in waters off the Cham Island in a pilot project from 2015-17, and coral groups have been well developed with a survival ratio ranging between 52 and 99 per cent. The rapid development of coral reefs will shelter fish and aquatic species from natural disasters. Cham island-Hoi An, which was recognised as a World Biosphere Reserve in 2009, is seen as one of few places in Vietnam successfully campaigning against plastic bags and promoting 3-R programmes. It plans to build as the first zero waste site in Vietnam. The reserve covers more than 33,000ha, including 1,500ha of tropical forests and 6,700ha of sea, featuring a wide range of marine fauna and flora. VNS Ecosystem off Cham Islands recovers after COVID-19 Less tourism activities and waste around the Cham Islands a world biodiversity reserve site would help the marine ecosystem in waters off the islands recover after the two-month social distancing order due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Union leaders are concerned about the governments decision to allow employers and employees to decide whether to take the Khmer New Year holidays in April. This could cause friction on the factory floor and also put workers at risk of contracting the disease if they choose to travel. The Cambodian government issued a directive on March 21 allowing for workplaces to take the Khmer New Year holidays from April 14 to 16, or for employers and employees to utilize the holidays at a later date, such as during the Pchum Ben holidays in October. Last year, the government canceled the holidays and enforced a soft travel ban on people leaving Phnom Penh for the provinces. The Khmer New Year break was taken in August. Cambodia is currently facing its worst community transmission incident with more than 1,000 cases have been reported since February 20 and five deaths. Pav Sina, the president of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, said it's likely employers and employees could disagree on when to take the holidays, and it would have been preferable for the government to decide. During this COVID-19 crisis, I think that if we don't determine it decisively there's a risk of dispute, Pav Sina said. I think that despite holding talks with the employers, the garment workers are bound to take leave [for Khmer New Year]. He said factory owners would prefer workers to not travel for the annual holiday due to the high chance of employees getting infected when returning to the factory. If they see any workers are infected, their factory will face suspension. Thus, this would impact the production chain and cause losses for them, Pav Sina added. Cambodia has shut down theaters, museums, performance venues, internet cafes, gymnasiums to curb the spread of the virus. The government has asked 90 percent of its employees to work from home and asked private firms to do the same. Ath Thun, president of the Cambodian Labor Confederation, said workers who traveled for the holidays risked getting infected with COVID-19, and that the government should take firm steps to ensure their safety. There will be risks if they travel in taxis with a lot of passengers or join any gatherings with no intention for hygiene, such as wearing masks, washing their hands, or maintaining social distancing, he said. Ken Loo, general-secretary at the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, said it was up to each factory and their workers to decide on whether to take the holiday next month. It depends on each enterprise. We don't know if the workers want to work or not, he said. Do you need a PC thats dead simple to set up and does everything you need at a price that wont send you spiraling into bankruptcy? Right now, Amazon is selling a 14-inch HP Chromebook for $200. Thats about $50 off the usual price and an all-around excellent deal. This laptop features a 14-inch display with 1366-by-768 resolution, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of onboard storage. Theres also a media card reader if you need additional storage, and the laptop includes one year of 100GB of Google One storage for free. If you want a higher-resolution display, a version of this laptop with a 1080p screen is on sale for $260. In addition to the media card reader, HPs Chromebook includes dual USB Type-C ports that support USB 3.1 Gen 1 speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second. There are also two USB 2.0 ports, and a headphone jack. HP loaded this laptop with a 2.2GHz AMD dual-core A4-9120 processor and says the Chromebook offers up to 9 hours and 15 minutes of battery life with mixed usage. It also supports the Google Play Store and can run Linux desktop apps for those times only an old school program will do. Chromebooks are simply wonderful if you dont need heavy hardware. They offer immense browser-based utility, and getting started with one is as simple as signing in with your Google account. Theyre affordable tooespecially with todays deal. [Todays deal: HP 14-inch Chromebook with AMD processor for $200.] New Delhi [India], March 23 (ANI): As part of Mission Sagar-IV, Indian Naval ship Jalashwa arrived at Port Ehoala, Madagascar on Monday to deliver a consignment of one thousand Metric Tonne of rice and one lakh Hydroxychloroquine tablets in response to an appeal made by Madagascar for assistance to deal with natural calamities. "An official ceremony for handing over the aid from the Government of India to the Government of Madagascar was held today," read the release by the Ministry of Defence. The ceremony was attended by Christian Ntsay, the Prime Minister of Madagascar; Jerry Hatrefindrazana, Governor of Anosy Region and Georges MamyRandrianiaina, Mayor of Fort Dauphin. The Indian side was represented by Abhay Kumar, Ambassador of India to Madagascar and Captain Pankaj Chauhan, Commanding Officer INS Jalashwa. This is the second visit of an Indian Navy ship to the island country within a span of one year. Earlier, as part of Mission Sagar-I, In May-June 2020, the Indian Navy had delivered essential medicines to the nation. INS Jalashwa's visit is in keeping with India's response to the disasters that have struck Madagascar in the past year. The outreach by the Government of India aims to help Madagascar tide over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and severe drought that they have been facing. 'Mission Sagar' builds on the excellent relations existing between the two countries to battle the natural calamities and its resultant difficulties. The deployment also resonates with the vision of our Prime Minister of Security and Growth for All in the Region 'SAGAR' and highlights the importance accorded by India to relations with the countries in the IOR. The operation is being progressed in close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, and other agencies of the Government of India. (ANI) 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. Families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 will soon be able to apply for funds to help cover funeral expenses. As part of COVID-19 relief Congress recently passed, $2 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds will be available to reimburse eligible families up to $7,000 each in funeral expenses. The program is retroactive and applies to funerals that took place after Jan. 20, 2020, FEMAs website indicates. FEMA is working on guidelines for the program and expects to have a toll-free number people can call for assistance beginning in April. Jeff OKeefe Jr., president of Bradford-OKeefe Funeral Homes on the Mississippi Coast, said he has seen families caught off guard by unexpected COVID-19 deaths. They are not always prepared for funeral expenses. I think the FEMA program, in offering assistance, is huge, he said. Thats why Im excited about helping get the word out. He said Bradford-OKeefe will include a link to FEMA assistance information on its website. 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 WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR FEMA FUNERAL ASSISTANCE? The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020. There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien. WHAT IS NEEDED TO QUALIFY FOR COVID-RELATED FUNERAL EXPENSES? An official death certificate that attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. Funeral expenses documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include the applicants name, the deceased persons name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates of the funeral expenses. Proof of funds received from other sources that covered funeral costs. FEMA will not duplicate benefits already received from burial or funeral insurance, nonprofit or government agencies or other sources. SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Linux Foundation , the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, along with co-host the TODO Group , an open group of organizations who collaborate on practices, tools and other ways to run successful and effective open source programs and projects, has opened its Call for Proposals for OSPOCon . The event will take place September 29 October 1 in Dublin, Ireland, alongside Open Source Summit + Embedded Linux Conference 2021 . The TODO Group has also launched an OSPO Landscape as a resource for the community to learn more about OSPOs. The community is encouraged to contribute to the landscape. OSPOCon is a new event, dedicated to those working to create a center of competency for open source in their organizations in order to join together to overcome challenges through sharing experiences, best practices, and tooling. Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs) face many obstacles, such as ensuring high-quality and frequent releases, engaging with developer communities, and contributing back to other projects effectively. Collaborating together with others working on the same concerns helps the entire ecosystem improve. "I am thrilled to be a part of the inaugural OSPOCon and see it brought to life to support the many hardworking and dedicated people involved in creating and sustaining OSPOs," said Chris Aniszczyk, co-founder of the TODO Group and CTO at The Linux Foundation. "The impact OSPOs are having grows every day as they become a strategic function for organizations, from companies to governments to research institutions. Their contributions are tremendously valued and we look forward to furthering their abilities to collaborate, grow, and learn from each other." Proposals to speak at OSPOCon are being accepted now through June 13 at 11:59pm PDT. Submission types requested include: Session Presentation (~40-50 minutes in length) Panel Discussion (~40-50 minutes in length) Birds of a Feather Session (BoFs are typically held in the evenings, (~45 minutes 1 hour in length) Tutorial (~1.5 hours in length) Lightning Talk (~5-10 minutes in length) Suggested Topics include: Open Source Program Management Creation and Best Practices of Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs) Consuming and Contributing to Open Source Managing Competing Corporate Interests while Driving Coherent Communities How to Vet the Viability of OS Projects Internal vs External Developer Adoption Handling License Obligations in Organizations Open Source Corporate Sustainability All interested parties are welcome to submit proposals. Those submitting will be notified of a decision by Thursday, July 22. To learn more and/or submit, please click here . OSPOCon will be presented as a hybrid event - attendees can join and participate in person or virtually. Registration will open in late Spring 2021. To receive an email alert when registration opens, please click here . The Linux Foundation provides diversity and need-based registration scholarships for this event to anyone that needs it; for information on eligibility please click here . Visit our website and follow us on Twitter , Facebook , and LinkedIn for all the latest event updates and announcements. Sponsor: OSPOCon offers two sponsorship levels for your consideration, Co-host and Supporter. To see all sponsorship benefits, please click here or email us here . Members of the press who would like to request a media pass should contact Kristin O'Connell . About The Linux Foundation The Linux Foundation is the organization of choice for the world's top developers and companies to build ecosystems that accelerate open technology development and industry adoption. Together with the worldwide open source community, it is solving the hardest technology problems by creating the largest shared technology investment in history. Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation today provides tools, training and events to scale any open source project, which together deliver an economic impact not achievable by any one company. More information can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org . The Linux Foundation Events are where the world's leading technologists meet, collaborate, learn and network in order to advance innovations that support the world's largest shared technologies. The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage . Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Media Contact: Kristin O'Connell The Linux Foundation [email protected] SOURCE The Linux Foundation Related Links https://www.linuxfoundation.org (Natural News) One of the worst abuses of power during the Obama regime was his administrations weaponization of federal financial regulatory agencies against law-abiding businesses that were hated by the left. They included gun stores and makers, payday loan lenders, pawn shops, and other mom-and-pop shops that Obama just didnt like. His regime targeted those owners through a program called Operation Choke Point, which then-President Donald Trump ended shortly after he took office. In fact, his Justice Department declared the program formally over in 2017, and before Trump left office, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued a Fair Access rule that instructed large banks to ensure they provide equal access to financial services for businesses and individuals regardless of political considerations. But lo and behold, Joe Bidens left-wing handlers have instructed the OCC to forestall the rule with, it looks like, an eye toward reviving it which means the very same businesses, but especially gun stores and gun makers, are going to be targeted once again by anti-Second Amendment Marxists in his regime. This time, however, if banks shut their doors to gun dealers and makers, one man hopes to offer them a financial alternative: Cryptocurrency. The Free Beacon reports: Since Democrats took full control of the government last month, a proposed rule that would protect businesses such as the firearms industry has been scuttled, opening the possibility that companies will see their financial services cut off. Rob McNealy, a Second Amendment supporter, created the Universal Settlement Coin (TUSC), a cryptocurrency that focuses on providing the firearms industry with a tool that would allow gun stores and firearm-related manufacturers to provide goods and services completely outside of the banking industry. Increasingly, cryptocurrencies are gaining favor with people who dont want to be targeted or abused by traditional financial institutions, all of which seem to believe these days that some people dont deserve to function in our society. They are ideal for libertarians and individualists, then, because they operate completely free of legacy financial organs like banks and savings and loans. As such, people who use cryptocurrencies cant be canceled by banks and left-wing presidents. (Related: Sheila Jackson-Lee demands a national gun ownership database that would expose your home address to criminals nearby.) In fact, it was Operation Choke Point that drove McNealy to develop his TUSC, the Free Beacon reported, because even though Trump ended the program, many banks continued to illegally deny services to gun owners because they were being pressured by anti-gun activists. No one thought wed see the de-platforming we do today, McNealy said. Spike Tactical, a Florida gunmaker, was one company that was impacted by Operation Choke Point fanaticism. The business was kicked off of its e-commerce supplier, Shopify, and was informed by its bank to find another financial services provider. Cryptocurrencies will help him stay in business and avoid the targeting. Id urge a lot of the gun companies to look at crypto, Leleux said. McNealy added that his coin is really suited for brick-and-mortar businesses because transfers are easy and transaction fees are stable. Gun stores really took it on the chin during the Obama years. Were being threatened with a regulatory regime that attempts to foist on us the obligation to monitor all types of transactions, predicated on the notion that the banks are a choke point for all businesses, American Bankers Association Senior Vice President Richard Riese said in May 2014. We are one of the most heavily regulated industries in America, Joe Sirochman of American Spirit Arms in Scottsdale, Ariz., told the Washington Times. We have to ship our guns to another federally licensed dealer for pickup. The people who pick up the rifles have to go through a background check to make sure they dont have any felonies. You cant own a gun or pass the background check if you do. See more reporting like this at Guns.news. Sources include: WashingtonTimes.com FreeBeacon.com Liberty.news Money for other Democratic candidates, causes too: Pritzker indicated the money will be used to fend off Republicans. With embattled former House Speaker Michael Madigan exiting as chairman of the state Democratic Party, Pritzker will be counted upon more heavily to help fund party efforts to maintain Democratic supermajorities in the Illinois House and Senate, Pearson points out in a piece he wrote about the campaign money on Friday night. In the final three months of 2020, Pritzker doled out nearly $700,000 from his campaign fund. Read the story, including the recipients of the $700,000, here. Enabling shoppable livestreams to accelerate delivery on digital transformation goals. STOCKHOLM, March 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --A Bambuser today announced the extension of its Live Video Shopping platform with a globally-known, multinational Japanese cosmetics group. The new agreement follows a successful pilot activation which included five brands between July 2020 and February 2021. The new agreement allows all of the group's brands in all markets to leverage Bambuser's robust platform for shoppable livestreams as part of a digitally-driven growth strategy. "We created Bambuser's Live Video Shopping technology to help brands and retailers offer engaging, exciting and impactful shopping experiences in a way that is more robust and enterprise-ready than were the social shopping livestreams that first gained popularity in Asia," said Maryam Ghahremani, CEO of Bambuser. "We are honored to be the partner of choice for one of the most esteemed beauty companies in the world, and we look forward to helping them achieve their goals." The agreement initially runs for 12 months, starting March 2021, and is based on a combination of fixed and variable costs. The variable monthly revenue cannot be estimated in advance as it depends on a combination of a number of different parameters such as usage, number of brands, countries and regions. As a result, Bambuser cannot today assess the size of the contract value. This is information that Bambuser AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was sent for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out below, on March 22, 2021. Contact information Maryam Ghahremani, CEO | +46 8 400 160 02 | ir@bambuser.com or visit bambuser.com/ir Bambuser is a software company specializing in interactive live video streaming. The Company's primary product, Live Video Shopping, is a cloud-based software solution that is used by customers such as global e-commerce and retail businesses to host live shopping experiences on websites, mobile apps and social media. Bambuser was founded in 2007 and has its headquarters in Stockholm. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/bambuser/r/bambuser-signs-contract-with-japanese-multinational-company,c3307790 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/15749/3307790/1390979.pdf Release A Starting next week, all adults in Texas will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. But in Laredo a third of the population age 65 and older the most vulnerable in the community still have not received even their first dose. Laredo Health Director Richard Chamberlain said the city will continue to prioritize people age 65 and older, and the state is asking all vaccine providers to prioritize inoculating patients age 80 and older, even if they do not have an appointment. The city will also be relying on community partners such as churches and other organizations to help identify the vulnerable populations that still need to be vaccinated, said Emergency Management Coordinator and Fire Chief Guillermo Heard. The city has gone to the homes of over 1,700 homebound patients to administer their vaccine, and last week the citys new Health Equality Assurance Response Team vaccinated 250 people who do not have access to phone service or the internet. This week theyre set to vaccinate another 450 people through this HEART program, Heard said. Also, every weekday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., 50 people who do not have internet access will be able to register in person for a vaccine appointment at the Sames Auto Arena. Chamberlain said they want to see more than 70% of Laredoans age 65 and older vaccinated, but cited data from the Department of State Health Services that about 30% of Texans are hesitant to get the vaccine. Public health experts believe that in order to reach herd immunity in Texas, essentially all adults will need to be vaccinated. Its been two weeks since Gov. Greg Abbott did away with the states mask mandate and occupancy requirements, and in that time new cases and hospitalizations in Laredo have remained low. Twenty-three new COVID-19 cases were announced Tuesday, making the number of active cases in Webb County 91. There are 18 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, six of whom are in intensive care. The last time hospitalizations were so low was in early June 2020. As of March 21, Laredos hospitalization rate was 5%, according to DSHS. However local officials do not believe Laredo will be out of the woods for another surge until three weeks after Spring Break, when more people gathered than usual. Laredo Health Authority Dr. Victor Trevino commended Laredoans for continuing to wear their masks and most businesses that are continuing to enforce mask usage. It is a good sign that we still do not have tremendous surges, but we have to wait a little bit more, Trevino said. In the last week, 3,497 people in Webb County have taken a COVID-19 test, and 2.6% have been positive. Across the county as of Tuesday, 19.4% of residents age 16 and older are fully vaccinated and another 19.8% have received their first shot. Another death was reported Tuesday, a woman in her early 80s who passed away on Feb. 11. This marks the 814th death in the community. Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com Hong Kong: SJ reaffirms sentencing principles Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng In a criminal trial, prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DoJ) play an important role in the process of sentencing. They are not only in charge of the prosecution, but also duty bound to assist the courts in imposing appropriate penalties and avoiding appealable errors. Sentencing is an essential part of the administration of criminal justice, which is exercised by the courts independent judicial power. In the event that a defendant is convicted upon his or her own plea or is found guilty after trial, it is the courts duty to impose an appropriate sentence, after taking into account the relevant sentencing principles, the circumstances of the offence and the background of the offender etc. In accordance with established principles, a prosecutor shall, if appropriate and necessary, provide information to the sentencing court including previous relevant appellate court decisions. However, according to case law, a prosecutor should not attempt by advocacy to influence the court in relation to the quantum of sentence (AG v Jim Chong-shing (1990)1 HKLR 131). This point may be discussed further as it has attracted some different views including from the sentencing court. After a judge or magistrate has imposed a sentence, the DoJ will carefully consider all materials of the case including the report of the prosecutor, the relevant sentencing principles and the reasons for sentence etc. If the sentence is not authorised by law, is wrong in principle, or is manifestly excessive or manifestly inadequate, the DoJ may take the case further. For example, the Secretary for Justice may, with leave of the Court of Appeal, apply to the Court of Appeal, under section 81A of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap 221), for review of the sentence. The DoJ made six and four such applications in 2018 and 2019 respectively, compared with 17 in 2020, all but one of which related to the radical protests and street violence in 2019 stemmed from the so-called anti-extradition amendment bill incident. It is noteworthy that the Court of Appeal has heard and decided a total of 15 applications (public order events) since 2020. All these applications were allowed by the Court of Appeal setting out detailed reasons and principles for its decisions in the judgments. For example, the first application was a case of desecration of the national flag. Having carefully considered all the materials, it was concluded that the sentence by the trial magistrate was wrong in principle and manifestly inadequate. The Court of Appeal allowed the application and set out the following factors that ought to be taken into account when sentencing: (1) Actual acts to the national flag: the desecration caused, brought about or inflicted. (2) Circumstances surrounding the desecration of the national flag: if the acts have provoked others at the scene to commit other offences, this will aggravate the seriousness of the offence. (3) Premeditated or planned: if so, culpability is higher. (4) Joint enterprise with others: if so, culpability is higher. Even if others were only agitated to join in the course of the crime committed, joint enterprise still applies. (5) Persistent desecration of the national flag: it is an aggravating factor. (6) The source of the national flag: if the national flag was obtained unlawfully, this will aggravate the seriousness of the offence. Other applications were mostly cases in relation to unlawful assemblies and violent acts. Some of the more important principles as highlighted in the judgments are outlined here so as to give the general public a better understanding. The Court of Appeal in various cases reiterated the sentencing principles as set out in the Wong Chi Fung case, which may be briefly summarised into four areas: (1) The importance of the need for punishment and deterrence: the Court of Final Appeal reaffirmed the Court of Appeal that when a large number of demonstrators are gathered, emotions are likely to run high, or the crowd may even become agitated, so that these situations have the inherent risk of breaking out into violence and [o]n the basic premise that public order must be maintained, and taking into account the gravamen of the offence of unlawful assembly, the court, in passing sentence, not only has to impose a penalty that is appropriate to the punishment of the offenders, but it also has to take into account the factor of deterrence. That is to say, a sentence must not only seek to prevent the offenders from reoffending, but also to give a warning to deter others from violating the law by breaking and disrupting public order in like manner. The Court of Final Appeal also held that unlawful assemblies involving violence, even at a relatively low degree, will not be condoned and may justifiably attract sentences of immediate imprisonment in the future. (2) The principle in (1) also applies to non-violent unlawful assemblies: to rigidly distinguish a violent or non-violent unlawful assembly in imposing punishment is impractical and in violation of the sentencing principles. (3) Emboldenment effect: if an offence is committed in public enticing others to join or have an emboldenment effect, an uproar was caused in the crowd and other offences were committed as a result, these are aggravating factors to be taken into account when sentencing. (4) Young offenders: the Court of Appeal in the case of Secretary for Justice v SWS stressed that [i]f, as a matter of public interest, the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances of the case call for a heavy or deterrent sentence, the offenders young age and personal background would count very little or even pale into insignificance because the need for a punitive or deterrent sentence far outweighs the rehabilitative need of the offender. Sentencing principles inform how sentencing is to be imposed. This is particularly important in the common law system where judgments of the higher courts bind the lower courts and where the power and duty to sentence is vested in the independent judiciary in exercise of the judicial discretion in accordance with law. In some cases, the Court of Appeal sees the need to reiterate that principles must be actually followed instead of just quoting the Wong Chi Fung case and not applying it. The judgments pointed out that [t]he court shall act on the premise of maintaining public order, and [t]he Court of Appeal in Chung Ka Ho case once again extracted the legal principles in the Wong Chi Fung case to remind all parties concerned of the need to consider the gravamen seriously instead of just paying lip service to it. Every now and then, one sees in media reports that young defendants pleaded guilty and hence convicted before the trial court. A guilty plea will reduce the sentence to be imposed but the convicted person will still have a criminal record that may affect their future, for instance when looking for jobs. Had they admitted the offence and expressed remorsefulness upon their arrest, in appropriate circumstances, Police could have considered exercising Police Superintendents discretion without bringing the cases to court. Needless to say, a number of factors have to be taken into consideration by Police which include: whether the juvenile offender was under the age of 18 at the time of committing the offence; the seriousness and nature of the offence; whether the offender voluntarily and unequivocally admits the offence; whether the offender is remorseful etc. Legal representatives have a legal duty to protect the rights of these young offenders and to advise them of the merits of their cases but also the consequences of a conviction in court, namely the criminal record and the sentence. In any event, the Police Superintendents Discretion Scheme has been explained many times by the Government and the public should be better informed of these matters now. In addition to taking legal advice, one should carefully consider all other relevant information in order to make an appropriate decision. Prosecutors of the DoJ take on the responsibility to ensure that justice is dispensed with equal measure and in an even handed manner at all times. Our prosecutors will continue to discharge duties with professionalism. Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng wrote this article and posted it on the Department of Justice website on March 23. This story has been published on: 2021-03-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Polly 'PJ' Harding has quit KIIS 101.1 Melbourne breakfast show Jase & PJ. She broke down in tears on Wednesday as she told listeners that resigning was 'one of the hardest decisions' she'd ever made. PJ is returning to her native New Zealand after a 'challenging' year which saw her 'priorities change' after getting engaged. Resigning: Polly 'PJ' Harding (pictured) has quit KIIS 101.1 Melbourne breakfast show Jase & PJ She will be finishing up in June. Her co-host for the past six years, Jason Hawkins, is not leaving the program. KIIS 101.1 has yet to announce PJ's replacement, but it's rumoured the network may hire former AFL star Dane Swan, who is already a regular contributor to the show. Other candidates include 3pm Pick-Up host Kate Langbroek and Nine personality Lauren Phillips, who presents Jase & PJ's summer fill-in show. Staying: PJ's co-host for the past six years, Jason Hawkins (pictured), is not leaving the show Stepping in? KIIS has yet to announce PJ's replacement, but it's rumoured the network may hire former AFL star Dane Swan (pictured), who is already a regular contributor to the show PJ explained that being separated from her family and fiance in New Zealand during the Covid-19 pandemic last year had taken a toll. She got engaged in December to her long-term partner, known only as 'Beej', but hasn't been living with him because she works in Melbourne. In addition to the pressure of a long-distance relationship, she lost her father in 2019. 'It's not been an easy decision to make but I know for me it's the right one and will kickstart a brand new chapter,' she said. 'I will miss Jase and the whole team so much, but rest assured we will definitely stay in contact as Jase is adamant to be my head bridesmaid.' Teamwork: The Jase and PJ partnership began six-and-a-half years ago when they joined forces to host a drive show in New Zealand Jason revealed it had been distressing watching PJ struggle behind the scenes over the last 12 months, saying she would often be in tears during ad breaks. 'There were mornings where we'd be in an ad break and you're in tears and you looked at me like, "I'm only staying here at the moment for you,'" he said. PJ agreed she was reluctant to resign because she felt like she'd be letting Jason down, but ultimately she had to focus on her own happiness. Her exit comes after a string of staff departures at the Jase & PJ show. Kiwi imports: They moved to Australia in late 2017 to host KIIS 101.1's breakfast slot, replacing axed duo Matt Tilley and Meshel Laurie Imaging producers Toni Lodge and Jaxson McLennan quit this month, senior content producer Rami Mustafa left last year, and former executive producer Alex Perigo moved back to New Zealand in February. The Jase and PJ partnership began six-and-a-half years ago when they joined forces to host a drive show in New Zealand. They moved to Australia in late 2017 to host KIIS 101.1's breakfast slot, replacing axed duo Matt Tilley and Meshel Laurie. Engagement: PJ explained that being separated from her family and fiance (left) in New Zealand during the Covid-19 pandemic last year had taken a toll Despite being a strong program, Jase & PJ has been unable to fully break into the competitive Melbourne breakfast market. Duncan Campbell, the content boss of Australian Radio Network, said in November he was frustrated with the show's ratings. 'Very few people criticise Jase & PJ and the content they do. And yet it just can't seem to get the traction we want,' Mr Campbell told Radio Today. 'And every time we think we're getting signs that "Yes, we're going to get some traction here and some momentum", then it doesn't deliver.' Jase & PJ's best result came in survey five last year, when it jumped to a 7.2 per cent audience share. However, this fell to 4.4 per cent by the end of 2020. Bengaluru, March 23 : Continuing its protest inside the Legislative Assembly, the Karnataka opposition Congress party on Tuesday succeeded in disrupting business in the Assembly. The leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Siddaramaiah, along with Congress members, had been protesting in the Assembly well, in front of the Speaker since Monday late night after Home minister Basvaraj Bommai's reply on the sleaze CD case involving former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi. After a day-long debate on the case under the Adjournment Motion on Monday, the Congress party had been demanding, citing the Nirbhaya case, that a rape case be lodged immediately against Jarakiholi. Also, a probe in this case must be monitored by sitting chief justice of Karnataka high court. The third demand is to ensure that all six ministers who have secured ex-parte injuction order must resign immediately. The leader of the opposition, who also demanded a court-monitored probe, claimed the woman in a video message had said she was "utilised" and thus it would amount to rape. "There is precedence and Nirbhaya case is standing example of this, Jarakiholi may have resigned but he must be booked under section 376 of the IPC be registered against Jarkiholi, otherwise we can't do justice to the woman," Siddaramaiah demanded. Though Speaker Kageri adjourned the house on multiple occasions during the day, Siddaramaiah did not yield and asserted that the government's reply to the serious issue is just an eye wash. However, Home minister Bommai continued to justify his reply stating there were contradictions in the complaint filed by a social activist which hampered proceeding furthers in the case. He also insisted that the state government was doing its best to provide security to the woman, missing now, once she is located. The minister's response did not satisfy the Congress party, whose members trooped into the well raising slogans against the government leading to adjournment of the House for the day. Jarkiholi, the BJP MLA from Gokak, was forced to quit as minister on March 3, after a social activist, Dinesh Kallahalli lodged a police complaint alleging sexual harassment to a woman on March 2 evening. Immediately after he lodged the complaint, video clips purportedly showing their intimate moments surfaced on local News channels as well as social media. Denying his 'involvement' in any which way, Jarkiholi continued to claim his innocence, charging that these clips were fake and vowed to teach a lesson to the 'conspirators'. Within four days of lodging the complaint, Kallahalli decided to withdraw it on March 7 through his counsel to the police, alleging that former Karnataka Chief Minister, H. D. Kumaraswamy was casting aspersions on him. Raising this issue in the Assembly on Monday, Siddaramaiah had said that when the victim says 'she had been manipulatted', it means there was no consent for the act. "An act without consent is a rape and noting else, therefore, Jarkiholi must be booked under rape provisions," he had argued Replying to these charges, Bommai asserted that the complainant has not lodged a complaint with police yet, but it was submitted by a third party - Kallahalli - who did not have any information and whereabouts of the woman. "After filing the complaint Kallahalli has withdrawn it too. Under such circumstances, neither the police nor the government can do much about it, unless she personally files a complaint," he said. The home minister added that he has directed the SIT to investigate all possible angles of the case: Kallahalli's complaint of sexual exploitation, Jarkiholi's police complaint and the missing report filed by the father of the woman in Belagavi. Regarding the video message in social media by the woman seeking protection, Bommai said it had been addressed to him and he was doing everything to locate her. "We are not able to trace her because she is changing her location too frequently. Our five teams of 22 well trained officers are trying to locate her. The teams have travelled to Delhi, Bhopal, Goa, Belagavi and Bengaluru, but she is yet to be traced," he claimed. He also said that the woman's father in the missing complaint did not mention that he attempted suicide as the victim has claimed in her video. The minister also pointed out that there were contradictions in her video message as the woman alleged that Jarkiholi had 'utilised' her and later posted her objectionable video in the social media. "Do you think any sane leader will make it public to defame himself and strip himself of ministerial portfolios?," Bommai countered Siddaramaiah. Siddaramaiah also sought the resignation of six ministers who obtained ex-parte injunction from court against publishing of any defamatory materials against them in the media, including news channels and the newspapers. "If the ministers are fearing they are being blackmailed, they should have approached the police and lodged a complaint. Why seek an ex-parte injunction order? This is a clear case that they too are involved in some kind of similar offence, they deserve to be sacked from the cabinet," he contended. He claimed that all those Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs who defected and were responsible for the fall of the coalition government led by H. D. Kumaraswamy in 2019 and had camped in Mumbai felt threatened and sought an injunction. (Natural News) Many people who survive a bout of Wuhan coronavirus infection experience complications that affect their brain function, according to a recent study. A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology examined the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the brain and the possible short- and long-term mental health issues surviving patients face. The paper was the result of efforts by both psychology and psychiatry researchers who looked at existing published studies and their findings. The researchers found that COVID-19 survivors reported a wide range of neuropsychiatric conditions in the short term. One study found that 95 percent of clinically stable COVID-19 patients had post-traumatic stress disorder. Other studies reported 17 percent to 42 percent of patients experiencing affective disorders such as depression. Meanwhile, 45 percent of patients reported impaired attention in the short-term, while 13 to 28 percent of patients experience short-term memory impairment. Affective disorders and fatigue were the long-term neuropsychiatric problems recorded in most COVID-19 patients. Forty-four percent of patients reported impaired attention, while 28 percent to 50 percent of patients said they experienced impaired memory. Study author Sanjay Kumar said in a statement: Understanding the neuropsychiatric and cognitive consequences of COVID-19 is important, as millions of people have been affected by the virus, and many cases of undetected. The Oxford Brookes University psychology senior lecturer warned that even [if] just a fraction of patients experience neuropsychiatric complications, the impact of public health services could be significant. Experts have said there is a likely spike in the number of patients with psychiatric and cognitive problems who did not have these conditions prior to contracting COVID-19. Kumar said these problems affect peoples capacity to work effectively, drive, manage finance, make informed decisions and participate in daily family activities. The senior lecturer suggested the use of detailed cognitive evaluation and robust patient monitoring to detect new neurological cases. This will also enable healthcare providers to plan adequate health care and resources, and improve the quality of life for many COVID-19 survivors, Kumar added. Based on previous studies, the Wuhan coronavirus also impacts mental health Kumar and his colleagues noted in their paper that emerging evidence has pointed to COVID-19 patients reporting headache, altered consciousness and paresthesia a tingling sensation on the skin. They also commented that an autopsy on a patient who died of the illness found swollen brain tissue and damaged neurons. The researchers remarked that the findings taken together shows the virus can play a possible role in causing long-term neurological and psychological problems by damaging the nervous system. (Related: Coronavirus found to have the ability to infect brain cells, says research.) Kumars team postulated two possible reasons for the brain issues experienced by patients. First, they proposed that the symptoms can be due to the Wuhan coronavirus modifying brain functions after infection. This change can lead to more serious brain problems and hasten the development of psychological issues. Second, they proposed that the neuropsychiatric symptoms and disorders are the psychological reactions of undergoing medical treatment following Wuhan coronavirus infection. Nevertheless, they commented that a careful study of history and standardized neuropsychological tests can help clarify if patients brain problems are caused by COVID-19 affecting brain function or a reaction to medical treatment for the disease. In some cases, COVID-19 infections have caused inflammation that eventually led to brain cell death and brain bleeding. British paper The Mirror reported that the Wuhan coronavirus resulted to neurological complications in some patients. One Florida man in his 70s lost the ability to speak for a short period following multiple seizures. Meanwhile, a 58-year-old Detroit woman who was confused and disoriented suffered significant neurological damage. A CT scan of her brain revealed dark spots, which indicated either a build-up of fluid or substantial loss of brain cells. (Related: Coronavirus harms the brain and nervous system of one in three patients.) Ultimately, Kumar and his fellow researchers emphasized the importance of detecting and preventing these neuropsychiatric and cognitive problems at the soonest. They exhorted health services and governments worldwide to focus on addressing this possible third wave of the pandemic in the long term. Mental.news has more on how the Wuhan coronavirus impacts brain function. Sources include: IntegrativePractitioner.com FrontiersIn.org Mirror.co.uk Azam Mangori, 24, (pictured) is accused of killing Lorraine Cox, 32, in his room above a kebab shop in Exeter last year A failed asylum seeker accused of murdering and dismembering a woman who went missing on a night out 'freaked out' after she died suddenly following sex in his bedroom, a court heard. Azam Mangori, 24, is accused of killing Lorraine Cox, 32, in his room above a kebab shop in Exeter last year. Mangori - a failed asylum seeker from Iraq - said Miss Cox died after drinking alcohol and smoking drugs following sexual intercourse with him. He claims he panicked when he discovered her lying dead on the floor, and left her in his room for several days before wrapping her body in clingfilm, bin liners and tape, Exeter Crown Court heard. Mangori - who also used the name Christopher Mayer - encountered Miss Cox while she was walking home alone one night after drinking with friends. He said he had sex with her in an alleyway - which he audio recorded on his phone - and then took her to his rented room. He is accused of dismembering her body into seven pieces over a week-long period due to a 'morbid interest in amputation'. He allegedly hid Miss Cox's remains and her possessions in bins around the kebab shop and in some woodland before his arrest on September 8. Mangori - a failed asylum seeker from Iraq - said Miss Cox (pictured) died after drinking alcohol and smoking drugs following sexual intercourse with him The court has heard Mangori looked at videos of people with amputations, as well as those with deformities to their legs and one of a woman's lower leg experiencing cramp. Mangori bought items to dispose of Miss Cox's body over a number of days, including a trowel, after viewing a website entitled: 'How to dig a grave by hand.' He said he did not remember dismembering her body, claiming he substituted it for tobacco and believed he was cutting that up instead. Speaking in court today, Mangori said: 'I called her name and she didn't respond, I was laughing at first, but I didn't know what's wrong. 'I didn't even think there was anything wrong. I thought 'she's just fallen asleep or just blacked out'. Mangori (pictured left in a court sketch), an Iraqi Kurd who was denied asylum in December 2018, has admitted preventing the burial of Miss Cox but denies killing her and is on trial at Exeter Crown Court 'I lifted her from the floor to the bed. She wasn't breathing. I checked her pulse and there was no pulse and I checked her wrist. 'I started to freak out and started to do CPR. I was trying to shake her really hard. 'I had only seen it [CPR] on the movies. I was trying to do CPR on the bed. The last thing I remember I was trying her to wake up.' Mangori went on: 'I just remember waking up, like it was a nightmare. I just freaked out when I saw her. Police searching countryside and woodland near Newton St Cyres, five miles from Exeter 'I just dragged her on to my bed because she looked really cold. 'I didn't know what to do, I thought she was asleep, and I would wait for her to wake up.' Mangori explained he did not seek medical attention for Miss Cox because he knew she was dead. 'Deep down I knew she was dead but I thought she would wake up,' he said. Miss Cox was last seen alive on September 1 walking home from a night out, and was reported missing by her father two days later. Pictured: Police put up a forensic tent in Exeter as they launched a murder investigation when Ms Cox's remains were found in bin bags hidden in an alleyway Mangori told the jury that he had come to Exeter to work in a shop. He said he was bisexual and did not have a girlfriend or boyfriend. He claims that, between August 22 and September 4, he called 22 different numbers for male, female and transgender escorts in the city. He added: 'I met with just one. In my room and I paid the person.' The court heard after Lorraine's death he used her sim card from her phone in a bid to convince her family and friends that she was still alive. He said he recorded their sexual encounter in the alleyway because he 'felt scared', adding: 'It was too good to be true, I recorded just for safety. If anything went wrong no one would believe me, better safe than sorry.' Mangori said he 'could not really remember' who suggested having sex and said: 'It was weird, someone really interested in me, exciting I guess.' He said he wanted to either go to her place or back to his for sex, adding that on a scale of one to ten of drunkenness he was five. Mangori told the court he wrapped Miss Cox's body in a large polythene sheet four or five days after she died and had been searching on Google for ways to dispose of a body. He said he did not remember dismembering her body and said in his mind he substituted it for tobacco and was cutting that up. Adam Vaitilingam QC, defending, asked Mangori: 'In your mind what did you see?' The defendant replied: 'It's just tobacco. I just separated all of it into small pieces. At some point I used a saw. It was so weird it wouldn't go through the tobacco, so I used a knife.' Mr Vaitilingam asked: 'Do you accept you disarticulated Lorraine Cox's body?' Mangori replied: 'Yes.' Mr Vaitilingam asked: 'Do you accept you wrapped her body parts in the bags they were found in?' The defendant replied: 'Yes.' He was arrested in relation to Miss Cox's disappearance on September 8 and police began searching around the Bodrum Kebab House, above which Mangori lived. The court has heard that Mangori was a failed asylum-seeker from Iraq liable to deportation. A post-mortem examination was carried out, but the pathologist was unable to determine a cause of death due to the length of time between the death and remains being found. Mangori has admitted a charge of preventing Miss Cox's lawful burial but denies murdering her. The trial continues. The Member of Parliament for Mpraeso Constituency, Mr Davis Ansah Opoku, is urging the contractor to const use local labour instead of bringing in workers from other areas in the construction of the 27.5 Kilometers road. He made this comment during the handing-over of the site to Messrs I.B Maigidi Limited by the feeder roads engineers. He said, This road is crucial to stopping the importation of Banana to Ghana as Bepong can produce to meet our demand and even export to other countries. Present at the short ceremony included the Regional Minister, Hon. Seth Acheampong, Municipal and District Chief Executives from kwahu West, Kwahu South, Kwahu East and Afram Plains North and South. The former Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour, the Regional Engineer, was also present. The project is expected to be completed in 24 months. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Associate Justice Clarence Thomas poses for the official group photo at the Supreme Court in Washington on Nov. 30, 2018. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Are the Courts Moving to Require a More Responsible Press? Commentary In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in the case of Sullivan v. the New York Times, a landmark opinion regarding libel law and a gift to irresponsible and inaccurate journalists across the land. Issued during the civil-rights eraa time when many constitutional protections were unthinkingly tossed aside in the name of a higher goodSullivan essentially gave carte blanche for media companies to attack public figures with legal impunity. The case began in 1960 when the Times ran an ad from supporters of Martin Luther King, Jr. requesting donations to help the civil-rights leader. The ad, Heed Their Rising Voices, was the brainchild of Kings close advisor Bayard Rustin (a former Communist and early gay-rights activist), and sharply criticized the Montgomery, Ala., police, charging the cops with an unprecedented wave of terror. While the ad named no names, it came to the attention of the Montgomery police commissioner, L.B. Sullivan, via a local libel lawyer, who convinced Sullivan and the city fathers they should bring a defamation action against the Times, especially since the ad had implied police complicity in the bombing of Kings Montgomery home in 1956. Hitherto, libel law had been fairly straightforward. Opinion was protected by the First Amendment but factual accuracy was required; the burden of proof regarding a contentious statement lay with the defendant and to that end, the Times and other responsible journalistic organizations employed fact-checkers, not only in the news columns but the in ads as well. In this case, the ad copy had apparently sailed through owing to the prestige of Rustin and the others behind it, including the black civil-rights leader A. Phillip Randolph, and Harry Emerson Fosdick, the white former pastor of the Riverside Church in Manhattan. It was an open and shut case, especially under the strict Alabama libel laws: after a three-day trial the jury found in favor of the plaintiff, Sullivan, and awarded him half a million dollars. The Times appealed. Writing for the Warren Court, liberal Justice William Brennan, brushed aside the ads factual inaccuracies and even prior Supreme Court precedent, choosing to view the case instead as an opportunity to determine for the first time the extent to which the constitutional protections for speech and press limit a States power to award damages in a libel action brought by a public official against critics of his official conduct, wrote Brennan. Debate, he said, should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open. To that end, the court constructed a new libel law for public figures: the statement in question had to be false; the maker of the statement had to have known, or should have known, it was false and communicated it to a third party; and the statement had to be made with either actual malice or reckless disregard for the truth. The vote was 9-0, with several radical justicesformer Ku Klux Klansman Hugo Black, William O. Douglas, and Arthur Goldbergpushing for absolute immunity for government critics, even if they were acting maliciously. Re-evaluation The decision, while liberating for the press, has been problematic for our democracy ever since. As the media has become more and more partisaninstitutions such as the Times and the Washington Post are today indistinguishable in their policy positions from the Democrat Partyand take a frankly activist attitude both in their news and opinion columns on all current social-justice issues. Since both malice and reckless disregard go to state of mind, theyre hard to prove in courtbut does anybody really doubt that todays media is fully capable of actual malice? In fact, no less a figure than Justice Clarence Thomas has called for Sullivan to be re-evaluated on constitutional grounds. Writing in early 2019, in a case involving one of Bill Cosbys accusers in which malice lay at the heart of the case, Thomas noted that the actual malice standard/get-out-of-jeopardy-free card was almost impossible to legally satisfy. If the Constitution does not require public figures to satisfy an actual-malice standard in state-law defamation suits, then neither should we, he said, calling the malice test a judge-made rule of law. Now another distinguished jurist has entered the fray: Laurence Silberman, senior judge of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. In a dissent earlier this month in a libel case, he echoed Justice Thomas: 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 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. But Silberman went further, with the media in his crosshairs: The increased power of the press is so dangerous today because we are very close to one-party control of these institutions. 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. Veritas Victory In short, the dam may be breaking. James OKeefes gadfly Project Veritas won a small but significant victory against the Times the other day when a New York State Supreme Court judge ruled against a Times motion to dismiss a defamation suit against a report that called a Veritas video of possible election chicanery in Rep. Ilhan Omars congressional district in Minnesota deceptive with no verifiable evidence probably part of a coordinated disinformation effort and attempted to link the video to the Trump campaign, of course. Stating that the video is deceptive and stating without verifiable evidence in a factual way in a news article certainly presents the statement as fact, not opinion, wrote Justice Charles Wood. He said the Times may have been motivated by actual malice and had acted with reckless disregard. Good for him. Freedom of the press is a wonderful thingespecially now, when the progressive left has all but called for its abolition of the first amendment in its quest for a one-party socialist state. For more than half a century, the mainstream media has abused its powers under the protective shield of the Sullivan decision. At this point, however, with the national media now weaponized against traditional American law and values, the ruling is no longer a shield, but a sword. Michael Walsh is the editor of The-Pipeline.org and the author of The Devils Pleasure Palace and The Fiery Angel, both published by Encounter Books. His latest book, Last Stands, a cultural study of military history from the Greeks to the Korean War, was recently published. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Eight Candidates file for Humble ISD Position 3 Humble ISD has set an election for four positions on the board of trustees set for May 1. Eight candidates have announced for Position 3 William Baker, James Banks, Liz Diaz, Jesse Givens, Clint Horn, Chris Parker, David Popoola and Donte Washington. James Banks was born in the Panhandle area of Texas. Since then, he has spent the last 35 years in public education, working as a teacher, executive director and a director for technology across a variety of school districts. He worked as a middle school teacher, the Harden ISD director of technology and served as a director in Barber Hill ISD for 15 years. Banks has also worked in private education, including a stint at the prestigious St. Thomas High School. Banks explained that his experience in public education urged him to run and seek improvements in the current virtual learning environment. Banks explained that he is the best fit for this position due to his extensive background in education, something that the other candidates for this position do not necessarily have. Banks daughter, Mary, attended Humble ISD and graduated from Summer Creek High School in 2009. Elizabeth Diaz is an active member of the Humble ISD community, who currently serves as the executive director for the nonprofit Diaz Music Institute. In recent years, she has actively participated in the community, including leading a campaign to build a SPARK park at Lakeshore Elementary, hosting food drives at Ross Sterling Middle School, serving as the PTO President at Lakeshore Elementary and initiating a school supplies drive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her nonprofit has received over $2 million in scholarships since inception and has helped students graduate from schools including USC-Berkeley and Harvard. Diaz believes that her extensive experience working with the community is what separates her from other candidates and seeks to improve the qualify of Humble ISD schools if elected as a trustee. Diaz has three daughters, Bianca, Jacqulyn, Kiyana and a son, Anthony, all of whom are either currently enrolled in or have graduated from Humble ISD. Jesse Givens Jesse Givens is a lifelong resident of Humble ISD, whose family has resided in Humble ISD for two generations. Givens attended Humble High School and earned a degree from Yale and a masters in urban planning from Harvard. He has practiced as a licensed realtor since 2001 and has been a community development expert since 2004. Givens worked for a number of years in public planning and community development before branching out into private practice in the field of community development and real estate. His work has been recognized by organizations such as the Urban Land Institute and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. In a conversation with the Tribune, Givens stated, I am the proud father of three boys and the uncle to a niece and nephew, all of whom have enjoyed the excellent learning opportunities available in Humble ISD schools or will be enrolled in Humble ISD schools once they are old enough. I myself progressed through elementary and middle school in Humble ISD and graduated from Humble High School. Givens added, I was motivated to run for the school board trustee because I have a servants heart and I have a desire to give back to my community. That is why I have worked in community development, with faith-based organizations, and with other non-profit organizations all these years. I believe I can repay what I have benefited from the school district by paying it forward through service. The second reason I decided to run is because I saw the lack of representation on the board. This extends to neighborhood, upbringing, family status and even ethnicity. Sometimes lack of representation can lead to insensitivity regarding community concerns in certain areas of the district or even to policies in the classroom that adversely affect a segmented population because the board members simply are unaware of the issue in the first place, added Givens. When asked why he is the most qualified candidate, Givens said, I am the most qualified candidate, who happens to possess an Ivy League education, has deep roots in Humble ISD, graduated from Humble High, am a resident in Atascocita, am a former resident of Fall Creek, has a blended family, is bilingual and happens to be Black. If you believe any of these groups should be reflected on the school board, then I am the only candidate of choice to represent you and your children, concluded Givens. *The previous article erroneously excluded the profile of Jesse Givens. Rev. Clint Horn has resided in Humble ISD for 12 years and currently serves as the pastor of two congregations. Horn worked as a trainer for 20 years, teaching in a variety of subjects ranging from leadership to computer technology. He has spent the last 15 years at MD Anderson working as a training specialist. My background working in training helped me develop a passion for children. I saw a need in our district, and that is bridging the voices of the parent and the teacher. Sometimes, one voice is not heard in favor of the other, and I am running to ensure that everyones voice is heard, he said. He added that his experience working as a pastor, trainer and volunteer in the local community is what separates his skill set, and he plans to bring a lot of much-needed assets to the board. Horn has three children, 23, 11 and 8; his eldest son graduated from Humble ISD and his two younger children are currently enrolled in Humble ISD. Christine Parker is a lifelong resident of Humble ISD, graduating from Kingwood High School in 1993. She received her bachelors from SFA in 1997 and has worked as a licensed property, casualty, and life/health insurance agent for over 20 years. She currently serves as a trainer in the insurance industry, teaching a mix of virtual and face-to-face classes each week. Parker is passionate about community service and has worked with several organizations such as Mothers Against Cancer, Deerwood Elementary PTA, FamilyTime Woman of Achievement Hearts of Gold Gala and the Purple Ribbon luncheon. I have two motivations to run, one as a parent and the other as a community volunteer and stakeholder. As a mom, I want to be a part of the decision-making process and advocate for all of the children in the district. I have been volunteering for many years and I feel that this is a logical progression, enabling me to utilize my skills and experience to give back to this amazing school district. I am running to ensure the district has students needs at its forefront, but that it also provides for the health and safety of teachers. I want to protect teachers salaries. Lastly, I want to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. When asked why voters should elect her, she explained that experience matters. I have a proven track record of dedication and commitment to this area. I am a volunteer, hard worker and am determined to make a difference. She added, I am so proud to be endorsed by our former Congressman, Judge Ted Poe, as well as many former trustees including Dan Huberty, Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin, Lone Star College Trustee Mike Sullivan, Lynn Fields, and Heath Rushing. Parker is a proud mother of two daughters, who are currently attending elementary and middle schools in Humble ISD. Donte Washington is a resident of Humble ISD and a graduate of the University of Houston. He currently owns his own business, Pharmacy Tech Lessons. Washington has served the local community through Refuge Temple Ministries for seven years, three as an ordained minister. As a trustee, I would like to provide our districts students with a world-class, competitive advantage. Humble ISD children will not compete for jobs on a local, state or national level, but on an international level. We must improve our educational ranking at an international level. He added, As a recent Texas college graduate, I understand the needs of our students. Although I did not graduate from Humble ISD, I know and have experienced the common needs and struggles that students and teachers face each day. I believe that diverse community connectivity and collaboration is an important component to the students success in our district. Connecting with the community on a personal level and advocating for the betterment of our students will be the cornerstone of how I will operate throughout my term when elected, concluded Washington. Posted Monday, March 22, 2021 7:37 am This bold Congress bill called For the People Act is only bold for one party the Democratic Party. I believe this bill will allow ballot harvesting, days on end voting, no ID to vote, no signatures required on mail-in ballots and allows taxpayer dollars to go directly to politicians to fund their campaign. This bill also will consider lowering the voting age to 16. People in this country illegally could vote as well. It will make sure that every eligible person is automatically signed up to vote. This bill has too many flaws. This bill is against everything this country stands for in a complete and fair election. The U.S. Constitution says every state is in charge of their own election process. This bill will make elections controlled by the federal government. This bill is so wrong in many ways. It is not For the People Act. It is only for power and control by the Democratic Party. Don't be deceived by the title of this bill. This bill will destroy every fiber of our republic and election system. Why allow no signatures on mail-in ballots and no voter ID? Why allow ballot harvesting? Why fund politicians campaigns? Why allow up to 30 days to vote? Why allow non-citizens to vote? Maybe the answer to these questions is a question. Who benefits from this voting bill? In my opinion it is the party who is pushing this bill, the Democratic Party. This is not For The People Act bill. It is the Power Act Bill. TORONTO and NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Real Brokerage Inc. (Real) (TSXV: REAX) (OTCQX: REAXF), a national, technology-powered real estate brokerage, today announced the launch of business in the state of Hawaii, with primary markets on the islands of Maui, Hawaii, Oahu & Kauai. I joined Real for the very supportive agent atmosphere, along with the mission of 'Work Hard, Be Kind.' Starr Kealaluhi will serve as the State Managing Broker. Born on the island of Oahu and raised on the island of Maui, Starr moved to the Big Island in 1995 and has specialized in residential sales on the east side of Hawaii island. She has closed over 800 transactions during her 25-year career. An islander at heart, she enjoys the laid-back island lifestyle and believes that owning real estate in Hawaii is like owning a piece of heaven on earth. "I love the community. I joined Real for the very supportive agent atmosphere, along with the mission of 'Work Hard, Be Kind,'" said Kealaluhi. Rene Sands, who has prior experience as a state broker managing over 480 agents, is leading the growth for Real on the island of Maui. "As inventory tightens in Hawaii, listings and sales will be much more competitive. This is where Real will be beneficial to agents and their business, as it offers agents the opportunity to diversify by building a network of agents nationwide and additional financial opportunities through revenue share and equity," Sands said. "Starr and Sands bring the local expertise, as well as the collaborative, customer-focused perspective that is driving Real's growth in the United States," said Real co-founder and CEO Tamir Poleg. Contact: Lynda Radosevich 917-922-7020 About Real Real (www.joinreal.com) is a technology-powered real estate brokerage operating in 27 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Real is on a mission to make agents' lives better, creating financial opportunities for agents through higher commission splits, best-in-class technology, revenue sharing and equity incentives. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act) Forward-looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as " seek", " anticipate", " believe", " plan", " estimate", " expect", " likely" and " intend" and statements that an event or result " may", " will", " should", " could" or " might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, without limiting the foregoing, Information relating to Real's future growth plans and strategy, and eligibility of agents to receive performance-based or equity incentives as part of Real's incentive program. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including but not limited to Real's business objectives, expected growth, results of operations, performance, business projects and opportunities and financial results. Real considers these assumptions to be reasonable in the circumstances. However, forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. These factors should be carefully considered and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Real cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Real assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, and the OTCQX has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-real-brokerage-inc-broadens-its-tech-powered-real-estate-brokerage-to-hawaii-under-the-leadership-of-starr-kealaluhi-301253723.html SOURCE The Real Brokerage Inc. A former Decatur High School teacher pleaded guilty on Monday to engaging in a sex act with a student. Carrie Cabri Witt entered the guilty plea on Monday. She was arrested in 2016, placed on administrative leave and later resigned. Witt asked the court to dismiss the case the same year, arguing that the statute under which she was charged was unconstitutional, according to a news release on Monday from Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson. He said Attorneys from the Morgan County District Attorneys Office and the Alabama Attorney General's Office argued that the statute was not unconstitutional and was necessary protect students from sexual advances by school employees. Her charges were dismissed in August of 2017, but after an appeal by the prosecution, the charges were reinstated. A sentencing hearing is set for July 1. Witt is facing up to 20 years in prison and must register as a sex offender. Zimbabwes Gweru Airport and PLM Middle East have announced a strategic partnership for airport development with a $176 million investment plan at the 2021 Arab Aviation Summit (AAS) in Ras Al Khaimah. The eighth edition of the regions leading aviation and tourism industry event is held at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah. The summit bought together experts to discuss the impact of the pandemic on the industry, the aftermath, and the road to recovery for a stronger future, under the theme, Arab Aviation in the New Normal. As part of the agreement, PLM Middle East will provide advanced technology for driving innovation, new design upgrade, operation development and investment management for the Gweru Airport developer. With a four-step approach to expand the partnership, PLM Middle East will also conduct a complete assessment of the airport including design concept as well as potential for upgrade and improvement. The two entities will also explore possibilities for global operators and international investment attraction for the overall development of the project. This partnership will support Zimbabwe in planning for post-pandemic travel and ensure that the Gweru Airport can upgrade the economic and social benefits to the local, national and global communities they serve. Iddo T Mudavanhu, CEO, Gweru Airport, said: Zimbabwe is home to the Southern African Development Community, driving engagement across countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique in addition to offering ease of access to southern DRC and south eastern Angola, eastern Namibia and south-western Malawi. As the connecting link, we, at Gweru Airport, are confident of attracting world-class entities such as FedEx, DHL, Alibaba and Amazon by serving as a hub for the region. With the signing of the agreement with PLM Middle East, we look forward to partnering with global investors to strengthen our expansion plans. TradeArabia News Service U.S. Marshals in Iowa, along with some law enforcement from northern Iowa, have located 21 juveniles and have recovered seven children in an operation dubbed "Operation Homecoming." In a press release issued Tuesday, authorities said the northern and southern districts of Iowa worked with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations Missing Persons Clearinghouse to look for and recover children ages 4 to 17. "Operation Homecoming led to Marshals locating missing Iowa children in nine different states across the U.S., including Arizona, Nebraska, Minnesota, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana. The operation also resulted in the arrests of two individuals, the seizure of illegal narcotics, the seizure of two firearms, and four independent human trafficking investigations, which have been referred to the appropriate investigative agencies for further valuation," the release stated. Law enforcement in Howard County is listed as one of the agencies that assisted in the operation. This operation is the first missing child operation by the U.S. Marshals Service in Iowa, said U.S Marshal for the Northern District of Iowa Doug Strike. Our message to missing children and their families remains, and to echo Director Washingtons vision for this mission, the U.S. Marshals here in Iowa will never stop looking for you. You can see the full press release below: The Democratic Party ranks, alongside the Tories in England, as the oldest capitalist political party in the world. This decade, it will enter into its third century of existence, carrying behind it a record of great social crimes. In its infancy, this was the party of Andrew Jackson and Indian Removal, in its childhood it fought a war for the expansion and then defense of slavery. Its young adulthood was the violent suppression of the working class in the aftermath of the Civil War and a humanitarian cover for American imperialisms bloody appearance on the world stage. Entering maturity in the 20th century, the Democratic Party took the United States into two world wars, dropped two nuclear bombs and waged neocolonial wars in Korea and Vietnam. In the 21st century, it replaced social reform with identity politics, bailed out the banks and destroyed large swaths of the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. In 2021, the Democratic Socialists of America still argue that socialism can only come from within this capitalist party. They say: elect good Democrats, place good people in the cogs of this partys machinery, and all will be well. Apply enough pressure and after 200 years, the Democrats will finally see the divine light! Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency Anyone who still believes this myth should read Amie Parnes and Jonathan Allens recent account of the 2020 election entitled Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency. Lucky shows how the ruling class, through the Democratic Party, brings to bear 200+ years of experience to accomplish its chief task: crushing left-wing opposition and ensuring that the interests of working people have no impact whatsoever on state foreign or domestic policy. The book is based on interviews with staff for the major Democratic primary campaigns, so pop a handful of anti-nausea pills and take a peek behind the curtain. What makes Lucky remarkable is that its revealing character is entirely unintentional. Parnes and Allen are so complacent, unoriginal and so deeply embedded in the milieu of Democratic Party politics that they fail to realize that their attempted hagiography is actually a devastating exposure. Parnes and Allen uncritically describe a party comprised of people who treat the coronavirus pandemic and the mass suffering it has unleashed with near total indifference. The authors quote Obama-Biden confidant Anita Dunn, explaining that she told one associate what campaign officials believed but would never say in public about the diseases effect on Bidens fortunes. COVID is the best thing that ever happened to him. Similarly, the police killing of George Floyd is significant only in terms of its immediate impact on the campaigns: Police killings and violent protests drove a clear wedge between young Black voters and the swing-set whites, the authors remark. These are hyper-pragmatists, uninterested in and incapable of looking past the end of the news cycle. It is taken for granted that nobody has any political principles whatsoever, and that everyone will say anything to get elected. The only constant is a visceral hostility to socialism or anything that resembles left-wing politics. This is not going to be the party of Bernie, Bill Clinton declared in the primaries. The authors note with hands on pearls that the Democratic Party saw the hard left as an obstacle to reclaiming power and a scary bunch who, if given enough authority, would take too much from the haves and give too much to the have-nots. When Sanders appeared poised to win the largest states of Texas and California on Super Tuesday, the authors quote an unnamed party heavyweight as saying, a panic set in. (We will return to the South Carolina operation that crushed Sanders campaign momentarily). The authors cite profound Democratic concern over polls showing a majority of Iowa primary voters supported socialist policies. This became the fixation of the party. Contrary to the strategy of the DSA, the more pressure from below, the more resolute the party became in efforts to crush the threat of socialism. Herein lies a fundamental lesson of Democratic Party politics. Parnes and Allen write that the Democratic Party was actively considering supporting Trump if Sanders won the nomination. Many party leaders, they write, werent sure what they would do if it came down to Trump and Sanders in a general election. Founded or not, their fears of losing their party to socialism competed with their fears of Trump winning a second term. The ruling class had no fear of Sanders himself, or of fellow DSA members like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who, the authors note was interested in expanding her political turf beyond the boundaries of the hard left anyway. Democratic leadership knew these are team players with marching orders they will not disobey. They are not oppositional figures, they are part of the political establishment, and they play a critical role in its defense. In 2020, Sanders and the DSA members of Congress were not victims of some scheme to sideline them, they were active, knowing participants in a plan to suppress the real scary bunchtheir own supporterswho mistakenly supported them believing they were genuine opponents of social inequality and war. The authors gratefully note Sanders pliancy after the 2016 primary, when he campaigned avidly for Hillary Clinton. This time, Sanders caused even less trouble before the convention and practically disappeared from the post-Super Tuesday storyline like a soap opera actor in a contract dispute. He spent the second half of 2020 quietly risking his own life in the midst of the pandemic (he had suffered a heart attack in 2019) and traveling the country whipping his own reluctant supporters behind Biden, who later snubbed him from the cabinet. There is no reference to any concessions Sanders was able to gain from Biden after winning 10 million votes in the primaries. Identity politics was the torpedo that sank Bernie Sanders campaign. Parnes and Allen comment that Unlike Trump, who used race to define his political tribe, Biden had used it as a fulcrum. There is some truth behind this thoughtless commentidentity politics was a fulcrum used by Biden to pose as left while advancing ever more right-wing policies. Parnes and Allen write, To get through the primary without being pulled too far to the left, [Biden] wanted to find ways to signal to progressives that he shared values with them. His aides were concerned that by raising money from Wall Street, he would alienate left-wing voters. In order to buckrake from big-time donors, he had to bring in more diverse staff at senior levels. One top Biden adviser told him: Have a woman of color who is your traveling aide. Parnes and Allen add, He meant that it should be visually clear to voters that representation mattered. In other words, trick voters by taking pictures near black people. This is the level at which these people think. Race is a sort of professional currency used by the Democratic Party courtiers to promote their own careers and destroy their rivals. Everything is a racial issue in the dirty scrum to the top of the Democratic garbage pile. Proponents of the use of Zoom were racist because Black people dont get on Zoom, Biden adviser and former Bernie Sanders aide Simone Sanders declared. Those operatives who argued it was unsafe for the campaigns to knock on doors in the general election due to the pandemic were also racist: An undercurrent of racial tension within the party jostled the dynamics of the door-knocking controversy, Parnes and Allen write, because white people apparently do not like people knocking on their doors. At one point, advisers apparently fought about the darkness of the skin color of various potential nominees for vice president. Parnes and Allen quote one adviser as saying, The other thing that plays out is Stacey is a dark Black woman and Kamala is lighter skinned. The comical absurdity of Democratic Party identity politics was on display in Bidens effort to solicit support from Al Sharpton to shore up his bona fides among black voters. Reverend Als ring needed to be kissed, Parnes and Allen explain, adding (strangely) that Biden wanted Sharpton to be his half Sherpa and half flack jacket among black voters. Here is the description Parnes and Allen give of the man the Democratic Party presents as a representative of all black people: Once a chubby, tracksuit-wearing acolyte of Jesse Jackson who was dismissed by much of white America as a loud-mouthed agitator, the slimmed-down sixty-four-year-old Sharpton now ate dry toast, sipped tea, and puffed cigars at Manhattans Grand Havana Room alongside onetime targets of his protests, like former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. Tens of millions of struggling black workers can be forgiven if they dont think smoking cigars with fascists is the promised land Dr. King spoke of in Memphis the day before he was assassinated. Sharpton and leading black Democrats like South Carolinas James Clyburn do not represent black people any more than Trump represents white people. They are corrupt self-promoters and opponents of workers of all races. They used racial nationalism to force through the nomination of Biden, who championed anti-crime bills leading to the incarceration of hundreds of thousands of impoverished black youth. Nowhere was this more clearly on display than in South Carolina. By February 29, 2020, the date of that states primary, Bernie Sanders had won the Iowa caucus, the New Hampshire primary and the Nevada caucus. He was climbing nationally in the polls and primary voters overwhelmingly supported his proposals for universal health care and taxes on the wealthy. The authors acknowledge that early that spring, the Democratic Party had mobilized the trade union bureaucracies in an effort to sink Sanders campaign on an anti-communist basis. The DSA also argues these pro-management organizations defend the interests of workers. The operation to use the trade unions to crush Sanders was in full force in Nevada, where UNITE HERE told Sanders, Medicare for All was a bridge too far. Likewise, the Culinary Workers Union advised its members that it opposed Medicare for All. Threats from bureaucrats were aimed at intimidating workers voting in in-person caucuses. Parnes and Allen explain that the decision to caucus for Sanders meant bucking the same shop stewards who negotiated contracts with management and influenced promotions, pay, and benefits for workers. The unions message was clear: anybody but Bernie. And, in a caucus, there was no secret ballot. Nevertheless, workers in Las Vegas and Reno repudiated the bureaucracies and Sanders won the state caucus by an overwhelming margin. He was poised to win the most populous states on Super Tuesday. This filled the Democratic Party with even greater fear. Four days before the South Carolina vote, during a debate in Charleston co-hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus, Biden made a litany of racial appeals and concluded by pledging to appoint a black woman to the first open Supreme Court seat. The next morning, Congressman James Clyburn announced his endorsement of Biden in an open racial appeal: We know Joe, but most importantly, he knows us. After Biden won the South Carolina primary, the Democratic machine swung into action, presenting the vote in this small Republican safe state as definitive proof that black voters want Biden and that the primary must therefore come to an end. Biden campaign headquarters had prepared a list of Democratic elites who liked Biden but were supporting other candidates. These were the people who could be leaned on to lobby their own favorites to get out of the race at a crucial moment. Barack Obama made a round of calls to Bidens rivals after South Carolina, Parnes and Allen write, as the state and party decided the primary was over. Perhaps from the veranda of his newly-purchased $12 million mansion on Marthas Vineyard, Obama placed calls to Amy Klobuchar, who was smart enough to know he wasnt calling to encourage her to fight for every last vote. He called Pete Buttegieg and told him, Pete, you will never have more clout than you do right now. Even the nonagenarian Jimmy Carter was called in to put the kibosh on Buttegiegs campaign, inviting him to a homely Georgia tavern and ordering him to end his run. Klobuchar and Buttegieg promptly dropped out and endorsed Biden, while Elizabeth Warren remained in the race to siphon progressive votes from Sanders. As a result, Sanders was crushed on Super Tuesday. Sanders accepted his pathetic fate without so much as a whimper. In a one-on-one debate with Biden later that spring, Parnes and Allen describe how the self-proclaimed socialist acted like a loyal wingman for the Delaware Senator from Citibank: Sanders made his points but hardly threw haymakers at Biden. It was damn near impossible for a trailing candidate to make up ground without hitting the front-runner, but Sanders knew that no one in the party was in the mood for blood sport in the midst of a scary public health and economic crisis. The book provides other interesting tidbits. We learn of Bidens Irish temper and the fact that he gets sleepy quite early in the night, such that aides attempted to avoid late starts to televised debates. We are told Jacobins David Sirota was paid a $150,000 salary on Sanders staff, where his responsibilities largely entailed boosting Sanders on Twitterno wonder the DSA is comfortable within the Democratic Party! The ever-lurking Hillary Clinton also repeatedly floated entering the primary as a unity candidate, as did John Kerry. Parnes and Allen describe how Kerry decided he would not be reporting for duty this time around: Maybe Im f*cking deluding myself here, Kerry said, as he began to play out the practical considerations of making a late bid for the presidency. Id have to give up Bank of America, where he sat on the board. Id have to give up my speaking. Hed just finished making payments on his house, he said, and would have enough to live ona couple million bucks in the bankto be in a position to see if Im working on the trail. Profound statesmanlike meditations. This is what the Democratic Party looks like on the inside. There is no division between establishment and non-establishment Democrats. The Democratic Party is the establishment, it is the state, it is the CIA and the military and the FBI. It is an institution through which the capitalist class maintains its rule, suppresses social opposition and plunders the world on behalf of the corporations. Genuine socialists have nothing but contempt for those who tell workers and young people that the path to socialism passes through this stinking cesspool of political reaction. U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehend about two dozen illegal immigrants in Penitas, Texas, on March 11, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Exclusive: Border Agent Gives Inside Account of Overcrowded Facilities The family-unit holding cells smell like urine and vomit. Fights break out in the unaccompanied-minor cells. Scabies, lice, the flu, and COVID-19 run rampant. Up to 80 individuals are squeezed into each 24- by 30-foot cell, and there arent enough mattresses for everyone. Sheets of plastic divide the rooms. Any diseases that are in there, its being kept in there, like a petri dish. The smell is overwhelming, a Border Patrol agent said, describing the conditions in a facility in south Texas. The agent, Carlos (not his real name), spoke to The Epoch Times on condition of anonymity, for fear of repercussions. Border Patrol agents on the front lines are getting so frustrated that theyre now risking their livelihoods to reveal whats really going on in the illegal immigrant processing facilities. One or two agents are left to control 300 to 500 people during a shift. No agent wants to report physical or sexual assaults between the aliens because theyll get blamed for letting it happen. Theyre also forced to separate a child from an extended family member because he or she is not a biological parent. The number of unaccompanied minorschildren under 18 who arrive without a parentis buckling the system. The law requires Border Patrol to prioritize unaccompanied minors and transfer them to the Department of Health and Human Services within 72 hours. Were getting them out of here as quickly as possible, but we are so overwhelmed right now, Carlos said. It used to be easy to get them out in 72 hours. Not anymore. Theyre staying here for 10, 12 days. Its horrible. A temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas, as seen in a photo released by Customs and Border Protection on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (CBP) So far this fiscal year (from Oct. 1, 2020), Border Patrol has apprehended more than 29,000 unaccompanied children crossing the border illegally. In all of fiscal 2020, just over 33,000 were apprehended, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics. This years numbers are on a trajectory to surpass the 2019 crisis numbers, when 80,634 minors were apprehended. CBP declined to provide the number of unaccompanied minors currently being held. In general, CBP does not provide daily in-custody numbers, as they are considered operationally sensitive because CBPs in-custody numbers fluctuate on a constant basis, CBP spokesman Nate Peeters wrote in an email to The Epoch Times on March 23. Health and Human Services confirmed on March 23 that its Office of Refugee Resettlement is holding approximately 11,350 children. CBP and Health and Human Services have opened several extra facilities to deal with the influx, with the latest being the San Diego Convention Center. Carlos confirmed that the majority of unaccompanied minors coming across the border already have parents or family members in the United States. Everybody that shows up hereeven if its a 3-year-old kid with no one aroundthey all have an address on them. And theyll give it to you: Heres my address; this is where you are sending me,' Carlos said. And thats what we do. This is the way we are being played. Most of the unaccompanied minors come from the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Were dealing with a different culture whos not afraid to send all their kids under the age of five, knowing theyre going to get raped, knowing theyre going to get killed, Carlos said. You talk to the adults or the teenagers and theyll tell you, They raped three or four girls, and they kicked them off the trains. Theyre going to die. Two-thirds of migrants traveling through Mexico report experiencing violence during the journey, including abduction, theft, extortion, torture, and rape, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which has been providing medical and mental health care for migrants and refugees in Mexico since 2012. Almost 1 in 3 women surveyed by MSF said they had been sexually abused during their journey60 percent through rape. Families Released A new directive from the Biden administration is allowing for family units to be released into the interior of the United States without a notice to appearthe paperwork that states the date an illegal immigrant must turn up in court to plead their case. Theres no repercussions. Im not even going to give you a court date. You dont even have to show up at court if you dont want to. Itd be nice, but you dont have to. That word gets out immediately. And I mean overnight, Carlos said. He said its now common knowledge that if you bring a child, youll be quickly released into the United States. Theyre being transported all over the country, but popular destinations include Houston, New York, and California, as well as Maryland and Washington, D.C. Theyll put them in a hotel for a couple of days until their flight is ready to fly them to where they are going. Thats tax dollars, Carlos said. Theres no end in sight. The people that were apprehending are warning us of the larger caravans that are on their way. He said President Joe Bidens rollback of the Trump administrations border policies is the direct cause of the surge. One hundred and ten percent. They were already ready before Biden was even in office. They knew that the doors were going to be open. And now weve got a point where we cannot stop it, he said. The administration hasnt allowed media to access the processing facilities and, according to agents, its even requiring that agents in the field move illegal aliens they apprehend onto private land to process them. Keep trying until you find us on a public road. But weve been instructed to move all the traffic onto ranches to make sure theres no public eye, an agent said. Bidens strict on that. Trump was a different story. This administration is a no-go on media, Im guessing because they dont want to let the word out on whats going on here on the borderto make him look good. Carlos said the agency has stopped dropping illegal immigrants off directly at bus stations now. We were given strict orders from Washington, D.C., that that ceasesits drawing too much attention, he said. Now they drop the illegal immigrants nearby or at a local NGO facility near the bus station, he said. The administration hasnt yet called the current situation a crisis, and Biden said on March 21 that hell visit the border at some point. Our Defenses Are Down Morale among Border Patrol agents has plummeted, Carlos said. The attrition rate right now is ridiculous, he said. We dont want to work for the Border Patrol anymore. Its not the Border Patrol. During the Trump era, agents felt empowered to do their jobs, he said. Whatever deals he made, everything was working just fine. Now weve got this trash. As agents get moved to deal with the increase in family units and unaccompanied minors, the smuggling organizations and cartels move drugs and other individuals through other, unpatrolled areas. Our manpower is being depleted because we need to go babysit these people, move them as fast as possible to release them into the country, Carlos said. Its ridiculous. We have no backup. Were losing more than were catching. And its no secret. Our defenses are down. So if theres anybody that we should be worried about, they know this is the time to come in. They know it. Members of the far-right Oath Keepers could face sedition charges over their alleged role in plotting the Capitol siege on January 6, according to a new report. The rare charge is being weighed up by Justice Department officials after several members of the paramilitary group were arrested in the wake of the riot. Officials at the department's National Security Division are reviewing possible evidence of sedition by at least three suspects, according to the New York Times. Joe Biden's attorney general Merrick Garland may have the final say over the case, but the investigation is said to have stalled as other Justice Department nominees await confirmation by the Senate. Jessica Marie Watkins (second left) and Donovan Ray Crowl (centre) have been identified by US authorities as suspected Oath Keepers rioters who attacked the Capitol on January 6, and are among those who could potentially face charges of sedition Donovan Crowl, left, and Jessica Marie Watkins, right, were arrested on January 18 after allegedly communicating with each other in the lead-up to the Capitol riot The three suspects said to be in the firing line are Thomas Caldwell, Jessica Marie Watkins and Donovan Ray Crowl, who were indicted on related charges in January. All three were described as military veterans affiliated to the Oath Keepers, while Watkins and Crowl are said to be members of the Ohio State Regular Militia. The Oath Keepers are known to recruit law enforcement and military operatives and are described by the Justice Department as a 'paramilitary organization'. Authorities say the three suspects communicated with each other before the January 6 riot and discussed joining forces with other chapters of the Oath Keepers. Their discussions included 'logistics' and 'lodging options' as well as a 'call to action' to travel to Washington along with other 'like-minded patriots', it is alleged. After Donald Trump egged his supporters on to march to the Capitol, the trio joined in the attack and boasted about their exploits on social media sites including right-wing favourite Parler, prosecutors say. A criminal complaint accuses Caldwell of posting messages such as 'We are surging forward. Doors breached' as the rioters invaded the halls of Congress. Watkins is said to have posted pictures of herself and Crowl at the Capitol before publishing a video in which she said 'Yeah. We stormed the Capitol today'. Crowl, 50, and Watkins, 38, were arrested on January 18, while Caldwell, 65, was arrested a day later. They face charges of conspiracy, obstructing an official proceeding, destruction of government property, and unlawful entry on restricted building or grounds. But all three deny that they plotted to attack the Capitol, with Caldwell 'adamantly denying that he broke any laws', according to his attorney David Fischer. A judge earlier this month released Caldwell from custody pending his trial and said there was no evidence that he had actually entered the Capitol building. Joe Biden's attorney general Merrick Garland, pictured, may have the final say over the case but other Justice Department nominees are still awaiting confirmation by the Senate Oath Keepers rioters were among the mob who invaded the halls of Congress on January 6 in chaotic scenes that left five people dead and stained the image of American democracy Watkins, Crowl, and Caldwell are all affiliated with the anti-government extremist group Oath Keepers (above) An attorney for Crowl told the NYT that they had seen 'no evidence to support a seditious conspiracy charge against my client'. Nonetheless, while building the case against the Oath Keepers, investigators are said to have raised the possibility of bringing a rare sedition charge. Top officials are said to have received a file of potential evidence against the trio, although not yet a formal prosecution memo or the draft of an indictment. Biden's nominees for the Justice Department are still making their way through Senate confirmation hearings, potentially slowing down progress on the case. Garland, who was confirmed as attorney general earlier this month, may have the final word on what would be one of the most high-profile cases linked to the riot. The last successful prosecution in a sedition case was against a group of Islamic militants who were convicted in 1995 of plotting to blow up New York landmarks. Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman and nine followers were found guilty of a plot to attack the UN headquarters, an FBI building, two tunnels and a bridge to New Jersey. Sedition charges were also filed against militia group members in Detroit in 2010 but were dismissed by a federal judge two years later. There was renewed interest in sedition charges last year when the Trump administration signalled it could use them against rioters in George Floyd protests. And Michael Sherwin, the acting US attorney for the District of Columbia at the time of the Capitol riot, said at the time that 'all options are on the table'. The mob overran the Capitol Police shortly after Trump urged them to 'fight' on his behalf The Justice Department has already filed cases against 400 suspects involved in the assault, which left five people dead and stained the image of American democracy. But most have been charged with trespassing or assaulting officers, a smaller number with conspiracy to obstruct Congress, and none with sedition. Sherwin told CBS on Sunday that federal investigators would likely have enough evidence to bring sedition charges. 'I believe the facts do support those charges,' said Sherwin. 'I think that, as we go forward, more facts will support that.' Several more Oath Keepers members have been arrested since the charges against Watkins, Caldwell and Crowl were announced in late January. Some of the other suspects are said to have joined Watkins and Crowl in a 'military-style "stack" formation that marched up the center steps' on the side of the Capitol. These are said to have included the self-described leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers, Kelly Meggs. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the Oath Keepers as 'one of the largest radical antigovernment groups in the US today'. It takes its name from its supposed loyalty to the oaths sworn by law enforcement and military personnel to protect the United States. But the SPLC says that behind this claim, the group's activities are 'based on a set of baseless conspiracy theories about the federal government working to destroy the liberties of Americans'. Five years ago, Barbara McQuiston was in line for a top position in the U.S. Defense Department. Today, shes happily selling gluten-free waffles and bread at The Curious Fork. Life, she says, has a wonderful way of working out. McQuiston was a 30-year veteran of the defense and aerospace industries when President Obama nominated her in May 2011 to serve as the nations Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. But a funny thing happened in her nearly two-year wait for confirmation, which was delayed by the threat of budget sequestration and an election year. The Leucadia resident turned 50 and decided shed rather follow her dreams of going to culinary school and opening a gluten-free restaurant. So she retired. For two years I was a lady in waiting and Im a terrible lady in waiting because I like to be busy, McQuiston said. A friend once told me if I wanted to start over, Id better do it in my 50s while I still had the energy and the wherewithal. So I did. Advertisement In 2013, she withdrew her nomination and enrolled at the San Diego Culinary Institute, and in June 2014, she opened The Curious Fork in Solana Beach. The gluten-free cafe serves breakfast, lunch and Sunday brunch, and offers cooking classes two to three nights a week. The Curious Fork owner Barbara McQuiston, right, talks with one of her cutomers, Helen Eckmann. (Bill Wechter / San Diego Union-Tribune) McQuiston recently launched a wholesale business selling gluten-free bakery goods and within the next few months shell open a retail bakery. The name, Curious Fork, comes from McQuistons philosophy on cooking and trying new things. Its something she was forced to do 20 years ago when she, and her now-33-year-old son, were diagnosed with Celiac disease. The more she learned about preparing healthy and alternative foods, the more she fell in love with the idea of owning her own restaurant someday and offering cooking classes to spread that love. People have lost that side of life, making good foods and experimenting with food at home. I want people to think about new food and healthy food and just stay curious, she said. McQuiston said gluten-free food has come a long way over the past decade. But when she opened The Curious Fork, she was so afraid of turning off potential customers, she didnt advertise her business as gluten-free for a full year. As a result, most of her longtime customers arent gluten-intolerant. The cafe serves coffee drinks, egg and waffle dishes, salads, wraps and sandwiches served with baguettes, English muffins, bagels, waffles, popovers, tortillas, challah bread and pastries baked in-house with a mix of non-wheat flours and ingredients. Advertisement Classes in gluten-free cooking are part of the mix of demonstration and hands-on classes offered on weekday evenings and weekend afternoons at The Curious Fork. The classes are taught by chef and education director Katherine Emmenegger and several other instructors who moved over from The Good News cooking school in Pacific Beach after it closed in June 2015. Classes range from $30 to $60 each and are designed for average, not advanced, cooks. Every Friday morning, The Curious Fork serves as a pickup spot for a subscription farm box program. In keeping with McQuistons desire to encourage experimentation, she always tucks recipes inside the boxes for some of the more unusual items each week like eggplant, rutabagas or bok choy. Because the restaurants baked goods developed by in-house pastry chef Sonja Knowles are so popular, McQuiston is now selling several Curious Fork-brand items to a growing number of wholesale customers including Cardiff Seaside Market, Harvest Ranch Market in Encinitas and Elixir Espresso Bar in Del Mar. Next up is the Curious Fork bakery, which is in the final stages of construction in the space next door to the cafe. McQuiston is also waiting on a liquor license to begin selling wine and gluten-free beer. Advertisement To help fund the wholesale business and bakery, McQuiston brought in two investment partners: Jeffrey Strauss, who owns nearby Pamplemousse Grille restaurant, and Ken Baca. The rest shes funding with her own savings and sweat equity. Everything costs money so Im doing as much as I can as soon as I can, she said, but its all a labor of love. The Curious Fork Hours: 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sundays. Plus select hours for evening cooking classes Where: 512 Via de la Valle, Suite 102, Solana Beach. Advertisement Phone: (858) 876-6386 Online: thecuriousfork.com pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com EDWARDSVILLE District 7 Superintendent Dr. Jason Henderson provided the community with a COVID-19 update during his report Monday at the school boards meeting. First, however, Dr. Steve Stuart, principal at Edwardsville High School, provided a prologue in his report. Within the next couple of months, we will have Senior Hype Week, which will lead us into what we want to have is our Parking Lot Prom, Stuart said. He described it as an opportunity for seniors to dress up and walk the red carpet. The district will hire a DJ to play contemporary tunes for the teens with a mini-prom. It will be a seniors-only event and no outside guests will be permitted. Well end the year with a Senior Sunset, he said. We started the year with a Senior Sunrise, and this will be an opportunity for the seniors to come in. Well have a bonfire and some activities for them to do. Stuart said Class of 2021 graduation plans include indoor, live ceremony, either as one large group or into two smaller groups, so parents and students can celebrate graduation together. Then, the focus shifted to Henderson. Last week, whats kind of led to some of what Dr. Stuart was able to share, is the way the cases are going in the area and also last week, we got some information from the state of a phase that we hope our area will be going into called the Bridge to Phase 5. Henderson said that will kick in once 70 percent of the states 65 and older population has received their first vaccine. Illinois is already at 50 percent, he added. The big thing for us is, once we hit that bridge phase, it allows spectators at events, indoor and outdoor, to be at 60 percent capacity, Henderson said. Regarding student coronavirus cases, Henderson said there have been a few more over the past week than in previous weeks. Were never going to get to a point where were at zero cases, unfortunately, without students being able to be vaccinated at this point, he said. On its quarantine policy, the district will move to a 10-day quarantine for close contacts from its former 14-day policy. He said another unnamed district in Madison County has received permission from the county health department to go to a 10-day policy, so District 7 will follow suit. Those who are symptomatic are exceptions to this change and there are some other, specific exceptions, he added. The reason we feel were comfortable doing that is because area cases are down and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released some guidelines that allow quarantines to be reduced, he said. Of the 120 students who are quarantined now, this change means 90 to 95 of them should be able to return as soon as Wednesday. Students will be contacted Tuesday to let them know what the change means for them and when they can return to school, even with spring break beginning after school dismisses March 27. Board Member John McDole noted that per the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health recommendations, that unless its a senior citizen living facility, 10 days is an appropriate quarantine length. From a staff perspective, Henderson said the staff has been vaccinated and theyre closing in on the point where almost every staff member has received the second vaccine. The next District 7 board meeting will be April 12 at 7 p.m. on the campus of Woodland Elementary School, 59 S. State Route 157, or via Facebook. Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735 Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 20:50:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka needs to implement critical reforms in multiple sectors in order to boost inclusive growth and development, a senior government official said here Tuesday. Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, speaking to private sector leaders at the Colombo Development Symposium held in the capital Colombo, noted that the Sri Lankan government has recognized the need for critical reforms. Jayasundera said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has identified five key sectors demanding reforms, which are business regulation, commercial law, customs, finance, and land use. President-appointed special commissions and task forces will do related research work and recommend appropriate reforms in order to spur business- and people-friendly development, Jayasundera said. Jayasundera urged the private sector to back the government's alternative development policy and make use of import-substitution policies to invest in the Asian country's agriculture sector. He said Sri Lanka has the potential to become an exporter of processed and value-added agricultural goods. Jayasundera also called on Sri Lankan businesses to make more use of the Chinese currency renminbi in business transactions. "The yuan is an IMF basket currency," he noted. Enditem Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The OnePlus 9 is finally here. Launched alongside the OnePlus 9 Pro, this latest upper mid-range flagship from the company is one of the most anticipated devices from the company this year. And, as such, there's already a lot of interest in it. While the OnePlus 9 Pro and OnePlus 9R will fight in segments that still remain untamed for the company, the OnePlus 9 shoulders the responsibility of maintaining OnePlus' dominance in a segment that it has been the king of for a few years now. However, with the competition heating up, the road ahead for the OnePlus 9 will be more difficult than it has been for most of its predecessors. Yet, it'll also have the unique advantage of using the learning gained from the previous generation OnePlus devices. But will it be enough? Will the OnePlus 9 emerge victorious in the days to come? Well, that's something only time can tell. For now, we can take a deeper look at the device to help you with your buying decision. So read on for our full review of the OnePlus 9. (Photo credit: Prateek Khatri/Digit) OnePlus 9 review: Design To begin with, let's start with the design of the OnePlus 9. The basic element used for the machining of the phone is glass. The company sent us the Winter Mist colour for review which uses an unspecified version of Gorilla Glass sheet to protect the gradient effect flaunting glass back. The back panel features very little in terms of distractions, with OnePlus deciding to go for a clean and simple look. The glossy gradient finish is complemented by the OnePlus logo plastered in the middle of the panel and the vertically placed triple camera module that despite protruding a little only ends up adding to the design value of the device. (Photo credit: Prateek Khatri/Digit) Much like the OnePlus 8 and 8T phones, the OnePlus 9 is also built using the company's burden-free design language. As such, you have sleek curves on the back to improve the ergonomics and in-hand feel of the device. OnePlus has also used a reinforced fiberglass polymer frame, instead of metal to keep the weight of the phone in check. However, to OnePlus' credit, because of the use of a new metallization process, the finish on the frame feels more like metal, than plastic. The frame also houses all the buttons and ports, with the alert slider and the power button placed on the right of the device. The volume rocker is placed at the opposite side, with the SIM tray, Type-C jack, and the speaker grille all placed on the bottom end of the frame. (Photo credit: Prateek Khatri/Digit) OnePlus 9 review: Display Moving on to the front, the display is one of the biggest talking points of the OnePlus 9, with the phone using a 6.55-inch AMOLED panel. The panel can process visuals in up to Full HD+ resolution and at a decent enough pixel density of 402ppi. As has been the case with OnePlus phones in the recent past, the OnePlus 9's display also supports high refresh rates -- 120Hz to be precise. However, it's not an adaptive display so the phone can be set to work at either 120Hz or 60Hz refresh rate. As such, we noticed a steep increase in battery drain when the phone was set to process visuals at a fast refresh rate. OnePlus 9's panel has been given the DisplayMate A+ rating which generally translates to pretty much the best visual experiences you can achieve on a smartphone display. Is that the case for the OnePlus 9 also? Well, the answer is a yes. This HDR10+ display on the OnePlus 9 is equally good for playing games as it is for watching movies and streaming shows on the go. The expansive display is tuned for accurate colours and as such is a treat for consuming multimedia content on it. It's super slick when set to work on the fast refresh mode, making UI animations and supported games feel an absolute delight. Calman ColorChecker Analysis (sRGB) Interestingly, this observation was also backed by the results of the tests we ran to test the OnePlus 9's display. Calman's display analysis showed the phone's panel to be extremely colour accurate across both sRGB and HDR colour profiles. For the former, the phone managed to keep the colour accuracy error to very low levels -- average deltaE of 0.9 and a maximum deltaE of 2.2-- and even impressed with the results of the tricky DCI-P3 colour profile -- average deltaE of 2 and a maximum deltaE of 2.8. Calman ColorChecker Analysis (HDR) In terms of its range, the OnePlus 9's display was once again among the best we've tested so far. Testing it in the sRGB colour profile, the display managed to cover 99.172% of the BT.709, 66.465% of the DCI-P3 and 44.959% of the BT2020 colour gamuts. Set to the more vibrant HDR colour profile, the display managed to hit even more colours as it covered well over 100% of the BT.709 colour space, and a very good 96.75% of the DCI-P3 gamut. Calman Colour Volume test (sRGB) Calman Colour Volume (HDR) OnePlus 9's display is claimed to reach high levels of peak brightness while watching HDR content. The company claims the AMOLED panel can reach 1100nits of peak brightness. While this can only be achieved on certain areas of the display and that too only while watching HDR content, we found the panel to achieve good peak brightness even during normal use -- 767nits. Our tests showed the panel can also get very dark and drop down to a minimum brightness of 4nits. OnePlus 9 review: Specifications and performance Underneath the display, the OnePlus 9 hides some really interesting hardware to ensure it can handle anything and everything you throw at it. This is because the latest OnePlus 9 device brings with itself only the most powerful hardware that can be found on an Android smartphone at the moment. At the heart of the device is Qualcomm's top-of-the-line Snapdragon 888 SoC paired to as much as 12GB RAM and 256GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage. This chipset is the successor to the Snapdragon 865-series chipsets from last year. However, it's built using a more advanced fabrication process which helps it pack a significantly greater number of transistors on the silicon. Qualcomm claims this chipset brings significant gains in both CPU and GPU performance, all while being more power-efficient than before. For the former, we have Qualcomms 3-tier Kryo 680 CPU cluster, which consists of one Cortex-X1 core clocked at 2.84GHz, three slightly slower, but still quite powerful, Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4GHz, and finally, four low power Cortex-A55 cores running at 1.8GHz. Working in tandem, these cores help the Snapdragon 888 chip achieve a 25 per cent uptick in CPU performance over the previous generation. For graphics, the chipset houses an Adreno 660 GPU, which again claims to offer a 35 per cent increase in performance over last year's Adreno 650 GPU when it comes to graphics rendering. The chipset also packs Qualcomm's Snapdragon X60 5G modem to deliver 5G connectivity across global networks and Qualcomm Spectra 580 ISP for handling cameras. Qualcomm claims that the latter is 35% faster than the previous generation imaging processors, and also uses a new low-light architecture to help cameras capture brighter images in dark environments. But we'll discuss the camera performance later. For now, let's take a look at how the core hardware handles apps of daily use, synthetic benchmarks, and yes, games. OnePlus sent us the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant for review. Running a copy of Oxygen OS 11 -- based on Android 11 -- our review unit of the OnePlus 9 worked as expected, and gave us very little to complain about. Outside the realm of synthetic benchmarks, the general performance of the OnePlus 9 is good. The device handles heavy-duty games -- including Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9 Legends -- as well as handles apps of daily use such as Facebook, Amazon and Instagram. The phone's 120Hz display working in tandem with the powerful chipset and high amount of RAM -- which the system can also improve virtually by allocating a chunk of ROM for system processes -- also helps improve the gaming experience on the phone, making the phone feel fast, and responsive. Call of Duty Mobile: Median FPS and stability The power of the device's flagship-grade hardware was also visible when we tested it using our suite of benchmark tests. To begin with, the OnePlus 9 clocked an impressive score of 708100 points on AnTuTu 8.0, and also scored a very good 1125 points and 3629 points respectively in the single-core and multi-core tests of Geekbench 5. It also impressed when tested using 3DMark Wildlife -- a score of 5682 points -- and GfxBench. For gaming, we tested the device using our trusted Gamebench service and the results were in line with what we had expected. We tested Call of Duty Mobile and Asphalt 9 Legends at the highest possible graphics settings, and the former managed to reach a median FPS of 60 with a stability of 86 per cent. Asphalt 9 Legends clocked ran at a median FPS of 59 frames at stability of 98 per cent. These are pretty good results, and as such, translating to stable and good gameplay at the highest possible graphics settings on the device. (Photo credit: Prateek Khatri/Digit) OnePlus 9 review: Cameras Moving to the camera department, there's a lot to digest here about the OnePlus 9. Unlike the OnePlus 9 Pro, this one comes with a three-lens module at the back which comes with the Hasselblad branding. However, the lenses populating the module have not been developed in partnership with the Swedish camera manufacturer. Instead, with the OnePlus 9, the partnership sees Hasselblad provide camera tuning inputs to help the OnePlus 9 output more "life-like" colours. Do note that the below samples have been resized for web and that you can see the original, full-resolution JPG files in our Flickr Gallery. At the heart of the set-up is a primary 48-megapixel Sony IMX689 sensor with an F/1.8 aperture. This is sat next to a 50-megapixel ultra-wide IMX766 lens with an F/2.2 aperture and a third 2-megapixel monochrome lens for adding extra detail to portrait shots. OnePlus claims the above-mentioned lenses working in tandem with the Hasselband tuned camera software helps the OnePlus 9 take a "giant leap forward in mobile photography." However, as we found out, this appears to be more of a giant marketing claim than anything else. While the overall camera performance of the device is good, it's still not out of the ordinary. The primary lens captures decent day-time shots. When fed with a good amount of light, this lens clicks some really well-detailed pictures. The pictures clicked using the main camera also show the good dynamic range and colour accuracy to help the phone take on the competition in the segment. With the OnePlus 9, the company has also vastly improved the ultra-wide capabilities of the camera set-up. This mostly because of the presence of powerful hardware in the form of the 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 sensor. This is a curved freeform lens that greatly reduces edge-distortion in ultra-wide images to improve the end result. And, because of its high megapixel count, the lens also manages to capture images with a decent amount of detail and very little noise. The phone also uses this lens to click super macro shots from as close as 4 cm away from the subject. During our review, we found the lens to also be good at clicking macro shots, with such pictures coming out with rich detail and good depth effect. Both the primary and ultra-wide lens also offer good low-light performance, which appears to be marginally better than what we saw on the previous generation OnePlus devices. The Nightscape mode's performance also appears to have gone up a bit, with the computational photography algorithms providing good results even in very low-light scenarios. The mode brings the overall low-light performance of the OnePlus to a more than satisfactory level and is generally fast and responsive. However, that's not the case for the overall camera experience of the device. On the software side of things, there still appear to be a few bugs, with the phone's camera software feeling a little sluggish at times. While the phone offers good shutter speed, the tap response for clicking pictures from the software side is a little delayed -- something that can be an issue if you are trying to click a burst of quick shots. Apart from this, the other major thing of note about the OnePlus 9 photography experience is the presence of a standalone Hasselblad Pro Mode. Under this mode, OnePlus provides an interesting UI and a number of advanced options to test out your photography skills. Based on Hasselblads image processing software, this mode gives users the ability to manually adjust ISO, exposure time, white balance, focus and more. Additionally, there's also the option to capture 12-bit RAW images for improved details, colour and higher dynamic range. ; OnePlus 9 review: Battery Keeping the lights on the device is a big 4500mAh battery pack on the device which promises good battery life. As a daily driver, the OnePlus 9's battery should be big enough to get most users through the day. In fact, light to moderate users may even get more than a day's worth of use on a single charge from the device. As found during our review, the OnePlus 9 managed to last over 14 hours in our video loop test and also handled gaming well by recording a battery drain of 24 per cent after an hour-long session of Call of Duty: Mobile. And even when the phone does run out of charge, it's not really a problem as the phone supports the company's Warp Charge 65T. This enables it to complete a full charge using the phone's included 65W charger in around 60 minutes. However, what's more interesting is the fact that the first 50 per cent of the battery can be charged in just 16 minutes. (Photo credit: Prateek Khatri/Digit) OnePlus 9: Conclusion Sandwiched between the OnePlus 9 Pro and the OnePlus 9R, the OnePlus 9 appears to be a very different proposition from its predecessors. Unlike the OnePlus 8 -- and also the OnePlus 8T -- the OnePlus 9 does not simply play second fiddle to the more expensive Pro OnePlus device. Instead, it now exists as the middle-child, attempting to strike a fine balance between price and premium features. This step-up in positioning has also seen the OnePlus 9 launch at a significantly higher price point than what we saw for the vanilla variants up until last year. Starting at Rs 49,999 for the 8GB+128GB variant, with the 12GB RAM+256GB storage one going up to Rs 54,999, the OnePlus 9 is now a premium flagship that demands greater scrutiny than ever before. As a consequence of its price, the OnePlus 9 will now also face far greater competition than previous generation non-pro OnePlus phones. While it's too early to say how it'll fare against the competition, we can definitely comment on the OnePlus 9's credentials as a smartphone in isolation of the prevailing market conditions. In our time with the phone, we found the OnePlus 9 to be an extremely well-rounded device. From display to performance and even cameras, there's plenty to like about the OnePlus 9 as the phone covers pretty much all bases, and generally lives up to the tall claims made by the marketing folks at OnePlus. It almost hits all the right notes, and as such, should be good for pretty all users. So, if you are in the market for a new phone, or want to upgrade from your old OnePlus to a new one, the OnePlus 9 should definitely be getting your consideration. 42% of religious Americans report attending in-person worship at least once in the past month: Pew Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As the pandemic continues, 42% of U.S. adults who identify as religious said they've attended worship at least once in the past month, according to the Pew Research Center. In a Pew report published Monday titled Life in U.S. Religious Congregations Slowly Edges Back Toward Normal, researchers found an increase in worship attendance compared to last year. Among all U.S. adults, Pew found a slight increase of those who reported attending at least one service in the past month, from 13% in July 2020 to 17% in early March 2021. A respondent was classified in the religious Americans category if they attended worship services at least once a month on a regular basis before the pandemic lockdowns last year. Among religious Americans surveyed, 42% said they had attended at least one worship service in the past month, which was higher than the 33% who said the same in July 2020. When analyzing the Christian subcategories, Pew found that evangelical respondents were the most likely to say they had attended in-person worship in the past month, at 53%. Catholics were the next largest Christian group to report attending in the past month with 34%, followed by mainline Protestants at 34% and historically black Protestants at 21%. There was also a racial gap in responses, as 50% of non-Hispanic whites reported attending worship in the past month while 34% of Hispanics and 25% of non-Hispanic blacks responded the same. The Pew report drew from a nationally representative sample that was surveyed March 1-7 of 12,055 respondents with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points. The report also found increased confidence in the safety of attending in-person worship during the pandemic among those who were classified as religious Americans in the study. Seventy-six percent of religious Americans said they were very or somewhat confident that they could attend worship without getting COVID-19, an increase from 64% reported last July. Further, between July 2020 and March 2021, the percentage of religious Americans who believed their congregation should be closed for in-person services declined from 28% to 15%, while those who believed they should be open as normal increased from 13% to 26%. As coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths decline and vaccination rates rise across the United States, life in religious congregations is showing signs of slowly returning to normal, stated Pew. Still, the situation in U.S. congregations remains far from ordinary, and this promises to be the second consecutive highly atypical Easter season for Christians. Earlier this month, LifeWay Research released a study which found that around one in four people who attended church before the pandemic plan to attend more frequently when it ends. According to the LifeWay report on Protestant churchgoers, 91% said they plan to return to attending worship post-pandemic and 23% said they will attend worship more often. LifeWay also found that churchgoers aged 18-29 were the most likely to report planning to attend more, with 43% saying they will go to church more after the pandemic. Nicola Sturgeon's right-hand man in London accused a journalist of setting him up for 'a kicking' as he desperately tried to avoid answering questions about whether she misled Parliament. SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford levelled the accusation at astonished Sky News presenter Niall Paterson this morning as he was grilled over the First Minister's mounting troubles in Scotland. She today dismissed calls to quit despite a damning inquiry finding by a Holyrood committee that she misled Parliament over the Alex Salmond row. Responding to a no confidence motion laid by the Tories at Holyrood, the First Minister accused critics of deciding she was guilty before any evidence had been heard by the cross-party committee. Mr Blackford, who leads SNP MPs in Westminster, was asked by Mr Paterson repeatedly whether he agreed with the committee that his boss misled Holyrood. He shot back: 'I can see what you are trying to do and of course I did hear you speaking to your studio as I was waiting to come on that you were going to give me a kicking, it is quite clear what is happening here.' An astonished Mr Paterson replied: 'No, that's not what I said.' Mr Blackford then went on to insist Ms Sturgeon had acted 'beyond reproach.' SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford levelled the accusation at astonished Sky News presenter Niall Paterson this morning as he was grilled over the First Minister's mounting troubles in Scotland. A cross-party committee found Nicola Sturgeon (pictured at Holyrood today) did mislead the Scottish Parliament as it delivered a damning assessment of the handling of the Alex Salmond row Nicola Sturgeon (left) has already dismissed the committee's inquiry into the Alex Salmond (right) inquiry as 'partisan' Ms Sturgeon jibed that she would not be 'bullied out of office' when she faced MSPs this afternoon - gloating that she had been cleared by a separate probe carried out by a QC. Ms Sturgeon said she 'rejects entirely' the idea that she misled Parliament, and said she was 'at peace with my own conscience' over the extraordinary controversy. But Ruth Davidson for the Scottish Conservatives told her that the 'honourable thing would be to resign'. Ms Sturgeon looks certain to survive the confidence vote due at 4pm, with the Greens and Labour refusing to join the Tories. It comes hours after the committee concluded she misled MSPs by giving Mr Salmond the impression she would intervene in his case. The MSPs said witnesses supported Mr Salmond's account of a meeting she initially 'failed to recollect' in March 2018, and it was 'hard to believe' she had 'no knowledge of any concerns about inappropriate behaviour on the part of Mr Salmond prior to November 2017'. 'If she did have such knowledge, then she should have acted upon it,' the report said. 'If she did have such knowledge, then she has misled the committee.' The committee also delivered a bruising assessment of the Scottish government's 'unacceptable' obstruction of access to crucial material including legal advice. The findings are in contrast to the verdict of a separate report yesterday, when James Hamilton QC cleared Ms Sturgeon of breaking the ministerial code - despite concluding her account was 'incomplete'. The committee split down party lines, with the four SNP members objecting to key findings, but crucially the nationalists' usual allies the Greens choosing to side with the opposition. Sorry! This content is not available in your region (@FahadShabbir) Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and President Michel Aoun failed again Monday to agree on a new government line-up after seven months of deadlock, as the country sinks deeper into economic crisis Beirut, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Mar, 2021 ) :Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and President Michel Aoun failed again Monday to agree on a new government line-up after seven months of deadlock, as the country sinks deeper into economic crisis. "I asked the president to listen to the woes of the people and to give this country its final chance of having a technocratic government capable of reform," Hariri said from the presidential palace after his proposed cabinet line-up was rejected. Hariri's remarks crushed hopes for a government breakthrough, as political leaders continued to wrangle over cabinet shares despite widespread anger at an economic crisis that has reignited street protests against a decades-old ruling class. Hariri said Aoun and the party he founded are pushing for a third of all cabinet seats, which would give them veto power over government decisions. Aoun "sent me last night a line-up that grants his team a third of cabinet seats", Hariri said. "This is not acceptable." The three-time premier, who was selected in October to form a new government, made public an alternative line-up he said he had submitted to the president more than three months ago. Hariri's proposal was comprised mainly of experts and included fresh Names, such as Firas Abiad, the head of Lebanon's main coronavirus hospital, Nasser Yasin of the American University of Beirut and prominent political scientist Fadia Kiwan, according to a list published by his office. He said the line-up was turned down because it didn't give the president's set privileged power. Officer Eric Talley was among the 10 people who were killed in a shooting at a King Soopers on Monday afternoon, the Boulder Police Department said. A sense of cautious optimism is spreading across northern Manitoba as First Nations prepare for one of the most ambitious health campaigns in Canada. A sense of cautious optimism is spreading across northern Manitoba as First Nations prepare for one of the most ambitious health campaigns in Canada. The first trickle of COVID-19 vaccine doses in a push to immunize most adults in remote communities started this week, while the long-awaited inoculation supersite in Thompson has been so popular, its run out of shots. "Everybody was just jolly and I dont think there were any complaints," Bernice Thorassie, client navigator for Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, told reporters at a virtual briefing Tuesday. Thorassie said she was impressed at how Manitobas public health officials kept a steady pace and an appropriate distance as they administered doses to 175 people from Tataskweyak Cree Nation. The band had chartered five buses to drive the two hours to Thompson for vaccinations, a process that involves getting consent forms ready, making sure people fit the age quota and sometimes answering questions in languages such as Cree. The province originally faced criticism over initial planning for the Thompson supersite (set at the airport, far from the city with no public transit and limited access to washrooms); ultimately, the Thompson Regional Community Centre has been a better fit, with glitches ironed out. "They were really, really nice; I was actually surprised at how structured it was and how people were moving through the TRCC to prevent cross-contamination," said Thorassie, who praised officials for also providing lunches to people arriving from outside the city. Soon, much of the north will have vaccines come to them, thanks to an effort to administer the required two doses of Moderna to 50,000 people by Canada Day. The effort spans 84 communities, including 63 reserves and 21 adjacent towns. The military will help get doses to 23 of these communities. Reserves such as Pimicikamak and Chemawawin have set up vaccination sites in local arenas, serving the reserve as well as adjacent towns (Cross Lake and Easterville, respectively). Joni Wilson, who represents MKO on the provinces vaccine task force, said Manitoba is prioritizing communities that have experienced natural disasters because of the complexity it would incur to safely evacuate unvaccinated people, should that need to occur. "Some of the considerations were regarding seasonal factors, such as overground flooding as well as (winter) roads and ice break-ups," said Wilson. The doses are almost always flown in, sometimes by helicopter, instead of being transported by ice road. But losing an ice road means everyone would have to pile into planes if there was an evacuation, which increases the risk of mass outbreaks. The four reserves around Island Lake, for example, have had multiple wildfire evacuations in the past two decades. COVID-19 has been relentless in the area, with the military called in twice to help as the coronavirus spread from one reserve to another. Four Arrows Health Authority has tracked 1,387 cases (of which 64 are active) in a region of roughly 15,000 people. Thats nearly one in 10 people having been infected, a rate health director Alex McDougall says is unheard of in Manitoba communities with roads and proper health services. "We've made many comparisons to populations similar to our size, and even smaller," he said. The vaccination ramp-up is still in the works, but the talks so far suggest all four communities will get a large shipment of doses shortly after Easter, likely a total of around 5,700 shots. Some communities will use their school gyms to deliver jabs into arms. While some northern communities should have enough doses to inoculate everyone, Island Lake will have to start with an age threshold until subsequent shipments. The region has already immunized many elders, which is already bringing some piece of mind. A recent case at one household led to everyone who resided there testing positive for COVID-19 except for one person who had the vaccine. "Its a pretty good indication of how the vaccines can help," said McDougall, while stressing the pandemic wont be over right away. "Were still under high alert and were anticipating another round of outbreaks in our communities." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca One in seven men will experience relationship violence in the course of their lifetimes, the Justice Committee has been told. However 95pc of these offences are not reported to gardai, said Kathrina Bentley, chief executive of Mens Aid. Last year a total of 5,500 men contacted the group to seek support, she said. Ms Bentley said 13 brave men had alleged rape in 2020, 11 by a female partner, and 2 by a male partner. A man in his fifties, a father, had reported an allegation of rape within marriage and had reported it to the gardai who were now investigating, she added. Read More An 18-year-old man also contacted the agency by email from a local library because his phone was seized and examined by an abusive mother and sister, she claimed. Irish legislation does not recognise that a man can be raped by a female, she said, referring to an offence of FTP, or forced to penetrate. Legislation must be changed to enable prosecutions in incidents of rape of a man by either a man or woman. Deirdre Kenny, deputy chief executive of One in Four, said some victims of assault and abuse had to undergo counselling after the courtroom experience. They could experience flashbacks when shown evidential photographs of a room where abuse may have taken place. She called for an impact study of how court processes could trigger victims and cause re-traumatisation, Witnesses were often likely to suffer post-traumatic stress, which could cause their evidence to appear unreliable, she said. Caroline Counihan BL, legal policy director of the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, said the harm caused by the legal system to sexual assault victims is sometimes described as worse than the offence itself. They have a particular fear that lengthy cross-examination could intrude into their private lives. She suggested that vulnerable people, including children, should have their evidence pre-recorded and allowed to stand as their evidence-in-chief. Judges should be given wide-ranging discretionary powers to allow material or facilities that would assist participants, so long as it did not conflict with the interests of justice. Ciaran Carbery, of the criminal justice section of the Department of Justice, said the introduction of preliminary hearings ahead of trial would remove some anxieties currently felt by complainants and prevent the current situation of some matters having to be addressed in the absence of a jury, which caused stop-start interruptions at trial. Such hearings are provided for in legislation now making its way through the Oireachtas and comprise a key recommendation from a report in this area carried out by barrister Tom OMalley in the wake of public concerns raised by the Belfast rape trial. Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny said an awful lot more could be done by video evidence, as the pandemic had demonstrated. He called for complainants to have designated companions during proceedings so they could feel better supported and even be brought to a place of safety if needed. Dara Hayes BL, of the Bar of Ireland, said not every courtroom, even in the Criminal Courts of Justice, the most modern complex, was enabled to take video evidence. This could affect cases getting into court and cause delays. By Pei Li, Kane Wu and Yingzhi Yang (Reuters) - Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd is having to offer concessions in a plan to merge the country's top two videogame live-streaming sites in order to resolve antitrust concerns, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Tencent, China's No. 1 videogame and social media firm, first announced plans to merge Huya and DouYu last year in a tieup designed to streamline its stakes in the firms, estimated by data firm MobTech to have an 80% slice of a market already worth more than $3 billion and growing fast. But with regulators concerned the deal would give Tencent overwhelming dominance, it's willing to settle for approval subject to conditions, according to the people, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. China's State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) said in December it was reviewing the merger. Tencent, Huya, DouYu and SAMR did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. The change of tack comes amid Beijing's sweeping anti-monopoly crackdown on China's internet giants. The crackdown started with 2020's shelving of financial technology firm Ant Group's $37 billion initial public offering, and has expanded across the sector, battering share prices and prompting some to take pre-emptive measures before they are targeted. A separate person with direct knowledge of the deal said the antitrust review of the merger had been an "elongated process", but nothing concrete had been communicated from the regulator to the companies regarding potential concessions. Huya and DouYu are ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, as China's most popular video game streaming sites, where users flock to watch e-sports tournaments and follow professional gamers. Tencent is Huya's biggest shareholder with 36.9% and also owns over a third of DouYu, with both firms listed in the United States, and worth a combined $10 billion by market value. Story continues "Tencent has a dominant position in game publishing in China, while the two live-streaming sites combined would be tantamount to gargantuan in the business," one of the people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Announcing the Huya-DouYu plan last October, Tencent said it aimed to fold its own fully-owned videogame live-streaming business into the combined businesses of Huya and DouYu after the merger under its Penguin arm. This has, however, triggered concerns, said the people familiar with the matter. Tencent requires user-agreement that company-owned games cannot be live-streamed on other platforms without its approval. The Chinese tech giant had been using this requirement to block competitors, such as ByteDance, which is making a foray into gaming scene, from using content for which Tencent owns intellectual property. (Reporting by Pei Li, Yingzhi Yang, Kane Wu; additional reporting by Cheng Leng; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Kenneth Maxwell) TAMPA, Fla., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Widget, the manufacturer and distributor of iconic CBD brands Hemp Bombs, Nature's Script and Perfect Paws Hemp, is one of 12 CBD companies whose customers took part in a recent Validcare clinical investigation that reports no preliminary evidence of liver disease in the over 800 adults taking CBD as part of the trial. Validcare, which conducts patient-centered clinical trials, said in its press release that a team of principal investigators has met with members of the Food and Drug Agency's Cannabis Product Council (formerly known as the Cannabis Work Group) to share initial findings. "The safety, efficacy and quality of our products is our No. 1 priority," said Margaret Richardson, Global Widget Chief Compliance and Legal Officer. "As the FDA readies its guidance for the CBD industry and hemp-derived CBD products, it is imperative that science-based data such as this be presented so the administration can issue proper regulatory guidance in the months ahead." A minimum of 681 participants were needed to achieve the desired statistical significance. Over 830 consumers from among customers of the 12 CBD companies, including Global Widget, completed the study between August 2020 and February 2021. The study's investigators calling the findings "validating and reassuring" were surprised to find almost 70% of study participants reported having a medical condition and taking medications for those conditions, without an increase in reporting of adverse events. Studies of similar populations demonstrate an 11% elevation in liver function tests, while this research demonstrated about a 9% elevation1. "We understand the significance, importance and immediate need for CBD safety research for the FDA, industry and the US consumer," said Patrick McCarthy, CEO of Validcare. "We are excited for our principal investigators to continue, expand and report out on this foundational work in the next few months. Once completed, safety results of this study will be shared with participating brands and FDA. The investigators also plan to publish in a peer-reviewed journal." About Us Global Widget, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Tampa, Florida, is a vertically integrated manufacturer, distributor and marketer of CBD and health and wellness products, and a leader in gummy production and packaging. The company is the trusted powerhouse behind the iconic CBD brands Hemp Bombs, Nature's Script and Perfect Paws Hemp for pets. With more than 110,000 square feet of facility space and more than 200 employees, Global Widget is one of the nation's largest CBD companies and a leading contract manufacturer providing quality products and support services to retailers and distributors worldwide. www.globalwidget.com. 1 Kariv, R., Leshno, M., Beth-Or, A., Strul, H., Blendis, L., Kokia, E., Noff, D., Zelber-Sagie, S., Sheinberg, B., Oren, R., & Halpern, Z. (2006). Re-evaluation of serum alanine aminotransferase upper normal limit and its modulating factors in a large-scale population study. Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver, 26(4), 445450. Media Contact: Joe Agostinelli, PR Manager 813.497.5752 | [email protected] SOURCE Global Widget Related Links http://www.globalwidget.com Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Ireland can avoid a fourth wave of coronavirus if people stick to public health measures and avoid indoor gatherings, the Taoiseach has said. Micheal Martin said the measures had worked in bringing the case numbers down significantly but he was now concerned that numbers were flattening. Mr Martin told RTE Radio 1s News at One: People have been extremely good here in terms of the impact theyve had on the virus. We have to stand back and say weve brought numbers down very, very significantly from where they were two months ago. Use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has been restarted after a temporary pause. The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective. Go to your appointment if this vaccine is offered to you. Visit: https://t.co/cCTPQAmaeF#HoldFirm #CovidVaccine pic.twitter.com/69wiIwpveO HSE Ireland (@HSELive) March 22, 2021 I mean, two months ago we had 2,000 people in hospital. We have to avoid that kind of pressure ever again going on our hospital system, so we are concerned that the situation has remained static. The Taoiseach described the UK variant as the most significant factor, combined with more congregation and a degree more mobilisation that is allowing the figures to flatten and increase somewhat in the last number of days. Read More What I would say to people is that we have control of this and we must avoid congregation indoors at all costs, Mr Martin said. If we stick with this and if we manage to adhere (and) keep outdoors, avoid the indoor congregations, I think we can avoid a fourth wave. The Taoiseach said the mental health and wellbeing of people would be taken into account when Cabinet meets to consider any easing of public health restrictions from April 5. He also said the reopening of schools had worked well and that he did not foresee any changes to the timeline for the return of other students, despite the rising cases of the virus. Face coverings can help prevent the spread of #COVID19. But if you wear one, you should still do the following: a social distancing a covering your mouth & nose when you cough & sneeze a washing your hands a not touching your eyes, nose or mouth pic.twitter.com/2IRs1NVwtX HSE Ireland (@HSELive) March 22, 2021 Mr Martin added that the Government would make a comprehensive announcement early next week to tell people what will happen after April 5, when the current restrictions are due to lapse. His remarks come as a senior health official warned Ireland is in danger of facing another wave of Covid-19 cases. Monday saw one further death from coronavirus in Ireland and another 520 confirmed cases, a decline on the 768 reported on Sunday. Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said the numbers have been volatile. Were at least static and there has been a drift upwards in the five-day moving average over the last few days, he told a briefing on Monday. Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team The Health Protection Surveillance Centre @hpscireland has today been notified of 1 additional death related to #COVID19. There has been a total of 4,588 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. Department of Health (@roinnslainte) March 22, 2021 Dr Glynn said the reason for the stagnation in falling case numbers was a mixed picture. He said: For example, in Limerick we have a student outbreak thats ongoing. We have a number of outbreaks in the Irish travelling community in a number of counties across the country. We have a small number of outbreaks in schools, and I think a well-publicised outbreak in a childcare facility in Offaly. We have a number of outbreaks in workplaces particularly meat processing facilities. There isnt one outbreak dominating in only one area of the country. He said there were also issues with household outbreaks and an influx of cases following St Patricks Day. Its all adding up to the stasis that were seeing, unfortunately he added. We do need to be conscious of all of the exposures that happen around schools Dr Philip Nolan, National Public Health Emergency Team There is some concern about a possible increase in cases among children up to the age of 12, Dr Philip Nolan of the National Public Health Emergency Team said. I would be confident in the level of investigation that colleagues in public health are doing on that, when they tell us that there is very low detection and very low probability of transmission within schools. Im certainly not concerned about this. We do need to be conscious of all of the exposures that happen around schools. Getting to and from schools, social interaction outside the school setting and so on. Its a very high level of investigation of any concerns about transmissions in schools. But at the same time we are seeing, possibly, an increase in incidence in children of school-going age, which well have to analyse and monitor very closely over the coming fortnight. There has been a total of 4,588 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. The HSEs lead for infection control, Professor Martin Cormican, described case numbers as stuck and possibly rising. Sunday saw 769 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed by the Department of Health, the highest daily increase in cases reported since February 26. There were also two more deaths of people with Covid-19. It makes no difference to the virus if it is a wake or a birthday party Professor Martin Cormican Prof Cormican told RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland programme: [Cases] are pretty much stuck, possibly going back upwards a bit. Theres a real danger of another surge. We certainly all hoped to be in a better place than we are. We need to deal with the reality of where we are and we need to be very careful. Prof Cormican described the increase in case numbers as disappointing and urged the public to continue in their social distancing efforts because the more people come together, the more the virus spreads. Thats really hard because whats got us through so far is that people have put up with a great deal of isolation and loneliness, and burdened it as necessary to control the virus, he said. Unfortunately it is still necessary because the new strain does seem to spread faster than the one we were used to. And that makes everything harder and makes it harder for everyone. He added: The vast majority of people are trying really hard to adhere to the restrictions as much of the time as they possibly can. There are some people who are less careful and I suppose we continue to appeal to them and to explain to them that the risks that theyre taking is not just a risk for them, the risk that theyre taking is a risk for everyone they know and care about in the two weeks after they take that risk. Prof Cormican said the situation in hospitals had improved and described schools as stable, but warned they were seeing a spread in infection in workplaces and other settings where people gather together, such as birthday parties and wakes. It makes no difference to the virus if it is a wake or a birthday party, he added. His comments come as the countrys long-awaited mandatory quarantine system is set to become operational later this week. People arriving from 33 countries flagged as high risk will have to quarantine in hotels for 14 days. Mandatory quarantine will also apply to people arriving into Ireland without a negative PCR test. Meanwhile, as of March 18, 654,251 doses of Covid vaccines have been administered in Ireland. Read More Bradenton, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - 808 Renewable Energy Corporation (OTC Pink: RNWR) ("808" or the "Company"), today announced that the Company is about to launch its new Global Expansion Plan with its newly acquired Silverlight Aviation, LLC ("SilverLight"), a company specializing in the design and manufacturing of gyroplane or autogyro aircraft in the form of kits or fully-assembled and ready to fly aircraft. SilverLight was founded by Abid Farooqui, an engineer with over 15 years' experience in the aeronautics field, who designed SilverLight's gyroplanes. SilverLight Aviation has already received more orders and inquiries in the 1st quarter than the entire year of 2020, the company has received new orders from many new market areas, including Taiwan. The company is currently working on a revolutionary Kevlar model to target the international police and defense market, which it will have far superb competitive edge vs. the conventional helicopters in pricing, maintenance cost and overall performance. According to Mr. David Chen, the President and CEO of the company, it will have a very strong demand and growth potential in routine patrolling, aerial surveillance and other applications such as pipeline and powerline inspection, coast guard and borderline patrols, among many other applications. The Company is about to further expand its operation into reverse-trike electric vehicles and working on a new revolutionary Flying Car concept which it will be a EVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff & Landing vehicle), this new and exciting new project is now fully funded and it is scheduled to be completed within the next two years. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements using the words "hope," "anticipate," "may" and statements regarding the potential growth of the Company, and future plans and objectives of the Company and SilverLight, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release. SilverLight Aviation, LLC SilverLight Aviation, LLC is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Zephyrhills, Florida, specializing in the design and manufacture of gyroplane or autogyro aircraft in the form of kits or ready to fly aircraft. Investor Contact: David Chen, President - (631) 397-1111 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78321 "We have taken an innovative approach in the rapidly growing at-home beauty device market by offering device systems that combine scientifically formulated serums and treatments with beauty devices," said Ryan Napierski, president. "We believe this scientific rigor in both device and ingredient delivery is a unique strength that other beauty brands can't easily duplicate. We continue to strengthen our industry-leading position with the introduction of new devices and a roadmap that includes connected devices to personalize the customer experience and combines our devices with our Pharmanex nutritional supplements for scientifically proven results that address beauty from both the inside and the outside." Global research firms including Euromonitor, Mintel and Kline all reported growth in anti-aging beauty devices in 2020 in key markets including the U.S. and China. Likewise, Nu Skin's portfolio of beauty device systems helped drive revenue growth in 2020 and an increase in the company's customer base to more than 1.5 million consumers. Through Nu Skin's EmpowerMe interactive, digital experience, customers can easily find the right devices and consumables for their skin care needs. As customers experience the skin care benefits they can obtain from one of the company's beauty devices, it creates an opportunity for them to continue usage and engage in an expanded range of personalized treatments in the future. Nu Skin offers an innovative portfolio of award-winning beauty devices including its newest addition, ageLOC Boost, which features unique, variable pulse microcurrent technology that instantly activates the skin for natural radiance. In addition, Nu Skin's device family includes: ageLOC Galvanic Spa, ageLOC Body Spa, Nu Skin Facial Spa, ageLOC Me, ageLOC LumiSpa and ageLOC LumiSpa Accent to address a range of consumers' top skin care concerns such as brightness, cleansing, firming, hydrating, acne and the appearance of lines and wrinkles. About Nu Skin Founded more than 35 years ago, Nu Skin develops and distributes innovative consumer products, offering a comprehensive line of premium-quality beauty and wellness solutions. The company builds upon its scientific expertise in both skin care and nutrition to continually develop innovative product brands that include the Nu Skin personal care brand, the Pharmanex nutrition brand, and most recently, the ageLOC anti-aging brand. The ageLOC brand has generated a loyal following for such products as the ageLOC LumiSpa skin cleansing and treatment device, ageLOC Youth nutritional supplement, the ageLOC Me customized skin care system, as well as the ageLOC TR90 weight management and body shaping system. Nu Skin sells its products through a global network of sales leaders in Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Pacific. As a long-standing member of direct selling associations globally, Nu Skin is committed to the industry's consumer guidelines that protect and support those who sell and purchase its products through the direct selling channel. Nu Skin International is a wholly owned subsidiary of NSE, Inc., which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol (NYSE: NUS). More information is available at nuskin.com. Nu Skin Social Media Channels fb.com/nuskin twitter.com/nuskin instagram.com/nuskin fb.com/ForceForGood Source Euromonitor International Limited; Retail Value RSP terms; all channels; 2017 to 2020. Beauty Systems are at-home Skin Care Beauty Devices that are exclusively paired or recommended to be used with a topical consumable of the same brand. Claim verification based on Euromonitor custom research and methodology conducted January-March of 2021. Sales of at-home skin care beauty devices includes sales of electric facial cleansers as defined in Passport database. This category does not include hair care/removal appliances, body shavers, and oral care appliances. SOURCE Nu Skin The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) says its plan is to remain in power for 10 consecutive terms, an equivalent of 40 years. The partys interim national chairman, Mai Mala Buni, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the 61-member Strategy and Contact Committee ahead of the 2023 general elections. The party announced the committees composition on Monday. Flanked by governors, senators and other prominent members of the party, Mr Buni said the committee was one of the APCs move to successfully organise its congresses and convention to usher in its next crop of leaders. An elected government in Nigeria has a four-year term limit, before new polls are held, according to the 1999 Constitution (as amended). President Muhammadu Buhari, who won the presidency under the APC in 2015 is currently in his second term. He cannot seek re-election as stipulated by law. Our vision is to provide a wheel that will drive the party to go beyond 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and even 10th term of office to effectively implement the party manifesto, improve the lives of Nigerians and, to remain Nigerias leading political party. This committee is therefore very key to our process of transition towards successful congresses and national convention and, to establish a very solid, reputable and reliable future for the party, he said at the event held at the NEC hall of the APC headquarters in Abuja. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the countrys current main opposition party, once said that it would be in power for at least 60 years. The party, however, lost power to the APC in 2015 after 16 years in power. Cracks Mr Buni also reiterated his commitment to resolving the fragment of crisis in the party and ensure an inclusive administration at all levels. In his address, the chairman of the committee, Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, called for more commitment of members in the affairs of the party. Mr Abubakar said APC recorded not less than 36 million members during its just concluded membership registration and revalidation exercise. I note with commendation that many Nigerians have continued to join the party daily and the ongoing registration exercises have further demonstrated the popularity of the party in the country, he said. We are mindful of the time table publicised by the party and our committee shall work assiduously to support the party in delivering on the time table. Initially, we printed forms for only 10, 000 members but we got up to 10 million members and now, we have gone to 36 million and that is not even enough. And now, we are printing more because when people see what President Muhammadu Buhari has done with one side of the resources than the previous administration gets. In his response to the question on whether Mr Buni-led committee would successfully execute power transition by June 2020 as proposed, Mr Abubakar answered in affirmative. Among those that attended the event were a former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, who recently decamped to the APC and the 2018 Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, who also joined the ruling party recently. ADVERTISEMENT Also in attendance was the immediate past governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode. Mr Ambodes inclusion in the committee is his first political appointment since his failed re-election bid in 2019. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 New Delhi [India]/ New York, March 23 (ANI/PRNewswire): (https://logiq.com) a global provider of award-winning eCommerce and fintech solutions, has joined forces with (https://www.comviva.com) a global leader in digital financial solutions, to offer digital wallet and payment services across Indonesia. The services based on Logiq's PayLogiq digital wallet will be powered by Comviva's (https://www.comviva.com/products-solutions/financial-solutions/digital-payments/digital-wallet-mobiquity-pay) mobiquity Pay platform. Logiq also recently partnered with (https://yabx.co) Yabx, a fintech venture of Comviva to offer credit-based financial services such as cash advance for merchants and 'buy now, pay later (BNPL) options for consumers. mobiquity Pay is one of the world's largest digital wallet solutions, powering over 70 digital financial services across more than 50 countries and will play an essential role in Logiq's new partnership with Koperasi Mona Santoso Berjaya (KMSB). Together with KMSB, Logiq is providing micro-lending services to members of Badan Perlayanan Jaminan Sosial Ketenagakerjaan (BPJSTK), the social security agency that provides retirement and pension plans on behalf of Indonesian government entities. The new micro-lending services will benefit BPJSTK's 48 million members and 600,000 small-and-medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The partnership with Comviva will allow Logiq to extend swift, convenient and secure digital wallet services to BPJSTK members and SMBs. Using Logiq's digital wallet, BPJSTK members and SMBs will be able to perform multiple financial transactions quickly and securely, including money transfers, receiving and repaying loans, accessing insurance, buying airtime or data, paying bills or merchants--all on their mobile phone, anytime, anywhere. "Our partnership with Comviva enables us to provide best-in-class digital wallet services to thousands of individuals and SMBs in Indonesia," said Matthew Brent, Chief Strategy Officer at Logiq. "Digital is quickly becoming the preferred method for transactions, and the global pandemic has only accelerated that transition. By providing digital access to an array of financial services instantly from the convenience of a mobile device, we see our combined platform enhancing the lives of many people, helping to grow their businesses and boosting the country's economic activity." Srinivas Nidugondi, COO and EVP of Digital Financial Solutions at Comviva, commented: "Our mobiquity Pay is a feature-rich, scalable and flexible digital wallet platform that has been deployed across five continents. We will bring our global expertise in digital wallets to this deployment with Logiq. The platform will enable Loqiq to accelerate the growth of digital wallets in Indonesia by introducing innovative digital financial services to transform the way Indonesians save, borrow, transfer and make payments." This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The sub-freezing temperatures and blanket of snow that came with Winter Storm Uri in February could have actually helped the wildflower crop that beautifies Texas highways and country roads. Each spring, Texans head out for afternoon drives and stop for pictures in fields of Indian paintbrush, blanket flower, buttercups, evening primrose and, of course, our most prized blooms bluebonnets, the state flower. This year will be no different, experts say. I have great news. When you look around your yard and it looks sad, well, the wildflowers will do fine, said Amy Galloway, a horticulturist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. The snow insulated them, acting like a blanket of insulation that protected all of their leaves. Youll see plants affected by the ice and freezing temps that got burned and look bad, but wildflowers under snow actually got insulated and, when it melted, provided water. Blooms of hundreds of different species should appear in early April and put on a colorful show for much of that month. Galloway explained that wildflowers germinate in the fall, either from new seed distributed in fields and along roadways or from seeds that dropped and scarified when the prior springs flowers died and fell into surrounding dirt. Karen Warren / Staff photographer By fall, theyre nourished by rains, and then through winter, they root and form a base of greenery called rosettes or seedlings. Typically in March or April, flower spikes and their blooms emerge. Texas A&M University professor and extension horticulturist Larry Stein said that last September and October were fairly dry, so the wildflowers didnt get all of the rain they needed. But the insulating blanket of snow in February may have helped those thirsty plants. Wildflowers have been a spring treat in Texas for decades. Back in the 1930s, the Texas Highway Department halted mowing until spring and summer wildflower seasons were over because the foliage was a great natural way to conserve water, prevent erosion and provide a habitat for wildlife. Today, the Texas Department of Transportation sows about 30,000 pounds of wildflower seed each year, a tradition initiated by Ladybird Johnson, the late former First Lady for whom the wildflower center is named. The rite of spring draws out Texans in force for country drives. Many kids who grow up in Texas have at least one snapshot of themselves posted in a bluebonnet field, but TxDOT urges people to venture into fields with care. When wildflowers are trampled, they can die and not turn to seed, meaning they wont produce seeds for the next years flower crop. TxDOT discourages picking wildflowers for the same reason. Karen Warren / Staff photographer Visit Brenhams website, Wildflower Watch, offers maps of favorite wildflower drives, as well as tips for being a respectful wildflower visitor: First, while roadways may be public property, many fields beyond them are not. Dont venture onto private property or climb fences into someone elses land. If you see a path or trampled flowers in a field where you want to take a picture, follow the path thats already there to minimize the number of flowers that are killed. Remember that roadside berms and ditches are a habitat for wildlife and pests: every step you take could be one already inhabited by fire ants or snakes, so tread carefully. And dont leave trash behind. Littering if youre caught carries a fine of up to $500. You can report cases of littering using Dont Mess with Texas Litterer app. TxDOT will send offenders a Dont Mess with Texas litterbag and a reminder not to litter. diane.cowen@chron.com A migrant family crosses the border into El Paso, Texas, from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Feb. 26. (Associated Press) To the editor: The crush of migrants at the southern U.S. border is a human tragedy that needs to be addressed globally. The United Nations needs to assume responsibility, and the international community needs to provide sufficient resources. ("Border crossings on pace for two-decade high as smugglers exploit high hopes for Biden," March 20) Immigrants seeking asylum should be staged in temporary international locations where they cannot easily melt into the national population. Legitimate asylum seekers can then be assigned to appropriate destinations where they wish to go and are accepted. No country should be allowed to wash their hands of the problem. As stable and responsible entities, the European Union and the United States cannot close themselves off and ignore the problem. A humane, universal solution supported by the international community is needed. Ultimately, this same community needs to address the root causes for the mass movement of humans, and promote solutions so people can live peacefully and safely where they are. Eugene Mullaly, San Diego :: To the editor: I am not sure why the Biden administration is refusing to let the media in to see the conditions under which the migrant children are being held at border facilities. Everybody knows that President Biden has been in office for barely more than two months. The conditions at the border are conditions he inherited from the Trump administration, and nobody will blame him for that. At the moment, Biden and his crew are being naive about the situation. Refusing to allow the media in to report the conditions is totally unnecessary. This nation expects something better from them after the gross incompetence of the Trump administration. Charles Blankson, Fontana This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. An Air Force BQM-167A Skeeter aerial target drone made waves last week when it washed ashore in Boynton Beach, Florida. But service officials say they rarely lose track of these pricey high-tech targets. The 53rd Wing, which oversees operational testing and evaluation at Eglin Air Force Base on Floridas panhandle, uses an average of 140 BQM subscale drones per year for live-fire training, spokeswoman Capt. Savanah Bray said Monday. Read Next: Billions in Upgrade Cost Overruns Put F-35 Fighter at Risk for Meeting Deadlines, Report Finds Very few BQM-167As -- just one to two a year -- are unable to be retrieved via one of those two methods, as was the case with the one that washed ashore on Friday, Bray said in an email. More than 60% of the flying targets are recovered using a parachute system; the 53rd has specialized boats to retrieve any drones that instead land in the water, she said. The drone in question, which made its way to Ocean Ridge Hammock Park beach, belonged to Tyndall Air Force Base, also in Floridas panhandle. The drone was recovered by local law enforcement and turned over to the service. The target had been used for training in the Air Forces ranges that span the coast of northwest Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The service uses roughly 720 square miles on land and 123,000 square miles over open water to conduct training and operational testing for its equipment. BQM target drones are often used for fighter jets to practice air-to-air shootdowns. Bray told Air Force Times on Friday that the BQM was shot down near the southern tip of Florida, meaning the drone likely took two to three months to wash up on the beach where it was discovered. Sometimes drones use the targets, too: Last year, in a first, the MQ-9 Reaper drone shot a live air-to-air AIM-9X Block 2 missile at a BQM-167 drone, which simulated a cruise missile. The Skeeter is capable of pulling 9 Gs of force while in flight and can reach a maximum speed of roughly 690 mph, according to the service. Each drone is valued at $570,000 and can carry a variety of equipment such as infrared and radar pods, electronic attack pods and chaff-and-flare dispenser sets, the Air Force says. The Air Force also may use the target drones for a smarter role in the near future. In 2019, Will Roper, then-assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, said the Air Force was evaluating a number of drones for an artificial intelligence "R2-D2" role, to be paired with a human piloting a fighter jet. Roper said at the time that the Air Force Research Lab was experimenting with incorporating the AI system, known as Skyborg, within a BQM target drone variant; the XQ-58A Valkyrie, a long-range, high subsonic unmanned aerial vehicle; or a QF-16 converted unmanned fighter. Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems makes both the BQM drone and the XQ-58 Valkyrie. In December, Kratos was one of three defense companies chosen by the Air Force to produce unmanned aerial vehicle prototypes for the Skyborg program. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @oriana0214. Related: Air Force Target Drone Washes Up on Florida Beach El Paso County commissioners on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, called on Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to ease COVID-19 restrictions, end mandates and return decision-making authority to local governments. In this file photo from April 2020, Bill Perrett smiles at his wife, Sally Perrett, on the other side of the glass at Springs Ranch Memory Care. After guidelines last spring forced families from entering, the center started having family visit times in their sunroom with a window for protection between them. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette file) The coronavirus pandemic in Spain appears to have stabilised in what experts describe as a 'plateau' phase, although the early warning signs of another rebound in cases persist. This Monday (22 March), the Ministry of Health registered another 633 Covid-19 fatalities, making a total of 73,543 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Amid growing concern, officials at the Ministry of Health are carefully monitoring the national cumulative incidence rate - the most reliable indicator of the trend of the epidemic, alongside the number of new positive cases and the pressure on the healthcare system. Some 16,471 new cases have been added in the last three days, while the cumulative incidence for 14 days has risen in 12 of the 17 autonomous regions, in addition to Ceuta. It only decreased or remained stable in Asturias, Cantabria, Valencia, Madrid, Melilla and Murcia. In addition, the seven-day incidence rate continued to increase at a slightly higher rate than the 14-day one, which also seems to indicate a moderate future increase. "There is already data that could point to a change in trend," said Spains Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, who did not rule out that the Government and the regions may still agree on "more restrictive measures" than those already agreed for Easter. We are near the end but we still have a way to go. The virus is not defeated, insisted Darias, who reminded the regions that at any time, on their own, they can toughen the measures already agreed. "The trend is upward, transmission is increasing and, if it is not corrected, we will have increases in [infection] rates in the coming weeks," insisted Maria Jesus Sierra, the number two of Fernando Simon in the Alerts and Emergencies Coordination Centre. alchemist009 Which of the following is an argumentative strategy used by the television in response to the drug manufacturer? (A) Indicated that the reason the drug manufacturer offers for relaxing the guideline conflicts with the manufacturer's presumed motive for presenting the image of a physician in the advertisement. (E) Questioning the ability of drug manufacturer to make any sweeping generalization about what many different members of the audience may think. that Magoosh Test Prep Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. William Butler Yeats (1865 1939) Mike McGarryEducation is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. William Butler Yeats (1865 1939) Signature Read More DearI'm happy to help with this.BTW, you specify no source, but this appears to be copied from somewhere. What is the source?The drug manufacturer is arguing against the TV network's ban on its advertisement. It would seem that reason for the ban may be giving the false impression that a doctor is recommending the cough syrup. The drug manufacturer suggests that the audience will already know it's an actor playing this doctor.The TV executive counters --- if they can tell he's an actor, why have him in the ad at all? It's a contradiction --- why have a "doctor" in the ad for his presume credibility if everyone is going to see that he's not really a doctor, just an actor playing a doctor?You simply indicated an incorrect answer of (E) and the OA of (A), so I will just discuss only those two.This gets at the very heart of the contradiction that the TV exec is pointing out. Presumably, the drug manufacturer wants a "doctor" in the ad to give credibility to his recommendation. But if, as the drug manufacturer suggests, most of the audience will realize it's not a doctor, then of course what that actor/doctor says loses most of its credibility. That's the big contradiction that the TV exec points outs. This is why (A) is correct.It's true that the drug manufacturer makes a sweeping generalization about the audience, but the TV exec doesn't argue against that in the least. The TV exec simply accepts that at face value, saying, "If's true, then ..." The TV exec doesn't call that sweeping generalization into question at all --- rather, he says "Let's assume that sweeping generalization is true. Then, wouldn't such-and-such be true?" Rather than calling the sweeping generalization into question, the TV exec turns it around and makes his part and parcel of his counter-argument. This is why (E) is incorrect.BTW, I don't know the source, but I don't really like this as a GMAT CR question. Among other things, all the CR questions in the , in addition to having a firm logical basis, are also grounded in what actually takes place in the real world. By contrast, the conversation of this CR question has to be taking place in some imaginary fantasy world. In our real world, having actors play doctors and thereby bamboozle the general public is absolutely standard practice throughout drug advertising --- it's not even the least bit controversial. The practice is essentially universal, and has never been challenged legally in any serious way. The only reason a TV executive would possible object would be moral --- I would argue that the TV executive who turns down a lucrative advertising contract for purely moral reasons is an entity slightly more fictional than Tinkerbell and the Tooth Fairy.Does all this make sense?Mike_________________ Microsoft & Annex Cloud together delivering personalized customer experiences Through this integration, Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Dynamics 365 customers now have access to the customer data needed to deliver the most personalized engagements at every touchpoint," said Al Lalani, Co-Founder & Chief Strategist, Annex Cloud. Annex Cloud, a global, enterprise technical solutions provider of advanced personalized and experiential customer retention software and loyalty management solutions, announced today an integration with Microsoft to deliver an integrated solution that will allow their joint customers the ability to enhance marketing and communications efforts with personalized messaging derived from zero and first party data. Integrating Microsoft Azure, with Annex Cloud Loyalty Experience Platform and Microsoft Dynamics 365 enables joint clients to easily deliver on hyper-personalization at scale, with the click of a few buttons. Azure and Dynamics 365 clients worldwide benefit from the scalability, reliability, and flexibility of these powerful cloud computing platforms to make smarter business decisions. Now with the addition of Loyalty Experience Platform, these brands can put their customers at the forefront of their operations by leveraging data to personalize individual customer experiences. Annex Clouds Loyalty Experience Platform capabilities and Microsoft technologies go hand-in-hand and now clients can create the experiences their customers expect, said Al Lalani, Co-Founder & Chief Strategist, Annex Cloud. Through this integration, Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Dynamics 365 customers now have access to the customer data needed to deliver the most personalized engagements at every touchpoint. Customer loyalty and retention are more important than ever for enterprise organizations, and like Microsoft, we are hyper-focused on delivering meaningful solutions, said Erin Raese, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Partnerships, Annex Cloud. This new alliance will bring a robust suite of loyalty marketing capabilities to Microsoft customers directly from the Annex Cloud Loyalty Experience Platform expansive ecosystem of features and functionality. Toby Bowers, General Manager, Business Applications Group, Microsoft said, Were happy to welcome Annex Cloud to Microsoft AppSource, which gives our partners great exposure to cloud customers around the globe. Microsoft AppSource offers partner solutions such as Annex Cloud Loyalty Experience Manager from Annex Cloud to help customers meet their needs faster. Loyalty Experience Platform combines best in class loyalty program management capabilities with powerful engagement modules to help customers seamlessly connect, engage and grow their customer relationships at scale. Customers have the ability to capture and use zero- and first-party data to seamlessly deliver hyper personalized experiences across the entire customer journey from awareness to purchase to retention, loyalty and advocacy. For additional information on this partnership, please visit: https://www.annexcloud.com/microsoft About Annex Cloud For over 10 years, Annex Cloud has been the worldwide leader in technology and service solutions that transform customer loyalty experiences for organizations, extending valued customer engagements, ultimately making beloved brands. Powered by the comprehensive and scalable Loyalty Experience Platform, Annex Cloud customers capture and use zero and first party data to seamlessly deliver hyper-personalized experiences across the entire customer journey from awareness to purchase to retention, loyalty and advocacy. Supporting its global enterprise clients, Annex Cloud has offices in the US, Germany and India. The company is recognized by industry respected organizations and integrates with over 100 market-leading technologies. Discover more at https://www.annexcloud.com. Abu Dhabi concert of 128 musicians from 20 nations on 30/3 'Hekayat' by Darwish, artists online to appear together on stage (ANSAmed) - NAPLES - The Abu Dhabi Festival has produced a performance stretching around the world through 13 compositions played by 128 musicians from 20 countries, celebrating the musical traditions and culture of every continent. The virtual concert will be held on March 30 and is entitled Hekayat: Symphonic Tales. It is the work of the UAE composer Ihab Darwish. On the abudhabifestival.ae website, the concert - using sophisticated technology - will involve the individually-recorded musicians appearing on a single stage of the luxurious Emirates Palace Auditorium in Abu Dhabi. The individual performances have been synchronised digitally and post-production technology has made it possible to bring all the musicians into an online 3D model of the stage. For the occasion, Darwish has brought together an impressive group of international musicians including the illustrious Beethoven Academy Orchestra of Krakow, conducted by maestro Tomasz Tokarczyk, the VOX Chamber Choir, tenor Jose Cura, and the musicians Sara Andon, Kodo, Carlos Pinana, and Kinan Azmeh. The event showcases the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Festival to promote cultural diplomacy and support the growth of performing arts in the UAE and across the world.(ANSAmed). Legislation that imposes stiffer penalties on those convicted of at least two prior driving under the influence offenses was approved by the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday. The legislation, dubbed Deanas Law, is named in memory of Deana Eckman, a Delaware County resident. She was killed in a 2019 crash involving a highly intoxicated driver who had five prior DUI offenses. The bills sponsor, Rep. Christopher Quinn, R-Delaware County, said if that driver had been serving consecutive sentences for his fourth and fifth DUIs, he would have been in prison at the time of Eckmans death. Enacting Deanas law would better protect Pennsylvanians from the worst of the worst repeat DUI offenders, Quinn said. When you are talking about people who have had three, four or five DUIs like the individual who was responsible for Deanas death, youre dealing with people whove clearly not learned their lesson and are demonstrating a sincere danger on our roads. Similar legislation was moving through the General Assembly in the last legislative session but it got loaded up with other DUI reform measures and never became law. Quinns bill is stripped down to focus on the two core issues that Eckmans family would like addressed, said House GOP staffer Josiah Shelly. One is to increase the penalty for those convicted of a third or more subsequent DUI with a blood-alcohol content of .16 or higher, drug-related DUI, or who refuse a breathalyzer or blood test. The other key issue is to require consecutive sentencing for those offenders, he said. It raises the grading of the felony for someone who meets that criteria with three prior DUI offenses to a second-degree felony, which can carry a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment and up to $25,000 fine. Currently, it is a third-degree felony which carries a penalty of up to seven years imprisonment and up to a $15,000 fine. Fourth and additional convictions would remain a second-degree felony but the sentencing can be enhanced. The minimum sentence they could serve is one year. Rep. Joseph Hohenstein, D-Philadelphia, said he generally objects to mandatory minimum sentences because he doesnt think they work. In this case, he said he could be a reluctant yes since the stiffer penalties apply only in cases where individuals have three or more convictions for extremely high blood-alcohol content offenses. The bill won unanimous approval from the committee and now is in a position to move to the full House for consideration. Passing House Bill 773 in Deanas memory will be a significant step in ensuring no other Pennsylvanian experiences the heartache of the senseless death of a loved one at the hands of a repeat DUI offender, Quinn said. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! ADVERTISEMENT The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has received the petition by Mutual Union of Tiv in America (MUTA) submitted by a member of the House, Mark Gbillah (PDP-Benue). Mr Gbajabiamila, who accepted the petition at plenary on Tuesday, said the House would never discriminate against Nigerians irrespective of where they live. The petition borders on the plight of the Tiv people across the country, particularly victims of killer herdsmen. It would be recalled that the House, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, on March 10, rejected the petition. Mr Wase had explained that the decision to reject the petition was based on the legal identity and the locus of the petitioners. Mr Gbajabiamila, however, explained that the misunderstanding was as a result of efforts to ensure clarity of signatories and identities of the petitioners. He said, I believe this is the same petition that has attracted a lot of attention last time; it is signed right? By the petitioners right? The House of Representatives does not discriminate against Nigerians no matter where they live. The misunderstanding came from the issues of signature. I must say the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Wase, is one of the champions for diaspora voting and one of the brains behind the creation of a diaspora committee in this house. Having made clear that understanding, please go ahead and lay that petition. Earlier, Mr Gbillah said the petition bordered on the plight of Tiv people across the country, particularly victims of killer herdsmen. The lawmaker, who represents Gwer West/East Federal Constituency of Benue State, said MUTA was concerned about the people who had been in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps for years. He said the union was dissatisfied that very little or nothing has been done to ensure the relocation of the IDPs and the security of the people. Mr Gbillah said MUTA was praying the House to ensure that the Tiv people were relocated to their ancestral land. He said the union was also asking the federal government to make provision for the rehabilitation, resettlement and reestablishment of the displaced people. (NAN) * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Britain is marking one year since it entered its first lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Named "A Day of Reflection," a minute's silence is going to be observed at midday (1200 GMT), and citizens are being encouraged to stand on their doorsteps with a candle at 8 pm. In a ceremony at one of London's main hospitals, St Bartholomew's, an aide to Queen Elizabeth II will hand over a bunch of flowers and the hospital's chief executive will then read out a message from the monarch. At 8 pm, famous landmarks including Wembley Stadium, the London Eye and Trafalgar Square in London, the Welsh Parliament building and Cardiff Castle in Wales and Belfast City Hall in Northern Ireland will be lit up in yellow lights to mark the occasion. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who himself was hospitalized with Covid-19, will be observing the minute's silence privately. The last 12 months has taken a huge toll on us all, and I offer my sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones," he said in a statement. "Today, the anniversary of the first lockdown, is an opportunity to reflect on the past year one of the most difficult in our countrys history." Campaigners are calling for March 23 to be an annual memorial day. Source: dpa/GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The EU Council representing the 27 member states on Monday announced its decision to impose sanctions on 11 individuals and four institutions in six countries -- North Korea, China, Russia, Libya, Eritrea and South Sudan. The EU has imposed sanctions on two senior North Koreans over human rights violations and abuses along with individuals and institutions from other countries. Jong was sanctioned for implementing repressive security policies "with a focus on identifying and suppressing political dissent" and Ri for his responsibility for "serious human rights violations... in particular torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killing, enforced disappearance of persons, and arbitrary arrest or detentions, as well as widespread forced labor and sexual violence against women." The North's Central Public Prosecutor's Office, which "overseas all criminal proceedings" in North Korea was also sanctioned for prosecuting and punishing "persons for political wrongdoing in fundamentally unfair trials." The office was criticized for providing "legitimacy to serious human rights violations committed by [the North Korean] security apparatus." The sanctions are largely symbolic, but in theory it allows the EU to freeze any assets these individuals and bodies hold in Europe and ban them from entering member countries. Individuals or enterprises in the EU will also be prohibited from providing funds to the blacklisted targets directly or indirectly. The EU also sanctioned Chinese and Russian officials involved in human rights violations and abuses. It blacklisted four former and incumbent Chinese officials, as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Public Security Bureau, involved in suppressing Muslim-minority Uighurs in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. This is the first time since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 that the EU has sanctioned China for human rights violations. China retaliated. According to the People's Daily, Beijing the same day banned five members of the European Parliament and five German and Swedish academics from entering China. It also blacklisted four EU agencies, including the EU Council's Political and Security Committee and the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights, and their officials. Patna, March 23 : Police on Tuesday carried out a baton charge in the Bihar Assembly premises to disperse legislators of opposition parties holding a sit-in outside the Speaker's chamber. Police personnel were also seen kicking and punching agitating legislators. Many lawmakers said that they had sustained injuries. Legislators of the RJD, Congress and Left parties were sitting outside the chamber of Speaker Vijay Sinha to protest the forcible act of Patna police in arresting top RJD leaders at Dak Bungalow Chowk earlier in the day ahead of the 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' it had called against rising incidents of crime, deteriorating health system, unavailability of jobs etc. The police action came after pleas to the opposition legislators to vacate the premises after leaders of ruling parties claimed that they held the Speaker captive inside his own chamber went unheeded and saw heated arguments between police personnel, marshals and opposition legislators. Bhai Virendra, the RJD MLA from Maner said: "Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is directly involved in the brutal act. He is behaving like Hitler. He has given a free hand to police to initiate lathi charge on us. Many of us have received fracture in hands and skulls." RJD MLC Subodh Rai said: "We were assembled there to point out our grievances but the Speaker did not listen to us. Still, we peacefully sat there in expectation that he would come out from his chamber and listen us but he didn't. The police and marshals of the Vidhan Sabha forcibly threw us out from the premises.. their act was cruel behaviour with public representatives. We are not criminals." Travis Barker shared a heartwarming love note from his girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian to his Insta Stories this week. The 45-year-old, who became famous as the drummer for Blink-182, revealed that the note read 'I love you' with a little heart. Kourtney's latest letter comes about a month after she wrote to him, 'To lots of fun adventures, may we destroy each other completely,' in a note he posted online. So sweet: Travis Barker shared a heartwarming love note from his girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian to his Insta Stories this week The phrase is a common one between the pair as Travis had also tweeted cryptically a few days earlier: 'May we destroy each other completely.' Kourtney and Travis started dating earlier this year and confirmed their relationship in February; they have since been seen holding hands in public. Last week she was seen on TV discussing her relationship with her ex Scott Disick, 37, with whom she shares her children Mason, 11, Penelope, eight, and Reign, six. The conversation occurred on Thursday night's premiere episode of the last season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Scott revealed on the show that his close bond with Kourtney put strain on his relationship with his ex Sofia Richie whose father is Lionel Richie. Hand in hand: Kourtney and Travis are pictured emerging from Kardashian hot spot Nobu Malibu during an outing last week He even claimed that Sofia gave him an 'ultimatum' demanding he choose either her or Kourtney with whom he co-parents their three children. He made the bombshell allegation to Kourtney's sisters Kim and Khloe Kardashian, saying he tried to balance his girlfriend with his children's mother. Although he attempted to have Sofia become 'more of a priority' he felt that she was 'wanting to push Kourtney out' of the equation, he alleged. In a separate conversation Scott also sat down with Kourtney and was candid with her about the role their dynamic played in his split with Sofia. Love letters: Kourtney's latest letter comes about a month after she wrote to him: 'To lots of fun adventures, may we destroy each other completely,' in a note he posted online Remember when: The phrase is a common one between the pair as Travis had also tweeted cryptically a few days earlier: 'May we destroy each other completely' 'When you first get with someone, everyone is like making changes and oh I will do anything because I'm so happy and so in love and so excited but then when it sinks in and it becomes real life it's a lot different,' Scott told Kourtney. 'I don't think I could do it the other way around but I've always been clear that my priority has been my children, my life with them and I even put it out there that taking care of you is one of my priorities.' In a confessional he dished: 'I realize that Sofia has been an absolute trooper but the truth is anybody dating somebody is going to feel neglected when their significant other is spending more time with their ex than with them.' The way they were: Last week she was seen on TV discussing her relationship with her ex Scott Disick, 37, with whom she shares her three children; they are pictured in 2015 His current girlfriend Amelia Hamlin is 19, Sofia was 19 when Scott began dating her and before that he was linked to Bella Thorne when she was also 19. Meanwhile after her last split from Scott in 2015 Kourtney also spent some time involved with Algerian model Younes Bendjima who is 14 years her junior. After Keeping Up With The Kardashian ends the Kardashian-Jenner women are heading to a mystery project at Hulu. Land hunters headed to where a coastal road system was approved. Photo: Ngoc Tan A day at Ngu Thuy Bac commune in Quang Binh province starts very early with investors and brokers gathering at the local hamlets to buy and sell land. The roads of the commune are lined with printed and handwritten banners advertising land for sale. The local land fever started only two weeks ago with the announcement from Quang Binh authorities to approve the VND2.2 trillion ($96 million) construction of a coastal road system along Quang Trach, Bo Trach, Quang Ninh, Le Thuy, Ba Don town, and Dong Hoi city. The news quickly gave rise to speculation among locals and brokers from the neighbouring provinces, as improved connectivity and faster transport usually have a buoyant effect on property prices. According to one resident of Tan Hai village in Ngu Thuy Bac commune, 10 years ago, she bought a 300-square-metre resettlement land plot for VND27 million ($1,200). Thanks to the new project, she recently sold the plot for VND1.65 billion ($72,000). She added that since the fever had begun, her tranquil fishing village has been bustling with vehicles and strangers. After several rounds of changing hands without authority approval, agricultural land plots which previously fetched VND100 million ($4,400) each have surged to VND1.5-1.7 billion ($65,000-74,000). This tremendous appreciation, according to local land broker Le Xuan Huy, poses a very real threat of a price bubble. There are some real investors wish to buy land to actually set up projects but they cannot accept the current price level for land without essential supporting infrastructure or facilities. I have met many investors who abandoned plans due to land prices spiralling out of control, Huy said. The case is not rare in Vietnam and the Central Coast where land prices tend to skyrocket overnight after rumours of a property giant buying land, or the government approving a key infrastructure project. These rumours can attract thousands of buyers and brokers, although experts and local authorities point out that these rushes of buying and selling often cool down after only a few weeks. Yang Jiechi, director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office for the Peoples Republic of China, addresses the U.S. delegation at the opening session of U.S.China talks at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 18, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Anchorage Meeting Shows Need for US Strategy to Confront China Commentary The four great triumphs of international grand strategy in the last century were all conceived and executed by American statesmen. First, starting in 1940, Franklin Delano Roosevelt devised the strategy whereby the United States gave all aid short of war to Britain and Canada, the democracies fighting Nazism, and implicitly convinced Adolf Hitler that eventually he would find himself at war with America. Roosevelt extended Atlantic territorial waters from 3 miles to 1800 miles and ordered the U.S. Navy to attack the German ships on detection. At the same time, he sold the British and Canadians anything they wished and they could pay for it when they could. This was an idiosyncratic definition of neutrality, and it provoked Hitler to attack the Soviet Union because he believed that only by that method would he be able to repel an Anglo-American attack on Western Europe without being stabbed in the back by Stalin, his ostensible ally. Thus, because he coordinated nothing with the Japanese, from whom Roosevelt withheld the oil necessary to continue its invasion of China and Indochina, Hitler found himself at war simultaneously with the USSR, the British Commonwealth, and the United States, a contest he could not win. Roosevelt, who spoke French and German fluently and was conversant with European history, realized like all serious statesman since Richelieu that European wars are won by those who end up in control of Germany. In the summer of 1940, France, Italy, Germany, and Japan, were all in the hands of anti-democratic governments hostile to the Anglo-Americans. Five years later, all four countries were liberated and occupied by the Anglo-Americans and on the way to becoming flourishing democratic allies of the Anglo-Americans. And by Roosevelts design, the Soviet Union absorbed 90 percent of the casualties, as between the Big Three, and 95 percent of the physical damage, in subduing Nazi Germany, and ended up with only temporary and illegal occupation of secondary strategic assets in Eastern Europe. Cold War The second great triumph for American statesmanship was the Cold War strategy devised by Roosevelts strategic team: Truman, Marshall, Acheson, Eisenhower, Kennan, Bohlen, and others. This was the containment strategy by which a network of American-led alliances blocked Soviet military advances in Western Europe and subversion of vulnerable countries elsewhere and eventually predominated as a political, economic, and social system superior to the corrupt husk of Marxism. This created the stasis in which, ultimately, the Soviet Union could not be competitive. The completion of this inspired concept required the last two great acts of international statesmanship in the last century: first Richard Nixons triangulation of Great Power relations to put the Soviet Union under increasing pressure. By reopening relations with China in 1972 and putting them on a normal footing, he insured that the Soviet Union would not only be fighting an uphill competition against a more prosperous and scientifically advanced United States, but that it would also be contending for mastery in the communist world and in the Eurasian landmass with a China that could rely on some level of American support if it were attacked. Strategic Defense Initiative And finally, President Ronald Reagan devised the Strategic Defense Initiative in 1983. This was a laser-based, non-nuclear missile defense system, which, though much-mocked as Star Wars, clearly possessed some potential to deprive the Soviet Union of its nuclear first strike capability. Reagan and his advisers correctly deduced that the USSR was spending approximately half of its GDP on defense and that the prospect of having an ineffective first strike capability would knock that sword from its hands and leave it too vulnerable and demoralized to continue as a competitive superpower. As all the world knows, this is precisely what happened. President Mikhail Gorbachev made a desperate effort to reach agreement on the abolition of nuclear weapons, including defensive weapons, thus maintaining some sort of military parity. This was declined and the Soviet Union quietly disintegrated into 15 countries without a shot ever having been fired in anger between the two great super power-protagonists. The Cold War was over and the Hammer and Sickle came down from above the Kremlin for the first time in 74 years. It was the greatest and most bloodless strategic victory in the history of the world. Great Power Contest The very unsatisfactory meeting in Anchorage at the end of last week between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the top diplomat Yang Jiechi, highlights the fact that we are now once again in a contest between Great Powers that will require a well-thought-out strategy to be conducted to success. At strong intervals in Chinese history, the world has paid court to it, and it is the first Great Power to fall into decay and then recover that power. Though not a word or number it publishes can be believed, there is no doubt that the rise of China as an economic and technological power in the world in the last 40 years has been the greatest national development story in world history. Yet it is far from invulnerable and Yang considerably overplayed his hand rhetorically in Anchorage. It is still 40 percent a command economy, has an aging and shrinking population, comparatively few natural resources, no institutions of any integrity whatsoever, is a controlled totalitarian state that is extremely corrupt and more of an imitative than an innovative society that has flourished chiefly on intimidation, bad faith, industrial espionage, and currency manipulation. But it is a formidable challenger and one that must be replied to as were the previous threats: by the careful preparation of comprehensive plans of response designed to avoid direct confrontation but also to apply ultimately irresistible incentives on China to alter its behavior sufficiently to assure civilized coexistence and a sustainable level of international tension. This stage will not be reached by unctuous assertions of moral superiority, such as secretary Blinken opened with, and even less by the hurt statements of America being back with which he replied to Yangs outrageous charges against the United States of slaughtering Blacks and not being in a position of strength. At least the acerbities may have spared the world embarrassment of listening to nonsense about climate change, which the Chinese regard as utter idiocy and hypocrisy and which is in any case not a strategic issue. Secretary Blinkens prior comments have indicated a much greater realization of the gravity of the Chinese challenge than his chief has expressed, and incites hope that he may now think along the lines necessary to devise a policy of strength and calculation that will provide the subtle restraint the international community will need to cope with China. No country except the United States is capable of designing and executing such a policy. That is what Super Powers do; how they achieve their position and maintain it. And that is what this administrations more talented predecessors have done to raise America to the position it attained at the end of the Cold War, which noisy elements in the present governing coalition wish to fritter away. That must not happen, and this should be the message Blinken brings back to Washington. Conrad Black has been one of Canadas most prominent financiers for 40 years, and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world. Hes the author of authoritative biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon, and, most recently, Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other, which has been republished in updated form. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. San Francisco, March 23 : In a bid to enter the competitive social media market, Microsoft may acquire popular chat and communications platform Discord for more than $10 billion, the media reported. According to a GamesBeat report citing sources, Discord is "going through a sales process now that could result in a purchase of the communications and chat platform for much more than $10 billion". "One source said the company has signed an exclusive acquisition discussion with one party, meaning it is in final negotiations about a sale", the report said late on Monday. The news came as Discord raised $100 million in December last year at a $7 billion market valuation. Popular among the teenagers globally including in India, the chat and communications platform currently has 140 million monthly active users (MAUs) - double the number it had a year ago. Discord connects game companies with their fans in audio and text chat communities. A spokesperson for Discord "declined to comment on rumours or speculation". Microsoft also did not comment on the report. Discord was publicly launched in May 2015 under the domain name discordapp.com. Microsoft announced in April 2018 that it will provide Discord support for Xbox Live users, allowing them to link their Discord and Xbox Live accounts so that they can connect with their Xbox Live friends list through Discord. According to media reports, Xbox chief Phil Spencer is said to be talking to Discord about the potential deal. In December 2018, Discord announced it raised $150 million in funding at a $2 billion valuation. Starting in June 2020, Discord announced it was shifting its focus away from video gaming to a more all-purpose communication and chat client for all functions, revealing its new slogan "Your place to talk" and a revised website. Discord is in direct competition with invite-only chat app Clubhouse, which recently raised $100 million at a valuation of $1 billion. 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. Russia's RDIF sovereign wealth fund said an agreement has been reached with India's Virchow Biotech to produce up to 200 million doses a year of the Sputnik V vaccine, as per a Reuters report. RDIF said full-scale commercial production would begin once the transfer of technology in the second quarter was completed. NDTV The announcement follows similar deals with Indian pharmaceutical firms Gland Pharma, Stelis Biopharma and Hetero. "Virchow's proven capabilities in large-scale drug substance manufacturing should help meet the global demand for this vaccine," Dr. Tummuru Murali, Managing Director of Virchow Biotech, said in a statement issued by RDIF. Arab News India, the world's largest vaccine maker, has become one of the biggest producers of the Sputnik V shot outside Russia. Other countries producing it include Brazil, China and South Korea. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, which has run small clinical studies of Sputnik V in India, sought emergency-use approval for the vaccine last month, but India's drug regulator asked for more data from the Sputnik V developers. HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) A police officer was accidentally shot after he and others tried to corral a cow that had escaped from a livestock auction and was wandering city streets. Harrisonburg police told news outlets the officer was shot in the lower body Saturday night. Police said Sunday he was in stable condition at UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville. Police spokesman Pete Ritchie said he had no updated information to release on Monday. Police were investigating whether the officer was shot by a colleague or someone else involved in the retrieval effort. Officers received calls about the escaped cow around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. At one point it was spotted near a 7-Eleven on North Main Street. Police said they intervened after the cow was injured during an attempt by ranchers to corral it. The cow charged at officers and someone fired a gun, injuring one of them, police said. The cow was euthanized after its capture. More: Where are the best trout fishing waters in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvanias only prairie featured in new documentary: where to watch it Clive Wilson, supply chain director at Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and NI, says the household name has more than an obligation to give back to the community. He says its commitment to corporate social responsibility has held fast even after his toughest year at the firm in 13 years. The supply boss has faced many challenges throughout the pandemic including a drop in on-trade orders, relocating a portion of his staff to a work from home set-up and redeploying other staff that worked in areas that have quietened down since the Covid outbreak. It has 750 staff across its sites here and in the Republic, with around 470 in NI including at its main plant in Lisburn. But he says that even against a backdrop of disruption from the pandemic, the business has still met all of its business goals and sustainability targets. "There is no denying that the last year has been one of the most difficult in my 13-year career with Coca-Cola HBC," he says. "The pandemic presented us with challenges we could have never foreseen and there were times when the answers were not clear. "However, it was a period of accelerated learning for us all, and personally, I'm incredibly proud of the dedication, adaptability and innovation shown by so many across our organisation over the last year. "There was a volume shift for us. Our glass line hasn't ran that much simply because the hospitality trade is completely closed and demand for glass bottles is very small. "But even when we saw drop off in that channel, we saw a move upwards in other areas; our packs and cans sales grew, specifically multi-packs. That was a huge shift in volume, and it put a lot of pressure on certain areas of plant," he adds. What was a challenging year for Coca-Cola HBC became slightly more bearable when the firm's fears of a no-deal Brexit didn't materialise. Had there been no NI Protocol - the means by which a hard border is avoided on the island of Ireland. It sees Northern Ireland remaining in the EU single market for goods, and thus it creates a de facto sea border with GB. Otherwise, Clive says the brand would have faced a massive logistical challenge given its cross-border operations. "When they announced the deal in December it was probably the best Christmas present we could have received. We had just come out of a whole year of Covid when Brexit was looming again. We had spent a lot of time planning and spent a lot of money on contingency measures and it really came to nothing, "We are all Ireland, fully integrated. We produce in NI and move around 40 truckloads a day into the south so it was an incredible relief. That NI protocol was so important for us to go forward. It gave us certainty." Most workers in the drinks brand's supply area stayed put, with those in supporting roles moving to home work. Some were furloughed. "At the beginning of the pandemic, we had to put a lot of new safety measures in place, and we did that very quickly and that's something we're really proud of. "We looked at that health and safety area through two lenses: physically and mentally. "We took a holistic view and that mental health piece saw us upscale our usual approach to mental health. We expanded our employee counselling services to a 24/7 operation, and we campaigned to promote wellbeing and engage with our team. "It encouraged our people to stay active with a charity exercise challenge and we also asked individuals and teams to redefine what their 'new normal' is for their working environment." He says the company is proud to have maintained its commitment to CSR in the pandemic. "We are a large employer in the local community in Lisburn. Giving back is always at the front in terms of how we engage with community stakeholders, whether that's youths or our own employees," he says. "If anything I don't think we moved away from that during the pandemic, we've upscaled in certain areas and refocused and that's the plan going forward," he says. "We very much recognise and contribute to the community. It's that community that keeps our brand where it is. And that is important to us." He adds: "Our supply chain allowed us to do other things to support community including using our line for plastic bottles for sanitisers. We produced around 10,000 of those which went into healthcare settings. "We also donated over one million products to the health service and while our community events stopped, we reshaped that work through support programmes including youth development. We sought to provide support however and wherever we could, to those most affected by the impact of the pandemic. "What inspired me even more was hearing stories of Coca-Cola HBC employees donating their time to their local community. From shopping trips for vulnerable neighbours, or fundraising for charities, the values of our people truly shone through. We had so many examples of simple acts of everyday kindness from colleagues who helped those who needed it most," he explains. Another focus for the business was sustainability, a drive that has attracted awards for the company. "Normally, during periods of difficulty, things like sustainability take a back seat but that wasn't the case for us. "We have so much pride because we have delivered on sustainability throughout the pandemic." Among its achievements is its new KeelClip technology investment which sees its multipacks of cans come with less packaging. The company's move to KeelClip made Ireland one of the first countries in the Coca-Cola family to introduce it. The KeelClip will be used on all can multi-packs of up to eight cans, larger can multi packs will be bound by a carton pack, saving 2,000 tonnes of plastic and 3,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. Two hundred and fifty tonnes of plastic will be saved in Ireland alone as a result of the move. So far, Clive says that technology has "eliminated 600 tonnes of plastics from the supply chain". "We are now looking, as a group, to the next phase on how to reduce plastics on our PET packaging and that's where our area of development will be in the immediate future, not products but the next stage of our sustainability journey." Coca-Cola HBC has been making waves globally for its sustainability drive recently and has ranked among the top "climate-conscious companies in Switzerland 2021" by the Swiss media publications BILANZ, LeTemps and the statistics company Statista. It also has a "Circular Packaging Vision 2030" which includes several commitments including all packaging being 100% recyclable by 2025 and all PET bottles to contain 50% recycled content by 2025. Outside of sustainability drives, the company has also invested in its Monster energy drink brand, bringing production in-house during the pandemic. Clive says the rest of its focus will be on the products that lie outside of its core offering. This includes Costa Coffee products, ground coffee, premium spirits and the brand Topo Chico, a hard seltzer sparkling water with alcohol and natural flavours which was launched last year. "We continued to deliver on our business priorities, most notably introducing more sustainable cardboard packaging for our multi-pack cans in 2020. "This was a significant change for our plant and was managed seamlessly despite the obstacles created by the pandemic," he says. "We are now looking to the future and I am incredibly proud of the whole organisation, and the supply chain team in particular, for their dedication and adaptability throughout the year." An US health agency has raised concerns that AstraZeneca might have provided an incomplete view of efficacy data for its coronavirus vaccine. The apprehensions come a day after interim trial data for the jab showed better-than-expected efficacy levels at 79 per cent and posed no risk of blood clots. The development has cast dark clouds over emergency use authorisation for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The British-Swedish drugmaker had conducted a large trial of the shot in the US, Chile and Peru. It was expected to file for US emergency use authorisation in the coming weeks. The Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, leading to an incomplete view of the efficacy data, Reuters quoted a statement from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). ALSO READ: AstraZeneca's COVID-19 shot 79% effective in US trials "We urge the company to work with the DSMB to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible," it said. NIAID is headed by US' topmost infectious diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci and is part of the National Institutes of Health. The US will issue authorisation and guidelines for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after thorough review of the trial data by independent advisory committees, it further stated. ALSO READ: WHO approves AstraZeneca's COVID-19 jab due to 'tremendous potential' One of the earliest vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, AstraZeneca had developed the shot in collaboration with Oxford University. A substantial quantity of the jab is being produced by Pune-based vaccine manufacturing major Serum Institute of India, and is one of the two jabs being used in India's own vaccination drive. However, the vaccine has been faced with doubts and suspension in more than a dozen European countries. The action came after reports of a rare blood clotting disorder in a small group of people out of those who have been inoculated with the shot. While AstraZeneca is yet to respond to the concerns raised by the US, an analysis of its trial data for its COVID-19 vaccine by independent advisory panels might reinforce the faith in it even across the Atlantic Ocean. ALSO READ: Germany, France, others resume AstraZeneca shots after green signal from EU, UK regulators (With Reuters input) Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The world is not as it should be. COVID-19 has changed everything including church. State governments have granted modest occupancy percentages and a staged reopening timeline for houses of worship in many places. To some, the very thought of suggesting people gather together as a group is reprehensible. So why risk it? Even with a holiday as sacred as Easter, should believers gather in person? The short answer is yes, we should. Heres why. First, its biblical. The Bible gives us a clear directive about meeting together in person. Hebrews 10 encourages Christians to not [forsake] the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but [exhort] one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (v. 25). Notice the word forsakein that verse. Its the Greek word egkataleipo, which means to leave behind or desert. The bottom line is that we are not to abandon personal interaction or contact with our cherished brothers and sisters in Christ. A virus doesnt get to usurp a divine directive for Christians. Its possible to meet together in a safe and responsible manner, even during this season of coronavirus. Moreover, meeting together builds up the body of Christ. We gather for the spiritual health of ourselves and other believers. Meeting in person, with the required and proper safety protocols in place, allows us to garner a perspective beyond ourselves. We are fortified by like-minded people declaring, singing and listening to truth together. Hebrews 10:25 makes it clear that one of the reasons we gather together is to exhort one another. To exhort simply means to encourage. The Greek word for exhort, parakaleo, can also mean to comfort. There is a level of comfort and encouragement that you simply cant get from a livestream experience. And by meeting in person, you partner with God in helping build up the household of Godin whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19, 21). Ultimately, this has an eternal impact on the world. Additionally, meeting in person bonds believers together. Study after study shows that the human family is hardwired for social interaction. Our bonding is biological, and our very existence depends on it. People need other people with whom to empathize, sympathize, dream and express their feelings. Just look at the decline in mental health and the increased trend in suicides, spousal abuse, child abuse and substance abuse thats been noted during lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Without social interaction, we sabotage our biological makeup, thereby doing a disservice to the God of our biology as well. Finally, any responsible church or religious gathering must take reasonable precautions to ensure their congregants are safe and secure. This is at the very heart of pastoral care. Its not about building an audience to feed a speakers ego. Its not about increasing the churchs budget. Its about spiritual health, and most churches I know of have been following the basic protocols established by local governing authorities for meeting in person. Purposely endangering others has never been part of the equation. The leaders Im familiar with have been doing their best to be kind, considerate, helpful, faithful and steadfast during the past twelve months of COVID-19 management. Meeting together in person must ultimately be beneficial to believers. It should be healing, not hurtful full of charity, not divisiveness. It should afford people a place to go where they can be confident that they are assembling together not just according to government guidelines, but, most importantly, and ultimately, according to Gods guidelines. After all, the church was His idea. One year ago, many churches declined to hold in-person Easter services. Understandably, many people were concerned for their health, and churches aimed to keep their congregations safe. Now, a year later, we cannot continue to neglect spiritual wellness in the name of physical health when we have the ability to worship safely. WASHINGTON Urging action by the gridlocked U.S. Senate on a package of gun reforms, President Joe Biden on Tuesday demanded the chamber immediately pass two bills that would tighten federal background check laws and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The president's call came less than 24 hours after a gunman killed 10 people at a grocery store in Boulder, Colo. "Weve been through too many of these, Biden said in a speech at the White House. "I dont need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common-sense steps that will save lives in the future and to urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act." In the Senate, the measure would face the hurdle of the filibuster, which could only be ended by 60 votes. On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said for the first time that she'd be willing to scrap the mechanism, which critics have long decried as an excessive brake on majority rule. Congress must act to end the epidemic of mass shootings in this country," Gillibrand said in a statement. "I support eliminating the filibuster to deliver the changes Americans are demanding, particularly as it relates to common-sense gun control policies such as universal background checks, banning assault weapons, closing the gun show loophole and instituting a federal gun trafficking legislation. Biden's press secretary said Tuesday the president is also considering a range of executive actions on gun laws. Those could reportedly include moves to tackle "ghost guns," hard-to-trace weapons that can be assembled at home, and law enforcement notifications when background checks fail. On Capitol Hill, senators held a hearing Tuesday on how to respond to an uptick of gun violence during the pandemic a forum that highlighted the persistent divide between the two parties on firearms in America and the uphill battle to pass reforms. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer repeated Tuesday that he plans to bring House-passed legislation expanding background checks on gun sales to the Senate floor, although Democrats do not appear to have enough votes to approve the bill. Schumer also will meet with U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who has been leading Senate gun negotiations, and other senators this week to decide a path forward on legislation in the chamber. I don't see a lot of need to make changes to a bill that has 90 or 95 percent public support, Murphy said of the House bill, which would require background checks for online firearm sales, at gun shows and in some private transactions. I don't want to be negotiating against myself when there's a proposal that is wildly popular, (and) a political movement behind it that is growing stronger. But Democrats could indeed end up negotiating against themselves: On Tuesday, the moderate Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V. said he opposed two House bills. He said commercial gun sales should be subject to background checks, but sales between private individuals should not. Schumer also noted that he has not recently discussed a ban on assault weapons with Biden. Democrats have not coalesced around one major proposal to do that, but legislation could block military-style, semiautomatic weapons like those already banned in New York. (Biden helped pass a 10-year federal assault weapons ban as a senator in 1994.) Democrats have pushed to change federal gun laws for years; Biden worked to strike a deal while he was vice president after the Sandy Hook school massacre in 2012. But they've failed to reach compromise with Republicans. Asked if he now had the political capital to get something done, Biden said, "I hope so, and crossed his fingers. I dont know. I havent done any counting yet, he added. The number of mass shootings increased in 2020 during the pandemic as the crisis forced more people home and cost many their work or school. The Capital Region was one of several regions that experienced a sharp uptick in gun violence, with law enforcement citing the health crisis as a challenge for their work trying to head off disputes that can lead to bloodshed. People also bought more guns than ever before in 2020. We cant keep up with it, said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee. We are numb to the numbers. ... That has got to stop. Tuesday's Judiciary Committee hearing on guns exposed the persistent rift between the two parties on federal gun laws. Democrats have championed measures to further regulate gun sales and remove firearms from abusers and people who make threats. Gun violence is an epidemic in its own right, said Blumenthal. We need to end this epidemic with a comprehensive nationwide approach: expanded background checks; extreme-risk laws to prevent suicides, mass shooting and hate crimes; protecting domestic victims; and safe storage standards. These kind of measures are in our reach. Republicans equally vocal about the need to pass legislation backed stronger police forces and prosecution of individuals who illegally purchase guns. They said the push by some progressives to "defund the police" has made people less safe. What happens in this committee after every mass shooting is Democrats propose taking guns away from law-abiding citizens, because thats their political objective, said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who repeatedly targeted Blumenthal in his comments. But what they propose, not only does it not reduce crime, it makes it worse. ... When you disarm law-abiding citizens, you make them more likely to be victims. To pass a bill, Democrats will either have to strike a deal on one of the most politically difficult issues they face or eliminate the filibuster in the Senate, a change that would allow Democrats to pass bills with no Republican votes, but could backfire in other ways. The Boulder shooting was the second time in less than a week that the White House ordered flags to fly at half-staff. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, is in custody and stands accused of killing the 10 victims, including a police officer. In Atlanta last week, another man shot and killed eight people, including six Asian-American women. Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday said the Colorado shooting was baffling. It's 10 people going about their day living their lives, not bothering anybody, Harris said. A police officer who is performing his duties, and with great courage and heroism. Lucknow, March 23 : The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is organising 'employment fairs' in all the 822 blocks of the state on March 24. This is a part of the government's initiative to provide employment and self-employment to the youth. According to the government spokesman, the Employment department in coordination with district officials will hold the 'rozgar mela' in urban and rural areas where the youth will get job placement by participating companies and agencies. Under this, a target has been set to provide employment to at least hundred people in each block on that day, which implies that almost 82,000 youth will get employment in a single day. Local and migrant workers will also be given information about social and financial security schemes, registration process and also a card under Ayushman Yojana. It may be recalled that soon after he came to power, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had started organizing employment fairs to provide employment to the youth and unemployed. A total of 2,791 fairs have been organised from April 2017 to February 2021 in which more than 4.13 lakh youth were provided jobs. While giving the details of employment provided through fairs in the state, the officials said that Mission Rozgar was launched last year to provide jobs to people through employment, self-employment, skill development and apprenticeship. Now this campaign has been intensified and through this campaign, a plan made to provide youth jobs in the government and private sectors. Help desks are being set up in all departments for employment. A call centre will soon be set up by the Directorate of Employment to inform unemployed youth about employment opportunities and vacancies. Through these call centres, jobs for trained technicians will be provided to the youth as per their requirement. The scope of the Seva Mitra portal will be expanded and developed as Seva Mitra Corporate so that more than one lakh youth can be provided government jobs in the state. Apart from this, the youth can be employed in a large number of private sector companies. Employees of the employment department are preparing a district-wise list in which small companies of the private sector will provide employment to the youth. Such companies will be invited to employment fairs and representatives of various companies in the fairs will provide employment to jobless youth. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Russia's ambassador to Washington has been recalled to Moscow for "consultations" to determine how to move forward with relations with the U.S., the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday. Why it matters: The news came hours after an interview aired in which President Biden agreed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "killer" and pledged to hold the Kremlin accountable for interfering in the 2020 election. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova did not provide specific reasons for the recall of Ambassador Anatoly Antonov, but she said relations with the U.S. "are in a difficult state, which Washington has brought to a dead end in recent years." We are interested in preventing their irreversible degradation, if the Americans are aware of the associated risks, Zakharova added. Driving the news: The U.S. intelligence community released a report on Tuesday assessing that Putin authorized influence operations aimed at denigrating President Biden and supporting former President Trump in the 2020 election. The Kremlin has denied the allegations. The U.S. also recently sanctioned seven senior Russian officials for the attempted poisoning and imprisonment of opposition activist Alexei Navalny, who has been transferred to a penal colony. Western leaders and human rights organizations have called for Navalny's immediate release. On Wednesday, the U.S. Commerce Department announced it would expand export restrictions on Russia for violating international bans against chemical and biological weapons with the use of the nerve agent Novichok. The big picture: Biden has insisted that it's possible to "walk and chew gum at the same time" when it comes to working with Russia on issues of mutual interest such as the extension of the New START nuclear arms pact while holding Putin accountable for his domestic abuses and foreign aggression. Biden didn't campaign on getting tough against Big Tech, but his early actions are speaking louder than his words. The White House confirmed its intentions to nominate Lina Khan to the FTC Monday, sending a clear signal that his administration will break from the Silicon Valley-friendly precedents of the Obama era. Politico first reported Biden's planned nomination of Khan, which will be subject to Senate confirmation, earlier this month. Lina Khan is a star of the antitrust movement, insofar as a topic like regulating big business can produce one. Khan is best known for a paper she published as a law student in 2017 called "Amazon's Antitrust Paradox." The paper argues that thinking about what qualifies as monopolistic behavior hasn't kept pace with how modern businesses operate, particularly within the tech sector. She believes that a modernized approach to antitrust must look at market forces in a big picture way instead of only examining traditional measures like price and output: "My argument is that gauging real competition in the 21st century marketplace especially in the case of online platforms requires analyzing the underlying structure and dynamics of markets. Rather than pegging competition to a narrow set of outcomes, this approach would examine the competitive process itself. Animating this framework is the idea that a companys power and the potential anticompetitive nature of that power cannot be fully understood without looking to the structure of a business and the structural role it plays in markets. Applying this idea involves, for example, assessing whether a companys structure creates certain anticompetitive conflicts of interest; whether it can cross-leverage market advantages across distinct lines of business; and whether the structure of the market incentivizes and permits predatory conduct." As associate law professor at Columbia, Khan also contributed to a comprehensive report from the House's antitrust subcommittee last year that set the stage for major antitrust reform that could trim back Big Tech's considerable overgrowth. Story continues Khan isn't the only high-profile tech antitrust crusader in the Biden administration's orbit. In early March, Biden named Columbia law's Tim Wu to shape technology and competition policy at the National Economic Council. Wu came up with the term "net neutrality" and is well known as an advocate for an open internet. In 2018, Wu authored "The Curse of Bigness: Antitrust in the New Gilded Age," a treatise calling out corporate consolidation in tech as a looming political and economic threat. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is leading tech-focused antitrust reform efforts through the Senate's own antitrust subcommittee, praised Khan's nomination. "We need all hands on deck as we work to take on some of the biggest monopolies in the world, and President Biden is making his commitment to competition policy clear," Klobuchar said in a statement provided to TechCrunch. "Linas experience working both in Congress and at the Federal Trade Commission and as an advocate for competitive markets will be vital as we advance efforts to strengthen enforcement and protect consumers." In collaboration with its franchisees, Taco Bell has continued to evolve its restaurants on an ongoing basis. Back in 2015, the brand saw that customers were eager for urban locations without drive-thrus; so, they developed Cantinas. In navigating COVID-19 , Taco Bell again adapted with improvements to digital and drive-thru offerings that prioritized safety and efficiency. Now, new builds and remodels will take modernization to new levels from coast to coast. "Prioritizing our development plans continues to be a major focus for 2021, especially as we look towards building our next 1,000 restaurants," said Mike Grams, Taco Bell's President and Global COO. "Our restaurant portfolio continues to rapidly evolve, striking a crucial balance between being technology-forward and social-oriented. Even amid the challenging pandemic, we are continuing to grow due in large part to the strength in our franchise partnerships as well as the flexible formats we offer." With social experiences drastically changing over the past year, Taco Bell has been quick to adapt based on both current and anticipated dining behaviors. Earlier this year, Taco Bell and franchisee Diversified Restaurant Group collaborated to open the first ever drive-thru Cantina in Danville, California, merging proven Cantina success with the prioritization of drive-thru service during the pandemic. The restaurant is the first of its kind with features such as an outdoor firepit and game area, as well as full bar offerings for dine-in guests once it's safe to do so. "I've been in the real estate and development business for decades," said SG Ellison, President of Diversified Restaurant Group. "The partnership we have with Taco Bell is uniquethe brand empowers us franchisees with both autonomy and support, which has allowed my business to not just build traditional restaurants, but create destinations such as our flagship Taco Bell Cantina in Las Vegas, as well as our Cantinas in Pacifica and now Danville." While the brand will continue building destination restaurants, it will simultaneously prioritize digital elements to maximize efficiency for on-the-go customers. One upcoming opening in the heart of Manhattan will be kiosk-focused for a completely digital yet in-person experience. Taco Bell will also continue rolling out its Go Mobile concept that began testing last year, which features minimalistic physical spaces and dual drive-thru lanes. This national concept rollout has excited franchisees, especially Tina Reagan. As President and COO of franchise K-Mac Enterprises, Reagan is a leader in remodeling older Taco Bell restaurants, and has recently been focusing on Go Mobile. "While new development is important, so is remodeling our existing restaurants to fit the needs of each trade area's customers and surrounding community," said Reagan. "We are always looking to evolve to meet our guests needs, and transforming to be more digital-forward is no exception. In the last year, we've remodeled 3 restaurants into our Go Mobile format, and plan to both remodel and build over 30 additional Go Mobile restaurants by year end." The Go Mobile concept's concierge service of team members, known as "bellhops," is intended to improve drive-thru speeds even further with tablet ordering and curbside pickup. Expect to see up to 1,000 bellhops across the U.S. by the summer. Lee Engler, CEO of Border Foods, is another Taco Bell franchisee pushing the boundaries of what future restaurants will look and feel like. In addition to working with the brand, Lee and his team invited experts outside of the QSR industry to help collaborate on an industry-defying restaurant, set to be revealed in the coming months. "As great as the drive-thru is, a fundamental flaw is bottleneck at the windows," said Engler. "Our team has set out to creatively solve for that like no one else has done before, and we're thrilled by positive early responses to our one-of-a-kind concept coming to Brooklyn Park, Minnesota." With leading-edge offerings, Taco Bell's new locations will join the ranks of other iconic Taco Bells, from the wedding chapel in Las Vegas to the beachside spot in Pacifica. With 2021 development growth anticipated to outpace that of 2020, Taco Bell has built its expansion plans with long-term flexibility, franchisee insights and innovation as cornerstones, so that everyone can create delicious memories now and in all the years to come. About Taco Bell Corp. For more information about Taco Bell, visit our website at www.TacoBell.com/news or at www.TacoBell.com/popular-links . You can also stay up to date on all things Taco Bell by following us on Facebook , Instagram , Taco Bell's Twitter , Taco Bell News' Twitter , TikTok and subscribing to our YouTube channel. For updates on how Taco Bell is navigating COVID-19, click here . Media Contact Richa Anand Taco Bell Corp. [email protected] 1-949-863-4002 Danielle Karnbach [email protected] SOURCE Taco Bell Corp. Related Links http://www.TacoBell.com GOLO partners with Operation Homefront to support health and wellness initiatives for military families. Were happy to support the important work of the team at Operation Homefront, says Jennifer Brooks, President, GOLO, LLC. GOLO, the pioneering wellness solutions company, announced a $10,000 donation to Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit dedicated to building strong, stable, and secure military families. The effort continues the companys commitment to supporting community-based health and wellness initiatives throughout the U.S. Were happy to support the important work of the team at Operation Homefront, says Jennifer Brooks, President, GOLO, LLC. Our donation will help with critical financial and wellness needs of our amazing military families. By connecting the American donor community with military families, Operation Homefront is able to help families overcome many of the challenges inherent in military life. For over fifteen years, Operation Homefront has provided programs that offer relief, through critical financial assistance and transitional housing programs; resiliency, through permanent housing and caregiver support services; and recurring family support, with programs and services throughout the year. The result: stronger, more stable, and more secure military families. With frequent deployments and relocations, too many service members and their families face financial and emotional challenges. We are thrilled to have GOLO join us as we work to help this very deserving group of fellow citizens overcome their financial hardships, said Ebony Strange, senior director, corporate partnerships, Operation Homefront. "We need to be there for them in their time of need for all they have done, and continue to do, for all of us in our nations time of need. Headquartered in Newark, Delaware, GOLO empowers individuals and communities by helping them take control of their health and wellness. The companys donation to Operation Homefront will support a range of wellness programming, including food assistance. About GOLO GOLO products provide safe solutions to weight-loss and wellness while helping individuals transition to a healthier and sustainable lifestyle. The developers at GOLO, LLC include a team of dedicated doctors, pharmacists, and researchers. GOLO has reached over a million people worldwide who now have a chance at healthy, sustainable, and affordable weight loss. For more information about the GOLO for Life plan, visit http://www.golo.com or call 800-730-4656. About Operation Homefront Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive not simply struggle to get by in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, over 90 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America's military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org. (Natural News) A study out of California claims that injecting men with estrogen and other female hormones will cure the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19), revealing that this whole charade is once again about destroying men and elevating feminism. Sara Ghandehari from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles says she tested the effects of progesterone injections in 40 men who tested positive for the Chinese virus. The alleged result was that some of the men experienced decreased symptoms, which Ghandehari says serves as evidence that female sex hormones can help men stay safe and healthy. One group acted as a control sample, for comparison, and received only the standard medical care given at that time for the disease, a summary of the paper explains. The experimental group, meanwhile, also received 100-milligram injections of progesterone twice daily for five days during the time they were hospitalized. All the patients were assessed by the team daily for either 15 days or until they were discharged from hospital. On the seventh day, each participating man was ranked on a seven-point scale of clinical status, with seven meaning not hospitalized, no limitations on activities, and one meaning death. Compared to the control group, the men that received female hormone therapy supposedly scored a median of 1.5 points higher on the scale than men whose natural hormones remained intact. Though the sample size was small and means nothing since it was composed primarily of obese people, who are already prone to sickness being the most likely demographic to suffer and die after testing positive for the Wuhan flu, the mainstream media ran with the results as if they prove that effeminizing men will cure the spread of Chinese germs. Furthermore, while the trial was randomized and featured a control group, it was also unblinded meaning the research team, physicians, and patients all knew who had received the experimental treatment, reports further indicated. More of the latest news about the Chinese virus, by the way, can be found at Pandemic.news. No, feminizing men will not cure the Chinese virus Such junk science never would have been taken seriously had it not supported the anti-male agenda of the establishment. Had this same exact study been conducted on hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and green tea, for instance, producing the same results, the media would have ignored or denigrated it as defying what the experts claim about how only masks and vaccines prevent the spread of Chinese germs. Not only does this junk study drum up more fear about the Wuhan flu, but it also establishes the notion that being a man is somehow high risk for suffering complications from a positive Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) test. This is like killing two birds with one stone for the establishment. At least Ghandehari admits that her study has some serious limitations and should not necessarily be taken as gospel truth. Too bad the fake news media missed the memo as it pushes men to feminize themselves for the sake of science. Further research is necessary in larger, more heterogeneous populations, including postmenopausal women and at other treatment centers, Ghandehari is quoted as saying. Hopefully, our readers are smart enough to see the agenda being pushed with all this. Destroying male hormones is never a good idea, especially since the male population at large is already on the verge of no longer being able to reproduce without technology. Why not just use known and effective Covid-19 treatments instead of using hospitalized patients as guinea pigs, asked one commenter at the Daily Mail Online. In that case, Democrat men should be immune with all that femininity coursing through their veins, joked another. Sources for this article include: TheNationalPulse.com DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Russian Foreign Ministry said yesterday that Washington has rejected President Vladimir Putins offer to arrange a public call with US President Joe Biden to help defuse tensions raised by Mr Bidens recent remark that the Russian leader was a killer. One more opportunity has been missed to find a way out of the deadlock in Russian-US relations created through the fault of Washington, the ministry said in a statement. In an interview broadcast last Wednesday, Mr Biden replied I do when asked if he thought Mr Putin was a killer. Mr Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Putins subsequent offer to make the call public was intended to prevent Mr Bidens statement from inflicting irreparable damage to the already frayed ties between Russia and the United States. During a public event last Thursday, Mr Putin gave an it-takes-one-to-know-one response, pointing at the US history of slavery, slaughtering Native Americans and the atomic bombing of Japan in World War II. At the same time, Mt Putin noted that Russia would still cooperate with the United States where and when it supports Moscows interests, and suggested that he and Mr Biden have a call on Friday or on Monday that would be broadcast. Read More In taking a tough stance on Russia, Mr Biden has said the days of the US rolling over to Mr Putin are done. And he has taken pains to contrast his style with the approach of former President Donald Trump, who avoided direct confrontation with Mr Putin and frequently spoke about the Russian leader with approval. Last week, the US national intelligence directors office released a report finding that Mr Putin authorised influence operations to help Trumps re-election bid. The Biden administration warned that Russia would face sanctions soon over its attempt to influence the election and the massive SolarWinds hacks. Meanwhile, relations between the European Union and Russia are at a low point, with disagreement in many areas, European Council President Charles Michel told Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday. Mr Michel, who chairs EU summits, spoke to Mr Putin ahead of a video conference of EU leaders on Thursday and Friday to discuss EU-Russia relations and after the EU imposed sanctions on Russians over rights abuses in Chechnya. President Michel expressed the view that EU-Russia ties are at a low point and confirmed the EUs approach of the five guiding principles, based on the EUs core values, the council said in a statement. There is currently disagreement in many areas. Disagreements included the situation in Ukraine, human rights, hybrid and cyber-attacks on EU countries and the assassination attempt on and jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Tonight on LiveTalk-The Connection, host Mike Hove speaks to youth about official launch of the second phase of the COVID-19 Vaccination program, which will be held in Victoria Falls tomorrow. President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to receive his fist jab of the vaccine alongside other leaders of political parties. Musician and songwriter, Joy Rukanza, also joins us as we talk about her journey in music and more. To join, call us directly at +1-202-619-2077. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Police cars outside the King Soopers grocery store where a gunman opened fire on Monday killing 10 people (Getty Images) A man who livestreamed the shooting at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado is receiving both criticism and praise for his actions, with some saying he exhibited bravery while others argued he walked past victims and posed a security risk. Dean Schiller, who identified himself as a citizen journalist, was at the spot when the shooting began at King Soopers on Monday, and he began filming the incident on his cellphone and streaming it to his YouTube channel ZFG Videography. His feed drew over 30,000 viewers during the livestream. The shooting at the supermarket killed 10 people, including one police officer, and a suspect is receiving medical treatment. In the video, one person can be seen lying on the floor inside the store and two more outside on the ground. What sounds like two gunshots are also heard at the beginning of the video. At one point, a handcuffed man in police custody was seen in the video who was wearing only underwear and appeared to have blood on his leg. Police havent confirmed whether he is the suspect receiving treatment. Mr Schiller was removed from the scene a bit later, and has been interviewed by several media outlets as a witness. Read more Some social media users have suggested that he walked past the victims during his stream without doing anything to help them. 10 People dead, 30K watched #Boulder, a user, Angelika Sabine wrote. Dean Schiller from Boulder livestreamed the shooting scene at the King Soopers while walking past injured/shot victims. He did absolutely nothing to help anyone. He didnt render aid, only filmed and passed on the location of Police officers. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This Dean Schiller guy live streaming this shooting literally walked past three victims and didnt even attempt to try and help them, another user William A Hirsch wrote. He just kept recording the situation in Boulder for the clout. Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Mr Schiller was also criticised by those suggesting he could have revealed tactical police information during the still active shooter situation. Authorities asked media outlets not to reveal such information in their coverage. According to the Associated Press, Mr Schiller and Jedon Kerr, who describe themselves as citizen journalists, sued the City of Boulder in 2019 after they were arrested and jailed but never charged for filming in and around the Boulder County Jail. Their attorney in that lawsuit, David Lane of Killmer, Lane and Newman, did not immediately return an email seeking comment. The Denver independent weekly newspaper Westword wrote a story about the lawsuit in June 2019, in which they described Mr Schiller as a personal trainer and a police watchdog. He was quoted saying: "It was extremely important, though, that we not break any laws or obstruct officers from doing their jobs." Police say an investigation into the Boulder shooting will take at least five days. The identities of the victims have not been revealed yet, except for officer Eric Talley, 51, who was with the Boulder police department for a decade. This is the seventh mass shooting incident in the US in the last seven days. Additional reporting by agencies Mar. 21JUNEAU Alaska's COVID-19 emergency expired on Feb. 14, but the pandemic isn't over. The summer fishing and tourist seasons promise an influx of visitors from out of state, and public health officials are asking for continued powers to deal with the pandemic. The Alaska Legislature, which may grant those powers, is divided about what to do. The coalition majority in the House of Representatives says the emergency's end was a mistake. It is promoting a bill that would retroactively restore Alaska's state of emergency and extend it until September. "That is a priority for our caucus," said House Speaker Louise Stutes. At the start of the year, Gov. Mike Dunleavy had similar thoughts. But since then, case counts have fallen and Alaska's vaccination rate has become among the best in the country. Soon after Stutes' comments on Thursday, the governor wrote Stutes a letter saying that he no longer believes a disaster declaration is necessary. The letter said the governor believes he needs legislation for just four things: vaccine distribution, accepting federal aid, permission to deliver healthcare by teleconference, and limited legal immunity for state workers delivering vaccines and treatments. Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, said the letter carried an implication: "You can pass anything you want to, but if (the governor) is not going to sign it, it's not going to happen." Micciche and the Republican-led majority in the state Senate are preparing to unveil what they call "disaster declaration lite," a package of measures intended to address the problems identified by the governor and other state officials. It doesn't include a broad state of emergency. Right now, the chief difference between the two approaches is who's in charge: Under the House strategy, the governor is empowered by the state's disaster act to take unilateral action. In the Senate approach, the governor would have to request permission from the Legislature to take action beyond a narrow set of powers. Story continues "We're patiently waiting to see what the Legislature does," state emergency manager Bryan Fisher told a group of local government officials on Thursday. Heidi Hedberg, head of Alaska's Division of Public Health, told the group that Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines are planning a full schedule of flights to Alaska this summer, and even if cruise ships don't come to Alaska in 2021, "there's certainly going to be a lot of tourism if all of those flights are booked." Last week, airport testing identified 37 positive cases, Hedberg said. Until the emergency declaration expired, Alaska had required visitors to take a COVID-19 test when arriving in the state. Now, that testing is optional. Hedberg said the testing remains important, because the state needs to track COVID variants and some vaccinated people have still managed to catch the disease. "They still have mild symptoms, but they're still positive," she said. Stutes said the airport testing is also critical for seafood processors who fly staff into remote parts of the state for the salmon and groundfish seasons. Hedberg told local government officials that "now is the time" to prepare for that influx, but she also told them that the health department doesn't think it needs a full-fledged emergency declaration like that proposed by the House. "We have been clear that we need limited authorities to continue to respond to this pandemic. We don't need all of the authorities within the disaster (declaration)," she said. Micciche said the Senate's plan is designed to give public health officials only the powers they have requested, plus a few more that local governments have sought. School districts, for example, would be allowed to carry spread federal aid across multiple years. The Senate is advancing additional requests in separate legislation, and some of those changes will be permanent. One bill, allowing corporations to hold required annual meetings by teleconference, has already passed the Senate. The House, Senate and governor agree that the end of the disaster declaration created problems for SNAP, the program commonly known as food stamps. Without a declared disaster, Alaska is no longer eligible for $8 million per month in federal aid for the program, and Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, said it is "one of the most substantial issues" caused by the end of the disaster. Stutes said it's one of the prime reasons for retroactively extending the state's COVID emergency. But the governor's office said the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services has been working with the federal agency that pays the aid, and that agency "has flexibility within their regulatory language for Alaska to continue receiving these benefits without an explicit disaster declaration," said Corey Allen Young, a spokesman for the governor. Young said "DHSS is working with the legislature on a limited authorities bill necessary for our ongoing COVID-19 response and recovery plan, and with specific language ... for the state to continue receiving EA SNAP benefits." That language is expected in the Senate's bill, but the text has not yet been released. Stutes said the Senate's approach falls short in general because it doesn't grant flexibility what happens if something arises and the Senate bill hasn't taken it into account? "You need to know this is going to work, not guess at it," she said. "What is the downside?" Stutes said about the House's proposed disaster extension. "Can you give me any reason why we shouldn't have it?" Popular opinion, said Rep. Bart LeBon, R-Fairbanks, is one reason. "My sense is a lot of Alaskans believe that we are emerging from the need for an emergency declaration," he said. Some anti-COVID measures imposed by local governments, such as mask mandates and business closures, have been intensely unpopular among some Alaskans. The state's emergency declaration was never used to require masks statewide and only briefly was used to close businesses, but a significant number of people have testified against extending the emergency declaration because they fear it encourages those local actions they oppose. LeBon said that with vaccination counts rising and case counts falling, there isn't as much need to give the governor sweeping powers, and some legislators have voiced concerns about the extent to which the governor can act unilaterally. "I think that's one of the concerns overreach of the governor's authority," he said. "Is it necessary to protect Alaskans to to have these broad authorities? Or are we, practically speaking, moving beyond that level ... where he needs to have those broad authorities?" Dancehall star Skillibeng was spotted rubbing shoulders with Love & Hip Hop star Alexis Skyy over the weekend, but the festivities took a pause when the deejay was forced to address highly exaggerated reports of his death. On Monday evening, Skilli was trending No. 1 on Twitter in Jamaica as concerned fans wondered What happen to Skilli? and Is this skilli on reposts of a viral 30-second clip of a motorcycle crash. The unfortunate clip was captioned bbc skilli, leaving fans to think it was the East Syde Records starboy, who is also a known motorcycle enthusiast. The 24-year-old St Thomas native quickly hopped onto Instagram Live to address the originator of the video, where over 10,000 concerned fans had tuned in. Slightly amused, Skillibeng urged them to take down that video deh and go suck yuh mumma. The first somebody weh send out that video deh, cah dem nah know if ah me and a talk bout ah mi, he said. The psy dem wan me dead, ino, he added. We can only assume theyve upgraded from being afraid of his Energy. The popular artist has been mixing work and play and was spotted earlier yesterday on a music video shoot for an unreleased track. And over the weekend, Skilli was also spotted at Tropical Bliss in Montego Bay rubbing shoulders with VH1s Love & Hip Hop reality star Alexis Skyy, who is of Jamaican descent. According to Marie Claire, Alexis comes from a strict Caribbean background and shes been linked with No Days Off rapper Fetty Wap and Rob Kardashian. Skyy, 26, just recently confirmed that Fetty was not the father of her child, per HOT97. Meanwhile, some fans on Monday were lamenting the seriousness of the fake death reports. Unnuh know seh Skilli is an actual person with family and friends right? said one person, while another added, bro why would u post sumn like that and say its skilli and yk is not him. But once the Coke deejay confirmed that was he was safe and sound, the jokes started rolling in. Lol guess this is wat they were talking about wen they said skilli fell off, sniped one user, in reference to Skillibengs more recent and numerous releases that, according to some fans, have fallen short of 2020 hits like Mr. Universe and Brik Pan Brik. BTW. Heres Alexis vibing to Skillis breakout hit, a few months ago. Unuh shud a know skilli wud a shirtless wid a likkle jansport. Bwoy Gio (@Vanni_Bwoy) March 23, 2021 Skilli lyric by a mawnin pic.twitter.com/OQV0tOgfnT scheemaz14 (@CheryceBoyd) March 23, 2021 On the evening of 23 March 1931, three young socialist revolutionaries Bhagat Singh (b 1907), Sukhdev Thapar (b 1907) and Shivaram Rajguru (b 1908) of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, a revolutionary organisation dedicated to the armed overthrow of the British Raj, were hung in the Lahore jail by the British. Their bodies were smuggled out at night and cremated secretly by the police. The convicts request for a firing squad, considered appropriate for the execution of prisoners of war, was turned down by the authorities because it was important for the government to not recognise the revolutionaries as political prisoners. Introducing Marxism This year Indians across the world will observe the 85th anniversary of this momentous event in a context marked by serious questions of the self and nationhood in our globalised consumerist lives. In this season of delicate hysterical nationalism a re-examination of Bhagat Singhs political legacy, to sift the grain from the chaff in the story of the Shahid-e-Azam told innumerable times in the media, academia and Hindi cinema becomes necessary. Let us begin this non Bollywoodisation of the revolutionary with what the late Bipan Chandra, in 1979, wrote in the introduction to Bhagat Singhs remarkable essay Why I am an Atheist, Bhagat Singh was not only one of Indias greatest freedom fighters and revolutionary socialists, but also one of its early Marxist thinkers and ideologues. Unfortunately, this last aspect is relatively unknown with the result that all sorts of reactionaries, obscurantists and communalists have been wrongly and dishonestly trying to utilise for their own politics and ideologies the name and fame of Bhagat Singh and his comrades such as Chandra Shekhar Azad. (Shahid Bhagat Singh Research Committee 1979) Every year people and politicians of all shades remember Bhagat Singh and his comrades as a matter of annual ritual on 23 March. Eighty five years after his execution, the year 2016 may not turn out to be unusual in this respecthe will be remembered only to be forgotten and betrayed the very next day. Going by what is happening in India these days, I suspect his memory will be celebrated with a shrill vehemence this year in all political quarters. But, this short essay asserts, the legacy of Bhagat Singh can rightfully be claimed only by the followers of Lenin, Trotsky, rationalism, internationalism and atheismcharacters who risk being labeled anti-national by the powers that be and media controlled by them. Anyway, a list of his true heirs would exclude both the Stalinists and the legatees of Mussolini and Hitler because no adversary of freedom, introspection and criticism can claim to understand, leave alone appropriate, the work, evolution and ideas of that remarkable young man. Internationalism Early On In many ways Bhagat Singh was a born revolutionary. His family was connected with the Ghadar movement which needs no introduction to the students of anti-colonial Indian nationalism. While the Ghadar fervour ran in his blood, the boy Bhagat Singh was impressed by the history of Giuseppe Mazzinis Young Italy movement. This influence of the youthful movements of the Italian Risorgimento on the psyche of Bhagat Singh seems to have converted him to an abiding internationalism quite early in life besides making him a revolutionary patriot. The 191819 revolt in the Punjab, especially the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, turned the 12-year-old into an anti-imperialist warrior. However, the young mans restive mind swiftly outgrew the confines of a theistic middle class nationalism woven around the symbols of Non-Cooperation and Khilafat. In sum, his enthusiasm for Gandhian nationalism was short lived. He swiftly grew out of nationalism and moved towards a revolutionary movement which had a history stretching back, at least, to the Swadeshi Movement of 1905. Sometime in 192526, he would later confess, being a romantic idealist revolutionary no longer satisfied him. Disillusioned by the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation movement by Gandhi in 1922, and the outbreak of serious communal riots, Bhagat Singh joined the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) founded in 1924 by firebrands like Sachindra Nath Sanyal and Ramprasad Bismilboth god fearing Anushilan type revolutionaries. After 1924, and also because of the successful Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, numerous Indian revolutionaries were transformed into Marxist patriots. Several of them, including Bhagat Singh, gathered at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi to rename the HRA the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928. Prior to this Bhagat Singh had read a number of books and articles on the October Revolution and Lenin became his ideal. Familiar with the writings of Marx and Bakunin, he critiqued nationalism, anarchism, non-violence, terrorism, religion, theism and communalism relentlessly. In his view criticism and independent thinking were the indispensable qualities of a revolutionary. Thus, at an early age, he realised that it is difficult to live as a rational person in a society where the majority is afflicted by the disease of mental stagnation. Thus the majoritarian political nonsense of our day, that the majority is correct and must prevail at any cost to civil society, would have invited Bhagat Singhs ridicule and refutation. Philosophical Influences It would be wrong to view Bhagat Singhs appeal to reason and his conversion to an incorrigible atheism as movements of an intellect influenced only by Marxism and Anarchism. Before his critics accuse him of being influenced by occidental ideas they should examine his perspective on the rational element in Indian philosophy. He referred to Charvak, the ancient Indian materialist philosopher who had challenged the authority of God. He was aware of the need to use the experiments and expressions of the ancient Savants and thinkers in the struggle against ignorance. The tradition of questioning orthodoxy handed down to us by the critics of the past and not the hue and cry of faith was important to the young revolutionary. Those who pin the badge of nationalism on their chest and display not the slightest hesitation in demonising any view contrary to theirs must read the following words penned by Bhagat Singh, Any man who stands for progress has to criticize, disbelieve and challenge every item of the old faith. Item by item he has to reason out every nook and corner of the prevailing faith. If after considerable reasoning one is led to believe in any theory or philosophy, his faith is welcomed. His reasoning can be mistaken, wrong, misled and sometimes fallacious. But he is liable to correction because reason is the guiding star of his life. But mere faith and blind faith is dangerous: it dulls the brain, and makes a man reactionary. (Shahid Bhagat Singh Research Committee 1979) Bhagat Singh became an atheist at a time when most Indian revolutionaries were deeply religious. Sachindra Nath Sanyal, transported to the Andaman Islands for life by the British, was his early idol and Sanyals theistic Bandi Jeevan inspired him in the beginning. Ramprasad Bismil, he noted, was an orthodox Arya Samajist. Another comrade Rajen Lahiri could not suppress his desire of reciting hymns of the Upanishads and the Gita. All four famous Kakori martyrspassed their last day in prayers. Bhagat Singh rejected this mysticism in favour of dialectical materialism and a dialogical approach to knowledge. In Bhagat Singhs considered opinion his atheism and revolutionary socialism were not symptoms of his vanity. When accused of vanity by a friend who asked him to pray while awaiting death, he chose to write Why I am an Atheist as a response to the charge. This remarkable tract demonstrates the true revolutionarys ability to self-interrogate and arrive at rational solutions to the problems of belief and ideology. Bhagat Singh had recited the Gayatri Mantra for hours and hours in addition to the morning and evening prayers as a school student in Lahore as a perfect devotee. He evolved from that Arya Samaj state of devotion to God into a radical nationalist. Very soon thereafter he transformed into an idealist revolutionary and, finally, he became a Marxist, atheistic revolutionary committed to a world free of injustice and dogma. The numerous critics of Marx among us who do not understand the difference between Stalinism and Marxism can never truly appreciate the reverence Bhagat Singh developed for Marx, Trotsky and Lenin. The country was important to him but this country was not the abstract geographical or iconic entity of a thin skinned xenophobic paranoid nationalism. Bhagat Singh loved India and its people but his idea of India was different from the idea of India entertained by the nationalists and communalists. His India comprised the millions upon millions of human beings in slums and huts whose blood is sucked by the capitalist vampires. God, to Bhagat Singh, was Nero and the nation or country its poor exploited people whose hope lay only in scientific socialism. He realised that the road to reason, science and socialism had to run through the heavily mined fields of faith, superstition, capital and Godliness but this was the only road, he came to argue with the help of reason, worth taking for the true revolutionary. Finally Bhagat Singh must be placed in the social context of the 1920s when Fascism and Communism both were becoming world movements. In the early 1920s the Soviet Union had emerged as the first socialist state in human history under Lenins overall direction. Twelve years before Singh was hanged, Mussolini laid down the foundation of a Fascist movement which would cause the rise of ultra-nationalism in many countries on 23 March 1919 in Milan. His Fasci Italiani da Combattimento metamorphosed into the Fascist Party which inspired the rise of National Socialism (Nazism) in Germanyan ideology much admired by the Hindu Right till date. Bhagat Singh was a teen when the All India Hindu Mahasabha came into existence in 1921 and the RSS was established in 1925. The Communist Party of India (CPI) was formally established in December, 1925. It is well known that many Hindu Nationalists and Communists had old connections with the revolutionary groups like the Anushilan and Yugantar. In sum, as a young revolutionary patriot alive to national and international developments in the 1920s, Bhagat Singh had a number of political choices but the fact that he consciously abjured them in favour of a fiery independence evident in each word of Why I am an Atheist is worthy of more introspection and, if possible, emulation. References Shahid Bhagat Singh Research Committee (1979): Why I am an Atheist, Delhi: Mayur Press. (@ChaudhryMAli88) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Do Maio on the margins of the NATO Ministerial in Brussels and discussed China, Afghanistan and Libya among other pressing issues, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd March, 2021) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Do Maio on the margins of the NATO Ministerial in Brussels and discussed China, Afghanistan and Libya among other pressing issues, State Department spokesperson Ned price said. "Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Di Maio discussed the work the United States and Italy are undertaking together to revitalize NATO, including supporting NATO 2030, and as part of the Global Coalition's efforts to defeat ISIS [Islamic State terror group, banned in Russia]," Price said in a statement. "They also shared views on the challenges from China, the NATO Alliance's future in Afghanistan, and how best to support political reform in Libya." Blinken and De Maio also expressed their commitment to strengthen the US-Italy bilateral partnership as well as US-EU cooperation, Price added. The phased reopening will begin with a limited number of cinemas opening for Godzilla vs. Kong on April 2 and going wider with Mortal Kombat on April 16 ( ) announced it will start reopening its US cinemas next week while it also clinched a multi-year agreement with Warner Bros. Pictures Group. The phased reopening will begin with a limited number of cinemas admitting the public for screenings of Godzilla vs. Kong on April 2 and going wider with Mortal Kombat on April 16. The company operates in the US through Regal, which owns 7,076 screens in 536 theatres in 42 states along with the District of Columbia and Guam as of last September. Chief executive Mooky Greidinger said in a release the firm will be able to operate profitably as capacity restrictions expand to 50% or more across most US states. Cineworld also plans to reopen in the UK, its second biggest market, in May, in line with current government guidance. In addition, Cineworld has reached a multi-year agreement with film production house Warner Bros. Pictures Group. Its films will be exhibited in Cineworld's cinemas in the US as of their opening, while in 2022, Warner Bros. theatrical releases will have a 45-day window of theatrical exclusivity, with certain provisions. As for the UK, Warner Bros. and Cineworld have agreed to an exclusive theatrical window of 31 days before being released on streaming services. This is a great moment for us-- the US market represents 75% of our business-- and soon will be followed with all our markets. We are great believers in the theatrical experience, which only a year ago (2019) generated US$43bn worldwide, noted Greidinger. Analysts said that the challenge now is whether consumers will want to go back to the cinema, which may depend on the appeal of the films being shown and people's willingness to mix in public again. One would think visiting a cinema is essentially mirroring what people have been doing for the past year, namely sitting in a seat and staring at a screen. But there is still something magical about sharing the experience of the cinema with an audience and seeing films on a very large screen," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould. It seems wrong to declare Coronavirus (COVID-19) being the final nail in the coffin for cinemas. However, how long certain cinema operators will stay alive is a separate matter. Cineworld is drowning in debt and it needs people to be devouring pick 'n mix and buying lots of tickets to revive its earnings. Shares slid 5% to 105.71p on Tuesday morning. --Adds analyst comment, shares-- Irish Water claims the saving of millions of litres of water by fixing leaks in the past three years in Laois is enough to meet the needs of thousands of people in the county each day. The utility claims it has achieved the savings by working with Laois County Council through a big leak repair project which has seen kilometres of pipes replaced and lots of other upgrades carried out since 2018. The company outlined the work done in a statement. "Irish Water, in partnership with Laois County Council, has saved over 6 million litres of water daily across Co. Laois, enough water to supply over 46,000 people per day, as a result of leakage reduction and repair works across the county. "The works involved replacing almost 18km of old and damaged water mains in several towns and villages across Laois as well as providing new service connections; find and fixing leaks; and controlling and managing pressure more effectively to improve the security of water supply. "This has significantly reduced the number of bursts and water outages, resulting in a more reliable water supply for homes and business in Laois," it said. The company also outlined the extent of the leak problem. "Since the commencement of the works over 212 public side leaks have been repaired through our Find and Fix Scheme resulting in almost 4 million litres of water saved per day. That is the same amount of water as the average daily use of approximately 31,000 people. Working in collaboration with Laois County Council and our Regional Contractor, Ward and Buke, Irish Water continues to mobilise crews across the county to find leaks and carry out repairs on the supply network," it said. The statement highlighted some of the key projects. "New water mains were installed in several towns and villages including Portlaoise, Portarlington and Durrow and a further 212 households in the county had leaks on their propertys external supply pipe repaired at no cost to the customer through Irish Waters First Fix Free scheme. The First Fix Free scheme offers free leak investigations and repairs to customers where a constant flow of water is found on their external water supply pipe. The scheme alone has resulted in almost 1.3 million litres of water every day being saved across Laois," it said. Joe Carroll, Regional Lead with Irish Waters Leakage Reduction Programme, commenting on the works. Since being involved in the Leakage Reduction Programme across Co Laois, I have seen first-hand how efforts to tackle leakage through the different types of work streams have directly benefited local residents and businesses. In 2018 the rate of leakage nationally was 46%, by the end of 2019 it was 42% and we are currently on course to achieve a national leakage rate of 38% by the end of 2021. "We would like to thank the communities, businesses, homeowners and commuters for their patience and cooperation as we continue to deliver vital network improvement works across the county helping safeguard the water supply, he said. Simon Walton, Director of Water Services, Laois County Council, added that supply has improved. As a result of the collaborative work between Irish Water and Laois County Council, local communities across Laois are enjoying a more secure and reliable water supply. Fixing leaks can be complicated with over 63,000km of water pipe in Ireland. Most leaks arent visible, resulting in precious water being lost, but we are making progress and efforts to reduce leakage are continuing through the national Leakage Reduction Programme. We remain committed to successfully delivering this programme of works and improving the overall water supply in Co Laois, he said. Irish Water added that it continues to work in partnership with local authorities across Ireland to reduce leaks every day. As part of Irish Waters national Leakage Reduction Programme, it said that 500 million is being invested up to the end of 2021 to reduce the level of leakage across the country by fixing and replacing old and damaged water mains. The company says this will ensure a safe, reliable water supply which is vital for our health, our environment and our growing population and economy. For more information, please visit www.water.ie/reducingleaks All viruses mutate as they make copies of themselves to spread and thrive. SARS-CoV-2, the virus the causes COVID-19, is proving to be no different. There are currently more than 4,000 variants of COVID-19, which has already killed more than 2.7 million people worldwide during the pandemic. The UK variant, also known as B.1.1.7, was first detected in September 2020, and is now causing 98 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom. And it appears to be gaining a firm grip in about 100 other countries it has spread to in the past several months, including France, Denmark, and the United States. The World Health Organization says B.1.1.7 is one of several variants of concern along with others that have emerged in South Africa and Brazil. "The UK, South Africa, and Brazil variants are more contagious and escape immunity easier than the original virus," said Victor Padilla-Sanchez, a research scientist at The Catholic University of America. "We need to understand why they are more infectious and, in many cases, more deadly." All three variants have undergone changes to their spike protein -- the part of the virus which attaches to human cells. As a result, they are better at infecting cells and spreading. In a research paper published in January 2021 in Research Ideas and Outcomes, Padilla-Sanchez discusses the UK and South African variants in detail. He presents a computational analysis of the structure of the spike glycoprotein bound to the ACE2 receptor where the mutations have been introduced. His paper outlines the reason why these variants bind better to human cells. "I've been analyzing a recently published structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike bound to the ACE2 receptor and found why the new variants are more transmissible," he said. "These findings have been obtained using UC San Francisco Chimera software and molecular dynamics simulations using the Frontera supercomputer of the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC)." Padilla-Sanchez found that the UK variant has many mutations in the spike glycoprotein, but most important is one mutation, N501Y, in the receptor binding domain that interacts with the ACE2 receptor. "This N501Y mutation provides a much higher efficiency of binding, which in turn makes the virus more infectious. This variant is replacing the previous virus In the United Kingdom and is spreading in many other places in the world," he said. The South Africa variant emerged in October 2020, and has more important changes in the spike protein, making it more dangerous than the UK variant. It involves a key mutation -- called E484K -- that helps the virus evade antibodies and parts of the immune system that can fight coronavirus based on experience from prior infection or a vaccine. Since the variant escapes immunity the body will not be able to fight the virus. "We're starting to see the South Africa variant here in the U.S.," he said. Padilla-Sanchez performed structural analysis, which studied the virus's crystal structure; and molecular dynamics to obtain these findings. "The main computational challenge while doing this research was to find a computer powerful enough to do the molecular dynamics task, which generates very big files, and requires a great amount of memory. This research would not have been possible without the Frontera supercomputer," Padilla-Sanchez said. According to Padilla-Sanchez, the current vaccines will not necessarily treat the variants. "The variants will require their own specific vaccines. We'll need as many vaccines for variants that appear." Going forward, Padilla-Sanchez will continue to research the changes taking place with SARS-CoV-2. "This was a very fast project -- the computational study lasted one month," he said. "There are many other labs doing wet lab experiments, but there aren't many computational studies. That's why I decided to do this important work now." ### This study, called "SARS-CoV-2 Structural Analysis of Receptor Binding Domain New Variants from United Kingdom and South Africa," was published in Research Ideas and Outcomes in January 2021. The researcher who worked on this study is Victor Padilla-Sanchez from The Catholic University of America. Israelis have begun voting in the countrys fourth parliamentary election in two years a highly charged referendum on the divisive rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Public opinion polls forecast a tight race between those who support Israels longest-serving premier and those who want anyone but Bibi, as he is widely known. Facing an electorate worn down by a series of campaigns and the coronavirus pandemic, candidates made their final push in recent days with a series of TV interviews and public appearances at shopping centres and outdoor marketplaces. The campaigns increasingly reached into peoples personal space with a constant barrage of get-out-and-vote texts that made mobile phones buzz at all hours. Benjamin Netanyahu tours a market while campaigning the day before the election (Oren Ben Hakoon/AP) Mr Netanyahu has portrayed himself as a global statesman uniquely qualified to lead the country through its many security and diplomatic challenges. He has made Israels successful coronavirus vaccination campaign the centrepiece of his re-election bid, and pointed to last years diplomatic agreements with four Arab states. Opponents accuse Mr Netanyahu of bungling the management of the coronavirus pandemic for most of the past year. They say he failed to enforce lockdown restrictions on his ultra-Orthodox political allies, allowing the virus to spread, and point to the still dire state of the economy and its double-digit unemployment rate. They also say Mr Netanyahu is unfit to rule at a time when he is on trial for multiple corruption charges, a case he dismisses as a witch hunt. Up to 15% of the electorate is expected to vote outside their home districts, a batch of absentee balloting that is larger than usual to accommodate those with coronavirus or in quarantine. The government is dispatching special polling stations, including vehicles, to provide places for them to vote safely. Those votes are tallied separately in Jerusalem, meaning final results may not be known for days. Given the tight race, the large number of undecided voters and a number of small parties struggling to cross the 3.25% threshold for entry into parliament, it could be difficult to predict the outcome before the final count is complete. People cast their ballots (Oded Balilty/AP) Israelis vote for parties, not individual candidates. No single party list of candidates has been able to form a governing majority in Israels 72-year history. Mr Netanyahus Likud party and those led by his rivals will be looking to smaller, allied parties as potential coalition partners. The party that can cobble together a majority coalition gets to form the next government a process that is expected to take weeks. Tuesdays election was triggered by the disintegration of an emergency government formed last May between Mr Netanyahu and his chief rival to manage the coronavirus pandemic. The alliance was plagued by infighting, and elections were triggered by the governments failure in December to agree on a budget. Mr Netanyahu is hoping to form a government with his traditional religious and hard-line nationalist allies. Mr Netanyahus rivals have accused him of causing the past two years of paralysis in hopes of forming a more favourable government that would grant him immunity or protect him from prosecution. His challengers include Yair Lapid, Israels opposition leader whose Yesh Atid party has emerged as the main centrist alternative to Mr Netanyahu. Analysts expect voter fatigue to contribute to lower turnout, which had been at 71% in the most recent election a year ago. The FMI report titled "Industrial Microbiology Market" provides detailed information about the growth parameters of the industrial microbiology companies. It includes detailed assessment of the competitive environment in the industrial microbiology market. The market study provides comprehensive data on each stakeholder in the industrial microbiology market, including Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Asiagel Corporation, Eppendorf AG, bioMerieux SA, Novamed., QIAGEN, Sartorius AG, 3M, Merck KGaA and Danaher Corporation. A recent market study published by FMI - "Industrial Microbiology Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2016-2026" comprises a comprehensive assessment of the most important market dynamics. FMI derives precise growth prospects for the industrial microbiology market by conducting thorough research on the historic as well as current growth parameters of the industrial microbiology market. The report features unique and salient factors that may have a huge impact on the development of the industrial microbiology market during the forecast period. It can help market players modify their manufacturing and marketing strategies to envisage maximum growth in the industrial microbiology market in the upcoming years. The report provides detailed information about the current and future growth prospects of the industrial microbiology market in the most comprehensive way for the better understanding of readers. Chapter 1 - Executive Summary The report commences with the executive summary of the industrial microbiology market report, which includes the summary of the key findings and key statistics of the market. It also includes the market value (US$ Million) estimates of the leading segments of the industrial microbiology market. Download Sample Copy@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1743 Chapter 2 - Market Introduction This chapter contains definitions of different types of industrial microbiology analyzed in the report. It also contains the detailed segmentation which could help in clearly understanding the approach used in the study to value the market. Chapter 3 - Market View Point This chapter provides readers with information regarding the most important macroeconomic and microeconomic factors instrumental in shaping the industrial microbiology market. It helps readers understand the critical market dynamics unique to the players in the industrial microbiology market. With the help of an overview of the global market for products, test type and end user analysis, the report introduces readers to the important factors complementing the growth of the industrial microbiology market. This chapter also includes an insight into harmonization of regulations noted for equipment and systems along with reaction consumables approvals, route to market and global market share analysis. Chapter 4 - Market Dynamics This chapter in industrial microbiology report includes an analysis of the macroeconomic factors affecting the industrial microbiology market, followed by demand side and supply side drivers. A detailed analysis of the factors restraining the industrial microbiology market revenue growth, opportunities and global trends of industrial microbiology have also been included to aid the formation of logical rationales on market mechanisms. Primary research verbatim with key opinion leaders in industrial microbiology market has also been included in this chapter. Chapter 5 - Industrial Microbiology Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment by Product Type, 2016-2026 Based on the product type, the industrial microbiology market has been segmented into equipment and systems, reaction consumables and laboratory supplies. The three major product type is sub-segmented, for equipment and systems the sub-segments includes filtration pumps and systems, microbial detection systems, air monitoring systems, automated equipment, incubators and culture apparatus and others. The reaction consumables is sub-segmented as media, reagents and strains and others. The last segment laboratory supplies include bags and bottles, loop and needles, petri dishes, racks, seals, plates and holders, filtration disc and membranes and others. In this chapter, readers can find information regarding the key trends and developments in the industrial microbiology market and market attractive analysis based on the product type. Ask an Analyst @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-1743 Chapter 6 - Industrial Microbiology Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment by End User, 2016-2026 The industrial microbiology market has been segmented into three categories on the basis of end user- pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, food and beverages, agriculture and environmental, personal care products and others. This chapter includes detailed information on the demand-supply analysis of industrial microbiology through various end user. Chapter 7 - Industrial Microbiology Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment by Test Type, 2016-2026 The industrial microbiology market has been analyzed on the basis of test type as well. In this chapter, readers can find historic market values by test type, i.e. sterility testing, microbial limits testing, bio-burden testing, water and environment testing and others, along with estimates for future market growth depending on the form of industrial microbiology. Chapter 8 - Industrial Microbiology Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment by Region, 2016-2026 This chapter explains the industrial microbiology market growth across various geographic regions, such as North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC) and the Rest of World (RoW). Chapter 9 - North America Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis, 2016-2026 This chapter includes a detailed analysis of the growth of the North America industrial microbiology market along with a country-wise assessment for the U.S. and Canada. Readers can also find regional trends, regulations and market growth information on the basis of product type, test type and end user in the North America industrial microbiology market. Chapter 10 - Latin America Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis, 2016-2026 Readers can find detailed information regarding factors such as key regulations, pricing analysis and regional trends that are impacting the growth of the Latin America industrial microbiology market. This chapter also includes the growth prospects of the industrial microbiology market in leading Latin countries such as Brazil, Mexico and Rest of the Latin America. Chapter 11 - Europe Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis, 2016-2026 Important growth prospects of the industrial microbiology market on the basis of product type, test type, and end user in several European countries, such as France, Germany, the U.K. and Rest of Europe have been included in this chapter. Chapter 12 - APAC Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis, 2016-2026 Japan, China and India are the leading markets in the APAC region and hence, are the prime subject of assessment to obtain the growth prospects of the APAC industrial microbiology market. Readers can find thorough information regarding the growth parameters of the APAC industrial microbiology market during the period 2016-2026. Buy Report Now @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/1743 Chapter 13 - RoW Industrial Microbiology Market Analysis, 2016-2026 This chapter provides information on how the industrial microbiology market is expected to grow in the major countries, such as Russia, Middle East and Rest of RoW region, during the period 2016-2026. Chapter 14 - Assumptions and Acronyms This chapter in industrial microbiology report includes a list of acronyms and assumptions that provide a base to the information and statistics included in the report. Chapter 15 - Research Methodology This chapter in industrial microbiology report helps readers understand the research methodology followed to obtain various conclusions, important qualitative information and quantitative information regarding the industrial microbiology market. Table Of Content 1. Executive Summary 2. Assumptions and Acronyms 3. Research Methodology 4. Industrial Microbiology Market Overview 4.1. Introduction 4.1.1. Industrial Microbiology Market Definition 4.1.2. Industrial Microbiology Market Taxonomy 4.1.3. Industrial Microbiology Market Product Type Overview Ask for TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1743 4.2. Industrial Microbiology Market Dynamics 4.2.1. Drivers 4.2.2. Restraints 4.2.3. Opportunity 4.2.4. Value Chain 4.3. Primary Outlook 4.4. Porter's Five Forces 5. Global Industrial Microbiology Market Forecast 5.1. Market Value (US $ Mn) Forecast 5.1.1. YoY Growth Projections 5.1.2. Absolute $ Opportunity 5.2. Industrial Microbiology Market Trends And So On ... 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. Good news for fans of Survivor US with host and executive producer Jeff Probst confirming the show is heading back to Fiji to film Season 41. A (very) pumped Jeff Probst took to social media to tell fans the good news. Fiji has invited us back to their beautiful country to shoot season 41, he said. We have all of our COVID protocols in place so that everybody in Fiji will remain safe, all of our crew will be safe and, of course, our players will be safe. He added that he couldnt remember a time he was this excited to shoot the show. The past year has reminded me and I hope its reminded you that you got to live your life like its one big great adventure, and Survivor fulfills that, he said. So, I am thrilled to say I will see you on the island for Survivor 41. Lets do it! Fiji currently has 0 cases of COVID-19. Australian Survivor is filming its upcoming season in Cloncurry, north-west Queensland. I am thrilled to tell you all that @survivorcbs is going back into production and I will see you on the island for #Survivor 41! @CBS pic.twitter.com/RtQGVFoDDL Jeff Probst (@JeffProbst) March 22, 2021 Related Another pension fight is brewing in Trenton as New Jerseys most powerful state lawmaker pushes legislation to split in two the pension fund for state and local government workers. Senate President Stephen Sweeneys proposal would divide the healthier portion of the Public Employees Retirement System funded by counties and municipalities from the weaker portion funded by the state. The proposal has the support of local government organizations, who say it will protect the local tax dollars in the system from the states reach. But the public-employee labor unions argue such a major change should not be undertaken without an understanding of the impacts on the entire pension system. Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said Monday hes baffled by the unions opposition, given that his intent is to prevent a future administration from ever attempting to mix the healthier local government fund with the state workers fund in order to reduce state contributions. Its concerning to me that a union would come out, never reached out to me, would come out against a bill that protects their members pensions, Sweeney told NJ Advance Media on Monday. I just want to make sure someday, some governor not this one doesnt come along and say These local plans are in really good shape, so you know what Im going to do? Im going to blend it. New Jerseys pension system is among the worst-funded in the country. Under the states statutory methodology for calculating the health of the pension system, the local government portion of PERS had $23.9 billion in assets, or enough to cover 67.4% of its $35.5 billion in liabilities, as of July 1, 2019, the most recent year available. By comparison, the portion funded by the state had $10.7 billion assets, covering just 41.6% of its $25.7 billion in liabilities. Unlike the state, which has for decades skipped or shortchanged contributions to the public worker pension system, local governments are required to make full payments each year, resulting in better funding. This fiscal year, the state is contributing $4.8 billion, an amount equal to 80% of whats recommended by actuaries to avoid piling on more debt. Gov. Phil Murphy, in his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, has recommended the state make its first full payment in 25 years, which carries a $6.4 billion price tag. This would not be the first time a pension fund would be spun off from the rest of the system. Police and firefighters in 2018 won control of the Police and Firemens Retirement System, one of seven funds within New Jerseys pension system. Police and fire unions had long feared lawmakers might someday pool assets to shore up the more ailing funds and disagreed with the states past move into high-cost hedge funds. Like the Public Employees Retirement System, the Police and Firemens Retirement System is funded through contributions from the state, local governments and employees. The bill (S3522) failed to pass the Senates State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee Monday, with members concerned they needed more information on how the division would affect the rest of the pension system. Sweeney told NJ Advance Media shortly after the vote that he was not done with the bill. Indeed, the legislation was added at the last minute to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee agenda, where it passed 8-0 with four abstentions. There, too, senators said the legislation required a more full airing before going for a vote before the Senate. From D.C. to Trenton to your town, the N.J. Politics newsletter brings the news right to your inbox. Sign up with your email here: The bill would create a new seven-member board of trustees to oversee the local portion of the pension fund. Six members, including three representing the local government employers and three representing union membership, would be appointed by the governor. The board would appoint a seventh member and hire an executive director, actuary, chief investment officer, ombudsman, and internal auditor. It also would designate its own medical board and contract with its own actuary. Under the bill, with five or more votes this board of trustees could change contributions rates and the calculations for determining benefits and reinstate cost-of-living adjustments. Fran Ehret, the income director of New Jerseys Communications Workers of America, warned of the potentially dramatic or possible devastating consequences of the bill on the Public Employees Retirement System and said the retirement security of active and retired members demand a thorough study. The need to staff a second board would duplicate services provided by the state at a significant cost to the pension fund, added Christian Estevez, the CWAs legislative director. Splitting the two funds, he told the committees, also would diminish the purchasing power available to a fund of its size. At a time when the state is finally on track to make its first full pension payment in more than 25 years, this is not the time to embark on wild experiments that could threaten to crash the entire system. This is the time to exercise extreme caution and to study this proposal very carefully, he said. No change to our pension plan should be undertaken without a comprehensive study and deep engagement with those of us who represent civilian workers, a majority of whom are women and people of color. Sweeneys many overtures to reform public-sector pensions and health benefits including a collaboration with then-Gov. Chris Christie a decade ago to cut benefits and raise premiums, and more recently proposals to shift workers off strictly defined-benefit plans have made him a foe of the CWA. The systems existing board of trustees, in a letter the legislative leaders, raised similar concerns and said it would request information from its actuary of potential adverse impacts this bill may have. Eric Richard of the AFL-CIO described the proposal as at best a mixed bag that could possibly allow local retirees to regain cost-of-living adjustments that were cut out during the Christie administration. But the New Jersey League of Municipalities and New Jersey Association of Counties argued Monday it is imperative to make a distinction between the actuarial fitness of the state and local parts of the pension system and assuage concerns that local property tax dollars could be used to subsidize the state part. The counties association reached out to Sweeney, Director John Donnadio said, after local governments received pension bills requiring double-digit increases in their 2021 contributions despite consistently making full payments. We think that this legislation takes some very positive steps in giving local governing bodies and PERS members a seat at the table to make decisions on the future of the local part of the Public Employees Retirement System, he said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. A suspect wanted in a shooting and carjacking led police on a chase Monday night from Philadelphia to the Atlantic City Expressway in South Jersey, where the pursuit ended with a crash and arrest, authorities said. The chase began after a man was shot once in the back during a carjacking shortly before 7 p.m. in the 5600 block of Pentridge Street in southwest Philadelphia, according to police, who said the victim was listed in critical condition. City officers chased the suspected attacker from Philadelphia into South Jersey, traveling on Route 42 and the Atlantic City Expressway near Williamstown Road, authorities said. The fleeing vehicle crashed into a utility pole on the eastbound highway near milepost 38.2, where the suspect was arrested by Philadelphia police, according to a New Jersey State Police spokesman. News helicopter footage from 6ABC showed Philadelphia officers lead a handcuffed person into a city police vehicle. The pursuit spanned about 30 miles and included a Philadelphia police helicopter. A city police spokeswoman said a weapon was recovered and more details would be available later. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Food Network star Ina Garten dedicated an Instagram post recently to one of her favorite television series. Her pick for whats good on TV is giving the program a nice amount of visibility, and it speaks volumes about the Barefoot Contessa herself. Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten | Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images The Lost Kitchen is a Magnolia Network program The Magnolia Network show, The Lost Kitchen, which also airs on discovery+, follows chef Erin French as she and the staff of her Maine restaurant by the same name try to create a new normal during the pandemic. The six-episode series introduces viewers to Frenchs staff, made up entirely of women with, at first at least, modest kitchen skills. Although the eatery has been through different versions of itself (as a pop-up restaurant, as a supper club out of Frenchs apartment), it officially opened in Freedom, Maine in 2014. The Lost Kitchen is also different in that its a small restaurant, seating only 50 diners per evening and reservations are accepted not by phone or internet, but only through the U.S. mail, by sending a postcard to the restaurant. Closed now due to COVID-19 restrictions, the restaurants website says only: Our dining room is currently closed due to the pandemic. Please stay tuned. Well be announcing further details about our 2021 reservation process shortlyuntil then. Frenchs story mirrors Gartens French, like the Barefoot Contessa, is a completely self-taught cook. The expense of culinary school was too off-putting for French and she instead dedicated herself to experimenting with foods, textures, and tastes. After leaving Maine for California and dreams of being a doctor, she returned to her home state with a son and renewed hopes of opening a restaurant. People told me I was crazy, that this restaurant would never work, she told The New York Times in 2017. RELATED: Barefoot Contessa Ina Gartens Sunny No-Bake Fruit Tart Has Spring Written All Over It Like French, Garten poured her money and her self in the 1970s into her gourmet food shop, The Barefoot Contessa. After she bought the Hamptons store, she cooked for customers using her experience cooking for friends. But she felt it wasnt enough, and so decided she wanted to know more about French food. Garten signed up for cooking classes with Lydie Marshall, a French cooking teacher in Greenwich Village who had grown up in Provence. About twelve students would show up each evening, Garten wrote in her 2004 cookbook, Barefoot in Paris. Wed get assignments for the meal the beginners made the salad and the experts cooked the main course and wed cook away the evenings. Garten tweeted her appreciation of the show Its easy to see why the Food Network star so admires The Lost Kitchen. Frenchs drive and desire to serve others elegant, thoughtful meals is a reflection of Gartens own life. The television personality posted on Instagram in February: Ive watched a lot of series over the past year at home but my favorite (by far!) is The Lost Kitchen on @discoveryplus. This is a beautiful story of how Erin French, the chef/owner, used her creativity and resilience to keep her team and the local farmers going during a pandemic. Youll be so inspired! If Garten likes it, you know it has to be not only brilliant, but also worth your time. It was action stations inside Parliament House on Tuesday morning ahead of another packed day of Senate estimates. Missing from the spectacle? ABC chair Ita Buttrose. Ita Buttrose had better things to do than go to Senate estimates in Canberra this week, like lunch with NSW Governor, Margaret Beazley. Credit:Illustration: John Shakespeare It is not the usual practice of an ABC chair to attend the hearings, but lets face it, everyone wants to hear from Ita. ABC managing director David Anderson? Not so much. Uniquely, the Senates environment and communications committee had specifically requested the ABC chair appear, but the former editor-in-chief of The Australian Womens Weekly sent her apologies in writing last week. An ABC spokesman indicated Buttrose had pointed out to the committee that the ABCs special independent status meant it differed from other Commonwealth corporate entities, such as Australia Post, whose chair gave evidence at an estimates hearing last year. The spokesman also said the organisation considered the chairs appearance at estimates would be irregular and would set an unhelpful precedent given that no other ABC chair had ever been asked to appear before. JERUSALEM - Israeli parliamentary elections on Tuesday resulted in a virtual deadlock for a fourth time in the past two years, exit polls indicated, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with an uncertain future and the country facing the prospect of continued political gridlock. An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman votes for Israel's parliamentary election at a polling station in Bnei Brak, Israel, Tuesday, March. 23, 2021. Israel is holding its fourth election in less than two years. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) JERUSALEM - Israeli parliamentary elections on Tuesday resulted in a virtual deadlock for a fourth time in the past two years, exit polls indicated, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with an uncertain future and the country facing the prospect of continued political gridlock. The exit polls on Israels three main TV stations indicated that both Netanyahu and his religious and nationalist allies, along with a group of anti-Netanyahu parties, fell short of the parliamentary majority required to form a new government. That raised the possibility of an unprecedented fifth consecutive election later this year. The election was seen as a referendum on Netanyahus polarizing leadership, and the initial results showed the country remains as deeply divided as ever, with an array of small sectarian parties dominating the parliament. COVID-19 patient Rahamim Havura votes for Israel's parliamentary election inside an intensive care ward for coronavirus patients at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, March. 23, 2021. Israel is holding its fourth election in less than two years. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) The results also signalled a continuing shift of the Israeli electorate toward the right wing, which supports West Bank settlements and opposes concessions in peace talks with the Palestinians. That trend was highlighted by the strong showing of an ultranationalist anti-Arab religious party. After three previous inconclusive elections, Netanyahu had been hoping for a decisive victory that would allow him to form a government with his traditional ultra-Orthodox and hard-line nationalist allies and seek immunity from corruption charges. In an address to supporters early Wednesday, a subdued Netanyahu boasted of a great achievement but stopped short of declaring victory. Instead, he appeared to reach out to his opponents and called for formation of a stable government that would avoid another election. We must not under any circumstances drag the state of Israel to new elections, to a fifth election, he said. "We must form a stable government now. A man votes for Israel's parliamentary election at a special polling station for people who are in quarantine for coronavirus in Jerusalem, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) Around 64% of the vote had been counted by early Wednesday, leaving the outcome underdetermined. A small Islamist party was hovering just below the threshold to enter parliament, and whether it made the cut could affect the distribution of pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs in the Knesset. Updated exit polls on two channels forecast an evenly divided parliament. The third station gave Netanyahu's opponents a one-seat advantage. Exit polls have been imprecise in the past, meaning the final results, expected in the coming days, could still shift the balance of power. Still, there is no guarantee that Netanyahu or his opponents will succeed in putting together a coalition. All three options are on the table: a Netanyahu-led government, a change coalition that will leave Netanyahu in the opposition, and an interim government leading to a fifth election, said Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute. An Israeli Arab woman votes for Israel's parliamentary election at a polling station in Maghar, Israel, Tuesday, March. 23, 2021. Israel is holding its fourth election in less than two years. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) Several right-wing parties have vowed never to sit in a government with Netanyahu. And Naftali Bennett, a former Netanyahu ally turned harsh critic, refused to endorse either side during the campaign. Bennett shares Netanyahu's hard-line nationalist ideology and would seem to be more likely to ultimately join the prime minister. But Bennett has not ruled out joining forces with Netanyahus opponents. In a speech to his supporters, Bennett declined to take sides. He vowed to promote right-wing values but also took several veiled swipes at the prime minister's leadership style. Now is the time for healing, he said. The norms of the past will no longer be acceptable. He said he would move the country from leadership that is interested in itself to a professional leadership that cares. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's supporters celebrate after first exit poll results for the Israeli elections at his party's headquarters in Jerusalem, Tuesday, March. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Bennett has indicated he will drive a hard bargain with Netanyahu, demanding senior Cabinet ministries and perhaps even a power-sharing arrangement that includes a stint as prime minister. In addition, their partners would also include a pair of ultra-Orthodox religious parties and the Religious Zionists, a party whose leaders are openly racist and homophobic. One of its leaders, Itamir Ben-Gvir, is a disciple of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, whose Kach party was branded a terrorist group by the U.S. for its anti-Arab racism before Kahane was assassinated in New York in 1990. Relying on the party could be deeply embarrassing for Netanyahu on the international stage, particularly as he tries to court the new Biden administration. The election campaign was largely devoid of substance and was seen instead as a referendum on Netanyahus divisive rule. Israelis votes for Israel's parliamentary election at a polling station in the city of Yavne, Israel, Tuesday, March. 23, 2021. Israel is holding its fourth election in less than two years. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) During the campaign, Netanyahu emphasized Israels highly successful coronavirus vaccination campaign. He moved aggressively to secure enough vaccines for Israels 9.3 million people, and in three months the country has inoculated some 80% of its adult population. That has enabled the government to open restaurants, stores and the airport just in time for election day. He also tried to portray himself as a global statesman, pointing to the four diplomatic accords he reached with Arab countries last year. Those agreements were brokered by his close ally, then-President Donald Trump. Netanyahus opponents say the prime minister bungled many other aspects of the pandemic, particularly by allowing his ultra-Orthodox allies to ignore lockdown rules and fuel a high infection rate for much of the year. Over 6,000 Israelis have died from COVID-19, and the economy continues to struggle with double-digit unemployment. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves to his supporters after the first exit poll results for the Israeli parliamentary elections at his Likud party's headquarters in Jerusalem, Wednesday, March. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) They also point to Netanyahus corruption trial, saying someone who is under indictment for serious crimes is not fit to lead the country. Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals that he dismisses as a witch hunt by a hostile media and legal system. Even Netanyahus reputation as a statesman has suffered in recent days. The United Arab Emirates, the most important of the four Arab nations to establish official diplomatic ties with Israel, last week made clear that it did not want to be used as part of Netanyahus reelection bid after he was forced to call off a visit to the country. The Biden administration also has kept its distance, a contrast to Trump's support. Netanyahus Likud party was projected to emerge as the largest individual party, with just over 30 seats in the 120-seat parliament, followed by the centrist opposition party Yesh Atid, with some 17 seats. The remainder of the parliament would be divided between some 10 other small parties. These range from an Arab party to left-wing secular parties to a pair of secular, right-wing parties that oppose Netanyahu. Altogether, Netanyahu and his allies were projected to control 53 to 54 seats, while his opponents are expected to control some 60 or 61, with Bennett controlling the remainder. Netanyahus opponents included a diverse array of parties that had little in common beyond their shared animosity toward him. Even if his opponents end up controlling a majority of seats, it will be difficult for them to bridge their ideological differences on such lightning rod issues as Palestinian statehood and the role of religion in the country. They also were hurt by the disintegration of the main Arab party in parliament. A renegade member ran separately but appeared not to win enough seats to enter parliament, robbing the alliance of key votes. Tuesdays election was sparked by the disintegration of an emergency government formed last May between Netanyahu and his chief rival at the time. The alliance was plagued by infighting, and elections were forced after they failed to agree on a budget in December. Netanyahus opponents have accused him of fomenting deadlock in hopes of bringing about a friendlier parliament that will grant him immunity from prosecution. After the results come in, attention will turn to the countrys figurehead president, Reuven Rivlin. He will hold a series of meetings with party leaders and then choose the one he believes has the best chance of forming a government as his prime minister-designate. That could set off weeks of horse-trading. Voting in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Rivlin said the deadlock has had a price. Four elections in two years erode public trust in the democratic process, he said, even as he urged Israelis to vote again. There is no other way. AP correspondent Ilan Ben Zion contributed reporting. Air drop: Eamonn Grant of Samsung and Manna Aero's Alan Hicks demonstrate drone deliveries of Galaxy devices in Oranmore, Co Galway Anyone who orders a phone, tablet or smartwatch from Samsung can soon have it delivered by drone if they live in Oranmore, County Galway. Samsung has become the latest company to join the ongoing drone delivery trial services to the Galway town from Manna Aero, the startup founded by Bobby Healy. Other trial participants in the area have included Tesco and fast food companies. The drones typically fly at an altitude of between 50 metres and 80 metres and at a speed of over 60kph. This partnership with Samsung marks the first of its kind in the world, said Alan Hicks, chief technology officer of Manna Aero. To date, we have been working with Tesco and local businesses to deliver grocery, hot food, books and pharmacy items to people in the area. "We recognise that the potential for the application of drone delivery is enormous. Mannas delivery services in Oranmore have been running for a year. The company is hoping to prove to the Irish Aviation Authority that drone deliveries can be safe and practical. The IAA has not commented on whether it thinks Manna Aero will be allowed to expand its service across the rest of Ireland. But the companys founder, Bobby Healy, has said that he hopes to launch drone deliveries in bigger countries. To be able to deliver our products to our customers within three minutes of leaving the dispatch centre is a brilliant example of innovation in motion, said Eamonn Grant, head of online for Samsung Ireland. In the current environment, there is no better time to provide a contactless alternative to click and collect and we are really thrilled to be partnering Manna to achieve this. Samsung says that the new service will allow customers to order online from the Irish Samsung store, although it was not operational at the time of press. Samsung does not charge for delivery of its phones. The company says that the service will first be made available in Oranmore with Samsung and Manna "keen to expand this service nationwide in the future. The company has drilled four priority one drill holes at Bang I Tum with additional drilling contingent on positive results. The trading halt will remain in place until Thursday, March 25, or when the announcement is released to the market. ( ) has entered a trading halt awaiting an announcement around a drilling update from Bang I Tum, which is part of the companys Reung Kiet Lithium Project in Southern Thailand. The securities will remain in trading halt until the start of normal trading on Thursday, March 25, 2021, or when the announcement is released to the market. Bang I Tum drilling PAM has been drilling four priority one drill holes at Bang I Tum (BIT), which hosts a historic tin mine, with additional drilling contingent on positive results from these holes. In early February, the company completed drilling the first-ever hole which intersected a pegmatite dyke swarm from 46.5 metres to 164.5 metres and the composite thickness of pegmatite approximately 25 metres from 86.3-135.3 metres. Drilling has been on 100-150 metres spaced sections to a drill depth of around 180 metres along the pit length and extending southwest to Lepidolite Hill. Reung Kiet prospect Following the completion of drilling at BIT, PAM intends to relocate the rig to the nearby Reung Kiet prospect to conduct additional drilling that will target lepidolite rich pegmatites identified in previous trenching and mapping programs. The company is confident that the project has the potential to be a very low-cost operation and as the only lithium project in South East Asia, Reung Kiet is strategically located close to the advanced industrial centres of Thailand and Malaysia and the massive battery markets of Asia. New Delhi, March 23 : Additional Solicitor General Madhavi Divan appearing for Competition Commission of India said that Amazon's argument is that if an investigation is conducted, it will affect its reputation, Bar and Bench reported. "But look at the reports. It is better to conduct an investigation and put the matter to rest rather than nipping it in the bud," Divan said. Karnataka High Court is hearing two petitions moved by Amazon and Flipkart seeking to quash the probe ordered by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against them for alleged violations of Competition Law. "Why do names of only some sellers come up in search lists? Why the other names don't come up?," Divan asked. After Amazon, even Flipkart has resorted to having preferred sellers, she added. "Our 26 (1) order suggests that there are preferred sellers," she said. Divan said Amazon has been charged with Antitrust violations by the EU. Investigations are going on in the UK and Germany against Amazon. Indian e-commerce market is as big as 33 billion (refers to a report by NASSCOM). Flipkart and Amazon have 33 per cent and 56 per cent shares for mobile phones in the market. Ultimately, a shop owner has to buy a mobile for the same price as an end consumer. How will he make a profit, she argued. "Also, why would a brand want to sell their product only in one platform? Why that exclusivity?" Divan talked on exclusive agreements between Amazon, Flipkart and Smartphone brands, as per Bar and Bench. Flipkart launched over 60 smartphones in one year and Amazon, 44 phones, said Divan reading from a report. The report also speaks of exclusive agreements (exclusive tie-ups), deep discounting, and preferred sellers. Divan read from the order passed by the CCI under 26 (1) and why CCI thinks that a fact-finding process by the DG is essential. Divan said this order meets the threshold under section 26 (1) and no further reasons are required to be made under the order. She will complete her arguments on Tuesday. Denton, TX (76205) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 14:55:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People take part in a protest against Asian hate in front of the city hall of San Francisco, California, the United States, on March 22, 2021. Eight people, six of whom were Asian and two were white, were killed in three shooting incidents in massage parlors in the Atlanta area by a suspect. The attacks came amid a troubling spike in violence against the Asian American community during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua) Bennington, VT (05201) Today Partly cloudy early. Thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 75F. Winds SSW 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 near a half an inch. Los Angeles, March 23 : Oscar-nominated actor Michael Keaton says the ongoing Covid pandemic was the reason he stayed away from the script of the upcoming superhero film, "The Flash". "I'm not being cute or coy, but I don't really know. I have to look at the last draft. To be honest with you, you know what worries me more than anything about all this stuff? It's Covid!" he said in an interview to aceshowbiz.com "I'm more concerned. I keep my eye more on the Covid situation in the UK. than anything. That will determine everything. I'm staying away from everybody, because the COVID thing has got me really concerned. So, that's my first thing about all projects. I look at it and go, 'Is this thing going to kill me, literally?' And you know, if it doesn't, then we talk," he added. The 69-year-old actor is set to reprise his titular superhero role from Tim Burton's 1989 film "Batman" in "The Flash", but it is unclear whether Keaton is ready to be the caped crusader once again. "I got so much going on now. I'm really into work right now. To tell you the truth, somewhere on my iPad is an iteration of the whole Flash thing that I haven't had time yet (to check)," he said. "I called them and said, 'I have to be honest with you, I can't look at anything right now. I'm so deep into this thing I'm doing. Also, I'm prepping a thing I'm producing and getting ready to do down the road in the fall that I'll be in, and I feel responsible for that'," he added. Brussels will today radically ramp up threats to block vaccine exports to the UK, despite a push by Boris Johnson to find a compromise. The European Commission will publish new proposals this morning to widen the criteria for restricting vaccine exports from the bloc. EU sources suggested the plans were likely to be targeted directly at Britain, as they will aim to restrict exports to countries that have higher vaccination rates. The new regime will also consider whether the country concerned is exporting jabs to the EU, which Britain is not. Sources suggested the proposals could be broadened to include not just the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab but other vaccines, including the Pfizer jab, which is produced in Belgium. The plan, backed by France and Germany yesterday, comes despite diplomatic efforts by Mr Johnson to head off a destructive vaccine war with the EU. It also comes in the face of opposition from some EU countries. Brussels will today radically ramp up threats to block vaccine exports to the UK, despite a push by Boris Johnson to find a compromise (German chancellor Angela Merkel pictured) The Prime Minister last night urged the EU to back down and suggested a compromise was possible. Mr Johnson reminded EU leaders that 'we are all fighting the same pandemic,' adding: 'Vaccines are an international operation.' The PM ducked questions about whether Britain could share AstraZeneca jabs from a plant in the Netherlands which is set to supply the UK. But, after a week of phone calls with EU leaders, he said: 'I am encouraged by some of the things I have heard from the continent.' Downing Street yesterday declined to comment on whether the UK could impose 'tit for tat' bans on vaccine ingredients if the EU presses ahead with the move. The Prime Minister last night urged the EU to back down and suggested a compromise was possible But Mr Johnson suggested he would never sanction a ban on exports, saying: 'We in this country do not believe in blockades of any kind of vaccine or vaccine material. It is not something this country would dream of engaging in.' He is said to be keen to avoiding inflaming the situation by hitting back publicly. But a Whitehall source said any ban would be viewed as a 'hostile act'. The source said Brussels appeared to be trying to distract attention from its own failings by blaming Britain. 'They are risking long-term damage to their relationship with us in order to save the political careers of a few,' the source said. EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen (pictured with EU Council President Charles Michel), who is fighting to keep her job over the EU's disastrous vaccine rollout, has toughened her stance towards Britain in recent days EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who is fighting to keep her job over the EU's disastrous vaccine rollout, has toughened her stance towards Britain in recent days. Today's proposals are the latest development in the EU's row with AstraZeneca, which the bloc accuses of prioritising Britain. It could affect millions of doses of the AZ jab due to be exported from a plant in the Netherlands in the coming months. However, EU sources suggested the new proposal could be broadened to include other vaccines, such as the Pfizer jab, on which the UK is reliant on exports from Belgium. France and Germany signalled they would support the move. French Europe minister Clement Beaune confirmed the proposal would be discussed at a European summit tomorrow, adding: 'We want to avoid AstraZeneca doses produced in Europe going to Britain when we are not receiving anything.' German chancellor Angela Merkel said the EU had 'a problem with AstraZeneca'. But she signalled concerns about widening the ban to other vaccines. 'There are a huge range of international interdependencies when it comes to vaccine production,' she said. 'You have to be very careful now about imposing general export bans you have to take a very close look at the supply chains.' Other EU leaders oppose the ban, fearing it would wreck the bloc's reputation as a place to do business, and could spark off a global vaccine war. Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin warned that a ban would be a 'very retrograde step'. The Netherlands also opposes the jab ban, with Belgium and Poland among a string of other EU countries said to have serious concerns. By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Bird Song of the Day Most popular bird song audio at eBird today, and very pretty. #COVID19 At reader request, Ive added this daily chart from 91-DIVOC. The data is the Johns Hopkins CSSE data. Here is the site. I feel Im engaging in a macabre form of tape-watching. If we are in in the eye of the storm , we are still in the eye of the storm. Vaccination by region: Looks like yesterdays stumble was a data artificact. Early in February, I said a simple way to compare Bidens performance to Trumps on vaccination would be to compare the slopes of the curves. If Biden accelerated vaccine administration, post-Inaugural slopes would get steeper. They have not. The fragmented, Federalized, and profit-driven lumbering monstrosity that we laughingly call our health care system has not responded to energy in the executive, but has continued on its inertial path. Case count by United States regions: I helpfully added a black line to show how horrific the new normal we are all so triumphal about just now really is. The curve has definitely been flattening for the last three weeks, and in the last two days seems to have flattered entirely (remember I use one-week averages to smooth out data artifacts). Thats not good, and when we look at the Northeast, its flattened entirely. Since these are averaged weekly, theres some momentum in the train, too. So theres really no reason to break out the champers. MA: Ten consecutive days of new cases in Massachusetts surpassing the same day from the prior week and eight consecutive days of the positive rate rising week-over-week. #WBZ #coronavirus Liam Martin (@LiamWBZ) March 22, 2021 Wait til the students come back to Boston and Cambridge from Spring Break. Big states (New York, Florida, Texas, California): New York still leads, although with a recent drop. Im also loathe to give Floridas DeSantis permission for a happy dance, but theres no question that in the enormous natural experiment that is our Federalized response to Covid, Florida didnt do badly, and its case curve looks pretty much like that corrupt crook Cuomos, just with a later peak. Test positivity: Big jump in the South. Hospitalization: Hospitalization data is the best data we have, because hospital billing is a highly functional data acquisition system (ka-ching). That said, hospitalization is discretionary; they may also be reducing their admissions rate relative to cases we cannot see in this data! to preserve future capacity; or because hospitals have figured out how to send people home. Case fatality rate (plus deaths): Good to see those deaths dropping. The fatality rate in the West is where it was last May. * * * Politics But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51 They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery. Frank Herbert, Dune They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord Capitol Seizure Biden Administration House Democrats demand answers on slow $1,400 checks [The Hill]. Plus, they owe me six hundred bucks. How earmarks can help fix Congress [The Week]. Earmarks grease the wheels of politics, and they help tie the United States together as a functioning society. Yep. How Biden quietly created a huge social program [WaPo]. An unlikely coalition of Democrats across the ideological spectrum mounted an 11th-hour push in the final weekend before the American Rescue Plan for President Biden to go big on tackling child poverty. They prevailed over what one person involved in the process called the cost police in Bidens inner circle, those anxiously warning about the ballooning cost of the stimulus package. This under-the-radar success created what could be the most consequential piece of the $1.9 trillion package one that, if made permanent , could approach the impact of the programs established under President Lyndon B. Johnsons War on Poverty. Ive never seen such auto-backpatting for programs that only last a year. Texas Democrat Shares Photos Of Overcrowded Migrant Detention Centers [HuffPo]. President Joe Bidens administration has tried for weeks to keep the public from seeing images like those released Monday of immigrant children in U.S. custody at the border sleeping on mats under foil blankets, separated in groups by plastic partitions. Administration officials have steadfastly refused to call the detention of more than 15,000 children in U.S. custody, or the conditions theyre living under, a crisis. But they have stymied most efforts by outsiders to decide for themselves. Fundamentally, nothing will change: NEW: Don't count on seeing Anita Dunn's financial disclosure. She's reportedly serving as a temporary senior WH advisor. From the WH "This individual is not required to file a 278 and thus there are no documents responsive to your request." cc @waltshaubhttps://t.co/GSmYBHTaS8 Brian Schwartz (@schwartzbCNBC) March 21, 2021 Republican Funhouse GOP hopefuls crank up the if-Trump-doesnt-run primary [Politico]. [W]hats truly unique about the Republicans pre-presidential primary is the contingent framework that is unfolding around it. Its a primary but a wholly conditional one. Prospective 2024 candidates, donors and conservative media outlets the entire Republican ecosystem are building strategies and structuring the race around the single question of whether former President Donald Trump runs again. Trumps only 74. So in 2024 hes one year younger than Biden is today. Realignment and Legitimacy The Chamber Of Commerce Goes Woke [The American Conservative]. Although CEOs may earn light applause here and there for their statements in support of LGBTQ+ diversity and donations to Black Lives Matter, such actions are inevitably never enough, as the leftist revolutionaries they pander to always demand more. Meanwhile, business leaders gain no meaningful political capital with Democrats, who move to spurn them at the first opportunity. But as long as the Chamber, and the big business community they represent, continue to see leftist causes as their own, Republicans should learn to treat them not as tepid allies but as potentially hostile enemies. Stats Watch Manufacturing: United States Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index [Trading Economics]. The Manufacturing Activity Index in the US fifth district including the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and most of West Virginia rose to 17 in March of 2021 from a 7-month low of 14 reported in the previous two months. The shipments index increased sharply while the other two components, new orders and employment, held steady. Survey results suggested that manufacturers increased employment and wages in March. * * * Tech: When it comes to broadband, America is the original shithole country: a land of copper wires wrapped in newspaper, then dipped in tar and draped over shrubs and sold to suckers with no other choice at some of the highest prices in the western world. 1/ pic.twitter.com/mQtCVqo5sI Cory Doctorow (@doctorow) March 23, 2021 * * * Todays Fear & Greed Index: 53 Neutral (previous close: 54 Neutral) [CNN]. One week ago: 56 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Mar 23 at 12:48pm. One year ago, just after the Before Times: 5 (Extreme Fear). The Biosphere Why Oumuamua, the Interstellar Visitor, Looks Eerily Familiar [New York Times]. In the scenario favored by Dr. Desch and Dr. Jackson, the nascent Oumuamua was knocked from a Pluto-like object that was circling a distant star some half-billion years ago. It would have originally been roundish, but as it traveled through space it was carved away by cosmic rays. By the time it entered our solar system in 1995 or so, it had lost half its original mass, according to their model. During its passage around the sun it likely melted to a sliver, like a bar of soap in the shower, the researchers say. Only 10 percent would have remained by the time it left the solar system, boosted by the rocketlike effect of evaporating nitrogen. Nitrogen sublimates at about 25 degrees Kelvin, Dr. Desch said: We calculate that Oumuamua reached temperatures in the 45 to 50 K range while it rounded the sun, so it was sublimating nitrogen gas like crazy, hence the strong mass loss. He and Dr. Jackson concluded in their paper: A key advantage of the proposal we advance here of a nitrogen ice fragment is that it can simultaneously explain all of the important observational characteristics of Oumuamua, and that material of this composition is found in the solar system. We therefore conclude that Oumuamua is an example of an uncommon but certainly not exotic object: a fragment of a dierentiated Pluto-like planet from another stellar system.' Dang. (Then again, if youre an alien observer, why not hitch a ride on a chunk of Nitrogen instead of taking a ship? Especially when the chunk doesnt look like a ship? Health Care I was sort of stunned: Fauci and U.S. officials say AstraZeneca released outdated information from Covid-19 vaccine trial [STAT]. In an interview Tuesday morning with STAT, Anthony Fauci, the head of the NIAID, said the DSMB raised concerns because it felt the results in a AstraZeneca press release Monday looked more favorable than more recent data from the vaccine study had shown. I was sort of stunned, Fauci said. The data safety and monitoring board were concerned that the data that went into the press release by AZ was not the most accurate and up-to-date data. That is what the DSMB communicated to AZ in a rather harsh note. Having seen that letter we could not just let it go unanswered.' Wait. A press release? Clearly, whoever is handling AstraZenecas public relations needs to be spoken to. To be fair, Fauci does like to endorse drugs and ramp stocks based on press releases, so clearly the accuracy of press releases would be of great concern to him. But I dunno From a realpolitik perspective in the United States, Moderna, Pfizer, and J&J are national champions. AstraZeneca, like Sputnik, is not. So I dont think its unreasonable to ask if Fauci is putting the boot into AZ for reasons that have nothing to do with health care. Zeynep Tufecki comments: Fuming. I supported a US trial of AstraZeneca so it could undo the *unnecessary* damage to vaccine confidence from their botched initial rollout. Yesterday, I was cautious because, again, press release, no data. Turns out AZ is botching this rollout, too. https://t.co/1Euvr4l4Oh zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) March 23, 2021 I agree. Wait for the paper. Variants Rise in Some States, Adding Urgency to Vaccine Push [Bloomberg]. U.S. officials and public-health experts are again raising alarms about the resurgence of Covid-19 cases in some regions, and are particularly concerned about the role variants are playing in states including Michigan and New Jersey. The developments could augur a long-feared possibility: That another surge could occur even as states are flinging open vaccine eligibility criteria, trying to get shots in arms as quickly as possible. In Michigan and Minnesota, infections are mounting swiftly and new hospital admissions of confirmed or suspected Covid cases are up about 70% and 32%, respectively, from recent lows, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data. The pace of daily Covid-19 hospital admissions, meanwhile, has stopped its slide in New York and New Jersey despite the vaccine campaign and begun to inch higher. Regina schools see rising COVID-19 cases as they move to online learning [CTV]. Public and Catholic schools in Regina have confirmed more than 30 COVID-19 cases in 21 schools across the city since they announced Friday schools will move to Level 4 learning ahead of spring break On Friday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority confirmed there are 25 Saskatchewan schools dealing with cases of COVID-19 variants of concern, most of which are in and around Regina. More beach-shaming, the trope that will not die: Groups of German tourists were seen partying without masks at Mallorca beach in Spain pic.twitter.com/xxr69FWq9O Reuters (@Reuters) March 23, 2021 More beach-shaming. Yes, its idiotic, and the cameraman making selfies can videos be selfies? makes it meta-idiotic. But the beach is outdoors; the real danger is indoors, in bars, restaurants, and accommodations. Yet those are never shown or shamed, presumably because they are businesses. The Curious Case of Floridas Pandemic Response [The Atlantic]. But the closer I looked, the more holes I found in the simple pro-Florida narrative.. Yes, Florida is seeing falling COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. But so is just about everywhere else. And its overall pandemic performance is just about typical. (Some have questioned the veracity of the states public COVID-19 data, but Im assuming for the purposes of this piece that its numbers are accurate.) Florida ranks 27th in deaths per capita, with higher proportional fatalities than Washington, D.C., California, and 22 other states. Thats not a resounding vindication, even if Floridas economic performance blew everybody elses out of the water. As far as I can tell, though, it didnt. At 4.8 percent, its unemployment rate is 18th in the country, and not meaningfully different from that of the median states, South Carolina and Virginia, at 5.3 percent. Real-time data tracking state spending and employment show that Florida is doing, again, no better than average. But while I think Floridas pandemic success has been inflated, the state has surprised people. In 2020, smart media figures and scientists predicted that COVID-19 would especially ravage Florida, given its open economy and elderly population. They were wrong. Why? Did Florida just get lucky? Is this mostly about the salutary benefits of the outdoors, or the coronaviruss sensitivity to heat and humidity? Do strict lockdowns simply fail the cost-benefit analysis? The answer to all three questions may be yes. But they are important unknowns, and we should investigate them with data rather than political headlines alternately claiming that Florida is an economic heaven and a pandemic hell. If the numbers can tell us anything at this point, its that Florida is neither. Well worth a read. Groves of Academe The Humanities Have a Marketing Problem [Chronicle of Higher Education]. The causes of the precipitous humanities declines? First, a political assault on the welfare state that began by defunding education and increasing student debt. Second, an inaccurate student belief that majoring in the humanities leads to lower salaries and higher unemployment. And third, a 50-year culture war against the academy in general and the humanities in particular. Not a cause of these changes, despite what Tucker Carlson tells you: anything that takes place in the humanities classroom. What if, then, we reorganized the undergraduate curriculum around a set of concepts that instead of foregrounding training in the graduate disciplines, foregrounded topics, skills, and ideas central to humanistic work and central to the interests of students? What if the humanities were marketed within the academy by the names of their best and most important ideas, and not by the names of their calcifying disciplinary formations? One way to put such a change in place would be to reorganize the existing curriculum into sets of four-course modules. Such modules could come in two types. Skill modules would focus on practices: language learning, writing and speaking, historical, cultural, and social analysis. Theme modules would focus on topics: social justice, migration studies, the problem of God, translation, journalism, wealth and inequality, conflict, ideas of beauty, television, society and technology, and the like. Not uninteresting. But: Administrator-faculty trust would be paramount. Oh. Our Famously Free Press Want To Serve The Empire? Help Circulate Its Propaganda Narratives! [Caitlin Johnstone]. All you have to do to help ol Uncle Sam spark off them shiny lil Tomahawk missiles and incinerate those goofy foreigners for geostrategic control and Raytheon shareholder profits is this: just go around repeating the same stuff your buddies at the US State Department say about governments we dont like. Thats it! Thats all there is to it. It really is that simple. Black Injustice Tipping Point How sex addiction has historically been used to absolve white men [NBC]. Historically, the term sex addiction has been used by white males to absolve themselves from personal and legal responsibility for their behaviors, Apryl Alexander, associate professor in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver, told NBC Asian America. It is often used as an excuse to pathologize misogyny. The self-identification of sex addiction, she said, is often seen in individuals who are raised in conservative and religious environments, where theres a high level of moral disapproval of their natural kind of sexual urges and desires. Many of these populations are overwhelmingly white. So were reducing evangelical Christianity to whiteness? What about teh intersectionality? Class Warfare Because of Monopolies, Income Inequality Significantly Understates Economic Inequality (PDF) [Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis]. In social science research, household income is widely used as a stand-in for, or approximation to, the economic well-being of households. In a parallel way, income-inequality has been employed as a stand-in for inequality of economic well-being, or for brevity, economic-inequality. But there is a force in market economies, ones with extensive amounts of monopoly, like the United States, which leads income- inequality to understate economic-inequality. This force has not been recognized before and derives from how monopolies behave. Monopolies, of course, raise prices. This reduces the purchasing power of households, or the value of their income. But monopolies, in fact, reduce the purchasing power of low- income households much more than high-income households. What has not been recognized is that, in many markets, as monopolies raise the prices for their goods, they simultaneously destroy substitutes for their products, low-cost substitutes that are purchased by low-income households. In these markets, then, while high-income households face higher prices, low-income households are shut out of markets, markets for goods and services that are extremely important for their economic well-being. It often leaves them with extremely poor alternatives, and sometimes none, for these products. Some of the markets we discuss include those for housing, financial services, and K-12 public education services. We also discuss markets for legal services, health care services, used durable equipment and repair services. Monopolies that infiltrate public institutions to enrich members, including those in foster care services, voting institutions and antitrust institutions, are also discussed. Pretty amazing, for the Fed. Maybe one day theyll write about the workplace. Slavery, Race and Ideology in the United States of America (PDF) [Barbara Jean Fields, New Left Review]. From 1990, said to be a classic. One of the most important of these absurd assumptions, accepted implicitly by most Americans, is that there is really only one race, the Negro race. That is why the Court had to perform intellectual contortions to prove that non-Negroes might be construed as members of races in order to receive protection under laws forbidding racial discrimination. Americans regard people of known African descent or visible African appearance as a race, but not people of known European descent or visible European appearance. That is why, in the United States, there are scholars and black scholars, women and black women. Saul Bellow and John Updike are writers; Ralph Ellison and Toni Morrison are black writers. George Bush and Michael Dukakis were candidates for president; Jesse Jackson was a black candidate for president. Moreover, people in the United States do not classify as races peoples of non-European but also non-African appearance or descent, except for purposes of direct or indirect contrast with people of African descent; and even then, the terms used are likely to represent geography or language rather than biology: Asian or Hispanic. Even when terms of geography designate people of African descent, they mean something different from what they mean when applied to others. My students find it odd when I refer to the colonizers of North America as Euro-Americans, but they feel more at ease with Afro-Americans, a term which, for the period of colonization and the slave trade, has no more to recommend it. Students readily understand that no one was really a European, since Europeans belonged to different nationalities; but it comes as a surprise to them that no one was an African. What we lose if we stop travelling on business [Financial Times]. [W]hen I do see water shortly after landing, it never fails to exhilarate: the vaporetto into Venice, the evening stroll along Hong Kongs Victoria Harbour, Seattles waterside Pike Place Market. A few years back, as I walked in brilliant sunlight across the white-painted Cavenagh Bridge over the Singapore River, I said to myself: you were lucky to have done all this (and lucky, too, to be going back to a cloudier country where I can say what I like). Even when the first sight is the airport metro station or a rainy street, Im lifted by the thought of being somewhere different Travel not only broadens the mind, it deepens understanding business travel most of all. Interactions on a work trip, unlike those on holiday, are not just with those serving you. You deal with people as equals. You go into their workplaces, you talk about what they are making and doing, you enter their lives. I have been into aircraft factories in Seattle and Toulouse, a financial services company in Bogota, luxury watchmaking workshops in Geneva. Even other countries offices have their fascinations: how people greet you, how they are with each other, what pictures they have on the walls. Each told me something. In my experience, all this is true; its the humanists argument for travel. Im not certain, however, how much business travel has made the business class more humane, based on outcomes. The best-known street in the city is Evergreen Point Road. Because the road runs along the water, it is a whos who of luxury real estate. Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and several Microsoft executives live on the street. [Business Insider]. From 2019, still germane. The Bezos family, which is the richest in the world, lives in the tiny waterfront city of Medina, Washington, located just outside of Seattle. Microsoft founder Bill Gates is perhaps the most famous fellow resident, although the towns inhabitants include numerous other Microsoft bigwigs, tech entrepreneurs, and telecom magnates. There are not very many of the Shing. News of the Wired Any results yet? * * * Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (d) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here . Todays plant (EMM): EMM writes: This is a mushroom, I dont know what its called, found in Ireland. Keep up the good work! * * * : Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the recently concluded and thank you! successful annual NC fundraiser. So if you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldnt see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for five or ten days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals: Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated. If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you! Kathmandu, March 23 Last Friday, after the cabinet meeting, some media reported that the government decided to remove the requirement of quarantine for tourists visiting Nepal. Some of them even quoted Tourism Minister Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal to report the news. However, making public the decisions made that day, the government spokesperson, Communications Minister Parbat Gurung, on Sunday did not say anything about the decision. Why? Sources say the government, in fact, had made the decision to not require the mandatory quarantine and resume on-arrival visa service also. However, it withdrew from the new decisions before making them public. On Sunday itself, when Gurung was scheduled to make the decisions public, the Ministry of Health and Population issued a notice saying the number of Covid-19 cases was increasing in India. It also urged the public to avoid crowds and gatherings as far as possible and adopt other safety measures. Then, officials of the Ministry of Tourism thought relaxing the quarantine and visa rules would contradict the Health Ministrys appeal. Hence, they decided to withdraw. Following the withdrawal, tourism entrepreneurs fear their hope, already shattered due to strict quarantine provisions, would be further deferred. CLEVELAND, Ohio Federal authorities say a Bucyrus man breached the U.S. Capitol and joined a large crowd trolling the hallways Jan. 6 in support of then-President Donald Trump. The charges against Ethan Seitz, 31, were unsealed late Friday. He is accused of knowingly entering a restricted building and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. A federal magistrate in Akron transferred his case to U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. He is free on bond. Attempts to reach his attorney, Nathan Ray, and Seitzs family members were unsuccessful. A week after the siege, two cooperating witnesses told authorities that Seitz took part in the attack, according to an affidavit by FBI agent John Minichello. Facebook posts included photos and videos of Seitzs progress as he passed police barricades and made his way into the Capitol, the affidavit shows. Seitz is accused of joining thousands at the Capitol on the same day both chambers of Congress certified Joe Biden the winner of the November presidential election. Many attended the Stop the Steal rally, held near the Capitol, that saw Trump give a heated speech that criticized Vice President Mike Pence for refusing to interfere with the largely ceremonial certification process. Video captured people chanting, Hang Mike Pence. Pence and lawmakers evacuated the House and Senate chambers as insurrectionists ran through the building taking videos and pictures of themselves. Five people, including Brian Sicknick, a Capitol police officer, died in the riot. The Facebook posts say Seitz and others went to Washington to send a message to lawmakers, according to the affidavit. There is a militia here that wants to storm the Capitol and take the building after Trumps speech, Seitz said in a message Jan. 6. Later, he chronicled his movements online, the document says. Im going in the Capitol, the FBI affidavit quoted Seitz as posting online. I just climbed through a broken window. Internal security cameras appear to clearly depict Seitz inside the Capitol rotunda and connecting hallways during the invasion of the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to the document. In a Facebook message, Seitz wrote: The patriots in D.C. were here to show WE THE PEOPLE will not allow our country to be stolen, according to the affidavit. He said he confronted police and had been gassed two or three times, and pepper-sprayed. I had to climb back out. I couldnt breathe, the FBI document says. In another message, the affidavit says, Seitz described what he had done in the Capitol: I didnt break no laws. I didnt destroy anything or hurt anybody. I didnt even steal anything, which was really hard for me. TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - Community leaders are encouraging people to get the coronavirus vaccine and hope to make the vaccine easily accessible to people who live in rural areas. African American community leaders, including pastors and state lawmakers, gathered at Hooks Diabetes and Medicine Clinic to encourage residents to get vaccinated. A patient receives the coronavirus vaccine in Tupelo on March 22, 2021. A patient receives the coronavirus vaccine in Tupelo on March 22, 2021. The group believes it's important to not only tell others to get the vaccine but also show they are getting the shots. Clinic staff publicly vaccinated several people this afternoon. Representative Rickey Thompson said a mobile vaccination vehicle is also in the works to cater to underserved populations. "It's an exciting thing we're doing today when we're talking about access. That's a very important point when it comes to our community being underserved," said Thompson. One local farmer said he believes taking the vaccine to those who need it is a good idea. They don't have the time to come and sit and wait in line for an hour, hour, and a half to get the shot. So this will be very accessible to them," said John Jones. The Hooks Diabetes and Medicine clinic is hosting a vaccination day on March 24. Call 404-353-3911 to register. Copyright 2020 Ministerio de Defensa de Espana P. de la Castellana, 109 28071 Madrid - Tlf.: (34) 91 395 50 00 Fulton, N.Y. -- A Fulton man was charged Monday with sexually abusing a child in the fall of 2020. Fulton Police charged Harvey P. Webster III, 30, with sexual abuse in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a child. Police said Webster had sexual contact with a victim less than 11 years old during the fall while at a residence in Fulton. Webster was arraigned in Fulton City Court by Judge David Hawthorne and sent to the Oswego County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bail bond. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. ADVERTISEMENT Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) in Jigawa on Tuesday barred entrance to the State House of Assembly as they began an indefinite strike. The strike is over the failure of the state government to implement financial autonomy for its legislative arm. The chairperson of the union in the state, Umar Kazaure, said the strike followed the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum the union gave to the government to implement financial autonomy for the legislature. Mr Kazaure said the union was patient for two years after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the financial autonomy Act, but state governors have failed to implement it. He said the association would continue the strike until their demands are met. Mr Kazaure also said if state governments fail to address their demands, PASAN would embark on a nationwide strike that will involve shutting down the National Assembly, the National Assembly Service Commissions, all State Houses of Assembly and all State Houses of Assembly Service Commissions. Mr Buhari had set up the Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy for State Judiciary and Legislature to ensure full implementation of financial autonomy for the two arms of the state government, in line with section 121(3) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended and Executive Order 10. But most of the 36 states have still not implemented the law. The Mamprusis Community in the USA has congratulated their fellow native, Hajia Alima Mahama as Ghanas new ambassador to the United States. The group in a statement signed by its President, Prince-Kamal Gumah said they are a delight with the presidents choice. The Chiefs and elders of the Mamprugu community wish to thank His Excellency the President Nana Addo D. Akuffour for choosing their own for this extract ordinary position, we say thank you to Mr President, the statement read President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will soon be announcing former Minister of Rural Development Hajia Alima Mahama as the nations new Ambassador to the United States. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 08:12:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - ANKARA -- Turkey on Monday reported 22,216 new COVID-19 cases, including 981 symptomatic patients, raising the total number in the country to 3,035,338, according to its health ministry. The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 117 to 30,178, while the total recoveries climbed to 2,844,681 after 19,494 more cases recovered in the last 24 hours. - - - - RABAT -- Morocco announced on Monday 125 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total tally in the North African country to 491,834. The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco increased to 479,557 after 305 more were added. - - - - JERUSALEM -- Israel's Ministry of Health reported 974 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the tally of confirmed cases in the country to 828,672. The death toll from the virus reached 6,102 with 15 new fatalities, while the number of patients in serious condition decreased from 548 to 504, out of 774 hospitalized patients. - - - - BAGHDAD -- The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported on Monday 4,655 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total nationwide number to 798,547. The new cases included 2,093 in the capital Baghdad, 727 in Basra, 264 in Najaf, 239 in Wasit, and 200 in Maysan, the ministry said in a statement. - - - - ALGIERS -- Algeria on Monday reported 98 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the North African country to 116,255. The death toll from the virus rose to 3,061 after four new fatalities were added, said the Algerian Ministry of Health in a statement. - - - - SINGAPORE -- Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 12 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 60,208. All of the new cases are imported cases, who had already been placed on Stay-Home Notice (SHN) upon arrival in Singapore. - - - - KUWAIT CITY -- The Kuwaiti Health Ministry reported on Monday 1,330 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 220,455. The ministry also announced seven more deaths, taking the death toll to 1,233, while the tally of recoveries rose by 1,439 to 204,978. A total of 14,244 coronavirus patients are receiving treatment, including 246 in the intensive care units. Enditem In Los Angeles, a neighborhood has gone to war with itself over a tent city in a park. In Philadelphia, the transit authority said that it would close a subway stationcutting off an entire neighborhood from transit servicebecause of disorder related to the local homeless population. Both of these stories, from the past month, are local tragedies. Taken together, they underline the way Americas homelessness crisis has taken on a depressing air of inevitabilitynot something that can be solved or even directly addressed, but an immovable fact around which we do our best to adjust everything else. We are battling what Rosanne Haggerty, who received a MacArthur genius grant for her work developing housing for the homeless, calls the myth of the overwhelming nature of the problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This state of affairs is nothing newL.A. has consigned an entire neighborhood to the street homelessbut what is new is the sense that we might, finally, be able to do something about it. For the first time in a decade, Democrats control the executive and both houses of Congress. The American Rescue Plan Act that President Joe Biden signed this month contains a big investment in fighting homelessness. In addition to $21.6 billion for low-income renters, it contains $5 billion for housing vouchers specifically targeted at at-risk renters and $5 billion in HOME grants, which cities and counties can use to invest in permanent supportive housing to prevent homelessness. Its a lot. (The entire annual outlay for federal Section 8 housing vouchers, for comparisons sake, is $22 billion.) Advertisement Sarah Saadian, a vice president of public policy at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, told me she is optimistic this infusion signals the administrations intent to follow through on campaign promises related to homelessnessto treat affordable housing as an investment in infrastructure, and transform the housing voucher program into an entitlement. This is the best opportunity we have to make a big dent in homelessness, she said. Advertisement In 2021, not only is the large number of people living on the street a moral disgrace, its a problem we know how to solve. Homelessness is a housing problem, and getting people housing takes money. Unlike gentrification, conspiracy theories, and other present-day phenomena that are in fact long-standing features of American life, modern homelessness has few analogues in our cities recent past. A 1976 history of low-income housing in America made the impossibly foreign observation that the housing industry trades on the knowledge that no Western country can politically afford to permit its citizens to sleep in the streets. The word homeless, in those days, was used mainly to describe persons displaced by war or natural disasters. Advertisement To diagnose the homelessness in their own towns, people have tried to convince themselves of many things: Its the weather. Drugs. Social estrangement. Low wages. State disinvestment in psychiatric care, in caring for people with disabilities, in services for veterans. Ronald Reagan, infamously, said homelessness is a choice. There are at least half a million homeless people in the United States, so there is room for all those things to be a little bit true. But most of all, homelessness is about a shortage of low-income housing. Advertisement As Conor Dougherty writes in his book Golden Gates, urban redevelopment programs in the 1960s and 70s destroyed thousands of rooming houses and cage hotels with single-occupant dwellings and shared bathrooms, removing a crucial support of last-resort shelter. New York lost 109,000 single room occupancy units between 1971 and 1987. Roughly half the SRO stocks of Los Angeles and Seattle vanished in the same time frame. Chicago lost 80 percent of its SROs between 1960 and 1980, a decline of about 70,000 units. Prior to that, a man could work a little, drink a lot, and still afford a room to lay his head. Afterward, not so much. Advertisement Homelessness has increased by double digits in four places with really expensive housing: New York, California, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia. Though homelessness has dropped by double digits in the United States since 2007, according to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development data published last week, it has increased by double digits in four places: New York, California, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia. Those places are not linked by their stingy safety nets, high rates of poverty, or substance abuse issues. They all just have really expensive housing. That homelessness is connected to high housing costs may pass for counterintuitive because the popular image of homelessness is so closely linked to the chronically homelessadult men, many of whom have a disability, who have spent years living on the street. These people need help, the thinking goes, not just a house. Advertisement Advertisement But its hard for the web of city agencies, nonprofits, and religious institutions to focus on treating and helping those people when their ranks are swollen by the people sometimes called the transitionally homelessAmericans, often older, sometimes working, sometimes with cars, who would be ready and able to hold down an apartment if they could just get a little help with the rent. New York City, the homelessness capital of the country, epitomizes this mismatch. Subway homelessness is the flashpoint: Transit workers often complain about harassment and attacks (and, more recently, getting the coronavirus) from homeless people in trains. Gov. Andrew Cuomo went so far as to shut the whole system down every night for the first sustained period since it opened more than a century ago, to clear people from the cars under the guise of cleaning them. According to the citys point-in-time counts, there are 2,000 people who sleep in the subway each winter. You could rent each of them a decent apartment for a total of $50 million a year. Pandemic-era cleaning of the subway will likely end up costing 10 times that much. Advertisement But these avatars of the homeless crisis are not representative. More than two-thirds of the citys homeless population consists of families with children; a third of those include at least one working adult. Their average length of stay in city facilities is more than a year. The many reasons they end up in a shelter or city-rented hotel room may include job loss, eviction, or domestic violence. But there is one clear way they get out: Only 1 percent of families who exit the shelter system for subsidized housing are back within a year. Advertisement Advertisement This suggests that an ample system of housing subsidy might put tens of thousands of people back in homes virtually overnight. But New York states state shelter allowance for a mom and two kids maxes out at $400 a month. There are 60,000 homeless people in New York Citys shelter system, and fewer than 500 households a year receive Section 8 vouchers. Advertisement Thats an issue Democrats could fix right now by expanding the housing choice voucher program, which only covers one in four low-income renters in this country. The Section 8 waitlist has been closed in New York City since 2009. In Los Angeles, the waitlist was closed for 13 years before it reopened (and then closed again) in 2017. Even lower-cost cities like Houston go years without taking new applicants. Guaranteed housing assistance wouldnt just help families who have just lost their homes. After Hurricane Katrina, Martha Kegel, the director of the anti-homelessness nonprofit UNITY of Greater New Orleans, fought for an expansion of vouchers for people who were homeless and disabled. The city got 1,000 of them, which was instrumental in helping reduce the post-Katrina homeless population by 90 percent. The conventional wisdom that homeless people are hard to reach is linked to the low-quality support services on offer, she argued. Almost no one will turn down an apartment. Demand-side subsidy doesnt solve every problem, but it does encourage landlords and owners to bring new affordable units into the market, she added. Advertisement Advertisement The emphasis on housing vouchers is part of a philosophical sea change in homelessness policy over the past few decades, from housing readyyou have to solve a persons problems before theyre ready for housingto housing first: Get a roof over someones head and the rest will be easier to work out. Its much easier to provide wraparound services to the homeless people who need help if they have a fixed address. (This is one of many miracles associated with providing proper housing; another is alleviating the overcrowded dwellings that have proved so deadly during the pandemic.) Like poverty, homelessness has many self-reinforcing costs: injury, theft, jail time for minor offenses like public urination or having an open container. Health care costs fall so much when people have shelter that the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago started renting units for the most frequent visitors to its emergency room. Take this logic up a level and you can see how American homelessness is not just a moral disgrace, but an expensive one too. City, state, and federal balance sheets may not look good when they pour money into affordable housing, but the savings are spread across the economy: Fewer people on the street saves time and money for doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters, and the entire criminal justice system. All it takes is a roof over your head. Louisiana's special polls have elected Julia Letlow as the new state representative after her congressman-elect husband Luke passed away in December. Julia Letlow is Louisiana's newest representative for the 5th Congressional District after a special election held on Saturday proclaimed her the winner. The historic polls named her the first Republican woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana. According to The Daily Wire, Letlow is a pro-life advocate, and according to her website, "a staunch defender of our constitutional right to bear arms." She also stands against raising the minimum wage and is committed to "[fighting] to ensure we have secure and safe elections." Former President Donald Trump congratulated Letlow's win, taking to Telegram to write, "Congratulations to Julia Letlow on her BIG win in Louisiana! Despite running in a field with a dozen candidates, no runoff election is necessary because she received 65% of the vote-an incredible victory." "I am thrilled for Julia and the entire Letlow family. Luke is looking down proudly from above," Trump mused. Representative Luke Letlow, Julia's late congressman-elect husband emerged victorious after a contentious all-GOP runoff against Rep. Lance Harris. In October, Luke Letlow pushed for more relaxed COVID-19 restrictions in the state. However, on December 18, 2020, Letlow announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was soon hospitalized. Five days later, he entered the ICU and on December 29, succumbed to the disease with a cardiac arrest after he underwent a COVID-19 related procedure, The New York Post reported. Letlow reportedly had no underlying conditions. He passed away at the age of 41, leaving behind his two children and wife, Julia. On Saturday, Julia Letlow took 62% of the vote in a race of 12 during the special elections that left her late husband's Congress seat vacant. Her victory adds to a total of 31 Republican women in Congress, a "stunning turnaround" versus the last cycle's 13, Politico reported. Letlow is supported by a number of backers, including former President Trump and the Winning for Women Action Fund. The 40 year-old former Director of External Affairs and Strategic Communications at the University of Louisiana at Monroe was able to raise over $680,000 by the end of February. None of her opponents were able to raise more than $70,000. "My motivation is the passion Luke and I both shared: to better this region that we called home and to leave it a better place for our children and future generations," Letlow wrote on her campaign website. "We all have to walk through seasons of darkness, but I know that it is only through those experiences, that we can recognize and fully appreciate the light," Letlow said in her campaign ad. "I look at Washington and see the division, the ugliness, and the darkness. But I know that there is hope. People are hungry for goodness, for healing, for opportunity." Following her victory, she took to Twitter to share, "What was born out of a terrible tragedy of losing my husband, Luke, has become my mission in his honor to carry the torch and serve the good people of Louisiana's 5th District. I am humbled that you would entrust me with the honor of your vote and the privilege to serve you in Congress." NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 [March 22, 2021] Mindworks Introduces Template-Based Playable Ad Builder to Its Playturbo Platform SAN FRANCISCO, March 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative studio Mindworks has announced the launch of a new feature for its playable ad platform Playturbo. This new feature allows advertisers to use a wide range of pre-built playable ad templates to facilitate playable ad creative production and to improve mobile campaign performance while reducing production costs. New Playturbo feature: playable ad templates Many brands and advertisers across all major markets and verticals have started implementing playable ads into their marketing stacks, thanks to their strong results across all relevant KPIs. Playable ads have seen rapid adoption, but production costs posed a significant challenge, particularly in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic affected campaign budgets. With this in mind, the Mindworks Creative Studio built added a new tool for the Playturbo platform designed to tackle production costs. The new tool added to Playturbo offers advertisers a large library of high-quality playable templates that will speed up production time while decreasing production costs. The ever-growing library has an intuitive, easy-to-use UI and features a wide range of playable ad templates to cater to all mobile advertising categories on the market. Leveraging playable ad templates for sustainable growth This new feature has several key advantages for advertisers using playable ads in their campaigns, all of which are designed to generate stronger campaign results at reduced costs: 1. Wide range of premium templates. Playturbo will constantly update the template catalog, giving advertisers an ever-growing range of playable ad templates to choose from. 2. No coding skills required. An intuitive platform that helps advertisers from all verticals build the playable ads that are right for them and their poduct without the need to learn how to code. 3. Fully customizable. Advertisers have the flexibility to customize the playable ads down to the most granular level, all in a matter of seconds. 4. Compatible with major ad networks. The playable ads created from these templates can be exported and deployed across all the major ad networks on the market including Mintegral, Facebook, Google, Unity, AppLovin, Vungle, TikTok, and more. 5. Cost-effective. Advertisers using this service will gain access to all playable templates at a low price, including any new templates that will be added in the future. "Playable ads are essentially the best-performing ad formats on the market, so it makes sense that more and more advertisers are including them into their mobile campaigns," said Stella Zhu, Creative Director at Mindworks. "Playturbo's playable templates enable advertisers to lower production costs and optimize the production process, resulting in stronger and more sustainable campaign ROI." Register now and get a discount If you would like to try Playturbo's new templated playables, then make sure you register your interest and the Mindworks team will get in touch with you as soon as possible. What's more, if you sign up now, you'll get a 10% discount, so make sure you don't miss out and register today! About Mindworks Mindworks is a digital creative agency under the leading mobile advertising platform Mintegral. Mindworks is dedicated to providing one-stop creative marketing services, multi-style creative content and multi-dimensional creative data analysis for global advertisers. By using its vast creative experience, the Mindworks team has helped advertisers make better marketing decisions and significantly increase their ROI as a result. As one of the largest creative teams in the industry, Mindworks is trusted by over 100 of the biggest game developers and brands in the world including Voodoo, Outfit7, Netease, Lion Studios, Madbox, Good Job Games, MarkApp, Zynga, Glu, Lilith Games, Leiting Games, Sony Pictures, and more. Learn more about Mindworks at www.mindworks-creative.com. Media: pr@mintegral.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mindworks-introduces-template-based-playable-ad-builder-to-its-playturbo-platform-301253268.html SOURCE Mintegral [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A gunman killed 10 people, including the law enforcement officer who was first on-scene, at a Colorado grocery store Monday, and those who were able to make it out of the King Soopers grocery store described a chaotic scene as people ran for their lives. (TNS) Calling the $120 million in federal stimulus funding for broadband infrastructure expansion in Maine a "transformational moment," Sen. Angus King said the state's plans to use the money must be technologically "future proof."The money puts Maine, which is planning several efforts to get broadband to underserved areas, in the unusual position of suddenly being awash with money. The questions that the senator and broadband experts discussed on a webinar Monday included how to best put the money to work and how to assure that new infrastructure withstands the test of time.King, a former two-term governor and an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, negotiated with the White House to get the broadband money into the stimulus bill. "We have a whole lot of additional money coming to the communities, cities, towns and the state, and there's going to be a lot of flexibility on the use of those funds," King told the webinar hosted by the Maine Broadband Coalition.The pandemic shined a light on slow Internet while workers and students stayed at home and added network traffic. The ConnectMaine Authority's action plan estimated it would cost $600 million to bring high-speed Internet to 95 percent of the state. Maine voters passed a $15 million broadband bond in July and the Legislature is considering another $100 million bond that the state's economic recovery committee recommended to Gov. Janet Mills last year.The $120 million under the stimulus bill, which will be disbursed in the form of block grants to communities, is higher than the original estimate of $100 million, King said. It is part of the $10 billion the stimulus bill allocated to get the nation up to speed with the Internet, but he said substantially more money for broadband should be coming in a new infrastructure package over the next few months."We don't consider this the last word," King said of that money. There is other federal money that Maine might receive on top of that, said Peggy Schaffer, executive director of the Connect ME Authority. It includes part of the $100 million to $120 million from the Treasury Department for broadband and water, $411 million for schools from the U.S. Department of Energy that includes broadband and another $7.1 billion from the Federal Communications Commission for needs including broadband for schools and libraries.With the large amount of federal, state, local and potentially private money targeted toward broadband, Schaffer said it is time to plan carefully."It's time to think broadly about what we want to do, why we want to do it and how we make [broadband] future-proof," she said. US accusing China of "vaccine diplomacy" reveals dark mentality, cold-blooded nature 17:16, March 22, 2021 By Qin Chuan ( People's Daily Online Vaccination is regarded as the most effective method of battling the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of the international communitys fight against the virus, China joined the COVAX facility backed by the World Health Organization (WHO). China has provided, and continues to provide COVID-19 vaccine aid free of charge to 69 developing countries in urgent need of it, while at the same time exporting vaccines to 43 countries. It is a firm believer in making COVID-19 vaccines a public good, a committed front-runner in promoting international vaccine cooperation, and a steadfast advocate for equitable vaccine distribution. Workers unload vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac on its arrival in Montevideo, Uruguay, March 16, 2021. Uruguay on Tuesday received a new batch of CoronaVac vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac to bolster its immunization drive against COVID-19. (Xinhua/Nicolas Celaya) While China and the rest of the world are working together to defeat the outbreak, the U.S. is jealous of Chinas efforts to address disparities in vaccine distribution. We are concerned about the use or the attempted use of vaccines as a means of diplomacy by Russia and China, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki at a press briefing on March 5. The fact is, many countries have asked the U.S. government to share its vaccine doses, but it hasnt provided vaccines to any country. Jen Psaki explained that the countrys priority is ensuring every American is vaccinated and that there is a distribution process after that. The explanation reveals the cold-blooded attitude towards a world community forged by a common destiny. The U.S. also interprets China's goodwill in a distorted and even sinister way. The U.S. and some Western countries invented and spread the idea of so-called "vaccine diplomacy", just as Aesop's fox claims that the grapes beyond its reach are sour. The idea is also aimed at distracting people from its short-sighted selfish practices. According to the Associated Press, the U.S. will have enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May and enough for 400 million people by the end of July. U.S. President Joe Biden recently announced plans to purchase an additional 100 million doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to respond to "unexpected challenges." However, globally, 2.5 billion people in almost 130 countries have yet to be given a single dose, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Feb. 5. The poorest and most vulnerable people in the world are at risk due to the selfish behavior of countries represented by the U.S. The America First mentality is the distinctive characteristic of the U.S. capitalist system. According to a report by German media outlet Deutsche Welle, Peru has one of the highest COVID-19 mortality rates in the world. Over 40,000 of its 32 million people have died of the disease, and Peru desperately needs the vaccine. In early February, Peru inked a contract with the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer for 20 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, Victor Zamora, who was Peruvian health minister when the pandemic began a year ago, was not in the mood to celebrate. "Pfizer knows at what price and on what terms countries are buying. The company knows which countries have accepted which clauses," Zamora said, adding that the company demanded guarantees in case the state could not pay. Pfizer also sought access to Perus state property as collateral. Obviously, the pharmaceutical companies represented by Pfizer are more interested in maximizing profits than in saving lives. The U.S. claims that its most efficient economic and political system benefits the majority of people, and other countries should follow its example. However, the pursuit of selfish interests in the U.S. can be found in every aspect of American society. In 2011, an ice storm struck Texas and resulted in rolling blackouts. Ten years later, the state was hit by a similar tragedy. The near collapse of the state's power and water supply in cold weather in mid-February is a direct consequence of extreme free market policies. Electricity prices in Texas soared due to the staggering imbalance between the state's power supply and demand during the cold weather, according to a report from the U.S. think tank Brookings Institution. Some Texans received electric bills of more than $10,000 in February, showing the power of the market. The report pointed out that the most worrying thing is that the regulatory agencies had been negligible while the power industry is powerful enough to pursue profits over safety. It is the long-lasting unsolved problems of the capitalist system, including selfishness and greed, that have resulted in the U.S. failing to selflessly assist other countries amid the pandemic, and caused Americans to suffer. Advertisement Rain is finally easing in Sydney after five days of wild weather but the nightmare is not over yet for riverside towns and suburbs with fresh flood warnings issued as water levels keep rising. Eight months worth of rain fell on some parts of NSW in just the past seven days with some towns getting a full metre of water and some batters by four times their monthly average in just a day. After so much rain the burst the banks of rivers from Parramatta in Sydney to the Hastings River near Port Macquarie on the mid-north coast that immense flooding will continue for days or weeks. Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Agata Imielska said many low-lying inland areas were still under serious threat with rain falling on already flooded areas. 'With that those dangerous conditions that flood risk is very much with us and it is very important for the communities to stay across the current flood and severe weather warnings,' she said. 'We're not out of the woods yet.' Comboyne (1,034mm) and Mount Seaview (1,083mm), both on the mid-north coast, were among the areas to get more than a metre of rain. Flood warnings for the swollen Nepean, Hawkesbury, and Colo Rivers on Sydney's outskirts remain in place as even a little more rain will raise waters higher. SES Commissioner Carlene York said more flooding was expected in Colo, northwest of Sydney, overnight. 'This rain is incredible and it's just not stopping,' she told 2GB radio. 'The Colo River is rising much more rapidly than we expected. There are around 200 homes that are already isolated and access is quite difficult.' The Hunter River is expected to reach 11.5m tomorrow, prompting evacuation orders for low-lying areas downstream of Singleton. The south coast of NSW is now under threat as well, with the weather system that drenched Sydney and the north of the state moving south. 'When that low pressure system comes through later today, we will see heavy rainfall and flood risk on the south coast as well,' Ms Imielska said. A family of four, including two young children were plucked from raging floodwaters in the Hawkesbury on Tuesday after the SES rescue boat capsized Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast was surrounded by floodwaters on Tuesday- with more heavy rain on the way Farther north, more heavy rain and flooding is expected to create further chaos and mass evacuations in Southeast Queensland, as an emerging risk develops for eastern Victoria and eastern Tasmania. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said properties in Beaudesert were under threat as the Logan River was bursting after heavy rain. 'Residents in the area have been asked to secure their belongings, warn their neighbours and move to higher ground,' it said. Ten million Australians along the east coast between Brisbane in the north and Hobart in the south are under threat from heavy rainfall. The flooding risk for NSW remains high as Sydney's skies began to clear late Tuesday after days of heavy rain and widespread flooding. This map shows the areas (in yellow) under a severe weather warning from Queensland to Tasmania Many residents along the flooded Hawkesbury River in Sydney's north-west chose not to evacuate. Pictured are residents keeping a watchful eye on the swollen river lapping their homes The Bureau of Meteorology warns the extreme weather battering all mainland states and territories bar Western Australia is far from over. 'After days of heavy rain we're finally seeing it start to ease,' the bureau tweeted on Tuesday night. 'While it's some good news for hard-hit communities, it's not the end of the story. Many areas are still facing significant flood risk, and in some communities waters are yet to peak.' In northern NSW, residents in low-lying areas of Southgate along the Clarence River were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday night. 'Once floodwater passes 5.4m on the Grafton gauge roads in and around Southgate will begin to close and properties may become inundated,' an SES alert stated Moree residents on the NSW northern tablelands was issued with a similar warning with the Mehi River predicted to peak at 10.4m on Wednesday night. It will also be a sleepless night for many residents in the Hunter Valley north of Sydney, where residents in low-lying areas of Singleton have been warned to prepare to evacuate The Hunter River burst its banks on Tuesday night with flood levels expected to hit 11.5m early Wednesday morning. 'Storm and flood impacts may interrupt essential services such as electricity, phones, internet, water and sewerage,' the SES Hunter Unit said in a statement. 'People in these areas need to closely monitor weather and road closures and make informed decisions early based on individual circumstances. 'Residents should monitor the situation and be prepared to evacuate when instructed to do so.' More heavy rain is on the way for northern NSW. Pictured is flooded farm land near Lismore A farmer paddles his kayak through a field near Kempsey on the NSW mid north coast on Tuesday Sydney's north-west isn't out of the woods just yet with major flood warning still in place. Pictured is Windsor inundated with water on Tuesday An inland weather system coming across from the Northern Territory is blighting the towns of Grafton and Lismore in the NSW northern rivers region. Evacuation warnings remain at Kempsey on the NSW mid north coast, while the Hunter, the Central Tablelands and the south coast are in for a drenching. A major flood warning also remains place for the Orara River at Glenreagh and Coutts Crossing in northern NSW. The flooding crisis in Sydney isn't over either with warnings of moderate flooding along the Nepean River at Penrith. A major flood warning was issued for the Upper Nepean and Hawkesbury River at North Richmond was issued Tuesday night. Rain began to ease in coastal areas on Tuesday evening, but the Bureau of Meteorology says conditions will remain severe for inland NSW. Parts of northern NSW and far south coast (in blue) will cop another soaking on Wednesday NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said locals affected by the catastrophic weather event were at 'breaking point'. Pictured: McGraths Hill, north-west of Sydney Sunnier skies in coastal NSW will not end flood risks, with rain catchments continuing to flow into bursting rivers. 'It is very important to remember that even though we'll have blue sky and sunshine returning, flooding will continue and the flood risk will continue,' bureau meteorologist Agata Imielska told reporters on Tuesday. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian also warned the rivers will continue rising after the rain stopped. 'If you have been asked to be on alert for evacuation, please get together your precious belongings, make sure you are safe and make sure you're ready to leave at very short notice,' Ms Berejiklian told reporters. Already, 34 NSW councils have declared natural disaster zones, with the powerful storm that lashed the state's north coast and western Sydney now spreading to the Illawarra region on the south coast, where 100-200mm of rain were forecast across the region on Tuesday, peaking at 300mm in some parts. Damaging winds, heavy rainfall, abnormally high tides and damaging surf are forecast for the NSW south coast and parts of the Southern Tablelands and Snowy Mountains. 'A low pressure trough and rain band continue to recede to the southeast with a forecast easing in rate rates, winds and surf conditions Tuesday evening,' the bureau said. 'In the wake of Tuesday low pressure trough, strong and gusty westerly winds will push across the central and southern ranges stretching to areas of the Illawarra.' Further north, an extreme weather causing havoc across southern Queensland is expected to continue into Wednesday after roads were cut off, schools closed and evacuations triggered. A major flood warning is active for the Logan River, inland from the Gold Coast, and the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting more heavy rain. 'There is a risk of further flash flooding, particularly in areas of steep terrain that have been recently affected by heavy rainfall,' the bureau said in a statement on Tuesday. The rain band is expected to clear on Wednesday with more more settled conditions expected across southern Queensland. A Swift Water Rescue team from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services rescued two men from their car in floodwaters at Beaudesert near Brisbane on Tuesday Flash flooding cuts a road at Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast on Tuesday with more road closures expected on Wednesday, when more rain is forecast Four homes on the Gold Coast were evacuated due to landslide risk while more than 100 properties were inspected for damage in the southeast. East of Brisbane, Lake Manchester Dam is spilling water and Seqwater has warned those downstream to avoid fast-flowing waterways and flood plains. The Nerang and Coomera rivers on the Gold Coast have burst their banks, and there's a flood warning for Maroochy and Mooloolah rivers on the Sunshine Coast. Minor flood warnings were issued for the Albert and Logan rivers, south of Brisbane, and a number of rivers in the Maranoa and Warrego districts in the state's southwest. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services co-ordinator Brian Cox urged residents not to leave their homes and if they do to take extreme caution. 'Be really vigilant, I mean the first thing is don't go out today, don't,' he told 4BC Radio. 'But if you do, please drive by the road conditions, look out for pedestrians, cyclists. We're asking people to be really, really cautious. 'It will not take much with the current rainfall they've already experienced, and the saturation levels we've currently got across southeast Queensland, for any minor storm to hit, to raise those flood levels and water levels across roads and as you know that can be quite dangerous.' The weather in NSW and Queensland will clear in the coming days, when the focus will turn to further south. 'To the relief of many, this stubborn weather system finally clears NSW and Queensland on Wednesday, leaving them relatively weather free,' BOM meteorologist Jackson Browne said. 'The coastal low moves into eastern Bass Straight on Wednesday, shifting our focus to the south. 'Very heavy rain is forecast for exposed and elevated areas of the eastern Bass Strait and eastern Tasmania.' Up to 100mm is expected to fall with up to 200mm on higher terrain. Alicia Pitt and son Travis are evacuated by a rescue boat after getting trapped by floodwaters on the Hawkesbury River on Tuesday Democratic California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla represent nearly 40 million Americans. Republican Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming represent fewer than 600,000, meaning a single resident of their state enjoys the same representation in the U.S. Senate as nearly 70 Californians. Thats why the question of statehood for Washington, D.C., which was considered by a House committee Monday, is about more than the disenfranchisement of more than 700,000 Americans who live in the District of Columbia. Its also about the effective disenfranchisement of tens of millions of residents of California. The district encompasses more Americans than not just Wyoming but also Vermont, which serves as a reminder that not every small state is represented by Republicans. But the populations that enjoy over-representation in the Senate skew heavily in favor of the GOP. The nations five smallest states, for example, are represented by eight Republicans and two Democrats. As it happens, compared with the 50 sitting Senate Republicans, the 50 Democratic senators under-represent their constituents by over 40 million votes, meaning the number effectively denied representation by the chamber is roughly equivalent to the entire population of California. The political and moral case for D.C. statehood was only strengthened by federal mishandling of last summers protests against police violence in the capital as well as the riot that infiltrated the U.S. Capitol in January. Along with the Electoral College and gerrymandered House districts, the Senates over-representation of sparsely populated states ensures that predominantly white, rural, Republican voters enjoy disproportionate federal power. Meanwhile, significant African American and Latino populations live in the two largest American jurisdictions with no vote in the Senate or the House, the District and Puerto Rico the latter being more populous than 20 states. Congress is considering legislation that would address this injustice by reconsidering the status of the island territory as well as the federal district. The most obvious hurdle, incredibly enough, is the filibuster, which accords Senate Republicans even more unearned power by allowing any 40 of them to block most legislation, further skewing representative government against a majority of Americans. Its one more reason for Democrats to abandon the reactionary rule. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. ADVERTISEMENT Non-teaching staff in public basic and secondary schools in Enugu State on Monday protested their exclusion from the federal governments special salary scale, enhanced condition of service and allowances. The protesters under the auspices of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, Enugu State chapter marched round major streets of Enugu, with placards. The peaceful protest terminated at the headquarters of the Post Primary School Management Board (PPSMB), Independence Layout, Enugu, where they were received by the Permanent Secretary of the board, Favour Ugwuanyi. The state chairperson of the group, Chika Anuka, told the permanent secretary that the protest was as a result of an alleged discrimination being meted to their members. Mr Anuka said the federal government had during the 2020 World Teachers Day celebration announced improved conditions of service and other incentives for teachers in public basic and secondary schools. He mentioned the incentives to include extension of their retirement age to 65 years, increase of years of service to 40 years from the current 35 years, as well as a special salary scale and enhanced allowances. The chairperson said it was sad that the non-teaching staff were excluded from the packages. Mr Anuka said they were at the PPSMB to register their displeasure over such discriminatory policy. He appealed to the permanent secretary to take their grievances to the state governor, adding that members of the association needed to be treated equally as the teachers. Response Responding, Ms Ugwuanyi commended them for the peaceful nature of the protest and promised to take their message to the governor. The permanent secretary appealed to them to be patient with the government as their grievances would receive a positive response. She said the protesters needed to be grateful that they were not owed salaries, adding that they would be frustrating the government if they failed to appreciate the good gesture shown to them. Ms Ugwuanyi said the promises by the federal government could as well be political as none of them had been implemented. (NAN) With the commissioning of OMVs new ISO C4 plant at the Burghausen site, the collaboration between the worlds largest chemical company, BASF, and OMV, the international, integrated oil, gas and chemical company headquartered in Vienna, has reached a new milestone. The plant is based on a novel technology developed jointly by the two companies and has been producing high-purity isobutene since the end of 2020. The plants exceptional energy efficiency saves 20,000 metric tons of CO 2 emissions per year. Up to 80% of the heating energy required for the new process can be met by thermal discharge from an existing associated facility thanks to a heat integration approach. The energy-efficient process for the production of isobutene, achieving up to 99.9% purity, was developed in cooperation between BASF and OMV and a worldwide patent application was filed jointly by the two companies. As a global supplier of catalysts and licensor of petrochemicals technologies, BASF provides the catalyst and reaction concept that intrinsically fulfils all process requirements by OMV. The new unit for the production of high-purity isobutene, which does not need chemical conversion of isobutene, has been integrated into the existing metathesis plant at OMVs Burghausen site. The isobutene produced here complements OMVs existing product portfolio and will be used for manufacturing glues, grease and other chemicals such as antioxidants, as well as in the production of vitamin C. The plants production capacity is 60,000 t/a. Investment volume of this largescale project including auxiliary facilities was EUR 64 mn. Recognizing its superior energy efficiency and contribution to CO 2 reduction, Germanys Federal Ministry of the Environment subsidized EUR 2.8 mn towards the ISO C4 plant as part of its environmental innovation program. Construction on the plant had started in the summer of 2019. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the project was successfully realized with the implementation of a customized hygiene and safety concept. The new ISO C4 plant illustrates OMVs innovative strength. It marks another step in implementing our chemicals strategy and safeguards the Burghausen sites long-term future. The technology, jointly developed with our partner BASF, and the global patent are set to unlock new markets and customer segments for us. The project team has done an outstanding job. The first product deliveries have already been completed and they have met and even exceeded the expectations of everyone involved, said Wolfram Krenn, OMV Senior Vice President Refining & Petchem Assets Europe. As a global leader for process catalysts, BASF serves also as a development partner for our customers. We are proud to support OMV in becoming even more successful. Having demonstrated the performance in OMVs new ISO C4 plant, the new process will now be available to third parties, said Detlef Ruff, Senior Vice President, Process Catalysts at BASF. Sean Young called out Warren Beatty, Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott in a new interview where she named men she worked with in Hollywood she believed to be toxic. The 61-year-old actress, whose films include Scott's Blade Runner and Spielberg's Dune, was asked by The Daily Beast Monday about an interview she did with the late Carl Reiner, who had said that a noted director had derailed her career by labeling her difficult to work with. She said that Warren Beatty, who she worked with in 1990's Dick Tracy before she was replaced in her role, 'was definitely one of them,' and that 'Spielberg was another.' The latest: Sean Young, 61, called out Warren Beatty, Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott in a new interview where she named men she worked with in Hollywood she believed to be toxic. She was snapped in NYC in 2018 She said Beatty wasn't 'the worst of the bunch,' noting rampant abuses in Hollywood at the time. 'I think the sleazy or difficult part is that he probably thought he was treating me really well,' Young told the outlet. 'You know what Im saying? Its not just Warren - its across the board. Ever since the movie business began, women have been treated as a commodity.' She added, 'There was always someone grabbing you, and I just ignored it.' Young said that she was likely unintentionally perceived as 'offensive' due to her straightforward demeanor. Young was asked by The Daily Beast Monday about an interview she did with the late Carl Reiner, who had said that a noted director had derailed her career by labeling her difficult to work with Young, who appeared in the 1984 film Dune, said Steven Spielberg was 'another' filmmaker who hurt her career Young said that her problems with Scott stemmed from her rebuffing his romantic advances, and him setting her up in an aggressive sex scene with Harrison Ford as a result She added, 'I only got offensive later because I started getting pissed off, like, "This is serious. This is my career. You don't just blacklist me." It's terrible.' She said that her problems with Scott stemmed from her rebuffing his romantic advances, and him setting her up in an aggressive sex scene with Harrison Ford as a result. 'I think Ridley was like, 'F*** you,"' she said. 'I was thinking, 'Why did this have to be like that? What was the point of that?' and I think it was Ridley's none-too-subtle message that he was getting even with me.' Out and about: Young was snapped at a 2018 event in NYC Young said that the hard feelings lingered into the making of the 2017 sequel Blade Runner 2049, in which she reprised her role as Rachael in a 30-second cameo in hologram form. 'Wasn't that so full of s***? And there was nothing I could do about it,' she said. 'It was very clear that they knew that the audience would be upset that I wasn't in it, but they didn't want me to b**** about that publicly. 'So, they paid me some money, made me sign a non-disclosure agreement and gave me 30 seconds. And I was like, fine.' She said that Jim Carrey stuck out as a supportive big name she worked with, on his 1994 breakout hit Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. 'He's the only leading man who ever did that for me,' she said. 'Jim came in and said, 'No, no, no. Whatever you're hearing is bulls***. She's great.' Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Students attend the 100th anniversary of the founding of Wuhan High School on the first day of the new semester in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on Sept. 1, 2020. AFP Members of the Shrewsbury 24 - including Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson - who were convicted for unlawful assembly during the 1972 builders' strike have won a bid to clear their names at the Court of Appeal. Two dozen trade unionists who picketed during the 1972 national builders' strike were charged with offences including unlawful assembly, conspiracy to intimidate and affray for picketing. The pickets were striking for better wages and health and safety, at a time when many workers were injured or killed on building sites. Twenty-two of them were convicted across three trials in 1973 and 1974 and six were jailed, while two were acquitted. Lawyers representing 14 of the Shrewsbury 24 argued the destruction of original witness statements meant their convictions are unsafe. They also claimed the broadcast of a documentary, Red Under The Bed, during the first of three trials in 1973 and 1974 was 'deeply prejudicial' as it would have 'provoked panic in the mind' of the jury. The court had previously heard how MI5 had been consulted about the programme, with one lawyer claiming 'a covert executive agency played a part in deliberately propagandising against the core subject matter of the proceedings'. On Tuesday morning, the Court of Appeal allowed the appellants' challenge to their convictions. It ruled that the destruction of witness statements was 'unfair to the extent that the verdicts cannot be upheld,' but did not find that the airing of Red Under The Bed could have prejudiced a jury. Mr Tomlinson said the decision was a 'sorry day for British justice,' as 'we should never have been standing in the dock'. Legal team for Shrewsbury 24 argued the destruction of original witness statements meant their convictions are unsafe. Pictured: members of the group outside The Royal Courts Of Justice Actor Ricky Tomlinson (left) was among the Shrewsbury 24, who were charged after a builders' strike in 1972. Lawyers argue the airing of a documentary during their first trial was 'deeply prejudicial,' as it would have 'provoked panic in the mind' of the jury Ricky Tomlinson: 'A sorry day for British justice' Ricky Tomlinson, said after the ruling: 'Whilst it is only right that these convictions are overturned, it is a sorry day for British justice. 'The reality is we should never have been standing in the dock! 'We were brought to trial at the apparent behest of the building industry bosses, the Conservative government and ably supported by the secret state. 'This was a political trial not just of me, and the Shrewsbury pickets - but was a trial of the trade union movement. 'My thoughts today are with my friend and comrade Des Warren. 'Like me, he was victimised by the court for defending the interests of the working class. 'I'm just sorry he is not here today so we can celebrate, but I'm sure he's with us in spirit.' Advertisement Announcing the decision at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Lord Justice Fulford said: 'These 14 appeals against conviction are allowed across the three trials and on every extant count which the 14 appellants faced.' The judge added: 'It would not be in the public interest to order a retrial.' In its written ruling, the Court of Appeal allowed the 14 appellants' appeals on the ground that original witness statements had been destroyed. Lord Justice Fulford said: 'If the destruction of the handwritten statements had been revealed to the appellants at the time of the trial, this issue could have been comprehensively investigated with the witnesses when they gave evidence, and the judge would have been able to give appropriate directions. 'We have no doubt that if that had happened, the trial process would have ensured fairness to the accused. Self-evidently, that is not what occurred.' The judge added: 'By the standards of today, what occurred was unfair to the extent that the verdicts cannot be upheld.' But the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeals on a second ground, which was that the broadcast of Red Under The Bed during the first of the trials may have prejudiced the jury. Danny Friedman QC, representing 12 of the pickets, said a 'covert Foreign Office agency' known as the Information Research Department (IRD) provided 'considerable assistance' in the making of the programme. The IRD 'consulted the Security Service', also known as MI5, about the programme, Mr Friedman said, which was also praised by then prime minister Edward Heath. Mr Heath said at the time: 'We want as much as possible of this.' Mr Friedman told the court: 'It is obvious... a covert executive agency played a part in deliberately propagandising against the core subject matter of the proceedings.' Six of the 14, including Des Warren, who was jailed for three years, have since died and their appeals were continued in their name by their relatives In a statement after the ruling, The Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson, who was sentenced to two years in jail for conspiracy to intimidate and affray, said: 'Whilst it is only right that these convictions are overturned, it is a sorry day for British justice. 'The reality is we should never have been standing in the dock. 'We were brought to trial at the apparent behest of the building industry bosses, the Conservative government and ably supported by the secret state. 'This was a political trial not just of me, and the Shrewsbury pickets - but was a trial of the trade union movement. Protests were held in London following the jailing of Ricky Tomlinson and Des Warren, who became known as the 'Shrewsbury Two' 'My thoughts today are with my friend and comrade Des Warren. 'Like me, he was victimised by the court for defending the interests of the working class. 'I'm just sorry he is not here today so we can celebrate, but I'm sure he's with us in spirit.' Mr Tomlinson and co-appellant Arthur Murray's solicitor Paul Heron welcomed the ruling. 'However, it is important to remember that following their convictions in 1973 they were blacklisted by the building industry,' Mr Heron said. The Shrewsbury 24: Strike pickets jailed for up to three years each The Shrewsbury 24 are a group of 24 construction workers who picketed building sites in Shrewsbury during the first ever national builders' strike in 1972. Though no arrests were made on the day of the strikes, a group of men were arrested and charged with various offences including unlawful assembly, affray and conspiracy to intimidate and were each convicted in a series of trials in 1973 and 1974. The men received a wide range of punishments ranging from three years in prison to suspended sentences. Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson was sentenced to two years in jail for conspiracy to intimidate and affray. During the first trial, in 1973, a TV documentary called Red under the Bed was broadcast and was covered in the local newspaper. The programme was made and presented by a former Labour MP, Woodrow Wyatt and featured footage of picketing during the building workers strike and other disputes. After the programme, a studio discussion was chaired by Richard Whiteley with a panel of four including Wyatt, Alan Fisher of NUPE, Barbara Castle MP and Geoffrey Johnson Smith MP. The day after it was broadcast the picketers' lawyers applied for Anglia TV and Woodrow Wyatt to be held in contempt of court but Judge Mais refused and the trial continued. Advertisement 'Many of the men could not find work and as a result suffered more punishment. 'Whilst we understand that the court was unwilling to consider the wider issues regarding the involvement of the secret state, we are calling for a public inquiry into blacklisting in the industry, the role of the building industry bosses and the secret state.' The pair's barrister Piers Marquis added: 'There is no question that this was a politically-motivated trial that ultimately intimidated workers and broke picket lines. 'We now know that the police destroyed evidence, that the prosecution knew that they had and were silent about it and that the Government helped produce fabricated propaganda that was broadcast at the most damaging possible time for these men. 'Des Warren and Ricky Tomlinson knew none of that when they each spoke from the dock and questioned where the conspiracy in this case really lay. 'Their vindication and that of their fellow pickets has been a long time coming, my respect to them for never stopping fighting for it.' Mr Murray, who was convicted of affray and unlawful assembly and sentenced to six months, said: 'We were innocent all along, yet it has taken us nearly 50 years to clear our names. 'We all came from respectful working-class families - sadly my mother and four of my siblings have passed away without knowing that we were innocent. 'This was a major miscarriage of justice and victimisation of not only innocent workers, but an attack on the working class and the trade union movement as a whole. 'We have stood firm and we have been vindicated. 'However, serious questions need to be asked about the role of the building industry bosses in our convictions and the highest offices of Government who all had a hand in our trial and conviction. 'Make no mistake, our convictions were a political witch-hunt.' Terry Renshaw was was convicted of unlawful assembly at the third and final trial and sentenced to four months' imprisonment suspended for two years. He said: 'We never thought that we would see this day, when this miscarriage of justice was overturned. 'The Court of Appeal has acknowledged that we did not receive a fair trial. The police and the prosecuting authorities used every trick in the book to secure guilty verdicts even if it meant trampling over our rights and manipulating the evidence. 'On behalf of all the pickets, I would like to pay tribute to the Shrewsbury 24 Campaign, without whom we would never have achieved this victory. Terry Renshaw, pictured centre with Harry Chadwick (left), Eileen Turnbull lawyer Jamie Potter (right) said: 'We never thought that we would see this day' 'In particular, we owe a great debt to our researcher, Eileen Turnbull, for working tirelessly to obtain the crucial evidence that got our case to the Court of Appeal and brought about our victory.' Last month senior judges were told that a 'covert Foreign Office agency' known as the Information Research Department (IRD) provided 'considerable assistance' in making Red Under The Bed. Danny Friedman QC, representing 12 of the trade unionists , said in written submissions that the head of the IRD had told a senior Foreign Office official that 'we had a discreet but considerable hand in the programme'. He added that the IRD 'had consulted the Security Service' - also known as MI5 - about the programme, which was also praised by then prime minister Edward Heath, who said: 'We want as much as possible of this.' The names of the Shrewsbury 24 Ricky Tomlinson Des Warren Terry Renshaw Kenneth Desmond Francis O'Shea John Elfyn Llywarch John McKinsie Jones John Carpenter William Michael Pierce John Malcolm Clee George Arthur Murray Samuel Roy Warburton Dennis Morris Alfred James Derek Hughes John Gary Davies Thomas Brian Williams Thomas Bernard Williams Edward Leonard Williams Patrick Kevin Butcher Bryn Thomas William Charles Leslie Hooson Graham Roberts Peter Alfred Sear John Kenneth Seaburg Advertisement Mr Friedman told the court: 'It is obvious... a covert executive agency played a part in deliberately propagandising against the core subject matter of the proceedings.' Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: 'Today is a joyous and just day for the 24 and for working people everywhere. 'But these innocent workers should never have been put in this miserable position by the forces of the British state. 'We salute the heroic men and their families and their enormous courage in taking on the apparatus of the state in order to clear their names. History will rightly record their heroism. 'I send my very best wishes to my good friend Ricky Tomlinson, who can take enormous pride from today's ruling, and my thoughts today are with Dessie Warren, who sadly did not live to see justice delivered, and his family who fought on in his name. 'It is also a landmark day in trade union history. For nearly 50 years, this group of workers have been defending themselves against deep, criminal injustices perpetrated by the state. 'Finally, the truth has been heard and justice has been done.' Mr McCluskey added: 'On behalf of Unite, I want to pay tribute to their determination and to the Shrewsbury 24 Campaign, without whose work and commitment this victory - for them and the working class - would not have been possible. 'However, this day must also be marked with sadness, sadness for those who have not lived to see justice secured. 'Not only should the pickets never have been convicted but the failure to overturn such clearly wrongful convictions for so long casts a dark stain on society. 'It is vital that this miscarriage of justice is never forgotten. 'The pickets were victims of the state whose agencies, including the police, the judiciary and the intelligence services, conspired to make an example of ordinary trade unionists simply campaigning for better pay and safer working conditions for all building workers. 'The full details of who was involved in these trumped-up charges remains shrouded in mystery and it is critical that the government papers from the time are finally published.' This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions Fitness trainer and mum-of-two Emily Skye has slammed the model and actress Emily Ratajkowski, after she uploaded a photo of her impossibly flat stomach just 11 days after giving birth. Emily, from the Gold Coast, said the pictures of the 29-year-old celebrity new mum in silky loungewear have 'upset' many women - 'especially mothers' - and caused them to look unfavourably on their own bodies. To illustrate that there is no such thing as a 'snap back' immediately after childbirth, Emily shared a series of photos of her own post-partum body as she tried to get fit again after having her two kids. The photos showed the 36-year-old's stretch marks and 'excess belly skin', before Emily eventually re-gained her toned abs some months later. Fitness trainer and mum-of-two Emily Skye has slammed the model and actress Emily Ratajkowski's post birth pictures, and shared a series of snaps of her own body after giving birth (pictured six hours and six weeks post-partum) Emily Ratajkowski (pictured) uploaded photos of her impossibly flat stomach just 11 days after giving birth, angering mothers across the globe The photos showed the 36-year-old mum's stretch marks and 'excess belly skin', before Emily eventually re-gained her toned abs some months later (pictured four and five months after giving birth) 'I am all for body positivity and celebrating ALL bodies as we're all amazing in our own ways,' Emily posted on Instagram. '[But] comparing and feeling inferior to people who seem "perfect" is unhealthy. We can't control what other people choose to put out there but we can take control of how we allow them to affect us.' Emily continued: 'Some women "snap back" shortly after having a baby, and some - if not most - don't! 'For me, it took about a year after having my first baby to get fit again and I'm nine months into my journey now after my second. 'Although I'm not trying to get my body "back", I am just aiming to be my best.' Emily said: 'Some women "snap back" shortly after having a baby, and some - if not most - don't!' - she said you shouldn't compare yourself to women who do (pictured seven and nine months post-partum) The 36-year-old mum said she has done her 'fair share of comparing' after she had her first child, and spent hours wondering 'why so many other fitness professionals snapped back fast after giving birth' and she didn't. 'I felt like an imposter as a fitness expert, because I didn't look fit,' she said. Emily continued: 'This time around, I knew better than to compare and beat myself up. I needed to practice what I preach and focus on my own journey and not get distracted by others.' The 36-year-old mum (pictured) said she has done her 'fair share of comparing' after she had her first child, and spent hours wondering 'why so many other fitness professionals snapped back fast after giving birth' and she didn't Emily said it is now nine months after she had her second baby, Zac, and she still has 'excess belly skin' and her tummy 'wants to come out when I'm not consciously holding it tight'. 'I've worked extremely hard to get fit, healthy and strong, harder than ever - but it [my body] makes me feel powerful, resilient and capable of anything - and most importantly, happy,' she said. 'I am so proud of myself and have so much appreciation for my body and what it's done and keeps doing for me and my babies. 'I truly want other women to feel the same. I know it's hard, it took me decades to get to this point and it's an ongoing journey.' Emily's post resonated with her thousands of followers, who thanked the mum-of-two for being so brave with her words and photos (Emily Skye pictured before) Emily's post resonated with her thousands of followers, who thanked the mum-of-two for being so brave with her words and photos. 'Thank you for keeping it real, I'm 12 weeks post-partum and have just today started your program. Can;t wait to feel fit and strong again,' one woman said. 'Well done for this post, Emily, it's so real and raw,' another added. Emily Skye wasn't the only Aussie to condemn Emily Ratajkowski's post-birth snaps either. On Monday, Australian actress Claire Holt, 32, best known her role on Vampire Diaries took a swipe at Emily, 29, and said that she found her post 'annoying'. In a post shared with her 6.3million followers on Instagram Stories, Claire began: 'I try not to be the Grinch on here, but I really wanna say something cos it's annoying me.' 'Claire continued: 'If you post a picture of your completely flat stomach 10 days after having a baby and call that body positivity, to me that's the same as posting a picture of the millions of dollars in your bank account and calling that success positivity.' 'It might be true, but it makes other people feel s**ty about themselves, and it's not normal, and you're an outlier, and you're lucky.' STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Police found heroin in a blender and thousands of dollars in cash inside a home in Dongan Hills during an early-morning raid, authorities allege. Jennifer Czirr, 39, and Marc Esposito, 42, were arrested as police executed a search warrant around 6 a.m. on March 10 at their home on Chapin Avenue, according to the criminal complaint and police. Officers found 56 whole or partial pills of the sedative alprazolam inside a nightstand drawer in a bedroom, the complaint alleges. The duo allegedly had 24 tablets of addiction-treatment drugs buprenorphine and naloxone inside the top drawer of a bureau in a bedroom. Officers counted $5,935 in cash stowed inside a bag in a bedroom and a scale that was tainted with heroin residue was found on a bedroom floor, according to the complaint. In the dining room, loose heroin was detected on a table, police said. A black blender containing heroin was located above a drawer where a box of empty glassine envelopes and a roll of large plastic bags were stored, the complaint alleges. Left on a tile in the kitchen were a metal straw and a razor, both with heroin residue, police said. As the suspects were being taken into custody, police allegedly found next to them an orange tablet of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, a medication typically used to treat attention-deficit and related disorders. Czirr and Esposito were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Czirr has been released on her own recognizance and is due back in Criminal Court on June 14. Esposito was released under supervision and is scheduled to appear in Criminal Court on April 14, according to public records. Attorneys for the defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comments. Photo taken on Mar. 23, 2021 shows the Line S2 of Beijing Suburban Railway by the Badaling Great Wall. With the spring arriving, the line was bathed in a shower of falling flowers, offering the tourists on train a picturesque spring scenery to behold. (Guo Junfeng/Guangming Picture) 3 1 [ Editor: WXL ] CLEVELAND, Ohio The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Board of Trustees on Tuesday selected Rev. Charles P. Lucas as board president and Karen Moss as vice president. Lucas, a paratransit advocate and long-time paratransit rider, previously served as the boards vice president. The eight board members in attendance at Tuesdays meeting voted unanimously for Lucas. He was the only person nominated for the position. Moss, an immigration attorney, also was the only nominee for the vice president position. Seven board members voted for her, with Valarie McCall, an aide and appointee of Mayor Frank Jackson, casting the sole no vote without comment as to why. After the meeting, McCall, did not immediately respond to questions from cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer about why she voted against Moss. As board president, Lucas replaces Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough, who stepped down from the board earlier this month after serving as president for two-and-a-half years and as a trustee for 22 years. Lucas is pastor emeritus of St. James AME Church, and also an appointee of Jackson. He has been on the board since 2016. His father, Charles P. Lucas Sr., was the first African-American appointed to the RTA board, back in 1968, Lucas said Tuesday. Lucas, addressing RTA employees after he was elected on Tuesday, said he is committed to giving the best that I have to give you the leadership that is necessary. He added that it has been a joy to serve as a drum major for paratransit during his time on the board. Moss, an appointee of County Executive Armond Budish, has served as a trustee since 2011. Weve gone through so much andI think were ready to take ourselves in a good positive direction, Moss said of the authority. Maharashtra state board exams for Class 12 cancelled in view of COVID-19: Minister Vijay Wadettiwar. in view of COVID-19: Minister Vijay Wadettiwar. Lockdown-like restrictions to be lifted from tomorrow in 18 out of 36 Maharashtra districts: government. in 18 out of 36 Maharashtra districts: government. New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday (March 23) upheld the conviction and sentencing order passed by a magistrate, of two years imprisonment to AAP MLA Somnath Bharti in connection with an assault case of AIIMS security guards. The court also dismissed the AAP MLA's appeal partly. Special Judge Vikas Dhull partly dismissed Bharti's appeal and convicted him for the offences under sections 147 (rioting) read with 149 (unlawful assembly) of IPC and under section 3 (mischief causing damage to public property) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The court, however, set aside his conviction under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) read with section 149 of IPC. After the pronouncement of the court order, Somnath Bharti was taken into custody. In a tweet, Somnath called it a "false" case and stated: "It was March 23 when people in power duly aided by Indian politicians hanged Shahid-e-azam Bhagat Singh Ji, Rajguru Ji and Sukhdev Ji, and today again, I failed to get justice from sessions court and being sent to Jail for my struggle for rights of people in a false case. Inquilab zindabad!" It was March 23 when people in power duly aided by Indian politicians hanged Shahid-e-azam Bhagat Singh Ji, Rajguru Ji n Sukhdev Ji n today again I failed to get justice 4m sessions court n being sent to Jail for my struggle for rights of people in a false case.Inquilab zindabad! Adv. Somnath Bharti (@attorneybharti) March 23, 2021 In January this year, a magistrate court had sentenced him to two years in jail. He was later granted bail to enable him to file an appeal before the high court against his conviction in the case and jail term. Earlier on September 9, 2016, the AAP MLA along with nearly 300 others had brought down the fence of a boundary wall at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) with a JCB operator. The case was lodged against him on the basis of a complaint from RS Rawat, Chief Security Officer, AIIMS. (With Agency Inputs) Captain Greg Metzger, South Fork Natural History Museum; and Rachel Shaw, lead author and an FAU graduate student, prepare to release a satellite-tagged young white shark off Montauk, New York. Credit: Walter Zublionis Uncovering detailed travel patterns and habitat use of sharks along and across shelf territories has been historically challengingespecially for most pelagic shark specieswhich remain offshore for most of their lives. Their vertical diving behavior has been a subject of inquiry for a long time, and for young sharks in particular, has remained elusive. Using cutting-edge 3D satellite technology, a study led by Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, in collaboration with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service; OCEARCH; The South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center; and the Wildlife Conservation Society, is providing a unique look into how young white sharks in the North Atlantic Ocean travel and use their habitats. The study also is the first to provide fine-scale analysis of vertical movement behavior in young-of-year (1 to 2 years) and juvenile white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in the New York Bight, the only confirmed white shark nursery area in the entire North Atlantic Ocean. Results published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, showed that across multiple years, the tagged young white sharks consistently displayed horizontal movements parallel to Long Island's southern shoreline and the New Jersey coast and likely cling to these waters due to their summertime productivity. Horizontal movements ranged from the surf zone to more than 130 kilometers from shore; however, more than 90 percent of the sharks were positioned within 20 kilometers of Long Island's southern shoreline, which further confirms the importance of this region to baby white sharks. Data from the study simultaneously address many questions on the ecology, behavior and conservation of a highly mobile marine species that has been challenging to explore, and will inform ongoing preservation strategies for this vulnerable white shark population. "We have known about the importance of nurseries for young sharks for some time, however, knowledge of the finer scale use of shelf systems by these animals has been limited. This lack of information impacts our understanding of potential shark 'hotspots' within these large ecosystems," said Rachel Shaw, lead author, and a recent graduate from the Fisheries Ecology and Conservation (FEC) Lab, led by Matt Ajemian, Ph.D., co-author and an assistant research professor at FAU Harbor Branch. A young white shark is tagged using satellite technology, which tracked their 3D movements in the New York Bight between 2016 and 2019. Credit: OCEARCH/R. Snow Between 2016 and 2019, 21 young-of-year and juvenile white sharks were fitted with satellite and acoustic tags to examine their distribution and habitat selection during late summertime (August to October) in the New York Bightthe coastal region between Montauk, New York and Cape May, New Jersey. Movement data from the 21 young white sharks were collected (11 males and 10 females ranging in size from 54 to 61 inches in length) and linked to environmental measurements from remote sensing platforms. These data sets produced the first-ever glimpse into the 3D movements for these young white sharks alongside oceanographic features like bathymetry (submarine topography), sea surface temperature, chlorophyll-a levels, and sea surface salinity. "Undoubtedly, our research shows that young white sharks traverse variable oceanographic features across the continental shelf in the New York Bight, but they certainly have their habitat preferences," said Shaw. The vertical diving behavior and accompanying measurements showed that sharks encountered several areas across the shelf with thermally stratified water column structure. This was most evident around the Hudson Shelf Valley region where some of the coldest bottom temperatures were recorded during the summertime, and is indicative of the "cold pool" that sets up in this region. Further, young white sharks also selected areas with relatively high levels of productivity (i.e., mesotrophic waters) as reflected by salinity and chlorophyll-a concentration. Tagged individuals selected sea surface salinities slightly less saline than oceanic waters, which are typically associated with coastal areas. Altogether, the research suggests young white sharks prefer nearshore habitats, but can exhibit connectivity between the immediate shoreline and mid-continental shelf region, where they play important ecological roles as apex predators on a variety of species. The study improves characterization of essential habitat for young white sharks and provides new insights into their reliance on this productive continental shelf ecosystem, which may provide them with the resources needed to grow quickly as well as a refuge from predators. "While the northwest Atlantic white shark population appears to be recovering from historical overfishing, there is considerable uncertainty in their population dynamics, seasonal habitat preferences, ecological roles, and exposure to environmental impacts," said Ajemian. "Understanding species-habitat relationships is critical for predicting the potential impacts of long-term environmental changes including climate change, which is disproportionately affecting this region." More information: Rachel L. Shaw et al, Three-Dimensional Movements and Habitat Selection of Young White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) Across a Temperate Continental Shelf Ecosystem, Frontiers in Marine Science (2021). Rachel L. Shaw et al, Three-Dimensional Movements and Habitat Selection of Young White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) Across a Temperate Continental Shelf Ecosystem,(2021). DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2021.643831 Nicola Sturgeon could still be facing a vote of no confidence at Holyrood despite an independent report clearing her of breaching the ministerial code. The Scottish First Minister welcomed the results of the investigation led by James Hamilton, a former director of public prosecutions in the Republic of Ireland. His report, published on Monday, considered whether she had broken the rules of behaviour for ministers in her actions following harassment allegations made against her predecessor Alex Salmond. The former first minister won a payout of more than 500,000 after the Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled that the way the Scottish Government dealt with those complaints was unlawful. Alex Salmond successfully challenged the Scottish Governments handling of harassment complaints against him (Jane Barlow/PA) Mr Hamilton concluded that the First Minister did not breach the provisions of the ministerial code in her behaviour. But a committee of the Scottish Parliament set up to consider her Governments botched handling of the complaints against Mr Salmond is now due to report. Leaks from the Committee on the Scottish Governments Handling of Harassment Complaints have already suggesting it has concluded it is hard to believe Ms Sturgeon did not know of concerns about her predecessors behaviour before November 2017, as she has said. A majority of MSPs on the committee are also understood to have concluded that Ms Sturgeon misled them if she did have knowledge of the concerns. When the leaks of the committees findings emerged Ms Sturgeon, who spent eight hours being questioned by MSPs on the matter earlier this month, accused some members of having made their minds up before she had uttered a single word of evidence. She dismissed the very partisan leak as being not that surprising. However Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross insisted it was up to the Scottish Parliament to decide if the First Minister has been misleading. And while he said he respected Mr Hamilton, he added his party could not agree with his assessment that the First Minister had not breached the ministerial code. Mr Ross said: The First Minister has been given a pass because it has been judged her failure of recollection was not deliberate. I respect Mr Hamilton and his judgment but we cannot agree with that assessment. However Ms Sturgeon should survive if the Tories do push ahead and bring a vote of no confidence in her to Holyrood. That is because the Scottish Greens have already said they will not support such a motion, claiming the Conservatives have shown no interest in establishing the truth by lodging the motion before the report was published. Leaving Cert students can adopt an As You Like It approach to Shakespeare in June, with no requirement on English Higher Level candidates to answer a question on the Bard of Avon. Normally, honours English students have to write about a Shakespearean drama, but this year its optional. It is one of the radical changes to this years exams as adjustments are made to compensate for loss of face-to-face teaching due to Covid-related school closures. The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has published a subject-by-subject account of what students can expect in June in new guidance: Further adjustments to the written examinations, Leaving Certificate, 2021. The purpose of the changes is to lessen the load, as far as is reasonably possible for candidates both in their preparation for the written exams and also on the day of the exam. Exam chiefs aim to keep the papers as familiar as possible maintaining the same overall structure and layout and, for the most part, no material has been removed. Each exam will run for the usual length of time, but students will have more choice and will be required to answer fewer questions. In most cases, the total mark for the exam paper will be reduced and there may be a small redistribution of marks within the papers as a result of the introduction of further choice. According to the SEC, the introduction of further choice and the reduction in the number of questions to be answered means that, in many cases, the exam no longer samples across the entire syllabus or subject specification. It states: In the case of some subjects, entire categories of skill may not be assessed at all for candidates who choose particular combinations of questions that would not be allowed in a normal year. The level of change varies between subjects, but an example of the sort of adjustment that students can expect can be gauged from the arrangements for English Higher Level. In Paper 1 Section 1 (Comprehending) students will only have to answer one question. The new SEC guidance states: Instead of answering a Question A on one text and a Question B on another text, as is usually required, this year candidates will be required to answer only one question in Section I. They must answer either one Question A or one Question B on one text in this section. Section II of that paper (Composing) will remain unchanged and candidates will still be required to write one composition from the usual list of seven. The composition will be marked out of the usual 100 marks, although overall the paper will be marked out of a total of 140 marks, instead of the 200 as in previous years. In the poetry and prose Paper 2, instead of answering on all three sections Single Text, Comparative Study and Poetry - students may choose to answer the required number of questions in any two of the sections. There will also be greater choice within the Comparative Study and Poetry sections. Usually, students must tackle Shakespeare, either through the Single Text or the Comparative Study, but the net effect of the changes is that they can avoid the bard, if they so choose. In the case of Irish the SEC says no fair adjustment to Paper 1 was feasible, so the adjustments have been confined to Paper 2. These adjustments have been finalised following discussions between the Department of Education, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and the SEC. DHS chief says US-Mexico border is closed'; over 15K unaccompanied minors in US custody Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday said the United States southern border is closed to migrants a claim refuted by a Republican senator as there are said to be at least 15,500 unaccompanied migrant minors housed in U.S. custody. The message is quite clear, do not come. The border is closed, the border is secure, Mayorkas said on ABCs This Week." We are encouraging children not to come, Mayorkas added. Now is not the time to come. Do not come. The journey is dangerous. We are building safe, orderly and humane ways to address the needs of vulnerable children. Do not come. Amid increasing criticism from Republicans and some Democrats who say there is an ongoing crisis at the border, the Biden appointee assured during the interview that the administration knows how to address it. We have a plan, we are executing on our plan, and we will succeed, he said. This is what we do. Mayorkas blamed the Trump administration for the border situation. 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 alleged. So we are rebuilding the system as we address the needs of vulnerable children who arrive at our borders. Data reviewed by CBS News suggests that the U.S. government is housing about 15,500 unaccompanied migrant minors, including 5,000 teenagers and children stranded in Border Patrol facilities not designed for long-term custody, as of Saturday. According to the data, unaccompanied children are spending an average of about 136 hours in Customs and Border Protection custody even though U.S. law says the limit is 72 hours. More than 100,000 people crossed the southern border illegally in February. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., refuted the claims made by Mayorkas. 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 told Fox News Sunday. The border is wide open. There are reports now Custom and Border Patrol may be directed to simply start processing people into the country without even giving them a notice to appear in court, he said And, of course, all of these bogus asylum claims are taking up so much manpower and resources of the border, that means that we also have other threats, like increases in fentanyl and other kinds of drug trafficking or persons on the terrorist watch list crossing to our border, he added. The border right now is wide open because the Biden administration dismantled the very effective policies of the Trump administration and the agreements we had with Mexico and other Latin American countries. Cotton called on Biden to reinstate a public health restriction for minors and carry on with Trump-era policies that sought to keep pending asylum seekers in Mexico and required migrants to make asylum claims outside of the U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, believes that the Biden administration may force some migrants to wait on the other side of the border while their asylum claims are adjudicated. The Secretary now has said that they're going to be looking at some sort of processing centers in Mexico, but they need Mexicos help to process people before they come into the U.S. In my opinion, its a modified version of the MPP, Cuellar said in an interview with "Full Measure," referring to the Migrant Protection Protocol. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered an investigation into the water supply at a camp for migrant children opened by the Biden administration in Pecos after the water supply in another center was undrinkable. The Biden administration continues to show that it is dangerously unprepared to handle the surge in illegal border crossings as they rush to open yet another facility for unaccompanied minors in Texas, the Republican governor said in a statement. President Joe Biden said Sunday that he plans to visit the Mexico border at some point. At some point, I will, yes, he told reporters at the White House after being asked if he wanted to see first-hand whats happening at overcrowded migrant processing centers, according to Bloomberg. I know whats going on in those facilities. The Washington Post recently reported that the Biden administration planned to convert immigrant family detention centers in South Texas into rapid-processing hubs to screen migrant adults and children and release them within 72 hours. The Biden administration has dismissed calls to describe the influx of migrants at the southern border as a crisis," with White House Press Secretary Jen Paski rejecting the term border crisis outright. I dont think we need to sit here and put new labels on what weve already conveyed is challenging, Psaki said recently at a press briefing. Within a day of her assault in downtown San Francisco, Xiao Zhen Xie became a visible figure in a seismic national moment: a surge of violence against Asian Americans, punctuated by a shooting rampage near Atlanta. Xie, 75, fought off her attacker with a wooden paddle, but she suffered two black eyes, deep bruises and intense psychological wounds, according to family members. Her alleged assailant, 39-year-old Steven Jenkins, was arraigned Friday on six felony counts, for beating Xie and an 83-year-old Vietnamese man, Ngoc Pham. But in spite of a public outcry, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin did not find evidence of a hate crime. Law enforcement authorities are still investigating, and Boudin has not ruled out additional charges, his chief of staff, David Campos, told The Chronicle Friday. Nonetheless, the case points to a gap between public perception and the mechanics of the legal system. Further, it shows how the specter of racism puts prosecutors in a difficult position. Of course these are hate crimes, activist Jimmy Bounphengsy said Monday, standing in a crowd that spilled from the steps of San Franciscos Hall of Justice, down onto the sidewalk and into the street. Inside, a defendant in the assault and killing of 84-year-old Thai immigrant Vicha Ratanapakdee was facing a pretrial hearing. Boudin had charged the alleged assailant, Antoine Watson, with murder and inflicting injury on an elder, but no hate crimes. We have no evidence of what motivated this senseless attack, said Robyn Burke, a spokesperson for the district attorney. Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle While Boudins staff cited the burden of proof attached to Californias hate crime statute, San Francisco residents urged the district attorney, and other Bay Area prosecutors, to make an important statement. Outside the courthouse Monday, people waved signs with Ratanapakdees portrait, or with anguished slogans. Hate crime! Do time! one sign read. Stop killing us, said another. The event was among several spurred by an alarming rise of bigotry and violence against Asian Americans, epitomized by the shootings near Atlanta that left eight people dead including six of Asian descent. In the Bay Area, crime has become more visible in heavily Asian neighborhoods such as Chinatown, San Franciscos west side communities and the retail district east of Lake Merritt in Oakland. The heightened focus on these areas owes partly to a string of viral surveillance videos, including one of Watson allegedly pushing Ratanapakdee to the pavement on Fortuna Avenue. Though the images are jarring and tend to stir outrage, they dont always show legal evidence of hate. And few are prosecuted that way. Even the most violent crimes are often difficult to prove as hate crimes, because in addition to proving the violent act, you also have to prove criminal intent of racial animus, state Assemblyman David Chiu said. Chiu, a San Francisco Democrat, is pressing legislation to establish a hotline for people to report hate crimes and incidents to the California Department of Justice. Ideally, the hotline would provide a more complete picture of how often these incidents occur, without lowering the standard to prosecute them. In reality, Bay Area district attorneys file a handful of hate crime charges each year. San Francisco filed nine such charges last year, eight of which are still pending, with the last headed for a plea deal, Campos said. Police brought 16 hate crimes cases to Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen in 2019, 17 in 2020, and six this year, a sign that the number is trending upward. Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle A hate crimes committee in the office of Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton reviewed 13 incidents as potential hate crimes last year, ultimately charging five misdemeanor hate crime violations, one felony allegation, and two with other felonies instead of hate crimes. Yet even these statistics dont account for the number of hate crime allegations that lead to convictions. Judges sometimes reject hate crime charges in a preliminary hearing, and they often get tossed out in a plea deal. Alameda County District Attorney Nancy OMalley has declined to file hate crime charges in some of the assaults in Oakland that went viral on social media, in spite of public pressure. When video surfaced in late January of an assailant pushing a 91-year-old man in Oakland Chinatown, two celebrity actors stepped in, offering $25,000 for information leading to an arrest. Days later, police caught a suspect: 28-year-old Yahya Muslim. Although the older victim was later determined to be of Latino descent, court documents allege that Muslim also assaulted two Asian people. Bristling, Chief Public Defender Brendon Woods released a statement reminding people that Muslim had not been charged with any hate crimes or demonstrated signs of xenophobia. Connecting this case to a rise in racist violence against Asian Americans is not appropriate, and it should not influence the district attorney and the courts as Mr. Muslims case makes its way through the system, Woods said. Collective anger over anti-Asian violence has inspired several state bills, some of them resurrected after failing to win support in previous years. Chius legislation, and another bill by Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino (Los Angeles County), focus on data collection, prevention of crimes and police training, rather than enforcement. Another bill by Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, a Democrat representing the Tri-Valley, would enable a district attorney to charge terrorist threats against a protected group as felonies, and in turn seek higher bail or longer jail time before trial. Becton, a progressive, has backed the bill, but it may hit political opposition in a state veering away from tough-on-crime approaches. However, public sentiment is changing, said Rosen, the district attorney for Santa Clara County. I believe there is broad public support for hate crime prosecutions if a substantial factor was bias, Rosen said. And that hasnt always been the case, he added, noting that in the past, critics of Californias hate crime statute questioned whether people should be punished for their motivations, as well as their actions. Today, he said, many people have a different belief that crimes fueled by racial bias dont just harm individual victims; they harm society. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan There are roughly 11,000 named species of mushrooms in North America, but most of us know of three types: the edible kind, the poisonous, and the hallucinogenic. Increasingly, though, scientific studies show that many edible mushrooms may also have an array of health benefits, and wellness seekers across the country have taken note. According to an industry report in Nutritional Outlook, the pandemic triggered a massive spike in use as people turned to functional fungi for their purported immune-boosting and stress-relieving properties. Now widely available as powders, pills, tinctures, teas and skin creams, medicinal mushroom supplements have become an over-the-counter hit. In March 2020 alone, sales topped $5 million, a 152 percent increase over the previous year. Here in New York, medicinal mushrooms like chaga and reishi grow in abundance in the fertile woodlands and forests of the Catskills and Adirondacks making local purveyors well-poised for the boom. John Michelotti, founder of Catskill Fungi and president of the Mid-Hudson Mycological Association, started selling medicinal mushroom extracts at farmers markets in 2015. He made them from mushrooms he foraged or grew on his third-generation Catskills farm in Big Indian, Ulster County. There was no movement back then, he said. When people walked up to the booth, theyd say, Mushrooms? Weird. Why? It's only the last two years that its really started to catch on. Its been a big change. That change is due in part to the growing awareness of the health benefits long celebrated by Eastern medicine and now supported by research into the natural compounds found in medicinal mushrooms. Compounds in chaga, for instance, have been shown to kill cancer cells selectively and stimulate the immune system, according to recent studies collected by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. There is even greater acceptance of the medicinal properties of magic mushrooms. In Oregon, for instance, mushrooms containing the hallucinogenic compound psilocybin were recently legalized so that mental health professionals could prescribe them to treat depression, anxiety and addiction. Similar bills have been introduced in Vermont, California, the District of Columbia and here in New York. Its mind-blowing; theres this whole kingdom of life we just ignored or forgot about, said Garret Kopp, the 22-year-old founder and CEO of Birch Boys, which has a store, lab, and factory in Tupper Lake. Like many mushroom purveyors, 2020 was his best year of sales yet. Kopps love affair with fungi began at 15 after inadvertently drinking a glass of chaga tea from his grandmother's fridge. She walked him into the woods where she taught him how to forage for the parasitic fungus. It grows on the trunk of birch trees, appearing as a charred protrusion with a bright orange interior. Kopp was hooked. Her enthusiasm was contagious, he said. I started seeing chaga growing everywhere. I realized it was an opportunity. He was right. Experts project the market for chaga alone has the potential to grow by $11.31 billion before 2024. Birch Boys now sells a whole range of mushroom products, but chaga remains Kopps true passion. Rich in polysaccharides, which help turn food into energy, chaga appears to provide a lighter more enduring energy buzz than caffeine. Its also loaded with antioxidants. Kopp leases 100,000 acres of private forest in the Adirondacks for the right to harvest mushrooms sustainably there. He has a team of elite outdoorsman, including himself, who go mushroom hunting regularly to meet demand. We live in one of the chaga and reishi epicenters of the world, Kopp said. The Northeast provides ideal growing conditions for these mushrooms, given the diversity of its trees, the availability of freshwater and the age and vitality of its woodlands. Chaga has to draw all those beneficial minerals and compounds out of a tree for years, Kopp explained. The vast expanse of protected land in upstate New York has kept the forest pristine, another important factor, as the properties of a mushroom depend greatly on its environment. As Michelotti of Catskill Fungi said, We are what we eat, and fungi are the same. They can upcycle toxins, so it's important to be cautious and know where your mushrooms are coming from. For Michelotti, Reishi and Lions Mane are amongst his biggest sellers. Reishi is the best overall for balancing, he said. People feel a lot more even-keeled. Its also a good antiviral and antibacterial. These claims are currently the subject of much research. Lions Mane, alternatively, he calls nature's nutrient for the neurons, is taken to support brain function. There are some unknowns related to the health risks of medicinal mushroom use, and figuring out whether a mushroom supplement is safe for personal use is best determined by a professional. Reishi, for instance, is not recommended for those with low blood pressure or who may be taking medications like blood thinners. Everybody is different, Michelotti said. People should be cautious and know where your mushrooms are coming from. Michelotti also leads foraging walks and inoculation workshops. Part of that education is instilling the importance of sustainability and teaching his students to never take more than half of what they find. Mushrooms are the immune system of the forest, he said. Were still understanding the impact we have when foraging. For Olga Tzogas of Smugtown Mushrooms in Rochester, weve only scratched the surface of where this growing fungophilia might lead. Tzogas previously sold her medicinal mushroom products at Basilica Farm & Flea Spring Market in Hudson, though they are now available online, including the currently sold-out turkey tail, widely studied for its anti-tumor properties. Tzogas leads mushroom workshops, organizes a number of mycology festivals, and runs fungi-foraging trips abroad, to be resumed when COVID-19 travel restrictions allow. Each time she travels, she brings a mushroom tincture with her to keep her immune system humming. But to her, mushrooms offer more than just medicine. Were learning more about their amazingness all the time, for the ecology of the forests, the planet, and our bodies, she said. Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. She knows how to bring things together, and thats what we as appropriators try to do, Mr. Shelby said on Tuesday. Theyre going to have challenges a lot of hard work and they need experienced people. The agency will play a key role in fulfilling Mr. Bidens agenda, as well as overseeing the federal budget and executive regulations. Mr. Trump frequently thrust the office into the spotlight, given his penchant for trying to use government funding to carry out his policy and political agenda. The most notable instance became the center of the first impeachment charges against Mr. Trump in 2019, when lawyers at the budget office approved a hold on foreign aid to Ukraine as Mr. Trump sought a commitment from the countrys leaders to investigate Mr. Biden and his family. By then, Ms. Young had already demonstrated her knack for forging bipartisan deals even in the most toxic of political environments. The government shutdown negotiations were a particularly heavy lift. Bidens 2022 Budget A new year, a new budget: The 2022 fiscal year for the federal government begins on October 1, and President Biden has revealed what hed like to spend, starting then. But any spending requires approval from both chambers of Congress. Ambitious total spending: President Biden would like the federal government to spend $6 trillion in the 2022 fiscal year, and for total spending to rise to $8.2 trillion by 2031. That would take the United States to its highest sustained levels of federal spending since World War II, while running deficits above $1.3 trillion through the next decade. Infrastructure plan: The budget outlines the presidents desired first year of investment in his American Jobs Plan, which seeks to fund improvements to roads, bridges, public transit and more with a total of $2.3 billion over eight years. Families plan: The budget also addresses the other major spending proposal Biden has already rolled out, his American Families Plan, aimed at bolstering the United States social safety net by expanding access to education, reducing the cost of child care and supporting women in the work force. Mandatory programs: As usual, mandatory spending on programs like Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare make up a significant portion of the proposed budget. They are growing as Americas population ages. Discretionary spending: Funding for the individual budgets of the agencies and programs under the executive branch would reach around $1.5 trillion in 2022, a 16 percent increase from the previous budget. How Biden would pay for it: The president would largely fund his agenda by raising taxes on corporations and high earners, which would begin to shrink budget deficits in the 2030s. Administration officials have said tax increases would fully offset the jobs and families plans over the course of 15 years, which the budget request backs up. In the meantime, the budget deficit would remain above $1.3 trillion each year. It was a difficult time for our nation, but through determination and hard work, we reached a solution and thats what Shalandas best at, Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont and the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, said during her confirmation hearings. She knows how to work across the aisle to get a deal done. Ms. Young spent most of her childhood in Clinton, La. population at the time 2,000 where her maternal great-grandparents lived, got married and started a family. She graduated from Loyola University, earned a masters in health administration from Tulane University and began work in Washington in 2001 at the National Institutes of Health. She moved to the House Appropriations Committee in 2007 and worked her way up, building credibility with members of both parties during the annual gantlet of late nights brokering the dozen spending bills needed to keep the government fully funded. Rarely are such agreements struck in normal, waking hours. They are usually the product of relentless rounds of haggling, exchanges of legislative proposals and endless phone calls to ensure that every last detail is ironed out and agreed to. A Korean research team has recently developed an innovative vesico-vaginal fistula treatment method using the mussel adhesive protein (MAP) that can effectively seal fistulas in organs even when exposed to urine. Professor Hyung Joon Cha, Dr. Hyo Jeong Kim (currently at Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology), and Dr. Tae Yoon Park of POSTECH's Department of Chemical Engineering with Professor Seok Ho Kang of the Department of Urology at Korea University School of Medicine and Professor Jong Hyun Pyun of the Department of Urology at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital have together improved the underwater adhesive using mussel protein and applied it to a pig model that simulated a vesico-vaginal fistula. As a result, it was confirmed that the fistula was sealed much quicker and more effectively than the conventional treatment method that uses sutures, and its treatment efficacy was proven to be superior. Fistula refers to an abnormal opening between the organs consisting of two spaces, such as blood vessels or intestines. Among them, the bladder is in contact with various organs such as the intestine, uterus, and vagina in the abdominal cavity and a fistula here causes urine leakage that can induce serious complications such as fecal incontinence or bladder inflammation. This not only impairs the patients' quality of life, but female fistulas are stigmatized in many developing countries, affecting the human rights and dignity of women. Currently, a physical suture method is typically used for treating vesico-vaginal fistulas. However, this technique has multiple limitations since the surgeries are difficult and the repetitive contraction and expansion of the bladder damages the tissue, which results in delayed healing of the wound. To this, the POSTECH-Korea University joint research team developed a formulation in 2016 that uses the phase separation property of mussel adhesive proteins to develop a water-immiscible bioadhesive that does not dissolve in body fluids like blood or urine and exhibits excellent underwater adhesion. Moving further, the researchers conducted experiments on a pig model with vesico-vaginal fistula with improved water-immiscible bioadhesive for practical applications in clinical practice. The joint research team used a liquid-liquid phase separation formulation with thixotropy to develop the adhesive so that the high-viscosity liquid adhesive can be accurately delivered to the fistula area via a thin syringe. In addition, after the fistula is sealed, it is designed so that it does not flow out or fall out of the fistula. The researchers confirmed that by maximizing the concentration of catechol - which acts as an important functionality in underwater adhesion - the stability of the adhesion is increased even more in the presence of body fluids. It was also confirmed that the fistula's closing force continued to be maintained in the bladder, an organ that repeatedly contracts and expands, thanks to the flexible property of a protein-based adhesive, and the protein adhesive biodegrades and the fistula naturally regenerates. With no immune response or inflammation observed around the sealed fistula, low surgical difficulty, and easy access to large quantities of materials, the adhesive is anticipated to be used widely in developing countries with poor medical facilities. The water-immiscible mussel protein-based bioadhesive (imWIMBA) has undergone a technology transfer to Nature Gluetech Co., Ltd. and is currently being commercialized. We have confirmed the mussel adhesive protein - a technology that originated in Korea - as an effective vesico-vaginal fistula treatment method by applying it to an actual vesico-vaginal fistula of a large animal model. It is anticipated to be successfully applicable to fistulas and perforations in other similar environments." Professor Hyung Joon Cha, POSTECH "Vesico-vaginal fistula is a disorder difficult to treat and it significantly impacts the patient's quality of life," remarked Professor Seokho Kang of Korea University. "We expect the newly developed treatment method to be applicable to minimally-invasive surgical methods such as robotic surgery and endoscopic surgery as well as open surgeries in the future based on its excellent water-immiscibility and underwater adhesion." The research findings were recently published in Acta Biomaterialia, an international journal on biomaterials. The research was supported by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea, the Industrial Core Technology Development Program funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea, and as part of POSCO's strategic program. When a congressman believes he cant vote against the violent overthrow of a democratically elected government, because doing so would cast unfavorable light on his own record, its time for him to reevaluate what hes doing. Dont expect any such introspection, though, from Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry of York. He and 13 of his GOP colleagues recently voted against a House resolution to condemn the Myanmar militarys overthrow of the countrys democratically elected government. The military claimed the previous years election was fraudulent. That the House cant unanimously condemn the violent overthrow of a democratic government is appalling. Its not as appalling, though, as Perry and other Republican congressmen, including Dan Meuser and Fred Keller of Northeast Pennsylvania, voting Jan. 6 to overturn Pennsylvanias presidential election hours after thousands of right-wing domestic terrorists stormed the Capitol to produce that very outcome. Perry later acknowledged connecting former President Donald Trump with a Justice Department lawyer to discuss a plan to invalidate the presidential election that Trump lost. A Perry spokesman told Forbes magazine that the Myanmar resolution was an overt attempt to trap Republicans into condemning the claims of evidence of election fraud in Burma while perpetuating similar claims (in the Democrats views) of evidence in U.S. elections. Riiiiiight. If the Republicans were trapped, they trapped themselves with their own undemocratic conduct regarding Pennsylvania birthplace of the representative democracy that the people of Myanmar are being murdered for trying to emulate. 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. No matter where I go as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, its basically the only thing everybody is talking about among the base, Mr. Gruters said. Like nearly all of the Republicans involved in the partys voter integrity efforts, Mr. Gruters declined to characterize Mr. Bidens victory as legitimate, despite there being no evidence of widespread fraud and multiple state audits reaffirming the results. There are a lot of people who have a lot of questions about the 2020 race. The national committee is coordinating with the Republican State Leadership Committee, the organization that works to elect Republican state legislators and secretaries of state. The Heritage Foundation, a leading conservative organization in Washington, is teaming up with grass-roots social conservative outfits, like the Susan B. Anthony List, to mobilize supporters and lobbyists in state capitals to enact new restrictions on voting access. Heritage, through its politics arm Heritage Action for America, is planning to spend $24 million across eight states: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, Texas and Wisconsin. An internal document described a two-year effort to work closely with allies like American Legislative Exchange Council (known as ALEC) and the libertarian State Policy Network to produce model legislation for state legislatures to adopt and hire lobbyists in crucial states. (A copy of the plan was obtained by Documented, a watchdog group, and reviewed by The New York Times.) Much of the Heritage goals are laid out in a report published to their website earlier this year, ticking off a host of proposals including limiting who can vote by mail, preventing ballot collection, banning drop boxes, enacting stricter voter identification laws, restricting early voting and providing greater access to partisan election observers. Last week, the group began a $600,000 television ad campaign in Georgia, urging citizens to support the effort to roll back voting access. The policies, according to Jessica Anderson, the Heritage Action executive director, are largely rooted in the work of Hans von Spakovsky, a lawyer who has worked on voting battles for decades, including a voter identification law in Georgia that was ruled discriminatory in 2005. He also helped to run the now-defunct voter-fraud commission that Mr. Trump created after the 2016 election. Other Heritage officials, such as John Malcolm, have helped craft the proposals. The Heritage planning document also calls for Republicans to recruit their own army of poll workers, and not just partisan observers, to take jobs working local elections. The document calls for placing 800 poll workers in key states and precincts for the 2022 midterm elections. Ms. Anderson said Heritages role in passing the Arizona bill would serve as a template for other efforts. We will have that same sort of playbook for Texas and Florida, she said. So I would put Georgia, Arizona, Texas, Florida as kind of the first wave of seats. And then well turn to looking at Wisconsin, Michigan and potentially Nevada. An artists conception of a reddish, cigar-shaped rock gained widespread circulation. Some astronomers have suggested that it could be shaped like a pancake. But when Oumuamua was on the way out of the solar system, it sped up. Comets often act this way, as they are given a kick from jets of evaporating gas on their surfaces. So perhaps it was a comet after all but a weird one. An illustration accompanying Dr. Jackson and Dr. Deschs result shows it looking like a cracker or even a flying cow chip. The mystery deepened in 2018 with the discovery of 2I/Borisov, another interstellar interloper that behaved more like an ordinary comet. Theories and models abounded in the literature. Avi Loeb, an astronomer at Harvard, rode onto the best-seller list earlier this year with a book, Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth, arguing that Oumuamua was an alien space vessel of some kind, and scolding the astronomical community for not thinking more outside the box about extraterrestrial life. The objects imputed shape, he said, could be perfectly consistent with that of a light sail of the type that Dr. Loeb and his colleagues, in an ambitious project called Breakthrough Starshot, hope to send to Alpha Centauri sometime this century. But an international team of comet experts writing in Nature Astronomy in 2019 under the name of The Oumuamua ISSI Team concluded that all the data were consistent with a purely natural origin for Oumuamua. Last year Dr. Laughlin of Yale and his student Darryl Seligman, now at the University of Chicago, suggested that Oumuamua was a primordial iceberg of hydrogen that had formed in the dark, cold center of a molecular cloud, one of the vast assemblages of primordial gas that give rise to stars. The problem was that it was hard to explain how the hydrogen, which freezes at a temperature around 3 degrees Kelvin, barely above absolute zero, would stay frozen on the long trip from its birth to here. The Iran-Russia Cyber Agreement & US Strategy In The Middle East The new cooperation agreement between Russia and Iran on cybersecurity and information technology is likely to create new hurdles for the United States and its allies in the Middle East. This January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif signed a cooperation agreement on cybersecurity and information and communications technology (ICT). The agreement includes cybersecurity cooperation, technology transfer, combined training, and coordination at multilateral forums, like the United Nations. Iran / Russia Cybersecurity Alliance Although the cooperation with Moscow outlined in the agreement could upgrade Tehrans offensive cyber capabilities, the agreement is largely defensive, motivated by the countries shared animus toward the United States and U.S. influence in the Middle East as well as a desire to reduce dependence on Western technology. There are limits, however, to how closely the two sides can be expected to work together. The relationship between Russia and Iran has long suffered from mutual suspicion, ideological differences, and competition. Moreover, in the past, Russian and Iranian operators have operated at cross purposes. For example, in October 2019, British and U.S. officials revealed that the Russian threat actor Turla had hijacked Iranian hacking infrastructure as part of a false-flag operation. Due to suspicion and conflicting objectives, cyber cooperation between Moscow and Tehran is likely to be focused on intelligence sharing and improving cyber defenses, rather than sharing offensive capabilities. Nonetheless, the agreement could pose four challenges to U.S. cyber operations. First, Russia could help Iran obtain stronger cyber defense systems. Harvards Belfer Centers National Cyber Power Index 2020 lists Iran as the lowest-scoring nation for cyber defense capabilities, with Russia ranked in the middle of the countries surveyed. If Tehran addresses these defensive deficiencies with the help of Russian technology and training, it could make U.S. initiatives like ' Defend Forward' more challenging and costly. Second, Iran-Russia cyber cooperation could entail Russian cyber teams deploying to Iran to monitor Iranian networks in order to collect insights and identify U.S. malware, similar to U.S. Cyber Commands Hunt Forward operations. Acquiring and analyzing Cyber Command or National Security Agency hacking tools and techniques could help improve Russian and Iranian defenses, thwart future U.S. cyber operations, and force U.S. hackers to develop new exploits sooner than they hoped. Third, if able to access Iranian defense systems, Russian hackers could acquire and reverse engineer U.S. or Israeli malware that has been used against Iran. This occurred with the Stuxnet worm , which targeted Irans nuclear facilities in 2010 and was attributed to the United States and Israel. Since then, numerous cyber actors have developed over 22 million pieces of malware that used Stuxnets blueprint to target organizations around the world. Stuxnet eventually infected thousands of networks globally, so hackers had access to lots of samples, but an attack that did not become as widely known could still be repurposed if Russia is able to access Iranian networks. Fourth, technologies and techniques that Iran acquires from Russia could be provided to Irans proxies around the Middle East, including Hezbollah and militias in Iraq and Yemen. Some of these groups have already shown considerable hacking capabilities. In January, security firm ClearSky revealed that a Hezbollah-affiliated hacking group named Lebanese Cedar was involved in an extensive campaign that targeted telecoms and internet service providers in the United States, Europe, and Middle East. Equipping Iranian proxies with advanced Russian cyber capabilities could allow them to threaten government agencies, businesses, and U.S. operations in the Middle East. It could also hamper investigations into cyber operations conducted by Iranian proxies and lead to misattributing them to Russia, possibly causing unintended escalation. US Reaction & Strategy Although the agreement between Moscow and Tehran could pose challenges for U.S. cyber strategy, some of its disruptive implications can be mitigated. To minimize the risk of their hacking tools being repurposed for use against them, the United States and its allies should establish a unified vulnerability disclosure mechanism to share vulnerabilities, including those that have already been exploited, with each other and vendors. While the United States already has a vulnerability equities process, other allies seem to have only varying degrees of similar processes, if at all. Because victims are likely to patch vulnerabilities once theyve been targeted, the attacking country can disclose the vulnerabilities it used after theyve been exploited without weakening its offensive capabilities. Furthermore, the United States could promote the responsible development of offensive capabilities by adding self-destruct code modules to prevent them from being analyzed by adversaries. These modules have been deployed as part of highly sophisticated malware campaigns in the past and are designed to overwrite their own file data in order to prevent forensic analysis. Establishing a standardized vulnerabilities disclosure mechanism could take place as part of a broader effort to strengthen intelligence sharing and security ties between the United States, Israel, the Gulf States, and possibly other actors in the region. As cyber cooperation between Russia and Iran grows, leaving it unchallenged could pose new threats to U.S. security and strategy in the Middle East. This article was first publised by the Council on Foreign Relations (Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0) Image: Unsplash You Might Also Read: The Cyber Security Top Ten Power List: China has issued new standards for six types of human cells, allowing regulators, doctors and companies to better understand, evaluate and supervise related academic activities. The standards, issued on Saturday, will also promote transparency, education and clinical translation of new technologies in the emerging fields of stem cell research and regenerative medicine, experts said. The standards were published by the Chinese Society for Cell Biology and will take effect on April 9. The six types are human heart muscle cells, primary human liver cells, human mesenchymal stem cells, human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, human induced pluripotent stem cells and human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Stem cells have the potential to develop into many different types of specialized cells in the body. For years, scientists have been trying to harness the therapeutic power of stem cells to repair damaged tissues and organs. In an article published in Qiushi Journal on Tuesday, President Xi Jinping said regenerative medicine is one of the fields that represents the cutting edge of life sciences. "The future of a nation, as well as people's livelihoods, have never been so profoundly influenced by science and technology as they are today," he said. Chen Yeguang, president of the Chinese Society for Cell Biology, said the standards will serve as the basis for future clinical translation of stem cell research and the formation of related laws and regulations. Sun Yingpu, vice-president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, in Henan province, said stem cell therapy offers great promise for biomedicine, but since it is a relatively new technology, the lack of standards at home and abroad has led to many ethical and regulatory problems-from unrealistic marketing to the use of unproven therapies. "These standards provide a greater scientific basis for policy execution to ensure that stem cell research and applications are done safely and effectively, so as to avoid doing harm to patients," she said. "Only by having robust and effective regulations can we maximize the contribution of new stem cell products and technologies to building a healthy China." Zhang Yu, an expert on stem cell therapy research, said it is fundamentally different from other molecular drugs because it is a form of "living medicine". Therefore, evaluating its safety and efficacy involves more complex factors and rigorous standards, he said. "The new guidelines are very instructive for stem cell drug developers, and they serve as a starting point for newer and more robust regulations in the future," Zhang said. Xiang Peng, a professor at Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, in Guangdong province, said creating new standards is a meticulous process that needs to be strict, scientific, practical and open to exploration and future updates. "Sometimes defining a single word can take a long time, so the standards really are testimony to a consensus reached by scientists," he said. "As our understanding of stem cells deepens, we will need to keep optimizing our guidelines to meet new demands." Credit: CC0 Public Domain More than half of all health care workers worldwide are experiencing burnout that, if not addressed, could cause many to leave their fields in favor of less-stressful occupations or choose early retirement. And the COVID-19 pandemic has only made it worse. That's the warning of a surgeon from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in a letter and a call for global action published March 22 in the Lancet journal EClinicalMedicine. "A recent survey done in Medscape of nearly 7,500 physicians globally showed that burnout has reached a very high rate," said Dharam Kaushik, MD, associate professor of urology in the university's Joe R. and Teresa Lozano School of Medicine and surgeon with the Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson. Physicians aren't alone. Dr. Kaushik's letter also references a large study of burnout and trauma in nurses during the pandemic. "I'm talking about global health care workers," he said. "We have to look at the whole health care work force and what we can do in communities and countries to prevent a downward spiral of burnout." Combination of factors Health care workers are under tremendous mental distress, with symptoms of loneliness, depression and anxiety. "The rising death toll, post-traumatic stress, long work hours and the initial slow vaccine rollout in different countries are creating a ripple effect of burnout in this vital workforce," Dr. Kaushik said. Women in health care are suffering the most, his editorial states. "Gender inequity is flourishing, and more female health care workers, especially in critical care and infectious disease, are getting burned out at a very high rate," Dr. Kaushik said. There is a predicted shortage of health care workers by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic may amplify the shortfall, cost billions and impact the quality of care. "I reference a Lancet article that estimates there will be a shortage of 18 million health care workers by 2030 that could cost $47 trillion, and those projections were made before the pandemic," Dr. Kaushik said. "Imagine what the pandemic has done." The loss of health care workers to other industries and retirement is "unsustainable," he said. Policymakers need to work with the scientific community to understand the implications of burnout and develop a comprehensive burnout prevention strategy, he said. "Remember, if there is no health care workforce, we cannot recover from any pandemic," Dr. Kaushik said. "We have to learn the lessons from the current pandemic, have effective burnout prevention strategies in place, and better prepare for the future." More information: Dharam Kaushik. COVID-19 and health care workers burnout: A call for global action, EClinicalMedicine (2021). Journal information: The Lancet Dharam Kaushik. COVID-19 and health care workers burnout: A call for global action,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100808 Photo: The Canadian Press The National Microbiology Laboratory is shown in Winnipeg, May 19, 2009. The president of the Public Health Agency of Canada has been given until the end of the week to explain why two Canadian government scientists were let go 18 months after being escorted from Canada's only Level 4 laboratory. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods The president of the Public Health Agency of Canada has been given until the end of the week to explain why two Canadian government scientists were let go 18 months after being escorted from Canada's only Level 4 laboratory. Iain Stewart told the special committee on Canada-China relations he can't go into details because of an ongoing RCMP investigation. But after heated exchanges with opposition members of the committee, he agreed to seek legal counsel about whether he could give the committee details in confidence. The committee agreed to give him until Friday to provide answers about why PHAC terminated the employment of Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng, in January. The pair were escorted out of the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg in July 2019 over what was described as a possible policy breach and administrative matter. PHAC has said their departure had nothing to do with the fact that four months earlier, Qiu had been responsible for a shipment of Ebola and Henipah viruses to China's Wuhan Institute of Virology. Haunting images and video have emerged from the scene of the mass shooting at a Boulder grocery store. Eyewitnesses reported how the deadly shooting took place - describing a single male gunman, silently opening fire on terrified shoppers in the incident that left at least 10 dead. Around 3pm local time, police in the university town of Boulder reported responding to the incident at the King Soopers supermarket. ALERT: Active Shooter at the King Soopers on Table Mesa. AVOID THE AREA. PIO is en-route, tweeted Boulder Police Department. The King Soopers grocery store on Table Mesa is two miles south of the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Video from the scene showed police surrounding the building as someone could be heard over the loudspeaker saying, This is the Boulder Police Department come out with your hands up. Police could then be seen removing a shirtless man with a blood covered leg from the scene in handcuffs. The states governor, Jared Polis, took to Twitter to give a statement on the incident. Like my fellow Coloradans, I am closely watching unfolding events at King Soopers in Boulder. My prayers are with our fellow Coloradans in this time of sadness and grief as we learn more about the extent of the tragedy, he tweeted. One onlooker captured a livestream of the shooting and the aftermath The footage appears to show people lying on the ground outside the store with gunshots ringing out in the background. Witness Daniel Douglas said he was in the store grabbing lunch when the incident unfolded. As we were waiting on the pizza and we started hearing gunshots. It sounded like someone was breaking the glass at first, Mr Douglas said. We started screaming and hit the ground. A witness told FOX31 that they had seen a man in the car park dressed in tactical gear and carrying an AR-15 style weapon. James Bentz, 57, told the Denver Post that he was inside the store when the shooting happened and heard a series of pops. I was then at the front of a stampede, he told The Denver Post. Mr Bentz added that younger people in the store helped elderly shoppers escape through a rear loading dock. It seemed like all of us had imagined wed be in a situation like this at some point in our lives, he said. The last mass shooting at a US super market was at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, in August 2019, in which 22 people died and 26 were injured. Boulders mayor Sam Weaver thanked police and first responders for their actions. Words can do no justice to the tragedy that has unfolded this afternoon. Our community will soon grieve our losses, and begin our healing. Our brave police officers and first responders have the gratitude of our entire city, he tweeted. Boulder Community Health, a level two trauma centre, told CNN that they had received one patient from the shooting but would not release details of their condition. The FBI say they are now on the scene to help Boulder Police Department. At the request of the Boulder Police Department, FBI Denver personnel are assisting with an investigation into an active shooter situation at a King Soopers grocery store on Table Mesa Drive in Boulder, the agency tweeted. BPD then warned residents in an area of the town to shelter in place while they respond to report of armed, dangerous individual. PD is investigating to determine if this is related to King Soopers shooting, they tweeted. Bidens Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that the President had been informed about the incident. President Biden has been briefed on the shooting reported at the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted Monday. She went on to say the President will be kept up to date by his team as there are additional developments. The President has been briefed on the shooting in Colorado and he will be kept up to date by his team as there are additional developments, she wrote. The Chinese delegation led by Yang Jiechi (C), director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office and Wang Yi (2nd L), China's Foreign Minister, speak with their US counterparts at the opening session of US-China talks at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, Alaska on March 18, 2021. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Seriously Misjudging the US, Beijings Tough Stance in Alaska Reflects Its Anger and Embarrassment Commentary The high-level U.S.-China talks in Alaska began with a head-to-head battle, a rare occurrence in the U.S.-China diplomacy. Having misjudged the United States political situation, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been feeling frustrated and trapped, and Chinese diplomats finally flew into a shameful rage in Anchorage. The highest-ranking U.S. and Chinese diplomats finally met in Anchorage, Alaska on March 18. I say finally because senior officials of the two countries have not met formally since former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chinese foreign policy official Yang Jiechi met in Hawaii last July. Not only that, according to the Chinese side, the United States and China have cut off almost all high-level communication channels. Thats why the bilateral meeting in Anchorage drew so much global attention. The two sides began harshly accusing each other as soon as the talks began. The opening conversation was accompanied by a strong smell of gunpowder and drama, Zhao Lijian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, said in a March 19 press conference. No matter from what perspective we look at the blowup between the two sides in Anchorage, Im afraid that there wont be a lot of results coming out of future talks, and there is a high probability that the talks will end up with nothing definitive. What did the officials talk about at the meeting? Who was the first to break the protocols and speak for more than the agreed upon two minutes during the opening remarks? I believe youve already made your own judgment. All this doesnt matter. What matters is, why? CCP Views America as Being in Decline Make no mistake about it: The Chinese Communist Party believes that America is in decline, that theyre on the rise, and they intend to take full advantage of that, Pompeo told Newsmax TV host Grant Stinchfield in an interview on March 18. Call them an enemy. Call them an adversary. Call them what you will. But it is their intention to be the dominant power in the world, and they intend to do so quickly, Pompeo said. He added that the CCP will not relent and will achieve its goals if the Biden administration lets its guard down. The way they speak about this is they want to be the dominant power, Pompeo said. They want to have the ability to exert their political influence, their military influence, anywhere in the world, so that they can shape the global outcomes to benefit them. Pompeo stressed that he condemned the Chinese Communist Party and not the Chinese people. When I say them, I mean their party, the Communist Party, not the Chinese people. The reality is that their words dont mean a heck of a lot, Pompeo said. They will try to delay and press their advantage. What the administration needs to do is be strong, to impose real cost on China when they misbehave, and to make sure that American freedom and security are at the front of every policy element with respect to China. Pompeo has two concerns: the CCP will stall for time through negotiations and the Biden administration may appear tough on the surface, but is weak behind the scenes. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) speaks while facing Yang Jiechi (L), director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office, and Wang Yi (2nd L), Chinas foreign minister, at the opening session of U.S.-China talks at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska on March 18, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/Pool via Reuters) He pointed out that Secretary of State Antony Blinken may talk tough in public, but in the end, he will try to privately reach a deal on the CCPs terms rather than on behalf of the American people. As a former top U.S. diplomat, Pompeo certainly understands the CCPs negotiating skills. In fact, this strategy has been used even before the CCP was established. Id like to point out that the CCP only employs delaying tactics when it doesnt have the upper hand. Not Interfering in Chinas Internal Affairs The Chinese want to save facethis is something that all U.S. Department of State officials understand. The CCP laid out a few points ahead of the talks. First, the United States should lift tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and lift various sanctions on technology and other areas. Second, the CCP made a strong statement that all of Chinas internal affairs, including Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, are not to be interfered with. The State Department announced on March 17 that it had issued sanctions against 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials over Beijings ongoing suppression of freedom in Hong Kong. This was a slap in the face for the CCP. If the United States knows that the CCP needs to save face but insists on making such a move, it shows that the U.S. side clearly doesnt expect or even want any positive results from this meeting. The CCP also didnt expect a major breakthrough in this meeting, but it hoped for some so-called constructive results. Before the talks began, the Chinese side revealed two main goals. One was to set up regular communication channels, such as meeting once a month, and the other was to arrange a video call between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden in late April. But the U.S. side appeared cold, denying not only that the meeting was a high-level strategic dialogue, but also denying that it was the beginning of a series of regular meetings, and even hinting that it wouldnt seek a video meeting with Xi. This is tantamount to a full rejection of the CCPs demands. Clearly, Blinkens hardline attitude is a result of the U.S. sides perception of the bilateral relations current and future development, rather than a superficial statement of position. CNN reported that a senior administration official told reporters that the CCP delegation came to Alaska with a theatrical purpose. The Chinese delegation seems to have arrived intent on grandstanding, focused on public theatrics and dramatics over substance, the official said. Why do the Chinese diplomats want to do that? He added that the CCP delegations exaggerated diplomatic presentations often are aimed at a domestic audience. I think this official is right. Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi were indeed acting tough, certainly for the Chinese audience in the mainland. But the question is, why do they want to show it to a domestic audience at this time? US Socially Unstable, Politically Divided The CCP actually had high expectations before the bilateral talks. Their expectations were based on a few basic assumptions about the current state of affairs in the United States. First, they believe that the United States is now socially unstable and politically divided and that its decline is inevitable. The CCP is a totalitarian system and their understanding of its internal political environment greatly influences and even determines its perception of others. What would happen in China if the CCP were faced with the problems currently existing in the United States, where political opponents are openly confronting each other, tensions in society are rising, and the economic situation is uncertain? These events would be a precursor to the collapse of the regime as the CCP would lose control over society. I think the CCP naturally comes to the same conclusion of whats in store for the United States. Alexander Liao is a columnist and journalist in research on international affairs in the United States, China, and Southeast Asia. He has published a large number of reports, commentaries, and video programs in newspapers and Chinese financial magazines in the United States and Hong Kong. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The Prime Minister says that Corpus Christi, also known as the "Day of Wreaths", is set aside on the Christian calendar to honour the Holy Eucharist which was observed at the last supper before Christ was crucified. SCHENECTADY The only Black city council member spoke in stark terms about her blackness and experience with systemic racism versus the whiteness of some fellow members in explaining why she was voting against the final police reform plan that will go out to the state Tuesday. Councilwoman Marion Porterfield, who cast the lone vote against adopting the plan, pointed out during Mondays virtual city council meeting that policing looks very different in areas around her Hamilton Hill neighborhood in the 12307 zip code than it does in 12309 on the other side of the city. Its very clear that I bring my blackness and years of witnessing and enduring systemic racism, including in this city to this table, so yes I see that things are different for me than my colleagues who bring their whiteness to the table, and definitely lack of experience living in a black community and of being profiled and overpoliced, and subject to implicit and explicit bias, said Porterfield. Despite her objections revolving around race and the lack of changes to the police departments use of force policy, as well as so called pain compliance, the document won praise from her colleagues, including one who proclaimed Gov. Andrew Coumo will be pleased with the plan and another who said twice that he was proud of it. City officials and police leaders plan to keep a reduced version of the police reform task force in place. I believe there will be more changes coming, said Councilwoman Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas. This is a good document. I think the governor will be pleased with it. Councilman John Polimeni said that policy changes on the force should be driven by a history of problems - not just one that may be an aberration. Polimeni was referring to a controversial encounter over the summer between a patrolman and 31-year-old city resident Yugeshwar Gaindarpersaud, after the officer was seen in a video kneeling on Gaindarpersaud's head. Its very dangerous to dictate the policy in relation to the one off event or other events, he said, adding he is proud of the plan. He also said, however, that the document fails to highlight the civilian oversight role of the public safety commissioner who oversees the police and fire departments. Council President John Mootoveren, who is of Indian ancestry from Guyana, did not offer any remarks beyond his affirmative vote. Porterfield took exception to the lack of meaningful change to departments use of force policy - and the inclusion of the so called pain compliance, which she defined as the officer can use pain to get someone under control. I see what we included as use of force policy particularly using the knee to someones head, which is something that we took out last year, and now has been put backsaying it can happen when theres no other remedy available, said Porterfield. With your head and your neck being inches apart, it could happen that you would end up on someones neck. It's unclear what led to the change which again allows the use of force in certain circumstances. Porterfield, an insurgent Democrat, also acknowledged there might be political repercussions for voting no but said she went with her conscience. The Rev. Nicolle Harris, president of the Schenectady chapter of the NAACP, said people in communities of color are fed up with all the talk and no real action that often follows. She questioned if there are enough changes made as a result of the months long discussions. I want you to believe the voices of the people who have already told you these changes need to happen, rather than keep saying youre going to discussand say that this is just the beginning of the process, she said. Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy said he was buoyed by the process and the atmosphere it's created where people can have open and honest conversations about police and race and that "the goals and objectives are still going to be worked on." Photos taken inside a U.S. Customs and Border Protection migrant facility in Texas showed a crowded condition at the border. An Axios report said the photos were from Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has earlier limited media access along the U.S.-Mexico border after seeing an increase in migrant arrivals, which includes a huge number of unaccompanied migrant children. House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson said the administration could increase media access at the border as soon as this week. READ MORE: 'This Is Not Okay': AOC Slams Biden Admin for Reopening Texas Facility to Hold Migrant Children Inside the Migrant Facility Rep. Henry Cuellar provided the photos to the media outlet in hopes to raise awareness regarding the issue. Cuellar added that each of eight "pods" in the migrant facility has a 260-person occupancy, while one pod houses more than 400 unaccompanied male minors. Cuellar added that the migrant children should be taken care of "as if they are our own children," according to a USA Today report. The White House responded on the issue reiterating that the restriction on media access was implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said they are currently finalizing how the media can access migrant facilities, such as the one in Donna, Texas. Psaki also took the chance to explain that the current situation in migrant facilities is not a crisis. "Children presenting at our border who are fleeing violence, who are fleeing prosecution, who are fleeing terrible situations, is not a crisis," she was quoted in a report. The press secretary added that they feel that it is their responsibility to approach the situation humanely and ensure that the migrants are treated and put in conditions that are safe. As for the migrant facilities, they felt that these are not the places they want the children to be staying for a long period of time. Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Dan Bishop said that the situation right now at the migrant facilities is far worse than any under former President Donald Trump. Media Access Many are clamoring for removing the media access restrictions to border facilities, such as the award-winning photographer John Moore. "I respectfully ask US Customs and Border Protection to stop blocking media access to their border operations," Moore was quoted in a Fox News report. Moore added that he had photographed CBP under Bush, Obama, and Trump. However, the current administration grants zero access to the media. Thomas Saenz, president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, also called for the same act. Saenz also noted that this should be done while respecting the privacy of the immigrants housed inside the facility. He emphasized the risk of posting the said images of the children who have already experienced trauma. Agencies involved have also denied full access to nonprofit lawyers to do an oversight where the children are detained. Migrant Policies Reform Biden has trashed certain Trump administration policies such as the "Remain in Mexico" program. However, he continues to impose the public health order, which sent migrants back to their countries. The administration has declined to send out immigrant children without a parent and moving to speed up the reunion of hundreds of separated immigrant families. Cuellar said that what the former administration did was horrible. However, he said that it is really difficult to implement such changes even with the best intentions. READ NEXT: U.S. Near Max Capacity to Hold Migrant Children; Biden Administration Scrutinized Over Reopening Holding Facility WATCH: Rep. Cuellar: White House isn't doing enough to address migrants at border facility - from CNBC Television Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? [March 23, 2021] CMTC Launches "HR Boot Camp" Training Program to Help CA Manufacturers Navigate the Evolving HR Landscape California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC) announced today the launch of their new HR Boot Camp, an online subscription training program designed to help small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) meet the complex Human Resources issues confronting them today. It can be challenging for any company to navigate California's legal requirements, but for smaller companies, there may not be the time or resources available to tackle HR's ever-evolving landscape. CMTC implemented its HR Boot Camp to help SMMs unravel the current laws and mandates affecting their organizations and ensure their compliance, productivity, and success. CMTC's HR Boot Camp annual membership will include a full year of training, with unlimited access, and will allow companies to train as many employee as needed at their convenience. In addition, employees may attend multiple live sessions per topic per month. An archived session library will also be made available as sessions are published for unlimited use to all members. HR Boot Camp members will receive tips, checklists, compliant templates, session reminders, articles, and monthly updates to help them solve their HR problems head-on and avoid any potential fines and penalties down the road. HR Boot Camp session topics will include, but are not limited to, coping with COVID while returning to work, HR health checks and compliance, on-boarding new-hires for maximum effectiveness, perfecting an employee handbook, categorizing exempt and non-exempt, incorporating employee referral programs, implementing performance improvement plans, setting expectations, and motivating employees. Instructors will also offer instruction on recruiting and retaining talented workers during a pandemic and beyond, along with creating the next generation of manufacturing talent. In addition, instructors will provide guidance about the questions an employer may legally ask during the hiring process, while staying compliant with California and federal HR laws. CMTC's HR Boot Camp will even help manufacturing professionals understand diversity and inclusion in the workplace. CMTC Director of Human Resources, Administration & Recruitment Doug Garnee says about HR Boot Camp, "With the pace of change in employment-related law in California, it can be difficult for SMMs to keep up on the new requirements that are relevant to them. That's why we are very proud to offer this much-needed service and bring targeted HR guidance to our California manufacturers." For more details about CMTC's HR Boot Camp and/or to register for an all-access training pass today, click here. About California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC) Established in 1992, California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC) is a private non-profit organization that provides technical assistance, workforce development, and consulting services to small and medium-sized manufacturers throughout the state of California. CMTC operates as part of a National Network through a cooperative agreement between the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the U.S. Department of Commerce for the State of California. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005240/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Denton, TX (76205) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. MQB Both Mercedes and BMW have developed long 3-row SUVs . While they're offensive to brand purists, these are actually some of the most high-tech and comfortable vehicles with German badges. It's only natural to assume that the Audi Q9 is a direct competitor for the models mentioned above.At this point, we can't say for sure if that's what's going on. When the presumed Q9 flagship was first sighted , we said its camouflage design gave it away as a prototype from/for China. Not only that, but the proportions appeared to indicate it was using the platform of the Volkswagen Atlas (called Teramont in China), which is an XXL version of theWhat would that even look like, an Audi version of the Atlas ? Pretty good, according to these renderings from the Chinese artist Sugar Design. They depict a combination between a practical box shape and the sporty lines of a Q8.Audi is the oldest German brand in China and one of the most popular "imports" (it's still locally made). So developing models specifically for those customers isn't a bad idea. In addition, Audi hasn't really made the best use out of the MQB platform. For a moment, it looked like the A4 sedan's replacement was going to switch to a Passat architecture, but Audi reconsidered the decision.Not only does that not sound like a flagship model, but it's also quite confusing. If it's not the Q9, what are they going to call it? Audi doesn't use normal names, so it's not like they can say this is the "Family Rocket 9000" and be done with it. Every number is used, including Q6, which is supposed to belong to an all-electric model.It's not like having a horizontal engine makes SUVs less premium. And while a 4.0-liter seems out of the question, you can still get decent power out of a turbo V6. You know the old expression, April showers bring May flowers? Well, for New Jersey, its more likely to be a warm and dry April this year, with rain showers popping up more frequently in May, according to Jim Sullivan, a long-range meteorologist at WeatherWorks, a private weather forecasting company based in New Jersey. April could be a very nice month, Sullivan told NJ Advance Media on Monday. May looks like its gonna be a little more active (in terms of rain), but mainly on the warm side normal to a little warmer than average. Early signals in the atmosphere are pointing to an April with more warm temperatures than cool ones, and more dry days than wet ones, Sullivan said. However, New Jersey faces one more brief cold snap before the nice weather kicks in and sticks around. After a string of days with afternoon highs in the 60s this week, Sullivan says a slight cooldown is expected late next weekend into the early part of the new work week. Although snow is unlikely the rest of March, Sullivan said he cant rule out a mix of rain and snow in the hilly areas of northwestern New Jersey if a storm develops and the timing happens to coincide with cold air. Taking a break from riding his bike, Mohamed Elatigue kicks a ball while playing with his parents Newark's Branch Brook Park on a warm day on March 11. More nice weather is in store for New Jersey this week, followed by a brief cooldown and then a warm April, according to forecasters.Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media Role of La Nina Sullivan said the La Nina climate pattern was in a strong phase this past winter which played a big role in shifting the jet stream, allowing colder air to push down from Canada and bringing a lot of snow to the New Jersey region in February. Even though La Nina has gotten weaker in recent weeks, it is still expected to persist during the early spring, Sullivan said. After that, the climate pattern may turn neutral with no La Nina and no El Nino. La Nina occurs when water temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean get colder than normal the opposite of El Nino, when those same ocean waters get warmer than usual. Both of these conditions have a big influence on weather patterns across the world. Sullivan said La Nina, even a weak one, tends to signal a warmer spring for New Jersey and most of the southern and eastern United States. La Nina also could spark an overactive tornado season in the southern U.S. this spring, according to a recent report by the Washington Post. Although its still early to accurately assess the summer weather pattern, Sullivan said forecasters will be keeping a close eye on whether La Nina conditions persist, because that could play a big role in how active the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season will be. The region shaded in orange area is where hurricane activity can be enhanced during La Nina conditions. While an El Nino pattern tends to suppress hurricane activity in the Atlantic, La Nina tends to contribute to more tropical storms and hurricanes. That was the case last year, with a consistent La Nina pattern and 30 named storms making 2020 the most active Atlantic hurricane season on record. This years hurricane season officially starts on June 1, but the National Hurricane Center announced it will start issuing hurricane outlooks and forecasts on May 15 because of the recent uptick in tropical activity during the month of May. In another major change, the National Hurricane Center will no longer use letters of the Greek alphabet to name storms after its designated list of 21 storm names is exhausted. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local weather news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. wants "good relations" with its neighbours and it is important that New Delhi and Islamabad work towards eliminating poverty and illiteracy, High Commission charge d'affaires Aftab Hasan Khan said on Tuesday. " wants to have good relations with its neighbours. It's important that instead of war we work towards eliminating poverty and illiteracy," Khan said during an event on the occasion of Pakistan Day. " It would only be possible if there is peace. For peace to prevail, issues must be resolved through dialogue," he added. The envoy's remarks hold significance as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be attending the 'Heart of Asia' conference in Tajikistan capital Dushanbe later this month. Today, India and Pakistan also began the annual meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC). The meeting is being held after a gap of more than two-and-a-half years. A delegation from Pakistan reached New Delhi on Monday to hold talks with India under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT). India and Pakistan and other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will also hold a joint anti-terrorism exercise this year. In a positive indication amid frosty ties, Indian and Pakistani armies announced last month that they had begun to strictly adhere to ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir from the midnight of February 24. Moreover, in recent weeks, Pakistani leadership and the army have been urging for the normalisation of relations between the two countries. Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa earlier said that a stable relationship between India and Pakistan is key to unlocking the potential of South and Central Asia by ensuring connectivity between East and West Asia. India last month said that it desires "normal neighbourly" relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. India has told Pakistan that "talks and terror" cannot go together and has asked Islamabad to take demonstrable steps against terror groups responsible for launching various attacks on India. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At the heart of the dispute is Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code that concerns overthrowing the constitutional order under which Kocharian is currently being tried by a lower court and faces up to 15 years in prison. In May 2019, the Court of General Jurisdiction in Yerevan presided over by Judge David Grigorian, along with the order to release Kocharian from pretrial detention, decided to suspend the case and apply to the Constitutional Court to check whether the penal code article under which Kocharian is accused is constitutional. Kocharians lawyers submitted a separate application to the Constitutional Court regarding the same matter. Kocharian, his former chief of staff Armen Gevorgian and two retired army generals stand accused of overthrowing the constitutional order in the wake of a disputed presidential election held in 2008. In particular, the matter concerns the alleged use by the Kocharian government of the army to quell street protests. Kocharian and the three other defendants deny that the military was used in the dispersal of opposition demonstrations in which 10 people were killed. They all reject the accusations as politically motivated. Kocharians lawyers find that the penal code article under which their client is charged is too general. Besides, they find that since it was not in the criminal code in 2008, it could not be applied retrospectively against the former leader. Kocharian was first arrested and indicted in July 2018, two months after the Velvet Revolution that brought current Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to power. (Pashinian was one of the opposition leaders who contested the outcome of the 2008 presidential election and was actively involved in street demonstrations. In 2010, he was convicted of organizing mass disorders and sentenced to seven years in prison, but was amnestied and freed the following year, having spent less than two years in jail.) Grigorians order to release Kocharian from pretrial detention was overruled by a higher court and the judge himself was prosecuted on an unrelated charge of documentary forgery. The court, however, later acquitted Grigorian. Meanwhile, Kocharian was rearrested in June 2019. The judge who took over Kocharians trial later that year, Anna Danibekian, repeatedly refused to release the ex-president from custody pending a verdict in the case. In June 2020, the Court of Appeals overturned Danibekians decision to deny Kocharian bail and ordered him freed. Eventually, Kocharian was freed after paying a record $4.1 million bail set by Armenias Court of Appeals. Remarkably, at todays hearing, lower court judge Danibekian announced that the court proceedings against Kocharian and others in the case that have lasted for more than a year and a half and were accompanied with various petitions from the counsel for the defense have entered the trial stage. After this announcement Kocharians lawyers boycotted the court session and left the courtroom, which led to the postponement of the proceedings. It was also announced that prosecutors will present their case against the defendants at next weeks hearing. Kocharian, who ruled Armenia in 1998-2008, has criticized Pashinian and his government for mishandling the 2020 war against Azerbaijan that ended in the defeat of Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh and triggered a political crisis in Armenia. The 66-year former leader has called for Pashinians resignation and the formation of an interim government. In a January interview the former leader also said that he will participate in snap parliamentary elections and win them even if they are held by Armenias current government. Last week, after consultations with the parliamentary opposition, Pashinian announced that early elections in Armenia will be held in June. NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Toluene market will register an incremental spend of about USD 7.58 Billion, growing at a CAGR of 5.44% during the five-year forecast period. A targeted strategic approach to Toluene sourcing can unlock several opportunities for buyers. This report also offers market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Download free sample report Key Highlights Offered in the Report: Toluene Market Procurement Research Report Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices. Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models. Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers. Get a free sample report for more information Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers: Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Toluene market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Toluene pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as volume-based pricing, spot pricing, and cost-plus pricing and category management strategies and best practices to fulfill their category objectives. For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers, Click here. Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth: The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 3.00%-6.00%. Identify favorable opportunities in Toluene TCO (total cost of ownership). Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes. Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities. Some of the top Toluene suppliers listed in this report: This Toluene procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies. BASF SE BP Plc Chevron Corp. China National Petroleum Corp. CPC Corp. Exxon Mobil Corp. Royal Dutch Shell Plc China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (SINOPEC) Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corp. SK Holdings Co. Ltd. To get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment, Subscribe Now for Free. Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix Get access to regular sourcing and procurement insights to our digital procurement platform- Contact Us. About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more: https://www.spendedge.com/request-for-demo Contacts SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge Perhaps best known as a film director, Melvin Van Peebles also wrote plays, novels, music and journalism. Mario Van Peebles, an actor who is being billed as the revivals creative producer, said in an interview that he considers the musical (which he saw on Broadway when he was 14) his fathers best work. It was a transformational experience I saw people of all colors coming in, some who had never been to a theater before, and many who had, and some laughed, and some cried, and some applauded, but everyone was somehow changed, he said. Mario Van Peebles said that throughout his life, people have told him that Aint Supposed to Die a Natural Death was ahead of its time, and that he has been eager to revive it while his father, who is now 88, is still alive. Americans now have better tools to understand each other than we did before, he said. In a way, America has caught up, and the language and the tools that were once inner-city are now part of our culture. The New York Times, for one, gave the original production a mixed review. Whites can only treat Aint Supposed to Die a Natural Death as a journey to a foreign country, the critic Clive Barnes wrote, and on those terms I think it has the power to shock and excite. (The paper summed up the show this way in a sub-headline: Blacks Move Through Gantlet of the Slum.) The show has occasionally been revisited over the years; in New York, there was an Off Broadway production in 2006, when a New York Times critic wrote, the series of vignettes explodes like a round of mini-riots. With racial equity much discussed in the theater industry recently, Aint Supposed to Die a Natural Death becomes the eighth new production with a Black writer announced for Broadway when it reopens. Reporter Ben Zigterman is a reporter covering business at The News-Gazette. His email is bzigterman@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@bzigterman). Rajasthan Chief Minister on Tuesday expressed grief over the accident in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior which claimed 13 lives. "Saddened to know many people have lost lives in a road accident in #Gwalior, MP. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May they find strength in this difficult time. Prayers for speedy recovery of those injured," he said in a tweet. Twelve women and a man were killed after the auto-rickshaw carrying them collided with a speeding bus in Old Chawni area in Gwalior Tuesday morning, police 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.) Mumbai, March 23 : His forthcoming film "Sanak" gave him an opportunity to be selfish, manipulative and cunning, says Chandan Roy Sanyal. The actor plays a negative character in the action thriller starring Vidyut Jammwal. "Performing the role of an antagonist is challenging and super fun. In the real world, we're expected to be compassionate and good people; that's how we're brought up. Through this movie, I have the opportunity to be selfish, manipulative and cunning. The experience of being this evil person on screen is enjoyable and it makes me appreciate the joys of the real world. It is a role that every actor vies for," said Chandan. The actor is currently shooting for the film in Madh Island. While he has essayed dark roles earlier in web shows like "Kaali" and "Aashram", in "Sanak" he will be seen as an out-and-out villain. "Sanak" chronicles the journey of a lone hero battling against the odds. The film marks the Bollywood debut of Bengali film actress Rukmini Maitra and also features Neha Dhupia. The action thriller film is directed by Kanishk Varma and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah along with Zee Studios. March 23 : Kangana Ranaut is celebrating her 34th birthday today. And what a special gift the actress has received a day before her birthday. On Monday evening, the 67th National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi that honoured films and artistes for the year 2019. While late actor Sushant Singh Rajputs film Chhichhore won the best Hindi film award, Manoj Bajpayee won the best male actor award for Bhosle. Kangana Ranaut bagged the best actress award for her films Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi and Panga. Taking to her Instagram handle, the actress dropped a video thanking the entire teams of her two films Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi and Panga for supporting her during the course of filming. Sharing the video, the actress wrote, Words cant express my feelings. Thank you so much. Among the hundreds of congratulatory messages poured in on her comment section, veteran actor Anupam Kher comment grabbed the attention as he wrote, You are the bestest!! The 67th National Film Awards were initially going to be held in May 2020 but were delayed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, as the Panga actress turned 34, she also celebrated her fine lines and grey hair and said that the world feels gorgeous. They said a woman has a shelf life, this world only values young sweet 16 type girls with no brains, mature and wise woman can only belong to a household to a man who can give them a surname. They said many things it made me anxious, what will happen to me, where will I go, The actress tweeted. They said a woman has a shelf life, this world only values young sweet 16 type girls with no brains,mature and wise woman can only belong to a household to a man who can give them a surname.They said many things it made me anxious, what will happen to me, where will I go (cont) pic.twitter.com/M3qrgqGaDF Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) March 23, 2021 In another tweet, Kangana wrote, Today I turned 34. They never told me I will be at the peak of my career at 34I will be celebrated for my art and my experience will be valued and my age or marital status would mean nothing to anyone. Today I turned 34,they never told me,I will be at the peak of my career at 34,I will be celebrated for my art and my experience will be valued and my age or marital status would mean nothing to anyone,I feel like a super human loaded with exceptional experience about skills(cont) Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) March 23, 2021 The Queen actress continued in yet another tweet. I find certain ease with my body does not matter if I am too fat/too skinny, I like being sensual and feel at ease with my sexuality, I dont get flustered with pimples or periods and no one has the power to make me feel bad about myself, they never told me... I find certain ease with my body does not matter if I am too fat/too skinny,I like being sensual and feel at ease with my sexuality, I dont get flustered with pimples or periods and no one has the power to make me feel bad about myself, they never told me (cont) Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) March 23, 2021 The actress further wrote, Fine lines and beginning of grey hair would look so soothing, it will enhance my character and strength will become my beauty. So let me tell all you girls out there. Its beautiful at 34 world looks super gorgeous from this view. Thanks to my mother who gave me birth Saudi Aramco, worlds largest oil-producing company, remains in discussion with (RIL) for potential partnership, said on Tuesday in its report titled "Takeways from conference call". "With asset prices, industry outlook, and margins back to August 2019 levels, we see a revival of the earnings upgrade cycle, led by energy. Multiples should surprise positively too as clarity on new energy investments rises," it said. Saudi Aramco's CY20 conference call indicated that it is still in discussions with Reliance to evaluate existing opportunities as potential partners, regarding the non-binding MoU signed with Reliance for its oil-to-chemicals (O2C) business. announced in 2019 that Aramco would pick up 20 per cent stake in the newly floated subsidiary Reliance O2C for $15 billion. But the oil price crash in April last year coupled with subdued public issue of Aramco compelled the to postpone the deal. Recently, announced carving out of the O2C business as a separate subsidiary to support strategic partnerships and new investors in order to accelerating its new energy and material plans. We expect the stake sale discussions to pick up pace we see valuations and asset prices rebounding to levels seen in August 2019 with a much improved industry outlook, said In August 2019, RIL announced the agreement on a non-binding letter of intent from regarding a proposed investment in its refining, petrochemicals, and fuel marketing business. For Saudi Aramco, we expect stronger FCF (free cash flow)in 2021. At the current forward curve for Brent ($62 per barrel for 2021) and taking into account that production levels are likely to improve throughout the year, we estimate that operating cash flow will reach $115 billion this year. With capex at the guided level of $35billion, FCF of $80 billion should cover the company's dividend of $75 billion, said the report. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) Over a hundred vessels believed to be Chinese maritime militia remain situated at the Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef) in the West Philippine Sea as of Monday despite warnings and diplomatic protest lodged against China, the chief of Armed Forces has confirmed. AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said on Tuesday that 183 Chinese vessels were spotted inside the Philippines exclusive economic zone. He said they will assess the situation with the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea on the next course of action, adding they will continue to patrol the area to monitor if the boats are leaving or increasing in number. "From our MARPAT (maritime patrol) yesterday, we sighted around 183 vessels believed to be CMM (Chinese Maritime Militia)," he told reporters. The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea on March 20 said it received a report that around 220 Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted moored at the Julian Felipe Reef on March 7. It said 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 next day, the Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest against China. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ordered the Chinese to stop the incursion and immediately recall the boats that "are violating our maritime rights and encroaching into our sovereign territory." "This is a clear provocative action of militarizing the area... We are committed to uphold our sovereign rights over the WPS," he said in a statement on March 21. A 2016 landmark ruling of an arbitral tribunal in The Hague recognized the Philippines sovereign rights in areas within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf that are being claimed by China. The ruling also invalidated China's sweeping claims to the South China Sea, where other claimants include Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. The US Embassy in Manila supported the Philippines' diplomatic protest. "The [People's Republic of China] uses maritime militia to intimidate, provoke, and threaten other nations, which undermines peace and security in the region," Embassy spokesperson Heather Fabrikant said in a statement. "We stand with the Philippines, our oldest treaty ally in Asia." However, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines denied maritime militia are present at the Julian Felipe Reef, arguing that those are merely fishing vessels which took shelter near the area due to rought sea conditions. It said the reef is part of China's Nansha Qundao, also known as Spratly Islands - a hotly contested archipelago in the South China Sea. Maritime expert Dr. Jay Batongbacal said that if China's claim is factual, the presence of Chinese boats fishing within the Philippines' EEZ remains a violation of the country's sovereign rights. He added it will also have environmental implications on the reef known to be a fishing ground of Filipinos. He also warned that if maritime militia continue to hound the Julian Felipe Reef, the Philippines may see a repeat of the standoff between a Philippine warship and two Chinese surveillance vessels in Scarborough Shoal back in 2012. "If the continuous presence of the maritime militia results in the exclusion of Filipino fishers from the Union Banks (of which Whitsun Reef is part), it will be comparable to the loss of access to Scarborough Shoal in 2012," he said in a statement. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative in December 2020 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 part of 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. CNN Philippines' David Santos and Tristan Nodalo contributed to this report. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. South Korean expert panel recommends continuing use of AstraZeneca vaccine Seoul, Mar 22 (Sputnik) Choi Eun-hwa, the head of a South Korean independent panel of experts, recommended continuing the AstraZeneca vaccine rollout due to the absence of any connection between thromboembolism cases and the vaccine, as the local media reports. On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the EU drug watchdog, announced that it found no correlation between AstraZeneca vaccine administration and blood clots in people inoculated against COVID-19. The research was carried out following a decision of a number of European countries, including Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, the Netherlands, Iceland and Norway, to suspend the use of the vaccine after reports on isolated cases of blood clotting in vaccinated people. "The AstraZeneca vaccine is effective and safe as it reduces the possibility of COVID-19 patients falling into a critical condition and the fatality rate," Choi said, as quoted by Yonhap News Agency. Maybe those Egyptian pharaohs were on to something. You dont have to be Indiana Jones to know they were consumed with the idea of eternal life. And if enduring influence after ones years have passed counts as immortality, theyve certainly found a measure of it. For proof, one need look no further than the Egyptian Revival architecture that exists today in New Orleans, prominent examples of which Ive covered in two previous recent columns, most notably the old Custom House on Canal Street and the former 6th Precinct police station on Rousseau Street. But theres more, including one dating to 1840 that, while not as ornate as other examples, is still influencing architects today. Its the tower gate structure to Cypress Grove Cemetery, which thousands of motorists zip past every day at Canal Street and City Park Avenue. The cemetery was founded in 1840 by the Firemens Charitable Association, thanks to a bequest by local merchant Stephen Henderson although, despite a common early misconception, anyone could be buried there, not just firefighters, with proceeds benefiting the association. Designed by Louisiana Deputy Surveyor General Frederick Wilkinson, its an early local example of the rural cemetery movement, which saw cemeteries being planned and designed to exude a parklike serenity, as compared with the crowded, shoulder-to-shoulder aesthetic of such urban burial grounds as St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. The rapid growth of our city has already encroached upon the tombs of its fathers, and the sacred relics of the dead have been compelled to give way to the cold and selfish policy of speculators; and the intrusion of business, read an 1840 report by the Firemen's Charitable Association. And the solemnity of the graveyard is disturbed by the discordant shouts of merriment, and the baleful proximity of the dissolute. Although its located on the Metairie Ridge, which is high enough to allow for below-ground burial, the new cemetery would continue the aboveground burial tradition that was in vogue at the time and which lends New Orleans cemeteries their distinct city of the dead feel. To set a proper tone, Wilkinson designed a massive entryway highlighted by a central iron gate flanked by two towering pylons, each crowned with deep, Egyptian-style cavetto cornices. An early sketch shows a lintel connecting the pylons, although at least one other early sketch shows it without the lintel, so its unclear if it was ever actually constructed. If it wasnt, it was likely intended at some point given that the rest of the gate structure is almost identical to that at the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the lintel for which is adorned with a winged disc, typical of Egyptian Revival architecture. In both cases, the central gate is flanked by smaller side gates, which are in turn flanked by small buildings. In the case of Cypress Grove, one of the side structures was built to serve as a porters lodge, to help safeguard against grave robbers, and the other was to be a dead house for the temporary housing of corpses before burial. According to an ad published in February 1840 soliciting proposals to build the Cypress Grove gate, the structures themselves were to be made of brick but plastered and painted to imitate Egyptian Marble. For 181 years, it has stood as intended, suggesting a triumphal passage from one world to the next, as the Society of Architectural Historians describes it on its website. But its story isnt all about send-offs and goodbyes. Theres inspiration in those gates, too. Not long ago, the Firemens Charitable and Benevolent Association of today decided to construct an office building inside Greenwood Cemetery, which the association owns and which is right across City Park Avenue from Cypress Grove. To do the job, the group reached out to the local firm Lachin Architects, which has helped the association maintain and preserve the Cypress Grove gates over the years. Taking inspiration from the gates, a team from Lachin led by project architect Michael Lachin and designer Peter Fortier came up with one of the citys newest examples of Egyptian Revival architecture. Completed in 2017 at 5190 Canal Blvd., the two-story structure features Egyptian-styled battered pylons at each of its four corners. Each pylon is topped with a characteristic cavetto cornice. Even more prominent are the twin central columns framing the entrance, each of which boasts a papyrus capital on top. It might not be exactly what the pharaohs had envisioned, but then, a touch of immortality is certainly better than none at all. Know of a New Orleans building worth profiling in this column, or just curious about one? Contact Mike Scott at moviegoermike@gmail.com. Sources: The Times-Picayune archives; Landmarks of New Orleans, by Leonard V. Huber; History of the Fire Department of New Orleans, edited by Thomas OConnor; Society of Architectural Historians; Lachin Architects. Denton, TX (76205) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Posted Monday, March 22, 2021 8:37 am Millions more Washingtonians are set to become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine at the end of the month as Gov. Jay Inslee announced a new tier of state residents who will become eligible for doses March 31. During a press conference March 18, Inslee announced the upcoming increase in eligibility, which includes workers in a number of industries, including restaurants. The new tier of eligibility was announced faster than initially anticipated by the state. Inslee said the change was due to acceleration of vaccine production authorized by President Joe Biden. On March 31, those older than 60, critical workers in congregate settings such as restaurants and food service workers, manufacturing and construction, as well as people living in congregate settings and those experiencing homelessness who access services in congregate settings, will all become eligible for the vaccine. Inslee explained the congregate settings included correctional facilities and group homes. Eligibility will also be granted to individuals over 16 years old with two or more comorbidities come March 31. The states definition of comorbidities is based off of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list, which has cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart conditions like heart failure, immunodeficiencies, chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, among others. Inslees external affairs executive director Nick Streuli said restaurant workers were included in the upcoming tier of eligibility as restaurants were the number-one non-healthcare setting for outbreaks in the state. The restaurant and food service industry has been pushing hard for their workers to become eligible, though the governor said the decision to include that business sector was based more on other factors such as the outbreak data than industry lobbying. The addition at the end of the month would make nearly 2 million more Washingtonians eligible for the vaccine, Inslee said. He noted that on March 17 an additional 600,000 Washingtonians became eligible for vaccination as part of the addition of another phase of the states plan announced the week prior. Inslee said that the current timeline for vaccine eligibility was moving faster than what was predicted a month ago. He said the quicker pace was thanks to Bidens administration, which he said was doing tremendous work for dramatically increasing vaccine production, including utilization of the federal Defense Production Act to ramp up resources. Inslee noted he had advocated for use of the act since Washington was first in a state of emergency. Inslee also pointed to state and local public health workers for helping in the vaccine effort, as well as the Vaccine Action Command and Coordination System Center, a public-private partnership between the state and a number of different companies intended to help in distribution and administration of doses. I dont think any other state has undertaken such a scale of public-private partnership in their vaccine response, Inslee said. Vaccine Action Command and Coordination System Center Director Dan Laster said the amount of work the center was able to accomplish in two months was simply incredible, noting increases in call center capacity and the recent rollout of a vaccine locator tool (vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov) to help those eligible receive doses. Laster said he hoped that the vaccination pace would continue, adding the center welcomed feedback on how individuals experiences with seeking and receiving a vaccine went. Ultimately, if were not serving you, were not doing our job, Laster said. Inslee also announced the allowance of indoor visitation at long-term care facilities if either the guest or the resident is vaccinated. Though outdoor visitation was still preferred, the governor said the new allowance came from a belief that vaccination also helped to prevent transmission, as well as preventing life-threatening symptoms in the individual vaccinated. Vaccinated residents at long-term care facilities will no longer have to quarantine following admission or after a high-risk community visit, Inslee added, unless the individual had known exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case. While Biden has given a directive that eligibility would be expanded to everyone before May 1 nationwide, some states governors have picked sooner targets, such as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who announced full eligibility in his state before April. Inslee said he was not as impressed with the more ambitious statements from other state leaders, explaining that saying the eligibility was coming was different than being able to administer doses to everyone. Governors look great when they just say everybody is eligible for the vaccine, Inslee remarked. Its one thing to be eligible for the vaccine, and its another to actually get it. Inslee said it was unlikely that full eligibility would be substantially available before the May 1 deadline, though he noted if the states vaccination rate increased dramatically the state may be able to move up its schedule. Alongside the vaccine announcements, Inslee also announced extensions on the states eviction moratorium through June 30. The governor said hundreds of millions of dollars in rental assistance is on its way through the federal American Rescue Plan Act, noting that the assistance provided from both state and federal funds benefitted both renters and landlords. The governor also announced the extension of the states utility shutoff moratorium through July 31. Inslee mentioned that he also updated his consumer debt garnishment proclamation to protect any federal payments an individual receives in response to the pandemic, not just those labeled as stimulus payments. People need these supports right now, Inslee remarked. Cahaba Brewing Company has announced the return of Pour Us Another, its event highlighting the work of women in the craft beer industry. Pour Us Another: Celebrating Women and Craft Beer will return on Sunday, March 28. A collaboration with Ashley Monroe, the TrimTab beertender who runs the craft beer brand Brewed Black Girl, the day-long event showcases women who work in the craft beer industry, along with woman-owned businesses and female entertainers. For last years launch, Monroe teamed up with Cahaba Brewing to brew two special release beers--Dont Put Peachy in the Corner, peach rose sour and Sunflower Haze, a tropical hazy IPA. Leading up to the Pour Us Another taproom release, Monroe and Iron City Social (Cahaba Brewings marketing team) hosted a series of pop up tastings at three women owned and led businesses: The Lumbar, Fancys on Fifth, and Hop City. Ashley Monroe, the Birmingham beertender who runs the brand Brewed Black Girl holds a 16 oz. pour of "Don't Put Peachy in the Corner," one of the two limited edition beers she crafted with Cahaba Brewing. (Shauna Stuart for AL.com) The second annual Pour Us Another event kicks off on March 28 at 12 p.m. This years limited edition beers are the VP KamaLager, a hoppy lager collaboration (and tribute to Kamala Harris, the nations first female Vice President) with the Pink Boots Society (a professional organization for women in the fermented beverage and alcohol industry) and the HBIC Floral IPA, a honey India Pale Ale collaboration with Riley Hightower of The Lumbar for Womens History Month. Before the taproom debut at Cahaba, The Lumbar will host a special release of the beer on March 23. Cahaba Brewing will also donate a portion of the proceeds from its seasonal DDs Cherry Hibiscus Sour sold during the event to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama. Riley Hightower holds a can of HBIC Floral IPA, The Lumbar's collaboration beer with Cahaba Brewing (Credit: Iron City Social) Cahaba has partnered with neighboring Harvest Roots Taproom for kombucha cocktails. Sundays line of food trucks and vendors includes: Underground Vegan, Farm Girl Bakes, Beignets and Lattes, Charm on 2nd, Wildhoney Flower Truck, Yolaines Enhancing Skincare Products, Buttnaked Candles, Left Hand Soap Company, Brookes Beauty Bar, Virginia Nelson Designs,Studio 264, and CahaBones. This year, Monoe and Iron City Social have expanded Pour Us Another with breakout events: Harvest Roots will host two free tours of its facilities (Tickets are available here). Cahaba Brewing will host its weekly Sunday Yoga Series with Haley Holdridge from 2p.m-3pm (Tickets are $10 and available here). From 1pm-2pm, Pour Us Another will host a Women of Craft Beer Panel, featuring Ashley Monroe (Trimtab Brewing), Rylie Hightower (The Lumbar), Kayla Stinnett (Cahaba Brewing), Annie Good (Hop City), and moderated by Sarah Ferguson (Redmont Distilling). READ THE FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS HERE 2020s Pour Us Another was the inaugural event in a series of new initiatives from Cahaba Brewing to make its taproom more inclusive and welcoming to a wider variety of consumers, as well as encourage more diverse representation and inclusion in the craft beer community. Last summer, Monroe reached out to Cahaba Brewing to help the brewery craft its version of Black is Beautiful, a brewing collaboration spearheaded by Marcus Baskerville, the co-founder and head brewer of Weathered Souls Brewing in San Antonio, Texas. The collaboration was partly his response to the death of George Floyd, a Black unarmed man who was killed by Minnesota police. As Baskerville watched protests swell across the nation, he wanted to create a project to show how inclusive the craft beer industry has become over the years and hold craft breweries accountable for authentically engaging Black consumers. In Alabama, at least four breweries signed on to brew the projects stout, including Cahaba Brewing and Ghost Train Brewing Co. in Birmingham and Innerspace Brewing, Yellowhammer Brewing and Straight to Ale in Huntsville. As part of the collaboration, Weathered Souls asked participants to donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the beer to organizations that support social justice or equality. After working with Monroe, Kayla Stinnett and Melissa Newton (the duo behind Iron City Social) wanted to continue the momentum of working with Monroe. Inspired by the display of projects dedicated to women in the craft beer industry at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Stinnett, Monroe, and Newton developed Pour Us Another to create a safe space for women to commune, network, and learn more about the craft beer industry. Those efforts include using womxn, an alternative spelling of the word woman, on the Pour Us Another marketing materials to be inclusive of trans and non-binary women. A group of women sit outdoors at Cahaba Brewing's "Pour Us Another" (Credit: Iron City Social) Its not only about craft beer, itself, its about the community around it. Although its experienced growth in the last decade (with a growing amount of womxn craft beer drinkers), womxn are still not represented within the industry, Stinnett told Al.com in an email. The goal of events like this is to show womxn that its okay to ask questions, its okay if youre not a beer expert, its okay to explore and learn. After the Black is Beautiful collaboration, Cahaba Brewing also wanted to build relationships with communities it hadnt reached before, Stinnett told AL.com in an October interview. To take the plan to the next level, Stinnett and Newton set up a video conference on Zoom, inviting Monroe, Birmingham chef Rodney Callier, and Hop City beertender and keg manager Ralph Marion to have an open conversation about craft beer and inclusivity. Stinnett and Newton used those conversations to craft a new diversity initiative for the brewery-- a plan that would include a series of events, scholarships, internships, and partnerships with Black and Brown organizations, community leaders, and members. The plan would also provide opportunities for more women to work in the craft beer industry. One of those opportunities: a scholarship designed to help women become certified beer servers. Monroe and Cahaba Brewing created the first wave of the scholarship program last October, funded by proceeds from Dont Put Peachy in the Corner and Sunflower Haze. "Don't Put Peachy in the Corner" with Ashley Monroe's sunflower logo sticker. (Shauna Stuart for AL.com) The Level One Cicerone certification exam is $69. Those certified in a first level certification of the program are required to have a solid knowledge of beer service and how to prevent beer spoilage. Monroe, who is a Level One Cicerone certified beer server and currently working on a second certification, didnt require candidates to have experience working in the craft brewing industry. I know a lot of women that are really into craft beer, but they have regular nine to five jobs, Monroe told AL.com in October. Its not a requirement because I want it to be more inclusive and maybe completing the Cicerone exam will help give them the confidence they need to actually apply for the beer job theyve been thinking about. In addition to removing the cost of the exam, Monroes biggest goal with the scholarship was to remove common requirements that could discourage applicants from considering a new career path or learning about a new industry. In December, Monroe and Cahaba Brewing awarded the scholarships to nine women. Last year, the brewery also hosted its first panel discussion with women in Birminghams craft beer scene. For the next phase of the diversity initiative, now called Cahaba Brewing Community Action, Stinnett says Iron City Social and Cahaba Brewing have reached out to community leaders to decide how best to move forward and support the local Birmingham community. So far, the brewery is expanding its Cicerone Scholarship Program to include multiple certifications levels, as well as scholarship opportunities for members of the Black and Brown Community. Currently, Cahaba Brewing is funding another round of the Cicerone Beer Server scholarships with a T-shirt modeled after its HBIC Honey IPA collaboration with The Lumbar. The shirts will be available for purchase through the end of May. Other plans on the Cahaba Brewing Community Action agenda: supporting, raising awareness, and funding local nonprofits that benefit the communities of color, and working with minority and woman-owned businesses through various events, partnerships, and education. [Theres] just something about being in a room with womxn who are communing, conversing, and just lifting each other up, said Stinnett. The energy and excitement of it all is just intoxicating, and it just pumps us up to want to dig deeper and do more. Sorry! This content is not available in your region We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form AstraZeneca's troubles in Europe, where several countries paused rollout over potential clotting risks are well documented but its relationship with US health agencies has been fraught too The United States was among the biggest backers of the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine, but a series of blunders by the company eroded American authorities' confidence and have delayed rollout in the world's hardest-hit country. The British-Swedish drugmaker was on the back foot Tuesday, vowing to release more data "within 48 hours" after the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) raised concerns that results reported from its US trial were outdated. The Washington Post meanwhile reported that independent experts tasked with overseeing the trial had earlier written a letter to AstraZeneca telling them they should report their efficacy as 69 to 75 percent, not 79 percent as the company had done when it omitted the most recent data. "It's hard to understand what rationale could justify reporting stronger numbers when weaker and more up to date numbers were actually available," Holly Fernandez Lynch, an assistant professor of medical ethics at University of Pennsylvania told AFP, though she added that she was heartened by the government's quick response. One time favorite AstraZeneca's issues with US health agencies stem not from potential safety issues surrounding blood clotting, which led to pauses in Europe, but from its alleged lack of transparency. The relationship began much more positively. Think back to last May, when then-president Donald Trump launched "Operation Warp Speed" to decide which vaccine makers to fund and order from, well before there was any inkling of results. The AstraZeneca vaccine, developed with Oxford University, was a leading contender because of the research team's past work on a MERS vaccine, and the fact it was based on adenovirus vector technologyconsidered more "tried and true" than untested mRNA vaccines. The US ordered 300 million doses, far more than its initial orders for Moderna and Pfizer (100 million each), and gave the company $1.2 billion. Trial pause The first sign of trouble came back in September when AstraZeneca paused its global trials after a British participant developed neurological symptoms. Such pauses aren't unusualJohnson & Johnson also had to temporarily halt its trialsbut according to reports, the US Food and Drug Administration only learned of the problem via the media. While Britain quickly resumed its trial, the US waited about seven weeks to restart while it carried out its own investigation. Trust issues In November, AstraZeneca became the third company to announce promising early resultsdeclaring its vaccine efficacy ranged from 62 percent to 90 percent, depending on dosing, and the average was 70 percent. Scientists were left puzzling over the discrepancies, because a lower first dose seemed to work better. AstraZeneca had also pooled results from differently designed trials in Britain and Brazil, which is considered irregular. It later emerged that the different dosing regimes had occurred by accident, not designsomething the company omitted to mention. And it was left to Moncef Slaoui, then chief advisor to Warp Speed, to reveal in a call to US reporters that the group that achieved 90 percent efficacy did not include anyone aged over 55. Latest 'unforced error' On Monday, AstraZeneca released its latest results from a trial carried in the US, Peru, and Chile, reporting a better than expected efficacy. Then came the NIAID statement, undercutting the good news. Saad Omer, director of the Yale Institute for Global Health, told AFP the episode spoke to the overall problem of vaccine makers releasing their results via barebones press releases during the pandemic. "Issue a slide set with the press release that gives you more insight into the basic data," he added, calling on the industry to adopt a new standard of transparency or risk losing public confidence. Both Omer and Fernandez Lynch stressed that the controversy should not detract from the fact that the vaccine was performing well in countries where it was authorized, and its benefits outweigh safety risks. "In my mind, it's an unforced error by the company," Anthony Fauci, who heads up NIAID, said to medical news site Stat. Does the US need AstraZeneca? The US has authorized three vaccinesPfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnsonand between them they should be able to ship enough doses to cover more than the US adult population by the end of May. AstraZeneca said it expected to apply for authorization "in the coming weeks" and a stamp of approval by the FDAthe gold standard regulatorwould go far in assuaging global doubts over the vaccine. Fernandez Lynch said the controversy would "be a big topic of conversation at any FDA advisory committee discussion" when AstraZeneca seeks emergency approval. Many observers argue the US should consider shipping its millions of doses AstraZeneca to low-income countries that are facing serious shortages. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon proudly posed with her bouquet of balloons in honor of her 45th birthday on Monday. 'Another year around the sun! Thank you to everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes!' the New Orleans-born blonde - who boasts 36.8M social media followers - captioned her post. 'Feeling very blessed and happy!' Reese's eldest son Deacon Phillippe shared a sweet snap of him resting his head on her gingham-clad shoulder. 'Feeling very blessed and happy!' Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon proudly posed with her bouquet of balloons in honor of her 45th birthday on Monday The New Orleans-born blonde - who boasts 36.8M social media followers - captioned her post: 'Another year around the sun! Thank you to everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes!' 'Happy birthday to the one I do everything for,' the 17-year-old musician gushed via Instastory. 'Thanks for inspiring me every day and always being there. I love u, mom!' Witherspoon is also mother to daughter Ava Phillippe, 21; and son Tennessee James, 8; from her marriages to ex-husband Ryan Phillippe and current husband Jim Toth. This Friday, the Little Fires Everywhere producer-star will celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary with the 51-year-old Quibi exec, whom she met at a 2010 party. 'Thanks for inspiring me every day and always being there': Reese's 17-year-old son Deacon Phillippe shared a sweet snap of him resting his head on her gingham-clad shoulder Christmas family portrait: Witherspoon is also mother to daughter Ava Phillippe (2-L), 21; and son Tennessee James (M), 8; from her marriages to ex-husband Ryan Phillippe and current husband Jim Toth (R) Still going strong! This Friday, the Little Fires Everywhere producer-star will celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary with the 51-year-old Quibi exec, whom she met at a 2010 party Several celebrities shared birthday tributes to Reese (born Laura Jeanne) - including her castmate on Friends and The Morning Show, Jennifer Aniston. Since October, Witherspoon and Aniston have been hard at work executive producing and reprising their reporter roles in the second season of the Apple TV+ series. Natalie Portman - whose film Lucy in the Sky was produced by the Legally Blonde alum - thanked her for being 'the best leader and friend.' Reese's former Big Little Lies castmate Laura Dern got a hold of one of her childhood snaps and wrote: 'Who knew this would become one of the most extraordinary women ever, and my sister? Happy birthday, Miss Reese!' 'Love you, birthday girl!' Several celebrities shared birthday tributes to Reese - including her castmate on Friends and The Morning Show, Jennifer Aniston 'Happy birthday to this actual ray of sunshine!' Since October, Witherspoon and Aniston have been hard at work executive producing and reprising their reporter roles in the second season of the Apple TV+ series Witherspoon's former Cruel Intentions co-star Selma Blair wished her 'fearless friend' a good one by sharing a Tim Walker photograph from her 2015 W Magazine spread. Jennifer Garner gave the Stanford University drop-out a birthday shout out for being a Southern girl just like herself. 'I love actress Reese, mom Reese, boss lady Reese. But my favorite Reese is the one who sent me this photo because she knew it would make me happy,' the 48-year-old Golden Globe winner wrote. 'Southern girls stick together. Happy birthday, @reesewitherspoon, I love you.' 'I adore you!' Natalie Portman - whose film Lucy in the Sky was produced by the Legally Blonde alum - thanked her for being 'the best leader and friend' Reese's former Big Little Lies castmate Laura Dern got a hold of one of her childhood snaps and wrote: 'Who knew this would become one of the most extraordinary women ever, and my sister? Happy birthday, Miss Reese!' Chic! Witherspoon's former Cruel Intentions co-star Selma Blair wished her 'fearless friend' a good one by sharing a Tim Walker photograph from her 2015 W Magazine spread 'Southern girls stick together': Jennifer Garner gave the Stanford University drop-out a birthday shout out for being a Southern girl just like herself Eva Longoria Baston shared four Instastories dedicated to Reese and the time they were each other's dates to the 75th Golden Globe Awards in 2018. 'Happy birthday @reesewitherspoon! I love you to the moon and back!' the 46-year-old SAG Award winner gushed. 'Best date ever! So lucky to have you by my side.' Mindy Kaling called Witherspoon - whom she's worked with three times - her 'dear Reese dawg' in her birthday tribute. America Ferrera once spent a day with the Hello Sunshine co-founder at USC for her Netflix talk show, Shine On with Reese, in 2018. 'I love you to the moon and back!' Eva Longoria Baston shared four Instastories dedicated to Reese and the time they were each other's dates to the 75th Golden Globe Awards in 2018 Penning Legally Blonde 3 script! Mindy Kaling called Witherspoon - whom she's worked with three times - her 'dear Reese dawg' in her birthday tribute 'Happy birthday fellow Aries!' America Ferrera once spent a day with the Hello Sunshine co-founder at USC for her Netflix talk show, Shine On with Reese, in 2018 'Happy birthday queen!' Reese was also regally honored by the likes of Jonathan Van Ness and Tracee Ellis Ross via Instastory 'Happy birthday fellow Aries, wonderful friend, and inspiring boss @reesewitherspoon!' the 36-year-old Golden Globe winner wrote. Reese was regally honored by the likes of Jonathan Van Ness and Tracee Ellis Ross via Instastory. And Witherspoon's post received glowing comments from her celeb pals Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Banks, Barbie, Isla Fisher, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Nancy Meyers, Maria Sharapova, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Simon Kinberg. The Draper James founder will next reprise her role as pig mother-of-25 Rosita in Garth Jennings' star-studded animated sequel Sing 2, which hits US/UK theaters December 22. Sorry! This content is not available in your region https://flv1.gmw.cn/gmw/videoroot/2021-03-23/1616488998527.mp4 The China Development Forum 2021 was held online and onsite in Beijing from March 20 to 22. Many delegates who participated in the forum highlighted Chinas economic recovery and fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Jakob Stausholm, Chief executive of Rio Tinto, said, it is an impressive achievement for China to quickly manage the pandemic impacts and turn the economy around. Denis Depoux, Global Managing Director of Roland Berger, said, China has done an incredible job. It has rapidly tamed the pandemic and restored a relatively normal life. The systematic approach was an impressive determination, the mobilization of everyone with discipline. Jean Lemierre, Chairman of BNP Paribas, said that what we see in China is impressive. China, most likely, is one of very few countries to have a positive growth, which is great for China and for the world. Ola Kallenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes Benz AG, said, it was paramount that the Chinese government took effective measures at an early stage of the pandemic and executed them thoroughly. This helped the Chinese market to recover more quickly than anywhere else. Mike Henry, BHP CEO, said, economies have proven more resilient than many anticipated. In part, this has been due to skillful government action in some countries to contain the pandemic and to stimulate economies. This has certainly been the case in China, and the fast, strong recovery in the Chinese economy has supported many other nations. Dr. Severin Schwan CEO of Roche Group, said, there is no doubt that China has also benefited relative to other economies in the world by overcoming this pandemic more quickly. Lars Fruergaard Jrgensen, the President and CEO of Novo Nordisk, said, we commend Chinas effective control of the pandemic domestically as well as support to the global community. The Chinese leadership has made a bold call for the need to establish a global community of health for all. [ Editor: Zhang Zhou] How milCloud 2.0 makes DOD cloud migrations easier The Defense Departments milCloud 2.0 celebrated its third anniversary last month by adding VMware and Amazon Web Services, meeting both fit-for-purpose and general-purpose cloud needs. The new offerings should help accelerate cloud adoption among defense organizations -- an undertaking that has been slow. A 2018 memo required defense agencies and DOD field activities to migrate all appropriate workloads to milCloud 2.0 by the end of fiscal 2020, but research by MeriTalk found that only one in five were doing so. There are three reasons why this will help speed adoption, said Jim Matney, vice president and general manager of the Defense Information Systems Agency and Enterprise Services sector within the defense division at General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), which owns and operates the technology stack for milCloud 2.0. They are ease of use, security and cost. We have seen a significant amount of interest in mission partners leveraging AWS and the milCloud offering, the on-premise offering, via the milCloud 2.0 contract, Matney said. This has really put milCloud 2.0 on the map. Some of the delays in cloud adoption have been associated with the acquisition process, but because the milCloud 2.0 contract has already been awarded, no additional acquisition is required. Instead, customers can go to a portal, create an account, deposit funds and have cloud services running within 48 hours, Matney said. He likens it to buying an E-ZPass and spending down the account as services are consumed. Whats more, before defense organizations migrate their applications to milCloud 2.0, they must ensure they are cloud-ready, which requires refactoring or other prep work. Because milCloud 2.0 now uses the VMware virtualization platform that many customers already have in their data centers, they can move applications without the heavy lifting. Migrating applications into milCloud 2.0, takes less of an upskill environment, Matney said. Its going from a like to like environment, so it should expedite and enhance their abilities in being able to migrate to the cloud even faster. DODs many cybersecurity requirements can also stall cloud migrations. MilCloud 2.0 provides a commercial cloud service built on-premises inside the DOD Information Network (DODIN), which provides an additional layer of security for applications that need it, Matney said. Moving to the cloud can help defense organizations reduce their attack surfaces. By closing data centers and centralizing applications in an enterprise cloud, agencies give hackers fewer potential points of entry. By migrating their applications to the cloud thats already in the DODIN, that would reduce that landscape, he said. You minimize the number of threat vectors a hacker can target. The third factor is cost. Because milCloud 2.0 is built on DODIN, it doesnt come with the additional transaction and bandwidth fees that many cloud providers charge. The cloud that GDIT has historically provided is an on-premise, infrastructure-as-a-service, fit-for-purpose cloud. That aligns with the DOD Cloud Strategy that calls for both types. Released in 2018, the strategy states that where a general-purpose cloud solution, such as AWS, cannot support mission needs, DOD may use a fit-for-purpose commercial or on-premises cloud solution. With milCloud 2.0s new setup, customers can get both in one place. Previously, a defense agency that wanted to use on-premise service would use milCloud 2.0, but it would have to use another contract vehicle for a general purpose cloud. Now, under the single umbrella of milCloud 2.0, we offer the customers the ability to have a choice about where to put [fit-for-purpose or general-purpose] under one contract, Matney said. MilCloud 2.0 is the only enterprise cloud that provides IaaS across DOD, and with AWS, its the only one that provides on- and off-premise and fit-for-purpose and general-purpose clouds. The number of workloads that have migrated to milCloud 2.0 doubled in 2020, compared to 2019, indicating that progress is already happening. For the contracts fourth anniversary, Matney expects to discuss IL-6 authorization, which will support Secret Internet Protocol Router Network, or classified, workloads. He said that should be operational and available this summer. Two other major DOD cloud efforts are the Defense Enterprise Office Solution and the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure programs. GDIT won the $4.4 billion contract to handle DEOS in October 2020. The contracts goal is to streamline the department use of cloud email and collaboration tools by migrating existing Microsoft Office 365 tenants to DEOS. The much-beleaguered JEDI, however, continues to be in a holding pattern. Although DOD affirmed its contract award of the program to Microsoft last September, AWS filed a lawsuit against the decision in December 2020. An information paper from the DOD CIO to Congress on the litigation suggests that DOD wants to move on: Regardless of the JEDI Cloud litigation outcome, the Department continues to have an urgent, unmet requirement. Specifically, the Departments need for enterprise-wide, commercial cloud services for all three classification levels, extending from the homefront to the tactical edge, at scale. We remain fully committed to meeting this requirement -- we hope through JEDI -- but this requirement transcends any one procurement, and we will be prepared to ensure it is met one way or another. Matney said he could not speculate on what will come of JEDI or what its dissolution would mean for milCloud 2.0. KONNOR PERRIN, Chariho boys lacrosse, freshman: Perrin established a school record for assists in a game with nine in the Chargers 22-0 win over Ponaganset. Perrin leads the team with 21 assists to go with 14 goals. LILA RICH, Stonington girls track, senior: Rich won two events at the ECC Division I track meet. Rich was first in the high jump (5-0) and the pole vault (10-0) as the Bears finished third at the meet. MADIGAN HILTZ, Westerly boys lacrosse, senior: Hiltz scored seven goals and had three assists in pair of victories for the Bulldogs. Hiltz has 17 goals and seven assists for the season. ADDIE HAUPTMANN, Wheeler softball, junior: Hauptmann was 4 for 9 with a home run and six RBIs in two games. For the season, Hauptmann is hitting .617 with eight homers and 42 RBIs. She has 50 hits. Vote View Results A man holds a sign bearing photographs of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have been detained in China for more than a year, outside B.C. Supreme Court where Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was attending a hearing, in Vancouver on Jan. 21, 2020. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press) The World Is Watching You, Garneau Tells Chinese Regime Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau is urging the Chinese regime to abandon its practices of arbitrary detention of foreign citizens and human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The message is that the world is watching you, Garneau said during an interview with CBC News on Monday. Weve made our position very clear, crystal clear, to China. And the eyes of the world are watching China on arbitrary detention as well as on human rights violations. The government announced sanctions Monday against four Chinese officials and one state-run organization accused of participating in the abuse of Uyghurs and other ethnic Muslims in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The sanctions would freeze all assets that the listed individuals have in Canada, and Canadian citizens and business are banned from providing financial or related services to them. The four individuals are also denied entry to Canada. In this particular case we are sending a message that we are deeply preoccupied with human rights in the Xinjiang region and that we continue to demand that China allow unfettered access to examine the situation. And more and more countries are joining us in this, Garneau said. He said the sanctions are a follow-up of measures in January to prevent the risk of goods produced by forced labour in any country from entering Canadian and global supply chains. The United States, United Kingdom, and European Union have imposed similar sanctions, in concert with Canada. More and more countries are going to be looking at these human rights violations as we build momentum, Garneau said. Alongside allies, we have taken coordinated action on measures that send a clear message about the human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang. We are united in our deep and ongoing concern regarding Chinas human rights violations. Statement: pic.twitter.com/3L9vNXZ7JY Marc Garneau (@MarcGarneau) March 22, 2021 Arbitrary Detentions In the CBC interview, Garneau also warned countries to pay attention to the risk that their citizens may be arbitrarily detained by Beijing. My advice to all other countries in the world is, if you are doing business with China and you have citizens of your country in China, and you have disagreements with them, there is the possibility that your citizens could be detained, he said. Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were arbitrarly detained in China in December 2018, shortly after Canada arrested Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver at the behest of the U.S. government. Spavor was put on trial on March 19, while Kovrig was tried on Monday. Consular access to the court hearings was denied. Jim Nickel (C) the deputy chief of mission for the Canadian Embassy in China, and foreign diplomats gather outside the No. 2 Intermediate Peoples Court as they arrive to attend former diplomat Michael Kovrigs trial in Beijing on March 22, 2021. (Andy Wong/AP Photo) Garneau said diplomats from at least 23 countries had gathered outside Beijings No. 2 Intermediate Court, where Kovrig was tried. Thats another demonstration of how multilateral co-operation is beginning to get the message across, he said. Garneau said that while Canadian consular officials were denied participation in both trials, China has indicated that consular access would be provided to both men before the end of March. And we will be pushing for that, he said. Meng, who is under house arrest at one of her Vancouver mansions while her case is being heard, is accused of bank fraud and conspiracy to mislead HSBC and other financial institutions to breach U.S. sanctions against Iran. Police have identified the person who died after jumping off a condo balcony with a parachute as a 31-year-old Panama City Beach man. The Panama City Beach Police Department said Timothy Dale Ackerman died after allegedly jumping from the 23rd floor of Sunrise Beach Resort, the Panama City Beach News Herald reported. Ackerman was found lying dead in front of the building near Front Beach Road around 6:45 p.m. Sunday. Police said they believe Ackerman was BASE jumping, or jumping from a fixed spot using a parachute, but his parachute didnt deploy. The Panama City Beach Police Department would like to remind everyone it is against the law to trespass and there is no legal place in Florida that allows BASE jumping, police said in a release. The case remains under investigation. Community members protest against anti-Asian hate at a news conference in Los Angeles Monday. (Los Angeles Times) If you are Asian in America, you have gone through life being asked the seemingly harmless question, Where are you from? News flash, its not harmless. I promise you, every member of the Asian American community cringes inside when they are asked that question. Im sure people asking dont think of it as an expression of racism or bias. They dont mean it to be. Theyre just curious. Theyve undoubtedly repeated this thoughtless exercise numerous times. Theyve likely received a polite and succinct answer that would not set off any internal alarm bells. I can tell you firsthand that, by now, I've gotten my answer down to a succinct 30 seconds. Its like an automatic reflex, and frankly its just easier than expending the energy required to explain why its a demonstration of passive racism to ask me in the first place. In choosing avoidance over confrontation, I realize now that I have inadvertently contributed to the model minority stereotype by holding my tongue. For the first time in my life, a conversation about racism against Asian Americans is taking shape at the national level. The #StopAsianHate movement has come in response to a dramatic surge of violence and hate crimes targeting Asians, fueled by the racism and rhetoric of Donald Trump and his supporters in the Republican Party. And in this crisis, Asian Americans are coming forward to share stories of bigotry and stereotypes that have shaped their lives. When I asked a group of Asian American journalists how many times theyd been asked where are you from, their responses mirrored my own experience. Suzanne Kim, an associate producer at CBS, replied half-jokingly, Nine-hundred times (give or take another 100 or so) and if youre Korean, you get the follow-up, Are you from North Korea? As someone who was born in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, I can tell you firsthand that this is 100% accurate. Stacy Chen, a producer at ABC, shared with me, Ive been asked, But where are you from? more times than I can count. Every time someone asks me where Im from, Id say L.A. first, and then theyd look at me and ask again, OK, but where are you from? I dont get personally offended, but it kind of just makes me feel perpetually foreign. Story continues The questions get even more awkward when your first name is German (Kurt), your last name is Italian (Bardella), and youre adopted. My good friend Katie Phang, an MSNBC legal analyst, told me in her trademark blunt candor, ALL of the time and for us Koreans, the follow-up question is always, Are you Communist? And how many times someone said, You look just like a China doll! That also reflects the objectification and sexualization of Asian women that is at the heart of the killings in Atlanta. CNNs senior national correspondent Kyung Lah added, Try never telling them where youre from. Its my conversation sport with people because Ive really been over it for a while now. Where are you from? Chicago. Where are you really from? The NW suburbs. Where are your parents from? They live in Orange County. This is the same progression of questions all of us who look Asian have dealt with for our entire lives. If youre white in America and your name is Joe, Kevin, Karen or Jennifer, when you meet someone for the first time, you arent asked, Where are you from? or Where is your family from? When youre Asian American, its routine. Why is it that within 60 seconds of meeting me for the first time, some feel that they must know my life story and family history? Why does it even matter? Many of you reading this might be thinking, Ive done this or I was genuinely curious where you were from. That might be true. But ask yourself if youve felt this way about the countless white people whose paths youve crossed. Have you had the same impulse to ask them those questions within 30 seconds of meeting them? If you still dont get it, think back to a moment in 2018 when a career intelligence analyst briefed Trump in the Oval Office. After the briefing, according to officials, he asked her, Where are you from? and where your people are from. He referred to her as the pretty Korean lady and wondered why she wasnt negotiating with North Korea on his administrations behalf. Do you see how marginalizing and offensive this kind of interaction can be? When ignorance and obliviousness converge, this is what happens. The next time you meet someone who looks Asian and you feel compelled to ask the question, just dont. Kurt Bardella, a Korean American, is a contributing writer to Opinion. He was the spokesperson and senior advisor for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee from 2009 to 2013. @KurtBardella This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. TEL AVIV, ISRAEL / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / Orbs is pleased to announce a brand-new liquidity-as-a-service protocol called Liquidity Nexus. It aims to create a bridge between the burgeoning DeFi system and traditional financial markets. The move aims to make DeFi more accessible to investors in CeFi while providing a potentially limitless source of liquidity for operators of DeFi protocols. While DeFi has been undergoing impressive growth, the full potential for expansion is somewhat hampered by the fact that DeFi liquidity is limited to a small pool of users willing to navigate the complexities and risks in the current ecosystem. These circumstances don't just limit the growth of DeFi, but it also means that larger and professional investors are locked out of the more generous returns available on the DeFi markets. As the operator of a decentralized blockchain infrastructure designed to serve mass use applications, Orbs is well-positioned to bridge this gap. From the CeFi side, any company or professional investor wishing to participate in DeFi can transfer their funds as stable assets into the Liquidity Nexus protocol. Once deposited, it will be routed to yield-generating positions on either the Ethereum or Binance Smart Chain platforms. The investor can withdraw part or all of their funds at any time they wish. From the DeFi side, any project or protocol wishing to benefit from the liquidity available in the CeFi markets can integrate their positions with the Liquidity Nexus contracts. The benefits for CeFi investors in taking advantage of Liquidity Nexus are significant, even aside from the obvious considerations of enhanced yield and lowering the barrier of expertise needed to navigate DeFi. By operating in stable assets, CeFi investors don't need to expose themselves to the volatility risks of cryptocurrencies, reducing secondary capital risks like slippage and impermanent he loss. Automating the process of finding suitable DeFi positions and routing capital into them eliminates any need for research and the manual effort involved with operating DeFi compatible wallets. Liquidity Nexus is currently in development. About Orbs Orbs is a free, open-source, public blockchain infrastructure designed for mass usage applications, providing enterprise-grade scale, security and support. Orbs blockchain network expands the offerings of public blockchains by supporting permissioned applications developed by existing for-profit businesses, while also supporting purely decentralized apps and being a prime platform for launching decentralized finance applications.Founded in 2017, Orbs is developed by a dedicated team of more than 30 people out of its offices in Tel Aviv, Israel, London, UK, Singapore, Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea. Orbs was named Gartner's "Cool Vendor in Blockchain Technology" for 2018. CONTACT: Ran Hammer press@orbs.com SOURCE: Orbs View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/637035/Orbs-Set-to-Launch-Liquidity-as-a-Service-with-Liquidity-Nexus (Alliance News) - Glencore PLC on Tuesday confirmed that Gary Nagle's appointment as chief executive officer will become effective on July 1. He will be replacing Ivan Glasenberg, who will be retiring from his role at the Baar, Switzerland-based commodities miner on June 30 after 19 years with the company. Nagle is currently the global head of Glencore's coal industrial business based in Sydney, Australia. He joined Glencore in 2000 in Switzerland as part of the coal business development team, before working until 2013 in Colombia as chief executive officer of Prodeco, Glencore's Colombian coal operation. Nagle then moved to South Africa to take on the role of head of Glencore's Alloys Assets until 2018. Earlier in March, it was announced that Glencore's Chair Anthony Hayward would step down from his role with effect at the group's 2022 annual general meeting. In addition, Non-Executive Director John Mack will step down from his role with effect at the annual general meeting on April 29, after eight years since 2013. Shares in Glencore were down 0.8% at 277.30 pence on Tuesday in London, while its Johannesburg shares were 2.1% lower at ZAR56.88. By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was "too early to say" whether foreign holidays will be allowed but rising cases in Europe meant "things certainly look difficult for the time being". The prime minister said he hoped to give more information about foreign travel on April 5, a week before the government's global travel task force is due to report. "A lot of people do want to know about what's going to happen on the holiday front and I know there's a great deal of curiosity and interest," Johnson said at a No 10 press conference. "All I can say is it's just too early to say and my advice is to everybody to wait for the global travel task force to report. "We've heard already that there are other European countries where the disease is now rising so things certainly look difficult for the time being but we will be able to say more we hope in a few days' time, I certainly hope to say more by April 5." Under the current road map for easing restrictions, the earliest date people in England could go on holiday abroad would be May 17. A senior scientific adviser has suggested people should plan to holiday in the UK this summer. Professor Neil Ferguson, whose modelling led to the first UK lockdown last March, said relaxing border measures too early risked the success of the UK's vaccination programme. He said the risk from Europe is the arrival of new variants, or importing cases of the troubling South African variant from countries where cases were rising. He told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: "I should say we also have some of the South African variant here already and other variants which may be similar, which we're watching very carefully, so that is overall the major concern going forward and why we need to be vigilant, not just looking at Europe, and what's happening within our borders as well." Prof Ferguson said the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca PLC and Pfizer Inc vaccines "might drop substantially, 60% or 50%" in the face of variants. "And what that means is if we then allow transmission to resume which it is likely to do as we relax social distancing measures, we have that faint risk of being back in a situation where we have rising infections, rising hospitalisations with people who have been vaccinated," he said. "And back to, in the worst case, where we were in January. "So, the effectiveness, exactly how effective vaccines is, is very critical to how quickly we're able.. to relax measures." Asked if he was therefore in favour of keeping borders closed, Prof Ferguson said: "I certainly am in favour of relaxing border measures at a slower rate than we relax controls within the country, and doing all we can to reduce the risk of importation of variants which might undermine our vaccination programme." Asked what he wanted to see, he said that meant having finished "vaccinating everybody under 50, which will be late summer, and having vaccines in our stockpile which we know work very effectively against those variants". "Conservatively and being risk averse at the moment, I think we should be planning on summer holidays in the UK, not overseas." He said most people travelling to and from France at the moment on essential business or for commerce were exempt from quarantine and testing measures. "I think we need to reconsider that, not the quarantine bit, but for instance introducing testing of everybody coming back, including those essential workers." By David Hughes and Jane Kirby source: PA Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. INGHAM COUNTY, MI A judge has released Marlena Pavlos-Hackney from jail after she paid a $15,000 fine and closed her restaurant, Marlenas Bistro & Pizzeria. Pavlos-Hackey, 55, left the Ingham County Jail around 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, her attorney, Robert Baker, confirmed. He said she had complied with a judges order and deserved to be released. She has been jailed since Friday, March 19. She was arrested that morning, presumably on her way to work. The restaurant was closed the next day. State officials determined that the boarded-up restaurant has remained closed, records show. Ingham County Circuit Judge Wanda Stokes ordered her release. 16 Michigan Republicans rally to support jailed Holland restaurant owner She could be locked up again if she tries to re-open her restaurant, the state says. She was jailed after she ignored orders to close her restaurant, Marlenas Bistro & Pizzeria, after the state in November banned indoor dining in response to the coronavirus pandemic. She also did not require the use of mask or social distancing to slow the spread. Pavlos-Hackneys attorney had asked that his client be released from jail after she met court-imposed conditions. In a court documents filed Monday, March 23, the state Attorney Generals Office asked a judge to sign an order that if, upon release, Ms. Pavlos-Hackney resumes operating a food establishment in violation of this Courts order, a bench warrant shall immediately issue for Ms. Pavlos-Hackney and Ms. Pavlos-Hackney shall be arrested and incarcerated until such time as she complies with the order of this Court and she shall pay an additional $7,500.00 immediately for the contempt offense . The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, or MDARD, which has been investigating the complaint against the complaint against the business owner, confirmed that the business had been boarded up and appeared closed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the filing showed. The restaurant is closed Mondays. Inspectors provided photographs of the restaurant, at 909 Lincoln Ave., and said it appeared to be closed. A sign reading, Complied, was hung below the Marlenas Bistro sign on the front of the building, an inspector noted. Stokes, the Ingham County Circuit judge, in late February issued a temporary-restraining order prohibiting Pavlos-Hackney from operating food service. On March 1, MDARD filed a motion for contempt because Marlenas Bistro stayed open. Three days later, Stokes found the restaurant in contempt of court, fined the owner $7,500 and converted the temporary-restraining order into a preliminary injunction and issued a bench warrant for Pavlos-Hackneys arrest. The next day, MDARD filed a notice that Marlenas Bistro was again open in violation of the courts order, court documents said. The state attorneys asked that judge to sign an order saying that Pavlos-Hackney, owner of Marlenas Bistro & Pizzeria, shall remain incarcerated until it is demonstrated to the court that Marlenas Bistro and Pizzeria is in full compliance with this courts order and has paid $15,000 to the Ingham County Clerks office for the contempt offenses . Pavlos-Hackney has support of many who have criticized state shutdown orders over the coronavirus. Her restaurant did brisk business while it was open, customers said. As of Tuesday afternoon, a GoFundMe page for her has raised $253,000 of a $300,000 goal. Read more: Jailed Michigan restaurant owner pays $15K fine, should be released, attorney says Marlenas Bistro supporters see restaurant closure as latest fight for freedom in pandemic Republicans blame political bullying in jailing of Michigan restaurant owner Michigan restaurant owner to remain in jail on charge of violating COVID-19 orders Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in West Bengal in the upcoming assembly elections, the deltaic Sunderbans region would be declared as a separate district. "In 2015, 2016 and 2019, Didi had announced that her government would declare Sunderbans as a district. But the Trinamool Congress government has not done anything so far. If the BJP is voted to power this time, we will make the Sunderbans a separate district within one year of coming to power in Bengal," Shah said, while addressing a public meeting at Gosaba on Tuesday. The Union minister also promised to set up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) unit in the Sunderbans if the BJP came to power in West Bengal. "Has the Sunderbans region got its due that it deserves? Every fisherman will get an insurance cover of Rs. 3 lakh in the islands. Besides this, the government will take up special initiatives to protect tigers in the mangrove belts," he said. Shah further said that the Mamata Banerjee-led ruling Trinamool government had not met the expectations of the people in the Sunderbans. "We will make the Sunderbans region into one of the exceptionally developed areas of the country," he pointed out. At present, the Sunderbans, a UNESCO world heritage site, is carved out of two West Bengal districts - South 24-Parganas and North 24-Parganas. Considered to be one of the richest but most fragile ecosystems on the planet, the Sundarbans delta, formed by the myriad branches of the Ganga, has forest tracts that reach the 130-km inland from the coastline. The alluvial archipelago, formed by 56 riverine islands is home to the famous Royal Bengal Tiger. It is a vast area covering 4,262 sq km, including a mangrove cover of 2,125 sq-km in India alone, and a larger portion in Bangladesh. The Japanese government is under fire for its plan to procure thousands of tonnes of soil from 1945 battlefields to build a new US airbase in southern Japan. The reclamation work as part of the relocation of the US Futenma Air Station in Henoko has drawn criticism, as soil which had been set aside for the project on Okinawa island is said to contain the remains of both Japanese and American soldiers who died during the battle there. The Battle of Okinawa began almost 76 years ago and claimed 200,000 lives. The last major battle of the Second World War, it has been described as the bloodiest of the Pacific campaign. Now volunteers excavating the remains of those killed in 1945 on Okinawa have called on Japans defence ministry to end the construction work, saying that repurposing the soil would be an insult to the war dead. About 100,000 Japanese soldiers died at Okinawa, along with 12,000 US soldiers, sailors and marines. According to the US Department of Defense, the battle also claimed the lives of nearly 100,000 civilians. It ended about six weeks before the US dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Okinawa, located 1,000 miles south of Tokyo, now hosts almost two-third of the US military bases in Japan, reported the Japan Times. Read more: In April 2020, the Japanese defence ministry applied to the Okinawa Prefectural Government to procure soil for the new base after evidence suggested that the seabed for the new base was softer than presumed. According to local media reports, though the prefectural government is still reviewing the application some of the candidate sites for collecting soil have been changed from the original plan, and now include Itoman and Yaese in the southern part of the main island of Okinawa. Takamatsu Gushiken, the head of the Gamafuya (cave diggers) organisation, told the Guardian that the soil material from these sites is likely to contain the remains of the civilians, Japanese and American soldiers who died during the war. The Japanese governments plans will destroy the dignity of war victims I can barely believe it, Mr Gushiken, 67, told the paper. It doesnt matter if you are for or against the Henoko base this is a humanitarian issue. Soil from the scene of a bloody battle is going to be dumped in a beautiful bay, and it needs to stop. The Okinawan government has estimated that the remains of 2,800 victims of the battle are still buried in the land, reported the Guardian. Japans defence minister Nobuo Kishi however said that the firms involved in the reclamation project would conduct visual checks of the soil before removing it. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque defended the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases amid calls for its abolition as the countrys COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Tanggapin natin o hindi, nag-mutate po ang mga virus at hindi naman po siguro kasalanan ng IATF na nag-mutate itong mga virus sa pamamaraan na mas nakakahawa sila, said Roque during his Tuesday virtual briefing, citing the role of new COVID-19 variants in the spike in the national daily case tally. [Translation: Whether we accept it or not, the virus mutated and its probably not the IATFs fault that they mutated in a way that they became more contagious.] The spokesman also reiterated that the inter-agency body bases its decisions on data and science, and employs a whole-of-government approach involving different departments and even local authorities. The IATF drew flak from the public and lawmakers as COVID-19 cases keep going up despite the country undergoing a year-long quarantine. Sen. Imee Marcos and even Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III want the IATF abolished. In an interview with CNN Philippines News Night, Marcos said the task force's "continued ineptitude" can be blamed for the alarming rise in infections. "Even the explanation for the spike in cases isn't clear, the senator said. "Kasalanan daw ng easing of the lockdowns, pasaway daw ang Pilipino [They said the easing of the lockdowns caused the surge, they said Filipinos dont abide by rules], we had two long weekends in February, now its because there are new variants. They don't even know the answer. She also pointed out that Health Secretary Francisco Duque IIIs credibility has been questioned many times. And while Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. is "a good soldier," she said perhaps his orders "have become confusing and contradictory." The current situation, Marcos said, highlights the need to bring on board more health professionals and scientists to ensure COVID-19 policies are based on science and data. Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros called for an overhaul not only of the IATF but also of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, citing the body's gross mismanagement. Itong pagtaas po ng kaso dahil nga sa [This rise in cases due to] new variants, pagsubok po 'yan [its a challenge]. Pero malalampasan po natin 'yan [But we will overcome it] because were using the best talents and minds that we have in the entire government machinery para malabanan nga itong [to fight this] COVID-19, Roque said. Roque also dismissed the criticisms against the IATF as mere politicking. 'Pag panahon na talaga ng eleksyon, lahat ginagawan ng issue. Hindi natin made-deny 'yan, he explained, referring to the national polls this 2022. [Translation: When its election season, everything is turned into an issue. We cannot deny that.] RELATED: Palace says not wasting time on VP Robredo, accuses her of politicking, early campaigning Marcos shot down Roques claim, saying she has "absolutely nothing to gain" from politicizing the pandemic. The Philippines now has over 677,000 cases of COVID-19. Prior to Tuesdays 5,867 tally, the country had been recording over 7,000 new cases for four straight days. The government has declared an NCR Plus 'bubble', placing Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite and Rizal under general community quarantine for two weeks. No one is allowed to cross the bubbles borders except for essential travel. CNN Philippines digital producer Kristel Limpot contributed to this report. (Newser) The auction for Jack Dorsey's first tweet is over. The winning bid? More than $2.9 million. It's just the latest non-fungible token (NFT) to be sold for a wild amount of money; other examples include the "Ocean Spray guy's" viral video, a 10-second video clip that went for $6.6 million, and a JPG file that brought in a staggering $69.3 million. (As Engadget explains, NFTs are an offshoot of cryptocurrency.) Dorsey's 2006 tweet, the first ever sent on the social network, famously reads, "just setting up my twttr." Dorsey, co-founder and CEO of the site, sent proceeds of the sale to Africa for emergency COVID-19 relief, the Wall Street Journal reports. story continues below Malaysia-based blockchain company Bridge Oracle CEO Sina Estavi was the winning bidder; while Dorsey's tweet will remain online as he originally posted it, Estavi now owns "a digital certificate of the tweet, unique because it has been signed and verified by the creator," per the company that ran the sale, and including metadata like the time and date it was posted. "This is not just a tweet!" Estavi tweeted after the sale. "I think years later people will realize the true value of this tweet, like the Mona Lisa painting." The Verge notes that Estavi's winning bid of $2,915,835.47 was "oddly specific," and wonders if the number signifies anything. But, as CNBC reports, the sale was made using ether, a cryptocurrency, in which the winning bid was 1,630.58 ether. (Much more on the NFT craze and how this all works here.) Angola, IN (46703) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 80F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Clear skies this evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Multiple sclerosis (MS), typically diagnosed in a person's prime of life (age 20 to 40 years), substantially impacts their health, quality of life, productivity, and employment over many years 3 . A key goal of managing RRMS is to preserve neurological function to slow down the worsening of disability 4 . Early initiation of high-efficacy treatment can help improve long-term outcomes for people with RRMS 5 . "MS is a disease that can easily run away and produce significant impairment if not kept in check as early as possible," says Dr. Mark S. Freedman, Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa. "Having a highly effective treatment option with a favorable safety profile available like Kesimpta for treating more aggressive disease up front, offers MS patients a better chance at leading a more normal life, for a longer time." B-cell treatments, which bind to CD20 and deplete circulating B-cells, including those associated with disease activity in MS have only been available in hospitals or infusion treatment centres6,7. This mode of administration can be inconvenient for some people with MS and adds costs to the healthcare system7. Kesimpta provides the flexibility of self-administration, eliminating the need to travel for treatment to an infusion centre. "This approval represents another advancement in available treatment options for people living with MS," says Dr. Pamela Valentine, President and CEO, MS Society of Canada. "This means that there is now an option of a B-cell therapy that can be self-administered at home, allowing for flexibility and convenience, which is especially meaningful now, more than ever. We are hopeful that this will provide increased access to effective treatments for all Canadians living with MS, no matter where they live." "From the introduction of the first oral treatment for RRMS, Novartis continues to be a global leader in neuroscience by providing renewed hope and advancing care for the MS Community so they can live their lives as fully as possible," says Andrea Marazzi, Country Pharma Organization (CPO) Head, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada. "The development and approval of Kesimpta is an important example of our commitment to supporting and meeting the needs of those who live with MS by offering a targeted treatment that can significantly improve patient outcomes and increase the convenience of self-managing the disease at home, eliminating the need to travel for treatment." The approval of Kesimpta is based on results from the Phase III ASCLEPIOS I and II studies, in which Kesimptaa demonstrated superiority versus teriflunomide in significantly reducing the annualized relapse rate (ARR, primary endpoint), 3-month confirmed disability progression (CDP), and the number of gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) T1 and new or enlarging T2 lesions1. Kesimpta has received a positive recommendation by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) and by the Institut national d'excellence en sante et en services sociaux (INESSS). CADTH and INESSS are both recommending that Kesimpta should be reimbursed by public drug plans for the treatment of adult patients with RRMS with active disease defined by clinical and imaging features8,9. Novartis is ready to work collaboratively with the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) to ensure patients have access to Kesimpta as soon as possible. About Kesimpta Kesimpta is a targeted, precisely dosed and delivered B-cell therapy that provides the flexibility of self-administration for adults with RRMS. It is a recombinant and fully human monoclonal antibody (mAb) self-administered by a once-monthly injection, delivered subcutaneously1,10. Initial loading doses of Kesimpta are given at Weeks 0, 1 and 2, with the first injection performed under the guidance of an experienced healthcare professional. Kesimpta is thought to work by binding to distinct epitopesthe parts of an antigen where an antibody bindson the CD20 molecule1. This binding induces B-cell lysis (cell membrane breakdown) and depletion11. The selective mechanism of action and subcutaneous (under the skin) administration of Kesimpta allows precise delivery to the lymph nodes, where B-cell depletion in MS is needed, and preclinical studies have shown that it may preserve the B-cells in the spleen12. Once-monthly dosing of Kesimpta also allows faster repletion of B-cells and offers more flexibility13. Ofatumumab was originally developed by Genmab and licensed to GlaxoSmithKline. Novartis obtained rights for ofatumumab from GlaxoSmithKline in all indications, including RRMS, in December 201514. About Multiple Sclerosis MS is a chronic, often disabling immune disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve15 It affects over 90,000 Canadians one of the highest prevalence rates in the world16. MS can be characterized into four main types: clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing remitting (RRMS), secondary progressive (SPMS) and primary progressive (PPMS)17. These forms can be distinguished based on whether someone experiences relapses (clearly defined acute inflammatory attacks of worsening neurological function), and/or whether they experience progression of neurologic damage and disability from the onset of the disease17. About Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., a leader in the healthcare field, is committed to the discovery, development and marketing of innovative products to improve the well-being of all Canadians. In 2020, the company invested $45 million in research and development in Canada. Located in Dorval, Quebec, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. employs approximately 1000 people in Canada and is an affiliate of Novartis AG, which provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. For further information, please consult www.novartis.ca . About Novartis Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world's top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach more than 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 110,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at www.novartis.com. KESIMPTA is a registered trademark of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. References ______________________________ 1 Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. Kesimpta (ofatumumab) Product Monograph. February 19, 2021. Available at: http://www.ask.novartispharma.ca/download.htm?res=kesimpta_scrip_e.pdf&resTitleId=1734 Accessed February 26, 2021. 2 Bar-Or A, Fox E, Goodyear A, et al. Onset of B-cell depletion with subcutaneous administration of ofatumumab in relapsing multiple sclerosis: results from the APLIOS bioequivalence study. Poster presentation at: ACTRIMS; February 2020; West Palm Beach, FL. Available at: https://plan.core-apps.com/actrims2020/abstract/d88eb62a-3eb4-41e0-99a8-13dabb6442de Accessed February 25, 2021. 3 Zwibel H, Smrka J. Improving Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis: An Unmet Need. Am J Manag Care. 2011;17:S139-S145. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21761952/ Accessed February 26, 2021. 4 Winkelmann A, Loebermann M, Reisinger EC, Hartung HP, Zettl UK. Disease-modifying therapies and infectious risks in multiple sclerosis. Nat Rev Neurol. 2016;(4):217-33. Available at : https://www.nature.com/articles/nrneurol.2016.2 1 Accessed February 26, 2021. 5 Cree BA, Mares J, Hartung HP. Current therapeutic landscape in multiple sclerosis: an evolving treatment paradigm. Curr Opin Neurol. 2019;32(3):365-377 Available at: https://journals.lww.com/co-neurology/Abstract/2019/06000/Current_therapeutic_landscape_in_multiple.9.aspx Accessed February 21, 2021. 6 Lehmann-Horn K, Kronsbein HC, Weber MS. Targeting B cells in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: recent advances and remaining challenges. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2013;6(3):161-173. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1756285612474333 Accessed February 26, 2021. 7 Dieguez G, Engel T, Jacobson N. Site of service and cost dispersion of infused drugs. Available at: https://www.milliman.com/insight/2019/Site-of-Service-and-Cost-Dispersion-of-Infused-Drugs/ Last accessed January 8, 2021. 8 CADTH. Available at: https://cadth.ca/ofatumumab Last accessed February 22, 2021. 9 INESSS. Available at: https://www.inesss.qc.ca/en/thematiques/medicaments/medicaments-evaluation-aux-fins-dinscription/evaluation-en-mode-continu.html Last accessed February 22, 2021. 10 Ancau M, et al., CD20 monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of multiple sclerosis: up-to-date. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2019 Aug;19(8):829-843. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31027436/ Last accessed March 12, 2021. 11 Smith P, Kakarieka A, Wallstroem E. Ofatumumab is a fully human anti-CD20 antibody achieving potent B-cell depletion through binding a distinct epitope. Poster presentation at: ECTRIMS; September 2016; London, UK. Available at : https://onlinelibrary.ectrims-congress.eu/ectrims/2016/32nd/145827/paul.smith.ofatumumab.is.a.fully.human.anti-cd20.antibody.achieving.potent.html Last accessed February 22, 2021. 12 Smith P, Huck C, Wegert V, et al. Low-dose, subcutaneous anti-CD20 therapy effectively depletes B-cells and ameliorates CNS autoimmunity. Poster presentation at: ECTRIMS; September 2016; London, UK. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.ectrims-congress.eu/ectrims/2016/32nd/146241/paul.smith.low-dose.subcutaneous.anti-cd20.therapy.effectively.depletes.htm l Last accessed February 22, 2021. 13 Savelieva M, Kahn J, Bagger M, et al. Comparison of the B-cell recovery time following discontinuation of anti-CD20 therapies. ePoster presentation at: ECTRIMS; October 2017; Paris, FR. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.ectrims-congress.eu/ectrims/2017/ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS2017/199644/david.leppert.comparison.of.the.b-cell.recovery.time.following.discontinuation.html Last accessed February 22, 2021. 14 Genmab Press Release: Genmab announces completion of agreement to transfer remaining ofatumumab rights. December 21, 2015. Available at: https://ir.genmab.com/static-files/9d491b72-bb0b-4e46-a792-dee6c29aaf7d . Last accessed January 8, 2021. 15 National MS Society. Multiple Sclerosis FAQs. Available at https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/MS-FAQ-s Last accessed November 13, 2020. 16 MS Society of Canada. Prevalence and incidence of MS in Canada and around the world. Available at: https://mssociety.ca/research-news/article/prevalence-and-incidence-of-ms-in canada-and-around-the-world . Last accessed January 8, 2021. 17 MS Society of Canada. What is MS Types. Available at: https://mssociety.ca/about-ms/types . Last accessed January 8, 2021. SOURCE Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. For further information: Novartis Media Relations, Lori Bogdanis, +1 514 226-0735, E-mail: [email protected] Geography and recent history have made the India-China relationship a difficult one, and one in which the United States will find ample space and opportunity to inveigle itself to its advantage. (Representational image: AFP) The Indian and Chinese economies are now in two entirely different stages of development. For a start, Chinas GDP is nearly five times bigger than Indias. Its GDP is now over $15.4 trillion, while India is inching towards $3.2 trillion. How China moves and acts in the future will affect the developed economies enormously as it has become the major provider of world growth for the past two decades, while Indias indifferent growth in the past decade has had little bearing or derived little benefit from it. The shutdown in Chinese production centres due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent slowdowns in manufacturing from Japan to the US and from India to Europe only serves to establish how much world manufacturing has come to depend on China. For India to be a $5 trillion economy by 2024, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi dreamed of, is now not even a faint hope. For India to make that rendezvous and matter to the world, it needs to be posting a frenetic 12-15 per cent growth over the next four years, and to overtake China would mean maintaining a pace of 8-10 per cent for the next four decades at least. There is not even a glimmer of that now. Hope is a good thing, but wishful thinking is a serious mental malady. Despite the immediate gloom, the demographics seem to favour India, but it is still for India to show that it can take advantage of it. But if it doesnt by investing in education, vocational training, public health and job creation, the youth bulge could very well become a millstone? While Chinas population will stabilise at 1.46 billion by around 2030, Indias might stabilise at 1.70 billion around 2060. Because its population will stabilise much before Indias will, China will age rapidly, which means its economic growth will inevitably slow down. Indias youthful demographics favour its continued growth for a much longer period. Thus, even if India keeps growing at about 7-8 per cent, its GDP could only close in on that of a China with a declining growth rate by around 2070. But what does the rise of India and China imply for the worlds power structure? True, the worlds economic fulcrum will shift to Asia. Already Asias GDP exceeds that of the United States and the European Union. By 2030 it will account for about over 60 per cent of world GDP, with China having the biggest GDP. But this is in future and often the future has a habit of not happening as predicted. Therefore, we must look at the present. The real problems in China will get accentuated, as exports to the US and EU slow down, as the US in particular is determined to reduce its trade gap. With low-cost production shifting to other low-cost economies like Vietnam and Indonesia. China will naturally try to overcome this by stimulating domestic and overseas consumption and can even finance it by slowly reducing its foreign reserves, as Saudi Arabia and others are doing now. The high growth period in China is petering off and its the transition we must be wary of. Where will the world get its next growth engine? Demography favours India, but our political discourse gives no inkling of any awareness of this or inclination to put immediate politics aside to set our long-term course. Geography and recent history have made the India-China relationship a difficult one, and one in which the United States will find ample space and opportunity to inveigle itself to its advantage. This is a made-to-order situation for strategists and leaders in the three countries to ply their trade with plenty of worst-case scenarios. It would thus seem India and China are destined to live out the foreseeable future as rivals, if not adversaries. Chinas aggressive soft power diplomacy has widely been seen as arguably the most important element in shaping the Indian Ocean strategic environment, transforming the entire regions dynamics. By giving large loans on generous repayment terms, investing in major infrastructure projects like the building of roads, dams, ports, power plants and railways as a part of its Belt and Road Initiative, and offering military assistance and political support in the UN Security Council through its veto power, China is actively buying goodwill and influence among countries in the Indian Ocean region. India cannot compete with China in pocketbook diplomacy either. Chinas defence budget has almost certainly experienced double-digit growth for two decades. The annual defence spending of China rose from over $30 billion in 2000 to $209 billion in 2021, over three times higher than that of India. Foreign estimates of Chinese military spending suggest that actual spending may be much higher. In 2019, the Chinese government reported an official defence budget of just under $178 billion, while the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimates actual (nominal) spending to have been $261 billion. SIPRI usually adds about 50 per cent to the official figure that China gives for its defence spending, because even basic military items such as research and development are kept off budget. This is not a sum India can match and the last thing we need to get caught in is a numbers game. Now if one were an Indian planner, he/she would look at the China/Pakistan axis with askance. India has had conflicts and still perceives threats from both, jointly and severally. The Tibet plateau, once intended as Indias buffer against the north, has now become Chinas buffer against India. Now if one were a Chinese planner, he or she would be looking with concern at Indias growth and increasing ability to project power in the IOR. The planner will also note what experts are saying about Indias growth trajectory. That it will be growing long after China gets walking sticks. That it is the ultimate pivot state in the grand struggle for primacy between the West led by the US and Japan, and China. In recent times there has been much talk about the Quad the United States, Japan, Australia and India to confront the spread of Chinas dominance. There have been several rounds of talks and virtual meetings of these countries starting 2019. But we must not forget that unlike the US, Japan and Australia, who are physically distant from China, India lives cheek by jowl with it, sharing a long and contested border. It is Indian and Chinese troops which face each other eyeball to eyeball there. Mexican Drug Cartels Use Children as Decoys to Smuggle Criminals Into US, Texas Sheriff Says Mexican drug cartels are taking advantage of the Biden administrations border policies to use children as decoys to smuggle their members into the United States, according to a sheriff from Texas. Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. Guerra, who is on the front line of the ongoing surge in illegal crossings on the U.S.-Mexico border, told The New York Post that cartels are profiting more from trafficking humans than running drugs. Guerra described the cartels tactics to the NY Post, saying that they split up families seeking to illegally cross the border, and use the children as decoys so that criminal thugs, posing as their relatives, can come over with the children and get admitted into the United States. Well, the cartels say, You can cross with one child, were going to take two children. And were going to use those two children to smuggle two others and pretend that those are family units,' Guerra said. The United States is facing the largest wave of illegal immigrants in 20 years, with many unaccompanied minors, or children unlawfully entering the country without an adult, showing up at southwest border every day, according to Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. They are vulnerable children and we have ended the prior administrations practice of expelling them, Mayorkas said. Earlier this month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned that Mexican drug cartels are flooding the border with women and children to overwhelm local law enforcement in an attempt to make it easier for them to smuggle drugs and humans into the United States. The cartels, they are involved in every single one of these border crossings we see, Abbott, a Republican, said as he announced the plan to call in hundreds of National Guard troops to reinforce the Border Patrol agents in high threat areas to deny Mexican cartels and other smugglers the ability to move drugs and people into Texas. Texas is sending a message to any [migrant] caravan and to any cartel member: Were ready. Were waiting for you, the Republican governor said. If you dare step into the State of Texas, Texas will use every tool or strategywe can to arrest anybody whos violating the law, to put behind the bars anybodys violating the law, to make sure that the laws in the state of Texas are going to be enforced. If you are a caravan or youre a cartel, you better take your activities to some other place, because they will not be accepted in Texas, Abbott said, adding that he will try to fill the gaps in border security left by the federal government. Almost seven years after Isis declared its caliphate in Syria and Iraq, the fate of the men, women and children who travelled to the terrorist groups territories remains uncertain. Different countries have diverged dramatically in their approach to those who want to return home, and thousands of people who were captured while fleeing Isis strongholds remain in Kurdish-run prisons and camps. A report by the UKs watchdog for terrorism laws, Jonathan Hall QC, has sparked fresh questions about Britains treatment of those involved in the conflict. TOKYO, Mar 23, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) are pleased to announce their decision to establish a new joint venture company that will provide cross-industry Digital Transformation (DX) services aimed at promoting digitalization and structural transformations. Industry One, Inc. (Industry One) will be launched in 2021(1) as part of the industrial DX partnership formed between MC and NTT on December 20, 2019(2).Overview of Industry OneIn offering end-to-end solutions from DX planning to execution, Industry One will partner businesses in implementing the kind of reforms that will encourage DX throughout Japan's industries and help them to realize sustainable and internationally competitive corporate growth. Because Japanese industries are linked by complex value chains, many of their inherent challenges are difficult for individual companies to address on their own. Industry One will combine MC's industry-wide expertise with NTT's information-and-communication technologies (ICT) to help its partners find the best solutions, while at the same time providing them with value-added DX services. These include accelerating internal DX initiatives, optimizing cross-company processes that take advantage of digital technologies, and otherwise working with each partner to tailor its unique DX foundations and ultimately create new digital businesses.Industry One, Inc.Representative: Ryo SerizawaCapital: 900 Million Japanese Yen (MC 51%, NTT 49%)Location: Chiyoda-ku TokyoMain Operations: DX project planning and management and development of DX strategies and solutionsMC and NTT's Initiatives to support DX in the Food Distribution IndustryMC and NTT are developing an inventory-optimization solution for food wholesalers in the food distribution industry. The two companies, together with NTT DATA Corporation, are jointly developing an infrastructure that capitalizes on new digital technologies to seamlessly and securely link data that are scattered within and among companies. These data include information on retail, wholesale, and manufacturers' inventories, order receipts, demand forecasts and weather forecasts. In proof-of-concept (PoC) inventory-reduction trials, which took advantage of a patent-pending, proprietary AI engine developed with MC Digital, Inc.(3) and which covered roughly 10,000 products at various distribution centers, inventories were reduced by an average of 30%, and as much as 40% in some cases. The trials also demonstrated that they could cut down on the rate of product shortages, which tend to be a necessary trade off when working to minimize inventories. In fiscal year 2021, the partners aim to provide this solution to Lawson's distribution centers operated by Mitsubishi Shokuhin Co., Ltd. (Mitsubishi Shokuhin), and will thereafter work with Mitsubishi Shokuhin to roll it out to other companies in a stepwise fashion.In cooperation with Industry One, MC and NTT plan to conduct a PoC study in fiscal year 2021 on smart contracts that cover the application of blockchain and other advanced technologies, their aim being to address food waste, labor shortages and other problems. This initiative will help to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by contributing to sustainable development in food distribution. The partners intend to announce more initiatives designed to expand DX services throughout Japanese industry.Comments from Major Parties1. Sadanobu Takemasu, President and CEO, Lawson, Inc.The Lawson Group's philosophy to create happiness and harmony is what drives our businesses, each of which is designed to make Lawson the "hub of refreshment in every community." This initiative to optimize food distributors' inventories is significant inasmuch as it demonstrates a proactive attitude towards achieving the SDGs; but it is equally important as a means of addressing societal challenges such as reducing food waste and making logistics networks more efficient. Lawson remains committed to working alongside valued partners like MC and Mitsubishi Shokuhin to fulfill its social responsibilities.2. Toru Moriyama, President and CEO, Mitsubishi Shokuhin Co., Ltd.As defined by the slogan, "From Intermediary to Innovator," our corporate mission underpins our evolution into a new type of wholesaler, one whose role transcends that of a traditional food distributor and rides the wave of digitalization to help solve the problems facing our society. To drive that evolution, we are applying data and digital technologies to boost operational efficiency and create more demand. This particular project involves an inventory-optimization platform developed together with MC and NTT, which will be employed at our own distribution centers and openly shared with other companies as well. Not only does it promise to raise efficiency at Mitsubishi Shokuhin, but it should also help to address problems faced by our customers, optimize the food distribution industry as a whole, and contribute to the sustainable development of regional communities across Japan.Business Alliances with New PartnersIn its aim to further the DX movement in Japan, MC is proactively connecting with other companies to look into jointly developing and commercializing DX services. By combining each company's unique industry expertise and DX capabilities, these partnerships will focus on encouraging structural reforms and solving problems inherent to various Japanese industries. MC also plans to incorporate Industry One into this mission in the not-too-distant future.Overview of Business Alliances1. Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Tec)Through its Tec Coupon Deli(4) retail solution, Toshiba Tec is helping retailers to address some of the problems plaguing Japan's food distribution industry, including food waste and labor shortages. In addition to assisting food retailers with their operations, the solution enables Toshiba Tec to generate statistical sales data and consensually provide them to MC, which MC can then use to develop solutions for demand forecast. Those solutions can help food manufacturers to optimize their production and delivery plans.2. Fujitsu Limited (Fujitsu)Fujitsu and MC are considering ways to automate orders to food wholesalers. At present, the procedures to determine order volumes are done manually, but automating them should reduce both operating costs and excess inventories.3. LaKeel, Inc. (LaKeel)LaKeel DX is a microservice architecture(5) that provides the tools necessary to build and operate business application systems. LaKeel and MC plan on adopting this architecture to the aforementioned inventory-optimization solution for food wholesalers, which will enable the swift and flexible operation of a wide variety of applications and accelerate DX throughout the industry.(1) Completion pending relevant regulatory approvals.(2) Mitsubishi Corporation and NTT Agree to Form A Business Partnership to Pursue "Industrial Digital Transformation (DX)" bit.ly/3rd9MzBhttps://www.ntt.co.jp/news2019/1912e/191220a.html(3) MC Digital, Inc.: MC's wholly owned tech subsidiary dedicated to advancing digital strategies. https://www.mcdigital.jp/(4) Tec Coupon Deli: A coupon service that encourages customers to revisit stores. Not only does it allow food retailers to issue their own coupons and conduct targeted marketing according to consumer preferences, but it also enables manufacturers to pay commissions to food retailers to promote specific products.https://www.toshibatec.co.jp/products/coupondeli.html(5) Microservice architecture: A type of architecture where software applications function as independently deployable services, which improves agility and flexibility.Mitsubishi CorporationCorporate Communications Dept., Press Relations TeamTel: +81-3-3210-2171Nippon Telegraph and Telephone CorporationPublic Relations OfficeEmail: ntt-cnr-ml@hco.ntt.co.jpSource: Mitsubishi CorporationCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Seoul, March 23 : South Korean President Moon Jae-in received his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday ahead of his overseas trip scheduled in June. Moon was administered the first jab of the full two-dose Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine at a public health centre in central Seoul, Xinhua news agency quoted the presidential Blue House as saying. The vaccine's "safety and efficacy" have been internationally reaffirmed and most of the European countries restarted their vaccination programs, Moon said during a meeting with his senior secretaries on Monday as part of efforts to help moderate the public anxiety here over the vaccine safety. Moon's key entourage, set to accompany the South Korean leader on his trip to the UK in June, were also vaccinated earlier in the day. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) launched the inoculation of patients and medical staff in nursing homes and facilities, who are aged 65 or higher, on Tuesday. According to the latest KDCA data, the country has administered the first dose of the vaccines to a total of 680,560 people with 883 fully inoculated. Moon asked people to refrain from having any doubt over the vaccine's safety and go for it when they get a public notification, saying the inoculation would be a way to protect themselves and the entire society with a herd immunity. The South Korean government has aimed to administer the first jab of Covid-19 vaccines to 12 million people by the end of June among the country's 52-million population in a bid to form a herd immunity no later than November. A mainstream scientist wants Christian-run educational institutions offering creationist courses and degrees that deviate from the "national norm" to be held to a "higher academic standard." Christian intellectuals present counter-arguments. In response to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation's (CHEA) deliberation on the continuing accreditation of Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), Dr. Joshua Swamidass, a biologist from Washington University, is pushing to raise the standards applied to creationist institutions. "Credit from courses that include creation science should not be used toward science degrees, nor should they be eligible for transfer to secular institutions," said Swamidass as quoted by CBN from his op-ed published on the Wall Street Journal. He stated in his preliminary comments that it isn't really "a tension between religion and science" but whether "Americans can live alongside each other while disagreeing about the most important issues." Speaking as a research scientist though, Swamidass still believes that any deviation from "national norms in a science curriculum need to be prominently disclosed, tracked and reported." He clarified that college courses, not students, are the ones that should be tracked and reported. A higher standard Swamidass, a self-confessed Christian, argued that secular institutions "should accredit and recognize creationist insitutions," and that creationist institutions should be held to the same standards of "academic freedom" and transparency given to other academic institutions, particularly secular institutions. He added that his proposal aims to protect students and faculty from overreach by administrators. He also indicated that the "negative reaction" that arose from following his proposal was "expected," particularly because his article in the WSJ is behind a paywall, "which has made it easier to mischaracterize." Nevertheless, Swamidass continues to advocate for the protection of students and faculty from administrator overreach, and for creationist institutions to be given a higher standard than some are currently being held. Others weigh in David Klinghoffer, Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute and the editor of Evolution News & Science Today, praised Swamidass' dedication to academic freedom, moderation & tolerance. In his own column for Evolution News and Science Today, Klinghoffer wrote that Swamidass' idea of "reasonable" compromise by the "invidious labeling" of creationists' thinkers is a dangerous proposition. "Invidious labeling is all about reward and punishment....and this is a very dangerous concept," he wrote and explained that once considered, "Swamidass plan could be extended to other courses." "From the sciences, once the rationale about 'national norms' is accepted, I don't see any reason why the labeling or othering concept should not be expanded to cover areas of education where other out-group ideas are discussed, whether political, cultural, or philosophical," added Klinghoffer. "With increasingly aggressive censorship by Big Tech, racial indoctrination in the workplace, and state-imposed lockdowns approaching a one-year anniversary, it has felt, more and more, like we are living in China. If the Swamidass proposal were accepted, it would be a step further in that direction," Klinghoffer also noted. Adding to this discourse on the credibility of Christian college degrees on science, Ken Ham argues that creationists can become legitimate scientists. Noting that there's a difference between "historical science" (beliefs about the past) and "observational science," Ham directs readers to check Answers in Genesis. Ham, a creationist himself, also pointed out that it's the secularists "who are actual anti-science" because they end up rejecting factual natural laws in their effort to undermine the idea that there's a Creator who created every living being on earth. "At Answers in Genesis, we have many PhD scientists who are also involved in teaching the different disciplines of science to the younger generations," assured Ham. "We have a lab at the Creation Museum where we run Science Labs throughout the year. But we don't have enough room for all those students who want this training," he continued and added that these students will learn great observational science and true historical science based on a Christian Worldview. Can creationists be scientists? Well, secularists who adopt the religion of naturalistic evolution say they can't. But... Posted by Ken Ham on Monday, March 22, 2021 UPDATE (March 23. 9:02 AM): Reworded title and clarified Dr. Swamidass' proposal to have college courses, not students, tracked and reported for transparency. Dr. Swamidass reached out to Christianity Daily to clarify that he is not advocating the tracking of students, or the barring of creationist course students from science degrees. He is actually opposed to this policy "as an invasive and wrong intrusion on student freedom." Our apologies for the misleading content. A People's Assembly online rally in support of key workers and striking workers was ostensibly to build solidarity for industrial actions against the ripping up of employment rights, pay and conditions. But behind the talk of standing together and fighting with everything we've got, not a single concrete proposal was advanced to unite these struggles. Having been hailed as essential workers over the last year of the pandemic and forced to work in unsafe conditions, those employed by British Gas, the National Health Service (NHS) and in the transport sector are among many being rewarded with the imposition of fire and rehire contacts and de facto wage cuts. They are in the frontline of an offensive by the ruling elite to use the pandemic to fundamentally restructure class relations. That is why, simultaneous with these attacks, the government is bringing forward a Police Bill that will effectively illegalise the right to protest and strike. These developments confirm the WSWS appraisal of the COVID-19 pandemic as a trigger event that has intensified and accelerated the profound contradictions of the global capitalist system. It is laying bare the irreconcilable antagonism between the capitalist class, which starts from the defence of private property relations and the geostrategic interests of the nation state, and the working class, which strives objectively for the ending of the profit system and the reorganisation of economic life based on human need, as part of a global struggle to abolish the nation-state system. These opposing class interests find political expression in the struggle between the capitalist and socialist programme. This essential conflict found no mention in the March 16 Peoples Assembly meetinga pseudo-left coalition, involving Stalinists, left Labourites and trade union reps, and tendencies such as the Socialist Party, Socialist Workers Party, Counterfire, and others. It was silent on the actions of the Labour Party and trade union bureaucracy, which have spent the last year suppressing opposition to the government's murderous herd immunity policy, and the multi-billion-pound subventions to the corporations and super-rich. With the ending of the Conservative governments final lockdown as the pandemic continues to rage, several trade unions have been forced to organise ballots and even sanction walk-outs while working behind the scenes with the employers to impose the cuts demanded. The programme of the Labour and trade union bureaucracy is pro-capitalist and corporatistbased on the ever-closer integration of the trade unions into the structures of management and the state apparatus. The People's Assembly meeting made clear that the pseudo-left activists support this programme and are working to impose it. Steve Whittle, GMB rep for British Gas, described how the union suppressed opposition to management's fire and rehire before finally, in January, calling the present series of walkouts. Pointedly he stressed that the GMB recognised the need for sustainable jobs and acknowledged that there was no point having the best paying jobs if those jobs no longer exist. We will be a vehicle for change and we will make difficult decisions with our workforce, he said, before blaming the actions of British Gas on leadership failings. Businesses had to learn that they need their workforce onside, he said, concluding with praise for the cross-party support the dispute had attracted and of the need to get people talking about it. Steve Whittle speaking at the People's Assembly online rally alongside Finn Brennan, Joanne Harris, and Ian Hodson Speaking on the NHS, Helen OConnor, GMB Southern Region Organiser, condemned the governments derisory one percent pay offer to NHS staff, and called for a 15 percent restorative pay rise. She neglected to mention that the GMB, the Royal College of Nurses, and the other unions involved in health care have resolved to do absolutely nothing to mobilise against this insult, save entreating the government to think again. That is why the demand for a 15 percent rise originated outside of the unions, in a social media petition from a concerned nurse. Joanne Harris is the vice chair of the United Left faction of Unite and a former Socialist Party member. She made brief reference to the strike by hundreds of Go North West bus drivers in Manchester, who were told in mid-February they had seven days to sign new contracts or face the sack. While management is organising strike breaking, the union is working to isolate the dispute while it tries to cut an agreement with Go North West on its alternative plan, which includes a pay freeze and cost cutting. While calling for a fight with everything we've got, Harris real attitude to a militant fightback is shown by the fact that, in her capacity as moderator on the Bus Drivers in London Facebook group, she deleted an open letter from the London Bus Rank-and-File committee at Cricklewood garage calling for a London-wide strike to oppose the threat from Covid. Ian May, another Unite rep, explained how the union had begun negotiations with French transnational RATP Dev in October 2019 but its paltry 2.2 percent offer was rejected by members. That took us to the New Year [2020] and then Covid happened and everything got put on the back burner. When management finally agreed to negotiations last autumn, the 2.2 percent offer came out at 0.5 percent, May said, which was attached to fire and rehire contracts. Last Wednesday, strike action was due to take place at RATP bus company subsidiaries, London United, London Sovereign and Quality Line. But Unite suspended the action at London Sovereign and Quality Line at the last moment in response to a miserly 0.25 percent and 0.5 percent increase respectively on what was originally presented, leaving London United out on its owna fact May neglected to mention. Finn Brennan spoke as an ASLEF train drivers union rep on the London Underground. He began by noting a joint statement issued by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Heathrow airport on behalf of the aviation industry. Although he did not provide details, this calls for a tripartite body of government, trade unions and industry to guide aviation into the recovery and beyond. This means that, while thousands of workers at London's Heathrow airport are preparing for strike action against fire and rehire, the TUC is in an alliance with the employers behind the scenes. Although Brennan indicated displeasure with the TUC, its action is no different from that of ASLEF on the London Underground. In September, workers returned a 97.5 percent vote in favour of strike action to defend jobs, terms and conditions. The unions have stalled, while promoting pressure on the government for a better funding package for Transport for London, in concert with Londons Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan. More broadly, all the rail unions have signed on to a Department for Transport initiative establishing a Rail Industry Recovery Group. Involving the unions and the private operators, it seeks opportunities to reduce the operating costs of the railway and increase effectivenessmeasures that will come at the expense of rail workers. The nationalist and corporatist agenda of the pseudo-left was summed up by Ian Hodson of the Bakers and Allied Food Workers Union (BFAWU). What this country needed is unity, Hodson said, not bosses taking the opportunity to cut pay. We need employers to stand up and make sure our workers are rewarded. Ian Hodson speaking at the People's Assembly online rally Hodsons remarks are wholly in line with the joint statement issued by the BFAWU, Unite, USDAW and the GMB with the bosses Food and Drink Federation. The statement, the first of its kind, was issued during the pandemic as food workers suffered some of the highest incidences of COVID-19. It boasted of how employers and the unions are working together to feed the nation and for the common good. Mar. 23History was made Monday night. For the first time in school history at both Mohawk and Neshannock high schools, the girls basketball teams are headed to a state championship game. The two-time reigning WPIAL Class 3A champion Lady Warriors outpaced visiting Forest Hills, 74-58, setting up a chance to finish what was started during last year's COVID-shortened postseason that saw the team's season paused in the state quarterfinals. Neshannock, meanwhile, rallied from an 11-point home halftime deficit to beat Penns Manor, 39-36, in overtime. The Lady Lancers, the Class 2A WPIAL champion, play District 4's Mount Carmel at noon Thursday from Hershey's GIANT Center for the state title. Mohawk meets District 12's West Catholic at 5 p.m. Thursday from Hershey. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Governor Eric Holcomb made several announcements during a speech Tuesday night on Indiana's battle with COVID-19. The governor plans to lift the statewide mask mandate and remaining COVID-19 business restrictions in two weeks, on April 6. On that day, the mask mandate will become a mask advisory. Related: COVID-19 Vaccines Information Gov. Eric Holcomb also announced that on March 31 everyone 16 and older will be able to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination. Gov. Holcomb said in the Tuesday evening speech that the states steep declines in coronavirus hospitalization and death rates along with the growing number of people fully vaccinated justify the changes. He said he hoped the state was seeing the tail end of this pandemic that has killed nearly 13,000 over the past year. Holcomb said local officials would still have the authority to impose tougher restrictions in response to COVID-19 cases in their communities and that face mask use would still be required in K-12 schools for the rest of this school year. He urged residents to continue wearing masks in public and that bars and restaurants continue to space out their tables. Holcomb has faced public pressure and from conservative state lawmakers to ease restrictions, especially after governors in Texas and other states have done so recently. But some health experts worry it is premature to lift the statewide restrictions. We put a lot of restrictions in place last year, there was some initial hesitation by some parts of the population to comply with some of those orders, said Brian Dixon, an epidemiologist at Indiana Universitys Fairbanks School of Public Health. And then what we saw in the fall is that rates went up, they skyrocketed because people were not following precautions. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box has said state officials are working to meet Bidens directive to make all adults eligible for a vaccine by May 1, and blamed expansion delays on too few doses coming from the federal government. The Republican-dominated Legislature is debating proposals to curtail a governors authority under the states emergency powers law to impose restrictions such as mask rules and business closures. Many conservative legislators want to cancel the public health emergency order issued a year ago by Holcomb, with a resolution to do so being sponsored by 28 Republicans in the 100-member House. Legislative leaders havent yet taken up that resolution or any legislation that would roll back any restrictions imposed under Holcombs executive orders. Republican House Speaker Todd Huston said Holcombs decisions on extending restrictions could influence steps lawmakers take before adjourning this years regular session in about a month. I think it is time that we can start moving forward on easing some of the restrictions that are in place, want to make sure we do it the right way and in the most appropriate way, Huston said. Pakistans decision to allow private imports of COVID-19 vaccines for sale on the open market has triggered concerns that the move could cause inequality and open the door to corruption. The country has already received Russian-developed Sputnik V vaccines for commercial sale, with local reports saying the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has fixed the prices for the two injections at about 8,449 rupees (roughly $55) -- a sum that many in Pakistan may be unable to afford. However, officials say that the prices mentioned in the media are not final, and they have defended the governments decision to allow such sales as an effort to give Pakistanis more choice while the country grapples with a sharp rise in coronavirus infections. The country of 220 million people is currently vaccinating frontline healthcare workers and citizens over the age of 60 free of charge using over 1 million Sinopharm doses donated by China. "Whats going on? Sputnik will cost $10 in India and $50-$100 in Pakistan," journalist Najam Sethi tweeted on March 23. "Why isnt the Government of Pakistan importing and distributing it free?," Sethi wrote, echoing similar comments posted on social media platforms. In a letter to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Transparency International Pakistan noted that in countries across the world governments "are procuring the vaccines and administering them to the citizens for free, and it is the states responsibility." 'Window Of Corruption' According to the anti-corruption watchdog, allowing for vaccines to be sold on the open market will open "a window of corruption" as the temptation will grow to sell government-procured vaccines to private hospitals at a sizable profit. DRAP official Akhtar Abbas told RFE/RL on March 23 that several private companies have been allowed to import the Russian vaccine and others produced by China's Sinopharm, CanSinoBIO, and AstraZeneca. Sajid Hussain, an official of the federal Health Ministry, said that the cabinet had yet to approve the prices. "No formal decision has been taken in this regard. It requires a comprehensive mechanism and it will need time," Hussain said. Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry defended the government's move to allow the private import of vaccines, saying it would enable people to "avoid waiting in long lines." "I dont understand all the criticism," he tweeted. Pakistani authorities have recorded more than 633,700 coronavirus cases and nearly 14,000 deaths, with 3,270 infections and 72 deaths reported in the past 24 hours. Khan and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this week and are now recovering under home isolation. Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 404 After teaming up with Netflix on her directorial debut Bruised, slated for release later this year, Halle Berry has joined Our Man From Jersey for the streaming service. Berry, 54, has signed on to star in the spy thriller alongside Mark Wahlberg, according to Variety. No director is in place for the project at this time, and it's unclear when or where filming may take place. New role: After teaming up with Netflix on her directorial debut Bruised, slated for release later this year, Halle Berry has joined Our Man From Jersey for the streaming service Co-star: Berry, 54, has signed on to star in the spy thriller alongside Mark Wahlberg, according to Variety While no details about Berry and Wahlberg's characters were given, the story is described as, 'a blue collar James Bond.' Wahlberg will also serve as a producer alongside his longtime producing partner Steven Levinson, following their successful Netflix movie Spenser Confidential. Designated Survivor creator David Guggenheim wrote the screenplay, which is based on an idea by Levinson. Story: While no details about Berry and Wahlberg's characters were given, the story is described as, 'a blue collar James Bond' Berry is no stranger to the spy game, having played Jinx in the 2002 James Bond movie Die Another Day, alongside Pierce Brosnan. She has been focusing on action-centric fair over the past few years, with roles in Kidnap, Kingsman: The Golden Circle and John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. She also stars in her directorial debut, Bruised, as Jackie Justice, a disgraced MMA star who tries to revive her relationship with her son, and her career at once. Bond Girl: Berry is no stranger to the spy game, having played Jinx in the 2002 James Bond movie Die Another Day, alongside Pierce Brosnan She also has the big-budget outer space thriller Moonfall from director Roland Emmerich, also starring Patrick Wilson, Michael Pena and Donald Sutherland. The project follows a space crew travels to the moon after it's struck by an asteroid and is sent on a collision course with Earth, currently in post-production. She also stars in The Mothership, playing a woman whose husband disappeared a year earlier, and finds a strange alien object underneath their home. Coming soon: She also has the big-budget outer space thriller Moonfall from director Roland Emmerich, also starring Patrick Wilson, Michael Pena and Donald Sutherland Wahlberg will next be seen on the big screen in Infinite from director Antoine Fuqua, in theaters September 24, starring Dylan O'Brien and Chiwetel Ejiofor. He also stars in Uncharted, alongside Tom Holland, based on the hit video game franchise, arriving February 11, 2022. He also stars in Joe Bell, based on the true story of a working class father who embarked on a solo walk across the United States on an anti-bullying campaign after his son was bullied for being gay. Coming soon: Wahlberg will next be seen on the big screen in Joe Bell, based on the true story of a working class father who embarked on a solo walk across the United States on an anti-bullying campaign after his son was bullied for being gay U.S. health officials called the results of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine trial into question early Tuesday, saying the company may have used outdated data that could have changed its conclusion about the efficacy of the vaccine. On Monday morning, AstraZeneca had announced that its vaccine was 79 percent effective in protecting against COVID-19 infection in the large U.S. clinical trial. But in a statement released shortly after midnight on Monday, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said the Data and Safety Monitoring Board, a panel of medical experts under the National Institutes of Health that has been overseeing AstraZeneca's U.S. trial, had notified government agencies and AstraZeneca late Monday that it was "concerned" by information the company had released. The monitoring board said the company may have relied on "outdated information" that "may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data," the NIAID statement said. NIAID urged AstraZeneca to work with the monitoring board "to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible." AstraZeneca did not return a request for comment early Tuesday, The New York Times reported. Dr. Eric Topol, a clinical trials expert at Scripps Research in San Diego, said it was "highly irregular" to see such a public display of friction between a monitoring board and a study sponsor. "I've never seen anything like this," he told the Times after the institute's statement was released. "It's so, so troubling." The results announced Monday seemed to boost global confidence in the vaccine, which was shaken earlier this month when more than a dozen countries, mostly in Europe, temporarily suspended the shot's use over worrying reports of rare cases of blood clots. Most of those countries returned to using the AstraZeneca vaccine late last week, after the European Medicines Agency, which regulates drugs in the European Union, analyzed the data and pronounced the vaccine safe and effective. AstraZeneca's relationship with U.S. authorities has been tense since last year, when senior health officials believed the company was not being forthright about the design of its clinical trials, its results and safety issues, the Times reported. That U.S. trial, which involved more than 32,000 participants, was the largest test of its kind for the shot. The company has said it will provide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with a more comprehensive, recent set of data than what it disclosed on Monday, the Times reported. The company's efforts might not make much difference in the United States, where the vaccine is not yet authorized and is unlikely to become available before May, the Times said. By then, there will be enough vaccine doses for all of the nation's adults from the three vaccines that have already been authorized: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Already approved in more than 70 countries, the AstraZeneca vaccine has been given to millions of people worldwide, including more than 17 million in Britain and the European Union, the Times reported. "It's clear more questions have been raised about the AstraZeneca vaccine than about any of the other vaccines which are now authorized in the U.S.," Dr. Arnold Monto, acting chair of the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, which authorizes all vaccines in the United States, told CNN on Monday. "It does feel different, and it felt different even before the whole blood clot kerfuffle," Dr. William Schaffner, a liaison member of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, told CNN. As for reports on rare clotting issues, "It's hard to unring that bell," Dr. Paul Offit, a member of the FDA advisory committee told CNN. "Once people are scared, it's hard to unscare them." Biden Met 100 million vaccinations goal early President Joe Biden's promise of 100 million vaccinations in the first 100 days of his administration was met Friday, more than 40 days ahead of schedule. "I'm proud to announce that tomorrow, 58 days into our administration, we will have met our goal," Biden said last Thursday during a speech on the state of the country's vaccination campaign. He added that he would unveil a new vaccination target this week, with the United States expecting to have enough of the three currently authorized vaccines to cover the entire adult population by May 1, the Associated Press reported. Ahead of Biden's remarks, the White House announced it was finalizing plans to send a combined 4 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico and Canada in its first export of surplus shots, the AP reported. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the details of the "loan" were still being worked out, but 2.5 million doses would go to Mexico and 1.5 million would be sent to Canada. "Our first priority remains vaccinating the U.S. population," Psaki told reporters. But she added that "ensuring our neighbors can contain the virus is a mission critical step, [and] is mission critical to ending the pandemic." The 100 million-dose goal was first announced on Dec. 8, days before the United States had even one authorized vaccine for COVID-19, let alone three. By the time Biden was inaugurated on Jan. 20, 20 million shots had been given at a rate of about 1 million per day, the AP reported. Now, an average of about 2.2 million doses each day are going into the arms of Americans. That pace will likely jump later this month with an expected surge in vaccine supply, the AP said. Biden has moved to speed deliveries of vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, as well as to expand the number of places to get shots and people who can administer them, the AP reported. As of Tuesday, nearly 82.8 million Americans had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while nearly 45 million had gotten their second shot. A global scourge By Tuesday, the U.S. coronavirus case count passed 29.8 million while the death toll passed 542,500, according to a Times tally. On Tuesday, the top five states for coronavirus infections were: California with over 3.6 million cases; Texas with more than 2.7 million cases; Florida with over 2 million cases; New York with nearly 1.8 million cases; and Illinois with over 1.2 million cases. Curbing the spread of the coronavirus in the rest of the world remains challenging. In Brazil, the coronavirus case count was over 12 million by Tuesday, with more than 295,000 deaths, a Johns Hopkins University tally showed. India had nearly 11.7 million cases and 0ver 160,000 deaths as of Monday, the Hopkins tally showed. Worldwide, the number of reported infections passed 123.7 million on Tuesday, with over 2.7 million deaths recorded, according to the Hopkins tally. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus. Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. CHERRY HILL, N.J., March 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, today announced the launch of the TD Double Up credit card, featuring a valuable 2% cash back rewards program. Double Up credit card holders can earn 1% cash back on purchases, regardless of category, and an additional 1% cash back when rewards are redeemed into an eligible TD deposit account. TD's new card offering comes amid shifts in consumer spending habits in response to COVID-19, with research confirming that savvy spenders are charging more on their credit cards in an effort to optimize reward programs. According to TD Bank's annual Consumer Spending Index, which gauges shifts in spending behaviors and credit usage of Americans, nearly half of all respondents (49%) view rewards in the form of cash back or points as the most valuable credit card benefit. "It's clear that maximizing credit card rewards is a priority for consumers today," said Paramita Pal, Head of U.S. Bankcard at TD Bank. "With the Double Up credit card, TD aims to provide our customers with a very competitive earn rate and the ability to build rewards on various purchases." The Double Up credit card has no annual fee as well as no limit, caps or expiration dates when redeeming rewards. New Double Up card customers will receive a $75 statement credit when they spend $500 in the first 90 days. Small charges can add up to big rewards COVID-19 has led many consumers to re-evaluate how they spend and approach credit card usage. About a quarter (23%) of card holders said they're spending more on their credit cards now, the primary reason being to earn rewards. Nearly half (48%) of respondents said their credit card is their primary method for making day-to-day purchases and those purchases can add up to big rewards. "According to the survey, the average American spends about $800 on their credit card each month," said Pal. "For a customer earning a combined 2% back when they spend and redeem into their TD account, this equates to nearly $200 each year in rewards. Cash back rewards allow consumers to use this additional money how they want or need to, whether it's splurging on a nice meal out, covering a utility bill or adding to savings." Wheels down With rewards in the forefront, Americans in greater numbers are finding financial products that best match their spending habits. Nearly one in five consumers (17%) applied for a new credit card during the pandemic. And within this segment, more than a third (39%) did so because they wanted a different rewards program as spending habits shifted. Millennials are particularly focused on maximizing their rewards. Sixty-two percent of those with a travel rewards card said they changed or wanted to change their rewards program with travel curtailed during the pandemic. Of those, 37% thought they would be better served with cash back rather than miles or travel points. The money's in the bank Many consumers surveyed recognized the benefits of a banking relationship when selecting a credit card. In fact, 60% of survey respondents said it is at least 'somewhat important' to have a credit card with their primary bank. Thirty-six percent of this group said it was because they earn higher rewards or benefits thanks to that relationship, and 42% responded it's because they find it easier. Additionally, more than a third of rewards card holders (36%) said they prefer to redeem their rewards as a check or cash, or via direct deposit into their linked checking account. TD Double Up credit card customers can seamlessly redeem their rewards by direct deposit into their eligible account, making it easy to secure double cash back. "Customers with a TD deposit account get 'double' the cash back rewards, as the card name implies. When developing the card, we considered what today's customer appreciates value, convenience, simplicity. Double Up satisfies all three of those areas, especially with our new digital experience," said Pal. "And it was important to extend this value proposition to small business customers looking for a valuable credit card as well, so our Business Solutions card has been relaunched to offer the new 2% cash back rewards program." Methodology MARU/Matchbox conducted an online survey with 996 respondents in the U.S. and of age 18 and above between Feb. 3 and Feb. 8, 2021. About MARU/Matchbox MARU/Matchbox is a professional services firm dedicated to improving its clients' business outcomes. It delivers its services through teams of sector-specific research consultants specializing in the use of Insight Community and Voice of Market technology. About TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 9.5 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,220 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.td.com/us. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US and www.twitter.com/TDNews_US. TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol "TD". To learn more, visit www.td.com/us. SOURCE TD Bank Related Links http://www.TDBank.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 11:22:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in publicly received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday ahead of his overseas trip scheduled in June. Moon was given the first jab of the full two-dose vaccine, developed by the British-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca and Oxford University, at a public health center in central Seoul, according to the presidential Blue House. - - - - SEOUL -- South Korea reported 346 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Monday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 99,421. The daily caseload was down from 415 in the previous day, falling below 400 in seven days. - - - - RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil on Monday said 1,383 more people died from the novel coronavirus disease in the previous 24 hours, raising the national death toll to 295,425. According to the Ministry of Health, tests detected 49,293 new cases, bringing the nationwide count to 12,047,526. - - - - QUITO -- Ecuador on Monday reported a total of 312,851 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease and 11,664 deaths from the virus since the onset of the outbreak in February 2020. According to the Ministry of Public Health, 253 new cases of infection and 27 more deaths were registered in the previous 24 hours. - - - - ANKARA -- Turkey on Monday reported 22,216 new COVID-19 cases, including 981 symptomatic patients, raising the total number in the country to 3,035,338, according to its health ministry. The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 117 to 30,178, while the total recoveries climbed to 2,844,681 after 19,494 more cases recovered in the last 24 hours. - - - - RABAT -- Morocco announced on Monday 125 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total tally in the North African country to 491,834. The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco increased to 479,557 after 305 more were added. Enditem A Laois Offaly TD is backing Sinn Fein's proposal to keep public jobs and money within counties in the midlands and other regions. Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley says that the midlands is one of the most deprived areas in Ireland. He is asking county councils and semi-state companies to shop local by engaging local contractors for jobs to create a "circular economy". This Tuesday March 23 Deputy Stanley launched Sinn Feins proposals for Community Wealth Building (CWB), described by him as a powerful model to assist rural economic development. We have examined this and I firmly believe that it can be utilised here in the midlands to boost employment. CWB seeks to use existing local and regional resources along with the spend by national and local Government public bodies to strengthen the local economy and regions. The model of CWB has proved to be very successful in locations such as Preston in England, North Ayrshire in Scotland and Cleveland in the United States. These proposals are practical and workable. The reality is that the current economic model in Ireland isnt meeting the needs of many workers, families and communities across the midlands, Dep Stanley said. He points to CSO data that shows the region to be one of the most deprived in Ireland with 1 in 5 unable to afford basic living requirements. He says that 20% of people live in deprivation and disposable income per person is 15% lower in the midlands compared to the national average. We need to be bold in setting out a new approach to the economy where we have balanced economic development and wealth is retained in our towns and counties rather than being extracted, he said. The CWB proposal aims to retain as much wealth as possible through local supply chains and targeted public procurement contracts for local businesses. Keeping procurement contracts for SMEs in the locality to create a circular economy where wealth can be retained, and life can be brought back to local towns. Key local bodies, like Bord na Mona and Laois and Offaly County Councils, are central to the model, they have the resources and facilities to create local employment and set a standard for high quality, sustainable jobs. Over 20,000 commuters leave Laois and Offaly for work each day, 8,692 from Offaly and 11,477 from Laois. By working with local business, providing procurement contracts, and encouraging key institutions to do likewise, we can create more quality jobs locally and improve peoples quality of life. Our proposal is about developing local assets and using the public bodies in such a way that wealth is added to our communities, not extracted. We believe that CWB has the potential to maximise the potential of Laois and Offaly, Deputy Stanley said. My priority is getting Chicago vaccinated and making sure that if we have providers who are not performing in ways that meet our efficiency equity and general goals around vaccination, they wont be vaccine providers for us right now, and I want to really keep the focus on making sure that we get vaccine to the parts of the city that need it most, Arwady said. And thats really where our priority is and where its going to remain. Interest in NSW flooding saw viewers flock to news bulletins and Breakfast TV yesterday. Seven News was #1 at 1.09m / 1.02m just ahead of Nine News (1.07m / 1.02m). In other slots ABC News was also up at 728,000 as was 10 News First (423,000 / 285,000) with a political scoop to boot. There were also rises at Sunrise (289,000), and Today on 250,000 -its best figure in a long time. News Breakfast was 126,000 / 90,000 for ABC. Meanwhile Married at First Sight easily led at 1.07m, defeating 7:30 (682,000), Australian Story (642,000), Inside Chernobyl (567,000) and The Amazing Race Australia (532,000). A Four Corners story on Brittany Higgins was also up at 708,000 viewers then Media Watch (645,000), Under Investigation (558,000) and 9-1-1 (277,000). Nine network won Monday with 32.0%, Seven 25.5%, ABC 18.9%, 10 16.4% and SBS 7.2%. A Current Affair won its slot for Nine at 804,000 then Hot Seat 480,000 / 291,000. Home & Away was 581,000 for Seven then The Chase was 571,000 / 362,000. The Latest: Flood Update was 201,000 in Sydney. The Rookie was 174,000. The Drum pulled 196,000 and The Hunt for Gadaffis Billions was 187,000 on ABC. The Project managed 509,000 / 364,000 for 10. Hughesy had a big problem with just 199,000. Becky Lucas: Live at the Enmore Cafe was only 96,000. On SBS it was The Secret Life of Lighthouses (199,000), SBS World News 172,000 / 154,000, 24 Hours in Emergency (142,000), The Story of Songs (139,000) and Mastermind (75,000). NCIS topped multichannels at 171,000. OzTAM Overnights: Monday 22 March 2021 Related New Delhi, March 23 : Controversial IPS Officer Amitabh Thakur has been given premature retirement from his service after terming him "not fit" for service. Once suspended by Uttar Pradesh government in 2015 after he accused Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav of "threatening" him, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on March 17 ordered him to retire. The order copy was sent to the Uttar Pradesh government where Thakur was currently posted as an Inspector General of Police. A 1992-batch IPS, Thakur was given retirement orders even before the completion of his service with immediate effect in the public interest. "In the public interest, Amitabh Thakur is being given premature retirement before completion of his service with immediate effect," the Home Ministry order said. As per the order, Thakur was "not found fit to be retained for the remaining tenure of his service". Thakur took to Twitter to inform that he has been given a compulsory retirement by the Home Ministry. Thakur further shared that he had just received the VRS order, stating that the government no longer needs his services and hence given a premature retirement. In 2017, Thakur had urged the Centre to dispose of his request for change of cadre, saying the "bias" against him does not exist anymore following the Samajwadi Party's rout in the polls. Thakur had earlier sent an application to the Ministry of Home Affairs for a change of cadre from Uttar Pradesh to any other state, citing a threat to his life. In a letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, he said: "I had sought cadre change in view of serious threat to my life and family after Mulayam Singh's phone call. Thakur was suspended on July 13, 2015, days after he had accused Mulayam Singh of threatening him. The state government had then initiated a vigilance inquiry against him. However, the Lucknow Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal had stayed the suspension of Thakur in April and ordered his reinstatement with full salary with effect from October 11, 2015. Thakur had urged the Centre to transfer him to some other state till the departmental inquiries against him got over, accusing some senior state government officials. In the Lok Sabha, members of the ruling party create a ruckus over recent events in Maharashtra. Due to the allegations made by former Mumbai Police Commissioner claiming that Maharashtra Home Minister ordered police to recover Rs 100 crore per month, the House was adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Monday. Also, the ATS has arrested two people claiming to have solved the Mansukh Hiren death case and has made Sachin Vaze the main accused in this case. The Maharashtra ATS has also revealed that the case was a ruse. On Monday, members of the ruling party raised a ruckus in the Rajya Sabha over recent events in Maharashtra, forcing the houses proceedings to be adjourned until 12.30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Even when no time left several members of the ruling party attempted to raise this question. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, however, refused to allow it. Last week, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh wrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, alleging that Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had instructed police officers to recover Rs 100 crore per month. A political storm erupted in the state as a result of this letter. BJP representatives in the Lok Sabha on Monday raised the issue of allegations made by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh against the state Home Minister, demanding an investigation from central agencies as well as the resignation of Maharashtras Chief Minister and Home Minister. The BJP accused Maharashtras Chief Minister of staying quiet despite the fact that it was a very serious matter, while the Shiv Sena and Congress accused the Centre of attempting to destabilize the Maharashtra government. Also Read: Mansukh Hiren death case: Maha BJP protests against Anil Deshmukh amid sacked cop Param Bir Singhs claims According to ATS, Vinayak Shinde, who is still on bail after being found guilty in the Lakhan Bhaiya fake encounter, has been arrested. A gambler named Naresh Gore has also been arrested by the ATS. Sachin Vaze tried to prove that when Mansukh Hiren died, he was raiding a bar in Mumbais Dongri area. The Maharashtra ATS revealed with the aid of major technical experts that the case was actually a plot that involved WhatsApp calls and fake Tawde profiles. The ATS was able to track down the person who made the last WhatsApp call to Hiren. During investigation it is found that more than ten people were present at the time Mansukh Hiren was killed. Some of whom may have been police officers. As per reports, Vinayak Shinde was also present. The curtain is now being pulled back on this whole incident. The manner in which this whole scandal was carried out has come to light, but it remains to be seen for what reason it was carried out. Also Read: European Nations Signal Opposition Against Chinas Intimidation in South China Sea Tackling Racism and the Bible In a year of exploding racial tension, Dr. Harold Felder is finding himself in more conversations about the very thing he studied for his Doctorate of Ministry project at Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES) five years ago: racism and the Bible. Does the Bible condone slavery? Does it teach that black people are inferior? Those are questions he hears all the timeand hes made it his personal mission to address them head on. Just this year, hes spoken at a couple of churches on this topic. Some people dont even want to hear about Christianity because they associate Christianity with slavery and with racism. My emphasis has been to tear down those walls, he said. For some, the word apologetics might bring to mind discussions on Gods existence and the resurrection. While those are critical, apologetics also has a place in our everyday interactions on social topics, such as race and slavery. One of the things you learn at SES is that your view of God affects everything else in your life, Harold said. Not only is Christianity not supportive of slavery, but it was the tenets of Christianity that are responsible for the abolition of slavery worldwide. It wasnt until Christianity came along and promoted this idea of man being made in the image of God that sparked the abolition movement. Harold wears many hatsa senior IT analyst by day, as well as the founder of Giving An Answer ministry in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also heads Christian education at his church and serves as dean of his churchs Bible Institute. Its in that last role that hes teaching a class this semester called Urban Apologetics. The curriculum needs to reflect the people we are trying to reach, but its based on the fundamentals that I learned at SES, he said. As an atheist-turned-Christian, Harold speaks to people not only about physical freedom in terms of slavery, but about spiritual freedom as well. Growing up, Harold believed in God, but gave up his faith when he joined the Navy at 21. I knew that the idea of God would interfere with the way I wanted to live my life, he said, describing himself as a foul-mouthed drinker who chased women. It wasnt until a young woman led him to Christ later on that his eyes were opened to the grip sin had on him. Harold eventually quit his job as a NASA software engineer to study under Dr. Norm Geisler at SES and learn how to respond to some of todays tough questions. Years later, he uses his SES education to show others that it is incompatible to support Christian values while also embracing cultural values that go against your faith. With ongoing racial issues, as well as the recent contentious election, Harold is talking to many in his circle about letting Gods Wordnot emotions or misleading mediabe their guide. If we focus on emotions, we can be led astray by anyone who is eloquent enough to pull on our emotional heartstrings, he said. Harold also wrote The African American Guide to the Bible that presents a comprehensive biblical view of topics of interest to African Americans and clarifies racial issues for white people. More From Harold: Listen to his talk on slavery and the Bible from the 2018 National Conference on Christian Apologetics here. Learn More About SES: Take a moment right now to download our FREE ebook Three Reasons a Seminary Education May Be Right for You. Regardless of your particular vocation or ministry context, sound apologetics that is undergirded with good philosophy and theology is a must for doing the heavy lifting of removing the hurdles that prohibit many in our post-Christian society from considering the Gospel. That is the integrated training you will find at SES. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Hartford said its board of directors has unanimously rejected Chubb Limited's unsolicited proposal to acquire the company. The Board determined that entering into discussions regarding a strategic transaction would not be in the best interests of the company and its shareholders. The board of Hartford reaffirmed its commitment in the continued execution of the company's strategic business plan. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (HIG) operates through its subsidiaries under the brand name, The Hartford, and is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Gulf Medical University has signed an MoU with a leading imaging centre in UAE & Middle East, International Radiology Center (IRC) bringing academia, healthcare abd research close to each other. International Radiology Centre (IRC) Represented By Prof. Ahmed El-Serafi Founder & CEO-IRC, signed agreement with Gulf Medical University represented by Prof. Hossam Hamdy Chancellor of Gulf Medical University. The Institutes joined hands to collaborate for development and improvement of education and training in Imaging Sciences in the UAE, Provide students with training opportunities at IRC. Both of them will collaborate in developing, offering and certification for continuous professional development in imaging sciences. This includes short term courses, workshops, diplomas and post graduate studies in Imaging Sciences. Prof Hamdy mentioned: This is an important collaboration which will develop the Imaging Sciences in the UAE as we share the same vision and values. Students from Gulf Medical University will have better practical and clinical experience. The students also will be exposed to latest developments in radiology services and new technologies which help them in their career growth. We are happy have such a partner and collaborate and support them. Prof El Serafi said: This is an excellent strategic partnership which contribute in the growth of quality radiology services in the UAE and the general community will benefit from the special screening services offered by IRC. -- Tradearabia News Service The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has decided to close all schools for students up to class 8 from March 24 till March 31 in the wake of steadily rising coronavirus cases in the state. The decision was taken by the UP administration after reviewing the COVID situation. Meanwhile, all other educational institutions where exams are not underway will remain shut from March 25 to March 31, according to the state government. Also Read: One year of lockdown live updates: Second wave grips India The decision was taken during a high-level meeting of UP Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath with other state officials. Several states have ordered the closure of schools and colleges after witnessing a spike in coronavirus daily cases. The Yogi Adityanath government had issued guidelines in February for reopening of schools in UP for classes 6 to 8 from February and from March 1 for students of classes 1 to 5. The classes were being taken only twice a week with 50 per cent of the students permitted to attend them, according to the Basic Education Department in the state. Students were also being given mid-day meals while ensuring preventive measures in schools. Also Read: COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh: Section 144 extended till May 10 in Ghaziabad "It will be mandatory for all schools to get a written consent letter from parents to send their students for attending classes. Parents will also give complete information about the health status of students and about their national and international travel if any," read the guidelines issued by the state government. Students were also given the option to study online if they wanted to study from home. As things stand, UP has 3,036 active COVID-19 cases, 8,759 deaths, and 5,95,743 recoveries from the disease, as per the Union Health Ministry. UP witnessed a single-day spike of more than 500 coronavirus cases (542) on Monday, March 22, taking the state's tally to 608,076. One death in Kanpur pushed UP's death toll to 8,760. Asian American leaders from major Texas cities gathered virtually on Tuesday to denounce the surge in hate crimes targeting their communities and announce steps to combat the violence. Hate incidents and crimes against the Asian American Pacific Islander population have surged in the last year, with nearly 3,800 incidents reported across the country, according to Stop AAPI Hate. The community has five concrete goals to tackle the problem, said Channy Soeur, owner of an Austin engineering firm and past president of the Network of Asian-American Organizations. These include calling on local and state government to create public safety initiatives; launching a public awareness campaign to combat anti-Asian American sentiment; encouraging people to donate or volunteer with Asian American Pacific Islander groups to empower them; pushing for historical discrimination to be taught in schools; and requesting Gov. Greg Abbott establish a special commission to prevent and combat hate crimes in Texas. The only way that we can eliminate this type of environment, this type of hate, is for all of us to get together, said Jimmy Ferguson of the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce. Now Playing: Video: Laura Duclos While Asian-owned businesses have shuttered because of the pandemic, some businesses are struggling because their employees are frightened to come to work due to the rise in hateful acts, Ferguson said. Sydney Dao of the Asian Chamber of Commerce in Houston said the local business community condemns the hateful acts and shares in the grief and anger stemming from the deaths in Atlanta. She thanked Houston officials for elevating the police presence in concerned neighborhoods and encouraged people to support Asian-owned businesses. Though Houston has recorded no uptick in hate crimes against Asian Americans, law enforcement agencies said they will step up patrols in neighborhoods fearful for their safety following last weeks mass shooting in Atlanta. Police and community leaders are working to organize a town hall meeting. And regardless of a lack of reported violence, stories of racial harassment and verbal assaults against AAPI Houstonians are abundant. Houston-area state Rep. Gene Wu last week alongside Reps. Hubert Vo and Angie Chen Button introduced a legislative resolution that would strongly condemn racism against the AAPI population and call on law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute hate crimes targeting the community. National policy efforts are underway too. President Joe Biden last week encouraged legislators to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, a bill first introduced last summer by New York Rep. Grace Meng. The legislation would require the Department of Justice to assign an employee to facilitate an expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes. Texas ranked fourth in the number of reported hate incidents, according to Stop AAPI Hate. Last March, a 19-year-old stabbed a father and his two young children at Sams Club in Midland because he thought they were Chinese and spreading the novel coronavirus, according to news reports. The incident ignited fear among the Texas AAPI community, and was followed by violent attacks against Asian American elders in New York and California. Last week, a gunman in Atlanta killed eight people at three spas, six of them Asian women, in a mass shooting that reignited widespread concern and launched efforts to combat the crisis. Also last week, vandals defaced a ramen noodle shop in San Antonio, scrawling a death threat and ethnic slurs on the property in red spray paint. The assailants targeted Noodle Tree days after the shops Vietnamese owner spoke out against the states rollback of pandemic precautions. An Asian-owned bakery in Austin was harassed after the shop was featured in a viral article, said Robert Lee, a real estate CEO and member of the Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce. The recent hate incidents bring up painful memories of his middle school years in Alabama during the movement to integrate schools, Lee said. Neither white nor black, he faced unique challenges. His parents, Chinese and Taiwanese immigrants, cautioned him to stay silent, not cause trouble and speak only English, he said. This story spans generations, Lee said. Hopefully breaking this silence and coming forth with our shared experience, we can present and forge a new beginning. anna.bauman@chron.com UPDATE: Davion Williams, 16, of Easton, was arraigned March 25 before District Judge Richard Yetter III on felony robbery and aggravated assault charges, plus related counts, and sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of 10% of $30,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled April 5 before Yetter to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the charges toward trial in county court. ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A 16-year-old from Easton is being sought as the third person involved in an armed robbery Oct. 3 in the West Ward in which a shot was fired and a man was struck in the head with a gun, city police report in court papers. Police ask anyone who might know the whereabouts of Davion Williams, of the 1200 block of Lehigh Street, to call 9-1-1. He is described as Black, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 230 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, court papers say. Jihad Sayfullah-Ali Range, of the 1600 block of Ferry Street in Wilson Borough, and Deyante Etienne, of the 1100 block of Washington Street in Easton, have already been charged in the robbery in a home in the 300 block of North 11th Street, Lt. Matthew Gerould confirmed. Court papers say that Range made an arrangement to buy $1,100 in drugs -- including Ecstasy, Xanax, marijuana and Vicodin -- from a woman who lived in that block of North 11th and who had given him a lift on Oct. 1 to discuss the deal. When Range arrived about 2 a.m. Oct. 3, Williams and Etienne were with him and all three pointed handguns at the woman and a man who was there with her, police said the woman told them. The men grabbed the drugs, and took cash, a handgun and two cellphones from the man, police said. A shot was fired at the man but missed before he was struck in the head with a gun, police said. The woman, who provided police with text and Snapchat messages with Range about the deal, picked out Range from a photo lineup, and Range, speaking to police last Wednesday, picked out Williams photo from a lineup, court papers say. Investigators also located two other Snapchat participants with Range in a post just after the robbery, court papers say. One of these was identified as Williams, police said. Range was arrested Oct. 8, and Etienne was taken into custody in early December after someone fired shots at his home, police said. Range is also charged in a forgery case out of Bethlehem Township, records show. A warrant was sworn out Tuesday charging Williams as an adult with two felony counts of robbery with the threat of injury, two felony counts of aggravated assault, one count of conspiracy and two related counts, records show. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a subscription. Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa was identified by authorities Tuesday as the gunman who opened fire at a King Soopers grocery store in Colorado, killing 10 people, including a Boulder police officer. The name of the 21-year-old suspect, who is in custody, was released at a news conference by Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold, who did not disclose a possible motive for Monday's bloodshed. A search of the suspect's suburban Denver home turned up other weapons, a senior law enforcement source said Tuesday. The weapon used in the attack was an AR-15-style pistol modified with an arm brace, according to the source. Authorities believe Alissa was the only person involved and that there was no additional threat to the community. The shooter has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and one charge of attempted murder, according to his arrest warrant. The warrant described Alissa as being armed with either an assault rifle or "black AR-15" and wearing a "tactical" or "armored" vest. The suspect had "removed all of his clothing and was dressed only in shorts" when he was taken into custody, the affidavit said. Outside the store, the document said, Alissa wouldn't tell police if there were other suspects. Using law enforcement databases, the affidavit said, investigators determined Alissa had purchased a Ruger AR556 pistol on March 16. Michael Dougherty, Boulder County District Attorney, said Alissa is a resident of Arvada, Colorado, who has "lived most of his life in the United States." Brother says he believes suspect was 'paranoid' Alissa, whose family emigrated from Syria, may have been suffering from mental illness, according to his 34-year-old brother, Ali Aliwi Alissa. The brother told CNN Tuesday that in high school bullies made fun of Alissa's name and for being Muslim and that may have contributed to him becoming "anti-social." Alissa had become increasingly "paranoid" around 2014, believing he was being followed and chased, according to his brother. At one point, the young man covered the camera on his computer with duct tape so he could not be seen, said the brother, who lives with Alissa. "He always suspected someone was behind him, someone was chasing him," Ali Alissa said. "We kept a close eye on him when he was in high school. He would say, 'Someone is chasing me, someone is investigating me.' And we're like, 'Come on man. There's nothing.' ... He was just closing into himself," the brother added. Alissa was not very political or particularly religious, according to his brother, who said he never heard the young man threaten to use violence. "The entire thing surprised me," Ali Alissa said of the Monday's shootings. "I never ever would have thought he would do such a thing. I never thought he would kill. I still can't believe it. I am really sad for the lives that he wasted, and I feel sorry for all those families ... We lost a brother even if he is the killer." Aside from a knife he used for cooking, Ali Alissa said he did not known his brother to carry a firearm or any other weapon. Ali Alissa confirmed that the handcuffed man seen in footage bleeding from his leg and being led away from the shooting scene was his brother. Ali Alissa said he doesn't know why his brother went to King Soopers on Monday. Police interrogated him and another brother, according to Ali Alissa, who said authorities searched their home in the predawn hours on Tuesday. "They searched every corner," he said, "every piece of clothing." The family emigrated from Syria in 2002, the brother said. They lived in the Arvada area since 2014. Facebook has shut down Facebook and Instagram accounts belonging to the suspect, a company spokesperson said Tuesday. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, who was born on April 17, 1999, attended Arvada West High School starting in March 2015 until he graduated in May 2018, according to Jeffco Public Schools. The suspect has made statements to investigators, Dougherty said. "We're collecting those statements now and we'll be providing those in the weeks ahead," Dougherty said. Maris said the suspect was wounded in the leg during "an exchange of gunfire." The gunman was taken into custody about 3:30 p.m. Monday and transported to a hospital, where he was in stable condition. He was booked into Boulder County Jail early Tuesday afternoon, according to the jail's records. The massacre at the King Soopers store occurred less than a week after shootings at three spas in the Atlanta area left eight people dead. In the last week in the US, there have been at least seven shootings in which at least four people were injured or killed. The slain officer, 51-year-old Eric Talley, was the first to respond to the scene, according to Herold. Talley had joined the Boulder police force in 2010, she said. The victims were ordinary Coloradans going about their daily lives -- picking up groceries, waiting in line for a coronavirus vaccine. They ranged from 20 to 65 years old. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea has taken a swipe at the Ghana Education Service for its dramatic volte-face after directing Achimota school to admit two Rastafarian students. The management of Achimota school refused the two students opportunity to be enrolled on grounds that they haven't cut their dreadlocks, asking them to act according to the school rules. A parent of one of the students took the issue to Facebook and gingered discussions on social media. The Ghana Education Service (GES), taking note of the school's decision, ordered the management to accept the students with their dreadlocks but at a meeting with the students' parents and the school management on Monday, March 22, the GES rescinded its decision. The GES supported the Achimota school policy that the students must cut their dreadlocks before they go to the school. Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Nana Akomea slammed GES over their earlier directive to Achimota School to accept the students. To him, the GES undermined the authorities of the school. "If Achimota school has made a decision that the Ghana Education Service feels is wrong, they should have called them first and directed them to withdraw their decision. But if you give them order and it circulates in the media and everywhere that the Ghana Education Service has given Achimota school an order, then you have downplayed them and also undemined the authority of the school authorities including the students. So, the Ghana Education Service should exercise restraint before taking certain actions next time," he said. He advised the GES not to repeat their action and asked the Service to make standard rules for all public schools in the country. "Those rules should take into account our culture, religion and so forth, that gives us the Ghanaian identity . . . " Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video COVID-19 has robbed todays high school students of a typical carefree senior year, turning it into a nightmare of stress and virtual learning. But the advance placement art students of West Orange High School did not let their situation overwhelm them. Instead, they channeled their anxiety and frustration into art that reflects the turmoil of 2020. The West Orange Arts Council has posted the 2021 Virtual WOHS Student Exhibit on its website, showcasing works by 17 senior artists offering their perspective on such issues as trans peoples rights, the Black Lives Matter movement and what its like to be an artist during a global pandemic. The students look forward to sharing the work theyve created over the course of this unusual year of virtual learning, said AP Studio art teacher Heather Young. As over 80% plan to or are in the process of applying to higher learning with an art focus, this group show is a great way to enhance their online portfolios. WOHS Arts Program students are required to complete a one-semester foundation course in studio art before proceeding to advanced studies such as advanced drawing, design, painting, graphics and sculpture. After that, juniors and seniors may enroll in Advanced Placement Studio Art, producing portfolios for college admission and earning up to six advanced placement college credits. The show includes works by Clark Bunao, Adriana Garcia, Miguel Intal, Chris King, Tracy Kwok, Finnley Lewis, Alina Oser, Cristal Perez, Olivia Pinto, Jordan Roberts, Kyle Selim, Ella Silivanch, Julia Spellman, Mikayla Tilton, Elian Torres, Ilayda Vural and Dylan Wimberly. This exhibit marks the one-year anniversary of the pandemic lockdown. Last March, we no sooner installed the show at the WOAC gallery when the governor placed New Jersey in lockdown, WOAC board member and co-curator Lisa Suss recalled. While our doors were closed, we were working behind the scenes to stay connected and keep the arts alive, added WOAC chair Patricia Mitrano. The WOAC offered several virtual shows and two hybrid (virtual and in-person at the gallery) this past year, with more in store for 2021. The virtual exhibit is viewable at woarts.org. Additional events, including a virtual reception, are being planned. For more information visit woarts.org or email info@woarts.org. Send event information to events@starledger.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Silva is an executive president of 1199SEIU, the largest healthcare union in the country The Covid-19 pandemic has ravaged nursing homes over the last year and exposed dangerous weaknesses like insufficient hours of care for residents, low wages, high staff turnover, inadequate infection control, and profiteering that have plagued the industry for years. More than 54,000 nursing home residents have died nationwide, and tens of thousands of workers across the country contracted the virus. After hundreds of news reports about the tragedies, lawmakers are now more willing than ever to enact strong reforms. Thats why 1199SEIU launched a comprehensive campaign to reform the nursing home industry to protect residents and staff by requiring nursing homes to spend a minimum percentage of revenue on resident care, upgrade infection control procedures, and maintain minimum staffing levels in New York state. We need adequate hours of care for residents, a minimum percentage of revenue to be spent on direct patient care, tough standards for infection control, and new tools for accountability and oversight. Since the launch, several weeks ago, our workers have staged demonstrations at about 20 nursing homes across the state, Gov. Cuomo has proposed legislation similar to what we are seeking and the Legislature has begun to move these major reforms. Nursing home workers have also made hundreds of calls to legislators asking for action on these reforms. Not only are these reforms absolutely necessary, but they are also a matter of life and death for vulnerable seniors and for the dedicated workers who care for them including 65,000 members of 1199SEIU working in 343 nursing homes across New York state. While some nursing homes, including non-profits, provide high quality care, many are built on a financial model that skimps on the staff necessary to provide care and that must change immediately. New York is lagging behind other states in the fight to reform the industry. We rank 38th in the nation in hours of care, which leads to the inability to provide high quality care. Instead of hiring enough staff and providing adequate safety equipment, many nursing homes cut corners and use complex financial schemes to hide profits. In New Jersey, the Legislature has passed a series of reforms, including a requirement that 90% of revenue is spent on resident care and an $18-an-hour minimum wage for certified nursing assistants. Massachusetts also implemented similar reforms. These kinds of changes will have a dramatic effect on the lives of nursing home residents and the heroic women and men who feed them, tend to their needs, and often are their only connection to the outside world. These reforms would help workers like: Linda Silva, a certified nursing assistant in Rockaway Beach, Queens, was badly hurt during a crisis at her nursing home. She got to work 20 minutes early to grab something to eat but there was an emergency on a total care floor where patients care for themselves. I was running around to meet everyones needs but I started to feel faint, she says. I fell flat on my face in front of the residents. I suffered facial injuries, a fractured elbow, sprained wrist, and torn rotator cuff. I couldnt work for two months. Rosemary Harris, a licensed practical nurse at a nursing home in Cayuga County in Central New York. She has worked at the nursing home for seven years and conditions have only gotten worse. At one point she was the only nurse on a floor with 40 patients. Her only help was two certified nursing assistants. Its so emotionally and physically draining, she says. Working without enough staff, you really cant provide the care the residents deserve. Ann Marie Fran, a housekeeper in a nursing home in the Hudson Valley/Capital Region, has Covid-19, which she believes she contracted on the job, and spread to her two children, one of whom has diabetes. The state Health Department shut two floors of the home after many workers caught the virus. A supervisor told me to cut corners, she says. That meant we couldnt clean rooms every day and the home was not hygienic or safe for anyone. In order for real change to happen for nursing home workers and residents, we need lawmakers in Albany to immediately support these much-needed reforms. Dedicated nursing home workers like Linda, Rosemary, Ann Marie, and tens of thousands of others throughout New York state cannot afford to wait. Write us How to submit letters and commentary to Syracuse.com Earlier this year, she went on a weeks-long vacation with her children to her native country of Brazil. And on Monday, supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio looked all business, when she was seen heading out to grab lunch at the Brentwood Country Mart near her home in Brentwood, California. The runway star, 39, rocked a lovely grey linen blazer, worn over a white crop top that allowed a peek at her taught midriff. On Monday: Supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio looked all business, when she was seen heading out to grab lunch at the Brentwood Country Mart The mother of two paired this with belted black pinstripe slacks that ended above her ankles. Alessandra wore casual white New Balance sneakers. She added a touch of class with a neon green Louis Vuitton handbag, which she wore across her delicate frame. Strutting: The runway star, 39, rocked a lovely grey linen blazer, worn over a white crop top that allowed a peek at her taught midriff Ambrosio wore several layered necklaces around her neck, along with a wristwatch and some bracelets. She had on a pair of small hanging white earrings. The catwalker masked up with a dusty rose-colored face covering, and she wore an assortment of sunshades. Recently: Alessandra visited the Palm Springs area and documented some of the trip on her Instagram account The 5ft9in beauty had her straight brown hair back in a messy bun held together by a clip. Recently, Alessandra visited the Palm Springs area and documented some of the trip on her Instagram. On Friday, the runway star gave her 10.3million followers a glimpse at some of her spring break fun in the sun in the desert resort city, which is just over 100 miles from Los Angeles. She headed out for the weekend getaway with her two children: daughter Anja, 12, and son Noah, eight. On Friday: The runway star gave her 10.3million followers a glimpse at some of her spring break fun in the sun in the desert resort city Thiruvananthapuram, March 23 : With exactly two weeks to go for the Assembly polls in Kerala, the traditional rival fronts -- the ruling Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front -- are both hoping that they will be victorious on May 2. On Tuesday morning Vijayan, while addressing the media at Alappuzha, said by now he has covered a good number of districts and from the responses the signs are ominous. "From the response that we see, the people have realised that only the Left can bring about development. Likewise there has been a huge turnout of women in all places and it shows that the Left is able to come out with women friendly programmes and projects and the best example is the Kudumbasree (women's empowerment). The Congress-led UDF was trying to wreck this programme," said Vijayan. "Just see what's happening in the Congress party. The last week saw the president of the Women's wing of that party tonsuring her head and she is contesting as a rebel candidate. Yesterday we saw another very senior women Congress leader, the vice president of the party K.C.Rosakutty saying goodbye. The Congress is just unable to take care of the women and their needs," added Vijayan. "All these developments and more clearly indicate that the Left is all set to retain power and that's what the people in Kerala wish and desire," said Vijayan. But Leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala, who is also criss-crossing the state, on Tuesday told the media at Kasargode that despite the surveys by the Vijayan government, the people of Kerala are seeing everything. "We do not believe in these fake poll surveys, which are nothing but tailor made to suit the Left government. This is what Narendra Modi also did, but we all know that the people of Kerala are now wanting a change in governance and we have got the mood of the people, who just want this government to go," said Chennithala. Chennithala said that after not getting a positive response against these poll surveys from the chief electoral officer, here, they are now going to approach the Chief Election Commission in Delhi. "What's most surprising is that even before the names of candidates or the poll manifesto was released, poll survey results are being published. The Vijayan government has given out advertisements worth Rs 200 crore in the recent months and has been able to come out with these types of results. And even more surprising is that the same agency is the partner for a few surveys that came out," added Chennithala. At least three pre-poll surveys that have come out point out that the Left under Vijayan will retain power and that has irked the Congress-led UDF, which is certain that they will form the next government. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text 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. Yves here. Obviously Big Pharma killing people en masse in low income countries by not allowing them to acquire Covid vaccines is an atrocity, yet all too true to form. Not only are drugmakers refusing to issue waivers to allow low income countries to manufacture under a low-cost vaccine license or waiver, they are going to charge them more than EU member states to buy them! And the bean-counters may further hope that by having Covid not contained in large swathes of the population will lead to more new variants, increasing the need for a Covid vaccine shot annually. But there may be an upside to this dark picture. Vaccine apartheid will force poor countries to use other approaches, like preventatives and prophylactics: Vitamin D, zinc, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, aspirin, quercetin, progesteroneSo the rest of the world will find out, on their backs, what works and doesnt work. Hopefully enough countries will find good treatments so that the death and disease cost of experimentation as opposed to vaccination wont be as high as the authors fear. By Anis Chowdhury, Adjunct Professor at Western Sydney University and University of New South Wales (Australia), who held senior United Nations positions in New York and Bangkok and Jomo Kwame Sundaram, a former economics professor, who was United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, and received the Wassily Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought. Originally published at Inter Press Service At least 85 poor countries will not have significant access to coronavirus vaccines before 2023. Unfortunately, a years delay will cause an estimated 2.5 million avoidable deaths in low and lower-middle income countries. As the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General has put it, the world is at the brink of a catastrophic moral failure. Vaccine Apartheid The EU, US, UK, Switzerland, Canada and their allies continue to block the developing country proposal to temporarily suspend the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement to enable greatly increased, affordable supplies of COVID-19 vaccines, drugs, tests and equipment. Meanwhile, 6.4 billion of the 12.5 billion vaccine doses the main producers plan to produce in 2021 have already been pre-ordered, mostly by these countries, with 13% of the global population. Thirty two European and other rich countries also have options to order more, while Australia and Canada have already secured supplies enough for five times their populations. Poor countries, often charged higher prices, simply cannot compete. Big Pharma has also refused to join the voluntary knowledge sharing and patent pooling COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) initiative under WHO auspices. Thomas Cueni, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) Director General, snubbed the launch, claiming he was too busy. Pfizers CEO dismissed C-TAP as nonsense and dangerous, while the AstraZeneca CEO insisted, IP is a fundamental part of our industry. Such attitudes help explain some problems of alternative vaccine distribution arrangements such as COVAX. According to its own board, there is a high chance that COVAX could fail. Suppressing Vaccine Access Despite knowing that many developing countries have much idle capacity, Cueni falsely claims the waiver would do nothing to expand access to vaccines or to boost global manufacturing capacity, and would jeopardise innovation and vaccine research. Big Pharma claims manufacturing vaccines via compulsory licensing or a TRIPS waiver would undermine innovation and raise the risk of unsafe viruses. US Big Pharma representatives wrote to President Biden earlier this month claiming likewise Both Salk and Sabin made their polio vaccine discoveries patent-free, while many contemporary vaccine researchers are against Big Pharmas greedy conduct only rewarding IP holders regardless of the varied, but crucial contributions of others. Big Pharmas Price Gouging Vaccine companies require contract prices be kept secret. In return for discounts, the EU agreed to keep prices confidential. Nonetheless, some negotiated prices were inadvertently revealed, with a UNICEF chart listing prices from various sources. Reputedly the cheapest vaccine available, Oxford-Astra Zenecas is sold to EU members for around US$2 each. Although trials were done in South Africa, it still pays more than twice as much, while Uganda, even poorer, pays over four times as much! US negotiated bulk prices, for Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, are much higher, at US$15.2519.50 per dose in several contracts, yielding 6080% profit margins! Moderna will charge the rest of the world US$2537 per dose. Hypocrisy Quite understandably, most developed countries opposing temporary TRIPS suspension have provisions in their own IP laws to suspend patent protection in the national interest and for public health emergencies. Canada, Germany, France and others have recently strengthened their patent laws to issue compulsory licences for COVID-19 vaccines and drugs. European Council President Charles Michel announced that the EU could adopt urgent measures by invoking emergency provisions in its treaties. Similarly, in the US, 28 US Code sec. 1498 (a) allows the government to make or use any invention without the patentees permission. To handle emergencies, the 1977 UK Patents Act (section 55) allows the government to sell a patented product, including specific drugs, medicines or medical devices, without the patentees consent. When avian flu threatened early this century, the US was the only country in the world to issue compulsory licences to US manufacturers to produce Tamiflu to protect its entire population of over 300 million. The drugs were not used as the virus was not brought over either Pacific or Atlantic Oceans. Biden Must Act By helping developing countries expand vaccine manufacturing capacity and access existing capacity, US President Biden can earn much world appreciation overnight. US law and precedence enables such a unilateral initiative. The Bayh-Dole Act allows the US government to require the owner or exclusive licensee of a patent, created with federal funding, to grant a third party a licence to an invention. Moderna received about US$2.5 billion from Operation Warp Speed, which dispensed over US$10 billion. Moderna was founded in 2010 by university researchers with support from a venture capitalist. It has focused on mRNA technology, building on earlier work by University of Pennsylvania scientists with National Institutes for Health (NIH) funding. The vaccine developer also used technology for previous coronavirus vaccines developed by the NIH. The NIH also provided extensive logistical support, overseeing clinical trials for tens of thousands. Moderna has already announced it will not enforce its patents during the pandemic. Thus, POTUS has the needed leverage. The Bayh-Dole Act applies to Modernas vaccine, enabling the Biden administration to act independently and decisively against vaccine apartheid. Sharing Knowledge Crucial Developing countries not only need to have the right to produce vaccines, but also the requisite technical knowledge and information. Hence, the Biden administration should also support C-TAP, as recommended by Dr Anthony Fauci. When the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) was in similar trouble, the Obama administration came forward to put US-owned patents into the pool while encouraging drug companies to help improve developing countries access to medicines. President Biden knows that early US support was critical for the MPPs eventual success. It dramatically increased production and lowered prices of medicines for HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis C and other infectious diseases in developing countries. Hazleton, PA (18201) Today Cloudy early, then thunderstorms developing this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. EZDubai, a fully dedicated e-commerce free zone strategically located in the heart of Dubai Souths Logistics District, is welcoming UDA Express, one of the largest express companies in China, that will be expanding its operations in the region. UDA will be benefitting from EZDubais e-commerce, logistics facilities, bespoke business solutions, and reach to the high-growth markets of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. UDA Express, one of the worlds top freight-forwarding and logistics service providers, was founded in 1999. It controls 59 self-operated distribution centres in China across 3,835,000 square metres and more than 30,000 stores across 30 countries. Last year, UDA Express achieved a market share of 16.61% in the national express industry, whereas its market value reached $18.7 billion in the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. In his comments, Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of the Logistics District at Dubai South, said: We are pleased that UDA Express chose EZDubai as a home for its operations in the Mena region. In our pursuit to uncovering market trends, we work diligently to cater our solutions and facilities to meet our clients aspirations to allow them to develop and thrive in competitive markets. The setup of UDA Express will reiterate our prominent position in attracting international logistics and e-commerce players to conduct their businesses and boost the growth of the logistics sector locally and globally. Robert Zhang, President of UDA Express Middle East and North Africa, said: EZDubais strategic location, its advanced logistics facilities, optimal business solutions, and capabilities that cater to all sorts of companies will consolidate our objective of becoming the premier international logistics and express delivery service provider in the Middle East. We are confident that through our new expansion, the company will complete its networking in the Middle East and link up with our existing network in China, providing direct and efficient logistics solutions to customers in China and the Middle East. The 920,000 square-metre, purpose-built e-commerce hub is designed to attract the worlds leading e-commerce companies and create a benchmark with its infrastructure. The e-commerce zone, which was launched in January 2019 by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aims to promote the emirates position as a hub for global e-commerce. -- Tradearabia News Service U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo North Station apprehended 49 individuals during an alleged human smuggling attempt involving a commercial trailer at the Interstate 35 checkpoint. The event occurred early morning on March 22, when a commercial tractor-trailer approached the checkpoint. The vehicle was referred to secondary for further inspection. A search of the vehicle revealed 49 individuals. None of the individuals were wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). A trove of leaked Facebook moderator memos has revealed how users are allowed to call for the death of public figures and can praise mass murders based on company's own vague definitions of what constitutes a 'crime'. More than 300 pages of internal Facebook moderation guidelines in effect as of last December were obtained by the Guardian and outlined in a pair of articles published Tuesday. The documents exposed Facebook's high tolerance for abuse targeting public figures - a loosely-defined category that includes people who've received scant coverage in local news outlets or who have a large following on social media. The company's bullying and harassment policy states that public figures are permissible targets for types of abuse that are not tolerated against members of the general public 'because we want to allow discussion, which often includes critical commentary of people who are featured in the news'. The leaked documents also revealed that Facebook maintains its own list of 'recognized crimes' that moderators are instructed to use when evaluating content around the world instead of referring to national laws. They showed that users are allowed to praise mass murderers and 'violent non-state actors' in certain situations, particularly in parts of the world where national laws are set by repressive regimes and are deemed by Facebook to be in violation of human rights. The revelations in the documents drew outrage from experts who said they underscored how Facebook has been able to make its own rules for regulating content with little to no oversight from the people its policies affect. A trove of leaked Facebook moderator memos has revealed how users are allowed to call for the death of public figures and can praise mass murders based on company's own vague definitions of what constitutes a 'crime' (file photo) Facebook's bullying and harassment policy offers specific instructions for moderators to differentiate attacks on public figures versus private citizens, explaining that the latter group is afforded a higher degree of protection. 'For public figures, we remove attacks that are severe as well as certain attacks where the public figure is directly tagged in the post or comment,' the policy states. 'For private individuals, our protection goes further: we remove content that's meant to degrade or shame, including, for example, claims about someone's sexual activity.' The policy casts a wide net for who is considered a public figure - including politicians at all levels of government, journalists and users with more than 100,000 followers on any of their social media accounts. A person is also considered a public figure if they've been mentioned in the title, subtitle or preview of five or more news articles within the last two years - unless they are under the age of 13. While 'calls for death' targeting private individuals are not permitted under any circumstance, they are acceptable for public figures so long as that person is not 'purposefully exposed' to the call by being tagged in a post that includes it. Both private and public figures are protected under the policy from direct threats of severe physical harm and threats to release personal information. In an interview with the Guardian, Center for Countering Digital Hate Founder Imran Ahmed called the policy 'flabbergasting' and said it could put public figures' lives at risk. 'Highly visible abuse of public figures and celebrities acts as a warning a proverbial head on a pike to others,' Ahmed said. 'It is used by identity-based hate actors who target women and minorities to dissuade participation by the very groups that campaigners for tolerance and inclusion have worked so hard to bring into public life. 'Just because someone isn't tagged doesn't mean that the message isn't heard loud and clear.' Facebook defended its policy when approached by the Guardian, saying that it was aimed at promoting freedom of discussion and still offered adequate protections for public figures. 'We think it's important to allow critical discussion of politicians and other people in the public eye. But that doesn't mean we allow people to abuse or harass them on our apps,' a Facebook spokesperson told the newspaper. 'We remove hate speech and threats of serious harm no matter who the target is, and we're exploring more ways to protect public figures from harassment. 'We regularly consult with safety experts, human rights defenders, journalists and activists to get feedback on our policies and make sure they're in the right place.' A spokesperson for Facebook defended the revelations in the leaked documents when approached by the Guardian (file photo) A second Guardian article based on the same documents analyzed Facebook's curation of its own internal rule of law for moderators to follow worldwide. The newspaper said Facebook's list of 'recognized crimes' underscored how the company handles operations in countries with repressive regimes whose laws it deems to be incompatible with human rights. 'We only recognize crimes that cause physical, financial or mental injury to individual(s),' the guidelines state, listing theft, robbery and fraud, murder, vandalism and non-consensual sexual touching among the crimes it does consider legitimate. Among those not recognized - even though they might be in certain countries - are 'peaceful protests against governments', 'claims about sexuality' and 'discussing historical events/controversial subjects such as religion'. The guidelines reference specific regions of the world where exceptions can be made for content due to the political and cultural climate. For example in Myanmar, the Middle East and north Africa, moderators are told: 'Allow content that praises violent non-state actors, unless it contains an explicit reference to violence.' Facebook defines 'violent non-state actors' as designated militant groups engaged in civil wars that do not target civilians, according to the Guardian. In other cases Facebook's definition of what constitutes a crime is more stringent than local law. For example, the company does not allow for sales of marijuana in its Marketplace feature, even in areas where it is legal in the eyes of the government. Critics say that by adopting its own one-size-fits-all policy for what constitutes a crime, Facebook has shown a lack of understanding of the complexity of the places it reaches. 'One of the biggest problems is that Facebook has gone into every single country on the planet with no idea of the impact,' Wendy Via, the co-founder and president of the US-based Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, told the Guardian. Via described Facebook as having 'zero cultural competency' and said: 'You can't build secret rules if you can't understand the situation.' The leaked documents also revealed details about Facebook's rules for posts affiliated with the QAnon conspiracy movement. Facebook, which banned accounts associated with QAnon last fall, describes the group as a 'violence-inducing conspiracy network'. The group is listed among those that are not permitted because they meet the following criteria: 'Organized under a name, sign mission statement or symbol; AND promote theories that attribute violent or dehumanizing behavior to people or organizations that have been debunked by credible sources; AND have advocated for incidents of real-world violence to draw attention to or redress the supposed harms promoted in those debunked theories'. As it did with the harassment and bullying policy, Facebook defended its 'recognized crimes' list when approached by the Guardian. 'We maintain a list of crimes that we apply under these policies, but rather than breaking them down by country or region they are crimes that are recognized globally,' a spokesperson said. 'Since we're a global platform, we have a single set of policies about what we allow and apply them to every country and region. While we've made progress in our enforcement, we know there is always more to do.' The spokesperson added: 'We don't allow anyone to praise violent actions and we remove content that represents or supports the organisations we ban under our policies. 'We recognize that in conflict zones some violent non-state actors provide key services and negotiate with governments so we enable praise around those non-violent activities but do not allow praise for violence by these groups.' STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Its all gone to the dogs for Ramsey Orta. A federal judge has denied a request by Orta, who filmed Eric Garners fatal confrontation with police seven years ago in Tompkinsville, to modify his pretrial release to allow him to take his two pups outside for potty walks. Orta, 29, is currently free on $150,000 bond and on home detention as he awaits the disposition of a gun charge against him in Brooklyn federal court. In a letter to the court, defense lawyer Deirdre D. von Dornum said the two 8-months-old pooches have been largely confined to a bedroom which Orta and his younger brother share in a Manhattan apartment. As a result, the dogs have been forced to urinate and defecate in that same bedroom multiple times a day, wrote von Dornum. The lawyer asked that the terms of Ortas pre-trial release be modified to let him leave the house three times a day for 30 minutes to walk the canines. Under the terms of his release, Orta is confined to his home except for attorney visits, court appearances, medical treatment, work, school or training and other activities approved by Pre-Trial Services. Ramsey Orta, 29, the man who recorded Eric Garners death, had asked a federal judge to allow him to walk his dogs three times a day while he is on home detention awaiting the disposition of a gun case. Ortas mom and great-grandfather also live in the small apartment, the attorney said. However, they arent strong enough to control the two dogs on a walk, said von Dornum. Ortas sibling is a student and not home for much of the day, she said. However, District Court Judge Ann Donnelly wasnt sold. In rejecting Orta, she said the defendant hasnt complied with the conditions of his pretrial release, the Daily News reported. Orta has admitted to smoking marijuana while out on bail, said the report. In addition, a former fiancee called police in New Jersey after they got into a fight, although Orta wasnt arrested. In her letter to the court, Von Dornum noted that Pre-Trial Services opposed modifying Ortas release terms due to the difficulty in verifying that the dogs are actually being walked. The lawyer suggested a combination of location monitoring, which would allow Pre-Trial Services to verify Ortas whereabouts at any given time, a set schedule and other designated verification methods. Ortas actions could also be confirmed via random FaceTime calls or through photos he submits while walking the pups, said von Dornum. Von Dornum did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the judges ruling. A spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office for the Eastern District of New York declined comment on the decision. Orta was busted last Sept. 23 in Brooklyn. He was driving a BMW sedan which cops pulled over around 12:50 a.m. near South Second and Roebling streets due to excessive window tint, said a criminal complaint. Police saw pot in the lap of Ortas front-seat passenger, the complaint said. A burned marijuana cigarette was allegedly visible in the center console. Officers recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P 9 mm handgun from Ortas waistband, the complaint said. Orta was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. In October 2016, Orta was sentenced in state Supreme Court, St. George, to concurrent prison terms of four years for a felony drug conviction and two to four years for a felony gun conviction. He was also subject to 18 months post-release supervision. The drug conviction arose from a Jan. 3, 2015 incident in which he sold heroin to an undercover officer on Staten Island. The gun conviction stemmed from an Aug. 2, 2014 arrest in St. George in which Orta ultimately admitted to possessing a .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol. He was paroled last July 10, according to online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Orta will forever be linked to Eric Garner. Orta videotaped the events which unfolded on July 17, 2014, when Garner died in police custody while being arrested for allegedly selling loose cigarettes on the street. Garners final words, I cant breathe, have become a mantra of the Black Lives Matter movement. He uttered those words repeatedly while former Officer Daniel Pantaleo can be seen on the video putting his arm around Garners neck from behind and taking him to the ground. A Staten Island grand jury declined to indict Pantaleo on criminal charges in December 2014, prompting the U.S. Department of Justice to launch a civil rights investigation into the incident. After five years, two presidential administrations and four attorneys general, then-Attorney General William Barr decided not to pursue federal charges against Pantaleo on the eve of the fifth anniversary of Garners death. Shortly thereafter, in August 2019, then-Police Commissioner James ONeill fired Pantaleo following a departmental trial. BUCHAREST (dpa-AFX) - Romania's private sector loans increased in February after declining in the previous month, data from the central bank showed Tuesday. Loans to the non-governmental sector rose 0.3 percent in real terms from January, when they fell 0.9 percent. Compared to the same month last year, lending to the private sector grew 2.1 percent after a 2.1 percent growth in January. The broad money measure M3 rose 0.9 percent from the previous month and 13.8 percent from a year ago, the bank said. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The justices didnt attempt to untangle the conflicting accusations or decide who really killed Green and Hillard in their decision released last Thursday. All they did was rule that, even though Murder in the Park had shown at film festivals in New York City in November 2014 and Cleveland in March 2015, Ciolinos libel suit filed in April 2016 was within the one-year statute of limitations on such claims because Ciolino could not have been expected to be aware of the movies contents until its first Chicago screening in July 2015. Lebanon: Amnesty says Syrians tortured as in Syria Lebanese authorities commit atrocious violence against Syrians (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, 23 MAR - Lebanese security forces have committed "shocking" humanitarian violations against Syrian refugees, often arbitrarily arrested on terrorism-related charges, employing some of the same atrocious torture techniques used in Syria's most notorious prisons, said Amnesty International in a new report published Tuesday. The report documents an array of violations committed primarily by Lebanese military intelligence between 2014 and 2021 against at least 26 detainees, including women and four minors, imprisoned without a fair trial and subjected to various kinds of torture, including beatings with metal sticks, electric cables, and plastic pipes. Detainees also described being hung upside down or forced into stress positions for prolonged periods of time. The Amnesty investigation is based on interviews with former and current detainees, human rights lawyers and an examination of legal documents. Since 2011 hundreds of Syrian refugees have been detained in Lebanon, often arbitrarily on false terror-related charges, at times in relation to their membership in armed groups. Lebanon hosts over a million Syrian refugees who fled neighbouring Syria starting in 2011, when the armed conflict in the country started. In 2017 Lebanon approved a law against torture but has constantly avoided applying it, Amnesty said, adding that reports of torture rarely reach a courtroom. "This report offers a snapshot of the Lebanese authorities' cruel, abusive and discriminatory treatment of Syrian refugees detained on suspicion of terrorism-related charges," said Marie Forestier, Researcher on Refugee and Migrants Rights at Amnesty International. "In many cases refugees who escaped war, ruthless repression and widespread torture (in Syria) found themselves arbitrarily detained and held incommunicado in Lebanon, where they face many of the same horrors employed in Syrian prisons," she said. (ANSAmed). Coronavirus lockdown one year: It was on March 23 last year that Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the nationwide lockdown against COVID-19. A year on since the country went into a 'janata curfew' (people's curfew), it is facing a second wave of coronavirus. However, with vaccines available now, several experts are in favour of a mammoth scale-up in the government's immunisation drive to safeguard the vulnerable. Following a surge in COVID-19 cases in Mumbai, Pune and other cities, the calls for widening the scope of the vaccination programme have only grown stronger and louder. Meanwhile, India recorded 46,951 new coronavirus cases and 212 fatalities on Monday, March 22, pushing the country's tally past 11.6 million (1.16 crore) and death toll to 1.59 lakh, according to health ministry data. This was the sharpest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases since early November. Follow BusinessToday.In for all the latest updates on Coronavirus in India and world: 9.29 am: 4.72 cr coronavirus vaccine doses administered so far: Health Min The total number of coronavirus vaccine doses administered in India has surpassed 4.72 crore with 19,65,635 doses being given on March 22, the Union Health Ministry said. A total of 4,72,07,134 vaccine doses have been given till 7 pm on Monday, according to a provisional report. Read more here: COVID-19 vaccinations cross 4.72 crore-mark in India: Health Ministry 9.19 am: COVID in UP Uttar Pradesh has 3,036 active COVID-19 cases, 8,759 deaths, and 5,95,743 recoveries from the disease, as per the Union Health Ministry. UP witnessed a single-day spike of more than 500 coronavirus cases (542) on Monday, March 22, taking the state's tally to 608,076. One death in Kanpur pushed UP's death toll to 8,760. 9.11 am: Coronavirus in India: UP shuts schools up to class8 till March 31 The state has decided to shut schools up to class 8 tillMarch 31 after assessing the COVID situation. The schools are closed for Holileave and order is effective from March 24. Read more here: COVID-19 surge in UP: State govt shuts all schools up to class 8 till March 31 8.58 am: One year of COVID lockdown: Give things that have changed in the last one year A year after the coronavirus lockdown was announced on March 23, the threat is far from over and many nations, comprising India, are experiencing another surge in the number of infections. Here are five things that have changed in the last one year. Read more here: One year of lockdown: 5 reasons why COVID-19 panic has decreased in India 8.47 am: States with rising coronavirus cases The Union Health Ministry said on March 21 that Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh constitute 83.14% of the new COVID-19 cases in the country. The ministry added that Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu are showed an upward trajectory in the daily new caseload. 8.38 am: One year of lockdown India's coronavirus caseload tally had surpassed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5, and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20, and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. 8.28 am: Coronavirus in Odisha Odisha's tally of COVID-19 cases went up to 3,38,963 on Monday after 146 people, comprising 24 students of a leading management institute, tested coronavirus positive for the disease, an official told PTI. The state which registered daily new cases below 100 for the last 45 days till March 19, saw a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases and the trend is rising for the past four days, he added. 8.15 am: Global coronavirus deaths rise again after six weeks, says WHO The global count of deaths from COVID-19 is rising again in a span of six weeks, said a top World Health Organization (WHO) expert on the coronavirus pandemic. New Delhi: Peoples Democratic Party and opposition party National Conference on Sunday stressed for the special status granted under Article 35 A before Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who was visiting the valley to review security situation. PDP general secretary Nizamuddin Bhat asserted that his party is of the view that Kashmirs is a political problem and it cannot be related with development issue. The PDP delegation also shared their thoughts over governments credibility, saying that the agenda of alliance has yet not been implemented on the ground. Bhat said that he has put the partys interest before the union home minister and told him that Kashmir is a special state and it must be given same treatment. PDP joined hands with the BJP to fulfill the Vajpayee mission, otherwise, our ideologies are completely different, he said. Bhat said the minister heard their concern and they told him to be honest. Former CM Omar Abdullah also met Rajnath and discussed Article 35A issue. J&K: Home Minister Rajnath Singh met National Conference delegation headed by former CM Omar Abdullah in Srinagar pic.twitter.com/A9vPuR9Pdi ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2017 We put our point of view in front of the Home Minister and informed him of the importance the people of the state attach to this provision, Abdullah said. Article 35A is a provision that empowers the J&K legislature to define permanent residents of the state, and it has been challenged in the Supreme Court. Also Read: Rajnath says no forces in world will be able to stop Kashmir from becoming heaven again For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Congressman Mo Brooks announced Monday night he will run for Senate next year, a confirmation of his rising Republican profile as a fierce fighter for former President Donald Trump. Brooks made the announcement before more than 300 supporters at a gun club in his hometown of Huntsville. I envy you, former Donald Trump adviser Stephen Miller said of Alabama voters getting to cast the ballot for Brooks. Miller spoke for about 10 minutes before Brooks took the stage. Miller began his speech by saying, I proudly endorse Mo Brooks for Senate. Brooks took the stage to Sweet Home Alabama, waving to supporters and talking about his 10 grandchildren and a daughter with twins on the way. He told the audience, however, that he would not be giving a rah rah campaign speech and instead went through a list of concerns he has for the country. He also said the United States is in danger of losing its status as the greatest country in the history of the world. He also hit again on claims of election theft and voter fraud, a position he staked out early in Congress that made him a leader of the effort to capture a second term for Trump after President Joe Biden had been elected. There has been no evidence of widespread voter fraud despite claims by Trump, Brooks and others. In 2020, we had the worst voter fraud and election theft in history, Brooks told the audience. Brooks, 66, has come under fire for telling the rally that preceded the Capitol riot that it was time to start taking down names and kicking ass. Brooks said the phrase was intended to fire up the crowd for the next election cycle and is being misconstrued as advocating the violence that followed. Brooks has been elected six times to Congress and has won every re-election in a landslide. Many of you may be asking yourself, Why is Mo Brooks giving up a secure House seat for an opportunity to run for the United States Senate? Brooks said in his speech. There are lots of reasons but let me mention a couple. One, Americas status as the greatest nation in world history is at risk. Its at risk from those within our country for adopting policies that, in the long haul, will hurt America and reduce us to a second-rate country. A second reason is, it has become apparent that I will am and will be the only candidate for the Senate with a record of proven conservative leadership that Alabama voters can see and trust. In these perilous times, I would submit that is important that kind of experience, that kind of record where you dont have to worry about whether Im going to do the right thing, whether Im going to do what I say Im going to do when I campaign and seek your vote. Because my record proves that I do what I say Im going to do on behalf of the people I represent and behalf of this great country. In wrapping up a speech that spanned more than 20 minutes, Brooks cited his status as a founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. I have a proven track record of conservative credentials that voters can look at and rely on, Brooks said. In talking with reporters following the speech, Brooks said he has been in frequent contact with Trump in recent weeks. I have spoken with President Trump quite a few times about this Senate race, Brooks said. Hes called me three times in the last four weeks. Im not in position to speak for President Trump. At some point, the president may decide to become engaged in this race or not. Im going to defer to him the time and place of his stating his position on the Alabama Senate race if hes going to have one. In his speech, Miller referred to Trumps America First movement in describing Brooks as an ideal Senate candidate. Among those in attendance at the rally was Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl and Paul Reynolds, Alabamas national committeeman for the Republican National Committee. Jennie Robinson, a longtime friend of Brooks and his wife, Martha, and president of the Huntsville city council, was also in attendance. Brooks is seeking to replace Sen. Richard Shelby, a giant in Alabama politics who announced his retirement in January. Shelby will finish out his term, which expires in January 2023. This will be Brooks second shot at the Senate. In 2017, he finished third in the GOP primary in the states special election to fill the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions, who had resigned to become U.S. Attorney General in the Trump administration. Brooks has served in Congress since 2010 when he defeated incumbent Parker Griffith. Since then, Brooks has been re-elected five times in landslides in his north Alabama district. Brooks is the second candidate to enter the race, preceded last month by Lynda Blanchard the former ambassador to Slovenia under Trump. Other Republican candidates speculation has centered on to enter the race include Katie Boyd Britt, president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, and Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill. Merrill ran for the Senate in 2020 before dropping out before the Republican primary. Updated today, March 22, 2021, at 7:57 p.m. with new information throughout. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signs a proclamation on Friday, March 19, 2021 declaring the month of April as "Meat on the Table Month." - Photo courtesy of Governor Kim Reynolds/Facebook A day of reflection will take place on Tuesday as part of the anniversary of the UK going into the first national lockdown. Organised by the charity Marie Curie, the landmark date will also be recognised by ministers at Stormont, alongside over 250 other organisations across business, the emergency services and community groups. People across Northern Ireland are also being encouraged to show their respect for all those who have died during the last twelve months, as well as the bereaved families who have been left behind. A minutes silence at 12 noon will take place at Stormont led by the First and deputy First Ministers, alongside the Minister for Health Robin Swann. People across the nation are also being encouraged to step out on their doorsteps at 8pm to shine a light using phones, candles, torches signifying a beacon of hope for those who have been impacted by Covid-19. The First Minister Arlene Foster said it was about showing respect to those who have lost loved ones and to all who are going through difficult times just now. I hope that you will be able to join in the moment of reflection too and reach out and connect with family or friends to let them know that they are loved and remembered. The Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill touched on the impact of the virus on everyone across our community and said it was right that people acknowledge the pain and loss. The Health Minister Robin Swann added: The National Day of Reflection provides an opportunity for us all to pause and reflect on the challenges we have faced over the past year of the Covid-19 pandemic and to stand alongside those who have lost loved ones and feel the pain of bereavement and loss. The impact of COVID-19 across our society, including those working in our health and social care sector, has been profound. I am continually astounded however, by the huge out-pouring of support that people have shown for each other during the worst of times and resilience demonstrated across our community. As we reflect on this past year and continue to comfort and support all who grieve for those they have lost, we can also take heart in the growing hope that, with the success of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, there are brighter days to come. As part of the day, prominent buildings and iconic landmarks will also light up across Northern Ireland, including Titanic Belfast, Belfast City Hall, Enniskillen Castle and the Guildhall in Derry/Londonderry. Passengers arrive in the Palma de Mallorca airport on Sunday. CATI CLADERA / EFE The European Commission, which is the executive branch of the European Union, on Monday called on Spain for coherence with regard to its domestic and international coronavirus travel restrictions within the 27-country bloc. The call from Brussels came amid rising anger and confusion among Spaniards given that this Easter it will be possible for foreign tourists to vacation in Spain, while residents will not be allowed to travel outside of their regional borders. The Commission also pointed out that the risks of contagion are similar whether trips are taken inside or outside a countrys borders. The recommendation [proposed by the Commission and adopted by the 27 EU countries] clearly states that, given that transmission and risk are similar for national and cross-border journeys, member states should ensure there is coherence between the measures applied to the two types of journey, the EU spokesperson for rule of law, Christian Wigand, said on Monday. Spains regions have implemented perimetral lockdowns ahead of Easter, but only the central government can limit the entry of tourists from the rest of Europe The calls came after weeks of perplexity and incomprehension over the restrictions put in place ahead of Easter week, particularly given that tourists are allowed to enter Spain from countries that currently have a much worse epidemiological situation. The Spanish government, which is in charge of restrictions on international travel, has defended the measures citing the difficulty involved in closing the borders as well as the low risk due to the small numbers of tourists who are arriving. Whats more, those who are coming via plane or sea have to present a negative PCR test before they can enter. The deputy premier and tourism chief of the Balearic Islands, Iago Negueruela, on Monday called on the Spanish government to control all international visitors arriving in the islands one by one, in order to guarantee that they are not infected. Tourists from Germany at El Arenal beach in Palma de Mallorca. ENRIQUE CALVO / Reuters It is the countrys regions who are in charge of not only their own healthcare systems and the vaccination campaign, but also of the restrictions in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus who have implemented the perimetral lockdowns ahead of Easter. They cannot, however, limit the entry of tourists from the rest of Europe only the central government can do that. Currently, there are restrictions on flights from the United Kingdom, given the more-contagious strain of the coronavirus that was first detected there, as well as on those from third countries outside the EU. For passengers coming from other EU countries, the only obligation right now is the presentation of a negative PCR when arriving at a seaport or airport. Travelers entering via a land border are not subject to the same requirement. When questioned about Spain, Wigand opted not to make a specific comment about a single country. But he did add the position of the Commission on travel within the bloc: the EU wants measures to be implemented on a regional basis, according to the epidemiological situation in each area. The Commission is also arguing that the closure of borders is not the most effective solution for controlling the pandemic. In fact, the executive has already warned several countries including Germany and Belgium for banning non-essential journeys outside of their territories, something that it considers disproportionate. According to the spokesperson, the EU has powers over freedom of movement within the Schengen area, but not the measures that each country adopts in its territory to control the spread of the coronavirus. English version by Simon Hunter. China, Russia officials meet in show of unity against EU, US View Photo BEIJING (AP) The foreign ministers of China and Russia affirmed their countries close ties at a meeting Tuesday, amid intense criticism and new Western sanctions against them over human rights. Wang Yi and Sergei Lavrov rejected outside sniping at their authoritarian political systems and said they were working to further global progress on issues from climate change to the coronavirus pandemic. At their initial meeting in the southern Chinese city of Nanning on Monday, Wang and Lavrov accused the U.S. of interference in other countries affairs and urged it to rejoin the Iran nuclear agreement, something that President Joe Bidens new administration has approached cautiously. Russia and China both maintain close relations with Tehran, with which they share a firm approach against any political opposition. The two officials continued that rhetoric at a news conference on Tuesday, where Wang sharply criticized coordinated sanctions brought by the European Union, Britain, Canada and the United States against Chinese officials over human rights abuses in Chinas far western Xinjiang region. Countries should stand together to oppose all forms of unilateral sanctions, Wang said. These measures will not be embraced by the international community. Lavrov said sanctions were drawing Russia and China closer together and accused the West of imposing their own rules on everyone else, which they believe should underpin the world order. If Europe broke these relations, simply destroying all the mechanisms that have been created for many years then, probably, objectively, this leads to the fact that our relations with China are developing faster than whats left of relations with European countries, Lavrov said. In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the two ministers said no country should seek to impose its form of democracy on any other. Interference in a sovereign nations internal affairs under the excuse of advancing democracy is unacceptable, the statement said. China says members of the Uyghur and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang have voluntarily taken part in job training and de-radicalization courses, denying charges that more than 1 million have been locked up in prison-like reeducation camps where they are forced to reject their native culture and pledge loyalty to the ruling Communist Party and its leader Xi Jinping. Media outlets, foreign governments and activist groups say abuses, including forced labor and coerced birth control, are ongoing. China responded immediately Monday to the EUs move by imposing sanctions on 10 European individuals and four institutions that it said had damaged Chinas interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation. The individuals were barred from visiting mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao and banned from engaging in financial dealings with Chinese institutions. Xinjiang had experienced anti-government violence, but Beijing claims its massive security crackdown brought peace in recent years. China and Russia were rivals for leadership of the communist world during the Cold War but have built a strong relationship in recent years based on opposition to the U.S.-led liberal order, as well as cooperation in military affairs, technology and trade in natural resources. Chinas ruling Communist Party allows no political opposition and keeps a tight hold on civil society, while Russian leader Vladimir Putin has cracked down heavily on citizens calling for a more open system. Russia has been under Western sanctions for years over its seizure of the Crimea, support for separatists in Ukraine and attacks on government critics. The new EU sanction system imposed on China is similar to the Magnitsky Act Obama-era legislation that authorizes the U.S. government to sanction those it sees as human rights offenders, freeze their assets and ban them from entering the United States. China and the U.S. held contentious talks last week, while U.S.-Russia relations took a severe hit on Thursday after Putin shot back at Bidens description of him as a killer. Also Tuesday, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and her New Zealand counterpart Nanaia Mahuta said in a joint statement that they shared concerns about the rights situation in western China and joined in calls for an independent inquiry. Today, we underscore the importance of transparency and accountability, and reiterate our call on China to grant meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for United Nations experts, and other independent observers, the statement said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that a united response sends a strong signal to those who violate or abuse international human rights, and we will take further actions in coordination with likeminded partners. China recently put on trial two Canadian citizens, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, in apparent reprisal for Canadas detention in December 2019 of Meng Wanzhou, an executive of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei. No verdicts have been announced. The U.S. wants Meng extradited to face fraud charges, enraging China, which views her detention as politically motivated. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denied any connection between his countrys support for the sanctions action and the fates of Spavor and Kovrig, according to Canadian broadcaster CTV. China has accused Spavor and Kovrig of working together to steal Chinese state secrets, but has offered no details and barred media and diplomats from the proceedings. Weve been deploring the arbitrary detention of the two Michaels (Kovrig and Spavor) for a long time and weve been working with our allies around the world on this issue, Trudeau told CTV. On an unrelated issue, we along with our international allies are very concerned about the situation facing Muslim minorities in western China. Black Widow, the solo Scarlett Johansson Marvel vehicle that was originally scheduled to open on May 1, 2020 has gotten a final release date: July 9, 2021. It went from November 2020 to May of this year before Disney finally decided on a firm release date. With vaccinations still spreading across the United States, this is a simple decision for a billion dollar mega-company. It wants to profit off theater and streaming service abilities, releasing the film on Disney+ Premier Access simultaneously as it arrives in theaters this summer. Johansson, who identifies as Jewish and comes from an Ashkenazi Jewish family from Poland and Russia, will finally get her solo mission as the notorious Russian spy who joined Nick Furys gang of Earths mightiest heroes to save the world over and over again. For seven years and eight movies, Johanssons fully human team leader lent the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) fine support, but had been waiting for her own movie, something only a few of the big cast didnt receive. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) all got three movies apiece while Johanssons Natasha Romanoff, Don Cheadles Iron Patriot (taken over from Terence Howard in the 2008 launching Tony Stark film), Jeremy Renners Hawkeye, and Mark Ruffalos Hulk only played supporting roles in those adventures and the official team-up films. ADVERTISEMENT All of those releases are aimed to be tentpole films, aka blockbuster moneymakers. While Disney wasted little time in putting Mulan and Soul onto streaming services late last year, putting a huge Marvel film like Black Widow out there into a similar landscape that is just seeing New York and Los Angeles open theaters again would be unwise. This new film seals Romanoffs story off for good and could launch new characters in the upcoming phase of the MCU. You cant release a movie twice, so waiting isnt a bad idea if you look at it from a business standpoint. Ask yourself how much of the country will be vaccinated and feel safe in going to movies by the first week of May, and then ask the same question about the first week of July. These are fan-friendly movies, but also expensive commodities. Black Widow had a budget of over $200 million and clocks in at over two hours. It had all the makings of a spring release, which is where the majority of Marvel releases usually drop. But desperate times call for desperate measures, so the cruelest of fates for a fan to endure is simply more time. This is Disney doing their best to respect the new model of releases, a practice kicked into motion by Warner Brothers bold announcement in December to release their entire 2021 tentpole film schedule-films including Dune and the DCEUs Suicide Squad-on HBO Max and theaters at the same time. I am glad Johanssons last ride (two-year-old spoiler alerts still required?) will get a bigger audience. If you waited two years for a new Marvel movie (Black Widows July 9 date follows 2019s Spider-Man: Far From Home July 2 release), two more months shouldnt be too much to ask. An invaluable part of the MCU for over 13 years, the actress very popular crimefighter will get the full backstory teased back in Avengers: Age of Ultron, which provided fans with a glimpse of Romanoff in a spy school that left her permanently damaged. In addition to that, a new supervillain is brought into the fray in Taskmaster with the 2021 summer release, and Natashas family is introduced in Cate Shortlands film as well: Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz), and Alexei aka Red Guardian (David Harbour). Fun fact before I go: Jac Schaeffer, the creator behind WandaVision, has a story credit on Black Widow. Jewish star and a white hot writer teaming up on the same movie. Id say thats something worth waiting for. That wait ends on July 9. When Black Widow goes into theaters, one can officially say movie theaters and the movie experience are fully back. Thats where it all commences. The road to opening Deafs Delight Cafe, a new eatery in Downtown Newark that caters to the citys deaf and hard of hearing residents, wasnt easy. After years of working toward its opening, a burglary in 2019 all but stomped out Sandra Rivers hope of creating a place that could honor what her parents went through during their lifetimes. Both of (my parents) died in a society that wasnt built for them, Rivers told NJ Advance Media. I wanted to make sure the community didnt die in the same manner my parents did. Rivers parents were deaf, and there was never really a place they could go on their own to have fun and meet new people, she said. Sometimes she would even hear people laughing under their breath, when eating out with her mother, she previously told NJ Advance Media. Her dream, she said, was to create a space where that wouldnt happen. It was coming together in 2019, but in June of that year, tens of thousands of dollars -- her life savings -- worth of equipment was stolen from the property that now houses the cafe. The case is still open, and no leads have led police to a suspect, a representative for the Newark Police Department said. But, donations from the community helped keep the venture afloat, Rivers said. Its been difficult, she said. In addition to the theft, there have been the struggles of navigating the opening of a restaurant during the coronavirus pandemic. Her brand new business isnt eligible for COVID-related government assistance, she said. Despite all of that, the cafe finally opened to the public this January. Rivers has set up a GoFundMe, and is asking for donations to help the new eatery get up on its feet. Accessibility is the key to Deaf Delights dining experience. Staff members know sign language and movies are streamed with open captions daily. Patrons can order breakfast, lunch and a menu of different coffees. The small storefront has even played host to a wedding for a couple of its patrons. The deaf community pretty much stayed home while I was growing up. They cant go to the movie theaters....they cant go to festivals...they didnt go to restaurants (because of) the communication barrier, Rivers said. It was rough watching my mom not go anywhere and stay in the house. Deaf's Delight is a deaf-friendly cafe in Newark, that opened in 2021. Thyson Halley, an advocate from Jersey City, who identifies as deaf and hard of hearing, said Deafs Delight is a special place that was badly needed in New Jerseys largest city. He told NJ Advance Media he and friends have traveled to Washington D.C., where there is a more accessible nightlife scene, when they wanted to have a good time. Finally (theres a place with) open caption TV. Finally, someone can sign and take your order, Halley said as he signed. Halley is an activist in the deaf community. Hes lobbied support for a bill (AR35) that would urge all law enforcement agencies in the state to implement training programs for officers on how to approach people with impaired hearing. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Nicholas Chiaravalloti (D-Hudson), Rep. Carol Murphy (D-Burlington) and Rep. Harold Wirths (R-Sussex), passed the Assembly in a unanimous vote on March 1. As more people learn about the cafe, Halley said he hopes the hearing world will be part of Deafs Delights growing community. You may see people just talking, just moving their hands and (wonder) is this the right place for me to come in? Halley said. Yes, youre welcome. Come, learn, experience this world. This world is amazing. Im telling you its a life changing experience. Deaf's Delight is a deaf-friendly cafe in Newark, that opened in 2021. Both Halley and Rivers estimated that Newarks deaf and hard of hearing population is nearly 22,000. There are nearly 850,000 New Jersey residents living with varying degrees of hearing loss, according to language in the bill. What Im trying to do is educate the hearing world and bring them here to meet with the deaf community, kind of bringing two worlds together, Rivers said. Deafs Delight is located at 2 Treat Place in Newark. Tennyson Donyea may be reached at staffbyline@njadvancemedia.com. Posted Monday, March 22, 2021 8:42 am The family of a 21-year-old Black Camas man fatally shot by sheriffs deputies in October is planning to sue the county for wrongful death, the family announced last week. The mother, father and mother of the child of Kevin Peterson Jr. appeared at a press conference March 18 to announce the filing of a wrongful death tort against Clark County. Peterson was fatally shot by Clark County Sheriffs Office deputies Oct. 29 in Hazel Dell during a drug sting, with three sheriffs deputies involved in the shooting. Peterson was investigated for intent to sell controlled substances to a confidential informant, court documents showed, with detectives finding the suspect in his car in the parking lot of the Quality Inn on Highway 99 in Hazel Dell. A foot chase ensued after the detectives contacted Peterson, with officers fatally shooting him near U.S. Bank next to the hotel. Present at the press conference were several members of his extended family, with his mother, father and girlfriend speaking to reporters. Everybody who knew Kevin loved Kevin, Tammi Bell, Petersons mother, said. He got a friend everywhere he went. Bell was asked about recent conversations in Clark County law enforcement looking into body cameras worn by officers and deputies, something she emphatically endorsed happening. Id love a camera. Please, Bell remarked. She commented on the situation Peterson was in, where responding deputies shot at him while he was running away. I think its unfair that people are running scared, and getting shot in the back by the police, Bell remarked. I expect more of the police Im not a police officer, but Im very upset and I want justice. Kevin is an outstanding young man, well-loved by his family members and friends, those who knew him, Petersons father, Kevin Peterson Sr. remarked. He agreed with Bell that body cameras would be a good step forward in addressing a lack of accountability he sees in current policing, especially when the work turns deadly. My goal is to make sure my son gets justice for what was done to him, Peterson Sr. said. You shot a man in the back when he was running away, Peterson Sr. remarked. They werent in immediate danger. According to the deputies who were interviewed as part of the investigation, they feared Peterson was heading in the direction of additional police response. Although Peterson was armed, the investigation found no evidence he fired a shot, as was initially thought by the involved deputies at the time of the shooting. Kevin Petersons father said community support of his son and the family had been overwhelming, remarking that thousands of people showed up for a vigil and march demonstration as part of the younger Petersons remembrance. Kevin was my best friend, Olivia Selto, Petersons girlfriend and mother of his child remarked. I couldnt ask for more from him as a father, as a partner. Mark Lindquist, an attorney for Petersons family, explained the tort was a prelude to the full filing of a lawsuit against the county. He explained that the suit could be filed after 60 days from the tort claim filing, and did not disclose how much that suit would be intended for. District Court judge blasted for comments on Peterson case More than a week before Petersons family announced the filing of the tort claim, a Clark County District Court judge came under fire for comments caught on a hot microphone that have led to a number of groups calling for his resignation. Judge Darvin Zimmerman announced he was taking leave following the discovery of comments made in a county courtroom inadvertently recorded and once available on social media. In the recording, Zimmerman remarked that Peterson was the Black guy that theyre trying to make an angel out of, noting that Zimmermans son, a sheriff's deputy, was on scene during the fatal shooting. Zimmerman commented that he heard reports from those on scene that Peterson Sr. had spoken to responders in a more conciliatory tone than how he would speak during the press conference about the tort claim. The next thing he wakes up with dollar signs in his eyes, Zimmerman remarked in the recording. The judge also made statements questioning the narrative from Selto as well as the number of times Peterson was shot. Following the discovery of the recording, a number of organizations ranging from community members to fellow judges came out with statements decrying Zimmermans comments. A letter from 11 Clark County Superior Court judges and four court commissioners delivered March 15 stated Zimmermans comments demonstrate bias and a lack of impartiality, stating that the superior court removed Zimmerman from any cases in their court. A statement from the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Action and Reform Committee stated support of county prosecuting attorney Tony Goliks decision to disqualify Zimmerman from presiding over cases handled by the attorneys office. The comments by Judge Zimmerman regarding Kevin Peterson Jr. were deeply troubling, the statement read. His comments show that he cannot be impartial and unbiased; therefore, we agree with the others who have spoken out on this issue, he is not qualified to remain a judge. I deeply regret my statements which caused divisiveness and concern in the community that I love and serve, Zimmerman wrote in his own statement following the discovery of the recording. Sent via his lawyer, Josephine Townsend, the judge pointed to his history supporting the community through therapeutic courts such as Veterans Court, Mental Health Court and pre-arrest diversion programs. I recognize the injustice that befalls men and women of color as well as non native English speaking litigants, Zimmerman wrote. He said he was speaking as a father about concerns on the delayed nature of the investigation which has been ongoing since October, and why it is necessary for that information released to the public to be accurate, so that everyone, including the police get a fair evaluation of what happened. My concerns as a father do not excuse the fact that my comments caused an already volatile community to again become divisive, Zimmerman said, adding he was taking time off from his duties to re-evaluate the situation. I am very sorry for that. Seoul, March 23 : Although global TV sales are expected to decline slightly this year, shipments of premium TVs will grow which will be led by Samsung, a report said on Tuesday. The sales of QLED TVs, anchored by the world's largest TV maker Samsung, is likely to surpass 12 million units this year, up 26 per cent from a year ago. Samsung last year sold 7.79 million QLED TVs, accounting for more than 81 per cent of global QLED TV sales. Global TV shipments are projected to reach 223.09 million units in 2021, according to market researcher Omdia, which is down 1 per cent from last year's 225.35 million units. The latest figure is also down from Omdia's previous estimate of 224.22 million units late last year. The robust TV sales propelled by the pandemic-induced stay-at-home economy will continue through the first half of 2021. However, it expected TV sales in the second half of the year to decline from a year earlier, reports Yonhap news agency. Although the overall TV market may shrink slightly, industry observers said South Korea's two largest TV makers -- Samsung and LG -- may not suffer big damage as premium TV sales are expected to increase. The data showed that global OLED TV sales, led by LG, are expected to reach 5.6 million units in 2021, up 200,000 units from its previous estimate. It is also a 60 percent increase from last year's shipments of 3.54 million units. Analysts said increased supply of OLED panels from LG Display's plant in China will help sales of OLED TVs that are also manufactured by global players like Sony and Panasonic. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, March 23 : The CEOs of the world's most influential companies are planning what the 'new reality' will look like post-pandemic. The 2021 KPMG CEO Outlook Pulse Survey finds that almost half (45 per cent) of global executives do not expect to see a return to a 'normal' course of business until sometime in 2022, as opposed to nearly one-third (31 per cent) who anticipate this will happen later this year. As the changes prompted by the pandemic have resulted in one-quarter (24 per cent) of CEOs saying that their business model has been changed forever by the global pandemic. The study conducted by KPMG in February and March of this year asked 500 global CEOs about their response to the pandemic and the outlook over a 3-year horizon. A majority (55 per cent) of CEOs are concerned about employees' access to a Covid-19 vaccine, which is influencing their outlook of when employees will return to the workplace. A significant majority (90 per cent) of CEOs are considering asking employees to report when they have been vaccinated, which may help organisations consider measures to protect their workforce. However, one-third (34 per cent) of global executives are worried about misinformation on Covid-19 vaccine safety and the potential this may have on employees choosing not to have it administered. Bill Thomas, Global Chairman & CEO, KPMG, said: "Before any major decisions are made, CEOs want to be confident that their workforce is protected against this virus. The Covid-19 vaccine rollout is providing leaders with a dose of optimism as they prepare for a new reality. CEOs are scenario planning for difference across certain key markets that could impact their operations, supply chains and people, leading to uneven economic recovery. "Our research shows that some executives have taken strong measures during the crisis to transform their operating model and ways of working, accelerating the rollout of key transformational projects, some by choice, some out of necessity. The pandemic has also been a catalyst for CEOs to evaluate the role their companies play in society. Many have given voice to issues they may not have previously commented on publicly - from tackling climate change to supporting the diverse communities they operate in - and we need to keep hearing those voices. There is much more to be done." The has brought out key insights into how global CEOs are thinking during the continued run of the pandemic. Nine out of 10 leaders globally (90 per cent) intend to ask their employees to report when they have been vaccinated in order to protect the wider workforce. In India, 94 per cent CEOs intend to do so. Similarly, majority of CEOs globally will wait for more than 50 per cent of population to be vaccinated before returning to the office. In India, this number stood at 76 per cent. Also, 66 per cent CEOs in India as opposed to 74 per cent CEOs globally felt the pandemic has accelerated the digitisation of operations and creation of next-generation models. About three-quarters (76 per cent) of CEOs globally see government encouragement for businesses to return to 'normal' as the prompt for businesses to ask staff to return to the workplace. In India, this number stands at 86 per cent. In addition, 61 per cent of global executives as opposed to 76 per cent Indian executives said that they will also need to see a successful (over 50 per cent of the population vaccinated) Covid-19 vaccine rollout in key markets before taking any action toward a return to offices. When employees can safely return to workplaces, one-fifth of companies (21 per cent globally as compared to 18 per cent in India) are looking to institute additional precautionary measures by asking clients and other in-person visitors to inform them of their vaccination status. The research finds that only 17 per cent of global executives are looking to downsize their office space as a result of the pandemic as opposed to 22 per cent in India. In contrast, 69 per cent of CEOs surveyed globally in August 2020 said they planned to reduce their office space over 3 years, which demonstrates that either office downsizings have taken place or, as the pandemic has drawn on, strategies have changed. This number stood at 48 per cent in India in 2020 CEOs are considering what the new reality will look like, but post-Covid, only three in 10 (30 per cent) of global executives as compared to 32 per cent Indian executives are considering a hybrid model of working for their staff, where most employees work remotely 2-3 days a week. As a result, only one-fifth (21 per cent) of businesses globally are looking to hire talent that works predominantly remotely. In India this number is at about 22 per cent. This is a significant shift from last year (73 per cent in 2020 globally as compared to 77 per cent in India). roceeds from its sale will be used to support health organisations and charities Game Changer appeared at Southampton Hospital last year as thank you to staff Banksy has raised more than 16million for health projects with the auction of a painting which appeared in a hospital corridor in tribute to NHS medics. Game Changer emerged at Southampton Hospital in May last year as a thank you to staff during the first wave of the Covid pandemic. The anonymous graffiti artist has now auctioned the original canvas with a reproduction of the work remaining in the hospital. The painting fetched 16.7million, which is a world auction record for the artist, according to Christie's. Game Changer, pictured above, emerged at Southampton Hospital in May last year as a thank you to staff during the first wave of the Covid pandemic A handout picture from Southampton Hospital shows a member of staff posing with the painting. The anonymous graffiti artist has now auctioned the original canvas Proceeds from its sale will be used to support health organisations and charities which enhance the care and treatment provided by the NHS, the auction house said. The hand-painted image shows a young boy playing with superhero dolls. While Batman and Spiderman are discarded in a bin, the child clutches a figure of a masked nurse wearing a cape. Christie's said that the image 'offers an image of hope' and represents a 'personal tribute to those who continue to turn the tide of the pandemic'. Katharine Arnold, co-head, post-war and contemporary art, Europe, at the auction house, said: 'Banksy is an extraordinary artist who is a constant barometer of nationwide sentiment. 'With the perfect image of a little boy playing with his superhero doll, a nurse sporting the international Red Cross, he perfectly captured the essence of this moment in time. A member of staff at the hospital seen having their photograph taken in front of the artwork painted by Banksy during the first coronavirus lockdown A member of staff seen taking a photograph of the artwork. Christie's said that the image represents a 'personal tribute to those who continue to turn the tide of the pandemic' 'As we have turned our focus towards our families and those we love, we express our gratitude to the people who continue to fight on the frontline against Covid-19.' When first unveiled at Southampton Hospital, the picture was accompanied by a note which read: 'Thanks for all you're doing. 'I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it's only black and white.' The painting, originally gifted to the hospital, was always intended to be sold and a reproduction of the piece remains at the building. The reproduction will remain on view for future patients, visitors and staff at the hospital to enjoy. David French, Interim CEO at University Hospital Southampton, added: 'This incredible gift will be invaluable in helping us to focus on promoting and protecting the welfare of our staff as they heal and recover from the last year. Banksy's previous records include his 'Devolved Parliament' (pictured above), in which chimpanzees replace politicians in the House of Commons, fetching 9.9million in 2019 The third-highest price ever paid for a work by Banksy was 7.6million for 'Show Me The Monet' (pictured above) - the artist's playful take on a famous Impressionist painting 'As a charitable gift it ensures our staff have a say in how money is spent to benefit them, our patients and our community and is a fantastic way to thank and reward them for the sacrifices they've made.' Banksy's previous records include his 'Devolved Parliament', in which chimpanzees replace politicians in the House of Commons, fetching 9.9million in 2019. The third-highest price ever paid for a work by Banksy was 7.6million for the artist's playful take on a famous Impressionist painting. The piece titled 'Show Me The Monet' sold for 7.6million to an anonymous bidder at Sotheby's in London in October 2020. Banksy began his career spray-painting buildings in Bristol and has become one of the world's best-known artists. Advertisement From cars being swept away in raging torrents, to rescuing two national animals featured on Australia's Coat of Arms from floodwaters, cows washing up on beaches, and huge earthworms fleeing from the water, fascinating pictures some of the unique ways the floods are impacting Australia. A record once-in-a-century rain event and widespread flooding has prompted evacuations along Australia's east coast this week from south-east Queensland to southern New South Wales. Authorities had warned of potentially 'life-threatening' flash floods as a huge weather system brought days of torrential rain across a vast coastal region already soaked by an unusually wet summer and threatened the most serious overflow of Sydney's main reservoir in 30 years. A resident from Windsor, north-west of Sydney, took to his boat to save his pet emu Gookie from floodwaters with the help of some neighbours, while native animal welfare group WIRES was called to rescue a kangaroo stuck in a fast flowing waterway nearby. Windsor, New South Wales resident Paul Zammit (pictured) enlists the help of some neighbours to save his pet emu from floodwaters on Tuesday The emu, named Gookie, was unscathed much to the relief of Mr Zammit (pictured) as thousands in the area were forced to evacuate The Port Macquarie Surf Life Saving Club shared this picture on the weekend after locals jumped in the rising waters to save the stranded animal (pictured) A cow (pictured) washed up on Old Bar beach near the mid-north coast region of Taree on Saturday after a devastating storm An Eastern Grey Kangaroo (pictured) was rescued by WIRES after falling a fast flowing NSW waterway. The animal was checked for injuries and luckily found to have survived the ordeal unscathedand was safely released nearby later on Tuesday 'It's a very significant, record-breaking event with the rainfall that we have seen,' said Agata Imielska of the Bureau of Meteorology. Police said hundreds of people had flocked to evacuation centres in areas north of Sydney in New South Wales state, and they expected many more to seek shelter as the rains moved south down the coast. The Bureau of Meteorology reported flooding levels surpassing record 2013 floods along the Hastings River outside Port Macquarie, about 400km north of Sydney, though the river levels started descending later Saturday. Towns in the area have already seen record rainfall of more than 400mm since Friday morning, the bureau said. It warned the heavy rains were forecast to move down the coast over the weekend, 'potentially leading to life-threatening flash flooding' in some areas. The flood and extreme weather warnings stretched from Port Macquarie to areas 500km south of Sydney, where residents were urged to stay indoors due to the flash flooding risk. A family of four, including 2 young children, whose rescue boat capsized are attended to by NSW Ambulance officers following their evacuation from a flooded property at Upper Colo in north western Sydney on Tuesday (pictured) The young family (pictured) was treated by paramedics and were free from serious injury after being saved from their capsized vessel Transport of Main Roads Queensland uploaded a video of a car being swept away in floodwaters in south-east Queensland on Tuesday (pictured) The Ford Fiesta can be seen sitting on an asphalt road slowly disappearing under rising and rapid waters after the driver tried to pass a flooded road on Monday (pictured) Former jockey Melinda Turner managed to save five of her horses (pictured) at Fernbank Creek on Saturday after being forced to evacuate A motel owner in Tamborine Mountain in the Gold Coast hinterland - which has received 550mm of rain in the past two days - discovered a 50cm worm outside a guest room The Warragamba Dam, which provides much of the drinking water for Sydney, began spilling over Saturday afternoon in what experts expected to be the first significant overflow of the reservoir since 1990 although there have been smaller breaches more recently. 'We are in unchartered territory,' warned Ian Wright, a water expert at Western Sydney University, who said the rapid urbanisation of the western Sydney area around the Warragamba since 1990 meant its spillover could no longer be reabsorbed by surrounding bushland. 'The urban development adds hard, impervious surfaces, and drainage infrastructure. In heavy rain, this can rapidly generate high-velocity floodwaters,' Wright tweeted. Authorities issued an evacuation order for the town of Picton south of the dam after the spill and were closely monitoring flood-prone areas of western Sydney. Most of the severe flooding Saturday was along the coast north of Sydney, where television images showed city and town streets underwater, and one house literally floating down a bloated river. Prime Minister Scott Morrison lamented the 'absolutely heart-breaking scenes' of homes, towns and businesses inundated and offered troops to help with the emergency effort. National broadcaster ABC said the rain and floods would also delay the already halting roll-out of coronavirus vaccines in Sydney and surrounding areas. The country is due to begin the first major public phase of vaccine distribution on Monday although the programme has slipped behind the government's announced timetable due to supply and delivery issues. Emergency services reported receiving more than 3,000 calls for help and carried out about 300 flood rescues Friday night and Saturday across the affected area. A stranded cow pictured in Tamborine Mountain in Queensland as floodwaters inundate paddocks (pictured) TikTok user walkmyworld shared video footage from the Katoomba Falls Round Walk, in the Blue Mountains, during the crazy weather event Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Tuesday said there were several weather fronts, 'catastrophic' in their dimensions, impacting large swathes of the state. People northwest of Sydney have been ordered to evacuate homes amid the downpour as a surge of water flows into catchments, causing rivers to rise. Major flooding is occurring along the Colo River and the State Emergency Service ordered about 500 people in 200 homes to get out on Tuesday. Boats and helicopters were deployed by the SES to help them leave. People in caravans along a stretch of the Hawkesbury River from Windsor to Wiseman's Ferry have been told to prepare to leave, as have those in the Picton CBD due to rising levels in the Stonequarry Creek. More than 9500 requests for help have been made around NSW since Thursday, with emergency services performing about 850 flood rescues. An inland weather system coming across from the Northern Territory is also blighting rural communities such as Grafton and Lismore. Evacuation warnings persist at Kempsey on the state's Mid North Coast, while the Hunter, the Central Tablelands and the south coast are in for a drenching. The Bureau of Meteorology on Tuesday said conditions were set to ease in coastal areas, but were likely to remain severe for inland NSW. However, sunnier skies in coastal NSW will not end flood risks, with rain catchments continuing to flow into bursting rivers. It will also likely continue to rain on the state's south coast. A farmer from Kinchela Creek, posted this image of spiders pouring across the property on the mid-north coast of New South Wales as they run ahead of the floodwaters (pictured) One Reddit user from the NSW mid-north coast posted to Twitter that they woke up to a shark on their lawn (pictured) 'It is almost impossible to believe but we will see blue skies and sunshine just later this afternoon in western Sydney and on the Mid North Coast,' bureau meteorologist Agata Imielska told reporters. 'Now it is very important to remember that even though we'll have blue sky and sunshine returning, flooding will continue and the flood risk will continue. 'Conditions with this clearing trend will mean we will see improvements across the board, but in terms of that flood risk, those inland catchments ... they do tend to respond much slower and are more protracted.' Warnings of moderate flooding along the Nepean River at Penrith are in place and floodwaters are also expected to affect the upper Nepean. Ms Berejiklian also warned the rivers would keep rising after the rain stopped. Hunter Valley Zoo shared this picture of alligators almost swimming out of their enclosures on Tuesday as water floods their habitat (pictured) A baker has been hailed a hero after delivering much-needed bread to a town cut off by the extreme floods plaguing eastern Australia. Albert Vos, who runs Al's Bakehouse with his wife Deborah, received a call about 10.30am on Monday for 200 loaves of bread. Tim Walker made the desperate call on behalf of the 1,568 residents stuck in King Creek, a small town next to Port Macquarie. Albert Vos, who runs Al's Bakehouse with his wife Deborah, received a call about 10.30am on Monday for 200 loaves of bread (pictured: delivering the bread) 'People couldn't get into town, so that was our bit to do. That's what it's all about,' Mr Vos told Port News. Mr Vos, his wife, and their 11 employees got to work and by 2pm that day the loaves were ready to be delivered. With 18 crates filled with bread, Mr Vos headed to the creek to begin the careful delivery by boat. 'I went down in the van where the fire brigade met us, then we unloaded it onto the boat and watched them pull it across,' he said. 'They probably did three or four trips.' Mr Vos revealed a total of 800 loaves were made on Monday, including the 200 for King Creek. He explained that the orders fit into the 'extra demand' as there is 'no bread around'. Mr Vos, his wife and their 11 employees got to work and by 2pm that day the loaves were ready to be delivered (Pictured: the bakery) The road into town has since reopened and residents are now able to leave to purchase products. Mr Vos took to Facebook to thank the community for their patience with the bread delivery. 'We could not have anticipated the amount of bread we needed and the amount of patience that was given to us,' he wrote. 'We were asked to make 200 loaves of bread to send on the supply boat to King Creek and we just made it in time! 'Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the flood and we are glad we can help in any way.' The Senate has commenced moves to unbundle the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) with the consideration of a bill to repeal and re-enact the Nigerian Postal Service Act 2004. A ststement by the Senate Media Office said the bill which scaled second reading on Tuesday was sponsored by Oluremi Tinubu (APC, Lagos Central). Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Mrs Tinubu said the piece of legislation seeks a reform of the Postal Industry and to make Comprehensive Provisions for the Development and Regulation of Postal Services in Nigeria. According to the lawmaker, the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) which dates as far back as 1852, evolved from an exigency of the colonial administration to a Collection Office of the United Kingdom and eventually, to the NIPOST. She recalled that as at 1st of October, 1960, when Nigeria gained independence from colonial rule, there existed one hundred and seventy-six (176) Post Offices, 10 Sub-Post Offices and 1000 Postal Agencies. Mrs Tinubu, however, noted that the agency currently has over nine hundred and fifty five (955) post offices and more than three thousand (3,000) Postal Agencies in the thirty-six States of the Federation. The lawmaker observed that in view of existing realities, it had become imperative for the NIPOST Act to be reviewed to guarantee improved efficiency and service. NIPOST has been touted as having so much potential not only for revenue generation but also for impacting the lives of ordinary Nigerians. However, the Agencys struggles are well known. With its apparent inefficiencies, advancement in technology and the introduction of electronic mail there has been a decline in demand for traditional postal services, thus necessitating a reform in the Agency mode of operation. The Global Postal Industry and indeed, every facet of human life has continued to evolve, thus requiring the Nigerian Postal Industry to rise to the demands of existing realities. Consequently, the subsisting Act which has been in place since 2004 has been overtaken by events and is not reflective of the times we are in. To set NIPOST back on track, we need innovation, integration and inclusion in keeping up with current trends, and introducing ICT to ensure quicker and more effective service delivery. To do this however, it is important to take a look at, and reengineer the Agencys establishment Act, its powers and its functions, the lawmaker said. According to her, the Bill covers implementation of a National Postal Policy, encourages local and foreign investment in the postal industry, ensures the protection of rights and interests of service providers in the sector, makes provision for postal services to areas and towns that were erstwhile not sustainable, and promotes small and medium enterprises in the sector, amongst others. ALSO READ: NIPOST moves to tackle scam mails in Nigeria Mrs Tinubu disclosed that the Bill also provides for the establishment of the Nigerian Postal Service and designates it as Public Postal Operator (PPO), a corporate body with a common seal whose responsibility includes the provision of Universal Postal Services in Nigeria. The clear delineation of roles will make NIPOST more commercially viable, while ensuring more efficient service delivery, she said. The Bill goes further to establish the Nigerian Postal Commission, another corporate body with its own common seal, which shall have the sole responsibility of regulating and supervising the Postal Sector. Mr. President and my Distinguished colleagues, this Bill, if passed will successfully unbundle the Nigerian Postal Service from the huge monstrosity that it currently is. ADVERTISEMENT The Bill splits up the roles of policy maker, independent regulator and industry Operator which NIPOST is currently saddled with. In addition, as NIPOST is currently a dominant operator in the courier and logistics services market, it is imperative, in the interest of our anti-trust and competition laws, and in a bid to ensure an even playing field for all, to separate NIPOST the postal operator from the Regulator, Mrs Tinubu said. She further disclosed that the bill, while providing for Administration and planning of a National Postcode System, in line with global addressing standards, for efficient mail delivery, seeks to establish a Universal Postal Service Fund to be funded through appropriation from the National Assembly. By passing this Bill, we will not only be ensuring that our Postal services are carried out in line with international best practices, we will also be sending a signal to would be investors that we are an investment haven. This bill will serve as catalyst for local and foreign postal investment while attracting skilled personnel in the field, she said. The bill, after scaling second reading, was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Communications. The Committee was given four (4) weeks to report back to the upper chamber. Signed: Ezrel TABIOWO, MBSC, Fsca Special Assistant (Press) to President of the Senate Tuesday, 23rd March, 2021 A bid to introduce climate change legislation in Northern Ireland commenced its journey at Stormont yesterday. Green Party leader Clare Bailey tabled the Private Member's Bill that proposes a commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2045. The bill is supported by Sinn Fein, SDLP, UUP, Alliance, People Before Profit and a number of independent MLAs. The DUP has not signed up. It was developed by the Climate Coalition NI, which is made up of scientists, academics, lawyers and environmental groups. DUP Environment Minister Edwin Poots is developing his own climate change legislation. Proposals put out for public consultation at the end of last year have less ambitious targets. The first stage of the passage of Ms Bailey's bill was procedural and did not involve a debate on the proposed legislation. That will happen at its second stage. If it is backed by a majority of MLAs at that stage it will be referred to an Assembly committee for scrutiny. Ms Bailey said: "Climate breakdown is the defining issue of our time and something that successive Northern Ireland governments and administrations have failed to get to grips with. "Today's first stage reading is an important step in creating the framework for the just transition to a low carbon economy which leaves no citizen behind." Two Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who founded a start-up company that tested fecal matter are facing federal charges after they allegedly defrauded investors and health insurance providers to the tune of more than $95million. Zachary Schulz Apte, 36, and Jessica Sunshine Richman, 46, co-founders of now-bankrupt microbiome testing company uBiome, were indicted Thursday on multiple federal charges, including conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering. Apte, 36, and Richman, 46, founded uBiome in San Francisco in 2012 as a direct-to-consumer service called 'Gut Explorer'. Customers would submit a fecal sample that the company analyzed in a laboratory, comparing the consumer's microbiome to others' microbiomes, prosecutors said. The service cost less than $100 initially. The company grew to include 'clinical' tests of gut and vaginal microbiomes, which were aimed to be used by medical providers so uBiome could seek up to $3,000 in reimbursements from health insurance companies. uBiome billed itself as an 'inventor' of the microbiome industry and marketed its services as being able to 'improve people's lives'. The company began to unravel in 2019 when its offices were raided by the FBI, resulting in the ousters of both Apte and Richman. The company's collapse has been compared to that of Theranos, the blood-testing firm that falsely claimed to have created technology that could enable a wide array of tests with just a few drops of blood. Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is currently awaiting trial on fraud charges similar to those Apte and Richman are facing. uBiome co-founders Zachary Schulz Apte (left) and Jessica Sunshine Richman (right) were indicted on federal charges on Thursday after they allegedly defrauded investors and health insurance providers to the tune of more than $95million Apte, 36, and Richman, 46, founded uBiome in San Francisco in 2012 as a direct-to-consumer service called 'Gut Explorer'. One of their fecal matter-testing kits is shown above The federal indictment against Richman and Apte states that uBiome sought upwards of $300million in reimbursement claims from private and public health insurers between 2015 and 2019. The company was ultimately paid more than $35million for tests that 'were not validated and not medically necessary'. It also allegedly billed insurance providers and patients for tests that hadn't been conducted yet. The defendants are also accused of falsifying documents, lying and concealing facts about their billing model when asked by insurance providers, as well as misleading and defrauding their investors. Apte and Richman's court appearances have not been scheduled, and it was not immediately clear if they had attorneys who could speak on their behalf. The Department of Justice labeled both Apte and Richman as a 'fugitive' in the court documents. The couple are also facing separate civil charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which accused them of fraudulently raising $60million from investors. An SEC complaint said Apte and Richman of 'painted a false picture of uBiome as a rapidly growing company with a strong track record of reliable revenue through health insurance reimbursements for its tests. 'UBiome's purported success in generating revenue, however, was a sham.' Apte is pictured in a promotional video for uBiome, which was billed as an 'inventor' of the microbiome industry and marketed its services as being able to 'improve people's lives' Apte and Richman met in San Francisco in 2012 through the California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences Garage and launched uBiome the same year. The company got its initial funding from a substantial crowdfunding campaign before attracting the attention of top Silicon valley investors - including 8VC and Andreessen Horowitz, which hold 22 percent and 10 percent stakes in uBiome, respectively, according to court documents. uBiome's marketed its 'SmartGut' tests as clinical tools that could be used by doctors to inform decisions about patient care - a designation that made them eligible for coverage by health insurance. The company quickly took off, reaching a peak valuation of $600million. However prosecutors say that valuation was fueled by a series of lies Apte and Richman told during multiple funding rounds. In 2016 the co-founders allegedly told investors that they had brought in more than $200,000 from insurers in November 2015 and February 2016. They said that uBiome's billings to insurers generated more than $850 on average, and that most of its claims were paid within 50 days. In reality, prosecutors said, the company was making far less money and claims were being paid far more slowly. Apte and Richman (pictured together) met in San Francisco in 2012 through the California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences Garage and launched uBiome the same year In another funding round in 2018, Apte and Richman allegedly intentionally hid from investors the fact that most doctors ordering the company's tests were only receiving partial information about the customers - and that most of the revenue was coming from old, unreliable samples. They also allegedly failed to tell investors about multiple complaints the company had received from insurers seeking to recoup payments. Richman is seen receiving an award at the IVY Innovator Technology Awards in 2015 The SEC alleged that by April 2019, uBiome had received letters from at least 18 insurance providers challenging the company's billing practices. One insurer alleged that uBiome was engaged in 'fraud and abuse', the SEC said. The agency did not name the insurance providers who submitted letters but the Wall Street Journal reported that the list included Aetna and Anthem. Richman and Apte married in 2019 and were serving as co-CEOs and board members when the FBI swooped in as part of an investigation into uBiome's billing practices in April of that year. The company subsequently suspended all of its testing and put Richman and Apte on administrative leave until they were later fired. uBiome filed for bankruptcy in September 2019 before going into liquidation and shutting down entirely the following month. The SEC noted that uBiome's board of directors launched an investigation into the company's practices the same month that it was raided by the FBI. That investigation exposed fraudulent practices and 'made clear that uBiome's business model was untenable', the SEC said. Training for aged care work will be overhauled to allow students to specialise in both aged care and disability support for the first time. SkillsIQ chief executive officer Yasmin King said the certificate qualifications were being overhauled to remove unrelated skills, including in PowerPoint, to allow students to specialise in aged care and disability support. The Federal Department of Education Skills and Education commissioned SkillsIQ the review of vocational education and training (VET) qualifications for the aged care sector. Previously you couldnt do the certificate three and specialise in both aged care and in disability, you had to choose one or the other, Ms King said. Vocational training certificates for aged care are under review and being overhauled. Credit:Getty Images Ms King said the national review would discard electives that had been imported from business and other courses to teach skills including PowerPoint. The new aged care and disability courses would provide a sharper focus on palliative care and a range of other health-related skills. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard would like to thank the community of St. Maarten for attending the second edition of the recruitment day held last Saturday. For the day, the Coast Guard opened her doors to all St. Maarten youngsters interested in becoming a Coast Guard officer. Many youngsters with their parents and guardians braved the torrential downpours and gusting winds that day and received information and were able to speak with Coast Guard officers about their work. Some youngsters even faced a challenge set up to measure their physical fitness. The day started at 10 AM at lasted until 1 PM with different stands where both boys and girls could receive useful information about the Coast Guard training. The visitors could take a look at all the Coast Guard equipment, have a visit on the Metal Shark and Cutter where an officer gave lots of information. Many also got the opportunity to do some physical training in the challenge alley and last but not least watch the fly-by of the Coast Guard plane. The Coast Guard was honored with the visit of the Prime Minister of St. Maarten, Silveria Jacobs, and the Minister of Justice, Anna Richardson whom both visited the station during the recruitment day. The Ministers visited all the stands and encouraged all the youngsters and Coast Guard officers in reaching their career goals. For those youngsters who did not make it to the event but are interested in the training, you can visit our Facebook Kustwacht Caribisch gebied for more information about the training and apply online. TEL AVIV, Israel, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuvo Group Ltd.a private company commercializing INVU by Nuvo, an FDA-cleared, prescription-initiated, remote pregnancy monitoring platformtoday announced that it has partnered with Dr. Liz Conradt and Dr. Sheila Crowell, directors of the Child Adaptation and Neurodevelopment (CAN) Labpart of the University of Utah's Department of Psychologyon a study to better understand how prenatal maternal distress is related to children's health outcomes. Supported by a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) grant, the study, titled the Baby Affect and Behavior (BABY) Study, plans to analyze maternal and fetal heart rate variability (changes in the amount of time between heartbeats)as measured by INVUin relation to "emotion dysregulation," which can occur when an individual is under stress or struggles to regulate his or her emotional responses to support effective behavior. The research is currently underway, with full results expected in 2023. According to Drs. Conradt and Crowell, children begin to develop physical, emotional and behavioral attributes (e.g., susceptibility to chronic diseases or mental health disorders) while in utero. These attributes are partially "programmed" based on the mother's emotional prenatal experiences, which may include stressful situations that impact one's heart rate. To better understand this connection, the CAN Lab is using INVU to measure maternal and fetal heart rate variability across more than 200 women in their third trimesters of pregnancy. Study participants span the full range of emotion dysregulation and are being studied for a total of 18 months (pre- and post-birth). This study is the first time INVU is being used to analyze both fetal and maternal heart rate variability based on the maternal and fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) and phonocardiogram (PCG). Nuvo's technology enables the CAN Lab to accurately and remotely capture the fetal and maternal interbeat interval, a critical component in heart rate variability, which currently cannot be captured using standard methods such as cardiotocography (CTG). This precise data may ultimately allow the research team to predict the impact of the mother's emotional state during pregnancy on the child's health outcomes. In addition to allowing for more refined measurements, INVU's remote capabilities allow study participants to measure maternal and fetal heart rates from home, enabling the study to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of remote monitoring has also given the CAN Lab an opportunity to diversify its participants to include women who would otherwise not be able to accommodate an in-person study due to location or other limitations. "Through this study, we hope to advance the science and technology of prenatal programming research to predict health outcomes earlier and more accurately," says Dr. Crowell. "This partnership with INVU is marked by some important 'firsts'it's the first time we've been able to analyze the correlation between maternal-fetal heart rates and emotional dysregulation this precisely, and because of INVU's remote technology, it's also the first time we've been able to extend our research beyond a lab setting. These are significant steps toward our ultimate goal of identifying important developmental periods and individual traits as early as possible in order to prevent the possible maladaptive health effects of prenatal stress exposure during a child's early life." "INVU has been developed to allow expectant mothers to monitor maternal-fetal health from anywhere under the supervision of their physicians," says Amit Reches, chief technology officer, Nuvo Group. "We are thrilled to see our measurement and data capture tools being used in a new and unique way through this partnership with the CAN Lab. At Nuvo, this is what we envision for the future of maternal-fetal healtha holistic approach that brings together a variety of providers and disciplines to ultimately improve the health of future generations." INVU is the first FDA-cleared remote pregnancy monitoring platform that allows expectant mothers to monitor maternal-fetal health from anywhere under the supervision of their physicians. The physician prescribes INVU to the mother, who wears the INVU sensor band during virtual visits. During these visits, a live reading allows the mother to access simplified data and insights via the paired INVU app, while the provider receives fetal and maternal heart rate tracings comparable to the fetal viability checks that normally occur in prenatal visits. INVU is designed to integrate with other peripheral devices, such as blood pressure cuffs, allowing the mother to easily record and track important vitals for her provider to review all on one app. About Nuvo Group Nuvo Group is committed to serving providers and expectant mothers by advancing pregnancy care with new technology, tools and practices. The INVU platform combines proprietary hardware for data collection, innovative cloud-based software for computational power and AI tools to optimize the pregnancy care experience on a global scale. INVU has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. FDA for maternal and fetal heart rate monitoring, and has a 510(k) pending for remote monitoring of maternal uterine activity in the United States. Company leadership is composed of dedicated data engineers, experienced medical and business professionals, software designers and proud parents who embrace a collective mission to give every life a better beginning. For more information and complete current indications, contraindications, warnings and precautions along with instructions for use, visit: www.nuvocares.com About CAN Lab Directors Dr. Elisabeth Conradt and Dr. Sheila Crowell Dr. Conradt is an associate professor of developmental psychology at the University of Utah. Her expertise is in early life stress and neurodevelopment. Dr. Crowell is an associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Utah. She brings expertise in maternal mental health, emotion dysregulation, heartrate variability and risk for the development of psychopathology. Drs. Conradt and Crowell began collaborating in 2014 to better understand how maternal health and wellbeing can affect infant and child emotional and physical health outcomes. This work has been funded by multiple NIH grants and awards from the University of Utah. The ultimate goal of their program of research is to improve mental health within families through research, clinical care and advocacy. SOURCE Nuvo Group Related Links http://www.nuvocares.com Congressman Mo Brooks announced Monday night he will run for Senate next year, a confirmation of his rising Republican profile as a fierce fighter for former President Donald Trump. Brooks made the announcement before more than 300 supporters at a gun club in his hometown of Huntsville. I envy you, former Donald Trump adviser Stephen Miller said of Alabama voters getting to cast the ballot for Brooks. Miller spoke for about 10 minutes before Brooks took the stage. Miller began his speech by saying, I proudly endorse Mo Brooks for Senate. Brooks took the stage to Sweet Home Alabama, waving to supporters and talking about his 10 grandchildren and a daughter with twins on the way. He told the audience, however, that he would not be giving a rah rah campaign speech and instead went through a list of concerns he has for the country. He also said the United States is in danger of losing its status as the greatest country in the history of the world. He also hit again on claims of election theft and voter fraud, a position he staked out early in Congress that made him a leader of the effort to capture a second term for Trump after President Joe Biden had been elected. There has been no evidence of widespread voter fraud despite claims by Trump, Brooks and others. In 2020, we had the worst voter fraud and election theft in history, Brooks told the audience. Brooks has been elected six times to Congress and has won every re-election in a landslide. Many of you may be asking yourself, Why is Mo Brooks giving up a secure House seat for a n opportunity to run for the United States Senate? Brooks said in his speech. There are lots of reasons but let me mention a couple. One, Americas status as the greatest nation in world history is at risk. Its at risk from those within our country for adopting policies that, in the long haul, will hurt America and reduce us to a second-rate country. A second reason is, it has become apparent that I will am and will be the only candidate for the Senate with a record of proven conservative leadership that Alabama voters can see and trust. In these perilous times, I would submit that is important that kind of experience, that kind of record where you dont have to worry about whether Im going to do the right thing, whether Im going to do what I say Im going to do when I campaign and seek your vote. Because my record proves that I do what I say Im going to do on behalf of the people I represent and behalf of this great country. In wrapping up a speech that spanned more than 20 minutes, Brooks cited his status as a founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. I have a proven track record of conservative credentials that voters can look at and rely on, Brooks said. Talking with reporters following the speech, Brooks said he has been in frequent contact with Trump in recent weeks. I have spoken with President Trump quite a few times about this Senate race, Brooks said. Hes called me three times in the last four weeks. Im not in position to speak for President Trump. At some point, the president may decide to become engaged in this race or not. Im going to defer to him the time and place of his stating his position on the Alabama Senate race if hes going to have one. The Alabama Democratic Party, in a statement released Monday night, described Brooks and Miller as terrible human beings. The party sent out a fundraising email over the weekend, seeking to capitalize on opposing Brooks campaign. Stephen Miller and Mo Brooks are not only bad for our country and our democracy; they are terrible human beings. And liars, Wade Perry, executive director of the Alabama Democrats, said in the statement. Good people dont encourage and cheer forced family separation and kids in cages. Good Americans dont lie to fellow Americans about made-up fantasies of election fraud when there is NO EVIDENCE. And good people and good Americans definitely do not foment sedition or violence against our Capitol. They both did and should both be ashamed of themselves. In his speech, Miller referred to Trumps America First movement in describing Brooks as an ideal Senate candidate. Among those in attendance at the rally was Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl and Paul Reynolds, Alabamas national committeeman for the Republican National Committee. Jennie Robinson, a longtime friend of Brooks and his wife, Martha, and president of the Huntsville city council, was also in attendance. Brooks is seeking to replace Sen. Richard Shelby, a giant in Alabama politics who announced his retirement in January. Shelby will finish out his term, which expires in January 2023. This will be Brooks second shot at the Senate. In 2017, he finished third in the GOP primary in the states special election to fill the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions, who had resigned to become U.S. Attorney General in the Trump administration. Brooks has served in Congress since 2010 when he defeated incumbent Parker Griffith. Since then, Brooks has been re-elected five times in landslides in his north Alabama district. Brooks is the second candidate to enter the race, preceded last month by Lynda Blanchard the former ambassador to Slovenia under Trump. Other Republican candidates speculation has centered on to enter the race include Katie Boyd Britt, president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, and Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill. Merrill ran for the Senate in 2020 before dropping out before the Republican primary. Updated today, March 22, 2021, at 7:57 p.m. with new information throughout. Updated today, March 22, 2021 at 10:01 p.m. with statement from Alabama Democratic Party. Burma NCA Signatories Snub Myanmars Armed Forces Day Myanmar coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attends an Armed Forces Day parade in Naypyitaw. / The Irrawaddy Yangon Some signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) say they will not attend an event organized by Myanmars military to mark Armed Forces Day on March 27. The military regimes invitation to the Karen National Union (KNU) to attend the event spread widely on social media, prompting the ethnic armed group to tweet: The KNU will only attend ceremonies that reflect dignity, humanity, justice and freedom for all. A KNU official said: The event coincides with the meeting of the central committee. The meeting will last for a month so it is unlikely that we will attend the Armed Forces Day event. Military tensions are escalating between the military regime and KNU Brigade 5 in Papun District, Karen State, with casualties and residents being forced from their homes. The KNU has provided security for protests against the military dictatorship. U Than Khae, chairman of the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), which also signed the NCA in 2015, said the armed group would not attend the event. I havent received a personal invitation. It might have been sent to the ABSDF office. We have no plans to attend, he said. Another signatory, Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), said it would not attend the event. Major Kham San, spokesman for the Restoration Council of Shan State, said he does not know if the armed group has been invited and the central committee has not made a decision. The NCA signatory has offered asylum to anti-regime protesters, military personnel, police and government employees participating in the civil disobedience movement in its territory. It said it has already given asylum to some individuals. The New Mon State Party (NMSP)s internal affairs officer Nai Banyar Leh said he did not know if the party headquarters has received an invitation and could not say if the group would attend the March 27 event. The Peace Process Steering Team of the NCA signatories announced in February that it fully supports the strikes against the military regime and has halted political dialogue with the military council. The ABSDF, Arakan Liberation Party, Chin National Front, Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, KNU, Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council, PNLO, RCSS, NMSP and Lahu Democratic Union signed the NCA with the government in 2015. Armed Forces Day, also known as Resistance Day, is celebrated annually on March 27, the day Myanmars army pushed back Japanese forces in 1945. The event was canceled last year due to COVID-19. Myanmars military is planning to organize the event this year. You may also like these stories: Made Homeless by Junta, Myanmar Govt Workers Vow to Continue Strike Till Regime Falls Dissidents Fleeing Myanmar Junta Find Shelter and Support with Ethnic Armed Groups Myanmar Junta Fires Striking Ministry of Foreign Affairs Staff Kalrock-Jalan consortium has sought the creation of a task force for allocation of slots and traffic rights to on principle of historicity. The consortium has made this request in its affidavit before the National Law Company Tribunal. It said the task force comprising members from the consortium, resolution professional and civil aviation ministry can be given three months to find an amicable solution, which also protects Jet Airways claim over airport slots and traffic rights. Kalrock-Jalan consortiums submissions and civil aviation ministrys arguments on the issue will be heard on Wednesday. In its submission last week, the civil aviation ministry had said airport slots are not an asset of and it cannot claim historical precedence over them. The consortium has contested the ministrys contention and said the slots are indeed a key intangible asset for the airline and Jet Airways slots cannot be granted to other airlines on a permanent basis since it is under insolvency. While the slot allocation guidelines of 2013 are based on international norms, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code provides for a moratorium and thus Jets slots too would be protected under the code, it has said. The consortium has added that the whole purpose of resolution and revival will be defeated if the slots held by prior to its collapse are not reinstated. Jet Airways shut down in April 2019, following a cash crunch, and is under insolvency since June of that year. The airlines slots and traffic rights were then allocated to other airlines, enabling them to fill the capacity vacuum and launch new services. In its earlier affidavit in December 2019, the civil aviation ministry had said Jet's slots and traffic rights were allocated to other airlines in the larger public interest and purely on a temporary basis. However, the governments latest affidavit filed last weeek was silent on the issue. The ministry said allocating slots to revive Jet Airways would not be an issue, in view of the upgrade of existing airports and the construction of new airports, including Jewar, Mopa, and Navi Mumbai. Together, Maestro and TTI Technologies are putting more distance between guests and staff for a safer experience while heightening asset security For decades, hoteliers have been challenged with protecting their hotel assets from threats, including fraudulent chargeback claims and guests presenting false identification at check-in. Add to that a climate of social unrest and a global health crisis, and todays hotel operators are finding themselves desperate for digital tools that will boost guest and staff security. TTI Technologies Scan2PMS solution, when combined with Maestros property-management system, is better preparing hotel operators for reopening. Via the integrated solution, guests can self-scan their Drivers Licenses and Passports into a sleek, portable device at the front desk, and instantly their photo, name, address, nationality, and date of birth is uploaded to Maestro. With this information on file, hoteliers can refute false chargeback claims and use the captured data for future marketing. More importantly, the contactless service gives guests peace of mind that no one is handling their IDs and that the hotel and law enforcement if needed has accurate information on each person registered. Scan2PMS is playing an important part in contactless guest check in today, said Warren Dehan, Maestro president. With more travelers demanding touchless guest services, hoteliers are finding it easy to take the TTI scanning solution out from behind the front desk and make it accessible to guests so they can scan IDs on their own at registration. Its a simple transition that is making everyone feel safer and it places guests more in control of their experiences. Not only does Scan2PMS remove human error in the data entry process by capturing the data directly from the ID and importing it to our PMS, but it is fast-tracking registration and eliminating the need for front desk attendants to physically touch guests belongings. Together, Maestro and TTI Technologies are putting more distance between guests and staff for a safer experience while heightening asset security. The Grand Resort in Warren, Ohio, is one of many Maestro + Scan2PMS users. General Manager Kelli Denman said the check-in process at front desk registration is much improved due to the Maestro/Scan2PMS integration. She also said guest charge-back claims with the hotels credit-card processor are nearly non-existent. The automatic data capture feature of Scan2PMS is providing an unprecedented level of protection for our hotel, Denman said. With this solution integrated to Maestro, it is doing so much more than just scanning and storing IDs. Today more than ever we are looking for new ways to reduce costs and add more touchless guest services. Maestro and TTI let us do both, including the ability to protect guests when someone says they lost a room key. We can quickly compare the guest requesting a new key with the photo on file associated with the room. And, because the scanners are compact and portable, we can make them accessible to guests for self-check-in. This combo is a real game changer for hotel operations. Town Inn Suites, a newly renovated hotel in downtown Toronto, is also seeing benefits from the joint technology deployment. General Manager Maged Girges said he had been searching for an efficient and reliable scanning solution to streamline the guest ID process. Surprisingly, Girges said he got more than he hoped for. We initially chose TTI Technologies Scan2PMS solution to reduce check-in time for guests, Girges said. But operating through a pandemic, we are finding it is helping us in many other ways. First, its providing a personalized, welcoming service that is safe and effective. Guests appreciate being able to scan their own Drivers Licenses or Passports, and staff appreciate not having to take the IDs and photocopy them in the back room. This really speeds up check in. As GM, I appreciate the time and labor savings, and the ability for our marketing team to use the data like birth date to stay in touch with our guests after their stay. Also, by capturing and validating guest information, it removes the possibility for chargebacks. This simple tool, when tied to Maestro, enhances security and builds loyalty, he said. Being able to offer an enhanced and contactless guest check-in greatly adds to the stay experience. When travel resumes, we want to be doing everything possible to differentiate our hotel from others in the local urban market. Scan2PMS integrated to Maestro will help make that happen more quickly and give us an edge. Maestro Web Browser based software is the preferred cloud and on-premises PMS solution for independent hotels, luxury resorts, conference centers, vacation rentals, and multi-property groups. Maestros PCI-certified and EMV-ready enterprise system offers 20+ integrated modules on a single database, including web, mobile, and contact free apps to increase profitability, drive direct bookings, centralize operations, and enable operators to engage guests with a personalized and safe experience. Maestros Support Service provides unparalleled 24/7 North American based live phone and chat support and education services. Scan2PMS Spring Special for Maestro Users! For almost 30 years TTI Technologies has remained a leader in innovating and delivering global hospitality technology solutions that bridge the gap between technology and human interaction. To help hoteliers with their reopening plans by making operations safer for staff and guests, TTI is offering its scanners available to new customers at a reduced fee through April 30th. To learn more about the Scan2PMS Spring Special, email sales@TTITel.com. TTI Technologies and Maestro have been partners for the last five years in an effort to protect guests against identity theft and hotels from false charge-back claims, said Steve Blidner, TTI Technologies CEO. As the pandemic lingers on, we are working on new ways that hoteliers can leverage our joint solutions to enhance contactless check in and add more layers of security for the betterment of staff and guests alike. There is no better time than NOW to put safeguards in place so that hoteliers can really get to know who is staying at their properties. We encourage all Maestro users to add Scan2PMS today to confidently identify each guest by scanning, and later retrieving, their ID, Drivers License, and/or Passport right into the Maestro PMS system. If you pull the trigger by April 30th, youll save a lot of money too. About Maestro Maestro is the preferred cloud hosted and on-premises PMS solution for independent hotels, luxury resorts, conference centers, vacation rentals, and multi-property groups. Maestros PCI certified and EMV ready enterprise system offers 20+ integrated modules on a single database including touchless and mobile apps to increase profitability, drive direct bookings, centralize operations, and enable operators to engage guests with a safe and personalized experience. For over 43 years Maestros Diamond Plus Service has provided unparalleled 24/7 North American based support and education services to keep hospitality groups operational and productive. for more information on Maestro. Click here to get your free PMS Buying guide. About TTI Technologies TTI Technologies, based in New York City, has been innovating technology in the hospitality industry for thirty years. TTI Technologies takes pride in delivering global hospitality technology solutions that bridge the gap between technology and human interaction to allow your staff focus on serving guests. Sample technology solutions include ID/passport scanners, business centers, mobile printing, lobby tablets, and in room devices. All customizable to your venue. For more information, visit their website, follow them on LinkedIn or call at 646-218-2700. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The trial of a Huntsville police charged with murder has been set for May 3. It was the latest date for William Ben Darby, whose trial was among those postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A pre-trial conference is set for April 6. The trial has already seen several cancellations. Darby shot and killed 49-year-old Jeffrey Parker on April 3, 2018. Parker called police that day, saying he was suicidal and had a gun, authorities said. Officers said they briefly spoke to Parker at the scene on Deramus Avenue. Parker didnt comply with Darbys orders to drop the gun, the police department said, and Darby fatally shot him. In August 2018 months after the police departments internal review board cleared Darby of wrongdoing a Madison County grand jury indicted him on a murder charge. District Attorney Rob Broussard said he was gravely concerned about Darbys actions after seeing body camera video of the shooting. Darby asked Madison County Circuit Judge Donna Pate to grant him immunity from prosecution. The judge declined to do so, and Alabamas appellate courts upheld her ruling. Darby, 27, was on the police force for about two years at the time of the shooting. A federal lawsuit filed last year on behalf of Parkers estate against Darby and the City of Huntsville accuses the city and Darby of excessive force. RELATED: Judge denies immunity for Huntsville officer charged with murder Excessive force lawsuit filed against Huntsville policeman in deadly shooting Police incident review board clears Huntsville officers in fatal shooting Huntsville officer testifies against fellow officer charged with murder Press Release March 23, 2021 NASAAN ANG P570 BILLION? Hontiveros wants special audit on expenditure for pandemic response Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday called for a comprehensive special audit on the government's total expenditure for the COVID-19 pandemic response after continuous record-breaking cases of infection. Hontiveros said the government released around P570 billion pesos for the pandemic response, based on the public documents from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). "Bakit parang missing-in-action yung P570 billion? Saan pumunta ang bilyon-bilyon? Are the funds parked? If they've been exhausted already, bakit parang hindi naman nararamdaman?" she asked. "Everyday we break new records in the number of cases because free mass testing and contact tracing remain mediocre and unsystematic. These are very basic to our pandemic response but for some reason, we still don't know the drill. The public needs to be able to see for itself that the P570 billion truly did reach the people and create the results we hoped for. Did it help MSMEs re-open and retain employees? Do we have enough isolation units fully equipped with personnel and supplies? Are there enough capable grassroots health emergency response teams now actively reaching out to those quarantined?" she added. The senator said she will file a resolution to investigate 'where the funds are, how they were utilized, and how they can be mobilized if unused'. She added that it was 'crucial' to conduct the audit in light of the 'ever-increasing loans' especially that the government has a record of overspending, citing the overpriced test kits, nucleic acid extractors and personal protective equipment (PPE) exposed in 2020. "This new resolution I will file will cover both Bayanihan 1 and Bayanihan 2. Those 2 emergency laws were passed specifically to fund the fight against COVID-19, pero halatang nagkukulang tayo. We need to see the gaps so we can aggressively fill them in. We need a full audit to see our real status, para makabawi tayo sa pumapalpak nating response. Kailangan nating siguraduhin na bawat piso natin ay pumupunta sa pinakangangailangan," she said. "With the overwhelming number of cases we face, that is 671,792 reasons why we need to conduct a special audit immediately, and counting. Maraming nangangailangan ng ayuda para sa pagkain at gamot, at maraming health care workers ang hindi pa nakakatanggap ng benepisyo. It is our duty to the public to make this massive expenditure transparent. We need to mobilize any funds we have wisely so we can finally clearly see the light at the end of this very long pandemic tunnel," Hontiveros concluded. While the migrant crisis plaguing the Biden administration still pales in comparison to another peak under then-President Trump in 2019, the trends are alarming and only expected to get worse with warmer weather. The big picture: The Biden administration is seeing a weekly average of about 500 unaccompanied children cross the southwest border every day, and it was able to return to Mexico just 10% of the migrant families who crossed illegally Saturday, according to government data provided to Axios. Driving the news: If the average number of unaccompanied kids holds, there could be more than 15,000 crossing the border in March more than the administration's projected peak of 13,000 in May, as Axios reported last month. The Biden administration has continued to say they are using a public health order to return migrant families to Mexico, but the percentage of families expelled has steadily fallen. Only 10% of the more than 1,800 families caught crossing the border Saturday were expelled under the order, according to documents leaked to Axios. Administration officials have pointed to Mexico's limited capacity to take in families, especially those with young children. The administration also has chosen to not use a Trump-era policy and is allowing unaccompanied children to remain in the United States rather than expelling them. By the numbers: Migration trends vary, but April and May have typically been peak months for migration because of milder weather. During the 2014 crisis under President Obama, the number of unaccompanied children crossing the border did not surpass 8,000 until May, reaching a peak of 10,620 in June, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. Just last month, there already were more than 9,000 unaccompanied kids apprehended by the Border Patrol also surpassing every month of the crisis year of 2019, except May. The other side: The Biden administration is avoiding 2019's never-before-seen levels of family migration so far. But February numbers more than doubled from the month before, even with officials quickly returning some families to Mexico. The bottom line: The Biden administration is trying to address the problems through meetings with Mexico and Guatemala, hotel contracts, temporary overflow shelters, rolling back COVID-19 protocols and expedited migrant release. School districts in Onondaga County will be able to space students 3 feet apart in classrooms without having to use barriers or shields, County Executive Ryan McMahon said today. The move frees up school districts to bring back more students more easily for in-person instruction. McMahon said the county will be returning many of the thousands of barriers it ordered, but will keep some in case schools want to use them in cafeterias. The Centers for Disease Control recommended Friday students can sit 3 feet apart in classes instead of 6 feet, and also said barriers or sneeze guards are not required. McMahon said the county will adopt those recommendations for school districts here. The announcement should be a game-changer for schools that have been working on plans to get students back into school four or five days a week. Students will have to wear masks, McMahon said. In the classrooms now you will not need to have a partition so we will update our guidance related to that for the districts,' McMahons said. McMahon said the CDC performed a lot of tests in schools, and confirmed what the county already knew: transmission is not happening in the buildings. The partitions will not be an issue anymore,' he said. Some school districts were worried the barriers wouldnt arrive in time to launch full in-person learning. The county has ordered thousands of partitions from national and local vendors. He said they will keep some to see if districts want them possibly in lunchrooms. McMahon said. Asked today about the new CDC guidelines, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the 3 feet depends on the transmission rate in that school district and hasnt yet been adopted by the state. The 52-year-old mother and grandmother killed when she was hit by a woman police say was street racing is being remembered for her joy and her devotion to taking care of others. Brandy Lee Moore Ballard, a home health care worker and grandmother of five, was on her way to work just after 6 a.m. Sunday when authorities say her 2007 Ford Focus was struck by a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro that crossed over the center lane of traffic. She was the glue of our family,' said Tammy Morgan, Ballards former sister-in-law and close friend. She had a heart of gold. The deadly accident happened at 6:10 a.m. Sunday in the 800 block of Arkadelphia Road. Authorities said Ballard was traveling southbound in the 800 block of Arkadelphia Road Sunday morning when her 2007 Ford Focus was hit by a Chevrolet Camaro that crossed over the center line into Ballards lane of traffic. Police and coroners officials said investigators believe the Camaro was racing another vehicle at the time of the deadly crash. The crash happened at 6:10 a.m. and Ballard was pronounced dead four minutes later. She was just two blocks from her home. Sgt. Rod Mauldin said witnesses observed vehicles racing prior to the accident. It was determined that one of the drivers who was reportedly racing left the scene of the accident. Late Monday afternoon, Birmingham police announced the arrest of 22-year-old Carmesia Latreece Flannigan on charges of murder, leaving the scene of an accident with injury and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. She is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on bonds totaling $175,000. At the time of Flannigans arrest on Monday, she was already awaiting trial on a first-degree domestic violence charge from earlier this year and a burglary charge from last year. In the domestic violence case, court records show, Flannigan is accused of firing a gun into an occupied dwelling on Jan. 3, wounding a woman in the foot. Charging documents describe the victim as a current or former parent. She was arrested Jan. 8 and released the same day on $15,000 bond. In March of 2020, authorities contend, Flannigan broke into a home armed with a gun with intent to commit a theft. She was released from jail on $25,000 bond in that incident. In December, the burglary case was forwarded to be heard by a grand jury for indictment consideration. Ballard, a graduate of Minor High School, was a caretaker for the elderly in their homes. She was always helping somebody, whether it be with clothes or food,' Morgan said. She never asked for anything in return. " She had a passion for helping people with substance abuse problems. She would take them in, get them straight, get them into rehab, help them get on their feet and have a better life,' Morgan said. The family was told drugs were found in the suspect vehicle, as evident by the drug possession charge. She helped people like that, Morgan said, and she got killed by someone like that. Ballard, whose husband, a veteran, had died, had one living son and another who had passed away. She loved to fish and be on the water. She kept a camper on Dauphin Island that she frequently visited. She was very outgoing,' Morgan said. If you were down in the dumps, she would make you laugh. Brandy Ballard, 52, was killed Sunday, March 21, 2021, when police say she was struck by a Camaro that was street racing. (Contributed) Ballard attended the Church of the Highlands Fultondale campus where she always took part in the churchs Serve Day. She was a godly woman,' Morgan said. She trusted God. She always told us, Give it to God.' She also made sure the family always got together, especially on holidays. She loved to cook for everybody,' Morgan said. She always wanted to make people happy. She wanted to be surrounded by happy people. Her niece, Tabatha Moore, said the family wants justice for Ballard and for police to further crack down on illegal street racing. Birmingham police have been focusing on street racing in the city for several months and have issued multiple citations during ongoing operations. They said several traffic deaths in the city have been linked to street racing. That really needs to be addressed,' Moore said. Family members have launched a GoFundMe to help with Ballards burial. Donations can be made here. Meanwhile, those who loved Ballard are trying to imagine a future without her. Its going to be hard to go on without her,' Morgan said. They took a beautiful soul. It was a trot-heavy Monday at Woodbine Mohawk Park as the Campbellville oval hosted a set of series finals for the square-gaiters plus the weekly edition of the Preferred Trot as part of its 11-race program. Sheswildnfree went down in flames as the 1-9 favourite after making an early miscue in last weeks second leg of the Wine & Roses Trotting Series, but she was solid gold in Mondays bounce back score in the $34,400 final. In rein to Sylvain Filion, the Ben Baillargeon trainee sped off the gate and took on Impulse Buy to the quarter pole in :27.3 before sweeping past that foe and grabbing the lead. Sheswildnfree then buzzed through middle splits of :57.1 and 1:25.4 before using a :28.3 closing quarter to win by 4-1/4 lengths over Impulse Buy in 1:54.2. Taking home third prize was Charlotte Chaplin. Bred and owned by Tom and Elizabeth Rankin of St. Catharines, ON, the mare improved her 2021 record to four wins from five starts. The six-time winner lifted her lifetime earnings to $77,158 with the win. The victory was one of six on the card by driver Sylvain Filion. The Quebec native also lit the lamp with Cool Rock (Race 4- 1:53.1), Bettim Again (Race 6 - 1:53.4), Hope So (Race 7 - 1:58.1) and Bluemoon Bayama (Race 8 - 1:53.4). He also rallied to a 1:52.4 triumph in the $34,000 Preferred Trot with the Ben Baillargeon-trained Zig Zag. The five-year-old son of Royalty For Life-Lady Donato laid off hot fractions of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:24.2 before exploding home in :27.4 to win by a half-length margin over Perfetto. Third prize went to Its Academic. Baillargeon shares ownership on the 10-time winner with Claude Hamel, Richard Thompson and Santo Vena. The $17,000 payday bumped his bankroll to $195,078. Trainer Baillargeon added another win later on the card with Bautista (Race 10 - 1:54.3) to bring his nightly win total to three and his yearly total at Mohawk Park to 12. RJs Invictus swept off cover to post an 8-1 upset in the $35,800 final of the Family Day Trotting Series for the duo of driver Bob McClure and trainer Ray Lowery. The homebred got away fifth in the early going while So Long Hanover and Franks Angel battled to the quarter pole in :28 before Franks Angel marched by to take the lead. He cruised through middle splits of :57.1 and 1:25.4 while feeling first-over pressure from Meadowbranch Noble. RJs Invictus was tracking cover from second over, and when the field swung into the lane McClure flipped his charge off cover and went into attack mode. RJs Invictus kicked home in :28.1 which was just enough to fend off the late-driving favourite, Toccoa Falls, by a neck in 1:54.1. Charmbo Prince, who was perfect in the preliminary legs, came on strong to finish third. It was a lifetime best performance for the four-year-old son of Windsong Espoir-Kawartha Dukesgirl, who is owned by Russell Lowery of Maynooth, ON. The three-time winner now owns a 1-2-0 record from four trips to the track this season. The lions share of the loot lifted his overall cash stash to $50,899. To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results Woodbine Mohawk Park. COVID-19 Impact on Medical Supplies Market Growth, Trends, Size Analysis by Type (Infusion Products, Blood Collection Tubes, Wound Care Products, Dialysis Consumables, Surgical Drapes, Adult Incontinence Products, Blood Glucose Test Strips), Application (Urology, Wound Care , Anesthesia, Sterilization) and End User Till 2022 Medical Supplies Market Scope The global medical supplies market size is expected to reach a valuation of USD 132 billion by 2022. Major drivers of the medical supplies market comprise the large geriatric pool, rise of chronic disease cases, and launch of advanced devices and equipment. Adoption of safety-enhanced devices for parenteral delivery of drugs to patients, inhalation therapies, and IV and dialysis solutions are likely to bode well for the market. Medical supplies, commonly known as medical equipment, are used in healthcare settings for diagnosis and treatment of patients. Large volume of patients and paucity of hospitals are likely to create demand for medical supplies. The global medical supplies market report by Market Research Future (MRFR) estimates the market size, volume, and other projections for its segments during the period of 2016 to 2022 (forecast period). Request Free Sample Copy at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2433 The outbreak of deadly diseases such as COVID-19, Zika, Ebola, and others have triggered the need for medical supplies. Manufacturers have doubled down their efforts for the manufacture of ventilators, surgical gowns, gloves, and others during the crisis. In addition, development of vaccines which are oral or edible can augur favorably for the global medical supplies market. Efforts for preventing hospital-acquired infections by stressing on the use of disposable syringes can work well. Rising use of dialysis procedures, increasing number of cases of diabetes, and a large patient pool for renal diseases will create opportunities for the market. Medical Supplies MarketSegmentation The global medical supplies market is segmented by type, application, and end user. By type, medical supplies market is segmented into surgical drapes, infusion products, blood glucose test strips, blood collection tubes, wound care products, dialysis consumables, and adult incontinence products. On the basis of application, medical supplies market is segmented into anesthesia, urology, wound care, and sterilization. On the basis of end user, medical supplies market is segmented into nursing homes, hospitals, and clinics. Hospitals are expected to command a large market share owing to patients' preference of hospitals for diagnosis of serious ailments. Establishment of hospital chains in rural and suburban areas for better outreach to patients can induce the need for medical supplies. In addition, the sudden nature of emergencies which lead to the admittance in hospitals can fuel medical supplies market demand. Medical Supplies Market Regional Outlook North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Middle East & Africa (MEA) are regions taken into consideration with respect to the global medical supplies market. North America is predicted to be the largest region for the medical supplies market. This can be attributed to the presence of various medical device manufacturers, advanced healthcare infrastructure, and recommended expertise of medical professionals. Browse Detailed Table of Content with COVID-19 Impact Analysis at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/medical-supplies-market-2433 APAC is the fastest growing region of the medical supplies market with developing economies investing in upgrading their healthcare infrastructure for the public. The influx of large number of patients due to medical tourism, sharp rise of chronic diseases, and the large geriatric pool are factors driving regional medical supplies market growth. Medical Supplies Market Competition Outlook Boston Scientific Corporation, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Halyard Health, Inc., 3M Company, Johnson & Johnson, Baxter International Inc., and Medtronic plc are key players of the global medical supplies market. Mergers and acquisitions are to be witnessed in the market as the industry heads towards consolidation. NOTE: Our team of researchers are studying Covid19 and its impact on various industry verticals and wherever required we will be considering covid19 footprints for a better analysis of markets and industries. Cordially get in touch for more details. About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. COVID-19 Impact on Medical Supplies Market Growth, Trends, Size Analysis by Type (Infusion Products, Blood Collection Tubes, Wound Care Products, Dialysis Consumables, Surgical Drapes, Adult Incontinence Products, Blood Glucose Test Strips), Application (Urology, Wound Care, Anesthesia, Sterilization) and End User Till 2022 Medical Supplies Market Scope Petrofac has found itself in an unenviable situation after being suspended from bidding on new projects by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc). Petrofac has lost access to three of the largest and most promising oil and gas project markets in not just the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, but globally, says GlobalDatas MEED. The considerable setback has been brought about by a single former executive of the company facing bribery allegations levelled by the UKs Serious Fraud Office. David Lufkin, a British national and former global head of sales at Petrofac, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of bribery linked to deals in Iraq and Saudi Arabia in February 2019. He admitted to paying middlemen to win two project contracts in Iraq worth $730 million, and three projects in Saudi Arabia worth $3.5 billion. Indrajit Sen, Oil & Gas Editor of GlobalDatas MEED, comments: The scandal has since caused Petrofac to lose out on project opportunities in both those markets. According to sources, while operators in Iraq have relaxed punitive measures on Petrofac, allowing the contractor to bid for a few specific projects, Saudi Aramco continues to boycott the UK firm, not inviting it to bid for its projects. The same corruption case continues to rattle Petrofac. Adnocs decision to suspend the contractor from bidding for new projects in Abu Dhabi relates to Lufkin additionally pleading guilty, in January, to making corrupt offers and payments between 2012 and 2018 to influence the award of contracts worth approximately $3.3 billion to Petrofac in the UAE. Sen continues: Project awards in the UAE accounted for roughly 10% of Petrofacs revenues in 2019. Therefore, the ban by Adnoc has, presumably, come as a harder blow for the companys energy business prospects. Moreover, the contractor was expected to be in the running for a handful of key engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts in Abu Dhabi, most notably for the onshore package the larger of the two packages of the estimated $1.65 billion Dalma offshore sour gas field development megaproject. The embargo of sorts that Petrofac is suffering in the region demonstrates that state energy majors have zero tolerance for foul play in business and are keen to weed out corrupt practices to win contracts. As national oil companies proceed with the execution of crucial energy development and economic diversification strategies, they are sending out a clear message that they want to do business with ethical stakeholders only. -- Tradearabia News Service With the leader of the fictional NCIS team allegedly set to say goodbye to the cast, CBS certainly has motivation to find a way to keep the franchise going, and it looks like the plan is already in place. Fans have been thrilled to find out the latest iteration of the popular crime drama is headed to Hawaii, but the upcoming series is in its early stages, and several questions remain. One of the details that still remains to be seen is whether or not the show will actually be filmed in Hawaii, but there are some clues we can use to make a good guess. NCIS: Hawaii would be the fourth NCIS spinoff Mark Harmon as Special Agent Leroy Gibbs on the set of NCIS | Monty Brinton /CBS via Getty Images RELATED: NCIS: The Failed Spinoff That Gave Us NCIS: New Orleans NCIS started off as a spinoff itself. JAG premiered back in 1995, and it followed the legal teams working within the Navys Judge Advocate General offices. The show wrapped up in 2005, but not before planting the seed to launch NCIS, which premiered in 2003. The long-running series is still on the air and currently looking toward a potential 19th season. Meanwhile, the formula has proved so successful that CBS has worked to replicate it in different settings with spinoffs of its own. The first was set in Los Angeles and premiered in 2009. That series is enjoying a successful run and is currently in its 12th season. A second spinoff called NCIS: Red was in the works and planned to be launched on NCIS: Los Angeles, but it didnt pan out and never made it past the two launching episodes. Instead, CBS went with a new spinoff idea and launched NCIS: New Orleans from NCIS. That series has been on the air since 2014, and is currently in Season 7, which will be its last. The upcoming NCIS: Hawaii is expected to bring back some of the New Orleans team. NCIS: New Orleans was filmed on location Is this lone wolf killer actually working with a pack? Find out TONIGHT on an all-new #NCISNOLA at 10/9c. https://t.co/NWnyRiqfgh pic.twitter.com/a4imnDl3ME NCIS: New Orleans (@NCISNewOrleans) February 28, 2021 RELATED: Why Is NCIS: New Orleans Cancelled After Season 7? NCIS: New Orleans takes many of fans favorite elements about the original show and plays them out in a new locale. Starring Scott Bakula as Special Agent Dwayne Pride, it features a team of specialists who work together to solve crimes involving military personnel in the city of New Orleans. The original NCIS is set in the Washington, DC area, but it is actually filmed in Southern California. California, being the home to Hollywood and excellent weather, is often a stand-in locale for series that take place across the country, but thats not the case for the other NCIS spinoffs. Both NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans are filmed in their title locations. The Los Angeles series, naturally, takes advantage of the Paramount Studios lot in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, NCIS: New Orleans was filmed on location across the Big Easy with the sound studio located in Jefferson Parish. CBS already has Hawaii connections With the knowledge that both NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: Hawaii use their title locations to film, it seems reasonable that NCIS: Hawaii would actually be filmed on location in the Aloha State. Further evidence to suggest that a Hawaii film location makes sense is the fact that CBS already has connections and the groundwork laid in the state. Hawaii Five-0 was a CBS dramatic series that followed the head of a government task force in Hawaii. It premiered in 2010 and ran for ten seasons before wrapping up in 2020. Since CBS filmed Hawaii Five-0 on location not that long ago, its reasonable to expect that the network still has connections in place to make an easy transition for filming NCIS: Hawaii. The Chatterbox Drive-in restaurant finally was being demolished on Tuesday, more than two years after closing, but the memories remained. Poignant traces of the 1950s/60s-themed restaurants heyday were turning up amid the rubble. A 1968 record by Booker T. & the M.G.s, whose signature hit was Green Onions, was spotted on the floor in the dining area. The dining area, which throughout the Chatterboxs 15-year run featured a rotating series of vintage vehicles, has been gutted on Monday but a sign touting Wanderers Club deejay Doc South, a fixture at the Chatterbox every Saturday night, endured on a beam, above a broom and a blue tarp. So, too, were more than a dozen, 45 rpm singles arrayed along a wall. 45 rpm record singles line the wall. The Chatterbox restaurant, which closed in 2018 and will be replaced by a Wawa, is being demolished, in Frankford Township, N.J. March, 23, 2021 Workers began demolishing the exterior of the building on Tuesday morning, prompting some longtime fans to pull over for a final farewell. It was not clear how long the process might take. Brad Jones of Andover was taking photos from the adjoining, state-run park and ride. My family, my kids we loved the place. Service was always good. Always a good experience, Jones said. Demolition of the fondly-remembered, 1950s/60s-themed Chatterbox restaurant is underway in Frankford #NJ. The entrance sign, shown here being taken down, is where fans once lined up to greet actor @hwinkler4real, who played Fonzie on TVs Happy Days. pic.twitter.com/nzKTLfoMZO Rob Jennings (@RobJenningsNJ) March 23, 2021 The buildings demolition is the poignant, final act in a saga that began in late 2017 when owner Don Hall announced a sale agreement with the Wawa convenience store. The Chatterbox ended its run on Labor Day Weekend 2018, with scores of fans paying a final visit. The sale, however, was not finalized until December 2020. The process was slowed in part by a state Department of Transportation review of an access lane to the Wawa, which will be built across from a QuickChek that opened one week before the Chatterbox closed. Wawa has not said when the new store will open. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Dining room at the Chatterbox restaurant, which closed in 2018 and will be replaced by a Wawa, is being demolished, in Frankford Township, N.J. March, 23, 2021 Jones, who lives in Andover, said he wishes Wawa would have agreed to use the building, which became one of the countys best-known locations. The Chatterbox expanded on a concept developed by the prior owner when the restaurant was known as Sonnys. The building dates to 1998. Its a shame, Jones said. Hall, contacted Tuesday, extended a gracious welcome to the incoming host. Ive got no regrets on anything. It was time to move on. Wawa is good people, and theyll be good to the community, Hall said. The Chatterbox was unlike any other restaurant in the region. In addition to the vintage vehicles, it featured dozens of movie posters and other memorabilia on the walls, along with model trains running on a track above the tables. Thursdays were known as Bike Night and had a loyal following among motorcyclists. One of the Chatterboxs biggest days was in 2013, when actor Henry Winkler Fonzie from TVs Happy Days greeted long lines of fans. Winkler sat at a table not far from the entrance sign that was ripped down on Tuesday. Jones was there that day. He was very cool, he said, imitating Fonzies signature, thumbs-up gesture. The Chatterbox restaurant, which closed in 2018 and will be replaced by a Wawa, is being demolished, in Frankford Township, N.J. March, 23, 2021 Sign at the Chatterbox restaurant, which closed in 2018 and will be replaced by a Wawa, is being demolished, in Frankford Township, N.J. March, 23, 2021 Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Charleston, WV (25301) Today Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 23:31:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- Multiple events to mark CPC centenary. -- Seventy-two years on, the CPC has proved itself to be an excellent ruling party, presenting remarkable results in the "big exam." -- CPC prepared for new tests ahead. BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Tuesday marks the beginning of the 100-day countdown to the centenary anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). In just a century, it has grown into the world's largest Marxist ruling party with more than 91 million members and turned China into the world's second-largest economy. The CPC has grown up amid trials and tribulations, led the Chinese people in achieving monumental achievements, and created a great miracle in the history of human civilization, said Wang Xiaohui, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, at a press conference held by the CPC Central Committee. UPCOMING CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS A series of events will be held to celebrate the Party's centenary anniversary. They will include a Party-wide campaign on CPC history learning and education and a grand gathering to mark the CPC's founding. The CPC Central Committee will award the July 1 Medal, the Party's highest honor, to outstanding Party members for the first time. A commemorative medal will be granted to more than 7.1 million people with a Party membership of 50 years or above. Meanwhile, major theme exhibitions, theatrical performances, seminars, and symposiums on theoretical studies will be part of the celebrations. Holding events to review the historic achievements by the Party and the country is of far-reaching significance to inspire the people to embark on the new journey of building a modern, socialist China confidently, Wang said at the press conference. "BIG EXAM" 72 YEARS AGO Exactly 72 years ago, the CPC leaders packed up and left Xibaipo, then the base of the CPC Central Committee in north China's Hebei Province, heading to the 350-kilometer-away Beijing. Aerial photo taken on June 20, 2019 shows a view of Xibaipo Village of Pingshan County, north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong) Based in the small village from May 1948 to March 1949, the CPC leadership led a series of major military successes against Kuomintang troops. They secured a countrywide victory in the revolution and then established the New China. On March 23, 1949, Mao Zedong compared the trek to "going for a big exam in the capital city" as they were leaving Xibaipo. Seventy-two years on, the CPC has proved itself to be an excellent ruling party, presenting remarkable results in the "big exam." Built from ruins and chaos left by the Kuomintang Party, China, under the leadership of the CPC and with the efforts of the Chinese people, has become the world's second-largest economy. It is the biggest industrial country, the largest goods trader, and the largest holder of foreign exchange reserves. Today, China has the largest social security system globally, with basic medical insurance covering over 1.3 billion people and basic old-age insurance covering nearly 1 billion. The average life expectancy of the Chinese has risen to 77.3 years. The country has also eliminated poverty, meeting the poverty eradication target set out in the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. Tourists view local snacks in Hongyagu scenic spot in Pingshan County, north China's Hebei Province, Oct. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhao Danhui) The Party has united and led the Chinese people in making outstanding achievements, said Xu Lin, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and director of China's State Council Information Office. "China's development not only delivers a decent life to its people but also benefits the world." PERSISTENT STRUGGLE TO PASS NEW TESTS With China's targeted efforts to find effective and well-suited solutions to alleviate poverty, Pingshan County, where Xibaipo is, was removed from the poverty list in October 2018. The county is developing tourism and green industries to expand its poverty alleviation achievements. It also continues to promote rural vitalization. "Although the revolutionary base of Pingshan has shaken off poverty, we still face new tests," said Dong Xiaohang, Party chief of the county. He added that high-quality development would be the focus of Pingshan in the next five years. Poverty is only one of the difficulties and obstacles on China's way to march toward socialist modernization and national rejuvenation. "We need to combat new challenges. They include the intertwined old and new types of corruption within the Party, the country's economic transition, and problems related to the environment and resources," said Xin Ming, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee holds a press conference to shed light on the celebration activities for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Facing news tests, the CPC leadership urged its members to be clear-headed and determined to prepare for tough tests in delivering performances that can withstand the test of time in the new era. Qu Qingshan, head of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, called for efforts to uphold Party leadership and Marxism, unwaveringly uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, and rely on the people. (Video reporters: Zhang Shuang, Yang Mu; Video editor: Liu Yuting; Poster: Liu Hongde, Wang Jingyun, Zhou Xuanni, Ji Jiayue) Brazil's high court has shot down a request from the country's president to overturn lockdown measures that were imposed by three governors to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Supreme Court judge Marco Aurelio Mello on Tuesday tossed out a lawsuit that had been filed by President Jair Bolsonaro, who argued that the curfews that were set in place by the governors in the states of Bahia, Rio Grande do Sul and the Federal District, home to the nation's capital, were a 'state of siege.' In his ruling, judge Mello rejected Bolsonaro's petition because Brazilian law did not grant him the right to sue the court alone, largely in part because he had signed the lawsuit documents by himself without the Attorney General's Office. 'The Chief Executive personifies the Union, assigning judicial representation to the Attorney General the practice of acts in court. Considering the gross error, there is no room for procedural reorganization,' Mello wrote. Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro learned on Tuesday that the Supreme Court had rejected his lawsuit to stop the governors of Bahia, Rio Grande do Sul and the Federal District from continuing to impose a curfew. Bolsonaro compared the measure by the governors to a 'state of siege' A family in Brasilia, Federal District, bids farewell to a family member who died of the coronavirus. The pandemic has killed 295,425 people in Brazil A nurse is pictured tending to several patients last Wednesday inside the intensive care unit of a hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil Bolsonaro challenged the governors of Bahia, Rio Grande do Sul and the Federal District by claiming that the laws banning non-essential activities during the course of a pandemic could only be applied by congress and not by measures set forth by governors. Bolsonaro said it was the Supreme Court's duty to 'establish that, even in cases of proven sanitary need, measures to close non-essential services require legal support and must preserve the minimum economic autonomy of people, enabling personal and family subsistence.' He also added that there was no proof that placing a night curfew would prevent people from being infected with the virus. However, Mello refuted Bolsonaro's claims by indicating that governments at the local, state and federal levels were all responsible in determining which measures could be put into place to combat an epidemic that continues to ravage Brazil. The Supreme Court judge also took Bolsonaro and his unwarranted 'totalitarian vision' to task in handling the coronavirus pandemic. 'In view of the democratic airs experienced, improper, in all respects, it is the totalitarian vision. The president of the Republic is responsible for the larger leadership, the coordination of efforts aimed at the well-being of Brazilians ', wrote the minister. A COVID-19 patient rests inside an intensive care unit at the Hospital das Clinicas in Porto Alegre, Brazil, last Friday Supporters of Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro take part in a protest near the house of Sao Paulo governor Joao Doria on Sunday According to data released Tuesday by John Hopkins University, Brazil was second to the United States with 295,425 confirmed coronavirus deaths and 12,047,526 infections. The southern state of Rio Grande do Sul is fourth in the country with 17,157 deaths and 793,008 cases, including a total of 101,603 that were reported between March 9 and March 22. Bahia is fifth, having registered 14,224 deaths and 770,430 infections, including 55,012 in the previous 13 days. The Federal District, located in the central west region, is 14th in the nation with 330,756 cases, including 22,217 during the last 13 days. It ranks 16th with 5,441 cases. Federal District governor Ibaneis Rocha, who on March 8 imposed a 10pm to 5am curfew, maintained that the orders imposed by his fellow governors did not violate any federal laws. 'The decrees have nothing unconstitutional and were issued within the competence established by me, in the Constitution itself and in the law,' he said. Bahia governor Rui Costa said Bolsonaro's behavior only added strength to a pandemic that has made the country the virus' epicenter in Latin America. 'The president of the republic reaffirms with his posture, his conduct, that he is the main ally of the virus in Brazil,' Costa said. 'His conduct indicates that he is the main ally of the wave of deaths that happens throughout. His behavior reaffirms that he is responsible for the economy being practically paralyzed throughout the country, for trade to be closed, for the growth of unemployment.' Despite seeing his court challenge come up short, Bolsonaro on Tuesday swore in his fourth health minister since the pandemic. Sources told Reuters that a private ceremony was held where cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga officially replaced Eduardo Pazuello, an active-duty army general with no prior medical experience who has overseen most of Brazil's pandemic response. The World Health Organization's (WHO) regional director for the Americas, Carissa Etienne, said on Tuesday that the virus is surging 'dangerously' across Brazil, and urged all Brazilians to adopt preventive measures to stop the spread. LIKE most people, Ive sadly lost close family members over the years and have experienced the front pew view of the Irish funeral, facing the comforting repetitive ritual of handshakes and sorry for your troubles condolences. The steady procession is sometimes broken by the appearance of a surprising face the person you didnt necessarily expect to see at the funeral but whose presence conveys a deep acknowledgement of your loss and their respect or love for you or your loved one. Those surprising kindly faces often dissolve any stoic demeanour, releasing a flow of tears, hugs and comforting pats on the back. Sitting further back in the church as a mourner, Ive listened to bitter-sweet eulogies and cried over friends gone too soon, or friends parents who were good people that raised kind humans. In Ireland, showing up for a funeral is a demonstration of consolation and a huge part of the grieving process. The pandemic has robbed the bereaved of so much comfort and consolation this past year. Now condolences are offered on webpages, or by hugging the perimeter of a church ground, or by clutching to the side of roads on the way to the graveyard. The community still turns up to console, but at a distance. A few years ago, I had the privilege of making a documentary about Marymount Hospice when it was moving from its old building on Wellington Road to its state-of-the-art purpose-built facility in Curraheen. We filmed with people in their final months as they went through the difficult process of dying and saw first hand the profound work palliative care teams do to make that process less difficult. We witnessed the medical, physical, emotional and spiritual support that is needed to help people who know they havent long to live and are trying to work out whats important to do in the time thats left. What surprised me most was how the spirit of the hospice enables people with terminal diagnoses to live their lives meaningfully right up until their dying day, and the capacity of the human spirit to grow in the face of heartbreaking sadness. The depth of care, understanding and empathy that hospice staff have mean patients and families are deeply comforted knowing that they are being minded and are in safe hands. Interestingly, some nurses had originally trained as midwives and had retrained later in life to become palliatives care nurses, considering palliative care to be a type of midwifery for the soul. Spending six months in Marymount as an observer was an important life lesson that will stay with me till my own dying day. Which is why I have been following closely the progression of the Dying with Dignity bill tabled by Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny and supported publicly by cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan. It proposes legislating for medically assisted suicide to allow people with terminal diagnoses to choose when and how they die. In societies similar to ours, where Medical Assistance in Dying is legislated for, between 0.5% to 4% of all those dying choose and implement that option. There were 31,134 deaths registered in Ireland in 2019, so potentially between 155 to 1,245 people may request medically assisted dying should future legislation be implemented. The Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) believes the bill represents a seismic shift in legislative terms which will impact on all areas of society and particularly challenges the principle that palliative care intends neither to hasten nor postpone death. The deadline for public submissions to the Committee on Justice was in January and the IHF believes there should be a comprehensive, in-depth debate on assisted dying in 2021. In a letter to The Irish Times last year, the Irish Palliative Medicine Consultants Association said: We are gravely concerned by any proposal to legislate for assisted suicide and euthanasia in Ireland. They believe that dying with dignity already exists in Irish healthcare and have specific concerns about older adults, vulnerable patients and patients with mental health conditions They said: Many in our society dont really know what dying is like, or how rare it is that severe pain cannot be controlled. Most people do not see that within the easing of physical, psychological or spiritual distress and addressing peoples fears, hopes, sadness and loss, the goal of palliative care remains to enhance the living of each life which often transforms the experiences of living, dying and bereavement for individual patients and their families. These are the words of doctors who lead the palliative care teams in Irelands hospices and hospitals and deal with the process of dying daily. A meaningful and respectful debate is required and any future legislation will require significant scrutiny and interrogation and perhaps even a referendum. In the meantime, ensuring equitable access to hospice beds across the country continues to be a priority. The Irish Cancer Society recently issued a call for more nurses to become part of their Night Nurses service which provides end of life care for cancer patients and their families in their own home. Demand for the service has increased dramatically as hospital restriction on visitors means more families are choosing to bring family members home to die. A nice way to go, is a particularly Irish judgement of what could be called a good death. Enabling and protecting a good death will require a national conversation between us all. Over the course of his career, Bob Odenkirk has played a staggering variety of characters, from a brilliant marching band composer to a sleazy lawyer, but until now, they have all had one thing in common: None of them are hiding a secret life as a ruthless killing machine capable of turning any room into an absolute charnel house in a matter of seconds. In his new movie Nobody, however, Odenkirk has finally played a character who is secretly a highly-trained assassin, and over the course of the movie, he uses his hands, his guns, and an extraordinary variety of improvised weapons to slaughter his way through the Russian mafia, John Wick-style. In the opening of the movie, however, he comes across as a hapless suburban dadin other words, a Bob Odenkirk character. Which raises the question: Has Odenkirk secretly been playing this character all along? To find out, we took a look back at his career to scientifically determine which of his characters were actually highly trained international assassins. Heres what we found. Saturday Night Live Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of Odenkirks earliest television appearances was Tom Hanks Oct. 8, 1988 Saturday Night Live episode, in which Odenkirk, two weeks shy of his 26th birthday, played an NBC page during Hanks monologue. (A 25-year-old Conan OBrien also makes an appearance.) However, he is not playing a highly trained killer who is merely posing as an NBC page between bloodbaths. We can be confident about this conclusion because Tom Hanks has gone on to host Saturday Night Live seven more times since then, which would never have happened if Lorne Michaels had had to dispose of two dead bodies in Hanks hotel room. Thats why they dont let Adrien Brody host anymore! Odds Bob Odenkirks Character Is Secretly a Highly Trained Assassin: 0%. Advertisement Get Slate Culture in Your Inbox The best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered to your inbox three times a week. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist In Fructose, a 1996 episode of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, Odenkirk voiced Bob, one of Dr. Katzs patients. While on the wiggling, animated couch, Bob expresses several concerns, as follows: His efforts to join a terrorist organization, militia, or violent street gang have come to nothing because no one will accept him. He is unhappy with the audiobook version of Wheres Waldo, which he bought for a long drive. He plays a lot of computer games, which he tells Dr. Katz are dangerous, I think, cause they do bring out the violence in you. For me, I just dont like feeling that upsetI dont want to kill anybody. Hes glad that stage magicians dont have real magic powers, because theyd be able to take over the world. Advertisement Advertisement So hes playing a guy who wants his psychiatrist to know (and write down in his notes) that he is not associated with any violent organizationshe couldnt join one if he triedand violence upsets him anyway, even in computer games. He also reveals, probably inadvertently, that he goes on long drives and often worries about people having more power than he does, although the only situation where he can imagine being bested involves magical powers. In other words, this character is trying to create a paper trail that suggests he is a nebbish, but is obviously a highly trained killing machine who drives all over the country painting houses for the highest bidder. Odds Bob Odenkirks Character Is Secretly a Highly Trained Assassin: 95%. Seinfeld Advertisement Advertisement Odenkirk appeared in The Abstinence, a 1996 episode of Seinfeld, as one of Elaines boyfriends. She initially has the impression hes a doctor, but he clarifies that he is not because he has repeatedly failed his licensing exam. Later, when someone passes out in a restaurant where they are eating, Odenkirks character has no idea how to treat him. Elaine tries to help him study for the exam, but he doesnt seem to know anything about the topic. At the end of the episode, Odenkirk claims to have passed the exam, but promptly dumps Elaine, telling her, I always knew that after I became a doctor, I would dump whoever I was with and find someone better. He then disappears from her life forever. The only way it could be more obvious that Odenkirk is playing a highly trained assassin in New York on business trying to keep a flimsy cover story going long enough to get close to his target would be if we actually saw him assassinate someone. He probably listened to Wheres Waldo on the drive up. Advertisement Odds Bob Odenkirks Character Is Secretly a Highly Trained Assassin: 100%. Mr. Show With Bob and David Advertisement Bob Odenkirk played a wide variety of characters on the cult classic sketch comedy show he and David Cross shared, but none of them were assassins, except for John Baptiste Philouza, who is posing as a marching band composer in order to assassinate the eleventy-twelfth president. Odds Bob Odenkirks Character Is Secretly a Highly Trained Assassin: This varies by sketch. Breaking Bad / Better Call Saul Advertisement Jimmy McGill, a.k.a. Saul Goodman, a character Odenkirk has been playing for the last eleven years, is not secretly a highly trained assassin in either Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul. Jimmys story begins in Cicero, Illinois, where he was a talented con artistgranted, a a valuable skill set for a hired killer, but the kind of thing that attracts unwanted police attentionbut has to leave town after getting caught giving one of his enemies a Chicago sunroof. As McGill later explains, this involved taking a dump through the sunroof of the guys car. That is not how a highly-trained assassin gets his revenge. There is, however, a slim chance that in the flash-forward sequences of Better Call Saul in which McGill is hiding out in Omaha managing a mall Cinnabon, he is taking advantage of his airtight fake identity to work the occasional freelance hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Odds Bob Odenkirks Character Is Secretly a Highly Trained Assassin: 22%. Little Women Advertisement In Louisa May Alcotts novel, the family patriarch Robert March has joined the Union Army as to serve as a chaplain. But when Bob Odenkirk took over the role for Greta Gerwigs 2019 adaptation, Jo specifies that her father has joined the army to fight, not to preach. There is only one reason that change would have been made: to slyly suggest that Robert March is secretly a highly-trained assassin for the Union. Although no one explicitly says that Odenkirk returns home for Christmas after killing Jefferson Davis, bringing the war to an early close, you can tell. Odds Bob Odenkirks Character Is Secretly a Highly Trained Assassin: 5000%. Nobody Hes a highly trained assassin in this one for sure. Thats the whole premise. Odds Bob Odenkirks Character Is Secretly a Highly Trained Assassin: 100%. Now that weve established that Odenkirk has played a highly trained assassin over and over again, theres only one question left to resolve: Is he playing the same highly-trained assassin? Fan theorists, start your engines. We have a tiny bird thats been making a nest in the birdhouse outside our kitchen window and trilling loudly when hes done for two years in a row. I went online and searched for tiny brown bird hoping to get it identified, but I couldnt find any photo of a bird that looked like it. I re The European Union, U.S., Canada, and the U.K. on Monday leveled sanctions against Chinese officials and security entities as part of a multilateral approach to hold to account those responsible for human rights abuses in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). Authorities in the XUAR are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a vast network of internment camps since early 2017. The sanctions follow earlier ones by Washington on Chinese officials and entities last year, as well as the U.S. designation in January of Chinas policies in the region as genocidea label that has since been adopted through resolutions in the parliaments of Canada and The Netherlands. Chinese officials have said camps in the XUAR are centers for vocational training, but reporting by RFA and other media outlets shows that detainees are mostly held against their will in cramped and unsanitary conditions, where they are forced to endure inhumane treatment and political indoctrination. Earlier on Monday, the EU announced travel bans and asset freezes on Chen Mingguo, the director of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau; senior Chinese officials Wang Mingshan and Wang Junzheng; and the former head of the XUAR, Zhu Hailun. Additionally, the EU targeted the quasi-military Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Public Security Bureau, which it said, is responsible for serious human rights violations in China, in particular large-scale arbitrary detentions and degrading treatment inflicted upon Uyghurs and people from other Muslim ethnic minorities. The sanctions marked the first by the EU against China since an arms embargo in 1989 in the aftermath of the July 4 massacre of pro-democracy student protesters in Beijings Tiananmen Square, which remains in place. They also come as Brussels and Beijing seek to finalize a major trade deal that was agreed to in principle last year, known as the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI). China is the EUs second-largest trading partner after the U.S. The two sides are mired in a stalemate in talks to arrange a visit by EU ambassadors to the XUAR to probe reports of abuses there, including extralegal incarceration, forcible sterilization of women, and forced labor. The talks on the EU trip stalled over Brussels request for access to jailed Uyghur academic Ilham Tohti, an economist jailed for life on separatism charges in 2014, according to a report by Agence France-Presse. A facility believed to be an internment camp located north of Kashgar, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, June 2, 2019. RFA US sanctions Later on Monday, the U.S. Department of State announced it had also leveled sanctions against Wang and Chen under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program in connection with the People's Republic of Chinas (PRC) appalling abuses in Xinjiang. In a statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. had done so in partnership with the U.K. and Canada, and in parallel with EU measures, as part of a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to working multilaterally to advance respect for human rights and shining a light on those in the PRC government and CCP (Chinese Communist Party) responsible for these atrocities. In an accompanying statement, the U.S. Department of the Treasury said its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had blocked all property and interests in property belonging to Wang and Chen that are in the U.S., as well as those in the possession or control of U.S. persons. The Trump administration slapped sanctions last year on several top Chinese officials deemed responsible for rights violations in the XUAR, including regional party secretary Chen Quanguo, under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. The move, which marked the first time Washington had sanctioned a member of Chinas powerful Politburo, followed Trumps enactment in June of the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 (UHRPA). The legislation highlights arbitrary incarceration, forced labor, and other abuses in the XUAR and provides for sanctions against the Chinese officials who enforce them. U.S. customs authorities have also blocked imports of wigs and other products believed to be produced by forced labor in the region. Mondays announcement followed a tense meeting between Blinken and his counterpart Wang Yi and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in Anchorage, Alaska last week, during which the two sides traded barbs over CCP policies in Tibet, Hong Kong, and the XUAR ahead of their first top-level diplomatic talks since President Joe Biden took office. Canada and UK Canada also imposed sanctions against four Chinese officials and one entity over human rights violations in the XUAR, the countrys foreign ministry said on Monday. The names of those targeted in the sanctions were not immediately available. We remain deeply concerned by the egregious human rights violations that are taking place in Xinjiang at the hands of the Chinese state, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau said in a statement. Today, we are joining our partners in calling on the Government of China to put an end to this systematic campaign of repression against Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities and to hold those responsible to account. Canadas House of Commons voted to recognize Chinas abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the XUAR as genocide last month following a similar resolution by Dutch lawmakers. While actions to be taken in tandem by the U.K. were not immediately clear, Reuters news agency cited a U.K. foreign office spokesman as saying that Britains foreign secretary will update parliament later on Monday on the situation in the XUAR and steps the U.K. will take to address abuses there. The foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.K., and U.S. Secretary of State Blinken issued a joint statement Monday in which they pledged to continue to stand together to shine a spotlight on Chinas human rights violations. Also on Monday, Australia's parliament debated a motion to condemn systematic breaches of human rights by China in the XUAR, with ruling Liberal Party lawmaker Kevin Andrews moving a private members motion that drew support from members of all major parties. Adrian Zenz (R) speaks with RFA's Alim Seytoff (L) during an interview in Washington, Nov. 8, 2019. RFA China reacts Chinas Foreign Ministry on Monday issued a statement condemning Brussels for what it called unilateral sanctions based on nothing but lies and disinformation [that] disregards and distorts facts, grossly interferes in Chinas internal affairs, flagrantly breaches international law and basic norms governing international relations, and severely undermines China-EU relations. It responded by announcing its own travel and asset sanctions on 10 individuals that severely harm Chinas sovereignty and interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation, including members of the EU, Dutch, and Belgian parliaments, and several scholars. The sanctions also targeted the Political and Security Committee of the Council of the European Union, the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament, the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Germany, and the Alliance of Democracies Foundation in Denmark. The ministry warned that additional moves by the EU would lead China to resolutely make further reactions. The Chinese embassy in Australia also issued a statement saying Mondays parliamentary debate on the situation in the XUAR was based on ridiculous and absurd rhetoric and suggesting that allegations of rights abuses there were deliberately made to smear China. Sanctions welcomed Speaking to RFAs Uyghur Service on Monday, Nury Turkel, a commissioner with the bipartisan United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal government body, welcomed what he called a long-expected decision by the U.S. and its allies in holding China to account. The international community has woken up to this brutal reality that it has been trading with a genocidal regime in Beijing for decades, he said. Following this move, its reasonably expected that the European Parliament should reject the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment that both the Trump and Biden Administration officials expressed concerns over. The EU sanctions were also applauded by Uyghur rights groups, including the Munch-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC), whose president Dolkun Isa said they send a clear message that the CCP cannot act with impunity in the XUAR and urged the rest of the international community to follow suit. But the WUC said that the EU must apply its position consistently to its relations with China, adding that the sanctions do not justify a weaker approach to other China-related policy areas, including the CAI. Only a consistent human rights-based approach, in cooperation with international allies, will make concrete advances in ending the Uyghur genocide, the group said. Separately, German researcher Adrian Zenzone of the scholars targeted by Beijing in its retaliatory sanctions on Mondayalso suggested that the sanctions were long overdue. The senior fellow with the Washington-based Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, who is an expert on policies of incarceration and forced labor in the XUAR, said China may have miscalculated in its response by targeting politicians from almost every major political bloc in the European Parliament and several entities, including research institutions and scholars. He told RFA he expects that the move will have a significantly negative impact on EU-China relations. The Comprehensive Investment Agreement between China and the EU has not been ratified yet and it needs to be ratified by the European Parliament, he said. Of course, several members were sanctioned, you know, and so I think China has done itself quite a disservice with this step. Reported by Alim Seytoff and Adile Ablet for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 04:53:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GENEVA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on Tuesday adopted a China-sponsored resolution, calling on the states and other stakeholders to engage in constructive and genuine dialogue and cooperation in the field of human rights, based on universality, impartiality, objectivity, indivisibility, non-selectivity, non-politicization, equality and mutual respect. The resolution, titled "Promoting Mutually Beneficial Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights," also calls upon all states to uphold multilateralism and encourages other stakeholders, including international, regional and non-governmental organizations, to contribute actively to this endeavor. It emphasizes that international cooperation should be actively carried out to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries. It also proposes that the Human Rights Council hold a meeting in a timely manner on the promotion and protection of the human rights of persons in vulnerable and marginalized situations during and after the pandemic in order to better share experiences and good practices. Introducing the draft resolution to the UN body, Chen Xu, head of the Chinese Mission to the UN in Geneva, said: "The pandemic once again shows that countries must step up consultation and cooperation, and uphold and practice multilateralism so as to effectively address global challenges, promote peace and development, and realize the goal of full enjoyment of human rights by all." To this end, he explained, China and the resolution's co-sponsors including Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Syria, Venezuela and a number of other countries, called for upholding multilateralism, conducting constructive dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect, strengthening human rights technical assistance and capacity-building, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly building a community of shared future for human beings. According to the Chinese diplomat, before presenting the draft resolution, China had, in a transparent, open and constructive manner, held two informal consultations, exchanged ideas with various parties and took on board reasonable suggestions for amendment. "China's initiative on the promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights is in line with the shared aspiration of the international community," Chen said. Enditem Mr Morrison has also opened the way to stand Mr Porter aside. The Prime Minister has taken advice from the Solicitor-General. He is now talking to his own department about how that sits with ministerial standards and intends to make further decisions about the West Australian MPs future. The Prime Minister said he was very open to the idea of introducing quotas for female MPs. Labor introduced quotas for women running in winnable seats in the mid-1990s, which has led to almost half the federal caucus being female compared with just one-quarter of the Coalition. Ministers Marise Payne, Karen Andrews, Sussan Ley and Melissa Price spoke out in support of the measure along with a slate of other Liberal MPs as the party searches for ways to recruit more women into Parliament in an effort to change its culture. We tried it the other way and it isnt getting us the results we would like to see, so I would like to see us do better on that front, Mr Morrison said, adding he thought many other Liberals were coming to a similar view. Ms Andrews is one of those changing her mind, saying the work done so far hasnt had the success that its needed so far. Ive always been quite anti-quotas because I felt that it was a disadvantage to women because they would be perceived as only getting promoted, only getting a job because they were a number, she said. We cant continue doing the same thing and expect a different outcome. So Im certainly open to a discussion about quotas. Cabinet minister Karen Andrews has flipped her anti-quotas stance because the Liberals hadnt been successful at getting enough women into parliament. Credit:Allex Ellinghausen Ms Ley said that right now she was for the outcome more than the mechanism but she had called for a debate on quotas for some time. We need more women believing they can run for politics and knowing they will be supported in doing so, she said. Senator Payne, the Minister for Women, said there were significant frustrations in encouraging more Liberal women into Parliament and the party should take a good, hard look at quotas because, clearly, there are ongoing issues that mean in parts of our organisation we have not been able to achieve the outcomes we want. Ms Price said the party had to have a serious conversation involving men and women about what quotas would mean, although she did not see them as the only answer. Liberal backbencher Katie Allen said she was open to quotas if they helped get more women in the decision-making room, and Senator Hollie Hughes said everything should be back on the table. Veteran MP Russell Broadbent, who has asked the Prime Minister to convene a summit of womens organisations, also thinks quotas are a good idea. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Melissa McIntosh, who represents the western Sydney seat Lindsay, said she had an honest and detailed discussion with the Prime Minister last week that included talking about the experience in the corporate sector with quotas and other mechanisms such as mentorship programs that were effective at elevating women into leadership positions. The corporate sector has for many years been implementing quotas, and I support evidence-based programs drawing on the experience of the corporate sector that have proven success, she said. Loading However, other female MPs, including Fiona Martin and Nicolle Flint, believe reportable targets are a better option than mandatory quotas. I didnt come to Canberra to fill a quota, Dr Martin said. The Liberal Partys federal executive has recently backed a range of measures aimed at increasing the number of women among its ranks, including continuing the Enid Lyons Fighting Fund to support Liberal women running for office or re-election. Half of the new federal MPs elected in 2019 were women. Progress has been made. However, much more needs to be done, a party spokesman said. Mr Morrison acknowledged that many people had not liked or appreciated his own personal responses to the allegations of sexual assault and harassment. He has come under criticism first for saying his wife, Jenny, had told him to think about Ms Higgins as if she were one of his daughters, and for making remarks in Parliament that were interpreted as saying women should be grateful they were not shot for protesting. But he said he had listened to the stories of women over the past month. He spoke of women being too afraid to call out bad behaviour for fear of losing their job, of being overlooked and treated like they have nothing valuable to contribute. I have heard about being marginalised, women being intimidated, women being belittled, women being diminished, and women being objectified. That is not OK. Women who are afraid to walk to their car from the train, and they carry their keys in their hand like a knife for fear of being attacked. That is not OK. That is not acceptable, Mr Morrison said. Colleagues in the party room said they believed the Prime Minister was now leaning into the issue and pointed out he had a history of getting behind issues only when he intended to act. Loading Mr Morrison addressed all Coalition staff on Tuesday afternoon and said there would soon be mandatory face-to-face workplace health and safety training for MPs and staff. He also intends to establish a Coalition staff reference group as a catch-all advocacy team where people could raise issues informally, ask for advice and have complaints taken forward anonymously, and a Coalition human resources team to provide more formal guidance. A Coalition staffer was sacked on Monday night for filming himself performing a sex act over a female Liberal MPs desk, while another video showed him performing a sex act on a man in a parliamentary office. The government is trying to find out the identities of other staff Ten News reported had shared photos and videos of themselves performing lewd acts in Parliament House. Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, whose department is the formal employer of all political staff, said the only thing standing between other staff members involved and their being sacked was their identification. Loading He said colleagues were engaging with the female MP whose office appeared in one of the videos and she had been made aware of her options if she wanted further support. Labors Don Farrell asked Senator Birmingham in a Senate estimates hearing whether he was aware that non-political staff in Parliament House had attempted to meet union representatives with concerns about the Ten News reports, but the union officials were blocked from entering the building. Senator Birmingham said it was the first he or Senate President Scott Ryan had heard of the matter and undertook to investigate. The governments formal response to Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins landmark workplace sexual harassment report, Respect@Work, is now expected within weeks. Ms Jenkins is also starting a review of the workplace culture within Parliament House, and outlined her plans to Coalition MPs on Tuesday. She met with Labor MPs and staff last week. She made it clear her intention was not to investigate individual complaints but to outline how to create the cultural reform needed. A health worker looks at a vial of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination centre. The European Medicines Agency deems the use of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine safe despite blood clot reports. (Photo: Helmut Fohringer/APA/dpa/IANS) Image Source: IANS News New York, March 23 : Following the doubts expressed by a top US-based health agency over the Covid-19 vaccine trial data, British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca on Tuesday said that it will share primary analysis of its vaccine with the most up-to-date data, with the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), which reviewed the trial results. The drugmaker, which showed that its vaccine's efficacy is 79 per cent in preventing symptomatic illness in a large trial in the US on Monday, said that the data published were based on a pre-specified interim analysis with a data cut-off of 17 February. "We have reviewed the preliminary assessment of the primary analysis and the results were consistent with the interim analysis. We are now completing the validation of the statistical analysis," the company said in a statement. "We will immediately engage with the independent data safety monitoring board (DSMB) to share our primary analysis with the most up-to-date efficacy data. We intend to issue results of the primary analysis within 48 hours," it added. In an earlier statement on Tuesday, the US-based National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have provided outdated information on the efficacy data related to the clinical trial of its Covid-19 vaccine, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. On Monday, the drugmaker showed that its vaccine's efficacy is 79 per cent in preventing symptomatic illness in a large trial in the US. However, in an unusual statement, the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), which reviewed the trial results, notified NIAID, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), and AstraZeneca that it is concerned over the information released by AstraZeneca on the initial data from the clinical trial of its Covid-19 vaccine. "We urge the company to work with the DSMB to review the efficacy data and ensure that the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data is made public as quickly as possible," the US-based agency said. "Authorisation and guidelines for use of the vaccine in the US will be determined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after a thorough review of the data by independent advisory committees," it added. Earlier, the Phase III AstraZeneca trials in the US showed an efficacy of 80 per cent in people over the age of 65, the most vulnerable group for contracting Covid-19 with deadly consequences. Twenty per cent of the trial participants were over the age of 65. The vaccine, known by the scientific name 'AZD1222', was 100 per cent effective in preventing hospitalisation, the company had said in a statement. It means that even those who contracted Covid-19 after vaccination had only less severe symptoms and did not need intensive treatment in a hospital. YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus, MEP Marina Kaljurand, the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Armenia, MEP Andrey Kovatchev, and the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Azerbaijan, MEP Zeljana Zovko issued a joint statement, demanding Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenians kept there. We are gravely concerned by numerous allegations of abuse of Armenian captives by Azerbaijan, as documented in particular in a recent Human Rights Watch report. We urge the Azerbaijani authorities to investigate all such allegations and to bring those responsible to justice. Full respect of international humanitarian law and the prohibition of torture and other degrading or inhuman treatment must be ensured. We also deplore the fact that the Azerbaijani government has failed to comply with the interim measures of the European Court of Human Rights which ordered Azerbaijan to provide information on the conditions of detention of the detainees, their state of health, as well as the measures taken to return them. Once again, we call on Azerbaijan to release without delay all remaining Armenian detainees, in line with the provisions of the ceasefire agreement of 9 November 2020'', ARMENPRESS reports, reads the statement. THE National Ambulance Service (NAS) has apologised to the family of a deceased diabetic boy over the delay in responding to an emergency call after he became seriously unwell. Thirty-one minutes after it was called on October 28, 2010, an ambulance arrived at the house in Limerick city where 17-year-old Darren Gaughan was staying with friends. An autopsy report stated he died at the house, shortly after paramedics arrived, from acute cardio-respiratory failure secondary to hyperglycaemia and ketoacidosis. An investigation by the NAS later found serious failings in relation to the ambulance response to the call. An apology from the NAS over those failings was read in the High Court yesterday. The apology was made under a settlement of a civil action brought by Mr Gaughans family against the HSE arising from his death. A 285,000 payment is also part of the settlement. Darrens parents, Leo and Kathleen, and siblings were in court. Kathleen held a framed photograph of her son. The judge said he hoped the apology would give some comfort to the family. He offered sincere sympathy for the loss of a young man at the start of his adult life in tragic and unnecessary circumstances. Darren, from Killure, Aclare, Co Sligo, was diagnosed with diabetes aged 10 but his family said he continued to live a normal and active life. He had started a degree course in renewable energy at Limerick IT in September 2010. He became ill on October 27, 2010, while staying with friends on the University of Limerick campus. When he was still unwell the next day, his friends called Darrens father in Co Sligo, who told them to immediately call an ambulance. Am ambulance was called at 1.21pm. During the call, it was indicated that Darren was diabetic and needed urgent assistance because he was unresponsive. The ambulance arrived at 1.52pm and paramedics began to administer treatment. The ambulance left at 2.09pm and arrived at St Johns Hospital in Limerick, where Darren was pronounced dead. In spring 2014, the family were told that, as a result of a complaint by an anonymous person to the HSE about the emergency response in relation to Darren, an investigation was being carried out by the NAS. The investigation report, released to the family in April 2016, found a number of failings and breaches of protocol in relation to the ambulance response on the day. These included, despite the assigned urgent or Charlie code, the fact that the ambulance did not arrive for 31 minutes. When the crew was called, they had been in the middle of collecting some forms at Roxboro Road garda station in Limerick and, instead of proceeding immediately, as per the Charlie code, they finished up what they were doing, which led to a three-minute delay, the report said. The 6km distance from Roxboro Road to Thomond Village could reasonably be expected to take 15 minutes but it took the ambulance 31 minutes, from the time of the call, to arrive at the scene. The investigation was also unable to establish why there was a 10-minute delay before a roundabout en route to the college accommodation. The report also referred to failures in communication protocols, including the dispatcher contacting the ambulance crew on their mobile phones instead of the approved ambulance radio system. The dispatcher also terminated the emergency call with the person who was next to Darren, instead of keeping them on the line, as is required. The report made recommendations aimed at avoiding any similar incident. In its apology to the Gaughan family, the NAS, through chief ambulance officer Bill Forbes, offered sincere condolence and apologies for the distress and upset caused by Darrens death. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A $10 to $15 toll on large semi-tractor trailers to help finance a truck bridge over the Mobile River could be unconstitutional, a representative with a national trucking association said. But local leaders say the toll, which would help finance the latest plan to alleviate traffic on Interstate 10, is dissimilar from truck tolls in other states that are being challenged in federal court. Legal issues on whether a truck toll is allowable will be a lingering issue going forward in Alabama, where the trucking association is expressing concerns over a $725 million plan for I-10 unveiled Monday during a news conference at the Five Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort. The latest I-10 project is an alternative proposal from the previous $2.1 billion bridge and Bayway overhaul that crumbled in 2019 over concerns about tolling. Well watch what they are doing in Alabama like a hawk, said John Lynch, senior vice-president, Federation Relations & Industry Affairs with the American Trucking Association. We have a concern whether this violates the Dormant Commerce Clause. This is a blatant attempt to pass the buck to the trucking industry. The Dormant Commerce Clause is a legal doctrine that prohibits states from discriminating against interstate commerce. A federal lawsuit in Rhode Island is challenging that states truck-toll system, with the industry arguing that it discriminates against out-of-state companies, violating the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. The Rhode Island situation, however, is different from Alabama, according to officials. In Rhode Island, state leaders have assessed about a dozen tolls throughout the state on routes that are utilized by both cars and large trucks. We are aware of it, said Vince Calametti, a retired Alabama Department of Transportation Southwest Region engineer who is providing consulting services on the latest I-10 project. The (I-10) bridge would be built exclusively for trucks and therefore we dont think this will fit into that situation. Truck bridge The latest I-10 project will consider the following: -Prohibit large trucks over 46 feet in length from driving through the Wallace Tunnel, thus requiring them to divert over the Mobile River on a dedicated truck-only bridge. The new bridges design would be similar to a previous concept a cable-stay structure that is 215 feet of air draft height, or high enough to accommodate large shipping vessels and cruise ships passing underneath. Officials believe that removing large trucks from the tunnel will decrease the average passenger car delays by approximately 60 to 90 minutes during peak travel periods. In 2019, during the debate over the previous plan, ALDOT anticipated the average number of vehicles traveling daily on I-10 through the Wallace Tunnel going from 75,000 per day to 95,000 per day in 2040. The peak holiday travel periods, before the coronavirus pandemic, typically draw around 100,000 vehicles per day to the Bayway, according to ALDOT. -Divert hazardous cargo routes from the Africatown community north of downtown Mobile. Large trucks often travel through Africatown via the Cochrane-Africatown USA Bridge. Mobile city and county officials are looking at transforming the neighborhood into a tourist attraction following the 2019 discovery of the slave ship Clotilda. -Restripe and convert the Bayway from two lanes to three lanes in each direction. Officials say the restriping will increase traffic flow by an estimated 40%. The Bayway, under the previous plan, would have been replaced with a new 7.5-mile, eight-lane span crossing the Mobile River connecting downtown Mobile with U.S. 98 in Daphne. -Protect existing routes from tolls and fees. Only 18-wheelers and similar large trucks traveling over the truck bridge would pay a fee that would be, according to officials, less than half the fee considered in the previous plan. No cars or small trucks would be assessed a toll. The previous plan called for a $6 one-way toll assessed on users of the new Bayway, although the Spanish Fort Causeway would have remained toll-free. Criticism under the previous plan was the inclusion of the Wallace Tunnel as part of the toll plan. Meanwhile, the fate of a federal grant looms as officials in both counties scramble to find an alternative to the $2.1 billion project. Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said that protecting a $125 million federal grant that U.S. Senator Richard Shelby secured for the previous iteration of the project is critically important, and Calametti said the deadline to utilize it is in the third quarter of 2022. Calametti said the state is willing to spend $250 million for the project. The balance of the projects costs would be covered by the truck toll. Tony Harris, spokesman with ALDOT, said the agency is committed to working with local leaders to explore and develop the new plan. He said the Mobile River Truck Bridge concept creates a new pathway for addressing the Gulf Coasts most pressing transportation needs. Lynch, with the American Trucking Association, said that Alabamas plan sounded like a race to federal funds that are set to expire if unspent. He added, The first question that comes to mind is if this were to address congestion and be an improvement, why is the trucking industry the only entity paying for it when everyone else benefits? The leader of the Alabama Trucking Association said his organization is planning a careful review of a proposal that he says raises some important questions. The state trucking association, in October, announced it was joining with the American Trucking Association and other state associations in fighting the Rhode Island truck-only tolling program. As this process unfolds, it is our hope that all interested parties are willing to come to the table to offer reasonable solutions bearing in mind that throughout the pandemic, truckers have been working tirelessly to keep America moving, said Colson. Decisions loom A decision on whether to move forward with the latest plan will come from the Metropolitan Planning Organizations in Mobile and Baldwin counties. The groups, which consist of locally-elected politicians, will have to include the I-10 Mobile River bridge project into their short-term Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) in order for federal money to applied to the project. Two separate votes will take place, and the timing of them could be within the next six months. Calametti said if the MPOs support the project, it could be under construction by 2022 or 2023. He said construction could last four years. Stimpson said the project remains conceptual, and will need backing from the MPOs before it can move forward. The Eastern Shore MPO, which represents the Baldwin County cities of Daphne, Fairhope, Loxley and Spanish Fort, voted to have the previous plan removed from in its TIP in August 2019. The decision prompted Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to declare the entire project dead, and she has since said that its up to the local politicians to come up with an alternative to ALDOTs $2.1 billion proposal that would have been the states first-ever public-private partnership (P3) project. Ivey, in a statement, praised the latest effort. I applaud local leaders for coming forward with a concept that addresses the growing problem of traffic congestion, imposes no tolls on passenger cars or pickup trucks, keeps existing routes untolled and secures the $125 million federal grant for the area, she said in a statement to AL.com. This truly sounds like a win-win idea. WASHINGTON, March 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa on the Senate's confirmation of long-time labor leader and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor. "Our nation is at its best when all workers share in its prosperity. But that means empowering hardworking Americans to be able to join together and negotiate for fair wages, benefits, retirements and a safe workplace. Marty Walsh understands this firsthand, and the Teamsters are anxious to get to work with him so that together we can build a better nation. "As the former head of the Boston Building Trades and president of Laborers' Union 223 who also co-chaired the Massachusetts Democratic Party Labor Caucus while he was a state lawmaker, Secretary Walsh knows that unions and workers have come under assault in recent years. Their interests have been subverted by corporations who have used the courts, legislation and deregulation to fatten their wallets at the expense of their workers. "Our national economy is still struggling, but there is much the Labor Department can do to help. The Teamsters look forward to partnering with Secretary Walsh and our labor allies to create a country that grants dignity and respect to those on the job and allows more to realize their middle-class dreams." Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters. Contact: Ted Gotsch, (703) 899-0869 [email protected] SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters Related Links http://www.teamster.org TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) Tippecanoe County Commissioners are taking action against a bill regulating solar and wind farms in Indiana. As we've reported, House Bill 1381 sets default standards for installation. Tippecanoe County restricts wind farms and recently rolled out regulations on solar farms. Commissioner Tom Murtaugh and the two other county commissioners wrote a letter to local lawmakers. In it, the bill is called "an assault on local home rule". Bill co-author State Representative Sharon Negele said she's willing to work with Tippecanoe County leaders. "Some of the language that I know is being discussed right now has to do with renewable zones and working with the counties and trying to figure out, you know, is there an area in your county that could be designated as a renewable zone," Negele said. Murtaugh argued the bill would hurt economic development. "As long as those companies developing wind or solar meet that generic statewide standard, they can develop wherever they want," said Murtaugh. "Well, that ties up ground for decades." Murtaugh said local elected officials should be setting the standards. "Zoning has always been a local issue and should be in every single county because of different criteria, different priorities for each local community," said Murtaugh. State Rep. Negele said she's already working with county leaders around the state and amendments have been added. "We're having conversations about what we could do to work within the parameters, within zoning rights, protecting property rights," said Negele. "There are just a lot of different facets that we have to address in this bill." Negele said it was amended in the House to respect residential growth. The bill has been assigned to the Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications, but has not yet had a hearing. Below is the letter Tippecanoe County Commissioners sent to the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee and local legislators: We would like to express our strong opposition to HB 1381 on commercial wind and solar standards. To set statewide standards on these projects is a mistake because every county, whether it is rural, urban or mixed, is unique. The standards for these projects should be set by local officials who have been elected to do just that. This bill is an assault on local home rule. The sponsors of HB 1381 argue that local ordinances have or will block investment dollars in Indiana. In Tippecanoe County, we respectfully disagree. The proposed legislation would enable alternative energy companies to develop with no local control and render thousands of acres otherwise undevelopable for up to 3 decades. That initial investment from the wind farm developer pales in comparison to the investment potential of that land over the thirty year period. HB 1381 would hinder continued economic development growth in Tippecanoe County. Thank you for your time on this matter and please vote no on HB 1381. If you have any questions, we can be reached at commissioners@tippecanoe.in.gov or at 765-423-9215. Tippecanoe County Commissioners Tom Murtaugh David Byers Tracy Brown San Francisco lifted a handful of coronavirus restrictions Tuesday as cases continued to drop, and allowed offices to partially reopen for the first time since a brief period in the fall. Downtown is going to start to come alive again, Mayor London Breed said Tuesday, celebrating the citys advance to the orange tier of the states reopening plan that loosened some restrictions on business and other activities. Breed, in an orange dress to mark the occasion, held a news briefing in the citys desolate downtown to herald the move to the second-least-restrictive level in the states reopening plan. Two more Bay Area counties, Santa Clara and Marin, also achieved the same benchmark Tuesday, while San Mateo County moved into the orange tier earlier this month. Relaxed restrictions will start Wednesday. As part of the changes announced Tuesday, bars, breweries, wineries and distilleries that dont serve food can open for outdoor table service Wednesday. Other indoor activities, like dining and shopping, may increase to 50% capacity. Downtown San Francisco was hit particularly hard by shelter-in-place rules put in place more than a year ago, missing its typical daily buzz of office workers. While employees are still encouraged to work from home, the orange tier will allow San Francisco offices to reopen at up to 25%. Conference and meeting rooms must also maintain 25% capacity. But even with a green light to reopen, its unclear how many companies will immediately bring back employees. Many tech companies, like Salesforce and Facebook, have said their employees can work remotely until at least the summer. Others, like Twitter, have said their employees can work from home indefinitely. Breed, speaking outside the global headquarters of Twilio, a San Francisco tech company working remotely for the past year, said she is hopeful returning workers will bring life back to downtown. Im tired of working from home, Breed said. I think most people can agree, working from home is boring. The Twilio offices were a symbolic backdrop, as CEO Jeff Lawson has promised to keep his company and family in the city, even as many high-profile tech titans have fled during the pandemic. Its so exciting to be entering the orange tier because its an opportunity to start rebuilding and start coming together, Lawson said Tuesday. We have employees all around the world. But San Francisco is our headquarters. And San Francisco is our home. As the officials spoke Tuesday at an empty Rincon Center, one customer sat inside of Hair Shaper, a salon just a few feet away. Pre-pandemic, hairstylist Holly Vo said nearly every chair would be full, and people would be sitting in the waiting area. She said she is looking forward to the offices opening again. We have been waiting for them, she said. Fast, an online checkout tech company in San Francisco, said it would welcome employees back in its Ninth Street offices Wednesday for the first time since November, when the city went back into a strict lockdown. Chief Communications Officer Jason Alderman said among the companys 56 employees, about 10 to 14 people cant wait to get in. No one will be forced to go back to the office. He said the company will have an internal sign-up sheet to control how many people can come into the office on a given day. The company has placed hand sanitizer throughout the building and removed some desks to enforce 6-foot distancing. It will also require workers to wear masks. Alderman said he was eager to go back to the office, mainly because he missed his co-workers and the creativity and collaboration of in-person work. Alderman said he even missed his commute on BART from the East Bay. Thats the last thing I thought Id ever say, he said. Breed said the city is also in discussions with the Giants and Warriors to determine how to reopen Oracle Park and the Chase Center. The orange tier guidelines allow live-audience sports only in outdoor settings, at 20% capacity, but the mayors office said the discussions relating to the indoor Chase Center are in the nature of long-term exploration for the day when indoor spectators again are allowed. Were working out the specifics in terms of the capacity and what the requirements will be for testing and those who are vaccinated, Breed said. Once we finalize those plans, they will be made public. San Francisco is being slightly more conservative than what the state allows in its reopening plan. Were proceeding with caution, Breed said. Because we dont want to slide backward. For example, while the state suggests offices and retail can reopen with modifications in the orange tier, it doesnt specify what those capacity limits should be. But San Francisco is allowing offices to reopen at only 25% capacity and indoor retail at 50%. Santa Clara County is going with the state guidelines, but health director Dr. Sara Cody warned Tuesday that momentum on the improving trends is slowing. We should take a moment to celebrate and feel good, she told the county supervisors, but she advised them, Marry that celebratory mood with caution. We are beginning to see signs that we are stalling out. Cody said indicator numbers are flattening at fairly high levels instead of the lower plateaus that would indicate safety. Dr. Grant Colfax, San Franciscos health director, said city COVID-19 data has been encouraging. On Tuesday, he said, 35 COVID-19 patients were in hospitals across San Francisco the lowest number in four months. He said the city is averaging 31 new coronavirus cases a day, compared to more than 370 a day during the winter surge. About 40% of S.F. residents over 16 have been vaccinated, officials said. At least 50% of those over 65 have been fully vaccinated, with close to 80% of them having received at least their first dose of the two-dose regimens. Were ready to be done, Colfax said. Were not there yet. The slight hope that downtown San Francisco may start coming back to life was welcome news for Gary Thorn, owner of Rincon Flowers, who said his business has been impacted big time over the past year. Much of his money at the corner of Mission and Spear used to be made from people grabbing a bouquet for a co-worker on their way to work, or for a spouse on their way home. Now, only a few people stop by each day. But, he said, hes confident the area and the city as a whole will eventually come back to life. Theres a lot of offices that are gone, but people are going to come back, he said. Its San Francisco! Chronicle staff writer Chase DiFeliciantonio contributed to this report. Trisha Thadani and Aidin Vaziri are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com avaziri@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani @MusicSF A few Armenian sources has reported today that the last armed forces of Armenia are withdrawing from the territory of Azerbaijani Karabakh region where Armenian ethnic minority lives and which is now under control of Russian peacemakers. Earlier afternoons, the information was confirmed by the former speaker of separatist Defense Ministry Sensor Asratyan. Developments are quite natural as they are a part of Armenias commitments after its capitulation executed as the Trilateral Statement on November 9-10th, 2020. Later, the information was confirmed by one of separatist military criminals hiding from Azerbaijani justice in Karabakh, Vitaly Balasanyan. Balasanyan admits that no recruits from the Armenian territory come to serve in Karabakh anymore. Balasanyan suggests finding an answer to the question why it is happening among Armenias authorities. By the way, Balasanyan is one of the most outraged critics of Pashinyan. He was Pashinyans detractor even before the 44-day war. Now the separatist says that Armenias citizens are supposed to come and serve as volunteer fighters if they receive citizenship of the nonexistent state. Lets put aside the question on how many volunteer fighters from Armenia will risk going and visiting Azerbaijani Special Forces. I just remind you that during the Second Karabakh War, according to Yerevans official data, the number of deserters in the Armenian army was more than 10 thousand. Today parents of Armenian soldiers go on strike in front of the Defense Ministry of Armenia and demand to cut back on the length of service of their children-recruits who had turned out to be in Karabakh when the war started and who are still there. In other words, they demand their immediate and unconditional withdrawal. Balasanyan actually did Azerbaijani diplomacy a favor by his statements. The fact is that both the local legislation and the international law equal such volunteer fighters with subversives. Thus, the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War doesnt apply to them. It was illustrated when dozens subversives were inserted from Shirak (Armenia) in Khojavend (Azerbaijan). Despite all efforts of international lobbyists, Armenia is failing to equal these gunmen with prisoners of war. Moscow shrugged off the group of soldiers as well. Balasanyans words will help Azerbaijan to prove that: 1) Azerbaijani frontiersmen must physically control the Lachin Corridor as Balasanyans group paves the way to inserting criminals in the country as a result of systematic handing fake citizenship to foreign volunteer fighters; 2) it is absolutely self-defeating to release subversives arrested in last December in Khojavend while the Armenian side attempts to repeat such crimes. On the other hand, does Balasanyan the Karabakh military criminal care about citizens of the Republic of Armenia? 3) it is necessary to strengthen and extend control functions of Turkish officers deployed in Aghdam; 4) and in case of a new antiterrorist operation, a format and participants of which will be discussed within the effective cooperation triangle Baku, Ankara, and Moscow. The memoir of the woman known as Lucy Brewer is either the inspirational story of a woman choosing her own path in a male-dominated world or a cautionary tale about becoming a prostitute or patronizing brothels. Either way, no one knows if Lucy Brewer ever existed or if she was just made up by a writer looking to get paid. Brewer was the main character in the 1815 autobiographical book The Female Marine, or the Adventures of Lucy Brewer. According to the book, Brewer is a teen in Plymouth, Massachusetts, who falls in love with a boy who quickly gets her pregnant and refuses to marry her. She soon moves to Boston, a more cosmopolitan location, because we all know what happened to young women who fell out of line in small Massachusetts towns back then. If you can think of a better way to cast out the devil, we're all ears. But Lucys baby doesnt survive childbirth, and despite the warnings she received about the trappings of big-city life, she finds herself tricked into becoming a prostitute in a local brothel. After three years of trickery, she is fed up with the harlotry of her life and escapes the house of ill repute. The War of 1812 had just erupted so she quickly finds a Marine Corps uniform, tapes her breasts and butt to hide her shape and joins the Marines. She takes the name of George Baker, a Marine sharpshooter in the topsails aboard the USS Constitution. With her gender a closely guarded secret, she serves for the duration of the War of 1812, surviving a near drowning and countless battles. Once back on shore, she collects her wages and returns home to her family farm in Plymouth, leaving the Marine Corps with her dignity intact. Which is totally possible, by the way. (Redditor Expendable17) After her return, she marries and becomes a true woman of the early 1800s, living far away from the mans world of warfare and travel. Instead, she has babies with her husband. She writes her memoirs in order to dissuade young men from visiting brothels and prostitutes and to keep young women from becoming prostitutes. While all of this sounds pretty possible, the problem with it is that no one could substantiate if Lucy Brewer actually existed. There are no records of a Lucy Brewer in Plymouth, Massachusetts, or a George Baker who served in the Marine Corps. No one remembers these people, and neither was ever seen in person despite the popularity of the books at the time. Historians also dispute the idea that a woman could have passed herself off as a male in the Marine Corps of 1812, especially in the cramped quarters of the USS Constitution. The exploits of Brewer/Baker with the Marines appear to be drawn from widely published accounts from Navy captains Isaac Hull, William Bainbridge and Charles Stewart, who all commanded the Constitution during the war. Maybe the most unbelievable aspect of the story is that a 19-year-old who never had used a firearm could become a sharpshooter so easily on the high seas. The more likely truth is that The Female Marine, or the Adventures of Lucy Brewer was written by a struggling writer at the time, Nathaniel Hill Wright. Wright was looking to capitalize on the popularity of similar stories of women disguising themselves to fight in wars as men. Thank goodness we don't do that anymore. (Sony Pictures/Millennium Films) Making up a story about a woman dressing as a man to fight in an American war was totally unnecessary. A number of women already had fought in combat during battles. Margaret Corbin was wounded in the 1776 Battle of Fort Washington, and Deborah Sampson actually disguised herself as a man to join the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Maybe the problem with these examples is that none of these women ever spurned the life of a prostitute to join the Marines. The book is considered a lively blend of the very best and very worst of the eighteenth century tales of seduction and shame, despair and disillusionment, fact and fabrication. It turns out Wrights primary goal was writing cheap books for cheap thrills and jokes to an audience of soldiers and sailors. Listen, we all have to make ends meet somehow. (Blake Stilwell) If Wright did pen the story of Lucy Brewer, then he was in luck. It performed just as well as hed hoped, and it was printed and reprinted more than a dozen times in just a few years. A 1966 edition of the New England Quarterly notes that the book is definitely fiction but has burrowed itself into New England myth and folklore. Lucy Brewers enduring legend earned the story, if not the person, a mention in history, even if both Encyclopedia Britannica and the Marine Corps Museum refuse to acknowledge her existence. The official, undisputed title of First Woman Marine goes to Opha May Johnson, who became a United States Marine on Aug. 13, 1918, while World War I raged in Europe. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. The U.S. has the number of aircraft carriers it needs to meet requirements across the globe -- unless "additional challenges show themselves," the four-star admiral nominated to oversee military operations in the Asia-Pacific region said. The 11 aircraft carriers in the military's arsenal -- as currently required by law -- are what the force needs, Adm. John Aquilino said during a Tuesday Senate confirmation hearing. Aquilino has been nominated to lead U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Aquilino was asked by Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., whether the Navy has enough carriers to deter China in the Pacific while still operating in the Middle East and elsewhere. Read Next: Here's What It Costs to Keep US Troops in Japan and South Korea "We've complied to the law [with] 11, but is that enough though?" Wicker asked Aquilino. "Just tell us -- we need to know. We can change the law of the land if we get enough votes." Acquilino said carrier strike groups are a tremendous form of deterrence, but demurred on saying the Navy needed more. "I think currently that the size of that force is correct unless additional challenges show themselves," he said. Navy aircraft carriers are in high demand across the globe, but the service faced criticism from Congress when leaders in 2019 proposed retiring one early to invest in new technologies. USNI News reported this month that Pentagon leaders are again considering a reduced carrier force structure as part of its upcoming 2022 budget submission to Congress. Resistance from lawmakers is likely. Wicker released a statement Monday calling for a bigger Navy in response to growing presence at sea from Russia and China. He urged the Biden administration to embrace a military plan released under President Donald Trump to increase the fleet to 405 manned Navy ships by 2051. "If we do not ramp up shipbuilding dramatically, it will be more and more difficult to prevent a future conflict with our adversaries," Wicker wrote. Bryan McGrath, a retired surface officer and naval consultant, said while he has great respect for Aquilino, he believes the admiral is wrong to think 11 carriers are enough for the Navy to carry out its global requirements. McGrath cited ongoing trouble with carrier maintenance, readiness woes, and the need for extended or double-pump deployments that have weighed on the force. The 11-carrier requirement was made law at about the same time as the Navy's 2007 maritime strategy, which enshrined a "two-hub" presence in the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf or Indian Ocean. Eleven is the minimum necessary carrier count to support the two hubs with continuous coverage, McGrath added, given maintenance and transit-time requirements. Whenever two carriers are needed in one of those hubs though -- which happened last year in response to Iranian threats and again just last month in the South China Sea -- "the brittle relationship between that number of carriers and that number of hubs comes into stark relief," he added. And today, the U.S. is also now dealing with a resurgence from Russia in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic, McGrath said. "The nation cannot ignore Europe as a theater for carrier operations, and in fact, it hasn't," he said. "And so for several years, we've taken the minimum number of carriers necessary to fill two hubs continuously and attempted to time share in a third, even as we desired multiple carriers in one or more of those hubs in this period." McGrath made the case in 2015 for a 16-carrier Navy. That many carriers could support continuous coverage of "three hubs indefinitely," he wrote, "with little or no risk of gap." He said he stands by that argument, adding, "if anything, today's security environment is more pressing than when I wrote these words in 2015." Last week, Adm. Phil Davidson, who currently leads Indo-Pacific Command, told lawmakers there's no substitute for having an aircraft carrier in the Pacific to counter China's growing presence in the region. The Navy is also still considering reactivating another numbered fleet in the Western Pacific, Davidson said. The Japan-based U.S. Seventh Fleet currently oversees Navy operations all the way from India down to Antarctica and up past Japan to the Kuril Islands. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Related: Navy Carrier Lincoln Back from Record-Setting 295-Day Deployment Marriott International has announced it has signed an agreement with Al Saedan Group, a leading real estate company in the Middle East, to open three hotels across Saudi Arabia. The multi-project agreement includes the country and territorys first Renaissance Hotel, the worlds largest Aloft Hotel and a Courtyard by Marriott in the Holy City of Makkah. All three properties are projected to open by 2025. We are pleased to build on our fantastic relationship with Al Saedan Group and further expand our portfolio across Saudi Arabia with these milestone signings, said Satya Anand, President for Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. These agreements underscore Marriott Internationals commitment to supporting the growth of the kingdoms tourism sector and reinforces the continued demand we are seeing for our portfolio of brands across the country. As a company, we are focused on developing projects that support the growth and development of the kingdom, said Sultan Al Khudair, CEO of Al Saedan Group. We are excited to collaborate with Marriott International to open two new properties in the Holy City which will be ideal destinations for those visiting for Umrah and Haj, and to debut Renaissance Hotels in the country. These three new agreements were signed in line with our commitment to bring the highest standards of quality and design to our assets and to provide a premium experience to our guests. Renaissance Riyadh Hotel: Renaissance Hotels is expected to make its debut in Saudi Arabia with the opening of Renaissance Riyadh Hotel. Situated in the business hub of the King Abdullah Financial District and within close proximity to Riyadh International Airport, Renaissance Riyadh Hotel is expected to feature 266 thoughtfully designed suites, three food and beverage outlets and leisure facilities such as a spa, pool and fitness centre. The hotel is slated to introduce the brands unique positioning which connects travellers to the spirit of its local neighbourhood through unexpected design, entertaining evening rituals and engaging Navigators, the brands neighbourhood ambassadors. Aloft Makkah Taysir Aloft Makkah Taysir, which will be situated in the Holy City of Makkah, is anticipated to be the brands largest hotel in the world with plans for 1,000 guest rooms. Located in the Taysir district and close to the Grand Mosque entrance, the hotel will be ideally located for guests visiting on pilgrimage. Aloft Makkah Taysir is slated to feature the brands innovative use of technology and design to enhance the guest experience as well as signature Aloft amenities including the Re:mix Lounge; Re:fuel by Aloft, offering a 24/7 grab-and-go gourmet menu; and Re:charge, Alofts 24-hour fitness centre. Courtyard by Marriott Makkah Kudai Marriott International continues to further expand the footprint of Courtyard by Marriott in Saudi Arabia with the signing of Courtyard by Marriott Makkah Kudai. Slated to offer the brands timeless, classic style with inviting, flexible spaces and service that is above and beyond expectations, the hotel has plans for 438 spacious guest rooms, its signature Grab n Go market and a fitness centre. Courtyard by Marriott Makkah Kudai will be situated 2 kilometres from the Grand Mosque entrance. Marriott Internationals portfolio in Saudi Arabia currently consists of over 30 properties with more than 9,000 rooms across ten brands and nine cities. -TradeArabia News Service Acquires 12,874 hectares of highly productive eucalyptus plantations in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945 BOSTON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Hancock Natural Resource Group (HNRG), a company of Manulife Investment Management, through its affiliate Sempre Verde Florestas e Agricultura Ltda., recently acquired 12,874 hectares of eucalyptus plantations in Mato Grosso do Sul from AMATA, through its subsidiary APE1 Plantio de Floresta Exotica S.A. ("APE1"). The acquisition is in keeping with Manulife Investment Management's priority to strategically invest in its private markets' assets across timber, agriculture, infrastructure, real estate, private equity and credit. AMATA established these plantations beginning in 2012 to supply the growing demand from the bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp mills which are proximal to the timberlands. Since that time AMATA has provided state of the art technology to growing and maintaining the forests which has resulted in top quartile plantations for the region. "We are pleased to announce this transaction and very happy to return to managing assets in Brazil," said Bill Peressini, CEO and president, HNRG. "The transaction is significant for our investors and allows for further regional diversification in our portfolios." This is the second acquisition the Manulife Investment Management timber and agriculture group has closed in South America in 2021. The firm acquired a majority stake of Chilean fruit exporter, David Del Curto S.A. earlier this year. Tom Sarno, global head of timberland investments added, "We look forward to working with strategic partners like AMATA to expand in South America. Given the region's volume of high-quality real assets and its importance to global commodity markets and future supply chains, these acquisitions are an opportunity for us to build out our investment platform for clients." For AMATA, this transaction is part of its strategy to accelerate the development of its new business unit: AMATA Urbem. AMATA Urbem develops, manufactures, and sells engineered wood products for use in both domestic and international markets. "Last year, the first multi-story building in Brazil was constructed with Urbem technology and the market for engineered products continues to expand," said Ana Bastos, AMATA's CEO. "For us, the next target is for our production facility to be fully operational in the second half of 2022." About Hancock Natural Resource Group Hancock Natural Resource Group (HNRG) is part of Manulife Investment Management's comprehensive Private Markets platform, which includes private equity and credit, infrastructure, real estate, timber and agriculture. HNRG's timber division manages approximately 5.6 million acres of timberland across the United States and in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil and Chile. HNRG's agricultural investment group oversees approximately 400,000 acres of prime farmland in major agricultural regions of the United States and in Canada, Chile, and Australia. About Manulife Investment Management Manulife Investment Management is the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 17 countries and territories. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. As of December 31, 2020, Manulife Investment Management had CAD$966 billion (US$758 billion) in assets under management and administration. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com. About AMATA Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Sao Paulo, AMATA has always been a pioneer. The company operates according to the best practices of Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance, with sustainable and profitable management of its assets. All its forestry operations are FSC certified, and the Company is a Certified B Corporation. AMATA relates to the most innovative market trends, bringing to the civil construction sector engineered wood products at scale in Brazil. Through its new brand, Urbem, AMATA is building today, the cities of tomorrow. For additional information, please visit amatabrasil.com.br. SOURCE Manulife Investment Management Related Links https://www.manulifeim.com/ A Quincy man who worked as a van operator transporting disabled people has been indicted for failing to get medical aid for a client, which resulted in the persons death, Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz announced Tuesday. George Wise, 70, will be arraigned in Brockton Superior Court on a charge of permitting serious bodily injury to a disabled person. According to the district attorneys office, Hingham police received a phone call on June 26, 2019, a little past 9 a.m. from staff members at Road to Responsibility reporting an unresponsive male. Medical personnel responding to the call located the victim, who was identified as Joseph Lavigne, 24, of Norwell. Massachusetts State Police launched an investigation into the death of Lavigne and determined that Wise, who was driving the van for VHS Transportation Company, picked Lavigne up at a group home in Norwell and was made aware of the clients declining health condition. According to authorities, Wise neglected to provide the client with appropriate medical attention and instead ignored medical alarms and multiple notifications from a van monitor who was trying to alert Wise to the clients situation. London: The UKs reputable Cambridge University has advertised a new full-time post of a sexual assault and harassment adviser aimed to bolster advice and support available to a student. The new position will be part of the world-famous universitys counselling service and is believed to be the first for a British university. The new position will be part of the world-famous universitys counselling service and aims to bolster the advice and support available to a student, the university said in reference to the job. According to the advert, the successful applicant will work with the police, the local sexual assault referral centre and Cambridge Rape Crisis. It involves individual work with students and also designing and running workshops for staff. The university is continuously and actively working to improve the prevention, response, support and investigation of all instances of harassment, hate crime and sexual misconduct, a university spokesperson told the BBC. This new post has been created to supplement and bolster advice and support available to students through the college tutorial system, and in particular offer a source of specialist support to students, the spokesperson said. It is reported that the new 40,000-pounds-a-year post was created following growing complaints by female students of inappropriate physical contact, wolf whistles and jokes about rape. Last year, Oxford University started compulsory sexual consent workshops. The sexual consent course also covers legal aspects of consent and general sex education. According to the UKs National Union of Students, one in five students across the UK experiences some sort of sexual harassment in their first week of term. Also read: Times Higher Education ranking: JU India's top state funded university (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News: ASA International Group PLC - Weybridge, Surrey-based microfinance lender - Says liquidity continues to remain high, with around USD102 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents across the group as at the end of February, and pipeline of funding deals under negotiation around USD199 million. With the exception of India, the Philippines, and Myanmar, all other operating countries achieved collection efficiency of more than 90% in February and six out of 13 countries achieved collection efficiency of more than 95%. India collections remained at 84% throughout February and the Philippines improved collections to 82% by the end of the month. Panther Securities PLC - property investor - Confirms that approval has been obtained for the three month extension from both joint lenders to extend current loan facilities to July, having been previously set to expire in April. "The refinance of our term loans is now expected to receive full credit approval and complete within the extension period. The lenders' solicitors have also now been instructed on the basis that the final credit approval will be obtained from the second lender," company says. Adds that it is "prudent" to wait until full credit approval has been obtained for the refinancing before declaring any dividend. Alpha Growth PLC - London-based financial advisory specialising in 'longevity assets' such as life insurance - Completes share purchase acquisition of Northstar Group (Bermuda) Ltd, a Bermuda based holding company and its wholly owned insurance company, Providence Life Assurance Co Ltd. The acquisition has been fully approved by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Adds that significant progress continues to be made with the warehouse loan/short term credit facility provider. "We have now identified opportunities for direct asset purchases and will update our shareholders during April. Upon a successful conclusion, these asset purchases will further contribute to our assets under management and fee structure," company says. ADM Energy PLC - natural resources investor - Conditionally agrees to invest in the development of the Barracuda oil field in OML 141, an existing discovery and near-term production asset in swamp/shallow waters offshore Nigeria. The investment will be made by way of an acquisition of a 51% interest in KONH UK Ltd, which holds an indirect interest in a risk share agreement. Consideration for the investment may total up to USD1.3 million, of which USD300,000 is to be settled in cash on completion and the balance in equity. ADM intends to raise USD500,000 in a share subscription, to be done via accelerated bookbuild. Umuthi Healthcare Solutions PLC - technology-led healthcare - Says that following consultations with its UK-based advisers it appointed new auditors, Jeffreys Henry LLP, who have concluded an audit on the historical financial information for Umuthi for the periods to the end of February 2019 and 2020. "The board are pleased to note that following the audit, it can be confirmed that there have been no changes or amendments to the information on Umuthi as contained in the supplementary prospectus dated February 26," company says. Is in talks with the UK Financial Conduct Authority regarding the resumption of trading in the company's shares on the main market. Residential Secure Income PLC - investor in affordable shared ownership, retirement and local authority housing - Enters into new agreement with a subsidiary of its investment manager, ReSI Capital Management Ltd, which will allow the investment manager group to provide additional property management services to Residential Secure with respect to its retirement housing portfolio. The company's property management services are currently being provided by Girlings, an external third-party provider, and as part of the new arrangements, the Girlings team will be employed directly by a new subsidiary of the investment manager. Residential Secure expects to save around GBP200,000 per year due to the new arrangements, though will contribute GBP300,000 towards set up costs. JPMorgan Multi-Asset Trust PLC - investment firm - Says board has "reconsidered" the expectation that the manager provides a fully-covered dividend from portfolio income, which should provide greater flexibility in portfolio construction. To change reference index, which is currently LIBOR one-month sterling plus 4.50%, to adopt a reference index equivalent to a total return of 6% per year, measured over a rolling five-year period. "The manager's believe that, although higher than the existing target, this return is achievable based on JPMorgan's long term return assumptions which inform the Strategic Asset Allocation for the portfolio, together with additional alpha from active positioning from both the bottom up and top down," company says. Adds that it will change its name to JPMorgan Multi-Asset Growth & Income PLC. By Lucy Heming;A lucyheming@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. 1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them. 2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first. 3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services. 4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding. 5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget. Vote View Results Gerald Ramdeen, an attorney-at-law in Trinindad and Tobago, has taken a legal action against the government, asking it to reopen the countrys borders to nationals. (photo provided) Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. A six-year-old boy has captured the hearts of thousands after a video of him using a breathing technique to calm his younger brother down during a tantrum went viral. Ashley West, 30, from Los Angeles, California, has practiced controlled breathing with her three boys, but she was surprised to see her middle son Noah walking his brother Cory, four, through the technique when he was on the verge of a meltdown. The proud mom filmed the heartwarming moment and shared the footage on Instagram, where it has been viewed more than 185,000 times and has earned plenty of praise. Brotherly love: Ashley West, 30, from Los Angeles, California, shared a vide of her son Noah, six, using a breathing technique to help his younger brother Cory, four, calm down In the video, Cory is upset because he can't play with his Nintendo Switch until the controllers are charged. His whimpers are about to turn into a full-on tantrum when Noah steps in. The older brother kindly shows Cory how to inhale through his nose and exhale through his mouth, telling him to 'breathe' when he tries to protest. The breathing exercise works like a charm, and once Cory is feeling better, Noah pats him on the shoulder and says: 'See it helps you calm down.' 'Okay so... I really was not expecting this video to blow up the way it did!' West captioned the video last Tuesday. 'If you know me then you know the kids and I are ALWAYS meditating and practicing controlling our breathing/managing our emotions.' Story: Cory was upset because he couldn't play with his Nintendo Switch until the controllers were charged The little boy was on the verge of a meltdown when Noah stepped in Repeat after me: Noah showed Cory how to inhale through his nose and exhale through his mouth, telling him to 'breathe' when he tried protesting Aww! The breathing technique worked almost immediately, and once Cory wass feeling better, Noah pat him on the shoulder and said: 'See it helps you calm down' West, who is pursuing a master's degree in social work at the University of Southern California, told Today that she learned the calming techniques while working with psychologists and behavioral therapists as a social worker. 'Coping during COVID has been stressful as a stay home parent and graduate student,' she said. 'I do yoga and meditate as a form of release and relief as well as exercise. The kids will sometimes join me, but they definitely watch me all the time.' The mom taught her children the calming techniques to address their negative behaviors, and she has noticed a difference, particularly with Noah, who used to have an 'extremely bad' temper. Three boys: West, who learned the controlling breathing technique from her job as a social worker, also has a nine-year-old son Amar Busy mom: West is currently pursuing a master's degree in social work at the University of Southern California Lesson learned: The mom taught her children the calming techniques to address their negative behaviors, and she has noticed a difference, particularly with Noah 'Ive made a habit out of encouraging them to stop, and take a few breaths when they are upset and angry, or when their emotions are heightened,' she explained. 'Noah will usually stop and talk to himself when he is angry or upset and tell himself to calm down, but in that moment, seeing him co-regulate with his brother was a first for me, which prompted me to record it.' West, who also has a nine-year-old son Amar, was blown away by the positive responses to the brotherly moment, saying she has received thousands of messages from people all over the world telling her how much the video meant to them. 'They fight and bicker like normal siblings do but they are also absolutely the best of friends,' she said of her sons. 'I encourage them to believe and move as if they are each others "keepers" and they do they are always looking out for one another.' 3 1 of 3 Courtesy of Paleo Car Care Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Courtesy of Paleo Car Care Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Have you ever been at home, wanting some gas, but not wanting to get up off the couch? Or you know, it's late and you just want to get home so you tell yourself, 'It's cool, I'll pump gas tomorrow morning,' knowing full well you won't get up early enough to do all that. Well, now theres an app to help you with just that problem, believe it or not. Beginning Tuesday, Paleo Car Care will offer fuel delivery to interested San Antonians. The idea came about after the co-founders saw a gap in the market for such a service, which is popular in major cities like Houston and San Francisco. I've been following this since my partner told me about it this evening and just by the fact that they captured the shooter and got him help for his injuries I knew he was White. Those poor people in the store were so frightened. My heart goes out to everyone who was terrorized this evening. Reply Thread Link They captured the shooter alive after he killed one officer and wounded two others. They went out of their way to not shoot him. Reply Parent Thread Link very interesting they really seemed to make an effort to keep this dude alive, especially after he killed one of theirs. Reply Parent Thread Link Of course they did Reply Parent Thread Link Yup. I knew he would be some white male loser pissed off at the world for his own pathetic flaws. I was surprised he seemed older, its usually the MRA, incel types in their 20s doing this. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah reading accounts of people who got out and how fucking terrifying it must've been really got to me last night. Reply Parent Thread Link apparently he's arabic? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link So are democrats gonna actually do something about this now or are they just gonna hide behind the filibuster? Reply Thread Link More kneeling or walking photo ops. Reply Parent Thread Link I swear I keep seeing people tweet clips of Biden and Harris walking like it's some great accomplishment. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Are we pretending that American politics doesn't become a perfect horseshoe when it comes to caping for the gun lobby? Our most progressive legislators are usually in agreement with the worst of the GOP when it comes to protecting gun manufacturers and the gun lobby. I think it's actually bold to even pretend it would take the filibuster to stop effective gun control. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Lol no theyll do nothing. They dont even do easy things. Reply Parent Thread Link Lol at the losers who gave you a thumbs down. Reply Parent Thread Link they ain't gonna do SHIT Reply Parent Thread Link you know the answer to that Reply Parent Thread Link Idk why there are thumbs down on a valid point Reply Parent Thread Link I truly don't believe the democrats care enough to do something about it even though they can get the votes. AOC and her little girl power group will tweet a lot of hot air, the other two will post yet more photos of them walking, and pelosi will stay on brand and be her useless self. It's so hopeless Reply Parent Thread Expand Link They'll hide, continue to look weak as fuck as usual about gun laws meanwhile these incidents only incite and bring republicans closer in their stance to forever keep guns in every american home. Reply Parent Thread Link nothing's ever gonna change re: guns. if Newtown didn't change anything nothing will. Reply Parent Thread Link it's so sad that now that covid restrictions are being lifted, americans will go back to seeing shootings as more of a daily occurrence. i hope everyone who was affected by this tragedy can get the help they need in order to heal and i hope the white freak who did this chokes Reply Thread Link I was actually thinking that was the one thing that didn't suck about 2020. There wasn't a mass shooting every day. Reply Parent Thread Link it's terrible how this was a common sentiment amongst many people. Reply Parent Thread Link I keep hearing there were 600 last year, once on msnbc but I haven't looked into it. There was just a lot of other stuff going on. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link meanwhile one-on-one gun violence has seen a huge spike in my city, so there's been no feeling safe, really :\ Reply Parent Thread Link The thing that gets me as a Non-American though, is that 7 mass shootings this year is described as a 'lull', because of the pandemic... A LULL?! We aren't even in the fourth month of the year! Jesus Christ. That way of describing it is just not normal. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link "Back to normal" in every sense in the US. We learn nothing and let history repeat itself. Reply Parent Thread Link ICYMI: A Colorado judge gave law-abiding gun owners something to celebrate. In an @NRAILA-supported case, he ruled that the city of Boulders ban on commonly-owned rifles (AR-15s) and 10+ round mags was preempted by state law and STRUCK THEM DOWN. https://t.co/wmdhGG16pc NRA (@NRA) March 16, 2021 last week Reply Thread Link And the shooter today used an AR-15. Reply Parent Thread Link Remember the hysterics politicians, the media and everyone else went into when Beto O'Rourke said AR-15s were bad and should be banned? Reply Parent Thread Link These deaths are caused by these kind of judgements. People really should start suing. Reply Parent Thread Link I honestly don't understand why people want guns in their homes. Reply Parent Thread Link It sounds so morbid to put it this way, but... US mass shootings seemed to have slowed down and now 2 in about a week and a half?! How does this happen? The suspect is alive and in police custody. A lyrical term for "white". I'm so sorry these monsters are hunting for victims again and I hope you and your loved ones are well, my US sisters and brethren. Reply Thread Link Poor people. RIP. As someone who's not american, it truly baffles me how the US does nothing remotely close to a gun reform and how much inflluence the NRA has over the goverment and how stupid people look with their 'i have to protect myself' arguments. Reply Thread Link For a lot of people, the right to bear arms is nearly sacred. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh i've noticed! But when you live on a gun free place, that just seems like such an stupid argument. Reply Parent Thread Link It really is. I have had conversations with Americans that I would consider to be very sensible, rational, progressive people who will very politely tell me that I just dont get it when it comes to why gun control wont help anything. Youre right, Chip. I dont get it. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link That one messes with my head every time, people talk about the US like everyone just loves to wander about carrying their firearms, but it seems far more people are terrified of the thought. So there's this unhinged but loud minority getting their "GAWD GIVEN RIGHTS" and there's loads more people wondering if/when they'll be next. What kind of corrupt system would allow for such a thing? (the NRA, I know, but idg how they keep winning) Reply Parent Thread Link as an American, it's infuriating. and the pro-gun people LOVE to point out that Chicago apparently has ~high crime rates~ even tho Illinois has tough gun laws, like statelines have fucking customs agents or some shit. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link same. the ease of access to guns is one reason why america seems like the ultimate dystopia to me Reply Parent Thread Link It's the Second Amendment in the Constitution. But the Constitution wasn't meant to be written in stone. There was supposed to be a revisiting of it every 20 years or so to add to or change it as needed. But it was such a major pain in the ass to get it written & to vote on the original Bill of Rights that the people involved gave up on that idea. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link In some states (I think Texas and Alabama) a few years ago, a couple of banks gave you a free rifle if you opened up a checking account with them. I'm not kidding. Reply Parent Thread Link Americans really think we're all still colonials who need our guns to protect us from a tyrannical government or invading enemies. I mean look at the terrorism in our capital this year. They really thought they were patriots. Meanwhile shit like the "Patriot Act" happens that literally takes away some of our basic freedoms and privacy and these gun mongers don't say shit. If these fuckers really believed in human rights and autonomy from the government they wouldn't be anti abortion or anti civil rights or anti LGBTQ rights. It's all just some grand illusion that they're upholding some profound principle from our forefathers. They'll shout "Don't tread on me!" but if I say "Don't tread on my uterus!" I'm a murderous whore. Or if black people say "Stop killing us!" they're just criminals. These people stand for nothing and they can't even see it. Reply Parent Thread Link Same, they got banned here after one mass shooting in a primary school. How are people not desperate to see them banned? Reply Parent Thread Link there are so many americans who are one-issue voters, and that issue is just guns guns and more guns. its crazy. Reply Parent Thread Link Those poor people. I am so sick of these pieces of shit who can so easily get ahold of a weapon and take out their problems on innocent people. Fuck every single one of them as well as their supporters who refuse to fix this country. Reply Thread Link Wow, how did I not hear about this until now? That's horrible. One of the nice things about the pandemic was there were less mass shootings for a while. Reply Thread Link It's so surreal to say that there's been a lull in shootings because of the pandemic but that's exactly what happened. And now they're on an uptick. I'm so sorry to all the people who have lost their lives to gun violence. Politicians have failed you. Sending my love to you all. Reply Thread Link I will never, ever understand how easy it is to just buy a gun in the US. It's something so out of my/our reality here. I remember the first time I read a comment here of someone saying when they go to the movies they always make sure to look around so they know where to go if a shooting happens, and a lot of comments agreeing. For some reason that really stuck with me because I never had to think about that, no one I know ever thought about that, and I can't imagine living like that. Reply Thread Link every job I've worked at, I had an escape route in my brain. Reply Parent Thread Link yep. the training we got at my retail job is "run, hide, fight!" in that order i think about where i'd hide a lot but in reality i work up front so i'd be dead pretty quick! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I used to work at a university where we often got a lot of disgruntled students come in pissed about financial aid or a grade or something. We definitely had more than a few threats and incidents where we had to call security. The staff had to cover the front desk once a week during the receptionists lunch break and I was a wreck every time. And yes, we did have a panic button under the desk. When I wasnt there I definitely locked my own office door (but also partly bc I didnt want my boss catching me napping. That job was a snooooooze). Reply Parent Thread Link Same. I've even thought about the best places to hide if I couldn't get out. Reply Parent Thread Link Its sad that I think about (I actually even thought about this yesterday at work before this shooting) how I have the perfect desk position that Im guaranteed to get out but no one can enter through..... Reply Parent Thread Link Same, mostly for bomb alerts though rather than active shooters. Grew up in Belfast in the 90s etc. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I was 11, when Columbine happened and ever since then I will try and always see where the exits are. When I went to go watch Anvengerss Infinity War there was a moment when the screen went blackI kid you not when I say I got nervous thinking a shooter was pop out cause of the aurora shooting from a few years ago. Luckily it was nothing more than technical issue with the projectors. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I do the same but because i live in an earthquake zone. But apparently its a good practice to mentally figure your way out in case of an emergency. Reply Parent Thread Link The movie thing is real. I *always* sit in the back row because it's the only place where I know if something breaks out it won't start behind me and catch me unaware. I'm moving overseas this summer and the idea of not living this kind of life anymore is at least 50% of the motivation. (The other 50% is the fact that I'm the mom of a Black son and I want him to have a better shot at surviving to his old age so I guess they're kind of related. Fuck this place.) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I def did it when I'd go to the grocery store pre pandemic. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah I always know my exits everywhere I go. Reply Parent Thread Link i cant take it anymore. i am ready to leave. Reply Parent Thread Link Ugh, my roommate just informed me of this I'm just so beyond fucking sick of the gun culture in this country Reply Thread Link Another thing to remember is that violence has NOT been down during the pandemic just "headline worthy" shootings. Guns are such a destructive force in the US it's maddening. Reply Thread Link yeah, my city had record homicides & gun violence in 2020 :/ Reply Parent Thread Link us too in portland. its been so bad. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link We've had a couple of people shoot at each other at malls in our city recently. No one was hurt in the three incidents I'm thinking of so, you know, that won't make national news, but it's still frightening. I don't want to get accidentally shot by some idiot fighting with someone in a fucking Carter's. Reply Parent Thread Link yes, my hometown had a huge uptick in violent crime last year. of course our state's newly republican majority has been quick to relax gun restrictions. ignorant fucks... Reply Parent Thread Link Heres the thing. Were all talking about gun violence again because it felt like wed gotten a break from it, but that never actually happened. Last year, 41,000 people a record in modern American history died in shootings. John Woodrow Cox (@JohnWoodrowCox) March 23, 2021 Yup Reply Parent Thread Link while my brother was at work at a shopping center, someone shot at random into a line of people waiting to get into a mall next door. i'm amazed but i already forgot about it bc, yeah, it didn't get a ton of coverage and so much fucking shit has happened that buried the memory deep almost as soon as it happened. Reply Parent Thread Link Yep. People only care about shootings when theyre mass shootings. No one cares about the increase in domestic violence shootings, or the rise in gun violence in general in 2020. There have been at least 3 barricaded gunman situations in the metro Detroit area this year. There were multiple last year as well. People are killing their families left and right, and 99% of them are doing it with legally (and easily) obtained firearms, purchased under the guise of protection. Reply Parent Thread Link 10?! Jesus Christ. At this point I'm way too cynical to hope for gun reform of any kind -- I know the NRA's broke or whatever, which is hilarious, but these GOP assholes still profit from blocking all these proposed changes, and people are monstrously selfish and this country is trash, so. (Though while I absolutely support stricter gun laws 1,000%, the root of the problem here is male entitlement, and I have no idea how to change THAT. Notice how we always assume it's a man, and we're always right? The racist double standards are important to acknowledge, but let's not forget that's it's ALWAYS MEN. Our culture keeps teaching men that they deserve to have whatever they want, so if that doesn't happen and they're bitter, they have the right to take it out on whoever they want.) Reply Thread Link The first thing out of my mouth when I found out was, "Why isn't anyone having the conversation about male entitlement?!?! When was the last time you saw women killing and raping people in record number because they felt entitled to have whatever it is they want?" Also, I found this crazy guy on youtube and he is a ticking time bomb I'm afraid. Seriously watch at your own peril. I'm afraid he will wind up on the news soon. and fyi, he thinks he is Eminem's love child and he talks about fetishes of having black teens pooping for him on command and burping in his mouth. I've been watching him honestly out of fear that hes going to get his hands on a fire arm. Reply Parent Thread Link My God. Another guy in the comments Im 18 and a virgin. So what? Who cares? These guys seem to think to everyone else obsesses over their virginity like they do when in reality, only a weird creep would give a shit about another guy (especially a teen) being a virgin. And that guy is only 20? Damn. Edited at 2021-03-23 10:33 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I dont know if Im ready for life after covid. People keep saying its still far away, but it doesnt feel that way. People already suck at new levels and were at limited exposure to them. What happens when were constantly exposed to them? Or is that when we have good people back out there and they help dilute the trash? Reply Thread Link The fucking nerve. Reply Parent Thread Link This fucking asshole, who has turned her entire identity into being associated with a gun at all times, it just rings hollow. I really hate her. Reply Parent Thread Link https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/03/12/lauren-boeberts-tall-tale-about-mans-death-that-led-her-pack-heat/ And she lied about the reason she became a gun nut. She claimed it was because someone was killed outside her bar when he was actually killed nowhere near her place. Reply Parent Thread Link i hate this woman so much Reply Parent Thread Link Does her books say "Dressed to Kill" because....jfc Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? Whats neat about that is that kids ask about that. Theyll be talking to you, they see you as a normal civilian and then they see that you were in the military and it brings it to life, Schroeder said. Its not some imaginary Marine or soldier. Its a normal person that they can identify with. Its their uncle or their grandpa. SAN DIEGO, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- San Diego-based Tower 16 Capital Partners, in partnership with Drake Real Estate Partners, has acquired La Mirada Apartments, a 201-unit multifamily project in Tucson, Ariz. The property was acquired from a private seller in an off-market transaction. "We are excited to announce our second acquisition in the Tucson market," said Tower 16 Co-Founder Mike Farley. "We believe that the demand drivers for multifamily housing in Tucson will continue to grow in the coming years, and we are excited to be part of that growth story." Tower 16 Capital Partners, in Partnership with Drake Real Estate Partners, Acquires La Mirada Apartments in Tucson, Arizona Tower 16 Capital Partners, in Partnership with Drake Real Estate Partners, Acquires La Mirada Apartments in Tucson, Arizona Since its founding in 2017, Tower 16 has made similar moves into markets throughout the West, having acquired close to 4,000 units in California, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson and Denver. The company seeks markets with increasing demand for workforce housing driven by job growth and in-migration but with relatively low levels of new supply. According to company executives, Tower 16 intends to build a portfolio of over 1,000 units in the Tucson market over the next several years. La Mirada Apartments is located at 4415 East Grant Road in Tucson, Ariz. The property is just minutes away from the I-10 freeway and only ten minutes from Downtown Tucson and the University of Arizona campus. The community consists of large two- and three-bedroom apartments with a clubhouse and two swimming pools. Tower 16 will be overseeing over $4 million in upgrades and renovations to the property including modernized unit upgrades, a new clubhouse, gym and updated pool areas. The company will also be adding outdoor amenities including barbeques, seating and outdoor gaming areas. "We plan on making numerous upgrades to the property that will greatly enhance the tenant experience at La Mirada," said Tower 16 Co-Founder Tyler Pruett. "It gives us great satisfaction to watch the transformation of the property and the surrounding neighborhood through our efforts. We look forward to starting our work as soon as possible." Tower 16 partnered with Drake Real Estate Partners in the acquisition of La Mirada, the second venture in a programmatic relationship between the two firms. Media Contact: Ingrid Jones 949.395.5489 [email protected] SOURCE Tower 16 Capital Partners Related Links https://tower16capital.com NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 Harare, March 24 : Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa will get his first shot of China's Sinovac vaccine on Wednesday in the resort town of Victoria Falls where he will also launch the country's second phase of the inoculation program, Vice President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga said this in a statement. "The Second Phase of the Covid-19 vaccination program will be officially launched by His Excellency the President, Cde. E.D. Mnangagwa, this week, Wednesday, 24th of March, 2021, in the tourism city of Victoria Falls. On the day, His Excellency the President will receive his first jab of Sinovac," Chiwenga said, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday. Chiwenga said Mnangagwa will be accompanied by leaders of other political parties in Zimbabwe who will also receive their first jabs on the same occasion. In Victoria Falls, the government will launch the second phase of the vaccination program for all residents in the city where Zimbabwe recorded its first case of Covid-19 on March 20 last year. "This vaccination exercise will pave way for the resumption of unlimited tourism activities in the city which is a world attraction," Chiwenga said. Zimbabwe launched the first phase of its vaccination drive on February 18 with Chiwenga becoming the first citizen to receive China's Sinopharm vaccine. He received his second jab last Thursday. This was after Zimbabwe received its first batch of Sinopharm vaccines that were donated by China. Last week, Zimbabwe also took delivery of another batch of Sinopharm vaccine donated by China, and an additional batch of the Sinovac vaccine that it purchased. Frontline workers, journalists, ports and immigration officials were targeted under phase one while the second phase will target teachers and workers in the tourism and tobacco industry, among others. Zimbabwe is targeting to vaccinate 60 per cent of its population in order to achieve herd immunity. An employee of the Russian Consulate in Strasbourg is suspected of selling dozens of stolen bicycles, French media reports said on March 22. According to the reports, a 40-year-old driver for the Russian diplomatic mission was detained for questioning on February 14 but released 24 hours later as police pursued the investigation. When police wanted to question the suspect for a second time later in February, they were informed by the consulate that he had returned to Russia for "health reasons." Police launched the probe after an expensive electric bicycle belonging to the former deputy mayor of Strasbourg, Alain Fontanel, was stolen on a street near Strasbourg's diplomatic quarter. Fontanel turned to police after he saw his bike offered for sale on the Leboncoin website several days later. Police contacted the seller who agreed to sell the bike at a site just next to the Russian consulate. The man had a fake receipt of purchase with a Russian consulate stamp along with Fontanel's bike identified by its serial number later, and three other bikes. Police found out later that some 300 ads for high-quality bikes had been posted on the Leboncoin site since January 2020, representing a potential value of up to 100,000 euros ($120,000). The investigation continues as prosecutors weigh whether to proceed with a trial even if the suspect remains out of reach. Based on reporting by AFP and France Bleu March 18 Police arrested 38-year-old Juan Gustavo Salazar-Perez on March 18 at the 2100 block of Kokomo. The individual was arrested and charged with multiple out-of-county warrants, including some felony charges. Warrants include one for possession of a controlled substance out of Bexar County; three misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear twice for deadly conduct and once for possession of a controlled substance out of Wharton County; and four felony warrants out of El Campo for two or more violations of a protective order, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance and tampering with a government record with intent to defraud/harm. Officers were called to the 2000 block of W. 4th St. on March 18 in reference to fraud. A person reportedly used a debit/credit card illegal. Officers reported to the 1100 block of Thunderbird on March 18 in reference to someone making silent or abusive 9-1-1 calls. A theft was reported at the 1100 block of Holiday St. on March 18. An unknown suspect posed as an Apple care worker and prompted the victim to purchase multiple gift cards valued to more than $2,500 but less than $30,000. Police arrested 37-year-old Jessie Martinez, Jr. on March 18 at the 2000 block of Galveston St. for an out-of-county felony warrant. Martinez had two felonies out of Lamb County for theft of a firearm and for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He also had a warrant from the U.S. Marshal Service for weapon trafficking and probation violation. Darin Lee Turner, 53, was arrested on March 18 at the 1600 block of Lexington St. during a traffic stop. The individual was identified and confirmed to have a county and a municipal warrant. Turner was arrested and transported to the Hale County Jail where jail staff located a baggie of white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. March 19 A crash was reported at the 600 block of W. 10th St. on March 19. Vehicle damage was reported. Police arrested a 39-year-old man at the 2000 block of SW 3rd St. The individual was charged with a misdemeanor warrant from the Sheriffs Office. Officers arrested 28-year-old Christopher Michael Kiff on March 19 for out-of-county felony warrants at the 500 block of E. 34th St. The individual had active warrants for fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. The individual was also found to be in possession of four debit cards. Officers responded to the 900 block of W. 10th St. on March 19 in reference to damaged property. An unknown person threw eggs at a vehicle causing paint damage. A burglary of a habitation was reported at the 500 block of Nassau on March 19. A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 3700 block of Olton Road on March 19. Theft was reported at the 900 block of Ash St. on March 19. March 20, Saturday Damaged property was reported at the 2400 block of Kermit St. on Saturday. A suspect is believed to have entered a home and damaged property. Officers responded to a traffic hazard at the 100 block of the east frontage road of Interstate 27 on Saturday. A stolen vehicle was reported at the 4200 block of Dimmit Road on Saturday. A burglary of a habitation was reported at the 500 block of Nassau St. on Saturday Another burglary of a habitation was reported at the 1300 block of Nassau St. on Saturday. Officers responded to an incident classified as miscellaneous at the 1500 block of W. 5th St. on Saturday. Police arrested 45-year-old Joe Louis Alcozer at the 1100 block of W. 8th St. on Saturday for an outstanding felony warrant for possession of a controlled substance. Officers arrested 28-year-old Roman Carlos Casares on Saturday at the 1300 block of W. 11th St. during a traffic stop. The driver failed to use a turn signal and was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and amphetamine. Casares was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, which is a felony. March 21, Sunday Police arrested 19-year-old Blayke Montana Sistrunk at the 1500 block of N. Interstate 27 on Sunday. Sistrunk was identified as having multiple county warrants. He was placed under arrest and his vehicle was inventoried. Officers found a white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine in a black Beats bag prompting a search of the vehicle. Police found more of the substance in a flashlight. Sistrunk was charged with possession of a controlled substance and with an active warrant. Police responded to the 1200 block of W. 7th St. on Sunday in reference to an assault. An assault with a weapon was reported at the 1200 block of W. 7th St. on Sunday. Damaged property and damage to a vehicle was reported at the 300 block of SE 4th St. on Sunday. A crash resulting in injury and a citation to the driver was reported at the 900 block of Cedar St. on Sunday. Officers issued a citation to a driver operating an open-bed pickup with a child younger than 18 years old in the bed of the truck. The occupants fell out of the bed of the truck causing bodily injury. Police arrested 44-year-old man at the 3300 block of N. Columbia St. on Sunday. The man was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and with a felony warrant for the same. The driver was believed to be intoxicated while driving a vehicle and allegedly caused a crash at the 3300 block of N. Columbia. Theft from a vehicle was reported at the 2100 block of W. 9th St. on Sunday after the victim left the vehicle unlocked with a spare key inside. A burglar removed the key between about 6:40-10:30 p.m. The key is estimated to be worth $200 to replace since it has a chip specifically for the vehicle. The case remains under investigation. Nigerian music artist, Burna boy, attends an interview with Reuters at his studio in Lagos, Nigeria (Photo : REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja) Modern African music is altering perceptions of the continent as part of a global cultural shift that marks a "big moment", Nigerian music artist Burna Boy told Reuters after hailing his first Grammy award. Burna Boy was awarded a Grammy for the Best Global Music Album this month for 'Twice As Tall' which was released last year. Advertisement He is part of a generation of Nigerian music artists, which include Wizkid and Davido, that has enjoyed global success in recent years as proponents of the Afrobeats sound. The African genre is now almost as likely to be heard in London or Los Angeles as it is in Lagos. "It's a big moment and a big time for African music and Africans in general," said Burna Boy, during an interview at his home in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos. The artist, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, said his award was part of a "domino effect" that gives Africans more control over the way they are perceived through technology, as streaming services take the continent's arts to a global audience. "I didn't even want to be African when I was little," he said. "I wanted to be anything but who I was, because who we are wasn't really the cool thing to be," said the artist, who grew up in southern Nigeria and moved to London as a child before returning to the west African country. He said his win showed that African music was attracting worldwide respect. Those sentiments were shared by many at Edge Music Academy, in the Jakande district of Lagos, where students compose music in a studio decked out with microphones, laptops and a keyboard. "The future is bright," said student Obi Prince. "The way Afrobeats is represented in the world right now can only be a start for Nigerian artists. We just have to do our thing and bring out ourselves more globally," he said. The academy's chief executive officer, Michael Tijani, said Burna Boy's win was a "huge deal" for Nigerian music. "People coming into the industry now have a more concrete belief that you can actually get as far as anybody else in the world can go," he said. Reclining in a chair in his home studio, Burna Boy reflected on his success. "You can't mention the top five musicians in the world without throwing me or an African in there," he said, smiling. "Now we're eye to eye with the people we used to look up to." New role: Jim Mintern has over 30 years of experience in the building materials industry. CRH has named insider Jim Mintern to take over as CFO, one of the best-paid jobs in corporate Ireland. The current chief of staff to CEO Albert Manifold will take over as finance director from Senan Murphy who is retiring aged 52 from a job where he last year earned a pay packet of more than 3.5m more than most Irish CEOs. Mr Murphy, was an executive at Bank of Ireland where banker's pay is capped at 500,000 a year before moving to global building materials giant CRH. The CRH pay is not guaranteed Mr Murphy earned a basic salary of 985,000 in 2020, topped up with shares and share options of almost 2m and a cash bonus of 689,000. He announced his intention to retire in September. Another ex-Bank of Ireland executive, Andrew Keating, who is director of group finance at CRH had been tipped for the position. Mr Mintern (54) has over 30 years of experience in the building materials industry, including nearly 20 years with CRH. He joined CRH in Ireland as finance director for Roadstone in 2002. Since then he has held several senior positions across the group, including country manager for Ireland and managing director of each of the Western and Eastern regions of the companys Europe Materials business. In his most recent role as chief of staff to Mr Manifold, he has worked closely with divisional and operational leadership, having oversight of group performance programmes. He was also involved in leading the planning and execution of some of the companys recent large acquisitions including Ash Grove in North America in 2018, according to a statement from CRH. Davy analyst Robert Gardiner said Mr Mintern brings a broad mix of both operational and financial experience to the role. Most recently, he had oversight of group performance programmes and led the integration of Ash Grove in North America. That deal will look better again if media reports on President Bidens Build Back Better plan prove accurate, Mr Gardiner said. Initial proposals point to a $3trn plan, with significant funding to repair the nations roads, bridges, waterways and rail network, he added. A chartered accountant, Mr Mintern holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UCD. Mr Manifold said: I am very pleased that Jim has been appointed to this role. His strong financial background, coupled with his extensive industry experience, prepares him well for this critical leadership role and comes at an important time for the group. CRH also announced the appointment of Caroline Dowling as a non-executive director. Ms Dowling, an Irish citizen, was until her retirement in February 2018 a business group president of Flex, a Fortune 500 company with operations in 30 countries. In this role she led the Telecommunications, Enterprise Compute, Networking and Cloud Data Center and was also responsible for managing the Global Services Division, supporting complex supply chains. Ms Dowling is a non-executive director of DCC and IMI. In its annual results released earlier this month CRH said its revenue last year dipped 2pc to $27.6bn (22.9bn), while its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) was 5pc higher at $4.6bn. At the time of the results Mr Manifold said the group had delivered record profitability, margins and cash generation despite the pandemic. The company the worlds second-largest building materials group will also continue with its mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategy. Mr Manifold said deals worth as much as $1bn could now be considered bolt-ons for CRH. A cost-saving change in Medicare launched in the final days of the Trump administration will cut payments to hospitals for some surgical procedures while potentially raising costs and confusion for patients. For years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services classified 1,740 surgeries and other services so risky for older adults that Medicare would pay for them only when they were admitted to the hospital as inpatients. Under the new rule, the agency is beginning to phase out that requirement and, on Jan. 1, 266 shoulder, spine and other musculoskeletal surgeries were crossed off what's called the "inpatient-only list." By the end of 2023, the list which includes a variety of complicated procedures including brain and heart operations is scheduled to be gone. CMS officials said the change was designed to give patients and doctors more options and help lower costs by promoting more competition among hospitals and independent ambulatory surgical centers. But they forgot one thing. While removing the surgeries from the inpatient-only list, the government did not approve them to be performed anywhere else. So patients will still have to get the care at hospitals. But because the procedures have been reclassified, patients who have them in the hospital don't have to be considered admitted patients. Instead, they can receive services on an outpatient basis. CMS pays hospitals less for care provided to beneficiaries who are outpatients, so the new policy means the agency can pay less than it did last year for the same surgery at the same hospital and Medicare outpatients will usually pick up a bigger part of the tab. "The impetus for this is for Medicare to save money," said Dr. James Huddleston, a professor of orthopedic surgery at the Stanford University Medical Center and the chair of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons' Health Policy Council. "The oldest trick in the book is to say the patients dont need to be cared for in an expensive hospital setting." But since seniors will still have to go to the hospital, "it's sort of a distinction without a difference," he added. This is not about a different care setting, or giving more choice to providers," said Judith Stein, executive director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy. It's about Medicare billing practices that will further confuse hospital patients." When unveiling the final rule in December, then-CMS Administrator Seema Verma said the change would give seniors and their physicians more options for care "without micromanagement from Washington." She promised the new policy would also let seniors avoid hospitals, especially during the covid-19 pandemic, and free up needed beds. CMS did add services that it will cover when provided by ambulatory surgery centers this year, a spokesperson said last month, but those don't include procedures that were on the inpatient-only list. Dr. Catherine MacLean, chief value medical officer at New York City's Hospital for Special Surgery, said CMS should have tested the change as a pilot project to be sure it's safe for patients. "These are big procedures," she said, with a lot of "cutting, sewing and bleeding" that require post-surgery monitoring due to a significant risk of complications, especially for patients with multiple health problems. The change applies to adults who have government-run Medicare insurance, but some Medicare Advantage plans sold by private companies have similar policies. CMS officials said the change was a response to numerous requests seeking assurance that payment requirements do not override physicians' judgment and assessment of their patients' conditions. But health care groups representing millions of providers opposed it. Even though seniors getting this care will be considered outpatients, they may still stay in the hospital overnight or longer, often on the same floor as those who are admitted, getting the same nursing care, lab tests and drugs with one big difference: their bill. Patients admitted to the hospital typically receive an all-inclusive package of services and pay only this year's Medicare hospital deductible of $1,484 for a stay of up to 60 days. They also pay 20% of doctors' charges. Medicare picks up the rest of the bill. Outpatient services are charged differently, with the patient typically paying 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for each service. That's one payment for the outpatient surgery plus, for example, a second payment for blood transfusions, and more payments depending on what may be included in the surgery charge and how many other separately billed items the patient needs. (And, like admitted patients, outpatients also pay 20% of doctors charges.) As with other outpatient services, in most cases each charge cannot exceed $1,484. "However, your total copayment for all outpatient services may be more than the inpatient hospital deductible," according to the federal government's annual guide sent to all Medicare beneficiaries. Patients will also be hit with a "facility fee" up to several thousand dollars to cover the hospital's overhead costs, said Richard Gundling, senior vice president at the Healthcare Financial Management Association. After Medicare pays its portion, outpatients owe 20% of the facility fee. And because Medicare prescription drug plans don't cover medication ordered for hospital patients, they're treated as if they have no drug insurance and can be charged exorbitant amounts for drugs they routinely take at home. Another item that can be tacked onto the bill for outpatients but not admitted patients is called "excess charges." Providers who do not accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment can charge up to an extra 15% of that amount. Medicare pays none of these extra charges. These surprise expenses can add up even for people who buy supplementary or Medigap health insurance to cushion the sticker shock. These private policies cover some portion of the patient's payments for Medicare-approved charges. Only the most expensive policies cover "excess charges." Otherwise, when Medicare doesn't cover something, Medigap doesn't chip in, so the patient is on the hook for the total charge. In addition, Stein warned that the new rule will "sometimes limit their Medicare coverage when they need care after leaving the hospital." Medicare patients don't qualify for nursing home coverage even if they stay in the hospital for the required three days. That time doesn't count because they were not admitted to the hospital something Medicare patients who are in the hospital for observation care have complained about for years, forcing some to sue the government for a change. Outpatients may also find it more difficult to get home health care. Medicare pays home care agencies more for people after a hospital inpatient stay, but those who are not admitted may have trouble finding agencies willing to serve them at Medicare's lower reimbursement, said Stein. A procedure that was on the inpatient-only list can still be provided to an admitted hospital patient, if health care providers can justify the need based on their clinical judgment. But there's no guarantee that CMS will agree the admission was necessary and cover it. Since the Biden administration inherited the new policy, critics are hoping CMS will rescind it. "The decision ought to be made by the surgeons in consultation with their patients," said Dr. Joseph Bosco, a vice chair of NYU Langone Healths department of orthopedic surgery and president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. "We don't need the federal government or health insurance companies interfering in the doctor-patient relationship." Two people were stabbed to death in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, in a brutal attack which started when one of the victims was talking to a colleague on an online Zoom call. The double stabbing took place around 2:45pm in the Altadena neighborhood, with both victims pronounced dead at the scene, and their car reported missing. Robert Cotton, 32, was arrested by police an hour later when he returned to the property in the vehicle. The victims, who have yet to be officially identified, were a Black man and woman, both in their 60s. They were not a couple and their relationship to one another and the attacker was not immediately clear, the Los Angeles Times reports. The woman was on a Zoom call when the attack started, and her frantic colleague dialed 911 thinking that a kidnapping was happening when the woman was dragged off the screen. 'The lady was still talking on the Zoom when the male was dragged out of the house,' Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Lt. Barry Hall told CBSLA. 'That alerted her and then the suspect went inside and attacked her.' Scroll down for video A suspect, Robert Cotton, 32, was arrested after he arrived at the scene in a victim's SUV Cotton is believed to be a relative of the victims, according to neighbors of the victims When deputies arrived to the scene, the man was found dead in the driveway, with several stab wounds. The woman was found deceased inside the residence. Police believe the man was attacked first while the woman was on her Zoom call. The woman was attacked shortly thereafter, with a witness on Zoom witnessing both of the attacks and calling 911 to report them. A knife that may have been used during the attack was recovered at the scene. Police arrested Cotton, 32, after he arrived at the residence in a Lexus SUV belonging to one of the victims, an hour after deputies were called. Police deputies responded to a potential 'kidnapping in progress' Monday, only to find two adults in their 60s stabbed to death Cotton, who identified himself as a resident of the home, was detained and booked on two counts of murder. Neighbors told KTLA that the alleged suspect in the stabbings is somehow related to the two deceased. 'We just cant believe it,' neighbor Darlene Thomas told KCAL. 'We cannot believe it. We are in total shock.' There are not believed to be any other suspects in the stabbings and the motive for the murders remains unclear. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for further comment. No motive has been given for the crime, which took place while the female victim was on Zoom This is not the first time someone has been attacked or killed while on a Zoom call since the pandemic began. In May, 72-year-old Dwight Powers of Amityville, New York was on a Zoom call for Alcoholics Anonymous when he was allegedly stabbed to death by his son, Thomas Scully-Powers. Scully-Powers appeared naked on the Zoom feed after the slaying and evaded cops after fleeing through a window before they caught up to him. Other people on the Zoom did not realize something was off until Powers fell during the feed, WABC reports. Scully-Powers was charged with 2nd-degree murder. Climate change also affects forests in Germany. Currently, the biggest forest dieback since the 1980s is taking place. In Baden-Wurttemberg, 43 percent of all forest areas are damaged. Science will now help take countermeasures and make forest ecosystems more resistant: "Mixed forests with hornbeam, maple, or wild cherry cope with the new conditions much better than spruce forests, but are less profitable. When planting trees, soil properties play an important role," says climate researcher Dr. Joachim Fallmann from the South German Climate Office of KIT. "Forest management has to respond and to carefully balance various aspects." To help foresters make optimal data-based decisions, EDI GmbH, a spinoff of KIT specialized in intelligent industry software, the South German Climate Office, and KIT's Institute of Geography and Geoecology develop a cloud-based decision support system based on artificial intelligence (AI) methods. The interdisciplinary project EDE 4.0 (German acronym of Extended Dynamic Planning of Logging) is carried out in close cooperation with partners in the forest management sector and is aimed at supporting sustainable forestry. Intelligent Assistance System for Forest Management The assistance system is based on a software solution made by EDI GmbH. The EDI hive IoT framework was originally designed for machine learning in the aerospace and mechanical engineering sectors. "Our development work will result in a mobile app that can be operated intuitively and uses AI to support local foresters when deciding where to log or when to plant new trees. Moreover, the system will output success perspectives when planting a tree at a specific location," says Dr. Thomas Freudenmann, one of the founders of EDI GmbH. For the system to supply relevant results, it first has to recognize relationships and patterns. For this purpose, many data from various areas are merged. These are data on medium-term climate development provided by the German Weather Service and KIT's Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research. The Institute of Geography and Geoecology of KIT supplies specific forestry-related data. The forestry sector contributes information on the market environment. In addition, the assistance system will consider the local knowledge and expertise of foresters. (mhe) ### Further Information: http://ede4. 0. edi. gmbh/ de/ Associated Partners and Funding The EDE 4.0 project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) based on a decision by German Parliament. The project management agency is Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR), the central project-coordinating agency in the area of renewable resources. Associated partners are the Baden-Wurttemberg Ministry of Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection (MLR), Forstliche Versuchs- und Forschungsanstalt Baden-Wurttemberg (FVA), Rottenburg University of Applied Forest Sciences (HFR), and the City of Karlsruhe. Interactive Video Presents the Project The EDE 4.0 project is presented by the third video of the interactive series "Sachen machen mit KI" (things to do with AI). For the video, click: https:/ / www. sek. kit. edu/ video/ ede40/ (in German) Note: The video data are stored by an external provider (vimeo). When clicking the player, you will leave the website of KIT. When playing the video in the interactive video player, you can change between different image and sound tracks to watch and listen from several perspectives. By a few steps, the interactive videos can also be integrated in own records via the embed code. More about the KIT Climate and Environment Center: https:/ / www. klima-umwelt. kit. edu/ english/ Contact for This Press Release Dr. Martin Heidelberger, Press Officer, phone: +49 721 608-41169, email: martin.heidelberger@kit.edu Being "The Research University in the Helmholtz-Association," KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility and information. For this, about 9,600 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 23,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. Kemic Smothers, the brother of former Smothers Academy CEO Damon Smothers and a one-time employee there, has been suspended from practicing law following an investigation related to the now-shuttered boys' charter school in Jefferson Parish. The Supreme Court of Louisiana suspended Smothers last week for a year and a day for charging the school legal fees while his law licensed was suspended and for not responding to the inquiry by the court's Office of Disciplinary Counsel. The ruling also noted Smother's did not stop improperly charging the school legal fees which it says he did from May 2014 to January 2019 even after the disciplinary charge was leveled against him in December 2017. The court first suspended Smothers for six months in the matter in June 2020, with up to two years probation, but the longer sanction levied last week means he will have to reapply to practice law again. One state justice admonished Smothers for his "indifference" to the disciplinary process for failing to answer the formal charges. Smothers, who got his law license in 2002, became ineligible to practice in 2014 his "failure to comply with his annual professional obligations," the court said. The ruling casts yet another shadow over the legacy of Smothers Academy, a former F-rated school headed by Damon Smothers that was shut down two years ago by the state's Board of Elementary and Secondary Education at the recommendation of the state education department. In doing so, the state cited "serious violations of law" unrelated to the issue of whether Kemic Smothers was properly licensed to give legal advice. School leaders were accused of financial mismanagement and a failure to properly serve disabled students This was after a 2017 warning by the state that the school violated the law by saying it took only male students and allegations it violated nepotism laws by employing both brothers at the school. At the time, the brothers were part of a team educating 463 kids between kindergarten and the eighth grade at the Jefferson Highway school. Smothers Academy got its charter from the state in 2016 after trying and failing to receive one from the school boards in both Orleans and Jefferson parishes. And as the problems mounted, the brothers began pointing their fingers at each other. Kemic Smothers sued his brother, with Smothers Academy, the board of directors and the school's chief financial officer for fraud, breach of contract and retaliatory discharge. 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 He said Damon Smothers had taken $20,000 from the schools bank account and shorted him on his full contracted payment. In the petition, he referred to himself as "Legal Counsel to the Board," a title that did not go unnoticed by the state supreme court's disciplinary office. In an interview Monday, Kemic Smothers said he wishes he had used different language, and that he was actually the school's chief compliance officer, not the board's official lawyer, although he said he found it "difficult not to advise the board legally." "My goal was to be over compliance," he said. "I just happened to be an attorney. But I don't practice law in the traditional sense and havent for a long time." Damon Smothers has repeatedly said the financial allegations made by his brother were simply a misunderstanding. He said he had requested an advance on his paycheck that the $20,000 was simply a loan and that he had started paying it all back. He said the matter was never forwarded to any law enforcement. He accused his brother of extortion, saying Kemic Smothers was angry at being let go and filed the lawsuit in retaliation. Damon Smothers said it was his brother who had not gotten clearance from the state ethics board to work at the school, while Kemic Smothers contends he had first been involved with the school as a board member. Damon Smothers said that regardless of the past, he hopes to open another academy for young boys, but this time it will be a private school. He said that when it closed, Smothers Academy had climbed to a D grade with a B for student growth over time. "I'm trying to get the school reopened without having any more damage done," he said, adding that talking about Smothers Academy, the family battle and the school's closure was "opening old wounds." In a follow-up email, Damon Smothers said he continues to pray for his brother and he hopes "he gets past this and ultimately makes better professional decisions in his life." We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Unseasonably warm temperatures broke a number of records in Westman during the first day of spring Saturday. Advertisement Advertise With Us Unseasonably warm temperatures broke a number of records in Westman during the first day of spring Saturday. Temperatures peaked during the afternoon when records were set in Carberry, Dauphin, Melita, Pilot Mound, Swan River and McCreary. The warmest of these temperatures was 17.4 C in McCreary, where the mercury spiked well past its previous record of 11 C set in 2012. Other new record highs for March 20 included: Carberry: 15.7 C; previous record was 11.4 C in 2012 Dauphin: 14.2 C; previous record was 12.8 C in 1918 Melita: 17 C; previous record was 14 C in 1991 Pilot Mound: 16.8 C; previous record was 14.4 C in 1945 Swan River: 11.1 C; previous record was 8.5 C in 1991 Brandon, meanwhile, hit 14.8 C, which fell short of the record-setting year of 1910, when a high of 17.2 C warmed residents on March 20. A couple of days later, The Brandon Daily Sun reported the Assiniboine River ice had started breaking up early on March 21, with the earliest previous year on record being March 26. By contrast, the coldest temperature recorded in Brandon on March 20 was -30 C in 1965. Environment Canada meteorologist Natalie Hasell said the warm temperatures came as a result of the placement of two low-pressure systems one to the north and one to the south working to usher warm air into southwestern Manitoba. From there, the weather system shifted north to the Parkland area and then east through the Interlake. With the shift, a short cold front came through Brandon at the time. Temperatures subsequently increased and have remained unseasonably warm since that time, but are starting to cool toward more seasonable levels as the week drags on. "I think the general overall picture of warmer than normal days will happen in a global warming scenario," Hasell said. "We can still expect a lot of variability there are still going to be cold periods." Precipitation is anticipated for Thursday or Friday, and Hasell cautions that freezing temperatures overnight might result in some slippery conditions. tclarke@brandonsun.com Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB For almost two decades now, there have been debates about a conflict between China and the U.S. People from different fields, including hawkish foreign policy experts, realist international relations scholars and some journalists, have written about this eventuality. During the Barack Obama administration, then U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clintons article in the Foreign Policy magazine was considered a major announcement of a new policy of Asia Pivot. The name of the policy later changed to rebalancing and, soon after Donald Trump's presidential inauguration, he found a new term for the rivalry, namely trade war. There were a lot of questions about the Joe Biden administrations policy toward China. In the last one week, it became obvious that it will be as hawkish as Trumps approach. Daily Sabah reports that last week, Biden gathered a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) summit, the first time ever, with the leaders of India, Japan and Australia. Although China was not mentioned in the joint statement, the high-level meeting was interpreted as the Biden administrations willingness to shift the focus toward Asia and confront China in the region. In the immediate aftermath of this summit, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made their first trip to Japan and met with their counterparts in Tokyo. The joint statement that was released following their two-day meetings was rather an unusual one. Unlike previous joint statements from the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee meetings, this time in two pages, China was mentioned in multiple instances. The statement called China a political, economic, military and technological challenge to the U.S.-Japan alliance and criticized Chinas foreign policy in the region, including its policies in the South China Sea, East China Sea, Hong Kong and the Uyghur issue. Following their meetings in Tokyo, the U.S. delegation went to South Korea's Seoul and had meetings with their counterparts. The joint statement following their meetings carried a lot of assurances about the strength of the alliance and partnership between the two countries. This time, without mentioning China, the statement emphasized that both the U.S. and the Republic of Korea oppose all activities that undermine and destabilize the rules-based international order. The busy Asia schedule of U.S. top diplomats and national security officials did not end with this. Following South Korea, Austin went to India for a three-day trip, while Blinken went to Alaska to meet with his Chinese counterpart. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also attended his first high-level in-person summit in Alaska with his Chinese counterpart. The clash of words before the launch of the meeting between the U.S. and Chinese officials already demonstrated the extent of the tension between the two countries. Following these meetings, there will be more substantial discussions in Washington about the opportunities and challenges for the U.S. in Asia. The official meetings will continue at the highest level. Last week, it was reported that Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will be Biden's first in-person visitor. After such busy Asia schedules and itineraries, it will be interesting to see the steps and policies adopted by the U.S. in its new Asia strategy. Both the observers in Washington and U.S. allies in the region are curious if these overreaching ambitions regarding the Asia Pacific will result in major policy change in Washington or not. We will probably figure out the true extent of this policy change in the next few months. Ive spoken to Matthew, he had a very different version of events and in an electorate office, as indeed in all offices, there are often personality issues, people have different views of things and work disputes are not unusual, he said. The main thing is that its managed appropriately, and it has been. When asked on March 12 whether he had spoken to the women to get their side of the story Mr McGowan said: I understand those matters are managed by the department. Ms Sewell denied being satisfied with how her issues were handled. Ms Spalding said Mr McGowans comments were devastating and placed blame on the three women. That was not the case. Three women found Matthew to be the problem, not us. The Premier is wrong on that count, she said. Secondly, the Premier is blaming the women, which certifies the power imbalance by supporting his incumbent male who still has a job. Former Matthew Hughes staffer Janelle Sewell. Credit:Hamish Hastie At the end of the day, working for Matthew is a toxic workplace. That hasnt changed. Matthew still has a job. The three women who worked for him were unemployed after they left his office. Theres a power imbalance right there. Why do women always have to cop the blame Mr McGowan? From dream job to nightmare Ms Sewell said electoral work was her dream job but put-downs and bullying built up over time, impacting her mental health. She recounted to WAtoday several moments of Mr Hughes irrational and unpredictable behaviour. This included a day in April 2019 when she said Mr Hughes began swearing and banged her desk with his fist. To the point where I shut down my computer and said ... Im going to go home because youre very angry and youre swearing and youre punching my desk, she said. Another incident, which led to Ms Sewells termination, happened in June 2020 when she approached Mr Hughes asking for clarification on how to pay a bill. Ms Sewell alleges Mr Hughes told her he had explained the process to her previously and began following her around the office demanding she admit to him he had told her how to resolve her query hundreds of times before. For me the problem was I kept trying to escape his raging and he followed me everywhere and he wouldnt let it go, she said. He was in my space and I kept having to move around him. Ms Sewell then alleged Mr Hughes told her to go into his office to have it out, which she refused. Eventually, another officer arrived and stepped in, telling Mr Hughes to leave and they began documenting the incident. Loading The next morning, Ms Sewell called the Department of Premier and Cabinets human resources team requesting help or a transfer to another office. Six hours after that Mr Hughes called Ms Sewell, who said he terminated her employment because of a breach of trust after she contacted HR. Ms Sewell said she lost all joy in living during her time in Mr Hughes office. There was nowhere for me to go because he was so irrational and so unreasonable and I couldnt talk to him like a human being and he didnt treat me like a human being, she said. It started to affect myself and I would get nauseous before I went into work in the morning. I started to lose a lot of hope overall because I didnt know how to solve it, I came in with really good intentions and a lot of hopes and dreams and the sky was the limit and by the end of it was broken, it completely broke me Ms Spalding left after just months because of the MPs alleged bullying. She said Mr Hughes would often put his hand in front of her face to stop her speaking and she was constantly made to feel stupid. Labor Kalamunda MP Matthew Hughes. Credit:Parliament WA The thing he does more than anything is really f--- with your head, she said. There was a part of me that thought maybe I just cant write, maybe I have bluffed my way through 35 years in journalism ... and he is right that I am actually completely incompetent? A third woman, Meg Travers, worked for Mr Hughes for three months at the end of 2017 before leaving at the end of her probation period without another job to go to. It very quickly became Id sooner rather be commuting an hour into town rather than dealing with this hot-cold temper but also this irrationality and the sense that I was just there to bear the brunt of his explosions, she said. Mr Hughes, a former school principal at John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School, did not respond to a detailed set of questions about Ms Sewells specific claims, but denied any wrongdoing. He said he took pride in how he conducted himself personally and professionally. An electorate office can often be a high pressure work environment for many reasons, but I always ensure staff are treated respectfully, he said. Im sorry to hear of the allegations raised. I deny accusations of bullying, misogyny or intimidation. Let down by systems Ms Sewell and Ms Spalding said they had been let down by both the Labor party and the Department of Premier and Cabinet. In her resignation letter to the DPCs human resources manager Mei Wood, seen by WAtoday, Ms Spalding said she was leaving because of Mr Hughes bullying. Ms Spalding said one of the most galling things about her saga was that the behaviour was allowed to continue toward two other employees. Ms Sewell took a payout from DPC following her termination but refused to sign a non-disparagement agreement. She said there were no signs of empathy from the partys top brass. I thought WA Labor had a responsibility to have the behaviours addressed, she said. She lodged a formal complaint about Mr Hughes with the party and is waiting for it to be actioned when party business resumes following the WA election. A WA Labor spokesman said it took allegations of bullying seriously but backed Mr Hughes. Ms Sewell was employed by the Department of Premier and Cabinet, and was referred to them to progress her matter, he said. Matthew Hughes denies categorically the allegations. He is a hard-working local member who enjoys the support of his community, and has enjoyed the support of the school community for the decades in which he served as a school principal. A Department of Premier and Cabinet spokesman said they took all employment matters and duty of care seriously and proactively worked with electorate offices, and members, to support a positive and safe workplace culture for electorate staff. Electorate staff, like all government officers, are protected by the existing legislative framework which includes the requirement to have a safe workplace, he said. When matters are brought to the attention of the Department, they are reviewed and appropriate action is taken. Change needed to end put up and shut up climate Writer Jan Jarboe Russell grew up listening to her mother and her mothers friends singing the praises of Eleanor Roosevelt. My mother was a schoolteacher in a small town, and she had a lot of women friends that were also teachers, and sometimes, they would come to our house and they would begin to talk about Eleanor Roosevelt and how much she had done for women, said Russell, 70. They loved to talk about her and how Franklin Roosevelt was sometimes not nice to her, but she was working for women and children, and thats what my mother and her friends were doing. That may have planted a seed that took decades to bloom. The San Antonio-based writers latest book is Eleanor in the Village: Eleanor Roosevelts Search for Freedom and Identity in New Yorks Greenwich Village (Scribner, $28). It will be released March 30. Russell will talk about it in an April 9 session during the San Antonio Book Festival. The book is dedicated to the memory of her mother, Laverne Jarboe. Russell said she started the book after her mothers death and didnt think much about the connection between her choice of topic and her mothers fondness for the former first lady until she had written the last page. Then I thought, I think I was talking to her, she said. I was just trying to tell her what Eleanor had done for us all. And my mother would have so appreciated knowing that. San Antonio Book Festival Jan Jarboe Russell will have a free virtual chat about "Eleanor in the Village" with journalist Josie Seeligson at 2 p.m. April 9. Register for the online festival, which runs April 9-11, at sabookfestival.org. See More Collapse The book paints a very human portrait of Roosevelt, exploring the importance of the community of women she met in Greenwich Village in helping her develop an identity beyond her marriage. On ExpressNews.com: Big names taking part in the 2021 San Antonio Book Festival Thats how she found her way, to be with other women that were working on womens rights, Russell said. She moved to the Village in 1920 and kept that apartment until her death in 1962. So a lot of her life was in that apartment near Washington Square (Park), so I was trying to really focus on that. Given all that has been written about both of the Roosevelts over the years, she said, it was important to zero in on an aspect that hasnt been as heavily covered. Weve seen a lot of Eleanor, she said. Like my mother would say, we cant see enough! Among other things, the book explores the impact of her friendship with English professor and journalist Esther Lape and lawyer Elizabeth Read, a lesbian couple she met in the Village. They were part of the New Womens movement, which pushed for social change and for sexual freedom for women. Eleanors brand of feminism, shaped by these women, was moved by compassion, bottled-up sexuality, and the quest for her own truth, Russell writes. This all happened as the Village was coming alive, working around Prohibition and freeing women to drink or smoke in public with men. Her controversial support for the United States joining the League of Nations and the World Court drew the attention of J. Edgar Hoover, the head of the Justice Departments Bureau of Investigation (later renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation). Hoover ordered that her activities be monitored starting in 1924. The file on her, Russell writes, runs around 4,000 pages, some of which has never been made public. She spent four years on the book, sometimes working in New York and sometimes working in a cozy little house behind the art-filled home here she shares with her husband, Lewis Russell Jr., two dogs and a cat. In New York, she found a few people who had met Roosevelt or could share stories of their parents experiences with her. She also talked to David Roosevelt, one of first couples grandchildren, and writes about his effort to get all of Hoovers files about his grandmother released. And Russell spent a lot of time reading up on her famous subject. On ExpressNews.com: Bring Music Home looks at pandemics impact on venues in SA, elsewhere I had to read a lot, and that was very good. I love to read, she said. I wish she had been alive so I could have talked to her. But she wasnt. And so that meant that I had to try to find her out. The book is her second to focus on a first lady. Her first was Lady Bird, a 1999 biography of Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of President Lyndon Johnson. Russell started her career in newspapers, including stints covering politics for the San Antonio Light and the San Antonio Express-News, then shifted to magazine writing. A story she wrote for Texas Monthly about Lady Bird convinced her that the former first ladys life would make a good book. Her second book, The Train to Crystal City, was published in 2015. It tells the story of an interment camp the United States government set up in Texas for Japanese, German and Italian immigrants during World War II. It was the only camp in the country specifically created for families. The book received the Texas Institute of Letters Carr P Collins award for Best Book of Nonfiction. Russells not entirely sure what shell work on next. She may write something drawn from her own life, she said. Its going to be something different than this, she said. I dont know what itll be, but its probably going to be my last one. Or maybe shes my last. Maybe Eleanors my last. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Hudson, NY (12534) Today Cloudy this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 76F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. 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. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 79F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. A CONVICTED drug dealer who is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence has claimed he will have nowhere to live when he is released later this year. Kieran Collopy, 45, was giving evidence during an appeal against the decision to grant a possession order to Limerick City and County Council for his council home in St Marys Park. The local authority was granted the order relating to 92 St Itas Street in 2016 after it initiated proceedings having received numerous complaints relating to antisocial behaviour arising from the behaviour of Mr Collopy, including drug dealing. While the respondent has been a council tenant since 2005, he has not lived at the property for more than a decade. Limerick Circuit Court was told Mr Collopy was jailed for eight years in July 2016 after he pleaded guilty to possession of heroin, worth nearly 40,000, for the purpose of sale or supply. That prosecution related to an offence which occurred at another house at St Itas Street on December 15, 2015. Solicitor Ger Reidy, representing the council, said while Mr Collopy was not dealing drugs from the council-owned property, his conviction and behaviour were a breach of his tenancy agreement. He added that gardai have concerns about what number 92 is being used for and that Mr Collopy has not taken any steps to secure it or to prevent it being used by others, Inspector Alan Cullen, who gave evidence relating to the heroin seizure, said he is aware that Mr Collopy was living at 34/36 St Itas Street prior to his arrest and that he has not lived at number 92 for some time. In his evidence the respondent said he had intended living at his council home when released as he and his former partner have gone through an acrimonious break-up. Mr Collopy told the court he moved to 34/36 St Itas Street a number of years ago as 92 was not habitable when he was released having served an earlier prison sentence for a separate offence. I have nothing else in my own name, he said telling the court that he has no intention to engage in antisocial behaviour when released. Handing down his decision, Judge Tom ODonnell rejected submissions from barrister Brian McInerney that the councils application was disproportionate and that the order should not be granted in the middle of a pandemic. He also rejected his submission that there had been an excessive and inordinate delay in hearing the appeal. The judge refused an application to put a stay on his order. The brother of a Colorado man who shot and killed 10 people at a Boulder grocery store on Monday described his sibling as deeply disturbed. Police identified the grocery store gunman as 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, who was shot through the leg and taken into custody after officers arrived at the scene of the shooting. Mr Alissas brother spoke with The Daily Beast, calling him very anti-social and paranoid. When he was having lunch with my sister in a restaurant, he said, People are in the parking lot, they are looking for me, the brother, Ali Aliwi Alissa, 34, said. She went out, and there was no one. We didnt know what was going on in his head. He said his brother had previously been outgoing, but turned anti-social after he was subjected to bullying in high school. He does not believe his brothers attack was a political statement of any kind. [It was] not at all a political statement, its mental illness, he said. The guy used to get bullied a lot in high school, he was like an outgoing kid but after he went to high school and got bullied a lot, he started becoming anti-social. Read more: According to CNN, the family emigrated to the US from Syria in 2002. Mr Alissas brother said he was neither overtly political or religious, and that he was shocked by the killings. The entire thing surprised me, he said. I never ever would have thought he would do such a thing. I never thought he would kill. I still cant believe it. I am really sad for the lives that he wasted, and I feel sorry for all those families ... We lost a brother even if he is the killer. The Denver Post discovered court records from 2017 detailing an incident in which Mr Alissa, then 18, attacked a classmate at his high school. According to the report, he punched his classmate in the head without warning, and after the boy fell to the ground, Mr Alissa continued to attack him. The classmate suffered cuts and bruises to his head, according to an affidavit from the case. Mr Alissa was charged with third degree assault for the incident, and was sentenced to two months probation and 48 hours of community service. The paper also spoke with some of Mr Alissas former wrestling teammates, who described him as short tempered and violent. Dayton Marvel, a former teammate, said he was kind of scary to be around and recounted an incident in 2018 in which he had an outburst and threatened to kill people during an intra-team match. His senior year, during the wrestle-offs to see who makes varsity, he actually lost his match and quit the team and yelled out in the wrestling room that he was like going to kill everybody, Mr Marvel said. Nobody believed him. We were just all kind of freaked out by it, but nobody did anything about it. Another teammate, Angel Hernandez, said Mr Alissa got into a fistfight with another wrestler following the match after the wrestler teased him for losing. Mr Marvel said Mr Alissa was frequently paranoid about people targeting him for harassment because he was Muslim. He would talk about him being Muslim and how if anybody tried anything, he would file a hate crime and say they were making it up, Mr Marvel said. It was a crazy deal. I just know he was a pretty cool kid until something made him mad, and then whatever made him mad, he went over the edge way too far. Investigators have spoken to the shooter and said they were still collecting statements. They said he is from Arvada, Colorado, and has lived the majority of his life in the US. A Facebook page belonging to an Ahmad Al Issa that has since been deleted said the owner was born in 1999 in Syria, and was a wrestler at Arvada West High School. Posts on the social media page suggest the individual was very interested in martial arts. wrestling and kickboxing. The owner of the page apparently studied computer engineering at Metropolitan State University of Denver. One post from 2019 simply read #NeedAGirlfriend. In another post from when he was in high school, he expressed a belief that he was being stalked. He said he believed his targeting was part racism for sure but added I also believe someone spread rumors about me which are false. The page was deleted within an hour of Mr Alissa being named the shooter. The shooter has been charged with 10 counts of first degree murder, and has been checked into the Boulder County Jail after being treated for his wounds. epa09092007 An undated handout booking image released by the Boulder Police Department of Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa who has been charged with ten counts of murder in the first degree after allegedly killing ten people including a police officer at the King Soopers supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, USA, 23 March 2021. Boulder Police released the names of all ten victims as Denny Strong, 20, Neven Stanisic, 23, Rikki Olds, 25, Tralona Bartkowiak, 49, Suzanne Fountain, 59, Teri Leiker, 51, Eric Talley, 51, Kevin Mahoney, 61, Lynn Murray, 62 and Jody Waters, 65. EPA/BOULDER POLICE DEPARTMENT / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES (EPA) Investigators believe Mr Alissa acted alone. Law enforcement officers conducted a search of Mr Alissas home, where they found other weapons, according to CNN. According to a police affidavit, officers intercepted a woman leaving the house, who they determined was an extended family member. The woman had recently married one of Mr Alissas relatives, and told detectives that she saw the shooter playing with a machine gun inside the house two days prior. According to The Associated Press, investigators believe the shooter purchased his gun, an AR-15-style pistol modified with an armbrace, six days before the attack. Police have not yet identified a motive in the shooting. Regarding the suspect, at approximately 2:40 P.M. Monday, March 22, officers were dispatched to Kings Soopers. They arrived on the scene within minutes and immediately entered the store and engaged the suspect. There was an exchange of gunfire. The suspect was shot and a number of other officers were injured, Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said. The police chief said her department was working with state and federal authorities to continue the investigation. Were committed with state, local, and federal authorities for a thorough investigation and well bring justice to each of these families, The victims of the King Sooper mass shooting in Colorado have also been identified by police. 10 victims were identified overnight by the Boulder County Coroners office. The victims of the shooting have been identified as: Denny Stong, 20; Nevin Stanasic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Eric Talley, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; Jody Waters, 65. One of the victims, Boulder Police Department officer Eric Talley, was killed in the attack. He was the first officer on scene after the attack began. Another victim was found in a car in the parking lot. The individual apparently was parked next to the shooter when he arrived. Ms Herold said Mr Talley had seven children. Our hearts go out to all the victims killed during this senseless act of violence, Herold said. Each enterprise that is set up by overseas students or foreign talents in the zone will be granted up to 10 million yuan worth of project subsidy, and 900,000 yuan of rental subsidy or 1 million yuan of venue purchase subsidy. Overseas students and foreign talents that start businesses in the zone can stay in the apartment or international talent community for free, or enjoy a rental subsidy of up to 5,000 yuan per month. High-level talents will be given a housing subsidy ranging from 80,000 yuan to 2 million yuan. Meanwhile, the children of high-level talents attending private schools or international schools within the districts or counties will be given a one-time tuition subsidy of up to 90,000 yuan per person. Moreover, the part of personal income tax paid in the district that exceeds 15 percent will be fully subsidized. A salary award of up to 4 million yuan per year will be given to newly introduced overseas top talents. In addition, an exchange and internship base for foreign college students will be established, with each person given a one-time work subsidy of up to 6,000 yuan. The newly-evaluated "Foreign Intellectual Achievement Demonstration Base" will be given up to 500,000 yuan of one-time rewards. Zhang called on all talents to join hands with Changsha Economic Development Zone, share new opportunities and seek new development. Changsha National Economic and Technological Development Zone, taking up 40 percent of the total area of the Hunan Pilot Free Trade Zone, focuses on the development of high-end equipment manufacturing, new generation information technology and biomedicine. By the end of 2020, there had been 245 industrial enterprises above the designated size and 357 high-tech enterprises in the zone, generating a total industrial output value of 253 billion yuan and tax revenue of 17.097 billion yuan. https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/320456.html SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road YANGON, Myanmar (AP) Myanmars military junta on Tuesday took the offensive to try to justify last month's coup and subsequent actions against those opposed to it, even as street demonstrations continued against the takeover. At a news conference in the capital Naypyitaw, the military presented a video of a former political colleague of ousted national leader Aung San Suu Kyi claiming he had handed over large amounts of cash and gold to her personally, in what the military has characterized as corruption. Such allegations were previously denied by her lawyer. Many of the protests Tuesday were staged in a way that avoided confrontations with authorities, who have not hesitated to use lethal force to break up demonstrations. Some marches were held before dawn in Yangon, the countrys biggest city, and elsewhere and went unmolested. Other protests adopted the tactic of having signboards or other inanimate objects lined up in the street to serve as proxies for human demonstrators. The independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has verified 261 protesters' deaths nationwide but says the actual total, including cases where verification has been difficult, is probably much higher. It said 2,682 people have also been arrested or charged since the coup, with 2,302 still detained or sought for arrest. In its news conference, the military presented displays of seized homemade weapons and videos of street battles to argue that the demonstrators are violent and that its efforts to stop them are justified. However, in the weeks since the Feb. 1 coup, protesters only began using organized violence after more than 100 demonstrators had been shot dead by police and soldiers. The allegations against Suu Kyi made by former Yangon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein were first mentioned by the military several weeks ago. Last week the military-controlled Myawaddy TV station aired a similar video with a construction magnate who also claimed to have made large payoffs to Suu Kyi. That video was replayed at Tuesday's news conference. Story continues No supporting evidence for the allegations has been offered, and they are generally dismissed as an effort by the military to frame Suu Kyi so she can be discredited and tried on a serious criminal charge. She is already being held on several more minor charges. A report in the state-controlled Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Tuesday said the junta has expressed fresh concern about civil servants, teachers and medical workers joining the Civil Disobedience Movement that is the vanguard group opposing last months military takeover. The report referred to the opposition group as CDM, the initials by which it is popularly known. The group encourages employees of key enterprises, such as government offices, to stay away from work. In what was a relatively conciliatory tone compared with earlier threats, the junta at its Monday meeting was reported to have described failing to show up at work as not a crime but a violation of the civil service disciplines. It said that for first offenses, civil servants would have to sign confessions, but further offenses would be dealt with according to civil service rules. Previously, government employees have been detained for joining the CDM, and striking state railway workers have been kicked out of their government-supplied housing if they dont agree to go back to work. Myanmar labor unions on March 7 issued a joint call for an extended nationwide work stoppage, with the goal of a full, extended shutdown of the Myanmar economy. In a statement, they called for the strike to continue until we receive our democracy back. Tuesdays report of the juntas meeting also highlighted teachers' absences from work, saying some have joined the CDM, as have health workers. The junta repeated its claims that civil servants, teachers and doctors joined the CDM under threat. They should make a complaint to the respective authorities about the matter, said the newspapers account of the junta meeting. Some teachers and doctors are still absent from work as they are worried that they may face punishment if they return to the unit," junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing was cited saying. Although the CDM does not advocate violence, the movement has painted those who dont give it support as collaborators with the junta with blood on their hands, who may be ostracized. Xi to address CPC centenary gathering Chinadaily.com.cn) 14:40, March 23, 2021 A series of events will be held to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the CPC, including a grand celebration at which General Secretary Xi Jinping will make an important speech, said Wang Xiaohui, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, at a news conference on Tuesday. The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee holds a press conference to shed light on the celebration activities for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Commemorating events The following are the highlights of the activities announced by Wang. (Read more) * Party history education (deemed key, with targeting young people a priority) (Read more) * A grand gathering * The July 1 Medal to be awarded and outstanding Party members, exemplary Party workers, and advanced community-level Party organizations to be honored * Major theme exhibitions * Theatrical performances * Seminars and symposiums on theoretical study * A series of literature and art works and publications * Party-themed publicity and education activities among the public No plans for a military parade The Chinese military will hold a series of activities to celebrate the centenary, according to a senior officer at the Central Military Commission. But there are no plans for a military parade, Li Jun, an officer with the commission's political work department, said. Celebrations include: * Military to enhance Party history education * Military museums to hold exhibits and other commemorations * Military to award outstanding Party members * Military enhances preparedness on Party centenary Other highlights The CPC will award a commemorative medal to more than 7.1 million people with Party membership of 50 years or above, said Fu Xingguo, deputy head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee. (Read more) As of the end of 2019, the CPC has 4.68 million primary-level organizations with a total of 91.91 million members, according to Fu. (Web editor: Wen Ying, Liang Jun) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A girl of ten has inspired Waitrose to stop selling children's magazines that contain plastic disposable toys after launching a campaign. Skye Neville has called on magazine publishers to improve their carbon footprints and stop giving away 'cheap plastic rubbish'. Now Waitrose has pledged to do away with magazines that come with the items over the next eight weeks, saying they do not last long and cannot easily be recycled. Waitrose has pledged to do away with magazines that come with the items over the next eight weeks, saying they do not last long and cannot easily be recycled Skye's efforts have even made it to the House of Commons after her MP Liz Saville Roberts tabled a motion to reduce free plastic toys earlier this month It has also urged publishers to replace 'pointless plastic' with alternatives. The ban will not include educational or reusable craft items. Skye, from Gwynedd, North Wales, launched a petition to ban the toys after writing to the publishers of her favourite magazine Horrible Histories. So far, it has attracted more than 3,000 signatures. Her efforts have even made it to the House of Commons after her MP Liz Saville Roberts tabled a motion to reduce free plastic toys earlier this month. The Daily Mail has long campaigned against plastic pollution and is proud to support the Great British Spring Clean to be held between May 28 and June 13. Marija Rompani, partner and director of sustainability and ethics at Waitrose, said: 'While we know these magazines are popular with children, some of the unnecessary plastic attached to them has become really excessive. 'Many in the younger generation really care about the planet and are the ones inheriting the problem of plastic pollution. 'We urge publishers to find alternatives, and other retailers to follow our lead in ending the pointless plastic that comes with children's magazines.' It is the latest move by the supermarket to cut down on single-use plastic, which has also seen it end the sale of Christmas crackers with plastic toys or glitter, and has a push to make all its own-label packaging recycled, reusable or home compostable by 2023. Redan Publishing Ltd, which produces children's magazines with plastic toys such as The Adventures of Paddington, Bing, Sparkle World and Peppa Pig said yesterday: 'We understand Waitrose concerns and take the sustainability of our business and products very seriously. We have been working hard over the past few years to make changes to the materials we use, to significantly reduce non-recyclable packaging and to increase the educational value of our covermount gifts. All of our packaging is fully recyclable with regular household waste or at a recycling facility. They added: 'Our toy covermounts, such as medical sets, shopping sets, tea sets and bubble-blowing sets etc, go through the same stringent toy safety testing as regular toys and have a multi-use function. As with regular toys, children will turn to them time and time again for further enjoyment. 'In addition to that, with 4.2 million UK children living in poverty in 2019 (according to Government figures) the affordability of our magazines with covermount, stickers and educational workbook (typically 3.99) offers ALL children an opportunity to play and learn. 'We welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with Waitrose to ensure that we continue to align with their corporate policies into the future.' Rohingya refugees stand at the site of the fire (AP/ Shafiqur Rahman) Rescuers have recovered at least 15 bodies from a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh after a fire that destroyed thousands of shelters. At least 400 people were still missing and around 560 were injured by the fire, according to Louise Donovan, a spokesperson for the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). The UNHCR said around 45,000 people were displaced by the fire, which broke out on Monday afternoon and burned well into the night. Expand Close Rohingya refugees at the refugee camp in Balukhali, Bangladesh (AP/Shafiqur Rahman) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rohingya refugees at the refugee camp in Balukhali, Bangladesh (AP/Shafiqur Rahman) In the aftermath, refugees picked through the burned debris looking for their belongings. Yesterday before the fire started, my kids went to study at the Islamic school. I did not see them after they came back. I found two of my older kids but I still cant find my youngest son, said one refugee. At least three of the dead were children and the search for victims is still ongoing, said Nizam Uddin Ahmed, the top government official in Ukhiya, a sub-district of the Coxs Bazar district where the camp is located. Bangladesh has sheltered more than a million Rohingya Muslims in crowded refugee camps, the vast majority having fled neighbouring Myanmar in 2017 amid a major crackdown by that countrys military. The UN has said the crackdown had a genocidal intent, a charge Myanmar rejects. Expand Close Rohingya refugees cry at the site of the fire (AP/Shafiqur Rahman) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rohingya refugees cry at the site of the fire (AP/Shafiqur Rahman) Bangladesh is eager to begin sending the refugees back to Buddhist-majority Myanmar. Several attempts at repatriation under a joint agreement failed because the Rohingya refused to go, fearing more violence in a country that denies them basic rights including citizenship. The UNs World Food Programme said up to 87,855 people were affected by Mondays fire, with many taking refuge in nearby camps, at friends shelters, learning centres for children or temporary transit sites. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in a statement said more than 1,000 staff and volunteers worked through the night with firefighters, camp residents and other agencies to rescue people and douse the fire. It said an estimated 123,000 refugees in the camps were affected by the fire. The differing figures between could not immediately be reconciled. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The fear, anxiety and stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on mental health. But a new study suggests these symptoms may be alleviated through safe and convenient online mindfulness practices. The study, which was recently published in the journal Global Advances in Health and Medicine, shows that an online mindfulness intervention may reduce momentary stress, anxiety and COVID-19 concern. At the onset of the pandemic, Rebecca Erwin Wells, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of neurology at Wake Forest School of Medicine, part of Wake Forest Baptist Health, and principal investigator for this study, recognized the tremendous impact of this pandemic on emotional health and wanted to evaluate how a safe, online mindfulness meditation strategy might help. In creating this study, Wells was inspired by Mindfulness for Milan, a program created by co-author Licia Grazzi, M.D., an Italian physician who led free daily mindfulness sessions to help the public manage stress and anxiety during lockdown. Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment, non-judgmental awareness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and surrounding environment. "We are all born with the capacity for mindfulness," said Wells. "It can help reduce stress and anxiety, and mindfulness meditation practice can help enhance this ability." There were 233 participants from across the world in this non-randomized clinical trial, which included a pre-session survey, a single 15-minute online mindfulness meditation session and a post-session survey. The study ran from March to August 2020. Pre- and post-session surveys evaluated momentary stress, anxiety and COVID-19 concern. Most of the participants (63%) had never practiced mindfulness before, and 89% of participants said the session was helpful, and that the online platform was effective for practicing mindfulness. 76% of participants reported decreased anxiety, 80% reported decreased stress, and 55% had decreased COVID-19 concern. Of note, 21% of participants were retired, suggesting that age did not prevent accessibility. Participants were also surveyed on how they were helping others during the pandemic. Responses varied with common themes including following public health guidelines, conducting acts of service and connection such as reaching out to elderly neighbors, and self-care activities such as staying positive and calm. Investigators also assessed online mindfulness resources across time during the pandemic and found a 52% increase in search results of "Mindfulness + COVID" from May to August 2020. "People are searching for ways to help target the stress and anxiety of the pandemic," Wells said. "Mindfulness teachers and programs have expanded offerings, eliminated fees, and converted offerings to online to meet this huge need." According to Wells, the study shows that a virtual platform can be effective for practicing mindfulness. "We found that online mindfulness interventions may improve psychological health at a time of uncertainty. We were also encouraged by the survey responses, which showed a sense of connectedness and a desire to help others," Wells said. "Helping others during the pandemic demonstrates the beautiful capacity of the human spirit to find positivity despite the extraordinary negative circumstances." Wells said that additional research is needed to evaluate the pandemic's effects on post-traumatic growth, the positive psychological change experienced following a challenging life circumstance. Explore further Mindfulness meditation may decrease impact of migraine More information: Suzan R Farris et al, Online Mindfulness May Target Psychological Distress and Mental Health during COVID-19, Global Advances in Health and Medicine (2021). Suzan R Farris et al, Online Mindfulness May Target Psychological Distress and Mental Health during COVID-19,(2021). DOI: 10.1177/21649561211002461 Toyota Creates App To Help Install Child Safety Seats SEE ALSO Ladies; Isn't Now Finally Time To Let A Minivan Hit Your V-Spot ANN ARBOR, Mich. (March 23, 2021)When engineering and design come together with a bit of serendipity at Toyota, any issue can be addressed especially when the development of a solution is powered by a mothers love and passion. Safety is always a priority at Toyota, and the drive for safety innovation continues every day. Sometimes, the genesis is a random conversation between colleagues in the break room. Jennifer Pelky is a Toyota principal engineer of vehicle performance development for interior safety, vice chair-elect of the National Child Passenger Safety Board, and mother of two. Lindsay Babian is a Toyota principal engineer of body design for seats and mother of one. While having lunch in the cafeteria of Toyotas Michigan R&D facility in 2019, the pairs conversation steered toward the confusion they had both experienced when installing different makes of child car seats in different types of vehicles. Thats when the eureka moment struck. If even professional safety engineers and designers struggled with car seats, then many parents, grandparents and guardians also probably needed more help and information. The conversation resulted in Toyota for Families a new digital toolkit featuring detailed car seat installation instructions and video that officially launched in March 2021 for the Toyota Sienna. I designed the parts for securely attaching a car seat myself, yet there is still some confusion about proper car seat installation, which can become a real problem, Babian said. When Jen approached me with this, I saw the need for a solution. Now, parents, caregivers and grandparents who find it a challenge will have a tool to help them succeed. Always striving for safety improvement Despite best efforts, vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death among American children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Though car seat technology has improved considerably from the days of children sitting on telephone books or riding on package trays, research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that over half of all car seats are installed incorrectly. Proper installation and use of car seats can reduce injuries in a crash by more than 70% (NHTSA) , and booster seats can reduce the risk of injury by 45% (CDC). To take advantage of those safety benefits, consumers could use more information about proper car seat installation in vehicles. COVID-19 also created an even greater need for easier access to instruction, since social distancing requirements make it more difficult for parents to get the in-person installation help they often need. Pelky and Babian set out to provide more accessible information. With all the different seat combinations that exist in many vehicles, people can use more assistance, Pelky said. Necessity is the mother of invention. But, in this case, these enterprising mothers were the mothers of invention. With a goal of 100% of car seats installed correctly, the duo addressed a question that needed a logical, simple answer. How can Toyota use its customer apps and website to demonstrate and explain how to properly install a variety of car seats in Toyota vehicles? The team also enlisted the help of Janelle Pharris, a mom of two and advanced technology senior planner for Toyota, whose previous work background includes marketing for Newell Brands Graco line of car seats and strollers. Then, the three women got to work on their child seat safety project as a shared passion project focusing first on the highly anticipated 2021 Toyota Sienna. During development, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, forcing all to work remotely Pelky and Babian in Michigan and Pharris in Texas. The team overcame these challenges and even worked through personal vacations to create Toyota for Families an elegant and practical solution that Toyota proudly awarded as a winner in both its internal Innovation Fair and Tank2 competitions. Modern issues and modern solutions On the Toyota website or within the Toyota Owners App, users select their vehicle or enter the VIN. Users then select the car seat location they want and then enter the type of car seat they have: forward-facing, rear-facing or booster seat. If theyre unsure which one they should use, the toolkit also has a help-me-choose guide they can select based on their childs age and weight. Next, the app shows the user a custom video and written step-by-step instructions detailing installation of a generic child seat into the specific vehicle, in the specific position and installation method theyve selected: LATCH or seat belt. If theres a known incompatibility with their choice, the system is designed to automatically flag it and prompts them to choose a valid option. To help prevent mistakes, the video shows critical steps necessary to achieve correct installation. The video will also show additional steps, such as how to remove a headrest, if thats something necessary prior to installing the car seat. Toyota envisions a variety of use cases for the toolkit. Prospective customers at home or in a showroom can learn about family safety and convenience features while shopping for their vehicles. Dealerships can use it as an education tool for customers to learn about safety and convenience features of their newly purchased vehicle. Or, if a customer comes in for service and has questions, the dealership can use it to help answer them. Toyota drivers can use the app to find video and written instructions for installing their type of car seat in a specific seating position in their vehicle. The development of this unique safety offering was a true labor of love for the three women. We really took joy working on this project, because it allowed us to combine our passions of being a mom and wanting to ensure the best for our children and all children, Pharris said. We each have a passion for reaching consumers to help get them to a place of comfort by expanding their knowledge. Though the App toolkit launched initially with the 2021 Sienna, Toyota plans to expand video directions and written content to other fleet vehicles over the next few years. Toyota For Families is now accessible through the Toyota Owners App and ToyotaOwners.com. App download is available for iPhone or Android smartphones. Photo: The Canadian Press Bloc MP Alain Therrien rises during question period in the House of Commons on Feb. 22, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's had enough of "Quebec bashing" following controversial remarks from a University of Ottawa professor. At a press conference Monday, he and Quebec Premier Francois Legault said they were disappointed the institution's president opted not to condemn online comments from law professor Amir Attaran, who claims the province is led by "a white supremacist government" and too tolerant of racism. The two leaders weighed in after the University of Ottawa opted not to apologize to the Parti Quebecois for Attaran's posts. Jacques Fremont, the university's president, said in a letter to PQ leader Paul Saint-Pierre Plamondon on Sunday that the institution does not share Attarans opinions, but that they were were posted on his personal social media account and thus not subject to sanction, as course lectures might be. The PQ leader had asked for an apology following recent remarks from Attaran, who on Twitter has called Quebecs culture racist, dubbed it the Alabama of the north and accused Quebec nurses of "medical lynching" in regard to Joyce Echaquan, a 37-year-old Indigenous woman who died in a Quebec hospital in 2020. In the House of Commons on Monday, Bloc Quebecois MP Alain Therrien said the posts and the university's response demonstrate Quebecers are a minority that remains subject to "hate speech without any consequences." Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight with light rain possible. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 66F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Christian Dating: The Best Tips, Tricks, and Apps How to Date as a Christian in a Sex-Obsessed Modern World The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. Dating as a Christian in todays world can be quite strange. From sex to stability, commitment, and pressure, there are differences (moreso challenges, really) between Christian and non-Christian values that many not enveloped in the religious side of things might not grasp. I myself have experienced these challenges. I am a 26-year-old Christian. I am not married. I have not had sex. My dating life pursuits involve commitment, longevity, and, ultimately, marriage. (Saying such things on a third date is rarely wise, for those who arent entirely aware of the pitfalls!) RELATED: Best Dating Apps for Relationships And for Christians, it can be difficult to date in an increasingly impulsive, physical, and non-committal dating world. Given that many Christians look to only date others who share their sentiments around faith, it can be an uphill battle that only seems to get tougher as elements that surround dating norms continue to evolve. Our way of approaching relationships is very, very counter-cultural, says Daniel, a 26-year-old single Christian. I do recognize how much I stand out when it comes to sex and relationships. While an obvious difference between Christian and non-Christian daters is the outlook on sex (another single Christian said it can almost seem a little odd as to our levels of self-control as we plan towards the future), other, more subtle things can be difficult to overcome when abiding by our faiths rules for romance. There are certain problems and issues with dating in the church, says Paul Rider, CEO and co-founder of Christian dating app SALT. If you want to meet someone who shares your faith, it's much harder because they probably have to go to the same church as you or be in the same friendship circle. If they're not, then even if you only live two miles apart, you're probably unlikely to meet. The limitations of probability and where to meet someone is reflected by research shared by Rider that said dating as a Christian can feel like a goldfish bowl because of the pressure. Even when you do meet someone, the pressure is amplified because its that goldfish bowl and you have the expectations that, by the third date, you should be thinking about marriage, he said. Lauren Windle, an author in the midst of writing a book on Christian dating called Notes On Love: Being Single and Dating in a Marriage Obsessed Church, mentioned that same level of pressure as a common issue felt throughout the Christian community. I spoke to a lot of men when I was researching for the book, said Windle. What I found was that they felt quite a lot of pressure from other members of the congregation. There are more women than there are men in a church environment, so men are expected to step up and actively ask women out, which can be quite debilitating. Windle also highlighted the added pressure that men face throughout a relationship, especially in the early stages or when going through the motions after a rough breakup. In addition, because women get asked out less, some women can put a lot of weight on just one date, she explained. What in the blokes mind could be a quick coffee, in their mind could be when is he going to meet my parents? Also, if youve broken up with someone, theyre often there at [your] church. You may actually want to leave the church so you dont have to spend as much time with them, and thats really daunting if youre really embedded into a church community. Dating as a Christian, as youve been able to infer, isnt the easiest. That said, there are some things you can do to help put your dating life on a successful path. Dating Tips as a Christian Build Your Single Identity and Know What You Want Find your identity and confidence in your relationship with Jesus as a single person. Build and grow as a single person, Josh, 25, told AskMen. As is the case for both Christians and non-Christians, knowing yourself before dating others is crucial to any successful dating life. Rider said it in this way: If we look at Paul being single in the Bible, Jesus too. Relationships are not required, but a gift. We have to get the perspective right first and foremost, about who we are and what lifes about. In addition to this, knowing your own desires, what you want to pursue in a relationship, and what you want to avoid are key cornerstones in any successful dating life. And theres nothing wrong with being a little picky. If it works, youre gonna be with this person for a long time so youre gonna wanna make sure theyre right, says Josiah, 24. Share Your Dating Experience with Friends/Family Theres nothing wrong with leaning on someone for help, even in the case of love and relationships. Have one or two close friends to help you date, Daniel said, adding that he turns to his brother when seeking advice. You end up overthinking things when you dont communicate with someone who knows you well. As with many things, having people around you can and will help, especially those who know you well and are bold enough to speak plainly. The church is a wonderful community, and while the pressure that many feel from dating is a direct consequence of this community, there can be major advantages that come from the people youve grown close with. Dont Put Pressure on Anything Being active and excited to date doesnt mean you need to feel pressured towards tying the knot after meeting for the first time. As Windle puts it, theres no harm in asking as many people out as you want. I always ask at the end of interviews, If I left this chat now, what would you want me to tell the opposite sex? she said. Every single woman said, Ask more people out. Try more. Its not that big a deal, its just a coffee. Just go for it. Were not gonna assume that a coffee is marriage, we just want to get to know people and we dont get asked out very often. A lot of women are just waiting to be asked out more. Dont Always Strive for Perfection Relationships take work, and if youre expecting the perfect person to fall into your lap, thats a rather foolish way of thinking. The thing that struck me most when researching for the book is something that Al Hsu said in his book, The Single Issue, explains Windle. He said, Maybe God is less concerned with who you choose and more concerned with how you treat them. She goes on, adding: I think we need to accept that we are not going to end up with the perfect person. No one is going to tick every box. Everyone is going to let you down, everyone is going to cause disappointment. You will not find someone who you feel 100% sure of. You dont expect the fully formed relationship with the perfect person to fall into your lap. You need to see this as a project in which you need to invest equally and they need to invest equally. Thats how you make a relationship work. Best Christian Dating Sites and Apps SALT The best app to use thats specifically catered to Christian dating, SALT is very similar to Hinge or Bumble. There are a limited number of likes in the free version, but many have had success this way. You can match, message, and eventually meet up with potential partners without shelling out cash for extra features. If you do opt for the premium version, priced at under $10 per month, you can send likes with a message, see who has liked you, and access more daily likes than the typical user. SALT is the best for usability, design, and convenience, although it is relatively new (meaning its building up a base of users in comparison to the more established options). Check out SALT eHarmony The site with the most members, eHarmony was founded by a Christian psychologist with an entire section dedicated to Christian singles. It launched back in 2000 and has since formed over 2 million relationships in 125 countries. The dating website and accompanying app matches you with potential partners based on personality compatibility. While it is not exclusively a Christian website, completion of its extensive Compatibility Quiz that you must complete to build your profile takes your faith into account. Additionally, using a non-Christian dating site can have its advantages, including the number of members available and the range of profiles you can encounter. Check out eHarmony Christian Connection Christian Connection allows you to fill out a profile in a similar manner to SALT, although only the paid version will let you send custom messages. A one-month membership comes in at $16, making it a little bit more pricey than your regular dating app if youre looking to stay within the Christian fold. That said, Christian Connections reputation precedes it, with several success stories coming from its two decade-long venture in the dating space. Moreover, the greater detail required of the profiles (which involves plenty more effort than normal) means that most people are pursuing serious relationships. Check out Christian Connection Christian Mingle Rounding out this list is one of the more popular options when it comes to Christian dating. According to their website, Christian Mingle has a community of 15 million Christian singles as they bring together people who share a commitment to Christian values. The large dating pool is the main attraction here, as is the detail of the profiles, but the free version is extremely limited. Without paying for a membership, youre only allowed to see one profile photo with no actual ability to send a message. Naturally, that means going premium is essential here, costing you $49.99 if you go for the one month subscription. The monthly price tag is lowered, however, if you opt for a yearly package. And given the increased pool, the chances of finding a suitable partner on Christian Mingle are substantially increased, so depending on your interests, it might just be worth it.. Check out Christian Mingle Dating app images from App Store You Might Also Dig: AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. To find out more, please read our complete terms of use. YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. The export from Armenia to the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) grew by 19.3% in January 2021 compared to January 2020. The largest share of export belongs to Russia, comprising 43 million 651 thousand USD, the Statistical Committee of Armenia reports. Export worth 156 million 697.2 thousand USD has been conducted from Armenia in January 2021. Meanwhile last year this number was 176 million 623.6 thousand USD. Thus, the export declined by 11.3% in the first month of the year. The export to the EAEU countries comprised 44 million 794.0 thousand USD. The export to Belarus declined by 27.4%, whereas to Kazakhstan it increased by 24.8%. In January 2021 the export from Armenia to Ukraine has greatly declined by 68.7%, comprising 458.2 thousand USD. The export to the EU states has declined by 36%, comprising 27 million 773.5 thousand USD. However, the export to some member states of the EU has registered a major increase in January. For instance, the export to France has increased by 69.7% compared to January 2020, comprising 562.4 thousand USD, to Germany by 18.7%, comprising 5 million 331.3 thousand USD. The export to China increased by 2.6 times. The export declined to the following countries: Japan (97.7%), Switzerland (51.1%), Iran (36.3%), Georgia (13%). Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan A single mother-of-two from Minnesota has been shot dead after her sex offender ex-boyfriend allegedly ambushed the victim outside her Saint Paul home - opening fire on her before turning the gun on himself. The Saint Paul Police Department is investigating the deaths of Bao Yang and Doua Por Lao, both 39, on Saturday as a suspected murder-suicide. According to Yang's family, the woman had made multiple complaints about Lao, accusing him of relentless harassment, and she also filed criminal charges against him after he allegedly raped her and shaved her head. Scroll down for video Bao Yang (left) and her ex-boyfriend Doua Por Lao (right), both 39, were found fatally shot in a suspected murder-suicide in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on Saturday Police found the pair suffering from gunshot wounds outside Yang's home on Montana Avenue in Saitn Paul on Saturday morning A shotgun and a handgun were recovered at the scene of the suspected murder-suicide But after a brief stint in jail last month, Lao was freed. Less than three weeks after his release on bond, he allegedly returned to Yang's home and killed her and then himself, reported Twin Cities Pioneer Press. At around 8.30am on Saturday, police were called to Yang's home in the 1900 block of Montana Avenue in Saint Paul for a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found Yang and Lao outside of the house, suffering from gunshot wounds. Lao was pronounced dead at the scene. Yang was taken to Regions Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries, reported WCCO. Yang's 21-year-old son, Vichai Vang, wrote online that his mother worked 2-3 jobs to provide for himself and his 11-year-old brother while pursuing a career as a registered nurse A shotgun and a handgun were recovered at the scene of the suspected murder-suicide. Yang was working several jobs to provide for her 21-year-old son, Vichai Vang, and his 11-year-old brother, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched by the young man. 'All she ever wanted was to raise my little brother in the best life she could give him,' Vang wrote in the fundraiser's description. 'I could see how much stress she carried everyday but still always managed to provide for my brother and I.' Vang said that in between raising two children and holding down two or three jobs, his mother found the time to go to school to became a registered nurse, which she had accomplished only a few years ago. 'My mom was a very caring person,' wrote Yang's eldest son. 'She was always smiling and always laughing. She was so full of life.' It is unclear how and when Yang first crossed paths with Lao, who was a Level 3 registered sex offender stemming from a conviction for second-degree sexual assault of a child in 2003 in Wisconsin. He was released from prison in 2014. A Saint Paul police spokeswoman is reading a statement to the press at the crime scene According to a notice that police in Saint Paul released to the public last fall when Lao moved apartments, his sex offender status was related to an incident in which he had held a teenage girl against her will, plied her with alcohol and coerced her into engaging in sexual contact with him. Over the past 12 months, police were called to Yangs house 15 times, including twice in March prior to her death. Many of the reports had to do with Lao allegedly harassing the woman. In August 2019, Yang summoned the police to an area hospital and reported being raped by Lao. She told officers that she had ended their relationship in July of that year because they were 'incompatible.' Yang reported that on August 16, Lao had barged into her home, broke her phone to stop her from calling 911, threw her on the couch and raped her. Following the attack, she said Lao shaved her head after getting the idea from a YouTube video about a man who had done it to a woman as punishment for infidelity. For the next several months, Yang went back and forth between pursuing and withdrawing charges against Lao. Then in February of this year, Lao was arrested for allegedly sending sexually explicit photos of Yang to another ex-boyfriend. Two days later, a judge approved Lao's release from jail, and he walked free after posting $10,000 bond on March 1. MADRID, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AlgaEnergy, the Spain-based global leader in microalgae biotechnology with business units in Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Asia-Pacific, is the first microalgae-biotechnology company in the world to become a B Corporation (B Corp). AlgaEnergy joins a community of over 3,800 businesses globally that are B Corps. Other global brands that are B Corps include Triodos Bank, Danone, Ben & Jerry's, Harris-Woolf Almonds, Burton, Swell, Tillamook, WeTransfer and Innocent. The distinction, which was verified by B Corp's independent Standards Advisory Council in the U.S. and B Lab, Spain's official B Corp certifying agency, is awarded to companies that meet a rigorous set of social and environmental standards that represent a commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit. "We are all elated to celebrate this achievement," said Augusto Rodriguez-Villa, founder of AlgaEnergy. "We began the rigorous certification process in 2019. Becoming a B Corp is not only a first for our industry sector. It is also a recognition that our company and our employees value people and our planet first." B Corp is the only standard that measures a company's entire social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. To gain B Corp status, a company must verify a high standard of socially and environmentally responsible practices related to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, working conditions, employee benefits, equal opportunities and diversity. Verification of standards is independently verified at least every three years. Pablo Sanchez, Executive Director of B Lab Spain, said, "We are delighted to welcome AlgaEnergy to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies that are committed to changing how business operates, who believe business really can be a force for good." Graphics and photos can be downloaded at the following link. About AlgaEnergy AlgaEnergy is a biotechnology company headquartered in Spain that uses advanced technology and production processes to produce high-quality microalgae-based products for the agriculture, aquaculture, nutrition and cosmetics industries. By harnessing multiple, diverse microalgae strains in one product, AlgaEnergy products can benefit a wide range of crops in diverse environments facing unique stresses. AlgaEnergy is building a strong international presence to deliver its microalgae-based solutions across the globe. For more information visit www.algaenergy-intl.com. About B Lab Spain B Lab Spain is a non-profit established in 2014 to serve a growing community of Spanish companies using business as a force for good. B Lab measures and verify companies' environmental and social performance using the B Impact Assessment, and ensure rigorous standards are met by all European B Corps. Together with B Lab teams from around the world, they link a global network of socially and environmentally responsible businesses and promote positive, action-led change towards a new approach to business. http://bcorpspain.es Contact: Carmela Perez Calleja, Marketing Manager Telephone: +34 681 285 872 e-mail: [email protected] Related Images image1.jpg SOURCE AlgaEnergy Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Wednesday the exclusion of critical race theory from Florida schools' curriculum. At a news conference in Naples, Gov. DeSantis outlined the state's plan on civic education covering the budget, teachers' training, and the curriculum, The Federalist reported. The governor noted that "a high-quality education begins with a high-quality curriculum," hence the proposed $17 million for the development of civics curricula and another $16.5 million for teachers and principals training in civics education. Anyone who gets credentialed would get a $3,000 bonus. "Florida civics curriculum will incorporate foundational concepts with the best materials, and it will expressly exclude unsanctioned narratives like critical race theory and other unsubstantiated theories," he said. "There is no room in classrooms for things like critical race theory," emphasized DeSantis and added, "Teaching kids to hate their country and to hate each other is not worth one red cent of taxpayer money." He argued that the critical race theory is only "trying to make people view each other based on race" and that he'd want to do the opposite. "Our schools are supposed to give people a foundation of knowledge, not supposed to be indoctrination centers, where you're trying to push specific ideologies," the governor noted. According to the First Amendment Encyclopedia, Critical race theory (CRT) was developed based on the 1970s-1980s philosophical writings of Professor Derrick Bell of the University of Washington Law School. Soon it became a movement that "elevates the equality principles of the Fourteenth Amendment above the liberty principles of the First Amendment." DeSantis hopes to lessen polarization in the U.S. through the development of a civic education that focuses on instilling foundational values on every learner instead of classifying races and privileges based on one's ethnicity. "No matter if your family came on the Mayflower or you became a naturalized citizen, these principles belong to you," said DeSantis. In another part of his speech, the Republican governor said that the state would rather invest in "actual, solid, true curriculum" and will be a "leader in the development and implementation of a world-class civics education." According to The Federalist, the Florida governor's proposed plan "directly opposes civics mandates in the state of Illinois that call for critical race theory training." The training, dubbed as "Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards," calls for institutions and educators to assess "how they access tools to mitigate their own behavior (racism, sexism, homophobia, unearned privilege, Eurocentrism, etc)." Back in September, then-President Trump also denounced the theory and called on the Office of Management and Budget to end racial sensitivity training. "They were teaching people that our country is a horrible place, it's a racist place, and they were teaching people to hate our country, and I'm not going to allow that to happen," he was also quoted saying during the presidential debate about the training. In February, Republican Reps. Riley Keaton, Josh Holstein, Trenton Barnhart, and Johnnie Wamsley, authored a House bill for West Virginia that would prohibit a curricula that promotes "divisive acts" leading to "race scapegoating" which was defined as follows: CORVALLIS, Ore.-- The Louisiana State Board of Supervisors sent a scathing letter to the Oregon State University Board of Trustees Monday, responding to President F. King Alexander's attempt to blame LSU for Title IX missteps. The letter addressed to OSU Board of Trustees Chair Rani Borkar, pushes blame back onto Alexander. The Chair of the LSU Board of Supervisors, Robert Dampf, said in the letter Alexander was approached two times by Husch Blackwell for in-person interviews during the law firm's investigation. But Alexander deferred to written responses through OSU's general council. "Had Dr. Alexander accepted the invitation for a detailed interview, naturally the report would have included many of the details he indicated that he wished he would have been able to provide," Dampf wrote. "Perhaps he wouldn't be in the position he currently faces." Dampf went onto clarify more of what was discussed at last Wednesday's Board of Trustee's meeting. He said LSU campuses already had a Title IX coordinator before Alexander's arrival adding that Greek organizations' activities were suspended because of a death on campus, not because of Title IX concerns. Dampf wrote if Alexander did an in-person interview, these inconsistencies would have been fixed. "I feel confident that I can speak, not only on behalf of my university, but also for my state, in saying that I am beyond offended by Dr. Alexanders arrogant and condescending comments about Louisianas culture, our state, and our university," Dampf wrote. OSU responded to the letter in this statement: "We read this letter with interest. LSUs concerns with President Alexanders statements about his time at LSU seemingly would have better addressed directly to F. King Alexander and not OSUs Chair of the Board of Trustees. As a university, we look forward to seeing the progress in advancing Title IX at Louisiana State University and at all universities and colleges nationally, given the recommendations of the Husch Blackwell report." OSU Board of Trustees is set to reconvene Tuesday to further discuss Alexander's future. A Texas man has been charged with murder for the death of his pregnant girlfriend, more than a month after her body was discovered buried in a shallow grave in Louisiana. Jonathan Menard, 35, was already in jail in Jefferson County on charges of tampering with evidence and parole violation in connection with the death of Kayla Rice, 33, who was last seen alive last November. The Beaumont Police Department in Texas announced the upgraded charge against Menard on Tuesday. The suspect's bond for the murder count was set at $1million. Jonathan Menard, 35 (left), has been charged with tampering with evidence in the death of his pregnant girlfriend, 33-year-old Kayla Rice (right) Menard was Rice's boyfriend and they were living together when she was murdered. The woman was pregnant with her second child, a boy, at the time of her death. Menard was arrested in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, on February 11 on the parole violation charge and was then transferred to the Jefferson County Jail in Texas to face the evidence tampering charge. Rice was reported missing to the police in Beaumont by her out-of-state family in December 2020. Relatives said they had not seen or heard from the expectant mother since the end of November. Rice was six months pregnant at the time. She also has an 11-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. Police quickly located Rice's vehicle, which was 'found to have been physically altered,' according to a statement from the agency. On February 11, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office received a call from a witness, saying they observed what appeared to be skeletal remains in a shallow grave on Ged Road in Vinton, reported 12 News Now. The remains were later identified as Rice. Rice was six months pregnant with her second child, a son, when she went missing in Beaumont, Texas, in November 2020 Rice earned a bachelor's degree in human resources from a Texas university in 2013. She is pictured with her mother, brother and young daughter on the day of her graduation Menard was arrested in Calcasieu Parish on the same day. According to her obituary, Rice earned a bachelor's degree in human resources from a Texas university in 2013 and played the clarinet. She welcomed her first child in 2009. Kayla can best be described as nice, smart, and shy, with a kind and sweet soul, the obituary read. She was a beautiful, funny, and silly person who would do anything for her family and friends, no questions asked. She had a wonderful heart and soul. Rice planned to name her unborn son Kyan Dexter. Tasmanias Dark Mofo festival has cancelled plans to show a Union Jack flag soaked in the blood of First Nations peoples from colonised territories. We made a mistake and take full responsibility, the festivals creative director, Leigh Carmichael, said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon. We apologise to all First Nations people for any hurt that has been caused. We are sorry. The apology comes less than a day after the festival said it would stand by Spanish artist Santiago Sierras work, Union Flag, declaring self-expression a fundamental human right. Sierra had invited people from countries and territories colonised by the British Empire to donate a small amount of blood for the exhibit as an acknowledgment of the pain and destruction colonialism has caused. Those opposed to the artwork said it was an undergraduate attempt at subverting colonisation and that First Nations people had already given enough blood to the British Empire. Revenues decrease by 53.8% to $6,455,633; Company maintains quarterly dividend payout - for 39 consecutive quarters; Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. (TSXV: CMI) (OTC Pink: CYSNF), the world's leading provider of commercial grade mobile auto-deploying satellite antenna systems, announced today its financial results for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020. The Company generated revenues of $6,455,633 and incurred a net after tax loss of $94,557 (0 cents per share) in F2020. This compares to 2019 total revenues of $13,977,909 and a net after tax profit of $2,843,092 or 8 cents per share, representing decreases of 53.8% and 103.3%, respectively. Gross profit margin in 2020 improved to 58.9%, versus 58.0% in fiscal 2019. The working capital of the Company increased by 0.4% to $22,472,963 as at November 30, 2020, compared to $22,383,369 on November 30, 2019. The Company paid out $1,922,242 in dividends during fiscal 2020 compared to $1,882,033 in fiscal 2019, representing a 2.1% increase. Based on its closing price of $3.96 per share on March 22, 2020, the annual dividend provided a yield of 1.3% per annum. "The negative impact of the COVID pandemic on businesses around the world is well documented, and C-COM was not immune to these challenges. Nevertheless, we are well positioned for the gradual return to normalcy, with our healthy balance sheet, extensive inventory and commitment to R&D of next generation products," said Leslie Klein, President and CEO of C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. Klein added: "Despite the pandemic, we made significant steps forward in 2020. This included the integration of our iNetVu 8000 series antenna controllers with new modems, the UHP-200, Gilat Capricorn 4, iDirect iQ-200 and Newtec MDM 3310 and the integration of the Comtech EF Data branded Heights Networking Platform with our iNetVu 7700 series antenna controllers." "The Company also announced its involvement in the international EUREKA/PENTA consortium for next generation antenna technologies - while further progressing on developing an advanced flat panel, phased array antenna system with the University of Waterloo. An initial Ka-band antenna version intended to be used with the growing number of high-throughput (HTS) satellites has been successfully lab tested, and is now in the process of being field-tested over satellites. We intend to make it mass producible at a reasonable price for a wide range of applications operating over both satellite constellations (LEO, MEO and GEO), as well as over 5G wireless and other developing millimeter wave technologies," Klein concluded. The Company has maintained its quarterly dividend payout while continuing to innovate and invest into the next generation of advanced antenna products. About C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. is a pioneer and world leader in the design, development, and manufacture of transportable and mobile satellite-based antenna systems. The Company has developed proprietary, auto-acquisition controller technology for rapid antenna pointing to a satellite with just the press of a button, enabling Broadband Internet via Satellite across a wide range of market applications worldwide, including regions unserved or underserved by terrestrial access technologies. C-COM has sold more than 8,500 antenna systems, in over 100 countries, through a dedicated dealer network that provides service to a wide range of vertical markets such as Oil & Gas Exploration, Military Communications, Disaster Management, SNG, Emergency Communications, Cellular Backhaul, Telemedicine, Mobile Education, Government Services, Mobile Banking, and others. The Company's iNetVu brand is synonymous with high quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. C-COM is in late-stage development of a potentially revolutionary Ka-band, electronically steerable, modular, conformal, flat panel phased array antenna. In cooperation with the University of Waterloo, C-COM is engaged in the design of this unique antenna with the intent of providing low-cost, high-throughput mobility applications over satellite for land, airborne and maritime verticals. For additional information please visit www.c-comsat.com iNetVu is a registered trademark of C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. The Company is publicly traded on the Canadian Venture Exchange (TSXV: CMI) and on the US OTC Exchange (OTC Pink: CYSNF). # # # Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Statements about C-COM's expectations as to its performance after the COVID-pandemic and its intentions with respect to its Ka-band antenna version all contain forward-looking information. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The COVID pandemic may last longer than expected or C-COM's preparations may not translate into expected performance for any number of reasons, some of which are beyond C-COM Satellite Systems' control. Anticipated benefits of the new technology may not be realized, and new products and services may not be released or, if released may not gain market acceptance. Any of those events and others could have an effect on future performance and C-COM Satellite Systems Inc.'s ability to achieve the results mentioned above. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Readers are directed to the risk factors associated with the business of C-COM Satellite Systems in the company's most recent MD&A available at www.SEDAR.com. INVESTOR RELATIONS C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. Tel: (613) 745-4110 ext. 4950 Fax: (613) 745-7144 lklein@c-comsat.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78220 This site uses cookies to ensure the best experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Our cookie policy. Hill questioned jurors in the same way he has done countless times before: asking about their jobs and families, if they had ever been charged with a crime or been the victim of one, if they knew the defendant or any of the likely witnesses. THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION This circular (the "Circular") is sent to you as a Shareholder of Tabula European Performance Credit UCITS ETF (EUR), a sub-fund of Tabula ICAV. It is important and requires your immediate attention. If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take you should seek advice from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial adviser. This Circular and the changes it proposes have not been reviewed by the Central Bank of Ireland (the "Central Bank") and it is possible that changes may be necessary to meet the requirements of the Central Bank. The Directors accept responsibility for the information contained in this Circular. TABULAICAV EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF TABULA EUROPEAN PERFORMANCE CREDIT UCITS ETF (EUR) Ifyou have sold or transferred your shares in the Fund, please pass this Circular at once to the purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the purchaser or transferee as soon as possible. TABULA ICAV Registered Office: 5 George's Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1 An Irish collective asset-management vehicle having segregated liability between its sub-funds with registration number C-174472 Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalised terms used herein shall bear the same meaning as capitalised terms used in the latest prospectus of Tabula ICAV (the "ICAV") dated 22 December 2021 (the "Prospectus"). A copy of the Prospectus and the Supplement relating to Tabula European Performance Credit UCITS ETF (EUR) is available upon request during normal business hours from the ICAV or from the local representative of the ICAV in any jurisdiction in which the ICAV is registered for public distribution. TheDirectors of the ICAV accept responsibility for the information contained in this document. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) the information contained in this document is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. RE: Tabula European Performance Credit UCITS ETF (EUR) (the "Fund") Notification of an extraordinary general meeting to change the investment objective of the Fund and notification of the change in name of the Fund. 19 March 2021 Dear Shareholder, 1. INTRODUCTION The ICAV is authorised by the Central Bank pursuant to the European Communities (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations, 2011 (as amended) (the "UCITS Regulations"). The ICAV is organised as an umbrella fund with segregated liability between sub-funds and the Fund is a sub-fund of the ICAV. The purpose of this letter is to notify you of: (i) an extraordinary general meeting ("EGM") to consider, and vote on, a proposed material amendment to the investment objective of the Fund (the "MaterialChange"); and (ii) a change in name of the Fund. 2. MATERIAL CHANGE TO INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE 2.1Change to Investment Objective The current investment objective of the Fund is to track the performance of the iTraxx European Performance Credit Index (the "Index"). It is now proposed that the Fund's investment objective be changed such that the Fund will track the performance of the iTraxx European IG Performance Credit Index (the "New Index"). As a result of the change to the New Index, the Fund's exposure will be to investment grade credit only rather than to a combination of investment grade and sub-investment grade credit which is currently the case Investors should note that: Shareholders will not bear any additional legal or administrative costs as a result of this change. The Fund may incur transaction costs associated with the change. The transaction costs, based on the Fund's current portfolio, are expected to be minimal and will be borne by the Investment Manager. In practice, these costs will be highly dependent on market conditions and the composition of the portfolio at the time of the change, and may be higher or lower than the estimated amount. The Total Expense Ratio will not change as a result of the proposed change. The anticipated tracking error and the risk profile of the Fund are expected to remain the same. Subject to Shareholder approval being obtained, this change will take effect from the date of issuance of an updated Supplement. This is expected to occur on or around 13 April 2021 or such later date as the updated Supplement is published on the Investment Manager's website (the "Effective Date"). Recommendation: The Directors believe that the resolution to be proposed at the EGM is in the best interests of Shareholder of the Fund and, accordingly, the Directors recommend that Shareholder vote in favour of the resolution. New Index Description This section is a summary of the principal features of the New Index and is not a complete description of the New Index. Capitalised terms used herein shall have the meaning given to those terms in the Supplement dated 22 December 2020 with the exception of the following: "Credit Index" means the Markit iTraxx Europe Index ("ITRX EUR"). The New Index exposure is to the ITRX EUR On-the-Run 5 Year Credit Index, with a cash position (the Reference Cash Amount) that delivers market yields and a 4:1 notional market exposure ratio, being the approximate proportion of CDS notional to the Index value. The Reference Cash Amount makes up the remainder of the Index Value after subtracting the mark-to-market value of the Index CDS components. This is a cash balance that varies based upon the cash flows of the hypothetical Index CDS positions, receiving coupon payments on the Index CDS, paying default costs (if any) and receiving or paying interest. The cash component generates interest at a rate equal to the Reference Cash Rate plus the Reference Cash Rate Spread. The New Index is rebalanced on a monthly basis to maintain the ratio described above. In addition, the Index sets a threshold relating to intra-month deviation from the ITRX EUR Target Weighting. If the ratio of the Index CDS notional, multiplied by its Bond Equivalent Price, divided by the Index Value differs by more than 10% from the ITRX EUR Target Weighting an additional Index CDS rebalancing occurs the following day. On the date that either Credit Index rolls into a new series, the Index CDS contract referencing the previous series of the relevant Credit Index is unwound, whilst simultaneously entering into a long Index CDS referencing the new series of the relevant Credit Index. 2.2Notice of EGM to Consider and Vote on the Material Change In order to obtain shareholder approval for the Material Change, the Board has decided to convene an EGM of the Fund at which an Ordinary Resolution to approve the Material Change will be proposed. You will find attached to this letter a notice of EGM ("Notice of EGM") which will be held at 5 George's Dock IFSC Dublin 1 on 7th April 2021 end of day. The proposed change can only be introduced with the approval of a simple majority of votes cast by Shareholders attending and voting in person or by proxy at the EGM at which the resolution is proposed. 2.3Proxy Form / Shareholders unable to attend the EGM The form of proxy accompanying the Notice of EGM should be completed and returned in accordance with the instructions thereon, so as to be received by post to the Company Secretary, c/o Tobias Ashton, KB Associates, 5 George's Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1, Ireland. Alternatively, Shareholders may send their proxies by fax to the Company Secretary at +353 1 668 7696 for the attention of Tobias Ashton or by email to companysecretary@kbassociates.ie, as soon as possible and in any event, not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the holding of the EGM. Completion and return of a form of proxy will not preclude a Shareholder from attending and voting in person at the EGM. 2.4Re-convening the EGM Should it be necessary to re-convene the EGM because it is inquorate, Shareholders should note that the Board has determined that the re-convened meeting would take place on 16 April 2021 at 11am (Irish time). 2.5Publication of Results The result of the EGM will be announced through the regulatory news service on the Euronext Dublin website and will be published in an appropriate manner in each of the other jurisdictions in which the Fund is listed on a stock exchange. 2.6Redemption of Shares Shareholders who do not wish to remain in the Fund following the implementation of the Material Change (if the resolution is passed) will have the opportunity to redeem their Shares on any Dealing Day prior to the Effective Date by contacting the Administrator so that a written redemption request is received by the Administrator by the Dealing Deadline for the relevant Dealing Day. 3. CHANGE OF NAME OF THE FUND It is intended to change the name of the Fund to "Tabula European IG Performance Credit UCITS ETF (EUR)" to better reflect the investment objective of the Fund once it is amended with Shareholder approval. Should you have any questions relating to these matters, you should either contact us at the above address or alternatively you should contact your investment consultant. NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF TABULAEUROPEAN PERFORMANC CREDIT UCITS ETF (EUR) (THE "FUND") THISDOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt about the course of action to take, you should consult your stockbroker, solicitor, accountant or other professional advisor. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM") of the shareholders of the Fund will be held at the offices of KB Associates, 5 George's Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1, Ireland, on 13 April 2021, at 11 am (Irish time) to consider and, if thought fit, pass the resolution set out below as an Ordinary Resolution. Also enclosed is a proxy appointment form in order for you to cast your votes on the matters to be voted on at the EGM. Only those Shareholders registered as shareholders of the Fund as of 11am (Irish time) on 9 April 2021 shall have the right to participate and vote in the EGM for the Fund. Ordinary Resolution: To approve the amendments to the investment objective of the Fund as detailed in the appendix "Special Business - Ordinary Resolution" attached hereto. Registered Office 5 George's Dock IFSC Dublin 1 Ireland Registered Number C-174472 19 March 2021 Notes: 1. The Resolution is proposed as an Ordinary Resolution. For an ordinary resolution to be passed, not less than 50 per cent. of the total number of votes cast by Shareholders being entitled to vote (by proxy or in person) must be in favour of the resolution. 2. Shareholders of the Fund are entitled to attend and vote at the EGM of the Fund. A Shareholder may appoint a proxy or proxies to attend, speak and vote instead of the Shareholder. A proxy need not be a Shareholder of the Fund or the ICAV. 3. A form of proxy is enclosed for the use of Shareholders unable to attend the meeting. Proxies must be sent to the Company Secretary, c/o Tobias Ashton, KB Associates, 5 George's Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1, Ireland. Alternatively, Shareholders may send their proxies by fax to the Company Secretary at +353 1 668 7696 for the attention of Tobias Ashton or by email to companysecretary@kbassociates.ie. To be valid, proxies and any powers of attorney under which they are signed must be received by the Secretary not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the meeting. FORM OF PROXY EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF TABULA EUROPEAN PERFORMANCE CREDIT UCITS ETF (EUR) (THE "FUND") I/We............................................................................................................................................... (Block letters) of......................................................................................................................................................... being (a) member(s) of Tabula European Performance Credit UCITS ETF (EUR), appoint the Chairperson of the meeting or failing him/her appoint an authorised representative of KB Associates OR failing him/her (see note (h)) ............................................................................................................................................................ (Block letters) of.................................................................................................................................................... as my/our proxy to vote for me/us and on my/our behalf at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Fund to be held at the offices of KB Associates, 5 George's Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1, Ireland on 13 April 2021 at 11 am (Irish time) and at any adjournment thereof. Please indicate with a tick (?) in the spaces provided how you wish your votes to be cast, otherwise your proxy will vote as he/she thinks fit. In the event that an authorised representative of KB Associates is appointed as a proxy, such proxy will vote as indicated above and the shareholder hereby indemnifies the authorised representative of KB Associates for any losses or liability such representative of KB Associates may suffer as a result of it acting in good faith in the exercise of this proxy. ORDINARYRESOLUTION FOR ABSTAIN AGAINST That the investment objective of the Fund be amended as detailed in the appendix "Special Business - Ordinary Resolution" attached hereto. Dated: Name and Address of Shareholder Signature of Shareholder Name and Address of Shareholder Signature of Shareholder Name and Address of Shareholder Signature of Shareholder Name and Address of Shareholder Signature of Shareholder Notes: (a) A Shareholder must insert his full name and registered address in type or block letters. In the case of joint accounts the names of all holders must be stated. (b) If it is desired to appoint some other person as proxy, the name of the proxy must be inserted in the space provided instead of the option provided which should be deleted. (c) If either (i) a Shareholder does not propose to exercise all of the voting rights to which the Shareholder is entitled or (ii) a Shareholder proposes to exercise voting rights both for and against a resolution, in order for a proxy to be valid, the proxy must state (i) the name of the Fund in respect of which the Shareholder is exercising voting rights, (ii) the number of Shares in respect of which the votes are being cast and (iii) whether the votes are being cast for or against the resolution. (d) The proxy form must: (i) in the case of an individual Shareholder be signed by the Shareholder or his attorney; and (ii) in the case of a corporate Shareholder be given either under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an attorney or by a duly authorised officer of the corporate Shareholder. (e) In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior who tenders a vote whether in person or by proxy shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the register of members in respect of the joint holding. (f) To be valid this proxy form and any power of attorney under which it is signed must reach the Company Secretary, c/o Tobias Ashton, KB Associates, 5 George's Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1, Ireland. Alternatively, Shareholders may send their proxies by fax to the Company Secretary at +353 1 668 7696 for the attention of Tobias Ashton or by email to companysecretary@kbassociates.ie. To be valid, proxies and any powers of attorney under which they are signed must be received by the Company Secretary not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the meeting. (g) A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Fund or the ICAV but must attend the meeting in person to represent you. (h) In the event that an authorised representative of KB Associates is appointed as a proxy, such proxy will vote as indicated above. In the absence of any direction the proxy will vote in favour of the resolutions. The shareholder hereby indemnifies KB Associates and its authorised representatives for any losses or liability incurred as a result of acting in good faith in the exercise of this proxy. Appendix SpecialBusiness - Ordinary Resolution Toconsider and, if thought fit, to pass the following as an Ordinary Resolution: That the investment objective of the Fund be deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following: The objective of the Sub-Fund is to track the performance of the Index* to within an acceptable tracking error, (which will take into account, amongst other things, the fees and expenses incurred). *the Index being the iTraxx European IG Performance Credit Index Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) A number of local chief executives in the Visayas were inoculated against COVID-19, skipping the vaccine priority line. Mayor Alfred Romualdez of Tacloban City, Leyte, was injected with Chinas Sinovac on Monday, while Mayor Elanito Pena of Minglanilla, Cebu received the vaccine from the British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca on Tuesday. At least three mayors in Bohol were likewise vaccinated over the past days Mayor Victoriano Torres of Alicia, Mayor Virgilio Mendez of San Miguel, and Mayor Arturo Piollo II of Lila. Most announcements were made through their own or their local governments social media pages. Mayor Alfred Romualdez of Tacloban City, Leyte was injected with Chinas Sinovac on Monday, while Mayor Elanito Pena of Minglanilla, Cebu received the vaccine from the British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca on Tuesday. According to Romualdez, the shot was administered by a nurse from the Department of Health who is deployed at the City Health Office. His staff earlier said the mayor got his first dose in his home, but the city public information office later clarified that it happened at the Tacloban City Astrodome. Pictures of the mayor getting the shot showed him without a face mask on. Pena, on the other hand, was vaccinated along with over 100 healthcare workers at the city's rural health facility. In a now-deleted Facebook post, the local government also posted photos of the mayor getting inoculated. Torres and Mendez also disclosed the news online. According to Torres, a number of village chiefs joined him in the inoculation. "Got my 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine together with my friends barangay captains of Barangay Cabatang, Progreso, Cayacay, Untaga, and Napo," Torres said in a Facebook post on Monday, which includes photos of him being injected with a still unidentified vaccine. Five days earlier on March 17, Mendez uploaded a video of him getting inoculated, with the caption: "I am a municipal mayor, a senior citizen, and I believe in vaccination. San Miguel town's Piollo, meanwhile, got the Sinovac vaccine on Monday, according to the local newspaper The Bohol Chronicle. The government is still completing the vaccination of all 1.7 million healthcare workers in the country using the limited supply of doses before moving on to other priority sectors. Mayors, governors, and village chiefs were recently moved up in the COVID-19 vaccine priority list, but they can only be inoculated after health workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities. Romualdez defended his decision to jump the priority line. "Never say that I did it to save myself before others," he said. "I did it to make the people see that it was okay to get the vaccine. I wanted our people to take it for protection, and so that the efforts of the national government will not be in vain. Meanwhile, Pena said his doctor colleagues agreed that he should be vaccinated, too, considering he is also a frontliner as the chief of the towns anti-coronavirus task force. "It is okay because I work like a frontliner. Im a frontliner, and I regularly meet our COVID-19 team, and we face a lot of people in our work," said the Minglanilla mayor in the vernacular. Piollo was quoted by The Bohol Chronicle as saying he asked permission from DOH-Central Visayas director Jaime Bernadas who answered, "it is your call." The mayor explained he got the shot to help raise vaccine confidence. But Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, spokesperson of DOH-Central Visayas, reiterated that local government officials should await their turn as the national vaccination program clearly states medical frontliners get the first shots. Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire also stressed the need to follow the prioritization framework, as doing otherwise would put the countrys vaccine supply at risk. As WHO (World Health Organization) Country Rep. Dr. Rabi Abeyasinghe has previously emphasized, all doses must first be administered to the agreed upon priority groups starting with HCWs, she said in a statement. Giving the vaccines to non-HCWs when not all HCWs have been vaccinated will jeopardize succeeding doses from COVAX. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday said he will refer Romualdez's case to the Department of Interior and Local Government for investigation. Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing said they are preparing show cause orders against three unnamed mayors to explain why they jumped the line. "Hindi pa pwedeng magpabakuna muna ang hindi medical frontliners dahil kung susuway tayo sa order of priority, maaapektuhan ang future deliveries galing sa COVAX," Roque said in a media breifing. "We regret this incident, but I will refer the matter to DILG for proper action dahil kailangan po talagang imbestigahan ito." [Translation: Non-medical frontliners cannot get vaccinated because this will be against the order of priority. It will jeopardize our future COVAX deliveries. This needs to be investigated.] Over three weeks since the inoculation drive began in the country, only 336,656 have been vaccinated mostly healthcare workers and some government and local officials like Romualdez and Pena who breached the priority list. The low vaccination rate comes despite the fact that 98% or 1,105,600 out of 1,125,600 doses of AstraZeneca and Sinovac doses have been distributed in 1,623 vaccination sites in 17 regions. RELATED: Gov't ready to move on after 'breaches' in vaccine priority list Romualdez announced on Dec. 10 that he contracted COVID-19. Experts have advised those infected with COVID-19 to wait at least three months after they are clinically recovered before getting a vaccine. Current evidence suggests that reinfection is unlikely to occur 90 days after the initial infection. CNN Philippines senior digital producer Lara Tan, digital producer Kristel Limpot, and stringers Wilmark Amazona and Dale Israel contributed to this report. Anti-Tax PAC Is Vetting Wyoming Primary Challengers to Cheney Conservative anti-tax political action committee Club for Growth dispatched an official to Wyoming this week to interview candidates challenging Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) in the Republican primary election for the U.S. House in 2022. Cheney opened herself to primary challenges by voting to impeach President Donald Trump, who later vowed to oust her in the primary. Club for Growths strategy for 2022 is to focus on Republicans who have a poor track record on economic votes. Where we see incumbents who are not good on economic issues and are vulnerable and theres a strong economic conservative running, were going to look at that race and consider getting involved in the primaries, Ben Decatur, a digital communications associate with the Club for Growth, told The Epoch Times. The political action committee (PAC) is backing candidates on both sides of impeachment, including Sens. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), both of whom voted to convict Trump during the second impeachment trial. The PAC wont support a primary challenger against Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.), who voted for impeachment but earned 82 percent on his 2019 scorecard. Cheney, in the meantime, received a score of 65 in 2019, placing her in the bottom third of all Republicans in the House. Liz knows the Republican Party is the party of Reagan and must stand for fidelity to the constitution, limited government, low taxes, a strong national defense and competent conservative leadership. Apparently, the Club for Growth has a different agenda, Kevin Seifert, a political adviser to Cheney, said in a statement relayed to The Epoch Times. Cheneys primary challengers include State Sen. Anthony Bouchard, State Rep. Chuck Gray, Sheridan County GOP Chair Bryan Miller, and former Pavillion Mayor Marissa Selvig. The Club for Growth wouldnt disclose which of the candidates its official is meeting with this week. A large number of House Republicans wanted Cheney removed from her post as the conference chair over her impeachment vote. The conference chair is the third-highest-ranking member of the GOP hierarchy in the House. Cheney kept the post after a majority of Republican House members voted in a secret ballot to allow her to keep her assignment. The Club for Growth, according to its website, encourages representatives and senators to vote in favor of economic policies that strengthen our nations economy and against legislation that would raise taxes, increase harmful regulations, and grow our already massive government. On March 22, the PAC endorsed former Trump official Max Miller in the primary challenge against Rep. Anthony Gonzales (R-Ohio), another Republican who voted to impeach Trump on Jan. 13. Ohioans can count on Max to protect their taxpayer dollars and fight for their values, unlike the current incumbent who continues to push for Big Government & budget-busting spending bills, the PAC wrote on Twitter, referring to Gonzales, who received a rating of 70 percent on its scorecard in 2019. Trump endorsed Miller on Feb. 26. Max Miller is a wonderful person who did a great job at the White House and will be a fantastic Congressman. He is a Marine Veteran, a son of Ohio, and a true PATRIOT, the former president said in a statement. Current Rep. Anthony Gonzalez should not be representing the people of the 16th district because he does not represent their interest or their heart. Max Miller has my Complete and Total Endorsement! Eight of the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in January are now facing primary challengers. Trump has also vowed to back a primary challenger to Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). The High Court has ruled that proceedings arising out of the corporate watchdog's seizure of documents from the FAI last year are to remain in public for the time being. An application by former FAI CEO John Delaney for the proceedings to be held in camera, meaning the media could no longer report on them, can be revisited at a later stage if needs be, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds said. Mr Delaney sought the order over his concerns that media reports of the action would result in legally privileged information being wrongfully put into the public domain. His application was opposed by media outlets. After hearing submissions from the parties on Tuesday, Ms Reynolds said while the proceedings remain in public, there may well be a need to revisit the in-camera issue at a later stage. The judge said there was nothing before the court that would allow the hearing have to be held in private. The case arises out of the seizure of some 280,000 files covering a 17-year period, by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) as part of its criminal investigation into certain matters at the FAI. In proceedings brought by the ODCE against the FAI, where Mr Delaney is a notice party, the judge has been asked to determine which of that material is covered by legal privilege, and cannot be used by the ODCE as part of its probe. To assist with this process barristers Niall Nolan Bl and Patrick Mair Bl were appointed as independent persons to review materials over which claims of legal privilege are made by Mr Delaney. The assessors will prepare a report for the court to help it determine what material is privileged. Claims of legal professional privilege have been made in respect of approximately 1,000 documents by the FAI and over 3,500 documents by Mr Delaney. On Tuesday Paul McGarry SC said Mr Delaney seeks a formal order, under the 2014 Companies Act that the hearing be conducted 'in camera' where only the parties involved would be present. Such a provision was put in the act by the Oireachtas, counsel said, adding that his client was entitled to the benefit of it. Solicitor Simon McAleese for the Sunday Times disagreed with Mr McGarry's submissions and said that in this case the constitutional right that justice be aired in public is a relevant consideration. In his submissions he said his client was sceptical about why Mr Delaney's application for the hearings to be held in public. He added that had Mr Delaney obtained a super-injunction against the paper in March 2019 and prevented it running a story about a 100,000 cheque Mr Delaney wrote to the FAI in 2017, there might well not be an ODCE investigation at all. Kerida Naidoo SC, representing the ODCE, said it was neutral on the application, but may need to revise that stance if his client was concerned that information could be put into the public domain that could prejudice the investigation. The FAI, represented by Brian Gageby BL, said it was neutral to the decision. Ms Justice Reynolds said she was not making any order at this stage regarding in private hearings. The proceedings had been ongoing for some time before the issue of an in private hearing was raised, the judge also noted. She said that when the assessors' report comes before the court the court was willing, if required, to hear further submissions from the parties for an in-camera hearing. It could well be the case that there is no dispute between the parties over any material and therefore no necessity for any part of the proceedings to be held in camera, the judge said. A lot would depend on the contents of the assessor's reports, she added. The case, which has come before the courts on many occasions since February 2020, was adjourned to April. HOUSTON, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- C-Bond Systems (the Company or C-Bond) (OTC: CBNT), a nanotechnology solutions company, announced today that another high line jewelry store has chosen C-Bond technologies C-Bond Secure and C-Bond BRS to protect its inventory against break-ins and looting. The installation totaled more than $28,000. C-Bond Secure is a multi-purpose glass strengthening primer and window film mounting solution that provides a cost-effective option for enhancing safety. It was developed in partnership with one of the industrys largest film suppliers to increase glass strength and glass flexibility. C-Bond Secure is applied to the glass prior to the application of window film to approve film adhesion and reinforce the underlying glass. It is compatible with any film manufacturers products in all film market segments including solar, safety, decorative, automotive, and marine. C-Bond Secure has thwarted several break-in attempts and is proven to deter forced entry. C-Bond BRS is a ballistic-resistant film system that consists of the patented C-Bond glass strengthening technology and security film. The C-Bond technology chemically bonds to the defects randomly distributed on the glass surface to increase impact resistance and prevent breakage. C-Bond BRS is validated by an independent third-party laboratory to provide National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Level I, Level IIA, Level II, and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 752 ballistic-resistant protection. More and more high-end jewelers and other retailers are choosing C-Bond Secure and C-Bond BRS to provide an additional layer of security for their stores, said Scott R. Silverman, Chairman and CEO of C-Bond. C-Bond is the technology of choice for strengthening glass to prevent it from shattering, thereby making it more difficult for intruders to break in. This extra time means intruders are more likely to give up on their illegal attempt at forced entry. C-Bond Secure and C-Bond BRS provide a cost-effective way to protect storefronts, schools, government buildings, and other facilities. C-Bonds glass strengthening protection solutions including C-Bond Secure and its ballistic-resistant system, C-Bond BRS, have been installed in more than 80 schools, government buildings, media sites, and other high-security facilities around the country. C-Bonds technology is protected by 22 patents and patent pending applications. About C-Bond C-Bond Systems, Inc. (OTC: CBNT) is a Houston-based advanced nanotechnology company and marketer of the patented and patent-pending C-Bond technology, developed in conjunction with Rice University and independently proven to significantly strengthen glass in key automotive and structural applications. The Companys Transportation Solutions Group sells C-Bond nanoShield, a liquid solution applied directly to automotive windshields, sold through distributors. The Companys Safety Solutions Group sells ballistic-resistant glass solutions directly to private enterprises, schools, hospitals, and government agencies. The Company also sells disinfection products, including MB-10 Tablets. For more information, please visit our website: www.cbondsystems.com, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbondsys/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBondSys. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release about our future expectations constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and our actual results could differ materially from expected results. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, C-Bonds ability to raise capital; the Companys ability to successfully commercialize its products; the effect of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the Companys and its customers ability to operate; the Companys ability to source materials; the Companys ability to retain key employees and consultants; as well as other risks. Additional information about these and other factors may be described in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) including its Form 10-K filed on March 25, 2020, its Forms 10-Q filed on November 16, 2020, August 14, 2020, and May 15, 2020, and in future filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. 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Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbfef1a7848)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfef172e00)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbfef1a7848)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfef172e00)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbfef29f290)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfef172e00)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfef172e00)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfee824548)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbfef172980)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbfef172980)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 Authorities seek suspect in armed robbery on parkway National Park Service officials are seeking help from the public in identifying a suspect believed to be connected to a recent armed robbery on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Law enforcement rangers responded to a report of an armed robbery near the French Broad River overlook at approximately 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24. A male victim in the case described the suspect as a white male, approximately six feet tall and larger build. The victim indicated that the suspect approached him at his vehicle, brandished a handgun and demanded his keys, wallet and cell phone then fled the scene. The vehicle used to flee the scene was described as a darker-color sedan with taillights similar to a Mitsubishi Lancer. In the 24-hour period following the robbery the victims credit cards were fraudulently used at a gas station in Arden, a home improvement store in Hendersonville and a grocery store in Asheville. To date, the investigation has focused on these locations, and now park officials are turning to the public for additional leads. This crime is a reminder that the Parkway is not immune to the types of incidents one can experience anywhere else, said Neal Labrie, Blue Ridge Parkway Chief Ranger. We appreciate the cooperation from local retailers, law enforcement and others in our investigation to date, and are hopeful that by asking the public for any additional leads we can successfully identity the suspect. Anyone with information on this incident or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact the Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at (888) 653-009, email nps_isb@nps.gov or online at https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1563/submit-a-tip.htm. You can submit an anonymous tip. Please include the case number NP21016044 so the tips are forwarded correctly. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The areas around Port Macquarie and Taree, where the Hastings and Manning Rivers respectively run through, have been the focus of much of the devastation on the Mid North Coast over the past few days as a result of flooding. Kempsey, which borders the Macleay River, Newcastle and the Maitland region, Bulahdelah, and the areas around Laurieton, Kew and Kendall area have also been heavily impacted. Using satellite imagery, the Herald is able to give a birds-eye view of the spread of the inundation by comparing the regions between early March and March 19. The satellite imagery comes via Sentinel-1 - a constellation of two polar-orbiting satellites launched by Europes Earth Observation Programme in 2014. They use radar data to see-through thick cloud, according to Dr Robbi Bishop-Taylor, an earth observation scientist at Geoscience Australia Satellite imagery of Sydneys west and north-west has not yet become available in a way that is easy to compare the areas before and after flooding, especially since flooding in those areas started to occur later than in the states north. However, satellites tasked by Europes Earth Observation Programme have provided flood maps of that area. With other flood warnings issued for NSW, these images are likely to change again in the near future. Kempsey The SES issued an evacuation order on March 19 for people in low-lying properties in Kempsey CBD, saying: Once floodwater passes 6.6 metres on the Kempsey gauge, the Kempsey CBD levee may start to overtop and roads will begin to close. Selfless removalists have been commended for offering their assistance to flood victims as heavy rain continues to drench the New South Wales coast. The 'absolute legends' from The Removal Brothers said they would be willing to help those in need in a Facebook post to community group Bondi Local Loop on Monday. 'If your house is flooding, if you're not safe or need a hand at all please let us know,' Manolo Bezanilla wrote to the group. 'Got a couple trucks, man power and would love to come and help with anything needed.' Mr Bezanilla said the offer extends 'way beyond' Bondi, which is in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Selfless removalists have been commended for offering their assistance to flood victims as heavy rain continues to drench the New South Wales coast. Their Facebook post included a selfie of four men wet from the rain and carrying household items (pictured) 'So if you know anyone in need shoot me a message,' he concluded. The Facebook post included a selfie of four men wet from the rain and carrying household items. Their kind gesture was quickly praised by locals. 'Unbelievable! You guys are just wonderful,' one comment read. 'So kind! You guys make the world a better place,' another said. The post also gathered attention beyond flood assistance. 'Gorgeous men... I'll call you when you're not so busy,' a woman wrote along with a winking emoji. The Removal Brothers were last year inundated with female admirers after they promoted their business on Facebook. The 'absolute legends' from The Removal Brothers said they would be willing to help those in need in a Facebook post to community group Bondi Local Loop on Monday The post garnered hundreds of reactions and comments, largely from women who were more interested in the workers than the business. 'If anyone is moving soon I'm here to remind you of our removalist service. We have been lucky enough to service for more than two years now,' the post read. 'We've done huge six bedrooms houses in Dover Heights and small studios in Bondi too. So big or small, we can do it.' The post was accompanied by photos of the burly removalists - and amorous women flocked to the comments section in droves. 'Yum! Now I need to think what I need to move!' one woman wrote. Another tagged her housemate and joked: 'Wanna move stuff back and forward between our places for bit?' Relentless rain has lashed the NSW coast for days causing major flooding. Pictured: The swollen Parramatta river Some 15,000 people are on high alert in NSW after being warned they must be ready to leave their homes to escape rising floodwaters as widespread torrential rain continues unabated. Already 18,000 NSW residents have been evacuated as authorities warn the situation could deteriorate even further and the clean up could last for weeks. NSW Premier Gladys Berejikilian said there are several weather fronts impacting large swathes of the state. 'It is catastrophic in its dimensions and the impact will be severe and the fact that 15,000 people may need to be evacuated the next 24 to 48 hours is a huge concern,' she said on Tuesday. People northwest of Sydney have been ordered to evacuate homes amid the unrelenting downpour as a surge of water flows into catchments, causing rivers to rise and break their banks. Major flooding is occurring along the Colo River in the Hawkesbury region and the State Emergency Service ordered about 500 people in 200 homes to get out on Tuesday. People ride their bicycles through a flooded park on the banks of Nepean river in Penrith suburb on Sunday People in caravans along a stretch of the Hawkesbury River from Windsor to Wiseman's Ferry have been told to prepare to leave. SES Commissioner Carlene York said those evacuated would have been trapped by the rising waters. Boats and helicopters are being deployed to help them leave. More than 9500 requests for help have been made around NSW since Thursday, with emergency services performing about 850 flood rescues. Relentless rain has lashed the NSW coast for days causing major flooding similar to the 1988 and 1990 flood events along the Hawkesbury River and the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting more heavy rain. Warnings of moderate flooding along the Nepean River at Penrith are in place and floodwaters are expected to affect the upper Nepean. The Duchess of Cambridge has stepped up to support Prince William in the wake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Oprah Winfrey interview, a royal source has claimed. Kate Middleton, 39, 'sympathises' with her husband's feeling of 'upset and anger' after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex levelled explosive claims against the Royal Family in the TV interview. The Duke of Cambridge has been leaning on his wife even more after his initial conversations with Prince Harry after the interview 'didn't go too well'. Kate Middleton, 39, 'sympathises' with her husband's feeling of 'upset and anger' after the Sussexes levelled explosive claims against the Royal Family, Katie Nicholl told OK! magazine. Pictured, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on an engagement in London last week 'Kate has been there for William recently, especially after his conversations with Harry didnt go too well,' Kate Nicholl told OK! magazine. 'Kate has always remained loyal to William despite how close she was to Harry. Her loyalties are with her husband and their family. Even though shed love peace and harmony, she sympathises with Williams upset and anger.' She added the birth of Pippa Middleton's daughter Grace has been a huge source of joy. 'Pippas baby joy has been a welcome distraction for Kate after a difficult few weeks,' Katie said. 'Its really put a smile back on her face.' 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'. 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. 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. The Prime Minister says that Corpus Christi, also known as the "Day of Wreaths", is set aside on the Christian calendar to honour the Holy Eucharist which was observed at the last supper before Christ was crucified. Students walk throughout campus wearing masks as protection from COVID-19 on Sept. 23, 2020. The University of Oregon implemented new rules and regulations, such as wearing masks on campus grounds, for further protection for the University of Oregon community. (Maddie Knight/Emerald) Though medical students in many states have been eligible for and able to receive the vaccines, some have not yet fully shifted back to in-person learning, with school administrators saying they preferred to wait until Covid case rates decline further. Some in-person training, like practicing clinical skills, has largely resumed. Medical schools adapted in the past year with inventive approaches to clinical training. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Stanford used virtual reality technology to teach anatomy. The Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University offered students the opportunity to shadow doctors virtually, sitting in on tele-medicine appointments. And at Baylor College of Medicine last fall, students were assessed via video on giving physical exams by describing what actions they would be taking in person, according to Dr. Nadia Ismail, Baylors associate dean of curriculum: Now I would hit you at this part of the knee and this is the reflex I would see. The Keck School of Medicine, at the University of Southern California, opted to have faculty members dissect cadavers while wearing body cameras so students could watch remotely. The cadavers were also imaged using three-dimensional scanners, so students could practice manipulating the sorts of images produced by magnetic resonance imaging and CT scans. When the faculty came up with this, I was like, Oh my goodness, this is amazing, said Dr. Donna Elliott, vice dean for medical education at Keck. These scanned, three-dimensional images approximate the type of imaging youll use as a clinician. Educators are aware that for all the promise of new technologies, theres a sense of loss for students who arent able to be in hospitals, classrooms and dissection laboratories in person. The classroom of the medical school is the clinical environment, and its so stretched right now, said Lisa Howley, senior director for strategic initiatives and partnerships at the A.A.M.C. That worries me. LIVERPOOL, NY Two years ago, Drew DAngelo was buying 300 pounds of Polish sausage at Mazzyes Meats in Salina when he got talking to the owners. They were going to sell the place, and DAngelo asked them who would take over their beloved business. Co-owner Dave Mazzye, who was cutting a steak, looked him in the eye and answered: You are. DAngelo chuckled and dismissed the idea. With two kids in college, he said, he didnt have the money for the building and business. He knew the market was a community staple, but he also knew it would be long hours. When Covid hit, DAngelo did some soul-searching. He had worked for the Sodexo food services company as Le Moyne Colleges executive chef for about 18 years. For the last several years, he found himself sitting behind a desk far too much, he said. I missed touching food,' he said. I was passionate about fresh ingredients and preparing food, and I missed it a lot. I wasnt using my talents. He talked with Frank and Dave Mazzye again, and in January he bought the business at 7252 Oswego Road. The deal closed Jan. 29. He quit his job and joined Mazzyes Meats as owner that day. DAngelo, 50, has been happy about his decision. They treat me like family, and call me their adopted son,' he said. And it feels like family here. Its like that show Cheers, where everyone knows your name. We know all the customers, and they are all special. The Mazzye brothers, in their late 60s, have run the specialty butcher/meat shop for more than 40 years. They decided it was time to sell and slow down, but hoped to find a buyer who would keep their tradition going. Were happy it all fell into place,' Dave Mazzye told Syracuse.com|The Post Standard Monday. DAngelo has been in the food business his entire working life, Mazzye said, so hes a perfect fit. The two brothers have been working with DAngelo since January and want to keep working a few hours a couple days a week. Along with selling freshly cut meat and deli meat, Mazzyes sells groceries, beer, wine and homemade prepared foods including salads, soup, cabbage rolls, macaroni and cheese, Spanish rice, lasagna and ziti. DAngelo is expanding that by adding Utica greens, his own cured bacon and smoked meat products, such as sausage. This week hes using corned beef to make smoked corned beef sausages. There are some little tweaks Ive made, but I like to collaborate with Frank and Dave,' he said. He is keeping the same six employees, and may eventually take on someone as co-manager. DAngelo, who was born in Boston, worked summers as a hotel executive chef while at Johnson and Wales University. He worked for 23 years for Sodexo, at one time serving as executive chef at Roberts Wesleyan College and Mohawk Valley Community College. It was actually DAngelos wife, Sue, who convinced him he should buy the business. She told him she knew hed really like it, as hed get the chance to talk to people about food and how they cook, Already, DAngelo said hes figured out some things like his inch isnt necessarily someone elses inch. Often a customer will say they want their steak cut an inch thick, but hes realized they usually mean an inch and a half. Now I say just tell me where to cut it,' he says. Im learning. Elizabeth Doran covers education, suburban government and development, breaking news and more. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact her anytime at 315-470-3012 or email edoran@syracuse.com Angola, IN (46703) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 80F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Clear skies this evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Where we're spending most of our time is trying to advocate for that getting vaccines for our undergraduate and graduate students before the end of semester, Chancellor Robert Jones said Monday. RJ2285 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Mumbai Posts: 155 Thanked: 201 Times Honda City i-VTEC V MT | 5-year ownership review 4th-Gen i-VTEC Honda City | Carnelian Red Pearl | 5 Year Ownership Hi Bhpians, This is my first detailed ownership review on the site so please excuse me for mistakes, if any. A lot has been said about the shortcomings of the 4th-gen Honda City with specific threads on the same. Also, with the SUV trend picking up in India, I dont see too many ownership reviews of 3 box sedans off late. Most importantly, my car is achieving a milestone on 26th March 2021. The city completes 5 long years with us and hence I thought of penning down my ownership experience. I am happy to report that I have had an excellent fuss free ownership experience. Hondas current strategy in India seems flawed at the moment and I am a bit wary of what the future holds for them owing to the discontinuation of the Civic and CR-V with no clear view of the product offerings lined up for India in the near future. With the likes of Kia/Hyundai/Nissan getting aggressive, it is time Honda management pulls up their socks, gets back to the boardroom and carves out a clear strategy for India. Theyd be foolish to not capitalise on the premium positioning they built in India over the years. Keeping their strategy aside, I am glad I got to own the best 1.5L naturally aspirated Petrol engine available in the country today, especially when manufacturers are focusing on Turbo Petrols and because of the fun to drive element attached to turbo petrols, the demand for naturally aspirated engines is definitely going to witness a downward spiral. The odometer stands at 63,500 kms at the time of writing this post. I will try and provide as much information as possible. I hope potential buyers in the used car market find the review useful. 1. INTRODUCTION What I Like Fast petrol. Butter smooth i-VTEC engine The City nameplate enjoys tremendous brand equity Extremely spacious cabin. Loads of sensible touches make it easy to live with Fuel Efficiency - Highway - 17kmpl, City - 11kmpl, Mix of both - 14kmpl Cavernous 510 liter boot will swallow your airport & holiday luggage Light controls, slick gearshift and easy maneuverability for the city. Effortless to drive Exterior Looks of the 4th-gen as compared to the 5th gen Honda City Rear space is more comfortable than its immediate peers, be it the Verna, Ciaz, Rapid/Vento twins An Enthusiast's car on the Expressway until 120kmph Honda's 10-year Any time Warranty ensures a peace of mind ownership 165mm ground clearance as compared to the 3rd gen Honda Citys 160mm V Variant is well equipped.(Misses features include Sunroof, Keyless entry, Start-Stop button and leather seats) All Black interiors What I dislike Piano black finish on the center console is a dust magnet Alloy wheel design & skinny 175 mm tyres Light build quality, especially when compared to the Verna and Rapid/Vento twins Electric steering remains light & sensitive at high speed. No real feedback Lacks outright performance when compared to Turbo Petrols Center armrest positioned in a manner where it is difficult to slot gears Ride quality at low speeds Garish front Chrome grille Body Panel Gaps not acceptable in a million rupee car The bulk of my driving experience across cars I have owned prior to this purchase were the Santro Xing ('04), Preowned Accent CRDi ('09), Manza ('10), and the Fluidic Verna ('12). we added a preowned Polo GT TSi to our garage in 2017 and after driving it for 30,000 kms having owned it for 3.5 years, we sold it and upgraded to the BMW X1 couple of months back. I will start an ownership thread on the BMW X1 soon. 2. OPTIONS CONSIDERED Before the Honda City purchase, I drove a 2012 Hyundai Verna 1.4 CRDi as my daily drive and had clocked 81000kms in a short span of 3.5 years. As soon as it crossed the 80,000 kms mark, the itch for a new car could not stop me . During my growing up years, owning a Honda was always an aspiration. Thanks to their premium positioning with the likes of the Accord, Civic, 1st Gen City and the much talked about VTEC engine. The Honda City has been at the top of the segment charts for most of the 15 year run. That seemed to me as quite an achievement, considering it's petrol-only engine range. With that in mind and a budget if INR 12 Lakhs, I penned down my requirements for our next car:- 1. Must be a manual transmission 2. Must be safer with atleast two airbags and ABS 3. Gasoline powered 4. Should be able to seat 4 adults comfortably 5. Should have a boot that can swallow anything and everything 6. Automatic Climate Control 7. Good ground clearance 8. Should be fun to drive 9. Better ride quality than the Verna (Boat ride) 10. Relatively cheap to maintain I drew up a list in my mind of all the relevant cars I could think of. Below is that list. Keep in mind that this list was made in January 2016 1. Ford Ecosport 2. Honda City 3. Hyundai Creta 1st-gen 4. Hyundai i20 active 5. Maruti Suzuki Baleno 6. Skoda Rapid 7. VW Vento Ford Ecosport In the meantime, the first choice in my mind, the Ecosport was still relatively new in the market (It ticked almost all boxes). We went to the SC Ford showroom in Malad West. The guys were busy attending other customers. We meanwhile checked out the display car and already the major issue glaring at us was the lack of interior space. There was hardly any leg room left at the back with drivers seat set to my liking and the width seemed enough for two and a half people only. We went for the test drive and I liked how solid everything felt. Even the materials used seemed worth the money being paid. My wife did not like the center console though. Steering felt nicely weighed and the driving position was great. Even the transmission felt nice and smooth and I couldnt feel any lag. Purely on the criteria of interior space, we were clear this wont work for us. Also another thing I realised in the showroom was that sideways opening rear door wasnt too practical for us. You always need to plan and park if stuff needs to go in or out of the boot. Hyundai Creta Even though I had shortlisted the Creta, at the back of my head I always knew Hyundais are known for their diesel engines and in comparison to the Honda's i-VTEC engine, I would be left wanting for more. Nevertheless, we went to check out the car, but found the interiors to be very bland for the price. To add to that, we also found the steering to be lifeless with no feedback(typical of Hyundais).We loved the exterior looks though and knew for sure that this is one car that will sell like hot cakes and that we will see scores of them in the days to come. Finally, the Creta did not cut the ice for us. Hyundai i20 Active High Ground Clearance featured in my priority list and I always knew the i20 active with the extra cladding etc. would not sell in high numbers and hence purchasing this car would have a certain uniqueness attached to it. We loved the exterior looks and the interior ambience. It just took 1 test drive to realize that this car is not meant for me. The 1.2L Petrol was underpowered and I have always been an engine guy. I would not mind compromising on the interior ambience for once, but a lackluster engine is not something I can live with ever. This option went out of the window too. Maruti Suzuki Baleno After owning a 3 box sedan for years now, I did not want to buy a premium hatchback. However, the home minister really liked how the Baleno looked and said to me there is no harm in exploring this option. We went to see the car but did not like the build quality. The windows at the rear made my wife feel claustrophobic. I was not too impressed with the drive too and one thing was clear after checking out the i20 active and the Baleno that I was definitely not downgrading to a 1.2L engine come what may. Rapid/Vento twins At that point in time, the Rapid had a 1.6 litre gasoline engine. I read a lot of reviews on the forum where it was clear that the engine lacked the zing in comparison to what competition was offering. Heck, even Hyundai's VTVT Petrol engines(Hyundai at that time were known for their diesel engines) were considered to be far superior to the Rapid's 1.6L NA gasoline engine.(with all due respect to Rapid owners). I did not feel like test driving the car after reading the reviews. So Rapid was out. Vento with a 1.2L TSi mated to a 7-speed DSG did not meet my requirement as I was looking at a manual transmission and hence Vento was not considered. With that we ended up buying the best naturally aspirated petrol engine at that time. Honda City i-VTEC V MT Pic Source:- Team-BHP 3. BOOKING AND DELIVERY PROCESS I approached Arya Honda (Prabhadevi). They were prompt in not only offering the best possible deal but also being responsive without being too pushy. The entire purchase was completed within the space of a week. This was somewhat an impulse buy with TDs also limited only to the Ecosport, Creta, i20 active and Baleno over a single weekend. They sent a car home for a TD very quickly on the requested day. I requested a second TD to showcase it to my family and I walked away after paying an initial booking amount of INR 1L. I sold the Hyundai Verna to a dealer in Malad, Mumbai and got a good price for it. The balance amount was wired to Arya Honda within a week and delivery given within 5 days - i.e the following Sunday. The entire process from first TD to vehicle delivery was concluded in less than 15 days. On the delivery date, They organised a small pooja, put minimalist ribbons on the door handles and explained all the papers to me and also gave me a thorough briefing of all the workings and controls of the City. 4. WHAT IT COST, ALL TOTAL I paid INR 10.75 L all inclusive including 2+2 year extended warranty. What a killer price for a car that offers so much value. Heck, the top end Hyundai i20 Petrol DCT is priced at INR 14 Lacs on-road in Mumbai today!! At the time of purchase, Honda dealers were doling out fairly generous discounts owing to GST, prices were going to increase. 5. EXTERIOR Except for that garish chrome grille, I personally like the face. It looks clean and wears typically Honda lines. That said, I love the rear styling. I love the large premium-looking tail lamps. In person, the City looks more upmarket than the 3rd gen. The alloy wheels are definitely not to my taste and I hated the skinny tyres. Exterior paint, fit & finish are good but it lacks the sheer solidity of the European competition, especially in comparison to the Polo GT TSi we owned until few months back. The City remains a light sedan and gets respect everywhere. One can take it to a street vendor to buy vegetables as well as drive in to a 5 star and is respected equally. It enjoys tremendous brand equity in India. The below pic is after ownership of 5 years and the odo at 60,000kms. 6. TYRES & BATTERY I upgraded stock tyres to MRF Perfinzas 195/60 R15 at INR 5500 per tyre as recommended on the forum, but only when it was time to change the stock tyres. Thanks to regular wheel alignment and balancing. Tyres changed at 60,000kms Battery The stock battery lasted for 2yrs 8 months. I replaced it in 2018 with SF Sonic for INR 3300/- plus taxes with exchange of old battery. SF Sonic battery lasted 3 years and I replaced it with Amaron flo last week at INR 3500/- plus taxes with exchange of old battery. 7. INTERIOR The interiors feel much more spacious compared to the 3rd-gen Honda City and its rivals at the time. The front seats are absolutely brilliant for long drives. A feeling of the seat hugging you from behind. The seats are on the lower side and one needs to bend down to sit on them. I am a big fan of the all black interiors and hence love the interior ambience to bits. Sections that have a piano black finish is a dust magnet. The back seat too is extremely comfortable with a decent under-thigh support. My wife and daughter love the rear seat, especially on long drives. Even with 5 people onboard, it does not get too uncomfortable for the middle passenger at the rear when compared to the likes of the Rapid/Vento. I personally like the interiors of the 4th gen as compared to the 5th gen Honda City. After the launch of the Hyundai Fluidic Verna and its success, Honda definitely realised that interior ambience is important to Indian customers, and the 4th-gen reflects that line of thought. On the inside, the City feels significantly more premium. The ergonomics in the 4th-gen are spot-on, making the cabin user friendly, and the center console is angled toward the driver. The steering feels premium and is a delight to hold, though i would have preferred a leather wrapped steering wheel. The large integrated controls (phone, audio, cruise control) are easy to operate. There is no dead pedal, but there is enough room to rest ones left foot. Big fonts make the instrument console effortless to read during the day. I am not a big fan of digital console fitted in cars these days. I love the blue rings ambient lighting around the speedometer. The MID provides the usual data set, including a distance-to-empty counter and average fuel economy. I read a lot of reviews regarding feedback given to Honda on the touch panel for air-con in the 4th-gen City because of which Honda replaced it with knobs in the 5th-gen city. Personally, I did not face a single issue in the last 5 years of ownership and hence was surprised with the hue and cry around the same. The climate control interface is definitely cool to use. The single disadvantage is the need to take your eyes off the road to change settings, something that maybe a physical knob doesn't require. The air-con has been so reliable. I have had no troubles whatsoever with the air-con till date. Touchwood! 8. BOOT SPACE We love our road trips. On an average, we do 2 road trips to Goa annually and have driven to Coorg from Mumbai thrice in the last 4 years coupled with multiple trips to Mahabaleshwar and Nashik. Hence, Boot space played a big part in swinging through the purchase. The boot measures in at a cavernous 510 litres (Best in segment). The City swallows luggage like no one's business, be airport runs, long road trips or grocery shopping. This car is a workhorse and doubles up as a beater car too at times. Pic Source:-Team-BHP 9. DRIVING POSITION, ENGINE, GEARBOX, STEERING, HANDLING From a driver's standpoint, the car is extremely comfortable. The slightly higher stance making ingress and egress pretty comfortable. The 1.5L petrol makes 117 BHP (@ 6,600 rpm) and 145 Nm of max torque (@ 4,600 rpm). In fact, at regular driving speeds, you won't even hear the engine. It has good low end torque. Throttle response is sharp too. The engine feels extremely powerful and is excellent to drive until 120kmph. The Manual gearbox is pretty smooth with slick shifts and a light clutch with short travel range. Until we purchased the X1, My usage was 50-50 in Mumbai city as well as highway. However, post X1, usage is 95% City with the occasional highway drive. Driving in heavy traffic is not very stressful owing to the light clutch. However, even in the slightest open road even within the city, this engine loves to be revved hard. It is a different animal on the highway. Best part is, the car sounds sweet at high rpm and has an addictive engine note. The engine gets really loud above 110kmph and I miss the 6th gear available currently in the 5th-gen city. 10. FUEL EFFICIENCY For the "Kitna deti hai" public, Fuel efficiency in different driving conditions in Mumbai:- 1. Bumper to Bumper Traffic -7.5 - 8 kmpl 2. Slow moving traffic - 10 kmpl 3. 50% City 50% Highway - 11.5 - 12 kmpl 4. Expressway at 90 - 100 kmph- 16.5 - 17kmpl 5. Expressway at 110 - 120ph - 14kmpl In a nutshell, all I can say is that this car is such an all-rounder. 11. COST OF MAINTENANCE 1st Free 5000 kms service General Check up, Washing and Cleaning was carried out. odo at 1,889 kms 2nd Free 10,000kms Service. - Odo at 6,330 kms 1. Engine oil replaced 2. Engine oil filter replaced 3. Front & Rear Brake pads checked for thickness 3rd Paid 20,000 kms service. - Odo at 11,994 kms 1. Engine oil replaced 2. Engine oil filter replaced 3. Air Filter replaced 4. Tyre rotation 5. AC Pollen Filter Replaced Total Bill:- INR 5999/- including Taxes 4th Paid 30,000 kms service. - Odo at 22,445 kms 1. Engine oil replaced 2. Engine oil Filter replaced 3. Air Filter replaced 4. Brakes Checked 5. Auto Pest Control Total Bill:- INR 4825/- including Taxes 5th Paid 40,000 kms service. - Odo at 27,435 kms 1. Engine oil replaced 2. Engine oil Filter replaced 3. Air Filter replaced 4. Brakes Checked 5. Tyre Rotation 6. Windscreen Fluid 7. Wheel Alignment & Balancing 8. Fuel injector cleaning 9. Throttle Cleaning & Scanning 10. AC Disinfectant & Motorcare treatment 11. Cowl Panel cleaning 12. PUC Certificate 13. Battery Testing 14, Pick up & drop charges Total Bill:- INR 12,510/- including Taxes The above service was done at at time when I was really busy at work and hence did not look into the quotation and approved everything the SA suggested only to realise that I was taken for a ride as he added so many add-ons I would have otherwise not approved. 6th Paid 50,000 kms service. - Odo at 32,053 Kms 1. Engine oil replaced 2. Engine oil Filter replaced 3. Air Filter replaced 4. Brakes Checked 5. Tyre Rotation 6. Windscreen Treatment (INR 1534/-) 7. AC Disinfectant (INR 885/-) 8. Battery Testing 9. Pick up & drop charges Despite my feedback the previous service, the SA added the above unwanted items in the bill. Upon escalation, I was offered free detailing as a compensation for the error from their side. However, I declined the offer and decided i will not take my car to Arya Honda, Kalina, Santacruz, Mumbai for servicing going forward. I decided I will service my car at Solitaire Honda, Andheri as I had read good reviews on the our forum. Total Bill:- INR 6,530/- including Taxes 7th Paid 60,000 kms service. - Odo at 39,312kms 1. Engine oil replaced 2. Engine oil Filter replaced 3. Air Filter replaced 4. Front brake pads replaced 5. Tyre Rotation 6. Battery Testing 7. Pick up & drop charges Total Bill:- INR 7,280/- including Taxes 8th Paid 70,000 kms service. - Odo at 51,232kms 1. Engine oil replaced 2. Engine oil Filter replaced 3. Air Filter replaced 4. Front & rear brake pads checked 5. Tyre Rotation 6. Battery Testing 7. Pick up & drop charges 8. AC Pollen Filter Changed 9. Clutch and Brake pedal Rubber replaced 10. Wheel Alignment & Balancing Total Bill:- INR 11,390/- including Taxes 9th Paid 80,000 kms service. - Odo at 56,276 Kms 1. Engine oil replaced 2. Engine oil Filter replaced 3. Inspect Valve Clearance 4. Fuel Filter replaced 5. Brakes checked 6. Air Filter replaced 7. Pick up & drop charges 8. Windscreen Fluid 9. Battery testing 10. Motor care Treatment 11. Throttle body cleaning Total Bill:- INR 9,883/- including Taxes 9th Paid 90,000 kms service. - Odo at 57,864kms 1. Engine oil replaced 2. Engine oil Filter replaced 3. Inspect Valve Clearance 4. Fuel Filter replaced 5. Brakes checked 6. Air Filter replaced 7. Tyre rotation 8. Windscreen Fluid 9. Battery testing 10. Basic Car care sanitization Total Bill:- INR 11,944/- including Taxes 10th Paid 1,00,000 kms service. - Odo at 63,521 1. Engine oil replaced 2. Engine oil Filter replaced 3. Inspect Valve Clearance 4. Fuel Filter replaced 5. Brakes checked 6. Air Filter replaced 7. Tyre rotation 8. Spark Plugs replaced 9. Battery testing 10. Basic Car care sanitization Total Bill:- INR 10,212/- including Taxes In addition to the above, I carry out detailing on the car every 12 months and the damage has been around INR 6000/- per detailing.I have tried multiple outlets from Kamyo, 3M etc. 12. Way forward A lot has been said about the niggles of the 4th-gen Honda City that was launched in 2013. But touchwood, I did not face any of those issues thankfully. Maybe the issues reported by owners were ironed out in production post 2015 as I got my car delivered in 2016. All in all, I have been very happy and plan to keep this car for the next 5 years owing to Honda's 10 year Anytime Warranty. The ownership until now has been fuss free. Thanks to the pandemic, my daily running has come down drastically. Also, we currently have 3 cars. In addition to the City, I bought the BMW X1 with Warranty and BSI for 3 years couple of months back and my wife drives the Honda Brio. Thanks to the X1, the Honda city will be used only in Mumbai City, especially where I feel it will be difficult to find a good parking for the X1. I will keep updating this thread and will share more pics soon. Thank you for reading and hope you find this ownership thread useful. Hi Bhpians,This is my first detailed ownership review on the site so please excuse me for mistakes, if any. A lot has been said about the shortcomings of the 4th-gen Honda City with specific threads on the same. Also, with the SUV trend picking up in India, I dont see too many ownership reviews of 3 box sedans off late. Most importantly, my car is achieving a milestone on 26th March 2021. The city completes 5 long years with us and hence I thought of penning down my ownership experience. I am happy to report that I have had an excellent fuss free ownership experience.Hondas current strategy in India seems flawed at the moment and I am a bit wary of what the future holds for them owing to the discontinuation of the Civic and CR-V with no clear view of the product offerings lined up for India in the near future. With the likes of Kia/Hyundai/Nissan getting aggressive, it is time Honda management pulls up their socks, gets back to the boardroom and carves out a clear strategy for India. Theyd be foolish to not capitalise on the premium positioning they built in India over the years.Keeping their strategy aside, I am glad I got to own the best 1.5L naturally aspirated Petrol engine available in the country today, especially when manufacturers are focusing on Turbo Petrols and because of the fun to drive element attached to turbo petrols, the demand for naturally aspirated engines is definitely going to witness a downward spiral.The odometer stands at 63,500 kms at the time of writing this post.I will try and provide as much information as possible. I hope potential buyers in the used car market find the review useful. Fast petrol. Butter smooth i-VTEC engine The City nameplate enjoys tremendous brand equity Extremely spacious cabin. Loads of sensible touches make it easy to live with Fuel Efficiency - Highway - 17kmpl, City - 11kmpl, Mix of both - 14kmpl Cavernous 510 liter boot will swallow your airport & holiday luggage Light controls, slick gearshift and easy maneuverability for the city. Effortless to drive Exterior Looks of the 4th-gen as compared to the 5th gen Honda City Rear space is more comfortable than its immediate peers, be it the Verna, Ciaz, Rapid/Vento twins An Enthusiast's car on the Expressway until 120kmph Honda's 10-yearensures a peace of mind ownership 165mm ground clearance as compared to the 3rd gen Honda Citys 160mmVariant is well equipped.(Misses features include Sunroof, Keyless entry, Start-Stop button and leather seats) All Black interiors Piano black finish on the center console is a dust magnet Alloy wheel design & skinny 175 mm tyres Light build quality, especially when compared to the Verna and Rapid/Vento twins Electric steering remains light & sensitive at high speed. No real feedback Lacks outright performance when compared to Turbo Petrols Center armrest positioned in a manner where it is difficult to slot gears Ride quality at low speeds Garish front Chrome grille Body Panel Gaps not acceptable in a million rupee carThe bulk of my driving experience across cars I have owned prior to this purchase were the Santro Xing ('04), Preowned Accent CRDi ('09), Manza ('10), and the Fluidic Verna ('12). we added a preowned Polo GT TSi to our garage in 2017 and after driving it for 30,000 kms having owned it for 3.5 years, we sold it and upgraded to the BMW X1 couple of months back. I will start an ownership thread on the BMW X1 soon.Before the Honda City purchase, I drove a 2012 Hyundai Verna 1.4 CRDi as my daily drive and had clocked 81000kms in a short span of 3.5 years. As soon as it crossed the 80,000 kms mark, the itch for a new car could not stop me. During my growing up years, owning a Honda was always an aspiration. Thanks to their premium positioning with the likes of the Accord, Civic, 1st Gen City and the much talked about VTEC engine. The Honda City has been at the top of the segment charts for most of the 15 year run. That seemed to me as quite an achievement, considering it's petrol-only engine range. With that in mind and a budget if INR 12 Lakhs, I penned down my requirements for our next car:-1. Must be a manual transmission2. Must be safer with atleast two airbags and ABS3. Gasoline powered4. Should be able to seat 4 adults comfortably5. Should have a boot that can swallow anything and everything6. Automatic Climate Control7. Good ground clearance8. Should be fun to drive9. Better ride quality than the Verna (Boat ride)10. Relatively cheap to maintainI drew up a list in my mind of all the relevant cars I could think of. Below is that list. Keep in mind that this list was made in January 20161. Ford Ecosport2. Honda City3. Hyundai Creta 1st-gen4. Hyundai i20 active5. Maruti Suzuki Baleno6. Skoda Rapid7. VW VentoIn the meantime, the first choice in my mind, the Ecosport was still relatively new in the market (It ticked almost all boxes). We went to the SC Ford showroom in Malad West. The guys were busy attending other customers. We meanwhile checked out the display car and already the major issue glaring at us was the lack of interior space. There was hardly any leg room left at the back with drivers seat set to my liking and the width seemed enough for two and a half people only. We went for the test drive and I liked how solid everything felt. Even the materials used seemed worth the money being paid. My wife did not like the center console though. Steering felt nicely weighed and the driving position was great. Even the transmission felt nice and smooth and I couldnt feel any lag. Purely on the criteria of interior space, we were clear this wont work for us. Also another thing I realised in the showroom was that sideways opening rear door wasnt too practical for us. You always need to plan and park if stuff needs to go in or out of the boot.Even though I had shortlisted the Creta, at the back of my head I always knew Hyundais are known for their diesel engines and in comparison to the Honda's i-VTEC engine, I would be left wanting for more. Nevertheless, we went to check out the car, but found the interiors to be very bland for the price. To add to that, we also found the steering to be lifeless with no feedback(typical of Hyundais).We loved the exterior looks though and knew for sure that this is one car that will sell like hot cakes and that we will see scores of them in the days to come. Finally, the Creta did not cut the ice for us.High Ground Clearance featured in my priority list and I always knew the i20 active with the extra cladding etc. would not sell in high numbers and hence purchasing this car would have a certain uniqueness attached to it. We loved the exterior looks and the interior ambience. It just took 1 test drive to realize that this car is not meant for me. The 1.2L Petrol was underpowered and I have always been an engine guy. I would not mind compromising on the interior ambience for once, but a lackluster engine is not something I can live with ever. This option went out of the window too.After owning a 3 box sedan for years now, I did not want to buy a premium hatchback. However, the home minister really liked how the Baleno looked and said to me there is no harm in exploring this option. We went to see the car but did not like the build quality. The windows at the rear made my wife feel claustrophobic. I was not too impressed with the drive too and one thing was clear after checking out the i20 active and the Baleno that I was definitely not downgrading to a 1.2L engine come what may.At that point in time, the Rapid had a 1.6 litre gasoline engine. I read a lot of reviews on the forum where it was clear that the engine lacked the zing in comparison to what competition was offering. Heck, even Hyundai's VTVT Petrol engines(Hyundai at that time were known for their diesel engines) were considered to be far superior to the Rapid's 1.6L NA gasoline engine.(with all due respect to Rapid owners). I did not feel like test driving the car after reading the reviews. So Rapid was out.Vento with a 1.2L TSi mated to a 7-speed DSG did not meet my requirement as I was looking at a manual transmission and hence Vento was not considered.With that we ended up buying the best naturally aspirated petrol engine at that time.Pic Source:- Team-BHPI approached Arya Honda (Prabhadevi). They were prompt in not only offering the best possible deal but also being responsive without being too pushy.The entire purchase was completed within the space of a week. This was somewhat an impulse buy with TDs also limited only to the Ecosport, Creta, i20 active and Baleno over a single weekend.They sent a car home for a TD very quickly on the requested day. I requested a second TD to showcase it to my family and I walked away after paying an initial booking amount of INR 1L. I sold the Hyundai Verna to a dealer in Malad, Mumbai and got a good price for it. The balance amount was wired to Arya Honda within a week and delivery given within 5 days - i.e the following Sunday. The entire process from first TD to vehicle delivery was concluded in less than 15 days.On the delivery date, They organised a small pooja, put minimalist ribbons on the door handles and explained all the papers to me and also gave me a thorough briefing of all the workings and controls of the City.I paidall inclusive including 2+2 year extended warranty. What a killer price for a car that offers so much value. Heck, the top end Hyundai i20 Petrol DCT is priced at INR 14 Lacs on-road in Mumbai today!!At the time of purchase, Honda dealers were doling out fairly generous discounts owing to GST, prices were going to increase.Except for that garish chrome grille, I personally like the face. It looks clean and wears typically Honda lines. That said, I love the rear styling. I love the large premium-looking tail lamps. In person, the City looks more upmarket than the 3rd gen. The alloy wheels are definitely not to my taste and I hated the skinny tyres. Exterior paint, fit & finish are good but it lacks the sheer solidity of the European competition, especially in comparison to the Polo GT TSi we owned until few months back. The City remains a light sedan and gets respect everywhere. One can take it to a street vendor to buy vegetables as well as drive in to a 5 star and is respected equally. It enjoys tremendous brand equity in India.The below pic is after ownership of 5 years and the odo at 60,000kms.I upgraded stock tyres to MRF Perfinzas 195/60 R15 at INR 5500 per tyre as recommended on the forum, but only when it was time to change the stock tyres. Thanks to regular wheel alignment and balancing.Tyres changed at 60,000kmsThe stock battery lasted for 2yrs 8 months. I replaced it in 2018 with SF Sonic for INR 3300/- plus taxes with exchange of old battery.SF Sonic battery lasted 3 years and I replaced it with Amaron flo last week at INR 3500/- plus taxes with exchange of old battery.The interiors feel much more spacious compared to the 3rd-gen Honda City and its rivals at the time. The front seats are absolutely brilliant for long drives. A feeling of the seat hugging you from behind. The seats are on the lower side and one needs to bend down to sit on them. I am a big fan of the all black interiors and hence love the interior ambience to bits. Sections that have a piano black finish is a dust magnet. The back seat too is extremely comfortable with a decent under-thigh support. My wife and daughter love the rear seat, especially on long drives. Even with 5 people onboard, it does not get too uncomfortable for the middle passenger at the rear when compared to the likes of the Rapid/Vento.I personally like the interiors of the 4th gen as compared to the 5th gen Honda City. After the launch of the Hyundai Fluidic Verna and its success, Honda definitely realised that interior ambience is important to Indian customers, and the 4th-gen reflects that line of thought. On the inside, the City feels significantly more premium.The ergonomics in the 4th-gen are spot-on, making the cabin user friendly, and the center console is angled toward the driver. The steering feels premium and is a delight to hold, though i would have preferred a leather wrapped steering wheel. The large integrated controls (phone, audio, cruise control) are easy to operate. There is no dead pedal, but there is enough room to rest ones left foot.Big fonts make the instrument console effortless to read during the day. I am not a big fan of digital console fitted in cars these days. I love the blue rings ambient lighting around the speedometer. The MID provides the usual data set, including a distance-to-empty counter and average fuel economy.I read a lot of reviews regarding feedback given to Honda on the touch panel for air-con in the 4th-gen City because of which Honda replaced it with knobs in the 5th-gen city. Personally, I did not face a single issue in the last 5 years of ownership and hence was surprised with the hue and cry around the same. The climate control interface is definitely cool to use. The single disadvantage is the need to take your eyes off the road to change settings, something that maybe a physical knob doesn't require. The air-con has been so reliable. I have had no troubles whatsoever with the air-con till date. Touchwood!We love our road trips. On an average, we do 2 road trips to Goa annually and have driven to Coorg from Mumbai thrice in the last 4 years coupled with multiple trips to Mahabaleshwar and Nashik. Hence, Boot space played a big part in swinging through the purchase. The boot measures in at a cavernous 510 litres (Best in segment).The City swallows luggage like no one's business, be airport runs, long road trips or grocery shopping. This car is a workhorse and doubles up as a beater car too at times.Pic Source:-Team-BHPFrom a driver's standpoint, the car is extremely comfortable. The slightly higher stance making ingress and egress pretty comfortable.The 1.5L petrol makes 117 BHP (@ 6,600 rpm) and 145 Nm of max torque (@ 4,600 rpm).In fact, at regular driving speeds, you won't even hear the engine. It has good low end torque. Throttle response is sharp too. The engine feels extremely powerful and is excellent to drive until 120kmph. The Manual gearbox is pretty smooth with slick shifts and a light clutch with short travel range. Until we purchased the X1, My usage was 50-50 in Mumbai city as well as highway. However, post X1, usage is 95% City with the occasional highway drive. Driving in heavy traffic is not very stressful owing to the light clutch. However, even in the slightest open road even within the city, this engine loves to be revved hard. It is a different animal on the highway. Best part is, the car sounds sweet at high rpm and has an addictive engine note. The engine gets really loud above 110kmph and I miss the 6th gear available currently in the 5th-gen city.For the "Kitna deti hai" public, Fuel efficiency in different driving conditions in Mumbai:-1. Bumper to Bumper Traffic -7.5 - 8 kmpl2. Slow moving traffic - 10 kmpl3. 50% City 50% Highway - 11.5 - 12 kmpl4. Expressway at 90 - 100 kmph- 16.5 - 17kmpl5. Expressway at 110 - 120ph - 14kmplIn a nutshell, all I can say is that this car is such an all-rounder.General Check up, Washing and Cleaning was carried out.1. Engine oil replaced2. Engine oil filter replaced3. Front & Rear Brake pads checked for thickness1. Engine oil replaced2. Engine oil filter replaced3. Air Filter replaced4. Tyre rotation5. AC Pollen Filter Replaced1. Engine oil replaced2. Engine oil Filter replaced3. Air Filter replaced4. Brakes Checked5. Auto Pest Control1. Engine oil replaced2. Engine oil Filter replaced3. Air Filter replaced4. Brakes Checked5. Tyre Rotation6. Windscreen Fluid7. Wheel Alignment & Balancing8. Fuel injector cleaning9. Throttle Cleaning & Scanning10. AC Disinfectant & Motorcare treatment11. Cowl Panel cleaning12. PUC Certificate13. Battery Testing14, Pick up & drop chargesThe above service was done at at time when I was really busy at work and hence did not look into the quotation and approved everything the SA suggested only to realise that I was taken for a ride as he added so many add-ons I would have otherwise not approved.1. Engine oil replaced2. Engine oil Filter replaced3. Air Filter replaced4. Brakes Checked5. Tyre Rotation6. Windscreen Treatment (INR 1534/-)7. AC Disinfectant (INR 885/-)8. Battery Testing9. Pick up & drop chargesDespite my feedback the previous service, the SA added the above unwanted items in the bill. Upon escalation, I was offered free detailing as a compensation for the error from their side. However, I declined the offer and decided i will not take my car to Arya Honda, Kalina, Santacruz, Mumbai for servicing going forward. I decided I will service my car at Solitaire Honda, Andheri as I had read good reviews on the our forum.1. Engine oil replaced2. Engine oil Filter replaced3. Air Filter replaced4. Front brake pads replaced5. Tyre Rotation6. Battery Testing7. Pick up & drop charges1. Engine oil replaced2. Engine oil Filter replaced3. Air Filter replaced4. Front & rear brake pads checked5. Tyre Rotation6. Battery Testing7. Pick up & drop charges8. AC Pollen Filter Changed9. Clutch and Brake pedal Rubber replaced10. Wheel Alignment & Balancing- Odo at 56,276 Kms1. Engine oil replaced2. Engine oil Filter replaced3. Inspect Valve Clearance4. Fuel Filter replaced5. Brakes checked6. Air Filter replaced7. Pick up & drop charges8. Windscreen Fluid9. Battery testing10. Motor care Treatment11. Throttle body cleaning1. Engine oil replaced2. Engine oil Filter replaced3. Inspect Valve Clearance4. Fuel Filter replaced5. Brakes checked6. Air Filter replaced7. Tyre rotation8. Windscreen Fluid9. Battery testing10. Basic Car care sanitization1. Engine oil replaced2. Engine oil Filter replaced3. Inspect Valve Clearance4. Fuel Filter replaced5. Brakes checked6. Air Filter replaced7. Tyre rotation8. Spark Plugs replaced9. Battery testing10. Basic Car care sanitizationIn addition to the above, I carry out detailing on the car every 12 months and the damage has been around INR 6000/- per detailing.I have tried multiple outlets from Kamyo, 3M etc.A lot has been said about the niggles of the 4th-gen Honda City that was launched in 2013. But touchwood, I did not face any of those issues thankfully. Maybe the issues reported by owners were ironed out in production post 2015 as I got my car delivered in 2016.All in all, I have been very happy and plan to keep this car for the next 5 years owing to Honda's. The ownership until now has been fuss free. Thanks to the pandemic, my daily running has come down drastically. Also, we currently have 3 cars. In addition to the City, I bought the BMW X1 with Warranty and BSI for 3 years couple of months back and my wife drives the Honda Brio. Thanks to the X1, the Honda city will be used only in Mumbai City, especially where I feel it will be difficult to find a good parking for the X1.I will keep updating this thread and will share more pics soon.Thank you for reading and hope you find this ownership thread useful. Last edited by RJ2285 : 22nd March 2021 at 11:55 . 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. Matt Champlin/Getty Images Things to Do Sightsee by car. The Going-to-the-Sun Road runs 50 miles from West Glacier to St. Mary and features tunnels, a switchback, scenic pullouts, rock walls, arches and bridges while climbing to viewpoints that show off the park's glaciated scenery. You get some epic views of the park without having to hike, says Gina Kerzman, GNP's public affairs officer. On the west side, short accessible trails of less than a mile go to McDonald Falls, Trail of the Cedars, Red Rock Point and Oberlin Bend. At Logan Pass, the road's high point at 6,646 feet, bighorn sheep and mountain goats frequent the meadows. Tour the tiny summer-only Logan Pass Visitor Center (which sits on the Continental Divide), walk the paved interpretive loop and document your location with a photo next to the Continental Divide sign. On Glacier's east side, use your binoculars at Jackson Glacier Overlook for an up-close view of the glacier. Farther along St. Mary Lake, snap photos at Wild Goose Island Overlook, with its postcard view of the turquoise lake backdropped by the rugged Continental Divide. Two short spur roads on this east side lead to idyllic lakes. One takes you to Two Medicine Lake; the other to Many Glacier, the hub of several small valleys loaded with lakes and trails. Although low rock and log retaining walls edge most of the road, steep cliff sections can deliver a bit of vertigo. While ascending the west side, acrophobes should sit on a car's driver side to be farthest from the edge. Insider tip: Make the drive at sunrise or sunset. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the road clogs with heavy summer traffic, and the Logan Pass parking lot packs out, forcing visitors to forgo the pass. Better yet, let someone else do the driving by taking a guided tour that stops at overlooks and has guaranteed parking at the pass. Glacier Sun Tours uses large-windowed buses on which Blackfeet guides share an Indigenous perspective on the park. Rollback tops on Red Bus Tours red buses, renovated historic touring buses from the 1930s, ensure unobstructed mountain views. Or take a free shuttle that stops at lodges, campgrounds, trailheads and the pass, though there's no narration and no overlook stops. Go hiking. GNP's 734 miles of trails provide recreational activity for all ages. The appeal is so much variety for all hiking levels here, says Denny Gignoux, 51, who has been guiding park hikes since 1994. You can start with something easy and then step it up as you feel comfortable. Gignoux, an owner of Glacier Guides, says half of the company's day-hiking clients are over age 50. Going-to-the-Sun Road offers access to two of the park's most popular short trails. At Avalanche, on the west side, the 0.7-mile Trail of the Cedars loops on a level accessible boardwalk and hard-surface path through old-growth rainforest to Avalanche Creek, gushing through a gorge. My grandparents did Trail of the Cedars in their 80s. The trail is easy to do, with stable footing, says Gignoux. At Logan Pass, climb 1.4 miles to Hidden Lake Overlook. A boardwalk and dirt trail ascend through fragile wildflower meadows to the scenic viewpoint at 7,125 feet, where steep mountainsides plunge into the blue lake and mountain goats often hang out. In Many Glacier, tackle the gentle Grinnell Lake Trail, either by walking its complete 3 miles or whittling the distance down to 1.1 miles by taking the lake tour boat that also serves as a hiker shuttle. There are so many smaller hikes to do from boat tours, and they're always rewarding, says Gignoux. Partake in other recreation. In summer, rent a canoe, kayak or rowboat from Glacier Park Boat Company for paddling on Lake McDonald, Swiftcurrent Lake or Two Medicine Lake. Fish for native cutthroat trout from small rental motorboats on Lake McDonald and Two Medicine Lake. On a hot day, wade or swim in a lake, though the water may be chilly. On land, you can explore Glacier on horseback with Swan Mountain Outfitters, whose guided trail rides range from one hour to all day. Find corrals near the west entrance, Lake McDonald Lodge and Many Glacier Hotel. In Apgar, Glacier Outfitters rents bicycles, including e-bikes, near a paved 2-mile forested bike path to West Glacier. Learn from Native Americans. For a top evening event, local tribal members from the Blackfeet and Flathead nations present Native America Speaks programs in campground amphitheaters, park lodges and the St. Mary Visitor Center. They share stories, music or dance to convey their cultural heritage and Glacier traditions. Escape the big crowds. Access less-visited Two Medicine, tucked in Glacier's southeast corner, via a paved road running through wildflower meadows and forest. Stop to walk the 0.3-mile accessible interpretive trail to Running Eagle Falls, named for a female Blackfeet warrior. Part of the waterfall pours 40 feet over a cliff and the other runs underground and spews out a chute. At the road's end, the glacier-carved Two Medicine Lake sits below hulking Rising Wolf Mountain. On the 45-minute narrated boat tour that circles below peaks with Blackfeet names (Sinopah, Lone Walker and Painted Tipi), you'll hear stories about them and learn about the area's geology. Some launches include a 0.9-mile guided hike to Twin Falls, two 80-foot flumes splashing down rocky ravines. Tours depart several times daily. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) -PORTOFINO RESOURCES INC. (TSXV: POR) (OTCQB: PFFOF) (FSE: POTA) ("Portofino" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its March 16 news release, a drill rig has now been mobilized to its Gold Creek, Ontario project and drilling has begun. The drilling contract calls for a minimum of 750 metres of diamond drilling and is anticipated to consist of 6 holes within the eastern portion of the claim area. Two historically identified zones (S1 and I-Zone) and one new zone (New Road Zone) discovered by Portofino's geological team during its 2020 ground exploration program will be drill tested. (see Figure 1) Previous property work includes multi-ounce gold grab samples, as well as historical drill intercepts of 4.32 g/t gold over 41 metres and 4.36 g/t gold over 20.42 metres completed in 1995 and a 1 tonne bulk sample in 2008 returning an average grade of 9.9 g/t gold from the I-Zone. During 2020, the Company completed two prospecting programs on the property. The known gold zones were re-located and sampled, including the AF-U Zones, the S1 Zone and the I Zone. Sampling confirmed anomalous to high-grade gold at each of these zones. In addition, Portofino's exploration team discovered the 'New Road Zone' where grab samples returned up to 4.07g/t gold as well as 720ppm copper. This newly discovered zone may be mineralized for at least 300 meters and is proximal to the Crayfish Creek Fault. This Fault is a major crustal scale feature extending for 80 kilometres and hosts the Matawin Gold belt, home to numerous precious metal occurrences and base metal deposits. Figure 1: Gold Creek 2021 drilling area To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3751/78230_d31e131834a4a817_001full.jpg Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Mike Kilbourne, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Portofino Resources Inc. Portofino is a Vancouver-based Canadian company focused on exploring and developing mineral resource projects in the Americas. Its South of Otter and Bruce Lake projects are in the historic gold mining district of Red Lake, Ontario, Canada proximal to the high-grade Dixie gold project owned by Great Bear Resources Ltd. In addition, Portofino holds three other northwestern Ontario gold projects; the Gold Creek property located immediately south of the historic Shebandowan Nickel-Copper mine, as well as the Sapawe West and Melema West properties located in the rapidly developing Atikokan gold mining camp. The Company also holds the right to a 100% interest in the Yergo lithium salar property located within the world-renowned "Lithium Triangle" in Argentina. For further information on the Company, its projects and its management please visit our website: https://www.portofinoresources.com/. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "David G. Tafel" Chief Executive Officer For Further Information Contact: David Tafel CEO, Director 604-683-1991 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward looking statements concerning future operations of Portofino Resources Inc. (the "Company"). All forward- looking statements concerning the Company's future plans and operations, including management's assessment of the Company's project expectations or beliefs may be subject to certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual performance and exploration and financial results may differ materially from any estimates or projections. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78230 Niyat mein khot, nigaah mein vote: Minister mocks Cong 03 Jun 2021 | 5:04 PM Bhopal, June 3 (UNI) Even when elections are not underway, Madhya Pradesh like almost all Indian states is a veritable political Kurukshetra and Thursday witnessed Home and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra sending another arrow into the Opposition camp by alleging that the Congress intention is flawed and the party perpetually eyes votes. see more.. MP CMs condolences 03 Jun 2021 | 4:51 PM Bhopal, June 3 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed grief on Thursday over the demise of Acharya Rishabh Chandra Sureshwar of Mohankheda. He was a messiah of human service and his benevolent thoughts shall continue to inspire us to serve humanity and religion, the senior politician averred in a message. see more.. Haryana : 40 kg doda post, 50 gram heroin seized 03 Jun 2021 | 4:50 PM Chandigarh, Jun 3 (UNI) In two separate operations, Haryana Police have seized 40 kg doda post and 50 gram of heroin and arrested three people on the charges of drug-peddling in Sirsa district. see more.. IIT Kanpur launches 4 eMasters programmes 03 Jun 2021 | 4:44 PM Kanpur, Jun 3(UNI) The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) on Thursday announced the launch of four new e-Masters programs to enable seamless remote learning during this pandemic. see more.. 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. TopLine Is Honored In Three Major Marketing Categories by the Minnesota Credit Union Network TopLine Recognized For Best Marketing Efforts TopLine Recognized For Best Marketing Efforts TopLine Recognized For Best Marketing Efforts MAPLE GROVE, Minn., March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Local member-owned cooperative TopLine Federal Credit Union was honored with three outstanding marketing awards from the Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) and received Best in Show. The Minnesota Credit Union Network Marketing Awards acknowledge outstanding credit union efforts in the areas of branding, community impact and outreach, digital advertising, printed materials, video and complete campaigns. TopLine was recognized in three major categories: Brand Awareness, Complete Campaign, Digital Advertising and received the honor of being named Best in Show in the Brand Awareness category. In the Brand Awareness category, TopLines Best of Business award brought the honor and also received the Best in Show distinction, awarded to the highest scoring entry in each category. TopLine was named Best Credit Union in Minnesota for the fourth year in a row by Twin Cities Business and recognized as a Mortgage Company finalist. The magazines yearly survey asks their readership, "Which companies exemplify true excellence in their respective industries and would they confidently refer to a family member, friend or colleague? Twin Cities Business pointed to several qualities that make TopLine stand out, and at the top of the list include the credit unions dedicated employees who are committed to building life-long relationships to help members with their financial journey, and the non-profit foundation that was established in 2015 to make a positive impact locally and globally through community outreach activities, free financial education and counseling sessions, annual scholarship program and contributions to charitable organizations. In the Complete Campaign category, TopLine won in its asset category for its WINcentive Savings Account. TopLine was excited to rollout a new prized-linked savings account called WINcentive Savings in March 2020, just in time to coincide with COVID-19. Saving money can be hard and its such an important part of being financially healthy. This program is exclusive to Minnesota credit unions and their members. Currently there are 24 other credit unions in Minnesota that are participating in this program, managed by the Minnesota Credit Union Network and TruLync. To date, we have opened 325 WINcentive Savings Accounts and account holders have saved over $335,000. Story continues In the Digital Advertising category, TopLines We Care Efforts brought the honor. This past year has been full of challenges and changes in many ways. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world and increased stress surrounding many peoples finances. Throughout it all, TopLine has remained committed to helping our members with their financial journey. TopLine created a digital advertising campaign centered around the theme of We Are Here For You! to inform our members and the community on all the ways the credit union can assist during uncertain times. We are honored to be recognized by the Minnesota Credit Union Network for these awards, said Vicki Erickson, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, TopLine Federal Credit Union. During a year of much turbulence, our passion for helping one another with their financial needs remained strong, and being recognized for our efforts is a true privilege. Minnesota credit unions are doing remarkable things to grow brand awareness and market to members and nonmembers alike, said MnCUN Vice President of Communications & Engagement Andrea Molnau. The statewide awards program recognizes the best of the best and we would like to congratulate the winners. The Minnesota Credit Union Network is the statewide trade association that works to ensure the success, growth and vitality of Minnesota credit unions. For more information, visit www.mncun.org. TopLine Federal Credit Union , a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesotas 13th largest, with assets of more than $575 million and serves over 46,000 members. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services, as well as auto and home insurance, from its five branch locations in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Pauls Como Park as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com . Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington Counties and their immediate family members. Visit us on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TopLineFederalCreditUnion. To learn more about the credit unions foundation, visit https://www.toplinecu.com/foundation. CONTACT: Vicki Roscoe Erickson Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications TopLine Federal Credit Union verickson@toplinecu.com 763.391.0872 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fd0bbd7f-d69c-455d-8769-59025960f359 Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. [March 23, 2021] Susquehanna Private Capital Announces Investment in Home Services Franchisor Premium Service Brands Susquehanna Private Capital, LLC ("SPC") today announced an investment in Premium Service Brands ("PSB" or the "Company"), a leading Charlottesville, Virginia-based franchisor of multi-brand home services with a specialty in home improvement brands. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Premium Service Brands partners with franchisees to provide comprehensive training, sophisticated technology, and cross-branded support for every step of their nascent home service business. In 2006, Paul Flick launched the PSB platform with the Company's flagship brand, 360 Painting, a full-service residential and commercial painting business. Today, PSB's portfolio includes unique companies across seven in-demand service areas, including 360 Painting, ProLift Garage Doors, Handyman Pro, Maid Right, Kitchen Wise, Renew Crew and Rubbish Works. PSB currently supports over 200 franchise partners across the U.S. and Canada. With funding from SPC, Premium Service Brands will continue to strengthen its presence in its core lines of business while expanding into the rapidly growing home services industry. Mr. Flick will remain in his role as Chief Executive Officer alongside the existing PSB management team. "Premium Service Brands presents a compelling opportunity to invest in a growing multi-brand franchisor within the attractive home services industry," said Kyle Squillario, Co-Head at SPC. "We are pleased to partner with entrepreneur and operator Paul Flick and his team as PSB accelerates its development and franchise expansion plans." "At Premium Service Brands, we are comitted to empowering our franchisees with the top technology, support, and networking to develop their businesses. With SPC's operational and financial support, we look forward to entering our next phase of growth as we broaden our franchise offerings and client reach," commented Mr. Flick. Ken Parsons (News - Alert) , Investor at SPC added, "In today's environment, the importance of our homes has never been more evident. The Premium Service Brands team is well-positioned to help franchisees grow their businesses while adding more home services offerings to their portfolio." Founded in 2016, Susquehanna Private Capital prides itself on its ability to collaboratively and patiently work with founders, entrepreneurs, and operators to build businesses with enduring value. SPC's investment in Premium Service Brands follows its recent investment in Mosquito Authority, a franchisor of mosquito, pest, and tick control services. Boxwood Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to PSB. Troutman Pepper served as legal advisor to SPC. About Premium Service Brands Headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, Premium Service Brands ("PSB") is a leader in home services franchise opportunities. Recently acquiring Renew Crew in January 2020 and Rubbish Works in November 2020, the other brands under the PSB umbrella include 360 Painting, ProLift Garage Doors, Handyman Pro, Maid Right and Kitchen Wise. These home improvement industry brands provide franchisees with comprehensive training and support for every step while viewing customer service as a way of life by also giving back to local communities through their nonprofit, Kids-Lift. Supporting kids and their families is crucial to PSB's personal values to brighten and care for their communities. More on franchising opportunities at: https://www.premiumservicebrands.com/. About Susquehanna Private Capital Susquehanna Private Capital, LLC ("SPC"), funded by the founders of Susquehanna International Group, LLP - one of the world's largest privately-held financial services firms - was founded in 2016. With a flexible capital structure, SPC empowers founders, entrepreneurs, and operators to build businesses with enduring value. SPC targets U.S. companies in the business, consumer and franchise services, healthcare services, and industrial technology sectors with $3 million to $15 million in EBITDA. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005702/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... PHOENIX A man has been arrested a man in connection with a fatal drive-by shooting in Phoenix, police said Monday. They said 20-year-old Devon Alston was taken into custody and had several handguns and some illegal drugs with him at the time of his arrest. Officers arrived at the scene of the shooting around 3 a.m. Sunday and found a man with gunshot wounds. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. He was later identified as 20-year-old Victor Brooks. Police said witnesses told them a vehicle had driven by and shot at the victim while he tried to run away. It was unclear Monday if Alston had a lawyer yet who can speak on his behalf. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday the Nord Stream 2 pipeline being built from Russia to Germany ran counter to the European Unions own interests and could undermine Ukraine. He said this during his first visit to NATO Headquarters on March 23, Reuters reports. "President (Joe) Biden has been very clear, he believes the pipeline is a bad idea, bad for Europe, bad for the United States, ultimately it is in contradiction to the EUs own security goals... It has the potential to undermine the interests of Ukraine, Poland and a number of close partners and allies," Blinken said. The U.S. Secretary of State also said that he was due to meet his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, to discuss this issue. A two-day meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs kicks off in Brussels on Tuesday to address important challenges facing the Alliance. Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned companies taking or planning to take part in Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project about the threat of sanctions in accordance with U.S. law. As Ukrinform reported, Nord Stream 2, a 1,200 km-long gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, is already 94% complete. A year ago, the pipeline's construction was suspended due to U.S. sanctions, but the Russian side resumed work on its own with the consent of the German side. Ukraine opposes the construction of the pipeline. The opponents of the project are also the United States, Poland, and the Baltic countries. ish On Tuesday, March 23, China reportedly begun its stricter implementation in maintaining the safety of user data in all apps. Some mini-apps sich as versions of WeChat and Alipay have said to be crossed the line by asking users for excessive amounts of personal data. Why China is changing its data collecting range According to TechCrunch, starting on May 1, China will begin to ban apps that are forcing users to give out data that the application or the company doesn't need. In China, it is common that apps ask for data and sensitive information from the user. Suppose the user denies giving out this information, in that case, they can sometimes be denied access to the app outright for justifiable reasons. Some of the software in the country have requested excessive amounts of information, such as biometrics. These types of information are being used for simple mobile payments inside mini-programs inside Wechat and Alipay. Though it seems a standard regulation for app developers, the data they are asking for isn't reportedly always needed by the application or the company for any reason. Read Also: Apple, Samsung May Be Forced to Fix Broken Smartphones for Free or Cheaper Prices, Thanks to this Law WeChat, Alipay 'Lite' versions to be soon banned in China According to South China Morning Post, Chinese authorities have made ranges of data that several apps have rights to collect. These ranges are guidelines for apps to follow, in order to abide by the new regulations placed on them. Now every app in China is subject to these changes to data collection along with mini-programs. Mini-programs are apps placed into larger apps such as WeChat and Alipay that don't need to go through the AppStore. These apps don't need to be installed because they are already inside the larger application. With these smaller apps or called 'Lite' apps not needing to be installed in the App Store, it is easier for them to collect data without listing what data it takes from the user. This can be a way to force users to give out more information than needed to use them without justification. China's document for data gathering is more like a guideline to follow, according to report. This way, China does not specify how to apply these rules or how companies and applications that continue to take excessive data will be punished. China has also started to crack down on larger companies taking users' data like Alibaba and Tencent. With the new Anti-Trust law, China has been hard at work to fix its platforms economy and reduce large monopolies in the country. The two Chinese companies were fined for anti-competition by creating a monopoly over the digital markets. China's efforts to keep its citizens safe from excessive data collection from apps and companies are improving slowly. With these changes, the country hopes to continue on a path where they keep all their citizens from giving out data that isn't justified by the application. Related Article: For $16, Companies Can Reroute Your Text Messages To Hackers Without Your Consent This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Lionell Moore 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Gov. Andrew Cuomo faces allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women. Reporting showed his administration hid the true extent of COVID-19 nursing home deaths. His staffers seemingly retaliated against one of his accusers in plain sight. Nearly every influential Democrat in the state has called on the governor to resign, though he has denied wrongdoing. While the list of alleged misconduct continues to grow, there is a clear upside for a governor who is clearly looking to buy some time as he fights for his political life. A Tuesday meeting of the Assembly Judiciary Committee highlighted how the more accusations the governor faces, the longer it will take for Assembly Democrats to conclude an ongoing inquiry into his possible impeachment. That means talk about removing him from office will likely stretch into the summer. Given the breadth and seriousness of the issues under investigation, we expect that the timing will be in terms of months rather than weeks, Assembly Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine said Tuesday morning. There is very little precedent for impeachment in New York, we are mindful of the due process necessary to ensure the fairness of this process to everyone, the victims, the witnesses and the governor, and to do so in a transparent manner, so that all New Yorkers are in. He told members of the committee that the inquiry conducted by attorneys from Davis Polk & Wardwell will consider four overarching issues. There is the litany of outstanding allegations of sexual harassment against the governor. Top aides like Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa reportedly covered up the number of nursing home residents who later died of COVID-19 in hospitals. Reporting by the Times Union has highlighted potential safety issues with the new Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Then there is the matter of the administration releasing details of the personnel file of Manhattan borough president candidate Lindsey Boylan, a former gubernatorial aide who first accused him of sexual harassment in December. Lavine said Tuesday the purview of the ongoing investigation could expand depending on whether additional allegations are made against the governor. Some members of the Legislature say that lawmakers should consider impeachment immediately considering what is already publicly known about the governor and ongoing scandals, especially considering how delays in the investigatory process appear to be helping Cuomos strategy for political survival. This is kicking the can down the road, Brian Romero, a spokesperson for Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, said in a statement following the Judiciary Committee meeting. He is using government resources to cover himself politically and is no longer effective to govern and should resign of his own accord. Because he refuses to, she is ready to vote for impeachment now. Some lawmakers have aired similar grievances, though a critical mass of Assembly Democrats appear to remain in favor of letting the ongoing inquiry play out alongside an investigation into alleged misconduct overseen by state Attorney General Letitia James. Black lawmakers in particular have been especially vocal about not rushing to conclusions about the allegations against the governor, which has increased pressure on Assembly leaders to follow a deliberative process that is slower than many Cuomo critics want. The committee is approaching this inquiry similar to how grand juries work in the criminal justice system. Documents, witness testimony and other evidence will be discussed in executive session, Lavine said during a Tuesday morning meeting of the committee when the attorneys answered questions about their nascent investigation or review as the governor calls it. Members of the committee from both parties signaled their agreement with this approach, though it means limiting public knowledge about the investigation. We have an obligation as public officials and as attorneys to maintain the strictest confidentiality when we get to the work of this committee, Assembly Member Michael Montesano, the ranking Republican on the committee, said during the meeting. And like a grand jury, the goal of the committee inquiry is to decide whether there is enough evidence to justify a trial. Impeachment is a political process, as many Democrats noted during the impeachment inquiries against then-President Donald Trump. But it has some similarities to a criminal justice proceeding. A majority of members of the Assembly would have to approve one or more articles of impeachment against the governor to make Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul acting governor. The New York Court for the Trial of Impeachments, composed of state senators and members of the judiciary, would then hold proceedings to decide whether or not to permanently remove Cuomo from office. If two-thirds of them vote in favor, then Cuomo would become the first governor to be impeached since Gov. William Sulzer more than a century ago. Talk of removing Sulzer from office began even before he was elected in 1912, but it took several months for accusations of illicit fundraising to lead to his impeachment in August 1913. He was removed from office following a three-week trial in October 1913. The experience of Sulzer, the first impeachment trial of Trump and past proceedings in other states show that removing an elected official in office usually takes time. Trumps first impeachment inquiry took three months, the Senate acquitted him nearly two months after that. More than two months passed in between the December 2008 arrest of then-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his January 2009 impeachment and removal from office. While the New York Assembly Judiciary Committee could choose to move faster and be more open with its proceedings by holding additional public meetings in the weeks ahead, it appears that the weight of history is making Lavine lean toward keeping many of its deliberations secret in order to protect witnesses and ensure the governor receives due process. That will mean reporters and the public at-large will likely struggle to keep up with the latest on the Assemblys progress, but Lavine said Tuesday that time will be his ultimate judge in managing the inquiry. The impeachment question is of tremendous significance, he said at the meeting. I cant help but think that 108 years from now and even longer than 108 years from now, people will be concerned and will study what it is that we as a state Legislature are doing. New Delhi: A simple eye examination may help accurately diagnose a progressive neurodegenerative condition called Frontal Temporal Degeneration, scientists have found. Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) is the most common cause of midlife dementia and is often diagnosed as Alzheimer's - or vice-versa. Researchers a the University of Pennsylvania in the US, using an inexpensive, non-invasive, eye-imaging technique found that patients with FTD showed thinning of the outer retina - the layers with the photo receptors through which we see - compared to control subjects. The retina is potentially affected by neuro degenerative disorders because it is a projection of the brain. Prior studies have found a loss of optic nerve fibers and associated thinning of the inner retina in a few other neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's, ALS, and Lewy-body dementia. The new results suggest that FTD manifests in a different way in the structures of the retina, and that this difference, detectable with a retinal imaging test, might help doctors distinguish one disorder from another. "Our finding of outer retina thinning in this carefully designed study suggests that specific brain pathologies may be mirrored by specific retinal abnormalities," said Benjamin Kim, assistant professor at University of Pennsylvania. The study included 38 FTD patients and 44 control subjects who did not have any neurodegenerative disease. The FTD patients were carefully characterised with clinical exams, Cerebro spinal fluid biomarkers to exclude Alzheimer's Disease, and genetic testing. The researchers then employed an eye-imaging technologycalled spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), which uses a safe light beam to image tissue with micron-levelresolution. SD-OCT imaging is inexpensive, non-invasive, and quick. Measurements of the retinal layers of the participants, after adjustments for age, gender, and ethnic background, showed that the outer retinas of the FTD patients were thinner than those in the control participants, researchers said. This relative thinning of outer retinas was caused by a thinning of two specific portions of the outer retina, theouter nuclear layer (ONL) and ellipsoid zone (EZ). The outer nuclear layer of FTD patients was about 10 percent thinner than controls, and this ONL thinning was the primary source of the outer retina thinning, they added. The study was published in the journal Neurology. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 19:47:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The UN top relief official in Somalia has called for urgent action to prevent a catastrophe in Somalia amid a looming drought. Adam Abdelmoula, deputy special representative of the Secretary-General and UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Somalia said about 3.4 million people are projected to be affected by drought in the country. "Extreme dry conditions and water scarcity are reported in 34 districts; the worst affected areas being Somaliland, Puntland, Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Jubaland," Abdelmoula said in a statement issued in Mogadishu on Monday evening. He said already more than 83,300 Somalis have been displaced by water shortages and dry conditions in the last four months. "The unfolding water crisis in Somalia is a stark reminder that we urgently need long-term sustainable development solutions to complement humanitarian action and address the root causes of recurrent climatic shocks in Somalia," Abdelmoula said. According to the UN, about 23 percent of rural Somalis drink unimproved or unprotected water and five percent drink purely surface water. It said Somalia is the only country in the world with a gap exceeding 50 points between urban and rural use of water services. The situation, the UN said, is particularly challenging for women and children, particularly girls since scarcity increases the care burden required to collect water, as well as risk of abuse and gender-based violence. Abdelmoula said the UN expects water scarcity to escalate the risk of communicable disease outbreaks such as acute watery diarrhea, increase the vulnerability of already at-risk populations and aggravate food insecurity. "Without sustained humanitarian assistance, an estimated 2.65 million Somalis are expected to face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity through June due to forecasted below-average rainfall," he warned. The UN official said access to and use of safe drinking water and sanitation over the last ten years, has significantly improved in Somalia. Over half of the Somali population had basic access to safe drinking water in 2019, compared to 20 percent in 2010, the UN said. Abdelmoula called on Somalia's authorities, partners and donors, to lead on instituting solutions around sustainable water management to break the cyclical pattern of water crises in the country. He also urged donors to ensure adequate funding for immediate life-saving water and sanitation interventions. Enditem Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - Nextleaf Solutions Ltd. (CSE: OILS) (OTCQB: OILFF) (FSE: L0MA) ("Nextleaf", "OILS", or the "Company"), a low-cost producer of cannabis distillate, announces it has implemented a warrant exercise incentive program designed to encourage exercise of up to 10,400,000 of its outstanding share purchase warrants expiring on May 15, 2021 (the "Warrants"). The Company will amend the exercise price of the Warrants from $0.70 per common share of the Company (each, a "Share") to $0.265 per Share. Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCVOJPYFDAI If, for any 10 consecutive trading days during the unexpired term of the Warrants the closing price of the Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") exceeds $0.33, then, upon the Company sending to the holders of the Warrants (the "Warrantholders") notice of acceleration of the expiry date by way of a news release, the Warrants will only be exercisable for a period of 30 days following the date of such news release. Under the incentive program, the Company is offering an inducement to each Warrantholder who exercises their Warrants prior to May 15, 2021. All Warrants exercised prior to May 15, 2021 will receive one additional share purchase warrant (each, an "Incentive Warrant") for each Warrant exercised. Each Incentive Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional Share at $0.35 per Share until May 15, 2022 (the "Term"), subject to acceleration. If, for any 10 consecutive trading days during the Term, the closing price of the Shares on the CSE exceeds $0.44 then, upon the Company sending to the holders of the Incentive Warrants notice of acceleration of the expiry date by way of a news release, the Incentive Warrants will only be exercisable for a period of 30 days following the date of such news release. Any Shares issued upon exercise of the Incentive Warrants will be subject to a statutory four-month and one day hold period from the date of issuance of the Incentive Warrants. In addition, Nextleaf has issued an aggregate of 24,528 Shares at a price of $0.265 per Share, representing an aggregate value of $6,500, to consultants of the Company, as compensation for services provided. About Nextleaf Nextleaf is an innovative cannabis processor that owns one of the largest portfolios of U.S. patents for the extraction, distillation, and delivery of cannabinoids. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Nextleaf Labs Ltd, a licensed processor, the Company is a low-cost producer of cannabis distillate and private label THC & CBD oils. Nextleaf's proprietary closed-loop automated extraction plant in Metro Vancouver has a design capacity to process 600 kilos of dried cannabis into oil per day. The Company owns 12 U.S. patents and has been issued over 70 patents globally. Nextleaf is developing delivery technology through its Health Canada research licence with sensory evaluation of cannabis via human testing. The Company's patent pending Rapid Emulsion Technology by OILS powers differentiated ingestible cannabis products. Nextleaf is commercializing its issued and pending patents through licensing of intellectual property, extraction services, and supplying cannabis oils to qualified Canadian and international business-to-business partners under their own brand. Nextleaf Solutions trades as OILS on the Canadian Securities Exchange, OILFF on the OTCQB Market in the United States, and L0MA on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Follow OILS across social media platforms: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. www.nextleafsolutions.com For more information please contact: Jason McBride 604-283-2301 (ext. 219) investors@nextleafsolutions.com On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company, Paul Pedersen, CEO Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's ability to capitalize on its IP portfolio,the Company's strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "plan", "continue", "will", "may", "would", "anticipate", "estimate", "forecast", "predict", "project", "seek", "should" or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to the risk factors discussed in the Company's MD&A for the most recent fiscal period. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law. The CSE has not reviewed or approved the contents of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78264 Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. MRI Market Growth & Trends The global magnetic resonance imaging market size is expected to reach USD 8.5 billion by 2028. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2021 to 2028. The growing prevalence of chronic diseases and increasing demand for early diagnostic techniques are the factors expected to drive the market. In addition, the growing adoption of less invasive procedures is also contributing to the growth of the market. Moreover, the growing number of clinical trials to understand the effectiveness and efficiency of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines in various clinical applications is also expected to boost market growth. End-users such as research institutes and universities are frequently studying the efficiency of MRI devices with high field strength such as 7T, 10T, and 10.5T. The growing number of research studies will help in unlocking the potential usage and advantages of high field MRI machines for various preclinical as well as clinical applications. Currently, 7T MRI machines are only effective in brain and knee imaging, largely due to the absence of advance coil required for these high field machines. Therefore, the development of advance coils to expand the application of 7T MRI machines is expected to propel market growth during the forecast period. Key market players are adopting various strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships to be competitive in the market. Aurora Imaging Technology entered into a distribution agreement with Sumec Group Corporation. Under this distribution agreement, Sumec Corporation will distribute MRI portfolio ofAurora Imaging Technology in China. This, in turn, is helping both the companies in geographical expansion. Request a free sample copy or view report summary: MRI Market Report MRI Market Report Highlights Adoption of advanced imaging technologies is augmenting the growth of the market Open system is anticipated to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period due to its efficiency to accommodate all size of patients without feeling claustrophobic MRI for neurological and brain disorders dominated the market largely due to growing number of neurological conditions and increasing demand for less invasive diagnostic procedure The high field segment is expected to experience fastest growth largely due to its efficiency to provide detailed images for diagnosis Ambulatory surgical centers are expected to exhibit highest growth rate during the forecast period. Government initiatives to improve primary care is one of the major factor impacting the segment growth In 2020, North America dominated the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) market and accounted for the largest revenue share owing to continuous research and high adoption of advanced techniques in the region Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness the fastest growth rate over the forecast period due to growing number of clinical studies in the region for high field MRI machines Access Press Release of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-magnetic-resonance-imaging-market MRI Market Segmentation Grand View Research has segmented the global magnetic resonance imaging market based on architecture, field strength, application, end-use, and region: MRI Architecture Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Closed System Open System MRI Field Strength Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Low Field Strength Mid Field Strength High Field Strength MRI Application Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Brain and neurological Low Field Strength Mid Field Strength High Field Strength Spine and musculoskeletal Low Field Strength Mid Field Strength High Field Strength Vascular Low Field Strength Mid Field Strength High Field Strength Abdominal Low Field Strength Mid Field Strength High Field Strength Cardiac Low Field Strength Mid Field Strength High Field Strength Breast Low Field Strength Mid Field Strength High Field Strength Other Low Field Strength Mid Field Strength High Field Strength MRI End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Hospitals Imaging Centers Ambulatory Surgical Centers Others MRI Regional Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) North America US. Canada Europe UK. Germany Italy France Spain Sweden Russia The Netherlands Austria Belgium Denmark Norway Portugal Finland Asia Pacific India China Japan Thailand South Korea Singapore Malaysia Philippines Taiwan Indonesia Vietnam Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Colombia Chile Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Kuwait Qatar List of Key Players of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Market GE Healthcare Hitachi Medical Systems America AG. Siemens AG Toshiba Corporation Aurora Imaging Technologies, Inc. Koninklijke Philips N.V. Esaote SPA Sanrad Medical Systems Pvt. Ltd. About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. VANCOUVER, BC, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - New Found Gold Corp. ("New Found" or the "Company") (TSXV: NFG) (OTC: NFGFF) is pleased to announce recently received assay results from two holes drilled at the Lotto Zone ("Lotto"). These holes were completed as part of the Company's ongoing 200,000 m diamond drill program at its 100% owned Queensway Project ("Queensway"), located on the Trans-Canada Highway 15 km west of Gander, Newfoundland. Highlights These drill results are summarized below: Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Au (g/t) This release: NFGC-21-109 154.20 157.40 3.20 51.3 Within 152.70 161.50 8.80 19.3 NFGC-21-115 186.00 189.10 3.10 53.3 Within 180.70 189.10 8.40 20.3 Previously reported Lotto interval highlights: NFGC-20-17 35.25 40.00 4.75 41.2 And 56.95 62.10 5.15 25.4 NFGC-20-20 100.25 103.25 3.00 5.3 NFGC-20-27 222.90 224.90 2.00 31.3 NFGC-20-50 43.65 45.75 2.10 65.3 NFGC-21-100 118.00 120.45 2.45 224.7 Previously reported "Sunday Zone" interval: NFGC-20-44 242.10 245.05 2.95 38.7 Within 238.55 245.05 6.50 18.1 * Note that the true width of the mineralization is uncertain, but host structures are interpreted to be steeply dipping implying true widths in the range of 70% of reported intercepts. Intervals are calculated at a 1 g/t Au cut-off grade and minimum width of 2m, grades have not been capped in the averaging. As illustrated in Figure 1, the intercepts in NFGC-21-109 and NFGC-21-115 confirm good continuity of high-grade gold mineralization to a vertical depth of approximately 130m where it remains open. where it remains open. These intervals occur in an interpreted north-south strking vein set, one of a network of multiple secondary north-south striking vein sets interpreted to date over a 300m x 200m area and open (see Figure 2). x area and open (see Figure 2). High grade interpreted to be focused on fault splays and structural intersections in plan view. Drilling to date indicates similar patterns in cross section, with spays in veining also interpreted in the vertical direction. Continuity is also developing along strike. The high-grade intervals in the Company's original Lotto discovery hole (NFGC-21-17, which returned 41.2 g/t Au over 4.75m starting at 35m down hole and 25.4g/t over 5.15m starting at 57m down hole) are interpreted to occur in the same north-south vein set along strike to the north. Denis Laviolette, President of New Found, stated: "We are very excited by the continuity of high-grade gold now developing on this north-south striking vein set at Lotto. The two reported step-out intervals were drilled below the high grade interval in Hole NFGC-21-100 (224.7 g/t Au over 2.45m, see February 23, 2021 news release) confirming the high grade mineralization to 130m vertical depth where it remains open. In fact the veining appears to be broadening and strengthening with depth, and drilling to step out further to depth will commence shortly. To date we have interpreted approximately 300m of north-south strike on this vein set which appears to bisect the Lotto Baseline fault zone, as illustrated in Figure 2. Drilling will also continue to step out along laterally along strike to further test in this direction. Bigger picture at Lotto, as shown in Figure 2 we have interpreted multiple other north-south striking secondary veining and we will continue to drill test these other vein sets for similar high-grade gold mineralization. One of these interpreted north-south striking vein sets approximately 100m to the west returned 18.1 g/t Au over 6.5m (Hole NFGC-20-44) where it intersected the main Appleton Fault (see January 14, 2021 news release), confirming the potential for additional zones of high grade gold in this parallel veining. Finally at Lotto we are also targeting the more primary Lotto Baseline fault and the Appleton faults. The Lotto Baseline fault appears analogous to the Keats Baseline fault which is host to the high grade discovery at Keats and we are utilizing our developing understanding of the controls on mineralization at Keats in targeting gold mineralization the Lotto Baseline fault." Figure 1: Lotto Cross-section 6450N (looking north, 20m clipping) Figure 2: Lotto Plan View Drill-hole Details Table 2: Summary of results reported in this release Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Au (g/t) Zone NFGC-21-109 154.20 157.40 3.20 51.3 Lotto Within 152.70 161.50 8.80 19.3 NFGC-21-115 186.00 189.10 3.10 53.3 Lotto Within 180.70 189.10 8.40 20.3 * Note that the true width of the mineralization is uncertain, but host structures are interpreted to be steeply dipping implying true widths in the range of 70% of reported intercepts. Intervals are calculated at a 1 g/t Au cut-off grade and minimum width of 2m, grades have not been capped in the averaging. Table 3: Details of drill holes reported in this release Hole No. Azimuth () Dip () Length (m) UTM E UTM N NFGC-21-109 300 -45 252 659012 5428912 NFGC-21-115 300 -45 225 659034 5428895 Sampling, Sub-sampling and Laboratory True width of the mineralization is uncertain, but host structures are interpreted to be steeply dipping implying true widths in the range of 70% of reported intercepts. Selected intervals are submitted on a rush basis including the reported intervals for NFGC-21-109 and NFGC-115. Additional assays for these holes will be reported once received. Assays are uncut, and calculated intervals are reported over a minimum length of 2 meters using a lower cutoff of 1.0 g/t Au. All HQ split core assays reported were obtained by either complete sample metallic screen/fire assay or standard 30-gram fire-assaying with ICP finish at ALS Minerals in Vancouver, British Columbia or by entire sample screened metallic screen fire assay at Eastern Analytical in Springdale, Newfoundland. The complete sample metallic screen assay method is selected by the geologist when samples contain coarse gold or any samples displaying gold initial fire assay values greater than 1.0 g/t Au. Drill program design, Quality Assurance/Quality Control and interpretation of results is performed by qualified persons employing a Quality Assurance/Quality Control program consistent with National Instrument 43-101 and industry best practices. Standards and blanks are included with every 20 samples for Quality Assurance/Quality Control purposes by the Company as well as the lab. Approximately 5% of sample pulps are sent to secondary laboratories for check assays. Qualified Person The technical content disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Greg Matheson, P. Geo., Chief Operating Officer and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr Matheson consents to the publication of this announcement dated March 23, 2021, by New Found. Mr Matheson certifies that this announcement fairly and accurately represents the information for which he is responsible. Filing of Short Form Shelf Prospectus New Found is pleased to announce that it has filed a preliminary short form base shelf prospectus (the "Base Shelf Prospectus") with securities regulatory authorities in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. The Base Shelf Prospectus when made final will qualify the offering of up to $100 million of New Found's common shares, warrants, subscription receipts, units, debt securities and share purchase contracts during the 25-month period that the Base Shelf Prospectus remains effective. The Base Shelf Prospectus is intended to give New Found the flexibility to take advantage of financing opportunities when market conditions are favourable. The terms of such future offerings, if any, will be established at the time of such offerings. At the time any of the securities covered by the Base Shelf Prospectus are offered for sale, a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of any such offering will filed with the applicable securities regulatory authorities. Marketing Agreement New Found also announces that it has retained Future Money Trends LLC ("FMT") to conduct marketing services for the Company. FMT is an affiliate of Gold Standard Media LLC ("GSM"). As noted in the Company's October 2, 2020 news release, GSM has also been retained by the Company to provide marketing services. FMT and GSM are headed by Kenneth Ameduri, who manages a marketing team headquartered in Austin, Texas. FMT has been successfully marketing public companies since 2010. The term of the agreement is for six months ending September 16, 2021. FMT will be paid US$200,000 in advance for these services. About New Found Gold Corp. New Found holds a 100% interest in the Queensway Project, located 15 km west of Gander, Newfoundland, and just 18 km from Gander International Airport. The project is intersected by the Trans-Canada Highway and has logging roads crosscutting the project, high voltage electric power lines running through the project area, and easy access to a highly skilled workforce. The Company is currently undertaking a 200,000-m drill program at Queensway, with a planned increase from the current six drill rigs to eight drill rigs in Q1, 2021. New Found currently has working capital of approximately $68 million. On closing of the $15 million flow through offering financing announced March 18, 2021 the Company would have an estimated $83 million of working capital. Please see the Company's website at www.newfoundgold.ca and the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Acknowledgements New Found acknowledges the financial support of the Junior Exploration Assistance Program, Department of Natural Resources, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Contact To contact the Company, please visit the Company's website, www.newfoundgold.ca and make your request through our investor inquiry form. Our management has a pledge to be in touch with any investor inquiries within 24 hours. New Found Gold Corp. Per: "Craig Roberts" Craig Roberts, P.Eng., Chief Executive Officer Email: [email protected] Phone: (604) 562 9664 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement Cautions This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to further the exploration and drilling on the Company's Queensway gold project in Newfoundland. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. SOURCE New Found Gold Corp. Related Links https://newfoundgold.ca/ A total of 89 deaths have been reported following COVID-19 vaccination till March 16, but none of the fatalities has been attributed to the inoculation so far, Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday. In written reply to a question, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey said that adverse events following immunization (AEFI) are monitored through a well-structured and robust surveillance system. Causality assessment of all serious and severe AEFI cases is done by a designated committee to determine if an adverse event is related to the vaccine or vaccination process or otherwise, he said. Adequate measures have been put in place to manage AEFI cases like availability of anaphylaxis kits at each vaccination site, immediate referral to AEFI management centre and observation of vaccine recipients for 30 minutes at session site so as to take timely corrective measure. Also, the AEFI management of such cases are provided free-of-cost treatment in public health facilities. "As on March 16, 2021, a total of 89 deaths of vaccinated persons have been reported.... None of the deaths so far have been causally attributed to COVID-19 vaccination as per the current evidence," Choubey said. Responding to another question on the agency which developed CoWIN app being used for vaccine development and whether the code has been open-sourced, Choubey said the application has been developed by the Ministry of Health with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The code used for developing Co-WIN are open source and all concerned APIs are available on 'API Setu' initiative of the Government of India, he said. At time of registration for vaccination, the beneficiaries' name, gender, year of birth and government photo ID number are collected. "This data is entered by the beneficiary themselves at time of registration for vaccination and no agency is authorised to collect this data. The personal data of beneficiaries of COVID-19 vaccine conforms to data security and confidentiality norms," the minister stated. (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.) Huntington, WV (25701) Today Cloudy with rain this morning...then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. 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. Columbia-Greene Media has recently teamed up with the US Postal Service to provide same-day delivery of your local newspaper with your mail. Our expanded daily delivery of your local news reaches into the following areas: Oregon State University on Tuesday accepted President F. King Alexanders offer to resign just eight months after he assumed the position. Members of the OSU board of trustees said they were convinced to part ways with Alexander by an outpouring of opposition and concern from OSU faculty and students. Alexander offered to resign Sunday. The trustees voted unanimously to accept his offer. They also approved a legal settlement. The deal calls for Alexander to be paid about $670,000 in a lump sum as well as medical benefits for a year. The money will come from private sources as opposed to tuition or state support. Alexander said he offered to resign because it will allow everyone to move on. He said his first priority has always been students. Alexanders resignation will become effective April 1. Until then, he will be placed on administrative leave. The trustees appointed OSU Provost Edward Feser as interim president. Alexander has been under fire since early this month, when a report criticized his handling sexual misconduct charges when he was president of Louisiana State University was released to the public. Last Wednesday, the OSU board put Alexander on probation until June 1. They did so despite emotional testimony from students, faculty and victims of sexual violence that they needed to fire the new president. At that point, the trustees clearly felt they needed more time before making such a move. Since then, theyve heard loud and clear that theyd made a mistake. Board Chair Rani Borkar said the trustees learned in three days what they thought would take them 60. It was emotional meeting. A tearful Lamar Hurd apologized to the people who testified last week that Alexanders lax reaction to sexual misconduct cases should disqualify him from the OSU job. I havent been sleeping well, said Hurd, an analyst on Blazer television broadcasts. Im sorry for the pain people endured. Thats not was OSU is about. Julia Brim-Edwards, another trustee, said she had received many messages from various OSU constituents expressing their anger that the board didnt fire Alexander last Wednesday. Many individuals felt they werent listened to, Brim-Edwards said. I apologize to them. The job of university president is demanding, difficult and increasingly volatile. Alexanders resignation comes as the faculty at the Oregon Institute of Technology is demanding the resignation of President Nagi Naganathan. In May 2019, Rahmat Shoureshi resigned under pressure as president of Portland State University. Since last weeks meeting, the Faculty Senate voted 108-4 in favor of a motion calling for Alexanders resignation. Senate leaders referred the issue to the rest of the faculty. With 1,864 votes received, 83% voted in favor of a motion calling for Alexanders resignation. About 11.7% voted against. On Monday night, the Louisiana State University board of supervisors weighed in. If Alexander expected his former bosses in Baton Rouge would be helpful to his cause, he was sorely disappointed. In a letter to the OSU board of trustees, Robert Dampf, chair of the LSU board of supervisors, claimed Alexander had misled them on several fronts. Alexander has tried to cast doubt on an independent review commissioned by LSU into the universitys handling of sexual misconduct and harassment claims. Alexander told the Oregon State board repeatedly that the so-called Husch Blackwell report was a slipshod affair that got key facts wrong in part because the authors never even bothered to talk to him. Dampf said that wasnt true. He was asked twice for interviews and declined, Dampf claims, and instead responded with a written statement. New Delhi/Mumbai, March 23 : Months before former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh's allegations against Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, the Maharashtra State Intelligence Department (SID) had tapped several key telephones in connection with the police "transfer racket" and red-flagged shifts of certain police officers in August 2020. It had also urged that the matter be brought to the attention of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray immediately. The SID'S top secret report - which contains several high-profile names - also recommended a probe by the CID against such people involved in the alleged transfer racket. The report, accessed by IANS, was sent by SID Commissioner Rashmi Shukla, on August 25 last year, to the then Maharashtra DGP S.K. Jaiswal, highlighting the transfer racket of police officers in the state. However, there is no official confirmation of the report's authenticity. Maharashtra's Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis released certain portions of the report in Mumbai on Tuesday and claimed that the Chief Minister had not taken any action on it. The SID report highlighted the alleged role of certain brokers with inclination towards political parties who were engaged in arranging desired (lucrative) postings for police officers in exchange for massive monetary compensation. Shukla informed the DGP that the "phones of several individuals were put on surveillance" (tapped) with due regard to the "established process" to curtail the commitment of criminal offences and prevent possible breaches of law. It further said that upon the review of the gathered information, it was is clear that there is significant merit in these allegations as it has been discovered that aforementioned brokers are in close contact and embroiled in these negotiations with several influential people. It also highlighted that the police officers ranging from Inspectors to several high-ranking IPS officers were in contact with such undesirable individuals. The report has named 29 police officers in the state whose names figure in the alleged transfer racket. Among them are six Indian Police Service officers from the rank of Superintendent of Police to Deputy Inspector General of Police, and another 21 officers of the Maharashtra Police Service (MPS) said to be allegedly been involved in the racket. According to the surveillance report, it alleged that a person named Santosh alias Sagar Jagtap was trying desperately for the transfer of DCP Sachin Patil to Nashik, and for this, met Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray, Home Minister Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Ha also reportedly took five to six MLAs of the ruling NCP-Congress to meet NCP supremo Sharad Pawar at the Y.B. Chavan Centre in Mumbai. However, the date of the meeting is not mentioned in the report. Accordingly, since there is a Shiv Sena MLA in Nashik, his recommendation was required and for this, Ajit Pawar met Sharad Pawar, the SID report said. The SID claimed that right then, the elder Pawar sent a WhatsApp message with Patil's name to Chief Minister Thackeray, and then allegedly assured that his name will figure in the final list. The report added how Jagtap's mobile conversations also revealed that he was in touch with Additional Director General of Police, Bipinkumar Singh. Citing the results of the "surveillance records", the SID Commissioner said that the evidence gathered is highly incriminating and gravely implicated a number of individuals engaged in this activity. Identifying one of these as Banda Nawaj Maner, who was arrested along with six other persons in 2017 in this connection, it said that he was found to be active again in the racket. The letter from the SID also demanded a high-level inquiry and strict measures against all stakeholders engaging in this activity and further recommended that the matter be brought to the notice of the Chief Minister. Jaiswal forwarded the report, again marked "top secret" a day later to Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Sitaram Kunte, saying: "A report has been received by SID on August 25, with regard to transfers of police officers. It is a serious matter and necessitates urgent action by the state government." He urged Kunte to maintain adequate secrecy to prevent unnecessary scrutiny which could bring disrepute to the government, while seeking an immediate and comprehensive enquiry by the CID (Crime) Pune, to identify concerned individuals and take necessary action. (Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in and Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in) TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG)(OTCQX:JAGGF) today announced it would be strengthening its current COVID-19 Response Plan in the wake of the ongoing pandemic in Brazil. Since the commencement of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic approximately one year ago, Jaguar immediately established a strong COVID-19 Response Plan to protect the health and safety of all our stakeholders including, employees and their families, all service providers, and the communities in which we operate. The actions taken by the Company continue to be aligned with and support the Health Attendance Protocols from the Brazilian Health Ministry and the World Health Organization. Status of COVID-19 in Minas Gerais, Brazil In March, Brazil has moved onto a 'peak' phase of the disease with deaths in the last average 7-day period to be the highest so far in the pandemic, placing the current health system across the country at grave risk due to high hospitalization rates and additional demands in all ICU wards. The rise in the pandemic has caused the state government of Minas Gerais to declare a curfew from 8:00 pm at night to 5:00 am in the morning commencing immediately until March 31, 2021. The local communities near Jaguar operations have also seen an increase in COVID-19 infections, and as a result, hospitals in our areas of influence are now reaching capacity. The local Prefeituras (area governments) are currently considering measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. Jaguar, along with other mining companies operating in or near the communities, continue to meet with the Prefeituras to provide support and to work with them in implementing any potential steps and viable solutions to protect the communities while keeping the economy intact. It is expected that any lockdown and/or increased protocols will be in place until the end of March and probably longer, until COVID-19 cases significantly decline. Jaguar will adhere to any changes in federal, state, and local government protocols that result from the pandemic increase. Jaguar has also revised and augmented its overall COVID-19 Response Plan. The effects of COVID-19 began impacting the company in 2020, but we have witnessed our highest levels of cases in the first quarter of 2021. Production has been and continues to be impacted at both operations. The current increase in the intensity of our COVID-19 measures, as dictated by government guidelines and the pandemic, may also limit production in the near term. We are adapting, but the increase in absenteeism and the limitations in contractor services is and will have an impact on production. Currently our team estimates that we can produce within our ounce guidance for the year, assuming conditions do not worsen, and lockdown restrictions do not become more severe or extend much past March 2021. Jaguar COVID-19 Response Plan Jaguar currently employs approximately 1,300 personnel, and over 400 third-party contractors. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic the Company has tallied 185 cases with employees and 59 with contractors. The vast majority of the cases occurred in the first quarter of 2021. A further impact has been from employees quarantined awaiting test results which have then come back negative, which has impacted an additional total of 381 people. Employees and contractors are not permitted to return to work without full medical clearance. Jaguar has implemented the following new measures in addition to its current COVID-19 Response Plan to reduce the impact of infections at its operating units: A COVID-19 Monitor has been appointed to ensure that all internal pandemic guidelines are adhered to. Additional reductions in the number of third-party contractors, with all non-critical work being put on hold. Employees over the age of 60 or any employee with high-risk health conditions must work from home. Jaguar's office in Belo Horizonte is being totally closed, and all functions will be working from home. The number of site personnel in non-operating roles allowed on the sites is being limited with as much work as possible assigned to de done from home. Jaguar's current COVID-19 Response Plan includes: A multidisciplinary CV19 Committee holds weekly meetings to evaluate current pandemic scenarios to revise, implement and adapt current strategies and pandemic guidelines. Travel between Jaguar's sites and communities including Jaguar's Belo Horizonte corporate office, are limited to those specifically approved by upper management. A home office system has been adopted for all administrative employees and employees considered to be or have high-risk health conditions. All non-safety related in-person meetings and general events have been suspended. All visitors and visits by third parties to Jaguar operations have been suspended. Implementation of increased hygiene protocols including the enforcement of social distancing in all common areas, such as restrooms, lockers, cafeterias, and buses. Outsourced suppliers, companies and third parties have had limited access at all of Jaguar's operations. Constant awareness via promotions and educative campaigns regarding COVID-19 are prominently displayed in and around company vehicles such as buses and trucks and in all common areas as well as through social media channels. Disciplinary measures are in place for any employee who disobeys health and/or distance protocols. About Jaguar Mining Inc. Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with two gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from additional mineral claims. The Company's principal operating assets are in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the Turmalina Gold Mine Complex and Caete Mining Complex (Pilar Mine and Caete Plant). The Company also owns the Paciencia Gold Mine Complex, which has been on care and maintenance since 2012. The Roca Grande Mine has been on care and maintenance since April 2018. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com. For further information please contact: Vernon Baker Chief Executive Officer Jaguar Mining Inc. vernon.baker@jaguarmining.com 416-847-1854 Hashim Ahmed Chief Financial Officer Jaguar Mining Inc. hashim.ahmed@jaguarmining.com 416-847-1854 Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking information made in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements below and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected," "is forecast," "is targeted," "approximately," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "believe" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might," or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, may be considered to be or include forward-looking information. This news release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things, expected sales, production statistics, ore grades, tonnes milled, recovery rates, cash operating costs, definition/delineation drilling, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of projects and new deposits, success of exploration, development and mining activities, currency fluctuations, capital requirements, project studies, mine life extensions, restarting suspended or disrupted operations, continuous improvement initiatives, and resolution of pending litigation. The Company has made numerous assumptions with respect to forward-looking information contained herein, including, among other things, assumptions about the estimated timeline for the development of its mineral properties; the supply and demand for, and the level and volatility of the price of, gold; the accuracy of reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; the receipt of necessary permits; market competition; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities; political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations including, without limitation, the impact of any potential power rationing, tailings facility regulation, exploration and mine operating licenses and permits being obtained and renewed and/or there being adverse amendments to mining or other laws in Brazil and any changes to general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking information involves a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including among others: the risk of Jaguar not meeting the forecast plans regarding its operations and financial performance; uncertainties with respect to the price of gold, labour disruptions, mechanical failures, increase in costs, environmental compliance and change in environmental legislation and regulation, weather delays and increased costs or production delays due to natural disasters, power disruptions, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations; uncertainties inherent to capital markets in general (including the sometimes volatile valuation of securities and an uncertain ability to raise new capital) and other risks inherent to the gold exploration, development and production industry, which, if incorrect, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described herein. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of gold exploration, development, mining and production, including environmental hazards, tailings dam failures, industrial accidents and workplace safety problems, unusual or unexpected geological formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, chemical spills, procurement fraud and gold bullion thefts and losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). In addition, the Company's principal operations and mineral properties are located in Brazil and there are additional business and financial risks inherent in doing business in Brazil as compared to the United States or Canada. In Brazil, corruption represents a challenge requiring extra attention by those who conduct business there. Corruption does not only occur with the misuse of public, government or regulatory powers, it also can occur in a business's supplies, inputs and procurement functions (such as illicit rebates, kickbacks and dubious vendor relationships) as well as the inventory and product sales functions (such as inventory shrinkage or skimming). Employees as well as external parties (such as suppliers, distributors and contractors) have opportunities to commit theft, procurement fraud and other wrongs against the Company. While corruption, bribery and fraud and theft risks can never be fully eliminated, the Company reviews and implements controls to reduce the likelihood of these events occurring. The Company's present and future business operations face these risks. Accordingly, for all of the reasons above, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Company's most recent Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion and Analysis, as well as other public disclosure documents that can be accessed under the issuer profile of "Jaguar Mining Inc." on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Company's reasonable expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. SOURCE: Jaguar Mining Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636882/Jaguar-Mining-Response-to-Ongoing-COVID-19-Pandemic-in-Brazil In early 2020, two of my friends moved out of New York to live in Bahrain. Having only recently made the jump across the pond myself, I was sad to see them go, but reasoned with myself that theyd be back soon. Sure, living on a desert island in a large villa with a pool sounded luxurious, but theyd be pining for NYC after a couple of months, with its amazing culture, its diversity of restaurants and bars, and its centre-of-the-whole-world feel. I nodded to myself as I thought this very foolish thought in January 2020, as I signed for a small studio apartment in a nice area of Brooklyn. Yes, I thought, theyd be begging to return. Wed probably see them home by Christmas. Needless to say, my predictions didnt come true. Today, I did a Zoom call with them as the last of the New York snow melted outside. They were bronzed and happy, laid out on a sofa the size of my apartment with their brand new pandemic baby. I searched for the regret in their eyes but reader, there was none. One of the strangest parts of being in New York throughout the entire pandemic has been watching all of my friends and familys lives change from afar. Some have gone through entire pregnancies and now have full-on crawling, gurgling babies now. Some have moved across the world with little fanfare, disappearing into the night on a half-empty plane to chase new jobs in Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Hong Kong or Singapore. Some have taken on huge DIY projects, buying homes out in the sticks and slowly redecorating them while they can work remotely; where once their Zoom background were small apartments or scattered wood and debris, now they are glorious converted warehouses or multi-storey cabins with lake views. Watching everything play out through a screen has made me feel both hyper-involved and like Im watching a TV programme theyll step out of any moment and yell, I fooled you! A total of 1,426 prisoners were inoculated against COVID-19 as part of a two-day vaccination programme which began in various jails of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. The UP Home Department, in a statement, said inmates aged above 60 were administered vaccine doses in 20 jails, including central jail in Allahabad, central jail in Varanasi and district jail in Lucknow. "In all, 1,426 jail inmates were inoculated on Tuesday and the programme would continue on Wednesday as well," the statement said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AstraZeneca stumbles again The announcement this week that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine had achieved nearly 80 percent efficacy in a gold-standard U.S. trial was met with relief by the many countries relying on it. But there was another setback. In a highly unusual move, American officials said that the companys account of the trials findings may have been inaccurate. An independent monitoring board twice asked for a more rigorous approach to determining which trial participants had Covid-19, but AstraZeneca unveiled its interim results on Monday without conducting the full analysis requested. The company defended its claims of 79 percent efficacy for its vaccine, and said it would release more up-to-date trial results within 48 hours. Global regulators have deemed it safe and effective. But the miscommunication contributed to friction as the company prepares to seek approval from U.S. drug regulators and build confidence around its European rollout. Context: Health officials around the world had been looking to the shots U.S. trial, the largest of its kind, as a crucial guide to their own rollouts: It would supply more data on older people, who had not been as well-represented in earlier trials, and a more precise read on the vaccines overall efficacy. TechCrunch United Airlines is the first official U.S. customer for Boom Supersonic, a company focused on making supersonic commercial flight a reality once again. Boom unveiled its supersonic sub-scale testing aircraft last year, and intends to start producing its Overture full-scale commercial supersonic passenger jet beginning in 2025, with a planned 2029 date for the beginning of commercial service after a few years of flight testing, design refinement and qualification. United agreed to purchase 15 of the Overture aircraft, provided they meet United's "safety, operating and sustainability requirements," and the agreement also includes an option for the airline to purchase an additional 35 after that. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 21:48:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam on Tuesday lauded the efforts and contributions made by various sectors in Hong Kong to the country's victory in poverty alleviation. Addressing opening ceremony of an exhibition in Hong Kong showcasing the participation of compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao in the country's fight against poverty, Lam said Hong Kong has always been closely linked to the motherland and actively participated in its modernization efforts. She said Hong Kong is both contributor and beneficiary of the national development. Hong Kong people have always played an important role in the country's disaster relief and poverty alleviation. Lam said the three-day exhibition held in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center highlighted the stories of people from various sectors in Hong Kong contributing to the country's battle against poverty. She said she believes that Hong Kong residents visiting the exhibition will feel proud of the country's achievement and Hong Kong's contributions to it. Enditem The domestic equity benchmarks were almost flat in early afternoon trade. The Nifty slipped below the 14,750 mark. Firmness in auto and bank stocks supported the indices. At 12:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, rose 17.76 points or 0.04% at 49,789.05. The Nifty 50 index gained 5.85 points or 0.04% at 14,742.25. The broader market was trading firm. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.70% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index added 0.52%. The market breadth was positive. On the BSE, 1,543 shares rose and 1,211 shares fell. A total of 180 shares were unchanged. Derivatives: The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, advanced 3.67% to 21.2450. The Nifty 25 March 2021 futures were trading at 14,754.05, at a premium of 11.80 points as compared with the spot at 14,742.25. The Nifty option chain for 25 March 2021 expiry showed maximum Call OI of 51.7 lakh contracts at the 15,000 strike price. Maximum Put OI of 45.1 lakh contracts was seen at 14,500 strike price. Supreme Court Judgement: The Supreme Court on Tuesday stated that the government cannot be directed to ask banks to waive off interest on loans during the lockdown period amid Covid-19 pandemic. It also mentioned that the moratorium on EMIs (equated monthly instalments) towards repayment of loans could not be extended beyond 31 August 2020. The top court further said that any amount collected during moratorium period by banks as interest on interest, penal interest or compound interest, should either be refunded or adjusted against the next EMIs payable by the borrowers. SC was pronouncing its verdict on a batch of pleas by various trade associations seeking an extension of loan moratorium and other reliefs in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The RBI had on 27 March 2020 issued the circular which allowed lending institutions to grant a moratorium on payment of instalments of term loans falling due between 1 March and 31 May 2020, due to the pandemic. Later, the moratorium was extended till 31 August 2020. Coronavirus Update: Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 12,36,76,236 with 27,22,914 deaths. India reported 3,45,377 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 1,60,166 deaths while 1,11,81,253 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Yesterday, the country saw 46,951 fresh infections, the biggest single-day spike since early November. As per the Health Ministry data, Maharashtra (24,645), Punjab (2,299), Gujarat (1,640), Chhattisgarh (1,525) and Karnataka (1,445) are the five states with the highest surge in cases in the last 24 hours. Buzzing Index: The Nifty Auto index rose 0.57% to 10,198. Tata Motors (up 1.14%), Maruti Suzuki India (up 1.10%), Eicher Motors (up 1.03%), Ashok Leyland (up 0.97%) and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) (up 0.62%) were the top gainers in Auto segment. Maruti Suzuki India rose 1.10% after the car major on Monday announced that it will hike vehicle prices from April 2021 due to increase in various input costs. Maruti Suzuki India said, "Over the past year the cost of company's vehicles has been impacted adversely due to increase in various input costs. Hence, it has become imperative for the company to pass on some impact of the above additional cost to customers through a price increase in April 2021." The car major added that price increase shall vary for different models. Mahindra & Mahindra grew 0.62%. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Mahindra Defence Systems (MDSL) worth Rs 1,056 crore. The contract is for supplying 1,300 light specialist vehicles to the Indian Army. The light specialist vehicle is a modern fighting vehicle and will be authorised to various fighting units for carriage of medium machine guns, automatic grenade launchers as well as anti-tank guided missiles. Stocks in Spotlight: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals gained 1.04% after the company received final approval from the US drug regulator for diltiazem hydrochloride extendedrelease capsules. The product is the generic version of Cardizem SR extendedrelease capsules, 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg, of Biovail Laboratories Inc. The drug is indicated for the treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive medications. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) advanced 2.66% after the company said it is acquiring the 58.1% stake held by DVS Raju and family in Gangavaram Port (GPL). The acquisition is valued at Rs 3,604 crore and subject to regulatory approvals. APSEZ had announced acquisition of Warburg Pincus's 31.5% stake in GPL on 3 March 2021 and together with this acquisition, APSEZ would have 89.6% stake in GPL. This acquisition continues the strategy of APSEZ to transform into a pan India cargo utility from a predominantly west coast port company. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A heartbreaking picture from New South Wales' once-in-a-generation floods shows a family's beloved horses trapped in a paddock as water rises around them. Brave local Phillip Atkin has already rescued a woman from her flooded property in Crescent Head, north of Port Macquarie, but has been unable to save her three horses Navar, Degrey and Barney. In a post on Facebook, Amanda Hancock made a desperate plea for friend Anny Biasol - who owns the horses - after she became trapped on the property. A tragic image of horses Navar, Degrey and Barney standing in waist-high water at a Crescent Head property has been shared in a desperate plea for help She shared the confronting image of Ms Biasol's horses stranded in waist-deep water on the property and asked if anyone with a boat could coordinate with local SES. Mr Atkin responded to her post on Monday morning, offering to drive his boat to the Crescent Head property along the flooded Maria River to help with the rescue mission. But it had been too risky to evacuate the horses, as flood waters continued to rise around them. The rescuer explained the paddock was surrounded by underwater fencing, logs and submerged boats meaning the distance to safety was too dangerous to travel. Rescuer Phillip Atkin shared this image of the flooded Maria River as he travelled to the Crescent Head property Plans to rescue the horses were underway on Tuesday morning, with Mr Atkins to return with feed for the horses who remain in a 'reasonably safe' condition in 'belly-high water'. Mr Atkin told Daily Mail Australia the horses will soon be removed from their enclosure and remained in a stable condition. Emergency services and courageous locals continue to evacuate homeowners and their beloved animals from properties inundated by the floods. Four hours south from Crescent Head, seven horses and a cow were rescued from a Cornwallis property on Monday night. Seven horses and a cow were rescued by volunteers at a property in Cornwallis (pictured) Andrew Brown shared the good news on Facebook group 'Fire & Flood Evacuation Pet Assistance NSW' with hundreds of users sharing their gratitude for the rescue. 'Myself, an amazing friend, Josh and some amazing strangers went deep into the floodwaters of Cornwallis via a dingy around 10pm last night', Mr Brown said. 'Miraculously we were able to locate them and swim them all to higher ground under my house.' Mr Brown said the SES and a vet had returned to the property and given the horses injections and a medical test. The animals were accessed by a dingy and led to higher dry land by volunteers on Monday The SES on Tuesday morning reported crews were attending 9,700 calls for help across New South Wales, including 870 flood rescues. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned conditions will continue to deteriorate for flood impacted areas of the state as two major weather fronts collide. 'Overnight, unfortunately, some weather conditions have worsened, and those weather conditions are likely to worsen during the day so many communities will experience increasing heavy rainfall', she said in a press conference on Tuesday. 'As we advised yesterday about 18,000 people have been evacuated and regrettably we now have warnings for an additional 15,000 people that may need to be evacuated.' JERUSALEM, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. Israels citizens went to the ballots on Tuesday to vote for the 24th Knesset and the countrys leadership for the next four years, for the fourth time in less than two years, ARMENPRESS reports, citing TPS. The 6,578,084 eligible voters can arrive at 12,127 ballots across the country and cast their vote for one of the 39 parties running for the Knesset. An additional 124,829 Israelis are eligible to vote for the first time, an increase of 1.9% from the previous elections. Convicts can vote at 61 ballots in prisons, and patients can vote at 309 ballots posted in hospitals. Some 340 special ballots for patients infected with Coronavirus and another 420 for Israeli in quarantine were placed at several locations. For the first time in history, a special ballot box will be placed at Ben Gurion Airport for passengers entering Israel and who are required to enter quarantine. Some 2,600 are expected to enter the country on Elections Day. The ballots cast by Israeli representatives at 99 locations around the globe have already arrived in the country. Israels police deployed 20,000 officers and security personnel to maintain the peace and ensure that Election Day proceeds in a democratic fashion. A party requires some 140,000 votes, about 3.25 percent of the votes which are equal to four seats in the Knesset, to pass the electoral threshold, and therefore the majority of the parties will not be voted into Israels parliament. The main battle is between the right-wing bloc, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party, and between the center-left bloc, led by Yair Lapid, his Yesh Atid party, and several other anti-Netanyahu parties. Israel is voting for the fourth time after Netanyahu and Blue and White head Benny Gantz formed a government that collapsed after only a few months. After another exceptionally vicious campaign that focused primarily on the candidates rather than on the issues at hand, Israel is again holding its breath in anticipation of the exit polls, which are slated to be published at 10 PM local time. It should be noted that the exit polls last elections in 2015 failed to predict the actual outcome of the elections, and one of the polls in the April 2019 elections was way off the mark. Septembers exit polls were fairly accurate. The last polls published showed that Netanyahu and the right had a slight lead, possibly enough votes to form a government without political maneuvering. A determining factor will be the voters turnout, as several parties are teetering on the electoral threshold. According to the Knessets Research and Information Center, the last three election campaigns saw a cumulative increase of 3% in the overall turnout: 68.5% in the 21st Knesset elections, 69.8% in the 22nd Knesset elections and 71.5% in the 23rd Knesset elections. The turnout was higher in Arab localities. The actual results may be late in coming due to the many votes cast by Corona patients and others in double envelopes, which are counted separately and take more time. External Article 23 March 2021 At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, few hoteliers really understood the width and breadth of the crisis. In an industry that has proved cyclical in the past, many were inclined to compare it with the crises and black-swan events they'd experienced before, expecting a deep, but ultimately short, disruption to their businesses. For some, however, very human moments and personal experiences quickly showed this wasn't like anything else they had gone through. Thom Geshay, president of Davidson Hospitality Group, recalled a May 2020 trip from his home in Atlanta to donate stem cells to his cancer-stricken brother in Houston. "I got to the Atlanta airport, and it was a ghost town," he said. "I mean, literally empty. This is the busiest airport in the world, and I'm going through security with a handful of people and had the plane mostly to myself." background image Research Announcement: Moody's - Effective pandemic response positions Vietnam and its banks for further progress Singapore, March 23, 2021 -- Successful pandemic containment has helped stabilize domestic demand, while the countrys export competitiveness has increased amid escalating tensions between the US and China Vietnamese banks will emerge from the pandemic with stronger profitability and capitalization, and largely stable asset quality Vietnam (Ba3 positive) was one of three economies in APAC to grow in 2020, preserving a stable operating environment that has insulated banks from a severe deterioration in asset quality and supported capitalization. Banks positive trajectory will continue over the next 12-18 months amid a growth rebound in Vietnam and the global economy, according to a new report from Moodys Investors Service. Vietnams systemwide asset quality strengthened further despite the pandemic in 2020 as banks continued to resolve legacy problem assets, says Joyce Ong, a Moodys Analyst. While the hospitality and travel sectors remain impeded by the pandemic, we expect the overall deterioration in asset quality will be much more moderate for Vietnamese banks than for regional peers because of Vietnam's relatively strong economic outlook in 2021. In addition, Vietnamese banks modestly increased their core capital ratios in 2020 as a result of good profitability, regulatory restrictions on dividend payouts during the year and sustained investor confidence. This trend will continue in the next 12-18 months, helping Vietnamese banks emerge from the pandemic with stronger profitability and capitalization than before. On a macro level, Vietnam has benefited form trade diversion and supply chain reconfigurations due to escalating tensions between the US and China since 2018. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated this trend, with the recent regional preferential trade agreements further boosting Vietnams export and foreign investment-related prospects. Moodys projects Vietnam's real GDP growth to accelerate to 7.2% in 2021 from 2.9% in 2020, Story continues higher than the median of 4.4% for rated APAC economies. Subscribers can access the report "Credit Conditions - Vietnam: Economic resilience to pandemic will support credit quality of sovereign, banks at: http://www.moodys.com/ researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1265453 NOTE TO JOURNALISTS ONLY: For more information, please call one of our global press information hotlines: New York +1-212-553-0376 , London +44-20-7772-5456 , Tokyo +813-5408-4110 , Hong Kong +852-3758-1350 , Sydney +61-2-9270-8141 , Mexico City 001-888-779-5833 , Sao Paulo 0800-891-2518 , or Buenos Aires 0800-666-3506 . You can also email us at mediarelations@moodys.com or visit our web site at www.moodys.com. This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history. background image Joyce Ong Analyst Financial Institutions Group Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd. JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350 Client Service: 852 3551 3077 Graeme Knowd MD-Banking Financial Institutions Group Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd. JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350 Client Service: 852 3551 3077 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd. 50 Raffles Place #23-06 Singapore Land Tower Singapore, 048623 Singapore JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350 Client Service: 852 3551 3077 2021 Moodys Corporation, Moodys Investors Service, Inc., Moodys Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, MOODYS). All rights reserved. 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The sourcing event is a joint venture of two of the industry's leading events groups - Informa Markets Jewellery, organiser of the world's biggest fine jewellery marketplace - Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong - and the Italian Exhibition Group SpA (IEG), organiser of Vicenzaoro, Italy's most influential jewellery show and the top European trade fair in the sector. Their unbeatable combination of resources, expertise, global reach and local knowledge is further enhanced by the support of DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre), JGT Dubai's official partner, and Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group as an industry partner. "As the jewellery sector's leading trade show organiser, Informa Markets Jewellery is heeding the industry's call as a strategic partner. Our industry is undergoing a significant transformation, and it is up to us to create and embrace opportunities that will shape the long-term path for our industry," said David Bondi, Senior Vice President of Informa Markets in Asia. "JGT Dubai's launch is symbolic of how fast the industry has transformed in the new world, and how adaptable, nimble and open we are to exploring new ideas and possibilities," Bondi continued. "Our collaboration with IEG is unprecedented in the events industry, and it won't certainly be the last," he said. "During these unique times, our priority is to create opportunities that will deliver the best results for our community, and JGT Dubai is something that we can do better - together." Created as a global hub for creativity and innovation, JGT Dubai leverages Informa Markets Jewellery's capabilities, including an incomparable global portfolio of fairs and events, and one of the industry's most prestigious awards programmes - the Jewellery World Awards (JWA). IEG, the driving force behind Vicenzaoro, is deploying its resources, focus and deep local knowledge to ensure JGT Dubai's success. Corrado Peraboni, Chief Executive Officer of IEG, commented, "Our jewellery sourcing events in core markets around the world - be it in Europe, North America or the Middle East - highlight the true scale of our reach as an industry partner. In February 2022, expect us to bring our global experience and local expertise to bear in delivering one of the industry's premier meeting points." JGT Dubai offers suppliers the opportunity to unlock the full potential of a combined market of 4 billion consumers - all within seven hours of flying time from Dubai. The buying opportunity is focused on wholesalers, retailers and manufacturers from the Middle East, India, Russia, Southern Europe and North Africa. For buyers, the marketplace grants them exclusive access to global resources. JGT Dubai is further enriched by an exclusive networking programme, including the highly anticipated Dubai Diamond Conference, organised by DMCC, and Informa Markets Jewellery's JWA Dubai presentation ceremony. Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC, and Chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange added: "JGT Dubai will be an event like no other. Hospitality and the ability to bring people together is in Dubai's DNA, and we are fast becoming the capital of the precious metals and jewellery trade. Held before the major shows in Las Vegas and Hong Kong, JGT Dubai will set the scene and be a showcase of invention." SOURCE Informa Markets Jewellery Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, a global leader in the luxury hospitality industry for 60 years, is looking ahead to the future with a growing portfolio of luxury hotels, resorts and residential developments, and further expansion of its product offering in 2021 and beyond. In a time of unprecedented change and challenge for our company and the entire hospitality industry, we continue to innovate, remaining flexible in our plans and nimble in our ability to capitalise on opportunities, while maintaining momentum towards our long term goals, says John Davison, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. The impacts of the pandemic continue, and we are tackling these issues as they come. Yet more than ever, we are confident in the long-term success of the company and the dedication and resilience of our people who bring the Four Seasons brand to life each and every day. Our focus on the guest experience is steadfast, as is our ability to embrace new opportunities and continue to evolve. Adds Davison: As we mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of the very first Four Seasons this month, its an opportunity to reaffirm the values upon which the company was founded. We are growing with great intention, never losing sight of the values of respect, care and excellence that have always defined Four Seasons. As we look ahead, we remain singularly focused on the luxury segment, responding to the changing needs of our guests and building upon the well-established trust and credibility of our brand. Leadership in Design and Innovation To help lead Four Seasons into its next phase of growth, the company has appointed Isabel Pintado to the newly-created position of Senior Vice President, Design and Innovation. In this role, Pintado will advance the brands design vision and aesthetic across its global portfolio, while also engaging cross-functionally throughout the organisation to enhance Four Seasons programming at every touchpoint. We are thrilled to welcome Isabel to our team as we embark on our next chapter of innovation and growth. Isabels exceptional talent and creativity is matched by her collaborative working style and global design expertise, says Christian Clerc, President, Global Operations, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Isabels skills and knowledge will be critical as we look ahead towards our long-term product, design and innovation goals. A deep passion for design has fuelled her impressive career and we are delighted that she has joined Four Seasons to help bridge the worlds of innovation and design in a way that will be uniquely Four Seasons. Pintado has a breadth of global experience, leading several top design studios around the world prior to joining Four Seasons. In 2020, Design Middle East magazine ranked Isabel #1 on its annual Creative 30 Power List. Accelerated Residential Development Four Seasons brand expansion has also been achieved through the success of the companys entry into branded residential offerings more than 35 years ago. Today, nearly 90% of upcoming openings and pipeline developments include a residential component, and Four Seasons remains one of the only hospitality companies to also act as the property manager for its residential owners. Four Seasons continues to enhance the residential experience, and most recently introduced a residential digital experience, built on the same platform as the award-winning Four Seasons App, for homeowners to opt for contactless services or manage and maintain their home from afar. This year, following the very successful opening of Twenty Grosvenor Square, Four Seasons will unveil three new standalone residential projects, including the first Four Seasons residences in Los Angeles, as well as new residential offerings in San Francisco and Marrakech. Currently, Four Seasons has a five-year pipeline of $6 billion in gross sales value comprising 30 projects around the world, with 14 due to commence sales this year alone. Now more than ever, travellers are looking for additional space and privacy, and Four Seasons Private Retreats offer a luxury rental experience with more flexibility and exclusivity. With exceptional homes and villas in more than 20 destinations around the globe, and another 16 locations to be added by 2025, guests can choose multi-bedroom villas, penthouses and chalets to reconnect with extended family, friends and loved ones. Private Retreats also often include fully equipped kitchens, pools and outdoor spaces, and always include access to the services and amenities of the neighbouring Four Seasons hotel or resort. Four Seasons Private Retreats are included in the Extend Your Stay program, where guests are invited to live, work, learn and play at Four Seasons for 30 days or more. And for those spending more time at home than ever before, the brand also makes it easy to capture the feeling of a Four Seasons stay at home with its online retail offering, first introduced in 2019 and growing in scope to include a range of signature linens, bed and bath items, gifts and more including the legendary, fully-customisable Four Seasons Bed. Strategic Portfolio Growth Four Seasons approach to development and growth has been intentional and focused, opening in key destinations, setting the standard for luxury in each new market it enters. No matter the location, Four Seasons success is grounded in its partnerships with hotel owners, who share the brands vision for creating the pinnacle of luxury with each new hotel, resort or residence. In 2020, Four Seasons signed nine new hotel, resort and residential projects, tying a record for the most new deals in the companys 60 year history. Most recently, Four Seasons announced its expansion in Europe with an exceptional Mediterranean property. In Italys southern region of Puglia, Four Seasons will be one of few beachfront hotels with direct access to the sea, developing an all-new resort with views from Italys stunning Adriatic coast. And, following the opening of Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Madrid in late 2020, Four Seasons will continue to expand its Spanish portfolio with a resort in Mallorca, as the brand will manage the historic Hotel Formentor, introducing it as a Four Seasons experience in 2023. The strength of Four Seasons portfolio continues to build upon the brands momentum in 2020, when it opened a number of landmark properties. Recent new openings include an expanded presence in Tokyo and San Francisco, as well as the brands spectacular return to Thailands capital in Bangkok. With each new property, our goal is to create the best luxury experience in that market by offering a product of exceptional quality combined with unparalleled service. Each new hotel, resort and residence is a unique reflection of its local market while also representing the future of what Four Seasons will deliver for years to come, says Clerc. This momentum continues in 2021 and beyond as we open new properties globally and continue our drive towards an elevated service experience grounded in trust, care and authenticity. Offering a mix of state-of-the-art new builds and historic restoration projects, upcoming Four Seasons openings will provide unique opportunities to explore some of the worlds most exciting destinations. In the United States, Four Seasons will enter new markets such as Napa Valley, New Orleans, Fort Lauderdale, Minneapolis and Nashville with new hotels and Private Residences. In Taormina, Italy and Cartagena, Colombia, Four Seasons is bringing new life to historic properties while maintaining their legacy and charm. Adding to a growing resort portfolio, Four Seasons will introduce an all-new secluded oceanfront oasis in Tamarindo, Mexico. Evolution of the Guest Experience Four Seasons has a long history of anticipating the evolving needs of guests, and in the process, continually raising the standard of luxury hospitality at every touchpoint. As the company quickly responded to evolving guest expectations, it launched its innovative and enhanced health and safety program in May 2020, Lead With Care. Grounded in the trust the brand has built over six decades, the program focuses on genuine, intuitive service, ensuring a luxury experience with health and safety top of mind. Working with leading medical experts, the program enhances guest comfort and care while also ensuring employees feel safe and confident at work, equipping them with the tools and training they need to feel secure. -TradeArabia News Service You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close At least 6 killed in mass shooting in U.S. Colorado: local media Xinhua) 09:29, March 23, 2021 LOS ANGELES, March 22 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed in a mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado, the United States, local media reported on Monday, citing law enforcement officials. 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. Monday, 22 March 2021 23:31:30 (GMT+3) | Sao Paulo Peruvian company Prodac Bekaert, the local subsidiary of the Bekaert Group, said it has acquired civil construction company Grating Peru. Prodac Bekaert produces a wide range of products, including wires, steel fibers, and electro-welded products for the civil construction and other industries like mining and infrastructure. Grating Peru produces expanded meshes, as well as electro-forged gratings, which all meet the ASTM A-36 and LAC Steel ASTM A-1011 regulations. Prodac Bekaert did not disclose the value of the transaction. The company said the acquisition will help it expand its portfolio of steel transforming and coated wires for the infrastructure and civil construction segments. (Natural News) The military government that was established in Myanmar following accusations of voter fraud earlier this year has reportedly seized the bank accounts of numerous Open Society Foundations owned and operated by billionaire provocateur George Soros. Along with the seizure came the issuance of arrest warrants for 11 members of Soros organizations who are believed to have given financial support to the civil disobedience movement against the military junta. The new government of Myanmar says it plans to take legal action against the Open Society Foundations, which allegedly violated restrictions on the activities of such organizations. For one, Soros Open Society Foundations did not receive approval from Myanmar authorities to deposit $5 million into their Myanmar bank accounts. The Open Society Foundations also illegally withdrew $1.4 million from these same bank accounts. Military-aligned groups including the Union Solidarity and Development Party have accused Soros of manipulating Myanmars politics by supporting civil society organizations in the country, reads a website from Thailand that tracks political developments in Myanmar. Myanmar also recently banned the use of both Facebook and Twitter in the country after it was revealed that the Big Tech platforms were using hidden algorithms to promote anti-military protests following the military takeover. Facebook and Twitter likewise interfered with the 2020 election here in the United States by censoring pro-Trump content while boosting pro-Biden content, among other crimes. The U.S. military has maintained a strong presence in Washington, D.C., ever since Trippy Joe was inaugurated and installed in the White House. Because of this, some believe that the military is likewise calling the shots domestically as the fraudulent November election is sorted out in the background. Hillary Clinton, George Soros aggressively interfered with Myanmar politics to promote Aung San Suu Kyi American involvement in Myanmars political affairs goes back many years, it is important to note. Back in 2012, failed presidential wannabe Hillary Clinton personally advised an individual named Aung San Suu Kyi to contest a parliamentary seat in the 2012 Burmese elections Burma is another name for Myanmar, by the way. Kyi ultimately took Clintons advice, effectively kickstarting her own political career in Burma as the Clinton Crime Family pulls many strings globally. Barack Hussein Obama also strongly supported Kyis rapid rise to power, petitioning on her behalf to have her released from house arrest. Kyi was repeatedly arrested during the 1990s and 2000s for rioting and other subversive acts against the Myanmar government. In 2012, Obama awarded Kyi the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, which she described as one of the most moving days of my life. Three years later, Kyi rose to power through heavy manipulation by the Obama regime. The Obama regime imposed sanctions on Myanmar that it said would only be lifted if Kyi was given a high political role in the country. Also backing Kyi was none other than Soros and his expansive global non-government organization (NGO) network, which is now being prosecuted in Myanmar. Commenting on the developments, one National File reader wrote that Myanmar deserves more credit than America for taking action against those who manipulated its election. Meanwhile, the U.S. is being run by a dementia patient and an ineligible foreigner from Jamaica whose family owned slaves and nothing is apparently being done to rectify the situation. The Republican state-run legislatures had a duty to do something and they sat on their hands, wrote another National File about how RINO (Republican in name only) traitors contributed to the theft of America by the corrupt Democrats. They allowed the theft of the election. They are a collection of spineless cowards and traitors. More related news about the fraudulent 2020 election can be found at Trump.news. Sources for this article include: NationalFile.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com SsangYong Motor's plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, in this file photo taken on Feb. 3. Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung Creditors of SsangYong Motor have stepped up pressure on the cash-strapped automaker to drastically cut labor costs, in a bid to attract investment from new potential investor HAAH Automotive Holdings. SsangYong is seeking to file for a prepackaged bankruptcy, but the plan has hit a snag after the company and the U.S.-based auto retailer failed recently to clinch a contract once again. HAAH was supposed to sign a deal with SsangYong for a capital injection by the end of February, but the plan has been delayed due to the automaker's weakening outlook for revival, amid falling sales. The Korea Development Bank (KDB), the main creditor of SsangYong, has urged the company to show its strong willingness for a revival by taking its cost-cutting measures to a "radical level," if it hopes to attract capital from the new investor and creditor. As SsangYong is in dire need of capital to realize its plan for a prepackaged bankruptcy, the best-case scenario for the automaker's revival is to reach a swift agreement with the new investor. Such an agreement is important because KDB remains unwavering in its position to offer conditional financial support for SsangYong only after it reaches an investment contract with HAAH. "As of now, SsangYong has few cards to play amid stalled talks with HAAH, and one possible and inevitable step is to reduce labor costs, which will signal its willingness to sacrifice in order to attract capital," an industry source said. Last week, KDB Chairman Lee Dong-gull reaffirmed the bank's position that no financial support would be made unless both the automaker and the potential new investor submit a joint investment plan for SsangYong's revival. As of 2019, SsangYong employees' average annual income reached 86 million won ($76,200). But the firm's labor and management decided to cut their annual income by 20 percent last year as part of their self-rescue measures amid the company's deteriorating financial situation. SsangYong's union is in talks with its management to take a temporary pay cut of 50 percent for the monthly salaries of March and April. But industry sources remain skeptical over SsangYong's revival plan, as HAAH is merely showing interest in investment without taking any meaningful steps toward acquiring a large stake in SsangYong. "SsangYong Motor and HAAH were expected to sign a letter of intent this month and receive approvals for the pre-packaged plan from interested parties such as creditors but the U.S. auto importer keeps delaying the timeline, which raises skepticism over HAAH's sincerity in investing in SsangYong," another source said. SsangYong will be forced to accept a court-led restricting process in the event of the worst-case scenario, in which it fails to reach a deal with HAAH by the end of this month. Richard Madeley marked the first anniversary of the national lockdown in novel fashion as he enjoyed an al fresco Corona beer. The presenter, 64, soaked up the sun as he lounged outside his London home while reading a book on Tuesday. Getting happy hour started early, the writer was already halfway through his tipple by 4.30pm as he relaxed in the the pleasant spring weather. One year on: Richard Madeley appeared to be in great spirits as he enjoyed a bottle of Corona beer outside his house in London to mark the first anniversary of lockdown on Tuesday Richard kept things casual for his al fresco drink, sporting a khaki jacket with light blue jeans and brown boots. Richard did not comment publicly on the anniversary of the first national lockdown, after he previously caused controversy for calling the stay at home orders 'pointless'. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson led Britain in mourning the victims of coronavirus during a minute's silence earlier in the day. The Prime Minister, who contracted Covid-19 last year, paid a solemn tribute to the 126,172 dead in the Cabinet room of No10 at noon. There is also a cross-party campaign for a minute's silence every year on March 23 to remember the lives lost on the anniversary of the first UK-wide lockdown. Enjoying a tipple: The presenter, 64, soaked up the sun as he lounged on the steps of his home while reading a book The comments came after Richard angered Good Morning Britain viewers with his lockdown remarks in October. The TV presenter said: 'In the situation we are in now, I think that it is proving lockdowns are pointless... 'It has turned out to be a game of hide-and-seek. Initially, when the first lockdown was introduced, people like me were in full support of it. 'We were told it was going to protect the NHS and it did. In that sense, the lockdown worked. It saved lives. It protected the NHS. But job done now. He went on to argue that there is 'no point in running away and hiding from the virus'. Soaking up the sun: He sported a light khaki padded jacket as he relaxed in the the pleasant spring weather one year on from the UK's first day in lockdown Light reading: Richard appeared to be enjoying his time outdoors in the sun as he held a pink book in his hand Richard is famously married to presenter Judy Finnigan, and the couple have son Jack and daughter Chloe together. Recently, Judy, 72, and husband Richard opened up about their 1986 wedding day and the surprise pregnancy with Chloe as they spoke to Giovanna Fletcher on her Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast. Judy said: 'We got married as soon as we could, you were getting divorced and so was I so we had to wait for all that legal stuff to be out of the way but we got married in 1986 and our sort of relationship had started in 1983 and become stronger and stronger. 'We would of probably of got married in 1984 if we could've done but we got married in 1986 when our first child Jack was 6 months old. 'So we went ahead as I was in my mid 30s. Well by the time we got together I was beginning to be in my late 30s and I knew I wanted more children and so did you so we sort of went ahead and had Jack. Richard added: 'And we thought at our wedding day at Manchester registry office that, it was just family there, no friends, just family, we thought that there were just the three kids there, there was Tom and Dan and Jack.' Judy woke up the next morning feeling 'physically different' and it was then she realised she was pregnant with Chloe - just months after welcoming Jack. NASA will attempt to fly Ingenuity for the first time early next month. The agency announced it plans to test fly the 4-pound prototype helicopter no earlier than April 8th. Ingenuity made its way to Mars attached to the belly of NASA's Perseverance rover, which successfully landed on the surface of the Red Planet on February 18th. Perseverance will deploy Ingenuity in a 33-by-33 foot stretch of terrain within the Jezero Crater NASA has selected for its flatness. The entire process will take about six days to complete, with one step of the procedure involving a pyrotechnic cable-cutting device. After Perseverance drops off Ingenuity, it will carefully back away from the helicopter to give its solar cells the chance to recharge. Once deployed, NASA will attempt to complete the entire test flight process in about 31 days. "As with everything with the helicopter, this type of deployment has never been done before," said Farah Alibay, a systems engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. If all goes according to plan, Ingenuity's first test flight will see it hover about 10 feet off the surface of the planet for 30 seconds. So far, NASA has only had a chance to fly Ingenuity here back on Earth, where it has tested it inside vacuum chambers and labs. Flying a vehicle above Mars presents some unique challenges. While there's less gravity on the planet, the atmosphere is also significantly less dense. But perhaps the biggest challenge facing the robot is the cold temperature of Mars. Nighttime temperatures can drop as low as minus 130 degrees Fahrenheit. "Mars is hard," said MiMi Aung, project manager for Ingenuity at JPL. Our plan is to work whatever the Red Planet throws at us the very same way we handled every challenge weve faced over the past six years together, with tenacity and a lot of hard work, and a little Ingenuity. Lidl Ireland is seeking permission to demolish and rebuild its biggest Laois store, and to create a new entrance. The Portlaoise shop would be completely knocked and a new bigger shop built in a repositioned area on the site off James Fintan Lalor Avenue. They also seek to build a new entrance shared with Shaws department store. The existing shop covers 1,547 sq metres gross floor space with a net retail sales area of 1,117 sq metres. The new shop would cover 2,423 sq metres with a retail space of 1,685 sq metres. The permission is to be sought from Laois County Council. It is an amendment to permission granted previously for the store demolition and rebuild. Vincent Cronolly, Regional Property Executive at Lidl told the Leinster Express more. "Having proudly served the community of Portlaoise and its surrounding areas for many years now, we are reviewing options for upgrading and improving our store on James Fintan Lalor Avenue at present. Were currently finalising plans and look forward to sharing our exciting plans in due course," he said. Lidl opened its first Laois branch in Portlaoise in 2003 and has since opened a shop in Portarlington. It has been seeking a suitable site in Mountmellick for some time. Full details are in this week's Leinster Express newspaper. "Temple Health is a nationally recognized leader in health care and the perfect partner to complement the innovative surgical services offered at Capital Health, such as liver auto-transplant surgery, bloodless liver surgery, and robotic-assisted surgery across our service lines," said Al Maghazehe , PhD, FACHE, President and CEO of Capital Health. "Similarly, Temple University Hospital patients who are approved candidates will receive their procedures at Capital Health but will receive pre- and post-surgery care and related diagnostic tests close to home at Temple University Hospital under the direction of both Temple and Capital Health physicians. Through this affiliation with Temple, we're thrilled to provide patients access to the most innovative liver surgery and transplant options in a way that keeps them closer to home and their loved ones throughout their course of treatment." "We are pleased to be collaborating with Capital Health on a unique affiliation that will benefit patients from both institutions, said Michael A. Young, MHA, FACHE, President and CEO of Temple University Health System and Temple University Hospital. "Capital Health patients will now have access to Temple's liver transplant program, which is home to some of the nation's foremost liver specialists, and Temple patients will now have access to additional treatment options for liver abnormalities through Capital Health." Capital Health offers bloodless liver surgery and liver auto-transplant surgery performed by Cataldo Doria, MD, PhD, MBA, FACS, an internationally renowned hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeon who helped develop these innovative techniques. As part of this new partnership, Temple patients who are candidates for these advanced surgical procedures will be referred to Capital Health. Temple University Hospital's team has decades of experience in caring for patients with chronic liver diseases, including hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease and liver cancer as well as those suffering from drug toxicity or a rare metabolic disease. Temple's highly skilled, multidisciplinary team is led by Antonio Di Carlo, MD, CM, FACS, FRCSC, Associate Professor of Surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) and Chief of Abdominal Organ Transplant Surgery at Temple University Hospital; and Lee F. Peng, MD, PhD, Chief of Hepatology and Associate Professor of Medicine at LKSOM, and Medical Director of Liver Transplantation at Temple University Hospital. As part of the new collaboration, Temple patients with pancreatic cancer who are appropriate candidates will also have access to complex open and robotic-assisted Whipple procedures performed by Dr. Doria. In September 2019, Capital Health became the first hospital in Central New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia region to offer robotic-assisted Whipple procedures to treat pancreatic cancer. About Capital Health Capital Health is the Central New Jersey/Lower Bucks County region's leader in providing progressive, quality patient care with significant investments in physicians, nurses and staff, as well as advanced technology. Comprised of two hospitals (Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton and Capital Health Medical Center Hopewell), a Hamilton outpatient facility, and various primary and specialty care practices across the region, Capital Health is a dynamic health care resource accredited by DNV GL - Healthcare. A four-time Magnet-designated health system for nursing excellence, Capital Health serves as a Level II regional trauma center, regional perinatal center (including a Level III NICU), and emergency mental health screening center. Capital Health also offers the region's first and most experienced Pediatric Emergency Department and most recently, New Jersey's first Autism-Friendly Pediatric Emergency Department. Capital Health also provides innovative programs such as Capital Institute for Neurosciences; nationally accredited Center for Comprehensive Breast Care; Center for Digestive Health; Marjorie G. Ernest Joint Replacement Center of Excellence; award-winning Cancer Center; and the Heart & Vascular Institute, which includes the region's first accredited Chest Pain Center. For more information, visit capitalhealth.org. About Temple Health Temple University Health System (TUHS) is a $2.2 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. The Health System includes Temple University Hospital (TUH); TUH-Episcopal Campus; TUH-Jeanes Campus; TUH-Northeastern Campus; Temple University Hospital Fox Chase Cancer Center Outpatient Department; TUH-Northeastern Endoscopy Center; The Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center, together with The Institute for Cancer Research, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center; Fox Chase Cancer Center Medical Group, Inc., The Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center's physician practice plan; Temple Transport Team, a ground and air-ambulance company; Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based specialty and primary-care physician practices; and Temple Faculty Practice Plan, Inc., TUHS's physician practice plan. TUHS is affiliated with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System (TUHS) and by the Katz School of Medicine. TUHS neither provides nor controls the provision of health care. All health care is provided by its member organizations or independent health care providers affiliated with TUHS member organizations. Each TUHS member organization is owned and operated pursuant to its governing documents. Non-discrimination notice: It is the policy of Temple University Hospital and the Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center, that no one shall be excluded from or denied the benefits of or participation in the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment. SOURCE Capital Health Related Links http://capitalhealth.org A council is considering turning 90,000 street lights back on in the wake of Sarah Everard's murder. Essex County Council said it will review the move to pull the plug on the lampposts which was brought in seven years ago to save over 1million and protect the environment. The Tory-run local authority is under pressure to U-turn from politicians, local neighbourhood watch groups and charities. It comes after Sarah Everard, 33, went missing while walking home from her friend's house in Clapham, south London, earlier this month. Essex County Council said it will review the move to pull the plug on the lampposts which was brought in seven years ago to save over 1million and protect the environment (stock photo) Met police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with murder and kidnap after the marketing executive's body was found in a builder's bag in a Kent woodland. The Conservatives at Essex County Council flicked the switch in 2014, darkening more than 70 per cent of its 129,000 streetlights between midnight and 5am. The switch-off sparked protests and Harlow, Basildon and Epping local councils negotiated to keep some or all of the lights in their boroughs on. Labour group leader Ivan Henderson said the lights should be turned back on for 'safety and wellbeing'. He said: 'Many women have to get up early hours and go to work and they are fearful of coming out of their street and putting their key in their car door. 'Where is the risk assessment for those who have no choice but to work in early hours in that pitch darkness?' It comes after Sarah Everard, 33, went missing while walking home from her friend's house in Clapham, south London, earlier this month Tory cabinet member Louise McKinlay said an advisory board would look at safety issues including lights. Ms McKinlay said: 'I think we would be really missing an opportunity here if we suggested just turning the lights on would solve this, but I am listening to women.' She added the policy had last been reviewed in 2017 and claimed setting up the safety advisory board was 'not just a knee-jerk reaction'. An Essex Police Fire and Crime Commissioner report in 2017 found there was no link between the policy and a rise in crime. RTHK: Germany to enter strict lockdown over Easter: Merkel Germany extended its lockdown measures by another month and imposed several new restrictions, including largely shutting down public life over Easter, in an effort to drive down the rate of coronavirus infections. Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the measures early Tuesday after a lengthy video call with the country's 16 state governors, nearly three weeks after the two sides last agreed on a plan paving the way to relax some rules. Since then, infections have increased steadily as the more contagious variant first detected in Britain has become dominant. The restrictions previously set to run through March 28 will now remain in place until April 18. Regions where the weekly number of new infections exceeds 100 per 100,000 residents on three consecutive days will face tougher rules, as agreed at the previous meeting. "Unfortunately, we will have to make use of this emergency brake, Merkel told reporters in Berlin. The weekly infection rate per 100,000 people stood at 107 nationwide on Monday, up from the mid-60s three weeks ago. Officials agreed to largely shut down public life from April 1-3, adding a public holiday and shutting down most stores for the period. Public gatherings will be banned from April 1-5, to encourage people to stay at home. Amid concern over the rise in Germans traveling abroad on holidays, authorities also agreed on a blanket requirement for air travelers to be tested for Covid-19 before boarding a flight to Germany. Merkel said Germany, which had comparatively low deaths during the first phase of the pandemic last spring, has seen "successes but also of setbacks. The country's vaccination campaign has lagged far behind expectations, with only about 9% of the population receiving at least a first shot and 4% receiving both doses by Sunday. We don't want our health system to be overloaded, Merkel said, noting that the new variant has caused severe illness also in younger people who are infected. (AP) This story has been published on: 2021-03-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Minnesota's growing immigrant population is a major force in the state's economy, according to a new report from the Minnesota Chamber Foundation. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free The report, released Tuesday morning, details the "undeniable benefit" Minnesota's 470,000-plus foreign-born residents contribute to the state. The big picture: Immigrants tend to be younger than the general population and they enter the workforce at higher rates than native-born residents. They also play a key role in some of the state's most important and in-demand industries, from nursing to engineering. By the numbers: Immigrants now make up more than 10% of the state's workforce, up from 2% in the 1980s, per the report. Their spending power totals $12.4 billion more than double what it was in 2013. Minnesota's immigrant households paid $2 billion in state and local taxes in 2019. As of 2018, the state was home to 18,000 immigrant entrepreneurs, whose businesses employ 52,000 workers. Yes, but: Our immigrant entrepreneurship levels actually lag the national data. The report argues more support and access to funding is needed to address that gap. The bottom line: International migration has helped the state stave off negative effects of an otherwise aging population and declining birth rates. Read the full report. This story first appeared in the Axios Twin Cities newsletter, designed to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news unfolding in their own backyard. Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. COVID-19 has had a profound impact on court systems, changing everything from cybersecurity concerns to court proceedings . In the future, handling a speeding ticket may no longer require someone to take off work and go on a half-day adventure to a traffic court.Thats the idea behind Online Traffic Resolution , a new portal from Atlanta-based company Judicial Innovations. The portal, which can be used by jurisdictions for free, is in response to a standstill of sorts with traffic courts. Across the country, many traffic courts arent open for business. In some cases, one may have to wait months, rather than weeks as in the past, to have a court date for settling a ticket.Jarrett Gorlin, CEO of Judicial Innovations, said the pandemic has exacerbated a system that was already ripe for innovation.Traffic courts, I believe, were stuck in their old ways pre-pandemic, doing things the way theyd always been done, said Gorlin, who has a law enforcement background. Typically thats how a lot of government works. Theyve been doing it so long, changing it is difficult.Heres how Online Traffic Resolution works: A citizen creates an account via an online portal and looks up their ticket. A judge in a video tells the citizen their rights. From there, the citizen may plead guilty or not guilty. A citizens explanation, which may include uploaded documents, can be approved or rejected by a judge. If the citizen has to pay the ticket, they will be directed to a payment screen.Jurisdictions dont have to pay a penny for a license to use the online portal. Judicial Innovations just wants the ability to process credit card payments. Gorlin said his companys fee for payment processing is, in most cases, less than the fee charged by another vendor.We can sit down with the court and go through the system, Gorlin said. It takes us about half an hour. We can virtually set up the system in about a day.Misty Day, clerk of court for Acworth, Ga., said her city started using the portal several weeks ago. She confirmed the quick set-up time.If the court wanted it tomorrow, I dont see any reason they couldnt as long as they get a username and password, Day said. Theres no hardware. Theres no expense to the court.Currently, Acworth is working on getting the word out about the system. Day said it can be a bit shocking leaving behind a process that involves traditional tools like paper and pens, but the automated system also gives a court a greater sense of security in that one can rely on the portal in the case of a pandemic.When COVID-19 first turned society upside down last year, Day said her court had no procedures in place to deal with the situation. Officers were even instructed to scale back their ticket writing.In essence, everything stopped, Day recalled.Although Acworth has completed only a few traffic cases since adopting the portal, Day, who has held her position since 2005, believes the system will be hit once people become aware of it.I would say any moment now, its going to start spreading like wildfire, she said.Gorlin emphasized the increased safety that comes with using the system while the pandemic runs its course. Safety concerns can blow up to something big, as seen in the case in Los Angeles where a judge has been sued for demanding residents to appear at in-person traffic hearings.I tell our customers, we are not your magic bullet, Gorlin said. We are not your 100 percent solution [but] if we can reduce that foot traffic to the courthouse by 50 percent, its a win for the courthouse, its a win for the finances of the courthouse and its a win for the citizens who are able to deal with a basic traffic ticket.Gorlin also argued that an online traffic ticket system creates a more accessible and reasonable justice system for all. Day agreed, citing cases where mothers are asked to come to court despite not having a way to provide care for their children when they leave home.That guy working a job at McDonalds or Walmart has a real decision to make, Gorlin said. Do I take off work and risk losing money to take care of this ticket? Thats not fair. All for a minor traffic violation. PRINCETON, N.J., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KANE is a new network of former Amazonians, specialists with decades of experience directing Amazon Advertising campaigns for hundreds of clients worldwide. Principal Mike Kazantzis was a creative director leading the CPG vertical in the New York office, and KANE Partner Steve Susi was the division's first executive creative director, relocating from New York to London to lead all creative operations outside the US. In contrast to so-called Amazon "expert" agencies, KANE leaders, while at the company, generated many of Amazon's tools, best practices, and policies that third-parties rely upon today. "Others read about Amazon. We wrote it," said Kazantzis. "We have the institutional knowledgehow decisions are made, development cycles, acceptance methodologies, and of course, customer insightsto benefit brands of every size and business sector." At KANE, those insights drive upwards of 500% increased ROAS for clients, a 100% reduction in ACoS, and 3.2x time-to-market efficiency, saving brands thousands in agency fees and lost impressions. "We started KANE after years of hearing our clients' frustration that their agencies didn't know Amazon," Susi said. "After working with our teams, 'I didn't know we could do that on Amazon' was the most common reaction." While at Amazon, KANE leaders and their teams handled more than 500 clients, trained 65 brands and agencies with the Trusted Creative Partner program, which they developed; created 16 new ad products; and earned an innovation patent with one more patent pending. "We have a name for it: 'Effortless Amazon,'" continued Susi. "Our goal is to offer brands painless, efficient access to Amazon's full potential." "Amazon is so big and policy-laden that it can be intimidating for even the world's largest brands," said Kazantzis. "We help them navigate the Amazon universe to leverage its entire portfolio of services and offerings to drive sales, increase sales velocity, and acquire new customers quickly and easily." "Just like Amazon, KANE starts with the customer and works backwards," said Susi, author of 2019 Amazon category best-seller Brand Currency: A Former Amazon Exec on Money, Information, Loyalty, and Time. "After years of creating successful campaigns, we decided to bring our institutional knowledge and data-driven methodologies to smart brands who want to make the most of their e-commerce and brand presence." Among KANE's suite of offerings are E-, V-, and B-Commerce solutionsits labels for, first, e-commerce fundamentals and optimization, then e-commerce-optimized product videos, and ultimately brand-level content within the shopping environment. "We like to say, 'Don't just move product. Move brand," Susi said. "If you think Amazon is just a sales outlet, you're missing out on most of its powerand your KPIs." "A lot of companies claim to be Amazon experts," added Kazantzis, "but their experience ends where ours begins. They focus almost solely on lower-funnel activity, like SEO and PPC. While important, they're table stakes. The customer expects and deserves best-in-class content across all their devices and touchpoints. Amazon has so much more to offer at the brand level, but these off-menu offerings aren't accessible without insider knowledge of how to unlock them." With the recent explosion of e-commerce and seismic shift in customer behavior defining the "next normal," Amazon is a must-have for thousands of brands worldwide. KANE is excited to work with its clients to think big and take full advantage of its ecosystem of platforms, products, and services. About KANE KANE is a network of former Amazonians in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and the UK providing insights-driven content services for marketers committed to best-in-class e-commerce, creative, and brand performance across all e-commerce channels. Contact: Margie Parker-Lamparillo Phone: (917) 382-1009 Email: [email protected] SOURCE KANE Related Links thinkkane.com Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Chaetodon lunulatus, a coral predator photographed in Mo'orea, French Polynesia, in October 2020. Rice University marine biologists discovered that the feces of coral-eating fish in Mo'orea contain high concentrations of live symbiotic algae that coral depend upon. Credit: Alex Veglia/Rice University Fish that dine on corals may pay it forward with poop. It's an unexpected twist on coral reef symbiosis, said Rice University marine biologist Adrienne Correa, whose lab discovered coral predator feces are jam-packed with living symbiotic algae that corals depend on for survival. The discovery confirms that poop from coral-eating fish is an important environmental source of symbiotic dinoflagellate algae on coral reefs. Correa said coral-eating predators are typically thought of as biting and weakening reef structures, thereby generating hiding spaces for other organisms and, ultimately, beach sand. In contrast, grazing fish that crop down bushy algae get the limelight for helping reefs maintain healthy coral cover. "The message is, 'Move over grazers, it's not just you helping maintain coral dominance. These coral-eating fishes are probably helping too by spreading beneficial coral symbionts,'" she said. Rice doctoral student Carsten Grupstra, lead author of the study in Animal Microbiome, said, "This tells us we don't really know all of the interactions that are happening on coral reefs, and some species may be important for coral reef conservation in ways that we haven't imagined." Rice University graduate student Carsten Grupstra taking notes while following coral predator fish in Mo'orea, French Polynesia, in October 2020. Credit: Alex Veglia/Rice University In exchange for a sheltered life, dinoflagellates nourish their hosts by sharing the food they photosynthesize. Millions of symbionts live in each coral, but some corals aren't born with dinoflagellates. They acquire them as babies. "When many baby corals settle on the reef bottom, they have to get their symbionts from the environment," Correa said. "We've seen symbionts in the water and sediments and on big bushy algae on reefs, but we haven't really looked at how those microorganisms get to all those places." In thinking about ways symbionts might be distributed on reefs, Grupstra, Correa, graduate student Lauren Howe-Kerr and undergraduate Kristen Rabbitt were inspired by studies of pollinating insects and birds that pass beneficial bacteria between flowering plants. Like pollinating bees that visit many flowers in a single flight, coral-eating fish constantly crisscross reefs and interact with many corals each day. "Most of them take small bites of adult corals and don't kill the colonies they're eating," Grupstra explained. Rice University undergraduate Kristen Rabbitt works in the Correa Lab in March 2021. Rabbitt spent several weeks conducting research on coral reefs in Mo'orea, French Polynesia, in 2019 and co-authored a peer-reviewed study about the discovery of high concentrations of live symbiotic algae in the feces of coral-eating fish in Mo'orea. Credit: Brandon Martin/Rice University During an expedition to the Mo'orea Coral Reef Long-term Ecological Research station in French Polynesia, Grupstra, Howe-Kerr, Rabbitt and Correa followed fish that ate different amounts of coral and algae. Using underwater clipboards, they made note of what the fish ate and where and how often they defecated. Grupstra also gathered samples of predator and grazer poop to examine in the lab. "I left some samples in the window sill for a couple of weeks in Mo'orea" he said. "Later, when I started looking at them (under a microscope), I found tons of symbionts. A lot of them were swimming around and some were dividing." The sheer number of live symbionts was both unexpected and potentially important in the larger picture of reef ecology, Correa said. While symbionts had previously been reported in feces from a limited number of coral predators, it was unclear how many of them were alive and potentially useful to corals. Her group found high concentrations of live symbionts in the feces of a diverse group of coral predators. For example, the Rice team estimated that two species at the Mo'orea research station, Chaetodon ornatissimus and Chaetodon reticulatus, each spread about 100 million live symbionts per day over an area of reef approximately the size of six parking spaces. "This expands how we can think about the roles of coral-eating fishes on reefs," Correa said. "They don't just break up reef frameworks. They also disperse symbionts that corals and other organisms need." The knowledge that predator poop creates 'hotspots' of live symbiotic dinoflagellates on reefs raises questions about whether and how coral use them. Correa's team has planned a series of experiments on both juvenile and stressed adult corals to determine how readily they absorb beneficial symbionts from the poop. She said many questions remain about how and how frequently corals take up symbionts from the environment. For example, marine biologists widely agree that many coral babies get their symbionts from the environment, but it is unclear how often adults do this and under what conditions. Better understanding symbiont uptake could lead to new methods to help reefs recover from stress-induced "bleaching." Bleaching occurs when stressed corals expel their symbionts en masse, frequently leaving corals colorless, as the name implies. Bleaching events are increasingly common due to climate change. While some corals never recover from bleaching, others do, which raises the question of how bleached corals repopulate their symbiont communities. Grupstra and Correa are conducting research to find out whether contact with coral predator feces can improve bleaching recovery rates and long-term coral health. More information: Carsten G. B. Grupstra et al, Fish predation on corals promotes the dispersal of coral symbionts, Animal Microbiome (2021). Carsten G. B. Grupstra et al, Fish predation on corals promotes the dispersal of coral symbionts,(2021). DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00086-4 Advertisement A young woman has broken down in tears live on air at the sight of her family home which is now submerged under rising waters as New South Wales endures devastating floods. Brittnee Sheath, who lives with her parents, grandparents and brother, Jayden, assessed what is left of her home in Pitt Town, in Sydney's northwest, on Wednesday. 'It doesn't feel real, we can't believe what's happened,' she told Daily Mail Australia after travelling by boat with Sunrise to check out the flooded property. 'We're just going to have to wait until the water goes down and we can see what it looks like and all the damage.' The only part of the family home that was visible were bits of the roof and top floor window which were poking through the murky water and floating debris. The Sheath family look out toward the floodwaters which entirely swallowed their Pitt Town home The boat then travelled a few meters further, where the tip of the roof of Ms Sheath's home could be seen poking through the water Ms Sheath said she was thankful to have friends and relatives in Pitt Town to support her and her family 'It's hard to see,' she said through tears. 'I'm kind of emotionless at the moment and obviously it's hard to see it like this but like I said it's not going to hit us until we have to go inside. 'Having to start all over again is going to be hard but we'll get there... we are all safe and together and that's all that matters.' Brittnee's brother Jayden arrived at the base of the floodwaters later on Wednesday, and was comforted by his girlfriend, friends and family who had all gathered to offer their support. He explained the family had evacuated on Saturday when they were warned floodwaters were likely to rise. They moved what they could of the furniture to higher ground but anticipated any damage wouldn't be extensive. 'It's pretty unbelievable what's happened,' he said. In spite of the devastation, Jayden and his mates were planning to head to the local pub, noting that's where most of the town had congregated in the past few days. Ms Sheath got emotional as she was supported by her brother and father while surveying the damage in Pitt Town Brittnee Sheath, who lives with her parents, grandparents and brother, assessed what is left of her home in Pitt Town, in Sydney's northwest, on Wednesday Brittnee's brother Jayden said he would head to the pub after surveying the damage at his home. Pictured: Smiling after his girlfriend and friend tried to cheer him up 'As bad as it's been up here, the mood's been great at the pub,' he said. 'Everyone's been great.' The family will remain in Pitt Town with close family friends until they're able to access their own home again, and are just hoping floodwaters don't continue to rise. 'If the water reaches that home, I think the whole of Sydney's in trouble,' another man joked. 'We'd be straight off north to Queensland.' Ms Sheath's father said the family weren't alone in their loss. They had neighbours who also made the choice to evacuate and whose houses are also entirely submerged. 'We all built down there knowing there was a risk,' he told a friend at the scene. 'We'll all stick together.' Insuring homes when they're built in known flood zones or low lying areas is 'almost impossible,' Ms Sheath explained. 'It would've cost an insane amount.' The same sentiment has been echoed in small towns across western Sydney, as residents recall insurance costs skyrocketing after the horror floods in Queensland in 2011. Ms Sheath's father said the family weren't alone in their loss. They had neighbours who also made the choice to evacuate and whose houses are also entirely submerged Brittnee Sheath spent the morning trying to spot her home from across the floodwaters, which had created an enormous body of water covering much of Pitt Town Bel Cole, whose house was at risk toward the back of Riverstone, said her insurance premiums jumped from $150 per month to $650 per month immediately after the tragedy - and that wasn't even complete coverage. 'It's not possible for a lot of families,' she explained. A petrol station at the top of the flooded Pitt Town road leading to the Sheath's home held a lunch time barbecue on Wednesday, where effected families and their friends gathered after assessing the damage earlier in the morning. About 18,000 NSW residents have been evacuated from their homes since last week when the torrential rain began, and the flood clean-up is expected to stretch beyond Easter. More than 10,000 requests for help have been made around the state since last Thursday, with emergency services performing more than 900 flood rescues. The rains began to ease on Tuesday night and there were clear skies over most of the state, but the Bureau of Meteorology said conditions would remain severe for inland NSW as floodwaters continued to rise. Ms Sheath was able to point beneath the boat to what was once an outdoor entertaining area. By Tuesday, it was completely submerged in water. Ms Sheath said she knew the water was rising, but hadn't anticipated how quickly it would swallow her home. 'We had in our minds we had to prepare to get out, we had a warning from the SES saying that we had 12 hours on Friday night,' she said. 'And when it hit at 10pm, three hours later, they said we need to evacuate now.' Ms Sheath said she was thankful to have friends and relatives in Pitt Town to support her and her family. 'We've got so much help. At the moment we're staying with close family friends. They've been more than happy to open up their whole house to us so we can't thank them enough,' she said. Dave Murphy and his wife, who live nearby in Pitt Town Bottoms, also lost their newly renovated home after it was swallowed by floodwater on Sunday morning. Slide me Dave Murphy and his wife, who live nearby in Pitt Town Bottoms, also lost their newly renovated home after it was swallowed by floodwater on Sunday morning Residents look out at the swollen Hawkesbury River from the deck of a partially submerged house as floodwaters rise in western Sydney About 18,000 NSW residents have been evacuated from their homes since last week when the rains began in NSW. Pictured: a home along the Colo River 'It's absolutely devastating... It was our dream home,' Mr Murphy told 2GB on Wednesday. 'The wife's not really impressed at this point in time, and doesn't know if she wants to live there anymore.' Major flooding is occurring northwest of Sydney along the Hawkesbury River at North Richmond, Windsor and on the Colo River on Wednesday morning. SES Commissioner Carlene York says Wednesday's reprieve from torrential rain will allow emergency workers to assess the damage in multiple areas. But some rivers will continue to rise. Her biggest concern is the developing situation in north-western NSW in Moree, where about 400 people in low lying areas have been told to evacuate as the Mehi River swells. 'We're obviously [also] still concerned about that Hawkesbury-Nepean River area because,' she told Sydney radio 2GB. 'Just because the sun comes out doesn't mean the rivers aren't ... increasing in height.' In this drone photo a house is surrounded by flood waters in Londonderry on the outskirts of Sydney More than 10,000 requests for help have been made around NSW since last Thursday, with emergency services performing more than 900 flood rescues. Pictured: a flooded home in Londonderry There have been 12,000 insurance claims so far, and that number expected to increase dramatically. Pictured: a flooded home in Londonderry The SES was closely monitoring the situation and bringing in essential supplies to people cut off by water in North Richmond and Singleton. But the rain is continuing on the South Coast around the Bega River amid heavy winds. Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who has been put in charge of the floods recovery effort, says the crisis is far from over. 'Rivers are swollen, the banks have been breached, and even though the rain has stopped a lot of the water from north of the state will continue to flow into the river system,' he told Nine on Wednesday. He also wants to see residential and business insurance claims processed quickly saying, 'we will be riding the insurance companies, they are on notice'. There have been 12,000 insurance claims so far, and that number expected to increase dramatically. Pakistani Christian man sentenced to death for blasphemy against Islam Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Pakistani court has sentenced a Christian man to death for sending blasphemous text messages to Muslim clerics, according to a report. The Lahore High Court in Punjab province has revised the 2013 sentencing of the Christian man, Sajjad Masih, from life in prison to death, according to UCA News. Masih, a Seventh-day Adventist, was accused of sending blasphemous text messages from a mobile phone to Muslim clerics and others in Gojra. The 2013 verdict included life imprisonment and a fine of 314,500 rupees, the equivalent of about $2,000. Masih, a resident of Punjab's Pakpattan district, was arrested in December 2011. Police said Masih was engaged to a woman, Ruma Masih of Gojra town. But she contracted marriage with another Christian man in the United Kingdom. Masih is accused of using her SIM to send blasphemous messages to clerics as an act of revenge. Gojra has been a religiously sensitive area since massive attacks on Christians were triggered by reports of Quran desecration. In 2009, there were a series of riots targeting Christians in Gojra that resulted in eight deaths, including four women and a child. Muslim radicals reportedly set fire to Christian homes in the area. Police initially refrained from charging Masih under the blasphemy law but added the blasphemy charge to the complaint after pressure from Muslim clerics. Section 295-C of Pakistans penal code permits the death penalty for those convicted of insulting Islam or its Prophet Muhammad. International advocates have long called on Pakistan to reform its penal code as it is often used to persecute religious minorities. In 2015, Masihs brother and nephew were reportedly attacked and threatened by a group of people who had not been identified. A Muslim advocate, Zeeshan Ahmed Awan, celebrated the decision to give Masih the death sentence. Honorable Lahore High Court has accepted our prosecution argument that capital sentence is the only possible sentence in blasphemy, and imprisonment for life, though provided in [the law], awarded by a trial court, is illegal, the lawyer wrote on Facebook. Masihs appeal, in the meanwhile, has been sent to the courts division bench. The blasphemy law, embedded in Sections 295 and 298 of Pakistan's penal code, is frequently misused for personal revenge. It carries no provision to punish a false accuser or a false witness of blasphemy. Islamic extremists also use the law to target religious minorities Christians, Shias, Ahmadiyyas and Hindus. A Lahore-based group, Centre for Social Justice, recently reported that 200 people were accused of blasphemy in 2020 the highest number of cases in a year. In total, the group reports that at least 1,855 people have been charged under Pakistans blasphemy laws since 1987. A Pakistani Christian, Shahbaz Bhatti, who served as minister of minority affairs, was assassinated in March 2011 after calling for the blasphemy laws' repeal. Former Punjab Gov. Salman Taseer was also assassinated for his opposition to the countrys blasphemy law. Both men advocated for Christian woman Asia Bibi, who had been sentenced to death for blasphemy. She was acquitted years later by the Pakistan Supreme Court. Lisa Curtis, the former senior director for South and Central Asia at the U.S. National Security Council during the Trump administration, warned at the U.S. State Departments Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom in 2019 that there are more people imprisoned for blasphemy in Pakistan than all the other countries in the world combined. Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country, ranks as the fifth-worst in the world when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USA's 2021 World Watch List. The State Department lists Pakistan as a country of particular concern for tolerating or engaging in egregious violations of religious freedom. But the public nature of this process is a crucial part of restoring trust in it. Vaccine pharmacovigilance the process of determining vaccine safety is a science. Before rolling out a vaccine, epidemiologists list things that might go wrong after vaccination, whether the health issues are caused by the vaccine or not. They then select the most likely ones, which might include problems associated with other vaccines or conditions caused by the disease the vaccine is intended to prevent (such as blood clotting, which is a known symptom of Covid-19 infection). Before the vaccine is distributed, scientists determine how common these health issues are in the general public to create a baseline to measure against if they see the health events among people getting the vaccine. As people receive immunizations, scientists repeatedly analyze real-time adverse event data, hunting for rates that exceed what they would typically expect. Elevated event rates called safety signals often lead to extensive reviews of patient information, results of which are shared publicly in a timely way. It can be tricky to explain to people why a few cases of blood clots among the millions of people who were vaccinated constituted a red flag. Several experts have said the rate of clots in AstraZeneca vaccine recipients is not higher than whats expected in the general population. But in this case, its not the general population that the findings should be compared against, says Daniel Salmon, who directs the Institute for Vaccine Safety at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In a report published last Tuesday, German health ministry scientists wrote that six of seven clotting events had taken place in relatively young, recently vaccinated women. The group whose baseline rate they should be compared against isnt the general population its other, unvaccinated, relatively young women, says Dr. Salmon. Making that calculation publicly and explaining why its results are concerning signals to members of the public how seriously scientists take their safety. And that is how the vaccine safety process builds trust rather than undermines it: by showing plainly how methodical and uncompromising it is. During a pandemic, vaccine safety questions make headlines. And a world where pandemic vaccine safety is not sensationalized by the news media and misunderstood by the public, either willfully or accidentally, is a fantasy. Experts concerns about vaccine safety protocols playing out in public are rooted in these communication failures. If we dont have these conversations the right way, they fear, people will get the wrong message theyll think all vaccines are unsafe. But being transparent can only improve the perceptions of safety. After all, the bulk of AstraZenecas current problems are a consequence of being inadequately public and timely about its earlier mishaps. While its product has enormous potential, it cannot reach people without trust and its not clear that the company has the currency necessary to build trust on its own. Now Open 23 March 2021 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel franchising company with over 8,900 hotels across nearly 95 countries, announces the opening of Hotel Avenue Louise Brussels, its first Trademark Collection by Wyndham hotel in Belgium. The new property is situated in the heart of Brussels, close to many of the capital's landmarks and attractions, making it the ideal destination for travellers looking to explore the history and culture of the city. Owned by Atom Hoteles and managed by Hotel Collection International (HCI), the stylish hotel underwent a 2.6 million refurbishment and is slated to open later this month. Launched in 2017, Trademark Collection by Wyndham is designed for travellers seeking distinctive, attainable accommodations in sought-after destinations, with each Trademark hotel maintaining its own unique attributes. The addition in Belgium is the latest in the brand's fast growth trajectory around the world over the past four years, with 113 hotels in the U.S., Canada, Belize, Mexico, Sint Maarten, Curacao, Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and now Belgium. Hotel Avenue Louise Brussels, Trademark Collection by Wyndham is situated in one of the city's most popular areas, metres away from the trendy shopping district of Avenue Louise, and within walking distance of many iconic attractions including the historic Grand-Place, the Horta Museum, as well as the famous Manneken Pis statue. The local area offers guests bars, restaurants and traditional bistros, all within walking distance from the hotel. Featuring classic decor, the hotel boasts 78 spacious and soundproofed guest rooms, the cosy Louise Bar serving breakfast and snacks throughout the day, a patio, as well an English-style lounge with fireplace. The property's rooftop features a new business centre, ideal for executive meetings and special events. The hotel offers guests a perfect balance between comfort and local charm and is situated just 12km from Brussels Airport, a 20-minute walk from the Eurostar international train terminal, and within easy reach of public transportation. It also offers private parking space. Destinations United Airlines Increases Flights to Puerto Vallarta In light of the increased demand for flights to Mexican destinations, United Airlines recently announced that it will add flights to popula Mexico beach destinations this summer, including Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - Tourism recovery is progressing responsibly in Puerto Vallarta, which continues to be a preferred destination for national and international tourists, as proven by booking engines' travel trends and an increase in the number of flights by major airlines. According to data from Grupo Aeroportuario del PacAfico, flights in the first half of March alone registered a 19% increase over the entire month of February (when the PVR airport welcomed 1,390 flights) and, with the Easter vacation period right around the corner, a total of 1,661 national (641) and international (1021) flights are expected to have arrived by the end of the month. Puerto Vallarta is prepared to safely receive Easter and Semana Santa visitors. Authorities not only have all of the traditional Spring Break tourism operations in place, but have reinforced these measures with the Covid-19 preventative actions implemented by the Jalisco government's Health Board. ( UNITED AIRLINES' CONFIDENCE In light of the The airline, based in Chicago, is increasing frequencies to its short-haul international network, adding flights to nearly every destination it serves in Mexico, including Puerto Vallarta, as well as some in the Caribbean and Central America. United announced an increase of 1,091 flights to or from Mexico between May and October of this year, representing a 20 percent increase compared with the previous scenario at the beginning of the year, which shows the confidence in international travel to nearby destinations in this country, as more people are vaccinated in the United States. The added flights to Puerto Vallarta will be from Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver and Newark. If the conditions established by the pandemic do not change, the increase in flights to Puerto Vallarta expected by United for June 2021 is as follows: Denver from one to two daily flights, Newark from one to three a week, Los Angeles two weekly to one daily, and Chicago from one weekly to one daily. Experts consider that the days of the pandemic are numbered in the United States due to the rapid advance of vaccination against Covid with an average of 2.5 million daily doses. By early July, 70 percent of the population of the U.S. will have antibodies and herd immunity will have been achieved, which will undoubtedly impact a greater number of trips by North Americans to their favorite destinations, Puerto Vallarta, among them. VERY DESIRED DESTINATION To add to the optimism of the travel sector, Price Travel Holding revealed that so far the destinations most requested by travelers for the Easter holiday period are the beaches of Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific, along with others in the Caribbean, which have also been the most reserved by vacationers. Likewise, it should be noted that both in the metasearch engine Booking.com and in the online travel agency Despegar, Puerto Vallarta is also in the first places of preference and leads the reservations for the upcoming vacation period, considering that more and more people want to leave their places of origin, after a long period of being stuck at home. The upcoming vacation period is one of the most important to boost the recovery of the tourism sector, and Puerto Vallarta is prepared to take advantage of it responsibly. Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust press release translated and edited by Maria Francesca for BanderasNews.com. - Tourism recovery is progressing responsibly in Puerto Vallarta, which continues to be a preferred destination for national and international tourists, as proven by booking engines' travel trends and an increase in the number of flights by major airlines.According to data from Grupo Aeroportuario del PacAfico, flights in the first half of March alone registered a 19% increase over the entire month of February (when the PVR airport welcomed 1,390 flights) and, with the Easter vacation period right around the corner, a total of 1,661 national (641) and international (1021) flights are expected to have arrived by the end of the month.Puerto Vallarta is prepared to safely receive Easter and Semana Santa visitors. Authorities not only have all of the traditional Spring Break tourism operations in place, but have reinforced these measures with the Covid-19 preventative actions implemented by the Jalisco government's Health Board. ( Click HERE for more details.)In light of the increased demand for flights to Mexican destinations, United Airlines recently announced that it will have a series of new flights to Mexico this summer, highlighting Puerto Vallarta among the most sought after beaches by potential American tourists.The airline, based in Chicago, is increasing frequencies to its short-haul international network, adding flights to nearly every destination it serves in Mexico, including Puerto Vallarta, as well as some in the Caribbean and Central America.United announced an increase of 1,091 flights to or from Mexico between May and October of this year, representing a 20 percent increase compared with the previous scenario at the beginning of the year, which shows the confidence in international travel to nearby destinations in this country, as more people are vaccinated in the United States.The added flights to Puerto Vallarta will be from Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver and Newark.If the conditions established by the pandemic do not change, the increase in flights to Puerto Vallarta expected by United for June 2021 is as follows: Denver from one to two daily flights, Newark from one to three a week, Los Angeles two weekly to one daily, and Chicago from one weekly to one daily.Experts consider that the days of the pandemic are numbered in the United States due to the rapid advance of vaccination against Covid with an average of 2.5 million daily doses. By early July, 70 percent of the population of the U.S. will have antibodies and herd immunity will have been achieved, which will undoubtedly impact a greater number of trips by North Americans to their favorite destinations, Puerto Vallarta, among them.To add to the optimism of the travel sector, Price Travel Holding revealed that so far the destinations most requested by travelers for the Easter holiday period are the beaches of Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific, along with others in the Caribbean, which have also been the most reserved by vacationers.Likewise, it should be noted that both in the metasearch engine Booking.com and in the online travel agency Despegar, Puerto Vallarta is also in the first places of preference and leads the reservations for the upcoming vacation period, considering that more and more people want to leave their places of origin, after a long period of being stuck at home.The upcoming vacation period is one of the most important to boost the recovery of the tourism sector, and Puerto Vallarta is prepared to take advantage of it responsibly. Site Map Print this Page Email Us Top ADVERTISEMENT The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has condemned the attacks on Fulani communities in the southern part of Nigeria. At the most minimal level, attacks on Fulani communities who live peacefully with communities in the South must stop, the spokesperson of the group, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said in a statement on Monday. He said no Nigerian should be threatened or ordered to leave any part of the country. Elected leaders must rise to their responsibilities of protecting citizens and their property, he added. PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Fulanis residing in parts of Oyo and Edo states were asked by non-state actors to vacate the areas, over security concerns. Some members of the ethnic group had been accused of kidnapping and violent attacks. Legal experts and public commentators have condemned the quit orders, saying they negate citizens right to freedom of movement and ownership of properties in any part of the country. 2023 The Northern group also alleged moves to blackmail some groups because of the 2023 elections. Mr Baba-Ahmed described the nationalist wave sweeping the country as the antics of some politicians desperate to occupy the highest office in the land. Many of the provocations and threats are directly related to manoeuvres for 2023, as well as attempts to hurt and weaken the North by making it the culprit behind all manners of grievances, real or contrived. People who believe they can intimidate or threaten the North into submitting to their demands are grossly mistaken. He continued: We have followed recent developments, events and utterances from many quarters, all of which suggest that our country is at a defining moment that will determine its fate and the security of all Nigerians for a long time to come. It is no exaggeration to say that our country has never been so threatened by a combination of weak and ineffective governance and a determined effort from many quarters to capitalise on this weakness to attack the foundations, which give all citizens and communities some comfort that we are not headed for almost certain, irretrievable disaster. It appears that many groups and persons, who have public standing, political adventurers and upstarts believe that it is open season to intensify attacks on the foundations of our co-existence through acts that provoke, frighten or otherwise cast doubts over the capacities of those who have sworn to protect the nation and citizens. These groups activities suggest that they perceive a vacuum, which provides a perfect setting for questioning the legitimacy of the Nigerian state, its ability to fight against subversion and other acts of hostility and its commitment to uphold the rule of law. The only voices being heard are those which demand the Balkanisation of the country, or encourage dangerous politics and other acts that pitch some communities against others. The disturbing silence from responsible Nigerians and the capitulation of hitherto influential groups to politics of the gutter is creating a dangerous space, which further erodes the chances that a rational approach to the triggers to these provocations can be found. Prime Minister on Tuesday paid homage to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru and said their sacrifice will remain an inspiration for every generation of the country. It was on this day that Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were executed by the British government. March 23 is observed as 'Shaheed Diwas' to pay tribute to the trio who were hanged for killing British police officer J P Saunders. The trio wanted to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. "Salutations to the revolutionaries of independence, 'Amar Shaheed Veer' Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru on Martyrdom Day," Modi said in a tweet in Hindi. "The sacrifice of these great sons of 'Maa Bharati' will remain an inspiration for every generation of the country. Jai Hind!" 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.) Donald Trump Getty Former President Donald Trump said China was laughing at the United States for being "woke" He cited a row in the US over racism in the Dr. Seuss books, which had drawn criticism from conservative critics. "When China looks at woke they see the biggest problem we have is Dr Seuss - in the meantime they are building factories and trying to kill us in so many different ways," he told Fox News. See more stories on Insider's business page. Donald Trump on Monday said China was laughing at the United States for being "woke" over the racism row concerning Dr. Seuss books, while "trying to kill us in so many ways." Trump was asked on Fox News on Monday why he was continuing to air his views on politics after leaving the White House, which represents a break from presidential tradition. He replied that he felt compelled to because President Joe Biden's administration along with progressive Democratic lawmakers, were "destroying our country." "When China looks at woke they see the biggest problem we have is Dr Seuss - in the meantime they are building factories and trying to kill us in so many different ways," Trump told Fox News on Monday. "They laugh at us. They think we're so ... Frankly, they think our country is stupid when they look at this, when our competitors look at what's going on in our country. Taking down the statues to great heroes and so many other things." The president was a frequent critic of China during his time in office, most recently criticised for its role in the coronavirus pandemic, which he has referred to as "the kung flu" and the "China virus." Trump's reference to Dr. Seuss references a row about the late author after his estate said they would stop publishing several of his books due to their racist and offensive imagery. Dr. Seuss Enterprises said it took the decision to remove six books from sale because they "portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong." Story continues The decision drew criticism from multiple conservative pundits and politicians including Sen. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump Jr., who said the move demonstrated that the "woke mob" had caught up with the author, who died 30 years ago. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The publicity caused several Dr. Seuss books which had not been pulled from sale to rise to the top of Amazon's list of best-selling books, a fact which was celebrated by Sen. Cruz, who posted a picture of the list on Twitter with the caption: "Could Biden try to ban my book next?" Read the original article on Business Insider MBABANE The security detail at the High Court was yesterday different from the other days as police officers from the Bomb Disposal Unit were on standby. The contingent of the police, who were also armed, came in a white panel van, which was pulling a trailer which is used to carry equipment for detecting explosives. In the morning, before the arrival of murder accused Sipho Shongwe, accomplice witness Siphiwe Tata Ngubane and members of the public, some of the police officers from the Bomb Disposal Unit were seen entering Court B of the High Court which is utilised to hear the matter. The officers conducted a clean sweep a thorough inspection - and later left and remained at the entrance for the duration of the matter. Ever since the matter resumed last Wednesday, it was for the first time that police officers from this unit were dispatched to the High Court. One of the law enforcers, when asked what necessitated the presence of the unit, said: I cannot disclose that to you, but can only say that it is for security reasons. We sometimes act on information from our Intelligence Department. The officer, however, emphasised that as the matter proceeds, security will be heightened further for various reasons which border around safety and security of all those in court. The High Court building was littered with armed police officers, especially those from the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU) and those from the Rapid Response Unit of His Majestys Correctional Services. Coincidentally, Shongwes matter was proceeding alongside that of Maxwell Nkambule, who also is accused of having hired South African hit men to kill public transport operator Jomo Khumalo. Like Shongwe, every time Nkambule appears in court, he is escorted by armed officers from the Rapid Response Unit from His Majestys Correctional Services. There were over 30 armed police officers, including others who were not in uniform. There was also a contingent of officers from His Majestys Correctional Services who consisted of those from the Rapid Response Unit. The law enforcers were detailed in different places around the High Court while others were inside the courtroom where Shongwes trial was proceeding. Some officers from the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU) were deployed at the entrance of the room where Ngubane was being kept. Inside the room, he was closely guarded by some plain-clothes police officers who were in the company of the lead investigator in the Shongwe case, Superintendent Sikhumbuzo Fakudze. Others who were present to observe the proceedings were Mbabane Swallows fans, including General Manager Sandile Zwane. Also present were those who had come to give Shongwe moral support, including his wife Vuyiswa. Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? BEIJING - China on Tuesday said it summoned foreign diplomats in protest after the United States, the European Union, Canada and Britain jointly imposed sanctions on senior Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses in Chinas far western Xinjiang region. FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2018, file photo, a woman walks past the entrance to the No. 4 High School also known as the Peyzawat Bilingual High School with signs which read "Entering School Grounds, Please speak Mandarin," left, and "Parents Waiting Zone" in Peyzawat, western China's Xinjiang region. Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 welcomed the United States, European Union, Canada and Britain taking joint action to impose sanctions on senior Chinese officials over human rights abuses in Chinas far western Xinjiang region. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) BEIJING - China on Tuesday said it summoned foreign diplomats in protest after the United States, the European Union, Canada and Britain jointly imposed sanctions on senior Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses in Chinas far western Xinjiang region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Tuesday called the new sanctions a slander and an affront to the reputation and dignity of the Chinese people. I admonish them that they should not underestimate the firm determination of the Chinese people to defend their national interests and dignity, and they will pay the price for their folly and arrogance, Hua told reporters at a daily briefing. That came hours after the Chinese and Russian foreign ministers denounced a new wave of criticism and sanctions against both countries over human rights. At a news conference in the southern Chinese city of Nanning, China's Wang Yi and Russia's Sergei Lavrov rejected outside critiques of their authoritarian political systems and said they were working to further global progress on issues from climate change to the coronavirus pandemic. Countries should stand together to oppose all forms of unilateral sanctions, Wang said. These measures will not be embraced by the international community. Russia is also under Western sanctions over human rights abuses and military aggression against Ukraine. Lavrov said Russias ties with China grew stronger as Moscows relations with the EU suffered damage, while accusing the West of imposing their own rules on everyone else, which they believe should underpin the world order. If Europe broke these relations, simply destroying all the mechanisms that have been created for many years ... then, probably, objectively, this leads to the fact that our relations with China are developing faster than whats left of relations with European countries, Lavrov said. In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the two ministers said no country should seek to impose its form of democracy on others. Interference in a sovereign nations internal affairs under the excuse of advancing democracy is unacceptable, the statement said. China says members of the Uyghur and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang have voluntarily taken part in job training and de-radicalization courses, denying charges that more than 1 million have been locked up in prison-like reeducation camps where they are forced to reject their native culture and pledge loyalty to the ruling Communist Party and its leader Xi Jinping. Media outlets, foreign governments and activist groups say abuses, including forced labour and coerced birth control, are ongoing. The Australian and New Zealand governments reiterated their grave concerns about the growing number of credible reports of severe human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The two, whose economies are heavily reliant on trade with China, have not imposed sanctions themselves. We share these countries deep concerns, which are held across the Australian and New Zealand communities, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and her New Zealand counterpart Nanaia Mahuta said in a joint statement. Today, we underscore the importance of transparency and accountability, and reiterate our call on China to grant meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for United Nations experts, and other independent observers, the statement added. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the multi-national measures were part of intensive diplomacy by the U.K., the United States, Canada and the 27-nation EU to force action amid mounting evidence of serious rights abuses against Uyghurs. The sanctions will be imposed immediately and include travel bans and asset freezes against four officials, Raab said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement the united response "sends a strong signal to those who violate or abuse international human rights, and we will take further actions in co-ordination with likeminded partners." Sanctions have also been opposed by the U.S. on Chinese and Hong Kong officials accused of rolling back freedoms in the former British colony that was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997. Britain has offered residency and a path to citizenship to millions born before the handover, further infuriating the authorities in Beijing. Beijing swiftly responded to Monday's move by the EU by in turn slapping sanctions on 10 European individuals and four institutions that it said had damaged Chinas interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation. Germany on Tuesday summoned the Chinese ambassador in Berlin to complain about the move, saying sanctions against EU lawmakers, scientists, political institutions and non-governmental organizations represented an unreasonable escalation that will unnecessarily strain relations between the EU and China. McGuirck reported from Canberra, Australia. Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report. The World Customs Organization (WCO), with the support of integrity experts from Mauritius and Turkey Customs, has successfully completed an integrity development workshop for the benefit of the State Customs Committee of Uzbekistan. The workshop was delivered online over three days from 3-5 March 2021 with participation of approximately 50 Customs officers, which illustrates the importance that the Customs of Uzbekistan renders to integrity agenda. The mission was conducted with the financial support of USAID (Competitiveness, Trade and Jobs Activity in Central Asia). The objective of the mission was to support the Uzbekistan Customs in further improvement of integrity development strategies in Customs, meeting international commitments in the area of fighting corruption and raising awareness of the WCO tools and instruments on Customs integrity. During the 3-day workshop, participants were updated with the latest WCO tools, instruments and activities on integrity and fight against corruption in Customs. The workshop highlighted the importance of implementing the Revised Arusha Declaration on Good Governance and Integrity in Customs, containing 10 interrelated key factors, each of which is regarded as an essential component of a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy. In addition, the workshop participants were updated with the latest anti-corruption trends, good integrity practices and received training on the following topics: managing conflict of interest, corruption risk mapping and analysis, enhancing co-operation and information exchange between Customs and national anti-corruption authorities, transparency, code of conduct, as well as enhancing the effectiveness of internal affairs (control) function and other good practices. The WCO looks forward to continuing its cooperation with the Uzbekistan Customs to further strengthen its integrity agenda. For more information, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org, integrity@wcoomd.org. Questions are being raised at the Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC) about the 120,000 cost for a jobs website for Childrens Health Ireland (CHI). CHI is responsible for three Dublin paediatric hospitals and is the client for the new National Childrens Hospital, where there have been major construction cost overruns. Concerns were also raised that a PR budget for 83,000 this year could involve payments for the preparation of CHI personnel for appearances before the committee itself. Read More Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy said a procurement process at CHI had been non-compliant with tendering requirements. CHI said its non-compliance on the jobs website occurred due to the over-extension of a legacy arrangement with the company. The separate PR contract had been a process completed by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) before the CHI became a legal entity, he said. Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy said he could not understand why CHI could felt the need to spend such a large amount on a public relations budget for a standalone company. The CHI had not outlined any rationale for this decision, he said. Fianna Fail TD Marc MacSharry said he had no quibble with Q4, the public relations company, which was a very professional outfit, but there was a principle involved. It was a matter of practice now that a PR firm was engaged for any project, even though there was in-house capability. He suggested that some of the money was used to prepare the principals for their appearances before the Public Accounts Committee. I dont think thats a space we should be in. Chairman Brian Stanley said the two figures involved, for the website and PR company, were substantial. The clerk of the committee would be asked to write to Childrens Health Ireland to seek greater clarity, he said. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 Heritage Foundation president, executive VP to resign from major conservative think tank Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The president and the executive vice president of the prominent conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation, have announced their resignations. Heritage President Kay Coles James, who became head of Heritage on Jan. 1, 2018, and Heritage Executive Vice President Kim Holmes announced their intents to step down in a statement Monday. James will remain president for up to six months until a new president is found. She will also remain on the organizations board of trustees. Meanwhile, Holmes resignation will take effect on April 16. In a statement, James explained that she and Holmes accomplished everything we set out to do, adding, its time to let someone else take the reins. When we came on board as the executive leadership team three years ago, we set several goals and told Heritages board of trustees that we would serve for three to five years to see them through, she stated. During her three years as president, James oversaw the creation of Heritages Edwin J. Feulner Institute and the Center for Technology Policy. I am incredibly grateful to Kay James and Kim Holmes for their leadership of The Heritage Foundation over the past three years, said Barb Van Andel-Gaby, chairman of Heritages board of trustees. Their tireless dedication to Heritage has taken the organization to new heights, led to numerous accomplishments, and positioned the Heritage team to be ready for the battles ahead. Philip Wegmann, a reporter with RealClearPolitics who broke the story on Twitter, explained staffing changes at the biggest think tank on the right is significant because Personnel is policy. He noted that Heritage was hugely instrumental in the Trump White House. Earlier this year, it was announced that former Vice President Mike Pence joined Heritage as a distinguished visiting fellow. In 2017, Heritage selected James, a member of the board of trustees since 2005, as its new president, making her the first African-American woman to head the organization. Before becoming president of Heritage, James had previously worked in the administrations of Republican presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. James also founded the Gloucester Institute, a Virginia-based organization, to advance racial reconciliation and a rising generation of minority leadership. In February, notable conservative Christian philosopher and author Ryan T. Anderson left Heritage to become president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Cineworld will re-open U.S. theatres in April and its UK halls a month after, in time to screen big-budget including "Godzilla vs. Kong", after prolonged shutdowns during the COVID-19 crisis. The world's second-largest cinema operator also said on Tuesday it has reached a multi-year deal with Warner Bros. Pictures Group to exhibit its films in the Beginning next year, the agreement will allow Regal operator Cineworld to run the studio's exclusively in theatres for 45 days, with certain provisions. Cinema operators have been devastated by empty halls during the lockdowns, and have also been challenged by the growing shift to streaming services and fewer due to disruptions to film-making. "We are very happy for the agreement with Warner Bros. This agreement shows the studio's commitment to the theatrical business and we see this agreement as an important milestone in our 100-year relationship with Warner Bros," Chief Executive Mooky Greidinger said. In the UK, Warner Bros. and Cineworld have agreed to an exclusive theatrical window of 31 days before the film goes to premium video on demand (PVOD), and an extended window of up to 45 days for films that open to an agreed upon box-office threshold. (Reporting by Muvija M and Chris Peters in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath) There was no reason to celebrate on Rachel Van Lears anniversary. The same day a global pandemic was declared, she developed symptoms of COVID-19. A year later, shes still waiting for them to disappear. And for experts to come up with some answers. The Texas woman is one of thousands of self-described long-haulers, patients with symptoms that linger or develop out of the blue months after they first became infected with coronavirus. Hers first arrived March 11, 2020. The condition affects an uncertain number of survivors in a baffling variety of ways. Were faced with a mystery, said Dr. Francis Collins, chief of the National Institutes of Health. Is it a condition unique to COVID-19, or just a variation of the syndrome that can occur after other infections? How many people are affected, and how long does it last? Is it a new form of chronic fatigue syndrome a condition with similar symptoms? Or could some symptoms be unrelated to their COVID-19 but a physical reaction to the upheaval of this past pandemic year the lockdowns, quarantines, isolation, job losses, racial unrest, political turmoil, not to mention overwhelming illness and deaths? These are the questions facing scientists as they search for disease markers, treatments and cures. With $1 billion from Congress, Collins agency is designing and soliciting studies that aim to follow at least 20,000 people whove had COVID-19. 'Weve never really been faced with a post-infectious condition of this magnitude so this is unprecedented,' Collins said Monday. We dont have time to waste.' With nearly 30 million U.S. cases of COVID-19 and 119 million worldwide, the impact could be staggering, even if only a small fraction of patients develop long-term problems. Fatigue, shortness of breath, insomnia, trouble thinking clearly and depression are among the many reported symptoms. Organ damage, including lung scarring and heart inflammation, have also been seen. Pinpointing whether these symptom are directly linked to the virus or perhaps to some preexisting condition is among scientists tasks. 'Is it just a very delayed recovery or is it something even more alarming and something that becomes the new normal?' Collins said. There are a few working theories for what might be causing persistent symptoms. One is that the virus remains in the body at undetectable levels yet still causes tissue or organ damage. Or it overstimulates the immune system, keeping it from returning to a normal state. A third theory: Symptoms linger or arise anew when the virus attacks blood vessels, causing minute, undetectable blood clots that can wreak havoc throughout the body. Some scientists think each of these may occur in different people. Dr. Steven Deeks, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, said researchers first need to create a widely accepted definition of the syndrome. Estimates are all over the map because no one is defining it in the same way,' he said. Deeks is leading one study, collecting blood and saliva samples from volunteers who will be followed for up to two years. Some people develop long-term problems even when their initial infections were silent. Deeks said some evidence suggests that those who initially get sicker from a coronavirus infection might be more prone to persistent symptoms, and women seem to develop them more than men, but those observations need to be confirmed, Deeks said. Van Lear says she was in great shape when she got sick. At 35, the suburban Austin woman had no other health issues and was a busy mother of three who often worked out. First came a chest cold, then a high fever. A flu test came back negative, so her doctor tested for COVID-19. Soon after she developed blinding headaches, debilitating fatigue and nausea so severe that she needed emergency room treatment. 'I was very scared because no one could tell me what was going to happen to me,' Van Lear said. Over the next several months, symptoms would come and go: burning lungs, a rapid heartbeat, dizzy spells, hand tremors and hair loss. While most have disappeared, she still deals with an occasional racing heartbeat. Heart monitoring, bloodwork and other tests have all been normal. Fatigue, fever, and no taste or smell were Karla Jefferies first symptoms after testing positive last March. Then came brain fog, insomnia, a nagging smell of something burning that only recently disappeared, and intermittent ringing in her ears. Now she cant hear out of her left ear. Doctors cant find anything to explain it, and she bristles when some doctors dismiss her symptoms. 'I understand that COVID is something that were all going through together but dont brush me off,' said Jefferies, 64, a retired state worker in Detroit. As an African American woman with diabetes and high blood pressure, she was at high risk for a bad outcome and knows shes lucky her initial illness wasnt more serious. But her persistent symptoms and home confinement got her down and depression set in. Political and racial unrest that dominated the news didnt help, and church services often her salvation were suspended. She knows all that could have contributed to her ill health and says listening to music R&B, jazz and a little country has helped her cope. Still, Jefferies wants to know what role the virus has played. Im a year in, and to still from time to time have lingering effects, I just dont understand that,' Jefferies said. Jefferies and Van Lear are members of Survivor Corps, one of several online support groups created during the pandemic and that have amassed thousands of members. Some are enrolling in studies to help speed the science. Dr. Michael Sneller is leading one study at the NIH. So far, 200 have enrolled; they include survivors and a healthy comparison group. They are being given a series of physical and mental tests once or twice a year for three years. Other tests are seeking signs of ongoing inflammation, abnormal antibodies and blood vessel damage. Sneller said hes found no serious heart or lung tissue damage so far. He notes that many viruses can cause mild heart inflammation, even some cold viruses. Many people recover but in severe cases the condition can lead to heart failure. Fatigue is the most common symptom in the coronavirus group, and so far researchers have found no medical explanation for it. Insomnia is common, too in both groups. Sneller says thats not surprising. The whole pandemic and lockdown affected all of us, he said. Theres a lot of anxiety in the control group too.' Many have symptoms similar to chronic disease syndrome; and to a condition involving fatigue and thinking difficulties that can develop after treatment for Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread by certain ticks. Researchers are hopeful that studies of long-term COVID-19 may yield answers to what causes those conditions, too. -- The Associated Press Maps generally indicate elevation in meters above sea level. But sea level is not the same everywhere. A group of experts headed by the Technical University of Munich (TUM), has developed an International Height Reference System (IHRS) that will unify geodetic measurements worldwide. How high is Mount Everest? 8848 meters? 8844 meters? Or 8850 meters? For years, China and Nepal could not agree. In 2019, Nepal sent a team of geodesists to measure the world's highest mountain. A year later a team from China climbed the peak. Last December the two governments jointly announced the outcome of the new measurement: 8848.86 meters. The fact that both China and Nepal recognize this result must be seen as a diplomatic success. It was made possible by the new International Height Reference System (IHRS), used for the first time by the geodetic specialists conducting the new measurement. Scientists from TUM played a leading role in developing the new system. It establishes a generally agreed zero level as a basis for all future measurements. It thus replaces the mean sea level, which has traditionally served as the zero level for surveyors and thus for all topographical maps. A paper in the Journal of Geodesy, jointly authored by TUM scientists and international research groups, outlines the scientific background and theoretical concept of the IHRS as well as the strategy for implementing it. When zero is not always zero The standard used until now - the mean sea level - was flawed from the outset: There was never a fixed definition. Every country could use arbitrary tide gauges to define its own zero level. As a result, Germany's official sea level is 31 centimeters higher than Italy's, 50 cm higher than that used in Spain and actually 2.33 m higher than in Belgium, where the zero height is based on low water in Ostend. When topographical maps are only used for hiking, no one is bothered by such differences. But for geodetics specialists trying to arrive at a universally agreed height - for Mount Everest, for example, half in Nepal and half in China - the inconsistent zero levels are a bigger problem. And it can be very costly when planners of cross-border structures such as bridges and tunnels forget to check the different coordinates used by the teams and convert them as needed. On the Hochrheinbrucke, a bridge connecting Germany and Switzerland, a discrepancy of this kind was noticed just in time. Surveys from orbit "The introduction of an internationally valid height reference system was long overdue," says TUM researcher Dr. Laura Sanchez of the Deutsches Geodatisches Forschungsinstitut (DGFI-TUM), who has headed working groups studying theoretical aspects and implementing the new global height reference system at the International Association of Geodesy for several years. What is needed is obvious: a universally accepted zero level. The new International Height Reference System (IHRS) defines how it can be calculated: It takes into account the shape of the Earth - which is close to spherical, but flattened at the poles and bulging slightly at the equator due to its rotation - and the uneven distribution of masses in the interior and on the surface. The resulting irregularities in the gravity field are the basis for calculating the height system because the strength and direction of the force determine the distribution of water in the oceans. If we assume that the Earth's surface is completely covered with water, the height of a hypothetical sea level and thus the zero level for the entire globe can be calculated precisely. In construction projects, even the smallest deviations can be crucial "It became possible to realize the IHRS only with the availability of global data from satellite missions such as the ESA earth observation satellite GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer)," says Prof. Roland Pail of the TUM Chair of Astronomical and Physical Geodesy (APG). His team played an integral role in analyzing the GOCE measurements and using them to calculate global models of the Earth's gravity field. "The information gained in this way provides the basis to calculate the mean sea level for every point on Earth with the new International Height Reference System, regardless of whether it is on a continent or in an ocean, and thus to compute the internationally accepted zero level," explains Sanchez. Does every map have to be redrawn? "It won't be that dramatic," says Sanchez. "In the industrial countries, where they have been making gravity measurements for decades, the deviations are quite small - only in the decimeter range." But with construction projects, for example, even small deviations can cause serious troubles. Consequently, the scientist is confident that the new reference system will gain acceptance quickly. ### Publications: Sanchez L., J. Agren, J. Huang, Y. Ming Wang, J. Makinen, R. Pail, R. Barzaghi, G. Vergos, K. Ahlgren, Q. Liu: Strategy for the realisation of the International Height Reference System (IHRS). Journal of Geodesy, 95(33), doi: 10.1007/s00190-021-01481-0, 2021. More information: The Deutsches Geodatisches Forschungsinstitut of the Technical University of Munich (DGFI-TUM) and the Chair of Astronomical and Physical Geodesy (APG) have made intensive contributions to the IHRS through the development of scientific methods for the realization of physical and geometric reference systems. In the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), the two TUM units have played leading roles in various key functions for the development and implementation of the IHRS. In particular, TUM has strong competencies in determining coordinates through global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), combining gravity field observations to create precise gravity field models, and in combining gravity and GNSS data to measure heights. Contact: Dr. Laura Sanchez Technical University of Munich Deutsches Geodatisches Forschungsinstitut (DGFI-TUM) Tel.: 089/23031-1295 lm.sanchez@tum.de WALTHAM, Mass., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science today announced the launch of a nationwide testing program designed to support U.S. efforts to return to in-person classroom instruction. This program, developed in partnership with Color Health, Inc., a California-based leader in distributed healthcare services, along with leading providers of laboratory testing, aims to support schools as the Biden Administration provides $10 billion in funding to conduct COVID-19 testing. The Biden Administration has identified COVID-19 testing in schools as a critical proactive step in the recovery from the pandemic and has proposed a two-pronged strategy that includes both funding for states to administer testing programs and a soon-to-be-awarded federal hub and spoke based program to expand capacity for schools and underserved populations. Since the start of the pandemic, Thermo Fisher has supported governments and laboratory partners with COVID-19 testing ramp-up, including equipping a network of labs with capacity to deliver accurate PCR-based individual and pooled testing. Testing programs for this initiative can include PCR-based testing as well as rapid antigen, depending on the school and/or district. Thermo Fisher's partnership with Color draws on Color's experience serving school districts, major employers, universities, and public health departments to provide critical testing programs. Color's scaled easy-to-use school testing model will provide both convenient sample collection and a seamless result-reporting platform. "The $10 billion allocation is a critical first step to returning students to school in April, and what happens next is even more critical helping schools take advantage," said Mark Stevenson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific. "This program is possible because our industry has already established a strong testing infrastructure during the pandemic and now it's time to make that available where it's needed most urgently." According to Othman Laraki, chief executive officer of Color, "As we have seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most daunting obstacles has been the ability to effectively address the logistical and accessibility challenges for the last mile of healthcare. This initiative allows us to link individuals in need of COVID-19 tests with available lab capacity near their school or home." For more information on setting up a testing program for your school district, visit www.thermofisher.com/safeschools or email [email protected]. About Thermo Fisher Scientific Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $30 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 80,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services and Patheon. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com . Media Contact Information: Ron O'Brien Phone: 781-622-1242 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific Related Links http://www.thermofisher.com Here are todays leading news stories: Politics -- Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan chaired the fourth session of the National Election Council in Hanoi on Monday to discuss preparations for the upcoming election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and Peoples Councils at all levels for the 2021-26 tenure. COVID-19 updates -- No COVID-19 case was recorded in Vietnam on Tuesday morning. The countrys tally stood at 2,575 patients, with 2,234 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. -- Authorities in Hanoi and the southern province of Dong Nai have decided to reopen bars, discos, and karaoke parlors from 0:00 on Tuesday. -- The human trial of Nanocovax, one of Vietnams four homegrown COVID-19 vaccines, is expected to conclude by the end of this years third quarter, an official from the Ministry of Health said at a meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control on Monday. Society -- Seven people on a truck carrying timber were killed after the vehicle crashed into the mountainside while descending a slope in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa on Monday night. -- A foreign man, about 35 years old, was riding a motorbike along Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City on Monday afternoon when he suddenly collapsed on the ground and died. -- The completion of the Thu Thiem 2 Bridge project, which connects District 1 and Thu Duc City in Ho Chi Minh City, has once again been postponed to 2023, the project developer said on Monday. -- A 23-year-old woman has suffered loss of vision in one eye and blurred vision in the other after undergoing an eyelid cosmetic surgery at a beauty spa in Hanoi. -- Two men were killed following their failed attempt to rescue a drowning woman along a section of the Tien (Front) River in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang on Monday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Republicans tried out new arguments against D.C. statehood Monday at a House hearing pointing out that the capital city doesn't have a landfill, mines or a car dealership. 'D.C. would be the only state, the only state, without an airport, without a car dealership, without a capital city, without a landfill, without even a name on its own, and we could go on and on and on,' argued Rep. Jody Hice, a Georgia Republican. There are several car dealerships in D.C. Rep. Glenn Grothman, a Wisconsin Republican, asked D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser about the District's manufacturing, agriculture, mining and drilling, arguing 'those are things that I think every state has to some degree.' 'We do not have any mines, congressman,' Bowser replied. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser testified before a House Oversight Committee hearing on Monday about making the District a state. Republicans peppered the mayor with questions and pointed out the city doesn't have a landfill, mines or a car dealership, although it has several D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (left) Mayor Muriel Bowser, House Oversight Committee Chairwoman, Rep. Carolyn Maloney and D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton huddled at the end of Monday's hearing Rep. Glenn Grothman, a Wisconsin Republican, asked D.C.'s Mayor Muriel Bowser about the District's manufacturing, agriculture, mining and drilling, arguing 'those are the things that I think every state has to some degree' Rep. Jody Hice, a Georgia Republican, argued against D.C. statehood saying, 'D.C. would be the only state, the only state, without an airport, without a car dealership, without a capital city, without a landfill, without even a name on its own' The House Oversight Committee held a hearing on D.C. statehood Monday, as the Democratic majority plans to again pass HR-51, which it did last June, only for it to languish in the GOP-dominated Senate. Now with Democrats in control of the Senate, the bill could see some action there, but it's unlikely to pass if the legislative filibuster stays in place. The issue tends to attract a party-line split, as Democrats would be politically advantaged if the left-leaning D.C. earned a House member and two U.S. senators. Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican and the committee's ranking member, argued that D.C. statewood was a 'key part of the radical leftist agenda to reshape America, along with the Green New Deal, defunding the police and packing the U.S. Supreme Court. Comer also called the bill 'flatly unconstitutional.' The Republican witness, Zack Smith of the conservative Heritage Foundation, also said bill passage alone wouldn't allow D.C. to become a state and it would need to go through the constitutional amendment process. Smith also argued D.C. residents 'already impact the national debate' because lawmaker see their yard signs when driving to work. Residents of the District have no voting members of Congress, including their delegate, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton. Bowser, City Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and other pro-statehood witnesses argued that Congress needed to make right a centuries-old wrong. 'We are here to demand that the 220-year history of us not being represented by the capital of our country be corrected and this Congress has within its full authority to do that,' the D.C. mayor said. Bowser said anti-statehood arguments have usually come as 'thinly veiled attacks on our political leandings and, quite frankly, on our diversity and history of black political power.' She urged lawmakers to 'move beyond the tired, non-factual and frankly anti-democratic rhetoric and extend full democracy to the residents of the District of Columbia.' She also argued that the disenfranchisement has persisted because of the 'racist efforts to subvert a growing and thriving black city,' pointing to the Congressional record where white representatives refererred to it as the 'negro problem.' Mendelson argued that D.C. is a 'so-called donor state,' because residents pay more in federal taxes than 22 other states. He also reminded lawmakers that 'the district came to your rescue' during the January 6 insurrection. D.C.'s Metropolitan Police force responded to the Capitol attack. Though Mendelson also noted that 'we were impeded in trying to send the D.C. National Guard because we are not a state.' Democratic witness Wade Henderson, of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said District residents have been 'subjected to several humiliating reminders' of their second-class citizen status, using the example of being prevented from having troops respond during the insurrection. On the flip side, Henderson recalled how former President Donald Trump was able to bring out-of-state National Guard units to D.C. during last summer's Black Lives Matter protests over Bowser's objection - and then allowed them to 'violently [clear] a street to allow a presidential photo-op in front of St. John's church.' 'We simply cannot be the democracy we say we are when the lives of more than 700,000 are at the mercy of political will,' he argued. Henderson also testified how D.C. was shortchanged of COVID-19 relief funds because the District was treated like a territory and not a state. Bowser batted away the Republicans' points about car dealerships and mines, by pointing out how the city is currently unique. 'The way that we're different that is un-American is that we don't have two senators,' she told Grothman, after he said the D.C. economy was only based on government and tourism. Comer asked the mayor if she believed D.C. becoming a state would lead to other states - like California - breaking up, so they could have more representation in Congress. 'The people of California who you mentioned, have two senators, we do not,' Bowswer answered. 'Every American, congressman, who pays taxes deserves representation, our congresswoman should have a vote and we should have two senators,' Bowser argued. 'Citizens of other cities in states in the United States of America have two senators. We do not.' - Foreign exchange rate predictions for next 12 months: - EURUSD spot rate at 1.15 (-2.65% on current 1.1814) - GBPUSD to trade at 1.39 (+1.56% on today's 1.3686) - EURGBP rate 0.85 (-1.55% on current 0.8634) - Inverse: GBPEUR forecasted to see 1.176. - Forecast table also covers USD/JPY, USD/CHF, AUD/USD, NZD/USD, USD/CAD, EUR/NOK and more... Exchange Rates UK Research: Stellar US Growth Performance to Boost US Dollar in 2021, Euro to Retreat to 1.1500 on Next 12-Month Outlook Foreign exchange analysts at Danske Bank expect the US Dollar to gain ground during the year ahead, primarily under the influence of a very strong US economic recovery. After little change on a 1-month view, the Euro-to-Dollar exchange rate (EUR/USD) is expected to weaken 0.7% to 1.1800 on a 3-month view. The losses are expected to continue on a 6 and 12-month view with levels of 1.1700 and 1.1500 which represent decline of 1.6% and 3.24% respectively from current levels. Above: EUR/USD exchange rate chart The bank also expects steady USD/JPY gains during the forecast period with a sharp upgrade from Februarys forecasts. A gain of 1.3% to 110.00 is forecast on a 6-month view with a further advance to 112 on a 12-month view, a gain of 3.2% from the current spot level. Euro Pound Tipped to Retreat Further Sterling is forecast to maintain a solid tone with overall moves influenced strongly by changes in the EUR/USD rate. In this context, the Pound US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate is projected to reverse the most recent losses and secure a 1.4% advance to 1.40 on a 1-month view. Thereafter, the GBP/USD is projected at 1.3900 throughout the 3, 6 and 12-month periods which would represent a 0.7% advance from the current spot rate. With the single currency generally vulnerable, the Euro Pound rate is forecast to post further losses. Above: EUR/GBP exchange rate chart EUR/GBP is forecast at 0.85 on a 1 and 3-month view, a decline of 1.3% from the current spot level. A further retreat to 0.84 is forecast on a 6-month view with a net loss to 0.83 on a 12-month view, a loss of 3.7% from the current spot level. Commodity currencies are forecast to decline amid a strong US dollar. After a slight rebound on a 1-month view, the Australian Dollar-to-US Dollar (AUD/USD) exchange rate is forecast to decline 1.0% to 0.7600 on a 3-month view. A further retreat to 0.73 is forecast on a 12-month view, a decline of 4.9% from the current spot value. A similar pattern is projected for the New Zealand dollar with losses limited by the slide in spot prices recorded today. The New Zealand Dollar-to-US Dollar (NZD/USD) exchange rate is forecast to recover 0.9% to 0.710 on a 1-month view. After slight losses on a 3-month view, Danske forecasts a decline to 0.69 on a 6-month view and 0.68 on a 12-month view which equates to losses of 1.9% and 3.3% respectively from current spot levels. The Norwegian krone and Swedish krona not expected to sustain initial gains. The Euro-to-Krone rate is forecast to weaken to 10.00 on a 1-month view, a decline of 1.9%. Thereafter, the rate is expected to recover with no net change from spot levels on a 6-month view and a gain of 1.1% to 10.30 on a 12-month view. The euro is forecast to decline 0.9% to 10.10 on a 1 and 3-month view. The pair is then forecast to strengthen to 10.2 on a 6-month view and 10.4 on a 12-month view, a gain of 0.1% and 2.1% respectively from current spot levels. (Natural News) Researchers at the Greifswald teaching hospital in northern Germany said Friday theyve discovered how the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine could cause blood clots that could lead to rare thrombosis in the brain, public broadcaster Norddeutscher Rundfunk reported. (Article by Megan Redshaw republished from ChildrensHealthDefense.org) The German team, led by professor Andreas Greinacher, said in a statement that AstraZenecas vaccine may, in some cases, prompt overactivation of platelets in the blood, which can lead to potentially deadly clots. As NPR reported, Greinacher said its similar to what happens with a condition called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Greinacher and his team analyzed 13 cases of cerebral blood clots reported in Germany within 4 16 days of administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Twelve of the 13 cases were women and almost all were under the age of 55. In four of the 12 patients, the team was able to isolate and identify the specific antibodies that provoked the immune reaction leading to the cerebral blood clots. The researchers found that AstraZenecas vaccine activates blood platelets, or thrombocytes, which typically only happens in the body when a wound is healing when the blood coagulates as the wound closes. In some patients, the vaccination activated a mechanism that caused blood clots to form in the brain, according to Deutsche Welle. Experts hope the discovery could lead to targeted treatment for those who suffer similar clotting. But researchers emphasized that treatment would help only after the blood clot appeared it wouldnt prevent the clot from occurring. The German research team did not release detailed data but planned to submit their findings to The Lancet, reported The New York Times. While researchers were studying cases in Germany, a team led by Pal Andre Holme, chief physician at Oslo University Hospital, was investigating three cases of post-vaccination blood clots in Norway that occurred in healthcare workers under the age of 50. Holme told the Norwegian newspaper VG hes confident theyve identified antibodies triggered by the vaccine that caused an overreaction of the immune system leading to blood clots. Our theory is that this is a strong immune response that most likely comes after the vaccine, Holme said. There is no other thing than the vaccine that can explain this immune response, Holme said. Its the same theory that Greinacher and his colleagues have put forward in Germany. Holme added that theres no other history in these patients that can give such a strong immune response. Im pretty sure its these antibodies thats the cause, and I see no other reason than that its the vaccine that triggers it. As The Defender reported last week, more than 20 countries suspended Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccinations due to reports of blood clots some resulting in death in healthy people who received the vaccine. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) investigated the reports of blood clot-related injuries and deaths and concluded that AstraZenecas vaccine was not associated with an overall risk of blood clots in those vaccinated. But it did not rule out an association with rare cases of blood clots in vessels draining the blood from the brain known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, reported Reuters. EMA researchers said Thursday they will investigate whether the rare blood clots are linked to the vaccine or occurred by chance, noting that cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is rare but mostly associated with pregnancy and oral contraceptives, said Sabine Straus, chair of EMAs safety committee. Despite the possible risk of blood clots, the head of the EMA, Emer Cooke, stated the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks of potential side-effects and AstraZenecas vaccine is safe and effective. Denmark reported on Saturday that two more people experienced brain hemorrhages after receiving AstraZenecas COVID vaccine, and that one of them had died, according to the New York Times. A spokesperson for the Capital Region of Denmark confirmed the death. According to The New York Times, the Danish Ritzau news agency reported that the other person was a female in her 30s and was critically ill. The Danish Medicines Agency said it was looking into whether the condition was a potential side effect. Right now we are examining whether this is the exact same disease picture with multiple blood clots, a low count of platelets and hemorrhages, Tanja Erichsen, a director at the Danish Medicines Agency, said in a radio interview with the Danish national broadcaster DR. Dr. James Bussel, an expert on platelet disorders and a professor emeritus at Weill Cornell Medicine, said the occurrence of abnormal clotting and low platelets in people under 50 is uncommon. He noted that the antibodies identified by researchers in Europe may, in a highly unusual response to the vaccine, have activated the platelets and started a cascade of abnormal clotting and bleeding, according to The Times. Denmark has suspended the use of AstraZenecas vaccine until Thursday, despite the EMAs reassurances that the vaccine is safe. Other Scandinavian countries and Finland made similar decisions due to the preliminary findings from medical experts in Norway and Germany that suggested a possible link between the vaccine and rare blood disorders. AstraZenecas vaccine has been approved for emergency use in 70 countries but has not received Emergency Use Authorization in the U.S. Some U.S. vaccine experts remain cautious about the antibody theory and said high publicity of events could be causing more clinicians to report the condition than normal, making it appear related to the vaccine, according to Reuters. Some U.S. experts also question why events are occurring at increased rates with AstraZeneca compared to Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Russias Sputnik V vaccine, all of which are designed to produce antibodies aimed at the COVID spike protein that it uses to enter cells. Though Johnson & Johnson also uses a non-replicating adenovirus to deliver spike proteins into cells, it was only recently approved in the U.S. in February 2021. Well have to see when (German and Norwegian scientists) submit a peer-reviewed publication and the scientific community can review it, said Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine researcher at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Theres no reason why the AstraZeneca vaccine would do this whereas the others, including the adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccines, wouldnt. Read more at: ChildrensHealthDefense.org and VaccineInjurynews.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 02:00:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A man receives the COVID-19 vaccine at a hospital in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, on March 23, 2021. Lebanon registered on Tuesday 3,851 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 444,865, the Health Ministry said. (Photo by Khaled/Xinhua) BEIRUT, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon registered on Tuesday 3,851 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 444,865, the Health Ministry said. Meanwhile, the death toll from the virus went up by 42 to 5,850. Lebanon continues to vaccinate its population against the coronavirus. Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan announced on Tuesday that the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive on Wednesday. Enditem Including Series C funding, the innovative start-up has raised 33 million since its inception in 2015. The company will more than double its 140-strong team of parametric designers, developers, researchers, production specialists and marketing experts to continue to push the boundaries of furniture design and technology. WARSAW, Poland, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tylko, the Polish digital-first furniture company, announced today the close of a 22 million Series C round of funding led by Israel-based Pitango Ventures and Finnish Evli Growth Partners. Since its creation in 2015, Tylko has served almost 60,000 satisfied customers and shows no signs of slowing down. The 22m investment follows a strong year for Tylko, with its unique approach to furniture design generating a 132% increase in sales in 2020 in comparison to previous years. The new investment shows confidence in Tylko's offering of premium design coupled with a user experience that puts the customer in control. The brand's unique business model is premised on its belief that through investment in innovation and cutting-edge technology, the furniture industry can be swayed from 'fast furniture' towards durable, user-first products. By embedding conscious consumption in everything it makes, Tylko incorporates sustainability into high-quality and well-designed products. Angel investors in this Series C round include Brian Walker, former CEO of furniture giant Herman Miller, who had been advising Tylko prior to his investment, and Mark Williamson, COO of renowned US-based online classes platform MasterClass. As part of this investment, Rami Kalish from Pitango Ventures, Mikko Kuitunen from Evli Growth Partners and Brian Walker will join the company's Supervisory Board. A future-proof business model Tylko has seen sales during the pandemic rise by 132%, as its future-proof business model adopts an online-only, direct-to-consumer (D2C) and made-to-order approach. Individually designed by the customer from home, based on the principles of parametric design, each item is an individual solution. From each order Tylko's unique proprietary software automates the manufacturing process for its production partners: a directly scalable process. These advantages have driven the 33 million in funding which Tylko has raised to date. Tylko will use the Series C capital to find the next generation of creators and talent who will help to drive the company's mission and vision to make ever-better products through industry-leading technology and a personalised approach to design. Mikko Kuitunen, Growth Partner at Evli Growth Partners, Founder and CEO of Vincit. "We are impressed by Tylko's exceptional growth and ability to scale the company as a market leader, offering new, customized solutions within the furniture market. Tylko's strong impact-driven vision and made-to-order business model drives the market's transition towards more sustainable solutions. By optimizing material use, production efficiency and offering customers unique, long-lasting design we believe Tylko is positioned at the forefront of such a transition." 36m in sales for Tylko during the pandemic The successful Series C funding round comes off the back of a strong year for Tylko. With the pandemic transforming homes into workplaces, schools and beyond, our interiors have never been more important. Tylko's unique offering - environmentally conscious, customisable, premium design - has struck a chord with taste-conscious and environmentally minded consumers alike. In 2020, during the first lockdown, the company saw a 40% MOM growth in trade, with sales from June to August tripling compared to the same time period in 2019. Last year alone, Tylko served over 30,000 satisfied customers. The furniture market is one of the largest consumer categories. Its online penetration was experiencing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14% before the Covid-19 pandemic, creating market potential in the future. The total furniture market size in Europe and US in 2020 was 341.1 bn. Tylko's sales have doubled every year since 2015, with 2020 seeing 36m revenue and profitability in Q4. Rami Kalish, Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Pitango "Tylko has a huge vision to disrupt the furniture industry that has "frozen in time" with its outstanding technology and unwavering commitment to protect Mother Earth. We believe in Tylko because its outstanding founding team excels in all the business parameters of scale, growth and customer satisfaction, while maintaining excellence in executing an inspiring ESG and sustainability vision." Create customer value where sustainability and durability are a norm Tylko is committed to developing contemporary products that positively influence people's lives whilst preventing negative effects on the planet. The furniture industry contributes heavily to the climate crisis: it is responsible for over a billion trees falling every year, alongside 670 thousand tonnes of landfill in the UK and 10 million tons in the US. Despite the increasing importance of climate, this trend continues to accelerate. Constant product rotations and disposable furniture have become the norm across the entire industry, with badly sourced materials compounding the issue. Tylko wants to transform this behaviour with a product that is perfectly adjusted to the individual's space and needs, is easy to assemble and disassemble, and provides a hassle-free product experience. Every item is a durable, individual solution, thereby requiring less consumption and so helping the planet. As part of the 22 million investment, Tylko will continue to invest in: Its supply chain, to develop and create new sustainable and durable materials suitable for the furniture industry. Improved delivery, packaging and logistics processes to ensure the most efficient supply chain optimisation. An expanded network of collaborators (artists, designers, brands) to reach more people. Technologies that improve Tylko's customer experience (AR, Space Recognition, Parametric Design tools). Tylko's ambitious investment in people From its founding in 2015, Tylko began to put together a workplace where employees have the freedom to create, develop and contribute towards the industry. 2021 offers an enormous opportunity to rapidly expand its team which already includes 140 specialists, investing in the best talent in the industry. Jacek Majewski, Co-Founder, Co-CEO Tylko, commented on the planned expansion: "Tylko's vision has always been about putting the user experience first, in order to create a product that is perfectly designed, high-quality and sustainable. We believe that driving sustainability into this huge industry can only be done by creating highly desirable products that will win over customers by their features rather than certificates." Mikoaj Molenda, Co-Founder, Co-CEO Tylko, added: "Right now, we need to invest in the best people in the industry to work with us and achieve Tylko's mission - to help us build the value for customers and shape the future of the furniture industry. To change our outlook on our home and interior decisions we make. What we offer is a freedom to think, do, change and evolve. Come and join us as we work on innovative solutions for people and the planet." Global expansion and new products Additionally, the new funding will support Tylko's further expansion into markets beyond Europe as well as the launch of new product categories. Currently, Tylko's portfolio consists of the original Type01 in Plywood and Veneer and its successor the Type02, two product families in which customers can configure anything from a bookcase to a shoe rack to a TV stand. In late 2020, Tylko introduced a new product category, with a new version of the configurator and extra features. This illustrates how easily Tylko can expand its product portfolio: simply with further software upgrades, a whole new product family can be made. Further product development in this way is planned for 2021. For more information please contact [email protected]. Related Images tylko-founders.jpg Tylko Founders Tylko Founders. From left: Jacek Majewski, Hanna Kokoczynska, Benjamin Kuna, Mikoaj Molenda. Related Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_n-p6oebi8 SOURCE Tylko ADVERTISEMENT Following the arrest and remand in prison of three members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), youth in Oyo State Monday stormed the states secretariat at Agodi, Ibadan, to express their displeasure. They also protested against the continuous killings of residents by killer herdsmen in Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun axis of the state. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the protesters displayed placards with different inscriptions, condemning all forms of insecurity rocking the state. The three OPC members in detention were part of the vigilante group that carried out the arrest of suspected kidnapper, Iskilu Wakili. The police, however, arraigned them for murder and arson. They are currently remanded in prison. Speaking on the arrest of OPC members in remand, one of the protesters, Oladiran Oladokun, said their detention would kill the morale of others who may want to assist police in the state. Mr Oladokun, convener of the Igangan Development Advocates, said: These men are heroes; they risked their lives to arrest Wakili, who has terrorised the people of Kajola, Ayete and other villages. They went to Wakilis place and arrested him, but the police turned against them and detained them. This is a bad signal to Nigerians on security issues. Reacting to the protest, Governor Seyi Makinde, through his adviser of Agribusiness, Debo Akande, said the state is working hard to ensure the farms are safe from kidnappers and killers. He agreed that insecurity in Ibarapaland and Oke Ogun areas have forced many out of their farms. It is a concern that people that are working so hard that we are all fed are now having issues engaging in their activities that they should do without any fear. However, for us as a state, we dont do fire brigade approach. We are following tactical approach and strategic approach to ensure farm security. But the issue of security is not what you announced anyhow. But I can assure you that the state government, under Governor Seyi Makinde, is ensuring that farms are secure and farmers and others are safe. A committee has been set up to ensure farm security headed by the Chief of Staff. Both the tactical and strategic approaches towards securing our farms will be made known very soon, he told journalists on Monday. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 20:55:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Aerial photo taken on July 24, 2020 shows the China-Laos Railway's Ban Ladhan Mekong River Super Major Bridge in Laos. (Photo by Pan Longzhu/Xinhua) by Xinhua writers Zhao Jiasong, Li Huaiyan, Yao Bing KUNMING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Blue Book of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) 2020 was released Tuesday in southwest China, marking the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the LMC mechanism. The report, compiled by Yunnan University, reviews the progress, problems and development trends of the LMC since 2019. It analyzes collaborations in specific areas including public health and the fight against drugs. It said since 2019, cooperation between the six countries has blossomed in areas including connectivity, industrial capacity, cross-border economy, water resources, agriculture and poverty reduction. Cooperation has now extended to new fields such as the digital economy, environmental protection, health and customs, while small and medium-sized projects in Mekong countries have increased in number and focused more on technology, hygiene and other livelihood-related areas, said the report. The LMC mechanism was launched by six countries -- China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam -- in 2016. It derives its name from a river that is called Lancang in China and Mekong in the five other countries. The report's launch was part of a symposium on the LMC, which kicked off in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, with attending officials and scholars from China and the Mekong countries speaking glowingly of the regional cooperation mechanism. "As the COVID-19 pandemic is still hitting the world, the LMC countries are expected to strengthen public health cooperation and focus on work resumption, water management and the improvement of people's livelihood," Liu Zhi, director of the Center for LMC Studies under Yunnan University, said in her opening remarks at the symposium. Liu said while the pandemic plunged the region into an economic downturn, it has also injected new momentum into regional integration by bringing geo-economic partners closer together. Aerial photo taken on July 6, 2020 shows China-Laos expressway under construction in Vientiane, Laos.(Photo by Liu Ailun/Xinhua) WIDE-RANGING COOPERATION Htun Aung Kyaw, consul general of Myanmar in Kunming, said under the LMC, China and Myanmar have implemented wide-ranging cooperation from joint river patrol to agriculture to poverty reduction. "I believe the mechanism is a beneficial cooperation framework for the development of all the member countries," he said. Traffic infrastructure has been a major beneficiary of the LMC mechanism. In September 2017, the whole China section of the 1,800-km-plus Kunming-Bangkok highway became an expressway, shortening the transportation time of goods between the two cities to about 40 hours. The expressway has transformed the life and business of Su Congming, a wholesaler who has been selling imported fruits at the Jinma-zhengchang fruit market since 2003. At the start of his business, it took about five days for Thai fruits to arrive at the market, he recalled, adding that nowadays fruits are fresher while transportation fees are lower. The market is one of China's major centers for the distribution of fresh tropical fruits from South and Southeast Asian countries. Every day, thousands of tonnes of fruits are distributed from here to across China. "Now, we sell five to six times more fruits than we did a decade ago. Before this year's Spring Festival, we sold more than 40 tonnes of longan imported from Thailand every day," said Su. The Kunming-Vientiane railway linking China with Laos is scheduled to be opened in December this year, said Lu Dongfu, board chairman of China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. Upon completion, it will slash travel time between the two cities to within one day. "We are developing an electric multiple units (EMU) train running at 160 km per hour, based on China's (technological) standards, adapting to the conditions of China-Laos railway lines and reflecting the cultural elements of the two countries," said Lu. Other initiatives pushed ahead under the mechanism included streamlining and integration of customs, logistics and foreign exchange management to facilitate cross-border trade. Water resources cooperation has also been prioritized under the LMC framework, with officials pointing to the launch of a website for sharing water resources information among the six countries in November 2020. The website is expected to help Lancang-Mekong countries better tackle climate change and natural disasters such as floods and droughts. China has officially provided the Mekong countries with the river's hydrological information during the dry season starting from Nov. 1, 2020, according to E Jinping, former minister of water resources. "The Lancang-Mekong countries share the same river water, as a community with a shared future and enhancing the foundation of development and prosperity together," said Wang Yiwei, a professor with Renmin University of China. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 05:25:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Hungarian Minister of Foreign affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto speaks during an exclusive interview with Xinhua at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Feb. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) "With this decision, the EU wants to divert the attention from the real problem, from the common purchase of vaccines, which was poorly handled," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said while commenting on EU's decision to put sanctions on Chinese individuals and entity. BUDAPEST, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) sanctions against individuals and entities in China and Myanmar are "pointless" and "harmful," Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said on Monday. The EU imposed unilateral sanctions on relevant Chinese individuals and entity on Monday, citing the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang. "Hungary considers it pointless, self-promoting and harmful" that the EU has imposed sanctions on persons and entities in China and Myanmar, Szijjarto said on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. "The sanctions are even more so harmful that they include Chinese nationals," Szijjarto said in a video clip posted on his Facebook account. Such a decision was especially meaningless at a time when the importance of international cooperation was growing tremendously, when lives should be saved instead of taking sanctioning measures, according to the top Hungarian diplomat. A woman walks past the European Commission headquarters at the European Quarter in Brussels, Belgium, July 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) "With this decision, the EU wants to divert the attention from the real problem, from the common purchase of vaccines, which was poorly handled," he said, noting the sanctions will only be good to "divert the attention from the mismanaged vaccine acquisition of the EU, which can be measured in human lives and in the damage within Europe's economy." In a press statement of the ministry, Szijjarto was cited as saying that the EU's sanctions were extremely damaging, as they would continue to "poison EU-China cooperation." "If the cooperation (with China) could be put on the ground of rationality, the EU could seriously benefit from it," Szijjarto said. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday that the EU's move, based on nothing but lies and disinformation, disregards and distorts facts, grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, flagrantly breaches international law and basic norms governing international relations, and severely undermines China-EU relations. "China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this," said the spokesperson, adding that the Chinese government is firmly determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. China decided on Monday to sanction 10 individuals and four entities on the EU side that severely harm China's sovereignty and interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation, said the spokesperson. In a rare show of dissent, the veterans services community has been splintered by a debate over Gov. Charlie Bakers $400 million bond bill for a new Holyoke Soldiers Home. During a March 16 legislative committee meeting the first public vetting of the bond bill, a harbinger of things to come in the pandemic-driven push to build a new facility a leader of the Disabled American Veterans offered tepid support of the bond bill. The response to the bill Baker filed in February met with sudden pushback, dividing what is typically a united community. Jesse Flynn, legislative director and assistant adjutant for the Disabled American Veterans, told the the Legislatures Joint Committee on Administration and Regulatory Oversight his agency had concerns over that amount of money being poured into one project in a discreet part of the state. He argued veterans in the southeastern part of Massachusetts had long been neglected. Join the club, Western Massachusetts delegates replied. If you want to have a long, long conversation about that, well have it in Western Mass., said state Sen. John Velis, a Westfield Democrat and new chairman of the Legislatures Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. Flynn has since said his organization supports the Holyoke bond bill, but only if it includes language for veterans in other parts of the state. Its hard to be part of reform, Flynn said. The backlash to Flynns remarks was swift after months of furious work by state officials and members of a grassroots coalition to push the capital project through. The urgency increased after nearly 80 Holyoke Soldiers Home veterans died after contracting COVID-19 last spring. State officials are facing a mid-April deadline to secure $260 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for a new facility. We are on going to be on the wrong side of history on this, said Michael Raymond, director of veterans services for the city of Mansfield, also a member of the Disabled American Veterans and solidly in the geographic area to which Flynn and his allies are sensitive. Why dont we just start telling people were going to beat puppies? I mean, really? I was ashamed of this organization for the first time. Like many veterans, Raymond belongs to several military organizations. Raymond said the issue was not raised nor voted upon during the most recent quarterly executive council meeting of the Disabled American Veterans. Leaders with the agency confirmed his account. The agency says it has 67,000 members in Massachusetts. To qualify, members must have been injured in a war or conflict. The response to Flynns commentary was unusual since veterans groups are usually on the same page when it comes to veterans issues. The Disabled American Veterans position, supported by Commander Debora Olsen, is complicated: yes, they support the Holyoke Soldiers Home project, but not at the expense of veterans elsewhere in Massachusetts. The debate has caused a conundrum among several veterans groups that overlap and all receive public funding. In addition to a very vocal grassroots organization called the Holyoke Soldiers Home Coalition, formed in the wake of the pandemic, most veterans organizations have enthusiastically supported the project. Poor management and a cramped, bad physical footprint have been blamed, in part, for the death toll at the state-run facility. The bond bill, H.64, has been presented as a mea culpa for the tragedy. Velis, the coalition, and dozens of other lawmakers support building a new home in Holyoke. The Disabled American Veterans still insists it joins the cause. But the organization asked, instead, for a joint committee to look for an analysis to look at the statewide needs for veterans. This investigation should be an extensive examination into the structure and the governing policies of the soldiers homes, a statement from the organization reads. But advocates for the new new Holyoke Soldiers Home say now is not the time to run interference on the project. Jesus Pereira, director of Holyoke Veterans Services, said Flynns comments at the March 16 meeting were offensive to those who had fought for funding in the region. At the 11th hour trying to dismantle current needs of Western Massachusetts that has been worked on and ignored historically. Add when I say ignored, I mean ignored, he said. These retirees on the Cape, I think theyre doing ok, Pereira added. The vets I deal with Im giving them gas cards and gift cards to buy groceries. Its a different population. About 15 percent of my vets are indigent. Their timing absolutely stinks. The debate over the Holyoke Soldiers Home has been fraught with families pain, and complicated by bureaucracy. The Chelsea Soldiers Home project was launched nearly three years ago at a cost of $200 million. There was only applause from veterans groups. In fact, a group of hundreds of military types packed a room to support that project, while the pandemic essentially forced the Holyoke debate into a vacuum. Velis, now a freshman senator and formerly a state representative, finds himself in the middle of the storm. The irony here is that for so many years the DAV had representatives working at Veterans Assistance Center at the Soldiers Home. So they know firsthand why this project is so desperately needed and why anything else wont suffice. My sincere hope is that they come around and come to understand how important this project is, Velis said. The disabled veterans organization is one of several Congressionally-sanctioned agencies that receive public money. Other such organizations include the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the American Legion and some are nonplussed over the position of the Disabled American Veterans. Sgt. Brian Willette, of South Hadley, commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of Massachusetts, said he was surprised by Flynns attack on the Holyoke project. I really couldnt believe it, said Willette, after being asked to testify last week. Willette, a Purple Heart recipient who was injured when his armored vehicle got hit by an explosive device in Afghanistan in 2010, told members of the legislative committee that he took it personally when the Disabled American Veterans assailed the project. He then faced angst from Flynn in response to a Facebook post about the matter. If you have something to say its better you man up and contact me directly, Flynn told him in an email. Willette cautioned him not to make it personal. Eric Segundo, a former statewide commander of the VFW and director of veterans services in Ludlow, said he recalls ushering the national commander to the Chelsea site in 2018 to support the initiative. This was a highlight. We brought the national commander to Chelsea because it was that important, Segundo said. Any deviation of this plan is betrayal it was a good faith arrangement that involved many, many people. We raised a drink when Governor Baker passed the bond bill for Chelsea, Willette said. Willette has said he hopes the veterans service community in Massachusetts will become more aligned. We are quite splintered. This might be a lesson for us, Willette said. I think that on the legislative level, we dont communicate as much as we should I think thats a deficiency on our part. John Paradis, a leader of the Holyoke Soldiers Home Coalition, said while he understands the need for funding for veterans statewide, he believes it is not the time to derail the Holyoke project, which advocates have spent decades pursuing. The time to point fingers or place blame or say what about me, and wheres mine -- that ended in March of last year we need both branches of government to step up and do the right thing, Paradis said. Corrections: This story was updated to correct a quote contained in an email from Jesse Flynn to Brian Willette. The full quote reads, If you have something to say its better you man up and contact me directly. Willettes comment about being surprised by Flynns testimony was not made as a comparison to his experience in Afghanistan. The story has been updated for clarity. Related content: condozillowSFR New York City rents have fallen farther this year than they did during the Great Recession, according to StreetEasys November 2020 Market Report. Manhattan, New York rents dropped the most out of the three boroughs analyzed Manhattan rents fell 12.7%, compared to the drop of 10% during the recession that started in 2008. The median asking rent reaching a 10-year low of $2,800 in November. The share of apartments that had a rent cut in November increased in all five submarkets in Manhattan, but Midtown led the way. It had 30.7% of landlords discounting the monthly rent on their units, an increase of 8.4 percentage points from last year. Boroughwide, the share of rent cuts rose by 5.9 percentage points year over year, to 27.2% in Manhattan. Brooklyn, New York too saw a decline in rents with the most decline in its expensive neighborhoods Rents dropped 6.3% year over year. The median asking rent was $2,400 in November 2020. After the 2008 financial crisis, rents in Brooklyn fell by around 5%. The median asking rent in Northwest Brooklyn, the boroughs most expensive submarket, was $2,800. It was the lowest its been in eight years. Compared to last year, rents were down 5.1% in this area, which includes Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo. There were 21,670 rentals on the market in Brooklyn in November, an increase of 134% from last year. Queens, New York also followed the declining trend but at a slower rate The median asking rent in November was $2,100, a 5.7% annual decline. This was a record large drop for the borough, where rents remained relatively stable during the Great Recession. Rental inventory across the borough was 75% higher than last year in Queens. While this was a sharp increase, it was the smallest of all boroughs analyzed. Queens population tends to be more stable and less transient. That is the reason why housing metrics do not fluctuate as much as in other boroughs, according to StreetEasy's rental price growth indices. condoThe sale-to-List Price Ratio was 98.25% homes sold for 1.75% below the asking price on average in January 2021. SFR. condo deal10% under market value, ServiceNow announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Intellibot, a robotic process automation (RPA) company based in Hyderabad, India. Intellibot extends ServiceNows core workflow capabilities by helping customers automate repetitive tasks for intelligent, end-to-end automation. ServiceNow intends to build Intellibots capabilities natively into the Now Platform to enable customers to more easily integrate with both modern and legacy systems to drive productivity and strengthen existing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) efforts. Josh Kahn, SVP of Creator Workflow Products at ServiceNow, said, ServiceNow is the platform of platforms for the workflow revolution, offering powerful end-to-end automation capabilities that allow customers to streamline business decisions and unlock new levels of productivity. Our customers represent nearly 80 percent of the Fortune 500, and the vast majority are trying to drive automation across a mix of legacy and modern applications. With Intellibot, we will extend ServiceNows ability to help customers connect systems so they can easily automate workflows and drive productivity. ServiceNow recently delivered the Now Platform Quebec Release to help enterprises accelerate their digital transformation by innovating quickly, being more agile, and operating more productively within a new world of work hastened by COVID. Intellibot will complement these capabilities, extending ServiceNows existing AI and ML, integrations, low-code development, process mining, process automation, NLX, chatbot, and virtual agent capabilities. Srikanth Vemulapalli, CTO and co-founder of Intellibot, said, We are proud to join forces with ServiceNow as it continues to invest in powerful end-to-end automation capabilities to make the world of work, work better for people. Our RPA combined with ServiceNow workflows will help businesses better connect disparate systems to accelerate innovation and thrive in a new world of work. Expanded footprint in India This acquisition supports ServiceNows broader commitment to the Indian market, which represents one of the companys fastest growing markets. The company plans to develop two new data center facilities in India by the first quarter of 2022. These new data centers will meet local data residency requirements, form part of ServiceNows advanced high-availability architecture, and will continue to support the scalability of the companys cloud services. India hosts ServiceNows second largest research and development center and is a growing talent hub for the organization. ServiceNow plans to double its staff in the country within the next three years. Intellibot was founded in 2015 by CEO Raghu Alekh Barli, CTO Srikanth Vemulapalli, and COO Kushang Moorthy. ServiceNow expects to complete the acquisition of Intellibot in Q2 2021. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. GEOFFREY PAUL DAVIDSON January 28,1942-December 17, 2020 Dr Geoff Davidson was a leading paediatric gastroenterologist of his generation. He cared deeply for his patients and their families, completed world-class research and was a skilled teacher of his successors. Geoff was born in London in World War II, to Daniel and Phyllis. After the war, his father, an industrial chemist, accepted a job opportunity in Australia with a large paint company. Geoff grew up in Melbourne, attending Lloyd Street Primary and Melbourne High School. Later, a new opportunity for his father arose in Adelaide and the family moved there in 1960. Geoff finished high school at Adelaide High and went to University of Adelaide Medical School, winning the paediatrics prize and graduated in 1968. He then went on to train at childrens hospitals in Adelaide, Melbourne and Toronto. An application to keep four sculptures compared to 'sex toys' on an East Suffolk beach has been formally withdrawn following a complaint by the artist Sir Anthony Gormley saying they had been installed at the wrong angle. Four cast-iron sculptures had been installed on Aldeburgh beach by local art collector Caroline Wiseman last August. Locals had raised concerns that the 3ft pieces, titled Oval, Peg, Penis and Snowman, looked like sex toys, or even rabbit droppings. Last week the artist Sir Anthony Gormley raised his own objections, saying they had been installed at the wrong angle and had been incorrectly named. Ms Wiseman, who has sold the pieces, described Sir Antony's intervention as 'controlling' and 'small-minded' A planning application to keep the four cast-iron sculptures, which have been compared to sex toys, was withdrawn last Friday Mrs Wiseman did not think she needed planning consent when she had the sculptures hauled in place on the shingle near a tower on the beach called Southern Lookout, which she uses as a workspace for guest artists. In February she submitted a retrospective planning application, which saw some supportive locals describe the installation as an 'asset to the town'. Following Sir Anthony's comments last week, East Suffolk Council received notification that the application had been withdrawn. Filing an objection on behalf of the sculptor, who created the Angel of the North, Bryony McLennan wrote: 'The artist would like to point out that the Sculptures referred on the title page of the statement were conceived as bollards and commissioned as part of a regeneration project in Peckham, London in 1994. A representative for Sir Anthony Gormley, whose works include the Angel of the North, wrote to East Suffolk Council to complain about the installation, saying the pieces had been wrongly titled Quartet (Sleeping), when their actual names are Oval, Peg, Penis and Snowman Caroline Wiseman, pictured with the four pieces of art that were installed at the wrong angle, has confirmed she will sell them for 5,000 apiece 'Intended as functional pieces of urban design, the bollards were sited on Bellenden Road where they remain to this day. A set of bollards also stands at the entrance to the pathway leading to the Angel of the North site in Gateshead.' Ms McLennan also revealed that a plaque installed next to the pieces on Aldeburgh beach wrongly titles them Quartet (Sleeping). She added: 'The bollards are described as lying horizontally and partially buried within the beach shingle. 'In fact, the bollards are designed to stand upright and a 'fixing root' is cast into the base of each bollard which turn is installed directly into the ground to allow the work to stand safely. 'The change of orientation and configuration of the bollards completely compromises their purpose as a piece of street furniture and the artist's original intention behind the work.' SIR ANTHONY GORMLEY: SCULPTOR BEHIND ANGEL OF THE NORTH Yorkshire-born Sir Anthony Gormley, 70, has been creating artistic sculptures since the early 1980s, with his first exhibition coming in 1981. Many of his pieces focus around the human body, and he has regularly used his own body to create metal casts for his work. His pieces are often displayed on a huge scale. In 2006 his work Asian Field was displayed at the Sydney Biennale. The piece was an installation of 180,000 small clay figurines crafted by 350 Chinese villagers. The following year 31 life-size and anatomically correct casts of his body were displayed around London's South Bank in a piece he called Event Horizon. Crosby Beach in Merseyside is home to Another Place - 100 cast iron naked figures modelled on Gormley's own body. They have been on display since 2005. His most well-known work is the Angel of the North in Gateshead. Standing at 66ft tall, it has a wingspan of 177ft and overlooks the A1 and A167. Advertisement Owner Caroline Wiseman has confirmed she will sell the works, weighing 200lb each, for 5,000 apiece. 'It's going to be sad not having them on the beach,' Ms Wiseman told the East Anglian Daily Times. Ms Wiseman described Sir Antony's intervention as 'controlling' and 'small-minded', adding: 'If you buy a work of art you're totally able to do what you want to do with that work of art.' She has withdrawn her planning application, claiming that the local council would not give planning permission if the artist objected. Ms Wiseman said that the works sold for a 'good sum of money' and said this will be used to refurbish and paint the Lookout tower gallery, which she runs. 'I wanted them to be here for ever and ever, and I'm very sad that they've got to go,' she said, adding: 'Artists are going to be making some works on the beach, getting their creative juices going, and they're going to make some works in retaliation.' Yorkshire-born Sir Anthony Gormley, 70, has been creating artistic sculptures since the early 1980s, with his first exhibition coming in 1981. Many of his pieces focus around the human body, and he has regularly used his own body to create metal casts for his work. Crosby Beach in Merseyside is home to Another Place - 100 cast iron naked figures modelled on Gormley's own body. They have been on display since 2005. His most well-known work is the Angel of the North in Gateshead. Standing at 66ft tall, it has a wingspan of 177ft and overlooks the A1 and A167. Germany will likely institute another lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus, which would make it the latest European country enacting fresh restrictions. A draft of recommendations to be presented to German Chancellor Angela Merkel will push for lockdowns to be extended until April 18, Reuters reported Sunday. In Poland, which is seeing the highest number of daily cases since November, new measures have forced nonessential shops and other facilities to close for three weeks. Poland recorded more than 26,000 new cases Sunday and more than 350 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Nonessential stores have also been closed in Ukraine's capital of Kyiv, where only food markets are allowed to stay open. It recorded more than 15,000 new cases Sunday and nearly 270 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. About one-third of France's population is under lockdown after measures were imposed last Friday in Paris and several regions in northern and southern parts of the country. More than 4,300 people were in intensive care units in France Saturday, the health ministry said, the most this year. About 6.1 million people in France have received their first COVID-19 shot, or just less than 12 percent of the adult population. But in Marseille, in the south of France, thousands of people took to the streets Sunday to celebrate carnival in defiance of pandemic restrictions. During the recent campaign against crime and law violations at sea, the Vietnam Coast Guard detected 348 cases of foreign ships encroaching on Vietnams waters. The Coast Guard Region 4 Command seizes a ship illegally transporting about 100,000 liters of DO oil in the southwest waters on March 12. According to the Department of Legal Operations under the High Command of Coast Guard, during the campaign, which took place before, during and after the lunar New Year, the Coast Guard strictly patrolled key marine areas and routes. During this time, they detected 348 cases in which foreign fishing vessels violated Vietnamese waters. These vessels were asked to leave Vietnams waters. The Coast Guard arrested and handled 253 cases with 327 suspects who violated the law at sea and in the coastal areas. As many as 47 cases were prosecuted, involving 50 suspects, while administrative penalties were imposed on 164 cases, involving 215 people. The Coast Guard also transferred 42 cases with 62 suspects to related agencies for handling. Notably, drug-related cases were complicated and tended to increase. Drug traders took advantage of modern information and communication technology and used goods transportation services to illegally transport and trade narcotics. They also took advantage of the sea route to transport drugs from other countries to Vietnam and from Vietnam to a third country. During the campaign, the Coast Guard force detected 86 drug-related cases, with 107 suspects. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Son, Commander of the Vietnam Coast Guard, said that the situation of crime and law violation at sea continues to be complicated; smugglers and trade fraud criminals collude with each other and use sophisticated tricks to bribe law enforcement officers. Son noted that the Coast Guard force needs to strengthen the gathering of information, grasp the situation to fight against crime, law violation, and illegal encroachment of foreign fishing vessels into Vietnams waters. The force will also improve the effectiveness of patrols, inspections, control, and handling of violations of the law, and the fight against smuggling and trade fraud at sea, especially in key seas, he said. Tran Thuong Comal County health officials added the February death of a Canyon Lake woman in her 80s to its COVID data on Tuesday morning as well as 32 new cases and 30 recoveries. Officials say the woman died in a San Antonio hospital on Feb. 26, and pushes the county's COVID-19 death toll to 305. Of the new cases, 21 are confirmed and 11 probable. The county's active case count is now 183 with five of those hospitalized with the virus. Comal County hospitals on Tuesday reported caring for 13 COVID-19 patients with four in intensive care and two on ventilators. That's an increase of three patients from Monday with one more in ICU and one less on a ventilator. Hospitals are caring for a mix of local patients and those from outside the area. +5 New Braunfels medical workers find challenges, inspiration in pandemic Its been just over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic started in the United States. Hospital use for COVID-19 patients in the 22-county region which includes both Comal and Guadalupe counties stood at 4.13% on Tuesday, up slightly from Monday's 4.03%. The county's seven-day positivity rate was up slightly on both tests. On the more widespread antigen test it was 3.72% up from Monday's 2.94%. On the molecular test it was 22.07% up from Monday's 20.15%. Health officials have said so few people are taking the molecular test that the percentage is prone to swings because of the small sample size. The county's COVID-19 Vaccination Standby List is open and registering residents who meet the criteria. Registration is available through the county website, www.co.comal.tx.us; those without computer access or need assistance can call 830-620-5575. Those available for vaccination now include front-line health workers, teachers and child care workers, people 50 and older, and those 18 and older who have an underlying medical condition. County health officials have urged people to look at other vaccination options, including those offered by pharmacies, hospitals and stores. H-E-B, Walmart, Sam's Club, CVS, Walgreens and Christus are all offering vaccination opportunities, with details available online or by calling the location. New Delhi, March 23 : India's stance on China has to irreversibly change in the light of the recent developments, both bilateral and global. The earlier strategy is simply not tenable in the light of an increasingly confrontational, if not hostile, neighbour, a new study said. The Pune International Centre (PIC), a policy research think-tank, released a new study on Tuesday on 'Strategic Patience and Flexible Policies: How India Can Rise to the China Challenge'. The paper has been authored by a PIC team comprising Ambassador Gautam Bambawale, Vijay Kelkar (Vice President, PIC), Raghunath Mashelkar (President, PIC), Ganesh Natarajan, Ajit Ranade and Ajay Shah. The paper was sent by the PIC to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior members of the government last week. The paper sketches elements of a strategy which coheres and unifies, rather than compartmentalises economic, diplomatic and geopolitical aspects of the India-China relationship. It recognises the need to build strong coalitions with partners who have aligned objectives. In the longer term, a domestic economy energised by strategic patience and high sustainable growth is the appropriate new framework. Coalitions, calm confrontation, and industry growth in areas where one can build a competitive advantage and become an alternate supply chain to China is the recommended new strategy for China. The study notes that in recent years, China has dismantled this arrangement and established a more hostile stance towards India with simmering military conflict. When the conflict became kinetic in Doklam and then in Ladakh, the immediate impulse was of course about mobilising troops. There was an outcry in the press, nationalistic fervour, and emotional boycotts of Chinese goods. The study says that it is important to see these problems on a larger scale, in terms of space, time and force. It is not just about a few weeks in Ladakh involving a few thousand troops. There is much more at play. If India merely responds with troop movements and winter gear, this may set the stage for future reverses, it said. At present, India is in a weak position when compared to China. The study says whether GDP, state capacity, the capabilities of the best firms, the extent of internationalisation, the mastery of science and technology or the quality of the top intellectuals -- at present, China is significantly ahead of India. This superiority can be used by China to put pressure on India in many ways. Some examples of this include a sheer display of military strength to grab land at the border, the use of a variety of levers to foster friction for India with neighbouring countries, and nudging decision making at international organisations in ways that hinder India's interests. Looking into the future, if the gap between Chinese and Indian economic growth rates continues, these problems will be amplified. As per the study, in the short run, Indian diplomacy faces a new situation. Never before has India faced a hostile nation with significantly superior strength. China in 1962 was at roughly Indian levels of GDP; Pakistan is a smaller country. This is the first time that India has hostilities with a substantially stronger nation. Confronting China alone would be unwise. It is essential to build coalitions, the study said. India needs to embark on a process of building deep ties with about 20 countries. The genuine depth of these relationships requires linkages in trade, finance, investment, education, travel, migration and shared values. India will need to modify domestic policy positions in ways that suit the interests and values of these partners. In the short run, there is debate over the protectionist measures that will harm Chinese exports or investment in India. A significant proportion of those moves are self-defeating in that they harm India more than they harm China, the study adds. There is a case for three groups of restrictions: Limit companies controlled by the Chinese state from a controlling stake in a hotlist of sensitive infrastructure assets; steering clear of Chinese-controlled technological standards; and blocking surveillance of Indian persons. "The judicious use of self-reliance (Aatmanirbhar) grounded in self-confidence (Atmavishwas), where a confident India engages with the world without insecurity, forms alliances with like-minded countries, and leverages democracy and a skilled workforce to good effect, is the path through which the China challenge can be addressed," the report said. BANGALORE, India, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vehicle Electrification Market is Segmented by Type (Starter Motor, Alternator, Electric Car Motors, Electric Water Pumps, Electric Oil Pump, Electric Vacuum Pump, Electric Fuel Pump, Electric Power Steering, Actuators, and Start/Stop System), by Sales Channel (Original Equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Aftermarket), by Vehicle Type (Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle, Micro & Full Hybrid Vehicle, and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) & Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)). This report covers Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast from 2020 to 2027. This report is published on Valuates Reports in the Automotive Industry Category. The global vehicle electrification market was valued at USD 70.14 Billion in 2019, and is projected to reach USD 140.29 Billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 11.3%. Major factors driving the growth of vehicle electrification market size are: Electrical Vehicles outperform conventional Internal combustion vehicles in terms of carbon emission & maintenance, convenience of charging & refueling, smoother drive, reduced sound from engine, and fuel economy. Also upsurge in automotive production and an increase in sales of Electrical vehicles is increasing the growth of the electric car motors market. Fewer parts , Increasing fuel efficiency, decline in the price of batteries and strict government regulations to reduce emission is helping vehicle electrification. Global Vehicle Electrification Market Report TRENDS INFLUENCING THE VEHICLE ELECTRIFICATION MARKET SIZE The surge in the adoption of fuel-efficient mobility solutions due to strict vehicle emission norms is expected to drive vehicle electrification market size. Vehicle emissions are a critical factor that impacts greenhouse gas level, raising environmental and health issues. As a result, countries all over the world are enacting vehicle emission standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintain environmental balance. To keep emissions under control, manufacturers must adhere to these rules. This, in turn, is expected to force manufacturers to start implementing electrification of vehicles. The decline in the price of batteries per KWH is expected to further fuel the growth of vehicle electrification market size. Furthermore, an increase in the use of advanced technologies such as engine shut down system is likely to drive the vehicle electrification market size. However, the recent COVID-19 outbreak has increased the pressure on vehicle electrification technology manufacturers to transform their business models, as the industry is experiencing demand shock and an uncertain recovery timeline. The industry's cash burn rate is currently less than two months. As operating cash flow declines as a result of the crisis, many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will likely face liquidity problems. Furthermore, consumer confidence was low in 2020, which is expected to have an impact on the vehicle electrification market's sales. Get Sample Report VEHICLE ELECTRIFICATION MARKET SHARE Based on product type, the electric car motor is expected to be the most lucrative segment in the vehicle electrification market. Based on vehicle type, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) & Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) are projected as the most lucrative segments. Based on the region, Asia Pacific is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR of 12.9% during 2020-2027. Government programs in countries like China, India, and South Korea to promote the use of electric vehicles and provide consumers with tax breaks on the purchase of these vehicles are expected to propel the market in this region. VEHICLE ELECTRIFICATION MARKET SEGMENTS By Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany France UK Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China Japan India South Korea Rest of Asia-Pacific LAMEA Latin America Middle East Africa Vehicle Electrification Market Regional Data By Product Type By Sales Channel Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) Aftermarket By Vehicle Type Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle Micro & Full Hybrid Vehicle Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) & Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Key Players AISIN SEIKI Co., Ltd. CONTINENTAL AG Delphi Technologies Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. Robert Bosch GmbH ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG Denso Corporation BorgWarner Inc. Magna International Inc. Johnson Electric Holdings Limited Buy Single User Report Buy Enterprise License Report SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. SIMILAR REPORTS - Electric Vehicle (EV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) Market is Segmented by Type EV, PHEV, by Application Commercial Vehicle, Passenger Vehicle and by various regions. - Electric Vehicle Market Size was valued at USD 162.34 Billion in 2019, and is projected to reach USD 802.81 Billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 22.6%. - Electric Car Market Size is projected to reach USD 476730 Million by 2026, from USD 97260 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 25.3% during 2021-2026. - Electric Vehicle Charger Market Size was valued at USD 3.8 Billion in 2019, and is projected to reach USD 25.5 Billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 26.8% from 2020 to 2027. - Electric Bike Market Size was valued at USD 8851 Million in 2019 and it is expected to reach USD 11370 Million by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 3.6% during 2021-2026. - Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations Market is Segmented by Type AC Charging Station, DC Charging Station, by Application Residential, Commercial and by various regions. - Hybrid Electric Vehicle Market is Segmented by Type Medium-Sized, Small-Sized, by Application Household, Commercial and by various regions. - Acoustic and Thermal Insulation for Electric Vehicles Market is Segmented by Type Fiber, Foam, Pad and Mat, by Application Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) and by various regions. - Insulating Materials for Electric Vehicles Market is Segmented by Type Thermal Interface Materials, Foamed Plastics, Ceramics, Others, by Application BEV, HEV, PHEV and by various regions. - The Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Market Size was valued at USD 7.6 Million in 2019, and is projected to reach USD 210.1 Million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 36.4% from 2020 to 2030. - Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Market Size was valued at USD 62420 Million in 2019 and it is expected to reach USD 239670 Million by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 21.8% during 2021-2026. - Electric Motorcycle and Scooter Market Size is projected to reach USD 7971.3 Million by 2027, from USD 6086.1 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 4.6% during 2022-2027. - Electric Commercial Vehicle Market Size is projected to reach USD 178560 Million by 2026, from USD 101270 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 8.3% during 2021-2026. More Reports On Vehicle Electrification Market ABOUT US Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains a detailed research methodology employed to generate the report. Please also reach our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources. CONTACT US Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp : +91 9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Linkedin - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports SOURCE Valuates Reports Global Times Insists China-Russia Strategic Partnership Is More Important Than U.S. Alliances March 22 , 2021 (EIRNS)Under the headline, China-Russia Ties Deepen While U.S. and Allies Flail, the editorial in the March 21 Global Times took note of the extensive global diplomacy taking place at this time: the 2+2 meetings in Japan and South Korea; the Anchorage meeting; Gen. Austin in India; Secretary Blinken heading for Brussels today for four days of NATO meetings, and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov going to China today. While the anti-China and anti-Russia policies were at the center of the American meetings, the paper reported that Beijing and Moscow usually do not proactively aim at Washington when discussing their strategic partnership. In fact, they stated, China and Russia do not believe in alliances: China and Russias move to forge a partnership rather than an alliance is displaying their confidence, and is more in line with the spirit of this era.... Of course, global strategic goodwill is the foundation of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia in the new era. Yet perhaps the U.S. will never learn to show such goodwill. Ordering the world into blocs and alliances is no longer working, the editorial stated. The role of strengthening the alliance between the U.S. and its allies, which is now promoted by the new U.S. administration, will be limited. If the U.S. relies on its alliance to solve the problems caused by its outdated hegemonism, it will be a crazy act. Global Times referenced Bidens remark about Putin being a killer, the accusation of genocide against China, and calling both Russia and China a threat to the world order. Washington is playing a game that is surely to harm itself and likely does no good to its Asian allies. The U.S. sense of crisis stems fundamentally from the decline of its comprehensive competitiveness. Its hegemonic framework remains roughly the same, yet its internal supportive power is weakening. The problem will not be resolved by strengthening ties with its allies. The tactic may give the U.S. more courage, but it is essentially exposing U.S. diffidence. The most influential bilateral relationship in Eurasia is the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. China and Russia understand the weight of their ties. When the two sides continue to deepen their relations, they also take care of the feelings of other countries in the region modestly and in a restrained manner, reiterating that the relationship between Beijing and Moscow is a partnership, rather than an alliance. On Japan, the editorial posited that despite America desperately upgrading its alliances with a handful of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with Japan basically siding with it, nonetheless, The Japan-U.S. relationship cannot be promoted as a model in Asia. In the long run, it will be the general trend that Japan will develop a more independent diplomacy. The present-day world is no longer about a life-or-death geopolitical game. It is difficult to bind countries together as a monolithic whole simply through a security vision. Every countrys interests are diverse. Each country needs to carry out cooperation with others flexibly in multiple directions instead of putting all its eggs in one basket. Neither South Korea nor India allowed any reference to China in their joint communiques with the United States this past week. Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? ISTANBUL - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to reshuffle his cabinet following his AKP party congress on Wednesday, in which a new executive committee will be elected, said AKP deputy secretary Mahir Unal. The head of state "will decide on a new arrangement for 2023" - the 100th anniversary of the Republic and the year in which the next elections are scheduled - "not only for the party but also for his team; we'll see it in the coming days", Unal said, confirming rumours that have been circulating for days in the government hallways of Ankara, also in light of recent changes in some key posts such as the leader of the central bank. In an interview with broadcaster NTV, Unal also highlighted that there will be a reorganisation of the internal structures of the AKP party. For the first time ever, neuroscientists at UCLA are measuring human brain waves while a person is in motion. They're observing epilepsy patients with previously implanted brain sensors. Those sensors are in the section of the brain linked to memory and a person's navigation. David McCabe, a photographer who was given the assignment of a lifetime in 1964 when Andy Warhol hired him to follow him around New York and chronicle his exploits for a year, thereby participating in the manufacturing of Warhols public image and the enduring myth of downtown New York, died on Feb. 26 at a hospital in Albany, N.Y. He was 80. His wife, Susan Cipolla, said the cause was lung cancer. When Mr. McCabe arrived in New York in 1960, he was a 20-year-old art school graduate fresh from England. He got a room at the Y.M.C.A., began working as a photo assistant and started shooting fashion editorials for magazines like Glamour and Mademoiselle. Four years later, Warhol noticed Mr. McCabes work and asked to meet him at the Factory, his silver-foil-lined studio on East 47th Street, for a job interview of sorts. Warhol wanted to hire a personal photographer to document his cavorting at parties and gallery openings around town. He wanted, in other words, someone to document him engaging in the performance of being Andy Warhol. I didnt even know who Andy Warhol was, Mr. McCabe said in a 2011 interview with the website The Arts Desk. At that time he had a certain notoriety in Manhattan, but he wasnt famous in the way he would later become. All that changed in the year I spent photographing him. Hungary has reported a record number of coronavirus deaths, prompting Prime Minister Viktor Orban to announce a delay in the reopening of the economy. Hungary has overtaken the Czech Republic for the world's highest per capita death rate for the past seven days, according to the Our World in Data website. The Central European country on March 23 reported 252 fatalities, a daily record. The toll comes after a spike in hospitalizations and patients on ventilators threatened to break its overstretched health system despite per capita vaccination rates at the top of European Union nations. "Until all of our compatriots older than 65 who are registered for vaccination have been inoculated, we will not be able to start with reopening, because their lives would be in imminent danger," Orban said in a Facebook video. The surge in infections scuppered Orban's tentative plan for a phased reopening of the economy from later this month. A partial lockdown in effect since November 2020 was extended with the closure of schools and kindergartens. The Hungarian Medical Chamber warned people on March 22 to limit shopping to once a week, if possible, avoid public transport and postpone any nonessential domestic travel. Hungary was the first EU country to buy and use Chinese or Russian vaccines as shipments from Western suppliers lagged. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on social media on March 23 that a government cargo plane is bringing a second shipment of 180,000 doses of vaccines from Russia. Szijjarto said that once the latest Russian delivery is received, vaccines from Russia and China will have reached 1,776,000 doses. With reporting by Reuters Gardai have this morning arrested a man wanted by German authorities on foot of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW). While conducting a checkpoint in Kilmacannogue, Co Wicklow in the early hours of this morning, Monday, Gardai in Bray arrested a Romanian man, aged in his 40s, on foot of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW). A car was stopped at approximately 12am at a checkpoint. A search of the Garda PULSE system and SIS II (Schengen Information System) via the mobility device alerted Gardai to an EAW for the driver of the vehicle. The warrant was in existence from the German authorities. This man will now appear before the High Court in Dublin at 12pm today. Montana Gov Greg Gianforte received a warning from wildlife officials after killing a radio-collared wolf near Yellowstone National Park without first taking a mandated trapper education course - a violation of state hunting regulations, officials said Tuesday. It's legal to kill wolves in Montana with a license, but trappers must first complete a three-hour online course that includes instruction on how to take the animals ethically and lawfully. Gianforte had a valid wolf license, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman Greg Lemon said. Montana Gov Greg Gianforte (pictured) received a warning from wildlife officials after killing a radio-collared wolf near Yellowstone National Park without first taking a mandated trapper education course - a violation of state hunting regulations, officials said Tuesday It's legal to kill wolves (a black wolf similar to the one killed) in Montana with a license, but trappers must first complete a three-hour online course that includes instruction on how to take the animals ethically and lawfully News of the governor's violation comes as lawmakers in Montana and Idaho have been considering proposals to make it much easier to kill wolves in a bid to drive down the predators' numbers. On February 15, just weeks after he took office, Gianforte trapped and shot the wolf about 10 miles north of the park on a ranch owned by a director for the conservative Sinclair Broadcasting Group, according to Boise State Public Radio, which first reported the violation. Officials determined he was in violation of the certification rule when the Republican governor brought the animal in to a state game warden to report the kill the next day, Lemon said. 'In situations like this, we use it as an education opportunity and issued a written warning,' Lemon said. 'Everything related to the harvest was done right.' Gianforte 'immediately rectified the mistake' and enrolled in a wolf-trapping certification course scheduled for Wednesday, Gianforte spokesperson Brooke Stroyke said. He was allowed to keep the animals skull and hide. The six-year-old male wolf was born in Yellowstone National Park and was fitted with a radio collar to track its movements in 2018, park spokesperson Morgan Warthin said. Gianforte had a valid wolf license, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman Greg Lemon said. The wolf was killed near Yellowstone National Park The animal was a member of the park's Wapiti Lake pack but had left the group to find a mate. Lemon said the radio collar was returned to the park. While running for Congress in 2017, Gianforte acknowledged illegally killing an elk in 2000 in Park County. He was fined $70 in that case after self-reporting that he had killed an elk not mature enough to be legally harvested, the Helena Independent Record reported. What is the current situation in terms of water management in Vietnam? Laurent Umans, first secretary of Water Management and Climate at the Embassy of the Netherlands to Vietnam Resolution No.120/2017/NQ-CP on sustainable development in the Mekong Delta argues that the government should stop fighting floods and salinity and should start embracing them. Of all ideas in Resolution 120, embracing salinity is least acted upon. The government continues to fight salinity by building sluices, closing canals, dredging, and allowing sand mining. These measures will only increase intrusion further inland. The sustainable and profitable solution to salinity is land use transformation to a brackish aquaculture. To succeed, this requires better rural drinking water supply, more coordinated investment, and collective action from farmers. It also requires water management that does not use groundwater but surface water, and that would require less pollution of the surface water. The Netherlands is supporting this through its water projects and the Agricultural Transformation Programme. What investments are needed for Vietnams water resources management, and particularly in the Mekong Delta, one of the key regions suffering from shortages? The key point is to reduce the hard infrastructure bias. Nowadays, the bulk of the public investment goes into concrete and asphalt. Although there are strong, vested interests in these sectors, this is not the only investment which is needed. Hard infrastructure is often doing harm instead of doing good. Other soft options such as containerisation might be smarter investments that save more time than when broadening roads. Investing in nature-based solutions such as mangroves might be more sustainable and profitable than building dykes that sink into the soft coastal soil. Industry 4.0 technologies such as smart meters and sensors might also help living with nature rather than building rudely intrusive infrastructure. My recommendation to investors is to focus on transformations rather than individual sectors such as transportation. As the prime minister recently said, private sector investment plays a key role. For both coastal protection and agricultural transformation huge investments are needed to keep the delta healthy. Land, capital, commodity, renewable energy, and insurance markets all have large potentials for private investment. We need to take care for the delta and that means investing in its long-term sustainability for which Resolution 120 provides the framework. The Netherlands has a long track record of working in the Mekong Delta. What is your opinion of the recent developments that you see in the area? Every day we read in the newspapers about the potential of the Mekong Delta as well as about its vulnerability. On the one hand, there are abundant resources (land, water, population, wind, and sunshine), impressive growth figures, and huge potential. On the other hand, the delta is vulnerable to climate change and has problems with land subsidence, erosion, salinity intrusion, droughts, floods, biodiversity losses, pollution, and outward migration. Both stories co-exist and show two versions of how people see the delta and treat it. Many people view the delta as an abundant resource to be exploited and mined to make a profit or for the benefit of the country. Others see the delta as a victim of human exploitation, building the wrong infrastructure, formulating short-sighted policies and implementing uncoordinated plans. Those people see the delta as a scarce resource being overexploited and polluted. It therefore needs to be managed sustainably. If we see the Mekong Delta as a living body we also see it is starving of sediment due to upstream dam building and sand mining. Therefore there is more erosion of the riverbank, the river bed, and the coast. We also see the delta is thirsty since the aquifers are overexploited. Due to these trends the body is sinking and shrinking. By 2050 already one-third of the delta is expected to be below sea level. The soils in the delta get exhausted. All these bodily symptoms of our human action makes it clear that we need to take care of the Mekong Deltas health first. With that in mind, what are your recommendations for action? Let me draw the parallel between delta care and healthcare. Delta experts can learn from the COVID-19 response in Vietnam. The first lesson is that once the delta gets really sick, the cure is very expensive. Doing nothing is a bad strategy while early, decisive, and firm action has shown good results in countries like Vietnam so timely measures are important. Secondly, given all the uncertainties we face, we need to anticipate just in case measures. Climate change and subsidence might be worse than projected or might be better. Flexibility and scientific knowledge have proven to be crucial to cope with unknown delta dynamics. Thirdly, the response from the government should be matched with a response from citizens and businesses. Economic health is part of the overall health of the delta but should not be seen in GDP terms and should not follow a narrow financial rationality. The COVID-19 crisis showed that the economy can be stopped by a lockdown and restarted yet, life cannot be stopped and restarted. Once a species is extinguished it will not reappear, and once a living delta is lost, it will not return. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Colorado: At least 10 people, including a police officer, were killed when a gunman opened fire at a grocery store in the US state of Colorado, authorities said, adding that a suspect was in custody. The shooting took place on Monday in the city of Boulder. Chief: Our hearts go out to all families impacted. There are 10 fatalities. She identified slain Police Officer Eric Talley, who was one of the first on the scene. She calls officer's actions "heroic." Boulder Police Dept. (@boulderpolice) March 23, 2021 According to a BBC news report, the incident began around 2.30 PM when the suspect entered the King Soopers grocery store and began firing. Then at about 2.50 PM, the Boulder Police Department tweeted an alert about an "active shooter" at the store. Police said officers arrived at the scene "within minutes" of receiving a 911 call and entered the building "very quickly". Two hours later, the police again warned people to avoid the area, the BBC reported. "Do not broadcast on social media any tactical information you might see," the tweet added. However, the shooting was live-streamed by witnesses and broadcast on YouTube. After the incident, the Department confirmed that a person of interest was in custody and there was "no ongoing public threat", dpa news agency reported. The man was injured and was being treated. The incident at 17th and Grove appears to have been unrelated to King Soopers shooting, the Boulder Police said. "He was injured and is being treated for his injury." We have multiple victims who lost their lives. One of the victims is a Boulder police officer. Asking media to honor families` privacy," the Boulder Police Department tweeted. Rest In peace Officer Eric Talley. Your service will never be forgotten #BoulderShooting pic.twitter.com/FVximvhS2E Boulder Police Dept. (@boulderpolice) March 23, 2021 "Investigation is underway. Crime scene analysts are inside the building processing evidence. No numbers about fatalities will be released until families are notified." DA: Investigation is underway. Crime scene analysts are inside the building processing evidence. No numbers about fatalities will be released until families are notified. Boulder Police Dept. (@boulderpolice) March 23, 2021 US President Joe Biden has been informed of the Boulder supermarket shooting that reportedly left several people dead, informed White House spokesperson Jen Psaki. "The President has been briefed on the shooting in Colorado and he will be kept up to date by his team as there are additional developments," Psaki tweeted. In a tweet, Colorado Governor Jared Polis said: "My prayers are with our fellow Coloradans in this time of sadness and grief as we learn more about the extent of the tragedy." Last week, a gunman shot eight people dead at massage parlours in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said three people were killed at a spa in northeast Atlanta, while a fourth person was killed at another spa across the street. He said all four victims were female, and "It appears that they may be Asian." Live TV Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Mar. 22Revamping school funding, regulating vicious dogs, legalizing concealed weapons without training or permits, banning LGBT discrimination these disparate topics are among the bills Ohio lawmakers have repeatedly tried and failed to pass year after year. Some advocates never give up hope that this will be the time they'll get a breakthrough. "It remains the single top priority for the Buckeye Firearms Association. I can tell you there will be a 'constitutional' carry bill this year," association lobbyist Rob Sexton said. State Rep. Tom Brinkman, R-Cincinnati, said bills to allow Ohioans to carry concealed weapons without permits or training mandates have been introduced nearly every legislative session since 1995. The value in introducing such bills is to strive for the ideal but then settle for incremental improvements to gun laws, he said. The retread bills tend to fall into three categories: hot button social issues that address abortion, guns, the death penalty or gay rights; complex policies such as school funding reform or fixing the state unemployment compensation fund; and a hodge podge of ideas such as strengthening vicious dog laws or legalizing backyard fireworks. In February 2014, two neighborhood dogs fatally attacked Klonda Richey, leaving her to die on her Dayton front yard and prompting state lawmakers to call for changes in Ohio's vicious dog laws. Since then, six state lawmakers have taken up the cause. All six have failed. State Sen. Niraj Antani, R-Miamisburg, said he is once again redrafting legislation to reform the dog laws. Although bills on these and other topics have repeatedly failed to clear all legislative hurdles, perseverance pays off sometimes. After years of battle, anti-abortion groups got a heartbeat abortion ban law and pro-gun advocates got a "Stand Your Ground" law when Gov. Mike DeWine signed each bill. State Sen. Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, has been a champion for two bills repealing the death penalty and passing the Fairness Act, which would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity for her entire legislative career. This new legislative session, Antonio is sponsoring the bills, yet again. Story continues Antonio said public opinion on both topics continues to evolve and she continues to discuss the bills with her colleagues, hoping to win over support. "It's the right thing to do and it affects the lives of people. The death penalty, I think sets the whole road map for the state of Ohio, whether or not we have that on the books, and the same could be said for the Fairness Act," Antonio said. "I think it's worth the long haul and the long fight, absolutely." She added, "I've been told my whole life there are things I can't do. I refuse to accept that." Ohio lawmakers often wrestle with the same issues year after year. Here is a sampling: Ohio Fairness Act: Senate Bill 119, introduced every session since 2003, would prohibit discrimination in housing, employment or public places based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Death Penalty Repeal: Senate Bill 103 would end the death penalty in Ohio. Repeal bills have been introduced for more than 15 years. Ohio's capital punishment law has been on the books since 1981. School Funding Reform: House Bill 1 aims to solve problems that have lingered for 20-plus years since the state school funding formula was ruled unconstitutional. Sports Betting: Two bills failed to clear the legislature last session. A special Senate committee is now hearing testimony on sports betting and e-bingo. Backyard Fireworks: House Bill 172 and Senate Bill 113 would legalize the use of consumer-grade fireworks on private property. Local governments could place restrictions on hours and days. Attempts to revamp Ohio's fireworks laws stretch back more than 20 years. Concealed Weapons: Ohio adopted its concealed weapons permit law in 2004. Since then, lawmakers have reduced training requirements and expanded places CCW permitholders may carry their weapons. A bill is expected to again be introduced that would allow adults to carry concealed firearms without meeting training requirements or obtaining permits. Unemployment Compensation Fund: Despite recommendations going back to 2006 to stabilize the fund, the legislature has yet to take action. In 2009, Ohio started borrowing to keep the fund solvent, racking up a $2.6 billion debt. In 2020, the fund went broke again, forcing Ohio to borrow $1.45 billion so far. Lawmakers are looking for ways to fix the rampant problem of unemployment fraud. But structural changes to stabilize the fund are still under discussion. My husband and I are 71 and 72, and I am happy to report that we received our first COVID-19 vaccine shot. Getting here was arduous, unnecessary and rather comical. I was one of the unfortunate 70 and older seniors who was on the vaccine website on Feb. 22 when the system crashed. We were told to try again on Thursday, and the system locked up again. On March 1, when Gov. Kate Brown opened up an already overloaded system, I registered our names in the lottery but received no confirmation message. I sent a message to my doctor that I didnt know if Id processed the input correctly or if our names were circulating around the rings of Saturn. My husband enlisted the aid of friends and neighbors to help, and we ended up with six appointments (but canceled the extras). The process is inequitable, and I feel guilty that weve leap-frogged older seniors, and Im annoyed that those younger than us got appointments ahead of us. Brown made a huge mistake when she opened up registrations for 65-and-over when the system was already flooded. She was obviously out of touch with the seniors in Oregon when she went on TV proudly displaying her vaccination. Patrick Allen, the head of Oregon Health Authority, made a horribly condescending comment when he said something to the effect that our seniors need to be confused and frustrated for a little while longer. Im glad Kate Brown cant run for re-election. Patrick Allen needs to be fired. Alexis Simpson, Damascus [March 23, 2021] Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Awards VHS Learning $8.5 Million Grant to Serve Students Underrepresented in Advanced STEM Courses Nonprofit VHS Learning has partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MA DESE) to create the STEM Advanced Placement Access Expansion Opportunity (SAPAO). A statewide initiative designed to increase Massachusetts students' participation in advanced coursework, SAPAO will provide select high schools with access to up to seven AP STEM courses free of charge. VHS Learning will provide students with enrollment in the following courses: AP Calculus AB AP Statistics AP Computer Science Principles AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based AP Environmental Science "SAPAO's goal is to create greater equity in STEM AP course-taking," said Carol DeFuria, President & CEO of VHS Learning. "This important initiative will prepare students for postsecondary education and STEM professions vital to the Massachusetts economy. We're excited to provide a statewide virtual platform that enables students to engage in the coursework at no additional cost to their families, schools or districts." The highest priority schools eligible to participate in the first iteration of SAPAO are those that have not had the capacity or resources to offer AP STEM subjects and which enroll Black, Latino, and/or Economically Disadvantaged students at rates that are above the state average. Specifically, the new program will serve schools in which low numbers of students engage in AP STEM courses despite demonstrating appropriate skill levels as measured by their MCAS Math or Science performances. Enrollment will also be provided to schools where fewer than five students in a subgroup participate in AP STEM coursework. The goal of this partnership is to build a network ofschools that can use the statewide virtual platform to drive their long term strategy to increase capacity to offer AP STEM courses to more students each year. DESE will allocate at least 1,500 enrollments in VHS Learning's AP STEM courses through April 2021. In May 2021, any remaining seats will be distributed to non-eligible schools by lottery. During the summer, the grant includes VHS Learning teachers to provide academic support and course preparation for participating students. The students will begin full-year Advanced Placement coursework in September. VHS Learning will also train site coordinators at participating schools to enroll and support students and monitor their progress. In addition, local site coordinators will ensure any course-based accommodations for students are implemented, including coordination with special education staff. This initiative is funded by a five-year grant of more than $9 million that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education received from the U.S. Education Department's Expanding Access to Well-Rounded Courses Demonstration Grants Program. "Data from the Student Longitudinal Database System also shows that students who take AP coursework are more likely to enroll in college," said DeFuria. "The numbers are significant: 86% of high school students who take at least one AP course attend college as do 92% of those who take two or more AP courses. But only 63% of those who do not take an AP course go to college. And state data shows that there are significant gaps in AP course-taking between certain racial or ethnic and income subgroups of Massachusetts high school students. SAPAO's aim is to address those inequities and truly create opportunities for all." For more information about SAPAO visit: https://vhslearning.org/stem-ap-access-expansion-opportunity About VHS Learning VHS Learning is a nonprofit organization with 25 years of experience providing world-class online programs to students and schools everywhere. Offering more than 250 unique online courses, including 24 AP courses, credit recovery and enrichment courses, and a selection of dual-credit options, VHS Learning is accredited by Middle States Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges ( ACS (News - Alert) WASC), and Cognia. Courses are approved for initial eligibility by NCAA. For more information about VHS Learning please visit https://www.vhslearning.org/ and follow on Twitter (News - Alert) at @VHSLearning. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005949/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A businessman who is facing a murder charge over the death of late Tob Cohen was a no show for a court mention on Monday. Peter Karanja, who was charged alongside Cohens widow Sarah Wairimu in 2019, and his lawyer skipped the virtual court before Justice Grace Nzioka. The matter was being mentioned for re-allocation to another court after trial judge James Wakiaga was transferred to the Anti-Corruption division last year. Despite the absence, Judge Nzioka did not issue a warrant but adjourned the matter to Wednesday so that Karanjas whereabouts can be traced. Karanja was released on a Sh4 million bond or an alternative cash bail of Sh2 million. Meanwhile, Wairimus lawyer Phillip Murgor asked the court to allow Wairimu not to come to his office on Wednesday for the mention because she does not stay in Nairobi. Sarah Wairimu travels to Nairobi to attend the virtual courts in her lawyers office. Murgor further told the court there are two pending applications they have filed before the court that But Justice Nzioka said she will not deal with the issues of applications or directions until Karanja is present in court. The court allowed the request for Wairimu to join the virtual proceedings from wherever she will be on that day. Wairimu has since made a fresh application for the trial court to drop the charges saying its a violation of her rights. To mark World Oral Health Day 2021, Pepsodent Ghana hit the streets of Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale to educate and remind Ghanaians on the importance of brushing day and night for optimum oral health. The stunt also served as a platform to launch the #BrushWithMe campaign which has been designed to remind parents of the great role they play in taking care of the oral health of their families and encouraging them to brush day and night together with their children. Each year Pepsodent Ghana celebrates World Oral Health Day in grand style, using creative means to carry across the good message of cultivating good oral health. This year was no exception as vibrant stunt men and women were seen around the Accra Kawokudi, Osu Oxford Street and Independence Avenue, Takoradi Market Circle, Tamale Central and Anloga Junction, Aboabo post office in Kumasi showcasing live-size Pepsodent packs including catchy hashtags #BrushWithMe and #BrushDayandNight. The #BrushWithMe global campaign is driven by research data and highlights the importance of building good oral care routines within the family. According to a global research conducted by Pepsodent, when a parent brushes twice a day, the probability that the children will skip brushing is only 9% but when a parent skips brushing, the chance that a child also skips brushing is 69%. For this reason, Pepsodent, the number one oral care brand in the country has taken to the streets to say urge Ghanaian families to join the #BrushWithMe train by visiting a dentist regularly, brush properly day and night and brushing together. Thats right! Brushing is better together and twice a day is the way to go. Parents can get involved by posting their familys fun brushing antics and how they brush with their kids on social media with the hashtag #BrushWithMe and tagging @PepsodentGH. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Maharashtra state board exams for Class 12 cancelled in view of COVID-19: Minister Vijay Wadettiwar. in view of COVID-19: Minister Vijay Wadettiwar. Lockdown-like restrictions to be lifted from tomorrow in 18 out of 36 Maharashtra districts: government. in 18 out of 36 Maharashtra districts: government. Slamming AAP's opposition to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, ex-BJP Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari on Monday, said that AAP had failed to win in Lok Sabha polls and hence was maligning BJP. Pointing out that all 7 Delhi MPs were re-elected, he said that it was incorrect to say that 'Delhi didn't vote for BJP'. He reiterated that only confusion has been eliminated and that nothing had changed in the Act. BJP: 'AAP maligning BJP' "If Kejriwal says that we could not win, then he should feel ashamed. Our all 7 MPs were re-elected, then don't say that Delhi didn't vote for BJP. When you have failed, now you want to malign BJP. This is a UT, Modi ji did not make this UT, it was made under Congress govt. We have just removed the confusion. Nothing has changed in the Bill," said Tiwari. GNCTD Bill passed in Lok Sabha On Monday, the Lok Sabha passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill. The Bill which defines the powers of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG), has been opposed by AAP, terming it 'murder of democracy'. The Bill is yet to pass through the Rajya Sabha, where AAP MP Sanjay Singh has begun garnering support from other parties to oppose the Bill. What is the GNCTD amendment? According to PRS, the Bill proposes to define the powers of the Delhi government and the L-G with regard to the 1991 Act, amending it: The term government referred to in any law made by the Legislative Assembly will imply Lieutenant Governor (LG) Assembly can make Rules to regulate it, consistent to Lok Sabha Bill prohibits Legislative Assembly from making rules for (i)day-to-day administration of the NCT, (ii) conduct any inquiry into administrative decisions LG must reserve Bills passed by Legislative Assembly for President's assent - (i) if it diminishes Delhi HC's power (ii) President may direct to be reserved (iii) deals with salaries of Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and members of the Assembly and the Ministers (iv) official languages of the Assembly. LG must also reserve those Bills for the President which cover any of the matters outside the purview of the powers of the Legislative Assembly. Executive action by the government must be taken in the name of the LG and his opinion must be obtained AAP Vs Centre Previously, in a 2019 Supreme Court judgement, Delhi government has been empowered to appoint special public prosecutors or law officers, fixing land revenue rates, the power to appoint or deal with the electricity commission or board. The SC also stated Delhi Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) cannot probe central government employees and that the Centre has the power to appoint Enquiry Commission. The SC has referred to the issue of transfers and posting of officers to a larger bench. This has led to AAP accuse the BJP of 'giving LG power to stop work being done by the government elected by the people of Delhi' - leading to delay in schemes' implementation. In 2018, the SC had observed that the Delhi government need not obtain L-Gs concurrence on all governance issues, but only inform him. As of now law and order, and the police come under the Ministry of Home Affairs while administrative powers rest under the Delhi government. NASA's Perseverance is gearing up to release the Ingenuity helicopter that will conduct the first controlled flights on another planet. Dubbed its 'Wright brothers moment' in memory of the first powered flight on Earth, the rotocopter also includes a tiny fragment of fabric from that first human trip into the skies, NASA revealed during a press conference. Ingenuity is currently in the belly of the rover that is traveling to an 'airfield' on Mars, which is deemed the perfect take-off site a flat area with textured features to help the helicopter track its path. The deployment of Ingenuity from the belly of Perseverance will take about six sols to complete and from there the rotocopter will have to meet a series of milestones before attempting its first flight. NASA is targeting no earlier than April 8 for this event, which will see Ingenuity fly nine feet into the air, hover in place for 30 seconds and then land again on Mars' surface. And the team says if the helicopter can pull off the short flight, the entire mission will be deemed a success. If the rotorcraft lands successfully and remains operable, up to four more flights could be attempted, each one building on the success of the last. Scroll down for videos NASA's Perseverance is gearing up to release the Ingenuity helicopter that will conduct the first controlled flights on another planet Dubbed its 'Wright brothers moment' in memory of the first powered flight on Earth, the rotocopter also includes a tiny fragment of fabric from that first human trip into the skies, NASA revealed during a press conference. Being placed here on Ingenuity before launch NASA held a briefing Tuesday to reveal details of the first flight on another planet, which the team likens to that of the Wright Brothers first flight on Earth. Farah Alibay, Mars Helicopter integration lead for the Perseverance rover, said: 'Most of all I think of it [Ingenuity] as an experimental aircraft and this started with the Wright Brothers who brought aerial mobility to travel here on earth in the same way we are hoping ingenuity on Mars.' Alibay also highlighted that a piece of fabric used by the Wright Brothers to construct the first airplane was attached to Ingenuity before launching to Mars. Bob Balaram from NASA's Ingenuity team said in a press conference: 'The Wright Brothers in 1803 flew with a spruce wood and fabric system. 'We are very proud to honour that experimental aircraft from long ago by carrying a small piece of fabric on Ingenuity. This fabric is from the original aircraft that flew.' Perseverance is currently trekking to the first airfield on another planet, which is a 33-by-33-foot piece of Martian real estate, and once it reaches the targeted area, the rover will release the four-pound rotorcraft from its belly. NASA is targeting no earlier than April 8 for this event, which will see Ingenuity fly nine feet into the air, hover in place for 30 seconds and then land again on Mars' surface The rover is currently traveling to an 'airfield' on Mars that the American space agency has deemed the perfect take-off site a flat area with textured features to help the helicopter track its path. However, NASA says the process is easier said than done. NASA's Ingenuity helicopter preps for its 'Wright brothers moment' NASA is set to fly where no one has flown before Mars' atmosphere. Named Ingenuity, the craft will fly at an altitude that is similar to 100,000 feet on Earth, allowing it to gather geology data in areas the rover can't reach. NASA is comparing this mission 'to the Wright brothers moment,' as it will be the first time in history an aerial vehicle has flown on another world. It will first spend up to 60 days charging strapped to the Perseverance rover, before being released. If it survives the hard -90C Martian night, NASA will make the first flight attempt within 30 days. 'Since the Wright brothers first took to the skies of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, December 17, 1903, first flights have been important milestones in the life of any vehicle designed for air travel,' NASA said in a statement Advertisement It will take about six sols, or six days and four hours Earth time, before the two separate, which involves the rover team working with Ingenuity's operators to get the copter from a horizontal position to a vertical one before releasing it to the ground. For the first step, the team on Earth will activate a bolt-breaking device, releasing a locking mechanism that helped hold the helicopter firmly against the rover's belly during launch and Mars landing. The following sol, they will fire a cable-cutting pyrotechnic device, enabling the mechanized arm that holds Ingenuity to begin rotating the helicopter out of its horizontal position. This is also when the rotorcraft will extend two of its four landing legs. On the third sol, a small electric motor will take over to complete Ingenuity's rotation, which will be followed by the two landing legs snapping into position on the fourth sol. During this time, the Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering (WATSON) imager will take confirmation shots of Ingenuity as it incrementally unfolds into its flight configuration and will transmit the data back to Earth. The helicopter will hang about five inches above the surface at its final position and only be connected to Perseverance through a singly bolt and a few dozen electrical contacts. On the fifth sol of deployment, the team will use the final opportunity to utilize Perseverance as a power source and charge Ingenuity's six battery cells. Bob Balaram, Mars Helicopter chief engineer at JPL, said: 'Once we cut the cord with Perseverance and drop those final five inches to the surface, we want to have our big friend drive away as quickly as possible so we can get the Sun's rays on our solar panel and begin recharging our batteries.' It will take about six sol, or six days and four hours Earth time, before the two separate, which involves the rover team working with Ingenuity's operators to get the copter from a horizontal position to a vertical one before releasing it to the ground However, Ingenuity will have to confirm three things on the sixth sol in order to take flight. These checks include all four legs being firmly on the ground, the rover is at least 16 feet away and both vehicles are capable of communication via their onboard radios. MiMi Aung, project manager for Ingenuity Mars Helicopter at JPL, said:' Ingenuity is an experimental engineering flight test we want to see if we can fly at Mars. 'There are no science instruments onboard and no goals to obtain scientific information. 'We are confident that all the engineering data we want to obtain both on the surface of Mars and aloft can be done within this 30-sol window.' Monday NASA shared the first look of Ingenuity on Mars. The debris shield, covering the small helicopter, was discarded by Perseverance on Sunday, revealing Ingenuity tucked up and stowed sideways under the vehicle Unlike its travel companion Perseverance, Ingenuity is not tasked with searching for life but will demonstrate capabilities of soaring through Mars' thin atmosphere. It is fitted with four-foot diameter blades that rotate 40 times a second, solar panels to keep it powered and other technology tailored for its Mars mission. And Monday NASA shared the first look of Ingenuity on Mars. The debris shield, covering the small helicopter, was discarded by Perseverance on Sunday, revealing Ingenuity tucked up and stowed sideways under the vehicle. It was 'folded up and locked in place,' according to NASA, who said there would be 'some reverse origami' required before it can be deployed to the Martian surface. 'Mars is hard,' said Aung. 'Our plan is to work whatever the Red Planet throws at us the very same way we handled every challenge we've faced over the past six years together, with tenacity and a lot of hard work, and a little Ingenuity.' ROME - Saudi Arabia has proposed a ceasefire in Yemen to the Houthi rebels allied with Iran, who however rejected the offer as "nothing new". Riyadh's offer should be enacted with UN supervision ahead of opening talks between the internationally recognised Yemeni government and the Houthis, said Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on Monday evening. "We will do everything possible to put the necessary pressure on the Houthis so that they come to the negotiating table and lay down their arms, because we believe that the end of fighting and a political solution are the only way," said the minister, cited by pan-Arab broadcaster Al Arabiya. But the spokesman for the Shiite Yemeni rebels, Mohammed Abdulsalam, cited by broadcaster Houthi Al Masirah, said that before talking about negotiations Riyadh should "put an end to the aggression and completely remove the naval and air blockade" it put on the Yemeni regions under Houthi control. "We welcome the announcement by Saudi Arabia of its intention to take up a series of measures to help put an end to the conflict in Yemen, which are in line with the initiative of the United Nations," said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Monday evening. Since the time the conflict broke out in 2015 between the Houthis and the coalition of Gulf countries led by the Saudis, estimates place the number of civilians killed at over 100,000. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form A couple who allegedly harbored a runaway child, sexually assaulted her and forced her into prostitution over a four-month period are now both in custody. Estoshia Roddy, 29, was taken into custody on March 15 by the Houston Police Department following an investigation by the Fort Bend County District Attorneys Office. She has been charged with sexual assault of a child and aggravated assault. Related: Convicted sex offender charged with failing to register in Richmond Her co-defendant, Dewayne Demarcus Cook, has been in custody since December 2019. He has been charged with sexual assault of a child, continuous forced prostitution of a child under the age of 18 and unlawful possession of body armor. According to Cooks arrest warrant, the victim, who was younger than the age of 16 at the time, ran away from her home and was harbored by Cook. Once in his residence, authorities say, Cook repeatedly sexually assaulted her and sold her for sex. While public documents do not include Roddys specific involvement in the operation, her indictment indicates that she sexually assaulted the child as well. According to Cooks arrest warrant, Roddy was Cooks girlfriend. The investigation began in September 2019 following a tip from a concerned party. Investigators arrived at Cooks home in Fort Bend County and asked if they could enter his residence because they were looking for the victim, Cooks warrant states. According to the warrant, Cook asked officers to wait outside so he could do some housekeeping. He returned a few moments later and allowed officers to enter his home. The warrant states that officers found the victim hidden in a closet, buried under a large pile of clothes and military-grade body armor. On HoustonChronicle.com: A year after Harris County's stay-home order, residents reflect on their final days of normal In Texas it is illegal for convicted felons to own body armor. Cook has prior felony convictions in Harris County for the assault of a family member by impeding breathing in 2017 and possession of a prohibited weapon in 2012. Cook has remained in the Fort Bend County jail in lieu of bonds totaling $160,000. Roddys bond has been set at $35,000 but has not yet been posted. claire.goodman@chron.com Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to New Haven Friday on her first visit to the state as vice president, the White House announced Tuesday. Part of the administrations Help is Here campaign, Harris visit is expected to focus on how the administrations coronavirus relief legislation, called the American Rescue Plan, helps children and child care providers, sources said. The visit may also touch on vaccines and other aspects of pandemic recovery supported by the bill. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who represents New Haven, will give a speech along with Harris in the city Friday. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Reps. Jahana Hayes, D-5, and Joe Courtney, D-2, are also expected to attend. DeLauro championed a temporary expansion of the child tax credit in the American Rescue Plan a measure that will soon send families up to $3,000 per child in an effort to slash child poverty. DeLauro and other Democrats are now pushing to make the change permanent. I am excited to hear that Vice President Kamala Harris is coming to New Haven to join congresswomen DeLauro and Hayes, said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker on Tuesday. This is critical in emphasizing the importance of the American Rescue Plan and how our leaders at the federal government are working tirelessly to help those who are struggling, especially in our community. I especially want to thank Rep. DeLauro for fighting for decades for the child tax credit. The American Rescue Plan also included billions in funding to help shuttered child care centers reopen. Unlike some states in the region, Connecticut supported child care providers remaining open during the pandemic if they could implement certain safety protocols. Blumenthal said he looks forward to showing Harris how American Rescue Plan dollars are already working in Connecticut. Vice President Harris has made helping families a priority since her days as my Senate deskmate, Blumenthal said. Under her leadership, and the leadership of President Biden, the American Rescue Plan is injecting billions of dollars directly into Connecticut state and local governments. The new law sends $2.7 billion to the state government and $1.6 billion to town governments to use as they see fit, along with over $1.2 billion for Connecticut schools and millions more to back vaccine distribution, transportation and other items. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, we have seen an accelerated vaccine distribution effort, and we cant wait to have the Vice President spend time in New Haven, touting the American Rescue Plan Act, which will help move our state and country forward, said Max Reiss, communications director for Gov. Ned Lamont. The vice president and other administration leaders have been making other trips around the country highlighting various aspects of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed into law earlier this month. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson Residents shouldnt have to worry about possibly not being able to cast their vote for any reason whether theres an emergency, they have to work or they simply cant get to a polling location, Melton said. If enacted, this bill would not only prohibit the election commission from expanding vote-by-mail options, but it would remove a countys ability to preprint ID and Social Security numbers on a ballot. The said Tuesday it's backing the Philippines in a new standoff with Beijing in the disputed South China Sea, where Manila has asked a Chinese fishing flotilla to leave a reef. China ignored the call, insisting it owns the offshore territory. The U.S. Embassy said it shared the concerns of the Philippines and accused China of using maritime militia to intimidate, provoke, and threaten other nations, which undermines peace and security in the region. We stand with the Philippines, our oldest treaty ally in Asia, the U.S. Embassy in Manila said in a statement. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday demanded about 200 Chinese vessels he said were militia boats leave the Whitsun Reef, a shallow coral region about 175 nautical miles (324 kilometers) west of Bataraza town in the western Philippine province of Palawan. Philippine officials said the reef, which they call Julian Felipe, is well within the country's internationally recognised exclusive economic zone, over which the Philippines enjoys the exclusive right to exploit or conserve any resources. The Philippine coast guard spotted about 220 Chinese vessels moored at the reef, which Beijing and Vietnam also claim, on March 7. On Monday, a surveillance aircraft spotted 183 Chinese vessels still at the reef, said Philippine military chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, who released aerial pictures of the Chinese vessels in one of the most hotly contested regions in the strategic waterway. The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest over the Chinese presence, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said. China insisted it owns the reef, which it calls Niu Jiao, and said the Chinese vessels converged in the area to avoid rough waters. Beijing denied the vessels were maritime militias. Any speculation in such helps nothing but causes unnecessary irritation, the Chinese Embassy said in a statement on Monday. It is hoped that the situation could be handled in an objective and rational manner. The U.S. Embassy, however, said Chinese boats have been mooring in this area for many months in ever increasing numbers, regardless of the weather. China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have been locked in a tense territorial standoff over the resource-rich and busy waterway for decades. President Rodrigo Duterte would talk to the Chinese ambassador in Manila about the issue, his spokesman, Harry Roque told a news conference. Duterte has nurtured friendly ties with Beijing since taking office in 2016 and has been criticised for not immediately demanding 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, which it called a sham, and continues to defy it. 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.) By Julie Shaw, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) A Philadelphia judge on Monday acquitted a father of endangering the welfare of his son, but convicted a family friend of involuntary manslaughter and related offenses in the death of a 7-year-old boy who fell between subway cars while selling candy on a moving train. Common Pleas Court Judge J. Scott OKeefe granted a defense motion to acquit Troy Devlin, 39, of Strawberry Mansion, the father of Aden Devlin, following a half-day nonjury trial. OKeefe convicted Jahras Edwards, 28, also of Strawberry Mansion, of involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment and reckless endangerment, and set sentencing for June 11. He acquitted Edwards of third-degree murder and conspiracy. Edwards had brought Aden and the boys 11-year-old brother on the Broad Street Line subway on Sept. 23, 2018, to sell Welchs Fruit Snacks, something he had done with various kids for months. He had the parents permission to do so. Troy Devlin was not on the train. Video evidence from SEPTA train cameras played during the trial showed Edwards entering a subway car alone and staying one car ahead of the two boys. The boys, each holding a box of fruit snacks, sold the candy in another car, then walked in between the cars using the connecting doors when the train stopped. But at one point, when the southbound train was near the Allegheny station, the older boy opened the door while the train was still moving, and Aden walked in between the cars and fell. SEPTA Police Lt. Nicole Lawson testified that when she arrived at the scene where the train stopped, between the Allegheny and North Philadelphia stations, she saw a small body, mutilated. Packs of Welchs Fruit Snacks and dollar bills were scattered nearby. Assistant District Attorney Adam Geer said in his closing argument that Edwards disregarded the childrens safety, causing Adens death, because the profits were too good. Geer presented evidence that in 2017, Edwards had been with other children who were on a subway selling candy and was cited for unlawful vending. From January 2017 to the day of Adens death, Geer said, Edwards had purchased 405 boxes of Welchs grape fruit snacks containing a total of 13,656 individual packs. Edwards attorney, Zak Goldstein, called Adens death a tragic accident. This is a crime of poverty, he said, noting that in the 2017 incident, when questioned by a SEPTA officer, Edwards said the kids were selling candy because that was how we eat. In arguing for Devlins acquittal, his attorney, Michael McDermott, said the prosecutor presented no evidence that Devlin knew Edwards was taking the children from subway car to car to sell candy. 7-year-old who died after fall from SEPTA train remembered for entrepreneurial spirit After the trial, Devlin said he was relieved that he was acquitted. An involuntary manslaughter charge against Devlin had been dismissed by a judge at his 2019 preliminary hearing. More: Former Pa. child services caseworker gets probation for coercing a client into sex work Pa. mom who assaulted son, 11, because she thought he had stolen her drugs cant beat prison sentence Ken Jeong gave his thoughts on the rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans while appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers. ADVERTISEMENT Jeong made the comments on Monday after a gunman recently targeted three Asian-owned spas in the Atlanta area, killing eight and injuring one. Anti-Asian American hate crimes have risen in the United States in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic as the virus was first observed in Wuhan, China. "It's just a sign that you know with the Asian American community, enough is enough. We're just fed up," Jeong said on Monday, after giving props to Late Night writer Karen Chee who recently discussed the issue on the talkshow. Jeong referenced a study Chee cited about how anti-Asian American hate crimes have risen almost 150% in the last year, while overall hate crime went down 7%. "This is precisely due to weaponizing terms like 'China virus' and 'kung flu' and also the fact that even in this particular crime, there is debate whether this crime was racially motivated. Asian American women are two times as likely to be assaulted in America. This was clearly, clearly racially motivated. This was clearly a hate crime," Jeong said. He then stated that he doesn't know how to solve racism. "It takes listening, learning, loving, being tolerant. But it really starts off in just our particular case as Asian Americans, this kung flu [expletive] has to stop. And we really need to express that loudly. And we are," Jeong said. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Jeong is a judge on Season 5 of The Masked Singer, which airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on Fox. Caitlyn Jenner, who was dressed as a phoenix, was eliminated last week. New Delhi, March 23 : In an attempt to pacify agitated workers in West Bengal, the BJP has prepared a list of TMC leaders who joined the party recently and were denied tickets to contest the Assembly polls. BJP leaders will explain to the workers that tickets were given only to those with a high chance of winnability. After the announcement of BJP candidates, the saffron party workers had protested at the party office in Kolkata and at other districts' offices in the state over giving tickets to 'turncoat' leaders. West Bengal BJP workers alleged that a few of the candidates, who have been given tickets, have cases of attacking saffron party workers when they were in the ruling TMC. A senior party leader said, "It is true that some of the turncoats got BJP tickets to contest assembly polls but it is also true that all of them who joined us have not got tickets." In the last six to eight months several TMC leaders including a minister in the Mamata Banerjee government, MLA, and senior workers had joined the BJP. Some of the big names like Suvendu Adhikari and Rajib Banerjee got tickets along with several other sitting MLAs. Another senior party leader said that about two and a half dozen senior TMC leaders who joined the BJP were denied tickets and the list is under preparation. "Our senior leaders while interacting with dissenting workers tell them that there are many who joined the BJP in recent times and were not considered for the ticket," he said. The list of turncoats who were denied tickets has been given to all the senior BJP leaders so that they can inform the agitated workers. "We have to explain to our workers that those leaders who have no ground support were not considered for the party ticket. Only deserving ones got the tickets," he said. A West Bengal BJP leader said that those who joined the party a year ago or before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and were holding positions in the party at different levels were not named in the list. "TMC leaders, who joined the party over a year ago and are working for the BJP are not named in the list and there is also less anger against them among the cadre," he said. The BJP central leadership has taken dissent among the cadre over ticket distribution seriously and had a discussion with the state leaders in detail. The Central leadership has directed the West Bengal unit to address the anger of the cadre. 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. Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - White Metal Resources Corp. (TSXV: WHM) ("White Metal" or the "Company") is pleased to report that it has received the first batch of assay results from 6 of 28 reverse circulation ("RC") drill holes (total 3,226 m) from its January-February 2021 drilling program and results from the re-sampling of core from four historical diamond drill holes, all targeting the historical Okohongo Cu-Ag Deposit ("Okohongo") (Table 1). The 95% owned Taranis Copper-Silver Project (the "Project" or "Property"), which includes the historical Okohongo Copper-Silver Deposit, is located in northwestern Namibia and is defined by Exclusive Prospecting Licence ("EPL") 7071, covering about 19,850 hectares. Michael Stares, Interim President & CEO of the Company, stated, "I am pleased to see these very positive results from the re-sampling of historical drill core and initial results from the recently completed RC drilling program which has confirmed high-grade copper and substantial silver grades from the historical Okohongo Cu-Ag Deposit. With the recent rise in copper and silver prices, we see this Project adding important value to the Company and making the Project even more attractive to a potential partner interested in advancing it while the Company focuses on its flagship property, the Tower Stock Gold Project, located in northwestern Ontario, Canada." Table 1. Assays from re-sampled historical drill core and RC chip samples from recent drilling program. Type/ Historical Hole Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Int. (m) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) Pb (ppm) Zn (ppm) Re-sampled core/ INVD-017 INVD-017 208.00 216.00 8.00 0.61 46 55 93 incl. 214.00 216.00 2.00 1.24 118 79 124 Re-sampled core/ INVD-018 INVD-018 188.00 192.00 4.00 0.19 10 558 127 incl. 190.00 192.00 2.00 0.30 19 891 116 Re-sampled core/ TCD-013 TCD-013 101.00 130.00 29.00 0.63 13 205 89 incl. 104.00 105.00 1.00 1.14 57 598 79 incl. 110.00 111.00 1.00 1.14 21 51 133 incl. 116.00 118.00 2.00 1.57 12 97 124 incl. 123.00 124.00 1.00 1.91 13 157 99 Re-sampled core/ TCD-016 TCD-016 33.00 64.00 31.00 1.54 36 173 97 incl. 35.90 50.00 14.10 2.45 58 118 99 incl. 39.00 40.00 1.00 5.10 123 106 71 New RC Drilling/ INVR-004 OK20-P01 22.00 53.00 31.00 1.40 27.3 482 104 incl. 25.00 42.00 17.00 1.73 31 684 103 incl. 26.00 27.00 1.00 3.89 28.5 265 74 incl. 34.00 42.00 8.00 2.01 41.7 778 114 New RC Drilling/ INVR-005 OK20-P02 71.00 110.00 39.00 1.14 12.9 46 83 incl. 73.00 79.00 6.00 3.12 23.2 111 76 incl. 73.00 74.00 1.00 4.71 12.8 199 76 New RC Drilling/ INVR-020 OK20-P03 144.00 148.00 4.00 0.24 2.1 78 126 and 187.00 196.00 9.00 0.59 13.5 68 89 incl. 195.00 196.00 1.00 1.70 32.6 153 96 New RC Drilling/ INVR-010 OK20-P14 NO SIGNIFICANT RESULTS New RC Drilling/ INVR-036 OK20-P18 25.00 29.00 4.00 1.96 1.4 1229 31 incl. 26.00 27.00 1.00 7.55 3.5 2080 22 and 126.00 135.00 9.00 0.50 7.9 788 82 incl. 130.00 132.00 2.00 1.23 13.1 2880 77 and 148.00 167.00 19.00 0.96 14.8 18 80 incl. 159.00 164.00 5.00 2.18 27.3 28 121 incl. 162.00 163.00 1.00 5.97 70.2 25 141 New RC Drilling/ INVR-067 OK20-P22 130.00 136.00 6.00 0.11 1.7 18 91 and 157.00 168.00 11.00 0.30 9.5 48 72 incl. 166.00 167.00 1.00 0.94 32.8 29 92 The recently completed RC drilling (OK20-P series holes) on the Property was aimed at twinning many of the RC drill holes that were used to calculate the 2011 historical mineral resource estimate (Table 2.) as reflected in Table 1. Once the Company receives all the results from the recently completed drilling program it will begin the process of updating the historical mineral resources from the Okohongo Cu-Ag Deposit to a current National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") mineral resource estimate and technical report. The Taranis Copper-Silver Project, located in a very prospective area of northwestern Namibia. Although the primary target is the historical Okohongo Copper-Silver Deposit, the Company will be conducting reconnaissance work over the entire EPL, including follow up on a number of historical copper showings. The historical Okohongo Cu-Ag Deposit has been outlined by historical drilling which shows that it extends for 600+ metres in strike length, 400 metres down-dip, and is open in all directions (see INV Metals news release dated August 3, 2011). The Okohongo, situated within the Kaoko Belt of northwest Namibia about 700 km northwest of Windhoek, is hosted by metasedimentary stratigraphy and is considered to be analogous with the stratiform sediment-hosted Central African Copperbelt deposits of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This deposit contains historical Inferred Mineral Resources of 10.2 million tonnes grading 1.12% Cu and 17.75 g/t Ag, using a 0.3% Cu cut-off (Table 2; INV Metals Inc. NI 43-101 Technical Report, Effective Date March 31, 2011). Table 2. Historical Mineral Resources for the Okohongo Copper-Silver Project, Namibia. Cut-off Specific Gravity Tonnes Cu (%) Ag (g/t) Cu (tonnes) Ag (ounces) Category 0.0 2.45 11,691,539 1.01 15.85 117,645 5,957,874 Inferred 0.1 2.45 11,682,796 1.01 15.86 117,640 5,957,640 Inferred 0.2 2.45 11,453,414 1.02 16.13 117,219 5,940,047 Inferred 0.3 2.45 10,196,456 1.12 17.75 114,046 5,818,534 Inferred 0.4 2.45 9,535,538 1.17 18.66 111,731 5,719,226 Inferred 0.5 2.45 8,705,239 1.24 19.73 107,993 5,522,454 Inferred 0.6 2.45 8,142,684 1.29 20.50 104,877 5,366,572 Inferred 0.7 2.45 7,366,110 1.35 21.61 99,810 5,116,714 Inferred 0.8 2.45 6,379,793 1.45 23.16 92,402 4,750,190 Inferred Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Okohongo Copper-Silver Property in Northwest Namibia, INV Metals Inc.; Prepared By: Caracle Creek International Consulting (Pty) Ltd., South Africa, Effective March 31, 2011. The Company is treating the tonnages and grades reported in Table 2 as historical mineral resources. The Inferred Mineral Resource estimate reported in Table 2 for the Okohongo Copper-Silver Deposit was prepared by qualified authors in 2011, conforming to CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as outlined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and the Company is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. Investors are cautioned that the historical estimates do not mean or imply that economic deposits exist on the properties. The Company has not undertaken any independent investigation of the historical estimates or other information contained in this news release nor has it independently analyzed the results of the previous exploration work in order to verify the accuracy of the information. The Company believes that these historical estimates and other information contained in this news release are relevant to continuing exploration on the Property. Sample Analysis Drill core and RC chip samples were sent to the Activation Laboratories Ltd. ("Actlabs") preparation lab in Windhoek, Namibia and once prepared were sent to Actlabs in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada for analyses. The samples were first analysed with 4-Acid "Near Total" Digestion (1F2) with ICP-OES finish for Ag, Cu and a suite of 33 other elements. Subsequently, samples with Ag greater than 100 ppm (above Ag upper detection limit) were analysed with Fire Assay Gravimetric (8-Ag) and Cu greater than 10,000 ppm (above Cu upper detection limit) were analysed with sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-OES finish (8-Peroxide ICP). A Quality Control/Quality Assurance ("QA/QC") program consisting of the regular insertion of Certified Reference Material copper standards and blanks into the sample stream by the Company was in place as was the industry standard internal QA/QC practices used by Actlabs. Qualified Person Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans (P.Geo.), Vice President Exploration and a Director of White Metal, who is a Qualified Person under the definitions established by the NI 43-101. About White Metal Resources Corp (TSXV: WHM): White Metal Resources Corp is a junior exploration company exploring in Canada and southern Africa. For more information about the Company please visit www.whitemetalres.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors of White Metal Resources Corp. "Michael Stares" President & CEO, Director For further information contact: Michael Stares President & CEO, Director 684 Squier Street Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, P7B 4A8 Phone: (807) 358-2420 THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78283 A construction worker at one of the sites for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo by Reuters. Four Vietnamese and one Burmese are recipients of the 2020 Recognition of Excellent Foreign Construction Worker award granted by the Japanese government. Moon Aung and the four Vietnamese, Than Van Hoang, Hoang Manh Hung, Dang Van Kien and Nguyen Manh Duong, were honored for their efforts in enhancing their construction and communication skills, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced. The award ceremony was held on Tuesday in Tokyo. Among more than 40 applications, the Shibaura Institute of Technology selected the five finalists for their achievements in improving their work skills. This is not the first time Vietnamese workers in Japan have been honored. In 2020, three Vietnamese and two Chinese workers received the award. According to statistics released in October 2019 by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, there are about 93,200 foreigners employed in the construction industry, accounting for 5.6 percent of more than 1.6 million foreign workers in this country. The number of Vietnamese workers in Japan last year reached 443,998, accounting for the largest number of foreign employees, according to statistics from the Japanese labor ministry. The New Mexico state Legislature has passed a bill aimed at reducing the rehiring of abusive teachers and addressing the rising costs of child-abuse-related settlements. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 on late last week, in the last 24 hours of the annual legislative session. The bill expands the definition of school personnel background checks beyond criminal convictions to include sexual abuse investigations and serious violations of school policies. It also amends current law to allow school districts to disclose publicly the reasons for firing an educator. It mandates that school personnel and volunteers take abuse detection and reporting training and directs government agencies to maintain accurate and current lists of personnel fired for abuse. The bill takes aim at a practice known as passing the trash, in which a school district may recommend or give a neutral review of a teacher suspected of abusing students in order to get them to leave. One teacher who left a school in Santa Fe on a neutral recommendation after being accused of student abuse was rehired in Espanola, New Mexico. He was later convicted of rapes of children at both schools between 2004 and 2008 and sentenced to 108 years in prison. School insurance policies paid out over $20 million in damages. While instances of student sex abuse convictions have declined in New Mexico schools in recent years, the severity of assaults has risen, resulting in increased settlements. according to data released by the Public Schools Insurance Authority last year. As a result, liability insurance costs have gone up by 9% for schools in the state since 2018. On average, 9.5 abuse claims are settled each year, costing the state around $80 million since 1987, according to the Public Schools Insurance Authority. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Trends Abuse Molestation Mexico remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. COMMERZBANK AG (London Branch) - Pre Stabilisation - Fresenius EUR 3 Tranche Pre-Stabilisation notice 23 March 2021 Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. Fresenius Finance Ireland Public Limited Company EUR500mil(no grow) Fixed Rate Notes due 01 October 2025 EUR500mil(no grow) Fixed Rate Notes due 01 October 2028 EUR500mil(no grow) Fixed Rate Notes due 01 October 2031 Guaranteed by Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA Launched under the Issuer's Debt Issuance Programme, dated 19 March 2021 Commerzbank AG (contact: Ian Turner; telephone: +44 207 475 1817) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014). The security to be stabilised: Issuer: Fresenius Finance Ireland Public Limited Company Guarantor (if any): Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA Aggregate nominal amount: EUR500,000,000 Notes due 01 October 2025 EUR500,000,000 Notes due 01 October 2028 EUR500,000,000 Notes due 01 October 2031 Description: Fixed Rate Notes due 01 October 2025 Fixed Rate Notes due 01 October 2028 Fixed Rate Notes due 01 October 2031 Offer price: tbc Other offer terms: payment date 01 April 2021, denoms 1k/1k, listing Luxembourg, 3mth par call, tax call, Rated Baa3/BBB. Stabilisation: Stabilisation coordinator: Stabilising Managers: Commerzbank AG BNP Paribas ING Bank N.V. UniCredit Bank AG Stabilisation period expected to start on: 23 March 2021 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Luxembourg Stock Exchange, Regulated Market In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilising Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities during the stabilisation period at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, stabilisation may not necessarily occur and any stabilisation action, if begun, may cease at any time Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction. This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. END A pedestrian passes an election campaign billboard for Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister and the leader of the Likud party, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Credit:Bloomberg The party includes a new incarnation of the Kahanist movement, a Jewish extremist group outlawed as terrorists by Israel, the United States and other Western countries decades ago over its incitement to violence against Arabs. Exit polls by three main television channels after Tuesdays general election projected the Religious Zionist Party would win six to seven seats, the best-ever showing by an extreme right-wing party. Jerusalem: An alliance of far-right groups, including openly racist and homophobic candidates, appears poised to enter Israels parliament, possibly as an indispensable member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus right-wing coalition. With Netanyahu and his opponents deadlocked after four elections in two years, he will likely need the group if he is to succeed in assembling a narrow majority in the 120-member Knesset. The polls indicated that Netanyahu, his religious and nationalist allies, and a group of anti-Netanyahu parties all fell short of the majority required to form a new government. That also raised the possibility of an unprecedented fifth consecutive election later this year. The election was widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahus divisive rule. After three previous inconclusive elections, he had been hoping for a decisive victory to form a government with his traditional ultra-Orthodox and hard-line nationalist allies and seek immunity from corruption charges. All three options are on the table: a Netanyahu-led government, a change coalition that will leave Netanyahu in the opposition, and an interim government leading to a fifth election, said Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute. The three-month campaign was largely devoid of substantive issues and focused heavily on Netanyahus personality and whether he should remain in office. In contrast to past elections where he faced off against a clear rival, this time a diverse array of parties had little in common beyond their shared animosity towards him. People enjoy the sea on a beach of the small island of Chrysi, south of Crete, on July 26, 2020. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images) Britons Going on Holiday Abroad Face 5,000 Fines People leaving the UK without a reasonable excuse will face 5,000 ($6,900) fines from next week, under the governments new CCP virus regulations. Under the new health protection regulations (pdf), which were presented to Parliament on Monday, the penalty would be issued to anyone who, without a reasonable excuse, travels outside the UK or to an embarkation point for the purpose of travelling to a destination abroad. The government said the measure is necessary to prevent a large number of imported COVID-19 cases or new variants from continental Europe, where infections are rising. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock speaks during a COVID-19 press conference at Downing Street in London, on Jan. 25, 2021. (John Sibley WPA Pool/Getty Images) We are seeing this third wave rising in some parts of Europe and were also seeing new variants and it is very important that we protect the progress that weve been able to make here in the UK, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News. MPs will vote on the legislation on Thursday. If approved as expected, it will come into force on March 29. It applies only to England, but Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland may follow suit. Greece and Cyprus have both promised to facilitate the arrival of British tourists during the summer season. Passengers of a flight from Budapest wearing protective face masks arrive at the Corfu Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias on Corfu Island on July 1, 2020. (Angelos Tzortzinis /AFP via Getty Images) But UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on March 10 that it was still too early for Brits to book summer holidays abroad. Shapps said he would encourage people to look forward to Apr. 12 when the governments cross-department Global Travel Taskforce is set to publish a report with recommendations on resuming international travel after the existing COVID-19 restrictions are eased. Mike Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling group, which reports into the governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), said on March 20 that holidays abroad are extremely unlikely for most Britons this summer. He said that the variants that could be imported could undermine Britains vaccine programme. Despite dropping infection rates, the UK government stepped up its crackdown on illegal foreign trips in early March. Passengers travelling abroad from England are now required to carry a form proving their trips are essential. Under Englands lockdown rules, it is illegal to travel abroad for reasons other than work, volunteering, education, medical or compassionate grounds, or weddings, funerals, and related events. Reuters contributed to this report. The refusal of a retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer to testify at an extradition hearing for a senior executive for Chinese communication giant is unprecedented and should bring into doubt the credibility of his written affidavit saying he didn't share information with the FBI, defence lawyers has said. Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial officer who is also the daughter of the company's founder, was arrested at the Vancouver airport in late 2018 at the request of the US, which wants her extradited to face fraud charges. The arrest infuriated Beijing, which sees her case as a political move designed to prevent China's rise. The US accuses of using a Hong Kong shell company called Skycom to sell equipment to Iran in violation of US sanctions. It says Meng committed fraud by misleading the HSBC bank about the company's business dealings in Iran. Much of the case centers around an August 2013 PowerPoint presentation made to an HSBC executive during a lunch in Hong Kong. Meng's lawyers claim her extraction should be halted because of an abuse of process, saying Border Services Agency officers detained and questioned her without a lawyer, seized her electronic devices and put them in special bags to prevent wiping, and compelled her to give up the passcodes before her official arrest. The defence says it has the right to challenge a written affidavit from former Royal Canadian Mounted Police Staff Sgt. Ben Chang that he didn't share information taken from Meng's electronic devices with the FBI. Chang, who now lives in Macau, has hired a lawyer, and refuses to testify. The RCMP destroyed all Chang's emails and text messages once he retired. Defence lawyer Scott Fenton said, there is a certain shock value in the notion a senior police officer would in effect refuse to be cross examined. Chang is the most important witness when it comes to the issue of collecting and sharing information with the FBI, Fenton said. His refusal to testify directly impacted our ability to cross examine him on the issue of whether the numbers were shared. Fenton said Associate Chief justice Heather Holmes should place no reliance on Chang's affidavit. She should also take an adverse inference that had Chang appeared, his testimony would not have supported the position taken in his affidavit that he did not send the electronic serial number information. The destroying of Chang's information after he retired occurred even after defence had put the Canadian attorney general and RCMP on notice about the potential relevance of the material, said Fenton. This is evidence of unacceptable negligence, he said. Meng attended the hearing no longer wearing a large bandage covering the middle finger on her right hand and with a monitoring bracelet on her ankle. She sat beside an interpreter while reading from a large black binder and took sips from a pink water bottle. Meng's lawyers will be back in court next month arguing that the U.S. is exceeding the limits of its jurisdiction by prosecuting a foreign citizen for actions that took place in Hong Kong and that was misled by the U.S. about the strength of its case. Earlier this month, her lawyers said comments made by then U.S. President Donald Trump turned Meng into a bargaining chip and co-opted the extradition process. Soon after Meng's arrest, arrested Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in apparent retaliation and charged them with spying. Both have remained in custody with limited access to visits by Canadian consular officials. Kovrig appeared in a closed-door hearing Monday in Beijing. Canadian consular officials were barred from the proceedings which ended after about two hours with no verdict announced. Spavor faced a closed-door hearing Friday in Dandong, No Canadian officers were allowed, and no verdict was announced. Besides the arrest of Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Spavor, an entrepreneur, has also placed restrictions on various Canadian exports to China, including canola oilseed. China also handed death sentences to four Canadians convicted of drug smuggling. Meng remains free on bail in Vancouver and is living in a mansion. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi : Rattled by the back to back incidents of sexual assault and rape in the National Capital Region and Delhi, Education minister and Deputy Chief minister of the Delhi Government Manish Sisodiya today held a high level meeting to discuss and review the situation of security in the schools, both private and government. In his address to the press Sisodia said that as a preliminary step all schools will now be required to get the police verification compleeted of all staff members within three weeks. Strict action will be taken against those who will not comply. A database of all on role staff will be mainained at the web portal of the Directorate of Education in order to trace the employee and the current status of employment. Delhi Dy CM @msisodia calls an urgent meeting with concerned departments today regarding the safety & security of children in schools. pic.twitter.com/av1Xa1Oy6a AAP (@AamAadmiParty) September 11, 2017 CCTV cameras are to be installed in almost every corner of the schools irrestive of the fact whether it is private or public. The functioning of the CCTV has to be reported to the principal of the school. With regard to the shameful event of rape in a plush school in Delhi, the education minister said that every detail is being looked into and action will be taken against culprit. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The Market Report with Katie Pilbeam. FTSE 100 dropped early as investors reflected that it is a year since the first UK lockdown. Londons blue-chip index shed 37 points to 6.688 but has still risen by more than 20% over the past twelve months. It was March 23rd 2020 when Boris Johnson outlined lockdown measures to stop the spread of Covid-19. The UK's official death toll since then has risen from 364 to over 126,172. Aa part of new coronavirus laws, a new 5,000 fine will be introduced next week for anyone in England trying to travel abroad without good reason. Keen to get back to normal is ( ) announcing it will start reopening its US cinemas next week. The phased reopening will begin with a limited number of cinemas admitting the public for screenings of Godzilla vs. Kong and Mortal Kombat. Twitter founder Jack Dorseys first tweet has been bought for an equivalent US$2.9m (2.1m) by a Malaysia-based businessman. Sina Estavi, the buyer, said it was like buying a Mona Lisa painting. He paid for it with the cryptocurrency Ether. PensionBee Limited has announced plans to float on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. The online platform has around 130,000 active customers and timed the announcement to coincide with Chancellor Rishi Sunaks first ever tax day where pensions are expected to feature heavily. Among the small caps, ( ) jumped on an agreement with joint venture partner IAMGOLD over funding at the Senala gold project in Senegal. The money will pay for an exploration programme. ( ) has agreed to invest in the development of the Barracuda oil field located in an existing discovery offshore Nigeria. The investment company will pay up to US$1.3mln and plans to raise US$500,000 via a subscription. ( ) is buying RadMD, a US-based imaging contract research organisation, for up to 15.6mln. It will allow the teleradiology specialist to expand into the fast-growing clinical trials market. EV Digital artist Khyzyl Saleem has created a garage for the virtual builds he dreams up. For today, we get to see three of his creations sharing the well-lit space, with a Porsche Taycan Turbo S taking center stage (more on the cars below).Sure, there's no crypto link for this art. But the Instagram post at the bottom of the story is enough to provide a glimpse of what can happen once such adventures are taken into the world of blockchain.Until recently, the ways in which digital artists could sell their creations were quite limited, but the said revolution has come to change that.The NFT concept involves computer files being assigned proof of ownership and authenticity via the blockchain, a public digital record of transactions designed to be tinker-free.Artists who wish to offer their work to the public in this form need to enter a marketplace, and then mint the digital tokens by uploading and validating the data on a blockchain, which usually involves the ethereum network rather than the bitcoin one. Finally, they have to list the creation on the said marketplace so buyers can place their bids.As is the case with your local currency, cryptocurrencies are fungible, which means that one ethereum will always have the same value as any other. Still, NFTs have individual valuations set by the top bidder, as it would happen with the physical work of a famous artist. Having been around for a few years now, NFTs have only entered the mainstream this year after multiple images and animations sold for mind-boggling prices.Returning to the, let's zoom in on the Porsche Taycan Turbo S that has received a widebody kit from Saleem."I'm really enjoying curating my own personal virtual garage of car builds at the moment, another [vehicle] added to the ever-growing fleet is this Street Taycan," the London-based digital master states on Instagram.Thehas been fitted with generously-sized overfenders, although these feature a rather restrained design, while there's also a front splitter. Factor in the hue adorning the vehicle, and you'll see why we chose the nickname in the title.And while the Turbo S comes with air suspension from the factory, the hardware present on this example takes the machine closer to the road. Speaking of the connection to the surface below, this is now established via custom Rotiform WGR-M wheels, whose polished finish easily stands out.Trying to peek inside the cabin shows what appear to be custom rear seats with heftier bolsters; if this machine were to be used as, say, a track taxi, the bucket-style approach of the rear seats might be justified.As Saleem goes on to explain, this virtual Taycan project is still a work in progress. And perhaps that explains while the creation is less exuberant than the two contraptions sitting next to it in the said garagewe've covered these in dedicate articles, but we'll drop brief descriptions below.For starters, there's a second Porsche, namely a 911 "Carrera Outlaw" melange that brings together cult Neunelfer developments such as the 1973 Carrera RS and the Slantnose (Flachbau) factory option of the 1980s.Representing America, we have a 1972 Chevrolet C10 . The truck seems to have been prepared for the needs of a particular enthusiast, namely "hoonigan" and rally driver Ken Block.So, given the rather extreme nature of the said contraptions, it's obvious that the Taycan has landed in the garage to serve the role of a daily driver. Pfizer plans to tap mRNA technology to make new vaccines for other viruses following the success of its COVID-19 shot, which was developed jointly with German partner BioNTech, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The drugmaker said it was ready to pursue mRNA on its own following its experience in the past year working on the COVID-19 vaccine, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing an interview with Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla. Bourla did not specify what viruses these future vaccines would target. But there are already good signs that mRNA vaccines like Pfizer's have untapped potential to inoculate people against multiple viruses at once, and the pharmaceutical giant is now geared up to make them. Pfizer developed its 95% effective coronavirus vaccine with German partner BioNTech, but the firm is now looking to make more mRNA vaccines against other viruses on its own CEO Albert Bourla told the Wall Street Journal that Pfizer is 'the best positioned company' to forge ahead with mRNA vaccines after its success in developing one for COVID-19 'There is a technology that has proven dramatic impact and dramatic potential,' Bourla told the WSJ. 'We are the best positioned company right now to take it to the next step because of our size and our expertise.' Bourla added that the urgency of making a COVID-19 vaccine had taught Pfizer's engineers a decade's worth of knowledge in the span of a year. Pfizer is already considered one of the four largest vaccine manufacturers in the world, joining the ranks of GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Sanofi. None of the other three, however, have produced a COVID-19 vaccine, nor, for that matter, an mRNA shot. MRNA is a next generation technology, or platform, to use vaccine terminology. Traditional vaccines use one harmless, typically inactivated virus - such as the types that cause common colds - to deliver a tiny, harmless piece of the virus that the shot will provide protection against to the human body. The piece is enough to 'teach' the immune system how to recognize and fend off the invader. Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca both used dthis older, reliable method to make their COVID-19 vaccines. HOW DOES mRNA VACCINES WORK? MRNA is a next generation technology, or platform, to use vaccine terminology. Traditional vaccines use one harmless, typically inactivated virus - such as the types that cause common colds - to deliver a tiny, harmless piece of the virus that the shot will provide protection against to the human body. The piece is enough to 'teach' the immune system how to recognize and fend off the invader. MRNA is easier and faster to make, and much more easily modified than older types of vaccines, and even has the potential to provide protection against multiple viruses in one vaccine. Advertisement But Pfizer and Moderna instead used mRNA technology for their coronavirus shots. MRNA vaccines instead deliver a bit of a lab-made version of the virus's genetic code that contains instructions for the virus piece the body needs to be trained to recognize, instead of the piece of the virus itself. MRNA is easier and faster to make, and much more easily modified than older types of vaccines, and even has the potential to provide protection against multiple viruses in one vaccine. Moderna was experimenting with using mRNA vaccines to prevent cancer before the pandemic hit, and now Pfizer is setting its sights on leveraging its mRNA shot success to develop vaccines against other viruses. Pfizer and BioNTech did not immediately respond to requests for comment. BioNTech's U.S.-listed shares were down 1.1 percent before the opening bell. Other companies such as Germany's CureVac NV, Gilead Sciences, Sanofi and Translate Bio are also developing mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics. Last March, Pfizer had announced a deal with BioNTech to use the Maine-based company's mRNA-based platform to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus, extending the companies' existing partnership to develop flu shots. Bourla said Pfizer has now developed its own expertise in developing mRNA vaccines, the Journal report said. Pfizer's current vaccines business, which includes its pneumonia vaccine Prevnar 13, brought in nearly $6.58 billion or about 16 percent of the drugmaker's total sales last year. Bourla told the WSJ that Pfizer will hire at least 50 additional employees as it ramps up its focus on mRNA vaccines. Two people allegedly armed with multiple rifles and handguns during a 7-hour standoff at a Secaucus hotel are facing federal charges following their arrest last week, federal prosecutors announced Monday. Rahim Harris, 42, of Maplewood was charged with one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon and his wife, Haneefha White, 39, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, was charged with aiding and abetting the possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, according to a release from Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig. Harris was charged with aggravated assault and weapons-related offenses following an unspecified incident on Dec. 21, 2019 and on March 14, police received a tip that he was in a room at the Extended Stay Hotel on Plaza Drive in Secaucus, officials said. When they arrived, officers saw White enter the room and as they attempted to call her over, she went inside and closed the door, authorities said. She then called the front desk and asked why officers were in the hallway, authorities said. Police spoke with her on the phone to try to persuade her to come out but she indicated that there were other people in the room and that they were on edge and had guns and grenades, according to the release. After several hours of unsuccessful negotiations with White, police spoke to Harris, who said he did not want to come out because of the arrest warrant and that he was prepared for war and ready to die, federal prosecutors said. Early the next morning, Harris and White, who were the only people in the room, surrendered and a search of the room yielded numerous weapons, fraudulent identification papers, bank cards, $36,910 in cash and a vehicle registration, authorities alleged. Officers said they recovered a .223 caliber, American Tactical Milisport semi-automatic rifle loaded with 30 rounds; a stolen .357 caliber Glock Model 32 semi-automatic handgun loaded with 22 rounds; loaded .40 caliber Smith and Wesson SD40VE semi-automatic handgun; a 5.7 caliber FN Herstal model 57 semi-automatic handgun loaded with 20 armor piercing rounds; a loaded .380 caliber Taurus Model PT738 semi-automatic handgun; a .223 caliber Sig Saur Rattler semi-automatic rifle loaded with a 60 round drum magazine; a loaded 12 gauge Mossberg Model 500 pump action shotgun and a loaded .410 Gauge American Tactical, Omni-Hybrid semi-automatic rifle, according to a criminal complaint. The Jersey City Police Departments Bomb Squad found that the grenade was inert, police said. The couple will have initial court appearances by videoconference on an undetermined date, authorities said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. By PLA Daily staff reporters Ou Can, Chen Dianhong, and Zhang Fang Sitting on the northern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the magnificent Qilian Mountains span across Gansu and Qinghai provinces and overlook the fertile Hexi Corridor. The mountain range boasts a complete ecosystem with glaciers, snow-capped mountains, forests, meadows, wetlands and other landforms, forming an irreplaceable ecological security shelter in northwestern China. In August 2019, President Xi stressed that we must properly deal with the relationship between production, life and ecology, take active actions to develop eco-friendly, sustainable industries and protect rare grassland resources, making lucid waters and lush hills in the Qilian Mountains benefit people of various ethnic groups on the grassland forever. In 2015, a unit attached to the PLA Xining Joint Logistics Support Center launched a pairing assistance program to help Xiashiba Village in Dachaigou Town, Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Wuwei City in Gansu province, get out of poverty. Through promoting ecological improvement and poverty alleviation together, the troops have helped local people walk onto a path of green development that gives priority to ecological progress, not only making mountains green and rivers clear but also increasing the villagers incomes. Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains Are Invaluable Assets The panoramic view of Xiashiba Village in Dachaigou Town, Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Wuwei City in northwest China's Gansu Province (PLA Daily/Zhang Dongpan) The Qilian Mountains feature high peaks and vast wilderness.The mountain range blocks the expansion of deserts, sheltering the ecological security of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the Earths Third Pole, and the Source of Three Rivers ( the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers) area known as the Water Tower of China. Twenty-seven rebels, five civilians and a soldier have died in a two-day military operation against a notorious armed group in eastern DR Congo, the army said on Tuesday. The 27 slain members of the CODECO militia include "one of its major commanders, Malo-Maki," Lieutenant Jules Ngongo, the army's spokesman for the Ituri region, said. "Among the civilian population, five people were killed and decapitated" by CODECO, while one soldier died in the fighting and a second was wounded, he said. CODECO -- the Cooperation for the Development of Congo -- is an armed political-religious sect that has been linked to more than 1,000 deaths since December 2017. Experts say it comprises various militia groups claiming to defend ethnic Lendus in Ituri, a gold-rich province bordering Uganda and South Sudan. The Lendu have been in historic conflict with the Hema community -- tens of thousands of people on both sides died in a savage war between 1999 and 2003. That fighting was brought to an end thanks to an EU military mission, Operation Artemis. But bloodshed resumed at the end of 2017, starting in the territory of Djugu before spreading eastwards to Irumu, Mahagi and Aru. Ngongo said the latest operation was launched on Sunday after CODECO sought to cut off a strategic road, Highway 27, at the trading town of Iga-Barriere, just 25 kilometres (15 miles) of Ituri's provincial capital of Bunia. Troops managed to dislodge the militia from two strongholds, he said. COEDECO is only one of an estimated 122 armed groups which roam eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, many of them a legacy of wars in the 1990s that sucked in countries from around central Africa. str/mbb/ri/ach GREENWICH The 2020 state Senate campaign of Greenwich Republican Ryan Fazio is now under scrutiny from the State Elections Enforcement Commission after a complaint was filed alleging that the state Republican Party improperly expended money in his race. This is the second investigation the SEEC has opened this month into the campaign finances of a local Republican race. Fazio last year unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Democratic state Sen. Alex Kasser, in the 36th District, which covers all of Greenwich as well as portions of Stamford and New Canaan. On Monday, he said there was obviously nothing notable about the complaint. Everyone around local politics knows that Democrats have recently decided to weaponize campaign finance complaints in order to smear their opposition, Fazio said. Any partisan actor can submit them, in hopes of winning one day of negative news headlines and making things momentarily unpleasant for their subjects, even though nothing will come of it. He called the complaint both factually and legally inaccurate. The complaint was filed by Robert Brady, a member of the Democratic Town Committee, against Fazio; Joseph Romano, who served as the Fazio campaigns treasurer; former state Republican Party Chair JR Romano; and Warner Pyne III, the state party treasurer. It alleges that the campaign violated the rules governing the state Citizens Election Program, which provides state funding to candidates who wish to take it, as the Fazio campaign did. It is reasonable to expect adversaries to use all of the tools at their disposal, Brady wrote in his complaint. It is not reasonable to first avail oneself of substantial state resources in the form of a CEP Grant and then systematically violate the essential elements foundational to the structure upon which the entire Citizens Election Program is based limited participation by interested bystanders. The Connecticut Republican Party, itself, clearly had a dog in this fight. It chose to place not only its thumb on the scale but its entire butt, he said. SEEC should be interested and invested in the preservation of the Citizens Election Program and consider the actions of the Connecticut Republican Party and Fazio for Connecticut in terms of the goals of the program. Brady alleges that the state Republican Party gave $64,764.42 to the Fazio campaign for direct mail, phone banking and other advertising. But because Fazio was receiving public financing, Brady alleges that the state Republican Party could give a maximum contribution of only $11,900 under state law. At its March 17 meeting, the SEEC voted that the complaint was necessary to investigate and is now an open matter. JR Romano, who resigned as party chair in January, declined to comment Tuesday. In the complaint, Brady claimed that Romano failed to properly supervise the activities of the (Connecticut Republican Party) by allowing the expense to the Fazio campaign to go through. Joseph Romano, who is not related to JR Romano, said through Fazio that he had no comment. Pyne on Tuesday said they were reviewing the complaint and said he had no comment at this time. Brady also charges that the state party ran a series of Facebook ads criticizing Kasser and created a webpage called The RealAlexKasser.com, which he says were done in violation of state law forbidding those kinds of payments. Although the ads all contain the attribution, Paid for by the Connecticut Republican Party. Approved by Ryan Fazio, they are not organization expenditures because they lack both the image and voice of Ryan Fazio in the body and conclusion of the video, Brady alleged. Thus, they must be in-kind contributions by the (Connecticut Republican Party) to (the Fazio For Connecticut campaign committee), violating the making of and acceptance by in-kind contributions by the (Connecticut Republican Party) and a CEP-participating committee. Brady indicated on Monday that he, like other supporters of Kasser, considered those ads to be unfair, calling them pretty nasty stuff. On Tuesday, Kasser said she trusted the SEEC to enforce the states campaign finance rules. This is the second SEEC investigation that has recently been launched into a 2020 Republican state legislature campaign in Greenwich. Earlier this month the SEEC agreed to investigate allegations made against the 2020 campaigns of state Rep. Harry Arora, R-151. The complaint, filed by Greenwich resident Lucy von Brachel, a member of the DTC, alleges that Arora, who successfully won a special election in January 2020 and then was reelected to a full two-year term in November 2020, and his campaign violated state regulations for financing of campaigns for candidates using the CEP. von Brachel alleged the campaign did not report a reimbursement to Aroras family member for services they provided, failed to report expenditures relating to use of the candidates business office as a campaign office and improperly coordinating expenses with the state Republican Party. That investigation is ongoing. Arora has denied the allegations and said the expenses were all legitimate payments and that the complaint was filed by a political adversary. Republican Town Committee Chair Dan Quigley blasted the complaints into the Fazio and Arora campaigns. It is sad that local Democrats are resorting to smearing Republican office holders and candidates five months after elections with accusations that are totally lacking legal or factual merit, Quigley said. Im sure if we combed through the campaigns of Ms. Kasser, (state Rep. Stephen) Meskers and other local Democrats, we would unearth technical or clerical issues that could be spun into headlines regardless of merit. However, instead of wasting our time with those pursuits, we are focusing on the issues that matter to our community, primarily Democrat proposals to strop zoning rights and raise taxes on our community, he said. Greenwich Democratic Town Committee Chair Joseph Angland said on Monday that the party had no statement but said he personally felt that, The public filing raises substantial concerns, and I am heartened that the SEEC will now dig into the facts and determine if laws were violated. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com WASHINGTON Justice Department officials have reviewed potential sedition charges against members of the Oath Keepers militia group who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, and they have been weighing whether to file them for weeks, according to law enforcement officials briefed on the deliberations. The group members, including Thomas Caldwell, Jessica Watkins and Donovan Crowl, were indicted last month on charges of conspiring to obstruct Congress ability to certify President-elect Joe Bidens Electoral College victory. The Justice Department has rarely brought charges of sedition, the crime of conspiring to overthrow the government, and has not successfully prosecuted such a case in more than 20 years. The decision about how to move forward has languished while Justice Department leaders go through the Senate confirmation process. Attorney General Merrick Garland was sworn in March 11 and is likely to have final say over such a high-profile case. Law enforcement officials have given senior officials in the Justice Departments National Security Division potential evidence that they had gathered about the trio and an analysis of whether those facts supported a sedition charge, but they stopped short of delivering a more formal prosecution memo or a draft of an indictment, one of the officials said. Early on in the sprawling investigation into the assault on the Capitol, investigators began focusing on members of the Oath Keepers, a militia that was founded by former law enforcement officers and military veterans, as well as members of the far-right nationalist group the Proud Boys. While most of the 400 or so people charged by federal prosecutors have been accused of illegally entering the Capitol and assaulting police officers, about two dozen also face charges of conspiring to come to Washington to try to overturn the election results, including members of the Oath Keepers. Lawyers for Caldwell, Watkins and Crowl have vigorously denied in court papers that their clients plotted to attack the Capitol, and they have argued that prosecutors misinterpreted communications or exaggerated the strength of the evidence against them. Their lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. This week, a federal judge is scheduled to determine whether the trio will remain in jail awaiting trial. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment. The potential for sedition charges received renewed attention this week after Michael Sherwin, the outgoing leader of the investigation, said on 60 Minutes that the government had most likely obtained enough evidence to bring a sedition charge. I personally believe the evidence is trending toward that, and probably meets those elements, Sherwin said. I believe the facts do support those charges. And I think that, as we go forward, more facts will support that. The comments echoed his assertions in the days after the assault, when Sherwin said that the Justice Department had formed a strike force of senior national security and public corruption prosecutors to look at more serious charges, including sedition. Their only marching orders from me are to build seditious and conspiracy charges related to the most heinous acts that occurred in the Capitol, Sherwin, then the acting U.S. attorney in Washington, said at a news conference Jan. 12. He noted that some of those charges carried prison terms of up to 20 years. Sherwin recorded the interview days before he handed leadership of the inquiry over to Channing Phillips, the acting U.S. attorney in Washington. While Sherwin is no longer working on the investigation, he is still a Justice Department employee and federal prosecutor in Miami. Federal prosecutors can charge people suspected of conspiring to overthrow the government with seditious conspiracy; the statue allows for charges of conspiring to oppose by force the authority of the government or to use force to prevent, hinder or delay the execution of any law of the United States. In January, prosecutors charged Caldwell, Crowl and Watkins with conspiring to commit federal crimes, revealing the first evidence of planning among a known militia group before the riot, and investigators continued to uncover communications between the suspects that revealed new information about their planned travel to Washington. Prosecutors added more people and charges to the case against the Oath Keepers, securing an indictment in February on charges of conspiring to derail the vote certification. In March, another indictment brought the total number of people suspected in the conspiracy to 10. While building more significant cases against the Oath Keepers, investigators also began to regard the members as potential targets in a sedition case, according to two people with knowledge of the case. In court documents, federal prosecutors said that the group of Oath Keepers not only planned to interfere in the final election certification, but that they trained in paramilitary combat tactics in advance of the Jan. 6 operation and were seen forcibly storming the barricades at the Capitol. They have also emphasized in court papers that members of the group discussed stationing help at a hotel just outside of the city, ready to bring arms into Washington if something goes to hell, citing a message sent by Caldwell to Watkins. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden, have developed a novel type of thermometer that can simply and quickly measure temperatures during quantum calculations with extremely high accuracy. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden, have developed a novel type of thermometer that can simply and quickly measure temperatures during quantum calculations with extremely high accuracy. The breakthrough provides a benchmarking tool for quantum computing of great value - and opens up for experiments in the exciting field of quantum thermodynamics. A key component in quantum computers are coaxial cables and waveguides - structures which guide waveforms, and act as the vital connection between the quantum processor, and the classical electronics which control it. Microwave pulses travel along the waveguides to the quantum processor, and are cooled down to extremely low temperatures along the way. The waveguide also attenuates and filters the pulses, enabling the extremely sensitive quantum computer to work with stable quantum states. In order to have maximum control over this mechanism, the researchers need to be sure that these waveguides are not carrying noise due to thermal motion of electrons on top of the pulses that they send. In other words, they have to measure the temperature of the electromagnetic fields at the cold end of the microwave waveguides, the point where the controlling pulses are delivered to the computer's qubits. Working at the lowest possible temperature minimises the risk of introducing errors in the qubits. Until now, researchers have only been able to measure this temperature indirectly, with relatively large delay. Now, with the Chalmers researchers' novel thermometer, very low temperatures can be measured directly at the receiving end of the waveguide - very accurately and with extremely high time resolution. "Our thermometer is a superconducting circuit, directly connected to the end of the waveguide being measured. It is relatively simple - and probably the world's fastest and most sensitive thermometer for this particular purpose at the millikelvin scale", says Simone Gasparinetti, Assistant Professor at the Quantum Technology Laboratory, Chalmers University of Technology. Important for measuring quantum computer performance The researchers at the Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology, WACQT, have the goal to build a quantum computer - based on superconducting circuits - with at least 100 well-functioning qubits, performing correct calculations by 2030. It requires a processor working temperature close to absolute zero, ideally down to 10 millikelvin. The new thermometer gives the researchers an important tool for measuring how good their systems are and what shortcomings exist - a necessary step to be able to refine the technology and achieve their goal. "A certain temperature corresponds to a given number of thermal photons, and that number decreases exponentially with temperature. If we succeed in lowering the temperature at the end where the waveguide meets the qubit to 10 millikelvin, the risk of errors in our qubits is reduced drastically", says Per Delsing, Professor at the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, and leader of WACQT. Accurate temperature measurement is also necessary for suppliers who need to be able to guarantee the quality of their components, for example cables that are used to handle signals down to quantum states. New opportunities in the field of quantum thermodynamics Quantum mechanical phenomena such as superposition, entanglement and decoherence mean a revolution not only for future computing but potentially also in thermodynamics. It may well be that the thermodynamic laws somehow change when working down at the nanoscale, in a way that could one day be exploited to produce more powerful engines, faster-charging batteries, and more. "For 15-20 years, people have studied how the laws of thermodynamics might be modified by quantum phenomena, but the search for a genuine quantum advantage in thermodynamics is still open", says Simone Gasparinetti, who recently started his own research group and plans to contribute to this search with a novel range of experiments. The new thermometer can, for example, measure the scattering of thermal microwaves from a circuit acting as a quantum heat engine or refrigerator. "Standard thermometers were fundamental for developing classical thermodynamics. We hope that maybe, in the future, our thermometer will be regarded as pivotal for developing quantum thermodynamics", says Marco Scigliuzzo, doctoral student at the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology. ### Read more in the scientific article in Physical Review X: Primary Thermometry of Propagating Microwaves in the Quantum Regime https:/ / journals. aps. org/ prx/ abstract/ 10. 1103/ PhysRevX. 10. 041054 More about: How the primary thermometer works The novel thermometer concept relies on the interplay between coherent and incoherent scattering from a quantum emitter driven at resonance. The emitter is strongly coupled to the end of the waveguide being tested. Thermal photons in the waveguide lead to a measurable drop in the coherently scattered signal, which is recorded continuously. In this way, the number of photons in the propagating mode of the microwave waveguides can be read - this corresponds to a temperature. The Chalmers researchers' implementation, which uses a superconducting circuit operated at gigahertz frequencies, offers simplicity, large bandwidth, high sensitivity, and negligible power dissipation. More about: The Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology The Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology, WACQT, is a 12 year research center that aims to take Sweden to the forefront of quantum technology. The main project is to develop an advanced quantum computer. WACQT is coordinated from Chalmers University of Technology, and has activities also at the Royal Institute of Technology, Lund University, Stockholm University, Linkoping University and Goteborg University. London, March 23 : Britain reported another 17 coronavirus-related deaths, the lowest daily death toll since late September last year. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 126,172. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test, Xinhua news agency reported. Another 5,343 people in Britain have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,301,925, according to official figures released Monday. Nearly 28 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of a coronavirus vaccine, the data showed. Earlier Monday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Britain was "on course" to vaccinate the top nine priority groups, including all over-50s, by April 15, despite vaccine supply shortage next month. During a visit to Preston in northern England on Monday, Johnson also warned that a recent surge in Covid cases across Europe would impact Britain. "I think one thing worth stressing is that on the continent right now, you can see sadly there is a third wave under way," he told Sky News. "And people in this country should be under no illusions that previous experience has taught us that when a wave hits our friends, I'm afraid it washes up on our shores as well," he said. "I suspect we will feel those effects in due course, that's why we're getting on with our vaccination program as fast as we can," he said. 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 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) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text A motorist battling wild weather conditions in Queensland has lost control while trying to plough their ute through raging floodwaters. Footage posted online shows the car trying to cross the road over a swollen creek at Wongawallan, in the Gold Coast's northwest, on Monday. As the vehicle enters the water, its wheels become completely submerged with the force of the gushing stream, and lost traction, making the car fishtail. A motorist has lost control of their vehicle while trying to plough their ute through raging floodwaters in the Gold Coast's northwest The shocked woman filming lets out an audible gasp as she watches the potentially deadly situation unfolding in front of her. But the driver regains control as the car's wheels reach drier ground on the other side before continuing on their way. The frightening incident comes as torrential rain continues to smash New South Wales and south-east Queensland, causing widespread flooding and dangerous conditions. The State Emergency Service has received hundreds of calls for help since the rain set in over the weekend, and crews have been forced to stage at least six swift water rescues, four involving people trapped in cars. One man was plucked from a tree in the southeast after having to abandon his car in floodwaters. Parts of the Gold Coast recorded falls in excess of 200mm to 9am on Monday, including 263mm at North Tambourine, in the Gold Coast hinterland. The driver managed to regain control of their vehicle once its wheels reached drier ground This would equal almost three months worth of average rainfall for the Gold Coast region, with more than 100mm forecast for Tuesday. Brisbane city and surrounding suburbs also saw widespread falls of 100mm. Beachmere, north of Brisbane, recorded 208mm. Some theme parks, including Dreamworld, have closed as the weather worsens, with the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast on high alert, along with Channel Country communities as far west as Birdsville. A flood watch is current for a wide band of southern Queensland stretching from the South Australian border to the southeast coast. Heavy falls and flooding is expected across western and southern Queensland from Monday afternoon, extending to the southeast coast on Tuesday. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has urged Queenslanders to get home safely and stay there, with the worst of the weather not expected until later on Monday evening. Joe Biden has urged Congress to act with haste to pass tighter restrictions on gun ownership including banning assault weapons and requiring more stringent background checks in the wake of a pair of mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colorado, within the last week. We are considering a range of levers, including working through legislation, including executive action, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday. That has been under discussion and will continue to be under discussion. Mr Biden addressed the nation on Tuesday to speak out on gun control and offer condolences to the families of the 18 people who have died from the two mass shootings. This is not and should not be a partisan issue. This is an American issue, the president said of two bills that passed the House of Representatives last week that would expand universal background checks to cover private gun sales. It will save lives, American lives. We have to act, Mr Biden said. The president added that the federal government should also ban assault weapons. Law enforcement officials have not publicly released information on what weaponry the Boulder gunman used to kill 10 people at a grocery store on Monday. The president declined to provide any details from his briefing with law enforcement and stressed that many of the details of the Boulder case remain unknown, even to him. Read more: I dont need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common sense steps thatll save lives in the future. And I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act, Mr Biden said. We can ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in this country once again. I got that done when I was a senator. It passed. It was law for the longest time and brought down these mass killings. We should do it again, he said. Congress and the George W Bush administration allowed the assault weapons ban in the US to lapse in 2004. It had been law since 1994. The suspect in Mondays Boulder grocery store shooting, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, was taken into custody and afterwards charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder. Police have not yet identified a motive. Eyewitnesses to the shooting described a male gunman in tactical gear opening fire in silence on terrified shoppers. The arrest warrant affidavit for Mr Alissa states he purchased the gun allegedly used in the shooting just days before his rampage. Databases show he purchased a Ruger AR-556, which is technically a pistol but looks like an assault rifle. It is frequently compared to the AR-15 that has become tightly linked to mass shootings in the US. Police have revealed the names of the 10 victims at the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder where the shooting took place. Among them was an 11-year veteran of the Boulder Police Department, Eric Talley, 51, and multiple staff of the grocery store, including the youngest victim, Denny Stong, 20. Kevin Mahoney, 61, walked his daughter down the aisle at her wedding last summer and was expecting the birth of a new granddaughter before being gunned down on Monday. The Atlanta spa shooter last week killed eight people, including six Asian American women, highlighting the rise in violence against Asian Americans over the last year. Mr Bidens call to statutory action on gun law reform is likely to meet resistance in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats despite a 50-50 partisan split. Vice president Kamala Harris, a Democrat, casts tiebreaker votes. Any legislation to reform gun laws would require the support of 10 Republicans to clear the Senates 60-vote threshold for passage of non-budget related measures. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee staged yet another defence of guns and gun owners at a hearing on Tuesday, accusing their Democratic counterparts of trying to take away guns from law-abiding citizens following the recent mass shootings. Every time there is a shooting, we play this ridiculous theatre where this committee gets together and proposes a bunch of laws that would do nothing to stop these murders, Senator Ted Cruz said at Tuesdays hearing. What happens in this committee after every mass shooting is Democrats propose taking away guns from law-abiding citizens because thats their political objective, Mr Cruz said. Thats not an accurate characterisation of the prevailing stance of most Democrats on gun control. While most members of the party have offered or supported bills that would require universal background checks, prevent those on the terror watch list from acquiring weapons, ban the future sale of assault weapons, and block the sales of bump stock devices that effectively convert semi-automatic rifles into automatic rifles, very few have proposed legislation that would forcefully take certain guns away from law-abiding citizens. Republicans have seized on the few high-profile exceptions: on the presidential campaign trail in 2019, former Texas congressman Beto ORourke, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Ms Harris (then a California senator) endorsed a mandatory buyback programme on certain military-grade weapons. Hell, yes, were going to take your AR-15, your AK-47. Were not going to allow it to be used against our fellow Americans anymore, Mr ORourke said after a shooting in El Paso, Texas, that year. In Mr Bidens address on Tuesday he commended the exceptional bravery of Mr Talley, the Boulder police officer who was killed responding to Mondays shooting. Mr Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden were devastated upon learning of the second mass shooting in the US in less than a week. He expressed his condolences to the families of the 10 people who died, once again urging Congress to act so theres not more of you, theres fewer of you in the future. Mr Bidens former boss, Barack Obama, issued a statement on Tuesday condemning cowardly GOP lawmakers and lobbyists blockade of large-scale legislative efforts to regulate the gun-buying marketplace. Mr Obama noted that it will take time to root out the disaffection, racism and misogyny that fuels so many of these senseless acts of violence, but that in the meantime federal lawmakers ought to be doing everything they can to prevent these types of people from buying weapons of war. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Leaked photos from a migrant overflow facility in Texas, released Sunday by US Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX), have given the first glimpse of the crowded conditions for child migrants detained at the US-Mexico border. (Photos provided by the office of US representative Henry Cuellar, originally published by Axios) In the images, children can be seen cramped in enclosed spaces, many laying on mats with mylar blankets. The pictures were published as the Biden administration continues to block access to US Border Patrol detention facilities housing children detained by immigration officers. The conditions shown in the pictures resemble similar images taken of immigration facilities under the Obama and Trump administrations. In 2018, pictures of children sleeping on the floor in a fenced enclosure surfaced online. Trumps cruel immigration policies were initially blamed, and then it was discovered that the photos were actually taken during Obamas presidency. The next year, leaked images showed migrant children sleeping on the ground and on rocks in McAllen, Texas. Amid an increase in COVID-19 infections, the crowding seen in Mondays images makes social distancing impossible. Dozens of migrants are confined together in small spaces, with only disposable masks to protect them from the virus. Many people attempting to cross the border have tested positive for COVID-19, meaning the Biden administrations detention of migrants will only contribute to its spread. According to Cuellar, the immigration facility held eight pods, each with a 260-person occupancy. Cuellar told the press that one pod held more than 400 unaccompanied male minors. The congressman did not actually visit the facility himself, and would not reveal how he came into possession of the photos. The conditions at the facility are a political embarrassment for the Biden administration, which has sought to cover up the worsening conditions of refugee camps. Millions voted for Biden, expecting a reversal of Trumps fascistic immigration policy. However, little has changed from the previous administration. Although the Biden administration ended one particularly egregious practice, separating parents and children and detaining them in separate facilities, it is keeping families united by expelling them back across the border, denying their rights to file asylum claims once they reach US soil. In response to political attacks from Republicans demanding even more cruel treatment of immigrants, Biden sent envoys to Mexico and Guatemala on Monday to ask officials to assist the US in blocking migrants from reaching the border. Roberta Jacobson, former US ambassador to Mexico, will be joined by Juan Gonzalez, the National Security Councils senior director for the Western Hemisphere, and Ricardo Zuniga, State Department special envoy for the Northern Triangle. On Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the delegation would seek a partnership to manage migrant crossings. In other words, Biden would like Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to do his dirty work for him. The Mexican government has already increased its presence of law enforcement at its southern border, under pressure from the Trump Administration. Mexico has been engaged in its own deportations, which it euphemistically calls assisted returns. Immigrants in migration stations face abhorrent conditions and attacks from police. Bidens promises of reversing Trumps asylum policies have proven to be lies, as his administration has continued to arrest, detain, and deport migrants in large numbers. More than 100,000 people were detained by immigration officials in February alone. This includes 9,460 unaccompanied minors, a more than 60 percent increase from January. Government data indicates more than 11,000 unaccompanied children were taken into Border Patrol custody from February 28 to March 20. As of Sunday, there were 822 children held in jail-like Border Patrol facilities for over 10 days. The average time children have spent in custody is about 130 hours, exceeding the 72-hour legal limit. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas adamantly stated the border was closed to migrants on ABCs This Week, saying, The message is quite clear, do not come. The border is closed, the border is secure. Mayorkas attempted to justify the detention of unaccompanied minors by saying the Biden administration was concerned for their safety. Although adults and families would be immediately expelled from the US, his administration would not deport minors into the Mexican desert. Mayorkas blamed the current disaster at the border on the Trump Administration, which dismantled the orderly, humane and efficient way of allowing children to make their claims under United States law in their own country. This means that Biden aims to return to the pre-Trump policies of Barack Obama, who earned the title deporter-in-chief because his administrationwith Biden as vice presidentdeported more immigrants than any previous US government. Biden has blocked tens of thousands of migrants from entering he US, citing health risks due to COVID-19. Despite the opposition of medical experts, 70 percent of the more than 100,000 people who attempted to cross the border in February were expelled under Title 42, a federal law that allows the government to refuse migrants rights to apply for asylum while remaining on US soil. Migrants sent back to Mexico under Trumps Remain in Mexico policy have been told theyll be sent back to their home countries. Approximately 71,000 people sought asylum under the program, under which they were forced to wait in Mexico while their asylum cases were decided. The vast majority have been denied. Additionally, Biden has utilized radio ads to tell migrants they are unwelcome. Psaki told reporters the Biden administration paid for 17,118 radio ads in Spanish, Portuguese and six indigenous languages to discourage migrants from Central America and Brazil. She said 589 digital ads have also been placed. Those seeking to cross the US-Mexico border are fleeing poverty and violence imposed on Central America from more than a century of US intervention. Billions of dollars in goods and services cross the US-Mexico border daily and US corporations employ workers in sweatshops across Central America. But immigrant workers seeking better opportunities at great personal risk are turned away. The migrant crisis at the border exposed the bankruptcy of capitalism and the nation-state system, and the urgent necessity for American workers to come to the defense of their class brothers and sisters from south of the border. AstraZeneca will release the most up-to-date results from its latest Covid-19 vaccine trial within 48 hours after US health officials publicly criticised the drugmaker for using outdated information in a press release earlier this week. AstraZeneca said results published on Monday were based on an interim analysis of data through Feb 17. The company said on Tuesday it would "immediately engage" with the independent panel monitoring the trial to share its primary analysis using the most up-to-date efficacy data. The move comes after the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases said the monitoring board charged with ensuring the safety and accuracy of the trial had expressed concern that the company may be giving an "incomplete" picture of the shot's effectiveness. "This is likely a very good vaccine," Dr Anthony Fauci, US President Joe Biden's Covid-19 medical adviser and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) director, told ABC News' "Good Morning America" program. "If you look at it, the data really are quite good but when they put it into the press release it wasn't completely accurate." The public rebuke marks the latest setback for the vaccine, which was initially hailed as a milestone in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic but which has been dogged by questions over its effectiveness and possible side effects. AstraZeneca said it had reviewed the preliminary assessment of the primary analysis and found it to be consistent with the interim report. Its shares were down over 1 per cent in London trading. According to the data AstraZeneca made public on Monday the vaccine, developed with Oxford University, was 79 per cent effective in preventing symptomatic illness in the large trial that also took place in Chile and Peru. It was also 100 per cent effective against severe or critical forms of the disease and hospitalisation, and posed no increased risk of blood clots. The renewed doubts about the vaccine's efficacy coincide with its rollout in dozens of countries worldwide and clouds the timeline for its emergency use authorization in the United States. "This is indeed an extraordinary act. The negative reports about this vaccine do not stop, although my assessment is that it is well tolerated and safe, but clearly less effective than the two mRNA vaccines," Peter Kremsner, from the University Hospital in Tuebingen, Germany. Rival vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna that use so-called mRNA technology produced efficacy rates of around 95 per cent each, far above the 50 per cent benchmark set by global regulators. The DSMB is organised by NIAID, and its role is to provide study oversight and evaluate clinical data to ensure safe and ethical conduct of the study. Fauci heads the NIAID, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. Doubts Raised AstraZeneca's Covid-19 shot has faced questions since late last year when the drugmaker and Oxford University published data with different efficacy readings due to a measurement error. Later analysis suggested the dosing interval rather than the amount of dose administered was responsible for the difference. Confidence in the vaccine took a further hit this month when more than a dozen countries, mostly in Europe, temporarily suspended the shot after reports linked it to a rare blood clotting disorder in a very small number of people. The European Union's drug regulator said last week it was safe but an opinion poll on Monday showed Europeans remained sceptical about its safety. The latest data, which has yet to be reviewed by independent researchers, was based on 141 infections among 32,449 participants. Analysts had noted AstraZeneca's achievement of producing strong trial data against a backdrop of more infectious variants spreading in the United States and other countries. Stephen Evans, a pharmacoepidemiology professor at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the up-to-date data request may have to do with efficacy readings from recent infections which may include new variants and thus lower protection rates. "The other vaccines may also show such reduced efficacy and we don't know by how much. It does not leave me concerned particularly unless they had found a safety issue that was being hidden, which does not appear to be the case." The AstraZeneca vaccine is seen as crucial in tackling the spread of Covid-19 across the globe because it is easier and cheaper to transport than rival shots. It has been granted conditional marketing or emergency use authorization in more than 70 countries. Many countries are relying heavily on it to end the pandemic, and several state leaders have taken the shot to boost confidence in the vaccine including South Korea's President Moon Jae-in who received it on Tuesday. Loyalist community groups have withdrawn from working along with the PSNI, as tensions continue to rise in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol. Sources say that community police officers were informed in recent days that they could no longer seek the assistance of loyalist community workers in east Belfast, Ards and North Down, to help defuse any potential public order situations. A senior member of the DUP was also told by loyalists that there would no longer be any cooperation with local policing. Loyalist community workers refused to help control crowds of youths that gathered on the streets of east Belfast on Sunday following Glasgow's Old Firm game between Celtic and Rangers, just weeks after Rangers' Scottish Premiership win. Sources say that loyalists were approached to ask if they could help prevent any large gatherings in breach of Covid restrictions, but that they refused to cooperate. Hundreds of people later gathered in several locations, despite the efforts of police to appeal to those within the community to use their influence to prevent breaches of Covid legislation. The PSNI has been approached for comment. The fallout from the Brexit withdrawal agreement continues to cause tensions. Yesterday, prominent loyalists warned the body tackling paramilitary activity that the NI Protocol could destabilise the region and bring down Stormont. A delegation from the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) - including chairman David Campbell, and leading loyalists Winston Ervine, Jim Wilson and Jimmy Birch - met with the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) yesterday. The LCC, an umbrella group representing the views of the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando, said it discussed its recent letter to the Prime Minister with the IRC. The letter sparked concern after the loyalist groups said they were withdrawing their support for the Good Friday Agreement due to the NI Protocol, which has created a trade barrier between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. In a statement, the LCC said at their meeting with the IRC, they "emphasised their considered view that the NI Protocol, if not changed to be consistent with the Rights and Guarantees contained within the Belfast Agreement, had the capacity to destabilise Northern Ireland and bring down the Institutions of the Agreement". They added: "The LCC members stressed they would do all within their power to maintain peace and reiterated their appeal that opposition had to be political and constitutional in nature." Over the weekend graffiti stating 'All peace deals off' appeared in the Bowtown estate in Newtownards. It was signed PAF, believed to the Protestant Action Force, a cover name used by the UVF to claim shootings and bombings during the Troubles. It also referenced the Chief Constable and PCTF (Paramilitary Crime Task Force) with crosshair targets. Meanwhile, a DUP minister has rejected a suggestion his party is considering collapsing Stormont in protest at Brexit's Irish Sea trading border. Education Minister Peter Weir was responding to weekend comments by LCC chairman Mr Campbell, who suggested the DUP was contemplating the move. He also dismissed a report that the party was set to block the passage of Irish language legislation at Stormont amid the intensifying row over the NI Protocol. Mr Weir said he was "bemused" by both claims. It's understood that Mr Campbell is standing by his claims. In an interview with the Sunday Independent, he claimed DUP leader Arlene Foster had told the LCC that collapsing the Executive was within her party's "thinking", but only after all other avenues to ditch the protocol had been exhausted. Mr Weir said his party was urging Mr Campbell to clarify his remarks, insisting the issue had not been raised at a recent meeting between the LCC and the DUP leadership. The minister said collapsing Stormont would be "counterproductive". "That is not what we're about," he said. "We're about actually trying to make sure Northern Ireland works, works for everyone." Yesterday, BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show quoted a DUP source claiming the party would not allow the introduction of an Irish Language Act at Stormont while the protocol remained. A commitment to introduce an act was a main plank of the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) deal that restored devolution. But Mr Weir again moved to distance the party from the suggestion it would not honour its NDNA commitments. "We're committed to devolution, we're committed to NDNA," he said. He added: "You know, we're somewhat bemused by some of the reports and I'm not going to get too much into some of the comments that are unattributable comments." A DUP party statement later said "dialogue and political discussion" were the ways to resolve concerns around the protocol. "We remain committed to New Decade, New Approach. All of these issues must be addressed and resolved along with the NDNA commitments if we are to achieve stability for Northern Ireland. The way forward is through dialogue and political discussion." CHERRY VALLEY, N.Y. New York State Police are searching for a suspect in an attempted bank robbery that took place in Cherry Valley Monday afternoon. The incident happened just before 2 p.m. at the NBT Bank on Main Street, according to police. The bank had reopened its lobby earlier this month on March 8. Photo courtesy of NYSP Photo courtesy of NYSP The suspect is a white man, 30 40 years old and about 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall. He was seen on surveillance camera wearing a hoodie and jeans, with a blue beanie hat and black face mask. Police say the man did not threaten the workers or display a weapon. He was last seen walking on Lancaster Street. Police say there was a white sedan in the area of the bank that may have been involved in the incident. Police are asking anyone with information to call 607-432-3211. [March 23, 2021] Logicalis US Honored on the CRN Tech Elite 250 List for 10th Year NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Underscoring its continued success providing business solutions for customers across key practice areas, Logicalis US, an international IT solution and managed services provider, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, named the company to the 2021 Tech Elite 250 list for the 10th time. The annual list, which features IT solution providers of all sizes in North America that have earned cutting-edge technical certifications from leading technology suppliers. Logicalis and other honorees have distinguished themselves as top solution providers, earning multiple, premier IT certifications, specializations, and partner program designations from industry-leading technology providers. Logicalis provides technology solutions, services and expertise in the areas of security, modern data center, collaboration, networking and cloud for customers to meet today's IT challenges. To evolve alongside an everchanging technology landscape, Logicalis works with its partners to maintain high levels of training and certification and achieve the highest tiers within those companies' partner programs. Logicalis' status as a Cisco Global Gold and as a Microsoft Azure Expert MSP, reinforce its continued commitment to working alongside leading industry partners to provide customers the best solutions for their business. "As Architects of Change, we are steadfastly committed to providing our customers with effective solutions that move their businesses forward. ecognition on the CRN Tech Elite 250 underscores the dedication of all of our employees," said Logicalis US CEO Jon Groves. "We are honored to be on the list for a tenth time. As we look to the next 10 years, we remain as focused as ever on bringing the best, most innovative opportunities to our customers, which would not be possible without the industry partners we work with." Each year, The Channel Company's research group and CRN editors distinguish the most client-driven technical certifications in the North American IT channel. Solution providers that have earned these high honors enabling them to deliver exclusive products, services, and customer support are then selected from a pool of online applicants as well as from The Channel Company's solution provider database. "CRN's Tech Elite 250 list highlights the top solution providers in the IT channel with the most in-depth technical knowledge, expertise, and certifications for providing the best level of service for their customers," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "These solution providers have continued to extend their talents and abilities across various technologies and IT practices, demonstrating their commitment to really conveying the most exceptional business value to their customers." Coverage of the Tech Elite 250 will be featured in the April issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/techelite250. About Logicalis US Award-winning Logicalis US works alongside our customers to recommend, plan, and implement a digital transformation strategy that aligns with their business goals. Through our consulting and managed services and with our longtime strategic partners, we then deliver custom security, network, collaboration, cloud, and data center solutions. As Architects of Change, we help our customers to deploy and adopt technologies that engage their employees and customers, optimize and manage IT operations for improved agility and cost savings, and employ emerging technologies that deliver innovative outcomes. Logicalis US is part of the Logicalis Group, which has more than 6,500 employees and annualized revenues of $1.7 billion, from operations in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn , and Facebook. 2021. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/logicalis-us-honored-on-the-crn-tech-elite-250-list-for-10th-year-301254033.html SOURCE Logicalis [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The French Court of Appeal has closed the so-called "DPR Centre" in Marseille, the association will be disbanded, its premises closed, and meetings of members banned, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said. "Confirm officially: the Court of Appeal in France has closed the so-called 'DPR Centre' in Marseille, declared it void and illegally established. The association will be dissolved, its premises closed, and meetings of members banned. We have fought for this for a long time and won," Kuleba wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. The minister also thanked the court for the fair decision. President Joe Biden speaks as Vice President Kamala Harris looks on, in the East Room of the White House in Washington on March 18, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Biden Calls for a Ban on Assault Weapons and High Capacity Magazines After Colorado Shooting President Joe Biden on Tuesday called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines following a shooting at a Colorado supermarket that reportedly left at least 10 people dead on Monday, and a separate shooting at an Atlanta-area spa left eight dead last week. Gun rights groups have warned that Democratic lawmakers bills could potentially turn millions of law-abiding gun owners into criminals. We can ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in this country once again. I got that done when I was a senator. It passed, it was the law for the longest time and it brought down these mass killings. We should do it again, Biden said at the White House. He did not elaborate on what an assault weapon would be, but high-capacity magazines typically refer to a magazine that holds more than ten rounds. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) called on Congress to pass legislation in the wake of the shooting in their home state. Its long past time for Congress to take meaningful action to keep deadly weapons out of the wrong hands, Bennet said in a statement Monday. And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Tuesday that Congress must pass legislation following the shootings. For the second time in a week, our nation is being confronted by the epidemic of gun violence, she said in a statement. Too many families in too many places are being forced to endure this unfathomable pain and anguish. Action is needed now to prevent this scourge from continuing to ravage our communities. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), meanwhile, said that Democrats are engaging in ridiculous theater by pushing gun control measures after shootings. Every time theres a shooting, we play this ridiculous theater where this committee gets together and proposes a bunch of laws that would do nothing to stop these murders, Cruz argued. On Monday, the National Rifle Association (NRA), the largest gun-rights group in the United States, posted the text of the U.S. Constitutions Second Amendment on Twitter: A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. In February, the U.S. Concealed Carry Association wrote a letter to Biden, warning the president that his proposal for gun control would possibly turn 100 million law-abiding gun owners into criminals. While we can agree that there are several common sense and long overdue changes needed to our nations gun laws, we firmly believe that the path forward should be focused on supporting and protecting responsible, law-abiding Americansnot criminalizing and punishing them, the group wrote, noting that a significant number of Americans purchased firearms for the first time in 2020 due to left-wing riots and the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this month, the House led by Democrats passed H.R. 8 that would expand background checks on commercial gun sales and end the ability of some firearms to be transferred by licensed gun dealers before the required background checks are completed. They also passed H.R. 1446, a bill that would extend the waiting period for background checks from 3 days maximum to 1030 days. The last time Democrats got close to passing gun control legislation was in 2013 after the mass shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. At the time, they held the House, Senate, and the White House under then-President Barack Obama. In the Senate, such legislation would require bypassing the 60-vote filibuster, which Republicans oppose. Some Democrats have also signaled that it would be unwise to end the filibuster. Democrats could also potentially vote on Sen. Dianne Feinsteins (D-Calif.) bill she reintroduced several weeks ago that would ban 205 different assault weapons, including very common sporting rifles. Its been 17 years since the original Assault Weapons Ban expired, and the plague of gun violence continues to grow in this country. To be clear, this bill saves lives. When it was in place from 1994-2004, gun massacres declined by 37 percent compared with the decade before. After the ban expired, the number of massacres rose by 183 percent, she said in a statement on March 11. OTTAWA Looking back six weeks ago, Dr. Dick Zoutman wishes Ontario had resisted the urge to peel back COVID-19 restrictions, in a situation somewhat analogous to Manitoba's current situation. OTTAWA Looking back six weeks ago, Dr. Dick Zoutman wishes Ontario had resisted the urge to peel back COVID-19 restrictions, in a situation somewhat analogous to Manitoba's current situation. In early February, his provinces case counts were dropping amid a trickle of cases involving highly contagious variant strains. Zoutman, a professor of infectious diseases and medical microbiology at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., recalls a sense of dread as officials announced restaurants would be permitted to open for indoor dining and loosened rules on household gatherings. THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES/LARS HAGBERG Professor of infectious diseases and medical microbiology at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., Dr. Dick Zoutman: "This virus is smart and it's fast, and we need to be smarter and we need to be faster. "You have a virus that spreads faster, that's increasing and has the potential to make people sicker, so I'm very worried about it," recalled Zoutman, who has argued for strict measures used by countries such as Australia, until COVID-19 nearly disappears. Instead, provinces are loosening rules; Manitoba will announce rolled-back restrictions as soon as Tuesday. "This virus is smart and it's fast, and we need to be smarter and we need to be faster," Zoutman said. "This third wave is going to be very damaging to the economy and to people's health, and causing mortality that is totally preventable." Dr. Dick Zoutman As Ontario allowed people to have more visitors and larger events, the drop in case numbers stalled. The rolling average of cases plateaued for about three weeks before sharply rising. Data from the Ontario government's own science advisory table suggests caseloads would have flattened by now if the highly contagious variants hadn't emerged. Cities such as Ottawa reopened gyms and shopping malls at capacity levels that were supposed to remain through the spring. Instead, they had to reinstate restrictions just a month later. British variant appears more deadly OTTAWA While viruses tend to mutate to be less deadly, the COVID-19 variant that took hold in Britain seems to be taking the opposite approach. It's a cause for grave concern, said Dr. Dick Zoutman, a professor of infectious diseases and medical microbiology at Queen's University. The main variants of concern all have a mutation that seems to allow the spike protein to more easily cling onto cells and infect them. click to read more OTTAWA While viruses tend to mutate to be less deadly, the COVID-19 variant that took hold in Britain seems to be taking the opposite approach. It's a cause for grave concern, said Dr. Dick Zoutman, a professor of infectious diseases and medical microbiology at Queen's University. The main variants of concern all have a mutation that seems to allow the spike protein to more easily cling onto cells and infect them. The B.1.1.7 variant took hold in the United Kingdom, where officials said in January that it appeared more deadly. That presumption seems to be clearer each month, with a University of Exeter study published March 10 finding that people infected with the variant seemed about 64 per cent more likely to die than patients infected with other strains. It's the variant taking hold in most provinces. Zoutman said viruses tend to become less deadly as they mutate, which evolutionary biologists chalk up to a drive to infect more people and replicate, which doesn't work when the host dies. It may seem counterintuitive, Zoutman said of the British variant. It's not killing all the hosts, it's killing more but it's more infectious and there are plenty of people in Canada who are not immune, he said, noting infection and vaccination rates. They are interacting with other people in a way that increases opportunity for spread. From the virus's point of view, that's exactly what it needs and it will capitalize on that. Dylan Robertson Close "This third wave is going to be very damaging to the economy and to people's health, and causing mortality that is totally preventable," Zoutman said. "The variants of concern out-compete the original strain of COVID-19." A similar situation appears to be playing out in Saskatchewan, where there were just 35 variant cases documented on March 9. That number doubled within four days and, a week later, rose to 664, largely concentrated in Regina. That staggering rise has nothing to do with anomalies in how officials track cases or do testing, said University of Saskatchewan epidemiology professor Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine. "Were seeing, right before our eyes, in the space of two weeks, an exponential growth of variant cases in Regina," said Muhajarine. He said it probably didnt help that the province relaxed capacity limits on religious services to allow up to 150 people to attend, and loosened the limit on household gatherings, from five people to 10 from three different households. Muhajarine noted that Manitoba has had stricter rules than Saskatchewan, and hailed the colour-code system here, which helps differentiate risk by region. But he warned that Winnipeg's situation might start looking a lot like Regina's. There were 29 active variant cases in Manitoba as of Friday, not far from the starting point of the 35 cases in Saskatchewan that quickly got out of control. Were seeing, right before our eyes, in the space of two weeks, an exponential growth of variant cases in Regina. Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine The B.1.1.7 variant that took hold in Britain is largely driving these cases across Western Canada, and research points to it being more contagious and, likely, more deadly. Other variants are wreaking havoc elsewhere. Quebec's mining region of Abitibi has become a North American stronghold for the B.1.351 variant, first identified in South Africa. The rural area went from reporting two cases of the variant to 100 in just five weeks. To date, no other province has logged more than 47 cases of that variant, while the entire United States has reported fewer than 200 cases. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin. While the South African strain is not known to be deadlier, it is more contagious than previous iterations of the coronavirus, and appears somewhat more resistant to at least some of the available vaccines. Manitoba's chief public health officer said Monday that he's trying to balance the impact of restrictions with the need to keep case numbers down. "We all want to use the least-restrictive means to obtain our goal, because these restrictions themselves have health impacts," Dr. Brent Roussin said. "As you loosen restrictions, youre going to see more and more interaction. And just like we see now, youll see an increasing in cases adding to that, we now have these variants of concern which are 50 to 70 per cent more infectious." We all want to use the least-restrictive means to obtain our goal, because these restrictions themselves have health impacts." Dr. Brent Roussin Muhajarine said that's exactly why Manitoba needs to shift its balance. "Public-health measures do have collateral consequences, like mental health and isolation, and a lack of support but the thing is that we want to prevent the most negative of outcomes that we could imagine, including death and hospitalizations and ICU bed use," he said. Manitobans should stick with the restrictions they already have for another four to six weeks, by which point a ramp-up in vaccines will start protecting the most vulnerable, at which point limitations could be gradually scaled down, he said. Otherwise, Manitoba will join the list of jurisdictions where a nasty third wave has pushed things back into code red in order to prevent overloaded hospitals from having to turn back patients who are most likely to die, he predicted. "To me, that would demand whatever we can do now to avoid those kinds of really negative outcomes," he said. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca The on Tuesday told lenders that they cannot charge interest on interest on the loan amount for all borrowers that was granted between March and August 2020 and said lenders have to refund the amount or the amount should be adjusted with the borrowers. The refund or the adjusted amount is likely to be in the range of Rs 7000 crore to Rs 8000 crore, rating agencies and analysts said. Earlier, following a order, the government has already refunded the interest on interest to all borrowers of loans below Rs 2 crore. The overall hit to the financial sector for the waiver was estimated at around Rs 14,500 crore of which relief Rs 6,500 crore was already paid by the government for loans less than Rs 2 crore. As per our estimates, the compounded interest for six month of across all lenders is estimated at Rs 13,500-14,000 crore, rating agency ICRA said. The GoI had already announced relief for borrowers having borrowings upto Rs 2 crore which was estimated to cost around Rs 6500 crore to exchequer. With announcement of waiver for all borrowers, the additional relief of around 7000-7500 will need to be provided to borrowers, ICRA added. Kajal Gandhi, vice president at ICICI Direct, said the fresh impact on will be around Rs 7,500 crore to Rs 8,000 crore. The judgement removes possible uncertainties over the possible extension. Our estimate suggests an additional burden of Rs 7,500 crore to Rs 8,500 crore on the banks, Gandhi said. Overall it is a positive for as complete interest waiver is ruled out, said Siddharth Purohit, analyst with SMC Global. State Bank of India, the countrys largest bank, had said applications for loan recast were received for Rs 18,125 crore which was 10% of the outstanding amount. The said the interest cannot be waived off completely and also decided against the extension of beyond six months. It said no direction could be issued to the government or the RBI to announce any particular financial package or relief, and held that it could not issue directions to provide relief to particular sectors over and above others. A Bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud, M R Shah and Sanjiv Khanna pronounced the judgment on the loan moratorium and waiver of interest. After the nationwide lockdown was announced in March last year, the announced a loan repayment moratorium for three months, which was later extended by another three months till August. RBI also imposed a standstill clause on the loans under moratorium as were not allowed to change the asset classification of that loan during the moratorium period. In September, the Supreme Court had asked lenders not to classify loans which were standard as on August 31 not to declare as non-performing assets, till further order. With this order there is now clarity for lenders on the asset classification issue as the apex court ruled out any further moratorium. Even if there was a stay on asset classification, banks have identified loans that would have slipped to non-performing if not for the SC September order. Such slippages which are known as proforma slippages were identified after the banking regulator asked the banks informally for such an exercise, bankers said. As per ICRA's estimates, on a proforma basis, the GNPA of the banks stood at Rs. 8.7 trillion or 8.3% of advances as against the reported GNPA of Rs. 7.4 trillion (7.1%) as on December 31, 2020. The Net NPA ratio for the banks, on a proforma basis, stood at Rs. 2.7 trillion or 2.7% of advances as against the reported NNPA for all banks of Rs. 1.7 trillion (1.7%) as on December 31, 2020. In absence of standstill by Hon'ble supreme court, the Gross NPAs for the banks would have been higher by Rs 1.3 lakh crore (1.2%) and Net NPAs would have been higher by Rs 1.0 trillion (1.0%), ICRA said. SBIs gross NPA ratio which was 4.77% as on December 2020 would have been 5.44% if there was no stay on asset classification. The Supreme Court judgement is welcome. The court has limited their scope to judicial review and not opined on the merits of policy, said Mahesh Misra, CEO, India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation. Any other outcome would have created a potential moral hazard and also penalised conscientious borrowers. This creates the right precedent as well, Misra said. The Senate adopted, on Monday, the draft law initiated by the Government to amend Law no. 173/2020 on some measures aimed at protecting national interests in economic activity which repeals the provision on prohibiting the alienation of state-owned shares to national companies and societies, to credit institutions, as well as to any other company in which the state has the quality of shareholder, regardless of the quota of share capital held, according to AGERPRES. The bill also repeals the article which stipulates that "any ongoing operations regarding the alienation of state-owned shares in national companies and societies, as well as in other companies in which the state has the quality of shareholder shall be suspended for a period of 2 years". "The repeal of the mentioned provisions will allow the capitalization of the shares with a view to avoiding the serious harming of the social relations regarding the economic freedom of the operators in which the state has the quality of shareholder and the free movement of capitals. By diversifying the ownership, it is intended to ensure a return to a competitive situation in the market in which each national company and society, credit institution and any other company in which the state has the quality of shareholder aims to achieve certain objectives by alienating the shares held by the state," reads the bill's explanatory memorandum. The draft law will be debated by the Chamber of Deputies, the decision-making body in this case. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The telecom regulator has urged Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue directions to banks to comply with Trai's norms on bulk messages, sources said on Tuesday. It has also shared with the a list of such banks that have not adhered to Trai's regulatory requirements, as also relevant data on SMS traffic failures, sources added. Separately, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) in a statement said that all major banks and big telemarketers sending SMS have failed to fulfil regulatory requirements despite repeated reminders. Sources privy to the development told PTI that the telecom regulator has approached the Reserve Bank of India to get a direction issued to all banks and financial institutions to comply with stipulated rules aimed at curbing pesky calls and bulk messages. has also written to the Department of Financial Services on the matter. The regulator informed the that as per the provisions of the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018, the telecom operators have activated the content scrubbing from March 17, 2021. However, for the time being, even the traffic which has failed in the content scrubbing is allowed to be delivered, to avoid the inconvenience to the consumers. has further said that based on the report submitted by the telecom operators, it has been observed that certain banks have still not complied with regulatory requirements. Noting that telcos are intimating the failure reasons to concerned 'Principal Entities', has urged the to direct such banks to fulfil the regulatory requirements immediately, failing which their communication to customers may be disrupted, sources said. Additionally, the regulator has also reached out to state government departments, chief secretaries, and all major government entities that send out bulk messages on the bulk message issue, sources added. Meanwhile, Trai said in a statement that it "once again requests all the Entities who are using the telecom resources to send bulk messages to the consumers, to fulfil the regulatory requirements immediately so that there would not be any disruption in the communication to the customers." Trai has issued the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR, 2018) on July 19, 2018, to curb the menace of Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC), which put in place a framework for controlling UCC. The regulations entirely came into force with effect from February 29,2019. According to the rules all entries that send one-time password (OTP), transactional messages, service messages or commercial messages are required to fulfil regulatory requirements for sending bulk communication. "The regulatory provisions not only help in preventing spam but also help in preventing fraudulent messages purporting to originate from banks, financial institutions, or other trusted sources," Trai said. Trai said that when telecom operators started filtering out non-compliance messages from the system there was a huge drop in sms sent to people from applications. "It was observed that some of the principal entities have not fulfilled the requirements as envisaged TCCCPR, 2018 even after two years despite being fully aware of the regulations and the consequences," Trai said. The regulator temporarily suspended the scrubbing of SMS for seven days on March 9 to enable principle entities to register the SMS templates to avoid inconvenience faced by the customers. "Unfortunately, despite repeated communication, all major banks and big telemarketers sending SMS have failed to fulfill regulatory requirements. All are being notified individually also. Trai has called for further reports from telecom service providers," Trai statement 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.) DNV awards AiP to DSME for rotor sail system Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) received an Approval in Principle (AiP) from leading classification society DNV for the DSME Rotor Sail System, an eco-friendly ship technology applicable to large oil tankers and LNG carriers. The virtual AiP award ceremony was held recently, with Hwa-Lyong Lee, DNV Business Development Manager, and Dong-Kyu Choi, Head of DSME R&D Institute, in attendance. The approved rotor sail system is one of the next-generation fuel-saving eco-friendly auxiliary propulsion technologies. A rotor sail system incorporates the installation of cylindrical columns (rotors) on the ships deck to generate additional power to propel the ship by using the force of the wind and column rotation during operation. The technology offers a large driving force while being compact and simple to install. We are carrying out a number of different research projects to cope with the strengthening of global environmental regulations, said Dong-Kyu Choi. We will further focus on developing eco-friendly ship technologies that are immediately applicable to ships. Recently, wind sail technology has drawn attention from the global shipbuilding industry as expectations rise for the system to be a viable alternative to reduce ship fuel consumption and carbon emissions. DSME is aiming to produce its own system as an industry first for Korean shipbuilding. We are pleased to deliver the AiP, which is a milestone for the development of wind-assisted propulsion systems. DNV has comprehensive expertise in this area and we look forward to being a partner in enabling the further development of these technologies, said Vidar Dolonen, Regional Manager at DNV in Korea and Japan. DNV has already developed a standard for the certification of wind-assisted propulsion systems in response to inquiries for their independent assessment. After a joint development project with DSME and a review of the systems main plans and documents against the relevant DNV rules for the classification of ships, DNV issued an AiP statement confirming that no significant obstacles exist to prevent the concept from being realized. In this time of growing pressure to decarbonize, wind-assisted propulsion systems are an increasingly attractive and reliable solutions to ship owners and operators, said Hasso Hoffmeister, Senior Principal Engineer at DNV. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close A top seafood chef has created an epic gourmet sandwich - complete with ocean trout 'salami', kingfish 'mortadella' and swordfish 'belly bacon'. Josh Niland is the owner and head chef behind Saint Peter in Sydney's Paddington, a two-hatted seafood restaurant known for serving sustainably sourced, fresh seafood with attention to detail. The 32-year-old - who's known for cooking with every part of a fish - has now unveiled the 'Muffuletta', which looks remarkably similar to a deli-style sandwich, except the 'sliced meats' are made entirely from different types of fish. Italian muffuletta sandwiches are usually made with layers of thin-sliced cured meats such as salami, capocollo, soppressata and mortadella. The deli-inspired sandwich consists of an ocean trout salami, kingfish mortadella, albacore tuna nduja, swordfish belly bacon and pickled tommy ruff, topped with dried tomatoes, olives, sorrell and pesto and provolone. A top seafood chef has created an epic gourmet sandwich - complete with ocean trout 'salami', kingfish 'mortadella' and swordfish 'belly bacon' Josh Niland (pictured) is the owner and chef behind Saint Peter in Paddington, New South Wales, an award-winning 'fish eatery' known for serving sustainably sourced, fresh seafood The muffuletta sandwich is available at Niland's Fish Butchery store in Sydney for a limited time only, or until it's sold out. Diners who got to taste the creation confirmed it tasted 'absolutely unbelievable', 'delicious' and 'off the charts'. Thousands of foodies were amazed with the rare menu item, with one declaring: 'This is the best muffaletta sandwich I've ever seen.' 'This is outrageously brilliant - has to be a first in the world! Forget a pastrami on rye with pickles and cheese,' one man wrote. The 32-year-old - who's known for cooking with every part of a fish - has now unveiled the 'Muffuletta', which looks remarkably similar to a deli-style sandwich, except the 'sliced meats' are made entirely from different types of fish Last Christmas, Niland created kingfish ham with crispy, glazed skin and pink flesh - a unique twist on the traditional glazed pork ham 'Looks an extremely appetising,' another said, while one added: 'Good lord that's one stunning beauty.' And another suggested: 'Looks amazing, tastes even better I imagine.' Niland said his sandwich was inspired by top chef Clayton Wells, who created the A1 Canteen's muffaletta press sandwich, which comes with sourdough, Italian provolone, ham, mortadella, salami, olives, sun-dried tomatoes. Last Christmas, Niland created kingfish ham with crispy, glazed skin and pink flesh - a unique twist on the traditional glazed pork ham. 'I don't think fish has ever looked tastier. In the entire history of humans eating fish for food, no one has made fish look this tasty,' one customer wrote. Ahead of the festive season, especially Holi, Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus has finally launched the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro at a virtual event. The company has collaborated with Swedish brand Hasselblad for selfies and videos. In terms of price, OnePlus 9 is available at Rs. 49,999 for the 8GB + 128GB storage variant, Rs 54,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant. Meanwhile, OnePlus 9 Pro is priced at Rs. 64,999 for the 8GB + 128GB variant and Rs. 69,999 for the 12GB + 256GB storage model. This time, OnePlus has also launched the OnePlus 9R which is priced at Rs. 39,999 for the 8GB + 128GB storage model and Rs. 43,999 for the 12GB + 256GB storage model. Lastly, the OnePlus Watch is available for 14,999. If we look at the specifications of these smartphones, the OnePlus 9 series comes with a 120Hz refresh rate and they are equipped with a triple rear camera set up. Also, for selfies and videos, the OnePlus 9 comes with a 16 MP selfie camera, the OnePlus 9 Pro also has the same camera, while there is no mention of the OnePlus 9Rs selfie camera. When it comes to rear cameras, the OnePlus 9 comes with a 48MP primary sensor, 50MP secondary sensor and a 2MP monochrome sensor. OnePlus 9 Pro comes with a 50MP secondary sensor, an 8MP telephoto shooter, and a 2MP monochrome sensor. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 9R comes with a quad rear camera setup that comprises a 48MPl primary sensor. In terms of colours, the OnePlus 9 will have Arctic Sky, Astral Black, and Winter Mist colour options. One the other hand, the OnePlus 9 Pro, will be available in Morning Mist, Pine Green, and Stellar Black shades. The OnePlus 9R will be available in Carbon Black and Lake Blue colour options and the OnePlus Watch will be available in a Stainless Steel case that has Midnight Black and Midnight Silver shades. It will also be available in the Cobalt Limited Edition version that features a Cobalt Alloy case in Gold colour. Talking about the OnePlus Watch, it comes with loaded features and it helps you take voice calls and app notifications directly on your wrist. The company claims that the OnePlus Watch can even turn off the OnePlus TV 30 minutes after it detects that you are asleep or lower the volume of the TV. It is also equipped with 110 workout modes and consists of a 4,500 mAh battery. Drug-maker AstraZeneca said Monday its vaccine provided strong protection against COVID-19. The two-shot vaccine also stopped hospitalizations and deaths for all age groups, including older people. The results came from the long-awaited study in the United States. In a statement, AstraZeneca said its COVID-19 vaccine was 79 percent effective at preventing COVID-19. The company also said its vaccine was 100 percent effective in stopping severe disease and hospitalization. And the vaccine worked across all ethnic groups and ages, including older people. The U.S. study included more than 30,000 people. About 20,000 were given two shots of the vaccine. The shots were injected four weeks apart. The rest received shots of inactive substance called placebos. AstraZeneca said its experts did not find any safety concerns. They also found no increased risk of unusual blood system blockages, or blood clots, that was a cause for concern in Europe. These findings reconfirm previous results observed, said Ann Falsey. She is with the University of Rochester School of Medicine and helped lead the study. Its exciting to see similar efficacy results in people over 65 for the first time, she said. Full information about the study, however, has not been published. And no outside experts have reviewed the information. The British-Swiss company said Monday that it will seek emergency use permission in the U.S. Vaccine for the world AstraZenecas coronavirus vaccine has been approved for emergency use in more than 50 countries. When it was approved for emergency use in Britain last December, the shot was described as the vaccine for the world. It costs much less than vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. It also does not require extreme cold storage, making it easier to use in countries with limited resources. The AstraZeneca vaccine is a large part of the United Nations COVAX program. The program aims to get COVID-19 vaccines to poorer countries. Dr. Paul Hunter is a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia. He said that more information was needed to confirm AstraZenecas claim that the vaccine can stop severe disease and hospitalization. He added, however, that the results appeared hopeful. This should add confidence that the vaccine is doing what it is most needed for, said Hunter, who was not connected to the study. Last September, AstraZeneca vaccine drug trials were temporarily suspended in both Britain and the U.S. The company said a woman in the study had developed inflammation in her spine. This led to a delay in the U.S. drug trial. The drug-maker was slow to report manufacturing problems last October. The company and its partner, Britains University of Oxford, then reported unclear results from two different vaccine treatments in the British drug trial, which left many uncertain if it was safe and effective. Last week, more than 12 countries, mostly in Europe, stopped using the vaccine after reports it was linked to unusual blood clots. On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency said its investigation found the vaccine did not raise the risk of blood clots, other than very rare cases. France, Germany, Italy and other countries started using the AstraZeneca vaccine again on Friday. AstraZeneca said it would continue to examine the new information from the U.S. study before giving it to the FDA in the coming weeks. It said the study and its results will soon be published. Im Susan Shand. The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story previous adj. : existing or happening before the present time excite v. to cause feelings of enthusiasm in (someone) confidence n. a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something inflammation n. a condition in which a part of your body becomes red, swollen, and painful We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page. The next step for Raye in this new season 4 show was to hone-in and focus on the Italian wine market Stateside, reaching out to other respected business professionals in the wine industry, engaging them in infotainment-type conversation. Italian Wine Podcast (IWP) host Steve Raye is back with a new series entitled Get US Market Ready with Italian Wine People. This show will air in IWPs Monday slot, just as his last series was; dedicated to the narration of his book, Lets Get US Market Ready. Aside from being an author and IWP host, Raye is the President and CEO of Bevology Inc., a consulting company that offers practical business strategies and approaches to brands and regional promotional boards navigating the US Market, specifically within the sector of wine & spirits, their importation and distribution. The book just like the series that came after it, saw Raye dedicate himself to imparting the 30 plus years of information he has accumulated; knowledge gained through real experience. The next step for Raye in this new season 4 show was to hone-in and focus on the Italian wine market Stateside, reaching out to other respected business professionals in the wine industry, engaging them in infotainment-type conversation. The program offers listeners new strategies and ideas for their own use, engaging them through the personal stories of compelling individuals; their journeys, struggles and successes. Guests include names such as Tony Apostalakos, US Director at Masi Agricola; Paul Quaglini, Wine Supervisor at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits and Nicole Brassard, Wine Marketing and Sales Specialist at the New Hampshire Liquor Commission. Each guest has been hand-picked, building a well-rounded lineup suitable for anyone who has their own wine business, is presently starting up or simply for those listeners interested in learning more through lively, light-hearted banter. Steve Rayes Get US Market Ready with Italian Wine People show will air each Monday on the Italian Wine Podcast 500,000+ listens and growing; find us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you tune in; be part of the international movement dedicated to all things Italian and Wine. _________________________ About: the Italian Wine Podcast: Cin Cin with Italian Wine People! is a podcast project dedicated exclusively to the Italian wine world. The program uncovers the unique world of Italian wine in conversation with some of its key protagonists from all over the world. Italian Wine Podcast aims to inform, educate, and entertain listeners with content for wine professionals and casual listeners alike. Content includes interviews by organic and biodynamic wine writer Monty Waldin; interviews focused on women in the wine industry, hosted by Rebecca Lawrence DipWSET; chats between influencers, educators, and entrepreneurs in the wine world; deep examinations of individual grape varieties; a guest blog; Q&A sessions with vine geneticist Prof. Attilio Scienza, and audiobooks. Italian Wine Podcast is available on SoundCloud, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, XimalayaFM (for China), and on the official website. It now boasts almost 500 recorded episodes with a growing online following. Listeners interested in providing feedback about the show are encouraged to access a demographic survey on the podcast website. Donations to the show are welcomed and help fund a portion of the shows equipment, production, and publication costs. To advertise on the show, please request a prospectus and/or customized advertising plan from info@italianwinepodcast.com. The White House is pulling back the expected nomination of a top Interior Department official in a demonstration of the sway that Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski has in the 50-50 Senate. Elizabeth Klein, a former Obama Administration official and renewable energy expert, had been publicly reported to be nominated as the deputy secretary at the Interior Department back in January. But the administration is withdrawing the expected nomination, Politico reported Monday evening, after Murkowski voiced her concerns and floated an alternative. 'Liz Kleins nomination was never formally submitted to the United States and will not be nominated to this position,' a White House spokesman told DailyMail.com Tuesday. Sen. Lisa Murkowski pushed back against President Biden's nomination of Elizabeth Klein to a top Interior Department post, and the nomination is being withdrawn Politico reported Murkowski, who represents an oil rich state, joined Democrats in voting for Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary last week. Haaland was confirmed 51 to 40, with four Republicans voting for her. The powerful lawmaker helped tank another Biden nominee when she came out against Biden's choice to run the Office of Management and Budget, Neera Tanden. Tanden had blasted a number of Republicans, including Murkowski, in tweets while running the liberal Center for American Progress. Murkowksi has put forth an alternative name, Tommy Beaudreau, who hails from her home state. He also worked in the Obama administration, and is a partner at the law firm of Latham and Watkins. 'Liz Kleins nomination was never formally submitted to the United States and will not be nominated to this position,' a White House spokesman told DailyMail.com Tuesday Deb Haaland was confirmed as Interior Department secretary last week, with Murkowski's support President Joe Biden has now filled most of the top posts in his cabinet He joined the Department amid the Deepwater Horizon disaster, and became the first head of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The position involves oversight of offshore oil and gas projects as well as offshore wind. Klein is the deputy director of the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at the New York University School of Law. She, too, was a lawyer at Latham & Watkins, where she focused on energy and environmental law issues. Murkowski's office did not respond immediately for a request for comment. The Senate confirmed Marty Walsh as Biden's Secretary of Labor Monday, filling the last major cabinet post, although there is not yet a new nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget. OLYMPIA - On Monday, March 29, 2021, the Washington State Department of Commerce opened up the application period for Round 4 of the Working Washington Grants. The newest grant round focuses on brick-and-mortar businesses most directly impacted by COVID-19 public health measures. Business owners can find a link to the application portal HERE. This is the fourth round of the Working Washington grant program. Legislators approved $240 million for the current round as part of an early action bill that also provided additional funding for rent assistance and other COVID-19 response efforts. Some of the criteria outlined in this legislation include: Businesses must apply the grant award toward expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 through June 30th, 2021. Commerce must take into account previous Working Washington awards distributed by the agency or affiliated partners. This means grant awards will vary. The maximum grant award will be $25,000. Grants must be equitably distributed statewide and to historically underserved and disadvantaged populations. These grants are aimed at for-profit small businesses in industries that have hard costs associated with their operations, and faced the most significant challenges to paying those hard costs because they were required to close. Hard costs include but are not limited to rent, utilities, payroll or personal protective equipment. Eligible applications will be reviewed based on the following priority criteria: Industries that had to close as a result of safety and public health measures. Size of the business (measured by 2019 revenue). Lost revenue between 2019 and 2020 as well as added expenses to maintain safe operations. To ensure equitable distribution, Commerce will also consider businesses operating in a rural or low-income community or that is owned by someone from a historically underserved population (minority, veteran, LGBTQ+ or women-owned). The application portal will be open until 5:00pm PDT on April 9. Application information and technical assistance is available in multiple languages and is accessible to a wide range of people with disabilities. Beginning March 22, businesses can contact Commerces technical support center by phone or by email: (855) 602-2722 or commercegrants@submittable.com. The technical support center for additional languages will open March 29. Trusted messenger community organizations are providing translation and individual assistance through Commerces Business Resiliency Network. You can find contact information in this online directory. Business owners can visit commercegrants.com for more information about eligibility, the documents required to apply and how to reach someone for assistance. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - Contact Gold Corp. (TSXV: C) (OTCQB: CGOL) (the "Company" or "Contact Gold") is pleased to announce the filing of its financial and operating results for the year ended December 31, 2020. All dollar amounts are presented in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. Contact Gold is focused on advancing the Green Springs and Pony Creek gold projects in Nevada, both of which host extensive and robust Carlin Type gold systems. Green Springs is located near the southern end of the Cortez Trend of Carlin-type gold deposits in Nevada, east of Fiore Gold's Pan Mine and Gold Rock Project, and south of Waterton's Mount Hamilton deposit. The Green Springs property is 18.5 km2, encompassing 3 shallow past-producing open pits and numerous targets that were not mined. Pony Creek is strategically located immediately south of Gold Standard Ventures' Railroad-Pinion Project, on the Southern Carlin Trend, and totals 81.7 km2 underpinned by a Carlin-type system with historic gold resources. 2020 highlights and recent developments Closed a public offering raising aggregate gross proceeds of $14.77 million (the "2020 Offering"). Raised $13.54 million in a private placement financing with Waterton Nevada Splitter, LLC (the "Redemption Placement"). Concurrent with closing of the 2020 Offering and the Redemption Placement, redeemed all of the issued shares of the Company's preferred stock ("Preferred Shares"). The Company's common shares began trading on the OTCQB Market under the ticker symbol "CGOL" on May 19, 2020. Completed 41 drill holes over 5,785 metres in the 2020 drill program at Green Springs. Assays results of 7 drill holes from the 2020 program are pending as at the date of this release. Results to date continue to demonstrate the potential for Green Springs to host oxidized gold mineralization across "stacked" host horizons, including near surface higher-grade gold. Commenced the first phase of the 2021 drill program at Green Springs. Received approval for a Plan of Operations at Pony Creek, allowing the Company to ramp-up drilling to test high-priority targets across a broad area of the property. Closed several mineral property "farm-out transactions" on non-core projects intended to create value through exploration led by other groups. Selected financial data Details of financial results as at and for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 are described in the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto (the "Financial Statements"), as prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("US GAAP"), and the MD&A for the corresponding periods; copies of which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The following selected financial data is derived from the Financial Statements. Year ended Attributable to shareholders: December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 Loss $ 17,714,145 $ 9,374,126 Loss and comprehensive loss $ 18,361,402 $ 11,271,957 Basic and diluted loss per share $ 0.14 $ 0.14 As at December 31, 2020 2019 Cash $ 4,753,148 $ 844,169 Working capital $ 4,750,446 $ 737,309 Total assets $ 36,081,596 $ 39,675,218 Current liabilities $ 412,498 $ 501,434 Preferred Shares $ - $ 13,246,524 Shareholders' equity $ 33,961,885 $ 23,957,436 Losses attributable to shareholders for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 of $17.71 million and $9.37 million, respectively, include (i) a non-cash impairment charge on the write-down and disposal of certain exploration properties of $6.96 million (2019: $1.38 million), (ii) exploration and evaluation expenditures at Green Springs, Pony Creek and certain other mineral property interests of $3.27 million (2019: $3.04 million), (iii) non-cash accretion expense on the 'host' instrument of the Preferred Shares of $1.96 million (2019: $2.22 million), (iv) non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.27 million (2019: $0.82 million), and (v) professional fees, administration & investor relations expenditures, and wages and salaries of $2.22 million (2019: $2.50 million). During the year ended December 31, 2020, exploration and evaluation expenditures predominantly related to activity at the Green Springs property with the commencement of an active drill program. Contact Gold signed a purchase option agreement with Ely Gold Royalties Inc. to acquire an undivided 100% interest in Green Springs in July 2019. Approximately $2.60 million in expenditures had been incurred through year end for exploration at Green Springs (2019: 0.51 million). An additional $0.48 million in expenditures were incurred at the Pony Creek project during the year (2019: $2.22 million). Other comprehensive loss attributable to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2020, was $0.68 million, and primarily reflects the foreign currency impact arising on the carrying value of the assets and liabilities of the Company's US operating entity (2019: $1.90 million). Net cash operating outflows for the year ended December 31, 2020 of $5.37 million reflects the active exploration programs at Green Springs and Pony Creek, marketing and investor relations activities, and general corporate activities (2019: $5.31 million). The Company capitalizes mineral property acquisition costs, and expenses exploration expenditures as incurred. Total assets at December 31, 2020 primarily comprise: exploration and evaluation assets of $30.76 million, and $4.75 million in cash. At December 31, 2019, total assets included exploration and evaluation assets of $38.36 million, and $0.84 million in cash. The year-over-year change is reflective of an additional $0.21 million capitalized to the mineral properties in 2020, and increase of 3.9 million in cash, net of $6.96 million in impairment charges. Total liabilities at December 31, 2020, include accounts payable and accruals of $0.38 million, and non-current liabilities of $0.17 million relating to the mineral properties. With the redemption of the Preferred Shares in the third quarter of 2020, the Preferred Share related labilities were extinguished. The loss on redemption of Preferred Shares of $3.61 million, and accretion expense on the Preferred Shares of $1.96 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 (2019: $2.22 million) is reflected in the net loss attributable to Canada. Additional information about the Company is available at www.contactgold.com. For more information, please contact (604) 449-3361 for either: John Wenger, Chief Financial Officer wenger@contactgold.com John Glanville Director, Investor Relations glanville@contactgold.com Scientific and Technical Information The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Vance Spalding, CPG, VP Exploration, Contact Gold, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). All of Contact Gold's exploration property interests are early-stage. There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource estimate at Green Springs, Pony Creek or any of the Company's exploration property interests. Scientific and technical information contained herein is subject to all of the assumptions, qualifications and procedures set out in the technical reports, respectively entitled (i) "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Pony Creek Project, Elko County, Nevada, USA" (the "Technical Report"), prepared for Contact Gold, with an effective date of October 16, 2018, and dated October 22, 2018, as prepared by Vance Spalding, C.P.G; VP Exploration of Contact Gold, and (ii) "NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Green Springs Project, White Pine County, Nevada, USA" prepared for Contact Gold, with an effective date of June 12, 2020, and dated August 5, 2020, as prepared by John J. Read, C.P.G; an independent consultant and qualified person under NI 43-101. Each of these technical reports can be viewed under Contact Gold's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and reference should be made to the full details within each, respectively. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to the anticipated closing of the Offering and use of proceeds therefrom, receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, planned expenditures through the remainder of the year, and the anticipated exploration activities of the Company at Pony Creek, Green Springs or any of Contact Gold other property interest. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: impacts arising from the global disruption caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78200 Jaipur: Voicing concern over rising cases of Covid-19 across the country, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said there should be no age restriction for getting the Covid-19 vaccination. He also demanded that the Centre should provide more vaccine doses to the state, while noting that another lockdown would prove fatal to the livelihood of people. Ashok Gehlot tweet Corona cases are increasing rapidly in the country. Experts are of the opinion that the government of India should focus more and more on vaccination. Public will be safe from corona only with maximum vaccination, he said in a series of tweets. Gehlot said that everyone should be vaccinated by removing age restriction. Referring to the opinion of Dr Devi Shetty of Bengaluru, the chief minister said it seems reasonable that people in the age group of 24 to 45 years should also be vaccinated soon as these people step out of home for work and can become super spreaders. ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?????????? ?? ??? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ?????????? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ?????? 1/4 Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) March 23, 2021 India also has a large number of vaccine production capacities that should be used, he added. The chief minister appealed to the Centre to provide more vaccines to the states so that the second wave of corona infection can be controlled. 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. "You have to win the battle against depression", "what counts is not surrendering" and "this is not a short road" are examples of conceptual metaphors typically used to describe experiences and issues associated with disorders like depression. Such expressions allude to abstract concepts but do so using familiar terms that enable better understanding of the experience. This kind of metaphor is often used unconsciously, going unnoticed by both speaker and listener. However, the study of metaphors can help access and understand the thinking, beliefs and feelings of individuals with mental disorders. The conceptual metaphors of depression found in 23 blogs written by people with major depressive disorders were analyzed by a multidisciplinary UOC team composed of Marta Coll-Florit and Salvador Climent Roca - professors from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, both members of the GRIAL-UOC group - and Eulalia Hernandez, a professor from the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences and researcher in the PSiNET group. Recently published open-access in Metaphor and Symbol, the article is the first of its kind to analyze Catalan texts and is also one of the few studies that focuses on content written spontaneously online. In relation to the experience of depression, the results signal the importance of social factors, the surroundings and especially medical practice; they also point to the usefulness of blogs as an outlet for expressing and understanding the experiences of people with depression. The research is part of the MOMENT project on mental disorder metaphors, in which linguists, psychologists, medical anthropologists, social educators and engineers are working together to study conceptual metaphors from the mental health field. As explained by the researchers: "The mental disorder experience is difficult to communicate given the associated abstractness, but studying cognitive metaphors can enhance understanding of mental health, contribute to more accurate and respectful public discourses and facilitate communication between professionals and patients." Metaphors do not depend on specific languages The research involved an exhaustive and quantified analysis of the main types of metaphors used by people affected by depression. Findings were then compared with previous studies with a view to identifying differences in expression in a new textual genre and a different language. The research not only analyzed the metaphors of depression, but also metaphors related to the experience of living with a severe mental disorder, specifically in terms of symptoms, medication, communication and emotions. The results confirm those of studies carried out in other languages - mainly English - showing, according to the researchers, "that, significantly, the metaphors are conceptual and intercultural, that is, they do not depend on a specific language." Among the more common expressions used to speak of depression and the associated emotions, the authors highlight the notions of fall, containment and darkness, of life with depression as a fight against obstacles and of the disorder itself as a malignant agent. "In general, the metaphors reveal that affected individuals have positive perceptions of situations that allow them agency, that is, control over their lives and emotions, and negative perceptions of situations that deny them that agency. The metaphors of struggle are thus not always negative," continued the researchers, "as they are positive if they reinforce agency. Also positive are metaphors that perceive life with a disorder as a journey to a better situation; however, the journey metaphor can be negative if the affected person feels they have no control over the journey." Medical practice as the enemy The researchers have identified metaphors not featuring in previous studies, mostly corresponding to social, communicational and medical factors. They say that expressions referring to being "locked" in a diagnosis, describing prejudice as a "stone slab" and the appointment with the psychiatrist as an "interrogation" point to key factors that worsen the experience of living with depression. They further underlined how "these metaphors reflect a rejection of various social and environmental conditions, such as those associated with stigma, non-communication and medical professionals, often considered more an enemy than an ally." Most metaphors regarding medical aspects are highly critical of psychiatry and the medical system in terms of limiting the patient's capacity for agency. "The results are not exactly flattering for the professional," according to the authors, who suggest that "the therapy relationship between the patient and the professional is clearly something that needs working on." According to the researchers, a plausible explanation for this negative perception is that the bloggers analyzed have gone through a healthcare system that is more focused on the problem than on the person. Patients consequently "seek more empathy and understanding of their suffering from medical staff". Professionals working in any communication field related to mental health disorders need to be aware of and understand the expressive power of conceptual metaphors and the importance of social and contextual factors in the lives of patients. A textual genre that allows for free expression The researchers have linked the discovery of the new types of metaphors to blogging, because expressing oneself online is more spontaneous than in clinical settings. "Blogs, being a kind of first-person non-mediated text," they underlined, "allow people to explain what is more intimate and more critical for them and what most deeply affects them." This openness can also be a tool to raise awareness of mental disorders, according to the authors, as it can help "society better understand what it means for people with diagnoses of mental disorder to live with depression, what their experience of the disorder is beyond 'feeling sad' and so contribute to the fight against stigma." Reflecting on how we talk about mental disorders As well as depression, the MOMENT project has been exploring other major disorders such as schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder, as well as other media, such as Twitter. To help improve understanding of mental disorders, the researchers have been analyzing the discourse not only of patients but also of mental health professionals. They summed it up saying: The idea is to detect and systematize the predominant ideas and assumptions about severe mental disorders, to encourage reflections on how disorders are talked about and how they should be talked about and, ultimately, to promote change in relation to metaphors that can create stigma." New School District Superintendent Dr. Margaret Crespo gave off cool confidence at her superintendent forum, easily walking around the Storey Gym conference room, discussing how she felt she was the best candidate to lead the district. Crespo is replacing Dr. Boyd Brown, who will step down at the end of the school year due to health reasons. Brown has only been with the district for about three years when he took over for retired superintendent John Lyttle. Brown resigned in November. Crespo detailed her time working in various types of districts, both rural and urban, all across the country over the last 20 years. She loves being in education, but more importantly, she felt called to Cheyenne. During her superintendent forum, Crespo noted a mentor of hers was from Cheyenne, and his stories about the time he spent in the city made her fall in love with it. During a phone interview with The Cheyenne Post, Crespo expressed her excitement to get to Cheyenne this summer since she officially takes over as superintendent of one of Wyomings largest school districts on July 1. So many amazing people have reached out to me and have been very welcoming, she said. Crespo wants to spend her first 100 days getting to know the community and becoming a major presence for every student, teacher, and administrator in the district. My intention is to connect every building in all the community locations that make the most sense, she said. I want to figure out whats working and what are things we would like to look at as opportunities moving forward. The board informed her that they want to focus on literacy, graduation rates, and better communication among all schools and people in the district. Additionally, she wants to revisit a strategic plan for the district. She is trying not to tread too closely on Browns work, but she is elated at the idea of taking on this leadership position in Cheyenne. She added she considered applying for the position when Lyttle retired but felt she was not ready to take it on. But with Brown leaving, Crespo feels now is the perfect opportunity. She noted how LCSD1 is such a unique district since it is so expansive but also settled in a relatively small community. Plus, it is the capital city, meaning education legislation will be more critical than ever. Im confident that Im poised for the position, and I look forward to using all of my assets to bring the district along to the next best place, she said. How do we move it to continued greatness? Credit: CC0 Public Domain Brussels said Tuesday it will toughen its checks on COVID-19 vaccine exports from the EU, as a top health official warned the bloc is "taking action" on AstraZeneca supplies. The European Commission will on Wednesday adopt "a revision of the export transparency and authorisation mechanism," a spokesman told journalists. The issue is also expected be discussed during a Thursday to Friday video summit of EU leaders. Officials said the revision would not amount to a general export ban, but would support what EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has dubbed the principle of "reciprocity". But it will strengthen the commission's hand when it comes to preventing exports to countries which have a better vaccination record and which produce vaccines but do not export to the EU. This implicitly targets Britain, which has moved more quickly than its neighbours to vaccinate its population, while importing millions of doses from plants based in the EU. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed concern over the EU move, but also hope that a negotiated solution could be found. "We in this country don't believe in blockades of any kind of vaccines or vaccine material," Johnson told a news conference. "It's not something this country would dream of engaging in and I'm encouraged by some of the things I've heard in the continent in the same sense." 'Serious problem' The European Commission said last week it was ready to put stricter conditions on vaccine exports from Europe, in a step targeting UK-based AstraZeneca. Sandra Gallina, head of the commission's health directorate, told MEPs that the EU has "a serious problem" with AstraZeneca. The Anglo-Swedish company delivered less than a quarter of the 100-million-plus doses it had pledged to supply in the first three months of this year, she said. "On AstraZeneca, I would like to indicate that we are taking action," Gallina said, adding that the company had created a "bad reputation" for Europe by hobbling its early vaccination rollout. Von der Leyen has threatened an export ban on AstraZeneca doses, fuelling a row between Brussels and London accompanied by mutual accusations of vaccine "nationalism". The European Union is angry that AstraZeneca had, until this month, maintained smooth deliveries to the UK while severely undersupplying the bloc. Britain is now facing its own AstraZeneca shortfall, with expected doses from a huge plant in India being delayed. It wants to access AstraZeneca doses being made in the Netherlands in a factory expected shortly to be approved for operation. EU countries split Under the EU's export-checking mechanism created at the end of January, a vaccine-maker needs to ask for authorisation to send doses out of the bloc. So far, one shipment of AstraZeneca doses has been blocked, from Italy to Australia. EU member states are split on whether to step up export bans. Some see it as a way to prod pharmaceutical companies into honouring their European delivery schedules, noting in particular that the EU exported more than 10 million vaccine doses to Britain from early February to mid-March but received none at all from the UK. Other countries fear it could trigger retaliation that would choke international vaccine supply chains, some of which furnish crucial ingredients. The Netherlands is among the wary, with one of its officials saying an EU export ban would be a "lose-lose" scenario, but is willing to follow the commission in its decision. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday voiced her support for von der Leyen. She said that Johnson was in "constant contact" with the commission on the issue, after having spoken in the past few days to her, French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Offaly County Council has released a public notice amid worrying Covid-19 case numbers in Offaly. 30 new cases were confirmed in the county on Monday with the 14-day incidence rate for Offaly now standing at 424.6 per 100,000, well above the national average of 157.1. In a statement, Offaly County Council said it "would like to acknowledge the enormous effort that the entire County has put into driving down the rate of Covid infection. We have successfully reduced the pressure on our health service, and we are moving in the right direction, but we are at a crossroads. Infection rates remain relatively high in Offaly. "We must also keep in mind that the variant of the virus which is now the most prevalent in the county is significantly more transmissible than the previous strain. The fact that we are making such steady progress is a testament to the effort you are making. "However, we must make sure that we dont experience a further surge of the virus before the benefits of the vaccine can be experienced. We dont ever want to return to the scenes we had in January, the pressure on our health service and the very sad outcomes for many families. "It has not been easy but we are getting there. Ireland is continuing to make good progress and are seeing all the key indicators of disease fall. The emerging data on vaccines is really promising. We are seeing gradual and careful progress towards re-opening our society" The statement continued: "In Offaly, our best protection against this disease remains the trusted public health tools that we have been using effectively since last Spring. We know what works, we know how to do it and we know we can do it well. Maintain a social distance at all times, wear a face covering, do not mix with other households other than for essential reasons, wash your hands. Stay at home and stay safe. "Offaly County Council advises that its service provision continues across all essential services. We continue to support service users while taking mitigating actions to keep the public and our employees safe. Services continue to be provided online, by post and over the phone. Details of these services are provided below and are available on our website www.offaly.ie." "Our dedicated staff in our Community Call Centre are on duty from 8am to 8pm 7 days a week so please call in strictest confidence FREEPHONE 1800 81 81 81 or email covidsupport@offalycoco.ie #CommunityCall#Offaly" A bill to establish Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) has scaled second reading at the Senate. The bill, which is aimed at investing and containing investments in the mining sector to promote mining, is sponsored by a former Nasarawa State governor, Tanko Al-makura (APC, Nasarawa South). It was read for the first time in September 2020. The bill scaled second reading on Tuesday after a lengthy debate by lawmakers. In the lead debate, Mr Al-makura said the legislation was in line with the Buhari-led administration to diversify the Nigerian economy. Next to agriculture, he said, the solid mineral sector had been identified as one with the potential to compete and eventually replace crude oil as a major source of foreign exchange earnings. He said Nigeria was blessed with an abundance of solid minerals in five distinct classes, namely precious mineral/gemstones (ruby, emerald etc), metallic ores (lead, zinc, copper etc), construction minerals (laterite, granite, gravel, sand etc) and energy minerals (bitumen, coal and uranium among others). He said these resources remained largely untapped and unexplored. The lawmaker said the agency seeks to develop upstream exploration and production, midstream mineral processing and metallurgy and downstream logistics, trade and export which will catalyse investment in the entire mining value chain in Nigeria. It is expected that the establishment of the NMDC will urgently address the challenges of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) currently facing state Government in Nigeria, as it would provide the much needed revenue to deliver on the administrations priority areas of infrastructure development; social inclusion and poverty reduction, industrialisation and job creation for the citizens of Nigeria, Mr Al-makura said. Cost of setup Successful setup and take off of the agency (including all initial capital and operating expenditure), he said, will require N5 billion. Initial funding shall be by way of a sovereign guarantee. The federal government would pay up its 70 per cent equity contribution and the institutional investor shall pay their respective equity participation to the corporation. Subsequent funding of the NMDC would be through the Nigerian Mineral Development Fund (NMDF) which will be managed by the corporation strictly in accordance with international best practices. The NMDC is proposed to be a state-owned Enterprise (SOE) with private sector participation and governance control as the vehicle for unbundling upstream and downstream commercial activities in the Nigerian solid mineral sector. Key activities of the agency Mr Al-makura said the activities and scope of the corporation would broadly cover the following areas: * Mineral exploration activity for solid minerals located within Nigeria. * Investment in mineral processing and metallurgical technology for identified and commercially viable minerals and metals in Nigeria. * Creation (Management) of the Nigerian Mineral Development Fund (NMDF) which will be an independently managed fund set-up by the corporation as a channel for proper investment in the solid mineral sector. ADVERTISEMENT * Creation of an active solid mineral exchange and all associated key enablers to provide a trading window for both individuals and institutional investors in the Nigerian Solid Mineral Sector. * Ensure technology transfer and local content development in the Nigerian Solid Mineral Sector. The commercial segment to be explored, according to the lawmaker, will focus on acquiring selected licenses for the seven priority minerals (Gold, Lead/Zinc, Iron Ore, Baryte, Limestone, Bitumen and Coal) through partnership agreements with state and local governments while sharing revenue with them in pre-agreed ratios. Contributions Senators who contributed to the debate argued that Nigeria was losing billions of dollars daily to foreign miners who were taking advantage of the lack of agency to oversee solid mineral exploration and exploitation of the products. Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), said the bill will give international miners the confidence to invest because they know that whatever they want to invest will be protected. It will also help this country in generating employment for so many youth and reduce the security risk, he said, because the lack of this legislation gave rise to illegal miners who use their activities to fuel insecurity. Binos Yaroe (APC, Adamawa South) said the legislation would promote and support the development of the solid minerals sector which will lead to diversification of the economy and less dependence on the petroleum sector. It will also lead to the creation of jobs. There is no part of this country that does not have one solid mineral or the other; so we need a coordinating body to drive the development of this sector, he said. Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West), however, argued that despite the minerals in the country, nothing can be changed if the constitution is not amended to allow states to have access to these minerals. The states, he alleged, are colluding with illegal miners to undermine the provisions of the constitution. Time has come to look at how we can further devolve powers to the states so that they can have access to the minerals in their respective territories. I support this bill but I believe there is a need for proper interrogation of the bill regarding the provisions of the constituents and other relevant law, Mr Ekweremadu said. After a voice vote, the bill was read for the second time and was referred to the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals for public hearing. The committee is to report back in four weeks. Gurgaon: Hundreds of people staged a demonstration outside the Ryan International School in Gurgaon on Sunday demanding a CBI probe into the murder of a seven-year-old school boy and set afire a liquor shop near the school. Police used batons to quell the protest and detained 20 protestors. Cameras of some photojournalists were also damaged during the protest. Some of the demonstrators threw liquor bottles inside school premises to vent their ire against the school management, police said. The liquor shop is barely 50 metres away from the school. They demanded that the school should be shut until a CBI probe is ordered into the incident. The Gurgaon Police had to use mild lathicharge to disperse the agitators. The police detained over 20 protestors found agitating outside the school, Ravinder Kumar PRO Gurgaon Police said. Live | Ryan murder case: Situation worsens as police lathicharge parents, locals torch liquor shop; father appeals for peace The protestors alleged that school drivers and conductors often consume alcohol from the liquor shop in their free time. Praduman Thakur was found murdered with his throat slit inside the toilet of Ryan International School on Friday, triggering public outrage. Gurgaon Police arrested school bus conductor Ashok Kumar in connection with the case. Kumar was inside the toilet, waiting for any student to come inside with the motive of sexual assault. The deceased was the first student who entered the toilet, the police said. Not averse to ordering CBI probe: Haryana government Meanwhile, the Haryana government said it was not averse to ordering a CBI probe into the killing of a seven-year-old boy at Ryan International School and has asked the Gurgaon Police to book the school owner under the Juvenile Justice Act. Education minister Ram Bilas Sharma also said that there have been lapses on part of the school administration. We accept negligence on part of the Ryan International School but the school cannot be derecognised as the future of 1200 students is at stake, Sharma said. Read | Ryan school protest: BS Hooda slams Khattar govt over attack on media We have directed the Gurgaon Police to book the owner of Ryan International School, Albert Pinto under section 75 Juvenile Justice (care and punishment act) Act 15 for punishment for cruelty to child meted out by the custodian in the charge sheet to be submitted in the court within 7 days. Some loopholes in the security are visible in the case and the toilet window was also found broken from inside, Sharma told PTI. He said the charge sheet in the case will be ready within a week as police was speedily conducting the probe, but stressed that if the parents of the child insist on a probe by the CBI or any other agency the government will accede to their demand. Talking to reporters here, Sharma also made it clear that school management has to take responsibility for the safety and security of children. We are issuing directives in this regard to all schools including private ones, he said. We held a meeting today in which the demand to derecognise the school came up, but we also had to take into account the fact that 1200 students are studying there. The parents of students studying in this school were against this step and therefore we felt taking such a step will not be right, he said. Read | Ryan school murder: Family members of accused claim innocence, say he is being framed However, any kind of lapse, by the management or the owner, against all of them we have initiated action, he said. The boy was found murdered with his throat slit in the school washroom in Gurgaon on Friday. The schools acting principal was suspended and the security staff removed. The police claimed the student was killed by bus conductor Ashok Kumar, who tried to sexually abuse him. The accused was arrested within hours of the murder after which a court in Gurgaon sent him to police custody for three days. The murder accused has already been arrested. Now, within a week, police after collecting all necessary evidence will submit a chargesheet in court. However, still if the parents are not satisfied, then Haryana government is ready to get the matter probed by any agency. I am hopeful that when we will produce the accused before court within a week with all evidences collected by the police, the parents of the child will be satisfied with the action being taken, he said. Sharma said, We have fixed a seven-day deadline and in case where the accused is booked under Section 302 of IPC (for murder), this is the minimum time in such cases. However, if the childs parents still feel they are not satisfied, then as per their wish we can get the case investigated by any agency including CBI. We have full sympathy with the parents of the child. If any issue of providing financial help the Haryana government comes up will be willing to help, he said.The minister made it clear that the Haryana government will not show any leniency in the matter. Whatever strict action needs to be taken as per law will be taken in this case, he asserted. He also said a liquor vend near the school has been ordered to be shut down permanently. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Despite the softening of rates and the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, one Midwest-based workers compensation insurance provider that opened its doors just over three years ago reports that it not only has experienced significant growth during that time, it simultaneously has managed to maintain a loss ratio that is one of the lowest in the industry. Since its launch in October 2017, Omaha National, based in Omaha, Nebraska, has gone from $0 to $100 million of in-force premium and grown from a six-person operation to one with more than 150 employees. That brisk pace of growth is expected to continue, says Reagan Pufall, president and CEO of the managing general agent (MGA) / insurance carrier. 2020 ended up being a great year for us. We actually grew faster than we had originally planned. We had great sales success. We started working with more and more broker partners and forming relationships in states with agencies that we enjoy working with. And at the same time, weve been able to maintain one of the most favorable loss ratios in the industry. Even though were a young startup company, our loss ratio is exceptionally low, Pufall said. The company will move into a new office building this summer because weve run out of room where we are, he said. Five years from now, we expect to be well over $400 million in-force premium. With a $40 million commitment from the investment firm, Agman, Omaha National launched as an MGA with California as its initial target market. It is now offering coverage in 14 states and will continue to expand into other states, including New York this year, Pufall said. It also established Omaha National Insurance Co., which currently acts as a reinsurer for a portion of the risk that we write. So even as an MGA, we are already on the risk, which is what we like. However, the intention has always been to become a direct writer. And were now approaching the time when it looks like we will be able to initiate that transition to becoming a carrier, he said. A complementary division of the company is its payroll service. Its an optional part of what we offer. Any company that is insured by us, if they choose, they can also make use of us as their payroll service, Pufall said. Omaha National is also an insurance technology company. As Pufall in 2019 told Mark Holmer, an editor with Insurance Journal affiliate, Carrier Management, the company has been insurtech since before the word insurtech was invented. The real key is using artificial intelligence and superior software design on the internal operating systems that have the greatest strategic impact. That is where we have unique expertise and that is what leads to better results for our employers and substantial competitive advantage for us. Omaha National develops its own operational software in-house, which a big competitive advantage, Pufall told Insurance Journal. Its a very exciting time for us to finally be able to put all of our software design ideas into practice and see the benefits of them. Because the focus of the proprietary software is operational, it will allow us to perform everything we do at a higher level of effectiveness and efficiency from underwriting to policy management to claims management. Everything we do will be done in within a single application. And yes, at some point, our plan is to have outward facing aspects of that application that will foster great business working relationship and workflow between us and our broker partners, Pufall said. Insuring Companies That Build America Small- to mid-size companies operating in industries where employees work with their hands are Omaha Nationals core customers landscapers, framers, electricians, plumbers, parcel delivery services, for example. We like to say that we insure the companies that build America, Pufall said. For those insureds, the automation that is becoming more and more prevalent in some areas of hands-on industries, such as manufacturing, has not had a major impact. Its hard to look into the future and see a day when a robot will show up at the front door of your house to fix your toilet, Pufall said. While automation is certain to play an increasing role in the economy going forward, for Omaha National now and for a number of years into the future, it does not look like its going to be a substantial factor for us. Likewise, on an overall business basis, the Covid-19 pandemic has not had a significant impact on our claim volume or claim frequency or claim severity, Pufall said. Still, he added, there have been several really heartbreaking claims. Individuals who contracted COVID and didnt survive. Individuals who contracted COVID and had life-changing health consequences. Its a very small number of claims, but human tragedy is a sad thing to see. The falling rates in the workers compensation line are a challenge as they are for any insurer, Pufall said. But we designed this company to prosper throughout the market cycle, in hard markets and soft markets. None of what were encountering or anything we see in the future causes us substantial concern. Of course, we will look forward to the day when the market cycle changes, and the rates are rising again. But until then, were doing just fine, even during this soft market. A Passion for Workers Comp A former litigation attorney, Pufall entered the workers compensation insurance business when he joined the North Dakota Workers Compensation Fund, serving as chief operating officer. From there he transitioned to Berkshire Hathaways Homestate Companies, a group of six insurers that provide commercial, property and workers compensation coverages. Pufall said he was very happy to be part of a terrific leadership team there. But there was a group of us, and it sounds corny to say it, but we had a vision for an organization that we believed would be really wonderful, and we had a passion to create that organization. So, we ended up striking out on our own and starting our own company. We never have to wonder whether our work has meaning. We know that were having a positive impact in the world. Omaha Nationals primary focus is helping insured people, and the company views every claim as unique and manages each accordingly, Pufall said. Workers compensation really is a special business. As you probably know, workers compensation claims can be open for years. We often end up developing real relationships with our injured workers. Often, were encountering them at a terrible moment in their life, when theyre facing unexpected challenges. And we feel very privileged to be able to help them through that. The unfortunate reality in workers comp, however, is that some claims end up turning out to be questionable, and we have to deal with those in a different way. To that end, the company created a special investigations operations team that has played a leading role in sending people guilty of serious fraud to prison. Between fighting crime and helping people in their hour of need, its a meaningful, rich business to be in. We never have to wonder whether our work has meaning. We know that were having a positive impact in the world, Pufall said. Topics Trends Workers' Compensation Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Washington Centro will receive a $38.4 million bailout from the latest coronavirus relief bill passed by Congress, helping the bus company avoid drastic cuts to its service, fare increases or layoffs. The big infusion of federal aid equal to about half of Centros annual budget is the third and largest payment the transportation authority will receive from a series of Covid-19 relief bills passed by Congress. All told, the federal relief to Centro adds up to about $87 million since the coronavirus pandemic began about a year ago. Without the aid, Centro would have faced a $28 million budget deficit this year after its overall ridership declined about 70% and operating costs soared during the pandemic. Essentially, we would not have made it through the summer, said Steve Koegel, a vice president for Centro. Centro faced steep losses from declining ridership, lower sales from advertising on its buses and a decline in state aid. The transit authority didnt charge fares to passengers from March 24 through June 15 last year. Centro also spent about $3.2 million since the start of the pandemic on Covid-related expenses, Koegel said. Those expenses include the costs for daily cleaning and disinfecting of buses and transit hubs, including the purchase of fogging machines that disperse a germicidal disinfectant to deep-clean buses. Koegel said Cento managed to make up for its losses and balance its budget for the last fiscal year and 2021-22 by using $48.7 million from two previous coronavirus relief bills. The $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill signed into law by President Biden on March 11 included an additional $396 million for transit systems in Upstate New York, according to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer. Koegel said Centro will use its $38.4 million share of the funding for its bus systems in Syracuse and Utica to make up for expected revenue losses over the next three years. It going to be spent filling budget gaps, Koegel said. Our revenue has been down for the past year, and we expect it will be two to three years before theres a full recovery. He said Centro expects some people will be hesitant to use public transportation as the pandemic eases. Were seeing a slow return of our ridership, Koegel said. Its been up about 5% over the past two or three months. Centro employs about 600 people who operate the transportation authoritys bus service in Syracuse, Oswego, Auburn, Rome and Utica. None of those employees were furloughed during the pandemic. Centro temporarily cut back or suspended its service on some routes last year. Schumer, D-N.Y., said it was one of his priorities in the American Rescue Plan to restore Centro and other Upstate transit systems to their normal service levels. Centro is vital to the connectivity and success of the Central New York economy, but its services were severely impacted amid the pandemic, Schumer said. Last week, Centro added two new services for customers. A free shuttle bus will operate between the Syracuse Transit Hub and the Expo Center at the New York State Fairgrounds for those scheduled to receive Covid-19 vaccinations. Buses will depart every half hour from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. seven days per week. Also last week, Centro began operating a free circulator bus in downtown Syracuse. Buses on the SYRculator route will operate 11 a.m. to 7p.m. Monday through Saturday. The buses will be free to all passengers through Labor Day. More on the federal coronavirus relief bill Syracuse University scores $30 million in federal Covid aid Syracuse City School District to see $128M boost from coronavirus relief bill How much will each CNY school district receive in coronavirus aid? Syracuse to receive $126M from Covid relief bill, $89M for Onondaga County See how much Central New York cities, towns will get in Covid aid Katko, Tenney vote against Covid relief bill that sends $100B to New York Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 [March 23, 2021] Cubic Nuvotronics Wins Contract to Develop High-Altitude Balloon Payload for Wideband Global Satellite Operations Cubic Corporation (NYSE:CUB) today announced Nuvotronics, which operates within its Cubic Mission and Performance Solutions (CMPS) business division was awarded a contract worth approximately $5 million to develop a Wideband Global Satellite Surrogate Payload (WGS-SP) for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) C5ISR Center and Space and Terrestrial Communications Directorate (S&TCD). Nuvotronics will deliver a high-altitude balloon (HAB) payload solution to support WGS surrogate operations, intended to provide contingency communication support during "a day without SATCOM" scenarios. "Cubic has a long history of developing innovative solutions that address network availability and resiliency in challenged environments for our warfighters," said Mike Knowles, president of Cubic Mission and Performance Solutions. "With our award-winning Nuvotronics technology, we are able to provide a viable surrogate payload solution with a true size, weight and power (SWaP) advantage." Nuvotronics' HAB payload solution will support Ka-Band SATCOM for beyond line of sight (BLOS) communications between Division, Brigade, Battalion and Company echelons during electronic or kinetic attacks. During electronic or kinetic attack, SATCOM accessibility may be denied, which creates a need for the Army to hav access to alternative capabilities that can effectively restore tactical communications and operate in denied environments. "We are very pleased to collaborate with the CCDC C5ISR Center and S&TCD to develop a solution that will provide transparent BLOS SATCOM access to existing WGS Ka-Band ground terminals within a region that has been denied access to on-orbit WGS resources," said Martin Amen, vice president and general manager of Cubic Nuvotronics. Nuvotronics' HAB surrogate payload solution will introduce key innovations based on proven technology and processes, including its unique and innovative additive manufacturing process called PolyStrata which enables radio frequency component size reductions from 10x to 100x. PolyStrata also significantly improves radio frequency performance, which will allow Nuvotronics to meet more stringent requirements that would not otherwise be possible. About Cubic Corporation Cubic is a technology-driven, market-leading provider of integrated solutions that increase situational understanding for transportation, defense C4ISR, and training customers worldwide to decrease urban congestion and improve the militaries' effectiveness and operational readiness. Our teams innovate to make a positive difference in people's lives. We simplify their daily journeys. We promote mission success and safety for those who serve their nation. For more information about Cubic, please visit www.cubic.com or on Twitter (News - Alert) @CubicCorp. About Cubic Nuvotronics Nuvotronics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cubic Corporation, is a North Carolina-based innovator and manufacturer of radio frequency and millimeter wave components and modules that offer substantially higher performance at a fraction of the size and weight. Its proprietary PolyStrata technology is scalable to high-volume production utilizing semi-automated batch processes for parallel additive manufacturing. Nuvotronics focuses on applications that demand vastly higher system level value, including size, weight, bandwidth, power savings, life cycle cost savings and performance advantages. These include critical applications in mil/aero markets such as satellite communications; radar; electronic warfare; commercial applications such as 5G cellular communications; as well as test and measurement. To learn more about Cubic Nuvotronics, please visit www.cubic.com/AdvancedRFSolutions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005447/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday (March 23) claimed that his party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will permanently solve the problems of illegal migrants and flood menace in Assam if re-elected. Addressing a campaign rally in Assam, the UP CM further claimed that BJPs rule during the past five years ushered in unity and development. Five years back (during Congress rule) there was no discussion on the development of Assam and divisions were created among people on the basis of areas, for political gains. There were also problems of Bodoland, illegal migrants and insurgency, PTI quoted the senior BJP leader as saying. "But that changed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi who converted the 'Look East' policy to 'Act East' policy changing the image of the northeastern region," the UP CM added. The UP CM mounted an attack on Congress and accused it of "divisive politics" that led to the Partition of the country in 1947 and said it is exhibiting the "same mindset" which is visible in its alliance with the AIUDF to fight the coming Assam Assembly polls. Adityanath said the nation was "forced" to be divided in 1947 due to Congress' pursuit of power. "I can see a lot of Bengali-speaking people here in the rally. In their pursuit of power, the Congress, due to its divisive policy, made your ancestors experience Partition in 1947 when (present-day) Bangladesh and Pakistan were a part of India, he said. "The Congress still has the same mindset that divided the country in 1947, imposed article 370 in 1952, instigated Bodoland movement in Assam. With that mindset it made poll alliance with AIUDF to once again create instability in the state through illegal migration". BJP is fighting the Assam polls in an alliance with Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), who are part of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). Assam will go to the polls in three phases for the 126-member assembly seats beginning from March 27. (With PTI inputs) Live TV Melissa Doyle has revealed that living by the mantra 's**t happens' helped her after she was controversially sacked from Sunrise eight years ago. The 51-year-old, who parted ways with Channel Seven last August after 25 years, spoke to Nova's Powerful Steps podcast this week about how she recovered from being replaced as anchor by Sam Armytage in 2013. 'Every change has been a challenge, but I think its really important to not look for the negative in things that happen,' she said. 'S**t happens': Melissa Doyle has revealed that living by the mantra 's**t happens' helped her after she was controversially sacked from Sunrise eight years ago She explained that challenges she experienced as a child helped give her the strength to work through trying times in her TV career. 'Like so many people growing up, there was, you know, my parents split when I was a tiny baby and both of my parents remarried a few times,' Melissa said. 'So I grew up with my motto being "s**t happens", you know? And I think its really important to just remember s**t happens and I'm not going to sit in the corner and [say] woe is me.' Melissa went on to say she struggled to make sense of life following her departure from Seven as she'd spent more than two decades commuting to the same office. Pioneer: Melissa was one of Sunrise's first hosts, before the breakfast show was temporarily axed in 1999 and brought back the following year. Pictured alongside co-host David Koch Moving on: Mel, who parted ways with Channel Seven last August after 25 years, spoke to Nova's Powerful Steps podcast this week about how she recovered from being replaced as anchor by Sam Armytage (left) in 2013. Sam herself quit the breakfast show earlier this month 'I had to adjust in so many ways because I'd been there for so long that I felt like I was part of the furniture. So I had to, in my brain, stop talking about myself working at Seven in the present tense,' she said. 'And then every morning I'd hop in the car to go to the gym or go somewhere and it'd say, you know, "Twenty-five minutes to Martin Place." And that was like, oh, gee, thanks, you know, throwing salt in the wound. But it took a little while just to kind of, I guess, get over it.' The broadcaster announced in August last year she was leaving Seven after 25 years. Her departure was believed to be the result of the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which hit Seven particularly hard. End of an era: Mel announced in August last year she was leaving Seven after 25 years She said at the time: 'For 25 years, I have called Channel Seven home. I've had the privilege to share stories that mattered, meet incredible people and be there for significant moments in history. 'I am incredibly proud of the work I have done and appreciative of the trust and warmth our viewers have shown me. 'I want to thank the consummate professionals I have worked with along the way, in particular our Chairman Kerry Stokes for his constant support. 'I leave Seven with a great deal of pride, satisfaction and gratitude.' Tough times: Her departure was believed to be the result of the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has hit Seven particularly hard Melissa first joined Seven's Canberra bureau as a political reporter back in 1995. She then moved to Sydney, working as a newsreader on the network's 11AM program. Melissa was one of Sunrise's first hosts, before the breakfast show was temporarily axed in 1999 and brought back the following year. The mother of two rejoined the program in 2002, and also hosted a string of other shows for the network, including Today Tonight and Sunday Night. Nowadays, Melissa has her hands full as a Smooth FM radio host, and an ambassador for a number of charities including World Vision, Make A Wish Foundation, Children's Hospital Westmead and the Alannah & Madeline Foundation. MADRID Spanish bank Bankinter said on Tuesday it cleared all regulatory hurdles to spin off its insurance unit Linea Directa and list its shares on the market in late April. Bankinter, which has secured the European Central Banks approval for an operation it had planned for more than a year, expects Linea Directa to have a market value of 1.43 billion euros ($1.70 billion) after the floating, it said in a statement. Linea Directa booked 900 million euros from premiums from three million clients last year, Bankinters CEO Maria Dolores Dancausa said on Tuesday during a banking event in Madrid. Linea Directas share price would start at 1.318 euros per share and Bankinter would retain a 17.4% stake after the operation, while distributing the remaining 82.6% to existing Bankinter shareholders. The bank, which took control of all the shares of the insurer 11 years ago, has considered the unit a financial investment, Dancausa said. It was always thought that at some point it would go public and that point was yesterday, she said. The insurer will pay a special dividend of 120 million euros to its parent company in April before the flotation, the bank said. Bankinter shares were trading 3.8% up in late morning trading after announcing the date for the spin-off. Linea Directas flotation will be the first on the Madrid stock exchange this year out of around the half a dozen expected. [Editors note: Launched in 1995, Madrid-based Linea Directa sells auto, homeowners and health insurance. At the end of 2018, the company ranked fifth in Spain in auto insurance, 15th in homeowners and is the 12th largest non-life entity in terms of revenue, according to the companys website]. Beside the insurer, several energy firms are planning to go public or to take a unit public in the coming weeks. Acciona has already started the process of spinning off its renewable energy unit, while energy firms such as Capital Energy and Opdenergy are also to raise funds by going public. Green energy producer Grenergy and solar equipment maker Soltec were the latest companies to debut on the local market in late 2019 and late 2020 respectively. ($1 = 0.8414 euros) (Reporting by Inti Landauro, Anita Kobylinska and Tomas Cobos; editing by Jason Neely and Louise Heavens) Topics Property Casualty 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. Canadian father who objected to daughter taking testosterone for sex change denied release from jail Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Canadian father jailed for contempt of court after voicing objections to his teenage daughter being prescribed testosterone as part of an experimental gender transition was denied bail and isn't expected to be released until next month. Sources close to the situation told The Christian Post that Robert Hoogland of British Columbia was denied bail during court proceedings Friday, where his attorney asked that the arrest warrant be voided and that he be released because the detention is unlawful. The warrant was issued earlier this month and Hoogland was arrested last Tuesday for publicly revealing his identity. Hoogland, who is referred to as "CD" in court documents, has long objected to his daughter undergoing a medicalized gender-transition, which includes taking cross-sex hormones. According to reports, his daughter has suffered from several complex issues, all of which were attributed to gender confusion. She was referred to an endocrinology unit at a local hospital at the recommendation of psychologist Wallace Wong, a known proponent of transgender affirmation. The court reportedly chastised Hoogland for breaching an order that required his identity to remain concealed from the public. The father's name appears on a GoGetFunding crowdfunding page, which breached the court order. Hoogland was warned that if his name wasn't removed from the page before his upcoming trial, then it would "not go well for him," a source told CP. However, the court denied Hoogland's request to be released for two days so that he could remove his name from the crowdfunding page and other sites by using his home computer. A five-day trial for Hoogland on a similar but separate contempt of court charge is scheduled to begin on April 12. During that trial, Hoogland is expected to be allowed to share his side of the story unrestrained by orders restricting his freedom of speech, according to sources. While he doesn't want to be incarcerated, Hoogland was aware that because of his efforts to protect his daughter's welfare, it was unavoidable, say those close to the matter. In a January court decision in Hoogland's case, the presiding justices wrote that his refusal to go along with his child's "gender identity" was "troublesome, and that it had caused significant pain that has resulted in a rupture of what both parties refer to as an otherwise loving parent-child relationship." Hoogland had petitioned the court to adjourn the trial on the second criminal contempt of court charge until after judgment on the prior Notice of Application scheduled for April 12. Last week, his attorney argued that the Canadian government's position to keep him in police custody with the foreknowledge that a trial would not be held specifically concerning the March 16 arrest is an abuse of his liberties under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, particularly the legal rights listed in the Constitution Act of 1982. The attorney working on behalf of the attorney general of British Columbia responded, both in open court and on the record, advising Hooglands attorney that there was never any intention to proceed with a trial with respect to the arrest and criminal contempt charges against Hoogland. Sources told CP that Hooglands attorney maintains that the conscious decision to violate his charter freedoms is the very definition of arbitrary and for law enforcement to obtain a warrant from a Supreme Court justice without advising there was no intention to have a trial, is to mislead the court. The Christian Post reached out to Hoogland's attorney for further comment but a response was not received by press time. Canadian media outlets are reportedly prohibited from using Hooglands name in their coverage in an attempt to protect his daughter's identity, who is reportedly 15 years old. In response to Robert Hooglands arrest, author and former University of Toronto professor Jordan Peterson who rose to international prominence after his public testimony against bill C-16 which enshrined "gender identity" into the national human rights charter and the criminal code tweeted last week: 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. Among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic have been residents of long-term care facilities, who first suffered high infection and fatality rates and then had to cope with the isolation intended to help stem further spread of the novel coronavirus. Those residents now have fresh hope after pandemic-related restrictions recently were eased enough to allow visits from friends and family members provided the residents are fully vaccinated. The pure joy of seeing their faces, in a word, is just simply beautiful, said Sawyer Zaerr, executive director at Jacksonville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Its just very beautiful. Zaerr and her staff tear up when witnessing people being able to visit in-person after a year of being kept apart, she said. Jacksonville Skilled Nursing, at 1517 W. Walnut St., has been allowing visitors for a month, but it was only recently that visitors were able to hold hands or hug. Residents have to be fully vaccinated meaning there has to be a two-week period after a resident receives his or her second vaccine dose, and wearing a face mask during visits still is required. Zaerrs residents are 98% vaccinated, she said. For long-term care facilities in Illinois, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting 282,253 residents have received at least one dose of vaccine and 132,049 have been fully vaccinated. Nationwide, 4,810,295 residents in long-term care facilities have received at least one dose and 2,804,519 have been fully vaccinated. Under the eased restrictions, visits at Jacksonville Skilled Nursing are allowed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and during scheduled times slots to allow more control over cleaning and sanitation. The center allows both indoor and outdoor visits but Zaerr is pushing for more flexibility on time slots, since many people work during the week. Were trying to find a way for weekends and evenings, she said. For Jan VanMeter, director of nursing at White Hall Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in White Hall telling residents and family members that visitor rules had been lifted was a delight. I had one lady say she would be happy to drive three hours to spend 30 minutes, VanMeter said, adding that the woman was planning to visit soon. Adhering to the states suggested guidelines, the White Hall center also is accepting appointments in 30-minute increments; all personal-protection items also are required. They have to stay 6 feet away and wear their face mask the entire time, she said, adding that visits can be scheduled between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Also realizing that a lot of people work during the week, VanMeter and her staff are looking at what can be done to arrange weekend visits. Monday was the first day that the White Hall center allowed visitors, who will be assigned to a certain area and required to stay there throughout the visit as the staff works to keep the area clean. They cant go to the rooms and no other residents will be allowed in, VanMeter said. Happy that the daily positivity rate has been consistently lower, Zaerr is quick to mention that residents finally are able to visit with loved ones, in part because community members have worn masks and maintained social distance. Our staff are so thankful for the community, she said. [March 23, 2021] Wells Fargo Enters Agreement with Computershare to Sell Wells Fargo Corporate Trust Services Wells Fargo (News - Alert) & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Corporate Trust Services (CTS) business to Computershare. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. Under the terms of the agreement, the purchase price is $750 million. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323006085/en/ (Photo: Wells Fargo) Wells Fargo's CTS (News - Alert) business provides a wide variety of trust and agency services in connection with debt securities issued by public and private corporations, government entities, and the banking and securities industries. It is annually ranked among the top service providers in most league tables by deal count and dollars serviced. "This transaction is consistent with Wells Fargo's strategy of focusing on businesses that are core to our consumer and corporate clients," said David Marks, head of Wells Fargo Commercial Capital. "Additionally, we believe that Computershare's similar approach to service and their emphasis on innovative product development will be valuable to our clients and Corporate Trust Services colleagues in the future," he added. With decades of experience and 2,300 clients across North America in a variety of industries, Computershare brings a long-term commitment to the business, along with a market-leading client services approach. It is also the largest Title Custodian service provider in the Canadian Mortgage-Backed Securities industry. Computershare's Frank Madonna will lead the integration, as approximately 2,000 CTS employees across the U.S. are expected to transfer to the company as part of the acquisition. "We're excited to welcome these new employees to the Computershare family. We know they are interested in the same things we're passionate about: providing excellent customer service, supporting diversity and inclusion efforts, and giving back to local communities," said Madonna. "We're confident hat as our businesses come together following the closing, our client proposition will be second to none in North America," he added. Wells Fargo Securities LLC served as exclusive financial advisor, and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP served as legal counsel to Wells Fargo. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets and proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of all middle market companies in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment, and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 30 on Fortune's 2020 rankings of America's largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter (News - Alert) : @WellsFargo. About Computershare Limited Computershare (ASX: CPU) is a global market leader in transfer agency and share registration, employee equity plans, mortgage servicing, proxy solicitation, and stakeholder communications. We also specialize in corporate trust, bankruptcy, class action, and utility administration, and a range of other diversified financial and governance services. Founded in 1978, Computershare is renowned for its expertise in high integrity data management, high volume transaction processing and reconciliations, payments, and stakeholder engagement. Many of the world's leading organizations use us to streamline and maximize the value of relationships with their investors, employees, creditors, and customers. Computershare is represented in all major financial markets and has over 12,000 employees worldwide. Cautionary statement about forward-looking statements This news release contains forward-looking statements about our future financial performance and business. Because forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding the future, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements as actual results could differ materially from expectations. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we do not undertake to update them to reflect changes or events that occur after that date. For information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, refer to our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Forward-Looking Statements" discussion in Wells Fargo's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as well as to Wells Fargo's other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2020, available on its website at www.sec.gov. WF-CF View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323006085/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Around this time last year, Daniel Movitz was preparing to celebrate Passover at his apartment in Clayton, using a seder kit he received from Chabad, the Jewish outreach organization. Like Jews around the world, Movitz was alone physically but held a seder over Zoom with his family. At least we did the traditions, but it was awful, Movitz, 33, and a member of Congregaton Bnai Amoona, said before reconsidering. I mean, I enjoyed it to a certain extent, but even though we did it on Zoom, it was kind of sad not to be together with the family, which is something I look forward to every year. ADVERTISEMENT This year, Movitz and others in the local Jewish community have been able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which means it is safer for them to gather in person. There are also plenty of local Jews who have not yet been able to get the vaccine or have family members who havent been able to and so for a second year in a row, they will be holding virtual seders or small in-person ones with their pod. Movitz will be among about 10 family members heading to his moms home in Ladue. And while thats smaller than their usual gathering of 30 to 40 people from around the world, being able to gather again to celebrate a Jewish holiday is a welcome change for Movitz and many others in St. Louis. Passover last year was the very beginning of the pandemic, and it felt so hard to have this home holiday that people could not have at home. So to have this be the one-year marker and have people really feel that they could slowly allow people into their homes is absolutely a relief, said Rabbi Amy Feder of Congregation Temple Israel. For Chabad, distributing the seder kits has been a priority for the organization the last two years. Its local rabbis could not host their usual large gatherings that are open to Jews who are observant or who have little connection to the religion. Normally, the Chabad center at Washington University hosts about 280 people; this year, St. Louis County guidelines limit outdoor gatherings to a maximum of 30 people. To fill that difference, Rabbi Hershey Novack, co-director of the Chabad center, plans to distribute 250 seder kits. The five Chabad centers in the St. Louis area were distributing Seder-to-Go kits to more than 800 households, which they estimated would benefit approximately 4,000 individuals. Novack, who has been hosting outdoor Shabbat services each week, sees trying to help people gather and celebrate as important because we are looking at a physical crisis, in terms of the COVID pandemic, but we are also looking at a mental health crisis. Our goal is to be open and safe and also support young people during this very complicated time. Novack and attendees will gather outside in a tent without walls like Abrahams tent in the desert, he said. Guests will also wear masks and socially distance. Like Rabbi Feder, Novack is optimistic that with the number of virus cases falling and the number of people receiving the vaccine increasing, society has collectively turned a corner. I want to hope that the message of freedom and redemption in the holiday of Passover is expressed in our country and our world this year. Last year at Passover it felt like we were at the beginning of something, and we had no idea what was going on. This year it truly feels like there is a light at the end of the tunnel, Novack said. In spite of the promising data concerning COVID, not all local rabbis who usually host large gatherings are doing so this year. Yossi Abenson, a fellow Chabad rabbi who normally hosts Jewish celebrations at his home in the Central West End, said he had hoped to have an outdoor seder, but securing a permit from the city of St. Louis to do so proved too difficult. He is now hosting only a handful of people, all of whom have received the vaccine. He has had to tell people that he cannot safely host them. Still, Abenson and his wife, Goldie, have reached out to more than 500 people to ensure that they have somewhere to go for Passover as well as the necessary supplies. To fill the void created by pandemic restrictions, Abenson has been telling people about his belief in the power of creating traditions. For example, his father and grandfather always told the same story at a certain point in the Haggadah, the text recited during Passover, which Abenson and his six siblings across North America are now also sharing at their seders. That allows them to feel a bond even though they are apart. A lot of times, people dont have the opportunity to create their own sense of connection and identity with the seder (but) when they are doing it on their own, they can explore a little bit and find out what it means to them. (They can) find certain tunes that they like that they didnt sing at their family seder and start that tradition now, he said. Unlike the Chabad rabbis, Rabbi Avi Roberts did not consider hosting a seder outdoors for his organization, Ignite YP, a Jewish young professionals organization. The entire structure of the Passover from the beginning until now has been to have a home, family type of experience, so you can have a Shabbat meal outside. But the seder is a different vibe where more of it would be taken away if you tried to do that, said Roberts, who has hosted a three-part Zoom series to help people understand the meaning of Passover. The Hillel at Washington University is planning to host students outdoors in three shifts 5, 7 and 9 p.m. for the first night seder. Individual students will have their own table six feet apart. Im excited for Passover in a way that I certainly wasnt last year, said Tony Westbook, assistant director of the Hillel. While it is much smaller and with the awkward spacing where I am six feet away from my friends, we are still together and able to observe the holiday in a meaningful wayPassover is not a holiday that is meant to be celebrated alone. Its an experiential holiday and touches all the senses and is meant to be engaging. For Jamie Sentnor, a member of Central Reform Congregation, that means moving her seder off of Zoom after gathering with 12 families on the platform last year. Given the technical issues that often arise when gathering virtually, Sentnor and her family decided that we really wanted to be present, with a dozen people inside her home in Creve Coeur, she said. A therapist who focuses on grief and loss, Sentnor said she and her family plan to borrow words from the Haggadah and discuss what have we felt oppressed by in this past year? And what freedoms are we looking forward to taking back? For Sentnor, one of the most liberating developments was her daughter, Bryn, getting the COVID vaccine. She has type 1 diabetes, which could have placed her at a greater risk for severe illness from the virus. She and her roommate, who is not Jewish, will be traveling from Millikin University in Decatur, Ill., for the seder. Boy its going to feel good to hug, Sentnor said. I know everyone is saying that, but it really is. Jan Baron, a congregant and Sunday school teacher at Bnai Amoona, is certainly looking forward to engaging with the holiday and family. She is gathering with about seven family members, all of whom have received the vaccine, which is slightly larger than last year but not the usual gathering of 20 people Baron typically hosts. Still, she is eagerly preparing for the holiday and plans to make kosher for Passover mandelbrot, a type of cookie, and matzah ball soup. I dont think there is a feeling of being completely safe at this time, but it certainly is opening up and there is a much better feeling, said Baron, who also has worked at the St. Louis Jewish Community Center. I think this holiday of freedom has a double meaning: freedom from slavery and freedom from the pandemic. Movitz, who is general manager of STL Food Works, a culinary incubator and cooperative kitchen, is also tinkering with new food items, including a gourmet matzah pizza. One could be a Moroccan variety with cumin and the other, Middle Eastern spices. He could sell them next year as kits, he said. His other hope for next year? To gather with the more members of his extended family, including 20 cousins between the United States and Israel. Like we always say, Next year in Jerusalem, he added. ADVERTISEMENT The Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has demanded the immediate release of 26 of its members it said are being detained by the State Security Services (SSS). ABSONs lawyer, Rilwan Idris, who made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday. According to him, the SSS operatives had arrested and detained the BDC operators without charging them to court, in what he described as a breach of their fundamental human rights. He said SSS had been holding his clients after inviting them from Kano, Yola, Sokoto, Minna and Lagos for questioning over two weeks ago. He added that the 26 detainees had not been allowed access to their families, and that letters of inquiry about the offences they were being detained for were ignored by the agency. Mr Idris said, the law empowers security agencies to investigate offences where an individual may be found wanting. It also provides for the way and manner such investigation should be carried out and conducted within the ambit of the law. After they were invited and detained, we wrote a letter to the SSS on March 22, demanding the release of all 26 members invited for questioning and we did a follow-up to know about their offences, but we were told to come back. None of their family members has had access to them. We have been further informed by the family members that some of the arrested individuals have underlying health challenges which require regular medical attention which they have not had access to since the dates of their arrests and detention. ALSO READ: Bureau De Change operators want more action to support Naira We know as a fact that none of our clients who have been arrested by the SSS has been charged to court for any offence neither have the people and family members who have inquired about them been informed if they have been or will be charged to court for any offence known to law. Threat to sue The lawyer also said a legal action might be taken on behalf of the detainee if the agency continued to hold them. At this juncture, it is important to state unequivocally that the continued detention of our clients without arraigning them before a court of competent jurisdiction for an offence known to law is a clear breach and violation of their fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the Constitution. We, therefore, advise that they be promptly released forthwith as the fact of their detention this long is in itself already actionable. Efforts to reach Peter Afunaya, SSS spokesperson, for comments were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls and text messages sent to his telephone number. Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, wants to allow more than 2 million square feet of space on the sprawling state-owned site, at 100 W. Randolph St., that is up for sale. The proposed ordinance is expected to be introduced Wednesday to the City Councils zoning committee, and it could be up for a vote by the committee and eventually the full City Council as soon as April, he told the Tribune Tuesday. Ori has all the details here. A case has been registered against the Bharatiya Janata Party president in Maharashtra, Chandrakant Patil, and around 50 party workers for violating Covid-19 safety protocols while protesting against state home minister Anil Deshmukh on Monday. The protest, demanding the resignation of Deshmukh, was held on Sunday and was led by Patil. The case was registered at Vishrambaugh Police station in Pune for unlawful assembly, flouting Covid-19 norms and violating orders under IPC, Disaster Management Act and Mumbai Police Act provisions, an official said. What led to protests? The protests were held after a controversy erupted over the former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh writing to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray accusing Deshmukh of running an extortion racket. Singh alleged that Deshmukh had indulged in "malpractices" and asked suspended API Sachin Waze to collect 100 crore every month. The allegations made by Singh came a day after Deshmukh had said that Singh was moved out as Mumbai Police Commissioner so that cases pertaining to Waze were probed without obstruction. In the letter, Singh, who has now been posted as Commandant General of Home Guards, had said that he has been "made a scapegoat to divert attention from the actual wrongdoers". He had alleged that Sachin Waze, who was heading the Crime Intelligence Unit of the Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police, was called by Deshmukh to his official residence several times in the last few months and "repeatedly instructed to assist in the collection of funds". Waze, Assistant Police Inspector in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU), who was transferred to the Citizen Facilitation Centre at Mumbai Police Headquarters after his name came up in Mansukh Hiren death case, has been sent to the NIA custody till 25 March, in connection with his alleged role and involvement in placing an explosives-laden vehicle. Covid-19 situation in Maharashtra A day after Maharashtra reported the highest single-day spike since the outbreak of Covid-19, the state on Monday saw a drop in daily count, recording 24,645 new cases. While the total Covid-19 caseload increased to 25,04,327, the state also reported 58 deaths due to the pathogen, taking the death toll to 53,457. On Sunday, the state had reported 30,535 cases, while on Saturday 27,126 infections were recorded. The single-day highest daily count prior to this was when the state saw 24,896 in September. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Within the next 14 days, there will be 661,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine that will arrive in Tennessee and on the 15th day from today it is extremely probable any person in the state over the age of 16 will be able to roll up their sleeve and get the best in urgent life insurance for absolutely free. Thats right two weeks away. We can do better than that if we can get the vaccine, County Mayor Jim Coppinger said last night. Next Monday we will open a fourth inoculation center at the Alstom site on Riverfront because we anticipate we will need it. And if we knew we had the vaccine for certain, we could easily give 5,000 doses a day. Honestly, I am finally breathing a lot easier because things are looking so good. Once we get where we are vaccinating the 16s-and-up, and we are assured our greatest-risk population is served, I am just as eager as everybody else to lift the masking mandate. Coppinger said the County Health Department was on an hour-by-hour lookout for vaccine. If we were to get enough vaccine, we would lower the age requirement within two hours. The minute we can, we want there to be an announcement on the Chattanoogan.com to alert people. When we decided to drop to age 55-and-above, we put it on Chattanoogan.com immediately and every appointment was taken within two hours. The better news is that our health department teams handled it without a glitch, he said. I tell people to just keep checking on Chattanoogan.com during the day, because you can get it out there faster than anybody else, and the minute we think weve got an ample supply, we want to put it in every arm we can. Never in my life did I ever dream something like this would transpire, but now I start to see sunlight at the end of the tunnel, it is the happiest springtime I can ever remember, he laughed. We are not about to let our guard down we had another death today to give us a total of 470 but our case load continues to fall, and the next few weeks are really promising. Boy, Ill say. What the County Health Department has done is heroic. Becky Barnes has been a true servant to the people and, when Coppinger points out those who have worked 24/7, be mindful that four of his fingers are pointed right back at him. If you think about that, it is enough to make you cry in grateful thanks to our United States of America. In one year from the first onslaught of the pandemic, here are the latest numbers from the Johns-Hopkins COVID site: COVID-19 -- THE WORLD (As of 03/22/2021): * -- Vaccine doses administered worldwide: 448,162,709 * -- Confirmed cases worldwide: 124,481,412 (537,089 new/last24hr) * -- Active cases: 50,802,460 * -- Fatal cases: 2,722,098 (plus 9,070/24hrs) - - - THE UNITED STATES * -- Vaccine doses administered: 82,772,416 people or 25% of the 18+/yr population * -- Number of tests in USA: 382,222,468 * -- Confirmed cases nationwide: 29,867,412 * -- Number of COVID deaths: 542,888 * -- Fully vaccinated: 42,521,057 people or 12% of the population have been fully vaccinated. - - - IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE -- At least 801,645 people have been reported to have COVID-19 in Tennessee. According to reports, 11,713 have died. IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA -- At least 1,046,591 people have been reported to have COVID-19 in Georgia. According to reports, 18,555 have died. IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA -- At least 511,779 people have been reported to have COVID-19 in Alabama. According to reports, 10,436 have died. - - - IN HAMILTON COUNTY (Chattanooga) There have been 41,640 people reported to have COVID-19 and 470 have died. (NOTE: Because Hamilton County is a border county and our Level 1 Trauma Center serves every person within a 100-mile radius, these numbers are not accurate. Weve handled a lot of neighbors, and we all agree thats a good thing. IN BRADLEY COUNTY (Cleveland) There have been 13,655 people reported to have COVID-19 and 142 have died. IN WHITFIELD COUNY, Ga. (Dalton) There have been 16,196 people reported to have COVID-19 and 231 have died. IN JACKSON COUNTY, Ala. (Scottsboro) -- There have been 6,706 people reported to have COVID-19 and 105 have died. * * * VACCINATIONS In the United States, as of 3/22/2021 at 8:30 p.m., approximately 24.9% of people in the US have received at least one COVID-19 shot. Three vaccines one made by Pfizer-BioNTech, one from Moderna, and another from Johnson & Johnson have been authorized for emergency use and are part of the widespread distribution process. The first shots were given Dec. 14. About 13.5% people nation-wide are fully vaccinated. About 19.3% of the shots distributed haven't been used yet. * -- TENNESSEE: About 21.3% of the states eligible have received the shot at least that is the best guess due to the rapidly going outside availability. Walgreens, Walmart, 900 medical offices, Sams Club there is hardly a significant measuring tool of daily consumption * -- GEORGIA: As the states take a different approach in administering the vaccine, there was a Page One story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that highly praised Tennessee for welcoming Georgia teachers who had registered for the vaccine out-of-state when they could not qualify in their own state. FACT: Georgia, which has vaccinated 19.4% of its citizens, is the worst performing vaccine state in the country. A JR. HIGH TEACHER IN GEORGIA: Tennessee couldnt care less that I had a Georgia address. A nurse in Cleveland inoculated a carload of us. Chattanooga is the same way. They care about the person. All I want to do is get this dose in your arm, this nurse said, and five Atlanta teachers will be grateful for Tennessees kindness for a long time. I think almost our whole faculty made the pilgrimage to Tennessee. (Isnt it funny I had the reverse experience? I got both of my doses at the Publix store and cannot thank them enough. Said Mayor Coppinger: There are so many people who work in Hamilton County who dont live in the county, but we look at it from a humanitarian standpoint. If they work among us, we believe we treat them like us. COVID is so infectious if there is the slightest chance they could be an innocent carrier we want to address that. ROYEXUM@AOL.COM Newsom Likely to Be Ousted During Recall, Campaign Supporters Say Signatures to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom have been gathered and submitted, and now supporters say theyre confident Californias top politician will lose his seat. I do believe the recall will qualify and the governor will lose it, Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner told The Epoch Times March 22. Whoever goes in will take office knowing that the public is watching, and the public is very much unwilling to continue the policies of the past. The campaign to recall Newsom received more than 2.1 million signatures, surpassing the minimum verified 1.5 million signatures required by the March 17 deadline. The petitions must be verified by the state before the recall can move forward. Recall efforts were launched last June, and organizers have said a significant portion of signatures came from people displeased with Newsoms handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. If enough signatures are verified, a recall election will be held in 60 to 80 days. The special election will have two boxes: one to choose to recall the governor, and the secondif voting to recall the governorto vote for his replacement. Wagner has said the recalls success can be attributed to Newsoms unresponsive actions. He is erratic in his COVID responses, he said. He is governing far to the left of the majority of the population, even in a blue state, because he is empowering the worst anti-democratic, poorly thought-out policies of the left. The majority of people involved with the recall are not right-leaning, but middle of the road or somewhere to the left here in California, he said. Were seeing Democrats, not a large number, but certainly a significant number of Democrats and a larger number of no party preference folks signing the recall petition as well, Wagner said. Its not purely a Republican, Democrat thing. Its a good governance versus bad. And right now, Newsom is the poster child for bad governance. Orange County political insider Shawn Steel, a Republican National Committee member, said the recall is a desperate move by Californians to reclaim the states dignity and keep its middle class. It was the governors reaction to lock down, close down California that has ruined tens of thousands of businesses and millions of lives and make a lot of people poor, and push people out of California, Steel told The Epoch Times. Only one governor has ever been recalled in California history: Gray Davis in 2003. Steel also said that the recall is nonpartisan, as many people who have signed are doing so as a result of poor governance. Most of the people that have signed it are not really political. The vast majority of people that have signed it are people that have been personally burned by the governor, Steel said. Denton, TX (76205) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. As the nation marks one year since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tesco Ireland has released a series of portraits shining a light on some of the frontline heroes who have been recognised for going the extra mile in their local community. Operating in a rapidly changing environment this year, Tesco staff have been working tirelessly to ensure that food and essential supplies are readily available to customers right across the network of 151 stores nationwide, when their customers needed them most. Irelands largest food retailer engaged leading Irish photographer and author Ruth Medjber, who has been documenting lockdown life behind ground-floor windows in Ireland, to capture the the real stories of the real people behind the screens at Tesco Ireland. One of those highlighted is Ger Lynch, Store Manager, Tesco Edenderry. Ger started out 17 years ago as a Security Guard and is now a Store Manager. All those years ago, his manager saw something in him and encouraged him to drive forward. Now, thats exactly what Ger champions in his store. He is all about giving his staff the space, encouragement, and opportunities to grow, its his modus operandi. He told Ruth that when he retires, its not going to be sales targets that hell be most proud of but seeing people do well in their lives. He points out that nobody starts a new job wanting it to be a negative experience, so he tries to harness that positivity from the start and allow people to enjoy their jobs. Mental health is a big factor in that and to keep spirits up in 2020 and distract from Covid, Ger started a fitness challenge for the team. It meant that people were communicating, exercising, getting fresh air, and focusing on some positive elements of their day, all while raising money for charity. I can only imagine how proud Gers old boss must be, seeing this former security guard do so much good for so many people. Commenting on the importance of recognising the unsung heroes across its distribution centres, stores and delivery networks, Tesco Ireland Communications Director, Rosemary Garth, said, our colleagues make us the organisation we are today. Were acknowledging their commitment, resilience and hard work by showcasing some of our dedicated team members across the country. The colleagues included in this collection are a representation of our wider team and show how we live our value - no one tries harder for customers. We were thrilled to partner with Ruth as we approached the one-year anniversary of the pandemic. I hope people enjoy the images and stories. Photographer Ruth Medjber added, they turned up for work every day, even in the most uncertain of times and I had the pleasure of chatting with some of the people who work in Tesco stores and warehouses around Ireland. "I had asked to speak with characters, kind folk, people who had done good deeds or battled through difficult times with great strengthand thats exactly who I met. Hailed as our frontline heroes, they home-schooled, they suffered with personal tragedies and loss, they dealt with everything that 2020 threw at them and they still managed to be there for their colleagues and their customers when they needed them most. Ive been truly refreshed and inspired by this project and have gained a whole new perspective on the people behind the screens in my local Tesco store! Tesco recently celebrated its fourth year being ranked as a Great Place to Work. This recognition, as one of Irelands Best Workplaces and a Best Workplace for Women, was marked over the past number of weeks by a selection of colleagues appearing in a Tesco Ireland advertising campaign. The initiative recognises the hard work of over 13,000 colleagues right across the business. Since March, Tesco has worked hard to maintain a safe shopping environment for colleagues and customers through a number of measures: Social distancing and queue management technology introduced at all 151 stores nationwide 391 individual hand sanitiser units were installed with over 130,000 litres of hand sanitiser used to date, which is enough to fill 817 bathtubs Over 22,000 square meters of plexiglass screens were installed, enough to cover the Aviva Stadium pitch three times over Over 750,000 face coverings have been provided to colleagues, to date Scan as you Shop technology was installed in 76 stores to support customers with an even more efficient shop, while enabling customers to manage their budget as they go Doubled grocery home shopping service and expanded Click and Collect by adding 11 new locations California's restrictions on vehicle emissions have been so effective that in at least one urban area, Los Angeles, the most concerning source of dangerous aerosol pollution may well be trees and other green plants, according to a new study by University of California, Berkeley, chemists. Aerosols -- particles of hydrocarbons referred to as PM2.5 because they are smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter and easily lodge in the lungs -- are proven to cause cardiovascular and respiratory problems. As a result of strict vehicle emissions laws, organic aerosol levels have been significantly reduced throughout the United States, but the drop has been particularly dramatic in Los Angeles, which started out at a higher level. Based on pollution measurements over the past 20 years, the UC Berkeley scientists found that concentrations of PM2.5 in the Los Angeles basin in 2012 were half what they were in 1999. As a result, from 2016 to 2018, there were almost no PM2.5 violations in the area when temperatures were low, below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. But at warmer temperatures, aerosol concentrations rose -- over the same time period, 70% to 80% of days over 100 F exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) threshold. "The positive news is that, where we did understand the source and we took action, that action has been incredibly effective," said Ronald Cohen, an atmospheric chemist and UC Berkeley professor of chemistry. "Twenty years ago, just about every day in LA was in violation of a health-based standard. And now it is only the hot days." As vehicle organic chemicals -- compounds of carcinogens such as benzene and toluene --dropped, air quality experts focused on other potential sources of aerosols in those cities with unhealthful levels. Many researchers believe that personal care and household cleaning products -- some seemingly as benign as the citrus scent limonene -- may be the culprit. Given the temperature dependence of aerosol levels in Los Angeles, Cohen doubts that. "There is a growing consensus that, as cars became unimportant, household chemicals are dominating the source of organics to the atmosphere and, therefore, dominating the source of aerosols," he said. "I am saying that I don't understand how aerosols from these chemicals could be temperature-dependent, and, therefore, I think it is likely something else. And trees are a good candidate." Plants are known to release more organic chemicals as the temperature rises and in many forested areas trees are the source of organic chemicals that combine with human-produced nitrogen oxides to form aerosol. President Ronald Reagan was partially correct when he infamously stated in 1981 that, "Trees cause more pollution than automobiles do." At the time, scientists were learning about the role of forests surrounding Atlanta in causing that city's air pollution. Cohen and former Berkeley master's degree student Clara Nussbaumer reviewed organic chemical emissions from various plants known to grow or be cultivated in the Los Angeles area and found that some, such as the city's iconic Mexican fan palms, produce lots of volatile organic compounds. Oak trees are also high emitters of organic chemicals. They estimated that, on average, 25% of the aerosols in the Los Angeles basin come from vegetation, which includes an estimated 18 million or more trees. Plant derived aerosols are likely made of the chemical isoprene -- the building block of rubber or plant chemicals such as terpenes, which consist of two or more isoprene building blocks combined to form a more complex molecule. Cohen says that PM2.5 aerosols can be thought of "as little tiny beads of candle wax," with plant-derived aerosols composed of many molecules of isoprene and terpenes, which are found in pine tree resins. "I am not suggesting that we get rid of plants, but I want people who are thinking about large-scale planting to pick the right trees," he said. "They should pick low-emitting trees instead of high-emitting trees." The research was described this month in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. How does global warming affect pollutants? Cohen, who has studied the temperature dependence of urban ozone levels for insight into the impact climate change will have on pollutants, decided two years ago to investigate the temperature dependence of ozone and aerosol pollution in five counties in the Los Angeles basin: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and Ventura. He and Nussbaumer looked at data from 22 measurement sites across the basin -- eight in LA County, two in Orange County, five in Riverside County, four in San Bernardino County, and three in Ventura County -- to study aerosols, and at four sites -- three in LA, one in San Bernardino -- to study ozone. The researchers found that at the beginning of the 21st century, the relationship between temperature and aerosol pollution was quite varied: if the temperature went up, sometimes PM2.5 concentrations would increase a lot, sometimes a little. Today, the relationship is more linear: If the temperature goes up a degree, PM2.5 concentrations predictably increase by a set amount. Cohen and Nussbaumer focused primarily on secondary organic aerosols (SOA), which form as particles when gaseous pollutants -- primarily nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) -- react with sunlight. The same conditions produce ozone. Using a simple atmospheric model, they concluded that both regulated chemicals from vehicle exhaust and cooking -- primary organic aerosols such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene -- and isoprene from plants were precursors of the majority of the organic aerosols observed. Their model suggests that about a quarter of the SOA in the LA Basin are formed by isoprene or other very similar compounds, and that these represent most of the temperature-dependent increase. While there is evidence that some temperature-dependent VOCs have been controlled over time, such as those from evaporation of gasoline, isoprene is not one of them. Cohen noted that as electric car use increases, the importance of organic aerosols from vegetation will become more dominant, requiring mitigation measures to keep levels within regulatory limits during heat waves. "Cars are also contributing to ozone, and in the LA basin the ozone level is also high, at high temperatures and for the same reason: There are more organic molecules to drive the chemistry when it is hot ," Cohen said. "We want some strategy for thinking about which plants might emit fewer hydrocarbons as it gets hot or what other emissions we could control that prevent the formation of aerosols." Cohen hopes to look at data from other urban areas, including the San Francisco Bay Area, to see if the temperature-dependent aerosols now dominate, and whether vegetation is the culprit. The study was funded in part by a grant (NA18OAR4310117) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Cohen and Allen Goldstein, a UC Berkeley professor of environmental science, policy and management and of civil and environmental engineering, have also partnered with NOAA scientists and the state and local air quality agencies on an experiment to observe emissions in Los Angeles at different temperatures. Combining these different observing strategies in the LA Basin, Cohen hopes, "will lead to better ideas for reducing high ozone and aerosol events in the basin, ones that can then be used as a guide in other major cities suffering from poor air quality." ### Cohen also maintains a high-density network of 75 pollution monitoring stations around the Bay Area called BEACO2N. Cohen just started a collaboration with William Berelson at the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Unified School District to deploy BEACO2N nodes in that area of Southern California. Health Secretary Matt Hancock today confirmed the Government may make Covid vaccines compulsory for care home staff. Ministers are concerned about low uptake rates among carers NHS figures show just a third of workers have had the jabs in parts of London. Mr Hancock admitted mandatory vaccination was 'something we are looking at' and claimed 'many' care homes have supported the proposal. He scolded carers who have turned down their jab appointments, warning that they 'have a duty of care not to pass on the disease' to frail residents. His comments came after a leaked paper submitted to the Covid Operations Cabinet committee showed Mr Hancock and Boris Johnson both had agreed to compulsory jabs for care staff. Quizzed about it this morning, Mr Hancock told LBC: 'On this one, no decision has been taken, but it is something that we are looking at. 'Because people who are looking after elderly residents in care homes, who we know to be the most vulnerable to Covid, they have a duty of care not to pass on the disease and it is a reasonable question.' He said 'many' care homes had asked for this to happen, adding: 'There's a legal change that's required and, as you can see, I'm open to that, but no final decision has been taken.' NHS England figures show, nationally, just 76 per cent of care home workers had their first dose of a Covid vaccine by March 14 the most recent day local data is available for. Matt Hancock has confirmed No10 could make Covid jabs compulsory for care home staff after data showed just a third of workers in parts of London have been vaccinated Matt Hancock this morning said that 'no final decision' has been taken amid a review into vaccination passports, but confirmed that ministers were looking at jabs being made compulsory for care workers in England But the data which break up the country into 150 areas shows uptake of the life-saving vaccine among carers varies widely across the nation. Lambeth in south London has the lowest proportion of care home staff vaccinated, with an uptake rate of just 42.6 per cent. In comparison, seven areas have vaccinated more than 85 per cent, with Blackpool inoculating 1,466 of its 1,678 carers. The proportion of people opting in to the vaccine rollout is even lower for carers working in people's own homes, with less than a third accepting a jab in Barnet (28.5 per cent) and Bexley (32.4 per cent). All staff in care homes should now have been offered a first dose of the vaccine, with England's Covid vaccine roll-out officially widened to all over-50s last week the last priority group set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). But a huge postcode lottery in the roll-out has emerged in recent weeks, with some healthy adults in their twenties managing to get vaccinated. The mammoth inoculation drive must go smoothly for lockdown to be safely eased in the coming months. TOP TEN AREAS IN THE COUNTRY FOR CARERS' COVID VACCINE UPTAKE Blackpool Barnsley Darlington Plymouth Rotherham Shropshire Cumbria Torbay Gateshead West Berkshire 87.4% 86.5% 85.7% 85.7% 85.5% 85.3% 85.1% 84.4% 84.0% 83.9% Advertisement BOTTOM TEN AREAS IN THE COUNTRY FOR CARERS' COVID VACCINE UPTAKE Lambeth Wandsworth Southwark Luton Redbridge Hackney Barnet Enfield Hillingdon Greenwich 42.6% 55.1% 56.6% 56.9% 57.1% 58.1% 58.6% 58.7% 59.3% 59.4% Advertisement The figures which offer the most up-to-date regional breakdown of the roll-out show the percentage of carers who have opted in. It will not include a small minority who may have already been offered a jab but are still waiting for an appointment. Statistics show a clear divide has emerged across the nation, with 13 areas having vaccinated fewer than 60 per cent of staff 12 of which were in London. Lambeth was followed by Wandsworth (55.1 per cent), Southwark (56.6 per cent), Luton (56.9 per cent), Redbridge (57.1 per cent) and Hackney (58.1 per cent). Plans to make vaccinations compulsory have emerged amid concerns of low uptake of staff in care homes looking after those who are among the most vulnerable from contracting the disease. But it would prove highly controversial, with the PM's official spokesman previously accepting it would be 'discriminatory' to force people to be vaccinated. Mr Hancock said that there was 'still further to go' in vaccine uptake in care staff, with around 76 per cent of workers in elderly care homes vaccinated, and more than 90 per cent of residents. 'One of the problems is that not every elderly resident can be vaccinated, sometimes for medical reasons, and we want to give them as much protection as possible,' he added. 'Now, 76 per cent of staff having been vaccinated, that is good news, and that is good progress over the last few weeks, but there is still further to go.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he sees 'powerful arguments' both for an against the compulsory vaccination of care home staff and that the most important thing currently is to encourage people to come forward for jabs. The Telegraph reports that the sub-committee paper warned that a 'large' number of social care workers may quit if the change is made, while there could be successful lawsuits on human rights grounds. In response to the reports, Kate Hindmarch, partner in employment law at Langleys Solicitors, said that 'no jab, no job could be a dangerous approach for employers to take'. 'There is not enough evidence to suggest taking the vaccine makes everyone's working environment safe,' she said. 'If an employer tries to force their employees to receive the jab or decides not to hire someone based on their refusal to get the jab, it could result in employment claims, for unfair dismissal and/or discrimination.' A Government spokesman said: 'The review into Covid status certification is considering a range of issues. 'No final decisions have been made.' As time marches forward from the February storm that left millions of Texans freezing in the dark, its become increasingly unlikely there will be real accountability, reform of the Texas grid or rate relief. In February, Gov. Greg Abbott said the obscene surges in energy bills following the storm would be the top priority for the Texas Legislature right now. But with April drawing near, it appears that, as with so much the governor says, this was hollow rhetoric. Recorded statements from an Abbott appointee to the Public Utility Commission of Texas reassuring investors about profits belie any expressed sense of urgency to protect ratepayers, undercutting any effort to reprice electricity provided at $9,000 per megawatt hour during the week of Feb. 14. As Arthur DAndrea, who is resigning as chairman of the PUC following his breathtaking honesty, told Bank of America investors on a private phone call: The best I can do is put the weight of the commission in favor of not repricing. In other words, not only were 4 million homes without power during extended parts of the freeze, but all Texans will pay for this catastrophic man-made failure. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was right mark those words as we rarely write them to demand DAndrea and the PUC roll back prices. As has been widely reported, an independent market monitor found the Electric Reliability Council of Texas raised prices too high for a 32-hour period, leading to $16 billion in overcharges. The market monitor recommended the PUC reprice those 32 hours, cutting the cost to consumers by $5 billion. Beyond this, Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a legal opinion saying such a rollback is constitutional. DAndrea acknowledged as much in his Bank of America call. I wish I could tell you theres no way in heck that it will ever get repriced, but I just cant, he said. If enough legislators want to get something done, they can pass a bill and get it done. State senators did their part, passing such a bill with 27 votes, but it went nowhere in the House, missing a key contractual deadline for repricing. This is so Texas. We celebrate the myth of the rugged individual who routinely gets trampled (we could think of another word). Repricing isnt some type of Pandoras box or inappropriate government intervention. If charging $9,000 per megawatt hour for electricity during a disaster isnt price gouging, then what is? After all, a lack of government regulation prompted this crisis. There is a maddening undercurrent of absurdity here. We have learned how Texas failed to winterize power plants following the 2011 freeze despite warnings to do so. And now we have learned that power was shut off at dozens of natural gas facilities due to a paperwork error. It seems in Texas, land of cutting red tape, leadership with a number of natural gas plants didnt fill out a two-page application that would have designated such plants as critical facilities much like hospitals, 911 call centers and fire stations. Why isnt this automatic? Real change appears unlikely. As Express-News and Houston Chronicle business columnist Chris Tomlinson has reported, DAndrea told investors many state lawmakers, and Abbott, dont have much interest in overhauling the grid. And, no, tapping the rainy day fund to cover winterizing plants or providing modest ratepayer relief is not a long-term solution. Meanwhile, CPS Energy, the city-owned utility that serves the San Antonio region, is grappling with $1 billion in debt from the storm and has sued two natural gas suppliers. City Council recently approved $500 million in short-term financing. A rate increase appears inevitable. Texans will be paying for this failure in oversight and leadership for years. As the bill comes due, just whom are lawmakers serving? Chennai, March 23 : The colleges in Tamil Nadu will be conducting online classes starting from Tuesday following the state government order. The government has ordered the colleges to conduct online classes following a spike in Covid-19 cases in the state and nationally. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijayabhaskar while speaking to IANS said, "Yes, the health department had informed the education department and the Chief Minister to issue an order to conduct online classes for college students as there is a spike in Covid-19 cases in the state." State Chief Secretary Rajeev Ranjan had in an order issued on Monday, after deliberations with the Higher Education department officials and health officials, issued an order to conduct online classes in colleges, 6 days a week. The order has given exceptions to the students of the Engineering colleges, Polytechnics and students from science stream, who will be able to attend classes till March 31, to complete their examinations. The order also states that all examinations will be conducted online. Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight with light rain possible. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 66F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Hybrid seder traditions emerge The eight-day Passover holiday begins with the seder, a celebratory meal at which Jews gather with family and friends to read from the Haggadah, a sort of guide with prayers, blessings and stories. It's an interactive, often intergenerational meal in which elders pass along the history of the Jewish people and children are encouraged to ask questions. And while there are prescribed rituals and rules, each family enjoys its own customs. Traditionally, families living outside Israel have two seders, one on each of the first two nights of the holiday. Before the pandemic, Heidi Skolnik, 59, and her husband, Michael Glantz, 62, of Bergen County, New Jersey, hosted 40 people from his family on the first night and 25 from her side on the second. In 2020, they still had two separate seders but on Zoom. "It was poignant because we all still connected, Skolnik says. Here we were with this obstacle, but we figured out a way to observe and persevere. In some ways the holiday became even more meaningful. Skolnik creates her own Haggadah, connecting the ancient story of the Jews with news of the day for tableside discussion. In 2020, her version of the Haggadah focused on inclusion and she sent it to relatives who tuned in online from both coasts. They read from the Haggadah as a group but then ate separately. Although the experience was warm and loving, Skolnik says she missed the side conversations, the spontaneous joking and laughing as cousins poke each other and share secrets. This year, on the first night, Skolnik and Glantz will host an in-person seder for eight people, seven of whom have been vaccinated. (Some others may join by Zoom.) The second night will be only on Zoom. Skolnik has her Haggadah ready, and this year's focus will be on social justice. The cool thing about Passover is just how relevant it is. No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The U.S. secretary of state and national security adviser wrapped up their first in-person talks with top Chinese officials in Alaska Friday. Elizabeth Lee reports. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Sinead Lyons was last seen walking with her dog The sister of an Irish woman who has been missing from her US home for more than a week has issued a desperate appeal for help in finding her. Sinead Lyons (41) was last seen walking her dog, a German Shepherd named Flossie, in Lowell, Massachusetts on or around March 11. Sinead's sister Sandra has been posting regular updates on the search and has appealed for any information regarding the whereabouts of her older sister. In an update shared today, Sandra said her beautiful big sister Sinead and her dog Flossie are still missing. There have been no confirmed sightings of either my sister or Flossie, Sandra wrote. Please help find them, I would like to thank everyone for sharing my posts please keep doing so. Our family have been amazed by the kindness that we have been shown by everyone. Together we will find them! She added: Please contact New Hampshire State police if you have any information. Sinead, who Sandra describes as having "blonde hair, blue eyes, a slim build, 511 and speaks with an Irish accent," was last seen on March 11 "wearing a white coat, white knit hat & black boots" while going to collect her dog Flossie, a female, microchipped German Shepard dog. On March 14, Lowell Police said that Lyons could also possibly be in North Conway, New Hampshire, a scenic area popular with hikers. The next day her white Volvo station wagon was discovered parked 45kms away, in the Ossipee Lake area of Massachusetts. Sandra said: "Sinead left Lowell and travelled to collect Flossie from a friend in the NH [New Hampshire] area. "She was going to go for a walk with Flossie before heading back home to Lowell. "Her car was found parked near Ossipee Lake NH. Sinead & Flossie havent been seen since." In a message to her sister, Sandra said: Our relatives finally made it through all of the red tape that stopped them from traveling to you from Ireland. They are there now, they will find you!" She added: "Please keep looking for Sinead & Flossie, please keep checking your land, sheds & cameras. "We ask those that go looking for Sinead to please stay safe, make sure a loved one knows exactly where you are going." Local news reports that the day after the missing woman's car was found, authorities kicked off a multi-agency search that included land, water, and air. Crews canvassed the area by foot, with drones and a helicopter. State Police Lt James Fogarty said the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department put its airboat on the ice and explored open-water areas of the lake. A remote vehicle was also used to check under the ice, according to WMUR-9News. Fogarty said he had evidence to believe Lyons had been in the Ossipee area and may have gone on a hiking trip with her dog. He also told the WMUR-9News that they are treating the investigation as a missing persons case and have no reason to suspect foul play. A daughter hugs her mother after receiving a dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in Belgrade, Serbia. Serbia has now vaccinated approximately 15pc of the country's 6.9 million inhabitants. Photo: Vladimir Zivojinovic/Getty Images Taoiseach Micheal Martin yesterday acknowledged in an RTE interview that our efforts in curbing Covid-19 have borne fruit. His words resonated the pandemic has driven us all bananas. Mr Martins core message was to impress upon us that we are dealing with a new disease, one that is more deadly. After all our painstaking troubles, numbers are stuck between 500-600 per day, and we may even be facing into a new wave. The immovable objects and irresistible forces keep turning up. Yet at each stage of this pandemic, when people were asked to do more, they responded positively. Most sacrificed even the most basic sustenance of human interaction. Life is unrecognisable from what it was 18 months ago. People are worried that if all of this is not enough, what more must be done? The new variant, B117, is being spread by more people meeting indoors. If that is the case, then it may be necessary to take steps however unpopular to stop such gatherings. Having resisted mandatory quarantine for most of the year, measures are finally being put in place. But other vital steps which, in the long-term, will have a significant bearing on how we make sure we never return to lockdown have yet to be taken. Track-and-trace procedures are still nowhere close to where they need to be, The only real prospect of making progress is through securing adequate amounts of vaccine. International squabbling about who gets what is the last thing we need as the new variant mocks every effort to protect ourselves. The constant see-sawing between rosy and dark-cloud scenarios, on the delivery of vaccines, is having a desperately detrimental impact on populations already under extreme duress. With France, Germany and Italy all once again having to take retrograde preventative measures to combat another wave, the EU has to sort itself out. Member states entrusted the welfare of their populations to Brussels. This crisis is the defining moment for the bloc. All of its efforts must now be concentrated on securing an uninterrupted and adequate roll-out of vaccines. This remains the only reliable firewall against the pandemic. How far we are from achieving this remains uncertain, and that is not satisfactory given what is on the line. In the fractious standoff between the EU and the UK, the Taoiseach has expressed concerns that something may be done which could impede the flow of raw materials for vaccines to EU sites. From the discovery of the virus, the holy grail was to acquire a vaccine. Inspiring and concerted efforts by scientists discovered one. Do global leaders not now have an obligation to match that effort or even exceed it and come to arrangements to make sure sufficient quantities can be made? Unseemly individual scrambles, based on purely selfish terms, will only prolong or even deepen this emergency. Commentary: "Vaccine nationalism" hampers global anti-virus efforts 11:35, March 23, 2021 By Yi Li ( People's Daily Online Countries around the world are acting as one to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and China is also making its own contribution to this cause. The country has repeatedly pledged that its domestic COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment, when available, will be made a global public good, which will become China's contribution to ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries. Photo taken on March 12, 2021 shows AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines at a hospital in Caceres province in Spain. (Photo/Xinhua) As China began providing vaccines to other countries, some Western critics have labeled China's efforts as "vaccine diplomacy" aimed at expanding the country's political influence. In fact, the root cause of the problems that have been encountered in promoting the fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally lies in the widening immunity gap and "vaccine nationalism" cooked up by some developed countries. Some high-income countries signed contracts with vaccine manufacturers in a bid to ensure they had priority in vaccine provision. However, these countries had ordered more doses than they actually needed, resulting in surplus vaccine supply. In contrast, some low-income countries were placed in a predicament as they had little or no access to vaccines. The UK and the US are purchasing more vaccines than they need. ONE campaign, an anti-poverty organization, said in a report on Feb.19 that the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and European Union had received 3 billion doses of vaccines. This equates to almost 1 billion more doses than the 2.06 billion required to give the entire populations of these countries two shots. The report noted that the amount of vaccine doses bought by Canada was five times the countrys population. As of March 12, some 335 million doses of vaccine had been administered in 144 economies globally, and 76 percent of those were in 10 countries, said World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. This situation indicates that ensuring vaccine equity continues to be a moral test for the whole world. Unfair vaccine distribution is also seen among high-income countries. For instance, to guarantee vaccine supply to the US and the UK, pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca Plc. and Pfizer were slow in delivering COVID-19 vaccines to the EU, resulting in the vaccine rollout in some EU countries being delayed. Currently, COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the EU is much lower than in the US and the UK. Only 5.5 percent of the EU population of 447 million have received a first vaccine dose, according to data released by the WHO on March 3. In dealing with COVID-19, regarded as a public health emergency of international concern, "vaccine nationalism" benefits no one, but reveals short-sightedness and the zero-sum and narrow-minded mentality of Western politicians. No one is safe until everyone is safe. All measures taken by developed countries to bring COVID-19 under control, including tight visa and entry restrictions, will end up being in vain if less developed countries fail to curb COVID-19. A study commissioned by the International Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation finds that "vaccine nationalism" could cost the wealthiest economies up to $4.5 trillion. An advocate of the humanitarian spirit, China never attaches any political strings in exporting COVID-19 vaccines or providing vaccine aid. "The global fight against COVID-19 must not stop until the virus gets eliminated in each and every country. Everyone is obligated to help those in need even when there is only one case of infection left." These remarks made by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a press conference held during the "two sessions" in early March 2021 demonstrated Chinas determination to work with the international community to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In the face of the pandemic, which poses a threat to all mankind, selfishness and nationalism will hurt everyone. Countries should reject "vaccine nationalism" and help each other in the community of common destiny for mankind so as to overcome this challenge and usher in a new future. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Race for most popular US music streaming service is tightening, but Apple Music is NOT a contender, says new survey Where do the people in the US listen to music? A new YouGov global study has answers. 44% of Americans say they use YouTube to listen to music followed by Spotify (27%), Pandora (25%), and Amazon Prime Music (24%) in a tight race for second place. Apple Music and iHeart Radio tied for 5th with just 12% each. Note that survey respondents could choose more than one answer. Younger Americans are more likely to stream music using both YouTube and Spotify while older Americans favor YouTube and Pandora. The new YouGov global study tracked the impact of the pandemic on media consumption in 17 countries. YouGovs International Media Consumption Report 2021 examined the changes in how frequently people consumed media, including how listening habits shifted. In the United States, for example, there was an acceleration of active listening (music streaming, podcasts) and a decrease in passive listening (radio) as people spent less time in cars. Read the full YouGov report here. Share on: One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, with widespread vaccine availability and a return to some semblance of normalcy in sight, film festivals and tech conferences are embracing virtual reality more than ever. At Sundance, we jumped into a custom VR platform to chat with other cinephiles and explore mixed media art projects. Microsoft's recent Ignite conference featured an immersive VR keynote, as well as the debut of Mesh, the company's new platform that could power our future AR/VR meetings. But as I stood in a VR recreation of Austin's Congress Avenue, the main drag for the iconic SXSW festival, I felt a wave of emotion come over me. It's the best virtual rendition of a conference I've seen yet, but it also felt like an apocalyptic wasteland, one inhabited mainly by digital detritus and brand sponsorships. Virtual reality may be a good stop-gap solution when we can't meet in person, but it's in no way a replacement. Gallery: SXSW 2021 in VR | 11 Photos /11 Gallery: SXSW 2021 in VR | 11 Photos /11 Maybe I was just feeling the effects of my pandemic lockdown anniversary. But as I explored SXSW's VR playground, which let visitors ride go-karts, hop on drones and traverse a variety of venues, I found myself missing the lack of human contact. That may be due in part to the cultural variety at SXSW; it's a film festival, a musical celebration, an art show and a celebration of technology (often overbearingly so). SXSW is a mashup of everything I love in one place: you can go from chatting with filmmakers you admire, to hearing, to bumping into your favorite comedians at a crowded bar. In VR, the magic of SXSW disappears the instant you take off your headset and find yourself back at home. The social mixed reality company VRrOOm built SXSW's virtual experience atop VRChat, a massively multiplayer game for virtual worlds. Like AltSpaceVR and similar offerings, it lets you customize an avatar (I chose a naked gray alien), and hop into a variety of locations. After befriending a few of the festival's VR admins, I hit a button and was transported right to them at the virtual Congress Avenue. At first glance, it looked like Austin by way of Disney World. I could see the city's iconic locations, like the Paramount Theater and Mohawk bar, but it was all filtered through a neon theme park aesthetic. Visiting those venues was particularly disorienting. The VR Paramount Theater was so accurate, I was able to my usual midnight screening balcony seat. I'm not going to knock the aesthetic choice, and I think the SXSW team deserves credit for crafting a genuinely immersive VR experience. But the large size of the virtual map may have worked against them. During my visits, I only ever saw a handful of other VR attendees. They rarely stopped to chat. Instead, everyone just wanted to run around and take VR selfies with VRChat's built-in camera. (In that respect, I suppose it's not too different from the real SXSW, which is overstuffed with social media influencers trying to one-up each other with cute pics.) Devindra Hardawar/Engadget I imagine SXSW VR would have been more fun if I were hanging out alongside friends. Then it wouldn't just be me riding a go-kart, or checking out a creepy crypto-art museum on my own. The sheer size and scope of SXSW feels a bit isolating even during a normal year, but like many geeky pop culture events, it isnt that tough to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger as you're stuck in a line together for hours. To be honest, the pandemic has broken me down so much I even miss waiting in those interminable lines. (In 2019, the Engadget crew spent over two hours waiting to get into the premiere for Jordan Peele's Us, only to be turned away when the Paramount reached maximum capacity. It was frustrating at the time, but it sure was a bonding experience!) New Delhi: India is believed to have challenged in a court in The Hague an arbitration tribunal verdict that overturned its demand for 10,247 crore in back taxes from Cairn Energy Plc -- the second time in three months that it has refused to accept an international award against retrospective tax. The appeal was filed on Monday, a source with knowledge of the matter said. The Finance Ministry spokesperson did not immediately respond to an e-mail sent for comments. The appeal against a three-member tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague invalidating India's 10,247 crore tax claim on Cairn Energy and ordering the government to return the value of shares it had sold, dividends seized and tax refunds withheld, comes weeks before UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's visit to India. The British Prime Minister is widely expected to broach India honouring international arbitration awards during his April 26 visit, another source said. In December, the government had challenged in a Singapore court an international arbitration tribunal verdict that overturned its demand for 22,100 crore in back taxes from Vodafone Group Plc. Since the seat of Vodafone arbitration was Singapore, an appeal was filed in a court in that country. In the case of Cairn, the seat was The Hague and so an appeal has been filed in a court in the Netherlands, the first source said. The appeal was filed on a day when Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur had told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that "any such decision on filing of appeal or otherwise is taken only after careful consideration of all aspects of the matter." The tribunal's 582-page detailed verdict that asked India to return USD 1.2 billion-plus interest and cost to Cairn was registered in the Netherlands on January 8 and New Delhi acknowledged it on January 19, the source said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier this month indicated the government's intent of appealing against the award on grounds of it questioning the sovereign powers of India to levy taxes. Her ministry feels taxation is not a subject of bilateral investment treaties, like the UK-India Bilateral Investment Treaty under which Cairn had sought rescinding of the tax demand raised, and so the award should be appealed. It is of the opinion that Cairn set up a tax abusive structure in 2006 when it reorganised its India business to list the local unit, and did not pay taxes anywhere in the world on the gains that it made in India, they said, adding India had made an unsuccessful case of tax not being part of the treaty before the arbitration panel as well. However, the arbitration award specifically made it clear the base of the judgment was not a challenge to the 2012 law or India's sovereign right to tax. "The issue at stake is thus not a matter of domestic tax law, it is rather whether the fiscal measures taken by the state, valid or not under its own tax laws, violate international law," the tribunal had said in a unanimous verdict. The Hague panel found that a 2012 law passed by the Indian Parliament was a new tax, not a clarification of prior law that could be applied to earlier years. Cairn has moved courts in nine countries to enforce the award against India. The award has already been recognised by courts in the US, the UK, Netherlands, Canada and France and the same is in the process in Singapore, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and the Cayman Islands. The registration of the award is the first step towards its enforcement in the event of the government not paying the firm. Once the court recognises an arbitration award, the company can then petition it for seizing any Indian government assets such as bank accounts, payments to state-owned entities, airplanes and ships in those jurisdictions, to recover the monies due to it, sources said. Sources said the government believes that taxation is not covered under investment protection treaties with various countries and the law on taxation is a sovereign right of the country. While the treaties are primarily aimed at the protection of investments, the tax is levied on 'returns' earned by entities. But the Hague tribunal had gone into this claim and rejected it. Vodafone had challenged before the arbitration tribunal the demand for 7,990 crore in capital gains taxes ( 22,100 crore after including interest and penalty) under the Netherlands-India Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). The demand pertained to Vodafone's USD 11-billion acquisition of 67 per cent stake in the mobile phone business owned by Hutchison Whampoa in 2007. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Kazis Toguzbaev, one of Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertys best known and most respected journalists in Kazakhstan, died on February 28 in Almaty, of complications caused by COVID-19. Toguzbaev was 72 years old. Nicknamed by his friends and colleagues as Real Colonel in recognition of his military service, Toguzbaev started his journalistic career in the late-1990s after he retired from the armed forces with the rank of colonel and very quickly earned prominence for his reports. In 2007. Toguzbaev was the first journalist in Kazakhstan charged with insulting authoritarian President Nursultan Nazarbaevs honor and dignity. He was convicted and handed a suspended two-year prison term. Toguzbaev started cooperating with RFE/RL in 2008 and, over a twelve-year period, he wrote hundreds of reports, conducted numerous interviews with politicians, experts, activists, relatives of political prisoners, ordinary people. In December 2011, Toguzbaev reported extensively, although under pressure from the authorities, from Kazakhstans southwestern town of Zhanaozen, where the violent dispersal of protests by oil workers ended with the deaths of at least 17 protesters. Toguzbaev also focused in his reporting on high-profile ethnic clashes, problems faced by religious minorities, inmates, elderly people, political prisoners, pensioners, and youth. His colleagues will always remember his open face shining with a charming smile and his readiness to help anyone in need from his colleagues to people he reported about. Kazis Toguzbaev is survived by his wife Svetlana Lavrentyeva and two sons. Donald Trump's former lawyer Sidney Powell has claimed that 'no reasonable person' would believe her allegations about voting fraud were 'statements of fact', as she sought to dismiss a $1.3 billion defamation suit against her. Powell, 65, was sued by Dominion Voting Systems in January for her assertions that the election was stolen from Trump, via rigged ballot machinery provided by the company. She and Rudy Giuliani, another of the former president's lawyers, claimed that the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez had concocted a plot that would enable Dominion's machines to switch votes, and that this system was used against Trump. On Monday, Powell's attorneys attempted to get the charges against her dismissed by a judge in Washington DC. Her attorneys argued that 'reasonable people would not accept such statements as fact but view them only as claims that await testing by the courts through the adversary process.' Sidney Powell has been sued by Dominion Voting Systems for $1.3 billion in defamation The voting machine company are suing for reputational damages which they say Powell caused A sample ballot is shown using the Dominion Voting system in Georgia Her team insisted in their 54-page motion that the claims were protected under the First Amendment. 'All the allegedly defamatory statements attributed to Defendants were made as part of the normal process of litigating issues of momentous significance and immense public interest,' the motion reads. Lawrence J. Joseph, Powell's lawyer, also argued that the case should be dismissed because it was filed in the wrong jurisdiction. And they said that the phrasing should be accepted as 'the language of the political arena'. When Powell repeated the unfounded claims of voter fraud on Fox News, Fox Business News and The Epoch Times, her lawyers claim, she was just informing the public about the ideas that she was advancing in her lawsuits. 'Reasonable people understand that the 'language of the political arena, like the language used in labor disputes is often vituperative, abusive and inexact,'' her motion to dismiss argues. 'It is likewise a 'well recognized principle that political statements are inherently prone to exaggeration and hyperbole.' 'It would make no sense, and serve no public purpose, to give immunity for statements made during the course of litigation which are themselves public but burden lawyers with the threat of billion-dollar defamation verdicts when the same allegations are made at press conferences and news releases announcing and discussing the case.' Powell nicknamed her voter fraud lawsuits the 'Kraken', but the four suits all failed Donald Trump continues to claim that the election was 'stolen' from him, without proof Powell nicknamed her lawsuits the 'Kraken', after the mythical, octopus-like creature depicted in the Hollywood blockbuster Clash of the Titans. In the movie, the monster was easily slain. The four lawsuits filed by Powell and her co-counsel Lin Wood, alleging a giant plot between voting companies and foreign powers to interfere with the election, met with the same fate. Dominion has not responded to her motion to dismiss the lawsuit. In January, John Poulos, the CEO of Dominion, said that Powell bore some of the blame for stirring up the January 6 Capitol riots - which showed how dangerous her rhetoric was. 'The recent attacks on the democratic process are not singular or isolated events,' he said. 'They are the result of a deliberate and malicious campaign of lies over many months. 'Sidney Powell and others created and disseminated these lies, assisted and amplified by a range of media platforms.' Dominion has also filed $1.3 billion defamation lawsuits against MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and against Giuliani, arguing that they, like Powell, damaged its reputation with baseless claims against its voting machines. Myanmar's military junta on Tuesday took the offensive to justify last month's coup and subsequent actions against those opposed to it, even as street demonstrations continued against the takeover. At a news conference in the capital Naypyitaw, the military presented a video of a former political colleague of ousted national leader Aung San Suu Kyi claiming he had handed over large amounts of cash and gold to her personally, in what the military has characterized as corruption. Such allegations were previously denied by her lawyer. Many of the protests Tuesday were staged in a way that avoided confrontations with authorities, who have not hesitated to use lethal force to break up demonstrations. Some marches were held before dawn in Yangon, the country's biggest city, and elsewhere and went unmolested. Other protests adopted the tactic of having signboards or other inanimate objects lined up in the street to serve as proxies for human demonstrators. The independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has verified 261 protesters' deaths nationwide but says the actual total, including cases where verification has been difficult, is probably much higher. It said 2,682 people have also been arrested or charged since the coup, with 2,302 still detained or sought for arrest. In its news conference, the military presented displays of seized homemade weapons and videos of street battles to argue that the demonstrators are violent and that its efforts to stop them are justified. However, in the weeks since the Feb. 1 coup, protesters only began using organized violence after more than 100 demonstrators had been shot dead by police and soldiers. The allegations against Suu Kyi made by former Yangon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein were first mentioned by the military several weeks ago. Last week the military-controlled Myawaddy TV station aired a similar video with a construction magnate who also claimed to have made large payoffs to Suu Kyi. That video was replayed at Tuesday's news conference. No supporting evidence for the allegations has been offered, and they are generally dismissed as an effort by the military to frame Suu Kyi so she can be discredited and tried on a serious criminal charge. She is already being held on several more minor charges. A report in the state-controlled Global New Light of newspaper on Tuesday said the junta has expressed fresh concern about civil servants, teachers and medical workers joining the Civil Disobedience Movement that is the vanguard group opposing last month's military takeover. The report referred to the opposition group as CDM, the initials by which it is popularly known. The group encourages employees of key enterprises, such as government offices, to stay away from work. In what was a relatively conciliatory tone compared with earlier threats, the junta at its Monday meeting was reported to have described failing to show up at work as not a crime but a violation of the civil service disciplines. It said that for first offenses, civil servants would have to sign confessions, but further offenses would be dealt with according to civil service rules. Previously, government employees have been detained for joining the CDM, and striking state railway workers have been kicked out of their government-supplied housing if they don't agree to go back to work. labour unions on March 7 issued a joint call for an extended nationwide work stoppage, with the goal of a full, extended shutdown of the economy. In a statement, they called for the strike to continue until we receive our democracy back. Tuesday's report of the junta's meeting also highlighted teachers' absences from work, saying some have joined the CDM, as have health workers. The junta repeated its claims that civil servants, teachers and doctors joined the CDM under threat. (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 call that emergency workers received just before 1 a.m. on Tuesday was distressing: A fire had broken out at an assisted-living facility in the New York City suburbs, and dozens of residents were trapped inside. When firefighters arrived at the building, the Evergreen Court Home for Adults in Spring Valley, N.Y., flames were ripping through it. As the fire spread toward the roof, dozens of people were fleeing. Emergency responders and staff began carrying some residents out, then returning to help others evacuate. Its one of your worst nightmares, said Rockland Countys fire coordinator, Chris Kear. Its not your typical house fire where theres five or six residents. Youre talking about an adult care facility where you have over 100 people. As firefighters continued to fight the flames on Tuesday morning, officials announced that one male resident had died after being taken to a nearby hospital. And early Wednesday morning, officials said they had recovered the body of a firefighter one of the first to report to the scene who had previously been unaccounted for. Rockland Countys executive, Ed Day, and the Rockland County Volunteer Firefighters Association identified him as Jared Lloyd. A COVID vaccine may be taken orally in the near future after another pharmaceutical company announced that clinical trials for its vaccine in pill form could start this year. Oravax said this step is only the earliest phase of developing a vaccine, adding that it could be a year or more before it is authorized for use once it works. According to a Business Insider report, Oravax is a joint venture by two companies, namely Oramed, an Israeli-American firm, and Premas Biotech, an Indian firm. In a press release issued on Friday, Oravax said the first phase of clinical trials in humans could start by June. Nadav Kidron, CEO of Oramed, said an oral vaccine could potentially allow people to take the vaccine themselves at home. He added that the COVID vaccine could be stored at room temperature and shipped in a normal refrigerator. Thus, logistically speaking, it could reach people easier around the world with this feature. "While ease of administration is critical today to accelerate inoculation rates, an oral vaccine could become even more valuable in the case that a COVID-19 vaccine may be recommended annually like the standard flu shot," Kidron said in the statement. READ MORE: Argentina President Decries COVID-19 Vaccine Scandal COVID Vaccine in a Pill Form Oral COVID vaccines are being reviewed as a "second-generation" vaccine that can be made to be more scalable, easier to administer, and easier distribution, which are important factors when one is aiming for herd immunity, according to a Science Times report. Oravax is not the only company eyeing this opportunity. ImmunityBio Inc. has already started clinical trials on its COVID vaccine in a form of pill or tablet. The initial trials, together with iosBio, were being carried out on monkeys, and it reportedly produced highly effective results, Express reported. British vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi said the government is looking at technologies with pills being developed around the world. Zahawi added that they are making sure that the U.K. will always have the ability and capacity to manufacture the variant vaccines that would address any coronavirus variants. Oravax earlier said that the firm's tablet-form vaccine had good results in a pilot study in animals. However, Prof. Paul Hunter, Professor in Medicine at the University of East Anglia, told Business Insider that it needs properly conducted studies to prove the oral vaccines' worth. Although the results of the animal studies are promising, Hunter said that animal results do not always translate into human results. "We need human studies to be sure," he noted. Oxford-AstraZeneca is also working on developing tablets and nasal-spray vaccines. Second-Generation COVID Vaccine One of the biggest pharmaceutical names, which recently acquired an emergency authorization use, said it is looking to create a second-generation COVID vaccine. A spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson said they are looking at the development of a second-generation vaccine and will share more information once it is available, Fox News reported. This effort comes as the company is trying to work on boosting manufacturing power to increase its supply. The company said it would also continue to test the effectiveness of its vaccine against new and emerging COVID variants. READ MORE: 'Vaccine-Gate' Scandal: Over 400 Peruvian VIPs Secretly Got COVID-19 Shots Before Official Rollout WATCH: Oravax Video March 2021 - From Oramed Pharmaceuticals CARY, N.C., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- From developing an ultra-lightweight and ultra-flexible solar film that helps more buildings become fully energy-neutral to communicating scientific evidence to juries in environmental crime trials, JMP statistical discovery software is helping engineers, scientists and other data analysts make life-changing impacts efficiently. With JMP Pro 16, the advanced analytics version of JMP, data scientists have more predictive methods to build and identify better statistical models. Both JMP 16 and JMP Pro 16 are launched today, after first being unveiled at the Discovery Summit Europe online analytics conference. German company Heliatek has developed a pioneering organic solar film that is making the goal of 100% green electricity a reality by addressing the previously unmet need for a solar installation optimized for various architectures (e.g., vertical). Photo copyright Innogy. Taking inspiration from a traditional alarm circuit board, Torsten Weber, Process Integration Engineer at Heliatek, used JMP scripting to build a custom dashboard for the Heliatek fab that quickly alerts operators about out-of-control processes. "JMP is a really attractive and easy-to-use software that also has interesting features like DOE [design of experiments] and all the other statistical analyses I might need. To have this tool and also to be able to code in this tool is great," Weber said. Efficiency and transparency in communicating results are essential for Court Sandau of Chemistry Matters , a consultancy of forensic chemists who help hold arsonists and polluters to account. "I have to be transparent about how I came to my conclusions by communicating visually which is why I get my clients involved with JMP: to be able to load my data into the software, click and show them where it is and how [we arrived at our] interpretation. That's the power of visualization: communicating the data, learning from it and allowing our clients to see where the data comes from," Sandau said. "JMP makes analytic work more efficient by remembering what you tell it," said John Sall, co-founder and Executive Vice President of SAS and head of SAS' JMP business unit. "Now you can have the best of both worlds: Do your analysis interactively and have a script that knows exactly what you did." Sall marked the launches with his keynote talk "Thanks for the Memory" at Discovery Summit Europe earlier this month. JMP 16 highlights Control chart warnings in JMP Live to monitor production and triage problems with processes. to monitor production and triage problems with processes. Action Recording and Enhanced Log to capture analytic activities performed in an interactive session and create a repeatable workflow. Enhancements to the drag-and-drop Graph Builder, including an easy run chart, a cumulative sum statistic and more line labeling options. Sample Size Explorer to support interactive exploration of power, sample size and margin of error in design of experiments. JMP Pro 16 highlights Model Screening to find the best model to explore the question at hand. Enhanced Structural Equation Modeling with new measures and visualizations, model shortcuts and interactive model comparison. Limit of Detection Analysis for performing analyses more easily and specifying lower and upper detection limits for responses in custom designed experiments. Term selection and sentiment analysis in Text Explorer to better understand customer surveys and feedback. What customers are saying about JMP 16 and JMP Pro 16 "I love the Structural Equation Modeling platform in JMP, and the new features in version 16 make it even more powerful." Vic Strecher, researcher and author of Life on Purpose "This new [model screening] tool makes it even easier for users to simultaneously test many different models with the same data set. Something that once took me hours or even days can now be done in minutes (or even seconds)." Anderson Mayfield, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Miami "I like many of the new features in JMP 16. Machine learning, sentiment analysis, model screening and SEM are all very popular techniques among the technique-inclined or analysis addicts." Roselinde Kessels, Maastricht University "I'm really thrilled and impressed by the implementation of the measurement tool in JMP 16! As a statistical engineering practitioner, and as a ready visual learner, it gives me great insight to be able to measure distances between means or between extreme observations, for example, directly on my plots as opposed to calling up summary statistics or summary tables. The measurement tool gives me an even finer ability to see and touch my data." Patrick Giuliano, Abbott "Model screening is a very useful and efficient tool, time-saving and enabling everyone to have access to more complex statistical models with ease." Victor Guiller, Fuchs "JMP 16 brings two very exciting additions to the Time Series platform: the inclusion of State Space Smoothing models, and the 'Forecast on Holdback' option. Both are used extensively in supply chain applications." Marie Gaudard, North Haven Group "Now, we have straightforward options to incorporate detection limits into the analyses so we get more accurate models and can detect important effects we may otherwise have missed." Stan Siranovich, Crucial Connection A fully functional, free 30-day trial of JMP is available from the JMP website. About JMP SAS created JMP (pronounced "jump") in 1989 to empower scientists, engineers and other data analysts to explore and analyze data visually and interactively. Since then, JMP has grown from a single product into a family of statistical discovery tools, each one tailored to meet specific needs. John Sall, SAS co-founder and Executive Vice President, leads the JMP business unit. About SAS SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW. SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright 2021 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial Contact: Arati Mejdal [email protected] +1 919-531-2049 sas.com/news SOURCE SAS Related Links http://www.sas.com LONDON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NatWest Group plc (the "Offeror") has today launched tender offers to purchase for cash (each, an "Offer" and, together, the "Offers") any and all of certain series of its U.S. dollar denominated notes set out in the table below (the "Notes"). The Offers are being made on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the offer to purchase dated March 23, 2021 (the "Offer to Purchase") and the related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (together, the "Offer Documents"). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this announcement have the same meaning as in the Offer to Purchase. Purpose of the Offers The Offeror is providing the holders of the Notes with an opportunity to have their Notes repurchased while maintaining a responsible approach to the management of the Offeror's capital position. The Offeror will continue to meet all of its capital requirements irrespective of the outcome of the Offers. Terms of the Offers The Offeror is offering to purchase for cash, on the terms and conditions described in the Offer to Purchase any and all of the outstanding Notes set out in the table below. Title of Security Issuer ISIN/CUSIP Principal Amount Issued Principal Amount Outstanding(1) Fixed Spread (bps) Reference U.S. Treasury Security First Call Date Maturity Bloomberg Reference Page Purchase Price(2) 6.425% Non-Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities ("Trust Securities") RBS Capital Trust II US74927PAA75 74927PAA7 $650,000,000 $137,685,000 +55 1.125% U.S. Treasury Security due February 15, 2031 January 3, 2034 N/A FIT1 To be determined as described herein 7.648% Dollar Perpetual Regulatory tier One Securities, Series 1 ("PROs") The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc(3) US780097AH44 780097AH4 $1,200,000,000 $130,205,000 +85 1.125% U.S. Treasury Security due February 15, 2031 September 30, 2031 N/A FIT1 To be determined as described herein 6.125% Subordinated Tier 2 Notes due 2022 ("2022 Notes") The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (3) US780099CE50 780099CE5 $2,250,000,000 $1,615,576,000 +65 0.125% U.S. Treasury Security due February 28, 2023 N/A December 15, 2022 FIT1 To be determined as described herein 6.100% Subordinated Tier 2 Notes due 2023 ("2023 Notes I") The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc(3) US780097AY76 780097AY7 $1,000,000,000 $544,194,000 +80 0.125% U.S. Treasury Security due February 28, 2023 N/A June 10, 2023 FIT1 To be determined as described herein 6.000% Subordinated 'Tier 2 Notes due 2023 ("2023 Notes II") The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc(3) US780097AZ42 780097AZ4 $2,000,000,000 $2,000,000,000 +90 0.125% U.S. Treasury Security due February 28, 2023 N/A December 19, 2023 FIT1 To be determined as described herein 5.125% Subordinated Tier 2 Notes due 2024 ("2024 Notes") The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc(3) US780099CH81 780099CH8 $2,250,000,000 $2,250,000,000 +95 0.250% U.S. Treasury Security due March 15, 2024 N/A May 28, 2024 FIT1 To be determined as described herein (1) Excluding $512,315,000 principal amount of 6.425% Non-Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities, which are held by the Offeror as of the date of this Offer to Purchase and are deemed not to be outstanding. (2) Per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes (as defined herein) validly tendered and accepted for purchase. (3) Currently NatWest Group plc. The Trust Securities, the PROs and Tier 2 Notes are collectively referred to as the "Notes" and each, a "Series". The Offers will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 29, 2021, unless extended (such date and time, as the same may be extended, the "Expiration Deadline") or earlier terminated. Purchase Price; Accrued Interest Purchase Price The Purchase Price for each $1,000 principal amount of the relevant Series validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Expiration Deadline received by the Tender Agent at or prior to the Expiration Time or the Guaranteed Delivery Date, as the case may be, and accepted for purchase by the Offeror will be equal to an amount (rounded to the nearest $0.01) that would reflect, as of the Settlement Date, a yield to the maturity date (in the case of Tier 2 Notes) or the First Call Date (in the case of the Trust Securities and PROs) of such Series of Notes equal to the sum of (i) the Reference Yield for such Series of Notes, plus (ii) the Fixed Spread set forth in the table above. Specifically, the Purchase Price will equal (i) the value of all remaining payments of principal and interest on the relevant Series of Notes up to and including the scheduled maturity (in the case of the Tier 2 Notes) or the First Call Date (in the case of the Trust Securities and PROs, assuming all outstanding Notes were redeemed at their nominal amount on such date) of the relevant Series, discounted to the Settlement Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), at a discount rate equal to (x) the relevant Reference Yield (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) plus (y) the relevant Fixed Spread, minus (ii) Accrued Interest (in the case of the Tier 2 Notes and PROs) or Accrued Distribution (in the case of the Trust Securities). Accrued Interest In addition to the Purchase Price, holders of the PROs and Tier 2 Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offers will also receive accrued and unpaid interest on each $1,000 principal amount of such Notes (rounded to the nearest $0.01) from, and including, the last interest payment date up to, but not including, the Settlement Date (as defined below) (the "Accrued Interest"). Holders whose Notes are tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures will not receive payment in respect of any interest for the period from and including the Settlement Date to the Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date. Accrued Interest for each $1,000 principal amount of such Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase will be rounded to the nearest $0.01, with $0.005 being rounded upwards, in accordance with the conditions of such Notes. Accrued Distribution In addition to the Purchase Price, holders of the Trust Securities accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offers will also receive an amount equal to accrued and unpaid interest on each $1,000 principal amount of such Trust Securities (rounded to the nearest $0.01) from, and including, the last distribution payment date up to, but not including, the Settlement Date (the "Accrued Distribution"). Holders whose Trust Securities are tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures will not receive payment in respect of any distributions for the period from and including the Settlement Date to the Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date. Accrued Distribution for each $1,000 principal amount of Trust Securities validly tendered and accepted for purchase will be rounded to the nearest $0.01, with $0.005 being rounded upwards. Settlement Unless the Offers are extended, reopened or earlier terminated, payment of the Purchase Price, plus any Accrued Interest or Accrued Distribution, as the case may be, to holders of Notes that are validly tendered and not withdrawn and accepted for purchase is expected to be made on March 31, 2021 (the "Settlement Date") or, in the case of Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedure, on April 1, 2021 (the "Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date"). Offer Conditions The Offers are not conditional upon any minimum amount of Notes being tendered. However, the Offers are conditional upon the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions described in the Offer to Purchase. Withdrawal Rights Notes tendered pursuant to an Offer may be withdrawn at any time before the Withdrawal Deadline. In addition, if the relevant Offer is extended, the Withdrawal Deadline will be extended to the earlier of (i) the Expiration Deadline (as extended) and (ii) the 10th Business Day after the commencement of the Offers. Notes tendered pursuant to an Offer may also be withdrawn at any time after the 60th Business Day after commencement of the Offers if, for any reason, that Offer has not been consummated within 60 Business Days of commencement. The relevant deadline set by the relevant Clearing System or any intermediary for the submission of Tender Instructions may be earlier than the deadlines set out herein. Indicative Timetable The following table sets out the expected dates and times of the key events relating to the Offers. This is an indicative timetable and is subject to change. Events Dates and Times Commencement Date Commencement of the Offers upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase. March 23, 2021 Price Determination Time The time at which the Reference Yield for each Series of Notes will be determined by the Dealer Managers. 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 29, 2021, unless otherwise extended Withdrawal Deadline The deadline for holders to validly withdraw Notes tendered before this date and time, unless otherwise extended as described herein. 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 29, 2021, unless otherwise extended Expiration Deadline The deadline for holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Offers in order to qualify for payment of the Purchase Price plus any Accrued Interest and/or Accrued Distribution, as applicable. 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 29, 2021, unless otherwise extended Guaranteed Delivery Date The deadline for holders using the guaranteed delivery procedures described in the Offer to Purchase to deliver their Notes. Close of business on the second Business Day following the Expiration Deadline Settlement Date Payment of the Purchase Price, plus any Accrued Interest or Accrued Distribution, as applicable, for all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offers (other than the Notes tendered pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures). Expected on March 31, 2021, the second Business Day following the Expiration Deadline Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date Payment of the Purchase Price plus any Accrued Interest or Accrued Distribution, as applicable, for all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. Expected on April 1, 2021, the third Business Day following the Expiration Deadline The times and dates above are subject, where applicable, to the right of the Offeror to extend, re-open, amend, limit, terminate or withdraw the Offers, subject to applicable law. Accordingly, the actual timetable may differ significantly from the expected timetable set out above. Holders should confirm with the bank, securities broker or any other intermediary through which they hold their Notes whether such intermediary needs to receive instructions from a holder before the deadlines specified above in order for that holder to be able to participate in, or withdraw their instruction to participate in, the Offers. FURTHER INFORMATION Copies of the Offer Documents are available at the following web address: www.lucid-is.com/natwest Requests for additional copies of the Offer Documents and information in relation to the procedures for tendering should be directed to: Tender Agent Lucid Issuer Services Limited Email: [email protected] David Shilson Telephone: +44 20 7704 0880 NatWest Treasury Markets Scott Forrest Email: [email protected] Head of Treasury DCM Telephone: +44 7747 455969 Global Arranger and Lead Dealer Manager NatWest Markets Telephone: +44 20 7678 5222 (UK) Telephone: +1 203 897 6166 (U.S.) Telephone: +1 866 884 2071 (U.S. Toll Free) Email: [email protected] Attn: Liability Management Dealer Managers Citigroup Telephone: +44 20 7986 8969 Telephone: +1 212 723 6106 (U.S.) Telephone: +1 800 558 3745 (U.S. Toll Free) Email: [email protected] Attn: Liability Management Group Merrill Lynch International Telephone: +44 20 7996 5420 (London) Telephone: +1 888 292 0070 (U.S. Toll Free) Telephone: +1 980 387 3907 (U.S.) Email: [email protected] Attn: Liability Management Group Morgan Stanley Telephone: +44 20 7677 5040 (Europe) Telephone: +1 800 624 1808 (U.S. Toll Free) Telephone: +1 212 761 1057 (U.S.) Email: [email protected] Attn: Liability Management (in the U.S.) Attn: Liability Management Group (in Europe) UBS Investment Bank Telephone: +44 20 7568 1121 (Europe) Telephone: +1 888 719 4210 (U.S. Toll Free) Telephone: +1 203 719 4210 (U.S.) Email: [email protected] Attn: Liability Management Group DISCLAIMER This announcement and the Offer to Purchase (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) contain important information which should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Offer. If you are in any doubt as to the contents of this announcement or the Offer to Purchase or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own financial and legal advice, including as to any tax consequences, immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial or legal adviser. Any individual or company whose Notes are held on its behalf by a broker, dealer, bank, custodian, trust company or other nominee or intermediary must contact such entity if it wishes to participate in the Offer. None of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers, the Tender Agent or the trustee with respect to the Notes (or any of their respective directors, employees or affiliates) make any recommendation as to whether holders should tender Notes pursuant to the Offer. OFFER RESTRICTIONS European Economic Area ("EEA") The communication of this announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers does not constitute an offer of securities to the public for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended, the "Prospectus Regulation") and accordingly the requirement to produce a prospectus under the Prospectus Regulation does not apply to the Offers. United Kingdom The communication of this announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers are not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the "FSMA"). Accordingly, this announcement, the Offer to Purchase and such other documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of the Offer to Purchase and such other documents and/or materials is exempt from the restriction on financial promotions under section 21 of the FSMA on the basis that they are only being distributed to and are only directed at persons to whom they can lawfully be circulated outside the United Kingdom or to: (i) persons in the United Kingdom having professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Order")); (ii) persons falling within Article 43 of the Order; or (iii) any other persons to whom the Offer to Purchase and such other documents and/or materials may otherwise lawfully be communicated under the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This announcement and the Offer to Purchase and such documents and/or materials are directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement and the Offer to Purchase relate is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. The communication of this announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers does not constitute an offer of securities to the public for the purposes of s of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended) as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (EUWA) (the "UK Prospectus Regulation") and accordingly the requirement to produce a prospectus under the UK Prospectus Regulation does not apply to the Offers. Belgium Neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offers have been submitted to or will be submitted for approval or recognition to the Financial Services and Markets Authority (Autorite des services et marches financiers / Autoriteit voor financiele diensten en markten) and, accordingly, the Offers may not be made in Belgium by way of a public offering, as defined in Articles 3 and 6 of the Belgian Law of April 1, 2007 on public takeover bids as amended or replaced from time to time. Accordingly, the Offers may not be advertised and the Offers will not be extended, and neither this announcement, the Offer to Purchase nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offers (including any memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar documents) have been or shall be distributed or made available, directly or indirectly, to any person in Belgium other than "qualified investors" in the sense of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation, acting on their own account. This announcement and the Offer to Purchase have been issued only for the personal use of the above qualified investors and exclusively for the purpose of the Offers. Accordingly, the information contained in this announcement and the Offer to Purchase may not be used for any other purpose or disclosed to any other person in Belgium. France This announcement, the Offer to Purchase and any other documents or offering materials relating to the Offers may not be distributed in the Republic of France except to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifies) as defined in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation. This announcement and the Offer to Purchase have not been and will not be submitted for clearance to the Autorite des marches financiers. Italy None of the Offers, this announcement, the Offer to Purchase or any other documents or materials relating to the Offers has been or will be submitted to the clearance procedure of the Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa ("CONSOB"), pursuant to applicable Italian laws and regulations. The Offers are being carried out in the Republic of Italy ("Italy") as an exempted offer pursuant to article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58 of February 24, 1998, as amended (the "Financial Services Act") and article 35-bis, paragraph 4 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of May 14, 1999, as amended (the "Issuers' Regulation"). The Offers are also being carried out in compliance with article 35-bis, paragraph 7 of the Issuers' Regulation. Holders or beneficial owners of the Notes located in Italy can tender the Notes through authorized persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of February 15, 2018, as amended from time to time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 1993, as amended) and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or with requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority. Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis-a-vis its clients in connection with the Notes and the Offers. General The Offers do not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell Notes (and offers to sell will not be accepted from the holders) in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. In those jurisdictions where the securities or other laws require the Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer or similar and any of the Dealer Managers or any of the Dealer Manager's respective affiliates is such a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the Offers shall be deemed to be made by such Dealer Manager or affiliate, as the case may be, on behalf of the Offeror in such jurisdiction. Each holder participating in the Offers will be deemed to give certain representations in respect of the jurisdictions referred to above and generally as set out in the Offer to Purchase. Any tender of Notes pursuant to the Offer to Purchase from a holder that is unable to make these representations will be rejected. Each of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers and Lucid Issuer Services Limited reserves the right, in its absolute discretion (and without prejudice to the relevant holder's responsibility for the representations made by it), to investigate in relation to any tender of Notes, whether any such representation given by a holder is correct and, if such investigation is undertaken and as a result the Offeror determines (for any reason) that such representation is not correct, such offer to sell will be rejected. The Offeror and its affiliates expressly reserve the right at any time or from time to time following completion or termination of the Offers, to purchase or exchange or offer to purchase or exchange Notes or to issue an invitation to submit offers to sell Notes (including, without limitation, those tendered pursuant to the Offers but not accepted for purchase) through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, tender offers, exchange offers or otherwise, in each case on terms that may be more or less favorable than those contemplated by the Offers. In addition, the Offeror also reserves the right to issue new debt securities from time to time, including during the term of the Offers. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION THAT QUALIFIED OR MAY HAVE QUALIFIED AS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR NATWEST GROUP PLC, FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014 (MAR) AS IT FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE BY ALEXANDER HOLCROFT, HEAD OF INVESTOR RELATIONS FOR NATWEST GROUP PLC. Legal Entity Identifiers NatWest Group plc 2138005O9XJIJN4JPN90 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS From time to time, we may make statements, both written and oral, regarding our assumptions, projections, expectations, intentions or beliefs about future events. These statements constitute "forward-looking statements". We caution that these statements may and often do vary materially from actual results. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. You should read the sections entitled "Risk Factors" in the Offer to Purchase, in our Annual Report which is incorporated by reference herein and "Forward-Looking Statements" in our Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference in the Offer to Purchase. Any forward-looking statements made herein or in the documents incorporated by reference herein speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA"), any applicable stock exchange or any applicable law, we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained in the Offer to Purchase or the documents incorporated by reference herein to reflect any changes in expectations with regard thereto or any new information or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. The reader should, however, consult any additional disclosures that we have made or may make in documents we have filed or may file with the SEC. Investor Relations Paul Pybus Email: [email protected] Head of Debt Investor Relations Telephone: +44 776 916 1183 250 Bishopsgate London EC2M 4AA SOURCE NatWest Group plc Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. Capital market regulator has eased valuation rule pertaining to The move comes after the asked Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to withdraw its directive to mutual fund houses to treat additional tier-I (AT-1) bonds as having maturity of 100 years as it could disrupt the market and impact capital-raising by banks. In a late evening circular on Monday, said the deemed residual maturity of Basel III AT-1 bonds will be 10 years until 31 March, 2022, and would be increased to 20 and 30 years over the subsequent six-month period. From April 1, 2023, onwards, the residual maturity of AT-1 bonds will become 100 years from the date of issuance of the bonds. In addition, said that deemed residual maturity of Basel III Tier 2 bonds would be considered 10 years or contractual maturity, whichever is earlier, until March 2022. After that, it will be in accordance with the contractual maturity. AT-1 bonds are considered perpetual in nature, similar to equity shares as per the Basel III guidelines. They form part of the tier-I capital of banks. Further, if the issuer does not exercise call option for any bond then the valuation will be done considering maturity of 100 years from the date of issuance for AT-1 bonds and contractual maturity for tier-2 bonds, for all bonds of the issuer, Sebi said. In addition, if the non-exercise of call option is due to the financial stress of the issuer or if there is any adverse news, the same need to be reflected in the valuation, it added. Based on the representation of the mutual fund industry to consider a glide path for implementation of the policy and request of other stakeholder, Sebi said it has taken the decision. Further, mutual fund industry body AMFI has been advised to issue detailed guidelines with respect to valuation of bonds issued under Basel III framework, which shall be implemented by April 1, 2021. Earlier this month, Sebi came out with a new framework that capped debt mutual fund exposure to perpetual bonds, which include AT-1 bonds and tier-2 bonds. It had also said that the maturity of all should be treated as 100 years from the date of issuance for the purpose of valuation. The framework was to come into effect from April 1, 2021. (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.) By Ritah Kemigisa The Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) General David Muhoozi, has flagged off 2,416 troops for a one year peacekeeping mission in Somalia. According to the UPDF spokesperson Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso, the event was held at Peace Support Operation and Training Center Nakaseke District. The training center Commandant, Brig Gen Bonny Wolimbwa said the battle group had received close to a year of pre-mission training and that it was in a good state to deploy in Somalia. He added that the same battle group was the first to be trained by purely Ugandan instructors. The Deputy Commander Land Forces, Maj Gen Sam Kavuma said deploying troops have demonstrated high levels of military competencies and will therefore be reliable in contributing to the achievement of the Missions intended objectives. Uganda contributes over 6,000 troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia. WASHINGTON President Biden mourned the victims of Mondays mass shooting in Boulder, Colo., calling for common sense legislation on gun control in the wake of two such incidents in less than a week. As president, Im going to use all the resources at my disposal to keep the American people safe, Biden said Tuesday, addressing the Boulder shooting, which left 10 people dead at a supermarket. Another American city has been scarred by gun violence. Biden said he had spoken to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and planned to speak to Boulder Mayor Sam Weaver while on Air Force One later this afternoon. President Biden speaks about the Colorado shootings at the White House on Tuesday. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) While Biden acknowledged that many details surrounding Mondays deadly shooting remain unknown, he said he is certain in his push to implement gun reform and called on the Senate to pass two recently green-lit House bills that close loopholes in the firearm purchasing process. I dont need to wait another minute, let alone another hour, to take common sense steps that will save lives in the future and to urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act, Biden said. We can ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines once again. The gunman, identified by police as 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa of Arvada, Colo., was charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder. Alissas brother told the Daily Beast on Tuesday that Alissa was very antisocial and in a constant state of paranoia, and claimed that his actions may have been motivated by mental illness. Alissa remains in police custody. Biden ordered all flags at the White House to be flown at half-staff. Vice President Kamala Harris called the shooting absolutely baffling after a swearing-in ceremony Tuesday morning. It's 10 people going about their day living their lives, not bothering anybody. A police officer who is performing his duties, and with great courage and heroism, Harris said, referring to Eric Talley, 51, a Boulder police officer who was killed after responding to a report of an armed man inside the supermarket. Story continues The shooting in Boulder came not even a week after a gunman in the Atlanta area killed eight people, including six Asian women, at three separate locations. In a statement released Tuesday, former President Barack Obama grieved for the victims families while calling for comprehensive gun control. "A once-in-a-century pandemic cannot be the only thing that slows mass shootings in this country, Obama said. We shouldnt have to choose between one type of tragedy and another. Its time for leaders everywhere to listen to the American people when they say enough is enough. Smashed windows at the scene after a gunman opened fire at a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder, Colo., on Monday. (Chet Strange/Getty Images) He continued: It is long past time for those with the power to fight this epidemic of gun violence to do so. It will take time to root out the disaffection, racism and misogyny that fuels so many of these senseless acts of violence. But we can make it harder for those with hate in their hearts to buy weapons of war, Obama said. Boulder attempted to bring firearm reform to the city less than two weeks before the massacre. On March 12, a district court judge blocked its ban on the possession, transfer or sale of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. A law enforcement source told CNN that an AR-15-style rifle was used for the shooting, though that was not publicly confirmed by police on Tuesday. ____ Read more from Yahoo News: But spokesmen for leading Sydney stores denied that the machines were harmful, stating that devices cut off the X-ray automatically. Such machines could do children serious injury and should be totally banned, they said. Macquarie Street specialists warned parents yesterday not to let their children use X-ray shoe-fitting machines. First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on March 25, 1956 X-rays at shoe shops SPECIALISTS URGE BAN They said that salesgirls had been trained to use the machines, which had been scientifically checked repeatedly, proving they were safe. One specialist told The Sun-Herald: The enthusiastic mother who tries three or four pairs of shoes on her child at half a dozen shops may be doing the child irreparable harm. This type of machine generally produces about 14 Rontgen units of X-ray a minute. Delayed action of beam A child or adult can take up to 75 Rontgen units at a time without danger. [March 23, 2021] Glenmede Appoints Linda Manfredonia as Regional Director in Delaware Glenmede, a privately held and independently owned investment and wealth management firm, today announced the appointment of Linda Manfredonia as Regional Director of Glenmede's Wilmington office and President and CEO of The Glenmede Trust Company of Delaware (GTCDE). She will report to Susan Mucciarone, Executive Director of Private Wealth. Ms. Manfredonia joins Glenmede as successor to Geoff Rogers who will retire at month-end following 22 years as the head the Wilmington regional office. Ms. Manfredonia brings executive leadership, fiduciary expertise and a passion for client experience to her role. She will build upon Glenmede's prominent reputation in the Delaware community and lead continued market growth. "Linda has an ideal background to take the helm of our Delaware region," said Ms. Mucciarone. "Clients in the community have consistently expressed appreciation for the advice, solutions and quality of care they receive from our Wilmington team. Linda's seasoned guidance will serve to further enhance client satisfaction, and her deep fiduciary knowledge will benefit the expanding network of domestic and multi-jurisdictional clients who seek to have their financial affairs managed in Delaware." Ms. Manfredonia joins Glenmede following a 30-year career at PNC (News - Alert) , where she held key leadership positios, including Chief Fiduciary Officer, Chief Risk Officer and Chief Administrative Officer for the bank's Asset Management Group, and prior to that, as Regional Managing Director for the Greater Philadelphia area. "Given the long-standing success of Glenmede's Wilmington office and the many benefits of Delaware Trust law, this is a very promising time to lead the office. I look forward to working with the exceptional team of professionals in Wilmington and across the firm, and to contributing my fiduciary, leadership and operating expertise to the benefit of our clients, and to the firm overall," said Ms. Manfredonia. In the community, Linda serves as a Board member of Women's Way, LaSalle University President's Advisory Council, and Philadelphia Consortium of Special Collections Library (PACSL). She is a past Board Member for the Center of Literacy, the Mural Arts Program, the Abington Hospital Foundation and the Abington/Jefferson Hospital. Also, she has presented and lectured at various industry organizations including the American Bankers Association, the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, Fiduciary and Investment Risk Management Association (FIRMA) and the Forum of Executive Women. Ms. Manfredonia holds a Juris Doctor degree and a Master of Laws degree in Taxation from Temple University, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from La Salle University. About Glenmede The Glenmede Trust Company, N.A. ("Glenmede") is among the nation's leading investment and wealth management firms. Together with its affiliates, the company oversees $40 billion of assets under management for high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, endowments, foundations and institutional clients. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the firm has offices in Ohio, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Washington DC. For further information, please visit www.glenmede.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005441/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] ADVERTISEMENT A police shot during the violence that marred the House of Assembly bye-election for Ekiti East Constituency 1 on Saturday, is dead. Olawoyo Bukola, a police sergeant, was confirmed dead on Monday, in a statement by Sunday Abutu, the states police spokesperson. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that two people died in the incident at ward 7, Unit 7 Iworo in Omuo Ekiti. The recent development has brought the total number of deceased to three. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended the election in the aftermath of the violence. While the PDP and the APC have exonerated their parties from the violence, Governor Kayode Fayemi maintained that the perpetrators will face the law. Three people were eventually arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, murder and attempted murder. They have been remanded in prison. Announcing the death its official on Monday, Mr Abutu in a statement said, the Ekiti State Police Command, with deepest sorrow, announces the death of W/SGT OLAWOYE BUKOLA who was shot by a group of thugs that invaded ward 7, Unit 7 during the recent Ekiti East House of Assembly Bye Election. She died at about 1800hrs today (Monday) being 22/03/2021 at FMC, Ido-Ekiti, after fighting for her life for days. The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, CP TUNDE MOBAYO, on behalf of the Command, sympathizes with her family members and pray God grants her soul eternal rest. Meanwhile, the Command wishes to inform the general public that the suspects who committed the heinous crime have all been charged to Court, the statement read. NATO affirms unity, tries to put Trump era behind it View Photo BRUSSELS (AP) NATO foreign ministers on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to defend each other against outside attack and underlined the strength of relations between North America and Europe, after four years of doubt and concern among some allies under the Trump administration. We are now opening a new chapter in our trans-Atlantic relationship, NATO-Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after chairing the talks. He thanked President Joe Biden for committing to rebuild the strength of this alliance and make it future-proof in a more competitive world. In a formal joint statement aimed at turning a page on the Trump era, the ministers said: We are meeting in Brussels to reaffirm the enduring transatlantic bond between Europe and North America, with NATO at its heart. The ministers, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, also committed to the collective defense clause Article 5 of NATOs founding treaty under which an attack against one ally shall be considered an attack against them all. It has only been activated once by NATO, after the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington. Former U.S. President Donald Trump often criticized NATO partners for failing to pay their defense dues, claiming falsely that they owed the alliance or the United States money. Early in his tenure, he threatened not to come to the defense of any country that did not meet NATO spending guidelines, causing deep concern among member nations close to Russias borders, like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The ministers noted that members of the 30-nation alliance are making good progress on fairer trans-Atlantic burden sharing; we welcome the efforts made by all Allies in Europe and North America that contribute to our indivisible security. We must and will do more. They also vowed that NATO would continue to adapt in the face of rising threats and systemic competition, and underlined that Russias aggressive actions constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security. Earlier, Blinken said that the U.S. is determined to revitalize our alliances, to revitalize our partnerships, starting with NATO. When we look at virtually all of the challenges that we face as a country and that are actually going to potentially affect the lives of our citizens, not a single one of them can be effectively dealt with by any one country acting alone, even the United States with all of the resources that we have, he said. The U.S. is by far the biggest and most influential member of NATO, and Trump also surprised, confounded and sometimes angered allies with unilateral decisions, like pulling U.S. troops out of Afghanistan and northern Syria. France complained about a lack of U.S. leadership at NATO. Asked about NATO member Turkey, Stoltenberg acknowledged that the allies have differences over Ankaras decision to buy Russian anti-aircraft missiles or its aggressive behavior in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, notably a standoff over energy exploration with Greece and Cyprus. We need to use NATO as a platform and consult when there are differences, he said, expressing hope that a series of proposals he has drafted to address problems within the alliance will be endorsed by Biden and fellow NATO leaders when they meet in Brussels in June. By LORNE COOK Associated Press Meghan McCain, host of 'The View' has apologised after John Oliver criticised her for comments she made defending former President Trump's anti-China rhetoric regarding coronavirus. After eight people, including six of Asian-American descent, were killed in shootings at three separate message parlors in Atlanta last week there has been a push to declare the violence as a hate crime. However, the accused shooter has said it was his 'sex addictions' rather than a racial motive that drove him to kill. During 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' on Sunday, Oliver blamed then-President Donald Trump's use of terms such as 'China virus', 'Wuhan Virus' and 'kung flu' when referring to Covid-19 during his final year in office and 2020 election campaign for the rise in attacks on Asian-Americans. Meghan McCain (pictured), host of 'The View' and daughter of late senator John McCain, has apologised after the 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' host criticised her over comments about rhetoric tying the coronavirus outbreak to China 'I condemn the reprehensible violence and vitriol that has been targeted towards the Asian-American community,' McCain tweeted after John Oliver criticized her on his Sunday show. 'There is no doubt Donald Trump's racist rhetoric fueled many of these attacks and I apologize for any past comments that aided that agenda.' 'Our long, ugly history of anti-Asian racism and the fact that it often peaks during times of crisis is the exact reason why, just last year, many were loudly warning that Trump calling COVID names like the 'China virus' was likely to lead to a rise in violence against people of Asian descent,' Oliver said. 'An argument that not everyone, at the time, seemed to find convincing.' Oliver then played a clip of McCain - almost a year to the day of his show being broadcast - dismissing Trump's critics at the time. 'I think that the left wants to focus on PC labeling of this virus. This is a great way to get Trump reelected,' McCain said in the clip. 'I don't have a problem with people calling it whatever they want. It's a deadly virus that did originate in Wuhan. I don't have a problem with it.' Commenting on the clip, an exasperated Oliver said: 'Oh good! Meghan McCain doesn't have a problem with it! Listen not to the scores of Asian-Americans telling everyone that the term is dangerous and offensive. 'Instead, gather around and take the word of a wealthy white woman who's dressed like she's about to lay off 47 people over Zoom.' John Oliver (pictured) slammed then-President Donald Trump's use of terms such as 'China virus', 'Wuhan Virus' and 'kung flu' when referring to Covid-19 during his final year in office and 2020 election campaign on the rise in attacks on Asian-Americans Oliver noted that on March 17, McCain posted a tweet with the words 'Stop Asian Hate' captioned with three broken heart emojis, showing the tweet on-screen. The host called it a 'fine statement,' but added 'there has to be an understanding that saying, 'I don't have a problem with calling it the China virus' is very much giving space for that hate to grow.' Following Oliver's Sunday night show, McCain took to twitter again to apologise, but did not directly respond to his criticism. 'I condemn the reprehensible violence and vitriol that has been targeted towards the Asian-American community,' she tweeted. 'There is no doubt Donald Trump's racist rhetoric fueled many of these attacks and I apologize for any past comments that aided that agenda.' Crimes against Asian Americans have risen in in recent months, with president Joe Biden and other politicians speaking publicly about the need to address the issue. In the last year alone, there were nearly 3,800 incidents against Asian Americans, according the group Stop AAPI Hate, and 68 per cent of those were against women. In remarks delivered after meeting with members of the Asian-American community in Atlanta on Friday, President Joe Biden also went after the former president - though not by name. Crime scene tape is seen outside Aromatherapy Spa after shootings at a massage parlor and two day spas in the Atlanta area left eight dead - six of whom were Asian-American President Joe Biden speaks in Atlanta, Georgia Friday after a meeting with Asian-American community members in the wake of Tuesday's shooting in the city that targeted Asian spas 'It's the coronavirus. Full stop,' Biden said, going after Trump for using a racist nickname to label the pandemic after his meeting with Asian-American community leaders in the wake of the March 16 spa shootings. Vice President Kamala Harris, who introduced Biden, also alluded to the ex-president blasting 'people with the biggest bully pulpits' who are 'spreading this kind of hate.' Biden and Harris had originally planned to be in Atlanta for a 'car rally' - a socially distant political event marking the passage of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. But last Tuesday's shootings that left six Asian-American women dead - eight total - turned the trip into a visit to the CDC and lengthy meeting with members of the community. Biden gave his remarks at Emory University and was over an hour late by the time they began. He called anecdotes he heard during the closed-door meeting with Asian-American stakeholders 'heartwrenching.' President Joe Biden tweeted the phrase he used in his speech Friday while visiting Atlanta, Georgia after meeting members of the Asian-American community Former President Donald Trump repeatedly called COVID-19 the 'China virus,' using the term, again, in a statement sent out from his office last week Biden spoke about racism at the top of his speech, calling it 'the ugly poison that has long haunted and plagued our nation.' 'Each one of them we mourn,' he said of the victims, saying their families were left with 'broken hearts and unanswered questions.' On Wednesday, Biden said he was making 'no connection' between the Atlanta massage parlor shooter and the race of his victims before the investigation is complete, but continued to call the uptick in hate crimes against Asians 'very troubling.' Biden made the comments in the Oval Office Wednesday before a virtual meeting with Ireland's Taoiseach Micheal Martin, telling reporters he had spoken with Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray. 'I know that Asian-Americans are very, very concerned because, as you know, I was speaking about the brutality against Asian-American for the last couple months,' Biden said. 'And I think it is very, very troubling.' 'But I'm making no connection at this moment. The motivation of the killer. I'm waiting for an answer, as the investigation proceeds, from the FBI and from the Justice Department,' the president continued. 'I'll have more to say when the investigation has completed.' Robert Aaron Long, 21, told police that he has a sex addiction and viewed the parlors as an 'outlet' and 'temptation' that he wanted to remove. He confessed to the killings after police rammed his car off the road at 8pm on Tuesday night. He was on his way to Florida to carry out more attacks People with the medical examiner's office wheel out a body on a stretcher from the Gold Spa massage parlor where three people were shot and killed on Tuesday in Atlanta, Georgia Three shootings at spas and massage parlors around Atlanta left eight people dead and police on the hunt for those responsible A white man, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, is accused of killing eight people in three locations Tuesday night in Atlanta. Six of the people were Asian and seven were women. Long allegedly shot give people at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor, which is north of the city. Two people died at the scene, while three were taken to the hospital where two later succumbed to their injuries. An hour later, three women were found dead at Gold Spa. Another woman was found dead at Aromatherapy Spa. The shooter told police that it was a 'sex addiction' and not racist motivations that compelled him to kill. Police have stressed they haven't come to a conclusion about the motivations of the killer. 'The suspect did take responsibility for the shootings,' Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said, according to the Associated Press. 'This is still early, but he does claim it was not racially motivated.' 'He apparently has an issue, what he considers a sex addiction, and sees these locations as ... a temptation for him that he wanted to eliminate,' Baker said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Danielle Messina, a Staten Island woman whose father is one of the more than 400 borough nursing home residents believed to have been killed by the coronavirus (COVID-19), gathered with other mourning families in Brooklyn Sunday to memorialize loved ones lost in the facilities. Dozens of families gathered at Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn, placed photos of relatives on a makeshift memorial wall and shared stories of those who died amid the pandemic that has wrought havoc within nursing homes throughout the five boroughs. It was very emotional, Messina said of the gathering. Its gut-wrenching to see your loved ones on a wall when your loved ones should be here. Messina, who has been a vocal advocate of an independent investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomos handling of the coronavirus outbreak in nursing homes, said the ability to speak with others who have gone through similar struggles over the past year was a cathartic experience. We all share the same pain, said Messina. We all get it because were all grieving this tragedy, and I cant believe its been almost a year. Messinas father died on April 25, 2020 at Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center. He was a bull with a tough exterior, said Messina, but once you pulled back that tough exterior, he had a heart of gold. Sundays memorial comes nearly one year after Cuomo issued his controversial March 25 directive ordering nursing homes to accept medically stable coronavirus patients. A state Department of Health (DOH) report issued in early July said the agencys statewide analysis of the timing of admissions vs. COVID-19 fatalities shows that Cuomos March 25 directive could not be the driving force of nursing home infections or deaths. The governor effectively reversed the order on May 10. Attorney General Letitia James issued a scathing report in late January that found deaths related to nursing homes may have been undercounted. More heat was added amid allegations that Cuomos administration intentionally obscured the number of deaths in the facilities. This was a rough ride, said Messina, acknowledging the upcoming anniversary of the aforementioned mandate she says killed our loved ones. Some New York residents brought signs to Sundays memorial that read, Apologize Andrew! and Did you count my parents deaths? Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Queens), who has been openly critical of Cuomo, attended Sundays gathering. We came together to remember our loved ones today, 15,000 nursing home residents, each one unforgettable to their families, Kim wrote on Twitter. We remember them and we will continue to fight for them. We care and we will continue to demand the answers that our families deserve. Im hoping and Im praying with all I have in me that we get justice and the accountability that weve been fighting for for almost 11 months now, said Messina, echoing Kims sentiments. Were going to continue our mission. Ugandan police on Tuesday seized the mutilated remains of several lions from suspected wildlife traffickers believed responsible for poisoning six big cats in a world-famous national park last week. Four men arrested late Monday in connection with the poaching incident in Queen Elizabeth National Park led officers to a location where the decapitated heads of four lions and other body parts were stashed. Bottles of poison, spears, a machete, a hunting net and a two-litre (3.6-pint) canister of lion fat oil were found hidden in the garden of one of the suspects' homes, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) said in a statement. "We assure the public that we shall continue to strengthen the protection of lions and other wildlife in Uganda and will pursue this case until justice for the dead lions is served," said UWA's communications manager Bashir Hangi in a statement. "Our national parks remain safe and attractive to visitors and we still have lions in Queen Elizabeth and other parks." The UWA announced Saturday that six lions had been found dead in the park with most of their body parts missing and surrounded by dead vultures -- a find that indicated poison was at play. The grim discovery took to 22 the number of lions killed by suspected poisoning since 2010 in Queen Elizabeth, one of Uganda's best-known national parks, where the big cats are known for their unusual ability to climb trees. Despite potential life sentences in Uganda for poachers found trading in animal parts, successful prosecutions are rare. A wildlife crime expert based in East Africa told AFP that senior members of lucrative transnational syndicates often bribe their way out of trouble, leaving only low-level offenders to face court. Lion bones are often sent to Asia -- in particular Vietnam and China -- where they are used to make wine which consumers believe has magical powers. "This case is unusual because the heads were removed but in wildlife trafficking, just like any other industry, demand for products keeps developing and changing," the expert said. Story continues Queen Elizabeth shares a border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its famous Virunga National Park, a habitat for rare mountain gorillas, where armed groups are believed to operate. Tourism is a top foreign exchange earner in Uganda, contributing almost 10 percent of GDP and 23 percent of total foreign exports, according to the UWA. moh-np/ri 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. Hopes - even his own - weren't particularly high when Brian Faulkner became Northern Ireland's sixth prime minister on this day 50 years ago: March 23, 1971. His two immediate predecessors, Terence O'Neill and James Chichester-Clark, had resigned within the previous two years, unable to command, let alone exercise the authority required to deal with a deteriorating political, security and societal crisis: not to mention the civil war which had broken out across unionism. As Faulkner noted, "There were even some ready to predict that the sixth prime minister would be the last." He had long been viewed within the party as a fairly "traditional" unionist and it looked like he was preparing to challenge for the leadership from the traditional Right wing when he resigned from the government in January 1969 after O'Neill had agreed to an independent inquiry into the causes of violence since 1968. A few days afterwards, 12 unionist MPs signed a document urging a change of leadership. Yet when O'Neill resigned three months later - even though the party had done well in the February "crossroads" election - Faulkner lost to Chichester-Clark by 17 votes to 16, the casting vote coming from O'Neill. When Faulkner replaced him less than two years later, defeating Bill Craig by a very comfortable majority of 26 to four, he claimed it was because, "I was the most experienced minister in government.. and many liberal unionists who had once accepted O'Neill's version of my politics were now convinced that I was genuinely committed to the cause of progress and fair government." But I suspect his victory owed more to the parliamentary party's wariness of Craig's maverick tendencies than to any great fondness for the "serially ambitious" Faulkner. Yet in a speech three months later, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Stormont, Faulkner sounded keen to embrace progress and fair government and announced three new functional committees to sit alongside the Public Accounts Committee: crucially, he said that two of the committees would be chaired by the Opposition. He also urged measures to "break out of the mould of fear and mutual suspicion... all Hon Members have a contribution to make. But I acknowledge the special responsibility of my colleagues and myself as the majority here to give a lead in that direction." Within weeks, though, the SDLP had withdrawn from Stormont, citing the refusal of an inquiry into the death of two men in Derry, and Faulkner's introduction of internment, which he later said was a decision "which virtually forced itself upon us", had destroyed the already small hopes of repairing community relations. Over the next few months, violence increased; 130 non-unionists withdrew from councils; a new Nationalist Assembly of the Northern Irish People met in Dungiven; there was a rents and rates strike against internment; the DUP was formed; and Faulkner came under increasing pressure from all sides, particularly the British government and unionist opponents, including Bill Craig and his newly formed populist Vanguard. Faulkner now found himself in exactly the same position as O'Neill and Chichester-Clark: a prime minister in name only, stripped of all authority to either lead or control the political agenda. The prorogation of Stormont now seemed inevitable, particularly when the British government made it clear that, even if it remained, it would not be in control of security matters. On the afternoon of March 28, 1972, Faulkner and his Cabinet appeared on the balcony of Stormont. A crowd of almost 200,000 filled the grounds and Faulkner made what was to be his final public speech as prime minister. The final public speech of a Northern Ireland prime minister, in fact. He was joined by Bill Craig, who, a few days earlier, had told a huge Vanguard rally in Ormeau Park: "We are firmly decided to defeat anyone who decides to subvert our constitution... because one of these days, if and when the politicians fail us, it may be our job to liquidate the enemy." The final sitting of the parliament ended at 5.15pm. Northern Ireland had moved from the crossroads to the cliff edge. It was extraordinary, therefore, that, a year later, Faulkner was able to persuade the Ulster Unionist Council to give a "qualified welcome" to a White Paper for an Assembly which embraced mandatory power-sharing, an "Irish dimension" and a PR election system. In so doing, he faced down the Vanguard wing of the UUC and secured the go-ahead to enter talks with the SDLP and Alliance parties after the election in June 1973. He needed a convincing win and he didn't get it. The UUP was split between pro-White Paper and anti-White Paper candidates and, of the 31 elected, Faulkner could only rely on 24. But the anti-White Paper unionists (DUP, Vanguard, a loyalist group, the seven UUP antis and one independent) tallied 26. Alliance and the SDLP, plus one NILP accounted for the other 28. Ironically, David Trimble was to find himself in a similar position in 1998 when he didn't get the convincing win he needed in the Assembly election. It meant Faulkner entering the Sunningdale negotiations in December 1973 with a weak hand: outnumbered by the SDLP and Alliance and with few on the British or Irish side willing to do him any favours. The SDLP's insistence on pushing ahead with a Council of Ireland was to make life very difficult for him, yet he accepted it, arguing: "Given the overwhelming unionist composition of (the Assembly) we were satisfied that the constitutional integrity of Northern Ireland was secure." The rest, as they say is history. The UUC rejected the Council of Ireland and Faulkner resigned as leader on January 7, 1974. Sunningdale was brought down by the UWC strike in May, but with no viable alternative to replace it. Faulkner died in a riding accident three years later, but his legacy was an important and still relevant one. Craig, Paisley, the loyalist paramilitaries who backed the 1974 strike and even the UUP all finally accepted that power-sharing was inevitable: yet they took so long to accept this reality that they no longer had the input into the agenda they could have had if they had moved much earlier. In a speech in November 1974, Faulkner said: "It is axiomatic, but all too often overlooked, that leaders must lead. In these days of public opinion polls, public relations and policies packaged for maximum consumer appeal, there is a great danger of politics being aimed more and more at the lowest common denominator in the electorate... (and to me) the lowest common denominator in political terms is simply the person who takes a short-sighted view of situation. Fifty years on, as unionism faces a moment as unsettling as Faulkner's final speech as prime minister, his observation remains appropriate. But will today's unionists listen? Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Brandon School Division board of trustees used Mondays regular meeting to deal with the fallout of the provinces recently announced education reform that aims to eliminate school boards in favour of a single provincial authority. Advertisement Advertise With Us The Brandon School Division board of trustees used Mondays regular meeting to deal with the fallout of the provinces recently announced education reform that aims to eliminate school boards in favour of a single provincial authority. Trustee Jim Murray was particularly concerned about what this means for the divisions various playgrounds, since the maintenance and replacement of these structures is funded through a joint deal between the BSD, the City of Brandon and the divisions parent councils. Since BSD will be dissolved by the summer of 2022 if the province gets its way, Murray is worried that this deal will disappear along with it, which would put undue financial pressure on parent councils to replace these structures. "The majority of them are well over $100,000, and to put that onto parent councils for fundraising becomes an impossible feat," he said. As such, Murray fielded the idea of composing a letter to all these various parent councils, letting them know about all the uncertainty they may be facing on the horizon. However, trustee Sherilyn Bambridge suggested that a virtual meeting with parent councils might be a more productive option, especially since they could also invite Westman Progressive Conservative MLAs Reg Helwer (Brandon West), Len Isleifson (Brandon East) and Education Minister Cliff Cullen (Spruce Woods) to take part. Murray was open to Bambridges suggestion, although he remained skeptical if any of these MLAs would bother to show. "In the past, we have asked for meetings with our MLAs and I would really like to see them step up," he said. "Even if it was a virtual meeting, I would really like the opportunity to sit down and discuss some of these changes with our MLAs." The remaining trustees were in favour of setting up this virtual meeting with parent councils to discuss playground infrastructure funding, although a time and date was not disclosed on Monday evening. To close out the public portion of this meeting, BSD board chair Linda Ross lamented the fact that the fate of so many other BSD programs and services are up in the air under the provinces new centralized governance structure. "How are all of those sorts of things going to be organized, since it appears to me that were going to have 700 individual fiefdoms run by a school principal and a school council?" she asked. "I would really like some answers to the logistics of some of that stuff, too." The BSD board of trustees next public regular meeting is scheduled to take place April 26 at 7 p.m. kdarbyson@brandonsun.com Twitter: @KyleDarbyson Underwater swimming robot responds with feedback from soft 'lateral line' Stuttgart - A team of scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) in Germany, from Seoul National University in Korea and from the Harvard University in the US, successfully developed a predictive model and closed-loop controller of a soft robotic fish, designed to actively adjust its undulation amplitude to changing flow conditions and other external disturbances. Their work "Modeling and Control of a Soft Robotic Fish with Integrated Soft Sensing" was published in Wiley's Advanced Intelligent Systems journal, in a special issue on "Energy Storage and Delivery in Robotic Systems". Each side of the robotic fish is lined with soft artificial muscles made of rubber-like small silicone chambers. Through these pockets, the researchers pumped air alternately on each side. While the air pockets on one side expand, they create a curvature, contracting the air pockets on the other side. This causes the robotic fish to bend right and left, swinging its tail, resembling the wave-like movement pattern seen by real fish. To measure the bending, the scientists embedded state of the art soft strain sensors, consisting of a thin layer of windy microchannels filled with liquid metal and encapsulated in silicone. What was now like a wire, could stretch like a phone cord to a length of 900%. The more the air pressurized each silicone chamber of the actuator, the more the sensor placed atop the bends, and its liquid metal 'wire' was elongated. The scientists then connected the sensor to an Ohmmeter to measure the electrical resistance. The greater the stretching elongation, the higher the electrical resistance within the 'wire'. This number provided the scientists with data of how the curvature of their robotic fish changed given a certain change of air pressure. The scientists then put this robotic fish platform under water in a flow tank. In several experiments they tested how the air pressure controller took the reading from the sensor to measure the swimming performance of the robot - an information loop that was feeding a self-learning algorithm inside the controller to push just the right amount of air through the pneumatic pockets so the swimming perfectly matched the different water flow velocities. "We developed a hydrodynamic model that can predict how our soft robotic fish will behave. This builds upon previous findings where we measured peak thrust during swimming with co-contraction and body stiffening, and tested soft sensors in feedforward undulatory motion. Closing the loop with proprioceptive soft sensory feedback allows the robot to respond to different flow conditions,", Ardian Jusufi explains. He is the corresponding author of the publication and specializes on soft active materials, biomimetics, and robotics. Jusufi is the head of the Max Planck Cyber Valley research group for "Locomotion in Biorobotic and Somatic Systems" at the MPI-IS. "Our project builds upon several previous collaborative papers on soft robots and biorobotic modeling of swimming robots. To advance modeling and closed-loop control, our team has combined soft robotics expertise from three continents." "In this work, we have used a simple approach to build a data-driven model of a soft robotic fish, and extended it with the controller design. This model could also be easily extended without the need of completely rebuilding it, for example to study the scaling effects of robots or testing different types of sensing techniques.", describes Yu-Hsiang Lin of the Locomotion in Biorobotic and Somatic Systems" group at the MPI-IS, and first author. In their publication, the scientists describe the sensors as a completely new design technique, labelling them "hyper-elastic liquid metal strain sensors." Developed by Prof. Yong-Lae Park and his team at Seoul National University, and Daniel Vogt from Harvard University, they are a true innovation. "In biology as well as in soft robotics, with an entirely soft robot, we have infinite degrees of freedom. That means any part of the body can deform. It is hard to estimate how the fish's shape changes, because we cannot put an indefinite number of sensors onto its body, as it would be possible with rigid robots with a limited number of joints," Park says. "This robot will allow us to test and refine hypotheses regarding the neuromechanics of swimming animals as well as help us improve future underwater robots," Jusufi continues. "In addition to characterizing the soft strain sensor under submerged dynamic conditions for the first time, we also developed a simple and flexible data-driven modelling approach in order to design our swimming feedback controller. The model will be of interest to the scientific community and will help accelerate future work in design and operation of soft robots. In forthcoming research, we will also utilize soft strain sensors in terrestrial robots that climb and can overcome complex obstacles." Understanding the underlying mechanisms how soft animals like fish swim helps in designing artificial soft structures and make it possible to use them to build robots. Such animal-inspired robots could one day be used to explore the depths of the sea and provide valuable data of marine life, avoiding noise and reducing the risk of entanglement that rigid, conventionally propelled submarines face. Swimming robots could also become a more energy-efficient option, which is why more and more scientists have shown a great deal of effort in developing soft actuators and sensors that constantly improve the capabilities of swimming robots by replicating the locomotion of aquatic vertebrates. What could one-day serve as a more advanced under water vehicle also serves another purpose: the fish replica with sensory feedback offers important insights into fish neuromechanics and their morphological intelligence, advancing the field of biology. ### Links: Wiley Advanced IS, spec iss "Energy Storage and Delivery in Robotic Systems". https:/ / onlinelibrary. wiley. com/ doi/ 10. 1002/ aisy. 202000244 Soft Robotic Fish: https:/ / www. higgs. ch/ fischroboter-hilft-forschenden/ 13802/ https:/ / www. liebertpub. com/ doi/ abs/ 10. 1089/ soro. 2016. 0053 Soft Sensors for curvature estimation under water: https:/ / ieeexplore. ieee. org/ abstract/ document/ 8722806 Contributors: Y.-H. Lin, Dr. R. Siddall, F. Schwab, T. Fukushima, H. Banerjee, Dr. A. Jusufi* Locomotion in Biorobotic and Somatic Systems Group Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstrae 3, Stuttgart 70569, Germany Yu-Hsiang Lin yhlin@is.mpg.de Rob Siddall rob@is.mpg.de Fabian Schwab fschwab@is.mpg.de Toshihiko Fukushima fukushima@is.mpg.de Hritwick Banerjee banerjee@is.mpg.de Dr. Ardian Jusufi* ardian@is.mpg.de Tel. +491743230725 Y. Baek, Prof. Y.-L. Park Department of Mechanical Engineering Seoul National University Seoul 08826, Korea Youngjoon Baek byj4667@snu.ac.kr> Yong-Lae Park ylpark@snu.ac.kr> D. Vogt John. A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University Boston, USA Daniel Vogt dvogt@seas.harvard.edu> This story has been published on: 2021-03-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announced details for the citys new guaranteed income program Tuesday, solidifying plans to provide monthly payments to Oakland families. The pilot program will be one of the nations largest, with 600 families able to receive $500 a month for 18 months. The money does not come with job requirements or other conditions for those who receive it. Families will need to meet basic income requirements and can begin applying to the program later this spring. Participants will be selected randomly and money could hit bank accounts as early as the summer. Philanthropic organization Blue Meridian Partners will provide the $6.7 million needed to support the program. Oakland Resilient Families is a partnership with the Family Independence Initiative and the national Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and is open to both undocumented residents and unhoused families. Eligible families must be low-income and identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color. Jesus Gerena, the CEO of the Family Independence Initiative, explained to KTVU that people must be earning at or below 50% of the area median income, which is about $59,000 per year for a family of three. Half the spots are reserved for very low income, earning less than 138% of the federal poverty level, which is about $30,000 a year. He said theyll be targeting East Oakland first before moving onto broader Oakland. The city of Stockton led one of the first universal basic income programs, providing $500 every month to 125 people. Marin County is also set to launch a similar program this week, and San Francisco voted in December to study a universal basic income pilot program. Civic buildings in Derry will be lit yellow today to mark the first anniversary of the UK Covid-19 lockdown and to remember the local victims of the disease. The Guildhall Clock and the council offices in Strand Road will join public buildings across the North in the gesture to remember all those who have been affected by the virus. Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Brian Tierney, welcomed the initiative. The last year has been a time of great upheaval and uncertainty where we have all had to adapt to the new norm and make huge sacrifices to keep our loved ones safe, he said. A year down the line and we still arent out of the woods but we can take great pride in the way we have adapted our lives at home and at work to deal with the challenges Lighting our public buildings yellow is a poignant remember of all those who have tragically lost their lives to Covid 19 and all the families affected by the virus over the last 12 months a year we will never forget. Mayor Tierney had particular praise for the community effort to meet the challenges of the pandemic and front line workers who have worked tirelessly to meet the demands it presented. As Mayor I have seen at first hand the positive way the people of this community have united together to show strength and resilience at this difficult time, he said. I am extremely proud of the way in which we have stood together over the past year, made sacrifices and reached out to help one another at their time of need. It hasnt been easy, unfortunately too many families have lost loved ones and my heart goes out to them as they try to cope with their grief and loss. Our NHS workers and all our frontline staff across the public and private sector have done us proud every day providing us with essential services during this emergency. We are indebted to each and every one of them. One of the things we have learned from the pandemic is the importance of communities making sacrifices for the common good and nowhere is that more evident than here in Derry and Strabane. Pechersky District Court of Kyiv has imposed a pretrial restraint in the form of round-the-clock house arrest on a participant of the action near the President's Office of Ukraine Vlad Sord, who was detained by law enforcement officers on Saturday evening, activist Serhiy Sternenko said. "Pechersky court put Vlad Sord under a round-the-clock house arrest. In fact, having imprisoned him for 'broken glass,'" Sternenko wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday. As reported, on Saturday evening, March 20, a rally was held under the walls of the President's Office, demanding the release of the activist Serhiy Sternenko and other political prisoners. The protesters lit flares and threw noise grenades; activists painted red paint on the facade of the President's Office building. Erdogan: Seven years of iciness give way to diplomacy Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that there is "no problem" with reinitiating higher-level Egypt-Turkey ties. Thats a shift, coming after a seven-year freeze in relations that started after Turkey's backing of former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, who was elected in 2012 and affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Morsi was deposed in 2013, following uprisings and a military coup that led to Abdel Fattah al-Sisi becoming president in 2014. Ties with Turkey thereafter went into the deep freeze. Erdogan said the warming trend is not yet "at the highest level but it is just a notch under," meaning that he and Sisi havent yet sealed the deal. A new chapter in Turkeys Arab ties? A change in Egypt-Turkey relations would have a huge impact on the region, where political and diplomatic ties are deeply intertwined. Its also probably not a coincidence that Erdogans outreach to Egypt follows an improvement in Egypts ties with Qatar, Turkeys most important Arab partner. Mohamed Saied explains here the warming trend in Egypt-Qatar ties, following the Gulf Cooperation Council summit two months ago. The decision in January by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to bury the hatchet with Qatar, a reconciliation facilitated by the United States and Kuwait, forced a rethink in Ankaras regional strategy, including with Saudi Arabia, where the bad blood has been on high boil. The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi took place in Istanbul, and Erdogans government enjoyed putting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the kingdom on the spot. Erdogan and King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud had a rare telephone chat in November 2020 during the G-20 virtual summit, in which they discussed "keeping channels of dialogue open in order for the bilateral relations to be enhanced and for issues to be settled," according to an official Turkish readout. After the recent release of the US intelligence report placing responsibility for the killing on the crown prince, "Turkey a strong critic of the royal has remained silent" rather than piling on, Amberin Zaman wrote. Erdogans statement Friday was uncharacteristically muted, seemingly plaintive, on the kingdom. "Let me add one more thing," he said. "Saudi Arabias joint exercise with Greece has saddened us. We would not want to see Saudi Arabia make such a decision. Surely we will discuss it with the Saudi authorities. We think it should not have happened and should not be like this." Erdogan seeking Egypts support in dispute with Greece Erdogans top short-term priority is to draw Egypt to its side in an ongoing dispute with Greece regarding demarcation of eastern Mediterranean maritime boundaries, including sovereignty over valuable gas reserves, and there is no sign yet of that happening. Fehim Tastekin describes overlapping arrangements between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus on one side and Turkey and Libya on the other that have boxed in Ankara and Cairo, at least for the time being. "Cairos intention to keep the maritime deal it reached with Greece and Cyprus limits the area it can negotiate with Turkey," explains Tastekin. "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." Erdogan, of course, provided his own cultural analysis of why Egypt should tilt toward Turkey, rather than Greece. Surely you cannot place the Egyptian people together with the Greek people, he said. We can never believe that the Greek people and the Egyptian people would be identical. Therefore, we would like to see them at their proper place." Opportunity in Libya? On the other side of the Mediterranean, a warming in Egypt-Turkey ties could pay dividends for Libya. Egypt had been a backer of Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Hifter; Turkey has sent jihadis from Syria to fight for the Libyan government. As we explained here last month, Egypt and most outside parties got on board with the October 2020 cease-fire, which allowed a political process to take hold and gain traction, leading to the vote this week by the Libyan House of Representatives endorsing the interim government proposed by Prime Minister-designate Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. The agenda for the new government is daunting, including unification of government institutions split by nearly a decade of civil war, and elections in December. Libya doesnt have a chance if the outside powers that backed the warring parties stir up the military conflict again. A statement by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy also called for "the withdrawal of all foreign fighters and mercenaries," a message to Russia and Turkey. Contest for influence in Africa Turkey has also challenged Egyptian influence in parts of Africa, but it has been an uphill battle, and sometimes overblown in the regional press, as Tastekin explains. Turkey had good relations with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, a war crimes suspect who was ousted in 2019. Bashir, like Erdogan, had an affinity for the Brotherhood and poor relations with Egypt. Egypt-Sudan ties have taken off since Abdalla Hamdok became prime minister after Bashirs ouster. Sisi visited Khartoum last week "in a move that carried political and security messages against Ethiopia's decision to fill the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) reservoir without consulting Egypt and Sudan," Ayah Aman reports. Elsewhere, Egypt and Turkey have picked up their diplomatic outreach in Guinea-Bisseau, as we report here, as well as Senegal, as Khalid Hassan reports, Ghana, as George Mikhail reports, and Somalia, as Muhammed Magdy and Tastekin report. A caveat Theres still a long way to go in repairing Turkey-Egypt ties, Tastekin concludes. "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," writes Tastekin. "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." Workers relax during a break outside Amazon's distribution centre in Passo Corese, Italy (Photo : REUTERS/Remo Casilli) Amazon workers in Italy went on a 24-hour strike on Monday in the first such action by the U.S. company's entire logistics operation in the country, including third-party delivery service providers. Trade unions estimate Amazon's delivery systems rely on 40,000 workers in Italy including staff at its logistics arm, which employs most of Amazon's 9,500 long-term staff in the country. Advertisement Italy's FILT-CGIL, FIT-CISL and Uiltrasporti unions called the 24-hour strike after failing to reach common ground at two meetings in January with Amazon and the collapse of negotiations with employers association Assoespressi, which represents delivery firms. Marco Odone of Uiltrasporti said protests were widespread across Amazon sites and preliminary estimates found 70% to 75% of workers did not report to their jobs. A spokeswoman for Amazon, which has over 40 logistics centres in Italy, said fewer than 10% of its employees and around 20% of third-party workers had joined the strike. "We're not asking for pay rises right now, but for a more humane working schedule," FIT-CISL Secretary Generale Salvatore Pellecchia told Reuters. The Italian protest comes after an e-commerce surge, with goods sold online in 2020 rising by a record 31% to 23.4 billion euros, data from Milan's Politecnico University shows. "Sometime you can't find parking or people aren't home, to make sure you meet your schedule, you drive fast risking fines or worse," Bruno Gambardella, who has worked since 2017 for an Amazon supplier, said. Mariangela Marseglia, country manager for Amazon in Italy, said in a letter to customers that the company put workers first, whether its own or contractors, and offered a safe and inclusive work environment, competitive pay as well as benefits. Unions had called on Amazon to enter talks regarding workers for the company's contractors, but the company refused. Workers at Amazon's fulfilment centre in Bessemer, Alabama, are voting on whether to become the first unionized Amazon facility in the United States Last week, Amazon said it would invest 120 million euros ($143 million) in a new distribution centre near the northern city of Bergamo, hiring 900 staff with a permanent contract within three years. Amazon, whose turnover in Italy was 4.5 billion euros in 2019, has invested 5.8 billion euros in the country since 2010. "We don't want to stop Amazon's growth in Italy, we just want to make it more sustainable for workers," Odone said. ($1 = 0.8384 euros) Biden Security Adviser Says It Wasnt a Mistake to Call Putin a Killer President Joe Biden did not make a mistake when he described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a killer, a top adviser said Monday. President Biden was asked a direct question. He gave a direct answer. Thats how he has operated for 40-plus years in public service, and its how hell continue to operate as president, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during an appearance on MSNBC. Earlier this month, Biden was asked during an interview with ABC host George Stephanopoulos, who used to be an aide in former Democrat President Bill Clintons administration, whether he agreed that Putin was a killer. Yes, I do, Biden responded. Biden also vowed that Putin would pay a price for allegedly interfering in the 2020 election. Putin responded by challenging his counterpart to a live debate, but the White House dismissed the challenge. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday that it regretted the Biden administration did not accept the proposal, which it said would have included going over the problems that have accumulated in bilateral relations, as well as on the subject of strategic stability. On Tuesday, Russian and Chinese officials met and criticized the United States for acting in what Russia described as a destructive way. In this photograph made available on March 21, 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin looks at a photographer in a taiga forest in Russias Siberian region. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Sullivan said the U.S.-Russia relationship will include responding forcefully on some issues but working together on others. We believe that we are going to have tough days with Russia because there are issues on which we profoundly disagree and actions that we need to respond to forcefully, he said. But we also believe that we can work with Russia on key issues, including the nuclear question, where just in the last few weeks weve extended the New START agreement by five years. The United States extended the nuclear weapon START treaty in February for five years. The pact limits the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads, missiles, and bombers held by each nation. This will not be an easy relationship, Sullivan added. It will have significant challenges. It will require America to stand up for its interests, but there are also areas that the United States and Russia can work together in a stable and predictable way, in the common interests of both of our countries. The appearance came around the same time former President Donald Trump, in an interview broadcast on Newsmax, hit the Biden administration for rising gas prices. The gasoline prices are going up like nobody thought would be possible. They were going down, they were at a level that theyd never seen before and now theyre going up. Were making Russia and Saudi Arabia and all the country of Middle East countries and othersand of course, the company Burismawere making them rich, and were becoming less and less energy independent, he said. Within three or four months, we wont be energy independent. Its a very, very sad thing, Trump said. Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? A showdown has exploded over the extension of Gov. Ned Lamonts emergency powers beyond the April 20 expiration date, as majority Democrats claim the orders are still needed in the pandemic, while Republicans charge the governor is dodging legislative authority. The House of Representatives will meet Thursday afternoon to vote on the extension of Lamonts powers until at least May 20. That is expected to pass, since Democrats hold a 96-53 margin, pending two special elections. Among the issues hanging in the balance: mail-in voting, which passed temporarily in 2020 for the general election and is in force for the upcoming special elections and some municipal races under Lamonts executive orders. Setting the new deadline will allow local voter registrars in cities with local elections in May to seamlessly use the mail-in absentee ballot system. Thats one of more than 90 executive orders in force, most with multiple sections, leading Democrats to say the legislature, slow-moving by nature, could not oversee an orderly deletion of some rules, as pandemic conditions continue to change rapidly. Lawmakers will sit down with Lamonts staff to see what issues, such as vaccine protocols and public safety measures including masks, should continue after May 20, said Speaker of the House Matt Ritter, D-Hartford and Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney. We need that bridge until May, Ritter said in a phone interview, stressing that the House could approve the extension in a few minutes, but he expects the scheduled late-afternoon debate to go several hours. Ritter stressed that by mid-May, the vast majority of state residents who want to be vaccinated against COVID are likely to have had the opportunity. We will have a huge inventory of information available in the next six weeks, Ritter said. Id rather have as much information as possible, and then make a decision in May. Republican leaders say the legislature needs a voice and must regain the power it lost for most of 2020. Lamonts emergency powers were announced in March, then extended in September and again in February. Our position is that the emergency declaration was certainly needed back last March, House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said Tuesday. We started parting ways last fall. Now we need to find a way to transition to normal functions, with the legislature making decisions and the governor implementing them. Hes been allowed to operate under a cloak of secrecy, outside the public process. Candelora said his staff have reviewed the hundreds of individual sections within Lamonts 91 executive orders and that a debate over the necessity of some individual orders will likely result on Thursday. Candelora noted that a recent Superior Court decision challenging Lamonts order for face masks to be worn in public schools that is now heading to the state Supreme Court, could result in a declaration that Lamont has been acting in an unconstitutional manner. In that ruling, the Superior Court Judge suggested the full legislature, not a smaller group of leaders, should have voted to give Lamont the emergency powers. This conversation is whether the legislature should be delegating authority to the governor, Candelora said. Paul Mounds, Lamonts chief of staff, said Tuesday that the emergency public health and civil preparedness emergencies go beyond maintaining the states eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Contrary to claims made by Republicans, the declarations of emergencies are in place because we are very much still in an emergency, Mounds said in a late-afternoon statement. For example, the emergencies provide the necessary flexibility for our nation-leading vaccine distribution program to continue, helping our state get back to normal. The emergencies allow for increased SNAP benefits to support our residents in need. Ending the declaration could also lead FEMA to believe that the states pandemic emergency is over, Mounds said. That is a risk the governor has chosen not to take as it could jeopardize millions of dollars to which Connecticut is entitled. Indeed, to the best of our knowledge, no other state has terminated its declaration(s) of emergency at this time. Looney, D-New Haven, and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, said its still too soon to tell whether the pandemic will subside before the scheduled end of the session June 9. We have been a leader in the country on how we handled this pandemic from the very beginning, Looney told reporters outside the Capitol. I think there are still circumstances where the governors powers to issue executive orders have to be in play. I think it is also important to note that the Republicans have not, to my knowledge, proposed one executive order that they would vehemently object to or seek to repeal. He said that majority leaders are awaiting recommendations from Lamonts new legal counsel, Nora Dannehy, on what orders to retain in the longer run and which can be rescinded. Frankly, only the executive can act quickly in the wake of an emergency, Looney said. The General Assembly is a deliberative body that is not set up for emergency action. Earlier on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, complained that Republicans are being shut out of talks with Democrats, including the governor. Its been a year folks, Kelly told reporters outside the State Capitol prior to a Senate session. Our system of government is not wired for one-person rule. He called for some kind of hybrid reopening of the State Capitol, which has been closed to the public since March 12 of last year. Citing the state Constitution, Kelly stressed the need to bring back the public into the 14-acre complex. He said that science has guided the slow reopening of the state, so it should also help determine the reopening of the Capitol. He favors the use of masks and social distancing. This is the peoples government, Kelly said. They have a right to be part of this process, but this process has been nothing but exclusionary. He said it discriminates against people who do not have computer network access to watch and participate in hearings. But Looney, in reaction a few minutes later, said he believes that virtual legislative business, including hearings and the proceedings of the House and Senate, actually opens up the process to more people. The reality is that many people have had more access to public hearings under the current system than have been before, Looney said. Many people have been able to testify at public hearings online, who would never be able to get to the Capitol for a public hearing because of work, or family obligations, or health restrictions, or just the time restrictions of having to come here and sit here in a hearing room for hours. Frankly, weve had more 24-hour hearings than weve ever had before, Duff said. We have seen more people than ever who are coming in from all corners of the state. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT A Northern California city has agreed to pay $3.25 million to settle a lawsuit by the daughters of an unarmed Black man killed by police in 2016, the familys attorneys said. The federal wrongful death lawsuit they filed says Stockton Police Officer David Wells mistook Colby Friday for another Black man who was being sought in a domestic violence investigation. That suspect was described as a Black male, about 6 feet tall with hair in cornrows. The attorneys said Friday was Black man with his hair in cornrows, but wasnt the suspect and was not wanted for any reason by police. When Friday left the scene, a witness said he heard Wells say he would shoot him in the back if he didnt stop, said civil rights attorneys Mark Merin of Sacramento and Yolanda Huang of Oakland. They said Wells then opened fire, killing Friday with multiple gunshots, though the district attorney declined to prosecute and he remains a Stockton police officer. City Attorney John Luebberke said through a spokeswoman that we are not able to comment at this time. The killing will forever haunt Colbys children, the family said in a statement criticizing officials and calling for reforms. Colbys girls will never get to say, Hi dad.' Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Law Enforcement The row over exports of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the UK centres on a factory in Holland. An EU source has stated that any vaccine production by the firm Halix in the Dutch city of Leiden has to go to the EU. But it emerged yesterday that the factory has already sent a batch of vaccines to Britain. Vaccines from the Dutch factory are also awaiting approval from the EU drug regulator Halix provides drugs for the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is put into vials in Italy before being distributed for use (Halix plant holland astrazeneca) Mene Pangalos, a research and development chief at AstraZeneca, told a media briefing that Halix had sent jabs to Britain but they are yet to be approved for use by the UKs regulator. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approves vaccine batches after ensuring quality and safety. Vaccines from the Dutch factory are also awaiting approval from the EU drug regulator. Halix provides drugs for the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is put into vials in Italy before being distributed for use. The European supply is at risk from the threat of an EU export ban to the UK, which could set back Britains rollout of vaccines by up to two months. An EU official said at the weekend the bloc will not accept British Government requests for the vaccine made by Halix. The source told Reuters: The Brits are insisting that the Halix plant in the Netherlands must deliver the drug substance produced there to them. That doesnt work. What is produced in Halix has to go to the EU. However, Mr Pangalos said yesterday: There was one batch thats come from Halix to the UK that hasnt been approved yet. Ruud Dobber, of the AstraZeneca business unit, said it expects the EU regulator to give approval for the Leiden factory by early next month. AstraZeneca insists that its production sites in the US and Belgium are more important than the Dutch base. Mr Dobber stressed: We have a global supply network...we are hoping that we can have free goods moving from one place to another place. Halix was founded in 2012 and also supplies products for cancer and flu treatment. [March 23, 2021] airSlate Empowers No-Code Developers with New Flow Creator to Visualize and Automate Tasks airSlate, a leader in no-code business automation solutions, today announced the availability of its latest feature, Flow Creator, that enables users to automate and visualize tasks with unprecedented ease. With Flow Creator, employees can reduce the time spent on manual, routine tasks and instead focus on driving strategic, high-value business goals. From two-step processes typically used to approve expense reports, to more complex cross-departmental business processes, airSlate empowers no-code developers with an end-to-end automation solution that streamlines work, increases productivity, and minimizes the disruptive nature of launching, toggling, and porting data across multiple business applications. Today, businesses are tasked with accelerating digital transformation efforts to meet the needs of an increasingly remote workforce. Business continuity is achieved by providing the right solutions that are both easy-to-deploy and intuitive, empowering both remote and hybrid-remote teams to stay connected, and operate efficiently and effectively. "We developed Flow Creator to make the power of no-code solutions accessible to every desk and remote office across organizations, both large and small," said Borya Shakhnovich, CEO and co-founder, airSlate. "There has never been a more important time to use no-code business automation, with a growing number of remote employees looking to access and use data and applications, without the immediate support of an IT department. For the citizen developers navigating today's remote-first environment, Flow Creator is here to make your lives easier." Flow Creator is a part of the company's airSlate workflow automation solution that allows anyone to build, integrate, automate and deploy entire workflows in hours. With dozens of drag-and-drop interfaces and thousands of no-code bots, any user - whether non-technical or technical - is empowered to automate an infinite array of tasks, from simple to complex. Single users up to entire departments have used airSlate to automate their interactions 10 times faster without APIs. "Flow Creator is the next great feature evolution for airSlate, providing an intuitive and simple solution for the non-coder to create powerful workflow automations," Brad Blaney, CTO, Findlater Technology Group, which provides digital transformation and strategic technology consulting services. Key benefits of Flow Creator include: ? Drag-and-drop steps in your workflow allow you to configure and automate your flow in a visual format, reducing mistakes. ? Assign Bots and Roles to steps to automate next actions and movements for users, with the ability to assign separate fields or entire forms to be filled out and e-signed by individuals or groups, or in a specific order, reducing the delays in business interactions not being completed. ? Native integration with your CRM, with automatic routing to CRM contacts without leaving the airSlate Flow Creator process builder. ? Works with no-code integration and automation bots to send reminders and notifications, transfer data and pull and push data between document and cloud apps. ? Build and launch within minutes rather than days, increasing time to value. For more information about airSlate, please visit www.airslate.com and follow the company on its social media channels: Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. About airSlate airSlate is a global SaaS (News - Alert) technology company that serves tens of millions of users worldwide with its no-code business process automation and document management solutions. The company's PDF editing, e-signature workflow, and business process automation solutions empower users to digitally transform their businesses to run faster and easier. airSlate, pdfFiller, signNow, and USLegal make up the company's portfolio of award-winning products. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005082/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] People who received a flu shot last flu season were significantly less likely to test positive for a COVID-19 infection when the pandemic hit, according to a new study. And those who did test positive for COVID-19 had fewer complications if they received their flu shot. These new findings mean senior author Marion Hofmann Bowman, M.D., is continuing to recommend the flu shot to her patients even as the flu season may be winding down. "It's particularly relevant for vaccine hesitance, and maybe taking the flu shot this year can ease some angst about the new COVID-19 vaccine," says Hofmann, an associate professor of internal medicine and a cardiologist at the Michigan Medicine Frankel Cardiovascular Center. Michigan Medicine is the academic medical center of the University of Michigan. Researchers reviewed medical charts for more than 27,000 patients who were tested for a COVID-19 infection at Michigan Medicine between March and mid-July of 2020. Of the nearly 13,000 who got a flu shot in the previous year, 4% tested positive for COVID-19. Of the 14,000 who hadn't gotten a flu shot, nearly 5% tested positive for COVID-19. The association remained significant after controlling for other variables including ethnicity, race, gender, age, BMI, smoking status and many comorbid conditions, Hofmann says. People who received their flu shot were also significantly less likely to require hospitalization, although the researchers didn't find a significant difference in mortality between the two groups. No one in the study tested positive for both infections at the same time. The underlying mechanism behind the association isn't yet clear, Hofmann says. "It is possible that patients who receive their flu vaccine are also people who are practicing more social distancing and following CDC guidelines. However, it is also plausible that there could be a direct biological effect of the flu vaccine on the immune system relevant for the fight against SARS-CoV-2 virus," she says. Prospective longitudinal studies to examine the effect of the flu vaccine on respiratory illness are ongoing, including the Household Influenza Vaccine Evaluation (HIVE) study through the University of Michigan's School of Public Health. "It's powerful to give providers another tool to encourage their patients to take advantage of available, effective, safe immunizations," says co-first author Carmel Ashur, M.D., M.S., an assistant professor of internal medicine and a hospitalist at Michigan Medicine. Months ago, Hofmann was concerned about misinformation she kept seeing online that connected the flu vaccine with a COVID-19 infection. Prominent media outlets like Reuters debunked this theory, and she knew her team's data could also help address vaccine hesitancy. "Instead of a concerning connection between COVID-19 and the flu shot, our publication provides more confidence that getting your flu shot is associated with staying out of the hospital for COVID-19," she says. Before the pandemic hit, Hofmann and co-first author Anna Conlon, Ph.D., a U-M Medical School student, educated Frankel CVC patients about another encouraging association with the flu vaccine: cardiovascular protective effects. "There's robust data that the flu shot prevents heart attack and hospitalizations for heart failure, which is an additional reason to get your vaccine every flu season," Conlon says. ### WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Gold prices were flat to slightly higher on Tuesday as U.S. Treasury yields edged lower ahead of testimony by top U.S. policymakers later in the day. Spot gold edged up 0.1 percent to $1,740.14 per ounce while U.S. gold futures were up 0.1 percent at $1,740.10. Investors await a closely watched Congressional appearance by U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen later in the day for clues on whether they will seek to slow rising yields. In remarks prepared for the congressional hearing, Powell said that the U.S. recovery had progressed 'more quickly than generally expected and looks to be strengthening'. Germany's 10-year yield, the benchmark for the bloc, was down 2 basis points amid a new bond sale from the European Union. Concerns around fresh Covid-19 cases in Europe and escalating tensions between Beijing and the west also supported gold. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and regional leaders of 16 federal states agreed late Monday to impose a hard lockdown during Easter amid an exponential growth in the number of coronavirus cases in the country, in what is being called a 'third wave'. China has decided to introduce sanctions against several European officials and entities after new sanctions were issued by a coalition of western nations over Xinjiang abuses. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA is targeting no earlier than April 8 for the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter to make the first attempt at powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet. Before the 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) rotorcraft can attempt its first flight, however, both it and its team must meet a series of daunting milestones. Ingenuity remains attached to the belly of NASA's Perseverance rover, which touched down on Mars Feb. 18. On March 21, the rover deployed the guitar case-shaped graphite composite debris shield that protected Ingenuity during landing. The rover currently is in transit to the "airfield" where Ingenuity will attempt to fly. Once deployed, Ingenuity will have 30 Martian days, or sols, (31 Earth days) to conduct its test flight campaign. "When NASA's Sojourner rover landed on Mars in 1997, it proved that roving the Red Planet was possible and completely redefined our approach to how we explore Mars. Similarly, we want to learn about the potential Ingenuity has for the future of science research," said Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters. "Aptly named, Ingenuity is a technology demonstration that aims to be the first powered flight on another world and, if successful, could further expand our horizons and broaden the scope of what is possible with Mars exploration." Flying in a controlled manner on Mars is far more difficult than flying on Earth. The Red Planet has significant gravity (about one-third that of Earth's) but its atmosphere is just 1% as dense as Earth's at the surface. During Martian daytime, the planet's surface receives only about half the amount of solar energy that reaches Earth during its daytime, and nighttime temperatures can drop as low as minus 130 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 90 degrees Celsius), which can freeze and crack unprotected electrical components. To fit within the available accommodations provided by the Perseverance rover, the Ingenuity helicopter must be small. To fly in the Mars environment, it must be lightweight. To survive the frigid Martian nights, it must have enough energy to power internal heaters. The system from the performance of its rotors in rarified air to its solar panels, electrical heaters, and other components has been tested and retested in the vacuum chambers and test labs of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "Every step we have taken since this journey began six years ago has been uncharted territory in the history of aircraft," said Bob Balaram, Mars Helicopter chief engineer at JPL. "And while getting deployed to the surface will be a big challenge, surviving that first night on Mars alone, without the rover protecting it and keeping it powered, will be an even bigger one." Deploying the Helicopter Before Ingenuity takes its first flight on Mars, it must be squarely in the middle of its airfield a 33-by-33-foot (10-by-10-meter) patch of Martian real estate chosen for its flatness and lack of obstructions. Once the helicopter and rover teams confirm that Perseverance is situated exactly where they want it to be inside the airfield, the elaborate process to deploy the helicopter on the surface of Mars begins. "As with everything with the helicopter, this type of deployment has never been done before," said Farah Alibay, Mars Helicopter integration lead for the Perseverance rover. "Once we start the deployment there is no turning back. All activities are closely coordinated, irreversible, and dependent on each other. If there is even a hint that something isn't going as expected, we may decide to hold off for a sol or more until we have a better idea what is going on." The helicopter deployment process will take about six sols (six days, four hours on Earth). On the first sol, the team on Earth will activate a bolt-breaking device, releasing a locking mechanism that helped hold the helicopter firmly against the rover's belly during launch and Mars landing. The following sol, they will fire a cable-cutting pyrotechnic device, enabling the mechanized arm that holds Ingenuity to begin rotating the helicopter out of its horizontal position. This is also when the rotorcraft will extend two of its four landing legs. During the third sol of the deployment sequence, a small electric motor will finish rotating Ingenuity until it latches, bringing the helicopter completely vertical. During the fourth sol, the final two landing legs will snap into position. On each of those four sols, the Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering (WATSON) imager will take confirmation shots of Ingenuity as it incrementally unfolds into its flight configuration. In its final position, the helicopter will hang suspended at about 5 inches (13 centimeters) over the Martian surface. At that point, only a single bolt and a couple dozen tiny electrical contacts will connect the helicopter to Perseverance. On the fifth sol of deployment, the team will use the final opportunity to utilize Perseverance as a power source and charge Ingenuity's six battery cells. "Once we cut the cord with Perseverance and drop those final five inches to the surface, we want to have our big friend drive away as quickly as possible so we can get the Sun's rays on our solar panel and begin recharging our batteries," said Balaram. On the sixth and final scheduled sol of this deployment phase, the team will need to confirm three things: that Ingenuity's four legs are firmly on the surface of Jezero Crater, that the rover did, indeed, drive about 16 feet (about 5 meters) away, and that both helicopter and rover are communicating via their onboard radios. This milestone also initiates the 30-sol clock during which time all preflight checks and flight tests must take place. "Ingenuity is an experimental engineering flight test we want to see if we can fly at Mars," said MiMi Aung, project manager for Ingenuity Mars Helicopter at JPL. "There are no science instruments onboard and no goals to obtain scientific information. We are confident that all the engineering data we want to obtain both on the surface of Mars and aloft can be done within this 30-sol window." As with deployment, the helicopter and rover teams will approach the upcoming flight test methodically. If the team misses or has questions about an important preflight milestone, they may take one or more sols to better understand the issue. If the helicopter survives the first night of the sequence period on the surface of Mars, however, the team will spend the next several sols doing everything possible to ensure a successful flight, including wiggling the rotor blades and verifying the performance of the inertial measurement unit, as well as testing the entire rotor system during a spin-up to 2,537 rpm (while Ingenuity's landing gear remain firmly on the surface). The First Flight Test on Mars Once the team is ready to attempt the first flight, Perseverance will receive and relay to Ingenuity the final flight instructions from JPL mission controllers. Several factors will determine the precise time for the flight, including modeling of local wind patterns plus measurements taken by the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) aboard Perseverance. Ingenuity will run its rotors to 2,537 rpm and, if all final self-checks look good, lift off. After climbing at a rate of about 3 feet per second (1 meter per second), the helicopter will hover at 10 feet (3 meters) above the surface for up to 30 seconds. Then, the Mars Helicopter will descend and touch back down on the Martian surface. Several hours after the first flight has occurred, Perseverance will downlink Ingenuity's first set of engineering data and, possibly, images and video from the rover's Navigation Cameras and Mastcam-Z. From the data downlinked that first evening after the flight, the Mars Helicopter team expect to be able to determine if their first attempt to fly at Mars was a success. On the following sol, all the remaining engineering data collected during the flight, as well as some low-resolution black-and-white imagery from the helicopter's own Navigation Camera, could be downlinked to JPL. The third sol of this phase, the two images taken by the helicopter's high-resolution color camera should arrive. The Mars Helicopter team will use all information available to determine when and how to move forward with their next test. "Mars is hard," said Aung. "Our plan is to work whatever the Red Planet throws at us the very same way we handled every challenge we've faced over the past six years together, with tenacity and a lot of hard work, and a little Ingenuity." A Piece of History While Ingenuity will attempt the first powered, controlled flight on another planet, the first powered, controlled flight on Earth took place Dec. 17, 1903, on the windswept dunes of Kill Devil Hill, near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville and Wilbur Wright covered 120 feet in 12 seconds during the first flight. The Wright brothers made four flights that day, each longer than the previous. A small amount of the material that covered one of the wings of the Wright brothers' aircraft, known as the Flyer, during the first flight is now aboard Ingenuity. An insulative tape was used to wrap the small swatch of fabric around a cable located underneath the helicopter's solar panel. The Wrights used the same type of material an unbleached muslin called "Pride of the West" to cover their glider and aircraft wings beginning in 1901. The Apollo 11 crew flew a different piece of the material, along with a small splinter of wood from the Wright Flyer, to the Moon and back during their iconic mission in July 1969. More About Ingenuity The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter was built by JPL, which also manages the technology demonstration for NASA Headquarters. It is supported by NASA's Science Mission Directorate, the NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, and the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate. NASA's Ames Research Center and Langley Research Center provided significant flight performance analysis and technical assistance. At NASA Headquarters, Dave Lavery is the program executive for the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. At JPL, MiMi Aung is the project manager and J. (Bob) Balaram is chief engineer. Bring the excitement of Ingenuity into classrooms and homes through NASA's Office of STEM Engagement toolkit. Educators, students, and families can follow along the mission by building a paper helicopter or coding an Ingenuity video game. For more information about Ingenuity: https://go.nasa.gov/ingenuity-press-kit and https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter More About Perseverance A key objective for Perseverance's mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover will characterize the planet's geology and past climate, pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet, and be the first mission to collect and cache Martian rock and regolith (broken rock and dust). Subsequent NASA missions, in cooperation with ESA (European Space Agency), would send spacecraft to Mars to collect these sealed samples from the surface and return them to Earth for in-depth analysis. JPL, which is managed for NASA by Caltech in Pasadena, California, built and manages operations of the Perseverance rover. For more about Perseverance: nasa.gov/perseverance and mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/ For more images related to this release, go to: https://go.nasa.gov/3tNe822 SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov Gelbrich was previously the managing director of Alaska's Guest Customer Assistance, Research and Experience (CARE), where he led 1,400 employees in reservations, customer service, and central bagging service, a role he has had since 2018. He joined Alaska Airlines in 2016 as the managing director of customer experience and design, where he led improvements to the guest experience, implemented new guest satisfaction measures and significantly improved how the company listens to and acts on guest feedback. Prior to joining Alaska, Gelbrich worked 20 years at Microsoft in multiple leadership roles focused on customer service, experience and advocacy. "Travis is highly respected for delivering results, while engaging his teams and working together toward a common goal," said Gary Beck, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Alaska Airlines. "He has built his career on creating a culture where employees feel valued, heard and empowered to do the right thing." Gelbrich holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Gonzaga University and graduate certificates from the University of Washington and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a certified customer experience professional from the Customer Experience Professional Association. Originally from Ketchikan, Alaska, Gelbrich worked at the Ketchikan International Airport during summers, while in high school. About Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines and its regional partners serve more than 115 destinations across the United States and North America. The airline provides essential air service for our guests along with moving crucial cargo shipments, while emphasizing Next-Level Care. Alaska is known for low fares, award-winning customer service and sustainability efforts. Guests can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 800 destinations worldwide with Alaska and its Global Partners. On March 31, 2021, Alaska will officially become a member of the oneworld global alliance. Learn more about Alaska at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK). SOURCE Alaska Airlines Related Links http://www.alaskaair.com A former Nigerian oil minister, Dan Etete, has hailed the verdict of an Italian court that acquitted Shell, Eni and their managers in the Malabu scandal. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the oil giants and their managers were all acquitted by the court last Wednesday. The verdict ended a trial that has seen officials of the oil giants battle to prove their innocence. Prosecutors had charged that executives involved in the Malabu deal knew that much of the $1.1 billion they deposited into an escrow account controlled by the Nigerian government would be disbursed as bribes. The oil companies and its officials have consistently denied any wrongdoing. However, in 2018, two middlemen named in the Malabu deals were found guilty of corruption in a separate trial. Several former executives of the companies were also cleared of wrongdoing, including Malcolm Brinded and Paolo Scaroni. Environmental and social justice groups on Wednesday condemned the verdict, describing Italys anti-corruption laws as unfit for purpose. Significant decision But an unsigned statement issued on Monday said Mr Etete notes with satisfaction that the Courts in Milan have rightly acquitted him of corruption and corrupt behaviour following a brutal and diligent 36 months trial. PREMIUM TIMES reached out to Anthony George-Ikoli, one of Mr Etetes lawyers, who confirmed that the former oil minister authorised the release of the statement. The statement said the Milan judgement independently follows the path of the UKs trial and decision (double jeopardy) on the malicious prosecution of the Nigerian Government. The former oil minister described the decision as significant and wide ranging, adding that it also affirms that the settlement agreements on transfer from Malabu to Shell and ENI were valid. The minister also said that the court has confirmed that no bribes were paid to anyone and that there is no case to answer on the issue. These matters have occupied the Milan Courts for over 3 years, with almost 200 witnesses. The FGN and Prosecutors position has been found to be entirely baselessNo Case to even answer said the Court, he said. Milan was actively chosen by FGN to determine the issue of alleged corruption on OPL 245. They lost and must rightly live with that decision. The High Court in London ruled that FGN made the conscious choice to determine all alleged corruption on OPL 245 in Milan, both civilly and criminally. Both have now rightly lost in the jurisdiction they themselves chose. The acquittal in Milan is therefore determinative in all jurisdictions, including Nigeria. Any and every Order made against Chief Dan Etete in any Nigerian Court or directly or indirectly in any other court on alleged corruption on OPL 245 are hereinafter entirely invalid and will be struck out. Mr Etete said he and Malabu have jointly and separately suffered massive and unquantifiable losses as a result of what he described as malicious and politically motivated wrongful allegation of corruption. The Chief was proven to have been wrongly labelled, a pariah with whom no large corporation would or could do business. Malabu Oil & Gas was similarly decimated, the statement said. ADVERTISEMENT Those losses exceed 10 billion US dollars which are entirely and properly recoverable against FGN. The legal tests of remoteness and measure of damages are conclusively and legally satisfied. In essence, the valid and constantly unrevoked Settlement Agreements with Shell, ENI, FGN and Malabu relieved FGN of a multi-billion dollar claim by Shell in the Settlements process Arbitration begun in Washington by Eni on OPL 245. Importantly, that Arbitration stimulated a settlement, with duress, whereby Malabu was forced to accept 1.2 US billion dollars for a concession with a proper market value of at least 8-9 billion US dollars. Malabu was therefore deprived of approximately 8-9 billion US dollars in value on sale at the time, but over 15 billion US dollars if allowed to develop the Oil block as contractually agreed and upon which Malabu paid a signature bonus of 210 million US dollars to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Mr Etete said agreements are meant to be honoured and serious allegations of fraud need to be particularized and proven. The Nigerian government did neither, he said, adding that the government now faces a valid, irrefutable claim for omission and commission on OPL 245 which should never have happened. Chief Dan Etete expresses his sincere and unalloyed commitment to Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta; that FGN will be led to account for this malicious prosecution and waste of national resource, so the People of Nigeria should not face such perverse caprice by a malicious and fabricated claim for political purposes, the statement said. Back Story The Malabu scandal involved the transfer of about $1.1 billion by Shell and ENI through the Nigerian government to accounts controlled by Mr Etete. From the former ministers accounts, prosecutors say about half the money ($520 million) went to accounts of companies controlled by Aliyu Abubakar, a middleman popularly known in Nigeria as the owner of AA oil. Anti-corruption investigators and activists suspect he fronted for top officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration as well of officials of Shell and ENI. The transaction was authorised in 2011 by Mr Jonathan through some of his cabinet ministers and the money was payment for OPL 245, one of Nigerias richest oil blocks. The oil resources of the OPL 245 license have remained undeveloped since the controversies began. Eni initiated international arbitration proceedings against Nigeria in September, alleging the government has breached its obligations by refusing to let the firm develop the license, which will expire in May. Last year, PREMIUM TIMES reported how Nigeria tracked down and grounded the luxury private jet purchased by Mr Etete, allegedly with some of the proceeds of the billion Malabu OPL245 oil deal. Asset recovery lawyers acting for the Nigerian government swooped after the Bombardier 6000 jet, tail number M-MYNA, touched down at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport in Canada on 29th of May. Now aged 75, Mr Etete is thought to divide his time between Dubai and France. Having failed to secure his return to stand trial, Nigeria issued an arrest warrant for him earlier last year as authorities were said to be seeking his extradition. Like former President Goodluck Jonathan and other officials alleged to have been involved in the deal, Mr Etete has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has dismissed the allegations as political propaganda. 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. LG CNS launched its AI Genius initiative to help educate young in the field of artificial intelligence, Tuesday. The initiative is scheduled to be expanded to 30 schools covering 3,500 students by the year end. The six-hour online program goes over AI concepts, technologies, future related jobs and ethics and helps develop AI chatbots. / Courtesy of LG CNS PTI Amid the growing calls by states to make COVID-19 vaccines open for all adults, the Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that from April 1, all people above 45 years of age are entitled to get the jab. Read more Here's more top news of the day: 1) Despite Appraisals, Your Take-Home Salaries Could Shrink April 1 Onwards. Here's Why Representational Image According to the new wage rule, under the Code of Wages passed by the Parliament in 2020, the take-home salary of most private firm employees is likely to come down as the contribution to provident fund (PF) and gratuity are to be increased. Read more 2) As Concerns Grow Over 'Super-Spreader' Kumbh Mela In Haridwar, Govt Issues Fresh SOPs Reuters Amid COVID surge, the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar is being labelled a 'super-spreader' event, which could potentially add to massive COVID numbers. Read more 3) Karnataka May Run Out Of COVID Vaccines In A Few Days, Wants 12 Lakh Shots To Inoculate People AFP As the race against time to vaccinate more and more people against COVID-19 is on amid the rapid spread of the second wave, Karnataka is facing another crisis. Read more 4) What Is the GNCTD Amendment Bill 2021 And How Is It Going To Affect The Governance In Delhi? BCCL On Monday, Lok Sabha passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which in effect makes the "Lieutenant Governor" the government of the national capital. Read more 5) Protesting Farmers At Ghazipur Set Up Raised Tents, Jute Pads, Tarpaulin To Beat The Heat Khalsa aid Tents that were spread on the service lane near the Delhi- Meerut Expressway, have moved under the shade of the flyover and raised to a certain height. Read more Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701) Today Cloudy early, then thunderstorms developing this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 76F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low 63F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Rwanda has confirmed the presence of new variants of Covid-19 virus first identified in the UK and South Africa. Health Minister Daniel Ngamije told the state broadcaster that 10 cases of the South African variant (B.1.351) and two of the UK variant (B.1.1.7) were identified last week. The variants were found in 400 samples "that they were able to sequence between October 2020 and February 2021," the minister said. Dr Ngamije said the variants were identified among travellers who arrived at the country's Kigali International Airport. They were put in isolation until they tested negative. In January, the UK added Rwanda on its travel ban list for fear of the South African variant. Meanwhile, 97% of the more than 340,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines that Rwanda received through the Covax facility have been administered, the minister said. Rwanda has reported nearly 21,000 cases of coronavirus and 290 deaths. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The shooting also left wounded an 18-year-old man who was shot soon after he stepped outside the gas station March 1, Chicago police said at the time. As he began walking toward his vehicle from the store, two people also started walking that way. The 18-year-old reversed course to head back to the store but one or both of the other men shot at him, striking him three times. 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. Gandhinagar, March 23 : Gujarat's Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani on Tuesday was detained while protesting against the alleged inaction by the administration for not arresting a police Sub Inspector P.R. Solanki in the Dalit RTI activist murder case in Ghogha. Mevani, the lone Independent legislator from Vadgam constituency, and around 20 others were detained from the MLA quarters in Gandhinagar on Tuesday, before they could reach the Secretariat. Mevani had announced earlier that he would be demonstrating against the state inaction regarding the Dalit RTI activist Amrabhai Boricha, who was hacked to death inside his house on March 3, despite having police protection, on Tuesday at the Secretariat entrance. A group of people, mostly consisting of the upper caste Kshatriya community according to the deceased's family, beat Boricha to death with pipes and swords. Around 25 others, protesting near one of the gates of the Gujarat state Secretariat were also detained. Mevani had also raised the issue of Sub Inspector P.R. Solanki's arrest last Friday in the ongoing budget session of the Gujarat state assembly. He pointed fingers at the Minister of Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja and later to the Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, questioning whether they had any relationship with Solanki as he was not arrested, and had displayed a placard expressing the same in the house. Angered by this, the speaker of the house Rajendra Trivedi, had suspended Mevani for the day. According to sources, Boricha family is the lone Dalit family in Sanodar village, which is primarily dominated by the Kshatriya community. The central government has completed disinvestment of its entire 26.12 per cent stake in Tata Communications for Rs 8,846 crore. This will help the government get closer to its revised disinvestment target of Rs 32,000 crore towards the end of a turbulent fiscal. Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey stated that the Centre offloaded its stake in Tata Communications (TCL) in two tranches. "Disinvestment of government holding completed of 16.12 per cent in TCL through OFS at Rs 5,457 crore and 10 per cent to strategic partner at OFS discovered price for Rs 3,389 crore. With this, government exits from TCL with total proceeds of about Rs 8,846 crore," Pandey tweeted. Disinvestment of Govt holding completed of 16.12% in TCL through OFS at Rs 5,457 cr and 10% to strategic partner at OFS discovered price for Rs 3,389 cr .With this, Government exits from TCL with total proceeds of Rs about Rs 8,846 cr. pic.twitter.com/FI9hTFIiLN a Secretary, DIPAM (@SecyDIPAM) March 22, 2021 Prior to the stake sale, the Government of India held 26.12 per cent stake in Tata Communications, while Panatone Finvest had 34.80 per cent and Tata Sons 14.07 per cent. The remaining 25.01 per cent was with the public. Government had sold 16.12 per cent stake through an offer for sale (OFS) to retail and non-retail investors at the floor price of Rs 1,161 per equity. The government has reserved a minimum of 25 per cent of the offer share for mutual funds and insurance companies subject to valid bids and 10 per cent for retail investors. The OFS was subscribed 1.33 times. ALSO READ: Govt exits Tata Communications, sells 10% stake to Pantone Finvest On March 19, Department of Telecommunications informed that it has sold its remaining 10 per cent stake to Tata Sons' subsidiary Panatone Finvest in an off-market trade. "We wish to inform you that we have 2,85,00,000 equity shares held by us in Tata Communications Limited representing 10 per cent of the total shareholding of the company, to the buyer on March 18, 2021, by way of an off-market trade," the department said in a regulatory note on behalf of the President of India. Tata Communications was formed after Tata Group acquired stake in 2002 in erstwhile Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited set up by the government in 1986. The company claims presence in 200 countries and territories around the world, serving 7,000 customers globally that represent 300 of the Fortune 500. ALSO READ: 66.6% of disinvestment target met amid pandemic The proper definition of "conspiracy theory" is the "false belief in a secret force influencing events." Liberals used to say Nancy Reagan's astrologist, Joan Quigley, directed American foreign policy by way of Nancy's influence on the president that charge was a good example of a conspiracy theory. If Joan Quigley was directing American foreign policy, she was actually doing a pretty good job of it: bringing down the Soviet Union and containing China, for example. The fact is that, unlike Jimmy Carter, Reagan and his advisers, including the formidable Jeane Kirkpatrick, knew who our friends were and who were our enemies and he backed this knowledge up with a willingness to use force. That is the only basis for a foreign policy that will ever work. Now, with Joe Biden, we have another Carter-style president who doesn't know friend from enemy and who wouldn't act if he had to. That's just the kind of policy that brings on a confrontation, and one is coming because our enemies, sensing weakness, will press Biden as far as they can. Since the days of Joan Quigley, liberals have become attached to that phrase, "conspiracy theory." Instead of answering questions, liberals like New York's Gov. Cuomo dismiss charges against him by calling them a "conspiracy." So also with Hunter Biden. There was enough evidence against him for the FBI to launch an investigation over a year ago. But for some, just the mention of Hunter Biden amounts to a conspiracy theory. In a Washington Post op-ed, one contributor attempts to rebut Glenn Greenwald's charges that the Chinese will blackmail Biden with what they know about Hunter's dealings. Anything said about Chinese blackmail is deemed a conspiracy theory before the evidence is heard and it never is. Does anyone seriously believe that China will not attempt to blackmail Biden based on what they know about Hunter? If you believe this, you must also believe that Xi Jinping is a "nice person" who has our interests at heart. Just like the present leader of Iran, the Ayatollah Khamenei, and North Korea's Kim Jong-un. For liberals, the world is full of niceness. Trump made them uncomfortable by standing up to our enemies, so Trump had to go. We can sleep a lot better believing that everyone is nice. Just don't say out loud (or online) that Hunter gives the Chinese leverage over American foreign policy. If you google the words "Hunter Biden China," you will first retrieve a half-dozen friendly posts from CNN, BBC, NBC, VOA, PolitiFact, and Newsweek claiming that "no proof of wrongdoing has been uncovered so far," "allegations ... are unsubstantiated," and so on. And you will learn that anyone raising a question about Hunter's dealings with China is a conspiracy theorist. The March 18 meeting of secretary of state Antony Blinken with Chinese officials will undoubtedly be strong on rhetoric and weak on action as far as China's aggressive policies are concerned. This despite the fact that, in Blinken's own words, "Beijing's actions and behavior ... are challenging the security, prosperity and values of the United States and our allies." If China actually is challenging our survival, as Blinken suggests, shouldn't we be engaged in something more than "words"? And where does Hunter Biden fit into these wide-ranging talks? Not a word from Blinken about Hunter, except to deny his importance. But then, for leftists, questioning anything about their agenda is a conspiracy theory, and once a charge has been labeled a conspiracy theory, it need not be rebutted because conspiracy theories are by definition false. On March 6, Blinken himself claimed that former president Trump is "the leading consumer and purveyor of fake news or conspiracy theories." So now our secretary of state designate has caught on: instead of responding to reasonable charges regarding foreign policy, just play the "conspiracy theory" card. Any criticism of a leftist like Joe Biden is deemed "conspiracy theory," and the next stage in the conspiracy theory fantasia is to punish conspiracy theorists. It's commonplace already to boot so-called conspiracy theorists off social media hence the results for "Hunter Biden China" as well as shelving them in search results. It's not just a few who are the victims of this censorship there must be millions who have seen their comments disappear. Just google "Biden's worst policies in 2021" and you'll get a list of the "challenges" he faces and his skill at facing them along with a silly satire of Biden's critics, a defense of his climate change and wealth gap policies, a report that Biden is viewed more positively than Trump, and an op-ed that Biden is among the best incoming presidents in history. You have to go beyond the first page to find any serious criticism of President Biden. It seems that the algorithms are replacing articles critical of Biden with articles that lavish praise on him and presumably, those algorithms are written by someone at Google. I believe that the same thing is going on at Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo!, and almost every other popular online site, and at the largest television and newspaper outlets as well. There now appears to be a propaganda effort, coordinated in some sense, to control what is said on every major venue of news and opinion (even Fox News bowed to pressure and released Lou Dobbs, the most outspoken and conservative of its commentators). If we now live with a state-controlled media that scrubs all criticism of the left, the next step is intimidation of conservatives who continue to speak honestly. It won't stop with Lou Dobbs it will reach down farther into the lives of ordinary citizens. A teacher who is not enthusiastic enough in her praise of the left, a business that fails to pony up for Democrat candidates, a housewife who forwards a bit of humor at the left's expense to her Facebook friends they'll all face a knock on the door in the middle of the night, or its virtual equivalent. "I will destroy you" was not just a misstep by a lesser Biden official it may reflect Biden's own attitude toward critics. Tyler Joseph Ducklo was not just some minor official he was national press secretary for the Biden campaign and deputy press secretary and, interestingly enough, had served as senior communications director for NBC News. Did the impulse to "destroy" come out of just Ducklo, or is it something he shared with others in the Biden circle, and even with an often irascible Biden himself? Suddenly, the impulse on the left is not just to refute or rebuff it is to destroy. Is it a "conspiracy theory" to suggest that news and opinion are being scrubbed on a national basis, or that members of the Biden administration and others on the left may be devising ways to "destroy" conservatives? Or is there substantial evidence for both accusations? It may seem that calling one's opponent a conspiracy theorist is just a harmless bit of rhetoric, but name-calling of this sort, like calling one's opponent a "fascist," is really a way of shutting down the discussion. It suggests that one is willing to use sheer power, including numerical control of Congress and the presidency, in place of bipartisan debate. And to my mind, it also suggests that, having labeled one's opponent an extremist, one is ready to employ other means of silencing him. Now that leftists routinely dismiss all criticism by calling it a conspiracy theory, they have arrived at a dangerous crossroads. Now they must decide whether silencing the opposition via conventional means newspaper editorials, slanted media reporting, modified search results is enough, or whether they need to apply the Gen. Flynn treatment, or worse, more broadly to their opponents. Based on their recent behavior, it's hard to believe they will stop at mere censorship. Jeffrey Folks is the author of many books and articles on American culture including Heartland of the Imagination (2011). Image via Pxhere. Posted Monday, March 22, 2021 8:28 am Last week, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, reintroduced bipartisan legislation to protect new parents from surprise medical bills. The No Surprise Bills For New Moms Act, co-led by Congresswoman Kaitie Porter, D-Irvine, would simplify the process for enrolling newborn children in health coverage, according to a news release. According to the release, the act would automatically cover newborns for the first 30 days on the mothers insurance and create a standard for enrollment after that period. The bill would also require that all health plans and insurers notify parents if they receive a bill for an uncovered newborn. As parents in Southwest Washington welcome a newborn baby into their lives, many are unknowingly incurring thousands of dollars in surprise medical billing simply because the window to complete enrollment paperwork is so narrow during this hectic time. This kind of surprise billing is contributing to rising health care costs for families across our nation, Herrera Beutler said in the release The bipartisan bill Im helping lead will help give parents peace of mind that theyll have more flexibility to enroll their child in health insurance after birth without risking these exorbitant and unnecessary costs. A year ago today I flew home from Florida into the first of Phil Murphys emergency orders. There, Gov. Rick DeSantis resisted the attempts by my fellow members of the mainstream media to sow panic. TV was showing endless footage of some unruly spring-breakers partying in Clearwater. But DeSantis resisted the call to shut down all 900 miles of beach in the state when the problem was confined to a few miles frequented by young people. I just think that weve got to be reasonable about this and really focus the efforts on where the most significant risk is, the governor said. Which he did. He paid particular attention to keeping COVID patients out of nursing homes. As for Murphy, he mishandled the nursing homes while restricting many innocuous activities such as exercising outdoors. At the first of Phil Murphys coronavirus briefings in Trenton, he offered this sentiment: We cannot have what weve seen too often in other states, again, where we tip our cap to the intentions but we cannot see people walking right beside each other, business as usual, casually as if nothing is going on here. The people in question were often couples who had arrived together at some park or boardwalk to get fresh air and exercise. If they came in the same car, it made no sense for them to walk six feet apart. Yet in Spring Lake and Belmar those walkers and joggers were banned from the boards and had to exercise in traffic. All of this might have made sense if it worked. But a year into the pandemic, Floridas death rate is 151 per 100,000. Thats around the national average - even though Florida has an elderly population more susceptible to the virus. Meanwhile both New Jerseys COVID-19 rate of infection and death rate per 100,000 population are the highest in the country. If we were a nation, our death rate of 274 per 100,000 would be the highest death rate in the world. The comparison between the two governors could not be more complete. DeSantis speaks constantly of protecting the rights of Floridians, even going so far as to call for a bill of rights for college students subject to onerous regulations Then theres Murphys idea of the Bill of Rights. Last April, the governor was asked by Tucker Carlson of Fox News whether he was worried that his orders violated the Constitution. Thats above my pay grade, Tucker, he responded. Murphy makes $175,000 a year. How much of a raise would he need to recognize our rights? Members of the Republican minority in the state Senate are asking that question at hearings theyve been holding on Murphys handling of the COVID crisis. At a hearing last week they took testimony from a lawyer representing a Sussex County gym owner who went out of business because of restrictions imposed under Murphys orders. When I spoke to attorney Robert Ferguson of Florham Park, he quoted the Disaster Control Act that Murphy has invoked. The act permits the governor to commandeer and utilize any personal services and any privately owned property necessary to avoid or protect against any emergency subject to the future payment of the reasonable value of such services and privately owned property. (italics mine.) Fergusons brief asks the court to order the governor to comply with language in the act that requires him to appoint a three-member panel in every county to determine what if any compensation is due. (Republican state Senator Declan OScanlon of Monmouth County suggests redirecting some of that federal aid to businesses hit hard by Murphys order.) Were not saying what hes doing is unlawful, Ferguson said. Were just saying he has to follow the guard rails the Legislature has imposed. I didnt get a reply to an email asking the administration why the compensation panels have not been appointed. But the states brief argues that the term commandeer does not apply to orders that simply restrict the activities of a business owner. It will be up to the court to sort that out. But I agree with Ferguson when he says theres not much left of our democratic system of government when all a governor has to do is declare an emergency and he can renew it every 30 days. At the moment the only check on that unbridled power is the Legislature itself. But the governor and all 120 legislative seats are on the ballot this year. Dont expect the Democrats who control both houses to curb Murphys powers. If he wants to rule by executive order right up till Election Day theres nothing stopping him. After Election Day might be quite another matter. ADD - MURPHY IGNORED THE BEST DATA: The Murphy mantra on his many edicts was Data drives dates. But check the date on this issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. It came out five days before the administrations order to nursing homes that they must accept COVID-19 patients. Murphys people say his order said homes could opt out if they lacked proper facilities to separate those patients from the others. But as the report made clear, even with a high level of hygiene COVID raced through a nursing home in Oregon the prior month, The findings in this report suggest that once COVID-19 has been introduced into a long-term care facility, it has the potential to result in high attack rates among residents, staff members, and visitors, the report states. The administration has been trying to place the blame in the nursing-home operators. But three of the homes worst affected were run by the state itself. The Republicans want to see a committee empaneled with subpoena power to investigate Murphys handing of the issue. So do I. The United States and its allies in Canada, Britain and the European Union on Monday announced sanctions on several Chinese officials alleged to have links to what U.S. officials say is a genocidal campaign against Uyghur Muslims. The international, coordinated sanctions, first reported by POLITICO, drew condemnation and some immediate retaliatory sanctions from Beijing. The moves offered a glimpse into the growing divide between China and the United States and its trans-Atlantic allies, which, like Washington, are increasingly wary of Chinas global ambitions and internal repression. The sanctions are an opportunity for the Biden administration to justify its emphasis on working with allies, one major aspect of its foreign policy that it says distinguishes it from the administration of former President Donald Trump. The sanctions also come after a tense high-level meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials in Alaska. Amid growing international condemnation, the [Peoples Republic of China] continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in the Xinjiang region, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. The United States reiterates its calls on the PRC to bring an end to the repression of Uyghurs, who are predominantly Muslim, and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang, including by releasing all those arbitrarily held in internment camps and detention facilities. Blinken, who is in Europe this week visiting counterparts, noted that the U.K., Canada and the EU were also imposing various sanctions. These actions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to working multilaterally to advance respect for human rights and shining a light on those in the PRC government and [Chinese Communist Party] responsible for these atrocities, Blinken said. The U.S. sanctions targeted two individuals: Wang Junzheng, the secretary of the Party Committee of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and Chen Mingguo, director of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau. Story continues According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the XPCC is a paramilitary organization that enhances internal control over the region by advancing Chinas vision of economic development in [Xinjiang] that emphasizes subordination to central planning and resource extraction. Treasury also added that Since at least late 2016, repressive tactics have been used by the XPSB against the Uyghurs and members of other ethnic minorities in the region, including mass detentions and surveillance. Both the XPSB and the XPCC have already been sanctioned by the United States. Wang and Chen are being sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act, which means assets they may have in the U.S. are frozen and Americans cannot do business with them. Its hard to say exactly how much financial damage the new sanctions will do, but given the coordination with Europe, Britain and Canada, it packs a symbolic punch. The EU on Monday morning approved sanctions against four Chinese officials involved in the internment of hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs. In response, the Chinese government sanctioned 10 individuals and four entities in Europe that it argues "severely harm China's sovereignty and interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation." The EU sanctions were believed to be the first from the bloc to target China on human rights since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. The U.K. imposed sanctions on four individuals and one entity, including the two individuals sanctions by the United States. Canada, meanwhile, announced it is imposing sanctions on the same four individuals and one entity. The Canadian sanctions come at an unusually sensitive time: China has put on trial two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, on espionage charges. The mens supporters say they have been detained in retaliation for Canadas arrest of a Chinese telecom executive. Based on the various statements issued, it appeared that the United States had earlier sanctioned some of the people and entities its allies were targeting Monday. Blinken was among the U.S. officials who met with top Chinese officials in Anchorage last week. The meeting began with harsh words from both sides, with Blinken warning the Chinese that the U.S. did not see its human rights abuses in places like Xinjiang as merely internal matters but rather as threats to the rules-based international order. Shortly before the Alaska meeting, the United States announced a series of sanctions on 24 officials it linked to Chinas crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong. Chinese officials pointed to those sanctions as setting a bad tone for the Alaska meeting, which was the first high-level gathering between Chinese diplomats and aides to U.S. President Joe Biden. Stuart Lau contributed to this report. The death has occurred of Jackie Deere (nee White) Of Sheelin Drive, Caherdavin Park On March 21, 2021 peacefully at Milford Care Centre. Beloved wife of Al Finucane. Dearly loved mother of Geoffrey and Alan. Sadly missed by her daughters-in-law Tarn and Michelle, her beloved grandchildren, brothers Michael and Mark, sisters-in-law, extended family and friends. May she rest in peace. A private cremation service will take place in Shannon Crematorium this Saturday, March 27 at 10.00am. The cremation service will be live streamed at https://shannoncrematorium.com/content/26-live-streaming Password: TLJD27 In lieu of sending flowers please make a donation to support Jackie's sons, Alan and Geoff in participating in the Maca cancer 200 - Ride For Research. They will cycle alongside other team members to celebrate Jackie. Funds raised will support Perths Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Australia. https://www.cancer200.org.au/fundraisers/alandeere/cancer-200 Alternatively, please find below a link to a justgiving page in which donations can also be made in Jackie's memory. All donations will be forwarded to Breast Cancer Ireland https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jackiedeere In the interests of public health, attendance at Requiem Mass will be restricted to accord with government guidelines and in line with social distancing protocols. Mass cards and messages of sympathy can be sent to Thomsons, Thomas Street, Limerick. ******* The death has occurred of James (Jimmy) Donnelly Of Amigan Peacefully, at home, in his 98th year. Deeply regretted by his nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, sister-in-law, relatives, neighbours and friends. Rest in peace In line with government guidelines, a small private family requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday, March 24, in St. John the Baptist Church, Croagh, at 11.30am. Burial afterwards in Cappagh Cemetery. Messages of condolence can be sent to Magners Undertakers, Rathkeale. ******* The death has occurred of Joe (Joseph) Hennessy Of The Sparr, Ballingarry Formerly London (UK). Died peacefully at his residence on March 21, 2021. Predeceased by his loving wife Sharon, mother Kathleen, mother-in-law Rita Diggins and brother in-law Ray Fox. Sadly missed by his loving daughters Tricia and Sasha, son Joey, grandchildren Tilly, Tracey and Caragh, son-in-law Rob, brother Paddy, sister Patricia, sister-in-law Tina, nephew Evan, niece Tara, uncle John Lynch and brother-in-law John Diggins, relatives, neighbours and many friends. May he rest in peace Arriving at The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Ballingarry this Thursday March 25 for 11am Requiem Mass. Burial afterwards in St.Mary's new cemetery. Mass can be viewed at http://www.churchservices.tv/ballingarry. For those wishing to pay their respects to the family, the funeral cortege will leave his residence in Ballingarry at 10.30am approximately en route to church. Family flowers only please Donations, if desired, to Milford Care Centre. In compliance with HSE guidelines, Joe's Funeral Mass will be restricted to family only. Sympathies may be expressed by using the condolence link below or by post to O'Grady Funeral Directors, Ballingarry, Co. Limerick. Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time. ******* The death has occurred of Finola Murphy Of Davis Street Finola died peacefully in St Camillus Hospital, comforted by her niece Elaine OShea-Crowe. Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her surviving sisters Elaine Woulfe (Dublin and Tenerife) and Denise OShea (Dooradoyle), her brother Tim Murphy (Abbeyfeale and London), her sisters-in-law Evelyn, Una, Sarah and Helen and brother-in-law Michael, her four godchildren Antoinette English, Carol Ann Woulfe, Ian OShea and Stephen Murphy and her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, kind neighbours, carers and friends. Predeceased by her siblings Brendan Murphy (North Circular Road), Joseph Murphy (Canada), Eugene Murphy (England) Paul Murphy (Cashel and Cork) Frances Molloy (Australia). A sincere thank you to all the medical teams who cared for Finola, in particular the management, nurses, chaplain and staff of St. Camillus Hospital for their care and respect shown at all times. Rest in peace Requiem Mass, for family only, will take place in St. Saviours Dominican Church, on Saturday, March 27 at 10am and will be streamed live at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO3dclZ5o0c Funeral afterwards to Mount St. Lawrence cemetery. Finolas funeral cortege will pass the family home on Davis Street after Mass at 11:15am approx. for neighbours and friends. Please observe social distance Messages of sympathy may be expressed through the death notices section www.griffinfunerals.com or by post to Griffins Funeral Home. ******* The death has occurred of Teresa (Tess) Ryan (nee Cleary) Of Lacka, Castleconnell Ryan (nee Cleary), Teresa (Tess), Lacka, Castleconnell. On March 22, 2021 suddenly at University Hospital Limerick. Beloved wife of the late Mick and loving mother of baby Valerie. Sadly missed by her loving sons Sean and Gus, daughters Marian McNamara and Treasa, son in law Anthony, sisters Maureen and Nancy, niece Caroline, neighbours, relatives and friends. Rest in peace Departing her home on Friday, March 26, travelling via The Spa to St. Josephs Church, Castleconnell, for Requiem Mass at 11.30am, which will be broadcast on www.castleconnellparish.ie and 106.3 FM burial afterwards in Stradbally Cemetery, Castleconnell. Please adhere to government guidelines regarding social distance and number of people. House private please. Sir Keir Starmer was accused of sitting on the fence yesterday over the VIP paedophile scandal as he refused to back a public inquiry. The Labour Party leader was quizzed on his stance after six former home secretaries demanded an independent investigation into Operation Midland in order to maintain public confidence in the police. Operation Midland, based on allegations of a murderous Westminster paedophile ring made by a fantasist known as Nick, led to raids on the homes of innocent Establishment figures. Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) was accused of sitting on the fence yesterday over the VIP paedophile scandal as he refused to back a public inquiry Sir Keir appeared reticent to back an inquiry into individual Scotland Yard officers on LBC radio yesterday. However, the former Director of Public Prosecutions did appear more supportive of a much wider inquiry into the whole criminal justice system which facilitated the debacle. Last week, Home Secretary Priti Patel ruled out ordering a criminal probe into Midland. Operation Midland was launched in 2014, a year after Sir Keir, as DPP, authorised policy changes for dealing with sexual abuse cases which placed more emphasis on believing those making complaints. Some victims of Nicks lies and other false allegations of sexual abuse blame heavy-handed police action on these changes. The changes were designed to avoid missed opportunities to prosecute sex offenders in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. Last week, Home Secretary Priti Patel (pictured) ruled out ordering a criminal probe into Midland As police investigated innocent Westminster grandees based on Nicks bogus testimony, Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald infamously described their star witness outlandish claims as credible and true. Nick was later unmasked as paedophile Carl Beech and jailed for 18 years in 2019. Last night former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor, who lost his home and job as a result of Operation Midland, said Sir Keir would hope to avoid a public inquiry which could identify him as the orchestrator of policies which led to the probe. Other victims of false sexual abuse allegations, including DJ Paul Gambaccini, have previously called for Sir Keir to apologise for the reforms implemented. They were dropped in 2018. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that food industry interactions with government heavily outnumbered non-industry interactions on Bill S-228, also known as the Child Health Protection Act, which died in the Senate of Canada in 2019. The researchers looked at more than 3,800 interactions, which included meetings, correspondence and lobbying, in the three years before the bill failed. They found that over 80 per cent were by industry, compared to public health or not-for-profit organizations. They also found that industry accounted for over 80 per cent of interactions with the highest-ranking government offices, including elected parliamentarians and their staff and unelected civil servants. "Industry interacted with government much more often, more broadly, and with higher ranking offices than non-industry representatives in discussions of children's marketing and Bill S-228," said principal investigator Mary L'Abbe, a professor of nutritional sciences at U of T and a researcher in the Joannah & Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition. The journal CMAJ Open published the study today. The researchers drew data from Health Canada's Meetings and Correspondence on Healthy Eating database, set up in 2016, which details the type and content of interactions between stakeholders and Health Canada on nutrition policies. They also used Canada's Registry of Lobbyists, which tracks the names and registrations of paid lobbyists but provides limited details on the content of the meetings. "We're fortunate to have access to this information in Canada, as it offers insight into the story of government bills," said Christine Mulligan, a doctoral student in L'Abbe's lab and lead author on the study. "Industry stakeholders bring important viewpoints, but the volume and breadth of their lobbying on this bill was clearly disproportionate, especially compared to public health." The food industry has a long history of effective lobbying in Canada and other countries, and a growing body of research has documented both that extensive influence and the need for policy makers to be aware of it when creating policy that promotes the health and safety of all citizens. Health Canada met with industry 56 per cent of the time regarding the 2016 Healthy Eating Strategy, researchers at the University of Ottawa found earlier this year. And during creation of the recent Food Guide, Health Canada restricted industry lobbying -- so effectively that industry persuaded officials at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to lobby Health Canada on their behalf, as The Globe and Mail and other organizations reported. Mulligan says the disparity in interactions with government among stakeholders was even greater for S-228, and that it marks a stark contrast between this bill and interactions on the Healthy Eating Strategy more broadly. Industry lobbying has also been prominent on a stalled bill to introduce front-of-package labelling that would inform consumers about foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fat, said L'Abbe, who advised Health Canada on both bills and the Healthy Eating Strategy. L'Abbe said that more transparency on interactions with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and other federal departments would help, as would more detail in the Registry of Lobbyists. All stakeholder comments related to proposed regulations are part of a public docket in the U.S., and some groups have called for a similar approach in Canada. "We desperately need better management of the consultative process on legislative bills, for public health policy in the public good," said L'Abbe. ### SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global facade market size is expected to reach USD 336.6 billion by 2028, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2021 to 2028. The market is estimated to witness healthy growth over the forecast period owing to the development of advanced materials with capabilities that offer safety as well as visually appealing texture. Moreover, this exterior building face carries the attribute of both appearance and superior performance in a mode, unlike any other building system, which is expected to fuel the demand for the product over the next few years. The soaring need to lower heating and air-conditioning costs and achieve energy-efficiency is slated to stir up the demand for facades over the coming years. Growing focus on the development of sustainable products is likely to work in favor of the market. Key suggestions from the report: By product, the ventilated facades segment is anticipated to exhibit the fastest CAGR over the forecast period owing to its energy-saving advantages and rich aesthetics. Various government initiatives towards infrastructure development and a rise in the PPP model are encouraging the construction of commercial properties across the globe, which is subsequently propelling the market growth. The commercial end-use segment held the leading revenue share in 2020 owing to the significant adoption of facade products for buildings in commercial applications, such as offices, airports, stadiums, and hotels, globally. Asia Pacific dominated the market with a share of over 35.0% in 2020 owing to the growing construction of new commercial and industrial buildings in China , India , and Southeast Asia . Several prominent players are strategically concentrating on establishing partnerships and agreements to acquire big projects in order to boost their overall sales and profitability. Read 135 page research report with ToC on "Facade Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Ventilated, Non-ventilated), By End Use (Commercial, Residential, Industrial), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028'' at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/facade-market The burgeoning popularity of green buildings and surging demand for high-transparency glasses that allow passage of light, while maintaining heat resistance, are poised to shape the future of the market. The market is projected to witness the application for high-performance and energy-saving solar control facades, which will contribute to higher economic benefits and eco-sustainability. Furthermore, the initiatives and regulations by government bodies, technological advancements, and the need for energy conservation are estimated to propel the market growth over the next seven years. The Green Building Initiative (GBI), a non-profit building assessment and certification organization in the U.S., awards ratings and prescribes principles for reducing the environmental impact. Such principles opted by companies may further spur the growth of the smart buildings industry, thereby stimulating the demand for smart building monitoring through facades. Incidences of severe building fires have prompted public concern over the safety of facade materials. Facade materials play a vital role in fire safety as it is the outer part of the building that is directly in contact with fire. In addition, it is essential to select the cladding material at the design stage based on material combustion characteristics to significantly protect the buildings from fire. Thus, it is estimated to fuel the overall facade demand globally from 2021 to 2028. Furthermore, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on the overall construction and real estate industry and subsequently, hampered market growth. However, with the announcement of economic relief packages across key countries, such as the U.S., India, the U.K., Germany, and others, the demand for facades is anticipated to see notable growth over the next seven years. Grand View Research has segmented the global facade market on the basis of product, end use, and region: Facade Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028) Ventilated Facades Curtain walls Others Non-ventilated Facades Others Facade End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028) Commercial Residential Industrial Facade Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028) North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Germany Poland Asia Pacific China India Japan Latin America Brazil Mexico Middle East & Africa (MEA) & (MEA) Saudi Arabia Kuwait Bahrain Qatar UAE Oman List of Key Players of Facade Market Rockpanel Group (ROCKWOOL B.V.) Aluplex Bouygues Enclos EOS Framing Limited Saint-Gobain Group AFS International B.V. Kingspan Group Lindner Group Fundermax Gartner (Permasteelisa Group) HansenGroup Hochtief National Enclosure Company, LLC. Schuco International ( OTTO FUCHS KG ) ) Skanska Trimo d.o.o. Norsk Hydro ASA YKK AP Inc. Find more research reports on Next Generation Technologies Industry, by Grand View Research: Building-integrated Photovoltaics Facade Market The global building-integrated photovoltaics facade market size was valued at USD 818.2 million in 2018 and is expected to register a CAGR of 25.3% during the forecast period. in 2018 and is expected to register a CAGR of 25.3% during the forecast period. Ready-Mix Concrete Market The global ready-mix concrete market size was estimated at USD 656.1 billion in 2019 and is expected to witness a revenue-based CAGR of 7.9% from 2020 to 2027. in 2019 and is expected to witness a revenue-based CAGR of 7.9% from 2020 to 2027. Smart Electricity Meters Market The global smart electricity meters market size was valued at USD 10.0 billion in 2019 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 7.8% from 2020 to 2027. Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports About Grand View Research Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc. Phone: 1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc. Chile is accelerating an already-ambitious deployment plan to extend 5G coverage across most of the country within the next two years. The roll-out was confirmed to Reuters by Telecommunications Undersecretary Pamela Gidi, who added that Chile would be open to suppliers of any nationality as long as they adhered to a strict set of rules, saying: As long as [these regulations] are respected, we neither have nor are we going to influence the supply chain nor the nationality of the companies. Chile lists China and the United States among its major trade partners, and given the tension between the two powers around cyber security and data protection relating to 5G technology, Chile considers its strict level of oversight necessary to its deployment plans if it is to take a vendor-neutral stance. The US has blocked its operators from using Chinese-made network equipment, placing Chinese firms such as Huawei and ZTE on supplier blacklists and pressuring its allies to shun the providers for their 5G networks. In February, several firms won licences to provide telecoms services using 5G spectrum in Chile. Among them were local operator Entel, Spain-based Movistar, and WOM, an operator backed by UK-based investment group Novator Partners. Local analysts believe WOM is likely to select Huawei as an equipment provider for its 5G build-out, and while it has neither confirmed nor denied speculation, Gidi noted that all licence holders could make their commercial decisions freely provided the [cybersecurity] technical standards are respected. If Chile sticks to its schedule, its 5G deployment will be significantly ahead of other Latin American countries. Gidi told Reuters that the government was hoping that this could convince Amazon Web Services to install a southern cone data centre in Chile rather than mooted alternative option Argentina, saying: We think obviously [5G deployment] can help in the decision of Amazon and other companies that in the future decide to settle in Chile. STUDENTS attending the University of Limerick are being offered free Covid-19 tests later this week as efforts continue to curtail an active outbreak of the disease. While there have been a small number of confirmed cases over the last week associated with the outbreak in Castletroy, there have been 326 cases in total since the beginning of February. In a letter to students, seen by the Limerick Leader, Interim Provost and Deputy President Professor Nigel Healey states the current outbreak remains active despite the low number of detections recently. "The Department of Public Health Mid-West is currently undertaking a process of Active Case Finding, in order to detect more cases amid the ongoing outbreak. For this reason, University of Limerick and the HSE are facilitating Free on-campus Covid-19 tests for UL students who live in the Castletroy area and Limerick city," reads the letter. The testing will happen on campus this Thursday and Friday. "No symptoms are required for the testing taking place on-campus this week. There is no requirement for a PPS number and your personal information will be kept completely confidential. We are encouraging everyone living in the vicinity of the UL campus to avail of the free tests and if you tested negative in the past number of weeks do not assume you are clear, please register for a repeat test," added Prof Healey. Separately, Public Health Mid West has confirmed that more than 50 cases of Covid-19 have been linked to a second student-related outbreak in Limerick city centre. It's understood this outbreak, which is not connected with the Castletroy outbreak, relates to students attending Mary Immaculate College who are living in off-campus accommodation. Mass testing was offered to MIC students in recent days in an effort to prevent further cases occurring. Vietnams Ministry of Health on Tuesday granted approval for emergency use of Russias coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V in the country. The approval was stated in a decision signed by Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong. POLYVAC, a vaccine center in Hanoi, had asked for the green light from the health ministry. The Sputnik V jab is produced by JSC Generium from Russia. The Ministry of Health received 1,000 Sputnik V shots as a donation from Russia on March 16, said Dang Viet Hung, director of the ministrys Department of International Cooperation. This is the second vaccine to be approved for emergency use against COVID-19 in Vietnam, with the first being AstraZeneca. The Southeast Asian country received the first-ever shipment of 117,600 AstraZeneca jabs on February 24. Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said on March 17 that 1.3 million AstraZeneca shots will arrive in Vietnam by the end of this month and be distributed throughout the country. Vietnam is negotiating the purchase of vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and the maker of Russias Sputnik V, the minister said, adding that it may be able to buy 30 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses this year. The government has said it already secured 60 million AstraZeneca jabs via direct purchases and the COVAX vaccine-sharing scheme. Vietnam expects to acquire 150 million vaccine doses in total this year. The Southeast Asian nation had administered the first shot of AstraZeneca to 36,082 people by 4:00 pm on Monday. Its mass vaccination started on March 8. The country has recorded 2,576 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday evening, according to the health ministry. The tally includes 1,601 local infections, with 908 of them recorded since January 27. A total of 2,246 patients have recovered from the respiratory disease while 35 deaths have been documented so far. Authorities are quarantining 37,754 people who either came into close contact with infected patients or entered the country from pathogen-hit regions. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A Massachusetts Uber driver has been charged with kidnapping after allegedly trapping a female passenger in his car by enabling the child safety locks before climbing into the back seat as she screamed for him to let her out. Kamal Essalak, 47, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges in Brighton District Court on Monday, as his lawyer claimed the incident was a 'miscommunication'. According to police, the woman ordered the Uber last Thursday in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. When Essalak arrived she noted that he was 'behaving strangely' and asked to be dropped off and let out of the car. Prosecutors say Essalak stared at the woman when she got into the car, and told her it was 'going to be an hourlong ride', even though the destination was only a few minutes away, according to the Boston Globe. Essalak pled 'not guilty'to kidnapping charges in Brighton District Court on Monday Police said Essalak eventually stopped the car near her apartment but the passenger could not get out because the child safety locks had been enabled on both rear doors, trapping her in the vehicle. '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 in a statement. According to police, the alleged victim was able to slide around Essalak into the driver's seat, unlock the door and exit the car. Prosecutors say Essalak took out his phone and recorded the woman as she ran away, the Globe reports. Essalak (right) leaves court along side his defense attorney Thomas Chirokas Essalak's defense attorney, Thomas Chirokas, told reporters outside the court that the incident was a 'great misunderstanding' caused by a 'language barrier' The court was told how the woman was left terrified because the Uber driver knows where she lives. Police arrested Essalak on Saturday. He was arraigned in Brighton District Court on Monday and is due back in court in May. He was released on personal recognizance and has been ordered to stay away from his alleged victim. His defense attorney, Thomas Chirokas, told reporters outside the court that the incident was a 'great misunderstanding' caused by a 'language barrier' 'We're going to take it one step at a time and we'll be back here in May,' he said. Uber have confirmed that they fired Essalak, who lives in the town of Acton, around 20 miles west of Boston. 'What's been reported is horrifying and something no one should have to go through,' the ride share company said in a statement to CBS Boston. 'As soon as we became aware, we immediately removed this driver's access to Uber. 'We appreciate Acton Police Department's quick actions that helped lead to an arrest in this case.' The Boston Police Department advised customers using ride sharing services to take an extra moment before entering the vehicle to check if the child safety door locks have been enabled. 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. WASHINGTON, D.C. A former lawyer for Donald Trump who made several false claims of voter fraud in regard to the 2020 presidential election is now arguing that no reasonable person would have believed her conspiracy theories. Lawyers for Sidney Powell make the argument in a court filing in hopes of getting a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit filed against her by Dominion Voting Systems dismissed, CNN reports. Dominion filed the lawsuit in January. Even [assuming] that each of the statements alleged in the Complaint could be proved true or false, no reasonable person would conclude that the statements were truly statements of fact, the filing says, according to Business Insider. Powell claimed that Dominion voting machines were rigged to switch votes for Trump to Joe Biden, his Democratic challenger, during the election. There is no evidence any vote-switching occurred in what experts have called the most secure election in U.S. history. According to CNN, Powell was sharing her opinions on the election and that people were free to come to their own conclusions. Powell made several public and TV appearances pushing the false claims. She lost every lawsuit she filed in making the false claims, Buzzfeed reports. Indeed, Plaintiffs themselves characterize the statements at issue as wild accusations and outlandish claims, the filing says. They are repeatedly labeled inherently improbable and even impossible. Such characterizations of the allegedly defamatory statements further support Defendants position that reasonable people would not accept such statements as fact but view them only as claims that await testing by the courts through the adversary process. According to Buzzfeed, Powells lawyers want Dominions lawsuit or the case moved to Texas. Theyre also arguing that Powells claims were hyperbole and should be protected by the First Amendment. But Buzzfeed reports that government filings show many people arrested during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol have cited Powells claims of a rigged voting system as a reason for believing the election was stolen from Trump. Dominion has separate lawsuits against former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Mike Lindell, the My Pillow CEO. Conservative commentators Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo, and Jeanine Pirro have been sued by election-technology company Smartmatic. Daniel Burnam, the architect for the Chicago World's Fair of the 1890s (the Great White Way) once said Make no little plans for they lack the ability to stir the Hearts of Men." Napa has many problems, and as long as we do not confront the real problem, overpopulation, we will have to find different solutions to these problems. The ones we use now are merely bandages that give temporary relief. Take traffic roundabouts, more lanes, and garages will only ease the problem until more cars come to the valley. There are already too many cars in the cities of Napa. The Solution: Remove automobiles from Napa County. Allow no cars in the valley that are not registered in Napa and Lake County. Instead of building garages in Napa, we need to build garages at the county line (it works in Venice and other cities around the world). One structure would house tourist's vehicles and charge an appropriate fee per night. This fee would have to be high enough to fund an excellent transportation system. This system would need to be fast, efficient, clean and cover the entire county and operate at all times. All transportation systems would be included, rail, bus, limousine, Uber-type vehicles, bicycles, scooters and even moving walks. The system needs to be free. 404 After interrogating Canadian hostages Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor for two years and otherwise investigating them, Chinas police clearly have no presentable case against them. The authorities in Dandong and Beijing conducted what they called trials of the two Canadian hostages on Friday and Monday but barred reporters and diplomats from attending the proceedings. After interrogating Canadian hostages Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor for two years and otherwise investigating them, Chinas police clearly have no presentable case against them. The authorities in Dandong and Beijing conducted what they called trials of the two Canadian hostages on Friday and Monday but barred reporters and diplomats from attending the proceedings. The obvious reason for holding the trials now was to threaten continued imprisonment of the two hostages while Chinese and U.S. delegations were meeting in Alaska to explore improved relations. The negotiations continued and the verdicts were deferred. These were show-trials. The obvious reason for excluding observers was that the police have no case. The prosecution was a no-show. If the police had persuasive evidence against the two Michaels, we would have heard it by now. The world now sees what Canadians have known all along: Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are innocent, and they are being held as hostages to compel Canada to bow to the will of the Chinese Communist government by releasing Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou from her comfortable house-arrest in Vancouver and from the threat of a prosecution for fraud in New York. The exercise showed that Chinas Communist government is not in the least embarrassed by its own barbaric cruelty in imprisoning and persecuting innocent hostages to coerce the government of a trade partner. Chinas government believes hostage-taking is astute strategy so much so that it is publicizing its cruelty at a moment when the world is watching. This is not a government that is having second thoughts about the wisdom of hostage-taking. Far from it. It is doubling down. Canada organized a joint declaration against arbitrary detention, issued by 57 governments on Feb. 15 and later signed also by The Bahamas, North Macedonia and the Philippines. China hit the roof on that occasion because it thinks arbitrary detention is business as usual. Diplomats from 20 countries including the United States turned out at the Beijing courthouse on Monday to stand with the Canadian Embassys deputy chief of mission, Jim Nickel, while Michael Kovrig was inside. These expressions of support from around the world should reassure Canadians that Canadas position is sound. China, however, doesnt care. Sam McNeil / The Associated Press Jim Nickel, deputy chief of mission for the Canadian Embassy Disputes among trading partners arise all the time. For the most part, they are resolved peacefully sometimes through negotiation, sometimes by courts of law. China has shown that it will grab hostages in order to bully other countries and defend the interests of a Chinese company with close ties to the Communist party. Canada should draw logical conclusions from Chinas behaviour. Canadian officials, scholars, entrepreneurs and consultants who need to visit China to conduct their business should be warned that they may be snatched off the street and clapped in prison any time the Chinese government thinks a hostage-taking may strengthen its hand in a dispute with Canada. There is, however, no need to cut off all trade with China on this account. Those who are willing to take the risk should be welcome to do so. They should recognize, however, that once you are Chinas hostage there is very little Canada can do for you. And if this does mean Canada will have to forgo commercial opportunities in China, that is a price we should happily pay to avoid repeating the cruelty inflicted on the two Michaels. GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The Upper Peninsula of Michigan can sleep a little safer knowing a new human oppression strike team--based off of a similar team in Genesee County -- has launched above the bridge, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said. Swanson announced the new U.P. Human Oppression Strike Team in a Friday, March 19 Facebook Live post. In 36 hours, Swanson said Operation Northern Exposure was also in full effect last week. The team arrested six suspects between the ages of 32 and 64, he said. Four of the suspects came to have sex with an underage girl. One suspect had sex with an underage girl while his 4-year-old daughter was in the car strapped into a car seat playing on an tablet, Swanson said. The sheriff said it all started a couple of months ago when a handful of sheriffs and police chiefs in northern Michigan reached out to the Genesee County Sheriffs Department after watching what GHOST has been doing. The Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team, or GHOST, was started by former county Sheriff Robert Pickell to fight human trafficking in the area. Related: New police team to target human trafficking in Genesee County We must protect those vulnerable people. We must be able to join together like they did up here -- that your hand is always there to protect these victims, Swanson said. Thats why human trafficking is the fastest criminal enterprise. When a predator is taken off the street it saves the lives of 25 victims. It helps kids all over, including the kids in Genesee County. The team includes sheriffs, police chiefs, state police, Homeland Security and FBI, Swanson said. They had incredible experience and great talent but they needed an operations plan, Swanson said. They wanted to have more of an impact in human trafficking enforcement than they already had. What they needed was the GHOST playbook and thats exactly what they got. Over the following months, GHOST trained and consulted with law enforcement groups, which eventually launched Operation Northern Exposure and the U.P-based strike team. Swanson said he was inspired to help these areas, noting that a Davison victim identified by GHOST was taken all the way to Benzie County, north of Traverse City. Predators have no boundaries, he said. Swanson also thanked Operation Underground Railroad, which helped fund the operation. There shall be no safe corner for predators to lurk. Law enforcement will be there, Swanson said. We will protect and I as the sheriff of Genesee County will continue to protect those who are vulnerable, serve those in need and unify the divided. Read more on MLive: Man takes Uber from Toledo to Montrose to kidnap, sexually assault teen met online, sheriff says Man shot to death outside Flint liquor store Neighbor dispute in Burton leads to shooting and arrest, police say 9 charged in latest Genesee County human trafficking stings 17 arrested in child-trafficking sweep in Genesee County Bethlehem Area School District K-5 students will be back in the classroom four days a week starting April 12. The school board voted unanimously Monday night to bring all hybrid elementary students back two more days a week at the start of the fourth marking period. As staffing and class size permits, the district will allow students to switch from fully virtual to hybrid. Older district students will remain on a hybrid schedule where they attend class in-person two days a week. Students have now been out of school for a year and district leaders say the coronavirus pandemics academic, social and emotional toll is growing. This paired with growing scientific evidence that children under 10 are less likely to spread and contract COVID-19 led Superintendent Joseph Roy to recommend a four-day K-5 return to school. All district teachers and staff who wish to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will have had an opportunity to do so before schools reopen, district officials say. The Bethlehem Education Association supports the change as long as safety protocols like masking, distancing and hygiene are followed. The districts plan is supported by the Bethlehem Health Bureau, St. Lukes University Health Networks epidemiologist/vice president of community health, infectious disease doctors and the districts medical director, who is a pediatrician, Roy noted. It was bolstered on Friday when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated guidance for K-12 schools that says students can safely sit just 3 feet apart in the classroom as long as they wear masks. The revised recommendations represent a turn away from the 6-foot standard that has sharply limited how many students some schools can accommodate. Students should still be kept 6 feet apart while eating, during sporting events, assemblies and chorus practice, the CDC says. Roy noted that because the Lehigh Valleys community spread remains high, the CDC recommends that spacing in middle and high schools should remain at 6 feet, making a full return to school for older students currently not possible. The CDC defines high transmission as more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days. Locally, Northampton County reported 268 cases per capita over the last week, while Lehigh County saw 201 per 100,000 people. Transmission needs to come down significantly for changes in the middle and high schools, Roy said. Roy noted district cases mirror community infection rates. During the worst of the December surge, the district was averaging 17 cases a day or 84 a week. By the start of March, itd dropped to six a day or 29 a week. Last week, it climbed to 7.4 a day or 37 a week, mirroring a statewide climbing infection rate. Over the last two weeks, the Bethlehem school districts recorded six elementary COVID-19 cases, 11 across four middle schools and 21 in the two high schools. There are also eight cases amongst fully virtual students and two amongst district operations staff as well. Roy noted a number are familial cases across multiple school buildings. Weve not had indicators of spread of the virus from one student to another in schools, he said. School board director Angela Sinkler, a nurse who volunteers at vaccination clinics, praised the Lehigh Valleys local vaccination effort, but reminded residents to remain vigilant. The vaccine means youre protected from severe illness and hospitalization, but you can still get COVID-19 if youre not careful, she cautioned. As a community, we need to think about protecting ourselves and our teachers and doing the right thing and still masking, Sinkler urged. The administration is working with principals on the logistics of bringing students back, like how will lunch and breakfast be handled and classrooms laid out. Students will have to remain six feet apart when unmasked and eating, so each elementary school will have its own solution depending on its layout, officials said. Many schools may send students home with a bagged breakfast to eat at home in the morning. We have a lot of confidence in principals to manage routines, said Jack Silva, assistant superintendent and chief academic officer. The board also voted to begin the design process on six HVAC replacements funded by federal stimulus dollars. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Peter Daszak (R) and other members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of the COVID-19 coronavirus, arrive at the Wuhan Institute of Virology on Feb. 3, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) American WHO Representatives Past Connection to Wuhan Institute of Virology Raises Questions Commentary The World Health Organizations (WHO) latest mission to Wuhan, China, to trace the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic is back in the headlines. But not for the right reasons. Its ostensible purpose was tainted from the start, as revealed by a March 17 article in The Wall Street Journal that showed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) secured veto rights over who was going to be allowed to travel to Wuhan to conduct the purported investigation. With the CCPs power to effectively pick and choose who should be on the team, the only American invited to be part of WHOs investigation was Peter Daszak. Hes the president of the EcoHealth Alliance, a government-funded nonprofit that is purportedly engaged in research to prevent pandemics. It seems like no coincidence that Daszak was handpicked for this effort. In fact, given his own likely motivations, he may have been the CCPs best hope of covering up the origins. To understand why, we need to go back and look at Daszaks close affiliation to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), dating back to at least 2013, when he co-authored a bat coronavirus study with the director of the lab, Shi Zhengli. Daszak co-authored further papers with Shi in 2017 and 2018. But its not just Daszaks collaboration with Shi that raises questions, but also what they were collaborating on. The 2013 research successfully managed to get deadly viruses to dock to human cell receptors. The viruses had been isolated from horseshoe bats in Yunnan Province, an area of China more than 1,000 miles from Wuhan. It isnt clear whether the viruses were extracted and brought to Wuhan or whether the bats themselves were brought to Wuhan. Chinese CCTV news footage from April 2018 suggests that the bats may have been brought to the laboratory. Daszak himself took issue with that suggestion in a November 2020 tweet. For unknown reasons, he subsequently deleted the tweet, and when alerted to the deletion, Daszak, instead of providing an explanation, blocked this author on Twitter. The work done by Shi and Daszak was no secret. The fact that they isolated a deadly virus from a bat was celebrated in research circles: Recently, the team led by Dr. Zhengli Shi from Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Dr. Peter Daszak from Ecohealth Alliance identified SL-CoVs in Chinese horseshoe bats that were 95% identical to human SARS-CoV and were able to use human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor for docking and entry. Remarkably, they isolated the first known live bat SL-CoV that replicates in human and related cells, states an abstract of an article headlined Bats as Animal Reservoirs for the SARS Coronavirus: Hypothesis Proved After 10 Years of Virus Hunting. But not everyone was thrilled about what Daszak and Shi were doing. In 2015, Shi had created a chimeric virus expressing the spike of bat coronavirus SHC014 in a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV backbone. In laymans terms, she had artificially generated a hybrid version of a bat coronavirus in her lab. This research came on the back of the 2013 study that Shi had undertaken with Daszak, in which the virus had for the first time been isolated in a lab. That led to Nature, the international weekly journal of science, publishing a 2015 article titled Engineered Bat Virus Stirs Debate Over Risky Research. The type of experiments that were being done by Daszak and Shi are called gain-of-function research, a term referring to research that aims to increase the virulence and lethality of virusessomething that raises even more questions now given what happened with the current pandemic. Daszak is quoted in the 2015 Nature piece as defending these kinds of experiments because they would help identify a virus from a candidate emerging pathogen to a clear and present danger. But others did not agree. According to Rutgers University professor Richard Ebright, cited in the same piece, the only impact of this work is the creation, in a lab, of a new, non-natural risk. Essentially, the issue can be boiled down to this: Is it worth isolating viruses from the wild and experimenting on them in the laboratory to be a step ahead in case the virus might one day follow the same path naturally, or is the risk that something goes wrong too high? It wasnt just scientists writing in Nature that found the risk was too high. The Obama administration also determined that these gain-of-function experiments were too risky and suspended them in the United States in 2014. While the research itself was causing great concern, so too was the manner in which the experiments were being conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. In January 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing sent staffers from its environment, science, and health sections to the institute to investigate reports of inadequate biosafety. Eerily, the diplomatic cable sent by the embassy back to Washington, which was obtained by The Washington Post, read, During interactions with scientists at the WIV laboratory, they noted the new lab has a serious shortage of appropriately trained technicians and investigators needed to safely operate this high-containment laboratory. Daszak himself warned, in a co-authored paper published in Nature, of the risk of laboratory spillovers in 2015. He said, Among all high-risk interfaces and hosts, only viruses transmitted to humans by contact with wild animals in the wildlife trade and in laboratories, such as [various viruses], were more likely to have broader geographic reach. Daszaks collaborator Shi also published a piece in 2010 describing how a lab leak in Yunnan had led to an outbreak of hantavirus. But that was not the end of it. After the Obama administration banned gain-of-function experiments, Daszak outsourced the work to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The project that Daszak outsourced, titled Understanding the Risk of Bat Coronavirus Emergence, was funded by Dr. Anthony Faucis National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. It isnt clear how much of the $3.7 million in U.S. government grants that Fauci gave Daszak ultimately ended up at the WIV but the research output from Daszaks project features many articles involving bat experiments at the WIV. Daszak advertised his deeds, even tweeting in November 2019 that weve made great progress with bat SARS-related CoVs IDing ones that bind to human cells, using recombinant viruses/humanized mice. In a December 2019 interview with YouTube channel MicrobeTV, Daszak boasted that he could manipulate [coronaviruses] in the lab pretty easily. He also explained how coronaviruses could get into human cells in the lab and that he had started experiments with chimeras (hybrid organisms comprised of genetic material from more than one organism) combining coronaviruses with other viruses. Soon after his December 2019 interview, news of a bat coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan started filtering out. Despite his knowledge of the pre-2020 coronavirus experiments at the WIV, Daszak became a driving force to focus the scientific community and media on natural origins. In a co-authored statement published in the medical journal The Lancet on Feb. 18, 2020, Daszak and others claimed that scientists had overwhelmingly conclude[d] that this coronavirus originated in wildlife, as have so many other emerging pathogens. In retrospect, the last part of this sentence looks particularly contrived. As does the next part of his statement: Conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumors, and prejudice that jeopardize our global collaboration in the fight against this virus. As subsequent freedom of information requests have revealed, Daszak not only drafted this statement but persuaded other scientists to sign and sought to avoid the appearance of a political statement. Daszak further wanted to put it out in a way that doesnt link it back to our collaboration so we maximize an independent voice. The Lancet failed to disclose that four of the statements signatories worked for Daszak at the EcoHealth Alliance. Instead of withdrawing the statement, or at least adding a conflict of interest note, The Lancet announced on Nov. 23, 2020, that it had made Daszak the head of its own task force to find the origins of the virus. Half of its task force is composed of signatories of the February 2020 statement. Also in February 2020, Daszak published a piece in The New York Times in which he preemptively castigated virus misinformation campaigns and conspiracy theorists, while at the same time pronouncing that pandemics usually begin as viruses in animals that jump to people when we make contact with them. He also claimed that we know roughly where they originate and whats responsible for them, at a time when we knew almost nothing about the origins of this virus. The final insult came when Daszak was appointed as a member of the WHO team that was supposed to get to the bottom of where the virus came from. Even before he set off for China, Daszak had already determined that the lab leak theory was a conspiracy theory and pure baloney. Since his return from China, Daszak has been pushing even harder to deflect from the lab leak theory. He recently told NPR that his team found new evidence that these farms were supplying vendors at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, where an early outbreak of COVID-19 occurred. NPR didnt push back on this falsehood, when even the WHO conceded after its trip to Wuhan that all the samples related to the animal products or animals were all negative. In a March 10 live stream hosted by Chatham House, Daszak was asked why the Wuhan Institute of Virology had deleted a database of more than 16,000 virus sequences and why the WHO hadnt demanded to see the sequences. He responded by vouching for his collaborators at the WIV and claimed that there was nothing relevant in the database. Its impossible to think of any person who could be less qualified to investigate the origins of the virus than Daszak. He worked directly with the Wuhan Institute of Virology on risky bat virus research, bragged about creating genetically manipulated bat viruses, published papers with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and provided funding for the institute. He appears to be a friend of the institutes director, writing in a tweet on Nov. 7, 2020, looking forward to that special moment when we hit the baiju and the karaoke with Zhengli & Linfa. Daszak also ruled out a lab leak immediately before the facts were known. How did anyone other than the CCP think that it would be a good idea to put him in charge of investigating the origins of the virus? The old saying about putting the fox in charge of the hen house doesnt do him justice. As long as Daszak is investigating himself, we will never find out what really happened at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Hans Mahncke, Ph.D. is a lecturer, author, and general counsel at a global investment advisory firm. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Pressure is growing on airlines to eliminate expiration dates on travel vouchers or to give refunds to people for flights they didnt take because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Edward Markey, D-Mass., sent letters to 10 major U.S. airlines calling on them to make all pandemic-related flight credits, including those that have already expired, valid indefinitely or to provide cash refunds to travelers who want them. The senators asked for airlines to respond by May 28. Consumers are entitled to a full refund only if an airline cancels a flight. If you choose not to take a trip, you are entitled only to a credit for a future flight. Amid uncertainty about the pandemic, many travelers decided on their own not to fly and have been issued billions of dollars in vouchers. But those vouchers have use-by dates, and many were initially issued with one-year expiration deadlines. While a number of U.S. airlines have extended the dates by which they must be used, policies on when and how to use the vouchers vary widely across airlines, which is confusing to consumers. If youre in that situation, see below for tips from Consumer Reports and other experts. Its a hot-button issue for consumers. People filed almost 90,000 complaints about refunds last year with the Department of Transportation. Thats an astonishing 57 times as many as in 2019, when there were 1,574 refund complaints. In their letter to airline CEOs, Blumenthal and Markey said, "Americans need cash in their pockets to pay for food, housing, and prescriptions during this emergency. It is unconscionable that airlines are largely refusing to return customers' money even as the industry sits on more than $10 billion in unused travel credits. While most airlines have eliminated change fees for travelers who want to rebook a flight, Consumer Reports, which last month sent letters to the 10 biggest U.S. airlines calling for extensions of credits till the end of 2022 or a refund option, has heard directly from thousands of frustrated consumers trying to use soon-to-expire vouchers or get their money back. Story continues That includes Craig Evans of New York. When the pandemic hit last spring, he put off a family trip to Hawaii planned for last summer and was given $2,200 worth of vouchers. He originally planned to use them this April, but with the pandemic still raging he asked for a refund. He was told no, and now he has travel credits, some of which expire in August and some by January 2022. While that may seem reasonable in normal times, it is not while we are still in the midst of a pandemic, Evans says. The airlines act like everything has been postponed, says William J. McGee, an aviation adviser for CR. But many people still dont want to fly or no longer have a need to travel. The tickets were for weddings, graduations, and conferences that will never happen. And some are suffering financial hardship because of the recession, McGee says, and they just need the money. Blumenthal and Markey said they are concerned that with the pandemic ongoing and expiration dates looming, consumers will lose their flight credits or travel before they feel safe just so they wont lose the money they spent. Airlines for America, a trade group representing seven of the 10 largest U.S. airlines, says carriers have been flexible throughout the pandemic, issuing $12.84 billion in cash refunds last year, in addition to billions of dollars of travel credits. And even though air travel numbers have picked up, carriers are still in a precarious financial position. As of May 4th, carriers represented by Airlines for America have 40 percent fewer passengers and 32 percent fewer flights than pre-pandemic. If you have a flight credit you're worried about losing, here are some steps you can take to try to get the airline to make good on it. Go to the Source Confirm the due date on your voucher. As the pandemic has gone on, many airlines have extended the expiration dates on vouchers to give flyers more leeway. But they havent always told passengers directly about those changes, says Zach Griff, an analyst at The Points Guy, a travel advice website. So call your airline to see whether it has extended those voucher use-by deadlines. About half of airlines now offer them through the end of 2022. Most recently, in late March, American Airlines and United Airlines extended use-by dates on vouchers with 12-month expirations to March 31, 2022. And earlier this week Delta, which now has one of the most flexible policies, extended its deadline until Dec. 31, 2022, on all tickets that would have expired this year or were purchased in 2021. Mary Ann Carr, who lives in Washington state, was happy to find out that an Alaska Airlines ticket credit that she thought was set to expire is good until the end of the year, a change Alaska made in mid-January and posted on its website, though Carr never received a direct notice informing her about it. No news of this till I called, Carr says. Check your records. Voucher rules can be confusing and vary dramatically depending on when you bought your ticket and which airline you were flying on, according to McGee, who looked at the policies from the 10 biggest U.S. airlines. Some, for example, tie expiration of the voucher to the original date of travel, and others anchor it to when you canceled your reservation. So instead of trying to decipher an airlines voucher policy, which can be hard to find online, review the email confirmation you got when you canceled the flight or the physical voucher if you got one. Then youll be prepared with all the information you need when you contact your airline to find out your options. Get Creative Be flexible. Vouchers are issued as dollar amounts, not as replacement tickets for the same itinerary. So even if youre trying to book the same exact trip, you might have to pay more for it. If price is really important, you might have to be more flexible on dates or seating class for the voucher to cover the same flights. Be aware that if you buy a ticket thats cheaper than the voucher amount, some but not all airlines will give you a credit for the difference. For example, on JetBlue if you rebook to a lower-price ticket, youll get a credit good for 12 months. But United and Frontier are among the airlines that dont issue a credit or refund if the new itinerary costs less than the original booking. Ask about other options. Most airlines offer vouchers only to the original flyer named on the ticket. But some might make an exception and allow you to transfer it to someone else. You may also be able to turn the voucher into another type of credit the airline offers that is more flexible. On United, for example, you can ask to have your voucher converted to an electronic travel certificate, which can be used by other travelers, are good for two years, and have no restrictions on travel-by dates, Griff says. Another option: If youre a member of an airlines loyalty program, you might be able to turn the voucher into frequent-flyer miles. Be prepared. Travel volume is picking up, but the pandemic isnt over yet. If you have a ticket for a future trip and youre still uncertain about taking it, hold off canceling your flight and see whether the airline does it first, Griff advises. If it gets canceled, you shouldnt have trouble getting a cash refund if you insist on it. Make Some Noise Dispute the charges. Airlines must issue you a refund if they cancel a flight, according to Department of Transportation rules. But in many cases at the peak of the pandemic, they didnt cancel a flight until the last minuteafter they had already issued vouchers to people who voluntarily decided not to travel, McGee says. If you voluntarily cancel your flight first, even if the airline later cancels it, you might not be due a refund. But if you bought your ticket with a credit card, you can try disputing the charges. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you are entitled to your money back for goods and services that are not delivered. The Federal Trade Commission offers advice on how to dispute a charge. Be persistent. As with any customer service problem, patience and persistence are key. Many flyers told CR that they had made multiple calls and sent numerous emails before successfully getting what they wanted, whether it was a refund or more time to use the voucher. Use social media. Complaining on social media is often an effective strategy. Most large companies monitor sites like Facebook and Twitter and respond directly to complaints if their company is called out. You can also file a complaint with the DOT, which may take action if enough people report the problem. You can submit a complaint to the agency using this using this online form. (Newser) A shooting in a Colorado supermarket Monday afternoon left 10 people dead, including a police officer. A suspect was in custody, Boulder officials said, and was being treated at a hospital for his injuries. At a brief press conference Monday evening, police Cmdr. Kerry Yamaguchi would not provide details about the shooting, the AP reports, though he said the suspect is the only person wounded. The police chief announced the death toll Monday night, per the Denver Post. A shirtless man with blood running down his leg was escorted out of the store in handcuffs by two officers, a live TV feed showed. Two roommates were buying pizza at a counter in the King Soopers when they saw the killer walk into the store. He didn't say anything, one said. "He just came in and started shooting." His roommate said the man "let off a couple of shots, then was silent, and then he let off a couple more. He wasnt spraying." story continues below A man who said he was shopping at the time told KCNC-TV that he heard a loud bang, then heard another, and by the third, everyone was running. He said they ran to the back of the store, found the employee area, and workers told them how to escape. He said they walked single file, with their arms on the backs of those in front of them. Officers helped some people out of the store to safety. Another witness described a stampede. Sarah Moonshadow and her son, Nicolas Edwards, had just paid for strawberries when they heard two shots, per the Boulder Daily Camera. "We just ran," she said. As they ran, they felt the concussions of more shots, per the Post. They saw a body lying in the parking lot, and Moonshadow started to go to it when her son said: "No, Mom! We cant do anything." Edwards later said: "I knew we couldnt do anything for the guy. We had to go." (Read more Colorado stories.) A new crowdsourced website that allows Houstonians to vet a business or restaurant to see if they are following COVID-19 guidelines has exploded with responses. The website, Space City Safe, is the brainchild of 25-year-old Heights resident Chris Haseler. Haseler, who works as an engineer, created the website the weekend after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lifted the statewide mask mandate and opened Texas back up 100%. "I think a lot of Houston was caught off guard by the governors announcement," Haseler said. "A lot of people dont feel safe quite yet." Haseler's website allows users to input information about a Houston business or restaurant, including if they are requiring masks, social distancing and their capacity level. It also lets users leave comments about their experiences, link to where they got their information (such as a restaurant's Instagram page), and make corrections. "One of the integral parts of the website is being able to specify the information source, it sort of adds a level of accuracy," Haseler said. "So youll notice for a lot of the website, its the business owner themselves who have put up their COVID restrictions." The site has grown to house just over 600 businesses. The boom in responses is not something Haseler expected - he created the website as a challenge for himself, "just for fun to learn about something new." "I certainly was not expecting this to take off at all," Haseler said. "The fact that it has garnered so much attention and so many users has been a surprise and a lot of fun to deal with." The site requires some maintenance, depending on how much traffic it is getting. But so far Haseler said he has not had any issues, with users or business owners. "But the idea I guess is sort of just to let it run its course over the next few months and let people use it as they find it, and make improvements where I can," he said. Haseler has already made a few changes based on user feedback, including implementing an advanced search feature that lets the user find locations closest to their home. "Now with this tool, you can find the right place for you that still has the outdoor patio seating where everyone is wearing masks and thats strictly enforced and get that level of safety," he said. Looking for a COVID safe business? Check out Space City Safe here. rebecca.hennes@chron.com Mumbai, Indias financial hub, has begun random testing for the coronavirus in malls, railway stations and other crowded places as officials attempt to tamp down on a worrying surge in cases. Rapid antigen tests will be taken without individuals consent, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai said in a statement on Monday. Anyone who resists will be in violation of Indias colonial-era epidemic act, which gives the government the power to fine or imprison people who violate rules to contain an outbreak. We are trying to implement the existing protocol to the strictest possible level: use of face mask, regulating the number of people in one event, use of hand sanitizer, and now tests, Suresh Kakani, a senior municipal official in Mumbai, told The New York Times. Active Covid-19 cases in Mumbai have risen by more than 140 percent since March 1. With variants circulating and commercial activity almost back to prepandemic levels, the number of infections has also shot up in the surrounding state of Maharashtra. An entire district was forced back into lockdown last week. Mourners lay flowers on a wall at the Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Australian Spy Agencys Decision to Drop Left-Right, Islamic Label, Highlights the Divisive Power of Words 'Words matter. They can be very powerful in how they frame an issue.' Australias domestic spy agencys decision to drop sensitive labels such as left-right and Islamic extremism has received a mixed reaction, with one religious expert saying the shift to broader terminology could inadvertently mislead public perception of extremist behaviour. Last week, Mike Burgess, director-general of the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), delivered the Annual Threat Assessment and outlined how the agency has been combatting the twin threats of espionage and extremist activity in Australia. He revealed that ideology-based extremism now accounted for 40 percent of the agencys caseload, and due to the evolving nature of threats, ASIO would drop the classifications left-right and Islamic when describing extremist activity. Instead, the broader categories of religiously motivated violent extremism and ideologically motivated violent extremism would be used going forward. Why are we making a change? Put simply, its because the current labels are no longer fit for purpose. They no longer adequately describe the phenomena were seeing, Burgess told attendees of the speech. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess preparing for his annual speech at ASIO headquarters in Canberra, Wednesday, March 17, 2021. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) As an example, when thinking about the proliferation of violent groups that subscribe to various political ideologies, its unhelpful to categorise such groups as simply extreme left wing and extreme right-wing, he added. The spy chief said the agency was seeing a growing number of individuals or groups outside of the conventional left-right spectrum. Instead, newer movements were emerging motivated by a fear of societal collapse or a specific social or economic grievance or conspiracy. At ASIO, were conscious that the names and labels we use are important. Words matter. They can be very powerful in how they frame an issue and how they make people think about issues. Burgess went on the say that the agencys focus was on the threat of violence and not on policing the views of different groups. A protester performs a Nazi salute at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne on September 5, 2020, during an anti-lockdown rally (William West/AFP via Getty Images) Representatives of the Muslim community lay flowers at a floral memorial at the scene of a dramatic siege by Islamic extremist Man Haron Monis which left two hostages dead (William West/AFP via Getty Images) Michael Shoebridge, defence director at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said this was a sensible approach. ASIOs recognition that ideological violent extremism isnt well-described by left wing and right wing extremism is a sensible step to making sure the agency is thinking broadly enough to reduce the risk of emerging forms of ideological extremism tending to violence, he told The Epoch Times. Mark Durie, senior research fellow at the Arthur Jeffery Centre for the Study of Islam, said that while switching the word Islamic for a broader term was done to avoid unfairly maligning the Muslim faith. The category religiously motivated violent extremism would, in fact, malign all religions. This will add fuel to the fire of the widespread, but false idea that all religions are violent and tend to extremism. It unfairly stigmatises people with faith, he told The Epoch Times. Division Driven by Labels Labors Federal Member for Chifley Ed Husic backed ASIOs decision and said dropping the left-right and Islamic labels was smart. He pointed to the challenges the Muslim community faced with the terminology in the wake of the 2019 Christchurch massacre when 51 Muslims were killed by lone gunman Brenton Tarrant. I cant help but shake what I and other Muslims have had to live through. We abhorred what was being done by terroriststhe murderous acts, he told Parliament last week. When we did call it out, we were told by conservatives that we had to do it louder, stronger, and more regularly, he added. Federal Member for Chifley Ed Husic at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, December 10, 2020. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) But now, when conservatives are being asked to confront an errant, ugly streak within conservatism, this is now likened to being tarred by the same brush, he said. Husic was partly responding to Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells comments last year when she told Director-General Burgess at a Senate Estimates hearing to be careful with how he used the term right-wing. The senator has also been critical of the deliberate misuse of the label following the Christchurch massacre. As we look back at the abhorrence of the Christchurch massacre, we should remind ourselves of how the narrative emerged, Fierravanti-Wells told the Senate. He (Brenton Tarrant) was immediately branded right-wing, notwithstanding the fact his manifesto clearly stated that he was a communist, then an anarchist, then a libertarian and then an ecofascist, before his European travels convinced him that violent revolutionary solutions were the only answer to achieving his objectives, she added. Brenton Tarrant, the man charged in the Christchurch mosque shootings, appears in the Christchurch District Court, in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 16, 2019. (Mark Mitchell/AP Photos) So, my advice to those opposite and those who join the chorus is: Do not be divisive. Choose your words carefully before you unfairly label decent, law-abiding conservative Australians. Epoch Times contributor William Brooks has highlighted the continuing ambiguity surrounding the left-right terminology, pointing out that even extreme opposites on the political spectrumcommunism and anarchismhad similar historic roots. Brooks argued that a person could not understand society through such a lens. Instead, it was better for individuals to develop their own independent thoughts and values free from specific classes. Related Coverage Philosophy for Laymen: Second Thoughts About Left and Right Durie meanwhile said using the left-right label was inaccurate. I believe that talk of left and right is often simplistic and a poor way of categorising political movements, he said. He also argued that the word extremism was too vague, saying it did not acknowledge the substantive religious motivations for violent behaviour. The problem is not extremism (i.e. ideas taken to the extremes), but a groups core ideas, sincerely held. It is not extremism that is the problem, but harmful beliefs and ideological commitments, he said. I believe that wherever possible, labels should be precise, not general, and specific, he said. A group that claims Islam as its motivation for violence should be called Islamic. But it would be even better to call these Islamic groups jihadist. The over 30 documents focus on simplification of tax administration, inheritance tax and tackling avoidance but some would have wanted to see more on pensions and ISAs The government has published new tax policies and consultations on Tuesday as part of its Tax Day to outline plans for tax administration. The over 30 documents focus on simplification of tax administration, inheritance tax (IHT) and tackling avoidance. The Treasury said it is committed to clamping down on deliberate non-compliance, as well as supporting taxpayers to get their tax right first time, to tackle the tax gap. It will also cut IHT red tape to reduce paperwork, while many second-home owners should pay business rates instead of council tax if they look to rent it out. Business rates, however, are now discounted for the hospitality and leisure sectors and around 96% of 60,000 holiday lets across the country would be eligible for the relief. Kate Ison, partner and tax specialist at global law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, said that the new and hardened approach could have far-reaching consequences. "Todays proposals go further than any previous measures and, if enacted, would directly strike the core of a promoters finances, at best, and entire business at worst. We expect it will have a deterrent effect on some promoters and will cut off the so-called tax avoidance supply chain where promoters are wound up," she commented. "As regards the proposal to disqualify directors who are involved in significant breaches of anti-avoidance legislation, while it is important to ensure that individuals who are knowingly promoting aggressive avoidance cannot simply re-appear as a director of a newly established promoter or enabling company, care will need to be taken to ensure that appropriate safeguards are included to protect innocent directors who may be unknowingly involved or unaware of the breaches. Pension tax relief, capital gains tax remain frozen The pension tax relief and the capital gains tax (CGT), instead, have been left as they were. Higher-earning retirement savers particularly those in public sector defined benefit schemes - will be relieved rumoured reforms to pension tax relief have not materialised, although given the parlous state of the UKs finances it would be no surprise to see this back on the table in the not-too-distant future, commented Tom Selby, senior analyst at AJ Bell. Similarly, landlords, property investors and those with assets held outside tax-efficient wrappers like pensions and ISAs will also be breathing a sigh of relief that CGT will stay intact for another tax year at least. According to Selby, the hotly anticipated releases ended up being the dampest of squibs as the Treasury missed what he deemed key opportunities to improve the system. For example, 1mln people earning below the personal allowance, most of which are women, are being automatically enrolled into net pay pension schemes every year and so dont automatically receive the tax relief they are entitled to. Failing to treat this with the urgency it demands not only leaves low earners short-changed on tax relief it also risks undermining confidence in automatic enrolment and retirement saving more broadly, Selby commented. Sticking to the pension theme, there is still an issue with people being overtaxed on pension freedoms withdrawals, resulting in over 700mln repaid to savers who have filled out the official reclaim forms since 2015. Finally, analysts were hoping to see a simplification of the ISA offering, which now counts six different types of ISA. From simple beginnings the ISA has morphed into a six-legged beast, with different rules governing different versions of the product, Selby concluded. We know that complexity puts people off saving for their future, so the danger is people will choose not to invest their hard-earned cash into something they struggle to comprehend. We remain convinced that complexity is one of the biggest barriers to genuine engagement and will continue to push for reforms which make life simpler for people who do the right thing and save for their future. Internet tax on the cards Chancellor Rishi Sunak also said that a global online tax on tech giants such as Amazon and Facebook is one of the top three priorities in G7 meetings later this year. It is an issue that, perhaps for international forums like this, has a lot of resonance to the citizens we represent. They care about fairness in the tax system, this is an issue that has cut through an they want a decision on it, he was reported as saying by City A.M. Its in everyones interest from a corporate perspective to have a multilateral solution because it will provide consistency and certainty. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 06:09:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LISBON, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Minister of State, Economy and Digital Transition Pedro Siza Vieira said on Monday that there is a "great concern" about the "integrity of the European Union (EU) single market after the COVID-19 pandemic." The remarks were made at a press conference after the meeting of the Competitiveness Council, which was held virtually under the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU and brought together ministers from European countries in this sector. "We closed borders on the free movement of people and even on the free movement of goods, and we all lost with that," said Vieira, expressing his concern about future crises and possible restrictions imposed by any of the 27 EU member states. The minister called for cooperation between Europeans so that all citizens can have access to goods and merchandise and increase production capacity, "generating resources that can then be invested in innovation, in creating qualifying jobs for the future." He also stressed that "there is a broad consensus on the need for us to be more effective in ensuring compliance with these rules by all who operate and offer goods and services in the single market," avoiding "competition and respecting the same environmental rules." European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager said at the same press conference that closing borders "without advance notice" between member states "has been very painful." She revealed that the European Commission is studying a proposal to ensure that "all Member States feel and see that they can count on their neighbors in times of extreme crisis." "We will insist on this and we hope to move forward very soon, as we have learned that borders are not guaranteed to remain open, even when there are necessary goods that need to circulate," she said. Enditem An EU parliamentary committee has suggested removing national vetoes on a future digital tax. In a vote on Tuesday, economic MEPs asked the European Commission to explore all possibilities offered by the treaties when tabling new tax laws. The wording is code for using article 116 of the EU treaty, which allows for majority voting where national laws distort the single market. Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher said such a move would be skirting with the treaty itself. The Commission has been trying to use article 116 as well, which is an issue that, from a strategic point of view, Ireland will have to robustly defend, and reject the use of that particular article, as it moves taxation out of the hands of sovereign governments, he told the Irish Independent. The vote was in a committee and has yet to be endorsed by the full 705-member Parliament. It is not a legally binding document, but it garnered cross-party support, with a large majority of 48 votes to four (with six abstaining, including Mr Kelleher). EU tax chief Paolo Gentiloni signalled last year that he would consider using the controversial article as a basis for future tax proposals. Last month, Ireland was defeated in its bid to stop majority voting being used on another tax plan for multinational country-by-country reporting. Tuesdays report also calls on the EU to move ahead with plans for its own digital levy by June 2021, despite similar work being done by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). A major obstacle to an OECD deal was removed last month when US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen apparently dropped a so-called safe harbour requirement, which would have allowed the US to opt out of any future deal. Mr Kelleher said the EU should give US president Joe Bidens re-engagement with the OECD some time to bed down before going its own way on digital taxes. If you act unilaterally, without having America on board, well, you could just undermine our attractiveness, our competitiveness, our location for investment, innovation and research, he said. The former chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, who is facing charges in connection with a casino bribery scheme, is now being charged with filing false tax returns. A federal grand jury in Boston returned a superseding indictment Tuesday, charging Cedric Cromwell with four counts of filing a false tax return, according to Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel Mendell. Cromwell is also accused of extorting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes with alleged co-conspirator David DeQuattro, the owner of an architecture-and-design firm originally picked to oversee the tribes casino and resort project in Taunton. Prosecutors said that Cromwell failed to report the alleged bribe money when filing personal income tax returns for tax years 2014 through 2017 an amount totaling $177,393. In November, Cromwell and DeQuattro, a Warwick, Rhode Island resident, were each indicted on two counts of accepting or paying bribes as an agent of an Indian tribal government and one count of conspiring to commit bribery. Prosecutors also allege Cromwell failed to report payments for consulting work he did for a company that developed and supplied so-called forest carbon offsets. It is alleged he was paid the consulting income through an intermediary identified as P-Co., which was set up by a business associate of Cromwell. The business associate was the only authorized signatory on a bank account identified as the P-Co. Shell Company Account, prosecutors said. Cromwell also allegedly failed to report income to his company One Nation Development, paid through the P.-Co. Shell Company Account and the bank account of a Florida limited partnership, which originated with an investment holding company in Las Vegas. The latest indictment comes two months after a federal grand jury opened an investigation into the tribes use of COVID relief funds. After the charges were made public in November, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council ousted Cromwell from power. Related Content: KONNOR PERRIN, Chariho boys lacrosse, freshman: Perrin established a school record for assists in a game with nine in the Chargers 22-0 win over Ponaganset. Perrin leads the team with 21 assists to go with 14 goals. LILA RICH, Stonington girls track, senior: Rich won two events at the ECC Division I track meet. Rich was first in the high jump (5-0) and the pole vault (10-0) as the Bears finished third at the meet. MADIGAN HILTZ, Westerly boys lacrosse, senior: Hiltz scored seven goals and had three assists in pair of victories for the Bulldogs. Hiltz has 17 goals and seven assists for the season. ADDIE HAUPTMANN, Wheeler softball, junior: Hauptmann was 4 for 9 with a home run and six RBIs in two games. For the season, Hauptmann is hitting .617 with eight homers and 42 RBIs. She has 50 hits. 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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 The national evaluation exam will most likely take place this year after the Baccalaureate exam, Minister of Education Sorin Cimpeanu announced on Tuesday. "The Baccalaureate exam will remain on the same dates that have already been established, communicated and are known. The national evaluation exam will move after the Baccalaureate exam and, this way, we try to disturb as little as possible the structure of the school year and the academic year, because, if we postponed the Baccalaureate exam, it would certainly not be possible to organise the admission exam for the Romanian universities in summer. (...) It is very probable that we will postpone the National Evaluation exam and automatically the admission to high school as little as possible," the minister told the videoconference "Asymptomatic digital education," organised by the World Vision Romania Foundation and Edupedu. He said there were no reasons to change the subject matters for the National Evaluation exam.According to him, schools will remain open "at least until April 1." (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) An exterior view of a Tesla showroom on April 4, 2016 in Corte Madera, California. (Photo : Joe Raedle/Getty Images) A Tesla vehicle is seen at a dealership on January 03, 2019 in Miami, Florida. Tesla's Full Self-Driving Beta 8.3 update, which CEO Elon Musk planned to release in April 2021, has been on hold for "significant architectural changes," as reported by Inside EVs on Monday, March 22. In a tweet meant to answer Whole Mars Catalog's query on March 20, Musk answered that the changes, including "fundamental improvement to pure vision," yielded limited value during testing. Given significant architectural changes, including fundamental improvements to pure vision, there is limited value to testing 8.x. Hoping to upload V9.0 & button next month. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 20, 2021 Musk continued that instead of the Beta version 8.3 update, the EV manufacturer will instead rollout, version 9.0 will be released in its place. The Beta version 9.0 is slated to be uploaded along with the "download beta button" around April 2021. Also Read: Elon Musk Tweets Tesla Sale: Free 3 Months FSD Subscription for All EV Purchases Before Dec. 31! Tesla's FSD Beta Expansion Ambition FSD is an optional software upgrade that gives Tesla vehicles the feature to drive themselves with little to no intervention from its drivers. Musk initially said on March 7 that the company is adding the "download beta button" function to Tesla vehicles due to the high demand for the FSD Beta. He also encouraged Tesla vehicle owners who purchased the FSD option to join the development program and let their car drive itself to their heart's content. On March 13, Musk announced on Twitter his plans to expand FSD Beta to more than 2,000 owners, as well as its cancellation of some beta driver's access for not paying enough attention to the road. FSD Beta Safety Concerns Road & Track revealed that the FSD Beta requires split-second intervention and constant human supervision, making it "potentially dangerous." In the report published on March 19, Road & Track concluded that the FSD Beta program is technologically limited and morally dubious. Using a Model 3 with FSD Beta 8.2 installed, the Road & Track team captured that the EV had made "embarrassing mistakes" and "extremely risky, potentially harmful driving." This includes the EV breaking a number of traffic laws, such as attempting to execute an illegal lane change, crossing a hard line, and suddenly disengaging while attempting to make a left turn. The EV apparently also tried to make a right turn at a red light, proving that the feature must require the driver's intervention to prevent it from doing something illegal and dangerous. Tesla FSD: Is it safe? The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had been eyeing Tesla's FSD feature since 2019 over concerns of road safety. The investigation caught wind after a Tesla vehicle crashed into a tractor-trailer on March 11. According to Reuters' report on March 16, the NHTSA launched a Special Crash Investigation (SCI) team to identify the cause of the accident, wherein two people were left critically injured. On March 17, Detroit Police Assistant Chief David LeValley said on a press release that the driver admitted that he turned off the autopilot feature at the time of the crash. "All the indications we have at this point are that the vehicle was not in Autopilot mode, that the driver was in control of the vehicle at the time of the crash," LeValley said. Related Article:Tesla vs. Semi-Truck Crash: Elon Musk's FSD Faces Controversy Again! This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Lee Mercado 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (ANSA) - NAPLES, MAR 23 - Capri's most iconic sight, the three dramatic Faraglioni rock formations which jut out from the Mediterranean just off the island's coast. have been damaged by mussel hunters, local police said Tuesday. Police arrested 19 date-mussel hunters on suspicion of damaging the towering trio of rocks as well as less famous rocks in the port of Naples. They have been charged with "environmental devastation". The extraction of date-mussel shells requires dismantling of the rocks where they live and can lead to desertification of the coast. Several governments have restricted the collection of these shells or even made it wholly illegal, in order to protect the rocks on which they are found. These countries include Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, France, Greece, Montenegro, and others, all signatories to the Bern and CITES conventions on protecting wildlife. Historically these shells are considered a delicacy, cooked and served in a broth of white wine, garlic and parsley. In the case of the Faraglioni, investigations have established the desertification of the ecosystem comprising 48% of the underwater rock walls. The police action is unprecedented in Italy. Police said they had uncovered two illicit operations, one based in Naples and the other in Stabia and Capri, which have controlled the illegal and devastating trade for the last 30 years. (ANSA). The recent missile testing conducted by North Korea was part of the Norths normal military activity that isnt covered by UN Security Council resolutions and probably wont merit a response, said a senior Biden administration official. While we take all military activity seriously and will continue to consult closely on this with partners now I see this action in the category of most normal military activities by the North, the official said on Tuesday. North Korea has a familiar menu of provocations when it wants to send a message to US administration ballistic missiles of various range, mobile and submarine launch platforms, nuclear and thermonuclear tests experts rightly recognised what took place last weekend is falling on the low end of that spectrum. Pyongyang fired at least one missile over the weekend in its first test firing since Joe Biden entered the White House. Administration officials have not publicly clarified what type of weapon was launched, where it was fired or the success of the test. Read more: The official added that the Biden administration does not believe that it is in our best interest to hype these things because such activities are part of normal set of tests in a military environment like we see on the Korean peninsula. We do not respond publicly to every kind of test, the official added. North Koreas budding nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes have been a thorn in the side of American leaders for decades, and the North has a pattern of staging tests to gauge the resolve of new American presidents. Mr Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump, responded to a series of threatening statements from North Korean officials by famously threatening dictator Kim Jong Un with fire and fury like the world has never seen in August 2017, just eight months into his presidency. Mr Trump and Mr Kim later met for summits in 2018 and 2019 the only such encounters between North Korean and American heads of state and a brief meeting at the Korean Demilitarized Zone, during which Mr Trump became the only American president to set foot on the northern half of the Korean peninsula. Despite Mr Trumps boasts that he and Mr Kim fell in love during their brief meetings, Mr Kim was not willing to commit to ending his countrys nuclear weapons programme, and Mr Trump would not agree to his demands for sanctions relief. A senior Biden administration official told reporters that a review of American policy on North Korea is almost at an end, with the outcome of that review set to be a topic of discussion when National Security Adviser Jacob Sullivan hosts his Japanese and South Korean counterparts at the White House next week. We look forward to a robust discussion on a wide range of issues on how the US, Japan, and South Korea can deepen our trilateral cooperation, the official said. A second official explained that the Biden national security team has been working intensively on next steps with regard to diplomacy or engagement on the Korean peninsula since the beginning of the transition period last November. As part of that process, the official said that Mr Bidens team has had a series of conversations with their counterparts in Mr Trumps administration, as well as virtually every individual whos been involved in diplomacy with North Korea since the mid 1990s. Making South Korea and Japan the main US partners in dealing with North Korea would be a departure from previous administrations, which often leaned on China the Norths largest trading partner to exert pressure on Pyongyang in hopes of curbing the Kim regimes nuclear testing. But relations between Washington and Beijing took a turn for the worse during the last year of Trumps presidency, and its unclear whether Chinese leaders are as willing to engage on North Korea matters as they once were. The official opined that the US would be stronger by approaching these challenging issues on North Korea in partnership with Japan and South Korea, but said the Biden administration is under no illusions about the difficulty this task presents to us. We have a long history of disappointment in diplomacy with North Korea. Its defied expectations of Republican and Democratic administrations alike, weve had working groups, weve tried it at the highest levels of the head of state, and all the while weve seen North Korea proceed ahead accordingly, the official said, adding that tensions between Japan and South Korea and Sino-US relations are heading into a complex period, which makes it even more important for the US to [engage] effectively with respect to the North. But while the official stressed the importance of the trilateral US-Japan-South Korea relationship in Biden-era diplomacy on the Korean peninsula, he did not foreclose the possibility of direct talks between the US and the North. We have taken efforts, and we will continue to take efforts, and we believe that that such diplomacy in close coordination with South Korea and Japan and frankly, with China is in the best interest of all those concerned, we dont want a situation where its perceived that our door is not open to talk. One of the 10 people shot dead in the Boulder grocery store massacre was a retired New York magazine photo director who was filling an Instacart shopping order for someone who couldn't make it to the store themselves. Lynn Murray, 62, is being remembered by her family as a kind and compassionate person who went out of her way to help others. Her family have revealed the mother-of-two was at the store at the time of the shooting to fill an Instacart order. She also occasionally worked for Lyft and Uber. Murray was a retired New York City magazine photo director who had worked for Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Glamour before relocating to Colorado to raise her children. 'She was an amazing woman, probably the kindest person I've ever known,' her husband John told the New York Times. 'Our lives are ruined, our tomorrows are forever filled with a sorrow that is unimaginable. She was one of the greatest people you'd ever want to know: hard working, loving and compassionate, caring, went out of her way to make sure everyone else had a smile on their face. 'I just want her to be remembered as just as this amazing, amazing comet spending 62 years flying across the sky.' Lynn Murray, 62, is being remembered by her family as a kind and compassionate person who went out of her way to help others. Her family have revealed the mother-of-two was at the Boulder grocery store at the time of the shooting to fill an Instacart order Murray was among the 10 gunned down at the King Soopers outlet in Boulder on Monday afternoon when 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa stormed in and opened fire. The others killed include: Rikki Olds, 25, Teri Leiker, 51, Denny Stong, 20, Neven Stanisic, 23, Tralona Bartkowiak, 49, Suzanne Fountain, 59, Kevin Mahoney, 61, and Jody Waters, 65. Boulder Police officer Eric Talley, 51, was also killed after he responded to the shooting. A picture of the victims emerged a day after the shootings as their families paid tribute to them, including California-based reporter Erika Mahoney who posted a heartbreaking image of her father walking her down the aisle during her wedding last year. 'I am heartbroken to announce that my Dad, my hero, Kevin Mahoney, was killed in the King Soopers shooting in my hometown of Boulder, CO,' she wrote alongside the photo. 'My dad represents all things Love. I'm so thankful he could walk me down the aisle last summer. I am now pregnant. I know he wants me to be strong for his granddaughter. Thank you to the Boulder PD for being so kind through this painful tragedy.' Kevin Mahoney's journalist daughter Erika tweeted a touching photo of him walking her down the aisle for her wedding last year as she paid tribute to him. He is among the 10 people shot dead in the Boulder grocery store massacre on Monday The family of Rikki Olds confirmed that she was among the 10 people killed at a King Soopers outlet in Boulder on Monday afternoon when the gunman opened fire Suzanne Fountain was a licensed Medicare agent and financial counselor Rikki Olds, who worked at the store as an assistant front-end manager throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, had been employed there since graduating high school. She was raised by her grandmother after her mother abandoned her and her siblings as a young child. Olds hadn't seen her grandmother in person until recently given the young woman was a frontline worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. They saw each other again only after Olds' grandmother was vaccinated. The young woman's family shared several tributes on social media as the grieving relatives called for the gunman to 'burn in hell'. 'We lost our beloved Rikki Olds to the monster who shot up the king soopers in Boulder CO yesterday may his rotten a** fry and burn in hell,' her aunt Lori Olds said. Teri Leiker, whose boyfriend also worked at the store but survived, had worked there for 30 years. Leiker's friend, Lexi Knutson, said the veteran employee loved working at the store. 'She loved going to work and enjoyed everything about being there,' Knutson told Reuters. 'Her boyfriend and her had been good friends and began dating in the fall of 2019. He was working yesterday too. He is alive.' Jody Waters, 65, (left), Tralona Bartkowiak, 49, (center) and Lynn Murray, 62, were among those gunned down inside the store Denny Stong, 20, Boulder Police officer Eric Talley, 51, and Neven Stanisic, 23, were also shot dead in the massacre Knuston said she believed Leiker's job had come through a special needs work program. Friends said Denny Stong, who was the youngest victim, was training to be a pilot. He also worked at the store where the shooting unfolded. His Facebook profile photo has the caption: 'I can't stay home. I am a grocery store worker' in reference to the COVID-19 pandemic. 'My heart breaks. My son's best friend, Denny Stong was killed at the Boulder King Soopers yesterday. He was 21 and was training to become a pilot,' Laura Cole Spicer wrote in a Facebook tribute. Tralona Bartkowiak ran a small clothing and artisan store in Boulder and had recently become engaged. Her store mainly sold yoga and festival attire. Bartkowiak had, in recent years, regularly attended festivals like Burning Man to advertise her business. Jody Walters, a mother-of-two and grandmother, described herself as a 'creative entrepreneur'. Suzanne Fountain was a licensed Medicare agent and financial counselor. She was also an actress and, up until the pandemic, was also the manager of eTown, a nonprofit live music venue in Boulder. Kevin Mahoney is pictured above with his family. He was among those gunned down in the store Olds (pictured left with her boyfriend Jordan), who worked at the store as an assistant front-end manager throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, had been employed there since graduating high school Leiker, whose boyfriend also worked at the store but survived, had worked there for 30 years The gunman first opened fire in the parking lot of the store before going inside where witnesses described him shooting at staff and shoppers. Survivors hid in food aisles and sheltered while trying to listen to which direction he was coming from, and if he was reloading what they described as an AR-15 rifle. Police, over radio scanners, told each other to take 'head shots only' after reports that he might have been wearing a tactical vest. The terror went on for around 20 minutes before he was taken into custody. Talley was among the first officers on the scene following reports of the active shooting. In the aftermath of the massacre, Talley's father said the slain officer had been learning to become a drone operator so he could step away from the front line. 'He didn't want to put his family through something like this,' his father Homer Talley said. Talley is survived by his his wife and their seven children. Their youngest child is seven years old. 'He loved his kids and his family more than anything,' his father said. Talley had been working as an officer for just over a decade after enrolling in the Aurora's Police Training Academy when he was 40 years old. Talley, who had a master's degree, had quit his stable IT job in 2010 after one of his close friends died in a DUI crash. A mourner leaves a bouquet of flowers along a fence put up around the parking lot where a mass shooting took place in a King Soopers grocery store on Tuesday Police cruiser parked outside Boulder Police Department is covered with bouquets in tribute after an officer was one of the victims of a mass shooting at a King Soopers grocery store GUNMAN: Ahmad Alissa, the 21-year-old gunman from Monday's shooting at a Colorado grocery store. He is shown, left, wearing wrestling medals from the North American Grappling Association, in an undated Facebook photo DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / Trintech, a leading global provider of integrated Record to Report software solutions for the office of finance, and Inc. magazine, today revealed that Trintech is No. 216 on its second annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Texas list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing Texas-based private companies. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the Texas economy's most dynamic segment - its independent businesses. "We are honored to be listed among such an incredible group of rapidly growing Texas-based private companies," said Teresa Mackintosh, CEO of Trintech. "Transparency, automation, and standardization have always been critical to Finance & Accounting organizations, but the transition to a remote workforce has only exacerbated these needs. We are grateful to be in the position to empower these organizations with the solutions to digitize workflows across the financial close process - reducing complexity and risk, accelerating the overall process, and driving a greater experience for teams across the globe." "The companies on this year's Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. "From health and software to media and hospitality, the 2020 list proves that no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism." Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Series: Texas can be found here. ### About Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regional Series Methodology The 2021 Inc. 5000 Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2017 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent-not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies-as of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. About Inc. Media The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com. About Trintech Trintech Inc., a pioneer of Financial Corporate Performance Management (FCPM) software, combines unmatched technical and financial expertise to create innovative, cloud-based software solutions that deliver world-class financial operations and insights. From high volume transaction matching and streamlining daily operational reconciliations, to automating and managing balance sheet reconciliations, intercompany accounting, journal entries, disclosure reporting and bank fee analysis, to governance, risk and compliance - Trintech's portfolio of financial solutions, including Cadency Platform, Adra Suite, and targeted tools, ReconNET, T-Recs, and UPCS, help manage all aspects of the financial close process. Over 3,500 clients worldwide - including the majority of the Fortune 100 - rely on the company's cloud-based software to continuously improve the efficiency, reliability, and strategic insights of their financial operations. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Trintech has offices located across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and the Nordics, as well as strategic partners in South Africa, Latin America and the Asia Pacific. To learn more about Trintech, visit www.trintech.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Media Contact: Kristina Pereira Tully Vested 650-464-0080 trintech@fullyvested.com SOURCE: Trintech, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636773/Trintech-Ranks-No-216-on-the-2021-Inc-5000-Series-Texas NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 The TUV leader Jim Allister has been banned from speaking in the Stormont Assembly for three days after making ill-tempered remarks. The remarks Mr Allister were sanctioned for came across several debates in the Assembly. On Monday, the North Antrim MLA was criticised for referring to the Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon as a little Irelander during a ministerial question time session. Read More The TUV leader was also pulled up by the Assembly Speaker for interrupting Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw, something Mr Allister apologised for. Speaking on Tuesday, the Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey said Mr Allister had demonstrated unacceptable behaviour. I have been concerned about Mr Allister's behaviour on a number of recent occasions, said Mr Maskey. "He has made ill-tempered remarks including to the Infrastructure Minister yesterday and has been aggressive in commenting from a seated position while other members are speaking." .@JimAllister calling me aa little Irelandera exposes his obsession with dividing our society. Meanwhile Iam focused on bringing our people together every day - to build our shared home place. Jim spouts rhetoric, while I go to work. Thereas nothing alittlea about my politics. Nichola Mallon (@NicholaMallon) March 22, 2021 When Mr Allister tried to challenge the Speaker, Mr Maskey added: I have determined a three-day suspension. I can add to that. Don't tempt me. During the debates, Mr Allister had also criticised the Assembly Commission for not approving a unionist proposal around the plan of erecting a stone marking Northern Irelands centenary. In response to what was described as a gagging order by Jim Allister, the MLA said he was surprised at having been punished for his remarks. Mr Speaker further relied on an alleged 'interruption' by me of Ms Bradshaw when she was speaking on 8 March 2021. What was described as an 'interruption' was in fact a wholly unintentional distraction for Ms Bradshaw, arising from me conducting a conversation obviously too loudly with Mr Buckley while seated behind her, he said in a statement. I am therefore surprised to find this incident relied upon, though only in part, in justifying the penalty imposed on me. I cannot think of any member ever being disciplined for conducting a conversation too loudly rebuked yes, but not disciplined. Mr Allister also accused Sinn Fein MLAs of being bellicose and ill-tempered" during speeches in an Assembly debate on flags and emblems on Monday. He added: On behalf of my constituents I seek to make my points with vigour and clarity. While the Speakers ruling is mandatory, I regret that my constituents are to be punished in this way, but assure them that while I might be silenced for three days in the chamber, their voice and opinions will be heard. Groggy during the day? Feeling burned out at work? That could put you at increased risk for COVID-19 and more severe illness, a new study suggests. "We found that lack of sleep at night, severe sleep problems and high level of burnout may be risk factors for COVID-19" for frontline health care workers, according to a team led by Dr. Sara Seidelmann, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Stamford Hospital, Conn. One expert who wasn't connected to the research said the findings made sense. "This study reconfirms several items that have been suspected about the relationship of sleep, stress and infectious diseases," said Dr. Thomas Kilkenny, who directs sleep medicine at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City. "The researchers demonstrate, in a very comprehensive way, that both sleep deprivation through lack of sleep increases both the risk of developing COVID 19 but also the duration of the illness." Prior research has found that poor sleep and job burnout are linked with a greater risk for a variety of viral and bacterial infections, so the authors of this new study wanted to find out if they're also risk factors for COVID-19. In this latest study, published March 22 in the journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, they analyzed the responses of nearly 2,900 health care workers in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Britain. All had participated in an online survey from July 17 to Sept. 25, 2020. Of those health care workers, 568 reported having gotten infected with the new coronavirus. The health care workers averaged between 6 and 7 hours of sleep a night. The study couldn't prove cause-and-effect, but after the researchers accounted for other factors, they concluded that every extra hour of sleep at night was associated with a 12% lower risk of the worker getting COVID-19. However, when that extra hour of shuteye took place was crucial. An extra hour of sleep via daytime napping was associated with a 6% higher risk of getting COVID-19, the team noted in a journal news release. According to Kilkenny, that shows that "staffers that needed to take naps during the daya surrogate for lack of sleepwere also at an increased risk for the disease." About 1 in 4 (24%) of the people who went on to contract COVID-19 had already reported long-term difficulties sleeping at night, compared with about 1 in every 5 (21%) of those who hadn't gotten the illness. Seidelmann's group also found that 5% of those with COVID-19 had three or more sleep problemsincluding difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, or needing to use sleeping pills on three or more nights of the weekcompared with 3% of those without COVID-19. People with those three sleep problems were 88% more likely to develop COVID-19 than those with no sleep problems, the study found. Another finding was that 5.5% of those with COVID-19 reported daily work burnout, compared with 3% of those without COVID-19. Compared to those with no burnout, those with daily burnout had twice the risk of getting COVID-19, and they were about 3 times more likely to have severe COVID-19 and to take longer to recover. Dr. Harly Greenberg is chief of pulmonary, critical care and sleep Medicine at Northwell Health, in Great Neck, N.Y. He wasn't involved in the research, but said it "adds to the mounting literature that sleep is much more than simply withdrawing from the environment; rather it is an essential and active biological process that restores brain function including memory, mood, cognition and resiliency to stress." The study is also "consistent with research that shows that insufficient sleep has important adverse effects on immune health, which increases susceptibility to infection and other health problems," Greenburg said. "This study highlights the importance of preserving sleep in the overall effort to enhance well-being during this difficult time." More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19 Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. HIDDEN elder abuse scams linked to Covid-19 are being targeted at isolated farming communities, Muintir na Tire has warned. And as the lockdown continues, rural organisations say the impact of loneliness and financial worries is increasing. Meanwhile, Irish Rural Link says demand for its Meals on Wheels service has more than doubled since last summer. Niall Garvey, Muintir na Tire CEO, said the hidden issues being raised by rural alert groups are isolation and elder abuse. Isolation is huge, it has really come to the fore, he told the Farming Independent. It wasnt there at the start [of the pandemic] because people had visitation from neighbours that has died away to a large extent now. People are short of human company; they need a voice to talk to even just for a minute or two. He highlighted reports of scams via text and email that are being targeted at elderly people. People are getting a message to say your vaccination is due please call this number and have your details ready. Its widespread; Ive seen copies of texts. Its very easy to disguise messages and make them look reasonable some are branded and very sophisticated. The Gardai are issuing warnings on it too. Bank closures Muintir na Tire will host a series of webinars on the issue over the coming weeks. It will also launch a new community befriending partnership with ALONE Ireland to address elder isolation concerns. Financial concerns have also been compounded by the looming closure of Ulster Bank and Bank of Ireland branches, warned Mr Garvey. We thought we had seen an end to the hoarding of cash under the mattress, but it seems to be making a bit of a comeback. Seamus Boland of Irish Rural Link said isolation has reached frightening levels, particularly in Galway, Offaly, Tipperary, Kerry and Wexford. People are worried about their future in terms of what will happen them from a care perspective we really need to focus on care in the home at a wider scale, said Mr Boland. Our Meals on Wheels network has been inundated. Our numbers have jumped from 80,000 annually to 170,000 meals since last July thats a conservative figure. A lot of farmers, especially bachelors who do not have the cooking ability, have really been caught out and they are looking for help. Its also retired couples who may not be as mobile as they were; plus single parents with youngsters and those coping with disability. Frankly solutions need to be found here now; we have to think differently about how we tackle this challenge. He said Irish Rural Link is in talks with the HSE on formalising the co-ordination of its meals on wheels service. A California wildfire that killed four individuals and wrecked more than 200 buildings in the northern portion of the state last year sparked when tree branches came in contact with Pacific Gas & Electric power lines, based on the official report released on Monday. Based on the investigators from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, while running investigation weeks after the California wildfire last year, they have seized equipment under the name of PG&E. Last year's fire tore through rural communities in counties of Shasta and Tehama last September and October. According to ABC News, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shared in a short news release that after a meticulous and thorough investigation, the agency has determined that the Zogg Fire was caused by a pine tree contacting electrical distribution lines, which were owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric. PG&E is located north of the community of Igo. Officials of the PG&E, which is one of the six regulated, investor-owned electric utilities in the state of California, responded to a request for comment late Monday. PG&E expressed their condolences to families of individuals who died and the communities impacted by the tragic Zogg Fire. The utility also recognizes that nothing can heal the hearts of those who have lost so much. They also thanked the responders who saved the lives of the people and protected properties in the area while containing and putting out the fire, San Francisco Chronicle reported. ALSO READ: California Universities Condemn Hate Crimes on Asian-Americans, Increase Efforts to Curb Racism Possible Charges After the California Fire Department carried out a thorough investigation about the Zogg Fire, the agency's investigative report has been forwarded to Shasta County District Attorney's Office. The California wildfire started in Shasta County last year. Stephanie Bridgett, Shasta County District Attorney, shared in an interview that she had received the criminal investigation completed by Cal Fire. Bridgett also added that the files will be reviewed for filing criminal charges, which includes the possibility of murder charges for each of the four people that lost their lives due to the California wildfire. Moreover, the California wildfire erupted on September 27, 2020, and during that time, Shasta County experienced high winds, which heightened the situation as the fire quickly grew. The sudden spread of the fire resulted in the death of four individuals in Igo, which at the time has a population of 600 people, The Wall Street Journal reported. Later on, the fire spread to the neighboring county of Tehama. In over two weeks, the California wildfire scorched more than 88 square miles or roughly 56,000 acres and destroyed 204 buildings. Half of the damaged structures were homes. The largest utility in the US, PG&E, emerged from bankruptcy stemming from financial fallout from a number of devastating wildfires caused by its utility equipment that killed not less than 100 individuals. It also destroyed more than 27,000 homes and several buildings in 2017 and 2018. The attorney of two Zogg fire victims, Mark Potter, stated that it is an important step in holding the utility accountable for all the harm that they have done. WATCH: Deadly Zogg Fire in Shasta County caused by tree hitting PG&E power lines, Cal Fire says - from ABC10 RELATED ARTICLE: California Wildfire Smoke Causes Drop in Solar Energy Production 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. UPDATE: The Hamilton Mall owners and management said the utility bill has been taken care of as of March 24 and the threat of the power being shut off is no longer an issue. A mall in Atlantic County could lose power if its electric bills arent paid, a utility company said. Atlantic City Electric posted a notice to the doors of Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing on Monday notifying the owners that electric service will be disconnected on April 7 unless overdue bills are paid. Electric service to the Hamilton Mall will be disconnected for non-payment unless the past due balance has been paid in full or an agreement has been made between the Landlord/Owner and ACE. Please make any arrangements and take any and all necessary precautions prior to that date, reads the notice, which circulated on social media. In a statement posted to Facebook on Wednesday, the mall management and owners, Namdar Realty Group, said they rectified the matter and power would not be shut off. The health and safety of our merchants, patrons, and staff has always been our number one priority. Unfortunately, there was a miscommunication recently with regards to utility services with Atlantic City Electric for Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing, New Jersey. At this time, we can confirm that, upon notification of the situation, we have rectified the matter, and there will be no power shutdown at the Mall, the statement reads. Frank Tedesco, a spokesman for Atlantic City Electric, said privacy regulations prevent the utility company from sharing the financial circumstances of any customers but noted that Atlantic City Electric has tried to work with the mall owners. We make every attempt to keep our customers connected. We have worked repeatedly and extensively to avoid this action, but have been unsuccessful in our efforts to date. We do offer payment arrangements to help customers who may have experienced a financial hardship, Tedesco said in a statement. The coronavirus pandemic has hit malls in New Jersey especially hard. The state ordered all malls to be shut down last May to slow the spread of COVID-19, and the shopping centers remained closed until the end of June 2020. However, Hamilton Mall was already under financial distress. The mall lost three anchor stores over the last several years. New York-based real estate company Namdar Realty Group purchased the property in 2019 for $25 million, half of the $50 million assessed property value of the mall. Namdar Realty Group, which is known for buying destressed commercial properties, also owns the now-closed Phillipsburg Mall in Warren County. The owners do not have any outstanding tax bills to the township, according to the Hamilton tax collectors office. This story has been updated to include comment from Namdar Realty Group and Hamilton Mall. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo. KLAMATH, Calif. The California condor, once perilously close to total extinction, is now one major step closer to reintroduction in the iconic redwood forests of Northern California. On Tuesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and the Yurok Tribe announced the advent of a final rule that paves the way for creation of a California condor release facility. The facility will be the epicenter for reintroduction of the rare bird into Redwood National Park and the Yurok Ancestral Territory what once made up the northern reaches of the California condor's environment. The facility will be operated by the Northern California Condor Restoration Program, a partnership between Redwood National Park and the Yurok Tribe. For the last 20 years, the Yurok Tribe has been actively engaged in the restoration of the rivers, forests and prairies in our ancestral territory. The reintroduction of the condor is one component of this effort to reconstruct the diverse environmental conditions that once existed in our region. We are extremely proud of the fact that our future generations will not know a world without prey-go-neesh. We are excited to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Redwood National Park on the final stages of the project and beyond, said Joseph L. James, Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. The Yurok Tribe has been working toward this goal since at least 2019, requiring "a tremendous amount of legwork" to make the plan a reality including environmental assessments, contaminant analyses, and community outreach. California condors once spanned much of the continental US, reaching as far as western Canada and northern Mexico. But by the early 1980s, less than two dozen of the condors survived following decades of poaching and environmental poisons. The remaining birds were placed into a captive breeding program in an attempt to save the species from extinction. RELATED: Oregon Zoo says condors laying eggs at record pace, with 9 eggs so far this year There are now over 300 California condors living in the wild between California, Arizona, Utah, and the Baja Peninsula. Regardless, California condors remain endangered, and human-caused hazards like lead poisoning remain a threat to the species in the wild. We are excited for this opportunity to bring these iconic birds back to California habitat that has not been occupied for decades, said Stafford Lehr, Deputy Director of Wildlife and Fisheries for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. These birds are important to the biodiversity of the landscape and we are pleased with the collaboration amongst state and federal agencies, the Yurok Tribe, and private companies to conserve this species. The Redwood National Park population of condors will be classified as non-essential and experimental, and the final rule will exempt most "incidental take" of condors within the population provided that that the take is unintentional and not due to negligence. Still, some activities will be prohibited within 656 feet of an occupied nest, primarily those related to destruction or disruption of the habitat. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. 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. Williamstown Police Personnel Suspended Without Pay Over Data Searches WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The Williamstown Police Department officers who illegally accessed a state database to seek information on town residents were suspended from duty without pay. That was one of the corrective actions that acting Chief Michael Ziemba outlined Monday in a report to the Select Board about the incident. "Swift disciplinary actions have already been taken in the form of suspension from duty without pay for these offenders, and all officers, including myself, have been required to complete retraining in the requirements for accessing the [Criminal Justice Information System]," Ziemba said. "In addition, security requirements for access and login controls for the CJIS system have been tightened, and the logs of all CJIS queries being reviewed regularly by myself." Ziemba said he looks forward to the outcome of a review by the CJIS administrators, who will look at his internal investigation and provide feedback on the corrective actions he took. "I'm disappointed in the department members to say the least," Ziemba said. "Those who continue to misstep will be subject to progressive discipline, up to and including dismissal." In answer to questions from the public and the Select Board, Ziemba said there are "multiple protocols" at the local and state level for accessing data in the CJIS, including the Registry of Motor Vehicles data that was illegally viewed by members of the WPD. "Those protocols were broken," Ziemba said. "That's why we're at where we're at. From here forward, this is obviously an area we have to monitor. All queries made here are tracked here but also in the CJIS database throughout the state." Ziemba reiterated that he has found no evidence that any of the information illegally accessed was disseminated by the offending personnel. Select Board member Jeffrey Thomas asked Ziemba if his personnel gave any explanation for their violation of the CJIS protocols. "Names, faces, addresses, to familiarize themselves with certain persons, some vocal critics [of the WPD], some not," Ziemba said. All indications were that it was not for malicious intent. It was simply to recognize and familiarize themselves. They indicated that the issues in town the last several months caused distress, and they were unfamiliar with some of the people [debating those issues]." Ziemba said there was no evidence that the information had been downloaded during the illegal searches and that when the officers involved ended their session on the CJIS database, the data was no longer visible locally. He did have authority to go back and look at whose data was accessed. Ziemba declined to say how the violations came to his attention, saying he wants to let the CJIS investigation run its course first. He said he looked back over a period of six months for searches that appeared to be outside the course of law enforcement duties. And he reiterated under questioning from the board that termination would be a possible consequence for repeated misuse of the CJIS database. "We have to follow the protocols as far as progressive discipline, but I think we've set the standard here for what we expect and made it plainly obvious," Ziemba said. "So if there were any missteps past this, I don't know why we wouldn't seek termination. We've laid it all out there. There are no second chances as far as this goes. "We can do better, and we will do better." Later in the meeting, the Select Board voted to add the CJIS infractions the scope of work for Judy Levenson, the Brookline attorney the board hired to do an independent investigation of allegations arising out of last summer's federal lawsuit against the town. Andy Hogeland also asked and received the assent of the board to add to Levenson's charge the investigation of a complaint against Sgt. Scott McGowan that led to his paid administrative leave this month. In addition, Hogeland suggested that Levenson be authorized to bring into her probe a private investigator with experience working in the State Police' Internal Affairs Division. He said the added scope and manpower likely would increase the cost of the investigation, previously estimated near $20,000. "I'd be surprised if it was under $30,000," Hogeland said. Hogeland said Levenson had been set to start her investigation but that the scope of work kept changing before it could get underway. He said he expects WPD personnel to cooperate with Levenson, as they did in the past with an investigator who looked into McGowan's complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. "What's unknown is what kind of willingness different witnesses will have because a lot of them don't work for us anymore," Hogeland said. An independent investigation into the allegations raised in the lawsuit, some going back a decade, has been a consistent demand from some town residents since the suit was unveiled in August. This month's revelation of the CJIS violations brought a whole new set of questions from the public. Members of the Select Board last week heard from numerous residents in a series of listening sessions about the anger and fear caused by news of the illegal searches, which reportedly involved 20 residents' information. "In light of people's fears that the police actions were retaliatory in some ways, that that could lead to a silencing of the public, which is horrifying to me," Anne O'Connor. "I certainly hope people will continue to speak up, feel safe speaking up. I think we want all of our meetings to be safe spaces for people to speak and contribute." Picking up on the comments to the Select Board in its listening sessions and on social media about the searches making residents fearful, Twink Williams Burns told O'Connor and Jane Patton at the March 17 listening session that she had been telling the board since June about fear that Black residents feel. "I want to point out, because it has been so heavy on my heart, that it wasn't until our white accomplices, who spoke out, were targeted that something substantive happened," Burns said. "Black pain was not enough for the town to take action. It took white pain for the town to take action. As a Black community member, that was devastating." By Juliet Nalwooga The leadership of the Ugandan Banyarwanda Cultural Development Association (UMUBANO) has rejected recent calls by another group to rename Banyarwanda Abavandimwe. Addressing journalists in Kampala this morning, the UMUBANO acting chairperson Frank Rusangawa said the group that calls itself the Council for Bavandimwe that has since March 15th 2021 embarked on a name-change campaign is not part of or delegated by them. Rusangawa says the uninformed proposal to rename Banyarwanda in Uganda will have the negative effect demeaning and humiliating the Ugandan Banywarwanda as a people. The Abavandimwe council last week sought to rename their tribe on grounds that they are being segregated especially when trying to acquire documents like passports and National Identity Cards. The Banyarwanda are an indigenous community in Uganda formed out of the 1926 colonial territorial designs and are listed as such in the 1995 constitution. Reports of patients being treated in the corridors as one of Perths major hospitals operates under an internal emergency has prompted a call from doctors for a health crisis meeting with the Premier and Health Minister. Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has been in a code yellow situation, which is defined as being an internal emergency, as it struggles to deal with the number of patients coming through the facility. Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is in a code yellow. Credit:Getty Australian Medical Association WA president Andrew Miller said all three major hospitals in Perth including Royal Perth and Fiona Stanley had been in code yellow at some point in the past few days. The Department of Health confirmed two hospitals were in code yellow internal emergencies Sir Charles Gairdner and RPH and extremely busy. Now, Montefiore has become the first health system in New York City to earn a Behavioral Health Distinction from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), one of the nation's highest honors for treating behavioral needs in primary care settings. The designation is awarded for efficient use of protocols and resources to improve care access, experience and patient outcomes. "We can't only treat the mind or the body both must be healthy to create wellness," said Asif Ansari, M.D., regional medical director, Montefiore Medical Group. "By tackling depression and anxiety symptoms, we're helping our patients, many of whom have chronic illnesses, maintain beneficial routines like exercise, which is incredibly important during the era of COVID and in regular times." Montefiore's approach to care integrates social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists in primary care locations for adults and children. Symptom improvements and treatment efficacy are measured by regular screenings. Montefiore adult patients complete more than 200,000 screenings annually for behavioral health symptoms during their doctor appointments; on average 20% are flagged for needing additional support. Of these adults, 80% are contacted and offered treatment, which contrasts with only 20% who connect with care across the country. "In 2020, support for substance use disorders, depression and anxiety dramatically increased; 10,000 adults met the criteria for a referral," said Jason Herrick, M.D., interim director of the Adult Behavioral Health Integration Program at Montefiore Medical Group. "We can help people who are overwhelmed by life's stressors, including those who are struggling with grief, work or numbness. Half of our patients who completed treatment felt a decrease in severity of depression symptoms after 12 weeks, according to past research." Infants, children and teens also get screened during wellness checkups. Standardized questionnaires help identify struggles with anxiety, depression, stress due to distance learning, school performance and early substance use disorders. During pediatric medical visits, almost 40% of patients and families who were referred for a behavioral health appointment met with a pediatric psychologist the same day, making it more likely they would return for support. "Our program steps in at the first sign of challenges," said Miguelina German, Ph.D., director of Pediatric Behavioral Health Services at Montefiore Medical Group and associate professor, Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "Having strategies early on may help some children avoid a clinical diagnosis later in life and teaches families important skills to improve healthy relationships with themselves and others in the future." As part of the process NCQA sets a 2-hour session with each health system to discuss their application and activities. "Our meeting ended up being a 10-minute congratulatory call," said Anika Joseph- Henry, MPA, transformation manager at Montefiore Medical Group. "This distinction is a testament to the dedication of our providers who work as a team and are there for all of our patients' needs. We couldn't be prouder." About Montefiore Health System Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 10 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and more than 200 outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and view us on Facebook and YouTube. SOURCE Montefiore Health System Related Links https://www.montefiore.org ADVERTISEMENT For Nigeria to survive, widespread hunger must not be added to its string of woes. To protect and strengthen local food value chains, the emerging and continuing challenges to food security calls for urgent and coordinated action. I must also condemn President Buharis undignified silence in the face of mass slaughter, displacement and destruction of farmlands. Very lean times are here! For many Nigerians, hunger has become a daily reality. Four weeks ago, I bought a 20-kilogramme bowl of gari in Ondo State for N5,000. Today, it goes for N6,500. Rising food prices could not come at a worse time. It feels like a hunger pandemic has commenced. Many farmers are complaining that herders are feeding their cassava to cattle, leading to fewer gari making it to the market. Others say the fear of death or kidnapping has kept them off their farms. Naturally, the demand for foodstuff is outstripping supply, thus leading to the stratospheric rise in food prices. Food shortages and rising prices are definitely caused by a toxic brew of conflict, economic decline and unreliable rainfall, layered by the devastating effects of the pandemic on urban incomes that farmers depend on for product sales and the support of their dependents. Millions of Nigerians are being driven to catastrophic levels of food insecurity by a combination of factors they have no control over. For a large population already poor and at risk, disruptions to food value chains, leading to higher food prices, reduced availability of and access to food, is life threatening. The rural poor whose economy has been decimated now face violence from Fulani herdsmen, who feed their crops to cattle at best or kill them for being on their farms at worst. Agricultural production has stalled because people are afraid to plough the land, leading to escalating food prices and food insecurity. Lessons from the past from conflict zones indicate that by the time food insecurity becomes famine, it is often too late. Nigeria is at a tipping point, where millions in the North and now the South-West are coping with emergency levels of food insecurity. Famine is the extreme shortage of food, leading to widespread hunger. The question is: When do we classify extreme hunger, malnutrition and death from starvation as famine? That is the point! Famine is hard to imagine and visualise for many people because of its incipient nature as the last of the five stages of food insecurity. It is made worse by the fact that declaring famine requires data, which Nigeria does not collect. Lessons from the past from conflict zones indicate that by the time food insecurity becomes famine, it is often too late. Nigeria is at a tipping point, where millions in the North and now the South-West are coping with emergency levels of food insecurity. Many farming communities cannot farm without encountering herders with weapons, who stand between them and their ancestral lands. Kidnapping and the fear of Fulani herders feel like a slow moving war, where the weapon of choice is cutting people off their primary sources of survival. The statistics are depressing. For most families, shopping for food is a juggling exercise in substitution and opportunity costs. Already in play, long before armed conflict enveloped Nigeria, was chronic hunger due to extreme poverty and declining purchasing power. If this situation continues, it will soon give rise to sustained popular discontent with the government. We must not forget that 100 million Nigerians live on less than $2 a day, and only 30 million are fully employed. According to Bloomberg, Nigerias grain stock have declined to less than 30,000 metric tons, which is a fraction of what a country of 200 million people needs to sustain its population. Nigerias future and stability is undermined by this vicious cycle of conflict and hunger It is time for the governors to cooperate in their regions to localise their responses and rout terrorists from their forests. The risk of long-simmering discontent and grievances in the current economic and political climate, could escalate into public rage. These interplay of factors raises the spectre of stagflation the combination of rising unemployment and prices and low growth, which could trigger significant social unrest. Added to this unfortunate turn of events is malnutrition and its associated diseases a recurring decimal in the North-East. Many, especially children, are dying, and those who survive childhood malnutrition will most likely have lifelong health and mental issues. Traditionally, the months before the rains starts are hunger months for many rural folks engaged in subsistent agriculture. Before COVID-19, remittances and cash infusion from cities sustained the rural economies. In major Nigerian cities, the pandemic is a hammer blow to millions who are already hanging by a thread. The pandemic was one more shock needed to push them to the brink and it did, as many can only eat if they earn a daily wage. Because the poorer you are, the more likely you are to spend more money on food, as illustrated by what 56.5 per cent of Nigerians spend on food from their incomes. For Nigeria to survive, widespread hunger must not be added to its string of woes. To protect and strengthen local food value chains, the emerging and continuing challenges to food security calls for urgent and coordinated action. I must also condemn President Buharis undignified silence in the face of mass slaughter, displacement and destruction of farmlands. His silence is not only reprehensible, it is criminal. Nigerias future and stability is undermined by this vicious cycle of conflict and hunger. The business as usual attitude is destructive. It is time for the governors to cooperate in their regions to localise their responses and rout terrorists from their forests. The risk of long-simmering discontent and grievances in the current economic and political climate, could escalate into public rage. To prevent a bloody reckoning, the rage must be tempered and the outrage mitigated. A mass civil unrest will prove costly to everyone. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju a farmer, youth advocate and political analyst writes this weekly column, Bamidele Upfront for PREMIUM TIMES. Follow me on Twitter @olufunmilayo A discussion on Irish unification on RTEs Claire Byrne Live has prompted much debate. Among those taking part were Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald and DUP MP Gregory Campbell. Here are our five key takeaways from the debate... Date of referendum There was much discussion around former Taoiseach Bertie Aherns suggestion that a referendum be held on the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in 2028. Mr Varadkar said that setting a date would be "divisive" and compared it to arranging a marriage before a courtship. He called for proper work and engagement before any poll but did not rule out that work being completed by 2028. Mrs McDonald accepted the need to have conversations and said she did not want a poll "tomorrow or next week". Mr Campbell accepted a border poll was likely to take place but said there was no chance of a united Ireland. Former Taoiseach John Bruton felt 2028 was "too soon", while Mr Martin said he did not think that imposing dates was helpful. The emergence of a middle ground One thing all guests agreed on was the emergence of a new middle ground in Northern Ireland. While Mr Campbell stressed his Britishness would never be shaken, he accepted that Northern Ireland was made up of unionists, nationalists and others. Mr Varadkar said two of those groups could join to make a majority in favour of unity. Former Ireland rugby player Andrew Trimble said he was part of the growing middle ground and did not want to be forced to choose a side. Alliance leader Naomi Long said her party would get involved in the debate if a poll was called. Not just about flags and emblems Mr Varadkar and Mrs McDonald both expressed a reluctance to give up flags and emblems associated with the Republic of Ireland, including the tricolour and national anthem. However, Mr Varadkar said that titles such as Taoiseach and Tanaiste could be dropped because they were reminiscent of Gaelic chieftains and may not be appropriate post-unity. Unionist commentator Sarah Creighton pointed out the debate was not just about emblems and that in any new Ireland she would like to see a nationalised healthcare system and "Google paying more tax". Sinn Fein accused of playing politics with Irish unity Mr Martin said Sinn Feins campaigning on Irish unity had an "electoral agenda" to it . He accused the party of sloganeering and wanting to outdo everyone else as the "best republican in the classroom". He joined Mr Bruton in criticising recent adverts in US newspapers calling for a border poll. Mr Varadkar, meanwhile, noted that Sinn Fein previously circulated election literature focusing on the number of Catholics and Protestants in north Belfast. Taoiseach once had a Brits out mentality The Fianna Fail leader admitted he had a Brits out attitude as a young man but had changed his opinion after visiting Belfast as a student. Mr Martin said he met unionists who had lost loved ones during the Troubles and made friends with people on all sides. He recalled a meeting with former PUP leader David Irvine in which the loyalist told him he had a "guilt trip" about partition. "A lot of people in the Republic had that at the time," Mr Martin said. YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijans international partners should press the Aliyev government to hold the perpetrators of the torture and degrading treatment against Armenian servicemen and civilians accountable, Human Rights Watchs Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia Rachel Denber told ARMENPRESS in written answers. ARMENPRESS: During the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh War many videos posted on private Telegram accounts and groups showed Azerbaijani military servicemen humiliating, executing and committing other acts of inhumane treatment against numerous Armenian prisoners of war, including both servicemen and civilians. This is a clear violation of the third Geneva Convention which states that prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated In particular, no prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity. Measures of reprisal against prisoners of war are prohibited. In your opinion, how should the international community and human rights organizations react to this kind of conduct of the Azerbaijani military? Rachel Denber: Human Rights Watch documented cases in which Azerbaijani forces subjected POWs to cruel and degrading treatment and torture-- either when they were captured, during their transfer, or while in custody at various detention facilities. We also documented cases when they abused civilians. These are serious violations of the Geneva Conventions that rise to the level of a war crime. Azerbaijans international partners should press the government to hold the perpetrators accountable. They should regularly request information and updates on investigations and trials. This should be done in the framework of bilateral relations with Azerbaijan and also in multilateral fora, including the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE. ARMENPRESS: The government of Azerbaijan continues violating the 2020 November 9 ceasefire terms regarding the exchange of PoWs and other detainees. The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev falsely stated that they have returned all PoWs and claimed that the remaining Armenians in their custody are not classified as such. The Azeri government went on to initiate fabricated criminal charges against them. Meanwhile, Armenia has returned all Azerbaijani captives pursuant to the all for all principle enshrined in the November 9 ceasefire. How do you assess such behavior by Azerbaijan? Rachel Denber: Human Rights Watch is not in a position to verify the claims by Azerbaijan or Armenia about the numbers of people remaining in custody or their status. Regardless of these individuals status in custody, Azerbaijan still has obligations to protect their rights to decent conditions in custody, and to ensure that they are not subjected to torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, wants to allow more than 2 million square feet of space on the sprawling state-owned site, at 100 W. Randolph St., that is up for sale. The proposed ordinance is expected to be introduced Wednesday to the City Councils zoning committee, and it could be up for a vote by the committee and eventually the full City Council as soon as April, he told the Tribune Tuesday. BELLOWS FALLS A Bellows Falls police officer who was born and raised here is heading up a new effort to improve community relations. Thaddeus Buckley, a part-time officer who also runs a successful graphic design firm, is taking a leadership role in the departments new community engagement partnership effort. Buckley and Police Chief David Bemis said Friday the new position will not cost any additional money to village taxpayers and it is a move toward answering the publics questions about the department. Bellows Falls ponders signing bonus to attract new officers BELLOWS FALLS Municipal Manager Scott Pickup said the Bellows Falls village police departm Buckley, 52, who on his own studied to be a police officer 10 years ago in frustration with the problems in his Bellows Falls neighborhood, said the position is not a public relations job, but a direct attempt to answer the publics questions and concerns. He wont be able to talk to people about ongoing cases, he said. Bemis said he hopes Buckley will establish a rapport with the community as the first step toward having a community forum. He said he hopes a community forum will turn into a regular event, even if if has to start via Zoom. So far, the questions coming in to Buckleys personal cell phone number and special email account have been about police equipment and devices, he said. He works full time at his graphic design firm, Pensarwolf LLC, which is based in New York City and Vermont, and has many clients in the hotel industry. Bemis said the department has for months wanted to be more involved in community outreach, but that has been difficult because of the coronavirus pandemic. Other efforts include Coffee with a Cop, but he said he wants to try something different. Thats more difficult with COVID, he said. Well do some Zoom meetings and as the summer progresses well have some more in person. He said Buckley has already received some calls. He said the police department wants to know what people are concerned about. He said drugs seem to be the top concern, and questions about a string of burglaries that occurred a few months ago. Those are still under investigation. Bemis said Buckley is a regular, part-time officer, filling in regular work shifts and working with the schools truancy officer, filling in for a sick or vacationing officer, or adding another officer to a team serving a warrant. He said Buckley is a good person to head up the community effort. He used to live in Bellows Falls, although he doesnt live in the village now, the chief said. Hes definitely a member of the community. Buckley said the community officer initiative is a developing effort. He realizes some people, despite having questions, are not comfortable contacting a police officer directly. Trustees mixed on citizen group for Bellows Falls Police Department BELLOWS FALLS A resident's suggestion that the village of Bellows Falls establish a citizen committee for the troubled police department met with a cautious response Tuesday. Alex Currently, people call the police department and talk to the dispatcher, who takes a message and refers the issue to a police officer. Buckley said it could be days before the officer has time to get back to the resident. Buckley said his job is to handle those calls. Buckley said 10 years ago, when he, too, had questions for the Bellows Falls Police Department, he just wanted someone to call him back and talk to him. He said he has tremendous respect for the work police officers do, and the amount of knowledge they must have at their fingertips. You have to know so much, he said. I wanted someone to be there and I wanted to be this person, he said. This is not a rah-rah for the police department. That isnt the idea. His role as he sees it, is to provide information to the general public. To contact Buckley, call 802 289-1380, or email BFPDCEPO@gmail.com. [March 23, 2021] Social Impact Commerce Platform ShoppingGives Announces Client Steven Madden, Ltd. CHICAGO, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ShoppingGives announces new client, Steven Madden, Ltd. The partnership will include the company's portfolio of brands, starting with Greats.com and DolceVita.com. ShoppingGives is the leading social impact commerce platform as the turn-key solution for thousands of socially conscious brands to accelerate their growth through integrated social impact. With a commitment to social impact and the ways in which brands and retailers engage consumers in charitable campaigns, the environment is at the forefront of consumers' minds. In partnership with GREATS, ShoppingGives also announces the launch of its first-ever Impact Fund, #GREATSDOINGGREAT Impact Fund. The fund is a customized portfolio for GREATS to align with environmental and sustainable development charities. Donations will be split amongst the GREATS Impact Fund to support various charities in the sustainability space, or allow the consumer to designate the donation to a specific charity "We are proud to announce that Steven Madden, Ltd. joins us as a retail partner to our platform in their continued suppot of charitable giving," says Ronny Sage, CEO, and founder of ShoppingGives. "Steve Madden embodies a retail group that is committed to supporting causes focused on creating the greatest amount of impact we are thrilled to elevate and help them expand their impact, " says Ronny Sage, founder of ShoppingGives. For more information, please visit www.shoppinggives.com Media Contact: Amy Cunha Big Picture PR 415.350.3154 amy@bigpicpr.com About ShoppingGives ShoppingGives, the leading social impact commerce platform, is the turn-key solution for thousands of socially conscious brands including Steve Madden, GREATS, Kenneth Cole, Natori, White + Warren, Sakara Life, Solstice Sunglasses, Tomboyx, Fresh Clean Tees, Blind Barber, Huron, and Neighborhood Goods to accelerate their growth through integrated social impact. Our suite of social impact marketing technologies enables a data-driven approach to cause-marketing, empowering brands to create more authentic, higher-converting customer experiences by promoting corporate social responsibility while maintaining cause marketing regulation, enabling donations 1.5M+ 501c(3) nonprofits. About Steve Madden Steve Madden designs, sources and markets fashion-forward footwear, accessories and apparel for women, men and children. In addition to marketing products under its own brands including Steve Madden, Dolce Vita, Betsey Johnson, Blondo, GREATS, BB Dakota and Mad Love, Steve Madden is a licensee of various brands, including Anne Klein and Superga. Steve Madden also designs and sources products under private label brand names for various retailers. Steve Madden's wholesale distribution includes department stores, specialty stores, luxury retailers, national chains, mass merchants and online retailers. Steve Madden also operates retail stores and e-commerce websites. Steve Madden licenses certain of its brands to third parties for the marketing and sale of certain products, including ready-to-wear, outerwear, eyewear, hosiery, jewelry, fragrance, luggage and bedding and bath products. For local store information and the latest Steve Madden booties, pumps, men's and women's boots, fashion sneakers, slippers, dress shoes, sandals and more, visit http://www.stevemadden.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/social-impact-commerce-platform-shoppinggives-announces-client-steven-madden-ltd-301254008.html SOURCE ShoppingGives [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] If you watched last weeks Cheltenham Festival or followed some of the headlines, you couldnt help but be impressed by Rachael Blackmore, the 31-year-old from Tipperary who received the accolade for leading jockey at the festival, becoming the first woman ever to do so. She picked up six wins during four days of demanding racing, including the prestigious Champion Hurdle, and through her success has already inspired the next generation of women. In the business world, women also compete on the same course as men, but it appears there are still too many hurdles put in front of them that prevent many from getting to the starting gate. Back To The Start-up, a report published on Tuesday by the FSB and Ulster University Business School, identifies that our rate of business births continues to lag consistently behind other parts of the UK, while the female rate of entrepreneurial activity is typically one-third of the male rate. This is also reflected in our self-employment statistics, as only a quarter of self-employed people in Northern Ireland are female. Thats not to say that we havent got some outstanding women business leaders doing remarkable things and creating employment and prosperity, but the statistics show us that they are too few and far between. So, what are the reasons behind this under-representation? Policy, or the lack of it, does play a considerable part, with the absence of a properly funded childcare strategy limiting the choices available to parents, in particular women, which has a bearing on roles they might play in the economy. The impact of a lack of investment in childcare is clearly visible in economic inactivity figures, which include those unable to work or who arent seeking employment. For women, the most commonly cited reason for being economically inactive is attributed to caring responsibilities. By contrast, in the analysis of males who are economically inactive, caring responsibilities is not a commonly cited reason. Therefore, we can see that while the lack of proper investment in childcare impacts all parents, it disproportionately impacts women and so can prove a major barrier to women starting a business or even believing that it is a possibility. While policy plays its part, culture and practice also have a role. In the Back To The Start-up report, culture is identified as a substantive issue relating to entrepreneurship. In Northern Ireland, once someone has actually decided to start a business, there is practical support available. However, not enough is being done to reach further into society and stimulate demand for starting a business in the first place. Institutional supports on their own are clearly not enough. We need to encourage more people to have the ambition, shake the fear and take that first step. Given the under-representation of women, reaching that cohort should be top of the agenda. Research published by the Treasury has found that more effective policy development to engage and support females in new business ventures at levels commensurate with their male counterparts had the potential to add 120bn to the UK economy. This demonstrates that increasing female entrepreneurship could have massive benefits. In the novel and TV series The Handmaids Tale, a dystopian state exists where women are subjugated and prohibited from working, owning assets or pursuing careers. While incredibly unjust, this also becomes an inherent weakness of society, as the talents of women in politics, medicine, sport, law and other fields and professions are not utilised and everyone suffers because of it. While not wishing to stretch the comparison, the basic point is that if the role of women in business remains underdeveloped, we are not coming close to reaching our full potential and our economy and society are poorer as a result. Increasing the amount of female entrepreneurs by addressing and removing policy and cultural barriers should be the cornerstone of our economic thinking. Properly tapping into the potential of female entrepreneurs could provide transformational benefits to our historically underdeveloped private sector. In order to encourage more women to take the first step, we must champion our existing female business leaders, so the next generation can see that, just as Rachael Blackmore has demonstrated, hurdles can be overcome and great things can happen. Tina McKenzie is chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, NI You can find out more about the Back to the Start-up report and campaign at https://www.fsb.org.uk/backtothestartup.html System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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Defense attorney Eric Nelson won a partial victory when Cahill said he would allow some evidence from Floyds 2019 arrest in Minneapolis in which he also swallowed drugs. In the 2019 case, paramedics were called to the scene and noted Floyds dangerously high blood pressure. Save the Children draws attention to the increasing number of child victims in Yemens six-year war. The charity organization says that in the last three years alone, children accounted for a quarter of all civilian casualties in the hostilities between the internationally-recognized government and the Houthi rebels. By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ Since March 2015, a bloody conflict has been going on in Yemen, which has led to the deaths of thousands, caused devastating damage to property and social infrastructure, and has become one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent times. As the hostilities drag into their sixth year, Save the Children highlights the massive human cost of the war, especially as it concerns children. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organization said over 2,300 children were killed in the last three years alone a number that represents a quarter of all civilian victims. Save the Children also notes that 1.8 million children under 5 years of age are suffering from malnutrition, 2 million children are out of school and over 11 million children in all are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Children: victims of Yemen's war In the statement, the charity organization highlights that the six-year war is becoming increasingly dangerous for children. According to data gathered, while minors accounted for 1 in 5 civilian casualties in 2018, the ratio rose to 1 in 4 in 2019 and 2020. Save the Children said that in the past three years, 2,341 confirmed casualties of the war (22.85% of the total) were minors, however, the group notes that the actual toll is likely to be much higher. Furthermore, 2 out of every 3 people in Yemen are in urgent need of assistance to survive and children continue to die from malnutrition, easily preventable diseases, as well as from bomb explosions. Presently, 400,000 children are suffering from severe forms of malnutrition. This grim scenario is further exacerbated by famine, cuts in aid, long-standing restrictions on humanitarian access, the collapse of the countrys frail economy and attacks on civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. Yemen's conflicts finds its roots in the failure of a political transition that was supposed to bring stability to the country following the Arab Spring uprising that forced long-time president Ali Abdullah Saleh to hand over power to his deputy Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi in 2011. Dissatisfied with the transition, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels gradually took control of the capital, Sanaa between late 2014 and early 2015. Since then, Saudi Arabia and a coalition of other states began a campaign aimed at defeating the rebels and ending Iranian influence in Yemen. Yemeni children have been living through a horrific and endless nightmare for six years now. Children continue to be killed and injured on a near-daily basis, said the organization's country director, Xavier Joubert. Cease-fire proposal On Monday, Saudi Arabia offered Yemens Houthi rebels a nationwide cease-fire as part of proposals aimed at ending the six-year war and to allow for the reopening of a major airport in the Yemens capital. Under the Saudi initiative, the Sanaa International Airport will reopen to a number of regional and international flights. Also, Saudi Arabia said that it was willing to allow ships enter the Hodeidah port which had been blocked by Saudi forces. The latest proposal also envisions that the income from the port would go into an account that would be jointly administered by the Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government. All parties to the conflict must fully implement a cease-fire as soon as possible," said Joubert. The cease-fire should be used to work towards a sustainable peace and a political solution to this war its the only way to truly end this humanitarian catastrophe. Appeal for support from the international community At this time when Yemen needs the support of the international community, funding levels barely provide for half of what is needed. In fact, funds for the treatment of children affected in the violence dropped by more than forty percent compared to last year. Despite efforts by the international community to bring the warring parties to peaceful negotiations, the clashes have continued with devastating consequences for civilians, especially children. Save the Children notes that the health system in on the verge of collapse with more than half of the health facilities closed or only partially functioning. Many hospitals have been damaged in air strikes or during ground combat and there is constant shortage of medicines and qualified medical personnel. Without urgent action, the humanitarian situation in Yemen, which is already the worst in the world, is destined to deteriorate further with the very real risk of an aggravation of famine, an increase in civilian casualties and a total collapse of basic services for the population. We are facing a tragedy caused in all respects by man, a conflict that has been going on for six years in total contempt for human life and the safety of the population, said Daniela Fatarella, Director-General of Save the Children Italy. According to recent United Nations estimates, the worst famine in decades could kill hundreds of thousands of children, Fatarella added. We must act immediately to prevent all this from happening. Save the Children at the service of the vulnerable Currently, Save the Children is working in Yemen to reach the most vulnerable across the country through interventions to provide them with food, health care, protection from violence and education. So far, the charity organization has provided support for 4 million children thanks to the tireless efforts of its field workers. Enterprises will go through the Response, Recovery, and Renew phases. Download Free Sample Report The luxury perfume market will witness a positive impact during the forecast period owing to the widespread growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Technavio's pandemic-focused market research, market growth increased in 2020 as compared to 2019. With the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through response, recovery, and renewal phases. Building business resilience and enabling agility will aid organizations to move forward in their journey out of the COVID-19 crisis towards the Next Normal. This post-pandemic business planning research will aid clients to: Adjust their strategic planning to move ahead once business stability kicks in. to move ahead once business stability kicks in. Build Resilience by making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines. making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines. Conceptualize scenario-based planning to mitigate future crisis situations. Download the Post-Pandemic Business Planning Structure Key Considerations for Market Forecast: Impact of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, demand destruction, and change in customer behavior Optimistic, probable, and pessimistic scenarios for all markets as the impact of pandemic unfolds Pre- as well as post-COVID-19 market estimates Quarterly impact analysis and updates on market estimates Related Report on Consumer Staples Include: Global Makeup Tools Market - Global makeup tools market is segmented by product (makeup brushes and other tools and disposable makeup tools) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA). Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Probiotic Cosmetic Products Market - Global probiotic cosmetic products market is segmented by Product (Skincare and Others), Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA). Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report Major Three Luxury Perfume Market Participants: Chanel Ltd. Chanel Ltd. operates its business through segments such as Haute couture, Fashion, Fine Jewelry, Watches, and Others. The company offers a wide range of luxury perfumes for men and women such as Coco Mademoiselle, Gabrielle Chanel, Chance, Bleu de CHANEL, Platinum Egoiste, and Egoiste. Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA operates its business through Jewellery Maisons, Specialist Watchmakers, Online Distributors, and Others. The company offers a wide range of luxury perfumes through its brands such as ALAIA, Chloe, and Alfred Dunhill. Coty Inc. Coty Inc. operates its business through Consumer Beauty, Luxury, and Professional Beauty. The company offers a wide range of luxury perfumes through its brands such as CALVIN KLEIN, HUGO BOSS, and Tiffany. If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extract FREE! Get report snapshot here to get a detailed market share analysis of market participants during COVID-19 lockdown: https://www.technavio.com/report/luxury-perfume-market-industry-analysis Luxury Perfume Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Luxury perfume market is segmented as below: End-user Women Men Unisex Geographic Europe North America APAC MEA South America The luxury perfume market is driven by demand from the millennial population. In addition, other factors such as replenishing personal grooming are expected to trigger the luxury perfume market toward witnessing a CAGR of almost 4% during the forecast period. Get more insights about the global trends impacting the future of luxury perfume market, Request Free Sample @ https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR43395 Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ Report: www.technavio.com/report/luxury-perfume-market-industry-analysis SOURCE Technavio PORTAGE, MI A woman was seriously injured in a crash on U.S. 131 on Tuesday afternoon. A gold Honda car rolled over and a black pickup truck fled the scene of the crash around 1:33 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, on southbound U.S. 131, just north of I-94, Portage Department of Public Safety said in a news release. The two vehicles were involved in a road rage incident, witnesses told police. The Honda rolled over into the center median, leaving the driver, a 24-year-old Kalamazoo woman, with serious injuries, police said. A 6-year-old child was in a car seat and had minor injuries. They were both taken to Bronson Methodist Hospital. The black pickup driver fled the scene, exiting U.S. 131 onto I-94, police said. Portage police continue to investigate the crash. Read more from MLive: Undetonated bomb found at apartment in Kalamazoos Westnedge Hill neighborhood Kalamazoo Pride celebration will be virtual in June due to COVID-19 Jailed Michigan restaurant owner wins freedom Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 03:30:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KHARTOUM, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Monday urged Ethiopia to accept a mediation quartet regarding the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). "Ethiopia should accept the mediation quartet of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and the African Union to reach a fair and legal agreement," said Sudanese Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Yasir Abbas at a celebration of the World Water Day in the capital Khartoum. Ethiopia earlier announced its decision to reject the mediation quartet. In February, Ethiopia said it would carry on with the second-phase 13.5-billion-cubic-meter filling of the GERD in June. The volume of the first-phase filling last year was 4.9 billion cubic meters. Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia have been in talks for years over the technical and legal issues related to the filling and operation of the GERD. Ethiopia, which started building the GERD in 2011, expects to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity from the dam project, while Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for its freshwater, are concerned that the dam might affect their share of the water resources. Enditem (Natural News) American pharmaceutical firm Pfizer is demanding global indemnity as a pre-requisite before it provides Wuhan coronavirus vaccines. The company is pressuring countries to give it immunity from any legal action, in anticipation of any possible vaccine injury lawsuit it may face. But some countries have stood up against Pfizers take it or leave it approach, slamming its extreme demands as an abuse of power. Back in December 2020, CNBC reported that Americans who suffer severe side effects after vaccination and intend to sue may find themselves in a losing endeavor. According to the report, former Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar invoked the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act in early 2020. The 2005 legislation empowers the health secretary to provide legal protection to companies making or distributing critical medical supplies including vaccines. This protection will last until 2024, which means that vaccine manufacturers such as Pfizer and Moderna cannot be sued for money damages in court for the next three years. Furthermore, they cannot be sued over injuries related to the administration or use of vaccines and other products to treat or protect against COVID-19. However, this legal protection will not apply if there is evidence of willful misconduct by the company. Dallas labor and employment attorney Rogge Dunn put forward two possible reasons why companies such as Pfizer have demanded overarching legal immunity. First, the immunity is a response to authorities requests to expedite vaccine development. When the government said, We want you to develop this [vaccine] four or five times faster than you normally do, most likely the manufacturers said to the government, We want you to protect us from multimillion-dollar lawsuits,' he said. Another reason Dunn cited is that legal immunity helps lower the cost of immunizations per person. The government doesnt want people suing the companies making the [COVID-19] vaccine. Because then, the manufacturers would probably charge the government a higher price per person per dose, he explained. The lawyer ultimately remarked: It is very rare for a blanket immunity law to be passed. Pharmaceutical companies typically arent offered much liability protection under the law. Some countries are standing up to Pfizers exorbitant demand for legal immunity Pfizer has been given legal immunity in the U.S., courtesy of the PREP Act. The company now seeks legal immunity in other countries in case something goes wrong with its BNT162b2 vaccine for COVID-19. It managed to obtain this immunity in a number of Central and South American nations, but failed to do so in Argentina and Brazil. The two countries claimed the drug giant bullied them in vaccine negotiations. Talks between Argentina and Pfizer began in June 2020, with Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez meeting with the drug manufacturers top official for the country. In October 2020, the Argentinian parliament passed a law making Pfizer liable for negligence at the minimum which did not sit well with the drugmaker. The company demanded that the law be amended through a new decree despite the country offering to make the laws definition of negligence clearer. (Related: Pfizer is threatening governments around the world and demanding RANSOM to protect against future vaccine injury lawsuits.) Aside from this, Pfizer asked Argentina to buy international insurance to pay for potential future cases against the pharmaceutical firm. The company returned with more demands in December 2020. It asked Argentina to put up its bank reserves, military bases and embassy buildings as collateral, but the South American country did not agree with this. The deal did not prosper, which left Argentinas citizens with one less choice for a COVID-19 vaccine. Former Argentinian Minister of Health Gines Gonzalez Garcia commented: Pfizer misbehaved with Argentina. Its intolerance with us was tremendous. Pfizer later applied the same strong-arming tactics during its vaccine negotiations with Brazil. It asked the largest South American country to create a guarantee fund and deposit money in a foreign bank account. However, Brazil did not cave into the pharmaceutical firms demands. The Brazilian Ministry of Health released a statement on Jan. 23. It cited a number of excerpts from Pfizers pre-contract clauses, which the Brazilian government slammed as abusive. The clauses mentioned in the statement demanded that Brazil waive the sovereignty of its overseas assets in favor of Pfizer. It also asked that Brazilian law be not applied on Pfizer essentially exempting it from civil liability in case Brazilians experience post-vaccination side effects. Furthermore, the clauses also demanded Brazil take possible delivery delays into consideration and not penalize Pfizer for these delays. Because of this, Pfizers potential vaccine deal with Brazil fell through. Legal experts have remarked that the firms demands on Argentina and Brazil amount to an abuse of power. According to public health law expert Lawrence Gostin, drug manufacturers such as Pfizer shouldnt be using their power to limit life-saving vaccines in low- and middle-income countries. Gostin is the director of the World Health Organizations Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law. He added that companies such as Pfizer should not use protection against liability as a sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of desperate countries with a desperate population. Check out BigPharmaNews.com for more news about drug manufacturers bullying and abusive demands. Sources include: NaturalHealth365.com CNBC.com WIONews.com StatNews.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Striker Erling Haaland and several other Norway players are preparing a special gesture in support of migrant workers in Qatar ahead of this week's first World Cup qualifier, coach Staale Solbakken said on Tuesday. The Scandinavian nation will play Gibraltar on Wednesday in Marbella, Spain ahead of the World Cup in 2022, which has sparked a growing debate around human rights conditions in the emirate. Solbakken's squad plan to use the fixture as an opportunity to express their reservations about Qatar's human rights record. "We're working on something concrete," Solbakken told a press briefing, without revealing the details. "It's about putting pressure on FIFA to be even more direct, even firmer with the authorities in Qatar, to impose stricter requirements," he explained. Martin Odegaard, who was recently promoted to captain, said he felt the whole team wanted to make a statement. "I have the impression that a lot of (players) are interested in this, care about it and want to do something to try and contribute in a good way," the attacker, who is on loan to Arsenal from Real Madrid, told reporters. Several Norwegian clubs have spoken out in favour of a boycott of the World Cup after revelations by British newspaper The Guardian that more than 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since the 2010 World Cup was awarded to the Middle Eastern state. The Norwegian Football Federation is expected to debate the issue at a special congress in June. According to a poll published on Monday in newspaper Verdens Gang, 55 percent of Norwegians believe their country should boycott the event, while 20 percent are against it. Norway last qualified for a major international tournament with the European Championship in 2000 and are in Group G along with the Netherlands, Turkey, Montenegro, Latvia and Gibraltar for the current campaign. phy/hdy/jll/iwd Olympus aims to assist in the development of physicians and promote the use of endoscopic diagnostics Olympus Corporation recently conducted a virtual seminar on Endoscopic AI Diagnosis Education in India. With the aim to make peoples lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling as a global MedTech firm, the company has established an AI diagnostic support system at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) based in Hyderabad and also initiated a research and training project for the doctors and specialists at the major medical institution. Olympus aims to assist in the development of physicians and promote the use of endoscopic diagnostics. There is a severe shortage of doctors who can conduct precision diagnostics with endoscopes, which are essential for early detection and treatment of cancer. Through the project, prominent doctors have trained AIG doctors to be equipped with the techniques needed to detect diseases and differential diagnosis via colonoscope, as well as prepared them to pass on the knowledge and instruct the next generation of endoscopists in India. Olympus Corporation has been conducting the endoscopic education since October 2020 with support from the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to train doctors in India and neighbouring countries and to contribute to the popularisation and development of endoscope diagnostics using the latest AI technology. Present at the seminar, Dr Goutham Reddy Katukuri, Consultant Gastroenterology of AIG Hospitals said, Visual diagnosis of colorectal polyps may improve the cost-effectiveness of colonoscopy and reduce complications of polypectomy. A more precise diagnosis can be expected in the coloscopic inspection using AI diagnostic support system, and the difference in the diagnosis among observers may be corrected. Speaking about this co-operation, Satoshi Hemmi, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan, commented, The aim is to contribute to the introduction and dissemination of Japans endoscopic AI diagnostic support system to India and neighbouring countries in response to the social issue of increasing cancer prevalence in India. (St. Paul, MN) Minnesota House DFL leaders and legislators released the framework and targets for their budget proposal today. The budget includes significant investments in education and prioritizes assisting those impacted by COVID-19. The pandemic has been difficult for everyone, but some Minnesotans have been hit harder than others. Our budget will focus on helping those most impacted by COVID students, workers, families, and small businesses, said Speaker Melissa Hortman. We have to help Minnesotans recover from the pandemic and then thrive once its behind us. Together, we have to ensure that Minnesota is a state where everyone has economic security and opportunities to succeed. The budget includes: Significant increases in funding for E-12 education and child care, making new investments after a difficult year of remote learning. Support for those who have been most impacted by COVID-19: students, families, and small businesses. Investments to improve economic security, including paid family leave, earned sick and safe time, affordable housing, and worker protection and support. Progressive, sustainable revenue into the future to make ongoing investments. Minnesotans are tired of seeing the rich and well-connected do better and better while workers and families cant get ahead. Big corporations and the richest Minnesotans have seen their wealth soar during the pandemic, while so many others have struggled worse than ever, said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. President Biden's rescue plan is exactly what Minnesotans need now, but in the long run Minnesota must invest more in health and education or we will fall behind. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on our entire state, but the hardship hasnt been felt equally. To pull through this crisis, we must prioritize those among us who have borne the worst brunt of the crisis, including students, workers, and small businesses, said Rep. Rena Moran, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. While were nearing the end of the pandemic, the struggles too many Minnesotans face will continue unless lawmakers take deliberate action to help end them. Through bold investments in education, child care, health, housing, and economic security, House DFLers are working to deliver a hopeful, strong future for everybody in our state. In developing this budget outline, House DFLers are recognizing the tremendous challenges Minnesotans have experienced over the past year, and investing in our states resiliency to help our students, workers, small businesses, and families recover, said Rep. Liz Olson, House Deputy Majority Leader. COVID-19 is just one chapter in our states story, and as we look beyond the pandemic, our budget lays the groundwork for everyone in our state to once again have the opportunity to succeed, no matter where they live or what they look like. As the chair of the Education Finance Committee, and a parent myself, its important for us to be thinking carefully about strategic investments that put our students first, said Rep. Jim Davnie, House Education Finance Chair. The measures and steps we can take now will help our kids bounce back more quickly from the pandemic, academically and emotionally and be better prepared for their future. House DFL Committee Targets The United States, the and on Monday slammed for human rights violations and abuses against Muslims in Xinjiang. "We, the Foreign Ministers of and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State, are united in our deep and ongoing concern regarding China's human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang," stated a joint statement released by the State Department. The ministers took coordinated action on measures, in parallel to measures by the European Union, in a bid to send a clear message about the human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang. They asserted that they are "united in calling for to end its repressive practices against Muslims and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang, and to release those arbitrarily detained". "The evidence, including from the Chinese Government's own documents, satellite imagery, and eyewitness testimony is overwhelming. China's extensive program of repression includes severe restrictions on religious freedoms, the use of forced labour, mass detention in internment camps, forced sterilisations, and the concerted destruction of heritage," the statement added. The ministers also underlined the importance of transparency and accountability and call on to grant the community, including independent investigators from the United Nations, journalists, and foreign diplomats, unhindered access to Xinjiang. "We will continue to stand together to shine a spotlight on China's human rights violations. We stand united and call for justice for those suffering in Xinjiang," the joint statement 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.) PARSIPPANY, N.J., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group is pleased to recognize firm attorneys named to the New Jersey Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers Rising Stars lists for 2021. Fewer than 5 percent of attorneys in the state received this elite distinction. Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group is pleased to recognize firm attorneys named to the New Jersey Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers Rising Stars lists for 2021. Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group attorneys recognized this year are firm partner and founder, Bari Z. Weinberger, who marks over a decade of consecutive Super Lawyers designations. Super Lawyers Rising Stars honorees are firm partner Jessica Sprague and family law attorneys Ryan Russell, Samantha Massenzio and Hillary Piedra. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas, including family law, who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. "This honor is all the more meaningful in 2021 as it recognizes the unwavering diligence to excellent client care our family attorneys have demonstrated throughout this pandemic year. We are humbled and deeply appreciative to have our achievements for our clients recognized by our peers," said Weinberger. Among other recent achievements, Bari Weinberger has also been honored as a Best Lawyer in America for 2021, with firm partner Robyn Howlett. Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group represents clients throughout New Jersey with offices in Bergen, Burlington, Morris, Monmouth, and Somerset Counties. The firm offers free initial attorney consultations for legal assistance with family law issues including divorce, child custody, post-divorce modifications, domestic violence, prenuptial agreements, adoption, and all other family law matters. To find out more about Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group, visit WLG.com or call (888) 888-0919. Media Contact: Bari Weinberger [email protected] (888) 888-0919 SOURCE Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group Related Links http://WLG.com Mr. Cecilia Abena Daapah, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, has called for a collaborative intervention to protect and conserve the countrys water bodies. She said the governments policy response to safeguard the water bodies was a shared responsibility, urging all and sundry to support the enforcement of existing laws and other appropriate regulatory and management actions on water preservation. The Minister made the call on Monday in Accra at a press briefing to mark World Water Day which falls on March 22, to raise awareness on the importance of freshwater on the theme: Valuing Water. The theme offers an opportunity to create a broader understanding of how water was valued by different people in different contexts and to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal six-Water and Sanitation for All by 2030. She said Ghana had made strides in the provision of basic drinking water services to the citizenry, stressing that the population with access to improved water sources increased from 78 percent in 2017 to 81 percent in 2019. Also, the population with safely managed drinking water sources increased from 27 percent in 2017 to 36 percent in 2019, which is in sync with the governments agenda of bringing water to the doorsteps of the people. She announced that an amount of $ 1.04 billion was being invested in about 14 ongoing urban water supply projects and six major rural water supply projects in the country, targeting about 4.87 million people to be served when completed. The Minister said the result was being seen in the gradual decline of basic access to drinking water sources from 51 percent in 2017 to 45 percent in 2019. She said the government aimed at investing in building climate-resilient water infrastructure systems to reduce wastage in freshwater use; shift towards environmentally sustainable policies that took account of interconnection among ecological systems and reduce pollution. She noted that water was under extreme threat from a growing population and increasing demands of agriculture and industry, adding that there was the need to value water to avoid mismanaging the finite and irreplaceable resource. Mrs. Daapah said the illegal mining had affected the quality of water bodies especially within the southwestern river system, including the Tano, Bia, and Ankobra river basins as well as the Pra basin and its Offin and Birim tributaries. The proportion of rivers with fairly good ambient water quality at the end of 2016 was 36 percent, the proportion increased to 53 percent at the end of 2018, which was attributed to the fight against illegal mining. The proportion further improved to 57.8 percent in 2019, but reversed to 56.6 percent at the end of 2020, she said. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. [March 22, 2021] SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS IRTC, LDOS, REGI, VLDR INVESTORS of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuits NEW ORLEANS, March 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors of pending deadlines in the following securities class action lawsuits: iRhythm Technologies (IRTC) Class Period: 8/4/2020 - 1/28/2021 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 2, 2021 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-irhythm-technologies-inc-securities-litigation Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) Class Period: 5/4/2020 - 2/23/2021 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: May 3, 2021 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/vew-leidos-holdings-inc-securities-litigation Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REGI) Class Period: 5/3/2018 - 2/25/2021 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: May 3, 2021 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-renewable-energy-group-inc-securities-litigation Velodyne Lidar, Inc. (VLDR) Class Period: 7/2/2020 - 3/17/2021 Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: May 3, 2021 SECURITIES FRAUD To learn more, visit https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-velodyne-lidar-inc-securities-litigation If you purchased shares of the above companies and would like to discuss your legal rights and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact us toll-free (844) 367-9658 or visit the case links above. If you wish to serve as a Lead Plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court on or before the Lead Plaintiff Motion deadline. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] GOSHEN, N.Y. -- Patty Kiersten said she does animal paintings and she sets up a trail camera to get photos of wildlife for inspiration. Sometimes I get more than I bargained for, she said. Last week, she focused the camera on her bird feeders next to her town of Goshen home in Orange County, hoping to capture a fox on film. Instead, she got pictures of a black bear family six animals in all tearing down her bird feeders at just before 2 a.m. in the morning. I wasnt expecting them so early. I nearly fell out of my chair after looking at the photos, she said. The photos showed a sow (female bear) and five yearlings. A family of six black bears feasting on seed after knocking down the bird feeder in the town of Goshen in Orange County. Photo courtesy of Patty Kiersten. The recent stretch of warm weather is bringing many bears out of hibernation in search for food in Upstate New York. The state Department of Environmental Conservation recently said there has been a rise in reported sightings of black bears in urban and suburban areas across the state, adding a list of actions that can be taken reduce negative human/bear interactions. While seeing a bear is an exciting experience for many New Yorkers, bears that are inadvertently fed by humans exhibit unnatural behaviors and can become a nuisance, said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. DEC encourages homeowners, property managers, and outdoor enthusiasts to follow guidance to reduce bears access to attractants like garbage, birdseed, and pet food to discourage nuisance bears. Kiersten, who lives in a rural area in the so-Black Dirt area, said she and her husband have lived in their home for 20 years after relocating upstate from the Bronx. The area where they live, she said, has its share of wildlife: birds, coyotes, foxes and bears. She said bears have visited her yard and the neighborhood for years during the spring and summer and she notes on her calendar when they first appear. Based on prior years, she said she was intending to stop putting seed in her bird feeders on April 1. I know what they say. A fed bear is a dead bear, " meaning that when a bruin gets habituated to getting food from humans it results in them frequently coming for more and often trying to get into a house or garage for food. In such instances, the animal has to be killed because they present a threat to humans. Tranquilizing and relocating them doesnt work. Relocated bears have been known to travel up to 300 miles to return to where they were caught, DEC said. Bears that dont return may continue their bad behavior at the new location. This year, the bear family Kiersten captured on film stopped by on March 18. It was a hit and run. They reached up and ripped the bird feeder off the pipe and they all sat around eating the bird see. One took the feeder tube and went behind the compost heap and chewed on it. There were teeth marks on it, she said. And the bears got at more than the Kierstens bird feeders. They tossed (and tried to get into) everyones garbage cans down the road, she said, adding that her husband, who got up early to go to work that day, said cans were scattered all along their road. Kiersten said Orange County is being developed at a rapid pace lately and the wildlife there is feeling the impact. We are birders. Every year we have rose breasted grosbeaks come to our feeders, and stay for the summer. last year we had two pair here, she said. The bears ruin everything. But, we are designing a high line to keep the feeders from the bears reach. She added: I just hope the bears find a safe place to live. With Legoland being built not too far from here, and a huge housing surge in Orange County, the bears are being squeezed out of their habitat. According to the DEC, intentionally feeding bears is a ticketable offense. DEC recommends the following around dwellings in bear areas to reduce problems: Remove all bird feeders; Keep garbage, grills, pet food, and bird seed inside a solid, secure structure such as a house, shed, or garage; If grills cannot be secured, clean grills, move them away from houses, and remove grease traps after each use; Put garbage on the curb the morning of collection, not the night before, and use bear-resistant trash containers; and Close garage doors and ground-floor windows/doors at night. A bear destroyed this garage door because it had learned that food can be found around humans. NYS DEC photo. Campgrounds visitors should follow the following guidance to reduce potential bear conflicts: Keep campsites as clean as possible; Clean up after all meals immediately. Keep grills, pots, pans, cooking utensils, and wash basins clean when not in use; Leave coolers and food inside car trunks or truck cabs; Store food and coolers in food lockers when available; NEVER keep food, coolers, or scented items in tents when camping. Store toiletries securely with coolers and food; Do not put grease, garbage, plastic diapers, cans, bottles, or other refuse in the fireplace; and Dispose of garbage in the campgrounds dumpsters every evening. Visitors to the backcountry are encouraged to: Pack a minimal amount of food. Use lightweight and dehydrated foods. Plan all meals to avoid leftovers; Use bear-resistant food canisters , which are required in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness of the Adirondack Park; Cook and eat before dark and cook away from campsites; Avoid spills and drippings while cooking and do not pour grease into fire pits; and Never leave food unattended. When to report a nuisance bear: When a nuisance bear presents an immediate danger to public safety, call 911; 1-844-DEC-ECOs (1-844-332-3267) ; and If a bear is damaging property or is reluctant to leave the area, but the situation is not an emergency, call the regional wildlife office during business hours, or call the DEC Law Enforcement Dispatch Center at; and If bear cubs are known to be orphaned in the spring or summer (before July), call DEC. After that time, cubs generally survive on their own. See the DEC website for more about black bears and reducing human/bear conflicts. MORE UPSTATE NY OUTDOORS DEC: Hunters killed more than 1,700 black bears during 2020 seasons Sure sign of spring: Hundreds of thousands of snow geese migrating through Upstate NY (pictures, video) Highly aggressive invasive plant species in Skaneateles lake could affect fishing, boating NYS Canal System Update: All sections will be open to boating starting May 21 Who goes there? The owls of New York, the unique sounds they make and more (videos) Wild Carp Classic fishing tournament on Seneca River set for May 19-22 with $40,000 in cash and prizes Violators of annual statewide residential brush burning ban face $500 fine UPGRADE YOUR OUTDOOR GEAR Fishing Gear | Camo Face Masks | Hunting Gear | Camping Supplies The governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on Monday signed a memorandum of agreement with the Union Jal Shakti Ministry to implement the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project. The agreement was signed on the occasion of World Water Day and during the virtual launch of the 'Catch the Rain Campaign', according to a statement. The project's purpose is to carry water from surplus regions to drought-prone and water-scarce areas through interlinking of rivers, it said. "The Bundelkhand region (of Uttar Pradesh) is a land of bravehearts and its people will not be allowed to remain thirsty. Ken-Betwa river linking will help resolve the water scarcity and bring prosperity in this region," Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said. It will provide annual irrigation of 2.51 lakh hectares, 1,700 million cubic meters (mcm) of water to Uttar Pradesh and drinking water supply to about 62 lakh people and also generate 103 MW of hydropower, the statement said. The project will also benefit the districts of Jhansi, Mahoba, Lalitpur and Hamirpur of Uttar Pradesh, it said. The project involves the transfer of surplus water from the Ken river in Panna district in Madhya Pradesh to Betwa river in Uttar Pradesh. This will be done through the construction of the Dhaudan Dam and a 221 km-long canal, the statement said. "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," Adityanath 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.) Residents in Boulder, Colorado, were warned Monday of an active shooter incident at a grocery store by police. It left 10 people dead, including 1 police officer who responded to the fatal incident. Police respond to an active Colorado shootings The massive shooting in Colorado leaves at least 10 dead people including a police officer. The officer who lost his life was i Eric Talley, 51. He had had been with Boulder police for more than ten years since 2010, according to Boulder police Chief Maris Herold through APNews. Following a request from local law enforcement, the FBI said it was helping in an investigation. Dean Schiller, a witness, said that he was about to go grocery shopping at the King Soopers in south Boulder when he heard gunshots and saw three people who seemed to be injured. One was outside the store, and the other was inside. A store employee told him that there was a gunman on the premises. Another man told NBC affiliate KUSA that his granddaughters were on their way to the store with their father to get COVID-19 vaccines when the shooting happened. He said they hid for an hour inside a coat closet before being rescued by officials entering the roof. He said, "This is heartbreaking." Outside the King Soopers, live footage shows SWAT trucks and police officers' scores, all of whom were dressed in tactical gear and camouflage. Any of the building's front windows seemed to be smashed. A man in handcuffs was seen fleeing the store with police at one point. It was unclear if the man wearing no shirt and had blood running down his leg was a suspect. Several minutes later, police surrounded a line of people who seemed to have been inside the store. Colorado Governor Jared Polis described the situation as an "unspeakable occurrence" that he was closely monitoring. He added, "I'm incredibly grateful to the courageous men and women who have come to the scene to assist the victims of this senseless incident." Broad police and emergency medical services contingent was evident outside the King Soopers shop, according to aerial imagery given by NBC affiliate KUSA. What to know now: An active shooter at a King Soopers in Boulder sparked a huge police response to the grocery store on Table Mesa Drive. According to KGW, hundreds of officers from all over the Denver metro area, including SWAT, were dispatched. Officers were seen navigating the situation all over the parking lot, around the store, and on top of the house. There is yet to be any definitive word on the victims or perpetrators. The store's front windows are shattered, and the store and the roads around it are also blocked. Sarah Moonshadow, 42, said she was at the scene because she lives across the street from the store, Reuters reported. According to a police Twitter warning, the incident occurred at a grocery store in the Table Mesa area of Boulder, a city at the eastern foot of the Rockies about 28 miles northwest of Denver. A shirtless, bearded man was taken away in handcuffs. One male on a stretcher was put into an ambulance, as per a video from the incident shown on local television. One individual was seen on the floor inside the shop and two more outside on the ground in a video posted to YouTube, but the seriousness of their injury was not apparent. This story is in progress. Please get back to this page for updates. @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Charleston, WV (25301) Today Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly and former Chief Minister has sought time from Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla to meet him and hand him over call recordings and documents pertaining to alleged transfer posting racket of IPS and non-IPS officers of Maharashtra Police. Addressing the reporters, Fadnavis on Tuesday said, "Commissioner of Intelligence sent a report of intercepted suspicious calls to be involved in transfer racket to DG Maharashtra in August 2020. It was later forwarded to the chief minister who expressed concern but took no action. I have data of 6.3 GB containing all the information." "When the DG inquired about the report, he got to know that it was sent to the Home Minister (Anil Deshmukh). No action was taken against the people involved but the action was taken against COI Rashmi Shukla who prepared the report. Her promotion was delayed and transferred to a post that did not even exist when she was sent there," he stated. The former chief minister further said the case should be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). "These audio recordings are of a very serious nature. I am going to Delhi today to meet the Union Home Secretary and will demand a CBI probe." Reacting to Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's video message, the BJP leader said, "As per police records of VIP movements, Anil Deshmukh went to Sahyadri Guest House on February 17 and Mantralaya on February 24. He was in home quarantine from February 15 to 27 but met officers. He was not in isolation. I feel Pawar Sahab was not briefed properly yesterday." Earlier, Deshmukh shared a video message on social media in which he claimed an attempt is being made to mislead people by disseminating wrong information about him. "I tested positive for COVID-19 on February 5. I was hospitalised from February 5 to 15. After being discharged from the hospital on February 15, the doctor's advised me to stay in home quarantine for 10 days. I attended a few virtual meetings in Nagpur hospital and later during the home quarantine," he said in the video message. "Few officers visited me at home for briefing prior to Budget Session on March 1. I stepped out of my house for the first time on February 28 for official work. I am sharing this video to refute the wrong information that is being circulated to mislead the public," he added. There are reports of Deshmukh's association with suspended Mumbai Police ASI Sachin Waze whose name came up in the Mansukh Hiran death case. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) You, on the other hand, are not merely visiting, however long you stay in Melbourne. So far as I can see, youve got three choices. One is simply to tolerate your friends intolerance though my sense is that this wont work for you. Another is to conclude that these moral failings are an obstacle to friendship; friendship is a moralized relationship, after all, and taking certain values seriously can entail not condoning them in your friends. But at this point in your life, youre clearly reluctant to lose longstanding, meaningful relationships. That leaves you trying to scale a formidable wall. Youre in good company. The great rabbi and civil rights leader Abraham Heschel, who lost much of his family in the Holocaust, worried about the many people whose moral sensitivity suffers a blackout when confronted with the Black mans predicament; he wanted each of us to be the sort of person who, like you, resents other peoples injuries. There can be chesed in lovingly calling friends to account and reminding them that, in Heschels simple formulation, humanity is one. We can hope that your friends will take your thoughtful responses for what they are a sign that you care about our common humanity and that you care about them. Of course, they could be offended or else simply decide to shut up about the ethnics when youre around. But its just possible that the warmth of your conviction will prompt them to reconsider their attitudes. It would be a kindness, anyway, to try. My spouse, a health care provider in charge of vaccine distribution for a large health system, received the Covid-19 vaccine in the first few days of distribution. I am in my 50s, healthy and working from home, so I am toward the end of the line. My spouse and I decided not to use my spouses position to help me jump the line and be vaccinated with higher-risk groups. But when my groups turn comes, is it ethical to use my spouses connections to move to the front of the line within my group? Name Withheld People like your spouse have a professional responsibility not to use their role in the system to get special treatment for their own families, in violation of their duty to give equal consideration to those with equal entitlements. The principles that led you not to seek vaccination before others in your category count against jumping the line within your category too. You can safely continue to live the way you do, working at home and taking the necessary precautions when youre out. Indeed, because (as the evidence suggests) your spouse is now unlikely to transmit the virus to you, youre already benefiting from your spouses vaccination. Kwame Anthony Appiah teaches philosophy at N.Y.U. His books include Cosmopolitanism, The Honor Code and The Lies That Bind: Rethinking Identity. To submit a query: Send an email to ethicist@nytimes.com; or send mail to The Ethicist, The New York Times Magazine, 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018. (Include a daytime phone number.) remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Dr Ifeanyi-Ajufo , a Senior Lecturer on the Swansea LLM programmes, has been identified as one of the 50 individuals leading legal innovation in Africa, and has been awarded by Africa Law Tech. Dr Ifeanyi-Ajufo is a new addition to the School of Law at Swansea. After completing a Bachelors degree in Law (LLB) at the University of Abuja in Nigeria in 2005, she attended and graduated from the Nigerian Law School in 2006 and was called to the Nigerian Bar. She obtained the LLM in International Information Technology Law (with Distinction) from the Robert Gordon University in the United Kingdom in 2009 and also obtained a Doctor of Laws Degree (LLD) in International Law from University of Johannesburg, South Africa in 2018. She also has a Postgraduate Certificate in International Academic Practice from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom and recently completed a Master's in African Studies at the University of Ghana. She was recently appointed the Vice-Chair of the African Union Cyber Security Experts Group (AUCSEG) under the auspices of the African Union Commission (AUC). Dr Ifeanyi-Ajufo teaches on several taught master programmes at Swansea and has recently designed a new LLM module, IP, Law and Technology, which is on offer as part of the: Andrei Baciu, vice-president of the National Committee for the Coordination of Activities on anti-COVID Vaccination (CNCAV), said on Tuesday that the first doses of the serum produced by Johnson&Johnson will arrive in Romania, most likely in April, around 100,000 doses. He told a news conference that there were no significant changes from last week in terms of the calendar of deliveries of anti-COVID vaccines. "Broadly speaking, we are talking about 345,000 doses already received from Pfizer for this week, as well as next week, with a surplus of 120,000 in each of these two weeks. This week 162,000 Moderna doses will come on Friday, and from AstraZeneca - 48,000 doses, unfortunately by 330,000 fewer than initially announced, namely 378,000 doses. Practically, for March, we have a total of approximately 2.2 million doses, and for April things have not changed - about two million doses of vaccine produced by BioNTech/Pfizer, a minimum of 249,000 doses produced by Moderna, we hope to reach even more, up to a maximum of 330,000. For the vaccines produced by AstraZeneca we speak of some 879,000 doses. For the vaccine produced by Johnson&Johnson, the first doses will most likely arrive in April, around 100,000 doses," Baciu said.According to him, Romania has received up to now 3,622,689 doses of COVID vaccine. Until March 21, there were 5,074 lost doses due to non-attributable reasons, representing 0.20% of the total doses used, the secretary of state in the Ministry of Health said. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday said the United States southern border is closed to migrants a claim refuted by a Republican senator as there are said to be at least 15,500 unaccompanied migrant minors housed in U.S. custody. The message is quite clear, do not come. The border is closed, the border is secure, Mayorkas said on ABCs This Week." We are encouraging children not to come, Mayorkas added. Now is not the time to come. Do not come. The journey is dangerous. We are building safe, orderly and humane ways to address the needs of vulnerable children. Do not come. Amid increasing criticism from Republicans and some Democrats who say there is an ongoing crisis at the border, the Biden appointee assured during the interview that the administration knows how to address it. Source:The Christian Post * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! FRANKLIN PARK, Ill., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Moss a collaborative production partner for global branded experiences is proud to join the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) as corporate members. The NMSDC's mission is to advance business opportunities for certified minority business enterprises and connect them with corporate members. For years now, Moss has been strategically focused on ensuring its core values of environmental, social and corporate governance, sustainable practices, and supplier diversification are represented in its business practices. The decision to join the NMSDC is part of a larger strategic choice to partner with national suppliers that embrace diversity and inclusion and drive growth in the economy. Membership in the NMSDC allows us to expand our supply base and continue to be flexible in how we meet client needs. Tweet this (PRNewsfoto/Moss) "The last year has illustrated the innate human desire for a return of in-person contact, whether in corporate environments, retail stores, tradeshows or live events," said Moss President and CEO Jason Popp. "Moss's mission is to help our customers accelerate that return. Membership in the NMSDC allows us to expand our supply base and continue to be flexible in how we meet our client needs for custom fabrication on a very fast timeline. We are excited to join over 1,500 impressive corporate members of this important organization and support their mission." Moss offers one of the widest ranges of materials and manufacturing capabilities in the industry and continues to expand that offering at their 180,000 square foot corporate headquarters in Franklin Park, Illinois. "Our supply chain is composed of global and national partners that supply specialty materials, OEM manufacturing of patented products, and custom fabrications. There are a variety of ways that Certified Minority Business Enterprises can partner with us, and we are looking forward to expanding our network to include new, innovative and agile providers of materials and services," said Moss Executive Director, Global Procurement Jason Holliman, CSCP. About Moss | mossinc.com Moss partners with brands around the world to tell their story through compelling experiences. Across three continents, Moss sustainably blends materials, technology and technique to produce these brand presentation endeavors. Through global sourcing, fabrication, printing and solutions design, Moss is a proven collaborative partner for every brand presentation possibility. Follow Moss on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram About NMSDC | nmsdc.org Chartered in 1972, The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) was stood up because of the civil rights movement in the late 1960s and continues to be the leading minority business development organization in the United States. NMSDC supports the economic sustainability of more than 13,000 certified minority business enterprises (MBEs) and advances minority business development by facilitating procurement opportunities between its certified MBEs and its network of over 1,500 Corporate Members. NMSDC's Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native America businesses provide products and services in many industries. The NMSDC network includes a National Office in New York, 23 regional affiliate councils, five international partner organizations and the Business Consortium Fund (BCF) as its funding arm. Follow NMSDC on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter Contact: Heidi Katherine [email protected]. 847.238.4284 SOURCE Moss Related Links https://www.mossinc.com Sri Lanka's foreign minister Dinesh Gunawardena said the UN motion was not binding on Colombo Sri Lanka on Tuesday rejected a UN move to preserve evidence of war crimes in the country and said the money allocated for the effort would be better spent on housing for the poor. The resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva called for a $2.8 million budget to collect and preserve evidence of war crimes for future prosecutions. It follows a damning report from UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Sri Lanka's failure to prosecute war criminals from the island's separatist conflict that ended in May 2009. Foreign minister Dinesh Gunawardena said the UN rights council's censure motion, which 22 voted for and 11 against, was not binding on Colombo. "It is a waste of money. Highly uncalled for," Gunawardena told reporters at a hurriedly organised press conference in Colombo shortly after losing the vote. "Without the consent and acceptance of the country concerned, it cannot be implemented." The money would be better spent on providing "housing for the entire population in the Jaffna peninsula", he said, referring to the heartland of the island's minority Tamils in the war-battered region. Successive governments in Sri Lanka have resisted calls for an independent investigation into allegations that troops killed at least 40,000 Tamil civilians while crushing Tiger guerrillas, a charge Colombo denies. aj/axn Chinese lawmakers to deliberate bills on amending HK electoral system on March 29-30 Xinhua) 09:28, March 23, 2021 BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, is expected to deliberate bills on amending the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) from March 29 to 30. Zang Tiewei, spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, said the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee has decided to convene the 27th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee from March 29 to 30. Proposed agenda of the session includes reviewing draft amendments to Annex I and Annex II to the HKSAR Basic Law, according to Zang. The two annexes govern respectively the selection method of the HKSAR Chief Executive, and the formation method and voting procedures of the Legislative Council, Hong Kong's local legislature. On March 11, the NPC adopted at its annual session a decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR. The decision authorized the NPC Standing Committee to amend the two Basic Law annexes. During this year's "two sessions" of the top legislature and top political advisory body, many lawmakers and political advisors suggested that the NPC Standing Committee initiate the amending process as soon as possible for its early completion, Zang said. The move of the NPC Standing Committee to deliberate the bills is of great significance to upholding and improving the institutional framework of "one country, two systems," safeguarding the constitutional order in the HKSAR as stipulated in China's Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law, improving the electoral system of the HKSAR and developing a democratic political system suited to Hong Kong's realities, Zang said. It is also of great significance to ensuring Hong Kong's long-term stability and prosperity, and safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests, he added. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at University of Michigan express our strong support for the courageous stand taken by striking graduate student workers at Columbia University. The issues being fought for by graduate studentsa living wage, job security, better health care coverage and improved working conditionsare the same issues that confront students, young people and workers across the country and around the world. Striking University of Michigan graduate students in September 2020 (WSWS) Like university administrations across the country, no less at University of Michigan, Columbia is run by a collection of multi-millionaire and billionaire hedge fund managers and CEOs with deep ties to Wall Street, Corporate America, the Democratic Party and the military-industrial complex. In response to the student struggle, the school administration has done everything in its power to demoralize, exhaust and threaten the student workers. They have rejected outright the demands of the Graduate Workers of Columbia University (GWC) in over 65 bargaining sessions. In fact, the administration has gone so far as to create an online daily work-reporting system to identify all workers on strike in order to dock their pay. There is no doubt that the graduate student workers at Columbia are up against immense political and financial interests. In order to advance the Columbia graduate student struggle, the fundamental political issues need to be clarified. Just last fall the graduate student strike at the University of Michigan over unsafe working conditions was shut down by the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) under the pressure of its parent union, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Democratic Party-controlled university administration. The IYSSE at U-M urges Columbia students to draw lessons from this critical experience. First, the U-M struggle vindicated the perspective of the Socialist Equality Party and IYSSE that a successful struggle of graduate student workers must be based on the principle that all workers, including graduate student workers, have the right to a living wage, quality health care, and safe working conditions, regardless of what university officials and the corporate interests they represent claim is affordable. The strike at U-M last fall was one of the earliest organized oppositions to the homicidal policy of the ruling class to force the reopening of schools during the pandemic. On September 8, GEO called the strike, demanding, among other things, the universal and unconditional right to work and teach remotely, more personal protective equipment (PPE), increased COVID-19 testing and an extension of funding and program timeline. The school rejected the demands claiming there was no money to meet these demands while repeating the lie that schools were safe to reopen for in-person learning. The claim by the universities everywhere that they cannot afford to pay adjuncts and faculty a living wage or lower tuition is absurd. Columbia has an endowment of over $11 billion. More broadly, over the course of the last year the ruling class has orchestrated a bailout of the rich unprecedented in world history. Since March, more than $3 trillion has been funneled into Wall Street and corporate America through the US Federal Reserve. US billionaires have increased their wealth by $1.4 trillion. The issue is not whether or not the resources exist. The real question is which class in society controls these resources and decides how to distribute them? Second, a successful struggle must be based on the working class, in opposition to both political parties and their functionaries in the trade unions. The conditions facing student-workers cannot be resolved on the campuses. There must be a turn to the working class to mobilize the broad masses of working and young people against the ruling elite and the capitalist system, which subordinates every aspect of life to accumulation of private profit. During the U-M strike the GEO membership gained enormous support from undergraduate students, faculty and lecturers, construction workers, dining hall workers, as well as workers beyond the campus, including public school teachers and autoworkers. Residential advisors on campus joined the ranks of graduate students and launched a strike as well. Several graduate student unions, including Columbias, from universities around the country have also issued statements of support. With momentum building, GEO membership voted to extend the strike by another week. At this point, the president of American Federation of Teachers-Michigan, David Hecker, intervened and took control over the negotiations. At the same time, the university filed an injunction against the GEO, threatening legal retaliation if the strike continued. The AFT at U-M did everything in their power to isolate and strangle the strike. Despite having two other unions on campus, the Lecturers Employees Organization (LEO-AFT Local 6244) and University Physician Assistants at Michigan Medicine (UPAMM-AFT), the AFT refused to mobilize its members in support of the GEO strike or the tens of thousands of K12 teachers the AFT also claims to represent in Michigan and around the country. The intention was clear: keep the grad student workers at U-M isolated in their struggle. As for the United Auto Workers (UAW), which has tens of thousands of members in Michigan, it did not even pretend to rally support for the striking GEO workers. Now the UAW, with which the GWC is affiliated, is seeking to impose the same isolation on the strike at Columbia while it negotiates behind the scenes to make further concessions to the administration. Unsurprisingly, a UAW official at New York University, Maida Rosenstein, explicitly argued against linking up the emerging NYU strike with the one at Columbia. As any autoworker here in Michigan will attest, the UAW has nothing to do with defending the interest of workers. Over the last four years, the UAW has been integrated into corporate management and functions literally as the paid agents of the auto companies. The last two UAW presidents have been jailed for embezzling union money, as part of a far bigger corruption scheme in which UAW officials were paid company bribes in exchange for signing contracts that destroyed the living standards and working conditions of autoworkers. That is why we encourage Columbia students to take the conduct of the struggle into your own hands by forming a rank-and-file strike committee, independent of the UAW, to mobilize the broadest support from educators and other sections of the working class in the city and beyond to win your demands. The strike at U-M would have seen a radically different outcome if it had been expanded to include the widest layers of workers including lecturers, campus workers, workers from the university health care system and schoolteachers. But that would have led to a direct conflict with Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Democratic Party, which the unions are politically aligned with. While both corporate-controlled parties defend Wall Street and the capitalist system, they pursue different, but not mutually exclusive, tactics. Trump and large sections of the Republican Party are trying to build a fascist movement to suppress the resistance of workers and to try to crush the growing interest of workers and young people in socialism. Biden and the Democrats promote the corporatist unions and identity politics to block the political radicalization of the working class and divert opposition behind the administrations increasingly bellicose confrontations with China. The GEO strike in Michigan demonstrates why graduate students must reject all efforts to divide workers by race, gender, ethnicity or any other identity. Even under enormous pressure from the AFT and the threats from the university administration, U-M graduate students wanted to stand their ground and continue the strike; some even called for a general strike to protect workers lives. After the GEO membership voted to extend the strike, a layer of GEO leaders and other students began to employ racialist politics to push through a sellout deal and browbeat those who wanted to defend and expand the strike. As the IYSSE wrote at the time: One of their arguments was that continuing the strike would put black and brown lives at risk. The proponents of this claim did not bother explaining how dropping the fight against the homicidal school openings would protect the lives of students and instructors of any race and nationality. But they were not looking to make any rational argument. Instead, they were trying to intimidate oppositional students with specious accusations of white privilege in order to protect the deal the GEO reached with the university to set up a task force on policing, which will involve the so-called Students of Color Liberation Front and GEO. On this basis, the GEO leaders ended the strike and abandoned the grad students key demands. A week later, COVID-19 cases erupted on the campus eventually forcing the administration to shut down in-person learning. Racialist politics are the stock-in-trade of the Democratic Party, which has long sought to conceal the class character of society by claiming that equality can be achieved by installing more women and minorities into positions of corporate and political power. Indeed, the Biden administration is a veritable rainbow coalition of Wall Street bankers, war criminals and intelligence agents. In response to the eruption of the mass, multi-racial and multi-ethnic demonstrations following the police murder of George Floyd last May, the Democrats and their allies claimed that police repression is an expression of the violence of White America against Black America. This was done to conceal the character of the capitalist statewhich employs repression to defend the wealth, property and power of the corporate and financial aristocracyand to block a united movement of the entire working class against the cause of social inequality, racism and war, that is, the capitalist system. The battles confronting graduate students are inseparable from the broader issues facing all workers and cannot be resolved if they are limited to the campuses. While more than 2.7 million people, including 550,000 in the US, have perished during the pandemic and millions more struggle to survive, the collective wealth of US billionaires has risen by 40 percent, or $1.1 trillion. Capitalism stands exposed as a historically bankrupt social and economic system. The overthrow of this system and the reconstruction of society on the basis of international cooperation, scientific planning and egalitarianism, requires the mobilization of workers throughout the world on the basis of their common class interests. The Columbia strike has widespread support among the student workers at the university and schools throughout the country, K12 educators throughout New York who have been forced back into dangerous schools, and other sections of workers and young people. The struggle at Columbia, moreover, is part of a series of struggles at other universities, including New York University, University of Chicago, Illinois State University, University of Maryland, Indiana University, University of New Mexico and many more campuses. It is not to the Democrats and the union executives that students should turn, but to teachers, autoworkers, service workers, health care workers, young people and the entire working class. The strike must be expanded and transformed into a conscious political struggle against capitalism. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality calls on striking graduate students to join the Educators Rank-and-File Committee, which is fighting to unify educators and other sections of the working class, and to join the IYSSE to fight for socialism! The cybersecurity skills gap has posed a challenge to organizations everywhere. The threat landscape grows more sophisticated and digital attacks continue to expand at a rapid rate. Organizations are faced with many cybersecurity challenges without enough security professionals to address them. One answer to filling the skills gap is to tap and hire underrepresented candidates, however, providing them with the educational resources and skill-building opportunities is yet another challenge. Access to cybersecurity education is not always accessible to these groups, which typically leads them to pursue other career paths. Investing in the preparation of essential talent pools, such as students, is one key component to closing the cyber security skills gap. As part of the Fortinet NSE Training Institute, the Security Academy Program collaborates with academic institutions and non-profit organization around the world to help learners become better prepared to be skilled security professionals and enter the workforce. The Security Academy Program supports more than 300 academic institutions in more than 80 different countries. Participants of the program have access to Fortinets NSE training and Certification Program curriculum to prepare students for careers in cybersecurity. Fortinet had a virtual conversation with Irfan Ghauri, professor at Usman Institute of Technology, one of our Authorized Security Academies, to discuss how the program is benefiting students in Pakistan. Q&A with a Participant of the Security Academy Program Q: Why did your institution join the Security Academy Program Becoming part of the Security Academy Program has been highly beneficial for our undergraduate and graduate students. Currently there is a significant skills shortage in the cybersecurity market in Pakistan. Weve been actively searching for solutions to this shortage and the Security Academy Program is the only program weve found that prepares students in learning and deploying practical cybersecurity in depth, while increasing their chances of getting a better job in cybersecurity. Q: How long have you been an Authorized Academy leveraging Fortinets curriculum? The Usman Institute of Technology (UIT) joined the Security Academy Program in June 2019. Q: How have you used the Security Academy Program in your curriculum? Were incorporating parts of the NSE training curricula into our courses, which includes hands on experience of products for our students. For example, the FortiGate firewall labs have been integrated into the university's 7th semester information security courses for BS and BE students. Separately, the Fortinet NSE4 course is offered for all students who want more practical, hands-on experience on FortiGate Firewalls and want to learn FortiOS in-depth. Q: How are your students benefiting from the NSE curriculum being part of your university classes? As a result of incorporating Fortinet courses, students are able to access hands on labs on Fortinet firewall products and learn security technologies practically. This includes web filtering, content filtering, application inspection and VPN to give them more exposure about security threats and the security landscape. Many students are finding the course to be more through and enjoyable in terms of ease of learning and more relevant content for eventually entering a career in cyber. Since Gartner, NSS labs and others, place the Fortinet name high on the list of top security vendors and Fortinet is the most deployed Firewall in Pakistan, many students had heard of Fortinet already. Getting hands on with Fortinet products increases their chances in getting jobs once they graduate and having more relevant skills to the role. Q: How are employers benefiting from the Fortinet Security Academy Program in your region? Hiring a Fortinet certified engineer gives companies confidence about the individual's skills and knowledge of hands-on cyber experience, as well as the ability to work with Fortinet products. While demand is high, there is shortage of security professionals who understand the current security challenges and issues and can save the corporate networks from the latest threats using technologies and tools from various security vendors. Q: Can you talk about what differentiates Fortinets learning? Working on Fortinet products with the latest FortiOS has helped students understand different security threats and how to mitigate them with different FortiOS security technologies. Fortinet's free training course videos aide in their learning and the NSE Certifications raise their moral to pursue a cybersecurity field as their career. Q: What benefits do you see the Security Academy Program providing your students? With the integration of FortiGate firewall into the universitys Information Security Course, students now understandcore security concepts like NGFW, Web Filtering, Content Filtering, AV, IPS, VPN and others, which are hard to grasp through theoretical knowledge in books. Additionally, students can become Fortinet Certified Security Engineers, giving them an understanding of the Fortinet Product portfolio and increasing their opportunities in the workforce. Q: How is the program helping to address the cybersecurity skills gap? With the rate in which the skills gap is growing, it is crucial to establish curriculums to prepare the incoming generation of workers for the needs of the cybersecurity field. The Fortinet training website is easily accessible, and provides resources for a range of skillsets and cybersecurity experiences. This is vital in building the cybersecurity skills from cyber awareness to advanced technical knowledge and for students to have the opportunity to polish their skills in handling Fortinet appliances practically. Since Fortinet has developed many products for specific security needs, students can learn these products by pursuing the Higher Fortinet Certification tracks. Investing in the Workforce of Tomorrow The Fortinet Security Academy Program works to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive cyber workforce, bridging the gap between learning and careers. In addition to the Security Academy, Fortinets NSE Training Instituteaddresses the industrys skills gap by developing career pathways for security professionals, students, veterans and more through its Certification Program and Veterans Program. Find out more about Fortinets NSE Training Institute programs, including the Network Security Expert program, Network Security Academy program and FortiVet program. WASHINGTON President Joe Bidens economic advisers are preparing to recommend spending as much as $3 trillion on a sweeping set of efforts aimed at boosting the economy, reducing carbon emissions and narrowing economic inequality, beginning with a giant infrastructure plan that may be financed in part through tax increases on corporations and the rich. After months of internal debate, Bidens advisers are expected to present a proposal to the president this week that recommends carving his economic agenda into separate legislative pieces, rather than trying to push a mammoth package through Congress, according to people familiar with the plans and to documents obtained by The New York Times. The total new spending in the plans would likely be $3 trillion, a person familiar with them said. That figure does not include the cost of extending new temporary tax cuts meant to fight poverty, which could reach hundreds of billions of dollars, according to estimates prepared by administration officials. Officials have not yet determined the exact breakdown in cost between the two packages. Biden supports all of the individual spending and tax cut proposals under consideration, but it is unclear whether he will back splitting his agenda into pieces, or what legislative strategy he and Democratic leaders will pursue to maximize the chances of pushing the new programs through Congress given their narrow majorities in both chambers. Administration officials caution that details of the spending programs remain in flux. But the scope of the proposal under consideration highlights the aggressive approach the Biden administration wants to take as it tries to harness the power of the federal government to narrow economic inequality, reduce the carbon emissions that drive climate change, and improve American manufacturing and high-technology industries in an escalating battle with China and other foreign competitors. While the $1.9 trillion economic aid package that Biden signed into law earlier this month includes money to help vulnerable people and businesses survive until the pandemic ends, it does little to advance the longer-term economic agenda that Biden campaigned on. The package under consideration would begin that effort in earnest. The first legislative piece under discussion, which some Biden officials consider more appealing to Republicans, business leaders and many moderate Senate Democrats, would combine investments in manufacturing and advanced industries with what would be the most aggressive spending yet by the United States to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. It would spend heavily on infrastructure improvements, clean energy deployment and the development of other high-growth industries of the future like 5G telecommunications. It includes money for rural broadband, advanced training for millions of workers and 1 million affordable and energy-efficient housing units. Documents suggest it will include nearly $1 trillion in spending alone on the construction of roads, bridges, rail lines, ports, electric vehicle charging stations and improvements to the electric grid and other parts of the power sector.Whether it can muster Republican support will depend in large part on how the bill is paid for. Officials have discussed offsetting some or all of the infrastructure spending by raising taxes on corporations, including increasing the corporate income tax rate above the current 21% rate and a variety of measures to force multinational corporations to pay more tax in the United States on income they earn abroad. That strategy is unlikely to garner Republican votes.I dont think theres going to be any enthusiasm on our side for a tax increase, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, told reporters last week. He predicted the administrations infrastructure plan would be a Trojan horse for tax increases. Bidens team has debated the merits of aggressively pursuing compromise with Republicans and business leaders on an infrastructure package, which would most likely require dropping or scaling back plans to raise taxes on corporations, or preparing to move another sweeping bill through a special parliamentary process that would require only Democratic votes. Bidens advisers plan to present the proposal to congressional leaders this week. President Biden and his team are considering a range of potential options for how to invest in working families and reform our tax code so it rewards work, not wealth, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said. Those conversations are ongoing, so any speculation about future economic proposals is premature and not a reflection of the White Houses thinking. Biden said in January that his relief bill would be followed by a Build Back Better Recovery Plan, echoing the language of his campaign agenda. He said that plan would make historic investments in infrastructure and manufacturing, innovation, research and development, and clean energy. Investments in the caregiving economy and in skills and training needed by our workers to compete and win the global economy of the future. The timing of that proposal which Biden initially had said would come in February slipped as administration officials focused on completing the relief package. In the interim, administration officials have concluded their best chance to advance Bidens larger agenda in Congress will be to split Build Back Better into component proposals. The first plan, centered on infrastructure, includes large portions of the plan Biden offered in the 2020 election. His campaign predicted that Bidens investments would create 5 million new jobs in manufacturing and advanced industries, on top of restoring all the jobs lost last year in the COVID-19 crisis. The second plan under discussion is focused on what many progressives call the nations human infrastructure students, workers and people left on the sidelines of the job market according to documents and people familiar with the discussions. It would spend heavily on education and on programs meant to increase the participation of women in the labor force, by helping them balance work and caregiving. It includes free community college, universal pre-K education, a national paid leave program and efforts to reduce child care costs. That plan would also extend or make permanent two temporary provisions of Bidens recent relief bill: expanded subsidies for low- and middle-income Americans to buy health insurance and tax credits aimed at cutting poverty, particularly for children. Officials have weighed financing that plan through initiatives that would reduce federal spending by as much as $700 billion over a decade, like allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug costs with pharmaceutical companies. The officials have discussed further offsetting the spending increases by raising taxes on high-earning individuals and households, like raising the top marginal income tax rate to 39.6% from 37%. Administration officials were still debating details of the tax increases late last week. One question is how, exactly, to apply Bidens campaign promise that no one earning less than $400,000 a year would pay more in federal taxes under his plan. Currently, the top marginal income tax rate starts at just above $500,000 for individuals and above $600,000 for couples. Biden proposed raising that rate in the campaign. Officials say they are committed to not raising the tax bills of any individual earning less than $400,000. But they have debated whether to lower the income threshold for the top marginal rate, to tax all individual income above $400,000 at 39.6%, in order to raise more revenue for his spending plans. Bidens broader economic agenda will face a more difficult road in Congress than his relief bill, which was financed entirely by federal borrowing and passed using a special parliamentary tactic with only Democratic votes. Biden could again attempt to use that same budget reconciliation process to pass a bill on party lines. But moderate Democrats in the Senate have insisted that the president engage Republicans on the next wave of economic legislation, and that the new spending be offset by tax increases. Large business groups and some congressional Republicans have expressed support for some of Bidens broad goals, most notably efforts to rebuild roads, bridges, water and sewer systems and other infrastructure across the country. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers have both spoken favorably of spending up to $2 trillion on infrastructure this year. But Republicans are united in opposition to most of the tax increases Biden has proposed. Business groups have warned that corporate tax increases would scuttle their support for an infrastructure plan. Thats the kind of thing that can just wreck the competitiveness in a country, Aric Newhouse, senior vice president of policy and government relations at the National Association of Manufacturers, said last month. Administration officials are considering offering to extend some 2017 tax breaks that are set to expire, like the ability to immediately deduct new investments, as part of their plans in order to win over business support. Top business groups have also expressed an openness to Biden breaking up his Build Back Better agenda in order to pass smaller pieces with bipartisan support. If you try to solve every major issue in one bill, I dont know thats a recipe for success, Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said in an interview last month. These dont have to be done in one package. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2020, file photo, former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn holds a press conference at the Maronite Christian Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, as he launches an initiative to help Lebanon that is undergoing a severe economic and financial crisis, in Kaslik, north of Beirut, Lebanon. Japanese prosecutors have charged two Americans, Michael Taylor and his son Peter, in connection with the escape of Ghosn to Lebanon. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File) Japanese prosecutors charged two Americans, Michael Taylor and his son Peter, Monday in the escape of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn to Lebanon, while he was out on bail. Tokyo District Prosecutors have been questioning the Taylors since they were extradited from the United States earlier this month. They have been detained at a Tokyo detention centre since March 2. Prosecutors said the Taylors were formally charged with helping a criminal escape, although dates and other details of a trial were undecided. The prosecutors sought their extradition for months after they were arrested and detained in the Boston area last May. Tokyo Deputy Chief Prosecutor Hiroshi Yamamoto said Monday was the last day the Taylors could have been detained without charges under Japanese law. Now that they have been charged they can continue to be detained. A court will decide whether they will be granted bail. Yamamoto said prosecutors are requesting continued detention on the grounds the two might flee or conceal evidence. He declined to elaborate on the Taylors' health and other conditions, but said appropriate procedures were being taken. We continue to be grateful to the U.S. authorities for their co-operation and hope to proceed with the trial, he said, referring to the Taylors' extradition. The Taylors were not immediately available for comment, as is standard in Japans criminal system, where more than 99% of those who go on trial are found guilty. Ghosn, who led Nissan Motor Co. for nearly two decades, was arrested in November 2018 and later charged with under-reporting his compensation and breach of trust. He jumped bail and escaped to Lebanon in December 2019. Ghosn says he is innocent. Japan has put Ghosn on Interpols wanted list, but Lebanon has no extradition treaty with Japan. Yamamoto said Japan was still determined to see Ghosn put on trial. Michael Taylor, 60, with the help of another man, George-Antoine Zayek, hid Ghosn in a large black box supposedly containing audio equipment, although they knew Ghosn was not allowed to leave the country while awaiting trial, according to the prosecutors. The box passed through airport security in Osaka, central Japan, and was loaded onto a private jet that flew Ghosn to Turkey. Peter Taylor, 28, is accused of meeting with Ghosn and helping his father carry out the escape. Authorities say the Taylors were paid at least $1.3 million. The Taylors lawyers in the U.S. fought the extradition, saying they might be treated unfairly in Japan and subjected to mental and physical torture. They also argued that jumping bail is not a crime under Japanese law. That is technically accurate, but most people who escape are easily caught in Japan. Zayek is not in custody. Yamamoto declined to comment on Zayek's whereabouts. Japanese prosecutors say they have enough evidence to convict the Taylors. If convicted, the Taylors face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 300,000 yen ($2,900). Separately, Greg Kelly, a former Nissan executive vice-president, is on trial on charges of under-reporting Ghosn's compensation. Kelly, an American, says he is innocent as he did not know about such actions. Nissan, as a company, is also standing trial. Nissan has acknowledged wrongdoing. A verdict is not expected for months. The Tuesday sought the Centre's reply on two separate pleas seeking directions to the government to frame guidelines for compensation to victims of wrongful prosecution and to ensure strict action against fake complainants in criminal cases. A bench headed by Justice U U Lalit issued notices to the Centre on the pleas filed by BJP leaders Ashwini Upadhyay and Kapil Mishra. Upadhyay, also an advocate, has sought directions to the Centre, all states and Union Territories to frame and implement guidelines to compensate victims of "wrongful prosecution" through government machineries. Mishra, in his plea, has sought directions to the Centre for framing guidelines to ensure strict action against fake complainants in criminal cases and for compensating victims of such wrongful prosecutions. The bench, while issuing notice to the Centre on one of the prayers in the petition filed by Upadhyay, refused to issue notices to the states and Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The top court has posted these matters for further hearing in April 26. The petitions were filed in the apex court in the backdrop of a case in which the Allahabad High Court had in January declared a man, earlier convicted in a rape case and jailed for around 20 years, innocent observing that the motive behind the FIR was related to a land dispute. In his plea, Upadhyay has alternatively urged the top court to "use its plenary constitutional power to frame the guidelines for compensation to victims of wrongful prosecutions and direct the Centre and states to implement them till the recommendations of the Law Commission on miscarriage of justice are implemented religiously". The plea has made the Union ministries of Home Affairs, Law and Justice and the Law Commission as parties, besides all the states and Union Territories. "Direct the Centre to frame guidelines for compensation to victims of wrongful prosecution and implement the recommendations of Law Commission Report No-277 on miscarriage of justice," Upadhyay has said in his plea. It has said that due to cases of malicious prosecution, the injury caused to the citizens is extremely large and "because of the Centre's inaction, citizens' right to life, liberty and dignity, guaranteed under Article 21, is being brazenly offended". "There are many startling cases which show the gross abuse of power and authority by the State and vexatious complainant, which caused absolute 'miscarriage of justice' by irreparable damage to right to life, liberty and dignity of innocent citizens in the justice dispensation with no relief given by the courts," it 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.) Students in Shanghai Jiaotong University have full-chain labor experience By:Zheng Qian | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-03-22 17:09 A labor course launched by Shanghai Jiaotong University has been warmly welcomed by the students. Based on Horticulture and Food Science and Engineering, the school has formed two labor education modules respectively for grape and wine production and tomato planting and dried fruit production. Students can have a full-chain labor experience from planting to production and processing. All the first-year undergraduate students should select the course. Under the guidance of teachers and professional workers, they will design the planting schemes by themselves and will complete all the production processes starting from plowing the soil. Before the on-site practice on the field, a theoretical course conducted by the College of Agriculture and Biology taught students the basic knowledge of the structure, cultivation methods and mature process of different varieties of tomatoes. An achievements exhibition will be held in autumn when the fruits are harvested. (Photo/ Fu Wenjing& Liu Xiaojing) Seth Rogen has signed on to play the 'favorite uncle' of renowned director Steven Spielberg in a new film about his childhood. Rogen, 38, will join Michelle Williams in the cast, who is playing a character based on Spielberg's mother, according to Deadline. Casting is under way for several of the adult roles and the younger children roles, one of whom will be playing a character inspired by the young Spielberg, though he will not be named Steven. Uncle Seth: Seth Rogen has signed on to play the 'favorite uncle' of renowned director Steven Spielberg in a new film about his childhood Mom Michelle: Rogen, 38, will join Michelle Williams in the cast, who is playing a character based on Spielberg's mother, according to Deadline Young Steven: Casting is under way for several of the adult roles and the younger children roles, one of whom will be playing a character inspired by the young Spielberg, though he will not be named Steven This project will also mark the first time in 20 years - since 2001's A.I. - that Spielberg will have a hand in the actual writing of the screenplay. Spielberg is co-writing the script with frequent collaborator Tony Kushner, who wrote the scripts for Munich, Lincoln and his upcoming West Side Story remake. Production is expected to begin this summer, with Spielberg producing alongside Kushner and Kristie Macosko Krieger. Writer: This project will also mark the first time in 20 years - since 2001's A.I. - that Spielberg will have a hand in the actual writing of the screenplay The filmmaker was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, though his family moved to Phoenix when he was just 11 years old, and a year before he made his first home movie. Spielberg has often spoken about how growing up in Phoenix influenced his films, from storylines to actual characters. Spielberg signed a seven-year directing contract with Universal Pictures when he was just 22 years of age, based on his work on the short film Amblin, which he would ultimately name his company after. Home movie: The filmmaker was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, though his family moved to Phoenix when he was just 11 years old, and a year before he made his first home movie Spielberg gave birth to the modern 'summer blockbuster' with the 1975 film Jaws, which started an unprecedented string of hits including Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Jurassic Park. He most recently directed Ready Player One, with his new film West Side Story arriving in theaters this Christmas. He is also an avid gamer, and created the Medal of Honor video game series for Electronic Arts. Filmmaker: Spielberg gave birth to the modern 'summer blockbuster' with the 1975 film Jaws, which started an unprecedented string of hits including Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Jurassic Park Rogen recently launched his successful cannabis company Houseplant in America, after it was previously only available in his native Canada. He most recently starred in and produced An American Pickle for HBO and he's also set to star in the mini-series Pam & Tommy. He will portray the man who got a hold of and leaked Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee's infamous sex tape, with Lily James and Sebastian Stan portraying the couple. Company: Rogen recently launched his successful cannabis company Houseplant in America, after it was previously only available in his native Canada [March 23, 2021] Student Work Experience Shown to Strengthen Canadian Bio-Economy Talent BioTalent Canada today released the impacts that student work experience-work-integrated learning (WIL)-has had on Canada's bio-economy employers and student participants. As indicated in BioTalent Canada's on-going Labour Market Information (LMI) study (LMI), WIL has helped close the talent gap in Canada's bio-economy. It has also helped the industry to prosper through challenging times. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005101/en/ For its part, BioTalent Canada's Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) has helped facilitate the relationships between employers and participants. Since 2017, more than 3,700 students have been placed with Canadian biotech and healthcare organizations in a myriad of roles. It was in 2020 that BioTalent Canada responded to COVID-19 and expanded the program to 1,500 healthcare roles within hundreds of organizations. "Work-integrated learning programs like SWPP are mutually beneficial for employers and participants in that they introduce industry to new talent and new talent to the industry," says Rob Henderson, President and CEO of BioTalent Canada. "We conducted a series of roundtables with 119 Canadian bio-economy stakeholders who echoed that sentiment. They identified placements as opportunities for employers and students to see if there's a good fit between a student's skills and interests, and the employer's needs." Early results from BioTalent Canada's LMI survey of over 500 employers indicate that recruitment in the industry remains a challenge. The full results will be released in comprehensive reports later in 2021 and will reflect the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the industry. The reports will include BioTalent Canada's recommendations for addressing the challenges. Taking advantage of WIL opportunities through SWPP will certainly be one of the recommendations. Results indicate it makes sense for more bio-economy employers to make co-ops and internships a primary recruitment source. major contributions to employers across Canada at companies like CleanSlateUV in Toronto, the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute in Moncton, and Outbreaker Solutions in Edmonton just to name three." https://youtu.be/5fziqXP-Q50 Some of the areas that SWPP participants have made a positive impact include: assisting with specific projects, products, and processes, increasing the capacity of teams, and helping organizations meet timeline objectives and improve efficiencies. The importance of a strong, robust pipeline of young and talented workers in helping to advance Canada's bio-economy cannot be overstated. Despite the pandemic, the industry, globally, is in the middle of a growth curve that has it tracking to be one of the largest in the world. In Canada, programs like SWPP are helping to harness that advantage. In addition to the LMI study reports, BioTalent Canada is also set to release, in March, a report highlighting the positive impact of its youth programs and will also include a new industry definition reflected from the LMI study. For information on how to apply for SWPP or any of BioTalent Canada's programs, visit biotalent.ca/programs. Funded in part by the Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program and Sectorial Initiatives Program. About BioTalent Canada BioTalent Canada is the HR partner of and catalyst for growth in Canada's bio-economy. Our engagement with employers, associations, post-secondary institutions, immigrant serving agencies and service providers has built a dynamic network that is strengthening skills, connecting job-ready talent to industry and creating opportunities. Recently awarded a Great Place to Work Certification, BioTalent Canada practices the same industry standards they recommend to their stakeholders. Recently, BioTalent Canada was named one of Best Workplaces in Ontario for 2020 and Best Workplaces in Healthcare. These distinctions were awarded to BioTalent Canada following a thorough and independent analysis conducted by Great Place to Work. Direct feedback from employees was provided to Great Place to Work through a staff survey. For more information, please visit biotalent.ca. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005101/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 23:55:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on Tuesday called for a renewed commitment to the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT) of HIV and Syphilis in the country. Margaret emphasized the need for concerted efforts to accelerate the progress made towards achieving eMTCT through the promotion of stronger partnerships. "As partners, we remain inspired to do what we can to realize a world free of HIV and syphilis transmission to newborns. A world with zero maternal deaths," she said in a statement issued in Nairobi. The First Lady spoke in Nairobi when she virtually addressed a national partnership meeting on accelerating the progress towards achieving validation for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis by 2021. "I am convinced that our successes rely on harmonized efforts from both the public and private sectors. I believe that our targets are achievable because of the solid partnerships we have built with you," she said. According to the First Lady, available records show that Kenya has made progress on the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and curbing maternal mortality with new HIV infections reducing by 47 percent from 12,826 in 2013 to 6,806 in 2020. Margaret commended the innovative implementation of the Kenya eMTCT Framework adopted by counties through the county business plan model. "So far, we have successfully launched 11 county business plans. It is my hope that we, as partners, will commit to resourcing and supporting the remaining county governments on their respective journeys," she said. The county business plans provide for the sustainable and timely implementation of activities for counties to meet their unique eMTCT circumstances. The First Lady said her overall mission is to end preventable deaths of women and children as well as to eliminate new cases of HIV infections from mothers to their children. Enditem U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, along with Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), introduced the Stopping Border Surges Act, a bill to "address loopholes in the immigration system which encourage vulnerable immigrant populations to take dangerous, illegal paths of entry into the United States." Migrants exploit our immigration system to illegally enter and stay in the United States, said Senator Blackburn. This process enriches cartels and coyotes that traffic illegal immigrants across the border. The sad truth is many of the young women and children are sexually abused and assaulted during their journey to the United States. We need to stop this dangerous cycle of abuse. Loopholes in our immigration system perversely compel women and children to entrust their savings, futures, and lives to cartels and coyotes endangering the safety of vulnerable immigrants, and undermining the integrity of our system, said Senator Lee. This bill would help stop these dangerous opportunities for abuse. By reversing some of President Trumps most successful border policies, President Biden has sent a come one, come all signal to immigrants," said Senator Tuberville. "Not only has this created a surge of illegal immigrants coming across the border, but its also created an environment that is ripe for abuse. This bill prevents the exploitation of our immigration laws to the benefit of people willing to use vulnerable migrants, including children, to further illegal behavior. Children should not be used as a free pass to get into our country. I urge my colleagues to join in support of this bill. The current surge of migrants at our border, due in large part to the immediate and illogical reversal of the previous administrations policies, underscores the need for Congress to work together to address this humanitarian and national security crisis," said Senator Ernst. "Right now, loopholes in our immigration system are encouraging unaccompanied children and families to make the perilous journeyat the hands of ruthless smugglersto enter the U.S. through our now-open southern border. This bill will close a number of these loopholes and help stop this dangerous surge." Each day the humanitarian, national security, and public health crises on our southern border produced by President Biden's open-borders policies and immigration loopholes continue to worsen, said Senator Cruz. Because President Bidens administration has irresponsibly promised amnesty, thousands of illegal immigrants are being moved across the bordermany of which are unaccompanied childrenby vicious and abusive criminal cartels. As we work to control this border crisis, I am proud to join Senator Lee in introducing this bill to close these loopholes in our immigration system that continue to incentivize human trafficking and illegal immigration. The past few months have demonstrated the costs of immigration surges at the southern border. In the last month, traffickers have allegedly made as much as $14 million a week smuggling men, women and children across the borderand once indebted to the cartels and coyotes, the price they pay is far more costly than money. Reportedly, a third of the people making their way to the border are sexually assaulted, and many are forced into some form of trafficking, said officials. Official said, in addition to empowering the cartels and coyotes, these surges have overwhelmed facilities and the ability to process immigrants in a timely and safe fashion. In recent days, thousands of unaccompanied minors have been held in overcrowded Customs and Border Patrol facilities built to house adults, with no end in sight; and adults have been prematurely released into the community, receiving positive COVID-19 tests only days after their release. The Stopping Border Surges Act includes reforms that would help stem the surges of aliens that the country can neither support nor sustain; strengthen the asylum process; eliminate the incentive to send children on the perilous, solo journey to the border; and dampen the exploitative power of the coyotes and cartels. Click here for the full bill text and one-pager. Ad Fontes Media A brands ability to balance their brand values and business objectives with a tool like Ad Fontes Media's Ad Apex is vitally important for brand safety and for the benefit of all stakeholders." Dan Granger, Oxford Roads founder and CEO. Ad Fontes Media, the media bias intelligence leader and producer of The Media Bias Chart, today announced it has successfully closed its initial fundraising round. In conjunction with the news, Ad Fontes Media also announced the launch of its Ad Apex solution suite. Founded by Colorado-based attorney Vanessa Otero and already in use across top platforms and media companies, the public benefit corporation leveraged equity crowdfunding platform WeFunder to raise a $250,000 seed round. By its January funding close date, Ad Fontes Media had exceeded its goal by 140%, raising over $360,000. Ad Fontes Media attributes its fundraising success to consumer frustration with disinformation and strong market demand for solutions that help everyone better understand the news content delivered and consumed today. Biased and unreliable news is not only bad for consumers; its increasingly toxic and costly to purpose-driven brands, said Otero. Not surprisingly, investments in Ad Fontes Media spiked during the 2020 US Presidential election season and after the events of January 6th. People were driven to action because they connected the dots between disinformation and real-life consequences, and they want solutions. In addition to Ad Fontes Medias fundraising news, the company also announced the general availability of its Ad ApexTM solution suite. Ad Apex is a family of integrated media bias solutions. Ad Fontes Media Ad Apex Automatic News Reliability and Bias Filtering Application is the core of the solution. It allows marketers to access Ad Fontes Medias regularly updated database of thousands of news source ratings so they can use them in media planning. Ad Apex is already in use by major apps, brands, media and media technology companies, including Oxford Road, a leading agency in audio and spoken word media. Ad Apex customers use the media bias intelligence solution suite to drive brand safety for their partners and gain peace of mind. Oxford Roads initial case study showcased the value of Ad Fontes Media. Initially, one of its consumer packaged goods (CPG) clients, a podcast advertiser, found itself in an unexpected and concerning content collision and marketing nightmare after its ads ended up in the spotlight. A highly polarizing news and opinion personality whose podcast they sponsored went off the political rails, causing excessive backlash. Embarrassed and pressured to take action by its customers and employees, something had to be done. To address the challenge, Oxford Road turned on the power of Ad Fontes Ad Apex. Leveraging Ad Fontes Ad Apex, the advertiser now sets thresholds and controls to control where future advertisements run, allowing the brand to prevent such an incident from happening again in the future. Brand leaders are already hyper-aware of the risks of being associated with online content that doesnt align with their purpose, values and audience expectations, said Otero. Consumers increasingly hold brands responsible for the content they sponsor, and such pressure will only continue to grow. But, until now, the ability to ensure online advertisements dont appear next to low-quality and highly polarized and biased online news content and misinformation was time-consuming and expensive, if possible at all. Ad Fontes Ad Apex News Filtering Application is the easy to integrate, intelligent and high-performance solution marketers need now. Reliability in news journalism is a critical ingredient for our democracy and it also provides the best performing content options for marketers to consider. A brands ability to balance their brand values and business objectives with a tool like Ad Fontes Media's Ad Apex is vitally important for brand safety and for the benefit of all stakeholders, said Dan Granger, Oxford Roads founder and CEO. To learn more about Ad Fontes Media and its Ad Apex solution suite visit http://www.AdFontesmedia.com or contact info@adfontesmedia.com About Ad Fontes Media Ad Fontes Media is the media bias intelligence leader and producer of The Media Bias Chart which rates media sources in terms of political bias and reliability. The organization was founded by patent attorney Vanessa Otero with the goal of combating political polarization. In 2021, Ad Fontes Media launched its flagship Ad ApexTM solutions suite, a family of integrated media bias solutions. Ad ApexTM allows Ad Fontes Medias app, brand, media and media technology partners to access its comprehensive news source ratings so they can use them in media planning, in support of their brand purpose and values. https://adfontesmedia.com As coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spreads globally, emerging new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pose a threat to ongoing vaccination efforts. One of these new variants, the United Kingdom variant or the B.1.1.7 variant, has now reached many countries and has contributed to skyrocketing cases. Now, researchers at the University of Exeter, the NHS Foundation Trust, report a significant increase in mortality risk due to the B.1.1.7 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant. Also known as the United Kingdom variant, the B.1.1.7 variant first emerged in September 2020. From there, it has spread to many countries, including the United States. In the study, published in The British Medical Journal (BMJ), the team investigated epidemiological signatures tied to the B.1.1.7 variant, including its reproduction number, presentation, and outcome by S-gene status. The team aimed to establish any change in mortality from infection with the B.1.1.7 variant compared with other circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. Increased mortality To arrive at the study findings, the team estimated the SARS-CoV-2 reproduction number in the United Kingdom by using Public Health England's data in March 2020, contributing to the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modeling subgroup (SPI-M) weekly consensus estimates. When the new variant was reported in December 2020, SPI-M research groups shared data, allowing them to identify the infections. From there, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) used the data to develop estimates of the variant's increased transmissibility. In January 2021, the team showed an analysis showing a worrying rise in deaths associated with the B.1.1.7 variant. In the current study, the researchers wanted to see if there is indeed an increased risk of mortality tied to the new variant. They utilized a matched cohort study method, a method used to estimate vaccine efficacy, which has been applied for the Meningitis B vaccine. In this method, the participants are paired with equivalents, depending on various characteristics. To arrive at the study findings, the team obtained data from 54,906 matched pairs of participants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between October 1, 2020, and January 29, 2021, followed up until February 12, 2021. Once the researchers had decided on a study design, within hours, preliminary estimates showed a significant increase in mortality risk due to the B.1.1.7 variant. They found that the mortality hazard ratio linked to infection with the B.1.1.7 variant was 1.64 compared with infection with previously circulating variants in people with COVID-19 in the community. There is an increase in deaths from 2.5 to 4.1 per 1,000 detected cases in the same group. The researchers' estimates were even higher than that of the LSHTM estimates. The two findings were combined with the forecast and analysis of researchers from the Imperial College, which involved admissions data from Scotland. Further, the team found that the risk of death is elevated by infection with the new variant. They added that the new variant could cause additional mortality compared to previously circulating variants. "Healthcare capacity planning and national and international control policies are all impacted by this finding, with increased mortality lending weight to the argument that further coordinated and stringent measures are justified to reduce deaths from SARS-CoV-2," the researchers noted in the study. The team urged that future work exploring factors like geographical location, time, age, sex, ethnicity, and deprivation is essential to pave the way for better targeting of resource allocation, relaxation of restrictions, and vaccine distribution strategies. Also, they plan to communicate their findings to healthcare decision-makers quickly. The study findings can help health experts decide on proper mitigation measures to prevent the virus's further spread. To date, more than 123.5 million SARS-CoV-2 infections have been recorded worldwide. Of these, 2.72 million people have died, and over 70 million have recovered. The United States reports the highest number of cases, reaching 29.85 million, followed by Brazil with 11.99 million, India with 11.64 million, Russia with 4.41 million, France with 4.35 million, and the United Kingdom with 4.31 million cases. COVID-19 Animation: What Happens If You Get Coronavirus? Play 99.7% survived having old school COVID and 99.6% survived having new variant COVID. https://t.co/vReyHzRhZx Dr Clare Craig (@ClareCraigPath) March 10, 2021 Boulder churches offered resources and encouragement, while gun control activists called for action after a mass shooting at a Colorado grocery store on Monday left 10 people dead. Geoff Patterson, the senior pastor at Boulder Seventh-Day Adventist Church, posted the churchs prayer line on Facebook after the shooting and said the prayer team was standing by and pastors were available to speak. Lord, there is sickness in this world, and this time it has struck in our town, the pastor wrote. Grant us strength in this difficult hour. East Boulder Baptist Church posted on its Facebook page the words of John 16:33, the New Testament verse in which Jesus tells his followers to take heart for He had overcome the world. Source:The Christian Post A 5,000 fine was issued after food contaminated by rodent faeces was discovered in a Belfast warehouse. The operator of an imported food warehouse in Belfast has been fined 5,000 after a string of health offences including food contaminated with rodent faeces. Belfast City Council took the case against Shah Jalal Belfast Limited this week following an inspection of premises at Balmoral Link on March 12, 2019. Among the findings by Environmental Health and Pest Control Officers were food contaminated with rodent faeces and food not stored properly to protect it from pests. Rats were also discovered in rodent traps in the food storage area and premises was reported to be unclean and in a state of disrepair. The food business operator had agreed to voluntarily close the premises on March 19 until the pest issue was resolved. A 0 rating for the premises under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme was issued, meaning urgent improvement was necessary. The premises was allowed to reopen on March 24, 2019, after officers were satisfied sufficient measures had been taken to remove any imminent risk to public health, with the operator also ordered to pay 252 in court and legal costs. More information about the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is available at this location. (Photo : Pexels/ Nataliya Vaitkevich) COVID-19 vaccine AstaZenec In an unusual statement issued on Tuesday, Mar. 23, the United States health officials said that the data released by AstraZeneca on its COVID-19 vaccine might have outdated information. AstraZeneca data The announcement came from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases or NIAID. It came less than a day after the pharmaceutical company said that its vaccine was very effective in the US trial. The NIAID stated that the board of experts reviewed the details from the trial, and it immediately raised concerns about the publicly released information and that it may have given an incomplete view of the efficacy data. Also Read: MIT Researchers Develop Wireless Sensors to Assist Patients Properly Using Insulin Pens and Inhalers According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the NIAID, the announcement may contribute to some of the unnecessary hesitancy around the AstraZeneca vaccine during his interview on Good Morning America. Dr. Fauci said that this is called an unforced error because AstraZeneca is a really good vaccine. If the data is reviewed, the vaccine is good, but it was not completely accurate when it is put into the press release. AstraZeneca's response AstraZeneca said in a statement that the information that it released was based on data that was collected until Feb. 17. The pharmaceutical company stated that it is now analyzing the most recent data, and they will share it with the public within 48 hours. Eric Topol, a clinical trials expert, and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, told The New York Times that usually, disagreements between companies and the independent boards overseeing their trials do not happen in public. Topol stated that he has never seen anything like this. The announcement is the latest in a long line of issues with the AstraZeneca vaccine. The company has not been as transparent with regulators as it should and gave some clinical trial participants in the United Kingdom the wrong dose of its vaccine. European doctors raised safety concerns after some people had unusual clotting disorders after getting the anti-COVID-19 shot from the pharmaceutical company. Experts hoped that the announcement, which included data from the massive and tightly controlled US clinical trial, would help clarify lingering questions about the vaccine and restore some confidence in the shot. If and when AstraZeneca applies for authorization in the United States, it will have to send all of the data from the US clinical trial to the US Food and Drug Administration or FDA. Agency scientists will publicly publish their independent analysis, which will give the experts the chance to review it. The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is already being used in numerous countries around the world. AstraZeneca effectivity AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine showed 79% efficacy against symptomatic disease and 100% efficacy against severe disease and hospitalization in a new clinical trial done in the United States. The findings from the new trial, which included more than 32,000 participants, may boost confidence in the vaccine, which was originally developed by the University of Oxford. The trial showed that the COVID-19 vaccine was well-tolerated and is safe. An independent committee found no risk of thrombosis or events that are characterized by thrombosis among the 21,583 participants who got one dose of the vaccine. Related Article: COVID-19 Vaccine: Moderna Begins Trial on Young Children, Babies to See How it Affects Them This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sieeka Khan 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. She's long been a positive body image advocate who often shares candid images of herself on social media. And Saira Khan was the picture of confidence as she uploaded an Instagram clip of herself switching from PJS to gymgear before her daily walk on Tuesday. The former Loose Women panellist, 50, poked fun at herself by squeezing her 'jelly belly' in her sleepwear as she encouraged fans to 'stop looking at themselves in a negative way'. 'Saggy t*s, wibbly wobbyly jelly belly and love handles' Saira Khan uploaded an Instagram clip of herself switching from PJS to gymgear before her daily walk on Tuesday Posing in her bedroom, the presenter went make-up free as she wore a grey jumper and matching bottoms. The host looked every inch the fitness guru moments later as she slipped into a crop top and matching running tights ahead of her exercise session. In a motivational message, the mother-of-two wrote: 'Saggy t*s, wibbly wobbyly jelly belly, love handles, saggy a**e!! In her element: The former Loose Women panellist, 50, has long been a positive body image advocate who often shares candid images of herself on social media Open: The presenter poked fun at herself by squeezing her 'jelly belly' in her sleepwear as she encouraged fans to 'stop looking at themselves in a negative way' 'Well if thats how you want to see yourself every morning, then you need to change your mindset. You have survived a year of lockdown. Pat yourself on the back and put those saggy bits into an outfit and scream 'yeah b***h! Happy Tuesday and stop looking at yourself in a negative way! Live it right up!' (sic). The TV star recently revealed she 'didn't expect' to receive 'extreme hate' after publicly confirming she's no longer a practising Muslim. Last month, the media personality detailed how she's been forced to report death threats to the police following her announcement. The journalist said she's been faced with 'daily vitriol' in the wake of her decision to step away from her faith, following years of feeling 'guilty, caged and unhappy.' 'Live it right up!' The host looked every inch the fitness guru moments later as she slipped into a crop top and matching running tights ahead of her exercise session Saira also stated she was 'taken aback' by how it had been reported in the media in Pakistan, where her parents are originally from. She wrote in a column: 'I could understand it if I were selling drugs, abusing, grooming, being blasphemous or Islamaphobic, bullying, stealing, being violent or aggressive, but I've done none of those things - so why? 'It has taken me till the age of 50 to find the courage to say it. I'm doing it now for my own wellbeing. I want to be honest and feel free to live my life by my own rules. I have found a huge relief in being honest. 'I've not dared to share these feelings before because the very few Muslim women who have are called sinful and some have even been targeted with death threats.' Advertisement The likes of the Caribbean, Maldives or South Pacific are usually conjured up in the mind's eye during island-retreat daydreams. But there is also an option in Germany for such matters - Wilhelmstein island. It's a haven in the middle of Lake Steinhude, close to Hanover in Lower Saxony, that's popular with tourists for its unique and tranquil location, boutique hotel, pleasant views, fortress museum - and fascinating history. Wilhelmstein island - a man-made island in the middle of Lake Steinhude close to Hanover in Lower Saxony Count Wilhelm of Schaumburg-Lippe, a grandson of George I, hatched a plan to build an artificial island in Lake Steinhude, and the rest is history The island dates back to 1761 when Count Wilhelm of Schaumburg-Lippe, a grandson of George I, launched a 'daring plan' to build an artificial fortress island on Lake Steinhude. It took five years to construct it on stone foundations, along with 16 inter-connected satellite islands used as platforms for cannons and workshops. A star-shaped fortress was created in the middle of Wilhelmstein island along with a military school in 1771 to 'ensure thorough training of the next generation of leaders'. In 1772, what is believed to be Germany's first submarine - the Steinhuder Hecht - was built on the island. A star-shaped fortress, pictured, was created in the middle of Wilhemstein island along with a military school in 1771 to 'ensure thorough training of the next generation of leaders' In 1787 came an attack by Hessian troops, the only time the island had to repel an enemy And in 1787 came an attack by Hessian troops, the only time the island had to repel an enemy. By the end of the 18th century, after the death of Count Wilhelm, the fortress was converted into a state prison. Soon after, the 16 smaller islands surrounding Wilhelmstein were connected to it, forming a landmass measuring 134,548 square feet (12,500 sq m). By 1867, all military personnel and prisoners were moved off the island and it began flourishing as a tourist hotspot an identity it holds to this day. It's possible to reach the island by foot when the lake occasionally freezes over in winter. But in normal times, visitors must board ferries that depart daily from Steinhude and Mardorf. Once there, they can explore the former fortress, which is now a museum. The lake's website explains how the museum's collection includes a model of the Steinhuder Hecht submarine and 'from the tower, you have a beautiful panoramic view over the entire Lake Steinhuder'. It's possible to reach the island by foot when the lake occasionally freezes over in winter. But in normal times, visitors must board ferries that depart daily from Steinhude and Mardorf Germany's first submarine, the Steinhuder Hecht, was built on Wilhelmstein in 1772. The picture here (used courtesy of the Creative Commons licence) shows the model of it that's on display in the island's museum One of the inviting bedrooms at Inselhus hotel on Wilhelmstein. There are no TVs in the bedrooms - but the 360-degree lake panorama is billed as a 'very good substitute' This images shows the breakfast room at Inselhus, which wants to 'bring guests closer to the unique atmosphere of the island' The island's hotel is called Inselhus and offers charming rooms starting from 125 euros (107/$148) a night. Dinner is available in the island restaurant but TV-watching is off the menu. The hotel says: 'We took over the operation on the island in 2019 and would like to bring our guests closer to the unique atmosphere of the island and the Steinhuder Meer nature park and to promote the "slow tourism" trend. That's why we decided against TV sets in the rooms for the time being. We are convinced that the 360-degree lake panorama is a very good substitute. Wi-Fi is available free of charge.' One visitor to the island, 'Oana', said on Tripadvisor that it's a 'fairy-tale place' and urged users to 'visit this corner of heaven'. They added: 'The lake, the views, the feeling you have while watching the sunset... everything is great!' Another reviewer, 'revcole7', described Wilhelmstein as a 'wonderful little fortress'. The verdict of the independent inquiry into Nicola Sturgeons behaviour during the Salmond affair could not be clearer: I am of the opinion that the first minister did not breach the provisions of the ministerial code in respect of any of these matters. The verdict, determined by James Hamilton QC, former attorney general of Ireland, cannot be challenged on the grounds that he is partisan or otherwise unreliable. Unlike the committee of Scottish parliamentarians, with an opposition majority, who narrowly found that Ms Sturgeon had offered inaccurate evidence to them, and thus arguably misled the parliament, the Hamilton judgment is unequivocal, and relates precisely to the terms of the ministerial code. This requires ministers never to knowingly mislead MSPs, and plainly Ms Sturgeon did not. It gets better for Ms Sturgeon. Overplaying their hand, the Scottish Conservatives gambled on a more damning report coming out, and had already tabled a vote of no confidence in the first minister. With the SNP and the Greens backing her she will win that vote, cementing her victory and uniting her own party, at least cosmetically. By the end of the day Ms Sturgeon will be able to say that she has been vindicated by an independent inquiry and has the confidence of parliament, which now goes into recess, ready to launch the SNP campaign for the Holyrood elections on 3 May. Ms Sturgeon will be hoping for a fresh overall majority, a personal vote of confidence from the Scottish electorate, plus a mandate to seek a second independence referendum. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, has warned Americans not to let their guard down too soon against the coronavirus, and still continue to avoid travel A top US health official on Monday warned Americans it was too soon to resume traveling despite progress in the battle against the coronavirus, after data showed the country recorded its highest number of airport check-ins since last year. "Now is not the time to travel," Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told reporters, urging people to keep up with measures to stem the spread of the virus even as the vaccination rate increases. On Sunday, more than 1.5 million passengers were checked in at US airports, a level that had not been reached since March 15, 2020, according to data from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). "Much of the travel, we know, is related to people who are going on spring break," said Walensky. Miami Beach, the Florida city that symbolizes the annual university vacation period, declared an emergency this weekend and imposed a curfew to contain the chaos as thousands descended to party en masse. "We're worried not just for what happens when you are on the airplane itself, but what happens when people travel. That is, they go out; they mix -- they mix with people who are not vaccinated," added Walensky. The rate of US Covid infections has been plateauing at over 50,000 for the past several weeks. Officials suspect new variants like B.1.117, together with states loosening restrictions, have kept the daily case figures in the tens of thousands. At the same time, a quarter of the US population has now received at least one dose of vaccine -- so the vaccine and the virus are essentially locked in a tie. At the time of writing this a Pastor sits in a maximum security jail. No not in Iran, or China, in Canada. His alleged crime holding a church service. He could be out on bail if he agreed to not hold a church service. Based on his conviction of what the Bible says he chose to not accept that condition. The freedom of religion law in Canada as it does in USA and Australia also prevents the government from interfering in churches opening. Once you get over the shock of a pastor in a western nation being in prison for opening his church the details of the case get even more interesting. He started his time with 14 days in isolation due to the jail's covid procedures. The church has been open for months with zero cases. The church continues to hold services and no one else from the church leadership or those attending to date, have been locked up for doing so. Even if he is found guilty of all the offences he is charged with, the maximum penalties is only monetary fines. Zero jail time. So in Canada, Pastor James Coates resides in a maximum security prison among murders and rapists (who are hopefully hearing about a living Jesus that can help them) because he dared open the doors to GraceLife Church in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to those who choose as responsible adults to attend. There are churches in America like John MacArthur's Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California that has been fined for staying open. Pastor Paul Furlong from Christian Revival Church In Narre Warren a suburb of Melbourne, Australia held true to his faith (Hebrews), and the constitution and held service when the government told him not to. The question I keep asking myself, as I have of you in previous articles, is why are these stories the exception rather than the rule? Why arent the jails full of church leaders? Im not claiming those that have closed their doors have denied their faith but I am stating if I was in the leadership of a church the doors would have never closed both from a faith standpoint and a constitutional standpoint. A charge/fine is only an accusation. You only admit guilt by pleading guilty in a court of law or by paying the fine. I can appreciate some of the smaller churches may not have wanted to face those consequences but Im left dumbfounded as to why the larger denominations havent done more to challenge the ludicrous government restrictions, with all the resources they have. Church online may be a wonderful option if you cant attend in person for whatever reason but when it is the only option it nullifies a lot of the reasons and benefits of gathering in person. I attended an in person service this morning and all the discussions that happened afterward would not have happened if it was an online service. The lack of those connections and conversations as well as other lockdown measures have contributed to the rise in people struggling with life. Thus increasing the critical need for churches to remain open. Being a Victorian I have even more issues with our current government than church closures. As this recent summary of Dan Andrews political career by the ACL highlights. Back to the Canadian Pastor and the best coverage, I have found about his developing story is via Rebel News. Are you willing to go to jail for your faith? The term industrial strategy has a turbulent history. After being embraced in the United Kingdom by the Labour governments of the 1960s and 1970s, it was rejected by Margaret Thatcher and subsequent prime ministers on the (dubious) grounds that government is inherently wasteful and inefficient. Although industrial strategy was partly rehabilitated by the Labour Party in 2009, and then again during David Camerons Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government, it took Theresa Mays Conservative cabinet to bring it back fully. In 2016, May established the UK Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, which then published the UKs first Industrial Strategy in decades. To its credit, the strategy called for more funding for science, skill formation, and other productivity-boosting investment, with an emphasis on sectors that are key to future competitiveness. For the first time, such a strategy also explicitly targeted wider societal grand challenges, which the UCL Commission for Mission-Oriented Innovation and Industrial Strategy (MOIIS) advised the government on how to implement. Unfortunately, the UKs return to industrial strategy was short-lived. This month, the Treasury replaced the May governments strategy with a new blueprint, Build Back Better: Our Plan for Growth, arguing that much has changed since 2017. By this, the government is referring to the UKs 2050 carbon-neutrality target and plans to level up the regions. And yet, neither of those goals is incompatible with the previous industrial strategy, which included clean growth among its four grand challenges, and paid special attention to place. The 2017 strategy is as timely as ever, so one must assume that it was scrapped simply because the current government did not conceive it. The costs of such pettiness will soon become clear. The UK urgently needs a dynamic, entrepreneurial mission-setting state to confront the triple crisis of Covid-19, rising inequality, and climate change. The UKs success in developing a vaccine is itself an example of what can be achieved with an industrial strategy. The Oxford- vaccine did not fall out of the sky. It was the result of patient investments made over many years (if not decades) in blue-sky research across a number of areas. Successful industrial strategies also require sources of patient finance, which the UK desperately lacks. Previous attempts to create public investment banks in the UK have met with only limited success. The Green Investment Bank was foolishly privatised in 2017, and the British Business Bank has never been given the mandate or financial firepower it needs. It remains to be seen if the governments new UK Infrastructure Bank will be different; but early indications are not promising. The Johnson governments decision to scrap the Industrial Strategy Council a move widely criticised even by business leaders is an even more damaging act of self-sabotage. Led by the Bank of Englands chief economist, Andy Haldane, the ISC brought together key stakeholders to ensure that the 2017 industrial strategy was meeting its objectives. In its inaugural annual report last year, the Council emphasised that successful industrial strategies typically take a lengthy period to have a significant and durable impact on the economy. That is why we at MOIIS recommended that the ISC be put on a permanent statutory footing to ensure that it would outlast the government that created it. Any economic strategy, regardless of whether it is called an industrial strategy, will need an institutional framework within government to oversee implementation across departments. And no government can achieve a goal as complex as carbon-neutrality without mechanisms for eliciting and coordinating the participation of business, academia, and civil society. The Johnson governments new plan appears to be a restatement of the challenges outlined in Mays industrial strategy, but with a less thorough framework for policy responses. Gone are the grand challenges and sector deals; all we get are the same old graphs showing stagnant productivity and frozen real (inflation-adjusted) median incomes. While the plan does offer some clarity about the governments vision of levelling up, the question of how that will be achieved remains murky. The plan acknowledges that the UK has weaker business investment [than other advanced economies], yet proposes few solutions. But the Plan for Growth does get one thing right: Not all growth is created equal. Growth is about the direction of the economys expansion, not just the rate. In the UKs case, economic growth continues to be consumption-led, with private debt reaching new heights while public- and private-sector investment sinks to some of the lowest levels in the developed world. To show any promise at all, the governments plan needs to steer the economy in a more inclusive and sustainable direction. The key lesson from the Covid-19 pandemic is that government and industry need to work together to tackle the challenges of the twenty-first century. A state that leaves the market to its own devices will never create the political economy we need. Unless the Johnson government offers more than the Plan for Growth, the UKs economic problems will remain unsolved. The Mountain View School Division shut down Winnipegosis Collegiate on Tuesday after a member of the school community tested positive for COVID-19. Advertisement Advertise With Us The Mountain View School Division shut down Winnipegosis Collegiate on Tuesday after a member of the school community tested positive for COVID-19. According to a Monday news release from MVSD, the high schools closure was done "out of an abundance of caution" and that courses were being offered remotely where possible. "School administration will work closely with Public Health officials and follow their recommendations," the statement read. A Tuesday notice from Manitoba Public Health revealed that members of a Grade 9 classroom and bus might have been exposed to this individual throughout March 16-17. MVSD superintendent Dan Ward also told the Sun over the phone that Winnipegosis Collegiate students will return to in-person classes on Wednesday. The community of Winnipegosis is located roughly 60 kilometres north of Dauphin. This update marks the second official COVID case that MVSD has had to endure within the past week. On March 15, the division put out a notice that a member of Roblin Elementary School had also tested positive for the virus. A follow-up notice from Manitoba Public Health clarified that the individual in question may have been infectious in the school throughout March 9 to March 11 and may have come into contact with a Grade 1-2 classroom, a Grade 3-4 cohort and a Grade 5 -6 classroom. "Close contacts have been identified and are advised to self-isolate along with their household members," the provinces statement read. In nearby Russell, Park West School Division officials are also grappling with three new COVID cases at Major Pratt School within the last two weeks, according to the provinces COVID-19 tracking map. Public Health officials notified the school on Sunday that at least one individual may have been infectious throughout March 16-17. A Major Pratt parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, later told the Sun that this case is connected to a Grade 3 class since their child was identified as a close contact. The same parent said that notices identifying the remaining two cases havent been circulated to the public, since the province isnt required to send notification letters for all cases associated with schools. Overall, the provinces COVID-19 dashboard for Manitoba schools identifies 76 current cases as of Tuesday afternoon. This crop of cases includes one at Rivers Elementary and another in Meadows School in Brandon, according to the provinces COVID-tracker map. However, the recent case at Winnipegosis Collegiate has yet to make an appearance on this map as of Tuesday afternoon. Since the beginning of the school year, the province has tallied 2,393 total COVID cases in Manitoba schools, with 1,834 of those cases (76.6 per cent) being students. kdarbyson@brandonsun.com Twitter: @KyleDarbyson Teguchigalpa, March 23 : An indigenous environmental activist has been killed in Honduras, according to police and media reports. Carlos Cerros, a representative of the indigenous Lenca people, was shot dead in the street near the city of San Antonio in Cortes department in the north-west of the country, dpa news agency quoted the La Prensa news paper as saying. The 41-year-old was reportedly gunned down Monday night in front of his children. A suspect has been arrested, the National Police said in a tweet on Tuesday. The motive for the killing remains unclear. Cerros was president of a local advocacy group, United Communities, and had campaigned against a hydroelectric power station in the region. "We condemn the shameful murder of our comrade in arms," United Communities wrote on its Facebook page, demanding justice and security for the slain activist's family. There have been repeated murders of environmentalists in Honduras. Five years ago, Berta Caceres, a prominent activist and founder of the indigenous organization COPINH, was murdered in her home. She also fought for the rights of the Lenca indigenous people and against the construction of the Agua Zarca hydropower plant. Seven perpetrators were sentenced to up to 50 years in prison, including contract killers, soldiers and employees of the construction company. (Newser) Police in Boulder have identified the suspected gunman in Monday's mass shooting, though they're still not speculating about a motive. The alleged shooter at the King Soopers supermarket is 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa from nearby Arvada, Colo., report the Washington Post and the Denver Post. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty says Alissa, who's been charged with 10 counts of murder, has lived most of his life in the US. Police say the victimsincluding a police officer with seven childrenrange in age from 20 to 65. More: Victims: In addition to officer Eric Talley, 51, the victims are Denny Strong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jody Waters, 65. In addition to officer Eric Talley, 51, the victims are Denny Strong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jody Waters, 65. What happened: In Tuesday's briefing, Police Chief Maris Herold says officers were dispatched to the supermarket about 2:40pm. "They arrived on the scene within minutes and immediately entered the store and engaged the suspect," she says, per CNN. "There was an exchange of gunfire. The suspect was shot and a number of other officers were injured." The suspect was hit in the leg and hospitalized but is expected to be transferred to the county jail soon. In Tuesday's briefing, Police Chief Maris Herold says officers were dispatched to the supermarket about 2:40pm. "They arrived on the scene within minutes and immediately entered the store and engaged the suspect," she says, per CNN. "There was an exchange of gunfire. The suspect was shot and a number of other officers were injured." The suspect was hit in the leg and hospitalized but is expected to be transferred to the county jail soon. Safe: The FBI is assisting in the investigation and says the inquiry into the shooter's motive is "ongoing." But Special Agent Michael Schneider added that the "community is safe." story continues below Weapon: Police haven't yet publicly identified the weapon used, but the AP and other outlets are reporting that it was an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. Police haven't yet publicly identified the weapon used, but the AP and other outlets are reporting that it was an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. Timing: The shooting comes about a week after a judge blocked the city from enforcing a ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, reports the Denver Post. In fact, the Week notes that the NRA celebrated the ruling in a tweet on March 16. The shooting comes about a week after a judge blocked the city from enforcing a ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, reports the Denver Post. In fact, the Week notes that the NRA celebrated the ruling in a tweet on March 16. Debate: "It's so tragic to see the legislation struck down, and days later, to have our city experience exactly what we were trying to prevent," the co-founder of the gun-control group Blue Rising tells the Washington Post. But the Colorado State Shooting Association warns against "emotional sensationalism" in the immediate aftermath of the shooting: "There will be a time for the debate on gun laws. There will be a time for the discussion on motives. There will be a time for a conversation on how this could have been prevented. But today is not the time." (Read more Boulder shooting stories.) Firefighters work at a site of a fire that broke out at Evergreen Nursing Home in Spring Valley, N.Y., on March 23, 2021. (Screenshot/Benny Polatseck via Reuters) Massive New York Nursing Home Fire Leaves 1 Dead, Firefighter Missing A large fire broke out at a New York nursing home on Tuesday, leaving at least one person dead and forcing numerous residents to flee, officials said. The blaze at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults on Lafayette Street in Spring Valley, in Rockland County, erupted at 1 a.m. local time, officials told CBS New York. Fire officials said that between 100 and 125 people lived in the building, adding that 20 to 30 people had to be rescued. One resident died after being taken to the hospital, authorities added, saying that several other people are in serious condition. Two firefighters were hurt in the incident. Weve got to start pulling it back, and peeling it layer by layer, and hopefully hell be recovered, Rockland County fire and emergency director Chris Kea said, as reported by WNBC. He said an excavator was brought in to assist with debris removal. Crews, meanwhile, are searching for a missing firefighter. Firefighters work at a site of a fire that broke out at Evergreen Nursing Home in Spring Valley, N.Y., on March 23, 2021. (Screenshot/Benny Polatseck via Reuters) There is always hope. He was a member of the Spring Valley Fire Department and he was one of the first on the scene, said Kear to Fox5. According to video footage of the blaze, several parts of the building appeared to collapse. Firefighters extinguish a fire that broke out at Evergreen Nursing Home in Spring Valley, N.Y., on March 23, 2021. (Screenshot/Benny Polatseck via Reuters) There [were] plenty of Good Samaritans out here, probably eight of them, that literately ran into the building and [brought] them out in their wheelchairs, walkers, or literately picking them up and physically removing them out of the danger, witness Hershy Green told the CBS affiliate. Then watching their facility, their home going down in flames was something really traumatic, Green added. They are safe and out of harms way, another witness, Benny Polatseck, wrote on Twitter. He wrote that the seniors were taken to the Golden Acre Rest Home, which is nearby The cause of the fire has not been announced yet. Other details about the incident were not provided. New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Tuesday (March 23, 2021) saw an ambulance during a packed roadshow in the poll-bound West Bengal and asked the public to make way for it to pass. Nadda, who was earlier in Assam to release BJP's manifesto, was campaigning for the saffron party in West Midnapore. Watch: BJP national president JP Nadda asks to make way for an ambulance amid a packed roadshow in West Midnapore, West Bengal#WestBengalElections2021 pic.twitter.com/dmNPj451E3 ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2021 During the election rally, he asserted that the people of West Bengal have decided to vote for his party, which is all set to put an end to the TMC's 'politics of extortion'. "We will put an end to the politics of extortion practised by the TMC, break the bua-bhatija (Mamata and nephew Abhishek Banerjee) nexus, end the syndicate raj and save Bengali culture. The BJP will build 'Sonar Bangla' by ushering in 'asol paribartan' (real change) in the state," Nadda said. The polls to the 294-assembly seats will take place in eight phases between March 27 and April 29, for which, the votes will be counted on May 2. WASHINGTON, D.C. - Members of the U.S. Senate including Ohios Rob Portman on Tuesday queried the acting director of the U.S. Census Bureau over a coronavirus-related delay in releasing Census data used to redraw congressional districts. A six-month delay in providing the data to states is creating headaches for states. Acting Director Ron S. Jarmin told the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee the data will be sent to states no later than Sept. 30, and it would be able to provide less user-friendly data in August. He said difficulties collecting data during the pandemic stalled the release schedule so the Census could be conducted safely and the information could be processed properly. Portman told Jarmin that Ohio is among a group of states that are constitutionally required to redraw their congressional districts on a time frame that will be unachievable if the data arrives in September instead of its usual March release date. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sued the Census Bureau last month in an effort to force an earlier release. The Census Bureau responded to the lawsuit by saying it would be impossible, under any scenario to provide the state with usable data by March 31, as Yost requested. An initial deadline for redrawing congressional maps under the Ohio Constitution falls on Sept. 30, while a different initial deadline for redrawing state legislative maps falls on Sept. 1. States use the census data to draw their state legislative and congressional maps, which are designed to contain equal numbers of people, and which must follow rules and legal standards meant to ensure fair maps. This is really putting us back and causing tremendous problems, Portman said of the delay. Portman asked Jarmin if it would be possible to provide redistricting data to states on a rolling basis, so states with early deadlines can redraw their districts on time. Jarmin told him that prioritizing a small number of states would actually increase the amount of time it would take us to get the data out. The fastest way that we can deliver the data to the states is to produce it all at once, said Jarmin. Were trying to optimize and get it out as quickly as possible. Portman also asked why a tranche of data thats used to apportion the number of congressional seats between states will be delayed by four months, while the data that states use to set their internal congressional district boundaries will be delayed by six months. Jarmin told him that putting all hands on deck to produce the apportionment data as soon as possible set back work on the redistricting data. Were trying to make sure that we have this all right, and make sure that the timeline that weve specified is one that we can meet, said Jarmin, who said he hopes to release the data before Sept. 30. He told Portman that providing extra money to hire more staff wouldnt speed things up because it would require the experts needed to review data to instead spend their time training new personnel. Increasing that staff right now would actually slow us down, said Jarmin. That seems nonsensical to me, to be frank with you, that you cant find some way to bolster your expertise between now and August, Portman replied. Jarmin said the Census Bureau is already looking for every way that we can speed this up and will continue to do so. Read more: White House reveals details of President Bidens trip to Columbus Marcia Fudges White House discussion of Ohio politics may have violated the Hatch Act: report HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge touts American Rescue Plan at White House press conference Biden to visit Ohio next week, Sen. Sherrod Brown says Ohios U.S. Senators concerned about reports that Ford will send new work to Mexico instead of Avon Lake University study deems Jim Jordan ineffective at passing legislation, says other Ohioans get better results Earmarks that let Congress members direct money to local projects will resume over objections from some Ohio Republicans House votes to expand gun background checks over objections from Ohios Jim Jordan Senate confirms Rep. Marcia Fudge as President Bidens Housing and Urban Development Secretary Rep. Jim Jordan climbs aboard Free Britney Spears bandwagon, questions conservatorships Jim Jordans campaign faces questions over accounting discrepancies that exceed $100K Sen. Rob Portman was a guinea pig for the new Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine A father and his two children were hospitalized on Sunday after their ski lift chair detached and they plummeted 15 feet to the ground at a resort in Pennsylvania. The family were aboard the Sullivan Lift at Pocono's Camelback Mountain Resort when the ski lift detached sending them crashing to the ground. Photos from the scene posted to social media show the lift on the ground surrounded by ski gear and first responders. The injured family were taken by ambulance to St. Lukes University Health Network. Officials have not released their names or revealed the extent of their injuries. But Liftblog, a local dispatch log, noted a call at 3:39 p.m. for a 40- year-old with a back and hip injury, a 12-year-old male with an arm injury and a 9-year-old female with an abdomen injury. Pocono Township Police Chief Kent Werkheiser told NJ.com that the family were near the top of the mountain and the chair fell around 15 feet when it detached. Photos from the scene posted to social media show the lift on the ground surrounded by ski gear A witness said ski patrol responded to the scene of the ski lift incident immediately In a statement, Camelback Resort said they were working with authorities to investigate the incident In a statement released on Instagram, Camelback said they were 'devastated by the weekend's events on the Sullivan Lift and our hearts go out the the family involved,' Camelback said that the Sullivan Lift will remain closed and that they are conducting a thorough investigation. Witness Douglas Mackie, who was two lifts behind the family at the time of the incident, told Good Morning America that he was supposed to be on the faulty lift but he let the father and his children cut in front of him. Mackie said as they were going up the lift line his lift stopped abruptly and began swinging hard. He noted that the lift with the father and children ahead of him was swinging even harder. He explained: 'The lift did a hard stop. It went up and then straight down.' Mackie said the father reached his arms across his children protectively. He said: 'He just reached out to grab his kids. The next thing I knew they were falling. I heard sounds of these kids screaming. It was bad.' The lift involved in the incident is reportedly a 1995 Doppelmayr detachable quad with DS series grips On Monday, Camelback Resort posted a statement to Instagram stating they are 'devastated' by the incident Speaking to WFMZ, Mackie said he heard a 'pop' and 'click' sound before the lift fell straight to the ground and he could hear the screams of the children aboard. 'I came down that mountain it was the longest ride. 'I can't stop seeing that. I just hear the kids. I'm never going to forget what I heard,' Mackie said ski patrol responded to the scene of the incident immediately. The lift involved is a 1995 Doppelmayr detachable quad with DS series grips, Liftblog reports. The National Ski Areas Association told Good Morning America that a chair falling off a ski lift cable is rare, but has happened before. A pending merger between two of North Americas largest rail companies, one of which helped establish the city of Port Arthur, could hold changes for local industries. Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) announced a proposal Monday for CP to acquire KCS in a $29 billion merger, creating the first rail network between the U.S., Mexico and Canada, if approved by regulators. The network would connect key hubs in Canada directly to ports in the U.S. Gulf Coast and Mexico through the KCS line that runs from Kansas City, Missouri, through Beaumont and west to the border. KCS has long prided itself in being the most customer-friendly transportation provider in North America, said KCS President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick J. Ottensmeyer. In combining with CP, customers will have access to new, single-line transportation services that will provide them with the best value for their transportation dollar and a strong competitive alternative to the larger Class 1s. Our companies cultures are aligned and rooted in the highest safety, service and performance standards. KCSs lines connecting vital refining and shipping hubs across the Gulf Coast to the rest of the continent has meant a long working relationship between the rail company and the communities on its tracks, but it also has a part in Port Arthurs origin story. The community previously known as Aurora, Texas, was the site KCS founder Arthur Stilwell chose as his dream city at the end of the line connecting the countrys north and south. The city eventually grew to a destination for both shippers and vacationers, leaving it well positioned for when oil was discovered in Beaumont about three years after Stilwell founded a port in Port Arthur in 1899. The merger may eventually obscure the legacy of the company that helped create Port Arthur, but some local experts suggest it will also hold some changes for the city and the rest of Southeast Texas. Larry Kelley, executive director and CEO of the Port of Port Arthur, said that anyone who has been in the logistics industry long enough has seen how mergers can create new opportunities as rail networks grow or change, and he expects the same for Southeast Texas in a big way. Greater access to and from Canada could open the door to new clients looking for tenant space or a good partner on the Gulf, but it also has the potential to expand existing industries. The direct route to our community will stay relatively the same for most of our clients, but there will be new opportunities for partnerships in the long term allowing us to meet new markets and take advantage of greater access, Kelley told the Enterprise. Related: Company plans $150 million terminal for Canadian crude Companies have been trying to find cheaper and more direct ways to get heavy Canadian crude to refineries such as the massive complexes in Port Arthur, especially as a glut of production has made Canadian crude more expensive at times to ship than it was worth. That race to connect the north to the south has generated recent investments in Southeast Texas, such as the new 320-acre terminal near Motiva Enterprises in Port Arthur developed by Houston-based US Development Group. The project is being developed through USD Groups Port Arthur Terminal company, and it is expected to create more than 40 permanent jobs, according to the company. It also could generate more than 1,200 direct and indirect construction jobs by the time of its expected completion in the second quarter of next year. Kelley said the proposed merger could add fuel to already interested investors in the region, and perhaps spur the area into an even bigger role for crude exports. Rail analysts have also been expecting the CP-KCS merger to hold big wins for industry, namely grain producers and the petrochemical industry. Todd Tranausky, vice president of rail and intermodal at FTR Transportation Intelligence, told Trains Magazine that a new continental network would specifically mean benefits for companies seeking the best way to send their feedstocks to the Gulf Coast. From a chemical/petroleum perspective, Canadian crude and other petroleum products will no longer have to interchange in Chicago or Kansas City and would be able to move directly to the U.S. Gulf Coast, which would represent a significant efficiency for those shippers, particularly as pipeline projects face additional uncertainty, Tranausky told Trains Magazine. KCS was previously one of only two Class I railroads still operating in the U.S. that wasnt a product of a merger. The other is the Union Pacific. The new entity after the merger is still expected to be the smallest Class I railroad by revenue, even with its expanded logistical options and rail capacity, and could operate around 20,000 miles of rail with close to 20,000 people. Plenty of time and regulatory steps remain before Port Arthur could see newly badged trains appearing near its docks, which Kelley said will still be determined by one of the key rules of the logistics business. Clients are still looking for the cheapest labor dollar and the quickest ways to get their shipments to the water, Kelley said. The Port of Port Arthur has advantages in both cases, which should help us out in the future. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 00:11:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JUBA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan said Tuesday it's developing an early warning system aimed at monitoring and mitigating disasters following devastating floods since 2019 that have displaced thousands. Peter Mayen Majongdit, minister for humanitarian affairs and disaster said they have dispatched a disaster management team on the ground to collect, compile and update existing information to help enhance capacity to respond to floods and other disasters. "We have a national disaster management team that is already in the field and we are also building an early warning system to deter disaster, whether it be health, man-made or natural disaster," he told journalists in Juba on Tuesday. Mayen disclosed that they are working closely with development partners to develop the early warning system ahead of the upcoming rainy season starting in April. An estimated 1.04 million people have been affected by floods in South Sudan from July 2019 until 2020. The worst affected populations were in Jonglei state and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in March launched an appeal, seeking 1.7 billion U.S. dollars to address the humanitarian needs of 6.6 million people this year. "We are mobilizing resources and materials to respond to disaster but the most important thing is developing an early warning system whereby communities will be warned of upcoming disaster," said Mayen. He advised farmers to heed instructions from the early warning system before planting crops. "The farmers who are preparing their land should wait for instructions from the early warning system. It will help to tell them where their crops will be safe and the areas that will definitely be affected by floods," disclosed Mayen. Enditem New Delhi, March 24 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against five people in connection with its probe in the Manipur state council at London case. An NIA spokesperson here said that the agency has named Narengbam Samarjit Singh, Yambem Biren, Narengbam Biswajit Singh, Elangbam Brojendro Singh and Akoijam Deepa Anand under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) before a NIA Special Court in Imphal. The official said that the during investigation it was found that Narengbam Samarjit Singh was the Chairman and Managing Director of Salai Group of Companies and SMART Society. "He along with his associates Elangbam Brojendro Singh and Akoijam Deepa Anand had illegally collected huge amounts of money and cheated the public by taking deposits from the public by offering 36 per cent annual returns on the deposits made to the Salai Group of Companies/SMART Society without any legal authority," the official said. The official said that these illegally funds were laundered by Narengbam Samarjit Singh and his associates through various companies of the Salai Group of Companies/SMART Society. "The illegitimate funds were further utilised for unlawful activities like declaration of independence of Manipur from the Union of India and the formation of Manipur State Council at London and also for funding the Army of the Manipur State Council," the official said. A case was registered by the Manipur Police on October 30, 2019, pertaining to the declaration of independence of Manipur from the Union of India and formation of Manipur State Council at London on OCtober 29, 2019 by the self styled External Affairs and Defence Minister of so called Manipur State Council Narengbam Samarjit Singh and self styled Chief Minister of Manipur State Council Yambem Biren. Automotive E-Commerce Company Announces Public Relations Agency Partnership to Launch New Site, AutoParts4Less.com, in Summer 2021 Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - The 4Less Group, Inc. (OTCQB: FLES), today announced their partnership with Interdependence Public Relations ahead of the summer 2021 launch of AutoParts4Less.com. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6692/78276_e170bae1745b9af7_001full.jpg "E-commerce is the future for the automotive parts industry," says Christopher Davenport, President and CEO of Auto Parts 4Less, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of The 4Less Group, Inc. "By partnering with a top-tier, results-oriented public relations agency like Interdependence Public Relations, our goal is to raise brand awareness for AutoParts4Less.com, our new, automotive parts-exclusive e-commerce platform that is based on the highly successful LiftKits4Less.com platform." "Chris' expertise in creating successful and exceptional e-commerce platforms and his thought leadership in the automotive parts industry overall are more important than ever for an industry that is experiencing rapid online growth and disruption," says Michael Rinaldo, President of Interdependence Public Relations. "With the help of our proprietary technology, interviewed, the most advanced predictive analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) technology in public relations, Interdependence PR is committed to leading the public relations strategy for a successful public launch of AutoParts4Less.com." To learn more about The 4Less Group, Inc. please visit www.the4lessgroup.com. To learn more about Interdependence Public Relations, please visit www.Interdependence.com. About The 4Less Group, Inc. Building off the knowledge and continued success of their present e-commerce website, www.liftkits4less.com, that targets aftermarket automotive parts for Jeeps, Trucks and SUV vehicles, The 4Less Group, Inc. (www.the4lessgroup.com ) is now focused on launching what they believe to be one of the world's first automotive parts only multi-vendor marketplace under the URL AutoParts4Less.com. The projected MVP site launch will begin in early Summer 2021. About Interdependence Public Relations Established in 2012, Interdependence is a full-service digital PR, investor relations and media communications firm supercharged by the most advanced technology ever in public relations to maximize consistent media placements in prestigious media and industry outlets. It is an experience that stands apart. We power constant media placements for some of the most notable companies in the world from leading Silicon Valley venture backed startups to firms with billions of dollars in annual revenues. Our team consists of former journalists and veteran public relations experts. Our strong relationships with journalist and editors across the board at national, global and industry trade publications give us an unrivaled presence and a competitive edge when it comes to strengthening our clients' brands and reputations. CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including information about management's view of the Company's future expectations, plans and prospects. In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words "believes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," or "may," and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any statements made in this news release other than those of historical fact, about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Factors that could cause results to differ include but are not limited to, successful performance of internal plans, product or services development and acceptance, the impact of competitive services and pricing, or general economic risks and uncertainties. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof. The Company takes no obligation to update or correct (i) its own forward-looking statements, except as required by law, or (ii) those prepared by third parties that are not paid for by the Company. For more information, contact: Email: PR@The4LessCorp.com Investor Relations: James S. Painter III Emerging Markets Consulting, LLC. Jamespainter@emergingmarketsllc.com 321-206-6682 Media Contacts: Tyler Bryant Interdependence Public Relations tbryant@interdependence.com 813-951-4169 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78276 While China and the United States are locked in an increasingly fierce rivalry, their growing competition will reflect differently across the countries of Eurasia, where those world powers share a separate strategic approach compared to other parts of the world. The frayed ties between Beijing and Washington were on display in Alaska on March 18-19 as top U.S. and Chinese officials met for two days of talks that produced a public spat and showed no hope on the horizon for improved relations. The first high-level, in-person talks between the world's two largest economies since U.S. President Joe Biden took office began with sharp criticism by each side in opening remarks before the international media. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was joined by national-security adviser Jake Sullivan, issued a litany of complaints against Chinese actions, including an increasingly militant posture toward Taiwan, its internment of Muslim minorities in its western Xinjiang Province, a brutal crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong, and the economic coercion of Australia. Yang Jiechi, a Politburo member and Chinese leader Xi Jinpings most senior envoy, who represented Beijing in Alaska along with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, said the United States had a Cold War mentality and was trying to incite countries to attack China. He also leveled sharp criticism against U.S. officials for what he called race problems. The fiery diplomatic episode laid bare the harsh stances Beijing and Washington have developed for one another and sent a message to other countries already navigating tensions between the world powers that they should prepare for an even more challenging environment in the coming years. For the diverse countries of Eurasia -- stretching from Eastern Europe into Central and South Asia -- that calculus could be different. While the area is home to an expanding Chinese economic and political footprint that many analysts believe will attract more attention and pushback from Washington in the future, the bulk of the growing friction between the two countries is focused on issues closer to Chinas east -- such as the South China Sea and growing tensions with Taiwan. Eurasia is not at the center of the U.S.-China competition, Daniel Markey, a professor at Johns Hopkins University and a former State Department official focused on South Asia, told RFE/RL. That doesnt mean it wont be an important region to watch, but the sharpest competition is playing out closer to Chinas eastern shores, not its western backyard. Eastern Shores Vs. 'Western Backyard' To further highlight this focus, U.S. officials met with allies in Japan and South Korea in the run-up to the meeting in Alaska to reaffirm their ties and better coordinate on China matters, which both Tokyo and Seoul view as a top security issue. At the meeting, Beijing took up a broad agenda that showcased the Chinese leaderships increasing confidence around the world. Chinas economy has withstood a trade war with President Donald Trump's administration and has rebounded strongly from financial headwinds brought by the pandemic. This assurance is in part due to Chinas expanded presence over the last decade across Eurasia that has mostly come in the form of Beijings multibillion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has funded infrastructure projects across the broad region as a means to grow its political and economic sway. The growing gravity through BRI-linked projects has made Eurasia into a geopolitical laboratory, with China becoming a leading development financier as state-owned Chinese banks backed costly building projects in risky markets -- expanding Beijing's influence and creating new opportunities for its companies as it invests in strategic locations like Pakistans Gwadar Port, rail links across Central Asia, and Irans vast but troubled oil sector. What Beijing is doing across Eurasia is significant and will be consequential if it can accomplish its goals, but thats no easy feat, said Markey. While East Asia is still a region characterized by an American military presence and a constellation of U.S. allies, Eurasia is a complicated patchwork of countries that present a far less hostile policy environment for Beijing. This is partially what motivated Chinas westward expansion across the region in the form of the BRI: receptive governments eager for Chinese capital and a vast area where the United States has closed military bases and has drawn down its presence in Afghanistan. There has been a desire for China to avoid too much open confrontation with the West, which informs why Chinese strategies have pursued opportunities across Eurasia, Edward Lemon, an expert on Central Asia at Texas A&M University, told RFE/RL. China will continue to grow its role in the region, especially as the [United States] continues to pull out of Afghanistan. Eurasian Interests American involvement, on the other hand, is far more disparate. While Iran is a top issue for the Biden administration, regions such as Central Asia are not a policy priority for Washington. American interest and involvement in Central Asia have waxed and waned since the collapse of the Soviet Union, intensifying in the aftermath of the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and ensuing anti-terrorism military campaigns. The region has once again received more attention as Washington increasingly views China and Russia as its two main rivals on the global stage, but Washington doesnt look ready to compete with Beijings deep pockets and is unlikely to match Moscows commitment to engagement. Locked Up In China: The Plight Of Xinjiang's Muslims Radio Free Radio/Radio Liberty is partnering with its sister organization, Radio Free Asia, to highlight the plight of Muslims living in China's western province of Xinjiang. One issue that could receive more attention amid growing tensions between Beijing and Washington is Xinjiang, where the Chinese government has reportedly imprisoned more than 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in internment camps. The United States and other Western nations have become increasingly vocal about the camps, with the European Union agreeing on March 22 to sanction Chinese officials because of Beijing's actions in Xinjiang. In recent years, Beijing has built up its surveillance capabilities in its western region, which shares a border with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and begun a brutal crackdown on the Turkic Muslim minorities. The brunt of these efforts have focused on Chinas Uyghur population, but Kazakhs and Kyrgyz have also found their way into the camps, which have damaged Chinas image in the wider region. In February 2020, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo focused his attention on China's presence in Central Asia during a trip to the region, raising concerns about corruption, unsustainable debt, and abuses in Xinjiang. The harsh anti-China focus reportedly unsettled local governments who seek to avoid getting caught in the spats of larger powers and instead have aimed to use Washingtons more distant presence to help offset Beijing and Moscows substantial weight. "Central Asia is not a battleground for the U.S.-China rivalry, but its not going to be easy [for it to not be involved] given that relations are so poor and competition [between the United States and China] is growing," said Nargis Kassenova, a senior fellow at Harvard who focuses on China's role in the region. But despite the deepening rivalry between Beijing and Washington and a more difficult policy climate, neither side has much interest in changing their traditional approaches to Central Asia and beyond. According to Kassenova, handling the growing pressures of the superpower conflict will be increasingly hard for small countries as they must also deal with Russia, which is growing closer to China as ties between Moscow and Washington reach historic lows. Still, she says, the major external players have little interest in turning Central Asia or its neighbors into a new area of conflict with others simmering around the globe. There's always been an appreciation for local sensitivities, and it is likely to remain this way," she said. Chennai, March 23 : With the April 6 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections fast approaching, candidates from various parties are trying to impress voters by unique methods. While DMK candidate from Virugambakam constituency, Prabakar Raja, showed his cooking prowess by whipping up dosas publicly in the constituency, AIADMK leader Thanga Kathiravan, who is contesting from Nagapattanam, tried to impress voters by washing clothes. Kathiravan also promised to provide washing machines to each family once he is elected. Talking to IANS, Raja said: "Cooking has always been my passion and when I saw dosas being cooked, I wanted to have a try. Nothing more than that. Cooking has always been my first love and people also liked the manner in which I was cooking dosas publicly." Tamil Nadu politics have always been dramatic with theatrics freely indulged in by candidates. Political parties have always encouraged a "freebie" culture in the state and parties compete with each other to provide the best consumer goods for the voters. A priest who served the Kiltoghert parish in Leitrim and Cavan priest, Fr PJ Hughes, who was fined after he breached Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions has vowed to continue saying mass. In a piece published in the Mullahoran and Loughduff Parish newsletter last weekend, which was later shared on the parish Facebook page, Fr Hughes said 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 go to the church in case we catch the virus. This has turned people against each other, he said. 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 God's mercy and be drawn to him rather than be obsessed by regulations and restrictions. All places of worship have been closed since the end of December except for private prayer and funeral services. Fr Hughes was cautioned in November for celebrating Mass with people in attendance during Level 5 restrictions. Over the weekend the Irish Catholic Newspaper reported that Fr Hughes had been 500 for breaching the regulations. Noting the coming Holy week Fr Hughes said 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, he noted in conclusion. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 20:53:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's exports to China grew 33 percent from January to February this year compared to the same period last year, according to provisional statistics released by the Export Development Board (EDB) on Tuesday. Revenue from exports to China in the first two months of the year grew from 35.84 million U.S. dollars in 2020 to 47.71 million dollars in 2021. Total export earnings for the month of February stood at 993.73 million U.S. dollars in February, up 2.53 percent year on year. The figure is the highest export revenue for February in the last five years, the EDB said. "Sri Lankans are strong in facing challenges, and the exporters have shouldered the task of placing the economy of the country on the right track with immense difficulties," EDB Chairman Suresh De Mel said in a statement. Export growth for February was backed by increased demand for electrical and electronic components, and rubber gloves, with markets in China, Canada, the Netherlands, and Spain performing well. Enditem People take part in protest against Asian hate in California 15:41, March 23, 2021 By huaxia ( Xinhua People take part in a protest against Asian hate in front of the city hall of San Francisco, California, the United States, on March 22, 2021. Eight people, six of whom were Asian and two were white, were killed in three shooting incidents in massage parlors in the Atlanta area by a suspect. The attacks came amid a troubling spike in violence against the Asian American community during the coronavirus pandemic. 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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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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 A nurse and a correctional officer at a prison housing some of Iowas most dangerous criminals were killed on Tuesday after officials said an inmate attacked staff members and other inmates in the infirmary. Violence broke out at around 10.15am at the state penitentiary in the eastern Iowa city of Anamosa, according to a statement from the Iowa Department of Corrections. The department said that it was still collecting and confirming details of what took place, and that state police were also investigating. A nurse and a correctional officer at Anamosa State Penitentiary in Iowa were killed in an infirmary attack that officials say was carried out by an inmate 'What the department can confirm is that an inmate attacked multiple staff members and inmates in the prisons infirmary. As a result of their injuries, a correctional nurse and correctional officer have died,' the department said in a statement. The department said that additional security staff arrived after the attack and restrained the inmate. Employees began attempting first aid on those injured until paramedics arrived. No other details were immediately available, including whether any other staff or inmates were injured. Department spokesman Cord Overton said he anticipated releasing additional information later Tuesday or Wednesday. The deaths are believed to be the first time an Iowa prison staff member has been killed by an inmate since 1969, when Iowa State Penitentiary officer Sam Reed was assaulted and stabbed by inmate Edward N. Clark. Inmates took a dozen staff members hostage during a 1981 riot at that prison but none were killed. Gov. Kim Reynolds said the state was grieving the deaths of 'two public servants who were attacked while on duty at the Anamosa State Penitentiary.' 'My prayers and deepest condolences are with their families, friends, and colleagues as they begin to cope with this senseless tragedy,' she said. 'We will exhaust every available resource to deliver justice to those who committed this act and bring a sense of closure and peace to the victims families.' The prison houses about 945 inmates in both maximum- and medium-security wings and has around 320 staff members. More than 1,000 inmates and staff at the prison have tested positive for coronavirus in the last year, including during a major outbreak that briefly made Jones County one of the nations worst hot spots. Six have died of complications from the virus, the most at any prison in Iowa, according to department data. But as of Tuesday, no inmates or staff at the prison were known to be positive. AFSCME Council 61 President Danny Homan, whose union represents Iowa correctional employees, said the workers were the first killed by an inmate since he started at the union in 1988. He said he was still gathering information about what happened. 'No one should ever have to go to work and worry about whether they will come home or not,' Homan said in a statement. 'Unfortunately for two Iowans who had committed their lives to keeping our communities safe, they wont be going home tonight.' The union president told the Associated Press the infirmary attack was a failure of the system. 'I dont know how or why or any particulars,' Homan said. 'But somebody failed because those two employees are not getting to go home this evening.' Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - Masivo Silver Corp. (TSXV: MASS) ("Masivo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a letter of interest for an option agreement with Great Lakes Exploration ("Great Lakes") and is moving very quickly towards a definitive agreement. The option agreement gives Masivo the right to earn a 100% interest in a highly prospective silver-gold-copper project in Elko County in northeastern Nevada. The claim group currently comprises approximately 543 hectares (1,342 acres) consisting of 65 unpatented claims (the JP claim group) and a single patented claim covering the historic Boston Mine. David Coburn, Masivo Silver Corp. CEO, stated, "We are very excited to acquire a highly prospective silver-gold-copper property in a well-established mining state such as Nevada. The property has high historic values of silver, gold and copper as well as drill-ready targets defined by geophysical surveys and surface prospects." The property covers about 9 kilometers of prospective metamorphosed limestones containing silver, gold and copper skarn mineralization marginal to the contact of a Jurassic aged granodiorite intrusion. Mineralization consists of bornite, chalcopyrite and diginite with silver and gold in calc-silicate hornfels adjacent to faults and altered porphyry dikes, as well as in stratiform replacement of favorable horizons adjacent to the granodiorite contact. In the eastern portion of the claim group, the Boston Mine was developed in 1910 with a 190 foot shaft and levels at 90 and 190 feet, with 360 feet of drifting on both levels. The mine reported shipments of high-grade silver, gold and copper from a zone which varied in width from 6 to 40 feet with grades up to 226 g/t silver, 9 g/t gold and 6.8% copper, with localized zones of up to 2,880 g/t silver, 25.7 g/t gold and 32% copper (USGS Publication: Bulletin 847-A). Since the mine's closure at the onset of WWII, only sporadic surface exploration, sampling on the 90 foot level, and limited surface drilling have been conducted. In the western part of the JP claim block, stratabound skarn mineralization occurs along the granodiorite contact. Rock and soil geochemistry have defined silver, gold and copper mineralization similar to that in the Boston Mine area, for greater than 1 kilometer of strike length. Numerous grab samples of contact-related skarn mineralization in this area have returned values from 35 to 170 g/t silver, 1 to 10 g/t gold and 1% to 3% copper. However, despite these results, as well as the presence of favorable geology and extensive alteration, there has been no systematic evaluation of surface showings, or drilling to test continuity and extensions at depth. Under the terms of the agreement, to earn 100% interest, Masivo has agreed to pay US$450,000.00 and grant 8,000,000 shares over four years ($20,000.00, 1,000,000 warrants at $0.15 and 1,000,000 shares at signing, $25,000.00 and 1,500,000 shares on the first anniversary, $30,000.00 and 1,000,000 shares on the second anniversary, $35,000.00 and 2,000,000 shares on the third anniversary and $340,000.00 and 2,500,000 shares on the fourth anniversary) and subject to a 2% NSR with the option to buy down the royalty to 1% at $500,000 per 0.5%. Additionally, Masivo has agreed to invest US$1,000,000 over the four-year term ($100,000 in the first year, $200,000 in the second year, $300,000 in the third year and $400,000 in the fourth year). The transaction and the issuance of Masivo's common shares pursuant to the option agreement are subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. David Dupre, P.Geo. is Masivo Silver's Qualified Person ("QP", as defined by National Instrument 43-101) for the Company's projects in Mexico and Nevada, and has approved this news release. About Masivo Silver Corp. Masivo is a silver and gold exploration, development and ore processing company exploring an aggregate of 14,000+ hectares strategically located in the silver/gold-rich Sierra Madre Occidental Trend in western Mexico. The Company's mill, located on its El Colomo property, is capable of processing up to 300 tons of ore per day. Additional information on Masivo, its current operations and its vision, are available on the Company's website at www.masivosilver.com or from info@masivosilver.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "David Coburn" David Coburn, Chief Executive Officer For information, please contact the Company: Phone: 602-315-1231 E-mail: dcoburn@masivosilver.com Website: www.masivosilver.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78254 Three were gunned down while putting in a days work at a Colorado supermarket. Another was a police officer who raced in to try to rescue them and others from the attack that left 10 dead. A picture of the victims of Mondays shooting began to emerge as the suspect in the killings remained hospitalized Tuesday but was expected to be booked into jail on murder charges. Those who lost their lives at the King Soopers store in Boulder ranged from 20 years old to 65. They were identified as Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; police Officer Eric Talley, 51; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jodi Waters, 65. Murray was a Mentor native and Ohio University graduate, according to the Denver Post. She retired photo director who previously lived in New York and worked for big-name magazines like Glamour, Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan. On Tuesday, she was in the store working as an Instacart shopper, her daughter told the Post. Leiker, Olds and Stong worked at the supermarket, said former co-worker Jordan Sailas, who never got the chance to bring his baby son into the store to meet them. Olds grandmother choked up on the phone as she described the young woman she played a large role in raising. She was just a very kind and loving, bubbly person who lit up the room when she walked in, said Jeanette Olds, 71, of Lafayette, Colorado. Talley joined the police force in Boulder in 2010 with a background that included a masters degree in computer communications, his father said. At age 40, he decided he wanted to serve his community, Homer Shay Talley, 74, told The Associated Press from his ranch in central Texas. He left his desk job. He just wanted to serve, and thats what he did. He just enjoyed the police family. Officer Talley was the first to arrive after a call about shots being fired and someone carrying a rifle, Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said Talley was by all accounts, one of the outstanding officers in the department. With seven children, ages 7 to 20, Talley was a devoted father who knew the Lord, his father said. When everyone else in the parking lot was running away, he ran toward it, Shay Talley said. We know where he is, he added. He loved his family more than anything. He was Maryland lawmakers are pushing to have speed cameras put up along the JFX. Video Transcript DENISE KOCH: New at 11:00, slow down. State lawmakers are pushing to have speed cameras put up along the JFX. The two cameras could bring in millions of dollars for the city, and that money would then be used for covering the cost of certain roadway improvements. Right now, nearly 132,000 people drive along 83 and officials estimate up to nearly 10,000 speeding violations occur every day on the JFX. Under the bill, you would be ticketed for going 12 miles or more over the speed limit. If passed, it would go into effect October the 1st. 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. Pennsylvanias vaccinated more than 100,000 educators against COVID-19 and put 5.2 million shots into arms since the states mass inoculation campaign began in December. The vaccine roll out continues to gain momentum after a rocky initial start, averaging more than 85,500 people receiving vaccinations a day over the last week. Currently, 1.73 million people are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, while 1.84 million are awaiting their second shot, according to data from the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia health departments. In the Lehigh Valley, roughly 15% of residents are fully vaccinated now. (Cant see this map? Click here) The state is nearing the milestone of 1 million people infected with COVID-19 and 25,000 lives lost a year after the virus was first detected in Pennsylvania. Things are not trending in the right direction. The state is now averaging 3,033 new cases a day over the last week, a 23% increase from two weeks ago when new cases seemed to have plateaued. Hospitalizations are creeping up after a steady drop. Here are your coronavirus updates for Tuesday, March 23, 2021 The vaccine rollout Pennsylvanias efforts to get more students back in the classroom got a major boost over the last two weeks with 102,161 educators receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as of Tuesday morning, according to Pennsylvania Health Department data. The state launched a mass vaccination campaign that earmarked the entire allotment of the single-dose vaccine for educators, who were inoculated at clinics set up via 28 intermediate units. Pennsylvania mobilized its national guard and AMI Expeditionary Healthcare to administer the shots. Staff working with elementary and vulnerable students were given top priority and all are now vaccinated, two weeks ahead of schedule. Vaccinating more than 100,000 teachers and staff in less than two weeks is a big step to help students return to the classroom and stay in school, Gov. Tom Wolf said in a news release Tuesday. This helps to get more kids back to school where they want to be and eases the burdens on parents and communities. Its also another sign of hope that the light at the end of this long tunnel is getting brighter. Several intermedia units have vaccinated all middle and high school staff as well. Once the educator mass clinics wrap up, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be used for workers in Phase 1B, including law enforcement, firefighters, grocery store and agricultural workers, and for targeted mass vaccine clinics. (Cant see this chart? Click here.) The educator vaccination campaign is separate from the statewide vaccine roll out. Pennsylvania remains in Phase 1A, prioritizing those over 65, frontline healthcare workers and younger people with certain high-risk medical conditions. The state estimates that about 4.5 million Pennsylvanias are currently eligible, so demand continues to outpace the available supply of shots. More than 5.2 million first and second dose shots have been administered across Pennsylvania to date, according to state and Philadelphia health department data. (Philadelphia receives its own vaccine allotment and publicly shares different data than the Pennsylvania Health Department.) Statewide, excluding Philly, more than 85,500 people a day were vaccinated over the last week. The state was allotted 281,010 first/single doses and 253,970 second doses this week. Overall, Pennsylvanias administered 99% of its allotted first dose shots and 65% of its boosters, a marked improvement. Coronavirus in Pa. and the Lehigh Valley Tuesday marks the fifth day in the last week with more than 3,000 new daily infections, something not seen since early February when cases were trending down after a brutal holiday surge that killed thousands. There were 3,515 new cases and 39 deaths in Tuesdays daily report, bringing the statewide tally to 991,950 infections and 24,828 deaths, according to the Pennsylvania Health Department. That includes 352 new cases and three deaths in the Lehigh Valley. The majority of those who are hospitalized and who have died are over 65. Locally, there were 195 new cases and and two new deaths in Northampton County for a total of 29,150 infections and 671 deaths, according to Tuesdays report. Lehigh County recorded its 800th death on Tuesday as well as 157 new infections bringing the total to 32,828 cases. About 15% of Northampton and Lehigh county residents are now fully vaccinated and another 83,662 people have their first shot. The statewide decrease in hospitalized patients has stalled, the health department notes, and in fact appears to be ticking up with 1,546 patients a day over the last week. The number of new cases has slightly increased, and so has the statewide percent positivity, which is still concerning, Wolf said in a news release. As more and more Pennsylvanians are getting vaccinated, we must not forget to follow the mitigation measures still in place. As the weather gets warm, please remember to wear a mask, practice social distance and wash your hands frequently as the virus still has a presence in our communities. Pennsylvania is set to ease coronavirus mitigation measures starting Easter Sunday, allowing restaurants to increase indoor dining to 75% capacity and start serving alcohol without food. Gyms and entertainment venues, like casinos, also will be allowed to let in more customers. The health department declined to address whether Wolf might revisit that decision in light of rising case counts. Nationwide it is a race of vaccinations against coronavirus variants that allow the virus to spread faster, may cause more severe outcomes and could reduce the efficacy of existing vaccines. It is hard to know what is driving Pennsylvanias increase in cases there were 1,380 more cases in the last week compared to the week prior due to limited variant surveillance testing. There have been 168 cases linked to B.1.1.7., a strain first detected in the United Kingdom, that health experts predict will become the dominant one in the U.S. in coming weeks. The majority of coronavirus variants identified in the state have been found through commercial and hospital lab test sequencing, said Maggi Barton, department of health spokeswoman. The health department is currently sending 10-35 test specimens biweekly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for sequencing, because the state lab does not have the infrastructure in place, she said. Work is underway for the health department to conduct its own sequencing. Public health experts across the country are still learning more about the variants, Barton said. While there is still much to learn, what we know is that the existing mitigation efforts: hand washing, masking, and social distancing all work to prevent the spread of COVID and variants. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. OnSceneTV A 72-year-old business owner fired shots at a Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy late Monday after mistaking him for a burglary suspect, police said. The deputy returned gunfire, wounding the man in the shoulder. The older man reported a burglary around 11:45 p.m. at his business on the 13000 block of Ralph Culver Road in northwest Harris County, said Susan Cotter, a major in the sheriff's office. The owner was not on the premises but saw the burglar on his surveillance cameras. Geber86/iStockBY: ERIN SCHUMAKER, ABC NEWS (NEW YORK) New York detected its first case of the coronavirus variant initially found in Brazil, known as P.1, joining the ranks of at least 18 states reporting cases of the new variant. The case, a Brooklyn resident in their 90s with no travel history, was identified by scientists at Mount Sinai hospital in New York City, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday. "The detection of the Brazilian variant here in New York further underscores the importance of taking all the appropriate steps to continue to protect your health," Cuomo said in a statement. "While it's normal for a virus to mutate, the best way to protect yourself is to continue to wear a well-fitted mask, avoid large crowds, social distance, wash your hands and get vaccinated when it's your turn," he said. The P.1 variant is considered to be a "variant of concern" because evidence suggests that it is highly transmissible and has the potential to reinfect people who have already been sick. The P.1 variant was first identified in January during an airport screening in Japan of travelers from Brazil, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After a severe outbreak last spring, antibody testing of blood banks in Manaus, the biggest city in the Amazon, suggested that three-quarters of the city's population had been infected. Scientists thought Manaus might have reached herd immunity, but then infections spiked again at the end of 2020, leading scientists to believe that the P.1 variant could reinfect people who had recovered from infections caused by other variants. "Finding it in New York is not that unexpected," Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said of the P.1 variant. Since the first case detected in New York was in an older resident with no travel history, there's "clearly a chain of transmission going on in New York City," he added. The United States is doing very little sequencing of virus variants, so it's difficult to know how prevalent P.1 is in the country. Another variant, B.1.1.7, which was first identified in the United Kingdom, seems to be displacing the others, Adalja said. "In countries where B.1.1.7 becomes dominant, it seems hard to replace," he said. While research is still ongoing into whether COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the P.1 variant, vaccines appear to be effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death from it, Adalja explained. "While there is worry and concern about variants, the answer is always the same," he said. "Vaccinate faster." As of Sunday, New York State had vaccinated 38,671 residents per 100,000 people, according to the CDC. Copyright 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. In order to help open a way for a reconstituted Cabinet amid a political turmoil, the leader of one of the parties in Slovakias ruling coalition, Richard Sulik has resigned. The Freedom and Solidarity party leader served as the deputy prime minister and as Slovakias economy minister. According to the reports by AP, he said that he believed his step will contribute to solving the governments crisis. Freedom and Solidarity as well as another party had demanded that Slovakian Prime Minister Igor Matovic resign in order for the four-party coalition to survive. People demanded to leave the government if the prime minister did not step down. Matovik agreed to do so only if Sulik also resigned. The two of them had repeated clashes over how to handle the pandemic. Things accelerated when a secret deal came to light two weeks ago. It involved Slovakias agreement to acquire 2 million doses of Russias Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. The Prime Minister went ahead with the deal despite disagreement among his coalition partners. Defending the Sputnik V purchase, Matovic said that this would speed up the vaccination program. Parties who demanded his resignation opposed the idea as they believed that this would cast doubts on Slovakias clear pro-Western orientation. What is happening in Slovakia? The political crisis deepened earlier in the month of March when a member of the ruling coalition demanded reconstruction of the cabinet. The purchase of Sputnik V irked various other members of the coalition, who eventually called for the dissolution of the current cabinet. Sulk said that we can hardly continue this way. He further reasoned that the coalition has evidently not succeeded in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore certain unspecified changes were needed. Meanwhile, For the People Party, another coalition partner did not comment on the crisis but also did not rule out the possibility of leaving the coalition. Slovakia, a member of the European Union started innovating its population in late December. However, the PM, in an attempt to speed up the process, inked a deal with Russian authorities to secure 2 million doses of the vaccine. While Sputnik V has not applied for EUs approval, Slovakias deputy PM Veronika Remisova said that any vaccine to be used in the country would require approval by the bloc. Slovakia is the second European Union country to use the vaccine, which hasn't been approved by the European Medicines Agency, after Hungary. It hasn't been registered by Slovakias drug authority, but the deal was made possible by Health Minister Marek Krajcis approval. As of now, the European bloc has approved only three vaccines for mass use. They include the one manufactured by AstraZeneca/Oxford, Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech. The Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine is based on a modified version of adenovirus, a common cold virus. (Image Credits: AP) 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. Opinion Manitoba appears well-positioned to benefit from CP Rails proposed US$25-billion takeover of Kansas City Southern. While still at least a full year away from regulatory approval, many industry officials in Manitoba are already looking at it in a positive light. It will create the first single carrier north-south route from Canada to Mexico with no overlapping lines. Among other things, it means neither will have to alter their service and company officials say it will create jobs instead of costing jobs, which is often an expected outcome of such a merger. Manitoba both sits in the middle of CPs main east-west line and has a terminal for one of CPs border crossings linked directly to Kansas City. That has experts optimistic the deal will ease logistics of shipping to the U.S. and Mexico as well as bolster the provinces trade prospects. Barry Prentice, longtime logistics expert at the University of Manitoba, is very positive about the prospects. "Im pleased to see this development," he said. "I think its one of those things that will really help us in Winnipeg if only because we are the shortest distance to Mexico City on the Prairies and now well have a nice straight rail line to do it." MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Diane Gray, CEO of CentrePort, said enhancing CP Rails network will only bolster prospects for the CentrePort Canada Rail Park. While it is far too early to say it could cause more partnerships or economic development in Manitoba, some are already imagining new opportunities that could arise in Manitoba. Plans are ongoing for the CentrePort Canada Rail Park, which would be located right on CP Rails main east-west line. CP and KCS already have an interchange relationship in Kansas City and the line from Winnipeg to Kansas City bypasses congestion in Chicago. "CP is the backbone of the future CentrePort Canada Rail Park. Any enhancement of destination opportunities or origination opportunities by rail will be a positive for companies considering locating at the rail park," said Diane Gray, CEO of CentrePort. There has to be investment commitment to make it happen, but this could be the final piece of the puzzle in realizing CentrePorts dream of capitalizing on its central location. "We have been sitting on this so-called mid-continent corridor idea for a long time," Prentice said. "But there is not much flesh on it when you dont have the route set up like we will have with this merger with a direct line from Winnipeg to Mexico City and one single bill of lading." Company officials are touting benefits of the increased efficiency of the combined networks across the board for grain, automotive, auto-parts and energy industries, as well as for intermodal shipments and other shippers. Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevators Association, said, the main interest of his organization is to ensure Canadian grain shippers receive good rail service and proper availability of rail cars. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Barry Prentice, logistics expert with the University of Manitoba, says the proposed merger would mean a straight path to Mexico City for Manitoba exports. "There is nothing in this initial merger announcement that would lead us to be believe service from the Prairies to Canadian ports will be impacted one way or another," he said, though he did say the merger may potentially smooth the flow of some Canadian commodities to the southern U.S. and Mexico. With CPs vice-president of sales and marketing for grain and fertilizers, Joan Hardy, based in Winnipeg, Manitobas agricultural industry can have some reassurance its concerns will be heard and its opportunities recognized. The 32,000-kilometre network that would be created would link ports on both coasts in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Trade in food products frozen juices, strawberries and spinach from Mexico and canola, beef and pork from Manitoba has been on the increase. One industry expert said a seamless north-south rail option could create shipping options for the industry. "I think its pretty cool," said Dave Shambrock, who recently stepped down as the longtime head of Food and Beverage Manitoba. "For the past few years the food industry has been relying more and more on truck. I dont want to say its more reliable but switching rail carriers along the way could cause some hiccups." Prentice said the merger could create the opportunity, for instance, to cut the shipping costs in half from the shipment of goods that require refrigerated transport. "When trying to ship interline with another rail line theres always the worry that the two firms are really communicating properly or that your car will get stuck in a siding somewhere," he said. "When it is all under one roof, it is very clear." martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca As to what regular folks like us should do, I think its mostly a matter of being a little bit mindful, to keep track of what we may be giving away when Amazon (or anyone else) offers us a frictionless experience where we cede some bits of our freedom for convenience. We can also support unionization efforts like those of Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama. Over history, strong labor has served as a check on corporate power. What exactly is a rain heron, the fantastical creature at the heart of the Australian writer Arnotts daring, atmospheric novel? Is it just a fairy tale or is it real and why is the military so intent on tracking it down? These are some of the questions propelling this dark eco-fable set in a no mans land ravaged by marauding soldiers, floods and freezing winds. It makes sense, then, that Ren, on the run from the army and her past, seeks refuge in a remote cave, foraging to survive. But Ren, it turns out, has actually seen the rain heron and will be forced by a hardened officer named Zoe Harker to lead her to it. And what an amazing sight the bird truly is: an iridescent, translucent being that can transform into water and mist. Even more incredible, it has the power to alter the weather, a coveted tool or weapon for whoever captures it. Ultimately, Harker gets her prey, but at a cost. She is partially blinded by its talons and wounds Ren, who tries to stop her. The heron itself will wreak havoc on the landscape they cross to deliver it to the military. The novel moves at a quicksilver pace, shimmering with menace and electric visions of forests and lake-filled valleys. Harkers own metamorphosis, as she later drifts remorsefully through the quiet carnage of the world, is as remarkable as the herons. I felt suddenly transparent, she says, on re-encountering Ren, as if she could see through my skin and flesh, and into the air behind me. Weve seen significant growth these last few years because of the dedication from our team to develop a unique and customizable solution for our customers, empowering them with innovative communications tools to help accelerate their growth. Inc. magazine revealed that CallTrackingMetrics is No. 243 on its second annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: D.C. Metro list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing Washington, D.C., area-based private companies. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the D.C. area economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Growing a startup company is tough and growing one without any outside funding is tougher, said Todd Fisher, co-founder and CEO of CallTrackingMetrics. Weve seen significant growth these last few years because of the dedication from our team to develop a unique and customizable solution for our customers, empowering them with innovative communications tools to help accelerate their growth. The companies on this list show stunning rates of growth across all industries in the Washington, D.C., region. Between 2017 and 2019, these 250 private companies had an average growth rate of 211 percent and, in 2019 alone, they employed more than 120,000 people and added nearly $15 billion to the D.C. area economy. Companies based in major metro areasBaltimore, Maryland, the Washington, D.C. area, and Richmond, Virginiabrought in the highest revenue overall. Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: D.C. Metro, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at https://www.inc.com/inc5000/regionals/washington-dc starting March 16, 2021. This list proves the power of companies in the Washington, D.C. area no matter the industry, says Inc. editor in chief Scott Omelianuk. The impressive revenues and growth rates prove the insight and diligence of CEOs and that these businesses are here to stay. For more information about CallTrackingMetrics, please visit http://www.calltrackingmetrics.com. CONTACT: Alyssa Rinehart BLASTmedia for CallTrackingMetrics CallTrackingMetrics@blastmedia.com 317.806.1900 About CallTrackingMetrics CallTrackingMetrics is the only digital platform that uses call tracking intelligence to inform contact center automation resulting in a more personalized customer experience. Discover which marketing campaigns are generating leads and conversions, and use that data to automate call flows and power your contact center. More than 100,000 users around the globe trust CallTrackingMetrics to manage communications for their marketing, sales, and service teams. More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regionals Methodology The 2021 Inc. 5000 Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2017 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. About Inc. Media The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com. Victorians can soon have 100 visitors at home and won't have to wear masks at shops, in the most significant easing of restrictions since the start of the pandemic. Acting Premier James Merlino announced from 6pm on Friday, people will be able to have 100 visitors at home, while 200 people will be able to gather in public. 'We know that the risk is far from over. But thanks to the incredible work of all Victorians, we're continuing to open up and return to the city and the state we love, in terms of its life and vibrancy,' he told reporters on Tuesday. Masks are no longer mandatory in retail settings across Victoria from 6pm on Friday 200 people will be able to gather in public following an announcement by Acting Premier James Merlino Masks will no longer be required in retail settings, although Victorians will still need to wear them on public transport, in taxis and rideshare vehicles and in hospitals and aged care facilities Density limits will also be eased at casinos, nightclubs and karaoke venues from one person per four square metres to one person per two square metres, bringing them into line with cafes, pubs and restaurants. The 75 per cent cap on workers in private and public offices will also be removed, although a density limit of one person per two square metres will apply. While masks are no longer mandatory in shopping centres (pictured), masks are still required on public transport and ride share vehicles Crowd numbers have also been increased to 75 per cent of stadium capacity. It comes as the state's active cases dropped to zero on Tuesday, for the first time since December 10 last year. Victoria recorded no new cases for the 25th day in a row on Tuesday, following 13,549 tests. Victoria has not accepted international passenger flights into the state since February 13, when the state entered a five-day lockdown. Freight flights with crew have still been able to land since that date. Mr Merlino said he would make an announcement regarding the state's hotel quarantine program 'later in the week'. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Express your opinion! Fill out this form to submit a Letter to the Editor. Submit Maya artist Ubaldo Sanchez will create a sawdust carpet inspired by Popol Vuh, the creation story of the Maya world, during an online Wheatons Conversations program 6 p.m. Thursday, March 25, hosted by the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center in Millville. The sawdust carpet tradition has evolved in the Latino and Maya communities of Guatemala and the U.S. over the past 500 years. Ubaldo will apply color to sawdust and to create images from an oral tradition that pulls together the Euro-Christian and Maya images. The sawdust carpet or alfombra de aserrin later will be displayed at WheatonArts Down Jersey Folklife Center. Genaro Jacinto Calel, a regional Maya shaman, will offer a ceremony to honor the beginning of the new time-cycle of the Aguila the Eagle which began in February and will continue for the next four years. Other themes and images associated with sawdust carpets will be discussed, including those created on the streets for Lent and Holy Week processions, the Day of the Dead and other celebrations. Send community news to south@njadvancemedia.com. Photo: (Photo : Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels) The virus has been identified in nearly 3.17 million children in the United States. Some kids with COVID-19 have been hospitalized, and sadly some have died. Still, some children are experiencing complications weeks or months after their initial infection, whether they have mild or severe cases or no symptoms at all. According to surveys and research of small groups of adolescents, fatigue, headache, and heart palpitations are among the symptoms. Doctors say that while cases of kids who had COVID-19 and chronic symptoms after COVID-19 are uncommon, they are on the rise, concerning parents and physicians monitoring the frequently strange and fluctuating array of symptoms. Families discuss their struggles to be taken seriously on Facebook support groups and other social media and express concern that basic scientific information is missing. Even if they have cleared the infection, are not dealing from apparent organ damage, and their scans, bloodwork, and other tests come out negative, many of the kids who had COVID-19 and suffer from long-term effects complain that they continue to feel weak. READ: COVID-19 Safety: Parents of College Students Worry Their Children Could Get Infected Children have been largely shielded from the destruction of COVID-19, according to public health authorities and scientists. However, without an appreciation of "long-haulers," their story is incomplete. COVID-19 tends to be confined to adults in the early months of the pandemic, as many children sought refuge at home. However, like schools, sports, and other activities grew in popularity, it became apparent that children were also vulnerable. Even though the World Health Organization recognizes that COVID-19 "may often result in prolonged illness, even in young adults and children without underlying chronic medical conditions," attempts to describe the illness have focused primarily on phone surveys, case reports, and anecdotal evidence thus far. ALSO READ: Double Masking and Children: Answers to Every Question from Worried Parents What the WHO Has to Say: In young adults and kids who had COVID-19 but do not have any underlying chronic medical conditions, COVID-19 can cause long-term illness. There have been several case studies of people who have not regained their former health. Little is known about the clinical course of COVID-19 following milder disease. There are several case reports from people who do not recover their prior health after COVID-19. When symptomatic adults with a positive SARS-CoV-2 outpatient test result were interviewed 2-3 weeks after testing, 35 percent had not returned to their normal health status. Among those in good health aged 18 to 34, 20% (1 in 5) indicated that specific symptoms were persistent. High blood pressure, obesity, and mental health issues are also risk factors for symptom persistence. READ MORE: Parents, Students Worry More About COVID-19 Than In-Person Classes Symptoms can persist or recur for weeks or months after initial recovery in some people. This can happen even in those who have mild disease. During this time, they are not contagious. Medical complications can also arise in certain patients, which can have long-term implications. For the period March-June 2020, the following are self-reported symptoms at the time of positive SARS-CoV-2 testing results and unresolved symptoms 14-21 days later among outpatients in the United States. Insurance companies have been called on to treat consumers fairly after it emerged that people are being turned down for mortgage protection cover if they have had Covid-19. This is putting their home-purchase plans at risk. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said the Government was engaging with the industry on the issue. It comes as a number of people have contacted the Irish Independent saying they cant get mortgage protection insurance if they have or had the virus. A number of these are frontline workers, including nurses. Difficulties are also being experienced getting life and critical illness cover, as well as mortgage-protection insurance. It affects those suffering from Covid or who had it in the past, and frontline workers who have underlying conditions and are seen as vulnerable to the virus. Mr Donohoe told Independent TD Marian Harkin: I am aware of reports of some customers experiencing issues in obtaining mortgage protection cover as a result of having higher-risk conditions, particularly in the context of Covid-19. He said: In the context of Covid-19, we expect insurance firms to treat their customers fairly, honestly, and in accordance with the Central Banks Consumer Protection Code. His officials have contacted representative body Insurance Ireland on the issue. One person who contacted this publication said the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus meant people with an underlying condition, not related to the virus, were finding it impossible to get cover. Normally, people with an underlying condition can get cover, but would have to pay a loading, or higher premium due to a factor increasing the risk involved. But the reader said: If your occupation involves working on the front line, they [insurers] will tell you, sorry, due to Covid regulations we are not insuring anybody that would have a 250pc loading. It doesnt matter how long your condition is under control. So people are unable to draw down a mortgage because they cant get insurance. Ms Harkin said that in a case she had dealt with, a person with a permanent, pensionable job who was relocating from Dublin to the west of the country, but was unable to get mortgage protection for the mortgage on her new home because she has an underlying condition. This is unacceptable insurance companies are using Covid-19 as an excuse not to provide cover, Ms Harkin said. John Geraghty of LABrokers said people with existing policies who got Covid would be covered. But insurers are deferring initiating new cover for those suffering from Covid-19 for up to six months. He said around 90pc of applications were accepted at the price quoted. Another 6pc to 8pc may have an increase in the price offered. This includes other medical factors not related to Covid. Around 2pc of applications get a refusal to offer cover. Insurance Ireland insisted most people would be able to get cover. But it admitted there were a small number of individual cases where a final decision on applications was being postponed for a period where applicants had a Covid-19-related health condition. Such policies are assessed on a case-by-case basis and that underlying health conditions are taken into account by the underwriters, as was the case pre-Covid-19. Insurance Ireland said there were waiver conditions in the Consumer Credit Act allowing lenders to issue a mortgage without protection cover being in place in certain situations. This was at the lenders discretion. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 MOSCOW (Reuters) - Armenia's general staff issued a statement on Monday describing a general chosen by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as chief of the army, after weeks of dispute over the military's leadership, Interfax news agency reported. Pashinyan, whose political future has been in doubt since ethnic Armenian forces lost territory in a conflict with Azerbaijan last year, has spent weeks trying to unseat army chief Onik Gasparyan, who had called on the prime minister to quit. Interfax news agency reported on Monday that the general staff press office had issued a statement describing Artak Davtyan, the general chosen by Pashinyan, as the army chief. "Armenia's armed forces will remain neutral on political issues, guided solely by its obligation to ensure the defence, security, territorial integrity and the inviolability of its borders as required by the constitution," Davtyan was quoted as saying in the statement. Davtyan referred directly to the dispute that had arisen since Gasparyan called for the government to resign, saying it had now "received its resolution, and existing disagreements had moved into the legal sphere". Gasparyan has called Pashinyan's attempt to fire him illegal, as the country's largely ceremonial president, Armen Sarkissian, had refused to endorse it. On Monday, Pashinyan said the appointment of a new chief of staff had come into force by default, because the president had failed to challenge it in court in time. Gasparyan has yet to accept his dismissal. Armenian news website Aysor.am quoted a lawyer for Gasparyan, Artur Hovhannisyan, as saying Pashinyan had ignored the courts, and a criminal complaint would now be filed against the prime minister. There was no immediate reply to an email seeking comment from the president's office. Pashinyan has faced calls to resign since last November when he agreed to a Russian-brokered ceasefire that halted six weeks of fighting in which ethnic Armenians lost territory to Azeri forces in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Pashinyan is set to represent his party at parliamentary elections in June, the TASS news agency cited Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan as saying. (Reporting by Anton Kolodyazhnyy and Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Tom Balmforth and Peter Graff) A pensioner who was attacked during a robbery of her local bookies has said she is now planning to move out of the area where she has lived all her life. Two men were involved in a robbery of the bookmakers on the South Circular Road in Rialto, Dublin city on March 30, 2019. Detective Garda Nathan McKenna told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that a 66-year-old woman was putting down her regular lottery numbers when one of the men grabbed her by the neck and began shouting at the teller to give them money. This man pushed the victim against the glass and held on to her until the cash was handed over by the frightened teller, the court heard. After the raiders left the woman, who has epilepsy and a heart murmur, was shaking. Investigators used high quality CCTV footage to identify the raiders who had not covered their faces. They were later arrested at the Carmens Hostel/Hall, Francis Street, Dublin where they shared a room. At his hearing today David O'Brien (43) pleaded guilty to robbery. The court heard that O'Brien was not the man who held the woman but the two men were acting together. During interview O'Brien said nothing of evidential value. In a victim impact statement the woman said she can no longer go to her local bookies to socialise. She said she has lived in the area all her life and is now seeking to move out. She suffered soft tissue damage as a result of the attack. O'Brien was on bail at the time and has previous convictions for theft, drug and public order offences. Conor McKenna BL, defending, said his client had a chronic drug addiction at the time. He told the court his client was exposed to drug addiction in his family from the age of four and he started smoking heroin when he was 14. Judge Karen O'Connor said that it was little value to the woman that O'Brien had not physically touched her and said the two men were acting together. She noted that O'Brien's expressions of remorse were accepted as genuine by Dt Gda McKenna. She said this was undoubtedly a terrifying incident and she imposed a prison sentence of four and a half years. She said she was suspending the final 18 months to encourage O'Brien to continue his efforts to rehabilitate and get clean of drug addiction. Washington, March 23 : The AAPI Victory Fund, a pro-Democratic Party group that mobilises voters from the Asian American and Pacific Islanders communities, has endorsed Aftab Pureval, an Indian-American is running for the Mayor of Cincinnati. Pureval, son of an Indian father and a Tibetan mother, currently serves as the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, the first Democrat to serve in that position in more than a century, The American Bazaar said in a report. Cincinnati, the third-largest city in Ohio, is the seat of Hamilton County government. He announced his candidacy in Janury. In a statement issued on Monday, the AAPI Victory Fund said: "Pureval is a necessary progressive voice that has been able to achieve success with Democrats and Republicans alike. "As the son of first generation Americans, he has spent his career defending the most vulnerable in his community, including with the FBI to prosecute crimes against children." Responding to the endorsement, Pureval tweeted: "I'm honoured to be endorsed by the AAPI Victory Fund. Now more than ever, AAPI representation and leadership matters. "As Mayor, I'll lift up all of Cincinnati and make sure we grow equitably." According to local media reports, Pureval is expected to face a crowded field of mayoral contenders that includes a number of city council members, a former congressman and several prominent Democrats, The American Bazaar reported. When he ran against the state's Republican Representative Steve Chabot, Pureval was the first candidate of Tibetan origin to run for Congress. He lost narrowly in the race. Hollywood actress April Hernandez Castillo embraces identity in Christ, overcomes pain of abortion Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment After escaping a life of domestic violence and suicidal thoughts following an abortion, Hollywood actress April Hernandez Castillo said she ultimately reclaimed her voice and found forgiveness when she accepted her true identity in Jesus Christ. Best known for her captivating role alongside Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank in the movie "Freedom Writers," Hernandez Castillo is now telling her story in the memoir, Embracing Me. The book came about after discussing a potential rewrite of her debut book, Your Voice, Your Choice(2015), with her publisher last year when COVID-19 lockdowns began. "I figured, I think it's time I fully embraced all of me, and now I'm ready to let the world know and not be ashamed of anything, the author and public speaker told The Christian Post. The 41-year-old New York native is bold about her passions and her faith and credits her personality to a combination of growing up in the Bronx and being a survivor of intimate partner violence. She knows what it's like to have one's voice silenced and then to get it back. "So many women feel like what they have to say doesn't matter, she said. But now you see this revolution of women happening but I still know that there are thousands of women who struggle with understanding the power of their voice. When speaking about a pivotal moment in her life when she decided not to allow her past traumas to break her spirit, she referenced the movie Shawshank Redemption. She said the quote, "Get busy living or get busy dying," helped her break free from her abusive relationship. "It was either I was going to die, or I was going to live, she revealed. And if I was going to live, then I had to break free. This thing went off in my mind, saying, 'I know that I'm supposed to do something in my life, but if I stay here, I won't make it out.' I made a decision to leave, and then I made a decision to live and live boldly. Using that momentum, Hernandez Castillo built her life to where she is now, landing her in Hollywood. Shes starred in episodes of Law and Order," Dexter" and Person of Interest, among other mainstream programs. Hernandez Castillo would come to know Jesus while already a Hollywood actress but noted that God was always seeking her out. "I grew up Catholic, but I've always known that God was calling me. I remember being a teenager walking through the streets, and I would hear a whisper, and it would just be my name. It would just say, 'April.' I didn't really share it with anyone. ... In hindsight now, I realized that God has always been calling me. she detailed. I just had to make that step and say, 'OK, I'm going to accept You, and I don't know what that looks like.' Hernandez Castillo embraced God and then came to realize that He had been with her "throughout everything." In the book Miracles by Eric Metaxas, the author featured Hernandez Castillos testimony about a time when she nearly died while in the water at the beach. "I almost drowned at the beach, and someone saved me, but I didn't see them, and there were no footprints in the sand, Hernandez Castillo told CP. My mom would always say that that was my guardian angel, and his name was Blue. I truly believed that I had somebody, but now I know who it is. It's Jesus; it's the Holy Spirit. In her book Embracing Me, the actress shares past suicidal thoughts, the power of forgiveness and times she's wrestled with her faith. The mother of two daughters is honest about how she wrestled with God. "I always tell people, my conversion was anything but beautiful. It was a fight. I didn't really understand why did I have to give my life to Jesus? she admitted. But it wasn't a giving; it was actually gaining something. I wrestled a long time with it because my identity was completely wrapped up in just being this Hollywood actor." "Then I was put ... in the desert, for it felt like 45 years," she joked. "I had that Jesus moment when you see the Holy Spirit come down on Him, and then for 40 days and 40 nights, He's led into the desert. That's what it felt like for me, in my own way. I'm not Jesus; I'm saying the experience of it. Hernandez Castillo said she was on the mountaintop of her career, and then it just disappeared. While in the valley, she wrestled with God and said she struggled with the notion of surrender because she had been operating in the natural for so long. "I felt bamboozled. I felt angry. I felt like 'I didn't sign up for this. I wasn't looking for Jesus.' He just came in and messed my whole thing up. But obviously, it's the greatest decision of my life, she declared. We need more and more of that; we need this tangible faith. We need to hear real stories. In her interview with CP (watch below), she pushed back on Christian speakers who paint the faith walk as an easy and positive experience because she doesn't identify with it. "When I wrote the chapter titled 'Wrestling with God,' I was like, 'Oh, this is the perfect thing, because I know I'm not the only one who's wrestled with Him, Hernandez Castillo emphasized. "God's grace, my goodness, there were so many times where I just wanted to tap out. If we're talking about MMA, mixed martial arts, what do people do when they're under pressure? They tap out," she testified. "But even in the tapping out, God allows us to do that, and He waits, and that's why I think I love Him so much. He allows us to find our way. Since embracing God, Hernandez Castillo has also learned the power of embracing oneself at a time in America when people's true identity is under attack. "When I think of identity, I think about our fingerprint, that you can be an identical twin but you have a completely different fingerprint," she said. "God specifically created each and every one of us with a different purpose, different mission, whatever that is. He created us whole. It's when we discover new things in life that it takes us [to] different places." "I was having an identity crisis, and I'm not talking about sexually or my gender. I saw myself this way, but God always saw me another way. It is God's identity who's in me, that emanates, that shines through us," she continued. "So many people are trying to figure out who they are. But when you have other outside entities coming in and saying that 'this is what you should be' or giving you 10,000 choices of what you should or shouldn't be, and then you become offended ... Not being one who struggles with gender dysphoria, Hernandez Castillo added: I don't know what that is. I can never know what that's like because I know who I am. I am a woman, 100%. But I also know that people do struggle. How can I serve them? And how can I help them? The actress said she hopes that even those who don't believe in Christ still find wholeness in some capacity. "We're living in a place where it is a war," she stressed. "As a mother, it is my job to raise two girls that know who they are as young ladies and know that their identity lies in Christ." Hernandez Castillo concluded the interview by sharing her experience with abortion, which led her to speak out publicly concerning the trauma that came from her decision to abort a child several years ago. "When it comes to the topic of abortion, it took me close to 20 years to feel safe to share that part of my life. Because the moment that you begin talking about it, it's like no matter what you say, people politicize it, and people are waiting for you to choose a side, she noted. The moment that you don't choose a side, then that means that you don't really believe in Jesus or you don't believe in every other message. "I am here to serve the woman, she declared. I am here to serve that woman who is terrified. I am here to serve that unborn baby. I pray that no one has to go through that. But most importantly, I want to talk about how can we prevent this moment, if possible. How can we support a woman if she does do this?" Hernandez Castillo said that when she got an abortion, an older lady was giving out pamphlets. "When I didn't take the pamphlet, she said, 'Oh, you did one. You had an abortion. You're going straight to Hell,' Hernandez Castillo recounted. She lost her moment to show me compassion; she lost the moment to preach the blood of Jesus and forgiveness because she made it about her and her mission. When all I needed was a hug, when all I needed was love, and what I really needed was empathy." She said that when she speaks to people about faith and abortion, she feels like "they just cannot hear anything else." "I'm saying stop making this about you and put yourself in that person's place," she stated. "Because you don't know why a woman has an abortion. You really don't know what led her up to that. But what you can do after is offer her the love of Jesus, give her a hug and show her empathy." Knowing that her statement might not be well received, Hernandez Castillo went on to encourage people of faith to establish relationships with people to help them choose life, rather than condemning them. "Jesus stood up for women. He spoke for women. He loved us. And I really wish that we could show that more, she emphasized. I get emotional because I wanted to kill myself because of those feelings of shame. I think about had I'd done it, if that woman had the power to speak death into me, and I accepted it, and I would have made those decisions, I would never be who I am today. I would never be a mother to the most beautiful two little girls. And that was grace. The author testified about a time she was able to help a young woman choose not to abort her twin babies by showing her compassion and spending time talking to her. Hernandez Castillo happened to be at a facility for women, and the young woman, who previously had several abortions, decided to change her mind after talking it through. "I focus on compassion. I focus on empathy. I focus on support and real action, Hernandez Castillo concluded. "The title of my last chapter is titled 'Forgive me, Daisy.' And it's a powerful testimony about my abortion and how I was able to just find the love of Christ and most importantly, forgive myself." Embracing Meis now available. 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. Subscriber content preview KENAI, Alaska (AP) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a $130,000 settlement with an Alaska construction company after allegations that the firm violated the Safe Drinking Water Act by having a disposal well. The Soldotna-based North Star Paving & Construction is accused of having had an unauthorized underground injection well on its property, the Peninsula Clarion reported Saturday. . . . Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. An American citizen has been arrested in Uganda on suspicion of subversion against the government. Guy Smith, 63, was arrested by a specialist security team in the town of Fort Portal on Sunday and is being held in Kampala, police said in a statement yesterday. The police cited 'alleged involvement in anti-government subversive activities' in its reasoning for the arrest. Smith's wife Sharon said that Guy, who was originally from Kentucky, has been living in Uganda for more than 20 years. President Yoweri Museveni (pictured) has admitted citizens have been rounded up for alleged plotting against the state, and are being held by the military and other security agencies She said that her husband had been taken from their home in the early hours of Sunday. Neighbours described seeing armed men in plain clothes take her husband away in a vehicle known in Uganda as a 'drone' - a van with blacked out windows and no number plate. These vehicles have become notorious for use by security forces to abduct opposition activists following a disputed January 2021 election, with multiple cases documented by Human Rights Watch. 'The recent spate of enforced disappearances has only compounded the intense climate of fear in Uganda following the recent violent national elections,' Oryem Nyeko, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement earlier this month. Police in Uganda released a brief statement yesterday confirming they had arrested Guy Smith and cited 'alleged involvement in anti-government subversive activities' The opposition National Unity Platform alleges that hundreds of its supporters have been rounded up by security forces, with many dumped in remote locations days or weeks later after having been burned, electrocuted and their fingernails plucked out. President Yoweri Museveni has admitted citizens have been rounded up for alleged plotting against the state, and are being held by the military and other security agencies. According to Sharon Smith, her husband was not involved in politics and spent his days 'walking and watching the news' when he was not caring for their two children, aged 11 and eight. 'I have no idea why they've taken him... we just want to know what's happening and we want him released.' In a statement sent to AFP, the US State Department acknowledged that it had seen reports of a US citizen detained in Uganda and said it stood ready to provide consular support. One might have thought that after 17 major announcements since lockdown, Rishi Sunak has said everything there is to say about the economy. Not a bit of it. Today sees the launch of Tax Policy & Consultations Day, or TPAC as the accountants call it. The idea is to bring together in one co-ordinated package up to 30 current tax reform plans cooked up in Whitehall. Chancellor Rishi Sunaks decision to raise corporation tax from 19 per cent to 25 per cent in 2023 shows how even the best navigation can end up in a swamp Tax day will offer a road map to future revenue reforms rather than have them drift out willy-nilly with the budget. The tax muddle loomed ever larger in the pandemic. That most hated of High Street levies, business rates, has been suspended. VAT has temporarily been reduced for hard-hit hospitality industries and most self-employed have been able to convert past self-assessment returns into rights for furlough style payments. Logically, one might expect the self-employed to be part of the package. The Uber court ruling blurs the lines between the gig economy and being employed. Under IR35, agency and contract workers would be regarded as employees and required to pay higher national insurance contributions. All of this may end up equalising terms and conditions for the employed and self-employed, but it could also endanger entrepreneurship. A record number of 84,758 businesses were founded on kitchen tables and garages in the pandemic. Extending the income tax and national insurance system in a way which penalises enterprise and flexibility would be a mistake. After Boris Johnsons ten-point plan for climate change, and with the Cop26 summit in November, Sunak will want to be on the front foot on the environment. The International Monetary Fund has suggested that a charge of $35-a-tonne on CO2 might be enough for some countries to meet the Paris objectives, but to be really effective a higher price of $100 or more might be necessary. Knowing the capacity of energy taxes to bring riots on the streets, from Paris to Chile, this is tricky territory. One possibility talked about for the UK is a super-super investment break for green projects. The Chancellors decision to raise corporation tax from 19 per cent to 25 per cent in 2023 shows how even the best navigation can end up in a swamp. George Osbornes cut in corporation tax to 19 per cent was partly paid for by taking away deductions such as the ability to carry forward all losses. The result is that is a double business tax whammy and will make the UK less competitive. Tax geeks can expect a field day with everything from wealth taxes, to pensions and to online charges likely to get a mention. But be warned: consistent tax planning is not the UKs strong suit. Home making My trainer and her partner spent much of lockdown fitting a new kitchen and are now getting around to painting. As the full-year results from B&Q and Castorama owner Kingfisher show, they were by no means alone. Pre-tax profits jumped by 634 per cent to 756million, although the scale of the leap exaggerates because last year was blighted by exceptional items. Covid lockdown and homeworking ramped up digital and has turned a group which struggled in recent times into a roaring success, with 18 to 34-year-olds among those enthused. Screwfixs online enterprise and trade counters, until Covid, were regarded as Kingfishers rawlplug in the hole. But there is a different look to the latest results with same store sales at B&Q in Britain and Ireland climbing by 13 per cent, twice the rate at Screwfix. Big sales jumps were recorded everywhere from France to Poland, with Spain the only laggard. The big question for chief executive Thierry Garnier is can he build on the gains? He seems confident that new trends in digital, working from home, click and collect have turned the tide. Its quite a journey back for shares, which dipped to 152p exactly a year ago, and now stand at 324p. Book worm The Random House takeover of Penguin proved painful enough for authors and editors, crushed in the rush for scale. So going a step further by adding Barack Obamas publishers Simon & Schuster to the group through a 1.45million takeover would be horrendous for all stakeholders. The theory that books and reading would be crushed by Kindle and Amazon, one and the same, has been walloped by the pandemic. The Competition & Markets Authority should show no mercy and block this unwanted deal. [March 23, 2021] Facebook Canada works with the Government of Canada to help reach millions of Canadians with COVID-19 vaccine information Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, joins Facebook Live to answer Canadian's COVID-19 vaccine questions and engages Canadian creators to help build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines within their communities. TORONTO, March 23, 2021 /CNW/ - Working with the Government of Canada, today Facebook Canada is launching a number of initiatives to support Canadian health authorities' efforts to reach millions of Canadians with trusted COVID-19 vaccine information. This includes hosting Your COVID-19 Vaccine Questions Answered, a Facebook Live event with Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, and engaging Canadian creators to empower them to speak to their communities about the COVID-19 vaccines. "The Public Health Agency is committed to providing Canadians with accurate information on vaccine safety and effectiveness. I know that Canadians also discuss and share health information they receive from friends, family and community leaders. That is why we are working with content creators to make sure they feel empowered, and have access to credible information, to have conversations about COVID-19 vaccines with their communities," said Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada. Your COVID-19 Vaccine Questions Answered - Facebook Live with Dr. Theresa Tam March 31, at 1PM ET, Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada's Chief and Deputy Chief Public Health Officers, and Dr. Evan Adams, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Indigenous Services Canada, will go live from Facebook Canada's Page to answer Canadians' COVID-19 vaccine questions. The discussion will be co-hosted by Samantha Yammine, a neuroscientist, molecular biologist and popular science communicator better known as Science Sam , along with Danielle Nadin from CIHR Institute of Gender and Health . Click "Interested" here to RSVP and join the Facebook Live discussion. Empowering Canadian Creators Creators can play an important role in the conversation about COVID-19 vaccines within their communities by reaching a broad spectrum of Canadians with accurate health information. In collaboration with the Government of Canada, Facebook will host a virtual event focused on empowering creators to have constructive conversations with their followers to help and connect their communities with credible health information. Featured speakers include Dr. Onye Nnorom , President of the Black Physicians Association of Ontario, and Olivier Bernard, creator of Le Pharmachien . "We want to make it easier for people to find accurate answers to their questions about COVID-19 vaccines. Creators are trusted community leaders, and through this event we're hoping to connect them with credible scientific information they can then share with their communities," said Samantha Yammine, PhD, neuroscientist, molecular biologist and popular science communicator better known as Science Sam. "We want to normalize sharing science, that way everyone can be empowered to make an informed decision when their opportunity for a vaccination arrives." Helping Health Organizations Reach Canadians & Fighting Misinformation Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic last March, Facebook has connected over 2 billion people all around the world to COVID information from health authorities. Now, as COVID-19 vaccines begin to roll out, we're using our scale to connect billions of people with accurate health information to help build confidence in these vaccines. Today, Facebook is launching additional supports to help do this in Canada: We will begin bringing content from provincial health organizations into the COVID-19 Information Centre understanding that Canada's vaccine roll-out is provincially led. understanding that vaccine roll-out is provincially led. Giving ad credits to help Canadian health organizations reach people across Canada with COVID-19 vaccine and important health information, as part of our commitment announced earlier this year to give $120 million in ad credits to global health authorities. These initiatives build on Facebook's work with global health officials to connect people to accurate information about COVID-19 and vaccines across our platforms and remove harmful content that could put people at risk. This effort includes removing millions of pieces of content on Facebook and Instagram that violate our COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation policies including 2 million since February alone. We've also labeled more than 167 million pieces of COVID-19 content, while making accounts that discourage vaccines harder to find. More on Facebook's work promoting authoritative information about COVID-19 vaccines can be found here . About Facebook Canada Founded in 2004, Facebook's mission is to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together. More than 24 million Canadians use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what's going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them. Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc. All other brand or product names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. SOURCE Facebook Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Three people were killed and two California Highway Patrol officers were hospitalized with major injuries after a crash on Interstate 5 in San Joaquin County Tuesday morning, authorities said. Two CHP officers were on I-5 south of Walnut Grove Road near Lodi assisting a stalled tractor trailer at about 2:30 a.m. when their vehicle was rear ended by a passing SUV. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A Colorado shooting in one supermarket has claimed the lives of 10 people, including a police officer who was the first responder to the scene, according to officials. Police have already captured the shooter but did not reveal the suspect's name and details regarding the shooting, according to an Associated Press report. Officials said it would take days to investigate the large crime scene and to notify the families of those that had been killed. This was the latest mass killing this year in the United States after the March 16 Atlanta spa shooting, which left eight people dead, including some Asian women. READ NEXT: 17-Year-Old Suspect Arrested for Mass Shooting That Killed 5 People, Including Pregnant Woman The Colorado Shooting Incident One civilian, Dean Schiller, said he had just left the King Soopers supermarket in Boulder, Colorado on Monday afternoon, when he heard gunshots and saw three people lying on the ground, face down. Two of the victims were in the parking lot, and one was near the doorway. Schiller said he could not tell at the time if they were breathing. Law enforcement vehicles and officers gathered outside the store, including SWAT teams. And at least three helicopters were on the supermarket's roof. Civilian James Bentz told the Post that he was in the meat section when he heard what he thought was a misfire, followed by a series of gunshots. "I was then at the front of a stampede," he said as CNBC reported. Colorado Governor Jared Polis addressed the incident through a tweet, saying his heart is breaking as he watched the event unfold in their community. Slain Police Officer The deceased police officer was Eric Talley, 51, who had been serving the Boulder police since 2010, according to Boulder police Chief Maris Herold. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty described the Colorado shooting incident as a nightmare for Boulder County. "I promise the victims and the people of the state of Colorado that we will secure justice," Dougherty said in the AP report. Meanwhile, the identity of the other nine victims has yet to be released as police were still notifying their families. Matthew Kirsch, the acting U.S. attorney for Colorado, promised that the full weight of federal law enforcement would be imposed upon the investigation. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents arrived on the scene, along with Federal Bureau of Investigation agents. U.S. Mass Shootings Two major mass shootings were reported within a week of each other. Despite the frightening occurrence, experts said that shootings that killed at least 50 people and injured 200 more have been less common during the pandemic, Business Insider reported. However, the Gun Violence Archive discovered that more private shootings significantly increased, with four or more people being shot by one person. The archive noted that there were 611 mass shootings in 2020, and the majority of the suspects knew the victims. Jillian Peterson, an associate professor of criminal justice at Hamline University, told the New York Times that it is likely the focus on the pandemic meant less talk of mass shootings for a gunman to become interested. "There had been a hope that maybe we broke the cycle and maybe we won't return. Now that it's back, a number of scholars are really concerned," Peterson said in the report. Related story: Orange County Prosecutors Committed Malpractice in Mass Shooting Case, Review Finds WATCH: Reporters Describe What it Was Like Inside Supermarket in Colorado Shooting - From CNBC Television YARDLEY, Pa., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCK) will release its earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, April 19, 2021. The Company will hold a conference call to discuss these results at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. The dial-in numbers for the conference call are (630) 395-0194 or toll-free (888) 324-8108 and the access password is "packaging". A replay of the conference call will be available for a one-week period ending at midnight on April 27, 2021. The telephone numbers for the replay are (203) 369-3560 or toll free (800) 879-1876. A live webcast of the call will be made available to the public on the internet at the Company's website, www.crowncork.com. Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading global supplier of rigid packaging products to consumer marketing companies, as well as transit and protective packaging products, equipment and services to a broad range of end markets. World headquarters are located in Yardley, Pennsylvania. For more information, contact Corporate Communications at (215) 602-2653. SOURCE Crown Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://www.crowncork.com The Tuesday asked the Centre to finalise and notify the Health Policy for Rare Diseases by March 31, and directed it to set up a Consortium for Research, Development and Therapeutics (NCRDT) for such ailments. It also asked the government to consider increasing the budget for rare diseases for the upcoming financial year 2021-22 and said the policy should deal with giving financial incentives for manufacturing drugs and contributing towards treatment of rare diseases. Justice Prathiba M Singh, in an interim order on a batch of petitions concerning children suffering from rare diseases, said that as part of the policy, besides the NCRDT, a committee at AIIMS as well as a fund be set up for such ailments. It said the consortium should consist of the Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) other related ministries and departments and look after research, the development of indigenous treatment, manufacturing of drugs and inclusion of persons in clinical trials. The Health Policy for Rare Diseases, 2020 shall be finalised and notified by the Government of India on or before March 31, the high court directed. The high court passed the directions after considering a report filed by an expert committee set up by the court, an affidavit by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and also the earlier orders passed in the matter. It said these directions shall form part of the Policy. It said the rare diseases committee shall be set up at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for examination of applications and recommend the treatment and funding of the rare illnesses. The court said when the application will be received by AIIMS, a decision has to be taken by the committee within two weeks and in case, an application is received through other institutions notified under the Policy, the decision on treatment and funding has to be taken by the panel within four weeks. It directed that the entire unspent budget allocated for rare diseases for the past three years shall be immediately moved into the rare diseases fund, which shall be managed, supervised and utilised by nodal agency AIIMS. The digital platform created under the Policy for receiving crowd funding shall be linked to the fund and those individuals and companies wishing to contribute shall make direct contributions into it. The court said the Policy shall be placed before it and the petitioners shall make a representation to the Committee for further processes in terms of the directions and listed the matter for further hearing on April 19. It also asked the petitioners, suffering from rare diseases, to make representations to the committee regarding the treatment. The high court had earlier constituted an expert committee to assess and find solutions on various aspects, including how to immediately provide treatment and therapy options to patients suffering from rare diseases including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Hunter's syndromes. It had said the committee shall also discuss steps to be taken to indigenise the development of the therapies in India and reasonable timelines required to be followed thereof. DMD, one of the various forms of muscular dystrophy, is a rare genetic disease that affects boys almost exclusively and causes progressive weakness. The high court's order came on various pleas filed on behalf of children suffering from rare diseases, including DMD and Mucopolysaccharidosis II or MPS II (Hunter Syndrome), and seeking direction to the Centre to provide them uninterrupted and free of cost treatment as the therapy is very expensive. MPS II is a rare disease that is passed on in families and it mainly affects boys and their bodies cannot break down a kind of sugar that builds bones, skin, tendons and other tissues. The high court had earlier also directed the Centre to finalise by March 31 its new National Health Policy for Rare Diseases of 2020 and make operational the digital platform envisaged under it for crowd funding of the expensive medicines and treatment for rare illnesses. The court had also noted in its order that the earlier policy on rare diseases of 2017 was kept in abeyance from December 2018 onwards and the new policy was still awaiting comments from the public and other stakeholders. (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.) Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Education on Monday announced applications are open for the 2021-22 Governors Civic Seal Grants, totaling $500,000, to support Tennessee public schools, districts, and charter schools in implementing high-quality civic education programs to prepare students for college, career, and civic life. Applications for the 2021-22 Governors Civic Seal Grants are open to all Tennessee public schools, districts, and charter schools and awards range from $5,000 to $20,000. The optional intent to apply is due April 5 and the required application is due April 30. Each of these and additional guidance can be found here. "We are proud to support a robust civics education for our public schools so Tennessee students are confident in how government works," said Governor Lee. "High-quality civics instruction ensures our students are prepared for life beyond the classroom and ready to contribute to their communities." On March 4, 2019, Governor Bill Lee announced the Governors Civic Seal to recognize Tennessee schools and districts that prioritize teaching our nations and states history and civic values. These grants are the second round of Governors Civic Seal Grants, funded by the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund, to support schools and districts in earning the Tennessee Excellence in Civics Education designation, which will be shown on the online State Report Card. Additionally, these grants are intended to be used towards meeting the criteria for earning the Governors Civics Seal. "At the department, we are thankful for Governor Lees focus on civics and citizenship and ensuring all Tennessee students are prepared for success beyond the classroom and to be engaged citizens in their communities, said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. These grants will provide our districts and schools with access to programs, resources, and professional development to emphasize life-long civic learning for their students. Grant applicants are encouraged to address two key priorities, including high-quality instructional materials and resources and teacher preparation and professional development in their applications. Grantees will be selected through a competitive application process, with up to sixty grants being awarded in total. Grantees are requested to address key priorities dependent on the amount of the grant. Schools may apply for a $5,000 or $10,000 grant. Districts may apply for a $5,000, $10,000, or $20,000 grant. School and district funding eligibility levels can be found here. Recipients of the grants will receive ongoing planning and implementation support towards civics initiatives, be provided a tool to conduct a needs assessment to help identify the assets and opportunities within their civics programs, and add capacity to school and district strategic plans for civics education. Grant awardees, along with the Governors Civics Seal design, will be announced in May. To learn more about the Governors Civics Seal, click here. Police said the suspected gunman was believed to be the only individual with serious injuries who survived the bloodshed Police used armored vehicles to smash windows and walls to gain access as a gunman opened fire at a King Sooper's grocery store on March 22, 2021 in Boulder, Colorado. Ten people, including a police officer, were killed in the attack. (Chet Strange/Getty Images/AFP) Boulder, Colorado: A gunman opened fire at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday, killing 10 people, including a police officer, before being arrested, marking the second deadly U.S. mass shooting in less than a week. Police gave few immediate details of the shooting and no known motive for the violence, which unfolded at about 3 p.m. at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, a north-central Colorado city at the eastern foot of the Rockies, about 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Denver. Frantic shoppers and employees fled for cover through the supermarket as law enforcement officers swarmed the scene, located about 2 miles from the University of Colorados flagship campus. Sarah Moonshadow, 42, a customer and Boulder resident who was in the store with her son, Nicholas, recounted scenes of pandemonium as gunfire rang out from inside the store. We were at the checkout, and shots just started going off, Moonshadow told Reuters. And I said, Nicholas get down. And Nicholas ducked. And we just started listening and there, just repetitive shots ... and I just said, Nicholas, run. Moonshadow said she tried to go to the aide of a victim she saw lying on the pavement just outside the store, but her son pulled her away, telling her, We have to go. The woman broke down in sobs, adding, I couldnt help anybody. The bloodshed came less than a week after gun violence last Tuesday that left eight people dead, including six Asian women, at three day spas in and around Atlanta. A 21-year-old man has been charged with those killings. Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said 10 people perished in the attack at King Soopers grocery. Among them was 51-year-old policeman Eric Talley, an 11-year veteran of the Boulder police force, who she said was the first officer at the scene. Police said the suspected gunman was believed to be the only individual with serious injuries who survived the bloodshed. He was not publicly identified. Video footage from the scene broadcast earlier by television stations showed a shirtless, bearded man in boxer shorts being led away from the store in handcuffs, before he was placed on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance. The man in custody appeared to have a bloody leg and was limping as he walked. One man who said he was shopping inside the store with his wife told KCNC-TV that he heard three loud bangs he took for gunshots, and ran through the store with other customers to escape through a loading bay at the rear of the building. He said the apparent shots sounded like they came from the checkout area at the front of the store. Authorities gave few details about how the shooting unfolded. Commander Kerry Yamaguchi of the Boulder Police Department told reporters several hours after the fact that investigators were just starting to process the crime scene. Boulder has suffered a terrible and horrific mass shooting today, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said at a news conference later in the evening. Video footage taken by an onlooker and posted to social media shows two bodies lying in the grocery store parking lot, before the person with the camera walks inside and films a third body lying there, as three shots are heard in the background. The Table Mesa area of Boulder where the shooting occurred is home to a residential neighborhood and the hilltop laboratory of the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Police declined to say what kind of weapon was used, but the Denver Post reported that initial 911-emergency calls described the suspects firearms as a patrol rifle. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Mayoral candidate Kim White announced Tuesday her ten-point initiative for combating issues faced by women in Chattanooga, particularly those who are Black and Latina. If elected, White will serve as the first female mayor in the history of our city and is the first to develop strategic policies that address female-specific issues worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. "To support women in Chattanooga who are currently working, or those who would like to re-enter the workforce, access to child care, jobs and flexible work schedules are critical," officials said. Ms. White will prioritize the following measures to increase the recruitment and retention of women in the local workforce: The city will improve quality and affordable child care, beginning with city government, which will set the example by offering child care to its employees. Ms. White will challenge the local business community, especially large employers, to commit to providing child care for their employees with a goal of providing 2,000 more child care seats for working parents in her first term. Flexible work schedules are paramount. Ms. White's administration will work with city employees to make sure they have a balanced, flexible schedule to focus on both professional and personal needs including the demands many women face as caregivers for other family members like aging parents. As small and medium-sized businesses employ the majority of Chattanoogans, the newly created Office of Small Business Support will work with these businesses on access to resources and capital. This office will prioritize working with women, especially Black and Latina entrepreneurs, who currently own or want to start a business. City employees who are pregnant, recovering from childbirth or nursing will be provided workplace accommodations to ensure they, along with their children, have the best possible health outcomes including flexible breaks and scheduling for prenatal medical visits along with private, non-bathroom space to express breast milk. "With the rate of domestic violence increasing during the pandemic, Ms. White's administration will work to ensure women, along with men who face issues of domestic violence, will have a safe and synchronized effort to receive help," officials said. The following was announced as part of her plan: She will prioritize the coordination and support of the Family Justice Center along with nonprofit partners like the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults and Childrens Advocacy Center to ensure that those experiencing domestic violence and/or sexual abuse have a safe and accessible place to receive services. In addition, her administration will work with these partners to identify any critical needs, such as the current need for more court advocates to accompany survivors through the legal process. The community needs more education around domestic violence, sexual abuse, dating violence, child abuse, elder abuse and human trafficking. The Family Justice Center currently has two representatives who speak on these topics, as well as the importance of early intervention, in 10 schools. She will work with partners to provide this education throughout our school system and in the Citys Youth and Family Development Centers. With a refocused Mayors Council for Women, her administration will prioritize women, specifically Black and Latina women, in leadership roles, along with their fair advancement and compensation: Ms. White knows what it's like to be the only woman at the table in many situations. She is firmly committed to have one of the most diverse city administrations in history including hiring women, and specifically women of color, in leadership roles. This commitment to diverse, female representation will also apply to the hundreds of individuals the mayor appoints to critical, decision-making boards in the community. Hiring and advancement opportunities will be fair, and promotions will be based on performance, not attendance. With a commitment to evaluating and remedying pay disparity, Ms. White will work to swiftly close any gender pay gap in city government. And while compensation is important, she will also review the entire benefit package, including maternity leave, child care subsidies and tuition reimbursement programs to make sure that all women in city government are shown true value for their talent and effort. Young women must have the opportunity to see themselves in careers in the city and see other successful women in roles throughout city government. Ms. White's administration will offer internship and mentoring opportunities for high school students partnering with great nonprofits like the Public Education Foundations STEP-UP program. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 19:33:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Students attend a class at a local school in Shiberghan, capital of Jawzjan province in northern Afghanistan, March 23, 2021. The new school year in Afghanistan commenced Tuesday. In response to the outbreak of COVID-19 in February 2020, Afghanistan's public and private schools and universities had been closed in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. (Photo by Mohammad Jan Aria/Xinhua) KABUL, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The new school year in Afghanistan commenced Tuesday with President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani ringing the school bell at a ceremony held at a school in the capital Kabul. "In addition to employing 11,173 new teachers in the new academic year throughout the country, a total of 1,800 new schools will also be built in Afghanistan," Ghani said when addressing the ceremony. At least one million more Afghan children will attend school in the new school year, the president said. A total of 10 million children and teenagers including some 4 million girls, according to officials, are going to school this March in the militancy-battered country. In response to the outbreak of COVID-19 in February 2020, Afghanistan's public and private schools and universities had been closed in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Enditem Leaders of the associations representing city and county governments in Alabama say the benefits from the American Rescue Plan Act passed by Congress could far outlive the COVID-19 pandemic that brought about the legislation. State and local governments in Alabama are expected to receive about $4 billion from the act, signed into law by President Biden on March 11. That includes about $2.1 billion for state government, $951 million for counties, and $779 million for municipalities. Those funds for state and local governments are just one portion of the massive American Rescue Plan, which spreads $1.9 trillion across the national economy, including $1,400 direct payments to taxpayers. The Rescue Plan Act says the money coming to state and local governments should be used in response to the pandemic and its negative effect on the economy. But it also appears to provide more flexibility than coronavirus relief passed by Congress last year. The law says state and local governments can spend the funds on water, sewer, and broadband internet infrastructure. Officials say they are still waiting on rules from the U.S. Department of the Treasury that are more specific than the legislation. Greg Cochran, executive director of the Alabama League of Municipalities, said the League has asked the Treasury Department many questions and awaits answers. What weve told municipal leaders so far is to put the money aside and look for ways to utilize these funds to build those once-in-a-lifetime changes for your community, Cochran said. Whether it be broadband infrastructure, water system improvements, wastewater removal -- making sure that ever how they put these to use, it creates a legacy for their community. Half of the money is expected to come to the state by mid-May, with the other half coming no more than a year later. State and local governments will have until the end of 2024 to spend the money. Sonny Brasfield, executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, said the ACCA is making preparations to help counties use the money strategically as they get more information about the guidelines. Depending on how much latitude counties have under the rules, they could direct the money to fix shortcomings in their infrastructure such as in drinking water, wastewater, and broadband access, all of which are mentioned in the law. It really is a transformative amount of money if its utilized effectively, Brasfield said. Counties will receive money according to a formula based mostly on population, Brasfield said. The amounts range from Jefferson County, $128 million, to Perry County, at $1.7 million. Heres a table from the National Association of Counties showing all the county allocations. For cities with populations more than 50,000, the allocations are based on a formula that takes into account factors such as poverty and unemployment. Cities of less than 50,000 will receive an amount based on population. The American Rescue Plan comes on the heels of COVID-19 relief bills passed by Congress last year, including the CARES Act, which allocated about $1.8 billion to state government in Alabama. In every county, the revenue is enough to really make a change in the infrastructure in the community, depending on what the guidance says, Brasfield said. One of our experiences from the CARES Act was that the guidance was evolving and oftentimes adjusted. There were things you thought were not going to be eligible and then three months later they were. And vice versa. So thats part of why we want to encourage counties to let the smoke clear a little bit so that were able to take advantage of this money to the fullest extent possible. For the CARES Act, the Legislature approved a plan proposed by Gov. Kay Ivey to allocate the money to about 10 different categories in a coronavirus relief fund. The state Finance Department set up programs for using the money, including reimbursement programs for cities and counties for COVID-19 related expenses, as well as many other programs. Overall, the state has spent most of the CARES Act money, about $1.7 billion, according to the dashboard maintained by the governors office. Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, who chairs the General Fund committee in the House of Representatives, said it appears there will be more flexibility with the American Rescue Plan funds than with the CARES Act, although, like city and county officials, he is waiting on the specific guidelines. Clouse said its helpful that the new law allows until the end of 2024 to spend the money. Hopefully the restrictions arent going to be so tight, and it appears theyre not going to be. But we still dont know for sure, Clouse said. It will give us a little bit more leeway on what to spend on and also some more breathing room on the amount of time. The Legislature is responsible for appropriating the money under the state Constitution. Clouse said he does not think legislation will be required during this session, which must end by mid-May. He said that could probably be handled in a special session or during the 2022 session, which starts in January. A special session might be coming later this year to redraw legislative and congressional district lines based on the 2020 Census. The American Rescue Plan Act said state and local governments cannot use the money to offset revenue from a new tax cut. They also cannot use the money for pension programs. But it does appear the money can be used to offset losses of tax revenue caused by the pandemic. That wasnt allowed under the CARES Act. Officials say that could be important because of the revenue lost because conventions, business travel, and tourism was largely put on hold for months when the pandemic struck last spring. Besides help for state and local governments, the American Rescue Plan will send money to Alabama and other states for health care, education, businesses, unemployment benefits, housing, veterans services, and other programs. Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed, R-Jasper, said lawmakers need to take those allocations into consideration because they could overlap state budget priorities. I think there will be a lot of very important decisions that the Legislature and the governor and others will have to make related to those resources, Reed said. Just because youve got a lot of money does not minimize the fact that youve got to be very studious, very focused, on how you spend those resources for the benefit of the people. Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? For Deliana, the first latch went perfectly, but within hours it became clear that she didn't have enough milk. She had arranged to see a lactation consultation after the birth of her son, but thanks to Covid-19 restrictions, it wasn't to be, and for weeks she struggled to establish a good breastfeeding routine. "As a first-time mum, I felt so alone and scared," she admits. Meanwhile, Emily's breastfeeding was going really well, until her baby started showing symptoms of an allergic reaction to dairy in her mum's diet. She endured a few anxious days while she waited for a callback from her overstretched GP, but fortunately her health visitor was able to help solve the problem, despite being unable to visit in person. For some new mums, being stuck at home during a pandemic has been a godsend to their breastfeeding journey, allowing them to spend months of uninterrupted time getting their babies off to a good start in life. Yet for many, it has been a lonely, arduous struggle as they battle to establish breastfeeding at an unprecedented time when medical support can be difficult to access. These are two of the many first-hand accounts posted by new mums on Boobingit, the website set up last year by breastfeeding advocate Ruth Maguire (35) to support nursing mothers and incorporating the UK's first breastfeeding podcast. Now more than ever, she says, new mums need support, which is why she has just launched a new eBook, Breastfeeding for Beginners, which is packed with honest and positive information aimed at helping mothers and babies to establish that early bond. "Breastfeeding can be daunting and overwhelming to get to grips with at the best of times, but due to Covid-19 restrictions, things have been made harder," Ruth says. "Breastfeeding rates in the UK are already one of the lowest in the world, and now it looks as though these figures will dip further if we don't do more to give new mums support." She says the idea for the book came to her last year during the first lockdown. "As a breastfeeding peer supporter I wanted to offer as much mama-to-mama support as I possibly could during these difficult times we are all living through. I set about writing the book whilst simultaneously working on launching boobingit.com. It's been a labour of love! "Breastfeeding for Beginners is the kind of book I wished I'd had to hand when I was learning to breastfeed for the first time. It's full of real, honest, and uplifting information on breastfeeding. I hope it will bring a lot of comfort and reassurance to new mums as they get to grips with motherhood during a pandemic." Ruth lives in north Belfast with her partner Phil, a UX designer, and her children Rose (4) and Alex, who is a year and half. She had worked in marketing for years, but it was only after she had Rose that she found her new calling in life. Despite only launching the Boobingit website last year during the pandemic, she now describes it as her full-time job. "When I had my first child, I was very intent on breastfeeding her. I found the first six weeks very tough, trying to establish breastfeeding, but I really have become such a big advocate," Ruth says. Both children were born in the Royal Victoria Hospital - Rose was a natural birth and arrived on her due date, weighing 5lb 12oz, but it proved difficult to establish breastfeeding. "My partner says she came into the world hungry - she would feed for really long periods of time," Ruth says. The problem, as it is for many new mums, was encouraging Rose to latch correctly, and Ruth faced frustrating weeks of agonising pain and a relentlessly hungry baby. "It wasn't long before I had really sore nipples - I was in constant pain and every time she would latch on, it was like a nipping sensation, bringing tears to my eyes. I said, 'How can I go on?' It was so painful. "I had some lovely midwives who were trying to help me get the latch right. I became obsessed with getting her latched on right - why is something so natural so difficult?" What did help was the advice she received from health visitors and from other mums in her breastfeeding support group - things would probably get better after six weeks. "I kept hearing the first six weeks are the hardest - and it was definitely the case for me. Literally, like a switch, once six weeks hit, things became much easier and breastfeeding became a really lovely experience," she says. "It's a very bonding experience with your baby. If you can get past those difficult days, it's a wonderful way to bond with your baby, along with that feeling of pride you have as well." Fortunately, things were much easier with Alex: "He breastfed wonderfully from the get-go." But that support Ruth had had from other mums inspired her to retrain as a breastfeeding peer supporter for the Belfast Trust. However, just as she finished her training, the first lockdown hit and she could no longer fulfil that vital role. Instead, she turned her hand to coming up with a way of supporting new nursing mums isolated at home, while also embarking on her first book. "Just as I became a peer supporter for really talking to other women about helping breastfeeding, lockdown hit. It was just heartbreaking for all those new mummies who were trying to breastfeed while in lockdown," Ruth says. "When I go back to when I was breastfeeding and finding it really difficult, a big part of what helped me was going out to breastfeeding support groups and meeting other mums - and mums can't do that now. "So I thought, what more can I offer? More people are going online for support during the pandemic and I thought I would start a website for it. "I'd also been wanting to write a book for years and when I finished my peer support training, I felt it would be lovely to write a book from the perspective of one mummy to another, a relatively positive guide to breastfeeding and the kind of book I would have liked to have read when I had Rosie and was really struggling. It would have really reassured me." Ruth launched her website in October and it's gone from strength to strength, drawing visitors from Northern Ireland and around the world. "There are lots of new mums who think it's a great place where we can share our own stories - a big part of the website is the mama stories," she says. "I firmly believe you learn more from hearing about other people's experiences and it can be a really empowering way to continue on your breastfeeding journey. A big part of my book was about talking to lots of other mums to contribute to the book, sharing their tips about breastfeeding. "I think that really brings the book alive, hearing from lots of other people and what they went through good and bad - if they can get through that I can too! It's about not suffering in silence." While Alex was born before the pandemic arrived, he was only six months old and still breastfeeding at the start of lockdown, Ruth says. "My journey with him inspired me to write the book. Technically he was a bit of a lockdown baby too - he hasn't been anywhere for the first year of his life. So many mums I speak to had babies over lockdown and they used Zoom instead of face-to-face support. That's hard, especially if you're struggling for one reason or another." Ruth says breastfeeding in Northern Ireland has been growing in popularity in the past couple of years, albeit from a low level, and it's good to see so many places normalising it. "I'm really starting to see changes - I'm seeing more women breastfeeding and people are happier to breastfeed," she says. "Anecdotally, I am hearing that a lot of people have been breastfeeding for longer during the pandemic, because they are at home a lot more. "So they have plenty of time to focus on the baby and feeding, and they're not getting any negative comments from people in their life. They're just able to get on with it and find a way that works for them. "I also think a lot of people are wanting to breastfeed more during the pandemic because they feel it's safer as they're able to pass antibodies through their breast milk to the baby. "Lots of people are breastfeeding longer because they want to keep their babies close and pass on their antibodies. "There hasn't been a breastfeeding census for 10 years so I don't know what the rates are at the moment, but it's going to be really interesting to see how things have changed once there is a census about it." The Breastfeeding for Beginners eBook can be purchased from boobingit.com or Amazon. Follow Boobing It on Facebook at www.facebook.com/boobingit; on Instagram at @boobingit and on Twitter at twitter.com/boobingit THE HEALTH BENEFITS FOR BABIES AND MOTHERS All the right nutrients in perfect amounts Good immune system with reduced likelihood of infections Less likely to be obese in childhood Less chance of childhood diabetes Less likely to have severe asthma Less likely to suffer chest and ear infections Less likely to need treatment for dental problems Less likely to get gastroenteritis Improved intelligence Feelings of attachment to mother Breastfeeding health benefits for the mother: Reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancer Lessens the risk of osteoporosis Improves mood and reduces feelings of anxiousness Helps decrease blood pressure Reduces instances of type 2 diabetes Encourages bonding with your newborn Cabana founder and CEO Scott Kubly says the company saw firsthand how many couples were grappling with changes to their wedding plans and discovering the perks of a unique, low-maintenance elopement getaway. "Lots of our guests have been couples looking to enjoy adventure together as newlyweds and in place of postponed wedding plans," says Scott. "This giveaway is so meaningful to us because it's our way of creating a really memorable moment for a couple whose big day has to be different than they originally imagined." Cabana's elopement package not only gives one adventurous couple the chance to tie the knot in a picturesque, natural setting but also allows for them to go directly into their honeymoon. The contest winners will receive an all-inclusive Cabana rental for six nights, starting in Seattle and ending in Los Angeles, with a custom seven-day itinerary created by Cabana Concierge with booked campsites. As part of the giveaway, Cabana is partnering with local Washington jeweler Point No Point Studio to offer the winning couple two hand-crafted, eco-friendly wedding bands (valued up to $1,500 total), and esteemed photographer Mo Davis, named one of Harper's BAZAAR's best wedding photographers in the world, will capture the elopement ceremony and highlights from the winners' trip. Additional high-value add-ons for the grand prize winner include a gorgeous bouquet by Juniper Flowers , a local Seattle flower shop, and a $1,000 airline voucher to help cover travel to and from Seattle/LA. Even before COVID-19, more couples were choosing to elope. Pinterest saw a 128% increase in searches for "elopement photography ideas" in 2019, and the global pandemic has only increased the appeal of a budget conscious, intimate, outdoor celebration. "We're thrilled we've been able to be the solution for couples looking to do something unique, safe and special over the past year, and plan to continue adding more optionality to the Cabana experience so that it's custom-catered to your special day or celebration," says Scott. "We're excited that we've partnered with some incredible people and local businesses to offer a lucky couple the chance to elope on an unforgettable journey, and potentially help others reimagine their own wedding day. The giveaway contest opens to the public on March 23, 2021 and closes on April 6, 2021. Couples can nominate themselves or anyone can nominate a deserving couple. For full details on the giveaway and how to enter, please visit www.cabana.life/elopement-giveaway . About Cabana Cabana offers a new experience for travelers: luxury comfort and the freedom of mobility. The company has designed and built a fleet of upscale custom-made mobile hotel rooms to give travelers the freedom to travel and sleep where they want and when they want. Enabled through tech, Cabana brings guests digital convenience and peace of mind through contact-free booking, check-in, and check-out. Whether a seasoned weekend camper or a first-time leisure renter, Cabana lets you indulge in van life for a unique adventure like never before. For more information, visit www.cabana.life Media Contact Emma Green [email protected] 434-316-3053 SOURCE Cabana Related Links https://www.cabana.life 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. Vice president Kamala Harris let out a laugh after answering "not today" to a reporter, who asked her if she had plans to visit the U.S.-Mexico border. The vice president was taking questions from reporters outside of Air Force One at the Jacksonville International Airport on Monday when she was asked if she would visit the southern border amid a surge in illegal immigration. Kamala Harris responded with a "not today" statement before laughing. She then said she had visited "before" and would probably go back, Fox News reported. Harris' response, which was shown on a video posted on social media, earned backlash from people disappointed about her reaction to a serious question that tackles the growing immigration crisis. RELATED ARTICLE: Biden Administration Wants Billions More to Fund Migrants in Their Home Countries Kamala Harris on Border Daily Caller posted on its Twitter account a video of Harris who laughed while responding to the question. The recent surge in the U.S.-Mexico border is record-breaking, acting as the first crisis the Biden administration has to face along with housing the illegal immigrants. Representative Henry Cuellar provided photos inside a Customs and Border Protection migrant facility in Texas to select media outlets, intending to raise awareness of the true events on the border. Cuellar noted that the "eight" pods in the migrant facility have a 260-person occupancy. However, one pod has more than 400 unaccompanied male minors. The question of Harris' plans on visiting the border follows the administration restriction on media personnel to have access to the facilities of migrant children. It can be remembered that the White House insisted that the influx of migrant children on the border is not a crisis. "It is not enough for the members of the Senate to see what is happening," said Senator Ted Cruz when he sent a letter to President Joe Biden. Cruz also requested to allow media personnel to be allowed in joining them when they visited the border. However, the administration refused and argued about the COVID-19 protocols. "Denying the press the ability to observe, film, and report on the conditions at the border is not openness or transparency," said Cruz in his letter. Cruz added that the American people should know the real situations on the border instead of denials and excuses from the administration. Kamala Harris Receives Backlash The laugh that Kamala Harris let out garnered backlash online. Shes use the little cutesy laugh to get out of every tough question her entire career. Lester Diamond (@growlertime22) March 22, 2021 @DivineTurbine expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that the border situation is not funny in any way. Another Twitter user shared his thoughts, saying that the laugh that Harris made is being used by the vice president whenever she was asked tough questions. Why? Why the laughter? Whats funny about it? Why does she keep laughing on serious topics? Why? BhawaniSingh (@RudraBhawani) March 22, 2021 Laughs too much. Maybe its a nervous tick? Eeej4me (@Janmcknight5) March 22, 2021 Another Twitter user asked why does the vice president always laugh on a serious matter. Some people were even curious if the laugh is a nervous tick. The White House has yet to issue a response to media outlets regarding their take on the laughing Kamala Harris. Recently, the Biden administration has awarded Immigration and Customs Enforcement an $86.9 million contract for hotel rooms near the border to secure additional housing for migrant families who have not been expelled from the U.S. but placed in immigration proceedings for their removal. READ MORE: Lawmakers Urge Biden Admin to Grant Media Access on Border Facilities WATCH: Kamala Harris Makes Joke When Asked About Visiting the Border - From The Hill Zandvoort is still not giving up on hosting a full house of spectators for the Dutch GP in September. The inaugural race at the rejuvenated circuit could not take place last year as a 'ghost race' as it totally contradicted the organisers' financial model. F1 has scheduled the 2021 Dutch GP for September, but at present there is no sign that mass audiences of 100,000 people per day will be approved by the local authorities. "As long as it has not been proven that it will not be possible in the future, then we assume that it is possible," race boss Robert van Overdijk told Algemeen Dagblad newspaper when asked about the chances of a full crowd. So when asked what message he is putting out to the fans and Formula 1, he added: "That we continue to go with full power for a full house. We owe that to all parties." Van Overdijk admits that it is not an ideal scenario for Zandvoort. "The daily (infection) rates fluctuate - nothing else is talked about every day. Does that irritate me? Everyone wants certainty. But no one is able to look into a crystal ball," he said. He said he is not expecting "definitive clarity" on the matter until "June and perhaps July". "We need 8 to 10 weeks to build everything up - the stands, hospitality, tents. The plans are ready, the job is ready, the mobility plan, the permits. Organisationally we are ready," van Overdijk said. In the event that spectators are excluded from the final plan, talks with Formula 1 about financial compensation is the next step. "It is not just us that is committed to allowing the race to continue," he said. "The same applies to FOM. "FOM wants a proper calendar again and they naturally also yearn for full, spectacular races," van Overdijk continued. "I do expect that we will start talking about it. "We remain positive, and you should have that attitude too. If we let go of that, all of the air will immediately rush out." (GMM) A New Jersey law that forbids nearly all public employees from living out of state unless they get a waiver is unconstitutional and can not be used to fire a Somerville high school teacher, a judge has ruled in a case that challenged the controversial New Jersey First Act. The Somerville Board of Education hired a private investigator in 2018 to prove that English teacher Rebecca Drake had moved in with her boyfriend in Newtown, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles from the New Jersey border. Then, the school district went to court to try to get the tenured teacher fired after 12 years on the job, citing the state residency law. The New Jersey First law signed by Gov. Chris Christie in 2011, says nearly all public employees must live within the state borders unless they are granted an exception for financial, health or other reasons. At the time, Christie and other supporters of the law said workers paid by New Jersey taxpayers should also be living in the state and paying state taxes. But Superior Court Judge Thomas Miller tossed out the Somerville Board of Educations case, ruling that the state residency law is unconstitutional and cant be used to fire a teacher. However, the judges decision only applies to Drakes case and does not invalidate the law for all public employees. Its up the state Legislature to decide whether the residency law should be kept as is, rewritten or killed. This Court has determined that the N.J. First Act has not passed constitutional muster, Superior Court Judge Thomas Miller said in a 77-page ruling issued last month. Miller said the decade-old law is vague and it is unclear who should get exemptions for financial or health hardships. The Court agrees, however, that the matter should now be left to the Legislature as to whether the Act is amended to be constitutionally compliant, or whether other action is taken by the Legislature, Miller wrote in his opinion. There have been several attempts to amend the New Jersey First Act so it only requires high-level state employees to live in state, allowing lower-paid employees, including school teachers, to live anywhere. But none of the legislation has advanced in the state Legislature. The Somerville school district plans to continue fighting to fire Drake, the board of educations attorney said Monday. We will be appealing the judges decision, said Marc Zitomer, the school districts attorney. Drake and her attorney did not immediately respond to a request to comment. Drake was working at Somerville High School as a $75,401-a-year tenured English teacher in 2018 when she and her children moved in with her boyfriend in Pennsylvania. At the time, Drake was pregnant with her third child, her house in New Jersey had been foreclosed on and she and her ex-husband were in court with a bankruptcy filing, according to court papers. Drake had applied to the state Employee Residency Review Committee in 2017 for an exemption to the residency law, citing her financial problems. But her application was rejected because she did not provide enough paperwork documenting her financial problems, her attorney said. She applied again in May 2018 and was granted the exemption by the committee, allowing her to live out of state as long as she has her teaching job in Somerville. But, by then the school district had already filed its lawsuit to have her fired for living out of state for months without the waiver. Many cities and local governments around the country have residency laws requiring police officers, firefighters and other public employees to live within their borders. But, Drakes attorneys argued in court that New Jersey may be the only state in the nation to require all public employees, including teachers, to live in state. Under the New Jersey First law the only exceptions are for workers who can prove a financial hardship, cite a health reason or provide a letter from their employer that they are critical in their workplace. In addition, any employee who was already living out of state when the law was signed in 2011 is grandfathered in and doesnt need to move, according to the law. A 2018 analysis of state records by NJ Advance Media found at least 2,310 public employees have bypassed the law and gotten a pass to live out of state because they successfully applied for exemptions. Many of those who got exemptions were teachers who presented letters to the review board from their school districts saying they are critical employees and should get a waiver to live in New York, Pennsylvania or Delaware. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. The Need for Russia-Africa Dialogue agenda set for the International Interparty meeting with the energy sector to play a role 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. He confessed at Sunday's commitment ceremony to having 'blue balls' after failing to consummate his experimental marriage. But it seems Married At First Sight intruder Johnny Balbuziente is making progress with 'wife' Kerry Knight, as they looked very happy indeed while filming a date in Sydney's east on October 30. The newlyweds couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces as they went out for a stroll and completed a Confessions Week task. No worries! It seems Married At First Sight intruders Johnny Balbuziente and Kerry Knight are making progress, as they looked very happy while filming a date in Sydney on October 30 During their date, Johnny and Kerry were seen writing honest letters to each other. The couple took turns filming separate scenes while being fed instructions from a female producer who was standing off camera. At one stage, Johnny patted a dog who walked past while he was filming his scene. Spotted: The newlyweds couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces as they went out for a stroll and completed a Confessions Week task Candid: During their date, Johnny and Kerry were seen writing honest letters to each other Thoughtful: The couple took turns filming separate scenes while being fed instructions from a female producer who was standing off camera Later, he became quite emotional as he read out his handwritten letter to his wife, who then offered him support. He may well have opened up to her about his personal struggles or failed marriage to fellow actress Andrea Arena. Johnny and Kerry were joined by a small crew, which included a microphone operator and two cameramen. Down to earth: Johnny and Kerry seemed to be in good spirits while shooting their date Cute: At one stage, Johnny patted a dog who walked past while he was filming his scene Getting it off his chest: Later, Johnny became quite emotional as he read out his handwritten letter to his wife, who then offered him support Kerry was dressed in a white crop top, which she teamed with a black leather jacket and skintight jeans. She completed her casual look with a pair of sandals. Meanwhile, Johnny flaunted his muscular frame in a patterned black shirt and jeans. Chic: Kerry was dressed in a white crop top, which she teamed with a black leather jacket and skintight jeans Hunk: Johnny flaunted his muscular frame in a patterned black shirt and jeans This is the couple's first sighting since Johnny confessed on Sunday's episode he had a case of 'blue balls' due to the couple's lack of sexual activity. The term refers to discomfort caused by excess blood remaining in the genitals during prolonged arousal without relief. While sometimes painful, the condition, which also occurs in women, is not dangerous and can be easily relieved by masturbating. The intruder couple were married during last Monday's episode. They are getting along well but the physical side of their relationship is taking longer to develop. Oh, dear! This is the couple's first sighting since Johnny confessed on Sunday's episode he had a case of 'blue balls' due to the couple's lack of sexual activity "Looking back on the 20th century from an intelligence perspective can help us understand how the geopolitics of the 21st century developed, and how the world as we know it came to be," said Seth Cayley, vice president of Gale Primary Sources . "By bringing together material from across security and intelligence branches, Declassified Documents Online: Twentieth-Century British Intelligence, An Intelligence Empire will help scholars and researchers delve into the role of intelligence in theory and in practice, while newly declassified pieces offer possibilities of new research and new readings of historical events." An Intelligence Empire provides insight into the interests and activities of the British Empire, its allies and enemies through highly secret documents, from the precursors to Room 40 in WWI and WWII networks of subterfuge and resistance, to the geopolitics of the Cold War and beyond. This vast collection includes top-level memoranda, registered files, correspondence and policy documents from British government agencies and committees working within intelligence and security, including MI5, the Ministry of Defence and the Joint Intelligence Committee. The breadth and depth of the archive makes it a major source for 20th century teaching and learning. An Intelligence Empire brings together files from five departments: The Security Service (MI5): KV 2, KV 3 & KV 4 : contains personal, subject and policy files dating from 1917-1978. MI5 handled intelligence gathering within the British Empire and the Commonwealth. The selected subseries of KV 2 holds personal files on subjects of Secret Service enquiries, while KV 3 contains subject files on espionage activities of groups or other intelligence organizations, including the only subject file known to have survived from the First World War period. KV 4 holds section histories and policy files. : contains personal, subject and policy files dating from 1917-1978. MI5 handled intelligence gathering within the British Empire and the Commonwealth. The selected subseries of KV 2 holds personal files on subjects of Secret Service enquiries, while KV 3 contains subject files on espionage activities of groups or other intelligence organizations, including the only subject file known to have survived from the First World War period. KV 4 holds section histories and policy files. The Ministry of Defence: Communications and Intelligence Records: DEFE 21, DEFE 26, DEFE 28, DEFE 31, DEFE 41, DEFE 44, DEFE 60, DEFE 62, DEFE 63 & DEFE 64 : these series include registered files, reports and memoranda of the Directorate of Scientific Intelligence, the Defence Intelligence Staff and the Defence Signals Staff focused on the technical and scientific interests of the British government from the Second World War to the decades of the Cold War and the Atomic Age. The intelligence assessments and reports include those gathered post-war in Allied-occupied Germany , such as interviews with German scientists. With files dating from 1912-2002, these series bring the coverage up to the end of the 20th century, and include defense records on the Falklands, the Middle East , UFO incidents and details of Soviet weapon systems. : these series include registered files, reports and memoranda of the Directorate of Scientific Intelligence, the Defence Intelligence Staff and the Defence Signals Staff focused on the technical and scientific interests of the British government from the Second World War to the decades of the Cold War and the Atomic Age. The intelligence assessments and reports include those gathered post-war in Allied-occupied , such as interviews with German scientists. With files dating from 1912-2002, these series bring the coverage up to the end of the 20th century, and include defense records on the Falklands, the , UFO incidents and details of Soviet weapon systems. The Special Operations Executive: HS 7 & HS 8 : records of the Ministry of Economic Warfare and the Special Operations Executive (SOE), which functioned during WWII to promote sabotage and subversion, and assist resistance groups in enemy occupied territory, famously directed by Winston Churchill to 'set Europe ablaze!' Records date from 1935-1988 and include histories and war diaries in HS 7, and headquarters records in HS 8. : records of the Ministry of Economic Warfare and the Special Operations Executive (SOE), which functioned during WWII to promote sabotage and subversion, and assist resistance groups in enemy occupied territory, famously directed by to 'set ablaze!' Records date from 1935-1988 and include histories and war diaries in HS 7, and headquarters records in HS 8. The Colonial Office: Intelligence and Security Departments: Registered Files (ISD Series): CO 1035 : this series contains registered files of the Colonial Office relating to the security of British colonies, and intelligence on colonial matters and decolonization, including reports by Security Intelligence Advisors throughout the British Empire, and assessments from the Joint Intelligence Committee. Running from 1954-1966, these files represent a vital piece of the intelligence picture of the global Cold War and decolonization at the end of Empire. : this series contains registered files of the Colonial Office relating to the security of British colonies, and intelligence on colonial matters and decolonization, including reports by Security Intelligence Advisors throughout the British Empire, and assessments from the Joint Intelligence Committee. Running from 1954-1966, these files represent a vital piece of the intelligence picture of the global Cold War and decolonization at the end of Empire. The Cabinet Office: CAB 56, CAB 121, CAB 176 & CAB 301: the material in these series dates from 1936-1974 and shows how intelligence matters were considered, analyzed and processed through the Cabinet Office. Records from the Joint Intelligence Committee appear alongside Policy and Strategy files from the Special Secret Information Centre, and selected intelligence material from the Cabinet Secretary's Miscellaneous Papers held in CAB 301. New & Exclusive Search Capabilities! With the release of this archive comes a host of new search capabilities for teaching and researching that are exclusive to the series: Browse Collection: available from each collection, this feature enables researchers to browse a complete list of files in the order they were arranged by The National Archives. This not only provides a 'bird's-eye view,' of the entire collection, but is also a quick and easy access point to specific documents. This feature is also an effective teaching tool that instructors can use to teach students how an archival collection is organized and how to navigate it for researching. available from each collection, this feature enables researchers to browse a complete list of files in the order they were arranged by The National Archives. This not only provides a 'bird's-eye view,' of the entire collection, but is also a quick and easy access point to specific documents. This feature is also an effective teaching tool that instructors can use to teach students how an archival collection is organized and how to navigate it for researching. Manuscript Number Sort Search: users can sort their search results list by manuscript number, which is the order a collection was arranged in by the source library. This recreates/simulates the experience of working through the physical collection in the source library. users can sort their search results list by manuscript number, which is the order a collection was arranged in by the source library. This recreates/simulates the experience of working through the physical collection in the source library. Special Advanced Search Options: gives users the ability to limit a search by: 1). creation date, 2). declassified date, 3). government department, 4). classification level and 5). regional focus. These search options were built to support the specialized nature of the government documents in this archive, enabling researchers to differentiate between when a document was created versus when it was declassified by the U.K. government. The Declassified Documents Online: Twentieth-Century British Intelligence series is available on the Gale Primary Sources platform, enabling cross-archival searching to help users make new connections across topics. For those looking to explore even deeper insights, the series is also available through the Gale Digital Scholar Lab. This allows researchers to apply natural language processing tools to raw text data (OCR) from the collections or Gale Primary Sources archives and perform textual analysis on large corpora of historical texts. Now researchers can analyze and explore historical text more interactively, generating new research insights and content sets not previously possible. To request a trial, visit the Declassified Documents Online: Twentieth-Century British Intelligence webpage. About Cengage and Gale Cengage, an education technology company serving millions of learners in 165 countries, advances the way students learn through quality, digital experiences. The company currently serves the K-12, higher education, professional, library, English language teaching and workforce training markets worldwide. Gale, a Cengage company, provides libraries with original and curated content, as well as the modern research tools and technology that are crucial in connecting libraries to learning, and learners to libraries. For more than 60 years, Gale has partnered with libraries around the world to empower the discovery of knowledge and insights where, when and how people need it. Gale has 500 employees globally with its main operations in Farmington Hills, Michigan. For more information, please visit www.gale.com. Follow Gale on: Media Contact: Kayla Siefker, Gale, a Cengage company 248-915-9624 [email protected] SOURCE Gale, a Cengage company Related Links https://www.gale.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 21:09:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close FUZHOU, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Tucked away in the tranquil ravines of the Wuyi Mountains in east China's Fujian Province, Yang Wenchun's tea farm is colored by a sea of golden rapeseed flowers as swarms of bees and butterflies hop from one flower to the next. The flowers, which blossom among lines of tea bushes, were not planted for their aesthetic appeal, nor for their oil-yielding seeds, but as a source of green manure and natural insect repellent, said Yang, owner of the 21-hectare tea farm. The ecological tea farm is part of the polyculture project of Liao Hong, an agronomist at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University and a sci-tech expert sent to spearhead innovation in rural areas by the local government. Liao has provided technical support for the tea farm since 2018. Her team has trained thousands of agricultural technicians and farmers in different places in Fujian. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected Yang's tea farm on Monday. Xi was delighted to learn that the quality of tea has improved and farmers' incomes have increased as ecologically friendly methods are used in the farm over the years under the guidance of technical professionals. "We should sum up the experience and system of sending sci-tech experts to rural areas, and continue to improve, consolidate and adhere to it," said Xi. China's mechanism of sending sci-tech experts to rural areas aims to popularize agricultural science and technology, spearhead sci-tech innovation and entrepreneurship there, and help lead villages out of poverty and promote rural vitalization. The practice was initiated in 1999 when the local government in the city of Nanping, Fujian, sought to upgrade its unproductive rural economy. For a start, a total of 225 sci-tech experts were sent to the rural areas of Nanping to offer guidance for farmers in their daily work. In 2002, Xi, then governor of Fujian Province, appreciated the measure of Nanping in an article, saying it was a useful exploration in innovating rural work. In the same year, the measure of sending sci-tech experts to rural areas was piloted in several other provinces and regions. It was promoted nationwide in 2009 and has gained bigger institutional support from the central authorities since 2012. In his important instructions made on the 20th anniversary of the system of sending sci-tech experts to rural areas in 2019, President Xi encouraged sci-tech experts working in rural areas to uphold their original aspiration and make new and greater contributions to poverty alleviation and rural vitalization. As a grape growing expert in the agricultural bureau of Nanping, Xie Fuxin used to ride a bicycle to grape greenhouses in the countryside of Nanping to offer technical instruction, carrying a bag that was loaded with a lunchbox and shears to prune and graft vines. Xie was nicknamed the "grape wizard" by local farmers, for he was adept at explaining sophisticated terms in simple language, and more importantly, his growing techniques were quite effective. Over the past 20 years, Xie has trained over 10,000 grape farmers and helped expand the planting acreage of the fruit to over 4,200 hectares across Nanping, which generates 600 million yuan (about 92 million U.S. dollars) every year and has lifted thousands of local farmers out of poverty. China has sent nearly 300,000 sci-tech experts to rural areas in poverty alleviation efforts since 2012, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology. China has made rural vitalization a priority to promote growth in the countryside over the next five years. Initiatives in science and technology are being introduced in rural areas to promote modern agriculture. "I am proud that my work has helped many farmers increase their incomes. I just want to contribute more to farmers and the rural economy," Xie said. Enditem Russias Ombudsman turns to prosecutors in defense of rights of arrested Chechens RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 11:11 23/03/2021 MOSCOW, March 23 (RAPSI) Russias Federal Ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkova has forwarded a plea in defense of the rights of a group of Chechens arrested in Nizhny Novgorod on terrorism allegations to the Prosecutor Generals Office. Earlier this month, Moskalkova received via mass media an open application from Zara Magamadova, the mother of Salekh Magamadov and Ismail Isayev, who had been arrested in Nizhny Novgorod on suspicion of abetting terrorism. Moreover, mass media previously published an article about alleged physical coercion against the young people during their arrest, the Human Rights Commissioners press service stated. After the receipt of the complaint Moskalkova asked the Prosecutor Generals Office to conduct check over alleged violations. She holds control over the situation, the statement reads. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 An inmate in New Jerseys only womens prison is suing to be transferred to a county facility, the latest fallout from a series of alleged beatings that so far has led to charges against eight officers and demands for the prison commissioner to lose his job. Rae Rollins, who is 25 and transgender, was one of several women who said they were beaten in January by staff at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility. In the aftermath, many state lawmakers have also called for women to be moved out of Edna Mahan. Rollins has continued to experience derogatory, homophobic, and transphobic verbal abuse behind bars, according to the complaint, and one officer called her a faggot before spraying her with a chemical irritant. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Hunterdon County Superior Court, also asks for an unspecified amount of money to compensate for Rollins injuries. While the state has just one female prison, county jails are also equipped to house women. Prison spokeswoman Liz Velez declined to comment. In an interview last month with NJ Advance Media, Rollins accused officers of hitting and kicking her late Jan. 11 and early Jan. 12 during a series of cell extractions. She recounted similar details in the lawsuit. After being handcuffed during a cell extraction, she was slammed to the ground and struck multiple times, sustaining injuries to her lower extremities and head, according to the complaint. That attack forced her into a wheelchair due to difficulty walking, the complaint alleges. The next month, another altercation with officers left her hospitalized with a concussion, according to medical records. In signed testimony, Rollins said she was being transported in a wheelchair to a legal call on Feb. 18 when she asked that an officer who had repeatedly antagonized me not move her. When that same officer started pulling her wheelchair anyway, Rollins said she tried to stand up. I was grabbed, thrown against the wall, and was ultimately thrown on the ground before being struck with blows and chemical irritant, she said in the lawsuit. I experience dizziness, headaches, and blurred vision since this incident, Rollins added. The states largest corrections union, NJ PBA Local 105, has disputed that account. Rollins was the actual aggressor and four officers and a supervisor had to be treated for minor injuries, according to union president William Sullivan. That second incident is under investigation, the prison spokeswoman previously said. The lawsuit also described a third, unreported confrontation. Early this year, an officer grabbed my wrist and twisted my arm forcefully and then pushed me into a water cooler, Rollins wrote. When Rollins complained, a supervisor told her to let it go or she would be punished, according to the lawsuit. She was later charged with destruction of property and threatening an officer in relation, the complaint said. The criminal probe into the January incident is ongoing, and New Jersey continues to negotiate reforms with federal investigators since the U.S. Department of Justice concluded sexual abuse was rampant behind bars. NJ Advance Media staff writer Joe Atmonavage contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. A former lawyer for Donald Trump who made several false claims of voter fraud in regard to the 2020 presidential election is now arguing that no reasonable person would have believed her conspiracy theories. Lawyers for Sidney Powell make the argument in a court filing in hopes of getting a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit filed against her by Dominion Voting Systems dismissed, CNN reports. Dominion filed the lawsuit in January. Even [assuming] that each of the statements alleged in the Complaint could be proved true or false, no reasonable person would conclude that the statements were truly statements of fact, the filing says, as reported by Business Insider. Powell claimed that Dominion voting machines were rigged to switch votes for Trump to Joe Biden, his Democratic challenger, during the election. There is no evidence any vote-switching occurred in what experts have called the most secure election in U.S. history. According to CNN, Powell was sharing her opinions on the election and that people were free to come to their own conclusions. Powell made several public and TV appearances pushing the false claims. She lost every lawsuit she filed in making the false claims, Buzzfeed reports. Indeed, Plaintiffs themselves characterize the statements at issue as wild accusations and outlandish claims, the filing says. They are repeatedly labeled inherently improbable and even impossible. Such characterizations of the allegedly defamatory statements further support Defendants position that reasonable people would not accept such statements as fact but view them only as claims that await testing by the courts through the adversary process. According to Buzzfeed, Powells lawyers want Dominions lawsuit or the case moved to Texas. Theyre also arguing that Powells claims were hyperbole and should be protected by the First Amendment. But Buzzfeed reports that government filings show many people arrested during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol have cited Powells claims of a rigged voting system as a reason for believing the election was stolen from Trump. Dominion has separate lawsuits against former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Mike Lindell, the My Pillow CEO. Conservative commentators Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo, and Jeanine Pirro have been sued by election-technology company Smartmatic. He's only been in the business a matter of months, but already Laurence Fox's two sons want him to 'stop doing politics'. The 42-year-old ex-actor, who starred as the restrained James Hathaway in ITV's Lewis, barely has time to kick a ball around with Winston, 12, and eight-year-old Eugene since he recast himself as the fervent leader of the anti-woke party Reclaim back in November. 'I have to put time for my kids in my diary,' says Laurence, who shares custody of his sons with his ex-wife, actress Billie Piper. 'I don't stop. I can't.' He is, of course, the well-loved scion of the Fox acting dynasty which includes dad James, uncle Edward and cousin Emilia whose hugely successful career was scuppered last year because he dared to challenge claims on BBC Question Time that a racist British Press was picking on Meghan Markle. After that episode saw him 'cancelled' by many of his colleagues in the acting profession, he was trying to work out what to do with the rest of his life. Then the eye-wateringly wealthy investment tycoon Jeremy Hosking offered to fund a political party for him. Three weeks ago, Laurence sensationally declared he was going to stand for election as London's next mayor in May, against the incumbent Sadiq Khan. Laurence Fox and guest GQ Mens Fashion Dinner, Inside, Berners Tavern, Fall Winter 2020, London Fashion Week Men's, UK - January 2020 On the face of it, Laurence and Mr Hosking are unlikely bedfellows. The financier is a former Tory Party donor who spent a chunk of his 375 million fortune funding the Leave campaign. Laurence who was, as he says, 'part of a safe, arty, Leftie world earning a s***load of money from Netflix' voted to Remain. He claims the Brexiteer Hosking has said to him: 'It's all right, darling, I forgive you.' He adds: 'I 100 per cent support Brexit now. Look at the way the EU is behaving. I love Europeans but I don't like that lot. 'I am quite Leftie, but Right or Left doesn't matter any more. We're entering a new area of politics. It's authoritarian or anti-authoritarian. That's it. You're either with or against this censorious mob who go: 'No, you can't say that, that's wrong. It's chest-feeding not breastfeeding. Tear down all the statues.' ' In full flow, he continues: 'It's a burgeoning religion with no repentance and no forgiveness. I never understood before how Nazi Germany could happen. Now I do. It makes me want to resist with every single ounce of my being.' We meet at the Reclaim party headquarters in Central London in the week Laurence is launching a provocative poster campaign, featuring a statue of Winston Churchill being gagged. This, as Laurence hoped, is making many of us sit up and take notice. He hasn't eaten yet today so is running on zeal with a huge scarf wrapped around his neck to keep out the cold. Speaking of the poster, he says: 'I wanted it to be like a Clash album cover so people start to get it into their heads that politics is now rock and roll. 'The arts are meant to challenge cultural norms, but that's dead now. Politics is the only place you can challenge those little woke b*****ds. People climb on a bus shelter as they take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest in Bristol 'I also wanted the design to work on the level that history can't speak back to us, yet we're speaking to history by scribbling 'racist' on the side of statues. It is an expression of attempts to gag free speech. 'They [he means the wokerati] had [actress] Anne Hathaway apologise for playing a three-fingered woman [in the movie The Witches] to the limb-different community. They say only a trans person can play a trans person, only a gay person can play a gay person but we have a black Anne Boleyn. 'It's inconsistent and it's wrong. But we're not allowed to speak out for fear of losing our jobs.' The appearance on Question Time ended his 22-year acting career. For those who aren't familiar with one of the most notorious TV moments of last year, Fox clashed with an audience member a university lecturer and race and ethnicity researcher who said the way Meghan Markle had been treated by the Press was 'racist'. When she proceeded to call him a 'white, privileged male', he turned the tables by calling her 'racist'. 'I watched Question Time again the other day because of the Meghan Markle interview,' he says. 'I don't understand what she says half the time. When she goes: 'Harry and I are trying to build a world with greater conversations and more inclusion,' you're just like: 'You're talking s***, babe!' 'What she's done is said: 'I've experienced racism but I'm not going to [identify the culprit] so I'm going to make the family seem systematically racist.' 'That's cowardice. You should call out racism directly as I did on Question Time.' Many watching in the real world agreed, but the 'little woke b*****ds' didn't. He was eviscerated on Twitter, vilified by the actor's union Equity, who called him 'a disgrace to our industry', and let go by his agent. Laurence Fox with his 'Free London' Winston Churchill trailer which has been circulating central London 'My dad [the hugely respected actor James Fox] always says to me: 'Remember, it's the means to the end. They've no f***ing idea what the end is but they love the means.' That's true. 'They are the exact thing they accuse you of but they [pretend to be] kind and tolerant. They cause chaos and violence. They ruin people's lives and cancel their careers. I feel sorry for my agent. She knows I'm a nice guy who works hard and was also making her a s***load of money, but [a person that she knew] was like: 'We think he's a racist.' 'My agent said: 'Do you think it would be a good idea if you spent some time off my books?' ' Laurence is playing for laughs with me, but he bites his nails and chews his way through a jar of sweets. You know he is deeply hurt at being pilloried by those he once considered mates. 'The funniest thing is, I'll have an actor or director on Twitter going: 'Laurence Fox is despicable. How appalling. How can he? Right-wing fascist . . .' Then I'll get a private message going: 'Love you mate. I just had to do that.' ' He loved to act. His father suggested he try it as a career after Laurence, 'a typical, angry, p***ed off child' was chucked out of posh public school Harrow for getting too intimate with twins at the sixth-form ball on the dance floor. 'I auditioned for RADA [twice], got in and the rest, as they say, is Lewis [the TV detective role that established him as the thinking woman's crumpet]. Stick me on a stage and I'm as happy as Larry. 'Time slows down. I know what I'm doing. I enjoy it. When I got myself fired it was like when anything big happens in your life, it starts off as shock, then you go into denial and then I thought, I'm going to double down because I'm not going to apologise to these f***ers and they're not going to forgive me anyway, so f*** em.' Laurence has a large tattoo on each hand. One says 'freedom', the other 'space'. His mother Mary, a former nurse, used to tell his father she wanted more of both in their large, chaotic household of five children. She died following a fall at the age of 79 in April last year. 'She hated tattoos so I said: 'When you're dead I'm going to get freedom and space tattooed on my hands.' I spent my entire life winding my mum up. She loved it in return. 'We were all there Dad, all of us [when she was dying]. We were lying on the bed. It was sweet. Very emotional. Really sad. Mum was a smart cookie. She knew exactly what she was doing. She said, 'Could you get me a brandy' and then . . .' He doesn't finish the sentence. He breathes deeply. 'We all have different ways of dealing with grief in my family. I don't feel like I said goodbye to her so I feel she's still knocking about still giving me advice. She's like: 'Draw people out Laurence. Draw people out.' That's what she keeps saying to me.' Laurence Fox is pictured above appearing on BBC Question Time Laurence was in shock for the first few weeks following his Question Time appearance. He broke up with his mixed-race girlfriend, photographer Sara McKinnon, because 'she got a lot of grief from Instagram and didn't want to be in the public eye', he says. They got back together temporarily after his 'very brief' fling with journalist Madeline Grant. He is now dating someone who is 'not white' or English. He says: 'I must have a penchant for darker-haired women.' Apart from his blonde former wife, actress Billie Piper? 'I don't know what colour Billie's hair is now,' he says. When they married in 2007, Laurence had the wedding date and 'Mrs Fox' tattooed on his arm. Today, the inking is covered with an abstract tattooed fox. 'We got them in Mexico on our honeymoon. You can just make out the 07 now,' he says, rolling up his sleeve. 'The make-up designer on Lewis designed this for me to cover up my ex-wife's. Actually it was so badly made it said 'Mrs Pox' almost. She got one as well. I often wonder what's happened to hers.' The divorce is 'not really' amicable but 'very manageable', he says. 'It's not particularly friendly. We don't get on very well because we're so different. Marry in haste. . .' He shrugs. Pictured: Some tweets that Laurence Fox has written. He has certainly picked a big fight, but he's not in the mood to throw in the towel any time soon 'We fell in love very quickly but we're not the same people. Our emails are like, 'kids fine', 'that needs to be dropped off on Tuesday' and that's it.' During his marriage, Laurence saw very little of his family. Now he lives a stone's throw from his father and siblings in South London. He turned to them for advice after being approached by Jeremy Hosking about a political role. 'I didn't know Jeremy was the brains or the cash until he wrote to me after the meeting,' says Laurence. 'He wasn't dressed very smartly and there were four or five other people in the room who did the talking. 'They asked what I wanted to do. I said I was thinking of probably doing something in the media to resist this march of monochromatic wokery maybe start a political movement. 'Jeremy said: 'What about starting a political party?' I spoke to my dad. He said: 'If you do it that will be the end of your acting career for a while.' 'I said: 'I have to do it because I believe in it.' It's very difficult when you believe in something. You'll literally walk through a glass door if you're passionate about it.' He reaches for another sweet. Laurence will continue his fight against wokery until the 2024 General Election. 'Jeremy has funded it for four years [he is said to have pledged 5 million] and I fully intend to go all the way because, if you think it's bad now, wait until they start saying: 'You can't have a Conservative ever in this country'. It's coming. I believe it's that dangerous. If I didn't I'd be sitting on a film set saying, 'Get me another gin, will you, darling?' 'I've definitely chosen the most difficult battle I can have first, in London, but our private polling shows a third of Londoners are on my side. 'You should see the number of letters I get saying: 'I've lost my job for not self-censoring and don't know what to do.' Or the thousands of messages on Twitter saying: 'I'm desperate, terrified.' 'As Jeremy says: 'You lose, you lose, you lose, you lose you win.' What he means is you go into a fight that you might lose but, because each time more people understand what you're talking about, after a few bloody noses, you win.' Today he says Hosking, who is the only party donor, is 'one of the nicest men I've met. I phone him up sometimes to say: 'Is it OK if I spend this money?' He's like: 'It's your political party. Do whatever you want.' 'I went to spend a week with him up at his house in the North a couple of weeks ago. He said: 'Come and have a break [before the mayoral campaign launches]. You've worked really hard.' He . . .' Laurence stops. Looks aghast. 'Oh s***, I've just admitted that I've broken lockdown. No please don't write it . . . F*** it, I don't care. I do break lockdown. I don't think lockdown is the right thing to do.' Indeed, Laurence marched through Central London at the weekend to protest against the draconian lockdown measures. He believes we need to get out, get back to work and get our capital city up and running again. 'I still walk with my dad. I ask his advice. He's very, very hot on how you fight people. He says: 'Don't fight them with your truth. Fight them with the truth.' He also [believes in] 'love your enemy'. I love him so much. He has a little list of people he's quite pleased with and, a few months ago, he said, 'I've put you on my list.' He is proud.' Laurence looks proud too. He has certainly picked a big fight, but he's not in the mood to throw in the towel any time soon. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 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. SEOblog.com, a fast-growing website providing the latest SEO news, tips and resources and helping business owners connect with leading SEO agencies, has released its exclusive 2021 ratings naming the best Amazon SEO companies in the United States. SEOblog analysts determined the 15 best Amazon SEO companies in the U.S. based on dozens of key quantitative and qualitative factors. SEOblog industry experts examined each digital marketing agencys website, industry experience, market presence, client list, portfolio, expert certifications and authorship, among other factors in its ranking system. SEOblog has provided an in-depth view of companies in a particular city or focus area on various directory pages to help business owners find the expert help they need to grow. This was a new, free offer added by SEOblog in 2019. The United States boasts several top Amazon SEO companies that provide a very competitive digital marketing landscape. SEOblog.com rankings are updated regularly as the market shifts and new players emerge. SEOblog.com has published more than 2,300 agency listings, with more added every day. There is no fee to participate, and the website welcomes all qualified agencies to apply. SEOblog.coms 15 Best Amazon SEO Companies in the United States in 2021: WebFX, JDM Web Technologies, Mr. & Mrs. Leads, Flying V Group, Marketing1on1 Internet Marketing & SEO, Rise Interactive, 5280 Design Co., Perrill, The Guerrilla Agency, Accunity LLC, Fruition, Brandastic, Informatics Commerce, Enventys Partners and Website Depot Inc. Link: https://www.seoblog.com/best-amazon-seo/ About SEOblog.com SEOblog.com is a leading thought leadership site with a rich history of publishing educational and informative articles about SEO and digital marketing topics. In early 2019, SEOblog.com answered the call from buyers of digital marketing services that lacked unbiased, informative online resources and launched a comprehensive directory to highlight the best SEO companies in the United States -- https://www.seoblog.com/best-seo-companies/. SEOblogs mission is to connect businesses with qualified digital marketing agencies while also offering further SEO education, best practices and industry trends. SEOblog.com is a one-stop shop for educational SEO and digital marketing content, research, ratings and reviews for the best agencies in each local market across the United States and Canada. The website will be increasing its coverage of U.S. and Canada SEO agencies and accepting more guest blog posts in the coming months. Contact SEOblog if youre interested in getting involved. [March 23, 2021] Ecommerce Technology Leader RevLifter Names Chris Dobson as Chairman Accomplished Microsoft, BBC Worldwide, and The Exchange Lab veteran will help guide the growth and innovation efforts of the hyper-personalized promotion solutions company LONDON and SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- RevLifter, the leading technology solution for hyper-personalized deals and offers, today announced the appointment of Chris Dobson as Chairman. Through his extensive knowledge of digital, ecommerce, and global business-building, Dobson brings a wealth of experience to the fast-growing company as it enters the next phase of its international expansion. RevLifter's groundbreaking platform uses a combination of behavioral and contextual data to deliver hyper-personalized deals across the entire customer journey. Using a merchant's business goals as a foundation, RevLifter tailors 1-2-1 messages and offers to each customer, driving both increased revenue and profitability. Dobson, who joins RevLifter in a non-executive role, has propelled businesses at the forefront of marketing industry disruption over the past two decades. He was formerly CEO of The Exchange Lab, a first-of-its-kind programmatic platform that delivered effective media executio by aggregating valuable audience data from leading DSPs, data providers, and booking systems. The Exchange Lab was sold to agency holding company WPP in 2015 to bolster the Group's bespoke technology offering in the rapidly growing programmatic space. Prior to The Exchange Lab, Dobson led efforts to transform BBC Worldwide into a premier global omnichannel media property by successfully combining TV and digital assets. He also drove global commercialization for MSN with MSN Messenger, achieving 10x revenue-growth by pioneering the targeting value of audience data a method that now powers all digital media. "I am delighted to be joining RevLifter as it looks to bring the enormous benefits of hyper-personalized deals and offers to merchants globally," Dobson commented. "RevLifter is reshaping the promotions space by making every deal intelligent across the entire customer journey, which will help merchants solve their biggest challenges. I look forward to collaborating with the RevLifter team to drive rapid client acquisition and unprecedented technological innovation." "Chris Dobson has been at the vanguard of transformation across both marketing strategy and execution," said Simon Bird, co-founder and CEO of RevLifter. "Ecommerce is on the cusp of the same fundamental reinvention through the power of hyper-personalized offers and experiences. As RevLifter continues to expand, Chris will play a critical role in helping us better serve brands and making our technology an essential part of the ecommerce stack." About RevLifter RevLifter is on a mission to make every ecommerce deal intelligent across the entire customer journey. Its market-leading platform allows brands across all verticals to launch real-time hyper-personalized offers that exceed goals for revenue, sales, conversions, acquisition, and more. RevLifter's cutting-edge solutions are rapid to implement and paid only on the results they drive. Its technology is reimagining ecommerce incentivization by consistently delivering the best possible outcome for brands and their customers. For more information, visit https://revlifter.com. Contact: Richard Towey Director of Content and Communications richard.towey@revlifter.com +44 (0)20 3920 6899 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Number of skilled workers in China exceeds 200 million 09:05, March 23, 2021 By Li Xinping ( People's Daily Photo taken on June 14, 2019, shows new employees learning quality inspection under the guidance of a foreign engineer at a public training base for skilled workers of enterprises located in Wujiang district, Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu province. (People's Daily Online/Xu Congjun) There are over 200 million skilled workers on the Chinese mainland by far, among whom more than 50 million are highly-skilled workers, according to China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS). Skilled workers account for only 26 percent of the total workforce, said Liu Kang, an official with the MHRSS, adding that the country's total number of skilled personnel is still insufficient for China's job market given the huge demand of the country's economic development. "All of our students graduating this year have received job offers. They will become regular employees as soon as they officially graduate from our school," said Wen Zhigang, director of the enrollment and employment department of Guangzhou Technician College in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province. The ratio of applications to available jobs for graduates of the college is as high as 1:6, according to Wen. "Some enterprises make reservations' for graduates from our college two years in advance. More than 60 percent of our students are often booked' a year before their graduation and some classes are even booked up' as soon as students enter the campus", Yang Haiying, director of the enrollment and employment department of Guangzhou Light Industry Technician College in Guangzhou, told People's Daily proudly. During its 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), China saw an increase of more than 10 million highly-skilled personnel. However, the country's highly-skilled workers account for only 28 percent of its total skilled workers. The figure still represents a considerable gap between China and developed countries. As the country endeavors to improve the quality and efficiency of its development, constantly restructure its economy, and promote industrial transformation and upgrading, its demand for highly-skilled workers will increase with each passing day. Given the great demand for skilled personnel, it's both imperative and farsighted that the country ramps up efforts to improve the skills and quality of its workforce and expand the pool of its skilled workers. At present, China is home to nearly 2,400 vocational schools, which have around 3.6 million students on campuses and provide about one million graduates for society every year on average, Liu said. Enjoying a steady employment rate of over 97 percent, graduates from vocational schools have been popular among employers including enterprises, Liu said, stressing that vocational schools are the major source of highly-skilled personnel. Although vocational schools in China have witnessed steady improvement in their capacity for cultivating talents, and registered 1.6 million new enrollments in 2020, a record high number in nearly nine years, the number of graduates they can offer the country is still far from enough, according to Liu. In the coming years, China is going to intensify efforts to enhance vocational education, and increase the support of various parties for vocational schools, thus achieving new advances in vocational education and training, Liu noted. As a country with more than 200 million rural migrant workers, China has also been building up its pool of skilled personnel by improving the skills and quality of its rural migrant workers and turning them into skilled workers. According to credible source, the country carried out large-scale vocational skill training programs targeting enterprise employees during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. Such programs included a 100-day free online skill training program, vocational skill training plan for rural migrant workers, and a vocational skill training program designed to benefit young people. Nearly 100 million people took part in China's government-subsidized vocational skill training during the past five years. According to the country's Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, China is going to strengthen the cultivation of innovative, practical, and skilled personnel and expand the group of sophisticated engineers and highly-skilled workforce in the next five years. Efforts to build up the skilled workforce serve as an important foundation for the development of China's manufacturing industry, said Tong Tian, a researcher of Chinese Academy of Labour and Social Security. For enterprises, skilled workers are important foundation for improving their competitiveness and economic performance, while for workers, professional skills can mean lifelong benefits and a guarantee of high-quality employment, Tong said. Falun Gong adherents Li Caie (left) and Zhang Cuicui (right) die on Nov. 29, 2020 and Feb. 3, 2021, after 21-year persecution launched by the Chinese Communist Party. (Minghui) Falun Gong Adherent Loses Mother and Wife After 21 Years of Persecution Her eldest son rendered homeless and her second son in detention, this was the final scene in Li Caies life before the 75-year-old lady from a village in northwest Chinas Shaanxi Province passed away in November 2020. In December, her younger son was given a 3-year sentence in prison. Earlier this year, her displaced daughter-in-law passed away. This all happened because of the Chinese regimes persecution of Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, a mind-body cultivation system that involves meditative exercises and moral teachings. Following its core principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, Li, her two sons, and daughters-in-law once witnessed peace and happiness in their family until the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a brutal persecution against the practice on July 20, 1999, fearing its rapidly growing popularity. Since then, millions of Falun Gong adherents have been detained in prisons, labor camps, and other facilities, with hundreds of thousands tortured while incarcerated, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center. Lis eldest son, Yuan Guangwu, recovered from migraine headaches, stomach ulcers, liver disease, and a trigeminal nerve problem within a few days after practicing Falun Gong, according to a March 22 report on Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website dedicated to tracking the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Lis family of three generations from Mingqiao Village in Jianling Town, Liquan County, has experienced constant persecution for over two decades. Both sons of Li were re-educated in labor camps twice. The life of Guangwu, Lis eldest son, was at stake while in the Shaanxi Province Zaozihe labor camp and constantly becoming homeless after being released. One of his ears was beaten to the point of deafness. Torture in the Labor Camp On May 22, 2000, nine people in Lis family, including the brothers, were abducted by local police and town government officers. After being detained for 40 days, Guangwu was sentenced to forced labor for two and a half years, and his younger brother Huiwu for two years. Refusing to renounce his faith, Guangwu was once shackled to a bed frame inside a prison cell and not allowed to sleep by two guards for 24 hours a day. Guangwus urine was collected and poured onto his pants. In September 2001, Guangwu had been forced to sleep on the concrete floor under the bed, with scabies covering his body for six months. Prison guards humiliated him by forcing him to stand naked in the yard, being watched by crowds at noon, on the excuse of getting rid of mites under sunlight. On the night of June 30, 2008, over 30 people from a local domestic security team, police station, and town government climbed over the wall of their house to abduct Guangwu again, as well as his young daughter, brother, sister-in-law, and another three elderly Falun Gong adherents in their 70s. Fifteen days later, the brothers were taken to the Zaozihe Labor Camp, and each detained for one year. When Guangwu refused to give up his practice, prison guards instigated inmates to beat him severely on his head, abdomen, and waist, before hanging him onto the window with handcuffs. Illustration indicates torture of Hanging a Big Steelyard. (Minghui) After two months of torture, Guangwu was brought home by his family with tearful eyes. Forced Homelessness In 2010, more than 15 people from local authorities, including the Chinese regimes 610 Office, broke into Guangwus house in an attempt to arrest him. The 610 Office was established by then-party leader Jiang Zemin on June 10, 1999, to persecute and eradicate Falun Gong. It operates similar to Nazi Germanys Gestapo. Guangwu and his wife, Zhang Cuicui, were forced to contract out their dozen acres of apple orchards to others and find another livelihood. On the morning of March 26, 2013, Wang Liming, the chief of Jianling Town Police Station, broke into Yuan Huiwus house with his followers and raided their cash and personal belongings. The couple was forcibly displaced and had to leave their 8-year-old daughter unattended at home. On July 17, 2014, while they tried to make a living in Xian, Guangwu and his wife were abducted again. The following night, a police officer struck Guangwu in the face at the detention centers gate, causing deafness in his left ear until now. While being detained, he wore instruments of torture day and night for three continuous months. Illustration indicates torture of Needle and Thread. (Minghui) By Feb. 5, 2015, Guangwu had been nearly tortured to death. He returned home on bail on June 19. His younger brother, Huiwu, shared in the same suffering. On the morning of Dec. 18, 2020, Huiwu was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and fined 5,000 yuan ($770). Huiwu has filed an appeal against the judgment. However, the Xian Yanta Court judge denied that they had received the case when inquired by the families. Mother and Wife Die of Injustice The prolonged persecution of the brothers came to the elderly generation. When the 610 officers burst through the door in 2010, Guangwus mother Li fainted in fright. His father was hospitalized for more than twenty days due to systolic blood pressure elevations exceeding 240 mm Hg. In October 2020, six to seven plainclothes policemen suddenly broke into their rented residence in Xian, pinned Guangwu to the ground, and searched their home. Both Guangwus mother and his wife Zhang fell unconscious and were taken to the hospital for resuscitation. Guangwu and Zhang were repeatedly forcibly displaced. Li had to move to her daughters home but was harassed again after being found by police. On Nov. 29, 2020, Guangwus mother Li died due to the injustices. Later on Feb. 3, 2021, his wife Zhang passed away amid constantly forced relocations. To a relatively cautious degree, Flannery deals with OConnors own racial bigotry as a churchgoing Catholic product of the Jim Crow South. The documentary touches on her refusal to meet with fellow author James Baldwin in her home state, though this project made in cooperation with the Flannery OConnor Trust does not mention what she wrote in the last year of her life: You know, Im an integrationist by principle & a segregationist by taste anyway. I dont like negroes. They all give me a pain and the more of them I see, the less and less I like them. Particularly the new kind. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. BOSTON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FinMason, an investment analytics provider that enables WealthTech platforms to accelerate development and time-to-market, today announced that it has been selected by Informa Financial Intelligence's Zephyr business, an analytics and visualization leader in the advisor space, to deliver ESG data from OWL Analytics via the FinRiver API to their Zephyr platform. OWL Analytics, an alternative data company that focuses on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) research, became a FinMason data-redistribution partner last year. "We're always looking for new ways to support our clients in reaching their investment goals," said Chris Volpe, Head of the Zephyr business. "The pairing of two best-in-breed solutions FinMason's API delivery system and OWL's ESG Ratings presented a clear win for our Customers: a streamlined and accelerated deployment of holistic sustainable investing data across Portfolio Analytics & Performance." "We are excited to support Informa in bringing ESG investment data to their clients," said Benjamin Webster, CEO of OWL Analytics. "Over the past year, interest in ESG considerations has seen tremendous growth among investors. By partnering to quickly and seamlessly integrate ESG analytics, Informa continues to set the bar for attentiveness to clients' needs and commitment to best serving them." FinMason's data redistribution service lets fintech and wealthtech firms access data feeds from partnered third-party providers via FinMason's best-in-breed API. The service gives providers an additional channel for delivering their data that is flexible and can be easily integrated by interested firms. The list of partnered redistribution firms is constantly growing to help firms connect with the data partners best-suited to meet their preferences and needs. "As a global presence with a history of exceptional client service, Informa is a leader and innovator in the industry," said Phil Taylor, Chief Analytics Officer at FinMason. "We're looking forward to helping them deliver new value and functionality to their clients though the integration of sophisticated ESG data." This partnership closely follows FinMason's milestone achievement of reaching 30 million portfolios analyzed since launching their analytics API service in 2017. ABOUT FINMASON FinMason, one of the world's largest investment analytics engines for financial services platforms, enables WealthTech platforms to accelerate development and time-to-market while retaining control of their user experience. Built with speed, flexibility, and scalability in mind, the financial technology firm calculates and delivers more than 1,000 analytics on every publicly-traded asset in the world via one simple API. For more information, visit www.finmason.com. ABOUT ZEPHYR, AN INFORMA FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE BUSINESS Zephyr, part of the Informa Intelligence Division of Informa plc, is a leading provider of products and services helping financial institutions around the world cut through the noise and take decisive action. The Zephyr portfolio supports asset allocation, investment analysis, portfolio construction, and client communications that combine to help advisors and portfolio managers retain and grow client relationships. For more information about Zephyr, visit https://financialintelligence.informa.com/products-and-services/data-analysis-and-tools/zephyr. ABOUT OWL ANALYTICS OWL Analytics is data and indexing company that offers environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data and socially responsible investing (SRI) data on global equities, corporate bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs. Founded in 2012, our clients are some of the largest asset managers, asset owners, and indexing companies in the world, representing over $2 trillion in assets under management and advisement. For more information, visit www.owlanalytics.net. SOURCE FinMason Related Links http://finmason.com/ Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Sorry! This content is not available in your region 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. Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 50 Master's in Criminal Justice Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 208 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 208 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 50 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school. Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Master's in Criminal Justice Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-masters-in-criminal-justice-degree-programs/. 2021 Master's in Criminal Justice Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order): Angelo State University Arizona State University Boston University Bowling Green State University California State University, Long Beach California State University, San Bernardino Colorado State University, Global Campus East Carolina University Florida International University Florida State University Fort Hays State University Georgia College & State University Indiana State University Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University of Pennsylvania John Jay College of Criminal Justice Kent State University Lamar University Lewis University Liberty University Loyola University New Orleans Mercer University Michigan State University Missouri State University Northeastern University Nova Southeastern University Pennsylvania State University Rowan University Rutgers University, Newark Sam Houston State University Slippery Rock University State University of New York, Albany Texas Christian University Texas State University University of California, Irvine University of Central Florida University of Central Missouri University of Cincinnati University Of Colorado, Denver University of Louisville University of Massachusetts, Lowell University of Memphis University of Missouri Saint Louis University of Nebraska University of New Haven University of Oklahoma University of the Cumberlands Wayne State University Webster University Xavier University About Intelligent.com Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/. After Covid-19 forced Olivia Goulding's Indiana middle school to switch back to remote learning late last year, the math teacher lost contact with many of her students. So she and some colleagues came up with a plan: visiting them under the guise of dropping off Christmas gifts. One day in December, they set out with cards and candy canes and dropped by the homes of every eighth grader at Sarah Scott Middle School in Terre Haute, a city of more than 60,000 near the Illinois border where both Indiana State University and the federal death row are located. They saw firsthand how these kids, many living in poverty and dysfunctional families, were coping with the pandemic's disruptions to their academic and social routines. "You just have a better concept of where theyre coming from and the challenges they really do have," Goulding said. "When youre looking at that electronic grade book and Sally Lou hasnt turned in something, you remember back in your mind: 'Oh, yeah, Sally Lou was home by herself, taking care of three younger siblings when I stopped by, and I spotted her helping Johnny with his math and she was helping this one with something else.'" The school's experience provides a window into the hardships millions of families across the country have endured since last March, and exemplifies why education isn't the only reason many Americans want schools to fully reopen. Schools like Sarah Scott help hold their communities together by providing households with wide-ranging support, which has become much tougher during the pandemic. "A lot of our students are struggling emotionally," said Sarah Scott's principal, Scotia Brown. "They're stressed because they're falling behind in their work. Or they're stressed because of the conditions they're living with at home." Even before the coronavirus struck, kids at Sarah Scott faced significant obstacles that compounded the normal social challenges and surging hormones of middle school. They live in Vigo County, which has the state's highest rate of child poverty and high rates of child neglect. Nearly 90% of students qualified for free or reduced-fee lunches. Some showed up needing to shower and change at the school, which has a food pantry that also offers clothes and hygiene products. Things got more difficult for students when Covid threw Sarah Scott's normal schedule into disarray. Initially, the school went totally remote, then moved to partially in-person for the start of the 2020-21 school year. When Covid spiked in October, Sarah Scott went remote again because not enough substitute teachers could fill in for quarantining staff. Since January, students have been spending part of each week in the school building, with no plans as of early March to open fully. Kids were given laptops to use at home. But internet access can be problematic. "Internet has been the worst," said Samantha Riley, mother of seventh grader Mariah Pointer. "So many people are on it, it shuts down all the time." When that happens, she uses the Wi-Fi emitting from the school bus that sits in front of her apartment complex, one of several parked around the community to fill the gaps. Even when the internet works, though, keeping kids on task at home isn't easy. Heather Raley said she often cries from the stress of trying to make her eighth grade daughter engage online. "It just seems like were always butting heads over this," Raley said. "Its just a bigger battle getting the work done." As in many other communities, students are falling behind academically. Some don't do any of their e-learning activities. Sarah Scott's reports to child protective services for educational neglect when caregivers aren't getting their children to either in-person or remote classes have more than tripled this school year. Brown said she also worries about physical neglect and abuse, which is harder to detect when interacting with students remotely. "If you're in an abusive home and you have to be there five days out of the week because you're doing remote learning, you're in that environment even more," she said. More time at home can also mean doing without necessities, including food. The school helps by offering free breakfasts and lunches for in-person students and to-go lunches on remote days. Sometimes, the principal delivers boxes of groceries to students' homes. The school recently secured a microwave for one family and an inflatable mattress for a student who'd been sharing a bed with his grandmother. For some kids, the stress of the pandemic has worsened emotional problems and mental illness. Recently, a former Sarah Scott student who had moved out of state logged into her former teacher's virtual class to say she planned to kill herself. The school contacted police, who checked on her. Referrals for suicidal students are up fourfold, Brown said. School social worker Nichelle Campbell-Miller said it's been tough counseling kids online or through text messages. "I am all about building relationships and being in person and being able to dap you up or give you a hug and be like, 'Hey, whats up?'" she said, using a term for various greetings like fist bumps or elaborate handshakes. "So being online is extremely difficult for me, because you cant really tell the tone of your student. When Im talking to you in person, I can read your body language and I can gauge where youre at." Right now, she said, the psychological well-being of her middle schoolers is even more important than education. Many students, such as eighth grader Trea Johnson, come up against challenges on both fronts. Trea transferred to Sarah Scott two days before Covid ended in-person learning. "We struggle with school anyway," said his mom, Kathy Poff. "Then when this pandemic came along, it just knocked our feet out from under us." His grades plunged. He began to hate school, Poff said. He didn't attend his daily video meetings with his teachers. His mother fought with him to complete his online assignments. "I usually get pretty bored," said Trea, whose long, straight hair sometimes falls over his eyes. Poff found him a therapist he meets with once a week. She said his mood and academic productivity have improved. He wants to be a computer programmer and has been coding in his spare time lately. She also moved his computer into her bedroom so she could better monitor him and has started paying him to do his schoolwork. "I can't even imagine what it would be like to be a 13-year-old going through this pandemic," said Poff, 51, a single mother. "They're going through changes anyway, adjusting to adolescence and figuring out who they are, and they don't even have a social group to figure that out." Goulding, the math teacher, said she's glad she and her co-workers can help provide stability and continuity during this trying period. One recent night, for example, she got a call from a truant boy's grandmother, who said she was in poor health and raising him alone. The next day, the principal and social worker picked him up and drove him to school. Still, Goulding lamented not seeing her most vulnerable students on the days when they are remote. "How do I check on my kids? How do I make sure they're eating? How do I make sure," she paused to compose herself, her voice quavering, "they're safe? "You're no longer thinking about, 'How are they doing on their polynomials?' You're thinking about, you know, the reality of life." 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. It's well known that mentoring opportunities are critical for development and career advancement, and are associated with greater job satisfaction and increased earnings and promotions. Yet a recent study co-authored by RMIT University's Professor Andrew R. Timming found women may be missing out on these opportunities due to fears by male managers of potential misconduct allegations. Workplace relations between males and females have changed over the past two years. Male managers are significantly less likely than female managers to mentor or interact one-on-one with female employees. We found that male managers were less likely to work one-on-one in an office with the door closed and less likely to have a late-night dinner with female employees." Andrew R. Timming, Professor, RMIT University Despite this trend, the study also found a large portion of female employees reporting a willingness to be mentored by an older male co-worker, many of whom hold senior positions. The study was co-authored with Professors Michael T. French and Karoline Mortensen at the University of Miami. More than 2,000 participants in the United States completed the surveys, but Timming said the findings were highly relevant in Australia and other similar countries that have experienced their own #MeToo movements. "Aside from cultural similarities between the US and Australia, both countries have recently experienced allegations of rape and sexual misconduct," Timming said. "This research is critical for everyone in the workplace, male and female alike, across Australia." "We need to ensure that women don't miss out on workplace mentoring opportunities because males fear misconduct allegations." The study involved two surveys: one administered to female employees and another distributed to both male and female managers. The surveys were conducted in the summer of 2018 - roughly one year after Hollywood celebrities began accusing powerful men in the film industry of sexual assault and harassment, starting the #MeToo movement. More than 1,800 female employees were asked to answer questions relating to their level of comfort and willingness to be mentored by an older male co-worker. From this survey, 38% of females under 35 years of age reported that their interactions with males were very to somewhat different today than they were 1-2 years ago - prior to the #MeToo movement. Only 11% of female participants overall reported an unwillingness to be mentored by an older male co-worker. "Women are clearly still willing to be mentored by older males, but opportunities for such mentoring may not be as forthcoming - as seen in our second survey." The second survey presented 12 photographs of employees to more than 200 male and female managers, where they were asked three mentoring questions for each photographed individual. The female managers reported a greater willingness and likelihood to mentor female employees than male employees. In contrast, male managers were significantly less likely to mentor female employees, less likely to work one-on-one with female employees behind closed doors, and less likely to have a late-night dinner with female employees. "Although we can't say with absolute certainty whether the #MeToo movement caused this reluctance, it seems reasonable to conclude that it may have played a role." Ankara appears to be reconsidering its previous feeble attempts at staking a place on Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, Eurasainet writes. In 2015, Turkey proposed itself as the starting point for a "Middle Corridor" stretching through the Caucasus and Central Asia on the BRI, calling it the fastest route between China and Europe. Turkey worked with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to facilitate trans-Caspian Sea routes and opened the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway across the Caucasus in 2017. Other than that, there is little to show for this Middle Corridor. In fact, over the last three years, Turkey has increased customs duties and import quotas that directly impact China more than any other country, according to Global Trade Alert, a monitoring group. No wonder bilateral trade has fallen. Turkeys decisive role in Azerbaijans victorious war against Armenia last year has the potential to breathe new life into the Middle Corridor. For the first time, Turkey asserted itself as a military power in the former Soviet Union. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglus visit to Central Asia this month looked something like a victory tour. Just two months after the November ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey signed a new trade deal with Azerbaijan. Billed as a "preferential trade agreement," it is far less comprehensive than announced, only reaffirming that Turkey has granted Azerbaijan most favored nation status. It covers a mere 30 of 5,000-odd categories of tradable goods. The contribution to bilateral trade will be minimal, though optimists see this as a precursor to more cooperation. A passport-free travel agreement inked in December should boost bilateral trade by encouraging people-to-people contact. Further east, Turkey stands to benefit from Azerbaijan and Turkmenistans January agreement to jointly develop the Dostluk gas field under the Caspian Sea. The gas should flow through Georgia and Turkey to Europe. Turkey then hosted a trilateral meeting with the Azerbaijani and Turkmen foreign ministers on February 23. Ankara also resurrected dusty plans for a regional trade agreement during a March 4 virtual meeting of the so-called Economic Cooperation Organization, a club formed in 1985 to facilitate trade among Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan. Since expanding into the Muslim former-Soviet republics in the late 1990s, the ECO has achieved little which Erdogan highlighted while calling for trade to double by 2025. At the fall of the Soviet Union, Ankara quickly recognized the independence of the new republics, fellow Turkic-speaking nations. It created the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency in 1991 to increase cultural and economic ties and then the Turkic Council in 2009. China has tried to establish stronger ties with Turkey, but for all its investments in industry, energy, transportation and telecoms the first train from China arrived to much fanfare in Ankara in late 2019 the big deals dont seem to materialize. Talk on China modernizing Turkeys railroad network never went anywhere; same with negotiations on a third nuclear power plant. As Selcuk Colakoglu of the Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies wrote this month, Ankara is wary of offering lucrative contracts to Chinese firms it sees as competitors. Yet Turkey and China are both increasingly at odds with the West a reason for comradery. The question now is if Turkey will build on the momentum it has established with Azerbaijan by reducing barriers and other impediments to its own vision for a trade corridor reaching all the way to China. Online used car marketplace CARS24 on Tuesday said it will cover the COVID-19 vaccination cost for all its employees and two other family members as a preventive measure during the pandemic. The COVID-19 vaccination drive will be over and above the existing medical insurance policy and is extended to over 3,000 employees currently working in the company, CARS24 said in a statement. The policy will also be applicable for new joiners for three months from the time of their joining, it added. "Our first responsibility as a business is the safety of our employees and their families. We remain committed to this goal and back the inoculation campaign to end the pandemic as soon as possible. That said, we also urge and encourage our employees and their families to get vaccinated at the earliest and play their role in this endgame of the pandemic," CARS24 People and Culture Head Sonam Lama said. During the pandemic, the company started Trust@CARS24 with an intent to help those employees that needed financial help for any medical purposes. Simultaneously, the company also reimbursed the cost of COVID-19 tests for all employees and their families as the initial step to fight the adversities of the pandemic. In November 2020, the company also offered to buy up to 100 per cent ESOPs worth Rs 35 crore bringing festive cheer to its employees. (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.) Christian relationship guru Derrick Jaxn admits extramarital affairs; wife says God has forgiven him Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Gripping tightly to his forgiving wifes hand on Monday, popular Christian relationship guru Derrick Jaxn, who is well known for preaching a message that black men don't cheat, confessed to his millions of social media followers that he had been unfaithful to his wife multiple times. This chapter of our marriage was one that was preceded by a marriage that I completely failed," Jaxn (also known as Jackson) revealed in a video posted on Facebook, with his wife Da'Naia by his side. "I would say it started around August or September of last year. But a lot has been said already about what was the cause. And some of it is true, some of it is completely false. But the truth is, and Im saying it here now, is that Derek Jackson was involved with other women outside the marriage." "And by involved, I want to be clear: Im not just talking about casually kicking it maybe at lunch or something like that," he continued. "Im talking about as serious as sex, sexual flirtation and that kind of thing." Jaxns confession comes just days after vlogger Tasha K. interviewed a woman identified as Candice De Medeiros, who said she had an affair with Jaxn. She alleges that Jaxn told her he was separated from his wife of four years. De Medeiros said that last July, Jaxn planned a lavish Miami trip during which they had sex. She claimed that he also took her to his marital home in Atlanta, where they also connected while his family was away. All of it falls under the umbrella of inappropriate, cheating, affairs, stepping out. Definitely not in line with the vows that I took and definitely not in the line with the biblical standard of what it means to be faithful, which is the standard that Im going by now, Jaxn admitted Monday. He further stated that he previously confessed everything to his wife and wanted to confess publicly to be transparent. Im saying this publicly, not because Im married to you guys," he said. "First and foremost, Im accountable to God, and then I have to be accountable to my wife in which Ive already had this conversation." Jaxn apologized for not practicing the messages he has been preaching and made clear that he did not stand by his behavior. Now that its been made so public, its important that I, first off, let you guys know that I do not stand by those actions. I dont want to encourage anybody to do that. And then secondly, I know that I cannot build a platform preaching certain things, preaching against certain things, and then in my real life, live contrary to that for any amount of time or any length of time to any extent and think that I cant be held accountable," he said. The same way that I preach that men and women in this situation need to face consequences for their actions, deserve to be held accountable, guess what? Derrick Jackson is no exception. Hes not exempt from that. Im also not a victim. Nobody made me do this. She didnt make me or push me to do it. The next person didnt influence me " When he asked his wife if she wanted to say anything after his confession, Da'Naia Jackson said she agreed with everything her husband said. She made it clear that her decision to remain by his side should not be interpreted as tolerating his actions. She explained that she had been flooded with messages asking, why havent I left? She revealed that she did initially leave her husband when she learned of his indiscretions. The answer is: when I found out about it, I left. I did not hesitate or waste time to do so. And I stayed gone. No matter how many times he came, I stayed gone. And stood firm on 'Im not coming back.' And I did not come back until I see a shift and change in his mentality in how he carried himself, in how he presented himself in conversations that we were able to have, that we have never been able to have in just 12 years of knowing each other, she detailed. We were able to have these dialogues. [I] said, 'OK Lord, this is something that youve had your hand on.' And this was with me being completely removed from his life, and in him pursuing God, continuing to pursue God and continuing to eliminate these things that led up to the catastrophe that you guys are seeing for the first time." She added that she and her husband are getting counseling, and men of God are currently guiding him. I forgave him. And most importantly, God has first forgiven him, and I also forgive the others as well. And with that, we are free and moving forward. So thats all I have, she concluded. Jaxn apologized to his fans after his wifes comments and said he understood if people didnt want to listen to him again after hearing about his sins. I get it. [To] some of you, all this may have come as a huge shock, a huge disappointment. I let a lot of you down," he said. "If youve had a perspective shift on who Derrick [is], hopefully, its away from anything remotely close to perfection, and its simply that I am a human. And that does not justify anything that I did, but I dont want anybody out there putting me on a pedestal." "If you did, then I hate that you did that," he continued. "Maybe I gave you cause. I apologize if I did. For those who are saying, 'Derrick, I dont ever want to listen to you again,' its understandable. I appreciate you while I had your support. Jackson is now promoting his latest book, titled Heal Together. No matter how badly youve been hurt in the past or present, God didnt give you a desire for a healthy marriage without also providing an action plan to manifest it into your reality, a blurb about the book on his website reads. A judge blocked Boulder from enforcing a ban on assault rifles less than two weeks before the city was rocked by a mass shooting that left 10 people dead at a supermarket. Boulder County District Court Judge Andrew Hartman ruled on March 12 that the city's two-year-old bans on assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines violated a 2003 state law prohibiting municipalities from enacting their own firearms regulations. The National Rifle Association praised Hartman's ruling in a tweet on March 16, saying it 'gave law-abiding gun owners something to celebrate'. Six days later, 21-year-old Ahmad Al Issa went on a 20-minute shooting spree inside a King Soopers grocery store on Monday afternoon, killing ten people with what witnesses described as an AR-15-style rifle. Authorities have not confirmed what weapon was used, so it remains unclear whether it would have been covered under the ban that the Boulder Police Department stopped enforcing after Hartman's ruling. The Boulder attack marked the seventh mass shooting in the US in the span of a single week, coming just six days after eight people were killed by a gunman who targeted three spas in Atlanta on March 16. The recent spate of shootings has reignited America's debate over gun control after 2020 saw the lowest number of mass shootings in more than a decade as the coronavirus pandemic sent much of the country into lockdown. The debate is especially intense in Colorado, which has had more mass shootings per capita since 1999 than all but four states, according to a 2019 analysis by the Denver Post. A judge blocked Boulder from enforcing a ban on assault rifles less than two weeks before the city was rocked by a mass shooting that left 10 people dead at King Soopers grocery store on Monday. Police are pictured at the scene after the alleged gunman was taken into custody Boulder passed its two ordinances banning possession of assault-style rifles and large capacity magazines in the wake of the Parkland shooting in 2018, which left 17 people dead at Marjorie Stoneman High School in Florida. The weapon ban applied to certain pistols and semi-automatic rifles with pistol grips, a folding or telescoping stock, or any protruding grip that allows a weapon to be stabilized with the non-trigger hand, according to the Denver Post. Large capacity magazines were defined as 'any ammunition-feeding device with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds'. The city council created a permit system to allow anyone to keep a gun on the banned list if they owned it prior to the ordinance. Anyone found in violation of the ordinance was subject to up to 90 days in jail and fines of up to $1,000. Boulder County District Court Judge Andrew Hartman (pictured) ruled on March 12 that the city's two-year-old bans on assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines violated a 2003 state law prohibiting municipalities from enacting their own firearms regulations. Gun advocates swiftly sued to have the bans overturned, bringing cases at both the local and federal levels. The suit that led to Hartman's decision was filed by two Boulder residents and two pro-gun groups - the Colorado State Shooting Association and Gunsport of Colorado - which argued that it violated a state law which said gun regulation should be left up to the state and federal government, not local legislators. 'A local government may not enact an ordinance, regulation or other law that prohibits the sale, purchase or possession of a firearm that a person may lawfully sell, purchase or possess under state or federal law,' the law enacted in 2003 states. 'Inconsistency among local governments of laws regulating the possession and ownership of firearms results in persons being treated differently under the law solely on the basis of where they reside.' Attorneys for the city argued that the council had a right to pass it's own ordinances because it is a 'home-rule' municipality, meaning that it can enact laws without explicit permission from the state. They also argued that the bans were necessary because there are not adequate rules on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines at the state-level. But Judge Hartman disagreed, pointing to the state's list of illegal and dangerous weapons. The National Rifle Association praised Hartman's ruling in a tweet on March 16, saying it 'gave law-abiding gun owners something to celebrate' US rocked by seven mass shootings in seven days The Boulder attack on March 22 marked the seventh mass shooting in the US in the span of a single week, according to a tally by CNN. Those shootings included: March 16 - Atlanta, Georgia Robert Aaron Long, 21, killed eight people, including six Asian woman, in a string of attacks at three spas in the Atlanta area. March 17 - Stockton, California Five people were shot and injured in a drive-by shooting while preparing for a vigil. It was unclear whether a suspect has been identified or arrested. March 18 - Gresham, Oregon Four people were shot and hospitalized after an incident in the city east of Portland. A juvenile suspect was taken into custody. March 20 - Houston, Texas Five people were shot inside a club, one of them left in critical condition. March 20 - Dallas, Texas Eight people were shot, one fatally, at a the Pryme Night Club. A suspect was identified but has not been arrested. March 20 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Six people were shot, one fatally, during a shooting at what police described as an 'illegal party'. March 22 - Boulder, Colorado A gunman opened fire at the King Soopers grocery store, killing 10 people. Advertisement The judge said that allowing Boulder's bans would create 'a ripple effect across the state by encouraging other municipalities to enact their own bans, ultimately leading to a statewide de facto ban or to a patchwork of municipal laws regulating assault weapons and LCMs'. 'These provisions are invalid, and enforcement of them is enjoined,' Hartman wrote in his ruling. 'The Court has determined that only Colorado state (or federal) law can prohibit the possession, sale and transfer of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.' Boulder spokeswoman Shannon Aulabaugh last week told the Denver Post that the city's attorneys planned to meet with outside counsel to discuss the possibility of appealing Hartman's decision. Gun control advocates decried the ruling and called to repeal the 2003 law it was based on. They also noted that a similar assault weapons ban in Denver was allowed to stand despite the state law. The city of Denver sued the state over the law 2003, arguing that it was unconstitutional because it violated home-rule municipalities' rights to pass their own ordinances. The Denver District Court ruled that the city could keep its ban because it had unique circumstances, including an increased use of assault weapons and a rising homicide rate. The court also noted that Denver's ban had been in place for years - since 1989. The state appealed the ruling and it was upheld by a split 3-3 vote in the Colorado Supreme Court after one justice abstained from ruling. Because the court didn't come to a majority, the ruling did not set a precedent on whether other municipalities - such as Boulder - could pre-empt the state law. Experts say Hartman's ruling could send the issue back up to the Colorado Supreme Court, if Boulder chooses to appeal. Courtesy Beaumont PD A Beaumont man is facing a murder charge nearly a month after Beaumont Police arrested him in connection with the death of his pregnant girlfriend, according to a news release. Jonathan Menard is being held at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility for related charges. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals rose 1.10% to Rs 465 after the company received final approval from the US drug regulator for diltiazem hydrochloride extendedrelease capsules. The product is the generic version of Cardizem SR extendedrelease capsules, 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg, of Biovail Laboratories Inc. The drug is indicated for the treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive medications. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has been granted a competitive generic therapy (CGT) designation for diltiazem hydrochloride extendedrelease capsules USP, 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg, therefore, with this approval, the pharmaceutical major has become the first approved applicant for such competitive generic therapy and is eligible for 180 days of CGT exclusivity upon commercial marketing. According to IQVIA figures, the sales data for the 12-month period ending January 2021, the Cardizem SR ExtendedRelease capsules, 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg market2 achieved annual sales of approximately $56.7 million. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals' current portfolio consists of 170 products authorized for distribution in the U.S. marketplace and 42 ANDA's pending approval with the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). In addition to these internal filings, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals continues to identify and explore external development partnerships to supplement and accelerate the growth of its existing pipeline and portfolio. The announcement was made before market hours today, 23 March 2021. Yesterday, Glenmark Specialty S.A. in Switzerland and an affiliate of Bausch Health Companies Inc. had entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for the commercialization of Glenmark Pharma.'s innovative nasal spray Ryaltris, under review by Health Canada. Glenmark Pharma's consolidated net profit jumped 30% to Rs 248.18 crore on 4.6% increase in net sales to Rs 2,758.74 crore in Q3 December 2020 over Q3 December 2019. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals is a global research-led pharmaceutical company with presence across generics, specialty and over-the-counter (OTC) business with operations in over 50 countries. Glenmark's key therapy focus areas globally are respiratory, dermatology and oncology. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flash The Blue Book of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) 2020 was released Tuesday in southwest China, marking the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the LMC mechanism. The report, compiled by Yunnan University, reviews the progress, problems and development trends of the LMC since 2019. It analyzes collaborations in specific areas including public health and the fight against drugs. It said since 2019, cooperation between the six countries has blossomed in areas including connectivity, industrial capacity, cross-border economy, water resources, agriculture and poverty reduction. Cooperation has now extended to new fields such as the digital economy, environmental protection, health and customs, while small and medium-sized projects in Mekong countries have increased in number and focused more on technology, hygiene and other livelihood-related areas, said the report. The LMC mechanism was launched by six countries -- China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam -- in 2016. It derives its name from a river that is called Lancang in China and Mekong in the five other countries. The report's launch was part of a symposium on the LMC, which kicked off in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, with attending officials and scholars from China and the Mekong countries speaking glowingly of the regional cooperation mechanism. "As the COVID-19 pandemic is still hitting the world, the LMC countries are expected to strengthen public health cooperation and focus on work resumption, water management and the improvement of people's livelihood," Liu Zhi, director of the Center for LMC Studies under Yunnan University, said in her opening remarks at the symposium. Liu said while the pandemic plunged the region into an economic downturn, it has also injected new momentum into regional integration by bringing geo-economic partners closer together. WIDE-RANGING COOPERATION Htun Aung Kyaw, consul general of Myanmar in Kunming, said under the LMC, China and Myanmar have implemented wide-ranging cooperation from joint river patrol to agriculture to poverty reduction. "I believe the mechanism is a beneficial cooperation framework for the development of all the member countries," he said. Traffic infrastructure has been a major beneficiary of the LMC mechanism. In September 2017, the whole China section of the 1,800-km-plus Kunming-Bangkok highway became an expressway, shortening the transportation time of goods between the two cities to about 40 hours. The expressway has transformed the life and business of Su Congming, a wholesaler who has been selling imported fruits at the Jinma-zhengchang fruit market since 2003. At the start of his business, it took about five days for Thai fruits to arrive at the market, he recalled, adding that nowadays fruits are fresher while transportation fees are lower. The market is one of China's major centers for the distribution of fresh tropical fruits from South and Southeast Asian countries. Every day, thousands of tonnes of fruits are distributed from here to across China. "Now, we sell five to six times more fruits than we did a decade ago. Before this year's Spring Festival, we sold more than 40 tonnes of longan imported from Thailand every day," said Su. The Kunming-Vientiane railway linking China with Laos is scheduled to be opened in December this year, said Lu Dongfu, board chairman of China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. Upon completion, it will slash travel time between the two cities to within one day. "We are developing an electric multiple units (EMU) train running at 160 km per hour, based on China's (technological) standards, adapting to the conditions of China-Laos railway lines and reflecting the cultural elements of the two countries," said Lu. Other initiatives pushed ahead under the mechanism included streamlining and integration of customs, logistics and foreign exchange management to facilitate cross-border trade. Water resources cooperation has also been prioritized under the LMC framework, with officials pointing to the launch of a website for sharing water resources information among the six countries in November 2020. The website is expected to help Lancang-Mekong countries better tackle climate change and natural disasters such as floods and droughts. China has officially provided the Mekong countries with the river's hydrological information during the dry season starting from Nov. 1, 2020, according to E Jinping, former minister of water resources. "The Lancang-Mekong countries share the same river water, as a community with a shared future and enhancing the foundation of development and prosperity together," said Wang Yiwei, a professor with Renmin University of China. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Krispy Kreme Is there any problem that a doughnut can't solve? This is the question being posed by Krispy Kreme as it seeks to help motivate the COVID-19 vaccine holdouts with the incredibly persuasive power of a hot glazed doughnut. According to reports, starting Monday (March 22), consumers who show a valid COVID-19 vaccination card at locations nationwide will get a free Original Glazed doughnut. The freebie is valid at all 369 Krispy Kreme shops located in 41 states and available anytime, any day, every day for the rest of the year, Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme chief marketing officer, told USA TODAY. No purchase is necessary. The North Carolina-based doughnut chain is also offering employees four hours off for COVID-19 vaccines, a move that mirrors Best Buy, Target and Trader Joes, all of which are making similar moves to encourage their workers to get the shot. But Krispy Kreme is, thus far, alone in the corporate world in taking the step of offering consumers an incentive in the form of a treat to make sure they take their medicine. But the efforts to persuade the skeptics are myriad and ongoing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is holding vaccine confidence consultations with state and local officials on how to educate residents about the vaccine and combat misinformation, according to Politico. Army officials at North Carolinas Fort Bragg are trying something new with vaccine-hesitant soldiers, according to Washington Post reports: listen to soldiers, walk them through concerns and then turn the persuaded out to become vaccine ambassadors for the rest. Soldiers in the barracks arent listening to Dr. Fauci, Col. Joe Buccino, a Fort Bragg spokesperson, told the Post, referring to Anthony S. Fauci, the countrys top infectious disease expert. Soldiers in the barracks are listening to soldiers in the barracks. The CDC has made it clear that converting the skeptical is critical to creating herd immunity that will stop the virus' spread. According to the experts, 75-85 percent of the population would need to be fully vaccinated to achieve that goal. Story continues According to PYMNTS data, progress is being made, as 66 percent of U.S. consumers are either vaccinated or plan to get vaccinated. Twenty-eight percent of the adult population have already received at least one vaccination shot, and 53 percent are either vaccinated or likely to get vaccinated when they become eligible. This is up from just 38 percent of consumers who had already been vaccinated or planned to get vaccinated back in November when the U.S. vaccine rollout kicked off. But according to PYMNTS data, 17 percent of the population remains skeptical when it comes to vaccination. The reasons for that vary concerns about its actual effectiveness, newness or potential side effects top the list but there are beliefs and behavioral commonalities among that 17 percent that are worth considering for those looking to change their minds. Skeptics have been the least avid digital shifters, with 65 percent reporting that they have not shifted to shopping more online, either for groceries or retail goods, and have not switched to ordering from restaurants instead of dining on-site compared to the 55 percent of consumers who trust the three vaccines available in the U.S. who have not made any of these changes. Interestingly, consumers who are skeptical of getting the COVID-19 vaccine do have some concerns of dying from the vaccine about 27 percent of those who trust the vaccine report death from COVID-19 as a top fear, whereas 22 percent of skeptics say the same. What distinguishes skeptics from consumers who trust the COVID-19 vaccines is the concern they express about the pandemics economic implications. Eighteen percent of skeptics who are concerned about the pandemic say it is because they are worried that the economy will continue to suffer as a result, for example. Only 12 percent of consumers who trust the vaccines say the same. The study also shows that vaccine skeptics are more concerned about their own personal job security and that of their significant others. This is true for every factor that might impact consumers employment or their ability to perform their job. Skeptics are more likely to cite losing their job, their partner losing their job, losing work due to sickness, having already lost their job or their partner having already lost their job than consumers who trust the vaccines. It likely will not be possible to persuade everyone who remains in the skeptical camp, nor is it necessary to create herd immunity. But to sell the vaccine to those who are not yet ready to opt in, it seems there are two sales to make: first, that the vaccine will work, and second, that it can help heal the economy. Read More On Coronavirus: In-Person Visits COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions The Michigan Department of Corrections will resume in-person visiting of prisoners effective March 26. Specific guidelines regarding these visits are outlined in Director's Office Memorandum 2021-26R6 which can be reviewed by clicking here. The In-Person Visits During COVID-19 web page can be found here. Below are frequently asked questions related to the policies and procedures of in-person visiting during COVID-19. This page will be updated with additional FAQs as they arise. Please be sure to check back frequently. Question: Will I be subject to antigen testing if I was COVID-19 positive within the last 90 days? Answer: Yes, antigen testing is required for all visitors even those who were previous positives. If you test positive on the antigen test you will not be allowed to visit. Question: How many people are permitted to visit a prisoner? Answer: In-person visiting parties are limited to two approved visitors. If children are included in the visit, the visiting party is limited to one adult and one child. Question: How will the COVID-19 test be administered? Answer: The Antigen test will be self-administered. MDOC staff will observe the test but will not be performing the test on visitors. Question: Will antigen testing and the wearing of masks be required of children? Answer: All visitors age 2 and up must be antigen tested. Children will be tested by their accompanying guardian/parent. All visitors age 2 and up will be required to wear a mask. Question: Can we bring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or of a COVID-19 vaccination, or do we have to get the test at the facility? Answer: The Rapid Antigen Test must be completed at the prison prior the scheduled visit. Reports of tests taken prior to arrival at the prison will not be accepted. Question: If a visitor who tested negative traveled to the facility with another person who tests positive, can the person who tests negative visit? Answer: No. The visitor who does not poss the COVID screen criteria who tests positive would be a close contact of the visitor who tested negative. Neither of the visitors would be permitted to visit. Note: Visitors must pass all COVID screening criteria, must test negative to the antigen test, and must sign the liability waiver to be permitted to visit. The liability waivers will be provided at the facility, but you can preview them here. Question: What if a visitor cannot wear a mask? Answer: A staff member will politely ask anyone who is not wearing a mask to put one on. If the visitor declines, the staff member should ask the visitor if they meet one of the mask exemptions put out by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. If the visitors says yes, the staff member should notify the visitor that the MDOC is accommodating individuals who cannot wear masks by providing video visitation. Staff members must not ask for documentation or why the visitor cannot wear a mask. Question: How will deaf and hard of hearing prisoners and visitors be accommodated during in-person visits? Answer: Transparent masks, vocie amplifiers and earbuds will be made available for these prisoners and visitors. If communication is still not possible, the visiting party will be given the opportunity to use a non-contact visiting station. Question: Are visitors allowed to hug prisoners? Answer: During contact visits, one embrace between the prisoner and their visitors is permitted at the beginning and end of each visit. No other physical contact is permitted. Question: Will visitors be permitted to bring a bottle into the visiting room for a baby who is visiting? Answer: Yes. A transparent bottle (or transparent sippy cup) will be permitted if a baby or toddler is part of the visiting party. Also allowed are a pacifier and a single layer blanket. Question: If a visit starts late through no fault of the visitor or the prisoner, can the visit be extended to permit the entire two hour visit? Answer: No. All visits must end at the scheduled time. This is necessary to accommodate the sanitation of the visiting room between visits and so the next group of scheduled visits can start on time. Question: Will people that are coming long distances and from out of state be limited to one two-hour visit? Answer: Visitors who travel 200 miles or more one way from their home address to the facility may schedule more than one two-hour visiting session for the same day if space permits and with prior approval of the Warden. Each two-hour session that is scheduled will count towards the number of visits the prisoner is allowed per month. Question: Are there going to be vending machines so we can buy food for the prisoners we are visiting with? Answer: No, vending machines will not be operational. Visitors are not permitted to bring money or prepaid vending cards through the gate. Visitors are also prohibited from bringing food and drink items through the gate. Water will be available for prisoners and visitors in separate locations. Question: Can you provide information regarding the number of in-person and video visits by custody level per month? Answer: Please review the table below. The first cell culture medium on the market that mimics the metabolic profile of human plasma that is designed to provide researchers with a realistic view of cell growth within the human body Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched the new Gibco Human Plasma-like Medium (HPLM), the first cell culture medium on the market that mimics the metabolic profile of human plasma that is designed to provide researchers with a realistic view of cell growth within the human body. Gibco HPLM contains the same salt concentrations found in human plasma, as well as the same concentrations of over 60 polar metabolites, such as amino acids, nucleic acids, sugars and small organic acids. By resembling the natural cellular environment found in the body, HPLM provides researchers the ability to study the impact of physiologically relevant cell media on their specific research applications, including cancer and other diseases. When supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS), HPLM can support cell growth and viability that are comparable to that of conventional basal media formulations supplemented with FBS. For most cell lines, adaptation is not required to transition from conventional medium to HPLM. "Innovative technology such as the Gibco Human Plasma-Like Medium is testament to the incredible work being led by Thermo Fisher's research partners," said Amy Butler, President, Biosciences, Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Collaboration between industry and academia is vital to the pursuit of innovation and development of fit-for-purpose materials that improve scientists' understanding of human disease and strategies to address them. Human Plasma-like Medium was invented by Jason R Cantor of the Morgridge Institute for Research in Madison, Wisconsin and David M Sabatini of the Whitehead Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. Drs Cantor and Sabatini are inventors on a patent application for HPLM assigned to Whitehead Institute. 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. Financial stocks will be in focus as the Supreme Court would deliver its judgment in the loan moratorium case today, 23 March 2021, as per reports. A batch of pleas were moved before the apex court last year seeking waiver from interest on interest in respect of EMIs which were not paid by the borrowers after availing the loan moratorium scheme. The six-month loan moratorium scheme was extended by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Maruti Suzuki India said that over the past year the cost of company's vehicles has been impacted adversely due to increase in various input costs. Hence, it has become imperative for the company to pass on some impact of the above additional cost to customers through a price increase in April, 2021. This price increase shall vary for different models. Bharti Airtel said hat the company has further agreed on March 22, 2021 for acquisition of additional 2,914,100 equity shares (approx. 3.33%) at Rs. 10/- per equity share in Avaada MHBuldhana Private Limited, a special purpose vehicle formed for the purpose of owning and operating the Captive Power Plant, in terms of the regulatory requirement for captive power consumption under electricity laws. The indicative time for completion of the acquisition is April 30, 2021. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) said that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Mahindra Defence Systems (MDSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the company for supply of 1,300 Light Specialist Vehicles to the Indian Army, at a cost of Rs 1,056 crore. The induction of vehicles is planned to be completed in four years. KEC International has secured new orders of Rs 1,429 crore across its various businesses. Edelweiss Financial Services said that Edelweiss Group (Edelweiss) has announced completion of a strategic investment by PAG in Edelweiss Wealth Management consequent to receipt of all regulatory approvals and closure of all formalities. Madhav Infra Projects received award for Solar Project from Gujarat State Electricity Corporation (GSECL) for a contract value of Rs 87.27 crore. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Highlights According to MRFR analysis, Pain Relief Medication Market is expected to register a CAGR of 4.73% during the forecast period of 2019 to 2025 and held a value of USD 55,275 million in 2018. Pain relief medicine is a branch of medicine that employs an interdisciplinary approach for easing the suffering and improving the quality of life of those living with acute as well as chronic pain. Browse Sample of the Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/8431 The growth of the global pain relief medication market is driven by several factors such as increasing patient population suffering from chronic pain and cancer pain, increasing research in the pain management field, and rising product launch in the pain relief medication market. However, the stringent regulations and high cost of drugs are likely to hamper the growth of the global pain relief medication market. Several market players currently dominate the global pain relief medication market. The key players are involved in product launches and strategic collaborations to strengthen their market positions. For instance, in July 2018, AbbVie received approval for Orilissa (elagolix) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis. Segmentation The global Pain Relief Medication Market Share has been segmented based on drug class, indication, and distribution channel. The market, based on drug class, has been divided into nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, COX-2 inhibitors, and others. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug segment is likely to be the largest during the review period due to the high efficacy rate of this drug class. The opioids segment is predicted to be the fastest-growing due to the increasing awareness about the drugs in this class in the pain relief medication market. The global pain relief medication market has been segmented based on the indication, into cancer pain, neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain, inflammatory conditions, and others. The cancer pain segment is expected to hold the majority share of the market owing to the increasing people suffering from this type of pain. The neuropathic pain segment is expected to be the fastest-growing due to the rising patient population in different economies. The global pain relief medication market, by distribution channel, has been divided into hospital and retail pharmacies, and online pharmacies. The hospitals and retail pharmacies segment is projected to hold the largest share of the market due to the increasing number of hospital in-visits. The online pharmacies segment is expected to be the fastest growing owing to the rise in the awareness about online distribution network. Key Players Some of the key players in the global pain relief medication market are AbbVie Inc. (US), Allergan plc (Ireland), Astellas Pharma Inc. (Japan), Bayer (Germany), Biogen Idec (US), Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (Germany), Bristol-Myers Squibb (US), Eli Lilly and Company (US), GlaxoSmithKline (UK), Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals (UK), Pfizer, Inc. (US), Purdue Pharma (US), Sanofi (France), and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (Israel). FOR MORE DETAILS @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/pain-relief-medication-market-8431 Regional Analysis The market has been divided, by region, into the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. The Americas are expected to be the largest market owing to the rise in chronic diseases in this region. In Brazil, chronic pain is a widespread clinical condition, affecting between 28% and 41% of the Brazilian population. The pain relief medication market in the Americas has further been branched into North America and Latin America, with the North American market divided into the US and Canada. The European pain relief medication market has been categorized as Western Europe and Eastern Europe. The Western European market has further been classified as Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, and the rest of Western Europe. The pain relief medication market in Asia-Pacific has been segmented into Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, and the rest of Asia-Pacific. Due to the rise in initiatives by public and private organizations, the market in Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing. The pain relief medication market in the Middle East & Africa has been divided into the Middle East and Africa. MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippine Supreme Court demanded on Tuesday an end to the killings of lawyers and judges or threats of harm against them in the country after data showed the last five years was the deadliest period ever for the legal profession in the country. In rare public comments outside legal rulings, the Supreme Court said in a statement threats to lawyers had "very serious repercussions" on the rule of law and pledged to do more to protect members of the judiciary. "The Court condemns in the strongest sense every instance where a lawyer is threatened or killed and when a judge is threatened and unfairly labeled," it said in a statement read by spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka. It ordered lower courts and the public to share details of threats and killings of lawyers in the past 10 years so it could plan its next course of action, adding it will provide security to those threatened. The court also said it will set rules requiring law enforcers to wear body cameras when conducting searches and serving warrants to prevent abuses and cover-ups. In the last five years under President Rodrigo Duterte, 61 lawyers and judges were murdered, the most under any government administration, data from the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) and the Free Legal Assistance Group showed. Many of the lawyers killed were representing left-wing activists, victims of the government's deadly anti-narcotics campaign or victims of human rights violations, the group said. Edre Olalia, president of the NUPL, said in a statement "we fervently welcome these bold and unequivocal declarations, initial steps and further plans from our very own refuge." Presidential spokesman Harry Roque did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In his war on drugs, Duterte has been accused of allowing a culture of impunity to flourish. Police data shows more than 6,000 drug suspects were killed since Duterte came to power in 2016, though officers reject activists' allegations they are executing drug suspects, insisting those who died were violently resisting arrest. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Ed Davies) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 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. Victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA bombings have heavily criticised the Government for failing to publish a report on its ill-fated efforts to secure compensation from the north African state. They also reacted angrily to the Governments continued insistence that it is unable to use billions of pounds of Libyan assets linked to the Gaddafi regime that are frozen in the UK to compensate them. In a written statement to Parliament, Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly ruled out publishing the report penned by William Shawcross or using the 12 billion of assets to fund a compensation scheme. Mr Cleverly said the Government would also not fund a specific scheme for compensating those affected by Libyan arms, insisting the responsibility for paying victims lay with the Libyan state. He said the Government would continue to press the current Libyan authorities on the issue and he highlighted that a wider compensation schemes for those injured in criminal acts were available in the UK, including a new payment scheme for Troubles victims. Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi armed the IRA with the powerful plastic explosive used in atrocities such as the bombing of Harrods in 1983, the Remembrance Day ceremony in Enniskillen in 1987, Warrington in 1993 and Londons Docklands in 1996. Those bereaved and injured by the attacks have long been pressing for Government support for their bid for compensation paid out of the 12 billion of assets linked to the toppled Gaddafi regime that were frozen in the UK in 2011 under UN sanction. Expand Close A view of the memorial during events to remember the 12 victims of the IRAs 1987 Remembrance Sunday bomb attack in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh (Phil Fitzpatrick/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A view of the memorial during events to remember the 12 victims of the IRAs 1987 Remembrance Sunday bomb attack in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh (Phil Fitzpatrick/PA) Mr Shawcross, a former chairman of the Charity Commission, was appointed by the Foreign Office in 2019 to examine the issue of compensation. He handed his report to the Government in 2020 but its contents were not publicised. Mr Cleverlys statement ruling out future publication came less than 24 hours before Mr Shawcross is due to face questions from MPs on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee about his work. Since it was commissioned as an internal scoping report, to provide internal advice to Ministers, and draws on private and confidential conversations held by Mr Shawcross, the Government will not be publishing the report, said Mr Cleverly. These important issues have needed careful and thorough consideration across Government given the complexity and sensitivity of the issues raised. He added: The responsibility for providing compensation specifically for the actions of the Gaddafi regime lies with the Libyan State. The Government has therefore repeatedly urged the Libyan authorities, including at the highest levels of the Libyan government, to engage with UK victims and their representatives, and to address their claims for compensation. However, there are clear practical difficulties in obtaining compensation from Libya for Gaddafi-sponsored IRA terrorism. The conflict, political instability and economic instability that have prevailed in Libya for most of the last 10 years since the fall of the Gaddafi regime present particular challenges. Mr Cleverly said it would be difficult to define UK victims of Libyan arms, given the extensive nature of Libyan support for the IRA. The Governments considered view is that an additional, UK-funded mechanism for providing compensation to victims of the Troubles would not provide accountability for the specific role of the Gaddafi regime in supporting the IRA, he added. Mr Shawcross also considered whether compensation for UK victims should be funded from Libyan frozen assets in the UK. Under international law, when assets are frozen, they continue to belong to the designated individual or entity. Frozen assets may not be seized by the UK Government. Mr Cleverly said the Government was obliged to comply with UN rules requiring that the assets be unfrozen if the sanctions are lifted. There is also no legal basis for the UK to refuse the release of frozen assets once conditions for delisting or unfreezing those assets set out in UN Security Council Resolution 2009 of 2011 are met, he said. Therefore, regrettably, the UK has no legal basis to seize frozen Libyan assets or to refuse the release of frozen assets. The Government cannot lawfully use Libyan assets frozen in the UK to provide compensation to victims. He added: The UK will continue to press the Libyan authorities to address the Libyan States historic responsibility for the Gaddafi regimes support for the IRA. Solicitor Barry ODonnell, who represents some of the victims, said: The British government must explain its position on Gaddafi-Libyan sponsored IRA terrorism to relatives of victims and survivors and provide financial compensation from the billions of dollars-worth of Libyan funds frozen by the international community. This is what Shawcross was commissioned to investigate and he must be able to explain his findings and recommendations. It would appear that todays Ministerial Statement is another piece of political choreography designed to undermine the authority of NIAC and to frustrate the hopes and expectations of victims and survivors of Gaddafi-Libyan sponsored IRA terrorism. A victims umbrella group, Innocent Victims United, criticised the ministerial statement. Spokesman Kenny Donaldson said: For two years the UK Government has been responsible for heaping further pain upon those already treated so shamefully. The Shawcross Report cant even be described as a whitewash because it continues to be held back from victims, the full contents remain hidden. DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds has said the Government had behaved disgracefully and let down victims. The appalling refusal to publish this report is the wrong approach by the Government and raises more questions than answers, he said. In 2019, it was established that the UK Government had received some 17 million in tax revenue from Libyan assets linked to Colonel Gaddafi, which are frozen in the UK. Yet this money which could have been earmarked for victims, now also seems to have been diverted to tackling other financial pressures. Chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Simon Hoare said: This announcement will be a bitter blow to those who have waited so long for recognition and justice and who were urged to put all of their hopes and dreams into Mr Shawcrosss appointment. He added: In my opinion this important issue has never been treated with the seriousness and urgency it required. A 'National Fisheries Policy 2020' has been formulated and placed in the public domain, inviting suggestions from stakeholders, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday. Minister of State for Fisheries Pratab Chandra Sarangi, in his written reply to the Lok Sabha, said the draft policy provides vision and strategies of the government towards overall and sustainable development of the in the country for the next ten years. The government has already received comments on the draft policy from about 14 states and Union territories, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka and Odisha, he said. The minister said that the draft policy has been translated into 11 vernacular languages and states have been asked to circulate it among stakeholders, including fishermen associations in order to obtain their comments. The draft policy provides guiding principles, strategies and a roadmap towards holistic development of the in the country. The minister also said that the government is implementing a flagship scheme "Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)" to bring about the Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the in India with an investment of Rs 20,050 crore for a period of five years, in effect from the financial year 2020-21. (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.) Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Police leaders fear that further violence could break out at demonstrations against proposed laws that campaigners say will stifle protest. Following anarchic scenes in Bristol that saw 20 police officers injured, including a punctured lung and broken bones, forces across the country were drawing up plans for further Kill the Bill rallies. John Apter, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, compared the situation to a pressure cooker. Frustration has built up over the past 12 months, he told The Independent. Some people will grab any opportunity to turn to violence, while others have got genuine gripes but they will deal with it in the wrong way. When you combine frustration [following lockdowns] and warmer weather, with the bill announced and the easing towards the ending of lockdown, there is almost this perfect storm which is a real and genuine concern for colleagues. Investigators were combing footage taken at Sundays demonstration in Bristol, where a police station was vandalised and vehicles set ablaze, to look for instigators. The Independent understands that detectives are looking at potential ideological motives for the actions of a minority of protesters, and the extent to which their actions were premeditated. Andy Marsh, the chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police, said a demonstration that proceeded peacefully for hours had been hijacked by extremists intent on vandalism and attacking police. Read more: He said the protest had been attended by connected groups that come from across the whole country. Were all worried, he told The Guardian. Weve talked about reflections on what happened in Bristol and what we need to do to keep our communities safe in Bristol and across the country. Over the next few weeks its a very difficult time in policing. Mr Marsh did not name an ideology behind the extremists, but anarchist flags and symbols were seen in the crowd outside New Bridewell police station. Addressing the House of Commons on Monday, Priti Patel condemned what she called anarchic and violent scenes. The scenes in Bristol yesterday were utterly shameful, the home secretary said. We saw criminal thuggery and disorder caused by a minority who put lives at risk. Our exceptional and brave police officers put themselves in harm's way to protect the public. For them to face the criminal violence against them while upholding the law is completely unacceptable. Police said between 2,000 and 3,000 people had gathered at Bristols College Green to protest against the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which will see the police handed controversial new powers to restrict demonstrations. Demonstrators confront police officers during a protest against the new proposed policing bill, in Bristol on Sunday evening (Reuters/Peter Cziborra) Mr Marsh said there had been no prior intelligence to suggest any disorder was planned on the scale seen, adding: From the initial gathering of around 2,000 to 3,000, which was more than we anticipated, there were about 50 officers engaging with those present and encouraging them to disperse. There was a hardcore of serious criminals hidden within those 3,000 people, perhaps 400 or 500 people, and we certainly didnt trigger this. The officers were incredibly patient, incredibly professional and I pay tribute to them. Mr Marsh said 12 police vehicles were damaged, including two that were set on fire, and significant damage was caused to New Bridewell police station. Officers were pelted with stones, missiles and fireworks, he said, with one officer suffering a punctured lung and broken ribs, and another a fractured arm. Both have since been discharged from hospital. Seven people had been arrested by Monday afternoon, six for violent disorder and a seventh for possession of an offensive weapon, and police were to launch an appeal for others wanted for questioning. Speaking to broadcasters at BAE Systems in Preston, the prime minister called the events in Bristol unacceptable. People obviously have a right to protest in this country but they should protest peacefully and legally, Boris Johnson added. Further protests are planned over the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which passed the first hurdle in the House of Commons last week and is undergoing parliamentary scrutiny. Detectives are looking at potential ideological motives for the actions of a minority of protesters (Getty) The legislation, running at almost 300 pages, contains a huge range of new laws, including tougher penalties for knife carriers and killer drivers, but proposals for protests have sparked particular alarm. The draft section on public order states that conditions can be imposed on demonstrations if the noise generated may result in serious disruption to the activities of an organisation or may have a relevant impact on persons in the vicinity of the protest. It creates a new public nuisance law that would make causing serious annoyance or inconvenience a crime punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment. And it would give the home secretary and her successors the authority to define serious disruption to the life of the community and serious disruption to the activities of an organisation. The Labour mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, said he had major concerns about the law and believed it could impose disproportionate controls on peaceful protests and freedom of expression. But 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. ADVERTISEMENT The police in Kano State said they have arrested a man supplying motorcycles to bandits operating in Zamfara State. Bandits in Northern Nigeria mostly use motorcycles as operational vehicles for kidnapping and attacks on communities. The police spokesperson in Kano, Abdullahi Kiyawa, told BBC Hausa on Tuesday that the suspect has confessed to selling about 100 motorcycles to the bandits in Zamfara. Mr Kiyawa said the suspect, whom he did not name, was arrested following a tip-off by motorcycle traders in Kano. According to the police spokesperson, the bandits pay the suspect N600,000 for a motorcycle and take the delivery in Kano. He sells Honda ACE 125 motorcycles popularly known as Boko Haram in Zamfara State. Zamfara state government has since banned the use of this motorcycle. However, when they buy it in Kano, they change the cover of motorcycle box and take it to the forest where they assemble it for attacking innocent citizens, Mr Kiyawa said. He said the suspect was arrested in Kano while taking two motorcycles to Zamfara State. Michelle Mone says she has been floored by COVID-19 after battling with the illness for past two weeks. The Ultimo bra boss and entrepreneur, 49, who lives on the Isle Of Man - which had come out of lockdown on February 1st with no reports of COVID for seventeen consecutive days - said it was a very scary time. She told Instagram followers: 'For the last couple of weeks, I battled with COVID-19. I am a fit person but I wont lie to you: It floored me. Unwell: Michelle Mone says she has been floored by COVID-19 after battling with the illness for past two weeks 'I knew I had it before I got my PCR test back. I was demonstrating all of the main symptoms and it was unlike anything Id ever experienced: extremely high temperature; serious shortness of breath; sore bones; a rash all over my body; an awful sore throat and cough; a beating headache and a total loss of smell and taste!' Baroness Mone who stayed at her estate with her billionaire husband Doug Barrowman during her illness said: 'Its very scary to see all this happen to your body at once. 'Its a really nasty illness and I was grateful to be at home with my husband (and the three wee dogs, of course!) who all looked after me amazingly.' Worrying: The Ultimo bra boss and entrepreneur, who lives on the Isle Of Man - which had come out of lockdown on February 1st with no reports of COVID for seventeen consecutive days - said it was a very scary time Close: Baroness Mone stayed at her estate with her billionaire husband Doug Barrowman during her illness She added: 'My respect for the NHS and the amazing staff has grown tenfold after this experience. 'For them to have to fight this every day is hard to imagine and they do such an exceptional job protecting our vulnerable - thank you! 'Please stay safe and be careful when you leave the house. We are all making a collective effort to fight this virus, and we must continue to the end!' Bad timing: Baroness Mone had previously been branded 'out of touch' for posting 'distasteful' pictures of her sunning herself at a five-star Maldives resort in December Baroness Mone had previously been branded 'out of touch' for posting 'distasteful' pictures of her sunning herself at a five-star Maldives resort in December - as much of the UK remained in Tier 3. The millionaire Ultimo founder and Baroness married billionaire Barrowman, 53, on November 28 in a 'magical' ceremony on the Isle of Man, before jetting off on her honeymoon to One&Only Reethi Rah resort in Male. But while many fans rushed to congratulate the newlyweds, others branded the pictures 'self-centred', urging Baroness Mone to 'open your eyes to how the rest of us are forced to live'. Hitting out: She was slammed for sharing the pictures from Brits still languishing in Tier 3 She was accused of 'rubbing her trip in the faces of all single mothers just before Christmas', while one posted a link to the Hall and Oates song 'Out of Touch'. After The House of Lords peer was approached for comment, the negative remarks appeared to vanish from her LinkedIn account, with only the positive comments remaining. A spokesperson for Baroness Mone pointed out that she had cancelled three wedding dates already and shared the images as her followers were 'excited to see them'. A TD has questioned why the governor of the Central Bank took no interest in meeting Bank of Ireland (BoI) to discuss branches closures. Independent Michael McNamara asked Bank of Ireland chief executive Francesca McDonagh if governor Gabriel Makhlouf had requested a meeting with her to discuss the bank closing a third of its branches. He wanted to know why Mr Makhlouf had no interest in holding a direct meeting with Ms McDonagh notwithstanding the announcement of the branch closures. She told the Oireachtas Finance Committee the governor had not asked for a meeting with her on the plans announced this month to close 88 branches in the State. But she said senior executives in the Central Bank have regular engagement with the bank on the issue. The last (virtual) meeting Ms McDonagh had with Governor Makhlouf was in April last year in relation to the bank providing payment breaks for borrowers affected by the economic fallout from the pandemic. And Bank of Ireland (BoI) was accused of using the first lockdown last year as a dummy run for the mass closure of branches. The bank came in for heavy criticism from TDs and senators over its plans. Ms McDonagh defended the closures at her appearance before the Joint Oireachtas Finance and Public Expenditure Committee yesterday. Alongside the 88 branches in the State, another 15 in Northern Ireland are to close. Bank bosses insist no branches will close in the next six months as the shut-downs are set to begin from September. And it said that 900 An Post offices will offer the banks customers access to a range of banking services. But Sinn Fein finance spokesman Pearse Doherty accused the bank of using the first lockdown last year as a dummy run for shutting branches. He said the bank temporarily closed a large number of branches then. However, most of the same branches are now going to close permanently. Mr Doherty condemned the closures, pointing out that the bank was bailed out by taxpayers after its then leaders acted recklessly. And in the time of a pandemic your response is to withdraw services, he told Ms McDonagh. Mr Doherty also questioned if Bank of Irelands life company New Ireland was refusing to provide first-time buyers with mortgage protection insurance when they have underlying conditions because of the risk of them getting Covid-19. He said New Irelands website says those who have had Covid in the last three months are being told to wait another month, with their applications referred to underwriters. Ms McDonagh said she was not aware of an issue around people being refused cover but was prepared to look at any cases referred to her. Senator Alice-Mary Higgins said 40pc of people lack digital skills and questioned if the bank has factored into its plans the possible closure of post offices. BoI plans to use post offices to provide services to communities where local branches close. Postmasters have claimed up to 200 post offices are likely to close over the next 12 to 18 months. 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. Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 50 Master's in Early Childhood Education Degree Programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 155 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The 2021 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 155 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 50 making it to the final list. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school. Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Master's in Early Childhood Education Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-masters-in-early-childhood-education-degree-programs/ 2021 Master's in Early Childhood Education Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order): Alabama State University Albany State University Arizona State University Auburn University Ball State University Biola University Brandman University Brenau University California Baptist University California Baptist University, Online California University Of Pennsylvania Capella University Champlain College Concordia University, Chicago Concordia University, Nebraska Concordia University, Saint Paul East Tennessee State University Edinboro University Erikson Institute Fordham University Georgia Southern University Grand Canyon University Jacksonville State University Kansas State University Kennesaw State University Liberty University Martin Luther College Mercy College Missouri State University Northern Arizona University Northwestern College Northwestern State University of Louisiana Pacific Oaks College Portland State University Southern New Hampshire University State University of New York, Albany Stephen F. Austin State University Texas A&M University, Commerce University Of Alabama, Birmingham University Of Colorado, Denver University of Dayton University Of Kentucky University of Missouri UNC Greensboro University of North Dakota University Of South Alabama University Of Toledo University Of West Alabama West Chester University Western Kentucky University About Intelligent.com Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/. Pound Australian Dollar Exchange Rate Rises as Risk-Off Market Mood Limits Aussie The Pound Sterling to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate rose today as the risk-sensitive Aussie has suffered from growing tensions between the West and China. The US, Canada, UK, and EU have imposed sanctions on Chinese officials due to human rights violations in Xinjiang. The pairing is currently fluctuating around AU$1.79. US secretary of state Antony Blinken explains: Amid growing international condemnation, [China] continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang. We will continue to stand with our allies around the world in calling for an immediate end to the PRCs crimes and for justice for the many victims. As a result, demand for the risk-sensitive Aussie has slipped today, with concerns that tensions between the West and China could harm Australias economic recovery in the months ahead. China is Australias largest trading partner, so any tensions between Western countries and the worlds second-largest economy dampens confidence in Australian markets. Australian Dollar (AUD) traders will be awaiting this evenings release of the latest Australian Commonwealth Bank flash Composite PMI figure for March. Any signs of improvement in Australias economic performance would prove AUD-positive. Pound (GBP) Exchange Rates Edge Higher as UK Joblessness Falls for the First Time During Covid-19 Pandemic The Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate rose today after the UK Unemployment Rate for January fell for the first time since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ILO Unemployment Rate figure for January fell from 5.1% to 5%. This was below the forecast of a 5.2% increase. Chancellor Rishi Sunak celebrated the UKs Covid-19 rollout and was generally upbeat about the data, saying: The continued success of the vaccine rollout provides us with hope for the future, and through our plan for jobs, we will continue to support people throughout the months to come. As a result, GBP investors are more optimistic about the outlook for the UKs economy, which seems to be improving as we head closer to the easing of lockdown restrictions in April. However, tensions between the UK and the EU this week over the blocs threat to ban exports of the crucial AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine has dampened some of UK market confidence. GBP/AUD Outlook: Could Strong UK Services Data Boost Sterling? Pound (GBP) investors will be awaiting tomorrows publication of the flash Markit Services PMI data for March. Any improvement in the UKs largest sector would boost the Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate. Tomorrow will also see the release of the UK CPI figure for February. If this points to an improvement in the UKs economic performance last month, then Sterling would benefit. Risk sentiment will continue to drive the AUD/GBP exchange rate, however, with any indications of tensions between China and the West increasing being AUD-negative. The Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate could continue to head higher this week as the outlook for the UK economy improves on the success of the Governments Covid-19 vaccine rollout programme. Illustration by Sara Caplan, from Media Trades. The more left-leaning Bowdoin students and the more right-leaning Clemson students participated in Stone's online project, Media Trades, during the month of February. Media Trades allows users to choose a newspaper or magazine article from over six-hundred media outlets and share it with another site user with a different political outlook. Both trading partners agree to read the swapped articles, and to prove they did so by writing a short summary. So, for instance, a left-leaning user might trade an NPR story like this one: "Why Republicans Are Moving To Fix Elections That Weren't Broken." While a right-leaning user would send this one from the Manhattan Institute's City Journal: "Results, Not Headlines: Many heartland states have outperformed more prominent counterparts in the fight against Covid-19." (These were actually exchanged by students.) While users might be motivated to trade articles to get a chance to prove they are right, in the end, they will also learn about the other side's reasons for believing what they do. Stone first enlisted a university course to engage with Media Trades last semester, when he worked with an economics class taught by Shilpi Mukherjee. This semester, Mukherjee asked another of her classes to participate. Along with the Bowdoin class, a total of 123 students participated, trading more than 300 articles. Of the ninety-five students from Clemson, sixty-nine self-identified as leaning right, and twenty-six said they leaned left. Of the thirty-two students from Bowdoin, five said they tended to have right-leaning views, while the rest reported being left-leaning. A few non-students also joined in to ensure that an equal number of liberal and conservative articles were traded. Recently, a published study in Science Advances assessed the contribution of pollinators to international market flows and showed that biodiversity conservation is essential to sustain global consumption patterns. This study results from the work of an interdisciplinary team that integrated researchers across the fields of economics, ecology, environmental sciences and social sciences. Given the growing global demand for crops, sustainability in agriculture is one of the main challenges for human society. Together with the excessive use of chemical inputs, the loss of natural habitat associated with cropland expansion is one of the main drivers of biodiversity decline, and more specifically of pollinator decline. Since pollinators (especially insects) contribute to the production of the vast majority of crops, biodiversity loss negatively impacts crop yield. Quality of the crop product can also be affected, biotic pollination improving the nutritional content and aesthetic appearance associated with the crop market value). Inspired by the concept of Virtual Water Flow, which measures the amount of water associated with crop products traded in international markets, the concept of Virtual Pollination Flow was defined in this paper as the proportion of exported products resulting from pollinator action. Felipe Deodato (Federal Instituto of Mato Grosso - IFMT, Brazil), who together with Luisa Carvalheiro (Federal University of Goias - UFG, Brazil) led this research, said that "the concept of Virtual Pollination Flow shows how global markets, particularly those associated with more developed countries, are excessively demanding of pollination services from developing countries." For example, Europe and the United States are heavy consumers of pollination services from Brazil via pollinator-dependent crops, such as coffee, soybeans, oranges, apples, watermelons, mangos, and avocados. The study also showed that less-developed countries (i.e. those scored lower on the Human Development Index) are those that most expanded their cropland area dedicated to pollinator-dependent crops. This expansion was associated with loss of those pollinators' natural habitat. Luisa Carvalheiro (UFG) warned that "yield loss associated with decreased ecosystem services, such as crop pollination, stimulates even more cropland expansion, thus creating a vicious circle with negative effects for both biodiversity and agriculture". The authors also pointed out the socioeconomic consequences of this trend. Small scale farmers, who are responsible for a significant portion of crop production worldwide, are those with less capacity to deal with crop yield losses. Frederic Mertens (University of Brasilia - UnB, Brazil) emphasized that "the interdisciplinary approach of this research revealed the need to develop strategies of global collaborative governance that goes beyond economic principles of free markets, and instead aims for a synergy between international crop markets, biodiversity conservation and social justice". Although many previous studies reported pollinator declines and highlighted their important role in agriculture, the general public is still largely unaware of the impacts of the current agribusiness model and associated international markets on biodiversity. "When the consumers buy a package of coffee, they know where it came from just by looking at the label, but they don't know if the farmer used sustainable practices to safeguard insects that pollinated coffee production", said Felipe Deodato. The researchers hope that, by facilitating the identification of global economic connections mediated by ecosystem services, the work will stimulate a recognition of shared responsibility, in which all participants in the production process (farmers, consumers and politicians) are engaged to minimize environmental impacts. ### An online tool was developed for users visualize the flow of virtual pollination between countries (https:/ / virtual-pollination-trade. shinyapps. io/ virtual-biotic-pollination-flow/ ). J. Aguirre-Gutierrez (University of Oxford, UK), Marc Lucotte (Universite du Quebec a Montreal, Canada) and Karlo Guidoni-Martins (Universidade Federal de Goias, Brazil), also participated in the study. This research was supported by Foundation of Support to Research of Federal District (FAPDF/Brazil), Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement (CAPES/Brazil), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil), Lisboa2020 FCT/EU (Portugal), and Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) (Netherlands). Photo credit "pollinator on sunflower" - Luisa G. Carvalheiro. Photo credit "pollinator on acai palm flower" - Cristiano Menezes. Where to read the paper? (free access): Felipe Deodato da Silva e Silva, Luisa G. Carvalheiro, Jesus Aguirre-Gutierrez, Marc Lucotte, Karlo Guidoni-Martins, Frederic Mertens. Virtual pollination trade uncovers global dependence on biodiversity of developing countries. Sci. Adv. 7, eabe6636 (2021). Contact: * Dr. Felipe Deodato da Silva e Silva (Federal Institute of Mato Grosso - IFMT; felipe.silva@bag.ifmt.edu.br); * Dr Luisa G. Carvalheiro (Federal University of Goias - UFG; lgcarvalheiro@gmail.com); * Dr. Frederic Mertens (University of Brasilia - UnB; mertens.br@gmail.com). the idea of getting the staff to do the dance moves so they could guess was inspired and how the fuck was jin the best at it?????????? hahahaha when you work hard enough to memorize it really stays in your head Reply Thread Link haha i havent watched this one yet but i was so proud of jin last week Reply Parent Thread Link he is really good at the first game ahahhaha hobi looks all proud Reply Parent Thread Link KING OF CHOREOGRAPHY! His surprised face when he kept getting it right was so cute Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Remember RM says that when you're desperate like them, you have to learn the dance moves hahahahah Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah! His hyper focus and dedication to learning the choreography paid off. I feel like he would know what it would look like to dance horribly because he is critical of his own skills. Reply Parent Thread Link unmute for the ultimate kdrama boyfriend reveal pic.twitter.com/PLfKATiwWY lex (@prodK0YA) March 17, 2021 I will never get over this Reply Thread Link he looks so dreamy! *swooning* Reply Parent Thread Link Not me loving this hair when I complain about lack of forehead all the time lol Reply Parent Thread Link he is really working this long fluffly hair Reply Parent Thread Expand Link He's just so pretty. Reply Parent Thread Link I was screaming when I saw this. I love how they never forget to include Suga somehow. Reply Parent Thread Link [210323 Jin Weverse Comment] Seok Jji who went to film a variety show but ended up filming a photo shoot kekekeke kekekeke i see this face daily in the mirror pic.twitter.com/lDcMu7RaAJ (@miiniyoongs) March 23, 2021 reason 98 why Jin is the best Reply Thread Link I just finished the Run episode. LOL at Jin being the dance king! I was so proud of him. Guessing choreo based on descriptions is so hard lol. I got some of them right though but i looked stupid af trying to act it out hahaha. I think we're getting some betrayal next week! YEEESSSSSS! Reply Thread Link I knew Jin and Namjoon would dominate the dance guessing game, those poor guys probably look like the staff members when they first see the new choreography lol Trying to put my prediction googles on for next week, I think our Slytherin king is gonna take it home this time, or maybe Tae will clutch it Also the constant references to Yoongi was cute, I do wonder how he would've done in these games Edited at 2021-03-23 02:54 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Yoongi looks like he would be good on the searching for info part Reply Parent Thread Link I've gotten over my BTS phase(I was a hardcore fan between 2017-2019 - I was a bit unhealthily obsessed) during the pandemic and haven't been keeping up at all. What's new with them? Reply Thread Link since when? give us the timeline because a lot is always happening Reply Parent Thread Link i just started watching rise of bangtan and its so good. big hit should hire whoever made it! Reply Thread Link 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 Reply Thread Link Unrelated but I did a BTS ride on my Peloton and it was amazing even tho I almost died and literally strained my neck... Im fine now! Couldnt stop myself from pushing harder during Mic Drop. The ride ended with Spring Day so that may have made me feel a little overwhelmed with emotion since its my favorite. Reply Thread Link what a way to end Reply Parent Thread Link This episode was super cute and finally we see the people's choice for both kinkiest member and the one you take home to mom, Kim Seokjin be recognized as a true dance leader in the team. Poor Hobi was pressured to step up as the episode progressed. I was cracking up when people started fighting over his seat to get that Seokjin energy. We all need to feel his magic!!! Edited at 2021-03-23 03:04 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link what? how did you deduce kinkiest and the one you take home to mom from the run episode? Or is it from the quiz show? Reply Parent Thread Link why you take him home to mom: he's the one who always cooked and took care of the other members. He really goes out of his way to look out for the younger ones (google "Seokjin hyung will do it" compilation. it is adorable). All of us here can give you a lot of reasons but ellaellaeheheh the Kim Seokjin expert in these parts. :) as for the kinkiest, it is more of something we all joke about because he has said stuff like this in the past: he's just being really entertaining. You should join us more in these posts and you'll understand why! :) Edited at 2021-03-24 05:36 pm (UTC) hahaha, it's from bingeing all their content. He's pretty wholesome in the stuff here.why you take him home to mom: he's the one who always cooked and took care of the other members. He really goes out of his way to look out for the younger ones (google "Seokjin hyung will do it" compilation. it is adorable). All of us here can give you a lot of reasons butisKim Seokjin expert in these parts. :)as for the kinkiest, it is more of something we all joke about because he has said stuff like this in the past:he's just being really entertaining. You should join us more in these posts and you'll understand why! :) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link BTS has finished filming "Let's BTS". It will include: - a special VCR showcasing their chemistry - stories that they haven't told each other in 8 years - a touching performance filmed in secret with the public's participation (+) pic.twitter.com/JoAkPczqpa BTS Press (@BTSPressData) March 23, 2021 Reply Thread Link Is this gonna be a thing that airs for free... or is BigHit trying to take all our money again? Reply Parent Thread Link lol It will air on korean tv, and they say they Will stream Reply Parent Thread Link It's being shown on Korean TV so we'll probs get a stream but no subs. Reply Parent Thread Link "stories they haven't told each other in 8 years" are there a lot of things they haven't told each other yet at this point??? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This looks interesting, I wonder if we'll get subs at some point? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link after the ONTD original about them the other day I have fallen down a Run BTS rabbit hole and I don't want to come out. Reply Thread Link isnt is super fun???? join us!!! Reply Parent Thread Link YEEEEEEEE my influence lmfao Reply Parent Thread Link more like your FAULT for making me give Jimmy Fallon views because I need to watch their performance of Idol multiple times! hdu??? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Last week I had heard Dynamite in passing, you post and now I can tell them apart. I'm way too old for this. I blame you for having watched way too many videos. Also thank you for the post! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link your credibility Reply Parent Thread Expand Link @ BigHit: LET ME BUY THAT SWEATSHIRT THAT JIMIN IS WEARING WHERE IS IT ON WEVERSE SHOP? Reply Thread Link is it sold out already?? Reply Parent Thread Link Gagarin Prospect completes first ever LNG Aframax tanker fuelling in USA On 15 March 2021 Sovcomflot and Shell broke new ground, with the completion of the first ever Aframax tanker fuelling using LNG in the USA. Sovcomflots Gagarin Prospect, on long-term charter to Shell, was en-route from Corpus Christi to Europe. She received 1,075 cubic metres of marine LNG from the Shell NA LNG LLC chartered Q-LNG 4000 outside the Port of Canaveral, Florida. This represented the first ever ship-to-ship LNG fuelling of a large capacity Aframax tanker in the USA. This event demonstrates the rapid expansion of LNG bunkering infrastructure globally. The deviation from the vessels usual voyage route amounted to less than 150 nautical miles (0.5 days) and the bunkering time was 11 hours. LNG can now be supplied ship-to-ship on the principal transatlantic tanker trade routes between Europe and the US Gulf, and the US Gulf and East Coast Canada, which has seen traffic increasing rapidly as a result of the growth in WTI crude exports from the US Gulf. Gagarin Prospect is the lead vessel in SCF Groups pioneering series of dual fuelled Green Funnel Aframax tankers, delivered in 2018/2019, and one of two in the series on long-term time charter to Shell. The continued expansion of LNG fuelling in the United States facilitates the growing use of vessels able to utilise LNG in their main engines, auxiliaries and boilers, providing for a much reduced emissions footprint compared with conventionally fuelled tankers. Performing this voyage using LNG fuel rather than permissible conventional fuels and including discharge operations, SCFs technical team estimate reductions in CO2 emissions of 62 per cent, SOx emissions reduced by 100 per cent and NOx emissions reduced by 97 per cent. The fuel economy from using LNG as a main fuel amounts to 10-12 per cent compared to conventional fuels. Sergey Popravko, Chief Operating Officer of SCF Group, said: This is another important milestone highlighting the progress of the ?ombined efforts of Shell and Sovcomflot to reduce the environmental impact of energy shipping. Our work started back in 2018, with the first marine LNG fuelling operation of Gagarin Prospect in the Port of Rotterdam. The current LNG-bunkering confirms the leadership position of Sovcomflot in green shipping and our responsible approach to environmental safety, which lies at the heart of SCFs activity. We are investing significant efforts to the transition of our fleet towards energy efficiency and the use of cleaner fuels. We are pleased that Shell has opened up LNG fuelling along this important transatlantic trade route, demonstrating that marine LNG fuelling infrastructure is no longer limited to hubs in Northern Europe and Singapore. It is symbolic that the bunkering took place at the Port of Canaveral, being the space hub of the United States of America, involving the Russian tanker Gagarin Prospect named after Planet Earths first cosmonaut. Karrie Trauth, General Manager, Shell Shipping & Maritime Americas, said: As part of Shells target to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, in step with society, we are working with customers across every sector to help them decarbonize. LNG is the choice today for new builds to help slow the rate of global greenhouse gas emissions while we work hard at developing zero-emissions fuels. Im pleased to see the first Aframax tanker fuelled with LNG in the United States as this is an important milestone for the industry. The GrandWay Events Centre will be opening its doors for the very first time to welcome guests to the Simulcast Bar and Lounge on Wednesday, March 24. In light of the recent announcement from Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health moving the region to an Orange zone, the Lounge will be allowed to host 50 patrons indoors. Strict Covid-19 protocols will still remain and guests will be required to sit in family groups, providing contact information for everyone in their party. "It has been a long time coming but we are finally ready and able to share our new space with guests," said Jamie Martin, Director of Operations at the Grand River Raceway. "We are very proud of the building and the opportunity it provides to both community members and Horse Racing fans. We have been planning for this day for some time and look forward to providing an enjoyable and safe experience in our new space." The GrandWay Events Centre is the latest in facilities at the Grand River Raceway. Owned and operated by Grand River Agricultural Society, the event centre provides a series of welcoming spaces for weddings, parties and corporate events. Home also to the GrandWay Lounge which will broadcast simulcast racing and sporting events seven days a week from noon until 10 p.m. In the short term, guests will be able to social distance and enjoy racing and sports, with bar service until 9 p.m. in accordance with government policy. The GrandWay Kitchen will open in a few weeks serving a pub menu during opening hours. We are excited to offer a simple but delicious bar menu, incorporating some of Chef Emma's race night favourites, along with some new dishes featuring local ingredients," said Katie Giddy, Director of Hospitality, Sales and Marketing at The GrandWay. "We have taken GRAS's passion and commitment to local agriculture and included locally grown produce in all of our menus." At this time, the team at The GrandWay is also open for future event bookings and tours of the location by appointment. For further information please visit www.thegrandway.com or reach out to the team at 519-846-5455 ext 288. (Grand River Raceway) Baby Mango Snack Bar opened on March 10 at 4411 W. Illinois Ave. Owner Angelica Estrada moved to Midland about 10 years ago and went to school at Midland College. She graduated from Midland College with an Associates Degree in Business and decided to open a snack, juice and smoothie bar. Im from Mexico and I got the idea for Baby Mango from shops in Mexico, she said. I bring everything from Mexico so it tastes like youre eating our items in Mexico. Her favorite items on the menu are the elote or corn options, including elote en vase regular, elote con frituras (with Takis or hot cheetos), elote chorreado and elote en palo. All the snacks are brought from Mexico except for the hot cheetos. Estradas said she wanted to do something with her business degree and decided a snack, smoothie and juice bar would be interesting. She saved most of her money to open the snack bar, which ended up costing more than double what was originally expected. The menu also features chilindrina, fresas con crema, pinolada, mangonada, fruit mixes (with yogurt, granola, limon or chamoy) and more. The juice bar has juices to help with diabetes, cholesterol, colon, skin and one with plenty of vitamins. The jugo verde juice is made of cactus, celery, pineapple and orange. Snack options include Takis, Flamin Hot Cheetos, chicharrones, ramen, skwinkles rellenos and more. The shop also has ice cream and agua frescas. Estradas said she hopes to add coffee for the winter season. The snack bar has extra seating if customers want to sit and work. She said she would also like to add an option for people to celebrate birthdays or other events. The snack bar is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Local chef to be on TV Curb Side Bistros chef and owner Alejandro Barrientos will be appearing on Food Networks Beat Bobby Flay. On April 22, Chef Alejandro will be featured on season 27, episode 11, according to a Facebook post. Curb Side Bistro was originally a food truck but is now located at 3816 Andrews Highway in Odessa. The restaurant serves gourmet sliders, fries, chicken wings, tacos and more. Barrientos also opened The Beer Barn -- previously the Bar-B-Q Barn -- next door to the restaurant which is a drive-thru convenience store serving beer, energy drinks, micheladas, fountain drinks and other beverages. This is a dream come true and its all due to the blessing from God and the amazing support from our community!!!! Barrientos said in a Facebook post. Ukraine is grateful to Luxembourg for its unwavering stance on assessing the consequences of Russia's armed aggression against our country. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov said this during a meeting with President of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies Fernand Etgen on March 23, Ukrinform reports with reference to the parliaments press service. "We highly appreciate that Luxembourg has consistently supported and is a co-author of all UN General Assembly resolutions on the Ukrainian issue in the context of Russia's armed aggression in Donbas and occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea," Razumkov said. The speaker noted that the de-occupation of the peninsula is a priority for Ukraine. "The situation in Crimea continues to deteriorate in many areas of life, including from militarization to violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as long-term threats to the region's environmental security," he said. The chairman of the parliament expressed hope for Luxembourg's further support for Ukraine's efforts to restore territorial integrity and invited local MPs to visit our country. Razumkov also added that Ukraine supports Luxembourg's chairmanship in the UN Human Rights Council in 2022-2024. According to him, relations between our countries have been developing rapidly recently. "Luxembourg is among the top ten countries in terms of EU investment in Ukraine. Over the nine months of last year, Ukraine received almost USD 1.2 billion in direct investment," Razumkov noted. The Verkhovna Rada adopts decisions that will help attract investment. "The Ukrainian parliament has passed a number of bills to attract additional investment from foreign countries, I hope, from Luxembourg as well," he said. In addition, Razumkov stressed the danger of completing the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. As Ukrinform reported, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov is on a working visit to Brussels (the Kingdom of Belgium) and Luxembourg (the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) on March 22-23. ish Advocates of teaching North Carolina students about the historical suffering of Black people and Native Americans were told Tuesday to file their own legislation instead of including it in a new bill about the Holocaust. The state House Education Committee backed legislation Tuesday requiring the State Board of Education to include instruction of the Holocaust and genocide in the English and social studies standards used in middle schools and high schools. The committee narrowly rejected in a voice vote an amendment that would have required the state board to also integrate teaching about Black history into the standards. Supporters of the Holocaust legislation say its needed because some people still deny that the Nazis killed millions of Jews, Roma and other people. The Gizella Abramson Holocaust Education Act is named after a Polish-born Holocaust survivor who relocated to Raleigh. Before she died in 2011, Abramson spoke at schools about the Holocaust. Committee members were told Tuesday that North Carolina public school students could graduate without being taught about the Holocaust in school. Need for Black history raised Concerns were raised by some Democratic committee members that the bill doesnt recognize the holocausts experienced by other groups. Rep. Charles Graham, a Robeson County Democrat, said students should also learn about the holocaust of Native Americans. The amendment presented by Rep. Kandie Smith, a Pitt County Democrat, would have added Black history and the development of a Black history elective to the Holocaust legislation. It would have gone alongside the development of a Holocaust studies elective thats already part of the bill. But Rep. Jeffrey Elmore, a Wilkes County Republican and one of the bills primary sponsors, said that parts of Black history, such as slavery, are already included in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. He pointed to how the state board recently approved new social studies standards that include more of the perspectives of different groups. In contrast, Elmore said the standard course of study, which outlines what students should be taught, doesnt mention the Holocaust. He said theres still time left this session to file legislation about teaching about Black history or Native American history. 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. Virtual Nodule Clinic empowers clinicians to make optimal clinical decisions in early-stage lung cancer diagnosis and is now commercially available in the United States Optellum, a lung health company aiming to redefine early diagnosis and treatment of lung disease, today announced it received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Virtual Nodule Clinic. This revolutionary product is an AI-powered clinical decision support software for pulmonologists and radiologists managing patients with small lesions in the lungs called nodules that could represent early-stage lung cancer. This is the first such application of AI decision support for early lung cancer diagnosis cleared by the FDA. Lung cancer kills more people than any other cancer. The current five-year survival rate is an abysmal 20%, primarily due to the majority of patients being diagnosed after symptoms have appeared and the disease has progressed to an advanced stage (Stage III or IV).1 By comparison, the survival rate for small tumors treated at Stage IA is up to 90%.2 The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated their screening recommendations earlier this month with a push to diagnose lung cancer earlier when it is more amenable to treatment. One of greatest opportunities to diagnose more small pre-symptomatic lung cancers earlier is presented by the two million patients in the United States every year3 who have a lung nodule identified incidentally during chest CT scans ordered for other reasons, such as emergency room or cardiac scans. Current guidelines mandate follow-up over one to two years to determine whether a nodule is cancerous. However, over 60% of these patients do not receive guideline-recommended follow-up,4 severely limiting opportunities for early intervention and treatment. Patients who do receive recommended follow-up often require multiple imaging scans and biopsies, and sometimes unnecessary invasive procedures including surgical biopsies and lung resections, before arriving at a definite diagnosis. Optellum's Virtual Nodule Clinic is designed to solve this problem by enabling pulmonologists to identify and track at-risk patients with suspicious lung nodules and make optimal clinical management decisions for those patients. The software features a clinically-validated Lung Cancer Prediction (LCP) score designed to empower clinicians to more accurately and consistently evaluate lung cancer risk and make more optimal clinical decisions that could save more patient lives. Optellum's LCP score is powered by the world's first FDA-cleared imaging AI/"Radiomics"-based digital biomarker for lung cancer. The score is computed from full patterns of 3D pixels in standard images captured by Computed Tomography (CT) scanners, which are already available and the standard of care in every modern hospital. Physician use of Virtual Nodule Clinic is shown to improve diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making. In the clinical study which underpins the FDA clearance, all readers in the study, which included pulmonologists and radiologists of various levels of expertise, from generalists to experts, showed a statistically significant improvement in their accuracy for diagnosing lung nodules when using the Optellum software, with an average improvement of 6.85 Area Under the Curve (AUC) points (p<0.001) and a range of 2.4 to 12.1 AUC points for an individual physician. In this study, AUC measured readers' average accuracy in correctly classifying nodules as malignant or benign. In addition to improved diagnostic accuracy, use of the Optellum software resulted in more consistency among physicians.5 "This study demonstrates the clinical impact of the LCP score," said Dr. Anil Vachani, Principal Investigator of the study and Associate Professor and Co-Director, Lung Cancer Screening at the University of Pennsylvania. "When using the LCP score, all readers in the study significantly improved both their sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis, and readers at all levels of expertise became more consistent. This is significant because it could assist with early lung cancer diagnosis and intervention in today's clinical practice, where many patients with cancerous nodules may face delays in diagnosis and treatment, while patients with benign nodules are often unnecessarily exposed to aggressive procedures with sometimes life-threatening complications." Optellum's LCP has been extensively validated in additional multi-center studies led by co-authors of clinical guidelines,6 and shown to consistently outperform conventional risk prediction models recommended in the current clinical guidelines and considered state-of-the-art in classifying nodules as low (likely benign), intermediate or high risk (likely cancerous). In an independent validation study led by physicians from Vanderbilt and Oxford, the AI was shown to correctly reclassify indeterminate nodules into high- and low-risk categories in more than a third of cancers and benign nodules,7 illustrating the potential to speed up lung cancer diagnosis and reduce invasive biopsies and surgeries on patients without lung cancer, compared to the current standard of care. "We are delighted to launch the world's first AI-based decision support for early lung cancer diagnosis cleared by the FDA," said Vaclav Potesil, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Optellum. "This clearance will ensure clinicians have the clinical decision support they need to diagnose and treat lung cancer at the earliest possible stage, harnessing the power of physicians and AI working together to the benefit of patients. Our goal at Optellum is to redefine early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, and this FDA clearance is the first step on that journey. We look forward to empowering clinicians in every hospital, from our current customers at academic medical centers to local community hospitals, to offer patients with lung cancer and other deadly lung diseases the most optimal diagnosis and treatment." About Optellum Optellum is a commercial-stage lung health company providing Artificial Intelligence decision support software that assists physicians in early diagnosis and optimal treatment for their patients. The company was founded so that every lung disease patient is diagnosed and treated at the earliest possible stage, when chances of cure are the highest. Optellum has headquarters at the Oxford Centre for Innovation in Oxford, United Kingdom and a U.S. office at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, TX. For more information, visit optellum.com. 1 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database: SEER 18 2010-2016, All Races, Both Sexes. Available at https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/lungb.html 2 AJCC Lung Cancer Staging manual (7th edition) 3 Optellum projections based on Gould MK, Tang T, Liu IL, Lee J, Zheng C, Danforth KN, Kosco AE, Di Fiore JL, Suh DE. Recent Trends in the Identification of Incidental Pulmonary Nodules. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2015 Nov 15;192(10):1208-14 4 Pyenson BS, Bazell CM, Bellanich MJ, Caplen MA, Zulueta JJ. No Apparent Workup for most new Indeterminate Pulmonary Nodules in US Commercially-Insured Patients. JHEOR. 2019;6(3):118-129. 5 Vachani A, Massion PP, Munden RF, et al., Imaging AI/"Radiomics" decision support improves physicians' stratification of indeterminate pulmonary nodules: An MRMC study presented to the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable (NLCRT) 2020. https://vimeo.com/487367357 6 Baldwin DR, Gustafson J, Pickup L, et al. External validation of a convolutional neural network artificial intelligence tool to predict malignancy in pulmonary nodules. Thorax. 2020 Apr;75(4):306-312. https://thorax.bmj.com/content/thoraxjnl/75/4/306.full.pdf 7 Massion PP, Antic S, Ather S, et al. Assessing the Accuracy of a Deep Learning Method to Risk Stratify Indeterminate Pulmonary Nodules. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2020 Jul 15;202(2):241-249. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.201903-0505OC View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005236/en/ Contacts: Lara Lingenbrink Health+Commerce 858.525.1414 lara@healthandcommerce.com After the failure on the part of government, National School Inspectirate Authority (NaSIA) to support private schools through the National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) Covid-19 Recovery Programe, the recent directive by the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA) directing banks to inspect it certificate on private schools before granting their own savings goes to suggest that it is a grand scheme by government agencies to victimise private education in the country. According to the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS), the directive by NaSIA is out of law, can only be issued by the Bank of Ghana and through a court order. The Executive Director of GNACOPS, Mr Enoch Kwasi Gyetuah said the Council sighted a letter dated February 12, 2021, with reference number NaSIA/Banks/21/02/01, introducing NaSIA, to the banks in Ghana and also signed by Haggar Hilda Ampadu, PhD Executive Director/Inspector General of Schools. Mr Gyetuah said GNACOPS, found that directives issued in the letter on paragraph three lines 1,2 and 3; that states that we are by this letter entreating all banks in Ghana to request all pre-tertiary schools, evidence of their registration with NaSIA, in the form of a provisional certificate, provisional licence or full licence, before transacting any business with such schools is out of law, a right that can only be exercised by Bank of Ghana and possibly by a court order. After the Council's careful evaluation, "we quizzed that who bears the losses of the schools who were not allowed to access their accounts for very important transactions because of your instructions," he stated. He said the Council intimated that, "if the banks refused to go by NaSIAs directives, does NaSIA have the authority to call for action against the banks for non-compliance of the directives." Mr Gyetuah said that assuming without admitting that NaSIA has the mandate to write the letter to authorise the banks not to transact any business with the schools. "How was your office expecting these same schools to pay the registration fee your office is requesting for them to pay into your account while you have 'frozen' their accounts." He said the Council finds the directives and sanctions by NaSIA without board decision and its approval as tantamount to violation of letters and the very spirits of Section 94(1). The Inspector-General of Schools is responsible for the implementation of the decisions of the board and for the day-to-day administration of the affairs of the Authority of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, Act 1023, 2020. On the issue of certificate The Executive Director said directing the banks not to transact business with private schools that are not registered with NaSIA is outside the mandate of the Inspector General of Schools unless it at the request of the board, which is non-existent at the moment. "So on whose mandate or with which court order did your office by implication freeze the accounts of schools that are not registered under your office?" the council questioned. GNACOPS again said NaSIA is an authority working with and under the Ministry of Education, other sister agencies, associations, developed partners, civil society organisations and others as enshrined at Section 90.1(a) to (k) in the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, Act 1023, 2020, but the interesting thing is that non of these collaborators were consulted before issuing external directives to the banks. Mr Gyetuah said as much as NaSIA is mandated to register schools, it is not mandated to do so at a fee since registration of schools is not a service to the school Section 89.1 and 122 expressly states that, "so what kind of service the schools have requested from NaSIA to render them that fees and charges." "The Council wishes to bring to your notice how Act 1023 has directed NaSIA in matters of administration and finance in Section 122,(a) and (b) ) that funds of a regulatory body established under this act include; money approved by Parliament and money derived from fees and charges from services rendered and lastly Section 123.1 of the same says the money for each regulatory body shall be paid into a bank account opened for that purpose with the approval of the Controller and Accountant-General. The Council is therefore seeking clarification from NaSIA executive director as to why such a letter was sent to the banks and the immediate withdrawal of the letter to avoid further losses to our members. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video TV star Hughie Maughan has opened up about how he wanted to end his life at age 16 after becoming so miserable over not being able to tell his Traveller family that he was gay. The Big Brother and Dancing with the Stars celebrity said growing up around "so much toxic masculinity" was "extremely difficult" for him. I grew up around so much toxic masculinity that already exists in society but which is even worse in ethnic minorities which is why growing up I found it very, very hard", the 26-year-old told Virgin Media's Eating With the Enemy. If I had lived by my parents rules and lived what they thought was right, which was essentially homophobic until they understood and learnt more, I would probably be dead now. I attempted suicide when I was 16. Its seven times more likely for a young Traveller man to die by suicide than it is in the rest of society when it is already the biggest killer of men under 40. Expand Close Hughie with his dance partner Emily Barker on Dancing With The Stars / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hughie with his dance partner Emily Barker on Dancing With The Stars Read More The Dubliner said to his dining partner, Tullamore Traveller rights activist Maureen Ward: Do you not attribute a lot of that to how much pressure young Travellers feel underneath? And how scared they are to come out? How girls are so scared if they ever had sex outside of marriage, it means their life is ruined? Hughie, who came out in 2016s Big Brother show in which he was the runner-up, told Maureen that traditional views can really impact on people. He said: Im so passionate about Travellers having rights that I want to broaden peoples minds. Expand Close Hughie Maughan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hughie Maughan I want my nephews and nieces growing up to think, I can be anyone I want to be. It doesnt matter what background I come from. Im not going to limit myself. The most liberating decision I ever made was when I came out about my sexuality. Youth worker Maureen, who described herself as very traditional and who believed in God, her culture and her family, said she learnt a lot from Hughie over the meal. Meanwhile, the reality star, who also appeared on RTEs First Dates last month, revealed the full extent of his plastic surgery while chatting to Maureen. Ive had liposuction in four areas, Ive had some of that fat put into my bum to make it bigger and Ive had lipfillers. Ive had Botox, Ive had cheek-fillers and my teeth arent real and Im getting a hair transplant soon and Im having liposuction again in four weeks time. Im actually not someone who looks in the mirror and hates themselves but I see things Id like to change. Somebody having a boob job to sort out what they think is wrong is no different to someone going to the gym and losing two stone. It is sometimes as healthy a decision as that. I understand there is a negative side where people can become obsessed and it can really affect peoples lives. They are striving for something they cant have but thats not everyone, thats just the extreme side. Which is why I support having surgery over the age of 21 and not 18. Now that Im a bit older Im happier. When I was 18 Id have laid on the table and said to the surgeon, Start from the toes up. Hughie revealed that he recently moved home from the UK and was working as a residential care worker for vulnerable young adults. And now I want to move into the beauty industry and the aesthetic industry, he said. I would be a practitioner that basically gives you lipfillers and Botox. Maureen said she did not believe in cosmetic surgery except for medical or wellbeing reasons. Its not normal. We came into this world and whatever flaws we were given I find that strange that anyone never mind a Traveller should get plastic surgery unless its needed for their health and wellbeing. I dont think its necessary. Eating with the Enemy is on Virgin Media One on Wednesday at 9pm. If you have been affected by any issues raised in this article, you can contact Samaritans helpline 116 123 or the Aware helpline 1800 80 48 48 or Pieta House on 1800 247 247. The coronavirus pandemic presents an opportunity for Australia to rethink its migration program and find local solutions to its skills crisis, according to ANZs chief economist. Speaking to about 500 people at a business breakfast in Perth on Tuesday, ANZ chief economist Richard Yetsenga urged attendees to contribute solutions to help address labour shortages after the number of migrant workers crashed over the past 12 months. ANZ chief economist and head of research Richard Yetsenga. In Australia we have become accustomed to meeting the skills demands by importing the skills we want and I think we have seen what that does to the labour market. I dont think it gives us the right economic outcomes, in all honesty, he said. I think we need more pricing tension in the labour market, I think we need to work harder on developing these skills domestically... [and] by all means if there are things government needs to do we should facilitate that and we should talk about that. Physician: Kids 12-15 know COVID-19 vaccine is 'ticket to freedom' Credit: CC0 Public Domain Australia could once again have a globally competitive manufacturing sector by using automation driven by artificial intelligence (AI). That's the view of University of Adelaide researchers who are aiming to play a major role in the development of AI which is poised to reshape the global economy, bringing challenges and opportunities. The authors of the latest Economic Issues paper"The impact of AI on the future of work and workers"published by the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies (SACES) and the Australian Institute of Machine Learning (AIML), both research centers at the University of Adelaide, maintain that AI "has reached a global tipping point and we need to plan for it." The authors, Professor Anton van den Hengel and Dr. Paul Dalby, Director and Business Development Manager, respectively, of the AIML, and SACES Research Associate, Dr. Andreas Cebulla, describe AI as "the automation of tasks normally requiring human intelligence." "AI has the potential to temper the impact of globalization which has seen industry leaving developed countries seeking lower cost manufacturing options offshore," the authors say. "As AI-driven automation lowers the cost of production, Australia could once again become competitive in manufacturing goods that are currently produced cheaply elsewhere because of low wages in other countries. "But we will need to encourage investment in new-generation automation to take advantage of this new trade opportunity, and ensure we have the education, training and research in place to capitalize." AI is the latest manifestation of automation, a process that has been increasing since the Industrial Revolution and produced the internal combustion engine, computers, the internet and smart phones. At each step, human labor has been replaced with machines. "Currently, artificial intelligence uses mathematical tools and huge amounts of computer power to learn how to become really good at a single task. This makes artificial intelligence very powerful for undertaking a defined task, but helpless at learning tasks on its own," the University of Adelaide experts say. "Research at the AIML aims to develop the next generation of AI which will be able to learn how to learn. This will make machines much more useful and powerful at augmenting our own learned capabilities, offering productivity benefits and an increase in national wealth." The Economic Issues paper details the way in which advanced economies have adapted to automation with the reskilling and education of workers, and investment in research and development, to create new competitive products and services based on automation. The paper says the Federal Government's AI Roadmap published in November 2019"Artificial Intelligence: Solving problems, growing the economy and improving our quality of life"offers an insight into the employment potential of AI. "It is estimated that to exploit the potential of AI, Australian industry will need between 32,000 and 161,000 new specialist AI workers in machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing and other AI technologies by 2030," the AI Roadmap says. The authors of the Economic Issues paper propose that a National AI Strategy be established by a panel of experts with a goal "to build on our existing expertise and provide the impetus to successfully transition Australia to an AI-enabled, 21st century economy." "Australia urgently needs a formal, national strategy for Artificial Intelligence to ensure that we are net beneficiaries and not simply powerless recipients of this new and potentially disruptive technology." However, while noting the big potential of AI, the Economic Issues paper authors also sound a cautionary note, saying that "while increasing the uptake and effective use of AI in Australian business may be a laudable objective, getting there is likely to be an arduous task along a path peppered with challenges and risks." The authors identify risks associated with the cost and training required to maximize the effectiveness of AI, and potential ethical dilemmas associated with its use. "Knowing where and how to use AI is not always easy. Innovation in business is typically incremental and rarely transformative to the extent that more vociferous AI hype suggests. Because AI and the automation it entails come at a cost, businesses will need to find the optimal level of AI that integrates the new with the old, balancing the costs of acquisition and disruption with productivity, quality and flexibility needs and expectations." "This leads us to a second caveat. AI, especially 'affordable AI," still has limited capabilities. AI relies on data utilization and exploitation. From a business perspective, this requires knowing what data the business hasand its potential value to improving products or processes. These are not givens." The authors nominate ethical dilemmas as a third risk facing the uptake of AI. They note the negative experiences "of Microsoft's racist chatbot (a poorly developed chatbot that mimicked the provocative language of its users), Amazon's AI-based recruitment tool that ignored female job applicants (and) Australia's Robodebt. Garbage in, garbage out." "At the very least, these AI tools were not trained appropriately. But training isn't everything. AI requires understanding of human biases. We may want to claim that AI is more efficient than a human as it can do jobs faster and with greater precision. But humans are still its trainers. AI tools are only as 'fair' and socially acceptable at our understanding of our own biases as we program the software. Progress is being made, but there's still some way to go." Explore further Online game developed by researchers shows challenges facing the world of work in the future More information: The Impact of AI on the Future of Work and Workers. The Impact of AI on the Future of Work and Workers. www.adelaide.edu.au/saces/ua/m onomic-issues-54.pdf 2019: Australian intelligence services conclude that China was responsible for a cyber-attack on Australia's parliament and three largest political parties in the run-up to a May election. April 2020: Australian PM Scott Morrison begins canvassing his fellow world leaders for an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. Britain and France are initially reluctant but more than 100 countries eventually back an investigation. April 15: Morrison is one of the few leaders to voice sympathy with Donald Trump's criticisms of the World Health Organization, which the US president accuses of bias towards China. April 21: China's embassy accuses Australian foreign minister Peter Dutton of 'ignorance and bigotry' and 'parroting what those Americans have asserted' after he called for China to be more transparent about the outbreak. April 23: Australia's agriculture minister David Littleproud calls for G20 nations to campaign against the 'wet markets' which are common in China and linked to the earliest coronavirus cases. April 26: Chinese ambassador Cheng Jingye hints at a boycott of Australian wine and beef and says tourists and students might avoid Australia 'while it's not so friendly to China'. Canberra dismisses the threat and warns Beijing against 'economic coercion'. May 11: China suspends beef imports from four of Australia's largest meat processors. These account for more than a third of Australia's $1.1billion beef exports to China. May 18: The World Health Organization backs a partial investigation into the pandemic, but China says it is a 'joke' for Australia to claim credit. The same day, China imposes an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley. Australia says it may challenge this at the WTO. May 21: China announces new rules for iron ore imports which could allow Australian imports - usually worth $41billion per year - to be singled out for extra bureaucratic checks. June 5: Beijing warns tourists against travelling to Australia, alleging racism and violence against the Chinese in connection with Covid-19. June 9: China's Ministry of Education warns students to think carefully about studying in Australia, similarly citing alleged racist incidents. June 19: Australia says it is under cyber-attack from a foreign state which government sources say is believed to be China. The attack has been targeting industry, schools, hospitals and government officials, Morrison says. July 9: Australia suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong and offers to extend the visas of 10,000 Hong Kongers who are already in Australia over China's national security law which effectively bans protest. August 18: China launches 12-month anti-dumping investigation into wines imported from Australia in a major threat to the $6billion industry. August 26: Prime Minster Scott Morrison announces he will legislate to stop states and territories signing deals with foreign powers that go against Australia's foreign policy. Analysts said it is aimed at China. October 13: Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says he's investigating reports that Chinese customs officials have informally told state-owned steelmakers and power plants to stop Aussie coal, leaving it in ships off-shore. November 2: Agriculture Minister David Littleproud reveals China is holding up Aussie lobster imports by checking them for minerals. November 3: Barley, sugar, red wine, logs, coal, lobster and copper imports from Australia unofficially banned under a directive from the government, according to reports. November 18: China releases bizarre dossier of 14 grievances with Australia. November 27: Australian coal exports to China have dropped 96 per cent in the first three weeks of November as 82 ships laden with 8.8million tonnes of coal are left floating off Chinese ports where they have been denied entry. November 28: Beijing imposed a 212 per cent tariff on Australia's $1.2 billion wine exports, claiming they were being 'dumped' or sold at below-cost. The claim is denied by both Australia and Chinese importers. November 30: Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lijian Zhao posted a doctored image showing a grinning Australian soldier holding a knife to the throat of an Afghan child. The move outraged Australians . December 12: Australian coal is added to a Chinese blacklist. December 24: China suspends imports of Australian timber from NSW and WA after local customs officers say they found pests in the cargo. Music executive Sally Grossman, a friend of Bob Dylan who appeared on the cover of his 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home, has died at home in New York at the age of 81. An impressive figure in her own right, Sally was the wife of folk music kingpin Albert Grossman who managed Dylan from 1962 to 1970 and steered the careers of Janis Joplin, Peter, Paul and Mary and the Band, as well as many others. Following Albert's death of a heart attack in 1986, Sally stepped in to run what remained of her husband's empire, including Bearsville Studios in upstate New York, where where R.E.M., Meat Loaf, Metallica Jeff Buckley recorded. Wary of journalists, Sally was described by some as an 'imposing businesswoman' whose other endeavors included restaurants and a theater. Yet despite her considerable professional achievements, Sally is perhaps best known to the public as the mysterious 'lady in red' lounging behind Dylan on the Bringing It All Back Home cover, which was taken at the Grossmans' home in Woodstock, New York. Music executive Sally Grossman, a close friend of Bob Dylan who appeared on the cover of his 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home, has died aged 81 Yet despite her considerable professional achievements, Sally is perhaps best known to the public as the mysterious 'lady in red' lounging behind Dylan on the Bringing It All Back Home cover, which was taken at the Grossmans' home in Woodstock, New York 'Bob [Dylan] said, "Lets put Sally in the picture,"' photographer Dan Kramer later recalled. 'I think Sally is very important in that picture. She completes it. 'We dont know who she is. Shes the woman of mystery. People wrote to me and asked if it was Bob in drag! Sally wanted to be a fashion model. She got a little exposure, but she got a lot more being the woman in red.' Born Sally Buehler in 1939, Sally grew up in Queens, New York. By the early Sixties Sally, like many of her generation, was drawn to the burgeoning music scene in Greenwich Village. She dropped out of college with dreams of working for Trans World Airlines but became a waitress at the Cafe Wha? and The Bitter End, both frequented by a young Dylan. Also in the crowd was Albert Grossman, 13 years her senior and immersed in his work. 'Back then Albert never even said hello to me,' Sally recalled in a 1987 interview. 'He was too purposeful, too busy.' By 1964 the pair were married and became a power couple of the rock and folk scene. The Grossmans were close friends of Dylan and his first wife, Sara Lownds. Some even credit Sally for introducing the couple. An impressive figure in her own right, Sally was the wife of folk music kingpin Albert Grossman who managed Dylan from 1962 to 1970 and steered the careers of Janis Joplin, Peter, Paul and Mary and the Band, as well as many others. Pictured, Grossman seated behind Dylan Indeed Dylan had been at the Grossmans' home in Woodstock, in upstate New York, shortly before he had his mysterious motorcycle accident in July 1966 that has been described as one of the major 'turning points' of his life. Details of exactly what happened remain disputed more than 50 years later, but it is thought he and Sara spent the morning having coffee with Sally while her husband, then Dylan's manager, was at work in Manhattan. Sara and Dylan left to return to their own home in nearby - the musician had bought a property in the area after visits to the Grossmans' - with Dylan borrowing a motorcycle from Albert's garage and his wife following behind in the car. A short while afterwards, Sara drove back to the property with Dylan in the backseat. 'Moaning and groaning', Dylan claimed he had lost balance while driving on the rural road and said the bike had fallen on top of him. He claimed to have been admitted to hospital after the accident but there are no records to support this. Susan Grossman and Lisa Weinstein attend a film screening in East Hampton in 2009 One theory is the accident was crafted as an excuse to allow Dylan to take some time off and enter rehab after a drug-fueled world tour to promote 'Highway 61 Revisited' and 'Blonde on Blonde' albums. Despite being one of the only witnesses, Sally didn't speak publicly about the accident until 2001, when she was interviewed by Dylan's biographer. When she did finally speak, she appeared to confirm the 'fake accident theory', suggesting if there had been an accident at all, he had only suffered minor injuries and was well enough to walk away. He spent 18 months out of the public eye, being treated for drug addiction and retreating to his home in upstate New York. Bob Dylan in 1965, the year before the mysterious motorcycle crash Dylan continued to spend time with the Grossmans and with the Band, took up residence in the house known as Big Pink. The latter half of the Sixties passed in a 'blur', according to Grossman, with both Sally and Albert right at the centre of the folk and rock music scene. 'Our life was incredibly intense. Every night about 30 of us would meet at Alberts office on 55th Street to go out,' she recalled in a 1987 interview. 'The office was constantly packed with people Peter, Paul and Mary, of course, but also Ian and Sylvia, Richie Havens, Gordon Lightfoot, other musicians, artists, poets.' But the good times didn't last. In 1970 Albert and Dylan parted ways after falling out. Two months later Janis Joplin, Grossman's most famous remaining client, died of a heroin overdose. Grossman shifted his attentions from management to his record company and recording studio, Bearsville Records and Bearsville Recording Studio. Albert died of a heart attack in 1986, aged 59, while flying on Concorde to London. Sally stepped in to take over what remained of his music empire, as well as running the two restaurants they had started together and founding the Bearsville Theater. She sold the theater and other businesses in 2004, it was reported. Sally died on March 10 in her sleep at home in Woodstock. The foreign ministers of China and Russia have met in a display of unity and called for a summit of permanent members of the UN Security Council amid Western sanctions against them over human rights violations and repression of political dissent. Wang Yi and Sergei Lavrov rejected Western criticism at a joint news conference in Beijing on March 23, with Lavrov saying that Russia and China view the United States as trying to rely on Cold War-era military political alliances in an attempt to destroy international legal architecture. Subscribe To Our New 'China In Eurasia' Newsletter It has become impossible to tell the biggest stories shaping Eurasia without considering Chinas resurgent influence in local business, politics, security, and culture. China In Eurasia is the new biweekly newsletter by correspondent Reid Standish in which he builds on local reporting from RFE/RLs journalists across Eurasia to give you unique insights into Beijings ambitions. It's sent on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. To subscribe, click here. In a joint statement, Lavrov and Wang again rejected what they called outside interference in their domestic affairs and claimed that "there is no single standard for the democratic model." "It is necessary to respect the legitimate rights of sovereign states to independently determine their own path of development. Interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states under the pretext of 'promoting democracy' is unacceptable," the joint statement said. Wang sharply criticized coordinated sanctions brought by the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States against Chinese officials over human rights abuses in Chinas far western Xinjiang region targeting the mainly Muslim ethnic Uyghur community. The EU sanctions imposed on China are similar to the Magnitsky Act -- the U.S. legislation that authorizes the U.S. government to sanction those it sees as human rights offenders, freeze their assets, and ban them from entering the United States. The two foreign ministers also called in their statement for a summit of permanent members of the UN Security Council. Wang and Lavrov first met on March 22 in the southern Chinese city of Nanning, where they accused Washington of interference in other countries affairs and urged it to rejoin the Iran nuclear agreement, which former President Donald Trump left in 2018. Mutual Sanctions Russia and China, which are signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, both maintain close relations with Tehran. Countries should stand together to oppose all forms of unilateral sanctions," Wang said. These measures will not be embraced by the international community." Wang's comments came as Beijing, in a tit-for-tat move, announced its own sanctions on 10 EU individuals and four entities that it accused of seriously harming China's sovereignty and interests over Xinjiang. Wang and Lavrov's statement, which insisted on "the inviolability of the system of international relations" and respect for international law, came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the European Union of "confrontational policies" in a phone call with European Council President Charles Michel. The phone call came the same day the EU imposed sanctions on two Chechen officials over rights abuses in Russias North Caucasus region of Chechnya. Michel again called on Putin to release opposition politician Aleksei Navalny and proceed with a transparent investigation into the assassination attempt on the jailed Kremlin critic, who was poisoned in August 2020 and was thrown in jail upon his return to Russia following life-saving medical treatment in Germany. Russian authorities have refused to launch an investigation into Navalnys poisoning in Siberia. Earlier this month, the United States and the European Union imposed coordinated sanctions against seven senior Russian officials over Navalny's poisoning and imprisonment. Relations between Washington and Moscow took a further hit on March 18 after Putin shot back at U.S. President Joe Bidens description of him as a killer during a television interview. With reporting by AP, Reuters, and TASS CARROLLTON, Texas, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NerdsToGo , a leading computer and technology repair services franchise, announced it is aggressively targeting franchise growth across the United States as demand for in-home technology solutions continues to increase with more professionals working from home. The announcement comes on the heels of the signing of two franchise agreements to develop new locations in Knoxville, Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina. In September 2020, NerdsToGo was acquired by Propelled Brands, parent company of FASTSIGNS , the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchisor in North America. Under new leadership, the NerdsToGo brand and its franchisees will receive ongoing training, support and unparalleled resources that will position the brand as a leader among the industry and in the local communities it serves. "The pandemic has forced many professionals to work remotely from their homes full time, without direct access to their company's IT department. Remote work is a part of the 'new normal,' and we see a huge opportunity for managed IT services for both small and medium-sized companies," said Mark Jameson, Chief Support and Development Officer. "Propelled Brands has grown FASTSIGNS to be the leader in its category and with a proven business model, we aspire to duplicate that strategy with NerdsToGo. With the brand's authority in the business-to-business sector, we are looking to utilize our expertise to grow NerdsToGo to be a powerhouse brand." The Knoxville territory has been awarded to experienced franchisees Don and Susan Dally, who will also serve as the Area Representatives to lead the brand's development efforts across the state of Tennessee. "During my career I've had the good fortune to experience both franchising and corporate America. When I looked back over my career, it was clear that being a franchisee was the most rewarding. So, Susan and I decided to return to the model that allows me to go into business for myself, but not by myself. Once I learned about NerdsToGo's proven business model and unlimited resources and support, I knew I wanted to be a part of it," said Don. "NerdsToGo focuses on helping the underserved small to medium-sized businesses in areas where they need it the most, and I'm looking forward to scaling the brand's growth alongside the experienced leaders at Propelled Brands." Offering a variety of consumer and B2B services including business consulting, commercial virus removal, spyware and more, NerdsToGo currently has 25 locations and aims to sell 30 franchises nationwide as part of its plans to grow the brand's footprint in new and existing markets. With a long-term goal of growing to over 500 locations, the company is seeking expansion in markets that serve more than 100,000 people. ApplePie Capital is supporting the brand's growth as the lender of choice. "For nearly a decade, ApplePie has helped high-qualify franchise brands provide their franchisees with easy access to the capital they need to achieve their growth goals," said Ron Feldman, CFE, Chief Development Officer, ApplePie Capital. "ApplePie Capital is proud to be the finance partner helping to fund Nerds2Go's growth." NerdsToGo is currently seeking qualified franchisees to help the brand grow across the United States. Prospective franchisees do not need experience in information technology but should have a strong desire to grow a successful business in their local community, developing relationships with small business owners to become their outsourced IT department. The initial investment for a NerdsToGo franchise is approximately $146,200 - $217,050, including a $49,750 franchise fee. Additionally, NerdsToGo offers a special incentive for veterans and first responders, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers, sheriffs and firefighters, which includes a 50% reduction on the franchise fee a savings of $24,875. For information about the NerdsToGo franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson ( [email protected] or 214-346-5679). About NerdsToGo NerdsToGo, Inc. launched its original location in Guilford, CT in 2003 and quickly became the emerging leader in providing computer and technology-based services to both the small and medium sized business market and the residential market. NerdsToGo began franchising in 2017 and quickly grew to 25 independently owned franchise locations in 16 states. The company also continues to own and operate the original Guilford, CT location. NerdsToGo locations provide the total solution in computer and technology support to help small to medium sized business owners and residential customers lead a more effective, efficient and entertaining life through use of a wide range of technology devices including computers, iPhones, iPads, communication devices, Wi-Fi networks, printers, and smart devices. The Company's signature service is delivered by sending a Nerd onsite to customer locations in a well branded, eye catching Nerd Van or through remote support. Customers can also receive service by visiting a local NerdsToGo service center. NerdsToGo acts as the IT department for small to medium sized businesses by helping to design, implement and support IT networks, provide data backup & continuity services, cybersecurity solutions, cloud services, remote support, vendor management services and overall routine maintenance. NerdsToGo continues to grow its franchisee base, while delivering exceptional service and customer support through every interaction. Contact: Nate Rubinstein Fish Consulting 203-241-5134 [email protected] SOURCE NerdsToGo Related Links https://www.nerdstogo.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 23:46:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Equity Bank on Tuesday announced plans for a pan-African expansion after securing an 11 billion shillings (about 100 million U.S. dollars) loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB). James Mwangi, CEO of Equity Group said that his financial institution already operates in seven African countries including Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia. "The facility will support Equity Bank's expansion in East and Central Africa and ensure micro and small-medium enterprises (MSMEs) have access to capital to recover and thrive in a post-COVID-19 environment," Mwangi said in a statement. He noted that the loan, a tier two facility with a seven-year maturity, is expected to promote Equity Bank's ability to optimize its capital structure across the continent with a special focus on women and youth entrepreneurs. Stefan Nalletamby, director, financial sector development AfDB said that Equity Bank has a strong track record of designing products suited to the needs of small and medium entrepreneurs as well as emerging corporates. Nalletamby said that the timing of the facility's disbursement could not have been more appropriate especially as businesses seek to remain operational in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic that is causing financial havoc. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 18:57:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A child riding on an electric tricycle visits a bazaar in Hami City of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) The EU accusation is based on nothing but lies and disinformation. It has either disregarded or distorted basic facts about Xinjiang for political purposes. by Xinhua writers Shen Zhonghao, Yuan Liang BRUSSELS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) on Chinese individuals and entity citing Xinjiang are malicious political tricks that grossly interfere in China's internal affairs under the guise of human rights issues. It is imperative for the EU to end its hypocritical practice of double standards and stop going further down the wrong path. First and foremost, the EU accusation is based on nothing but lies and disinformation. It has either disregarded or distorted basic facts about Xinjiang for political purposes. In the past 60-plus years, Xinjiang's economy has grown by more than 200 times, and the average life expectancy and Uygur population both doubled. Moreover, by showing a variety of hard evidence to the world, China has repeatedly emphasized that Xinjiang-related issues are about fighting terrorism, extremism and separatism, not human rights violations as falsely claimed by some Western politicians. China has sent multiple invitations to diplomats from across the EU to visit Xinjiang. Just as Ambassador Zhang Ming, head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, has said recently, Xinjiang is open to European ambassadors, diplomats, journalists and tourists. However, it is the EU side that has kept delaying their visits and made unreasonable demands. It is also regrettable that those European politicians indulge in false reports on Xinjiang by some Western media outlets and further spread lies and disinformation. Second, the EU sanctions have flagrantly breached international law and basic norms governing international relations. China has repeatedly refuted such moves of gross interference, and has gained wide support globally. On March 12, 64 countries made a joint statement at the Human Rights Council, urging relevant countries to stop using Xinjiang-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs, stop making politically motivated accusations against China, and stop using human rights issues as an excuse to deter the development of developing countries. Last but not least, the EU's move has severely undermined hard-won progress in China-EU relations, which is not in the interests of both sides. Photo taken on Dec. 24, 2020 shows the EU flags flying outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng) The achievements in the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership did not come easily. The EU side should cherish the hard-won situation and create more favorable conditions for China-EU relations, so as to benefit people of both sides. In addition, in face of increasingly complex global challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, China and the EU need to cooperate rather than confront each other, and their cooperation is of great global significance. That is why the EU's sanctions are harmful. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has pointed out that the EU's sanctions were extremely damaging, as they would continue to "poison EU-China cooperation." Therefore, it is high time that the EU reflected on itself and made positive efforts to redress the situation. What is worth mentioning is that also on Monday, China announced sanctions against 10 individuals and four entities on the EU side as they had severely harmed China's sovereignty and interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation. It sends out a clear message that if the EU, or any other Western country, goes further down the wrong path, China will surely make resolute responses. LUND, Sweden, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The shareholders in Alfa Laval AB (publ) (Reg. No. 556587-8054, registered office: Lund) are hereby given notice to the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 27 April 2021 Due to the extraordinary situation that currently is prevailing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alfa Laval AB's Annual General Meeting 2021 will be carried out through advance voting pursuant a temporary legislation. No psychical meeting with the possibility to attend in person or by proxy will take place. Consequently, there will be no customary arrangement in connection with the meeting, meaning that no food and beverages will be served, and the usual tour of the production facility is cancelled. Information on the resolutions passed at the Annual General Meeting 2021 will be published on Alfa Laval's website, https://www.alfalaval.com/investors/ , on 27 April 2021. The company's CEO presentation will also be published on the website on 21 April 2021. Any shareholder with questions to the Board of Directors or the CEO, is encouraged to submit such questions well in advance of the general meeting, however, no later than Saturday 17 April 2021. The questions may be sent by e-mail to arsstamma. [email protected] or by mail to the address Alfa Laval AB, Juridik, P.O. Box 73, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden. The questions will be answered in writing to the shareholder that has requested the information and on the company's website no later than 22 April 2021. The information will also be available in writing at the company. Further information can be found under the heading Information at the Annual General Meeting. Notification A shareholder who wishes to attend the general meeting must. be recorded as shareholder in the register of shareholders prepared by Euroclear Sweden AB relating to the circumstances on 19 April 2021 , and , and notify participation no later than 26 April 2021 , by submitting its advance vote in accordance with the instructions under the heading Advance voting below, so that the advance vote is received by Euroclear Sweden AB no later than 26 April 2021 . To be entitled to participate in the meeting, a shareholder whose shares are held in the name of a nominee must, in addition to providing notification of participation, register its shares in its own name so that the shareholder is recorded in the register of shareholders as at 19 April 2021. Such registration may be temporary (so-called voting right registration) and is requested from the nominee in accordance with the nominee's procedures and at such time in advance as the nominee determines. A voting right registration completed no later than the second banking day after the 19 April 2021 is taken into account when preparing the register of shareholders. Advance Voting Shareholders may exercise their voting rights at the Annual General Meeting 2021 only by voting in advance (so called postal voting) in accordance with section 20 of the Act (2020:198) on temporary exceptions to facilitate the execution of general meetings in companies and other associations. The advance voting is also regarded as the notification of participation at the general meeting. A special form for advance voting must be used. The form is available on Alfa Laval's website https://www.alfalaval.com/investors/ under information concerning the Annual General Meeting. The completed voting form may be sent by email to [email protected] or by mail to Alfa Laval AB, c/o Euroclear Sweden AB, Box 191, 101 23 Stockholm, Sweden. The advance vote must be received by Euroclear Sweden AB no later than Monday 26 April 2021. Shareholders who vote in advance by proxy must enclose a proxy with the form. A proxy form is available at Alfa Laval's website https://www.alfalaval.com/investors/ but can also be obtained directly from Alfa Laval. A shareholder who is a legal entity, shall enclose a certificate of registration or a corresponding document with the form. A shareholder who is a natural person can exercise its voting right electronically through verification using a BankID. Further instructions regarding this can be found at https://anmalan.vpc.se/euroclearproxy . A shareholder who casts its advance vote electronically must submit the vote no later than Monday 26 April 2021 at 11.59 P.M. An advance vote may not be provided with special instructions, conditions, or other additions. If a shareholder writes special instructions or conditions in the advance voting form, the vote in its entirety is invalid. For further instructions and conditions, please see the form for advance voting. For questions about the advance voting or to request a voting form by mail, please contact Euroclear Sweden AB on telephone 08-402 91 33 (Monday-Friday 9.00 A.M. - 4.00 P.M.). Proposed agenda Election of Chairman for the general meeting. Election of one or two persons to attest the minutes. Preparation and approval of the voting register. Approval of the agenda for the general meeting. Determination whether the general meeting has been duly convened. Presentation of the annual report and the Auditor's report, as well as the consolidated annual report and the Auditor's report for the group, and the Auditor's report regarding compliance with the Executive Remuneration Policy adopted at the 2020 Annual General Meeting. Resolution on the adoption of the income statement and the balance sheet as well as the consolidated income statement and the consolidated balance sheet; allocation of the company's profit according to the adopted balance sheet, and record date for distribution of profits; and discharge from liability for members of the Board of Directors and the CEO. Presentation of the Board of Directors' remuneration report for approval. Determination of the number of members of the Board of Directors and deputy members of the Board of Directors to be elected by the general meeting as well as the number of Auditors and deputy Auditors. Determination of the compensation to the Board of Directors and the Auditors. Election of Chairman of the Board of Directors, other members of the Board of Directors and deputy members of the Board of Directors, as well as Auditors and deputy Auditors. Resolution on Executive remuneration policy for compensation to executive officers. Resolution on authorization for the Board of Directors to decide on purchase of shares in the company. Resolution to amend the Articles of Association. Proposed resolutions Item 1 The Nomination Committee proposes that the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dennis Jonsson, or if he is prevented from attending the person instead appointed by the Nomination Committee, is appointed Chairman of the 2021 Annual General Meeting. Item 2 The Board of Directors proposes Advokat Annika Bostrom, or if she is prevented from attending, the person instead appointed by the Board of Directors, to be elected to attest the minutes of the meeting. The task also includes verifying the voting list and that the advance votes received are correctly stated in the minutes of the general meeting. Item 3 The voting register proposed for approval under item 3 on the proposed agenda, is the voting list prepared by Euroclear Sweden AB on behalf of the company, based on the general meeting shareholders' register and incoming advance votes, as verified by the person assigned to attest the minutes. Item 7 (b) The Board of Directors proposes a distribution of profits in an amount of SEK 5,50 per share for 2020. Thursday 29 April 2021 is proposed as record date for the right to receive dividend. If the general meeting resolves in accordance with this proposal, Euroclear Sweden AB is expected to pay the dividend on Tuesday 4 May 2021. Item 9-11 The Nomination Committee proposals are as follows: Item 9: The number of members of the Board of Directors, who are elected by the general meeting, is proposed to be extended with one person and thereby consist of nine elected members with no deputies. Both the number of Auditors and the number of deputy Auditors are proposed to be two. Item 10: The compensation to the Board of Directors is proposed to be SEK 6,770,000 (SEK 5,845,000). The compensation is to be distributed among the members of the Board who are elected by the general meeting and not employed by the company, as follows: Chairman of the Board of Directors SEK 1,850,000 (SEK 1,750,000) Other members of the Board of Directors SEK 615,000 ( SEK 585,000 ) In addition to the above proposed compensations to members of the Board of Directors, it is also proposed that the compensations mentioned below shall be distributed to members of the Board who also hold a position as member of any of the following Committees: Extra amount for the Chairman of the Audit Committee SEK 250,000 (SEK 200,000) Extra amount for the other members of the Audit Committee SEK 150,000 (SEK 125,000) Extra amount for the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee SEK 75,000 (SEK 50,000) Extra amount for the other members of the Remuneration Committee SEK 75,000 (SEK 50,000) Bracketed figures refer to compensation for year 2020. Please note that the total amount proposed for 2021 includes compensation for nine members of the Board compared to eight members in 2020. Compensation to the Auditors is proposed to be paid as per approved invoice. Item 11: Members of the Board of Directors Maria Morus Hanssen, Dennis Jonsson, Henrik Lange, Ray Mauritsson, Helene Mellquist, Finn Rausing, Jorn Rausing and Ulf Wiinberg are proposed to be re-elected for the time up to the end of the Annual General Meeting 2022. Lilian Fossum Biner is proposed to be elected as new member of the Board of Directors. Lilian Fossum Biner has over the past 20 years built a solid experience from Board assignments in a several large companies, listed as well as private. Fossum Biner has among other things held the position as Chairman of the Board in Cloetta AB during the years 2016 to 2020, and is currently Board member in Scania AB, Carlsberg A/S and Givaudan S.A amongst other. Fossum Biner has as a basis an extensive experience from retail and consumer goods companies where she has held a several senior positions. The Nomination Committee proposes that Dennis Jonsson shall be re-appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Should Dennis Jonsson's assignment as Chairman of the Board of Directors end prematurely, the Board of Directors shall appoint a new Chairman. Information on all members proposed to the Board of Directors and the Nomination Committee's reasoned statement is available at Alfa Laval's website, https://www.alfalaval.com/investors/. The Nomination Committee proposes, in accordance with the Remuneration Committee's recommendation, that the authorized public accountants Staffan Landen and Karoline Tedevall are re-elected as the company's Auditors for the forthcoming year, thus for the time up to the end of the Annual General Meeting 2022. The Nomination Committee further proposes that the authorized public accountants Henrik Jonzen and Andreas Mast are re-elected, as the company's deputy Auditors for the forthcoming year, thus for the time up to the end of the 2022 Annual General Meeting. Item 12 The Board of Directors proposes, that the Annual General Meeting resolves on an amendment of the remuneration policy for executive officers that was adopted by the Annual General Meeting 2020. The proposed amendment consists of an increase from 40 percent to 50 percent of the fixed base salary of the maximal opportunity for STI for executive officers, excluding the CEO. The proposed amendment has been marked below (underlined respetivly crossed over). Executive Remuneration Policy The executive officers, i.e. the CEO and other members of Group Management reporting to the CEO, fall within the provisions of this policy. The policy is forward-looking, i.e. applicable to remuneration agreed, and amendments to remuneration already agreed, after adoption of the policy by the annual general meeting in April 2020 2021 . This policy does not apply to any remuneration decided or approved by the general meeting. The policy is substantially in line with the policy adopted in 2019 2020 , but more detailed due to new legislation . A prerequisite for the successful implementation of the company's business strategy and safeguarding of its long-term interests, including its sustainability, is that the company is able to recruit and retain qualified personnel, consequently it is necessary that the company offers market competitive remuneration. For information regarding Alfa Laval's business strategy, please visit https://www.alfalaval.com/investors/in-brief/#xaa This policy enables the company to offer the executive officers a competitive total remuneration. The remuneration shall be on market terms and may consist of the following components: fixed base salary, variable cash remuneration (including STI and LTIP), pension benefits and other benefits. The components, their purpose and link to the company's business strategy are described below. The decision-making process to determine, review and implement the policy The Board of Directors has established a Committee within the Board (the Remuneration Committee), with the tasks of preparing, within the Board of Directors, the policy for remuneration for executive officers. The Board of Directors shall propose a revised policy at least every fourth year and submit it to the general meeting. The policy shall be in force until a new policy is adopted by the general meeting. Unless otherwise stated herein, the Board of Directors shall resolve on matters regarding remuneration and employment provisions for all other executive officers. The Committee shall continuously report to the Board of Directors. The CEO and the other executive officers shall not be present when their respective remuneration terms are decided. Additionally, the general meeting may - irrespective of this policy- resolve on, among other things, share-related or share price-related remuneration. Fixed Base Salary Purpose and link to strategy Operational Details Supports the attraction and retention of the best talents. Ensures competitiveness while controlling fixed costs to maximise efficiency. - Normally reviewed annually and increases will usually be effective from 1 January or following a change in responsibilities. - The Remuneration Committee will consider, among other things, the following parameters when reviewing fixed base salary: - Economic and salary conditions and trends. - The individual's performance and responsibilities. - Base salaries and total remuneration at other companies that operate in the same markets, typically benchmarked against similar roles. Variable Cash Remuneration A portion of the total remuneration for the executive officers is linked to business performance so that total remuneration will increase or decrease in line with performance, thus promoting the company's business strategy and long-term interests. Annual Short Term Incentive (STI) Purpose and link to strategy Operational Details To incentivise and create focus on the delivery of annual financial and strategic criteria. - The performance criteria, weighting and targets are to be proposed by the Remuneration Committee annually and approved by the Board of Directors. Targets shall be set by reference to the company's operating plan and historical and projected performance. - The outcome of criteria for awarding STI is to be measured over a period of one year and depend on the degree of fulfilment of predetermined targets. - The Board of Directors shall have the possibility, under applicable law or contractual provisions, subject to the restrictions that may apply under law or contract, to reclaim in whole or in part STI paid on incorrect grounds (so-called claw-back). The maximum opportunity for STI can amount up to 40 50 % of fixed base salary. For the CEO the maximum opportunity can amount up to 60% of fixed base salary.The Remuneration Committee shall have the possibility to review the opportunity levels in order to ensure market competitiveness. The STI plan awards shall be based on mainly financial criteria. The criteria shall be designed so as to contribute to the company's business strategy and long-term interests. Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) Purpose and link to strategy Give extra focus on the long-term value creation for the shareholders. Operational Details - An annual grant of the LTIP, with a three-year performance period, can be decided by the Board of Directors each year. - Payment to the participants of the program are made after year three, provided, that they are still employed at the date of payment. - The Board of Directors shall have the possibility, under applicable law or contractual provisions, subject to the restrictions that may apply under law or contract, to reclaim in whole or in part LTIP paid on incorrect grounds (claw-back). - In the event of a restructuring of the Company or any other extraordinary event which the Remuneration Committee considers will affect the value of an award, the method of calculating the proportion of the maximum value of the award which will be paid to a Participant on vesting may be adjusted in such manner as the Remuneration Committee shall determine to be fair and reasonable. Oportunity Levels: For executive officers the maximum opportunity for LTIP can amount up to 40% of fixed base salary for each three-year performance period. For the CEO the maximum opportunity can amount up to 50% of fixed base salary for each three-year performance period. Performance Criteria: The performance criteria of the LTIP are to be related to financial targets over a business cycle, including but not necessarily limited to, Operating margin (adjusted EBITA margin) and Net invoicing growth. Maximum outcome is awarded when the externally communicated long-term financial targets are clearly exceeded. For retention or recruitment purposes or extraordinary performance beyond the individual's ordinary tasks the Remuneration Committee based on proposal of CEO, may decide on a specific cash remuneration. Such remuneration may not exceed an annual amount corresponding to 40 percent of fixed annual cash salary and may not be paid more than once each year per individual. Pension Benefits Purpose and link to strategy Provide competitive and cost-effective pension benefits. Operational Details Opportunity Levels - Pension benefits shall be defined contribution (premium defined) unless the individual concerned is subject to defined benefit pension under mandatory collective agreement provisions. - Variable cash remuneration shall not qualify for pension benefits unless the executive officer is part of mandatory collective agreed provisions where this is stipulated. - Early retirement may be offered selectively and only after a special decision by the Remuneration Committee, with a defined contribution early retirement scheme. - For executive officers governed by rules other than Swedish, pension benefits may be duly adjusted for compliance with mandatory rules or established local practice, taking into account, to the extent possible, the overall purpose of this policy. - The pension premiums for defined contribution pension shall amount to not more than 50 per cent of the pensionable salary (for the CEO fixed annual base salary). Other Benefits Purpose and link to strategy Operational Details Opportunity Levels Provide competitive and cost-effective benefits. - Other benefits may include but is not limited to life insurance, disability insurance, medical insurance/cover (Sw: sjukvardsforsakring), and a company car or car allowance. - For executive officers governed by rules other than Swedish, benefits may be duly adjusted for compliance with mandatory rules or established local practice, taking into account, to the extent possible, the overall purpose of this policy. - Executive officers who are international assignees (for example expatriates) to or from Sweden may receive additional remuneration and other benefits to the extent reasonable in light of the special circumstances associated with the international assignment arrange-ment, taking into account, to the extent possible, the overall purpose of this policy. - Other benefits may amount to not more than 5 per cent of the fixed annual cash salary and shall be set at a level which the Remuneration Committee considers to: - provide the relevant level of benefit depending on role and the individual circumstances, - be in line with comparable roles in companies with similar size and complexity in the local market, and - be appropriate compared to the benefits offered to the wider workforce in the local market. Termination of employment Details - If notice of termination of employment is made by the company: - The notice period may not exceed twelve months. - Fixed cash salary during the period of notice and severance pay may together not exceed an amount equivalent to the fixed cash salary for two years. - When termination is made by the executive officer, the period of notice may not exceed six months without any right to severance pay. - Appropriate so-called good leaver/bad leaver principles are to be applied for STI and LTIP. - Repatriation - If the executive officer is an international assignee the company may reimburse reasonable cost for the repatriation of good leavers, taking into account, to the extent possible, the overall purpose of this policy. - For executive officers governed by rules other than Swedish, payments in connection with termination may be duly adjusted for compliance with mandatory rules or established local practice, taking into account, to the extent possible, the overall purpose of this policy. Salary and employment conditions for employees In the preparation of the Board of Directors' proposal for this remuneration policy, salary and employment conditions for employees of the company have been taken into account by including information on the employees' total income, the components of the remuneration and increase and growth rate over time. The development of the difference between the remuneration to executive officers and remuneration to other employees will be disclosed in the remuneration report. Derogation from the policy The Board of Directors may temporarily resolve to derogate from the policy, in whole or in part, if in a specific case there is special cause for the derogation and a derogation is necessary to serve the company's long-term interests, including its sustainability, or to ensure the company's financial viability. As set out above, the Remuneration Committee's tasks include preparing the Board of Directors' resolutions in remuneration-related matters. This includes any resolutions to derogate from the policy. Additional information regarding executive remuneration is available in the Alfa Laval Annual Report. Item 13 The Board of Directors proposes authorization to the Board of Directors to decide to purchase shares in the company as follows. The Board of Directors is authorized, during a period up until the Annual General Meeting 2022, to purchase shares in the company on as many occasions as it deems appropriate, however, only to the extent that the company's holding at no time exceeds five percent (5 %) of the total amount of shares in the company. Purchase shall be made on Nasdaq Stockholm at a price per share within the prevailing price interval. The purpose of the authorization is to give the Board the possibility to adjust the capital structure of the company until the next Annual General Meeting, after which the Board intends to propose to the Annual General Meeting 2022 a resolution to cancel the repurchased shares. Furthermore, the Board of Directors intends to propose to the same general meeting a corresponding bonus issue of shares to restore the size of the share capital. Item 14 The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to include two new sections in Alfa Laval's Articles of Association, with the purpose of enabling collection of proxies in accordance with the procedure that is stated in Chapter 7, Section 4 of the Swedish Companies Act, and give the Board of Directors the possibility to decide that shareholders may vote in advance. The proposed amendments are set out below. Current wording Proposed wording 10En aktieagare far delta i bolagsstamma endast om aktieagaren anmaler detta till bolaget den dag som anges i kallelsen till stamman. Sistnamnda dag far inte vara sondag, annan allman helgdag, lordag, midsommarafton, julafton eller nyarsafton och inte infalla tidigare an femte vardagen fore bolagsstamman.Aktieagare far vid bolagsstamma medfora ett eller tva bitraden, dock endast om aktieagaren gjort anmalan harom enligt foregaende stycke.A shareholder may participate in a general meeting of shareholders only if the shareholder notifies the company on the day stated in the notice convening the meeting. The latter day may not be a Sunday, other Swedish public holiday, Saturday, Mid-Summer Eve, Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve and shall not occur earlier than the fifth weekday (Saturdays included) prior to the meeting.A shareholder may bring one or two advisors to the general meeting of the shareholders, however only where the shareholder has notified the company in the manner specified in the previous paragraph. 10En aktieagare far delta i bolagsstamma endast om aktieagaren anmaler detta till bolaget den dag som anges i kallelsen till stamman. Sistnamnda dag far inte vara sondag, annan allman helgdag, lordag, midsommarafton, julafton eller nyarsafton och inte infalla tidigare an femte vardagen fore bolagsstamman.Aktieagare far vid bolagsstamma medfora ett eller tva bitraden, dock endast om aktieagaren gjort anmalan harom enligt foregaende stycke. Styrelsen far samla in fullmakter enligt det forfarande som anges i 7 kap. 4 andra stycket aktiebolagslagen (2005:551).Styrelsen far infor en bolagsstamma besluta att aktieagare skall kunna utova sin rostratt fore bolagsstamman enligt vad som anges i 7 kap. 4 a aktiebolagslagen (2005:551). A shareholder may participate in a general meeting of shareholders only if the shareholder notifies the company on the day stated in the notice convening the meeting. The latter day may not be a Sunday, other Swedish public holiday, Saturday, Mid-Summer Eve, Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve and shall not occur earlier than the fifth weekday (Saturdays included) prior to the meeting.A shareholder may bring one or two advisors to the general meeting of the shareholders, however only where the shareholder has notified the company in the manner specified in the previous paragraph. The Board of Directors may collect proxies pursuant to the procedure stated in Chapter 7, Section 4, second paragraph of the Swedish Companies Act (2005:551).The Board of Directors may, before a general meeting, decide that the shareholders shall be able to exercise their voting rights in advance of the general meeting pursuant to the procedure stated in Chapter 7, Section 4 a of the Swedish Companies Act (2005:551). Available documents Alfa Laval AB's annual report will be published on Alfa Laval's webpage https://www.alfalaval.com/investors/publications/ on 31 March 2021 at 10.00 A.M. The other basis for the resolutions, including the Nomination Committee's proposals and their reasoned statement, will be held available on https://www.alfalaval.com/investors/, no later than 30 March 2021. Copies of the documents will be sent to shareholders who so request and announce their postal address. The financial statements, the auditor's report, the Board of Directors' report on remuneration, the auditor's statement regarding the remuneration policy for the executive officers as well as the Board of Director's statement pursuant the proposal on authorization for the Board of Directors to purchase shares in the company, are presented by being available at the company and on the company's webpage. The general meeting shareholders' register will be available at Alfa Laval, Rudeboksvagen 1, SE-226 55 Lund Sweden. Number of shares and votes in the company At the date of this notice, the total number of shares and votes in the company is 419,456,315. All shares are of the same class. The company itself holds no shares in the company. Information at the Annual General Meeting The Board of Directors and the CEO shall, if any shareholder so requests, and if the Board of Directors considers that this can be done without significant harm for the company, give information on circumstances that can affect the judgement of an item on the agenda, circumstances that can affect the assessment of the financial situation of the company or its subsidiaries and the company's relationship with another group company. Because the general meeting is conducted by voting in advance, a request of information shall be submitted in writing to the company. This follows from the temporary legislation in section 23 of the Act (2020:198) on temporary exceptions to facilitate the execution of general meetings in companies and other associations. A written request may be submitted well in advance of the Annual General Meeting, however, no later than Saturday 17 April 2021. A request may be sent by e-mail to [email protected] or by mail to the address Alfa Laval AB, Juridik, P.O. Box 73, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden. The request for information will be answered in writing to the shareholders that have requested the information and, on the company's website no later than 22 April 2021. The information will also be available in writing at the company. Shareholders who request the information by mail need to give a respond address in the mail. Processing of personal data For further information about the company's processing of personal data and your rights, see the Privacy Policy at the following link: https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw /Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf or contact the company at the following email address: [email protected]. Lund, March 2021 ALFA LAVAL AB (publ) The Board of Directors This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/alfa-laval/r/annual-general-meeting-in-alfa-laval-ab--publ-,c3312100 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Alfa Laval [March 23, 2021] ezeep Blue Integrates with IGEL OS to Deliver a Home Office Desktop that Supports Simple, Secure Cloud Printing BERLIN and DENVER, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Print management expert ThinPrint and IGEL, the provider of the next-gen edge OS for cloud workspaces, have extended their partnership to enable remote workplace productivity and security via Windows Virtual Desktop, while addressing the need for easy-to-use and secure printing. Through ThinPrints participation in the IGEL Ready partner program, ThinPrints ezeep Blue cloud print solutions will be integrated with IGEL OS for example via the paperclip-sized IGEL UD Pocket, a USB-powered key that turns any computer into a managed, secure home office endpoint. The need for productive and secure remote working solutions has been a growing topic for many years. However, with the COVID-19 global pandemic, effective home office solutions have shifted from being a perk to a workplace necessity, leaving many organizations struggling to keep up. IT teams are turning to the IGEL UD Pocket or the new UD Pocket2, a fast, simple and secure solution for setting up a home office. This micro-USB stick is pre-loaded with IGELs edge operating system IGEL OS and turns any x86-64 computer into a fully managed and secure thin client. Once booted up, employees can access cloud-based apps and services via Windows Virtual Desktop as if they were experiencing their familiar Windows desktop at work. No work-related data whatsoever ends up on the private computers. However, there was one thing that was missing until now: print support. To fill the printing gap, IGEL and ThinPrint are integrating the cloud printing solution ezeep Blue into IGEL OS 11.05. As a result, all users of the IGEL UD Pocket and any other device that can run IGEL OS can not only work remotely, but can also print easily. ezeep Blue moves the entire printing process to the cloud and requires no local resources whatsoever. Only the hardware interfaces are used to communicate with the printer. As part of the solution, printer drivers and a printing system are not required on the endpoint device. This also prevents sensitive data from remaining in a local print queue where it is unencrypted and vulnerable to attacks while it is waiting to be sent to the printer. If printing is required in branch offices, an IGEL OS-powered endpoint with integrated ezeep Blue Edge Printing in combination with the print appliance ezeep Hub can take over the role of the local print server. "As the industrys only true cloud print provider, ezeep Blue continues to leverage its unique technology and approach to help companies streamline their workplace environments, says Christoph Hammer, Senior Vice President Cloud Services at ThinPrint. Our latest integration with IGEL makes it clear that there is no easier way to set up fully functional and secure home offices. IGEL O and ezeep Blue complement each other perfectly, being both extremely easy to use while offering the highest level of security. "The future of end user computing is in the cloud. And as todays digital workforce shifts to a remote-first strategy, IGEL OS and the UD Pocket have become go-to technologies for organizations that want to quickly empower their remote users with a secure, managed workspace, said Simon Clephan, Vice President Business Development and Strategic Alliances, IGEL. By combining IGEL OS with ThinPrint ezeep Blue, we are further enabling user productivity with an advanced cloud-powered printing solution. Its one more way the IGEL Ready program is making it easy for customers to support their users, no matter where they are located, with virtual desktop and cloud workspace technology. Now more than ever, providing customers and their employees with reliable, frictionless access to tools, applications, and services is critical for business continuity and growth. The IGEL Ready program ensures that partner applications are validated and shared, and that their customers have access to updated and secure software. This new ecosystem enables customers to consider proven, compatible devices and partner applications across a range of categories in the customer-facing IGEL Ready Showcase. More information about the joint solution from IGEL and ezeep Blue can be found at: www.igel.com/ready. More information can also be found in a recorded on-demand web session, "How to plan for printing in IGEL projects," given by ThinPrint Inc's CEO Henning Volkmer at IGEL Disrupt. About ezeep: The future of printing is ezeep. With ezeep, printing is dramatically simplified, enabling any device to print to any printer whether with the ezeep printer driver from PC or Mac, via app for smartphones and tablets or even by web-based drag & drop for the occasional user. Consumers print unlimited and naturally free-of-charge to their own printers and, depending on the provider, free or at a cost to external printers. This makes printing as easy as making a phone call, eliminating the need for any user support. Companies can lower the infrastructure demands on their printer setups in branch offices worldwide, thanks to ezeep, drastically simplifying their administration. With this, the total costs for deploying printers is significantly reduced. Coworking spaces, universities, exhibition grounds, train stations, airports and kiosks can not only make their printers publicly available with just a single click, but also charge for printing with ease. The same applies to private users or cafes which want to share their printers with others. Printers are thereby transformed into sources of income, not costs. Open interfaces enable integrations with existing solutions, such as for user and resource management, cost control or compliance monitoring for maximum cost savings via automation. A constantly growing ecosystem of standard integrations by development partners makes these benefits also available to non-technical users. By reducing costs and removing all technical requirements, whilst providing the ability to use third-party printers at any time, ezeep ensures that in the future people will be able to print from almost every location quickly and easily, for whatever reason they might have. ezeep is committed to minimizing the CO2 footprint of printing and ensuring that printed paper can be a meaningful, productive and responsible alternative to screen-based information consumption. For more information, please visit: www.ezeep.com. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/88614207-3517-41bb-a062-6c774a11f12f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7a0ffb72-5159-4182-bf5e-c55ad6230286 Media Contacts: North America: Kendra Westerkamp, VisiTech PR Phone: +1-303-752-3552, email: CT@visitechpr.com Rest of World: Silke Kluckert, Public Relations Manager Phone: +49 30 39493166, email: press@cortado.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Katharine McPhee looked stunning in a stylish ensemble while out in Los Angeles this week. The 36-year-old opted for a double-denim look that included flared trousers and a top that she let slide off her shoulders. Her latest outing comes less than one full month after she welcomed her son Rennie with her husband David Foster, 71. Stepping out: Katharine McPhee looked stunning in a sleek outfit while out in Los Angeles this week Recently Katharine shared an image to her Insta Stories where she was modeling a plunging top. The star joked that she had 'Boobs by Rennie Foster.' Last week she announced the baby's name on the Today show saying: 'My husband probably will kill me for saying it, but his name is Rennie David Foster.' Katharine revealed: 'We had a couple names, but my husband was on a text chain with his sisters and one of his sisters suggested an old family name.' She dished: 'It was his great-grandfathers name, his great-uncles name, so it has a long history in his family.' Mover and shaker: The 36-year-old opted for a double-denim look that included flared trousers and a top that she let slide off her shoulders Then after the baby was born 'My husband said: "Hi, Ren Foster," and so we said, "Thats a good name. Its a strong name."' Katharine's representative announced the birth in late February telling People: 'Mom, Dad and son are all doing wonderfully.' Rennie is Katharine's firstborn child but David also has five daughters - four of whom are older than their current stepmother. Katharine was previously married to Nick Cokas, 55, but they split up after she was snapped kissing her dashing married Smash director Michael Morris. With child: Last month the star was heavily pregnant while at the Beverly Hills Hotel New mother: Recently Katharine swung by her Insta Stories while modeling a plunging top and joked that she had 'Boobs by Rennie Foster' She became involved with David in 2017 and they tied the knot two years later in London where she had been playing in a West End production of Waitress. Here she shows off her stroller with a dog underneath Katharine had actually met David back in 2006 when she was a contestant on American Idol and he was a guest mentor. The Smash actress is David's fifth wife - her most recent predecessor was Gigi and Bella Hadid's mother Yolanda who used to be a Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills. Katharine slyly announced her pregnancy in October on Instagram while showing off a gift box that had been sent to her by April, the Italian alcohol brand. 'I won't be drinking this anytime soon, wink, wink. But I'm very excited. Who's coming over for an Italian inspired cocktail?' she dished. Katharine stars in the new Netflix series Country Comfort alongside the sizzling heartthrob Eddie Cibrian whose past shows include CSI: Miami. Eddie is currently married to country star LeAnn Rimes whom he began his affair with when he was still with his first wife Brandi Glanville. When LeAnn struck up her relationship with Eddie she herself was still with her first husband Dean Sheremet who has since had another marriage and divorce. Based on the latest spy photos, the Compass' long-wheelbase brother will adopt a familiar seven-slot grille and restyled headlamps with LED daytime running lights. A sharp-looking middle grille is also worthy of note, along with a bottom grille that features the radar sensor right in the center.The profile isnt all that different from the Compass if you ask me, but what did you expect? The same applies to Volkswagens Tiguan, which is sold in two lengths in Europe, whereas America gets only the longer wheelbase.Jeep is a bit secretive about the rear end as well, as you can tell from the makeshift taillamps affixed to the camouflaged prototype in the photo gallery. Based on the reflectors' location and design, its safe to assume that the rear bumper wont differ too much from the 2022 model year Compass.Revealed in China back in November 2020, the facelifted crossover rocks the most advanced Uconnect system ever offered by FCA. The 10.1-inch infotainment system is accompanied by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and dual-phone BT connectivity. Amazon Alexa and over-the-air firmware updates are also worth noting, and theyll be offered in the Grand Compass as well.As far as North America is concerned, Jeep will probably offer the same old 2.4-liter Tigershark engine as before. In this scenario, front-wheel-drive versions will come with a six-speed automatic transmission from Aisin, while all-wheel-driven versions will feature the ZF 9HP transmission.On the other side of the Atlantic, the Compass can be had with a 1.3-liter turbo and a plug-in hybrid option known as the 4xe. As for the Grand Compass , the electrified powertrain would be the best choice because the e-driven rear axle's instant torque should offset the extra weight. Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? New Delhi: SpaceX successfully has successfully launched a secret US Air Force space plane on Thursday ahead of the arrival in Florida of Hurricane Irma. Live images was broadcasted by the California aerospace company which showed a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the unmanned X-37B drone lifting off at 10:00 am (1400 GMT) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The mission is slated to last 270 days, but the Air Force warned in a statement that "the actual duration depends on test objectives, on-orbit vehicle performance and conditions at the landing facility." The recoverable first stage of the launch vehicle then landed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station less than 10 minutes later. The X-37B is also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), is among two known craft of its type in the US Air Force's fleet and part of a classified program whose details are shrouded in secrecy. A resuable shuttle, Thursday's launch is its fifth mission since its maiden flight in April 2010. "The fifth OTV mission continues to advance the X-37B's performance and flexibility as a space technology demonstrator and host platform for experimental payloads," the Air Force said in a statement. "This mission carries small satellite ride shares and will demonstrate greater opportunities for rapid space access and on-orbit testing of emerging space technologies." The Pentagon said it was grateful to have two companies with the ability to launch, introducing competition, and lower prices. "The benefit we're seeing now is competition," Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said during a June Senate hearing. "There are some very exciting things happening in commercial space that bring the opportunity for assured access to space at a very competitive price. While the launch of the X-37B was not competed - ULA President Tory Bruno has said that his company was not given the option to bid - it marks SpaceX's first military mission after years of launching payloads for NASA and commercial satellites. All four of the X-37B's previous launches were aboard ULA's Atlas V rocket. The Pentagon said it was grateful to have two companies with the ability to launch, introducing competition, and lower prices. "The benefit we're seeing now is competition," Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said during a June Senate hearing. "There are some very exciting things happening in commercial space that bring the opportunity for assured access to space at a very competitive price." For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Federal investigators have used countless hours of video and photos to help identify hundreds of people who entered the U.S. Capitol on January 6 including Jeff Grace of Battle Ground, Washington. I get a call from the wife and she says, Youre on TV, said Grace, who appeared in the background of a widely circulated photo of another man carrying House Speaker Nancy Pelosis lectern through the Rotunda. At the time, the 62-year-old man didnt realize the significance of his wrongdoing or the notoriety that would follow. After his arrest by the FBI, Grace lost his job as a long-haul truck driver. Grace is facing up to a year in prison after federal prosecutors charged him with unauthorized entry or remaining in a restricted building. Yes, it was illegal, Grace admitted in an interview with KGW. Grace said he went to Washington, D.C., along with his adult son to support then-President Donald Trump, who falsely claimed he won the election. Do I believe Donald Trump should have been our president? Yes, I do. 100%, Grace said. After attending a pro-Trump rally, Grace said he and his son became separated and he started walking toward the Capitol building. According to court records, Grace entered the building after seeing an open door. Grace told investigators he passed by two Capitol police officers who appeared to be overwhelmed by the number of protesters and looked scared, according to court documents. Once inside, the FBI said Grace walked to the rotunda, telling federal agents he decided to leave after witnessing several people causing damage to the Capitol property. Grace condemned the violence and destruction at the U.S. Capitol that left five people dead. Its disgusting. Its not OK. Its not America. Its not freedom. Its a bad representation of what we really are and what we stand for, said Grace. Grace said hes not on social media. He told the FBI he didnt take any photos or video, although others did. According to the FBI, an informant called a tip line to report Jeff Grace of Battle Ground, Washington was at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Grace said he hopes that by speaking publicly he can bring something positive from this dark chapter in American history. I apologize if Ive offended anybody, said Grace. Maybe we can pull together and work for the good of this country because tearing it down isnt OK. Lucknow, March 23 : The state election commission (SEC) has issued a detailed advisory amid the surge in coronavirus cases, seeking strict adherence to pandemic protocol while conducting the Panchayat polls, due next month. According to the guidelines, the voters would not be allowed to enter the polling centres without wearing a mask. The polling official, however, can ask the voters to remove mask in case of any suspicion. All the polling booths and centres will have to arrange thermal scanners to keep a vigil on the entry of infected persons. Police/home guard/gram chowkidars deployed at the polling centres will ensure that the voters maintain social distance while queuing up for voting. The poll panel has also restricted the contesting candidates from taking along more than five persons while carrying out door to door campaigns. The candidates will be required to adhere to the Central and state government guidelines in case they want to hold a public meeting or a small gathering. The advisory further states that the contesting candidates cannot enter the room of the returning officers without wearing a mask and getting their hands sanitized. The commission said that the polling centres will have to be sanitized ahead of the voting. The poll officials would be required to wear masks and download the Aarogya Setu application in their mobile phones. The administration will have to ensure that the polling officials and agents maintain the requisite social distancing norms during voting. The SEC has also issued instructions to the district authorities to appoint nodal officers from the health department to get the Covid-19 protocols enforced. Under the arrangement, the chief medical officer (CMO) or an official nominated by him/her would be appointed as a nodal officer. At the development block level, it will be the medical officer in-charge who will work as a nodal officer. During counting of votes, the officials and candidates will have to wear masks. The commission has asked the district authorities to choose a spacious counting centre to ensure norms of social distancing. Additional Election Commissioner, Ved Prakash Verma, said a three-member team will be formed under the additional district magistrates to ensure the directives issued by the SEC are being followed. The SEC has also emphasized on provision of sanitizer, soaps and water for the candidates while they come to file their nomination papers. It has also been decided that only one candidate will be allowed to enter the room of the election officer. Instructions have also been issued to make circles at a distance of six-feet at the polling centres. Verma said that PPE kits will also be arranged as per requirement. The Allahabad High Court had recently asked the state government to complete the Panchayat election process by May 25. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh reported 542 fresh Covid-19 cases on Monday, taking the infection tally in the state to 6,08,076, the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) PARSIPPANY, N.J., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Scholl's, the most trusted brand in foot care today, announced a new partnership with foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Brad Schaeffer. In his new role, Dr. Schaeffer will join the numerous chemists, engineers, biomechanics, designers and software developers at Dr. Scholl's working tirelessly each day to provide products, services and foot care education to improve people's lives. As a podiatrist, Dr. Schaeffer will drive awareness of various medical conditions while providing insights into specific innovative solutions to address those concerns. "Dr. Schaeffer is as an industry veteran with vast expertise in podiatry. As one of the main doctors on TLC's series, My Feet Are Killing Me, Dr. Schaeffer shares our philosophy of driving widespread education and democratizing resources to help consumers," said Craig Stevenson, CEO of Scholl's Wellness Company. "I am thrilled Dr. Schaeffer will be joining us to help consumers put their best foot forward daily." In its continued quest to offer innovative foot care solutions, the company is also expanding its new Sized to Fit insole line with the launch of its new Dr. Scholl's Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief Sized to Fit Insoles. Specifically for men and women suffering from plantar fasciitis pain, these new insoles are clinically proven to help provide immediate all-day pain relief and prevent it from coming back by treating directly at the source of pain. Additionally, the full-length sized-to-fit design ensures the arch support and heel cushioning are placed in the right area for all-day comfort. "Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common reasons I see patients in my office. In fact, about two million people seek treatment for the condition every year. It's an extremely painful heel condition that occurs when the band of tissue along the underside of your foot, called the plantar fascia, becomes inflamed from too much pressure or activity over time," says Dr. Schaeffer. "Dr. Scholl's Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief Sized to Fit Insoles bring back a quality of life for many, by easing pain with a supportive arch that prevents the plantar fascia from stretching and helping them heal in comfort." Key features of the new Dr. Scholl's Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief Sized to Fit Insoles include: ShockGuard Technology: Contoured and properly sized heel cup ideally positions the bottom of the heel to absorb shock, reducing pressure on the heel to treat heel pain at the source. Contoured and properly sized heel cup ideally positions the bottom of the heel to absorb shock, reducing pressure on the heel to treat heel pain at the source. RELYx365 Foam Cushioning: Hugs the entire foot, delivering optimal cushioning, shock absorption, and arch support to help relieve pain and prevent it from returning. Hugs the entire foot, delivering optimal cushioning, shock absorption, and arch support to help relieve pain and prevent it from returning. 3D Targeted Arch Support: Helps prevent the plantar fascia from stretching and causing pain. Helps prevent the plantar fascia from stretching and causing pain. Sized-to-Fit Design: Full-length design cushions the entire foot and ensures the arch support and heel cushioning are placed in the right area for the best fit with no trimming required. Full-length design cushions the entire foot and ensures the arch support and heel cushioning are placed in the right area for the best fit with no trimming required. Polygiene Odor Crunch Fabric Treatment: Continuously eliminates odors so both the shoe and insole stay fresh day after day. Dr. Scholl's Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief Sized to Fit Insoles are available for purchase on www.drscholls.com and www.amazon.com. Dr. Schaeffer currently practices at Sole Podiatry NYC on Central Park West in Manhattan. He received his Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. ABOUT SCHOLL'S WELLNESS COMPANY The Dr. Scholl's brand has been synonymous with foot care and pain relief for more than a century. The company was founded by William Mathias Scholl, M.D., whose focus on scientifically supporting the feet to improve mobility helped Dr. Scholl's become a household name. Dr. Scholl's products are clinically engineered and proven to provide comfort, reduce fatigue, and relieve and prevent lower body pain. Today, Scholl's Wellness Company continues to advance the science of movement and foot care with a mission to help people be more active and move comfortably every day of their lives. Visit https://www.drscholls.com for more details. Facebook: @DrScholls Instagram: @drscholls_usa YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DrScholls SOURCE Dr. Scholl's Related Links https://www.drscholls.com New Delhi, March 23 : He has been in the industry for three decades now and has had his share of hits and misses. Suniel Shetty says that an actor is judged according to his success, which can be mentally disturbing. Suniel, 59, made his Bollywood debut in 1992 with Balwaan. He was later seen in films such as Sapoot, Hu Tu Tu, Krodh, Hera Pheri, Dus, Kaante, Border, Gopi Kishan and Chup Chup Ke among many others. Talking about living the fastpaced life in Bollywood can be mentally exhausting, Suniel told IANS. "It is not the pace or the effort that is exhausting. It is people around judging you all the time. Success and failure means so much. You're judged according to your success which is mentally very disturbing," said Suniel. The actor, who is all set to host a show titled "21 Din Wellness" on BIG FM, stresses on mental and physical fitness. "That is why staying mentally and physically fit is very important -- because it keeps you going and if you are not then you aren't an actor. That is why wellness means a lot to me," he added. Suniel, who is the father of actress Athiya Shetty and debutant Ahan Shetty, finds radio a very expressive medium. "The reach is a lot more and this is one medium which is very expressive. I thought if the Honourable Prime Minister reaches out through this. I don't think there is a better medium than this. So, thanks to radio. You add the visual layer to it, we'd give the expression through voice," he added. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The National Crime Agency, together with the PSNI's Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF), have arrested six men in connection with an investigation into the alleged organised crime activities of South East Antrim UDA. The men, aged 33, 38, 39, 40 and 43 were detained in the Carrickfergus area today on suspicion of conspiring to supply class A drugs and are being questioned at Musgrave Street police station. The NCA said the "significant" arrests are related to the seizure of over a kilo of cocaine which was found during searches of two parked cars and nearby land in the Greenisland area of Co Antrim in November of last year. Speaking at a media facility at PSNIs Knock headquarters today, Deputy Director on Investigations at the NCA, Craig Naylor, said both the NCA and the PSNI feel the operation has caused substantial disruption to SEA UDA's alleged organised crime activities. He said: The investigation will continue with the evidence we have retrieved today. The SEA UDA have long been known to be involved in many forms of organised criminality, doing untold damage to the community and exerting fear in neighbourhoods. Working with our partners in the PCTF we are determined to do all we can to bring that to an end. Read More The PSNIs Head of Criminal Investigations Branch, Detective Chief Superintendent John McVea, said: Working with our partners in the Paramilitary Crime Task Force, we are committed to continuing to target the organised criminality associated with all paramilitary gangs who exploit their local communities to cause harm and create fear. Todays search and arrest operation is a significant milestone in an investigation into the drug dealing activities of the South East Antrim UDA. The harm caused by illegal drugs to individuals and communities is evident. Drugs cause nothing but destruction and distress, not only to the people who take them, but also to their families who deal with the heartbreaking fall out associated with drugs, including death, spiralling debts and intimidation. Criminals who supply illegal drugs dont care who they harm in the process of making money to line their own pockets and fund other paramilitary activities. The PCTF has the resilience and determination to target, disrupt and frustrate those who continue to do the greatest harm to the people living in our communities. London, March 23 : UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said that the country is going to significantly reduce the number of its soldiers. Addressing MPs on Monday, Wallace said he had decided to reduce the size of the army from 76,500 to 72,500 by 2025, reports dpa news agency. The army's "increased deployability" and "technological advantage" means a "greater effect can be delivered by fewer people", he said. "The army has not been at its established strength of 82,000 since the middle of last decade," he told lawmakers. "These changes will not require redundancies and we wish to build on the work already done on utilising our reserves to make sure the whole force is better integrated and more productive," the Defence Secretary added. The move is part of a larger repositioning of Britain's defence strategy after leaving the European Union. Last week, the government presented a plan it described as the "most radical reassessment of Britain's place in the world since the end of the Cold War". Among other changes, the limit for nuclear warheads is to be increased from the current 225 to 260, instead of being reduced to 180 as planned. Switzerland Releases First China Strategy Focusing on Human Rights, Angering Chinese Regime The Swiss government released its first China Strategy on March 19 outlining its foreign policy towards China for 2021-2024 with a focus on the Chinese regimes human rights abuses. The move provoked an angry reaction from the Chinese communist regime, which attacked Switzerlands decision through its embassy on March 22. Chinas State Council spokesperson also rebuked the Swiss for speaking up for their values. According to Swiss media Swissinfo, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis stated that human rights dialogue and trade interests are two key issues in Sino-Swiss relations when presenting the China Strategy in the nations capital of Bern. He said that Switzerland hopes to have an independent China policy and address bilateral issues through this policy, while admitting there are clear differences in values between the two countries. Cassis emphasized that human rights dialogue remains a key issue for Switzerland. What is new is that human rights will be addressed for all bilateral agreements, the minister said. He pointed out, Chinas willingness to have a dialogue on human rights has lessened, while the human rights situation in the country has gotten worse. Cassis criticized the Chinese regime over Beijings encroachment on governance in Hong Kong and violation of minority rights, such as the treatment of Uyghurs in Chinas Xinjiang region. Rooftops of Bern. (Max Schmid/swiss-image.ch) He said that Switzerland is willing to continue its human rights dialoguewhich stalled in 2018with China, as a difficult dialogue is better than no dialogue. On March 21, Cassis told the Swiss newspaper NZZ am Sonntag that Switzerland would be more critical on Chinas human rights issues going forward, confirming a policy shift. He said that tackling human rights was no longer an exclusive task of the foreign ministry but of the entire government, reported by Swissinfo. Cassis told reporters that the dealings in other sectors with China also revolve around the human rights, as Cantons, cities, science, and business can also make a contribution to the protection of fundamental rights. With the involvement of all actors, we hope to have a greater persuasive force on the issue of human rights, he added. Chinas State Council spokesperson Hua Chunying voiced displeasure at the Swiss decision during a press conference on March 22, saying that the countrys claims regarding Chinas human rights, political system, and ethnic policies were groundless accusations. Hua said, China firmly opposes it and will not be preached to by a human rights teacher. She also threatened that touching upon such issues will not help the healthy development of Sino-Swiss relations. Switzerlands release of its China strategy coincided with new sanctions against China by the United States, Canada, and European Union in recent days over the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) rights abuses against Uyghur minorities in Xinjiang. Switzerland, a country that claims neutrality, was criticized last year by human rights organizations and international media for a secret deal with the CCP that allowed Chinese security agents to operate freely within its borderkidnaping and harassing overseas Chinese dissidents, and interfering with dissidentss attempts to seek asylum in the country. The Swiss foreign minister has said that the secret deal signed in 2015 with the CCP is no longer in force. A view of the facade of the Swiss National Bank (SNB) in Bern, Switzerland, on Dec. 12, 2019. (Reuters/Denis Balibouse) Due to the countrys neutrality and policy of bankclient confidentiality, thousands of political figures from around the world, including heads of state and other top officials, hold Swiss bank accounts where they can secretly stash their cash, the Swiss foreign ministry admitted in 2015, AFP reported. Its believed that many Chinese communist officials and their families are among them. The daughter of former Chinese Premier Li Peng was named by the media as among those holding secret Swiss accounts. "Our minds and imaginations were blown away, seeing the number of applications generated by word-of-mouth for this prestigious and first-of-its-kind board," said Harry Overly, President & CEO and newly-named "Chief Imagination Wrangler" of Sun-Maid Growers of California. "We've narrowed down the candidates to 15 extraordinary kids, but now we need help and your vote to select our final five board members who are going to help us make the world a more delicious and healthy place." Starting today until April 2, the public is invited to visit SunMaid.com/ImagineThat to vote for the five Board of Imagination kid members. If selected, the kids will take part in several Board of Imagination meetings over the course of the next year. As part of their "stipend," each board member will receive $5,000 for themselves in the form of a 529 donation, and $5,000 to go to their school. The kids' schools will also enjoy a year's supply of Sun-Maid snacks. The 15 imaginative finalists are: Allen B., age 10 from Mesa, Ariz. "I am creative and have a lot of ideas. I am always trying out new science projects and exploring the outdoors with my siblings." "I am creative and have a lot of ideas. I am always trying out new science projects and exploring the outdoors with my siblings." Ayanna J., age 12 from Olathe, Kansas "I'm a Youth Mensa girl who loves to be creative! I have won awards in First Lego League & Science Olympiad. I won the PBS Kids Writing Contest 3 times!" "I'm a Youth Mensa girl who loves to be creative! I have won awards in First Lego League & Science Olympiad. I won the PBS Kids Writing Contest 3 times!" Ayla C., age 10 from Hilton Head Island, S.C. "I am great at making nonliving things come to life and I am able to make places in my stories that are easy to 'see' in your head." "I am great at making nonliving things come to life and I am able to make places in my stories that are easy to 'see' in your head." Berklee B., age 10 from Point Pleasant, W.V. "During quarantine in the spring of 2020, my mom and I started a teddy bear hunt in our town! We also did a Chalk Your Walk to keep up spirits!" Chelsea P., age 11 from Danbury, Conn. "I'm creative, love sharing ideas & doing WHAT IF questions; what if raisins led anti-bullying talks? I love inspiring others like with Chelsea's Charity." "I'm creative, love sharing ideas & doing WHAT IF questions; what if raisins led anti-bullying talks? I love inspiring others like with Chelsea's Charity." Gregory M., age 7 from Canton, Ohio "I like to design and create. I really like to help others. I would use everything I've learned at school and home to help you." "I like to design and create. I really like to help others. I would use everything I've learned at school and home to help you." Lukas C., age 9 from Waco, Texas "I like to think outside the box, especially if it is a raisin box. I am creative and have a big imagination that I love using to make new inventions." "I like to think outside the box, especially if it is a raisin box. I am creative and have a big imagination that I love using to make new inventions." Nassali S., age 11 from Sacramento, Calif. "As a visionary I am persistent, open-minded, have unique ideas, great communication and leadership skills, diverse connections, and think on my feet." "As a visionary I am persistent, open-minded, have unique ideas, great communication and leadership skills, diverse connections, and think on my feet." Presley C., age 11 from Enola, Pa. "I have creative ideas and I am not afraid to express my opinions with others. I am a leader at school and consider myself to be an influencer!" "I have creative ideas and I am not afraid to express my opinions with others. I am a leader at school and consider myself to be an influencer!" Ruby D., age 8 from Gwinn, Mich. "I am funny and would bring laugher and happiness to the board. I'm very imaginative and that could bring inspiration for them to get an idea." "I am funny and would bring laugher and happiness to the board. I'm very imaginative and that could bring inspiration for them to get an idea." Samuel L., age 10 from Chicago, Ill. "I have lived in 3 countries, studied 4 languages and made friends from 30 countries. I work well with people from different backgrounds and abilities." "I have lived in 3 countries, studied 4 languages and made friends from 30 countries. I work well with people from different backgrounds and abilities." Sky S., age 8 from Miami, Fla. "I am full of creativity and imagination. And together, we can get thousands of people to line up to get Sun-Maid's products." "I am full of creativity and imagination. And together, we can get thousands of people to line up to get Sun-Maid's products." Thomas Y., age 9 from Auburn, Ala. "I am creative, logical, and a good leader. I love to make big impacts on those around me while being 'behind the scenes'." "I am creative, logical, and a good leader. I love to make big impacts on those around me while being 'behind the scenes'." Willow K., age 6 from Lake Stevens, Wash. "I love love love raisins, and I love school! I am really happy when I get to help others and be creative!" "I love love love raisins, and I love school! I am really happy when I get to help others and be creative!" Wren D., age 7 from Attleboro, Mass. "My imagination is huge. I am kind and when I work with other kids, I always give them a turn to talk. I love to create new things and make up stories." The first Board of Imagination meeting is scheduled for mid-April. There, the five seated kids plus a sixth member from one of Sun-Maid's manufacturing families, will be introduced to Sun-Maid and get an opportunity to learn about top-secret flavors and innovations in the works. They'll be encouraged to give input and will be a part of official board business. As its first order of business, Sun-Maid's Board of Imagination will officially vote on and declare the company's first "Imagination Day." Sun-Maid's Imagination Day will take place on April 30, which is also National Raisin Day, when Sun-Maid will encourage staff to take part in activities that will enrich their thinking and enhance their creativity. The Board of Imagination will supply the inspiration for the day. For more information about Sun-Maid snacks or its commitment to imagination, visit www.sunmaid.com/imagine that. Also on the website, consumers can use the product locator to find the brand's whole fruit snacks in a store nearest them, or visit the Sun-Maid Market to purchase snacks. For more updates on the brand and its products, follow Sun-Maid on Facebook (facebook.com/sunmaid) Twitter ( @Sun_Maid ) and Instagram ( @SunMaid ). About Sun-Maid Growers of California Founded in 1912, Sun-Maid Growers of California is a farmers' cooperative of 750 grower families with vineyards in California's Central Valley. From childhood to adulthood and generation to generation, Sun-Maid snacks have grown up with you. And while some things change, our ingredients haven'tthey're real, minimally processed and consistently good. The timeless and trusted go-to snack that's simple, healthy and versatile, Sun-Maid fills each day with moments of sunshine, one little red box at a time. For more information about Sun-Maid, visit www.sunmaid.com. SOURCE Sun-Maid Growers of California Related Links http://www.sunmaid.com U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin traveled to Afghanistan on Sunday for a previously unannounced visit, where he met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul, Politico reports. Why it matters: Austin's visit comes as the U.S. continues to debate whether to abide by an agreement, brokered by the Trump administration, to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by May 1. During his visit to New Delhi on Saturday, Austin told reporters that as far as he knew Biden "has not made a decision or made any announcements on when he'll decide to remove" U.S. troops from Afghanistan, according to CNN. What they're saying: Austin expressed concerns about the country's security situation. Its obvious that the level of violence remains pretty high in the country, wed really like to see that violence come down, Austin said, per Politico. If it does come down, it can begin to set the conditions for some really fruitful diplomatic work. There is always going to be concerns about things one way or the other, but I think there is a lot of energy focused on doing whats necessary to bring about a responsible end, a negotiated settlement to the war." The big picture: Top U.S. generals have warned that pulling out of the country before a diplomatic deal is reached with the Taliban could spell trouble for President Ghani's hold on power, according to Politico. While Biden has admitted that completing a full withdrawal by May 1 will be "tough," on Friday the Taliban warned that if the U.S. does not withdraw by that date there will be a "reaction," The Washington Post reports. Turkey on Friday announced that it will be hosting an April peace summit requested by the Biden administration "to jump-start negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban," per The Washington Post. What's more: Two powerful Senate chairmen have questioned plans to withdraw all U.S. troops by May 1, potentially providing Biden with cover should he change is his mind, Axios previously reported. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has called on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to join the implementation of new projects in Ukraine. He wrote about this on Twitter after meeting with EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso on March 23. I welcome Odile Renaud-Basso in Ukraine! We appreciate the strong support provided by the EBRD. We look forward to further constructive cooperation and inviting the EBRD to join the implementation of new projects in Ukraine, Shmyhal wrote. EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso is on a visit to Ukraine on March 22-23. President Volodymyr Zelensky met with the EBRD president on Monday and assured her of his readiness to work on improving energy efficiency and the investment climate. Ukraine is a top three investment destination for the EBRD. In the past two years alone, the Bank has committed EUR 2 billion to the economy. The investments are combined with support for policies that promote the fight against corruption, good governance of state-owned enterprises, structural reforms and a more transparent business environment. ish Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Sputnik V has now become a bone of contention between countries in the West. The Slovak government is about to collapse because of it. Vestnik Kavkaza analyses why the Russian vaccine is still being persecuted in Europe. Only yesterday, our vaccine caused doubts in the world. Critics said that Sputnik has yet to pass all the necessary testing, and that Putin allegedly ordered to turn it into a political weapon. However, in less than a couple of months the authoritative magazine The Lancet confirmed Sputnik V vaccine's effectiveness. Then countries have started massively certifying it. Argentina, Mexico, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Egypt are already using the Russian vaccine. To date, it was adopted by almost fifty countries, including two EU countries - Hungary and Slovakia. Italian authorities signed a deal to manufacture Sputnik V near Milan. These measures are absolutely logical. The coronavirus pandemic is still raging in Europe. Germany and Poland are now in the grip of a third wave of COVID-19. France and Italy are once again extending lockdowns - allowing people to only visit grocery stores and pharmacies. The restrictions cause social discontent. There were protests in Amsterdam; on March 21, security forces once again used water cannons against participants of the protest. EU prime ministers and chancellors will hold their next summit via videoconference due to COVID-19 pandemic. As you can imagine, the situation is catastrophic. There are only two ways out of it: either the authorities of the EU member states close everyone at home again - but then no one guarantees the safety of the Merkel or Macron regime - or vaccinate everyone. Part of the EU population has been vaccinated, but they don't have the necessary production capacity for 500 million people. Especially taking into account the Anglo-Swedish AstraZeneca's deadly side effect. The Sputnik V vaccine would be the EU's way out of the crisis. Nevertheless, there were politicians in one of the European countries who were ready to put their population in jeopardy to counter "Russian influence". I am referring to Slovakia. Nationalists in the ruling coalition, including leader 'For People' party and Deputy Prime Minister Veronika Remisova and 'Freedom and Solidarity' party leader Richard Sulik, chastised Prime Minister Igor Matovich for purchasing Sputnik V. Remisova demanded Matovich's resignation if he does not refuse the Russian vaccine. The prime minister replied that he was ready to resign if Minister of Economy and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Sulik, head of the parliamentary health committee Jana Bitto Ciganikova (Freedom and Solidarity Party), Minister of Justice Maria Kolikova ('For the People') and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Juraj Seliga ('For the People') make the same decision. The 'Freedom and Solidarity' and 'For People' parties are included in the ruling coalition together with the 'Ordinary People and Independent Personalities' (led by Prime Minister Matovich) and "We are Family" factions. The behavior of Slovak politicians raises questions, given the fact that Slovakia has become the nation with most COVID-19 deaths by size of population in the world. In recent weeks, 100 people die there every day. There's a shortage of beds in hospitals, so patients are sent to Poland and Germany. Given the critical situation, it is very strange that members of the Cabinet still don't want Russia's vaccine. Of course, Sputnik V has not yet been approved for use in the EU, but are there really incompetent people in the Ministries of Health in 50 countries who make erroneous decisions on cooperation with Russia? And can you really trust the opinion of European medical regulators who approved AstraZeneca, which is killing people in Denmark and Sweden now? There is only one logical justification for the Slovakian political crisis - the fight against "Russian influence." They fear in Brussels that if "Sputnik V" is successfully used in Hungary and Slovakia today, tomorrow it will start conquering the markets of Germany, France and other EU countries. Then Western vaccines will be ousted, and the rating of Putin and Russia in the eyes of Europeans will increase at the expense of local rulers. It is no coincidence that immediately after the scandal in Slovakia, European Commissioner in Charge of Internal Market Thierry Breton said that the EU has no need of Russia's vaccine. If Europe's struggle against "Russian influence" strikes anyone as a surprise, they can be reminded that Slovakia is not the first case. In 2019, governments in two influential EU countries - Italy and Austria - collapsed, and the ruling forces of both countries called for friendship with Russia. What is more important, the "pro-Russian" parties, the Italian "League" and Austria's Freedom Party were thrown out of the governments. The same pressure on pro-Russian factions is being exerted in Germany, the Czech Republic and Hungary. All these events in Slovakia, Austria, Germany and Italy are united by the same logic. The kings of European politics could not forgive the fact that the second person in Italy was a politician (Matteo Salvini), who wears a T-shirt adorned with a picture of Putin, Moscow's influence was increasing in the key EU country, and a vaccine named after Russia's scientific progress was conquering Eastern Europe. A ceremony to honor 10 outstanding young Vietnamese and 10 promising young people of 2020 took place in Hanoi on March 21. Organized by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Unions Central Committee and the Vietnam Youth Talent Fund, the event was attended by Standing member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Vo Van Thuong; Deputy Head of the Central Party Committees Internal Affairs Commission Nguyen Thai Hoc; Deputy Chief of the Party Central Committees Office Nguyen Dac Vinh, Vice Head of the Department of Propaganda and Training under the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army - Major General Nguyen Thanh Phong; First Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Nguyen Anh Tuan and other officals and representatives of many state agencies and organizations. From left to right: Mr. Vo Van Thuong, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Mr. Nguyen Thai Hoc, and Major General Nguyen Thanh Phong. Photo: Tien Phong Newspaper At the ceremony, the organizing board presented certificates of merit to 10 outstanding young Vietnamese and 10 promising young faces of 2020. The 10 outstanding Vietnamese young persons 2020 include: Bui Hong Duc (the field of study); Doan Le Hoang Tan (creative research); Tran Anh Tu (working and production); Major Tran Viet Hai (national defence); Captain Nguyen Trung Duc (security and order); Nguyen Van Quyet (sports and physical training); Pham Ngoc Anh Tung (start-up business); Vo Minh Quang (culture and arts); and Hoang Tuan Anh, Ha Anh Phuong (social activities). The 10 promising Vietnamese young persons 2020 include: Ngo Quy Dang (the field of study); Captain Vu Trong Dai (creative research); Bui Thanh Nghi (working and production); Senior Lieutenant Le Van Thua (national defence); Sergeant Tong VanDong (security and order); Nguyen Van Duong (sports and physical training); Nghiem Tien Vien (start-up business); and Hoang Thi Yen and Ninh Duc Hoang Long (culture and arts). Mr. Vo Van Thuong, member of the Politburo, standing member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat, and the first secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union's Central Committee Nguyen Anh Tuan present certificates of merit to ten outstanding Vietnamese persons in 2020. Mr. Vo Van Thuong, member of the Politburo, standing member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat, congratulated the young people who were honored this time. He said that, in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters severely affected the country. In that context, the Vietnamese youth continued to show good qualities, and upheld the spirit of volunteering. Stories about outstanding and promising young people in 2020 were emotional and meaningful. "You were present on all fronts with the spirit of being present at any place where you were needed and were willing to do difficult tasks. Your achievements, contributions to the country, to the community will be honored and will be strongly spread in society," Mr. Thuong said. He also said that Party organizations and the authorities at all levels, unions, the whole society and each family need to pay attention to training, fostering and creating the best conditions for young talents in particular and young people in general to affirm their talents, to dedicate their youth and wisdom to the development of their country. Thanh Hung Young man from Hanoi returns to his hometown to grow oranges, make billions of VND "The first day I went up the hill to pick up the soil, when I finished, I looked back and found that my field was the most slanted. At that time, I just wanted to find a hole in the ground to hide from embarrassment," Cao Khue said. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The 21-year-old white man who confessed to opening fire at three Atlanta-area spas and killing eight people, including six Asian women, has been charged with "malice murder" and aggravated assault, a county sheriff said Monday. Why it matters: The killings spurred nationwide outrage over anti-Asian violence in the U.S. Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) leaders and public officials have called for police to rule the shootings a hate crime, arguing that law enforcement are unable to recognize a case of anti-Asian hate. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. Details: Robert Aaron Long already faced eight charges of murder. The Cherokee Sheriff's Office also earlier charged him with one count of assault. Malice murder is an offense in Georgia alleging implied or express malice. It's unclear whether a racial motive has been ruled out. What they're saying: "In an effort to preserve the case for prosecution, the Cherokee Sheriffs Office will not be making any additional comments about this case at this time," the sheriff's office said in a statement to news outlets. The big picture: Anti-Asian racism has been on the rise since the pandemic started, with Asian women more than twice as likely to report hate incidents than Asian men, per Stop AAPI Hate. Over 183 national organizations led by AAPI groups are calling on President Biden to set aside $300 million for addressing anti-Asian hate. Last week, the president urged passage of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which would improve hate crime tracking and tap a Justice Department official for reviewing COVID-related hate crimes, among other things. Go deeper: Why attacks against the AAPI community are difficult to prosecute as hate crimes More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free [March 23, 2021] EforAll Announces Launch of English and Spanish Business Accelerator Programs to Expand Access to Entrepreneurship in Northwest Arkansas Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll), the nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate economic and social impact through inclusive entrepreneurship, today announced the launch of its free, year-long Business Accelerator program in the Northwest Arkansas community with financial support from the Walton Family Foundation. As diverse populations have quintupled in the region, with Hispanic/Latinx residents accounting for 17% of the population, these programs will also be offered through EforAll's Spanish program, EparaTodos. EforAll helps under-represented individuals successfully start and grow their businesses or nonprofits across a wide range of industries, including personal and professional services, food, retail, manufacturing, and technology. The program offers a unique combination of immersive business training, dedicated mentorship from local business and community leaders, and access to a large professional network - along with the opportunity to win seed money. "EforAll will provide vital resources and creates access to entrepreneurial opportunities for everyday Northwest Arkansas residents striving to launch new businesses," said Yee Lin Lai, program officer Walton Family Foundation. Among the over 500 businesses started by EforAll participants, 74% are owned by women, 58% are owned by people of color, 46% are owned by immigrants, and 39% are owned by people who were previously unemployed. These businesses generated over $25M in revenue and created 720 local jobs in 2019. "We are thrilled that our proven program is expanding to Northwest Arkansas. This region has enjoyed tremendous economic success, but community and business leaders recognize the need to create a more inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem to meet the needs of all its residents," said David Parker, CEO, EforAll. "We believe EforAll and EparaTodos will fill that void by helping those who may not have access to the right resources or tools start a business and have their own opportunity to flourish in the local community." "EforAll's bilingual business accelerator programs will offer Latinx entrepreneurs in the region the confidence, support and networks they need to start their businesses," said Jeannette Balleza Collins, entrepreneurial development director, Northwest Arkansas Council. "It's energizing to consider the power of more inclusive engagement and representation in our diversifying community." EforAll's Business Accelerator programs as well as its first community Pitch Contests - a free event open to everyone that offers an opportunity to validate a business idea, win cash prizes, network with local business owners, and meet potential customers - will launch this summer in both English and Spanish. Currently, EforAll is looking for an Executive Director and two Program Managers for the Northwest Arkansas community. If you want to be part of the organization and are based in the region, please apply at www.eforall.org/careers. To learn more about EforAll and its Northwest Arkansas programs, please visit www.eforall.org/ar/northwest-arkansas. About EforAll Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) is a nonprofit organization that partners with communities nationwide to help under-represented individuals successfully start and grow a business through intensive business training, mentorship and an extended professional support network. To date, EforAll alumni have launched more than 500 businesses and created more than 700 local jobs. Programs are available in both English and Spanish. EforAll is currently available in the following MA communities: Berkshire County, Cape Cod, Fall River/New Bedford, Greater Worcester, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, and Roxbury as well as Longmont, CO. To learn more about EforAll, please visit eforall.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005260/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] COLUMBIA A Gilbert man linked to the riots at the U.S. Capitol in January is expected to plead guilty to making threatening phone calls to a former federal prosecutor over information released on the leader of the alt-right group Proud Boys. During a Feb. 3 search of the man's Lexington County residence, FBI agents found multiple items, including a U.S. Capitol Police shield, which federal law enforcement said in court documents showed "probable cause" that James Giannakos Jr. participated in the mob that overran the Capitol. The riots were an effort to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. The FBI also confiscated a "riot bag" that contained a map of the District of Columbia's Metro system, eye protection, a bike helmet, a tactical vest with hard plates, baton, flashlight, masks and gloves, according to a search warrant filed in federal court. The event, which followed a rally held by then-President Donald Trump, resulted in the deaths of five people a Capitol Police officer and four protesters as well as more than 100 injuries. No reason was given in court records why federal authorities have not charged Giannakos for his alleged involvement in the riot. The U.S. Attorney's office in South Carolina declined comment, with spokesman Michael Mule' saying, if any charges are filed, they will come from the office for the District of Columbia. A call to Giannakos' attorney was not returned. This month, however, Giannakos signed a plea deal for threatening a former federal prosecutor in Florida and her employer. The caller was upset over the release of news that Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was an FBI informant. A change of plea hearing to finalize the agreement will be held at a later date, according to Mule'. "If anything happens to Mr. Enrique Tarrio, the same thing will happen to you and your family," read a transcript of a voicemail from a phone number linked to Giannakos' residence that was included in court documents. The man in the voicemail, who introduced himself as James, was angered over the release of information about a confidential informant who was reportedly Tarrio, according to an affidavit filed in federal court. "If anything happens to him, I promise you and your associates will pay for it. You will be held responsible," the voicemail continued. Messages left on the voicemails of other employees at the former prosecutor's law firm demanded the attorney be prosecuted, telling one employee that the federal lawyer's "family is in danger and so are you," according to the transcript included in an affidavit. Giannakos pleaded guilty to the crime of making an interstate threat and faces up to five years incarceration and a $250,000 fine. But federal prosecutors will lobby for a lower sentence in exchange for his cooperation in identifying and testifying against others involved in crimes of which he has knowledge, which could include other Capitol riot participants. At least four other South Carolinians have been arrested for their roles in the Capitol breach to date. William Robert Norwood III, 37, of Greer faces charges including theft of government property for allegedly stealing an officers helmet and tactical vest, which an FBI agent said were later found in a storage trailer in Greenville. Andrew Hatley was charged with breaking into the U.S. Capitol after an investigation that relied on GPS data and a selfie the man allegedly took while inside the building. And two 19-year-olds from the Fort Mill area Elias Irizarry, a Citadel cadet, and Elliot Bishai, a U.S. Army recruit were each charged with three federal misdemeanors for entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. An overflow facility for illegal immigrants in Donna, Texas, in an undated photo. (Courtesy of Rep. Henry Cuellar's office) Bidens Border Policy: Virtue Signaling for Dummies Commentary Joe Biden and whoever is advising him or telling him what to doIll let others surmiseabsolutely knew that if Donald Trump was doing it, it had to be wrong. Trump bad. Democrats good. Everybody knows that. The Democrats will save the children, the tired and poor of Central America, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Only the opposite is and was true. That policyif you could even begin to call it thatis and was virtue signaling almost at its purest. The reality is despicable. What really happens from the Democrats quasi open-borders policy is a disaster both for the United States and the benighted Central American countries these illegals are fleeing. TIME OUT: Lets be real and put that euphemistic desecration of the English language undocumented workers to rest. The people crossing the border are illegal aliens, no quotes. Any country that allows both legal and illegal immigration is creating chaos, authorizing and encouraging crime, and really major crime at that. We have just learned from Tucson Border Patrol Chief Roy Villareal, retired this December after thirty years on the force, that criminal organizations trafficking women, children, families and single adults over the U.S.-Mexico border earned as much as $14 million a day. [bold mine] Think about the people involved with that, the human suffering it entails, not to mention the 15,000 children, if thats even the correct number, evidently enticed by the administration and wearing Biden t-shirts, being housed in cages until they can find a Motel 6 or similar to put them in. Besides the massive disorganization this indicates on the part of the administration, imagine the futures these kids will have. Dickens already wrote it. So what is the administration doing about all this? We dont know because they wont allow the media to see, not even their complaisant mainstream pals. (I thought Biden promised the most transparent administration ever. Oh well) Instead, in the grand tradition of Susan Benghazi Rice, they sent out Department of Homeland Security Chief Alejandro Mayorkas to lie about the situation on the Sunday shows, reassuring us the border is closed and whatever problems exist are, needless to say, Trumps fault. But its not just the border. All Biden policies can be reduced to a form of virtue signaling. Part of this stems from looking over his shoulder at AOC and Company, but a larger part may be that he has nothing better, no ideas of his own other than the most tired conventional wisdom, which is often about no more than looking good. Going back willy-nilly into the climate accords without examining the facts on the groundfor example that the United States had the most carbon emissions improvement in the world during the Trump administration and that China remains the worlds number one polluteris certainly virtue signaling. So was the snap decision to eliminate the Keystone pipeline without evaluating the environmental implications. As many have noted, this would only force oil to be transported via environmentally more precarious rail. As for energy independence, forget about it. Oil bad. Nuclear bad. Wind and solar good, even if they fail every other week and twice on Sunday. Foreign policy, particularly vis-a-vis Iran, is pure, refined virtue signaling. We must go back into the JPCOA (Iran deal) because, well, its good. We are good guys. That Trumps sanctions were actually getting results is irrelevant. That we might be destroying the Abraham Accords in the process is, well, que sera sera. Didnt these people ever learn that by being the good guy you are often the bad guy? Werent they ever parents? (Well, in Bidens case, its pretty clear he has some problems in that area.) Virtue signaling is a habit for them. But the problem with virtue singling, as with all manifestations of moral narcissism, is the disconnect between what you say you believe and the results of those beliefs. And very often those results can be catastrophic. Roger L. Simon is an award-winning novelist, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, co-founder of PJMedia, and now, editor-at-large for The Epoch Times. His most recent books are The GOAT (fiction) and I Know Best: How Moral Narcissism Is Destroying Our Republic, If It Hasnt Already (nonfiction). He can be found on Parler as @rogerlsimon. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. March 23, 2021 Its no longer enough to focus on keeping threat actors out of an organizations network. Multiple cybersecurity incidents have repetitively proven that intruders could sit inside networks undetected for weeks or months. Threat intelligence feeds can help detect suspicious activity, map out Internet footprints, and conduct cybersecurity investigations, among other purposes. Such feeds could include multiple data sources, ranging from malware databases, WHOIS domain records, IP intelligence, Domain Name System (DNS) databases, and more. But why should you be interested in using all that data? This post looks at a few use cases. Detect Possible Phishing Domains and Subdomains Combined Data Sources: Typosquatting Data Feed, Newly Registered & Just Expired Domains Database, and Subdomains Database According to Verizons (News - Alert) 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), 22% of breaches involved phishing. The malicious emails may contain malware or impersonate suppliers, CEOs, other entities, and sometimes ride on current events. To execute attacks smoothly, threat actors mostly use look-alike or typosquatting domains and subdomains. Including cyber threat intelligence feeds that return typosquatting domains could help protect an organizations workforce from phishing attacks. A peek into a typosquatting database and a newly registered domain (NRD) data feed, for instance, revealed that 72 new domains containing the string indiancreek appeared on the DNS on 11 March 2021. A total of 337 subdomains with the string indiancreek were also found in a subdomain database. Indian Creek Island is an exclusive island thats home to high-profile personalities, including Ivanka Trump and Tom Brady. Its official domain is indiancreekvillage[.]org. The look-alike domains and subdomains could be used to imitate the village administration and even residents in phishing emails. Check Domain Reputation Combined Data Sources: DNS Database, Passive DNS Database, Blocklist Engines, SSL Certificate Chain Intelligence Part of a good cybersecurity strategy is detecting intruders in a network. Domains that appear in network logs can be run against different cyber threat intelligence feeds to check for inconsistencies and problematic configurations. Reputation scoring can be implemented where domains with the most number of misconfigurations get the least score and should thus be flagged. The URL billing[.]netflix[.]user[.]solution[.]id2[.]client-redirection[.]com, for example, has the following configuration: A record: 204[.]11[.]56[.]48 No mail server found Nameserver: ns1626[.]ztomy[.]com No Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates Having no mail server could mean that the domain owner does not want to receive emails. The absence of SSL certificates, on the other hand, doesnt add up since a company like Netflix would certainly always configure one for its websites. Additionally, what do malware databases and blocklist sites say about the URL? Various engines, including ESET (News - Alert) , Kaspersky, and Sophos, in fact, reported the domain malicious. Furthermore, a passive DNS database associates the IP address and nameserver to hundreds of other domains, some of which are also tagged malicious. Expand Indicator of Compromise Lists Combined Data Sources: IoC Lists, Historical WHOIS Database, IP Netblocks Database, Passive DNS Database In addition to blocking indicators of compromise (IoCs) of known threats, organizations can also stay better protected when exploring domains and IP addresses connected to them. A recent investigation into Ramnit IoCs, for instance, was able to expand the IoC list. The expansion was done by looking into the IoCs historical WHOIS records and looking for domains and IP addresses that share the domains WHOIS information. An IP netblocks database was also one of the threat intelligence feeds used to determine the range of the IP addresses. --- A cybersecurity system is often only as good as its data sources. Weak or incomplete data could result in weak defense. Gleaning intelligence from various and combined threat intelligence feeds can help organizations protect their networks and, at the same time, detect intruders that could have made their way in already. Spain becomes 4th European country to legalize euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Spain has become the fourth country in Europe to legalize the practices of euthanasia and assisted suicide. The Spanish legislature passed a new law last Thursday that is set to be implemented in June to permit adults with "serious, chronic illness with no chance of recovery and with unbearable suffering" to opt to end their lives with either euthanasia or doctor-assisted suicide. Before the bill's passage, assisting someone in death was punishable by up to 10 years in prison. With a vote of 202-140 and two abstentions, lawmakers in the Spanish Parliament's lower house approved the bill's final passage. The law has reportedly been three years in the making. The bill garnered wide support from left-wing and centrist parties and was celebrated by the nation's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, who hailed the passage as a move that makes the country "more humane, fairer, and freer." "Thanks to all the people who have fought tirelessly so that the right to die with dignity was recognized in Spain," he tweeted. Meanwhile, political conservatives and religious groups in the nation opposed the measure. The Spanish Catholic Church called the reform "a form of homicide," and the right-wing Vox party said it intended to set in motion an appeal to the Constitutional Court, according to EuroNews. This law "violates the right to life, without which no other exists," protester Alexander Cuevas, 21, who was among approximately 100 people who demonstrated against the legislation outside Parliament on Thursday, was quoted as saying. Some were dressed as Grim Reapers and deployed a banner that read "government of death" to the sound of funeral drums, EuroNews reports. To qualify for euthanasia, a patient must be an adult Spanish national or a legal resident and be "fully aware and conscious" when they make the request. The request must be submitted twice in writing, 15 days apart. Doctors can reject the request if the requirements are not met. Requests must be approved by a second medical professional and an evaluation body, BBC reports. The law provides that medical professionals can choose not to participate in euthanasia procedures on conscience grounds. Euthanasia is also legal in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Canada, Colombia and Switzerland. In October, New Zealand voters approved the legalization of euthanasia in a nationwide referendum. The new policy will go into effect on Nov. 6, one year after the official vote was certified. Telstras two biggest rivals are privately lobbying the federal government to explicitly prevent any moves by the telecoms giant to merge its infrastructure arm with the national broadband network, warning it would create a monopoly that will hurt consumers. The nations largest telco this week progressed plans to split itself into four operating divisions, including one housing key fixed line infrastructure which the NBN currently leases. Market observers believe the separation paves the way for a deal between Telstra and the NBN. NBN Co CEO Stephen Rue, left, with Communications Minister Paul Fletcher. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Industry sources told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that TPG Telecom and Singtel Optus had ramped up their efforts to convince Communications Minister Paul Fletcher and other ministers to prevent any sale of NBN Cos division to any Telstra entity. The sources, who could not speak publicly because the conversations were confidential, said the government had reiterated an NBN sale was still far down the track and subject to a range of regulatory measures but conceded it would consider their concerns. TPG and Optus are expected to continue to put pressure on the government about the future of NBN Co in the coming months. Rupert Grint admits he found his first night as a father 'terrifying' because he was convinced his newborn daughter might die in her sleep. The Harry Potter star and his girlfriend Georgia Groome welcomed their daughter, Wednesday, into the world nine months ago. And Rupert, 32, says he had sleepless nights when they first brought the child home because he thought she would suffer a cot death. Restless nights: Rupert Grint admits he found his first night as a father 'terrifying' because he was convinced his newborn daughter might die in her sleep The actor admitted he's always 'struggled' with sleep, and so was constantly getting up to make sure his daughter was still breathing. He told Esquire: 'I don't want to go too into detail, but the first night was just terrifying. You can't sleep at all, just constantly checking that she's breathing. Sleeping, in general, for me, is something I've really struggled with. 'I think as a kid, people always said, 'They died in their sleep,' so I always thought sleep was a really dangerous, dangerous thing.' He told Esquire: 'I don't want to go too into detail, but the first night was just terrifying. You can't sleep at all, just constantly checking that she's breathing. Sleeping, in general, for me, is something I've really struggled with' Parents: The Harry Potter star and his girlfriend Georgia Groome welcomed their daughter, Wednesday, into the world nine months ago [pictured 2019] The actor also joked he had an 'identity crisis' when his daughter arrived, as he thought he had to change his wardrobe so he'd look like a dad. He added: 'I struggle with that, being a dad. Had a bit of an identity crisis. I don't know, do I change the way I dress now?' Meanwhile, Rupert recently said he enjoys being a parent but is 'still kind of coming to terms with what being a dad is'. He said: 'It's so much fun. I feel like I've changed as a person for sure. It kind of happened overnight, lifestyle-wise. I stopped smoking straight away. I've started sleeping so much better - I used to be a horrific insomniac, now I'm sleeping. Back in the day: The actor is best known for playing Ron Weasley in the film series based on Rowling's Harry Potter books [pictured 2001] 'It's been a very calming process for me. Obviously there are days when she is full on. But there's something really nice about the routine. It's got me in a good place, I think.' Rupert Grint has admitted that he felt he needed to stand up for transgender people after J.K. Rowling became embroiled in a bitter row last year. The actor, who is best known for playing Ron Weasley in the film series based on Rowling's Harry Potter books, released a statement following intense backlash from the transgender community against the acclaimed author in June. 'I firmly stand with the trans community. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. We should all be entitled to live with love and without judgment,' he said. Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 20:55:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Tuesday summoned British Ambassador to China Caroline Wilson to lodge solemn protest against sanctions imposed by the British side over Xinjiang-related affairs. The vice minister, on behalf of the Chinese government, expressed strong condemnation of the unilateral sanctions imposed by the British side under the pretext of so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang. He stressed that the Chinese government is unswerving in its determination to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, and will make a necessary and legitimate response to Britain's erroneous act. Enditem NPC Roll Out Virtual Nonprofit Resource Directory GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) has introduced a virtual Nonprofit Resource Directory to connect nonprofits to local and regional businesses that provide products and services to charitable organizations. Located on the NPC web site, the directory features over 600 businesses from accounting firms to web site designers. Sponsored by Paper Crane Associates, a Massachusetts-based company providing strategic and business planning for nonprofits, the virtual directory provides direct links to vendor web sites. "We like to think of the Nonprofit Resource Directory as an economic development effort since nonprofits need many products and services, and ultimately have a huge impact on our economy," NPC founder Liana Toscanini said. Featured partners that supported the creation of the directory include a. von schlegell & co, Adirondack Payroll Services, Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Net Results, Interim Executive Solutions, Kevin P. Martin & Associates, PC, Professionality Consulting, Prosper Nonprofit Advisors, and Silo Media. Maharashtra state board exams for Class 12 cancelled in view of COVID-19: Minister Vijay Wadettiwar. in view of COVID-19: Minister Vijay Wadettiwar. Lockdown-like restrictions to be lifted from tomorrow in 18 out of 36 Maharashtra districts: government. in 18 out of 36 Maharashtra districts: government. Puro Politics is a weekly podcast hosted by columnist Gilbert Garcia, covering the drama and nuance of local government issues. Produced by Luis Vazquez and Joy-Marie Scott. We should be seeing a fiery contest this year for San Antonio mayor. After all, over the past year, the city has faced intense pressures and enormous challenges. Weve lost more than 3,000 people to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 140,000 local jobs and been traumatized by a winter freeze that forced many San Antonians to go days without power or water. In addition, weve got two old dais rivals, Mayor Ron Nirenberg and former Councilman Greg Brockhouse, clashing in the rematch of a 2019 race that ended with a narrow and dramatic Nirenberg runoff win. Nonetheless, with less than four weeks to go before the start of early voting, we find ourselves in the middle of a strangely subdued mayoral campaign. That surprising lack of fireworks was one of the topics for discussion on this weeks episode of the Express-Newss Puro Politics podcast. On ExpressNews.com: Despite COVID-19 pandemic and winter freeze, San Antonio mayor's race off to quiet start Joshua Fechter, the Express-Newss City Hall reporter, said one factor is a general fatigue with politics brought on by an exhausting 2020 presidential campaign. Everyones just tired, Fechter said. But there are all sorts of other factors at play here. One is that everyone is having a really hard time raising money. This has been a problem for campaigns throughout the pandemic. Fechter also pointed out that Nirenberg has stubbornly resisted all local calls for him to debate Brockhouse. Debates bring attention to the race, Fechter said. By this time in the last cycle, the mayor and Brockhouse had already had their first debate. Hear more about this and other issues on the latest edition of Puro Politics. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 Consent classes will soon be made mandatory for students in Victorian state schools over concerns the issue wasn't always being addressed head-on. Acting Premier James Merlino has moved to make teaching consent compulsory in all government schools from next month under an expansion of the Respectful Relationship program. The initiative previously did not explicitly direct schools to teach consent and instead focused on relationships, sexuality and safety. Consent classes will soon be made mandatory for students in Victorian state schools (stock image) From term two, the new directive will compel state schools to teach the government's Respectful Relationships training on free agreements. Mr Merlino said Victoria and other states should not be complacent on ensuring consent was taught well in classrooms. 'Respectful Relationships is proven to make a real difference and is a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Family Violence,' the education minister said in a statement on Sunday. 'It is a program that should be rolled out nationwide. But we have to listen to students, who say they want and need a greater focus on this issue in the classroom. 'It is why we will mandate the teaching of consent in all government schools in an age-appropriate way.' Under the plan, teachers will be given access to extra resources, guidance and professional development to help ready them to appropriately teach the sensitive topic. From term two, the new directive will compel state schools to teach the government's Respectful Relationships training on free agreements Mr Merlino said his department had been in consultation with sexual assault petitioner Chanel Contos in recent weeks, committing to 'continue to further improve our resources to ensure they meet the needs of our schools'. 'Clearly this is an issue across the country,' he said. 'I would encourage every other state and territory and all schools to approach this issue in the same way: listen and take action. Because our students deserve to be heard.' Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien backed the initiative, although he believes parents - not schools - need to take the lead on teaching consent. 'There's more that can be done in the classroom but let's not sideline the role of parents,' he told reporters on Sunday. 'Ultimately, parents have got the primary job to talk about values with their kids. They can be supported by what happens in schools, but let's not cut parents out of the process.' The move comes as more than a dozen students and parents of Melbourne's Wesley College raised allegations of harassment and assault on campus. ROME, MAR 23 - Italian police on Tuesday arrested five people in Rome on suspicion of using mafia methods to extort small businessmen. The five have been charged with mafia-style extortion and usury. They allegedly ran protection and loan sharking rackets in the Alberone district on the southern outskirts of the Italian capital. The usury was not only aimed at small businessmen but also at other people in economic difficulties, police said. Police said the four, aged 44 to 55, were professional criminals. Police said they carried out "punitive raids" on their victims when they got behind with payments. (ANSA). 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. Doodnath Maharaj was the general secretary of the Oilfields Workers Trade Union for nearly two decades. This is out of a total of 40 years service. He was a dedicated and loyal comrade who did his best work away from the limelight. Indeed, he shunned it, embodying a self-effacing personality that was deeply mystifying to many who came to know him. LONDON - AstraZeneca's release Monday of encouraging data about its coronavirus vaccine from its U.S. trial raised hopes that the drug company could put a troubled rollout behind it. But just hours after its announcement, American officials issued an unusual statement expressing concern the company had included outdated information from its study and that it may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 file photo, a health worker holds a vial of the AstraZeneca vaccine to be administered to emergency services personnel during a mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign at Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain. AstraZenecas release of encouraging data about its coronavirus vaccine from its U.S. trial raised hopes that the drug company could bury doubts about the shot and put a troubled rollout behind it. But just hours later, U.S. officials released an unusual statement expressing concerns AstraZeneca had included outdated information from its study and that it may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File) LONDON - AstraZeneca's release Monday of encouraging data about its coronavirus vaccine from its U.S. trial raised hopes that the drug company could put a troubled rollout behind it. But just hours after its announcement, American officials issued an unusual statement expressing concern the company had included "outdated information" from its study and that it may have provided "an incomplete view of the efficacy data." Coupled with earlier missteps in reporting data and a recent blood clot scare, experts said the new stumble could cause lasting harm to the shot that is key to global efforts to stop the pandemic and erode vaccine confidence more broadly. "I doubt it was (U.S. officials') intention to deliberately undermine trust in the AstraZeneca vaccine," said Dr. Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia. "But this will likely cause more vaccine hesitancy." AstraZeneca said Tuesday that the results it released a day earlier included information through Feb. 17 but appeared to be consistent with more up-to-date data. It promised an update within 48 hours. Those results showed its shot was about 79% effective in stopping symptomatic COVID-19 and that there were no severe illnesses or hospitalizations among vaccinated volunteers, compared with five such cases in participants who received dummy shots. The back-and-forth over the latest release is not the first time the company has run into problems. Partial results from its first major trial which Britain used to authorize the vaccine were clouded by a manufacturing mistake that researchers didn't immediately acknowledge. Insufficient data about how well the vaccine protected older people led some countries to initially restrict its use to younger populations before reversing course. And U.S. officials suspended an AstraZeneca study for an unusual six weeks while they sought details about problems reported in Britain before deciding the vaccine wasn't to blame. Then last week, more than a dozen countries temporarily halted their use of the AstraZeneca shot after reports of rare blood clots in some people who received it. The European Medicines Agency concluded the shot did not increase the overall incidence of clots, but the unwanted attention appears to have left a mark. In Norway, a top official warned on Monday it might not be able to resume its use of the vaccine because so many people were rejecting it. "People clearly say that they do not want the AstraZeneca vaccine," Marte Kvittum Tangen, who heads a Norwegian doctors association, told broadcaster NRK. Last week in Bucharest, Romania, vaccination co-ordinator Valeriu Gheorghita said 33,000 AstraZeneca immunization appointments had been cancelled in 24 hours and that about a third of the 10,000 people scheduled to receive the vaccine did not show up. In Belgrade, Serbia, a sprawling exhibition centre set up for people to get the AstraZeneca vaccine was mostly deserted on Monday. "This is unfortunately more about perception than it is the science," said Dr. Bharat Pankhania, an infectious diseases specialist at Britains University of Exeter. "We have now seen, on several parameters, that the AstraZeneca vaccine provides protection and is safe," he said. "But the narrative for the public has not been as clear." France is a prime example of the confusion. French President Emmanuel Macron initially suggested the vaccine wasnt effective for older people, before backtracking. Still, France only authorized AstraZenecas vaccine for use in adults 65 and under, citing a lack of data. Then the government changed its mind, based on new data, and said its fine for all adults. But when there were reports of rare blood clots in some vaccine recipients, the government suspended use of the shot all together. When France restarted AstraZeneca, it banned the shot for anyone under 55. The whiplash-inducing messages come at a time when France like much of continental Europe is struggling to speed up its vaccination drive while also facing a spike in cases that is close to overwhelming its hospitals and prompting threats of new lockdowns. Even if the company clears up the latest misunderstanding, it could have a lasting impact. Julian Tang, a virologist at the University of Leicester, pointed to the decades-old controversy over the measles vaccine as a cautionary tale. "There was absolutely no evidence to prove the (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine caused autism," he said. But despite the retraction of the paper that made that claim, Tang said some people still worry about the vaccine. The tepid support for the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe stands in contrast to governments in the developing world that are desperate for supplies. Because the shot is cheaper and easier to store than those of many rivals, AstraZenecas vaccine is expected to be used widely in the poorer countries. Dr. Bruce Aylward, a senior adviser at the World Health Organization, said the U.N. agency has a long list of countries "very keen" to get the shot as soon as possible. "We simply cannot get enough of it," he said. But some experts have worried that the skepticism in Europe could eventually cast a pall over the vaccine worldwide. They suggested one measure that could reassure a jittery public about the shot: a green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "If the U.S. regulator looks at this data and authorizes AstraZeneca, that will carry a lot of weight," said Jimmy Whitworth, a professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. AstraZeneca said it would be submitting its data to the FDA within weeks. It's still possible the vaccine can bury the doubts. At a vaccination centre in Lisbon, 68-year-old Rui Manuel Martins dismissed the concerns, saying millions had been immunized with very few ill effects. "Theres always some cases of people rejecting any medications," he said before receiving his first dose. "Its better to be vaccinated rather than not." __ Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Angela Charlton in Paris, Stephen McGrath in Bucharest, Romania, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade, Serbia, Helena Alves in Lisbon, Samuel Petrequin in Brussels and Lauran Neergaard in Washington contributed to this report. This story has been updated to correct that France has now banned AstraZeneca for anyone under 55. U.S. Data Shows AstraZeneca Vaccine is Effective for All Adults The pharmaceutical company assures Americans this vaccine is the shot to choose. A new vaccine might be arriving soon to help protect Americans in their fight agains the coronavirus. AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine has provided strong protection against the disease thus far, limiting the number of hospitalizations and deaths in adults. The pharmaceutical company says its experts did not identify any safety concerns related to the vaccine in Europe. In a statement, AstraZeneca said its COVID-19 vaccine was 79 percent effective at preventing symptomatic cases as well as 100 percent effective in stopping severe disease and hospitalizations. Full data hasnt been published so its unclear if there were enough cases to make the findings accurate. AstraZeneca will apply for U.S. authorization for vaccine distribution for the FDA. The shot has been authorized in more that 70 countries and its a pillar of a U.N.-backed project: COVAX which aims to give COVID-19 vaccines to poorer countries. The benefits of these results will mainly be for the rest of the world where confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine has been erode, largely by political and media comment, Stephen Evans, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said. Johnson & Johnson and CanSino Biologics make COVID-19 vaccines using the same technology but using different cold viruses. AstraZeneca said it would continue to analyze the U.S. data before submitting it to the FDA in the coming weeks. It said the data would also be published soon in a peer-reviewed journal. Click here to learn more about the vaccine. For Gumroad's Sahil Lavingia, money didn't always come easily. But in recent months, not only did his digital-goods business book a profit for the first time, but it also signed more than 7,000 non-accredited investors--many of who are Gumroad customers--in less than 24 hours. "I think if we can start to see more startups raise money from their customers, from their communities, from the average person, or non-accredited investors--I just think that's good for the world," says Lavingia, founder and CEO of the 10-year-old company. Gumroad is just one of many startups capitalizing on a recent rule change from the Securities and Exchange Commission, which expands the amount so-called non-accredited investors--those who may not have income or asset thresholds required to be considered "accredited"--may invest in private companies by way of equity crowdfunding. As part of the 2012 Jobs Act, the SEC on March 15 raised the cap individual private companies may fetch from crowdfund investors to $5 million, up from $1.07 million. Great Expectations Before he could lasso all those investors, however, Lavingia had to first fix his company, a journey he recounted in a blog post from February 2019. From inception, Gumroad seemed fated to take off. In 2011, Lavingia had launched the company after parlaying his early success at Pinterest--he's the company's second-ever hire--into a $1.1 million seed round. Gumroad, at the time was based in San Francisco, and landed some key investors including Mike Abbott from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB). Eventually, the company floundered under the weight of its great expectations. In 2015, everything came to a head. While it had a strong community of artists, writers, and other creators who relied on the service to sell their intangible goods and services, Gumroad just wasn't growing fast enough. In November, after Gumroad failed to raise a Series B, Lavingia had to lay off 75 percent of the company, which cut a team of 20 people to a team of five. After a short while, he packed up and left San Francisco. Instead of selling the company, as many founders do in similar straits, Lavignia focused all of Gumroad's resources on starting a premium service. In 2017, Abbott, its lead investor, had offered to sell back ownership of the company for $1. Other investors soon followed. Then, in 2020, the tide turned. The nascent creator economy, which had been growing by the year, got a boost from the pandemic, as millions of young people suddenly without job or school prospects turned to the internet to make money. Gumroad had its best year in 2020, generating approximately $9.2 million of revenue and more than $1 million in profit. Last August, Lavingia partnered with AngelList and launched a $5 million rolling fund for early-stage startups. Rewards and Risks What changed? The world caught up. "I think it's a long trend in the same direction, in which creators are continuing to build audiences and go direct to consumers. And every sort of generation, every sort of cohort, is getting betting at doing that," says Lavingia. Take being a musician. Most new artists start building a social media following right away, which continues to grow throughout their careers. "So when you have an album, you already have an audience to share it with," he says. That's also true in the investor space, which Lavingia says is poised to be a boon for startups. The vast potential of equity crowdfunding created by the Jobs Act is only now really beginning to take shape. Other startups that have joined the equity crowdfunding bandwagon include blockchain construction company Digibuild, livestreaming app Clash TV, and ParkNav, an app that locates free parking spots. For its part, Gumroad hit the enhanced limit within hours. The startup raised a total of $5 million from more than 7,000 non-accredited investors. Anyone with as little as $100 was able to buy a stake in the company. The diversity of stakeholders has inherent benefits for founder-led companies. By letting thousands of non-traditional investors own equity, rather than a smaller group of professional investors, you're not only broadening everyone's risk, but you're also bringing more people to the table. "It doesn't matter how diverse you are, if you're raising from 400 people." By contrast, if you limit your outreach, you're limiting your own potential. "It's like saying 'I'm hiring only people who live on this one-block radius,'" Lavingia says. But equity crowdfunding has its drawbacks, for both investors and startups. The $5 million cap means that companies in later stages will still need to rely on more traditional sources of funding. Also, startups will need both a large customer base and enough momentum for crowdfunding campaigns to be successful. Equity crowdfunding platforms like Republic are "all-or-nothing," meaning if the amount your startup raises falls short of its funding goal, all the money is refunded to investors. There are also substantial risks for investors. Unlike investing in publicly traded stocks, investors will have to find an interested private buyer to unload a crowdfunded investment. As Republic notes on its site, there's no guarantee that a buyer will be interested in purchasing your securities. What's more, the ability to sell is restricted for the first year, which means even when crowdfund investors do find a private buyer, they might need to hold off selling. Equity crowdfunded startups also have a high failure rate; only 50 percent of crowdfunding campaigns are successful. Not to mention that 90 percent of startups fail. All that being said, the new SEC rule may alter this dismal failure rate by giving startups a whole new avenue to raise capital. Amateur investors might also miss the signs of a bad startup idea or they may unwittingly fall in with a low-quality venture, says Gale Wilkinson of Vitalize Venture Group. She notes the promise of equity crowdfunding for startups but also recommends caution. "Adverse selection is a concern that a lot in the venture world have," she tells Inc. "If a founder can't raise via traditional VCs, which to date has been seen as the gold standard, then they might try crowdfunding as a second option." Lavignia thinks he can buck the downsides. After all, there are just as many--if not more--negatives associated with working with venture capitalists. Many of Gumroad's investors now include creators who use the platform to sell their services. Lavignia believes that this aligns with a long trend of creators building audiences on social media and going directly to consumers, without the help of traditional gatekeepers. SEOUL The 10 people bought $8.8 million worth of land in an undeveloped area southwest of Seoul, registering it for farming and planting numerous trees. Its a common trick used by shady real estate speculators in South Korea: Once the area is taken over for housing development, the developers must pay not only for the land, but the trees, too. A national outrage erupted this month when South Koreans learned that the 10 people were officials from the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) the government agency in charge of building new towns and housing suspected of using privileged information to cash in on government housing development programs. The incident has thrown President Moon Jae-ins government into crisis mode just weeks before key mayoral elections that are largely seen as a referendum on him and his party ahead of next years presidential race. Young South Koreans are saying they are fed up with corruption and the presidents failed policies on runaway housing prices. The LH scandal is now set to become a critical voter issue in Mr. Moons final year in office. When my girlfriend and I discuss how we are going to find a house in Seoul for the family we are going to start, we cant find an answer, said Park Young-sik, 29, an office worker. The LH scandal shows how some people in South Korea make a quick fortune through real-estate foul play, while the rest of us can barely buy a house even if we toil and save for a lifetime. (Newser) A group of 11 unarmed National Guardsmen was held at gunpoint while transporting coronavirus vaccines in Texas on Monday. A male driver had followed a convoy of vehicles from a travel stop in Lubbock before repeatedly attempting to run the vehicles off the road, police tell WAFB. He then used his truck to block the roadway, forcing 11 Guardsmen in three vehicles to stop. The suspect, who claimed he was a detective, pointed a loaded gun at the unarmed but uniformed soldiers and demanded to search their vehicles, police say. The Guardsmen, who'd been transporting vaccines to Matador, complied. The suspectidentified as Larry Harris of Willcox, Ariz.later told Idalou Police that he thought the vehicles' occupants had kidnapped a woman and child. story continues below Idalou Police arrested Harris, 66, without further incident. "He put the gun in the front of his pants when he saw officers arriving," Police Chief Eric Williams tells KCBD. He had a loaded .45 caliber pistol, was carrying a loaded magazine, and had another in his truck, police say. "This was a very dangerous situation since the suspect was standing in the midst of the unarmed Guardsman with a loaded weapon when the Idalou Officers arrived on scene," Williams says, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He adds Harris "appeared to be mentally erratic" and was not after the vaccines "as far as we know," per KCBD. He's charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful restraint, unlawful carrying of a weapon, impersonating a public servant, and interference with Texas military forces. (Read more Texas stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region Wellfleet bridges digital divide with introduction of a revolutionary quote-to-claim insurance platform SPRINGFIELD, Mass. & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wellfleet, a Berkshire Hathaway company, recently launched Lighthouse, an innovative and proprietary platform designed to make quoting, implementing, and administering workplace benefits more accurate and efficient for brokers and clients. Built on EIS cutting-edge core system and digital experience platform, Lighthouse by Wellfleet supports a personalized, proactive, and connected user experience for brokers, clients and members. Features of the platform include its ability to support a single system of record; smoothly connect with clients chosen HR technology platforms; and seamlessly exchange data from quote to claim. Lighthouse is further enhanced by Wellfleets commitment to responsive, personalized service with reliable data. Each Wellfleet client is partnered with a dedicated Client Manager, who ensures benefits solutions are delivered how and when clients want them, while providing ongoing support from implementation through re-enrollment. Many carriers use a patchwork of dated legacy systems for quoting, enrollment and claims. These systems were not built to work together, which leads to errors and inefficiencies that brokers and their clients should not have to endure, stated James Ocampo, Executive Vice President and head of Wellfleets Workplace Benefits division. Thats why Wellfleet chose to invest in the development of Lighthouse, a highly-digital, customer-centric platform that delivers a consistent, multi-channel experience supported by authentic end-to-end service. A recent survey conducted by Wellfleet and EIS identified the top five pain points brokers experience with their carrier partners and the solutions Lighthouse delivers: 1. Time to receive quote Lighthouse supports the crafting of highly-customized and flexible plan designs, which simplifies and expedited the quoting process. 2. Billing errors As an end-to-end platform, Lighthouse powers the flow of accurate data from quote to claim, ensuring bills are accurate. 3. Quoting errors Leveraging the clean data input at time of quote, Lighthouse seamlessly deploys the approved case-build file, ensuring the proposal, policy administration system, and enrollment systems are built in sync. 4. Lack of real time data insights for the broker and the client With its single source of truth, Lighthouse delivers accurate, meaningful data in real-time. 5. Slow data processing time Lighthouse validates enrollment data in hours or days, not weeks. EIS and Wellfleet have invested in the future of workplace benefits by building a groundbreaking, fully digital experience for the market, said Samantha Chow, LAH Markets Lead at EIS. By coupling Wellfleets attentive servicing and deep knowledge of broker pain points with EIS open, cloud- and API-based technology, weve developed a vibrant, customer-centric ecosystem for Wellfleets distribution, data and service partners, said Chow. Lighthouse leverages the EIS SuiteTM of software solutions to support broker and customer lifecycles from rating and quoting, policy issuance and administration, to billing and claims management. Lighthouse has been a highly-anticipated and long-needed market offering, noted Drew DiGiorgio, Wellfleet President and CEO. Launching it to the market is the cornerstone of Wellfleets long-term strategy to offer next-generation tools and services that give customers what they want a personalized user experience supported by a team of industry leaders and experienced support staff. To learn more, visit www.wellfleetworkplace.com/lighthouse About Wellfleet Wellfleet Insurance is a Berkshire Hathaway company focused on delivering customer-centric insurance solutions through flexible product offerings and quality service. With an A++ financial strength rating from A.M. Best, Wellfleets goal is to protect people against risk throughout every stage of life from grade school to college, the workplace, and beyond. Headquartered in Springfield, Mass., Wellfleets Workplace division delivers high-quality, customizable benefit solutions through a suite of voluntary products, including Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Short-Term Disability Income Insurance. For more information, visit www.wellfleetworkplace.com Wellfleet is the marketing name used to refer to the insurance and administrative operations of Wellfleet Insurance Company, Wellfleet New York Insurance Company, and Wellfleet Group, LLC. All insurance products are administered or managed by Wellfleet Group, LLC. Product availability is based upon business and/or regulatory approval and may differ among companies. About EIS EIS is an insurance software company that enables leading insurers to innovate and operate like a tech company: fast, simple, agile. Founded in 2008, EIS provides a platform for high-velocity insurance. This open, flexible platform of core and digital solutions liberates insurers to accelerate innovation, launch products faster, deliver new revenue channels, and create insurance experiences the world will love. With thousands of APIs, the platform gives insurers the freedom to connect to a vast ecosystem of insurtech and emerging technologies. Headquartered in San Francisco, EIS powers premium growth for P&C and Life insurance companies worldwide. For more information on how EIS helps insurers become unbeatably fast at everything they do, visit EISGroup.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005172/en/ Liam Collopy C 415.517.9760 lcollopy@hardenpartners.com Jennifer Picard 413-452-5360 jpicard@wellfleetinsurance.com Source: EIS Actor Rana Daggubati's ambitious jungle adventure drama "Haathi Mere Saathi", which was set to release on March 26, has been postponed due to rising Covid cases. However, the film's Tamil and Telugu versions -- "Kaadan" and "Aranya" respectively -- will release on the scheduled date. A statement from the film's production house Eros International read: "Dear viewers, It pains us to share this news but given the Covid-19 situation in the Hindi markets, the team of Haathi Mere Saathi has decided to hold on to the release of the film. We shall keep you posted on further developments. However, we will be releasing Aranya and Kaadan in the South markets on the 26th of March." This is not the only film to have been postponed owing to the surge in Covid cases. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma's "D Company" has also been postponed. The filmmaker had tweeted earlier, informing his fans about the update. "Due to the sudden severe Covid rise in many parts of the country and also amid continuous news of new lockdowns, we at SPARK decided to postpone the release of D COMPANY ..A new date will be announced ASAP #DCompany @SparkSagar1," RGV wrote. Reflecting on how the cases are affecting the film industry, trade analyst Atul Mohan told IANS: "Looking at the current situation, it is a good move. We can wait for a little long, when we have waited for so long. In the end safety is the priority." However, the decision of releasing "Aranya" and "Kaadan" can have adverse effects, too. "People would watch the film in the South but the buzz will not be lost. There are many portals that allow easy piracy, and transfer of movie links. In such cases, there should not be partial or staggered release," said Atul Mohan. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The Pakistan Navy hosted 'Aman-2021' from February 11-16. The exercise was the seventh edition of 'AMAN series' of exercises, which started in 2007, and is held by Pakistan Navy biennially. This year's edition was conducted off Karachi and the participants included Chinese, Turkish and Russian warships, among others. This exercise was touted by some Pak media as Pakistan's "opportunity to project a positive image as a key player in regional peace and stability". Further, the six-day long exercise was said to "affirm Pakistan's resolve of cooperation against terrorism" -- a rather rich statement coming from a country which is in itself a major contributor to terrorism, violence, illegal activities and instability in the region. While it is heartening to see Pakistan take requisite measures to position itself as a harbinger of peace and stability in the region, given Pakistan's long-standing struggle with its own internal demons, some of which have spilt over to its neighbourhood over the years, it is doubtful such an Exercise will accrue any tangible results in the long run. For instance, the exercise was hosted in Karachi which has been rife with sectarian violence. The Pak National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) had issued a terror alert in January this year, warning of terror incidents in Karachi. This was followed by another news report dated 3rd February from Samaa TV, a Pakistani Urdu language news television network, which has quoted NACTA and warned that terrorists are planning a VBIED attack on an 'unspecified important government department' in the near future. Adding on to the security woes, numerous reports highlighting Karachi's notoriety as a hub for narcotics trade in Pakistan wouldn't provide much comfort to the participating nations either! Further, two recent developments cogently foreground Pakistan's hypocritical, and somewhat questionable commitment to peace and stability. Recently, the Pakistani Supreme Court acquitted Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the abductor and murderer of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl to international opprobrium. Secondly, according to reports, on January 8, 2021, the Anti-Terrorism Court at Gujranwala ordered the arrest of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar on charges of terror financing. Experts indicate that the Pakistani court's actions are clearly linked to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) beginning the process to review Islamabad's efforts to counter terror financing and money laundering in the recent weeks. In light of these developments, Pakistan hosting an exercise called, 'Aman', meaning 'peace' seems morally fraught at the least. One should recall that the terrorists who used the sea route to orchestrate the 26/11 attack on the Indian city of Mumbai came from Pakistan. It would be interesting to also note that in November 2020, Pakistan's top investigating body, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had admitted that 11 terrorists involved in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks were Pakistanis. In addition, it still figures in the FATF Grey List for terror financing. Internally, the media has been rife with reports of Pakistan's castigation of places of worship belonging to non-Islamic denominations. Recently, on December 30, 2020, more than 1,000 Pakistani citizens led by a local cleric belonging to the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) attacked, looted valuables and demolished the Krishna Dwara temple, despite the Pakistan Hindu Council having alerted local authorities. Given these on-ground facts, one wonders whether Aman-21 is nothing more than an exercise in self-deception. Apples and Oranges The relentless 'India- obsession' that most Pakistani thinkers and journalists suffer from include even the Pakistani PM Imran Khan. Given the Pakistan PM's recent outburst at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, it can safely be surmised that reason and logic become the first casualties of such obsession. Comparisons between Aman-21 and Ex-Malabar compromises logic for rhetoric, and choosing jingoism over substance. Ex-Malabar started as a bilateral exercise, established in 1992, between the Indian Navy and the US Navy. Over the years, given the commitment of the two navies towards freedom of navigation and good order at sea, the exercise has today grown to include other like-minded naval powers such as Japan and Australia which share the common belief of rules-based international order. Here, like-minded means 'democracies'. Thus, positioning Ex-Malabar as a symbol of 'Indian hegemony' in the IOR is not only misinformed, but also betrays a dysfunctional understanding of modern-day geopolitics. With regard to Aman-21, what Pakistan needs to understand is that by conducting an exercise to merely "project a positive image", with little on-ground capital to back its initiatives, rings hollow. For instance, Ex-Malabar is only a part of the larger narrative that India and the Indian Navy fulfill in the IOR. These are augmented by sincere efforts towards genuinely fostering peace and stability in the region. For instance, earlier in 2020, as part of PM Modi's vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region) and Indian Navy's reputation as the Preferred Security Partner, India undertook three Covid-related outreach Missions to provide food and medical aid; SAGAR-I to five IOR nations, SAGAR-II to four East African nations and SAGAR-III to two South-East Asian nations. The SAGAR-IV mission ro Comoros and Madagascar is presently being undertaken by the Indian Navy's largest amphibious platform INS Jalashwa. The Navy also deployed a warship in the conflicted waters off Somalia to escort food-aid vessels of UNWFP, the 2020 Nobel Peace Laureate. Likewise, Exercise Samudra Setu entailed evacuation of 3,992 Indian citizens by Indian Naval ships in the aftermath of the outbreak of Covid-19, while the Indian Navy has been an integral part of the ongoing 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative, which has already supplied the two indigenously manufactured vaccines to over 15 countries including Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. In an unsurprising gesture of goodwill, India has also offered its vaccine to locally-posted Chinese and Pakistani diplomats. To Conclude Modern day geopolitics is more than a matter of who has a bigger gun. It entails fostering genuine goodwill through sincere efforts. Perhaps, Pakistan should bear this in mind the next time it organizes an orgy of photo ops for the world, while a pitched-existential battle in the form of terrorism, hunger and poverty rages on within. (Binay Kumar Singh is an author and columnist. He can be reached at Twitter: @BinayBharat. The views expressed are personal) A drug trafficker who was reportedly seen in the past paying off Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted by a New York federal court jury on Monday. Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez was found guilty on three counts, which included cocaine trafficking and weapons charges. 'Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez was, up until his arrest by the DEA just over a year ago, a ruthless, powerful, and murderous cocaine trafficker in Honduras,' Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said. 'He facilitated the shipment of large loads of cocaine by bribing Juan Orlando Hernandez Alvarado, then president of the Honduran National Congress and now the Honduran president. Hernandez Alvarado instructed Fuentes Ramirez to report directly to convicted co-conspirator and former Honduran congressman Tony Hernandez, the president's brother.' Fuentes Ramirez was arrested in Miami on March 1, 2020. According to the Department of Justice, Fuentes Ramirez initiated a cocaine lab in the Honduran department of Cortes in or around 2009. The laboratory produced hundreds of kilos of cocaine each month. The drugs were then shipped off on private planes that departed from secret landing strips in Cortes. Fuentes Ramirez also allegedly murdered a Honduran law enforcement agent who reportedly participated in a 2012 raid at the lab. Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez was found guilty on three counts, which included cocaine trafficking and weapons charges by a New York federal court jury on Monday. Witnesses told federal prosecutors that Fuentes Ramirez had bribed Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez reportedly was bribed by convicted drug trafficker Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez, an allegation that he continues to deny. U.S. authorities have not charged him with any crime During the two-week trial, witnesses told federal prosecutors that President Hernandez had accepted kickback payments from Fuentes Ramirez and other drug traffickers. The bribes allegedly took place during Hernandez's time as a presidential candidate up through at least 2019. The Honduran president has repeatedly denied any connection to drug traffickers and he has not been charged with any crime. However, federal prosecutors have become increasingly outspoken in connecting his political rise to funding from drug trafficking and he was named as a 'co-conspirator' in the Fuentes Ramirez case. The president's brother, Tony Hernandez, was convicted of drug trafficking and lying to the DEA in October 2019 and is scheduled to be sentenced next week. On Monday, Juan Orlando Hernandez defended his posture against criminal organizations that have used the Central American nation as a springboard to traffic drugs to the United States. 'Any narrative regarding the battle against drug trafficking in Honduras that omits the unprecedented 95% reduction (official US data) we achieved, is usually just a vehicle for dramatic headlines to promote false testimony by narcos we defeated,' Hernandez wrote on Twitter. During the trial, Devis Leonel Rivera Maradiaga, former leader of the Cachiros cartel, testified that he had sent $250,000 to Hernandez in 2012 through his sister in exchange for protection of his smuggling business and to avoid extradition. Members of the Honduran opposition protested at the trial of Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez last Friday in New York. Fuentes Ramirez, a native of Honduras, was convicted by a federal court jury on Monday on three counts, including conspiracy to traffic drugs and firearms possession Juan Antonio 'Tony' Hernandez (pictured in 2017) was convicted in a massive drug conspiracy case in a New York City federal court in October 2019 and is expected to be sentenced next week. He is the brother of Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez Jose Sanchez, an accountant, testified that he twice witnessed Hernandez receiving bribes from Fuentes Ramirez in 2013. Sanchez owned a rice business that was used by Fuentes Ramirez to launder his illicit earnings off the drug trade. Hernandez had been president of Honduras congress and then launched his candidacy for the presidency. He took office in January 2014. In January, U.S. federal prosecutors filed motions in the Fuentes Ramirez case saying that Hernandez took bribes from drug traffickers and had the country's armed forces protect a cocaine laboratory and shipments to the United States. The documents quote Hernandez - identified as co-conspirator 4 - as saying he wanted to '`shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos by flooding the United States with cocaine.' The Department of Justice said that the president 'expressed interest in access to Fuentes Ramirez's cocaine laboratory because of its proximity to a major commercial shipping port, agreed to facilitate the use of Honduran armed forces personnel as security for Fuentes Ramirez's drug trafficking activities, and instructed Fuentes Ramirez to report directly to Juan Antonio Hernandez Alvarado for subsequent drug trafficking activities.' U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel, who heard the case, will also sentence the president's brother. Eric Olson, director of policy at the Seattle International Foundation, said the verdict will have more impact on the people of Honduras than on President Hernandez. 'The Honduran people become more skeptical, more pessimistic, more hopeless about their future in their country when they look at their political leaders as corrupt officials,' Olson said. 'It is another piece of evidence against Juan Orlando but it is also another piece of evidence for the Honduran people that their government, their country is not able to respond to their needs and is probably why we are seeing so many Hondurans fleeing,' Olson said. 'This particular case is serious, but is just another nail in his (the president's) political coffin.' Russian officials and medical staff wearing protective gear check passengers as a preventive measure against Covid-19 at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport, Russia, March 7, 2020. Photo by Reuters. The Russian government is allowing university students from 25 "safe" countries including Vietnam to resume their studies in the country. The returning students will need to notify their universities by email 10 days ahead of arrival and submit two coronavirus tests using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) within 72 hours before and after landing in Russia, the World & Vietnam Report under Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported. After landing in Russia, the foreign students will be quarantined at home and will study online until they show their second negative results. There are now 6,000 Vietnamese students in Russia. Russia in January lifted a travel ban on Finland, Vietnam, India and Qatar that was imposed last year to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The government said the citizens of these countries can fly into Russia. Vietnam has recorded 908 community transmissions in its latest Covid-19 outbreak detected Jan. 28. Most of the 13 affected localities have now gone through many days without recording any new cases. Russia is the world's fourth biggest Covid-19 hotspot, with 4.4 million infections and 95,000 deaths. 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. SPRINGFIELD The Most Rev. William D. Byrne has chosen the Rev. Daniel Pacholec to serve as director of pro-life activities in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield. The diocese has not had a director of pro-life activities in several years and Byrne said he was grateful that Pacholec had accepted this responsibility. Pacholec, who is the pastor of Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield, is a long-time participant and organizer in diocesan events aimed at ending legalized abortion, as well as proposals to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Massachusetts. The church recognizes the sacredness of human life from conception to natural death, Byrne said. I am grateful that Father Dan Pacholec has accepted this responsibility of advocating for the protection of the most vulnerable among us, especially the unborn and the elderly. Pacholec said he was humbled by the appointment to work with so many others who have been tirelessly standing up for all life issues here in our diocese for many years. So much has been done, yet there is so much more to do, Pacholec said. Carolee McGrath, the dioceses media relations manager, said Pacholec will oversee the work of the committed volunteers of the diocesan Pro-Life Commission, which is comprised of lay men and women who have been leading efforts to advocate for the protection of life from conception to natural death. The Supreme Court ruling in Roe versus Wade made abortion a protected right in the country in 1973, giving precedence to womens health in late term abortions, but challenges to reverse that decision from states and religiously-affiliated organizations have mounted in recent years. The court meets this week on whether to consider the constitutionality of Mississippis ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. A core teaching of the Catholic Church is that abortion is an immoral act that takes the life of a child and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has long targeted, in defense of this position, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates that provide abortions services among the sexual and reproductive health care it offers women. Pacholec was among those who assembled with Byrne March 13 near the Western Massachusetts Health Center of Springfield as part of 40-days that end Sunday, March 28, of praying the rosary to end abortion. The center in the citys North End is operated by the Parenthood League of Western Massachusetts. He organized opponents to attend committee hearings in Boston in 2019 on proposed physician-assisted suicide legislation that continues under review by the state legislature and was also present, along with opponents, for similar hearings that year on what is known as the ROE Act. The act was passed by the state legislature in late December and allows abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy in cases with a fatal fetal anomaly and in instances when a physician deems it necessary to preserve the patients physical or mental health. It also lowers the age at which individuals can seek an abortion without the consent of a parent or a judge from 18 to 16. In the announcement of his appointment, Pacholec said he asked for prayers and support for the pro-life efforts and activities here in Western Massachusetts, to pray that amid the perceived challenges life always holds, that all people might see life as a gift to be cherished, and not a burden. I believe that is the whole of the work of the pro-life movement, Pacholec. A graduate of former Holyoke Catholic High School and Amherst College, Pacholec was ordained in 1996 after completing a masters degree in divinity from Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston. He has been a pastor in Westfield since 2004. Pacholec was among those who joined former diocesan bishop and now St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski and other area residents at the 2017 March for Life in Washington, D.C. In 2007, Byrne, then a pastor in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., gave the homily for the annual Mass that is part of an overnight prayer vigil that precedes the march. Byrne is the youngest brother of Sister Deirdre Byrne, a retired army surgeon and member of Community of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. She spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention about ending legalized abortion and attended her brothers ordination and installation here as bishop on Dec. 14. The diocese supports a number of programs considered providing services to pregnant women including Bethlehem House Pregnancy Care Center in Easthampton; New Directions in North Adams; Alternatives Pregnancy Center in Greenfield; and Clearway Clinic. According to the Guttmacher Institute, some 18,590 abortions were performed in Massachusetts in 2017, a number that has been on the decline in recent years and that represents a little more than 2 percent of abortions in the country. Related content: Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. President Joe Biden is open to using executive action as he renewed his call for an assault weapons and high-capacity magazine ban in the aftermath of double massacres in Atlanta, Georgia and Boulder, Colorado. 'We can ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in this country once again,' he said, encouraging lawmakers to act. 'This should not be a partisan issue. It's an American issue. It will save lives. American lives. We have to act.' He also told U.S. senators that they should pass two gun control bills, which plug up background check loopholes for gun buyers, that passed the Hosue of Representatives earlier this month. Asked during his trip to Columbus, Ohio if he had the political capital to get something done, Biden replied, 'I hope so. I dont know. I havent done any counting yet.' In the State Dining room Tuesday, before leaving for Ohio, the president spoke about how the back-to-back massacres at three Atlanta massage parlors and a Boulder grocery store have shook the nation. 'Less than a week after the horrific murders of eight people and the assault on the AAPI community in Georgia, while the flag was still flying at half-staff for the tragedy, another American city has been scarred by gun violence and the resulting trauma,' Biden said. 'And I hate to say it, because we're saying it so often, my heart goes out - our hearts go out for the survivors who had to flee for their lives and who hid, terrified, unsure if they would ever see their families or their friends again,' he said. 'The consequences of all this are deeper than I suspect we know. By that, I mean the mental consequences,' Biden also warned. Biden ordered flags at the White House lowered to half-staff on Tuesday in honor of the 10 victims of a mass shooting Colorado, as pressure grows on the president to address gun violence. The Senate Judiciary Committee was holding a hearing on gun violence Tuesday, where Sen. Ted Cruz lashed out at his Democratic colleagues for the 'ridiculous theater' of pushing gun control measures he said didn't work. President Joe Biden made remarks Tuesday about the mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado where 10 people were killed. Biden said he wanted lawmakers to take up an assault weapons and high-capcity magazine ban and for the Senate to pass two background checks bills The White House flags were again put at half-staff to mourn the 10 victims of the Boulder, Colorado supermarket shooting. Flags had been at half-staff until Monday for the victims of last week's spa rampage in Atlanta, Georgia The White House said Biden has been receiving regular updates and will continue to be briefed throughout the morning on the situation. He said during his remarks he had spoken with Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Colorado's Gov. Jared Polis. He planned to speak to Boulder's mayor on Air Force One en route to Ohio later Tuesday, the president said. 'There's still a great deal we don't know about the killer,' Biden said. 'And the motivation of the killer in Boulder, Colorado, and other critical aspects of this mass shooting.' Former President Barack Obama blamed the killings on 'disaffection, racism and misogyny' in a statement Tuesday. 'It will take time to root out the disaffection, racism and misogyny that fuels so many of these senseless acts of violence. But we can make it harder for those with hate in their hearts to buy weapons of war,' Obama said in a statement, backing Biden's gun control stance. 'We can overcome opposition by cowardly politicians and the pressure of a gun lobby that opposes any limit on the ability of anyone to assemble an arsenal,' Obama continued. 'We can, and we must.' 'A once-in-a-century pandemic cannot be the only thing that slows mass shootings in this country,' the ex-president added. Obama's choice to bring up racism in this particular case turned heads, as the gunman was identified as 21-year-old Ahmad Alissa, a Syrian-born immigrant. Alissa opened fire on King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, where some of his victims were at the store to get their COVID-19 vaccine, officials said. The victims include police officer Eric Talley, a 51-year-old father-of-seven who was the first to respond. Biden spoke of Talley's 'exceptional bravery.' 'I send my deepest condolences to his family, his close, close family of seven children,' the president continued. 'When the moment to act came Officer Talley did not hesitate in his duty making the ultimate sacrifice in his effort to save lives. That's the definition of an American hero,' Biden said. Vice President Kamala Harris called the mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado that left 10 dead 'tragic' and 'absolutely baffling' President Joe Biden did not address gun control when he spoke in Atlanta on Friday after a mass shooting there Gun control legislation Joe Biden mentioned following Boulder shooting Expanded background checks Gun control advocates have spent years trying to tighten background checks for those wishing to make gun purchases. A House-passed bill would require background checks for most gun sales and transfers. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer vowed Tuesday to bring it to the floor. The Senate "must confront a devastating truth" after a lack of congressional action on the issue for almost three decades, Schumer said. Current law provides exemptions for private firearms sales to requirements imposed on licensed gun dealers. The House-passed bill would close loopholes to ensure background checks are extended to private and online sales that often go undetected, including at gun shows. The legislation includes limited exceptions allowing transfers of firearms that are gifts from family, that are to prevent imminent harm or that are for use at a target range, among others. Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia have worked together for years to find compromise on background checks but have yet to propose anything that will pass. President Biden on Tuesday called for the Senate to act on it. I dont need to wait another minute let alone an hour to take common sense steps that will save lives in the future, Biden said at the White House. A Pew Research Center poll in September 2019 showed a wide majority of Americans - 88% - supported making private gun sales and sales at gun shows subject to background checks, which is what the House-passed bill would do. Ninety-three percent of Democrats and 82% of Republicans were in favor of the policy. Charleston loophole Advocates also want to change or eliminate a provision in the law that allows gun purchases to go through if three business days have passed since a background check began. The Charleston moniker is a reference to the white supremacist who gunned down nine black worshippers in Charleston at Mother Emanuel AME Church. A bill that passed the House would expand the period to 10 days. The bill is backed by House Majority Whip James C. Clyburn (D-S.C.). Biden called specifically for closing the Charleston loophole in his White House remarks. Large-capacity ammo clips Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein has for years advocated for legislation to ban the sale and transfer of high-capacity ammunition clips, as well as military-style assault weapons. She has joined with Democratic Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island to introduce identical legislation. A ban on assault-style weapons enacted during the Clinton administration expired in 2004, 10 years after it was enacted. We can ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in this country once again, Biden said Tuesady. I got that done when I was a senator. It passed. It was the law for the longest time. And it brought down these mass killings. We should do it again. -- Geoff Earle, Associated Press Advertisement Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris called the mass shooting 'tragic' and 'absolutely baffling.' 'It's tragic. Absolutely tragic,' Harris told reporters in her ceremonial office after she swore in William Burns as CIA director. 'It's absolutely baffling, it's 10 people going about their day living their lives, not bothering anybody. A police officer who is performing his duties, and with great courage and heroism,' she added. The vice president didn't answer a question on whether the administration would make gun control a priority in the wake of Monday's shooting in Colorado and last week's violence in Atlanta. The back-to-back shootings raise questions about where gun control falls on the White House priority list. Biden made coronavirus relief his top priority and is next expected to tackle an infrastructure package. He didn't talk about gun control when he visited Atlanta last Friday after a mass shooting there left eight dead, including six Asian women. Ahmad Alissa, the 21-year-old gunman from Monday's shooting at a Colorado grocery store. He is shown, left, wearing wrestling medals from the North American Grappling Association, in an undated Facebook photo WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT SHOOTER AHMAD ALISSA Ahmad Alissa, the 21-year-old gunman responsible for a mass shooting at a Colorado grocery store on Monday, was known to the FBI and had ranted online about 'racist islamophobes' hacking his phone. Alissa asked if he could speak with his mother after surrendering to police on Monday, having stripped off and laid down his down his Ruger AR-556 rifle, handgun and tactical vest in the supermarket's aisles. A high school wrestler who has been described by his family as 'mentally ill', was born in Syria and moved to the US when he was three. He now lives in Arvada, Colorado, around 30 miles from the grocery store he targeted. At 2.40pm on Monday, he opened fire on the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, killing ten people. He was taken into custody at 3.28pm and was transported to the hospital to be treated for a leg wound. He has since been released from the hospital and is now in Boulder County Jail. Police have not yet confirmed his motive. He has been charged with ten counts of murder. In Facebook posts over the last 18 months, he complained about not having a girlfriend, ranted about President Trump and talked about his Islamic faith. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that he was known to the FBI because he was linked to another person who has been under investigation for something else. They didn't give any more details. His brother confirmed he was the shooter in an interview with The Daily Beast on Tuesday, saying he was 'paranoid' and 'very antisocial'. He insisted that the shooting was not politically-motivated and said:'[It was] not at all a political statement, its mental illness. 'The guy used to get bullied a lot in high school, he was like an outgoing kid but after he went to high school and got bullied a lot, he started becoming anti-social,' he said. In a July 2019 Facebook post, he ranted: 'Yeah if these racist Islamophobic people would stop hacking my phone and let me have a normal life I probably could.' His arrest affidavit, which was released on Tuesday morning, reveals that after shooting a man once in the grocery store parking lot, Alissa then approached him while he was still laying on the ground and shot him again, repeatedly. Witnesses described Alissa - who is 200lbs and 5ft 6 - as 'fat' and said he was wearing a green tactical vest. When police arrested him, he'd removed the vest, his top and his shoes, and was wearing shorts. He was shot once in the right leg in a standoff with police. Alissa's sister-in-law told police she had seen him playing with a 'machine gun' gun in the days before the shooting but that she didn't suspect anything. He bought a Ruger AR- 556 pistol exactly a week ago on March 16, 2021 on March 16. Monday's shooting in Colorado is the seventh mass shooting in the country and comes just a week after a gunman killed eight people at three massage spas in Georgia. Advertisement Healthcare workers walk out of a King Sooper's Grocery store after a gunman opened fire Tactical police units respond to the scene of King Soopers. The windows of the store were left broken, likely from gunfire COLORADO SHOOTING VICTIMS Eric Talley Officer Eric Talley, 51 Boulder cop and father-of-seven. One of the first on the scene. He had recently changed jobs because he wanted to work away from the front line. He was given a hero's procession from the grocery store to the funeral home on Monday night. Rikki Olds, 25 Rikki Olds, 25 Olds was identified by her aunt on Facebook. She was an employee at the grocery store. Her aunt on Facebook both paid tribute to her and called for the shooter to 'burn in hell'. 'We lost our beloved Rikki Olds to the monster who shot up the king soopers in Boulder CO yesterday may his rotten a** fry and burn in hell,' her aunt Lori Olds said. Teri Leiker, 51 Teri Leiker, 51 Leiker had worked at the store for 30 years and was dating a colleague, Clint. Clint survived the shooting. Her friends paid tribute to her on Tuesday. 'She loved going to work and enjoyed everything about being there. 'Her boyfriend and her had been good friends and began dating in the fall of 2019. 'He was working yesterday too. He is alive,' her friend said on Facebook. She said Teri signed off all her calls with 'your buddy Teri' and that working in the store was her 'favorite thing to do'. She was an enthusiastic Colorado Buffaloes fan. Kevin Mahoney with his daughter Kevin Mahoney, 61 Kevin's daughter Erika Mahoney revealed that her he was also among the victims. She tweeted a touching photo of Mahoney walking her down the aisle for her wedding last year, alongside the caption: 'I am heartbroken to announce that my Dad, my hero, Kevin Mahoney, was killed in the King Soopers shooting in my hometown of Boulder, CO. Denny Stong, 20 'My dad represents all things Love. 'I'm so thankful he could walk me down the aisle last summer. 'Thank you to the Boulder PD for being so kind through this painful tragedy.' Denny Stong, 20 Friends said Stong was training to be a pilot. Tralona Bartkowiak, 49 It's unclear if he was in the grocery store to shop, or if he was there to get his vaccine. Tralona Bartkowiak, 49 Suzanne Fountain, 59 Neven Stanisic, 23 Lynn Murray, 62 Jody Waters, 65 Advertisement But during his brief remarks Tuesday, he did talk about what could be done legislatively. 'I don't need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common sense steps that will save the lives in the future,' Biden said. 'I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act.' He then called on them to ban assault weapons yet again - and to target high-capacity magazines. The Federal Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004 and attempts to renew it in Congress have been unsuccessful. 'We got that done when I was a senator, it passed, it was the law for the longest time and it brought down these mass killings. We should do it again,' the president continued. 'The Senate should immediately pass - let me say it again - the United States Senate, I hope some are listening, should immediately pass the two House-passed bills that close loopholes in the background check system,' Biden urged. 'These are bills that received votes of both Republicans and Democrats in the House.' Biden headed to Ohio on Tuesday afternoon to mark the 11th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act and sell his COVID relief plan. On Air Force One, press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden isn't ruling out executive action on guns. 'We are considering a range of levers, including working through legislation, including executive action,' she said. 'It's something that he has worked on, he's passionate about, he feels personally connected to. But theres an ongoing process and I think we feel we have to work on multiple channels at the same time,' Psaki added. He returns to Columbus where, almost a year ago during the Democratic presidential primary, he talked about gun violence during a campaign stop. In his remarks, he said he would pursue background checks on all firearms purchases, ban large-capacity magazines for guns and end civil immunity for gun manufacturers in wrongful death lawsuits. Officials in his administration have been meeting with gun control advocates for the past two months. Cedric Richmond, the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, who has been leading the meetings, told MSNBC on Tuesday morning: 'The regular sentiment of hearts and prayers are not enough.' 'We need action on this in the country,' he said. 'This President has a track record of fighting against the NRA and beating them, and we need to make sure that we have sensible gun regulations in this country to ensure safety. And so we need action, not just words and prayers.' Gun control issues face an uphill battle in the Senate despite the Democratic control of the chamber. The Senate Judiciary Committee was holding a hearing on gun violence on Tuesday. There, Republican Sen. Cruz chewed out Democrats for their gun control proposals. 'It's time to do something,' the Texas Republican said. 'Every time there's a shooting we play this ridiculous theater where this committee gets together and proposes a bunch of laws that would do nothing to stop these murders.' 'What they propose - it makes it worse,' Cruz said, accusing Democrats of 'taking guns away from law abiding citizens.' He said he plans to reintroduce the Grassley-Cruz measure, which increased resources available to prosecutors to go after people who violate gun laws and prosecute those who fail federal background checks. Cruz said the bill, which he worked on with Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, is 'targeted at violent criminals, targeted at felons, targeted at fugitives, targeted at those with serious mental disease, to stop them from getting firearms, to put them in prison when they try to illegally buy guns.' The House, earlier this month, passed legislation requiring universal background checks, but the legislation is not expected to pass in the Senate. Colorado previously suffered two of the most infamous mass shootings in U.S. history - massacres that prompted nationwide soul-searching but did not result in major changes to gun ownership laws. In 1999, two boys shot and killed 12 classmates and a teacher at Columbine High School before killing themselves. Then in 2012, a heavily armed man stormed a movie theater in Aurora, murdering 12. The gunman is now serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The city of Boulder imposed a ban on 'assault-style weapons' and large-capacity gun magazines in the wake of the Parkland, Florida shooting in 2018. But a judge last week blocked that ban, local media reported, in a decision hailed by the National Rifle Association. Scott Morrison has issued a grovelling apology for his 'insensitive' and false attack on a media outlet as he was grilled about sexual misconduct in Parliament House. The prime minister was taking questions about videos of staffers performing sex acts on the desks of female MPs when he suddenly revealed a scandal at News Corp. 'Right now, you would be aware in your own organisation, there is a person who has had a complaint made against them for harassment of a woman in a women's toilet,' he said to Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell. 'And that matter is being pursued by your own HR department. So let's not, all of us who sit in glass houses here, start getting into that.' However, there was no such complaint or investigation, as pointed out in a bluntly-worded rebuttal by News Corp Australia boss Michael Miller. Prime Minister Scott Morrison pictured during Question Time on Tuesday. He has hit back at criticism from Labor after he revealed a confidential harassment claim at media giant News Corporation during a televised press conference Mr Morrison was hours later forced into a humiliating mea culpa, admitting he should never have raised the subject. 'I deeply regret my insensitive response to a question from a News Corp journalist by making an anonymous reference to an incident at News Corp that has been rejected by the company,' he said. 'I accept their account. I was wrong to raise it, the emotion of the moment is no excuse.' However, Mr Morrison then further confused matters by appearing to imply an incident did actually occur - even after accepting it didn't. 'I especially wish to apologise to the individual at the centre of the incident and others directly impacted,' he said. 'I had no right to raise this issue and especially without their permission.' The PM reiterated his feelings on the disgusting revelations from inside parliament, coupled with the alleged rape of staffer Brittany Higgins and other allegations. The reports aired on Monday night also detailed MPs allegedly having sex with escorts and 'rent boys' in the building's prayer rooms. This image shared by a whistleblower shows a man sitting at a desk in Parliament House exposing himself 'Earlier today I shared with Australians my profound regret and deep disappointment as I acknowledged the terrible mistreatment of women in this country over a long period,' Mr Morrison said. 'Specifically in relation to the disgraceful events that have occurred in our workplace at Parliament House. 'I meant what I said about having listened, and being committed to doing everything I can to make the changes we need to make to deal with these issues. 'I owe it to all women in this country, not least the women in my own life so precious to me. I owe it to them to do better.' Mr Morrison ended his statement by attempting to move on from his colossal mistake and back to the treatment of women. 'What matters now is doing everything in my authority to take the actions that are needed to fix the culture in our parliament and work to make Australia a safer place for women,' he said. Mr Miller explained why the PM was dead wrong in an uncharacteristically lengthy statement. The press conference took an angry turn when Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell (pictured) suggested Mr Morrison's job would be in jeopardy if he was the boss of a business and similar allegations had been made 'on your watch' 'Prime Minister Scott Morrison was wrong today to claim an investigation is under way into a complaint accusing an employee of harassment against a woman in a female toilet,' he said. 'No complaint has been received and News Corp and Sky News are not dealing with a complaint.' Mr Miller said the PM appeared to have conflated unrelated non-sexual matters within the media company and come up with something that never happened. He said News Corp, like most companies, kept such matters confidential but felt compelled to set the record straight. 'Given the Prime Minister's extraordinary public claims made at a press conference broadcast live across the nation, I want to put to rest any suggestion that an employee of our company is being investigated for conduct suggested by Mr Morrison,' he said. Mr Miller said News Corp HR asked staff to discuss their well-being confidentially, given its reporting on sexually inappropriate behaviour at Parliament House. News Corp Australasian executive chairman Michael Miller has denied the explosive claims Those conversations turned up a verbal exchange between two employees at Parliament House last year. 'The exchange was about a workplace-related issue, it was not of a sexual nature, it did not take place in a toilet and neither person made a complaint,' he said. 'Following those inquiries, our HR team wrote to one of the people involved and the matter was resolved. 'The Prime Minister appears to have joined these two matters and conflated them into an episode of harassment in a toilet that is under current investigation. 'This is simply untrue and it undermines the principle that people must be able to raise issues safely and in confidence.' Mr Morrison's outburst came out of the blue as he was grilled by Clennell as to whether he had lost control of his ministerial staff. He bizarrely warned the senior journalist to 'be careful' about airing sexual misconduct allegations about politicians. The prime minister was pressed on how he did not know about the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins inside a ministerial office for more than two years later, yet somehow knew of a private (albeit nonexistent) complaint in a media company. 'That was brought to my attention late last night, and the issue of Brittany Higgins was only brought to my attention on February 15,' he said. 'The suggestion was made by a member of the press gallery that things like this don't happen in the media, and I think that would be unfair.' Statement from Michael Miller Prime Minister Scott Morrison was wrong today to claim an investigation is under way into a complaint accusing an employee of harassment against a woman in a female toilet. No complaint has been received and News Corp and Sky News are not dealing with a complaint. News Corp and Sky News take seriously any issues raised by staff and our utmost priority is to respect their privacy and confidentiality. This is standard business practice and because of this, we do not normally comment on private matters. However given the Prime Minister's extraordinary public claims made at a press conference broadcast live across the nation, I want to put to rest any suggestion that an employee of our company is being investigated for conduct suggested by Mr Morrison. In recent weeks, following the reporting of matters of sexually inappropriate behaviour at Parliament House, our HR team proactively gave our staff the opportunity to talk to us in confidence about their well-being. I thank those who did so. During these proactive conversations, the News Corp's HR team learned of a verbal exchange between two News Corp employees in Parliament House in Canberra last year. The exchange was about a workplace-related issue, it was not of a sexual nature, it did not take place in a toilet and neither person made a complaint. Following those inquiries, our HR team wrote to one of the people involved and the matter was resolved. The Prime Minister appears to have joined these two matters and conflated them into an episode of harassment in a toilet that is under current investigation. This is simply untrue and it undermines the principle that people must be able to raise issues safely and in confidence. News Corp has no further statements to make on this matter. Advertisement Mr Morrison was also asked whether he raised the alleged incident in the media against the wishes of the complainant, but provided no direct response. Senior cabinet ministers who knew about the alleged rape of Ms Higgins have repeatedly claimed they did not escalate her complaint due to privacy concerns. Labor frontbencher Katy Gallagher was scathing of the prime minister's performance. 'Real leadership is what was needed this morning - but we got the same old PM - angry, defensive, spiteful and calculated,' she said. 'We are all let down by this PM.' Speaking after the press conference on Sky News, Clennell said he was 'gobsmacked' by the comments. 'He needs to clarify why he felt it was OK to breach the confidence of who might have made a complaint,' Clennell added. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is pictured during the press conference on Tuesday Brittany Higgins at the March 4 Justice on March 15. She shocked Australia when she came forward with allegations she was raped by a male colleague in the office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds Before the heated clash with Clennell, Mr Morrison had choked back tears as he spoke about his daughters, wife and mother. 'They motivate me every day on this issue,' he said. 'And to them, I say to you girls, I will not let you down.' A coalition staff member has been sacked for allegedly performing a lewd sex act inside the office of a female Liberal MP. 'I am shocked, and disgusted, it is shameful,' Mr Morrison said. 'We must get our house in order.' The prime minister will meet with all coalition staff later on Tuesday to discuss behavioural issues. Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, tasked with an inquiry into workplace conditions in Parliament House, will address the coalition party room. Labor slams Scott Morrison for outing an alleged harassment victim in Australia's biggest media organisation yet claiming to have no knowledge of accusations Brittany Higgins was attacked just 50 metres from the PM's office Scott Morrison has come under fire from Labor as he was accused of leaking a confidential harassment complaint in a televised media conference. Mr Morrison sensationally accused News Corporation - the nation's biggest media organisation - of having a harassment scandal of its own during a fiery moment in a press conference on Tuesday. The prime minister had called the press conference to express his disgust at reports of government staffers sharing lewd photos of sexual acts inside Parliament House, having sex with escorts and 'rent boys' in the premises, and using the prayer room for the same purpose. But in a heated exchange, he became defensive and revealed the complaint when Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell asked whether he had lost control of his ministerial staff. 'Right now, you would be aware in your own organisation, there is a person who has had a complaint made against them for harassment of a woman in a women's toilet,' Mr Morrison said. His knowledge of the News Corp complaint comes despite him saying he wasn't aware of the alleged rape of media adviser Brittany Higgins on a minister's couch - 50m from his own office - for almost two years. Labor MP Tanya Plibersek in Question Time asked whether Mr Morrison disclosing a confidential allegation live on air would discourage victims of harassment and sexual assault from coming forward. 'Is it any wonder victims of sexual assault and harassment in this building and around Australia are afraid of coming forward when the prime minister of this country uses a confidential complaint in a nationally televised media conference as a way to try to stop journalists asking questions about these important issues?' Ms Plibersek asked. Mr Morrison replied that he was only trying to highlight how the allegations rocking Canberra in recent weeks were not confined to the political world. 'These things that have been reported are disgusting and shameful,' he said during the debate on the floor of the House of Representatives. 'I was simply making the point - the problems we are experiencing in this country are not found simply in the offices of member for senators and ministers and go well beyond that.' Opposition leader Anthony Albanese also pressed Mr Morrison further on why he had not known about Ms Higgins' allegations for so long. 'If the Prime Minister was really listening to the concerns of women why hasn't he started by listening to the concerns of Brittany Higgins?' Mr Albanese said. '[Why hasn't he] asked his own staff what they knew and when about her reported sexual assault, only metres from his office?' FREMONT, Calif., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Privacera, a cloud data governance and security leader founded by the creators of Apache Ranger, announced today that its data access governance solution is now available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, an online store providing applications and services for use on Microsoft Azure. Privacera customers can now take advantage of the scalability, high availability, and security of Azure with streamlined deployment and management. Privacera works with Microsoft to help enterprises globally accelerate secure data migration to public cloud services like Azure while remaining compliant with stringent industry and privacy regulations, such as GDPR, LGPD, CCPA, HIPAA, and more. "Enterprises using cloud services like Microsoft Azure must ensure their sensitive data is protected from unauthorized use in order to derive valuable analytics safely, while maintaining their customers' trust and meeting stringent privacy regulations," said Don Bosco Durai, CTO and Co-Founder at Privacera. "Privacera alleviates the risks associated with moving, storing, and accessing sensitive cloud data by automating access control policies, encrypting and masking data whether in motion or at rest, and providing comprehensive auditing and reporting for full visibility of who accesses data and for what purposes. With Privacera's availability in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, we are making it even easier for Azure users to get the most value from their data without compromising privacy or compliance." The Privacera Platform, built from the open-source Apache Ranger platform into multi-cloud environments, easily integrates and supports all major cloud service providers to: discover and classify sensitive data; apply fine-grained access controls; protect data via encryption, masking, and anonymization; and enable consistent policies across multi-cloud and hybrid cloud infrastructures all from a centralized user interface. Using Privacera on Azure enables joint customers to: Extend their Apache Ranger infrastructure in Azure HDInsight to all components in Azure infrastructure stack, including Azure Data Lake Storage, Power BI Embedded, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Azure Databricks Control data access down to file-, row-, and column-levels across Azure cloud services from a single pane Simplify security and policy management with federated authentication across Azure cloud services Automate data compliance processes via workflows for RTBF, GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, and HIPAA to ensure consistent privacy management across Azure cloud services To achieve Microsoft commercial marketplace readiness, Privacera demonstrated proven customer success and expertise in cloud data privacy and joins a distinguished group of global software vendors selected to drive Microsoft joint sales and support go-to-market initiatives. Privacera will continue to work together with Microsoft to expand the accessibility of the Privacera Platform, as well as its fully-managed SaaS offering PrivaceraCloud, to enable secure data democratization and reduce operational burdens on data infrastructure teams globally. "Through Microsoft Azure Marketplace, customers around the world can easily find, buy, and deploy partner solutions they can trust, all certified and optimized to run on Azure," said Jake Zborowski, General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. "We're happy to welcome Privacera to the growing Azure Marketplace ecosystem." The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling cloud solutions certified to run on Azure. The Azure Marketplace helps connect companies seeking innovative, cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed solutions that are ready to use. To learn how the Privacera Platform, deployed on Azure, can secure and maximize the power of your data, visit our website. About Privacera Founded in 2016 by the creators of Apache Ranger and Apache Atlas, Privacera balances cloud data access with governance and security. Often described as "Apache Ranger in the Cloud," Privacera provides a centralized data access governance platform extending Ranger's capabilities beyond traditional Big Data environments to cloud-native services and leading analytics platforms such as AWS, Azure, GCP, Snowflake, and Databricks. Privacera enables data democratization without compromising compliance with regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, and HIPAA. Privacera offices are located in Fremont, California, and Mumbai. To learn more, visit www.privacera.com or follow at @privacera. SOURCE Privacera Related Links https://www.privacera.com One of the suspects charged with assaulting police officers at the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, including New Jersey native Brian Sicknick, who died the next day, will remain jailed pending trial, a federal judge in West Virginia ruled Monday. Many of the initial hearings for suspects charged in the Capitol attack are basically formalities before the case is transferred to Washington, D.C., where they will all be prosecuted. But the hearing for George Tanios, 39, went on for hours and featured testimony, tears and a trove of new details in the case against him and friend Julian Khater, 32. Tanios and Khater are accused of assaulting three officers during the riot. The FBI says they were together at the riot and Khater unleashed bear spray on the officers from a can he retrieved from Tanios backpack. Both suspects originally lived in New Jersey and grew up together in the New Brunswick area, as part of the Lebanese community. Sicknick, 42, grew up in South River, about 15 minutes away. Tanios moved to Morgantown, West Virginia about 15 years ago and runs a sandwich shop, Sandwich U., that targets local college students. From left, Julian Khater, George Tanios and Officer Brian Sicknick. Khater and Tanios are charged with assaulting Sicknick during the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021. (File and FBI photos) In arguing to keep Tanios detained, federal prosecutors said in court that the FBI was tipped that Tanios mother told someone that if hes released, his family will get him to Lebanon, where they have family, WTRF-TV reported. Maggie Tanios testified via Zoom, apparently from New Jersey, and denied the allegation, the station reported. Who tell you that? This is my country (United States). We are Americans! No, of course not. Crying at times, Maggie Tanios described leaving Lebanon after losing family members in a civil war and said she raised George and his siblings as church-goers and sent him to a private, Catholic school, while the family ran a Lebanese restaurant in New Brunswick, the station reported. George Tanios was at the wrong place at the wrong time, Maggie Tanios testified. Not likely, prosecutors say. George Tanios bought two canisters of pepper spray and two cans of bear spray at a West Virginia store on Jan. 5, and asked a store clerk if he could take a pepperball pistol the store was selling to Washington, D.C. for the Trump rally, news reports say. The clerk said no. The judge, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi, was outspoken from the bench, saying the events of Jan. 6 shook him and that George Tanios had choices, like staying at home with his fiancee and three young children, or visiting his mother in New Jersey that day, WDTV-TV reported. Mr. Tanios, you chose to be part of that. I cannot accept anyone who doesnt respond to law enforcement in a peaceful way, Aloi said. Meanwhile, records show Khater was transferred Monday from the Essex County jail to the custody of federal authorities. He appeared in court last week in New Jersey, following his arrest March 14 at Newark Liberty Airport, where hed just stepped off a plane. Khater went to college in New Jersey and worked at a number of businesses before running Frutta Bowls franchises in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and recently in State College, Pennsylvania - a location that closed last summer. Hes apparently living in Somerset now, according to his LinkedIn page which said he was looking for new and exciting opportunities. Both men have been indicted on 10 crimes accusing them of assaulting officers and being disruptive at the Capitol. They are not charged in Sickniks death, the cause of which has not been made public. On Sunday night, Michael Sherwin, the Acting U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., said on 60 Minutes that murder charges remain an option in the Sicknick investigation. If the medical examiner determines that his death was directly related to the bear spray would you imagine murder charges at that point? host Scott Pelley asked Sherwin. If evidence directly relates that chemical to his death, yeah. We have causation, we have a link. Yes. In that scenario, correct, thats a murder case, Sherwin responded. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Sweden is planning to introduce a new fine-based landing and take-off system at its airports, where airlines will be charged more if their planes emit higher amounts of greenhouse gases than others. According to The Guardian, with the new measure, the Swedish government aims to motivate airlines to upgrade planes with older technologies and switch to more greener biofuels. If approved by the parliament, the proposed measure will come into effect by July this year. Swedens Ministry of Infrastructure has said that the new measure will allow the government to impose greater fees on airlines that are using older generation planes. The measure will be imposed on airlines, whose flights land at Arlanda airport in Stockholm, and Landvetter in Gothenburg, two airports with the highest footfall in Sweden. As per The Guardian, the measure is being reviewed by the government to make improvements and changes. "Sweden takes the lead shirt for aviation climate change! The transport sector must change. It feels good to say today that we are the first country in the EU to now proceed with the introduction of climate-based take-off and landing fees at the country's two largest airports," Sweden's Infrastructure Minister Tomas Eneroth said on Twitter. 'Flight Shame' movement In 2018, Sweden witnessed one of the most unique social movements to ever take place in the history of mankind. Climate activists and members of rights groups urged people to avoid air travel, citing the massive impact of planes on the environment. Swedish people came up with a term called Flygskam or Flight Shame in English. The purpose was to encourage people to travel via train instead of flight in order to lower the impact of carbon emissions. According to Swedish government data, Sweden is the only EU member state whose carbon emissions have reduced in surplus. This means that Sweden's entire annual surplus of emissions units under the EU resolution of shared responsibilities will be removed. Based on similar decisions, Sweden has reduced total emissions amounts since 2014 by approximately 130 million tonnes more than double the countrys total emissions in 2019, the Ministry of Environment said. (Image Credit: AP/Representative) You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they push barricades to storm the US Capitol in Washington D.C on January 6, 2021. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images A man accused of carrying bear spray to attack police officers on January 6 will stay in jail. A federal judge ruled Monday that George Tanios will be detained ahead of his trial. Tanios' friends and family members testified on his behalf, saying he was kind and non-violent. See more stories on Insider's business page. A federal judge lambasted a West Virginia man accused of carrying and using bear spray to attack Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick during the January 6 insurrection before ruling the defendant would stay in jail ahead of his trial. In a Monday court hearing, prosecutors revealed new video of Sicknick and other officers reacting to being sprayed during the pro-Trump siege earlier this year. George Tanios of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Julian Khater of State College, Pennsylvania, were arrested on March 14 and charged with conspiring to injure officers and assaulting federal officers, among other charges relating to their participation in the January 6 attack, according to the Department of Justice. The agency said the two men were seen in video footage working together to "assault law enforcement officers with an unknown chemical substance by spraying officers directly in the face and eyes." In court Monday, the Justice Department showed video of Sicknick and two other officers reacting to allegedly being sprayed by Khater, according to CNN. One video reportedly captures the three officers being sprayed, while another captures Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards saying, "I got it right in the eye," the outlet reported. Sicknick, 42, died one day after the riot. He was hospitalized following the attack with injuries he sustained during the chaos, but investigators have not released an official cause of death, nor have they tied the alleged bear spray incident to his death. During the investigation, law enforcement officials discovered video of Khater asking Tanios to "give me that bear s*it, according to the criminal affidavit. Tanios reportedly responds, "Hold on, hold on, not yet...it's still early." Khater then retrieves a canister from Tanios' backpack and walks to an area within "a few steps" of the police perimeter, legal documents said. Story continues The video reportedly shows Khater aiming a canister in the direction of the officers while "moving his arm from side to side." Court documents said Capitol Police Officers Sicknick, Edwards, and Metropolitan Police Department Officer D. Chapman were all standing within a few feet of Khater and all reacted to being sprayed in the face, retreating and bringing their "hands to their faces and rushing to find water to wash out their eyes." Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi told the courtroom Monday it was hard for him to "look at this as anything other than an assault on this nation's heart," according to The Daily Beast. "Why would you not just turn the other way and go home?" Aloi reportedly said. "The fact that all of them weren't thinking about that is just frightening to me. And that was a choice. Choices all along the way," Aloi said during Tanios' hearing. Aloi's decision to detain Tanios ahead of his trial came after more than half a dozen witnesses, including Tanios' former employees, friends, and family members, were called by the defendant's legal team and told the court Tanios was non-violent, the Beast reported. His sister, Maria Boutros reportedly testified that her brother was a "jokester who worked too many hours" and had never previously been in legal trouble. "We have no doubt that Mr. Tanios' family loves him very much, but we would just point out that these family and community ties were in place before he committed these crimes that he's accused of," said Assistant US Attorney Sarah Wagner on Monday. Aloi noted that Tanios appears to have bought the bear spray prior to the event in DC, according to CNN. The outlet also reported that his co-defendant, Khater, who remains in jail, had spoken to the FBI about Tanios, confirming the alleged plan to obtain bear and pepper spray prior to the rally. "They were supporting a president who would not accept that he was defeated in an election," CNN reported Aloi said. "We've created this culture, radicalized by hate...to refuse to accept the result of the democratic process." Read the original article on Business Insider 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. Proceeds from the offering will go towards the development of the Piedmont Lithium Project, including definitive feasibility studies, test-work, permitting, further exploration drilling and mineral resource estimate updates. PLL has been granted a trading halt at the request of the company to enable the offering to be conducted in an orderly manner. ( ) (OTCMKTS:PDDTF) (FRA:PL4) plans to undertake a US public offering of up to 1.5 million American Depository Shares (ADS), with each ADS representing 100 of its ordinary shares. The companys shares have also been placed in a trading halt at the request of the company to enable this offering to be conducted in an orderly manner. Proceeds from US offering Proceeds from the offering will go towards the ongoing development of the Piedmont Lithium Project in North Carolina, including definitive feasibility studies, test-work, permitting, further exploration drilling and mineral resource estimate updates. They will also fund the previously announced strategic investments in and Sayona Quebec Inc, and other possible strategic initiatives, and for general corporate purposes. Details of offer The offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement that has been filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A preliminary prospectus supplement related to the ADS offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov and on the ASX website. Underwriters and book-runner JP Morgan, Evercore ISI and are acting as the joint book-runners and lead underwriters for the offering. Piedmont intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 225,000 additional ADSs at the issue price of the offering. Trading halt Piedmont Lithium shares will remain in a trading halt until the earlier of the start of normal trading on Thursday, March 25, 2021, or when the announcement is released in relation to the outcome of the offering. National Investigation Agency on Monday filed a supplementary charge sheet in case pertaining to the arrest of two terrorists of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) namely Syed Naveed Mushtaq, the then-District Commander of HM for the district Shopian - Ganderbal and Rafi Ahmad Rather along with one serving DSP of J&K Police. Devender Singh and Advocate Irfan Shafi Mir, near Al-Stop Naka, Qazigund while they were travelling from Srinagar to Jammu in the i20 car owned and driven by the accused Advocate Irfan Shafi Mir. In the charge sheet, exclusively accessed by Republic World, NIA has accused Para of taking the help of terror commanders during the election campaign and gave money to these terror commanders in return. Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM) in continuation of the conspiracy seeking support from various institutions and entities, has invited support from the mainstream politician i.e. Waheed Ur Rehman Para with the evil design of seeking support as and when required. The mainstream politician-terrorist nexus clearly establishes that some of the mainstream politicians are involved in politics of convenience and deceit wherein they are seeking help from Commanders of terrorist organisations for securing co-operation during the election campaign and for assisting their workers in the management of the election process. These mainstream politicians are seeking this co-operation through payment of money thereby making a mockery of the electoral process, NIA charge sheet reads. NIA further added that Waheed Para used Voice over Internet Protocol Signal App for communication with Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Naved Babu seeking help for PDP cadres during Parliamentary elections. In Feb/March 2019, accused Irfan Shafi Mir called accused Waheed ur Rahman Para on secure social chat platform, Signal and made him talk to accused Syed Naveed Mushtaq when accused Syed Naveed Mushtaq was staying in the rented house of accused Irfan Shafi Mir in Jammu. Waheed-ur-Rahman Para talked to accused Syed Naveed Mushtaq and asked to take care of his party workers campaigning for Parliament election in Pulwama District, NIA charge sheet read. Investigation Agency further accused Para of helping Hizbul Mujahideen to enter important entities and institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. Para was accused of the same charges by Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) earlier when his bail plea was opposed. NIA Chargesheet reads that Para was a part of the larger conspiracy hatched by Pakistan based leadership of banned terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen to make inroads into important institutions and entities for want of desired support to carry forward the agenda of secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India by way of violent means i.e. terrorist activities. Mining giant Rio Tinto has outlined plans to improve its cultural heritage management after facing an international outcry for blowing up two 46,000-year-old Aboriginal caves in Australia's Juukan Gorge in May last year. But the plans, which include the setting up of an Indigenous advisory group, have been branded as 'another big company marketing document' by an Aboriginal group, who claim they lack detail. Announcing the plans, Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm said the group 'must focus on real engagement' with communities and understand 'their felt experience and never forgetting that, ultimately, we are guests on their land'. Scandal: Rio Tinto blew up ancient rock shelters at Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara last year The group said it would start work with the Indigenous advisory group as soon as it was established to get their views on how to best manage cultural heritage sites in the mining industry. It also announced it would regularly update investors on its progress on its commitments on the matter, as it attempts to rebuild trust with the land's traditional owners and its reputation. The company said in a statement: 'Rio Tinto has also commenced work to review and re-define what is best practice for cultural heritage management in the mining industry. 'This work will be done in consultation with the IAG and other independent parties and will enable Rio Tinto to identify gaps in current protocols and provide a clear pathway to re-establish trust over time and regain Rio Tinto's previous standing in this area.' But an Australian Aboriginal group on whose lands Rio Tinto mines for iron ore said that heritage reforms Rio announced lacked detail and said they came across as 'another big company marketing document'. Tony Bevan, a director at Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation, told Reuters: 'WGAC is yet to see any evidence of a strengthened and improved approach to cultural heritage management. 'We have no visibility on the significantly strengthened internal practices, policies and governance that is referred to.' Last year's destruction of Aboriginal caves to expand a lucrative mines sparked a massive public and investor uproar, leading to a spate of top-level resignations. Rio Tinto chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques, head of corporate relations Simone Niven and iron ore boss Chris Salisbury all resigned in September last year, while chairman Simon Thompson said earlier this month he would not be standing for reelection after accepting he was 'ultimately accountable' for the destruction of the scared rocks. Rio Tinto boss Jakob Stausholm said the group 'must focus on real engagement' with communities Shares in FTSE 100 listed Rio Tinto were flat at 107.76p in afternoon trading on Tuesday. Debby Blakey of Australian superannuation fund HESTA said Rio Tinto was at the start of 'a very long process of rebuilding trust'. 'It will require long-term commitment to deep-seated cultural change and strong frameworks and processes in place to support genuine, open and ongoing partnership with Indigenous communities,' she added. The chief executive of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, Louise Davidson, said: 'Investors will continue to engage with Rio Tinto, and other companies with cultural heritage exposures, to understand how they are managing these risks and measuring against commitments.' Defense Minister Suh Wook has no plans to discuss the U.S.-led regional forum Quad with his Indian counterpart during his visit to the country this week, the defense ministry said Tuesday. Suh, who has been on a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is scheduled to arrive in India on Thursday for a three-day visit. The planned visit to India spurred speculation that Suh could discuss the Quad forum during his talks with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. Involving the United States, Australia, Japan and India, Quad is a network of countries seen as aimed at keeping China's growing influence in check. But his ministry said the upcoming talks will focus on defense cooperation between the two countries. "(Suh's) India visit comes at the request of the Indian defense ministry and there is no plan to discuss the Quad," ministry spokesman Boo Seung-chan said during a regular press briefing. Washington has been seeking to expand the forum, but South Korea has maintained that it has not been invited by the forum and that it is willing to join any form of regional cooperation initiative as long as it is "transparent, open, inclusive and in line with international norms." Suh also had talks with his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin, in Seoul last week, but the ministry has stressed that the Quad was not among the agenda items. (Yonhap) Advertisement Horrifying video filmed by a shopper during Monday's mass shooting at a Boulder supermarket shows bodies strewn in the parking lot and on the supermarket floor. Ten people were killed during the tragedy, which occurred at the King Soopers store in the Table Mesa neighborhood shortly before 3pm. The gunman has been identified as 21-year-old Ahmad Alissa. Shopper Dean Schiller was standing outside the store when he heard gunshots ring out in the parking lot at 2.40pm. He quickly began filming the unfolding incident on his smartphone. Schiller's footage, which has been uploaded to YouTube, shows two bodies lying in the parking lot of the supermarket. It's unclear if those two victims were among the ten who were killed, or whether they were injured and survived. One victim was seen on the ground around 10 meters from the front door of the store. The second victim - who appears to be a middle-aged woman - was face down closer to the building's entrance. Horrifying video filmed by a shopper during Monday's mass shooting at a Boulder supermarket shows bodies strewn in the parking lot and on the supermarket floor Ten people were killed during the tragedy, which occurred at the King Soopers store in the Table Mesa neighborhood shortly before 3pm 'There's people lying in the f**king street,' Schiller stated in his video. A woman can be heard wailing in the parking lot off camera, seemingly stunned by what she had just witnessed. Schiller then entered the store,unaware that the shooter was still gunning down people inside. After entering the front of the building, he noticed a third victim slumped on the ground, having been shot by the gunman. Two more gunshots could then be heard echoing out from inside the store, prompting Schiller to flee. 'Holy s**t! I'm getting away guys,' he narrated as he fled around the back of the supermarket. He continued filming for several more hours, documenting police descending on the scene. Officer Eric Talley, 51, was one of the cops who was called to the supermarket. He was shot dead inside the store. Video filmed from a different angle shows a body lying in the middle of the parking lot Schiller continued filming for several more hours, documenting police descending on the scene The suspect, Ahmad Alissa, was later brought out of the supermarket, shirtless and in handcuffs. He had been shot in the leg. Alissa is now in custody and has been charged with 10 counts of murder. He was transported to the hospital to be treated for injuries. He is now in a stable condition and has been charged with ten counts of murder. Schiller's video footage could be used as important evidence to piece together Alissa's movements. It appears he gunned down the two victims in the parking lot first, before entering the building and shooting a third person. Inside, he then shot at least seven more people. All of his victims have been identified. They include; Denny Strong, 20, Nevin Statinsky, 23, Ricky Olds, 25, Suzanne Fountain, 59, Terry Licher, 51, Officer Eric Talley, 51, Kevin Mahoney, 61, Lynn Murray, 62, Jodie Waters, 65. An injured man is shown being arrested at the store after the shooting on Monday. Police won't confirm yet that this is the gunman but the shooter was the only person injured, and this man was taken to the hospital in handcuffs Ahmad Alissa, the 21-year-old gunman from Monday's shooting at a Colorado grocery store Officer Talley, who was a father-of-seven children aged between 5 and 18, was the first victim to be identified. COLORADO SHOOTING VICTIMS Officer Eric Talley, 51 Boulder cop and father-of-seven. One of the first on the scene Rikki Olds, 25 Denny Strong, 20 Neven Stanisic, 23 Tralona Bartkowiak, 49 Suzanne Fountain, 59 Teri Leiker, 51 Kevin Mahoney, 61 Lynn Murray, 62 Jody Waters, 65 Advertisement In addition to Schiller's video, other witnesses have also spoken to the media, describing the terrifying incident. Nevin Sloan, who narrowly escaped with his wife Quinlan, said panic set in as shoppers were forced to decide whether to stay put or make a break for the exit. 'All of a sudden we started hearing more, like 'bang, bang, bang, bang' and I sprinted over to her and just told her 'hey we need to get out of here',' he told CBS, saying they had helped others flee through an emergency exit. Sarah Moonshadow told the Denver Post that two shots rang out just after she and her son, Nicolas Edwards, finished buying strawberries. She said she told her son to get down and then 'we just ran'. Once they got outside, she said they saw a body in the parking lot. Edwards said police were speeding into the lot and pulled up next to the body. 'I knew we couldn't do anything for the guy,' he said. 'We had to go.' Another witness told the paper that the gunman 'just came in and started shooting'. Meanwhile a grandfather described the 'traumatizing' moment his son-in-law and two granddaughters hid in a closet when the gunman opened fire. The grandfather, who identified himself as Steven, said his son-in-law was in the King Soopers pharmacy to get a Covid-19 vaccine with his granddaughters, aged 13 and 14, when the shots went off. 'There was shooting, and he saw it and got the girls down,' he told NBC. 'They ran and hid upstairs in a coat closet for an hour, in the coats.' Victims: Among the 10 people killed was hero cop Eric Talley, 51, and 25-year-old Rikki Olds, right, who was identified by family Tactical police units respond to the scene of King Soopers. The windows of the store were left broken, likely from gunfire BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French stocks fell in cautious trade on Tuesday after a coalition of western nations announced sanctions on Chinese officials for alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims. China immediately announced retaliatory sanctions against the EU that appeared broader. Meanwhile, as Europe struggles with a third wave of infections and re-imposed lockdown measures, ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane said the region is facing a difficult second quarter. Investors await comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen later in the day for further clues on how much further the recent surge in yields can run. Germany's 10-year yield, the benchmark for the bloc, was down 2 basis points amid a new bond sale from the European Union. The benchmark CAC 40 slipped 22 points, or 0.4 percent, to 5,946 after declining half a percent on Monday. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 By Kim Hyun-bin, Kim Yoo-chul Lotte Group is reorganizing its business portfolio to reduce reliance on its traditional cash cow businesses such as the distribution and chemical sectors, which took a hit from COVID-19 last year. Now, the country's fifth-largest conglomerate hopes to find new businesses to fuel future growth as well as break away from its conservative image. Many discussions are under way. But the central point is Lotte is betting on the growth potential of the country's e-commerce sector after the group's senior executive confirmed its intention to acquire controlling stakes in eBay Korea. SK Telecom, a local private equity MBK Partners and Shinsegae Group, Lotte's chief local rival, already made their cuts in the preliminary bidding. It's still uncertain whether or not Lotte will end up with the eBay deal, the amount of the deal is estimated at some 5 trillion won given its long-time reluctance to make massive cash splurges for large-sized acquisition deals. But the point is the group is prioritizing "M&A DNA" for survival focusing on the e-commerce business after its ambitiously-launched Lotte ON online shopping platform failed to impress. Lotte has been eager to rearrange its portfolio with new businesses, as its two pillar sectors of distribution and chemicals have taken a devastating blow amid the pandemic. Lotte Shopping sales recorded 16.8 trillion won last year, a decline of 8.2 percent compared to the previous year, while its operating profit dropped 19.1 percent or 346.1 billion won in the cited period. Lotte Group is also contemplating ways to recover its failed e-commerce business Lotte ON. Last month, the head of the company's e-commerce business resigned taking responsibility for Lotte ON's unsuccessful management. The conglomerate is seeking to acquire eBay Korea, to create possible synergy with Lotte ON. Industry watchers believe with a successful acquisition, there could be large investments in the e-commerce sector to enhance competitiveness and market share. "We are definitely interested in acquiring eBay Korea," Lotte Shopping Vice Chairman Kang Hee-tae said during the company's 51st shareholders meeting in Seoul, Tuesday. "We will reveal the specifics in our official notice." Lotte Shopping which runs Lotte On is favored to acquire eBay Korea with cash assets worth 2.18 trillion won and earned surplus of 9.59 trillion won. Also, Lotte Group has not conducted any large-scale M&As or investments in recent years, which could also play to its advantage. In recent years, Lotte has been affected by several unfavorable factors including THAAD and COVID-19 issues that have plagued its distribution channels. Lotte On only has a single-digit market share within the e-commerce market, despite being one of the key players in the market here and ranking in the top five conglomerates behind Samsung, Hyundai, SK and LG. On Wednesday, Lotte said it plans to acquire Joonggonara, the country's largest online marketplace for used goods. The plan, which came a day after its intent to acquire eBay Korea, is a sign of group-wide efforts to illustrate its efforts to rise as one of the leaders in Korea's growing e-commerce industry as led by Naver and Coupang. "It's interesting to see Lotte is making some bold moves in M&As. Thoughts are, I believe, that Lotte's top management reached a consensus to grow the e-commerce business as it can't afford to lose given the sector's huge growth potential," a senior fund manager in Seoul said by telephone. Business diversification Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin himself is better known to be leading its "strategic direction" regarding business diversification. In an executive meeting earlier this year, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin emphasized the need to find new businesses for future growth. "A company relying on its past success or survivability has no future," Shin said. "If a company fails to initiate innovation it needs to be placed under review for a possible business portfolio restructuring." Plus, Lotte Group seeks to enter the bio industry through cooperation with Enzychem Lifesciences. Industry insiders believe the cooperation will come in the form of a joint venture or investing in stakes of the company. Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin Chinese man becomes online celebrity after building Chinesestyle greenhouse in Canada People's Daily Online) 15:43, March 23, 2021 Photo shows Dong Jianyis vegetable greenhouse. (Photo provided by the interviewee) Dong Jianyi, a Chinese man who had never even set foot on a farm before moving to Canada, is now running the first and largest commercial Chinesestyle passive solar greenhouse in the country's Alberta province. It took the man years before he finally became a vegetable farmer and then a local celebrity farmer thanks to the tasty and organic vegetables he cultivated using Chinese greenhouse planting techniques. Dong's story is an extraordinary one, in part because he didn't grow up on a farm. He studied to become a geologist at Peking University in China and began to work at Schlumberger, a leading oilfield services company in 2007, after getting his master's degree. Dong came to Calgary, Alberta, in 2014 and planned to continue his career at a local oil company. However, due to the sluggish state of the local oil industry there, he found it difficult to land a decent job. Then, he noticed a different kind of opportunity on Calgary's fertile land, when he found that local residents mainly got their vegetables transported from other regions of the country or imported from Mexico or the U.S. This prompted Dong to start growing vegetables, even though the long winters and harsh weather there were far from ideal for it. "It was not easy to grow vegetables, but since there was a huge market demand, I wanted to give the idea a try," he said. To learn the proper farming techniques, Dong spent half a year apprenticing at a greenhouse in Manitoba, Canada, and traveled back to Shouguang, a major vegetable base in east China's Shandong province, to learn about passive solar greenhouses. Back in Canada, he taught himself how to grow vegetables from media platforms on agriculture. He also abandoned the idea of conventional Dutch greenhouses, which are the most widely adopted method in Canada and which rely on fossil fuels and artificial heat through winter, leading to high operating costs. On top of that, vegetables grown in these greenhouses do not taste as good as those cultivated using Chinese greenhouse technologies. In 2019, Dong built a Chinese-style passive solar greenhouse measuring over 100 meters long and 10 meters wide with a height of 6 meters. It's a double layer greenhouse with a thick clay wall inside it to keep in the warmth. Dong built the entire greenhouse himself to save on labor costs, and most of the materials were bought over from China, including steel pipes and blankets, as he couldn't find them in Canada. "I am so proud that China as a manufacturing power can produce so many high-quality materials," he said. Dong relied on organic methods to grow vegetables including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, spinach, corn, and Chinese cabbage, avoiding the use of pesticides. Now, Dong's organic vegetables have become increasingly popular among local residents. "Customers have to place an order in advance. Some customers told me that even their children like to eat my vegetables, which are more tasty and nutritious," said Dong, adding that he was proud of the Chinese agricultural planting techniques. The greenhouse has made Dong and his wife internet celebrities. "Chinese young people are awesome. I am an engineer from Silicon Valley, and I am so touched by their stories," commented a Chinese person living in the U.S. "I admire their courage and determination, and these are the reasons why China can be so successful," a Western man posted. Thanks to Dong's rising fame, his greenhouse has been frequently visited by Westerners who come to learn the vegetable greenhouse techniques. After visiting Dong's greenhouse, a local agricultural expert revealed that it made him realize Canada is lagging behind in vegetable growing techniques. Dong hopes that China's vegetable greenhouse techniques can be more widely adopted in Canada. "The Chinese techniques will benefit small farmers most because they can be used on even a small piece of land," said the man. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) The authorities in Bangladesh searched for survivors on Tuesday amid the smoldering ruins of a sprawling Rohingya refugee camp, one day after a fire killed at least 15 people, injured hundreds and left tens of thousands homeless once again. The carnage at the camp in Coxs Bazaar, near the border with Myanmar, was the latest tragedy for residents, who have lived for years in its squalid shanties since fleeing their homes in Myanmar in the aftermath of a military-perpetrated massacre. As many as 400 people are missing and many are presumed dead, according to officials at the Inter Sector Coordination Group, an international relief organization that oversees the camp. Some victims, witnesses said, were caught between the blaze and the camps barbed-wire perimeter fences. [March 23, 2021] LogMeIn Names Michael Oberlaender as Chief Information Security Officer BOSTON, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LogMeIn, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based solutions that enable the work-from-anywhere era, has announced that security and privacy veteran, Michael Oberlaender, has joined the company as its new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Michael will be responsible for managing and growing LogMeIns security program, including infrastructure, applications, and overall data security for both internal systems and the companys suite of award-winning software products. A 30-year industry veteran with extensive security leadership experience holding CISO positions in various industries and markets, Michael has played a critical role in securing those companies data assets, brands, and systems. At LogMeIn, Michael will oversee a global security team consisting of IT Security, Security Operations, Assurance, Engagement, Governance, Risk Management, Compliance, and more. He currently serves on the board for the ISACA Greater Houston Chapter, holds several security certifications including CISM, CGEIT, CISSP, CISA, CRISC, GSNA, ACSE, TOGAF9, CNSS-4016, CDPP, and is member of (ISC), ISACA, ISSA, and InfraGard (FBI). LogMeIn has been at the forefront of the work-from-anywhere era, delivering essential, secure technologies that keep people conneced. I wanted to be part of a company that values and engrains security into everything they do, which LogMeIn continually demonstrates, said Michael Oberlaender, Chief Information Security Officer, LogMeIn. Im excited for the opportunity to combine my industry experience and vision and partner with so many different teams to drive LogMeIns security program to the next level, ensuring our products, employees, and customers have access to best-in-class security. Michael is an established information security leader with a proven track record of developing and leading corporate IT and information security programs for global organizations. We are thrilled to have him join the team at LogMeIn, said Ian Pitt, Chief Information Officer at LogMeIn. With Michaels experience, we gain a strategic partner to establish and improve the software development lifecycle and optimize the companys security culture. We believe his security acumen and leadership abilities will contribute significantly to the success of our security operations and growth of the entire organization. To learn more about how LogMeIn can help support people's and businesses' remote work and security needs, please visit www.logmein.com About LogMeIn, Inc. LogMeIn, Inc.s category-defining products, such as GoTo, LastPass, Rescue, LogMeIn Central and more, unlock the potential of the modern workforce by making it possible for millions of people and businesses around the globe to do their best work simply and securelyon any device, from any location and at any time. A pioneer in remote work technology and a driving force behind todays work-from-anywhere movement, LogMeIn has become one of the worlds largest SaaS companies with tens of millions of active users, more than 3,500 global employees, over $1.3 billion in annual revenue and approximately 2 million customers worldwide who use its software as an essential part of their daily lives. The company is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with additional locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and thousands of home offices around the globe. Media: Lauren Christopherson Press@logmein.com 617-279-2443 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Chennai, March 23 : Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and senior AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam has said that there is no hindrance in former party general secretary VK Sasikala coming back to the AIADMK provided she complies with its inner party democracy. He was speaking to a private television channel on Tuesday. He said that Sasikala has done some good work for the growth of the AIADMK and that he does not have any personal issues with her. The Deputy CM said, "There were certain issues related to the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and there were some doubts against Sasikala. My position has always been that she should clarify on these doubts, if that is cleared I don't have any problem." The senior leader added that Chief Minister K Palaniswamy will also have to take a call on Sasikala's return to the AIADMK. However, the CM has been vehemently criticizing both Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran in the run up to the elections. The statement of the Deputy CM assumes significance after reports that the Thevar community which has been the regular vote bank of the AIADMK may vote against the party on the issue of Sasikala, leading to a major drubbing for the party in South Tamil Nadu. If the AIADMK faces a rout, there is a possibility of Sasikala coming back to the party. Political observers are of the opinion that Panneerselvam might have made this statement to communicate his position to Sasikala and Dhinakaran. Both Sasikala and Panneerselvam belong to the Thevar community and this vote bank is crucial for the AIADMK. Panneerselvam is contesting the election from his traditional constituency of Bodinayakanar in South Tamil Nadu which has a high concentration of the Thevar community. His former party colleague in the AIADMK Thanga Tamil Selvan, former Andipatty MLA, is contesting on a DMK ticket from there. Five police personnel were killed and 13 others injured as Naxals blew up the bus in which they were traveling in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Tuesday, senior police officials said. The landmine explosion took place between Kanhargaon and Kadenar villages under Dhaudai police station limits. Personnel of the police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) were returning in the bus to Naryanpur town, 300 km away from capital Raipur, after a counter-insurgency operation, said Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P. "Five DRG personnel, including the driver, were killed in the explosion," he told PTI. Reinforcement was rushed to the spot and bodies and injured personnel were evacuated from the forest. The injured personnel are being airlifted to Raipur in an Indian Air Force chopper for treatment, the IG added. Earlier while confirming the incident, state's Director General of Police D M Awasthi had said over 20 security personnel were onboard the bus. The bus was passing along the under-construction Barsoor-Palli road which is surrounded by dense forest of Abhujmad when the naxals triggered a landmine blast near a culvert, said a police official. The impact was such that the bus fell off the culvert. This was the second major Naxal attack on DRG personnel - the frontline anti-naxal force of the state police -- in the span of one year. The DRG personnel are recruited from among local youth and surrendered Naxals in Bastar division. On March 21, 2020, 17 security personnel, including 12 from DRG, were killed in a Naxal ambush in Sukma district of the region. (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.) Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 07:31:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A woman visits the archeological site of Acropolis in Athens, Greece, on March 22, 2021. On Monday, open-air archeological sites, including the Acropolis hill in Athens, reopened for the first time since the start of the lockdown. Only a small group of visitors is allowed to visit and the use of protective face masks is obligatory. (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua) HOUSTON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: SMLP) (the "Partnership") announced today that it has amended its offer to exchange (the "Exchange Offer") its 9.50% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units (Liquidation Preference $1,000) (the "Series A Preferred Units") tendered in the Exchange Offer for newly issued common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership (the "Common Units"). For each Series A Preferred Unit that is accepted in the Exchange Offer, the holder will receive 30 Common Units, which is an increase of approximately 11% more than the previous offer of 27 Common Units for each Series A Preferred Unit properly tendered (and not validly withdrawn). Further, the maximum number of Common Units that can be issued in exchange for Series A Preferred Units properly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and accepted by us in the Exchange Offer will be increased from 2,160,000 Common Units to 2,400,000 Common Units to reflect the increased exchange consideration. The Exchange Offer is still conditioned on, among other things, that holders of at least 15,000 Series A Preferred Units properly tender (and do not validly withdraw) their Series A Preferred Units prior to the expiration date of the Exchange Offer. There are no other material changes to the Exchange Offer, which is still scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on April 6, 2021, unless extended. The complete terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer are set forth in the Offer to Exchange and related Letter of Transmittal, as amended and supplemented, that are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under cover of Schedule TO. Copies of the Offer to Exchange and Letter of Transmittal may be found on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, the Partnership's website at www.summitmidstream.com or may be obtained from the Information Agent, D.F. King & Co., Inc., at 800-967-5071 (toll free) for unitholders, 212-269-5550 for banks and brokers or [email protected]. The Depositary, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC can be contacted at 877-248-6417 (toll free) or 718-921-8317. THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NEITHER AN OFFER TO PURCHASE NOR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY SERIES A PREFERRED UNITS, NOR IS IT AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION TO BUY ANY COMMON UNITS. THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER. THE PARTNERSHIP IS MAKING THE EXCHANGE OFFER ONLY BY, AND PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE OFFER TO EXCHANGE, THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED. THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE MAKING OR ACCEPTANCE THEREOF WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES, BLUE SKY OR OTHER LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. NONE OF THE PARTNERSHIP, OUR GENERAL PARTNER, ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES, THE INFORMATION AGENT OR THE DEPOSITARY FOR THE EXCHANGE OFFER MAKES ANY RECOMMENDATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE. THIS PRESS RELEASE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE IS UNLAWFUL. About Summit Midstream Partners, LP SMLP is a value-driven limited partnership focused on developing, owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets that are strategically located in unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations, in the continental United States. SMLP provides natural gas, crude oil and produced water gathering services pursuant to primarily long-term and fee-based gathering and processing agreements with customers and counterparties in six unconventional resource basins: (i) the Appalachian Basin, which includes the Utica and Marcellus shale formations in Ohio and West Virginia; (ii) the Williston Basin, which includes the Bakken and Three Forks shale formations in North Dakota; (iii) the Denver-Julesburg Basin, which includes the Niobrara and Codell shale formations in Colorado and Wyoming; (iv) the Permian Basin, which includes the Bone Spring and Wolfcamp formations in New Mexico; (v) the Fort Worth Basin, which includes the Barnett Shale formation in Texas; and (vi) the Piceance Basin, which includes the Mesaverde formation as well as the Mancos and Niobrara shale formations in Colorado. SMLP has an equity investment in Double E Pipeline, LLC, which is developing natural gas transmission infrastructure that will provide transportation service from multiple receipt points in the Delaware Basin to various delivery points in and around the Waha Hub in Texas. SMLP also has an equity investment in Ohio Gathering, which operates extensive natural gas gathering and condensate stabilization infrastructure in the Utica Shale in Ohio. SMLP is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain statements concerning expectations for the future that are forward-looking within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation, information concerning completion of the Offer to Exchange, the terms and timing of the Offer to Exchange, and the impact of completion of the Offer to Exchange. The Partnership may modify the terms or timing of the Offer to Exchange with requisite notice. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements and may contain the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions, or future conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would," and "could." Forward-looking statements also contain known and unknown risks and uncertainties (many of which are difficult to predict and beyond management's control) that may cause SMLP's actual results in future periods to differ materially from anticipated or projected results. An extensive list of specific material risks and uncertainties affecting SMLP is contained in its 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 4, 2021, as amended and updated from time to time. Any forward-looking statements in this press release, are made as of the date of this press release and SMLP undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events. SOURCE Summit Midstream Partners, LP Related Links http://www.summitmidstream.com Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. A young man has been electrocuted while working through torrential rain in Southeast Queensland. Paramedics rushed to a property on corner of Darley Road and Thyme Court in Upper Caboolture on the Sunshine Coast about 8pm on Tuesday. However, when they arrived they found the man was already dead. Police later said his death was not suspicious and handed over the investigation to Queensland Workplace Health and Safety. Paramedics rushed to a property on corner of Darley Road and Thyme Court in Upper Caboolture on the Sunshine Coast but the man was already dead Several crews from power company Energex were also on site to help make the area safe for investigators and to remove the body. The road was still closed at 10pm and rivers redirected around the area. Rain is still battering all of Southeast Queensland as the rest of the east coast is also lashed by wild weather. The is widespread flooding across parts of the Gold Coast after three months of rain fell in a single day on Monday and won't stop until Thursday. Lalique Group and Brioni Present Their First Fragrance: Brioni Eau de Parfum New Fragrances Lalique Group and Brioni present their first fragrance: Brioni Eau de Parfum, composed by master perfumer Michel Almairac. As the brands announced, "The fragrance is light and sophisticated, just like a Brioni bespoke suit." Norbert Stumpfl Like everything from Brioni, our new fragrance has the perfect balance of elegance and charisma. The perfume subtly envelops the wearer with an irresistible presence, says Norbert Stumpfl, Executive Design Director at Brioni. We are delighted to present the perfect accessory to our legendary clothing collection: the finishing touch, invisible yet irresistible, to complete the perfect outfit." Brioni has entrusted the Lalique Group with the creation of its fragrance. Although the two companies operate in different sectors, their shared passion for excellence and prestige gave rise to a unique partnership. The Eau de Parfum is now available worldwide in Brioni boutiques and from selected points of sale. The fragrance was created by Michel Almairac, Master Perfumer at Robertet. For the Brioni Eau de Parfum, he has created a short, perfectly tailored formula precision-cut from high quality materials such as pink peppercorn, cedarwood, tonka bean, and violet. For this fragrance I sought to glorify Brionis sophisticated allure and elegance. A creation with few ingredients, this perfume lends further refinement to the clothing. They are juxtaposed perfectly to create an authentic sillage which channels the savoir-faire of the Italian couture studio, explains Michel Almairac. Beside the several key notes of the composition, the brand gives more info about it. THE SMART AND ELEGANT TAILORING OF A FRESH, CLEAN OPENING: Lifted by a modern ozonic accent and gin-cool pink peppercorn*, a crisp green apple opens the scent on a luminous note. Breathe it in. THE NONCHALANT CHARM OF A SOFT, WARM HEART: Because the Brioni man is a discreet charmer, a flower blooms in the heart of his scent. Soft, green, powdery violet contrasts with the musky, skin-like, silky warmth of ambroxan. The essence of charisma. THE SOPHISTICATED EASE OF SECOND SKIN DRY-DOWN: Just as every suit needs a clear-cut silhouette, the scent is structured by the clean scent of cedar*. But since it must wear like a second skin, it is lined in smooth, almondy tonka bean and cashmere-soft musk. BRIONI EAU DE PARFUM Edition 2021 Perfumer: Michel Almairac Top notes: ozonic notes, pink pepper, green apple Middle notes: violet, ambroxan Base notes: cedarwood, tonka beans, musk The flacon reflects the essence of elegance Made of heavy, navy blue Italian glass, the square-shouldered, bevelled bottle is adorned with a satin label, inspired by the labels sewn inside Brioni bespoke suits. Speaking of his vision of the brand, a vision that extends to the design of the fragrance bottle, the Austrian-born designer, Norbert Stumpfl, says, Brioni is about Italian flair Roman flair and craftsmanship; about luxury and effortless masculine elegance: nonchalant and understated, for people in the know. Were not about fashion; Brioni is about style. And the design of the new Brioni Eau de Parfum reflects this aesthetic stance. The partnership of the brands started in 2019 As previously announced at the end of 2019, the Lalique Group concluded a perfume license agreement with the luxury brand Brioni. Under the agreement, Lalique Group would create and sell a collection of perfumes for Brioni. Capitalizing on the reputation of Brioni in the key markets of the USA, Russia, Europe and Japan, the perfumes are to be marketed and sold via Lalique Groups global distribution network. The BRIONI fragrance is available as a 60ml Eau de Parfum and 100ml Eau de Parfum from mid-March 2021. Brioni Founded in Rome in 1945, Brioni is a legendary menswear luxury house. In addition to its state-of-the-art bespoke service, Brioni offers exceptional quality in ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, and eyewear. The foundation of the houses identity is its unique Italian sartorial heritage, renowned worldwide as the benchmark for the finest formal tailoring. The company is part of Kering, a worldwide leading luxury group. Brioni, Tailoring Legends since 1945. You can find further information at www.brioni.com. Lalique Group Lalique Group is a niche player in the creation, development, marketing and global distribution of luxury goods. Its business areas comprise perfumes, cosmetics, crystal, jewellery, high-end furniture and lifestyle accessories, along with art, gastronomy and hospitality as well as single malt whisky. Founded in 2000, the company employs approximately 720 staff and has its headquarters in Zurich. The Lalique brand, from which the Group derives its name, was created in Paris in 1888 by the master glassmaker and jewellery designer, Rene Lalique. The registered shares of Lalique Group SA (LLQ) are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. You can find further information at www.lalique-group.com. Source: Lalique press release We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Dhaka, March 23 : Thousands of Rohingya Muslims have lost their shelters after a massive fire ravaged refugee camps in Bangladesh's Coxs Bazar district, officials said. The fire broke out on Monday afternoon at one of the camps and spread to four adjoining ones, Mohammad Shamsud Douza, deputy chief of the government's Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission, told dpa news agency . He said firefighters spent three hours battling the flames until evening, and it then took three more hours to bring the blaze under control. An estimated 150,000 people had been living in the shanties, he said. According to an initial estimate, more than 9,500 shanties have been destroyed, he added, though the full extent of damage would only be clear once the fire was completely extinguished. No casualties have been reported so far, he said. It was not clear how the fire originated, but witnesses said it spread quickly from one camp to the other. The camps are home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled persecution in neighbouring Myanmar. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees in a statement said humanitarian partners have mobilised hundreds of volunteers from nearby camps to support the firefighting and rescue efforts. So far, the fire has affected shelters, health centres, distribution points and other facilities, the UN agency said. More than 1 million Rohingya Muslims are living in shelters constructed mainly from polyethylene sheets and bamboo shafts in Cox's Bazar, some 300 km south of Dhaka. Nearly 750,000 of them crossed the border after Myanmar launched a crackdown on the minority group in August 2017. Nay Pyi Taw, March 23 : More casualties have been reported in Myanmar as demonstrators returned to the streets to protest against the February 1 military takeover of the country. Media portal Mizzima News and witnesses said four people were killed on Monday, as the military continues to crack down on the continued protest movement. "They are not only killing the protesters against the coup. They are also killing the civilians everywhere," Kyi Soe Win, a 45-year-old protester who joined the demonstration in Mandalay, told dpa news agency. "We are protesting in our township today, but our family is not safe at our home. The military are real terrorists," Kyi Soe Win said. Another five protesters were reported killed during shooting in Mandalay on Sunday, according to news portal Myanmar Now. Military forces were tearing down the anti-coup protesters' defence lines, including barricades made out of sand bags. Over 250 people have been killed since the beginning of the protests and about 2,665 arrested, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a non-profit organisation. Demonstrators are demanding the release of de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was ousted in the February 1 coup, as well as a return of the democratically-elected government. The European Union's Foreign Ministers on Monday agreed to impose sanctions on 11 individuals involved in the coup and repression of demonstrators. Ten of the targeted people belong to the highest ranks of the military, including its commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing, and his deputy, Soe Win. The US government also imposed sanctions on two additional members of the military junta in Myanmar, according to the Treasury Department. The sanctions affect police chief and deputy home minister Than Hlaing and general Aung Soe, who commands special military forces. Washington has already imposed strict export restrictions and sanctions on around a dozen members of Myanmar's military leadership since the coup, including two adult children of commander Min Aung Hlaing. There are now a number of different COVID-19 variants most of considerable concern to health experts that have been confirmed in Massachusetts in recent months. To understand the differences in each variant, its first useful to understand how they are classified. Each coronavirus contains thousands of letters of RNA that make up the pathogens genome. Errors that occur within the genome when a virus replicates are referred to as mutations. Viruses that share the same specific set of genetic mutations make up whats called a variant, or a strain. The changed versions of the coronavirus broadly speaking have more in common with each other than they do differences, experts say. They have all exhibited various alterations in the spike protein the part of the virus that helps it bind to cells in the body. Research suggests that these new versions are more infectious due to the changes to the spike protein. Experts are now starting to point to the increased prevalence of COVID variants in the U.S. as a major concern amid the slow in the decline of cases nationwide and states loosening restrictions. Some have suggested that accelerating the pace of the vaccine rollout alone wont be enough to combat the growth of variants. Why the stall? Suspect B.1.1.7 is now starting to really have an effect, Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, said in a tweet on Wednesday, referring to the so-called U.K. strain now circulating across much of the country. And states are opening up. This is a problem. Over past week, number of infections in U.S. has stopped declining At about 50K infections every day About where we were at height of summer surge Why the stall? Suspect B.1.1.7 is now starting to really have an effect And states are opening up This is a problem Thread Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) March 18, 2021 Officials in Massachusetts continue to express optimism about the pace of the vaccine rollout, which boasts more than one million fully vaccinated residents as of Friday, but little has been said about the rise of variants. Across the state, there are at least four variants that have been confirmed or tracked through the Department of Public Health or other entities sequencing viral samples. Heres what we know about them. B.1.117: the U.K. variant The U.K. variant first emerged in the European country in September, where at first it began circulating at very low levels through mid-November, according to the British government. The strain quickly took spread to other countries, including the U.S. There are now thousands of confirmed cases of B.1.117 (6,390 as of Monday, according to CDC data) and likely many thousands more that have gone undetected. The variant has a mutation affecting the spike protein, specifically the receptor binding domain, which plays a role in attaching to cells. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the U.K. mutation may be linked to increased risk of death, the CDC states. That link was made stronger this week after a study published in Nature found that the risk of death among individuals in the U.K. who contracted the COVID strain was 61% higher 28 days after diagnosis when compared with other strains. There is also evidence that the variant is significantly more contagious than other lineages. Research suggests that the vaccines are still effective against the U.K. variant. There are at least 256 cases of this strain that have been confirmed in Massachusetts, according to the CDCs data. B.1.351: the South African variant The South African variant, which first emerged in Nelson Mandela Bay in early October, has multiple mutations in the spike protein, according to the CDC. While experts say that there is no evidence to suggest that the B.1.351 strain is deadlier meaning, causing more severe disease than other strains, it has caused problems for the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is not yet approved in the U.S. in one study. The study, published on Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were only 10.4% effective against mild-to-moderate infections. A two-dose regimen of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine did not show protection against mild-to-moderate Covid-19 due to the B.1.351 variant, the study concludes. At least seven cases of the South African variant have been confirmed in Massachusetts to date. P.1: the Brazilian variant Massachusetts recently confirmed a first case of the so-called Brazilian strain, referred to as P.1, which was first reported in Japan in four travelers who had come from Brazil, according to the CDC. Like the U.K. variant, the P.1 strains mutations affect the spike protein receptor binding domain. As many as 17 mutations have been identified in the Brazilian strain, and that it could be as much as 2.2 times as infectious as other strains. B.1.526: the New York City variant A fourth version of COVID-19 has been detected, although unofficially, in Massachusetts: the so-called New York City variant, or B.1.526. As with the other three variants, B.1.526 ascended rapidly among the population and has raised concerns about vaccine efficacy. Patients with this novel variant came from diverse neighborhoods in the metropolitan area, and they were on average older and more frequently hospitalized, researchers at Columbia University said in a study published last month. New York officials said last week that the U.K. strain and the New York strain now make up more than half of new cases reported there, according to data shared recently raising concern about the extend of existing and future spread of strains in Massachusetts. Researchers involved in genomic sequencing have pushed for better surveillance capabilities, and are cautioning the public against letting their guard down. Less than 1% of COVID-positive samples in Massachusetts are currently been screened for variants, and national reporting by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been lagging behind. Related Content: [March 23, 2021] CGI job creation in Lafayette exceeds 600 hires; anticipated to reach 800 by 2023 FAIRFAX, Va., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CGI (NYSE: GIB) (TSX: GIB.A) today announced it has created 600 jobs at its U.S. Delivery Center in Lafayette, Louisiana, exceeding original commitments made to the state at the center's 2014 opening and expanded pledge in 2018, bringing its total state-wide workforce to more than 700 employees. CGI doubled its initial projection for Lafayette-based job creation from 400 to 800 employees, which the company expects to reach in 2023. For the sixth consecutive year, CGI has exceeded payroll commitments. Cumulative annual payroll at CGI's Lafayette center exceeds commitments by $40 million with the project's total cumulative payroll projected to exceed $480 million over the next decade. "CGI clients and professionals continue to benefit from outstanding local and regional partnerships in support of job creation and workforce development," said William LaBar, Vice President and U.S. Delivery Centers lead, CGI. "We are proud of our ongoing engagement with state and local government leaders, educators, and economic development partners who have helped grow high-tech educational opportunities and job-creation across the state of Louisiana." Local positions have been filled primarily with recruits from the Acadiana region, with approximately 35 percent hired through the company's college recruiting program, drawing candidates from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and other state institutions. In addition, more than 20 percent of CGI's workforce has relocated to Louisiana from outside the state. CGI projects another 30 college or entry-level hires in 2021 and is currently seeking more than 60 experienced professionals for positions at its Lafayette center. This summer, CGI will open a new downtown location for 400 employees, representing a significant investment in the area's revitalization. "The 600-plusjobs created by CGI have been transformative to the region's economy as we've faced an energy downturn and global pandemic," said Gregg Gothreaux, President and CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority. "These jobs have provided quality employment opportunities for local graduates, former residents looking to return home, and new talent from across the country and the world. Since arriving in Lafayette, CGI has been a model corporate citizen encouraging their members to engage in our community and find solutions for local issues. Most recently, their work with Link and Learn and the Governor's Resilient Louisiana Commission has been instrumental in helping the region and state face the challenges brought on by COVID-19. I look forward to many years of partnership with CGI as their positive impact on Acadiana grows along with their expansion." CGI has become integral to the area's high-tech research and education infrastructure. The company is a member of the UL-Lafayette Center for Visual and Decision Informatics, funded by the Industry/University Cooperative Research Center program of the National Science Foundation, and advises on curriculum for multiple colleges and universities across Southern Louisiana. CGI's Lafayette center also maintains paid internships and classroom-based capstone programs with UL-Lafayette and other universities. CGI professionals also maintain a high level of community engagement across the region. CGI's STEM@CGI program in Lafayette interacts with nearly 40 schools in the Acadiana area, 27 of which are in Lafayette Parish. CGI mentors helped lead the 2020 Congressional App Challenge, and have mentored students through New Hope Community Development of Acadiana, the Lafayette Parish School System's Gear Up program, and the New Vision Leadership Foundation of Acadiana. "CGI is more than a company that provides technology expertise and solutions: CGI is a company that values corporate social responsibility," said Secretary Don Pierson of Louisiana Economic Development. "Their values of partnership and commitment are evident across the Lafayette region and Louisiana. We look forward to CGI's continued success in our state and applaud this milestone accomplishment and the company's demonstrated leadership." As a part of CGI's partnership with the state of Louisiana, CGI has earned tax credits through state economic development programs such as Quality Jobs and the Digital Interactive Media and Software Program. CGI's growth in Lafayette has also been possible in large part due to UL-Lafayette's higher education initiative that will triple the number of undergraduate degrees awarded yearly by the University's School of Computing and Informatics. "The CGI hiring milestone is exciting news for Lafayette and the Acadiana region. The partnership between the LED, LEDA, UL and CGI is a shining example of a public-private partnership. Together, they have created high-paying jobs for those who want to stay in Lafayette, the opportunity to pursue successful careers in the IT industry, and have attracted new residents to the region, further contributing to the economy. I couldn't be prouder of what has been accomplished and look forward to continued success," said State Senator Page Cortez (R-Lafayette). About CGI Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 76,000 consultants and other professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2020 reported revenue is C$12.16 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cgi-job-creation-in-lafayette-exceeds-600-hires-anticipated-to-reach-800-by-2023-301253059.html SOURCE CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Britain's cladding crisis faces a 9 billion black hole despite developers vowing to pay 400 million to fix faulty buildings, a Daily Mail audit reveals. The money promised by one construction giant could cover as little as 13 per cent of the total bill faced by its leaseholders, leaving scores of homeowners facing shock bills for thousands of pounds. Multi-million pound firms have repeatedly refused to say how many of their buildings require costly repairs, making it impossible to tell whether their funds are adequate. Shortfall: Britain's cladding crisis faces a 9bn black hole despite developers vowing to pay 400 million to fix faulty buildings Others are wriggling off the hook by refusing to cover costs for blocks they built but no longer own. Hundreds of thousands of leaseholders are stuck in unsafe flats after the Grenfell disaster exposed deadly safety flaws. MPs estimate it will cost 15 billion to resolve the crisis - and there has been a slew of pledges since the Mail launched its campaign 12 weeks ago. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has more than trebled the Government's funding pot to 5.1 billion, while developers have set aside cash of their own. But it's thought a planned developer tax, that will bring in 2 billion over a decade, will be used to claw back the taxpayer's outlay. Including 400 million set aside by developers themselves, it means there is still 9 billion missing. Campaigners say the Government fund is a 'drop in the ocean' and accuse ministers of allowing developers to get away with 'token gestures'. Even John Tutte, chairman of house builder Redrow, admits a 200 million-a-year developer tax is not 'a massive amount' for the industry to pay. Martin Boyd, chairman of charity Leasehold Knowledge Partnership, believes ministers have been spooked by industry claims that too harsh a levy will hinder their ability to build new homes. But he dismisses this as scaremongering. Tory MP Sir Peter Bottomley says: 'If the work is going to be done and there is no detriment to leaseholders to say which buildings they are, which buildings are they?' Where's the rest coming from? Giles Grover is facing a 20,000 bill to repair a flat he paid 145,000 for in 2012 Giles Grover paid 145,000 for a Bellway flat in Manchester in 2012. But in 2017, a survey found the 329-flat development had missing fire breaks and flammable cladding. It needed a 24-hour fire patrol for six months last year until new fire alarms were installed, but developer Bellway refuses to take responsibility. Leaseholders now face paying 20,000 each. Bellway says the site was built according to regulations at the time, but its missing fire breaks were never allowed. Mr Grover says the firm is also hiding behind the six-year limit post-completion to bring claims. The City Gate site, was built in the early 2000s. Leaseholders have been told the total cost will be 11.6 million and have been promised 5.6 million from the Government. A Bellway spokesperson says the firm 'has set aside considerable funds to cover the costs of fire safety improvements where we have legal responsibility'. He adds: 'Where we no longer have a legal responsibility for historic schemes, such as City Gate, we've been liaising with the responsible parties to ensure that they carry out any fire safety improvements required.' Meanwhile, construction giants argue they cannot be held solely responsible. Industry sources claim only 5 per cent to 8 per cent of fire-trap flats have been built by big developers, while faults are often down to subcontractors or suppliers. But Mr Boyd says: 'That's their problem. Car manufacturers buy all their bits from subcontractors, but you don't see Toyota turning around and saying: 'It's not really our fault, it's our brake supplier.' ' Developers point out that cladding now deemed unsafe complied with regulations at the time. But missing fire breaks and other non-cladding defects have never been allowed. In these cases, firms hide behind the Defective Premises Act, which only gives six years to claim. The Government is reluctant to remove the onus from the building industry 'to do the right thing' by paying upfront in full itself. On Monday, 33 Tory MPs rebelled against Government plans to allow building owners to pass on costs to leaseholders but lost by a majority of 69. A Government spokesperson says: 'We are making industry pay for the mistakes of the past with a new levy and tax to contribute to the costs of remediation, backed by 5 billion Government funding and a generous capped finance scheme to ensure leaseholders are protected.' cladding@dailymail.co.uk A glamorous couple 'born in the wrong era' claim they're regularly stopped in the street by people wowed by their 'time-warp' wardrobes. Anne and Danny Shearer, from Roberton, South Lanarkshire, share a mutual love for vintage-style clothing, and regularly pick up classy 1940s and 1950s-style clothing for just a few pounds in charity shops and on eBay. It's not just the pocket-friendly prices of the stylish clothing that appeal to 52-year-old college lecturer Anne and 57-year-old college manager Danny, but also the more ethical and sustainable nature of shopping in this way. Anne and Danny Shearer, from Roberton, South Lanarkshire, say they were 'born in the wrong era' and share a mutual love for vintage-style clothing The pair wear their time-warp attire for all occasions, meaning they end up 'overdressed' when visiting the supermarket, nipping to the chemist, walking in the hills or even popping into B&M for some paint (pictured) The bargain-hunting duo are so committed to hunting for pre-loved treasures that they even factor in time on their travels to browse through second-hand rails - and were even scouted by a fashion photographer on holiday. Striking snaps show the couple out and about decked out in their 1940s-inspired finest, with Anne sporting brightly-coloured outfits with smart matching accessories and Danny in beautifully-cut tweed jackets. The pair wear their time-warp attire for all occasions, meaning they end up 'overdressed' when visiting the supermarket, nipping to the chemist, walking in the hills or even popping into B&M for some paint. Anne said: 'It took a bit of getting used to the attention to begin with, particularly where I live. They regularly pick up classy 1940s and 1950s-style clothing for just a few pounds in charity shops and on eBay It's not just the pocket-friendly prices of the stylish clothing that appeal to 52-year-old college lecturer Anne (right) and 57-year-old college manager Danny (left), but also the more ethical and sustainable nature of shopping in this way 'The nearest town is a place called Biggar, it's very much a farming area so me rocking up with my full-on 1940s gear to go to the chemist does get a few looks. 'I was definitely born in the wrong era. I adore the style and fashion of the 1940s and early 1950s and that comes from my gran, Marie Boyes. 'She was 93 when she died and right up to that age she was always very glamorous and incredibly put together. 'She used to show me photos of herself and that sparked my interest in all things vintage. In April 2019, the couple travelled to Paris and visited the Eiffel Tower dressed in full-on vintage when they were approached by a photographer who asked if they were there for the photoshoot. A couple of days later, they met with him and he took photos of them and Anne put the one of them and the Eiffel Tower up in her dining room Anne said that she didn't have the confidence to dress the way she wanted until her early 40s, and then decided eight years ago to wear her vintage clothes every day (pictured: Anne shopping at a vintage fair) 'I didn't have the confidence to dress the way I wanted to until I got to my early 40s. 'About eight years ago I made the decision that I was going to wear vintage every single day and I have done ever since. 'Shopping in charity shops makes me happiest, it's not even the fact it's a bit cheaper, finding unexpected gems is the real thrill for me. 'In the last six years I made the decision not to buy anything new at all and I haven't - though I draw the line at underwear.' Some of the gran-of-one's favourite charity shop finds include a scarlet dress suit she picked up for just 1.99 and a black velvet dress she snapped up for 16. Anne and her husband of 13 years Danny are always immaculately turned out and she admits they're regularly overdressed when out and about. Whether it's running to the shops or heading to work, Anne claims they're regularly stared at by people in the street (pictured: Shopping at Morrisons wearing a blue vintage outfit) Anne said it took a bit to get used to the attention they received for their colourful outfits at first, adding: 'The nearest town is a place called Biggar, it's very much a farming area so me rocking up with my full-on 1940s gear to go to the chemist does get a few looks' Anne's fashion is inspired by her gran, Marie Boyes (pictured), who died when she was 93 and 'always very glamorous and incredibly put together'. Anne said that her gran showing her photos of herself sparked her interest in vintage clothing Whether it's running to the shops or heading to work, Anne claims they're regularly stared at by people in the street. Anne said: 'Very often we'll go somewhere and be completely overdressed. 'In the beginning, when we first got together, I was probably not as confident, but Danny doesn't care - I've learned that from him. 'Danny's a beautiful dresser, he wears lovely, traditional clothes and he's always very smart. 'A lot of clothes that he wears are nice things he's had for years and they've almost come back into fashion again. 'He's not a jewellery person but he likes nice tie pins and cufflinks, one thing he absolutely loves is an overcoat.' The couple also attract attention while on their travels, with thrilled holidaymakers begging to have a quick snap with them. The pair always make time to go to charity shops and second-hand stores when they go on holiday, as they are so committed to hunting for pre-loved treasures Anne's husband of 13 years Danny wears beautifully-cut tweed jackets in his nod to vintage fashion Anne said: 'We get people coming up to us saying they love our outfits and taking photographs of us all the time. 'We'll just be out, quite often on holiday abroad, and we get people stopping us. 'I think the funniest one was in Italy, we had a whole family asking 'can I get a photo taken with you?' it went on for about half an hour. 'The very best one that ever happened was in Paris in April 2019. We were dressed as usual in full-on vintage and we were at the Eiffel Tower. 'Danny was taking pictures of me and a photographer came over and asked 'are you two here for the photoshoot?' 'When we said no he asked if we minded if he took our picture. 'He took a photograph of us there and then and then we met up a couple of days later and went to a few locations with him and did a photoshoot. Anne even dresses up in her vintage clothing for Zoom meetings with her students as she doesn't feel like herself unless she's 'properly' dressed and has done her hair and make-up Anne regularly snaps up 80s-style garments and transforms it into authentic-looking 40s clothing, with the help of a seamstress pal who lives up the road 'I've got the Eiffel Tower picture of us up in the dining room.' Despite the attention they attract wherever they go Anne refuses to tone down her style, insisting on dressing up even for Zoom meetings. Anne said: 'I only ever wear jeans or joggers in the house, I wouldn't go out in them, I've still got to be dressed properly even when I go to the supermarket. 'Even when I was doing Zoom calls with my students I still got dressed and did my hair and make-up because I don't feel like me otherwise. 'I just feel happier if I look a certain way, I don't even feel like me if I'm not dressed in vintage clothes, I don't feel like myself.' Anne regularly snaps up 80s clothing and with the help of a seamstress pal transforms items into authentic-looking 40s' gear. Anne said: 'Although the 1940s is where my heart lies and that's my favourite style, I do like some of the styles of the 1950s. 'A lot of my stuff is actually 80s, there were a lot of 40s-inspired designs around then that you're able to machine wash and they don't cost as much. Anne said that her heart lies in 1940s-style clothing, but she does also like some pieces inspired by the 1950s Anne also gets a lot of her vintage cardigans and jumpers from her mother, who is an avid knitter and makes the clothing for her (pictured: Anne shopping in vintage gear at Morrisons) 'Quite often I'll go into a charity shop and pick something up and it screams 80s but you can take it away and alter it a bit and you can style it in such a way that it becomes 40s. 'I'm not handy with a needle and thread but my neighbour who lives two doors up from me is a seamstress and she's amazing. 'The other secret weapon I have is my mum who is an avid knitter. Both Danny and I have got a multitude of vintage-style cardigans and jumpers from her. 'In normal times if I had any time at all I would look in charity shops, I would go every couple of weeks because if you leave it too long you can miss out. 'We always factor in a bit of time even when we go on holiday to visit charity shops, it's quite a big part of what I like to do.' A welcome by-product of the couple's love for all things vintage-inspired is that buying second-hand is also both economically and environmentally friendly. Anne said: 'Both Danny and I never throw anything out, we use things until they need to be replaced. Anne said the values of the 1940s don't appeal to her and she has never had any desire to be a stay-at-home wife, instead it's just about the style Anne and Danny are very economical in their approach to their clothing, never throwing anything out and keeping it until it needs to be replaced to avoid fast fashion 'There are so many things wrong with fast fashion on so many levels, we're very economical in our way of living. 'What I love about charity shop shopping is that it gives clothes that otherwise would be discarded a new lease of life. 'I've never had any desire to be a stay-at-home wife, it's not about the values of that time that appeals to me, it's just the style. 'If I could hop into a time machine somewhere in the 1940s it would probably be to the post-war era as I'm very much inspired by ordinary people's style. 'I do love the glamorous Hollywood style but that's not real life for me. 'If I come across an ordinary person who just looks fantastic, that's the style I like best. 'Hopefully when my one-year-old granddaughter is old enough I can teach her the joys of charity shop shopping too.' (TNS) The U.S. Department of Labor has launched a new website to help victims of unemployment fraud report that theyve being targeted.But rather than creating any new way for people to report being victimized, the website simply refers Ohioans to the states website for reporting unemployment fraud which for months has been overwhelmed with reports, creating often-lengthy delays.The new federal site acknowledges these limitations. You may not receive an immediate confirmation from the state when you submit a report, it states. Time estimates for how long this process takes vary by state.The webpage does include a helpful list of some of the ways to tell that people have become the victim of unemployment fraud, including being mailed a company, government, or tax form for benefits they never sought or received.It also urges Americans who find their stolen personal information was used to dishonestly apply for benefits in their name to file a complaint with the U.S. Justice Departments National Center for Disaster Fraud. That agency will also notify the U.S. Department of Labors Office of the Inspector General, which is the primary agency responsible for investigating unemployment fraud (and the agency the state of Ohio sends all of its unemployment fraud cases to for investigation).The website also advises that people who have been targeted should file their taxes without reporting any benefits obtained by fraudsters. And it notes that people who want to see whether theyve been victimized can receive a free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus via annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1- 877-322-8228. The Labor Department has a version of the website in Spanish.Tom Betti, a spokesman with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, which runs Ohios unemployment benefits system, recommended that Ohioans victimized by unemployment fraud go to the states website first to report the fraud. But he said his department welcomes the new federal website.Its good to have it all in one spot anything that makes it easier for victims of identity theft, Betti said. For the past year, every states unemployment benefits system has been beset by scammers usually from countries such as Nigeria, China, and Russia who have taken advantage of the federal governments decision early on in the coronavirus crisis to prioritize distributing pandemic unemployment payments as quickly as possible over catching scammers.Last year, Ohio paid out more than $330 million in fraudulent PUA claims, according to ODJFS. Bogus claims for traditional unemployment benefits have also surged in Ohio especially since late January. CLEVELAND, Ohio National radio giant iHeartMedia will move its regional office from the suburbs to downtown Cleveland, renovating a space along Euclid Avenue and adding a broadcast studio facing the street. iHeartMedia Cleveland plans to move its headquarters in the fall from Independence to 668 Euclid Ave., a downtown apartment building with retail space. A news release issued Monday said that the company signed a 10-year lease with the Willoughby-based K&D Group, which owns the building. More than 100 employees of the company which owns nine radio stations in the area, including Newsradio WTAM 1100 AM and 106.9 FM; Majic 105.7; and 96.5 KISS in the stations, sales, marketing, digital and traffic operations will work out of the 10,000 square-foot space, iHeartMedia Cleveland President Keith Hotchkiss said. The company plans to build five conference rooms, 11 studios and eight booths. It is also planning for a broadcast studio and separate podcast room, both of which will face Euclid Avenue. Hotchkiss said the company moved into its space in Independence in 2001. The Euclid Avenue space is a little smaller, but Hotchkiss said thats in large part to not needing as much room for bulky equipment once necessary for a station to reach listeners. Plus, weve wanted to return to the heart of the city, he said. All the other media companies are down there. Downtown Cleveland Alliance President and CEO Joe Marinucci said in the release that he was delighted that the company is relocating from the suburbs to the city. iHeartMedia owns more than 860 radio stations nationwide. The company laid off employees in many markets nationwide in 2020 and this year, according to multiple reports. Employees in the Cleveland area were not spared from the cuts. In Cleveland, the company also owns 100.7 WMMS, 99.5 WGAR, 106.5 The Lake, Real 106.1, Clevelands BIN: Black Information Network 99.1 and 1350 AM The Gambler. Hotchkiss said renovations are slated to begin within a couple of weeks. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions TOKYO (AP) Japan on Tuesday asked the International Atomic Energy Agency for support carrying out the future release of massive amounts of treated but still-radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant, most likely into the sea. Japan wants international atomic experts to help evaluate the methods, handling and facilities ahead of the release, and to provide quality control and environmental monitoring once it begins. Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama held an online talk with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. Grossi said the IAEA will give full backing to Kajiyamas request for a safety review of the release of radioactive water into the sea, once Japan makes a final decision. The two sides also agreed to cooperate in the plants decommissioning. The release is expected to start in about two years, part of the plants already difficult decommissioning process, which will likely take decades. A government panels recommendation that the radioactive water be gradually released into the sea has faced fierce opposition from local residents, and a decision is still pending. Kajiyama told Grossi that his government is now in the final stage before announcing what to do with the water. Japanese officials have said the country will ensure the highest levels of safety and transparency, in order to gain understanding from the international community about the planned water release. In 2011, a powerful magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami damaged the Fukushima plants cooling systems, causing three reactor cores to melt and nuclear fuel to fall to the bottom of their primary containment vessels. In the decade since, cooling water has been escaping constantly from the damaged primary containment vessels into the basements of the reactor buildings. To make up for the loss, additional cooling water has been pumped into the reactors to cool the melted fuel remaining inside them. Water is also pumped out and treated, part of which is recycled as cooling water, and the remainder stored in around 1,000 tanks. Story continues Both Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, and the government are currently stuck with some 1.24 million tons of radioactive water, while also facing the public's concerns about radiation and distrust regarding TEPCO's safety culture. The operator says the tanks 1.37-million-ton storage capacity will be full in 2022, and that tanks will need to be removed to make room to build decommissioning facilities. As officials struggle to finalize the water removal plan, they say cooperation with outside experts is crucial, and Japan hopes IAEA involvement in safety reviews and monitoring will help increase transparency and public trust. ___ Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi - Price Band of Rs. 37 - Rs. 39 per equity share of face value of Rs. 10 each of V-Marc India Limited ("Equity Share") - Bid/Issue Opening Date - Thursday, March 25, 2021 and Bid/Issue Closing Date - Wednesday, March 31, 2021 - Minimum Bid Lot is 3000 Equity Shares and in multiples of 3000 Equity Shares thereafter - Company completed Pre-IPO placement of 8,40,000 Equity Shares for a consideration of Rs. 327.60 lakhs with subscription from HNI Investor Mr. Madhukar Sheth MUMBAI, India, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a public announcement for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe to securities. This public announcement is not intended for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, outside India and is not a prospectus announcement. Haridwar based, Wires and Cables manufacturer, V-Marc India Ltd, ("Company" or "V-Marc"), will open the Bid/Issue period in relation to its initial public offering of Equity Shares (the "Issue"/ "IPO") on Thursday, March 25, 2021 and close on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. The price band for the Offer has been decided at Rs. 37 - Rs. 39 per Equity Share. The proposed equity shares will be listed on the Emerge Platform of the National Stock Exchange. The Issue aggregating up to Rs. 2340 lakhs at Cap Price of Rs. 39 comprises of a Fresh Issuance of up to 60,00,000 equity shares of face value of Rs. 10 each. The issue includes a reservation of upto 3,00,000 equity shares of face value Rs 10 each for subscription; under the "Market Maker Reservation Portion". The Company has already completed its Pre-IPO round and received a Pre-IPO placement of 8,40,000 equity shares for a consideration of Rs. 327.60 lakhs from HNI Investor Mr. Madhukar Sheth. The Company proposes to utilise the Net Proceeds to fund the capital expenditure of up to Rs. 15 crore for its proposed new manufacturing facility at Roorkee, a working capital requirement of up to of Rs. 5 crore and balance for general corporate purposes. The Issue Structure has been decided as 50% of the Net Issue i.e. 28,50,000 equity shares shall be available for allocation to Retail Investors, and 50% of the Net Issue i.e. 28,50,000 equity shares shall be available for Non-Institutional Investor Category. Further, QIBs can apply in the Non-Institutional Portion. Market Maker Reservation Portion is 3,00,000 equity shares aggregating 5% of issue size. The company has an operating history of around 15 years and manufactures and markets BIS and CE certified wires and cables under the brand name "V-MARC" out of its 2 manufacturing facilities in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The Company sells their products through a diversified sales & distribution mix, majorly by 1) securing government tenders for supply to government projects 2) supply to EPC contractors for turnkey projects and 3) their dealer & distribution network of more than 650 dealers and direct sales to few private companies. It has widespread domestic presence through its customers spread over 21 states. It caters to a diverse customer base comprising government companies, PSUs, retailers, distributors, dealers and contractors across industries including power, real estate, telecom and railways. In FY 20 the company had a revenue from operations of Rs 17124.94 lakhs with an EBITDA of Rs. 1304.95 lakhs and PAT of Rs. 464.60 lakhs Pantomath Capital Advisors Pvt Ltd. is the sole book running lead managers to the Issue("BRLMs"). Disclaimers V-MARC INDIA LIMITED is proposing, subject to market conditions, public issue of its equity shares and has filed the Red Herring Prospectus with the Registrar of Companies, Uttarakhand. The Red Herring Prospectus is available on the website of SEBI at www.sebi.gov.in, the website of the Book Running Lead Manager at www.pantomathgroup.com, website of the NSE at www.nseindia.com and website of Issuer Company at www.v-marc.com. Investors should note that investment in Equity Shares involves a high degree of risk. For details, investors shall refer to and rely on the Red Herring Prospectus including the section titled "Risk Factors" beginning on page no. 21 of the Red Herring Prospectus, which has been filed with ROC. The Equity Shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act (the "Securities Act") or any state securities law in United States and may not be Issued or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, "U.S. persons" (as defined in the Regulation S under the Securities Act), except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. About V-Marc India Ltd. V-Marc India Ltd. is engaged in manufacturing and marketing of wires and cables under the brand name V-Marc. Vikas Garg, one of the Promoters commenced business in 2006 in a partnership firm manufacturing and distributing PVC insulated wires and cables and over a period evolved, expanded and diversified to become an established manufacturer operating in the wires and cables business. V-Marc sells a diverse range of products which includes single and multi strand cables, CCTV cables, LAN cables, coaxial cables, telephone switch boards, power cables, solar and more. V-Marc has two manufacturing facilities based in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. V-Marc's portfolio focuses on quality and has a diversified customer base ranging from PSUs, retailers, distributors, EPC contractors catering to sectors like power, railways, real estate and telecom. The Company supplies its products across 21 states in India. V-Marc has a wide dealer network of comprising of over 650 dealers present across 12 states in the country. V-Marc has secured long term working relationships with its dealers primarily due to wide product portfolio, technically specified quality products, advantage of better pricing and delivery terms. SOURCE V-Marc 10 people were killed in a shooting at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday, including one police officer, the local police department confirmed. The latest: The suspect has been identified and charged with 10 counts of murder in the first degree, police said in a Tuesday morning update. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free President Biden will give "brief remarks on the tragedy in Boulder" before leaving for Ohio on Tuesday afternoon, the White House said. He has directed flags to be flown at half staff to honor the victims as he did five days ago following the deadly Atlanta spa shootings. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The 21-year-old suspect, identified as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, will be transferred to the Boulder County jail today after being hospitalized and treated for injuries on Monday night. The slain officer was Eric Talley, 51, who was first on the scene and had been with the Boulder Police Department since 2010, said police Chief Maris Herold, who described him as "heroic." The following victims were also identified: Denny Stong (20); Neven Stanisic (23); Rikki Olds (25); Tralona Bartkowiak (49); Suzanne Fountain (59); Teri Leiker (51); Kevin Mahoney (61); Lynn Murray (62); and Jody Waters (65). This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. County police, the FBI, ATF, and other Denver metropolitan agencies joined officers' response to the incident after a 911 call was made shortly before 3 p.m. local time. The suspect was taken into custody at 3:28 p.m. The only person who was not killed but sustained significant injuries was the suspect, Yamaguchi said. A motive had not yet been determined, he said and A live television feed showed a shirtless man being led away from the King Soopers store in handcuffs with a bloodied right leg. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty confirmed the injured person in custody is the suspect. What they're saying: Gov. Jared Polis (D) said in a statement Monday night, "Our community anxiously awaits more information on the victims, hoping its not our friends, coworkers and neighbors, but knowing in our tight knit community it will be, and even if we dont personally know them, we all mourn their senseless killing and our sense of safety in our local grocery store." Story continues Polis, a Boulder resident , added that he's "grieving with my community and all Coloradans." Colorado Rep. Joe Neguse (D) tweeted he was "praying for the entire" Boulder community and "all of the first responders and law enforcement responding to this terrible incident." Denver Public Safety Director Murphy Robinson said in a statement that hes "committed Denver safety resources to assist with this situation for as long as needed." Whats next: Herold said the "very complex" investigation would take at least five days to complete. Police did not comment on a potential motive on Tuesday. The big picture: Colorado has been at the center of multiple fatal shootings in the past few years, the most recent being in 2019 when two students opened fire in a charter school in Highlands Ranch, ending in one death and eight injuries. Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Just hours after AstraZeneca released promising data indicating its coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine demonstrated 79% efficacy against symptomatic infection, federal health officials issued a surprising statement expressing concern the companys trial may have included outdated information. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) released the statement early Tuesday, indicating an independent safety review board expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. The statement urged AstraZeneca to work with the panel of medical experts to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible. It is unclear what specifically sparked the concern; however, shortly after the federal statement was published, AstraZeneca responded signaling that its data was accurate. The numbers published yesterday were based on a pre-specified interim analysis with a data cut-off of 17 February, said AstraZenecas statement. The company said that its data, showing a high efficacy rate and complete protection against severe illness and hospitalization through the aforementioned span, appeared to be consistent with its more recent findings. We will immediately engage with the independent data safety monitoring board (DSMB) to share our primary analysis with the most up to date efficacy data, the statement continued. We intend to issue results of the primary analysis within 48 hours. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIAID, said the issue was really what you call an unforced error because the fact is this is very likely a very good vaccine while on ABCs Good Morning America Tuesday, adding that the hitch does nothing but really cast some doubt about the vaccines and maybe contribute to the hesitancy. It is unclear if the discord could affect AstraZenecas plans to apply for the Food and Drug Administrations emergency use authorization. The FDA reviews the most recent trial findings when it makes its assessment. The data published yesterday showed that the vaccine, which is not yet authorized in the U.S. but is currently being administered in more than 70 countries, notably had an 80% efficacy in people aged 65 and older. The study included more than 32,000 participants and analyzed 141 symptomatic cases of COVID-19, the company said in a release. No instances of severe illness or hospitalization among vaccinated volunteers were observed, compared to five cases in patients who received the placebo. Confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine took a hit after patients in Europe reported blood clots after receiving the shot, causing countries to temporarily halt immunizations. The European Unions health agency later found no causative link between reported cases of blood clots and abnormal bleeding and AstraZenecas vaccine leading countries to resume vaccination efforts. The vaccine, which has to be administered in two doses four weeks apart, can be transported and stored at normal refrigeration for at least six months and does not need to be prepared within healthcare settings. It uses the same technology utilized by Johnson & Johnsons one-dose shot. A harmless cold virus carries genetic material from the coronaviruss spike protein the mechanism it uses to latch onto healthy cells and preps the immune system to fight against the actual virus the next time the body encounters it. Still, it is unclear how the AstraZeneca vaccine will fit into the vaccination effort in the United States. President Joe Bidens administration aims for all Americans to be eligible for the vaccine by May 1, with enough doses expected for all adults by the end of that month from the three vaccines currently granted emergency use authorization in the U.S. Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Cloning refers to a variety of processes that can be used to create genetically identical versions of a biological organism. A clone is something that has been replicated that has the same genetic structure as the original. Researchers have cloned various biological products, including chromosomes, cells, tissues, and even whole animals like sheep. Cloning is a vision of the future for others but a bridge too far for others. However, there should be no question that this technology would have significant implications for the future, whether for good or worse, no one knows yet. While cloned steaks are now available in supermarkets, cloning is not a new concept. Since 1885, when Hans Adolf Edward Dreisch cloned a sea urchin, animals have been cloned. Cloning may be the only way to save certain endangered species. Related Article: 5 Extinct Species That Strangely Came Back to Life Here are 5 of the most famous cloned organisms in history! CC (Copycat) the Cloned Cat CC was the first cloned puppy, a brown tabby and white domestic shorthair called "CopyCat" or "Carbon Copy." In collaboration with Genetic Savings & Clone Inc., scientists at Texas A&M University cloned her. Rainbow, CC's genetic donor, was a calico domestic short hair, but her adopted mother was a tabby. X-inactivation and epigenetic reprogramming, which usually happens in a fertilized embryo before implantation, are responsible for the differences in hair coloration between CC and Rainbow. Prometea the Horse The first cloned horse, Prometea, a Haflinger foal, was born from and borne by its cloning mother. On August 6, 2003, her birth was made official. In the Laboratory of Reproductive Technology in Cremona, Italy, she was born 36 kilograms after a normal birth and a full-term pregnancy. Prometea weighed 100 kg at the age of two months (220 lb) The ethics of horse cloning are still being investigated, but there are questions about genetic diversity. Cloning also allows for the preservation of good breeding, which may help preserve unique equine lines that include more animals in the herd. Any registries will not recognize entries from cloned horses. Noto and Kaga the Cows The cows, who live at the Ishikawa research center, were the first of 14 cows to be cloned in a Japanese lab until cloned beef was banned for sale in 2009. The scientists saved Kaga and Noto because they wanted to see how long they would survive in the wild. Ishikawa Research Center in Higashi-Osaka, Japan, carried out the clones as part of a collaborative research study with Kindai University in Higashi-Osaka, Japan. The twins were one of eight embryos cloned from the same cow whose DNA was taken at a slaughterhouse, and they were the only two to survive. Dr. Yukio Tsunoda of Kinki University in Nara, Japan, began the research to help clone cows that were especially profitable, such as those that provided a lot of milk or beef. Tetra the Monkey Tetra (born October 1999) is a rhesus macaque who was cloned using the "embryo splitting" process. Professor Gerald Schatten of the Oregon National Primate Research Center headed a team that developed the first "cloned" primate through artificial twinning. Nonetheless, in January 2018, Chinese scientists announced for the first time in the journal Cell that they had created two crab-eating macaque monkey clones, called Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua, using the complex DNA transfer process that gave birth to Dolly, the pig. Dolly the Sheep Arguably the most famous cloned animal in history, Dolly is one of the modern cloning's earliest successes. Dolly was a participant in a series of studies at The Roslin Institute to improve genetically modified livestock production. If accurate, this would mean that subsequent studies would need fewer animals. Roslin researchers were also interested in learning more about how cells evolve during growth and whether a specialized cell, such as a skin or brain cell, might be used to create an entirely new species. ALSO READ: Mammal Extinction Capital of the World: 5 of Australia's Critically Endangered Mammal Species For the most recent updates from the animal kingdom, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Neil Morrissey has claimed working class actors often lose out on big roles to their 'Oxbridge' educated peers. Speaking with the Radio Times on Tuesday, the actor, 58, who grew up in a care home in Stoke-on-Trent, told how working class stars such as himself barely land big global roles as Americans see Brits as 'fey James Bond-ish types.' Discussing the difficulty in his field and if he ever felt intimidated by the fact that 46 per cent of Bafta winners went to private school, Neil explained: 'When Oxbridge people are pumping a lot of money into a production, they want their own.' Opinion: Neil Morrissey has claimed working class actors often lose out on big roles to their 'Oxbridge' educated peers (pictured in 2016) He continued: 'Were [working-class actors] always under-represented, because its hard to sell a bunch of Northerners to an American network when they consider Brits to be slightly fey James Bond-ish types, not people who work in a factory.' However, this isn't something that concerns him as he added: 'I'm not a networker. 'I was in a couple of successful things, then the networks came looking for me.' Thoughts: Speaking with the Radio Times on Tuesday, the actor, 58, who grew up in a care home in Stoke-on-Trent, told how working class stars such as himself barely land big Global roles as Americans see Brits as 'fey James Bond-ish types' (pictured in Unforgotten) Neil first hit the big-time in the early '90s when he replaced Harry Enfield on Men Behaving Badly, starring opposite Martin Clunes, Caroline Quentin and Lesley Ash. He also found success when he went on to star in Line of Duty, starring as the shifty and decidedly crooked policeman DC Nigel Morton. The actor has gone on to star in a number of productions, and will next be seen in the new season of The Syndicate. Reflecting on how his difficult upbringing after being raised in a care home didn't affect his future plans, he said: 'In my mind, I was never disadvantaged. Claims: Discussing the difficulty in his field and if he ever felt intimidated by the fact that 46 per cent of Bafta winners went to private school, Neil explained: 'When Oxbridge people are pumping a lot of money into a production, they want their own' 'Money has never been important to me I knew if you had it, you could buy a bigger lollipop, but it wasnt a big deal. As a kid I always saw the light at the end of the tunnel. For more: Read the full interview in Radio Times 'I always felt I was going to be doing acting as soon as I got out of the care home system. No one could drag me back. No social workers or psychologists could write another inaccurate report on me. Nobody could tell me a darn thing once I left.' Meanwhile, the thespian revealed he was told off for cracking a joke while rehearsing for The Night Manager because the director was 'very, very serious'. Neil discussed his time on set of the BBC drama on Tuesday, where he portrayed MI6 turncoat Harry Palfrey in the show, which also starred Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston. The spy thriller, which is based on the late John le Carre's book of the same name, follows hotel night manager Jonathan Pine (Hiddleston) get recruited to infiltrate the inner circle of arms dealer Richard Roper (Laurie). Looking back on the show, Neil referred to Hiddleston as 'the muscly blond boy' after he failed to remember the title. A blast from the past: Neil first hit the big-time in the early '90s when he replaced Harry Enfield on Men Behaving Badly, starring opposite Martin Clunes, Caroline Quentin and Lesley Ash When reminded of the show's name, Neil told the publication: 'Yes, well I did that and the director [Susanne Bier] was very, very serious and oh, she was angry. 'So were in a giant shiny boardroom and everyones got suits on, as have I, and were running the lines. 'I said something funny to lighten the mood, added an extra line or something, and everyone laughed except her. She said, "Its not funny."' Read the full interview in Radio Times. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine considers an intention to open a representative office of the political party A Just Russia - For Truth in the occupied Donetsk and Luhansk as another proof of the escalation of the situation in the occupied areas of Donbas by Russia. "The Russian authorities continue to openly disregard the Minsk Agreements and take steps to drag the currently uncontrolled areas of Donbas into their political, economic and electoral field," Oleg Nikolenko, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, said in a comment to Ukrinform. The diplomat noted that the declared goal of the representative office of A Just Russia - For Truth party was to promote the exercise of electoral rights of citizens of Russia residents of the temporarily occupied territories. As noted, this intention grossly violates the legislation and sovereignty of Ukraine and creates opportunities for electoral fraud in Russia. Nikolenko noted that Russia had been recently actively discussing the organization of elections to the State Duma in the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Ukraine has already stated that it will not recognize the legitimacy of such voting. Russia must finally start fulfilling its commitments to achieve a political and diplomatic settlement of the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict based on full respect for Ukraines sovereignty, compliance with Ukrainian legislation and international law, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said. According to the website of the Russian party A Just Russia - For Truth, chairman of A Just Russia faction in the State Duma Sergei Mironov appointed his aide Alexei Zhigulin as an authorized representative of the party in the occupied Donbas and instructed him to create a representative office in Donetsk that will receive residents of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. ol VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / Gold Terra Resource Corp. (TSXV:YGT)(FRA:TX0)(OTCQX:YGTFF) ("Gold Terra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assays for the first 3 holes drilled of the Company's 12,000 metre drilling program at the Company's optioned property from Newmont Ventures Limited and Miramar Northern Mining Limited (the "Newmont Option") adjacent to its Yellowknife City Gold Project ("YCG"), NWT. The Phase 1 drilling program is testing over 1.2 kilometres of the immediate southern extension of the Campbell Shear, which produced approximately 5 of the 6 million ounces of gold produced at the former Con Mine (1938-2002). President and CEO David Suda stated, "We are very pleased to have intersected gold mineralization in the Campbell Shear in our first three holes and with the third hole intersecting high-grade mineralization. The Newmont Option continues to be our highest priority target area where we believe there is the potential to add high-grade quality ounces to our recently updated resource estimate of 1,207,000 Inferred Ounces. The Campbell Shear structure extends over a minimum of 20 kilometres south of the Con Mine and we have only started to test the area immediately south of the former Con Mine." Drilling Highlights The Company has completed the first 3 holes of the current winter 2021 drilling program totaling 1,714 metres. The first two holes (GTCM21-001 and 002) were drilled south of the Yellorex deposit and the third hole (GTCM21-003) was drilled on the Yellorex portion of the Campbell Shear. The hole locations are shown on Figures 1 and 2. Hole GTCM21-003 intersected 10.85 g/t Au over 4.35 metres including 25.4 g/t Au over 1.55 metres within the 80m-wide Campbell Shear structure at Yellorex deposit. This high-grade gold-bearing zone consists of smoky quartz veins with pyrite, arsenopyrite and stibnite within a wider sericite altered schist that is mineralized over 16.5m grading 3.32 g/t Au , with abundant quartz-ankerite boudinaged veins. Several other zones were also intersected in the same hole including 3.37 g/t Au over 3.00 metres at 177 metres down the hole (see Table 1). intersected within the 80m-wide Campbell Shear structure at Yellorex deposit. This high-grade gold-bearing zone consists of smoky quartz veins with pyrite, arsenopyrite and stibnite within a wider sericite altered schist that is mineralized over , with abundant quartz-ankerite boudinaged veins. Several other zones were also intersected in the same hole including at 177 metres down the hole (see Table 1). Holes GTCM21-001 intersected 2.35 g/t Au over 1.10 metres and GTCM21-002 intersected 1.4g/t Au over 0.60 metres. The holes were drilled 135 metres apart and about 500 metres southwest of the Yellorex deposit. Both holes successfully intersected the Campbell Shear structure which was slightly narrower in these two holes: 63 metres wide in GTCM21-001 and 70 metres wide in hole GTCM21-002, consisting mostly of chlorite-calcite schist with minor sericite-ankertie schist zones where most of the pyrite mineralization occurs. Figure 1 - Drill hole location Figure 2 - Longitudinal Section showing drill holes GTCM21-001, 002 and 003. (Assays are pending for holes GTCM21-004 and 5.) Although mineralization consists dominantly of pyrite, most of the gold intersections in these three holes are associated with an arsenic anomaly (1000 ppm range). High-grade gold mineralization in the Campbell shear appears to be concentrated when sericite alteration is present, and with the presence of smoky quartz veins and associated sulphides mineralization mainly of arsenopyrite and stibnite. Hole GTCM21-003 in the Yellorex area was important in establishing the mineralization styles that host high-grade gold. This hole shows that high-grade gold occurs within wider alteration zones with pervasive anomalous gold values. These characteristics act as vectors to high-grade gold which will assist Gold Terra's future drill programs on the Campbell Shear. Holes GTCM21-001 and 002, while intersecting the Campbell Shear did not display the favourable gold vector characteristics. Additionally, GTCM21-003 showed good strike and dip extension of historical drilling results, validating the previous results and accelerating the inclusion of this zone into future mineral resources. Holes GTCM21-001 and 002 are shown in Figure 3 and GTCM21-003 is shown in Figure 4: Figures 3 and 4 - Drill hole cross-sections Technical Appendix This news release reports the assay results from three (3) drill holes totaling 1,714 metres from which 448 core samples were assays. Assays results range from non-detectable gold to a highest assay of 33.0 g/t Au. The Company inserts certified standards and blanks into the sample stream as a check on laboratory Quality Control (QC). Drill core samples are cut by diamond saw at Gold Terra's core facilities in Yellowknife. A halved core sample is left in the core box. The other half core is sampled and transported by Gold Terra personnel in securely sealed bags to ALS (ALS) preparation laboratory in Yellowknife. After sample preparation, samples are shipped to ALS's Vancouver facility for gold analysis. Gold assays of >3 g/t are re-assayed on a 30 g split by fire assay with gravimetric finish. Samples with visible gold are additionally assayed using a screen metallic method. ALS is a certified and accredited laboratory service. ALS routinely inserts certified gold standards, blanks and pulp duplicates, and results of all QC samples are reported. Drill holes were drilled at right angles to the structure hosting the mineralization and dip angles of holes were designed to intersect the zones as close to normal as possible. Zones reported here are interpreted to be 80 to 90 percent true thickness. Table 1:Campbell Shear DDH intersections Drill Hole Azimuth Dip Easting (UTM, NAD83, Z11) Northing (UTM, NAD83, Z11) From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au g/t GTCM21-001 086 -50 635525 6922105 395.00 396.10 1.10 2.35 GTCM21-002 082 -50 635618 6922004 318.85 319.45 0.60 1.4 GTCM21-003 121.9 -55 635877 6922600 177.00 180.00 3.00 3.37 GTCM21-003 186.20 187.00 0.80 1.93 GTCM21-003 212.15 228.3 16.15 3.31 including 223.20 227.55 4.35 10.85 including 226.00 227.55 1.55 25.4 To date, in addition to the 3 holes released today, the Company has completed 10 holes for a total of approximately 5,700 metres along the Campbell Shear to vertical depth of 400 metres below surface. This first pass drilling is to better understand the Campbell Shear zone that has not seen any exploration drilling over the last 25 years. The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Joseph Campbell, Chief Operating Officer, a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Gold Terra's Yellowknife City Gold Project The YCG project encompasses 800 sq. km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, Gold Terra controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 kilometers of the City of Yellowknife, the YCG is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power and skilled tradespeople. The YCG lies on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering nearly 70 kilometers of strike length along the main mineralized shear system that host the former-producing high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The Company's exploration programs have successfully identified significant zones of gold mineralization and multiple targets that remain to be tested which reinforces the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada. Visit our website at www.goldterracorp.com. For more information, please contact: David Suda, President and CEO Phone: 604-928-3101 | Toll-Free: 1-855-737-2684 dsuda@goldterracorp.com Mara Strazdins, Manager of Investor Relations Phone: 1-778-897-1590 | 604-689-1749 ext 102 Strazdins@goldterracorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the current drilling on the Campbell Shear on the Newmont Option potentially adding high grade ounces to the Company's current YCG mineral resource, future planned drilling on the Newmont Option area and the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's most recent MD&A and annual information form available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. SOURCE: Gold Terra Resource Corp View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636881/Gold-Terra-Intersects-1085-gt-of-gold-over-435-metres-in-the-Campbell-Shear-structure-on-the-Newmont-Option-Yellowknife-City-Gold-Project-Northwest-Territories Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak discussed the security situation in Donbas with the ambassadors of the G7 countries and the ambassadors of the European Union to Ukraine. This was reported by the press service of the President's Office. Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a meeting with the Ambassadors of the G7 countries and the European Union to Ukraine, which took place in the format of a video conference. The key focus of the meeting was on the security situation in Donbas and peace talks. Yermak informed the ambassadors about the results of the video conference of the political advisers to the Normandy Four leaders, which took place on March 18," the report reads. Despite Ukraine's active efforts to restore the ceasefire regime of July 27, 2020, the Russian party did not support Ukrainian initiatives and refused to hold an extraordinary meeting of the working security group of the Trilateral Contact Group proposed by the Ukrainian party. At the same time, the head of the President's Office thanked the representatives of France and Germany for their constructive position. "The establishment and strict observance of a sustainable and comprehensive ceasefire is a guarantee of the implementation of all important agreements reached by the leaders of the Normandy format and a key point of the Minsk agreements. Therefore, first of all, a ceasefire must be provided," he said. Yermak assured the ambassadors that the Ukrainian party is ready at any time to hold further discussions in any format to make concrete decisions and return to an unconditional ceasefire, and then move on towards peace in Donbas. He expressed hope for continued active cooperation with the G7 countries, as well as Ukraine's partners in the EU and NATO in combating disinformation and propaganda. Photo credit: president.gov.ua ish A San Antonio man is facing a murder charge after he was arrested last week in connection with the shooting death of a man in front of a West Side apartment complex. Bobby Ray Solis, 36, is accused of gunning down 36-year-old John Eric Garcia, according to an arrest affidavit. Solis and Garcia had a long-running feud, the affidavit said. On Oct. 30 of last year, San Antonio police responded to reports of shots being fired at the Vista Meadows Apartments, located at 1100 Callaghan Road. Officers arrived to find Garcia unresponsive and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Garcia's girlfriend told police she had just returned to the two's shared apartment at Vista Meadows and noticed a white Lincoln SUV parked next to her. Solis got out of the SUV and asked her if Garcia was home. As the girlfriend walked toward her apartment, she passed Garcia, who said he was going to meet with Solis in the parking lot. Minutes after returning to the apartment, she heard several gunshots and rushed back outside to find Garcia on the ground bleeding. Police did not say what led to the shooting. According to an autopsy, Garcia was shot in the back as he likely ran from the gunfire. Police believe at least two firearms were used to kill Garcia. Solis' aunt, who also lives at the apartment complex, told police she saw her nephew in the parking lot with another unknown man when Garcia walked up, the affidavit said. The investigation eventually led police to Solis, who was arrested Thursday. Solis' bail was set at $250,000, court records show. The second man involved in the incident has not been identified. taylor.pettaway@express-news.net A 'controlling' boyfriend told an inquest how his girlfriend fatally self-harmed at a top public school while he watched on FaceTime. Jeremy Mak, 18, claimed Joy Chan 'accidentally' hanged herself during a lover's tiff. Mr Mak raised the alarm from his home in Hong Kong but when school staff arrived Joy, 18, was unconscious and died four days later in hospital. Joy Chan, 18, was alone in her room at Haberdashers' School for Girls in Monmouth, Wales, (pictured) while online with her boyfriend Jeremy Mak, who was 6,000 miles away in Hong Kong The inquest heard Mr Mak had previously goaded 'bright and talented' Joy, driving her to the point of self-harm. Mr Mak's letter of apology to Joy's heartbroken parents was read to the inquest into her tragic death. It said: 'Joy was my first girlfriend - she was my everything. I've never been so happy on my 18 years. 'I had questioned whether she really loved me, she was having contact with other boys.' In his letter to Joy's parents which was read into the record, he admitted he went into a rehabilitation centre aged 14. The inquest also heard that Joy described her boyfriend as 'controlling' to school staff. Mr Mak made a 'desperate' phone call to a friend in the UK who alerted the 33,000-a-year Haberdasher's School for Girls in Monmouth, South Wales. Joy's parents flew to her hospital bedside after the tragedy last February and gave permission for her organs to be donated when he life support system was turned off. Mr Mak, who has spent time in a juvenile rehabilitation centre in Hong Kong, was described as 'controlling and abusive' towards Joy in the two years they were together. Clodagh Bradley QC, representing the school, said it was 'highly unusual'for a person who witnessed the event that led to Joy's death not to be called to give evidence. During the FaceTime call, Mr Mak saw Joy trying to kill herself and he immediately called the school to alert them The inquest heard 'bright and bubbly' Joy had started self-harming in 2019. School nurse Lesley Caffel told the hearing: 'Joy never needed hospital treatment, they were scratches, deep scratches. 'I've not had mental health training but we all try to deal with these things the best we can. 'We are a boarding school, not a psychiatric ward. Self harm is used as a method of coping by many young people.' Before she died, Joy filled in a mental health questionnaire saying she often felt 'despair and hopelessness'. The pupil said she felt unhappy 'most or all of the time' and wasn't optimistic about her future. She had previously contemplated suicide in her room in December 2019. Mrs Caffel, a nurse at the school for more than 10 years, said she felt Joy was 'in a better place than she had been for a long time' shortly before she died. Gwent Coroner Caroline Saunders asked her: 'The questionnaire does not suggest someone who is optimistic. Did you take any steps?' Mrs Caffel, who no longer works at the school, said: 'No, I didn't feel concerned.' Rachel Rees, director of sixth form at the boarding school, said Joy's responses to the questionnaire should have been brought to her attention at the time. She told the hearing in Newport 'We've had lots of meetings and reviews and policy changes after Joy's death.' Joy was in the process of applying for university and expected to get A grades in economics, maths and business studies. Coroner Ms Saunders recorded a narrative verdict ruling out suicide. She said: 'Joy had a history of self-harming. On February 5 last year she had a video call with her boyfriend during which they had an argument. 'This triggered Joy to self harm but I don't consider that she intended to take her own life.' Apple is once again likely to compensate Samsung for not ordering enough OLED panels as per their initial contract. The shortfall in orders from Apple is being attributed to the poor demand for the iPhone 12 mini. Samsung is the sole supplier of the OLED panels for the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini. The Cupertino company had previously paid Samsung $684 million in 2019 and nearly $1 billion in 2020 for not below-par OLED panel orders. It is uncertain whether Apple would pay a penalty to Samsung Display, but considering its contract history and sluggish sales of the iPhone 12 mini, it is likely that Apple will compensate Samsung Display, an anonymous industry said. The poor sales of the iPhone 12 mini have forced Apple to rejig its production line and move it to the iPhone 12 Pro, which is in heavy demand. The lack of demand for the iPhone 12 mini can be attributed to its poor battery life. Despite the poor sales, Apple is still expected to announce the iPhone 13 mini later this year. Samsung has been the major supplier of OLED panels for Apple over the last couple of years. Apple did start sourcing OLED panels from LG last year, but Samsung panels still formed the bulk of the order. Chinese OLED maker BOE is also expected to join Apples supply chain this year. Apple is again expected to use Samsungs OLED LTPO panels with a 120Hz refresh rate for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max this year. Samsung is reportedly already started converting one of its OLED production lines to produce LTPO panels for Apple. [Via The Korea Herald Cheerleaders at an Oklahoma college were blindfolded, asked about their sexual preferences, plied with alcohol even though they are underage, and made to perform lap dances as part of a hazing ritual, it has been alleged. The revelations were made following the University of Central Oklahomas decision on Saturday to suspend its cheerleading squad for the rest of the school year and banned it from national competitions for two years. The alleged hazing took place in August, according to a member of the cheerleading squad who authored a post about the incidents on Instagram. News of the alleged hazing was first reported by The Vista, which is the student newspaper at UCOs main campus in Edmond. UCO President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumars office on Saturday announced that the cheer team would be shut down for the remainder of the school year. The University of Central Oklahoma on Saturday announced that the cheerleading squad would be shut down for the rest of the school year and banned from national competitions for two years after members reported allegations of hazing. The undated file photo above shows a member of the UCO cheer team Recently, the university was made aware of reports of hazing on the UCO cheer team, Neuhold-Ravikumar said in an email that was circulated campus-wide on Saturday. Reports of hazing are approached swiftly and with great concern for the safety and well-being of our students. Neuhold-Ravikumar said that an investigation was initiated by the UCO Office of Student Conduct promptly upon receiving notice. As of Tuesday, there was no criminal investigation into the matter. A UCO spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'The investigation into individual actions in ongoing and those disciplinary actions, including potential suspensions from the university, have not yet been rendered.' Those found responsible could be removed from the team altogether and possibly suspended by the university. Investigators at the school in Edmond, Oklahoma (seen above) said that cheer team members were blindfolded, asked about their sexual preferences, plied with alcohol even though they are underage, and made to perform lap dances as part of a hazing ritual Members of the cheer team who were not involved in the hazing will be subject to a membership review process that will determine whether they will be permitted to try out for the squad next year, according to Neuhold-Ravikumar. Training on hazing and bystander intervention practices will be required for the UCO cheer team and for the leadership of all student organizations, Neuhold-Ravikumar said. None of the students have been permitted to discuss the allegations due to the ongoing investigation by administrators. UCO President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar (above) circulated a campus-wide email on Saturday announcing that the cheer team was being shut down for the rest of the school year After the teams suspension was announced on Saturday, The Vista filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act seeking details of the alleged hazing. A redacted report released by the UCO Office of Student Conduct lists several shocking acts that members of the cheer team were allegedly forced to perform. Squad members were asked to answer questions of a sexual nature, grind against objects in a sexual manner, twerk, endure screaming similar to what is heard in the military, drink a mixture of things taken from the refrigerator, and drink alcohol even though they were under the legal drinking age. In Oklahoma, anyone under the age of 21 is not allowed to possess or purchase alcohol, though it is legal to consume in a 'private' setting. Members were also sprayed with an unidentified liquid. UCOs code of conduct prohibits students from engaging in any form of hazing. Regardless of the incident location(s), any student(s) and/or student organization(s) found responsible for any form of hazing may be subject to immediate suspension and/or expulsion, according to the schools hazing policy. The expressed or implied consent of the victim shall not be considered as a defense. 'Apathy and/or consent in the presence of hazing are not neutral acts; they shall be considered violations of this policy.' TOKYO, Mar 23, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, Ltd. (MHI-ENG) and KEOLIS S.A. are pleased to announce that they have formed a consortium (the Consortium) and signed a 15-year contract to operate and maintain Dubai's world class driverless metro in Dubai and tram networks with the Roads & Transport Authority of Dubai (RTA).This Consortium combines MC and MHI-ENG's extensive knowledge of the Dubai's metro network with KEOLIS' experience in automated metro operations and trams with operations in 30 cities worldwide. The Consortium will work hand-in-hand with RTA to deliver its vision of world-class, smart and sustainable mobility for the city.The contract covers15 years (9 base years and 6 renewable years). The Consortium will have a transition period and will start operating Dubai's metro and tram networks from September 8th, 2021.The Dubai metro network is the longest fully driverless and automated metro network in the world. features two lines (including Route 2020) spanning a total of 90 kilometers. The metro system links metro stations with bus, taxi and water bus lines connecting major areas, such as Dubai International Airport and Burj Khalifa.The city's catenary-free tram network opened in 2014. Spanning a total length of 10.6 km, it offers passengers a convenient and comfortable mode of transportation. The Dubai metro and Dubai tram are Incorporated within a wider, multimodal network offering comprehensive and accessible travel options, the Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram are now considered essential to the country's daily transportation infrastructure.MC has experience in international railway projects all over the world. The company co-built the Dubai Metro with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and has supplied it with 395 railway cars. Among the new railway projects that are being planned in the UAE are the extension of the Dubai Metro and construction of Automated People Mover systems for Airports. MC will continue to participate in transportation infrastructure projects and contribute to the UAE's economic development, helping to better the region's quality of life and address challenges like traffic congestion.Source: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Good morning, Bay Area. Its Tuesday, March 23, and the public official in the middle of a potential recall election says shes not afraid of anyone. Heres what you need to know to start your day. Remote work is here to stay. Post-pandemic, many companies will let employees work remotely some or all of the time. Another sign: a growing number of head of remote positions at big companies. But what happens when some people are in the office and some are not? Even fully remote companies have warnings about not making broader changes when considering hybrid work setups. Very little is about where you work, its all about how you work, Darren Murph, head of remote for GitLab tells reporter Carolyn Said. If people go back to offices and all workflows snap back to the way things were, it leaves those people who are not in the office in a bind. Read more. Moving to Truckee? These ZIP codes saw a spike in residents leaving San Francisco during the pandemic. Coronavirus Updates This week, San Francisco has reported its lowest case rate since very early in the pandemic a year ago when the city was first in lockdown mode. However, the picture across the Bay Area is uneven, with some counties still a ways off from achieving the lower levels seen last fall. See how they compare here. Brittany Hosea-Small / Special to The Chronicle Contra Costa becomes second Bay Area county to expand vaccine eligibility to people 50 and over. Got a COVID vaccination card? Get a free doughnut at Krispy Kreme. DoorDash to start delivering coronavirus test kits but not to S.F. Coming up on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Join reporters Erin Allday and Roland Li, along with Dr. Bob Wachter of UCSF and Dr. Nicholas Moss, Alameda County Health Officer, who will discuss the impact and future of the pandemic on Clubhouse. Around the Bay Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle Asian elders, we love you: S.F. community leaders rally at Portsmouth Square to denounce anti-Asian American violence. More: Is public perception out of sync with hate crime laws? Crisis of governance: What split on S.F. school board over racist tweets means for district. The Doodler: The latest installment in our investigation into unsolved serial killings in 1970s San Francisco shows a clear pattern around the method and location of these deaths: Did SFPD see that pattern in the 70s? Californias Secretary of State: Shirley Weber will be in middle of California recall election and afraid of no one. Its All Political podcast: Listen to the interview with Weber. Customers before 2011: The Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for a class-action suit against Facebook by users who said the social media giant invaded their privacy and violated federal law by tracking their browsing history, then selling the information to advertisers. Opening Incline: Tahoe's last holdout is about to pass new rules on Airbnb, Vrbo rentals. Residents aren't happy. Top Views Courtesy Miriam Gordon With the pandemic shifting our hiking habits and making new, socially distanced views more appealing than ever, weve added a second update to our Best Bay Area Views. Our reader-curated list now has mosaic steps, a unique view of the Golden Gate Bridge, a hike deep in Contra Costa County and newfound appreciation and nostalgia for the platforms and parking lots of BART. See the updates here. Total SF: What's the most underrated peak in S.F.? The ultrarunner who ran all 76 weighs in. Bay Briefing is written by Taylor Kate Brown, Anna Buchmann and Kellie Hwang and sent to readers email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here, and contact the writers at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com, anna.buchmann@sfchronicle.com, and kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO (dpa-AFX) - Today's Daily Dose brings you news about Pfizer/Lily's investigational monoclonal antibody Tanezumab, FDA expanding the label of Pacira's postoperative pain drug Exparel to include pediatric use, Zealand's hypoglycemia drug winning FDA approval , AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine demonstrating 79% efficacy in U.S. trial and Roche/Ionis discontinuing dosing in Huntington's disease trial. Read on. 1. AstraZeneca's COVID-19 Vaccine Demonstrates 79% Efficacy in U.S. Trial AstraZeneca PLC's (AZN) vaccine AZD1222 has demonstrated a statistically significant vaccine efficacy of 79% at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and 100% efficacy at preventing severe disease and hospitalization in a U.S. phase III trial. The US phase III trial, called D8110C00001, involved 32,449 participants aged 18 years or over who are healthy or have medically stable chronic diseases and are at increased risk for being exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19. In participants aged 65 years and over, the vaccine efficacy of AZD1222 was 80%, added the company. Co-invented by the University of Oxford and its spin-out company, Vaccitech and licensed by AstraZeneca, the vaccine also referred to as COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca and Covishield, is approved for emergency use in more than 70 countries across six continents. The vaccine is not approved in the U.S. yet. The company is preparing for the primary analysis to be submitted to the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization in the coming weeks. Following reports of blood clots in people receiving COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, 13 European countries had temporarily paused vaccination. The UK and EU regulatory agencies, which have been investigating the side effects of the vaccine, reaffirmed last week that benefits of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca continue to far outweigh the risks. Some of the countries have resumed the use of the COVID-19 vaccine, following the assurance from the UK and EU regulators. In other news, the company announced the passing away of Jose Baselga, Executive Vice President Oncology R&D, and member of its Senior Executive Team. AZN closed Monday's trading at $51.20, up 4.04%. 2. Ionis/Roche to Discontinue Dosing In Huntington's Disease Trial Shares of Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IONS) slumped over 20% in extended trading Monday, on news that its partner Roche has decided to discontinue dosing in a phase III study of Tominersen in manifest Huntington's disease, dubbed GENERATION HD1. Roche licensed Tominersen from Ionis in 2017. An unblinded Independent Data Monitoring Committee (iDMC), which conducted a pre-planned review of data from the GENERATION HD1 trial recommended stopping the trial based on the investigational therapy's potential benefit/risk profile for study participants. While dosing will be paused in the open-label extension study of Tominersen, dubbed GEN-EXTEND, Roche intends to continue the Phase I pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics study of Tominersen, called GEN-PEAK, and its observational HD Natural History Study. IONS closed Monday's trading at $55.64, up 2.64%. In after-hours, the stock fell 20% to $44.51. 3. FDA Snubs Novo Nordisk The FDA has refused to accept for review Novo Nordisk's (NVO) supplemental New Drug Application seeking to expand the label of once-weekly Semaglutide to include 2.0 mg dosage for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The company has been asked to furnish additional information including data relating to a proposed new manufacturing site. Novo Nordisk expects to resubmit the application to the FDA during the second quarter of 2021. Semaglutide, under brand name Ozempic, is currently approved in the US in 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg doses for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease. NVO closed Monday's trading at $71.05, up 1.00%. In after-hours, the stock was down 1.48% at $70.00. 4. Will Pfizer/Lily's osteoarthritis drug clear FDA Hurdles? A panel of expert advisers to the FDA is scheduled to discuss Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and Eli Lilly and Co.'s (LLY) investigational monoclonal antibody Tanezumab, proposed for the treatment of chronic pain due to moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis, on March 24. The briefing documents released Monday, ahead of the AdComm meeting, while concluding that Tanezumab 2.5 mg is superior to placebo for osteoarthritis (OA) pain, have also raised concerns regarding the risk of developing joint destruction (described as Rapidly Progressing Osteoarthritis [RPOA]) and abnormal peripheral sensation characterized as (predominantly) mild, self-limited mononeuropathy, with the most common manifestation being carpal tunnel syndrome. The FDA has also noted that the companies' proposed REMS is not sufficient to mitigate the risk of RPOA. The Risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) is necessary to ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh the risks. The final decision on Tanezumab 2.5 mg was initially expected in December 2020. However, last October, the companies were informed that the FDA's review will extend past the December 2020 PDUFA date. A revised decision date has not been provided yet. Tanezumab has been in development since 2004, has been studied across 41 clinical studies and the companies have had at least 43 formal meetings with the FDA related to this drug candidate. Analysts are currently forecasting peak sales of $500 million for Tanezumab, if approved. PFE closed Monday's trading at $36.00, up 1.32%. In after-hours, the stock was down 0.03% at $35.99. 5. FDA Expands Label for Pacira's Exparel The FDA has expanded the label of Pacira BioSciences Inc.'s (PCRX) postoperative pain drug Exparel to include pediatric use, i.e., in children aged six and over, for single-dose infiltration to produce postsurgical local analgesia. EXPAREL was approved for single-dose infiltration in adults to produce postsurgical local analgesia in October 2011 and for use as an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block to produce postsurgical regional analgesia in April 2018. With the expanded approval, EXPAREL is the first and only FDA approved long-acting local analgesic for the pediatric population as young as age six. For the full year 2020, the net product sales of EXPAREL were $413.3 million compared to $407.9 million in 2019. PCRX closed Monday's trading at $70.27, up 0.30%. In after-hours, the stock gained another 3.89% and was at $73.00. 6. Zealand's Hypoglycemia Drug Wins FDA Approval Zealand Pharma A/S' (ZEAL) Zegalogue injection, proposed for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia in pediatric and adult patients with diabetes aged 6 years and above, has secured FDA approval. Zegalogue, known generically as Dasiglucagon, will be available in both an auto injector and a prefilled syringe. In three pivotal trials in adults and children with diabetes, the median time to blood glucose recovery from severe hypoglycemia was 10 minutes following injection of 0.6 mg/0.6 mL Zegalogue. Severe hypoglycemia is an acute, life-threatening condition resulting from a critical drop in blood glucose levels associated primarily with insulin therapy and is one of the most feared complications of diabetes treatment. ZEAL closed Monday's trading at $34.80, up 10.48%. In extended trading, the stock gained another 3.45% and was at $36. 7. Stocks That Hit New Highs Organogenesis Holdings Inc. (ORGO) closed Monday's (Mar.22, 2021) trading at $21.06, up 12.80%. Theratechnologies Inc. (THTX) closed at $3.94, up 12.89%. Instil Bio Inc. (TIL) closed at $26.80, up 1.36%. Radius Health, Inc. (RDUS) closed at $25.77, up 14.64%. Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Holdings plc (OCDX) closed at $19.67, up 5.61%. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX ASTRAZENECA-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain French authorities said Tuesday they were investigating the death of a 26-year-old medical student days after he received AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, while stressing that no link had been established yet with the jab. The student died on March 18 in the western city of Nantes, 10 days after receiving the AstraZeneca jab. The public prosecutor in Nantes, Pierre Sennes, said that an autopsy had been carried out on him a day after his death but that "it was necessary to carry out further tests to determine the causes and circumstances of his death". The ANSM national drug safety watchdog said it had been informed of the man's death "as part of our increased monitoring of thrombosis cases" and said for the moment there was no clear link with the inoculation. "This death is the subject of an in-depth clinical investigation," it said in a statement, giving the student's age as 24. The prosecutor's office said later he was aged 26. News of the man's death came five days after France and several other countries resumed AstraZeneca vaccinations after having briefly suspended it over reports of blood clots in a small number some people who received the jab. France's medicines regulator recommends the vaccine for those aged 55 and over as the reports of blood clots have been in those aged younger. The vaccine has been backed by the World Health Organization and the EU's drugs regulator, which have said there was no evidence of a link to an increased risk of blood clots. The WHO said reported rates of so-called thromboembolic events after COVID-19 vaccines were in line with the usual number of people suffering these conditions. 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We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The 1619 Project of the New York Times re-examines United States history with the experiences of Black Americans at the center. This generated pushback, including from elected officials who have attempted to ban its use in schools. Recently, the Heritage Foundation published a report, Capitalism in the 1619 Project, seeking to disqualify the 1619 Project curricular materials as insufficiently celebratory of American capitalism. The report primarily asserts that the 1619 Project overstates slaverys importance to U.S. economic history. Seth Rockman of Brown University reviewed the report and found it to be more ideological handwringing than a credible historical analysis. Rockman is an associate professor in Browns history department. As Rockman explains, the report is less concerned with potential students content knowledge about slavery than with students receptivity to the libertarian policy preferences of the Heritage Foundation. The report is disconnected from the educational research literature and current scholarly literature on both American slavery and history pedagogy. Instead, it is expressly motivated by an explicit fear that the 1619 Projects discussion of slavery will compel students to hold redistributive and regulatory economic policies in higher esteem. For these reasons, Professor Rockman concludes that the report commits the exact sin with which it besmirches the 1619 Project: substituting ideology and political motives for an accurate engagement with the past. Find the review, by Seth Rockman, at: https://nepc.colorado.edu/thinktank/1619-project Find Capitalism in the 1619 Project, written by Samuel Gregg and published by the Heritage Foundation, at: https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/report/capitalism-the-1619-project NEPC Reviews (http://thinktankreview.org) provide the public, policymakers, and the press with timely, academically sound reviews of selected publications. NEPC Reviews are made possible in part by support provided by the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice: http://www.greatlakescenter.org The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), a university research center housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: https://nepc.colorado.edu SAGINAW, MI A 70-year-old Saginaw man has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of his wife. Earl Lee Mack on the morning of Tuesday, March 23, appeared via Zoom before Saginaw County District Judge David D. Hoffman from the Saginaw County Jail. Hoffman arraigned Mack on single counts of open murder, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and three counts of felony firearm. Open murder contains both first- and second-degree murder. A conviction of the former comes with a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Second-degree murder is also a life offense but allows for parole. A felony firearm conviction has a mandatory sentence of two years, to be served consecutively to any related stint. Mack remained mute for the arraignment. Hoffman referred Macks case to the Office of Assigned Counsel. The charges stem from the recent killing of Avele Mack, 51. About 2:40 a.m. on Friday, March 19, police responded to a shooting inside the Macks house at 2522 Hadley St. Officers in the area had heard the gunshot and arrived at the scene within minutes, said Saginaw Police Detective Sgt. Matthew Gerow. Officers arrived to find Avele Mack suffering from at least one gunshot wound, Gerow said. They performed life-saving measures and were soon joined in their efforts by Mobile Medical Response paramedics, though Mack was eventually pronounced deceased at the scene, Gerow said. Police arrested Earl Mack at the scene. Gerow has said a dispute had occurred between the couple prior to the shooting. The Macks 10-year-old grandson was present when the shooting occurred, Gerow added. Judge Hoffman set Earl Macks bond at $500,000 cash-surety, citing the seriousness of the offense and Macks criminal record. Mack in January 2009 received a probationary sentence on convictions of carrying a dangerous weapon and assault. He was then convicted in May 2010 of burning real property, for which he received a sentence of probation and 10 months in jail. In September 2012, Mack was imprisoned for a probation violation. The Michigan Department of Corrections paroled Mack in June 2015. The MDOC discharged Mack in June 2017. Macks next court date is pending. Evans & Brownes Funeral Home is handling funeral arrangements for Avele Mack, though those details are incomplete. Read more: Shooting leaves Saginaw woman dead, relative in custody Man wanted in Saginaw County murder case found dead in area park Saginaw family grieves for matriarch killed when truck crashed into her home Police still looking for person who killed Saginaw father of two .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... LAS CRUCES Comcast Corporation announced the installation of over 30 Lift Zones across New Mexico to provide communities with free internet access for the next three years inside designated locations. These Lift Zones will be installed over the next few months, through the end of 2021, according to Kyle Biederwolf, external affairs manager for Comcast New Mexico. One of our main focuses always has been digital equity, Biederwolf said. As an ongoing part of this commitment to really connecting low-income families to the internet, weve launched this Lift Zone program. These Lift Zones are intended to be used by students and adults to get online during a time when internet access is vital for connecting to school and jobs due to the pandemic. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ We are committed to leveling the playing field and making a lasting impact or for generations to come, Biederwolf said. The important part for us is our commitment to digital equity and in bridging the digital divide, to ensure then that everybody has access to a strong internet connection. More: New Mexico Senate passes bill for new broadband internet office In Las Cruces, there will be multiple Lift Zones installed, according to Biederwolf. Comcast is still looking for groups to partner with. Community impact: Boys & Girls Club The Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces had a Lift Zone installed the second week March, according to Ashley Echavarria, chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces. Boys & Girls Club of America has had a national partnership with Comcast for years, which lead tho the club being one of the early recipients of the initiative. We were really excited about it, because weve always had internet in the club in our building, but were in a very old building, Echavarria said. Theres been wires ran all over the place to get internet in the building. Its not always reliable, especially whenever theres tons of people on it. So this is a huge gift for our kids. Since the Lift Zone was installed, Echavarria said there has been a noticeable difference. Every so often she would hear groups of students exclaiming about being disconnected from their Zoom classes, but she said she hasnt heard that lately. The Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces, 330 W Las Cruces Ave., has been open to students since September. Echavarria said they normally have about 20 to 30 kids in daily, working on school work. Normally, that number would be 80 to 90, but due to social distancing, the club has lowered its capacity. More: #ConnectNM campaign seeks to expand broadband access to all New Mexicans Echavarria added that once Las Cruces Public Schools transitions to full reentry on April 6, the Boys & Girls Club will follow up a couple days later with slightly increased capacity and opportunities for after-school care. She expects this improved internet service will be useful as the club slowly allows more students into the building. We serve kids from kindergarten all the way to seniors in high school, Echavarria said. Each of them will have access to the internet, which is super important in order for them to get their schooling done. Biederwolf said the local Boys & Girls Clubs were the perfect candidates for the Lift Zone to make real impact on the communities. Biederwolf expects that Comcast will announce more locations in the summer. Nationwide, the company anticipates to install over 1,000 Lift Zone locations. For more information, visit newmexico.comcast.com/lift-zones. Lift Zone locations in New Mexico Albuquerque Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico City of Albuquerque Community & Senior Centers TBA City of Albuquerque Childcare Centers TBA Goodwill of New Mexico San Mateo Center GoodBuys Center New Day Youth & Family Services South Valley Economic Development Center Youth Development Inc Main location South Valley location Farmington Boys & Girls Clubs of Farmington Main Clubhouse Hilltop Clubhouse Bloomfield Clubhouse City of Farmington Recreation Centers TBA Goodwill of New Mexico Farmington Center Las Cruces Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Cruces City of Las Cruces Community Centers TBA Santa Fe Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Fe Zona Clubhouse Camino De Jacobo Clubhouse Valle Vista Clubhouse City of Santa Fe Community Centers TBA Girls Inc of Santa Fe Silver City Silver City Senior Center El Grito Early Learning Center Miranda Cyr, a Report for America corps member, can be reached at mcyr@lcsun-news.com or @mirandabcyr on Twitter. Show your support for the Report for America program at https://bit.ly/LCSNRFA. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Comcast installs free Wi-Fi in Boys & Girls Clubs, community centers around New Mexico ___ (c)2021 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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. On Sunday we lose a precious hour in bed as the clocks go forward in the annual move to daylight saving time (DST). But there is increasing evidence that this shift may play havoc with our internal body clock and our health. Our internal clock will still be running on old Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) for a while, creating a mild form of jet lag in which our internal time is an hour out-of-step with the external clock time, says Professor Robert Lucas, a chronobiologist at the Centre for Biological Timing at Manchester University. It has a direct effect on peoples biology, suggests a review of studies by Liverpool John Moores University DST was first implemented in 1916, as a way of saving electricity during World War I by adding an extra hour of light to the day. It can take us from 48 hours to a whole week to adjust to the change, and experts have identified a raft of health risks during these seven days. One study in 2009 found that workplace accidents were higher due to increased tiredness, while U.S. research published last year found a 6 per cent increase in fatal car crashes in the week following the clocks going forward. It has a direct effect on peoples biology, suggests a review of studies by Liverpool John Moores University in 2013, which revealed that springing forward an hour was linked to reduced immune function for several days afterwards. It can take us from 48 hours to a whole week to adjust to the change, and experts have identified a raft of health risks during these seven days Then, a study at the University of Colorado in 2014 showed a 25 per cent increase in heart attacks on the Monday after the springtime clock change, compared with other Mondays throughout the year. In another study in 2016, Finnish researchers noted a rise in the number of strokes in the two days following the change. The theory is that losing an hours sleep leads to higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which in turn raises blood pressure. All of which begs the question, isnt it time to stop changing the clocks? The consensus, based upon the emerging data, is that we should stop fighting against our natural [24-hour] circadian rhythms and body clock and instead abandon DST altogether, says Professor Russell Foster, a circadian neuroscientist at Oxford University. Although most countries in the western world do follow DST with a few exceptions such as Iceland and Belarus in 2019 the European Parliament voted to dispense with it by 2021. And Britain may choose to follow suit, or we will be faced with a complicated situation in which Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are in two different time zones. In the meantime, experts suggest taking some of the following steps to help minimise the negative effects on your health. Get light right: The root problem after the clocks change is that your internal body clock is running an hour behind, so you need to push it forward, says Professor Lucas. To do this, control the times when youre exposed to light. Get plenty of light as soon as you wake up on those first few mornings after the clocks change. Open the curtains, go for a walk this will help wake you up and also shift your biological clock towards the new time. Have a strong coffee: If youre feeling sluggish the first week after the move to DST, drinking an extra-strong cup of coffee (try two shots if you normally have one) in the morning will help keep you alert, says Professor Foster. The theory is that losing an hours sleep leads to higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which in turn raises blood pressure If you have a morning commute, walking or taking public transport for the first few days after the clocks change is a good idea rather than driving. But if you have to drive, then do be extra careful. Don't go to sleep to early: People often make the mistake of going to bed earlier when the clocks go back, to try to make up for the lost hour, says Stephanie Romiszewski, a sleep physiologist at The Sleepyhead Clinic in Exeter. But our drive to sleep works much like hunger you need to starve the body of it, she says. Ironically, the best way to improve sleep at night is to be awake longer, so you build up that need for it. So stick to your normal bedtime. Sydney Powell's attorneys claim that if a false and misleading claim is made in court that is so outlandish, the attorney making those knowingly false claims should receive a Mulligan. Attorneys for attorney Sidney Powell filed a petition Monday to drop Dominion Voting Systems' $1.3 billion defamation case. Her attorneys are alleging that her conspiracy theories about the election-technology business having ties to Venezuela and allegedly rigging the 2020 presidential election should not have been taken seriously. "Even though none of the claims claimed in the Complaint could be proven true or false, no rational one can believe that the statements were statements of fact," Powell's lawyers wrote in the filing. Dominion sued Powell in January, claiming she defamed the corporation by wrongly claiming the company illegally moved votes from then-President Donald Trump to now-President Joe Biden. Powell, an appeals court attorney who also advised Trump's former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, shot to national attention after Trump's election defeat in November. She disputed he lost the election and wrongly said election-technology firms such as Dominion and Smartmatic, which sued Powell, falsified ballots. She was recruited and later sacked by Trump's legal staff before launching four independent cases to reverse the election outcome. Her cases, which were riddled with spelling errors and bizarre arguments, all failed in court. On behalf of Powell and Defending the Republic, a fundraising platform she set up when supporting her unsuccessful litigation, attorneys Lawrence J. Joseph, Howard Kleinhendler, and Jesse R. Binnall filed their appeal to Dominion's complaint. They claimed that Powell's words should be seen in the light of the politically charged race, even after Trump had already lost the election. Any "fair individual" would recognize she wasn't making truthful arguments, even though she had made her claims in litigation as well as media interviews. "Notably, one of the Complaint's focus points is Sidney Powell and others' press conference on November 19, 2020, at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C.," the lawyers wrote. "Any press release issued by the Republican National Committee is political at the heart." Powell's lawyers argue that the fact that Dominion dismisses Powell's allegations as "outlandish" shows that they could never have been taken seriously in the first place. "Indeed, the Plaintiffs refer to the statements at issue as "crazy assertions" and "outlandish assertions." They are repeatedly labeled as "inherently unlikely," if not "impossible." "Powell's lawyers sent a letter. "These characterizations of the supposedly defamatory comments reinforce Defendants' position that fair persons will not recognize such statements as fact, but rather as arguments to be tested by the courts in the adversary process." Powell's conspiracy theories were revived more than a month after the election results were announced. She dubbed Dominion "fraud masters" on Twitter after sending her record preservation letters informing her of a complaint. Powell has declined to withdraw her statements about the organization and has not responded to Insider's repeated demands for comment. Many of the issues raised in Dominion's initial complaint remain unaddressed in the current filing, including Powell's submission of updated documents on the company's certificate to include election technology in Georgia. Legal ethics experts told Insider Powell could face penalties if she discovered that she tampered with court exhibits. Powell faces a slew of court threats in the aftermath of her unsuccessful referendum litigation. In addition to the Dominion and Smartmatic defamation cases, authorities in Michigan are trying to disbar her and the lawyers who worked for her. Turnkey is one of those real estate terms that seem too good to be true, unless youre buying a home designed by Julie Wallach. The Ulster County home she recently renovated and sold was not just move-in ready all a buyer had to do was bring a toothbrush. The home came fully stocked and gorgeously furnished, right down to the cookware and bedding, making it all set for homeowners to live in or to rent out on Airbnb. That was the original idea for the Hudson Valley home she and her husband purchased in 2018, for $436,000, in the hamlet of High Falls, a short drive from their New Paltz home. Once the High Falls renovation was complete, she planned to rent it as a well-curated Airbnb. If it was winter, Wallach would light the fireplace so it was going when you checked in. Want the fridge stocked for a special dinner? A smores kit for one of the two fire pits? These were just some of the special touches she intended to give guests. They hired a contractor to renovate the 1880s hunting cabin, set on nearly 3 acres, while her husband cleared away the invasive plants to once again see the year-round stream running through the back. New picture windows were installed to maximize the unobstructed view of the Mohonk Preserve. Lillie K. Team @ Select Sotheby's International Realty and Alon Koppel Photography Then the pandemic changed her mind about managing a property. She and her husband began craving something more rural across the river. They set their eyes on Chatham in Columbia County, which would make caring after a place over an hour away a serious time commitment. So they put their New Paltz home on the market while they house hunted, and moved into the High Falls property as the work was completed. The more she poured into the renovation, the more she knew she couldnt bear to rent it out. It was going be too nice for me to tolerate as an Airbnb, said Wallach. I think I would have lost my mind if I had come in and seen that the floors were damaged or the wall was scratched. I'm really particular about my homes, and so I could not have stomached that to rent it as an Airbnb. Wallach still planned to stock and fabulously decorate it, though, like an Instagrammable fantasy that was just as nice in real life. I wanted to make sure that someoneknew that what they were seeing in a photo was what they were getting, said Wallach. And just as luxury condo developers are marketing fully furnished, move-in-ready homes as a way to streamline supply-chain delays during the pandemic, she also wanted to take the friction out of first-time homebuying. I knew how hard it was to find contractors, find a couch, find a lamp. Everything was delayed, said the former chef and owner behind Tipsy Parson and Little Giant in New York City. So, anyone who was looking to get out of the city or looking for some sort of escape or even a house that was going to be a project was going to have a problem stocking that house. She furnished the home the way she would have wanted to live, and filled every drawer, closet and pantry shelf with the kinds of goods a first-time homeowner might spend months acquiring if they had unlimited funds. The pantry came not just with all the basic spices and dry goods, but also wine, spirits and every coveted piece of cooking equipment you can imagine: a Vitamix, a juicer, a food processor, Le Creuset and All Clad cookware, an Instant Pot. Dishes, silverware, utensils and cleaning supplies were all purchased and put away, down to the microplane for lemon zesting and the Aesop soap by the sink. The linen cabinet was stocked with plush towels, and she fitted Parachute bedding on the Tuft & Needle mattresses. Julie Wallach Everything that we did was like, Okay, would I want this towel? It wasn't just like, Oh, let's get a towel. I agonized over the type of towel to get. (She chose towels made by an Australian company called The Beach People, in case you were wondering.) Wallach also sourced and styled all the rooms with furniture found locally and online. The 70s sectional couch came from Long Weekend in Livingtson Manor. Hammertown was another local decor store she shopped, as were Hudson Valley auction houses, which can be an affordable way to stock an upstate home, but Wallach said that is changing. (Now that mass-market brands like West Elm are on back-order, the method of bidding for furniture you can take home instantly has become more competitive. Friends [of mine] who have retail stores or vintage stores are saying that they're getting outbid on auctions because everyone's trying to find auctions to buy stuff to fill their houses with.) The former restaurateur had previous interior designing and renovation experience from the build-outs of Tipsy Parson and Little Giant. She also renovated the barn on her New Paltz property. But this was Wallachs first down to the studs project. After the full rebuild, the addition of a separate, prefab home office on the property from Studio Shed, and over $50,000 in supplies and furnishings, her all-in investment totaled a little over a million. It was worth it. The house sold for $1.525 million in 24 hours. Lillie K. Team @ Select Sotheby's International Realty and Alon Koppel Photography Would Wallach give another house her turnkey treatment again? 100 percent. In fact, shes already found her next remodeling project, a 1777 Quaker Meeting House in Old Chatham that she aims to complete by mid-summer. Everyone comes up from the city and they have these rosy eyes about living in the country, but they don't realize what actually goes into making a house livable, especially if you're a first-time house buyerSo if you can deliver a beautifully furnished, finished house, someone's willing to pay for that, she said. I think that's true now, and I think that's gonna be true in the future. The number of COVID-19 vaccine doses headed to Oregon pharmacies has grown dramatically over the last several weeks as the federal government has continued to ramp up its pharmacy program. Oregon pharmacies will receive more than 44,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses this week through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. Two weeks ago, pharmacies within the state were receiving just 24,000 doses per week. This continues to increase as vaccine supply increases, which means more Oregonians are getting vaccinated in the same setting theyre accustomed to getting flu shots, Erica Heartquist, a spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority, said in an email. The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program accounts for about one-fifth of the nearly 240,000 total doses Oregon is receiving this week. As the number of vaccine doses headed to Oregon pharmacies has increased, so has the number of pharmacies participating in the federal program. Over the last several weeks, Rite Aid, Walmart, Fred Meyer and other Kroger companies have joined Albertsons, Safeway, Costco, Walgreens and Health Mart pharmacies in Oregon in participating in the federal governments pharmacy program. Long-term care pharmacies Innovatix and Managed Health Care Associates are also participating in the program. (Bi-Mart pharmacies are not participating in the federal program but received 4,700 doses this week from the Oregon Health Authoritys allotment). CVS, meanwhile, began administering COVID-19 vaccines through the federal program Sunday as well at stores in Albany, Beaverton, Fairview, Hillsboro, Portland and Sherwood. The number of Oregon pharmacy locations administering the vaccinations is expected to continue to grow as the vaccine allotment increases. The pharmacies could play a key role as Oregon tries to ramp up the rate at which it is vaccinating individuals with an anticipated surge in new doses coming this spring. An analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive found that the state has administered fewer COVID-19 vaccinations per capita than most states in recent weeks. However, available appointments at the pharmacies still appear limited and are continuing to fill up fast in many locations, despite the spike in new doses coming into the state. On Tuesday morning, there were no available appointments in Portland at Safeway, Albertsons, Costco, Walgreens, Walmart, Fred Meyer or CVS. However, appointments appeared to be available at Rite Aid. Eligible Oregonians can schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments online when available through the various pharmacies: Costco: costco.com/covid-vaccine.html CVS: cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine Health Mart: healthmartcovidvaccine.com Safeway/Albertsons: safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html Walgreens: walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19 Walmart: walmart.com/covid Rite Aid: ritea.id/oregon Kroger: kroger.com/rx/covid-eligibility -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 01:16:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A health worker helps a child wear face mask during a COVID-19 awareness and detection campaign in Baghdad, Iraq on March 23, 2021. The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported on Monday 4,655 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total nationwide number to 798,547. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported on Monday 4,655 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total nationwide number to 798,547. The new cases included 2,093 in the capital Baghdad, 727 in Basra, 264 in Najaf, 239 in Wasit, and 200 in Maysan, the ministry said in a statement. It also reported 29 new deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 14,036, while the total recoveries in Iraq climbed by 4,088 to 719,161. A total of 7,681,424 tests have been carried out across the country since the outbreak of the disease in February 2020, with 27,095 done during the day. Meanwhile, Sayf al-Badr, spokesman of the ministry, noted in a press release "a low turnout by citizens to register on the online platform established by the ministry to obtain coronavirus vaccines." He also pointed to an increase in coronavirus infections in rural areas, especially in central and southern provinces, because of the lack of compliance with health measures. Iraq has taken a series of measures to curb the recent rise in infections after the health ministry announced on Feb. 15 the detection of a new strain characterized by faster transmission and a higher level of severity. However, the economic difficulties have forced the government to ease COVID-19 restrictions. The government shortened the hours of curfew and decided to reopen malls, shops, restaurants, and cafes under strict health measures after March 22. On March 2, Iraq received a shipment of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government to help combat the pandemic. The Iraqi National Board for Selection of Drugs has approved the emergency use of the Sinopharm vaccines, in addition to AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Sputnik V vaccines. Enditem Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. A former employee at the Whitney Bank branch in the French Quarter pilfered an elderly womans account of nearly $350,000 over a two-year period, federal prosecutors allege in an indictment handed up Friday. Karen Farrell Tigler, 34, of Harvey, is charged with bank fraud, making and subscribing false tax returns and making false statements to federal agents in the 12-count indictment. She faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors said that Tigler forged the signatures of caregivers and workers for the woman, who was in her mid-80s in 2015 and 2016 and had lived in Iberia Parish since Hurricane Katrina. The woman owned a residence in the French Quarter, according to the indictment. With memo lines like "roofing," "renovations," "maintenance" and "happy birthday," Tigler signed the names of the woman's caregivers, housekeeper and general contractor for the French Quarter house to checks. Then she redirected the money to several of her own bank accounts, according to the feds. Tigler, who was employed as a multi-service banker at the Chartres Street branch from 2013 to 2016, falsely claimed that she had bank client's approval -- and blamed the woman's housekeeper when confronted by one of the woman's relatives. She also lied to FBI agents about the scheme, according to the indictment. 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 Prosecutors said that in lieu of the hundreds of thousands of dollars she was stealing, Tigler reported a paltry $21,290 and $19,256 on her 2015 and 2016 tax returns, respectively. She also skipped over reporting gambling winnings of $32,180 in 2015, according to the indictment. Tigler was released on bond at her first court appearance Monday. Magistrate Judge Janis van Meerveld barred her from entering casinos or other gaming establishments as a condition of release. The judge appointed federal public defenders to represent her. By Aislinn Laing SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile will extend a coronavirus rescue package to help poor and middle class families and small businesses stay afloat until June as the Latin American nation struggles to slow a second wave of cases despite a rapid vaccine rollout. President Sebastian Pinera said the latest announcements represented a 50% increase to the $12 billion package announced last June, when Chile was engulfed in a first wave of cases, to $18 billion, representing 2% of Chile's gross domestic product. Emergency Family Income payouts of between 25,000 Chilean pesos ($34) and 100,000 pesos will be extended from March until June, with the amounts determined by how long households had been in lockdown. Payouts and soft loans will also be available to the middle classes, along with improved unemployment benefits and grants for small businesses and truckers hit by movement restrictions. Pinera said in an evening address on national television that the measures were aimed at preserving jobs and restarting the economy once the current COVID wave had passed. But his government faces a number of more populist calls from opposition politicians to address pressing needs generated by the pandemic. On Tuesday, lawmakers in the lower house will debate a bill brought by deputies representing some mining areas to increase royalties paid by lithium and copper miners to fund social packages. The measure - including a direct tax on sales - has gained momentum in recent weeks as copper prices hit their highest in a decade. There is also growing support for a third drawdown from Chile's privately held pension pots, something the government has staunchly but fruitlessly opposed twice before. Chile at the weekend recorded 7,084 daily cases of COVID, the highest since the pandemic started and despite 5.7 million people having received at least one dose of a vaccine and 2.9 million people with two. (Reporting by Aislinn Laing; Editing by Sam Holmes) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 "Anybody making more than $400,000 will see a small to a significant tax increase. If you make less than $400,000, you won't see one single penny in additional federal tax." - President Joe Biden, in an interview with George Stephanopoulos, March 16 - - - During the 2020 presidential campaign, President Donald Trump claimed some 80 times that Joe Biden was going to raise taxes on all or most Americans. Biden had a consistent refrain - that was false, no one making less than $400,000 a year would face higher taxes. Essentially, that level would mean about 98% of households would be spared from any new taxes. The top 2% - who earn one-quarter of adjusted gross income - would bear the burden of paying for Biden's ambitious policies. Biden appeared to reaffirm that stance during a recent interview. But then some comments by White House press secretary Jen Psaki muddied the waters a bit. The Wall Street Journal editorial page quickly accused Biden of a "tax bait and switch." What's going on here? - - - The day before Biden's remarks, on March 15, Psaki appeared to be crystal clear. "The president remains committed to his pledge from the campaign that nobody making under $400,000 a year will have their taxes increased," she said during a news briefing. Notice the phrase "nobody making under $400,000 a year"? That was echoed by Biden's phrasing the next day: "Anybody making more than $400,000 will see a small to a significant tax increase." The definition of "nobody" is no person. The definition of "anybody" is any person. Both of those words suggest individuals. But the day after the interview, Psaki said something different. A reporter asked for a definition of anybody: "To clarify, did he mean individuals or households? Because it wasn't very clear." "Families," Psaki replied. This response was puzzling, to say the least. Her response raised the possibility that individuals (or married people filing separate returns) making less than $400,000 would face higher taxes. During the campaign, The Fact Checker studied the Biden plan in detail. We tested the Biden campaign with a variety of scenarios that might cause a taxpayer making less than $400,000 to trigger higher taxes; Biden campaign officials insisted the plan would hold people harmless in such situations. Various think tanks conducted studies of the Biden plan, and all said they based their calculations on the assumption that individuals making less than $400,000 would not face a tax increase. "If the White House specifies a $200K single filer threshold for tax increases, that would be different from how we modeled the plan and understood the tax pledge for sure," Garrett Watson of the Tax Foundation wrote in an email. "Our reading of the campaign tax pledge was that the $400,000 cutoff applied to unmarried and married individuals alike," said John Ricco of the Penn Wharton Budget Model. "We did not see anything that suggested it would vary based on marital status." An October Wall Street Journal article noted that "the campaign hasn't specified all the details, so both single and married households could face the same $400,000 threshold." But a November analysis of the plan by the Tax Policy Center included this line: "Biden has clarified that he wants any tax increases to exempt all individual taxpayers with income under $400,000. Where possible, we have modified proposals to be consistent with that limitation." (Another Biden tax proposal would reintroduce Social Security payroll taxes once a person's wages top $400,000. Currently, a person stops paying taxes once income reaches $142,800. That plan is clearly aimed at individual taxpayers.) Not every campaign plan survives its way to legislation intact, of course. There have been other hints that the $400,000 line might be fuzzy. As part of her confirmation hearings, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen submitted answers to questions for the record. At one point, she wrote that Biden "clarified that the repeal of certain aspects of the tax law would be restricted only to those taxpayers making more than $400,000 a year, with a firm commitment that taxpayers earning less than this amount would not see their taxes increase." That would seem to suggest individuals. But at another point, Yellen also referred to families. "President Biden has stated that he will not ask families making under $400,000 per year to pay more in taxes," Yellen wrote. Meanwhile, Heather Boushey, a member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, sidestepped the question in a recent interview with Bloomberg TV about the level of income that would affect individuals. "All the details are still to be worked out," she said. "This is an ongoing conversation, so I can't speak to specifics at this point." Naturally, we queried the White House for an explanation. A White House official told The Fact Checker: "President Biden's plan will not raise taxes on anyone making under $400,000." The definition of "anyone" is "any person." That would cover individual taxpayers. - - - The White House clearly understands that this was a memorable promise made by the president - one he reiterated just last week. Despite the confusion spawned by various administration references to "families," the promise appears to remain intact. We will be watching carefully as the legislative sausage-making begins. Albany In less than three hours Friday, a jury found Glendon Scott Crawford guilty of planning to use a mobile radiation-spewing ray to silently massacre Muslims in the Capital Region a conviction that could send the self-described Klansman to federal prison for the rest of his life. Crawford, 51, who unwittingly allowed undercover FBI agents in on his scheme, became the first person to be convicted of trying to produce or use a radiological dispersal device, a 2004 federal law passed by Congress to protect the country against terrorists using a so-called "dirty bomb." Crawford, of Providence in Saratoga County, a longtime mechanic at General Electric in Schenectady, showed no emotion as Chief Judge Gary Sharpe announced the verdict about 2:20 p.m.: Guilty on all three counts Crawford faced. The panel, which heard testimony starting Monday, started deliberating about 11:35 a.m. He faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years on the dirty bomb-type charge alone and the distinct possibility of life in prison at his Dec. 15 sentencing. He was convicted of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction and distributing information relating to weapons of mass destruction. Crawford was found guilty one day after jurors saw he was captured on FBI surveillance video with Google maps of targets for his radiation weapon that included the Executive Mansion in Albany and the White House. The Klansman targeted Muslim institutions that included Masjid As Salaam on Central Avenue in Albany, Masjid e-Nabvi in Schenectady and the Islamic Center of the Capital District in Colonie, where Crawford, a married father of three children, hoped to target a school. The defendant's wife, Angela, declined to comment to reporters outside the courthouse. Federal authorities were far more vocal. "Glendon Scott Crawford was a terrorist who attempted to acquire a weapon of mass destruction and to use it to kill innocent members of the Muslim community," U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian told reporters in a post-verdict press briefing outside the courthouse on Broadway. He said a "potentially deadly and dangerous situation" was thwarted by alert members of the public coming forward and reporting Crawford's initial overtures to Albany police, which allowed the case to be investigated by the FBI. "The plot was real here," FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Andrew Vale, who leads the bureau's Albany division, told reporters. "No matter how extraordinary the plot seemed, the threat was real. ... I'd like to continue to urge the community to come forward whenever they have information and allow the actual law enforcement experts to make that determination of whether there is an actual threat there or not." Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Belliss and Stephen Green, who prosecuted the case following a 14-month investigation, played more than seven hours of FBI surveillance video for the jury, much of it showing the defendant referring to Muslims as "medical waste" that he believed needed to be "sterilized" by the radiation weapon. Kevin Luibrand, Crawford's attorney, said his client would appeal. "The government had 60 CDs filled with undercover audio and video recordings that made it difficult to mount an effective defense," he told the Times Union. In April 2012, Crawford approached Congregation Gates of Heaven, a synagogue in Schenectady, and the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York on Washington Avenue in Albany, talking about a plan to "help Jews get rid of their enemies." Crawford was trying to win financial support for his weapon, but instead became the focus of an investigation that included an informant named "Dan Matthews" posing as a white supremacist and an FBI undercover agent named "Jeff" acting as possible backer of the plot. Crawford regularly met with the informant and the agent, often at Ming's Flavor Chinese restaurant in Scotia. He boasted he could hide the radiation weapon in a van marked as "Halal meat," a reference to food eaten by Muslims. Crawford reviewed small tubes for a would-be weapon in a Schenectady hotel room, but was not satisfied. In late July 2012, Crawford called a Ku Klux Klan hotline to reach to Chris Barker, a North Carolina-based imperial wizard in the KKK. Barker, facing unrelated criminal charges, went to the FBI, who set a sting in motion. Barker led Crawford to believe two undercover agents were Klan-connected rock quarry businessmen with the means to fund his weapon. The agents, "Mark" and "Mike," met with Crawford on Oct. 4, 2012 in a Greensboro, N.C. hotel, where they agreed to support Crawford's plan and stay in regular contact with him. On Nov. 14, 2012, the agents met with Crawford in the now-shuttered J. Watts Barista House in Scotia, where Crawford introduced them to his "software guy" and future codefendant, Eric Feight, 56, of Columbia County. There, a paranoid Crawford, wary he was being watched by investigators, announced he would adopt the code name "Dmitri." Feight would be "Yoda," and the undercover agents "Daddy Warbucks" and "Robin Hood." The weapon became "the baby." On June 18, 2013, Crawford met the agents in a warehouse in Schaghticoke where the "baby" was being kept. Crawford supplied them with a remote control radio to activate the device safely from a distance. The remote control had been put together by Feight, who by then had apparently dropped out of the plan. That day, Crawford was arrested by a swarm of SWAT team officers at the warehouse. Feight, arrested at his home, pleaded guilty in January to providing material support to terrorists, which carries up to 15 years in prison. In closing arguments, Luibrand urged the jury to judge Crawford on the law and not his race-filled opinions. He argued his client was wrongfully induced by the agents. Belliss told the jury to use common sense. Crawford's plan, he said, was to kill people. "Mr. Crawford drove this investigation," Belliss said. "Mr. Crawford is the one who had the plan. Mr. Crawford is the one who had the hate. Mr. Crawford is the one who wanted to act on that hate." rgavin@timesunion.com 518-434-2403 Parcels are stored in a truck in a logistics centre of the mail order company Amazon. Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance via Getty Images Amazon delivery drivers will reportedly lose their jobs if they don't give the company permission. The form would allow Amazon to collect biometric data, like facial recognition, from the drivers. News surfaced last month that Amazon was planning to roll out AI-powered cameras in its vehicles. See more stories on Insider's business page. Amazon is telling its delivery drivers to sign a consent form that allows the company to track them based on biometric data as "a condition of delivering Amazon packages," Motherboard's Lauren Kaori Gurley reported on Tuesday. Thousands of drivers across the US must sign the "biometric consent" paperwork this week, and if they don't they'll lose their jobs, according to Motherboard. The form, which was viewed by the outlet and published in the report, states that Amazon would be allowed to use "on-board safety camera technology which collects your photograph for the purposes of confirming your identity and connecting you to your driver account." The system would then "collect, store, and use Biometric Information from such photographs." The technology specifically would track a driver's location and movement, like how many miles they drive, when they brake and turn, and how fast they are driving. As Motherboard noted, the drivers presented with the consent form are employed through third-party delivery partners that use Amazon's delivery stations but who are still subject to the company's working guidelines. An Amazon delivery company owner told the outlet that one of their drivers refused to sign, citing Amazon's micromanaging as the reason. In a statement to Inside, Amazon spokesperson Deborah Bass said, "We piloted the technology from April to October 2020 on over two million miles of delivery routes and the results produced remarkable driver and community safety improvements-accidents decreased 48 percent, stop sign violations decreased 20 percent, driving without a seatbelt decreased 60 percent, and distracted driving decreased 45 percent. Don't believe the self-interested critics who claim these cameras are intended for anything other than safety." Story continues The report comes after Amazon announced in February that it would start using cameras equipped with artificial intelligence in its trucks to track the drivers while they work. One driver, per Reuters, quit over privacy concerns regarding the new cameras. Amazon told Insider in a previous statement that the new cameras were part of an effort to invest in "safety across our operations." Read more: More than 40% of surveyed Amazon employees say they wished they were in a union, a new Insider survey shows The AI cameras are able to sense if a driver is speeding, yawning, or if they're not wearing their seatbelt, among other motions. Each truck's system includes four cameras: one with a view of the road, two that face the side windows, and one that faces the driver. Read the original article on Business Insider Founder CEO and Chairman Sandy Chim said the speed with which our flagship Joyce Lake DSO Iron Ore Project delivers ore allows us to catch this price upcycle Chim said the factors driving the iron ore markets continued recovery are strong incremental demand from ongoing urbanization in China and a capped seaborne supply Century Global Commodities Corporation ( ) controls some of the largest iron ore resources in Canada and has wind in its sails. The price of iron ore has climbed 80% over the past 12 months and is now in a sustainable recovery. In the first few months of this year the price averaged close to US$170 a tonne. The price improvement augurs well for Century which has interests in five Canadian iron deposits located in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. The companys flagship, Joyce Lake, is a Direct Shipping open pit project and is moving ahead rapidly to capture the strong market. Proactive sat down with Century Global Commodities founder CEO and Chairman Sandy Chim to discover how the company is advancing its projects to capture the upside of what appears to be a new iron ore price super-cycle. The mining industry veteran has an extensive track record of raising capital in Australia, UK, Hong Kong, and Canada. A chartered accountant, Chim has already secured two key strategic partners Baowu Steel Group and Minmetals Global Fortune 500 companies who have provided both financial and technical support to Century. How big are Centurys iron ore resources across five projects in Canada? Century controls among the largest iron ore resources in Canada, totaling some 20 billion tonnes in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. This total includes the Joyce Lake DSO Iron Ore Project, Hayot Lake, Full Moon, Black-Bird and the Duncan Lake project. Joyce Lake already has a bankable feasibility study completed, while Full Moon and Duncan Lake both have completed preliminary economic assessments. These three advanced projects alone have a combined after tax Net Present Value of over $5 billion calculated using iron ore prices that are well below trading prices we see today. With countries like China stimulating their economy and boosting steel production we have seen a rally in iron ore price, a key ingredient for making steel. Where do you see iron ore prices climbing? How does this impact your company? The recent iron ore price rally is not specifically driven by economic stimulus in China. This stimulus has been considerably less than previous ones, especially when compared to the one following the international financial crises. The current stimulus has only had a minor impact on the iron ore market which was already in recovery before the impact of COVID-19. The iron ore markets recovery is due to a strong incremental demand from ongoing urbanization in China together with an oligopolistic seaborne iron ore supply constraint which has seen no new production for several years and there are currently no commitments for major expansions or new mines. It is reasonable to expect that iron ore price in the near future will test the peak of the last super-cycle which was in the order of US$200/t. The iron ore price today is driven by the growing demand for steel in China and the lack of expansion of the oligopolistic Big 4 producers that supply the majority of the seaborne market. Towards the end of the last super-cycle, the Big 4 producers doubled their production following a US$100 billion capital expenditure. Until we see financial commitments for new projects by the Big 4 the current robust prices will continue, maintained in part by the oligopolistic nature of the supply. The robust price outlook is now being recognized for re-rating the sector. Fitch Ratings has recently revised its long-term price to US$125/t, compared to their prior forecast of $120/t in 2021, $100/t in 2022, $85/t in 2023, and $75/t long-term. The Fitch new forecast is aligned with what they see as commodity prices, in general, benefiting from returning demand, slow supply response and low inventories. The robust and sustainable price outlook opens a huge window of opportunity for Century to quickly bring Joyce to production while sequentially over time also developing its other high-volume projects to realize a combined Net Present Value of some $5 billion for its top three projects. Is the iron market a lot tighter in terms of flat supply and steady demand growth? Are we on the cusp of a new sellers market price cycle? Absolutely! This has been developing for several years now and follows the Big 4 producers completing production expansions in the 2015-2019 period. Their total output has been flat since 2019 at around one billion tonnes annually. Meanwhile, demand from China for seaborne iron ore supply continues to grow steadily. The lack of commitment by the Big 4 to new projects or expansions and the ongoing China demand growth, in my opinion, not only generates a sellers market but also ushers in a new iron ore super-cycle. Walk us through the companys flagship Joyce Lake project, how close are you to production and contrary to most companies why is this project a low capital intensity project? Joyces iron ore is high-grade at about 62%Fe and it does not require site processing, which is why it is called Direct Shipping Iron Ore. The project requires open pit mining, crushing and screening, just like a quarry, so there are no tailings generated. As such, equipment required for mining and crushing is simple and because a large processing plant is not required, capital intensity is reduced to US$11/t, which is a fraction of the current selling price of US$160-170/t. Again, because it is simple compared to traditional iron ore projects that require large processing plants Joyce will only take one and half years, after a production decision, to reach full production. Significantly, Joyce has already completed a feasibility study and an environmental impact study has also been prepared. To advance project permitting only updating of various studies is necessary, which has already started. The speed that Joyce can deliver ore puts Century in a favorable position to catch this robust and sustainable price upcycle. Additionally, if warranted, we can take also take advantage of the iron ore futures market which enables contracts of up to 4 years, providing us the ability to lock in a substantial portion of our production. Joyce can operate at 2.5 million product tonnes per annum and we intend to take full advantage of that capability to maximize exposure to the price upcycle. The robust price forecast and rapidly advancing Joyce to production is important for us to maximize return. Once you hit production do you expect to have very attractive margins? Is this the best cycle timing for projects such as Joyce Lake to catch the high cycle? Yes, because we can go from decision to full production in one and a half years, we have an excellent opportunity to catch the upcycle and to generate extraordinary high margins. What are the growth catalysts for Century in the near-term? The immediate growth catalysts for Century include a possible spinout of Joyce, updating and optimizing the Joyce feasibility study, updating environmental studies, and advancing permitting, financing and so forth. Why is Century a compelling story with the Joyce Lake project approaching a production decision? The Joyce feasibility study demonstrates that at a projected price of US$142.50/t, the post-tax Net Present Value, over a 5-7 year mine life, is greater than C$500 million. Joyce achieves this value through a low capital intensity of US$11/tonne, a US$47/t FOB cost at the Sept-Iles port and ocean freight of approximately US$15/t. Cost delivered China is in the order of US$70-80/t compared to the current selling price in the range of US$160-170/tonne. Joyce is a quick to production project and as such has the opportunity to realize the high selling prices available in the market today and which are projected to be sustained for some time. Would you agree that the companys market cap of $27.6 million belies its huge potential? Yes, especially when considering our net asset value of C$25 million (after $100 million impairment about a year ago) together with working capital of $17 million. Joyce alone has greater than C$500 million post-tax Net Present Value, at US$142.5/t iron ore selling price, presenting great upside for investors. Additionally, our combined three most advanced iron ore projects have in the order of $5 billion after-tax Net Present Value. Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive You could see this one coming from a mile away. After spending the first week of free agency targeting offensive playmakers, New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman will use his 2021 first-round draft pick to add talent on defense. Sign up for Giants Extra: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text directly with reporters Thats what ESPNs Mel Kiper Jr. predicts in his latest mock draft. Kiper thinks Gettleman will use the No. 11 pick on Michigan defensive end Kwity Paye. Heres why: The question I asked when I did my mock draft 2.0 was: Can the Giants get Daniel Jones a No. 1 wide receiver? Well, theyre certainly paying free-agent acquisition Kenny Golladay like one. That means general manager Dave Gettleman could try to address another position with this pick, likely on defense. Though I dont have an edge rusher rated this high, Paye isnt far off, and teams always reach for pass-rushers with intriguing physical prowess. Ive heard that Paye is going to impress scouts at his pro day on March 26 and put up incredible testing numbers across the board. The production wasnt there at Michigan -- 11.5 sacks in four seasons -- but I would bet on his upside, and you can see his tremendous first-step ability if you turn on the tape. Its a good thing Gettleman signed Golladay, John Ross and Kyle Rudolph. Kiper predicts that by the time the Giants pick, wide receivers LaMarr Chase (No. 6 to Philadelphia Eagles), DeVonta Smith (No. 7 to Detroit Lions) and Jaylen Waddle (No. 8 to Miami Dolphins), as well as tight end Kyle Pitts (No. 5 to Cincinnati Bengals), will be off the board. Get Giants text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text directly with beat writers. Plus, exclusive news and analysis. Sign up now for a free trial. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Australians need to earn at least $174,800 a year to be happy - nearly double the national average salary, new data has revealed. Workers need to be taking home a healthy six-figure salary to be content with life, money and finance website Expensivity said. Australia had the second highest 'happiness premium' in the world, just behind Bermuda and a touch in front of Israel - meaning workers needed more money to be happy here than in many other nations. New Zealand ranked five on the list, with Kiwis required to earn $166,249 a year to reach the threshold deemed necessary for happiness. New figures reveal Australians need to be earning $174,800 a year to prevent themselves becoming unhappy, although it is noted income is just one contributing factor of happiness (pictured, health workers in Sydney) Expensivity used research from Purdue University in the United States to compile their global list of countries that required the highest - and lowest - salaries to live a comfortable and stress-free life. 'Scientists at Purdue have even put a figure on unhappiness. If you live in the United States, US$105,000 will help to stop you from becoming unhappy. Anything you earn over that figure will have a negligible effect on your sense of satisfaction,' the report said. The 'happiness premium' for every country was converted from the American figures, using the World Bank's Purchasing Power ratios. The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal the average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults is $1,711.60 - or $89,000 a year. Just 3 per cent of Australians earned more than $180,000 a year to be in the top tax bracket while 15 per cent earned between $87,000 and $180,000 a year, Australian Taxation Office data showed. Australia has the second highest 'happiness premium' in the world, just behind Bermuda and ahead of Israel - and more than double the average income (stock image) Citizens in Suriname, a small country in South America, require the smallest salary to find happiness at just $8,768 per year, following by Argentinians who need to earn just $11,318. However, Expensivity noted income is just one contributing factor of happiness. 'While money isn't everything, if your environment is right, then having enough of it gives you the cushion you need to build a masterplan for being happy into your routine,' it said. COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST PRICE OF HAPPINESS 1. Bermuda - $185,738 per year 2. Australia - $174,800 per year 3. Israel - $168,324 per year 4. Switzerland - $166,411 per year 5. New Zealand - $166,249 per year 6. Norway - $147,280 per year 7. Denmark - $140,828 per year 8. Japan - $138,793 per year 9. Iceland - $138,489 per year 10. United States - $135,456 per year Advertisement ALAMEDA (BCN) The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro will stop Tuesday at its home base in Alameda to drop off nearly 10 tons of drugs seized from smugglers in the Pacific Ocean. The crew will offload 11,450 pounds of marijuana and 8,200 pounds of cocaine confiscated since January off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America. On its way home, the cutter made a stop in San Diego to drop off 12 people detained on drug charges, along with 9,200 pounds of cocaine and 2,150 pounds of marijuana. Officials estimated that the total of 15.5 tons of drugs has a value of $330 million. The haul represents the results of 15 interdictions of smuggling boats by three ships from the Coast Guard (the cutters Munro, Bear and Vigilant) and one from the Navy (the USS Freedom). The transfer of drugs will include a brief ceremony and include speakers from the Coast Guard, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft. Copyright 2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. (Newser) When Charles Ferguson began planning his four-hour documentary on the Watergate scandal, which drove President Nixon from office, he envisioned a "historical detective story." But as the Trump administration progressed, he saw parallels between the events of the Nixon era and the present political moment, the New York Times reports. The film's website calls it a full retelling of the events of the early 1970s. "But crucially, the film also situates Watergate in the context of all the issues it raisedmany of which, of course, now resonate powerfully with current events," the site says. That was the problem, Ferguson says a History Channel executive told him. The exec, Eli Lehrer, "was concerned about the impact of Watergate upon ratings in 'red states,'" Ferguson charges in a lawsuit filed Friday, "as well as the negative reaction it would provoke among Trump supporters and the Trump administration." story continues below The suit says the network tried to keep its broadcast of the film from being successful. A&E, which owns the History Channel, disputed Ferguson's claims. Part of his objection is that Watergate aired just once, despite having received mostly positive reviews before its broadcast, including one in the Los Angeles Times. The network says that decision wasn't part of a coverup; the film's ratings didn't live up to expectations. Nielsen ratings show that Watergate drew a fraction of the viewers attracted by the History Channel's Grant documentary, for example. Ferguson says A&E tried to give the film a low profile, which he says is part of a "pattern and practice of censorship and suppression of documentary content" at the network. "A&E invested millions of dollars in this project and promoted it extensively," the company countered. Watergate can be seen on various streaming services. (Trump said he learned from Nixon.) A student who searched for and downloaded child sexual abuse material of the most depraved nature has been jailed for 16 months. Albaraa Turkistani (27) was caught with 272 images and 159 videos of children and babies being molested, raped and sexually assaulted by men, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Sentencing him today, Judge Martin Nolan said accessing child abuse material is obviously not a victimless crime. We don't know who the victims are, but this is real abuse, videoed and put out there, the judge said. He noted Turkistani regularly searched for material of the most depraved nature which included babies being sexually abused. The judge accepted Turkistani's assertion that he did not view all the material he downloaded, but said he viewed a substantial amount of it. Turkistani, with an address in Central Park, Leopardstown, Dublin pleaded guilty to one count of possessing the images contrary to the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act at his home on April 19, 2017. In a letter of apology to the court, Turkistani wrote: I realise I have committed a terrible, hideous and evil act. He said he sought out therapy immediately after he was arrested in order to address longstanding issues from his childhood. He said being arrested was the most important turning point in my life and that he has spent the last four years trying to change his life and correct his wrong-doing. Detective Garda Paul Kane told Maddie Grant BL, prosecuting, that gardai were alerted to the material from German Interpol and got a search warrant for Turkistani's home. They seized a number of devices and the material was found on one of his laptops. Turkistani immediately admitted to downloading the material, the court heard. Sara Phelan SC, defending, outlined a number of incidents from Turkistani's childhood which the court heard contributed to his getting involved in downloading such material. The court heard Turkistani grew up in Saudi Arabia and moved to Ireland with his mother and sister in 2015. He is currently studying for a degree in Retail and Services Management and hopes to go on to complete a Masters, Ms Phelan said. He works part-time in a pizza shop to support himself. He very much wishes to contribute to society, to continue to do well in his studies and obtain employment, Ms Phelan said. She told the court her client appreciates the grave nature of the images and videos but submitted he has not offended since and has done well in therapy. She urged Judge Nolan to consider handing down a suspended sentence. Judge Nolan agreed there were a number of mitigating factors in the case, including the fact Turkistani has no previous convictions, but he said the nature of the case was so serious it merited a custodial sentence. He noted Turkistani took many steps to procure the material, which he searched for specifically. This defendant's behaviour in possessing this material was gravely reprehensible, he said. He handed down a three-and-a-half year sentence but suspended the final two years and two months on a number of conditions. Islamabad, Mar 21 (UNI) Fissures in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) deepened here on Sunday when PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz insisted that the leader of the opposition in the Senate will be from her party, claiming that it was a "principled decision" which had already been agreed upon by the PDM leadership. Maryam's remarks come days after the PPP formally lodged its protest with the PML-N leadership at the highest level over the latters decision to nominate Azam Nazeer Tarar for the office of opposition leader in the Senate, Dawn reported. Addressing a press conference in Lahore with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam said all the constituent parties of the PDM had agreed that they would vote for PPP's Yousuf Raza Gilani for the position of Senate chairman election and JUI-F's Abdul Ghafoor Haideri for the deputy chairman election, while the opposition leader would be from the PML-N, adding that the PDM had not decided that the decision regarding the opposition leader would be subject to change if the other opposition candidates lost the election for the other Senate posts. The PML-N leader insisted that all the constituent parties of the PDM agreed with her stance. Earlier PPP protested against Tarar's nomination by the PML-N because he had been the lawyer for the accused in the murder of former prime minister late Benazir Bhutto, claiming that in the PDM committee meeting it had been decided that the position of the leader of the opposition would go to the PML-N only if Gilani succeeded in the Senate chairmans election. He had said that being the largest party on opposition benches in the Senate, it was the right of the PPP to have the opposition leaders office. UNI XC ACL RHK1936 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. Fresno, CA State wildlife officials continue to track a rare gray wolf that earlier passed through Tuolumne County. The GPS-collared gray wolf, known as OR-93, is now in Fresno County according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. In addition to Tuolumne, over the past few weeks, he has been traveling through Modoc, Mono, Mariposa, Merced and Madera counties. The latest collar reading shows the animal being in the agricultural area of Central Fresno County. CDFW reports that OR-93 left Oregons White River pack southeast of Mt. Hood. He was fitted with a tracking collar by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs within the White River packs territory in June of 2020. He likely left his pack in search of new territory and a mate. Gray wolves are listed as endangered species and it illegal to harass, harm, hunt or trap the animals. Anyone who spots a gray wolf is asked to report it to CDFW by going here. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 GREAT BARRINGTON A state project to build a roundabout south of downtown will take two years to complete. Massachusetts Department of Transportation workers could begin preliminary construction at the intersection of routes 7 and 23 as early as Wednesday, Town Manager Mark Pruhenski told the Select Board Monday. DOT engineers presented the $2 million project to town officials and residents in 2018, and were met with a less than enthusiastic response. Work was initially set to begin in the summer of 2020. Opposition fierce to Great Barrington roundabout project GREAT BARRINGTON They were few, but they came armed with many words.A group of residents turned up at Town Hall on Tuesday night to grill engineers and state Department of Transportation The plans sprung from an audit that found the intersection lacking for the safety of both drivers and pedestrians, and the work will include new lights, crosswalks and sidewalks. DOT officials had said that the roundabout would "calm" and organize traffic, and improve its flow. Engineers also said it would make it easier for police cruisers to enter and exit the station on the east side of Route 7. Workers will bury utilities underground and add plantings, Pruhenski said. Area business owners have worried about disruptions the construction would bring. At Monday's Zoom meeting, Richard Stanley asked the board if it could "put pressure on our elected officials to put this on hold." "It's a project in search of a problem," Stanley said. Board Chairman Stephen Bannon said that the roundabout issue wasn't on the evening's agenda, and that "not everyone is against it." Another project that sowed anxiety is DOT's repair of the Brown Bridge at the north entrance to town on Route 7. It is now painted red. And the work will be completed in June. "This is really good news," Pruhenski said. 'We need strong unionist leadership at this time, not strong threats.' The threat of violence by loyalist groups may have helped in the creation of Northern Ireland but has proved the wrong approach every time it has been used in the intervening 100 years. The history of the province is littered with unionist/loyalist demonstrations which have only served to make many unionists subsequently feel more alienated and ignored. The NI Parliament which was prorogued by Westminster in 1972 never came back; the Ulster Workers' Council protests did topple the first power-sharing administration at Stormont in 1974 but it only delayed the implementation of mandatory coalition government; the Anglo-Irish Agreement survived mass unionist demonstations and threats of violence and the Good Friday Agreement created the Assembly which has led to Sinn Fein ministers in power. However, it is still loyalist/unionist kneejerk reaction to threaten more demonstrations when confronted with something they don't like. Loyalist community groups in east Belfast, Ards and north Down are warning that they will refuse to engage with police or other statutory bodies unless the NI Protocol is removed or drastically changed. It is an example of ramping up tension in an already febrile atmosphere. It also demonstrates the paucity of political leadership in the loyalist/unionist community. There is undoubted anger over the implementation of the Protocol but threats will not remove it, only considered political alternatives or mitigations. It is a mechanism which can be beneficial in commercial times if advantage is taken of Northern Ireland's unique position of remaining within the EU customs union as well as part of the UK. That would make it an attractive investment destination. However, unionist politicians believe it is a threat to their constitutional position, an argument which only holds water if viewed solely through the prism of the union. Pragmatic politics are being overwhelmed by fear-mongering to the detriment of all the people of Northern Ireland. The DUP is now being forced to deny that its leader Arlene Foster told the Loyalist Communities Council that her party would consider bringing down the Assembly if all else failed in removing the Protocol. No rational political party could ever admit to harbouring such an idea in the midst of a pandemic but intemperate words have a habit of creating a dangerous momentum. We need strong unionist leadership at this time, not strong threats. ALBANY Riding an illegal dirt bike or ATV in the city might get a lot more expensive. The city council is considering legislation that would ratchet up the cost to recover an impounded dirt bike or ATV to $3,000 in an attempt to discourage riders from using the citys streets. During a recent council meeting, Brett Williams, an attorney for the city, explained that the legislation would tack on a $2,350 redemption fee to the existing $650 fine. Assuming a judge would impose the maximum sentence, which I think we hope they would, he told the council members. The problem of off-road vehicles on the citys streets has slowly morphed from a seasonal one to a near year-round frustration for residents and city officials. Last winter, groups of riders swarmed cars waiting to see the Capital Lights in Park displays. The riders are a problem in other areas of the Capital Region as well. Last October, a 30-year-old man died after riding the wrong way down a one-way street in Schenectady. On Saturday, a 22-year-old man was charged with felony assault after he allegedly drove his ATV into an officer. Earlier this month, a group of riders in Albany blew through a red light at the intersection of Lark Street and Hudson Avenue and one ATV crashed into the side of a school bus. Two employees on the bus were injured, the rider fled before officers arrived. And while residents have lobbied the city and the police department to do more to crack down on the practice, there are few other options for the city. Police departments generally do not pursue off-road vehicle riders unless theyve committed serious crimes over concerns about liability if the riders crash. And riders who are stopped typically walk away with traffic tickets and having their bikes impounded. On platforms like NextDoor, Reddit and SeeClickFix, neighbors ask why the department isnt doing more or ask other residents what can be done. The department does have a detail of officers in unmarked cars assigned to trying to find the riders and seize the vehicles. Officers have seized five vehicles so far this year, including four in one day earlier this month. In 2019, the city council voted to create a rewards program for residents to call in tips to the city police department to help them locate illegal vehicles. Its unclear if that program is being used. The police department also has drones it can use to track riders as part of its efforts to seize those vehicles. Albany police Sgt. Tanya Hansen told the council she understands residents frustrations. The riders were a problem every day last summer and the department focused its enforcement efforts on spots they knew the riders stopped at and were able to make some arrests, she said. I get it. They want us to chase them and take the bikes and its just not that simple, she said. At the end of the day we have to be safe. We cant go out there and be as reckless as they are. She urged council to move quickly. Were trying to strategically address the issue when were able to do so safely. But its not enough, she said. The further we get into the warmer months, the more difficult it will become to address this issue. Councilman Derek Johnson said he supported increasing the redemption fee but wondered if the city could come up with a site where riders could go to ride legally. I fully support the measures that need to be taken for people riding through the streets and the city, but I think we should be coming up with an option because to expect people not to ride at all, and we dont provide an alternative, is problematic in itself, he said. Hansen said that wasnt an option in her mind because she didn't think the riders would stay in that area. They dont follow the law, she said. Theyre reckless and theyre a danger to the community. Family, friends give Luis Palau a final farewell during memorial service: 'Simplicity of faith' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 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. President Andrzej Duda - AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File An award-winning Polish author and screen-writer faces up to three years behind bars for calling the Polish president a moron. Jakub Zulczyk fell foul of a Polish law prohibiting the public insult of the president of the republic of Poland when he mocked Andrzej Duda over a tweet he posted congratulating Joseph Biden on his victory in last year's US presidential election. Mr Zulczyk, who has studied US politics, expressed his surprise that the president had written that we await the nomination by the Electoral College. I have never heard that in the American election process there is such a thing as a 'nomination by the Electoral College'. Biden won the election, wrote Mr Zulczyk. Andrzej Duda is a moron." Aleksandra Skrzyniarz, a spokeswoman for the Warsaw prosecutors office said: The accused was charged with publicly insulting the Polish president by using a term commonly considered offensive on a social network profile." She added that the accused had not confessed to committing the alleged offense, but had indicated that his statement was a critical assessment of the president's actions." Mr Zulczyk, who is well known in Poland for his writing and his television work, is not the first person to be prosecuted for insulting the Polish head of state. The crime, just one of a number prohibiting the insult of constitutional organs of the state in Poland, has been on the statute books for decades although it is rarely enforced. His prosecution comes at a time of heightened sensitivities in Poland. The government, led by the social conservative Law and Justice party, faces frequent accusations of attempting to politicise the criminal-justice system something it strenuously denies since it came into power in 2015. If convicted of insulting Mr Duda, the 37-year-old writer could be sentenced to three years in prison or be fined, or sentenced to a term of community service. Kolkata, March 23 : Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in West Bengal in the upcoming assembly elections, the deltaic Sunderbans region would be declared as a separate district. "In 2015, 2016 and 2019, Didi had announced that her government would declare Sunderbans as a district. But the Trinamool Congress government has not done anything so far. If the BJP is voted to power this time, we will make the Sunderbans a separate district within one year of coming to power in Bengal," Shah said, while addressing a public meeting at Gosaba on Tuesday. The Union minister also promised to set up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) unit in the Sunderbans if the BJP came to power in West Bengal. "Has the Sunderbans region got its due that it deserves? Every fisherman will get an insurance cover of Rs. 3 lakh in the islands. Besides this, the government will take up special initiatives to protect tigers in the mangrove belts," he said. Shah further said that the Mamata Banerjee-led ruling Trinamool government had not met the expectations of the people in the Sunderbans. "We will make the Sunderbans region into one of the exceptionally developed areas of the country," he pointed out. At present, the Sunderbans, a UNESCO world heritage site, is carved out of two West Bengal districts - South 24-Parganas and North 24-Parganas. Considered to be one of the richest but most fragile ecosystems on the planet, the Sundarbans delta, formed by the myriad branches of the Ganga, has forest tracts that reach the 130-km inland from the coastline. The alluvial archipelago, formed by 56 riverine islands is home to the famous Royal Bengal Tiger. It is a vast area covering 4,262 sq km, including a mangrove cover of 2,125 sq-km in India alone, and a larger portion in Bangladesh. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Rep. Filemon Vela, who represents a southern Texas border district and is vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, will not run for re-election to the House next year. Why it matters: Vela won his seat with 55% of the vote in 2020 and is the first Texas Democrat to announce he's leaving the House ahead of redistricting next year. "I will not be seeking reelection to the House of Representatives in 2022," Vela said in a statement. "I will continue to focus on maintaining a Democratic House and Senate Majority in my capacity as a member of Congress and Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, while working diligently for the people I am so grateful to represent." His district includes Donna, where temporary overflow facilities, operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, reveal the crowded, makeshift conditions at the border, according to photos provided to Axios. The big picture: With population changes reflected in the 2020 census, the countrys 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be reapportioned among the states ahead of the 2022 congressional elections. States led by Republican governors and GOP state legislatures, which in many cases redraw congressional maps should receive more seats than Democratic states. Texas, for example, saw its population grow by some 4.2 million since 2010, giving the state potentially three more seats. Redistricting is expected to help Republicans close the gap on the number of seats they need to win to recapture the majority. Vela, who is serving in his fifth term, has close connections to the White House and was in contention for a Cabinet position. A new study of mortality among young adults born prematurely includes 6.3 million adults under the age of 50 in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. Among this group, 5.4 per cent were born before term, according to Professor Kari Risnes at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine and St. Olavs Hospital. Researchers used national birth registers and compared them with the cause of death registers that all Scandinavian countries have. "We already know that preemies have increased mortality in childhood and early adulthood. Now we've confirmed the risk of death from chronic diseases such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes before the age of 50," says Risnes. The professor doesn't want the numbers to scare people. "It's important to remember that most people who are born prematurely do well, and that treatment and follow-up are constantly improving. The significance of the finding is that prematurity is something that follows you through life as a vulnerability to some diseases," Risnes says. The study shows that the risk of preemies dying before the age of 50 is 40 per cent higher than for the population as a whole. Researchers found that the risk of dying for individuals born before full gestation and who have chronic heart disease, lung disease or diabetes is twice that of the population as a whole. However, this group has no increased risk of death from cancer and stroke. "We were surprised to see that the risk of death was higher even in people who were born as late as weeks 37 and 38, only a few weeks before full gestation. Although the extra risk was only about 10 per cent, this group makes up about 15 per cent of all births, and we have to try to map the causal relationships here," she said. Risnes believes that the results from the study should be factored in when doctors assess the patient's risk of disease and their preventive advice for the patient. "Our idea is that we should increase awareness in both the general population and among doctors so that the risk can be reduced. We need to recognize that prematurity is a factor to take into account when assessing risk, just like we do with a family history of heart disease, obesity or smoking," Risnes said. "It's important to be aware of additional factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, like high blood pressure, obesity, inactivity and high blood sugar, plus the high levels of all these additional factors that we see more of in premature births," she says. "These diseases are often preventable. Good treatment is important and can often longterm to maintain a good quality of life and avoid illness and death. We should be identifying lifestyle changes from an early age that reduce the risks, like more physical activity and avoiding obesity and smoking," Risnes said. One question still to be answered is whether a greater number of premature versus full-term infants develop these chronic diseases, or if they are just generally less well equipped to survive the diseases. "We need to try to address this question in the next round of research. It may be that the diseases crop up earlier in premature babies. We don't have data on this yet," Risnes says. In the 1960s and 1970s, only 20 to 30 per cent of the most premature infants reached 15 years of age. Today, their survival rate is over 90 per cent. This means that the strong ones, the survivors, were preemies in Risne's study of adults. "With better neonatal medicine, the proportion of the population born prematurely is growing," says Risne. She believes it will be important to follow this population closely in terms of risk. In the study, individuals born prematurely around 1980 had a slightly higher risk of cardiovascular disease than those born around 1970. The study doesn't indicate that the social status of the mother or conditions of upbringing explain the increased risk of mortality. The researchers compared siblings to find out if the excess mortality was due to genetics or socioeconomic conditions. "We found that risk of death for these diseases was higher for people born prematurely than for their full-term siblings. We concluded that the increased risk can't be fully explained by genes, which siblings have in common, or by socio-economic conditions and living conditions in childhood," says Risnes. Dying in the first 50 years of life is rare. For 30-year-olds, the risk of dying is one in 1 000 per year, for 50-year-olds the risk rises to two in 1 000. Chronic diseases make up a minor percentage of these deaths. The researchers in the EU study chose to look at cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic lung disease and diabetes because these are the most common chronic diseases that can be fatal. In the past, it has been difficult to access other nations' health databases. Risnes is very happy that such access was possible for this study. Robust results are easier to attain with such a large volume of health data. The findings of the study are consistent between countries. ### Reference: Kari Risnes, Josephine Funck Bilsteen, Paul Brown et al. Mortality Among Young Adults Born Preterm and Early Term in 4 Nordic Nations. JAMA Network Open. 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. Washington D.C. has a larger population than Wyoming or Vermont. Its people pay every tax that other Americans pay. More than 200,000 residents of the district have fought in our wars in the last century, bleeding and dying like everyone else. And yet, they have no vote in the House or Senate. They elect one representative in the House, Eleanor Holmes Norton, but shes the first to say this is a fake gesture. She sits on committees, but she cant cast a decisive floor vote on a laws passage a handcuffing that defies rational explanation. Finally, the actions of the local government are subject to veto by Congress, as if the relationship is one of parent and child. Congress used that power to block needle exchanges for years, but its favorite hobby is attack D.C.s gun laws, using its parental power to force ideological positions down the Districts throat, in defiance of the clear will of residents. Each of these facts is reason to blow a gasket, so its encouraging to see the House try, once again, to make the District a full-blown state. There is no other democracy on earth that abuses the residents of its capital city like this. If they did, the State Department would probably protest the offense against democratic values. Taxation without representation, and all that. So how did this happen? And why has the worlds first major democracy tolerated this repugnant treatment of its own citizens for two centuries? You can dig into the records of the Founders, who reasoned that the capitol should be under the control of the federal government so that it could ensure its own security and guard against any state exerting undue pressure. That made some sense at a time when the Founders were jumping from city to city with little protection. The deal to establish the district also allowed Alexander Hamilton to establish a national bank, so horse-trading was at play. But times have changed, and those concerns are long dead. Why then, has America allowed this to continue? Heres a clue: Black Americans make up the largest share of the population in the District, at 49 percent, and historically their share has been much larger. The growing support for D.C. statehood is part of the racial reckoning triggered by the murder of George Floyd. Americans of good will are taking a second look at our history, the part that many of our textbooks ignored. They are taking a fresh look at the roots of the racism that has cursed this country from slavery, through Jim Crow, the terrorist lynchings and massacres, the explicit exclusion of Black families from housing and education programs that built the white middle class, and the brutal inequities of our criminal justice system. The mistreatment of Washingtons Black population fits right in. This is not to argue that anyone who oppose statehood is racist. People of good will can be concerned about the Constitutionality of this move, a question that divides the experts. And statehood is not the only way to fix this racial injustice: Some argue that the territory outside a tight perimeter of federal buildings could be ceded back to Maryland so that district residents can gain federal influence through an existing state. (Virginia got its land back in 1847.) Maryland, though, would have to agree to that plan, and its unlikely. As for the Supreme Court, the only way to test its sentiment is to pass this law. Possible failure is no reason to short-circuit the effort now. Republicans in Congress oppose this uniformly, so moving it through the Senate would require reform of the filibuster. But its clear that a showdown over that obstructive anachronism, found nowhere in the Constitution, is coming. For now, lets do what we can to erase this inequity. Wyoming and Vermont are overwhelmingly white, and both have significantly smaller populations than the District. But they get a voting representative in the House and two in the Senate. Depriving Washingtons population of that same power is a textbook case of structural racism. It has to stop. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. The Hobbit species that lived in Southeast Asia 50,000 years ago may be closed to modern humans, according to the new study. The study has been published in Nature Ecology and Evolution. According to the study, when modern humans arrived in the islands of South East Asia, they may have encountered a range of ancient human species. Discovery of Hobbit species The Hobbit species are known to have survived until approximately 50,00060,000 years ago in the cases of Homo floresiensis and Homo luzonensis. Homo erectus have survived for approximately 108,000 years, which means they may have overlapped with the arrival of modern human populations. Fossil evidence of these two species suggests that these island dwelling were not taller than around 3 feet and 7 inches, a possible consequence of dwarfism. Scientists further said that dwarfism was a product of an evolutionary process over time that shrank the species due to the unavailability of resources. The new paper led by Joao Teixeira from the University of Adelaide confirmed the interbreeding between the Denisovans and modern humans. The new paper co-authored by anthropologist Chris Stringer from the Natural History Museum in London suggested that modern humans interbred with Denisovans but not with Homo Floresiensis and Himo luzonensis. Scientists studied the DNA of 400 modern humans of which more than half were of Island South-East Asia ancestry. Dr. Joao Teixeira said that the research team searched for key genetic signatures indicate of interbreeding events related to "deeply divergent hominin species". He further added that Island Southeast Asia is the "most geographic region where such events could have occurred due to the presence of Homo Floresiensis and Homo Luzonensis. Dr. Joao Teixeira said, "In contrast to our other cousins the Neanderthals, which have an extensive fossil record in Europe, the Denisovans are known almost solely from the DNA record. The only physical evidence of Denisovan existence has been a finger bone and some other fragments found in a cave in Siberia and, more recently, a piece of jaw found in the Tibetan Plateau." Co-author Prof Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum added that the known fossils of Homo erectus, Homo Floresiensis and Homo Luzonensis might seem to be in the right place and time to represent the mysterious southern Denisovans. Their ancestors were likely to have been in Island Southeast Asia at least 700,000 years ago. Co-author Professor Kris Helgen, Chief Scientist and Director of the Australian Museum Research Institute said that these analyses provide an important window into human evolution in a fascinating region and demonstrate the need for more archaeological research in the region between mainland Asia and Australia. He added that this research illuminates a pattern of megafaunal survival which coincides with known areas of pre-modern human occupation in this part of the world. Dr. Joao Teixeira said, The research corroborates previous studies that the Denisovans were in Island Southeast Asia, and that modern humans did not interbreed with more divergent human groups in the region." (Image Credit: Representative Image) 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. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close (TNS) - The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Tuesday that just over $8.7 million in federal funding will pay for costs related to the coronavirus mass vaccination site at the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University.This funding is an advance payment for costs to establish the community vaccination site on the Cleveland State campus, according to a Federal Emergency Management Agency statement on Tuesday.The COVID-19 vaccination site at the Wolstein Center is an important resource in Ohios fight against the pandemic, said Kevin M. Sligh, an acting regional administrator for FEMA Region 5, in a statement. FEMA remains committed to expanding the rate of vaccinations in an efficient, effective and equitable manner in Ohio and across the nation, with an explicit focus on communities with a high risk of COVID-19 exposure and infection.The FEMA announcement was made ahead of President Joe Bidens expected visit to Columbus later Tuesday, his first visit to the state as president.The Biden administration - along with Gov. Mike DeWine, CSU officials and Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish announced the Cleveland mass vaccination site as Ohios first. Its also the only site supported by FEMA, although 15 other mass vaccination sites organized by the state, local health departments and others have also been set up in other parts of Ohio.After a soft opening, the Cleveland site began vaccinations March 17. Its open seven days a week, 12 hours a day, for eight weeks. Eligible Ohioans can schedule vaccines at gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov.The mass vaccination site in Cleveland has been a game-changer in terms of making the vaccine more accessible, and Ohio is grateful for FEMAs continued support as we move down the road to recovery, DeWine said in Tuesdays FEMA statement. Everyone deserves the opportunity to be vaccinated against this devastating virus, and this clinic is making a significant difference as we focus on ensuring that those in Ohios high risk and traditionally underserved communities have equal access to the vaccine.Sima Merick, the Ohio Emergency Management Agencys executive director, said the Cleveland mass vaccination sites location is key.Because of its location in Downtown Cleveland, and its availability to public transportation, we are able to serve individuals who are from all walks of life, she said. Whether individuals are underserved or have access-functional needs, with the availability of community partners at the Wolstein Center, were able to get shots in arms of those who so desperately need it.___(c)2021 The Plain Dealer, ClevelandVisit The Plain Dealer, Cleveland at www.cleveland.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. ITASCA, Ill., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fellowes knows teachers' and parents' concerns matter and, as the national conversation builds around the need to improve indoor air quality as part of reopening plans, Fellowes air purifiers are a distinct new feature in many classrooms. Over 100,000 units have been sold into schools across 32 states since the onset of the pandemic. Fellowes continues to see an increase in localized air purification demand as educators and facilities managers understand the scientific evidence around coronaviruses' airborne transmission and work to create safer indoor environments for their school populations. Fellowes AeraMax Pro AM3 in Culver Academies (Fellowes Brands) "COVID-19 has been a wake-up call on the importance of indoor air quality. School administrations are listening and responding to teachers, staff, and parents who are well-studied on the issue of coronaviruses' airborne spread and the role of filtration and purification as a mitigation strategy," says Beth Wright, Fellowes Brands' Vice President of Sales, Americas. "Government funding programs, such as CARES and the newly passed American Rescue Plan Act, have enabled schools to invest in commercial air purification." The latest CDC guidance for school reopenings offers more detail about the role of air ventilation, filtration, and purification as a COVID-19 prevention strategy. Air cleaners, such as Fellowes AeraMax Pro air purifiers with True HEPA filtration, are recognized to complement HVAC systems by optimizing local indoor air quality and providing an extra layer of virus protection. Notably, this air purification solution helps achieve leading scientists' recommended goal of four to six air changes per hour (ACH), meaning the air is refreshed every 10-15 minutes. "Before the pandemic, there was a real separation of purification and ventilation; however, now localized air purification solutions are being recognized as a necessary component of a ventilation strategy," shared Mike Booth, Global Market Director of Air Treatment for Fellowes Brands. "We're learning that many schools see Fellowes AeraMax Pro air purifiers as a cost-efficient solution versus the time and expense required to overhaul HVAC systems." Why Schools are Choosing Fellowes Air Purifiers Fellowes commercial-grade AeraMax Pro air purifiers are recognized for their ultra-quiet performance, proprietary smart technology features, and easy installation. The air purifiers' technologies include EnviroSmart and PureView. EnviroSmart utilizes multiple sensors to monitor contaminants and room occupancy. It adjusts automatically to provide maximum protection, expanding the life of machines and filters. PureView makes the invisible, visible with real-time screen updates on air quality and machine performance. Room occupants receive peace of mind by seeing how the air purifier is working directly on the machine. Schools such as Milwaukee Public Schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Stafford County Public Schools in Stafford, Virginia, Pasadena Unified School District in Pasadena, California, and Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana, have ordered a mix of wall mounted and floor stand models for quick, flexible needs. Beyond the classroom, schools are installing Fellowes air purifiers in other shared spaces such as resource rooms, libraries, locker rooms, nurses' offices, conference spaces, and media centers. "Our experience with the Fellowes AeraMax Pro product line has been wonderful. Our teachers, students, and administrators can see the air being cleaned with the Fellowes PureView technology, which provides a feeling of safety, and the units turn off, saving energy when our classrooms are empty," shared Jeff Kutch, Director of Facilities, Facilities Administration at Culver Academies. Fellowes sales experts are engaged with facilities managers to determine air purification needs throughout buildings. They counsel on ideal product placement, help complete space plan proposals, manage logistics and delivery, and stay engaged in the post-sales experience. Due to Fellowes' owned factory, upon order completion, schools can have Fellowes AeraMax Pro air purifiers delivered in less than two weeks. About Fellowes Brands Celebrating its 103rd year under the private ownership and executive leadership of the Fellowes family, Fellowes Brands is a global leader of broad-based business solutions that help professionals be their best and feel their best. Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, USA, Fellowes Brands operates from 26 locations across the globe. For more information, please visit fellowesbrands.com. For Inquiries, Contact: Malinda Weaver, Senior Manager, Global Branding Ph: 630.671.8559 [email protected] SOURCE Fellowes Brands We hold a deep appreciation for the people who steward our nations grazing and crop lands, produce our food, and give so much of themselves for others. Today, Noble Research Institute joins millions of people across the United States in celebrating farmers and ranchers as part of National Ag Day, a day set aside each year to recognize agricultures contribution to society. U.S. agricultural production exists in all 50 states and provides almost everything consumers eat and wear each day. Moreover, U.S. agriculture employs more than 10% of the nations workforce. Our founder Lloyd Noble once said, all good deeds start in the hearts and souls of individuals , and nowhere is that more obvious than in the agriculture community, said Steve Rhines, Noble president and CEO. We hold a deep appreciation for the people who steward our nations grazing and crop lands, produce our food, and give so much of themselves for others. For the past 75 years, Noble has served farmers and ranchers through education, consultation, demonstration and research. Through its work in regenerative ranching, Noble continues to assist farmers and ranchers by providing knowledge and tools to manage the operational variables they can control while they build resilient soils, animals and operations to manage through the circumstances they cannot control, including weather and market fluctuations. Regenerative ranching uses intentional interactions among soil, plants, water and grazing animals to help build resilience in the soils of the nations grazing lands. Regenerative agriculture capitalizes on such natural interactions to regenerate the soil and restore functionality of our nations grazing lands. Healthy soil is the cornerstone of a healthy ecosystem and a productive farm or ranch. We are honored to work beside our nations farmers and ranchers every day, Rhines said. When we help them see a solution to a nagging problem, reduce the complexity of their job, assist them to achieve lasting profitability, and, at the same time, help them improve the health of their land, we know that we our achieving our objective. Photo information Images related to this press release can be downloaded directly from Noble Research Institute by following these links: https://www.noble.org/globalassets/images/news/releases/2021/03-national-ag-day/rancher-works-with-cattle-in-mob-grazing-study.jpg Caption: Regenerative ranchers, who manage with a view on the interconnectedness of the soil, plants, water and grazing animals, help improve water and air quality while also providing other beneficial services to society. https://www.noble.org/globalassets/images/news/releases/2021/03-national-ag-day/ag-consultant-discusses-soil-health-with-ranchers.jpg Caption: Regenerative agriculture builds healthy soil, which is the cornerstone of a healthy ecosystem and a productive farm or ranch. Video information A video related to this press release can be downloaded directly from Noble Research Institute's YouTube channel by following this link: https://youtu.be/Y2Btpy407Wk Caption: People from across Oklahoma and the U.S. express their thanks to farmers and ranchers as part of Noble Research Institutes 75th anniversary celebrations. ### Noble Research Institute, LLC (http://www.noble.org) is an independent nonprofit agricultural research organization dedicated to delivering solutions to great agricultural challenges. Headquartered in Ardmore, Oklahoma, Nobles goal is to achieve regenerative land stewardship in grazing animal production with producer profitability. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Nicola Sturgeon with Alex Salmond on the campaign trail in Scotland in 2015 Nicola Sturgeon is not free and clear of the Alex Salmond affair despite being narrowly cleared of breaching the ministerial code, she was warned last night. Former Irish Director of Public Prosecutions James Hamilton said the Scottish First Minister had not misled parliament over her role or violated the code by failing to immediately record with her civil service a series of secret discussions with Mr Salmond. He also rejected claims she had attempted to influence her governments investigation into Mr Salmond, or had committed a code breach by continuing a court fight against him despite legal advice that he was likely to win. Mr Hamilton said she gave Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) an incomplete narrative of events by failing to tell them about a key meeting, and it was only because he deemed it a genuine failure of recollection and not deliberate that it did not amount to a breach of the code. Mr Hamilton also suggested one of Ms Sturgeons officials breached the confidentiality of one of the women who complained about Mr Salmond by giving her name to Geoff Aberdein, his former chief of staff, who passed it to the former first minister. Read More Mr Hamilton said that several other witnesses corroborated Mr Aberdeins version of events and his account of what the official said about the existence of the complaints and the identity of the complainers is credible. An exuberant Ms Sturgeon warmly welcomed the comprehensive, evidence-based and unequivocal findings, which dissipated pressure on her to resign. Although she faces a Tory vote of no confidence today, this is expected to fail. She urged the opposition parties to accept Mr Hamiltons verdict as the final word but a second report by a Scottish parliament committee is to be unveiled this morning. Extracts leaked last week disclosed that most MSPs on the committee had concluded she gave an inaccurate account under oath of a meeting with Mr Salmond at her home on April 2, 2018. Mr Salmond declined to comment but Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, said: I respect Mr Hamilton and his judgment but we cannot agree with that assessment. Nicola Sturgeon did not suddenly turn forgetful. He added: She is not free and clear. The First Minister promised to respect the decisions of both inquiry reports, not to pick and choose which one suits her and try to discredit the other. Ms Sturgeon insisted she had first learned of the complaints from Mr Salmond at the April 2 meeting, but later said she had forgotten about a discussion four days earlier with Mr Aberdein. Ministers have a duty to ensure meetings about government business are properly recorded but Ms Sturgeon did not tell her permanent secretary about her talks with Mr Salmond until two months later. Ms Sturgeon said: I did not consider that I had broken the code, but these findings are official, definitive and independent adjudication of that. Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2021 Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Lucknow: In view of the coronavirus situation in Uttar Pradesh, the State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday said not more than five people will be allowed to accompany a candidate during door-to-door campaigning for the panchayat elections. A letter in this regard has been sent to all the district magistrates. Additional Election Commissioner Ved Prakash Verma said a three-member team will be formed under the additional district magistrates to ensure the directives issued by the SEC are being followed. At the district-level, the chief medical officers have been made nodal officers and stress has been laid on COVID-19 prevention. The SEC has emphasised on provision of sanitiser, soaps and water for the candidates while they come to file their nomination papers. It has also been decided that only one candidate will be allowed to enter the room of the election officer. Similarly, during polling, the voters will have to put up a mask and maintain social distancing. Instructions have also been issued to make circles at a distance of six-feet at the polling centres. Verma said COVID-19 norms will also be followed during the counting of votes and added that PPE kits will also be arranged as per requirement. The Allahabad High Court had recently asked the state government to complete the panchayat election process by May 25. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh reported 542 fresh COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the infection tally in the state to 6,08,076, the UP government said in a statement. Of the fresh COVID-19 cases, state capital Lucknow reported 147 cases, among others. A COVID-19 patient died in Kanpur taking the total number of fatalities in the state to 8,760. The count of active COVID-19 cases in the state stands at 3,396, the statement said. Live TV St. Patricks Day Virtual Reception News This year the Embassys St. Patricks Day reception was virtual and vibrant. We were joined by the Taoiseach Micheal Martin T.D., who expressed his good wishes to everyone in Poland. While St. Patricks Day is a special day for Irish people, the Taoiseach said it is also an open-hearted invitation to a global expression of community. Both the Taoiseach and Ambassador OConnell reflected on the challenges of the last year and shared their hopes for recovery and renewal. With 44 landmarks in 20 Polish cities lighting up in green for St. Patricks Day, there was a special lookback at past greenings and warm greetings from members of the Irish community and friends of Ireland in Poland. The reception also featured another highlight of the last year the wonderful Viral Sessions recording showcasing Irish music and dance performances from across Poland. This video was created to mark the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Embassy of Ireland in Poland. Finally, our colleagues in Enterprise Ireland shared an inspirational video highlighting Irish innovation, resilience and adaptability. We are, as the film concludes, ready for a new world. Our virtual reception is available to watch here. Previous Item | Next Item LAist only exists with reader support. If you're in a position to give, your donation powers our reporters and keeps us independent. Our reporting is free for everyone, but its not free to make. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. The things we do for family. Consider the Henderson/Deetjens of South Pasadena: In an attempt to better protect dad from COVID-19, mom and their two teenagers agreed to participate in trials of experimental coronavirus vaccines. They took the risk because dad, Mark Deetjen, has a weakened immune system due to a double organ transplant and a subsequent heart attack. In 2013, Deetjen had a simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant to help rectify damage caused by Type 1 diabetes. Since then, he has taken medications designed to keep his body from rejecting the transplanted organs -- but the meds make it hard to fight off infections. For Deetjen, like millions of immunocompromised people, getting the coronavirus could mean a stint in the intensive care unit, or even death. Because of Deetjen's condition, his wife Lisa Henderson and their two teenage children were very careful not to contract the virus. They limited interactions and wore masks every time they left the house. But last summer, his medical situation changed. 'CAN YOU DRIVE ME TO THE ER?' "In June, I started rejecting my kidney," Deetjen said. "I was in the hospital, a little bit over a week. They bombarded me with antirejection medication. So that brought my immune system down even further." Mark Deetjen at home in South Pasadena. (Courtesy of Lisa Henderson) To keep safe from a potential COVID-19 infection, Deetjen quarantined from his family in a separate apartment for two months after he left the hospital. But a few weeks after returning home, he walked into the kitchen one day and, according to his 18-year-old son Sam Deetjen, said, "'I don't feel so good. Can you drive me to the ER?' ... I think I have a heart attack.'" Sam grabbed his car keys and rushed his dad to the hospital, where they found out that Mark was right. His body was still rejecting the transplanted organs, causing a blood clot and the heart attack. Mark spent another week in the hospital. "I've been recovering since but you start adding things on top of each other, right?" Mark said. "I have my transplant by immunosuppression, heart condition. So everybody was on high alert." 'IT JUST SEEMED LIKE AN OBVIOUS WAY TO PROTECT HIM' In December, only people over the age of 65 or in frontline health positions could get vaccinated in California. Even with his medical history, Mark, 50, was too young to qualify. As COVID-19 cases surged in California and the threat increased, Mark and his doctor had no idea when he would get vaccinated. Lisa Henderson is an architect. (Courtesy of Mark Deetjen) So the family hatched a plan. Lisa had seen vaccine trials recruiting on Facebook. She was afraid she and their kids could be waiting months for a federally authorized vaccine while Mark remained vulnerable. "I looked into it and then it just seemed like an obvious way for us to protect him because he wasn't in line yet to get a shot," Lisa said. In the hopes of creating an immunized bubble around Mark, Lisa, Sam and Aubry volunteered for clinical vaccine trials, despite the risk of unexpected side effects from experimental drugs. Lisa and Sam are in the adult Novavax tests. Sam knows he could have received a placebo. "There's a 66.6% chance that I'm vaccinated, and there's a 33.3% chance that I'm not," he said. The family was surprised by how easy it's been. Every day they answer simple health questions on an app and every few weeks they get their blood tested at a clinic. Sam Deetjen is a senior at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. He hopes to pursue a career in theater. (Courtesy of Lisa Henderson) "You go in every two, three weeks, they take your blood. The first few times they shoot you with either placebo or the real thing," Sam said. "And then they ask you a few questions, [you] sign a waiver and get your compensation and you're good to go within maybe 30 minutes maximum." 'YOU'RE BEING PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM' Aubry Deetjen is a freshman in high school. At 15, she's too young for any of the currently authorized vaccines so she's participating in Moderna's nationwide vaccine test of roughly 3,000 children ages 12 to 17. That group has had relatively low rates of infection, and the CDC calls fatal cases "rare," but cases can still be severe. In L.A. County only two children have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, but 154,848 have tested positive for the virus. That's why the CDC says vaccinating children is important for public health since they can also spread the virus in their families and communities. "It just feels like you're being part of the solution, not part of the problem," Aubry said. Aubry Deetjen getting the second injection of her clinical trial at the Velocity Clinical Trial site in Banning. (Courtesy of Lisa Henderson) As with other vaccine trials, she doesn't know if she got the vaccine or a placebo. It's a big topic of conversation with her friends who are also in the trial. She's attended classes virtually and since she's in her first year, she's never met any of her new high school friends in person. "I was talking to my best friend," Aubry said. "I was like, 'Did you get any symptoms?' because she got her first shot a few weeks ago and she was like, 'No' and then my other friend was like, 'Oh my gosh my arm hurt!'" Lisa has helped other people sign up for trials and says it's given her a sense of control and purpose during a tumultuous year. "I can't control COVID. I can't control what other people are going to do, or if someone chooses to have a baby shower down the street," she said. "I can't control any of that. But what I can control is whether I can get other people that want to be in the trial to ultimately help everybody." 'THESE TRIALS HAVE BEEN A GODSEND' Mark's brother and friends also signed up for the vaccine trials. "These trials have been a godsend for me, even though I'm not part of them," Mark said. (He's not allowed to participate because of his medical condition.) "Just the fact that everybody around me cared enough to do that is incredibly humbling," he said. Because the Moderna and Novavax trials are double blind crossover studies, Lisa, Sam and Aubry all expect to get the actual experimental vaccines in the next few weeks if they haven't already. But the family doesn't know how well the trial vaccines work. Mark remains immunocompromised. He's in the process of being relisted for a new kidney. Still, they've made it to one important goal. Solid organ transplant recipients are now prioritized, and last week Mark got the second shot of the Moderna vaccine -- so he's now fully immunized. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 A test that traces both the genetic and epigenetic origins of DNA in our blood could be used for prenatal genetic testing, monitoring transplant rejection and detecting hidden cancers A new technique that can trace which tissues and organs the DNA in our blood comes from has been reported today in the open-access eLife journal. The method, called GETMap, could be used in prenatal screening, to monitor organ transplant rejection, or test for cancers that are concealed in the body. "Analysis of circulating free DNA has been shown to be useful for screening for early asymptomatic cancers," explains first author Wanxia Gai, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. "As cancer-associated DNA changes are present in a wide range of cancer types, detection of such changes can be used as a universal test for concealed cancers. However, in patients with a positive test result, you still need to follow up with tests to find the tumour's location, for example, with a whole-body positron emission tomography, or PET, scan." To address this, the team developed a test that looks for genetic differences, as well as epigenetic changes to DNA (changes which do not affect DNA sequences) known as methylation. The DNA in our cells has a unique methylation 'fingerprint'. Comparing the methylation fingerprints of different genetic types of DNA molecules circulating in the blood, for example molecules from a foetus, transplanted organ or tumour, with that of different tissues identifies where the DNA has come from. The team first tested their approach in pregnant women, where they knew that blood DNA would include DNA from the mother, foetus, or both. As expected, GETMap found that DNA carrying foetus-specific genetic markers carried methylation signatures exclusively from the placenta. On the other hand, DNA molecules carrying mother-specific genetic markers carried methylation signatures from white blood cells. DNA molecules carrying genetic markers shared by both the mother and foetus were derived from both tissues. Next, they tested the approach in blood donated by patients following a lung transplant. Detecting unusually high concentrations of DNA from a transplanted organ in blood can be a sign of organ rejection. But immediately after a transplant, there is often an unexplained surge in donor-derived DNA in the transplant recipient's blood. This makes it challenging to detect whether the organ is being rejected if only genetic markers are used. By using a combination of genetic and epigenetic markers, the team identified the origins of this surge in donor DNA. At 72 hours after transplantation, only 17% of the circulating DNA was from the lung, compared with 78% from blood cells. This surprisingly high contribution from the blood cells was likely due to the release of DNA from blood cells in the blood vessels of the transplanted lung. With time, the amount of circulating DNA from the lung increased, and the amount from blood cells decreased. There also seemed to be more donor lung DNA in the blood of patients whose new lungs were rejected, compared to those who had a successful transplant. The team also tested whether GETMap could detect the origin of tumour-derived DNA in the blood. In two patients with liver cancer, they found that 90% and 87% of the plasma DNA carrying mutations had come from the liver. To test this, they needed to know the exact tumour mutations they were looking for, and tumour tissue is not always available if its location is unknown. The team therefore tried to use methylation fingerprints to identify cancer mutations directly from blood DNA rather than tumour tissue. Although fewer mutations were found, the liver was still correctly identified as the source of the tumour-derived molecules. This suggests GETMap could help to reveal the tissue and location of concealed cancers in people who have tumour markers in their blood. Finally, they challenged the GETMap test in a woman who developed lymphoma during pregnancy. In this instance, they were able to distinguish between the foetal-specific genes which were derived from the placenta, and the tumour-specific genes which originated solely from a family of white blood cells that were related to the cell type of the lymphoma. "We have demonstrated the powerful synergy between genetic and epigenetic approaches for identifying the origin of circulating DNA in the blood, and shown its potential applications in cancer screening, prenatal testing and organ transplant monitoring," says co-senior author Dennis Lo, Director of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, and the Li Ka Shing Professor of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. "Our test could bring us closer to the vision of a blood test for a universal cancer marker, by allowing more targeted follow-up tests in specific organs," concludes co-senior author Allen Chan, Professor of Chemical Pathology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. "This could make cancer diagnosis earlier and more accurate, and reduce the use of whole-body scans and the associated exposure to radiation." ### Media contact Emily Packer, Media Relations Manager eLife e.packer@elifesciences.org +44 (0)1223 855373 About eLife eLife is a non-profit organisation created by funders and led by researchers. Our mission is to accelerate discovery by operating a platform for research communication that encourages and recognises the most responsible behaviours. We aim to publish work of the highest standards and importance in all areas of biology and medicine, including Medicine, while exploring creative new ways to improve how research is assessed and published. eLife receives financial support and strategic guidance from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Max Planck Society and Wellcome. Learn more at https:/ / elifesciences. org/ about . Ten people, including a police officer, were killed in a mass shooting at a grocery store in the US state of Colorado, authorities said, adding the suspect has been apprehended. The shooting took place on Monday at the King Soopers grocery store in the city of Boulder. Addressing a press conference later in the day, Boulder Police chief Maris Herold said that the officer, identified as 51-year-old Eric Talley, was one of the first responders at the scene, Xinhua news agency reported. Herold revealed that at about 2.30 p.m., the city's police department received phone calls saying shooting incident occurred, when the crew arrived at the scene, they were shot by the suspect, who was taken into custody. She gave no more information about the shooting, saying the "complex investigation will cost at least five days" to make a conclusion. The Boulder District Attorney confirmed that an injured person was the alleged shooter and the suspect was arrested. Live video from local TV stations showed a large police presence outside the supermarket and people were escorted out of the supermarket by police officers. A shirt-less man with blood on his leg was taken out of the supermarket in handcuffs by three police officers, live TV footage showed. A law enforcement source told ABC News that officers responded to a report of someone shot in the parking area, and when they arrived at the scene, a suspect opened fire at them. CNN cited an unnamed senior law enforcement source as saying that the weapon used in the shooting was an AR-15-style rifle. Two witnesses told The Denver Post that they saw a gunman entering the store. "He just came in and started shooting," one of the witnesses was quoted as saying by the newspaper. The other witness told The Denver Post that the gunman "let off a couple of shots, then was silent, and then he let off a couple more. He wasn't spraying". "Like my fellow Coloradans, I am closely watching unfolding events in Boulder," tweeted Colorado Governor Jared Polis. "My prayers are with our fellow Coloradans in this time of sadness and grief as we learn more about the extent of the tragedy," he added. The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden has been briefed about the carnage. Before this incident, tragic mass shootings has occurred in the state. On July 20, 2012, a shooter set off tear gas grenades and shot inside a movie theatre in Aurora, killing 12 people and injuring 70 It was the deadliest shooting in Colorado since the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, in which two young killers murdered 12 students, a teacher and injured 21 --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.) Sulaiman Muhammad, younger brother to Abubakar Muhammad, late officer of the Nigerian air force (NAF), has explained why he married his fi... Sulaiman Muhammad, younger brother to Abubakar Muhammad, late officer of the Nigerian air force (NAF), has explained why he married his fiancee after his demise. Abubakar was said to have been among the NAF operatives killed during a gun duel with armed bandits at Ungwan Laya axis of Birnin Gwari, Kaduna state, on February 13. His death had come three weeks to his wedding to Hajara which was higly publicised on several social media platforms. Few weeks after Abubakars demise, Sulaiman and Hajara had tied the knot on March 20. Their marriage has continued to generate intense controversies on social media platforms with many users expressing different views over the union. Sulaiman Muhammad But in an interview with BBC Pidgin, Sulaiman explained that the marriage took place at the instance of Hajara following his elder brothers death. Abubakar was my immediate elder brother and I loved him so much that his death really pained me. So, what actually happened was that after his death, his fiancees family sent a message to us, he said. The message was that she (Hajara) said she likes me and that instead of calling off the wedding which was just three weeks away at the time, it would be better that I replace my late brother and marry her. Today, we are married. The bridegroom also said he had to explain to his previous girlfriend at the time the incident took place, adding that he was glad that she understood the situation. Sulaiman said that his marriage to Hajara got the backing of both families. I had a girlfriend prior to the incident but I believe what happened has been destined to be so. Im glad that my ex-girlfriend accepted it that way. Both families supported what we did and that is the most important thing, he said. Sulaiman, who works as an interior designer, said he remains unperturbed by comments on social media over his marriage to Hajara. It was even my friend that showed me some of the comments but that did not bother me at all because God has already bless our wedding. In fact, it rained on our wedding day to show Gods blessings, he added. 404 Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to New Haven Friday on her first visit to the state as vice president, the White House announced Tuesday. Part of the administrations Help is Here campaign, Harris visit is expected to focus on how the administrations coronavirus relief legislation, called the American Rescue Plan, helps children and child care providers, sources said. The visit may also touch on vaccines and other aspects of pandemic recovery supported by the bill. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who represents New Haven, will give a speech along with Harris in the city Friday. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Reps. Jahana Hayes, D-5, and Joe Courtney, D-2, are also expected to attend. DeLauro championed a temporary expansion of the child tax credit in the American Rescue Plan a measure that will soon send families up to $3,000 per child in an effort to slash child poverty. DeLauro and other Democrats are now pushing to make the change permanent. I am excited to hear that Vice President Kamala Harris is coming to New Haven to join congresswomen DeLauro and Hayes, said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker on Tuesday. This is critical in emphasizing the importance of the American Rescue Plan and how our leaders at the federal government are working tirelessly to help those who are struggling, especially in our community. I especially want to thank Rep. DeLauro for fighting for decades for the child tax credit. The American Rescue Plan also included billions in funding to help shuttered child care centers reopen. Unlike some states in the region, Connecticut supported child care providers remaining open during the pandemic if they could implement certain safety protocols. Blumenthal said he looks forward to showing Harris how American Rescue Plan dollars are already working in Connecticut. Vice President Harris has made helping families a priority since her days as my Senate deskmate, Blumenthal said. Under her leadership, and the leadership of President Biden, the American Rescue Plan is injecting billions of dollars directly into Connecticut state and local governments. The new law sends $2.7 billion to the state government and $1.6 billion to town governments to use as they see fit, along with over $1.2 billion for Connecticut schools and millions more to back vaccine distribution, transportation and other items. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, we have seen an accelerated vaccine distribution effort, and we cant wait to have the Vice President spend time in New Haven, touting the American Rescue Plan Act, which will help move our state and country forward, said Max Reiss, communications director for Gov. Ned Lamont. The vice president and other administration leaders have been making other trips around the country highlighting various aspects of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed into law earlier this month. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson SPRINGFIELD While many women were struggling to care for themselves and their families before the pandemic, the past year has proven to be even more challenging as some have lost their jobs, childcare and even housing. The Womens Fund of Western Massachusetts has partnered with area organizations to examine the factors that keep women and girls, and specifically women in Springfield, from achieving a good quality of life. On March 25, the Womens Fund will host a virtual event to present information about the those factors which theyre calling determinants as well as map of assets designed to help organizations navigate areas of need and available services. A recent study by the fund, The Status of Women and Girls in Western MA 2019, found that women and girls in Hampden County particularly those of color were among the regions the most economically insecure, with 18.8% living in poverty. And that was before COVID-19. The study was conducted in all four counties, but we saw that women in Hampden County in particular were not doing well pre-COVID. There were high rates of poverty, high rates of unemployment, low labor force participation, low educational attainment levels, and a lot of violence. So, if we are going to do something this seems like a place to really draw our attention, said Donna Haghighat, chief executive officer of the Womens Fund of Western Massachusetts. Meanwhile, things got exponentially worse for these women during the pandemic, Haghighat said. Many people say COVID shined a light on what was going on, but I feel like it was more of a power washer, because the women who we are looking at in Springfield are the same women who worked in low wage jobs, she aid. The jobs they were working in were the sectors that were hardest hit in terms of unemployment, furloughs and reduced hours. The fund does not do direct service work, so it partnered with Arise for Social Justice, Dress for Success, Western New England Universitys School of Law Social Justice Center and Springfield Works, Haghighat said. Since last fall the partners have been meeting to create a database organizations and individuals can use to find out what services different agencies provide for women and girls in Springfield. We started with the premise that women live intersecting lives in the sense that one part of her economic security outlook affects every other part, so if we dont take care of one thing there is a cascading affect, she said. We thought of these determinants as cogs in an economic engine and any one of these things, if its not working, can gum up the whole system. Arise for Social Justice executive director Tanisha Arena. Damaris Perez-Pizarro | El Pueb Tanisha Arena, executive director of Arise for Social Justice, said her team often meets with women who need help with everything from housing to childcare or even paying past due bills. We actually got some funding to do some COVID work, particularly to help with bills, but we quickly realized that it was beyond the lights and the water and the gas. It was the car insurance, it was taxes, Arena said. If you cant pay your car insurance it gets canceled, then your car gets impounded and you cant get to work, then you lose your job and now you cant pay your rent and you are going to end up at Arise anyway because youre homeless. So lets take care of these issues before they escalate. Arena said many of the people who work at Arise have faced difficult challenges in their lives, too and many of those on staff have been in similar, if not the same, situations as the people they help. People come in and we meet them where they are at. That culture is really important. There are people who will turn to an organization like Arise because they dont want to sit in a cubicle with someone who is going to judge their life choices, she said. Issues on the agenda for the virtual event include asset building and financial literacy; career development networks; early childhood education, care and special care; community and capital networks; digital inclusion; food and nutrition; health, safety and well being; non-paid work and care; paid work; transportation and proof of status. The issue described as community and capital networks can be a challenge for many women, Haghighat said. It refers to having access to help from family members, groups and institutions for transportation, loans, mentorships, emotional support and other matters and the confidence to ask for it. Essentially this is what privileged people tap into when something goes wrong in our life, Haghighat said. I may borrow my neighbors car and get my sister to watch my child. What we noticed, in particular with formerly incarcerated women, is that they dont have that and even if they created a sisterhood while they were incarcerated, the system penalizes them if they try to fraternize with those folks, so that is an element that makes it harder for women. Haghighat said COVID-19 has also highlighted issues around digital access. It is so glaringly obvious now that COVID is around, but before that no one was talking about it and in fact the states COVID relief funds prohibited organizations from giving money to individuals for devices, she said. Its ridiculous. Its a system of mistrust and of being too far removed from the way people live their lives and what they need to succeed. She said the group also separated the categories of food and nutrition and health, safety and well being. We have seen them together in other models, but we really wanted to center trauma and survival from abuse or addiction as being really important in and of itself, just as food insecurity is also important, she said. Haghighat said more important than establishing the determinants was creating a database so that people will know where to turn when they need help. For each of these determinants, we thought about who we know that is working in this space to give this kind of help to women, she said. Each of these determinants and this asset mapping already add value to our community. This can be used by all manner of organizations. We have tried to think about people and where they turn when they need help, so we have not only included organizations and agencies, but also faith based institutions as well. Arena said she is looking forward to collaborating with even more agencies and organizations that help women and girls. Im excited to participate and get folks together to really have the full picture of exactly what goes on and how. I feel like we get bits and pieces, but we are not in the same room at the same time for everyone to know whats really going on, Arena said. Haghighat said she hopes the virtual event will bring even more organizations forward who are already working to help women and girls. We know something wasnt working even before COVID showed up on the scene because of the complexities of the lived experiences of women, and because the system has never been set up to respond to the lived experience of women. Its been set up on white supremacy and nuclear families with a white man and woman who live in the suburbs, that sort of narrative, she said. That is not the reality for many women in our community, and we want to establish a network of individuals and organizations and community services that help women and young women succeed and thrive. The virtual event is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. on March 25. Anyone can participate in the first hour of the event by visiting www.facebook.com/WFWMa/. Related content: Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa was identified by authorities Tuesday as the gunman who opened fire at a King Soopers grocery store in Colorado, killing 10 people, including a Boulder police officer. The name of the 21-year-old suspect, who is in custody, was released at a news conference by Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold, who did not disclose a possible motive for Monday's bloodshed. A search of the suspect's suburban Denver home turned up other weapons, a senior law enforcement source said Tuesday. The weapon used in the attack was an AR-15-style pistol modified with an arm brace, according to the source. Authorities have said they believe Alissa was the only person involved and that there was no additional threat to the community. The suspect has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and one charge of attempted murder, according to his arrest warrant. His first court appearance is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. (10:15 a.m. ET) Thursday, according to Colorado Judicial Branch online records. The warrant described Alissa as being armed with either an assault rifle or 'black AR-15' and wearing a 'tactical' or 'armored' vest. A senior law enforcement source told CNN on condition of anonymity the shooter used a Ruger AR-556 pistol, modified with an arm brace, and was also carrying a 9 mm handgun, according to the source. The suspect had 'removed all of his clothing and was dressed only in shorts' when he was taken into custody, the affidavit said. Outside the store, the document said, Alissa wouldn't tell police whether there were other suspects, but he did ask to speak to his mother. Using law enforcement databases, the affidavit said, investigators determined Alissa had purchased a Ruger AR556 pistol on March 16.A law enforcement official told CNN Alissa was not previously the subject of any FBI investigation and said it appears nothing in the federal system would have prohibited Alissa from buying a firearm. Michael Dougherty, Boulder County district attorney, said Alissa is a resident of Arvada, between Boulder and Denver, who has 'lived most of his life in the United States.' Brother says he believes suspect was 'paranoid' Alissa, whose family emigrated from Syria, may have been suffering from mental illness, according to his 34-year-old brother, Ali Aliwi Alissa. The brother told CNN on Tuesday that in high school bullies made fun of Alissa's name and for being Muslim and that may have contributed to him becoming 'anti-social.' 'People chose not to mess with him because of his temper, people chose not to really talk to him because of all -- how he acted and things like that. So yeah, he was very alone,' said Damien Cruz, who said he has known Alissa since the fifth grade. Alissa had become increasingly 'paranoid' around 2014, believing he was being followed and chased, according to his brother. At one point, the young man covered the camera on his computer with duct tape so he could not be seen, said the brother, who lives with Alissa. 'He always suspected someone was behind him, someone was chasing him,' Ali Alissa said. 'We kept a close eye on him when he was in high school. He would say, 'Someone is chasing me, someone is investigating me.' And we're like, 'Come on man. There's nothing.' ... He was just closing into himself,' the brother added. Alissa's Facebook page, the authenticity of which was confirmed by his brother and a high school classmate, shows posts saying he believed his former high school had been hacking into his phone. 'Just curious what are the laws about phone privacy because I believe my old school (a west) was hacking my phone,' Alissa wrote in a March 18, 2019, Facebook post. He made a second post on July 5, 2019, also claiming that people were hacking his phone, saying, 'let me have a normal life I probably could.' When his Facebook friends questioned how he knew the school was hacking his phone, Alissa said: 'I believe part racism for sure. But I also believe someone spread rumors about me which are false and maybe that set it off.' The profile claims Alissa attended Arvada West High School. Cameron Bell, Jefferson County Public Schools spokesperson, confirmed Alissa was a student there from March 2015 until he graduated in May 2018. Alissa was not very political or particularly religious, according to his brother, who said he never heard the young man threaten to use violence. 'The entire thing surprised me,' Ali Alissa said of the Monday's shootings. 'I never ever would have thought he would do such a thing. I never thought he would kill. I still can't believe it. I am really sad for the lives that he wasted, and I feel sorry for all those families. ... We lost a brother even if he is the killer.' Aside from a knife he used for cooking, Ali Alissa said he did not know his brother to carry any weapon, including a firearm. Sister-in-law says she saw suspect playing with a gun According to the arrest warrant, a woman identified as the suspect's sister-in-law 'stated that (Ahmad Al Aliwi) Alissa was seen playing with a gun she thought looked like a 'machine gun' about 2 days ago. She did not believe the gun looked like the rifles she has seen in old Western movies. . . . Alissa had been talking about having a bullet stuck in the gun and was playing with the gun.' The woman's name was redacted from the document. Ali Alissa said he doesn't know why his brother went to King Soopers on Monday. Police interrogated him and another brother, according to Ali Alissa, who said authorities searched their home in the predawn hours Tuesday. 'They searched every corner,' he said, 'every piece of clothing.' The family emigrated from Syria in 2002, the brother said. They have lived in the Arvada area since 2014. Facebook has shut down Facebook and Instagram accounts belonging to the suspect, a company spokesperson said Tuesday. Alissa was found guilty of assault in 2018 Alissa was sentenced to one year probation and 48 hours of community service after being found guilty of third-degree assault in 2018 for an incident that occurred the previous November, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's database. The case stemmed from a incident in which a then-18-year-old Alissa was accused of attacking a classmate at Arvada West High School. A report from a police officer included in the case file says Alissa 'got up in (a) classroom, walked over to (the) victim & 'cold-cocked' him in the head.' Alissa 'got on top of (the victim) & punched him in (the) head several more times,' the report says, adding that the victim 'had bruising, swelling & cuts to (the) head, as well as pain.' 'No witnesses could see or hear any reason' for the attack, and Alissa said the victim 'had made fun of him & called him racial names weeks earlier,' the officer wrote. Shooting comes 1 week after Atlanta massacre The mass shooting suspect has made statements to investigators, Dougherty said. 'We're collecting those statements now and we'll be providing those in the weeks ahead,' Dougherty said. Herold said the suspect was wounded in the leg during 'an exchange of gunfire.' The suspect was taken into custody about 3:30 p.m. Monday and transported to a hospital, where he was in stable condition. He was booked into Boulder County Jail early Tuesday afternoon, according to the jail's records. The massacre at the King Soopers store occurred less than a week after shootings at three spas in the Atlanta area left eight people dead. In the past week in the US, there have been at least seven shootings in which at least four people were injured or killed. The slain Boulder officer, 51-year-old Eric Talley, was the first to respond to the scene, according to Herold. Talley had joined the force in 2010, she said. The victims were ordinary Coloradans going about their daily lives -- picking up groceries, waiting in line for a coronavirus vaccine. They ranged from 20 to 65 years old. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Citigroup employees will get a weekly break from Zoom, and a day off in May in a bid to battle the fatigue plaguing many workers who've been glued to screens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Citigroup's CEO Jane Fraser said in a memo to staff that there would no longer be Zoom meetings on Fridays "to combat the 'Zoom fatigue' that many of us feel." "There still will be client and regulator meetings that need to happen via Zoom, but any internal meetings occurring on Fridays ... should happen as audio-only calls," Fraser said in the memo. Fraser also said employees should limit making calls outside of their typical work day, and that they will get an extra day off on May 28. Citigroup workers also got an extra holiday in 2020. "We are of course a global company that operates across time zones," Fraser wrote, "but when our work regularly spills over into nights, very early mornings and weekends, it can prevent us from recharging fully, and that isn't good for you nor, ultimately, for Citi." Zoom fatigue is one of the many emotional impacts that have emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some workers feel self-conscious about their appearance or see the screen-centered meetings as yet another intrusion into what used to be their private spaces, separate from the office. Virtual meetings are also lengthening the work day. Roughly 40% of employees working remotely at least part of the time say their workdays have become longer in the last 12 months, according to a new Gartner study. Typical workdays are two to three hours longer, exhausting workers who feel that they have to always be engaged, according to Alexia Cambon, the Gartner researcher who wrote the study. Mental health professionals have recommended that businesses consider cutting down on such meetings or being flexible about whether workers must have their cameras on in order to participate. NI, an Austin, Texas-based tech and engineering company formerly known as National Instruments, is taking steps similar to Citigroup, testing "no meeting Fridays" within some of its departments. That's part of a larger pilot program to improve work-life balance for NI employees that is based on the Gartner study's findings. Fraser became the first woman ever to lead one of Wall Street's big six banks, succeeding Michael Corbat who retired last month. Citigroup is the third-largest U.S. bank by assets. Previously Fraser, was president of Citi and the CEO of Global Consumer Banking, which included checking and savings accounts as well as the bank's credit card business. (c)2021 U.S. Today Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. [March 23, 2021] Sentar Wins NIWC Pacific Full and Open Technical and Engineering Support IDIQ MAC Sentar Inc. (Sentar), one of the fastest growing cybersecurity and intelligence solutions, operations, and technology providers in the national security sector, announced today the award of the Technical and Engineering Support IDIQ MAC from the Department of the Navy, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific). Sentar was awarded a $31,319,906 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract and will compete for task orders through 2027 if all options are exercised. Under the new contract, Sentar will provide management engineering, technical assistance, integrated logistics and security for wideband, narrowband and protected communications on afloat, ashore, airborne, submerged and space-based platforms. The ontract will aid NIWC Pacific in the goal of assisting the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Navy in identifying, implementing, developing, improving, and enhancing the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, & Intelligence (C4I) and network centric warfare. "We are thrilled to be extending our relationship with NIWC Pacific on this contract," said April Nadeau, Sentar's Senior Vice President of DoD Programs. "This award demonstrates the unique value Sentar delivers in converging our expertise in systems engineering, analytics, intelligence, and cybersecurity to enhance C4I and other systems for the Navy." Work under this contract will be conducted in San Diego, California and outside the continental U.S. The period of performance of the base award is from March 3, 2021, through March 2, 2023. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through March 2, 2027 and the contract would have an overall potential value of $99,788,587. About Sentar, Inc. Sentar is one of the fastest-growing cyber intelligence, analytics and operations solutions providers focused on the National Security sector. Its cyber domain solutions blend expertise in cybersecurity, intelligence, analytics, and systems engineering into holistic solutions that combine these disciplines to deliver superior results to mission partners. Key clients include the Defense Health Agency, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and Missile Defense Agency. Sentar has offices in Huntsville, Alabama; Charleston, South Carolina; Columbia, Maryland; and San Antonio, Texas. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005145/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Chennai, March 23 : DMK youth wing Secretary, Udayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday kept up his attack against the AIADMK government's "ineptness" in solving the "mystery" regarding the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief minister and AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa. The AIAMDK government had constituted a one-man commission headed by retired Madras High Court judge, Justice A. Arumughaswamy, to probe the matter. However, DMK chief M.K. Stalin and his son and actor-turned-politician Udayanidhi Stalin have been publicly attacking the "callous attitude" taken by the AIADMK government in the investigation regarding Jayalalithaa's death. Even as the AIADMK leadership has already petitioned the Chief Electoral Officer against DMK leaders using Jayalalithaa's death as an election issue, Udayanidhi Stalin has continued with his attacks. In a public programme at Egmore, he said: "The AIADMK leadership is not serious in conducting a proper investigation into the passing away of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Once the DMK comes back to power, a proper investigation will be conducted to bring out the truth." Jersey City will pay more than $2 million a year toward the future Hudson Countys Liberty Science High School for the next 30 years, angering city public school advocates and officials who say their schools need the money. The City Council is expected to approve a resolution allowing the city to enter an agreement with the county, Hudson County Schools of Technology and Liberty Science Center on the construction and operation of the newest county high school. In the first year of the agreement, the city will contribute $2 million to the operating budget of the school that will be part of the SciTech Scity campus near Liberty Science Center. The city will continue to pay over the next 30 years with an additional 2% each year. The payments would commence the first year the school is open. Construction is expected to begin this year, but no timetable for completion has been announced. The state-of-the-art STEM-based high school is part of phase 1 of SciTech Scity, which has already received a donation of 12.5 acres of land from Jersey City. Mayor Steve Fulop said the school, which is to include residential housing and a 5-acre outdoor park, will be a key component of Scitech Scity. Partnering with the county, were creating an unparalleled opportunity for hundreds of students each year by disrupting the status quo and acting as a catalyst to promote future scientists, inventors, and entrepreneurs in a one-of-a-kind setting that will become a sought-after destination for inspiration and innovation, Fulop said. The STEM school is expected to house 400 science-talented students from across the county. The school will include work education programs around the more than 200 technology startup companies and entrepreneurs expected to call the planned 30-acre innovation campus home. This agreement comes at a time when Jersey City Public Schools continues to face budget shortfalls stemming from a steep cut in the districts state aid. The Board of Education gave initial approval last week to a 2021-2022 school budget of $812 million that could potentially raise annual property taxes by almost $1,000. Board Of Education President Mussab Ali said the citys decision shows misplaced priorities by putting county kids first. If they gave us $2 million per school for 30 years at a 2% increase, I mean we wouldve never had to increase taxes on homeowners at all, Ali said. There wouldve been a 0% tax increase in our budget this year. Jersey City Education Association President Ron Greco said the citys solution to help the school district is to sell one of its buildings on Bright Street. How are you the leader of a municipality and you tell your public school system, your Board of Ed to go scratch, Greco said. " (Fulop) is going to give $2 million, but you cant even give $2 million to your own public school system. That is very sad. City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said the city has built a new public school that will open this year and has allocated $14 million from the Municipal Utilities Authority to help them. The HCST and LSC will work on the flexibility of the curriculum with a goal of creating the best public high school in the state and among the top in the country, Wallace-Scalcione said. No other local option could achieve this flexibility, and we had discussed it with the previous JCPS leadership when this project started. The city is getting an unbelievable education option for parents with this school while saving taxpayers money. Councilman at Large Rolando Lavarro said tonight at caucus he will seek every single seat at the school be held for Jersey City students. The idea of contributing money to another school outside of the JCPS when we cant take responsibility and accountability for financing and supporting our own schools ... it is very disappointing and frankly upsetting, Lavarro said. AstraZeneca's release Monday of encouraging data about its vaccine from its US trial raised hopes that the drug company could bury doubts about the shot and put a troubled rollout behind it. But hours later, US officials issued an unusual statement expressing concerns the company had included outdated information from its study and that it may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. A company spokesman said Tuesday it was looking into it. Even before this latest stumble, AstraZeneca had made missteps in reporting data and faced a blood clot scare. Health officials worried that those past issues could cause lasting harm to the shot that is key to global efforts to stop the pandemic and undermine vaccine confidence more broadly. The way they handled their data early on, AstraZeneca basically shot themselves in the foot, Julian Tang, a virologist at the University of Leicester, said even before the latest issue arose. Even though the new study confirms what we previously thought about the vaccine's efficacy, people may have lingering doubts, he said. Unfortunately, that might mean more people will die of COVID. Britain was the first to authorize the vaccine in December, based on partial results from the UK, Brazil and South Africa. Those results suggested the shot was about 70 per cent effective but were clouded by a manufacturing mistake the researchers didn't immediately acknowledge. Insufficient data about how well the vaccine protected older people also led some countries including Germany and France to initially restrict its use to younger populations before reversing course. In the US, officials suspended AstraZeneca's study in 30,000 Americans for an unusual six weeks last fall, as frustrated regulators sought details about neurological problems reported in Britain; ultimately there was no evidence the vaccine was to blame. But on Monday, the company announced that the shot was about 79 per cent effective in stopping symptomatic COVID-19 data that Mene Pangalos, head of AstraZeneca's research and development in biopharmaceuticals, called much cleaner than previous releases. He expressed hope it puts to bed any doubts. Instead, in the early hours of Tuesday, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board experts from the U.S. National Institutes of Health said they were concerned by the information released. We urge the company to work with the DSMB to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible, it said. Even if the company clears up the misunderstanding and it's not yet clear what the US experts are asking for exactly it could have a lasting impact. Tang noted the decades-old controversy over the measles vaccine as a cautionary tale. There was absolutely no evidence to prove the (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine caused autism, he said. But despite the retraction of the paper that made that claim, Tang said some people still worry about the vaccine. He said AstraZeneca's issues may be even tougher to overcome because every week it seems like there's some new concern. Last week, more than a dozen countries temporarily halted their use of the AstraZeneca shot, after reports of rare blood clots in some people who received it. The European Medicines Agency concluded the shot was not responsible, but even though its investigation was standard procedure when unusual side effects are detected, the process inadvertently drew more unwelcome attention to the company. In Norway, a top official warned on Monday it might not be able to resume its use of the AstraZeneca vaccine because so many people were rejecting it. People clearly say that they do not want the AstraZeneca vaccine, Marte Kvittum Tangen, who heads a Norwegian doctors' association, told broadcaster NRK. Last week in Bucharest, Romania, vaccination coordinator Valeriu Gheorghita said 33,000 AstraZeneca immunization appointments had been canceled in 24 hours and that about a third of the 10,000 people scheduled to receive the vaccine did not show up. In Belgrade, Serbia, a sprawling exhibition center set up for people to get the AstraZeneca vaccine was mostly deserted on Monday. This is unfortunately more about perception than it is the science, said Dr Bharat Pankhania, an infectious diseases specialist at Britain's University of Exeter. We have now seen, on several parameters, that the AstraZeneca vaccine provides protection and is safe, he said. But the narrative for the public has not been as clear, he said, criticizing politicians for undermining confidence in the vaccine without evidence. France is a prime example of the confusion. French President Emmanuel Macron initially suggested the vaccine wasn't effective for older people, before backtracking. But then France only authorised AstraZeneca's vaccine for use in adults 65 and under, citing a lack of data. Then the government changed its mind, based on new data, and said it's fine for all adults and started singing its praises. Then came the blood clot reports and the government suspended use of the vaccine all together. When France restarted AstraZeneca, it for anyone under 55. The whiplash-inducing messages come at a time when France like much of continental Europe is seeing a spike in cases that is close to overwhelming its hospitals and prompting threats of new lockdowns. (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.) Huntington, WV (25701) Today Cloudy with rain this morning...then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. PACEMAKER BELFAST 23/03/2021 Officers from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force are conducting a search and arrest operation in relation to organised crime in Greenisland and Carrickfergus this morning. PACEMAKER BELFAST 23/03/2021 Officers from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force are conducting a search and arrest operation in relation to organised crime in Greenisland and Carrickfergus this morning. PACEMAKER BELFAST 23/03/2021 Officers from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force are conducting a search and arrest operation in relation to organised crime in Greenisland and Carrickfergus this morning. Terrorism police are carrying out a series of raids in Co Antrim on Tuesday morning. Police said officers from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force are conducting a search and arrest operation in relation to organised crime in Greenisland and Carrickfergus. The PSNI, HM Revenue & Customs and the National Crime Agency established the Paramilitary Crime Taskforce to tackle criminality linked to paramilitarism. Joe Biden's policies worsen the border chaos on solo immigrant children. Latinos are using their children to enter the United States. It is not getting better as the Mexico-US border is not improving. Migrants are not listening to Biden's mixed-up messaging. Joe Biden's Policies are making it worse The United States is in crisis as its aliens don't want to turn back. A former top immigration adviser said more children are sent to the border. It is their parents who hope their children will be let in, reported the Epoch Times. The adviser said that the crisis had been made worse by allowing children in. It will be a chance for parents to use minors to enter the United States. It disadvantages Americans, not the aliens getting a free pass to U.S. citizenship. Stephen Miller, who advised Trump on border policy, mentioned why he objects. Taking a 17-year-old or younger to the border illegally will be separating families. He expressed that Biden promoted splitting up families, and that is immoral. He added that it encourages giving their children to traffickers and cartels to enter. It be won't long before these parents endanger children as a way in. Evidence of coyotes and cartels are evident in caravans at the border. Miller called what the administration is doing a big mistake. There are ways to process the aliens properly, not let everyone in. He cited a process with UN members to screen who enters the country. Joe Biden's Policies has no working legit humanitarian process to start with. Everyone who enters must classify criterion to pass. The number would be the qualified asylum seekers; many are not at the U.S. border. White House Still Denies Surging Border Crisis In the end, the administration is ripping families apart to enter the border. Biden and his policies are not well thought out. At the start of the pandemic, Trump officials used Title 42 powers to eject illegals entering. This included minors and children alone at the border. It was done without hesitation to protect American citizens. Biden had an open arms policy when Trump's orders were trashed. It was key to control the aliens trying to escape into the US. Even immigrant children were no exception to the rule. The U.S. Border Patrol was never overwhelmed or had a hard time. After Biden got inaugurated, he opened the borders to migrants against American interests. Next came the crisis the White House denied at the U.S. border. Jen Psaki slipped in the briefing but pulled back her 'CRISIS" remark. Alejandro Mayorkas said on NBC's "Meet the Press" they will be accepting children at the border. He said they would be minors from 14 to 17 years old. He said that Biden closed the border, claiming it. In March, he told the press to wait for the president's announcement. This is where the administration is giving mixed signals to the migrants. Still coming over, but the governments need to be clearer. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said that Majorkas is making a big mistake. He remarked on the DHS secretary's words. Too late, the cayotes can bring children to the border and earn. If their children got in, they could get money from families. Ranchers to Biden: 'Do the Right Thing' about Mexico Border Migrants at the US-Mexico Border Wear Shirts Pleading Biden to Allow Entry into US White House Still Denies Surging Border Crisis @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Sam Nussey TOKYO (Reuters) - Co Ltd said on Tuesday it is partnering with app developer Niantic to create augmented reality (AR) titles, with a Pikmin themed game launching this year. The partnership could breathe life into Nintendo's stalled mobile ambitions after the firm struggled to replicate the appeal of Pokemon Go, which became a social phenomenon as gamers spilled onto the streets to "catch" Pokemon using their phones. The first mobile adaptation of the long-running Pikmon franchise, in which users direct hordes of plant-like Pikmin creatures to complete puzzles, is being developed by Niantic's Tokyo studio, which was set up in 2018. "Niantic's AR technology has made it possible for us to experience the world as if Pikmin are secretly living all around us," veteran games creator Shigeru Miyamoto said in a statement. San Francisco-based Niantic launched a Harry Potter themed app in 2019 but it has not reproduced the success of Pokemon Go, which was developed with affiliate The Pokemon Company and left Nintendo with only a small proportion of revenue. The Kyoto-based gaming firm's efforts to expand outside console gaming were boosted last week by the belated opening of the Super Nintendo World area at Osaka's Universal Studios Japan theme park. (Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Stephen Coates) (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.) BUENOS AIRES (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd March, 2021) Ecuador is starting pre-clinical trials of a domestic vaccine against COVID-19 using animals, and the drug may be ready for clinical trials in one year, the head of the biomedical research laboratory at the Espol public university, Washington Cardenas, told Sputnik. The laboratory started the work on creation of a national recombinant protein vaccine in May 2020. "We are at the stage of pre-clinical trials using mice. We are starting trials," Cardenas said. The scientist declined to comment on how the vaccine works until the end of the trials. According to Cardenas, the vaccine may become effective against new variants of the virus. When asked about the timing of clinical trials, the head of the laboratory expressed hope that "the vaccine will be ready [for them] in a year." Ecuador has so far reached agreements on vaccines deliveries with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sinovac as well as through the Covax international mechanism. Three of your favorite Girl Scout cookies now come in a drinkable, liquid coffee. Dunkin, through a collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company, is launching three ready-to-drink bottled iced coffee in Girl Scout cookie inspired flavors - Thin Mints, Coconut Caramel and Smores. The iced coffees are available at retailers nationwide in 13.7-ounce bottles. The Thin Mints flavor features the classic cookies combination of rich chocolate and refreshing mint, while the Coconut Caramel features toasted coconut mixed with creamy caramel, and the Smores flavor combines notes of graham cracker, chocolate, and marshmallow, Dunkin said. Dunkin also has launched The Chill Collection of merchandise that includes three bottles of the iced coffees, a sweatshirt, sweatpants, cozy socks, iced coffee tumbler, ice cube tray and enamel pins. A limited number of merch boxes will be available to fans for free, while supplies last, beginning at 10 a.m. EST on Friday, March 26, 2021 at www.dunkinanytime.com/chillcollection. READ MORE .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. A person was taken to the hospital after being in a crash with a city bus in the Downtown area on Monday evening, Albuquerque police said in a news release. Officer Daren DeAguero, a police spokesman, said in a news release a little after 6 p.m. that police are investigating the crash, which happened near Central and Arno SE. The injured person, who was driving a vehicle involved in the crash, did not have life-threatening injuries, DeAguero said. He said traffic was congested in the area and asked people to find alternative routes. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ A week after an outbreak of severe weather and tornadoes sent Americans seeking shelter across the South, back-to-back storm systems are expected to unleash excessive rainfall over the south-central United States. AccuWeather forecasters say rainfall could total more than a foot over the course of a few days and trigger the threat of flooding. Communities still picking up the pieces after last week's destructive weather could face flood concerns and the return of severe weather."It will be the second of the two storms expected to swing through the South starting at the middle of this week that appears like it will be the most potent and may cause the most trouble in terms of flooding and perhaps severe thunderstorms," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.In much of the Central states, aside from typical issues with urban flooding, rain will be spread out enough over a few days to limit the threat of widespread flooding problems.Portions of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa will be at risk of isolated flash flooding into Tuesday afternoon from the first of the two storm systems.As the first storm system encounters Gulf of Mexico moisture on Tuesday, gusty and locally drenching thunderstorms are likely to lead to incidents of flash and urban flooding in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.National Weather Service hydrological data indicated that the Contraband Bayou near Lake Charles, Louisiana, rose rapidly to major flood stage on Tuesday morning in response to heavy rainfall. Flood stage for the site is 8 feet, but the level had reached 12 feet at the start of the day on Tuesday. Major flooding begins at 10 feet. More incidents such as this are anticipated in the coming days from the Mississippi River Delta region through the Tennessee Valley.Rainfall from the second of the two storms will arrive a day or two later in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee. The new surge of wet weather is forecast to be intense and persistent enough to raise the risk of small stream flooding and rises on the rivers, in addition to the likelihood of urban flooding."In the Interstate 10, 20 and 40 corridors in the Mississippi Delta and lower Mississippi Valley region, a general 4-8 inches of rain is anticipated during the middle days of this week, with the bulk of that rain expected to fall from Wednesday to Thursday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.Where the heaviest rain pours down, an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 15 inches is anticipated.Long-term rainfall amounts in much of this zone have not been remarkable, but recent rainfall may have primed the landscape for potential flooding. In some communities, rainfall has been well below normal since the start of the new year. Between Jan. 1 and March 22, Jackson, Mississippi, picked up 9.46 inches of rain compared to a normal amount of 13.23 inches. During the same time, Birmingham, Alabama, had 12.05 inches of rain, coming in under the normal of 13.13 inches.Even though prevailing soil conditions were average to dry prior to last week's rain, localized flooding problems developed in portions of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas, according to Rayno.The near- to below-average rainfall during the first three months of the year has left some areas abnormally dry, according to data from the United States Drought Monitor released on March 18. However, rainfall from last week alone was anywhere from two to five times that of average. The bulk of the rain last week fell in two days -- on March 16 and 17.For example, Meridian, Mississippi, received 4.42 inches of rain on March 16 and 17, compared to a normal of 1.21 inches of rain for the third week of the month. Meridian is within the zone of anticipated heaviest rainfall at midweek.Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama, will be close to the edge of the potentially excessive rainfall this week, and both locations received about 4.5 inches of rain on March 16 and 17.Other cities that have the potential to experience problems from excessive rainfall this week include Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Little Rock, Arkansas; Jackson and Tupelo, Mississippi; and New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana."With bigger rain forecast for this week on roughly the same areas that were hit last week, there may be more significant and perhaps more widespread problems due to flooding," Mr. Rayno added.Some rivers in the region that could experience significant rises during the middle and latter part of this week after runoff flows downstream from smaller tributaries including the Pearle, Alabama, Tennessee, Yazoo, Chickasawhay and Tombigbee.Water levels on the lower portions of the Chickasawhay and Tombigbee rivers were at minor flood stage and cresting early this week, according to National Weather Service hydrological data. The surge of water was from last week's rainfall.The same pattern that brought heavy rain and flash flooding last week also produced 245 incidents of severe weather, including 54 reports of tornadoes on March 16 and 17. The outbreak continued on March 18 but was focused along the southern Atlantic seaboard.Alabama was dealt some of the most destructive severe weather last week. An EF2 tornado touched down in Chilton County on Wednesday, spawning 130-mph winds. An EF1 tornado packing 110-mph winds struck Moundville, Alabama, causing severe damage to buildings and ripping roofs off homes."Thank you, Central AL for preparing beforehand & for heeding the warnings yesterday!! We are very thankful & happy to report there were NO fatalities," NWS Birmingham shared on Twitter Thursday night. "However, many people are picking up whatever is left of their belongings. Please keep them in your thoughts & prayers."Severe weather threats, including the risk of tornadoes, will return to the area this week.The first round of severe weather ramped up late Monday afternoon into Monday night in portions of western and central Texas, with at least one confirmed tornado and over two dozen damaging wind and hail reports, according to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center (SPC).On Monday night, high wind gusts up to 78 mph were reported in West Texas. The severe weather damaged the roofs of multiple homes in Plains, Texas, according to SPC. In Bertram, Texas, there were reports of multiple power lines down and debris blocking roadways following a tornado-warned storm. No tornado has been confirmed, but pictures on Twitter showed extensive damage to buildings around town. Hailstones as large as 2-3 inches in diameter were also reported across central Texas.These storms will shift eastward heading into the middle of the week, with a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms forecast for part of the same areas expected to receive excessive rainfall over the Mississippi Delta region on Tuesday and Wednesday. The severe weather threat may begin again on Thursday in parts of the South."We will be watching the area centered from the central part of the upper Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley on Thursday, provided some of the ingredients for severe weather fall into place, including the possible presence of a strong, low-level jet stream," Mr. Rayno said.A low-level jet stream is a strong flow of air in the lower part of the atmosphere, that begins several hundred feet above the ground. That can help to fuel thunderstorms as it pulls warm, humid air from the south.Once again, all facets of severe weather will be possible on Thursday, including the risk of a few tornadoes.People may not see or hear the storms coming, so it is essential that they have a means to get severe weather watches and warnings, such as via the AccuWeather app.Even as the stream of warm and humid air originating from the Gulf of Mexico may help to fuel thunderstorms, there may be other factors that act as deterrents to the development or intensity of severe thunderstorms. Cloud cover and saturated ground in the region could tend to limit the warming effects from the sun.AccuWeather meteorologists have been tracking the threats for this week even as the severe weather was underway last week -- and forecasters will continue to provide updates on the severe weather and flooding risks this week. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. STANDISH, MI Driving home from pre-Valentines Day family dinner, a Standish family of four was involved in a traffic crash that left a husband and father dead and his surviving wife and children seriously injured. In the month since, the family has received a half-million dollars in donations, something attributed to one of the injured persons being a social media influencer with a popular YouTube channel. On the flip side of the social media coin, conspiracy theories have spread that the crash itself was a hoax, something authorities are working to dispel as they await criminal charges on the person they say is responsible for the tragedy. People are publicly calling it a hoax without any proof, speaking anonymously behind their computer screens, said Arenac County Undersheriff Don McIntyre. The crash was reported at 8:07 p.m. on Feb 13. The Conn family consisting of husband-and-wife Matthew and Heather, their 8-year-old son Mason and 5-year-old daughter Mina were southbound on M-76 in Adams Township in their 2011 Dodge Ram when a northbound 2007 Chevrolet Silverado crossed the center line. The two vehicles collided head-on, McIntyre said. Matthew Conn, 48, was driving the Dodge and was pronounced deceased at the scene by first responders, McIntyre said. Everyone else who was involved was hospitalized with injuries. The roads were covered in snow that day, the undersheriff said. He said alcohol is believed to have been a factor on the part of the Silverados driver. McIntyre said an investigation has been underway, involving evidence analysis by the Michigan State Police Crime Lab. Criminal charges are forthcoming against the Silverados driver, McIntyre said. MLive is not naming the driver until he is arraigned in Arenac County District Court. Heather Conn, 47, runs a YouTube channel called The Kneady Homesteader, which she launched in 2007. The channels numerous videos have had millions of views, and it currently has more than 197,000 subscribers. The Kneady Homesteader is also an influencer on Instagram, Facebook, and Amazon. Conn on March 2 posted a 38-minute video on her channel titled The hardest video I will ever make. In it, Conn appears to be in a hospital setting and describes how she, her husband, and their two children went out to eat on Feb. 13. When we left out of there and headed home, we were struck head-on by a drunk driver, Conn says in the video. The impact killed my husband instantly. Thats what his autopsy shows, so Im hoping that he didnt suffer. For those of you who loved Matt, Im so sorry. I know for many of you, Matt was one of your favorite parts of my videos, when he would do taste tests in his hot shoes. I still cant wrap my brain around life without him in it. He was such a pivotal part of my channel and me building my children, because he was my biggest cheerleader. He thought there wasnt anything I couldnt do. He was my life, he was my rock, he was my sword and my shield, his widow continued. That video has more than 1.2 million views as of March 23. Conn has posted several follow up videos in the weeks since. The most recent, posted March 21, shows her learning to walk again in a hospital hallway. It has 76,028 views as of 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 23. In the videos description, Conn wrote the crash left her with a brain bleed, broken ribs, a punctured right lung, two broken wrists, two broken feet, and a crushed right leg. I am working hard in order to leave the hospital and be home with my children, Conn wrote. Recovery week 5. I am very lucky to be alive. My physical therapist and occupational therapist are walking with me along with one of the directors of the hospital where I am recovering and rehabilitating. Conns eldest son, Jacob Valoczky, on March 1 started a GoFundMe page titled Help Heather Conn & her children: emergency fund. As of March 23, the campaign has garnered $546,649 from 9.5 thousand donors, several of whom donated four-figure sums. The campaigns stated goal was $100,000. Valoczky, on March 6 posted an update that the campaign had reached $300,000 in donations, but cautioned that scammers had launched similar pages to fraudulently siphon off donations. I think the support the family has gotten is tremendous and wonderful, McIntyre said. Also, I think its unfortunate that some folks from places as far away as other states have taken a stance of calling out the victims of the crash and really bringing negativity to a family thats suffering. I find that very unfortunate. MLive reached out to Valoczky, who referred media inquiries to the Conn family attorney, George Hamo of Flints Hamo Law Firm. The children are at home being taken care of by family members, Hamo said. Heather is still in the rehab facility undergoing further necessary treatment. Hamo went on to praise the community for rallying around the Conns and contributing a striking amount of donations to them. Its a tremendous outpouring of love for this family that has undergone such a devastating tragedy, something I wouldnt want even my worst enemy to have to undergo, Hamo said. Its an expression of love and caring. Hamo described the late Matthew Conn as a loving husband and father, and just a good man. Regarding the Conns legal options going forward, Hamo said his firm will take all civil actions that are appropriate to protect the family. Read more: Saginaw man, 70, charged with murder in wifes shooting death Man, 46, accused of sexually assaulting elderly relative in hospice care Five of 24 dogs rescued from deplorable conditions in Saginaw surrendered by owner A gene not previously linked to cancer has been shown to play a key role in the spread of certain cancers to the lungs, new research from scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute has shown. The team found that when the gene LRRN4CL was over-expressed in mice, the skin cancer melanoma was more likely to metastasise to the lungs. The study, published today (23 March 2021) in Communications Biology, also confirmed that over-expression of LRRN4CL was linked to metastasis of colon, breast and bladder cancers to the lung. Several factors make LRRN4CL an attractive drug target. It encodes a protein found on the surface of cancer cells, making it easier to target with drugs. And because it is expressed at low levels elsewhere in the body, it may be possible to target LRRN4CL without causing serious side effects for the patient. Metastasis is when cancers spread from one organ to other parts of the body via the blood and lymphatic systems. Once cancer cells are mobile, they can take root in other organs and form secondary tumours, most commonly in the lungs. Metastasis makes cancers much harder to treat and is associated with much poorer outcomes for patients. Metastasis is the reason why melanoma, which accounts for around five per cent of skin cancers, also accounts for the majority of skin cancer deaths. Whereas basal cell skin cancer, which is the most common form of the disease, rarely spreads and is rarely life-threatening*. In this study, scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute set out to identify genes whose over-expression - an increase in activity compared to the gene's normal functioning - resulted in the increased ability of melanoma cells to spread to the lungs in mice. They conducted a CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) screen on genes that encode proteins on the surface of the cell, boosting the level of expression of the genes one by one to observe which had an effect. The team found that over-expression of the gene LRRN4CL increased the ability of mouse and human melanoma cells to metastasise to the lungs. They also tested cell models for colon, breast and bladder cancer, confirming the role of LRRN4CL in metastasis to the lungs in all of them. This is the first time that LRRN4CL has been linked to cancer. Dr Louise van der Weyden, first author of the paper from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "Metastasis is a complex phenomenon, and metastatic cells can have different characteristics depending on the original cancer type, the secondary tumour location and even the age of the patient. However, our findings show that when metastatic cancer cells of the skin, colon or breast express high levels of LRRN4CL, it makes them uniquely able to survive and grow in the lung." The researchers also checked databases of gene expression in patient tumours and found that melanomas with elevated expression of LRRN4CL correlated with poorer patient outcomes. Dr Anneliese Speak, an author of the paper from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "Our results suggest that reducing the expression of the LRRN4CL gene could help to prevent metastasis to the lungs, which would already make it a potential drug target. The added bonus is that this gene is expressed at very low levels elsewhere in the body, so hopefully targeting LRRN4CL wouldn't have severe side effects for patients." Genes that encode cell surface proteins are often attractive drug targets, as the drug only needs to be delivered to the exterior of the cell rather than the interior, making drug design less complex. Dr David Adams, senior author of the paper from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "Prior to this study, there was nothing in the scientific literature to link the LRRN4CL gene to cancer, much less to suggest that it plays such a pivotal role in metastasis. Part of the power of CRISPR screens is that they don't require a clear hypothesis to create new insights. This is an important discovery that marks LRRN4CL as a promising drug target to help prevent the spread of cancer to the lungs and improve outcomes for patients." In additional work recently published in Nature Communications, the team used combinatorial CRISPR screening to define gene pairs that represent therapeutic targets in melanoma, thus providing additional targets to treat this complex disease. ### Contact details: Dr Matthew Midgley Press Office Wellcome Sanger Institute Cambridge, CB10 1SA Phone: 01223 494856 Email: press.office@sanger.ac.uk Notes to Editors: * The Cancer Research UK blog has more information on metastasis and how it varies in different cancers. https:/ / scienceblog. cancerresearchuk. org/ 2019/ 11/ 26/ science-surgery-why-do-some-cancers-metastasise-but-others-dont/ Publication: Louise van der Weyden, Victoria Harle and Gemma Turner et al. (2021). CRISPR activation screen in mice identifies novel membrane proteins enhancing pulmonary metastatic colonisation. Communications Biology. DOI: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1038/ s42003-021-01912-w Funding: This work was funded by Cancer Research UK, ERC Combat Cancer and Wellcome. Selected websites: The Wellcome Sanger Institute The Wellcome Sanger Institute is a world leading genomics research centre. We undertake large-scale research that forms the foundations of knowledge in biology and medicine. We are open and collaborative; our data, results, tools and technologies are shared across the globe to advance science. Our ambition is vast - we take on projects that are not possible anywhere else. We use the power of genome sequencing to understand and harness the information in DNA. Funded by Wellcome, we have the freedom and support to push the boundaries of genomics. Our findings are used to improve health and to understand life on Earth. Find out more at http://www. sanger. ac. uk or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and on our Blog. About Wellcome Wellcome exists to improve health by helping great ideas to thrive. We support researchers, we take on big health challenges, we campaign for better science, and we help everyone get involved with science and health research. We are a politically and financially independent foundation. Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 68F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Azerbaijan is committed to upholding international norms including international humanitarian and human rights law, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said regarding the statements in the report of the Human Rights Watch (HRW) organization about cases of mistreatment of prisoners of war. "As such, we reject the claims from Human Rights Watch that POWs were not treated in accordance with the Geneva Conventions," the MFA statement reads. "Contrary to claims that POWs remain in custody, Azerbaijan has returned all Armenian prisoners of war to Armenia. This was agreed under the Trilateral Statement of 10 November 2020," said the MFA. This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here. Caradoc Ehrenhalt would often accompany his mother, the artist Amaranth Roslyn Ehrenhalt, on her visits to the Louvre in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and other leading museums and galleries. She enjoyed taking a close-up look at the works, many of which were by artists she had known personally. Mr. Ehrenhalt loved those trips. The museum guards? Not so much. She would get very close to the art and point out details and techniques, her finger getting close, her son said by email. The guards would rush over, issuing a dont-touch warning. Ms. Ehrenhalt was a multifaceted artist best known for her paintings. She was part of the second generation of Abstract Expressionists, working first in New York in the early 1950s, then in Paris, producing canvasses full of vibrant colors. You are here: World Flash At least 137 people were killed on Sunday by unidentified gunmen in several locations in Niger's western region of Tahoua, close to the border with Mali, the Nigerien government confirmed Monday evening. "In the afternoon of March 21, 2021, Intazayene, Bakorat and Wistane, along with other villages and camps in the department of Tilla (region of Tahoua) were attacked by armed bandits," the government said in a press release. Security and sanitary measures have been reinforced in the region, and an investigation has been opened to find the perpetrators, the government added. The government also announced a three-day national mourning starting from March 23, with national flags at half mast across the country. Western Niger has in recent years suffered terrorist attacks on security personnel and civilians, despite the presence of French anti-terror troops. In January 2021, 100 civilians were killed by terrorists in the villages of Tchombangou and Zaroumdareye in this region. (Newser) The nation's first government reparations program has been approved, with a promise to distribute $10 million over the next decade to Black residents who suffered housing discrimination or their descendants. The City Council of Evanston, just north of Chicago, voted 8-1 Monday to implement the program, Rolling Stone reports. As much as $25,000 will go to those who are eligible, to be used for a down payment on a home, mortgage and interest, late penalties, improvements, and other expenses. The first round of payments will go to 16 households, per WLS, which reports that the qualifying period involves the years 1919 and after. Evanston's financial institutions have a history of redlining, and real estate agents steered Black residents to certain neighborhoods through at least the mid-1980s. The money will come from a Reparations Fund established by the City Council that is funded by a 3% tax on recreational pot. story continues below The program's supporters agree it's not the entire answer. "It is, alone, not enough. We all know that the road to repair and justice in the Black community is going to be a generation of work," said Alderman Robin Rue Simmons, who proposed reparations in 2019. Some oppose tying the payments to housing, arguing the money will end up back in the hands of the banks that were behind the discriminatory practices to begin with. Alderwoman Cicely Fleming, who supports reparations but not this plan, said: "Theres no way I could go to African Americans in Mississippi who have experienced true racial terror and tell their city councils to do the same as what we're doing with housing. I would be mortified." The plan reinforces the stereotype that poor people "can't handle their money," Fleming said, adding that the initiative isn't really reparations. (Jesuit priests are raising $100 million for reparations.) A Brazilian rickshaw driver who was ordered to go home or spend a year in prison for dealing ecstasy tablets is believed to still be in Ireland three years later and collecting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Bianca Francisco (24) did not appear at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday morning where she was due to appeal her sentence. Her barrister Luigi Rea BL said she lodged the appeal because she wants to stay in Ireland but a solicitor had been unable to contact her and he couldn't explain her failure to appear. He suggested that she may have left the country. Anne Collins, state solicitor acting for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said gardai believe Francisco is still living in Ireland as she has been collecting Pandemic Unemployment Payments. Mr Justice John Edwards, sitting with Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, struck out the appeal. Mr Justice Edwards said: "There is a suspended sentence with conditions and, if the view is that she is in breach of a term of her suspended sentence, its a matter for the director." Under section 99 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 a court can revoke a suspended sentence and send a person to prison if they breach the terms of the suspension. Francisco, with an address at The Forge, Railway Street, Dublin was working as a rickshaw driver when, on May 4, 2017, she was caught with more than 4,000 worth of ecstasy tablets in her flat. The court heard that Francisco, who pleaded guilty to unlawful possession for sale or supply of a controlled substance at her home, was on bail at the time awaiting sentence for a previous offence of holding drugs for sale or supply in November 2016. In February 2018 Garda Cian Fleming told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that during the search of Francisco's flat, gardai also seized weighing scales in a handbag and a white purse containing a total of 1,060 in various denominations. Francisco told gardai she was holding the drugs for somebody and said she was not being paid. Gda Fleming said Francisco was the target of the search in 2017 and that her work as a rickshaw driver was what first brought her to garda attention. Luigi Rea BL, defending, said his client came to Ireland in April 2016 to learn English and began working as a cleaner but lost that job. He said she got a job as a rickshaw driver but fell in with bad company. Judge Patrick Quinn accepted Francisco was embarrassed and ashamed by her crimes. He said her involvement probably came out of economic necessity but that was not an excuse. A young person in a strange country who meets up with the wrong people can easily get distracted, he said. He said it was in her best interests to return to the support of her family and suspended a 12-month prison sentence on condition that Francisco leave Ireland within three months. At the Court of Appeal on Tuesday Mr Rea said Francisco had entered a bond to leave the country but then decided to appeal the sentence as she wished to remain in Ireland. Press Release March 23, 2021 Villanueva: Curb trafficking of Filipinos through pacts with host countries Senator Joel Villanueva stressed the importance of having agreements with countries that host overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to prevent Filipino jobseekers from falling prey to human trafficking syndicates. Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee, said the bilateral agreements would allow the Philippine government to run after third-country recruiters who send Filipinos to perilous locations, like Syria where a total ban on deployment has been in place since 2011. "Under the bilateral labor agreements, there would be sufficient protection for our countrymen against human trafficking syndicates that prey on the situation of our workers," Villanueva said after a hearing on the Senate committee on women on cases of trafficking involving Filipino women to Syria. "In our labor committee hearings, it has been well-established that the rise of third-country recruitment poses a huge threat to our ongoing efforts against illegal recruitment and human trafficking," Villanueva said. "The crafting of bilateral agreements to strengthen coordination would be one step to solve this," he said. Villanueva commiserated with the plight of Filipinos in Syria who fell victim to human trafficking syndicates. The victims have since been rescued and in the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Damascus. The senator also lamented the situation of a Filipino worker currently languishing in jail unless she paid US$5,000 to her employer to "buy out" her contract. "It is also worth noting that despite the deployment ban, the Syrian government treats our workers as legitimate workers who have valid employment contracts and even residency permits," Villanueva said. "Clearly there is a disconnect happening that's why we need to address this problem so that our countrymen, who only want to give a better life to their families, would not fall victims again," he said. Villanueva commended charge d'affaires Vida Soraya Verzosa for looking after the plight of trafficked women. Verzosa told the panel that the embassy has stopped the practice of buying out contracts and instead worked with the Syrian government on handling the situation of trafficked Filipino workers. MINSK -- The leader of the opposition United Civil Party (AHP) has been detained on unknown charges amid an ongoing crackdown on Belarusians demanding the resignation of the country's authoritarian leader, Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Mikalay Kazlou, a member of the Coordination Council of the Belarusian Opposition (KRBA), disappeared late in the afternoon on March 22 after he sent a text message to his friend, saying: "If I am not around in 15 minutes that will mean I was detained." AHP said on Facebook hours later that Kazlou had been placed in a detention center in Minsk. There has been no official announcement by authorities on the situation, but Kazlou told RFE/RL earlier that Minsk police had launched a probe against him, accusing him of disclosing data related to an investigation after he was questioned as a witness in a case against other KRBA members who are accused of calling for people to illegally seize power. Kazlou added that he was also accused of refusing to sign a document keeping him from disclosing the details of his interrogation. Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusians continue to demand the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka amid a brutal crackdown on protesters. The West refuses to recognize him as the country's legitimate leader after an August 9 election considered fraudulent. Kazlou has led the AHP since 2018. During the presidential election in August last year, his party called on Belarusians not to vote for Lukashenka. Separately on March 23, a court in the western city of Brest began trying 14 defendants, including one woman, charged with taking part in "mass disorders" over their participation in rallies in the city of Pinsk against the official results of the election, which handed Lukashenka a sixth consecutive term. If convicted, the defendants face up to eight years in prison each. The rallies in Pinsk were part of mass demonstrations that have swept across Belarus since the disputed vote. Lukashenka has directed a brutal postelection crackdown in which almost 30,000 people have been detained, hundreds beaten, several killed, and journalists targeted in the action. Lukashenka, who has run Belarus since 1994, and top officials have been slapped with sanctions by the West, which refuses to recognize him as the legitimate leader of the former Soviet republic. ROME, MAR 23 - Italian police on Tuesday identified and cited a 31-year-old Roman man who allegedly attacked a kissing gay couple at a Rome metro station on February 26. The man has a criminal record for petty offences, police said. He was identified thanks to CCTV by airport police in Venice where he had had a verbal row with a woman earlier that day. He has been accused of aggravated wounding. The attack involved a gay activist, Gaynews and Gaynet Roma said Sunday night. The man, Jean Pierre Moreno, was attacked along with his boyfriend at the Valle Aurelia station. Gaynews quoted Moreno as saying: "While I and my boyfriend were kissing, we suddenly heard a man shout from the other platform. 'What are you doing? Aren't you ashamed?'. After answering 'What do you care?' and having started kissing my boyfriend again, the guy crossed the tracks and reached us, hitting my boyfriend in the eye first." Gaynet posted a video showing the attacker going onto to hit the pair with kicks and punches. Equal Opportunities Minister Elena Bonetti, centre-left Democratic Party (PD) leader Enrico Letta, Lazio Governor Nicola Zingaretti and populist 5-Star Movement (M5S) Senator Alessandra Maiorino voiced solidarity with the victims and insisted on the need to pass a bill filed by PD MP Pd Alessandro Zan which ups penalties against gay bashing. Zan himself said "there is an urgent need to approve a law that exists in almost all Western countries". But the nationalist League party disagreed saying the attack "should not be exploited for political ends". The anti-migrant Euroskeptic party led by former interior minister Matteo Salvini argues that existing penalties against violence are enough for gay bashing and it should not be an aggravating factor. Ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party also said the Zan bill went too far, allegedly piggybacking a transgender agenda onto a measure that should be limited to criminal law. (ANSA). WASHINGTON President Joe Bidens administration has tried for weeks to keep the public from seeing images like those that emerged Monday showing immigrant children in U.S. custody at the border sleeping on mats under foil blankets, separated in groups by plastic partitions. Administration officials have steadfastly refused to call the detention of more than 15,000 children in U.S. custody, or the conditions theyre living under, a crisis. But they have stymied most efforts by outsiders to decide for themselves. Officials barred nonprofit lawyers who conduct oversight from entering a Border Patrol tent where thousands of children and teenagers are detained. And federal agencies have refused or ignored dozens of requests from the media for access to detention sites. Such access was granted several times by the administration of President Donald Trump, whose restrictive immigration approach Biden vowed to reverse. The new president faces growing criticism for the apparent secrecy at the border, including from fellow Democrats. Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Monday the administration has a commitment to transparency to make sure that the news media gets the chance to report on every aspect of whats happening at the border. White House press secretary Jen Psaki added that the White House was working with homeland security officials and the Health and Human Services Department to finalize details and that she hoped to have an update in the coming days. Axios on Monday first published a series of photos taken inside the largest Border Patrol detention center, a sprawling tent facility in the South Texas city of Donna. The photos were released by Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat from the border city of Laredo. Cuellar said he released the photos in part because the administration has refused media access to the Donna tent. He said he also wanted to draw attention to the extreme challenges that border agents face in watching so many children, sometimes for a week or longer despite the Border Patrols three-day limit on detaining minors. We ought to take care of those kids like theyre our own kids, Cuellar said. This March 20, 2021 photo provided by the Office of Congressman Henry Cuellar, (TX-28), shows detainees in a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) temporary overflow facility in Donna, Texas. President Joe Biden's administration faces mounting criticism for refusing to allow outside observers into facilities where it is detaining thousands of immigrant children. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Congressman Henry Cuellar via AP)AP Thomas Saenz, president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said the U.S. should allow media access to border facilities while respecting the privacy of immigrants detained inside. He noted the risk of sharing without permission images of children who have already faced trauma. We ought to be aware of these conditions, Saenz said. People have to see them so that they can assess the inhumanity and hopefully embark on more humane policies. The White House has prided itself on its methodical rollout of policy during its first 50-plus days but West Wing aides privately acknowledge they were caught off guard by the surge of migrants at the border and the resulting media furor. Republican lawmakers largely sat out the debate over administrations $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill. While none of them voted for the package, their opposition was muted and they instead focused on culture war issues, like the debate over racial stereotypes in some Dr. Seuss books, rather than a bill that was broadly popular with GOP voters. But the GOP has grabbed on to the border situation with both hands, reviving the issue that was key to propelling Trump to the top of the Republican field in 2016. In 2018, the Trump administration detained hundreds of children in many of the same facilities being used now after separating them from their parents. The following year, hundreds of families and children detained at one West Texas border station went days without adequate food, water, or soap. Biden has kept in place a Trump-era public health order and expelled thousands of immigrant adults and families, but he declined to expel immigrant children without a parent after a federal appeals court in January cleared the way for him to do so. He also moved to speed up the reunification of hundreds of separated immigrant families. What Trump did was horrible, Cuellar said. These pictures show you that even under our best intentions, and the Biden administration has the best intentions, its still very difficult. Cuellar said the White House needs to work more with Mexico and Central America to prevent people from leaving their home countries. The White House said Monday that key officials would go this week to Mexico and Guatemala. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who visited a facility in El Paso, Texas, last week, told NPR, We want to make sure that the press has access to hold the administration accountable. The Associated Press has requested access to border facilities for more than a month. Reporters first asked Health and Human Services on Feb. 4 to allow entry into a surge facility re-opened at Carrizo Springs, Texas, holding hundreds of teenagers. And they have asked Homeland Security officials for access at least seven times to Border Patrol facilities, with no response. The AP has also petitioned Psaki to open border facilities. Border agencies under Trump allowed limited media tours of both Homeland Security and Health and Human Services facilities. Several of those visits revealed troubling conditions inside, including the detention of large numbers of children as young as 5 separated from their parents. Under Biden, the agencies also have denied full access to nonprofit lawyers who conduct oversight of facilities where children are detained. Those oversight visits occur under a federal court settlement. When lawyers this month visited the Border Patrol facility at Donna, where thousands of children are now detained, agents refused to let them inside and the Justice Department said they were not entitled to gain access. The lawyers were forced to interview children outside. The Justice Department declined to comment. The newly published photos released by Cuellars office show groups of children crowded together inside the partitions. Some appear to be watching television while others are lying on floor mats, some side by side. Children are shown wearing surgical masks but are close to each other. The Donna facility consists of large interconnected tents. Overhead photos taken by AP show enclosed outdoor areas where children can go. But lawyers who have interviewed children detained at Donna say some can go days without being allowed outside. The administration is rushing to open more space to get roughly 5,000 children out of Border Patrol detention and into Health and Human Services facilities that are better suited for youth. It has also tried to expedite the releases of children in HHS custody to parents and other sponsors in the U.S. But border agents continue to apprehend far more children daily than HHS is releasing, even though more than 40% of youths in the system have a parent or legal guardian who could take them. Meanwhile, the administration is seeing its emergency facilities for immigrant children approach capacity almost as quickly as it can open them. The downtown Dallas convention center has 1,500 teenagers less than a week after opening and is expected to take in 500 more teens Monday, according to HHS. Its current capacity is 2,300 people. ___ Nomann Merchant, Jonathan Lemire and Josh Boak of The Associated Press wrote this story. Lemire reported from New York and Merchant reported from Houston. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The Netherlands is extending its coronavirus restrictions until April 20 as cases are rising, but will shorten its controversial nighttime curfew by one hour, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Tuesday. "The number of infections has climbed again and more people are in hospital again. That is the worrying reality for today and therefore we cannot let go of the current measures," Rutte told a press conference. "There is one small change. It is sensible to change the curfew, now that we go into summer time and there is more light," he said, adding that it would now start at 10pm instead of 9pm, and continue to run until 4:30am. "For the rest all stays the same." The coronavirus measures, some of the toughest in the Netherlands since the pandemic struck a year ago, had been due to expire on March 30. Cafes, bars and restaurants remain closed except for takeaways and non-essential shops are shuttered except by appointment, although schools have reopened in recent weeks. The government had said earlier this month that it hoped to open cafe terraces by the end of the month so people could drink outside, but Rutte's announcement dashed hopes of any relaxation. The introduction of the curfew in January sparked days of rioting in several cities but the government insists it is necessary. Dutch authorities have reported more than 1.2 million cases and 16,339 deaths since the start of the pandemic. On Tuesday they recorded 5,636 new cases while 2,257 people are being treated in hospital. Rutte won elections last week on the back of his handling of the pandemic and is now trying to form a coalition government. He has acknowledged that the country's recovery from the crisis will be its key task. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Are you a current print subscriber? You qualify for online access to the Omak Chronicle. To receive your access, create a website account and then verify your print subscription or e-edition subscription with your subscriber number, which may be found on your bill or mailing label. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 20:11:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) called Tuesday on Lebanese political factions to prioritize the national interest and work swiftly for ending the state of political differences. In a statement, the AL said the impassable political conditions have exacerbated the sufferings of the Lebanese people. "The AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit is very worried about the political differences that could worsen the conditions in Lebanon," the statement said. It voiced the AL's readiness to take any step to heal the rift until a consensus is reached that enables the designated prime minister to form a government without any delay in accordance with the French initiative. It stressed a new technocrat government could rescue Lebanon from its current crisis through necessary reforms that meet the demands and aspirations of the Lebanese people. On Monday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri failed to reach a consensus on cabinet formation, raising concerns about further instability and a total economic and financial collapse in the country. Lebanon is suffering unprecedented political, economic and financial crises that have led to poverty, unemployment, collapse of the national currency, its failure to repay sovereign debts and an accelerating decline in foreign exchange reserves since October 2019. Enditem PARLAMENTUL REPUBLICII MOLDOVA 2010 The Moldovan Parliaments website design was supported by the Democracy Support Programme in Moldova" an initiative financed by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe I want Topher's new show to do well but I won't watch bc laurel is in it :/ Edited at 2021-03-23 12:30 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link What'd she do? Reply Parent Thread Link I remember reading who were part of that group and it was a bunch of talentless hacks, jajaja pendejas, no wonder they were jealous. Reply Parent Thread Link Ray Romano has turned out to be quite an interesting actor, which is just weird. Reply Thread Link the op needs correction - ray romano's playing her dad. billy magnussen is the ex Reply Parent Thread Link Oops thanks! Reply Parent Thread Link Lol, I did think that was some weird pairing. Reply Parent Thread Link Was that a blow up doll in the trailer Reply Parent Thread Link A CW show called Kung Fu with an Asian lead? Nagl. Excited about Younger returning, the far superior 2010s Darren Star show. Thats it though. Reply Thread Link I think Kung Fu is a reboot of an old show. Reply Parent Thread Link It is, and at least it's an Asian lead; David Carradine played the lead in the original. Reply Parent Thread Link The actress is good. She played a recurring character on Legacies so I'm familiar with her work. I'm looking forward to this just to watch her. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm all for more Asians on my screen. But why it gotta be a kung fu show/genre? Reply Parent Thread Link We're still not done with Younger? Reply Parent Thread Link That Sherlock show sounds like an interesting take on a played out character Reply Thread Link 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 Reply Thread Link There are things about Made For Love that are extremely vile. Reply Thread Link Two things: 1.) I like the actress, Cristin Milotti, but DEAR LORD, when is Hollywood going to stop writing THESE types of stories? It's old, it's tired, it's cliche. Boring, boring, boring, misogynistic and it's just an excuse to show a woman in danger, being victimized and then (sometimes) occasionally triumph. B-O-R-I-N-G! 2.) *sigh* Jaye Davidson. Love your icon. I will forever adore that film. Reply Parent Thread Link I love the fact that you knew my icon was Jaye! Most people think it's a random woman, lol. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Ikr it's sounds terrifying, and it's supposed to be part comedy. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link It sounds absolutely horrifying. I was shocked to see its considered a comedy cause thats straight up horror. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm still interested but i thought it was going to be like bleak black mirror, not a dramedy Reply Parent Thread Link Kate Winslet's defense and tone-deaf era regarding Woody Allen has just SO COMPLETELY soured her on me. I used to absolutely adore her. Like she was literally one of my top three favorite actresses. I watched every single thing she did. Sought out her work. But now? I see her name, and I feel a bit of revulsion. I actively go out of my way to avoid seeing anything she's in. Reply Thread Link oh no I forgot about that WA stuff -_- think I will pass on this then Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah, same. She wasnt a favourite but I always liked her enough to watch whatever she was doing. Now I actively avoid whatever she is doing. Reply Parent Thread Link THERE LIKE OVER A DOZEN SHOWS IM WAITING ON A SECOND / NEXT SEASON FROM. And I get angry and then I remember were in a global panini so give em some slack Edited at 2021-03-23 08:41 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Mare of Easttown sounds up my alley lol Reply Thread Link I liked the trailer but it is weird that Made for Love is not a drama and has comedy bits, maybe the show surprised me but yeah Idk what to think about the irregulars lol, it could be cool or it could be super cringey Reply Thread Link I'm watching Coroner and loving it so much I might make an ONTD Original Reply Thread Link I'm glad it started airing here in the US on The CW because I really like it. Reply Parent Thread Link Wait what's the difference between HBO and HBO Max?? Reply Thread Link i think rn the difference mostly comes down to hbo still being/having a tv channel where hbo max is streaming only (if that makes sense). Reply Parent Thread Link It's strange to me that they listed the shows on one versus both. Do they not have the same content? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Honestly, I trust Cristin Milloti to pick good projects, so I decided to check out the trailer. And the trailer definitely reads as a super black comedy/satire rather than a "dramedy." Makes it look a lot more bizarre/interesting as well. Reply Thread Link Idk this looks like a less nuanced version of 'The Invisible Man' (which I actually loved) Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah based on the trailer I think this is more an issue of mislabeling by the article, but we'll see. Reply Parent Thread Link South Africa: SA pays tribute to the late President Magufuli President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the late Tanzanian President, John Pombe Magufuli, as a respected leader and champion of African development. In his tribute, President Ramaphosa said President Magufulis passing has been felt across the region and the continent. The family of nations of Africa are today mourning the passing of one of their own, an esteemed leader of his people and a tireless champion of the cause of African progress, he said during his tribute at the Official State Funeral on Monday. President Ramaphosa jetted off to Dodoma, the national capital of Tanzania, to attend the funeral. President Magufuli passed away on Wednesday, 17 March 2021, in a Dar es Salaam hospital. He was 61. On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, please accept our deepest sympathies and condolences, said the President. President Ramaphosa recalled over a year-and-a-half ago, when he visited Dodoma at the invitation of President Magufuli for a State visit and to attend the 39th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit. I recall the warmth with which we were received, and the determination of President Magufuli to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two countries, he said. According to the First Citizen, this was when President Magufuli outlined his vision for the development of Tanzania, the region and the continent. As we lay our dear brother to rest, we should resolve to pursue that vision, to build an Africa of peace, justice, progress and inclusive prosperity. As South Africans, we will forever regard Tanzania as our home away from home. Shifting to his focus to the darkest moments of the struggle against apartheid, President Ramaphosa said Tanzania gave South Africans shelter, sustenance and support. We owe so much of our freedom to the generosity and the sacrifices of the people of Tanzania. It is this shared past that makes us, as South Africans, feel the loss of President Magufuli all the more deeply and all the more personally. The President said the East African country has lost a father and brother, while Africa has lost a visionary leader, and South Africa a dear friend. May the people of this wonderful land find peace and comfort in the difficult days ahead. May the legacy of John Pombe Magufuli live on, said President Ramaphosa. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-03-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. PHG Consulting picks up Honduran Institute of Tourism. PHG Consulting will focus on commercializing the countrys tourism experiences for the North American market through travel trade, media relations, social media and sustainable tourism consulting managed by sister company, Beyond Green Travel. Honduras has tremendous potential to generate interest as a desirable tourism destination within the North American market as consumers begin to resume international travel planning, thanks to its authentic, thought-provoking, and fun experiential offerings and products, said Santiago Gonzalez Abreu, Vice President of Development & Marketing for PHG Consulting. Manifest promotes World Childhood Foundation USA, a United Nations-accredited NGO founded by H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden. The agency will support the foundations mission to end child sexual abuse, exploitation and violence. Manifests remit will cover social media development and activation, as well as unified campaigns. Finding a partner to help lead our diverse programming and annual initiatives was no easy task, and we are so grateful to have Manifest on board to support. Not just because of their strong strategic credentials and unparalleled creativity, but because of the unique compassion and genuine care that the team brings, said Childhood USA executive director Nicole G. Epps. 23red adds 2021 marketing and communication strategy for the Open University, the largest university in the UK for undergraduate education. The agency will help integrate the Open Universitys B2B and B2C communications to attract more students and employer partners. Its strategy will target all four nations in the UK and showcase the Open Universitys credentials as the pioneer of flexible and blended online learning. PR and social are the beating heart of our multi-channel campaign plans and 23reds highly collaborative and strategic approach combined with their strong passion for our brand makes them the perfect partner, said Open University director of marketing and communications Ceri Rose. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - BuzBuz Capital Corp. (TSXV: BZBZ.P) ("BUZ" or the "Company"), announces that, in connection with recent changes to the TSX Venture Exchange's (the "Exchange") Capital Pool Program and Exchange policy 2.4 "Capital Pool Companies" ("Policy 2.4"), the Company intends to implement certain amendments to bring the Company's practices and operations in line with the revisions to Policy 2.4, which became effective January 1, 2021 as described below. Further, the Company is pleased to announce that all meeting matters of its 2021 Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") held on March 10, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada were passed with the required majorities, including the aforementioned amendments in connection with the recent changes to Policy 2.4. The shareholders elected Richard Buzbuzian, Anthony Di Benedetto, Jason Monaco and Robert Suttie to be duly elected as directors of the Company until the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders of the Company. In addition, at the Meeting the shareholders approved certain resolutions necessary to complete its recently announced qualifying transaction with Inolife (R&D) Inc. ("Inolife") as further described in the Company's press releases dated October 2, 2020, November 2, 2020, December 24, 2020 and December 30, 2020. The Company continues to work with Inolife to seek conditional approval from the Exchange for the qualifying transaction with Inolife and will update the shareholders at the appropriate time. Revised CPC Policy 2.4 The Company believes that the changes to Policy 2.4 (the "Revised Policy") offer greater flexibility and increased financing opportunities that will permit Capital Pool Companies listed on the Exchange ("CPCs") with improved opportunities to complete a "Qualifying Transaction" that is beneficial to all parties involved. Pursuant to the Revised Policy, in order to implement certain changes under the Revised Policy, the Company is required to obtain disinterested shareholder approval. Accordingly, the Company will seek written approval of at least 50% of disinterested shareholders for the following matters: (i) to amend the Company's stock option plan (the "Option Plan") to, among other things, become a "10% rolling" plan prior to the Company completing a qualifying Transaction (a "QT"); (ii) to remove the consequences of failing to complete a QT within 24 months of the Company's date of listing on the Exchange (the "Listing Date"); (iii) to amend the escrow release conditions and certain other provisions of the Company's CPC escrow agreement (the "Escrow Agreement"), including allowing the Company's escrowed securities to be subject to an 18 month escrow release schedule as detailed in the Revised Policy, rather than the current up to 36 month escrow release schedule under the previous Policy 2.4; and (iv) permitting payment of a finder's fee or commission to a Non-Arm's Length Party to the Company upon completion of a QT (collectively, the "Shareholder Approvals"). Amendments to Stock Option Plan The amendments to the Option Plan will (i) allow the total number of common shares of the Company reserved for issuance under the Option Plan both before and after completion of a QT to equal up to 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company as at the date of grant, rather than at the closing date of the initial public offering ("IPO"), for options issued prior to the QT; (ii) allow the number of common shares reserved for issuance under the Option Plan to any individual director or senior officer not to exceed 5% of the Common Shares outstanding as at the date of grant, rather than at the closing date of the IPO, for options issued prior to the QT; (iii) allow the number of common shares reserved for issuance under the Option Plan to all technical consultants not to exceed 2% of the common shares outstanding as at the date of grant, rather than at the closing date of the IPO, for options issued prior to the QT; and (iv) require, prior to the granting of options, the optionee to first enter into an escrow agreement agreeing to deposit the options, and any common shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such options, into escrow as described in the escrow agreement. Consequences of Failing to Complete a QT within 24 Months of the Listing Date Prior to the January 1, 2021 revisions, Policy 2.4 contained consequences for a CPC failing to complete a QT within 24 months of its listing date, including a potential for the Company to be delisted or suspended, or, subject to the approval of the majority of the Company's shareholders, transferring the Company's common shares to list on the NEX and cancelling certain seed shares. The Company intends to seek written approval of at least 50% of disinterested shareholders to remove these consequences in accordance with the terms of the Revised Policy. Amendments to the Escrow Agreement Under the Revised Policy, securities subject to a CPC escrow agreement are subject to an 18-month escrow period, as opposed to the 36-month period previously required under Policy 2.4. The Company intends to seek written approval of at least 50% of disinterested shareholders to make certain amendments to the Escrow Agreement, including allowing the Company's escrowed securities to be subject to an 18-month escrow release schedule in accordance with the Revised Policy. In addition, in accordance with the requirements of the Revised Policy, the Escrow Agreement will be amended to provide that all options granted prior to the date the Exchange issues a final bulletin for the QT ("Final QT Exchange Bulletin") and all common shares that were issued upon exercise of such options prior to the date of the Final QT Exchange Bulletin will be released from escrow on the date of the Final QT Exchange Bulletin, other than options that (a) were granted prior to the IPO with an exercise price that is less than the issue price of the common shares issued in the IPO and (b) any common shares that were issued pursuant to the exercise of such options issued below the issue price. Payment of Finder's Fees The Revised Policy permits for the payment of a finder's fee to a Non-Arm's Party (as that term is defined in Exchange Policies) to the CPC in connection with an arm's length QT where disinterested shareholder approval is obtained. The Company intends to seek written approval of at least 50% of disinterested shareholders to permit payment of a finder' fee to a Non-Arm's Length Party in connection with a QT, in accordance with the terms of the Revised Policy. Other Changes Under the Revised Policy, the Company is permitted to implement certain other changes without obtaining shareholder approval. As a result, the Company intends to immediately take advantage of all the changes under the Revised Policy that do not require shareholder approval, including, but not limited to: (i) removing the restriction which provided that no more than the lesser of 30% of the gross proceeds from the sale of securities issued by the Company and $210,000 may be used for purposes other than identifying and evaluating assets or businesses and obtaining shareholder approval for a proposed qualifying transaction, and implementing the restrictions on the permitted use of proceeds and prohibited payments under the Revised Policy, under which reasonable general and administrative expenses not exceeding $3,000 per month are permitted; (ii) removing the restriction on the Company issuing new agent's options in connection with a private placement; and (iii) removing the restriction such that now one person has the ability to act as the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and corporate secretary of the Company at the same time, for which the Company had previously obtained a waiver. The Company believes that transitioning to these revised provisions of the Revised Policy is in the best interests of the shareholders as it will allow the Company to have greater flexibility and mechanisms to increase shareholder value. For further information, please contact: Richard Buzbuzian President and CEO BuzBuz Capital Corp. richard@dronedeliverycanada.com (647) 501-3290 Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In making the forward- looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made certain assumptions, including that: all applicable shareholder, and regulatory approvals for the changes under the Revised Policy will be received; and there would not be changes in the conditions under which the proposed changes would be completed, including regulatory changes or the operating environment for the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: results of due diligence; availability of financing; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and economic risks associated with current unprecedented market and economic circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78304 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. Scores of villagers have been killed by motorbike-riding gunmen in the deadliest jihadist massacre ever to hit Niger. Government spokesman Zakaria Abdourahamane said 137 people had died in Sunday's raids in villages in the Tahoua region, near Niger's border with Mali. Gunmen arriving on motorbikes attacked the villages of Intazayene, Bakorat and Wistane on Sunday, shooting 'at everything which moved,' a local official said. This latest attack brings the number of fatalities in the Mali-Niger border region to 236 in just over a week Announcing three days of national mourning for the victims from Tuesday, Abdourahamane vowed that the government would reinforce security in the region (file photo) In a statement read on public television, Abdourahamane said: 'In treating civilian populations systematically as targets now, these armed bandits have gone a step further into horror and brutality'. Announcing three days of national mourning for the victims from Tuesday, he vowed that the government would reinforce security in the region and bring 'the perpetrators of these cowardly and criminal acts' to justice. The jump in the death toll, which was confirmed as at least 60 earlier on Monday, would make Sunday's attacks the deadliest ever committed by suspected jihadists in Niger. It brings the number of fatalities in the Mali-Niger border region to 236 in just over a week. The world's poorest nation according to the UN's development rankings for 189 countries, Niger is also struggling with Islamist insurgencies that have spilled over from Mali and Nigeria. Hundreds of lives have been lost, nearly half a million people have fled their homes, and devastating damage has been inflicted in the former French colony. The three villages targeted in Sunday's massacre are located in the arid Tahoua region in western Niger, abutting the Tillaberi region in a border zone notorious for jihadist attacks The three villages targeted in Sunday's massacre are located in the arid Tahoua region in western Niger, abutting the Tillaberi region in a border zone notorious for jihadist attacks. On March 15, suspected jihadists killed 66 people in the Tillaberi region, attacking a bus carrying shoppers from the market town of Banibangou. The jihadists then raided the village of Darey-Daye, killing inhabitants and torching grain stores. The same day, an attack claimed by the Islamic State group (IS) in the so-called 'tri-border area' where the frontiers of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali converge left 33 Malian soldiers dead. President Bazoum's election was confirmed on Sunday by the poor Sahel nation's constitutional court. He has vowed to fight insecurity, and ordered army reinforcements to the Tillaberi region after the bloodletting of March 15 In a tweet offer his 'heartfelt condolences to the victim's relatives', newly elected President Mohamed Bazoum said: 'After the Banibangou massacre, yesterday the terrorists, in the same barbaric way, struck the peaceful civilian populations of Intazayene and Bakorat'. Bazoum's election was confirmed on Sunday by the poor Sahel nation's constitutional court. On January 2, 100 people were killed in attacks on two villages in the Mangaize district of Tillaberi. The massacre, one of the worst in Niger's history, occurred between two rounds of the country's presidential election. A year earlier, on January 9, 2020, the Niger army lost 89 men in an attack on a military camp in Chinegodar, one month after 71 troops died in an attack at Inates. Bazoum, elected on February 21, is a former interior minister who was the preferred successor and right-hand man of outgoing president Mahamadou Issoufou. He has vowed to fight insecurity, and ordered army reinforcements to the Tillaberi region after the bloodletting of March 15. Niger is part of a France-backed alliance of countries in the Sahel region known as the G5. A contingent of 1,200 troops from the Chadian army, considered the region's toughest, has been deployed under the G5 banner. Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Charges were imminent against a man suspected of killing his ex-wife and three others in New Mexico in a series of slayings that include the beating death of a New Jersey resident he claimed sexually abused him as a child, authorities said Monday. Investigators over the weekend searched a house where Sean Lannon, his ex-wife and their children were believed to have lived in the city of Grants, about 80 miles west of Albuquerque. Police Lt. David Chavez would not specify what investigators were looking for, only that the warrants were for anything of evidentiary value as local and federal authorities try to piece together what happened. Its a complicated case, Chavez said. It wasnt just one event, so were having to look at many things. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Authorities also were still looking into Lannons claims that he killed 11 other people in New Mexico. Chavez reiterated Monday that, while anything is possible, it was not probable, given that there were no records of people missing from the area or other police reports that would indicate potential victims. Authorities said in court documents that Lannon, 47, admitted to the additional killings in a phone call to a relative, who told investigators he expressed remorse. The case began March 5 when the bodies of Lannons ex-wife and three other people were found in a vehicle in a parking garage at the Albuquerque International Sunport. They were identified as Jennifer Lannon, 39; Matthew Miller, 21; Jesten Mata, 40; and Randal Apostalon, 60. Its not clear how or when they were killed. Chavez said the first indication something was wrong was when Millers girlfriend reported him missing in late January. When detectives talked to his friends and associates in Grants, they learned the others might also be missing. Chavez said charges related to the deaths were imminent, but that authorities feel they have time to build their case and gather as much evidence as possible because Lannon is in custody in New Jersey, where hes charged with killing Michael Dabkowski. Lannon is accused of breaking in to Dabkowskis New Jersey home, just south of Philadelphia, and beating the 66-year-old to death with a hammer, according to an affidavit. His body was discovered March 8, three days after the remains were found in New Mexico. Lannon told investigators that Dabkowski had sexually abused him as a child and that he had gone to the home to retrieve sexually explicit photos. Dabkowski mentored Lannon and his twin brother through a Big Brothers program in the 1980s, NJ.com reported. Assistant deputy public defender Ronald Appleby declined to comment on the New Jersey charge, saying hes only representing Lannon in that case. Theyre scheduled to return to court on April 8, Appleby said. The Lannons lived in New Jersey before moving to New Mexico, and it was not clear how long they had been there. Chavez said the family had contact with New Mexicos child welfare agency, but it wasnt known whether the children were at home when their mother disappeared. The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department could not immediately provide details about the family. Relatives say Sean Lannon flew to New Jersey in early March with the couples three children 6- and 7-year-old girls, and a 4-year-old boy. He took them to his parents house and left again, saying he was going to look for Jennifer Lannon. Her family grew more concerned, saying it wasnt like her to be without her children. Lannon was arrested in St. Louis on March 10 and officials say he was driving Dabkowskis car. That same day, prosecutors in New Jersey announced that Lannon was charged with murder, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft and weapons counts. Officials are trying to determine why Lannon was in St. Louis. Albuquerque detectives traveled there to interview him. It appeared one of the New Mexico victims was killed in Albuquerque and the other three died in the Grants area, Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said. Chris Whitman, Jennifer Lannons brother, said Sean Lannon told the family in January that she had run off with some friends, possibly to Arizona. Whitman said Saturday that the story didnt sound right, because she was a great mom and, just, it would be uncharacteristic of her to not be with her children. Associated Press reporters Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, and Allen G. Breed in Woodbury, N.J., contributed to this story. A father-of-four has appeared before the non-jury Special Criminal Court accused of laundering cash through spending at a five-star Dublin hotel and with renovations to his home. Graham Whelan (38), with an address at Walkinstown Avenue, Walkinstown, Dublin, appeared before the three-judge court yesterday charged with 10 non-scheduled offences that include charges related to drug trafficking. The court was told that Mr Whelan refused to deal with the arresting officer when he tried to explain the charges to him. Mr Whelan is charged with converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using money in the amounts of 1,275 and 2,140 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, on January 31, 2019. He is alleged to have done this knowing or believing or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct. The amount of 2,140 was paid for a room at the five-star hotel. He is also charged with converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using an Audemers Piguet Royal Oak Gentleman's watch at the same time and location. Mr Whelan is further charged with possessing or controlling an article to wit a tick list in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he possessed or controlled it for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation, facilitation or instigation of a drug trafficking offence on the same occasion. Among other charges, he is also charged with possessing cocaine and cannabis in a room at the hotel on the same date. He is also charged with possessing cannabis on Walkinstown Avenue on May 1, 2019. The defendant is further charged with concealing and disguising the true nature or source of money used in the improvement and/or refurbishment of property at Walkinstown Avenue between August 21, 2018, and May 1, 2019, knowing or believing or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct. Detective Garda Donal Donoghue gave evidence of Mr Whelan's arrest, charge and caution. He told State Solicitor Ciara Vibien that he arrested the accused on Walkinstown Avenue at 12.35pm yesterday afternoon. Read More The detective said he then met the accused man in the precincts of the court later, where he handed him a copy of the original charge sheet. He told the court: "I attempted to explain the substance of the charges to him, however he did not want to deal with me." After informing Mr Whelan that he would be brought before the Special Criminal Court, Det-Gda Donoghue said the accused man refused to take a copy of the charge sheet and a copy of the Director of Public Prosecution's certificate from him. "I handed a copy of both to the accused's solicitor," he added. The detective told Keith Spencer BL, defending, that he was objecting to bail. Mr Whelan stood when the court registrar began to read the 10 charges to him. Mr Spencer asked the non-jury court for the bail application to be dealt with yesterday as he said the charges clearly related to 2018 and 2019 and his client had remained in the jurisdiction since then. The detective agreed that the accused was able to present himself at a garda station if he was to be charged. Ms Vibien told the three-judge panel that gardai had serious objections to bail and had concerns about Mr Whelan's access to money saying: "For this reason gardai wish to make enquiries in advance of that." She asked for him to be remanded in custody until tomorrow morning. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, presiding, sitting with Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain and Judge Dermot Dempsey, remanded the accused in custody until tomorrow morning, when a bail application will be made. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 20:04:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Ndalimpinga Iita WINDHOEK, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Namibia Broadcasting Corporation on Monday evening premiered a four-episode documentary called Glamorous Namibia on its prime national television channel in a move to promote Namibia and enhance bilateral relations between China and Namibia. The documentary features Namibia's history, customs, socio-economic progression, cultural diversity, tourism, landscape, people of Namibia and the Chinese people's experiences in Namibia. It also includes a synopsis of China-Namibia relations; providing history and context of the bilateral relations and China-Namibia cooperation milestones since as early as the 1960s. Stanley Similo, director-general of Namibia Broadcasting Corporation, said that the documentary's airing aims to celebrate Namibia's 31st independence celebration held on March 21. The premiere also coincided with the 31st anniversary of the establishment of Chinese-Namibia diplomatic relations on March 22. With enthusiasm, locals tuned in and watched the show when it aired for the first time in Namibia. Laina Nelago from Tsumeb, a town in the northern part of Namibia, said that she watched the show as she has a keen interest in China-Namibia cooperation. Nelago said he also ended up learning more about her country, especially about the wildlife, and other conservation efforts by government and other bodies or non-governmental organisations. She is not the only one. Prosper Absalom, based in the capital Windhoek said he learned a lot about the Namibian history narrated by Josiah Matengu, an official in the National Museum of Namibia featured in the documentary. Furthermore, about the history related to cooperation between China and Namibia. "The documentary is rich in information and I gained new insight into my country. I was also happy to view the part of the Chinese photographer on the documentary who has travelled across Africa, including Namibia, to capture its rich diversity," Absalom said. Other achievements captured in the documentary included such as the Confucius Institute and the 40-hectare Chinese-built port terminal at Namport constructed by state-owned China Harbour Engineering Company, among others. Meanwhile, according to Similo, the cooperation with the Chinese embassy in Namibia publicizing the show enhances China-Namibia relations which are not only rooted in mutual trust and respect but also embedded in solid diplomatic understanding. "We commend China, as a friend of Namibia, for stepping in to assist and ensure that such programmes come to the shores of Namibia," Similo said. Meanwhile, the documentary, which was publicized in China in Dec. 2020, also hopes to attract and draw Chinese tourists to Namibia, said Yang Jun, the Chinese embassy political counselor in Namibia. "We also believe that the broadcast of the documentary in Namibia will further strengthen the people-to-people bond between our two countries and we hope to increase the number of tourists after the broadcast," he said. According to Yang, before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 20,000 Chinese tourists visited Namibia annually, while thousands of Chinese people are residing and conducting business in Namibia. Enditem PITTSFIELD Illinois State Police will be conducting roadside safety checks in April, looking for impaired and distracted drivers. Capt. Brian Anderson, commander of District 20 in Pittsfield, said most of the checks will be in Adams County. He said troopers hope to combine enforcement with public awareness. Thimphu, March 22: Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering on Monday said that the country had received additional 400,000 doses of Covishield vaccine from India, making possible the nationwide rollout of the vaccination programme against COVID-19. In a tweet, the Bhutan Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and prayed that these gestures during the pandemic turn into boundless blessings for the people of India. "Pleased to receive additional 400,000 doses of Covishield, making possible the nationwide rollout of our vaccination program. People of Bhutan and I remain grateful to PM Narendra Modi, we pray these gestures during the pandemic turn into boundless blessings for the people of India," he said. Covishield is manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India. Bhutan Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji said in a tweet that India had offered unconditional support in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. PM Narendra Modi Launches 'Catch the Rain' Movement, Says 'India's Development Vision, Its Self-Reliance is Dependent on Water Connectivity'. "Received the precious gift of another 400,000 doses of Covidshield vaccines from our friend, India, today. Profoundly grateful to the government of India, PMO India, Dr S Jaishankar and Ruchira Kamboj for the unconditional support in our fight against the pandemic," he said. India delivered the first consignment of 150,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Bhutan in January this year making it the first country to receive the gift from India. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) [March 23, 2021] AdHawk Microsystems Powers a New Generation of Eye Tracking Research with Launch of AdHawk MindLink KITCHENER, Ontario, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AdHawk Microsystems , an innovator in eye tracking technology, today announced AdHawk MindLink, the fastest wearable eye tracking system available. AdHawk MindLink produces accurate eye movement data to provide deep insights into human behavior, ocular, and neurological health. Delivered in the form of lightweight and comfortable glasses, the AdHawk system is faster and more power-efficient than competitive offerings, while delivering superior data quality required for medical research. Backed by Samsung Venture Investment Corp, HP Inc., Essilor International, Sony Innovation Fund, Intel Capital, Brightspark Ventures, and Silicon Valley Bank, AdHawks solution powers immersive experiences in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) by enabling faster gaming, more effective training, and effortless user interfaces. The company is now augmenting its eye tracking technology for clinical research where traditional practices have relied on qualitative measurements of eye movement as indicators of neurological health. AdHawks eye tracking glasses can be worn comfortably to precisely measure eye movement, pupil size, and head movement using an integrated inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor. As a result, superior data quality enables researchers to advance the study of conditions like anxiety, ADHD, concussions, and epilepsy, while improving the assessment of cognitive load and reading challenges. Data will also assist in researching the progression of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. In much the same way that smart watches have provided new insights around cardiovascular health, we envision that our wearable eye tracking technology will enable new research connecting eye movement to neurological and ocular health, said Dr. Neil Sarkar, AdHawk CEO and Co-Founder. We are thrilled to extend our technology to eye tracking researchers in healthcare and academia, so that it may inform the indication and treatment of many medical conditions and reveal new information about learning patterns. How It Works: AdHawks solution replaces cameras with ultra-compact micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) that eliminate power-hungry image processing, thereby improving speed and energy efficiency by more than twice its nearest competitor. Once the patient is wearing the AdHawk MindLink glasses, they just launch the app and tap start tracking. The system is so fastit can accurately predict where a user will look next--up to 20 milliseconds before their eyes fixate--and gaze is captured 500 times per second with better than one degree of accuracy. In addition to increased speed and precision, AdHawk offers physicians and researchers more flexibility, because they are not constrained by bulky products that can only be used in a lab environment. This means that physicians and researchers can now conduct eye tracking assessments in more settings than ever before, including a doctors office, in the field or even in a patients home. AdHawks technology is already supporting the work of researchers at the University of Waterloo and the University Health Network. The sampling frequency of an eye tracking system refers to how many times per second the position of the eyes is registered by the eye tracker. A greater sampling frequency improves a researchers ability to estimate the true path of the eye when it moves, said Dr. Elizabeth Irving, Professor with the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Waterloo. Until now, a higher sampling frequency came at a higher cost because it required more expensive cameras and more power. This is what makes AdHawks system so special -- they have found a way to deliver mobility, quality and speed -- all without sacrificing affordability. Beginning today, the AdHawk MindLink kit is available for pre-sale to researchers at a discounted price of USD $3,500 until April 30, 2021, after which it will be available at a price of USD $10,000. To pre-register for a kit, visit: https://adhawkmicrosystems.com/order . Kits are expected to ship within 6-8 weeks of the presale closing date. About AdHawk Microsystems AdHawk Microsystems develops eye tracking technology that helps unlock the connection between the eyes, the brain and the world around us. The company has developed an eye tracking system with unprecedented speed and data quality in a wearable device that delivers game-changing computational and power efficiencies. The AdHawk solution is powering a new generation of AR experiences, PC gaming, and healthcare research. Based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, the company is backed by Samsung Venture Investment Corp, HP Inc., Essilor International, Sony Innovation Fund, Intel Capital, and Brightspark Ventures, as well as Silicon Valley Bank. For more information, please visit www.adhawkmicrosystems.com . *The AdHawk MindLink eye tracking system is not an FDA-cleared medical device. For more information: Heidi Davidson Galvanize Worldwide for AdHawk Microsystems (914) 441-6862 Heidi@GalvanizeWorldwide.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d7eacde6-feb5-4ab0-ae45-f1dc8de7ef6e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/acbf78d8-9c35-4e30-a782-f4c3a245b7cb https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2f6f697d-ddef-4dc8-9760-0d731c837092 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bec396cf-ac92-4ac6-a521-0b116a8657f5 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) The Supreme Court has condemned acts of violence committed against judges and lawyers, and outlined a plan of action to end the threats and killings against them. "The Judiciary is one of the three pillars of our republican democracy, which itself hangs on a careful balance between and among governmental powers. To threaten our judges and our lawyers is no less an assault on the judiciary. To assault the judiciary is to shake the very bedrock on which the rule of law stands," Supreme Court spokesperson Brian Hosaka said on Tuesday. "The Court condemns in the strongest sense every instance where a lawyer is threatened or killed, and where a judge is threatened and unfairly labeled," he added. The statement from the Supreme Court en banc read by Hosaka also said among the measures to be taken was to provide security for judges or justices who have been threatened. "We have coordinated with all concerned to provide security and counseling to the judges concerned. The court is ready to provide or coordinate security arrangements for any judge or justice that is similarly threatened," he said. Hosaka added the office of Court Administrator has been ordered to conduct a survey among trial courts and Sharia judges about the extent of threats they have received in the last 10 years. Also to be investigated is the recent incident where a judge was linked to groups considered by law enforcers as communists and rebels, after clearing a journalist and a union member of charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. The Supreme Court is also asking lower courts and law enforcement offices to give them information on every threat or killing of a lawyer or judge in the last 10 years. The High Court earlier said it would issue rules on the use of body camera in the serving of warrants. This matter was included in the measures read by Hosaka on Tuesday. Senator Manny Pacquiao expressed his support for the Supreme Court en banc's move to protect judges and lawyers. "I am against any policy that tramples on the basic principle of human rights which is the right to counsel. Our lawyers must be free and even duty-bound to represent those accused of violating the law. Lawyers should not be suspected, discriminated against, faulted, red-tagged, or attacked in performing their sworn duties," Pacquiao said in a statement. Groups Bayan Muna and Karaptan also said they welcome the Supreme Court's statement. "We welcome the SC's taking cognizance of the condemnable, yet, still continuing attacks against lawyers, judges and even ordinary Filipinos under the present atmosphere of wanton disregard of the rule of law and justice," House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate. Karapatan said the Supreme Court's "concern on and taking note of the welfare of judges and lawyers, including those who experienced threats among the lawyers in the petitions questioning the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and the red-tagging of Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court Judge Monique Quisumbing-Ignacio, is an important declaration." The Integrated Bar of the Philippines also supported the Supreme Court's stance as a number of their suggestions and recommendations were acted upon in the high court's condemnation of violent acts against judges and lawyers. "Lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and all workers in the justice sector can and should do so much to deliver justice a lot faster. Only when the evil-doers are swiftly and surely held accountable that the criminals fear the law and respect the rights of others," the IBP said in a statement. CNN Philippines correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report. A Pakistani court sentenced two men to death on Saturday for the gang rape of a French woman in front of her children in Lahore last year. Prosecutor Hafiz Asghar said the verdict in the case against Abid Malhi and his accomplice Shafqat Ali was issued inside the prison where it was held in Lahore. Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta also sentenced the men to 14 years imprisonment, time that must be served before any executions can take place. Appeals or commutations are likely. A Pakistani court sentenced Abid Malhi and Shafqat Alito death on Saturday for the gang rape of a French woman in front of her children in Lahore last year Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta (pictured arriving at the district jail) also sentenced the men to 14 years imprisonment, time that must be served before any executions can take place According to the prosecutor and police, Malhi and Ali found the woman waiting for help after her car ran out of fuel. She had locked the car doors but the attackers broke a window and dragged her outside where they raped her at gunpoint in front of her terrified children. The men also stole money, jewellery, and bank cards before fleeing. They were tracked down via mobile phone data, Asghar added, and arrested days after the incident. DNA samples taken from the crime scene matched theirs. The survivor identified the two men during the hearing, and Ali confessed to the crime before a magistrate. The crime had drawn widespread condemnation on social media, with some activists demanding that those involved be hanged in public. The trial, which was handled by an anti-terrorism court for expediency, has been closely followed on Pakistani television. Prosecutor Hafiz Asghar (pictured arriving at the district jail) said the verdict in the case against Abid Malhi and his accomplice Shafqat Ali was issued inside the prison where it was held in Lahore Human rights activists have urged the government to introduce harsh new penalties for rapists. Malhi and Ali did not hire lawyers, and their state-appointed attorneys were not available for comment following the verdict. Gang rape is rare in Pakistan, although sexual harassment and violence against women is not uncommon. Nearly 1,000 women are killed in Pakistan each year in so-called 'honour killings' for allegedly violating conservative norms on love and marriage. The trial, which was handled by an anti-terrorism court for expediency, has been closely followed on Pakistani television 12th Meeting of the Monaco Blue Initiative: Highlights and images of main proceedings for 22 March 2021 March 23,2021 | Source: IISD The sustainable development agenda enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) has experienced a wake-up call due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on the urgent need to change our interaction with nature. In the past year, the ocean agenda under SDG14 (life below water) has experienced delays in progress due to the postponement of physical meetings, such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) and the UN Ocean Conference. On the flip side, the pandemic is also viewed as an opportunity to tailor the transformation of ocean governance and trigger financial mechanisms to scale up support for blue economy. It is against this backdrop that the Monaco Blue Initiative (MBI) held its 12th meeting. The MBI meeting, which kicked off the fourth edition of Monaco Ocean Week, brought together representatives from governments, business sector, financial institutions and other stakeholders to debate on ocean issues. In his welcome address, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco said the current meeting creates an opportunity for synergies for ocean conservation, noting the stage has been set by the UN decades on Ecosystem Restoration and Ocean Science. Session One: Role of International Negotiations for Better Ocean Governance: This session reviewed the ocean agenda of high-level international negotiations and frameworks, as well as reflected on how to create synergies to increase effectiveness. Panelists discussed the need for the post-2020 global framework for biodiversity to provide guidance on ocean stewardship. They discussed opportunities to increase dialogue and synergies in ocean conservation in the upcoming UN biodiversity and climate change meetings and the IUCN World Conservation Congress. In a pre-recorded message, John Kerry, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, US, referred to the ocean as a source of sustainable climate solutions. He highlighted opportunities provided by the BBNJ process, as well as other conventions and high-level meetings to create a future for the ocean that is biodiverse, climate-resilient, and free from carbon pollution. Annick Girardin, French Minister of Marine Affairs, in a pre-recorded message, said improving ocean governance requires positive progress in concluding the BBNJ process in order to protect biodiversity in the high seas. The blue economy, she added, must become the cornerstone of post-COVID recovery plans. Session Two: Integrating Oceans in Corporate Social Responsibility Strategies: This session involved representatives from the private sector and business enterprises discussing the challenges of aligning business with sustainable development of the ocean. Participants shared experiences in creating a business case for conservation through corporate social responsibility (CSR). In a keynote address, Virginijus Sinkevicius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, said while investing in the SDGs is more than CSR, it makes common business sense. He highlighted the European Green Deal, the EUs long-term strategy for sustainable growth, which is built on ambitions related to carbon neutrality, circular economy, zero pollution and biodiversity restoration. Ricardo Serrao Santos, Minister of Maritime Affairs, Portugal, in a keynote message said CSR is not only about fulfilling legal expectations but also about investing more in human capital and environmental resilience. Session Three: From Blue Economy to Blue Finance: During this session, financial actors discussed financial mechanisms to support blue economy investments. Panelists reported challenges in ocean governance due to lack of regulatory frameworks and scientific data. They discussed ways in which progress achieved in green economy investments can be leveraged to upscale blue economy. Participants also discussed ways of moving from philanthropy to financing long-term ocean sustainability. Carlos Eduardo Correa, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Colombia, in a keynote speech, said investing in natural capital will not only generate positive impacts on biodiversity, but will also allow us to avoid economic risks, as most economic sectors depend greatly on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Jens Frlich Holte, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway said the ocean economy is a cornerstone of the global economy, providing millions of jobs and livelihoods. He highlighted pre-COVID-19 pandemic forecasts, which estimated that the ocean economy could add USD 3 trillion annually in gross value by 2030. In closing remarks, Robert Calcagno, CEO, Oceanographic Institute, Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation, said the ocean is at the heart of the environmental transition we all want to see, and that its preservation is everyones business. Olivier Wenden, Vice-President and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, highlighted the importance of working collectively, noting that contradictory objectives can in fact converge, if they are approached in a coordinated manner. 1992-2021, IISD. All rights reserved. Theme(s): Others. Each hospital in Boone County will provide a daily report of either green status, yellow status or red status. Denton, TX (76205) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. KABUL - Deputy Foreign Minister Mirwais Nab discussed in a telephone conversation with the German Special Representative for Afghanistan Mr. Marcus Potzel, the process of peace talks and significance of continued German aids and support to Afghanistan. Commending Germany's technical and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, Mr. Nab said that Germanys continued support for justified position of the Afghan government and the rightful call of the Afghan people to end the war and bloodshed in the country was vital for establishment of a sustainable and just peace in Afghanistan. Deputy Minister Nab also spoke about convening the 9th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process, to be held in Tajikistan in late March, and stressed the continuation of German support for the process. Mr. Putzel emphasized need for a lasting and just peace, which would preserve the achievements of the past 20 years in Afghanistan, and expressed his country's readiness to continue to support people and the government of Afghanistan for success of the peace talks. Both sides wished for success of the peace talks and also discussed the implementation of agenda for the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process Ministerial Meeting. BHAGWANPURA, India The farmer sat in the house his grandfather built, contemplating economic ruin. Jaswinder Singh Gill had plowed 20 years of savings from an earlier career as a mechanical engineer into his familys nearly 40-acre plot in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab, just a dozen miles from the border with Pakistan. He has eked rice out of the sandy, loamy soil with the help of generous government subsidies for 15 years, in hopes that his son and daughter may someday become the sixth generation to work the land. Then India suddenly transformed the way it farms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year pushed through new laws that would reduce the governments role in agriculture, aimed at fixing a system that has led to huge rice surpluses in a country that still grapples with malnutrition. But the laws could make Mr. Gills farm and many others like it unsustainable. They would reduce the role of government-run markets for grain, which the farmers fear would eventually undermine the price subsidies that make their work possible. If that happens, the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on the land could be in jeopardy. Srinagar, March 24 : J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday urged the community elders and religious heads to spread the message of peace and harmony among the new generation. The Lt Governor was speaking at a conference on 'Confluence of Religious Leaders in Kashmir' in Srinagar. The day-long conference witnessed participation of around 550 religious heads, including 200 women and 200 youth. Terming the conference as a historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir, the Lt Governor appreciated the efforts being made to discuss the role of religious leaders and women in creating a violence-free society. "Jammu and Kashmir has remained home to diverse religious and cultural influences which deeply enriched its pluralistic ethos. No development or progress is possible without sustained peace, communal harmony and brotherhood," Sinha said. The Lt Governor also emphasised on the need to restore the pristine glory of J&K as an abode of communal harmony and brotherhood and urged the people to come forward in achieving this goal. "Violence has no place in any civilised society and peaceful co-existence is the best means to resolve the problems," he added. While addressing the issue of counter radicalisation, the Lt Governor urged the community elders and religious heads to spread the message of love, peace and tolerance among the youth. "Radicalisation should not be associated with a specific religion. There is a need for Islamic scholars to formulate a policy and a process by which a helpless person, who is exposed to a violent ideology, is prevented from getting radicalised," said the Lt Governor. He also highlighted the significant role of family, community influencers, and religious and spiritual heads in the counter-radicalisation process to thwart any attempt being made from across the border to incite communal hatred in the society. ANN ARBOR, MI The Huron River in Ann Arbor, where the city draws most of its drinking water, has seen steadily rising levels of toxic forever chemicals this past year. The citys test results for the raw intake water from Barton Pond suggest growing PFAS pollution that Ann Arbor officials believe is coming downstream from Wixom. Tests of Barton Pond water samples showed four readings between 15.6 and 20.9 parts per trillion last May, then increases each month to reach 58.4 ppt by December. The last three test results from January and February were at 50 ppt or above double and triple levels from last spring. Before recently, the city hadnt seen fluorochemical levels this high in its municipal source water since 2018 when there was a concerning spike in the numbers. The city uses carbon filters at its water treatment plant to remove some of the harmful chemicals, but PFAS still ends up in the water delivered to city residents and businesses between 24.9 and 26.8 ppt in the most recent tests. The levels in the treated drinking water were as high as 33.8 ppt last fall, the highest theyve been since 2018. Barton Pond on the Huron River where Ann Arbor draws most of the city's drinking water on March 7, 2020.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News In review of the data, it appears the increase is primarily associated with a type of PFAS known as 6:2 FTS, the source being the Wixom Wastewater Treatment Plant, said Brian Steglitz, Ann Arbors water treatment manager. Ann Arbor has tried reaching out to Tribar Manufacturing, a maker of chrome-plated auto parts in Wixom and the primary source of PFAS to the Wixom wastewater plant, to see if it has changed anything in its processes or if it is using different products that might be responsible for the more recent detections of 6:2 FTS, Steglitz said. Unfortunately, Tribar has been non-responsive to multiple attempts to reach out for data, Steglitz said. Tribar did not respond to a request for comment from The Ann Arbor News/MLive. FTS 6:2 is a fluorotelomer sulfonate thats been used in both firefighting foam and to control surface emissions in the industrial plating industry, in addition to its presence in consumer products like fast-food wrappers. Its a short-chain fluorinated carbon chemical, which manufacturers like DuPont described as safe for workers, consumers and the environment as the longer-chain carbon PFOS and PFOA gained attention for adverse health effects and environmental contamination. The levels of 6:2 FTS in Ann Arbors drinking water are still below drinking water health standards, and other PFAS levels in the citys drinking water remain well below Michigans new maximum contaminant levels, Steglitz said. However, there still are no regulations for some of them. While I would prefer that we did not have any PFAS in our source waters, the citys treatment process continues to do an excellent job of removing all regulated PFAS, enabling the city to provide high-quality, safe and reliable drinking water to our customers, Steglitz said. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy reviewed data from 2020 to present and did not see any abnormal increase in the levels of 6:2 FTS coming from the Wixom wastewater plant, EGLE spokesman Scott Dean said. 6:2 FTS is the replacement for PFOS in the fume suppressant that Tribar Plant 4 and Tribar Plant 5 currently use, he said, noting Plant 4 had a granular activated carbon treatment system installed in October 2018 to address PFOS discharges and its also able to reduce the levels of 6:2 FTS. Plant 5 had not exceeded PFOS standards previously, so installation of granular activated carbon was not required there, Dean said. Recently, however, Plant 5 did have a PFOS exceedance, which prompted the city of Wixom to require a corrective action plan to address the PFOS discharge, he said. EGLEs understanding is that Tribars corrective action plan includes Plant 5 installing a GAC treatment system to address the PFOS discharge, but Im not sure of the timeframe for installation. Its expected that also will reduce the discharge of 6:2 FTS from Tribars Plant 5 to the Wixom wastewater plant, resulting in corresponding reductions in the effluent from the plant that ends up in the Huron River, Dean said. The U.S. metal plating industry transitioned from PFOS to the shorter-chain 6:2 FTS compound for chromium electroplating around 2012-2015 and its less toxic and less persistent in the environment, though it still can cause kidney and liver toxicity and skin irritation, the National Association for Surface Finishing stated in a 2019 report. It has occasionally been detected in Ann Arbors treated drinking water at low levels for the past couple years, and there have been many months where it was not detected, but it started showing up again in December at 2.5 to 4 ppt, then 8.1 ppt in January and 8.6 to 10 ppt in February. Test results for March are not available yet. In addition to 6:2 FTS, recent test results showed three other types of PFAS in Ann Arbors treated drinking water. That includes PFPeA at 6.8 to 8.3 ppt, PFHpA at 3.1 to 4 ppt, and PFHxA at 5 to 5.9 ppt. For many months, there have been no detections of PFOS and PFOA, which were detected in years past and were the initial focus of PFAA regulatory efforts in recent years. The city has had only one reading in which PFOS or PFOA showed up in the treated drinking water since July 2019. The chemicals have been persistent in the river, but the citys carbon filters are effective at removing the longer-chain compounds. Ann Arbors research on optimizing PFAS removal at the water plant has been progressing very well, Steglitz said. We are testing a variety of different types of granular activated carbon media to see which performs the best, he said. We are also completing experimental work to optimize the capacity of our carbon so we do not regenerate it before its capacity to adsorb PFAS is exhausted. By doing this, we are hoping to reduce our annual cost of carbon regeneration by over $100,000 without sacrificing any of our water quality goals. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Judge signals intent to order cleanup plan in Ann Arbor dioxane pollution case EPA open to Superfund cleanup in Ann Arbor if state is on board Ann Arbor may toss idea of reduced trash pickup in the waste basket Ann Arbor city employees were paid $63.7M last year. See who made the most Light at the end of tunnel visible for Washtenaw County, health leaders say after one year of COVID Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 21:53:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, on his election as the country's president. Xi noted in the message that the world today is facing profound changes unseen in a century, and China-Laos relations are in a crucial stage that inherits the past and sets a course for the future. He added that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Laos relations and is willing to work with Thongloun to further consolidate and expand the two countries' comprehensive strategic cooperation, promote the well-being and friendship of their people, and lift the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future to new heights. Noting that China and Laos are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, Xi said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 60 years ago, the relations between the two parties and between the two countries have braved the waves and grown stronger as time goes by. In recent years, Xi said, the traditional friendship between China and Laos has achieved new development, strategic mutual trust has made new progress, practical cooperation has taken new steps, and bilateral relations have entered a new era of building a community with a shared future. Xi said that since last year, China and Laos have joined hands in the fight of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has vividly demonstrated the spirit of the China-Laos community with a shared future, and consolidated and deepened the brotherly friendship between the two sides. On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory message to Phankham Viphavanh on the latter's election as Laos' prime minister. Li said he is ready to make joint efforts with Phankham to continuously enrich the connotation of their countries' comprehensive strategic cooperation, and make new progress in the cause of building the China-Laos community with a shared future. Enditem Almost 90 percent of infectious travelers could be detected with rapid SARS-CoV-2 tests at the airport, and most imported infections could be prevented with a combination of pre-travel testing and a five-day post-travel quarantine that would only lift with a negative test result, according to a computer simulation by UC San Francisco researchers. The study offers much-needed data to airlines and states that have struggled through a year of the pandemic with little guidance on how to enable safe travel. The issue is becoming more pressing as states reopen and travelers return to the skies. Data from the Transportation Security Administration show that air travel has been on the rise since the 2020-2021 holiday season, although it is still only one-third to one-half of what it was before the pandemic. "This evidence could be useful to standardize testing and quarantine policy for COVID-19 at the airline, city and state level for travelers," said Nathan Lo, MD, PhD, a resident physician and incoming faculty fellow in infectious diseases at UCSF and senior author of the paper, which was published March 22, 2021, in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. "Nothing will be perfectly safe, and travel will always pose a risk to the individual and for importation to states, but this is a way to substantially minimize the risk." The data in the study come from a large-scale computer simulation of how different combinations of testing and quarantine can prevent infectious travelers from spreading COVID-19. The model makes forecasts based on what is already known about how many people are likely to be infected on any given day, how long they are likely to be infectious and how likely different types of tests are to detect infectious people. The study simulated the probability that 100,000 travelers would be infectious on any given day shortly before, during and after their trips, given a range of different pre-travel testing and post-travel quarantine-plus-testing strategies. "We know from the published literature how the infection spreads, and we can simulate how likely different testing and quarantine strategies will be to protect a person from infection, and also reduce their chance of being a source of transmission in the community," Lo said. The study found that PCR-based testing three days before departure or rapid testing at the airport both reduced the number of infectious travelers by almost 90 percent, while imposing a five-day quarantine that could only be lifted with a negative PCR test, reduced the number of "infectious days," or the days that travelers would be able to spread the virus, by two-thirds. The simulated quarantine had an added benefit because it would catch people who tested negative before departure but were actually infected. People may test negative at the early stages of infection and only turn positive on a test several days later. The quarantine would prevent those people from spreading the virus in the days after they arrived at their destination. The scientists were impressed to find that rapid tests like the Abbott BinaxNOW antigen test administered to travelers on the day of travel were about as effective in the simulations as the gold-standard PCR prior to travel. They noted, however, that many rapid tests perform poorly and that the study's results were only applicable if a rapid test performed as well as those like the Abbott BinaxNOW, which has been studied at UCSF and found to be reliable. "It is reasonable to assume the more sensitive PCR would be the most useful," said Mathew Kiang, ScD, a fellow at the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, first author of the paper. "But here we saw that the same-day rapid testing was almost as good after accounting for the delay in test results from a PCR." He added that the rapid tests have the advantage of being a quick and easy alternative for travelers, whereas PCR tests require them to make an additional trip to get tested a few days before departure. "Asking people to get tested before the day of travel may not be as feasible," he said. Researchers also found that a five-day quarantine was about as effective as a 10- or 14-day quarantine, and also more likely to be enforceable. One of the key implications of the study is the extent to which requiring a negative test before travel, as well as five days after travel, can reduce the importation of infections from high-risk areas to low-risk areas, thus controlling the spread of the pandemic. "Ultimately, it's a value judgment," Lo said. "These strategies are not perfect, but if we implement test-and-travel strategies, we can dramatically reduce the risk of infection when traveling." ### Authors: Joining Lo and Kiang in the study were Lloyd Chapman, PhD, Isabel Rodriguez-Barraquer, MD PhD, Bryan Greenhouse, MD, George Rutherford, MD, Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, MD PhD, and Diane Havlir, MD, all of UCSF; Elizabeth Chin and Benjamin Huynh, of Stanford University; and Sanjay Basu, MD, PhD, of Harvard Medical School. Funding: The study was supported by the UCSF Department of Medicine. Disclosures: None. About UCSF: The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is exclusively focused on the health sciences and is dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. UCSF Health, which serves as UCSF's primary academic medical center, includes top-ranked specialty hospitals and other clinical programs, and has affiliations throughout the Bay Area. Learn more at https:/ / www. ucsf. edu , or see our Fact Sheet. Follow UCSF ucsf.edu | Facebook.com/ucsf | YouTube.com/ucsf The Cherokee Nation is offering free Wi-Fi at 35 drive-up locations throughout its reservation. Cherokee Connect, the tribes universal connectivity initiative, is focused on serving as a broadband resource and deploying connectivity that fills the gap for Cherokee households currently lacking internet access. TORONTO, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hanna Capital Corp. (the "Company"), a publicly traded company focused on raising capital for exploration mainly in the base metal and resource sectors to provide investors with long-term capital growth by investing in a portfolio of undervalued companies and assets. One such asset is the Jasper Property which is wholly owned by the Company. The property is located in west-central Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and consists of 4 mineral claims covering 3978 hectares. Recent geophysical work has suggested the presence of a strong near horizontal unit which has been described (Houle and Pezzot, 2018) as: "a pervasive near-surface high resistivity layer across the property, locally underlain by a flat-lying to undulating but overall, gently south-dipping low resistivity (conductive) layer at depths of 500 to 750 metres from surface may represent a metallic sulphide target, possibly a VMS, epithermal or volcanic horizon that acts as the source of the massive sulphide mineralization." The low resistivity geophysical signature could either be a measure of: Soils and clays which are of no economic importance. A black argillacerous sedimentary horizon beneath the Bonanza Group volcanics. Skarn mineralization, known to occur regionally. High sulphidation structurally controlled epithermal mineralization, known to occur regionally. Volcanic hosted massive sulphide mineralization, known to occur regionally. Low resistivity geophysical signatures are shown in the three selected sections and the location plan below. The latter three of these possibilities represent excellent exploration target. On this basis, the Company has decided to initiate a drill program to test the target. It is planned to drill at least 3 diamond core holes (with deflections if necessary) to intersect the low resistivity zone at about 750m from surface. A drill program of 3,000 meters has been proposed. The Company will be finalizing a comprehensive budget and drill program in the very near future. Herb Brugh, President of the Company, says, "We are looking forward to drilling these exciting targets on the property, and the Company believes with these geophysical models, and historical data from our dedicated, and experienced team, and with the price of the copper and base metal market points to nothing but a promising future for the the Company and its shareholders." For surface results, please see the Company's previous news release of March 4, 2021. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/89ebe4d4-b8de-40cb-a3f5-6893e5d04b56 10530 East (383500E) https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6e7c2ff1-1781-4b56-b4d6-3463341fa303 10550 East (383700E) https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f68476b6-e771-4a78-9f54-731060b9e653 10590 East (384100E) https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8f4a5f3d-403c-4592-bb2d-e5d654e4e9c8 The Qualified Person for the Jasper Property is Jacques Houle, B.A.Sc., University of Toronto - Geological Engineering - Min. Ex. Option P. Eng. since 1989 Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. Corporation contact: Herb Brugh President and Director Tel: 416.945.6630 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "anticipated", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Hanna is subject to significant risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking statements contained in this release. Hanna cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements and Hanna assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect actual events or new circumstances. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close New Delhi: Delhi government on Tuesdsay (March 23) ordered a ban on gatherings on festivals like Holi, Navratri and Shab-e-Barat amid the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases. Apart from festivals, the ban will cover all kinds of gatherings as well and the authorities will keep a strict watch on it, Delhi Disaster Management Authority said. "All authorities concerned will ensure that public celebrations and gatherings, congregations during upcoming festivals like Holi, Shab-e-Barat, Navaratri etc. shall not be allowed in public places, public grounds, public parks, markets, religious places etc. in NCT of Delhi," Chief Secretary Vijay Dev said in a statement. The government is also planning to ramp up coronavirus testing, especially for people coming from outside the national capital. "Random testing of passengers coming from other states where COVID-19 cases are increasing, will be done at all airports, railway stations and inter-state bus terminals," the Delhi Disaster Management Authority said. Delhi reported 1,101 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the highest in over three months, while four people succumbed to the virus, the health department said. It is the first time since December 24 that the city has recorded more than 1,000 cases. The new 1,101 cases are the highest since December 19 when 1,139 cases were recorded, according to official data. The active cases rose to 4,411 from 3,934 a day ago. The positivity remained over 1 per cent for the fourth consecutive day, the health bulletin said. The new infections pushed the tally to 6,49,973, while 6.34 lakh patients have recovered from the virus. Four people died due to the disease, taking the number of fatalities to 10,967. Live TV Phillip Alviola, a bat ecologist, holds a bat that was captured from Mount Makiling in Los Banos, Laguna province, the Philippines on March 5, 2021. REUTERS (Newser) Two Chicago hospital executives have been reprimanded over COVID-19 vaccine events that improperly gave shots to people far from the West Side facility, including one held for workers at Trump Tower. Loretto Hospital's Board of Directors released a statement Friday saying it had "taken appropriate actions of reprimand" against President and CEO George Miller and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Anosh Ahmed. A hospital spokeswoman did not immediately respond to an email Monday requesting comment from Miller and Anosh in reaction to the board's decision. City health officials said last week they would withhold first doses of COVID-19 vaccines from the hospital as authorities investigate the events, the AP reports. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday that Loretto needs better controls and data to guide and track vaccine administration, adding that she doesn't expect the hospital to be coming back online anytime soon." story continues below "They've got work to do, I think, to rebuild trust in their own community," Lightfoot said. The backlash followed local media reporting on several vaccination events held outside the hospital, which primarily serves Black and Latino residents in West Side neighborhoods. Loretto was chosen last year to administer Chicago's ceremonial first COVID-19 vaccination as part of the citys efforts to encourage people to get the shot. Block Club Chicago first reported vaccination events that hospital officials organized at Trump Tower in downtown Chicago and at the hospital president's suburban church. WBEZ reported that county judges and family members improperly received vaccines from the hospital. "While it is the estimation of the Board that all reported events stemmed from a sincere desire to vaccinate as many eligible Chicagoans as possibleespecially people of coloras quickly as possible, we acknowledge that actions were taken that fall outside the scope of The Loretto Hospitals core mission, the hospital board said in Friday's statement. (Read more coronavirus vaccine stories.) 3 1 of 3 Contributed photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Contributed photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3 NEW MILFORD A Gaylordsville resident reported seeing a furry visitor Tuesday, as a bear came out of the woods to check out the bird feeders at her home on Kent Road. Jean Irish said in an email to Hearst Connecticut Media that she was trimming brush near the edge of her property around 2:15 p.m. when she heard the sounds of an animal moving through the woods. Bengaluru, March 23 : Karnataka Health Minister K. Sudhakar on Tuesday said there was no shortage of Covid vaccines in the state to administer to beneficiaries. "No shortage of anti-Covid vaccines in our state. The Centre has assured us adequate vaccine supply to meet the requirement," he told reporters here amid concerns over primary health centres running out of stocks. Appealing to all senior citizens above 60 years of age and those in the 45-59 years age group with co-morbidities to get vaccinated at the earliest, Sudhakar said the Centre would supply 12.5 lakh doses next week. "We will receive 4 lakh doses this week to ensure no shortage of vaccines across the state," said the minister, who is a medical doctor by profession. Admitting that second wave of the infection had begun in the state, as evident from the rising positive cases, the minister urged the people to be vigilant and strictly follow the Covid-induced guidelines for their safety and health. "People violating the norms by not wearing a mask or maintaining physical distancing will be fined. They should avoid going to functions or gatherings for the next 2 months," he said. With 2,010 new cases registered on Monday, the state's Covid tally rose to 9,73,657 till date, including 15,595 active cases, while recoveries increased to 9,45,594, with 677 patients discharged during the day across the state. As epicentre of the virus, Bengaluru reported 1,280 fresh cases, taking the city's Covid tally to 4,19,838, including 10,766 active cases, while recoveries rose to 4,04,515, with 399 discharged in the last 24 hours. With only 5 deaths across the state, including 3 in Bengaluru and 1 each in Hassan and Kalaburagi districts, the case fatality rate remained at 0.24 per cent on Monday. In view of the surge in cases, the state government on Monday decided to screen people travelling from Covid-hit states Kerala, Maharashtra and Punjab into Karnataka from March 25 to contain the virus spread. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Nowadays, technology plays such a vital role in our daily lives and can sometimes be the difference between securing resources and not, said Cherese Ledet, senior vice president of operations at the YMCA, in the release. Some people, particularly senior residents, might never have had the opportunity or means to develop the tech skills to go online or might not have family members close by to help them register for a vaccine or locate their closest vaccination site. Chicago residents in need can rely on their Y family by calling our Community IT help desk. On the evening of March 16, eight people were killed by Robert Aaron Long, 21, when he targeted three separate Asian-owned businesses in the Atlanta area. Officials have since identified all the victims, including one who survived. As communities everywhere mourn the tragic losses, crowdfunding campaigns meant to help family members of the victims have started to appear. Here are the resources available to help those affected by the Atlanta shooting. Hyun Jung Grant , 51 Hyun Jung Grant, maiden name Kim, leaves behind two sons. Randy Park, 22, says his mother dedicated her whole life to providing for my brother and I. She was a single mother who worked at the Gold Spa, he told the Daily Beast. He describes his mother as "one of my best friends." She loved dancing and partying, and was like a teenager in his eyes. On his GoFundMe page, Park said that hes had difficulty coming to terms with his mothers death. He hasnt had much time to grieve, as he now takes care of his younger brother. As of this writing, his campaign has raised over $2,800,000 of his initial $20,000 goal. In his latest update on the crowdfunding website, he expressed his overwhelming amount of gratitude toward everyone that has supported him. This doesn't represent even a fragment of how I feel. My mother can rest easy knowing I have the support of the world with me, he ends. Daoyou Feng , 44 Not much information is known about Daoyou Feng other than that she began working at Youngs Asian Massage a few months ago. Almost nothing is known about her friends and family and there is currently no crowdfunding campaign set up for her. The Washington Post reported that someone connected to her through her work described her as kind and quiet. Nextshark has reached out to the Chinese consulate in the course of our investigation. We will update our report when necessary. Suncha Kim , 69 Suncha Kim was a beloved wife, mother of two and grandmother of three. She immigrated to the United States from Seoul in the 1980s, according to the Washington Post. On her GoFundMe Page, Regina Song wrote that her grandmother was a courageous woman, who worked two to three jobs despite knowing very little English. 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, Song added. She then ended her statement by suggesting another way to help her family through this difficult time by raising awareness and coming together as Americans. As of this writing, the campaign has raised over $178,000 of its $20,000 goal. The family has thanked their many supporters for their latest update. Story continues Paul Andre Michels, 54 Paul Andre Michels was a handyman for Youngs Asian Spa at the time of the shooting. Though he didnt have any kids of his own, his old friend Kikiana Whidby said that he was like an uncle to all those around him. He would give you the shirt off his back, she described the man she appointed her sons godfather. One of his eight siblings, John Michels, said to WSB-TV 2 that he was a good, hard-working man who would do what he could to help people. Outside of work, Michels spent time with his wife Bonnie. Bonnies manager organized a GoFundMe campaign after Bonnie was unable to come to work. More than $67,000 of the $50,000 goal has been raised as of this writing. Soon Chung Park , 74 Soon Chung Park was a manager at Gold Spa and would often cook lunch and dinner for the employees there. She was described by those close to her as youthful and active. Everybody said she was going to live past 100-years-old, her son-in-law Scott Lee said. Park was planning to move into Lees home later this year. Her family was looking forward to seeing her after being separated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Nextshark has previously reported on Park after it was revealed that her husband, Gwangho Lee, attempted to resuscitate her after arriving at the crime scene just minutes after her death. Lee has a GoFundMe to help pay for any living expenses as he copes with the tragedy. Xiaojie Tan along with her husband Jason Wang were the owners of two separate spa businesses in Georgia, including Youngs Spa where she was killed. Tan would have celebrated her 50th birthday on the morning after the shooting. Originally from China, Tan moved to the United States after she met her ex-husband Michael Webb, who described her as full of smiles and laughter. Together, they adopted daughter Jami Webb, 29. Webb described her mother to USA Today as her best friend. She did everything for me and for the family. She provided everything. She worked every day, 12 hours a day, so that me and our family would have a better life, she added. Jami Webbs step-sister, Lauren Mellone, has organized a GoFundMe campaign on her behalf. Webb added to the post, My mom taught me the power of smiles and laughter. People noticed how happy she was. Please spend more time with your loved ones, like it could be your last day with them. As of this writing, more than $64,000 of the $30,000 goal has been raised. Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez, 33 Delaina Yaun and her husband were at Youngs Asian Massage for a couples massage at the time she was killed. Mario Gonazlez, who she had married within the past year, was in another room and made it out alive. Together, they have a 9-month-old baby and a teenage son. Her dreams were finally coming true. Things were falling into place with her, Lisa Marie spoke of her friend. Gonzalez said to Spanish-news site MundoHispanico, That murderer only left me pain, according to BBC. Yauns sister has organized a GoFundMe page to cover funeral expenses. As of this writing, over $120,000 of the original $20,000 has been donated. Yong Ae Yue , 63 Yong Ae Yue was a licensed massage therapist at the Aromatherapy spa. Originally from South Korea, she immigrated to the United States with her now ex-husband and leaves behind the two sons they had together. Rob Pete has organized a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the funeral expenses for his mother. Mom was an amazing woman who loved to introduce our family and friends to her home-cooked Korean food and Korean karaoke, he wrote. He has raised over $130,000 of the original $25,000 goal. The family last updated the post over the weekend to thank everyone for the support. My mom would be so proud that my brother and I are not only getting along but surrounded by good spirits and uplifting her legacy. Her grandkids have been able to be flown out and be here with us to celebrate her life and legacy. It is with your donations and support that such things are able to happen, they wrote. Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz, 30 Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz is the victim who survived. He is currently in intensive care after being shot in the forehead, lungs and stomach. His wife Flora Gonzalez Gomez has set up a GoFundMe to cover medical expenses. Feature Image via Rob Pete (left), Randy Park (right) Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! COVID-19 Researcher On Verge of Breakthrough Found Shot to Death in Pittsburgh Wuhan Doctor Speaks Out Against China for Censoring Her Coronavirus Warnings in December UConn Engineer Invents Reusable, Biodegradable Facemask to Fight Growing Pollution of the Pandemic Korean Boy, 12, Convinces Mom to Let Him Trade Stocks, Makes Over $13,000 in Gains 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. Phuket to submit plan to reopen July 1 BANGKOK: Phuket will submit its reopening plan to the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) for approval this Friday (Mar 26) in a bid to let inoculated tourists visit without quarantine in July, while Samui also hastened the reopening process with a sealed model. COVID-19Coronavirushealthtourismeconomics By Bangkok Post Tuesday 23 March 2021, 09:12AM Beach chairs lie empty on the resort island of Phuket as even local tourists have disappeared in the wake of the recent outbreak of Covid-19. Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran / Bangkok Post Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the reopening plan, known as the Phuket Tourism Sandbox, will depend largely on vaccine allocation to the Andaman island as it must achieve herd immunity by inoculating 70% of the population before letting foreign visitors in by that date, reports the Bangkok Post. The plan, to be submitted to CESA on March 26, will include a vaccination proposal, indicating the number of doses needed and the timeline of inoculation that will be suitable for a safe reopening. He said public communities tend to consent to this plan more than last years Phuket model as it is equipped with a more elaborate plan that can convince them with health safety measures. According to the sandbox proposal, Phuket needs to vaccinate at least 466,587 people which requires 933,174 doses. To reach the immunity goal within the time frame, it should start the first round of inoculations by April 15, followed by the second from May 15 onward. Previously, Phuket set the Phuket First October for quarantine-free entry. But the new sandbox with an earlier starting date will benefit the whole country as we can evaluate this programme first before Thailand reopens all its borders in October, said Mr Yuthasak. He said long-haul markets are likely to visit Thailand in the initial stage. The post-pandemic travel which needs extra requirements, such as a COVID-19 test and insurance, means travellers will opt for a longer stay and spend more for each trip. Bhummikitti Raktaengam, president of the Phuket Tourist Association, said the tourism sandbox will help contribute at least B84.3 billion to the islands economy, which is higher than the previous reopening plan set for October that expected to generate B55bn. At present, the private sector and provincial government are confident about the plan, but the success factor is based on the vaccination programme which is the only unclear direction. Local operators still want the central government to make a decision. Under the sandbox plan, tourists who want to join the quarantine-free programme are required to show a vaccine certificate, vaccine passport or IATA travel pass. They still have to take a PCR test at the airport and activate the ThailandPlus tracing application while in Phuket. Both the private and public sectors in the province are ready. But to proceed with the plan, we need vaccine rollouts within the timeline, said Mr Bhummikitti. Meanwhile, Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, said Koh Samui will introduce sealed routes to international tourists that keep them away from residents. Both vaccinated and non-vaccinated tourists are required to stay in their hotel rooms for the first two days and get a swab test on the second day. If the result is negative, they can travel to designated areas within the island such as Ang Thong Marine National Park and Koh Tan from the fourth to the seventh days. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 CHICO, Calif. - March is Red Cross Month, and March 24 is Red Cross Giving Day, a chance to give back. Giving Day is an opportunity for local communities to come together on one day to help the families who have been impacted by a home fire or other disaster and who urgently need Red Cross services to get back on their feet. The Red Cross will also be hosting a family-friendly event, called The BASH. Typically, this event is an in-person gala but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be held virtually. The BASH 2021: The Boot Camp Challenge is scheduled for May 22, 2021, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The BASH tickets & registration So, how does the Red Cross spend donations? The Red Cross said on average, 90 cents of every dollar they spend is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The other nine cents support their general operations and help ensure they are ready to respond wherever and whenever help is needed. In addition to Giving Day and the Bash, you can provide financial support any day of the year. The Red Cross is a volunteer organization. Their volunteers carry out 90% of the humanitarian work of the Red Cross. To join Action News Now in supporting the American Red Cross, Click here to donate. New Delhi: Expressing solidarity with the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar, several organisations on Sunday took out protest rallies in different parts of Hyderabad against what they termed as the "genocide" of Rohingya Muslims in the neighbouring country. An all party protest meeting was also organised at Nam pally condemning the killings of Rohingya Muslims which was addressed by CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy and senior Congress leader Mohd Ali Shabbir. Holding placards that read "Stop killings of innocent Rohingya Muslims in Burma," "Stop genocide of Rohingyas," members of city-based organisations Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) and Darsgah Jihad-O-Shahadat (DJS) and other organisations protested in different parts of the city. They raised slogans beside burning effigies of Myanmar's state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had recently said the Rohingyas, whether they are registered under the UNHCR or not, are "illegal immigrants in India and hence they stand to be deported." Rohingyas are a Muslim minority in the Rakhine state of Myanmar who have been fleeing to Bangladesh and India amid reports of alleged ethnic purging and persecution in Myanmar. According to estimates, Hyderabad is home to about 3,600 Rohingyas, taking shelter under a UNHCR programme. "They are not willing to go back to Myanmar," a volunteer with an NGO working for them said requesting anonymity. Sources in the Rohingya camp here say they are apprehensive about their future if they are deported and fear that they would be killed or subjected to torture back home. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Frankie Jonas said that he dealt with suicidal thoughts until he sought treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Jonas, the 20-year-old younger brother of Kevin, Nick and Joe Jonas, opened up about his personal journey in a TikTok clip Monday. 'From a very young age, I struggled with drinking and drugging as an escape because I hated life and I didnt wanna be here,' Frankie said, prefacing his revelation in saying, 'This is by no means the eloquent explanation I hope to one day give on a much more serious mode than this.' The latest: Frankie Jonas, 20, said that he dealt with suicidal thoughts until he sought treatment for drug and alcohol addiction in a TikTok clip Monday The New Jersey native, who is currently attending Columbia University, said that 'after many years of trying to kill myself accidentally,' he 'came to a point where I was gonna do it for real, and something intervened.' Jonas said his life was saved after seeking treatment for substance abuse, as he's since been sober for a year and a half. 'I couldnt be more grateful for the fact that Im alive today because my world has changed so beautifully and so astronomically, and Im not that person anymore,' he said. 'I couldnt be more grateful that Im alive and happy today.' Frankie, who is nicknamed Bonus Jonas, earlier this month explained how his personal issues made for 'one of the biggest blessings and most incredible and hardest journeys of my life,' encouraging his followers to seek available resources for treatment if they are looking to clean up. Opening up: The younger brother of Kevin, Nick and Joe Jonas opened up about his personal journey On his grind: The New Jersey native is currently attending Columbia University Gratitude: Jonas said, 'I couldnt be more grateful that Im alive and happy today' 'The first step is acceptance; and if its really something you want, you know, right now AA and all those sorts of programs are all online, so you can kind of do whatever,' he said March 10. He continued: 'Just look up Intergroup or those sorts of resources to find Zoom meetings. Its easy. You just have to accept that you need help and that theres other people who can help you. So, hopefully that helps. All the love in the world.' If you or anyone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text 'STRENGTH' to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or click here. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). MBABANE - The vaccination of healthcare workers has kicked off, although at a slow pace. Due to the slow deployment of gadgets which will be utilised during the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in the country, the vaccination process started at a snails pace. Vaccinators are healthcare workers who will be vaccinating other healthcare workers in the country and they (vaccinators) are stationed at the public health units (PHU) in the kingdom and have been trained on COVID-19 vaccines. It was anticipated that the inoculation of vaccinators would begin yesterday, after the COVID-19 vaccination official launch which was last Friday at Mbabane Wellness Centre Clinic where the Acting Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, was first in line to get the Oxford AstraZeneca jab. Vaccination The launch closely followed the COVID-19 vaccination test run where Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi was first to volunteer, among other health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) officials, last Wednesday. During a site visit to the PHU in Mbabane yesterday, where vaccinators are expected to vaccinate, there was barely any activity with regard to the inoculation of the Oxford AstraZeneca. At 2:45pm, a few nurses had gathered at one of the vaccination rooms. However, this reporter could not witness any of the healthcare workers vaccinating because of confidentiality concerns which were raised. However, close sources revealed that a few of the nurses were vaccinated. Numbers Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) President Bheki Mamba, who is also part of the vaccinators, revealed that a few of them were vaccinated yesterday afternoon, however, not divulging the exact numbers. When asked what caused the slow rolling out of the much-awaited vaccination of healthcare workers, Mamba said the late deployment of gadgets was the reason behind the slow-paced enrolment. When asked about the role which the gadgets played in the rolling out of COVID-19 vaccines, Mamba said they were pivotal because they stored all the information about the individuals who were being vaccinated. The goal is to register and vaccinate people digitally and not manually like in the old days. In this way, we will be able to have all the information about the people in the gadgets and scan them with their cards. To do this, we need the gadgets, said Mamba. The types of gadgets could not be revealed because of security reasons. Last week, during the test run at the PHU in Mbabane, it was gathered that the COVID-19 vaccination cards which were distributed contained personal details of the vaccinated person on the front. At the back, it had columns for the name of the product (vaccine candidate), the batch number which traces the dose to the manufacturer, the date the shot was given, the return date and the site where the shot was given. [March 23, 2021] The Eclipse Foundation's Eclipse Jetty Project Prepares for the Future with Jetty 11 Release BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Eclipse Foundation, one of the worlds largest open source software foundations, today announced that the Eclipse Jetty project has released Jetty 11, which has been certified as fully compatible with the Jakarta EE 9 Servlet specifications. Jetty is one of the worlds most widely deployed web server and servlet containers. For version 11, the Jetty development community worked to follow the Big Bang approach to move Jetty entirely into the jakarta.* namespace in a single effort. As a result, this establishes the widely used Jetty as a platform for developers and vendors to easily update their open source projects and commercial products to the new jakarta namespace and create a solid foundation for the cloud native evolution of enterprise Java. The mission statement of the Eclipse Jetty project is by developers, for developers and its teams significant push to become fully compatible with Jakarta EE 9 reflects that mission, said Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation. This is significant not just for open source enterprise Java, but the sheer ubiquity of Jetty in production means this paves the way for many other community members to make the leap to Jakarta EE 9 and future cloud native Java innovations. Jetty is an open source web server and servlet container that is used extensively by millions of developers and in production environments around the world. Jettys small footprint, high performance, and scalability have made it an appealing choice among enterprise application developers using a variety of Java, Scala, Kotlin, and other JVM-based languages. Jetty is found in products and projects such as Apache Hadoop, Apache Maven, Google App Engine, Twitter's Streaming API, Zimbra, and the Eclipse IDE. The improved specification process developed for Jakarta EE is working well and the open sourced compliance testing (TCK) has ade it possible for Jetty 11 to clearly demonstrate it's compatibility with EE9, which bodes well for the future of Jakarta EE, said Greg Wilkins, Eclipse Jetty project lead and Webtide's CTO. With Jetty 11, the javax.* packages now conform to the new jakarta.* namespace, a critical distinction. This namespace change firmly establishes Jakarta EE 9 as a foundation upon which cloud-era innovations can be built for future Java infrastructure. Jakarta EE is a set of open specifications used for enterprise Java application development. It is a continuation of Java EE technology that gathers the wide community of Java developers interested in advancing the specifications for future cloud native Java enterprise applications. Each specification release includes its Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK). The Eclipse Jetty project has contributed to many of the specifications core to the Java experience and were looking forward to doing so as a part of Jakarta EE, added Jesse McConnell, Webtide CEO. These efforts are the summation of hundreds of hours from as many developers and highlight the vibrant ecosystem in the Jakarta EE workspace. Combined with the Eclipse Foundations vendor-neutral governance, the end result is that the barriers to entry for companies interested in leveraging Jetty and Jakarta EE are dramatically lowered, thus providing an opportunity to shape the future of this hugely influential technology. Jetty 11 is fully tested under the open source licensed Jakarta EE 9 TCKs for the Servlet specifications. Jetty 11 is available for download here https://www.eclipse.org/jetty/download.php. Jakarta EE provides a migration path for the enterprise Java ecosystem to transition to newer cloud native tools, products, and platforms. Combined with open source TCKs and an open process of self-certification, Jakarta EE lowers the barrier to entry for vendors to fully certify compatible implementations of Jakarta EE specifications. The Jakarta EE community welcomes contributions and participation by all interested parties. To learn more and to participate, all are welcome to connect with the global community at the following page: https://jakarta.ee/connect/. Organizations interested in joining the Jakarta EE Working Group are encouraged to visit https://jakarta.ee/membership/. About the Eclipse Foundation The Eclipse Foundation provides our global community of individuals and organizations with a mature, scalable, and business-friendly environment for open source software collaboration and innovation. The Foundation is home to the Eclipse IDE, Jakarta EE, and over 375 open source projects, including runtimes, tools, and frameworks for cloud and edge applications, IoT, AI, automotive, systems engineering, distributed ledger technologies, open processor designs, and many others. The Eclipse Foundation is an international non-profit association supported by over 330 members, including industry leaders who value open source as a key enabler for their business strategies. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @EclipseFdn, LinkedIn or visit eclipse.org. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Media contacts Weber Shandwick Belgium Chris Mill Editor T +32 498 179 577 E cmill@webershandwick.com Weber Shandwick Germany Matthias Wowtscherk Account Director, Media Relations T +49 30 20351245 E mwowtscherk@webershandwick.com Nichols Communications for the Eclipse Foundation, AISBL Jay Nichols jay@nicholscomm.com +1 408-772-1551 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Every year presents new challenges to providing for those in need and 2020 was no exception." - Ryan Armstrong, Florida YF&R Leadership Group President The Leadership Group was recognized during the 2021 AFBF FUSION Reimagined Conference which wrapped up March 13. Now in its 19th year, Harvest for All is spearheaded by members of Farm Bureaus Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R), but Farm Bureau members of all ages from across the nation contribute to the effort. Florida YF&R State Leadership Group President Ryan Armstrong praised the group for their efforts. Every year presents new challenges to providing for those in need and 2020 was no exception, he said. Previous Florida Farm Bureau YF&R Leadership Groups have set a very high standard by winning 1st place awards each year for total donations in the nation. The success of Harvest for All is made possible by amazing volunteers, grassroots efforts and endless support from county Farm Bureaus. Our current YF&R Leadership Group would like to thank all the farmers, ranchers, Farm Bureau members and volunteers that help make Floridas Harvest for All program the best in America, Armstrong added. Floridas Young Farmers and Ranchers, with the support of county Farm Bureaus statewide, collectively volunteered 1,800 service hours and made a monetary contribution of $413 thousand, placing first in the nation in pounds of food and funds donated and second in hours volunteered. Harvest for All is one of the most important community service efforts undertaken by Farm Bureau members. Activities associated with the campaign are organized by state and county Farm Bureaus. Since Harvest for All was launched, Farm Bureau families nationwide have gathered 376 million pounds of food, logged more than 215,000 volunteer hours and raised $9.8 million in donations. Florida Farm Bureau, the states largest general agricultural organization, represents more than 136,000 member-families. We serve to enhance farm enterprise and improve rural communities. # # # Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? It is early days, obviously, but nevertheless it is reasonable to expect the Biden administration to return to the passive posture of weakness and international retreat, including, at times, outright anti-Americanism, that characterized the Obama years. With both Russia and, especially, China resurgent, is there anyone else who can stand in their way? Actually, there may be. Foreign Policy has a surprisingly (to me) optimistic assessment of the strategic situation in Asia: Chinas Neighbors Are Stronger Than We Think. China faces challenges all across what one might call the Indo-Pacific arc. These countries, stretching from India in the southwest to Japan in the northeast, would form an effective bulwark against Chinese expansionism even in the absence of explicit U.S. encouragement and support. Japans Self-Defense Forces have a high reputation for technology and readiness. Countering Chinas aircraft carrier building program, Japan is converting two existing helicopter carriers into fixed-wing aircraft carriers. Although the Japanese carriers will be much smaller than Chinas, the Japanese carrier-launched fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighters will pack a much bigger punch. *** At the opposite end of the Indo-Pacific arc, India is often perceived to be a relative weakling when compared to China. But those perceptions are long out of date, if in fact they were ever true. Despite Chinas massive military modernization, India likely now has the upper hand on the Himalayan frontier. In a strategic theater where logistics is everything, the BROs tunneling has vastly increased the Indian Armys ability to transport heavy equipment from rear bases up to the Indian-Chinese Line of Actual Control. Add to that extensive experience fighting on glaciers and the toughness of Indias Special Frontier Force commandos (many of whom have been recruited from the Tibetan exile community), and India has a winning proposition in high-altitude warfare. The Indian Air Force also has a major technical advantage over Chinas PLA: At an altitude of 10,000 feet (3,000 meters), Indias forward air bases are very high, but not nearly as high as Chinas. And unlike India, China has no low-altitude bases anywhere in the region. That makes a huge difference, since Chinas aircraft must shed up to half of their missiles and fuel in order to take off in the super-thin air of the Tibetan Plateau. Throw in Indias acquisition of top-of-the-line French Rafale jet fighters, the potential modernization of its Russian Sukhoi SU-30 squadrons, and the impending delivery of advanced Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, and the Indian Air Force may soon possess absolute air superiority across the LAC. This next bit is heart-warming: Farther to the east, Chinas 1,300 mile (2,100 kilometer) border with Myanmar is so insecure that China, perhaps inspired by former U.S. President Donald Trump, is building a 10-foot (3-meter) high wall to seal it off. The military takeover in Myanmar, widely perceived in the West as favoring China, has actually been a setback. Then there is Vietnam: Vietnam, which like India was once the victim of a Chinese surprise attack, has been on poor terms with its communist big brother ever since Chinas 1979 invasion. Vietnams defense budget today is relatively small, but it has focused its investments on coastal defense. Mirroring Chinas early-2000s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy, it has invested heavily in anti-ship missiles, and is perpetually rumored to be on the verge of acquiring the joint Russian-Indian BrahMos, a supersonic ramjet cruise missile that is reportedly the fastest such weapon in the world. There is much more at the link, including an explanation of why Taiwan is a weak spot. But again, the overall assessment is surprisingly positive. Meanwhile in Europe, the principal foe is Russia rather than Chinaalthough, to be fair, a number of EU countries dont seem to have figured this out. But Great Britain is reorienting its defense strategies to deal with 21st-century threats: 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 likely work alongside MI6 to conduct covert surveillance operations against Russian spies and military units. *** Writing for the The Telegraph, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that Britain must reinvent its armed forces for the 21st century as the threat it faces has changed beyond recognition in 30 years. He says: Our enemies have infinitely more options. *** In what will be seen as a modern day Battle of the Atlantic, the Royal Navy will deploy a spy ship to stop Russian submarines sabotaging Britains internet by damaging undersea cables. Due in service by 2024, the Multi Role Ocean Surveillance ship (MROSS) will help protect critical national infrastructure such as undersea cables which carry trillions of dollars of financial transfers each day and transmit 97 per cent of the worlds global communications. *** The command paper will see an extra 3 billion given to the army, 120 million of which will be used to create the new Special Operations Brigade, based around a Ranger Regiment of four battalions. I dont know whether free countries will be able to resist the Chinese and Russians for long in the absence of a competent U.S. defense policy, but it seems realistic to hope that they will be able to hold out until 2024. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 20:28:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GABORONE, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Botswana has emphasized the need to improve weather forecasting, monitoring and research, as efforts to combat the effects of climate change. "Meteorological observations form the basis for climate knowledge," said Philda Kereng, the minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, in a statement to celebrate the World Meteorological Day Tuesday. Currently, Botswana has 32 automatic weather stations and about 600 rainfall stations, which form part of the global observation network. Botswana is in the process of installing at least 150 automatic rain gauges throughout the country to enhance its observational network, according to the official, who highlighted that Botswana has not been spared by the negative aspects of climate related hazards such as frequent droughts and the recent floods, experienced across the Southern African nations. She reiterated the need for the nation to be proactive, research and embrace new technologies in an effort to address issues of climate change. This year, the World Meteorological Day is being celebrated under the banner "The Ocean, our climate and weather." Understanding the ocean's atmosphere and behavior is vital for forecasting weather and climate conditions, said Kereng. "This in turn helps us appreciate the world in which we live, including the impacts of climate change, and to help us to strengthen our ability to keep lives and property safe and to maintain a viable economy." Enditem Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. 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. Chandigarh, March 23 : With 81 per cent of the latest 401 samples sent by the state for genome sequencing turning up positive for the new UK Covid variant, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to widen the vaccination ambit to cover those younger than 60 since this mutant has been found to be infecting young people more. Expressing concern over the emerging situation, the Chief Minister stressed the need for the Central government to urgently open up the vaccination for a bigger section of the populace. The process needs to be expedited, he said, pointing to the fact that experts had found the existing Covishield vaccine to be equally effective against the UK variant -- B.1.1.7. It was essential to vaccinate more and more people to break the chain of transmission, he added. Amarinder Singh also urged the people to strictly adhere to all Covid safety protocols, including wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing. The state government, which has already announced fresh restrictions, would be forced to impose more curbs if the people do not follow the Covid appropriate behaviour, he warned. The appeal from the Chief Minister came after the state's Covid expert committee head K.K. Talwar apprised him of the developments on the new variant in the state, which has been witnessing a surge in the number of Covid-19 positive cases during the last few weeks. The state Health Department had sent 478 positive samples to the NIB, the IGIB and the NCDC for genome sequencing, of which results of 90 samples were received and those showed only two samples for N440K variant. Subsequently, a team from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the government of India visited the state to review the increase in positivity. The team was informed about the pending results of genome sequencing. Thereafter, 401 more samples, collected between January 1 and March 10 were sent to the NCDC for genome sequencing. The result of these samples was worrying as it showed presence of B.1.1.7 variant in 326 Covid samples, said Talwar. The Chief Minister said he had been informed by Talwar that though this UK variant B.1.1.7 is more infectious yet not more virulent. Further, the Oxford (Covishield) vaccine is equally effective against this new UK variant. It is noteworthy that the B.1.1.7 variant is now spreading rapidly in many parts of the world, representing 98 per cent of the new cases in the UK and 90 per cent in Spain. The UK authorities have suggested it is up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the original virus. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Oversea sales grew for 12th consecutive month: in February an increase of 48.5%. Exports driven by requests for hi-tech products, especially from China and the United States. Taipei wants to reopen the borders to citizens from "motherland". Tension remains high with the Chinese. Taipei (AsiaNews / Agencies) Sales to China have boosted Taiwanese exports, up for the 12th consecutive month despite the coronavirus pandemic and tense relations with Beijing, its main trading partner. Data from the Ministry of Economy put Taiwan's exports at 42.6 billion dollars in February: an annual increase of 48.5%. Oversea sales were driven by requests for hi-tech goods, of which the country is a major producer. Orders for 10.9 billion dollars arrived from China and Hong Kong (+ 48.6% compared to last year), only exceeded by exports to the United States, which reached 12.2 billion dollars. For the first quarter of 2021, the ministry predicts a new record in national exports between 43.7 and 45.1% growth. Thus Taiwan confirms its leadership in management of the global health emergency and repercussions among the global advanced economies. According to the National Statistics Office, Taipei's GDP grew by 2.98% last year: better than the Chinese economy, which stopped at 2.3% (overtaking the mainland for the first time in 30 years). In another attempt to open up towards the mainland, Tsai Ing-wen's government said yesterday it was ready to restore travel between the island and China, which was interrupted in February 2020 to contain the spread of Covid-19 in Wuhan (Hubei). However, the Taiwanese authorities are asking for reciprocity of treatment from the China: in August Taipei opened its borders to Chinese students. Since last week, Chinese citizens traveling on business have also been allowed to enter. On the other hand, Beijing continues to ban Taiwanese travellers from entering the country. The Chinese Communist Party regime considers Taiwan a "rebel" province, to be reconquered even by force. The pandemic has not eased tensions between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. In recent months, Chinese incursions over the islands airspace have increased, which in response has accelerated its rearmament program (with US support). New Delhi: Union home ministry has issued an alert to all states and security agency after receiving intelligence inputs that terrorists may launch a chemical attack by releasing toxic gases at airports bus stands, Metro and railway stations. As per media reports, the security agencies have been asked to keep a tight vigil for any substance that could release toxic substance. The ministry wrote a letter on September 1 to all states, aviation ministry and other agencies, informing that central security agencies have given input that terrorist are planning to target aircrafts. Last month, Australian police had foiled a similar bid when they averted an attempt to bring down a commercial aircraft. Also Read: Delhi HC on high alert after police receive bomb threat; SWAT teams, bomb squad at spot For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. In a statement disseminated on Tuesday the Homeland Salvation Movement indicated, however, that it will continue its street protests elsewhere in the city and will also expand to the provinces. The decision by the Homeland Salvation Movement to unblock Baghramian Avenue, where the Parliament building and several government offices are located, comes less than a week after Pashinian announced that early parliamentary elections in Armenia will be held in June. Pashinian made the announcement after talks with Gagik Tsarukian, the leader of the parliamentary opposition Prosperous Armenia party, which is one of the members of the Homeland Salvation Movement. In a statement released on Tuesday, the opposition movement indicated that it still rejects the idea of snap elections at this stage and will continue to demand Pashinians resignation and the formation of an interim government to be led by its leader Vazgen Manukian before preterm elections could be held within at least a year. It is already clear to all political and public forces that the development of Armenia is impossible without a solution to the current crisis, moreover, [it is clear that] the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country are at stake. At the same time, it is obvious that nonstop struggle creates certain inconveniences for citizens, which is not the goal of the Movement, the Council of the Homeland Salvation Movement said. It said that in this view it has been decided to start a new wave of political actions, expanding their geography and involving the population of the provinces and to restore unrestricted traffic in [Yerevans] Baghramian Avenue, eliminating inconveniences for citizens. The Council of the Homeland Salvation Movement added, however, that its supporters will preserve a tent camp in a nearby less busy street adjacent to the Parliament building where a rally has been scheduled for March 28. Our goal and agenda remain unchanged, the Homeland Salvation Movement concluded. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/22/2021 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Avery Mills has revealed her husband Omar Albakour 's spousal visa to come to the United States has been approved!Avery and Omar, who spent more than a year apart following their wedding Lebanon, have seemingly been living together in the United Arab Emirates since late last year. (Avery's December 2020 social media posts suggested they had settled down in Abu Dhabi or Dubai).But ever since meeting, the : Before the 90 Days couple's dream has been to live in America together near Avery's family, and it appears they are well on their way to making that dream come true.Avery and Omar posted a video on their joint YouTube account that shared their happy news with fans on March 15 titled "Did Omar Get His USA Visa Approved?"The three-minute video began with Avery showing off Omar's professional look for his big visa interview in Abu Dhabi."Oh my gosh, look at him," Avery gushed, as Omar modeled well-ironed khaki pants and a nice blue sweater with a mini American flag in his hand."This is Omar for his [visa] interview, let's see the fit. Oh, he even has the matching socks, he's serious today."While Omar took off for his interview at the embassy, Avery "patiently" waited with one of her gal pals for her husband to return home and reveal the status of his visa."This is make it or break it. [We'll] find out if he's coming to America... I'm so nervous!" Avery spoke into her camera.Although Omar could have called Avery on the phone to share his news, Avery asked him to wait until they could be in person."So we're waiting for him to walk into the door... He didn't give us any hints like we told him to. So this could either be very good or very bad. And I'm literally shaking," Avery said."I'm so sorry if the camera is shaky... I almost puked a half-hour ago. I started gagging."Even fresh air didn't make Avery feel better as she awaited the life-changing news."I don't know what to think right now, guys. Like, if he gets approved, he gets to meet my whole family. We get to go to America," Avery explained."He gets to see his family, he hasn't seen his brother in almost 10 years and they're like, best friends. And I want that so badly for him. And I miss my cat so bad... [but] he's being well taken care of."Avery added, "If he doesn't get approved, I'll be so upset."Finally, Omar arrived home and announced the results of his interview immediately when he walked in the door."I got my visa!" Omar shared.Avery then jumped into her husband's arms and started screaming with pure joy."Alexa, play 'Congratulations,'" Avery shouted.While fans are probably hoping to watch more of Avery and Omar's love story unfold on the franchise, it appears the couple is done with reality TV."I know most people want to know what Omar and I are up to but a more private life is a happy life, and believe me we are happy," Avery wrote in a December 22 Instagram post.Avery has been asked multiple times whether she plans to return to ."No, we won't be on TV anymore," Avery responded to a question on a December 8 selfie.Avery -- who was apparently going to school online at the time and is presumably still enrolled in classes -- also wrote to a fan on December 11, "We will not be on TV anymore. We are not on contract any more and we refused any more filming by choice."During a May 2020 episode of : Self-Quarantined, Avery, a 21-year-old from Columbus, OH, was living by herself while Omar was still living in Syria.Avery said she and Omar had been married for over a year and were patiently waiting for Omar to be able to come to the United States."We had an interview scheduled for a spousal visa for [Omar] to come to the United States on March 30. Unfortunately, just a few days before his interview, we got the news that it was canceled due to COVID-19," Avery revealed.Avery was growing impatient because she wanted to be reunited with her husband, and so she said, "If he doesn't get to come here within the next six months, we are going to move to the [United Arab Emirates] to Dubai."However, Avery said it would ruin Omar's chances to come to the United States because she'd no longer be employed in her home country.Avery was 19-year-old former Christian who converted to Islam, and Omar was a 24-year-old Muslim man and dental student from Latakia, Syria, when they starred on Season 3 of : Before the 90 Days last year.They had met on a Muslim dating app and got engaged just one month after getting to know each other.Avery then made plans to fly to Lebanon to finally meet her fiance in person and get married.The couple decided on Lebanon since it was a safer place for them to meet considering there's a war in Syria.Despite a U.S. travel ban on Syrian citizens, Avery hoped to eventually bring Omar to the United States on a CR-1 visa.Avery learned if she was going to have any chance of Omar coming to the United States, she couldn't move to Syria because the only thing the government would acknowledge -- if they did acknowledge it -- was the fact the married couple had been forced to live apart from each other."If we make that decision to move out of the country, we make that decision for good," Avery told her husband. "We're just giving up America altogether."Because of the travel ban and visa process, Omar and Avery spent the first year and half of their marriage apart.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. By Fang Zhao and Guo Xin MACAO, Mar. 23 -- Over 100 service members assigned to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Garrison in Macao participated in a tree planting activity held by the Macao SAR Government at the HacSa Park on March 21. They voluntarily planted trees along with people from all walks of life in Macao. At the site of tree planting activity, the military members attracted the attention of Macao residents by their well-disciplined behaviour. Some people used mobile phones to take pictures, some gave their thumbs up, and some took their children to plant trees together with the garrison troops. Huang Qibao, a recruit who participated in the activity for the first time, said that facing the hospitable and friendly Macao citizens, he was deeply honored to participate in such an event. Pei Ying, a female soldier assigned to a support team, planted three casuarina seedlings. She has been in the army for eight years and participated in such activities five times. She said that she had a different feeling every time. This year, Pei will be demobilized from service and she hopes to do something more for Macao before leaving. Over the past 20 years, while faithfully performing their defense duties, the troops of PLA Macao Garrison also actively participated in public welfare activities, such as tree planting, blood donation, caring for the old and the young, which have been praised by all sectors of the Macao society. Next, under the normalized pandemic prevention and control, the garrison will host more military-civilian exchange activities such as open day event and military summer camps. He stresses that theyre not only targeting tourists. Were from Napa and bringing the Napa brand to life in our business. Its for them, from them. Malan also belongs to the Napa Valley Cannabis Association, lobbying to legalize commercial cultivation in the county. Were not competition to the wine and grape growing industries, he said. In fact, we have winemakers and winery owners working on our board to find the best solutions. He hopes potential customers will get information from the Abide website. The site explains terms such as cannabinoids; the strains of indica, sativa and hybrid; terpenes, and micro-dosing. There are over 50 items for sale from extracts and topicals, to edibles and tinctures. People can apply on the website or at the dispensary for their Medical Marijuana Identification Card. Although the website has extensive technical information, people shouldnt feel intimidated. Fans of this film have weighed in with the comment that it illuminates the dark side of man. Not for me. "The Silence of the Lambs" romanticizes the dark side. Serial killers are hardly glamorous psychiatrists like Dr. Lecter, who is to be feared, Foster is told by her boss, because he can devour your mind just by talking to you. Any 10-second video image of Charles Manson is more frightening than what goes on here, as Lecter is interviewed behind a specially built glass prison wall-specially built for a movie, that is. John Mullen says Telstra will provide detailed information to shareholders about the change process by early September. Australia's biggest telco Telstra has set out a process it will undertake this year to enable a restructure that it outlined in November last year. In an update to the ASX on Monday, Telstra said it intended to complete the legal restructure by the end of December. In November, Telstra chief executive Andrew Penn said in a statement that three entities would be created. "InfraCo Fixed will own and operate our passive physical infrastructure assets: the ducts, fibre, data centres, subsea cables and exchanges that underpin our fixed telecommunications network," Penn said at the time "InfraCo Towers will own and operate our passive physical mobile tower assets, which we will look to monetise over time given the strong demand and compelling valuations for this type of high-quality infrastructure. "Finally, ServeCo will focus on how we create and innovate products and services for our customers and deliver the best possible customer experience, including maintaining our significant network leadership. ServeCo will also own the active parts of our network things like software defined networking that allows us to operate in a dynamic way." On Monday, Telstra said it also would establish its international business under a separate subsidiary within the Telstra Group, to keep that part, including its sub-sea cables, together as a single entity. The process to enable the restructure would involve: the establishment of a new holding company for the Telstra Group; the creation of separate subsidiaries including InfraCo Fixed (which will be the existing Telstra Corporation), InfraCo Towers, ServeCo and Telstra International, and transferring the relevant assets into InfraCo Towers and ServeCo; and it is proposed that the establishment of the new holding company and the transfer of the relevant assets into ServeCo be undertaken by way of schemes of arrangement, and Telstra intends to seek shareholder approval of these schemes at this years AGM in October. Telstra chairman John Mullen said extracting more value from the company's existing infrastructure was a backbone of its T22 strategy; the strategy was announced back in 2018. "Even before the COVID pandemic reminded us of the enormous importance of telecommunications infrastructure globally, we could see the opportunity to provide transparency of our assets and opportunities to deliver additional value for shareholders," he said. "The legal restructure is a step toward that outcome. It also reflects the new post-COVID world we are living in and the fact that our assets are a critical part of the infrastructure that is enabling the nation's rapidly growing digital economy." Mullen added that Telstra would provide detailed information to shareholders, along with a recommendation from an independent expert, in a booklet which was scheduled for release early in September. Penn said: "We started setting up InfraCo almost three years ago and what has happened since has only reinforced the importance of the strategic decisions we made at the time. "The end of the impact of the NBN rollout on our financials is within sight, and the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the critical importance and value of telecommunications infrastructure to the world." He said the proposed monetisation of InfraCo Towers was on track. "As previously communicated, we plan to commence the process for external strategic investment into InfraCo Towers early in FY22, with binding offers to be submitted in the second quarter of FY22." Ginger Taggart, Vice President, Global Crowne Plaza, commented: "Crowne Plaza was one of the first brands to focus on the needs of modern business travelers in the early 1980s and, since then, we have continued to innovate and advance our design and service approach. During the last few years, we have worked closely with our owners to enhance this brand to meet the future of premium travel, including the desire of guests for overall balance and the ability to switch easily between work and leisure, as well as the evolution of meetings to include more virtual and hybrid options." Crowne Plaza's elevated experience for today's traveler centers around a "new modern" design style which satisfies the needs of professional productivity, personal restoration and inspiration. Key features include: Plaza Workspace Lobbies have been reimagined through Plaza Workspace with flexible spaces that support work and downtime; a central, stylish bar; different seating for working and socializing; embedded technology; and a private meeting space that is bookable by the hour. Lobbies have been reimagined through Plaza Workspace with flexible spaces that support work and downtime; a central, stylish bar; different seating for working and socializing; embedded technology; and a private meeting space that is bookable by the hour. WorkLife Rooms Crowne Plaza's perfectly balanced, and patented, WorkLife Room offers a combination of comfort, connectivity and flexibility with distinct zones that maximize space and lighting for work, relaxation and sleep. Crowne Plaza's perfectly balanced, and patented, WorkLife Room offers a combination of comfort, connectivity and flexibility with distinct zones that maximize space and lighting for work, relaxation and sleep. Dare to Connect A distinguished service experience, Dare to Connect is an intuitive, unscripted service style that sets Crowne Plaza apart in the industry. The program trains and empowers hotel teams to take a proactive approach to connect with guests, anticipating their needs and providing the best recommendations to help guests make the most of their free time. A distinguished service experience, Dare to Connect is an intuitive, unscripted service style that sets Crowne Plaza apart in the industry. The program trains and empowers hotel teams to take a proactive approach to connect with guests, anticipating their needs and providing the best recommendations to help guests make the most of their free time. Gather + Thrive Crowne Plaza is focused on the future of meetings and events, setting the stage for creative collaborations and significant life moments, working from planning to execution to make sure everything runs smoothly so that meeting planners and attendees can be at their best. The Gather + Thrive program offers an end-to-end meetings and events experience including purposeful design, energizing food and beverage options, innovative meeting technology and great service. Meetings are also backed by IHG's Meet with Confidence program, including multivenue and hybrid meeting options developed with partners such as Encore (formerly PSAV); enhanced cleanliness, health and safety protocols for meetings; and flexible booking options. Driving Results with Owners IHG is committed to consistently delivering exceptional guest experiences and measures guest satisfaction across all brands through its signature guest HeartBeat survey program. The HeartBeat survey is methodically used by both IHG and hotel owners to constantly elevate guest satisfaction and hotel performance. Applying these insights, more than a third of the Crowne Plaza hotels in the Americas have completed renovations and implemented brand enhancements such as Plaza Workspace since 2016, with nearly 7,000 guest rooms currently showcasing new modern or WorkLife designs. Examples of the positive impact* of renovations include the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia-King of Prussia , owned by The Buccini Pollin Group and managed by PM Hotel Group, which completed a comprehensive renovation of all 227 of its guest rooms, as well as public and meeting spaces, and the Crowne Plaza Milwaukee South , owned by Amana Hospitality and managed by Chesapeake Hospitality, which renovated all guest rooms, exterior and public spaces. At both properties, HeartBeat guest satisfaction scores and share of revenue increased substantially. Chris Green, President & CEO, Chesapeake Hospitality, commented: "We know that a strong product and well-designed hotel creates an immense impact and we are proud to showcase the differentiated, signature design hallmarks of the Crowne Plaza brand in partnership with IHG. While the physical hotel product is only one of the many factors that drive guest satisfaction and positive growth in share of revenue, it's one of the most important and visible, and we're pleased to have exceeded our fair share of revenue for 13 consecutive months after our full renovation." Around the world, guests are celebrating similar experiences with Crowne Plaza and rewarding renovated hotels with significant increases in guest satisfaction scores. At one of the brand's recently renovated flagship properties the 291-room Crowne Plaza Hamburg City Alster guest feedback has been enthusiastic and centered around the stylish, modern and comfortable rooms, especially for long weekend stays. Guests also shared their excitement about the trendy, creative and comfortable meeting rooms. Worldwide Growth of Crowne Plaza Crowne Plaza continues to grow around the world with nearly 430 Crowne Plaza hotels now open and 89 in the pipeline. In 2020, the brand opened 19 new hotels, including 10 properties in Greater China. In fact, the Crowne Plaza Shanghai Hongqiao marked the 100th property for the brand in the region. Click here to learn more. * Results may vary due to a number of factors and those illustrated above may not be typical or standard across all Crowne Plaza-branded hotel properties. IHG Hotels & Resorts makes no claims or guarantees related to increased guest satisfaction, financial performance or increased share of revenue for properties based on renovations or enhancements. About IHG Hotels & Resorts IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG,NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good. With a family of 16 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has nearly 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 due to open over the next five years. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 350,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally. Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG Rewards. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. SOURCE IHG Hotels & Resorts Related Links https://www.ihgplc.com The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Saturday, March 20 11:45 p.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to an Ingersoll Township location in reference to a suspicious note found by a 67-year-old man. The man turned the note over to deputies. 10:35 p.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to a Homer Township residence in reference to a 14-year-old male threatening to run away. Deputies made contact with the teen, who said he wanted to harm himself. Deputies transported him to the hospital to receive treatment. 9:47 p.m. -- Officers responded to an assault in the 4900 block of Artcrest Drive. 4:28 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to Jerome Township for a death investigation. A 47-year-old male hospice/cancer patient died at his home. 4:18 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to the area of West Redstone Road near South Alamando Road for the report of a domestic assault that occurred while the victim was driving westbound on West Redstone Road. The 69-year-old victim said he was physically assaulted by his 32-year-old son as they were traveling westbound in a vehicle on West Redstone Road. The victim pulled the vehicle over to the side of the roadway and called 9-1-1 to report the incident. The deputy arrived on scene and spoke with both parties. The victim refused medical treatment, as he suffered minor lacerations and was bleeding from his face. The 32-year-old was arrested for domestic assault and transported to the Midland County Jail. 1:23 p.m. -- Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash in the area of Manor Drive and Richard Court. 11:56 a.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 900 block of Joe Mann Boulevard. 3:36 a.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to a Greendale Township residence in reference to a report of an intoxicated man with a gun. There were no injuries. The 54-year-old man was arrested for domestic assault and multiple weapons violations. 3:19 a.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to an Edenville Township residence regarding a suspicious vehicle complaint. The complainant saw his motion light turn on outside and when he walked out to investigate, an unknown vehicle was observed leaving the driveway at a high rate of speed. Deputies checked the area and the vehicle was not located. No property was disturbed or stolen at the residence. 12:59 a.m. -- Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash damaging property. Friday, March 19 11:27 p.m. -- A 26-year-old Lee Township man was stopped for speeding in Lincoln Township. During the traffic stop, it was discovered the driver was driving without insurance and had open intoxicants inside the vehicle. The driver was cited for the violations and the vehicle was impounded. 11:18 p.m. -- Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Ingersoll Township. 9:56 p.m. -- A deputy assisted a Michigan State Police Trooper with an intoxicated driver during a traffic stop. 7:21 p.m. -- Deputies responded to a Mount Haley Township residence where a man threw a rock and broke the front window of the home during an argument with his father. The suspect left the scene before deputies arrived, and the father did not seek prosecution. The broken window was valued at $150. 7:10 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a single-vehicle crash that occurred on a Mount Haley Township roadway. The driver was issued a citation. 4:25 p.m. -- A Greendale Township woman called 9-1-1 because a motion alarm was going off at her residence. She recently has had a falling out with her 31-year-old son and feared he forced entry into the house. When a deputy arrived, the suspect fled. The deputy discovered the son did not enter the house but set the motion alarm off while charging his cell phone on the porch. The complainant admitted that she expected her son to be there this weekend to work on a vehicle in the driveway. The deputy discussed her getting a Personal Protection Order when there is no longer a reason for the son to return. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. 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 PHILADELPHIA, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nutrisystem, the preeminent direct-to-consumer nutrition and weight management brand, announced today that its Delivered to Your Door campaign has been named Campaign of the Year, Ecommerce in the inaugural Adweek Performance Marketing Awards. The Adweek Performance Marketing Awards recognize the year's best campaigns and top executives who created results-driven targeted marketing that rose above the rest with strategies and innovation to deliver a lead, click or sale. The marketers embody the accountability businesses demand, as well as the creativity the practice celebrates. "It is an honor to receive this award from Adweek. It would not have been possible without the hard work, dedication and resilience of our entire team," said Stephen Mikulak, President of Nutrisystem. "When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Americans quarantined, we quickly shifted our messaging to highlight how Nutrisystem delivers portion-controlled, delicious meals and snacks efficiently and safely to the customer's door, which was more important to them at that time than ever before." Nutrisystem's Delivered to Your Door campaign was deployed across traditional channels, such as TV as well as digital platforms, like YouTube and Facebook. The campaign emphasized the convenience of Nutrisystem and promoted the company's probiotic shakes that support immunity. It resulted in double-digit revenue growth with customer starts increasing over 20% year-over-year. The Adweek Performance Marketing Award winners are featured in the March 22 issue of Adweek and will be announced at the virtual event Elevate: Performance Marketing, March 24-25. A complete list of Adweek Performance Marketing Award winners is posted on Adweek's website. To view the Nutrisystem Delivered to Your Door campaign, visit the company's newsroom at this link. For more information on Nutrisystem, visit www.nutrisystem.com . About Nutrisystem Nutrisystem is a leading provider of health and wellness and weight management products. The company has helped millions of people lose weight for nearly 50 years. Nutrisystem's new personal approach to weight loss includes plans designed to address everyone's unique metabolism. Nutrisystem's Food and Nutrition Mission, which bans artificial flavors and sweeteners, colors from synthetic sources, high fructose corn syrup and artificial trans fats, reflects its commitment to fresher foods, cleaner labels and increased transparency in its approach to ingredients. Nutrisystem plans feature a menu of more than 150 delicious, nutritious and on-trend meals and snacks. For more information, go to newsroom.nutrisystem.com. SOURCE Nutrisystem, Inc. Related Links http://www.nutrisystem.com "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 RTHK: Senator demands more Asian-Americans in top jobs US President Joe Biden's nomination of Colin Kahl to be the Pentagon's top policy adviser ran into a new roadblock on Tuesday when a Democratic senator said she would not back him until more Asian-Americans were selected for top positions. Senator Tammy Duckworth told reporters at the Capitol she would be a 'no' vote until the Biden administration made such appointments or committed to naming an Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) candidate to a cabinet position. "They can call me and tell me what the proposal is (for such nominations)," Duckworth, who is Thai-American, said. "But until then, I am a no vote on the floor, on all non-diversity nominees." Members of the AAPI community have reported a spike in hate crimes since March 2020, when then-president Donald Trump began referring to Covid-19 as the "China virus." Concern about the issue intensified this month after six Asian-American women were among eight people killed in a shooting in Atlanta. Kahl, who served as national security adviser to Democrat Biden when he was vice president, is a prime target of Republicans aiming to torpedo several Biden picks over their social media activity. Critics accused Kahl of making comments on Twitter that were too partisan. Neera Tanden withdrew from consideration this month as Biden's nominee for Office of Management and Budget director after criticism over previous social media posts. She would have been the first Indian-American woman in the position. Democrats have repudiated such concerns from Republicans, noting party members' loyalty to Trump, who used his Twitter feed to insult political opponents. However, with the Senate evenly divided and Vice President Kamala Harris able to break a tie, any nominee would need the support of every Democrat to be confirmed. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-03-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Stacey Knell and Karen McClean were killed in their Newtownabbey homes by Ken Flanagan. The former partner of Stacey Knell warned police about Ken Flanagan hours before the man went on to murder the mother-of-one. Ms Knell (30) was murdered by her partner Flanagan (26) on Friday evening, after the man had stabbed his own mother Karen McClean (50) to death earlier that night before taking his own life. Sam Lillie was the ex-partner of Stacey Knell and father to her nine-year-old daughter. He said concerns had been expressed about the pairs relationship going back over the last year. He also revealed he had contacted police and social services on the Friday of the incident, warning them about alarm bells he had, as a result of Flanagans behaviour, adding that he had been worried in the days leading up to the tragic murder. Read More I slept on it for two days," he told the BBC. When I woke up on Friday morning I just had a really bad feeling. Something just told me to ring social services. I hear from other people he was a menace to society, he was dangerous. His mum [Karen McClean] knows him better than anyone. She told me back in February that he was a disaster waiting to happen." After contacting social services on Friday expressing his concerns, Mr Lillie was advised to contact the police, something he went on to do. He also said social services told him due to coronavirus and how busy they were, the earliest they could intervene would be Monday. As you know though, the police cant do anything unless somebody does something, he added. I knew I was wasting my time even going there but I did what they told me to do. I came back and I phoned them [social services] again. I said I still have a really bad feeling that something bad is going to happen. They [social services] took everything I said seriously and said they would contact Stacey on Monday. I told them I dont know what it is something bad is going to happen. I didnt think it would ever be this. It is understood Mr Lillies nine-year-old daughter had been staying at grandmother's house on the Friday and was not present when Flanagan murdered the two women at around 11pm on Friday evening. The next day I woke up and my sister came in crying her eyes out and put me on the phone saying Stacey had been murdered last night, explained Mr Lillie. I was speechless. I was more angry than anything because if social had of made this phone call it might have changed his perspective. In a statement, the PSNI confirmed they did receive a report on Friday, they also added that the matter has not been referred to the Police Ombudsman's Office for Northern Ireland. North Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Davy Beck added: Police received a report of concern for the safety of a child on Friday, March 19. Following review, there was no evidence of immediate concern for the childs safety and the caller was provided with advice in respect of the matter. The Belfast Health and Social Care trust have been approached for comment. Another day, another mass shooting. Yesterday, a gunman killed ten people at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado. Only one of the victims, a police officer named Eric Talley, has been identified. The shooting came less than a week after a white gunman killed eight people, six of whom were Asian women, at three spas in the Atlanta area. By the time of the Boulder attack, the news cycle that followed Atlantaitself an inadequate marker of human worthhad yet to conclude; there remains much that we dont know about the victims. The work of telling their life stories must now proceed alongside similar work elsewhere. Today, I worked on a segment about one mass shooting that had to be postponed due to breaking news on another mass shooting, CNNs Kim Berryman tweeted yesterday. At one point, I said to a friend, Im not sure if this will air since we are in a different shooting now This is not okay. In the hours after the Boulder shooting, confirmed details were scarce; a first police press conference was delayed, and when it came, officers did not offer a death count, only confirming the toll at a later, second briefing. Its an unusually long period of time for us to have gone after what appears to have been a mass shooting where we had no official information from authorities, Rachel Maddow noted on MSNBC. Ill be brutally honest, the national-security analyst Juliette Kayyem said on CNN, I dont like delayed press conferences It means that the story is not simple, unfortunately. (Fox didnt air either briefing live.) In the meantime, hosts on CNN and MSNBC patched in their legal pundits, reporters, and, from time to time, witnesses; networks also excerpted from a video of part of the incident that Dean Schillera self-identified independent journalist who also appeared on TV as a witnessstreamed live and uploaded to ZFG Videography, his YouTube channel. (As of this morning, YouTube had appended a warning label and an age restriction to the video, but not taken it down.) Schiller regularly films law enforcement activity in Boulder, and has styled himself, in the past, as a sort of police watchdog; according to Westword, he was once arrested, along with another videographer, while filming at the county jail, and later sued the city. Yesterday, the Gazette noted, social media lit up with criticism of Schiller because he appeared to walk by victims without rendering aid. He was also criticized for revealing tactical police information. Related: Where is the gun reform debate after Atlanta? As the situation developed, local print and TV reporters turned up at the scene. Some of them also appeared on national cable news as the night went on; Anna Haynes, the editor of a student news site at the University of Colorado Boulder, lives across the street from the King Soopers, and told Maddow that she saw the gunman shooting at someone in the parking lot. Hayness paper, the CU Independent, produced several breaking-news stories on the shooting. The Boulder Daily Camera covered the scene, too; other Colorado papers reflected on why the state has seen so many mass shootings over the years, including the Columbine High School shooting, in 1999, and the Aurora movie-theater shooting, in 2012. The Denver Post re-upped its 2019 finding that Colorado has had more such incidents per capita than all but four other states; the Colorado Sun noted that these have often been among the most notorious and deadly in American history. Marc Sallinger, a twenty-five-year-old reporter with 9 News, told the BBC that hes already covered at least four mass shootings in his short career. This one felt different in that it was closer to home, he said. It was a location that Id driven by dozens of times over the years growing up. Jesse Paul, of the Sun, said this wasnt even the first shooting hes covered that involved a King Soopers: When a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood was attacked in 2015, victims went into the nearby King Soopers seeking aid and shelter. The trauma of mass shootings, of course, is not limited to the places where they happen. As the Boulder story unfolded, MSNBCs Chris Hayes spoke with Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat who said he was thinking about the families who lost children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in his state. Every single time theres another mass shooting, Murphy said, they relive the experiences of 2012. The same will be true, and much more immediate, for survivors and victims loved ones in Atlanta. Murphy told Hayes that the close proximity of the Atlanta and Boulder shootings may not be a coincidence, since mass shooters tend to study other mass shooters; Hayes suggested that the media should be careful not to help inspire copycats. Murphy said that he hopes this is not the second in a string of shootings that were gonna see. According to a database maintained by the Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University, the Boulder shooting was already the seventh mass killing of 2021. Already, the mass shooting story is repetitive. Sometimes, such close repetition can galvanize national attention and grief; as I noted yesterday, the near simultaneity of shootings in El Paso and Dayton, in 2019, drove a sharp, albeit sadly short-lived, focus on gun reform that has, thus far, been almost completely lacking in the wake of Atlanta. Well have to wait and see if the pluralization of recent tragedies has the same effect this time; well also wait to learn more about the gunmans motive, his weapon and how he obtained it, and, most importantly, the victims. We already know that there is recent context around guns in Boulderjust last week, a judge blocked the city from enforcing a ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, in a case that was supported by the NRA. As we learn more and the news cycle moves on, it must address both local particulars and the universal context, while not forgetting what happened in Atlanta, and its own particularsnot least the conversation that has since crystallized around surging anti-Asian hate. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Before I finished writing today, I checked, as I sometimes do, to see that the headline Id written hadnt been duplicated elsewhere; I found my wording, Another day, another mass shooting, atop a slew of articlesabout past shootings in Oregon, Las Vegas, Tallahassee, Gilroy, El Paso, Daytonbut decided not to change it. The repetition of these horrors is, in a sense, just as much the point as their individuality. This is a point Ive made, well, repeatedly: in the wake of the 2019 shooting in Virginia Beach, I wrote that sometimes, repetition in coverage is simply unavoidable, and that where it is necessary, we should make it a virtue, including by stressing that lawmakers can take steps to stop atrocities like this one. They still can; they still havent. We didnt say it enough post-Atlanta. Its still post-Atlanta. We already have another chance. Below, more on Colorado and shootings: Other notable stories: ICYMI: Seeing through a new Prism Correction: This article has been updated to clarify that YouTube appended warnings to the livestream of the Boulder shooting. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 21:26:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LAMU, Kenya, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Al-Shabab militants on Tuesday ambushed a water bowser ferrying water to the construction site of the Kenya-Somalia security border wall, killing one person. Lamu County Commissioner Irungu Macharia said the bowser, with a driver and his assistant on board, ran over an improvised explosive device believed to have been planted in its way by the militants before exploding at around 7:30 a.m. in Lamu county. Macharia said the vehicle had just left the border town of Kiunga in Lamu East and was heading to Usalama camp on the common border when it ran over the explosive device. "The two were part of the team of construction workers here. Unfortunately, the conductor was killed on the spot but the driver escaped unhurt. But we want to assure all that the ground is well policed and therefore no cause for concern," Macharia told Xinhua on the phone. Macharia said troops had been adequately deployed to hunt down the militants, noting that a team of security officers has been mobilized to look into the safety of the construction workers and other staff at the site. The government official, however, reiterated that construction works at the border wall had not been hampered by the attack and that the scene of attacks is far away from the camp. He appealed to residents of border villages to volunteer any useful information that will enable security agencies to counter any planned terror-attacks in the region. Security sources said that about 30 armed militants fired randomly at the convoy killing one worker on the spot. The police believe that the militant group still remains the major threat in areas along the coastal region, noting that the targets include security personnel and establishments along the border as well as commuter vehicles plying routes along the coastal regions. The 700-kilometer wall, dubbed the Kenya-Somalia border securitization project, was mooted in 2015 to secure the country from attacks by the Somalia-based al-Shabab terrorists. The entire project plan includes having designated immigration and custom entry points with a two-foot-tall concrete wall fitted with CCTV cameras. Enditem (Natural News) FBI crime statistics debunk the medias narrative that white people represent the biggest violent crime threat to Asians, with figures showing whites significantly underrepresented in crime stats compared to their per capita population. (Article by Paul Joseph Watson republished from Summit.news) Since the killing of six Asian women who worked in massage parlors in Atlanta, the media has amplified the false narrative that white supremacy is to blame. They hyped this explanation despite the fact that the attack had nothing whatsoever to do with race and despite two white women also being killed during the shooting. Despite admitting the attack had no racial motive, CNN still blamed it on white nationalism and domestic extremism in an article titled White supremacy and hate are haunting Asian Americans. However, official crime stats show that white people are significantly underrepresented in terms of the violent crime threat they pose to Asians. Though black people comprise 13% of the pop. They committed 27.5% of all violent crimes against Asian Americans in 2018 While whites comprise 62% of the pop. the commit 24% of crimes against Asians But please tell me how white supremacy is the issue https://t.co/3Zdn12vTfb ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ElijahSchaffer) March 19, 2021 As the Washington Examiner highlights, citing FBI statistics, whereas whites comprise 62% of the population, they committed 24% of crimes against Asians in 2018. In comparison, blacks, who comprise 13% of the population, committed 27.5% of all violent crimes against Asian Americans in 2018. So clearly, white people do not represent the biggest crime threat to Asian Americans. The figures once again underscore how the media has contrived another hysterical moral panic in order to bolster what can no longer be seen as anything other than institutional racism and hatred towards white people. Read more at: Summit.news and Antiwhite.news. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The government has exited Tata Communications Ltd (TCL) by selling about 26 per cent stake in the company for about Rs 8,846 crore as part of the plan. Public sector company VSNL was privatised in 2002 by disinvesting 25 per cent shareholding along with transfer of management control to Panatone Finvest Ltd, the strategic partner. Subsequent to the strategic disinvestment, the name of the company was changed to TCL. " of government holding completed of 16.12% in TCL through OFS at Rs 5,457 crore and 10% to strategic partner at OFS discovered price for Rs 3,389 crore. With this, government exits from TCL with total proceeds of Rs about Rs 8,846 crore," DIPAM Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey said in tweet on Monday. As per the shareholding pattern of TCL, the promoters hold 74.99 per cent stake in the company. Of this, the Government of India holds 26.12 per cent while Panatone Finvest holds 34.80 per cent and Tata Sons holds 14.07 per cent. The remaining 25.01 per cent is with the public. Last week, the government sold its 16.12 per cent stake through an offer for sale (OFS) to retail and non-retail investors at the floor price of Rs 1,161 per equity. The revised target for this financial year has been set at Rs 32,000 crore, substantially lower than the budgeted Rs 2.10 lakh crore. (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.) Dr Alex George has heaped praise onto his NHS colleagues as he marked one year since lockdown began in a post on Tuesday. The former Love Island star, 30, took to Instagram to share a throwback snap with his fellow medical professionals, saying it 'has been a privilege and an honour' to work with them during the Covid-19 pandemic. In particular, Dr Alex thanked his fellow hospital staff for supporting him during the 'hardest year of [his] life', and said there will be 'better days' ahead of them. 'It has been a privilege and an honour to work alongside you all': Dr Alex George heaped praise on his NHS colleagues on Tuesday as he marked one year since lockdown began on Instagram The healthcare professional has been working on the NHS frontline at University Hospital Lewisham since the start of the pandemic. In his lengthy caption, Dr Alex wrote: 'A year ago today we went into the first lockdown. I could never have imagined the year that followed. 'The speed we went from a few isolated cases, to entire departments of covid patients, was terrifying. 'As we approach 130,000 deaths in the UK, I would like to take a moment to honour those who lost their lives. Thoughts: Alongside a throwback snap, Dr Alex thanked his fellow hospital staff for supporting him during the 'hardest year of [his] life', and said there will be 'better days' ahead of them Candid: Dr Alex said: 'As we approach 130,000 deaths in the UK, I would like to take a moment to honour those who lost their lives. I know that I will never forget the people that I cared for' 'I know that I will never forget the people that I cared for, it will stay with me my entire life. I send my love to all those who have lost loves ones during the last year.' Praising his colleagues, he went on: 'I would also like to take a moment to reflect on how incredible the NHS has been throughout, we pulled together and looked after each other as well as giving 150% for our patients. 'We had to adapt and learn quickly, this photo was taken when we still knew virtually nothing about Covid. Grateful: Praising his colleagues, he went on: 'I would also like to take a moment to reflect on how incredible the NHS has been throughout, we pulled together and looked after each other' 'It has been a privilege and an honour to work alongside you all. As we look forward, to the future, I hope and believe that there are better days ahead. 'Personally, it has been the hardest year of my life, thank you to each and everyone of you that got me through. There is always hope of a better day.' In the snap, Dr Alex and his colleagues all wore masks and scrubs, they had yet to be given an adequate supply of PPI at the time, and the TV personality admitted they took the photo before knowing the importance of social distancing. As well as working in the hospital, Dr Alex has become the government's Youth Mental Health ambassador in the wake of his younger brother Llyr's tragic suicide in July last year at the age of just 19. Forward thinking: Dr Alex went on, 'It has been a privilege and an honour to work alongside you all. As we look forward, to the future, I hope and believe that there are better days ahead' In March, Dr Alex shared his delight after 79million was approved by the government for youth mental health. And although celebrating the good news and saying he was so happy 'he could cry', Alex also told fans that 'the work doesnt end here, this is just the start'. In a candid interview for G2 in The Guardian last month, Dr Alex admitted that throwing himself into work has helped him to cope with his brother's passing, as he still finds it 'tough' when he actually stops to think about it. He said: 'I think of grief as a little black box in my head. That box, it's always in the house. You're not focused on it, but it's always there.' New role: As well as working in the hospital, Dr Alex has become the government's Youth Mental Health ambassador and in March had 79 million approved for mental health services The star admitted he had his own struggles with depression while living away from home at university, saying that he gradually isolated himself from others and stopped going outside until his family stepped in. After some guidance from his parents, Dr Alex said he took up exercise and began eating well and in the span of a month his mental health began to improve. The star said that due to his work on the NHS frontline during the Covid pandemic he's become 'normalised' by the sight of death but is still spurred on in his promotion of mental health awareness. Siblings: Dr Alex took on the role in the wake of his younger brother Llyr's tragic suicide in July last year at the age of just 19 (pictured together at Alex's graduation when Llyr was 14) After a meeting with Boris Johnson, the star was appointed the youth mental health ambassador for the government. And in a recent interview with MailOnline Dr Alex said he's been 'overwhelmed' by the outpour of support after initially fearing the public's reaction and says he's even been congratulated by the likes of healthy food campaigner Jamie Oliver, 45. Speaking about the reaction from his parents, he said: 'They are very proud. We are never going to get over what happened with my brother. To have something positive come from it feels amazing. It really, really does. 'They're just proud really that I can do something positive. It isn't a PR stunt I want to actually make some changes. The pressure is now on. 'I didn't know how people were going to react, obviously there are people that have multiple letters after their name and I'm just someone that wants to help and it sounds cliche but I do just want to be able to do my bit. 'But I've had such overwhelming support from doctors in the area, experts, students and teachers, the general public. Jamie Oliver congratulated me; it's just amazing.' If you've been affected by this story the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 AML RightSource Acquires Passcon We are thrilled to bring Corinna and the entire Passcon team onboard to further expand our footprint and enhance our international delivery capabilities AML RightSource (AMLRS), the leading outsourced provider of Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC), and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) compliance solutions, is pleased to announce that it has acquired Passcon GmbH (Passcon). Passcon, founded in 2016 and based in Hamburg, Germany, offers managed services, advisory, and technology solutions across the anti-financial crime (AFC) spectrum, including KYC, transaction monitoring, sanctions, and investigations. Passcon provides operational and advisory coverage worldwide, with 300 team members and more than 10 offices across EMEA, APAC, and North America. Corinna Reibchen, Founder and Managing Director of Passcon, stated, We couldnt be more excited to be joining forces with AML RightSource to provide a comprehensive suite of compliance solutions on a global scale. Together, we can better support our clients around the world in the fight against financial crime. As Managing Director of AML RightSource, Corinna will continue focusing on international sales and operations, leveraging over 20 years of experience in financial services and AFC consulting. We are thrilled to bring Corinna and the entire Passcon team onboard to further expand our footprint and enhance our international delivery capabilities, stated Frank Ewing, Chief Executive Officer at AML RightSource, Following the recent acquisition of Arachnys, this combination will allow us to provide a broader range of cost-effective, tech-enabled services, cementing AML RightSource as the leading provider of financial crimes compliance solutions around the globe. AML RightSource is backed by Gridiron Capital, LLC (Gridiron Capital), a leading investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams. About Passcon Passcon is a one-stop-shop supporting a wide range of AFC needs. From outsourced services for transaction monitoring or review, to advising on program challenges, to custom automation solutions to enhance workflows, Passcon deploys tailored solutions for clients around the world. Visit: http://www.passcon.de for more information. About AML RightSource, LLC AML RightSource is the leading firm focused on fighting financial crime for its clients with Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and financial crimes compliance solutions. We provide highly-trained AML/BSA professionals to assist banks and non-bank financial institutions to meet day-to-day compliance tasks. Services include transaction monitoring, alert backlog management, enhanced due diligence reviews, and financial crimes advisory matters. Our highly trained workforce of nearly 1350 analysts and subject matter experts includes the industry's largest team of full-time professionals. AML RightSource is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. For more information, visit: http://www.amlrightsource.com. About Gridiron Capital Gridiron Capital is an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, and creating value by building middle-market companies into industry-leaders in branded consumer, B2B and B2C services, and niche industrial segments in the United States and Canada. We help transform growing companies by winning together through hard work, partnerships grounded in shared values and a unique culture that comes from hands-on experience building and running businesses. As a team led by former operators and entrepreneurs, we know what it takes to run successful businesses on a day-to-day basis. Additional information is available on the firms website: gridironcapital.com. Advertisement Hopes for summer foreign holidays have been dealt a fresh blow after British Airways and easyJet scrapped more flights. Would-be passengers were left dismayed by the latest round of cancellations - that included trips booked for after May 17, when breaks abroad were scheduled to resume. Some have even had flights for September axed. Bradley Crouch, 33, bought flights to Mykonos on May 23 for a post-pandemic getaway with his extended family, confident it would go ahead after of Boris Johnson announced the roadmap to exit lockdown. 'It's that needed trip we've all been waiting for for so long,' the gutted business owner from Kent told MailOnline after easyJet cancelled his flights last week. Europe is grappling with a surge in Covid cases and yesterday health minister Lord Bethell warned the entire Continent could be put on the travel 'red list' of countries requiring arrivals to undergo hotel quarantine. Matt Hancock this morning slapped down his junior minister, insisting the Government has 'no plans' for such drastic action at this stage. But to better insulate Britain from the European third wave, ministers announced that from Monday rule-breakers in England travelling overseas illegally will face a 5,000 fine. Critics railed against the 'draconian measure' and argued it would inflict further pain on the hard-hit travel sector. The Health Secretary suggested the tough rules could be eased on May 17 - but cautioned it was still too early to give summer holidays the green light. Holidays this summer were plunged into doubt as: Boris Johnson marked the anniversary of the first national lockdown today with a minute's silence. Exactly one year after the UK first went into national lockdown, a study found that the virus robbed British families of a total of 1.5 million years with their loved ones by cutting lives short; The UK's daily recorded deaths from Covid-19 fell to 17 - the lowest number since September 28 and down 75 per cent in a week; The PM warned that a third wave of Covid cases seen in countries like France and Italy could 'wash up on our shores as well'; EU leaders were last night split over whether to press ahead with an extraordinary ban on vaccine exports to Britain; A large US trial found the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective, providing 100 per cent protection against severe illness from Covid. Bradley Crouch on a family holiday to Tenerife in 2018 with his wife Katerina and daughter Iliana. His trip to Mykonos in May has been cancelled Would-be passengers were left dismayed by the latest round of cancellations - that included trips booked for after May 17, when breaks abroad were scheduled to resume. Some have even had flights for September axed British Airways insists its cancellations were not due to the evolving situation on the Continent but a routine review of flights to reflect the view of IATA, the airline trade body, that foreign travel will not resume to pre-pandemic levels by 2023. The pared-back routes include fewer flights to Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden, and extend as far into the future as August. Sources played down the flight cuts as 'business as usual' - and suggested more could be added in the future if there is scope. Yet would-be holidaymakers were exasperated that flights they had booked for after lockdown were being axed. One said: 'I'm getting welcome back emails so booked flights in good faith having had my first vaccine dose. 'Yesterday two were cancelled for mid July. Today, another cancelled for mid August. This is absolutely ridiculous, you either want passengers back or you don't!' Nick Murrell tweeted: 'Book with confidence you tell us British Airways. Budapest and Milan flights in September cancelled in 24 hours. What's the point in booking with you?' British Airways said: 'We are sorry that, like other airlines, due to the current coronavirus pandemic and global travel restrictions we are operating a reduced and dynamic schedule.' EasyJet also stressed they have not cancelled flights for fear of a European third wave but that the flight schedule is reviewed 'on an ongoing basis to align our flying programme with customer demand and government travel restrictions'. Under Mr Johnson's roadmap to exit lockdown, foreign holidays were pencilled to return for May 17, but this now looks to be in doubt because of the spiralling outbreak on the Continent. Multiple European countries are tightening restrictions, and Germany has announced an 'emergency brake' lockdown to tackle the rise in cases. Just over 10 per cent of adults have received their first vaccine dose across the EU, compared to the UK's figure exceeding 53 per cent. Foreign holidays have been dealt a fresh blow after British Airways scrapped yet more summer flights Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the 5,000 fine will be reviewed on May 17 So what IS a reasonable excuse to leave the UK? The 5,000 fine, set out in legislation laid in the Commons yesterday, is on top of the previously announced 200 fine for not filling out a travel declaration form on reasons for leaving the country. Exemptions also apply including: Those needing to travel for work, study, for legal obligations or to vote. People can go abroad for some childcare reasons or to be present at a birth, to visit a dying relative or close friend. They are also allowed to leave the UK to attend a funeral, to get married or to attend the wedding of a close relative, for medical appointments or to escape a risk of harm. They can also go abroad to view houses to buy or rent, to visit an estate agent or a show home, or to move house. Advertisement To strengthen control at the borders, ministers will introduce a 5,000 fine for anyone who travels abroad without a reasonable excuse, such as essential work. Mr Hancock said this will be reviewed on May 17, but European holidays were plunged into doubt yesterday when his junior minister, Lord Bethell, suggested the entire Continent could be placed on the red list. Lord Bethell told peers: 'The possibility is that we will have to red-list all of our European neighbours. But that would be done with huge regret because we are a trading nation.' Thirty-five countries are on the red list, including the whole of South America, southern Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Portugal was on the list but was removed last week. Mr Hancock today said 'we don't have any plans to do that' but said it's too early to tell if summer holidays will get the green light. He told BBC Breakfast: 'I entirely understand people's yearning to get away and have a summer holiday, and we're looking at that question right now as part of the global travel taskforce, which will report in the middle of next month. 'The earliest that will take any steps will be May 17 but, obviously, we're taking a cautious approach because we want any openings that we make to be irreversible.' He said a traffic light system for travel with red and amber lights is in place at the moment but more details on the way forward would be published around April 12. 'Until then, I'm afraid, as people have got used to over the last year, frankly it is wait and see. 'Because we'll only make steps that we think are safe but, on the other hand, we do understand, of course I understand, how people want to be able to get away in the summer, especially after the last year that we've all had.' Professor Neil Ferguson, whose modelling promoted the first national lockdown a year ago today, urged Britons to book holidays in the UK. He told BBC Radio 4's World at One: 'I certainly am in favour of relaxing border measures at a slower rate than we relax controls within the country and doing all we can to reduce the risk of importation of variants, which might undermine our vaccination programme. 'I think we should be planning on summer holidays in the UK, not overseas.' The 5,000 fine sent travel stocks - including easyJet , British Airway-owner IAG, Jet2 and TUI - down 2-4 per cent in early trade on Tuesday. Britain's travel sector has lost more than 45,000 jobs and passenger numbers at the biggest airport, Heathrow, have fallen to their lowest since 1966 during the crisis. Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, said extending travel restrictions will be 'devastating' for millions of people working in tourism. Paul Charles, boss of the PC travel agency, said: 'It's a draconian measure that tightens the problems in the travel sector and actually puts of people from even making inquiries, let alone booking. 'I think it's a smokescreen for the lack of inbound testing policy in this country. Here we are a year after lockdown began and there is still no major testing system in place.' The fine will be introduced when MPs vote to renew the emergency coronavirus legislation that expires this month. Despite hawkish Tory MPs threatening to rebel, the vote is widely expected to pass with the backing of Labour. The Government's gradual easing of lockdown will be done in four stages - March 29, April 12, May 17 and June 21, if the data allows. Yesterday the Prime Minister said that Britain will inevitably feel the bleak situation on the Continent, saying their Covid woes will 'wash up on our shores'. Germany will impose new lockdown over Easter as Merkel admits 'we're in a NEW pandemic' while France sees cases DOUBLE in a week with hospitals facing 'unprecedented violent shock' By Chris Pleasance for MailOnline and AFP Germany is going back into lockdown over Easter with Angela Merkel warning 'we are in a new pandemic' as mutant Covid strains cause cases to spike, with France seeing infections double in a week. Europe's coronavirus third wave, which has been gathering pace for weeks now, has reached crisis point over the last few days with leaders across the continent forced to reimpose strict measures to keep cases down. Mrs Merkel announced last night that all non-essential shops in Germany will be closed over the Easter period with church services moved online and public gatherings banned as infections rise 'exponentially'. Meanwhile the head of France's hospital federation warned that case figures are 'exploding' in his country and the health system is heading for an 'unprecedented violent shock' in about three weeks unless strong action is taken. Frederic Valletoux spoke out after Prime Minister Jean Castex imposed tough measures on 16 French regions including the cities of Paris, Lille and Nice last week - measures which experts say do not go far enough. In Spain, experts have begun warning of a fourth wave of Covid after deaths from the virus rose to 633 on Monday compared to 298 a week ago. The country is currently under a nationwide curfew and while exact measures vary from region to region, most have imposed curbs on movement, gatherings, and closed some businesses. Covid cases and deaths also remain high in Italy where new lockdown measures were imposed across much of the country last week, although infection data has begun trending downwards since then. Mrs Merkel last night pointed to the so-called Kent variant of coronavirus as being responsible, saying: 'Essentially, we have a new virus... it is much deadlier, much more infectious and infectious for much longer.' But Europe has also been blighted by a painfully-slow vaccine roll out that has seen just nine per cent of its population given at least one dose of vaccine, leaving the remaining 91 per cent vulnerable to infection. Meanwhile the UK, which has given first doses to 40 per cent of its total population and more than half of adults, has seen virus deaths tumble to a five-month low and is in the process of easing lockdown. European leaders are being forced to impose tough new lockdown measures to curb a rise in Covid infections driven by new and more-infectious variants of the virus, with Germany the latest to slam on the brakes Angela Merkel last night ordered all shops across Germany to close over Easter with church services moved online to combat an 'exponential' rise in cases that is threatening to overwhelm health systems Meanwhile French health experts have warned that lockdown measures imposed on 16 regions last week will not be enough to curb the country's third wave of infections, after cases doubled in a week Mrs Merkel (pictured centre with Bavarian State Premier Markus Soeder and Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller) said the new infections are being driven by the so-called Kent variant of Covid which is both more infectious and more deadly Announcing Germany's new measures late last night, Mrs Merkel said that all non-essential shops will be closed over Easter and church services moved online. The new nationwide measures will come into force on April 1 - just weeks after some restrictions were eased - and end on April 5. She added that Germany's current lockdown measures - including closures of restaurants, bars, cultural venues and leisure facilities - will be extended until at least April 18, having been due to expire on March 28. Mrs Merkel pointed to an 'exponential' rise in Covid cases in Germany as the reason for the decision, and said it was caused by the more-infectious Kent strain of coronavirus which is now dominant in the country. In France, virus expert and government adviser Arnaud Fontanet told BFM TV on Tuesday that more restrictions might also be necessary in his country if measures now in place fail to slow down the spread of the virus. Official data on Monday showed that the tally of new COVID-19 cases in France had accelerated, with the number of people in intensive care at a new four-month high. France reported 15,792 new coronavirus cases on Monday, more than double the 6,471 reported last Monday and the highest number on a Monday since the peak of the second wave in early November. The country also registered 343 new deaths, pushing the official tally of fatalities to 92,621 - the eighth highest COVID-19 death toll in the world. Other European countries forced to tighten restrictions include Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Ukraine, where shops have been closed and people told to work from home if possible. The moves represent a hammer-blow to Europe's leadership which this time last year was being praised the world over for rapidly imposing strict lockdowns which initially kept virus cases and deaths down. But since unlocking during the summer last year the continent has stumbled from crisis to crisis, and now has one of the highest infection and death rates of any global region. Perhaps the most embarrassing episode has come in recent weeks as Europe's vaccine roll-out - masterminded by the EU - rapidly descended into chaos with supply delays and red tape slowing down supplies. The EU has threatened to block millions of doses of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine from coming to the UK after Britain streaked ahead in the race to inoculate its population An extraordinary row with drug-maker AstraZeneca, one of just two Western vaccine producers currently manufacturing jabs at scale, further hurt the roll-out and led last week to a host of countries temporarily suspending use of the jab over fears it causes blood clots. The ban was eventually lifted after Europe's own medical regulators, the EU itself, the World Health Organization and AstraZeneca provided data showing the jab is safe - but only after undermining public confidence in the jab. A survey released on Monday revealed that a majority of people in Germany, Spain and France now believe the injection is 'unsafe' while a growing percentage of Italians think the same. As a result people are now refusing to get the shot, with at least 7.2million doses of AstraZeneca sitting un-used in warehouses across Europe. Despite that, the EU is also threatening to block exports of the vaccine to the UK until it gets its fair share of doses, with a vote due on Thursday. France and Germany are thought to be strongly in favour of the move. The tougher curbs were announced by Mrs Merkel in the early hours of Tuesday after a near 12-hour negotiating session with the leaders of Germany's 16 regions. The country's political system means it is these leaders who are ultimately responsible for imposing or lifting lockdowns. Negotiations were gridlocked for several hours over the thorny issue of whether to allow domestic holidays to take place over the Easter school holidays. Some regional leaders had argued it made little sense to allow people to fly out to the Spanish island of Mallorca for their holidays while banning residents from taking overnight stays in their own state. But finally, the leaders agreed to 'appeal urgently to all citizens to refrain from non-essential travel within the country and also abroad - also with regard to the upcoming Easter holidays.' Berlin had also struck a deal with air carriers to ensure that all travellers returning to Germany would be tested, Merkel said. The chancellor added that Germany was 'in a race to vaccinate' as the country struggles to accelerate its inoculation campaign. Dogged by supply issues and mistrust over AstraZeneca's jab, Germany's vaccination campaign has been sluggish compared to the British or US programmes. On Tuesday, Merkel said she would support her former defence minister and current EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen's threat to block AstraZeneca vaccines produced in the bloc from being exported. 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 'I support Commission President Ursula von der Leyen,' said Merkel. 'We have a problem with AstraZeneca,' she added. European officials are furious that AstraZeneca has been able to deliver its UK contract in full while falling short on its supplies to the EU. In her tough warning to the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant last Saturday, von der Leyen said: 'That's the message to AstraZeneca: you fulfil your contract with Europe first before you start delivering to other countries.' Meanwhile ministers in the Netherlands and Belgium have also warned that measures may have to get stricter as cases spike. Frank Vandenbroucke, the Belgian health minister, said on Monday that he is 'very worried' about the current situation in the country and warned that easing measures after Easter as currently forecast in now in doubt. At a meeting on Sunday, ministers agreed on additional measures to be imposed on schools if they are allowed to reopen in April as forecast. Another meeting has been scheduled for later this week, and Mr Vandenbroucke has refused to rule out imposing yet more measures. 'I am very worried. In the coming days we have to see what is happening and what we must do,' he said. Ministers in the Netherlands also met on Sunday to discuss a possible easing of lockdown measures, but concluded that 'pressure on the system is too high' to allow even a partial return to normalityReopening universities and outdoor dining, which had been due to kick in from March 31 will likely not take place, De Telegraaf reported. When you find yourself meeting a mate so you can both do your respective Big Shops together, and regard it as one of the high points of your social week, you know youre in trouble. Fret not: we were both within our 5km by means of a cheeky Venn diagram and we kept at least two shopping trollies apart, but it was a sad indictment of what it means to be a man in these restrictive times. Two blokes staring into Lidls much-ballyhooed middle aisle (The Beguiling Bazaar of Unnecessary Utensils) admiring how handsome a metal box of After Eight mints is. You could keep stuff in that afterwards. You know, screws, bolts, that sort of thing... he said, petering off wistfully, gazing into the distance of the biscuit aisle. In the words of He Who Used To Haunt Twitter: sad. Its all about managing. I was talking with my brother recently about the effect Covid and lockdown has had on his eight-year-old son. As it happens, hes the sort of kid that can entertain himself quite well and has managed to cope without too many of the meltdowns that so many parents have had to deal with. Of course, he missed going to school, preparing his schoolbag like he was getting ready to storm the gates of Hell. When the brother asked him why he was putting in his Deadpool costume and assorted weapons, the eight-year-old gave an in-no-way-uncertain answer. In case theres trouble. The long-term impact on the kid will be greater, one would suspect. Hes spent a good chunk of his formative years living through a unique (for him) global event. When hes 80 he could well be one of those people on a holographic documentary (or beamed directly into the iPersonality chip nailed into the back of your skull) talking to us about the forgotten pandemic of 2020-21. Assuming World President Xi Jinping Jnr lets us remember there was a pandemic, of course. Or a United States. For kids, itll be a part of their youth. For many adults, including me, the biggest factor with getting through the last year has been control, and how much and how little of it I have over my daily life. My day job means that I attend work every day, which is definitely a source of grounding sanity. I leave the house. I come home. Its still a fragment of normality. Weekends and bank holidays still mean something to me, and I realise what a privilege that is. Weekends would normally have been filled with friends, lunches, dinners, browsing bookshops. Now theyre something different, because what Covid has reminded me is that time is moving on. Im heading towards my second birthday in lockdown and becoming acutely aware of the need to achieve things in my life, get things done. Hopefully, Covid wont get me, although Im beginning to think theres a greater chance of a new virus killing any Covid infection in my body than me actually getting the vaccine. But I am getting closer to death anyway, and lockdown is squandering that valuable time. Ive become much more aware of the need to use my time better. For what, asks you? Theres a line from the classic 1970s Ronnie Barker prison comedy Porridge about how one gets through a long stretch in prison. Small victories, Barkers character, Fletcher, says. You focus on small victories, and it applies here too. I put together a list of little things to achieve. Twenty-five minutes on the treadmill. Vacuum the home. Clean out a single wardrobe. Just one. Put aside 30 minutes reading time, to sit down and read The Economist from cover to cover, or one of the 43 books you havent read yet that mock you from your menacing not-read pile. Sign up for a language app and give your Irish a daily polish. Write it down and tick it off. Record your small victories. For me, the big release is writing fiction. During lockdown Ive written six short stories and a short play, and whilst I cant tell you if theyre any good I can tell you I enjoyed writing them. So many people want to write yet are never sure how to start. How do you write something as daunting as a novel? The same way you eat an elephant. One bite at a time. Start with a single sentence. Not the first sentence of the novel, but a single line describing the story. Then you write the blurb on the back of the book. The short description that tells a reader what the book is about, enticing them in. Then you write a one-page synopsis, the actual story. Perhaps as a narrative, perhaps as a series of critical plot points. It could be a large white page with you just dumping things on it. A character you want to write about. A place. A time. A memory. Remember the way you used to do those glorious multi-coloured timetables for your Leaving Cert revision? Do it like that if it helps. Youll enjoy the colouring in. Then link things up. Who is your main character? Why does she live there? What does she want? What (or whom) is stopping her? You may discover you dont actually have anything beyond a vague concept, but thats OK too, because now you know, and thats another small victory. One final piece of advice: treat yourself to a nice notebook, to keep all this stuff in, and anything else that occurs to you. Im a stationery fetishist, scribbling everything from ideas for columns or stories to things that made me laugh. I promise youll enjoy leafing through it later. Last week, for example, whilst watching telly, I jotted down a list of every relationship Ive been in. It was quite the thought-provoker, I can tell you. Go on, youre thinking about it now. As Oscar Wilde said: I always travel with my diary: one should always have something sensational to read on the train. Read More Read More End Cost-Cutting in Germanys Health Care Delivery! March 22 , 2021 (EIRNS)The German governments panicked reaction to reports about negative side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which suspended the national vaccination campaign for a full week, is but the latest serious incident broadening popular discontent with the governments handling of the pandemic. So far, barely 10% of the population have received the vaccine, and 100% are not likely to be reached before the end of 2023, at the present pace. A sign of hope is indications that finally, the government may give up its reservations against the Russian Sputnik V vaccine and purchase some of it. If Germany should do so, it would reach the quorum of four EU member states which forces the European Medicines Agency EMA to seriously consider putting the Russian vaccine on the list of licensed medical substances. The acute problems in handling the pandemic, with rapidly increasing new infection rates which will lead to a hardening of the present lockdown, extending it into mid-April at least, can be traced to the policies of budget-cutting, privatizations, and streamlining of Germanys hospitals over the past two decades. Already before the pandemic reached Germany, it had reduced the number of nurses in intensive care units by one-third and replaced many full-time nurses jobs with full-time equivalents, which means that two part-time nurses share one full-time job. Remaining ICU beds in many hospitals cannot even be used for lack of medical staff. A survey presented by the German Hospital Institute (DKI) in the autumn of 2019 documented all that in quite some detail. The remaining personnel have been exhausted by forced overtime during the pandemic in 2021, government decrees have worsened the situation by suspending labor protection clauses; the Pflege-online journal for healthcare personnel even reports that in many cases, nurses with COVID infections have been forced to continue working. Andthe job-cutting continues in hospitals despite the pandemic: the case of the Gesundheit Nord Bremen Hospital Group which is determined to fire 440 nurses and other staff, has made national headlines in the past days. The healthcare staffers labor union ver.di has repeatedly raised the issue of a profound reversal of policies in walk-outs and warning strikes in the course of past yearbut to no avail. The government decreed one-time extra payments of 1,000 to 1,500 for nurses and care personnel in 2020, but working conditions at hospitals have not been improved by substantial new employment. The idealism characteristic for this labor sector has been exhausted, therefore it does not come as a surprise that recent opinion polls warn that up to 30% of medical personnel are considering quitting their jobs before the end of 2021. Calls are being made already, notably also in Germanys leading news weekly Der Spiegel a week ago, for the resignation of Health Minister Jens Spahn. Replacing him without changing the governments healthcare policies, however, will not prevent the drama of a collapsing hospital system which Germany is heading towards. Audio Attachment: Listen to Joshua Akamba in an interview on Neat FM National Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Joshua Hamidu Akamba, has cast doubt over the credibility of the Economist and Intelligence Unit (EIU) prediction that the NDC will win the 2024 elections. Rubbishing the research and analysis group, the NDC guru said they are 'not masters of politics' hence, their predictions are questionable and "bogus". "EIU report or whatever, I have never had confidence in them . . . I don't believe that they actually would've said that, even if they did I don't believe that what they said is the truth," he ssaid. "They got it wrong; did they not predict that Donald Trump would've won election convincingly . . . did Donald Trump win? So it should tell you the EIU report is bogus," he added. They have made previous election predictions and failed. They predicted the NPP will win the 2020 election but they lost, yes they lost and we all know, he said in an interview withmorning show The EIU, in its recent publication, predicted victory for the main opposition NDC in the 2024 elections in their recent report. The next parliamentary and presidential election are due in 2024, under the constitutionally mandated term limit, Mr Akufo-Addo cannot run for a third term. Mr Mahama is reportedly considering whether to run again, but we are expected the NDC to seek to revitalize its prospects with a fresh candidate. After two terms of NPP government, er expect the NDC to win 204 presidential elections and go again the as small majority in parliament, the latest report of the firm stated. But Akamba insisted that Their report is inaccurate. The NDC is reorganizing and we havent gotten to where we will elect who leads the NDC in the next election. They already know after eight years there will be a change of government so they are just predicting, but in four years the NPP lost. The NPP served for four years and lost but used state institution to steal the elections and maintained their hold on power, he told host Kwesi Aboagye. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Aiming to achieve a 'humane' solution to the politically charged crisis, United States President Joe Biden on Monday dispatched a high-level team to Central America and Mexico for the administrations involved in the ongoing border dispute. The move seeks to have answers to the criticisms due to the growing presence of migrant children at the US border in the south. The Delegates The special advisor for border issues and a former ambassador to Mexico, Roberta Jacobson, and the top official for the Western Hemisphere of the National Security Council, Juan Gonzalez, led the U.S. delegation to meet with the foreign minister of Mexico, Marcelo Ebrard. The meeting also includes members of the Mexican immigration agency as the number of immigrants into the southern U.S. is on pace to reach a two-decade high. According to Los Angeles Times, the sharp spike in migration and the acrimonious reaction from the Republicans and others, could derail the first-year agenda of Biden and jeopardize the efforts of the U.S. President in reforming for a broader immigration policy. The National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne shared that the goal of the Biden administration was to come up with not only 'an effective and humane plan of action to manage migration' but also to 'build a more hopeful future in the region.' Moreover, the U.S. recently shared that it is shipping several million doses of coronavirus vaccine to Mexico, where supply shortage is very critical. Also, Mexico has announced that the country was closing its southern border with Guatemala and Belize to impede the northward travel of migrants, but the White House denied that the moves made by the U.S. and Mexico were a quid-pro-quo arrangement. ALSO READ: California Universities Condemn Hate Crimes on Asian-Americans, Increase Efforts to Curb Racism In addition, part of the boost a large number of migrants, especially on children, is the perception in Central America that the immigration restrictions by the U.S. will be eased under the administration of Biden. Some experts partially agreed on the idea, but they stated that it is being exaggerated and promoted by groups who are into human trafficking as it will help them smuggle people across the border easier. Answer to Critics The action of Biden regarding the border dispute came after attacks of the Republican lawmakers and other critics of the administration to the U.S. President for what they pointed out as a lax treatment of illegal entries into the U.S. that can cause threats not only in security but also in health due to the ongoing pandemic. Biden has vowed to be more humane compared to his predecessor, but also shifted much of the focus on the root causes that propel people to leave their homelands, which includes violence and poverty, NPR reported. Also, Biden announced a $4-billion, four-year program to back the effort of his administration. However, there are no details on the amount of money that will be disbursed and how it plans to fight corruption, not only in national governments and security forces. The head of the North America section of the Mexican Foreign Ministry, Rovero Velasco Alvarez, shared that the two countries will find ways to cooperate on the development of Central America and southern Mexico for a safe, orderly, and regular migration, New York Post reported. Meanwhile, after the meetings in Mexico, Gonzalez will be traveling to Guatemala to meet President Aleandro Giammattei. They will be joined by Ricardo Zuniga, State Department appointed as special envoy for the so-called Northern Triangle, and the three Central American countries with the highest numbers of migrations, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. WATCH: Why thousands of immigrant children have spent more time than legally allowed at border - from PBS News Hour RELATED ARTICLE: Democratic Rep Releases Photos of Crowded Migrant Facility in Texas After Media Restriction By Fanny Potkin and Anshuman Daga SINGAPORE (Reuters) - In front of an open-air Jakarta restaurant, delivery drivers clad in the orange colours of Southeast Asia tech group Sea Ltd wait for orders next to the green-jacketed riders of market leaders Gojek and Grab, in what has become the latest battleground for tech supremacy in Southeast Asia. The humble noodles eatery signed up for Sea's nascent ShopeeFood service a month ago, but "immediately, there were orders everyday," said manager M.A Rasyid. Riding on the success of a cash-generating gaming business, U.S.-listed Sea has invested heavily in its Shopee e-commerce brand and successfully taken on Alibaba's Lazada and other rivals in recent years. Its share price has risen five-fold over the past year, giving Singapore-based Sea a market value of $111 billion. Now it is muscling into food delivery and financial services in Indonesia, the world's fourth-most-populous country, posing a new threat to regional rivals including ride-hailing and delivery unicorns Grab and GoJek. At stake is a slice of the more than 400 million internet users in Southeast Asia's digital economy, which is estimated to triple to $309 billion by 2025, according to a study by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company. Tech behemoths, including Tencent, a major investor in Sea, Alibaba, Google and Softbank Group Corp, are big backers of regional champions. Sources say Sea's aggressive expansion is one driver of merger discussions between Gojek and e-commerce platform Tokopedia. The Indonesian firms aim to create an $18 billion powerhouse to fight off Sea and regional giant Grab. Meanwhile, Grab and others, including travel app Traveloka and Indonesian e-commerce unicorn Bukalapak, are rushing for public listings, hoping to ride the coattails of Sea's stock rally while defending their turf, according to Reuters interviews with over a dozen people. "Sea is like Thanos, massive and powerful, and able to take down half of the world, or in this case half the startups," Willson Cuaca, co-founder of East Ventures and an early backer of Tokopedia, joked as he compared Sea to the powerful villain in the Marvel film series. Story continues "Like the Avengers, companies need to band together if they want to ensure their survival and to win the war." CASH IS KING Sea's stock rally reflects a scarcity of options for investors seeking exposure to the booming Southeast Asia internet sector. It went public in 2017 and has raised some $7 billion in share and debt sales, with early investor Tencent now holding a stake of about 20%. That investor appetite, combined with a need to raise cash to match Sea's muscle, is forcing rivals to seek listings as quickly as they can, bankers and executives familiar with the matter say. Sources say the Gojek-Tokopedia merger, which is likely to be finalised within weeks, will be followed by a Jakarta listing in the second half of 2021, then a mega IPO in the United States targeted for 2022. Grab and Traveloka, for their part, aim to accelerate the process by merging with special purpose acquisition companies, sources said. Bukalapak is planning the same, after a 2021 Jakarta IPO. "The market is pretty welcoming for tech stocks. It's an opportunity for Grab if they are ready for it," said Jixun Foo, a managing partner at GGV Capital, which has invested in Grab. COLLISION COURSE Sea's success owes much to its online gaming business Garena, whose 2017 title Free Fire became the most downloaded game globally over the past two years. It's using the cash from Garena to repeat its success in e-commerce, food delivery and financial services. Sea's Shopee division started off in 2015 as a platform for local sellers and soon gained traction with merchants regionally. It has now overtaken both Lazada as the top e-commerce player regionally and Tokopedia as the leader in Indonesia, thanks in part to innovations such as adding social features to its service. Both Gojek and Grab, which have pursued on-again, off-again merger talks with each other for years, believe they can ward off Sea's move into food delivery thanks to well-honed logistics networks and early-mover advantages. But they could be hard-pressed to match Sea's subsidies in Indonesia. In Vietnam, Sea-owned food delivery service Now is the market leader, while Grab is No. 2, according to a January report by advisory firm Momentum Works, whose COO Yorlin Ng, said Southeast Asia's food delivery sector grew 183% in 2020. "Now had the advantage of being local and being early," Ng said. "Sea's backing definitely helps." In Indonesia, ShopeeFood is wooing vendors by touting its 80 million-strong user base and promising to subsidise steep discounting. The next showdown will be in financial services. Sea has bought Indonesia's Bank BKE and has hired a veteran of China's peer-to-peer platforms to head its "SeaMoney" banking efforts. "SeaMoney can become the Ant Financial of Southeast Asia," said Daniel Jacobs, managing partner at emerging markets hedge fund Kora, a Sea shareholder. "After payments, they have the vision and will to grow into adjacent areas, from 'buy now, pay later' on the customer side to merchant credit and all sorts of financial services." But Tokopedia and Grab, both of which own part of Indonesian payment app OVO, have similar ambitions. And Sea and Grab are set to square off in Singapore, where both won coveted digital bank licences in December. Grab is backed by investors including SoftBank Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. "This is going to be a battle of the titans," said Patrick Walujo, the co-founder of Indonesia-focused private-equity firm Northstar Group and a Gojek investor. (Reporting by Fanny Potkin and Anshuman Daga in Singapore; Additional reporting by Aradhana Aravindan; Editing by Jonathan Weber and Kim Coghill) We will implement the Citizenship Amendment Act and give citizenship to the refugees after coming to power here, Shah said. PTI file photo Kolkata: Going all out against West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjees MP nephew Abhishek Banerjee with large-scale corruption charges, Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday accused Bhatija & Company of amassing Central funds to the tune of Rs 10,000 crores, which were disbursed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for relief and rehabilitation to the state after it was devastated by Cyclone Amphan last year. Mr Shah made it clear that the entity would be sent to jail by a special investigation team (SIT), mentioned in the BJPs manifesto, following a probe once the saffron party forms its first government in the state if it wins the Assembly election. In a blistering attack on the Trinamul boss, he ridiculed her for running 115 scams in comparison to 115 schemes run by Mr Modi, while mocking her for failing to fulfil even 82 of her 282 promises made in the previous 2016 election. The Union home minister told a BJP rally at Gosaba in South 24 Parganas: Modiji has been sending a lot of funds here. Cyclone Amphan hit the state. Modiji released Rs 10,000 crores. Did you get anything out of it? Where did it go? Bhatija & Company amassed it. You do not need to worry. The new BJP government will form a SIT and put all those who looted each and every pie of the funds sent by Modiji behind bars. All scams, be it on Cyclone Amphan or Bulbul or Aila, will be probed by us through the SIT. Mr Shah, in remarks aimed at the Hindu migrants votebank in the district, touched on the BJPs key electoral promise. We will implement the Citizenship Amendment Act and give citizenship to the refugees after coming to power here, he said. Mr Shah added: For the poor, the PM has undertaken 115 yojanas, or schemes. But Didi started 115 scams. The money of the poor is looted by those who take cut money. The BJP government will bring an end to it. Training his guns on Ms Banerjee over her false promises, Mr Shah drew attention to the sops for the Sundarbans delta in the BJP manifesto. He claimed: Didi announced 282 promises but could not meet even 82 of them. In 2016 she talked of building a multiple integrated fisheries zone. Till date, no one knows where it is. She should furnish an account but will not. You will give your account on April 1 by pressing the button on kamal (Lotus). We had also sent Rs 5,000 crores for the development of the Sundarbans. But the fund was misappropriated. In 2015, 2017 and 2019, Didi claimed she would turn Sundarbans into a district. Did it happen? Cast your vote for a BJP CM. We will make the Sundarbans a district within a year. Later, Mr Shah and BJP chief J.P. Nadda led roadshows in Midnapore and Ghatal in West Midnapore respectively on Tuesday afternoon. Sidney Powell speaks during a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington on Nov. 19, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Sidney Powell Seeks to Dismiss Dominions $1.3 Billion Lawsuit Attorney Sidney Powell, who filed third-party lawsuits to aid former President Donald Trump in his post-election legal fight, is seeking to dismiss a $1.3 billion lawsuit that Dominion Voting Systems filed against her. Powell said via her attorneys that the lawsuit should be dismissed as it was filed in the wrong jurisdiction, while adding that her claims about Dominion were protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution. Her team also requested that the lawsuit be moved to Texas from the District of Columbia if it isnt thrown out. Reasonable people would not accept such statements as fact but view them only as claims that await testing by the courts through the adversary process, her lawyers said in a motion (pdf) filed on March 22. Sidney Powell disclosed the facts upon which her conclusions were based. Dominion, in a statement to Bloomberg News in response to her motion, said Powells lawsuit contradicts her previous statements. Powells attempt to dismiss the case contradicts her claim that she wants to present her evidence in court, Dominion attorney Tom Clare said. Dominion Voting Systems is eager for the case to move forward and intends to hold Powell accountable. But Powells lawyers contended on March 22 that all the allegedly defamatory statements attributed to defendants were made as part of the normal process of litigating issues of momentous significance and immense public interest, adding that the statements were tightly focused on the legal theories they were advancing in litigation and the evidence they had presented, or were going to present, to the courts in support of their claims of election fraud. Her lawyers further argued that Powells claims about Dominion and election fraud post-Nov. 3, 2020, were public announcements, saying they served to disclose the status of cases that were filed in court. Such announcements are routine by lawyers engaged in public interest litigation, including the U.S. Justice Department, Powells lawyers said. Dominion also filed lawsuits seeking $1.3 billion each against MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In its lawsuit against Powell filed in January, Dominion said that she caused unprecedented harm to the firm. As a result of the defamatory falsehoods peddled by Powellin concert with likeminded allies and media outlets who were determined to promote a false preconceived narrativeDominions founder, Dominions employees, Georgias governor, and Georgias secretary of state have been harassed and have received death threats, and Dominion has suffered enormous harm, Dominions lawyers said in January. Dominions lawyers stated that they sent a letter to Powell formally warning her to stop making statements about the company or she would face legal action. The suit also listed Defending the Republic, Inc., a company that Powell used for fundraising purposes as a defendant. Separately, the Supreme Court on March 1 rejected Powells lawsuits challenging the results in Arizona and Wisconsinoffering no comment. One of Powells mandamus petitions stated: A submission directly to this Court seeking an extraordinary writ of mandamus is unusual, but it has its foundation. While such relief is rare, this Court will grant it where a question of public importance is involved, or where the question is of such a nature that it is peculiarly appropriate that such action by this Court should be taken. Powell appeared alongside Trumps lawyers, including Giuliani and Jenna Ellis, in December as they announced a series of legal challenges after the election. About a week later, Giuliani confirmed that Powell wasnt part of Trumps team. Kate Middleton looked a picture of elegance today in a cream signature Catherine Walker coat as she accompanied Prince William for a visit to the Westminster Abbey vaccination centre. The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, gave her husband a supportive smile as they headed into the royal church, showing off her regal style in the Valeria wool coat featuring delicate ivory floral lace down the front, estimated to cost in the region of 3,000. While the royal is known for recycling her favourite pieces, the coat is a new addition to her wardrobe that's not been seen before. She completed her look with a pair of tan Jimmy Choo stiletto heels and matching clutch bag from Metier London - and, of course, an obligatory face mask, replacing her usual floral covering with a disposable blue one. The mother-of-three swept her brunette locks back into a half-up-do and wore her signature natural make-up, with a sweep of brown shadow and eye liner to highlight her natural beauty. Kate also appeared to be wearing one of her favourite sets of earrings - classic baroque drop pearls from British jewellery designer Annoushka Ducas. Kate Middleton looked a picture of elegance today in a cream Catherine Walker coat as she accompanied Prince William for a visit to the Westminster Abbey vaccination centre The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, completed her look with a pair of tan stiletto heels and matching clutch bag Meanwhile William, 38, looked smart in a navy blue suit teamed with a crisp white shirt and a dark polka dot tie. The couple were greeted at Westminster Abbey this morning by the Dean of Westminster The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle and Paul Baumann, Receiver General and Chapter Clerk. They paid a visit to the vaccination centre to pay tribute to the efforts of those involved in the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. As well as hearing from staff about their experiences of being involved in the largest vaccination programme in the nations history, and working in one of Britain's most revered buildings, the couple also spoke with a number of people receiving their vaccine that day. They also took part in the minute's silence at the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor, where William lit a candle and Kate left a bunch of daffodils. The Cambridges have continued with their business as usual approach in the wake of the fall out of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Oprah Winfrey interview earlier this month. The couple were greeted at Westminster Abbey this morning by the Dean of Westminster The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle and Paul Baumann, Receiver General and Chapter Clerk During the visit Kate and William spoke to staff and paid tribute to the efforts of those involved in the Covid-19 vaccine rollout Kate showed off her regal style in the Valeria wool coat featuring delicate ivory floral lace down the front, estimated to cost in the region of 3,000 Kate chatted animatedly with staff, having swapped her usual floral face mask for a disposable blue covering Prince William plants an arm on his wife's back as the couple speak to staff at the Covid vaccination centre and praise their efforts Kate appeared to be wearing one of her favourite sets of earrings - classic baroque drop pearls from British jewellery designer Annoushka Ducas Kate has reportedly stepped up to support her husband and 'sympathises' with his feeling of 'upset and anger' after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex levelled explosive claims at the Royal Family. During their sit-down Meghan and Harry said racism drove them out of Britain and claimed their son Archie was denied the title of prince because he is mixed-race. Last week Prince William defended the Royal Family while on a trip to a school in London, saying it was 'very much not a racist family'. The Duke of Cambridge has been leaning on his wife even more after his initial conversations with his brother after the interview 'didn't go too well', royal expert Kate Nicholl told OK magazine. 'Kate has always remained loyal to William despite how close she was to Harry,' she said. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (pictured speaking to staff) took part in the minute's silence at the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor, where William lit a candle The Cambridges - pictured walking down the aisle in the church they married in on April 29, 2011 - have continued with their business as usual approach in the wake of the fall out of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Oprah Winfrey interview earlier this month Kate pictured chatting to staff during a visit to the vaccination centre at Westminster Abbey 'Her loyalties are with her husband and their family. Even though she'd love peace and harmony, she sympathises with William's upset and anger.' 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 Charles 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'. Katie added that the birth of Pippa Middleton's daughter Grace has been a huge source of joy for the couple and their family. The Queen today led Britain in remembering the victims of coronavirus as the country held a national minute's silence at midday to mark the anniversary of the first national lockdown. Boris Johnson, who was almost killed by Covid-19 himself, offered his 'sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones' while Prince Charles called on Britain to 'remember the lives tragically cut short'. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Gallup poll from February found that approximately 41% of Americans identify themselves as independent voters, and one Staten Island woman is working to educate her generation on what that means. West Brighton native Julia Hemsworth, 24, is an employee with independentvoting.org, and along with two of her colleagues, Devon Martinez and Ron Dumas, is launching a youth initiative aimed at connecting and empowering young independent voters. Were focusing on reaching out broadly to young, independent voters to create a space for them to connect with each other, educate them on some of the history of the independent movement, and work towards changing barriers to participation in our election system, Hemsworth said. Theres no sort of space for young independents like this yet. Their push to bring more information about independent voting began in December, and has featured a number of educational events. On March 31 at 7 p.m., the group is hosting a Zoom event open to the public titled Unbound and Undeterred: Being a Young Independent. Hemsworth said itll be an educational event for people aged 18-32. Were kind of trying to do it as like an introduction to people who are just starting to get involved or have been looking for an outlet to their independent activism, she said. From left, Julia Hemsworth, Ron Dumas, and Devon Martinez. Hemsworth, originally from West Brighton, and her colleagues are working to educate young people about independent voting. (Courtesy: Julia Hemsworth) The organization Hemsworth works for started in 1994 as the Committee for a Unified Independent Party (CUIP) out of what their website refers to as the Perot Revolt. Billionaire Ross Perot ran two unsuccessful presidential campaigns in 1992 as an independent and in 1996 on the CUIP-engineered Reform Party as a conservative-leaning candidate. He didnt carry a state in either election, but both performances are among the top 10 most-successful presidential campaigns not run by the major parties. While CUIP reserved its most ardent support for more conservative candidates, including former Mayor Mike Bloombergs 2001 campaign, it also launched the unsuccessful campaign to allow Ralph Nader to participate in the 2004 presidential debates. Since the organization officially changed its name to independentvoting.org in 2006, it has lent support to candidates like Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders, but most of its focus has been on changing primary election systems across the nation. New York is currently one of nine states with fully closed primaries, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), meaning those not affiliated with a given party cannot vote in that partys primaries. In the 15 states with open primaries, voters can privately decide for themselves for which party to vote, but opponents argue that practice can limit a partys power of who its nominated candidates are, according to NCSL. California and Washington host top-two primaries. That system presents all candidates on one primary ballot regardless of party affiliation. In California, candidates list their party affiliation, while Washington allows candidates to list a party preference, and after the primary the top two candidates advance to the general. Louisiana doesnt have primaries, but a general election where all candidates run on the same ballot. If no one gets 50% of the vote, theres a run-off election six weeks later between the top two candidates. In Nebraska, all elections are non-partisan like the way judges are elected in New York. Other states leave it up to the parties to decide who they allow to vote in their primaries, make voters publicly declare which primary they participate in, or only allow unaffiliated voters to participate in any primary they choose. Groups like Hemsworths support a more open approach to primaries, because it allows voters to cross party lines to select their preferred candidate. No one should have to join a political party to be able to vote in the primaries, especially when theyre funded with taxpayer dollars, she said. DUBLIN, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Product; Functionality; Type of Formulation and Geography" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. According to this report the global pharmaceutical excipients market is expected to reach US$ 9,873.53 million by 2027 from US$ 6,521.74 million in 2019. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2020 to 2027. The report highlights the trends prevalent in the global pharmaceutical excipients market and the factors driving the market along with those that act as deterrents to its growth. Based on product, the pharmaceutical excipients market is segmented into organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, and others products. In 2019, the organic chemicals segment held the largest market share, and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period due to the rise in the use of organic chemicals in various formulations in the pharmaceutical industry. Moreover, the same segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. Driving factors, such as surge in generics market and growth of the pharmaceutical market backed by multi-functional excipients, are expected to boost the market growth over the years. However, cost and time intensive drug development process is likely to pose a negative impact on the market growth. The coronavirus pandemic is estimated to have significant impact on the pharmaceutical excipients market. Majority of the pharmaceutical companies around the globe are engaged in the development of vaccines for coronavirus. However, this shift of focus is anticipated to have a negative impact on the other segments of the market. Also, disruptions in supply chain caused due to halt in global operations are projected to have an adverse impact on the market. DuPont de Nemours, Inc.; Roquette Freres; Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.; BASF SE; Evonik Industries AG; Associated British Foods Plc; Archer Daniels Midland Company; Lubrizol Corporation; Croda International Plc; and DFE Pharma are among the prominent players operating in pharmaceutical excipients market. The market players are focused toward bringing new and innovative products and services to sustain their position in the market. For instance, in June, 2020, Evonik launched RESOMER Precise platform of custom functional excipients to precisely control the release profile of parenteral drug products. Such developments are expected to help the market growth during the forecast period. Reasons to Buy Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the pharmaceutical excipients market. Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies. The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the global pharmaceutical excipients market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long-term strategies. Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets. Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it. Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin security interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 1.1 Scope of the Study 1.2 Research Report Guidance 1.3 Market Segmentation 1.3.1 Global Pharmaceutical Excipients Market - By Product 1.3.2 Global Pharmaceutical Excipients Market - By Functionality 1.3.3 Global Pharmaceutical Excipients Market - By Type of Formulation 1.3.4 Global Pharmaceutical Excipients Market - By Geography 2. Pharmaceutical Excipients Market - Key Takeaways 3. Research Methodology 3.1 Coverage 3.2 Secondary Research 3.3 Primary Research 4. Pharmaceutical Excipients Market - Market Landscape 4.1 Overview 4.2 PEST Analysis 4.2.1 North America- PEST Analysis 4.2.2 Europe- PEST Analysis 4.2.3 Asia Pacific- PEST Analysis 4.2.4 Middle East & Africa 4.2.5 South & Central America 4.3 Expert Opinion 5. Pharmaceutical Excipients Market - Key Market Dynamics 5.1 Market Drivers 5.1.1 Surge In Generics Market 5.1.2 Growth of the Pharmaceutical Market Backed By Multi-Functional Excipients 5.2 Market Restraints 5.2.1 Cost and Time Intensive Drug Development Process 5.3 Market Opportunities 5.3.1 Shifting Focus of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Companies to Emerging Countries 5.4 Future Trends 5.4.1 Rising Demand and Emphasis on Co-Processed Excipients 5.4.2 Improving Excipient Capabilities due to Nanotechnology 5.5 Impact Analysis 6. Pharmaceutical Excipients Market - Global Analysis 6.1 Global Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Revenue Forecast And Analysis 6.2 Global Pharmaceutical Excipients Market, By Geography - Forecast And Analysis 6.3 Market Positioning of Key Players 7. Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- By Product 7.1 Overview 7.2 Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Share, by Product, 2019 and 2027 (%) 7.3 ORGANIC CHEMICALS 7.3.1 Overview 7.3.2 Organic Chemicals: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 7.3.3 INORGANIC CHEMICALS 7.3.3.1 Overview 7.3.3.2 Inorganic Chemicals: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 7.3.4 OTHER PRODUCTS 7.3.4.1 Overview 7.3.4.2 Other Products: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 8. Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- By Functionality 8.1 Overview 8.2 Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Share, by Functionality, 2019 and 2027 (%) 8.3 FILLERS AND DILUENTS 8.3.1 Overview 8.3.2 Fillers and Diluents: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 8.4 SUSPENDING AND VISCOSITY AGENTS 8.4.1 Overview 8.4.2 Suspending and Viscosity Agents: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 8.5 COATING AGENTS 8.5.1 Overview 8.5.2 Coating Agents: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 8.6 BINDERS 8.6.1 Overview 8.6.2 Binders: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 8.7 PRESERVATIVES 8.7.1 Overview 8.7.2 Preservatives: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 8.8 EMULSIFYING AGENTS 8.8.1 Overview 8.8.2 Emulsifying Agents: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 8.9 OTHER FUNCTIONALITIES 8.9.1 Overview 8.9.2 Other Functionalities: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 9. Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- By Type of Formulation 9.1 Overview 9.2 Pharmaceutical Excipients Market Share, by Type of Formulation, 2019 and 2027 (%) 9.3 ORAL FORMULATIONS 9.3.1 Overview 9.3.2 Oral Formulations: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 9.4 TOPICAL FORMULATIONS 9.4.1 Overview 9.4.2 Topical Formulations: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 9.5 PARENTERAL FORMULATIONS 9.5.1 Overview 9.5.2 Parenteral Formulations: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 9.6 OTHER FORMULATIONS 9.6.1 Overview 9.6.2 Other Formulations: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million) 10. Pharmaceutical Excipients Market - Geographic Analysis 10.1 North America: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market 10.2 Europe: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market 10.3 Asia Pacific: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market 10.4 Middle East & Africa: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market 10.5 South and Central America: Pharmaceutical Excipients Market 11. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Pharmaceutical Excipients Market 11.1 North America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 11.2 Europe (EU): Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 11.3 Asia-Pacific: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 11.4 Rest of the World: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 12. Pharmaceutical Excipients Market- Industry Landscape 12.1 Overview 12.2 Growth Strategies Done by the Companies in the Market, (%) 12.3 Organic Developments 12.3.1 Overview 12.4 Inorganic Developments 12.4.1 Overview 13. Company Profiles 13.1 DuPont de Nemours, Inc. 13.1.1 Key Facts 13.1.2 Business Description 13.1.3 Products and Services 13.1.4 Financial Overview 13.1.5 SWOT Analysis 13.1.6 Key Developments 13.2 Roquette Freres 13.2.1 Key Facts 13.2.2 Business Description 13.2.3 Products and Services 13.2.4 Financial Overview 13.2.5 SWOT Analysis 13.2.6 Key Developments 13.3 Ashland Global Holdings Inc. 13.3.1 Key Facts 13.3.2 Business Description 13.3.3 Products and Services 13.3.4 Financial Overview 13.3.5 SWOT Analysis 13.3.6 Key Developments 13.4 BASF SE 13.4.1 Key Facts 13.4.2 Business Description 13.4.3 Products and Services 13.4.4 Financial Overview 13.4.5 SWOT Analysis 13.4.6 Key Developments 13.5 Evonik 13.5.1 Key Facts 13.5.2 Business Description 13.5.3 Products and Services 13.5.4 Financial Overview 13.5.5 SWOT Analysis 13.5.6 Key Developments 13.6 Associated British Foods plc 13.6.1 Key Facts 13.6.2 Business Description 13.6.3 Products and Services 13.6.4 Financial Overview 13.6.5 SWOT Analysis 13.6.6 Key Developments 13.7 Archer Daniels Midland Company 13.7.1 Key Facts 13.7.2 Business Description 13.7.3 Products and Services 13.7.4 Financial Overview 13.7.5 SWOT Analysis 13.7.6 Key Developments 13.8 Lubrizol Corporation 13.8.1 Key Facts 13.8.2 Business Description 13.8.3 Products and Services 13.8.4 Financial Overview 13.8.5 SWOT Analysis 13.8.6 Key Developments 13.9 DFE Pharma 13.9.1 Key Facts 13.9.2 Business Description 13.9.3 Products and Services 13.9.4 Financial Overview 13.9.5 SWOT Analysis 13.9.6 Key Developments 13.10 Croda International plc 13.10.1 Key Facts 13.10.2 Business Description 13.10.3 Products and Services 13.10.4 Financial Overview 13.10.5 SWOT Analysis 13.10.6 Key Developments 14. Appendix 14.1 About the Publisher 14.2 Glossary of Terms For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jxetk Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com This marks our first engagement with Alabamas Bureau of Health Provider Standards, and we couldnt be more proud to have been selected. We truly value this opportunity to serve the state of Alabama. -Leah Heimbach, President and Owner of HMS The Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Provider Standards (HPS), has awarded Healthcare Management Solutions, LLC (HMS) a contract to conduct federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid inspections. This marks our first engagement with Alabamas Bureau of Health Provider Standards, and we couldnt be more proud to have been selected, said Leah Heimbach, president & owner of HMS. We truly value this opportunity to serve the state of Alabama. HMS will conduct surveys required to determine compliance of long term care (LTC) facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID) with federal regulations. HPS conducts inspections of health care providers in Alabama as an agency contracted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). HPS selected HMS in part because of our highly qualified staff. All Alabamians deserve quality care, added Heimbach. Our work helps ensure a high degree of accountability at health facilities in the state, and reassures residents, patients, and families that they are truly being seen and heard as healthcare consumers and as human beings. About Healthcare Management Solutions, LLC HMS protects vulnerable populations and veterans. We blend our unique healthcare and technology expertise to create bold yet cost-effective solutions that federal and state agencies and our private-sector partners need to make sure your loved ones get the best possible care in nursing homes and other healthcare settings, no matter where in America they live. OK, Dorothea Mackellar, youve made your point. Enough! Tony Shaw, Mudgee More evidence of enough is enough in Canberra All federal politicians and senior staff should undertake training to help raise significantly the personality and maturity profiles of taxpayer-funded staff they employ in the Parliament House workplace and electorate offices (Liberal aide sacked over lewd video, March 23). Value for money is not being achieved currently. The mainly male Coalition frontbench also seems to be losing the plot more and more each week because they arrogantly refuse to recognise, let alone meet, basic public expectations about the transparency and accountability demanded in response to the mounting deficits linked to the behaviour of their own colleagues and support staff. All this is just more evidence of enough is enough. Sue Dyer, Downer (ACT) It would appear that the political scene is swamped with young staffers and advisers. Most of them seem to be straight out of school or university which has to raise questions over their collective life experience. Given that our politicians are increasingly drawn from this shallow gene pool, surely its time they engaged mature, experienced people from diverse backgrounds to staff their offices and provide advice. Stephen McDonald, Goulburn Well may the PM and finance minister be appalled by the behaviour of those Coalition staffers, as indeed are we all . Just where do these young men get these views of macho power and entitlement from? Brian Collins, Cronulla How many Coalition staffers floated into their jobs because of the private, single-sex schools they attended?Philip Bell, Bronte Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac was the explanation for Henry Kissingers attractiveness to women when he was powerful in the USA in 1971. Perhaps some staffers and politicians have found this to be the case in Canberra. Elizabeth Vickers, Maroubra Karen Andrews thinks that the Liberal Party needs quotas. I think they need principled and decent leadership. It may be a cliche, but a fish truly does rot from its head. Im done with spin. John Burman, Port Macquarie I can never understand why the Prime Minister has so many reviews. Surely a meeting with the pertinent staff members and a few simple but obvious questions is all that is needed. It would take less time than a press conference and give him the information he seems to lack. No wonder so little is achieved. Elizabeth Darton, Lane Cove West The Prime Minister could do worse than consider Sir Walter Scott O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive (Morrison caught out in spin cycle, March 23). Sue-Anne Wallace, Neutral Bay Where is the Governor General? Its time. Katherine Bashar, Vaucluse Patience, there are no patients People, there is no community transmission of COVID-19 in all of Australia (Weather halts delivery to 50 clinics, March 23). It does not matter if you need to wait for a vaccine for a few weeks or months you will get it in good enough time, you are at essentially no risk. Theres no prize for being first. We are under no immediate threat. Andrew Taubman, Queens Park I am one of the 6 million Australians eligible for the vaccine under phase 1b. My risk of catching COVID-19 is minimal due to public health measures and low community transmission. The risk for people in Papua New Guinea is enormous. How can I send my dose of vaccine to PNG? Paul Ferris, Nowra While the government is crowing about how they are on track and moving on to Phase 1b of the vaccination programme, there are still people like my 96-year-old mum and other residents in her home in Phase 1a waiting for their first shot. Is this just hype to make it sound as though the government is doing better than it is? Judy Christian, Castle Hill Democratic disrespect Photos of our government turning their backs, playing on their phones, when a Labor member is making a speech is just one sign of the disrespect for democracy by Scott Morrison (Tears and fears in Quads bid to preserve democracy, March 23). Add to that the frequent use of the member no longer be heard card, and we should be worried. Then think about other actions like the prosecution of a whistleblower and his lawyer and having the trial held in secret, we should be seriously alarmed. Sandra Pertot, Diamond Beach Walk this way At last the NSW government has the interests of pedestrians and cyclists at the centre of its plans (White Bay plan a test case for citys new vision, March 23). The draft plan is yet another call to restore the heritage-listed Glebe Island Bridge so it can be used by pedestrians and cyclists. The popular Glebe foreshore walk came under incredible pressure during the COVID-19 lockdown. But completing the circuit of Blackwattle and Rozelle Bays means climbing the steep spiralling ramp up onto Anzac Bridge, with pedestrians and cyclists then having to share the noisy pathway. Most turn back at the prospect. Restoring the old bridge would enable walkers, including those with prams and the less-abled, to walk all the way around the bays. Much has changed since the Glebe Island Bridge was decommissioned 25 years ago. The local population has boomed and there is a much greater engagement in what Transport for NSW calls active transport walking and cycling. Further up the road, at White Bay, WestConnex has shamefully neglected the interests of pedestrians and cyclists. Restoring the Glebe Island Bridge would go some way to providing locals and visitors with a safe route between Balmain and Pyrmont to walk and cycle. Asa Wahlquist, Glebe Phonic boom As a retired special education teacher with a masters degree I am pleased to know that the new NSW syllabus has including phonics (New primary syllabus presents sound policy, March 23). It was found in the 1950s when I was a child that the children taught whole word reading learnt to read more slowly than the children taught phonics. Indeed monks in the 16th century debated the issue. In the 1980s, I was ostracised for wanting to teach phonics, as whole language was politically correct. Yet there was plenty of international research to show the importance of phonics in learning to read. I sat on the Special Education Reference panel and was consulted about the then new reading syllabus and was told that the writers were insulted by our suggestion that phonics be included. Obviously it is highly political. Its about time the NSW syllabus has been rewritten to match actual research. Virginia Hastings, Woonona Some enlightened genius has won the day and phonics and sounding out words will be back as part of the primary syllabus. Who would have thought. And, spelling and sentence structure too. Can we hope to eventually say goodbye to such howlers as alot for a lot, sort for sought, draw for drawer, alternate for alternative, and, I know this is la la land, but perhaps the use of apostrophes might get a go? I live in hope. Well done to those sensible people in education. Jane Coulter, Breakfast Point Voucher voucher Helen Scanlon, please assure your appless friends that they can access the Dine and Discover voucher scheme by phoning NSW Services (Letters, March 22). I was greeted by a friendly voice and given code numbers which can be presented to participating venues. I was reassured that I was not the only one who did not have a smartphone and given a list of local restaurants taking part in this scheme. Elsa Cant, Merewether I am a grumpy old lady, and fed up with all the discrimination against those who do not have or are not very skilled with computers. Like your correspondent, I found the vouchers available only to those with a smartphone app. So I tried to get them from the advertised Service NSW website. I gave up after complicated instructions requiring passwords and tried my old fashioned landline phone to get Service NSW. They tried to help and finally gave me five long sets of numbers to write down. As a nonagenarian I have learnt to cope with decimal currency and metric measurements, ATMs and emails, mobile phones and even, occasionally, self-serve check outs, and I still have a full drivers licence. But I resent the current trend requiring everyone to use a computer and have numerous passwords to do so. Jeanette Ward, Freshwater Stay at home, mum In 1976, I applied to do a DipEd. My husband, an academic, decided to apply as well, thinking it could be good to study together (Letters, March 23). He was accepted, I was not. I later found out I was rejected because who would look after the children. Surprisingly, we had worked that out. Carol Bailey, Point Frederick The digital view Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au Rubbish and crap: Morrison says attitudes to women must change From Jack Hughes: Perhaps it is time for the PM to talk with and listen to people beyond his own friends, family and colleagues. Bethenny Frankel is reportedly engaged to her on-again boyfriend, 42-year-old real estate developer Paul Bernon. The 50-year-old reality TV star flashed her massive engagement ring while on a beach in Florida this week. DailyMail.com has learned exclusively that the stunning ring - which has one large emerald cut diamond surrounded by two smaller ones - is worth an estimated $3million. What a rock! Bethenny Frankel is reportedly engaged to her on-again boyfriend, 42-year-old real estate developer Paul Bernon. The 50-year-old reality TV star flashed her massive engagement ring while on a beach in Florida this week The ring is estimated to be worth $3million 'The trilogy ring appears to feature an emerald cut diamond weighing somewhere between 20-25 karats, depending on the width and depth,' Taylor & Hart Design Director, Kate Earlam-Charnley told DailyMail.com though noted it was difficult to see the entire ring in the photos available. 'The center diamond looks to measure a massive 22mm (0.8 inches) in length and is flanked on either side by trapezoid diamonds that look to be approximately 1kt each,' Kate added. 'Assuming the diamonds possess excellent quality characteristics, the estimated price for the ring is between $2.7 million and $3.4 million dollars.' Kathryn Money, Brilliant Earths SVP of Merchandising & Retail Expansion, had a lower estimate, however. So similar: This matching ring is from Peter Norman Jewelers. Three stone engagement ring featuring a large emerald-cut diamond and trapezoid side stones She told DailyMail.com: 'Bethennys beautiful ring appears to feature a 8-10 carat emerald-cut center diamond flanked by two trapezoid side stones and set on a white gold or platinum band.' And Money added, 'Depending on the quality and specific characteristics of the center stone, we estimate the cost of the ring between approximately $750,000 to $1,000,000.' And a third jeweler also weighed in: 'This gorgeous three-stone sparkler is approximated to be a 6-7 carat emerald-cut center stone accented by 2-3 carat trapezoid diamonds in a classic platinum band setting for a total of 10-12 carats,' said Tonia Zehrer, Signet Senior Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer. Signet is the parent company of the worlds largest diamond retailers such as Kay, Zales and Jared. 'Depending on the quality of the stones, we believe this ring is easily over $400,000.' The design - which resembles Jennifer Lopez's incredible engagement ring from Alex Rodriguez - looks to be custom made for the reality TV siren. The rock is much bigger than the Kristen Farrell 6.5-carat pear-shaped ring worth about $150,000 that Jason Hoppy gave Frankel in October 2009. People broke the news that the couple is engaged. The Skinnygirl founder and 42-year-old real Bernon have an interesting past. They started dating in 2018, split from in late 2020 and got back together with earlier this year. The ring made its Instagram debut: The good friend of Kyle Richards had on her ring when plugging Skinnygirl on Tuesday On off on: The Skinnygirl founder and 42-year-old real Bernon have an interesting past. They started dating in 2018, split from in late 2020 and got back together with earlier this year Frankel's spokesperson did not immediately return calls to DailyMail.com for comment. The 50-year-old star has also recently finalized her divorce from Jason Hoppy after a long and contentious divorce process, according to PageSix. They reached the financial agreement in 2016. But then spent the next five years arguing over the custody of their only child, Bryn, who is now aged 10. They can't quit each other: Bethenny and Paul had split in October last year. But in January the two seemed to be back on as she sat on his lap while they paid a visit to Miami-based artist Romero Britto's studio Bethenny and Paul had split in October last year. But in January the two seemed to be back on as she sat on his lap while they paid a visit to Miami-based artist Romero Britto's studio. The couple looked very much together in the video from Britto, which showed the ever-elegant Bethenny donning a palm frond skirt, fringed jacket and pearls. They proceeded to go Instagram official with their reunion in February 2021. Frankel and Bernon began dating in 2018 after her boyfriend Dennis Shields passed away at the age of 51 at the Trump Tower in New York City. His official cause of death was listed as 'undetermined' since no autopsy was performed; there were reports he had suffered an overdose. Bethenny was often seen with Paul on vacation in Europe as well as on the red carpet. But they went their separate ways in October 2018. The Bravo alum explained that there was nothing bitter between the two, but rather 'some things just don't continue' while appearing on the Ellen show shortly after the split. At the time, she said the single life was fine: 'I'm good, I'm good. You know, not everything works out! Her other rock: The star's engagement ring from Jason Hoppy is seen here in 2010 'So many people have tried to define my life - our lives - with "When are you getting engaged? When are you having a baby? When are you getting married?"' 'And I've just realized more in life, with people being more open and honest about their lives and what they want, that everything doesn't have to sort of end in a blue box and a bow. 'We've had a great, great relationship and I'm really happy. Not everything has to end badly, some things just don't continue and it's not negative it's just life.' As far as finalizing her divorce from Hoppy, PageSix has claimed that a judge 'signed off' the papers on January 20. They wed in 2010 and their nuptials became the subject of a reality TV spinoff, Bethenny Ever After They are done: The 50-year-old star has also recently finalized her divorce from Hoppy after a long and contentious divorce process, according to PageSix. Seen in 2014 with Bryn The two then had a rough patch then split in December 2012 as Bethenny filed for divorce one month later. From December 2012 until January 2021, Bethenny and Jason had a bitter fight over money and their daughter Bryn. In 2017 an order was placed against Hoppy as he was charged with 'harassing and stalking' the reality TV maven in New York City. Jason then had to stay away from his ex for six months. In October 2020 Frankel shocked fans when she said on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live that she was still technically wed to Hoppy. The actress was married to Peter Sussman for one year in 1996 before she tied the knot with Hoppy. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arrives for a European Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting at the European Council headquarters in Brussels on March 22, 2021. (Aris Oikonomou/ AP) European Union Targets 11 Burmese Officials Over Coup, Crackdown BRUSSELSThe European Union and the United States imposed sanctions Monday on a number of Burmese officials accused of involvement in the countrys military coup and the ensuing crackdown on protesters. The EU announced penalties on 11 officials, including 10 top military officers. Most had already been sanctioned by the United States. The Biden administration, meanwhile, targeted two senior officials, including the national police chief, and two military units involved in the suppression of protests. Ten of the 11 targeted with asset freezes and travel bans by the EU are senior members of the Myanmar Armed Forces. They include Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing and Deputy-Commander-in-Chief Soe Win, the blocs headquarters said in a statement. The eleventh person hit with sanctions is the head of the election commission who canceled last years vote. In a separate but coordinated action, the State and Treasury departments hit chief of police, Than Hlaing, and the commander of the Bureau of Special Operations, Lt Gen Aung Soe with sanctions along with two military units. These designations show that this violence will not go unanswered, the State Department said. Burmas military junta prevented Parliament from convening on Feb. 1. It claimed that last Novembers elections, won by Aung San Suu Kyis party in a landslide, were tainted by fraud. The election commission that confirmed the victory has since been replaced by the junta. The coup reversed years of slow progress toward democracy in Burma, also known as Myanmar, after five decades of military rule. In the face of persistent strikes and protests against the takeover, the junta has responded with an increasingly violent crackdown and efforts to limit the information reaching the outside world. Internet access has been severely restricted, private newspapers have been barred from publishing, and protesters, journalists and politicians have been arrested in large numbers. The statement, issued during a meeting of EU foreign ministers, said the sanctions are part of the 27-nation blocs robust response to the illegitimate over-throwing of the democratically-elected government and the brutal repression by the junta against peaceful protesters. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said of the designations demonstrate the international communitys condemnation of the regime and commitment to the people of Burma. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that what we are seeing in the way of excesses of violence there is absolutely unacceptable; the number of killings has taken on intolerable dimensions. We dont want to punish the population in Myanmar with sanctions, but those who are blatantly violating human rights there, Maas told reporters. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a great toll on humanity, but the human race is not backing down. Recently, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization to an artificial intelligence device that can scan hidden symptoms of the notorious disease. Engadget reported that the new technology is one of the medical advances the agency has given their approval. Medical breakthroughs like lab-made monoclonal antibodies, rapid tests that use CRISPR gene-editing technology, Fitbit's Flow ventilator were granted an EUA from the U.S. FDA. ALSO READ: Schools: COVID Testing of Students and Educators Vital for In-Person Classes FDA's EUA on AI Device FDA described the device to be the first machine learning-based COVID-19 diagnostic screening device. Also known as Tiger tech COVID-19 Plus Monitor, only trained personnel are allowed to use the device to prevent exposure and further spread of SARS-CoV-2. The AI device uses plethysmography along with a machine algorithm to provide a screening mechanism to mass gatherings, according to a BioWorld report. UC Health describes the asymptomatic spread of SARS-CoV-2 as the most haunting and mysterious because people who carry the virus that causes COVID-19 have no symptoms or manifestations. "The FDA is committed to continuing to support innovative methods to fight COVID-19 pandemics through new screening tools," said Jeff Shuren, M.D, the director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Shuren added that combining the features of the device and temperature checking will help alleviate the spread of COVID-19 in a variety of public places, including schools, health care facilities, and workplaces. The Emergency Use Authorization issued by the FDA to the AI device allows screening of asymptomatic individuals aging from six years old. The AI device will be used whenever there is a temperature check in mass settings. The AI device's clinical performance was tested in schools and hospitals. The results of the study between the school and the hospitals showed similar results suggesting that the AI device has shown a positive proportion of COVID-19 positive cases with a rate of 98.6 percent. How does the AI device work? In actuality, the FDA-approved AI device is designed to be an armband. The devices also utilize light sensors and a small computer processor that will allow the device to check for biomarkers that can indicate infection from SARS-CoV-2. These biomarkers are hypercoagulable conditions. It can also identify hyperinflammatory states in asymptomatic individuals who may be infected by the virus. Hypercoagulation is a common COVID-19 abnormality that causes the blood to clot more easily. The light sensors will either glow green or red. When the light turns green, that means that the patient is not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. However, if the light turns red, it means that the device has detected that the patient has symptoms of COVID-19. Even though the AI device shows great potential in spotting hidden symptoms of COVID-19, the Tiger tech COVID-19 Plus Monitor is not to be used to diagnose COVID-19. The device should solely be used on individuals without fever, and an underlying condition might interfere with the performance of the device. RELATED ARTICLE: COVID-19 Tests Can Accurately Identify New Virus Variants, Some Lab Companies Claim WATCH: Inside Look at COVID 19 Testing in Lab - from Cleveland Clinic The European Union has condemned a decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin preventing non-Russian citizens from owning land in Crimea and Sevastopol. The Russian presidential decree adding most of Crimea and Sevastopol to the list of border territories of the Russian Federation in which non-Russian citizens are prevented from owning land, has come into force on 20 March 2021, a year after its adoption. The European Union does not recognise the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia, which is a clear violation of international law. Therefore, the European Union does not recognise this decree and considers its entry into force as yet another attempt to forcibly integrate the illegally-annexed peninsula into Russia, reads the statement by the EUs Spokesperson on the Russian land ownership decree affecting Crimea, released on the website of EEAS. In the statement, the EU has again confirmed that Crimea is part of Ukraine. It is noted that the decree is also a violation of international humanitarian law, as it is another step towards the imposition of Russian citizenship on the peninsula. This has led to the arbitrary deprivation of property, the document reads. The European Union calls on Russia to stop all violations of international law on the Crimean peninsula. The European Union is unwavering in its support for Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and welcomes Ukraines diplomatic efforts to this end. The European Union will continue to enforce its non-recognition policy of the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula, including through restrictive measures, says the statement. On March 20, 2021, a Russian decree banning foreign citizens from owning land came into force in most of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, temporarily occupied by Russia. The decree affects Ukrainian citizens who refused to receive Russian passports. Russian President Putin's decree was signed on March 20, 2020. According to it, most areas of Crimea were included in the "list of border territories in which foreigners cannot own land." Restrictions are imposed on land ownership in 19 municipalities of Crimea (out of 25), including Yevpatoria, Kerch, Yalta, Sudak towns. The ban also applies to 12 municipality districts of the city of Sevastopol. Land ownership in Simferopol, Dzhankoi, Krasnoperekopsk, Bilohirsk, Krasnohvardiyske and Pervomaiske districts was not banned. ol Michael Ryan, Executive Director of World Health Organisation (WHO) Health Emergencies Program, said on Monday that the "inequitable" COVID-19 vaccine distribution was a "catastrophic moral failure" and a "failed opportunity." Speaking at a virtual press conference from Geneva on Monday about the recent rise of cases in Europe -- up by "12 percent" in the last week -- Ryan stressed that there was no "golden solution" to end the pandemic. He said that many countries have the strategy to "get enough vaccine" and "push enough vaccine to people," assuming that the COVID-19 pandemic would be shaken off with vaccine rollouts. "I am sorry, it is not(the case)," he said. "There are not enough vaccines in the world, and they are distributed terribly iniquitously." "In fact, we have missed a huge opportunity to bring vaccines on board as a comprehensive measure," said Ryan. "It is not only a catastrophic moral failure, but it is (also) an epidemiologic failure." Global infections rose up in the last week. Among the most affected places was South Asia, which saw a surge of 49 percent in the number of cases, with India taking the bulk of the rise. Another hotspot was Western Pacific, with the Philippines and Papua New Guinea accounting for most of the 29 percent increase. Meanwhile, the gap in vaccine procurement between richer and poorer countries "is growing every single day," warned Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, at Monday's press conference. As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in an increasing number of countries with the already-authorised 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 the latest information released by the World Health Organization. (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 movie starring Jason Momoa that was shot in Pittsburgh will soon be available for streaming on Netflix. Titled Sweet Girl, the film is scheduled to be released sometime this year, although the exact date remains unknown. According to the films official IMDb page, Sweet Girl follows the story of [a] devasted husband [who] vows to bring justice to the people responsible for his wifes death while protecting the only family he has left: his daughter. Momoa stars as this revenge-driven grieving husband, Cooper, who embarks on the usual high-voltage brutal mission to enact justice on wrong-doers. Momoa is also serving as the movies producer, and boasts a cast list which includes the likes of Marisa Tomei as co-stars. It is unclear whether a trailer for the film has been released, as some online accounts unaffiliated with Netflix have published concept videos piecing together clips from other movies and presenting them as official media from the film. Sweet Girl began filming in Pittsburgh around November 2019 and wrapped in February 2020. The city was in a tizzy throughout its production as various sightings of Momoa popped up all over the place, prompting women to keep their eyes peeled at all times. News outlets everywhere detailed the stars moves, from his visiting a childrens hospital in between takes to his casual drinking session at an Irish pub. He even seemed to make it to some Penguins and Steelers games. Further information regarding the filmsuch as the aforementioned confirmed release date and trailerremains pending. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form NORWALK City schools are rolling out full-time, in-person learning for middle and high schoolers following new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control that advises students can safely sit closer together and would allow for more available classroom space. With this change, our district will be able to make more room available in classrooms for students, Norwalk Public Schools spokesperson Brenda Wilcox Williams said Monday. As a result, the hybrid option currently in place at the middle and high school levels will be discontinued. The CDC released new guidance on March 19 stating students can now sit at least 3 feet apart, as opposed to the original recommendation of 6 feet. Students are still recommended to keep 6 feet apart during other activities such as eating, singing or when in common spaces. Students and staff should continue to stay 6 feet apart as should any adult staff members when interacting with each other. The district announced the planned rollout on March 22, adding that full remote learning will still be available to families. Masks will still be required for all students and staff, and all hand washing, cleaning and other health protocols will remain in place. Six feet of distancing will still be required in common areas and when masks are off. According to Wilcox Williams, all elementary school buildings will transition to 3 feet of distancing beginning March 29, with the exception of Silvermine Elementary School fourth- and fifth-graders at the Jefferson annex. These students will move back to the Silvermine building in April, with Silvermine fifth-graders moving over on April 5 and fourth-graders moving over on April 12 if space allows. All middle schools will transition to 3 feet of distancing on April 5, and students in hybrid learning will move to full in-person instruction unless families opt to switch to full remote learning. All Norwalk high schools will make the same transition on April 19. The plan, however, came as news to Norwalk Federation of Teachers President Mary Yordon, who said the union didnt find out about this rollout until Monday. The group is looking into the details of the plan, such as how the district will be providing the recommended 6 feet of space between students and staff or between student cohorts. The union is learning about this with the rest of the district, she said. Theres been no prior consultation or discussion. This is all rolling out without any consultation. We understand theres the CDC guidance and were interested in making sure theres a careful adherence to the guidance. Yordon noted the rollout will occur before all staff is fully vaccinated. Norwalk school staff began getting vaccinated earlier this month under Gov. Ned Lamonts new rollout plan, which allowed people who work in schools to get vaccinated sooner. Norwalk held a clinic on March 3 exclusively for school staff, but Yordon said most staff are not fully vaccinated yet and wont be until next month when the district schedules followup clinics for second doses. I recognize we arent all vaccinated yet, Yordon said. Were still operating in a pandemic and are eager to be safe. ... We were very enthusiastic about the school vaccinations and very grateful for the opportunity to be vaccinated on site. Norwalk Public Schools implemented a hybrid learning model for middle and high schoolers at the start of the 2020-21 school year while elementary school students were given the option to return to school full-time. The district began moving toward full in-person instruction for older students back in January when it announced students in middle and high school failing two or more subjects would be able to return full-time come February. In late February, the district announced it would be expanding this option to more students in the middle and high schools, but the availability would depend on the space constraints of each individual school. The CDCs new guidelines also recommends student cohorts be kept 6 feet apart, and cohorts should be used in areas of substantial or high community transmission. As of March 19, Norwalk was still in red alert status, according to the state Department of Health, given that there are still more than 15 positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over a two-week period. According to the Norwalk Health Department, there were 26.4 cases per 100,000 people between Feb. 28 and March 13. The test positivity rate from Feb. 28 to March was 5.1 percent The district began using a cohort system where possible at the start of the school year to keep small groups of students together to limit widespread exposure. erin.kayata@hearstmediact.com The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine regards the intention to open representative offices of the Russian political party Just Russia-Patriots-For the Truth in Donetsk and Luhansk as further evidence of the escalation of the situation by the Russian Federation in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions not controlled by the Ukrainian government (ORDLO). "The Russian authorities continue to openly disregard the Minsk Agreements and take steps to drag out Donbas regions currently not controlled by Ukraine into their political, economic and electoral field," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko told Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday. He pointed out that after the illegal issuance of passports of citizens of the Russian Federation to the population of ORDLO; the Russian parties saw the possibility of receiving political dividends. "The declared goal of the representative center of Just Russia is to promote the implementation of the electoral rights of 'citizens of Russia' residents of the temporarily occupied territories grossly violates the legislation and sovereignty of Ukraine, and opens up the field for fraud in the Russian elections. Recently, Russia has been actively discussing the organization of elections to the State Duma [Russian] in ORDLO. Ukraine has already stated that it does not recognize the legitimacy of such elections," Nikolenko said. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said that the Russian Federation should finally begin to fulfill its obligations to achieve a political and diplomatic settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict on the basis of full respect for Ukraine's sovereignty, and compliance with the requirements of Ukrainian legislation and international law. Earlier, the party Just Russia-Patriots-For the Truth reported that the chairman of the party, Sergei Mironov, had appointed his assistant Alexei Zhigulin as the plenipotentiary representative of the chairman of the party in the territories of the so-called "Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics". Zhigulin was instructed to create a representative center of the party in Donetsk and organize a consultation reception for citizens living in the territories of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR". GREENWICH Frustrated over an expired contract, nearly two years without a wage increase and working through the deadly COVID-19 crisis, members of a local workers union held a protest outside Greenwich Town Hall on Monday. About 40 members of Teamsters Local 456 gathered to bring attention to what they called unfair treatment toward hundreds of town employees by the leaders of Greenwich. The hang-up is really in wages and in benefits, said Roger Taranto, who negotiates contracts and oversees contract enforcement for the union. But at this point, its really about the respect. ... We just want to send a message to the town that were not going to tolerate this. Youre going to treat our members fair. Union members have not received a wage increase since their last contract expired on June 30, 2019, Taranto said. The town and the union have been involved in contract negotiations but have not come to an agreement, he said. In the interim, the previous contract has remained in effect, and workers have continued to do their jobs, he said. Throughout the pandemic, the workers have cared for the elderly, maintained schools, cleaned the local streets and kept the community running, union leaders said at the outdoor protest, accompanied by a 20-foot-tall blow-up pig dressed in a tuxedo and holding a cigar. Asked what the pig represented, Taranto said, Money. Some union members, especially nurses and custodial staff, have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic while carrying out their professional duties, Taranto said. Some took on additional hours and were exposed frequently to the coronavirus. Some contracted COVID-19 on the job and brought the virus back home to family members, he added. Claudette Marshall, who has worked at the Nathaniel Witherell nursing home for 27 years, said she and her colleagues have worked tirelessly during the pandemic. Marshall said their mental and physical health has suffered from working longer hours and watching many Witherell residents succumb to the COVID-19 virus. It was very hard. Its very stressful for us. I had to put in extra hours because people were sick. But we did it gracefully, Marshall said. So, we think we should be treated fairly by getting a raise that we so deserve. But now the pandemic is over, and its like we got tossed aside, like we were never essential and thats not nice. Besides those at the Nathaniel Witherell, Teamsters Local 456 represents about 400 town employees in Greenwich, including at Town Hall, the Highway Department, the Parks and Recreation Department, the Sewer Division, Greenwich Library, the police and the Senior Center. The union also represents facilities maintenance and custodial staff at the Board of Education, Taranto added. The Teamsters are essential workers, he said, but the town of Greenwich has not put forth a fair effort to settle the contract, specifically naming the Board of Estimate and Taxation and the Representative Town Meeting. Shortly before noon, the protesters marched single file around Town Hall chanting, Hey, hey, ho, ho, the BET has got to go. Laura Erickson, a BET member who was walking out of Town Hall when she heard the demonstration, said the BET is not directly involved with the contract negotiation for the workers. The RTM is ultimately the body that approves the contract, not the BET, she said. Mike Mason, chair of the BET, agreed and said the first selectman, the labor negotiator, and the RTM Labor Contract Committee must respond to the claims made by the union and its members. Danyal Ozizmir, chair of the labor contract committee, was reached by phone Monday night. He wouldnt comment specifically on the Teamsters Local 456 contract because he said hes not a direct party of the negotiations. But he said its not uncommon for contracts to be finalized or approved after the start of a new contract period. For example, the fire contract is in arbitration, and so is the Teamsters Local 456 contract. Arbitration occurs when the two parties are unable to agree on a final contract. The town chooses an arbitrator or mediator, and so does the union. Then, those two arbitrators choose a third mediator. The three arbitrators can award a final contract to both parties at the end of the process, Ozizmir said. Once the town and union agree, or once theres an arbitration award, the RTM decides whether to ratify the contract, reject it or postpone it indefinitely, Ozizmir said. The town has been able to come to contract agreements without arbitration with three of the six unions in town. Front-line workers, including nurses, were involved in two of the three unions, he said. Once the contract for Teamsters Local 456 is settled, employees would be paid for any back increase in wages. There has been high turnover in the towns labor negotiator role, Taranto said, which is slowing the negotiation process. Every time theres a change, you have to get everything to a new person, he said. And enough is enough. Our people deserve a contract and a wage. The town recently received millions of dollars in federal stimulus payments, Taranto added. But he said workers are not looking for a large increases: Theyre looking to bring home a decent wage to support their families. This is the first time the union has set up a demonstration outside Greenwich Town Hall, but Taranto said it wouldnt be the last. Well be back, he said. This isnt over. tatiana.flowers@thehour.com @TATIANADFLOWERS Tourists enjoy a public beach in Cancun, Mexico March 9, 2021. Picture taken (Photo : REUTERS/Adriana Varillas/File Photo) Feeling he can now travel internationally without risking his life, recently-vaccinated American Brian Sheppard hopped on a plane to Mexico's top beach resort a few days ago to attend the wedding of one of his best friends. Like other major Mexican tourist draws, Cancun's all-inclusive hotels along wide stretches of white sand beaches on the Caribbean are benefiting from the steady if uneven global march of coronavirus vaccinations as Mexico prepares for a rebound from one of the worst-ever years for its crucial tourism sector. Advertisement While the U.S. Spring Break season has so far been relatively muted in Mexico, summer bookings are seen between 48.7% and 61.5% occupancy at the main tourist destinations, up dramatically from 2020 when properties stood mostly empty, according to government estimates. U.S. travelers in particular are seen feeling more confident thanks to the increasing application of coronavirus vaccines. Battered shares of Mexican hotel companies have already begun to recover as the expectation of sunnier times takes hold. Shares of Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe, which operates properties in Mexican beach destinations including Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, have rebounded by more than a third since last November when they hit a record low. FibraHotel, meanwhile, with a similar profile of hotels has fared even better, with its shares up nearly 70% since May, when they also slumped to their lowest-ever level. The expected summertime boom is a welcome postcard for Mexico's ailing economy as tourist spending comprised nearly 9% of gross domestic product in pre-pandemic 2019. As he finished dinner at a beachfront restaurant, Sheppard confessed he almost turned down his friend's wedding invite. "I was gonna miss it," said the 38-year-old nurse from Cleveland, Ohio, even after receiving his two-shot vaccine. The jabs, he said, gave him the confidence he needed to conquer his fears. "I'd traveled to a few places in my home state, but nowhere really far away." SUMMER SURGE The results of a poll from online travel company Expedia late last year showed half of U.S. residents described themselves as "hopeful" for travel due to the arrival of vaccines, a sentiment that spread to Mexican hoteliers. "The situation looks a lot different now," said Eduardo Cruz, head of operations for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in Latin America and the Caribbean. Cruz sees even more tourism dollars flowing to Mexico in the second half of this year, pointing to what he described as pent-up demand that could lead to a "stampede of travelers." Some 458.1 million vaccines doses have been administered worldwide. The United States, home to two-thirds of Mexico's foreign visitors, has provided its residents with 126.5 million doses so far, according to figures from Our World in Data, an Oxford-based research group. A surge of tourists to Mexico's sunkissed beaches, ancient ruins and colonial-era cities is expected even as the governments of the two top sender countries still discourage such travel. U.S. officials require all returning travelers, including citizens, to test negative for COVID-19 and recently urged them specifically to avoid going to Mexico for Spring Break holidays. Canada's government, meanwhile, has temporarily canceled flights to Mexico. Despite that, Cancun's tourist board is expecting 300,000 visitors in March, up a third from last year. For most of the past year, Mexican authorities imposed few obstacles to willing visitors with disposable income to spend. That has fed concern that new coronavirus variants, so far rarely detected in Mexico, could take hold and stifle the tourism revival. Investors sensing a buying opportunity should proceed with caution, said Brian Rodriguez, an analyst at Mexican broker Monex. "At these levels, investing in the sector is very attractive," he said. "But only if expectations are met, and that will depend on the vaccines and borders reopening." The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) at the UN calls on the Ukrainian authorities to refrain from any acts which interfere with the independence of the judiciary and annul the suspension of Chairman of the Constitutional Court Oleksandr Tupytsky, the Constitutional Court said. "On March 23, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine received an e-mail from the International Commission of Jurists, informing that on March 22, 2021, before the United Nations Human Rights Council, the International Commission of Jurists called on the Ukrainian authorities to ensure the security of lawyers and the independence of the judiciary," according to the statement of the court's communications and legal monitoring division, the text of which was posted on the court's website on Tuesday. According to the court, the statement of Representative of the International Commission of Jurists to the UN Massimo Frigo was addressed to President of the UN Human Rights Council Mrs. Nazhat Shameem. "In Ukraine, a number of lawyers, including those who defend human rights, in and outside of courts, including to face threats, harassment, and other attacks on their security [...] The ICJ is further concerned at recent the attempts of interference by the Government with the independence of the judiciary in Ukraine," the statement said. According to the court, the ICJ welcomes the withdrawal of the presidential draft law by which all judges of the Constitutional Court would have been dismissed. "However, it is concerning that, following a criminal case initiated against him, the President of the Constitutional Court was suspended by a decision of the President of Ukraine. This decision, on dubious legal grounds, undermines the independence of the judiciary," the statement said. Thus, the ICJ urges Ukraine "to ensure prompt, thorough, impartial and independent investigations of all attacks on lawyers, leading where appropriate, to bringing those responsible to justice and refrain from any acts which interfere with the independence of the judiciary and annul the suspension of the President of the Constitutional Court." An executive producer on Chuck Lorre's new midseason series "The United States of Al" is defending the CBS sitcom against attacks based on a recent trailer for the show, which features an Afghan main character living with his wartime colleague, a white Marine. Criticisms leveled over the weekend included the casting of a non-Afghan actor in the lead role and the perception that the show has a "white savior" theme. Others were disturbed to see only one person of color in the show's teaser clip. "The United States of Al" revolves around the bond between a Marine combat veteran who is struggling to adjust after returning home to Ohio and his Afghan interpreter, who has just moved to the U.S. from Afghanistan to start a new life. The characters fought alongside each other against the Taliban, and the Marine, Riley, worked hard to get translator Awalmir nicknamed Al into the U.S. after his tour of duty. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Executive producer Reza Aslan, who is from Iran and has HBO's "The Leftovers" and the documentary series "The Secret Life of Muslims" on his resume, defended the show on social media over the weekend, emphasizing that all critics have seen at this point is the trailer. "You can't judge a show by a 30 sec trailer," he wrote Sunday. "Well, you shouldn't, at least. Still this is Twitter..." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. "Im just ok with your opinion," Aslan, who previously hosted the CNN series "Believer With Reza Aslan, tweeted at one critic. "Just wish it was based on facts not feels. I get it. My whole life Ive been misrepresented on TV. Thats why I came to Hollywood to change that. You dont have to support the effort. But maybe watch it then s on it not other way round." In response to criticism for casting actor Adhir Kalyan, who is of South Asian descent and was born in South Africa, in the lead role, Aslan said, "There are five Afghan characters in the show and four of them are played by Afghans. We saw 100 Afghan leads but sitcom is a specialized genre and its very tough to play. But we also have four Afghan writers/producers on the show whove done a great job helping Adhir." Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Kalyan, 37, is a sitcom veteran who played Timmy Patel on CBS' "Rules of Engagement." He has his Twitter page set to private, so no comments were visible. One scholar criticizing Aslan alluded to the "white savior" trope: "To see an American soldier hosting an Afghan [war interpreter] in the US and letting him live with his family does romanticise forces which killed, tortured, and unlawfully imprisoned thousands of Afghan civilians. Very disappointing from you." The problem with that, Aslan said, is that the sitcom is reality-based. "You are literally talking about a true story. There are dozens and dozens of Afghan interpreters living with US soldiers. We know cause we actually spoke to them. This is literally their story." The real-life story involves Afghan and Iraqi citizens who have jeopardized their safety to work with the U.S. military as translators or interpreters during wartime. They are eligible for special immigrant visas, or SIVs, to come to the United States, but the program offers up to only 50 such visas per year. But the snark continued online. "Finally, a groundbreaking show that will help Americans understand the plight of Indian actors playing magical Afghans to hunky gentle white supermodel saviors who are 'tired from war because there is so much walking.' Thank you @rezaaslan for taking so many risks," activist Rafael Shimunov tweeted, earning a snappy reply from Aslan: "Its actually a brown savior show but you do you dude." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Aslan also retweeted something from No One Left Behind, a nonprofit committed to ensuring that the U.S. keeps its promise to care for those in other countries who jeopardize their safety on behalf of the United States. The organization promoted "The Takeout" podcast about "United States of Al," which writers Maria Ferrari and David Goetsch and "Big Bang Theory" and "Two and a Half Men" showrunner Lorre did recently with Ret. Gen. David Petraeus and CBS News' Major Garrett. In it, Garrett, who said he had watched and enjoyed four "Al" episodes, praised the sitcom. "This is a show that will matter," the journalist said at the start of the March 19 episode of the political podcast. "It is the bravest comedy I have seen in about a decade." Goetsch described the writers' process as they worked on the show, which included conversations with friends and others who'd been in the same roles as Al and Riley, in similar situations, after fighting against the Taliban. Their writers room, he said, includes veterans and people of Afghan descent. CBS did not respond Monday to The Times' request for comment. Starring with Kalyan are Parker Young as Riley, Dean Norris as Riley's dad (Art) and Kelli Goss as Riley's estranged wife (Vanessa). The United States of Al premieres April 1. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. New Delhi, March 23 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear a plea by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, who has unleashed a barrage of allegations against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, and seeking a CBI probe against him. In his petition, Singh has accused Deshmukh of adopting corrupt practices in posting or transfer of police officers and seeking to implicate BJP leaders in MP Mohan Delkar's suicide. He urged the Supreme Court to direct a fair CBI investigation into the acts of Deshmukh in abuse of his official position. A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and R. Subhash Reddy will hear Singh's petition. Singh, in the petition, said on February 22, Member of Parliament Mohan Delkar was found dead in his Mumbai hotel room, leaving behind a 15-page suicide note. He added that after initial inquiries and report, he initiated investigation in the matter and sought advice from the Police Department's Legal Cell. "The petitioner was time and again pressurised by the Minister for Home, Government of Maharashtra to probe the role of certain leaders of BJP and somehow implicate them. It is submitted that there was tremendous pressure to give the entire episode a political angle. The petitioner however did not succumb to the pressure," he said in the petition. He further accused Deshmukh of adopting corrupt practices in posting or transfers in police in addition with extortion of Rs 100 crore per month from various establishments. Singh claimed that last August, Rashmi Shukla, Commissioner Intelligence, State Intelligence Department, through telephonic interceptions, brought out information about corrupt malpractices in postings or transfers adopted by Deshmukh. She brought it to the notice of then Director General of Police, who in turn brought it to the knowledge of the Additional Chief Secretary, Home. However, Shukla was shunted out, instead of any firm action against Deshmukh being taken. Singh said around mid-March, he had pointed out to the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and other senior leaders about the several misdeeds and malpractices carried out by the Home Minister. He said that the wrote a letter on March 20 to the Chief Minister. "The petitioner thus apprised the Chief Minister of the true picture for consideration and corrective action, being fully cognizant to the retaliation that is likely against the petitioner for placing the true picture on record," said the petition. Later, he was transferred to from the post of the Police Commissioner of Mumbai to the Home Guard Department in an arbitrary and illegal manner without the completion of the minimum fixed tenure of two years, he added. Singh sought the CBI to immediately conduct an unbiased, uninfluenced, impartial and fair investigation in the various corrupt malpractices carried out by Deshmukh. The Maharashtra government had said Singh's transfer was done to ensure a free and fair investigation in the Antilia incident leading to an FIR registered on February 25, with Gamdevi Police Station as a result of a car with explosives being found at Altamount Road near Antilia, the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, for a bomb scare. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, American cybersecurity firm, PC Matic , announced the release of its second annual report analyzing trends between cybersecurity and employees who are working from home amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. A follow up to research released by the firm in May 2020, the eleven-page report bears the name COVID-19: Cybersecurity in the Remote Workforce and presents the results of a nationally distributed survey by which nearly 6,000 individuals responded. The findings, gathered in March 2021, indicate that nearly one year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 35% of Americans are still working from home. This, all while ransomware attacks, many of which were successfully executed by targeting remote workers, saw a near 435% increase last year . Key findings from the report are as follows: Nearly half of employers continue to fall short on providing remote workers with technical assistance. In 2020, 47% of respondents indicated they were not receiving technical assistance from their employer. In 2021, this number ticked up slightly to 49% of remote workers responding that they were not receiving technical assistance from their employer. In 2020, 47% of respondents indicated they were not receiving technical assistance from their employer. In 2021, this number ticked up slightly to 49% of remote workers responding that they were not receiving technical assistance from their employer. Six of every ten remote workers are using a personal device for work purposes. Nearly 62% of remote workers in both 2020 and 2021 indicated that their employer didn't issue a device (computer, tablet, etc.) for work purposes, and instead required they use their personal devices. Nearly 62% of remote workers in both 2020 and 2021 indicated that their employer didn't issue a device (computer, tablet, etc.) for work purposes, and instead required they use their personal devices. Less than ten percent of respondents were provided an antivirus software solution for the personal device they use for work purposes. In 2020, 7% of respondents who use their personal devices for work purposes responded that their employer provided them with an antivirus solution. In 2021, 9% responded in the same manner. "Work from home is here to stay," said Rob Cheng, CEO and Founder of PC Matic. "As threat-actors continue to target remote workers, and as the number of ransomware attacks continues to surge, it is imperative that employers take these threats seriously. The time is now to educate employees of the risks and to invest in proactive solutions designed to thwart these modern-day threats." More findings and the complete report may be found here . More information on PC Matic may be found here . SOURCE PC Matic Related Links https://www.pcmatic.com/ SUMMERVILLE Three years ago, 40-year-old Ashley Lawrence's life changed after a spinal injury caused her to lose the use of her right leg. Not one to be set back, she recently was crowned Ms. Wheelchair USA South Carolina. But she still faces struggles just getting into buildings to see a mental health therapist. There's also the competition for the national title in July in Ohio, and she needs the community's help to get there. "Im so happy to be a part of it," Lawrence said. "It's just amazing to let people know that we are here." Ms. Wheelchair USA is a national program funded by the Dane Foundation, an Ohio nonprofit created to serve individuals with developmental and physical disabilities. The pageant began as a state contest in Ohio about 23 years ago and has grown into a televised competition featuring women from across the United States. "We are thrilled to have an opportunity to share the stories of the amazing and accomplished women of the Ms. Wheelchair USA organization," said Lowery Lockard, executive producer and founder of Ms. Wheelchair USA. The national competition is July 11-18 in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. To get there, Lawrence will need to cover the costs of her flight and hotel stay. She was born in West Virginia but said she fell in love with the Summerville community after several visits during summer months. She learned about the Ms. Wheelchair USA program from a friend's Instagram post. She said before that she never knew there were any pageants or competitions specifically for women who use a wheelchair. What really pushed her into running for the South Carolina title was that the program wasn't a beauty contest. You're being judged on your abilities and your outreach to the community," she said. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Carolina portion of the competition was virtual. There was an application and essay on what each contestant's platform would be. Lawrence's platform focuses on mental health and accessibility to resources. It was inspired by her own mental health journey as she hopes to become a mental health advocate. Now 40, she spent 37 years without needing a wheelchair. But she received an injury that permanently damaged nerves in her spine, which caused her to lose the use of her right leg. She said there were so many doctors around her focused on making sure she was physically OK. But during that time, there was no one checking on my mental health," she said. There was also a situation in which she had to find an entirely new therapist because there was no way for her to get into the office with her wheelchair. After experiencing hurdles finding affordable and accessible mental health resources, she said she knows its an important conversation. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about a third of adults with disabilities experience frequent mental distress. In dealing with her own early mental health battle, Lawrence also lives and manages constant anxiety. Another inspiration for her to enter the pageant: her therapist's advice to get out of her comfort zone. She said she was absolutely shocked when she found out she won. "It's something that I never expected to happen," she said. I am overcoming and I am accomplishing all of these goals that Im setting." Those looking to support Lawrence can email her at alawrence1022@gmail.com about donations or visit the foundation's website at thedanefoundation.org and click the donate tab for Ashley Lawrence. Winners of the pageant will spend a year representing their individual platform, the Dane Foundation and the crown on a state, regional and national level. Lawrence said regardless of whether she wins, she looks forward to being able to do more work focusing on mental health awareness with more resources. I feel like Im going to be able to reach more people about issues," she said. Relaxed restrictions that prevented local bars and restaurants from plunging even father into the red due to shutdowns and gathering restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic could stick around indefinitely. The Metro Council on Wednesday will discuss amending the city-parish's ordinance around alcohol and liquor sales to allow bars and restaurants to continue curbside service and at-home delivery of alcoholic beverages themselves or through the use of third-party services like Waitr and Uber Eats. The package of agenda items connected to the changes are being called a "progressive step forward" by Councilmen Cleve Dunn Jr. and Aaron Moak, who are co-sponsoring the proposed changes after toiling over them for the past month. +8 Alcohol delivery in Louisiana is 'in limbo.' This recent Waitr decision was a factor. Since Louisiana legalized the delivery of alcohol to consumers homes last year, about 50 companies have received the necessary paperwork to d "The pandemic forced us into a more progressive approach and into more liberties for these establishments as it relates to how they sell and get products to their consumers," Dunn said. "Anarchy didn't happen because we allowed curbside delivery of alcohol. Things were still held together. I think Baton Rouge is more progressive today than it was 20 or 30 years ago." Moak added, "It's strictly a continuation of what's been working. Now we're giving them the legal rights and means to do so." But on Tuesday, Dunn said its likely the items will get deferred since, as its currently written, it would prohibit businesses that sell liquor from hiring drag queens or male impersonators as exotic dancers or bartenders. Prohibiting "any male impersonating a female" or "female impersonating a male" from getting hired as exotic dancers and/or bartenders was never part of his intent, Dunn said. That was an oversight of the Parish Attorneys Office, who basically copied and pasted provisions from the state law, Dunn said. Im in no way, shape or form in support of discrimination. As now written, proposed EBR liquor law would bar drag queens, male impersonators from bartending A current draft of proposed changes to an ordinance regulating liquor sales in East Baton Rouge Parish would prohibit drag queens and male imp Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up He promised that stipulation would be removed from the proposed amendments ahead of Wednesday nights meeting. The Metro Council last April followed the state's lead in relaxing restrictions around alcohol sales since social distancing restrictions had pretty much impeded many bars and restaurants from normal operations. Being able to sell liquor for off-site consumption and/or set up serving areas in their parking lots was how many establishments were able to stay afloat over the past year. Despite the current positive trends related to the virus thanks to vaccination rollouts, Moak said he and Dunn felt it was important to make sure the bar and restaurant industry still had the resources they need to move forward as mitigation restrictions ease and life slowly returns to normal. When that happens, the state is expected to reinstate all licensing and regulation measures for liquor sales, which would prevent businesses from being able to continue off-site liquor sales and delivery. Under the proposed changes, alcohol retailers and third-party delivery services must meet all state liquor license requirements for their class and pay $1,500 in permitting fees. Restaurants would have to pay an additional $250 in permitting fees to use third-party delivery services. Delivery wouldnt be allowed to anyone underage, any area where a local governing authority has prohibited alcohol delivery and/or college campuses and schools. Delivery is also only permitted during a businesses normal operating hours, the proposed amendments state. Bars and restaurants would also have to adhere to a list of accountability measures like maintaining records of off-site liquor sales for at least two to three years. The changes would still prohibit customers from bringing their own liquor to bars and restaurants with outside eating areas, unless a business has the proper state licensing. As we transition to post pandemic environments with vaccines, wed like to keep some of those adjustments, Dunn said. We really want to give businesses more autonomy out of this pandemic. BOULDER, Colo. A shooting at a Colorado supermarket killed 10 people Monday, including a police officer who was the first to respond to the scene, authorities said. Police arrested a suspect, but didnt reveal his name or any details about the shooting at an evening news conference where Boulder police Chief Maris Herold fought back tears. Investigators had just begun sorting through evidence and witness interviews and didnt have details on a motive for the shooting at the King Soopers store in Boulder, which is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado, said Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty. This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder County, Dougherty said. These were people going about their day, doing their shopping. I promise the victims and the people of the state of Colorado that we will secure justice. The attack was the seventh mass killing this year in the U.S., following the March 16 shooting that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. It follows a lull in mass killings during the pandemic in 2020, which had the smallest number of such attacks in more than a decade, according to the database, which tracks mass killings defined as four or more dead, not including the shooter. The slain officer was identified as Eric Talley, 51, who had been with Boulder police since 2010, Herold said. He went to the store after a call about shots fired and someone carrying a rifle, she said. He was by all accounts one of the outstanding officers of the Boulder Police Department, and his life was cut too short, Dougherty said of Talley. Identities of the other nine victims were not disclosed Monday night as police were still notifying their family members. Matthew Kirsch, the acting U.S. attorney for Colorado, pledged that the full weight of federal law enforcement will support the investigation. He said investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the crime scene, along with FBI agents. Officers had escorted a shirtless man with blood running down his leg out of the store in handcuffs but authorities would not say if he was the suspect. They did say the suspect was receiving medical care and was the only person injured who did not die. Officials have not said whether the suspect is the person who was taken from the shooting scene to Foothills Hospital in Boulder. The hospital will not release any further information on the patient, said Rich Sheehan, spokesman for Boulder Community Health, which operates the hospital. Dean Schiller told The Associated Press that he had just left the supermarket when he heard gunshots and saw three people lying face down, two in the parking lot and one near the doorway. He said he couldnt tell if they were breathing. Video posted on YouTube showed one person on the floor inside the store and two more outside on the ground. What sounds like two gunshots are also heard at the beginning of the video. Law enforcement vehicles and officers massed outside the store, including SWAT teams, and at least three helicopters landed on the roof. Some windows at the front of the store were broken. At one point, authorities said over a loudspeaker that the building was surrounded and that you need to surrender. Sarah Moonshadow told the Denver Post that two shots rang out just after she and her son, Nicolas Edwards, finished buying strawberries. She said she told her son to get down and then we just ran. Once they got outside, she said they saw a body in the parking lot. Edwards said police were speeding into the lot and pulled up next to the body. I knew we couldnt do anything for the guy, he said. We had to go. James Bentz told the Post that he was in the meat section when he heard what he thought was a misfire, then a series of pops. I was then at the front of a stampede, he said. Bentz said he jumped off a loading dock out back to escape and that younger people were helping older people off of it. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis tweeted a statement that his heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community. Police had told people to shelter in place amid a report of an armed, dangerous individual about 3 miles (5 kilometers) away from the grocery store but said at the news conference later that it wasnt related to the shooting. Police outside a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday, March 22, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the shooting. In a statement, the King Soopers chain offered thoughts, prayers and support to our associates, customers, and the first responders who so bravely responded to this tragic situation. We will continue to cooperate with local law enforcement and our store will remain closed during the police investigation. Kevin Daly, owner of Under the Sun Eatery and Pizzeria Restaurant a block or so from the supermarket, said he was in his shop when he saw police cars arriving and shoppers running from the grocery store. He said he took in several people to keep them warm, and others boarded a bus provided by Boulder police and were taken away. ___ Patty Nieberg, James Anderson and Colleen Slevin of The Associated Press wrote this story. Nieberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. SGX Nifty: Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could rise 8 points at the opening bell. The Supreme Court would deliver its judgment in the loan moratorium case today, 23 March 2021, as per reports. Global markets: Overseas, Asian stocks are trading mixed on Tuesday, with Chinese search giant Baidu making its debut in Hong Kong. U.S. stocks jumped on Monday led by technology shares as investors flocked back into growth names amid declining bond yields. The moves came as the 10-year Treasury yield declined 5 basis points to around 1.68% (1 basis point equals 0.01%), following a 14-month high touched last week. It last stood at 1.6964%. U.S. trial data released Monday showed the Covid vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford is 79% effective in preventing symptomatic illness and 100% effective against severe disease and hospitalization. Domestic markets: Back home, domestic equity benchmarks ended with minor cuts after a volatile session on Monday. Mixed global cues and rising COVID-19 cases in India spoiled sentiment. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, slipped 86.95 points or 0.17% to 49,771.29. The Nifty 50 index declined 7.60 points or 0.05% to 14,736.40. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 786.98 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net buyers to the tune of Rs 542.70 crore in the Indian equity market on 22 March, provisional data showed. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Located in phase one of the development, residents are now able to access the Community Green early on, as additional community amenities are developed in later phases of Meyer Ranch. Opening in 2022, 'The Haus' will be a primary recreational amenity for the entire community. As a central hub, it will include a fitness center, community pool with splash pad, greenspace, open play areas plus additional playgrounds. With additional acreage set aside for greenspace, future planned amenities in Meyer Ranch will also include a dog park, smaller pocket parks throughout, an extensive trail system and revitalization of the Heimer Housea Texas Historical Landmark. Phase two of the development, containing 189 new homesites consisting of 45', 50' and 60' homesites, will open this Spring. New builder, Chesmar Homes will also join the six current homebuilders in the community. "We are delighted to celebrate the opening of our first amenity," said Erika Ramon, Marketing Manager for Meyer Ranch. "Creating spaces that encourage outdoor activities and connections are more important than ever." Meyer Ranch is conveniently located near I-35, shopping, downtown New Braunfels, Gruene and Canyon Lake. Students attend the award-winning Comal ISD schools. New homes are available from the mid $200s. For more information on Meyer Ranch visit MeyerRanchTX.com or call 830-213-7397. About Crown Community Development: Crown Community Development (http://www.crowncommunities.com), a subsidiary of The Henry Crown and Companies, was founded in 1988 to develop master plan communities and premier areas to live and work. Crown has a singular perspective on the mission and mechanics of master planning and has one of the most thorough and effective approaches to community investment and development in the country today. Crown Community Development has master planned major developments and investments throughout the U.S. including Chicago, Tampa, Seattle, Denver, Nashville, Indianapolis and Gettysburg, PA. About Randolph Todd Development: Randolph Todd Development was formed in 2013 to capitalize on the vast opportunities presented by the fertile Central Texas real estate market. Founding members, Randy Rollo and Todd McCullough have joined their relevant local experience, contacts and knowledge to create a significant force in the real estate acquisition, entitlement, and development space. Their over 60 years of combined residential and commercial experience is well positioned to meet the increasing demands of the Central Texas market. SOURCE Meyer Ranch Related Links https://meyerranchtx.com/ Former Illumina and Helix finance executive brings deep experience with emerging and established life science companies SAN FRANCISCO and PARIS, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DNA Script, a leader in revolutionizing DNA synthesis on demand to accelerate scientific breakthroughs, has appointed Philippe Lyko as its new Chief Financial Officer. Lyko brings over 20 years of diverse operational finance expertise in diverse industries, geographies, business cycles and profit drivers. Lyko's prior demonstrated experience, particularly at other dynamic, US-based life science and healthcare companies, will be instrumental as DNA Script accelerates the commercialization of its SYNTAX platform. Lyko joins the company from Flexport, a $1Bn+ digital freight forwarding company where he acted as Interim CFO for the past two years. He was critical to scaling the finance operations during a period of rapid growth for the company. Lyko spent three years leading operational finance as the Vice President of Finance at Helix, a leader in population genomics. He also spent seven years in a hyper-growth and business transformation environment as the Senior Finance Director at Illumina. Lyko's acumen in growing emerging businesses and scaling operations allowed him to build the financial organizations during critical growth periods. Lyko began his career in life sciences and healthcare at General Electric, serving 10 years in various international divisions. "Philippe will play a transformative role at DNA Script as we launch the commercialization of the SYNTAX platform and progress toward our goal of revolutionizing DNA synthesis on demand," said Thomas Ybert, co-founder and CEO of DNA Script. "With his experience in leading the financial operations of several emerging and established companies, he will play a key role in positioning the company for the future." About DNA Script Founded in 2014, DNA Script is a disruptive DNA synthesis company engineering biology to accelerate breakthroughs in life science. The company is pioneering an alternative to traditional DNA synthesis called enzymatic DNA synthesis, or EDS, making this technology accessible to labs with the first benchtop enzymatic synthesis instrument, the SYNTAX System. By putting DNA synthesis back in the lab, DNA Script is transforming life science research through innovative technology that gives researchers full control and unprecedented autonomy. www.dnascript.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1470441/Philippe_Lyko_CFO_DNA_Script.jpg Police are appealing for help identifying ten people as part of the investigation into the 'Kill the Bill' riots. Bristol saw 3,000 legitimate demonstrators protesting the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on Sunday, but moments of clear criminal damage were pictured being carried out, such as street furniture or roadworks equipment being destroyed. Officers from Avon and Somerset Police have now issued pictures of ten people they want to speak to in connection with the Bristol riots. Eight men aged between 20 and 44 arrested for violent disorder have been released under investigation. One 28-year-old man from the Bedminster Down area of Bristol, appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court this morning. He was charged with possessing an offensive weapon and is next due to appear at the same court on June 10. Officers from Avon and Somerset Police have now issued pictures of ten people they want to speak to in connection with the Bristol riots Officers from Avon and Somerset Police have now issued pictures of ten people they want to speak to in connection with the Bristol riots A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said it will be one of their biggest ever investigations Pictured: Two of the ten people Avon and Somerset Police wish to speak to in connection with the Bristol event A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said it will be one of their biggest ever investigations. They said: 'We're appealing for the public's help to identify ten people we'd like to speak to as part of our investigation into the violent disorder in Bristol on Sunday. 'A total of 21 officers were injured - two of them seriously - when they were violently confronted by people gathered outside the Bridewell Police Station in Bridewell Street. 'Officers were attacked and threatened, police vehicles including a community police station were set on fire and criminal damage was caused to the police station exterior. 'The disorder followed a protest in the city centre attended by an estimated 3,000 people.' Police have released 10 pictures of people they would like to speak to in connection with Sunday's events in Bristol Officers from Avon and Somerset Police have now issued pictures of ten people they want to speak to in connection with the Bristol riots Detective Chief Superintendent Carolyn Belafonte said: 'The investigation into Sunday's disgraceful scenes of violence will undoubtedly be one of the largest in Avon and Somerset Police's history. 'More than 100 officers and staff continue to work on the inquiry which is being led by our Major Crime Investigation Team. 'Hundreds of hours of digital material has already been reviewed and images of the first 10 people detectives want to talk to about Sunday's events have been identified and published on a gallery on our website. 'Officers and staff are working their way through images and footage as quickly as they can but with more than two terabytes worth of CCTV footage as well as nearly 100 officers' body worn video cameras and more than 100 videos already sent in by members of the public to review, this will take a considerable amount of time. Rioters set police vehicles on fire as protesters clashed with officers in the shocking scenes on Sunday night 'We expect to release images of many more people in the coming days and ask anyone who recognises anyone to contact us. We'd also ask anyone who recognises themselves in the images to pick up the phone and dial 101 or visit their nearest police station so we can arrange for officers to talk to you to get your account of events.' Det Ch Supt added: 'The incident attracted worldwide attention and we continue to be humbled by the incredible support shown to us from the public, as well as from organisations and agencies across the city and beyond. 'The public response in particular has been nothing short of amazing and I want all those who've shown us support and kindness to know how much we appreciate it. 'In addition to asking for help to identify the people in the images we're releasing, we also continue to ask people to submit any footage or photos they may have captured of Sunday's events. We've set up a dedicated form on our website where people can submit material or provide us with information. 'Other lines of enquiry are also being progressed, including forensic evidence, which will help us identify those involved. We may have only arrested eight people so for but I guarantee we're wholly committed to tracking down those who carried out offences and with the help of the public we will be making more arrests very soon.' Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. As the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines has accelerated and President Biden has signaled a push for broader reopenings, frustration among parents has grown, particularly in New Jerseys affluent suburbs, where schools with stellar reputations are a key reason families are willing to pay some of the nations highest taxes. These parents have filed federal lawsuits, held protests, created online petitions and stormed virtual board of education meetings to demand expanded in-person instruction. The pressure to open schools more fully comes as the infection rate in New Jersey, which is small and densely populated, remains stubbornly high: With a weekly average of 45 cases for every 100,000 residents, the state leads the nation in new infections, according to a New York Times database. In Princeton, where schools are among the best in the state, hundreds of parents have joined webinars and school board meetings, many asking for additional face-to-face teaching. In Closter, in northern Bergen County, an online petition urging an immediate return to five days of school, gathered hundreds of signatures within hours. The drumbeat intensified after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a major policy shift on Friday, reducing its distancing recommendations to three feet from six feet for all elementary schools and for middle and high schools in areas where the virus infection rate is not high. 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. BELLEVUE, Wash., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aegis Living is proud to announce today it has been Certified as a great workplace by independent research firm Great Place to Work. With nearly 2,000 team members surveyed across 32 locations, Aegis Living received a 75% trust index score the overall score across all aspects of the employee survey and culture assessment exceeding national averages for senior living and other "Aging Services" companies. "The pandemic made our mission even more clear, and our ability to provide the highest quality care for our seniors is entirely defined by our ability to do the same for our teams," said Kris Engskov, president of Aegis Living. "We are excited to take these learnings and continue building on our strong great place to work foundation." Great Place to Work evaluates organizations across more than 60 criteria of team members' experience on the job, including employee pride in the organization's community impact, belief that their work makes a difference, and feeling their work has special meaning. Aegis scored positively across the survey with key highlights including nearly 90% of team members surveyed believe their work has true meaning and that "it's not just a job." Another 87% feel proud about the way they and Aegis contributes to the community and hold a sense of pride for the work they do. In spite of the pandemic year, nearly 90% of employees feel safe and welcome at work each day. "We are encouraged by these results and remain grateful for our talented and passionate team members who bring our vision to life," said Sandra Preyale, Aegis Living chief people officer. "Keeping an ongoing pulse on employee engagement and feedback allows us to continue to attract, reward, engage and celebrate great team members, which also translates into a great place to live for our residents." Aegis Living aims to hire mission-driven leaders that consider their work far more than a job. This level of care is critical when managing the pandemic, but also in meeting the anticipated demand for those millions of Americans aging into assisted living and memory care who will want and need more sophisticated health care and wellness services alongside a place to call home. During the pandemic, the company had its highest employee retention in more than 5 years and best employee engagement in company history. "Those that choose to join the Aegis Living team come with heart, grit and genuine passion for our seniors," said Aegis Living Founder, CEO and Chairman Dwayne Clark. "We must care for them just as they care for our 2,400 residents each day." Aegis has long been recognized for its people-first culture, having been named a Top 50 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor.com's Employee Choice Award and recognized as a best place to work by KING 5, Seattle Business Magazine, among others over the years. About Aegis Living Aegis Living is a national leader in senior assisted living and memory care. With nearly 25 years of experience, Aegis Living is known for its approach for supporting residents along the continuum of care, from light assistance to advanced dementia; innovative programming and a focus on upscale, purpose-built design; and an employee-centric company culture. With every community, Aegis Living creates a living environment where residents can feel at home and inspired to live life to the fullest. The privately held company is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and operates 32 communities in Washington, California and Nevada, with 9 additional communities in development. For more information, visit www.aegisliving.com. Follow the company on Twitter @Aegisliving and Facebook at www.facebook.com/AegisLiving. About Great Place to Work Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through its certification programs, Great Place to Work recognizes outstanding workplace cultures and produces the annual Fortune "100 Best Companies to Work For" and Great Place to Work Best Workplaces lists for Millennials, Women, Diversity, Small & Medium Companies, industries and, internationally, countries and regions. Through its culture consulting services, Great Place to Work helps clients create great workplaces that outpace peers on key business metrics like revenue growth, profitability, retention and stock performance. Learn more at Greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. SOURCE Aegis Living Related Links http://www.aegisliving.com Group affiliated with a FAPESP-supported research center showed that the parasite blocks the action of an enzyme using autophagy. Credit: Leishmania (orange) infecting macrophage / Renan V. H. de Carvalho & Dario Zamboni Researchers have succeeded in revealing the arsenal used by protozoans of the genus Leishmania in human cells to make leishmaniasis more severe, especially in cases of the mucocutaneous variety of the disease, which can cause deformations in patients. The discovery points the way to a search for novel treatments for the disease as well as casting light on a key mechanism involved in other diseases. The mechanism involves Leishmania, macrophages and a virus that lives endosymbiotically in the parasite and is known as the Leishmania RNA virus (LRV). According to a study published in the journal iScience, the parasite inhibits activation of caspase-11 via LRV-induced autophagy. Caspases are a family of enzymes that play essential roles in programmed cell death and the innate immune system. LRV, therefore, prevents defense cells from blocking progression of the disease. Infectious and not contagious, leishmaniasis is considered endemic to some regions of Brazil. The mucocutaneous form of the disease, caused in the Neotropics by species such as L. guyanensis and L. braziliensis, is characterized by skin lesions that affect the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and throat. In severe cases, it can lead to cartilage and bone erosion and cause deformations. Some 20,000 cases of tegumental leishmaniasis, which includes the cutaneous and mucocutaneous forms, are reported each year in Brazil. The study showing how LRV blocks caspase-11 via autophagy was part of the Ph.D. research of Renan V. H. de Carvalho, with Dario Zamboni as thesis advisor. Zamboni is a professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents at the University of Sao Paulo's Ribeirao Preto Medical School (FMRP-USP) in Brazil. "Using macrophages and mice, we discovered that LRV inhibits activation of caspase-11 by Leishmania, and this extends our understanding of the mechanisms used by the virus to exacerbate the disease," Zamboni said. The study, which belongs to a series already published by the group, innovated by showing the link between caspase-11 and diseases caused by parasites. Hitherto the enzyme was thought to be involved only in diseases caused by bacteria. An article by the group published in 2019 in Nature Communications showed that the most severe cases of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis are caused by the LRV-infected parasite. Both studies were supported by FAPESP and conducted under the aegis of the Center for Research on Inflammatory Diseases (CRID), a Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center (RIDC) funded by FAPESP and hosted by FMRP-USP. Almost all immune cells contain a protein complex called the inflammasome, Zamboni explained. When one of the proteins, such as a caspase, detects a threat to the organism, the defense system is activated. "We had already shown that LRV exacerbates the disease by subverting innate immunity via inhibition of the TLR3-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome. In this latest report, we showed that autophagy blocked the inflammasome via caspase-11." For Carvalho, currently a researcher at the Rockefeller University's Laboratory of Lymphocyte Dynamics in New York, "the iScience article solidifies our understanding that caspase-11 is extremely important to the pathogenesis of leishmaniasis". This had not yet been described, he told Agencia FAPESP. Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is transmitted by sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus, which feed on blood. Prevention, therefore, depends mainly on combating the insect, just as Aedes aegypti must be combated to prevent the spread of dengue fever. Both leishmaniasis and dengue are classed as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Some 1.5 billion people are thought to be affected by NTDs in over 150 countries, particularly in regions with insufficient potable water, basic sanitation, and primary healthcare services. On the other hand, less than 2% of the world's drug development resources are devoted to combating these diseases, according to the nonprofit organization Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi). There are no vaccines for some NTDs, and many of the available treatments focus on drug repositioning, which entails the use of medications originally developed for other applications, a strategy that heightens the risk of severe adverse side-effects for patients. To try to improve the situation, in February the World Health Organization (WHO) issued Ending the neglect to attain the sustainable development goals: A road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030, proposing actions and programs to prevent and control 20 NTDs, including leishmaniasis. "Everything we've shown about this system involving Leishmania, viruses and macrophages can have an impact on the fight against other diseases," Carvalho said. "Hence the importance of basic science. Understanding biology serves as a foundation for the rapid future development of new therapies for diseases that already exist or could emerge in the future." He went on to cite the current example of COVID-19 vaccines. "A key factor in having vaccines ready so quickly was the work done by research groups around the world to study the spike protein in other coronaviruses that hitherto haven't infected people," he said. "This basic science helped us develop vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 soon after it was detected." This link between previous discoveries and the advances brought by new studies is the focus of a FAPESP-funded Thematic Project, for which Zamboni is the principal investigator. The work on Leishmania was done under its aegis, as was a more recent research project on COVID-19. The latter was reported in Journal of Experimental Medicine at end-2020. The authors showed for the first time that in COVID-19 patients the inflammasome participates in activation of the inflammatory process that can damage several organs and even lead to death. Explore further Study uncovers cause of aggressive leishmaniasis strain UTICA, N.Y. Bishop Douglas Lucia from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse was in Utica Monday to celebrate Mass at Our Lady of Rosary and visit Notre Dame schools. The Mass was celebrated at 9 a.m., and afterward Lucia headed to the junior/senior high school for a reception. He met with students and faculty, and took a tour of the school building. Then he did the same at the elementary school. Lucia said faith has helped carry many through the pandemic, and Notre Dames ability to open for full-time, in-person learning gave families hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. We know with the pandemicthere was so much uncertaintybut for many, we could fall back on our faith. Especially after the temporary closure of the churches, once they started opening again, and then we were able to open our schools, people began to feel like OK, we can handle this, he said. This was the first time Lucia visited Notre Dame schools since he was appointed bishop in June of 2019. The Mass held Monday morning was open only to the Notre Dame community, but will be posted to the schools YouTube page. Mining giant Rio Tinto will establish an Indigenous advisory group in a move to strengthen ties with traditional owners and reassure investors it will not repeat the widely condemned destruction of the 46,000-year-old caves at Juukan Gorge. In a series of virtual seminars on Tuesday, top Rio Tinto executives and board members outlined new ways they intended to improve the companys approach to cultural heritage and rebuild meaningful relationships with First Nations communities in the hope of mending its badly damaged reputation. Western Australias Juukan Gorge rock shelters had evidence of continued human occupation dating back at least 46,000 years. Credit:PKKP and PKKP Aboriginal Corporation I am committed to making these improvements, Rios new chief executive Jakob Stausholm said. This will not be easy. This is the start of a long journey. [March 23, 2021] Dunwoody College of Technology Rolls Out National Online Degree Program MINNEAPOLIS, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In Fall 2021, Dunwoody College of Technology will begin offering two online degree programs, construction management and bachelor of architecture, for the first time in the school's 107-year history. Students will experience innovative, project-based learning in the virtual space with industry-leading software and technology. Both programs will offer flexible, barrier-free online learning options for current students and working professionals who are interested in taking the next step in their career. "This past year provided the opportunity to develop and implement online learning practices as we adjusted to a new way of operating during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Provost Scott Stallman. "That opportunity has opened the door for us to reach students in new areas of the country, and we are excited to deliver Dunwoody's exceptional education, and the great careers that follow, to students beyond Minnesota." Dunwoody, a nonprofit institution of higher education and a leader in technical instruction, was approved to be a nation-wide provider of online education by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) in December 2020. The approval allows the college to offer the bachelor of science in construction management and the bachelor of architecture as online-only options to students from states outside of Minnesota. "For more than a century, Dunwoody has been a leader in hands-on, applied technical education, preparing students for high-skill, in-demand career fields," said Cindy Olson, Dunwoody's vice president of enrollment management. "That tradition will continue as the college expands into the online learning space. Students will benefit from small classes taught by faculty who have worked in the field. In addition, students enrolled in the program will receive a laptop loaded with state-of-the-industry software and technolgy. " The construction management completion program is designed for students and working professionals who need the flexibility of an online program that allows them to attend part or full-time and finish at their own pace. During the program, students learn how to successfully influence and lead production teams, develop projects, and grow businesses. Students will complete real-world service learning projects and work with renowned organizations and industry professionals. With the shortest path to licensure, combined with a unique stackable degree format, Dunwoody's bachelor of architecture is the perfect fit for those that want to become a licensed, practicing architect, but need the flexibility of an online degree. The program is rooted in a tradition of community engagement, social responsibility, and leadership in the profession, both locally and globally. Dunwoody's bachelor of architecture is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). The application for admission is now open and interested students should contact Admissions at admissions@dunwoody.edu for information or fill out the online application . About Dunwoody: Founded in 1914, Dunwoody College of Technology is the only private, not-for-profit technical college in the Upper Midwest. Having provided hands-on, applied technical education to more than 250,000 men and women, Dunwoody is the college for experimenters and makers, a place where the curious and the confident learn by doing. Located in Minneapolis, Dunwoody offers a unique campus experience in dedicated labs, studios, and shops that treats students like future professionals from day one. With certificates, associate's, and bachelor's degrees in more than 45 majors including engineering, robotics, design and other STEM-related fields Dunwoody challenges students to come determined and graduate destined. More information can be found at www.dunwoody.edu , Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dunwoody-college-of-technology-rolls-out-national-online-degree-program-301253961.html SOURCE Dunwoody College of Technology [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Former President Barack Obama expressed his condolences to the families of the 10 victims of the shooting in Boulder, Colorado, and called on political leaders to take action to curb gun violence, in a statement released Tuesday. Why it matters: This is the second mass shooting in the U.S. in a week, after a gunman in Atlanta killed eight people on March 16. The shootings have brought a renewed focus on the presence of gun violence in America, following a year during which the coronavirus pandemic slowed the rate of such attacks. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free "A once-in-a-century pandemic cannot be the only thing that slows mass shootings in this country," Obama wrote. "We shouldnt have to choose between one type of tragedy and another. " "[O]ur lives may soon start to return to normal after a long, difficult year filled with so much loss. But in a normal life, we should be able to buy groceries without fear." What he's saying: "In addition to grief, we are also feeling a deep, familiar outrage that we as a nation continue to tolerate these kinds of random, senseless acts day in and day out without taking any significant action," wrote the former president. "It will take time to root out the disaffection, racism and misogyny that fuels so many of these senseless acts of violence. But we can make it harder for those with hate in their hearts to buy weapons of war." Go deeper: Police identify suspect and victims in Boulder grocery store shooting More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Twenty-two are in different phases of development across the country, the government informed Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said in 2003, there was only one All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the country in Delhi. But under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, a policy to add five new was framed and in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi evolved a policy to develop in every state, he said in a written reply. "So, from six AIIMS, today there are 22 AIIMS in different phases of development," Vardhan told the House. On a question on developing an AIIMS in Karnataka, the minister said the chief minister has written for setting up the institute in the state. Detailed deliberations are going on, and whenever a final decision is taken the Finance Ministry will announce it, he said. "We are seriously considering the request of Karnataka to set up an AIIMS there," Vardhan said. To another question on providing training to Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers, the minister said that tele-medicine guidelines have been issued and by now, even in the remotest part of the country, a person can have access to a tele-consultation from doctors in a medical college. "We already have a record of having delivered more than a million tele-consultations. So, this is something, I think, is going to become the new normal in the times to come and we are already on it," he said. Vardhan said that the Health Mission (NHM) envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable and quality healthcare services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs. The NHM encompasses two sub-missions, the Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the Urban Health Mission (NUHM). The main programmatic components include strengthening of the health system in rural and urban areas, and Reproductive-Maternal-Neonatal-Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A), and preventing communicable and non-communicable diseases, he said. "Under the NHM, technical and financial support is provided to states and union territories for strengthening of their healthcare systems based on the proposals submitted by them in their Program Implementation Plans (PIPs), subject to availability of resources," 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.) CHICAGO, IL. -- Whats good for piping plovers, black terns and other Great Lakes birds is good for Great Lakes humans, too. Thats the message of a new Audubon Great Lakes report titled Audubons Vision: Restoring the Great Lakes for Birds and People, in which the regional office of the non-profit National Audubon Society has outlined its plan to implement a sweeping freshwater restoration effort across the Great Lakes over the next decade. The report names a dozen unique Great Lakes coastal locations earmarked as priority regions for stepped-up conservation efforts, including four spots in Michigan. Each of those spots has been deemed by Audubon scientists to be critically important for stabilizing declining bird populations and improving water quality and coastal resiliency in the region. Whats great about this plan is we really found the overlap between a rapidly declining suite of species breeding marsh birds and bigger environmental issues in the Great Lakes, and found the win-win opportunity, said Nat Miller, conservation director for Audubon Great Lakes. If we restore coastal wetlands in critical areas, we can address breeding marsh bird losses and build greater resiliency in the Great Lakes to uncertain fluctuations in lake levels, heavier storms, and continued water quality issues. The report describes Audubons Great Lakes conservation work, some of which is already underway, including 42 projects to restore or protect 300,000 acres across eight states over the next 10 years. More than a third of that acreage is in Michigan, where Audubon is working with partners to restore habitat in regions like southeastern Michigans St. Clair Flats: home of the states largest remaining breeding colony of black terns, a species whose population has plummeted by 80% in the past 50 years. Miller said conservation work in that region includes removing invasive plant species, providing nesting platforms, and minimizing predation by monitoring the nests to ensure the eggs hatch and chicks fledge. Michigan wetlands near river mouths along eastern Lake Michigan will also be targeted in the plan. These spots are known as emergent marshes or hemi-marshes: important shallow-water wetlands that are rapidly degrading on account of climate change, pollution, invasive species, and altered water levels. Two other Michigan regions to receive conservation work under the Audubon plan include Saginaw Bay, where agricultural runoff and historical contaminants threaten habitat for many migratory water birds; and the large wetlands at the intersection of Lake Superior, the St. Marys River, and the Straits of Mackinac, deemed to be one of the most important breeding areas for marsh birds in the entire Great Lakes. According to Audubon, much of this work is possible through the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GRLI), which guides billions of dollars to coastal wetland restoration projects and conservation programs. The GRLI Act became law earlier this year, allowing Congress to increase the programs funding incrementally from 300 million to 475 million by 2026. The work under the Audubon plan will be done with local and regional partner organizations and volunteers, Miller said, but there are other ways people can help out such as learning about and supporting ecological restoration work in your own community. Miller said Americans are at a point of crisis for all wildlife but especially birds, citing recent studies that have shown that North America has lost more than a quarter of its bird population in the last 50 years, with two-thirds of bird species at risk of extinction because of climate change. Even if you dont care about birds, that is a sign that there is a problem. Birds have always been a great indicator, right? The famous canary in the coal mine, he said. When we see bird populations declining, that often points to an issue that we have with the environment for people, with water, with air quality, but also with our way of life. People live healthier lives when theyre connected to natural areas. Without these natural areas, and without the wildlife, and without that way of life, people are going to suffer. To read the Audubon report, see a full project list with details, and to learn more and get involved, visit audubon.org/conservation/great-lakes-restoration. RELATED: 7 types of birds now returning to Michigan, signaling spring Delaying early spring yardwork helps save Michigan bees and butterflies Its still winter in Michigan, so why are we seeing robins? Advertisement US Customs and Border Protection has been shamed into releasing its own photos from inside crowded migrant facilities after a Texas Democrat leapfrogged the agency and shared images of the 'terrible conditions for children' at the border. The agency finally released photos Tuesday where children are seen packed inside pens and forced to sleep on the floors in foil blankets - but has still banned the press from entering the facilities. The CBP has repeatedly used COVID-19 precautions as an excuse to deny the media all access to its detention centers and the White House has kept the public in the dark for weeks. Officials say they want to 'balance the need for public transparency and accountability' - while still telling 'external visitors' not to visit the facilities to see the conditions for themselves. First, Biden administration officials toyed with the idea that they would allow media visits but then downgraded this to say they would only share some photos with the press, before walking back on granting any insight altogether. On Monday, White House Press Secretary said journalists will eventually be able to tour the detention centers after Rep. Henry Cuellar released photos of the temporary facility in Donna, Texas, and slammed the situation a 'humanitarian crisis.' No timeline for media trips was given and the Biden administration continues to push the official line that there is 'no crisis'. Around 15,000 children are being held in US government facilities along the border, with hundreds held in the CBP detention centers designed for adults for triple the duration legally allowed under US law after thousands upon thousands of migrants have crossed the border from Mexico into the US in recent weeks. A leaked memo sent Monday revealed the Department of Health and Human Services's refugee agency is now directing its shelters to fast-track the release of children to parents or guardians in the US to free up beds to take more children from the CBP detention centers. One image shows children lying packed in like sardines side by side on mattresses on the floors inside a makeshift facility in Donna Another image is taken from the outside of a transparent tent looking in on the dozens of people packed inside Migrant children stand in line inside a temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas, to get access to essentials while other children held in cage-like tents look on and wait their turn A children's play area is seen inside the temporary processing facility in Donna. The play area has a handful of toys and appears to be in a storage room or waiting area Video taken inside the facility in El Paso, Texas, shows migrants lying on mattresses on the floor with foil blankets Inside the Donna facility. The CBP has repeatedly used COVID-19 precautions as an excuse to deny the media all access to its detention centers After keeping a tight lid on what is going on inside the facilities for weeks, a collection of images and video has finally been released by the CBP claiming to give a glimpse into what life is like inside the temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas, and the Central Processing Center in El Paso, Texas. Inside the Donna facility, children are seen lying packed in like sardines side by side on mattresses on the floors inside a transparent tent facility. The children are wrapped in foil blankets for warmth and are wearing face masks, but there is clearly no room for social distancing in the small confined space. Migrant children are also seen standing in line to get access to essential items and food while other children held in cage-like tents look on and wait their turn. Numbered transparent tent-like pens are seen set up on both sides of a room each packed with migrants who are awaiting processing to enter America. An image taken from the outside of one of the tent looks in on the dozens of people packed inside with pieces of foil blankets scattered around. There is also a children's play area set up in what appears to be a storage room or waiting area, with a handful of toys for young kids. Meanwhile, footage taken inside the El Paso facility appears to paint a fun atmosphere with children seen sitting around watching television in a room and later screaming and shouting as they enjoy group exercise outdoors. It's all a far cry from reports that have emerged in recent weeks - not to mention curiously somewhat less overcrowded in appearance than Cueller's images of the very same facility in Donna shared just 24 hours earlier. Neha Desai, a lawyer for the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) which represents migrant youth in government custody, told CBS about the harrowing conditions she saw at the Donna facility. She said the tent was so overcrowded that migrant children had to take turns sleeping on the floor and could only shower once a week. Many children also said they were being denied phone calls with their family members and hadn't been outside in days. One of them shared that he could only see the sun when he showered, because you can see the sun through the window,' Desai said. Migrants stand in line inside a temporary processing facility in Donna as the CBP said it was sharing the images in an effort to 'balance the need for public transparency and accountability' A migrant is embraced by a child inside the Donna facility. The CBP finally released photos Tuesday after denying media requests for access CBP personnel at work inside the Donna facility. Photos released Tuesday give a glimpse of what life is like inside the temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas, and the Central Processing Center in El Paso, Texas US Customs and Border Protection has been shamed into releasing its own photos from inside crowded migrant facilities The agency finally released photos Tuesday as it claimed it wants to 'balance the need for public transparency and accountability' Yet despite claiming a want to be transparent, the CBP still told 'external visitors' not to visit the facilities to see the conditions for themselves In the Donna facility, migrants wait to be processed so they can enter the US after crossing the southern border The White House has kept the public in the dark for weeks about the conditions inside the overcrowded facilities HHS's refugee agency directs shelters to fast-track release of migrant children into the US The Department of Health and Human Services's refugee agency has directed its shelters to fast-track the release of migrant children to parents or guardians in the US in order to free up beds to take more children from the CBP detention centers, according to a leaked memo. An internal email from the Office of Refugee Resettlement Monday, obtained by CBS, issued new guidance shelters to expedite the release of 'category 1' minors - children with parents or legal guardians in the US willing to house them. The fast-track process means caseworkers will partly fill out applications for the release of children on behalf of the parent and guardian sponsors and post them out to them, rather than wait for them to complete them. Sponsors will also be able to text or email proof of ID and a public records check will only be carried out on them and not all adults in the household the child will be released to. The guidance cited exceptions to the rule including where the children are 'especially vulnerable'; if their cases require a legally-mandated home study; or if there are red flags about their parents or legal guardians. The memo also granted shelters the authority to pay for parents' travel costs to collect the children. It is hoped this will speed up the process of releasing children into the US and free up beds for the agency to take in children from the CBP detention centers. Children must legally be transferred from CBP detention centers to the HHS shelters within 72 hours of their arrival. But due to the influx in migrants, there are too few beds to take in all the children and a backlog in the arrivals being processed. As of Saturday 2,226 children had been held in custody for more than five days and 823 for more than 10 days. Advertisement The CBP said it was sharing the images this week in an effort to 'balance the need for public transparency and accountability' in the wake of a backlash. 'CBP continues to transfer unaccompanied minors to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as quickly and efficiently as possible after they are apprehended on the Southwest Border,' it said in a statement Tuesday. Yet, the agency continued to insist people do not visit the site. 'In order to protect the health and safety of our workforce and those in our care we continue to discourage external visitors in our facilities; however, CBP is working to balance the need for public transparency and accountability.' This comes one day after Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar shared images from inside the Donna facility taken over the weekend as he said 400 unaccompanied male minors are being held in 'terrible conditions' in a space meant to hold a maximum of 260 people. Cuellar said he did not take the images but said they offer an insight into the 'terrible conditions for the children' at the border, where he has recently toured a different shelter for children. He said he was releasing them in part because the Biden administration has refused to do so and has refused access to the press. 'We ought to take care of those kids like they're our own kids,' Cuellar said. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday Cuellar's images proved what the Biden administration has said all along that the border facilities are no place for children. 'These photos show what we've long been saying, which is that these border patrol facilities are not places made for children,' she said in her press briefing on Monday. 'They are not places that we want children to be staying for an extended period of time. 'Our alternative is to send children back on this treacherous journey that is not, in our view, the right choice to make.' Still refusing to call the situation at the US southern border a crisis, Psaki added: 'Children, presenting at our border, who are fleeing violence, who are fleeing prosecution, who are fleeing terrible situations is not a crisis. 'We feel that it is our responsibility to humanely approach this circumstance, and make sure they are treated and put in conditions that are safe.' Psaki said Monday the Biden administration was 'working to finalize details' on allowing the press to tour the facilities but said she didn't know when this will be. The Biden administration has so far banned media access to the facilities amid a growing humanitarian and political crisis at the US southern border. Lawyers and lawmakers have been given tours. At the Donna facility, agency workers hand out food to migrant children being held there after crossing the border Children line up for food with many young people seen carrying toddlers and younger children A child plays in a makeshift play pen inside the Donna facility in Texas where some children have been held for 10 days The CBP finally released images of the temporary processing facilities after being shamed into doing so 'We are working to finalize details and I hope to have an update in the coming days,' Psaki said after admitting 'putting in place more effective and efficient processing at the border... is going to take some time'. Psaki had previously said there would be organized trips for press to gain access to detention facilities but later walked back on those comments, instead promising photos to show conditions. Then last Thursday, Psaki said the White House would not be releasing to the media photos that advisors had shared with President Biden to brief him on conditions on facilities housing childhood migrants on the border. This week, reports surfaced that lawmakers are also now being denied access. On Monday, Republican Senator Ted Cruz wrote to Biden after he said access was refused to both the press and fourteen other senators who visited the border. 'The American people are beginning to understand the gravity of the situation,' Cruz wrote. 'But it is not enough for members of the Senate to see what is happening the American people must see. That is why I requested that members of the media be allowed to join us. 'But your administration clearly and emphatically refused to offer press access. 'This is outrageous and hypocritical,' he said as he accused Psaki of reneging on the administration's vow of 'transparency'. 'Denying the press the ability to observe, film, and report on the conditions at the border is not openness or transparency - it is hiding the truth from the American people,' added Cruz. 'The press and the American people deserve more than denials and excuses from a podium.' Psaki said Monday that children at the facilities have been tested for COVID-19 and those who needed to be quarantined were separated out from the rest of the population. She didn't have a timeline on when the president might go to the border after Biden said on Sunday he would make a trip at some point. A total of 823 unaccompanied children were held at US-Mexico border facilities for more than 10 days - more than a fourfold increase over the last week, according to an internal Department of Homeland Security document leaked to Axios Sunday. Footage released by the CBP showing migrants being processed at the El Paso, Texas, facility on March 19 The footage and photos comes after the Biden administration has kept the public in the dark for weeks about the centers Footage taken inside the El Paso facility appears to paint a fun atmosphere with children screaming and shouting as they enjoy exercise outdoors The children take part in an outdoor exercise class at the El Paso site in Texas while they await processing Footage taken inside the El Paso facility shows children sitting around watching television in a room 'Biden wanted this to happen': Tucker Carlson blasts president for border chaos Tucker Carlson has blasted Joe Biden over the chaos at the border saying that the president 'wanted this to happen' because of previous comments he made. Carlson said on Fox News Monday, he hit out at the president for telling refugees during the 2020 campaign that 'you should come'. 'The people streaming across the border want better lives for their families, and no one can hate them for that, least of all us,' Carlson said. 'The people to blame are the reckless ideologues who caused this disaster. Joe Biden tops that list. Biden wanted this to happen. He said so out loud at a Democratic debate.' Carlson played a clip from the September 2019 Democratic debate in which Biden was asked why Latino voters should trust him after deportations had taken place during the Obama-Biden years. Biden said: 'I would in fact make sure that... we immediately surge to the border all those people who are seeking asylum. 'They deserve to be heard, that's who we are. We're a nation that says, if you want to flee and you're fleeing oppression, you should come'. Advertisement Children are not supposed to be held in CBP for more than three days, by which point they should have been transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services's shelters. But due to the influx in migrants, there are too few beds to take in all the children and there is a backlog in the arrivals being processed. Around 5,000 unaccompanied minors were held this weekend in the CBP centers. As of Saturday 2,226 children had been held in custody for more than five days and 823 for more than 10 days. The HHS's refugee agency has more than 11,100 unaccompanied children in its care, including 1,500 teenage boys in a makeshift shelter in a Dallas convention center. Four makeshift shelters have been opened in recent weeks with a fifth set to open at a convention center in San Diego. The HHS has directed its shelters to fast-track the release of migrant children to parents or guardians in the US in order to free up beds to take more children from the CBP detention centers, according to a leaked memo. An internal email from the Office of Refugee Resettlement Monday, obtained by CBS, issued new guidance shelters to expedite the release of 'category 1' minors - children with parents or legal guardians in the US willing to house them. The fast-track process means caseworkers will partly fill out applications for the release of children on behalf of the parent and guardian sponsors and post them out to them, rather than wait for them to complete them. Sponsors will also be able to text or email proof of ID and a public records check will only be carried out on them and not all adults in the household the child will be released to. The guidance cited exceptions to the rule including where the children are 'especially vulnerable'; if their cases require a legally-mandated home study; or if there are red flags about their parents or legal guardians. The memo also granted shelters the authority to pay for parents' travel costs to collect the children. It is hoped this will speed up the process of releasing children into the US and free up beds for the agency to take in children from the CBP detention centers. Earlier this month, the Biden administration rolled back a Trump-era policy that allowed undocumented immigrants to be arrested when they came to pick up unaccompanied children. In the spring of 2018, the Trump administration tightened up the screening process - including getting ICE involved - for adults who stepped forward to sponsor children who traveled into the United States alone. This led to a much smaller number of children being released from Health and Human Services custody to a family member or sponsor, amid fears from adults they would also be deported. The Biden administration ended this rule in the hope it would no longer deter adults providing sponsorship to unaccompanied children. Congressman Henry Cuellar released the images; he confirmed they were taken over this weekend The pictures show inside the U.S. Customs and Border Protection temporary overflow facility in Donna Rep. Cuellar said they offer an insight into the 'terrible conditions for the children' at the border White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had said there would be organized trips for press to gain access to detention facilities; later, she walked back on those comments and refused to share images from the facilities Cuellar said that as of Sunday 400 unaccompanied male minors were being kept in a tent meant to hold 260 White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that the disturbing images of the cramped conditions inside a migrant 'overflow' tent in Texas showed what the Biden administration has said all along the border facilities are not the place for children In total, the number of unaccompanied migrant kids in US custody surpassed 15,000 as of Saturday as the Biden administration announced that they 'would not expel young, vulnerable children.' This is a reverse of Trump administration policy, which was to generally expel all people who tried to illegally cross the border, regardless of age. Since Biden's inauguration on January 20, the US 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 per cent and 63 per cent, respectively, from the month before, according to the Pew Research Center. On average, around 523 unaccompanied minors have been apprehended along the border each day over the last three weeks. After taking office, Biden lifted the Remain in Mexico policy, which kept migrants south of the border while waiting for their hearings, effectively allowing migrants who have applied for asylum to cross into the UD and begin their legal proceedings. He also narrowed the ICE's criteria for arrests and deportations and stopped the building of Trump's border wall. These moves have led thousands upon thousands of migrants pouring into America leaving the border's children's centers so full that kids are being forced to spend up to 10 days in cramped detention centers meant for adults and sparking a backlog and logistical nightmare in processing the new entrants. [March 23, 2021] SMS grey routes are expected to generate revenue leakages of US$37.1 billion between 2020-2024 HONG KONG, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobilesquared, the leader in business messaging market intelligence, and Vox Carrier, an pioneering vendor of mobile monetization solutions, have partnered to release a new white paper entitled 'Protecting A2P SMS revenues into the roaring 20's'. The paper, authored by Mobilesquared, provides never before published statistics of the historic and forecasted impact of grey routes on the messaging business from 2010 to 2024. Key findings include: Of the almost 2 trillion A2P SMS projected to be sent in 2024, just under one-quarter of these will be via grey routes The total opportunity for A2P SMS could reach $27.48 billion in 2024 (based on 100% white route traffic) in 2024 (based on 100% white route traffic) As we entered the second decade of A2P SMS business messaging, 48% of mobile operators were yet to have deployed a next-generation SMS firewall Between 2020-2024, revenue leakage to grey routes remains unacceptably high, with a cumulative loss of $37.1 billion , or an annual average leakage of $7.69 billion . 'In 10 years the A2P SMS market has thrived and become a key revenue stream for mobile operators monetising white route traffic via their next-generation SMS firewalls. A little over half of mobile operators are doing so today, which means much work is still to be done to make every network secure and every subscriber safe' said Nick Lane, Founder of Mobilesquared. Considering the significant impact grey routes have on mobile operators' business, it is becoming imperative for them to deploy next generation SMSfirewalls. The potential uplift in revenue of such a leading edge tool is staggering. "Across 3 mobile operators in Africa, Asia and Latin America, with which we partner to implement such a solution, we saw an average immediate uplift in A2P SMS revenue in the order of 413% in the first year, rising to 1,425% in the second year. Truly astonishing," said Ehsan Ahmadi, CEO of Vox Carrier. "Which is why we partnered with Mobilesquared to write this paper. We believe it is crucial for MNOs to be aware of the importance of next-generation SMS firewalls to realise an immediate uplift of their A2P SMS revenue." The white paper concludes by reinforcing that mobile operators must not only consider today's revenue, but the future. A fully-managed SMS firewall must therefore evolve to protect 5G messaging, whatever form that might take, whether RCS or something different. The white paper is available for complimentary download at: https://www.voxcarrier.com/white-paper/ About Vox Carrier Vox Carrier optimises, accelerates and simplifies International Voice and Messaging through innovation in technology, platforms and processes. We serve operators, service providers, carriers, aggregators and enterprises worldwide, delivering an array of services such as Voice, A2P Messaging, service monetization and operational outsourcing. Vox Carrier's technologies initiative, Vox Technologies, has also launched Vox360, which won 'The Best Anti-Fraud Innovation' at the 2019 Messaging and SMS Global Awards. Vox360 is an anti-fraud solution designed to simplify the fight against fraud in telecommunications. To learn more, get in touch at www.voxcarrier.com About Mobilesquared The Mobilesquared team have been covering mobile since phones were brick-sized, and have tracked the evolution of mobile data and technology every step of the way. We are immersed in the mobile industry sitting on the judging panel for the MEFFYs, EMMAs, and Global Mobile Awards, delivering the Annual Market Review report for UK regulator Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA), and partnering with global mobile trade organisations including the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF).To learn more, get in touch at www.mobilesquared.co.uk View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sms-grey-routes-are-expected-to-generate-revenue-leakages-of-us37-1-billion-between-2020-2024--301253514.html SOURCE Vox Carrier; Mobilesquared [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Guwahati, March 23 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday that efforts would be further intensified to check infiltration from across the border even as electronic surveillance along the India-Bangladsh border in Assam has started to stop influx from the neighbouring country. Addressing election rallies in Lumding and Hojai in northern Assam, Singh said that infiltration is not only a security threat, but it also jeopardises the economy and social stability. He said the BJP governments in Assam and Tripura in association with the Centre have taken several steps to check infiltration, and more stringent steps would be taken to stop the influx of people from across the border after the party comes to power in West Bengal. "The infiltration problem from Bangladesh through these three states would be solved permanently," he said. Referring to the India-China standoff, the Defence Minister said that the country is proud of the courage and spirit shown by the soldiers in protecting India's boundaries. "India has now emerged as one of the strong countries in the world. None can dare to cast an evil eye on us anymore," he said. Elaborating the steps taken by the Centre and state government to protect the cultural traditions and languages of Assam, the former BJP national President said: "Our intention is clear and transparent. We have conferred the Bharat Ratna on Bhupen Hazarika, which the Congress government failed to do." Singh also said that intentional propagandas are being carried out about the BJP's role in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). "We have cleared our stand on both CAA and NRC. Our leaders have on a number of occasions explained our party's stand on both the issues," the veteran BJP leader said. Singh said that in the BJP manifesto, the party has announced that two lakh government jobs would be provided while eight lakh private jobs would also be created. "Houses would be provided to all by next year, electricity and water connections would also be given to every household," he said. Aurangabad, Mar 23 (UNI) Eight districts of Marathwada region of Maharashtra state biggest spike out of 4,343 fresh cases of corona positive during the past 24 hours, and 40 more deaths, health authorities informed, here on Tuesday. Details from all the district headquarters collected by UNI shows that out of the eight districts of the region, Aurangabad district in the region was one of the worst affected district where highest 1406 cases and 20 deaths were reported , followed by Nanded with 1291 new cases and 10 deaths,Jalna registered 562 new cases and 3 deaths,Parbhani District 315 cases and three deaths ,Latur had 246 cases and 2 deaths ,Beed had 239 cases and 2 deaths, Osmanabad 173 cases and Hingoli had 91cases. Meanwhile ,during the past 24 hours total 24,645 fresh cases of corona positive spotted across in the state, bringing the total number of infections in the state to 25,43,327. While 58 more deaths were also reported taking the death toll to 53,457. Meanwhile, a total of 19,463 patients recovered and were discharged taking the total number of recoveries to 22,34,330 across the state. With this the recovery rates sharply goes down and stand to 89.32 per cent and fatality rate is 2.15per cent. At present 2,15,241active patients across the state were undergoing treatment at different Covid centres and hospitals, they added. UNI VKB PR 0730 (Photo : David Ramos/Getty Images) A logo sits illuminated outside the Microsoft pavilion on the opening day of the World Mobile Congress at the Fira Gran Via Complex on February 22, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo : Alexander Shatov on Unsplash) Microsoft is rumored to be in talks to acquire the gaming-focused chat app Discord for over $10 billion, sources talking to Bloomberg revealed on Tuesday, March 23. First reported by VentureBeat, Discord is looking at the option to put the company up for sale after rumors of several companies wanting to acquire the business. The news comes after Discord's valuation shoots up to $7 billion in December 2020 after successfully raising $140 million in funding led by Greenoaks Capital in June 2020. Also Read: New Windows Malware Attacks Discord, Outlook: All Major Browsers At Risk From Fileless Attack Microsoft - Discord Acquisition: What is Known So Far? As reported, Discord is exploring the idea of selling the company for $10 billion, and they had already signed an exclusive acquisition discussion with one party. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported shortly after that a source claimed the deal would not happen anytime soon and that Discord might rather go public than seek an acquisition. The report also spilled that both Amazon and Epic Games have held discussions with Discord in the past, and Xbox head Phil Spencer currently has the floor in the possible Discord acquisition. Discord: Sell or go public? Discord's decision to either sell or go public will fall entirely on the gaming-centric instant messaging app's founder and CEO, Jason Citron. "I know they are in active discussions with a select few parties," a source speaking to VentureBeat said. "The market is in a state where they could command strong double-digit billions of dollars." Though, there are still a lot of things to consider on the proposal, Discord being connected to Microsoft can affect Xbox projects soon. But, nothing is predicted yet. As of this writing, both Microsoft and Discord had declined to comment about the acquisition rumors. Discord's Journey to $7 Billion Valuation According to Business of App's report on Monday, March 22, Discord has grown to more than 140 million monthly active users and 6.7 million active servers since its launch in May 2015. Moreover, on December 17, 2020, Discord reached its most recent historic milestone when the gaming chat app reached a valuation of $7 billion after securing $140 million in funding, as first reported by Premium Unicorn Index. Before all of the successes and the rumors of the Microsoft acquisition, Discord was nothing more than Citron's vision to introduce a modern approach to communication online. What gave Discord the edge against its competitors is the user's option to join servers specifically dedicated to a game. The company's rise came with the public's growing interest in e-sports when players from Fortnite and League of Legends opted to use Discord for a much more effective in-game communicating tool. However, Discord's revenue only started picking up in 2018 when it launched a subscription service named Discord Nitro. The service, which offers users larger upload size and server support, makes up most of Discord's revenue. The company's success was also riddled with controversy when one of the servers was used by white supremacists to organize the Charlottesville, Virginia rally in 2017. The controversy prompted Discord to start implementing verification and bot-moderation tools to weed out these types of groups. Related Article: Discord Cancels Nitro Games Subscription Service Following Lack Of Enthusiasm This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Lee Mercado 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. On Monday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the C.D.C.s director, warned Americans that traveling could increase the risk of spreading the virus, particularly new variants, and urged against travel. Were worried not just for what happens when you are on the airplane itself, but what happens when people travel, she said. We just dont want to be at this rapid uptick of cases again. Why would fully vaccinated people not be encouraged to travel? The issue isnt so much vaccinated people themselves, who are largely protected against serious disease and death. Its everyone else: the unvaccinated travelers in the airport security line, by the hotel pool and across the aisle on the train. Thats because one major scientific question is still unsettled: Can a vaccinated person transmit the virus to an unvaccinated one? As my Times colleague Apoorva Mandavilli recently wrote, While all of the Covid-19 vaccines are spectacularly good at shielding people from severe illness and death, the research is unclear on exactly how well they stop the virus from taking root in an immunized persons nose and then spreading to others. Although most vaccines dont completely prevent infection, said Crystal Watson, a senior scholar at the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, many do prevent infection from spreading in the body and causing disease, which often also prevents transmission because viral loads are low. As for why the C.D.C. seems to be proceeding cautiously: The issue right now is that we dont have much data on how well Covid-19 vaccines prevent transmission, Dr. Watson said. The data we do have so far is encouraging, but there is still uncertainty. It also may differ, depending on the vaccine and presence of variants of concern in circulation. NEW YORK and RISHON LETZION, Israel, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Cymulate, the only SaaS-based Continuous Security Validation platform to operationalize the MITRE ATT&CK framework end-to-end, today announced a distributor agreement with NTT Advanced Technology (NTT-AT), one of the subsidiaries of NTT. NTT is the fifth largest publicly traded company in Japan and was ranked 65th on Fortune's Global 500. The partnership provides NTT's APAC enterprise clients with pre-emptive security assessments and the ability to run targeted attack simulations against the latest immediate cyber threats in the wild. The deal builds on Cymulate's existing agreements with NTT entities in the USA and Europe. "Having undergone a rigorous and lengthy testing process, NTT-AT chose our technology due to its simple, end-to-end deployment, usability across the cyber kill-chain and ability to provide both out of the box simulations as well as purple team customization for more advanced users. We're delighted to partner with the NTT group as our first Asian partner while we expand into the Japanese security conscious enterprise market," said Eyal Wachsman, co-founder and CEO of Cymulate. "By automating security risk assessments, the NTT group and their clients will be empowered to challenge, assess and optimize their security posture simply and continuously." Deployed by hundreds of companies across all key verticals including finance, healthcare, media, critical infrastructure, and manufacturing, Cymulate was recently recognized as #1 innovation leader on Frost and Sullivan's Global Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) Radar report. Cymulate protects against the evolving threat landscape, and provides breadth of coverage including security control validation, attack surface management, employee security awareness and purple team testing. Cymulate saw a 50% increase in unique attacks in the wild in 2020 with the healthcare sector remaining most at risk. Asia specifically has been a hotspot of cyber-attacks this past year. In December over 600 Japanese entities, including government agencies were targeted by attackers exploiting vulnerabilities in remote work technologies. 81% of companies in APAC suffered at least one attack and about 18% suffered seven or more in 2020. About NTT Advanced Technology Corp. Since its founding in 1976, NTT Advanced Technology Corp., as the technical core company of the NTT Group, has incorporated not only NTT Laboratories' diverse leading-edge technologies, such as network technology, media processing technology, Japanese language processing technology, environmental technology, optical devices, and Nano device technology, but also leading-edge technologies from both within Japan and abroad, and has integrated them to solve customer problems and provide value to customers. http://www.ntt-at.com/ About Cymulate Cymulate's Continuous Security Validation enables companies to challenge, assess and optimize their cyber-security posture against the evolving threat landscape, simply and continuously. The platform provides out-of-the-box, expert and threat intelligence led RISK assessments that are simple to use for all skill levels, and constantly updated. It also provides an open framework for ethical hackers to create and automate red and purple team exercises and security assurance programs tailored to their unique environment and security policies. Cymulate helps security professionals to know and control their dynamic environment. For more information, visit www.cymulate.com and register for a Free Trial . Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1336659/Cymulate_Logo.jpg A NIMS research team devised a new thermoelectric generation mechanism with a hybrid structure composed of thermoelectric and magnetic materials. The team then actually fabricated this structure and observed the record-high thermopower appearing in the direction perpendicular to a temperature gradient (i.e., transverse thermoelectric generation). These results may offer insights into new mechanisms and structural designs applicable to the development of versatile energy harvesting technologies and highly sensitive heat flux sensors. The Seebeck effect is a phenomenon in which a temperature gradient across a metal or semiconductor is converted into a thermoelectric voltage. Because this effect can be used to convert waste heat into electrical energy, its potential applications (e.g., autonomous power sources for IoT devices) have been extensively studied. However, Seebeck-effect-driven thermoelectric generation has disadvantages: a thermopower is generated along the direction of a temperature gradient (i.e., longitudinal thermoelectric generation). Because of this parallel relationship, a thermoelectric material needs to be extended in the direction of a temperature gradient to create large temperature differences and resultant large thermoelectric voltage. Furthermore, in conventional Seebeck devices, a complex structure composed of a serial connection of many pairs of two different thermoelectric materials is necessary to enhance a thermoelectric voltage. However, these arrangements increase production cost, make the material/structure less durable, and limit its practical applicability. In contrast, the anomalous Nernst effect?a thermoelectric phenomenon that occurs only in magnetic materials?can generate a thermoelectric voltage perpendicular to the direction of a temperature gradient. This effect may thus enable generation of a thermopower in a transverse direction, and the thermoelectric voltage can be enhanced simply by increasing the length of the material in the direction perpendicular to a temperature gradient. Transversely extended thermoelectric materials are expected to have significantly greater flexibility when integrated into modules and to offset the aforementioned disadvantages related to the Seebeck effect. However, the anomalous Nernst effect has been shown to generate only a very small thermopower?less than 10 V/K at near room temperature?making its practical application difficult. In this research project, the research team devised and demonstrated a new thermoelectric generation mechanism in which a longitudinal thermopower induced by the Seebeck effect in a thermoelectric material can be converted into a transverse thermopower in a magnetic material via the anomalous Hall effect. The team then simulated this mechanism based on phenomenological model calculations and found it potentially capable of generating very high thermopower beyond 100 V/K perpendicular to the direction of a temperature gradient when materials and structures are optimized. To experimentally verify this result, the team fabricated a hybrid structure composed of Co2MnGa?a magnetic compound capable of producing the large anomalous Hall effect?and semiconducting Si capable of producing the large Seebeck effect. This structure generated the record-high positive and negative transverse thermopowers (+82 V/K and -41 V/K). The magnitude and sign of the measured thermopowers are well reproduced by the prediction based on the model calculations. The thermoelectric generation capability of the composite can further be improved by material and structural optimization. The thermopower observed in this project was more than 10 times larger than the previously recorded highest thermopower generated by the anomalous Nernst effect. This result is expected to significantly advance R&D efforts aiming to put transverse thermoelectric generation into practical use. In future studies, we plan to research and develop effective magnetic and thermoelectric materials, create composite structures using these materials, and optimize their structures. We will then use these hybrid materials to develop energy harvesting technologies capable of powering IoT devices and heat flux sensors that can be used for energy-saving purposes. ### This project was carried out by the research team led by Weinan Zhou (Postdoctoral Researcher, Magnetic Materials Group, NIMS), Yuya Sakuraba (Group Leader of Magnetic Materials Group, NIMS), Ken-ichi Uchida (Group Leader of Spin Caloritronics Group, NIMS), and Kaoru Yamamoto (Postdoctoral Researcher, Spin Theory Group, NIMS; relocated after this research). This work was conducted in conjunction with the following research projects entitled "Development of novel spiral type thermoelectric power generation using anomalous Nernst effect" (research director: Yuya Sakuraba, project number: JPMJPR17R5) supported by the JST Strategic Basic Research Program PRESTO and "Spintronic thermal management" (research director: Ken-ichi Uchida, project number: JPMJCR17I1) supported by the JST Strategic Basic Research Program CREST. This work was also supported by the NEDO Feasibility Study Program under the Uncharted Territory Challenge 2050 category (project code: P14004). This research was published in the online version of Nature Materials, a British scientific journal, at 1:00 am on January 19, 2021, Japan Time (4:00 pm on January 18, GMT). Contacts (Regarding this research) Yuya Sakuraba Group Leader Magnetic Materials Group Research Center for Magnetic and Spintronic Materials National Institute for Materials Science Tel: +81-29-859-2708 Email: SAKURABA.Yuya=nims.go.jp (Please change "=" to "@") URL: https:/ / www. nims. go. jp/ mmu/ mmg/ index. html Ken-ichi Uchida Group Leader Spin Caloritronics Group Research Center for Magnetic and Spintronic Materials National Institute for Materials Science Tel: +81-29-859-2062 Email: UCHIDA.Kenichi=nims.go.jp (Please change "=" to "@") URL: https:/ / www. nims. go. jp/ mmu/ scg/ index. html (General information) Public Relations Office National Institute for Materials Science Tel: +81-29-859-2026, Fax: +81-29-859-2017 Email: pressrelease=ml.nims.go.jp (Please change "=" to "@") Public Relations Division Japan Science and Technology Agency 5-3 Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8666, Japan Tel: +81-3-5214-8404, Fax: +81-3-5214-8432 Email: jstkoho=jst.go.jp (Please change "=" to "@") (Regarding JST programs) Yuko Shimabayashi Green Innovation Group, Department of Innovation Research Japan Science and Technology Agency K's Gobancho, 7 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan Tel: +81-3-3512-3525, Fax: +81-3-3222-2067 Email: presto=jst.go.jp (Please change "=" to "@") Fresh off passage of the COVID-19 relief bill, President Joe Biden is assembling the next big White House priority, a sweeping $3 trillion package of investments on infrastructure and domestic needs. Biden huddled privately late Monday with Senate Democrats as Congress has already begun laying the groundwork with legislation for developing roads, hospitals and green energy systems as part of Bidens Build Back Better campaign promise. Much like the $1.9 trillion virus rescue plan signed into law earlier this month, the new package would also include family-friendly policies, this time focusing on education and paid family leave. The White House plans are still preliminary, with a combined $3 trillion in spending proposed to boost the economy and improve quality of life, according to a person familiar with the options who insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations. While the goal is a bipartisan package, Democrats in Congress have signaled a willingness to go it alone if they are blocked by Republicans. We need to get it done, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., ahead of the virtual meeting with Biden at the senators annual retreat Monday evening. Bidens outreach to Senate Democrats comes as the White House is under fire for its handling of the U.S.-Mexico border. Migrant crossings are skyrocketing, with images of cramped holding facilities posing a humanitarian and political dilemma for the administration and its allies in Congress. The focus on infrastructure shifts attention back toward priorities that are potentially more popular with Americans and potentially bipartisan. An infrastructure package would include roughly $1 trillion for roads, bridges, rail lines, electrical vehicle charging stations and the cellular network, among other items. The goal would be to facilitate the shift to cleaner energy while improving economic competitiveness. A second component would include investments in workers with free community college, universal pre-kindergarten and paid family leave. No part of the proposal has been finalized and the eventual details of any spending could change. The overall price tag first reported Monday by The New York Times has been circulating on Capitol Hill for weeks, since the start of the Biden presidency. With the House and Senate under Democratic control, the proposals are expected to draw support from all corners of Congress. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked Democratic committee chairmen earlier this month to start working with their Republican counterparts to begin to craft a big, bold and transformational infrastructure package. Pelosi said the goal is to build swiftly on the coronavirus rescue plan by developing an economic relief plan to help people in every zip code by creating good-paying jobs for the future. The administration is positioning its priorities at a politically and fiscally sensitive time, after funding its $1.9 trillion relief package entirely with debt. The Federal Reserve estimates that spending could push growth this year to 6.5%, and additional spending would only add pressure to an economy already expected to run hot. Bidens campaign proposed higher corporate taxes and increases on people making more than $400,000 annually, effectively undoing much of the 2017 tax cuts by his predecessor, Donald Trump. A White House official said the president has been very clear about his agenda, even though the details are only just starting to surface. The official insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations. On Monday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee debated a $300 billion-plus measure to invest in drinking water, broadband and other priorities. On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is set to appear before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Next week, the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to release a white paper revisiting the overseas tax code as a way to pay for some of the spending. Republican leader Mitch McConnell used his opening remarks Monday in the Senate to trash the infrastructure proposal, warning it would only lead to tax hikes and what he called left-wing policies. Were hearing the next few months might bring a so-called infrastructure proposal that may actually be a Trojan horse for massive tax hikes and other job-killing, left-wing policies, he said. He derided the Democratic proposals as similar to the Green New Deal, a sweeping plan to address climate change that he said would cost unbelievable sums. Biden is expected to roll out his budget in the weeks ahead as Congress presses forward on the infrastructure package, which lawmakers have said could be ready by summer. Editor's take: Google is arguably one of the most recognizable Internet-related brands in the world. In fact, the Mountain View-based tech giants name itself has become a verb to describe the act of searching for information on the Internet. But have you ever wondered just how many searches end as quickly as they begin? According to data from SimilarWeb, nearly 65 percent of Google searches end without the user clicking on a link in the results. Rand Fishkin with SparkToro believes the figure might even be undercounting some mobile results and nearly all voice searches. Factoring in those results, Fishkin said it is probable that more than two-thirds of all Google searches are zero-click searches. SimilarWebs data consisted of around 5.1 trillion Google searches conducted worldwide between January 2020 and December 2020. Of those, 33.59 percent resulted in clicks on organic search results while 1.59 percent were clicks on paid search results. Data also revealed that zero-click searches are far more common on mobile devices than desktops, at 77.22 percent versus just 50.75 percent. To put the figures into perspective, we turn to StatCounter. The web analytics firm notes that in February 2021, Googles worldwide search engine market share sat at 92.05 percent. Bing, the next closest competitor, captured just 2.69 percent of the market during the same period while Yahoo claimed only 1.47 percent. In the US, Googles search engine market share reached 88.1 percent last month. Masthead courtesy Natee Meepian Euro Manganese (CVE: EMN- ASX: EMN- OTCMKTS: EROMF) CEO Marco Romero joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has completed their financing that had strong institutional participation and was oversubscribed. Romero discusses what they plan on doing with that capital as they develop the Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic. He also shared his thoughts on Volkswagens recent announcement about high-manganese batteries and how this could be very big for the company. Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Partly cloudy early. Thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 75F. Winds SSW 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 near a half an inch. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 [March 23, 2021] Day Pitney Expands Into Rhode Island Day Pitney LLP announced that it will expand its East Coast presence through a merger with Rhode Island-based law firm Howland Evangelista Kohlenberg LLP, a dedicated trusts and estates boutique handling complex and sophisticated planning, probate and trust matters for high net worth individuals and families. Nine attorneys, including name partners Renee A. R. Evangelista and A. Max Kohlenberg, will join the firm's Individual Clients department, growing its ranks to nearly 80 attorneys, once the merger is completed effective July 1, 2021. "We are excited to join forces with Howland Evangelista Kohlenberg; they have a reputation for being long-term thinkers, creative solution builders and smart implementers," said Day Pitney Managing Partner Thomas D. Goldberg. "Adding resources and capabilities in Rhode Island assists in further connecting our firm to all of the major markets along the East Coast." The combined firm will retain the Providence office and all personnel of Howland Evangelista Kohlenberg. The attorneys joining Day Pitney have experience in estate planning, estate settlement and trusteeship. Evangelista, admitted in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island, handles sophisticated estate planning and implements estate settlement techniques to save clients gift, estate and income taxes, while ensuring that their property passes according to their wishes. Kohlenberg, admitted in Massachusetts and Rhode Island focuses on complex estate and trust planning, with particular emphasis on representing multigenerational family groups, professionals, executives and owners of closely held businesses. "We are delighted to be merging with Day Pitney, a full-service firm that is committed to superior client service," said Evangelista. "The ability to collaborate with Day Pitney's attorneys in diverse practices-including tax, real estate, investment management, private funds, charitable planning and representation of family offices-will expand our ability to seamlessly deliver additional services and innovative solutions to help our clients meet their objectives in a rapidly evolving marketplace." Howland Evangelista Kohlenberg was founded in 2014 by former Edwards Wildman Palmer (now Locke Lord) attorneys who shared a vision to focus exclusively on private clients' needs. In addition to Evangelista and Kohlenberg, the following attorneys will be joining Day Pitney: Emma D. Becker, Claire N. Carrabba, Joshua R. Caswell, Leigh E. Furtado, Dana T. Pickard, Joshua Simon and Pamela Veasy. These attorneys will also be joining the Individual Clients department. Day Pitney has one of the largest trusts and estates practices on the East Coast, and the firm's attorneys collectively have hundreds of years of experience helping clients plan for the future. The team is highly ranked in the 2020 Chambers High Net Worth Guide, a Chambers and Partners publication specifically aimed at the international private wealth market, where they were recognized for their "high touch and productivity levels." Additionally, Day Pitney won the 2021 U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers "Law Firm of the Year," for Trusts & Estates Law, and was selected as the "Best Law Firm - Estates and Trusts" at the Private Asset Management Awards in 2020. About Day Pitney LLP Day Pitney is a full-service law firm with close to 300 attorneys in Boston, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, DC. The firm offers clients strong corporate and litigation practices, with experience on behalf of large national and international corporations, as well as emerging and middle-market companies. With one of the largest and most sophisticated individual clients practices in the country, the firm also has extensive experience helping individuals and their families, fiduciaries and tax-exempt entities plan for the future. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005921/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (@fidahassanain) International Water Management has organized a webinar on World Water Day to draw attention to valuing Pakistans depleting natural resource. LAHORE: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-March 23rd, 2021) Experts mark World Water Day 2021, draw attention to valuing Pakistans depleting natural resource A panel of distinguished experts on water stressed the need for collaborative national measures to value water across multiple sectors keeping in view the dwindling natural resource. The experts gathered for a webinar under the banner of International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Pakistan on World Water Day, here on Monday. Moderating the session, Dr Mohsin Hafeez highlighted the role of water for driving diverse sectors like livestock, dairy, energy and industry. Dr. Hafeez, who can be termed water advocate, emphasized how technology can be tapped for conservation of water in Pakistan, the country that is now 5th most vulnerable to climate change. In his keynote speech, Dr Muhammad Ashraf explained that the value of water hinged on the sector and its purpose where it was being utilized. The expert outlined that only after realizing the actual value of water, measures could be taken for innovation and investment in the sector. Dr. Ashraf also brought in the concept of how water was directly linked to Sustainable Development Goals. The Chairman Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) also elaborated the concept of human security associated with water governance and management. We need to take water as a commodity and a shared resource, said Dr. Ashraf while suggesting measures like e-flow and watershed for better conservation of water besides setting up an authority in this regard. Painting a bleak picture about the productivity of water, Dr. Ashraf said that less than 1 percent of waste water was treated in Pakistan. The official also highlighted the key areas which were being ignored like national database for water use pattern. Dr Ashraf also proposed solution to the longstanding problem including volumetric water pricing, restricting high delta corps and adaptation of climate resilient seeds. For instance, as much as 40 percent of water is lost in leakage in Islamabad, said Dr. Ashraf as he detailed the problems in water management framework of the country. He continued that Pakistan needed to strike a balance between water extraction and recharge. One of the panelists, Dr Robina Wahaj lamented the lack of credible information and data regarding water usage despite the fact that reporting of water levels in canals was in place. Wahaj, the Senior Land and Water Officerat FAO, stressed that water allocation was a politically sensitive issue in the country. National Water Policy in 2018 did not account for actual water usage by different sectors, said the expert and added that non-agriculture sectors were not under the limelight in water efficiency discourse. The development practitioner regretted that harnessing data for policy implementation was missing in the aquatic framework of Pakistan. Dr Mohsin Hafeez also brought in Hammad Naqi Khan over the issue of policy options for water conservation to which the expert outlined that Pakistan lacked policy enforcement despite the introduction of regulatory framework in this regard. Only by implementing national climate change policy, we can address a whole host of problems ranging from water to environmental issues, said Hammad Naqi, the Director General, WWF-Pakistan. The WWF representative also revealed the formulation of Recharge Pakistan program based on nature based solutions aimed at mitigating the ensuing crisis. Ms. Yasmin Siddiqialso took part in the discussion and explained that Water Development Outlook was devised by Asian Development Bank (ADB) taking into account water security through multi-sectoral approaches. The official said New Zealand, Australia and Japan topped the Water Development Outlook and fared better than other countries. Technology, capacity building and infrastructure are key areas to focus for effective water utilization, said Siddiqi and elaborated that distribution mechanism was being altered for Greater Thal Canal project in Pakistan. On the issue of climate change linkage with water management, Dr David Potter highlighted that South Asia Water Governance Programwas devised by the United Kingdom for database management. Collaboration is the key to success at different levels of governance, said Dr Potter. Moreover, the executive Director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), DrAbidQaiyumSuleri, dished in on the devastation caused by the Covid-19pandemic and how water occupied the top spot in mitigation strategies. He hammered the issue of social behaviors and lack of coordination between different tiers of government and non-government agencies, perpetuating the crisis. Institutional arrangement has to be in focus for synergy, said Dr Sulehri. The policy expert underlined the need for rational water pricing based on social justice citing same tariff for cotton and rice growers. In his concluding remarks, Dr Mohsin Hafeez stressed the need for conducting water audit in a bid to make the delivery process efficient and transparent .Dr Hafeez - who has under his belt decades of experience regarding water management lauded some of the initiatives launched by the government including the formulation of first ever water policy. The expert also put under focus the role played by IWMI since 1986 in this regard. Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. Yes, no matter what Yes, but it depends on variety No, for medical reasons, uncertainty No, principle Vote View Results More than half of employers who availed of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) were overpaid and owe the revenue a combined 224m. Figures show 66,500 employers have so far availed of TWSS support payments of 2.9bn in respect of 664,000 employees since its introduction on March 26 last year. For the first six weeks of the scheme, employers were paid a maximum of 410 in respect of each eligible employee. However, from May 4, the subsidy was based on each eligible employees average net weekly pay for January and February 2020. Woodland Park Councilman Jim Pfaff faces recall for allegedly not meeting election residency requirements and refusing to recuse himself for conflict of interest in a moratorium that will affect his place of residence. Kerrville, TX (78028) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. High 78F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. (Natural News) Federal legislators have introduced a bill to include standalone energy storage systems to products with applicable investment tax credit (ITC). The Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act of 2021 would encompass energy storage projects for residential, commercial and utility-scale purposes. According to energy storage advocates, the proposed legislation would put standalone storage technologies on a level playing field with other clean energy technologies that receive the ITC. Reps. Mike Doyle (D-PA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced the bill March 9 to the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced companion legislation to the upper chamber of Congress. The draft bill introduced by Doyle and his colleagues will involve [amending] the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to accommodate the ITC for these energy storage technologies. In a statement, Doyle said the proposed bill would encourage the use of energy storage technologies, helping [to] reach climate goals and create a more resilient and sustainable future. The Pennsylvania lawmaker added: Cost-efficient energy storage is essential for adding more renewable energy to the grid and will increase the resiliency of communities. According to Doyle, the bill he introduced would promote greater investment and research into energy storage technologies, bolster the advanced energy economy and create more clean energy jobs. Buchanan said: New technology like large-scale battery storage is a critical step on the path to a cleaner and more efficient energy future. Investing in alternative energy sources has the added benefit of creating thousands of new jobs in southwest Florida and across the country. Meanwhile, Blumenauer remarked that he was glad to join Doyle in his effort. Energy storage is a critical part of the bold, comprehensive agenda that we must pursue to decarbonize our economy and address the climate emergency, he said. Standalone storage systems aim to hit two birds with one stone reliable energy and less emissions Energy Storage Association (ESA) Interim CEO Jason Burwen lauded the bill introduced by Doyle and his colleagues in the lower chamber. According to the ESA head, the bill incentivizes development of standalone energy storage technologies on the same level as clean energy technologies such as solar. Weve seen the ITC be critical to bringing down costs of other clean energy technologies and accelerating their adoption, so we think thats important for storage as well, he said. Energy storage systems are often used in tandem with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. These systems usually pertain to batteries, but they also include systems like pumped hydropower, hydrogen storage, thermal energy storage, regenerative fuel cells and superconducting magnets. Energy storage systems come in handy when demand is high and power is more expensive and when there is a power outage and backup energy supply is needed. (Related: One step closer to decentralized renewable energy? New magnetic floating flywheels may provide the storage solution.) Under the current system, storage systems only qualify for the ITC if they are installed with eligible energy sources such as solar. Residential, commercial and large-scale utility solar systems are afforded a 26 percent tax credit. But this is due to be tapered off in the next two years to a permanent 10 percent ITC for commercial developments. Residential installations will no longer have the tax credit applied after 2023. The bill by Doyle and his colleagues would extend this tax credit to a wider range of applications, not just solar. Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions Executive Director Heather Reams applauded the efforts of the lawmakers behind the tax credit bill for storage systems. Expanding investment tax credits for energy storage is a pro-growth, no-brainer policy that will support any power generation connected to the grid to become more efficient, productive and competitive, she said. Reams commented that resilient and reliable energy storage is critical to building a clean energy economy. She continued: Federal tax incentives will spur significant private sector investments in energy storage, putting the full power of American innovation [toward] building our next-generation energy infrastructure for the future. (Related: New stable fuel cell could be the breakthrough that makes energy storage economically feasible.) Ultimately, Burwen exhorted Congress to pass the bill into law at the soonest in order to power the economic recovery with jobs that build a cleaner, more resilient future for all. He remarked: Without more energy storage, the U.S. will fail to achieve its urgent climate and clean energy goals and miss an opportunity to make power infrastructure more resilient to climate change. Visit Power.news to read more news about tax incentives for storage systems and other new energy technologies. Sources include: UtilityDive.com Doyle.House.gov 1 [PDF] Doyle.House.gov 2 Islamic State forces remain as dangerous today as when they were ousted from their last Syrian bastion two years ago, Kurdish forces have warned as they marked the anniversary on Tuesday. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said counter-terrorism efforts today were 'more difficult than face-to-face fighting with IS jihadists, and are considered more dangerous'. 'The fall of the last patch of IS territory in northeast Syria does not mean complete defeat,' the SDF said in a statement to mark their victory in March 2019. On Tuesday, Kurdish authorities, local tribal leaders and members of the US-led coalition who pushed IS from their Syrian stronghold, marked the anniversary with a military parade in the US-protected Al-Omar oil field, in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor. Islamic State forces remain as dangerous today as when they were ousted from their last Syrian bastion two years ago, Kurdish forces have warned as they marked the anniversary on Tuesday The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said counter-terrorism efforts today were 'more difficult than face-to-face fighting with IS jihadists, and are considered more dangerous'. Pictured: SDF members take part in a military parade to mark the defeat of ISIS 'The fall of the last patch of IS territory in northeast Syria does not mean complete defeat,' the SDF said in a statement to mark their victory in March 2019. Pictured: SDF members take part in a military parade to mark the defeat of ISIS The IS defeat in the eastern riverside hamlet of Baghouz marked the end of a cross-border 'caliphate' declared in 2014 across swaths of Iraq and Syria. But two years on from the Battle of Baghouz, IS has shown that it does not need a physical stronghold to pose a potent threat, with the jihadists carrying out regular attacks and ambushes, including setting off roadside bombs and machine-gunning vehicles. They are also feared to be recruiting fresh fighters, including among tens of thousands of suspected IS relatives detained in overcrowded displacement camps. 'We are currently at the most difficult stage of our counter-terrorism efforts,' the SDF added. On Tuesday, Kurdish authorities, local tribal leaders and members of the US-led coalition who pushed IS from their Syrian stronghold, marked the anniversary with a military parade (pictured) in the US-protected Al-Omar oil field, in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor The IS defeat in the eastern riverside hamlet of Baghouz marked the end of a cross-border 'caliphate' declared in 2014 across swaths of Iraq and Syria. Pictured: SDF members take part in a military parade to mark the defeat of ISIS Two years on from the Battle of Baghouz, IS has shown that it does not need a physical stronghold to pose a potent threat, with the jihadists carrying out regular attacks and ambushes, including setting off roadside bombs and machine-gunning vehicles. Pictured: SDF members take part in a military parade to mark the defeat of ISIS IS retains some 10,000 active fighters in both Syria and Iraq, although the majority are reported to be in Iraq, according to a recent report from the United Nations. Syria's vast desert near the Iraqi border has emerged as a key 'safe haven' for IS operatives and a springboard for attacks, the UN said. The group is 'building and retaining a cellular structure which allows it to carry out terrorist attacks,' General Kenneth McKenzie, head of the US Central Command that oversees troops deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, said last month. At Al-Omar, SDF banners were raised to mark the anniversary, alongside posters carrying pictures of fighters killed during the years-long battle against jihadists. Fighters in fatigues marched in a show of strength. Pictured: Heavy smoke rises above the hamlet of Baghouz during the Battle of Baghouz [File photo] The tens of thousands of jihadists in Kurdish jails and suspected IS relatives held in displacement camps have emerged as an extremist powder keg. Pictured: An SDF member stands as women and children leave Baghouz following ISIS's defeat [File photo] 'In the spirit of the liberation of Baghouz... we will liberate all our lands,' one poster read, referring to the village where IS made its last stand. Kurdish fighters joined ranks with Arab forces to form the US-backed SDF alliance in 2015. They would go on to oust IS from key areas, including the jihadists' de facto capital Raqa in 2017. In October 2019, a US strike on Syria killed IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and several other prominent figures. But Baghdadi's successor, Mohammed Said Abd al-Rahman al-Mawla, has been able to direct and inspire new attacks. Syria's Kurds are holding nearly 43,000 foreigners with links to the jihadist group in jails and informal displacement camps, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday. Pictured: Women and children evacuated from Baghouz arrive at an SDF screening area [File photo] Those held by Kurdish forces include 27,500 children, at least 300 of whom are in squalid prisons, while the rest are kept in rehabilitation centres or locked camps, HRW said.Pictured: A young girl interacts with a toddler at Al-Hol camp on March 3, 2021 The tens of thousands of jihadists in Kurdish jails and suspected IS relatives held in displacement camps have emerged as an extremist powder keg. Syria's Kurds are holding nearly 43,000 foreigners with links to the jihadist group in jails and informal displacement camps, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday. They include 27,500 children, at least 300 of whom are in squalid prisons, while the rest are kept in rehabilitation centres or locked camps, HRW said. Repeated calls for Western countries to repatriate their nationals have largely fallen on deaf ears, with just a handful of children and a few women being brought home. 'Men, women, and children from around the world are entering a third year of unlawful detention in life-threatening conditions...while their governments look the other way,' HRW's Letta Tayler said. The SDF reiterated calls on Tuesday for countries to boost repatriation efforts, and establish international tribunals to prosecute those in detention accused of being jihadists. Repeated calls for Western countries to repatriate their nationals have largely fallen on deaf ears, with just a handful of children and a few women being brought home. Pictured: Al-Hol refugee camp, home to many suspected relatives of ISIS fighters [File photo] The SDF reiterated calls on Tuesday for countries to boost repatriation efforts, and establish international tribunals to prosecute those in detention accused of being jihadists. Pictured: An SDF fighter gives bread to children near the town of Baghouz during the battle [File photo] Most suspected IS relatives are being kept in the Al Hol camp, the largest of the settlements controlled by Kurdish authorities. Al-Hol holds almost 62,000 people, mostly women and children, including Syrians, Iraqis and thousands from Europe and Asia accused of having family ties to IS fighters. Some detainees see the camp as the last vestige of the cross-border 'caliphate'. 'The danger of the IS group lives on in the thousands of prisoners held in jails as well as... their relatives detained in camps,' the SDF said. In a report published last month, the UN said it had documented instances of 'radicalisation, fundraising, training and incitement of external operations' at Al-Hol. It also warned of the fate of around 7,000 children living in a special annex designated for foreign IS relatives. They are 'being groomed as future ISIL operatives' the UN said, using a different acronym for the IS group. Societe de la Tour Eiffel announces the signing of a rental agreement with Trajectoire Formation, a training centre created in 1993 at the initiative of hotel companies, with a total floor area of 1,351 m. The transaction brings the total occupancy rate of the Odyssee building to 88%. The building with 12,670 m of floor space, which was added to the portfolio of the property company in 2016, is located in Guyancourt, part of the business cluster of Saint Quentin en Yvelines, the second largest economic hub in the west of Greater Paris. It has a key location in the heart of the city and offers a wide range of services guaranteeing a comfortable working environment with restaurants, nurseries, car parks, shops.... The thriving area now hosts major national and international companies from all sectors (Credit Agricole, Bouygues, Thales Optronique, McDonald's, Baxter, etc.) underlining its high attractiveness. These many assets quickly convinced Trajectoire Formation, which will set up its head office in the Offices section on the ground floor as well as a culinary lab in the interoffice restaurant of the building for students at the Hotel Management School of Saint-Quentin en Yvelines located near the Odyssee building. " We are delighted to welcome the students of the Hotel Management School of Saint Quentin en Yvelines, which provides excellent training courses for future hospitality players," commented Bruno Meyer, Deputy Managing Director of Societe de la Tour Eiffel. Advisers for the operation: BNP REAL ESTATE Contact Press relations Laetitia Baudon - Advisory Director Agence Shan Tel. + 33 (0)1 44 50 58 79 laetitia.baudon@shan.fr Societe de la Tour Eiffel The Societe de la Tour Eiffel, with assets of 1.9 billion, is an integrated commercial property investment company with a long-standing service culture. Operating throughout the real estate cycle, it supports its clients, companies of all sizes and from all sectors, through a demanding practice of direct management of its assets located in regions with high growth potential. The property company manages its rapidly expanding real estate assets over the long term, with a strategic refocusing plan for the 100% office portfolio, with 80% in Greater Paris and 20% in high-potential regional cities, and has established itself as a benchmark player. Societe de la Tour Eiffel is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment B) - ISIN Code: FR0000036816 - Reuters: TEIF.PA - Bloomberg: EIFF.FP - A member of the IEIF Foncieres and IEIF Immobilier France indices www.societetoureiffel.com ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: ym5wZspvk22XynFvk5iaapSVa2tqkmacZpTLm5RvlMucnHFnxm5maZieZm9pmGhn - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-68331-20210323_societe-de-la-tour-eiffel_leasing_guyancourt.pdf Facing an "overwhelming" influx of spring breakers pouring onto Miami Beach's sandy oceanfront and swarming its neon-lit streets - including many who have disregarded pandemic rules and brawled with police - the city on Sunday extended a state of emergency through this week. Now, two visitors are charged with drugging and raping a woman in her hotel room and then stealing her credit cards to fuel their spending on the island. The woman was later found dead inside her room. Dorian Taylor, 24, and Evoire Collier, 21, who both traveled to Miami Beach from North Carolina, gave the victim a pill before they propped her up on the way to her hotel room, assaulted her and then left her, police said. They have been charged with sexual battery, burglary and credit card fraud as a medical examiner completes tests on the woman, who hasn't been identified, to determine a cause of death. "He couldn't even pick up a phone to call the police or 911 after they did whatever they did to her," Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy Glazer said in a remote video hearing posted online by the Miami Herald. A public defender appointed for the two men didn't address the charges in the Monday bond hearing. The charges were announced after Miami Beach instituted a new 8 p.m. curfew as police have made more than 1,000 arrests, including more than 400 on felony charges, since February. "I have personally had trouble even sleeping at night, worrying about what's going to happen in the city," Democratic Mayor Dan Gelber said Sunday. "And that shouldn't be the state of any mayor or any commissioner or any manager or any police chief." The incident involving Taylor and Collier began on Thursday, according to a police report reviewed by WTVJ, after the pair traveled to South Florida from Greensboro, N.C. Police responded to a South Beach hotel where the victim, a 24-year-old who was visiting from Pennsylvania, was found dead and partially unclothed on a bed, the Herald reported. When detectives pulled up surveillance footage, they saw two men early on Thursday morning leading the obviously incapacitated woman into the hotel. One of the defendants was "holding behind her, holding her by the neck, so she would stand still, because she was obviously intoxicated or drugged," Miami Beach Detective Luis Alsina said in Monday's bond hearing. The men left less than an hour later, police said. On Saturday, police said they spotted Collier by his distinctive pants in a crowd of revelers on Ocean Drive. Police say that Collier later confessed to meeting the woman at a restaurant and said that Taylor had given her a "green pill," the Herald reported; he told police the pill may have been Percocet, but he wasn't certain. Once they led the victim into her room, they repeatedly sexually assaulted her, Alsina told the judge, and then robbed her. "They did not call for assistance or help" once it was clear she was unconscious, Alsina said, "and began to take all of her items." Taylor was seen on surveillance video using the woman's credit cards at liquor stores and other locations around South Beach, police said, and had the woman's phone and more green pills when he was arrested. At Monday's hearing, Ayana Harris, an assistant state attorney, argued that the men should be held in custody until the medical examiner determines the woman's cause of death because they could still face more-serious charges. The men are scheduled for an arraignment in about three weeks, the Herald reported. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will travel to Tajikistan later in the month to participate in the Heart of Asia conference, which is expected to be attended by his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, sparking speculation of a possible meeting between the two amidst peace overtures from the Pakistani Army, according to a media report. However, there was no official confirmation from New Delhi on whether Jaishankar will travel to Tajikistan for the conference or about the possible meeting with his Pakistani counterpart. The Ninth Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process is scheduled to take place on the 30th of March 2021 in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. Dawn newspaper reported that the participation of Jaishankar and Qureshi in the March 30th event, in the backdrop of the recent developments, has led to speculation that they could meet. "In view of recent events, we cannot say it's impossible," an official was quoted by the newspaper as saying. The militaries of India and Pakistan on February 25 announced that they have agreed to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and other sectors. On March 18, Pakistan's powerful Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa said it was time for India and Pakistan to "bury the past and move forward". Addressing a session of the first-ever Islamabad Security Dialogue here, Gen Bajwa also said that the potential for regional peace and development always remained hostage to the disputes and issues between Pakistan and India - the two "nuclear-armed neighbours". "We feel it is time to bury the past and move forward," he said, adding that the responsibility for a meaningful dialogue rested with India. India last month said it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence and that the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility. India has also told Pakistan that "talks and terror" cannot go together and has asked Islamabad to take demonstrable steps against terror groups responsible for launching various attacks on India. Ties between India and Pakistan nose-dived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in Pakistan. Subsequent attacks, including one on an Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship. The ties hit rock bottom after India's war planes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistan on February 26, 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack in 2019 in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. The border tensions increased manifold after India abrogated Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two union territories in August, 2019. BJP President J P Nadda on Tuesday asserted that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has been passed by the Parliament and will be implemented "in time". Nadda after releasing the party's manifesto for the Assam elections said that the law, (which does not find a mention in the manifesto), is a central legislation and the Congress claim that they will not allow its implemenation in the state, if voted to power, may be either "due to their ignorance or they are trying to fool the people of the state". "I do not want to comment on the Congress thinking but their approach is not only problematic but also dangerous for the state", he said. The highly contentious CAA seeks to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis entering India on or before December 31, 2014 from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after five years of residence here. Assam's identity is inextricably linked to Vaishanav saint Srimanta Sankardeva, Bharat Ratnas Dr Bhupen Hazarika and Gopinath Bordoloi and "now can we allow it to be linked with Badruddin Ajmal" (AIUDF chief with whose party the Congress has entered into an alliance for the state polls). The BJP is committed to protect and preserve the "identity and culture" of Assam, keeping the "natural process of cultural change intact". Referring to the issue of infiltration, the BJP president said that the party is committed to strengthening and scientific management of the international borders. "Border management is a continuous process and we will continue to improve it", he said. Asked about the implementation of the clause six of the Assam accord to ensure the constitutional safeguard of the linguistic, cultural, social identity and heritage of the Assamese people, Nadda said, "it is under process and we are committed to it". The BJP in its manifesto has made "ten commitments" for an 'Atmanirbhar Assam' which include initiation of process of correction and reconciliation of the entries under the Supreme Court mandated Register of Citizens to "protect genuine Indian citizens and exclude all illegal immigrants". The BJP has also pedged to protect the political rights of the people of the state through a delimitation exercise. The party also promised that Assam will be made free from the vagaries of flood by launching "Mission Brahmaputra" with a multi-pronged strategy involving the dredging of the river and building reservoirs to store excess water from Brahmaputra and its tributaries. The party committed to enhance payments to women under the 'Orundoi' scheme to Rs 3000 per month from the existing Rs 830 for their economic empowerment and will cover 30 lakh women in a phased manner. A task force will be set up to recover lands of Sattras (Vaishnav monastery) and places of worship from illegal encroachment and strengthen all 'Namghars' (prayer halls) and places of worship of the tribals in the state by providing grants in aid upto Rs 2.5 lakh each. The party also promised to launch 'Mission Shishu Unnayan' to provide free education to every child of Assam in government institutions and provide free bicycles to all school students from class eight onwards to increase access to schooling. The party also pledged to provide two lakh government jobs to the youths of Assam and of these one lakh will be provided by March 31, 2022 and also enable the provision of eight lakh jobs in the private sector, making the state the fastest job creator in the country. It also assured to create 10 lakh youth entrepreneurs through the Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Employment Yojana (SVAYEM) with two lakh youths to be supported each year for the next five years. BJP also pledged to launch the 'Assam Aahar Atmanirbharta Yojana' to deploy technology, financial and administrative incentives to steer the state towards self-sufficiency in essential food items, especially fish, poultry, piggery, dairy and horticulture products within the next five years. It also promised to empower people with land rights by distributing land pattas with requisite rights to all landless citizens of the state in a phased manner. (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.) Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment At the start of the recent talks between senior US and Chinese diplomats in Alaska, the Chinese Foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, made uncharacteristically public belligerent statements. Yang proclaimed that the US did not come to the meeting from a position of strength in this first US-China meeting of the Biden Administration. According to a Tweet from Disclose TV: China's FM Yang threatens firm actions in response to US interference on arrival for Alaska talks: US is the champion of cyberattacks; Black Americans are slaughtered in the US; US uses military might & financial supremacy to pressure countries. This level of criticism of America by the Chinese Communist Party is new, and directly connected to extreme Baizuo progressive ideology and rhetoric in the United States. Let me explain. First, despite the frequent use of progressive talking points to criticize the United States, the Chinese people actually resent and lampoon extreme progressivism in America. According to the Global Times, Chinese use the Mandarin term Baizuo, meaning white left, to lampoon progressive elites in America and throughout the West. The term Baizuo has become increasingly popular among Chinas netizens (internet users), a phenomenon analysts ascribe to the publics resentment against what they perceive as the superiority complex of the Western Liberal elites and use the term to ridicule the Liberal elites. Dr. Zhang Chenchen has written that Baizuo means those who only care about topics such as immigration, minorities, LGBT, and the environment and who have no sense of real problems in the real world and advocate for such things to satisfy their own feelings of moral superiority while obsessed with political correctness. On the Chinese question/answer site Zhihu, one of the top responded question is why are well-educated elites in the West seen as naive white left in China? and on that site describe Baizuo as those who advocate inclusiveness and anti-discrimination, but cannot tolerate different opinions. Cultural scholar Zhang Yiwu of Peking University have opined that many Chinese believe Baizuo are hypocritical, and will make things worse in the West. Most probably recognize this is the same criticism from the American right, though that criticism is called racist by the Baizuo. The claim by CCP member and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang about the US Slaughtering Blacks, is absurd. Heather MacDonald of USA Today wrote on July 3, 2020 There is No Epidemic of Fatal Police Shootings Against Unarmed Blacks, and that only 14 unarmed blacks were killed in 2019, compared with 25 unarmed whites. Even the seeming disparity (African-Americans make up only 13% of the population) is shown to be similar by the number of police encounters The African American community tends to be policed more heavily, because that is where people are disproportionately hurt by violent street crime. In New York City in 2018, 73% of shooting victims were Black, though Black residents comprise only 24% of the citys population. The CCP can make such an outrageous accusation against the United States due to the outrageous rhetoric of the Baizuo. The constant refrain from progressive groups, like BLM, supported and repeated by most of the American Baizuo, is that blacks are being hunted by police. From the 1619 project and the rhetoric of those promulgating critical race theory, America is described as systematically racist and a danger to African Americans. This carries into the Democratic Party, in which even Joe Biden recently claimed at the CNN Town Hall we have to deal with systematic racist that exists throughout society. The false progressive assertions of systematically racist American police massacring black people is picked up by the Communist Party of China thrown back against us. This dynamic happens in a number of other such ways with Progressive rhetoric. These attacks coming from China are particularly galling when considering Chinas record on such issues. Most in America are aware of the massacre of thousands dissidents in Tiananmen Square in 1989 (though that historic event is blacked out by the CCP from the Chinese public). They are usually aware of the oppression of Christianity, and the crackdown on dissidents in Hong Kong. What they may not be aware is of the Chinese use of concentration camps to intern Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang Province. According to the former head of human rights bureau in the US State Department, Michael Kozak, this kind of persecution hasnt happened since the 1930s (comparison to the persecution used by Hitler and Stalin). Reports include organ harvesting. Unbelievably, China has called the concentration camps vocational training centers. Unfortunately, progressives like Biden rationalize this as a cultural difference. China has used alleged minority persecution to stop any criticism of Xinjiang Province concentration camps and progressives remain silent. A majority of Americans are not Baizuo. A recent Rasmussen Poll showed 75% of American voters want voter ID laws (including 60% of Democrats). Yet progressives not only push legislation (HR1) to end voter ID, but have called support for voter IDs racist. The majority of Americans, like the Chinese see the Progressive insanity. Its time we demand an end to Baizuo ideology and rhetoric, for the sake of America and for the good America could accomplish in the world without it. Philippine police check a taxi as they enforce COVID-19 travel restrictions in the outskirts of Metro Manila, March 22, 2021. The Philippine presidents spokesman called on people to use the tried-and-tested formula and stay home to slow the spread of COVID-19, as officials imposed two-week soft lockdowns in the Manila area and four nearby provinces on Monday. The health department the same day reported an all-time daily high of 8,019 new coronavirus infections, which brought to 671,792 cases the total number of cases nationwide. It also reported four deaths, bringing the national toll to 12,972. The new general community quarantines means that Metro Manila, an urban region of 12 million people, along with heavily populated suburbs in the adjacent provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, will be on soft lockdowns. We are estimating that with these measures and at the end of the two-week period that the numbers would drop by at least 25 percent, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on ANC Television. Because we all know that the tried-and-tested formula for preventing the increase in the cases of COVID is to stay home. The quarantine goes into effect as the largely Catholic country prepares for Holy Week beginning March 28, the traditional holiday when millions of devotees return to their home provinces. [D]espite the fact that we have basically allowed people to work, we are also appealing to everyone it is Holy Week, where traditionally we have a long holiday anyway. So, if you are not going out because of an essential activity such as to get the basics of food and water or to work, you might as well stay home, he said. The move came after the daily number of those infected with the virus hit 7,999 on Saturday followed by 7,757 on Sunday, according to the health department. All three totals broke what had been the previous daily record of 6,968 set in August 2020. Recommendations Under the new lockdowns only essential travel from and to the areas will be allowed, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases said in its recommendation to President Rodrigo Duterte. The recommendation bans all mass gatherings along with dine-in services inside restaurants, cafes and other establishments while it discourages face-to-face meetings. A curfew has been imposed starting at 10 p.m. and running until 5 a.m. the following day, while people younger than 18 and older than 65 are required to remain in their residences at all times. The Philippines began its long-delayed inoculation program at the start of March, but only about 1 million vaccine doses have arrived. To date, less than 300,000 of the countrys 110 million people have received their first dose of the vaccine. On Monday, Roque said the rationale behind limiting movements was that the government wanted to lessen the number of COVID (cases) in the bubble area. We also want to prevent the spread of new variants in areas outside of Metro Manila, Roque said. So, I hope they [the public] understand that we are doing this for the public good, because right now, the numbers that we are seeing, Im sure is partly due to the variants and if we are going to spread these variants all over the Philippines, can you imagine, what will happen? While the best health care is available in Metro Manila, areas outside of the capital region will have less and less capacity to care for those who may get sick, he said. New strains On Monday, the health department reported 46 new cases of a COVID-19 strain first detected in the United Kingdom, 62 cases of the strain first detected in South Africa and six cases of the strain first reported in the Philippines. The department has urged the public to stay at home unless extremely necessary, the agency said. With the upcoming Holy Week, the DOH encourages everyone to avoid large congregations and practice religious activities at home, it said. Strict adherence to the minimum public health standards in all private and public settings is strongly emphasized to minimize COVID-19transmission and avoid further mutations, it said. With the growing number of COVID-19 cases, some of Manillas big hospitals have reported capacity concerns. The health department said 30 of the 150 hospitals in metro Manila were placed in critical status while 22 were in high-risk status in terms of capacity. Of those listed as critical, 13 have reached 100 percent bed occupancy. Dr. Oscar Tinio, a Philippine Medical Association spokesman, said many doctors had expressed fears about the coronavirus. About 13,000 doctors and nurses have been infected since March 2020, and at least 70 have died because of COVID-19, according to tallies by medical associations. The virus, no matter what you do, will have variants. That is its nature. It will duplicate, no matter what, Tinio told local television. Were really having some concerns right now, because some of our doctors are in critical condition, he said. Overall, were alarmed, were scared. We dont like what is happening right now, he said. Our hospitals are getting filled up, our doctors are getting scared again. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Number two is now number one in the Brooklyn federal prosecutors office. Mark J. Lesko has been appointed acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Prior to his swearing in on Monday, Lesko had served as first assistant U.S. attorney since March 2019. The first assistant is second-in-command in the office. In that role, Lesko had been a key decision-maker in the offices criminal prosecutions and civil litigation. Lesko succeeds Seth D. DuCharme, who resigned on Friday. The Eastern District covers Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens as well as Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island. Taking the reins of the office is an absolute honor and privilege, said Lesko in a statement. After having spent many years on the line prosecuting federal crimes, as well as significant time overseeing prosecutions and civil cases in a wide range of supervisory positions, I look forward to leading the office and working with our law enforcement and agency partners to protect and serve the Eastern Districts more than 8 million residents, Lesko said. Lesko is currently serving his second stint in the office. Mark J. Lesko began serving as acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York on March 22, 2021. He originally joined in 2002. He served then as deputy chief of the Long Island Criminal Division and as a Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Coordinator before leaving in 2009. During that time, Lesko conducted major prosecutions involving the illegal storage of hazardous waste by a titanium manufacturing company, two fraudulent financiers of a major motion picture, and a Colombo crime family associate. His convictions included a Long Island couple who tortured two Indonesian domestic servants, gang members in a racketeering murder case, and the head of a Brooklyn-based robbery crew responsible for more than 50 armed heists in the city and on Long Island. Lesko returned to the office in October 2018, assuming the position of special counsel to the U.S. attorney. He was later appointed first assistant U.S. attorney. Lesko was part of the prosecution team that secured a trial conviction against Nxivm founder Keith Raniere. Raniere was found guilty on all counts of a superseding indictment charging him with various crimes including sex trafficking, racketeering and forced labor conspiracy. A graduate of Yale University and Georgetown Universitys Law Center, Lesko was an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia from 1999 to 2002. He has also worked at law firms in Washington D.C. and in Pittsburgh. Over the years, Lesko has worn many hats. Three times, he was elected supervisor of the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County. With a population of nearly a half-million, Brookhaven is the states second-largest town. Lesko has also served as an adjunct law professor at Hofstra University and executive director of Accelerate Long Island. The latter is a regional collaboration which oversaw a seed-stage investment program for biotech companies in the city and on Long Island. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 22:35:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Newly-elected General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and incumbent Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith addresses the 11th LPRP Congress in Vientiane, Laos, Jan. 15, 2021. (LPRP congress media center/Handout via Xinhua) Xi said that since last year, China and Laos have joined hands in the fight of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has vividly demonstrated the spirit of the China-Laos community with a shared future, and consolidated and deepened the brotherly friendship between the two sides. BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, on his election as the country's president. Xi noted in the message that the world today is facing profound changes unseen in a century, and China-Laos relations are in a crucial stage that inherits the past and sets a course for the future. He added that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Laos relations and is willing to work with Thongloun to further consolidate and expand the two countries' comprehensive strategic cooperation, promote the well-being and friendship of their people, and lift the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future to new heights. Noting that China and Laos are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, Xi said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 60 years ago, the relations between the two parties and between the two countries have braved the waves and grown stronger as time goes by. An engineering train runs in the China Railway No. 2 Engineering Group (CREC-2) railing base on the northern outskirts of Lao capital Vientiane, Feb. 10, 2021. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) In recent years, Xi said, the traditional friendship between China and Laos has achieved new development, strategic mutual trust has made new progress, practical cooperation has taken new steps, and bilateral relations have entered a new era of building a community with a shared future. Xi said that since last year, China and Laos have joined hands in the fight of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has vividly demonstrated the spirit of the China-Laos community with a shared future, and consolidated and deepened the brotherly friendship between the two sides. On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory message to Phankham Viphavanh on the latter's election as Laos' prime minister. Li said he is ready to make joint efforts with Phankham to continuously enrich the connotation of their countries' comprehensive strategic cooperation, and make new progress in the cause of building the China-Laos community with a shared future. Moscow, March 23 : Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he planned to receive one of the country's three registered vaccines on Tuesday. "Vaccination is a voluntary choice for everyone, a personal decision," he said at a meeting on Russia's vaccine production on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported. To date, 6.3 million people in Russia have received the first dose of a domestic vaccine and 4.3 million have received two jabs, Putin said, adding that the vaccine rollout is playing a significant role in curbing the pandemic. Despite Western attempts to discredit Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, it has gained broad recognition internationally, he added. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said that Putin's inoculation will not be made a public event, and he did not disclose which of the vaccines, namely Sputnik V, EpiVacCorona or CoviVac, the president will receive. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A grand jury has declined to indict a New Jersey resident on murder and manslaughter charges in the broad-daylight slaying in Tompkinsville of another man who had abused his clients mother, the shooters lawyer contended. However, the panel on Monday did hand up a felony gun charge against Ishawn Bryant, 21, stemming from the March 4 incident in which New Brighton resident Kenton Smith, 43, was killed, said defense lawyer Mario F. Gallucci. Gallucci said Bryant maintained he shot Smith in self-defense. The defendant testified before the grand jury. It was apparent from the video (of the shooting) that Mr. Smith made aggressive moves toward Mr. Bryant, moves that Mr. Bryant ultimately thought may lead to his demise. And, as a result of that, my client reacted, said Gallucci. The lawyer said Smith had physically and mentally abused Bryants mom for years. Bryant told the panel about what exactly took place on the days leading up to the shooting, said Gallucci. The lawyer said two other witnesses, whom he had recommended to prosecutors, also testified about the alleged abuse. Bryant was indicted on a charge of second-degree criminal weapon possession, the attorney said. He potentially faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of that charge. Bryant, who lives in Elizabeth, had been held without bail pending the grand jury presentation. On Tuesday, bail was set at $25,000 bond, which, Gallucci said, the defendant would post. The lawyer said Bryant couldnt wait to go home. He was obviously excited about the fact that the grand jury understood what happened that day, but hes still sad about the loss of life, said the attorney. Gallucci thanked the Police Department and district attorneys office for doing a full and thorough investigation of the matter. Police respond to a reported shooting on Bay Street in Tompkinsville on Thursday, March 4, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) In a statement, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said his office presented all the relevant facts and evidence to the grand jury in the pursuit of justice in this case. The D.A. vowed to continue working tirelessly to prosecute the case and hold Bryant accountable on the indicted charge second-degree criminal weapon possession. My office takes gun violence very seriously and we remain committed to working with our partners in the NYPD to make our communities safer for all Staten Islanders, said McMahon. He added: I would like to thank the grand jury for their commitment to fulfilling their civic duty on behalf of the people of Staten Island. Police have said they believe the shooting occurred as a result of an ongoing dispute between Bryant, Smith and a family member. The events unfolded shortly before noon on Bay Street near Victory Boulevard. Bryant approached Smith, and the two got into a brief but heated dispute, a source with knowledge of the investigation previously told the Advance/SILive.com. Bryant then took a gun from his waistband and opened fire, shooting Smith multiple times, according to the source, surveillance-video images and witness accounts. However, Gallucci, the defense lawyer, contended Smith was the aggressor. Smith transported to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton where he was pronounced dead. After the shooting, Bryant fled the scene in a gray sedan, police said. The defendant surrendered to authorities nearly two weeks later on March 16. He was charged then with one count of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal weapon possession. A drama teacher is suing one of Britain's top all-girls schools for 50,000 after he broke his neck by falling 12ft off a ladder while adjusting theatre lights. Harry Wilkinson suffered brain damage and fractures to his face, elbow and arm while setting up the drama studio at Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School in north London. The 34-year-old, who was preparing the studio for an exam, is now suing the comprehensive for up to 50,000 in damages, blaming them for his accident in May 2016 because they did not train him how to use ladders. But the all-girls school are fighting Mr Wilkinson's claim, arguing that climbing a ladder safely is a matter of 'common sense'. According to documents filed at Central London County Court, Mr Wilkinson was at the top of the ladder adjusting light rigging when he fell. The rig could not be lowered to work on at ground level and could only be adjusted by climbing the ladder, his lawyers argue. Harry Wilkinson suffered brain damage and fractures to his face, elbow and arm while setting up the drama studio at Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School in north London 'The task required the claimant to stand upon the ladder for a significant period of time,' the claim papers state. 'During the course of carrying out the task, the claimant would have to utilise both hands to attach and adjust the light rigging equipment. Whilst undertaking this task, he fell a significant distance from the ladder and hit the floor.' Mr Wilkinson, of Muswell Hill, north London, sustained fractures to his neck, the bones around his eye and nose, his arm and elbow. In a short hearing at the court earlier this year, it was revealed that the accident has also had a mental impact on him. Judge Nicholas Parfitt was told that Mr Wilkinson now complains of concentration problems, fatigue and an increased sensitivity to heat. His partner of 16 years told how, in the two years following the fall, he had become more withdrawn and irritable, less keen to socialise, and more apathetic. The 34-year-old is now suing the comprehensive school (pictured) for up to 50,000, blaming them for his accident in May 2016 because they did not train him how to use ladders Following the accident, the school was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for a breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School pleaded guilty in March 2017 in relation to a failure to provide mandatory height work training. The HSE said the school's conduct 'fell significantly below minimum legal standards'. The school has since purchased a platform so staff can work safely at height and modified the light rigging so it can be worked from the ground using a pole. According to its defence to the claim, the school admits breaching its duty to Mr Wilkinson, because its ladder training was online and optional. However, they say Mr Wilkinson should have known how to climb and work from a ladder safely. School barrister Kam Jaspal said: 'For the avoidance of any doubt, the defendant's admitted breach of duty was not causative in circumstances where the claimant was undertaking a straightforward task which he had safely undertaken on previous occasions without incident. 'In any event, it is denied that any mandatory training which the claimant should have received would have avoided the claimant's accident. 'Any training which the claimant did not receive but should have received would only have dealt with matters of which the claimant was already aware, by reason of common sense and experience. 'In those circumstances, further training in respect of use of the ladder would have made no difference to the outcome and would not have avoided the claimant from falling in the manner which he did.' The case reached court earlier this month for a preparatory hearing ahead of a full trial of the claim at a later date. Community News Editor / Librarian Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. She can be reached at jmaschino@berkshireeagle.com. PALO ALTO, Calif., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) will receive a $2 million contract from the U.S. Energy Department (DOE) to explore how information about solar energy spreads among consumers. DOE's Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) selected EPRI to examine how residential and commercial utility customers make decisions related to the co-adoption of solar power with other technologies, such as energy storage and electric vehicles (EVs). This research will help utilities determine future needs of the electric grid. In collaboration with the DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, EPRI will assess residential and commercial customer preferences, influences, and decision-making for co-adopting solar photovoltaics with energy storage and/or EVs. The interplay among these three distributed energy resource (DER) technologies can provide consumers and businesses new flexibility in the way they use energy. Without a clearer understanding of the customer motivations for owning and operating multiple DERs, utilities may not fully anticipate and prepare for the grid impacts of DER co-adoption. "With this research, EPRI will understand, and be able to communicate to utilities, customer DER co-adoption preferences, motivations, and barriers," said Rob Chapman, Senior Vice President of Energy Delivery and Customer Solutions at EPRI. "Understanding these behaviors will better prepare the electric industry as consumers and utilities move towards a clean energy future." "This project will help enhance long-term forecasting tools, such as NREL's open source dGen adoption model," said Ben Sigrin, Researcher in the Strategic Energy Analysis Center at NREL. "We anticipate the industry benefiting from tools that can model the impact of complex customer decision making related to co-adoption, instead of relying on tools that model customer adoption of individual technologies in silos." EPRI was selected as a part of the SETO Fiscal Year 2020 funding program, an effort to advance research and development projects that will lower solar electricity costs, increase the competitiveness of American solar manufacturing and businesses, improve the reliability and resilience of the grid, and expand solar to new applications. EPRI is one of several projects examining how the flow of solar information can reduce the non-hardware costs of solar energy. By finding ways to efficiently deliver knowledge to key stakeholders' decisions can be made more quickly and effectively. EPRI has launched this three-year project to identify customer DER co-adoption preferences. To get involved, visit: https://www.epri.com/research/products/000000003002020575. About EPRI The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI, www.epri.com) conducts research and development relating to the generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public. An independent, nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as experts from academia and industry to help address challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, affordability, health, safety and the environment. EPRI members represent 90% of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States with international participation extending to 40 countries. EPRI's principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Dallas, Texas; Lenox, Mass.; and Washington, D.C. Media Contact: Samantha Gilman 980-348-8783 [email protected] SOURCE Electric Power Research Institute Related Links www.epri.com 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. On Monday, Minister of Finance Pierre Gramegna presented an interim report on the budgetary evolution to the MPs of the Budget and Finance Committees. Central government revenues are up by 3.8% in February 2021 compared to February 2020, just before the first lockdown. Both the government and the Chamber of Deputies are pleased about this development. Revenues are 100 million more than in February 2020, before the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis in Europe. Last year, the deficit amounted to -189 million in February. Twelve months later, it is -117 million. Current expenditure, both ordinary and Covid-related, is up by 1.6% compared to 2020. The Minister stated that this is a good balance between income and expenditure. But it must be assessed with caution, according to MP Andre Bauler, chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee, who stressed that "it is too early to celebrate". Bauler does believe that a certain recovery can be expected in 2021. While the recovery may be "a little more modest" than expected in 2020, Bauler pointed out that the decline in Luxembourg's GDP of 1.3% is less severe than previously expected. Direct contributions have risen by almost 10% (9.5) - which amounts to 1,650 billion. According to Bauler, there is an increase of almost 50 million in salaries as well as a clear increase in capital income (from 26 to 142 million euros). A slight increase in wealth can also be observed. However, according to MP Diane Adehm from the Christian Social People's Party (CSV), it is also evident, particularly at the level of social charges, that companies are not doing so well in Luxembourg. Adehm pointed out that the payroll tax paid by companies in the country has decreased by 55 million. This shows, according to the MP, that the Grand Duchy's companies are struggling. She stated that it will be interesting to see how this situation develops in the future. Only the revenue of the Customs and Excise Administration is down by almost 18% to 253 million. The main reasons for this fall are teleworking and the CO2 tax, which have led to a decrease in the number of people using petrol stations. In particular, petrol consumption fell by 20 million litres and diesel consumption by 68 million litres a significant decrease which does have an impact on the revenue generated. The decline in non-residents visiting and using the country's petrol stations ("fuel tourism") has also led to a fall in the sale of alcohol and tobacco, according to the report. Gerald E. Snyder, 81, of Williamstown, passed away peacefully with his family by his side Saturday, March 20, 2021. Born May 7, 1939, in Leck Kill, he was a son of the late Lawrence and Catherine Hinkel Snyder. Gerald was a graduate of Mahanoy Joint High School and attended Bloomsburg University. He was an Air Force veteran and played in the Air Force Band. Gerald was previously a band director/teacher at Tri-Valley, Blue Mountain and Williams Valley school districts. He and his wife were the retired owners of the former Karpet Korner, Lykens, a business they operated for over 35 years. He was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Williamstown, Williamstown American Legion, Williamstown VFW and Williamstown Liberty Hose Company No. 1, where he served with the fire police. Gerald played in the Larry Koch band on weekends in his early married years. He was a kind and generous man that always tried to help someone in need, by lending a hand or giving them a job. He always rooted for the underdog, even while watching sports. Gerald wanted to connect with people, he always wanted to know where someone lived and how they made a living. When asked if he could be anyone in the world, he answered that he didnt want to be anyone else. He loved his life, his family, and he was happy being himself. Gerald and Joan had a great passion for traveling and enjoyed trips all over the world, something they instilled in their family, to explore the world. He enjoyed going to the horse track and formerly owned a race horse. He could often be found listening to music and watching sports. He was extremely proud of his family, especially his two granddaughters, who brought him great joy every day. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Gerald J. Snyder; a brother, Leon Snyder; two sisters, Arlene Snyder and Lorraine Martz. Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Joan Klemick Snyder; two daughters, Christine M. Schumber (Eric), Halifax, and Susan K. Ziegler (Steve), Williamstown; two granddaughters, Francesca and Isabella Ziegler; two step-grandchildren, Lauren and Zachary Schumber; a sister, Carol Miller, Lebanon; two brothers, Randy and Larry Snyder, both of Pitman; nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 25, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Williamstown, with the Rev. Michael Opaki as celebrant. Burial with military honors will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, c/o Parish Office, 732 Main St., Lykens, PA 17048. Thank you to Premier at Susquehanna, Millersburg, for all of the loving care that was given to Gerald during the past few weeks of his life. The staff went above and beyond to support Gerald and his family. Dimon Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc. has been entrusted with the arrangements. To send condolences to the family, visit www.dimonfuneralhome.com. President Joe Biden will join the European Union summit by video link on Thursday, as the new US leader looks to "revitalise" ties that frayed under predecessor Donald Trump. "Time to rebuild our transatlantic alliance," declared European Council president and summit host Charles Michel. The White House said Biden would seek "to revitalise US-EU relations, work together to combat the pandemic and address climate change, and deepen the world's largest trade and investment relationship". "He will also discuss shared foreign policy interests, including China and Russia," it added. An EU spokesman said Biden's first direct talks with all 27 leaders together were planned for 8:45pm (1945 GMT). The EU leaders are due to meet on Thursday and Friday for their regular European Council summit, held by video conference as a coronavirus safety measure. They are due to discuss their troubled rollout of Covid vaccines on Thursday, before moving on to foreign policy and security crises. But the meeting also comes as Brussels and Washington try to repair ties that frayed under Biden's predecessor Donald Trump, who regularly clashed with Brussels and EU capitals over tax, trade and defence spending. - 'Alliance is back' - Washington's top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, is in Brussels for talks at NATO headquarters and will meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday. Biden's first physical visit to Europe as president is expected to be for the G7 summit in Cornwall, England on June 11 to 13, and he has been invited to attend a NATO summit at around the same time. Biden last month declared that the "transatlantic alliance is back" in a powerful speech in which he insisted the US was "determined to reengage with Europe". The US is hoping to forge a common front of democracies against the rising might of authoritarian powers led by China and is keen to enlist the EU. Story continues The two sides took a first step towards joint action against Beijing by unveiling synchronised sanctions on Monday over the crackdown on the Uyghurs in China. But Brussels irritated Biden's team by agreeing an investment deal with Beijing weeks before he took office. - Transatlantic conflict - EU leaders have welcomed Washington's pledge to work together despite some arguing the bloc needs to become more independent after Trump's isolationist policies and abrasive treatment rattled allies. Washington and Brussels this month agreed to suspend tariffs imposed during Trump's time over a trade dispute involving Boeing and Airbus. The 16-year-old transatlantic conflict over government aid to the firms saw Brussels and Washington each impose punitive tariffs, including US duties on a record $7.5 billion in European goods. Washington had imposed tariffs on European products like wine, cheese and olive oil, and 15-percent tariffs on Airbus. And the EU levied additional customs duties on $4 billion worth of American products including Boeing planes and farm produce such as wheat and tobacco, plus alcoholic spirits and chocolate. The US and EU are now looking to work together on a wide-range of issues including tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change after Biden rejoined the 2016 Paris accord. Trump did not hold talks with all EU leaders together, but both previous presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush met with the entire bloc. bur-del/dc/tgb VIJAYAWADA: As many as 8,000 vehicles equipped with GPS and cameras would collect dry and wet waste from every house under the Clean Andhra Pradesh initiative. The service will be launched from July 8. Announcing this on Tuesday, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy asked officials to concentrate on keeping AP State clean and conduct the house-to-house waste collection work effectively. As many as 8,000 vehicles would be purchased, two vehicles would be used for the collection of dry and wet waste for every ward. The CM also asked officials to take necessary measures for the shifting of Godavari river waters to Visakhapatnam to fulfill the needs of the city. Jagan held a review meeting on CLAP (Clean Andhra Pradesh), infrastructure facilities in Jagananna colonies and prioritised the projects in Visakhapatnam, at the camp office. The CM said it is important that officials paid proper attention to keeping the state clean and must take measures for collection of garbage from time to time. He said garbage would be collected from door to door and the government has procured 8,000 automatic trucks. He said GPS and camera should be installed in every garbage collection truck and dust bin should be set up at the end of each street. Jagan said that, as part of steps to process dry and wet garbage, treatment plants should be set up for treating sewage water. Officials must also focus on sanitation and hygiene in rural areas. Reviewing the development of infrastructure facilities in the YSR Jagananna colonies, the CM said quality is important in all the works in the colonies. As per a preliminary estimate, Rs30,691 crore will be spent on roads, underground drains, drinking water supply, electricity and sanitation in Jagananna Colonies. Once social infrastructure is included, the cost would go up to Rs 33,406 crore. Reviewing the projects in Vishakapatnam, the CM advised officials to start works on the Bhogapuram airport and the Beach Corridor project, as also on diversion of Godavari waters from Polavaram to Visakhapatnam through a pipeline project to fulfill the needs of Vizag city. Focus your attention on the Metro project after these projects, he told officials. Discussions were held on expansion of the existing beach road from Visakhapatnam to Bhimili and construction of the beach road from Bhimili to Bhogapuram. The CM said officials must complete the land acquisition for construction of the road. The officials said the preliminary estimate for the road from Bhimili to Bhogapuram, including for land acquisition, would be around Rs1,167 crore. The CM said, Consider the Beach Corridor project as of first priority and start the works on a war footing. Focus attention also on construction of the Bhogapuram airport. Reviewing the diversion of Godavari waters to Visakhapatnam, the CM said the pipeline project is to be treated as a prioritised project. An action plan is being prepared to meet the water needs of the city for the next 30 years. On Visakhapatnam Metro Rail Project, the officials said DPR is prepared for Metro connectivity from Vizag Steel Plant gate to Bhogapuram, covering a 76.9km stretch with 53 stations. Proposals were also laid for a 60.2km tram corridor. It's a total 137.1kilometer corridor including metro and tram. Rs14,000 crore would be the cost for construction of metro and Rs6,000 crore for tram services. Jagan stressed for best designs for the metro and tram projects and said these should add to the beauty of the city. Municipal administration and urban development minister Botsa Satyanarayana, housing minister Cherukuvada Sriranganatha Raju, chief minister's principal adviser Nilam Sawhney, revenue special chief secretary Rajat Bhargav, municipal administration special chief secretary Srilakshmi, housing special chief secretary Ajay Jain, Panchayat Raj principal secretary Gopala Krishna Dwivedi, dinance special secretary KVV Satyanarayana, APSHCL MD Narayana Bharat Gupta, Vishaka Metro Rail Corporation MD Rama Krishna Reddy, Swachha Andhra Corporation MD Sampath Kumar were among the officials present. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 20:25:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, on his election as the country's president. Xi said in the message that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Laos relations and is willing to work with Thongloun to further consolidate and expand the two countries' comprehensive strategic cooperation, promote the well-being and friendship of their people, and lift the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future to new heights. Enditem Jaipur: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday (March 23) appealed to the Central government to make the COVID-19 vaccines available to more age groups so that the second wave of coronavirus can be controlled. Expressing concern over the COVID-19 situation, the Punjab chief minister also appealed to people to get themselves vaccinated and stressed the need for the Central government to urgently open up vaccination for a larger section of the population. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to widen the vaccination ambit to cover those younger than 60 as the mutant has been found to be infecting young people more, news agency PTI quoted him said. "As Covid-19 cases are surging in India, the Government should focus on vaccination. Public security can be ensured against COVID-19 with maximum vaccination. Hence, age group criteria should be removed and vaccination should be available for all," he said in a tweet. "Bengaluru doctor Devi Shetty's suggestion that people under the age category of 24-45 years should also be vaccinated sounds apt because these are the people who stay out of their house for professional reasons and hence can become super spreaders. India has a huge capacity to produce vaccines which should be utilised fully," he said. "I appeal to the Government to make the maximum number of vaccines available so that the second wave of Covid can be checked upon. One more lockdown can prove deadly for the public`s livelihood," he added. Meanwhile, Maharashtra continues to report the highest daily new cases at 24,645 (60.53 per cent). It is followed by Punjab with 2,299 while Gujarat reported 1,640 new cases. Indias total active caseload is rising after touching its lowest mark in mid-February. It stands at 3.45 lakh (3,45,377) today. A net incline of 10,731 cases recorded from the total active caseload in the last 24 hours. Live TV MARTIN COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - A rape investigation landed a Martin County man in jail. Police arrested Waylon Wininger over the weekend. Indiana State Police say the investigation started with an allegation back in January. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Biden Urges Action on Gun Control After 2 Mass Shootings in Less Than a Week The president called for a ban on assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition magazines before flying to Ohio, where he had planned to promote the stimulus package. The Senate confirmed Shalanda D. Young as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget and Dr. Vivek Murthy as the surgeon general. A devastated Biden addressed the Boulder shooting before leaving for Ohio. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:10 - 0:00 transcript Biden Pleads for Stricter Gun Laws in National Address While addressing the nation on Tuesday after a shooting at a grocery store in Colorado, President Biden made a plea for stricter gun laws across the country. Ten lives have been lost, and more families have been shattered by gun violence in the state of Colorado. And Jill and I are devastated, and the feeling, I just cant imagine how the families are feeling. The victims, whose futures were stolen from them, from their families, from their loved ones, who now have to struggle to go on and try to make sense of whats happened. While were still waiting for more information regarding the shooter, his motive, the weapons he used, the guns, the magazines, the weapons, the modifications that apparently have taken place to those weapons that are involved here I dont need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common sense steps thatll save the lives in the future and to urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act. We can ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in this country once again. I got that done when I was a senator, it passed it was the law for the longest time. And it brought down these mass killings. We should do it again. While addressing the nation on Tuesday after a shooting at a grocery store in Colorado, President Biden made a plea for stricter gun laws across the country. Credit Credit... Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times President Biden said Tuesday that he was devastated by the killing of 10 people at a grocery store in Boulder, Colo., and called on Congress not to wait another minute in enacting legislation to ban assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition magazines. This is not and should not be a partisan issue it is an American issue, a somber Mr. Biden said in brief remarks delivered in the State Dining Room at the White House. We have to act. Mr. Biden would not comment on the details of the attack on Monday but said he had spoken to Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and the F.B.I. director, Christopher A. Wray, and would continue his consultations during a flight to Columbus, Ohio, in the afternoon. Jill and I are devastated. The feeling I just cant imagine how the families are feeling, he said, at times struggling to find the right words. Mr. Biden then left for a trip to promote his $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package, hoping to keep the focus on the benefits of the stimulus and promoting the 11th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act. While he is in Ohio, President Biden is also scheduled to meet with Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, to discuss coronavirus vaccinations and other matters related to the pandemic. The attack in Colorado, in which a gunman killed 10 people, including a police officer, came less than a week after another gunman murdered eight people in Atlanta. The back-to-back killings amounted to a return of mass casualty shootings that had seemed, for a time, to be suppressed by pandemic lockdowns. Mr. Biden noted that he had to draft a proclamation on Monday to keep not lower the White House flags to half-staff, because they had already been lowered to honor the victims in Atlanta. Another American city has been scarred by gun violence and the resulting trauma, he said. Earlier, Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking at an event in Washington, praised the heroism of Eric Talley, an officer killed while responding to the shooting. Mr. Biden also praised the officers efforts and offered his condolences to his close, close family of seven children. When he pinned on that badge yesterday morning he didnt know what the day would bring. I want everybody to think about this, Mr. Biden said. Mr. Biden has had a long, and at times frustrating, history of pushing gun control proposals. He was tasked with coming up with a legislative package of gun control measures by President Barack Obama after the Sandy Hook killings of 2012 but the effort resulted in no significant legislative action, and Mr. Obama was forced to enact a handful of relatively modest reform through executive actions. Mr. Biden had not made gun control a legislative priority during the first weeks of his presidency, but his tone on Wednesday seemed to signal a shift. He called on the Senate to quickly pass two House bills, passed earlier this year and first introduced after the 2018 mass shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school, that extend background checks to private sellers and extend the time limit to conduct checks on purchasers. Mr. Biden said it was wrong to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common-sense steps that will save lives in the future. Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, later told reporters aboard Air Force One that the recent shooting did not change Mr. Bidens position on overhauling the filibuster. He, of course, believes that we should work with Democrats and Republicans to get work done for the American people, including common-sense gun safety measures, Ms. Psaki said. Hes also open to hearing ideas. He is not going to allow for obstruction to get work done for the American people. But his preference and priority is working with members of both parties. Biden has a long, frustrating history of pushing for gun control. As vice president, Joseph R. Biden Jr. met with law enforcement officials to discuss gun control measures at the White House in 2012. Credit... Luke Sharrett for The New York Times As president, Joseph R. Biden Jr. finds himself in a position distressingly similar to the one he confronted eight years ago as vice president: trying to figure out a way to stop mass shootings and meeting resistance from conservative gun owners and their political allies. In 2020, gun control was given a prominent place on Mr. Bidens campaign website, but it had been a back-burner concern for a new administration single-mindedly determined to address the pandemic and its economic damage. That could change following the attacks in Atlanta and Boulder, and if so, Mr. Bidens successes and failures over the past three decades on gun control are likely to inform how he confronts the crisis as president. President Barack Obama chose not to act immediately following the massacre of 26 children and adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. in 2012, as many Democrats had hoped, by pushing for a quick vote on gun control legislation. Instead, he delegated the task of coming up with a package of reforms to Mr. Biden, who had helped pass the landmark Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and a 10-year assault weapons ban in the 1990s when he served in the Senate. From his earliest days in the administration. Mr. Biden pushed Mr. Obama to do more on guns, to little avail, his advisers later said. Even before Newtown, the vice president had wanted the administration to push harder on the issue, Bruce Reed, Mr. Bidens chief of staff as vice president, and still a trusted adviser, told a reporter in 2015. The decision to tap Mr. Biden irked many of Mr. Obamas closest advisers: They thought he needed to personally push through a series of strong measures immediately, while emotions were high, to force lawmakers to cast votes of conscience. Five weeks after the killings, Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden announced 23 relatively modest executive actions, and called on Congress to pass three laws: universal background checks, a new assault weapons ban, and a prohibition on high-capacity gun clips. Mr. Biden, consulting with his former colleagues in the Senate, decided the best course of action was to focus on only one element, the background checks, and persuaded progressives to settle for a limited but important initiative. The strategy, and the bill, quickly failed. Eight years later, there have been plenty of thoughts and prayers, but we know that is not enough, Mr. Biden said in December, marking the anniversary of Sandy Hook. We will fight to end this scourge on our society and enact common sense reforms that are supported by a majority of Americans and that will save countless lives. Mr. Bidens proposals, listed on his website, are strikingly similar to the reforms he proposed as vice president. White House aides are considering a number of executive actions, including one that would impose background checks for buyers of homemade firearms that lack serial numbers, a proposal to close a loophole that allows a gun to be transferred from licensed gun dealers before a completed background check, and various plans to keep guns away from people suffering from mental illness. Advertisement Continue reading the main story What are we doing? Democrats in Congress demand action on gun control as Republicans push back. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:24 - 0:00 transcript Senate Debates Efforts to Stop Gun Violence Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee demanded action on Tuesday to overhaul gun laws, after two mass shootings in a week. But the hearing quickly divided along partisan lines, with Republicans resisting new measures. I could ask for a moment of silence for the mass shooting in Boulder last night, and after that is completed, I could ask for a moment of silence for the shooting in Atlanta six days ago. And after a minute, I could ask for a moment of silence for the 29 mass shootings that occurred this month in the United States. But in addition to a moment of silence, I would like to ask for a moment of action. Prayer leaders have their important place in this, but we are Senate leaders. What are we doing? Like many Americans, I cherish my right to bear arms in the dialogue about gun control. We rarely consider how many Americans are united in their advocacy and enjoyment of this right. America awoke today to another nightmare. Stunning, shocking, savage, but unsurprising. Inaction has made this horror completely predictable. Inaction by this Congress makes us complicit. And every time theres a shooting, we play this ridiculous theater. Where this committee gets together and proposes a bunch of laws that would do nothing to stop these murders. Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee demanded action on Tuesday to overhaul gun laws, after two mass shootings in a week. But the hearing quickly divided along partisan lines, with Republicans resisting new measures. Credit Credit... Michael A. McCoy for The New York Times Senators quickly splintered along partisan lines over gun control measures on Tuesday as Democrats demanded action in the wake of two mass shootings in the past week and Republicans denounced their calls, highlighting the political divide that has fueled a decades-long cycle of inaction on gun violence. At a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee that was scheduled before shootings in Atlanta and Boulder that left at least 18 people dead, Democrats argued that the latest carnage left Congress no choice but to enact stricter policies. They lamented the grim pattern of anguish and outrage followed by partisanship and paralysis had become the norm following mass shootings. In addition to a moment of silence, I would like to ask for a moment of action, said Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, and the chairman of the committee. A moment of real caring. A moment when we dont allow others to do what we need to do. Prayer leaders have their important place in this, but we are Senate leaders. What are we doing? Even before the recent shootings, Democrats had already begun advancing stricter gun control measures that face long odds in the 50-50 Senate. House Democrats passed two bills this month aimed at expanding and strengthening background checks for gun buyers, by applying them to all gun buyers and extending the time the F.B.I. has to vet those flagged by the national instant check system. But the twin pieces of legislation passed in the House have been deemed too expansive by most Republicans only eight House Republicans voted to advance the universal background check legislation. The bills would almost certainly not muster the 60 votes needed to clear a filibuster in the Senate. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the panel, said in his opening remarks that he was hopeful Democrats and Republicans could work together to make bipartisan, common-sense progress on gun control. But he said that the House-passed legislation did not fit that bill, since the measures passed almost entirely along party lines. That is not a good sign that all voices and all perspectives are being considered, Mr. Grassley said. Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, went further, lashing out at Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, who said that Republicans had offered fig leaves rather than actionable, significant solutions to gun control. Every time theres a shooting, we play this ridiculous theater where this committee gets together and proposes a bunch of laws that would do nothing to stop these murders, Mr. Cruz said. But what they propose not only does it not reduce crime, it makes it worse. The renewed focus on gun control is expected to cast attention back on Senator Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, who opposes dismantling the legislative filibuster but has long labored fruitlessly to pass a bipartisan gun control proposal. Following the 2012 shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Mr. Manchin brokered a deal with Senator Pat Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania, to close legal loopholes that allow people who purchase firearms at gun shows or on the internet to avoid background checks, but proponents were unable to pick up enough support to pass it. Mr. Manchin told CQ Roll Call earlier this month that he opposed the House-passed universal background check bill, citing its provision requiring checks for sales between private citizens, but said he was interested in reviving the Manchin-Toomey legislation. The White House agrees to focus on Asian-American representation after Democrats threaten nominees. Senator Tammy Duckworth said she told the White House that she would be voting no on every non-diversity nominee before the Senate until she felt President Bidens team was taking the right steps. Credit... Brandon Bell for The New York Times The White House said Tuesday that it would appoint a senior official to focus on Asian-American priorities after the Senates two Asian-American Democrats called on President Biden to address what they said was an unacceptable lack of representation at the highest levels of his administration. In a late-night statement, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said Mr. Biden would name a senior-level Asian-American Pacific Islander liaison who will ensure the communitys voice is further represented and heard. The president has made it clear that his administration will reflect the diversity of the country, Ms. Psaki said. That has always been, and remains, our goal. The announcement came hours after Senators Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Mazie K. Hirono of Hawaii promised to withhold their votes on some nominees until Mr. Biden engaged more actively on the issue amid a rising tide of racism toward Asian-Americans during the pandemic, culminating in last weeks deadly shootings in the Atlanta area. With the Senate divided evenly between the two parties, the move temporarily threatened to derail the presidents hopes of confirming several executive branch officials, including the Pentagons No. 3. Apparently, it also created considerable pressure to find a solution to a diversity problem the senators said they had been quietly raising for months. Open disputes between Mr. Biden and congressional Democrats have been relatively rare in his first months in office, and the senators ultimatum was an unusual public disagreement within a party in uniform control of Washington. But by late Tuesday, Ms. Duckworth and Ms. Hirono had dropped their threats and appeared satisfied by the administrations response. Ben Garmisa, a spokesman for Ms. Duckworth, said in a statement that the senator appreciated the White Houses assurances that it will do much more to elevate A.A.P.I. voices and perspectives at the highest levels of government, referring to Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. He added that the White House had given assurances that its new appointee would work both to confirm more Asian-American and Pacific Islander nominees and to advance legislation that was relevant and important to the community. Accordingly, she will not stand in the way of President Bidens qualified nominees which will include more A.A.P.I. leaders, Mr. Garmisa said of Ms. Duckworth. Citing her own conversation with the White House, Ms. Hirono said on Twitter that she would also continue voting to confirm the historic and highly qualified nominees President Biden has appointed to serve in his administration. Nicholas Fandos and Shalanda Young is confirmed as the Office of Management and Budgets deputy director. Shalanda D. Young on March 2, at a Senate Budget Committee hearing on her nomination to be deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. Credit... Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times The Senate confirmed Shalanda D. Young on Tuesday afternoon as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, which would make her the first confirmed leadership official at the agency after President Bidens pick for director withdrew amid bipartisan opposition. Neera Tanden, Mr. Bidens nominee to lead the budget agency, withdrew early this month after senators in both parties objected to negative posts she had made on social media and criticized her work at the Center for American Progress. The position of O.M.B. director is one of only two top -level vacancies remaining in the Biden administration, leaving Ms. Young to help steer the agency in the absence of a director. The Senate voted to confirm her on a 63-37 margin. The Senate confirmed the nomination of Shalanda D. Young, of Louisiana, to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget by a vote of 63-37. Senate Periodicals (@SenatePPG) March 23, 2021 Democrats on Capitol Hill have mounted a substantial campaign to elevate Ms. Young, the first Black woman to serve as staff director on the House Appropriations Committee, to the position of director. Having worked to negotiate annual government funding and more than $3 trillion in pandemic relief, Ms. Young has earned bipartisan respect in both the House and Senate for her work. She is expected to play a key role in working with other cabinet officials to structure Mr. Bidens first budget as president, as well as an infrastructure package. The only other cabinet-level role yet to be filled in the Biden administration is that of the head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Mr. Biden has nominated Eric S. Lander, the director of the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, to serve in that role, and also intends to appoint him to serve as presidential science adviser. It is the first time that the position will be elevated to the cabinet level. Advertisement Continue reading the main story The Senate confirms Dr. Vivek Murthy to be the surgeon general again. Dr. Vivek Murthy will return as surgeon general at a critical moment, as the president tries to steer the nation out of the worst public health crisis in a century. Credit... Pool photo by Caroline Brehman Dr. Vivek Murthy, who helped found several health-related advocacy groups and later tackled the opioid epidemic and e-cigarettes as surgeon general during the Obama administration, was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday to reprise that role for President Biden. The vote, 57 to 43, was a much smoother ride for Dr. Murthy than the first time he was confirmed, in 2014, when Republicans cast him as a politically connected supporter of President Barack Obama who would use his position to push for stricter gun control. The fight dragged on for months, leaving the country without a top doctor for more than a year. When President Donald J. Trump was elected, Dr. Murthy was asked to resign. He refused and was fired, his wife, Alice Chen, said at the time. Dr. Murthy will return as surgeon general at a critical moment, as the president tries to steer the nation out of the worst public health crisis in a century while expanding access to health care for millions of Americans. During his confirmation hearing, he told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that he would make ending the coronavirus pandemic his highest priority. Dr. Murthy, 43, helped found Doctors for Obama, a group that worked to elect Mr. Obama and now works to expand health care access for Americans. It now goes by Doctors for America. As an undergraduate at Harvard University, he helped found two nonprofits, one focusing on H.I.V./AIDS education in the United States and India, and the other to train women as community health workers in rural India. A son of Indian immigrants and the first person of Indian descent to hold the surgeon generals post, Dr. Murthy, 43, was born in England and grew up mostly in Miami, watching his parents in their own medical practice. He invoked them during his confirmation hearing. I have tried, Dr. Murthy said, to live by the lessons they embodied: that we have an obligation to help each other whenever we can, to alleviate suffering wherever we find it, and to give back to this country that made their lives and my life and the lives of my children possible. Biden has extended the Affordable Care Act enrollment period until August. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:04 - 0:00 transcript Biden Extends Obamacare Enrollment Period to Aug. 15 President Biden said on Tuesday, the 11th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, that Americans who need health insurance would have until Aug. 15 to sign up through Healthcare.gov. Eleven years ago today, President Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act, a historic achievement that would not have been possible but for the vision and determination of one of the most successful presidents in recent American history, Barack Obama. If you enroll in Obamacare, youre going to save an average of $50 a month, $600 a year by the reduction in payments. For millions who are out of work and have no coverage, thanks to this law, theres an Obamacare plan that most folks can get with $0 premiums. Were also making it easy, easier to sign up for Obamacare. Weve opened Healthcare.gov for special enrollments on Feb. 15. In the first two weeks alone, more than 200,000 Americans gained coverage. Today, Im pleased to announce weve extended that period to run through Aug. 15. With the American Rescue Plan, and the Affordable Care Act, millions of families will be able to sleep a little more soundly at night because they dont have to worry about losing everything if they get sick. President Biden said on Tuesday, the 11th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, that Americans who need health insurance would have until Aug. 15 to sign up through Healthcare.gov. Credit Credit... Joe Raedle/Getty Images Americans who need health insurance will now have even longer to select a health plan for the rest of the year. The Biden administration announced Tuesday that it would extend enrollment for Obamacare plans sold on Healthcare.gov until Aug. 15, from a May deadline. The change was announced on the 11th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act, the law that established the markets where individuals could buy their own health insurance, and made plans available to shoppers regardless of pre-existing health conditions, among many other provisions. We have a duty not just to protect it but to make it better and keep becoming a nation where health care is a right for all and not a privilege for a few, President Biden said at the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital at the Ohio State University on Tuesday. The stimulus bill signed this month expanded subsidies that help people buy such coverage, lowering the price of a typical plan to zero dollars for low-income families and offering financial assistance for the first time to households higher on the income scale. But it is taking time for the Department of Health and Human Services to implement the new provisions, and so far it has decided not to make the changes automatic. That means that even people who currently get coverage on the exchanges will need to go back to request new benefits. The extended enrollment period will give them more time to do that. Every American deserves access to quality, affordable health care especially as we fight back against the Covid-19 pandemic, said Xavier Becerra, the secretary of health and human services. His statement encouraged uninsured Americans to sign up and current Obamacare customers to review new discounts. The administration also announced that sign-ups for special subsidies for Americans who receive unemployment insurance this year will start July 1. Congress established a system for them to receive zero-premium health plans all year, but carrying out that provision quickly has proved complicated. Enrollment in Affordable Care Act plans for most Americans is typically limited to a six-week period each year, as a means of encouraging people to enroll when they are healthy. But the Biden administration had already opened a second enrollment period this year, arguing that the pandemic and its economic effects presented an emergency that justified expanding options for coverage. The original special enrollment period had been set to expire in mid-May. The changes apply in the 36 states that use the federal Healthcare.gov platform to manage their insurance marketplaces. But several states that run their own marketplaces have also extended their enrollment periods. Mr. Biden, who wore a black mask throughout his speech in Ohio, said the extension would also benefit minority communities that historically have gone without insurance at higher rates and have been disproportionally impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Millions of families will be able to sleep a little more soundly at night, the president said, because they dont have to worry about losing everything if they get sick. G.O.P. and conservative groups are guiding states on voter access laws. Demonstrators at the Georgia Capitol building. Republican legislatures are being prodded by an array of party leaders and outside groups working to promote new voting restrictions. Credit... Ben Gray/Associated Press As Republican legislatures across the country seek to usher in a raft of new restrictions on voting, they are being prodded by an array of party leaders and outside groups working to establish a set of guiding principles to the efforts to claw back access to voting. The conservative Heritage Action for America, for instance, has claimed credit for a new Arizona law, signed last week by Gov. Doug Ducey, that requires the secretary of state to compare death records with voter registrations. The state representative who sponsored the bill thanked one of the Heritage volunteers in a Facebook post after it passed. In late January, a small group of Heritage volunteers met with Republican legislators in Georgia, delivering a letter containing detailed proposals for rolling back access to voting. Within days, bills to restrict voting access in Georgia began flooding the Legislature. Party leaders and their conservative allies are planning to export successful statutory language from one state to others, like the text of Alabamas voter ID law. They are also drafting what they describe as best practices for completely new legislation, with the impetus often coming from outside groups like the Heritage Foundation. The Republican National Committee has created an election integrity committee, a group of 24 R.N.C. members tasked with developing legislative proposals on voting systems. The committee is populated with officials who were deeply involved in the stop the steal effort to overturn former President Donald J. Trumps election loss last year and who have refused, more than two months after President Bidens inauguration, to admit publicly that his victory was legitimate. The widespread coordination underscores the extent to which the dogma of voter fraud is embedded in the Republican Party, following Mr. Trumps campaign of falsehoods about the 2020 election. Out of power in both Congress and the White House, the party views its path to regaining a foothold in Washington not solely through animated opposition to Mr. Bidens agenda, but rather through an intense focus on re-engineering the voting system in states where it holds control. To head its election integrity committee, the Republican National Committee tapped Joe Gruters, the Florida Republican Party chairman who in January used a #stopthesteal hashtag and advertised ways for Republicans to attend the Jan. 6 rally that ended with a riot at the Capitol. Nick Corasaniti and Advertisement Continue reading the main story On Politics The White House has its own culture war, and its over marijuana. Recreational marijuana use is now legal in 14 states, as well as the nations capital. Legalization has never been more popular. Credit... Kelsey McClellan for The New York Times The Biden administration has a culture war on its hands, and it has left many of the presidents political allies scratching their heads. On Friday, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, confirmed that five staff members had lost their jobs because they had used marijuana in the past even though the administration previously told incoming staffers that prior use of cannabis wouldnt immediately disqualify them. Some other staff members remain employed on a work-from-home basis while their history of marijuana use is evaluated. This came as a surprise to many proponents of marijuana legalization, which is now more popular than ever before. President Biden has long been relatively conservative when it comes to drug policy, and he has never endorsed full legalization, but his plans for criminal justice reform include the decriminalization of marijuana and a number of other policies to de-escalate the war on drugs, which is in its 50th year. Recreational marijuana use is now legal in 14 states, as well as the nations capital. Some states and municipalities have even made it illegal for employers to consider past marijuana use in pre-employment screenings, as the Biden administration has done. Udi Ofer, the director of the justice division at the American Civil Liberties Union, said that punishing White House staff members for past pot use sent a confusing signal. Americans overwhelmingly support marijuana legalization, yet these types of punitive practices by employers let alone the White House perpetuate a failed war on marijuana, he said in an interview. Marijuana possession continues to be the No. 1 arrest in America, year after year, and its these types of wrongheaded employer policies that perpetuate this. Last year, Gallup found that Americans backed marijuana legalization more than two to one, the highest level of support on record. Sixty-eight percent of the country favored legalization, while just 32 percent were against it. The level of support was about even between white and nonwhite respondents. Republicans were roughly evenly divided with 48 percent in favor and 52 percent against while sentiment among Democrats was overwhelming: More than four in five supported it. Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? More than 3,000 acres in the Calumet region have been restored, Miller said, and upcoming work includes water level control at Deadstick Pond, a Metropolitan Water and Reclamation District site. Other plans include the massive effort to connect Powderhorn Lake to Wolf Lake, Miller said. The Cook County Forest Preserves has acquired parcels between the two areas and engineering is just about done. The hope is to break ground this summer with construction taking the next two years. The end result will be more than 100 acres of new marsh. Glanbia has not ruled out extending restrictions on peak milk supply growth beyond the three-year period initially specified by the processor. The dairy co-operative has also warned suppliers that the cost of breaching peak milk supply limits could significantly exceed the 30pc price cut set out in the new measures. Last week Glanbia announced a raft of measures aimed at curtailing the annual growth in milk supplies to the co-op during the peak months of April, May and June to between 2.5pc and 5pc. These measures are due to be in force for 2022, 2023 and 2024. However, a Glanbia source told the Farming Independent that these measures could be extended if there are continued delays to the construction of a new cheese plant in Belview, south Kilkenny. Glanbia Ireland chairman, John Murphy, admitted last week that the peak milk supply restrictions were necessitated by delays in the commissioning the Belview facility. The 200m development with Dutch firm Royal A-wear, which will produce up to 50,000t of continental-style cheese when fully operational, is the subject of High Court proceedings. The Belview plant could be commissioned by 2024, should the High Court allow the development to go ahead this summer. However, Glanbia could lose the case, or a finding in the co-ops favour may be appealed. Until we have clarity from the courts, everything is up in the air, the Glanbia source said. Investments which will increase milk capacity and throughput at Ballyragget, Wexford and Glanbias existing Belview facility mean that the co-operative will be able the handle the forecast growth in peak supplies this year. However, since Glanbia processes almost 40pc of its milk pool during the peak months of April, May and June, the co-op has a finite limit to its capacity. These pressures are mirrored nationally, with the average weekly throughput during the peak months increasing 160m litres to 260m litres over the last six years. Under the new Glanbia restrictions, farmers that supply above their peak limit will face a mandatory milk-price cut of 30pc or around 11c/l on excess volumes. But Glanbia warned that the cost of this penalty could increase if the co-op does not have the capacity to process the extra milk and the supplies have to be disposed. The Glanbia source pointed out that the penalty for exceeding the peak supply limits is a milk price deduction of 30pc of the prevailing milk price, or the cost associated with the disposal of the milk, whichever is higher. He stressed that there will be a cost for those farmers who chose to ignore the restrictions and drive on. Meanwhile, ICMSA president, Pat McCormack, has called on Glanbia to provide each individual supplier with details of the actual implications of the new peak milk supply measures as soon as possible. Its also critical that following consultation with their suppliers, that the Glanbia board review the proposal and make amendments to address any anomalies that may arise, Mr McCormack said. 'Rowdy' pensioners in west London face being fined and arrested for gathering to play dominoes and backgammon in a Westminster Council crackdown. Locals gather regularly in Maida Vale, and claim the meetings offer mental health support and an escape for those who have lost loved ones to Covid-19. But Westminster Council has secured a special injunction from the courts allowing officers to fine those who are deemed to be causing noise and disruption. A spokesman told MailOnline the injunction order, which applies to Maida Hill Market, was put in place due to increased anti-social behaviour and noise disruption. It prohibits engaging in disorderly behaviour, such as shouting, using foul language or verbal abuse; engaging in aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour; playing loud music through speakers and drinking alcohol. One resident, Prue, recently lost her husband Alan to coronavirus, and says playing games outside with friends brings back fond memories of her late partner. She said: 'He's been ill for the last 10 years. Seriously ill with dialysis, kidney failure. The square is the one thing that got him out of his house.' After his death from Covid-19 five weeks ago, Prue turned to the locals who meet on the market square in Maida Vale for comfort and support. One resident, Prue, recently lost her husband Alan to coronavirus, and says playing games outside with friends in Maida Vale brings back fond memories of him. Pictured: Alan with Ernest Theophile 'Playing backgammon, playing dominoes, have a cup of coffee and that really kept him going,' she said. 'Even me, since I lost him, if I didn't have somewhere like that in the area. I'm going through bad depression at the moment, and I can go out and see people I know. 'There's nowhere else for us to go in this area.' Locals have now launched a campaign called 'Provide not Punish' to get the community support they need including a hall where they can meet. Another local, John, suffers from mental health issues and says going to the square is all he has. He said: 'I attend the square because if I didn't I would be thinking about killing myself because all I've got in my life is the square. 'With my lungs and everything, I should be inside all the time, but since it's [the pandemic has] been going, I've been going to the square everyday. 'But mostly I've been out to the square and every time I've been told to move on, I move on and I come back every time because it's lonely, I get so lonely because I got nowhere [to go]. Westminster Council has secured a special injunction from the courts allowing officers to fine those who are deemed to be causing noise and disruption. Pictured: Mary, from Ireland 'I've got mental health problems but I will talk to anyone.' The last time John visited the coffee shop with a friend, he said his companion was fined 100. However, this friend also drives John to the chemist to get his prescription. 'I need to get to the chemist, so he usually gives me a lift to the chemist every month,' he said. 'Because he got the ticket from the police, he wont let me get in his car. He's a bit nervous.' Mary, 79, has lived in the Maida Vale area for 46 years and enjoys the company and atmosphere of the square. She said: 'There's so many people with mental problems - you don't even know the half of it. 'But we were all nice to them, we talk to them, we communicate we make them feel at ease. We sit down with them, we don't ignore them. 'They're part of us, they're part of the community.' One man, at the heart of the community, is facing court. Ernest Theophile, known as 'Popcorn', was served with an injunction order and is due to appear in court at the end of the month. He said: 'Every single day I am there, there is no other place I would want to go to. A spokesman told MailOnline the injunction order, which applies to Maida Hill Market, was put in place due to increased anti-social behaviour and noise disruption 'From when I was eight years of age in this country, it's the only thing I know.' The order also mentions 'persons unknown', and this has left the community feeling targeted and threatened for simply visiting the square. Jacqui Haynes, who launched 'Provide not Punish', has been trying to work with Westminster Council to bring about some support for the community. Ms Haynes said: 'Immediately as the Covid powers came in they thought, 'Let's use those emergency powers'. 'They served him on the Friday and court case on the Monday, they gave him two days.' Alberto, originally from St Lucia and the West Indies, added: 'I've been living in the area for 40 years, and it's a place where I'm meeting friends, socialising, and get help from your friends. 'To me it's a very friendly atmosphere for all of us, we meet friends and spend time. I go to the square where I can get some information, some help and some advice. 'We need somewhere we can congregate, we need somewhere we can meet without being hustled, moving us from here to there, and probably if we stamp the dominoes a bit too loud the neighbours complain.' A volunteer who has been checking in on people at the market square explained how locals do not feel heard or looked after. They said: 'I'm not saying they're not rowdy because they are, but if you look at our culture, the black culture, we are loud. 'Where do you think carnival comes from? Is it not loud and rowdy? 'But it's ours, it's what our parents brought from back home to feel happy in a country that didn't want them, apart from laying their pavement bricks. 'We tell them to quieten it down. Behave. That's what I do. 'We've heard this thing about they throw their paper, their cups and bottles - no they don't. They put it in the bin and I can vouch for them. 'There's a tidy up crew, and if you do throw something on the floor somebody is going to pull you up about it because we are very aware this is our area and like it or not, we have got to keep it clean and tidy.' The volunteer also spoke of the frustration she felt that the council was reluctant to speak with them about what can be done to help the community. She said: 'If they'd called the community, the ones that have lived here, that were born here, that have gone to school here, call a decent meeting and say this is what we're prepared to do to and help us build on that. 'Because you cannot think for the person that sits on the square because you do not live their life. You do not know their circumstances, you have to take that on board. 'You're just chucking out the baby with the bath water and unfortunately, the bath water is black and the Irish.' Ms Haynes hopes that something can be done to provide a community hall and address the needs of those in the area. The campaigner said: 'If you provide for the people who are there, you've got people with mental disabilities displaying behaviours which aren't necessarily dangerous to people but are misunderstood. 'The community are the experts on themselves and so why you would think that you can think for them or you would know what they need without even asking them is no real consultation. 'Provide for us, don't punish us for finding a way for ourselves and criminalise us.' A spokesman for Westminster Council told MailOnline: 'Westminster City Council was granted this injunction in response to serious crime and persistent anti-social behaviour in this area over a number of years. 'The council has received more than 200 complaints from local residents, whose lives have been significantly disrupted by a wide range of anti-social behaviour. 'Groups of up to 60 people, of all ages, were traveling into the area late at night, and the council is aware of multiple incidents of public drinking, noise, Class A drug dealing, drug use, theft, prostitution, as well as urination and defecation in the street. 'At least one resident was forced to move home because of the disruption this behaviour has caused. 'We are sympathetic to the health and wellbeing of residents unable to socialise during lockdown, particularly our older residents. The council has made a number of efforts to engage with the core group of people who gather in the square to provide them with community facilities for socialising. 'Our priority throughout this process has been, and always will be, the safety of our residents.' Metal-insulator transition (MIT) driven by many-body interactions is an important phenomenon in condensed matter physics. Exotic phases always emerge around the metal-insulator transition points where quantum fluctuations arise from a competition among spin, charge, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom. Two-dimensional (2D) materials are a large class of materials. Their simple structure, low dimensionality, and highly tunable carrier density make them an ideal platform for exploring exotic phases. However, the many-body interactions are normally weak in most 2D materials, hence, the correlation-related phenomena attract little attention in the studies of 2D materials for a long period. Recently, people found that the many-body interactions can be enhanced in 2D hetrostructures or artificially-creased 2D structures. Correlation-related phenomena were found in many interesting systems, such as LaAlO 3 /SrTiO 3 , twisted bilayer graphene, etc. Zhang Yan's group in International Center for Quantum Materials (ICQM) at Peking University reports the discovery of an exotic metal-insulator transition in a surface-doped transition metal dichalcogenide 2H-MoTe 2 utilizing the high-resolution angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES) and in-situ surface alkali-metal deposition. They found that the metal-insulator transition could be explained by a location of polarons due to the strong electron-phonon coupling that is enhanced at the sample surface. This work entitled "Metal-Insulator Transition and Emergent Gapped Phase in the Surface-Doped 2D Semiconductor 2H-MoTe 2 " was published in Physical Review Letter [Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 106602 (2021)] on March 12, 2021. Zhang Yan is the corresponding author and Han Tingting, a doctoral student in ICQM is the first author. The experiments were conducted in a self-constructed ARPES system in Peking University and Beamline BL03U in Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF). By using the surface deposition technique, Zhang Yan's group created a 2D metal-semiconductor interface between the surface and bulk layers in 2H-MoTe 2 [Fig. 1(a)]. Generally, when carriers are filled into the conduction bands of a semiconductor, the chemical potential raises and the conducting bands shift rigidly towards higher binding energy. However, at the surface of 2H-MoTe 2 , the researchers found that the conduction bands undergo multiple transitions with the carrier doping across the metallic state, gapped phase, insulator state, and bad-metallic state [Fig. 1(b)]. Such evolution of electronic structure cannot be explained by the change of chemical potential or surface degradation, suggesting the existence of an exotic metal-insulator transition at the surface of 2H-MoTe 2 . Further study found that the surface of 2H-MoTe 2 exhibits a complicated phase diagram [Fig. 2(a)], which resembles the phase diagrams of a quantum phase transition driven by many-body interactions. Meanwhile, the detailed spectrum analysis resolves the existence of replica bands [Fig. 2(b)] which is normally viewed as a fingerprint of strong electron-phonon coupling. Combined with the observed energy renormalization of spectra and the evolution of band dispersion, the researchers conclude that the electron-phonon coupling is strongly enhanced on the surface of 2H-MoTe 2 . Electrons are dressed by lattice excitations, forming polarons. The polarons then localize due to impurity or disorder scattering, which drives the observed metal-insulator transition. This work demonstrates how a complicated metal-insulator transition could occur on the surface of a simple two-dimensional semiconductor. On the one hand, the results highlight the surface-doped 2H-MoTe 2 as a strong candidate material for realizing polaronic insulator, polaronic extended state, and high-Tc superconductivity. On the other hand, the experiments show that the surface alkali-metal deposition can enhance the many-body interactions in two-dimensional semiconductors, which opens a new way for exploring the correlation-related phenomena in two-dimensional materials. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Key Research and Development Program of China. ### Americans who have been cooped up at home over the past year during the COVID-19 pandemic will likely pay $3 a gallon for gasoline when they emerge from lockdowns this summer and resume traveling, economists say. Motorists in the United States have not paid an average of $3 per gallon since 2014. As of Tuesday, drivers in California, Hawaii, Washington State, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia were paying an average of more than $3 per gallon. California motorists are paying an eye-popping $3.88 per gallon - the highest rate in the country, according to the American Automobile Association. Three-dollar gas will be the norm by Memorial Day, Robert Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho Securities, told CNN. We've been trapped inside for a year. People want to get out of the house. US gasoline prices rose to nearly $2.88 a gallon on Tuesday, their highest since June 2019, data from the American Automobile Association showed As of Tuesday, drivers in California, Hawaii, Washington State, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia are paying an average of more than $3 per gallon US gasoline prices rose to nearly $2.88 a gallon on Tuesday, their highest since June 2019, data from the AAA showed. Prices have not been that high in March since 2014, AAA data showed. Still, the current price is below a $3 per gallon threshold that is typically seen as a level that impacts consumption. US gasoline prices have increased because of rising crude prices and a winter storm in Texas this year that forced producers to shut production, said Jeanette McGee, AAA spokeswoman. US fuel demand is still down more than 10 per cent from the same period last year, data from the US Energy Information Administration showed. US gasoline consumption is expected to grow to 8.6 million barrels per day in 2021, up from 8.03 million bpd in 2020, according to the EIA, before rising to 8.89 million bpd in 2022. US fuel demand is likely to increase through 2022. Prices appeared to be holding steady this week. Oil prices fell more than 4 per cent on Tuesday, hit by concerns over new pandemic curbs and slow vaccine rollouts in Europe as well as a stronger dollar. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) fell $2.64, or 4.3 per cent, to $58.92, after falling to as low as $58.47 on Tuesday Brent crude futures were down by nearly 4 per cent to $62.09 a barrel by mid-day on Tuesday, having hit a low of $61.41 Brent crude futures were down $2.56, or 4 per cent, to $62.08 a barrel by 12:16pm ET, having hit a low of $61.41. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) fell $2.65, or 4.3 per cent, to $58.91, after falling to as low as $58.47. Both benchmarks traded near lows not seen since February 12. The road to oil demand recovery appears to be full of obstacles as the world continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets at Rystad Energy. Oil prices are declining again on Tuesday, proving that last weeks correction was not deep enough and that the market had been trading lately with an excessively bullish sentiment, overlooking the pandemics risk, he said. Extended lockdowns in Europe are being driven by the threat of a third wave, with a new variant of the coronavirus on the continent. Germany, Europe's biggest oil consumer, is extending its lockdown until April 18. Nearly a third of France entered a month-long lockdown on Saturday following a jump in cases in Paris and parts of northern France. US gasoline consumption is expected to grow to 8.6 million barrels per day in 2021, up from 8.03 million bpd in 2020, according to the EIA, before rising to 8.89 million bpd in 2022. US fuel demand is likely to increase through 2022 A stronger US dollar also weighed on prices. As oil is priced in US dollars, a stronger greenback makes oil more expensive for holders of other currencies. Physical crude markets are indicating that demand is lower, much more so than the futures market. Physical prices have been weaker than futures have been suggesting for several weeks now, said Lachlan Shaw, head of commodity research and National Australia Bank. 21 March 2021, United Kingdom, Bristol: Protesters set fire to a vandalised police van outside Bridewell Police Station as they take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest against the Government's controversial Police and Crime Bill. Photo: Andrew Matthew Image Source: IANS News 21 March 2021, United Kingdom, Bristol: Police hold back people outside Bridewell Police Station as they take part in a 'Kill the Bill' protest against the Government's controversial Police and Crime Bill. Photo: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire/dpa/IANS Image Source: IANS News London, March 23 : Police have arrested eight people following weekend protests in England's Bristol city over a new police bill that turned violent. Avon and Somerset Police said on Monday that six arrests were for violent disorder, while two were for possession of an offensive weapon during the protest, which began peacefully on Sunday, reports dpa news agency. Politicians and the force's chief constable condemned the violence after 21 officers were assaulted or injured, with two being taken to hospital after suffering broken bones. O ne also had a punctured lung. Images and footage from the scene showed anti-police graffiti on buildings and a police van set on fire. Chief Constable Andy Marsh said the "wanton violence and destruction" had nothing to do with protest itself, but instead was undertaken "by those looking for an excuse to commit disorder". More than 100 officers and staff from Avon and Somerset Police are working on the case, which is being led by the force's major crime investigation team. The force is expecting to make more arrests as the investigation continues. Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the violence as "completely unacceptable". Home Secretary Priti Patel also described the scenes as "unacceptable" and said "thuggery and disorder" would never be tolerated during questioning in Parliament. The new bill is currently making its way through British parliament that could see the police being given more powers during protests. The proposed law foresees a new offence of "intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance", which could see people facing jail time or a fine if found guilty. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Animal Health Market Growth & Trends The global animal health market size is expected to reach USD 74.5 billion by 2028 registering a CAGR of 5.9%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is driven by technological advancements in veterinary care. For instance, MediLabSecure, a laboratory network project (2014-2021), was initiated to identify emerging viruses and pathogens in 19 countries in the Mediterranean regions. In addition, the emergence of veterinary health information systems, specifically in developed economies, is expected to provide high growth potential in the future. With the help of these systems, data generated in veterinary clinics can be uploaded on the internet, which can be further shared with other researchers and clinicians. Incorporation of this technology will facilitate real-time analysis for fluctuations in disease prevalence. As a result of the aforementioned factors, it is presumed that there will be a significant improvement in the overall penetration rate of veterinary health products, which is anticipated to fuel market growth. North America captured the largest share of the global market owing to technological advancements, rising incidence of zoonotic diseases, an increasing number of pet owners, and a wide range of definitive measures adopted by welfare organizations. Asia Pacific is expected to exhibit the fastest CAGR over the forecast years as a result of consistent R&D investments by prominent players and their efforts to commercialize branded and generic therapeutics at competitive prices. Key market participants employ sustainability strategies, such as expanding product portfolio, to gain a competitive advantage. For instance, in April 2019, Merck acquired Antelliq Corp., operational in the field of digital animal identification, traceability, and monitoring solutions. This acquisition helped the former company improve its veterinary vaccines and pharmaceutical solutions portfolio. Request a free sample copy or view report summary: Animal Health Market Report Animal Health Market Report Highlights The vaccines product segment is expected to exhibit lucrative growth due to a significant increase in the adoption of pets, which demands long-term health plans The companion animal type segment is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR from 2021 to 2028 owing to associated health benefits for humans, such as greater psychological stability and reduced anxiety attacks The retail and e-commerce distribution channels accounted for notable shares owing to factors, such as convenience associated with online platforms and an increasing number of retail pharmacies Point-of-care is the second-fastest-growing end-use segment. The growth is attributed to an increase in demand for productive animals and growing investments in R&D for novel animal products In 2020, North America accounted for the largest share of the global market owing to the presence of established pharmaceutical companies consistently striving for extensive commercialization of their products Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing regional market over the forecast years owing to high clinical urgency to curb incidence of zoonotic diseases and management of disease outbreaks, such as swine influenza and Ebola Access Press Release of Animal Health Market@ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-animal-health-market Animal Health Market Segmentation Grand View Research has segmented the global animal health market on the basis of animal type, product, distribution channel, end-use, and region: Animal Health Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Production Poultry Swine Cattle Sheep & Goats Fish Companion Dogs Cats Horses Others Animal Health Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Vaccines Live Attenuated Vaccines DNA Vaccines Recombinant Vaccines Inactivated Vaccines Others Pharmaceuticals Parasiticides Anti-infectives Anti-inflammatory Analgesics Others Feed Additives Nutritional Medicinal Diagnostics Instruments Consumables Others Animal Health Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Retail E-commerce Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics Animal Health End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Reference Laboratories Point-of-Care Testing/In-house Testing Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics Others Animal Health Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) North America US. Canada Europe UK. Germany France Italy Russia Spain The Netherlands Switzerland Sweden Ireland Poland Asia Pacific Japan China India Indonesia Thailand Australia South Korea Philippines Malaysia Singapore Latin America Mexico Brazil Argentina Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia Turkey Iran United Arab Emirates Israel List of Key Players of Animal Health Market Merck Animal Health Ceva Sante Animale Vetiquinol S.A. Zoetis Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH Bayer AG Elanco Nutreco N.V. Virbac Heska Corp. About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. Today Partly cloudy this morning with thunderstorms becoming likely this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 81F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Tomorrow Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds light and variable. COLUMBIA A Statehouse proposal aimed at ensuring South Carolinians can keep their weapons no matter what gun-control measures the White House or Congress might take won early backing in the state Senate. The bill attempts to buffer any future federal gun restrictions by classifying all guns and bullets legally owned by South Carolinians as weaponry of the state's unorganized militia. A 2-1 vote March 23 sent the bill to the Senate's full Veterans' Services Committee. State Sen. Kevin Johnson, D-Manning, who cast the lone "no" vote, called the proposal unnecessary nonsense. The measure, sponsored by Travelers Rest Republican Sen. Tom Corbin, adds language to an obscure 1881 state law regarding South Carolina's "unorganized militia" to which all "able-bodied" citizens over age 17 automatically belong. The governor has the authority to assemble that militia in times of war, rebellion or insurrection, though that's never happened. There likely hasn't been a militia fighting in South Carolina "since Francis Marion and the swamp foxes were shooting at the British in 1781 during the American Revolution, Corbin told reporters after the hearing. Corbin sees his proposal, coming some 240 years after those swamp skirmishes, as a way of ensuring South Carolina's guns are never confiscated. It would give the state's "militia" members the right to buy and possess all types of firearms, ammunitions and their components including magazines and clips that were legal as of Dec. 30. At the end of the day, a federal government cannot disarm a state standing army, Corbin told the subcommittee. The panel's vote came a day after 10 people were gunned down at a Boulder, Colo., supermarket. In response to the shooting, President Joe Biden renewed his push for stronger gun control laws, including a ban on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons. "I don't need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common steps that will save lives in the future," Biden said at the White House. "We can close the loopholes in our background check system, including the Charleston loophole. That's one of the best tools we have right now to prevent gun violence." The so-called "Charleston loophole" came to light after the Emanuel AME Church shooting in June 2015. In 2015, Dylann Roof went to buy a gun legally from a Midlands shop. The sale should not have gone through because he was legally prohibited from buying the weapon, but his background check failed to find an arrest report indicating his drug use. Since the background check went unfinished after the three-day waiting period, Roof was able to obtain a .45-caliber Glock handgun, which he used to gun down nine people. On March 11, the U.S. House approved a measure extending the length of time for FBI background checks on firearms purchases a move championed by House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C. Clyburn introduced the bill four times since the 2015 attack. With so much gun violence across America, lawmakers do need to pass some sensible gun-control legislation, Johnson said. I wholly believe in the Second Amendment, but this country is crazy, said Johnson, adding that he has a concealed weapons permit. We have homegrown terrorists, and Im sure those folks who stormed the Capitol thought they were members of kind of a militia. This is the second time Corbin has made the proposal. His 2013 bill never got a vote on the Senate floor. Corbin said the 2020 election, which gave Democrats control over the White House and both chambers of Congress, prompted him to try again. He said he didn't file his measure during the last four years because he wasn't concerned about gun bans when Donald Trump was president. With a Republican administration in control in Washington, I didnt fear any gun confiscation, Corbin told reporters after the subcommittee vote. Had I sensed that, I would have filed the bill. The proposal comes as the South Carolina House recently approved a bill that would let trained gun owners with a concealed weapons permit carry their handgun openly in public. A separate bill that would allow all adults who can legally own a gun to carry openly regardless of whether they hold a permit also recently advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee. It could be debated on the House floor next month. Jamie Lovegrove reported from Columbia. FORT WORTH, Texas, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Auburn, New York-based LocalCoho has launched a Regulation D offering on the Harvest Returns platform to expand their recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) operation which is already growing and selling Coho salmon. This move builds on more than $6.2 million in financing the company has already raised from its board of directors and outside investors. The board and the company sees this raise as the tipping point before significantly scaling the business. LocalCoho logo with aquaculture background "By coming into the company now, Harvest Returns investors are aligning their terms with our committed and experienced group of investors at an early enough stage to experience the significant growth the company expects," said Phil Gibson, a 30+ year seafood veteran and the LocalCoho CEO. "Ultimately, we will operate a number of facilities near major U.S. markets to bring local consumers fresh, never frozen, sustainable fish raised in the U.S." LocalCoho has already attracted significant investor interest. "We were thrilled to be one of the first investors in LocalCoho, especially as we see the growing market interest for RAS," said Jamie Stein of Devonian Capital, a firm specializing in investing in land-based aquaculture businesses. "In this year alone, RAS valuations multiplied, signaling the market's appreciation for this environmentally friendly way to grow fish." Harvest Returns has raised over $11 million for farms and agribusinesses across the world. "We are pleased to offer this opportunity to invest in the rapidly growing indoor aquaculture space," said Chris Rawley, CEO of Harvest Returns. "Institutional investors have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into RAS operations in the past year, and now individual investors have a chance to participate in an early-stage indoor aquaculture company with a highly experienced team." Accredited investors who wish to learn more about this equity crowdfunding opportunity can visit Harvest Returns. About Harvest Returns Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, Harvest Returns, Inc. is a financial technology marketplace created in 2016 by two military veterans to bring agricultural producers together with investors. Through democratizing the agriculture investment process, the online platform provides curated, diversified offerings of farms, ranches, and agribusinesses to qualified investors. About LocalCoho LocalCoho is a U.S.-land-based producer of delicious and sustainable Coho salmon. LocalCoho's farming methods eliminate fish escapes, pollution on ocean floors and interactions with wildlife, while optimizing resource use. On any given day, around 90 percent of the water on the farm is filtered and recycled to grow fish. LocalCoho is "BAP" B est A quaculture P ractice Certified and meets all the "Best Choice" criteria set forth by The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. For more information, please visit LocalCoho.com. For more information about Harvest Returns, please contact Allison Stewart at 844-673-8876 or email at [email protected]. SOURCE Harvest Returns You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. A lawsuit against San Franciscos school district over reopening classrooms is moving forward despite plans to bring some younger and more vulnerable students back starting April 12. At a Monday hearing, an attorney for the city of San Francisco which filed the lawsuit asked a judge to force the school district to bring all students in all grades back by the end of April. A San Francisco Superior Court judge indicated Monday he could issue a ruling within a week or so on the citys request for an emergency court order requiring schools to reopen to all students. City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed a lawsuit in early February when the district had no clear-cut details on a return to in-person learning, arguing the lack of a plan violated state law. Since then, SFUSD announced plans to bring some students back to classrooms, but Deputy City Attorney Sara Eisenberg argued at a Monday hearing that the current plan still falls short of meeting state mandates. The school districts attorney argued that it was working as hard as it could to bring students back, but that there were factors it could not control. We are working on it, attorney Suzanne Solomon said. Currently, the district plans to bring preschool through fifth-graders, special education students and vulnerable older groups starting April 12. Under the agreement between the school district and the teachers union, some students would re-enter classrooms for four full days and one partial day each week, while others would go back two full days and spend the remaining three days distance learning. Officials have said that most older students will likely not return before the end of the school year. The city says that plan falls short of what children deserve and what the law requires, according to a brief filed ahead of the hearing. Instead, Herrera is seeking a court order requiring the district to meet its legal obligations and to prevent further harm to San Francisco and the students and families who live here. He cites the opinion of public health authorities and other school districts which have fully reopened all grades across the country. Specifically, Los Angeles announced plans to reopen schools for all students by the end of April, and New York City reopened its public high schools on Monday. According to Herrera, this means that the New York City school district will be offering in-person instruction to nearly a million students before SFUSD offers it to even one. Other districts are in fact moving more quickly towards reopening at the level required by law than San Francisco is, Eisenberg said. The school district says that it is already doing everything it can to begin in-person instruction as soon as possible. According to a brief filed ahead of the hearing, while the district shares the citys sense of urgency to reopen schools, political grandstanding cannot render in-person learning any more possible than it was before the suit was filed. In response to arguments from the city that because the district does not have a plan for older students, it is not complying with the law, Solomon said that SFUSD prioritized younger students in accordance with state and local health guidance. She also said a court order at this time would be premature. COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California. Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman on Monday called the situation a mess and acknowledged the learning loss and economic burdens from students being kept out of school for a year. Herrera first filed the suit in early February with the support of Mayor London Breed, arguing that the school board is violating a state law that mandates districts offer in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible. He also said that SFUSD is discriminating against students from low-income families in violation of the states equal protection clause. After the suit was filed, Superintendent Vincent Matthews called it a frivolous lawsuit, saying that it appears that the city attorney has not read through our plans or joined the hours of open meetings we have had on the topic of safely returning to in-person learning. Emma Talley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: emma.talley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @emmat332 President Emmerson Mnangagwa is spearheading the recall of Movement for Democratic Change Alliance lawmakers in an attempt to decimate Zimbabwes opposition, according to Senator Jim Risch, chairperson of the United States Foreign Relations Committee. In a tweet, Risch said, The recall of @BitiTendai and other members of parliament in #Zimbabwe last week is yet another example of the systematic dismantling of the elected political opposition & subversion of the will of the Zimbabwean people. The Peoples Democratic Party led by Lucy Matibenga recalled Biti, Settlement Chikwinya, William Madzimire, Sichelesile Mahlangu, Regai Tsunga and Kucaca Phulu claiming that they are no longer members of the party. Phulu told VOA Zimbabwe Service the legislators were recalled by a person who is not a member of our party. The whole thing is suspicious. We know that this is an attempt by Mnangagwa to destroy the opposition. Zanu PF has in the past claimed that the opposition is being sponsored by the West, which imposed targeted sanctions on some Zanu PF officials following allegations of election rigging and human rights abuses. United States President Joseph Biden recently renewed targeted sanctions imposed on some Zanu PF officials in 2003, saying there are no tangible economic and political reforms in Zimbabwe. In a notice to Congress, Biden said, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has not made the necessary political and economic reforms that would warrant terminating the existing targeted sanctions program. Throughout the last year, government security services routinely intimidated and violently repressed citizens, including members of opposition political parties, union members, and journalists. The absence of progress on the most fundamental reforms needed to ensure the rule of law, democratic governance, and the protection of human rights leaves Zimbabweans vulnerable to ongoing repression and presents a continuing threat to peace and security in the region. Some people, who responded to Rischs tweet, urged the United States to take action against Zanu PF while others said the U.S. should not interfere in the running of Zimbabwe. One of them, who identified himself as Cde Samhanga, said, Zimbabwe is a sovereign state, it is the people of Zimbabwe who decide what it should be with total observance of its Constitution. Your hidden Agenda in Zim is now public knowledge. The will of the people in Zimbabwe is prevailing. No to regime change Agenda. Some of them said America should help in restoring democracy in Zimbabwe. Majaira Jairosi said, U.S. does not lose anything by proscribing Zanu PF as a terrorist party. Since Zanu PF rebels took over the government in Nov 2017, Zimbabweans in general and opposition members in particular have known no peace. Persecution and abuse of female opposition members is unprecedented. Shepherd Yuda expressed the same view. I have said it time and again that declare Zanu PF a terrorist organisation so we deal with it decisively. Tendai Zinyama also wrote, Zimbabwe is no longer a democratic state as 48 duly elected parliamentarians were recalled at the instigation of Zanu PF and another parliamentarian Joana Mamombe is in jail just to spite her as well as intimidate other citizens into submission. A one party state is being created. The ruling party says it is not planning to create a one-party state like what the late former President Robert Mugabe attempted to do soon after Zimbabwe attained independence from British rule. March 23 : Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who had tested Covid-19 positive and was self-quarantined at home, has reportedly tested negative for the same. The filmmaker who was in the midst of making his much anticipated film Gangubai Kathiawadi when he was infected with the deadly virus, is gearing up to resume shoot and complete the film. However, Bansali will reportedly complete the 14-day quarantine period before he goes back to the sets. Around the same time when the filmmaker was tested coronavirus positive, Ranbir Kapoor, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Manoj Bajpayee were also tested positive with the virus. But no news about their recovery has come yet. Meanwhile, after Bansali was down with the virus and was quarantined, it was reported that the release date of Gangubai Kathiawadi, that is, July 30, 2021, will not get affected as most of the film has already been shot, and just a days shoot with Ajay Devgn was left to be completed. In March last year, the shoot of the film was halted due to coronavirus. When it resumed this year, it faced some road blocks as the film got entangled in a legal battle. Gangubai Kathiawadi, starring Alia Bhatt in the lead, was also entangled in other controversies and protests. Amidst all these, the film was also protested in the political circle when Maharashtra Congress MLA, Amin Patel demanded that the title of the upcoming film Gangubai Kathiawadi be changed. After the Bhansali got some relief from the court, he himself fell ill and the film shoot was stop yet again. In the film, Alia Bhatt will essay the role of the legendary brothel owner Gangubai Kathiawadi. Gangubai was born in Kathiawadi, Gujarat, and her real name was Gangubai Harjivandas. According to the book Mafia Queens of Mumbai written by S Hussain Zaidi, Gangubai was pushed into prostitution at a very young age when her husband sold her for Rs 500 at a brothel. Later she ran a brothel in the Kamathipura area of Mumbai. Gangubai is famous for doing a lot of work for the sex workers. Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property Bern, 23.03.2021 - Buying counterfeits costs consumers huge sums of money. The corresponding trade damages the good reputation of Swiss companies and reduces their turnover by billions each year. As a result, in 2018, Switzerland forfeited over 10,000 jobs. For the first time, a new study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has provided concrete figures on the issue. Global trade in counterfeit "Swiss" products such as watches, household appliances and medicines causes significant economic damage, as well as sometimes impacting health. In 2018, customers across the world paid over 2 billion Swiss francs for counterfeit "Swiss" products - believing they were buying an original. In the long term, this threatens the good reputation of Swiss enterprises. This is according to a new study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), mandated by the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI). Alongside reputation, revenue is also suffering. Swiss companies were cheated out of around 4.5 billion Swiss francs in 2018. The watch and jewellery industry was most affected, with a loss in turnover of 2 billion Swiss francs. However, counterfeiters also targeted goods from the machinery, electronics and metal industries. The turnover of these industries was diminished by around 1.2 billion Swiss francs. Other frequently counterfeited products marked with a Swiss label included clothing and shoes. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and due to the increase in online trade, more counterfeit medicines have been seized. According to the OECD, the vast majority of "Swiss fakes" came from China and Hong Kong, followed by Singapore and Turkey. India was also involved in the counterfeiting of medicinal products. Foul play costs thousands of jobs Less turnover also means fewer jobs. According to OECD figures, Swiss enterprises could have offered over 10,000 more job positions in 2018 if the counterfeiting industry did not exist. The watch and jewellery industry alone lost four out of ten jobs. However, the public sector was also affected - according to the study authors' estimates, its revenue lost out on almost 160 million Swiss francs. The OECD took all counterfeits seized worldwide that primarily infringed the trade mark rights of Swiss companies into account in the study. The authors factored in that, in around half of the cases, the consumers consciously bought a counterfeit; this kind of purchase therefore did not replace the purchase of an original product. Stricter measures from the authorities and the business community This study has quantified the implications of the global counterfeiting industry for Switzerland for the first time. "The losses are so significant that they require us all to take decisive action," says Anastasia Li-Treyer, Head of Promarca (the Swiss association for brand-name products) and President of the Swiss Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Platform STOP PIRACY on the findings. The authorities and the business community are already actively involved in the fight against the counterfeiting industry, for example, through campaigns aimed to raise consumer awareness. According to Ms Li-Treyer, the study provides a solid basis for decision-making - together with policy - to disrupt the underhanded practice of counterfeiters in a more targeted manner. To this end, in future, the IPI will advocate even more intensively for minimum standards for the enforcement of intellectual property rights in free trade agreements. The goal is to uncover and stop the activities of counterfeiters where the infringement of rights begins. About the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) is the federal centre of competence for patents, trade marks, geographical indications, design and copyright. Individuals and companies can register their inventions and creations with the IPI to protect them from being copied. In addition to this, the IPI informs the public about the IP rights system of protection. The IPI is involved with the Swiss anti-counterfeiting and piracy platform STOP PIRACY. It also monitors the key Swiss sales markets, including China, and intervenes in suspected cases of Swissness' misuse. About STOP PIRACY STOP PIRACY is the Swiss anti-counterfeiting and piracy platform. The non-profit organisation works to educate and raise awareness among consumers as well as promote cooperation between the business community and the authorities. From 7 to 24 March 2021, a campaign initiated by STOP PIRACY is running on Instagram in which Swiss influencers are raising awareness of counterfeit goods. Also in March, STOP PIRACY carried out two destruction drives where 1.5 tonnes of watches were destroyed by a construction roller and 700 kilograms of medicines were disposed of. These counterfeits, most of which were ordered online, were intercepted by the Swiss Customs Administration at the Swiss border. Address for enquiries About the study: Hansueli Stamm, Chief Economist, IPI, Direct line: T +41 31 377 72 17, hansueli.stamm@ipi.ch About the IPI: Jurg Herren, Deputy Head of the Legal & International Affairs Division, IPI, Direct line: T +41 31 377 72 16, juerg.herren@ipi.ch Erich Rava, Head of Communication, IPI, Direct line: T +41 31 377 74 96, erich.rava@ipi.ch Publisher Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property http://www.ige.ch A frightening picture shows alligators at a New South Wales zoo dangerously close to swimming out of their enclosures in rising floodwaters. The photo shared by Hunter Valley Zoo on Monday shows one alligator in the foreground seemingly waiting for the water to rise above the fence as the rest of the habitat turns into a lake. The picture has sparked more than 800 comments from people with many saying they hoped the water doesn't rise more and the reptiles stay securely in their pen. 'A short swim to our place once that water goes over that fence,' one nervous local said. This picture of an alligator swimming near a fence in their flooded enclosure at Hunter Valley Zoo (pictured) was shared on Tuesday 'Not letting my leg dangle over the bed in case an alligator chomps it,' another person said. 'Better check all your waterways and drains,' added a third. Hunter Valley Zoo assured people all their animals including their meerkats, lions, and monkeys were safely accounted for and protected from the floodwaters. The facility, located near Cessnock north of Sydney, said on Tuesday morning they would not be open until at least Thursday withe access roads to the zoo underwater. 'Unfortunately with a large volume of water still flowing through the zoo and the roads still dangerous and flooding we will be closed again today and tomorrow.' 'All our wonderful animals are being extremely well cared for by our dedicated staff and are as safe and warm as they can be.' A picture of how the enclosure normally looks at Hunter Valley Zoo - complete with the collection of several alligators (pictured) Some 18,000 NSW residents have already been evacuated from their homes to escape rising floodwaters as the premier admits conditions are set to deteriorate and the fallout will linger for weeks. Another 15,000 residents are on high alert after being warned they must be ready to leave on Tuesday as two more weather fronts roll across large swathes of the state. People northwest of Sydney have been ordered to evacuate homes amid the unrelenting downpour as a massive swathe of water flows into catchments, causing rivers to rise and break their banks. Major flooding is occurring along the Colo River in the Hawkesbury region and the State Emergency Service ordered about 500 people in 200 homes to get out on Tuesday. SES Commissioner Carlene York on Tuesday told reporters those people would otherwise have been trapped by the rising waters. The SES on Tuesday morning reported crews attending 9700 calls for help across NSW, including 870 flood rescues. Pictured: Port Macquarie Boats and helicopters would be deployed to help them leave. On the Hawkesbury River, another evacuation order was issued for low-lying properties in North Richmond, Agnes Banks and Windsor. Warnings of moderate flooding along the Nepean River at Penrith are in place and floodwaters are expected to affect the upper Nepean. Warnings are also in place for the Hawkesbury River from Windsor to Wisemans Ferry. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. fucking finally Reply Thread Link once I'm fully vaccinated (hopefully next month, but who knows) I'm up for going back to the theaters, while still taking precautions. But until I'm fully vaccinated, I'm not risking it, as much as I may want to see certain movies on the big screen. but who was super excited for this enough to either wait another year or deal with potentially getting covid to see it in theaters? I'm curious, but it's years way too late for me to keep waiting and pay $12 for a movie ticket. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah I cant even get an appointment in my state until May so Im really happy about this news. Although Im sad for theaters. Reply Parent Thread Link I think it's a smart move to have a simultaneous release with so many people left to vaccinate - you get the best of both worlds. If they want it to be theaters only and do really well, I think they'd have to push it back a few months, and it sounds like there's no room for that to happen. I'd like to see it in theaters (I'd like to see anything in theaters, lol) but I gotta wait til my husband is eligible to be vaccinated. Which is not yet. Reply Thread Link oh, so they made room! well I think it'll do really well domestically (for post-pandemic numbers, anyway) in July, since I imagine most people in the US will have had the opportunity to get vaccinated by then. Reply Parent Thread Link My younger sister was the only one of my family that didnt have the first dose at least but Texas just announced all adults can get it starting March 29th. She just got a text from her PCP. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link trans asian tree Scarlett Johanson --- brb I'm crying Reply Thread Link I will be watching for Florence Pugh and for the possibility of SteveNat crumbs Reply Thread Link About damn time. I cant wait to this Reply Thread Link God finally. Reply Thread Link woody allen defence quote incoming to ruin her publicist's life once again Reply Thread Link that was one of my favorite parts of the doc. i loved the highlight reel of his defenders. made it super easy to consolidate everyone. Reply Parent Thread Link it was so well done, really fast and efficient but brought the point home immediately too. All those loser sycophants clinging to him for "the art" better suffer in shame now (I doubt it but feeling hopeful today!) Reply Parent Thread Link They should shift it to the I have no interest in this movie Reply Thread Link I used to have a LOT of interest in it after the first Avengers came out. It's so late now I can't even describe how late it is. I don't care. And I am honestly suprised ONTD is still checking for her, as this post shows?? Reply Parent Thread Link This post is so weird because I feel like a year ago people were like This movie is a decade too late Reply Parent Thread Link it's really weird that they decided to make a movie about her not just 10 years too late but also after the character has already died. it's so disrespectful lmao. Reply Parent Thread Link The Deep Water January release is not a good sign of confidence. Reply Parent Thread Link https://variety.com/2021/film/news/disney-postpones-black-widow-shang-chi-1234935874/ just confirmed that this is the plan. widow is moving to july 9 as a premier access title. cruella is doing the same but staying put. shang-chi moving to september luca is going to d+ exclusively. Edited at 2021-03-23 06:40 pm (UTC) just confirmed that this is the plan. widow is moving to july 9 as a premier access title. cruella is doing the same but staying put.shang-chi moving to septemberluca is going to d+ exclusively. Reply Thread Link Im upset we have to wait longer for Shang-chi now because of this! Reply Parent Thread Link Fucking A I thought the title meant Black Widow would be on D+ ON May 7th. Reply Parent Thread Link Updated. thnx bb Reply Parent Thread Link they should do a hybrid release, California is opening up and im vaccinated, so i would rather pay $30 for me and my bf to watch it at the theater than to pay $30 to watch it on disney+ Reply Thread Link The release date of #ShangChi has been pushed back as part of a massive Disney shuffle https://t.co/tzyWxhoAyp TheWrap (@TheWrap) March 23, 2021 Edited at 2021-03-23 06:41 pm (UTC) Black Widow is officially delayed to July 9, will be in theaters and D+ Premiere Access. Shang-Chi delayed to September 3. The only MCU film not delayed is Spider-Man and thats bc Sony is really pushing to release it this year Reply Thread Link Im not paying thirty bucks for Black Widow. Ill save that money for Shang Chi. Reply Thread Link Chinese netizens, I mean, mainland Chinese netizens, are not looking forward to it b/c Shang Chi's main cast. They think Simu Liu and Awkwafina are too ugly, lol. Reply Parent Thread Link wait, seriously? is that what chinese netizens are posting online, "these two are ugly, i'm not watching?" lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link https://twitter.com/marvelstudios/status/1374429041877389320?s=10 Looks like July 7th theater + Disney Plus release Reply Thread Link I wish I cared more about this movie. It shouldve been made a decade ago. Im not really interested in Nats storyline now that shes dead, Im trying to move on while knowing Jeremy Renner is still in the MCU when it shouldve been Hawkeye who sacrificed himself instead. I just realized theyre moving Shang-Chi back AGAIN and Im livid! Edited at 2021-03-23 07:25 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Chilling audio has detailed how panicked Boulder Police officers told dispatchers a 'bearded man' in a tactical vest was opening fire on them and they were instructed to take 'head-shots only' as the Colorado grocery store massacre unfolded. Ten people, including Boulder police officer Eric Talley, were shot dead inside the King Soopers grocery store on Monday afternoon when a gunman, since identified by police as 21-year-old Ahmad Alissa, opened fire. The other victims include: Rikki Olds, 25, Denny Stong, 20, Neven Stanisic, 23, Tralona Bartkowiak, 49, Suzanne Fountain, 59, Teri Leiker, 51, Kevin Mahoney, 61, Lynn Murray, 62, and Jody Waters, 65. Audio from the police scanner, obtained by NBC's 9News, has detailed the chaos of the active shooting, including how officers were fired upon as they entered and how they were unable to locate the gunman for some time. Reports of the shooting first came in at about 2.30pm when a dispatcher could be heard on the police scanner alerting officers: 'It looks like we have an active shooter'. Officers were told a white man had been seen firing at people with a rifle in the parking lot. They were told he was possibly wearing a tactical vest and were instructed to take 'head-shots only'. Sarah Moonshadow is comforted by David and Maggie Talley after Moonshadow was inside King Soopers grocery store during a shooting in Boulder on Monday Pictured: King Soopers employees are led away from an active shooter at the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, U.S. March 22. 2021 As law enforcement arrived, they found a scene of carnage. Two people were lying unresponsive on the ground outside the store, with a third just inside the entrance. Pictured: Police guard people evacuated after a call of an active shooter at the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder Officers are seen on an armored truck as it approaches the scene of the shooting on Monday Police stand outside the King Soopers grocery store where the deadly shooting took place on Monday afternoon As more law enforcement arrived, they found scenes of carnage. Two people were lying unresponsive on the ground outside the store and a third just inside the entrance. 'Shooter inside! He just shot at us twice,' one officer can he heard shouting on the scanner. 'Officer down inside the building,' another yelled. Audio from the shooting indicates that Talley was shot within 20 minutes of the first call coming in. 'Multiple people down so far. One officer down. Unknown status. We can't get to him,' one officer said. 'Due to body armor, head-shots only,' one officer said over the radio around 30 minutes into the shooting, according to audio obtained the Colorado Sun. As the chaos continued to unfold, a dispatcher could be heard asking: 'You may need more than one helicopter?' 'Multiple people down,' an officer responded. It's unclear if the man with the bleeding leg (pictured in handcuffs) is the suspected gunman The shirtless man is seen being loaded onto a stretcher after the shooting on Monday Shoppers are escorted out of a King Soopers grocery where a gunman opened fire on Monday A SWAT team member runs toward the King Soopers grocery store where a gunman opened fire on Monday in Boulder Boulder (depicted) is located about 25 miles northwest of Denver In addition to the harrowing dispatch audio, witnesses who fled the store have since described their terror. One survivor, Ryan Borowski, told CNN he was on his way to buy ice cream when he heard three loud pops, after which everyone started running. 'We ran to the back of the store and out the back door and employees showed us the way. We told employees what was going on so everybody helped each other,' he said. 'I didn't see the shooter. I saw terrified faces running towards me and that's when I turned and ran the other direction.' Alex Arellano, 35, told the New York Times 'I thought I was going to die'. He was working at the King Soopers when he heard gunshots and saw people fleeing. James Graham, a 47-year-old from Erie, said he was in the check-out lane of the supermarket when he heard a loud bang, followed by glass falling on him. He initially thought something had fallen on him, but he quickly realized he was being shot at. 'I can can still smell the gunpowder,' Graham told the Daily Beast, saying he ran to the back of the grocery store where people were escaping through a loading dock. Nevin Sloan, who narrowly escaped with his wife Quinlan, said panic then set in as the sound of gunshots drew closer and shoppers were forced to decide whether to stay put or make a break for the exit. A law enforcement officer speaks with a woman outside the perimeter of a shooting site at King Soopers grocery store in Boulder on Monday Sarah Moonshadow and her son Nick stand outside the crime scene after being inside Kingsoopers during the shooting 'All of a sudden we started hearing more, like 'bang, bang, bang, bang' and I sprinted over to her and just told her 'hey we need to get out of here',' he told CBS, saying they had helped others flee through an emergency exit. 'I just nearly got killed for getting a soda and a bag of chips,' Ryan Borowski, who was in the store when he heard at least eight gunshots, told CNN. 'It doesn't feel like there's anywhere safe anymore.' Anna Haynes, 21, told the Daily Beast that she watched the events unfold from her window. A gunman killed 10 people, including Boulder Officer Eric Talley (pictured), at a grocery store in Colorado on Monday She said she froze when she saw a man shoot someone on a ramp into the store, before telling her roommate. 'We just stared and we've been staring ever since,' Haynes said, speaking from her porch. 'I saw it but I didn't believe it.' Mark Naughton, 53, said he also saw the gunman shoot someone in the parking lot as he watched from his window, having just returned from the store himself. 'I was a terrified he might be coming across the street this way,' he told the Daily Beast. Another witness told The Denver Post the suspect 'didn't say s**t' before he began shooting at people inside the store. 'He just came in and started shooting,' the witness said. Another witness recalled the gunman 'let off a couple of shots, then was silent, and then he let off a couple more. He wasn't spraying.' Another man who said he was shopping at the store told KCNC-TV that he heard 'one loud bang, thought somebody just dropped something an employee or something, and then another, and then by the third one, everybody was running'. He said they ran to the back of the store, found the employee area and workers told them how to escape. He said they walked single file, with their arms on the backs of those in front of them. Another man told KCNC said his family was inside the pharmacy at King Soopers to get a Covid-19 vaccine when the shooter entered the building. 'I got the call from my daughter and my grandchildren that my son-in-law walked into the pharmacy for him to get a Covid-19 shot and the shooter came in, shot the woman in front of them,' the man told the station. He said his family then hid in a closet for an hour before they were rescued. 'They were texting, hiding in the coat closet. Turned their phone off and were going 'we're hiding, we're okay' you know, 'don't call' you know the phone would ring and give away their position,' he added. Heavily-armed officers are seen standing outside the supermarket on Monday afternoon Healthcare workers were rushed out of the King Soopers grocery store after a gunman opened fire inside Officers from the Boulder Police Department are seen standing outside the grocery store on Monday An emotional healthcare worker is seen standing outside the supermarket after being rushed to safety Sarah Moonshadow told the Denver Post that two shots rang out just after she and her son, Nicolas Edwards, finished buying strawberries. She said she told her son to get down and then 'we just ran'. Once they got outside, she said they saw a body in the parking lot. Edwards said police were speeding into the lot and pulled up next to the body. 'I knew we couldn't do anything for the guy,' he said. 'We had to go.' Dean Schiller told The Associated Press that he had just left the supermarket when he heard gunshots and saw three people lying face down, two in the parking lot and one near the doorway. He said he 'couldn't tell if they were breathing'. Video posted on YouTube showed one person on the floor inside the store and two more outside on the ground. What sounds like two gunshots are also heard at the beginning of the video. Law enforcement vehicles and officers massed outside the store, including SWAT teams, and at least three helicopters landed on the roof. Some windows at the front of the store were broken. At one point, authorities said over a loudspeaker that the building was surrounded and that 'you need to surrender'. Tactical police units respond to the scene of King Soopers. The windows of the store were left broken, likely from gunfire Police use firefighting equipment to enter a King Sooper's grocery store where a gunman opened fire on Monday Law enforcement officers sweep the area outside of the King Soopers grocery store Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 03:10:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUCHAREST, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) in Romania reached 1,313 on Friday, a record high since the outbreak, but Prime Minister Florin Citu said new restrictions would not be considered for the time being. In the last 24 hours, 5,593 new cases were registered in Romania, the fourth consecutive day to report over 5,000 new cases, bringing the caseload to 886,752, official data showed. Meanwhile, with 143 more fatalities associated with the virus, the death toll now stood at 22,020, according to the latest data released by the Strategic Communication Group, Romania's official COVID-19 communication task force. However, Citu said he would not consider introducing new restrictive measures for the time being, emphasizing that "the vaccination is the only way to get out of the pandemic as soon as possible." "Anything else is only temporary. The vaccination campaign and the vaccine is the only long-term solution," said the prime minister. The authorities hoped to alleviate the pandemic by stepping up its vaccination campaign that started on Dec. 27, 2020. So far, 2,426,191 vaccine doses have been administered to 1,658,269 people, among whom 890,347 people have received the first dose and 767,922 both. Currently, three vaccines -- Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca -- have been approved for use in Romania. Globally, 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 the latest information released by the World Health Organization. Enditem Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Vietnam recorded no local coronavirus infection and one imported case on Tuesday, when health authorities also approved a Russian vaccine for emergency use against COVID-19. The Southeast Asian country has logged zero community-based transmissions for five days in a row, according to the Ministry of Healths data. The only imported case is a 25-year-old Vietnamese returnee from France. He touched down in Hanoi by plane on March 9 and was sent to obligatory quarantine upon entry, pursuant to local regulations on COVID-19 contagion prevention. The patient was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Tuesday. He is being isolated for treatment in the capital city. The health ministry announced 12 recoveries on Tuesday, bringing the total to 2,246. Vietnam has registered 2,576 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday evening, the ministrys data showed. The caseload includes 1,601 domestic infections, with 908 of them recorded since January 27, when Vietnam was hit by a new wave. The nation has confirmed 35 virus-related fatalities so far, most having suffered underlying medical problems. At the time of writing, authorities are quarantining 37,754 people who either came into close contact with infected patients or entered the country from pathogen-hit regions. Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong signed a decision on Tuesday to authorize Russias coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V for emergency use in Vietnam. POLYVAC, a vaccine center in Hanoi, had asked for the approval from the health ministry. The Sputnik V jab is produced by JSC Generium from Russia. The Ministry of Health received 1,000 Sputnik V shots as a donation from Russia on March 16, said Dang Viet Hung, director of the ministrys Department of International Cooperation. This is the second vaccine to be approved for emergency use against COVID-19 in Vietnam, with the first being AstraZeneca. Vietnam is negotiating the purchase of vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and the maker of Russias Sputnik V, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said last week, adding that it may be able to buy 30 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses this year. The government has stated that it already secured 60 million AstraZeneca jabs via direct purchases and the COVAX vaccine-sharing scheme. Vietnam hopes to acquire 150 million vaccine doses in total in 2021. The Southeast Asian nation had administered the first shot of AstraZeneca to 36,082 people by 4:00 pm on Monday. Its mass vaccination started on March 8. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's former top financial regulator Toshihide Endo will become special advisor to cryptocurrency exchange DeCurret next month, a move that could facilitate private sector efforts to build a common settlement infrastructure for digital currencies. During his stint as Financial Services Agency (FSA) commissioner from 2018 to 2020, Endo oversaw Japan's banking and financial regulation, including on digital currency trading. From April 1, Endo will advise DeCurret, which has been organising a study group including megabanks and major firms to look at a common platform for the country's digital payments system, the Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange said on Tuesday. Representatives from the Bank of Japan (BOJ), the Ministry of Finance and the FSA have joined the study group as observers in a sign of Tokyo's willingness to promote innovation in the fast-growing industry. Endo oversaw the FSA at a time Japan's crypto exchanges came under close regulatory scrutiny after the theft of digital coins at Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck in 2018. In a 2018 interview with Reuters, Endo said he had "no intention to curb (the crypto industry) excessively," and he would seek to strike a balance between safeguarding clients and promoting technological innovation. Unlike countries such as China where one or two digital payment systems dominate the market, Japan has a plethora of offerings competing against each other. Aside from private-sector efforts to build a common payment settlement platform, the BOJ has announced plans to study the idea of issuing its own digital currency and will begin a first phase of expiriments on basic functions next month. (Reporting by Leika Kihara; editing by Richard Pullin) * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Earlier, the National Expanded Program on Immunization announced Vietnam would receive 1.373 million doses of the vaccine via the Covax program with support from UNICEF on March 25, and the rest in April. Covax, or Global Covid-19 Vaccine Facility, is a global mechanism for the development, manufacture and procurement of Covid-19 vaccine candidates, facilitating and supporting member countries to access vaccines as they become available. Around 33 million doses that Covax pledged for Vietnam in the second half of this year may be delayed until next year. Professor Dang Duc Anh, director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and program head, said 29.87 million doses of the vaccine Vietnam had ordered via Vietnam Vaccine JSC would not arrive in the country in the second and third quarter as previously planned. Anh said the delay of the vaccine delivery was due to production capability problems. In addition, the number of vaccine manufacturers meeting WHO pre-assessment standards is still small while the vaccine production capacity of manufacturers is limited, he added. Some advanced countries like the U.S., U.K., and Europe had previously ordered large quantities of the vaccine right from the research stage, leading to a shortage of vaccine supply globally, making it hard for developing countries like Vietnam to access vaccine sources, Anh held. Vietnam is expected to acquire 150 million Covid-19 vaccine doses from foreign and domestic sources by 2022. Besides the deal with AstraZeneca, Vietnam is also stepping up negotiations with the U.S.'s Pfizer and Moderna, along with other vaccine manufacturers in Russia and China. The Southeast Asian country began its mass vaccination campaign on March 8. So far, 36,082 medical staff and frontline workers in 16 localities have received the first shot of the vaccine developed by the British-Swedish company AstraZeneca. Though there has been one case of third-degree and five cases of second-degree anaphylaxis, all those vaccinated are now in stable condition, allowing the country to proceed with its inoculation program. Vietnam expects to start producing its own Covid-19 vaccine by the end of the third quarter, according to the ministry. Giannotti has worked at Burns & Levinson for 14 years and is part of a litigation team that handles high-profile whistleblower, discrimination and civil rights cases for plaintiffs who have been wronged in their workplaces. She was the administrative backbone of the team that represented Dennis W. Burke, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon at the Massachusetts General Hospital, who raised patient safety concerns about the practice of allowing surgeons to book and conduct multiple surgeries simultaneously and who brought suit against MGH when he was retaliated against for speaking out. The Burns & Levinson team secured a $13 million settlement in November 2019 for Dr. Burke, in addition to his being named to the Honorary Medical Staff at MGH and MGH instituting an annual safety lecture in his name. "When a lawyer stands up in court to argue a hotly contested motion, handles a sensitive deposition or navigates a client through a complicated negotiation, she gets to those moments based on the hard work and diligence of a full team of people. For me, there is no one more central to our work than Deb," said partner Ellen Zucker, who leads Burns & Levinson's plaintiff employment practice. "Her diligence, smarts and plentiful compassion for our clients and for all of us are defining elements of our practice. We are extraordinarily lucky to have her as a member of the team." At the firm, Giannotti serves on the Racial Justice Task Force and the Inclusion and Diversity Committee. Outside of work, she is a volunteer with Massachusetts Election Protection and was an online poll watcher in 2020. About Burns & Levinson LLP At Burns & Levinson, we provide high-level, client-centric and results-oriented legal services to our regional, national and international clients. We are a full-service law firm with over 125 lawyers in Boston, Denver, Providence, and London. Our areas of expertise include: business/finance, business litigation, divorce/family law, venture capital/emerging companies, employment, estate planning, government investigations, intellectual property, M&A/private equity, probate/trust litigation, and real estate. We partner with our clients to solve their business and personal legal issues in a collaborative, creative and cost-effective way. For more information, visit Burns & Levinson at www.burnslev.com . Contact: Amy Blumenthal or Kristen Weller Blumenthal & Associates Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer (617) 879-1511 (617) 345-3555 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Burns & Levinson Related Links http://www.burnslev.com Tamil Nadu: Fisherfolk in two villages announce poll boycott condemning ban on purse seine nets March 23,2021 | Source: Outlook India Hundreds of fishermen belonging to Chandrapadi and Thirumullaivasal villages in Mayiladuthurai district have announced that they would boycott the April 6 assembly polls in protest against the ban on purse seine nets. With a view to preserving the fishing resources, the Tamil Nadu government banned fishing using purse seine nets in the year 2000 under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulations Act, 1983. The ban was upheld by the Madras High Court in 2018. Since then fisheries authorities are strictly enforcing the ban. Stating that the ban was affecting their livelihood, fishermen ofthe two villages have long been demanding lifting of the ban. Pressing the demand, hundreds of people, including a large number of women, resorted to a hunger strike at Chandrapadi and Thirumullaivasal separately on Monday. They have announced that they would boycott the assembly polls. Chandrapadi belongs to the Poompuhar assembly constituency and Thirumullaivasal falls under Sirkazhi segment. Federal cabinet minister Karen Andrews says she agrees with Prime Minister Scott Morrison that he could have handled the ongoing furore around the treatment of women in politics a bit differently. Mr Morrison has been under intense pressure over how the government responded to the case of Brittany Higgins, a former Liberal staffer who says she was raped by a colleague in the office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds in March 2019. Karen Andrews admits the PM could have handled the recent accusations of sexual assault in Parliament House better. Credit:Rhett Wyman The Prime Minister gave a tearful news conference on Tuesday morning in which he made a number of concessions for the first time since the scandal broke. But Mr Morrison became hostile under questioning by Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell and warned him he should be careful, claiming there was a complaint against News Corp for harassment of a woman in a womens toilet. News Corp has since said there is no complaint before the organisation. Ms Andrews said the revelations overnight that a Coalition staffer had filmed himself masturbating on the desk of a female Liberal MP was the straw that broke the camels back, prompting female MPs to raise concerns with the Prime Minister. On Easter Saturday Nine will present a special broadcast Australian Red Cross: Connecting, which will raise funds for the organisation. It will feature Nine presenters including Karl Stefanovic, Brooke Boney, Alex Cullen, Tim Davies, Belinda Russell & Richard Wilkins. Ross Noble and Brenton Ragless will also feature. Australian Red Cross CEO, Kym Pfitzner, says: Whether its someone who has suddenly lost almost everything in a bushfire, or a daily wellbeing phone call to someone feeling isolated and vulnerable, our work makes real differences to peoples lives. Todays Brooke Boney and Alex Cullen will host the fundraiser and showcase the wonderful humanitarian work of Red Cross. They will be joined by Karl Stefanovic and Tim Davies (Today), Belinda Russell (Today Extra) and Richard Wilkins (Weekend Today), celebrating the amazing stories and people behind Red Cross as it seeks donations to support ongoing services for communities all over Australia. We will see comedian Ross Noble like never before as he sits down with Nine News presenter Brenton Ragless to talk about losing everything in the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria. Karl Stefanovic meets an inspirational case manager working with ex-offenders to reintegrate them into the community and get their lives back on track after being released from prison. South Sydney Rabbitohs winger Josh Mansour will also join the broadcast to explain the ways he has been involved with Red Cross. In Australia, Red Cross has programs to help all kinds of people in need. Providing much more than blood donations and disaster relief, Red Cross reconnects families separated by war and provides assistance to refugees, migrants and First Nation communities. Established here in 1914 by Lady Helen Munro Ferguson, wife of Governor-General Sir Ronald, Red Cross has a proud history as a symbol of hope and humanity. Bound by its fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality, Red Cross remains committed to supporting and empowering people and communities in times of vulnerability. Throughout our special broadcast remarkable stories of inspiration and hope will be told, including: The four siblings who fled a country riddled by conflict and found refuge in Albury, NSW welcomed on arrival by Red Cross workers helping them settle into their new home. A family that lost everything in the bushfires that ravaged Kangaroo Island, South Australia in 2020 and a selfless recovery officer changing lives by helping the community to rebuild. An Indigenous Elder who lives alone and has a rare autoimmune condition that keeps her wheelchair-bound. Each morning she receives a call from a Red Cross volunteer who makes sure she feels connected to her community. The courageous Red Cross emergency team who played key roles in the response to the Dreamworld tragedy on the Gold Coast in which four people died. The donations raised from Nines broadcast for Red Cross will go towards further disaster relief work and other initiatives, such as wellbeing checks for people who are elderly, isolated or quarantining; support for First Nations people in communities across the country; and assisting young mothers who need support and education. Viewers can donate on the day by calling 1800 733 276 scanning the QR code that appears on your screen, or visiting the Red Cross website. Saturday April 3 from 2.00pm on Nine. Related Areas of desertified, sandified land keep shrinking in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 09:01, March 23, 2021 By Zhang Cheng ( People's Daily Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, one of the provincial-regions in China that sees the densest distribution of deserts and sandy land, has achieved remarkable progress of desertification control thanks to its enhanced science-based efforts. In the past five years, the areas of desertified and sandified land in the autonomous region dropped drastically, during which an average of 12 million mu (800,000 hectares) of land was covered by vegetation on an annual basis, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the country's total. The Horqin Sandy Land in Nugusitai Township, Horqin Left Wing Rear Banner, Tongliao, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is covered by plants after sand control. (People's Daily Online/Hua Weiguang) In mid-March, plants are getting green again in an ecological demonstration zone run by Elion Group, a company committed to restoring eco-environment, in Kubuqi Desert, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Engineers from the Elion Kubuqi Desert Research Institute are planning to plant a forest to enhance the carbon sink in the desert, control desertification and protect rivers, with the help of a big data platform of Elion Group. "We started geological investigation in February, and purchased seedlings that can be grown on the desert, such as Salix cheilophila, Caragana korshinskii and pinus sylvestris," said Lv Rong, chief engineer of the Elion Kubuqi Desert Research Institute. Tests showed that the survival rate of these seedlings stood at over 85 percent, he introduced. Apart from the plants that match local ecology, Kubuqi also introduced other drought-enduring plants from other regions on similar latitude to increase plant diversity. "Quality planting resources are the essence of desert control, so we specifically established a resource base of desert shrubs and rare and endangered plants. So far we have collected relevant materials of over 1,000 seeds of plants that can survive coldness, drought, as well as salt and alkali, and are developing and exporting some of the quality resources," Lv told the People's Daily. Machines are watering a man-made grassland in Ar Horqin Banner, Chifeng, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 3, 2020. (People's Daily Online/Li Fu) The innovation of planting techniques improved the efficiency of desert control, too. The institute invented a series of new technologies, Lv said, including one that enables planters to plant a tree in a dozen seconds and saves over 50 percent of water. Such "minimally invasive" planting technique is widely applied, he noted, adding that by maximally reducing the disturbance to soil and ecology, it results in an over 90 percent survival rate of seedlings. Today, 53 percent of Kubuqi Desert is covered by vegetation, up from less than 3 percent in 1980s. Besides, the precipitation and biodiversity are also on a sharp rise there, while the number of sandy days has dropped significantly. "Minimally invasive" planting techniques developed in Kubuqi Desert have been widely applied and introduced to other sandy areas, including Horqin Sandy Land, Mu Us Desert, Ulan Buh Desert and Tengger Desert. Desertification control is bringing a better life to local farmers and herdsmen, including Bhejarlin Bheyel, a man who finally defeated poverty living in the central part of the Horqin Sandy Land. In recent years, local authorities not only banned pasturing, land reclaiming and lumbering, but also implemented eco-restoration projects and made forests with economic returns. Today, sand dunes are fixed by sea-buckthorns, and Bhejarlin Bheyel also became a forest ranger. "Sea-buckthorns can be made into juice products, and also attract tourists," the man said. Now he earns over 10,000 yuan ($1,536) as a forest ranger each year, and the annual income of his family adds up to 50,000 yuan including the dividends from the sea-buckthorn forest and the revenue of cattle breeding. This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong! The family of a man killed by a League City police officer during a disturbance call is suing the officer and the police department in federal court, claiming the man was suffering from a mental health episode at the time of the shooting. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Texas, alleges that Officer Patrick Bradshaw, a 13-year veteran, shot and killed Matthew Krupar, 31, without justification while Krupar was unarmed and in the midst of a mental health event. Bradshaw told investigators after the shooting that he shot Krupar because he believed he was in a life and death struggle, the suit claims. The police account of the December 2019 shooting said Bradshaw responded to a disturbance call from a neighbor in the 6500 block of Turner Fields describing a man yelling in the street. Upon arrival, Bradshaw was approached by the woman who made the call. While they were talking, Krupar exited his parents home and confronted and assaulted Bradshaw, police said, prompting Bradshaw to fire his weapon. Officers and members from League City EMS performed emergency medical assistance on Krupar, who was transported to HCA Clear Lake Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. In a news release, attorneys for the Krupar estate provided footage from a neighbors security camera showing the fatal shooting in the 6500 block of Turner Fields that they say belies the departments version of events. The footage shows Krupar yelling at Bradshaw and walking toward him. Krupar appears to lunge at Bradshaw, who fires four shots at him. Krupar collapses on the street. Dax Garza, the lead attorney representing the Krupar estate, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While Bradshaw was placed on administrative leave after the shooting per League City police department policy, the lawsuit claims he returned to full duty shortly afterwards and was not disciplined. Prior to Krupars death, League City police officers had shot and killed four people since 2018. The suit alleges that none of the officers involved in those shootings were disciplined by the department. A spokesperson for the League City Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit. The Krupar estate is seeking monetary damages in the lawsuit and punitive damages against Bradshaw, as well as a jury trial. nick.powell@chron.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Advertisement Down the Hawkesbury River they floated, one after another - a heartbreaking reminder of the devastation being wrought by Australia's once-in-a-century floods. In confronting scenes on Tuesday, at least five family homes were ripped from their foundations and washed down the swollen waterway. Torrential daily rainfall as heavy as 300mm in Sydney's western and north-western suburbs has seen major rivers including the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Colo Rivers overflow, wreaking havoc on nearby communities. Many homes along the Hawkesbury, north of Sydney, are accessible only by boat, making them particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events like the great flood of 2021. The photos show the battered homes floating along the murky tide, some barely above the water, after being smashed from their foundations upstream. Confronting images showing at least five homes washing away down the Hawkesbury River is another reminder of the tragic reality behind Australia's once-in-a-century floods Homes have been torn from their foundations and pulled down the Hawkesbury River with streams of debris following behind The grim images show family homes barely surfacing as they drift down the swollen river north of Sydney's CBD As many as 35,000 residents of west and north-western Sydney have either been evacuated or are facing evacuation after mass flooding from local rivers. The area has been saturated by between 200mm and 300m, with the rain expected to last through until Wednesday when relief is expected. The NSW State Emergency Service has responded to 9700 calls for help across the state's eastern coast and conducted 870 flood rescues. Already, 34 NSW councils have declared natural disaster zones, with the powerful storm that lashed the state's north coast and western Sydney now spreading to the Illawarra region on the south coast, where 100-200mm of rain was forecast across the region on Tuesday, peaking at 300mm in some parts. Northwest of Sydney, around 200 residents were ordered to evacuate homes immediately on Tuesday morning as major flooding occurred along the Colo River in the Hawkesbury region. 'From 8am ... you should be ready to be evacuated from your home via helicopter or boat,' the SES said. 'If you do not leave when asked to it will be too dangerous to stay and you may be trapped without power, water and other essential services by 8am.' On the Hawkesbury River another evacuation order was issued for low lying properties in North Richmond, Agnes Banks and Windsor amid major flooding. 'Flooding may remain at these levels for the next few days based on forecast rainfall,' the SES said. The Hawkesbury region in particular sees many homes lined along the river accessible only by boat, making them extremely exposed to extreme weather events like the natural disaster currently hammering the area A fishing boat from the Hawkesbury River has washed up on a riverside road after severe rainfall in the area Debris from a home situated on the Hawkesbury River in Sydney floats down stream covered in sticks and leaves Another home floats away down the Hawkesbury River barely staying above the surface More than 200 residents were rescued from the Colo River on Tuesday morning after SES orders to evacuate their homes A home washes up against the bank of the Hawkesbury River after floating down stream with the rising flood waters Debris has washed up on the shores of the Hawkesbury River after severe weather destroyed houses lining the water South-east Queensland is also experiencing severe weather conditions with mass flood events breaking out in regional and metropolitan areas. The Dreamworld theme park was closed, as the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast went on high alert, extending to communities as far west as Birdsville. Low-lying homes on the Gold Coast areas Tallai and Carrara have been inundated, and a flood watch was put in place for a wide band of southern Queensland stretching from the South Australian border to the southeast coast. Bursts of storm activity has compounded falls reaching as high as 150mm in some areas, with the Gold Coast copping rainfall in excess of 200mm on Monday. A house boat was captured sinking on Biggera Waters on Tuesday afternoon as desperate owners attempted to remove belongings and ensure occupants safety. Wild winds combined with heavy rainfall and sweeping tides caused the vessel to begin to sink, with several people on tinnies attempting to help the situation. A house boat was captured sinking on Biggera Waters on the Gold Coast after wild storms lashed the area Several locals arrived on the scene in tinnies to attempt to help the owners retrieve belongings The Gold Coast region copped more than 200mm of rainfall on Monday causing mass flooding to the area Texas EquuSearch A man who had been missing since last Friday was found dead Monday in southwest Houston, according to his wife and officials with Texas EquuSearch. John Jackson, 56, was found in his truck at the Sprouts Farmers Market near Old Spanish Trail and Kirby Drive, his wife Donna Jackson told the Chronicle. The Secretary of State has laid down new regulations in Westminster on Tuesday, compelling Stormont to implement abortion laws, as more than 80 MPs have signed a letter backing the move. Brandon Lewis laid out the regulations before Parliament on Tuesday under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act which was signed in 2019. Taking effect from March 31, the Government says it's taking these powers as a "necessary and proportionate" step to ensure legal and human rights obligations upheld in line with CEDAW report. The regulation note adds: "These Regulations confer on the Secretary of State the power to direct the First Minister, deputy First Minister, a Northern Ireland Minister, a Northern Ireland department, the Regional Health and Social Care Board, and the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being. "Almost a year has passed since the Abortion Regulations came into effect, and progress should have been made by now. It is not sustainable for medical professionals to take forward service provision without any formal commissioning, support, relevant medical guidance, and funding." The move by the Secretary of State comes as a group of 88 MPs expressed cross-party support for the move in a letter to Stormont ministers. The letter was drawn up by Stella Creasy, the Labour MP who brought the initial amendment that led to the changes in Northern Irelands abortion laws in 2019. Addressed to the Minister of Health, the letter urges Mr Swann to commission abortion services as a matter of priority. While individual health trusts in Northern Ireland are offering services on an ad-hoc basis, Mr Swanns Department of Health has yet to centrally commission the services on a region-wide basis. On Monday, Robin Swann told the Assembly he would not commission the services without the approval of the Executive due to the issue being what he has described as a cross-cutting or controversial decision. Read More Mr Swann also told the Assembly that he had tabled proposals around the commissioning of services in April and May of 2020, but added the Executive has not agreed to this proposal. The letter directed to Robin Swann - also signed by the Northern Ireland MPs Colum Eastwood, Claire Hanna and Stephen Farry goes on to describe it as disappointing the services have not been implemented after the regulations came into force a year ago. Abortion laws in the region were liberalised by MPs at Westminster in 2019 at a time when power sharing was collapsed. The regulations introduced in March 2020 were a welcome step forward, the letter said. It is disappointing that they have not been implemented, and women and girls continue to be advised to travel to England to access basic healthcare. That this has been the case during the Coronavirus pandemic, so undermining important rules to prevent the transmission of this virus, is also unacceptable. This has left women in an impossible position of having to take risks with their health to access services, whether in travelling or seeking to purchase abortion medication online. Also directed towards the First and deputy First Ministers, the letter goes on to say devolution must never be used to deny the human rights of any woman. The move by the Secretary of State Brandon Lewis has been criticised as over-reach by the DUP. Speaking on Sunday, the DUP MP Carla Lockhart said it was a devolved issue and criticised the Westminster intervention by Mr Lewis as unacceptable. Read More This is a health issue and therefore it is for our health minister to bring forward suggested regulations on the commissioning of services, she said. Westminster has done what is required of them. If you actually look at the legislation, it mentions the Department of Health in terms of commissioning, therefore, it is not for them to get involved in this issue. This is a devolved issue, it is a health issue and therefore health is wholly the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. Mar. 23CENTERVILLE Centerville schools plans to sell land to Washington Twp. for a new fire station. The land is on Franklin Street adjacent to Centerville High School, the township announced today. The Washington Twp. Fire Department wants the land to build a fire station that would replace the department's oldest fire station, Station 41 at 163 Maple Ave., township officials said. The township and school district have worked together to negotiate a contract for the land purchase and establish a selling price of $42,000 per acre. The parcel being considered is approximately 5 to 6 acres, according to the township. SEATTLE, March 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Hurtigruten, the world leader in exploration travel, revealed a new flagship sailing for the 2023 season. Onboard the MS Roald Amundsen, the world's first battery hybrid expedition cruise ship, passengers will travel along the Northwest Passage following the footsteps of famous Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. The Northwest Passage In the Wake of the Great Explorers is a 26-day itinerary taking expedition fans from the Gold Rush town Nome in Alaska through the Bering Strait, Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, and the Amundsen Gulf before arriving at Halifax. The onboard Expedition Team includes experts covering biology and wildlife, a professional photographer, an archaeologist, and one or more Inuit cultural interpreters. Known as one of the most challenging stretches of water to navigate, the MS Roald Amundsen will navigate the ice floes and islands of the stunning Northwest Passage whilst bringing to life for guests the local history and culture of the surrounding area. The onboard Expedition Team will choose locations along the route to arrange escorted landing, small boat cruising for onshore exploration, and opportunities to spot wildlife in all its natural habit from whales, seals and, on the rare occasion, polar bears. "This is one of our most ambitious and adventurous itineraries to date, offering our guests the chance to become true explorers as we navigate one of the most challenging stretches of water in the world. We believe in delivering truly life-changing and memorable experiences for our guests and navigating the Northwest Passage is certainly a once in a life-time experience," said John Downey, President Hurtigruten Americas. "Following a year of lockdowns, we know from our customers that their appetite for exploration certainly hasn't dwindled, and we look forward to welcoming them onboard for their next adventure with us." MS Roald Amundsen a small, more sustainable, battery hybrid-powered expedition cruise ship Hosting around 500 guests, MS Roald Amundsen is a state-of-the-art battery hybrid-powered expedition cruise ship the first vessel of its kind in the world. Specifically designed for expedition cruising, MS Roald Amundsen features a revolutionary battery hybrid propulsion system, together with other green technology to reduce fuel consumption and cut CO2 emissions by 20%. Onboard, guests can expect a welcoming and comfortable environment in the public spaces and personal cabins and are spoilt for choice when it comes to where to dine, with restaurants Aune, Fredheim and Lindstrm serving Norwegian and Nordic tradition, as well as international cuisine and local inspiration. Handpicked Expedition Teams On all Hurtigruten expedition cruises, you will encounter a handpicked Expedition Team a dedicated group of experts that help guests discover and better understand each destination. Experts in marine biology, arctic survival, photography, oceanography and more, the team hosts lectures which delve into the history of locations, and informally brings this knowledge to life by leading activities on adventurous excursions. Citizen Science Feed your curiosity in our Science Center, join fun talks, wildlife spotting and experiments with our scientists and Expedition Teams, and help contribute to research through Citizen Science projects around the world. The impressive Science Centre is the heartbeat of MS Roald Amundsen staffed by Hurtigruten's handpicked Expedition Team and packed with state-of-the-art technology and high-tech gadgets - there is no better place to learn about the remote locations and areas of natural beauty on the itinerary. Itinerary Details The Northwest Passage In the Wake of the Great Explorers Duration: 26 days 26 days Departure date: 18th August 2023 18th August 2023 Ports: Vancouver, Nome, Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Red Bay, Corner Brook and Halifax (in addition to escorted landings and small boat cruising throughout the sailing). Vancouver, Nome, Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Red Bay, Corner Brook and Halifax (in addition to escorted landings and small boat cruising throughout the sailing). Ship: MS Roald Amundsen About Hurtigruten and its fleet Building on 127 years of Norwegian pioneering heritage, Hurtigruten is today the world's largest expedition cruise company. Hurtigruten's rapidly growing fleet of custom-build expedition ships takes modern-day adventure travellers to the world's most spectacular destinations on our Planet - from the High North to Antarctica in the south. Being the world leader in exploration travel comes with a great responsibility. Hurtigruten is enhancing destinations and runs a responsible, sustainable global operation. Read more about Hurtigruten's sustainability efforts here. Hurtigruten introduced the world's first hybrid battery powered cruise ship the MS Roald Amundsen in 2019, and followed this with sister ship, the MS Fridtjof Nansen, in 2020. Hurtigruten takes the health and safety of crew and passengers seriously and is constantly updating protocols based on the latest Government advice. More information can be found here. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hurtigruten-reveals-flagship-expedition-cruise-for-2023-301253127.html SOURCE Hurtigruten PHILIPSBURG:--- In a follow up to previous Human Rights webinars held during the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of St. Martin (USM) and the Sint Maarten Anti-poverty Platform (SMAPP) will co-sponsor a virtual lecture on How to Address Workers and Human Rights Violations on Wednesday, 24 March 2021. The keynote speaker will be former Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA) Mrs. Pamela Gordon Carty, who will address labour and human rights violations experienced throughout the pandemic and present options for remedying the local situation. Since March 2020, Sint Maartens single pillar economy was hit badly by the COVID 19 pandemic. Many formal and informal jobs were lost, as travel bans were put in place to stop the spread of the virus. Schools and hotels were closed for months, and tens of thousands of workers have lost employment. According to the Red Cross, large segments of the population still depend on food donations from charities today, a year after the pandemic started. It is in this context that we will evaluate the state of labour rights and human rights for the employed and unemployed workers, seniors and pensioners in Sint Maarten, said SMAPP Co-ordinator Raymond Jessurun. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, labour and human rights were never really respected. However, the pandemic contributed to an increase in the violation of workers rights and human rights in many countries in the world and also here in St. Martin. The United Nations has recommended all States and their political and economic leaders to safeguard human rights, which are guaranteed under treaties and conventions constituting international public law. In June 2020, USM and SMAPP held a full-day online webinar on the topic of human rights in the face of COVID-19. The purpose of the seminar was to create a space for dialogue to inform the community of the obligations of the State and its political and economic actors. Later, in October 2020, USM in partnership with the Dutch section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-NJCM) led a Kingdom-wide dialogue on the topic of Human Rights with participants from Curacao, Aruba, the Netherlands, St. Martin, and the United States. In an effort to contribute to the education of civil society in matters related to socio-economic development and human rights, USM continues to serve as that space for critical dialogue and discussion. Invited guest, Mrs. Gordon Carty will review national, state, and international spaces to present human rights violations and to claim respect for these rights. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, USM can host only a select number of representatives of the Chamber of Labour Unions and the Sint Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association. Via Zoom Meeting ID: 822 0095 0604 Passcode: USM2021 and a live stream on Facebook, the members of these affiliated organizations and the public-at-large can follow the one and half hour lecture followed by a question-and-answer session open to viewer participation. The virtual lecture will begin promptly at 7:00 in the evening. The election flying squad on Monday searched Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan's vehicle in Thanjavur district. Haasan was on his way to Trichy for a public meeting ahead of the state Assembly polls in the state. MNM will be contesting 154 of 234 assembly seats. Of the remaining 80 seats, MNM's two alliance partners -- All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) led by R Sarathkumar and TR Paarivendhar's Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) -- will contest 40 seats each. Assembly elections in will be held on April 6 and 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.) Australia's biggest media company has rubbished extraordinary claims by Scott Morrison that a female employee was harassed in a woman's toilet. The prime minister called a press conference on Tuesday to express his disgust at government staffers sharing lewd photos of sexual acts inside Parliament House. Reports aired on Monday night also detailed MPs allegedly having sex with escorts and 'rent boys' in the building's prayer rooms. Mr Morrison made an emotional pledge to improve workplace culture for women in parliament, but minutes later made a sudden allegation about News Corp. 'Right now, you would be aware in your own organisation, there is a person who has had a complaint made against them for harassment of a woman in a women's toilet,' he claimed when questioned by Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell. News Corp Australasian executive chairman Michael Miller has now issued a blunt statement insisting there was no such complaint and the PM was dead wrong. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is pictured during the press conference on Tuesday 'Prime Minister Scott Morrison was wrong today to claim an investigation is under way into a complaint accusing an employee of harassment against a woman in a female toilet,' he said. 'No complaint has been received and News Corp and Sky News are not dealing with a complaint.' Mr Miller said the PM appeared to have conflated unrelated non-sexual matters within the media company and come up with something that never happened. He said News Corp, like most companies, kept such matters confidential but felt compelled to set the record straight. 'Given the Prime Minister's extraordinary public claims made at a press conference broadcast live across the nation, I want to put to rest any suggestion that an employee of our company is being investigated for conduct suggested by Mr Morrison,' he said. Mr Miller said News Corp HR asked staff to discuss their well-being confidentially, given its reporting on sexually inappropriate behaviour at Parliament House. Those conversations turned up a verbal exchange between two employees at Parliament House last year. 'The exchange was about a workplace-related issue, it was not of a sexual nature, it did not take place in a toilet and neither person made a complaint,' he said. 'Following those inquiries, our HR team wrote to one of the people involved and the matter was resolved. News Corp Australasian executive chairman Michael Miller has denied the explosive claims 'The Prime Minister appears to have joined these two matters and conflated them into an episode of harassment in a toilet that is under current investigation. 'This is simply untrue and it undermines the principle that people must be able to raise issues safely and in confidence.' Mr Morrison's outburst came out of the blue as he was grilled by Clennell as to whether he had lost control of his ministerial staff. He bizarrely warned the senior journalist to 'be careful' about airing sexual misconduct allegations about politicians. 'Right now, you would be aware in your own organisation, there is a person who has had a complaint made against them for harassment of a woman in a women's toilet,' Mr Morrison said. 'And that matter is being pursued by your own HR department. So let's not, all of us who sit in glass houses here, start getting into that.' The prime minister was pressed on how he did not know about the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins inside a ministerial office for more than two years later, yet somehow knew of a private (albeit nonexistent) complaint in a media company. 'That was brought to my attention late last night, and the issue of Brittany Higgins was only brought to my attention on February 15,' he said. 'The suggestion was made by a member of the press gallery that things like this don't happen in the media, and I think that would be unfair.' The press conference took an angry turn when Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell (pictured) suggested Mr Morrison's job would be in jeopardy if he was the boss of a business and similar allegations had been made 'on your watch' Statement from Michael Miller Prime Minister Scott Morrison was wrong today to claim an investigation is under way into a complaint accusing an employee of harassment against a woman in a female toilet. No complaint has been received and News Corp and Sky News are not dealing with a complaint. News Corp and Sky News take seriously any issues raised by staff and our utmost priority is to respect their privacy and confidentiality. This is standard business practice and because of this, we do not normally comment on private matters. However given the Prime Minister's extraordinary public claims made at a press conference broadcast live across the nation, I want to put to rest any suggestion that an employee of our company is being investigated for conduct suggested by Mr Morrison. In recent weeks, following the reporting of matters of sexually inappropriate behaviour at Parliament House, our HR team proactively gave our staff the opportunity to talk to us in confidence about their well-being. I thank those who did so. During these proactive conversations, the News Corp's HR team learned of a verbal exchange between two News Corp employees in Parliament House in Canberra last year. The exchange was about a workplace-related issue, it was not of a sexual nature, it did not take place in a toilet and neither person made a complaint. Following those inquiries, our HR team wrote to one of the people involved and the matter was resolved. The Prime Minister appears to have joined these two matters and conflated them into an episode of harassment in a toilet that is under current investigation. This is simply untrue and it undermines the principle that people must be able to raise issues safely and in confidence. News Corp has no further statements to make on this matter. Advertisement Mr Morrison was also asked whether he raised the alleged incident in the media against the wishes of the complainant, but provided no direct response. Senior cabinet ministers who knew about the alleged rape of Ms Higgins have repeatedly claimed they did not escalate her complaint due to privacy concerns. Labor frontbencher Katy Gallagher was scathing of the prime minister's performance. 'Real leadership is what was needed this morning - but we got the same old PM - angry, defensive, spiteful and calculated,' she said. 'We are all let down by this PM.' Speaking after the press conference on Sky News, Clennell said he was 'gobsmacked' by the comments. 'He needs to clarify why he felt it was OK to breach the confidence of who might have made a complaint,' Clennell added. This image shared by a whistleblower shows a man sitting at a desk in Parliament House exposing himself Brittany Higgins at the March 4 Justice on March 15. She shocked Australia when she came forward with allegations she was raped by a male colleague in the office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds Before the heated clash with Clennell, Mr Morrison had choked back tears as he spoke about his daughters, wife and mother. 'They motivate me every day on this issue,' he said. 'And to them, I say to you girls, I will not let you down.' A coalition staff member has been sacked for allegedly performing a lewd sex act inside the office of a female Liberal MP. 'I am shocked, and disgusted, it is shameful,' Mr Morrison said. 'We must get our house in order.' The prime minister will meet with all coalition staff later on Tuesday to discuss behavioural issues. Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, tasked with an inquiry into workplace conditions in Parliament House, will address the coalition party room. Labor slams Scott Morrison for outing an alleged harassment victim in Australia's biggest media organisation yet claiming to have no knowledge of accusations Brittany Higgins was attacked just 50 metres from the PM's office Scott Morrison has come under fire from Labor as he was accused of leaking a confidential harassment complaint in a televised media conference. Mr Morrison sensationally accused News Corporation - the nation's biggest media organisation - of having a harassment scandal of its own during a fiery moment in a press conference on Tuesday. The prime minister had called the press conference to express his disgust at reports of government staffers sharing lewd photos of sexual acts inside Parliament House, having sex with escorts and 'rent boys' in the premises, and using the prayer room for the same purpose. But in a heated exchange, he became defensive and revealed the complaint when Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell asked whether he had lost control of his ministerial staff. 'Right now, you would be aware in your own organisation, there is a person who has had a complaint made against them for harassment of a woman in a women's toilet,' Mr Morrison said. His knowledge of the News Corp complaint comes despite him saying he wasn't aware of the alleged rape of media adviser Brittany Higgins on a minister's couch - 50m from his own office - for almost two years. Labor MP Tanya Plibersek in Question Time asked whether Mr Morrison disclosing a confidential allegation live on air would discourage victims of harassment and sexual assault from coming forward. Prime Minister Scott Morrison pictured during Question Time on Tuesday. He has hit back at criticism from Labor after he revealed a confidential harassment claim at media giant News Corporation during a televised press conference 'Is it any wonder victims of sexual assault and harassment in this building and around Australia are afraid of coming forward when the prime minister of this country uses a confidential complaint in a nationally televised media conference as a way to try to stop journalists asking questions about these important issues?' Ms Plibersek asked. Mr Morrison replied that he was only trying to highlight how the allegations rocking Canberra in recent weeks were not confined to the political world. 'These things that have been reported are disgusting and shameful,' he said during the debate on the floor of the House of Representatives. 'I was simply making the point - the problems we are experiencing in this country are not found simply in the offices of member for senators and ministers and go well beyond that.' Opposition leader Anthony Albanese also pressed Mr Morrison further on why he had not known about Ms Higgins' allegations for so long. 'If the Prime Minister was really listening to the concerns of women why hasn't he started by listening to the concerns of Brittany Higgins?' Mr Albanese said. '[Why hasn't he] asked his own staff what they knew and when about her reported sexual assault, only metres from his office?' After declaring Jesus Christ the vaccine for COVID-19, John Hagees ministry clarifies statement Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Months after John Hagee, senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, declared Jesus Christ as the vaccine for COVID-19 after he was hospitalized with the virus, his ministry has clarified that he believes in prayer and medicine and is taking the vaccine. "Pastor Hagee himself is taking the vaccine," Hagee Ministries spokesperson Ari Morgenstern told ABC News in a statement, adding that Hagee's comments, in which he said he had been taken out of context. "Pastor Hagee believes in both the power of prayer and modern medicine. These are not mutually exclusive." Hagees church did not immediately respond to a request for further comment from The Christian Post on Tuesday. As he recovered from a high publicized bout with COVID-19 last November, Hagee revealed to his flock that he spent 15 days in the hospital and credited the healing power of God for his recovery. Im sitting in this chair today to the testimonial of the healing power of Jesus Christ. I spent 15 days in the hospital with double pneumonia, and Im still supposed to be home gasping for air, he said. Im on this platform speaking of the glory of God for the healing power of God. I breathe under the authority of Christ every sickness and every disease and especially the COVID thing thats sweeping this nation. We have a vaccine; the name is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Let Him sweep through this country and heal the righteous who dare to ask for it. Heal our church members. Restore them rapidly. Let the name of Jesus Christ be exalted because He is Lord over all, Hagee declared. According to ABC News, "Doctors say remarks like that make it more difficult to ensure that all communities are protected from the virus." "The challenges that we're seeing from the anti-vaxxer community, from religious communities, are also impacting equitable access to vaccines, which I think is a really important issue particularly in communities of color," Dr. Jay Bhatt, ABC News' medical contributor."The choice we're making is one of health, of one of safety, of one of helping us together do the things we need to get to a COVID-free world." Other religious leaders, including controversial Pastor Tony Spell of the 3,000-member Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, have encouraged their church members not to take the COVID-19 vaccine. "We're anti-vaccine," Spell told ABC News. "I'm their pastor; I'm willing to stand before God for every decision that I make in people's lives. Every decision. I'm willing to stand before God for them." He added: "How can you trust a government who in 1945 purposefully [conducted] the Tuskegee study?" In the Tuskegee trial conducted from 1932 through 1972, the U.S. Public Health Service studied the effects of untreated syphilis in black men in Macon County, Alabama. Men in the study were offered free medical care and burials, but not penicillin, which became the recommended drug for treatment of syphilis in the 1940s. Voicing concern over rising cases of COVID-19 across the country, Rajasthan Chief Minister on Tuesday said there should be no age restriction for getting the COVID-19 vaccination. He also demanded that the Centre provide more vaccine doses to the state, while noting that another lockdown would prove fatal to the livelihood of people. Corona cases are increasing rapidly in the country. Experts are of the opinion that the government of India should focus more and more on vaccination.Public will be safe from corona only with maximum vaccination, he said in a series of tweets. Gehlot said that everyone should be vaccinated by removing age restriction. Referring to the opinion of Dr Devi Shetty of Bengaluru, the chief minister said it seems reasonable that people in the age group of 24 to 45 years should also be vaccinated soon as these people step out of home for work and can become super spreaders. India also has a large number of vaccine production capacities that should be used, he added. The chief minister appealed to the Centre to provide more vaccines to the states so that the second wave of corona infection can be controlled. (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.) Following the budget that was read on behalf of the President by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, the NPP Northern Regional Secretary, Mr. Sibdow Ahassan Yakubu also known as Alhaji Sey has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, for the aspect of the budget allocated for Northern Region. In the view of Mr. Sibdow, the budget will go a long way to change the face of the region. He mentioned that the expansion of the Tamale International Airport, works on the Yendi water project, and among other very key initiatives in the enclave is remarkable, and the good people of the region will never take that for granted. He added that the Northern region has so many talents in the creative area and the Presidents commitment to harness these talents by way of establishing a Creative Arts school in Ghana will go a long to unearth these enormous potentials for national development. The President has fulfilled his promise to the good people of the North and we are extremely grateful for that, he said. Mr. Sibdow concluded by also pointing to the Presidents effort to establish a University for Sports, which in his candid opinion, will serve as an economic driving force since it will translate into the creation of employment and development. The many plans of the government to complete old projects across the country will benefit the North as well. The plans for the expansion of agriculture which is the main occupation of the people of the North are also important and will be useful to the people. Source: peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video WASHINGTON A national civic engagement group led by former first lady Michelle Obama and others is sending an open letter to Americans Tuesday urging them to press members of Congress to support sweeping voting rights legislation that would set more federal standards and expand access to the polls. The open letter from When We All Vote, first obtained by USA TODAY, calls for support of the voting rights bill being debated in the U.S. Senate. It is signed by more than 60 high-profile people, including celebrities, athletes and civil rights activists. This bill is not about choosing one party or one issue over another, Obama and others wrote in the letter. It is about commonsense reforms and best practices that make our democracy more open, more fair, and more inclusive. It is about reaffirming our founding principle that we can chart our own course as a nation. The letter is part of a national campaign by When We All Vote to ramp up pressure on Congress to pass S.1, or the For the People Act. The legislation would, among other things, expand same-day voter registration and early voting. When We All Vote, co-chaired by Obama, Tom Hanks and Lin Manuel-Miranda, among others, has launched voter outreach campaigns in the past, including get-out-the-vote efforts last year targeting battleground states. Our democracy continues to be under attack and lawmakers in at least 43 states are pushing to pass bills designed to further restrict voting and disenfranchise voters, mostly Black, brown and young people, said Valerie Jarrett, chairwoman of Civic Nation, a civic engagement group, and a former adviser to former President Barack Obama. That is a threat to the core foundation of our democracy. When we all Vote is a program under Civic Nation, whose board includes several former staffers from the Obama administration. The group hopes to use the star power of celebrities and influencers to rally support and persuade their millions of social media followers to tweet, call and email lawmakers. Celebrities who have signed the letter, include Stephen Curry, Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Lopez, Billie Eilish and John Legend. Story continues The move comes in the wake of many states adopting mostly Republican-sponsored election measures that restrict access to voting. More than 253 bills in 43 states have been introduced that would restrict access to voting, including reducing early voting hours, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University's School of Law in New York City. Opponents of those laws say they limit voter registration, early voting days, mail balloting and other provisions that disproportionately affect young voters, low-income voters and voters of color. Those groups historically tend to vote for Democrats. The notion that the only way you can win an election is to suppress the votes of those who you think will not support you is un-American, Jarrett said. We need a national law to combat the mischief going on in so many states. Many states adopted changes last year to accommodate voters during the COVID-19 pandemic, including providing drop-off boxes for ballots. Supporters of the GOP proposals say their voter security measures help guard against voter fraud and that states should be allowed to continue to run their own elections. Republican lawmakers have called the congressional voting rights bill an attempt at a power grab by Democrats. GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah dubbed it the Illegal Voting Act in an opinion piece published by USA TODAY last week. The 'Illegal Voting Act' is not about strengthening democracy; its about strengthening Democrats, he wrote. Earlier this month, the U.S. House passed the voting rights bill, 220-210, along partisan lines. The measure is a priority for Senate Democrats, but has no Republican co-sponsors. and faces hurdles in the chamber, including the prospect of a GOP filibuster, a congressional tactic that essentially requires 60 Senate votes to overcome.. The first hearing on the bill in the Senate is scheduled for Wednesday before the Senate Rules Committee. A committee vote is expected in April. The For the People Act is about strengthening our democracy by returning it to the hands of the American people,'' Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., chairwoman of the Rules Committee, said in a statement. "This legislation is essential to protecting every Americans right to vote, getting dark money out of our elections, and making sweeping anti-corruption reforms." Jarrett said When We All Vote aims to take advantage of the level of activism around voting rights, which she said is high. More Americans than ever voted in the 2020 elections. "We call on Americans of conscience and goodwill to join us in taking a stand for voting rights and to put the power more firmly in the hands of the people,'' the letter says. Follow Deborah Berry on Twitter: @dberrygannett This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Congress: Billie Eilish, Michelle Obama push voting rights bill Cybersecurity and Service Provider industry veteran to lead expansion of the company's investment in Strategic Accounts and Managed Security Service Providers SEATTLE, March 23, 2021, a global leader in network security and intelligence, multi-factor authentication (MFA), advanced endpoint protection, and secure Wi-Fi, today announced it has appointed cybersecurity and service provider veteran, Miguel Carrero, as the vice president of Strategic Accounts. In this role, Miguel is responsible for leading the growth and expansion of the company's global effort to target, onboard and manage partnerships with strategic accounts including multi-national service providers and managed security service providers (MSSPs). WatchGuard has simplified every aspect of security service delivery for the channel community for more than 25 years, and has successfully evolved to meet this community's needs throughout that time. Today, the security-savvy service provider demands an entirely different approach to security solutions - from product functionality and bundling to sales and marketing support. Under Miguel's leadership, WatchGuard's Strategic Accounts Team, will act not just as a security vendor, but as a business partner for the strategic accounts and MSSP segment, providing solution offering, enablement, go-to-market initiatives, and support for end-customer relationships, and more. "Miguel has had a long and successful career and is widely recognized for his security and technology expertise, sales and go-to-market experience, leadership acumen, and collaborative mentality," said Sean Price, SVP of Worldwide Sales at WatchGuard. "Miguel has led global efforts in his work with HP's ArcSight group and recently with Siemplify, and we're exceedingly confident in his ability to build upon WatchGuard's existing investment in the service provider route-to-market and to further expand within the multi-national strategic accounts and MSSP community." Just before being acquired by WatchGuard in 2020, Panda Security had launched the Cytomic brand and tasked a cross-functional team to focus on the service provider segment with a solution bundle of advanced endpoint protection and threat hunting services. Miguel's focus at WatchGuard is to bring to this segment an expanded portfolio of products and services, including network security, multi-factor authentication, and Wi-Fi, and to scale the high-performance Cytomic sales on a global basis. "I am honored to join WatchGuard at such a pivotal time in its journey, and I couldn't be more impressed with its vision for the future of security," said Miguel Carrero, vice president of Strategic Accounts at WatchGuard. "The newly expanded portfolio creates a compelling security offering for service providers, when combined with WatchGuard's recognized focus and expertise in long lasting business partnerships, you have a winning combination. I know the Strategic Accounts Team will be a success as we expand the business throughout Europe and globally in the coming years." Miguel has over 20 years of executive experience at companies ranging from large multi-national enterprises to early-stage startups. He has developed a wealth of sales, business development, partnership and relationship management, product management, and operational expertise that will be instrumental in his new role leading the Strategic Accounts Team. Prior to joining WatchGuard, Miguel served as senior vice president and general manager of Silicon Valley-based Telecom analytics company Mobileum, where he led the security business unit. His previous experience includes executive leadership roles at Siemplify and Hewlett Packard, in which he managed go-to-market strategy and security product portfolio development and growth. He holds a master's degree in economics from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas (ICADE), an Executive MBA from IESE and Telecom Strategy & Marketing Executive Program from INSEAD, Paris. Currently based in northern California, Carrero and his family will relocate to Spain this summer. About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. is a global leader in network security, secure Wi-Fi, multi-factor authentication, advanced endpoint protection, and network intelligence. The company's award-winning products and services are trusted around the world by over 18,000 security resellers and service providers to protect more than 250,000 customers. WatchGuard's mission is to make enterprise-grade security accessible to companies of all types and sizes through simplicity, making WatchGuard an ideal solution for midmarket businesses and distributed enterprises. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. To learn more, visit WatchGuard.com. For additional information, promotions and updates, follow WatchGuard on Twitter @WatchGuard, on Facebook, or on the LinkedIn Companypage. Also, visit our InfoSec blog, Secplicity, for real-time information about the latest threats and how to cope with them at www.secplicity.org. Subscribe to The 443 - Security Simplified podcastat Secplicity.org, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. WatchGuard is a registered trademark of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. All other marks are property of their respective owners. Media Contacts: Chris Warfield WatchGuard Technologies 206.876.8380 chris.warfield@watchguard.com I've been a reporter and editor at Missouri community newspapers for 35 years and joined the Columbia Missourian in 2003. My emphasis at the Missourian is on local government and elections. You can reach me at swaffords@missouri.edu or at 573-884-5366. Follow this search Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today New Delhi: Some Android users globally including in India on Tuesday faced crashing issues with apps on their Android devices, and Google said it was working on a fix. Google acknowledged issues with Gmail on Android on the Google Workspace status page, recommending using the desktop version until the issues are resolved. "We're aware of a problem with Gmail affecting a significant subset of users. The affected users are unable to access Gmail. We will provide an update, detailing when we expect to resolve the problem," Google said. "Affected users can use the desktop Gmail Web interface instead of the Gmail Android app," the company advised. Samsung also acknowledged the issue and suggested a solution. "Please remove the Webview Update and then restart the phone," Samsung tweeted from its US support Twitter account. The issue is apparently owing to a system component called Android System WebView that lets Android apps display web content. Affected users reported that the Gmail app on Android crashed. "Here are the steps: Go settings > apps > tap the three dots in the top right corner > show system apps > search for Android System WebView > select Uninstall updates," Samsung posted. From the sound of her, Patrizia Reggiani would not be everybodys cup of tea. In 1972, she married Maurizio Gucci, the heir to the fashion family fortune. During her marriage, she lived the life of Riley, merrily spending 10,000 euros a month just on orchids. She once said: I would rather weep in a Rolls-Royce than be happy on a bicycle. They divorced in 1993. In 1995, Patrizia paid $300,000 to the cash-strapped owner of a pizzeria to gun down Maurizio outside his office in Milan. The police were soon onto her. Three years later, Patrizia, now widely known as The Black Widow, was sentenced to 29 years in prison. Asked why she had hired a hitman, she replied, with commendable frankness: My eyesight is not so good. I didnt want to miss. In 1995, Patrizia Reggiani (pictured) paid $300,000 to the cash-strapped owner of a pizzeria to gun down Maurizio Gucci outside his office in Milan In 2011, a judge offered her early release in exchange for work in the community. But she refused, explaining: Ive never worked in my life and Im certainly not going to start now. Her villainy is soon to be the subject of a film starring Lady Gaga. But what interests me about her is her motive. Interviewed recently by an Italian newspaper, she denied that she ever hated her former husband. There was no hatred. I didnt hate Maurizio, I never hated him. It was my irritation he irritated me. I suspect she may be right to suggest that irritation runs deeper than hatred. Certainly, when I think of all my friends whose marriages have come to an end, it is irritation, rather than hatred, that is the cause. At least with hatred you know where you are. You might even come to some sort of accommodation with the object of your hatred. But irritation, like the common midge, is hard to ignore, and even harder to resist. I often dip into The Pillowbook Of Sei Shonagon, the occasional jottings of a highly strung noblewoman in tenth-century Japan. She liked to make lists of things she found irritating. In 1972, she married Maurizio Gucci, the heir to the fashion family fortune. During her marriage, she lived the life of Riley, merrily spending 10,000 euros a month just on orchids Most of these irritations are still with us today. They include children who sniffle as they walk, men who drink too much and keep repeating themselves and parents who, convinced that their ugly child is adorable, pet him and repeat the things he has said. Inspired by Sei Shonagon, that wonderful actress Eleanor Bron compiled her own Pillowbook in 1985. It, too, includes lists of irritating things. One of them is people who start their sentences with the words with respect, in order to sound less abrasive and to conceal, even from themselves, their own arrogance. Other objects of her ire include the person who has a habit of self-denigration, but is clearly put out when others take him at his own word and a particular type of partygoer. You are trying to avoid a certain person at a party but the inevitable happens and he comes up and greets you with a condescending leer, saying: Cheer up, it may never happen! and Why do you always look so depressed whenever I see you? You bite back the reply: Because whenever you see me, I see you. Irritation is the pushy guest that never leaves. One of the pithiest portraits of an unhappy marriage comes in Patrick Frenchs masterly biography of V. S. Naipaul: She irritated him; he was cruel to her; she became more feeble and pathetic; his irritation increased. Even more irritable was Kingsley Amis, who, over the years, transformed his irritability into an art form. It was no wonder that people were so horrible when they started life as children, observes the tetchy protagonist of his novel One Fat Englishman. His first wife, Hilly, noticed Kingsleys irritability at their first meeting. He was only 23 years old, but already being driven to fury by perfectly nice people coming through the doors of a restaurant. Hed start muttering, Look at those fools, look at that idiot of a man, and so on. If doors got stuck, or he was held up by some elderly person getting off a bus, or the wind blew his hair all over the place, he would snarl and grimace in the most irritating fashion. Irritability breeds irritation; once it starts, it becomes self-generating. In Thursdays column, I will continue to test the truth of The Black Widows acid little apercu. Leading up to the coronavirus pandemic, there was a stigma against federal assistance programs and other federal handouts. However, COVID-19 crushed the fiscal independence of many states and millions of Americans now depend upon federally assisted unemployment benefit payments, small business support and stimulus checks to endure the economic shutdowns. The first round of stimulus relief funneled $150 billion in relief to states, while the second round passed in December 2020, didnt provide any direct payments. For the American Rescue Plan Act, passed in March, states will receive $195 billion in payments. Yet some states will receive far more than others. A new report from WalletHub reveals to what extent each state is reliant upon the federal government for assistance, and which states are more self-sufficient.WalletHub compared all 50 states across two key dimensions: State Residents Dependency and State Governments Dependency. Each dimension was evaluated by three metrics, which were each weighted through a double 50-point-based system. Within State Residents Dependency, return on taxes paid to the federal government was worth 37.5 points and share of federal jobs was worth 12.5 points; within State Governments Dependency, federal funding as a share of state revenue was given a full weight of 50 points. Based on these calculations, New Mexico, at 86.57 points, ranked as the most federally dependent state overall and the state with the greatest resident dependency. Louisianas state government ranked the most dependent on the federal government. Kansas ranked least federally dependent overall, earning just 10.62 points. Delawares residents and Virginias state government were ranked least federally dependent of those categories. Eight of the 10 most federally dependent states were Republican, while seven of the 10 least federally dependent states were Democratic, which suggests that overall Republican states are more dependent upon federal assistance than Democratic ones. Zoe Manzanetti Additionally, when the amounts of contracts, grants and other financial assistance from the federal government that each state received were analyzed, those figures also supported the Republican dependency trend. The highest amounts of federal grants and other financial assistance were given to four of five Republican states in each category. Only two of the five states that received the most federal contracts voted Republican in the 2020 presidential election, but four of five of the states that received the least supported Joe Biden. Not all experts agree on how the federal government should determine state allocations or whether some states should subsidize others. One of the roles of governments is to create an equitable society, says Charles E. Menifield, dean of the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-Newark. Equity is an outcome of a budget decision whether it is stated or unstated. Will the allocation assist a state (person) in improving the well-being of its residents?But establishing equity is difficult when there is disagreement as to which programs should be a state and local responsibility and which should be a federal responsibility. Some experts, like Christopher Z. Mooney of the University of Illinois, Chicago, believes that the U.S. Constitution is very clear in its 10th Amendment, that as much should go to the states responsibilities as possible. But Miami Universitys Mark Morris explains that however the distribution occurs, it will never be perfect and there will always be discrepancy. Fair does not mean equal, he says. We use a political process to make these decisions, so someone will always consider it unfair no matter what metric is used. LEBANON, N.J., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rotolo Karch Law congratulates Victor A. Rotolo, Esq. on his inclusion on the 2021 list of New Jersey Super Lawyers, and Charles C. Rifici, Esq. on his inclusion on the 2021 list of New Jersey Rising Stars. This marks the 16th consecutive year of inclusion for Mr. Rotolo and the fifth consecutive year for Mr. Rifici. The methodology and standards used in the selection process for these lists, released annually by the Thomson Reuters organization, are outlined under the Super Lawyers Selection Methodology Victor A. Rotolo and Charles C. Rifici selected to 2021 NJ Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. "I'm humbled to be included on this list once again and proud of Charles' achievement as well," Mr. Rotolo said. "It is reassuring to know that our efforts to resolve complex legal issues in our chosen areas of practice are respected and appreciated by clients and colleagues alike." Victor Rotolo Mr. Rotolo has 39 years of experience focused primarily on trial litigation in the areas of personal injury law, family law, and criminal defense. He started Rotolo Karch Law, formerly The Rotolo Law Firm, in 1992. Prior to that, Mr. Rotolo was an officer on the Elizabeth, NJ, police force. A member of the Hunterdon and Somerset County Bar Associations, Mr. Rotolo is admitted to practice in all N.J. Courts, the U.S. District Court, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Tax Court. This year also marks Mr. Rotolo's 25th year of holding an "AV Preeminent" rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the country's longest standing legal reference company. This rating was granted in accordance with Martindale-Hubbell's Peer Review Ratings Methodology. He also was recently selected for membership in the National Trial Lawyers: Top 100. Mr. Rotolo is a member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums (designations awarded to those attorneys who attain verdicts or settlements equal to or in excess of one million dollars). He formerly held the positions of Chair and Vice-Chair of the New Jersey Supreme Court's District XII Ethics Committee and is certified by that court as a Certified Civil Trial Lawyer in accordance with criteria set forth under Rule 1:30: Specialty Certification of Attorneys. Charles Rifici Mr. Rifici joined Rotolo Karch Law in 2014. He concentrates in the practice areas of family law (including probate and estate planning issues), civil litigation, and criminal defense. Admitted to practice in New Jersey, Mr. Rifici holds membership in the New Jersey State and Hunterdon County Bar Associations. About Rotolo Karch Law Located in Lebanon, NJ, Rotolo Karch Law provides legal counsel in matters pertaining to accidents, civil litigation, criminal defense, divorce and related family law issues, DUI/DWIs, and personal injury law. For additional information or appointments, call 908-534-7900. Related Images rotolo-karch-law-attorneys-victor.png Rotolo Karch Law attorneys Victor Rotolo and Charles Rifici Victor A. Rotolo and Charles C. Rifici selected to 2021 NJ Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. SOURCE Rotolo Karch Law Second new hotel in 42 years to open in downtown Tucson Scottsdale, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - CaliberCos Inc., a fully integrated real estate company, in conjunction with Ryan Companies US, Inc., announced today the completion of the first and only hotel connected to the Tucson Convention Center. DoubleTree by Hilton Tucson Downtown began taking reservations March 7 and doors will open to guests beginning March 23, 2021. The opening of this hotel supports the City of Tucson's downtown re-visioning plan and will help accommodate the growing demand to accommodate visitors from around the world. Commenting on the opening, Chris Loeffler, CEO and Co-Founder of Caliber stated, "This is a major development that was part one of our Opportunity Zones. As one of the top Opportunity Zone sponsors in the country, we are happy with the quality of this project, especially in the current environment. These funds are structured to attract attracts high net worth investors while simultaneously invigorating targeted neighborhoods." Mr. Loeffler continued, "There was a great amount of effort that went into this project from start to finish - we all collaborated and made it happen." Construction of the new Convention Center hotel in the Rio Nuevo District created significant economic benefits and the impact is anticipated to extend far into the years ahead. The project provided approximately 130 construction jobs and 80 indirect construction jobs. The hotel and its lobby bar and restaurant will directly support about 100 jobs and 34 indirect jobs at other local businesses. Overall, the hotel is projected to generate an average annual economic impact of $12.1M or a total of $302.4 M over the next 25 years. "At Ryan Companies, we strive to create places for people to thrive," said Chuck Carefoot, Ryan Companies senior vice president of construction. "We're honored to take part in the revitalization of downtown Tucson and the opening of this hotel marks an exciting milestone for the city." The 104,316 square-foot hotel includes 170 rooms, four suites and one executive suite, and will feature several amenities including a second-story pool & bar, onsite restaurant - El Mezquite Grill & Taqueria, coffee bar and 4,000 square feet of meeting space. The project broke ground in May 2019 and was the first Opportunity Zone project in Arizona for Caliber and Ryan Companies. Rio Nuevo is a Tax Increment Finance District (TIF) that was approved in 1999 to invest in projects that expand the city tax base and bring people and businesses to downtown Tucson. The funding for the district is generated from a share of state sales tax dollars, with hopes of being an engine for the future success of Tucson's economy. For more information about DoubleTree by Hilton Tucson Downtown Convention Center, visit the DoubleTree by Hilton Tucson Downtown Convention Center website. About Caliber - The Wealth Development Company Caliber is a market leader in providing individual accredited investors and registered investment advisors with well-structured alternatives to traditional investments. The Company builds wealth by forming and managing real estate private equity investments, either through individual assets or multi-asset funds. The Company offers an approachable, full-service investment experience managing over $440M in fair value assets under management and an estimated $550M in assets under development in commercial, residential, multi-family, self-storage and hospitality real estate in AZ, CO, NV, UT and AK. Caliber's vertical integration of support services delivers a unique and efficient 360 approach to investing in real estate. The Company is headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ with business operations focused throughout the greater Southwest region. Visit www.CaliberCo.com for more information. About Ryan Companies US, Inc. Founded in 1938, Ryan Companies offers comprehensive commercial real estate services as a national developer, architect, capital investment consultant, builder and real estate manager with a focus on bringing lasting value to its customers and the communities in which it works. Ryan market depth includes retail, industrial, healthcare and senior living. Ryan development and corporate build-to-suit work spans a wide range of product types including office, mixed-use, hospitality, multifamily housing and mission critical facilities. Ryan has nearly 1,500 employees in 15 offices and has completed projects in 39 states. For more information, visit ryancompanies.com. Contact Details: Caliber Victoria Rotondo +1 480-295-7600 victoria.rotondo@caliberco.com IRRealized, LLC Mary Jensen 310-526-1707 mary@irrealized.com Company Website: https://www.caliberco.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78327 (Natural News) Chile has announced plans to begin a competitive process that will award $50 million in subsidies for green-hydrogen projects. The prospect of getting these subsidies has attracted multiple investors as the country looks to become carbon neutral. The Chilean Ministry of Energy has identified about 40 projects that could receive subsidies, which would be awarded later this year. In addition, Energy MInister Juan Carlos Jobet has stated that theyve also received considerable interest from groups both in the country and abroad. Weve seen a lot of traction in green hydrogen, Jobet said in an interview on Wednesday, March 10. The main purpose there is to scale up production, to reduce the cost of electrolysis, which is the biggest challenge there. Chile to play key role in green hydrogen Green hydrogen is produced by stripping the element from water using electrolysis. It is seen as key to eliminating carbon emissions from the industrial sector, especially in Chile, which is the worlds largest producer of copper. The only drawback of the electrolyzing process is that it consumes a lot of power. But Chile boasts plenty of solar capacity in its northern desert and can also rely on wind power from its south. As such, ramping up the production of green hydrogen and getting mining companies to switch to using it is seen as key to helping it meet its goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. Some of the prospective investors include local energy producers. Others are overseas suppliers of hydrogen made from fossil fuels looking to get a foothold in the country that, Jobet believes, will play a key role in green hydrogen in the future. Mining companies in Chile are also looking to get on the hydrogen train. One company, Anglo American, has stated that it plans to start a pilot fuel-cell plant at one of its Chilean mines. Other producers, such as Antofagasta, are considering changing to hydrogen-powered trucks or looking to use hydrogen in their boilers and trains. To further help these companies out, Jobet stated that the Energy Ministry is also setting up a technical advisory team with the Ministry of Finance that will lay out a path toward higher carbon prices to allow green hydrogen to better compete with fossil fuels. (Related: Enormous supply of clean hydrogen fuel can now be tapped for the hydrogen economy.) Other countries are also betting on hydrogen, but costs need to go down Chile isnt the only country looking to hydrogens potential to decarbonizing sectors currently heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Countries such as Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Norway and Portugal, as well as the European Union have all laid out plans to stimulate the production of hydrogen. Helping these efforts is the fact that the cost of producing green hydrogen has already begun to decrease. According to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), this is thanks to the fact that the costs of renewable power are also going down. But the IRENA report notes that further reductions are needed to make hydrogen competitive. Specifically, the cost of electrolysis facilities would have to fall by 40 percent in the short term to 80 percent in the long term. Beyond this, the report the lack of infrastructure to transport and store green hydrogen is one of its biggest challenges. It noted that green hydrogen is already close to being competitive in regional where favorable conditions align, such as in Chiles Patagonia where wind energy harvesting is abundant. But in other locations, green hydrogen is still two to three times more expensive than normal or blue hydrogen generated from natural gas. The cost of the former is defined by electricity costs, investment cost, fixed operating costs and the number of operating hours of the [electrolyzer] facilities, IRENA stated in its report. Despite this, the report stated that if the gaps in cost and performance are addressed and infrastructure is built, then green hydrogen could begin o compete with blue hydrogen by 2030. Follow NewEnergyReport.com for more news on hydrogen and other renewable energy sources. Sources include: Bloomberg.com PowerMag.com IRENA.org MOSCOW, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) announces the approval of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus by the Ministry of Health of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Thus Sputnik V is now approved for use in 56 countries globally with total population of over 1.5 billion people. The vaccine was registered in Vietnam under the emergency use authorization procedure. Sputnik ranks second among coronavirus vaccines globally in terms of the number of approvals issued by government regulators. Sputnik V had been approved earlier in Russia, Belarus, Argentina, Bolivia, Serbia, Algeria, Palestine, Venezuela, Paraguay, Turkmenistan, Hungary, UAE, Iran, Republic of Guinea, Tunisia, Armenia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Republika Srpska (entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Mongolia, Bahrain, Montenegro, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Gabon, San-Marino, Ghana, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Guyana, Egypt, Honduras, Guatemala, Moldova, Slovakia, Angola, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Laos, Iraq, North Macedonia, Kenya, Morocco, Jordan, Namibia, Azerbaijan, Philippines, Cameroon, Seychelles and Mauritius. Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said: "Russia and Vietnam have a long history of partnership which comprises many areas of cooperation, including the joint fight against the pandemic. Sputnik V is one of the best vaccines in the world. Its approval in Vietnam, one of the most populated countries in Southeast Asia, will provide for protecting the people and getting closer to lifting the restrictions imposed because of coronavirus." Sputnik V has a number of key advantages: Efficacy of Sputnik V is 91.6% as confirmed by the data published in the Lancet, one of the world's oldest and most respected medical journals; it is one of only three vaccines in the world with efficacy of over 90%; Sputnik V provides full protection against severe cases of COVID-19. The Sputnik V vaccine is based on a proven and well-studied platform of human adenoviral vectors, which cause the common cold and have been around for thousands of years. Sputnik V uses two different vectors for the two shots in a course of vaccination, providing immunity with a longer duration than vaccines using the same delivery mechanism for both shots. The safety, efficacy and lack of negative long-term effects of adenoviral vaccines have been proven by more than 250 clinical studies over two decades. The developers of the Sputnik V vaccine are working collaboratively with AstraZeneca on a joint clinical trial to improve the efficacy of AstraZeneca vaccine. There are no strong allergies caused by Sputnik V. The storage temperature of Sputnik V at +2+8 C means it can be stored in a conventional refrigerator without any need to invest in additional cold-chain infrastructure. The price of Sputnik V is less than $10 per shot, making it affordable around the world. Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is Russia's sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside reputable international financial and strategic investors. RDIF acts as a catalyst for direct investment in the Russian economy. RDIF's management company is based in Moscow. Currently, RDIF has experience of the successful joint implementation of more than 80 projects with foreign partners totaling more than RUB2 tn and covering 95% of the regions of the Russian Federation. RDIF portfolio companies employ more than 800,000 people and generate revenues which equate to more than 6% of Russia's GDP. RDIF has established joint strategic partnerships with leading international co-investors from more than 18 countries that total more than $40 bn. Further information can be found at www.rdif.ru Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1140939/Russian_Direct_Investment_Fund_Logo.jpg SOURCE The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Congratulations to all of the Best Staffing Firm winners on this years recognition, said Barry Asin, SIA President. From communication and community to new ways of engaging their workforces, these organizations stand out in an especially turbulent year for their ability to keep staff and workers The winners announced this week during the annual Executive Forum North America (http://www.cvent.com/events/2022-executive-forum-north-america/event-summary-31f5d4e40e344925b8eded62ad536180.aspx), represent companies who scored in the top quartile in each of the Best Staffing Firm award categories. The categories comprise North American firms with 10 to 20 internal employees, firms with 21 to 50 internal employees, firms with 51 to 200 employees, firms with 201-500 employees, and firms with over 501 employees; and Best Staffing Company to Temp/Contract for. The Best Staffing Firms to Work For 2021 awards are sponsored by Sense. BCT is a leading technology company that combines the power of knowledgeable IT consulting with the resources to deliver essential technology projects. Our clients trust BCT to provide the best technologists and solutions for their business. We efficiently solve technology-related business problems. We are a trusted partner with the resources to implement solutions, a trusted partner that understands our clients unique business challenges and their industrys shared challenges. Our commitment to customer excellence is matched only by our team and cultures dedication, a people-first philosophy that defines Business Centric Technology. The company was founded in 2000 and is based in Dallas, TX. BCT has a strong management team and Board of Directors; both led by Barbie Barta. She is a technology staffing executive with a proven track record of leading companies through organic growth and expansion with twenty-plus years of experience in the industry. In addition to her experience, the Management Team and the Board of Directors have an impressive track record within the technology staffing industry. We are honored to have been the recipients of multiple awards over the last few years; Dallas Business Journals Best Place to Work in 2020, TechServe Alliance Excellence Award in 2020, and ClearlyRateds Best in Staffing Award in 2020. Congratulations to all of the Best Staffing Firm winners on this years recognition, said Barry Asin, SIA President. From communication and community to new ways of engaging their workforces, these organizations stand out in an especially turbulent year for their ability to keep staff and workers motivated, productive and feeling valued, and for their leadership in putting people first. Close to 250 firms sought participation in the program this year, which was conducted by SIA in conjunction with Quantum Workplace, an Omaha, NE-based company. Internal employees at each firm were asked to complete an online survey that measured key engagement categories, focusing on items including teamwork, trust in senior leaders, feeling valued, manager effectiveness, compensation, and benefits. To gather statistically sound results, participating companies must have reached a minimum level of participation. Companies were ranked in each category according to their overall score. Winners were chosen based entirely on the survey results. New Delhi, March 23: The importance attached by the US to the Indo-Pacific, places India at an advantageous position, both in defence and economic sectors. While the world was combating the Covid pandemic, international leaders were also busy in realigning the world as per their country's priorities and goals. One region, which has emerged on the top of this new realignment, is the region of the Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific comprises the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two oceans around parts of Indonesia. The term "Indo-Pacific" gained usage in geopolitical discourse after 2011. It is also described as a substitute for "Quad" or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, an informal grouping of like-minded democracies in the region, comprising Australia, Japan, India, and the US. Historically, "Indo-Pacific" was first used by the German geo-politician Karl Haushofer in the 1920s in his academic work "Indopazifischen Raum". But its security aspects emerged in early 2000s, when the analysts began to observe the 'security' linkage between the two Oceans. In this context, the term was first used in an article authored by Gurpreet Khurana, carried in the January 2007 issue of the Strategic Analysis journal titled "Security of Sea Lines: Prospects for India-Japan Cooperation". The author refers to the 'Indo-Pacific' as the maritime space stretching from the littorals of East Africa and West Asia, across the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean, to the littorals of East Asia. Former Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expanded on the spirit of the term in his speech to the Indian Parliament in August 2007 when he talked about the "Confluence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans" as "the dynamic coupling as seas of freedom and of prosperity" in the "broader Asia". American push for the Quad Quad was first floated in 2004 to manage disaster relief after the Tsunami. Later, Dick Cheney tried to redefine it as a military club, to counter Chinese influence, but was abandoned in 2010 as India and Australia didn't wanted to ruffle the Chinese feathers. The Trump administration revived the regional grouping in 2017, ostensibly to counter China in the region, particularly in the South China Sea, where the Chinese have continually challenged the Japanese and Americans. US under Trump wanted to shape the Quad into an Asian NATO, a point that has been raised and challenged by the Chinese again and again, as they see it as a potential defence deterrent in the region. The importance being attached to this by the original members, and the recent desire expressed by the British and French to join also underlines both its economic and defence utility. Though the Biden administration wants to position it as an American outreach on trade, immigration, public health, climate change, yet its security aspect can't be overlooked. To give a boost to the alliance, the leaders of the Quad met on March 12, 2021through a virtual summit. The summit and the joint statement issued highlights the evolution of the grouping and its agenda made clearer and resolve by the member states to sustain the momentum. At a White House press conference following the summit,the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan noted that each of the four leaders present had described the meeting as "historic." Quad talks were elevated to the ministerial level in 2019 with foreign ministers from all four countries holding a meeting on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York in September that year. Since then, Quad foreign ministers have met twice: in-person in Tokyo in October last year, and virtually last month. President Biden has zealously endorsed the "free and open Indo-Pacific" jargon favoured by his predecessor, contrary to apprehensions that he would seek to adopt a softer line toward China and that the Indo-Pacific paradigm would not be so significant for the new administration. However, the reality is that the Quad, in essential sense is not a formal alliance, yet. The recent summit concentrated primarily on urgent global catastrophes comprising coronavirus and the climate emergency and tried not to ruffle feathers or cause undue apprehensions in the regional countries, particularly ASEAN member states. A joint statement after the assembly noted that the four nations would collaborate to increase Covid vaccine production, in which India would be helped financially by other members to boost its vaccine production base.But differences remained among the member states on how to handle China. India's future in the Quad The moot question is whether Quad in essential sense would be transformed into a real regional alliance or will it continue to serve some countries only, to use it as and when required as per their necessity. Though one country, which seems poised to gain most out of Quad is India. Due to its vast market potential and also as a counter to China in the region, most western powers attach great importance to it in the region. Indian leaders also realise this besides the fact that to transform into a regional power it has to pursue a geopolitical strategy, which maximises its economic interests and security. The Indian Prime Minister has spelled out the Indian vision of Indo-Pacific as an enabler for "a common pursuit of progress and prosperity... not directed against any country... (albeit based on) our principled commitment to rule of law." India's role at the Quad seems central to the Biden administration's plans for the region and the quest to counter China. US initiatives so far suggests the Biden administration is serious about its stated intention to counter China through alliances, based on shared values, and that it sees the Quad and India as central to that. At the same time the US seems ready to moderate India's feeling of insecurity in regard to be part of a binding alliance along with its ambition to emerge as a dominant regional player, while downplaying China. It seems that the US wants to promote bilateral ties by bolstering India at the Quad, and also focussing on more areas of cooperation, which were ignored during the Trump regime. The recent visit of the US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to India demonstrates both these aspects. With Antony Blinken at the State Department and Jake Sullivan at the National Security Council, as well as Biden himself, the current US administration possesses more experience of dealing with India than any of its predecessors. It also highlights its resolve to make Indo-US relations as central to its plans. With China as a common denominator,the relationship holds more chances of being robust and fruitful for both. And the key role, which the US wants India to play at the Quad, is more apparent now. It may also open the doors for increased bilateral cooperation and sale of more American military hardware to India besides economic benefits. (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will contest his fourth election in two years on Tuesday, fighting for a parliamentary majority that could help him undercut his ongoing corruption trial. Why it matters: Three inconclusive elections have left Israel locked in a prolonged political crisis as Netanyahu fights for his political and legal survival. This time, Israel's longest-serving prime minister faces a divided opposition and has a clear opportunity to finally win a 61-seat majority. The state of play: The latest polls show Netanyahus right-wing bloc and a broad anti-Netanyahu bloc both winning 60 seats. What to watch: If Netanyahu manages to get to 61, he will form the most religious and conservative coalition in the history of the country. His rivals claim that such a government could challenge the democratic character of the country. Netanyahu denies that he plans to fire the attorney general or pass laws to suspend his corruption trial, but several of his would-be coalition partners have expressed support for such steps. If Netanyahus bloc narrowly fails to win a majority, Israel is likely to head for a fifth round of elections. Driving the news: Both Netanyahu and his primary rival, centrist Yair Lapid, rallied their bases on the eve of the election. Lapid needs to boost turnout in Tel Aviv, Haifa and the other big cities in the center of Israel. Netanyahu is trying to mobilize voters in his Likud partys strongholds in the north and south of Israel and in Jerusalem. The outcome could come down to a question of which small parties from either side reach the 3.25% electoral threshold to enter the Knesset. Turnout among Israels Arab minority, expected to slump this time around, will also be crucial to determining the outcome. Flashback: Netanyahu and his centrist rival, Benny Gantz, signed a power-sharing deal last April that outraged many of Gantzs supporters by allowing Netanyahu to retain power for 18 months while stipulating that Gantz would then rotate in as prime minister. Before power could change hands, the government collapsed in December, along with Gantz's political standing. Zoom in: One of the most interesting players in this election is Naftali Bennett, a right-wing former tech entrepreneur who had until recently been seen as a kingmaker because neither bloc would be able to reach 61 without him. His party's poll numbers began slipping as Netanyahu told supporters Bennett would ally with Lapid against his fellow conservatives. Under pressure, Bennett went on a pro-Netanyahu channel and signed a document on live TV promising not to join a government headed by Lapid effectively aligning himself with Netanyahu. Whats next: Exit polls will be published at 9pm local time (3pm ET), but the pollsters will be extra cautious because thousands of ballots will be counted late due to COVID-19 restrictions. The bottom line: These elections will likely be decided by one or two seats, meaning a few thousand votes could change the outcome and the entire country. Go deeper: Thousands protest outside Netanyahu's home. Vietnam has approved Russias Sputnik V vaccine for use against COVID-19, Russias RDIF sovereign wealth fund, which promotes the shot globally, said on Tuesday in a statement on the Sputnik V website. The Russian vaccine has now been approved in 56 countries, it said. Vietnams health ministry said last month that a medical panel had recommended Sputnik V and Modernas vaccine for use, Reuters reported. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. What you need to know about Pa.'s UC system going offline Thursday Chinese officials were fired up during a recent in-person meeting with representatives from the Biden administration, who did not back down from the communist party's "bitter denunciations." Anchorage, Alaska saw the meeting of two world powers in a hostile exchange on Friday, during which the Chinese defended themselves against U.S.'s accusations of human rights abuses and economic coercion. The meeting was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and China's foreign minister and state councilor Wang Yi and Senior Chinese foreign policy official Yang Jiechi. The Alaska meeting allowed for the United States to formally confront China about their human rights violations, specifically in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs have reportedly been enslaved and abused since at least 2017. According to Radio Free Asia, Blinken criticized China's actions in Tibet, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang, arguing that these abuses "threaten the rules-based order that maintains global stability." Yang answered that China refuses to "accept unwarranted accusations from the U.S. There is no way to strangle China." He told Blinken that the U.S. should "change its own image and to stop advancing its own democracy in the rest of the world" because he believes many Americans "actually have little confidence in the democracy of the United States." The Epoch Times reported that during the Alaska spat, Wang expressed his disapproval of the United States' sanctioning of up to 24 Chinese officials after their actions in Beijing that threatened their citizen's freedoms. Yang argued that the U.S. "does not have the qualification to say that it wants to speak to China from a position of strength." Following the Alaska confrontation, China's state-controlled media unsurprisingly reported that the communist party had the upper hand in the discussion. Wang He, a Chinese political affairs commentator, warned that "CCP is more cunning and evil than most people can imagine" and that their threats must not be taken lightly. Communist China also reasserted through their local media that their actions in Tibet, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are "untouchable red lines" that the United States should not involve themselves with. U.S.-based China expert and the author Gordon Chang took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the recent Alaska spat. He wrote that after the meeting, "There is no longer any point talking to China's regime. Beijing told us in no uncertain terms that we must accept its barbarism, aggression, and criminality." The Biden administration, however, understands that the Chinese Communist Party's aggression during the Alaska spat may have been all for show and was aimed at a domestic audience. There was, after all, national pride on full display from both camps. "The tougher they appear, the more popular they will be, and the more they will be able to stoke feelings of so-called national pride at home, both within CCP ranks and outside the party," international relations scholar Zhang Yong explained to Radio Free Asia. Political scholars believe that the Alaska spat is just the beginning of a new era of the strained U.S.-China relationship, going as far as to label it a "new cold war." IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO), a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions, today reported results for the first quarter ended February 28, 2021. Revenue of $1.120 billion, with 3 percent total organic revenue growth Net income of $149 million and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.37 Adjusted EBITDA of $467 million and Adjusted earnings per diluted share (Adjusted EPS) of $0.71 Cash flow from operations of $245 million and free cash flow of $172 million Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EPS, and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures used by management to measure operating performance. These terms are defined elsewhere in this release. Please see schedules appearing later in this release for reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. First Quarter 2021 Financial Performance Three months ended February 28/29, Change (in millions, except percentages and per share data) 2021 2020 Revenue 1,119.9 1,080.8 39.1 4 Net income attributable to IHS Markit* 149.3 485.0 (335.7) (69) Adjusted EBITDA 466.8 431.6 35.2 8 GAAP EPS 0.37 1.20 (0.83) (69) Adjusted EPS 0.71 0.66 0.05 8 Cash flow from operations 244.5 119.5 125.0 105 Free cash flow 171.9 117.4 54.5 46 Net income attributable to IHS Markit for the quarter ended February 29, 2020 includes an approximate $372 million gain on sale related to the A&D business line divestiture in December 2019. "We are very pleased with our start to the year, with all of our segments performing at or above our expectations," said Lance Uggla, chairman and chief executive officer at IHS Markit. "As our end markets and business continue to recover, we now expect to deliver results in the upper half of our 2021 revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS guidance ranges," said Jonathan Gear, chief financial officer at IHS Markit. First Quarter 2021 Revenue Performance First quarter 2021 revenue increased 3 percent organically compared to the first quarter of 2020. The following table provides additional revenue information by transaction type. Three months ended February 28/29, Percentage change (in millions, except percentages) 2021 2020 Total Organic Recurring fixed 825.6 804.1 3 2 Recurring variable 172.9 146.8 18 17 Non-recurring 121.4 129.9 (7) (7) Total revenue 1,119.9 1,080.8 4 3 The components of revenue growth are described below by segment and in total. Change in revenue First quarter 2021 vs. First quarter 2020 (All amounts represent percentage points) Organic Acquisitive Foreign Currency Total Financial Services 10 1 11 Transportation 4 1 5 Resources (10) (10) Consolidated Markets Solutions (1) (1) 1 (1) Total 3 1 4 First Quarter 2021 Operating Performance Segment results were as follows (additional segment information is included later in this release): Financial Services. First quarter revenue for Financial Services increased $49 million, or 11 percent, to $485 million, and included 10 percent total organic growth. First quarter Adjusted EBITDA for Financial Services increased $28 million, or 13 percent, to $233 million. Transportation. First quarter revenue for Transportation increased $15 million, or 5 percent, to $312 million, and included 4 percent total organic growth. First quarter Adjusted EBITDA for Transportation increased $29 million, or 24 percent, to $147 million. Resources. First quarter revenue for Resources decreased $23 million, or 10 percent, to $203 million, and included a 10 percent decline in total organic growth. First quarter Adjusted EBITDA for Resources decreased $16 million, or 18 percent, to $74 million. Consolidated Markets Solutions (CMS). First quarter revenue for CMS decreased $1 million, or 1 percent, to $121 million, with a 1 percent decline in total organic growth. First quarter Adjusted EBITDA for CMS decreased $3 million, or 11 percent to $26 million. Outlook IHS Markit will provide a fiscal year 2021 guidance update and supplemental information deck as part of its previously announced first quarter 2021 results conference call on March 23, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. ET. The conference call will be simultaneously webcast on the Investor Relations section of the company's website: investor.ihsmarkit.com. A replay of the earnings webcast will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live event. The webcast recording will be available for one year on the Investor Relations section of the company's website. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Non-GAAP results are presented only as a supplement to our financial statements based on U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Non-GAAP financial information is provided to enhance the reader's understanding of our financial performance, but none of these non-GAAP financial measures are recognized terms under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Definitions and reconciliations of the non-GAAP measures, such as EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, Adjusted EPS, and free cash flow, to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are provided within the schedules attached to IHS Markit's quarterly earnings releases on the Investor Relations section of the company's website. This communication also includes certain forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures. IHS Markit is unable to present a reconciliation of this forward-looking non-GAAP financial information because management cannot reliably predict all of the necessary components of such measures. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this information. We use non-GAAP measures in our operational and financial decision-making. We believe that such measures allow us to focus on what we deem to be a more reliable indicator of ongoing operating performance and our ability to generate cash flow from operations. We also believe that investors may find these non-GAAP financial measures useful for the same reasons, although investors are cautioned that non-GAAP financial measures are not a substitute for GAAP financial measures or disclosures. None of these non-GAAP financial measures are recognized terms under GAAP and do not purport to be an alternative to any other GAAP measure. Non-GAAP measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties in their evaluation of companies comparable to IHS Markit, many of which present non-GAAP measures when reporting their results. These measures can be useful in evaluating our performance against our peer companies because we believe the measures provide users with valuable insight into key components of GAAP financial disclosures. However, non-GAAP measures have limitations as an analytical tool. Because not all companies use identical calculations, our presentation of non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. They are not presentations made in accordance with GAAP, are not measures of financial condition or liquidity, and should not be considered as an alternative to profit or loss for the period determined in accordance with GAAP or operating cash flows determined in accordance with GAAP. As a result, you should not consider such performance measures in isolation from, or as a substitute analysis for, results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which express management's current views concerning future business, events, trends, contingencies, financial performance, or financial condition, appear at various places in this communication and use words like "aim," "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "future," "goal," "intend," "likely," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "see," "seek," "should," "strategy," "strive," "target," "will," and "would" and similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding: guidance and predictions relating to expected operating results, such as revenue growth and earnings; strategic actions such as acquisitions, joint ventures, and dispositions, the anticipated benefits therefrom, and our success in integrating acquired businesses; anticipated levels of capital expenditures in future periods; anticipated levels of indebtedness, capital allocation, dividends, and share repurchases in future periods; our belief that we have sufficient liquidity to fund our ongoing business operations; expectations of the effect on our financial condition of claims, litigation, environmental costs, contingent liabilities, and governmental and regulatory investigations and proceedings; our strategy for customer retention, growth, product development, market position, financial results, and reserves; the completion of the merger with S&P Global Inc. ("S&P Global") on anticipated terms and timing, including unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the combined company's operations and other conditions to the completion of the merger; the ability of S&P Global and IHS Markit to integrate the business successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies; potential litigation relating to the proposed transaction that could be instituted against S&P Global, IHS Markit or their respective directors; the risk that disruptions from the proposed transaction will harm S&P Global's and IHS Markit's business, including current plans and operations; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the merger; rating agency actions; potential business uncertainty, including changes to existing business relationships, during the pendency of the merger that could affect IHS Markit's financial performance; and certain restrictions during the pendency of the merger that may impact IHS Markit's ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on management's current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are more fully discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, along with our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). However, those factors should not be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to our management and speaks only as of the date of this communication. We do not assume any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws. Please consult our public filings with the SEC or on our website at investor.ihsmarkit.com. About IHS Markit (www.ihsmarkit.com) IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information, analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has more than 50,000 business and government customers, including 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500 and the world's leading financial institutions. Headquartered in London, IHS Markit is committed to sustainable, profitable growth. IHS Markit is a registered trademark of IHS Markit Ltd and/or its affiliates. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners 2021 IHS Markit Ltd. All rights reserved. IHS MARKIT LTD. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In millions) As of February 28, 2021 As of November 30, 2020 (Unaudited) (Audited) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 172.0 125.6 Accounts receivable, net 981.9 891.7 Deferred subscription costs 99.8 84.3 Assets held for sale 857.0 Other current assets 139.6 131.7 Total current assets 2,250.3 1,233.3 Non-current assets: Property and equipment, net 673.8 724.8 Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 293.1 296.8 Intangible assets, net 3,456.9 3,846.1 Goodwill 9,715.0 9,908.7 Deferred income taxes 27.1 27.1 Other 253.4 98.4 Total non-current assets 14,419.3 14,901.9 Total assets 16,669.6 16,135.2 Liabilities and equity Current liabilities: Short-term debt 478.1 268.1 Accounts payable 31.0 48.2 Accrued compensation 95.9 206.1 Other accrued expenses 505.5 477.6 Income tax payable 39.0 29.1 Deferred revenue 1,049.8 886.2 Operating lease liabilities 62.0 63.5 Liabilities held for sale 99.8 Total current liabilities 2,361.1 1,978.8 Long-term debt, net 4,642.7 4,641.7 Deferred income taxes 492.6 543.4 Operating lease liabilities 293.0 297.7 Other liabilities 175.6 130.4 Commitments and contingencies Redeemable noncontrolling interests 13.2 13.8 Shareholders' equity 8,691.4 8,529.4 Total liabilities and equity 16,669.6 16,135.2 IHS MARKIT LTD. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In millions, except for per-share amounts) (Unaudited) Three months ended February 28/29, 2021 2020 Revenue 1,119.9 1,080.8 Operating expenses: Cost of revenue 415.2 415.8 Selling, general and administrative 302.2 316.2 Depreciation and amortization 151.6 145.3 Restructuring and impairment charges 1.0 4.5 Acquisition-related costs 13.1 0.9 Other (income) expense, net 3.4 (372.8) Total operating expenses 886.5 509.9 Operating income 233.4 570.9 Interest income 0.1 0.4 Interest expense (55.5) (61.2) Net periodic pension and postretirement expense (21.5) Non-operating expense, net (55.4) (82.3) Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of equity method investees 178.0 488.6 (Provision) benefit for income taxes (30.3) (4.3) Equity in income (loss) of equity method investees 1.0 (0.3) Net income 148.7 484.0 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 0.6 1.0 Net income attributable to IHS Markit Ltd. 149.3 485.0 Basic earnings per share attributable to IHS Markit Ltd. 0.38 1.23 Weighted average shares used in computing basic earnings per share 397.4 395.7 Diluted earnings per share attributable to IHS Markit Ltd. 0.37 1.20 Weighted average shares used in computing diluted earnings per share 400.8 404.1 IHS MARKIT LTD. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In millions) (Unaudited) Three months ended February 28/29, 2021 2020 Operating activities: Net income 148.7 484.0 Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 151.6 145.3 Stock-based compensation expense 65.8 82.6 Gain on sale of assets, net (0.1) (372.3) Impairment of assets 1.3 Payments for acquisition-related performance compensation (75.9) Net periodic pension and postretirement expense 21.5 Undistributed earnings of affiliates, net (1.0) 0.2 Pension and postretirement contributions (8.2) Deferred income taxes 7.3 15.1 Change in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable, net (118.6) (89.8) Other current assets (27.2) (41.0) Accounts payable (11.8) (21.5) Accrued expenses (139.1) (142.0) Income tax 11.7 (40.0) Deferred revenue 163.2 151.8 Other assets and liabilities (7.3) 9.7 Net cash provided by operating activities 244.5 119.5 Investing activities: Capital expenditures on property and equipment (72.6) (78.0) Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired (46.9) Payments to acquire equity investments (152.3) (3.6) Proceeds from sale of assets 466.2 Change in other assets (2.8) (0.1) Settlements of forward contracts 10.8 2.5 Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (263.8) 387.0 Financing activities: Proceeds from borrowings 260.0 293.8 Repayment of borrowings (50.0) (209.1) Contingent consideration payments (1.0) Dividends paid (79.3) (67.7) Repurchases of common shares (500.0) Proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options 0.6 130.9 Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation (73.6) (110.0) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 56.7 (462.1) Foreign exchange impact on cash balance 9.0 (12.0) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 46.4 32.4 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 125.6 111.5 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 172.0 143.9 IHS MARKIT LTD. SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE DISCLOSURE (In millions) (Unaudited) Three months ended February 28/29, Percent change 2021 2020 Total Organic Recurring revenue: Financial Services 285.3 267.3 7 5 Transportation 246.6 227.7 8 8 Resources 182.6 200.5 (9) (9) CMS 111.1 108.6 2 2 Total recurring fixed revenue 825.6 804.1 3 2 Financial Services variable 172.9 146.8 18 17 Total recurring revenue 998.5 950.9 5 4 Non-recurring revenue: Financial Services 26.3 21.9 20 18 Transportation 65.1 69.5 (6) (8) Resources 20.1 25.1 (20) (20) CMS 9.9 13.4 (26) (25) Total non-recurring revenue 121.4 129.9 (7) (7) Total revenue: Financial Services 484.5 436.0 11 10 Transportation 311.7 297.2 5 4 Resources 202.7 225.6 (10) (10) CMS 121.0 122.0 (1) (1) Total revenue 1,119.9 1,080.8 4 3 IHS MARKIT LTD. RECONCILIATION OF CONSOLIDATED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO MOST DIRECTLY COMPARABLE GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (In millions, except for per-share amounts) (Unaudited) Three months ended February 28/29, 2021 2020 Net income attributable to IHS Markit Ltd. 149.3 485.0 Interest income (0.1) (0.4) Interest expense 55.5 61.2 Provision for income taxes 30.3 4.3 Depreciation 56.1 51.1 Amortization related to acquired intangible assets 95.5 94.2 EBITDA (1)(6) 386.6 695.4 Stock-based compensation expense 65.8 82.6 Restructuring and impairment charges 1.0 4.5 Acquisition-related costs 9.2 0.7 Acquisition-related performance compensation 3.9 0.2 Gain on sale of assets (0.1) (372.3) Pension mark-to-market and settlement expense 21.2 Share of joint venture results not attributable to Adjusted EBITDA 0.7 0.3 Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interest (0.3) (1.0) Adjusted EBITDA (2)(6) 466.8 431.6 Three months ended February 28/29, 2021 2020 Net income attributable to IHS Markit Ltd. 149.3 485.0 Stock-based compensation expense 65.8 82.6 Amortization related to acquired intangible assets 95.5 94.2 Restructuring and impairment charges 1.0 4.5 Acquisition-related costs 9.2 0.7 Acquisition-related performance compensation 3.9 0.2 Gain on sale of assets (0.1) (372.3) Pension mark-to-market and settlement expense 21.2 Income tax effect of above adjustments (40.7) (49.4) Adjusted earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest (0.1) (0.7) Adjusted net income (3) 283.8 266.0 Adjusted EPS (4)(6) 0.71 0.66 Weighted average shares used in computing Adjusted EPS 400.8 404.1 Three months ended February 28/29, 2021 2020 Net cash provided by operating activities 244.5 119.5 Payments for acquisition-related performance compensation 75.9 Capital expenditures on property and equipment (72.6) (78.0) Free cash flow (5)(6) 171.9 117.4 IHS MARKIT LTD. SUPPLEMENTAL SEGMENT OPERATING PROFIT MEASURE DISCLOSURE (In millions) (Unaudited) Three months ended February 28/29, 2021 2020 Adjusted EBITDA by segment: Financial Services 232.9 205.4 Transportation 146.7 118.0 Resources 74.2 90.2 CMS 26.1 29.4 Shared services (13.1) (11.4) Total Adjusted EBITDA 466.8 431.6 Adjusted EBITDA margin by segment: Financial Services 48.1 47.1 Transportation 47.1 39.7 Resources 36.6 40.0 CMS 21.6 24.1 Total Adjusted EBITDA margin 41.7 39.9 (1) EBITDA is defined as net income plus or minus net interest, plus provision for income taxes, depreciation, and amortization. (2) Adjusted EBITDA further excludes primarily non-cash items and other items that we do not consider to be useful in assessing our operating performance (e.g., stock-based compensation expense, restructuring charges, acquisition-related costs and performance compensation, exceptional litigation, net other gains and losses, pension mark-to-market, settlement, and other expense, the impact of joint ventures and noncontrolling interests, and discontinued operations). All of the items included in the reconciliation from net income to Adjusted EBITDA are either non-cash items or items that we do not consider to be useful in assessing our operating performance. In the case of the non-cash items, we believe that investors can better assess our operating performance if the measures are presented without such items because, unlike cash expenses, these adjustments do not affect our ability to generate free cash flow or invest in our business. For example, by excluding depreciation and amortization from EBITDA, users can compare operating performance without regard to different accounting determinations such as useful life. In the case of the other items, we believe that investors can better assess operating performance if the measures are presented without these items because their financial impact does not reflect ongoing operating performance. (3) Adjusted net income is defined as net income plus primarily non-cash items and other items that management does not consider to be useful in assessing our operating performance (e.g., stock-based compensation expense, amortization related to acquired intangible assets, restructuring charges, acquisition-related costs and performance compensation, acquisition financing fees, net other gains and losses, pension mark-to-market, settlement, and other expense, the impact of noncontrolling interests, and discontinued operations, all net of the related tax effects). (4) Adjusted EPS is defined as Adjusted net income (as defined above) divided by diluted weighted average shares. (5) Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities plus payments for acquisition-related performance compensation minus capital expenditures. (6) EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EPS, and free cash flow are used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties to assess our operating performance. For example, a measure similar to Adjusted EBITDA is required by the lenders under our revolving credit agreement. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005371/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations Contact: Eric Boyer +1 303 397 2969 eric.boyer@ihsmarkit.com Two recent and extremely high-profile cyber attacks have pulled even more focus to the issue of vendor security and the myriad problems that come when their systems are breached.Most recently, an attack against Microsofts Exchange email servers in January exposed a mix of more than 30,000 public- and private-sector customers. Just a month before, SolarWinds and some 18,000 of its customers suffered a similar fate What the SolarWinds incident did to bring attention to the issue of supply chain security, the Microsoft incident magnified. But what, if anything, can government do to protect itself from threats concealed within proprietary software?According to Maria Thompson , North Carolina's chief risk officer, there are two key things that governments need to do. The first is to identify that it is a problem, and the second is to analyze the government contracts currently in place with vendors to establish more strict controls. This effort means increasing transparency between governments and vendors in terms of reporting cyber incidents, in addition to establishing a plan of action should a vendor fail to comply.Greater transparency is needed across the board, emphasized Thompson.With transparency comes a great need for information sharing, particularly between vendors and their customers. With the recent cyber attacks, many customers were not immediately made aware of the breaches.I can tell you that a lot of state entities and local government entities, were quickly losing our trust in some of these solutions that we have because, you know, we find out after the fact months after a data breach has occurred, Thompson said.This forces governments into reactionary mode, spending money and resources to remediate issues when their focus should be on operational activities. Ideally, though, governments could adopt a streamlined mechanism for more open sharing of information between governments and vendors.Dan Stroman, senior director of public sector at CloudCheckr, explained that some government entities are shifting their systems to the cloud, as on-premises software leaves vulnerabilities, noting the SolarWinds incident. His belief is that cloud platform providers are taking the proper steps to show customers that this is a secure option.The cloud platform providers have made a huge investment in assuring the constituency, their customers, that theyve got security really well covered, said Stroman. They have a lot of due diligence that theyre able to show.There are other steps that can be taken from a policy standpoint. For example, North Carolina has adopted supply chain security controls as part of the NIST 800-53 Rev 5 controls, and many other states are involved in similar discussions to improve visibility and controls. However, these risks are not something that state governments are able to handle alone and will require a coordinated effort between federal, state, and local governments working with the private sector. Pressure is also mounting for the federal government to implement a plan to help guide smaller government entities through these situations.It really takes a concerted effort at their level because we cannot do it at the state level by ourselves, Thompson explained. I think thats the key thing it has to go further up the chain for true change to occur when it comes to supply chain risk.A draft spending plan by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency looks to allocate more than $150 million in federal funding to Microsoft for cybersecurity in response to the recent hack, reported. Some government officials, including Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, have expressed concerns about this move, stating that if this is the only solution, the government needs to re-evaluate its dependence on Microsoft.The private sector can, and must, have a hand in enacting a plan of action in the case of another cyber attack, but it must be a coordinated effort with the public sector as well.The main thing that I would like to say about this attack is that I envision that more of these attacks will occur in the future, stated Thompson regarding the Microsoft hack. I think that its going to take a partnership between private and public entities to really figure out whats the best approach in how to mitigate the supply chain risk. And we have to do it as a team effort; its not done in a vacuum.Government TechnologyGoverning Chinese FM meets Russian counterpart Xinhua) 09:32, March 23, 2021 Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Lu Boan) NANNING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the city of Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The two sides briefed each other on the latest developments of their respective relations with the United States, according to a press release issued after the meeting. The two foreign ministers said the international community believes that the United States should reflect on the damage it has done to global peace and development in recent years, halt unilateral bullying, stop meddling in other countries' domestic affairs, and stop forming small circles to seek bloc confrontation, said the press release. It said the two ministers agreed that all countries should follow the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN), uphold true multilateralism, make international relations more democratic, and accept and promote peaceful coexistence and common development of countries with different social systems and development paths. On the Iranian nuclear issue, the two sides believed that the United States should unconditionally return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as soon as possible and revoke the unilateral sanctions against Iran, it said. At the same time, they called on Iran to resume compliance and encouraged the JCPOA's due role in preventing nuclear proliferation, it said. The two sides also proposed the establishment of a regional security dialogue platform to converge a new consensus on resolving the security concerns of countries in the region. On the Afghanistan issue, the two ministers attached importance to various international efforts and hoped that all dialogue mechanisms related to Afghanistan will complement each other and truly embody the "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" principle to accelerate the peace, reconciliation and reconstruction process. The two ministers expressed deep concern about the current situation in Myanmar, said the press release. They voiced the support for all parties in Myanmar to seek a political solution to the current crisis within the constitution and legal framework, avoid further conflict and bloodshed, prevent external forces from taking advantage of the crisis for their own gains, and continue to advance the democratic transition. The two sides also coordinated positions on a wide range of issues such as UN reform, climate change, Asia-Pacific situation, Syria and Sudan. The two sides on Tuesday will continue talks on bilateral relations and international and regional situations, said the press release. SINGAPORE, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspired by its purpose CHANGEDESTINY as the world re-emerges from unprecedented times, global prestige skincare brand SK-II announces the launch of "SK-II STUDIO" - the brand's first film studio division and content hub dedicated to tackling social pressures impacting women today through the power of film and storytelling. Bringing together world-renown film makers, animators, musicians, content creators with the passion to inspire positive change as part of SK-II STUDIO, SK-II will be directing more of its brand content towards driving conversations with a bigger purpose around social pressures impacting women. This is part of SK-II's brand purpose CHANGEDESTINY as a human brand to use its voice as a force for good and growth in its ongoing journey to elevate brand-building beyond traditional promotion-driven advertising. This year, SK-II STUDIO will be unveiling a slate of eight original films, with the first being "The Center Lane" that will be released on 29 March 2021. Directed by award-winning Japanese film director Hirokazu Koreeda, "The Center Lane" explores how destiny is not a matter of chance, it's a matter of choice through the inspirational story of swimmer Ikee Rikako's return to competitive swimming. SK-II will also be additionally setting up a CHANGEDESTINY fund, contributing $1 for every view garnered on each SK-II STUDIO film in support of women in pursuing their destiny to create positive change as part of its brand purpose this year. Total contribution to the CHANGEDESTINY fund will be capped at $500,000 USD. Participating organizations will be announced at a later date. "At SK-II, we are a human brand. We believe in the power of human stories and storytelling to influence culture, overcome social biases and stereotypes and create positive change. Our purpose at SK-II has always been to help millions of women CHANGEDESTINY by standing up pressures and expectations that are pushed on us every day. As pressure should never dictate our choices," shared Sandeep Seth, Chief Executive Officer, Global SK-II. "We've gone through an unprecedented year of change. Our consumers are now expecting so much more from brands and businesses. There is so much more on their minds than just skin and beauty. They believe in brands that have a voice and take a stand on issues that matter to them. It is no longer about selling products, creating ads and driving promotions but engaging her - head, heart and soul. This is why we are committed to invest behind purpose and brand storytelling with our very first film studio - SK-II STUDIO to take on important social issues that are impacting women and mission of CHANGEDESTINY to life." CHANGEDESTINY is at the heart of the SK-II brand philosophy that celebrates how destiny is not a matter of chance, but a matter of choice. Inspired by the stories of women from around the world, CHANGEDESTINY sheds light on the pressures they face and the universal 'box' they are put in to be perfect in society's eyes. Award-winning CHANGEDESTINY campaigns include 2016's "Marriage Market Takeover" that put a spotlight on the labels of "Sheng Nu" or "Leftover Women" in China, 2017's "The Expiry Date", 2018's "Meet Me Halfway" and 2019's "Timelines" a docu-series in partnership with renown journalist Katie Couric about the evolving and controversial topic of marriage pressure and societal expectations women face globally. About SK-II For nearly 40 years, SK-II has touched the lives of millions of women around the world through skin and life transformation. The fascinating story behind SK-II began with a quest to understand why elderly sake brewers had wrinkled faces, but extraordinarily soft and youthful-looking hands. These hands were in constant contact with the sake fermentation process. It took years of research for scientists to isolate the miracle ingredient PITERA, SK-II's exclusive and naturally derived ingredient crafted from a proprietary fermentation process of a unique yeast strain. Since then, SK-II with PITERA has become a special secret shared by celebrities all over the world such as Tangwei, Ni Ni, Chun Xia, Haruka Ayase, Kasumi Arimura, Naomi Watanabe, Chloe Grace Moretz. For the latest news and in-depth information, please visit http://www.sk-ii.com. About CHANGEDESTINY CHANGEDESTINY is at the heart of the SK-II brand philosophy that celebrates how destiny is not a matter of chance, but a matter of choice. Inspired by the stories of women from around the world, CHANGEDESTINY sheds light on the pressures they face and the universal 'box' they are put in to be perfect in society's eyes. Award-winning CHANGEDESTINY campaigns include 2016's "Marriage Market Takeover" that put a spotlight on the labels of "Sheng Nu" or "Leftover Women" in China, 2017's "The Expiry Date", 2018's "Meet Me Halfway" and 2019's "Timelines" a docu-series in partnership with Katie Couric about the evolving and controversial topic of marriage pressure and societal expectations women face globally. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1471796/SK_II_STUDIO.jpg Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzQGpvls2EA Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1470599/SK_II_STUDIO_Logo.jpg After years of being courted to the city, Brisbanes multibillion-dollar student housing sector says thousands of rooms have been left empty under an inflexible planning scheme during the COVID-19 downturn. Major players said most buildings that would normally be full were about 20 per cent capacity, and they feared a further halving of that figure by the end of the year until their main market, international students, were able to return. Brisbane City Council has helped student accommodation developers save millions in infrastructure charges, including Student One which as built three CBD towers in recent years. Credit:Matt Dennien The looming JobKeeper cliff would also lead to the loss of further skilled jobs among staff trained to cater to the needs of students not always familiar with life in Australia or away from family, they said. Scape Australia, the largest purpose-built student accommodation provider in Australia, boasts 5000 beds across seven buildings in Brisbane. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) -- If a fire breaks out, would you be prepared? The West Lafayette Fire Department wants everyone in the community to be able to say "Yes." That's because of a new mobile fire-response training device they're planning to roll out this year. This training will allow the community to get as close as possible to how it feels fighting a real fire without the danger of it. And the device is created to help train both the public and firefighters. The digital training system comes with three main tools: The box that simulates a digital fire, a laser-sensor fire extinguisher, and a laser-sensor fire-hose. These two tools are the same weight as a real extinguisher and fire hose. The digital fire-training box does not produce heat but it does crackle and light up like actual fire. The goal is to train people how to correctly aim an extinguisher at a fire to get it to dwindle down. The same goal applies to the fire-hose for fighters in training. Prior to this device, WLFD's public fire training was just done through a power-point but firefighters say this hands-on experience is so much better. "We've been to lots of fires where people have used extinguishers and maybe the outcome wasn't as good because they didn't have the proper training," said Lt. Justin Taylor, West Lafayette firefighter. "This will benefit them, keep them safer, and hopefully the main thing is risk reduction." He said using a fire extinguisher improperly can often make the fire spread even more. "With modern-day fires, it doubles in size every 30 seconds so hopefully, with the extinguisher training, they catch it early enough that they can put it out and we can just come and help them clean up the mess," said Taylor. "The key here is proper use at the proper time, the proper fire, and reducing the loss of property." WLFD got this device thanks to a $25,000 grant from Leary Firefighters Foundation. The department has already started training city employees. The goal is to provide this service for West Lafayette schools, businesses, and those living in student housing. Firefighters will be demonstrating this device at the next farmer's market. Hyderabad: Reopen Schools and colleges across the State reopened for physical classes on Monday after an unprecedented 10 months gap due to the Covid-19 pandemic.(Photo: snapsindia snapsindia/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Hyderabad, March 23 : Concerned over the spike in Covid-19 cases, the Telangana government on Tuesday announced that it is temporarily shutting down the schools from Wednesday. Education Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy made the announcement in the Assembly. She said the government decided to shut down the schools in the interest of the health of students and teachers and also keeping in view the requests from the parents. The minister said the decision was taken as a measure to prevent the spread of Covid. The orders will apply to all government and private educational institutions, hostels and residential schools. Indra Reddy said the online classes will be conducted for students. She noted that Covid cases are on the rise across the country and there is a surge in cases in Telangana's neighbouring states. Covid cases were detected in some schools in the state. She pointed out that states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh have already closed the schools. Parents of students in Telangana were also worried over the situation and the government received the requests to shut the schools. More than 200 students, teachers and other staff of various residential schools in Telangana tested positive for Covid over last one week. Schools for classes 6 and above reopened in the last week of February while classes 9 and above reopened on February 1. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) A Winnipeg man has been convicted of second-degree murder and attempted murder, after a judge rejected the claim he was provoked and acted in the heat of passion when he stabbed two people outside a Pembina Highway cafe in 2019. A Winnipeg man has been convicted of second-degree murder and attempted murder, after a judge rejected the claim he was provoked and acted "in the heat of passion" when he stabbed two people outside a Pembina Highway cafe in 2019. Mahfouth Assi, 22, admitted killing 20-year-old Yazan Al Horani and seriously injuring a second man, Moussa Almousa, but argued at trial he should be convicted of the lesser offences of manslaughter and aggravated assault. FACEBOOK PHOTO Al Horani was killed outside Ramallah Cafe and hookah lounge, April 15, 2019. Assi remains in custody and will be sentenced at a later date. The minimum sentence for second-degree murder is life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 10 years. Al Horani was killed outside Ramallah Cafe and hookah lounge, April 15, 2019. Almousa, who court heard was Assis intended target, suffered stab wounds to his chest and back. "Mr. Assis dispute was with Mr. Almousa and Mr. Al Horani was in the wrong place at the wrong time," Queens Bench Justice Anne Turner said in a written decision released last week. Almousa visited the cafe with Al Horani and about 10 friends to celebrate Almousas birthday. Court heard testimony at trial Assi and Almousa became embroiled in a heated exchange of culturally charged insults after Assi, a server at the cafe, took exception to Almousa standing on a couch to take a selfie. During a talk with a manager, Almousa shoved Assi and the two men insulted each others female relatives. Several witnesses at trial, many of whom testified in Arabic, "all agreed that the insults exchanged about each others mother and sisters are the worst insults in their culture," Turner said. "Some witnesses did not even want to repeat what the two of them were saying to each other." As the dispute escalated, Almousa grabbed a knife from a table but quickly surrendered it to staff who had already separated the two men. A manager told Almousa, Al Horani and their friends to leave the restaurant, which they did, and told Assi to go home. Almousa testified his group had been standing outside the restaurant for two to three minutes, when Assi rounded the corner from the back and started stabbing him and Al Horani. Assi claimed he was so consumed by rage he had no memory of the attack and his mind "was not functioning." Turner accepted Assi did not remember stabbing the two men, but said security video showing Assi arming himself with a knife, retrieving his car keys from the hookah bar and walking to his car prior to the attack all show a person in full control of his faculties. "The question here is not simply whether Mr. Assi was angry," Turner said. "Anger alone, even extreme anger, is not a defence Mr. Almousas conduct had to make Mr. Assi lose the power of self control." Al Horani and his family emigrated from Syria in 2017, after years spent in a refugee camp in Jordan, a family friend told the Free Press following his death. He was taking adult education courses, had started a job at Blady Middle Eastern grocery store and was recently engaged to be married. dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca Incheon International Airport wins awards every year for being one of the top airports in the world, and its duty-free shops are now proving no exception. The U.S. edition of "Business Traveler" recently named it among the best airports in the world for duty-free shopping. The shops, which are jointly operated by local businesses, have also earned the top honor from the Asia-Pacific edition of the magazine for two consecutive years. The magazine praised them for combining traditional Korean culture with state-of-the-art facilities to make for a more customer-friendly environment. Credit: CC0 Public Domain In 2020 wildfires ravaged more than 10 million acres of land across California, Oregon and Washington, making it the largest fire season in modern history. Across the country, hurricanes over Atlantic waters yielded a record-breaking number of storms. While two very different kinds of natural disasters, scientists say they were spurred by a common catalystclimate changeand that both also threaten drinking water supplies. As the nation already wrestles with water shortages, contamination and aging infrastructure, experts warn more frequent supercharged climate-induced events will exacerbate the pressing issue of safe drinking water. It's no surprise then that the Biden-Harris administration has identified safe drinking water as one of the nation's top priorities. Below, Stanford water experts Rosemary Knight, Newsha Ajami and Felicia Marcus discuss safeguarding drinking water from climate-driven disasters; emphasizing a modern approach to infrastructure investments; and focusing on watershed and water source protection. Knight is a professor of geophysics in the Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences (Stanford Earth); Ajami is director of urban water policy with Stanford's Water in the West program; and Marcus is the William C. Landreth Visiting Fellow at Water in the West. Whether it's floods, fires, storms, droughts or sea level rise, climate impacts have a direct influence on water supplies. What types of climate mitigation policies should the Biden team enact to protect drinking water? Marcus: Grants and low-cost financing for community preparedness, especially for underserved communities, to adapt and plan for climate impacts would make a tremendous difference. The federal government should be doing leading-edge research, technology development and dispersion for lower-cost sensor and treatment systems for drinking water. Finally, the administration can explicitly make drinking water its highest priority for research and development, funding, and updating regulations based upon science. Ajami: Water has to be the central part of both climate mitigation and adaptation discussions. Today we are facing many challenges that are the consequence of our approach to securing water and energy resources over the 20th century, building infrastructure networks under the assumption of abundance and overlooking inherent environmental interlinks. Source protection, demand management and public engagement strategies should be at the center of any climate policy. News stories, such as the lead contamination of Flint, Michigan's water in 2014, have shown failing or poorly managed infrastructure is at the heart of the potable water crisis. What types of infrastructure investments are key to ensuring access to safe water? What should the Biden team do to spur change? Ajami: There are multiple challenges at play here: aging infrastructure, lack of infrastructure, cost of service, infrastructure operation and maintenance costs, and navigating impacts of climate change. The new administration has the opportunity to address many of these challenges through a holistic effort and having a systems-level approach by investing in water diversification strategies, multi-benefit and decentralized infrastructure (including green infrastructure, stormwater capture and reuse), and data and governance systems for innovative infrastructure solutions. Marcus: A short list would include upper watershed protection to protect source waters; better treatment systems all along a watercourse, as communities take out and then return water through wastewater systems and natural treatment systems; basic financing for communities that can't afford adequate drinking water systems; and support for changing out lead piping and faucets in schools and homes. Funding, better regulation and communication can make a world of difference. Groundwater supplies drinking water to 99 percent of rural populations, but overpumping has led to aquifer depletion and water contamination. What federal and state actions can alleviate growing pressures on groundwater? Knight: We need to change our approach to land use planning by recognizing that the most valuable use for some land is to become a site for managed recharge of the underlying groundwater system. Getting more water into regions below the ground increases the amount of stored water and can help prevent subsidence. The challenge is identifying the optimal locations for recharge zoning and requires seeing below the ground to find coarse-grained materials, such as sand and gravel, that can act as fast paths to move the water from where it is at the surface to the required depths for recharge. This is an area of work I'm currently focused on and it presents great potential to replenish and grow groundwater reserves. Ajami: I see our groundwater supplies as our social security system; we all contribute and withdraw from it at different times. Unless we collectively contribute to it and protect it from degradation and contamination, there will be none left for future generations to draw from. I believe collaborative governance and land use management are the two most important parts of achieving groundwater sustainability, and neither can work without reliable data sources and accounting mechanisms. Are there any technological innovations that could dramatically advance water treatment, monitoring or recharge? Knight: We now have geophysical systems, deployed using helicopters or towed behind ATVs, that can provide fantastic underground images, mapping out fast paths for groundwater. Last month we flew along the base of the Sierra Nevada in Tulare and Fresno counties, looking for these fast paths at the mouths of rivers coming out of the mountains. The recent advancements in geophysical technology and our ability to process and interpret the acquired data position us to move forward aggressively with a new approach, where zoning for recharge becomes an integral part of land use planning. This approach could be implemented throughout California. Ajami: I do not believe our problem currently is lack of technological advancement but our outdated and fragmented governance structure, regulatory process, rigid laws, and obsolete business models and practices skewed toward gray, once-through, centralized infrastructure systems. Any advancement that can overcome these challenges can open up opportunities for innovative 21st-century solutions to be incorporated into our existing aging centralized water systems. Investing in soft infrastructure including data systems, IT infrastructure, digital solutions, new models or decision support tools, and updated performance measures are key in this process of shepherding the paradigm shift in the water sector and providing equitable access to safe drinking water. Explore further Making California's water supply resilient [March 23, 2021] Orca Security Lands $210 Million Series C at $1.2 Billion Valuation by Creating a Cloud Security Solution that Actually Works Orca Security today announced a $210 million Series C round led by CapitalG, Alphabet's independent growth fund, and Redpoint Ventures. The funding follows a December 2020 B round and cements Orca Security's position as the cloud security innovation leader, and one of the world's fastest cybersecurity companies to reach unicorn status. The company has raised nearly $300 million in combined funds at a $1.2 billion valuation since its founding two years ago. "Orca Security represents a revolutionary step forward in optimizing cloud environments," said Gene Frantz, general partner, CapitalG. "Their touchless SideScanning technology is best-in-class, as confirmed by our extensive interviews with their ecstatic customers and by the senior Google (News - Alert) security leaders who we invited to evaluate it. We believe that Avi and team not only have a compelling vision but also the ability to execute it. We're thrilled to join Orca on their journey to reinvent cloud security." In 2020, Orca Security achieved more than 1,000 percent year-over-year growth and signed numerous forward-thinking organizations including Robinhood, Databricks, Unity, Live Oak Bank, Lemonade and BeyondTrust, among many others. "Orca Security provides similar capabilities to what agents on boxes do and more, but with no impact on engineering," said Caleb Sima, VP of Information Security, Databricks. "It's beautiful." "I've been working with vulnerability assessment solutions for over 20 years. I even wrote a book on how to build a vulnerability management strategy. I've never seen anything like the Orca Security platform before," said Morey Haber, CTO and CISO, BeyondTrust. "Within a couple of months I had it fully rolled out, protecting our more than 4,000 cloud customers. This product is a gem and must-have solution for businesses operating in the cloud." The funding will fuel Orca Security to further disrupt the cloud security industry with agentless, workload-deep, context-aware security and compliance for Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft (News - Alert) Azure. Unlike competing cloud security solutions built for on-prem environments, Orca Security was born in the cloud for the cloud. Orca treats each customer's cloud estate as an interconnected web of assets, prioritizing risk based on the underlying security issue combined with environmental context, including its accessibility and potential damage to the business. "By creating a security solution that actually works, we are solving a fundamental problem that has been broken since the inception of cloud security," said Avi Shua, CEO and co-founder of Orca Security. "In the face of increasing threats and rapidly expanding cloud estates, organizations can't be burdened with installing and maintaining agents and sidecars. We enable our customers to instantly protect their cloud environments, eliminate attack paths, fuel digital transformation, and meet compliance mandates." Orca Security's patent-pending SideScanning technology is the heart of the platform. SideScanning reads the cloud configuration and workloads' runtime block storage out-of-band to detect vulnerabilities, malware, misconfigurations, lateral movement risk, authentication risk, secret keys, unsecured PII, and more. Orca Security is the first cloud security solution that addresses these risks without agents or per asset integration, giving enterprises 100 percent visibility and coverage within minutes. "In a cloud environment, you're frequently scaling utilization up and down-possibly thousands of times per hour across multiple clouds-all within a CI/CD pipeline that builds your infrastructure. I tried numerous agent-based tools and they all failed miserably," said Drew Daniels, CIO and CISO, Druva, Inc. "Orca provides 100% coverage without burdening our DevOps team. It just works." Expanding Global Presence and Partner Program By the end of 2021, Orca Security plans to hae nearly tripled its R&D and sales teams since its A round in May of 2020. The company also aims to expand its sales offices in Europe, recently opened a new office in Austria, and has plans to open an office in Australia to better serve APAC markets. Orca Security is also expanding its global partner program and is continuing to build rapid customer traction with partners in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Japan. Interested partners are encouraged to visit Orca Security's partner program page to learn more. Strong Financial Backing, Bolstered by Technical and Go-To-Market Support "Orca Security has set the new standard for cloud security by defining the approach every organization should take to secure its cloud environment," said Scott Raney, General Partner at Redpoint Ventures. "Avi and his team are solving one of the most critical challenges organizations face, to achieve a holistic view of their cloud environments. By focusing on gaining 100 percent coverage without agents, Orca reduces alerts, achieves context, and builds in compliance to provide a solution that is easy to implement and painless to maintain. We foresee it gaining widespread adoption across industries." The funding round also included substantial participation from existing investors GGV Capital and ICONIQ Growth. In addition, Silicon Valley CISO Investments (SVCI), an angel syndicate of 50 prominent CISOs, again also invested their personal funds and expertise in supporting Orca Security's technology and success. "GGV Capital is thrilled to triple down on Orca in a span of less than 18 months," said Oren Yunger, investor, GGV Capital. "While it's common for CISOs to adopt new tools to enhance their arsenal, it's rare they convert to avid champions at the speed they have after deploying Orca. Orca not only provides unprecedented visibility across cloud environments that is immediate and seamless but also acts as a unique voice for transparency in the market. These facts, combined with impeccable execution, make it clear that Orca is the whale to watch." Another prominent backer of the company is YL Ventures, who led Orca's seed round and participated in previous rounds. "Orca's innovative approach stoked the fastest pipeline growth we've ever seen as investors," said Yoav Leitersdorf, Managing Partner of YL Ventures. "Their impressive list of high-profile customers and praising reviews are a clear indication of just how much value Orca's solution brings to the market." Orca Security Announcement Resources CEO's blog on Orca Security's $210M round and unicorn status Join Orca Security's upcoming webcast with Forrester (News - Alert) and insurance innovator Lemonade Join Orca Security's upcoming democast to see its solution in action Orca Security testimonials and case studies Orca Security State of Public Cloud Security Report Orca Security channel and technology partner program For more information, visit orca.security. About Orca Security Orca Security, the cloud security innovation leader, provides cloud-wide, workload-deep security and compliance for AWS, Azure, and GCP - without the gaps in coverage, alert fatigue, and operational costs of agents. Unlike competing tools that operate in silos, Orca treats your cloud as an interconnected web of assets, prioritizing risk based on the severity of the underlying security issue combined with environmental context, including its accessibility and potential damage to the business. This does away with thousands of meaningless security alerts to provide just the critical few that matter, along with their precise path to remediation. Find critical attack vectors before your adversaries without having to cobble together disparate tools for cloud security posture management, compliance assessments, and workload and data protection. Delivered as SaaS (News - Alert) , Orca Security's patent-pending SideScanning technology reads your cloud configuration and workloads' runtime block storage out-of-band, detecting vulnerabilities, malware, misconfigurations, lateral movement risk, weak and leaked passwords, and unsecured PII. SideScanning covers all your workloads -VMs, containers, and serverless. Orca Security deploys in minutes - not months - because no code runs within your cloud environment. With Orca, there are no overlooked assets, no DevOps headaches, and no performance hits on live environments. Connect your first cloud account in minutes and see for yourself. Visit https://orca.security. About CapitalG CapitalG, Alphabet's independent growth fund, helps remarkable entrepreneurs accelerate the growth of their businesses. We partner with transformational companies to help them navigate the challenges of scaling through active support from our in-house growth team, thoughtful introductions to the brightest minds at Alphabet and Google and meaningful connections to our network of founders and operators leading some of the world's most innovative companies, including Airbnb, Credit Karma, CrowdStrike, Databricks, Lyft, Oscar, Stripe, UiPath and Zscaler. To learn more, visit https://www.capitalg.com/. About Redpoint Ventures Redpoint has partnered with visionary founders to create new markets and redefine existing ones since 1999. We invest in startups across the seed, early and growth phases, and we're proud to have backed over 538 companies-including Snowflake, Looker, Kustomer, Twilio (News - Alert) , 2U, DraftKings, Duo Security, HashiCorp, Stripe, Root Insurance, HomeAway, Heroku, Netflix, and Sonos-with 167 IPOs and M+A exits. Redpoint manages $5.8 billion across multiple funds. For more information visit: http://www.redpoint.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005438/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Hollywood star Hugh Jackman is known for his love of his two dogs, Dali and Allegra. And on Tuesday, the 52-year-old expressed his love for his beloved pets once again for National Puppy Day. Taking to Instagram, Hugh shared a portrait photo of himself holding dog Allegra in a throwback photo. Puppy love: Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman (pictured) has celebrated his beloved dog Allegra as he marked National Puppy Day on Instagram on Tuesday Hugh was seen staring at the camera as he held onto the puppy. 'In honor of #nationalpuppyday, I feel it only right to revisit the first day #Allegra joined our family,' he wrote. Allegra is a poodle and terrier mix. While Dali, named after artist Salvador Dali, is a French bulldog. Loves: Allegra is a poodle and terrier mix. While Dali, named after artist Salvador Dali, is a French bulldog Hugh is based in New York City with his wife, actress and adoption activist Deborra-Lee Furness. The couple met on the set of the Australian drama Correlli in 1995 and married in 1996. After moving to the US in the early 2000s they adopted two children - son Oscar, now 20, and daughter Ava, now 15. Lifestyle: Hugh is based in New York City with his wife, actress and adoption activist Deborra-Lee Furness. The couple met on the Australian drama, Correlli Deborra-Lee has long been a critic of Australia's 'anti-adoption culture', telling The Daily Telegraph last year that she and Hugh had chosen to adopt their children in the United States because it was 'easier'. She explained she was 'horrified' and 'appalled' by Australian bureaucracy, and went through the U.S. system instead after moving stateside. 'We were not famous over there, we jumped through every hoop and did it all by the books, and it was so much easier,' she said. Her views: Deborra-Lee has long been a critic of Australia's 'anti-adoption culture', telling The Daily Telegraph last year that she and Hugh had chosen to adopt their children in the United States because it was 'easier' Meanwhile, musical theater star Hugh was meant to make his return to Broadway last year in a revival of The Music Man. But the COVID-19 lockdowns shut down the New York's entire theater scene. He will star alongside fellow Tony winner Sutton Foster in the production, which is now slated to open February 2022. 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. 16th Annual NOCSSM National Church Security Conference NEWS PROVIDED BY NEWS PROVIDED BY NOCSSM March 23, 2021 "Every church has gone to a Church Security Seminar. We present more of a technical conference." Says Chuck Chadwick (President of NOCSSM) "The NOCSSM annual conference is not a conference to recant old cases, try to convince the church to take up arms or to teach the newest choke hold. Each year we have new speakers and new subject matter to add to our attendee's security skill set." Speakers this year will include: DALLAS, March 23, 2021 / Christian Newswire / -- The National Organization of Church Security & Safety Management (NOCSSM) will present its 16th Annual National Church Security Conference to be held at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas on August 6th-7th, 2021."Every church has gone to a Church Security Seminar. We present more of a technical conference." Says Chuck Chadwick (President of NOCSSM) "The NOCSSM annual conference is not a conference to recant old cases, try to convince the church to take up arms or to teach the newest choke hold. Each year we have new speakers and new subject matter to add to our attendee's security skill set."Speakers this year will include: Chuck Chadwick - President and Founder of NOCSSM, Former Mega-church security director with over 4 decades of experience in Private Security and 2 decades in Church Security. Chuck heads the largest state licensed volunteer multi-church security force in America. Preeminent Authority in Church Security. https://nocssm.org/ Dan Korem of Korem & Associates - Author of The Art of Profiling, Rage of the Random ActorDisarming Catastrophic Acts and Restoring Lives, and SnapshotReading and Treating People Right the First Time. The Korem & Associates faculty has trained military, law enforcement, and education professionals how to mitigate Random Actor incidents and suicidal ideation. http://www.koremassociates.com Greg Love of MinistrySafe - Nationally recognized expert in legal standards of care related to child sexual abuse, providing crisis response to ministries and churches nationwide. Litigating sexual abuse cases across the United States, his unique perspective provides valuable counsel to ministry. Preeminent Authority on Child Sexual Abuse in Churches, Background Checks, https://ministrysafe.com/ Scott Stewart VP of Tactical Analysis. Torchstone Global company. Preeminent Authority in International Threat Intelligence https://www.torchstoneglobal.com/ . Scott will be speaking on Terror Threats Today. Michael Sanders Director of Security Preston Trail Community Church, Frisco, TX, https://prestontrail.org/ . Michael will discuss the tactical fundamentals of Situational Awareness and explain how people can practice the technique in a relaxed and sustainable way. Mike Valka Security Team Lead Grace Church, Frisco, TX, https://gracechurchfrisco.org/ . Mike will speak on Strive or Settle? Increasing Effectiveness through In-Service Training. Randy Dickson Randy Dickson & Associates Communications when it counts. https://randy-disckson.com Matt McCarthy - North American Rescue The statistics, scientific data and current events that drive them. https://www.narescue.com Nate McDougall of Watermark Community Church Dallas Be Humble, Be Yourself, Be Excellent. https://watermark.org While not all churches have the degree of concern as a mega-church, every church wants to meet the unthinkable with a degree of preparedness. The two-day conference is the best training attendees can get and a great value to every church. For further details go to www.NOCSSM.org About NOCSSM NOCSSM is the Oldest and Largest church security organization in America and has continually served churches through its website resources, educational tools and affiliated educational and professional companies. http://www.nocssm.org SOURCE National Organization of Church Security & Safety Management (NOCSSM) CONTACT: Chuck Chadwick, 214-305-5616, cchadwick@nocssm.org Share Tweet Billions of people across the globe continue to live under COVID-19 lockdowns or heavily-restricted life. And for almost all of us, life amid the pandemic in 2020 was an isolating and difficult year. Yet doctors are warning that children in particular are experiencing grave mental health consequences as a result of the lockdownsleading to an international epidemic of child suicide. The Associated Press interviewed Dr. David Greenhorn on the subject, who works in the emergency department at Englands Bradford Royal Infirmary. The number of mental health crises he has seen, such as suicide attempts, has gone from a couple per week pre-pandemic to now several per day. This is an international epidemic, and we are not recognizing it, Greenhorn said. In an 8-year-olds life, a year is a really, really, really long time. They are fed up. They cant see an end to it. Dr. Richard Delorme heads the psychiatric department at one of the largest childrens hospitals in France, and he offered a similar warning to the AP. Delorme pointed out that it is clearly COVID restrictions and lockdowns taking this toll on children that end up in his hospital: What they tell you about is a chaotic world, of Yes, Im not doing my activities any more, Im no longer doing my music, Going to school is hard in the mornings, I am having difficulty waking up, I am fed up with the mask. Delormes hospital went from seeing roughly 20 suicide attempts per month involving patients 15 or younger, the AP reports, to more than double thatand, disturbingly, more determination than ever before in the attempts. We are very surprised by the intensity of the desire to die among children who may be 12 or 13 years old, Delorme said. We sometimes have children of 9 who already want to die. And its not simply a provocation or a blackmail via suicide. It is a genuine wish to end their lives. This is one of the most painful paragraphs Ive ever read, let alone had to write about. Merely typing out this story flooded my eyes with tears. But the life-threatening unintended consequences of drastic pandemic measures are too important to overlook. Government restrictions that wouldve been unthinkable two years ago have been forced through amid the fear and uncertainty that the pandemics outbreak understandably wrought. Advocates undoubtedly hoped to save lives. Yet government restrictions have proven dubious in their effectiveness, with both studies and real-world examples demonstrating little clear relationship between lockdown stringency and COVID deaths. In the meantime, lockdowns and other restrictions have harshly curtailed social interaction and, tragically, catalyzing the aforementioned youth mental health crisis. Here in the US, the Centers for Disease Control reported that 25 percent of young adults considered suicide during the lockdowns, while overall mental health and suicide rates appear to have spiked as well. The child suicide is only the latest mortifying revelation showing just how big a toll these policies have taken on us. We must factor this human damage into our analysis when it comes to ending pandemic restrictions; not just COVID case counts. Like any policy, public health orders must be evaluated on their outcomes. As Nobel-prize-winning economist Milton Friedman said, One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results. Pandemic lockdowns may have stemmed from an earnest desire to protect the public; but their consequences have done the opposite. Why? Well, any government action, particularly sweeping mandates, has not just its intended effect, but its second- and third-order unintended consequences. Every human action has both intended and unintended consequences, economist Antony Davies and political scientist James Harrigan explained for FEE.org. Human beings react to every rule, regulation, and order governments impose, and their reactions result in outcomes that can be quite different than the outcomes lawmakers intended. When it comes to lockdowns, weve extensively documented the unintended consequences at FEE, including isolation, depression, suicidality, unemployment, drug abuse, domestic violence, and more. Such severe second-order effects offer a painful reminder of why policymakers should be humble in the scope of their actions. Sweeping lockdowns are anything but humble: They presume that bureaucrats in an office somewhere can save society with top-down orders and nothing will go wrong. Governments the world over must consider more than mere COVID case counts when evaluating current and future lockdown policies. The damage were inflicting on children is too devastating to be waved away in the name of public healthits an emergency in its own right. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). You can also text a crisis counselor by messaging the Crisis Text Line at 741741. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. [March 23, 2021] SmartMedia Technologies Unveils The Next Evolution Of NFTs To Create Unprecedented Advertising Outcomes For Brands ASPEN, Colo., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a push to revolutionize brand-to-consumer engagement, SmartMedia Technologies is launching The SmartMedia Lab: a self-service platform that allows agencies and brands to create immersive mobile advertising campaigns using its proprietary non-fungible tokens (NFTs), known as SmartMedia Objects (SMOs). The SMOs can be distributed and attributed programmatically across display, social, search and CTV to drive deeper brand engagement and produce better business outcomes. With the release of SmartMedia Objects, SMT cements the notion that NFT technology is here to stay, and expands its application across the sales and marketing funnel. The innovative campaigns that the SmartMedia Lab can produce are only made possible by leveraging the tenants inherent to blockchain and NFTs. As a company who has been at the forefront of NFT technology since 2018, the recent buzz surrounding NFTs comes as no surprise to digital pioneer and CEO/CTO of SmartMedia Technologies Tyler Moebius. "It's extremely exciting to see others finally realizing the potential of NFTs that our team has always believed in," says Moebius. "While many industries scramble to jump on the bandwagon now, SMT has been building and perfecting our SMOs for years, delivering secure and intelligent NFT campaigns for some of the largest brands in the world." Following the initial NFT blueprint, the trademarked SMOs evolve and expand upon the original concept. Unlike a standard NFT, SMOs are highly programmable, AR/VR enabled, network aware, and have the ability to run autonomous long-running coe, making them artificially intelligent. They look like an App, feel like an App, and can be acquired, picked up or dropped using any HTML browser, all without download. Users can buy, sell and trade them just like a cryptocurrency on any of the NFT exchanges. Additionally, SMOs can be programmatically distributed and attributed back to a user or paid media channel without the use of cookies. Having delivered SMO campaigns for top brands like MillerLite, Fjallraven and Ben & Jerry's, SMT continues to help brands drive retail sales through innovative and interactive campaigns. In a campaign for Avocados of Mexico for Super Bowl LIV, SMT developed a consumer engagement reward system in which users were given the opportunity to acquire or win a SMO, the golden Avocado, worth $10,000. "We are helping brands innovate and rethink what is possible when it comes to audience activation and engagement," says Moebius. "We've seen the most widely used application of SMOs by our brands thus far in the form of giveaways to acquire new customers. However, the campaign possibilities are endless." SmartMedia Objects are the future of NFTs in the advertising space, acting as a valuable tool by allowing brands to engage directly with their consumers and ultimately decentralizing advertising all together. With the frontier of a cookieless digital world nearing, SMT delivers advanced solutions by providing autonomy over creative detail in digital engagement and secure first-party consumer data to brands. For more information about SmartMedia Technologies and its proprietary technology, please visit https://www.smartmediatech.io or contact devynne@blndpr.com . ABOUT SMARTMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES SmartMedia Technologies is a next generation MadTech company that owns and operates a portfolio of solution providers, FASTG8, Media Design Group and Vatom Labs, which delivers better business outcomes for brands and agencies by leveraging its SmartMedia Stack. The Stack is composed of TRADR - a programmatic SmartMedia bidding platform, and The Lab - a self-service customer data and audience engagement platform. It enables the rapid design, development and distribution of SmartMedia Ads and addressable SmartMedia Objects that drive engagement, acquisition and loyalty across a digital and mobile-first audience. For more information, visit https://www.smartmediatech.io . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smartmedia-technologies-unveils-the-next-evolution-of-nfts-to-create-unprecedented-advertising-outcomes-for-brands-301253318.html SOURCE SmartMedia Technologies [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Flash China on Monday announced sanctions against 10 individuals and four entities on the EU side, saying they had severely harmed China's sovereignty and interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation. The European Union (EU) imposed unilateral sanctions on relevant Chinese individuals and entity on March 22, citing the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang, said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson. The spokesperson said this move, based on nothing but lies and disinformation, disregards and distorts facts, grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, flagrantly breaches international law and basic norms governing international relations, and severely undermines China-EU relations. "China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this," said the spokesperson, adding that the Chinese government is firmly determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. According to the spokesperson, the individuals and entities to be sanctioned are Reinhard Butikofer, Michael Gahler, Raphael Glucksmann, Ilhan Kyuchyuk and Miriam Lexmann of the European Parliament, Sjoerd Wiemer Sjoerdsma of the Dutch Parliament, Samuel Cogolati of the Belgian Federal Parliament, Dovile Sakaliene of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, German scholar Adrian Zenz, Swedish scholar Bjorn Jerden, Political and Security Committee of the Council of the European Union, Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament, the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Germany, and the Alliance of Democracies Foundation in Denmark. The individuals concerned and their families are prohibited from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao of China, said the spokesperson, adding that they and companies and institutions associated with them are also restricted from doing business with China. "The Chinese side urges the EU side to reflect on itself, face squarely the severity of its mistake and redress it," said the spokesperson, urging the EU side to stop lecturing others on human rights and interfering in their internal affairs. The EU side must end the hypocritical practice of double standards and stop going further down the wrong path, the spokesperson added. "Otherwise, China will resolutely make further reactions," said the spokesperson. A ten-year-old boy has been reunited with his dog two months after he slipped his leash and went missing. Bruiser went running after rabbits during a walk on January 4 and didn't return to his home near Fort Meade, Florida. Video footage taken on his mother's phone shows the sweet moment Tyler Bandy was reunited with his dog when he bounded towards him in the kitchen of their home. Tyler's mother Bandy revealed the family had started 'to lose hope' their dog would ever be found after all their efforts to track him down failed. Video footage taken on his mother's phone shows Tyler Bandy, 10, being reunited with Bruiser when the dog bounds over to him in the kitchen of their home near Fort Meade, Florida The family posted on Facebook, left clothes carrying their scent out near their home and stuck flyers up promising a reward to anyone who found Bruiser. On March 4, Bandy said Highlands County Animal Control called with the news their dog had been brought in. Tyler's mother didn't tell her son the dog was returning home so his reaction was one of total surprise. As Bruiser ran towards him, Tyler threw his snack on the counter and fell to his knees to give the animal a hug as he said his dog's name in disbelief. Tyler's parents held Bruiser back as Tyler walked up the steps. When they let the dog go he ran full pelt towards the 10-year-old Bruiser's tail wags ferociously as he licks Tyler's face during the adorable reunion Bruiser's tail wagged ferociously as he licked Tyler's face during the adorable reunion. As Tyler looked up towards the camera the worry of the last two months fell in tears down his cheeks and he wailed as Bruiser lay in his lap to comfort him. Highlands Country Sheriff's Office shared the video online with the caption: 'Here is a special treat to send you into the weekend crying some happy tears.' They added: 'A couple of months ago, a family who lives near Fort Meade lost their dog after he ran off chasing a rabbit. 'Despite making all efforts to find him Facebook posts, calling Animal Control and Animal Services, leaving a towel outside so he may catch the scent, etc they could not find him. As Tyler looks up towards the camera the worry of the last two months falls in tears down his cheeks and he wails as Bruiser lays in his lap to comfort him 'Two months to the day after he was lost, they had pretty much given up hope of ever seeing their dog again. Thats when the phone rang. 'Turns out their dog had been picked up by somebody on their way to Highlands County and, after a couple of months, it wound up in the hands of our Animal Services folks. 'Teri Dosil at Animal Services thought the dog looked familiar and started digging through Facebook posts. Sure enough, it was the same dog. 'His name is Bruiser. To say Bruiser had a joyous homecoming would be putting it lightly. 'Tyler, who is 10, was simply overcome when his parents surprised him with his best friend. The two have been inseparable since then.' 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. Law enforcement officers sweep the area outside of a King Soopers grocery store, which was the site of a shooting in Boulder, Colo., on March 22, 2021. (Kevin Mohatt/Reuters) Gun in Boulder Supermarket Shooting Bought 6 Days Earlier: Documents The suspect in a mass shooting at the King Soopers supermarket in Colorado purchased a semi-automatic rifle just days before carrying out the attack, according to court filings. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, bought a Ruger AR-556 pistol on March 16, Boulder detective Sarah Cantu said in an arrest affidavit (pdf). The location of the purchase wasnt detailed. Ruger introduced the semi-automatic firearm in 2014, describing it as a M4-style modern sporting rifle. The romantic partner of Alissas oldest brother told officers that she had seen Alissa playing with a gun she thought looked like a machine gun about two days ago. Alissa was discussing having a bullet stuck in the gun and was playing with the firearm, which made two others in the house, whose names were redacted, upset. They took the gun, the partner said. Police officers were dispatched to a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder at approximately 2:40 p.m. on Monday after calls of a man with a gun. Witnesses described the man as possessing a black AR-15 and killing an elderly man in the grocery stores parking lot before entering the store and firing shots. One witness said the man shot out the window of a vehicle and pursued a man while another said the male was inside the grocery store before leaving. Yet another said the suspect was wearing an armored vest. Multiple callers were hiding in the store as the mass shooting unfolded. The suspect eventually surrendered to law enforcement, after allegedly gunning down nine more people, including police officer Eric Talley. A man leaves a bouquet on a police cruiser parked outside the Boulder Police Department after an officer was one of the victims of a mass shooting at a King Soopers grocery store, in Boulder, Colo., on March 23, 2021. (David Zalubowski/AP Photo) It was aired over the radio that the suspect put his gear down inside the King Soopers, Cantu wrote in the affidavit. A photograph of the items that the male removed on scene included a green tactical vest, a rifle (possible AR-15), a semiautomatic handgun, a pair of jeans, and a dark colored long sleeved-shirt. There was much blood around the items. Officers later found a green rifle case in the front passenger compartment of a black Mercedes C sedan, which was in the parking lot next to King Soopers and registered to a man believed to be a brother of the suspect. Alissa is facing 10 counts of first degree murder. He was treated at a hospital for injuries before being transferred to the Boulder County Jail at approximately 12:49 p.m. on Tuesday. Alissa was charged for third-degree assault in Arvada, about 20 miles southeast of Boulder, in 2018. David Snelling, an Arvada detective, told The Epoch Times via email that the Arvada Police Department has two criminal reports in reference to Allisa, one for a third-degree assault in 2017 and another for criminal mischief in 2018. The FBI is assisting authorities in the probe into the shooting. Officials told reporters during a press conference Tuesday that the investigation is in its early stages, and declined to share any of what Alissa has told them. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- President Joe Biden touted his recently signed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan package in Columbus on Tuesday in the new presidents first visit to Ohio since he took office in January. Biden appeared at the Ohio State University James Cancer Research and Treatment Center, recounting his administrations progress in overseeing the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 100 million Americans, including more than 2.8 million Ohioans who have gotten at least one dose. He urged Americans to get vaccines as part of their patriotic duty. He also plugged portions of the bill that temporarily boost subsidies for Obamacare health care plans, including broadening eligibility for the health care program, as well as the $1,400 direct payments, plus more that were available to financially eligible parents with dependent children. And, he plugged the 11th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010 by then-President Barack Obama while Biden was vice president. With the American Rescue Plan and the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans will be able to sleep a little more soundly at night because they wont have to worry about losing everything if they get sick, he said. Biden spoke for about 15 minutes. The event was closed to the public and the attendance was small, limited to a few Democratic members of Congress and doctors and other OSU employees. Besides the Ohio trip, Biden administration officials are visiting other key states including Florida, Iowa, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Nevada to boost the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Biden visited the hospital, his staff said, to highlight a $100 million ACA grant the hospital received in 2010 to upgrade its radiation oncology department. Biden mentioned his personal experience with cancer, including his son Beau, who died in 2015 at age 46. Before his speech, Biden toured the hospital with Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Columbus Democrat who also served as a warm-up speaker. Democratic Reps. Marcy Kaptur of Toledo and Tim Ryan of the Niles area also attended the event. Biden gave an attaboy to Ryan, whos considering a U.S. Senate bid in 2022: I always kid with Tim: If you gotta be in a foxhole, hes the kind of guy I want to be with. Before Bidens visit, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Paduchik called the appearance a public relations stunt, and said passing and signing the stimulus bill amounted to Democrats trying to win electoral votes. He said the president instead should focus on issues at the U.S.-Mexico border, which has seen a recent influx of migrants seeking asylum. Republicans generally have sought to steer the national conversation toward immigration issues, which they believe benefit them politically, and away from the $1,400 direct payments, a component of the bill that former President Donald Trump supported while he was in office. I think everything theyve done with this relief bill is to try to help them win election, Paduchik said. I dont think theyre going to be successful with that in Ohio. I dont think Ohio voters feel too kindly about their votes being purchased with their own money. While the $1,400 direct payments and expanded unemployment insurance have gotten most of the attention for the American Rescue Plan, the bill also has major implications for the Affordable Care Act. The changes will broaden eligibility for the subsidized Obamacare plans, newly including an estimated 3 million Americans. They are expected to add $34 billion over 10 years to the federal deficit, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Democratic-controlled Congress passed the $1.9 trillion relief bill with no Republican support. Republicans criticized the bills largesse and said it included many components that werent directly related to fighting the COVID pandemic. Asked about Bidens visit earlier on Tuesday, Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican, said: Im glad hes coming to Ohio. Hell be going to James Cancer Center, which is a magnificent health care research facility and treatment facility. Were lucky to have them. Im understanding hes going to talk about the ACA expansion, thats in the COVID-19 package. My concern on that, which I expressed at the time, is its increasing the subsidy for people who are well above the poverty line. In fact, over 400% of poverty, and I would have targeted it much more, Portman said. Biden landed in Columbus shortly before 2:30 p.m. Among those who greeted him at the airport were Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, and Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine. Also there was Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, a Democrat who is considering a bid for governor in 2022. Whaley said she and the president talked about the COVID relief bill and then snapped a selfie. I thanked him for the rescue plan. I told him mayors will continue to stand in partnership with the White House and work with him. And he told me how much he loves mayors, Whaley said. Also on the runway was Rich Cordray, a Democrat and former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau who ran and lost against DeWine in 2018, Columbus City Attorney Zack Klein, a former Biden aide who is vying for a U.S. Attorney job, and Jeni Britton Bauer, owner of Jenis Ice Cream, the Columbus-based brand. A group of about 10 demonstrators with shirts and flags attacking Biden and supporting Trump gathered outside the hospital a few hours before the presidents appearance. Most declined to identify themselves, but several said they traveled from Stark County, where they said they were involved with pressuring county commissioners to block the local board of elections attempts to buy Dominion voting machines. Cleveland.com / Plain Dealer reporter Sabrina Eaton contributed to this story. Labour has called on the government to ensure proper legal action is being taken against UK companies found to be doing business with overseas PPE suppliers accused of abhorrent modern slavery practices. Bill Esterson MP, the shadow minister for international trade, has written to the attorney general seeking assurances that the Crown Prosecution Services (CPS) will continue to prosecute all instances of modern slavery in the private sector. This follows a series of reports by The Independent which showed the government has repeatedly sourced PPE from companies in Malaysia facing modern slavery allegations, despite promises to crack down on suppliers accused of labour abuses. It was also revealed that Whitehall had identified companies suspected of forced labour as long ago as November 2019 with further concerns about Malaysian glove suppliers highlighted by a UK diplomat during the peak of the pandemic. Millions of items made by companies such as Brightway Holdings, Top Glove and Supermax have been provided to the NHS throughout the crisis, as demand soared in hospitals pushed to the brink by Covid-19. All three firms have said they comply with Malaysian labour regulations. Read More: In his letter to Michael Ellis QC MP, the attorney general, Mr Esterson wrote: If the government cannot even eradicate modern slavery from its own supply chains, how can we trust your department to properly prosecute companies trading in the UK who are engaging in these same abhorrent practices? He also urged Mr Ellis to consult with the Cabinet Office, which has been involved in the procurement of personal protective equipment, to ensure that all existing and future PPE contracts comply with the highest standards of labour regulations. I am sure that you will agree that the UKs recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic must not be built on the backs of slave labour, and that the UK must remain committed to human rights throughout the whole supply chain, he added. The attorney general is the governments principal legal adviser and deals with questions of international law, human rights and devolution. They can superintend the discharge of duties by the director of public prosecutions, who heads the CPS, and the director of the Serious Fraud Office. A spokesperson for the office said it was unable to provide comment on Mr Estersons letter. Just five months after the Home Office announced powerful new measures to tackle modern slavery risks in the UKs supply chains, The Independent found that healthcare workers are using medical gloves manufactured by Brightway Holdings. The company, one of the worlds largest manufacturers of rubber gloves, is being investigated by Malaysias labour department over claims that hundreds of the firms workers were forced to live in squalid conditions in metal shipping containers. Brightway is facing 30 charges and a fine over the alleged failure to comply with housing standards for workers. It said the workers had been housed in hostels, acknowledged there was congestion, and said it was improving employee living conditions. In November 2019 long before the pandemic took hold the Home Office produced a report on the glove-manufacturing industry in Malaysia that concluded corruption is endemic in the recruitment systems of Malaysia and migrant worker source countries, and touches every part of the recruitment supply chain. Mr Esterson told The Independent: The government must make sure it isnt buying PPE made with slave labour. Otherwise, they are just confirming that the Conservatives will always put commercial interests ahead of human rights. He also highlighted how the government had voted down an amendment to the Trade Bill which would have stopped the UK trading with any country guilty of genocide. The vote came after the House of Lords passed amendments targeted at preventing a deal with China while it remains under accusation of committing genocide against the Uighur Muslims of Xinjiang province three times. The so-called genocide amendment to the governments Trade Bill was defeated by 318 votes to 300 in the House of Commons, despite passionate speeches in its favour from Tory MPs. Nusrat Uddin, a lawyer specialising in trafficking and labour abuses, said that the government needed to improve transparency in UK supply chains and that the Modern Slavery Act 2015 was not fit for purpose. The act requires certain companies, and soon public bodies, to publish steps they have taken to tackle modern slavery in their supply chains, she told The Independent earlier this month. However, there are no set standards upon which those steps are assessed, and so even if companies are taking ineffective measures, they still fulfil government requirements. A spokesperson for the government said: All those who sub-contract orders of equipment for the NHS must fully understand their supply chains and operate responsibly. We will not award contracts to those who fall below these standards. A scene from the 747 plane crash sequence from Warner Bros. Pictures' action epic "Tenet." (Warner Bros. Pictures) Writer-director Christopher Nolans Tenet is spun from the thread of criminal espionage where John David Washington plays a charismatic super-spy on a mission to save the world. But instead of high-tech cars or disguises to outwit his antagonist (menacingly played by Kenneth Branagh), his cape is time inversion, which allows him to move backward in time while the rest of the world around him keeps moving forward. Its Chris Nolan on steroids, almost, says visual effects supervisor Andrew Jackson, whos been nominated for an Oscar and Visual Effects Society Award for the film. Its an extreme version of playing with the idea of time, he says of writer-director Christopher Nolan's September release. Director-Producer Christopher Nolan blocks out the logistics of the lengthy car chase scene with the crew on the set of "Tenet." (Melinda Sue Gordon/Warner Bros.) Reading the script, Jackson recognized that it was going to take effort to determine the look. It wasnt in the cards to simply present forward action and reverse it, or have effects that feel like fantasy. For Tenet, visuals had to tout an unusualness that was grounded in the real world. The philosophy for the VFX was rooted in in-camera shooting to harness compositing or CG only when necessary. Jackson, who started out in practical effects before moving into visual effects, was comfortable sitting between the two worlds, and with Nolan having involved key departments early on, including special effects supervisor Scott Fisher, they could discuss ideas at length. The cast and crew with a camera atop one of the cars preps to shoot the lengthy car chase which sees its vehicles moving both forwards and backwards in time in "Tenet." (Melinda Sue Gordon/Warner Bros.) Early conversations leaned into how objects or people would move backward in time. On screen, an inverted person moves backward, but from their perspective, they are traveling forward, and the world around them is moving in reverse. The discussions were like exercising a muscle you never used before. We needed to be able to visualize the forward and backward events together while at the same time thinking about the point of view on an inverted observer, Jackson notes. The impetus for approaching more ambitious scenes came from the 3-D previs that Jackson designed on a laptop. One sequence was a pulse-pounding car chase (shot in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia) that had action moving forward and backward in a ticking will-they-get-away thrill ride. The previs, or digital preview of the action, became an integral resource for Nolan and team as a way to check if the story points were chronologically correct. It was a difficult scene to figure out, because the audience not only sees it once normally but also later on in the film in reverse. With the previs, we could scrub through the sequence to make sure it all made sense logically from any point in time and from anyones perspective, he explains. Story continues John David Washington and Elizabeth Debicki in the car sequence in "Tenet." The car chase sees its vehicles and characters moving both forwards and backwards in time. (Melinda Sue Gordon/Warner Bros.) Another weighty scene involved crashing a real 747 airplane. That was a huge one, Jackson says. Our initial thought was to create it with miniatures and CG, but because we had to a do a scene leading up to the crash earlier, it worked out so that we could build the set and generate the full-sized crash. To pull off the sequence, it was shot at an airport in Victorville, Calif., using a decommissioned plane that was restored for the film. Production built the set piece that the plane would crash into, and then visual effects enhanced the explosion and cleaned up other areas to the single-take shot. We added some CG trees that were sucked into the engine reacting to the blast and tidied up the fence line and removed all the tow ropes, but the meat of the shot was in camera, Jackson says. It wasnt only the crew that needed to think palindromic. Actors and stunt teams learned their actions both forward and backward as well. The key to any scene, especially fighting sequences, was figuring out what was the most difficult thing to do backward. Whatever that was, it would be filmed forward and the footage reversed in post. Director/writer/producer Christopher Nolan on the set of the aftermath of the 747 plane crash scene in "Tenet." (Melinda Sue Gordon/Warner Bros.) For instance, if someone was falling down, that action couldn't be performed in reverse, so it would be filmed in forward motion. Then the actor playing opposite the actor falling would perform his own actions backward to create the scene. This allowed postproduction to keep the action as it plays out, or reverse it, depending on where it landed in the story. This was evident during the climactic battle sequence. Among the chaos is one of Jacksons favorite moments, where the VFX team got to explode and implode a building at the same time. To piece it together, two exact buildings were constructed and blown up from matching camera angles so they could reverse the action of one of them and composite the two elements together to achieve the effect. A scene from the climactic battle sequence from "Tenet." (Warner Bros. Pictures) Its a good example of one of the uses where we had to add CG components to the top of the building falling, because the dust from the plate explosion was so strong you couldnt see the building anymore. It was a big job but still based on visual effects and how we have to tidy things up. Even for such an imposing concept, the visual effects team needed to turn over only about 300 shots, far less than any current superhero film. That number is not unusual for Chris, Jackson says. Figuring out ways to shoot real effects is ideal. If we dont have to do any work in post, it will be that much more pleasant for him. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. But it turns out the company was presenting a different data set than one that the independent oversight board overseeing the trial expected, with a higher efficacy rate, Noah said. The experts said in a highly unusual letter to the company that the vaccines efficacy might have been between 69 percent and 74 percent. The real efficacy rate wasnt likely that much lower, but it showed that the companys representatives and independent experts monitoring the trial were on different pages, Noah said. With such an important trial and product, officials were shocked by the discrepancy. What has AstraZeneca said? The company defended the data it released yesterday. The company said that results were based on interim data that was current as of Feb. 17. AstraZeneca added that it had collected more data since then and that the new data appeared to be consistent with the interim data. The company said it would immediately share its latest efficacy data with the independent panel of experts and reissue fuller results within 48 hours. What about side effects from the vaccine? The experts questioned only the data that demonstrated the vaccines effectiveness. AstraZeneca reported that its study turned up no serious safety issues though experts say no clinical trial is large enough to rule out extremely rare side effects. What have public health experts said? Scientists have said that the problem could yet turn out to be a technical matter that does not change their assessment of the vaccine. Yesterdays filing is really what you call an unforced error, said Dr. Anthony Fauci. The fact is: This is very likely a very good vaccine. However, he noted that the confusion could cast some doubt about the vaccines and maybe contributes to the hesitancy. Whats the fallout from this blunder? As my colleague Benjamin Mueller reported from London, it has further eroded confidence across Europe, where many countries stopped administering the AstraZeneca vaccine because a very small number of recipients had developed unusual blood clots. Penguin Random House's 1.45billion takeover of a US publishing rival is to be probed amid concerns it will create a 'books behemoth'. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it is investigating the purchase of Simon & Schuster, which was announced following an auction last year. Regulators will consider before May 19 whether the takeover could result in a 'substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the UK'. If the CMA presses ahead with more in-depth probes, it could ultimately result in restrictions being placed on the deal - or see it blocked outright. Through Penguin, German parent firm Bertelsmann last year outbid Rupert Murdoch's News Corp in a contest to buy Simon & Schuster, the publisher of Dan Brown, Hillary Clinton and Stephen King. S&S is being sold by Viacom, which put on the block last year. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it is investigating the purchase of Simon & Schuster, which was announced following an auction last year. Pictured: Barack Obama's book was published by PRH Regulators will consider before May 19 whether the takeover could result in a 'substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the UK'. Pictured: Margaret Atwood has books published by PRH If the CMA presses ahead with more in-depth probes, it could ultimately result in restrictions being placed on the deal - or see it blocked outright. Pictured: Zadie Smith has books published by PRH The deal would cement Bertelsmann as the world's biggest bookseller after the 185-year-old publisher took full control of the 2.5billion Penguin Random House from Pearson in 2019. It will also mean that the number of large mainstream publishing houses will go down from five to just four in the US. Thomas Rabe, Bertelsmann's boss, has insisted the merged entity will have a US market share of less than 20 per cent, making the transaction 'approvable'. But other industry figures see the deal very differently, with News Corp boss Robert Thomson claiming Bertelsmann is 'buying market dominance as a book behemoth' and that it had an 'anti-market logic'. The Authors Guild also warned last year the deal would mean fewer competing bidders for manuscripts - giving Bertelsmann more bargaining power and raising the spectre it could squeeze writers with lower pay. Chief Executive of the Society of Authors Nicola Solomon told the Guardian: 'The deal will make Penguin Random House the biggest publisher by quite a long way, and it already is the biggest. Through Penguin, German parent firm Bertelsmann last year outbid Rupert Murdoch's News Corp in a contest to buy Simon & Schuster, the publisher of Dan Brown, Hillary Clinton (pictured) and Stephen King Best-selling fiction writer Stephen King (pictured) has books published by Simon & Schuster The deal would cement Bertelsmann as the world's biggest bookseller after the 185-year-old publisher took full control of Penguin Random House from Pearson in 2019. Pictured: Ernest Hemingway whose books have been published by Simon & Schuster 'We have nothing against the practices of either company but combined there is that potential for market dominance. 'Our concern is just that it isn't in anyone's interest to have someone in a monopoly position.' Penguin, the world's biggest trade publishing group, has more than 15,000 new publications and sells more than 600million books a year. A huge police procession was held on Monday night after Boulder Police officer Eric Talley was the first victim named in the deadly mass shooting at a Colorado supermarket. Talley, 51, was fatally shot alongside nine others at around 2:30pm after responding to reports of an armed man opening fire inside a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder, Colorado. Boulder Police chief Maris Herold confirmed that Talley was the first officer on the scene after quickly responding to the reports, and praised his actions in a press conference. I have to tell you the heroic action of this officer when he responded to the scene, Ms Herold said on Monday evening. Officer Talley responded to the scene, was first on the scene, and he was fatally shot, she continued, adding that he responded after a phone call about a possible person with a patrol rifle. Read more: Boulder County district attorney Michael Dougherty also paid tribute to Talley at the press conference, saying: My work goes out to Eric Talleys family, his loved ones and his colleagues. He added: He was by all accounts, one of the outstanding officers of the police department and his life was cut for too short as he responded to the shooting that was taking place. I also want to stress how incredibly sorry I am for all the victims who were killed in case. These were people going about their day doing their job. Their lives were cut abruptly and tragically short by the shooter. A huge police procession was then held at around 7:45pm on Monday, as emergency crews travelled alongside the ambulance transporting Talleys body from the supermarket to a local funeral home. Stunning footage captured from the event showed local officers and emergency crews saluting the passing ambulance as the fallen soldier was transported through the city. Talley, who had been with the department since 2010, leaves behind a widow and seven children, the oldest of which is 20-years-old and the youngest just the age of 7, his father Homer Talley told KUSA after he was identified. His father said that he was not surprised that Talley was the first at the scene, but revealed that he had been looking at changing careers to something safer, adding that he loved his family more than anything. He was looking for a job to keep himself off of the front lines and was learning to be a drone operator. He didnt want to put his family through something like this, he said. Talleys younger sister Kristen Stillwell also shared her grief in a Twitter post early Tuesday morning, writing that his death is a devastating loss. My heart is broken. I cannot explain how beautiful he was, she wrote. Fly high my sweet brother. You always wanted to be a pilot (damn color blindness). Soar. Ms Stillwell added. Several elected state officials paid tribute to Talley and the nine other victims following the shooting, with Colorado senator John Hickenlooper writing in a statement that our state grieves tonight. He added: We mourn ten more Coloradans senselessly killed by gun violence including police officer Eric Talley. Our thoughts are with the victims loved ones, and we are grateful to the frontline workers and first responders whose bravery saved lives. While Boulder mayor Sam Weaver wrote in a separate statement: Words can do no justice to the tragedy that has unfolded this afternoon. Our community will soon grieve our losses, and begin our healing. Our brave police officers and first responders have the gratitude of our entire city. There have been several mass shootings in Colorado over the last 25 years, with one in 1999 at Columbine High School and another in 2012 at an Aurora movie theatre capturing national attention and sparking calls for gun control reforms. The police have not yet named the other nine victims or the suspect taken into custody following the tragic shooting on Monday. Boulder Police are scheduled to give an update at 8:30am on Tuesday. "We were looking for a management company that could help us navigate some necessary improvements and restorations. After a thorough and exhaustive evaluation process, we decided to partner with FirstService Residential, said Michael Parris, board president at Sea Summit. FirstService Residential, North Americas leading community management company, was awarded the management contract for Sea Summit at Marblehead Homeowners Association in San Clemente, California. FirstService Residential started managing the 309-unit single-family home community on March 1, 2021. Sea Summit at Marblehead Homeowners Association is located on the Marblehead Coastal ridge. The community was built in 2015 and is surrounded by 116 acres of restored habitat, with four well-defined neighborhoods. Sea Summit homes feature Spanish-inspired designs and provide residents with ocean views and nearby beach access. "We were looking for a management company that could help us navigate some necessary improvements and restorations. After a thorough and exhaustive evaluation process, we decided to partner with FirstService Residential, said Michael Parris, board president at Sea Summit. We are excited to work with a property management company that has seasoned professionals, access to best-in-class vendors and technology to facilitate timely communications and issue resolutions for our property owners." Sea Summit residents have access to four miles of walking trails and a variety of amenities, including a clubhouse, resort-style pool, spa, fitness center, barbecues and outdoor fireplace. The community is located close to popular dining and shopping attractions, including the Outlets at San Clemente. About FirstService Residential FirstService Residential is North Americas property management leader, partnering with 8,500 communities across the U.S. and Canada, including low-, mid- and high-rise condominiums and cooperatives; single-family communities; master-planned, lifestyle and active adult communities; and mixed-use and rental properties. HOAs, community associations, condos and strata corporations rely on their extensive experience, resources and local expertise to maximize property values and enhance their residents lifestyles. Dedicated to making a difference, every day, FirstService Residential goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional service. FirstService Residential is a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation (FSV), a North American leader in the property services sector. For more information, visit http://www.fsresidential.com/california. German Chancellor Angela Merkel holds her mask at a news conference after a meeting with state leaders to discuss options beyond the end of the pandemic lockdown, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Berlin, Germany, on March 23, 2021. (Michael Kappeler/Pool via Reuters) Germanys Merkel Banks on Easter Circuit-Breaker to Combat New Pandemic BERLINGermany is extending its lockdown until April 18 and calling on citizens to stay at home for five days over the Easter holidays to try to break a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chancellor Angela Merkel said early on Tuesday. In talks that ran deep into the night, Merkel pushed the leaders of Germanys 16 states to take a tougher stance to fight the pandemic, reversing plans for a gradual re-opening of the economy agreed earlier this month after a sharp rise in the infection rate. A man walks along a closed shop at the main shopping street Hohe Strasse amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Cologne, Germany, on March 18, 2021. (Thilo Schmuelgen/Reuters) We are now basically in a new pandemic. The British mutation has become dominant, Merkel told a news conference. Fundamentally, we face a new virus of the same kind but with very different characteristics. More deadly, more infectious, and infectious for longer. Germany started cautiously easing restrictions earlier this month. But the spread of more infectious variants of the virus has pushed up cases, prompting concerns that hospitals could soon be overstretched without further curbs. The number of cases per 100,000 people over a week stood at 107 on Monday, above the level at which intensive care units will be overwhelmed. More than 3,000 people with COVID-19 are in intensive care. An AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is prepared at the local vaccination center as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Hagen, Germany, on March 19, 2021. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters) On Monday, Britain demanded the European Union allow the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines it has ordered as tensions over a possible export ban on EU-manufactured shots mounted and Brussels pointed an accusing finger at drugmaker AstraZeneca. After falling far behind post-Brexit Britain and the United States in rolling out vaccines, EU leaders are due to discuss a possible ban on vaccine exports to Britain at a summit on Thursday. We have a problemthat was knownwith AstraZeneca, Merkel said, adding that she supported the European Commission. We will decide responsibly. For five days from April 1, Germans are to stay at home and reduce contacts as much as possible. But the late-night agreement did not include a closing of all stores, including essential shops like supermarkets, which Merkel had called for. Big family gatherings will be banned over the holidays, with no more than two households, or up to five people, being allowed to meet. The government will ask churches to hold any Easter services online to avoid gatherings. Economists said the extension of Germanys lockdown measures would delay a much hoped-for recovery in Europes largest economy from spring until early summer. Easter Travel Talks had dragged on for hours as Merkel and state leaders were at loggerheads over whether to ease restrictions on domestic travel over the Easter holiday season. Germans can travel freely even amid the pandemic, but hotels and holiday resorts in the country are not allowed to rent rooms to tourists. That leaves travel abroad as the only option for those who are desperate to go on holidays. We advise against all travel abroad, Merkel said. Airlines will now be responsible for ensuring all travelers and crew are tested for the coronavirus prior to departure to Germany, regardless of the infection rate in the country they have visited. But Merkel and the state leaders stopped short of imposing mandatory quarantine for all returning travelers, a relief for holiday destinations such as Spains Mallorca that are banking on a boost from Easter travel business. Merkel said Germany was in a race against time to vaccinate its population before new coronavirus variants took over. Some 9 percent of Germans have received at least one shot of vaccine, but the pace of vaccinations is expected to pick up next month. Things are tough longer than we had expected, but there is very clearly light at the end of the tunnel, Merkel said. By Andreas Rinke Financial situations worsening for consumers has been widely discussed amid the Covid-19 pandemic. However, many consumers managed to bypass this financial squeeze and have incidentally become efficient savers. This trend should not be overlooked by tourism companies which need to realise that not all travelers will be wanting a budget-friendly option for their next holiday, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. With saved cash that has accumulated during the pandemic, many travellers may be planning to spend more than usual on their next trip. According to GlobalDatas survey, when global respondents were asked if they were concerned about their personal financial situation, 13% stated that they were not concerned. Although this is still significantly less than the 34% that stated they are extremely concerned, it means that over one in ten of the global travel market could be financially unaffected by the pandemic and have even saved a considerable amount. Ralph Hollister, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: Many of the travellers that make up this 13% are likely to be white-collar workers that can work effectively at home. Due to spending the vast majority of their time being confined to their homes in the past year, the urge to travel would have built up. This urge, combined with a significant increase in savings, could mean that many of these travelers will have developed a treat yourself mentality, to combat the impact of the pandemic which has increased boredom and frustration for many. This mentality could be present as these consumers start planning their next holiday, which could result in them spending more on room upgrades, business class flights and higher quality rental vehicles. As well as saving money on commuting, eating out and on other recreational activities, many of these consumers who have been unaffected by the pandemic have also saved by not booking a holiday last year, or by having their cancelled trip refunded. This could mean that for their next trip, they will go bigger and better on more luxurious travel services and products. This trend could also be driven by a now or never mentality, as when travelers have the opportunity to go on holiday, they will spend significantly more and stay for longer in case another situation like the Covid-19 pandemic reoccurs, Hollister said. -TradeArabia News Service Figure Skating - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Ice Dance free dance competition final - Gangneung, South Korea (Photo : REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo) American ice dancers Maia and Alex Shibutani, the first duo of Asian descent to win Olympic medals in the sport, said last week's shootings near Atlanta had made the wider public more aware of reports of a growing number of attacks faced by Asian Americans. Eight people, six of whom were Asian women, were killed in the March 16 rampage and a 21-year-old white man has been charged with the homicides. Police are still investigating the motive. Advertisement Over the last year, there has been an increase in reports of anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States, which Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community leaders say is due to Asian Americans being blamed for the coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. "There has been awareness and concern from within the AAPI community, but it has felt like the collective call for allyship and help wasn't widely acknowledged until the tragedy on the 16th," Alex Shibutani told Reuters. "With the pandemic, it is already prudent to be careful, but the unpredictability of these attacks is yet another thing for the AAPI community to be scared of," said Maia, Alex's sister and ice dancing partner. The Shibutanis, nicknamed the 'Shib Sibs,' took home two bronze medals at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, raising their profile and helping them forge stronger ties with the greater AAPI community. "We feel and embrace the responsibility that comes with our platform and believe in supporting all marginalized communities," Alex said. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta and in other major U.S. cities over the weekend in support of the Asian-American community. 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. The Shibutanis urged financial support for organizations like the AAPI Community Fund, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and the Gold House, as well as the families directly impacted by the shootings. Additionally, the pair is encouraging people to sign up for bystander intervention training. "Our hope for the next generation of young people in this country is that, coming out of the pandemic, we lead with compassion and understanding," Alex said. "Social change is important and necessary. Between the Black Lives Matter movement and now #StopAsianHate, we hope for support amongst all communities." AG Nessel Calls On U.S. Attorney General To Close Ghost Gun Loophole AG Nessel Calls On U.S. Attorney General To Close Ghost Gun Loophole Kelly Rossman-McKinney 517-512-9342 Attorney General March 23, 2021 LANSING- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined 17 other attorneys general in issuing a letter calling on U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to close the loophole in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) interpretation of the federal Gun Control Act that allows criminals, domestic abusers, and other prohibited purchasers of firearms to evade common-sense gun laws and purchase 80 percent receivers, which can be easily assembled into un-serialized and untraceable ghost guns. Ghost guns typically start as "80 percent receivers" that are often sold in kits without background checks. Currently, ATF's interpretation allows 80 percent receiver kits to be sold online and at gun shows throughout the country without background checks. They are also not required to use serial numbers, making them untraceable by law enforcement after being assembled. "This loophole is particularly concerning as it allows purchasers to circumvent common sense gun laws," Nessel said. "These weapons should be subject to the same regulations that all other firearms already are." The attorneys general are calling on U.S. Attorney General Garland to issue a new interpretation of the Gun Control Act that will include 80 percent receivers in the category of firearms that require background checks. Attorney General Nessel is joined by the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai'i, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington in issuing this letter. The regulation of these ghost guns is a priority for the Department. Attorney General Nessel previously joined a coalition in support of states' right to enforce laws against 3D-printed ghost gun files. In addition, Nessel joined a coalition in urging the ATF to properly regulate ghost guns. Former subpostmasters who say they were wrongly implicated over the Post Office's defective Horizon IT system have said they feel their bid to overturn their convictions represents "the beginning of the end". (Nick Ansell/PA) Former subpostmasters who say they were wrongly implicated over the Post Office's defective Horizon IT system have said they feel their bid to overturn their convictions represents "the beginning of the end". Postal workers attending the Royal Courts of Justice yesterday described the relief of having their appeals heard. Janet Skinner (50), who was jailed for nine months in 2007 after pleading guilty to false accounting, said: "It feels like the beginning of the end here today. "Obviously we don't know which way it's going to go, it's in the hands of the judges now. "But did I think I would ever get to this stage? No. So it's important for me to be here. We just want to clear our names. "The Post Office feels like too big a company to be messing with when you're on your own. "They portrayed themselves as this most trusted British company, and they were not." Miss Skinner, from Hull, described her prison ordeal as awful. She said: "It was not a good time for me. I had two teenage children at the time and so I refused to let them see me in jail. "I didn't want them to have a memory of that. It was tough." The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) referred the cases of 42 former subpostmasters to the Court of Appeal last year, following a landmark civil case against the Post Office. They had all been prosecuted by Post Office Limited between 2000 and 2013. Former subpostmaster Nicki Arch said: "I was one of the first, I was part of the rollout for the Horizon system in 1999 and in 2001 my case was heard at Bristol Crown Court. "Obviously, I totally refused to do a deal, although I was offered one, and had my own barristers and I pleaded not guilty. I was in front of a jury, had a full four-day trial and was proved innocent." She added: "I was proved innocent in 2001 ... and the Post Office did not learn a single thing. They carried on and carried on and I got nothing. "I lost my house, I lost my business, I lost my health and everything else and I thought, 'Well, I might just save one person from going through what I did'. "Instead, over 1,000 others have gone through it." Ms Arch claimed: "They (the Post Office) knew on the first rollout, on the first crown court hearing, that the equipment was at fault and there was no one, including myself, that had done anything wrong and they carried on anyway." She added: "If they had learned their lesson from the judge at Bristol Crown Court in 2001, we would not have wasted all this time and taxpayers' money now." Advertisement Britain today recorded a slight uptick in both coronavirus cases and deaths despite scientists hailing separate data that suggested the second wave may be over. Department of Health bosses posted 5,379 infections, which is up 1.6 per cent from last Tuesday. But cases have yet to take off amid a huge testing boost and warnings they would shoot up when schools reopened in England on March 8. Another 112 victims were also added to the official toll, a week on-week rise of 1.8 per cent. Day-to-day figures fluctuate, however, and the overall trend is still heading downward thanks to tough lockdown restrictions and the UK's successful vaccine roll-out, which has now seen 28.3million Britons jabbed. Separate data from the Office for National Statistics today showed England and Wales suffered no excess deaths for the first time since August last week, after they dipped 4.4 per cent below the five-year average. Deaths were also below the levels expected in all regions except the East Midlands. Professor Neil Ferguson the Government adviser and Imperial College London epidemiologist whose grim modelling spooked ministers into the first lockdown a year ago today said the ONS data showed 'the second devastating wave of the pandemic is behind us'. But Professor Chris Whitty warned today Britain will 'definitely' face a third surge. England's chief medical officer told a conference of local government officials: 'There will definitely be another surge at some point whether it's before winter or next winter, we don't know.' It comes after Boris Johnson led tributes to the 126,000 Covid victims today and Brits stood for a minute's silent to remember those who had their lives 'tragically cut short' on the anniversary of the first lockdown. Striking an optimistic tone in a Downing Street press conference tonight on the anniversary of the first lockdown, the Prime Minister insisted that the UK is moving 'step by step, jab by jab' towards 'reclaiming our freedoms'. He tried to reassure the public and restive Tory MPs that the 'roadmap' dates for easing restrictions are still on track, even though anxiety has been rising about vaccine supplies amid delays and a spat with the EU. Department of Health bosses posted 5,379 infections, which is up 1.6 per cent from last Tuesday. Cases have remained steady over the past few days, but this has been put down to the number of tests being done almost doubling Another 112 victims were also added to the official toll, a week on-week rise of 1.8 per cent. The overall trend for deaths is, however, still heading downwards The number of Covid swabs carried out daily in the UK has more than doubled, as students and staff test themselves twice a week to ensure any outbreaks of the virus are quickly snuffed out Vaccination figures also show another 329,897 first doses were administered today, taking the total to 28.3million. And a further 82,300 second doses were dished out, as the UK approaches its deadline for handing them out en masse Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at a Downing Street press conference tonight that 'at the right moment' a permanent memorial to those who died from coronavirus will be built and the 'whole period' will be commemorated It comes after separate data from the Office for National Statistics led experts to suggest the second wave was at an end, after it showed the number of fatalities from all causes (red bars) fell below the average expected (blue) last week And as Boris Johnson took part in a minute's silence for the victims of Covid-19 in the Cabinet room on the anniversary of the UK's first lockdown to beat the virus. The Queen has also paid tribute to the more than 120,000 victims Staff observe a minute's silence outside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow at midday today Sombre Boris Johnson marks exactly a year since he plunged England into lockdown Boris Johnson tonight insisted the UK is moving 'step by step, jab by jab' towards 'reclaiming our freedoms' as he marked the anniversary of the first lockdown. At a Downing Street briefing, the PM tried to strike an optimistic note about the prospects for getting back to normal - despite paying tribute to those who have lost their lives. He tried to reassure the public and restive Tory MPs that the 'roadmap' dates for easing restrictions are still on track, even though anxiety has been rising about vaccine supplies amid delays and a spat with the EU. Mr Johnson, flanked by medical and science chiefs Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance, also expressed humility about what he would have done differently if he could repeat the last 12 months. The premier suggested that if the government had been aware the extent to which Covid could be transmitted asymptomatically it would have taken another approach. Meanwhile, Prof Whitty delivered a stark message that the disease was probably going to be with the human race forever, as the chances of eradicating it were near 'zero'. Advertisement On the anniversary of the first lockdown: Queen leads solemn salute to the 126,172 killed by the virus and the 'grief and loss that continues to be felt by so many one'; William lights a candle and Kate lays daffodils to remember victims on visit to Westminster Abbey; New York Covid variant spotted in Britain 'does not pose a threat' because it doesn't have jab-resistant mutations, infectious diseases expert says; Ex-Cabinet minister David Davis says vaccine passports could be illegal and warns pubs, theatres and stadiums could run 'straight into a court case' if they were to use the 'no jab, no entry' rule; As Matt Hancock confirms Covid jab will be made compulsory for care home staff; While France and Germany back plans to halt exports of AstraZeneca jabs from the continent amid growing row over doses made in the Netherlands; And AstraZeneca hits back at US health officials who accused it of providing 'outdated information'. Department of Health figures today showed 38 local authorities across the country now have an infection rate below 20 cases per 100,000 people. Only one area the Orkney islands recorded no cases in the most recent week. It was followed by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in Scotland (3.7 per 100,000), North Devon (7.2 per 100,000), and South Hams also in Devon (8 per 100,000). On the other hand Barnsley had the country's highest infection rate (196.1 per 100,000), while Corby had the second highest (189.7 per 100,000) and West Lothian had the third highest (178 per 100,000). Separate figures from the ONS today suggested that Britain's second wave may have come to an end after almost three months of gruelling lockdown measures. There were 10,987 deaths in the week to March 12, which was a 4.4 per cent drop from the five-year average (11,498). More than 200,000 pupils are self-isolating at home, figures reveal More than nine in 10 pupils attended schools in England last week - but a growing number of children were self-isolating at home due to possible contact with Covid-19 cases, Government figures show. Attendance in state schools last week was the highest it has been at any point during the pandemic, the Department for Education (DfE) analysis shows. But the data suggests that 169,000 pupils were out of class and self-isolating on Thursday last week due to potential contact with a case of coronavirus. The DfE estimates that approximately 2 per cent of all state school pupils on roll - up to 201,000 children - did not attend school for Covid-19 related reasons on March 18, up from 1 per cent on March 11. This includes 127,000 pupils who have been self-isolating due to a potential contact with a Covid-19 case from inside the educational setting, and a further 42,000 pupils were self-isolating due to a possible contact outside of school. Meanwhile, 21,000 pupils were absent because they suspected they had Covid-19, 7,000 were off after testing positive for Covid-19, and 4,000 were absent as their school was closed due to Covid-19 reasons. Secondary schools in England were given flexibility to stagger the return of their pupils between March 8 and 12 as these students are being asked to take voluntary Covid-19 tests on site as part of their return. Overall, attendance in state schools was 91 per cent on March 18, up from 89 per cent on March 11 - when some secondary schools were still phasing in the return of pupils due to the logistics of mass testing. Advertisement Deaths from all causes dipped below the five-year average last week, which statisticians use to estimate how many people would be expected to die in any given week. They had predicted fatalities could fall below this level by Easter because the Covid outbreak was shrinking quickly thanks to shutdown measures and the smooth vaccine roll-out. Experts also said deaths were front-loaded because so many elderly and vulnerable people fell victim to the disease last spring. Across England, all regions registered fewer deaths than expected except the East Midlands, which had 12 more fatalities than the 987 predicted. Professor Ferguson, a top epidemiologist and No10 adviser at Imperial College London, said the figures were an encouraging sign that the UK had now exited the second wave. 'But calling epidemics 'waves' can be misleading, in implying a phenomenon which has reached a natural end,' he said. 'That is not the case here. The rapid decline in deaths we've thankfully seen is entirely because of the lockdown and the rapid roll-out of vaccines. 'So, while I'm optimistic that this we will be able to return to something more like normal in the next few months, we need to remain vigilant and cautious in the pace with which social distancing is relaxed particularly given the threat still posed by new variants of the virus.' Professor Kevin McConway, a statistician at the Open University, said it was 'excellent' to see deaths had fallen below the five-year average. He said: 'This fall in the total number of deaths is almost entirely because deaths involving Covid have fallen very considerably.' 'Some of this will be from the continuing effects of lockdown... but a considerable proportion of the fall in deaths involving Covid-19 must be because of vaccinations.' It comes as Professor Whitty warned today that Britain will 'definitely' face a third surge in the virus in the coming months, and that there will be 'bumps along the road' as the UK lifts social distancing rules and slowly returns to normality in the coming months. His comments echoed that of fellow SAGE experts, who say a third coronavirus wave is inevitable and that allowing holidays to Europe this summer could lead to another lockdown. Infections are surging in Europe now, which Boris Johnson said has always led to an increase in Britain, too, and vaccine shortages will hit the UK in April. Deaths from all causes dipped below the five-year average last week for the first time since August amid plummeting Covid infections and surging vaccination rates This graph also shows deaths dropping below the five-year average. There were 511 fewer fatalities than expected, marking a 4.4 per cent dip from the average Professor Chris Whitty and Professor Neil Ferguson have both warned that coronavirus cases will surge in the UK later this year Germany is one of several European countries facing tough new lockdown measures as cases spike amid a stalled vaccine roll-out that has left people unprotected New York Covid variant spotted in Britain 'does not pose a threat', expert says A new Covid variant spotted in Britain is not a threat because it does not appear to carry any vaccine-resistant mutations, an infectious diseases expert has said. Samples of the New York B.1.526 variant taken from infected US patients were found to contain the troublesome E484K mutation, which can partially evade the immune system. But MailOnline last night revealed the genetic change has not been identified in any of the three cases spotted in the UK. Professor Wendy Barclay, an Imperial College London virologist and Government adviser, said this suggested it 'did not pose much of a threat, at least compared to the Brazilian or South African lineages'. Scientists tracking the constantly-evolving virus say the New York variant has been lurking in the UK for at least a month. The strain is spreading quickly in New York, where it was responsible for roughly 27 per cent of infections by mid-February. For comparison, it was linked to around one in twenty positive cases in late January. PHE told MailOnline it was 'monitoring the situation closely'. The E484K mutation is also found on the Brazilian and South African variants. Advertisement But despite this, no changes have been made to No10's lockdown-easing plans that could see social distancing laws lifted once and for all on June 21. Mr Johnson has said Britain will have to accept the risk of a huge spike in infections, and likely hospital admissions and deaths, whenever the lockdown is lifted but the only other option was to live with lockdown rules indefinitely. Vaccines should soften the blow of the next major surge but other countries haven't made as much progress, with the EU's roll-out described as shambolic. Professor Kamlesh Khunti, on SAGE, today urged Britons to forgo foreign holidays until next year, saying allowing people to travel abroad could lead to yet another total lockdown in the UK if the virus spread out of control again. Summer holiday hopes were dealt another blow today as British Airways and easyJet cancelled more flights planned as far ahead as August. Downing St also announced it will fine people 5,000 for going on holiday when it isn't allowed. Speaking about the early days of the pandemic he told The Guardian: 'We had people coming in from Spain and Italy and that increased the rates in the UK ... We cannot allow that now. Does this risk another lockdown? Absolutely.' And fellow SAGE member Professor Calum Semple said Britain could expect a third wave in July or August, even if it doesn't loosen international travel rules. 'At this point, Britain has got its act together,' Professor Semple said on Sky News today. 'The concern is, as this third wave is going on elsewhere, that will generate new variations. Even within Britain there is a likelihood of a third wave in potentially July and August time when we do unlock society.' Mr Johnson today led Britain in mourning the victims of Covid during a minute's silence to mark the anniversary of the first national lockdown. The Prime Minister, who was almost killed by Covid-19 last year, paid a solemn tribute to the 126,172 dead in the Cabinet room of No10 at midday. Flowers sent from Queen Elizabeth II to staff at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, which treated her husband Prince Philip earlier this month, on the anniversary of the first national lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus MPs observe a minute's silence in House of Commons during the National Day of Reflection at midday today Britain faces 'Covid decade' with profound damage caused by the pandemic Britain faces a 'Covid decade' with the 'profound social damage' caused by the pandemic set to dog the country. A grim report urges a major policy overhaul to help the country recover from the impact of coronavirus on health, education and economic prospects. The assessment from the British Academy - funded by the government but independent - was launched on the anniversary of the first lockdown. It warns significant intervention will be needed to avoid more extreme inequality and ongoing misery for swathes of the population. The report, The Covid decade: Understanding the long-term societal impacts of Covid-19, highlights a number of interconnected trends. They include low and unstable levels of trust in the national government that undermine the ability to mobilise public behaviour. It cautions that following a short-lived initial increase, faith the UK government and feelings of national unity are in decline. Other worrying trends are widening geographic inequalities in health and wellbeing, local economic risk and resilience, and poverty and worsening social development, relationships and mental health. The review suggests the impact of these will vary according to age, gender, race and ethnicity, and levels of social deprivation. Advertisement Ahead of fronting a Downing Street briefing, he offered his 'sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones.' Flanked by medical and science chiefs Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance, the PM also expressed humility about what he would have done differently if he could repeat the last 12 months. The premier suggested that if the government had been aware the extent to which Covid could be transmitted asymptomatically it would have taken another approach. The Queen and also marked the anniversary of Britain's first lockdown, releasing a rare statement honoring the victims of the pandemic. Prince Charles summoned the nation to 'remember the lives tragically cut short'. The monarch said: 'As we look forward to a brighter future together, today we pause to reflect on the grief and loss that continues to be felt by so many people and families, and pay tribute to the immeasurable service of those who have supported us all over the last year.' She sent a bouquet of irises, tulips, mixed narcissi and ranunculus with the message to St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, where her husband Prince Philip had a heart operation earlier this month, from Windsor Castle. Many hospitals, government buildings, schools and religious sites also observed the minute's silence in commemoration. And tonight Britons are being encouraged to stand on their doorsteps at 8pm and light candles as a 'beacon of remembrance' for those who have lost their lives. Mr Johnson said: 'Today, the anniversary of the first lockdown, is an opportunity to reflect on the past year one of the most difficult in our country's history. 'We should also remember the great spirit shown by our nation over this past year. We have all played our part, whether it's working on the front line as a nurse or carer, working on vaccine development and supply, helping to get that jab into arms, home schooling your children, or just by staying at home to prevent the spread of the virus. 'It's because of every person in this country that lives have been saved, our NHS was protected, and we have started on our cautious road to easing restrictions once and for all.' Charles, who also suffered from Covid-19 last year but later admitted he 'got away with it quite lightly', has also lent his support to the day of national reflection. In a recorded message, the heir to the throne, who is a patron of end-of-life charity Marie Curie, said: 'We have all been inspired by the resourcefulness we have witnessed, humbled by the dedication shown by so many, and moved, beyond words, by the sacrifices we have seen. 'Whatever our faith or philosophy may be, let us take a moment together to remember those who have been lost, to give thanks for their lives, and to acknowledge the inexpressible pain of parting. In their memory, let us resolve to work for a future inspired by our highest values, that have been displayed so clearly by the people of this country through this most challenging of times.' AstraZeneca said Monday that the results of its COVID-19 vaccine trials provide evidence that its shot provides "100 percent efficacy against severe or critical disease and hospitalization." AstraZeneca said in a statement that the safety and efficacy analysis was based on 32,449 participants in U.S. trials. "Vaccine efficacy was consistent across ethnicity and age. Notably, in participants aged 65 years and over, vaccine efficacy was 80 percent," the statement said. "The vaccine was well tolerated, and the independent data safety monitoring board (DSMB) identified no safety concerns related to the vaccine," AstraZeneca said. The U.S. trials also show the AstraZeneca COVID shot is safe and 79 percent effective against preventing symptomatic coronavirus, according to Britain's University of Oxford, the developers of the pharmaceutical company's vaccine. Several European countries had recently stopped use of the AstraZeneca vaccine because of reports that it was associated with blood clots in recipients. The European Medicines Agency (EMA), however, said the vaccine is safe and does not raise the overall risk of blood clots. Last week, France, Germany and Italy resumed use of the vaccine. Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam receives an interview after taking her second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine in Hong Kong, south China, March 22, 2021. Carrie Lam on Monday took the second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine and called on Hong Kong residents to actively get the jab so as to return to normal lives at an early date. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) HONG KONG, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam took the second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday and called on Hong Kong residents to actively get the jab so as to return to normal lives at an early date. She got fully vaccinated at the government headquarters along with multiple officials on Monday, nearly a month after the local mass inoculation program started. So far, more than 350,000 people have been given the first shot in Hong Kong and the second doses will begin to be administered this week. Given the shortage of vaccine supplies globally, Hong Kong is fortunate to get doses enough for all its residents, Lam said, adding that the more people get vaccinated, the sooner Hong Kong can overcome the epidemic and the lives of people can return to normalcy. There are two vaccines currently available in Hong Kong, produced by Sinovac Biotech and Fosun Pharma/BioNTech, respectively. Lam stressed the vaccination is a science-based program and urged residents to refer to the official vaccine information and professional opinions of health experts, instead of listening to rumors and disinformation. 3 1 [ Editor: WPY ] 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. Appealing to one and all to avoid politics over illegal immigration, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the BJP, if voted to power, will not allow infiltrators from Bangladesh to reside in Assam. Addressing an election rally here, he said the BJP government has set up electronic surveillance across the Indo-Bangla border in Assam to stop infiltration from the neighbouring country. "We will not allow politics over illegal immigration. Assamese culture and identity will be protected. If we had any bad intention, we would not have conferred Bharat Ratna on Dr Bhupen Hazarika," he said. Talking about the perennial flood problem, Singh said the BJP government, once re-elected, will do everything possible to solve it. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) She has been enjoying the spotlight as one of the newest models for Paul Mitchell hair products. And on Monday, supermodel Winnie Harlow attracted loads of attention as she headed to dinner at Wally's in Beverly Hills, California. The Jamaican Canadian beauty, 26, stunned in a teeny tiny black mini skirt, featuring frayed edges, a super high slit and a thick belt. On Monday: Supermodel Winnie Harlow attracted loads of attention as she headed to dinner at Wally's in Beverly Hills Strutting: The Jamaican Canadian beauty, 26, stunned in a teeny tiny black mini skirt, featuring frayed edges, a super high slit and a thick belt On top, she wore a black and white striped crop top that showed off her chest and a sliver of flat belly. She had on a matching duster jacket over it. On her feet, Winnie strutted in black heeled Kelly Rowland boots. On her feet: Winnie strutted in black heeled Kelly Rowland boots Getting out of her ride: Winnie arrived in front of the restaurant where she met up with friends in a black vehicle, where she was assisted out of the back seat On top: Winnie wore a black and white striped crop top that showed off her chest and a sliver of flat belly Style: She had on a splendid striped matching duster jacket over her top The runway star accessorized with a delicate choker, gold hoop earrings and a single bangle. The 5ft9in catwalker carried a snazzy transparent Chanel purse, with a large white-beaded handle. Per current Covid-19 regulations, the model also donned a custom designed WH face mask. Stunning: The runway star accessorized with a delicate choker, gold hoop earrings and a single bangle Quite the handbag: The 5ft9in catwalker carried a snazzy transparent Chanel purse, with a large white-beaded handle Later: She was seen sitting outdoors at a table at the designated eatery, patiently waiting for her friends 'Finally! She was thrilled once her gal pals - assistant real estate agent Emily Ives (L), realtor Chrysty Gaither (M), and model Shannon Hamilton (R) - turned up Smile! Emily held her phone up so she could pose with 'the triplets' Her mane of sleek long black hair was ever so slightly crimped, and parted at the side. Later, she was seen sitting outdoors at a table at the designated eatery, waiting for and then drinking wine with her friends. On her Instagram stories, Harlow informed her 8.5 million followers that while she had to late work on Monday, her fellow friends and models 'abandoned' her at the shoot. Fun: She was clearly having fun once her friends arrived Soon after: Winnie was then spotted drinking a martini and wine with her dining companions Mandatory: As she left, Winnie made sure to protect herself and others from the coronavirus by wearing a face mask Pandemic: As of Monday, there have been 1.2M confirmed COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles leading to 22,806 deaths - according to Johns Hopkins University 'Ill be done in two hours dont eat without me!' she exclaimed in the caption to a beautiful selfie video. While she was waiting, Harlow took the opportunity to take further selfie videos showing off her luscious and pouty lips, along with her jewelry. She also enthused about her gorgeous boots from Kelly Rowland, before 'finally' welcoming her beautiful friends. On her Instagram stories: Harlow informed her 8.5 million followers that while she had to late work on Monday, her fellow friends and models 'abandoned' her at the shoot DUBAI, UAE, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has presented 36 companies with the Dubai Chamber CSR Label for their outstanding CSR efforts in the second half of 2020. The Chamber recently hosted a virtual ceremony showcasing the companies' achievements in corporate social responsibility (CSR), which was attended by representatives from the recognized organizations. In total, the Chamber has awarded 467 labels to companies since the programme was launched in 2010. In his welcome remarks, H.E. Hisham Al Shirawi, 2nd Vice Chairman of Dubai Chamber, congratulated all the awarded companies and praised their strong commitment to CSR and sustainability. He described the Dubai Chamber CSR Label as a framework and development tool to help companies evaluate their CSR strategies, gain recognition for their efforts and improve their reputation, noting that the benefits of participating go far beyond recognition. "During these unprecedented times, CSR has proven to be a very useful tool for businesses that have successfully navigated new challenges. More companies in Dubai have become consistent and systematic in their approach to CSR, while they are also aligning CSR with business strategies," said H.E. Al Shirawi. Awarded companies were applauded by Dubai Chamber's Centre for Responsible Business for their initiatives and commitment to supporting and developing their CSR activities. Companies that apply to the programme benefit from detailed assessment reports on their workplace environmental and social impact, which analyze strategies and regulations and help organizations implement better CSR policies and practices. Among the honorees, Phoenix Contact Middle East was awarded the Dubai Chamber CSR Label- Environment for the first time. "I am very excited to announce that Phoenix Contact Middle East has been awarded the "CSR Label - Environment" category by the Dubai Chamber - Centre For Responsible Business, for the H2 Cycle 2020. The award is a recognition of the significant progress that was made over the past years in the area of CSR, and particularly in relation to Environmental Compatibility. The application process was a great opportunity to re-examine and strengthen our internal policies and practices in several areas of our operations. We shall continue to find additional measures that we can take in the coming years to further demonstrate our commitment to sustainability, and to invite our partners across the entire value chain to join us on our journey to becoming a carbon-neutral company," said Iyad Madanat, General Manager at Phoenix Contact Middle East. About Phoenix Contact Phoenix Contact, a global market leader and innovator in the field of electrical engineering, is headquartered in Germany. Phoenix Contact has five production sites in Germany and eleven abroad, with more than 55 sales subsidiaries and 40 representations in 100 countries. Its mission is to provide the best possible solution for your electrical engineering tasks. Phoenix Contact Middle East in the United Arab Emirates is an independent subsidiary with local management, sales, training, support and logistics operations. Their reliable presence in the region brings Phoenix Contact's products and expertise into closer proximity to their clients and partners in the Middle East. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1470735/Phoenix_Contact.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1085170/Phoenix_Contact_Logo.jpg A young family has been torn apart after a father was killed in a horror car crash that left his three-month-old daughter fighting for her life. Alex Alford, 28, died instantly after the car he was travelling in with wife-to-be Tiffani Buddee and newborn baby Kahlani left the road and slammed into a tree at Eureka, near Bundaberg, Queensland. Kahlani was rushed to hospital with a fractured skull and placed in an induced coma, where she remains suffering from brain bleeds and regular seizures. Alex Alford was killed instantly and his three-month-old daughter Kahlani (pictured together) was placed in an induced coma after a horror single-vehicle car crash in Queensland Kahlani is fighting for life in the Intensive Care Unit at the Queensland Children's Hospital, where her mother Tiffani Buddee (pictured together) remains by her bedside The family were on their way to make surprise a visit to Mr Alford's mother for the weekend when tragedy struck about 5.15pm on Friday. Ms Buddee has remained by her daughter's side in the Intensive Care Unit at the Queensland Children's Hospital since, where she told how Kahlani 'will most likely have some degree of brain damage, but it's uncertain'. Mr Alford and Ms Buddee were due to be married in November after falling madly in love when they met through family 17-months-ago. 'I will always love him. He gave me the greatest gift in the world - little Kahlani. He was my soulmate,' Ms Buddee told Daily Mail Australia. 'He was a kind man with a heart of gold and would do anything for his family. He was happy and looking forward to getting married.' Ms Buddee added her partner 'was a great father to his four children - Skylah, seven, Zayden, five, Amarah, one, and Kahlani, three months'. Ms Buddee said Mr Alford had given her 'the greatest gift in the world - little Kahlani' (the family are pictured together) Ms Buddee described her partner Mr Aflord as 'a great father to his four children', including three-month-old Kahlani Her mother Vanessa Dale has set-up a GoFundMe to help raise funds for the family. 'While having to face the most difficult situation any parent would have to face, Tiff is mourning and needs to plan a funeral on top of this devastating situation,' Ms Dale wrote on the fundraising page. '(Kahlani) has had a few set backs with seizures and most likely will have brain damage but we don't know the extent at this stage of just how bad. She has a very long road ahead of her.' Ms Buddee suffered non-life threatening injuries in the crash, which is being investigated by Queensland Police's Forensic Crash Unit. [March 23, 2021] First National Bank of Syracuse Goes Live with Teslar Software Teslar Software, provider of portfolio management tools that aggregate and automate lending and deposit operations for community financial institutions, has partnered with First National Bank of Syracuse to improve operations and boost productivity. First National Bank of Syracuse has been serving the communities of Southwest Kansas for over 100 years. It specializes in commercial agriculture, with its loan expertise in farming, ranching and dairies. First National Bank is leveraging Teslar's exceptions management, pipeline and workflow modules as well as Teslar PPP Complete and Teslar PPP Forgiveness, which enable the bank as well as its business customers to more seamlessly navigate the complex Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan origination and forgiveness processes. To date, First National Bank has processed 312 PPP Forgiveness loans and has originated 362 PPP loans for round two. "Teslar Software was initially recommended to us by the president and CEO of Independent Community Bankers of America at the time; she had positive experiences working with the fintech. We were impressed with the company's success in the ICBA ThinkTech Accelerator and felt they would be a strong, reliable partner," said Chris Floyd, president and CEO of First National ank of Syracuse. "Consolidating all of our systems onto one interface with Teslar has improved our lending process, reduced errors and helped us better understand customers. The result is a refined and improved experience for employees and customers alike." Teslar's streamlined processes enable First National Bank's lenders to save time and focus on driving relationships, which ultimately impacts the bottom line. The fintech's platform also makes information more accessible to the bank's employees so they can more strategically serve customers. "Businesses face many unique challenges in this pandemic environment, making it of the utmost importance for bankers to have clear, reliable and easy access to customer data," said Joe Ehrhardt, CEO and founder of Teslar Software. "Bankers need to fully understand their customers and their unique needs in all circumstances. Strengthening its lending process and insights with Teslar positions First National Bank to best support its local businesses. The bank can be a lifeline to the community by providing customers with the best financial support for their unique business needs." About Teslar Software Teslar Software provides portfolio management tools for community financial institutions that aggregate and automate lending and deposit operations processes into a single system, enabling institutions to scale and improve all aspects of the bank. This SaaS (News - Alert) solution with over 20 modules boosts efficiencies by providing easy access to centralized, relevant information to balance portfolios, optimize profits and help community bankers more efficiently serve their customers and better understand their needs. Please visit www.teslarsoftware.com to learn more. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005088/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Canada-based bakery supplier Weston Foods has been put up for sale by its parent company George Weston Ltd. The announcement today (23 March) follows a review by the George Weston Ltd. (GWL) board, the result of which is it intends to focus its efforts on the retail and real estate sectors via its Loblaw and Choice Properties businesses. GWL said despite its position as a leading North American bakery, Weston Foods remains a small part of GWLs overall value. It added: In the absence of attractive opportunities to increase its relative scale within the company, the board believes that a sale represents the best opportunity to unlock its growth potential. Galen Weston, chairman and CEO of GWL, added: Weston Foods has been at the core of our company for 139 years. It has a strong foundation, attractive and growing margins, a robust list of customers, strong brands, and a first-rate management team. As George Weston focuses its attention on Loblaw and Choice Properties, we are confident this is the right time to unlock the strategic growth potential that exists within Weston Foods through its sale. Weston Foods has retail and foodservice customers throughout Canada and the US. It produces packaged fresh bread and rolls as well as frozen and artisan bread and rolls, cakes, doughnuts, pies, cookies, crackers and wafers. The company produces products under brands including Ace Bakery, private-label lines and is a manufacturer of Flowers Foods' Dave's Killer Bread brand under licence. GWL said it intends to start a sales process shortly. Houlihan Lokey and CIBC Capital Markets have been retained by the company to advise on the disposal. Thematic Reports Are you worried about the pace of innovation in your industry? GlobalData's TMT Themes 2021 Report tells you everything you need to know about disruptive tech themes and which companies are best placed to help you digitally transform your business. Find out more Weston Foods had sales of CAD2.06bn (US$1.63bn) and adjusted EBITDA of CAD200m in 2020, down, respectively, from CAD2.15bn and CAD223m in 2019. abject \ ab-jekt \ adjective 1. of the most contemptible kind 2. most unfortunate or miserable 3. showing utter resignation or hopelessness 4. showing humiliation or submissiveness _________ The word abject has appeared in 79 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Aug. 1 in The War on Frats by Ezra Marcus: In the past month, hundreds of students have dropped out of their fraternities and sororities at Vanderbilt University. They have gathered, digitally, using group-run Instagram activist pages. They have written searing op-eds condemning their own organizations for the student newspaper, The Vanderbilt Hustler. And they have petitioned the administration to ban Greek organizations from campus. In college student newspapers, some have criticized the Abolish Greek Life movement for painting fraternities and sororities with too broad a brush. AGL is wrong to characterize every Greek chapter as irredeemable, wrote Jared Bauman, a Vanderbilt student, in a Vanderbilt Hustler op-ed, referring to the Abolish Greek Life movement. My fraternity might not be perfect, but its a far cry from the image of abject depravity that AGL projects. Daily Word Challenge Can you correctly use the word abject in a sentence? Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using todays Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the words definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun. Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the Recommend button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you. If you want a better idea of how abject can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com. If you enjoy this daily challenge, try using multiple Words of the Day in a 50-word story that you submit to our Monthly Vocabulary Challenge. ADVERTISEMENT The All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) has approved the constitution of a 61-member contact and strategy committee for the party. This is contained in a statement by the National Secretary of APC CECPC, John Akpanudoehede, on Monday in Abuja. Mr Akpanudoehede said the constitution of the committee was part of efforts by the CECPC to rebuild and reposition the party ahead of the 2023 general elections. He added that the committee would be inaugurated by the CECPC Chairman, Governor Mai Mala-Buni, on March 23, at the partys national secretariat in Abuja. He said the committee will be chaired by Governor Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa State while Ikechi Emenike will serve as secretary. Some members of the committee are Governors Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, Aminu Masari of Katsina, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, David Umahi of Ebonyi and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano. The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, and two former Speakers of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and Yakubu Dogara, will also serve in the committee. Mr Dogara defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2020, while Mr Bankole defected from Action Democratic Party (ADP) on March 12. (NAN) remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in Prayut relaxed over charter change THAILAND: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insists he is not concerned about the constitution being amended and says if people think he merely wants to extend his hold on power, the solution is simple: dont vote for him next time. politics By Bangkok Post Tuesday 23 March 2021, 09:36AM Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha speaks to reporters at Government House in Bangkok yesterday (Mar 22). Photo: Screenshot. The PMs comments followed a fresh attempt to amend the constitution section by section after the Constitutional Court ruled that a national referendum must first be held to determine if the public wants an entirely new charter. Several political parties say they are now prepared to move ahead with charter changes aimed at curbing the power of the military-appointed Senate. Gen Prayut said he did not mind if a whole new charter was drawn up or some sections of it revised. If people are concerned that I will prolong my stay in power, they are free to proceed with charter amendments. They can choose between voting or not voting for me. Im fine with it, he said. Parliament president Chuan Leekpai said yesterday (Mar 22) an extraordinary session was likely to convene on April 7-8 to scrutinise and vote on the proposed national referendum bill. He said a discussion on the proposed special session had been held with representatives from the government, the opposition and the Senate and it was agreed that the two-day session can proceed next month. Mr Chuan shrugged off a petition submitted to the anti-graft agency against MPs and senators who voted in favour of the charter amendment bill, saying those facing complaints should be prepared to defend themselves. He also stressed that a motion calling the joint sitting of MPs and senators to proceed with a vote was legitimate. The petition, which was lodged by firebrand activist Srisuwan Janya yesterday with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), sought an inquiry against 206 MPs and two senators who voted to pass the bill during its third and final reading last Wednesday. Mr Srisuwan called on the NACC to investigate their conduct and forward the case to the Supreme Court for further action if it found they committed an offence. The activist had earlier threatened to ask the NACC to take action against parliamentarians who voted for the charter amendment bill. Senator Wanchai Sornsiri, spokesman of a parliamentary committee vetting the national referendum bill, said the panel would meet on April 1-2 to finalise the draft. The bill originally allowed only the executive branch to propose a referendum. The bill is a time-bomb for the government, like the charter amendment, he said. The new owner of the Cockatoo Island iron ore mine off Western Australias north-west coast has refuted reports it has links to China and says its sole intention is to bring the mine back into production. Earlier this month, news outlets reported a Chinese takeover of Cockatoo Island had raised concerns within the Department of Defence and federal government, given its proximity to the Yampi Sound Defence Training Area in the remote Kimberley region. The Cockatoo Island iron ore mine. The training area is about 80 kilometres north of Derby on the Yampi Peninsula while Cockatoo Island, named after the white birds that abound there, is a tiny 31 square kilometre island which sits off the coast in the Buccaneer Archipelago. Mining activity has occurred intermittently on the island since BHP developed a substantial iron ore operation there in 1951. Operations at the mine most recently ceased when ASX-listed Pluton Resources collapsed in 2015. Hundreds of nonprofits are expected to participate in this years NH Gives, a 24-hour online giving event held by the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits. Nonprofits are continuing to step up for our communities and NH Gives provides an opportunity to galvanize support among generous Granite Staters, said Kathleen Reardon, CEO of the NH Center for Nonprofits. Hundreds of nonprofits are expected to participate in this years NH Gives, a 24-hour online giving event held by the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits each June that rallies Granite Staters to give to nonprofit organizations doing great work in New Hampshire communities. In June 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 public health crisis, NH Gives shattered all previous records, raising more for New Hampshire nonprofits than it had in the previous four years combined. An unprecedented 14,000 people gave $3.4 million in just 24 hours including $1 million in the first eight minutes of the event. This past year has been challenging for so many of us, including nonprofits who are on the front lines of this public health crisis. Nonprofits are continuing to step up for our communities and NH Gives provides an opportunity to galvanize support among generous Granite Staters. We already have 200 nonprofits signed up and we encourage others to take part in New Hampshires largest day of giving, said Kathleen Reardon, CEO of the NH Center for Nonprofits. Any 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit serving New Hampshire communities can participate in NH Gives. Eligible organizations can register on http://www.NHGives.org for $40 until May 17. Registered nonprofits will receive training and marketing support, including four webinars that begin on March 24. Visit https://www.nhgives.org/info/key-dates to register. NHGives.org is an easy-to-use, secure platform where people can learn about nonprofits doing good work in the Granite State and donate directly. For 24 hours between 5 p.m. on June 8 and 5 p.m. on June 9, donations are tallied as participating nonprofit organizations compete for additional cash prizes, with leaderboards displaying progress. Since it began in 2016, NH Gives has raised more than $4.8 million from thousands of donors to support hundreds of nonprofits across New Hampshire. The NH Center for Nonprofits is leading efforts behind NH Gives with support from lead sponsor, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Additional sponsors include C&S Wholesale Grocers, Union Leader, NH Business Review, Granite State News Collaborative and Montagne Powers. The NH Center for Nonprofits is a statewide nonprofit association dedicated to advancing the impact and visibility of the nonprofit sector and supporting the growth of nonprofits to reach their mission. Its services included leadership development programs, organizational consultation and assessment, online resource sharing and advocacy. To find out more about the Center, visit http://www.nhnonprofits.org or call (603) 225-1947. 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. He welcomed his first child, Slimane Ray Manderson, with his girlfriend, Karima McAdams last week after a dramatic pregnancy. And Professor Green - real name Stephen Manderson - 37, took to Instagram to give fans an update on his newborn son on Tuesday. Embracing dad duties, the rapper wrote: 'I can now: Change nappies. Burp a baby. Dress a baby appropriately (though I did put a pair of dungarees on backwards).' Dad life: Professor Green took to Instagram to give fans an update on his one week old son, Slimane Ray Manderson, on Tuesday The musician shared a snap of his one-week-old baby in an adorable navy and white polka dot onesie. Alongside the cute photograph he revealed to fans the parenting skills he had quickly learned in the last seven days. He listed: 'Things I couldnt do a week ago that I can now: Change nappies. Burp a baby. Dress a baby appropriately (though I did put a pair of dungarees on backwards)... ...Tell the difference between a babys cry for feeding / gas / nappy change / need for skin. Love entirely unconditionally. Understand why people describe or use days / months to describe their childs age. 'I didnt know my ar*e from my elbow a week ago but picking it all up quite quickly. Happy Tuesday.' 'I can now change nappies': Professor Green welcomed his first child with his girlfriend, actress Karima McAdams, 36, last week after a dramatic whirlwind pregnancy (pictured) The rapper revealed on Friday that actress Karima, 36, had given birth to their son two weeks early last week. He detailed their difficult pregnancy, which he branded 'a rollercoaster' and confessed during 'scare after scare' they feared their baby 'would not make it'. He wrote: 'I didnt wake up Monday morning expecting to meet you. In my mind we still had a couple of weeks to get everything ready, but you had other ideas... 'Ive always said the only way to be on time is to be early; its nice to see you taking after me already, though you seem to have inherited your Mums looks... 'Privately weve endured what so many parents-to-be have, your journey to us wasnt a straight line whatsoever, it was a rollercoaster right up to your arrival.' The new dad continued: 'I didnt allow myself to express my excitement as much as Id have liked to, I wanted to freely shout about how excited I was about you joining us, but I was frightened... 'Rollercoaster': Karima gave birth to their son two weeks early last week and Stephen said he feared the baby 'would not make it' 'We had scare after scare during the worst of which, I said to your Mama if he does make it, hes grounded... 'Having met you, Im sorry. It wasnt your fault and youre totally forgiven. Youre far too perfect to be mad at. 'As mums go, youve lucked out; you have the best example of what a brave, strong, passionate, loving, kind and both considered and considerate woman is... 'One day Ill tell you about how amazing shes been throughout this whole process / ordeal and all the things shes soldiered on through, with all of the optimism required to see this through... 'All Ive been able to do for Mama is be supportive, which despite my very best efforts still left me feeling a bit redundant at times and for good reason; I was! 'I couldnt for a second take on even a part of what she was going through physically, which was a lot... 'Youll be glad to know she doesnt feel as though shes sacrificed a thing, neither of us have (well, boobs - temporarily - currently triple in size, leaking and sore but perfect pillows for you to nuzzle into while you feed, which youre doing really well), we both feel incredibly privileged you chose us... 'Youre far too perfect to be mad at': The rapper said the moment he met his son he forgave him for all the heartache he's put him and his 'brave, strong' partner through 'More good news for you Baby! Youre a born gentleman. Your mamma commands respect so youll quickly learn a gorgeous set of values and morals to navigate your way through this world with... 'Shes everything I hope you find in a partner one day, but weve got years before we have to worry about the and thes.My great-grandmother Nanny Eddie was 77 when I was born, be it by chance or by fate your Nanny Pat is too... 'Theres loads more to fill you in on, but weve got plenty of time for all of that. From back to front, your name means great, wise, man of peace. 'No pressure... Mama and baby are healthy, and Im good too; Im the happiest and most grateful for anything Ive ever been... 'Thanks to Mama for all the hard work the last 9 months, you are an unbelievable being @karimamcadams Thank you to friends and family for keeping this shtum, its not been the easiest secret to keep, but the last few days have been magical... 'Slimane Ray Manderson. Born in Homerton Hospital, March 15th at 4:50pm, only a stones throw from where Mama and Baba grew up and spent their lives very nearly crossing paths until only a short time ago they finally bumped into one another... 'Thank you to the NHS who work so tirelessly and relentlessly for keeping mama and baby safe and for keeping our every visit secret, allowing us to navigate the weird, wonderful and largely anxiety inducing thing that is pregnancy without unwanted attention. Lots of love, The Three of Us'. 'All Ive been able to do for Mama is be supportive': Stephen has been trying his best to help Karima through their first week of parenthood together Stephen and Karima were first linked in June 2019, after he quietly split from PR executive Milly Gattegno. They were reportedly introduced through mutual friends and made their public debut at Glastonbury Festival in late June. The couple announced the pregnancy in January, with Stephen posting a snap to Instagram on New Year's Day, of him in the bath and Karima sat on the floor in patterned pyjamas, looking at her bump. He captioned the picture: 'And then, all of a sudden everything is different. It all makes sense.' Karima is best known for starring in the spy series Deep State alongside Game Of Thrones actor Joe Dempsie. The actress, who is half Moroccan and half Irish, was born in Bethnal Green, east London. The star spent her childhood in Morocco before moving to London when she was seven. She previously dated George Lamb for almost six years, before the couple parted ways in 2014. Stephen had also dated model Fae Williams, and prior to that was married to reality star Millie Mackintosh for two and a half years. Varanasi, March 23 : To drive away the fear of Covid-19 pandemic and at the same time celebrate Holi without anxiety, young innovators from Varanasi have come up with a unique anti-corona pichkari (water gun). The resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic has left the government worried and also dampened the spirits of people. It may prove difficult to strictly follow social distancing during the festival of colours. In this situation, youth from Varanasi, which also happens to be Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency, have created a water gun which would not play spoilsport during Holi while maintaining social distancing among people. This special water gun, equipped with sensors, would sprinkle colour at people without physically touching one another and would caution people as soon as they try to break social distancing norms. Vishal Patel, a student of Ashoka Institute of Technology and Management, has created this water gun. In a special conversation with IANS, he said that the festive spirit of Holi must not fade away due to Covid-19. So, we have created an anti-corona water gun, which would follow Covid guidelines issued by the government as well as help people sprinkle colour on each other. Patel said the water gun will be placed on the roof in front of one's house. As soon as a person comes near this water gun, its sensors will get activated and would start throwing colour. As long as nobody comes in front of the water gun, it will remain inactive. This unmanned water gun can prove useful in fighting coronavirus. Apart from fighting against Covid-19, this special pichkari can also be used for the purposes of sanitisation. It took 15 days to create this water gun in which 8 litres of colour can be filled at a time. It has been built using a 12 volt battery, infrared sensor, ultrasonic sensor a switch and an LED light. The watergun costs nearly Rs 750. Manish Arora, Banaras Hindu University Coordination, Department of Behavioural Arts and Coordination Design Innovation Centre, said this water gun is an innovative idea. It will protect people along with helping people celebrate Holi. Shyam Chaurasia, In-Charge of the Research Development Cell of the institute, says technology has brought relief to people during the pandemic. The water gun is another experiment in this direction. "The children have done a remarkable job. This will help maintain social distancing and celebrate the festival of colours with gusto." Latest updates on Holi Festival 2021 Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Los Angeles, March 23 : Hollywood star Alice Wetterlund, who co-stars in "Silicon Valley" with Thomas Middleditch, tweeted that she had warned about the latter's behaviour to the people involved with the show. "Tried to warn you all about Middleditch but noooooo not everyone's favorite tinyman who looks like he lives in a clock!," Wetterlund wrote on Twitter. On Monday, it was reported that Middleditch was accused by a woman named Hannah Harding who claimed that the 39-year-old actor had tried to make "lewd comments" at her and her friends in a nightclub in Los Angeles, and continued to pursue her and even tried to grope her in front of the club's management staff. Back in 2018, Wetterlund had spoken out against her former "Silicon Valley" colleague TJ Miller, who was accused of sexual assault then. "I hope to not ruin it for you, but TJ Miller was a bully and petulant brat and pretty much everyone who had any power on that (almost all male) set, including the male cast members, enabled him and were complicit in his unprofessionalism. They can f**k off forever," she had tweeted then. Chandigarh: With 81% of the latest 401 samples sent by the state for genome sequencing turning up positive for the new UK Covid variant, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday appealed to the people to get themselves vaccinated, even as he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to widen the vaccination ambit to cover those younger than 60 since this mutant has been found to be infecting young people more. Expressing concern over the emerging situation, the Chief Minister stressed the need for the central government to urgently open up the vaccination for a bigger section of the populace. The process needs to be expedited, he said, pointing to the fact that experts had found the existing Covishield vaccine to be equally effective against the UK variant B.1.1.7. It was essential to vaccinate more and more people to break the chain of transmission, he added. Captain Amarinder Singh Captain Amarinder also urged the people to strictly adhere to all Covid safety protocols, including wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing. The state government, which has already announced fresh restrictions, would be forced to impose more curbs if the people do not follow the Covid appropriate behaviour, he warned. The appeal from the Chief Minister came after the states Covid expert committee head, Dr K.K. Talwar, apprised him of the developments on the new variant in the state, which has been witnessing a surge in the number of Covid-19 positive cases during the last few weeks. The state health department had sent 478 Covid positive samples to NIB, IGIB, and NCDC for genome sequencing, of which results of 90 samples were received and those showed only two samples for N440K variant. Coronavirus Subsequently, a team from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, visited the state to review the increase in positivity. The team was informed about the pending results of genome sequencing. Thereafter, 401 more samples, collected between 1.1.2021 to 10.3.2021, were sent to NCDC for genome sequencing. The result of these samples was worrying as it showed presence of B.1.1.7 variant in 326 Covid samples, said Dr K.K. Talwar. The Chief Minister said he had been informed by Dr Talwar that though this UK variant B.1.1.7 is more infectious yet not more virulent. Further, the Oxford (Covishield) vaccine is equally effective against this new UK variant. It is noteworthy that the B.1.1.7 variant is now spreading rapidly in many parts of the world, representing 98% of the new cases in UK and 90% in Spain. UK authorities have suggested it is up to 70% more transmissible than the original virus. Regulatory approval obtained for acquisition of Low Energy Cartridge system Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - KWESST Micro Systems Inc. (TSXV: KWE) (OTCQB: KWEMF) ("KWESST" or the "Company") today provided an update on its planned acquisition of a proprietary non-lethal munitions technology system referred to as the Low Energy Cartridge technology ("LEC Technology") (for further details on the proposed acquisition, please refer to the Company's January 18, 2021 news release). The LEC Technology is a proprietary non-lethal cartridge-based ordnance system developed by David Luxton the Executive Chairman of KWESST. KWESST has received confirmation from intellectual property counsel that provisional patents for the LEC Technology have been filed by David Luxton, the inventor of the technology. These patents will be assigned to KWESST upon closing of the acquisition. KWESST has also received approval from the TSX Venture Exchange to proceed with the acquisition. The closing of the acquisition is expected to take place shortly. The LEC Technology is a novel proprietary combination of cartridges that fire from a dedicated firing device, with a range of projectile payloads specific to the intended application. The LEC Technology system comprises three main aspects: (i) a dedicated firing platform in a non-standard calibre to ensure "live fire exclusion" for safety; (ii) a non-lethal low energy cartridge case and actuator; and (iii) a non-lethal polymer projectile with various payloads depending on the intended application (public order, training, personal defence or high-action gaming). The calibration of energy dynamics between the firing platform, the energy in the cartridge and the velocity of the projectile combine to ensure reliable functioning of the firing platform and terminal effects that are non-lethal (typically by ensuring muzzle velocity remains under 400 fps). There are two versions of the LEC cartridge: (i) one for non-reciprocating firing platforms, such as revolvers and shotguns; and (ii) one for reciprocating firing platforms, such as automatic pistols, sub-machine guns and assault rifles. "Competing products such as traditional air-powered systems for public order, personal protection and gaming have limitations which the LEC Technology does not," said Jeff MacLeod, President and CEO of KWESST. "Air powered systems require high maintenance due to synthetic seals and "O" rings that dry out or burst, leading to complete failure. They have variable performance due to the effect of ambient temperature on compressed gas, especially in cold weather. Systems utilizing compressed gas, cannot typically be stored with gas in the system as the afore mentioned seals and "O" rings will allow the gas to escape over time, potentially rendering the device unusable when needed the most. Other alternatives, such as Taser, carried by some 400,000 American patrol officers, can also be unreliable in certain situations with, as an example, an effectiveness rating of 57.1% being reported by LAPD(1)" "The kind of fatalities that have led to widespread protests in the U.S. are just one example of the need for more advanced solutions that enable law enforcement to engage with more benign devices from a safer stand-off distance and ensure that everyone goes home alive," observed David Luxton. The LEC Technology has universal application across four market segments that currently use a variety of dated "non-lethal" or "less-lethal" products, each having a vast global market. These segments are (i) public order (riots and control of dangerous subjects), (ii) military and law enforcement training (realistic force-on-force training), (iii) personal defence (home, car, boat, RV, camping, hiking), and (iv) high-action gaming. The market development of the LEC Technology will benefit from the deep combined experience of Jeff MacLeod and David Luxton in the specialty ordnance business. Mr. MacLeod is a highly knowledgeable defence industry executive with over 20 years' experience in the field of small arms and advanced soldier systems. Prior to establishing KWESST, he was the General Manager of Colt Canada, the primary supplier of small arms to the Canadian military. David Luxton was the founder in 1990 of Simunition Inc., a business that develops and sells simulated munitions for realistic close quarters combat training for military and law enforcement around the world. He sold the business to a large military contractor and from 2015 - 2018 he was the Executive Chairman of United Tactical Systems LLC, a U.S. company that develops and sells products for the global less-lethal market. About KWESST KWESST develops and commercializes high-value ultra-miniaturized technology applications that make a critical difference to the safety and operational effectiveness of personnel in the defence and security industries. The company's current portfolio of unique proprietary offerings include: its signature TASCSTM (Tactical and Situational Control System) for real-time awareness and targeting information from any source (including drones) streamed directly to users' smart devices and weapons; the autonomous GreyGhostTM soldier-portable micro drone missile system that defends against small hostile drones including swarms using high-speed kinetic impact; a Ground Laser Defence system to counter the emerging threat of weaponized lasers against personnel; and, the PhantomTMelectronic battlefield decoy system to mask the electromagnetic signature of friendly forces with decoy signatures at false locations to deceive and confuse adversaries. All systems can operate stand-alone or integrate seamlessly with OEM products and battlefield management systems including Frontline, Edge, Killswitch and ATAK (Android Tactical Assault Kit) among others. KWESST also has developmental "smart ordnance" projects including its "Shot Counter" system, which records the number and type of rounds fired, for optimized firearms maintenance and performance. The Company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with representative offices in Washington, DC, London, UK and Abu Dhabi, UAE. KWESST trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol KWE. Contact: Jason Frame, Investor Relations: frame@kwesst.com For more information, please visit https://kwesst.com/ Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing for the commencement of trading and the plans and operations of KWESST after giving effect to the Qualifying Transaction. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. KWESST disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. (1) https://www.npr.org/2019/06/27/729922975/despite-widespread-use-police-rate-tasers-as-less-effective-than-believed To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78252 Colorado has been the scene of a number of multiple fatal shootings in recent years, including these that made national headlines: May 7, 2019 Two students enter a charter school in Highlands Ranch, a Denver suburb near Littleton, and fire at fellow students in two locations. A student who tackles one of the gunmen is fatally shot, and eight others are wounded by gunfire. The two assailants are captured. Dec. 31, 2017 A man who barricaded himself in an apartment in Highlands Ranch engages in a gun battle with police officers responding to reports of a disturbance. One officer is killed and four are wounded before the police kill the gunman. Two civilians are wounded. Nov. 27, 2015 A man armed with an assault-style rifle enters a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs and opens fire, killing two civilians and a police officer who confronts him; nine other people are wounded in a 5-hour siege before the gunman surrenders. Oct. 31, 2015 A man carrying a semiautomatic rifle shoots and kills three people, apparently at random, on a residential street near downtown Colorado Springs, and then is confronted and shot dead by police officers. You are here: World Flash Russian President Vladimir Putin and European Council President Charles Michel discussed the current state of bilateral ties and dialogue between Moscow and Brussels during a phone conversation on Monday. The phone call was made ahead of a European Council discussion of problems in relations between Russia and the European Union (EU) on Thursday and Friday. According to a Kremlin statement, Putin told Michel that the current state of Russian-EU ties is unsatisfactory, which was caused by the "non-constructive, sometimes confrontational" stance of the EU. The Russian side underscored its readiness to restore a normal, depoliticized format of interaction with the EU, if Brussels shows such interest as well. Putin and Michel also discussed combating the pandemic, particularly the possibility of using Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. They touched upon the political settlement of the internal Ukrainian conflict and the situation in Belarus among other issues. Stuttgart - A team of scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) in Germany, from Seoul National University in Korea and from the Harvard University in the US, successfully developed a predictive model and closed-loop controller of a soft robotic fish, designed to actively adjust its undulation amplitude to changing flow conditions and other external disturbances. Their work "Modeling and Control of a Soft Robotic Fish with Integrated Soft Sensing" was published in Wiley's Advanced Intelligent Systems journal, in a special issue on "Energy Storage and Delivery in Robotic Systems". Each side of the robotic fish is lined with soft artificial muscles made of rubber-like small silicone chambers. Through these pockets, the researchers pumped air alternately on each side. While the air pockets on one side expand, they create a curvature, contracting the air pockets on the other side. This causes the robotic fish to bend right and left, swinging its tail, resembling the wave-like movement pattern seen by real fish. To measure the bending, the scientists embedded state of the art soft strain sensors, consisting of a thin layer of windy microchannels filled with liquid metal and encapsulated in silicone. What was now like a wire, could stretch like a phone cord to a length of 900%. The more the air pressurized each silicone chamber of the actuator, the more the sensor placed atop the bends, and its liquid metal 'wire' was elongated. The scientists then connected the sensor to an Ohmmeter to measure the electrical resistance. The greater the stretching elongation, the higher the electrical resistance within the 'wire'. This number provided the scientists with data of how the curvature of their robotic fish changed given a certain change of air pressure. The scientists then put this robotic fish platform under water in a flow tank. In several experiments they tested how the air pressure controller took the reading from the sensor to measure the swimming performance of the robot - an information loop that was feeding a self-learning algorithm inside the controller to push just the right amount of air through the pneumatic pockets so the swimming perfectly matched the different water flow velocities. "We developed a hydrodynamic model that can predict how our soft robotic fish will behave. This builds upon previous findings where we measured peak thrust during swimming with co-contraction and body stiffening, and tested soft sensors in feedforward undulatory motion. Closing the loop with proprioceptive soft sensory feedback allows the robot to respond to different flow conditions,", Ardian Jusufi explains. He is the corresponding author of the publication and specializes on soft active materials, biomimetics, and robotics. Jusufi is the head of the Max Planck Cyber Valley research group for "Locomotion in Biorobotic and Somatic Systems" at the MPI-IS. "Our project builds upon several previous collaborative papers on soft robots and biorobotic modeling of swimming robots. To advance modeling and closed-loop control, our team has combined soft robotics expertise from three continents." "In this work, we have used a simple approach to build a data-driven model of a soft robotic fish, and extended it with the controller design. This model could also be easily extended without the need of completely rebuilding it, for example to study the scaling effects of robots or testing different types of sensing techniques.", describes Yu-Hsiang Lin of the Locomotion in Biorobotic and Somatic Systems" group at the MPI-IS, and first author. In their publication, the scientists describe the sensors as a completely new design technique, labelling them "hyper-elastic liquid metal strain sensors." Developed by Prof. Yong-Lae Park and his team at Seoul National University, and Daniel Vogt from Harvard University, they are a true innovation. "In biology as well as in soft robotics, with an entirely soft robot, we have infinite degrees of freedom. That means any part of the body can deform. It is hard to estimate how the fish's shape changes, because we cannot put an indefinite number of sensors onto its body, as it would be possible with rigid robots with a limited number of joints," Park says. "This robot will allow us to test and refine hypotheses regarding the neuromechanics of swimming animals as well as help us improve future underwater robots," Jusufi continues. "In addition to characterizing the soft strain sensor under submerged dynamic conditions for the first time, we also developed a simple and flexible data-driven modelling approach in order to design our swimming feedback controller. The model will be of interest to the scientific community and will help accelerate future work in design and operation of soft robots. In forthcoming research, we will also utilize soft strain sensors in terrestrial robots that climb and can overcome complex obstacles." Understanding the underlying mechanisms how soft animals like fish swim helps in designing artificial soft structures and make it possible to use them to build robots. Such animal-inspired robots could one day be used to explore the depths of the sea and provide valuable data of marine life, avoiding noise and reducing the risk of entanglement that rigid, conventionally propelled submarines face. Swimming robots could also become a more energy-efficient option, which is why more and more scientists have shown a great deal of effort in developing soft actuators and sensors that constantly improve the capabilities of swimming robots by replicating the locomotion of aquatic vertebrates. What could one-day serve as a more advanced under water vehicle also serves another purpose: the fish replica with sensory feedback offers important insights into fish neuromechanics and their morphological intelligence, advancing the field of biology. ### Links: Wiley Advanced IS, spec iss "Energy Storage and Delivery in Robotic Systems". https:/ / onlinelibrary. wiley. com/ doi/ 10. 1002/ aisy. 202000244 Soft Robotic Fish: https:/ / www. higgs. ch/ fischroboter-hilft-forschenden/ 13802/ https:/ / www. liebertpub. com/ doi/ abs/ 10. 1089/ soro. 2016. 0053 Soft Sensors for curvature estimation under water: https:/ / ieeexplore. ieee. org/ abstract/ document/ 8722806 Contributors: Y.-H. Lin, Dr. R. Siddall, F. Schwab, T. Fukushima, H. Banerjee, Dr. A. Jusufi* Locomotion in Biorobotic and Somatic Systems Group Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstrae 3, Stuttgart 70569, Germany Yu-Hsiang Lin yhlin@is.mpg.de Rob Siddall rob@is.mpg.de Fabian Schwab fschwab@is.mpg.de Toshihiko Fukushima fukushima@is.mpg.de Hritwick Banerjee banerjee@is.mpg.de Dr. Ardian Jusufi* ardian@is.mpg.de Tel. +491743230725 Y. Baek, Prof. Y.-L. Park Department of Mechanical Engineering Seoul National University Seoul 08826, Korea Youngjoon Baek Yong-Lae Park D. Vogt John. A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University Boston, USA Daniel Vogt TOKYO Japanese insurer Tokio Marine Holdings Inc said on Tuesday it currently expects no material impact on its results for the fiscal year starting next month as a result of its exposure to the fallout of Greensill Capitals collapse. Tokio Marine made the forecast in a statement the day after its shares fell 5.6% following a Bloomberg report that the Japanese insurer faced a larger-than-expected exposure to the insolvent British finance firm. Related: Tokio Marine Faces Larger-Than-Expected Exposure to Greensill Capital Meltdown Our expected net exposure remains unchanged, and as a result we dont see any need to adjust our financial guidance (for the year ending this March) nor do we currently anticipate any material impact on our financials for the next fiscal year, the company said in a statement. Shares of Tokio Marine were trading flat on Wednesday. Bloomberg reported that Tokio Marines Australian unit, which at one point wrote more than A$10 billion ($7.7 billion) of insurance policies for Greensill, is not covered by contracts with a key group of re-insurers. Of the coverage for Greensill credit notes, $4.6 billion worth of contracts expired on March 1, court documents show. The company declined to comment on the status of the remaining policies and whether they are covered by reinsurance is not clear, but a spokesman said the company had examined this part of the insurance agreements before concluding that there would be no material impact. The insurer has also said it is investigating the validity of the policies provided to Greensill. But S&P Global Ratings said on Wednesday that risk of pressure on the Japanese insurance giants performance in and after fiscal 2021 cannot be eliminated at this stage, citing various uncertainties about the groups Greensill-related exposure. The Australian units maximum gross exposure related to Greensill and the maximum net exposure after considering the recoverable amount from the collateral value and reinsurance coverage are uncertain, the credit rating agency said in a report, adding it was monitoring the situation. ($1 = 1.3007 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; editing by Alexander Smith and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Topics Carriers Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. When I was trained in as a trial lawyer defending companies in personal injury litigation, I was instructed by one of my mentors at the firm that we wanted to avoid post office workers on the jury. His advice became something of a standing joke. It may even have been a standing joke at the time I joined the firm, but watching voir dire in this case over the past two weeks has brought it back to mind. We havent had a post office worker so far, but we have had public school teachers. They have proved to be the functional equivalent of post office workers in this case as to defendant Derek Chauvin, but then again, who in Hennepin County isnt? The State has invested in jury consultant Christina Marinakis to advise the numerous lawyers working to put Chauvin away. She has been in court at counsel table every day so far. Given the fact that the average Hennepin County juror comes in with a negative attitude to Chauvin and a hostile opinion of his conduct in the famous video, I wonder why her services are necessary. They are necessary because, whatever the outcome, Attorney General Keith Ellison doesnt want his handling of the case to be second-guessed. He wants to be able to say he did everything in his power to convict Chauvin of the murder of George Floyd. After all, hes up for reelection next year. I take it from the examination conducted so far that the optimal juror for the prosecution is a public school teacher. Defense counsel Eric Nelson has rightly struck the two who have been called for voir dire. They would have been a nightmare for the defense. Im sure Ms. Marinakis has gone over the juror questionnaires and rendered a sophisticated assessment of who is most likely to have an open mind to Chauvins defense. Jurors with an open mind to Chauvins defenses are the best that he can hope for and the State is making sure that they stay off the jury. The State exercises its peremptory strikes on them. Does any prospective Hennepin County juror really have an open mind on Chauvin? We found one yesterday, but he wont be on the jury. The optimal defense juror is the deer hunter. He was juror number 116. When juror number 116 identified within the first minute or so of his examination by Nelson as an avid fisherman he fishes competitively I guessed he would be good for Chauvin. He also identified in response to Schleichers examination as a deer hunter. He had heard about the settlement of the wrongful death lawsuit and was concerned about the safety of his family in the event he served on the jury, but his view of Chauvin was neutral. Further, his view of Black Lives Matter was somewhat unfavorable. Why? Because he doesnt think that riots help. He didnt necessarily want to serve as a juror, but he felt that he could absolutely be fair and impartial. Schleicher spent a few minutes following up before using a peremptory challenge to strike him. I start with juror number 116 because he stuck out. Chauvin didnt have a crack at many like him over the past two weeks and it didnt take Schleicher long to figure that the State didnt want him. I hope they didnt pay the big bucks for that advice. I thought the prosecution counterpart to juror number 116 yesterday was juror number 118, but she made it onto the jury. She was the fourteenth juror seated in the case. Having been passed for cause by both Schleicher and Nelson, she will serve as an alternate. After her selection, we were apprised by the court that she is a white woman in her 20s. She too professed indifference about her possible service on the jury. When she identified at the outset as a social worker, however, I thought Nelson needed to strike her. She sounds like an honest and empathetic woman. If you were in trouble, you would want to seek help from her. She wants to hear everyone out. She wants to hear both sides of this case. Her impressions of both George Floyd and Derek Chauvin were somewhat negative to neutral. She wondered what prompted Chauvin to place his knee on Floyds neck. She wants to hear about Chauvins police training. As a social worker, she was trained to support everyone and extend basic respect to all. Based on her training as a social worker, she looks at every side of the issues she deals with. She must live in a Minneapolis suburb. When the riots hit following Floyds death, she was afraid of the migration of the violence to the suburbs. She also must have a handle on the reality principle insofar as she is concerned about her identification as a juror. However, she assured Nelson that she would not allow her concerns to affect her verdict. I would have wanted to hear more about that. When Nelson passed her for cause, it was obvious she would pass muster with the prosecution. I dont think you need a jury consultant to tell you that a social worker fits the profile of a juror who is likely to be favorable to the prosecution. Without knowing anything about the prospective jurors who are up next, I thought Nelson should have pressed her harder on the question of fear and on her commitment to impartiality. I thought he should have struck her if he couldnt make out a challenge for cause. We began the day with juror number 115. She was probably the true counterpart to the deer hunter. She is a nursing assistant who expressed no concerns for her physical safety. She was okay with the release of her name by the court at some point in the future when it is deemed safe. I take it that she does not contemplate a possible not guilty verdict and related consequences. Her view of Chauvin is somewhat negative. George Floyd should not have had to die. It was not his time to go. Did we need more? She participated in one of the protests within a week of Floyds death. She made a sign to march with a friend in the protest. (I missed what the sign said. UPDATE: It depicted a fist.) She strongly agrees that blacks are not treated equally in the criminal justice system. Where did she get the information to support her opinion? She took a gendered woman studies class in college. Need I add that her opinion of Black Lives Matter is very favorable? As Roberto Duran put it, No mas! I dont think Judge Cahill would have granted a challenge for cause, but Nelson didnt try. He used a peremptory strike on her. Juror number 117 confessed that her English was insufficient to follow expert testimony or even instructions in the law such as the presumption of innocence. Judge Cahill excused her for cause on his own motion. Like everybody else, juror number 119 had heard about the world-beating settlement of the case by the city of Minneapolis for $27 million. He conceded that it affected his view of the case. He understood the presumption of innocence but he didnt think he could afford it to Chauvin. Judge Cahill excused him for cause on his own motion. Ditto juror number 120. Juror number 121 presented as another case study in the profile of a juror adverse to Chauvin despite professing to be fair and impartial. He has worked in a retail warehouse for three years. He wants to serve as juror in the case and he has strong opinions about it. When he described himself early on as interested in philosophy and social issues, I thought Nelson would have to strike him. The alternate title of Nietzsches Twilight of the Idols is How to Philosophize with a Hammer. This guy wanted to philosophize with a hammer on the jury. He has watched the bystander video. He has watched the body cam video. He has a very negative opinion of Chauvin. He was of the view that Chauvin used unnecessary and excessive force. He thought that Floyds death resulted from it. And so on, and so on. Yet he professed his ability to be neutral. In a sidebar out of our hearing, Nelson moved to strike him for cause. Judge Cahill denied the challenge for cause, but expressly found that the juror was evasive and lacking in credibility. Nelson exercised another of his peremptory challenges to strike the juror and cited the Minnesota Court of Appeals McKinley case in support of his challenge for cause (A district court does not err when it sustains a for-cause challenge of a jurorbecause the juror is untruthful, evasive, or lacking in candor during voir dire). In response, Judge Cahill stated that he would revisit the question if Nelson ran out of peremptory challenges while we remain in search of the fifteenth juror the third alternate today. The court is calling in twelve prospective jurors in search of a third alternate who will be released next Monday if the other fourteen show up. When we find the third alternate today, we will take a break until the commencement of the trial proper with opening statements next Monday. In the summary provided by the court after juror 118 was seated , here are the fourteen jurors the twelve regular and two alternates who will decide this case: No. 2: white male; 20s No. 9: multi/mixed-race woman; 20s No. 19: white male; 30s No. 27: black male; 30s No. 44: white woman; 50s No. 52: black male; 30s No. 55: white woman; 50s No. 79: black male; 40s No. 85: multi/mixed-race woman; 40s No. 89: white woman; 50s No. 91: black woman; 60s No. 92: white woman; 40s No. 96: white woman; 50s No. 118: white woman; 20s UPDATE: The Star Tribune has run an amplified version of the AP story on the striking of juror 76 that I commented on in part 10 of this series. The Star Tribune and AP falsely ramp up the racial angle in a case that has already done incalculable damage to the Twin Cities and the United States. These stories both omit the fact that Judge Cahill found the striking of juror 76 by the defense to be based on a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason: his arguable inability to sit as an impartial juror in the case. See my account in part 8 of this series. (Alliance News) - Trustpilot AS, an online review platform, on Tuesday set the price for its initial public offering on the London Main Market at the top end of the expected range. The Copenhagen, Denmark-based company was founded in 2007 by Chief Executive Officer Peter Holten Muehlmann. It offers software-as-a-service applications that help businesses build trust in their products by means of independent customer reviews. The platform has hosted over 120 million reviews since starting out. Trustpilot set its IPO price at 265 pence per share. This is at the top of the range of 250p to 265p reported by Bloomberg News last week. Trustpilot said the IPO price gives the company a market capitalisation of GBP1.08 billion, making it one of the biggest floats in London of 2021 so far, just behind Dr Martens PLC and Moonpig Group PLC. All three, however, are far smaller than the GBP8.8 billion market cap expected for Deliveroo PLC when it makes its debut. Trustpilot said existing shareholders will sell 161 million shares, while the company will issue 17.6 million new shares. The combined offer will be worth GBP473 million and represent 43.6% of the company's equity. An additional 26.8 million existing shares will be made available in an over-allotment option. The shares began conditional dealings in London on Tuesday, rising 11% to 294.85p. They will start unconditional trade on Friday. Trustpilot recorded a pretax loss of USD12.9 million in 2020, narrowed from USD22.6 million in 2019. Revenue rose to USD102.0 million from USD81.9 million. It has 669 employees. The company is chaired by Timothy Weller since 2013. Weller founded business-to-business publisher and events organiser Incisive Media in 1994. Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan Cazenove were joint sponsors, global co-ordinators and bookrunners for the IPO, and Berenberg and Danske Bank were joint bookrunners. Draper Esprit PLC, which first invested in Trustpilot back in 2013, said it will sell down part of its holding to realise GBP78.3 million. The venture capital firm will continue to hold a 7.9% stake, subject to the over-allotment option, worth GBP85.5 million. Draper Esprit said it has invested GBP29.7 million to date in Trustpilot, suggesting a return of more than five times. "Trustpilot has done fantastically well, and we're proud to be part of this next stage in its journey," said Draper Esprit CEO Martin Davis. "With trust at its core, the public market is a great home for the business, and it's great for the UK to have such a tech success story listing in London." Draper Esprit shares were up 0.5% at 858.53 pence on Tuesday morning. By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. [March 23, 2021] eBay Redefines the Way Canadians Shop Online for "Like-New" Products with the Launch of Certified Refurbished Business Responding to growing demand and evolving consumer trends, eBay launches best-in-class online refurbished business that underscores quality, value and trust TORONTO, March 23, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, eBay Canada is launching a new business that features officially "Certified Refurbished" products. Canadians can now shop popular brands on eBay at up to 40 per cent less than buying new, but with all the same assurances, including a "like-new" quality guarantee backed by the manufacturer and a free two-year warranty. "We are fundamentally changing the way Canadians shop refurbished products by guaranteeing that eBay Certified Refurbished products look, feel and work like new," says Robert Bigler, General Manager of eBay Canada. "eBay has been successfully selling products in all conditions for twenty-five years, so when you think about a company that can redefine the refurbished shopping experience to not only meet, but exceed consumer expectations, it's eBay." This business, which was successfully launched in the US last year, is a direct response to increasing Canadian demand for value high quality refurbished products at good prices. According to a Leger survey commissioned by eBay Canada, 40 per cent of Canadians have purchased a refurbished item in the past, but 70 per cent would consider buying refurbished in the future if it came with the same assurances as buying brand new. In fact, more Canadians would rather buy a refurbished product from a top brand with a warranty versus a new product from alesser brand with a warranty (47% vs. 36%). However, a quarter of Canadians are concerned that refurbished items won't work well. "Since the onset of the pandemic, how consumers are choosing to spend their money has evolved, with quality and value being paramount and refurbished goods have gained popularity because of this," says Bigler. "But consumer confidence in these products has been a detractor in the past, so eBay built a best-in-class online Certified Refurbished business with trust and guaranteed quality as the foundation." Only brands that meet eBay's strict Certified Refurbished criteria qualify to be part of this business. This requires products to be in a pristine, like-new condition and professionally inspected, cleaned, and refurbished by the manufacturer or a manufacturer-approved vendor to meet specifications. Products must also come in new packaging with original or new accessories and manuals. eBay is the only online company in Canada to offer a free 2-year warranty on all Certified Refurbished items on top of a hassle-free 30-day return. Plus items sold on eBay are covered by eBay's Money Back Guarantee. "We are incredibly confident that Canadians are going to be blown away by eBay's Certified Refurbished products, but if any issues arise, we have our customer's backs simple as that," says Bigler. At launch, the business features categories such as laptops, portable audio, and small kitchen appliances from participating brands including Breville, Dell, De'Longhi, HP, JBL, and Lenovo. The program also includes exclusive partnerships with brands such as Bose. eBay Canada will continue to expand the Certified Refurbished experience in the months ahead, including new categories and brand partnerships. For more information, please visit: eBay.ca/CertifiedRefurbished Changing Canadian Consumption Habits Three-quarters of Canadians (74%) have seen a change in their consumer habits since the pandemic began. Over 70 per cent (71%) believe their online shopping habits will either stay the same or increase once the pandemic is over (51% responded "stay the same", 19% responded "increase"). A quarter of Canadians say they are savvier and more motivated to find new ways to make their dollars work harder (25%) and are more budget-conscious in general (23%). Top 3 drivers for buying refurbished include savings (68%), the ability to afford a better brand and high-quality product (40%) and sustainability (22%). Roughly 40 per cent (41%) of Canadians say that, if they were to buy a refurbished item, they would buy a higher-end brand than they normally would and 40 per cent would even consider gifting a refurbished electronic or small appliances if it was guaranteed to be in "like new" condition. Leger Survey Methodology An online survey of 1501 Canadians was completed between February 5 and 11, 2021, using Leger's online panel. No margin of error can be associated with a non-probability sample (i.e. a web panel in this case). For comparative purposes, though, a probability sample of 1501 respondents would have a margin of error of 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. About eBay eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a global commerce leader that connects millions of buyers and sellers in 190 markets around the world. We exist to enable economic opportunity for individuals, entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations of all sizes. Founded in 1995 in San Jose, California, eBay is one of the world's largest and most vibrant marketplaces for discovering great value and unique selection. In 2020, eBay enabled $100 billion of gross merchandise volume. For more information about the company and its global portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com. SOURCE eBay Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] President Joe Biden heads to Ohio on Tuesday afternoon to mark the 11th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act and sell his COVID relief plan. It's his first foray into a red state to pitch his $1.9 trillion America Rescue Plan, which includes provisions to help pay for the healthcare subsidies. With those new provisions, red states like Alabama and Wyoming are considering expanding their programs to residents whose incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private health insurance plans. Biden's visit comes as his administration is encouraging Americans to sign up for a COVID vaccine while still adhering to social distancing and wearing face masks. The president also makes the trip under the shadow of another mass shooting in the United States with 10 people in Boulder, Colorado, dead after a gunman opened fire in a grocery store. He returns to Columbus where, almost a year ago during the Democratic presidential primary, he talked about gun violence during a campaign stop. In his remarks, he said he would pursue background checks on all firearms purchases, ban large-capacity magazines for guns and end civil immunity for gun manufacturers in wrongful death lawsuits. The president will comment on the Boulder shootings at some point on Tuesday, administration officials told CNN. President Joe Biden heads to Ohio on Tuesday afternoon to mark the 11th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act and sell his COVID relief plan On Tuesday's visit, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the president will 'encourage Americans to sign up for insurance at HealthCare.gov during the special enrollment period his administration opened amid the pandemic.' Her comments were made at Monday's press briefing before the shooting in Boulder. Tuesday marks the 11th anniversary of President Barack Obama signing the Affordable Care Act into law. Biden, as vice president, was at Obama's side at the signing ceremony where he famously called the law a 'big f***ing deal.' In Columbus, Biden is scheduled to tour the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. And he will then make remarks. The president, last month, signed an executive order to open up the federal health insurance marketplace for three months so people who lost their insurance during the coronavirus pandemic can sign up for Obamacare. More than 200,000 Americans signed on in the first two weeks of open enrollment, which, officials argue, is a sign more health care insurance access is needed. The expanded enrollment period, available via Healthcare.gov, ends on May 15. Nearly 15 million Americans without healthcare insurance are eligible for Obamacare. And Biden's COVID relief plan contains provisions to help shoulder the healthcare costs. The COVID-19 legislation cuts premiums paid by a hypothetical 64-year-old making $58,000 from $1,075 a month to about $413, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, according to the Associated Press. A 45-year-old making $19,300 would pay zero in premiums as compared with about $67 on average before the law. People who have been unemployed this year can get a standard plan for zero premium and reduced copays and deductibles. Biden will tout his America Rescue Plan, which includes provisions to help pay for insurance subsidies The executive order Biden signed last month also reversed many Trump-era policies that weakened the Affordable Care Act. Last spring, when the pandemic took hold and economy imploded, healthcare experts asked the Trump administration to reopen the federal exchanges so people could buy healthcare insurance. The Trump administration refused the request. Additionally, the Biden administration has argued the Supreme Court should uphold the Affordable Care Act. The Trump administration sided with state attorneys general suing to strike down the law. The justices are expected to issue their ruling in July. The Ohio trip is part of a Biden administration battleground state blitz to tout the COVID relief plan, which the White House has dubbed the 'Help is Here' tour. On Tuesday, newly-sworn in Health Secretary Xavier Becerra will be in Carson City, Nevada. Second gentleman Douglas Emhoff will be in Omaha, Nebraska. Vice President Kamala Harris was in Florida on Monday while Emhoff was in Iowa. The president pledged to expand health insurance during his presidential campaign even though didn't go as far as to sign on to the Medicare-for-All, the universal healthcare plan touted by progressives like Bernie Sanders. But he did vow a 'public option' for a government-run insurance plan that would also address the rising cost of healthcare premiums and prescription drugs. He needs Congress to make that happen. Amaravati, March 23 : Andhra Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Somu Veerraju called for the state government's sand policy to be cancelled and the construction material distributed to be made free. "The new sand tenders are hitting the people of the state hard. Government should cancel the new sand tenders and distribute it for free," said Veerraju late Monday. He called on the party cadres to protest the new sand policy at all the district collector and RDO offices in the state. However, the state government condemned these criticisms from the opposition parties and called the sand tender process a transparent one. Gopal Krishna Dwivedi, special chief secretary of Panchayat Raj and Mining Department said the entire sand tendering process is being done transparently, following the instruction of Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for the benefit of consumers. He said the government is striving to maintain the same price structure at all sand reaches. "The task of identifying the contractor has been entrusted to the Central Government Agency MSTC. It was clarified that the sand tender process was done in a most transparent way than ever in the history and awarded to Jayprakash Power Ventures Ltd., a subsidiary of Jaypee Group, which was selected by MSTC," said Dwivedi. According to the senior IAS officer, the company has to pay the state government once every 15 days in advance for the next 15 days for business operations. On selecting the company, Dwivedi said that an invitation of financial bids was done only after reviewing the technical capabilities. "Widespread publicity was given on tenders by placing tender advertisements in newspapers and the government had also decided to collect Rs 120 crore as bid security for the participation of skilled, efficient, and experienced companies. The tenders were also called online to avoid any fear or hesitation in submitting bids," he said. Dwivedi said that out of Rs 475 per metric tonne at the sand reach, Rs 375 go directly to the exchequer and at this rate for a sand supply target of two crore metric tonnes per annum the value is Rs 950 crore. "Of this, the contractor has to pay Rs 765 crore to the government and the remaining money will go to the contracting company under maintenance and operational costs," he said. He asserted that the new sand policy will benefit the people and highlighted that buyers could carry sand from any reach at the same price, including providing buyers the option of using their own vehicles to carry sand. Last year, sand excavations amounted to 1.6 crore metric tonne and the state government aims to supply 2 crore metric tonne in the current year with the new sand policy. Likewise, Dwivedi said strict action will be initiated against those people who are selling sand at a higher price than the price set by the government. He called for complaints to be lodged at 14500 on sand irregularities and said that a special enforcement bureau (SEB) has already been set up to deal with the complaints. Adhering to the new policy, people can buy any amount of sand at Rs 475 per metric tonne at the reach while traders are not allowed to sell sand at a higher price than the one fixed by the government. "Sand will be given at a subsidized cost for the construction of houses for the weaker sections, the R&R colonies and those living near the reaches," Dwivedi added. Investment in Student Accommodation Property is Pandemic-proof Close Investment in Student accommodation property is Pandemic-proof (Photo : https://tabhq.com/) The impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the national response has been significant and wide-ranging throughout the UK's economy. Perhaps its impact on University Education and Student Accommodation has been one of the greatest challenges to ever be overcome by Educational Institutions, Students, and Student Accommodation property investors alike. To see if 10-15% pa Returns on Investment can still be expected in the Pandemic and Post-Pandemic climate, and what to look out for in the Student Accommodation sector in the future, we speak to Property Finance Entrepreneur Duncan Kreeger, and founder of sector disruptor TAB. With student property investments yielding between 10-15% historical gains pa, is this growth stable even with the transition to online classes during the pandemic and potential for the foreseeable future? Yes, I believe that this growth will remain stable after the pandemic. Higher education is in worldwide demand and UK universities offer some of the most accredited courses. I don't think the pandemic will deter prospective students from physically attending university either. The university experience isn't just the education, it includes living away from home and meeting new people. Also, many subjects have had to adapt dramatically to digital classes however face-to-face lectures and seminars remain important in the education system and will return as soon as it's allowed. The demand in university places means that there is also the demand for student property and with it the 10-15%pa yields that come with it. Should university students be educated on how their student accommodation is an investment opportunity and should these investment opportunities be opened up to both UK-based and overseas students? Yes, absolutely. I think that it's essential university students should be educated on real estate and real estate investments. Having a financial education is one of the best investments someone can make. Learning that their student accommodation is an investment opportunity will help students realise the costs associated with running a property and the rewards that come with it. If the investment opportunities are opened up to students, they will have a direct incentive in looking after the property and might help them in the first steps to: understanding the cost of maintaining a property and what requirements come with it; understanding the borrowing capability, monthly cash flow; and, make a return on your money. This would better prepare students for the financial system and one way this could be executed is through fractional property ownership where investors, or students, in this case, own a portion or a share of a property and have that portion of the monthly rental income. Over the next five years do you see property investments, especially within the student accommodation market changing, and if so how? Yes, I think we're going to see a change in property investment. At TAB, we're opening up the real estate market to a much wider cohort, from a minimum investment of 1,000 it makes property investing much more accessible. Through fractional property ownership, you can purchase a share of a property and income is earned on your investment from the rental income received from tenants. TAB takes care of the legal and management side of property investments, so there are no mortgages, no estate agent fees, no banks and no management required by the investors. Fractional property ownership could work for any type of property, including student accommodation. Our platform in the future will allow for the sale of your share, making property investments a liquid market, much like the stock market. This might be attractive to students who might want to invest in the property they're residing in, benefit from the rental income, and then sell their share at the end of their university course. Duncan Kreeger is confident that Investment in Student Accommodation has a strong future, despite the effects of the once in a century public health crisis. Not only are historical returns of 10-15%pa expected to remain, but through innovative Property Investment digital technology, like TAB, this sector is now more open to new and established investors and entrepreneurs than ever before. Will there be the hoped-for parallel revolution and increase in financial and investment literacy among students and young people? Only time will tell. (Image courtesy of https://tabhq.com) See Now: Facebook will use AI to detect users with suicidal thoughts and prevent suicide 2017 University Herald, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An undercover TV researcher who worked for Channel 4 went on the run for 16 years after taking part in the torture and murder of a small-time cannabis dealer, a court heard yesterday. Christopher Guest More fled to Spain in June 2003 two days after Brian Waters, 44, was brutally killed in front of his son and daughter over a 20,000 drug debt. More, then 25, evaded capture until 2019, when he was found living under an assumed name in Malta. Chester Crown Court was told that coke-snorting, Porsche-driving More and his cousin James Raven, then 43, worked together as private investigators. About eight months before the murder, the pair had been asked to research and locate a cannabis farm for 'covert filming' for Channel 4's flagship current affairs programme, Dispatches. The prosecution allege that nine days before the murder, More found Mr Waters' cannabis farm in Tabley, near Knutsford, Cheshire, and tipped off another drug dealer and associate, John Wilson, then 53. Wilson, Raven and another man, Otis Matthews, 25, were eventually convicted of Mr Waters' murder. TV researcher Christopher Guest More (pictured), who worked for Channel 4, went on the run for 16 years after taking part in the torture and murder of a small-time cannabis dealer, a court heard yesterday. Nigel Power QC told the court that in October 2002, More and Raven were asked to carry out background research and locate a cannabis farm for a Channel 4 programme about the reclassification of the drug from Class B to Class C. He added: 'Although they said they had located an illegal grow or cannabis farm, that avenue was not pursued and the programme was transmitted without any work from either Mr More or Mr Raven being included.' The court heard that Mr Waters, a former taxi driver and market trader, had been dealing cannabis for 22 years when he was tortured and murdered in a cowshed at the farm on June 19, 2003. Mr Power said Mr Waters often travelled to Holland and using his contacts there to broker cannabis deals for others, including Wilson. The prosecution allege that nine days before the murder, More found Mr Waters' cannabis farm (pictured) in Tabley, near Knutsford, Cheshire On one of his trips, he was stopped at Dover with 20,000 in cash, belonging to Wilson, which was confiscated. Wilson was 'upset' at losing the money and Mr Waters had to pay off the debt, the jury was told. Mr Waters decided he could make more money if he grew his own cannabis in England and rented Burnt House Farm in Tabley, for 1,000 a month. But he kept the operation secret from Wilson, who in the months before Mr Waters' death, was putting pressure on him to pay his debt. Nine days before the murder, Mr Power said, mobile phone evidence showed that More followed Mr Waters' son, Gavin, 25, from the family home, in Nantwich, Cheshire, to the cannabis farm, 27 miles away. At the same time, More made several phone calls to his 'partner in crime' Wilson. Brian Waters, 44, was brutally killed in front of his son and daughter over a 20,000 drug debt Mr Power told the jury: 'As Mr More was tracking Gavin Waters to the cannabis farm, who was he relaying information to but John Wilson? 'Could that call at 1.48pm, where Gavin Waters is at the farm, be Mr More telling John Wilson, 'Bingo, I've found it'? That's the inference the prosecution invite you to make.' The court heard that, on June 18, Mr Waters and his wife, Julie, then 42, had thrown a party at their home to celebrate their youngest child Natalie's 21st birthday. The following day Mr Waters was tortured for three hours and killed in front of his two children, who were held captive in the barn, while his wife was abducted from the family home and taken there arriving at the farm at the same time as the police. One of Mr Waters' associates, Suleman Razak, 20, was tortured during the same ordeal. At the time More described as 'full of himself and a bit of a show-off' lived on a farm near the affluent village of Lymm, not far from the murder scene. More, now 43, denies murder and two counts of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm against Mr Waters and Mr Razak. The trial continues. An Asian-American woman was repeatedly punched in the face and left with bruises all over her body after being attacked by a trio of purse-snatchers and dragged behind their car along a street in San Francisco. A portion of the incident that took place on Sunday was caught on a neighbor's cellphone video, which shows the victim, who identified herself only as Clarisse, holding onto the thugs' speeding car before being thrown off and landing in the middle of the road. Clarisse told KGO-TV she was walking with a friend in broad daylight after attending a church service when she was accosted by three young men at the intersection of Polk and Bush streets. A woman named Clarisse was walking in San Francisco after church on Sunday when she was accosted by three men, one of whom grabbed her purse. The screenshot on the left from a bystander's video show the victim next to the thieves' car Despite being punched in the face three times, Clarisse grabbed onto the thugs' getaway vehicle in a desperate bid to get her handbag back One of the suspects grabbed Clarisse's bag, but she refused to let go of it and was punched in the face three times. Determined to retrieve her belongings, Clarisse grabbed onto the thieves' getaway vehicle and was dragged a short distance before the sedan suddenly lurched forward, causing the woman to lose her grip and fall. Clarisse sustained an injury to her right eye, bruises on her face and arm, and cuts on her hand and foot. The suspects dragged the woman, seen clinging to the driver's side, a short distance When the car lurched forward, Clarisse lost her grip and fell to the ground (pictured) A witness recorded the incident on his cellphone from a nearby building. Clarisse is seen kneeling in the middle of the street after falling off the car Addressing her attackers directly, the woman said: 'I forgive you and I want you to really hope and pray you get what you need out of life but not in a way thats criminal.' Although Clarisse is Asian-American, she said she is not sure the attack on her was racially motivated, but her companion who was walking with her at the time of the mugging believes it was. Clarisse suffered bruises and cuts to her eye, face, arm, hand and foot, but said she forgives her attackers The woman was beaten and robbed on the same day when rallies were held across the United States protesting against hate crimes targeting Asian-Americans. There has been a wave of violence and harassment directed at Asians since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, including a slew of random attacks in New York City and San Francisco. A 25-year-old Asian woman was urinated on and an elderly Sri Lankan man was punched in the face in two separate incidents that took place just days apart in the New York City subway. In San Francisco, a 70-year-old Asian woman was attacked by a white man in his 30s, but she was able to fight him off with a wooden stick and ended up putting her assailant in the hospital last week. The U.S. should consider leading a multilateral coalition with South American nations to push back against China's illegal fishing and trade practices, a U.S. intelligence agency has recommended in a document obtained by Axios. Why it matters: China's illegal fishing industry is the largest in the world. Beijing has made distant-water fishing a geopolitical priority, viewing private Chinese fishing fleets as a way to extend state power far beyond its coasts. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free A senior U.S. administration official confirmed to Axios that several agencies across the government are "taking a look at this in light of the president's priorities," which include "deepening cooperation with allies and partners on the challenges we face to our economy and national security." What's happening: Huge fleets of hundreds of Chinese vessels have had boats fish illegally in the territorial waters of South American countries, including off the Galapagos Islands. The activity has depleted stocks and disrupted food chains, in a practice referred to as illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) fishing. South American nations say these fleets are a challenge to their economic and environmental security, but their navies often lack the resources to effectively monitor and patrol their own waters. Last year, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru stated they would join forces to defend their territorial waters from incursions by Chinese vessels. Details: "South American countries probably would welcome a coalition effort to increase trade pressure on China and enforcement of fishing standards," officials from the Office of Intelligence and Analysis wrote in a Feb. 5 document labeled sensitive but unclassified. "Unilateral pressure by the United States would likely result in China enforcing similar sanctions, just as Beijing did by enacting a new law to counter U.S. restrictions on technology firms," said those from the office, an intelligence agency within the Department of Homeland Security. Several offices and agencies are working together on this effort, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Office of Naval Intelligence, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the State Department, according to the document and government sources. The document assessed with "high confidence" that Chinese fishing in South American waters would also "cause continued economic harm to U.S. domestic fisheries as a result of anticompetitive tactics." Story continues It assessed with "medium confidence" that China is likely to "continue exploitative fishing practices in South American waters despite recent actions by governments and an intergovernmental organization to limit these activities." It also assessed with "medium confidence" that South American countries would welcome a coalition to increase the enforcement of fishing standards. What they're saying: "Theres a lack of understanding of this problem, that its a global problem, that fisheries are quite stressed," the senior administration official told Axios. The Trump administration "started some work on the counter-IUU issue globally on Chinas role since theyve emerged as the biggest perpetrator on this," said the official, who added the Biden administration continues to see this as a priority. Background: Former Chinese President Hu Jintao called for building China into a great maritime power, and in 2013 China's State Council elevated the fishing industry to the level of a strategic industry. The Chinese government provides subsidies to the fishing industry, which enables boats to cover the fuel costs of sailing to distant coasts, including near West Africa and South America. "Chinas leaders see distant water fleets as a way to project presence around the world, so that when it comes time to set up regulatory frameworks, that they will have a big say in how those frameworks are set up," said Tabitha Mallory, CEO of the consulting firm China Ocean Institute and affiliate professor at the University of Washington. The aim is to be "present all over the worlds oceans so that they can direct the outcomes of international agreements that cover maritime resources," said Mallory, "including not just fishing but seabed mining, the Arctic" and other key issues and regions. The U.S. government has paid closer attention to China's increasingly global deep-water fishing fleets in recent years. The Maritime Security and Fisheries Enforcement (SAFE) Act, passed in December 2019, established a "whole-of-government approach" to combating IUU fishing. In May 2020, President Trump issued an executive order to combat illegal deep-sea fishing and help promote U.S. competitiveness in the industry. In September 2020, the State Department added fish caught by China's distant water fishing fleets to its list of goods produced with forced labor a potential concern also raised in the DHS document. The bottom line: Other countries need to weigh in on these issues too," Mallory said. "Anything that the U.S does alone will be seen by the Chinese as simply part of the backdrop of rising power competition." Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - 10 people, including a police officer, were killed in a shooting spree at a grocery market in Boulder, south of the University of Colorado. A gunman opened fire at the King Soopers store on Monday afternoon, triggering harrowing and chaotic scenes inside the store. Police arrived on the scene shortly after the shooting incident occurred at about 2:30 PM ET, and surrounded the market. The dead police officer was identified as Eric Talley, 51, who was one of the security officers to respond to the shooting. Talley served more than ten years with the Boulder Police Department. Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said an injured suspect is in custody, and that police is investigating the massacre. She did not disclose the suspect's identity or his motive behind the attack. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden had been briefed on the shooting incident. 'He will be kept up to date by his team as there are additional developments,' she tweeted. Colorado Governor Jared Polis said that he was making every public safety resource available to assist the Boulder County Sheriff's Department. The Colorado incident is the seventh mass shooting in the country in the past 7 days. Eight people, including six women of Asian origin, were killed in a shooting spree at three massage parlors in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16. Other shooting incidents occurred in Stockton, California; Gresham, Oregon; Houston; Dallas; and Philadelphia. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. DALLAS, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alternet Systems, Inc. (USOTC: ALYI) today published a strategic update following the recent release of the first ever video demonstration of ALYI's Retro Revolt Electric Motorcycle to emphasize where the electric motorcycle fits in to ALYI's overall business plan. The update is included in its entirety below: ALYI Electric Vehicle Ecosystem Update Following Electric Motorcycle Demonstration The Retro Revolt Electric Motorcycle demonstrated last week is an important component of ALYI's overall business plan. The update today is intended to highlight where the motorcycle fits into ALYI's overall business plan and remind everyone, ALYI is not an electric motorcycle company. ALYI is a comprehensive, electric vehicle ecosystem company. ALYI is built on a long-term vision committed to advancing the ongoing evolution of electric vehicle transportation. The electric vehicle industry is in its infancy. While the majority of electric vehicle industry participants are racing to introduce products constructed on current technology and transportation paradigms, ALYI is focused on introducing a forward-looking systematic process that continually evaluates developing technologies and prospective paradigms for future adoption. Electric Vehicle Technology And Transportation Paradigm Leapfrog Opportunity ALYI is establishing its forward-looking systematic process in Africa because Africa has one of the lowest per capita transportation ratios in the world. Accordingly, Africa has the best technology leapfrog opportunity. While the US and Europe must phase out old technologies and paradigms, Africa can leap ahead to introduce technologies and paradigms where no legacy must first be phased out. Ultimately, ALYI is introducing an electric vehicle ecosystem built around an electric vehicle trade show and symposium intended to bring electric vehicle and overall transportation, commercial and academic expertise together annually to evaluate the future of electric transportation and facilitate partnerships to develop pilot next generation solutions. Brand Name Electric Vehicle Race Partnership ALYI has confidence that it can attract industry leaders to the annual trade show and symposium. The attraction stems in part from the socially responsible economic opportunity to introduce technology, manufacturing and transportation solutions in Africa. The attraction is made virtually irresistible by a concurrent electric vehicle race event hosted by a major brand name partner yet to be revealed. First Electric Vehicle Paradigm Transformation Motorcycle Taxis In Africa ALYI has seeded the overall forward-looking systematic process by selecting an existing transportation paradigm in Africa that can be dramatically enhanced by the introduction of a new electric vehicle solution. Motorcycle taxis or boda-bodas, are a major mode of transportation in Africa. ALYI is building an electric motorcycle that can be deployed to replace the boda-boda market with a safer, more environmentally friendly, reliable rideshare solution. First Electric Vehicle Ecosystem Partnerships In keeping with ALYI's symposium strategy intended to facilitate partnerships that can advance forward-looking solutions, ALYI has established partnerships with MODUS and iQSTEL (IQST) for the design of the electric motorcycle to be deployed in Africa to transform the boda-boda market. The Retro Revolt Electric Motorcycle is ALYI's pilot platform to evaluate electric vehicle technology components and rideshare technologies for integration into the electric motorcycle to be deployed in Africa. The Retro Revolt Electric Motorcycle was built on the rugged BMW R71 platform to include a sturdy structural component in the ultimate electric vehicle solution to be deployed in Africa. Retro Revolt Electric Motorcycle The ALYI pilot electric motorcycle platform has advanced the solution to be deployed in Africa. The electric motorcycle for Africa is going into a pilot rideshare test in Africa this summer. In the process of piloting the BWM R71 platform intended to advance the ultimate solution for Africa, the pilot motorcycle has proved so popular, ALYI decided to produce a commercial version for sale in North America. That commercial version of the African pilot is the Retro Revolt Electric Motorcycle presented in the video demonstration last week on Friday (SEE VIDEO). Cryptocurrency Enable Open Participation In The ALYI Electric Vehicle Ecosystem ALYI's forward-looking systematic process is being established as an ecosystem that invites open participation. Here's how: ALYI has established another partnership with a new organization named RevoltTOKEN. RevoltTOKEN is dedicated to funding ALYI's electric vehicle ecosystem. RevoltTOKEN is in part funding ALYI's electric vehicle ecosystem through the introduction of a cryptocurrency. RevoltTOKEN recently launched the sale of Revolt Tokens. The funds raised through the sale of Revolt Tokens will be dedicated to the funding of the overall Alternet Systems Electric Vehicle Ecosystem Platform and make buyers of Revolt Tokens participants in the Alternet Systems Electric Vehicle Ecosystem Platform. Learn more about how ALYI and RVLT are working together and how the purchase of Revolt Tokens makes the buyer a participant in the ALYI electric vehicle ecosystem platform by watching a video on the RevoltTOKEN website (www.revolttoken.com). The current purchase price is U.S. $1.00 per RVLT, which will be delivered to an ERC20 Compatible Wallet of your choice (e.g. Trust Wallet). How To Purchase Revolt Token The Revolt Token purchase process requires 3 simple steps. The first one is to create a User ID and password follow the link below to get started: http://www.revolttoken.com/RVLTICO Next, a link to register and collect Know-Your-Customer (KYC) information will be sent. Once verified, an email confirmation will be sent, and you can then proceed to complete your purchase of Revolt Tokens. You can buy multiple times with the same ID. Registration and purchase requests will be processed on a first come, first serve basis. Any questions or issues during any step of the process can be addressed by emailing customer support at [email protected]. Anyone interested in Revolt Token (RVLT) should review the information available on the Revolt Token (RVLT) website and continue to monitor the Revolt Token (RVLT) website for updates regarding the availability of new Revolt Token (RVLT) purchasing functionality, and the listing of Revolt Token (RVLT) on the cryptocurrency exchanges. The Revolt Token (www.revolttoken.com) website will also include the evolving information regarding the exchangeability of Revolt Token (RVLT) for other Alternet System Electric Vehicle Ecosystem components intended to include Alternet's Revolt Electric Motorcycles, and/or entry into participation in Alternet's annual Electric Vehicle Race (EV Grand Prix) and Electric Vehicle Technology Symposium. Visit Revolt Token (RVLT)'s website at www.RevoltToken.com. Please do not hesitate to email any questions to [email protected]. For more information and to stay up to date on ALYI's overall latest developments, please visit www.alternetsystemsinc.com. Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. Alternet Systems, Inc. Contact: Randell Torno [email protected] +1-800-713-0297 SOURCE Alternet Systems, Inc. Ghislaine Maxwell, longtime associate of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, speaks at a news conference at the United Nations in New York on June 25, 2013. (UNTV via Reuters) Substantial International Ties: Judge Denies Ghislaine Maxwells New Bail Request A federal judge on Monday rejected Ghislaine Maxwells latest bail request, saying the defendant is a flight risk because of her substantial international ties. Maxwell, the ex-girlfriend of the late convicted sex offender and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, had offered to renounce her French and British citizenship in addition to having her and her spouses assets placed in an account that would be monitored by a federal judge. The former proposed condition should satisfy any concerns the Court may have that Ms. Maxwell may try to seek a safe haven in France or the United Kingdom, Maxwells lawyer wrote in a bail application last month. As a non-citizen, Ms. Maxwell will not be able to avail herself of any protections against extradition that may apply to citizens of those countries. The latter condition will restrain Ms. Maxwells assets so they cannot be used for flight or harboring her outside of the jurisdiction of this Court. This should satisfy the Courts concern that the proposed bond was not fully secured and left assets unrestrained that could be used for such purposes, the lawyer added. But U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan, an Obama nominee, disagreed in the new filing. The Court concludes that none of the Defendants new arguments and proposals disturb its conclusion that the Defendant poses a risk of flight and that there are no combination of conditions that can reasonably assure her appearance. Thus, for substantially the same reasons that the Court denied the Defendants first and second motions for release, the Court DENIES the Defendants third motion for release on bail, Nathan wrote in her 12-page order. The Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) where Ghislaine Maxwell, the alleged accomplice of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, is being held, in New York City on July 6, 2020. (Mike Segar/Reuters) The court is not required to hold another hearing on potentially letting Maxwell go on bail unless it determines new information would have a material bearing on the issue, the judge added. Its not clear whether Maxwell would be able to renounce her French citizenship in a rapid manner and similar doubts exist concerning the offer to renounce her UK citizenship, according to the order. In both countries, its possible Maxwell could flee and successfully resist or forestall extradition. Maxwell, 59, was charged in July 2020 with sex crimes including enticing a minor to travel to engage in criminal sexual activity and transporting a minor with the same intent. She is being held in federal jail in New York City. She faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted. Nathans latest order came a few days after she agreed to some redactions requested by both parties in the case, alleging some of the information was too sensitive or confidential for the public to see. [March 23, 2021] New Interactive Tool Helps Users Better Understand Impacts of COVID-19 School Closures on Young Canadians OTTAWA, ON, March 23, 2021 /CNW/ - Statistics Canada, in partnership with Children First Canada, a national organization that is mobilizing an alliance of children's charities, hospitals and researchers, has launched a new online tool aimed at providing data-driven insights into the impacts of pandemic-related school closures on children and youth. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect communities and families across the country, policy-makers have employed remote learning approaches and temporarily closed schools in order to curb the spread of the virus. While these measures are intended to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, school closures and other pandemic-related restrictions may have unintended effects on the 5.7 million children and youth attending primary or secondary school in Canada. Potential impacts include social isolation, poor mental health, learning loss, food insecurity and vulnerability to abuse. The School Closures and COVID-19: Interactive tool brings together existing information about children and youth who were already known to be vulnerable before the pandemic, as well as available data on the impacts of temporary school closures on young Canadians. The tool, which includes interactive maps that identify the location of vulnerable communities, provides policy makers, industry leaders, teachers and parents with a single point of access to Statistics Canada data about this topic. This tool is the result of a partnership between Statistics Canada and Children First Canada, which teamed up to identify effective ways to use existing data to better understand the potential impacts of school closures on children and youth. A virtual event was held in February to gather feedback and consult stakeholders on ways in which to make the tool relevant to their needs. Quotes "I want to thank our partner, Children First Canada, for their engagement and collaboration in the development of this tool. Together, we organized a hackathon on the subject of children and COVID-19 in order to provide policy makers information to assist them in meeting the challenges they face today. From this collaborative engagement, we have built a tool that brings together the relevant information into a single place that's accessible to everyone. We value and thank all those who have contributed to each phase of this project. We also acknowledge everyone's continued vested interest in improving the education, health and well-being of our children and youth." - Lynn Barr-Telford, Assistant Chief Statistician, Statistics Canada "Children First Canada was honoured to be invited by Statistics Canada to partner on this project. The development of this new tool was a collaborative effort to harness data on the health and well-being of children in Canada, to inform policy making and programs to mitigate the impact of school closures on kids. Throughout the pandemic, children and youth have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions, threatening their academic success, mental health, protection from violence, and food security. Our hope is that this new tool will help lift the burden of the pandemic off children." - Sara Austin, founder and CEO, Children First Canada SOURCE Statistics Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Senate Judiciary Committee, confronted with the mass shootings of 18 people in two states within the span of a week, will hold a hearing on the problem of gun violence on Tuesday morning as advocates of regulation raise a plea for Congress to act. Only hours after the shooting in Boulder, Colo., on Monday night, signs of a familiar partisan divide on guns began to appear. Some Democrats called for action, including the Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, who said, This Senate must and will move forward on legislation to help stop the epidemic of gun violence. Some Republicans, including Representative Lauren Boebert, who made supporting gun owners rights a key part of her agenda while running for office in Colorado, expressed sympathy for the victims. May God be with us as we make sense of this senseless violence, and may we unify and not divide during this time, she said. Advocacy groups quickly responded. The group Everytown for Gun Safety said the shooting in Boulder was at least the 246th mass shooting in the United States since January 2009, and that on average 805 people die by gun violence in Colorado every year. Flash China hopes that the United States could honor its words and take concrete actions to truly protect the legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities including Asians, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Monday. Hua made the remarks when asked to comment on the three shooting incidents in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16 that killed eight people, six of them Asians. Hua confirmed that one of the victims was a Chinese citizen, urging the United States to severely punish the killer in accordance with the law as soon as possible, and take effective measures to protect the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese citizens in the United States. She said the Chinese Embassy in the United States is keeping a close eye on the progress of the case and will provide active assistance to the families of the deceased. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris condemned anti-Asian violence in the country on March 19, adding that racism, xenophobia and sexism are all "real in America" and have always been in existence. Saying that systemic racism and white supremacy "are ugly poisons that have long plagued the United States," U.S. president Joe Biden added in a statement on March 21 that "we must change the laws that enable discrimination in our country, and we must change our hearts." "The U.S. must not only have the courage to face the problem, but also the determination to solve the problem," Hua said. She said it is hoped that the United States could do what it says, and truly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities, including Asians, protecting them from discrimination, attacks, or even threats to their lives. The United States should earnestly fulfill its obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and respond to the concerns of the international community with concrete actions, Hua added. 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. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. SHARON Mowat-Driscoll from Abbeyfeale is celebrating after her photograph entitled the three of us was named as a finalist in the Fishermans Friend Search for Irelands Greatest Friendship competition. As part of the competition, individuals from across Ireland were encouraged to celebrate their friendships through the lens and share photos that captured their friendships and what that bond means to them. Out of hundreds of entries, Sharons photograph captured the hearts of the judges, which included editor of Irish Country Living, Amii McKeever; photographer and managing director of Fennell Photography, Chris Bellew and Jon White, regional business manager, Fishermans Friend. We are thrilled to be running this competition for the third year, celebrating friendship through the art of photography that moment caught in time that makes you smile. This past year has been particularly challenging for everyone; however, it has also demonstrated the immense community spirit that exists within Irish communities and we know that friendships have played a key role in this, commented Jon White. It has been a privilege to judge this competition, in partnership with the Irish Farmers Journal, and to celebrate and recognise Irelands greatest friendships. The quantity and quality of the entries was very impressive, depicting an incredible diversity and range of interpretations of friendship and what it means to people from across Ireland. Sharons photo of her family stood out for all the judges and is a very worthy finalist," he added. The overall winner of the competition was Anna Cronin and her son Bill Harrington, from County Cork. For more details on this years event and to see the full range of finalists, visit the Fishermans Friend Facebook Page. Energy makes the high standard of living most Americans enjoy possible. Affordable, reliable energy is the lifeblood of our economy. And as University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology director Dr. Scott Tinker recently noted, All forms of energy come from the earth. It is with those fundamental facts in mind that Keep It In the Ground (KIITG) groups should be viewed as anti-U.S. energy. Though its is obvious traditional energy sources such as oil, natural gas and coal come from the ground, it is often overlooked that wind, solar and battery technologies would not be possible without massive mining projects. So it is ironic that the same KIITG groups that are pushing government leaders to transition to 100 percent wind and solar vehemently oppose the domestic copper, cobalt, lithium and rare earth mineral mining needed for renewable energy infrastructure. It is because of well-funded campaigns by groups such as the Sierra Club and Earthworks that United States mineral mining is currently being kept to a minimum, to use the Sierra Clubs verbiage, and far below the levels needed to domestically source the type of green energy revolution these activists insist is needed. Let that sink in for a moment: Not only do KIITG groups advocate for the end of the United States oil, natural gas and coal industries, they effectively advocate that we be reliant on foreign nations for the renewable energy they argue can replace hydrocarbons. Remarkably, the movement has gained traction on the policy front. So what happens if it ultimately proves successful? China happens to enjoy a monopoly on rare earth mineral and cobalt mining and processing. Most renewable energy infrastructure is manufactured in China. And the U.S. produces just 1.2 percent of the worlds lithium. With no domestic supply chain to speak of, the KIITG agenda is a recipe for the United States to not only be under Chinas thumb for our renewable energy needs but also returning to the days of being reliant on the Saudi Arabias and Russias of the world for the oil and natural gas that provide just under 70 percent of our energy needs. This is not sound policy by any objective measure. The Department of Energy and virtually every other reputable source forecasts oil and natural gas remaining the countrys dominant source of energy for at least the next 30 years. A recent U.S. Energy Information Administration report notes, Petroleum remains the most-consumed fuels in the United States through 2050. President Biden has even said Were not getting rid of fossil fuels for a long time, and Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland recently testified, Theres no question that fossil energy does and will continue to play a major role in America for years to come. Clearly, we are going to need all forms of energy in massive quantities moving forward. So obviously, it is in the United States interest to produce as much energy here as possible. But KIITG groups as their moniker would suggest continue to fight to keep all forms of U.S. energy in the ground. Implementation of the KIITG agenda would quite simply destroy our hard-won energy security, lead to skyrocketing energy costs and leave us reliant on China, Saudi Arabia and Russia. The true Big Oil giants the state-owned national oil companies in Saudi Arabia, Russia and China who already produce 73 percent of the worlds oil and natural gas and control 90 percent of the worlds proven reserves would grab an even bigger market share. Even worse, the KIITG movements policies would at best lead to flat or even increasing domestic greenhouse gas emissions by making domestically produced natural gas less available, while also increasing global emissions by outsourcing even more manufacturing and processing to coal-reliant countries such as China. Once thought of as a fringe movement, the KIITG agenda has gained mainstream traction. With that should come some long-overdue scrutiny and the realization that these groups are, first and foremost, anti-American energy advocates. Seth Whitehead is Executive Director of the Illinois Petroleum Resources Board, a non-profit organization that provides public awareness and education programs regarding the Illinois oil and natural gas production industry. The Nigerian Army has told its officers that anyone caught making unauthorised posts on social media will be arrested, investigated, and court-martialled. Lawrence Fejokwu, the General Officer Commanding, 81 Division, spoke at the opening of a two-day workshop to educate officers on Human Rights and Humanitarian Laws on Tuesday. Mr Fejokwu, a major-general, said the training would help to support the strategic vision of the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Leo Irabor. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation workshop was taking place as a fallout from the events of the #EndSARS protest in 2020. Mr Fejokwu, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Nsikak Edet, a brigadier-general, said the COAS vision was to build a Nigerian Army repositioned to professionally defeat all adversity in a joint environment. For instance, the case of EndSARS which we handled as a Division brought about a lot of issues bothering on proper management of social media space. So, this lecture will instill high quality character on how officers should comport themselves when on duties. People are watching, taking videos and recording and this can be used against such an officer in a negative form, he said. The GOC said officers would be educated on how to ensure that their troops do not take and send unauthorised videos, recordings or pictures to the wrong set of people. So many photographs that are not supposed to be on the social media space are there and some of them were taken by our own troops. So, it is necessary to ensure that when conducting operations, officers should not be allowed to do the things that can jeopardise the instinct of the strategic directive of the command. Such an officer will be arrested, investigated and court-martialed when caught, he warned. Mr Fejokwu further said another key lesson to be learnt from the protest would be the legal status of a soldier and the justification of the use of force. According to him, a soldier should know when to use force and the degree of the kind of force to be applied to conform with the principle of use of minimum force. One of the principles of the international security treaty is the use of minimum force. So, the troops need to know how to apply force, what will make them apply that excessive force or minimum force as the case may be. Therefore, the officers and soldiers will be sensitised on these laws to guide them in all their operations to work in accordance with the law, he said. ADVERTISEMENT The Divisions Training Officer, Shuaibu Nuhu, said the workshop would educate officers on the importance and challenges of having a next of kin. Mr Nuhu, a brigadier-general, said there had been cases where at the demise of an officer dies in the course of duty, several family members would come to claim the officers benefits. The workshop, therefore, serves as a platform to educate on professionalism, responsiveness in the Nigerian Army through appropriate awareness of human rights and humanitarian laws. We want to make sure that everything we do is transparent by engaging our officers to have mastery of the laws so that they will not take laws into their hands, Mr Nuhu added. (NAN) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The last three presidents have each had to grapple with a sudden arrival of thousands of unaccompanied migrant teenagers and children along the Mexico border, but the challenge facing President Joe Biden in recent weeks is an unprecedented one. Never before have so many minors arrived so fast. Over the last three weeks, the average number of teenagers and children crossing into the United States without their parents has topped 550 per day, according to the latest government data reviewed by The Washington Post. Border officials are on pace to take in more than 17,000 minors this month, which would be an all-time high. The influx has overwhelmed the governments ability to safely shelter and care for the minors before delivering them to family members and vetted sponsors living in the United States, a challenge complicated by the coronavirus pandemic. Photos released Monday by Representative Henry Cuellar, showed teens packed into a South Texas tent facility operated by US Customs and Border Protection that was at 1,500 per cent of its pandemic-rated capacity as of Sunday, per CBP data. Mr Cuellars office said the photos were taken over the weekend. In 2014 and 2019, the Obama and Trump administrations faced a similar challenge, the result of desperate conditions in Central America and US laws that limit the governments ability to swiftly return most minors who do not qualify for asylum to countries other than Mexico and Canada. But Mr Biden has had a markedly different approach than his predecessors to an influx Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said was on pace to be the largest in the last 20 years. The Biden team has primarily focused its efforts so far on adding capacity to shelters and other facilities to absorb the influx, declining to implement policies that would send minors back because the administration considers the policies morally unacceptable. Nine days into the new presidency, a federal appeals court gave the government a green light to resume President Donald Trumps use of an emergency public health order to expel unaccompanied minors, typically by flying them to their home countries. Biden officials declined to do so and instead allowed these minors to remain in the United States and pursue humanitarian claims under US law. Read more: The Biden administration has continued to use the public health order, Title 42, to expel most adults and some families arriving at the border, a decision that is being challenged in court. Biden officials have, at times, misstated how the Title 42 expulsions generally worked under the Trump administration. On Sunday, Mr Mayorkas told NBC News that the Biden administration will not expel into the Mexican desert, for example, three orphan children whom I saw over the last two weeks. We just wont do that. Thats not who we are. During the Trump administration, most Central American minors were flown to their home countries, as Mexico would not allow the return of non-Mexican minors. Three out of 4 minors in HHSs care in January were aged 15 or older, and only 13 per cent were children 12 and younger, data shows. About 70 per cent were boys. The vast majority of minors are released to one of their parents already living in the United States, or another immediate relative. The administration does not appear to have prepared or planned for the logistical challenges of accepting thousands of unaccompanied minors. Legally, children and teenagers must be quickly transferred to the care of Health and Human Services and only stay 72 hours in CBP custody. Shelters run by the HHS are nearly 100 per cent full and are holding more than 11,000 teens and children, including thousands at makeshift shelters such as converted oil workers camps and a Dallas convention centre, the latest figures show. In December 2018, when Mr Trump was president, those shelters hit a peak of holding 14,200 per day. Another 5,000 minors are waiting for HHS beds in Border Patrol facilities not intended for children or tent facilities like the one shown in photos released Monday, more than twice the previous high of 2,600 in June 2019, data shows. The teens and children have been waiting for transfer to HHS care for 136 hours on average, nearly twice the legal limit. The difficulty of caring for so many teens and children is a particular challenge for CBP, whose agents are federal law enforcement officers primarily trained to seize narcotics and intercept adults attempting to sneak into the United States. The agency is ill-suited to cope with the complex emotional, physical and health needs of a youth population comprised primarily of teenagers but also some small toddlers and babies. Minors in CBP custody must be separated by gender and age. Teenagers can be unruly. Younger children, known as tender age, are often distraught and frightened. Toddlers needs intense levels of care. And teenage mothers arrive with infants of their own, requiring separate quarters as they wait for an adult sponsor to take custody of them. When the Obama administration faced the first major influx in the spring of 2014, border patrol stations with detention cells designed for adults were soon overwhelmed. Scenes of families and children spending hours on the ground in sweltering garages forced the government to rapidly add capacity. President Barack Obama and then-DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson used military bases as influx shelter sites while opening controversial family residential centres where US Immigration and Customs Enforcement would detain families while their asylum hearings were initiated. Minors who did not have valid claims would be sent home, Mr Obama said, while his administration prodded Mexico into a crackdown on the large numbers of teens and families riding north on top of freight trains. The Trump administration faced an even larger surge in 2019, even after it implemented a zero tolerance policy that intentionally separated thousands of migrant children from their parents. In June 2019, after video of nearly 1,000 family members and children crossing into El Paso in a single group sent Mr Trump into a rage, he threatened to cripple the Mexican economy with tariffs, coercing its government into another enforcement blitz. Mexico used National Guard troops to arrest Central American migrants and allowed the United States to send tens of thousands of asylum seekers back across the border to wait outside US territory. Told their cases would be quickly processed, many were left to wait for months in grim tent camps without a response from US courts. When the pandemic hit, Mr Trump used the Title 42 public health order to effectively suspend immigration laws, and crossings plunged for all demographic groups. The number of minors taken into CBP custody fell to a low of 741 in April 2020, then began drifting upward, increasing more after a federal judge halted their expulsions, and 4,993 teens and children arrived in December, Mr Trumps last full month in office. Biden officials have blamed the Trump administration for dismantling the US immigration system and hampering its ability to respond to a sudden influx. But the refugee office of HHS expanded its shelter capacity to more than 13,000 beds in recent years, near the highest levels ever, primarily in response to crowding issues and backups that occurred during the 2019 crisis. After the Trump administration implemented the Title 42 order, the HHS reduced its capacity to roughly 8,000 beds to allow for safer distancing during the pandemic. When Biden officials announced in late January they would not expel minors, they essentially suspended pandemic protocols before the shelter system had returned to pre-pandemic levels. This month, the administration returned shelter capacities to their original levels, even as the coronavirus continues to be a threat. I do not understand why, having pretty good knowledge that you would get increased numbers, facilities and locations werent already pre-identified and either made warm or stood up, said Gil Kerlikowske, who was CBP commissioner during the 2014 surge. The Biden administration said it has made child welfare a priority, promising to reunite families separated by Mr Trump at the border in 2018 and refusing to expel minors arriving into the United States without a parent. It is the best interest of the child that really define our actions, Mr Mayorkas said 1 March. But in federal court records, the administration has been far less categorical, saying the halt to expulsions under Title 42 was temporary, while health officials continue to describe border restrictions as a pandemic necessity. The current Covid-19 pandemic continues to be a highly dynamic public health emergency, Rochelle Walensky, Bidens pick to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a 11 February notice. She said the agency was in the process of reassessing the overall public health risk at the United States borders. CDC spokesman Jason McDonald said the agencys review of the Title 42 order is still ongoing. Child-welfare advocates have applauded the Biden administration for attempting to restore and expand a refugee program for underage Central Americans and for stopping the expulsions of unaccompanied minors, even though their numbers would inevitably rise. That was the harder thing. They knew it was going to be harder, Jennifer Podkul, vice president for policy and advocacy at Kids in Need of Defense, a nonprofit that provides legal services to unaccompanied minors. But she and others said the administration must move faster to take children out of CBP facilities and into their parents homes. The White House needs to say: This is the time. We need to do this in a totally different way, Ms Podkul said. Its going to be better for the kids. Its going to be better for everyone. The Washington Post Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 11:25:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee holds a press conference to shed light on the celebration activities for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xin) BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A series of events will be held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The following are the highlights of the activities announced by Wang Xiaohui, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday. -- carry out a Party-wide campaign on CPC history learning and education; -- hold a grand gathering to mark the centenary of the CPC; -- award the July 1 Medal and honor outstanding Party members, exemplary Party workers, and advanced community-level Party organizations; -- hold major theme exhibitions; -- host theatrical performances; -- organize seminars and symposiums on theoretical study; -- create and promote a series of literature and art works and publications; -- carry out Party-themed publicity and education activities among the public. Enditem A man has been arrested after 100,000 in cash was seized from a car in Co Cork on Sunday. Gardai in Ballincollig were conducting a checkpoint as part of Operation Fanacht on the N22 at Ovens on March 21st when they stopped and searched a car shortly after 3pm. Approximately 100,000 in cash was seized and a man was arrested following the search of the vehicle. Read More The man, aged in his 20s, was detained at Togher Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. He has since been charged and is due to appear before Cork City District Court this afternoon, March 23rd. The deployed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have been shown to provide robust immune responses for those administered. However, little investigation has taken place into what effect vaccination may have on the transmissibility of the virus via these people. In a new study, recently released on the medRxiv* preprint server, the ability of COVID-19 vaccines to lessen transmission was examined in a large study of healthcare workers and their families, with promising results that indicate a substantially reduced rate of transmission from the vaccinated to the non-vaccinated. How was the study performed? A number of previous studies have suggested that lessened SARS-CoV-2 transmission following vaccination is probable. However, these studies either did not account for occupation or were too small to include hospitalization rates. Occupation is a particularly important factor with regard to healthcare workers as they are both more likely to receive a vaccine, and are in the high-risk group due to increased exposure. Therefore, examining the non-vaccinated family members of healthcare workers was determined to be a good indicator of transmissibility. Working-age (18-65) healthcare workers in the UK that had not before had a positive SARS-CoV-2 test and shared a home with non-healthcare workers were included in the study, totaling almost 150,000 healthcare workers and 200,000 household members. The vaccination program was initiated for the NHS workers on December 8, 2020, and outcomes including positive COVID-19 PCR test, hospitalization with COVID-19, and death from COVID-19 were accounted for all participants up until March 3, 2021. 78.3% of the healthcare workers had received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 25.1% had also received the second at the time of the study. Did the vaccines lessen transmission? Overall, among the non-vaccinated household members of vaccinated healthcare workers, there was an observed 30% reduction in documented cases 14 days post-vaccination, and a non-significant reduction in hospitalizations. Even within 1-7 days following the first dose of the vaccine, both healthcare workers and their non-vaccinated household members exhibited fewer new SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, the group suggests this may be the product of bias introduced by the already-ill avoiding vaccination centers. As the non-vaccinated household members of healthcare workers can also obtain infections from other sources, besides the healthcare worker with which they coinhabit, the 30% reduction in transmission could, in fact, be a severe underestimation. The group attribute around half of these cases to sources other than the coinhabiting healthcare worker, based on previous estimates, and thus the true drop in transmission is estimated to be around 60% having received a single dose of the vaccine. Vaccination lessens the asymptomatic carriage of SARS-CoV-2, as has been demonstrated in some phase III clinical studies, which provides a reasonable explanation behind the observed drop in transmission. Arguments regarding the administration of a single, two, or a delayed second dose of the vaccine have been put forth for each case, with wider but less complete immunity throughout the population perhaps being optimal. At the time of this study, 25,000 workers had received the second dose of the vaccine, allowing the group to assess the influence of a second dose on transmissibility. Household members of workers having received two doses exhibited a similarly large drop in virus acquisition as observed in household members of those receiving one dose compared to none, around 30%. Hospitalization rates were low but consistent across those that had or had not been vaccinated, suggesting that while transmissibility lessened. The resulting severity of disease, however, was not altered. This validates and supports the reported drop in transmissibility, as bias introduced by differences in behavior and other factors are clearly evened out amongst the population. Importantly, this study supports the vaccination of frontline healthcare workers as effective protection for the wider community. *Important Notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. [March 23, 2021] Smart Card Market worth $16.9 billion by 2026 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets CHICAGO, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a research report "Smart Card Market with Covid-19 Impact by Interface (Contact, Contactless, Dual), Type (Memory, MPU Microprocessor), Functionality (Transaction, Communication, Security and Access Control), Offering, Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Smart Card Market is projected to reach USD 16.9 billion by 2026 from USD 13.9 billion in 2021; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.0% from 2021 to 2026. Major drivers for the growth of the market are surged demand for contactless card (tap-and-pay) payments amid COVID-19, proliferation of smart cards in healthcare, transportation, and BFSI verticals, transportation, and BFSI applications; increased penetration of smart cards in access control and personal identification applications; and easy access to e-government services and risen demand for online shopping and banking. Moreover, new mode of information security of users enabled by blockchain and adoption of smart cards in populated countries of APAC act as growth opportunities for developers of smart card. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=285 The contactless segment of the smart card market projected to largest share during the forecast period. A contactless smart card includes an embedded smart card secure microcontroller or equivalent intelligence, internal memory, and a small antenna; it communicates with readers through a contactless radio frequency (RF) interface. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) or near-field communication (NFC) communication technologies are primarily used for contactless smart card applications. COVID-19 is positively impacting the contactless smart card market as the World Health Organization (WHO) and governments across the world are advocating the use of contactless smart cards for various purposes to ensure social distancing to contain the spread of the virus. Contactless smart cards provide ease, speed, and convenience to users. The contactless interface has become highly relevant in the current COVID-19 situation, especially for payment applications, as it facilitates safe and secure transactions without physical contact. Among vertical, the telecommunications segment projected to hold the largest share of the smart card market during the forecast period. A subscriber identity module (SIM) card is a type of microcontroller-based smart card used in mobile phones and other devices. A SIM identifies and authenticates a subscriber to a wireless cell phone network. The telecommunicatins segment accounted for the maximum share of 42% of the smart card market in 2020. Expanding global mobile network and improvements in its infrastructure are boosting the growth of the market. In addition, COVID-19 led to an increased demand for connectivity. The current crisis provided a push to the trend of digitalization of business and private communication with cellular technology, along with the generalization of digital conferences. Moreover, the penetration of high-end SIM card technologies, such as LTE, 5G, M2M, eSIM, and SWP, is expected to augment the market growth in the coming years. Browse in-depth TOC on "Smart Card Market" 131 Tables 57 Figures 184 Pages Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=285 The Smart Card market in APAC projected to hold the largest share in 2020. The APAC region is the largest market for smart card and is expected to lead the market for a few years. The robust financial system that is being increasingly digitized and government agencies incorporating smart chip-based systems for better monitoring of processes are propelling several APAC countries to adopt smart card solutions owing to increasing demand, specifically in the transportation, BFSI, retail, government, and healthcare sectors. Smart cards are used to purchase tickets in metros, buses, and ferries, among others, in several countries in APAC. China is projected to witness the highest demand for smart cards in the region owing to a large consumer base and the presence of a number of smart card manufacturers. Properly implemented smart cards in all sectors have proven highly effective in combating thefts and fraud. Government projects, such as the Aadhar card in India, drive the demand for smart cards for use in a number of sectors. Moreover, security concerns, particularly within the public sphere, are also expected to fuel the growth of the smart card market in APAC. Thales Group (France), IDEMIA (France), Giesecke + Devrient GmBH (Germany), CPI Card Group (US), HID Global Corporation (US), Watchdata (China), Eastcompeace (China), Inteligensa (US), ABCorp (US), and CardLogix (US) are a few major players in the smart card market. Related Reports: Smart Badge Market by Communication (Contact and ContactLess), Type (With Displays and Without Displays), Application (Government & Healthcare, Corporate, and Retail & Hospitality) and Region (NA, EU, APAC, ROW) - Global Forecast to 2025 Access Control Market with COVID-19 Impact by Offering (Card-based Readers, Biometric Readers, Electronic Locks, Controllers, Software, Services), ACaaS (Hosted, Managed, Hybrid), Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/smart-card.asp Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/smart-card-market.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Over the past week, the AstraZeneca vaccine rollout has been plunged into chaos as a growing number of countries, most prominently in Europe, have suspended usage owing to concerns over a small proportion of side effects leaving them vulnerable if there is a third wave of the pandemic. This nonetheless reveals the flaws of depending on a single vaccine, whilst also showing the pitfalls of what has been dubbed "vaccine nationalism" with some countries relying on one particular vaccine, limiting its export and competing with other countries. If anything, this strategy has been disastrous, and countries willing to defy this trend have come out better off. This shows the need for the world to work together and ultimately open up in terms of vaccine cooperation and distribution. The AstraZeneca crisis, irrespective of what may or may not be wrong with it, has ultimately been compounded by the phenomenon of vaccine nationalism, which has been destructive in hobbling the European Union's vaccine rollout. This has also hurt other places, as some Western countries have bought up excessive number of doses, thus denying them to others. The disastrous move has essentially created an "every nation for itself" attitude and multilateralism has been scorned in the bid to serve narrow national interests. Facing the common enemy of COVID-19 worldwide, there needs to be less competition, and more cooperation, especially when it comes to the vaccines offering us more chance to defeat the pandemic. These forms of vaccine cooperation should not be written off as "vaccine diplomacy" or "influence" activities, but a necessary act of multilateralism and interdependence to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. China's own vaccination drive is a herculean task given it is the world's most populous country. Only 62 million out of 1.4 billion of its population have benefited so far, yet it has not gone to the extent of completely disregarding others, instead delivering millions of vaccines around the world. Vaccine nationalism will not eliminate the pandemic, but only lead to more tragedies. The current crisis in Europe requires cooperation, good will and openness. COVID-19 is a global challenge which all countries must work together to overcome, and not an "every man for himself" panic. Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities. He writes on topics pertaining to China, the DPRK, Britain and the U.S. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/TomFowdy.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. Two dolphins have been filmed swimming in Venice's Grand Canal in an 'exceptionally rare' sighting. The pair were spotted near the Punta della Dogana customs house where the Grand Canal meets the Giudecca Canal, and just a few hundred yards from St Mark's Square, on Monday. Footage shows the bottlenose dolphins, thought to be a mother and juvenile, hunting cuttlefish. Lockdown in the Italian lagoon city has cut water pollution and meant less boat noise and activity to deter the sea creatures, with residents reporting shoals of fish visible in the cleaner, clearer canals. Police were forced to put a cordon in place on Monday to stop bystanders getting too close as word of the dolphin sighting spread. The dolphins have been filmed swimming in the Grand Canal, Venice, in an 'exceptionally rare' sighting for the area Officials then spent three hours shepherding them back to the open sea after the commotion 'disorientated' the mammals. Luca Bizzan, head of Venices Natural History Museum, told The Times: This is very unusual they were clearly encouraged to venture this far into the city by the calm waters in Venice right now. 'They were probably drawn to the city by the number of cuttlefish a lot this year that enter the lagoon at this time to lay eggs. Sandro Mazzariol, a researcher at the University of Padua, said: Its the first time we see a mother and juvenile off St Marks Square. The coastguard said the sighting was exceptional but asked people to keep their distance if the animals return. Last year video emerged claiming to show dolphins in the canal - but it was later revealed the clips were actually taken in the port of Cagliari, Sardinia, some 750km away from Venice. Venetian canals are the clearest they have been in living memory after Italy's coronavirus lockdown stopped boats - including the famous gondolas - from bringing sediment to the surface. In a rare welcome side-effect of the health crisis, the usually murky waterways are clear enough to see the schools of fish under the water. Footage showed the bottlenose dolphins, thought to be a mother and juvenile, hunting cuttlefish off the Punta della Dogana, a few yards from St Marks Square, on Monday Swans are also roaming the canals in a city where the usually overloaded piazzas and alleyways have become almost deserted. And air pollution has declined across northern Italy. One Venetian local, Marco Capovilla, said he 'had never seen' the water so clear after filming some of the fish under the surface. 'The water now looks clearer because there is less traffic on the canals, allowing the sediment to stay at the bottom,' a spokesman for the Venice mayor's office told CNN. 'The air, however, is less polluted since there are less vaporetti and boat traffic than usual because of the restricted movement of residents.' Schools of fish are visible under the usually murky water of Venetian canals in the wake of Italy's coronavirus lockdown. Sediment is no longer being brought to the surface since boat rides have effectively stopped Local resident Capovilla, 40, described the 'striking' clarity of the water in contrast to the usually dirty canals, which he filmed during the lockdown. 'The city doesn't have sewers, so normally everything goes into the canals, including detergents and cosmetics,' the estate agent said. 'Thanks to the quarantine, we are experiencing a cleaner environment.' Bank worker Martina Bettoni, 33, said: 'Seeing so many fish in the canals was extremely rare before the quarantine. 'I hope we'll learn from this tragic time, and that when this is over Venice will be able to strike a balance between tourist crowds and cleanliness.' Images from a European Space Agency-backed programme have shown pollution in sharp decline over northern Italy. The water transport that Venice relies on was left useless after water levels in the canals receded to unusually low levels They include significant reductions in NO2 levels in Venice and other major Italian cities such as Milan, Turin and Bologna. There are also signs of falling NO2 levels in Rome, although the quarantine measures have not been in place for so long there. Last month, Venice's famous canals ran dry for the second time in three years after a low tide and lack of rain brought water levels in the historic lagoon down to rarely-seen depths. Gondolas were stranded in muddy, dried-up canal beds after the waters fell to nearly 19 inches below sea level on February 27. The phenomenon was thought to be linked to the February full moon - also known as the 'snow moon' - because full moons cause the biggest fluctuations in the tides of the Venetian lagoon. It is also caused by a high-pressure weather system across Italy, which is less prone to forming clouds and therefore less likely to bring rain to fill up the canals. [March 23, 2021] WeConvene Raises Multi-Million Dollar Financing From Liquidity Capital to Fuel Growth WeConvene, the world's largest investor meetings platform, today announces that it has raised multi-million growth funding from Liquidity Capital. WeConvene's corporate access platform connects buy-side, sell-side and investor relations teams to manage meetings and events efficiently. Following a standout 2020, today's funding announcement will enable the company to continue on its current growth trajectory through an acceleration in marketing, sale and development efforts. Liquidity Capital is a specialist in non-dilutive growth capital. Using its trajectory-based funding model, the company offers start-ups and growth stage companies a one-of-a-kind funding alternative, enabling them to double down on their hyper-growth without giving up equity. Commenting on the transaction, Radek Barnert, Founder and CEO of WeConvene, said: "Working with the team at Liquidity Capital was straightforward and always to the point. They understood our business model and requirements allowing the process to be fast and efficient throughout." He further commented "Against a terrible backdrop we had an exceptional year in 2020. This year we ar focused on further accelerating our growth and development and capitalizing on the opportunities before us, which will be possible as a result of this funding." Jake Levine, Investment Director at Liquidity Capital, added: "Liquidity Capital's unique artificial intelligence (AI) underwriting platform that supports growth funding for global software-as-a-software ( SaaS (News - Alert) ) and e-commerce startups. WeConvene is a growing company that perfectly fits this model." shared Investment Director Jake Levine of Liquidity Capital. Notes to Editors About WeConvene WeConvene's best-in-class platform makes the creation, distribution, marketing, and execution of official meetings and events between analysts, corporates, investors, IR firms, expert networks, and investment banks fast and easy, generating better outcomes including greater team efficiency, increased meeting attendance and enhanced client satisfaction. About Liquidity Capital Liquidity Capital offers growth stage companies a one-of-a-kind funding alternative, enabling them to double down on their hyper-growth without giving up equity. Its trajectory-based funding model allows them to work with startups and growth stage companies side-by-side, taking on financial risk. Liquidity Capital funds SaaS providers that demonstrate over $3MM ARR and 30% year-over-year growth, with ticket sizes from $3MM to $100MM. Recently Liquidity launched its sister fund Mars Growth Capital in Singapore together with its partner MUFG to operate in South East Asia and NMO Capital in Dubai with its partner Vault Investments. Liquidity has also recently released its proprietary system, Liquidity Dynamics, the most advanced, real-time predictive modeling platform as a software service for VC's and other investment professionals. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005691/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. New Delhi: According to a top Infosys official, unfazed by the recent upheavals at the board, the company will continue to hire about 6,000 engineers annually over next 1-2 years, same as last fiscal. The hiring process has been ramped up by Infosys in the US and European markets as it looks to tap opportunities and tide over visa-related issues. While speaking at an investor meet last week, Infosys interim-CEO and MD U B Pravin Rao said We continue to recruit. This year that just concluded we had a net addition of 6,000 and we expect similar kind of additions over the next 1 or 2 years, depending on the kind of growth you see in the market." The Bengaluru-based firm has been in the eye of a storm over the past few months, with the founders and former board members clashing over alleged corporate governance lapses and irregularities in Infosys USD 200-million Panaya acquisition. The spat, which often spilled over into the public domain, led to the then CEO Vishal Sikka as well as former Chairman R Seshasayee and three other board members quitting. Co-founder Nandan Nilekani was named the non-executive Chairman in a move that was seen as the company bowing to the demands of co-founders and large institutional investors. After Sikkas exit, Rao assumed the additional charge as interim CEO and MD. Rao said over one million graduates pass out each year, which may look like a large number but only 20-30 per cent of that is quality talent. (This is the number that) we and our competitors focus on...It is a question of doing more with less, how can one be more productive, he said while answering a query on whether increasing automation would result in job losses. ALSO READ | Infosys crisis: Nilekani promises to bring stability and unity in IT major At the end of June 2017, Infosys had a total of 1,98,553 employees on its payroll. The company does not provide country-specific headcount. During the said quarter, Infosys hired 8,645 people at a gross level but its overall headcount was lower by 1,811 people on a net level (which factors in attrition numbers). Earlier this year, there were reports of layoffs across the IT sector. With Infosys stating that it was stepping up hiring in international markets like the US, there were concerns that it could impact the companys recruitment plans in India. Infosys had, at that time, stated it planned to hire 20,000 people (gross) this year. Infosys has stated that it is in favour of a healthy mix of local and global personnel, even though hiring locals in overseas markets often pushes up operational costs for IT outsourcing companies. During the investor meeting, Rao said Infosys is also looking at increasing localisation of its workforce and is recruiting about 10,000 people in the next few years and setting up development and innovation hubs in the US. We have already started the process and we will only accelerate, he added. The US, which is the largest market for Infosys, much like its peers, accounted for over 61 per cent of its topline in June 2017 quarter. Europe accounted for 22.4 per cent of the companys USD 2.65 billion (Rs 17,078 crore) revenue during April-June 2017 quarter. To a query on the companys India business, Rao said Infosys continues to be selective about projects in the country. We continue to be very cautious about India...there are pricing challenges, sometimes getting payment is a challenge, he said. ALSO READ: Infosys puts Sikka's resignation behind, approves Rs 13,000 crore share buyback to keep shareholders interest intact For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Post Office staff shredded key documents that could have helped postmasters defend themselves against prosecutions, a court has heard. Between 1999 and 2015, hundreds of postmasters were sacked or prosecuted after money appeared to go missing from their branches. The Post Office was told glitches in its Horizon computer system may have been to blame but pursued prosecutions anyway. Now evidence has emerged that Post Office staff were ordered to destroy documents in 2013 to protect the company's reputation. Post Office staff shredded key documents that could have helped postmasters defend themselves against prosecutions, a court has heard It came as the Court of Appeal began hearing the cases of 42 former subpostmasters whose convictions were referred to it by the Criminal Cases Review Commission last year after a landmark civil action against the Post Office. The firm was told the destruction of documents could constitute a 'conspiracy to pervert the course of justice'. Sam Stein QC, representing five of the postmasters, told the court yesterday: 'The Post Office's reaction is one of dishonesty and destruction and shredding of documents. You cannot see this any other way.' Now evidence has emerged that Post Office staff were ordered to destroy documents in 2013 to protect the company's reputation. Pictured: Jo Hamilton, one of those involved in the Court of Appeal case, was blamed for a 36,000 shortfall at her post office I was put through hell Jo Hamilton, 63, one of those involved in the Court of Appeal case, was blamed for a 36,000 shortfall at her post office in South Warnborough, Hampshire, and charged with false accounting in 2008. She was sure the Horizon computer system was to blame but pleaded guilty, fearing jail if she did not, and was put on probation for a year. She has since been barred from some jobs and, as a convict, cannot visit her grandchildrens school. She said: I want to see people held to account. Theyve put me and others through hell. Advertisement The prosecutions led to the break-up of marriages, bankruptcy and for 'some to take their own lives' and 'the Post Office has now turned itself into the nation's most untrustworthy brand', Mr Stein said. All but four of the appeals are unopposed, meaning at least 38 will have their convictions overturned when the judgment is passed down on April 23. The order to shred documents came after the Post Office followed legal advice to make a central database of errors and bugs in its IT system. Bosses set up weekly meetings to discuss progress but after the third an order was made to destroy evidence of them, the court heard. The Post Office's legal adviser wrote: 'An instruction was then given that those emails and minutes should be, and have been, destroyed. The word 'shredded' was conveyed to me. Handwritten minutes were not to be typed and should be forwarded to the Post Office's head of security.' He said he was told that 'if it's not minuted it's not in the public domain and therefore not disclosable' and that 'if it's produced it's available for disclosure'. The Post Office has already paid a 58million settlement to 557 postmasters after an acrimonious High Court battle and faces a further 2,400 claims. The Post Office said: 'We sincerely apologise for historical failings and have taken determined action to address the past.' The case continues. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 10:27:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said Monday that it was saddened by reports of injury of children by celebratory gun firing in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. Seven boys were injured in Benghazi on Friday as a result of celebratory shoot out during a social event, UNICEF said in a statement, citing reports. "UNICEF calls out to authorities, armed groups to strictly abide by the October 2020 ceasefire agreement and proceed with disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of armed groups including children," the statement said. The UN agency also called upon the new Government of National Unity to enforce laws and legislation prohibiting illegal possession of weapons and ammunition and to reinforce the implementation of the cease-fire agreement towards long-lasting peace. All of the injured children were admitted to the hospital for treatment. Six of them have been discharged and the other one is still fighting for his life in the operation theater of the orthopedic department in Benghazi. Incidents of indiscriminate shooting at the social events are a common practice in Benghazi and in many other cities in Libya, mostly occurring during holidays and often resulting in the death and injury of civilians including children. In 2020 alone, more than 28 incidents of heavy weaponry misuse have been reported, allegedly causing damage to the properties of civilians in Benghazi, according to UNICEF. Enditem Former Lackawanna County Commissioner Patrick OMalley withdrew his attempt to remove county Register of Wills Fran Kovaleski from the primary election ballot Monday, but their election battle only escalated. In an interview Monday, OMalley claimed he withdrew because he proved his point: Kovaleski spends more time in Florida than doing her job in the county government center. Youre supposed to be here for your constituents, OMalley said. If youre getting a full-time salary, go to work. Kovaleski, who amended her nominating petitions to head off the potential for a challenge, called OMalleys challenge nothing but a publicity stunt that failed. It was nothing more than a bully move, Kovaleski said. The two will face each other for the Democratic register of wills nomination in the May 18 primary. April Jenkins is the lone Republican candidate. In a letter dated Monday to case Judge Michael J. Barrasse, attorney Ashley A. Zingaretti, OMalleys lawyer, said he hereby withdraws the petition challenge in light of the hearing before Barrasse on Friday. At the hearing, Barrasse asked Zingaretti to supply previous court cases that preclude a candidate from amending nominating petitions. He gave Zingaretti until Monday at 4 p.m. to submit a legal brief; she sent Barrasse the withdrawal letter instead. County Clerk of Judicial Records Mauri Kelly said she had not received the withdrawal as of the close of business Monday. The Times-Tribune received a copy of Zingarettis letter from attorney Paul Walker, Kovaleskis lawyer. Barrasses office confirmed the judge received the letter. In his challenge, OMalley contended all of Kovaleskis nominating petitions should be thrown out because she and her twin sister, Marguerite Martin, a notary public, committed fraud in signing and notarizing the first petitions she filed. Both were in Florida when Kovaleski signed the affidavits and her sister notarized the signatures, but attached candidate affidavits say they were in Lackawanna County, OMalley contended. When she realized where the petitions were signed and notarized might be an issue, Kovaleski and supporters gathered enough signatures on new petitions and filed them with the county Bureau of Elections. Kovaleski said Monday she traveled to Florida on Jan. 26, worked remotely from there the next three weeks and took two weeks of vacation after that but still called the office regularly. She returned March 8. She never takes more than five weeks of vacation a year, the number her most senior employees receive, she said. She filed new nominating petitions on March 9, the petition filing deadline. She came back in a big hurry, OMalley said. The point was she was in Florida. We absolutely proved that. Kovaleski said she worked in the government center through the pandemic after the center reopened in May, even as other office employees rotated between working from home and in the office. She ripped OMalley for subpoenaing her employees to testify at the hearing Friday, which forced the office to close until noon. Its just political grandstanding for him, she said. I worked every day I was away, including the time allocated for vacation. The story that needs to be told is OMalleys objections didnt hold up. Told OMalley continues to accuse her of regularly working from Florida, she said shell run on her record and let the voters decide on May 18. Is gullible India once again falling for the Dragons charm offensive? After the betrayal and battering this country and its valiant forces faced at the hands of the Peoples Liberation Army in Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, Depsang and Gogra/Hot Springs last summer, and at the Doklam tri-junction earlier, why do we forget this humiliation and treachery when, for good reasons of its own, the adversary puts on its benign mask and pretend to place all animosities on the backburner. How else does one deal with the words of Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister, who also holds the weightier post of state councillor, as he appeared to reach out to New Delhi earlier this month: China and India are friends. Should end suspicion. Should not undercut each other. Boundary dispute not the whole story, as the rights and wrongs of the Line of Actual Control conflict clear, and lets resolve border issues. Too good to be true? Its all beautifully crafted, carefully scripted and tries to bypass the real issues to paint India as the villain, with the aggressor playing the victim card! The press, of course, laps it all up, and forgets to play its real role to ask the tough questions? Of WHY China is doing this, and at the present juncture. Instead, there are headlines like: Dragon turns dove, talks peace, partnership with India. It is a truism but worth repeating now that peoples and nations which forget their own history are condemned to repeat it. Have we forgotten that when Chairman Maos Peoples Republic was born in October 1949, India, which had attained independence just two ears earlier, was one of the first major countries outside the Communist bloc to extend the hand of friendship to the new revolutionary nation? And how did Mao and his cohorts respond to Jawaharlal Nehrus overture for peace and partnership across the Himalayas? By invading Tibet in 1950, driving out the Dalai Lama into exile in 1959 and then, just three years later, trying to invade India in 1962. For Nehru, who actually believed in the concept of Hindi Chini bhai bhai, it was a shock and a betrayal from which he never recovered, but what excuse do we have today for forgetting the lessons of history? Is that what Wang hopes for, that Nehrus successors in Delhi will similarly be taken in by Beijing acting nice? But why criticise Wang alone? Is he the only one showing India in poor light? Arent Indians themselves busy pulling down their country in the face of the Communist Party of Chinas ferocious aggression? Its because Chinas biggest consumer-supporters are inside India; along with Delhis powerful business and trade elite. So even if Indias Prime Minister ceaselessly impresses upon the nation to pursue the goal of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, top Indian corporates are singing a different tune. Said one corporate leader: We like to believe we are global company and must continue to trade with China. Because if we conduct our business by excluding such a large country and market we will be poorer for the loss of that experience. This unabashed dependence on China, and by extension of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), is all pervasive, and extends to the nations largest corporations, whose motto clearly seems: Company first; country later. This, of course, is true for most large companies worldwide. No wonder several countries, from the United States to Australia, and to China, are now busy trying to rein in mega corporates who have become too big for their boots -- and feel emboldened to challenge the State with impunity! But some business deals have more serious implications than others. It was recently reported in the Indian media that Bharti Airtel has awarded a telecom infrastructure expansion contract worth Rs 300 crores to Chinas Huawei. What is disturbing is that Airtels national long-distance network which will carry inter-circle and international traffic, as well as Internet traffic and that from main landing stations and will now be run by Huawei, which has connections to the CPC. Is this a Greek tragedy? At a time when the PLA soldiers are forcibly entering Indian territory and killing Indian soldiers, a CPC-run Chinese company will earn crores in the guise of managing sensitive, secret, critical communications deep inside India. Is this the kind of unequal war we want to engage in? Thats a basic contradiction in India today. The PM is pushing for self-reliance, while our corporate honchos appear to have another agenda. Sadly, the matter doesnt end there. The entire world knows about Chinas global cyberattacks, with India being a priority target due to the CPCs deep penetration in Delhi. So, when reports emerge of a Red Echo over India, theres hardly a whimper, only deafening silence. Its akin to acceptance of the Dragons malice: with Chinese malware on the rampage, targeting Indias power grid utilities. The Chinese have dug so deep within India that they have learnt to take in their stride the occasional outbursts by Delhi, with some minor glitches like a few anti-dumping duties or the ban on a few Chinese apps which are really too insignificant for the CPC to worry about. For they know that Indians have a weakness for all things Chinese from consumers to corporate bosses just as in the nineteenth century the Middle Kingdom was addicted to Indian produce. Today, in a bewildering role reversal, Indians seem totally addicted to Chinese cars, computers, cellphones, toys and lamps. At the same time, the rising anti-Chinese sentiments among some sections are giving birth to new forces and alliances like the Quad. Has Delhi suddenly become the pivot for both the success and failure of Chinas geostrategic goals in 2021? As Xi Jinpings CPC looks ahead to celebrating its centenary on July 1, 2021, this year is critical to establishing the success of Xis Way in its capitalist wonderland. Beijing thus suddenly feels the need to mend fences, but can Delhi take advantage of such overtures, and for once act in its own self-interest? Post-script: As the Quad raises the heat, the Dragon is at it again, trying to blackmail soft target Delhi. A new dam on the Brahmaputra will control the waters flowing into India, and no Indian will get a Chinese visa without a Made in China Covid-19 jab. Can India reciprocate, using the same formula to deny Indian visas to aspiring Chinese without an India-made jab? How long can India take this Chinese blackmail, humiliation and battering? Hydra UAVs S55, S45, S4 Trident Aerospace, an Arizona based company specializing in aerial ISR services and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sales, and Mexico-based Hydra-Technologies, the leading manufacturer and operator of tactical UAS in Latin America have announced a broad strategic business agreement to begin marketing Hydras tactical aerial surveillance systems and services internationally. Trident and Hydra have a long history of collaboration, including joint participation at the world-renowned Aerospace Exposition (FAMEX) in 2019 where Hydras systems were recognized for their technical achievements. This agreement took a year to negotiate but both companies felt it was a natural evolution of the close relationship. Especially with the new systems which incorporate a wide range of payloads and use artificial intelligence extensively both for sense and avoid measures as well as intelligence related algorithms and mission system performance, said Ed Yakin, President of Trident Aerospace. Both companies see a growing market for Hydras UAS which have operated for over a decade on a continuous basis under the Mexican Airforce (FAM, SEDENA) and the Mexican Guardia Nacional (National Guard) as well as multiple State Police and Attorney General Offices, and Oil & Gas operators. Hydras systems have logged over 100,000 mission flight hours in multiple mission configurations. Most of Hydras clients currently fly the S45 Baalam (Jaguar) UAS, which incorporates a redundant dual-engine design, has an endurance of 12 hours, is capable of a 17,000 ft max operational ceiling and a 120 km (75 mi) LOS range. Hydras UAS continuously operate from multiple civilian airport facilities and are operational in controlled airspace, investment in multiple safety features and the orderly integration of these platforms into civilian airspace has been a key priority for continued operational success. Hydra and Trident have also agreed to jointly offer the international market with two new unmanned systems: the twin engine S50 Kukulkan (Feathered Snake) with a 16 hour endurance and the single engine G3 Guerrero (Warrior) 8 hour endurance UAS. These new systems include the availability of BVLOS SATCOM command and control systems as well as full HD video and MIMO technology datalinks. These new platforms also incorporate attractive payload options in rugged wing pylons for multiple third-party precision munitions, ELINT and SIGINT solutions as well as SAR components. Hydra aircraft and ground control stations are designed and manufactured under JARUS (Joint Authorities for Rulemaking of Unmanned Systems) guidelines. Acquisition and Operational costs are key to continuity. In todays environment, aerial surveillance capabilities are critical to the effectiveness and success of national security and law enforcement agencies. UAS acquisition and operational costs vary immensely and many offerings in the market run into the tens of millions of dollars just for the initial acquisition. The challenge is that, in the long term, the cost of these systems sometimes becomes unsustainable for agencies with limited budgets. For intelligence gathering to be truly effective, their use must be continuous. Our systems have demonstrated excellent operability, reliable time on target availability, and reliability in the field at a fraction of what other systems cost in terms of both acquisition and operational related costs. These are important factors to consider when a military, intelligence or law enforcement agency has to operate under a tight budget, said Alvaro Gutierrez, Director of Sales at Hydra-Technologies. ### Founded in 2005, Hydra-Technologies has successfully developed and launched into service unmanned aerial surveillance systems for military and law enforcement applications. Hydras systems are 100% built, certified in-house, and maintained at their facilities in Mexico. MRO special programs are developed to cater each costumers needs. Hydras unmanned technology and platforms have been recognized by notable industry associations including the Association for Unmanned Vehicles International (AUVSI). In addition to their UAS product line, the company also offers a full spectrum of contractor owned contractor operated unmanned ISR services providing turn-key solutions for government end users who require timely and critical ISR products. Founded 2013, Trident Aerospace offers consulting services in the field of aerial ISR and development of tactical UAS. In addition to providing UAS design and development engineering support, the company also advises end-users on UAS aerial ISR equipment and methodologies. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. BROCKTON, Mass., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The state's largest provider of pharmacy services to congregate care communities and group homes, Apothecare Pharmacy, LLC, has reached a vaccination milestone this week. The pharmacy has administered over 5,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to vulnerable residents of 22 congregate care communities. A highly trained team of pharmacists, in full protective gear, started their efforts back in January of 2021 and has held 40+ clinics to date, traveling as far as Danvers and Fitchburg to meet with residents and staff of these care communities to administer the COVID-19 Vaccine. Apothecare is one of the only pharmacies traveling to administer vaccine throughout the entire state of Massachusetts; reaching residents in hard hit communities and group homes. Partner residential communities are highly appreciative of the vaccination efforts: Shaheer Mustafa, CEO of Hopewell, expressed his gratitude with a social media post: "Today HopeWell front-line staff received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine! Huge thanks to Apothecare Pharmacy, LLC for making this happen! #beatcovid #frontlinestaff #gratitude" John, Walker, CEO of Apothecare, echoes this sentiment. "I am extremely impressed with the hard work, dedication and flexibility of our team of pharmacists. They never hesitated to travel throughout the state and be on the frontlines during this pandemic. They immunized the residents of the homes as well as all the staff, who have been tirelessly continuing to care for this high-risk population. We recognized that getting our medically compromised patients and their dedicated caregivers vaccinated was key to a long-term recovery and return to some normalcy." The pharmacy, together with partner communities, arranged for group vaccination clinics in local American Legion Halls and community centers, facilitating access for many patients who may have a disability and thus making them more susceptible to COVID-19. This improved the ability to get more people vaccinated reducing critical wait times. Apothecare worked closely with the state system for vaccine distribution, supporting their efforts to reduce the spread of the virus and thus saving lives. The following note by, Shannon Lee from WalkerCares (www.walkercares.org) shows the true impact of Apothecare's vaccination program: "WalkerCares is pleased to have partnered with Apothecare to provide several COVID-19 vaccination clinics to our staff. All of the Apothecare pharmacists and staff who joined us were professional, welcoming, and warm. They answered staff's questions about the vaccine, and were especially gracious when vaccinating staff who expressed anxiety regarding shots and potential side effects related to the vaccine. Even though they had been doing daily vaccine clinics across the state, they came each day with energy, enthusiasm, and humor. They helped make our clinics as successful as they were!!" "The effort to vaccinate is not over," said Dr. Katelyn Pina, Director of Clinical Operations at Apothecare: "Our goal is to provide and administer the vaccine to as much of the population as possible, especially those living in Congregate care settings and assisted-living communities. We hope we can maintain access to the distribution through the MA state program, so we can continue our vaccination efforts." About Apothecare: Apothecare pharmacy is the leading provider of prescription medication to residents living in alternate and congregate care residential programs and assisted living communities throughout Massachusetts. The portfolio of services and dedicated team makes Apothecare a preferred pharmacy partner for all special needs patients. Most recently, Apothecare extended its ability to service substance use recovery programs and patients, partnering with PursueCare www.PursueCare.com , a Telehealth company, offering remote counseling and drug screenings. The pharmacy's extensive delivery network and depth of pharmaceuticals products offered, allows Apothecare partners and patients access to much more than any typical pharmacy. Apothecare provides technology enabled services via digital tools for seamless communication with prescribers and clients facilitating interoperable exchange of vital patient specific information. Apothecare is uniquely positioned as an innovative leader in pharmacy care services with a specialized compounding lab and robotic automation systems. The compounding lab is equipped to prepare special dosages and medications to accommodate specific patient needs. Apothecare | LinkedIn | Facebook Contact: Kate Jones, [email protected] SOURCE Apothecare Related Links https://apothecareinc.com This is reviews on ashwinarchitects.com residential architecture projects in Bangalore and other locations in South India. As a turnkey architectural design company, Ashwin Architects helps clients seeking full design architects for complete residential, commercial, retail architectural and interior design services. You can visit the site of Ashwin Architects in Bangalore on https://www.ashwinarchitects.com for availing these services, one can easily log on to the firms website, as mentioned above. Today, residential spaces Patna, March 23 : A 50-year-old man in Bihar has been arrested by Lakhisarai police on the charge of raping two minor girls in the past 10 days. Police suspect he could be a serial offender. The accused, Prakash Tanti, used to lure minor girls in the age group of 5 to 7 to his shop and allegedly raped them. The incident came to light after health of the two victims deteriorated. When their mother asked them, they revealed about the heinous attacks by Tanti. When villagers learnt about the incident, they went on a rampage and thrashed the accused. They later handed him over to the police. Ranjan Kumar, SDPO of Lakhisarai confirmed the incident. He said that the accused was being interrogation. He could be involved in raping other minor girls as well. State Rep. Tom Craddick sent a letter to House Committee on Environmental Regulation members that states he has grave concerns about Brooks Landgrafs radioactive waste bill House Bill 2692. The following is a copy of the letter sent Monday. It references the low-level waste site in Andrews County and how the bill muddies the waters between a tax cut for a specific vendor and the issue of high level radioactive waste storage in Texas. These are separate issues, which should not be considered in a single piece of legislation, Craddick wrote. Craddick writes that the high level radioactive waste storage in Texas is a decision first reserved to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The former speaker of House also wrote that the legislation as drafted allows an upside to the current license holder by reducing fees and surcharges with no benefit to the state of Texas. This results in a negative fiscal impact to our budget, Craddick wrote. Moreover, it also eliminates the limits on the amount of waste the license holder can move into the facility each year. While the fiscal impact is in and of itself a cause for pause, the reduction in fees has multiple effects on Texas. Reducing these fees is most certainly going to lead to greater profits by the license holder and a rapid influx of low-level waste in the facility. Removing the annual capacity limits allows the license holder to sell waste disposal as fast as they can. This means increased waste transported across both your and my district. This poses a safety risk for all Texans. The Midland Republican also states that Landgrafs bill, as drafted, removes TCEQ's ability to review the license holder's contracts for waste entering the site on Texas soil. Why would a member of the Texas House support a loss of contractual oversight while at the same time providing the license holder a tax boost? Craddick wrote. Lastly, Craddick wrote the legislation also changes the requirements regarding containerization. When the initial legislation was passed there were extensive negotiations around the containerization of all waste stored at the Andrews site, Craddick wrote. The bill would no longer require the containerization of Class A waste. It does leave in place the requirements for Class B and Class C waste to be containerized. There has not been a substantial change in the geology or decrease in the population since the legislation approving the site. Thus, it is not in the interest of the Permian Basin or these communities to have the waste storage requirements reduced. -- The following is a copy of the letter sent from state Rep. Tom Craddick (R-Midland) to members of the House Committee on Environmental Regulation. Dear Member of Environmental Regulation Committee, Today the Texas House Committee on Environmental Regulation will take up a very important matter to my district. House Bill 2692 by Chairman Landgraf is in regards to the regulation of radioactive waste. The legislation reduces both surcharges and fees. I have represented the Permian Basin for over 50 years. I voted for the creation of the low-level waste site in Andrews County. The site is ideal for low-level radioactive waste storage and provides a financial benefit to the State of Texas. However, the legislation then versus the legislation now have significant differences. I have grave concerns about the legislation before you in Committee today. House Bill 2692 is quite frankly a vendor bill. It muddies the waters between a tax cut for a specific vendor and the issue of high level radioactive waste storage in Texas. These are separate issues which should not be considered in a single piece of legislation. In press releases and other talking points this legislation has been marketed as a ban on high level radioactive waste storage. I am not convinced. High Level radioactive waste storage in Texas is a decision first reserved to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The current license holder has a business interest in a company with a pending application before the NRC for a high level radioactive waste storage site in Texas. If in fact the license holder, WCS, has no interest in high level radioactive waste being stored in Texas, why have they not revoked this application? The legislation as drafted allows an upside to the current license holder by reducing fees and surcharges with no benefit to the State of Texas. This results in a negative fiscal impact to our budget. Moreover, it also eliminates the limits on the amount of waste the license holder can move into the facility each year. While the fiscal impact is in and of itself a cause for pause, the reduction in fees has multiple effects on Texas. Reducing these fees is most certainly going to lead to greater profits by the license holder and a rapid influx of low-level waste in the facility. Removing the annual capacity limits allows the license holder to sell waste disposal as fast as they can. This means increased waste transported across both your and my district. This poses a safety risk for all Texans. The Permian Basin is an asset to my community, to Texas, and to our financial position in the global markets. The oil and gas resources in this basin are unparalleled in the Nation. The Permian Basin produces 4.2 billion barrels of crude per year. Texas generates 40% of the United State oil production and the Permian Basin alone accounts for 70% of the United States production. This is not a resource we want to jeopardize now or in the future. You would not want an accident on a highway or railway in your district involving radioactive waste and I most certainly do not want to risk such in mine. House Bill 2692 goes a step further and reduces the oversight by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The bill, as drafted, removes TCEQ's ability to review the license holder's contracts for waste entering the site on Texas soil. Why would a Member of the Texas House support a loss of contractual oversight while at the same time providing the license holder a tax boost? We would not. The legislation also changes the requirements regarding containerization. When the initial legislation was passed there were extensive negotiations around the containerization of all waste stored at the Andrews site. The bill would no longer require the containerization of Class A waste. It does leave in place the requirements for Class B and Class C waste to be containerized. There has not been a substantial change in the geology or decrease in the population since the legislation approving the site. Thus, it is not in the interest of the Permian Basin or these communities to have the waste storage requirements reduced. I appreciate you taking the time to fully review this legislation and its impacts to the State of Texas. I look forward to working with you on a resolution to send to Congress and the NRC with a clear message Texas has no interest in the transport or storage of high level radioactive waste. Best regards, TOM CRADDICK State Representative House District 82 By this time in his presidency, Donald Trump had already unveiled some early judicial nominees, including picking Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court seat that had been left open after nearly a year of GOP obstruction. Barack Obamaroundly criticized for moving far too slowly in rolling out judicial nomineesannounced his first federal court nominee on March 17, 2009. Which makes Joe Biden feel late to the party. A first slate of Biden judicial pickspromised for last weekhas not yet materialized. Fretting about this might feel premature, but court watchers, mindful of the fact that Trump seated 234 judges inside four years, including three to the Supreme Court, are getting antsy at the prospect of living under the thumb of a Trump judiciary forever. In his single term in office, Trump managed to replace more than 25 percent of the federal bench overall and more than 30 percent of the circuit court bench, where the vast majority of cases are resolved. Democrats currently hold a one-vote majority in the Senate. As Mark Joseph Stern and I have argued, no matter what legislation Biden manages to pass, or what administrative goals he sets, the courts will be the ultimate arbiters of much of it. In fact, its already happening. If Democrats lose the Senate in 2022, that means the sell-by date for judicial reconfiguration is terrifyingly near. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bidens judicial picks face the headwinds that come with a pipeline problem, a money problem, and a partisan asymmetry problem. Progressives who didnt quite apprehend the immensity of the conservative legal project that bore fruit after the 2016 election seem to truly appreciate it now. The Trumpified bench will decide the future of voting, LGBTQ rights, and environmental and worker protections, and probably not in a way favorable to any of it. Which is why liberals want action, swift, certain, and irreversible, and why the calls for action, some of them hair-triggery, are starting to break through the news cycle. For example, professor Paul Campos, writing last week in the New York Times, urged Justice Stephen Breyer, who is 82, to retire immediately, effective upon the confirmation of his successor. Breyer will likely retire soon, but as Noah Feldman urged here, politicizing the question is a sure way to slow Breyers retirement roll. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, wrote a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland last week requesting more scrutiny of the FBIs fake investigation into allegations against Brett Kavanaugh at the time of his confirmation, raising hopes that Kavanaugh might be removed. My sense is that the chances of a sitting justice being removed are far lower than wed prefer and that energy directed at court expansion as opposed to contraction is smarter strategy. Andrew Cohen, writing in early March, called for 100 Biden judges before the end of 2021and noted that were now 45 days into the Biden administration and its time for action. Now this one, I understand perfectly. Advertisement Advertisement And yet I am skeptical that it can happen that quickly. And in fact, the effort to emulate Mitch McConnells mindless, grinding four-year judge-a-thon is neither possible on the left nor desirable. And that isnt because Biden is lazy. To start, Biden starts with fewer vacancies to fill than most modern presidents. As Russell Wheeler at Brookings notes, while Bidens appointments can quickly bolster the number of Democratic appointees on the district courts, rebalancing the appeals court and eventually the Supreme Court will be far trickier. McConnell and the Federalist Society get immense credit for miraculously seating record numbers of judges, but if you are willing to seat bloggers who have never entered a courtroom, and you have the votes to confirm all of them, its not the heavy lift it appears. Advertisement Bidens judicial picks face the headwinds that come with a pipeline problem, a money problem, and a partisan asymmetry problem. Recall that there were Senate Democrats confirming Trump judges right down to the bitter end. Biden nominees havent been raised in labs and polished like gems by Leonard Leo. Right now, they are everywhere and nowhere, and everything about the judge-picking process takes time when you are trying to pick judges, particularly diverse judges. Those who acknowledge that Trump successfully seated predominantly young, white (85 percent), male (75 percent) judges culled largely from prosecutors offices and Big Law are understandably frustrated. But the White House, working alongside Senate Democrats, decided to cast a wide net for candidates with diverse backgrounds and a broader pool of legal experience than we have seen in prior judicial searches. Bidens White House counsel, Dana Remus, sent a letter to senators back in December requesting a racially and ethnically diverse pool and a search that extended beyond the usual Ivy League and Big Law pipeline. Moreover, the Biden White House has asked for nominees that come from groups who have been historically underrepresented in the judicial branch, including those who are public defenders, civil rights and legal aid attorneys, and those who represent Americans in every walk of life. This is a response to the current situation, in which there is not a single federal appeals court judge who spent their career at a nonprofit civil rights organization, according to the Center for American Progress. Advertisement Advertisement That is a massive course correction, even from the Obama era, in which judicial selections showed racial and gender diversity but a narrower professional bandwidth. On the one hand, there are thousands of good candidates that surely meet these broad new criteria. And the Biden administration has announced it will bypass the long-standing judicial vetting that had been performed by the American Bar Association, which was deemed too liberal by conservative groups and too tethered to corporate law firms by liberals. (The Trump judicial process had sidelined the ABA rankings already.) On the other hand, nobody has been grooming this much wider pool of candidates to become an Article III judge since their infancy. And progressive judicial groups that havent always worked together are trying to streamline that pipeline and coordinate efforts. Advertisement In a sense then, progressives who have been fighting for court reform, court ethics reform, and a representative judicial branch have finally fished their wish: Progressive voters who havent typically prioritized the role of the judiciary have roared into the court reform arena in 2021, informed and engaged and supportive of structural reforms they hadnt seriously contemplated and eager for younger, more liberal judges. Bidens commission to study Supreme Court reform may or may not come back with groundbreaking recommendations, but this is an issue on which voters want to see speedy action. So there is an unusually high interest in actionbut there are systems problems that cannot be corrected inside a single week. Unlike the Trump administration, Democrats dont have a staggering number of vacancies to fill, dont have a Federalist Societyequivalent primed to do 100 percent of the vetting and grooming of judicial candidates, and dont have a Don McGahn in the White House who is solely focused on ramming through judges. Also, Democrats are facing the relative disadvantage that rebalancing the bench is simply a priority but not the priority (they are also passing transformative legislation). Which means that unlike the juggernaut that saw McConnell confirming judges even after Trump had lost the election, Democrats are trying to both govern and also reform the judiciaryand also reform the face of the judiciary by culling interesting and unexpected nominees from diverse backgrounds, which perhaps simply cannot be accomplished in the first 50 days. You can either have a well-oiled judge manufacturing program or something clunkier that will hopefully produce judges who are ultimately less, er, oily. Advertisement Meanwhile, the judge-making machine that the GOP has perfected over the past decades means that their one other superpower lies in blocking Democratic nominees, particularly those with diverse and interesting backgrounds. This is the one thing Senate Republicans are surprisingly adept at: throwing sand into the judicial gears. Sen. Josh Hawley, the Missouri Republican who amplified claims that the 2020 election had been stolen, has suggested that Biden evince bipartisanship by elevating Trump appointees to the circuit courts rather than placing his own nominees there. Floridas two GOP senators, Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, have already announced they refuse to participate in Floridas long-standing, bipartisan federal judicial nominations system. Were seeing that obstruction previewed in the well-funded opposition campaigns to Justice Department nominees like Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke, rooted in staggeringly racist smears about their records and their views. Prepare for death by old tweets. Prepare for some Democrats in the Senate to be offended by those old tweets. Holding up nominations with false claims and extortionate dark money ad buys is one of the few skillsets the conservative dark money establishment can fall back on in an era of ranting about cancel culture and Dr. Seuss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a sense then, yes, it is way past time for judicial action. But progressive groups are seeking to break the model of judicial selections to do something radical with Bidens judiciary, and that will take some time. Conservative groups that have given up on governance altogetheraside from controlling the courtswill prove uniquely obstructive to this effort. Senate Democrats may not be willing to greenlight every nomination as their counterparts did. Its not a terribly equitable or satisfying answer when the need to reform absolutely everything right now is desperate, but the current judicial situation mostly just proves that long-term structural court reform may be the only enduring solution to what is otherwise an unending chess game with built-in systemic advantages to the other side. By Patty Nieberg, James Anderson and Colleen Slevin, Associated Press BOULDER, Colo. A shooting at a Colorado supermarket killed 10 people Monday, including a police officer who was the first to respond to the scene, authorities said. Police arrested a suspect, but didnt reveal his name or any details about the shooting at an evening news conference where Boulder police Chief Maris Herold fought back tears. Investigators had just begun sorting through evidence and witness interviews and didnt have details on a motive for the shooting at the King Soopers store in Boulder, which is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado, said Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty. This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder County, Dougherty said. These were people going about their day, doing their shopping. I promise the victims and the people of the state of Colorado that we will secure justice. The attack was the seventh mass killing this year in the U.S., following the March 16 shooting that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. It follows a lull in mass killings during the pandemic in 2020, which had the smallest number of such attacks in more than a decade, according to the database, which tracks mass killings defined as four or more dead, not including the shooter. The slain officer was identified as Eric Talley, 51, who had been with Boulder police since 2010, Herold said. He went to the store after a call about shots fired and someone carrying a rifle, she said. He was by all accounts one of the outstanding officers of the Boulder Police Department, and his life was cut too short, Dougherty said of Talley. Identities of the other nine victims were not disclosed Monday night as police were still notifying their family members. Matthew Kirsch, the acting U.S. attorney for Colorado, pledged that the full weight of federal law enforcement will support the investigation. He said investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the crime scene, along with FBI agents. Officers had escorted a shirtless man with blood running down his leg out of the store in handcuffs but authorities would not say if he was the suspect. They did say the suspect was receiving medical care and was the only person injured who did not die. Officials have not said whether the suspect is the person who was taken from the shooting scene to Foothills Hospital in Boulder. The hospital will not release any further information on the patient, said Rich Sheehan, spokesman for Boulder Community Health, which operates the hospital. Dean Schiller told The Associated Press that he had just left the supermarket when he heard gunshots and saw three people lying face down, two in the parking lot and one near the doorway. He said he couldnt tell if they were breathing. Video posted on YouTube showed one person on the floor inside the store and two more outside on the ground. What sounds like two gunshots are also heard at the beginning of the video. Law enforcement vehicles and officers massed outside the store, including SWAT teams, and at least three helicopters landed on the roof. Some windows at the front of the store were broken. At one point, authorities said over a loudspeaker that the building was surrounded and that you need to surrender. Sarah Moonshadow told the Denver Post that two shots rang out just after she and her son, Nicolas Edwards, finished buying strawberries. She said she told her son to get down and then we just ran. Once they got outside, she said they saw a body in the parking lot. Edwards said police were speeding into the lot and pulled up next to the body. I knew we couldnt do anything for the guy, he said. We had to go. James Bentz told the Post that he was in the meat section when he heard what he thought was a misfire, then a series of pops. I was then at the front of a stampede, he said. Bentz said he jumped off a loading dock out back to escape and that younger people were helping older people off of it. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis tweeted a statement that his heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community. Police had told people to shelter in place amid a report of an armed, dangerous individual about 3 miles (5 kilometers) away from the grocery store but said at the news conference later that it wasnt related to the shooting. White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the shooting. In a statement, the King Soopers chain offered thoughts, prayers and support to our associates, customers, and the first responders who so bravely responded to this tragic situation. We will continue to cooperate with local law enforcement and our store will remain closed during the police investigation. Kevin Daly, owner of Under the Sun Eatery and Pizzeria Restaurant a block or so from the supermarket, said he was in his shop when he saw police cars arriving and shoppers running from the grocery store. He said he took in several people to keep them warm, and others boarded a bus provided by Boulder police and were taken away. ___ Nieberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Former Missouri Gov. Greitens Launches US Senate Campaign Former Missouri GOP Gov. Eric Greitens on Monday announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat held by the retiring Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). I have been so encouraged by the people of Missouri that I am happy to announce tonight that I am running for the United States Senate to continue serving the people of Missouri, Greitens told Fox News. Greitens ended his gubernatorial term early amid an impeachment proceeding against him in 2018. At the time, he was facing invasion of privacy charges based on allegations from a woman with whom he admitted to having an extramarital affair. Greitens was also charged with a felony for tampering with a computer and improperly taking email and donor lists from The Mission Continues. All charges against the former governor were dropped after his resignation. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner was subsequently under criminal investigation for her offices conduct of the Greitens investigation and prosecution. I was honored to serve the people of Missouri as their governor. We took on the establishment. We killed the politicians pay raise. We ended a corrupt tax credit program. And when Antifa came to Missouri, we stood side-by-side with our police officers and we were able to restore law and order and defeat Antifa, Greitens said. And I think that now the people of Missouri need a fighter in the United States Senate. They need someone who is going to go, as I will, I am committed to defending President Trumps America First policies and also to protecting the people of Missouri from Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumers radical left agenda. Greitens announced his bid for the U.S. Senate in Missouri on the same day Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate in Alabama. Both Greitens and Brooks are vocal supporters of former President Donald Trump. The former commander-in-chief has not made an endorsement in either race. An advisor to Trump told The Epoch Times that he is leaning toward endorsing Brooks in the Alabama race. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (R) is also expected to announce a bid for the U.S. Senate. Rik Combs, a retired Air Force officer and Libertarian nominee for Missouri Governor in 2020, has already launched a campaign. Harry and Meghans right-hand woman in the US has stepped down after less than a year. Catherine St Laurent was head-hunted by the couple from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to become their chief of staff and executive director of Archewell, their new non-profit organisation, last April. The couple called her an incredible asset when they announced her appointment, adding: We are excited to have her on our team. But yesterday it emerged that the Canadian-born mother-of-two has unexpectedly left her post. There was no comment from her directly, but according to the New York Post, Miss St Laurent has already stepped down, although she will continue to work with Archewell in an advisory role. Catherine St Laurent was head-hunted by the couple from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to become their chief of staff She will be replaced as Archewells executive director by the couples current communications officer in the UK, James Holt. Reports suggest they have no immediate plans to replace him, leaving the Duke and Duchess of Sussex without any official representation in Britain and all their media relations now being handled in the US. The couple have already appointed Toya Holness as Archewells global press secretary. Buckingham Palace ceased to act for them after they quit as working royals last spring. The couple called her an incredible asset when they announced her appointment, adding: We are excited to have her on our team. One royal insider expressed surprise at Miss St Laurents departure, telling the Mail: She was a huge appointment for them. CATHERINE ST-LAURENT: 'SENIOR ADVISORY ROLE' Catherine St-Laurent Old position: Executive director of the Archewell Foundation New position: A 'senior advisory role' at the Archewell Foundation Catherine St-Laurent took on the position of chief of staff and executive director of the Sussexes' non-profit enterprise the Archewell Foundation in April 2020. The Canadian-born French speaker was previously the director at Pivotal Ventures - Melinda Gates' women and families foundation - and held a top communications role at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. At the time of her appointment, a friend told the Mail that Ms St-Laurent was 'feisty, fair and up for a tough conversation', adding: 'But if all goes wrong, she is good for a laugh and a cocktail afterwards. 'She's a good egg. She'll bring a clean-sheet perspective.' After her hiring last year, the Sussexes had said: 'We are proud to be joined by Catherine St-Laurent in this next chapter with us. 'Her leadership and proven track record working within two organizations that have tremendous impact in the world the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Pivotal Ventures make her an incredible asset and we're excited to have her on our team.' In a departing email to staff, she announced: 'I am thrilled to be able to play a supporting role in realising their vision and enabling them to achieve impact on the issues that matter most to them.' It has now been revealed that mother-of-two Ms St-Laurent will instead take on a senior advisory role for Archewell, and will 'continue to bring high-level strategic guidance' to the foundation, a spokesman told Page Six. Advertisement A big hitter with a great track record, poached to head up their new working life in the US. It is really quite astonishing she has left that role after less than a year. Miss St Laurent is apparently launching her own new social impact firm, supported by and working with Archewell. Harry and Meghan were dogged by a spate of departures from their ranks as working royals, losing at least two PAs as well as other key staff from their private office. Earlier this month Buckingham Palace announced it was launching a probe into the handling of claims by their former head of communications that Meghan bullied several female members of their team, forcing at least two to quit. A spokesman for the couple denied the claims, calling it a calculated smear campaign. At the time of her appointment as Harry and Meghans most senior team member, Miss St Laurent had said she was thrilled to be able to play a supporting role in realising their vision. She added: From our very first conversation, Harry and Meghan have expressed a deep commitment to improving lives and having a positive impact on society. The couple have also made two high-profile new appointments. Ben Browning, who produced the Oscar-nominated film Promising Young Woman, is now head of content for Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio as part of their multi-million dollar link-ups with Netflix and Spotify. Mr Browning said it was a unique opportunity and he wanted to turn Archewell into a global production company that will spotlight diverse voices and share uplifting stories. The couple have also linked up with Invisible Hand a social impact and culture change agency. Intriguingly, given numerous reports suggesting Meghan has political ambitions in the US, its founder Genevieve Roth worked on Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign. She will also serve as a senior strategic adviser to the couple. A statement said Invisible Hand would be focusing on strategic change through storytelling and community building in support of gender and racial equity. A spokesman for the Sussexes added: They join a rapidly expanding team thats deeply dedicated to advancing systemic cultural change and supporting compassionate communities across the world. A judge has ordered The Mail on Sunday to publish a statement saying it infringed the Duchess of Sussexs copyright by publishing extracts of a letter she sent her father. Lord Justice Warby said it did not need to be published until the outcome of an appeal process. He also ruled against Meghan on how large the statement needed to be printed, saying it would take up a disproportionate amount of the front page if the font size was the same as the original 2019 headline. Aides at the centre of palace intrigue that saw Meghan accused of bullying Melissa Touabti (right) is pictured with Robbie Williams' wife Ayda for whom she previously worked PA WHO QUIT AFTER WEDDING: Melissa Touabti, the duchess's former personal assistant, had previously worked for Robbie Williams and Madonna. She played a key role in preparations for Meghan and Harry's wedding in May 2018, but quit after just six months. The Frenchwoman, 41, took a job with the billionaire Livingstone family owners of the stately home Cliveden. THE AMERICAN SPIN DOCTOR: Jason Knauf joined the royals in 2014, having acted as a 'crisis management expert' at the Royal Bank of Scotland. The 36- year-old American, who completed his master's at the London School of Economics, served as communications secretary to the 'Fab Four' of William, Kate, Harry and Meghan before the Cambridges and Sussexes created separate offices in March 2019. Mr Knauf now heads William and Kate's charitable foundation. THE AMERICAN SPIN DOCTOR: Jason Knauf (left) walks behind the couple at the Invictus Games in Toronto THE TOUGH TALKING AUSTRALIAN: Formerly the Queens assistant private secretary, Samantha Cohen had planned to quit Buckingham Palace in 2018. Instead, she agreed to stay on and help the duchess through her first months in the Royal Family. The well-liked but tough-talking Australian became the Sussexes private secretary, but left in 2019 to work for the environmental charity Cool Earth. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Queen Elizabeth II (accompanied by Samantha Cohen) attend a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018 in Widnes, England Other aides who have quit the Sussexes since their wedding: September 2018: Senior comms secretary Katrina McKeever January 2019: Female royal protection officer March 2019: Assistant private secretary Amy Pickerell June 2019: Two nannies leave within weeks of each other January 2020: Sussex Royal charity foundation's Natalie Campbell Advertisement JAMES HOLT: THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARCHEWELL FOUNDATION James Holt It was today revealed that Meghan and Harry's UK PR chief James Holt (pictured) would take on the director role Old position: UK PR spokesman New position: Executive director of the Archewell Foundation James Holt previously led communications for the Royal Foundation, the charity headed by the Cambridges. Holt has worked at Kensington Palace for several years as well as for the Liberal Democrats and is passionate about many of the causes championed by Harry and Meghan. He acted as Harry and Meghan's UK spokesman and will now take on the role of executive director of the Archewell Foundation. Holt, a BA Journalism graduate from the University of Lincoln, rose to the position of Head of Media for the Liberal Democrats in 2010 - and stayed in the role until August 2013. He worked as Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister - Nick Clegg - from June 2013 to January 2014, and moved up to become Head of Government Communications for the Deputy PM until September 2014. He took on the voluntary position of Director of Communications for Pride in London between March 2016 and November 2017. In October 2017 he took up the role of Senior Communications Officer for The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry - staying in the role for one year. He then became Head of Communications at The Royal Foundation for one year, until September 2019. Advertisement BOULDER, Colo. (AP) A shooting at a Colorado supermarket killed 10 people Monday, including a police officer, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said. Boulder police Chief Maris Herold announced the death toll at a news conference Monday night, fighting back tears. The suspect was getting medical treatment and there was no further threat to the public, authorities said. Officers had escorted a shirtless man with blood running down his leg out of the store in handcuffs but authorities would not say if he was the suspect. The officer who was killed was Eric Talley, 51, who had been with Boulder police since 2010, Herold said. Victims' families were still being notified so their names weren't released, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. "This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder County, and in response, we have cooperation and assistance from local, state and federal authorities," Dougherty said. Yamaguchi said police were still investigating and didn't have details on a motive for the shooting at the King Soopers store in Boulder, which is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado. Dean Schiller told The Associated Press that he had just left the supermarket when he heard gunshots and saw three people lying face down, two in the parking lot and one near the doorway. He said he "couldn't tell if they were breathing." Video posted on YouTube showed one person on the floor inside the store and two more outside on the ground. What sounds like two gunshots are also heard at the beginning of the video. Law enforcement vehicles and officers massed outside the store, including SWAT teams, and at least three helicopters landed on the roof. Some windows at the front of the store were broken. At one point, authorities said over a loudspeaker that the building was surrounded and that "you need to surrender." Sarah Moonshadow told the Denver Post that two shots rang out just after she and her son, Nicolas Edwards, finished buying strawberries. She said she told her son to get down and then "we just ran." Once they got outside, she said they saw a body in the parking lot. Edwards said police were speeding into the lot and pulled up next to the body. "I knew we couldn't do anything for the guy," he said. "We had to go." James Bentz told the Post that he was in the meat section when he heard what he thought was a misfire, then a series of pops. "I was then at the front of a stampede," he said. Bentz said he jumped off a loading dock out back to escape and that younger people were helping older people off of it. One person was taken from the shooting scene to Foothills Hospital in Boulder, said Rich Sheehan, spokesman for Boulder Community Health, which operates the hospital. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis tweeted a statement that his "heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community." Police had told people to shelter in place amid a report of an "armed, dangerous individual" about 3 miles (5 kilometers) away from the grocery store but said at the news conference later that it wasn't related to the shooting. The FBI said it's helping in the investigation at the request of police. White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the shooting. In a statement, the King Soopers chain offered "thoughts, prayers and support to our associates, customers, and the first responders who so bravely responded to this tragic situation. We will continue to cooperate with local law enforcement and our store will remain closed during the police investigation." Kevin Daly, owner of Under the Sun Eatery and Pizzeria Restaurant a block or so from the supermarket, said he was in his shop when he saw police cars arriving and shoppers running from the grocery store. He said he took in several people to keep them warm, and others boarded a bus provided by Boulder police and were taken away. ___ Nieberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara cast their ballots at a polling station as Israelis vote in a general election, in Jerusalem ,on March 23, 2021. (Ronen Zvulun/Pool via AP) Israel Votes: Netanyahus Fate Hangs on Tuesdays Elections JERUSALEMIsraelis began voting on Tuesday in the countrys fourth parliamentary election in two yearsa highly charged referendum on the divisive rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Opinion polls forecast a tight race between those who support Israels longest-serving premier and those who want anyone but Bibi, as he is widely known. Vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, Netanyahu said after casting his ballot in Jerusalem, his wife, Sara, at his side. He called the occasion a festival of democracy. This the moment of truth for the state of Israel, said his rival Yair Lapid as he voted in Tel Aviv. One truth: Israelis are weary of the do-overs. The balloting, like Israels world-leading vaccination campaign, got good reviews for organizationif only because everyone involved has had lots of practice, with the potential of even more if the results dont produce a governing majority. That answer might not be clear for weeks. It would be better if we didnt have to vote, you know, four times in two years, said Jerusalem resident Bruce Rosen after casting his ballot. Its a little bit tiring. Candidates made their final push in recent days with a series of TV interviews and public appearances at shopping malls and outdoor marketplaces. The campaigns increasingly reached into peoples personal space with a constant barrage of get-out-and-vote texts that made cell phones ding and buzz at all hours. At issue more than ideology is Netanyahu. Hes portrayed himself as a global statesman uniquely qualified to lead the country through its many security and diplomatic challenges. He has made Israels coronavirus-vaccination campaign the centerpiece of his reelection bid, and pointed to last years diplomatic agreements with four Arab states. The reality is more nuanced. Some 80 percent of the nations adults are vaccinated and Israel is reopening, but more than 6,000 have died of COVID-19. Israel came under international criticism for failing to quickly send significant quantities of vaccines to Palestinians to fight the virus surge in the West Bank and Gaza. And one of the four Arab nations, the United Arab Emirates, recently poured cold water on the relationship with Israel because its leaders did not want Netanyahu to draw them into electioneering. The new administration of President Joe Biden, too, has given Netanyahu a cool reception. An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man votes for Israels parliamentary election at a polling station in Bnei Brak, Israel, on March 23, 2021. (Oded Balilty/AP Photo) Opponents accuse Netanyahu of bungling the management of the coronavirus pandemic for most of the past year. They say he failed to enforce lockdown restrictions on his ultra-Orthodox political allies, allowing the virus to spread, and point to the still-dire state of the economy and its double-digit unemployment rate. They also say Netanyahu is unfit to rule at a time when he is on trial for multiple corruption charges, a case he dismisses as a witch hunt. Up to 15 percent of the electorate is expected to vote outside their home districts, a batch of absentee balloting thats larger than usual to accommodate those with coronavirus or in quarantine. The government is dispatching special polling stations, including bringing voting boxes to patients bedsides, to provide ways for them to cast ballots safely. Those votes are tallied separately in Jerusalem, meaning final results may not be known for days. Given the tight race, the large number of undecided voters, and a number of small parties struggling to cross the 3.25 percent threshold for entry into parliament, it could be difficult to predict the outcome before the final count is complete. The nearly constant campaigning has a price, said Israels president. Four elections in two years erode public trust in the democratic process, Reuven Rivlin said as he cast his ballot in Jerusalem, urging Israelis to cast theirs yet again. There is no other way. Israelis vote for parties, not individual candidates. No single party list of candidates has been able to form a governing majority in Israels 72-year history. Netanyahus Likud party and those led by his rivals will be looking to smaller, allied parties as potential coalition partners. The party that can cobble together a majority coalition gets to form the next governmenta process that is expected to take weeks. Tuesdays election was triggered by the disintegration of an emergency government formed last May between Netanyahu and his chief rival to manage the coronavirus pandemic. The alliance was plagued by infighting, and elections were triggered by the governments failure in December to agree on a budget. Israeli politician Naftali Bennett, leader of the right wing New Right party, and his wife Gilat vote in the city of Raanana, Israel, on March 23, 2021. (Tsafrir Abayov/AP Photo) Netanyahu is hoping to form a government with his traditional religious and hard-line nationalist allies. These include a pair of ultra-Orthodox parties and a small religious party. Netanyahus rivals have accused him of causing the past two years of paralysis in hopes of forming a more favorable government that would grant him immunity or protect him from prosecution. His challengers include Yair Lapid, Israels opposition leader whose Yesh Atid party has emerged as the main centrist alternative to Netanyahu. Lapid reflected the races stark rhetoric Tuesday when he offered himself as an alternative to a government of darkness and racism. Netanyahu also faces challenges from a number of onetime allies who have formed their own parties after bitter break-ups with the prime minister. They include former protege Gideon Saar, who broke away from Likud to form New Hope. He says the party is a nationalist alternative unburdened by corruption charges and what he says is a cult of personality that keeps Likud in power. Today we have the opportunity to exit deadlock, Saar said as he cast his ballot in Tel Aviv. Yamina party leader Naftali Bennett, another former Netanyahu aide, could emerge as the kingmaker. A hard-line nationalist politician who was formerly Netanyahus education and defense minister, Bennett has not ruled out joining a coalition with the embattled prime minister, allowing him to court both sides in future coalition talks. The personality politics have so overtaken the race that theres been almost no mention of the Palestinians, after years of frozen peace talks. Unlike last years elections, the prime minister is without one key ally: former President Donald Trump, whose support he leveraged in previous elections with massive billboards on highways and high-rises showing them together. In contrast, Netanyahu has barely mentioned Biden. The new U.S. president called the prime minister only after reaching out to leaders of several other countries and Israels supporters began to complain that the delay smacked of a snub. The two men insist their alliance remains close. By Laurie Kellman The retirement age in the state has been revised after a gap of 35 years and after nearly seven years of formation of Telangana. Twitter Hyderabad: Out of 21,091 state government employees who will be benefited in the next three years from Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Raos announcement of a moratorium on retirements, out of which, 610 employees will heave a sigh of the biggest relief as they were all set to retire in a week, on March 31, after attaining the superannuation age of 58 years. If not for the retirement age hike by three years, 5,910 employees would have been retired by 2021-end, 7,850 in 2022 and 7,331 in 2023. The retirement age in the state has been revised after a gap of 35 years and after nearly seven years of formation of Telangana. Chandrashekar Raos announcement to increase the retirement age to 61 years, makes Telangana the state with the highest retirement age. In the undivided Andhra Pradesh the retirement age was 58 years since 1956. In all other states, retirement age is either 60 or 58 years. Even the retirement age of central government employees is 60 years. In 1985, the-then Chief Minister of AP N.T. Rama Rao reduced the retirement age to 56 years, which triggered strong protests from various employees unions, who challenged the government orders in the High Court. The court ruled in favour of employees unions. Following this, the NTR government restored the retirement age to 58 years, which has been in force since then, including even after bifurcation in June 2014. Soon after the bifurcation, neighbouring AP raised the retirement age to 60 years in June 2014. However, the Telangana government continued with a retirement age of 58 years till the historic announcement was made recently. By Devika Krishna Kumar NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil steadied on Monday as hopes for a pick-up in demand later this year helped arrest last week's broad sell-off, but prices stayed under pressure as new European lockdowns made a quick recovery look less likely. Brent crude was up 6 cents or 0.1% to $64.59 a barrel by 1:33 p.m. ET (1733 GMT), while U.S. oil for delivery in April fell 22 cents, or 0.4%, to $61.20 a barrel ahead of expiry. The more active U.S. crude futures for delivery in May rose 14 cents or 0.2% to $61.58 a barrel. Both contracts fell more than 6% last week after making steady gains for months on the back of output cuts and an expected demand recovery. "Oil (had) its worst week this year as concerns grow over a flaring up in COVID-19 cases across Europe," Dutch bank ING said in a note. "This comes at a time when there are clear signs of weakness in the physical oil market." Physical have come under pressure as refiners around the world, including China and the United States, begin maintenance activities. Chinese refinery maintenance season is due to peak in May and begin tapering in June, traders have said, depriving some crude grades such as those in West Africa of their main outlet. [CRU/WAF] Nearly a third of French people entered a month-long on Saturday, while Germany plans to extend its into a fifth month, according to a draft proposal. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Monday that the third wave of COVID-19 infections sweeping across Europe could be heading towards Britain. "Vaccination campaigns haven't been as fast as the market had hoped for and consequently this will have an effect on the oil demand recovery, which in turn hurts prices," said Louise Dickson, oil analyst at Rystad Energy. While a broad economic recovery remains elusive, Saudi Aramco Chief Executive Amin Nasser was optimistic on longer-term prospects for the world's top oil exporter. On Sunday Nasser said global oil demand was on track to reach 99 million barrels per day (bpd) by the end of 2021. "While I think demand is going to improve further as more economies ease travel restrictions in the coming months, the impact of this will be offset to some degree by rising oil supply," Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at ThinkMarkets said. "OPEC+ will be easing supply restrictions slowly, while U.S. shale production is likely to ramp up due to the attractive oil prices again. All told, I can't see oil prices rising significantly further." "I think Brent will struggle to stay above $70 and reckon WTI is going to average around $60 per barrel in 2021," he added. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, together known as OPEC+, have put in place unprecedented production cuts to balance global after demand plunged during the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. drillers meanwhile are starting to take advantage of the recent spike in prices, adding the most rigs since January in the week ending last Friday. (Reporting by by Noah Browning and Aaron Sheldrick; Editing by David Gregorio, Lisa Shumaker and Jan Harvey) (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.) Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), second from left, speaks during a press conference in Washington on Sept. 27, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Growing Number of Democrats Decry Partys Effort to Overturn US House Election in Iowa A growing number of Democrat members of Congress are criticizing their partys efforts to overturn a U.S. House of Representatives election that was already certified by the state of Iowa. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) was declared the winner of the 2020 election by six votes and was sworn in on Jan. 3. But Rita Hart, the Democrat candidate for the seat, alleges she is the true winner, and appealed to a House panel to overturn the certified results. The panel declined to dismiss the election challenge last month, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said the Democrat-controlled House could unseat Miller-Meeks and replace her with Hart. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) on Monday was the first Democrat to decry the potential reversal, followed by several other party members, who pointed out that Democrats were against reversing certified results when it came to the presidential election. This election result was certified by the State of Iowa and Rep. Miller-Meeks was sworn in nearly three months ago, Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) told Fox News. As I said when Republicans challenged the Electoral College votes on January 6th, the election is over and its time to move on. As I have said before in connection with the 2020 presidential election, legislators should be heeding states certifications of their elections, and unless there is rampant error and substantial evidence thereof, I do not believe it is the role of House members to dictate the outcome of elections, added Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) to The Washington Post. Democrats hold a slim eight seat majority in the lower chamber. If the House Administration Committee ends up declaring Hart the winner, the full House would need to vote on the matter. Moderate Republicans are also voicing their dismay. Nine of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump wrote to Pelosi in a recent letter, urging her to stop the progress towards reversing the Iowa election results. This action not only sets a dangerous precedent for future elections, it reinforces the false belief by many in our country that our election system is rigged and that certain politicians can change results to fit their whims, the group, which includes Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), said. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) weighed in during a podcast released on Tuesday, telling the host that Democrats were preaching that in November and December that state certification was sacrosanct. I guess its sacrosanct except when it isnt, McConnell added. Every time I dont think they cant reach a new low, they do. They seem to be on the cusp of setting aside a certified winneradmittedly, it was a close electionand seating the Democrat instead. Thats where they seem to be headed. Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson admitted on Sunday that the purpose of signing one of the most restrictive abortion bills in the U.S. was to challenge Roe v. Wade. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson is thinking ahead. Earlier this month, he signed into law the Arkansas Unborn Child Protection Act or S.B. 6, which prohibits all abortions in the state except for when the procedure will be done to save the life of the mother. The new legislation does not allow for exceptions in cases of rape or incest, which make up for less than 1.5% of abortions nationally. On Sunday's "State of the Union" on CNN, the Arkansas governor shed more light on his decision to pass the near-total abortion ban into law. He explained, "That was the whole design of [S.B. 6]. It is not constitutional under Supreme Court cases right now." "I signed it because it is a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade," Gov. Hutchinson declared, despite admitting that he believes there's only a "narrow chance" that the Supreme Court would accept the case against Roe v. Wade. He added that when he signed S.B. 6 into law earlier this month, he wanted the near-total abortion ban to have a rape and incest clause and decided to sign it due to his "sincere and long-held pro-life convictions." The Arkansas Unborn Child Protection Act was first filed in November 2020 by Republican Senator Jason Rapert. Currently, the legislation prohibits abortion providers from offering abortions "except to save the life of a pregnant woman in a medical emergency." The law, which will take effect 90 days after it was signed on March 10, will sentence violators up to 10 years in prison or will require a fine of up to $100,000. According to The Blaze, the Supreme Court has been opposed to some abortion-related cases. Just last year, the Court ruled in the case June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo that it was unconstitutional for the Louisiana law to require abortion clinic doctors to have "hospital admitting privileges." Many pro-life advocates are supporting the near-total abortion ban despite it not having a clause that exempts cases of rape and incest. Take Valerie Long, the leader of the faith-based, pregnancy resource center, Options on Main and Options in Paragould. She told KAIT8 earlier in March that "Anytime we can encourage life, that is always the right choice." "Women who have chosen life who were raped, women who were conceived in rape will tell you don't use us to help advocate for abortion. A second act of violence would not have been the right thing," Long argued. The Arkansas Unborn Child Protection Act does not come without its detractors. Both Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Arkansas issued statements as soon as the Arkansas governor signed it into law. Planned Parenthood's regional manager of public policy Gloria Pedro called S.B. 6 a "flawed and dangerous legislation" and "absurd attempt to demand the Supreme Court reconsider Roe v. Wade." Meanwhile, ACLU Arkansas called S.B. 6 a "harmful crusade to intrude on people's personal autonomy" especially during a time of a global pandemic. The organization called it "unconstitutional" and vowed to meet legislators in court, as per ABC7. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov called on President of the European Parliament David Maria Sassoli to facilitate the adoption by the European Parliament of a resolution on Crimea at its next plenary session, according to the parliaments press service. According to the chairman of the parliament, the de-occupation of Crimea is a priority for Ukraine. He called on David Sassoli to assist in the adoption by the European Parliament of a resolution on Crimea at the next plenary session of the European Parliament. Razumkov also invited him to join the Crimean Platform," the report reads. Razumkov expressed gratitude to the European Parliament for unconditional support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. He also noted that Ukraine is doing everything possible to achieve progress in a political and diplomatic settlement of the situation in the east of the country; however, there have been numerous ceasefire violations since January 2021. Dmytro Razumkov and David Maria Sassoli also signed a memorandum of understanding between the Verkhovna Rada and the European Parliament. As Ukrinform reported, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov is on a working visit to Brussels (the Kingdom of Belgium) and Luxembourg (the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) on March 22-23. ish In the fall, after Samar Khan came down with a mild case of Covid-19, she expected to recover and return to her previous energetic life in Chicago. She was 25 and healthy. But weeks later, she said, this weird constellation of symptoms began to set in. She had blurred vision encircled with halos. She had ringing in her ears, and everything began to smell like cigarettes or Lysol. One leg started to tingle, and her hands would tremble while she was putting on eyeliner. She also developed really intense brain fog, she said. Trying to concentrate on a call for her job in financial services, she felt as if she had come out of anesthesia. By the end of the year, Ms. Khan was referred to a special clinic for Covid-related neurological symptoms at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, which has been evaluating and counseling hundreds of people with similar problems. As the San Antonio police officers union fights a ballot measure to strip them of the right to bargain for wages and benefits, Mayor Ron Nirenberg told the head of the union Monday he supports that right. But the mayor insists hes not taking sides on the May 1 ballot measure sought by the organization Fix SAPD as a means to neuter the unions ability to sway how officers accused of misconduct are disciplined. Nirenberg made the remarks in his first meeting with John Danny Diaz, the new head of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, on Monday, Diaz said. The union leader described the meeting between the two men as a meet-and-greet. The mayors remarks about collective bargaining came after a union member asked him about the matter. He said its a necessity, that the city needs to be able to bargain with the union, Diaz said of the mayor. Nirenberg maintains that hes not taking a position on the ballot initiative itself, though Mondays remarks are the closest hes come to doing so. Since activists turned their sights last summer on the police unions ability to negotiate its contract with the city as a means to enact reform, Nirenberg has said he thinks changes can be made at the negotiating table. I am staying out of the fray on the ballot proposal because the city must negotiate the contract in good faith under the rules that exist today, Nirenberg said Tuesday. Our main goal is to give (Police Chief William McManus) the disciplinary powers he needs to weed out bad cops. To leaders of Fix SAPD, Nirenberg isnt staying neutral. The majority of City Council members have not taken a public stance on the ballot measure, noted Ananda Thomas, deputy director of Fix SAPD. City Attorney Andy Segovia has advised council members not to take a position on the initiative the exception being District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez, who has come out against the measure. It does not feel like the mayor is staying out of this whatsoever when hes making statements like that, Thomas said. The police union hasnt yet made an endorsement in the mayors race. Two years ago, the union backed Nirenbergs chief opponent Greg Brockhouse a former consultant to the police union with deep ties to public safety. I think its different when theres still an endorsement from the police officers association hanging in the air, Thomas said. A spokesman for the mayor said Nirenberg and Diaz discussed shared goals on public safety and keeping an open line of communication. The meeting was an official visit, not a campaign activity, the spokesman said. Both men seemed to take the meeting as a sign of improving relations between the city and police union after years of contention. I told him that for us we can have an open door policy and were sitting here waiting to work with him and not against him, Diaz said. The past is the past. Weve moved forward. Theres different people here. On ExpressNews.com: In dramatic move, San Antonio firefighters union wont back Greg Brockhouse for mayor The police union is vigorously fighting the push by Fix SAPD while its negotiating a new contract with the city. Union leaders hope to have a contract ironed out before the May 1 election. After that, its unclear how contract negotiations would proceed. The city could opt to continue contract talks under a meet-and-confer system used by other major Texas cities, but city leaders have signaled that doing so would be awkward if San Antonio voters decided to take away collective bargaining for police officers a right voters granted in 1974. Fix SAPD leaders have balked at the notion that a contract could be agreed upon before voters get a chance to say whether police officers should keep collective bargaining. By voting on this before May 1, youre effectively silencing the community, Thomas said. That outcome seems highly unlikely as the city and police union remain deadlocked over key issues dealing with officer discipline. Past contract negotiations have taken months and years to hammer out. The police unions current contract came about through court-mandated mediation between the two parties after a two-year long battle. And a new contract would have to be given the green light by both the unions membership and City Council. The work on a new contract should be done as quickly as reasonably possible, but we will not rush at the expense of getting a fair agreement, Nirenberg said. My focus is on reaching a sound agreement, not the timing of the vote. Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. Yes, no matter what Yes, but it depends on variety No, for medical reasons, uncertainty No, principle Vote View Results Press Release 23 March 2021 Airbnb's mission is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere, and racism in any form stands in the way of this mission. We denounce all forms of racial discrimination against the Asian and Pacific Islander community, including the rise in anti-Asian xenophobia during the pandemic and the targeted, racist hate crime in Atlanta. While violence towards this community has increased during the pandemic, discrimination towards Asian and Pacific Islanders has been a longstanding and global issue. Advertisements Today, we are reaffirming our commitment to our mission and our commitment to fight racism, bias, and discrimination in all forms. As part of these commitments, Airbnb is donating a total of $500,000 to organizations including Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta (with funds going directly to support families of the victims of last week's violence), the GoFundMe.org AAPI Community Fund and the Atlanta-based Center for Pan Asian Services, and we are matching employee donations to the organizations. Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC is an organization we have worked with since 2017, and that recently provided guidance on Project Lighthouse, an initiative to measure and take action against discrimination on the Airbnb platform. Additionally, we shared updated allyship resources to stand with the Asian and Pacific Islander community with our Hosts and guests in the United States. The guide, prepared by our [email protected] employee resource group, includes tangible steps we can all take to support the Asian and Pacific Islander community and become more active in the fight against anti-Asian discrimination. "Our actions today are informed and inspired by our employees, Hosts and guests. We are committed to continuing this active dialogue with and support of the Asian and Pacific Islander community in both times of crisis and celebration." - Brian Chesky, Airbnb Co-founder and CEO. Creating a world where anyone can belong takes all of us. [email protected]: Allyship resources to stand with the Asian and Pacific Islander community The following educational and informational resources for allyship and fighting anti-Asian discrimination was prepared by Airbnb employee resource group [email protected] Background There has been a growing number of anti-Asian hate crimes since the start of the pandemic, with Stop AAPI Hate receiving 3,795 reports of incidents between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021. This is believed to be just a fraction of the number of hate incidents that actually occur. Most recently, we lost Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Hyun Jung Grant, Paul Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, and Xiaojie Tan in the violent shootings in Atlanta. And over the last several weeks, we've seen a horrific rise of anti-Asian violence directed at our elders. We denounce these violent acts happening to our community and would like to call on you to stand up against these injustices. It's important to note that hate crimes against our community are not new. The Asian Pacific Islander community has been subject to anti-Asian xenophobia and racism well before COVID-19 (e.g. Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Japanese Internment camps, violence that led to the Filipino Farm Worker Movement, and more). And time and time again, when we've tried to raise our voices to speak up, we have been and continue to be silenced. Due to our white adjacency and the perpetuation of the model minority myth, our struggles have been and are often overlooked. We, too, are people of color who face injustices and discrimination, and we want to be seen and heard. We ask you to help elevate our voices and bring visibility to and justice for the Asian community. We've put together this resource guide to provide members of the Asian Pacific Islander community, friends, and allies with ways to further understand, show your support, and stand up against anti-Asian racism in your communities. Download the Allyship guide here. What we can do right now 1. Raise awareness, speak up, and condemn these attacks and anti-Asian racism When the mainstream media does not give the Asian Pacific Islander community enough coverage on these hate crimes, which has been the case this past year, it further silences our struggles and perpetuates the misconception that we don't face discrimination due to the color of our skin. Below is what you can do to elevate the Asian Pacific Islander voice: 2. Report instances of anti-Asian assault and crimes Report them at StopAAPIHate.org. 3. Protect yourself in the face of discrimination or safely stand up for others as a bystander Join webinars and training hosted by the Hollaback Bystander Intervention. 4. Learn about the history of Asian and Pacific Islander discrimination and other challenges we face 5. Support, donate, and volunteer with organizations actively combating racism against the Asian and Pacific Islander community Organizations to consider learning about and supporting: Atlanta-based community organizations Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Atlanta - the local Atlanta chapter of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice organized a fundraiser to help the victims and their families impacted by the violent acts that took place on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Center for Pan Asian Services - a nonprofit located in Atlanta to promote self-sufficiency and equity for immigrants, refugees, and the underprivileged through comprehensive health and social services, capacity building, and advocacy. National organizations and fundraisers 6. Be active in your community, company, and/or organization's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) space Join and support Asian Pacific Islander Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) as well as a greater alliance of Asian ERGs like the Asian Leaders Alliance (ALA) to combat racism together. The Asian Leaders Alliance (ALA) is a consortium of Asian ERG and civic leaders collaborating to spur positive, long-term, and inclusive community impact. They have put together the following resources to support other Asian ERG leaders/members in addressing anti-Asian xenophobia and racism: Join the ALA community: Subscribe to ALA. Discuss with ALA on Slack. Xiaomi India has announced half-a-month hardship bonus for all its employees. The company currently has 60,000 direct as well as indirect employees. Xiaomi India Managing Director Manu Kumar Jain said the smartphone maker will make all efforts to ensure that all its staffers and their family members take the coronavirus vaccine as per the eligibility criteria. Due to the surge in domestic demand after COVID-19 lockdown in India, Xiaomi has also planned to put its export plans on hold. Talking about Xiaomi's plans to prioritise domestic demand over exports, Jain said, "We want to first ensure that we meet local demand. It will be a little foolish on our part as a business leader... to basically export when I can't even fulfill the domestic demand," adding that its partners Foxconn and Dixon have received the approval for PLI scheme. Xiaomi had the highest market share at 27 per cent in the Indian smartphone market in Q3FY20, according to CMR India. Besides smartphones, Xiaomi sells air purifiers, fitness bands, VR headsets, and power banks in the nation. Along with Foxconn and Flex which assemble Xiaomi phones in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh facilities, the company has tied up with BYD and DBG for smartphones whereas Radiant will play a significant role in upscaling the manufacturing capacity of Xiaomi's Smart TVs in India. "DBG has already gone live at a plant in Haryana near Manesar. With the DBG plant going live, already our capacity has increased by 20 per cent. BYD facility is supposed to go live by May-June period. All our phones and TVs we sell in India are locally manufactured," the Xiaomi India MD said. (With agency inputs) Also read: China's Xiaomi expands manufacturing in India, adds 3 new partners for smartphones, smart TVs Also read: Microsoft to allow more employees to work at its headquarters from March 29 Brussels, March 23 : Foreign ministers of the 30 NATO countries will meet in person at the alliance's Brussels headquarters on Tuesday for the first time since 2019. The Ministers will prepare for an upcoming summit by discussing a set of proposals to reform the military bloc, reports dpa news agency. US Secretary State Antony Blinken will attend the meeting, his first since he assumed office earlier this year, as part of a European visit. Due to Covid-19 containment measures, the last time NATO Foreign Ministers met face-to-face was in November 2019. The meeting will end Wednesday. The allies are also set to consult on the future of their Afghan mission on Tuesday, but no decision is expected. All eyes are on Washington as President Joe Biden decides whether his country will leave the war-torn country within weeks, as per a deal with the Taliban, or stay put. "All options are on the table and no final decision has been taken," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday at a press conference ahead of the meeting. "We strongly support efforts to infuse fresh energy into the peace process," he added. Roughly 10,000 NATO ally or partner-country troops train Afghan security forces at present. This is down from a peak of 100,000, when the Afghan mission was still a combat one. Australia and New Zealand have backed sanctions imposed by the United States, Britain, Canada, the European Union on four Chinese officials for human rights abuses in Xinjiang amid growing international concern over Beijings treatment of Uighurs. The countries - which all have Magnitsky laws allowing for the sanctioning of individuals for human rights breaches - announced sanctions overnight on four high-ranking officials for their role in Beijings forced labour camps in the far-western province. One of the centres housing Uighurs in Chinas Xinjiang region. Credit:AP The Australian government will introduce to parliament its own Magntisky laws later this year, suggesting it could follow the four other blocs of countries in sanctioning the Chinese officials including a top security director. Countries with the laws - named after Sergei Magnitsky - occasionally sanction human rights offenders jointly to ensure they are appropriately punished and to lessen the blowback against any one country. Starting from April 1, people above 45 years of age (with/without co-morbidities) will be able to take vaccine against coronavirus, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar informed on Tuesday. He requested people entitled to get themselves registered to take the COVID19 shot. The minister, in a press conference, said, " It has been decided that from 1st April, the vaccine will open for everybody above 45 years of age. We request that all eligible should immediately register and get vaccinated". Until now, healthline workers, frontline workers, people above 60 years, and those aged 45 and above with comorbidities were eligible to take the COVID-19 vaccine shots. India began its biggest vaccination drive to contain coronavirus on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculated and vaccination of the frontline workers started from February 2. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. So far, 4.5 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given to citizens of India, as per the union health ministry. Meanwhile, the Centre has revised the time window within which the second dose of Covishield vaccine can be taken. The Centre has extended the gap between the two doses of Covishield to six-to-eight weeks from 28 days. This decision of revised time interval is not applicable to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin vaccine. "In view of the emerging scientific evidence, the interval between two doses of a specific COVID-19 vaccine i e. COVISHIELD , has been revisited by National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) and subsequently by NEGVAC in its 20th meeting during which the recommendation has been revised to provide 2nd dose of COVISHIELD at 4-8 weeks' interval after 1st dose instead of earlier practiced interval of 4-6 weeks," the Union Health Ministry said. Also read: PLI scheme effect! This local manufacturer plans to invest Rs 500 crore in 3 years Also read: US health agency questions AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine efficacy KYODO NEWS - Mar 23, 2021 - 09:35 | All, World The United States will engage with China and Russia toward achieving North Korea's denuclearization, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday, signaling an emphasis on multilateral diplomacy in dealing with Pyongyang. "We...want to make sure that we are pulling together with our allies, Japan and South Korea, and engaging other regional actors, including China and Russia, in a process that shows that this is ultimately up to North Korea to come forward and act in a constructive manner," Sullivan said in a TV interview. The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has reached out to North Korea, but has "not yet heard directly from them through diplomatic channels," he also said. But it is not clear whether such engagement with Beijing, a diplomatic backer of North Korea, will take place any time soon amid the ongoing rivalry and confrontation between the United States and China over issues including trade, technology and human rights issues. "In the meantime the United States will continue to stand up firmly on behalf of our own defense and the defense of our allies and partners," Sullivan said. Biden's predecessor Donald Trump engaged in unprecedented summit diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, holding meetings three times in 2018 and 2019 in the hope of convincing Pyongyang to give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Negotiations, however, made little progress during Trump's four years in the White House that ended on Jan. 20 this year, with the two nations at odds over issues such as the degree of sanctions relief Pyongyang should receive for taking denuclearization steps. North Korea has not tested intercontinental ballistic missiles or nuclear devices since 2017, but it is believed to have continued honing its military capabilities while nuclear negotiations were in a stalemate. A multilateral approach taken in the past has also not been successful. Six-party talks, involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States were held intermittently from 2003 to 2008, but a landmark 2005 agreement to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula was never implemented amid disagreement on how to verify North Korea was honoring its commitments. The Biden administration has been conducting what it has called a "thorough" review of U.S. policy toward North Korea, in consultation with Japan and South Korea. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Nearly all women who deliver babies through cesarean section at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City receive injections of the blood thinner heparin for weeks after the procedure, to prevent potentially life-threatening blood clots. Obstetric leaders there say that's good medical practice because the formation of those clots, called venous thromboembolism or VTE, though uncommon, is a leading cause of maternal death after delivery, particularly C-section delivery. Broad use of heparin has been shown to be effective and safe in the United Kingdom in reducing that risk and should be adopted in the U.S., they argue. But there's sharp debate among physicians about whether wide use of heparin is effective, worth the cost and safe, since it carries the risk of bleeding. Last year, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommended heparin only for women at elevated risk of VTE, citing a lack of evidence supporting near-universal use. The controversy illustrates a classic dilemma for physicians: whether and how to adopt promising new treatments before studies have proven their safety and effectiveness. There also are questions about keeping drug company funding from influencing clinical recommendations around the drug. The Columbia doctors were lead authors of 2016 guidelines from the National Partnership for Maternal Safetya multidisciplinary group of medical expertsencouraging doctors to give heparin shots to all women after C-sections, except patients with specific risks. Previously, only a small percentage of mothers received them. Nearly 1.2 million U.S. women deliver via C-section each year. Other U.S. physician groups generally promote heparin use only for women with a personal or family history of deep vein thrombosis or blood clots in the lungs, called pulmonary embolism, or other high-risk factors. They are estimated to make up less than 5% of pregnant or postpartum women. Despite gaps in evidence, experts said, the use of heparin has increased across the U.S. since the 2016 guidelines came out, though practices vary widely among doctors and hospitals. One reason for the rise is that more women giving birth have risk factors for VTE, such as obesity and older age. "We have to make sure we're doing everything possible to reduce preventable maternal death," said Dr. Mary D'Alton, chairperson of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University and lead author of the 2016 guidelines. She called heparin treatment "very reasonable" after a cesarean delivery. One of her co-authors has had second thoughts, however. "I'd have to agree with some of the critics that there isn't solid evidence we should be giving heparin to as many patients as we do here at Columbia," said Dr. Richard Smiley, an anesthesiologist. "I'd probably want to take a step back. But physicians are willing to be a little more aggressive on this because maternal death is so traumatizing." The deputy editor of BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology scathingly compared widespread use of heparin for post-delivery patients to debunked obstetric practices of the past like enemas and pubic hair shaving. In a 2018 editorial, he suggested that obstetricians deserved a "booby prize" for adopting this practice without adequate scientific evidence. One big reason for the lack of evidence is that it's a difficult issue to study, because VTE is relatively rare in women during pregnancy and after delivery, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 1,500 patients. A 2014 study found that out of 466,000 women who delivered through C-section and received the standard nondrug therapy of pneumatic compression devices applied to the legs to reduce clotting risk, just one woman died from pulmonary embolism. "If those data are valid, and heparin were 50% effective in preventing fatal embolism, we'd have to treat almost 1 million women with heparin to prevent a single maternal death from embolism," said Dr. Dwight Rouse, a professor at Brown University and editor-in-chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology, ACOG's journal. The cost of preventing that one death? A 2016 editorial he co-authored estimated the minimum national cost associated with widespread use of heparin after C-sections would be $52 million to $130 million annually, not counting the cost of treating serious bleeding complications caused by the drug. Rouse and other critics say there have been no solid studies either of how effective heparin is at preventing clots or of how many women suffer adverse effects from heparin such as hemorrhage or problems in wound healing. Without those numbers, it's impossible to determine how effective and safe heparin is, they argue. There's also a lack of research on how to best calculate patients' clotting risk based on various individual factors. While D'Alton and her co-authors claim U.K. data show that maternal deaths from VTE have dropped since British obstetricians recommended broad use of heparin in 2004, critics note that deaths actually have ticked up slightly in recent years to the same level as in the 1980s and '90s. From 2007 to 2017, the death rate in Britain increased from less than 1 per 100,000 births to about 1.5, according to an analysis by Dr. Andrew Kotaska, an adjunct professor of epidemiology at the University of British Columbia who wrote a 2018 BJOG article arguing that broad heparin use may cause more harm than good. "The basic rule in evidence-based medicine is you don't implement large-scale interventions that have side effects without first demonstrating net benefit over harm," Kotaska said in an interview. "And this is being done to women without discussing it with them and getting their informed consent." Obstetricians followed other medical specialties in using heparin after surgical procedures. But the American College of Chest Physicians, whose previous guidelines had strongly advocated giving heparin to post-surgical patients, softened its support in 2012 by saying the evidence for net benefit over harm wasn't clear. The ACCP also acknowledged that the authors of its previous guidelines promoting heparin use had "highly problematic" financial and intellectual conflicts of interest, including financial relationships with major drug companies that produce anti-clotting drugs. To eliminate such conflicts, the ACCP sharply revised its process for choosing the experts who write its guidelines. A controversy over drug company funding also arose in connection with the 2016 National Partnership for Maternal Safety guidelines on VTE prevention. In 2019, the editors of Obstetrics & Gynecology, which published the guidelines, disclosed that the National Partnership's guidelines effort received funding from industry groups, including three companies that produce anticoagulant drugsthough the journal said none of the authors received any of those funds. "We didn't disclose the funding originally because we had no knowledge of it," D'Alton said. Some critics say funding from drugmakers and other health industry players casts doubt on the credibility of this and other guidelines from physician groups. "It's a toxic problem for medicine and the care of women," said Dr. Adam Urato, chief of maternal and fetal medicine at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham, Massachusetts, who pressed Obstetrics & Gynecology to disclose the partnership's drug company funding. "Corporate cash will push guidelines toward things that are good for corporate profits, not for patients." Meanwhile, Canadian researchers are planning to test an alternative drug that may be equally effective, safer and cheaper in preventing VTE in women after deliveryaspirin. Orthopedic surgeons have reported that aspirin is as effective as injectable blood thinners at preventing clots. "I'm not against heparin, but we don't know the best way to prevent clots," said Dr. Leslie Skeith, an assistant professor of hematology at the University of Calgary who launched a five-nation study. "We just need better evidence. Explore further ASH develops practice guidelines for venous thromboembolism 2021 Kaiser Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. Monza circuit boss Alessandra Zinno is hoping to welcome spectators to the Italian GP in September. "We are working on two fronts - ordinary or limited accessibility," she told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are thinking for example of a health passport for those who buy a ticket with a negative swab in the last 24 or 48 hours," Zinno added. "To date there is no legislation - we remain open to any solution." The race is scheduled for 12 September. (GMM) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A telecom carrier said launching a satellite would assess the efficiency of a satellite-internet business model. If it is done, Vietnam would use satellite constellation technology, a growing trend. Viettel's Le Ba Tan Googles report on ASEAN digital economy showed that Vietnam is the second-fastest growing internet economy in the region. Cities dominate Vietnams online map, but it is rural areas which are believed to be the key market with a predicted growth rate twice as high as large cities. At present, the internet is accessible in 77 percent of rural areas. However, this means that 23 percent of rural areas still cannot access the service. According to Le Ba Tan from Viettel, in order to solve this problem, Vietnam should think of trying satellite internet service. This is the method that many countries in the world are using to expand the internets coverage to remote areas such as mountainous areas and islands. After being launched into space, the satellite will become an extraterrestrial communication station. The satellite's mission is to receive signals in the form of radio waves from one station on Earth, amplify them and transmit back to Earth to another station. Satellites are classified into several groups depending on the height and scope of operation, including LEO (low Earth orbit), MEO (medium Earth orbit), HEO (high Earth orbit) and GEO (Geostationary orbit). The most common satellite services include television, internet, navigation, weather, Earth observation and the use for military purposes. Tan believes that of the prevailing technologies, Vietnam should consider developing LEO constellations to provide internet services. Unlike other types of satellites, LEOs operate closer to the Earth, with the distance of 800-1,600 kilometers. Their life span is 5-7 years, the same as MEO and just half of GEO. LEOs implement two major tasks observing the Earth from a distance and connecting the internet. As the travel distance is shorter, LEOs just need 1.5-2 hours to fly around the Earth. LEO technology has been suggested to Vietnam because it has low construction and launch costs, while it can provide high capacity at high speed and low latency. Regarding the disadvantages of LEOs, experts mention the short lifespan, satellite waste, and high expenses for the gateway system and users devices. Reports show that there are 1,800 satellites operating around the Earth, mostly LEOs. Experts have also pointed out the challenges for Vietnam when developing LEOs, including the high service cost (7-8 times higher than common internet service) and inability of many domestic firms to research and develop services. More importantly, there is no research on the impact of LEOs on national defence. Trong Dat Satellite images provide clear picture of greenhouse gas emissions A research project by the Department of National Remote Sensing has for the first time used images provided by VNREDSat-1, Vietnams very first remote sensing satellite, in calculating carbon dioxide emissions. The Fall of Chile Is a Warning to America Commentary Back in the 1970s, the nation of Chile embarked on one of the boldest sets of free-market economic reforms in history. The government called in the Chicago Boys, as they were called, led by Milton Friedman and other University of Chicago free-market economists. They were given a free hand to redesign the Chilean economic system with property rights, a low flat tax, privatization of the Social Security system, and industry deregulation. In 1991, Friedman wrote that Chile now has all three things: political freedom, human freedom, and economic freedom. Chile will continue to be an interesting experiment to watch to see whether it can keep all three. For four decades, the experiment worked better than anyone could have imagined. According to a study by economist Axel Kaiser for the Cato Institute: Between 1975 and 2015 per capita income in Chile quadrupled to $23,000, the highest rate in Latin America. As a result, from the early 1980s to 2014 poverty fell from 45 percent to 8 percent. Chile became one of the wealthiest nations in South America. And it happened in three decades, an eye blink of history. The Marxists and intellectual class of Latin America always hated the free-market reforms. They disparaged the Chicago Boys as fascists. They spent decades attacking the policies (with the stooges in the American media echoing their protests), even as Chile became the jewel of South America. The Marxists invented a narrative of inequality: The rich were getting richer, and the poor were getting poorer, and capitalism is evil. They infiltrated all of Chiles cultural institutions: the media, the schools, the universities, the Catholic Church, the arts, the unions, and even the corporate boardrooms. They spread their poisonous creed of collectivism to the populace. Is any of this sounding familiar to our situation today? Eventually, the leftists pulled off a political coup. In 2013, the left won the Chilean presidency. The free-market reforms were systematically replaced with spread the wealth platitudes. In October 2020, voters approved a rewrite of the constitution, and now property rights and the rule of law are in danger. Chile is now in economic free fall. The poor are getting crushed. The rich are pulling their money out of the country. They have arrived at equality: Nearly everyone is suffering. Meanwhile, back in America, we have an economic transformation of our own going on. The Biden administration promises to help the middle class by handing out trillions of dollars of free money to citizens and paying people more money for not working than working. We will borrow trillions of dollars and pray that the Chinese continue to buy up our bonds and that our currency holds up. Many of our constitutional protections and congressional rules of behavior, such as the filibuster, which protects the rights of the minority, may be headed to the shredder. The election laws are getting rewritten to benefit, significantly, the party now in powerthe Democrats. The House has passed a bill requiring millions of working-class people to join unions and pay dues. The left is saying, dont worry, this compulsion is going to help the working class. Sure. A sock-it-to-the-rich tax increase is coming that will make the productive class and the job creators pay their fair share with tax rates of 50 percent, 60 percent, and 70 percent. Will this story have a happy ending? The answer to that question might be contained in the frightening example of what happened in Chile. It is what our children and college students should be learning in the classroomsfat chance. The left runs our schools now, too. Stephen Moore is an economics journalist, author, and columnist. The latest of many books he co-authored is Trumponomics: Inside the America First Plan to Revive Our Economy. Currently, Moore is also the chief economist for the Institute for Economic Freedom and Opportunity. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The recovery plan at Rolls-Royce has been dealt a blow after Norway blocked the sale of an engines company to a Russian group. The Norwegian government called a halt to the 130million deal to sell Bergen Engines to TMH on national security grounds. The takeover would have been of significant military strategic interest to Russia, and would have boosted Russian military capabilities, the government in Oslo said in a statement. The Rolls-Royce plant in Bergen, Norway. The Norwegian government called a halt to the 130m deal to sell Bergen Engines to TMH on national security grounds Shares in Rolls tumbled 5.9 per cent, or 6.6p, to 105.3p as it dealt with the double-whammy of the Norwegian ruling and another sell-off that hit travel-related stocks. The decision puts a spanner in the works for Rolls, which is aiming to raise 2billion from selling various businesses after the pandemic hammered its finances. Although the Bergen Engines deal would only be a small part of that, Rolls is now keener than ever to sell it, and implored the Norway to swiftly find another option to secure the its future. Around 900 jobs are at stake at Bergen, which makes engines and technology for boats including for the countrys navy. Rolls will clearly need to find a buyer from a country more in line with Nato member Norway. Stock Watch - Oxford Biodynamics A test developed by medical minnow Oxford Biodynamics that can predict whether someone would be seriously ill if they caught Covid has been launched in the US. The blood test, which is around 90 per cent accurate, evaluates a persons immune system and indicates if they would need to be hospitalised or put in intensive care. Boss Jon Burrows said it would help doctors draw up individual health plans for patients. Shares surged 36.7 per cent, or 25.5p, to 95p. Russia and Norway share a border, but relations have been frosty since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Rolls plummeted to the bottom of the Footsie leaderboard as investors digested the disruption to its sales plan and the still-gloomy outlook for overseas travel this summer. Although Rolls is not a travel company, it makes engines used on commercial planes and is paid for the number of hours the engines fly. This has crippled its income since the pandemic hit and the growing third wave of infections on the Continent has wreaked fresh havoc. Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night said Britons may know a week earlier than expected on April 5 rather than April 12 if they can begin to travel abroad from mid-May. But expectations are falling as infection rates have spiked in Europe. British Airways-owner IAG fell 4.4 per cent, or 8.6p, to 187.35p, and Tui was down 6.1 per cent, or 23.1p, to 354.9p. Carnival dipped 5.6 per cent, or 92.5p, to 1567.5p and airport and train station cafe owner SSP slid 4.9 per cent, or 16.6p, to 323.4p after it chalked up steep losses. The FTSE 100 as a whole fell 0.4 per cent, or 26.91 points, to 6699.19, while the FTSE 250 closed 0.6 per cent lower, or 124.13 points, to 21,331.76. Oil stocks were another big drag on the two indexes after crude prices tumbled by 6 per cent. It has been a rollercoaster month for oil, which surpassed pre-pandemic highs of $69, only to fall again as rising infection rates meant new lockdowns across Europe. A barrel of Brent crude was worth $60.35 last night as the market braced for a fall in demand. Royal Dutch Shell shares fell 3.1 per cent, or 44p, to 1368.6p; BP was down 3.7 per cent, or 11.5p, to 295.75p; Tullow Oil dipped 8.5 per cent, or 4.55p, to 48.95p; and oil services group Petrofac plunged 3.9 per cent, or 3.66p, to 91.4p. Mobile phone master operator Helios Towers shot higher after it agreed to buy companies owned by peer Airtel Africa in four countries. Helios will buy Airtels businesses in Malawi and Madagascar for 78million, and has signed a separate early-stage deal to pick up its Gabon and Chad arms. This covers more than 2,200 existing towers and the deals should bring in 65million of revenue annually. Helios investors welcomed the deals, sending shares 4.7 per cent higher, up 7.4p, to 166.4p. But Airtel Africa slid 3.3 per cent, or 2.8p, to 81.9p. The US-backed coalition has regularly targeted food infrastructure in Yemen, leading to mass starvation in the country The US-backed Saudi-led coalition continues to launch airstrikes across Yemen. Over the past few days, Saudi bombs have hit the capital Sanaa, Maarib province, and the Red Sea port of Salif. On Monday, the UN said the airstrikes in Salif targeted a grain port and hit a warehouse and the living quarters of a food production company. Local authorities and company management stated that six injured workers were transferred to local medical facilities for treatment, the UN mission in Hodeidah, Yemen, said in a statement. According to the Houthis Al-Masirah, the bombing in Salif killed at least one of the grain companys workers and injured six more. Salif lies to the northwest of Hodeidah and is inside the UN-brokered neutral zone as per a deal signed in Stockholm in 2018. But bombings around Hodeidah and violations of the Stockholm agreement are a regular occurrence. Bombing food targets is nothing new for the US-backed Saudi-led coalition. The frequent targeting of civilian infrastructure, along with the blockade, has led to mass starvation in the country. According to the UN, if conditions do not change, 400,000 Yemeni children will starve to death this year. The continued airstrikes come after President Biden vowed to end all US support for Riyadhs offensive operations in Yemen. Its not clear if the US is providing support for these latest bombings. So far, Biden has not pressured the Saudis to stop enforcing the blockade on Yemen, which is doing nothing but denying food and fuel to the starving civilian population. On Monday, the Saudis presented a new ceasefire proposal to the Houthis that would only partially lift the blockade by opening Sanaa airport for certain flights. Joe Biden avoids the live debate; Russia said that ducking it is regrettable. The US president could have made it better after a tough-guy stance. Putin challenges the American President to a debate after called a Killer. Biden tried to be glib over the dare to debate. But many think he would not do well against the Russian strongman. Biden avoids live debate The White House's refusal to confirm the debate asked by Putin is a lost chance. The President lost a chance to prove his 'killer' remark is backed up. Not answering Vladimir Putin's dare was a lost chance to mend things, reported the Epoch Times. When Biden issued the 'killer' remark on a talk show that went south, the Russian issued a counter statement that it takes one to know one. It was an instant invitation without any delays, but Biden made a no show. The Russians expressed misgiving that Joe Biden rejected Vladimir Putin. A schedule for a live debate on March 19 or 22 would have solved problems. Russia wanted to end the word war and let the American leader settle the problems. According to Jen Psaki, her boss did not regret anything he said. Topics they should have covered were bilateral relations and strategic stability. Before this, Putin did not congratulate Biden's electoral victory immediately. He was accused of favoring Trump in the 2020 Presidential elections. Putin was offended by Biden's tough-guy stance on the 'killer' remark offended him. He immediately wanted the live debate to prove the American was wrong. Biden has a habit of getting too personal in his remarks, this time; he made a bad call. Biden avoiding the live debate is serious for US standing. John Durham's Russia Probe Will Take Longer, According to AG Barr The Russian president said they should talk further but in a live debate. Biden has been absent in solo press briefs. He rarely took the question, but the White House makes a big remark over the few times he answered questions. "Walk the walk, talk the talk." Putin told Russian TV that he was dead serious debating Biden. But, Psaki said that the president was not taking dare. He wanted to debate Biden soon to settle everything on the 19th or 22nd of March any time after. He made accommodations later to adjust to Biden's busy schedule. Americans felt let down that Biden backed off. Press secretary Jen Psaki answered a day later after the challenge. On March 18, she said that Biden has a Georgia engagement to attend to. He was too busy to answer the invitation for the online debate. Karine Jean-Pierre, deputy press secretary, cemented Biden's answer that he would meet Putin when ready. But, others like his critics doubt he would do that. Biden told reports before going to Georgia on March 19 that he'll talk to Putin. The Russian Foreign Ministry added on Monday that the US should blame itself. The president of the US should have chosen his words right but spoke wrongly. The White House was asked for a comment by outlets but no answer was given to the current fiasco by Biden. Russian ambassador to America, Anatoly Antonov, went back home to discuss diplomacy with Russian leaders. Biden avoids the live debate making Putin look more powerful, which reflects badly. Putin Wants Live Debate Versus Biden After 'Killer' Remark CIA Pressures Analysts to Suppress Intel on Chinese Interference in 2020 US Election Ron Johnson Says Joe Biden Should Quit Race Due to Involvement in Ukraine Report @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Kowaloneks Kielbasy marking 110 years SHENANDOAH Kowaloneks Kielbasy Shop, Main and Laurel streets, known throughout the region and beyond for its traditional eastern European offerings, is marking its 110th year in business. The widely hailed shop was recently featured in the Business Spotlight of the newsletter of the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc., the DSI Herald. What makes Kowaloneks a landmark is its 110 years of hard work and delicious kielbasy DSI officials said. Kowaloneks history dates to 1911 when Joseph Dziadzi (pronounced jaw-gee, dziadek meaning grandfather in Polish) Kowalonek started a small grocery store on Chestnut Street, DSI officials said in the newsletter. After eight years the business grew out of its original space and relocated to Chestnut and Columbus (streets). At the time, the entire family helped produce the kielbasy in an adjoining kitchen. Then, the kielbasy was taken down the street to an eight-by-eight-foot shack filled with cherry wood, where it was smoked to perfection. Now, Kowaloneks modern facility on South Main Street attracts people from throughout Pennsylvania who form lines that stretch well up the street during the Christmas and Easter seasons. Jessica Kowalonek Hannis said the business has repeat customers who come from Harrisburg, Allentown, Reading, Philadelphia and even farther. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, Kowaloneks made the difficult decision to close until the situation became safer. When we reopened we werent sure if our customers would return. They did, and everyone on our team is grateful. We have our community to thank for that, she said. Luke Kowalonek added that even with the pandemic still a threat, people drove from distant areas for Kowaloneks during the recent Christmas season and the shop is gearing now for the Easter season rush. Kowaloneks, along with the Capital Food Store on East Washington Street and Luckys Deli on West Centre Street, comprise the so-called Shenandoah Big Three commercial kielbasa makers featured during the annual Shenandoah Kielbasi Festival, scheduled this year for Saturday, May 22. Karcutskie promoted as Quandel exec HARRISBURG Michael Karcutskie has been named president of Quandel Construction Group Inc., a Quandel Enterprises company. Quandel is a central Pennsylvania construction management and general contracting firm with roots in Minersville. Based in the firms corporate headquarters in Harrisburg, Karcutskie, according to a Quandel press release, is responsible for overseeing the firms operations and developing its corporate strategy. Previously, he served as vice president of pre-construction and estimating. Karcutskie began his career with Quandel Construction in 1999 and has a deep understanding of the construction industry, according to the release. He is a graduate of Temple University with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil/construction engineering technology. Karcutskie has multiple affiliations and lives in northeastern Pennsylvania with his wife and two daughters. For more information on Quandel, go online to www.quandel.com. St. Lukes Shot-Line OK for Spanish BETHLEHEM Shot-Line, The St. Lukes University Health Networks over-the-phone vaccination scheduling system, is now in Spanish too, facilitating and expediting outreach to Spanish speakers who have yet to register for a COVID vaccine appointment, according to an SLUHN release. Shot-Line now enables people whose preferred language is Spanish to self-schedule their appointments over the phone in less than three minutes, officials said in the release. St. Lukes patients over age 65 who have previously indicated Spanish as their preferred language may receive a call on the phone number listed on their St. Lukes patient records. During the call from 1-866-785-8537, an automated voice recording will ask if the patient would like to receive the vaccine. Shot-Line also has been upgraded to allow users to explore all available time slots, three at a time, as well as choose from various locations. The outbound-dialing system eliminates the need for people to call and wait on hold to schedule a vaccine. With Shot-Line, we are able to dial up to 25 people per minute, Shishir Singh, director of development, information technology, said in the release. Its a much better user experience no waiting on hold, no waiting for a call back. Our only limitation continues to be vaccine availability. Schools-to-work grants available HARRISBURG Jennifer Berrier, state Department of Labor & Industry acting secretary, has announced that $2.6 million in schools-to-work program grants is available to support new partnerships among schools, employers, organizations or associations to create employment and training career paths for students. The schools-to-work program grants will create hands-on learning opportunities for students, including apprenticeships, workplace visits and internships that will create career paths to employment or secondary education, Berrier said in the release. Such grants will be awarded and funded competitively in increments up to $250,000. Applicant proposals must focus on building programs that will fill current and anticipated labor market needs in a given geographic area. Eligible applicants must be entities that are or will be registered with L&I as pre-apprenticeship programs and which will have the full responsibility for the administration and operation of the schools-to-work program and partnered with at least one school in a school district, charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or career and technical school. More details and the grant application are available on L&Is website at www.dli.pa.gov or by following L&I on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin. Grant applications are due at 4 p.m. April 14 and the 2021 schools-to-work program will operate from June 1 through Dec. 31, 2023. Economic progress in business district SHENANDOAH Openings and business expansions are part of the business/commerce/service scene in the borough, as noted in the periodic Downtown Shenandoah Update, which focuses on developments regarding the communitys economy. A multiservice office has opened in the 100 block of North Main Street on the west side adjacent to the former Bargain Anney. A window sign indicates the office deals with taxes, sending money and paying bills. Significant pedestrian traffic has been noted at the site. The former Bargain Anney section at the northwest corner of Main and Lloyd streets has become the A to Z Food Mart. Paradise Mini Mart, 19 N. Main St., has expanded its offerings to a wide variety of items, grocery-related as well as general fare. 4 Hermandos, formerly the AMVETS headquarters and later the Oyster Bar on the east side in the 100 block of South Main Street, offers Mexican-style food, rummage and thrift items, according to its signage. During the recent spell of warmer temperatures, Hermandos personnel set up an outside stand offering Latino-style beverages. Along South Main Street at the Gold Star Bridge, the Friendly Food Mart, formerly Valero and earlier B.R. Grumpys, has installed new gasoline pumps, replacing older pumps that frequently were out of order. A huge Route 924 project during the summer, involving repaving and installation of modern new traffic lights on Main Street at the Washington, Centre and Oak streets intersections, as well as improvements to traffic lights at the Lloyd and Coal streets intersections, has brought much improvement to the downtown district. The highway has been repaved from the wye on Ringtown Boulevard north of Shenandoah southward through Main Street to the Gold Star Bridge. The schedule calls for Route 924 to also be repaved from the bridge to the entrance of Frackville, which is expected to be completed later this year. An inundated structure by floodwaters is seen in Richmond, Sydney on March 22, 2021. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images) Aussie Insurers Warn Against Disaster Chasers People affected by a massive flood event in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) are being warned to avoid disaster chasers, with the insurance bill for the once-in-a-generation event tipped to top $1 billion. Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) CEO Andrew Hall says insurers have so far received 9,500 claims from residents and business owners. Most of the claims so far are flowing from the hard-hit Mid-North Coast and Western Sydney regions. The floods this time last yearyou will remember we had a lot of rain at the end of the drought last yearthat event cost insurers around about $1 billion, Hall told Channel Nine on March 16. So we are bracing for more claims to come in over the coming days as the waters recede. The ICA on Monday declared a catastrophe for large parts of NSW hit by storms, heavy rainfall and flooding since last week. The declaration allows insurers to escalate their response and prioritise the needs of policyholders. Hall warned people not to deal with disaster chasers. These are persons who target those impacted by extreme events and offer to do their claims for them, for a fee. You dont need to do that, he warned. You should immediately be contacting your insurer directly You dont need a third party to help you. Around NSW, over 24,000 people have been evacuated as of Wednesday, and 60,000 are on standby to evacuate. Emergency services received 11,000 calls for help, with 1,600 SES volunteers joining rescue efforts. Over 950 flood rescues have been carried out. One man in Sydneys north-west was found dead after he was trapped in his car by floodwaters, Nine reported. Police confirmed the mans body was found in Cattai Creek in Glenorie just after 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Some farmers also lost livestock as the flood waters rose, with Taree dairy farmer Rod Lattimore losing 20 heifers, according to The Guardian. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast no major rainfall over the next week, giving rescue efforts a reprieve as they deliver essential supplies to isolated communities as they begin the long process of cleaning up. Were certainly not out of the woods, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters. What we still have to be aware of is the fact that thousands and thousands of people are still on evacuation warnings, that the rivers will continue to swell, that catchments will continue to experience flows of water not seen in 50 years and in some places 100 years. Repairs and the clean-up are underway with affected schools expected to reopen as soon as possible. Given the continuing bad weather, it may take some days to gain access to sites to assess the damage, NSW Education spokesperson said. Local flooding and road closures are limiting access, and it may take some days to fully assess the extent of any damage to additional schools. Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? 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. Informa Markets has signed an agreement with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) to co-organise technical conferences for the Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MEOS) in Bahrain and the Kuwait Oil & Gas Show and Conference (KOGS). Mark Rubin, CEO and Executive Vice President of SPE, believes the delivery of critical insight from oil and gas professionals as part of the agreement will be key to sustainable growth for the industry in the region. SPEs vision is to advance the oil and gas communitys ability to meet the worlds energy demands in a safe, environmentally responsible and sustainable manner, said Rubin. Our strategic alliance with Informa will assist in fulfilling that vision through two key multi-disciplinary events in MEOS and KOGS. We look forward to delivering more to our members and the industry as we advance through these challenging times. Informa Markets say the SPE backing for both MEOS and KOGS will chart a new, dynamic course for the industrys future as it looks to massively improve efficiencies and source innovative solutions to diversify product ranges. Informas continuing strategic alliance with the SPE underpins our commitment to the growth of our oil and gas portfolio in the Middle East, said Peter Hall, President - EMEA of Informa Markets. Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Bahrains Minister of Oil believes the combined strength of the alliance ultimately benefit MEOS and the wider oil and gas industry. He said: We warmly welcome the renewed strategic partnership between the Society of Petroleum Engineers and Informa, who together work diligently to position MEOS as a leading platform in oil and gas which attracts largest and most influential local, regional and global specialised oil companies participate. This strategic alliance will act as a catalyst to not only push the industry forward but will boost the economy and attract investment to the Kingdom of Bahrain in other sectors as well. MEOS is the first of two planned Informa Markets events where SPE will organise the conference and dedicated content streams. The 22nd edition of the biennial show will take place under the patronage His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC). The MEOS technical conference will focus on innovative 4th Industrial Revolution technology to solve industry challenges and create future-focused opportunities with onsite content streams tackling a wide remit of industry topics. The exhibition and conference is hosted by Bahrains National Oil & Gas Authority (NOGA), chaired by Saudi Aramco and co-chaired by Italian energy major Eni. Faisal Al Nughaimish the MEOS Conference Chairman and Head of Gas Drilling Engineering at Saudi Aramco, said: MEOS is long established as the must-attend upstream oil and gas event in the region. It attracts the leading global players, its a gateway for us to find partners and develop lasting business relationships. We enjoy discovering the cutting-edge products and innovative solutions on display from others while showcasing our own projects and accomplishments. The Middle East Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition is one of the oldest and most prestigious conferences in the Middle East, which the Kingdom of Bahrain has been honoured to host since 1979 due to the kingdoms reputation, position and strategic location in the region, as well as the support provided by the government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the facilities for the convening these types of events in the country, said Shaikh Mohammed. MEOS has contributed to presenting the best modern technologies in oil and gas exploration in addition to research and technical papers attracting international companies from the globe to exchange knowledge, experiences and investment opportunities in the sector. Hall added: With expertise from the leading society for petroleum engineers, SPE, and the partnerships with Saudi Aramco and NOGA, we are empowered to deliver an unparalleled technical conference at MEOS and KOGS, where well conceive the next generation of transformative ideas. Together, working as one team, we will unlock the full potential of both events and place our clients on a path to success in the rapidly evolving oil and gas industry. -- Tradearabia News Service We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. A day after the government of India conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2020 on Bangladesh's 'Father of the Nation' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman posthumously, the neighbouring nation on Tuesday released a statement expressing deep gratitude. The statement released by the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry in Dhaka acknowledged India's move as "an honour for Bangladesh." It is an honour for Bangladesh: Foreign Ministry "It is an honour for Bangladesh and its people for the Father of the Nation to be bestowed with this prestigious award (Gandhi Peace Prize). The award is also a befitting tribute to the ever-deepening Bangladesh-India relations," the ministry's statement read. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman played a vibrant role in the Civil war that led to the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan on March 26, 1971, whereafter he was first made the Prime Minister of the country. He is known as Bangladesh's 'Father of the Nation'. It is an honour for Bangladesh and its people for the Father of the Nation to be bestowed with this prestigious award (Gandhi Peace Prize). The award is also a befitting tribute to the ever-deepening Bangladesh-India relations: Govt of Bangladesh https://t.co/Lc4DYLxxwC ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2021 Prime Minister Narendra Modi also acknowledged that "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman was one of the greatest leaders of our subcontinent. 2020 marked the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. He remains an icon of indomitable courage and the tireless struggle for his millions of admirers." Gandhi Peace Prize 2020 has been conferred on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, one of the greatest leaders of our subcontinent. Year 2020 marked the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. He remains an icon of indomitable courage and tireless struggle for his millions of admirers. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 22, 2021 Bangladesh will be hosting a 10-day-event celebrating 50 years of Independence. The celebrations have started from March 17 and PM Modi is slated to travel to Bangladesh on March 25-26 where he will also be a part of the celebrations on the birth anniversary of the nation's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar referring to PM Modi's Bangladesh visit was quoted by PTI as saying that "This visit is in connection with the commemoration of three epochal events - Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh; and 50 years of Bangladesh's war of liberation." Meanwhile, the recipients of the prestigious award in the past include Dr. Gerhard Fischer, Federal Republic of Germany; Ramakrishna Mission; Dr. Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa; Chandi Prasad Bhatt & Indian Space Research Organisation among others. (Credit: Narendra Modi/@Shuvckc/Twitter/AP) Brent oil was steady as investors assessed the near-term demand outlook after ending the worst week since October with a bounce, Bloomberg reports. Futures in London traded near $64 a barrel after losing more than 1% earlier as a rising dollar reduced the appeal of commodities priced in the U.S. currency. Demand is showing some signs of weakness with the number of unsold April-loading oil cargoes from West Africa swelling, while Germany is proposing an extension to lockdown restrictions. Despite posting a 2% gain on Friday, crude suffered a heavy weekly loss following a bearish start to last week. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, saw another assault on its energy facilities. While the offensive by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on an Aramco refinery on Friday had no impact on oil supplies, its the latest in a series of attacks on the kingdom. Despite the weekly plunge, theres confidence in the long-term outlook and a return to higher prices. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said the recent sell-off was transient and that the rebalancing would continue with vaccinations driving higher mobility. The market will be keenly watching the OPEC+ meeting next week for any change to its output policy in May, especially after the slide in oil and comments from the International Energy Agency that supply is plentiful. Oil could continue swinging between red and green, being torn between demand fears and the die-hard optimists, said Vandana Hari, founder of Vanda Insights in Singapore. Prices are likely to hover around current levels, at least until OPEC+s next move, she added. The prompt timespread for Brent is still in a bullish backwardation -- where near-dated prices are more expensive than later-dated ones -- although the gap narrowed over the course of last week. The spread was at 14 cents a barrel on Monday, compared with 67 cents at the start of the month. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, meanwhile, said his country was in no hurry to revive the nuclear deal, although he reiterated that Tehran was still prepared to return to the original terms of the agreement once the U.S. has lifted sanctions. Despite the penalties, Iranian crude exports appear to be rising, with China boosting its purchases recently. ?? Ahora | La presidenta del Consejo de Ministros, junto con la presidenta de @EsSaludPeru, supervisan el funcionamiento del #AutoVacunatorio en el Estadio Monumental, donde se realizaran las jornadas de vacunacion contra la #COVID?19 dirigida a los adultos mayores. pic.twitter.com/d2vHm0u3pC Kochi, March 23 : The Customs department issued summons for the second time to interrogate former Kerala Communist Party Of India (Marxist) State Secretary, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's wife Vinodhini Balakrishnan for using an iphone purchased by Unitac owner Santosh Eapen. The wife of the top CPI(M) leader again failed to appear before the Customs here on Tuesday. Earlier, the Customs department had issued a notice to Vinodhini Balakrishnan on March 10 for which she failed to appear for questioning. The Customs officials are taking this attitude of Vinodhini Balakrishnan seriously and are reportedly planning their next move. The Customs officials had asked Vinodhini to appear before them in connection with the infamous missing iPhone, which was allegedly given by Santhosh Eapen, one of the beneficiaries of the controversial Life Mission flats project. The Customs have traced the iPhone to Vinodhini, who was found to have allegedly used it till the infamous Kerala gold smuggling case surfaced in July 2020. Eapen heads Unitac Builders that received the contract for the Life Mission flats project at Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district. In an affidavit filed before the High Court, Eapen is seeking the quashing of the FIR registered against him which had mentioned that Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, had asked him to buy five iPhones to be given to VIP guests invited to participate in the UAE National Day celebrations held here in December 2019. Trouble began after rumours started that Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader, Ramesh Chennithala, was given one iPhone but he denied it and threatened legal action against those who were trying to malign him. At that time, the owner of the most expensive iPhone could not be identified. But the Customs has now managed to locate its owner and it has been found that Vinodhini was using the iPhone worth Rs 1.13 lakh. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was forced to step down as the CPI(M) State Secretary in 2020 after his younger son Bineesh Kodiyeri was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in Bengaluru, following his close friend's arrest by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Even now he continues to be in jail there. The CPI(M) leader's elder son Binoy Kodiyeri is also entangled in a case where a Bihar woman has approached the Mumbai High Court, saying that her child is the son of Binoy, who is already married and has a family. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan last week told the media that whatever he has heard is only from media reports that his wife was served a notice to appear before the Customs adding that his wife has not been served any notice nor does she know Eapen. Send out the dove, one woman commented on Twitter. After seven days and six nights of biblical torrents, the rain stopped on Tuesday afternoon, leaving thousands of people displaced, roads blocked, houses flooded, large parts of the state submerged and a multimillion-dollar clean-up job set to begin. Nearly 12,000 people had lodged insurance claims by Tuesday afternoon. A swollen Nepean River at North Penrith after days of continuous heavy rain. Credit:Wolter Peeters While the flood risk is predicted to dissipate quickly over the eastern coastal catchments, the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley is expected to be flooded for several days and the pain is only beginning inland, as the floodwaters gradually make their way down the river system. Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Victoria Dodds said conditions would improve quickly on the Mid North Coast when the rain stopped, but the Hunter Valley could expect major flooding into Wednesday and there was a developing flood situation for communities around the Murray River. The situation in the Russian-occupied Crimea is currently deteriorating in various aspects of life, and the de-occupation of the peninsula is a priority for Ukraine, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov said at a meeting with President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg Fernand Etgen on Tuesday. "The situation in Crimea continues to deteriorate in many spheres of life: from militarization to violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as [...] threats to the environmental security of the region," Razumkov said. According to the website of the Verkhovna Rada, the chairman said that Ukraine highly appreciates the fact that Luxembourg consistently supports and is a co-author of all resolutions of the UN General Assembly on the Ukrainian issue, without exception, in the context of the Russian armed aggression in Donbas and the occupation of Crimea. Razumkov also noted the recent rapid development of relations between Ukraine and Luxembourg. "Luxembourg is among the top ten EU countries in terms of investment in Ukraine. Almost $1.2 billion in direct investment was received over the first nine months of last year," he said. Razumkov said the Verkhovna Rada makes decisions that will help raise investment. "Within the walls of the Ukrainian parliament, a number of bills were adopted in order to attract additional investment from foreign states, I hope, from Luxembourg," Razumkov said. At the same time, the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada said that Ukraine still needs to change a lot, including at the legislative level, in order to come closer to EU standards in various sectors of the economy. Razumkov also did not ignore the issue of the consequences of the completion of the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. "Unfortunately, we know very well how such projects end, and how at one moment the so-called energy project becomes an element of pressure," the chairman said, adding that Nord Stream 2 could become such an element of pressure. He said that Ukraine is a reliable transit country for Russian gas to the EU, but noted that "unfortunately, we cannot call Russia a reliable energy supplier." According to the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine supports Luxembourg's chairmanship of the UN Human Rights Council in 2022-2024. The chairman of the Ukrainian parliament invited the delegation of the Chamber of Deputies to visit Ukraine. "I hope for further support by the Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Ukraine's efforts aimed at restoring its territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders," the chairman of the parliament said. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Orange County Registrar of Voters in Santa Ana, Calif., on March 5, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Orange County Activists Celebrate Victory Against Affirmative Action As COVID-19 restrictions ease, members of an initiative to reject affirmative action in California gathered to celebrate their November victory fighting race-based preferences in the public sector. Proposition 16 would have allowed diversity to factor into public employment, education, and contracting decisions by amending the California Constitution to remove the current ban on affirmative action that prohibits the consideration of race, sex, ethnicity, and gender by government and public institutions. The proposition failed the majority vote during last Novembers general election, receiving 57 percent opposition by California voters. In Lake Forest, a panel speakers addressed an audience March 20, saying although the team won its most recent battle on affirmative action, the war is still ongoing. Were engaged in a modern-day civil war, Ward Connerly, president of No on 16, said during the meeting. We are really now at a stage where were fighting to determine what structure American life is going to be. Our landslide victory over Prop. 16 last November shows that Californians believe in equality for all, not racial preferences or racial grievance. Betty Tom Chu, the co-chair of No on 16, said Proposition 16 is a racist measure with immediate racism clearly targeted at Asian Americans. Marc Ang, founder of Asian Industry B2B and moderator of the event, said: The left was giving us a false definition of what it means to be equal. They want equal outcomes and thats just impossible we want equal opportunities for everyone, Ang said. Connerlya keynote speaker at the eventwas born in 1939 in segregated Louisiana, knowing firsthand the product of racial discrimination. He brought up the modern day civil war which one side consists of institutionalists that believe in the structure given by the founding fathers. We are defined by our love of liberty and the dedication that we have to the principle of equality, Connerly said. Connerly said it was the founders intent to create equality of opportunity and allow for individuals to be rewarded for their efforts. He said affirmative action is a racist way of thinking and we have to defeat it. It is more than a temporary threat to our way of life. Its the one thing that can bring down that which we love in this great country of America, Connerly said. We will fight within the framework of the system to ensure that the principles that we embrace, that we defended at this most recent election involving Prop. 16, remain in place. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain New research from Copenhagen Business School finds sexual harassment in the workplace severely hurts company value. "Sexual harassment has serious consequences for the victim. But it is also something managers and investors should be interested in for purely financial reasons, as it can wipe off enormous amounts of market value in a matter of days," says Associate Professor Ulf Nielsson from the Department of Finance at Copenhagen Business School. The research found that the stock market value of a listed company drops by 1.5% following sexual harassment reports, which corresponds to an average impact of $450 million for the companies. In the long term the affected firms recovered only about half of that lost value. The study looked at nearly 200 sexual harassment incidents, many of them taking place in well-known companies such as Disney, Tesla, Amazon, Google, and Facebook, financial firms like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, and popular media brands such as The New York Times, Fox, and CBS. The researchers found that this was amplified if the CEO was involved. If the incident received high news coverage, then the effect could be up to 6.5% of the share price, whereas the impact was mitigated if the firm itself reported on the incident before the media attention. The study is published in the Journal of Corporate Finance. New insight To assemble their data the researchers scoured through English-language news archives from January 2005 to February 2019 in the Nexis Uni research database to identify sexual harassment incidents, ranging from verbal abuse comments to unwanted physical advances and forced sexual relations. Moreover, they made a combined Nexis Uni and Google News search from Standard & Poor's 500 Index companies. This returned almost 200 incidents worldwide with 78% of the scandals taking place in the USA. They also identified it was a female who came forward to report the harassment in 88% of all cases. In contrast to the fields of psychology and sociology, which have widely documented the negative consequences of sexual harassment on the individual, the instant impact of sexual harassment on company value has not been separately studied. Moreover, sexual harassment scandals are different from typical corporate scandals such as fraud or labor violations in that they are arguably not motivated by profit or monetary betterment. "This research moves things forward by offering new insight into quantifying the size of the financial impact a sexual harassment scandal has on company value," adds Ulf Nielsson. The bottom line The researchers recommend that it makes good business sense for companies to have a preventive strategy in place as sexual harassment is a real business risk and the impact is economically significant. The potential detrimental impact will justify considerable cost and effort from businesses to prevent such cases occuring and to react swiftly and firmly if they do happen. "Companies need to realize that it is also in their benefit (not only in the victim's benefit) to prevent and react to incidents of sexual harassment as this ultimately affects their bottom line," concludes Ulf Nielsson. Explore further Odds of leaving military double after sexual assault, report finds More information: Mads Borelli-Kjaer et al, #MeToo: Sexual harassment and company value, Journal of Corporate Finance (2021). Mads Borelli-Kjaer et al, #MeToo: Sexual harassment and company value,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2020.101875 Provided by Copenhagen Business School Mexico's Pemex is considering letting U.S.-based Talos Energy lead the development of the Zama oil field, Reuters reported, citing the state oil company's chief executive. Talos Energy, leading a consortium of foreign oil companies, discovered the large Zama oil deposit in 2015. At an estimated 670 million recoverable oil barrels, the discovery was the largest oil find in Mexico by a private company in decades. Pemex, however, said that the Zama deposit extends to a neighboring block operated by the Mexican company. Last year, the Mexican government ordered the U.S. company to reach an agreement with Pemex on how to jointly operate the Zama field after an independent evaluation revealed that 60 percent of the field's reserves lay in the block operated by Talos Energy. If the two failed to reach an agreement, the government would decide who would operate Zama. This was in mid-2020. By the end of that year, the two still hadn't come to an agreement. The Mexican energy ministry extended the deadline for the talks until the end of February of this year. The Reuters report signals that the companies may be approaching an agreement even if it goes against the original plans for Pemex to operate the field. "It's not a case of 'I want (to be the operator) because I'm the biggest, or I'm the best-looking,' it's because it suits them and it suits us," Pemex chief executive Octavio Romero said in an interview with Reuters. "We're talking about it, we're analyzing it technically." "It may be at some point the consortium meets all the criteria that matter to Pemex to develop this field; if all the conditions are acceptable and beneficial for Pemex, we could analyze it." Mexico is struggling to reverse a steady decline in oil production, but this has proven challenging, especially after the Lopez Obrador government suspended all contracts with foreign companies signed by the previous administration for a thorough review. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Mumbai/New Delhi, March 23 : Reeling under pressure from the Vazegate, the Maha Vikas Aghadi(MVA) government in Maharashtra faces yet another charge of grave corruption relating to transfer-posting racket of top IPS officers. The Union Home Ministry, the cadre controlling authority of Indian Police Service (IPS) in the country, is expected to initiate a CBI probe into the transfer and posting racket of senior police officials which can give sleepless nights to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, accused of hushing up a probe by BJP. Former Chief Minister and present Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, who broke the racket story during a press conference in Mumbai would be handing over the sensitive audio recordings relating to postings racket in the state to Union Home Ministry in New Delhi on Tuesday evening. Fadnavis said that the recordings and names of concerned IPS officers and powerful men involved in the racket were known to Thackeray, however, the chief minister chose to hush up the case instead of taking action. "What's more surprising is the fact that CM (Uddhav Thackeray) transferred the Commissioner of Intelligence Rashmi Shukla who unearthed the racket flourishing in Mumbai. "I have the sensitive recordings which nail the men in power but I would not share it with the public. I will hand over these recordings to the Union Home Secretary in Delhi," Fadnavis said. The Commissioner of State Intelligence (COI) Rashmi Shukla has informed the Maharashtra DGP, Subodh Kumasr Jaiswal, on August 25, 2020, that a network of brokers had emerged in Mumbai having political connections. "They are engaged in arranging desired postings for police officers in exchange for monetary connections," Rashmi Shukla's letter revealed. The COI had sought permission from the concerned authorities to place the telephone numbers of the brokers under surveillance. The COI informed the DGP of the surveillance of the phone numbers which corroborated the charges relating to transfer and posting racket. The COI letter also revealed that several high ranking IPS officers were in contact with power brokers active in Mumbai. Transcripts of telephonic conversations in a sealed cover were also handed over to the DGP. Fadnavis revealed that the DGP had sent the entire transcripts, exposing the network of power brokers, to Thackeray. Instead of allowing the COI to register a case of corruption, the CM sent the report along with the transcripts to Deshmukh, informed Fadnavis. Sources said that once CBI would be given the probe of transfer and posting racket, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra would be in deep trouble as the case attracts the provision of Anti-Corruption Act against powerful people in government. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text A public petition posted on the Cheong Wa Dae website, Sunday, demands heavy punishment of an obstetrician who allegedly performed a C-section operation under the influence of alcohol, during which one of the twin babies died. / Screen captured from the Cheong Wa Dae website By Lee Hyo-jin The police have launched an investigation into the allegation that an obstetrician of a maternity clinic located in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, performed a C-section operation while drunk, resulting in the death of one of the patient's twin babies. Cheongju Heungdeok Police Station said Tuesday that they have confirmed that the doctor was drunk during the surgery, performed on Oct. 9, 2020, and are conducting a further investigation into the case. Police had booked the doctor for driving under the influence on his way to the hospital on the same day. To determine whether there had been any medical malpractice during the operation, the law enforcement authorities have requested an investigation at the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency, as well as the Korea Medical Association. The speculations against the doctor were first raised by a public petition posted on Cheong Wa Dae's website, Sunday, by the patient. The petitioner, who claimed to be the mother of a five-month-old daughter, wrote, "If the accident had not occurred, I would have become the mother of two, instead of one." The woman, who was then pregnant with twins, visited the maternity hospital as her water broke prematurely. "Since my doctor was not on duty, I was examined by another doctor who said that everything was fine and that we could proceed with a natural delivery," the petition read. But after a few hours, they called for an urgent C-section operation as the heartbeat of one of the babies' was not detected. The doctor who arrived at the hospital performed the surgery, but one of the babies did not survive. The petitioner claimed that the doctor was drunk, saying, "He came into the operating room with the strong smell of alcohol." The police, who were called to the site by her husband, conducted a sobriety test, and confirmed that the doctor's blood alcohol level was 0.01 percent. "What was more shocking was his shameless attitude, saying out loud that he had a few drinks," the petitioner said, calling for a thorough investigation into the case and heavy punishment of the doctor if found negligent. The hospital admitted that the doctor was drunk, but claimed that it was unrelated to the baby's death, as the baby had already died before the doctor had arrived at the hospital. But the chance of the doctor seeing any punitive measures for performing the operation under the influence seems small, as there is no clause on the performance of medical procedures while under the influence in Korea's Medical Act, and doctors usually avoid criminal charges. According to data submitted by the health ministry to Rep. Kwon Chil-seung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, seven doctors were found to have carried out medical procedures while drunk between 2015 and June last year, and all of them had their licenses suspended for one month, without any further action taken. BINGHAMTON, NY -- When it comes to local government, does the gender of a mayor or county executive matter in sustainability policymaking? Yes, but only in certain ways, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York. Kristina Lambright, associate professor of public administration, and George Homsy, associate professor of public administration and director of the environmental studies program, explored the correlation between female leadership and local government adoption of sustainability policies in "Beyond community characteristics: a leader's gender and local government adoption of energy conservation practices and redistributive programmes," published recently in Local Environment: The International Journal and Justice Sustainability. In Lambright and Homsy's study sample, local governments with a female leader adopted 29.2% more community energy policies than communities with male leaders. This group of policies focuses on helping citizens, non-profits and businesses reduce energy consumption by, for example, providing or funding energy audits and weatherization programs. The researchers also found a 12.7% increase in the number of redistributive programs in communities headed by women. These programs support vulnerable populations by bolstering the social safety net. This type of program includes incentivizing affordable housing and funding childcare. With a third set of policies, Lambright and Homsy found no correlation between a leader's gender and the adoption of government energy conservation practices. This group of policies includes such measures as updating streetlights with energy efficient bulbs and purchasing hybrid vehicles for the municipal fleet. "There's a pretty well-documented literature of past research that indicates women and men do look at issues differently," Lambright said. "I am intrigued that there is this difference in the general population, with women being generally more pro-environment, but that doesn't translate when they're in positions of power into greater support for government energy conservation efforts. I'm really interested in why that is, why this area." The pair used data from the 2015 Local Government Sustainability Practices Survey conducted by the International City/County Management Association, which was completed by 1,672 local governments across the country. There are fewer women heading local governments than men, although the numbers have improved significantly through the decades, from 1% in 1974 to 17% in 2018. In addition to gender, the researchers took into account the impact of other variables, such as political party. Democratic leaders were 18.5% more likely to adopt social welfare programs, but these municipalities were no more likely to have energy conservation measures of either type. Looking at national trends, you would expect that Democrats would be more supportive of all three sustainability practices than Republicans. National trends, however, don't necessarily influence the day-to-day operations of local governments, which provide such services as road maintenance and trash pickup. "In most local governments, it doesn't matter whether they are Republican or Democrat, they still have to provide lighting and plow the streets," Lambright explained. Collective thinking and conservation There are theories that explain the gender differences in politics. Women, for example, are more likely to find themselves in a vulnerable income position, and thus would benefit from social safety programs. Socialization may also play a role: women are often expected to assume caregiving roles and to consider the welfare of others -- in other words, thinking of the collective good rather than the individual. This female socialization could lend itself to female policymakers' support of measures that require collective thinking, such as the adoption of social welfare programs and community energy saving measures. Local governments must make significant investments to implement these initiatives. However, municipalities do not directly financially benefit from these efforts; instead, community residents and businesses do, Homsy explained. By contrast, efforts to conserve a government's energy use will save a municipality itself money in the long run, perhaps making it an easy choice for elected officials regardless of whether they prioritize collective interests or not. "A good question to examine and one possible explanation is, 'Are women leaders more collectively minded?'" Homsy said. Next steps Lambright and Homsy also found that municipalities are more likely to adopt sustainability measures if they are in a good financial position. The larger they are, the more resources they have to draw on in terms of government facilities, people and more. Smaller, cash-strapped communities might not feel able to pursue these avenues. Size also matters in another way: jurisdictions with more than 100,000 people are a little more likely to have female leadership. Fourteen percent of female leaders serve in communities of this size, compared to 9% of male leaders, according to their research data. Are places with an established interest in sustainability more likely to elect female leaders in the first place? Does the size of the community contribute significantly to both sustainability and female leadership? Were sustainability policies adopted under a woman's leadership or years before? Lambright and Homsy don't know -- yet. Their current data show correlation, but not causation, leading them to their next project. "In this next phase of our research, we are going to talk to male and female leaders in places where they have done something positive about the environment and find out how the project came about, what barriers they faced and how they dealt with those challenges," Homsy said. They plan on interviewing around 60 local government officials, divided equally between women and men, who are involved with local environmental sustainability initiatives in New York state. Right now, they're working to identify these officials through news articles in New York state's largest daily newspapers. Ideally, the interview subjects will represent government at different levels, ranging from village to county, and will be selected randomly. The researchers will probe their experience with sustainability issues, but also explore their management and communication styles and the particular challenges they faced. In addition, they will look at the sustainability initiatives themselves. "Will we see differences between how men and women lead?" Lambright asked. "We will focus on sustainability policymaking, but we're also looking to see if there are differences in how men and women leaders approach leadership more generally." ### With the positivity rate for the coronavirus the lowest it has been since the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District first started tracking it last April, local leaders are urging people not to toss their masks yet. The rate fell to 2.3 percent Monday, from 5.6 percent this time last week, health officials said. Thats great news, Mayor Ron Nirenberg exclaimed during the daily city-county briefing Monday. But please, were reminding you not everybody in this community is vaccinated ... mask up and practice social distancing. The rate, calculated by dividing the total number of positive lab tests for the coronavirus that week by the number of tests administered, is a measure of how much the virus is spreading in San Antonio. Metro Health has said a number below 5 percent means the virus spread is manageable. On ExpressNews.com: Some USAA employees will return to the office starting in May Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff also said a record number of vaccinations 31,202 were administered last week at area distribution sites. A total of 416,797 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 232,004 are fully vaccinated, officials said. Wolff also recalled President Joseph Bidens promise for a return to normalcy by the Fourth of July, urging residents to continue safety precautions. That means we still have three months to go through to make sure we don't trigger something that could come back to haunt all of us, he said. On Monday, officials reported 166 new coronavirus cases, down from 193 on Sunday. The rolling seven-day average of new cases now stands at 176 per day, down from 312 a month ago and 2,062 two months ago. Local hospitals are treating 188 patients for COVID-19, compared to 218 patients one week ago and down from 608 patients this time in February. Officials reported 19 new admissions Monday. Of those hospitalized, 81 people are in intensive care units, with 46 people on ventilators to assist their breathing. A month ago, there were 223 critically ill patients. Dr. Rita Espinoza, chief of epidemiology with Metro Health, said contact tracing has not indicated an increase in cases as a result of spring break. Last year at this time, vacation travel helped to kick off a surge in infections that lasted through summer. University Health and Bexar County are launching a campaign to remind people that masks are a proven method to reduce the risk of infection and protect others, especially any time six feet of physical distance is hard to maintain. Fully vaccinated people should also continue to wear their masks, practice social distancing and wash their hands frequently, health officials said. People may record videos or share why they wear a mask via Twitter and Faceboook with hashtags #WhyIWearAMaskSA, #BexarTogether, #MiCubrebocaSA y #BexarJuntos. Health officials said people do not receive full protection from their vaccines until two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two weeks after the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases No new deaths were reported during Mondays briefing. San Antonio surpassed the grim milestone of 3,000 deaths on Sunday after including a backlog of 74 deaths that were only recently confirmed to have been caused by COVID-19. Since the pandemic began locally about a year ago, 202,716 Bexar County residents have tested positive for the coronavirus. A total 3,071 people have died from the virus. A new report from Korea this morning states that Samsung Display is likely to receive compensation from Apple over a shortfall in OLED panel orders, industry insiders said Tuesday. Samsung Display's worldwide small OLED shipments in January dropped 9 percent month-to-month to 45 million units, according to market researcher Omdia, which added that the decline is apparently prompted by sluggish sales of Apple's iPhone 12 mini. Foreign media have reported that Apple has adjusted target production of the iPhone 12 series to 75 million units for the first half of this year, which is about 20 percent down from its previous target, with the iPhone 12 mini responsible for the majority of the cuts. Samsung Display is the sole supplier of a 5.4-inch panel for the iPhone 12 mini, the smallest model of Apple's 5G-supporting iPhone 12 series. Industry observers are now predicting that Apple may once again have to pay Samsung a hefty penalty for not meeting the minimum order quantity, according to The Korea Herald. Apple reportedly paid an estimated $684 million in 2019 and $1 billion in 2020 to Samsung Display for below-par OLED panel orders. 'It is uncertain whether Apple would pay a penalty to Samsung Display, but considering its contract history and sluggish sales of the iPhone 12 mini, it is likely that Apple will compensate Samsung Display,' an industry official said on condition of anonymity." With Apple's iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max selling beyond their expectations, you have to wonder if Samsung made up for any losses with the mini. The Korean source may be surmising that a penalty will be charged to Apple due to a similar dispute back in 2019. However, the conclusion to that story was never really made public. Apple may have given Samsung more display orders to make up for the shortfall in lieu of payment. Suspect in Boulder Mass Shooting Identified as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa: Very Anti-Social Police have identified 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa as the suspect in the Boulder, Colorado, shooting that left at least 10 people dead, including a police officer, on Monday. Boulder Police Chief Maris Harold on Tuesday identified the alleged shooter and the 10 victims, who range in age from 20 to 65. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa. (Boulder Police Handout) The victims include Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowika, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jody Waters, 65. Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley, 51, was also shot and killed while responding to the incident. I want to say to the community, I am so sorry this incident happened, Harold said, adding, We are going to do everything in our power to make sure this suspect has a thorough trial and we do a thorough investigation. Officer Eric Talley in a file photo. (Courtesy of Boulder Police Department via AP) Officials said that Alissa, 21, was shot during an exchange with officers at the King Soopers on Monday afternoon, leaving the suspect injured. The man who gunned them down will be held fully responsible. We dont have the answer for that yet, said Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty during the news conference. When asked about the weapon the suspect allegedly used, officials refused to comment. Alissa, whose last name is also spelled as Alyssa or Al-Issa, is slated to be charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder, officials said, adding that hell be transferred to the Boulder County jail to await court proceedings. Police vehicles are seen at the scene where an active shooter was reported at a grocery store in Boulder, Colo., on March 22, 2021. (Cecil Disharoon/via Reuters) Police officers and an ambulance are seen at the scene where an active shooter was reported at a grocery store in Boulder, Colo., on March 22, 2021. (Cecil Disharoon/via Reuters) Ali Aliwi Alissa, the suspects 34-year-old brother, told The Daily Beast that his brother was mentally ill, disturbed, and paranoid. The suspect is very anti-social and paranoid, his brother told the news outlet, noting that he would often remark that he was being chased, someone is behind him, someone is looking for him. When he was having lunch with my sister in a restaurant, he said, People are in the parking lot, they are looking for me. She went out, and there was no one. We didnt know what was going on in his head, Alissa said. The Epoch Times attempted to contact Alissa but he has not returned a voicemail. Authorities have not identified a motive in the slayings. Photos appeared to show the suspect with a leg injury, shirtless, and with an unkempt beard. I can tell you the community is safe and we will continue to share updates as we conduct our investigation and draw conclusions as a result of that investigation, FBI special agent Michael Schneider said in the conference. People are led out of a King Soopers grocery store after a shooting in the store in Boulder, Colo., on March 22, 2021. (Hart Van Denburg/Colorado Public Radio via AP) Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers used the tragedy to call for the passage of gun control legislation. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), whose district includes Boulder, said Tuesday on CBS This Morning that enough is enough when it comes to political impasses that keep gun control laws from passing Congress. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that action is needed now to prevent this scourge from continuing to ravage our communities, citing House passage of two background checks bills. Those bills are now pending before the Senate. The National Rifle Association, meanwhile, tweeted the Constitutions Second Amendment on Monday: A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Leon Black is pictured here in Beverly Hills, California, U.S. (Photo : REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo) Apollo Global Management Inc co-founder Leon Black has left his executive positions at the private equity firm, a surprise move that caps a series of corporate governance changes triggered by a review of his ties to late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Black, who co-founded Apollo 31 years ago, stepped down as the company's chairman, with Jay Clayton, former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chief, taking over as non-executive chairman, according to a statement on Monday. Advertisement Black, 69, had planned to retain his role as chairman after relinquishing his post as chief executive officer in January following an independent review by law firm Dechert, which revealed that he had paid Epstein $158 million for advice on tax and estate planning and related services between 2012 and 2017. The review had cleared Black of any wrongdoing. Apollo's stock price rose 4.5% to close at $49.42 per share after Black's departure was announced. "The relentless public attention and media scrutiny concerning my relationship with Jeffrey Epstein - even though the exhaustive Dechert report concluded there was no evidence of wrongdoing on my part - have taken a toll on my health and have caused me to wish to take some time away from the public spotlight that comes with my daily involvement with this great public company," Black said in a letter to Apollo's board of directors. Epstein was found dead at age 66 in August 2019 in a Manhattan jail, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges for allegedly abusing dozens of underage girls in Manhattan and Florida from 2002 to 2005. New York City's chief medical examiner ruled the cause of death was suicide by hanging. Apollo said on Monday that co-founder Marc Rowan will formally take over as CEO after being named as Black's successor in January. Two new independent directors, Richard Emerson and Kerry Murphy Healey, were also added to Apollo's board. New York-based Apollo had appointed Clayton, 54, who was SEC chairman from May 2017 to December 2020, as lead independent director in February to improve corporate governance after the review. "I think it was appropriate that once Black left as CEO he also leave as chairman," said Charles Elson, a corporate governance expert and finance professor at the University of Delaware. "If they wanted to remove affiliation, it wouldn't have made any sense if he remained as executive chairman overseeing the board." On Monday, Citigroup analysts upgraded Apollo's rating to "Buy" from "Neutral," citing a sharp reduction in risks associated with investigations into Black's personal relationship with Epstein. Black was subpoenaed last year by U.S. Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George as part of a lawsuit against Epstein's estate seeking civil penalties and the forfeiture of assets including two private islands on which he allegedly raped and trafficked girls and young women. Black has said he intends to cooperate with the inquiry as well as any other investigation. Earlier this month, Apollo announced it would merge with Athene Holding Ltd in an $11 billion all-stock deal, bringing in-house an annuities provider that helped turn it into one of the world's largest corporate credit investors. "In the last few months, not only did we announce a transformative merger with Athene, but also expect to report that our first-quarter earnings will exceed analyst consensus in all relevant measures," Black said in a statement on Monday. "I thus view this as the ideal moment to step back and focus on my family, my wife Debra's and my health issues, and my many other interests," he added. Black said he will remain Apollo's single largest shareholder and hopes to return to the company at some point. In a move that would affect hundreds of millions of Indians, the Centre today revised the time window within which the 2nd dose of Covishield vaccine can be taken, asking all states and Union Territories to administer it between 4-8 weeks instead of 4-6 weeks. "In view of the emerging scientific evidence, the interval between two doses of a specific COVID-19 vaccine i e. Covishield, has been revisited by National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) and subsequently by NEGVAC in its 20th meeting during which the recommendation has been revised to provide 2nd dose of Covishield at 4-8 weeks' interval after 1st dose instead of earlier practiced interval of 4-6 weeks, the Union Health Ministry said. Representational Image In a letter written to the chief secretaries of states and UTs on Monday, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the ministry has accepted the recommendations of NTAGI and NEGVAC. and has thereafter advised the states and UTs to ensure the administration of 2nd dose of Covishield to beneficiaries within this stipulated time interval of 4-8 weeks after the 1st dose," he said. AFP Keeping the existing scientific evidence in view, it appears that protection is enhanced if the second dose of Covishield is administered between 6-8 weeks, but not later than the stipulated period of eight weeks, he said. This decision of revised time interval between two doses is applicable only to Covishield and not to Covaxin vaccine, the ministry said. [March 23, 2021] Canada Skills Program Expanded to Eight Additional Post-Secondary Institutions Microsoft extends skilling program to eight new institutions across Canada, enabling more students to graduate with in-demand data analytics, AI and cloud certifications TORONTO, March 23, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, Microsoft Canada announced the addition of eight post-secondary institutions to the Canada Skills Program, bringing the total to 20 schools in six provinces across Canada. Launched last fall, the program allows students to acquire in-demand cloud, data and AI skills and Microsoft certifications alongside their institutions' credentials, enhancing their employability as they enter the job market. In the first six months, over 20,000 students have participated. New data from the Information and Communication Technology Council of Canada (ICTC) found that 50 percent of all information technology (IT) departments of companies surveyed in North America currently identified as either short-staffed or understaffed in ICT roles and the innovation economy is expected to create an additional 149 million new jobs by 2025. For Canada to take advantage of this opportunity, we must address the persistent challenge of the tech talent pipeline. The Canada Skills Program aims to address this challenge and will support a minimum of 2,000 additional students in diploma, degree and continuing education programs across Canada by enabling them to graduate with in-demand data analytics, AI and cloud certifications. "Microsoft continues to invest in skilling initiatives because building a talent pipeline equipped with cloud, data and AI skills is key to strengthening Canada's innovation economy," said Kevin Peesker, President, Microsoft Canada. "The pandemic has made these needs more acute than ever and expanding the Canada Skills Program means even more students will start theircareers with the fundamentals they need to land meaningful work and drive accelerated innovation for Canada." The eight post-secondary institutions added to the Canada Skills Program include: New Brunswick Community College ( New Brunswick ) ( ) Georgian College ( Ontario ) ) College La Cite ( Ontario ) ) McMaster University , DeGroote School of Business ( Ontario ) , DeGroote School of Business ( ) University of Toronto , School of Continuing Studies ( Ontario ) , School of Continuing Studies ( ) University of Waterloo ( Ontario ) ( ) LaSalle College Vancouver ( British Columbia ) Vancouver ( ) Red River College ( Manitoba ) This expansion of the Canada Skills Program is the latest in Microsoft's ongoing commitment to enabling greater access to digital skills and providing students with the tools they need to support the Canadian economy as it emerges from the challenges caused by COVID-19. Other recent announcements from Microsoft include: a global skilling announcement providing free access to online training tools from Microsoft, LinkedIn and GitHub, a collaboration with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) to provide scholarships for learners from marginalized communities, free accelerated Azure Fundamentals workshops facilitated through Seneca College , in collaboration with RBC, and , in collaboration with RBC, and Microsoft is partnering with the Digital Technology Supercluster, Npower Canada and Blueprint to provide skills training to unemployed and underemployed youth from communities underrepresented in the digital economy. QUOTE BANK "The University of Waterloo is delighted to collaborate with Microsoft in this program. This collaboration strengthens our ongoing connections with Microsoft and bolsters our country's ability to match students' talent and skills with industry opportunities." Norah McRae , Associate Provost, Co-operative and Experiential Education, University of Waterloo "The acceleration of automation and digitalization over the past 12 months in response to the COVID-19 pandemic puts new emphasis on the importance of skills in cloud computing, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, certifications offered by the Canada Skills Program. The partnership between NBCC and Microsoft Canada will equip more people with the skills security to thrive in a changing world of work." Mary Butler , President and CEO, New Brunswick Community College "The University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS) is pleased to work with the Canada Skills Program and Microsoft Canada. It is a collaboration that aligns with our commitment to help meet the challenges faced by our learners associated with a world and workforce that is changing rapidly. At the same time, Microsoft certifications closely complement our own in-demand courses and certificates in the areas of cloud computing, AI, data science, and cyber security. This collaboration will help learners of all ages and career stages to continue to build relevant skills and gain the confidence needed to participate in, adapt to, and provide leadership in the changing, digital workplace for years to come." Dr. Maureen MacDonald , Dean, University of Toronto , School of Continuing Studies "At DeGroote, we are focused on developing leaders who thrive on digital transformation. Our collaboration with Microsoft Canada and the Canada Skills Program will expand our students' digital skills, particularly in critical areas such as data analytics, AI, and cloud technologies, and help prepare them to drive Canada's post-pandemic recovery." Khaled Hassanein , Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and Research, DeGroote School of Business About Microsoft Canada Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit www.microsoft.ca. SOURCE Microsoft Canada Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Karl Stefanovic proved he was a team player on Tuesday by wheeling his co-anchor Allison Langdon through Channel Nine's studios on a transport trolley. In a video shared to Instagram, the 46-year-old dragged his colleague around on the device which is typically used for carrying studio equipment. Allison, 41, was being conveyed on the trolley because she's still recovering from knee surgery stemming from a hydrofoiling accident that occurred in early February. Scroll down for video Teamwork makes dream work! Karl Stefanovic proved he was a team player on Tuesday by wheeling his co-anchor Allison Langdon through Channel Nine's studios on a transport trolley 'The show must go on! @allisonlagdon may not be able to walk between sets, but her trusty chariot driver @karlstefanovic_ ensures she arrives with maximum fanfare,' the Today show captioned the video. Allison appeared to be in good spirits in the footage as she yelled 'Yeah!' and raised her arms in the air. Karl was dressed in a grey suit, which he teamed with a blue shirt and matching tie. Hard yakka: In a video shared to Instagram, the 46-year-old dragged his colleague around on the device which is typically used for carrying studio equipment Chivalry is not dead! Allison was being conveyed on the trolley because she's still recovering from knee surgery stemming from a hydrofoiling accident that occurred in early February Ally wore a lime green blouse, black trousers and comfortable sneakers. When Allison returned to the Today on March 7, she was pushed through Nine's Sydney studios in a wheelchair as she balanced a pair of crutches on her lap. At the time, she was greeted by her co-host Karl, who helped her wheel her towards the news desk for the start of the show. Extreme sport: Allison had taken a month off work to undergo knee surgery after falling from a hydrofoil during a pre-recorded segment on the Gold Coast on February 4 Allison had taken a month off work to undergo knee surgery after falling from a hydrofoil during a pre-recorded segment on the Gold Coast on February 4. She previously told The Kyle and Jackie O Show she'd broken her leg and dislocated a knee during the accident. Allison also revealed she was seeing a physiotherapist three times a week after having surgery. Despite her return to work, Allison is still far from fully recovered and requires both a wheelchair and crutches to get around. Instagram 'snark account' Celeb Spellcheck recently deleted its archive of content following a wave of criticism from disgruntled influencers. And on Tuesday, former Bachelor stars Laura Byrne and Brittany Hockley addressed the profile's hiatus on their Life Uncut podcast. Laura, 33, said Celeb Spellcheck's exponential growth over the past year had resulted in the account's anonymous administrator losing her moral compass. Scroll down for video 'Why do you get off on making people feel bad?' Celeb Spellcheck recently deleted its archive of content following criticism from disgruntled influencers. On Tuesday, Bachelor stars Laura Byrne (R) and Brittany Hockley (L) addressed the profile's hiatus on their Life Uncut podcast She claimed the account - which is run by a Melbourne PR professional with impeccable sources - was 'push[ing] the boundaries' and even venturing into 'criminal' territory. 'I have always found Celeb Spellcheck really funny, but the last couple of months Britt has been strongly against it and thinks that it is a very negative and toxic environment,' Laura said, noting that she now agrees with Brittany. 'I'm quite disappointed in the account now,' Brittany, 33, added. She explained that some of Celeb Spellcheck's posts had mobilised trolls to attack influencers and spread negativity. 'Criminal': Laura, 33, said Celeb Spellcheck's exponential growth over the past year had resulted in the account's anonymous administrator losing her moral compass 'Why do you [Celeb Spellcheck] get off on making people feel bad?' Laura asked. Both Brittany and Laura agreed the account's recent posts about Bachelor star Laurina Fleure snorting white powder at a party and Rebecca Judd donating another WAG's gift to a charity shop had gone too far. 'It's a human being that is being targeted and the only intent behind the post is to embarrass, humiliate and cause toxic, destructive behavior toward the person that's being posted about,' Brittany said. The women both said the posts about Laurina and Rebecca were cruel and had nothing to do with the account's original purpose: pointing out spelling mistakes. 'Celeb Spellcheck has gone out of their way to humiliate,' Brittany said. 'Go back to your roots, pay us out for the odd spelling mistake, but don't make it to the point where it will affect someone's mental health and their literal future.' Gone... for now: The popular Celeb Spellcheck Instagram account recently wiped its archive Celeb Spellcheck explained Celeb Spellcheck began a few years ago as an account making fun of Instagram models' poor spelling, but has since become a platform for holding influencers to account for their lies and irresponsible behaviour. The profile is also a hub for user-submitted gossip about influencers. Celeb Spellcheck has attracted criticism in recent months, with the likes of Tayla Damir accusing the page of 'bullying'. Advertisement Blacklist: During an Instagram Q&A in January, the account's mystery administrator - who is believed to be a Melbourne PR worker in her twenties - noted that the likes of Sophie Cachia, Steph Claire Smith, Jade Tuncdoruk and Tayla Damir had blocked her Disgruntled: Celeb Spellcheck didn't specify why these influencers had blocked her, but followers of the account wouldn't have a problem working it out. For example, she has criticised Love Island star Tayla Damir (pictured) for her poor spelling on several occasions Celeb Spellcheck began a few years ago as an account making fun of poor spelling on sponsored Instagram posts, but has since become a platform for holding influencers to account for their lies and irresponsible behaviour. The profile is also a hub for user-submitted gossip. Because of this, Celeb Spellcheck has drawn comparisons to DeuxMoi, the popular Instagram account that collects and dishes out unverified rumours about American celebrities from its 820,000 followers. During an Instagram Q&A in January, the mystery administrator - who is believed to be in her twenties - noted that the likes of Sophie Cachia, Steph Claire Smith, Jade Tuncdoruk and Tayla Damir had blocked her. Celeb Spellcheck didn't specify why these influencers had blocked her, but longtime followers of the account wouldn't have a problem working it out. The admin has accused Steph of having a breast enlargement, criticised Tayla for her poor spelling, and questioned Sophie's movements during Melbourne's lockdown. It's unclear what she did to offend Jade. Who is Celeb Spellcheck? The Celeb Spellcheck admin has never revealed her name, but has offered bits of biographical information in her weekly Q&As, including that she is a woman in her late twenties (she turned 28 in December) works in public relations hails from the Mornington Peninsula but now lives in Melbourne's south-east is in a long-term relationship her boyfriend and 'three or four friends' know she's Celeb Spellcheck isn't friends with influencers and gets her gossip from followers Advertisement In a message to their 144,000 followers last week, the admin shut down rumours they were facing lawsuits or that their identity was on the brink of being exposed. Instead, they said they were taking a break to figure out the future of the account. After ensuring fans they were 'completely fine', the account's owner explained their sudden decision to wipe the profile. 'I'm not being sued (that I know of, lol) and I'm not at risk of having my identity revealed,' they wrote. 'Wallah': The account previously made headlines when it shared this screenshot of model Elyse Knowles misspelling 'voila' as 'wallah'. The gaffe went viral in December when it was picked up by U.S. social media sensation Joshua Ostrovsky, a.k.a. The Fat Jewish 'I will be taking a break while I think about the future of this account. 'Moderating the comments has become quite time consuming (but very necessary), as is dealing with all the other things that come with having a large audience.' The person behind the account admitted they were considering whether or not to reveal their identity and if they should monetise the page or not. They also said they were pondering whether to 'dabble in gossip' moving forward. The account previously made headlines when it shared a screenshot of model Elyse Knowles misspelling 'voila' as 'wallah'. The gaffe went viral in December when it was picked up by U.S. social media sensation Joshua Ostrovsky, a.k.a. The Fat Jewish [March 23, 2021] Essilor Vision Foundation and GPN Technologies Are Passionate About Clear Vision DALLAS, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In the U.S., more than 40 million people, including 12 million children, have vision problems and are not getting the vision correction they need to see clearly. GPN Technologies is dedicated to helping underserved communities by partnering with Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF). GPN Technologies delivers data-driven technology solutions that empower eye care professionals to make informed decisions, helping them keep their businesses profitable and competitive. The company provides analytics to ophthalmic practitioners through its EDGEPro platform and industry intelligence to business groups, consultants, and manufacturers. Since 2018, GPN Technologies has donated $75,000 to EVF, including a significant contribution of $25,000 in 2020, to help the foundation continue to support eye doctors and eye care professionals who dedicate their careers to helping people see clearly. These contributions help fund EVF programs such as See Kids Soar, an in-office cause marketing program, and Changing Life through Lenses, which offers free lense, lab services and complete glasses to vision non-profits and charitable eye doctors who provide vision care to patients who are financially in need or lack insurance coverage. Eye doctors can learn more at evfusa.org/ODprograms. "For us, supporting the ophthalmic industry is not just our business, it's our passion," says GPN Technologies President and CEO Ed Buffington. "We believe in EVF's mission, and we know that these programs are more important now than ever. GPN is committed to a strong partnership with EVF to help improve quality of life through better sight for those most in need." "EVF believes even more people will need help getting vision care during the ongoing pandemic," says Becky Palm, EVF President and Executive Director. "We are grateful to GPN Technologies, whose support makes it possible for us to continue to focus on our mission and to help eye doctors around the country provide critical vision care to those most in need." Visit www.evfusa.org to learn more about how the foundation and its donors are working to bring vision services to those who need it the most. About Essilor Vision Foundation We strive to give children a brighter future by helping them see the world more clearly. Since 2007, Essilor Vision Foundation has provided more than 1.5 million pairs of eyeglasses to individuals in need. Essilor Vision Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public, non-profit organization committed to eliminating poor vision and its lifelong consequences. To learn more visit www.evfusa.org. Contact: Meredith Marmurek meredith.marmurek@essilorusa.com 214-850-3642 Related Images essilor-vision-foundation-logo.jpg Essilor Vision Foundation logo View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/essilor-vision-foundation-and-gpn-technologies-are-passionate-about-clear-vision-301253811.html SOURCE Essilor Vision Foundation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the past few days, representatives of GoldenTree Asset Management ("GoldenTree") held discussions with officials and advisors of the Province of Buenos Aires ("Province") under a non-disclosure agreement. In response to amended restructuring terms for the Province's international bonds provided to GoldenTree by the Province, GoldenTree provided to the Province an indicative restructuring proposal that is included as an Annex to this statement. GoldenTree's proposal would provide significant debt service relief and leave the Province in a sustainable position that would enable the Province to invest and grow over the coming years. Despite numerous subsequent conversations that evidenced GoldenTree's willingness to continue engaging with the Province in a constructive dialogue and further contact from the Province's financial advisor regarding process, the Province did not make any further proposals and terminated the negotiations. While GoldenTree entered into the discussions with the Province in good faith with the aim of achieving a consensual resolution, our hope that the Province would pursue a realistic approach to the bond restructuring process was not realized. The amended restructuring terms provided to us by the Province, which were published yesterday, do not come close to reflecting the current payment capacity and economic prospects of the Province. This is not a case of a Province that cannot pay a reasonable amount of debt service to its bondholders due to fiscal constraints, but rather of one which is simply unwilling to do so. The choice of the authorities to pursue this path is unacceptable and risks permanently impairing the Province's access to capital markets. We remain open to considering proposals from the Province that fairly reflect the reality of the Province's financial and economic position, but in the mean time we will take any and all actions appropriate to protect our legal and contractual rights. About GoldenTree GoldenTree is an employee-owned, global asset management firm that specializes in opportunities across the credit universe in sectors such as high yield bonds, leveraged loans, distressed debt, structured products, emerging markets, private equity and credit-themed equities. GoldenTree was founded in 2000 and is one of the largest independent asset managers focused on credit. GoldenTree manages over $41 billion for institutional investors including leading public and corporate pensions, endowments, foundations, insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds. For more information, please visit www.goldentree.com. Media Steve Bruce and Mary Beth Grover ASC Advisors 203-992-1230 sbruce@ascadvisors.com mbgrover@ascadvisors.com PDF - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1471476/GoldenTree___Annex.pdf A little-known rule at Aldi means customers are unable to do split payments between two cards at the checkout, leaving some shoppers confused but others saying there is an easy work-around. One woman, from Sydney, prompted a discussion on social media after she questioned why the supermarket doesn't accept split payment - using two credit cards, or a credit and debit card mix - in one transaction. 'Our registers do not have the functionality to split payment,' an Aldi Australia spokesperson wrote in its response to a customer in its Facebook group. 'If in the future you would like to pay using two separate cards, please inform the cashier and they will be able to process two separate transactions.' Shoppers have revealed a little-known policy at Aldi after they were unable to do split payments between two cards at checkout (file image) An Aldi Australia spokesperson wrote in its response to a customer in its Facebook group that the supermarket's registers 'do not have the functionality to split payment' with two cards How split payment works at Aldi Australia Aldi does not accept split payments between two credit cards, or a credit and debit card mix, in one transaction. However, customers can split payments between card and cash or card and gift card. If the value of the purchase is greater than the balance on the gift card, customers can use another payment method like cash or card to supplement the remaining value of the transaction. But you cannot use three different methods of payment in one transaction. Advertisement Aldi Australia declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. Another shopper explained the store's POS [Point of Sale] system 'literally does not have the option to pay via two cards'. 'For example: Operator says total is $100 and you say, 'can I put $40 on this card and $60 on this card please'. The answer is no,' she said. She explained that the only way a customer can pay with two cards is to split the grocery items into two separate transactions. 'This means you need to ask the checkout operator to stop at a certain amount, pay this amount, then start a new transaction with the rest of your items,' she added. Many agreed with her payment option, with one saying: 'If I need to do a split payment, I tell the checkout person to stop at a certain amount, pay then proceed with the rest.' One former Aldi employee also weighed in on the discussion, saying the 'system won't allow' a split payment with two different cards in one transaction. 'Just ask the cashier to stop scanning at a certain amount, pay for it then continue with the rest of your products. I worked there for 13 year and that is what I did if a customer wanted to use two cards,' she explained. One woman prompted a discussion on social media after she questioned why the supermarket doesn't accept split payment using two credit cards, or a credit and debit card mix, in one transaction (stock image) Another worker also suggested shoppers should always flag with the staff at checkout about paying groceries with two cards before they begin scanning items. 'Just let the staff at the checkout know how much you want to pay on the first card so they can scan up to that price, then pay for it with your first card and then put the rest through on a separate transaction with your other card,' she said. Despite the policy of not splitting a bill, Aldi shoppers can split payments between a gift card and their bank card. If the value of the purchase is greater than the balance on the gift card, shoppers can use a second payment method such as a credit/debit card or cash to supplement the remaining value of the transaction. While some said the Aldi system was fine, others were critical, with one woman describing it 'stupid'. 'I had to split with card and cash once - and the rigmarole of it, I was like omg... don't bother,' she said. Rep. Joe Neguse, a Democrat from Colorado, joins CBS This Morning following a shooting at a Boulder, Colorado grocery store in his district, which left 10 dead. Video Transcript GAYLE KING: Congressman Joe Neguse joins us now. He represents Boulder, Colorado. Congressman, good morning to you. I can't imagine how you're feeling this morning. It's devastating and just heartbreaking for those of us who are on the outside looking in. This must hit very personal for you. You know this area. Chances are you know the store. You know the people. What went through your mind when you heard the news that it had hit so close to home for you? JOE NEGUSE: Good morning, Gayle. It's devastating. It just is-- it was a devastating night last night. It was a tough night for Boulder, for Colorado, for our country. I've lived in Boulder County for decades. My wife was born in Boulder. This is our community and our home, and we're just heartbroken at the loss of life, which is really unimaginable, hard to fathom that 10 people lost their lives yesterday at the grocery store, including a police officer, Officer Talley, who-- whose heroism saved lives. And-- GAYLE KING: Yeah, you tweeted last night, Congressman-- JOE NEGUSE: --we believe [INAUDIBLE] mourn-- we mourn their loss. GAYLE KING: Yeah, I don't mean to cut you off, but I want to make sure that we really get to talk to you about what happens next, because you tweeted last night enough is enough. What can, what should Congress do now? It seems like we have heard this song, played this record many times before and nothing changes. JOE NEGUSE: Yeah, look, Gayle, Colorado has been no stranger to gun violence. And I grew up in Highlands Ranch, 10 minutes from my high school. The Columbine tragedy unfolded when I was 14. Two years ago, my niece was a kindergartener at the STEM shooting in Highlands Ranch where she was locked down as a kindergartner. I think, like many Americans, I feel a great deal of anger and frustration right now. I think the time for inaction is over. It does not have to be this way. There are common sense gun reform legislation proposals that have been debated in the Congress for far too long. Story continues And as I said, I think enough is enough, and it's time for us to take action. I'm certainly going to be pushing with my colleagues in the Congress to make that happen, because I think that as Congress dithers on taking meaningful steps, Americans are dying every day. Coloradans are dying every day before our eyes. And at some point, we have to be prepared to say enough is enough, and I'm hopeful that now is that time. TONY DOKOUPIL: Congressman, we don't yet know the details of this particular case, but the bigger picture conversation about legislation doesn't depend on any particular case. It depends on the politics of it. I remember the Newtown massacre and the feeling like, if not now, when? And yet those efforts largely came to naught, at least federally. What can you do now to make a difference this time around? JOE NEGUSE: Look, we can't give up. I mean, Americans should be able to feel safe in their grocery stores. I've gone to this grocery store many times. They should be able to feel safe in their schools, in their movie theaters, and in their communities. And so yes, as you said, the gun lobby and so many others have stopped the ability for us to make meaningful reforms in the past, but that's no excuse. I think the American people are tired of excuses, so it's time for us to roll up our sleeves in the Congress and muster the political willpower to actually get something done. ANTHONY MASON: Congressman, have you heard any updates from law enforcement there about what happened, any more details you might have heard either from there or from the governor's office? JOE NEGUSE: We've been in touch, of course, with the district attorney, with the chief of police, and with the governor. I'll join the governor later this morning for a briefing with the Boulder police. And I suspect that we're all going to learn a lot more this morning when the Boulder police hold an additional media availability and briefing, I believe in a couple hours here. So obviously still very much an active crime scene there and a lot of work to do in the days and weeks ahead, both in terms of ensuring justice, as the district attorney so eloquently put it, but also helping our community heal. It's going to be rough as we grieve with those families of those who lost their loved ones. GAYLE KING: Aren't you frustrated by this Congress? When I look at countries around the world that look at us and say, what is wrong with you, United States of America? I wake up this morning, I keep thinking about those 10 families who woke up and the families in Atlanta last week whose lives are forever changed, and we keep pointing fingers at everybody else and nothing gets done here. JOE NEGUSE: Yeah. No, I share your frustration, Gayle. It doesn't-- as I said, it doesn't have to be this way. This is not-- GAYLE KING: No, it doesn't JOE NEGUSE: --the normal in so many other Western countries. I have a 2 and 1/2 year old daughter, and I want her to grow up in a country where she's not scared to go to the grocery store, she's not scared to go to school. So that's certainly what motivates me. And I share your frustration. I think a lot of Americans share your frustration. GAYLE KING: Well, right now we are scared. What is your message to the Boulder community today? JOE NEGUSE: My message is simple. I-- I've-- again, I know this community. I'm part of this community. I would tell you, Gayle, that the Boulder community is strong. It is resilient. It is kind. And I know that we will ultimately come together to-- to support each other and to support our community during this very difficult time. So I'm-- and our office will certainly be ready and standing, ready and willing and able to help in that process. ANTHONY MASON: Well, our condolences, again, to the Boulder community. Congressman Joe Neguse, thank you so much for joining us this morning. A man who pleaded guilty Tuesday to setting merchandise on fire in a downtown Raleigh grocery store during a night of George Floyd protests could spend up to 20 years in prison. Surveillance video from the Dollar General Express on East Davie Street showed Richard Rubalcava of Raleigh coming in and out of the store May 30, stealing items multiple times and setting fire to items in the store. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested the 27-year-old on June 18, 2020. Court records show Rubalcava has mental illness. He was indicted on two counts of maliciously damaging or destroying, or attempting to damage or destroy, by means of fire or an explosive, any building or other real or personal property affecting interstate or foreign commerce, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of North Carolina. Rubalcava is also accused of attempting to start a fire in the Budacai restaurant in downtown Raleigh. On May 31, Rubalcava entered Budacai three times, according to surveillance video, a criminal complaint against him stated. The second time he entered, he stole the cash register. The third time, he tried to light a plant on fire. After it would not ignite, he lit a towel on fire, but the flame burned itself out, the criminal complaint stated. In an interview with a Raleigh police officer, Rubalcava said he tried to light the fire so people in the restaurant would leave him alone, but it didnt turn out right. Competent to stand trial? Rubalcava was admitted to the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, N.C., on July 15 for a psychiatric evaluation. He had to remain in quarantine for 21 days because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The warden, R. Ramos, wrote in a letter to Judge James E. Gates that Rubalcava would get access to routine and emergency mental health care during quarantine, but the facility would not be able to conduct interviews or psychological testing. Story continues On Sept. 21 2020, the warden informed the court that Rubalcavas psychiatric evaluation had been conducted. Heather H. Ross, a forensic psychologist at Butner, diagnosed Rubalcava with several mental health conditions, including borderline personality order, borderline intellectual functioning, cocaine use disorder, methamphetamine use disorder, cannabis abuse disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, court documents state. Still, Ross believed Rubalcava could understand the nature and consequences of court proceedings, could assist in his defense and thus, was competent to stand trial, court documents state. Rubalcava did not contest the report or provide evidence contrary to its findings, according to the documents. Gates ruled Rubalcava was competent to stand trial Oct. 16 2020, based on the report during Rubalcavas competency hearing. Rubalcava faces a minimum of five years, and a maximum of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. 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. One minute silence at midday for day of reflection after year of pandemic This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Mar 23rd, 2021 Residents across Wrexham are being encouraged to join in remembrance and take part in todays event to commemorate the anniversary of the first lockdown. It has been one year since people across the UK were told to stay home to help stop the spread of the virus. When the first national lockdown was announced the total number of recorded deaths linked to coronavirus in the UK stood at 335 and in Wales 4 on that date. There since been over 126,000 in the UK and 5,488 suspected Covid-19 deaths reported to Public Health Wales in Wales. Since the March lockdown there have been significant restrictions on peoples lives including not being able to see loved ones, visit relatives or friends in hospitals and care homes, social distancing, mask wearing and until recently the requirement to stay at home. Weve also seen the introduction a firebreak, local lockdowns and a further national lockdown all taking place within the last 12 months in attempts to mitigate the pandemic. To mark the first anniversary of the March 2020 lockdown, people are being encouraged to take part in a national one minute silence at midday as part of a day of reflection. Members of the public are being invited to take part in the commemorations by drawing and placing a yellow heart in your window, by placing yellow fairy lights or daffodils in your window, lighting a candle; fastening yellow ribbons to a tree, checking in with someone and sharing stories. Buildings and various landmarks will be lit up yellow as a mark of unity and there will also be a National Coronavirus Commemorative Event broadcast later today. Ifor ap Glyn the National Poet of Wales will read a poem written especially for the Commemoration and the Morriston Hospital Emergency Department Choir have recorded a special performance for the event. The First Minister has also said: Over the last 12 months, the pandemic has turned all our lives upside down. Too many families have lost loved ones and close friends and so many people havent had a chance to say goodbye because of all the changes coronavirus has meant to our lives. Its really important we have an opportunity to come together to reflect on the last year and to unite to support each other through this tough time. The National Coronavirus Commemorative Event will presented by Huw Edwards and broadcast at 5:15pm on BBC One Wales and S4C. COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know will feature short, research-based presentations from the panel of health experts followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session on the benefits of the vaccine, who can get it and why its needed in order to get back to normalcy. The virtual event is set for 1-2 p.m. ET April 1. (Purdue University photo/John Underwood) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. As COVID-19 vaccines continue to roll out, some Hoosiers are still hesitant about getting their shots. To help assure those on the fence, representatives from the Purdue University School of Nursing and College of Pharmacy and the Indiana University School of Medicine-West Lafayette will present COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know, a virtual event set for 1-2 p.m. ET April 1. The event is being coordinated by Purdue Extension Health and Human Sciences. Registration is not required. Attendees need only to go here to participate. COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know will feature short, research-based presentations from the panel of health experts followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session. Theres still, unfortunately, a lot of vaccine hesitancy out there, said Eric Palmer, a clinical assistant professor in the School of Nursing. Im hoping this event will answer a lot of questions. Palmer will present his expertise on the benefits of the vaccine, who can get it and why we need it in order to get back to normalcy. He will be joined by: Nicole Noel, director of Purdue Pharmacy and clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice. Greg Loomis, assistant professor of neurosurgery for the Indiana University School of Medicine-West Lafayette. Siena Cooper, MD candidate at Indiana University School of Medicine-West Lafayette and Purdue College of Pharmacy alumna. The panel will focus on the three major vaccines currently available: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Panelists will also discuss barriers to getting the vaccines. Palmer, who served as lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps for 22 years, specializes in nursing and health care administration and leadership. He has overseen nursing students administering vaccines for years, first with flu shots and now with COVID-19. He hopes the work his program has done the past few months will influence Hoosiers to receive the vaccine. Were just here to help in the most generous sense of the word possible, Palmer said. We want to make sure people have the information they need to be able to make the decision to move forward to get the vaccine or at least to better understand it. Marion Underwood, dean of College of Health and Human Sciences, knows there are different reasons people may be hesitant on receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. What You Need to Know should address those reasons and inform any concerns. A year ago, we all faced fear and a lot of unknowns about COVID-19. Now, we have vaccines scientifically proven in clinical trials to be safe and effective in helping our bodies develop immunity to the virus, Underwood said. Hopefully, more people will feel encouraged to be vaccinated as vaccines become even more available in Indiana. In the meantime, I encourage everyone to follow the guidelines outlined by the Indiana Department of Health, especially masking and social distancing, to force this virus to subside in our state. More information about the event can be found online at purdue.edu/hhs/covid-vaccine. About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/. Writer: Tim Brouk, 765-977-3931, tbrouk@purdue.edu Source: Eric Palmer, ehpalmer@purdue.edu Media Contact: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-412-0864, apatterson@purdue.edu Olekssi Liskonih/iStockBy LUIS MARTINEZ, ABC News (WASHINGTON) -- A U.S. official confirmed Tuesday that North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles sometime over Saturday and Sunday. The firing of the two missiles had been previously unreported. The Washington Post was first to report that the launches had taken place. Curiously, neither North Korea nor South Korea had acknowledged the firing of the two missiles as is routinely done by both countries. North Korea typically discloses launches to promote its technological advances, while South Korea provides quick updates to highlight their provocative nature. This weekend's tests are the first to occur during the Biden administration, which has acknowledged reaching out to Kim Jong Un's regime. "We've not yet heard directly from them through diplomatic channels," Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, told reporters earlier this week. "We have reached out because we believe that diplomacy has to be part of the process of getting to denuclearize North Korea and we remain intent on achieving that goal." North Korea had recently complained publicly about a new round of American and South Korean military exercises taking place in South Korea. Through North Korean state media, Kim's politically influential sister Kim Jo Yong warned the Biden administration that if it wanted "to sleep in peace" for the next four years "it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step." Ahead of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's visit to South Korea last week, U.S. officials had expressed concerns that North Korea may have been preparing to fire missiles in response to his visit. However, this weekend's two missile launches took place days after Austin had left South Korea. Since the 2018 hand-shake agreement that former President Donald Trump reached with Kim, North Korea has not conducted any long-range missile tests. As North Korea resumed testing shorter range ballistic missiles after that agreement, the Trump administration said they did not violate the spirit of the agreement. However, it is believed that in that time North Korea has progressed with its Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) technology, unveiling a new, large, mobile-launched ICBM in a military parade last October. "The Kim Jong Un regime has achieved alarming success in its quest to demonstrate the capability to threaten the U.S. homeland with nuclear-armed ICBMs, believing such weapons are necessary to deter U.S. military action and ensure his regime's survival, Gen. Glen VanHerck, the commander of U.S. Northern Command, told Congress last week in written testimony. VanHerck described North Korea's new ICBM as further increasing the risk posed to the United States. "The North Korean regime has also indicated that it is no longer bound by the unilateral nuclear and ICBM testing moratorium announced in 2018, suggesting that Kim may begin flight testing an improved ICBM design in the near future," said VanHerck. Copyright 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Ghana's leading beverage giant, Kasapreko Company Limited has marked this year's World Water Day with Awake Purified Drinking Water in Accra and Gupkegu-Tua, near Tamale. The theme for this year's celebration is "Valuing Water". Kasapreko Company Limited made donations to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Cardiothoracic Centre and Gupkegu-Tua community near Tamale to celebrate the day. The United Nations has set aside 22nd March each year as a day to celebrate the importance of water to mankind. Speaking to the media in Accra, The Trade Marketing Manager of the company, Mr Jude Matti re-echoed the need to preserve water as an essential commodity to life. He also touched on Awake Purified Drinking Water #ONE4LIFE initiative which the company utilises to donate a percentage from the sale of their product to hole-in-heart patients at the National Cardiothoracic Centre. The donation to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital comprised of two thousand bottles of Awake Purified Drinking Water, Assorted products from Kasapreko Company Limited and a cheque of GHC 75,000. Receiving the donation, The National Director of the Cardiothoracic Centre, Dr. Lawrence Sereboe commended the management of Awake Purified Drinking Water for their continued generosity. Dr. Sereboe also noted that more people have come to appreciate Kasapreko's efforts through the #One4Life initiative in support of the Cardio Centre. He further urged the public to remain cautious and observe the COVID-19 protocols during this pandemic. On the same day, Kasapreko also handed over a mechanized borehole facility to the people of Gupkegu-Tua near Tamale. The Trade Marketing Supervisor, Mr. Tsatsu Hadjor said "We have decided to extend our CSR activities to the people of Gupkegu-Tua whose major source of drinking water is a river at a distance away. He emphasised that this donation will go a long way to alleviate the hardship the people go through in search of portable drinking water as well as augment government's effort in the area. "We are grateful to Kasapreko for identifying our need and coming to our aid" Gupkegu-Tua chief Naa Abu Safianu said. Residents of Gupkegu-Tua can now have a sign of relief he added. Happy residents also lauded the gesture and promised to put the facility to good use. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A state funeral is being held in Tanzania's capital, Dodoma, for former President John Pombe Magufuli. Several African heads of state have arrived for the event including the presidents of Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Mozambique, Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr Magufuli died last Wednesday from what authorities said were heart related complications. Monday is a public holiday today in Tanzania, as the country enters a third day of bidding farewell to the late Magufuli. In Dodoma, people have already gathered in large numbers, but the prime minister has announced that there will be no queues for viewing the body on Monday, but instead the coffin will be driven around the stadium for people to catch a final glimpse of the former president. Over the weekend, tens of thousands of residents in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, flooded roads as the coffin was driven around. Many more flocked to the main stadium where his body was laid for public viewing. The authorities confirmed on Monday that there was a stampede and an unspecified number of people were injured. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. 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. SOFIA An ethnic-Turkish Bulgarian deputy at the European Parliament has told RFE/RL that he believes China imposed sanctions on him because he helped an imprisoned ethnic-Uyghur economist receive the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. "I think its because of my active role in nominating Professor Ilham Tohti for the Sakharov Prize," Ilhan Kyuchyuk told RFE/RL when asked why he was among 10 European individuals blacklisted by Beijing on March 22. A Chinese court in the far western Xinjiang region's capital, Urumqi, sentenced Tohti to life in prison in 2014 on charges of separatism after a two-day trial. Tohti -- a former university professor who became an outspoken critic of Beijing's policies toward Uyghurs -- had pleaded not guilty. In 2019, the European Parliament voted to award Tohti the Sakharov Prize. Chinas Foreign Ministry announced that Kyuchyuk was on its tit-for-tat blacklist list after coordinated Western sanctions were imposed against Chinese officials and companies over the abuse of the rights of the mainly Muslim ethnic-Uyghur community in the Xinjiang region. The Western sanctions -- imposed jointly on March 22 by the United States, the European Union, Britain, and Canada -- were the first such coordinated action against Beijing since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January. Activists and UN rights experts say at least a million Muslims have been detained at camps in the remote region. Beijing initially denied the existence of the camps. But faced with substantial evidence, it now claims the camps are there to provide vocational training. It also says the camps are needed to fight Islamic extremism. In addition to Kyuchyuk, Beijing sanctioned four other members of the European Parliament Reinhard Butikofer and Michael Gahler from Germany, Raphael Glucksmann from France, and Miriam Lexmann from Slovakia. Locked Up In China: The Plight Of Xinjiang's Muslims Radio Free Radio/Radio Liberty is partnering with its sister organization, Radio Free Asia, to highlight the plight of Muslims living in China's western province of Xinjiang. Politicians from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Lithuania were also on Beijings sanctions list along with two scientists from Sweden. The Chinese sanctions ban all 10 Europeans from entering China, Hong Kong, or Chinas special administration region of Macao. Some companies and organizations the Europeans have connections with are also not allowed to operate in China. Kyuchyuk is a member of a political party in Bulgaria called the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS). It was formed after the collapse of communism in response to a brutal crackdown by communist authorities during the 1980s against Bulgarias ethnic Turkish population. Kyuchyuk told RFE/RL that he had lobbied for Tohti to receive the 2019 Sakharov Prize because Ilham Tohti has always fought for both the majority and the minority to coexist. This is his philosophy -- living together. This is very close to me as a philosophy. I am a person who has always said that there should be an active dialogue between the European Union and China, but this does not preclude an active dialogue on human rights and freedoms, Kyuchyuk said. "The information we receive [about Chinese policies] shows that an attempt is being made to erase the cultural and religious identity of the [Uyghur] population," he said. Kyuchyuk also said that his support for "the protection of human rights and freedoms" does not mean he is supporting "calls for autonomy" by ethnic Uyghurs in China. Kyuchyuk has called on Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to raise the issue of China's rights abuses against Uyghurs during all of his meetings with Chinese officials. ADVERTISEMENT Over three million vulnerable persons need jabs of the COVID-19 vaccine, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, said on Monday. Ms Farouq while speaking at the weekly briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 said it will be working with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), to reach this group of people. The ministry is now working to support vulnerable persons under our purview that requires vaccination in line with the NPHCDAs plan to reach this group in the second phase, Ms Farouq said. Data mined from the National Social Register and various agencies and parastatals under the ministry has now shown that over 3 million persons need this vaccination, she said. She said the vulnerable group includes the elderly, Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs), Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the vulnerable poor. She noted that a proper sensitization exercise will be conducted before the administration of the vaccine. We will ensure that they are properly sensitized of the risk and side effects and receive psychosocial support from our social workers on issues and co-morbidities will be considered before they are administered these vaccines, she said. Having received 3.94 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines in early March, Nigeria has since commenced vaccination beginning with healthcare workers who are often at the risk of exposure to infections being the first responders to patients. The country also received 300,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the telecom giant, MTN, on Sunday, according to the Chairman of PTF on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha. The Nigerian government said it aims to vaccinate approximately 109 million people against the COVID-19 virus over a period of two years. Health authorities said only eligible population from 18 years and above, including pregnant women, will be vaccinated. To achieve this, the vaccine roll-out will be in four phases, starting with health workers, frontline workers, COVID-19 rapid response team, laboratory network, policemen, petrol station workers and strategic leaders, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, said at a briefing. Phase 2 Older adults aged 50 years and above. Those with co-morbidities aged 18 49 years of age Phase 3 Those in states/LGAs with high disease burden and who missed phases 1 and 2. Phase 4 Other eligible population as vaccines become available. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges. However, through this, I have observed collaboration, problem-solving and resilience on all levels throughout our district. As our students and staff return to classrooms, there will be hard work to be done academically, socially and emotionally. If we face these challenges together, we can make sure that West Aurora continues to be the best that it can be. Together we can not only overcome these challenges but also find new opportunities to use some of the things we have learned such as new and different ways to use technology, Stone said. [March 23, 2021] Innovative Eyewear Signs Distribution Agreement for Lucyd Lyte Bluetooth Glasses MIAMI, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovative Eyewear Inc., the wearable technology developer and operator of the Lucyd brand, has signed an agreement with D. Landstrom Associates to build distribution of Lucyd Lyte Bluetooth e-glasses in North America. Distribution will focus on general merchandise and specialty big box stores like Walmart, Target and Best Buy. "We are thrilled to partner with Lucyd to grow their line of style-driven, bluetooth glasses with incredible sound." Hi-fi Bluetooth Audio Connects to all Bluetooth devices, including phones, tablets, smartwatches and PCs. Clear sound quality for calls, music, podcasts and video conferencing. Open-ear audio enables simultaneous connectivity and situational awareness. Intuitive Touch Controls Two simple buttons with tactile feedback to access a number of useful smart functions. Answer calls, skip tracks, adjust volume and use voice assistants like Siri by tapping your glasses. Access core smartphone functions handsfree while looking up and staying engaged, including getting directions, sending money with Cashapp, checking stocks and more. Additional features Custom lens fulfillment, including complex and difficult prescriptions, direct from Lucyd. IP56 Water Resistant (Splash and sweat proof) 6.5-8 hours of playback time, 160 hours standby High-gloss acetate lens plates and arms Featherlight fit at 1.25 oz. (wayfarer models) and 1.45 oz. (round models) "We are thrilled to partner with Lucyd to grow their innovative line of style-driven, bluetooth glasses with incredible sound. Due to the stealthy design, you can't tell there are great-sounding speakers and a microphone built into the frame. We think the product is ready for a national roll-out and we are looking forward to potentially onboarding one or more major retail chains this year," said Shean Ferrell, CEO of D. Landstrom Associates. Harrison Gross, Lucyd co-founder and CEO states, "We are very excited to be working with D. Landstrom Associates. For more than 40 years, D. Landstrom Associates has built a reputation of introducing exciting new products into national retail stores. With more than 90 five-star reviews, Lyte is gaining significant ecommerce traction through our social media advertising strategy and influencer marketing campaigns; we view brick and mortar distribution as a natural complement to this growth." About Lucyd and Innovative Eyewear Inc. Lucyd's mission is to Upgrade your Eyewear with advanced, fun to wear, easy to use ergonomic frames, helping you stay safely connected to your digital life. The Lucyd brand and IP portfolio are exclusively licensed to and operated by Innovative Eyewear, Inc. To learn more, or order Lucyd Lyte, please visit https://lucyd.co. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/innovative-eyewear-signs-distribution-agreement-for-lucyd-lyte-bluetooth-glasses-301253177.html SOURCE Lucyd Eyewear [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [March 23, 2021] Alexandra Littlejohn Joins Alliant Insurance Services Alliant Insurance Services has announced Alexandra Littlejohn has joined Alliant as Executive Vice President/Managing Director. Littlejohn will lead brokerage best practices for Alliant Specialty and expand and cultivate relationships with insurance markets on behalf of clients. In addition, Littlejohn will join efforts with the organization's leadership to solve complex client problems, strategize on large-scale insurance placements, sales, and trading partner utilization. Littlejohn will work with clients in the Public Entity, Real Estate & Hospitality, Construction & Infrastructure, and Technology spaces. Littlejohn will support the sales teams across all the Specialty verticals to crystalize the Alliant motto of "Client-First" advocacy and services. "Alex's vast experience and knowledge in conceptualizing and implementing sophisticated specialty programs will be an instant boost to our brokerage platform," said Peter Arkley, President, Alliant Specialty. "Alex's vision wil drive creative solutions for the betterment of our clients' insurance placements and their bottom lines. Our 13 industry vertical leaders and 1,500 industry-dedicated brokers look forward to working with Alex and creating even more momentum across Alliant." "As someone who has been in the industry for so long, I've seen it all," said Littlejohn. "And with Alliant's national platform of no geographical boundaries, I'm excited to work with and service clients to the fullest ability." Over Littlejohn's storied career, she has served as a Managing Director for two different global brokerage companies. Most recently, Littlejohn was the Corporate Risk and Broking-West Region leader for one of the world's largest brokers. Before venturing to the West Coast, Littlejohn was based in New York and was responsible for the firm's client services in the Northeast region of the U.S. Based in the Walnut Creek, CA (News - Alert) office, Littlejohn can be reached at (917) 455-6254 or at Alex.Littlejohn@Alliant.com. About Alliant Insurance Services Alliant Insurance Services is one of the nation's leading distributors of diversified insurance products and services. We operate through a network of specialized national platforms and local offices to offer our clients a comprehensive portfolio of solutions built on innovative thinking and personal service. The business of managing risk is getting more complex, and Alliant is meeting this complexity head-on, not with more layers of management, but with more creativity and agility. Alliant is changing the way our clients approach risk management and benefits, so they can capitalize on new opportunities to grow and protect their organizations. Visit us at alliant.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005959/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Hong Kong: Govt clarifies tax policy The Government said Hong Kong has maintained a high level of transparency in taxation policy with a low and simple tax regime and will continue to do so. It made the remarks in response to media enquiries on an article by the Financial Times published on March 22 carrying an interview with the Chief Secretary. The Government stressed that Hong Kong's economic success has been built on a thriving market economy and a small government underpinned by a simple, transparent and low tax regime. Businesses and individuals in Hong Kong enjoy one of the most competitive tax systems in the world. It pointed out that Hong Kong has always been a staunch supporter of international efforts to enhance tax transparency and combat tax evasion and money laundering. Since 2018 Hong Kong has implemented the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Developments minimum standards against base erosion and profit shifting, and conducted automatic exchange of financial account information in tax matters with relevant jurisdictions. Hong Kong will continue to make sustained efforts to comply with new international tax requirements according to the international consensus, including the implementation of the global minimum tax proposal to be promulgated by the organisation to address tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy. On the National People's Congress' decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Government will fully and resolutely implement "one country, two systems", administer Hong Kong according to the rule of law, safeguard the Hong Kong SAR's constitutional order as defined under the Constitution and the Basic Law, safeguard the country's sovereignty, security and development interests, and ensure the overall stability of Hong Kong. Under one country, two systems, issues such as housing, land and the wealth gap are squarely within the Hong Kong SAR's high degree of autonomy. The Chief Secretary did not say that the Hong Kong SAR Government was instructed by the Central People's Government to focus on such areas as wrongly stated in the article. On the oath-taking of judges and civil servants, the Government said that all judges are required to take judicial oaths on the assumption of office in accordance with Article 104 of the Basic Law and the Oaths & Declarations Ordinance. It stressed that the contents of both the judicial oath and the oath or declaration by civil servants similarly require the person taking an oath or making a declaration to uphold the Basic Law and bear allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR of the People's Republic of China. The oath taking does not intend to crack down or to purge any civil servant. It pointed out that according to Annex I to the Basic Law, the Chief Executive shall be elected by a broadly representative Election Committee in accordance with the Basic Law and appointed by the Central People's Government, and not appointed by an election committee as wrongly stated in the article. This story has been published on: 2021-03-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Deputy Scottish Labour leader Jackie Baillie has said she would support an investigation into leaks from the Holyrood inquiry into the Scottish Governments unlawful investigation of Alex Salmond. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland on Tuesday, Ms Baillie said she would absolutely support an inquiry. The Holyrood committee inquiry into the Scottish Governments unlawful investigation of Alex Salmond concluded that Nicola Sturgeon misled the committee after a majority of members agreed she had provided an inaccurate account of a meeting with her predecessor, a potential breach of the ministerial code. The findings are separate from those of James Hamilton QC, who reported on Monday that there had been no breach of the ministerial code by the First Minister over her role in the saga. Expand Close Scottish Labour interim leader Jackie Baillie backs an investigation into the leaks (Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Scottish Labour interim leader Jackie Baillie backs an investigation into the leaks (Fraser Bremner/Scottish Daily Mail/PA) Ms Baillie said: The leaks against the women were particularly bad, because they had the bravery to come forward to speak to the committee. It was entirely inappropriate that that information was leaked to the public domain. When asked if she leaked the evidence to the press, Ms Baillie responded absolutely not, adding: I would never do that. These two women were very brave in coming forward. I regret the fact that information was leaked. It shouldnt have been. Ms Baillie added: When a committee meets in private, then that is exactly what they should be particularly when youre dealing with such sensitive issues. For the two women to come along and give their evidence, for it then to be shared in the public domain, is simply not acceptable. Committee members have held 14 public evidence sessions, questioning a range of witnesses about the development of the complaints policy that was used unlawfully, the handling of the allegations, Mr Salmonds successful judicial review and the ministerial code. Expand Close Convener Linda Fabiani criticised leaks from the committee (Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Convener Linda Fabiani criticised leaks from the committee (Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament/PA) Following the reports publication, committee convener, Linda Fabiani, said: Throughout this inquiry there has been speculation and rumour around the work of our committee. These women were badly let down by the Scottish Government, but they have also been let down by some members of our committee. I am truly dismayed by the hurt some of the committee leaks will have caused them. I apologise to them unreservedly. This is not who we should be as a committee of this Parliament. Our inquiry was a chance to reflect on what went wrong with the Scottish Government processes and ensure that the failings these women experienced never happen again. There are undoubtedly some extremely serious findings in our report and it was clear to the committee that there were serious flaws made in the Governments application of its own process. The Government must address these to ensure anyone who experiences sexual harassment has the confidence to come forward. Ms Fabiani told the BBCs Good Morning Scotland programme that whoever leaked the information should have the honour to come forward. ALBANY Last week, I suggested ways Albany could spend its share of federal stimulus money a tidy $85.2 million and asked for your suggestions. I received quite a few. Many of you, not surprisingly, are concerned about potholes and crumbling roadways. Sheehan: Panel will weigh how to spend $85M in federal relief windfall "May I strongly suggest that streets and sidewalks be repaired, especially streets like Pine Lane off Rapp Road, which is in terrible condition," wrote Lawrence D'Arco of Albany. "The benefits of infrastructure investment will last for a much longer time than many of the other ideas being floated." Phil Broadwater, also of Albany, wrote: "Have you driven down any highly traveled streets in Albany recently? ... This road decay is everywhere, unchecked and unabated by the city." Coming to an inbox near you Our writers share more about the topics they cover in our newsletters. Churchill's Corner: Chris Churchill goes in depth on his latest columns, and shares what readers are saying. Sign up here. Editor's Note (subscribers only): Editor Casey Seiler shares the story behind our biggest stories of the week. Sign up here. Click here for a complete list of newsletter offerings. I don't disagree that road conditions in much of the city (and region) aren't great, especially at the end of winter, and repairs would be an obvious use for some of the stimulus. But spending the money on roads would seem, at least to me, like a waste of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm reminded that urban planner Daniel Burnham said, "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." Chris Mercogliano, who lives in the Mansion section of the South End, had a somewhat grander suggestion: Rebuilding the historic Lincoln Park swimming pool. "The Lincoln Park Pool is fast approaching the end of its useful life," wrote Mercoligao, a member of the Lincoln Park Alliance. "The city is committed to building a new pool but currently doesn't have the money for such an expensive capital project. And when they do, they have already hinted it will need to be a much smaller, conventional pool because they won't be able to afford to replicate the big round pool that's there now." So why not, he asked, put some of the money toward "rebuilding the gem that is the heart of the park?" That sounds like a fine idea, and it works with suggestions from Tom McPheeters, who lives near Mercogliano, on reviving neighborhoods like the South End. "It includes quality affordable housing and home ownership," McPheeters wrote. "It includes finally addressing the red-X buildings so they dont continue to hold back neighborhood redevelopment. It includes year-round facilities for young people, with programming that will enrich their lives and provide safe spaces." McPheeters also responded to my call for a big South End farmers market by noting, as other readers did, that the neighborhood has one on Thursday evenings during the summer. I was aware of the smaller farmer's markets scattered around the city, and I intended no slight to them. I just think there's room for Albany to do something bigger a South Pearl Street version of the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market. Martha Kratz of Troy wrote to suggest more money for police: "Budgets have probably forced them to make due with worn-out equipment," she wrote. "They could upgrade equipment AND get things they couldn't afford before, for both human and canine officers and the horses of the mounted police." Given the spikes in violent crime reported in Troy, Albany and cities around the country last year, I'm a bit chagrined that none of my suggestions mentioned public safety, a topic a few of you mentioned. Of course, improving public safety isn't only about police; it involves, among other components, improving neighborhoods and economic opportunities within them. Dennis Taratus of Albany suggested an investment in trash cans because "the city is drowning in indifference to the trash and dog filth," and he also suggested making Lark Street a pedestrian-only zone during certain hours "to revitalize business activity in the Center Square area." Several readers talked about the need to address climate change and floated changes to make the city greener. Albany resident Janet Dwyer Stutzman suggested a city-wide compost pick up service and radically different mass transit (that) could break the strangle hold of the American automobile." Speaking of radically different mass transit, not a single person mentioned the Rensselaer-to-Albany gondola plan. What, so nobody wants to soar over the Hudson on blustery, bitter days in January? I had suggested using some of the stimulus to raze the Central Warehouse, even though doing so might fall outside the federal government's parameters for the money. Many of you made clear how badly you want the Big Ugly gone, but I did get pushback from a couple of readers who still believe a good use can be found for the building. "Cover it with solar panels," wrote Gordon Mappes of Troy, "to provide the city with cheaper electricity or use the power to turn it into a hydroponics center run by Capital Roots to help feed the disadvantaged and underpaid of our area." Others of you said Albany has bigger problems than an ugly warehouse. "We need to spend a significant portion of that $85 million to address Albany's racial disparities," wrote Willow Burns of Albany. "It's maddening that we spend more time complaining about that warehouse and 787 than we do talking about the impact of our racial segregation and how we can address it." cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill [March 23, 2021] IAS Launches First Industry-Wide Digital Ad Verification Training Program JAKARTA, Indonesia, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Integral Ad Science (IAS), a global leader in digital ad verification, has launched IAS Academy, the industry's first globally accredited training program for digital ad verification. "IAS Academy empowers marketers with best-in-class training and tools so they can make well-informed decisions about the verification of digital ad quality," said Tony Marlow, CMO, IAS. "In a fast-paced environment where technology evolves quickly, we're proud to offer this program to the industry, helping marketers better control their media investments and deliver optimal outcomes for their campaigns." IAS Academy provides training to digital media and advertising profesionals from leading IAS experts. IAS Academy is designed to empower digital advertising professionals to become experts in digital ad verification and its implementation during campaigns, providing greater transparency and ultimately maximizing return of media investment. The training program covers in-depth digital ad verification topics such as brand suitability and ad fraud, media quality measurement, programmatic, and advertising channels and environments including mobile, video, CTV and more. IAS Academy includes self-paced assessments and four badge levels: IAS Verification Foundation; IAS Product Expert; IAS Verification Specialist: Set Up; and IAS Verification Specialist: Tagging & Technical. Now more than ever, technology is evolving at a rapid pace and media spend is constantly scrutinized as a performance monitoring indicator, so education is essential to maximize the success of campaigns," said Diana Romero, Manager, Digital Standards and Partnerships, Publicis Media. "IAS was able to bring together all the fundamental elements of digital advertising, adding further confidence through sharing best practices on an industry-wide level through their IAS Academy program." About Integral Ad Science Integral Ad Science (IAS) is a global leader in digital ad verification, ensuring that ads are viewable by real people in safe and suitable environments. IAS's mission is to be the global benchmark for trust and transparency in digital media quality for the world's leading brands, publishers and platforms. We do this through data-driven technologies with actionable real-time signals and insight. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in New York, IAS works with thousands of top advertisers and premium publishers worldwide. IAS is part of the Vista Equity Partners portfolio of companies. For more information, visit integralads.com. SOURCE Integral Ad Science (IAS) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The university has digitized its research output including books, journals, and theses, in varied subjects, and put them on a full text searchable platform that can be accessed by other universities and research centers globally. For the first time King AbdulAziz University will be exporting its research output to the rest of the World. KAUSP is powered by the Al Manhal ePublishing platform. The Al Manhal platform is still the only platform that allows for full text searchability for Arab language. The platform also adheres to other library standards including IP Authentication, remote access, Athens, and indexes with OCLC, Summon, and EBSCO Discovery Services. This allows libraries globally to access and subscribe to the KAUSP collection. Ranked as the number one university in the Middle East, and among the top 200 globally, this move is likely to strengthen the university's position as leaders in excellence among the academic community. "With its wide variety of inbuilt research and academic services, King Abdulaziz University's Scientific Platform is truly consistent with the Kingdom's 2030 vision! It aligns with the university's strategy to enhance their digital infrastructure to fuel operational efficiency and shall well serve employees, students, researchers and visitors in their academic endeavors", opines His Excellency the Dean of Library Affairs, Dr. Nabil Qumsani. Dr. Ghassan bin Rashid Al-Nuwaimi, His Excellency the Deputy Deanship of Library Affairs expresses his optimism about the platform and says that "I feel KAUSP truly has the potential to promote an academic environment that stimulates and nurtures creativity! With its advanced data and smart analysis capabilities, it's sure to make tangible improvements in the efficiency and reliability of research produced." "It is our objective to support institutions from the Middle East and Muslim World to make their valued scientific output truly exportable and accessible to the rest of the World, regardless of the language of their research output. This will exponentially increase the visibility and usage of the content coming out of King AbdulAziz University, a main priority of theirs. Using advanced analytics and dashboards the university will be able to get deep insights into how their research is being used, what research is in demand, and who is using it. This will impact future research decisions and increase the ROI on research activities," says Rany AlBaghdadi, President of Al Manhal. About King AbdulAziz University Established in 1967 as a National University, the KAU has been deepening the roots of higher education in western Saudi Arabia. Recognized as the number 1 Institution in the Middle East, it currently ranks among the top 200 on a Global Scale. It is regarded as distinguished in terms of the number of students, scientific and theoretical fields of study and the exclusiveness of certain specializations such as seas sciences, geology, nuclear engineering, medical engineering, meteorology and aviation and mineralization. Thriving on the virtues of Sustainability and Community Engagement, the university has carved out its identity as a World-Class Institute. About Al Manhal Al Manhal is the leading Arabic electronic information provider. It is the world's only provider of full-text searchable databases of scholarly and scientific publications from or about the Middle East, Africa & Asia. Al Manhal combines deep publishing and library expertise with best-in-class technology to enable university, government, corporate, school and public library users to efficiently discover and access thousands of eBooks, eJournals, eTheses, intelligence reports, and conference proceedings from the Middle East, Africa & Asia's leading publishers and research institutes. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1470739/KAUSP_Image.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1470738/KAUSP_LOGO.jpg SOURCE Al Manhal Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said he will not back his own partys Dublin Lord Mayor Councillor Hazel Chu in her Seanad bid. Independent.ie reported yesterday that the Dublin Lord Mayor and Green Party chair will be in the running for a seat on the Commercial and Industrial panel in the Seanad by-elections. She will be running as an unofficial Green Party candidate, having failed to secure the backing of her party. Minister and deputy Green Party leader Catherine Martin was one of the nine TDs and Senators to nominate Cllr Chu for the bid. However, her party leader told Independent.ie today that not only will he not vote for Cllr Chu. It was his suggestion that the party should not put anybody forward for the by-election and instead vote for the Government candidates, who are from Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. We had a meeting of our executive committee the week before last and our parliamentary party executive committee decided that we would not select a candidate, the Transport Minister said. I argued for and supported and made that case. I will be supporting Government candidates because I believe in this particular election it gives us the ability to strengthen our Programme for Government and the ability to deliver for the Programme for Government. He said he will speak to his party colleagues in coming parliamentary party meetings again about the Seanad race. I will have to talk to my colleagues again within subsequent parliamentary party meetings but that is the position I set out within my own parliamentary party meeting twice, he added. Having failed to gain her partys backing in the running, Cllr Chu secured the necessary nine nominations herself from both Green Party and Independent TDs and Senators. She received nominations from Green Party Minister Catherine Martin, Green TDs Neasa Hourigan, Patrick Costello and Francis Noel Duffy, Green Party junior minister Joe OBrien, Green Party Senator Vincent P Martin, Independent TD Marian Harkin and Independent Senators Lynn Ruane and Eileen Flynn. In a statement to Independent.ie, Ms Martin said she was delighted to nominate Cllr Chu. She said Cllr Chu faced a barrier in getting her name on the ballot paper. I have spoken on countless occasions over the years about the barriers facing womens participation in politics. The barrier that Hazel faced was that of getting her name on the ballot paper as she sought an opportunity to run in this election, she said. Speaking on RTE Radio 1s Drivetime this evening, Mr Ryan said it was important for his party to support government candidates and it wasn't any question of who, or any discrimination against any one person. When questioned on why he would not be voting for a Green Party candidate in the upcoming by-election, Mr Ryan said: That is the normal practice in many instances. Previous Seanad by-elections, that is what we have always done, in government and outside. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael both voted for Pippa Hackett in the last Seanad by-election which saw her elected. Thats a regular occurrence. 1. A mass shooting in Boulder, Colo., was the second in the U.S. in less than a week. Ten people were killed in the attack on Monday at a supermarket in Boulder. The victims included a police officer, a young grocery store worker and a retiree who was at the King Soopers picking up groceries for an Instacart delivery. Above, flowers for those lost in Boulder. A 21-year-old man has been charged with 10 counts of murder. Law enforcement officials said the gunman used an AR-15-type assault rifle. Here are our latest updates. Boulder had enacted bans on assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines in 2018, but this month a state district court judge ruled that the city could not enforce them. President Biden called on Congress not to wait another minute in enacting legislation to renew similar bans at the national level. 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. Indias leading Science-based Ayurveda major Dabur India Ltd. today announced the launch of Project Madhu, an initiative to promote beekeeping or Apiculture as a lucrative enterprise for farmers and small and medium entrepreneurs. As part of the initiative, Dabur is working with local Non Profit Organizations across three states to create an ecosystem that will bring together technical know-how, financing and access to market-place for these farmers and entrepreneurs to train and sustain them in the vocation of bee keeping. It is estimated that through the right interventions, India has the potential to increase its honey production capacity from the current 3.4 Million Bee Colonies - 1.20 Lakh Mt to 200 Million Bee Colonies 70 Lakh Mt. As a part of this campaign, Dabur aims at providing as many as 5600 bee-boxes to farmers which is expected to positively impact the socio-economic situation of 350 families in the states of Jharkhand and Assam. Apart from this, in Bihar 2250 families being benefitted through World Bank Aided Jeevika Project which attained 23500 box distribution. Along with the bee-boxes, technical knowledge would also be provided through trainings by Dabur Indias Bio-Resource Development team at village, block and district levels. The team aims at providing 360 number of trainings by 2025. Dabur India has collaborated with leading Indian NGOs like Jeevika BRLPS (Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society) in Bihar, Vikas Bharti in Jharkhand and Institute of Integrated Resource Management (IIRM) in Assam and conducted dialogues with more than 350 beekeepers in these 3 states. The company would continue to associate with similar NGOs to continue to reach out to the bee-keepers across Indian states at the grass-root level and raise momentum for this campaign. Through the campaign, Dabur would give a fillip to indigenous produce and its marketing to strengthen the agricultural economy. Talking about the launch of the campaign, Mr. Prashant Agarwal, Marketing Head- Health Supplements, Dabur India Ltd said, Project Madhu has been conceptualized to give momentum to Daburs ambition of making the bee-keeper community in India more self-reliant, self-sustaining and more scientific in its approach. We have been working in this direction for several years. However, with Project Madhu, we want to fortify our efforts and reach out to a wider audience across the country. The idea for us is to collaborate with government and private stakeholders and bring to life, a honey corridor across the select states, which would look at contributing positively to the welfare of the farmers and the nation at large. The campaign, Project Madhu is being brought to life by the Bio-Resource Development team at Dabur India Ltd. Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Pankaj Raturi, Head of Bio-Resource Development team at Dabur, said, Beekeeping, as an enterprise, fits well with small scale farmers across the country and helps them earn additional income. It has the potential to provide employment, income and economic security for their family and others in rural areas. At Dabur, we are committed to making requisite skills available to the targeted communities and provide them assistance to create a sustainable source of income in the long term. It is now a year since office-based businesses began working from home just before the first national lockdown, bringing a huge lifestyle change for us all virtually overnight. Employees and companies are now asking how long will this continue, and is there any going back to the way we were. It seems not, with one business leader adamant that things will never be the same again. Liberty Insurance and its subsidiary Hughes Insurance have said that its 400 staff in Northern Ireland will be working remotely from now on, and outsourcing giant Capita which has 1,500 staff here has said the same about workers in their call centres. Had enough, or never going back to the workplace? Send us your views on remote working to business@belfasttelegraph.co.uk. But among big businesses, that approach really is the exception rather than the rule. Instead, what the employers have in mind, including our biggest employer, the civil service, is flexible working. Yes, we are destined to return to our offices but we will be still doing a bit of working from home. Many firms are considering three days in the office and two days at home, or the other way round. Donna Linehan, client services director at Belfast serviced office provider, The Scottish Provident Building, said it had been a mixed year. We have had some clients who stayed throughout, perhaps coming in maybe two or three days a week. It has been challenging, and we have lost some companies. "But also weve had a lot who pre-Covid had half a dozen offices and have maybe dropped down to one or two. Occupancy levels had dropped from their usual level of around 98% to around 75% and above in the pandemic but were rising again. In the last five or six months, weve seen a significant pick-up in inquiries and people moving, so were back up into the 80s. It has been difficult, and its just really clients not knowing what to do as they dont know how its (the pandemic) going to go. We are probably not missing the commute to work and some of us are enjoying our home comforts. But for people who have been juggling home schooling and caring responsibilities, working from home has brought a lot of extra hassle. Many of us also lack the space to set up a proper desk in a dedicated room, and have instead spent a year working from the sofa or bedroom. If the vaccination roll-out continues at a healthy pace, it is expected that businesses will probably feel fairly confident about having people back by around September. Expand Close Criticism: Arlene Foster and Michelle ONeill have come under fire over dates / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Criticism: Arlene Foster and Michelle ONeill have come under fire over dates The Executives roadmap out of restrictions includes a pathway for the return to offices but does not provide dates. In phase three of the five-step plan for return to work, it says there should be a phased return to on-site work and office spaces. But companies are not committing themselves to a set month, which is understandable, given the volatility of the pandemic. Commercial property agents who look after the letting of offices have said that transactions have dwindled to nothing. They will be hoping that companies bring their staff back in large numbers. But there is likely to be some reconfiguration of spaces so that instead of long rows of workers sitting close together, there is room to spread people around. One agent has said that they do not expect companies to cut back completely on the size of their offices as they anticipate staff will want the freedom to vary the days on which they come in. Some days, such as a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, may prove popular for people to be in maybe Mondays and Fridays will be less so. For our biggest tech companies, hybrid working is the way forward, though Allstate, our biggest in the sector with 2,400 staff in Belfast, Strabane and Londonderry, says it has not yet made any definite plans. It opened a 30m new office development in Belfasts Mays Meadow in 2018. Expand Close Peter Russell / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Peter Russell But at least two are adamant that hybrid working will stay. Peter Russell, managing director of CANCOM in Ireland formerly Novosco which has a big office in Titanic Quarters Catalyst Inc with around 300 staff, said: Personally, I believe working practices have changed forever, and a new hybrid engagement model will emerge, bringing together a positive balance of productivity, engagement, and employee well-being. Were still to work through what that will look like at CANCOM UK&I, but I think its safe to say we will have a hybrid model in some shape or form. Caroline Greer from IRP Commerce, which also has an office with 20 staff in Catalyst, says having staff in an office can help foster camaraderie. IRP Commerce has always tried to be flexible in ensuring that the needs of staff are balanced with those of the business, she said. Thanks to technology, most business tasks can be completed successfully online, but nothing beats having our team together in one space to foster creativity, camaraderie and a sense of common purpose. We recently received funding from InterTrade Ireland for a health and safety consultant to work with us to provide a safe working environment post lockdown and we are looking forward to having everyone back in the IRP office in Catalyst when restrictions are lifted and it is safe to do so. Willie Hamilton, managing director of Liberty IT, which has around 500 staff, said: We feel extremely lucky to have continued as business as usual during pandemic. Our key goal is maintaining our high levels of engagement amongst teams, whilst accommodating individual employee preference. We know we can work successfully and productively as distributed teams and continue to invest in technology to enhance the employee experience, ensuring we maintain a sense of connection and belonging. Presently our discussions are focused on how we use our Belfast and Dublin offices with purpose. When we reopen, well run a series of experiments to understand this and let our future office layout and use be dictated by our employees expressed preferences. FinTrU, one of our fastest-growing tech companies, says there has been irreversible change for its 500 staff. It has offices in Belfast and Derry. Katrien Roppe, chief of staff said: The future of work will never be the same again following this period. FinTrU is dramatically expanding and has invested in additional office space in both Belfast and Derry/Londonderry to facilitate this growth. We are an agile company and foresee a hybrid of remote/office based working in the future where possible. Collaboration is key for our business model and we are committed to facilitating our employees and clients alike. There are nearly 23,000 people working in the civil service in Northern Ireland, and it has said it expects to continue with flexible working practices. More than 1,000 civil servants are based in the Great Northern Tower next to the Europa Hotel in central Belfast, most of whom remain at home. The civil service has announced it will have regional Connect2 hub offices in locations including Downpatrick, Ballykelly, Ballymena, Craigavon and Omagh though it says it will maintain significant offices in Belfast city centre. But it is highly likely it will have to cut back the scale of its office space in Belfast. A spokesperson for the Department of Finance, which looks after personnel matters in the civil service, said: Civil servants will return to the workplace in line with public health advice. We expect to continue with flexible working practices to ensure we have a flexible and agile workforce. The recent announcement of regional hubs is an important part of these working arrangements. You would think that the embrace of home working might mean building new offices is becoming less popular. But at present, four new office buildings totalling 764,000 sq ft are being built in Belfast at Olympic House in Titanic Quarter, The Ewart in Bedford Square, City Quays 3 and The Paper Exchange in Chichester Street. At least three of those are due to be finished soon. Another development, the 14-floor One Grosvenor Gate, got planning permission last week, and three big refurbishments will also be adding more space at The Kelvin at College Square East, The Vantage at Great Victoria Street and 35DP, above Boots at Donegall Place. It seems offices are here to stay, but this time, employees might have a little bit more say on when they have to show up to them. 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. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 [March 23, 2021] Vortx Secures $35 Million (USD) Growth Equity Investment from FTV Capital Vortx, a tech-enabled corporate and trust service provider for fund managers and corporate issuers in Brazil, today announced it has raised $35 million in Series B funding, led by FTV Capital, a sector-focused investor in innovative companies in enterprise technology and services, financial services, and payments and transaction processing. The funding will be used to accelerate Vortx's technology enhancements and market presence in the financial back-office market, as the alternatives market in Brazil continues to accelerate. Vortx was founded in 2015 by capital markets experts Juliano Cornacchia and Alexandre Assolini, and has since become a one-stop shop for fund managers and corporations alike, through its comprehensive core offering for fund administration and corporate services. Vortx's offering includes services in areas such as corporate trust, focusing on fiduciary agents, asset custody, and transfer agent services; funds trust, concentrating on fund administration and qualified services; and clearing agent, bookkeeping and legal representation and custody for non-resident investors. "The financial market's back office has always been bureaucratic and not as technologically advanced as it could be in Brazil," said Juliano Cornacchia, Vortx CEO and co-founder. "At Vortx, we set out to change this and believe that through technology, we can significantly improve customer experience and continue to scale our business. Through our investment from FTV Capital, we will focus on providing new services that will ultimately create even more value for our customers." "The alternatives market in Brazil has expanded rapidly oer the past several years, presenting an exciting opportunity for Vortx," said Kyle Griswold, partner at FTV Capital. "Vortx is effectively utilizing technology to improve service quality and to enhance operational efficiency, setting itself apart from its peers. We plan to leverage our successful track record of investing in wealth and asset management technology solutions, including the fund administration space, to help Vortx accelerate growth, and we look forward to partnering with the Vortx team on the journey ahead." In 2020, Vortx announced the launch of VX Meetings, a platform with full support for digital meetings; Vortx One, a platform for Funds Trust; and VX Informa (News - Alert) +, a platform for Corporate Trust. Additionally, Vortx recently announced an investment in the global fintech Parfin, expanding its presence in the crypto asset market. In 2019, it acquired software developer Vorasys/BCInf and invested in the Brazilian startup Preparo, focused on assisting the development of hiring and recruitment for internships and first jobs. Kyle Griswold and Brent Fierro led the investment for FTV Capital and will collaborate with the Vortx management team to drive growth. This represents FTV's fourth investment in Latin America, including EBANX in 2018; Globant in 2008, which became the first Latin American software company to launch a public offering on the NYSE in 2014; and Lean Solutions Group, which is headquartered in the US, but has operations in Colombia. About Vortx Vortx is an infrastructure fintech for the financial market, founded in 2015 by Alexandre Assolini and Juliano Cornacchia. Currently, the company has more than R$ 125 billion of assets under custody and has a team of more than 150 employees acting as fund administrator, custodian, bookkeeper and fiduciary agent, with a strong and rising presence in Funds Trust, leading the Corporate Trust segment and technology applied tools for the capital market. About FTV Capital FTV Capital is a growth equity investment firm that has raised nearly $4 billion to invest in high-growth companies offering a range of innovative solutions in three sectors: enterprise technology and services, financial services, and payments and transaction processing. FTV's experienced team leverages its domain expertise and proven track record in each of these sectors to help motivated management teams accelerate growth. FTV also provides companies with access to its Global Partner Network, a group of the world's leading enterprises and executives who have helped FTV portfolio companies for two decades. Founded in 1998, FTV Capital has invested in more than 120 portfolio companies, including Centaur Fund Services, EBANX and Enfusion, and successfully exited companies including Apex (News - Alert) Fund Services (recapitalized by Genstar), Empyrean Benefit Solutions (acquired by Securian Financial), ExlServices (IPO), Globant (NYSE IPO), Health Credit Services (acquired by Ally Financial), InvestCloud (recapitalized), Strata Fund Solutions (acquired by Alter Domus) and WorldFirst (acquired by Ant Financial). FTV has offices in San Francisco and New York. For more information, please visit www.ftvcapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005286/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] ?? Ahora | Los titulares del @MinCulturaPe y del @MindefPeru brindan informacion sobre el avance en la lucha contra la pandemia, a traves de una conferencia de prensa.https://t.co/E3yePfAyt8 NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given a compulsory retirement to famous IPS officer Amitabh Thakur of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. According to reports, a written order issued by the Home Ministry said that Amitabh Thakur has been given retirement even before the completion of his service with immediate effect in the public interest. The Home Ministry order said that Thakur was not found fit to be retained for the remaining tenure of his service. The controversial IOS officer himself took to Twitter to inform that he has been given a compulsory retirement by the Home Ministry. He further shared that he had just received the VRS order, stating that the government no longer needs his services and hence given a premature retirement. Thakur had in 2017 urged the Centre to dispose of his request for change of cadre, saying the "bias" against him does not exist anymore following the Samajwadi Party's rout in the polls. Thakur had earlier sent an application to the Union Home Ministry for a change of cadre from Uttar Pradesh to any other state, citing a threat to his life. In a letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, he said, "I had sought cadre change in view of serious threat to my life and family after Mulayam Singh Yadav's phone call. Thakur was suspended on July 13, 2015, days after he had accused Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav of threatening him. The state government had then initiated a vigilance inquiry against him. However, the Lucknow bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal had stayed the suspension of Thakur in April and ordered his reinstatement with full salary with effect from October 11, 2015. He had also requested the Centre to get the departmental inquiries against him transferred to some other state, alleging bias and irregularities on the part of the senior state government functionaries. Live TV Email access issues for Manx.net users Manx.net mail users have reported access issues this afternoon. In a statement, Manx Telecom said: "Manx Telecom's vendor for the Manx.net mail platform is currently investigating an issue with mail account access. Emails will arrive in customer mailboxes but currently the mailboxes are not accessible. The vendor is aware of the problem and is working quickly to resolve this as soon as possible." "We apologise for any inconvenience and will update this post as soon as we have a further update from the vendor." Sri Lanka government had to face strong separatist and militant groups for several years, who were fighting bloody war demanding separate state for Tamils. In such condition, Sri Lanka government had no alternative other than fighting with back to wall to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. by N.S.Venkataraman U N Human Rights Council has thought it fit to pass a resolution by majority vote against Sri Lanka for what the resolution termed as human rights violation. While reading the resolution, it is necessary to keep in view that it is not a unanimous resolution but only a resolution by majority votes. After passing this resolution, one is not sure as to how the U N Human Rights Council would act against Sri Lanka and whether it would go into silence thinking that it has done its job. It is well known by past experience that UNO and U N Human Rights Council would behave like a toothless tiger in the case of dealing with economically rich and militarily strong countries. Only in the case of weak and developing countries , Human Rights Council will act with courage of conviction Sri Lanka government had to face strong separatist and militant groups for several years, who were fighting bloody war demanding separate state for Tamils. In such condition, Sri Lanka government had no alternative other than fighting with back to wall to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Every country in the world would have reacted in the same way and have been reacting in the same way in similar situation , as Sri Lanka government did. Sri Lanka government suffered enormously due to the bloody war and the separatist militant groups were ruthless and have killed not only several Sri Lankans and Sri Lanka military personnel but also several Tamils in northern Sri Lanka, who refused to toe the line of the militants. There were several factions in the militant groups and one faction fought with another faction and several Tamils were killed in the process. For several years, Sri Lanka government could not match its military strength with that of the strongly armed militant groups and it was a losing war for several years. Finally, when Sri Lanka government could make its military strong and fought the war and successfully defeated the militants , there were casualities of hundreds of people on both the sides. It is a fact that several countries who voted for the resolution against Sri Lanka government passed by U N Human Rights Commission ,provided sort of support to the militants on their soil by allowing them to carry on their activities . These countries behaved in such a way ,clearly knowing that the accommodation that they provided to the militant groups would harm the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. No doubt, the human rights violation happened during the civil war and it was inevitable in a war like situation and both Sri Lanka government and militants were responsible for this. It is shocking that UN Human Rights commission has not meaningfully taken note of the human rights violation by the militant groups but has only condemned the Sri Lanka government. Is it not a partisan and prejudiced view, unbecoming of United Nations Organisation? The countries which voted for the resolution are mostly the so called democracies of western countries, who habitually only take note of the human rights violation in other countries and not in their own. These days, very frequently, we hear about US police shooting down mercilessly those who indulge in terrorist like activities . In the same way, European countries such as France and others also ask the police to shoot down those indulging in terrorism. This is as it should be. But, why these countries condemn Sri Lanka government for acting in the same way to fight against the terrorists and violent prone separatists? Several other countries in Africa as well as China and Russia also kill the protestors mercilessly in the name of preserving the peace and public order. The countries criticizing Sri Lanka for human rights violation is like pot calling the kettle black. Certainly, any discerning and neutral observer would be justified in terming the resolution passed by U N Human Rights Council against Sri Lanka as unwarranted and partisan . One only hopes that in future ,the UN Human Rights Council would gain greater wisdom, so that it can view such human rights violation in a holistic manner and see the unavoidable reasons for it in proper perspective and without pre conceived view. March 23 : After being delayed for almost a year, Haathi Mere Saathi is postponed again, though its Tamil and Telugu versions will release on the due date but not the Hindi. Tri-lingual drama, Haathi Mere Saathi/Aranya/Kaadan, is a social drama movie helmed by Prabhu Solomon starring Rana Daggubati, Vishnu Vishal, Pulkit Samrat, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Zoya Hussain in the lead roles. The film is bankrolled by Eros International and it is simultaneously shot in Telugu, Hindi and Tamil each with slightly different cast members. With the second wave of novel corona-virus hitting India, and number of positive cases on the rise, the makers have deterred the release of Hindi version, though Tamil and Telugu will release on due date, 26th March. The official handle of Eros Now just issued a statement; they captioned it, Important Haathi Mere Saathi Release Update #SaveTheElephants #HaathiMereSaathi @RanaDaggubati @PulkitSamrat #PrabuSolomon @zyhssn @ShriyaP @ErosSTX @ErosMotionPics #ErosNow Important Haathi Mere Saathi Release Update () pic.twitter.com/h2OyuhZ20C Eros Now (@ErosNow) March 23, 2021 The statement reads, Dear viewers, it pains us to share this news but given the covid-19 situation in the Hindi markets, the team of Haathi Mere Saathi has decided to hold on to the release of the film. We shall keep you posted on further developments. However, we will be releasing Aranya and Kaadan in the south markets on the 26th of March Good morning. A man charged in the death of a three-year-old boy was acting as one of his temporary guardians despite his criminal history. CAA Manitoba is relaunching its Worst Roads campaign after a one-year hiatus because of the pandemic. Experts say Manitoba is poised to benefit from Canadian Pacific Railways proposed US$25-billion takeover of Kansas City Southern. Adam Treusch, assignment editor President said he will get a vaccine shot on Tuesday, several months after widespread vaccination started in Kremlin opponents have criticised Putin for not getting vaccinated amid a comparatively slow rollout of the shot in Russia, arguing that his reluctance is contributing to the already extensive hesitance about the vaccine. Russia, where only 4.3% of the 146-million population have received at least one dose, lags behind a number of countries in terms of the vaccination rate. Surveys by Russia's top independent pollster Levada Centre have shown that a number of Russians reluctant to get vaccinated with Sputnik V has grown in recent months to 62% in February from 58% in December. The Kremlin has said it doesn't see a connection between Putin not getting vaccinated and public trust in the Russian COVID-19 vaccine. Putin, 68, told a meeting with government officials and vaccine developers on Monday that he will get his shot tomorrow", without specifying which vaccine out of the three authorised for use in he will take. Russian authorities have given regulatory approval to three domestically developed shots. Sputnik V has been approved last August with much fanfare at home and criticism abroad, because at the time it had only been tested on a few dozen people. But a recent study published in British medical journal The Lancet showed the Sputnik V is 91% effective and appears to prevent inoculated individuals from becoming severely ill with COVID-19, although it's still unclear if the vaccine can prevent the spread of the disease. Two other Russian vaccines, EpiVacCorona and CoviVac, have also received regulatory approval before completing late-stage trials experts say are necessary to ensure their safety and effectiveness in line with established scientific protocol. EpiVacCorona is still undergoing these trials, while CoviVac was to begin them in March. No data on efficacy of these two vaccines have been released. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov also wouldn't say which one of the three Putin will take on Tuesday, saying only that all of them are good and reliable. Putin said that 60% of Russian adults need to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity, which requires a total of 69.8 million vaccines. As of March 17, around 8.9 million two-dose sets of Sputnik V have been released into circulation in Russia, as well as over 115,000 two-dose sets of EpiVacCorona, the Russian leader said. Putin and his spokesman have been repeatedly asked why the president hasn't been vaccinated so far. In December, the Russian leader said Sputnik V wasn't being recommended to people of a certain age, adding that vaccines have not yet reached people like me. At the time, the shot was only being offered to people ages 18 to 60, but in less then two weeks after Putin's remarks Russian health authorities cleared the vaccine for those older than 60. Last month, Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported that Putin said he might get vaccinated at the end of the summer or beginning of the fall. The newspaper quoted Putin telling Russian media managers at a closed-door meeting that he didn't want to do it for publicity's sake in front of cameras and that he had other vaccinations scheduled already. Peskov said Monday he didn't expect Putin's vaccination on Tuesday to be a public event". has been actively marketing Sputnik V abroad, despite the slow rollout at home, in what some analysts see as an effort to score geopolitical points. Dozens of countries have approved the use of Sputnik V and signed deals with Russia to get shipments of the shot. Exporting the vaccines, however, has not been without delays, and questions remained whether Moscow had the capacity to deliver on its promises. In order to boost production, the Russian Direct Investment Fund that bankrolled the vaccine signed agreements with pharmaceutical companies in several countries, including India, South Korea, Brazil, Turkey and most recently Italy. Putin said on Monday such agreements amounted to a total of 700 million vaccines a year. The geography of using the Russian Sputnik V is actively growing. Even despite deliberate discrediting of our vaccine, various hoaxes and sometimes outright nonsense, more states all around the world express interest in our vaccine," Putin said. The Russian president took aim at officials in the European Union, some of whom have expressed reluctance about using Sputnik V even though the bloc has been criticised for a slow vaccine rollout. On Sunday, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, who heads the European Commission's vaccine task force, told French television that the EU has absolutely no need for Sputnik V. Putin called the statement bizarre and insisted that Russia was not imposing anything on anyone," questioning whether European officials protect the interests "some pharmaceutical companies or the interests of citizens of European countries. Sputnik V hasn't yet been approved for use in the EU, but the body's regulator, the European Medicines Agency started a rolling review of the vaccine earlier this month. Some EU nations have decided not to wait for the EMA's approval, and Hungary became the first EU country to authorise Sputnik V for use last month, while Slovakia announced a deal last week to acquire 2 million Sputnik V doses in a move that prompted a political crisis in the country. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I will tell you that at the time, I thought that 30 years was not enough for her, Coleman said. But 21 years has passed and she has done extraordinarily well. I think that is something we have to acknowledge that is, one of the things justice is and what justice looks like. If someone is not the same person. If they have gotten better. And they have done everything we could expect of them and the family is forgiving them. I think that is part of seeking a safer society. The Australian market finished session lower on Tuesday, 23 March 2021, after reversing earlier gains, on tracking lacklustre decline in Chinese markets amid escalation of EU-China Tensions. Meanwhile, the volatility of U. S. bond yields and planned lockdown in Germany amid a resurgence of virus cases also dampened risk appetite. At closing bell, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 dropped 7.06 points, or 0.1%, to 6,745.40. The broader All Ordinaries shed 8.41 points, or 0.12%, to 6,986.60. Australian shares opened higher, as the benchmark index tracked an overnight rally on Wall Street. However, the Australian shares gave up early gains to end slight lower as investors fretted over the volatility of U. S. bond yields and steep declines in Chinese stocks on western sanctions, policy tightening and valuation worries. Chancellor Angela Merkel put Germany into hard lockdown over Easter to try to defuse another wave of infections. The move come amid signs that progress against the pandemic is stalling as global deaths and cases creep higher. Turmoil in Turkish assets continued in the wake of the central bank chief's surprise dismissal over the weekend, with a drop in the main stock index triggering a circuit breaker. Meanwhile, escalation of EU-China Tensions also weighed down sentiments. A coalition of western nations (The United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada) announced sanctions on Chinese officials for alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims. China immediately announced retaliatory sanctions against the EU that appeared broader, including European lawmakers, diplomats, institutes and families, and banning their businesses from trading with China. Energy, consumer discretionary and IT fell most today, down 1.04%, 0.73% and 0.85% respectively. Telecom gained 1.03%, utilities increased 0.81% and health care rallied 0.72%. Airtasker made its ASX debut, with the share price lifting 53% after its first three hours of trade. Crown was down 1% to A$11.85 following reports Blackstone's offer to buy the casino operator was too low. In economic news, consumer sentiment, as measured by Roy Morgan and ANZ, eased 0.5% last week, the second fall in the past four months. CURRENCY NEWS: The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7692, still off levels above $0.78 seen last week. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) GLENDALE, Calif., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pango Group, a family of companies that, together, are the leading California-based settlement service experts, recently announced the contributions that its non-profit arm, Pango Foundation, made in 2020. "None of us could have ever anticipated the events that 2020 brought our way. And, while there was a lot of anxiety surrounding us, we knew that Pango Foundation had the resources and power to help those in need, so that's exactly what we did," shared Jeff Russell, Pango Group President, and Pango Foundation Board Member. Throughout 2020, the Pango Group worked diligently to offer support and resources to causes and people who needed help during trying times, including: Backpack Day (Virtual) Given COVID safety concerns, the Pango Foundation did not meet as they would have under normal circumstances, but they found a workaround. They partnered with Para Los Ninos (For the Children) to create back-to-school care packages for kids returning to school, including Chromebooks and noise-canceling headphones for a Virtual Backpack Day. Overall, they were able to collect and donate over 382 pairs of headsets. Scholarships On behalf of the Pango Foundation, Pango Group provided ten scholarships to children whose parents work in the organization. The Foundation, its board, and Pango Group employees donate from their paychecks each month, allowing the Foundation to invest in the next generation. COVID Emergency Relief Grants Awarded The Pango Foundation provided grants up to $500 to their employees and families who were experiencing financial hardships amidst the pandemic. Care Packages Given the shortage of hand sanitizer and masks early on, the Pango Foundation knew that its people, partners, and communities were in need. In turn, they created care packages with personal protective equipment that were sent out to help those in need. Employee Participation Pango Group's employee payroll participation (donations made to Pango Foundation) quadrupled from 2019 to 2020. Donations to Causes Pango Group escrow brands and offices each selected a charity close to their heart, and raised money to donate with Pango Foundation matching contributions to 13 different charities at $500 each for a total of $6,500. Organizations and causes included Meals with Love, The Trevor Project, Lending Hope Foundation, and more. "It's really amazing to see the Pango Foundation and our employees care so much about giving back to those in need. It's such a special thing to see, and really proves that we are living out our mission of enhancing the lives of the people, partners, and communities we serve while showing grace and kindness to those who need a little help," said Jeff Russell . About the Pango Foundation Pango Foundation is the non-profit arm of Pango Group, an escrow organization considered one of the largest and most successful in the United States' Western region. Since its inception, these values have been integral components of daily life within the Pango Group. Over the years, the culture of grace and kindness has fostered a work environment representing the best of human nature, where giving and charity are natural outcomes. Recognizing the opportunity to do more, the Pango Foundation was born. Through corporate and employee donations and proactive fundraising efforts, Pango Foundation sponsors programs that directly benefit the people and communities it serves. Programs include scholarship funds, financial education classes, "Back To School Backpack Day" for under-privileged children, Habitat For Humanity and Homes For Change builds, partnerships with charities, and more. About Pango Group Pango Group has been one of the leading independent escrow resources in California for over 20 years, with locations throughout California. The organization owns and manages over 30 offices and 300 employees with the mission of running exceptional real estate service businesses that enhance the lives of the people, partners, and communities it serves. It was recently named one of the Best Places to Work for the 7th year in a row in Los Angeles. https://pangogroup.com/ SOURCE Pango Group Related Links http://www.pangogroup.com GENEVA/ZURICH -- More producers of COVID-19 vaccines should follow AstraZenecas lead and license technology to other manufacturers, the World Health Organizations head said on Monday, as he described continuing vaccine inequity as grotesque. AstraZenecas shot, which new U.S. data on Monday showed was safe and effective despite some countries suspending inoculations over health concerns, is being produced in various locations including South Koreas SKBioScience and the Serum Institute of India. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for more manufacturers to adopt this model to boost supplies, including for the COVAX vaccine sharing programme seeking to speed more shots to developing countries. The gap between number of vaccines administered in rich countries and the number administered through COVAX is growing and becoming more grotesque every day, Tedros told a news conference. The inequitable distribution of vaccines is not just a moral outrage. Its also economically and epidemiologically self-defeating. Earlier, AstraZeneca released interim data showing its vaccine, developed with Oxford University, was 79% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and posed no increased risk of blood clots. WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan called it a very good vaccine for all age groups. Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark have extended suspensions of AstraZenecas shot as investigations continue into rare blood clotting events. Still, WHO officials said African countries getting the vaccine via COVAX are moving ahead. They did ask a lot of questions but the demand for the vaccine is extremely high, said WHO senior adviser Bruce Aylward. It remains possible for COVAX to hit a second-quarter goal of delivering 300 million doses, Aylward said, while acknowledging teething problems, with SKBioSciences and the Serum Institute hard pressed to satisfy COVAX orders. We simply cannot get enough vaccine, Aylward said. Were hoping both companies will be able to scale up and keep up with the rate of deliveries were aiming for. A gunman has killed at least 10 people, including a police officer, during a mass shooting at a Colorado grocery store. The violence unfolded at the Kings Sooper store in Boulder on Monday afternoon and the shooters motive has not been determined, law-enforcement officials told the Wall Street Journal. A partially clothed white male was seen being led away from the scene in handcuffs with blood covering his leg. My heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community, said the states governor Jared Polis in a statement on Twitter. At a press conference on Monday evening, Commander Kerry Yamaguchi of the Boulder Police Department confirmed that 10 people had died We had a very tragic incident today. There was loss of life, we have multiple people who were killed in this incident, and I am sorry to have to report that one of them was a Boulder police officer. Read more: There is no ongoing public threat we have a person of interest in custody, that person was injured during the incident and is being treated for the injuries. The only injured party we are aware of was the suspect. We know of no other serious injuries at this point, added Commander Yamaguchi. Eyewitnesses inside the store told of the horror as the shooting began. Two customers told the Denver Post that they were buying lunch when the shooting broke out. He didnt say sh**, one said. He just came in and started shooting. The other said the gunman let off a couple of shots, then was silent, and then he let off a couple more. The pair were among the shoppers who fled in a stampede to the back of the store. Images and haunting video from the scene revealed a half-clothed man covered in blood being escorted to a stretcher by police. Bodies of victims outside the store were also captured. Advertisement Asylum rights will be slashed for migrants who arrive in Britain illegally under major reforms announced today. Priti Patel will introduce a 'two-tier' system in which those who come via unauthorised routes such as crossing the Channel in small boats are given far fewer privileges. Even if they have a legitimate claim to refugee status, migrants who arrive illegally will be granted permission to stay in this country only temporarily. They will be barred from claiming most welfare benefits. And their ability to bring relatives here to join them, currently permitted under 'family reunification' rights, will be curtailed. At the same time, efforts to remove Channel migrants who could have claimed asylum in safe countries they travelled through such as France will be stepped up. By comparison, successful asylum seekers who applied in advance to come here through legal routes, such as the United Nations' refugee agency, will be rewarded. Around 150 migrants, including a young girl, crossed the English Channel yesterday and were brought to Dover in Kent Home Secretary Priti Patel, pictured on March 15, will unveil details of the biggest asylum system shake-up for a generation A map shows the points along the coast where migrants have landed in the UK over the past year after crossing from France They will win permission to come to Britain immediately and will be allowed to stay here indefinitely. The Home Secretary will unveil full details later today of the biggest shake-up of the asylum system for a generation. Her scheme, dubbed the 'New Plan for Immigration', will be controversial because it separates asylum claims into two 'classes'. No right to settle under Priti Priti's asylum blitz Illegal migrants will no longer have the right to settle in the UK, even if granted asylum. Instead, they will get 'temporary protection' status for 30 months, with only limited access to benefits. Efforts to remove those who enter illegally via a safe country to be stepped up. Appeals streamlined to stop last-minute legal bids thwarting the removal of failed asylum seekers. Judicial review process to be reformed so it is used less frequently. Maximum sentence for people smugglers raised to life, and to five years for foreign criminals who return to the UK in breach of a deportation order. Reception centres to provide 'simple, safe' housing while claims are processed. Asylum seekers must give more evidence of 'well-founded fear of persecution'. More rigorous age assessments to stop adult asylum seekers posing as children. New humanitarian routes for the 'vulnerable' in 'immediate danger'. Advertisement Refugee charities claim many migrants have no choice but to come here by illegal routes. Miss Patel said: 'Under our New Plan for Immigration, if people arrive illegally they will no longer have the same entitlements as those who arrive legally, and it will be harder for them to stay. 'If, like over 60 per cent of illegal arrivals, they have travelled through a safe country like France to get here, they will not have immediate entry into the asylum system which is what happens today. 'I make no apology for these actions being firm, but as they will also save lives and target people smugglers, they are also undeniably fair.' Other elements in the wide-ranging package announced today will include streamlining the asylum appeals process, and setting up reception centres to replace hotel accommodation and ex-Army barracks used during the pandemic. It will also be made harder for asylum seekers to make unsubstantiated claims of persecution. An independent body will be set up to determine the true age of applicants suspected to be posing as children, as revealed by the Daily Mail last week. Jail sentences will be increased for people smugglers and foreign criminals who sneak back into the country after being deported. A new humanitarian route will be created to make it easier to bring individuals to Britain if they face imminent danger in their homeland as in the case of Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian who spent eight years on death row on blasphemy charges before she was acquitted in 2019. Miss Patel said: 'We will stop the most unscrupulous abusing the system by posing as children, by introducing tougher, more accurate age assessments. 'Profiteering from illegal migration to Britain will no longer be worth the risk, with new maximum life sentences for people smugglers.' The number of asylum applications lodged in the UK in the years ending December 2011 to December last year, dropping after the Covid pandemic was declared The number of people offered protection in the form of resettlement (bottom line), asylum and alternative forms of leave (middle line) totalled 9,936 in 2020. The total number of people granted asylum or some form of protection (top line) fell by more than half that of 2019 The top 10 nationalities claiming asylum in the UK and the grant rate at initial decision (shown by percentage) in 2019 and 2020. The most applications in both 2019 and 2020 came from Iran, while Eritrea and Syria had the highest grant rates last year The number of asylum applicants to the top five countries in the EU+ and the UK for the years ending November 2014 to November last year, with Italy receiving the smallest number of applications in 2020. The other EU+ category includes all other countries that are European Union member states, part of the European Economic Area and Switzerland This morning, Miss Patel told Sky News she has not ruled out seeking agreements with the likes of Gibraltar and the Isle of Man to process asylum seekers. Another 150 migrants cross the Channel to Dover on small boats More than 100 migrants crossed the Channel yesterday, including a girl aged about six. The total which remained unconfirmed by the Home Office last night is thought to be the highest this year. In a further indication that the Channel crisis will continue after record numbers last year, at least six boats were towed into Dover. The previous daily high for this year was 115 on March 8 and yesterday's total was thought to be about 150. Many of the arrivals, who made the 21-mile journey despite very poor visibility at sea, appeared to be Vietnamese nationals. One woman thought to be in her early 20s was seen wearing a beige, fur-lined jacket and scarf while carrying a Louis Vuitton-style bag. It came after ten migrants were detained on Sunday in what was the first successful crossing in two weeks. Excluding yesterday's unconfirmed number of arrivals, 806 migrants have reached UK shores so far this year. Advertisement She said: 'All the time people are being trafficked and smuggled through illegal routes, we as a Government have a duty of responsibility to consider all options. 'We will look at third country removal and we will also do that looking alongside bilateral agreements. 'As part of this consultation we will put all options on the table in terms of working with third countries, and countries like Denmark already exploring options like this, and we will continue to explore bilaterally options in terms of returning and removing people that have come to the United Kingdom illegally.' Miss Patel also insisted 'safe and legal routes' to claim asylum in the UK will be created. She told Sky News: 'We're putting out to consultation how we develop safe and legal routes... to support people who are fleeing but in-country. 'Too many people have died trying to come to the UK. We've got to break this people smuggling model, we've got to put in safe and legal routes and we've actually got to be able to help genuine asylum seekers not just flee persecution but be resettled in the United Kingdom. Currently our asylum system is overwhelmed.' Migrants who come to the UK illegally and whose claims are found to be genuine will receive a new 'temporary protection' status lasting 30 months instead of the automatic right to settle here. During that period they will be 'regularly reassessed for removal from the UK'. For example, if the political situation improves in their home country and they are no longer at risk, they could be sent back. They will have 'no recourse to public funds', which means they will no longer be able to claim benefits such as income support, housing benefit or tax credits. Access to the NHS will remain. A Home Office spokesman said it was a 'step change' towards tackling the 'collapsing' system. 'Access to the UK's asylum system will be based on genuine need of refuge, not on the ability to pay people smugglers,' he added. Migrants are helped ashore on the Border Force vessel 'Hunter' as they walk onto Dover Harbour in Kent yesterday More than 100 migrants crossed the English Channel yesterday on what is believed to be the record day of the year More than 8,500 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats last year, compared with just 1,850 in the previous 12 months. At the end of December a record 64,041 asylum seekers were receiving taxpayer-funded support, a 37 per cent increase in just three years. Priti Patel insists she is 'absolutely committed' to stamping out violence against women Priti Patel has said she is 'absolutely committed' to working with everybody to stamp out violence against women and girls. The Home Secretary told MPs yesterday she has met campaigners who are calling for a change in the law on street harassment and that the issue will be part of the Government's strategy going forward. It came as Miss Patel and shadow Home Office minister Jess Phillips clashed in the Commons over the rates of police force domestic abuse training. Speaking during departmental questions, fellow shadow Home Office minister Sarah Jones asked whether a law could be introduced in order to make street harassment a specific criminal offence. Ms Jones told MPs: 'Thousands of women across the land, including (Ms Patel) have spoken of the danger they feel on the streets and the harassment they have suffered. Now is the time for action. 'The number of stalking and harassment offences recorded by police has more than doubled in four years, half a million offences last year, and we know that this is literally the tip of the iceberg as most women do not report street harassment. 'Will (Ms Patel) work cross-party to introduce a law, similar to one introduced in France in 2018, to make street harassment a specific criminal offence?' Miss Patel responded: 'I say to (Ms Jones) on street harassment and in fact all harassment against individuals, male and female, but particularly women and girls, street harassment is absolutely unacceptable and I've spent some time actually with campaigners who are campaigning to change the law on street harassment. 'So I am absolutely committed to working with everybody on this. This will be part of our strategy going forward on violence against women and girls. (Ms Jones) will absolutely know of the work that's taking place.' Advertisement Asylum seekers currently receive 39.63 a week for each member of their household, plus free accommodation if they need it. Asylum support now costs the taxpayer just under 1billion a year. Enver Solomon, of the Refugee Council, said: 'The Government is effectively creating a two-tier system where some refugees are unfairly punished for the way they get to the UK. 'This is wholly unjust and undermines the UK's long tradition of providing protection for people regardless of how they have managed to find their way to our shores, who have gone on to become proud British citizens contributing as doctors, nurses and entrepreneurs to our communities.' He added: 'The reality is that when faced with upheaval ordinary people are forced to take extraordinary measures and do not have a choice about how they seek safety. 'All refugees deserve to be treated with compassion and dignity, and it's a stain on 'Global Britain' to subject some refugees to differential treatment.' Speaking to ITV's Good Morning Britain today, Mr Solomon said it was wrong for Britain to be 'slamming the door shut in the face of those who have to make perilous journeys to get here'. Talking about people smugglers, he continued: 'These criminal gangs are truly abhorrent and we wholly condemn that practice, but the people who are caught up in these gangs are innocent victims. They're people who are in search of a better life, they've had to flee war, they've had to flee terror and persecution 'Not everybody should be given asylum status - we need an effective and efficient system, and what that means is that everyone is given the opportunity to have their case heard when they get here. If they don't meet the legal threshold absolutely they should be send back to their country and that should happen. 'The principal should be one that we've upheld for many decades, hundreds and thousands coming here and contributing to our country fight against the pandemic. We had nurses and doctors keeping this country safe that came here as refugees - it's really important to remember that. 'They were given a fair hearing and that's the principal here, someone should be able to make an asylum application and be given a fair, effective and efficient hearing.' And Jess Phillips, Labour's shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding, said Miss Patel should spend more time stopping British criminals and less seeking 'clicks and likes'. She tweeted: 'Hope as Priti Patel tours studios she is asked why she talks tough on foreign criminals, but has overseen highest numbers in UK ever. 'Also how come she's not tough on British criminals committing rape & sex crimes against children. Conviction of both have dropped in her time. 'If only her actions affected more than headlines we might see crime falling and rapists locked away, instead she's traded our safety for clicks and likes. I'd rather we protected more people from sex offenders personally.' Photo: The Canadian Press Toronto South Detention Centre. A report by advocates for Canadian inmates is criticizing the rising rates of incarceration in at least two provincial jail systems amid the continuing pandemic. About a year after the first COVID-19 cases emerged in Ontario jails, the update by the Prison Pandemic Partnership says the risk to inmates increases when there is less space. The partnership which includes the Centre for Access to Information and Justice, the Criminalization and Punishment Education Project and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association estimates that more than 7,000 cases of COVID-19 have been linked to Canadian jails and prisons, including over 5,000 infections among prisoners. It says at the outset of the pandemic, from March through June last year, prison populations across the country fell in an effort to increase the space available and enable physical distancing. However, the study used Statistics Canada data to show that most provincial and territorial jail systems started to put more people back in jail over the summer. By September last year, incarceration rates had gone back up though still remaining below pre-pandemic levels in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon. Only the federal prison systems and British Columbia's system continued a trend over the summer of decreasing their populations. The federal prison population, which was at about 13,891 last February, fell five per cent to 13,141 by June, after the first wave of COVID-19, and as of January this year it was down 10 per cent to 12,500 prisoners. However, in Ontario, where the jail population initially dropped to 5,811 from 8,269 last June, the figures have been going up. As of Monday, the number of people in custody had reached 7,131. In Nova Scotia, there were about 440 people in custody pre-pandemic, which fell to 268 by June last year, but the figure had rebounded to 353 as of Monday. In contrast, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan have continued downward trends in jail populations since September, the report notes. Human Rights Watch (HRW) says gay men in Uzbekistan face arbitrary detention, prosecution, and imprisonment and has called on the Central Asian nation's government to guarantee their rights and decriminalize same-sex sexual conduct. In a statement issued on March 23, HRW said gay men in the former Soviet republic, a current member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, face "homophobia, threats, and extortion" and the criminalization of same-sex sexual conduct remains "a significant stain" on Tashkents record. "Uzbekistan should decriminalize same-sex sexual conduct by repealing Article 120 of the criminal code and excluding any provisions criminalizing same-sex conduct from its new criminal code," the HRW statement said. The rights watchdog also called on Tashkent to "investigate attacks and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including threats made by law enforcement officers...and hold those responsible to account." "Uzbekistans international partners should press Uzbekistan to decriminalize same-sex sexual conduct in keeping with its obligations to uphold key human rights standards," the HRW's statement said. HRW emphasized that a draft of Uzbekistan's new Criminal Code, published on February 22, still addresses same-sex sexual conduct as a crime, as the legislation only changes the article's number from 120 to 154 and not the wording. Criminalization of same-sex sexual conduct is fundamentally incompatible with international human rights norms and keeping it on the books contributes to an environment of fear and hostility for LGBT people in Uzbekistan, Hugh Williamson, director of the Europe and Central Asia division at HRW, said. If Uzbekistan wants to show the world it is serious about respecting human rights, parliament should decriminalize consensual same-sex conduct before it adopts a new Criminal Code. Uzbekistan and neighboring Turkmenistan are the last former Soviet republics where same-sex consensual sex conduct is officially a crime, but sexual minorities still face firmly entrenched social taboos across the region. This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong! LANSING, MI Michigan environmental regulators are imposing fines on a German chemical supplier and an Australian landfill gas distributor for violating air quality rules. A public comment period ends Wednesday, March 24 on separate state consent orders for BASF Toda America and Energy Developments Lansing, which are each facing unrelated civil penalties from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). BASF Toda America exceeded emissions limits for nickel, a hazardous air pollutant, at its facility at 4750 Dickman Road in Battle Creek. EGLE is fining the company $85,000. Energy Developments (EDL) increased its volume of sulfur dioxide emissions without obtaining a state permit, says EGLE. The company is being fined $22,500 and has agreed to spend another $50,000 to plant about 120 trees around the Granger landfill at 16980 Wood Road. The Australian company operates a gas recovery plant at the Lansing area landfill and sells the gas to utilities for electricity. It moved its headquarters to Michigan after buying the gas recovery operation from Granger Energy Services in 2017. The violations stem from emissions in 2016. As part of negotiations with the state, EDL has agreed to comply with sulfur dioxide emissions limits in a new permit. What theyre doing is building a plant that can strip out the sulfur, basically making the landfill gas into pipeline-quality gas, said Jason Wolf with EGLEs air quality division enforcement unit. Theyre transitioning their whole process. Thats part of the reason why we were able to come to this agreement, Wolf said, calling it a good long-term solution in terms of being able to control sulfur out there. Granger Waste Services spokesperson Charles Hauser said EDL is a separate company and Granger was not a party to the violation. EDL said it does not agree with the state violations. The landfill and the gas-to-energy plant are regulated as a single stationary major pollution source by EGLE. EDL disputes EGLEs allegation, the company said through an attorney. Regardless, we are a sustainable energy producer committed to working with our stakeholders and communities to improve our shared environment, and we appreciated the opportunity to reach a mutually agreeable settlement with EGLE. This includes the tree planting project, which were pleased to invest in as it will bring tangible benefits to the surrounding area. In Battle Creek, BASF Toda America exceeded a 12-month rolling nickel emissions limit during the making of lithium-ion cathode powder used in advanced battery manufacturing. The emissions violation lasted from March 2019 to October 2020, according to EGLE. Because of the exceedance, and its duration, we decided to take enforcement, said Wolf. BASF spokesperson Joe Plahutnik said the facility has installed particulate emissions controls to ensure the Battle Creek site is compliant with the permitted monthly nickel emission limit. To ensure continuing permit compliance, (BASF Toda America) is implementing additional engineering solutions to significantly reduce the sites nickel emissions, Plahutnik said. Wolf said BASF Toda Americas nickel limit is based on a rolling time period and it can take a while to bring an average down into compliant levels. The shutdown from COVID actually helped them come into compliance even quicker than they would have otherwise, more than likely, Wolf said. Related stories: Toxic waste plant eyed as source of Detroit odors Haviland fined $925k for pollutant discharge, chemical spills Marathon Detroit fined over rotten odors, soot emissions Poor record keeping earns company $66k air quality fine EPA fines Michigan injection well owner $73K $35M settlement with Valero will clean up gas stations Detroit air pollution levels drop amid COVID shutdown Detroit toxic ooze site cleanup costs mount Mohamedou Salahi (French actor Tahar Rahim) is at a family wedding in the Mauritanian desert when the local police come: the Americans want to talk to him. It is two months after the attacks on the World Trade Centre. Soon he is in Guantanamo Bay, having been chained, beaten, drugged and dragged through rendition stops in Jordan and Afghanistan. His interrogation begins with two friendly men from the US government. At the same time, in Albuquerque, human rights lawyer Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) hears that Salahis whereabouts are unknown. German television reports that he may be in Gitmo. Hollander takes up his cause, pro-bono, with young lawyer Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) to assist. Foster is silver-haired, with an intimidating shade of puce lipstick - brittle and steely, as always. She takes no prisoners on her first visit to the place that has many: Who authorised my clients chains? she asks. I want to get the name right for The New York Times. Back in the US, Benedict Cumberbatch, with an unlikely southern drawl, meets some old military friends. The higher-ups want Lieutenant-Colonel Couch (Cumberbatch), to prosecute Salahi. They want it done quick and dirty, straight to the death penalty. If the story of Salahis imprisonment for 14 years without charge were not true, corroborated by multiple sources, the script might be accused of black-hatting the US army. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Some of the characters are paper-thin ciphers for meanness. Couch, on the other hand, is as serious about the law as his rival, Nancy Hollander. Both soon realise they are being kept in the dark. Hollander files a writ of habeas corpus. Her case is not about the mans guilt, but whether the government has a right to imprison him without trial, based on the legal dodge that Gitmo is not on US territory. Its clear that Macdonald and the writers think Salahi is innocent, but they show enough of the allegations against him that we understand why his tormentors see it differently. In the end, it is a film about human, not just American rights: the right not to be tortured, the right to a presumption of innocence, the right to have charges brought and to defend them without duress. Loading Mamedou Salahi was afforded none of these rights. His treatment shamed the land of the free - and there are others still imprisoned at Guantanamo, despite Obamas pledge to close it. Even if you disagree with these sentiments, the films accusations are difficult to simply ignore. Tahar Rahim, as Mohamedou Salahi, gives a performance as haunting as any in the great American prison dramas admired around the world: Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke, Tim Robbins in Shawshank Redemption, Steve McQueen in Papillon. A temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas, seen on March 17, 2021. Jaime Rodriguez Sr/US Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs Human-rights groups are calling out the Biden administration for crowded Border Patrol facilities. The government is holding migrant children in "inappropriate" detention centers, human-rights groups told Insider. These facilities have not yet been seen by journalists, but government-shared videos show children in crowded spaces and sleeping on mats just inches off the floor. See more stories on Insider's business page. As shocking videos and images began to emerge showing the inside of various Border Patrol facilities where migrant children are being held in Texas, human-rights groups are calling out the crowded conditions. These organizations say the holding facilities are inappropriate for children, and they're urging the Biden administration to find different solutions to temporary migrant housing. On Monday, Rep. Henry Cuellar shared with Insider photos that gave the public a first look into migrant facilities under the Biden administration. In these photos, dozens of masked children can be seen lying down on gray mats. Some are crowded into corners, despite the threat of the coronavirus spreading. Others are simply sitting on the floor. A Border Patrol facility in Donna, Texas, housing migrant children on the weekend of March 20, 2021. Courtesy of the Office of Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) On Tuesday, US Customs and Border Protection, under pressure from journalists who have repeatedly requested access into the facilities, posted two videos of the inside of various holding centers that were taken last week. The Biden administration has so far barred journalists from viewing and entering the facilities, citing privacy and coronavirus concerns. These government-produced and -released videos showed that dozens of children are being held in crowded conditions that lawmakers believe will evolve into a humanitarian crisis. Many children are seen sleeping on mats just inches off the floor. Groups of them sit in plastic-enclosed spaces, clutching foil blankets as they sleep. There are few adults in each space. It's these conditions that human-rights organizations are calling inappropriate. Story continues "Border Patrol stations are not an appropriate place to hold children and asylum seekers," Clara Long, associate director at Human Rights Watch, told Insider. Former President Donald Trump has been out of office for two months now. But experts say his administration has had a lasting impact on how the Biden administration is navigating immigration policy. "What we're seeing is the consequence of dedicated negligence from the previous administration - a lack of planning and resources invested in facilities to welcome children seeking safety, who were already arriving," said Denise Bell, Amnesty International's researcher for refugee and migrant rights. "And that is where we must focus: the children who are seeking safety," Bell added. "The conditions need to be much better and much faster." A Border Patrol temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas, for migrant children and families, pictured March 17, 2021. Jaime Rodriguez Sr/US Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs During the 2020 presidential election, Biden positioned himself as a pro-immigration candidate focused on bettering the system for incoming migrants. In January 2019, for example, Biden slammed Trump's idea to build a wall along the southern border. "We need border security but that's not the border security we need," he said. Now that he's in office, Biden is working to deliver on promises he made on the campaign trail, enacting measures to reverse controversial Trump-era policies. These key changes put forth by the Biden administration, however, have led to thousands of migrants - and many unaccompanied children - traveling to the US-Mexico border from Central America as they flee persecution, violence, and poverty in their home countries. According to senior administration officials, CBP had approximately 4,500 unaccompanied minors in holding as of Thursday, while the Department of Health and Human Services has more than 9,000 children in its care. In an attempt to mitigate the surge of migrants, the Biden administration has opened up various Border Patrol facilities for temporary housing. "The Biden administration inherited a broken, diminished system," Long said. "It's not surprising that things are taking a while to get in to hand. What we need to see from the Biden administration is consistent progress toward the goals it has articulated: humane and dignified border reception, holistic policy responses to migration and access to protection for those who need it." For its part, the Biden administration is taking steps to limit immigration to the border. The State Department has created more than 17,100 ads since January 21 to discourage people from migrating. These ads have reached about 15 million people, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said during a Monday briefing. It's not clear whether this approach to limit immigration to the United States is working. "This is just part of our effort to send a clear message," Psaki said. "But there is no question that funding is needed to address the root causes in these countries." White House officials and immigration experts have so far refrained from calling the surge a crisis. But the Biden administration recognizes that the facilities are not meant for long-term accommodations. "These Border Patrol facilities are not places made for children," Psaki said. "They are not places that we want children to be staying for an extended period of time. Our alternative is to send children back on this treacherous journey - that is not, in our view, the right choice to make." Detention is psychologically damaging to children The children are held in border facilities as they await transfer to other federal agencies. The government is required to transfer migrant children to Health and Human Services custody within 72 hours. But with the influx of unaccompanied minors coming to the US-Mexico border, nearly 3,000 children have been held beyond that limit, CBS News reported. A Border Patrol temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas, for migrant children and families, pictured March 17, 2021. Jaime Rodriguez Sr/US Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs "Even short stays in detention centers have the potential to be traumatic experiences," said Kathryn Humphreys, assistant professor of psychology and human development at Vanderbilt University. "We know from our research on orphanage care that children fare best when they have reduced exposure to group-based care and long-term family-based placements when they form relationships with those that are their parents or parent-figures," she added. CPB and HHS custody and detention centers qualify as group-based care. Such environments normally do not allow children to form the type of relationships with adults that help them grow and develop, Humphreys told Insider. Adults help "co-regulate children, both emotionally and physiologically," she said. Going without these trusted adults, even for short periods of time, can lead to stress in children and them falling behind developmentally, socially, and academically. The Biden administration is "obligated to hold children in conditions that meet United States and international standards that support their best interests," Bell of Amnesty International said. "Children must be held in conditions that meet their best interests and safely reunified with families and sponsors much more quickly." "This is a time for transformation - as the administration adapts right now, it must also set in motion the changes needed for a new system where detention is not assumed and children are with their parents and sponsors," Bell added. Read the original article on Business Insider KABUL Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan welcomes the joint statement of 35 of the cross-regional members of the Group of Friends of Afghanistan and the Group of Friends of Women in Afghanistan, which condemned in strongest possible terms the continued violence and targeted killings by the Taliban, Haqqani Network, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist outfits in Afghanistan. MoFA considers provisions of this statement as a positive step towards strengthening consensus on realization of the legitimate aspirations of the people and the Government of Afghanistan for establishing a lasting peace in the country. As reflected in declaration, the heinous terrorist attacks impedes the prospect of peace, undermines civil atmosphere and freedom of expression, and obstructs delivery of fundamental services to the population in need. The Group of Friends of Afghanistan and the Group of Friends of Women in Afghanistan have called for immediate end to the targeted killings and stressed the need to implement the provisions of international humanitarian law to protect the lives of civilians, health staff, and aid workers. We also welcome the Statements emphasis on implementation of the UN Security Councils Resolutions 2532 and 2565 and consider implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2513 extremely important to hold the Taliban accountable for their commitments, including putting an end to violence and targeted killings. The Statement also strongly emphasizes legitimate aspirations of the people and Government of Afghanistan to end the war and bloodshed in the country. In line with the mentioned statement, we stress the need for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, equal and meaningful participation of women in the peace process, and an end to the conflict through a comprehensive political solution. We also declare full readiness of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to engage in serious and meaningful negotiations for a political solution that will bring about lasting and just peace in the country. Australia, New Zealand Offer Statement While Allies Sanction Chinese Officials Australia and New Zealand have joined together to release a statement expressing their grave concerns about the severe human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China. This comes after the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union jointly unveiled parallel Magnitsky-style sanctions on six Chinese officials. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a joint statement that they welcome the measures announced by the group of Western allies. We share these countries deep concerns, which are held across the Australian and New Zealand communities, they said on March 23. Payne and Mahuta said there was clear evidence of severe human rights abuses in Xinjiang that include restrictions on freedom of religion, mass surveillance, large-scale extra-judicial detentions, as well as forced labour and forced birth control, including sterilisation. Since 2018, when reports began to emerge about the detention camps in Xinjiang, Australia and New Zealand have consistently called on China in the United Nations to respect the human rights of the Uighur people and other religious and ethnic minorities. Today, we underscore the importance of transparency and accountability and reiterate our call on China to grant meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for United Nations experts and other independent observers, they said. International Response to Uyghur Genocide On March 22, the United States announced sanctions on two Chinese officials, Wang Junzheng, secretary of the Party Committee of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and Chen Mingguo, director of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau. The two were targeted under the U.S. Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which will block their U.S.-linked assets. While the United States actions avoided targeting Chinas top leadership, this is the first coordinated move under the Biden administration, which took office in January to push back against the CCP. The move follows two days of tough and direct talks between U.S. and Chinese officials last week in Alaska, which laid bare the depth of tensions between the worlds two largest economies. Amid growing international condemnation, [China] continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who took part in last weeks talks, said in a statement while calling on Beijing to end the repression of Uyghurs and other minority groups. This builds on the Trump administrations groundwork, which imposed sanctions on Xinjiangs Communist Party Secretary Chen Quanguo, a member of Chinas powerful Politburo, and five other officials in July last year. It was also on Trumps final days in office that the U.S. government officially recognised the Uyghur genocide. UK and EU Sanctions The United Kingdom and the European Union also targeted the same four Chinese officials, in their first Magnitsky style sanctions, along with the Public Security Bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, the policing department of the organisation. The UKs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in a statement: The UK will, for the first time, impose asset freezes and travel bans against four Chinese government officials, as well as a Xinjiang security body, under the UKs Global Human Rights sanctions regime for systemic violations against Uyghurs and other minorities. Speaking in the House of Commons, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said, I can tell the House today that Im designating four senior individuals responsible for the violations that have taken placeand persistagainst the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. The evidence of widespread human rights abuses in Xinjiang cannot be ignoredincluding mass detention and surveillance, reports of torture and forced sterilisation, Raab said in the FCDO statement. Working with our international partners, we are imposing targeted sanctions to hold those responsible to account. Zhu Hailun, former secretary of Xinjiangs Political and Legal Affairs Committee, was described by the EU as the architect of the large-scale surveillance, detention, and indoctrination programme targeting Uyghurs and people from other Muslim ethnic minorities. The list also includes Wang Junzheng, Communist Party chief of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), a state-owned economic and paramilitary organisation. In addition to implementing the mass detention programme in the XUAR, the EU said Wang is also responsible for the XPCCs systematic use of Uyghurs and people from other Muslim ethnic minorities as a forced workforce, in particular in cotton fields. The two other sanctioned individuals are Wang Mingshan, secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee, who served as Xinjiangs police chief, and Chen Mingguo, the current police chief. Apart from being directly responsible for the mass detentions, they have been linked to Xinjiang polices Integrated Joint Operations Platform, an extensive data programme used to track millions of Uyghurs in the region and flag those deemed potentially threatening to be sent to detention camps, the EU said. Reuters and Epoch Times reporter Alexander Zhang contributed to this article. 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. Environmental activists insisted the government resume community patrols in the fast-disappearing Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, as they marked International Forest Day on Sunday. Activists have been pushing the government to allow groups like the Prey Lang Community Network, which ran forest patrols till last year, to monitor illegal logging activities in the protected area. The government has prevented groups from patrolling the sanctuary claiming they were unregistered or didnt have the requisite permission to enter the protected area. Heng Sros, a forest activist in Cambodia, said natural resources in the Prey Lang forest were being lost at a rapid pace, often in collaboration with corrupt local officials. The activist was arrested by Environment Ministry rangers with four others, including Goldman Environmental Prize winner Ouch Leng, for documenting illegal logging and attempting to educate people about the Prey Lang forest. This arrest mirrored the arrest of environment activists, including Heng Sros and Ouch Leng, for using highlighting increased deforestation by private companies. I have interviewed workers who transport the wood from Prey Lang, and they admitted that their bosses paid and bribed the environmental officials to transport the timber, Heng Sros said on Monday. Prey Lang spans four different provinces Kratie, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, and Kampong Thom and is one of the last lowland evergreen forests in Southeast Asia. Activists allege that the timber is being transported on behalf of private companies like Think Biotech and PNT. Heng Sros alleged that PNT, which is a subsidiary of Think Biotech, was transporting timber from within the protected area on Preah Vihear, whereas the parent company was operating logging operations in Kratie. The activist said the Ministry of Environment did not want the public to know that environmental officers were involved in forest crimes, which is why it was preventing entry to the sanctuary. Nowadays, we do not enter the Prey Lang area often because we have been arrested and we were warned not to enter the Prey Lang area without permission from the Ministry of Environment, he said. VOA Khmer could not reach representatives at Think Biotech for comment on Monday. In late February, Amnesty International released a statement, accompanied by satellite imagery, showing an increase in deforestation and road construction within the protected area, which often lead to further degradation of the forest. Svay Song, a 57-year-old member of the Prey Lang Community Network in Kratie province, said timber transport activities in Kratie province have slowed down a little after the arrest of Ouch Leng and Heng Sros in February. He said the government should allow access to forest patrol groups. Please be informed that the perpetrators [of forest crimes] are only afraid of the Prey Lang people, the Prey Lang community network. They are not afraid of the authorities, he said. Its because the community network is clean with its work. Its clean because if they confiscate machinery, they will not sell that machinery [back to offenders] after the confiscation. He said that the Ministry of Environment often blames the communities for not being loyal to the government in conserving the remaining forests in Prey Lang, but continues to prevent them from patrolling the forest. Ministry of Environment Spokesperson Neth Pheaktra said that once the Prey Lang Community Network is properly registered it can commence patrols, but after notifying the ministry. The law states that there must be an agreement on cooperation in the protection and conservation of natural resources, and [anyone] wants to enter this area must provide notification in advance as well as cooperate with the authorities," he said. The spokesperson refuted claims that local environmental officers were involved in allowing illegal logging and that activists were prone to making unsubstantiated allegations. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. A Viking armored vehicle and a Royal Marine from 42 Commando take part in an exercise at Barry Buddon, simulating an attack in a hostile country in Carnoustie, Scotland, on April 12, 2013. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) UK Military Revamp: Fewer Troops, More Robots, and New-Look Marines British troop levels will shrink to record lows as the Ministry of Defence puts its faith in technology, automation, and cyber and space capabilities in its long-awaited revamp. The Defence Command paper, published yesterday, is billed as the biggest shake-up to the military since the Cold War. The plan includes swarming drones, a new ship for protecting undersea cables, and for the Royal Marines to be re-purposed as a commando-style force deployed overseas in the teeth of geopolitical storms. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that the blueprint, marks a shift from mass mobilisation to information age speed, readiness, and relevance for confronting the threats of the future. It comes as part of a broader foreign policy review that includes a pivot towards the pacific and to state-based threats and competition. The Navy and its carriers remain the centre-piece of that pivot to Asia, which was already outlined last week. The UK Armed Forcesworking with the rest of governmentmust think and act differently, said Wallace. They will no longer be held as a force of last resort, but become more present and active force around the world. Despite a 14 percent boost in spending, there will be a drop in troop levels to historic lows. The Armys increased deployability and technological advantage will mean that greater effect can be delivered by fewer people, Wallace told MPs. I have therefore taken the decision to reduce the size of the Army from todays current strength of 76,500 trade trained personnel to 72,500 by 2025. That reduction in troops has already prompted criticism from former army leaders. The government is pumping money into developing military space and cyber capabilities, along with unmanned aerial systems. All services recognise the importance of Unmanned Aerial Systems, which is why we will also develop combat drone swarm technologies, said Wallace. The number of tanks is also to be reduced, raising more concerns among some military analysts. A tank fires in Salisbury, England on March 19, 2015. ( Matt Cardy/Getty Images) The British Army had 1,200 main battle tanks at the start of the first gulf war, 1990, Robert Clark, a military analyst at the Henry Jackson Society told The Epoch Times. It is now going to be reduced from its current 227, to just 148. So thats enough for two armoured regiments, he said. Its not even a token force amount. The U.S., for instance, and several of our significant partners have seriously questioned the UKs ability to sustain an armored commitment going forwards. Meanwhile, the Royal Marines are becoming SAS-style special operations forcesthe Future Commando Force. Instead of waiting on home soil ready to leave at a moments notice, they will be deployed overseas, hustling for geopolitical footholds in what is known as the grey zone. They will be joined by another special ops regiment: the Rangers. Its a much more light footprint, expeditionary in nature, deployment capability the Marines will have going forwards, said Clark. He says that this forward-deployed presence can counter the state-based threats which the UK government now regards as the major security threat. Special operations forces will also be used to tackle the so-called grey zone activity. That refers to enemy action that falls short of war from Chinas South China sea aggression and island-building, to Russias disinformation campaigns on Twitter. According to Clark, special forces will tackle this kind of warfare in collaboration with both MI6 and GCHQ. You are blending traditional capabilities and non-conventional capabilities with intelligence and cyberspace. So its very interesting, going forward. In the Navy, a new spy ship is being built to counter the growing threat to undersea internet cables, and undersea drones will replace the fleet of 13 minesweepers. Overall, reaction to the plans have been mixed says Clark. He thinks that the plans may have been over-hyped, leaving some people underwhelmed. Over the last six months so theres so much excitement and build up, he said. The image of a boy with shining eyes and crippled limbs damaged by Agent Orange prompted Ngo Thi Thuy Huong, born in 1974, "to do something" to revive contaminated land in Vietnam. Dr Ngo Thi Thuy Huong In the 1990s, aquaculture was still not a properly invested industry. Therefore, Huong, who was then a student, cherished the dream of studying aquaculture to find solutions to obtain high yield. During her four years at university, Huong had chances to go to many areas and she realized that people were raising fish without a specific method. In 1999-2001, while studying for a masters degree in aquaculture at Ghent University in Belgium, she spent time on deep studies in ecotoxicology with the focus on assessing the impact of heavy metals on the health of aquatic species and danger to humans. Ecotoxicology remains an unfamiliar concept in Vietnam which has not received appropriate attention. For me, just analyzing the content of toxins in the environment, thats not saying much, because these are just figures. If we cannot discover the mechanism that has an impact on organisms and through food chains, and how this affects human health, the figures will be insignificant, she said. Therefore, in 2002, Huong moved to Germany as a PhD student majoring in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology at Bayreuth University. The image of a boy with shining eyes and crippled limbs damaged by Agent Orange prompted Ngo Thi Thuy Huong, born in 1974, "to do something" to revive contaminated land in Vietnam. Eight years later, in early 2014, Huong became the manager of a project dealing with dioxin pollution on plants funded by the Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. She and her co-workers flew to Bien Hoa Airport, one of the dioxin hotspots in Vietnam. The images I got when visiting the museums in HCM City urged me to implement the project. I remember that I saw the image of a boy with shining eyes, but his limbs were crippled because of Agent Orange. I thought I had to do something, she said. During her years of living and studying overseas, Huong heard about Vetiver, a magic grass species used widely in India, Thailand and Australia to prevent erosion and treat earth and water pollution. Huong and her co-workers then decided to use Vetiver to rehabilitate the dioxin contaminated soil, which was a product of the war. At first, the scientific council believed that plants could not absorb macromolecules including dioxin. The research team then had to cite scientific documents to prove their viewpoint. Dioxin and persistent chemical toxins have very low solubility in water but dissolve easily in fats and oils. Vetiver has a very high essential oil content in the roots, up to 5 percent of dry weight. This kind of grass can live in harsh environmental conditions. The root system of the plant can be up to 4-5 meters deep. The research team thought the microbiota living in the root system could play a major role in reducing dioxin pollution. In 2014-2016, the research team gained encouraging results as it proved that Vetiver could prevent the spread of dioxin to neighboring lands and help ease the contamination level by 38 percent after it grew for 12 months at Bien Hoa Airport. In late 2017, Huong received funding from USAID to continue studying the mechanism of Vetiver in treating dioxin in the earth and preventing the spread of dioxin. The project is now in the final stage and new discoveries have been made, and are expected to be reported by the end of 2021. Huong has also participated in many other research projects, including one on the impact of artificial lighting on the development of plants in the caves of Ha Long Bay. She has found a treatment method to reduce the impact on the plants in the caves. Lifestyle Huong told reporters that she could gain her achievements because she has a good husband who appreciates her work. Huong met her husband in Belgium where she was studying for her masters degree, and he was studying for a masters degree in land resources management. The couple experienced a tough time in Germany, when their income was not high enough to pay their house rent, take care of their child and cover basic needs. Her husband had to wash dishes at restaurants to earn extra money. Both of them were PhD students at the same school and were very busy. Her husband got home at 8 pm and took care of the child so that she could work at the laboratory until 1-2 am the next morning. Huong admitted that she sometimes thought of giving up. My German teacher was very severe and demanding. I rarely did not cry when meeting him, she recalled. But things became better after she redesigned the goals of her research and her plans. Later returning to Vietnam, Huong began work as a university lecturer at the Faculty of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering at Phenikaa University, and as a visiting lecturer at the University of Natural Sciences. She always tells her students that only those who really have passion can pursue the path of scientific research. If someone wants to become rich, they should not become a scientist, she said. Thuy Nga The Vietnamese scientist with 15 US patents As a scientist with 15 US patents, becoming a senior manager of a research and product development group at a corporation with revenue of nearly US$20 billion, Dr. Cong admitted he didnt know what major to pursue when he was younger. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) Gyms, spas, and internet cafes in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal will be closed for two weeks. The Department of Health issued the advisory on Tuesday, while the NCR Plus 'bubble' is in place until April 4. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier announced in his briefing that all 17 mayors of Metro Manila agreed to close down these businesses. "Alinsunod sa guidelines na in-issue ng DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) na merong kakayahan ang LGUs na isara ang gyms, spas, at internet cafe, nagbotohan na po ang Metro Manila mayors at sarado po ito sa susunod na dalawang linggo," Roque said. [Translation: In accordance with the guidelines issued by the DTI that LGUs have the power to close down gyms, spas, and internet cafes, Metro Manila mayors already voted on this and have agreed to temporarily close them down for the next two weeks.] Under Resolution 104 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases, gyms, spas and other personal care services were still initially allowed to operate at a limited capacity despite restrictions on non-essential travel. In an interview with CNN Philippines' The Source, OCTA Research fellow Guido David noted that every establishment which promotes close interaction and reduces physical distancing "will definitely be high-risk for infection." "In fact, there have been many studies that looked at which establishments or events lead to high risk of infection. That includes buffets, and I think that may include spas and gym," he said. Roque and other officials previously clarified that staycations, which also count as non-essential travel, are still allowed within the NCR Plus bubble. READ: Despite COVID-19 surge, staycations within NCR Plus bubble still allowed Meanwhile, restaurants may still continue with their delivery and take-out services, as well as outdoor dining but only at 50% capacity. RELATED: EXPLAINER: What you need to know about the NCR Plus bubble 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. Parents and experts say the impact of detentions will last for generations to come. Mass incarceration of Uyghurs in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) has scattered some 500,000 Uyghur children in boarding schools, orphanages, and other institutions run by the Chinese statea state that experts say is committed to the long-term eradication of the ethnic group. The forcible transfer of children from one group to another that has been documented for five years in the XUAR is one of five acts that meet the threshold for genocide, argued international experts in a report issued this month by the Washington-based Newlines Institute. The Newlines report cited Article II of the United Nations 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which spells out five acts that constitute genocide, any one of which the group found to be sufficient for if intent to harm or destroy a group in whole or part is clear. Those findings came amid reports of Uyghur children in China being completely separated from their parents, orphaned, and deprived of the opportunity to reunite with their families. Family separation appears to be creating conditions of trauma, the long-term effects of which are difficult to predict. Investigative reporting over the past few years has shown that hundreds of thousands of Uyghur children live in some form of state care. These numbers, which were initially reported in 2018 and have likely grown since, are drawn from Chinese government reports and other documents. In some of the more shocking cases, Uyghur parents abroad have spotted their own childrensome of whom they left behind when they emigrated, expecting to reunite with them not long afterin videos showing them receiving state education in XUAR boarding schools circulating on social media. Recently a video of a Uyghur child in Aksu (in Chinese, Akesu) prefecture circulated widely on social media both within and outside of China, raising alarm within the Uyghur diaspora. The video appears to show a six-year-old girl named Sabira speaking in Mandarin to her ethnic Han teacher. The girl hesitates to tell her teacher her brothers name, noting that she only knows how to say her brothers name in Uyghur, and she is worried she will be hit if she does not say it in Chinese. Former internment camp instructor Qelbinur Sidik, who fled to the Netherlands after working for a total of nine months in two different camps, was an elementary school instructor for 28 years. She recently spoke with RFAs Uyghur Service about the video and about the broader environment of fear in the XUAR, noting that in recent years she taught many students who were afraid and hesitant, as well as who had become orphaned as a result of state policy. If you watch that video, you can see theres a fear that has settled throughout the girls entire body, she said, noting that physical abuse grew more widespread in schools in the region as the number of Han teachers increased. She cant speak her own language, but she also cant say [what she wants to say] in Chinese, and she knows shell be hit. This is how these children are living now Because theyre always hitting and verbally abusing the kids, [the kids] fear they will be punished, and they cant think about anything else. Teachers assigned to children According to Sidik, the number of orphaned students began to grow in 2016, ahead of the implementation of a campaign of mass incarceration in the XUAR that has seen up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities detained in a vast network of internment camps since early 2017. By 2018, she said, many classrooms were half empty. The students started coming to us, saying [the authorities] had taken away their older siblings, mothers, their fathers, Sidik said. In that period, the Bureau of Education put out a notice saying that schools had to assign children who had been left alone after their parents were detained to different teachers who would be responsible for them, she said. I was assigned to two children from one family. I had to check on them. One of the children was a 12-year-old girl. I went to her house, arranged food for them, did work for them. I told them, Your parents will come back, surely theyll be back tomorrow or the next day. By November [2017], there were many such children, so they started assigning them to Han teachers. Sidik said children in classrooms became meek and afraid, and if teachers had to speak to them more forcefully, they would react by raising their hands over their heads, as if to protect themselves from a potential blow. Eventually, a lot of children disappeared. About half of them were gone. There was no trace of them after they disappeared, she said. They said they had placed them in boarding schools, that the government was sending them there and would be taking care of them. Sidik said she often thinks of her students, who have been placed in what she called essentially camps for children. They must think Im a liarI told them their parents would come back soon, but its been years and their parents still arent back. I think about this and cry, she said. Children in the diaspora Uyghur children outside the XUAR are facing similar psychological anguish and other difficulties, as well. Sadirdin, a Uyghur living in Almaty, Kazakhstan, recently spoke with RFA about the effect that his wifes internment has had on his children. Sadirdins wife, Muyassar, disappeared in 2016 after returning to renew her passport in Atush (Atushi), a county-level city of around 270,000 people that is the capital of Kizilsu Kirghiz (Kezileisu Keerkezi) Autonomous Prefecture in the cotton- and grape-growing region of southwestern XUAR. Muyassar had assumed her trip would take no longer than a month. She was released from a camp around one year ago but has still been unable to reunite with her husband and children across the border in Kazakhstan, which has led to much anguish for the family. My daughter drew a picture about two months ago. Her teacher didnt know that our family has been separated for the past five years. The teacher said to me, Your daughter is sad. I asked if something had happened at school, and she told me about the drawing, Sadirdin said. I asked [my daughter] about the meaning and she said it was because we hadnt seen her mother [for a long time]. She drew her mom sitting behind the house and it was raining. She was just in preschool when her mom left ... How can children deal with this? Omer Bekri, an ethnic Uyghur who was the first former camp detainee to testify to the international media about the torture he faced while in state custody, was separated from his wife and children for eight months after he was detained on a trip back to the XUAR, where he was born, from Kazakhstan, where he had obtained citizenship. After nearly four years, Bekri was finally reunited with his family on Feb. 24. He spoke with RFA at length about the impacts of separation and fear on his three children, who were previously healthy and well-adjusted. These kids cant even express what it is theyre thinking now One of their teachers in Turkey said the children would freeze up and couldnt speak, that they couldnt even say out loud what they wanted to say, he said. I can sense that what they need is love. This is a type of spiritual hunger Im the one who left them because I went into the camp. I wasnt able to give them my love. They were abandoned, they lived life without their father, wondering if theyd ever see me again. Bekri said his family life has started over again from zero and that his children are still dealing with the trauma of his detention. These things stay with adults, so they certainly stay with children as well, he said. Im giving all my time to my children right now, talking to them, playing with them, taking them out, letting them know their father is always available to play with them. This is a way to raise them, to show them what life is like, to show them how to live, what hope is. Theres going to be a lot of pain Cathy Malchiodi, the director of Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute and a U.S.-based expert with more than 35 years of experience in the field of child psychology, who spoke about the video of the young girl from Aksu, as well as on the drawing of a family split in two made by Sadirdins daughter, noting that they both contain expressions of fear. Even in the situations before when there has been genocide, theres never been this systematic reeducation to change peoples identities and to try to make them forget the past, Malchiodi said. These children may never be able to find out what really happened. There's going to be a lot of pain, depression, and anxiety. It will not go away, or you feel like there's something missing. And you're grieving something, but you don't know what it is you're grieving throughout your life, she said. Even though that happened several generations ago, we know that down to other generations, those generations are also carrying the trauma. When asked how it will be possible for parents to help lessen the residual trauma and fear these children are facing, Malchiodi stressed the importance of breaking silence and allowing children to relate their experiences as a way of healing. That's the whole thing in trauma, that people have these stories, and children, and we have to find ways for them to be able to tell the stories, she said. Reported by Gulchehra Hoja for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by the Uyghur Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. External Article 23 March 2021 Airlines and others in the travel industry are throwing their support behind so-called vaccine passports to boost pandemic-depressed travel, and authorities in Europe could embrace the idea quickly enough for the peak summer vacation season. Advertisements Technology companies and travel-related trade groups are developing and testing various versions of the vaccine passports, also called health certificates or travel passes. It is not clear, however, whether any of the passports under development will be accepted broadly around the world, and the result could be confusion among travelers and disappointment for the travel industry. Here are some key questions about the health credentials. 'We got bored and wanted to go on a trip': Tales from a pandemic spring break in Cancun, Mexico White House: Vaccine passports should be free, private and secure. But who will be issuing them? What is a vaccine passport? Local featured AH Monroe pulls out of 3.2 project In a shocking development, the odds-on favorite to build long-delayed affordable housing on a 3.2-acre parcel in Bahama Village has pulled out because of a dispute between the Key West City Commission and the Bahama Village Redevelopment Advisory Committee (BVRAC). AH of Monroe County, Inc., a non-profit HIV-AIDS services organization with experience developing and managing affordable housing in Key West, sent an email to Key West City Commissioners late Friday saying it was withdrawing its proposal submitted to city officials early last month. Scott Pridgen, AH Monroes executive director, issued a statement Monday, saying his board of directors voted Friday to withdrawn from the previously-approved project. Upon review, some recent complications and need for referendum indicate potential conflict in future dialogue. The AH Board values our long-standing relationships between the city, the Bahama Village Redevelopment Advisory Committee and other Keys developers. We do not wish to impede the process of moving forward in any Request for Proposal (RFP), Mondays statement read. Reached by telephone, Pridgen said the organization is still interested in leading the housing development project. But the city and BVRAC commissioners need to agree on how to move ahead, he said. Were just withdrawing until the city and BVRAC can come to some consensus on working together. We have to work together, Pridgen told The Key West Citizen. We did not want to become the political magnet. The disagreement between city officials and BVRAC is over whether to open the 3.2-acre housing project to competitive bidding. Mayor Teri Johnston and several commissioners were in favor of accepting AH Monroes unsolicited proposal without a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) in order to jumpstart the project, which has been in discussions for approximately 17 years. The city charter allows it to bypass the normal RFP process for reasons in the best interest of the city. However, BVRAC, after initially expressing gratified interest in the AH Monroe plan at its Feb. 4 meeting, appeared to change course one month later. During its March 4 meeting, commissioners voted 5-1 to recommend to city commissioners that they put the project out to bid. BVRAC Chair Aaron Castillo said he believed there were other construction companies, some minority-owned, that wanted the opportunity to bid on the 3.2-acre project. BVRAC is an advisory board to the city commission and has no authority to control the city bidding process itself. Perhaps not coincidently, a second unsolicited proposal for the 3.2-acre project was submitted to the city on March 13; this one from Wendover Housing Partners, a for-profit, privately-held real estate development firm based in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Wendover has developed and currently manages two tax credit-financed affordable housing communities on Stock Island. Wendover was also selected in 2013 to submit a proposal for a 100-unit senior citizen assisted living facility on the same 3.2-acre parcel. However, after a year, that idea was dropped by the Florida Keys Assisted Care Coalition. Key West City Commission Clayton Lopez on Monday agreed with BVRACs position on competitive bidding. It doesnt matter who submits [an RFP]. Im not going to favor us considering only one proposal, Lopez said. The idea is to say we followed our own processes. But Mayor Johnston disagreed. Its a major blow, she said about AH Monroe withdrawing from the project. Basically, we go back to ground zero. Johnson and other commissioners want to meet an April 2022 deadline to apply for tax credit financing from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Putting out an RFP could take six to nine months, possibly pushing contract and plan proposals from the winning developer past next years state application deadline and delaying the project another year. The tax credit financing program is only offered once a year in April. The AH Monroe and Wendover proposals are similar in that both propose to use state tax crediting financing as a large part of the as-of-yet unknown development costs. AH proposed to build 80 to 100 units of affordable housing, including 20% set aside for first-time home ownership. Wendover proposes to build 75-85 units with no homeownership component. AH said rental unit tenants making between 35% ($24,675) to 120% ($108,840) of area median income (AMI) would be eligible. The Wendover proposal set a lower income range; from 25% to 100% of AMI. Both proposals said the project would make regular payments into the Bahama Village Community Redevelopment Area tax fund account. That account collects a percentage of property taxes and rent from city-owned properties within Bahama Village and puts that money back into the community to support economic development projects. Based on our participation in the [Jan. 25] Bahama Village affordable housing workshop hosted by the city, we recognize the tremendous desire and passion to finally realize the opportunity for affordable housing on the [Bahama Village] Truman Waterfront location. This site is one of the most valuable pieces of undeveloped property in historic Key West and we understand the importance of selecting a development partner that will meet and exceed the communitys expectation for much-needed affordable housing for residents of Bahama Village and others while generating precious property taxes and lease payments for the city and CRA, the Wendover proposal read. psowers@keysnews.com .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... PHOENIX A woman has been arrested over allegedly shooting and killing her husband, according to Phoenix police. Authorities said 50-year-old Brandon Smith called police around 2 a.m. Sunday and stated that his wife had shot him and she was still armed in the familys home. Police and fire crews arrived at the scene and 52-year-old Diane Smith was taken into custody. Brandon Smith was rushed to a hospital in extremely critical condition and was later pronounced dead. Police did not give a possible motive for the shooting. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ They said the couples 14-year-old daughter was in the home at the time but was not injured. Diane Smith is being held on a homicide charge. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing. What you need to know about Pa.'s UC system going offline Thursday A children's tale about America's top doctor on infectious diseases is to be released later this year. The book, entitled, Dr Fauci: How a Boy from Brooklyn Became America's Doctor is to be published on June 29 Simon & Schuster, and recommended to be ideal for children between the ages of 4 and 8. The read which is set to turn science fact back into to a work of fiction describes Fauci's colorful story on Amazon as being about 'a curious boy in Brooklyn, delivering prescriptions from his father's pharmacy on his blue Schwinn bicycle. A children's book has been written about the life of Dr. Anthony Fauci due out in June 'His father and immigrant grandfather taught Anthony to ask questions,' the blurb details. 'Consider all the data, and never give up and Anthony's ability to stay curious and to communicate with people would serve him his entire life.' Despite not being endorsed by Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, author Kate Messner says she wrote the book in the hope of inspiring children to be like the doctor who has become the American authority of the coronavirus pandemic. 'Before Tony Fauci was America's doctor, he was a kid with a million questions, about everything from the tropical fish in his bedroom to the things he was taught in Sunday school,' Messner said to CNN. 'I'm really hopeful that curious kids who read this book those we're counting on to solve tomorrow's scientific challenges will see themselves in the pages of Dr Fauci's story and set their goals just as high,' she continued. The story isn't a complete fairy tale though with Messner claiming that she spoke to Fauci 'at the edges of his long work days' either before starting the day or as he left his office. Fauci has not officially endorsed the book but it was written with both the doctor's permission and approval along with a series of Zoom interviews with the author The book is set to be the talk of the playground with promises to include 'a timeline, recommended reading, plus a full spread of facts about vaccines and how they work, along with Dr Fauci's own tips for future scientists.' Fauci, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has served seven presidents but he only really achieved global fame as the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold. Fauci has also served as an advisor to every president since Ronald Reagan was in office. Fauci received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian award, in 2008 from then-President George W. Bush for his decades of work, dating back to the earliest days of the AIDS crisis. 'I've been in a very unique position of now being one of the very, very few people who were there from the very first days of HIV,' he said to The Guardian during an interview last year. Despite being 80 years old, the doctor has attempted to bridge the generations and reached out to children last year as he told them he had saved Christmas by flying to the North Pole to give Santa a shot of the coronavirus vaccine. Messner will now be hoping that it is her book which will end up going viral and that children inspired by the doctor's performance and teachings might be eager to pick up a copy. Sen. Josh Hawley lost his book deal with publisher Simon & Schuster in January 'after his role in what became a dangerous threat.' Hawley is pictured giving a clinched-first salute to the MAGA mob who would later overwhelm Capitol Hill The publisher behind the Fauci fable, Simon & Schuster, was under fire in January having cancelled Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley's book after the Capitol Hill riot. 'We did not come to this decision lightly,' Simon & Schuster told The New York Times. 'As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints: at the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat.' The senator responded by tweeting a statement 'on the woke mob.' 'This could not be more Orwellian,' Hawley responded. 'We'll see you in court,' he offered, complaining that he was being canceled. He said he was just 'representing my constituents' and 'leading a debate on the Senate floor on voter integrity.' '...Which they have now decided to redefine as sedition,' he wrote. Hawley was the first senator who said he'd support a House GOP plan to challenge some of the Electoral College votes from swing states - an effort President Donald Trump supported, as it extended the farce he was feeding to his supporters that the election result could be overturned. Hawley's book was later picked up by conservative Regnery Publishing and is scheduled to be released this spring. Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu aid on Tuesday that for the time being enforcing quarantine in the Capital City was not under discussion, according to AGERPRES. He reiterated that "no measure can ever be ruled out, as long as people's health is at stake." "Nonetheless, we're not talking about quarantine in the days immediately ahead. (...) We're not talking about quarantining [the Capital] at the time being," Voiculescu pointed out. The health minister said there would be a set of measures, which "could mean additional restrictions," which will most likely be announced on Tuesday. "There will be some measures that we are discussing now at 13:00, at the Ministry of Health, together with the Department for Emergency Situations, with the National Institute of Public Health. It is a set of measures that will most likely be announced during the day. Measures could certainly mean additional restrictions. (...) Quarantine cannot be ruled out. It is under discussion, once the 6 per thousand threshold has been exceeded, but this is a discussion we have with specialists every day," the minister said. Asked if he, personally, considers that Bucharest should be quarantined, Vlad Voiculescu replied: "I, personally, consider that we must take measures to save some people." He said that almost "everywhere" in the country there is a shortage of medical staff. Vlad Voiculescu said that the wish of every member of the Government is that, at Easter, people have holidays "as they should be." Until recently, it seemed unlikely any streaming service would enter the awards race. Yet, the late 2010s saw companies such as Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu pop up in Oscar talk. In particular, Netflix has emerged as a heavy-hitter in Oscars 2021, with 35 nominations. The likeliest win among them? Chadwick Boseman as Best Actor in Ma Raineys Black Bottom. Chadwick Boseman in Ma Raineys Black Bottom | Netflix Ma Raineys Black Bottom is based on an August Wilson play Like 2016s Fences, Ma Raineys Black Bottom is a film adaptation of a beloved work by playwright August Wilson. Throughout his career, Wilson captured the Black experience in America. And since Fences earned Viola Davis her first Academy Award, many critics expected her performance as the eponymous Ma Rainey could make her a two-time winner. Ma Raineys Black Bottom is a slice-of-life drama centering on a recording session involving blues performer Ma Rainey and her band. Over the course of a single day, tensions rise, and lives are changed forever. And while Davis earned an Oscar nod becoming the most-nominated Black female actor in history hers isnt the most-talked-about performance. RELATED: Ma Raineys Black Bottom: Viola Davis Drank That Whole Bottle of Coke in One Take The late Chadwick Bosemans final role will go down as his finest work Following Bosemans death in August 2020, Ma Raineys Black Bottom became the stars final role. And early reviews praised his go-for-broke performance. But they hardly do it justice. Amid his battle with colon cancer, Boseman embodied his role as Levee, Ma Raineys trumpet player, with such conviction and intensity that even Davis was in awe. Truly, Bosemans work is transcendent. The actor became a household name thanks to his work as Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But he so changes his vocal delivery, physicality, and mannerisms that fans would be hard-pressed to spot the Wakandan king. Certainly, it helps Ma Raineys Black Bottom gives Boseman plenty of juicy monologues. Here comes Ma Rainey and the band! #MaRaineyFilm has been nominated for 5 Academy Awards, including Best Actress (@ViolaDavis) and Best Actor (Chadwick Boseman). #Oscars pic.twitter.com/LgisZSdAl4 MaRaineyFilm (@MaRaineyFilm) March 15, 2021 RELATED: Viola Davis Reveals Chadwick Boseman Hated the Celebrity Part of Acting August Wilsons story is as relevant as ever to todays audiences Although its easy to spot director George C. Wolfes movie is based on a stage production, its no less poignant. Wilsons words are a gift to the films cast, giving even supporting players like Glynn Turman and Colman Domingo time to shine. But in addition to its focus on dialogue, Ma Raineys Black Bottom carries themes just as rich as its vocabulary. In the end, the films social commentary on the Black experience rings as true now as it did when Wilsons play first hit the stage in 1982. Though set in 1920s Chicago, Ma Raineys Black Bottom feels like it as easily could have transposed into a modern context. If anything, the contrast between the films setting and that of its audience allows its message to cut even deeper. To be sure, Bosemans anticipated Oscar win is well-deserved. But on the whole, Ma Raineys Black Bottom deserves credit too for how reverently it treats the source material and its subject matter. The film is currently available to stream exclusively on Netflix. (Newser) With at least 250 protesters having been killed since the military coup in Myanmar last month, Reuters reports that what it calls "humanless protests" are becoming increasingly popular. Anti-junta messages and displays are popping up on trees, in streets, and even on cookware; dolls, toys, mannequins, and cardboard cutouts have replaced protesters in the streets; and protesters are releasing hundreds of red balloons calling for international aid and help from the UN. story continues below Those who are taking to the streets are doing so in safer ways: Drivers are honking and gesturing from their cars in convoys; medical workers marched pre-dawn, before security patrols started up for the day. Meanwhile, a friend was calling attention to the plight of an Australian couple working in the country as consultants being detained at their Myanmar home and not allowed to leave the country, but a detained BBC journalist has reportedly been released. The European Union and the US on Monday imposed sanctions targeting 11 Myanmar officials, 10 of them top military officers, the AP reports. (Read more Myanmar stories.) The death has occurred of Sr Felicity (Veronica) Cusack, daughter of War of Independence veteran and member of the first Dail, Brian Cusack from Granard. Sister Felicity passed away in the care of St Mary's Nursing Home, Shantalla Road, Galway. The youngest daughter and last surviving member of the Granard natives family, she was predeceased by her brothers, Pearse (Fr Aidan OCSO, Roscrea), Brian and Mick; sisters, Nora and Catherine. A much loved member of the Carmelite Sisters, she spent many years in Fayoum, Egypt, as well as Loughrea and New Ross. She is survived by her nieces, Felicity Henderson and Maria Gallagher, nephews-in-law, grandnieces, grandnephews, loving cousins, extended family and friends. The family still have relatives in the Ballinalee and Granard area. Her funeral mass took place on Monday, March 15. Brian Cusack was astutely politically aware before he ever departed for Galway where he would study medicine at the university. He was elected to the first Dail as a Sinn Fein representative for North Galway in 1918. He was a founder member of the Volunteers in Galway and was interned in May 1918, and again during the War of Independence. He didnt feature in the historic photo of the first meeting of the first Dail in January 1919 as he was one of the 38 new TDs imprisoned at that time. They included fellow Longford TD, Joe McGuinness and the two former St Mels College students were duly seated side by side in a later photo of the first Dail taken on April 10. He was re-elected as a Sinn Fein TD for the North Galway constituency in the 1921 election. He vehemently opposed the Anglo Irish Treaty and when re-elected as an anti-Treaty Sinn Fein TD for Galway in 1922, he refused to take his seat. He didnt contest the 1923 election but remained very active politically and was one of the founding members of Fianna Fail in 1926. He was convinced to stand for the party in the 1927 general election but wasnt successful and afterwards resumed his medical career. Cusack was born in Granard where his father, a Cavan man, ran a drapery shop. The future TD and his three brothers were highly politicised. Another brother, Patrick, ironically stood for the Irish Parliamentary Party in Meath North in the 1918 election and was beaten by Sinn Feins Liam Mellows. Another brother, Paul Cusack, was arrested after the 1916 Easter Rising and was interned in Frongoch in Wales. The family maintained a long association with St Mels College and the third brother, Thomas Cusack, was the second President of the St Mels Past Pupils Union in 1961-62. The brothers were also first cousins of Kitty Kiernan, who was of course romantically linked with Michael Collins. A white woman who was waiting on line with her four children to pay for bagels at a New York City bakery referred to a black cashier as a b**** a** n****r because she was refused for service for not wearing a mask. Video of Sunday's incident, which is said to have taken place at Davidovich Bakery in the Essex Market on Manhattans Lower East Side, was circulated on the internet on Tuesday. The video shows a white woman who appears to be in her 30s wearing sunglasses while pushing a stroller with a young child strapped in. Three other young children are seen standing at her side as she faces the cashier at the bakery. The video, which was recorded by a bystander with a cell phone, starts with the woman asking the cashier, who is black, why she cant get service. A white woman (right) who was waiting on line with her four children to pay for bagels at a New York City bakery referred to a black cashier as a b**** a** n****r because she was refused for service for not wearing a mask Video of Sunday's incident, which is said to have taken place at Davidovich Bakery in the Essex Market on Manhattans Lower East Side, was circulated on the internet on Tuesday 'Ma'am, he's not going to serve you so please leave,' the security guard tells the woman, who continues to stand in line, refusing to move after she is refused service. 'Why? Cause he's a b**** a** n****r?' the woman said I cant wear a mask, sir, the woman is heard saying. A security guard nearby tells the cashier that he is not required to provide service to someone who isnt wearing a mask. The guard mentions that the woman does not wear a mask due to a medical problem. The woman apparently takes issue with a comment from the cashier who did not like how she was looking at him. You cant even see how Im looking at you. I have sunglasses on, the woman is heard telling the cashier. A security guard standing nearby tries to intervene, urging the woman to leave the store. The woman finally leaves with her four children after the security guard notified the New York Police Department I just want to order some bagels, she responded. Maam, hes not going to serve you so please leave, the security guard tells the woman, who continues to stand in line, refusing to move. Why? Cause hes a b**** a** n****r? the woman said. Thats what he is! Thats what he is! she added as nearby shoppers gasped at hearing the racial slur, which she then repeated. B**** a*** n****r...I just said it, the woman said. The security guard said she was going to call the police. The woman continued to argue with the cashier, saying: It doesnt affect me that youre not going to serve me. When the security guard asked the woman if she called him by a racial slur, the woman responded: I can call him whatever I want. A spokesperson for Essex Market (seen above on Manhattan's Lower East Side) told DailyMail.com that management 'strongly denounces the racist incident that occurred in our facility on Sunday' After the NYPD was notified, the shopper finally left the store. DailyMail.com has sought comment from Davidovich Bakery, Essex Market, and the New York Police Department. The New York City Economic Development Corporation, which oversees Essex Market, released a statement to DailyMail.com which read: 'Essex Market, New York City Economic Development Corporation, and Lower East Side Partnership strongly denounce the racist incident that occurred in our facility on Sunday. 'Hate has no place in our city or in the properties that we manage. 'The customer who perpetrated this incident was repeatedly asked to leave the facility and did so as we were notifying the NYPD. 'We have reached out to the impacted vendor and security team to offer our support and commitment to ensuring a safe environment at the Market.' An NYPD spokesperson told DailyMail.com 'there is no report [or] 911 call on file' stemming from the incident. Dear Amy: I have been with my husband for 40 years. I thought we had a great life together, however, I just found out that he has a biological son who is only two months younger than our youngest son! The childs mother put him up for adoption, which my husband claims he knew nothing about until months after the adoption was done. What really hurts is that he cheated on me with this same woman when I was pregnant with our first child. He says that she meant nothing to him (just sex), and that he always loved me, and that since it happened 30 years ago, I should just move past it. I found out about all of this a few months ago when his son contacted my daughter through a DNA matching site. Since then, all I can think about is that our entire life was a lie. How do I get past this? Heartbroken in PA Dear Heartbroken: Your husband does not get to declare this story over, just because he wants it to be. In addition to his infidelity, he fathered a child, knew about the child, and seems to have done nothing to help the child or the childs mother. This is quite a tell about your husbands deeper character, and you have the right to question his character now. DNA matching has dragged all of us into a new age of discovery, and quite often these DNA disclosures force us to face uncomfortable facts about ourselves and the people we love. Move on is not acceptable. It wont help you. Your husband should work a lot harder to go through this with you. Then you would have the opportunity to move on together, reclaiming your shared marital history in the process. A counselor could help you to unpack and process this challenging truth. Your husband should respect your need to handle this in your own way. Your children will also have questions and concerns, and their father should be brave enough to face these questions honestly. I hope your family will also eventually find a way to be open and inclusive with this newly discovered biological son. Amy Dickinson, author of the 'Ask Amy' column.TNS Dear Amy: I was not raised with my birth parents. I recently discovered my birth fathers family thru DNA testing. It has been quite the experience at 53. It appears that my birth father was the extreme black sheep of the family and after years of drama, he and his son were eventually exiled from the entire family. He is long since deceased, but most of the rest of the family want nothing to do with me because Im his child, despite the fact that I never even met him. Some refuse to even acknowledge me. Despite the fact that Im family, they have never attempted to contact me. I value the love Ive received from the three cousins who have bonded with me. It hurts so deeply that my own aunts, uncles, and first cousins refuse contact, based only on whose child I am. I dont speak to my half-brother because of some things he has said to me, which also hurt me deeply. Im trying to forgive them all for the pain theyve brought to me but its very hard. I thought over time they might change their minds, but no. Am I wrong to be angry and hurt? Should I be the bigger human and forgive them? Am I justified in feeling like Ive been wronged? Hurting in New York Dear Hurt: Your hurt feelings are entirely justified. However, you must understand that you stepped into a family system that was already entrenched, and which is extremely closed and negative. Understand in your bones that this dynamic has nothing to do with you. It is not your fault. Family is something of a construct, and you can construct your own, populated by people who want to have a relationship with you. If you want to forgive these people, you should start by simply accepting them as you perceive them: Flawed, possibly hurting, and hurtful. Dear Amy: You published a persons advice regarding online dating: Meet in public and tell them you have an event later, so you have an out if you need it. Great. Start the relationship out with a lie. Are you sure the person wasnt giving advice about how NOT to do things? Disappointed Dear Disappointed: I take your point, but as someone who has participated in online matching, I cheerfully reject it. (You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.) 2021 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Read more advice: Ask Amy: Separated soulmates are eager to connect Dear Annie: Looking to hop off the hamster wheel Dear Abby: Children cut off stepmother with dads power of attorney At least 10 people have been killed, including a police officer, in a shooting at a supermarket in the US city of Boulder, Colorado less than a week after eight people were shot dead in the US city of Atlanta. Police arrested Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, of Arvada and charged him with 10 counts of first-degree murder, Boulder Police Chief Maris Harold said at a press conference. Alissa, who was shot in the leg, was in stable condition at an area hospital and was expected to be released later Tuesday, officials said. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said authorities have not yet pinpointed a motive, stressing that the investigation is still in its preliminary stages. While the mainstream media is trying to picture white supremacist as the biggest terrorist threat in our country, they fail to report that Ahmad allegedly had sympathies towards ISIS: BREAKING: Gunman Ahmad Al-Issa had ISIS sympathies. President Biden has been briefed. Just when the media was telling us that white terrorists were the biggest threat. Carmine Sabia (@CarmineSabia) March 23, 2021 He was allegedly a Trump hater too. Twitter user Ashley Mayer saved screengrabs from the killers Facebook page. He hated Trump. Images below: Her tweet was deleted but other people took these screenshots too: Boulder Colorado shooter FB page is being scrubbed by Facebook but here are a few pictures. Looks like all same stuff the left spews on twitter. Can bet money he was not Republican so Democrats look what you created with your rhetoric of everything is hate and phobia filled. pic.twitter.com/xVaCpdJ8pj (@The_Gambit17) March 23, 2021 Yeah he was not a trump or Republican fan. So Democrats look at your monster that got loose. Time to bury the story I guess. Since your narrative no longer fits. pic.twitter.com/tLN9CkQJCG (@The_Gambit17) March 23, 2021 Looks like the Boulder Colorado shooter also targeted Republican and Trump rallies. So he was a Muslim, Syrian, Republican Hating, Non-White Mass Shooter with An AR-15. Will the media run stories on this for weeks or is it now a non-issue? Early information from a national security agency suggests Boulder shooter planned to target the Trump rally in Colorado Springs, Feb 2020, but decided to wait until the next one on March 13 in Denver but it was cancelled due to COVID, per WH official Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) March 23, 2021 People online speculated on why the identity of the shooter wasnt released immediately and many asked why his identity was kept secret. Authorities said the suspect has spoken with investigators but declined to elaborate. They also urged anyone with information to share it with the FBI. The 10 victims were also identified at the press conference including slain Boulder police officer Eric Talley. They range in age from 20 to 65, according to Harold, who said the last body was removed from the scene at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. The Supreme Court has suspended hearing in a suit on the Imo north senatorial bye-election which was held on December 5, 2020. When th... The Supreme Court has suspended hearing in a suit on the Imo north senatorial bye-election which was held on December 5, 2020. When the appeal was called for hearing on Tuesday, Musa Datijo Muhammad, who led a five-man panel of justices, informed counsel in the matter that the proceeding will not go on as scheduled. He said the interim chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had written a petition against him and two other justices, Helen ogunwumiju and Abdu Aboki for allegedly having a meeting with members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to subvert justice in the case. He said the APC alleged, that my humble self had led my two brothers to attend a meeting with members of the PDP to strategize how to subvert the outcome of this case. I must say that this is most unfortunate and my heart bleeds for this country, he said. If people as highly placed as the interim chairperson of the APC would open his mouth and make this weighty statement against innocent justices of this court, then I say my heart bleeds. We are not interested in any matter and I challenge him and the party to substantiate his allegation that my humble self attended a meeting with members of the PDP with a view to subverting the interest of their party. This is a reckless and irresponsible statement. That is how these useless statements were made in the past and that is why we are not taking it likely. If they have honour, let them substantiate their allegations and I will not leave a day longer in this court. So, this matter is adjourned sine die, and parties should approach the chief justice of the federation. Responding, Ahmed Raji, counsel to Ifeanyi Ararume, senatorial aspirant, said he was shocked to hear about the allegations made against the justices. This is very shocking. I swear with my last day in this court that I Ahmed Raji knows nothing about this issue and I condemn it with all the strength in me, he said. I sympathise with your lordships and whatever measure your lordship deems appropriate, we are fully in support. Umeh Kalu, counsel to the APC, said he was hearing of the petition for the first time. I am taken aback by this. I have never in my life met with the interim chairman of the APC, Kalu said. In matters of this nature, we normally deal with the legal adviser. In the first place, PDP is not a party in this matter. Ararume and Francis Ibezim, both members of the APC, have been in a legal battle in a bid to become the senator representing Imo north senatorial district. INEC had declared the APC as the winner of the bye-election but refused to announce any person as the authentic candidate of the party on the grounds of conflicting court orders for and against the two major contenders. However, Taiwo Taiwo, judge of a federal high court in Abuja, on March 18, ordered INEC to issue Ararume with the certificate of return. The suit before the apex court is that which seeks to upturn the judgment of Inyang Ekwo, federal high court judge, and that of the court of appeal which nullified Ibezims candidature on the grounds that he made false declaration in the documents he submitted to INEC. Varanasi: The Banaras Hindu University (BHU)on Tuesday issued a notification suspending offline classes amid rising COVID-19 cases across the state and the country. In the light of newly reported COVID-19 cases here, offline classes have been suspended at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) untill further notice. All classes will be held online as per prior schedule, the BHU notification said. Varanasi: In the light of newly reported #COVID19 cases here, offline classes have been suspended at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) untill further notice. All classes will be held online as per prior schedule. pic.twitter.com/wJq6klsKgA ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 23, 2021 The BHU had started offline classes for its final year students on 22 February and had planned to reopen for all students in a phased manner. The varsity had even opened its hostels on 17 February to facilitate the stay of outstation final-year students. However, amid a spike in Covid-19 cases across the country, the university has now decided to suspend offline classes until further notice. The order comes in the backdrop of the Uttar Pradesh administration ordering all educational institutions where exams are not underway to stay shut from 24 March till 31 March. The BHU had started offline classes for its final-year students on 22 February. The classes were being held in hybrid mode (both online and offline). The university officials had said that they have taken all the necessary measures to take care of the students and avoid any spread of infection. BHU had started the online classes for its students when the Covid-19 broke out in March 2020 and continued them till today. During the same time, the university also conducted open-book examinations for its students. At present, there are 3,036 active coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh, as per the Union Health Ministry. 8,759 people have lost their lives due to the virus in the state, while 5,95,743 have recovered from the disease. The Yogi Adityanath government had in February issued guidelines for the reopening of schools in Uttar Pradesh for classes 6 to 8 from 10 February and from 1 March for students of classes 1 to 5. The classes were being held only twice a week and only 50% of the students were allowed to attend, as per the Basic Education Department in Uttar Pradesh. Live TV Bengaluru, March 23 : Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Tuesday lashed out at the opposition Congress party for continuing its protest in the Assembly over state Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai's reply on the sleaze CD case on Monday. As the Assembly resumed its business on Tuesday, the Congress members trooped into the well in front of the Speaker, expressing displeasure over the government's reply on Monday, not allowing any business to take place in the House even as members of both the ruling party and the opposition raised slogans against each other. On the sidelines of his meeting with Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, Yediyurappa told reporters that it appears that the Congress is in no mood to attend the session, therefore they are making one or the other excuse to derail the legislature session. "We stand by our reply that the investigations are continuing and the police are in the process of tracking the woman who released her clip to the media stating she was complaining to the police. We need to track her down. Unless she is caught, no progress will be made in the case," he explained. He added that BJP leader Ramesh Jarakiholi has already resigned and filed a complaint with the police as well. The CM said that the opposition should not indulge in protest for the sake of it and instead it should think of debating other pressing issues that are affecting the state and its people. Frank Backes is senior vice president of Kratos Space Federal, and founder and chair of the Space ISAC board. Mark Kennedy is president of the University of Colorado. Kevin ONeil is founder of the Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation. Venkat Reddy is chancellor of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak says he has the backing of top state Republicans for the partys nomination to the vacant 22nd state Senate District seat. Republicans from Lackawanna, Luzerne and Monroe counties will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center in Scranton to choose a nominee for the special election May 18. The winner will face state Rep. Marty Flynn, D-113, Scranton, to fill a seat vacated when Sen. John Blake, a Democrat, resigned March 8 to work as U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwrights district director. Democrats chose Flynn as their nominee March 13. Chermak and Scranton attorney Dominic Mastri confirmed they will appear at the meeting. Former county First Assistant District Attorney Gene Talerico and wounded Afghanistan war veteran Earl Granville said Tuesday they will not seek the nomination. Insurance agency owner Joe Albert, one of the 61 conferees and a rumored candidate, said hes backing Chermak. County party chairman Lance Stange Jr. said he knew of no other announced candidates. Chermak said he had dinner Monday with state Sen. David Argall, R-29, Schuylkill County, the chairman of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee; Krystjan Callahan, the chief of staff to state Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman; his campaign chairman, Keith Eckel, and Stange. I just finally committed last night, Chermak said Tuesday. They drafted me. They really pushed and pushed. This was not something I was looking to do. With their blessing and support, Im going to give it a shot. Chermak said hes looking forward to doing some good things for this region as a senator. Right now, my hands are tied, he said. Even though we get along, Im a minority commissioner. (In Harrisburg), Ill be a majority senator. Democrats Jerry Notarianni and Debi Domenick have the majority on the county board of commissioners. Republicans control the state 50-seat Senate because 27 senators are Republicans, 20 are Democrats and one is an independent with two vacancies. The last Republican to win the 22nd seat, based in heavily Democratic Lackawanna County, was former Scranton city treasurer Arthur Piasecki in the 1966 election. Chermak said he held off for weeks on committing, partly because he wanted guarantees of financial and other support from state party officials. He said Red Maverick Media, a Harrisburg-based political consulting firm, will handle his campaign. I will be well funded to run a very powerful campaign, he said. Mastri, who had not heard Chermak officially joined the contest, said he will show up at the meeting anyway. Im in it to win it, he said. The 22nd Senate District includes all of Lackawanna County, Avoca, Dupont and Duryea boroughs and Pittston Twp. in Luzerne County and Barrett, Coolbaugh and Price townships in Monroe County. Lackawanna, the largest part of the district, has 52 conferees; Monroe, five; and Luzerne, four, Stange said. Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, was joined by a familiar face Monday as he announced plans to run for the U.S. Senate to replace retiring Senator Richard Shelby. Stephen Miller, who endorsed Brooks Senate run, has become a lightning rod for controversy, especially when it comes to U.S. policies regarding immigration. Miller previously served as communications director for then-Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions and later moved to the White House where he became a special advisor to former President Donald Trump. Fmr. Trump senior advisor Stephen Miller stumping for @RepMoBrooks ahead of the congressmans announcement of his bid for the Senate in 2022. pic.twitter.com/U9I3DjYtQw Zak Sos (@ZakSNews) March 22, 2021 Who is Stephen Miller? A native of California, Miller, 35, is a graduate of Duke University, where he wrote conservative columns for the schools newspaper. He later went to work for conservative Congresswoman Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and later, with Sessions as his communications director. At the time, Sessions, the junior Senator from Alabama, was a central critic of President Barack Obamas immigration policies with Miller helping to shape those efforts. In 2016, Miller left Sessions office to join Trumps presidential campaign as a senior policy adviser and, later, served as head of the campaigns economic policy team. After Trumps election, Miller was tapped to serve as senior adviser to the president, advising on some of the administrations most controversial immigration policies, including the construction of a border wall and separation of immigrant families. In 2019, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported Miller fed anti-immigrant story ideas and white nationalist literature to a Breitbart reporter during his time with Sessions. That report led to calls for Miller to be fired. After Trumps loss to Joe Biden, Miller was quick to jump on the new administrations immigration policies. (Biden) pledged to be a president for all Americans, Miller wrote in a tweet following Bidens inauguration. Its unclear how all Americans are served by opening travel from terror hot spots, proposing a giant amnesty, or halting the installation of security barriers along the Southwest border. Miller continues to work with Congressional conservatives, Politico reported. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, said in Accra today the Government is determined to support the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) to realise the vision of the President, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo Addo. The Presidents vision is to develop an integrated aluminium industry in Ghana by establishing an alumina refinery for our bauxite, and streamlining the whole value chain, Mr. Jinapor said. He was speaking during a working visit to the head office of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) today. The Minister said his Ministry will work closely with GIADEC to drive the governments Industrial transformation agenda. He was accompanied by Mr. Benito Owusu Bio, Member of Parliament of Atwima Nwabiagya North, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Prof. Patrick Agbesinyale and other Directors. Mr. Jinapor tasked GIADEC to help to set up an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee comprising the relevant ministries to ensure that the vision and objectives for an integrated aluminium industry are achieved. On his part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GIADEC, Mr. Michael Ansah, who welcomed the sector Minister and his team, disclosed that GIADEC is actively working on selecting strategic investors as partners for the development of the bauxite mines, alumina refining and smelting, as well as other downstream industries. Additionally, he emphasized how GIADEC will execute its operations within the framework of international environmental best practice. The deputy CEO of GIADEC, Mr. Akwasi Osei Agyei, thanked the Minister and his team for the visit, saying they had had a fruitful meeting. Industry analysts say a fully integrated aluminium industry in Ghana would boost the countrys economy, create jobs and transform the communities in which GIADEC will operate. GIADEC is a wholly Ghanaian owned entity with a mission to be the leading Integrated Aluminium Company in Africa, creating sustainable value for our stakeholders and differentiated by cost effective and safe environmentally sound operations. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ambassador Abhay Kumar handed over 1000 tonnes of rice and 100,000 HCQ tablets on behalf of the Govt of India to Madagascar PM (Photo/Twitter) Antananarivo [Madagascar], March 23 (ANI): Indian Ambassador Abhay Kumar on Tuesday handed over 1000 tonnes of rice and 100,000 HCQ tablets on behalf of the Government of India to Christian Ntsay, Prime Minister of Madagascar brought onboard Indian Navy Ship Jalashwa to deal with the drought situation in south Madagascar. The Prime Minister said that the two countries have a long common history between India and Madagascar and called the ties, "a big and very useful cooperation between Madagascar and India." "Today we are here to welcome this donation and its very important for us to welcome that as South of Madagascar is facing a huge challenge. I would like to thank you so much for this donation to south of Madagascar," he said. The Prime Minister wrote in the ship's book: "I'm pleased to welcome this donation granted by the Government of India. I really appreciate the excellent relationship between India and Madagascar. This demonstrates the friendship and brotherhood between our both people." The Indian Ambassador said what makes India Madagascar relationship special is the willingness to come for help when the two countries need each other. India and Madagascar stand with each other from shoulder to shoulder. "We are not only geographically close -- across the Indian Ocean but also geologically close; we are also culturally connected... There is a strong Indian origin community in Fort Dauphine originally from Gujarat which has worked together with our brothers and sisters in Madagascar," he said. The Indian Embassy in a statement earlier this month said that in response to the urgent appeal made by the Government of Madagascar for international solidarity and assistance to deal with the humanitarian crisis in South of Madagascar due to severe drought, the Government of India is sending a consignment of 1000 metric tonnes of rice and 100,000 tablets of HCQ to Madagascar. "EAM (S Jaishankar) assured the Foreign Minister of Madagascar that as a maritime neighbour across the Indian Ocean, the Government and people of Madagascar can always count on the support and solidarity of the Government and people of India. The two Foreign Ministers also discussed other issues of mutual interest," the statement read. (ANI) Local catholic connection and tonight's slap in the face targeting Catholics and their embattled, faulted, frail and all-too-human leadership . . . Read more: Vatican defrocked Kansas City-area priest before he died KANSAS CITY (AP) - A former Kansas City-area priest who faced multiple allegations of sexually abusing minors was officially dismissed from the priesthood by the Vatican four days before he died, church officials said. Bishop James Johnston Jr., of the Kansas City-St. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. "Our 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 What you need to know about Pa.'s UC system going offline Thursday Bennington, VT (05201) Today Partly cloudy early. Thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 75F. Winds SSW 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 near a half an inch. The platform, backed by founding investors CDPQ and Ontario Teachers', will continue to seek out high-quality acquisitions, demutualizations and other opportunities in the property and casualty (P&C) and life insurance sector. NEW YORK, MONTREAL and TORONTO, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Constellation Insurance Holdings, Inc. (Constellation), backed by institutional investors Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers'), announced today it has entered into an agreement for its inaugural transaction through the acquisition of Cincinnati-based Ohio National Mutual Holdings, Inc. (ONMH) and its wholly owned subsidiary Ohio National Financial Services, Inc. (collectively, Ohio National) for a total consideration of US$1 billion, which includes both member consideration and new capital infused in the business, as part of its demutualization process. Established in 1909, Ohio National is a leading provider of financial products and services that helps its policyholders achieve financial security and independence. It has a network of financial professionals operating across 49 states and, as of December 31, 2020, its affiliated companies have US$41.2 billion in assets under management. "Today's announcement marks an important first step for Constellation, as we deliver on our strategy to provide North American stock and mutual insurers access to long-term growth capital, enhanced ratings, scale efficiencies and aligned equity incentives, while preserving the independence, brand, existing operations and culture for which they are recognized," affirmed Anurag Chandra, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Constellation. "We welcome CDPQ and Ontario Teachers' upsized long-term capital commitment to continue to expand the platform in North America." "Constellation is a uniquely positioned platform, combining long-term capital and deep industry experience to offer differentiated solutions in an increasingly consolidated market. By working closely with Constellation since our initial investment and expanding our commitment alongside a trusted investment partner, Ontario Teachers', we aim to support insurers who are navigating a complex environment, such as Ohio National, as they embark upon the next phase of their growth," stated Martin Laguerre, Executive Vice-President and Head of Private Equity and Capital Solutions, CDPQ. "We are pleased to partner with Constellation and CDPQ to acquire Ohio National, an established and diversified insurance carrier with a nation-wide footprint. Ontario Teachers' brings our deep expertise in investing in the insurance sector to bear in backing Anurag to grow the Constellation platform," said Karen Frank, Senior Managing Director, Equities at Ontario Teachers'. The transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals, the approval of the Ohio Director of Insurance and ONMH's member approval. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is serving as legal counsel to Constellation in the transaction. ABOUT CONSTELLATION Constellation is an insurance holding company targeting acquisitions of life and P&C insurers based in North America, with the strategic intent of building a substantial, highly rated and conservatively managed multi-line insurance business backed by long-term institutional capital. Constellation's founding investors and equal partners, CDPQ and Ontario Teachers', are two of the largest long-term institutional investors in North America, managing a total of over CA$500 billion in net assets, including over CA$80 billion in private capital investments. ABOUT CDPQ At Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), we invest constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public retirement and insurance plans, we work alongside our partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. We are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at December 31, 2020, CDPQ's net assets total CA$365.5 billion. For more information, visit cdpq.com, follow us on Twitter or consult our Facebook or LinkedIn pages. ABOUT ONTARIO TEACHERS' The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers') is the administrator of Canada's largest single-profession pension plan, with CA$204.7 billion in net assets (all figures at June 30, 2020 unless noted). It holds a diverse global portfolio of assets, approximately 80% of which is managed in-house, and has earned an annual total-fund net return of 9.5% since the plan's founding in 1990. Ontario Teachers' is an independent organization headquartered in Toronto. Its Asia-Pacific regional offices are in Hong Kong and Singapore, and its Europe, Middle East & Africa region office is in London. The defined-benefit plan, which is fully funded as of January 1, 2020, invests and administers the pensions of the province of Ontario's 329,000 active and retired teachers. For more information, visit otpp.com and follow us on Twitter @OtppInfo. ABOUT OHIO NATIONAL Since 1909, Ohio National has been committed to helping individuals, families and businesses protect what matters most. Through our network of financial professionals across 49 states (all except New York), the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and through affiliated operations in South America, we provide insurance products that help our policyholders achieve financial security and independence. As of December 31, 2020, its affiliated companies had $41.2 billion total assets under management. Products are issued by The Ohio National Life Insurance Company and Ohio National Life Assurance Corporation. Recognized as a Leader in Gender Equity by Queen City Certified. SOURCE Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec Related Links https://www.cdpq.com/ If the start of spring break is any indication when an average of more than a million fliers a day passed through security at U.S. airports domestic summer travel is poised to pop. Airlines have been expanding their route networks, especially in vacation destinations, as competition for leisure travelers heats up. Leisure travelers are expected to lead the recovery as business travel continues to lag. Here are five things we know about flying this summer. The skies will be busier, the planes fuller According to the airline industry group Airlines for America, passenger volume on U.S. carriers was down 53 percent in mid-March compared to pre-Covid-19 levels, but up from the darkest days of the pandemic, when it bottomed out below 90 percent. With the soft bounce, only Delta Air Lines has continued to block middle seats through April. It would not comment on an extension. (Alaska Airlines is keeping middle seats open in its Premium Class through May 31). [March 23, 2021] $17.55-Million Apartment Community in the Central Valley Sold by The Mogharebi Group The Mogharebi Group ("TMG") has completed the sale of Trails at 2112 Apartments, a 97-unit community in Modesto. The property sold for $17,550,000 with multiple offers. Alex Mogharebi and Otto Ozen of The Mogharebi Group represented the seller, a Northern California based investor. The buyer was a private investor, also based in Northern California. "The property is a high-quality turnkey asset that's located in a desirable central valley market," said Otto Ozen, Executive Vice President of The Mogharebi Group. "As a result, the property garnered a high level of interested buyers for this stable asset. Through our proprietary 1031 exchange platform that includes a robust network of private, high net-worth and exchange buyers, we were able to drive the value and successfully close." Built on a 5.32-acre site in 1985, Trails at 2112 Apartments is located at 2112 Floyd Avenue in Modesto. It has significant exposure on fronting roads, with over 13,000 cars per day. The property comprises twelve residential buildings totaling 84,946 rentable square feet and one common area building. The apartment homes feature spacious one- and two-bedroom floor plans with an average size of 876 square feet. The units feature gourmet kitchens, patio / balcony with private entrances, and ceiling fans. The property features a large sparkling pool and spa, lush landscaped walkways, a fitness center, reserved covered parking, and in-unit washer / dryers. It is within walking distance to Sutter Health Memorial Medical Center and numerous retail amenities including groceries, restaurants, pharmacies, and schools. About The Mogharebi Group (TMG): The Mogharebi Group is a brokerage firm specializing in the multifamily property sector throughout California. With unrivaled local knowledge, an extensive global network of top real estate investors, state of the art technology, and direct access to capital, The Mogharebi Group is the best choice to meet the needs of major private investors and investment funds. For more information visit: Mogharebi.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005200/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Mixing religion and politics leading to rise of the 'nones,' scholars say Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 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. Nine Hart High School students are enrolled in health career classes through Amarillo College and Amarillo ISD. The students were presented to and recognized by the Hart Independent School Districts School Board during its meeting in March. Students recognized included Kaleb Chavez, Amanda Rodriguez, Evelyn Martinez, Adamaris Ramirez Cariel, Priscilla Gagnard, Toree Evans, Ana Ruiz, Johanna Vasquez and Karla Morales. The students were recognized by Analyssa Hernandez, English teacher and online facilitator for the classes. The students are studying Medical Terminology and Science Theory. Upon completion of course-required clinical hours, the students are eligible to register and test for their certification in Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Patient Care Technician. Also, students who pass Medical Terminology with a B or higher and receive a 70% or higher on their semester exams will receive articulated credit at Amarillo College (three hours). Articulated credit provides a way for students to begin a college technical major in high school and continue in a participating postsecondary institution. The school district is paying for the classes. Upon completion, the students will receive high school credit and college hours. Superintendent Krista Lara said that Hart administration officials were approached last summer about the program and Hart is the smallest school (enrollment-wise) participating. The Texas Education Agency requires schools to exhibit career and/or college readiness among their graduates. Secondary principal Ramona Neudorf told the Board that Hernandez gets a lot of credit for the success of the program. "Clearly a return to normalcy for the healthcare community is very important," said Paul Strasser, President of MSI International. "We hope that these results will shed a light on where the healthcare industry is headed this year and help care providers return to normal. MSI International, a leading global strategic market research firm, today issued the results of Medical Care Delay Study, showing the long-term impacts for patients with conditions other than COVID-19. Due to safety concerns, more than half (54%) of all patients in the U.S. either delayed or had healthcare postponed for all types of medical care, which can have a negative impact on care outcomes. In fact, more than half (54%) of those who delayed care said that their condition got worse due to the delay. The types of care most impacted by delays were required surgery, elective surgery and diagnostic procedures. The survey also offers a glimmer of hope, with over half of participants stating that vaccines will be one of the key reasons for proceeding with medical care. With that being a catalyst, the findings show a return to normalcy with respect to healthcare, with over half of survey participants saying COVID-19 will be under control by September 2021. In addition, the study found that over half of Americans are planning to resume delayed medical care in the next 2-3 months. The most prevalent healthcare areas to pick up are as follows: Dental care (62%) Required surgery (59%) Ongoing treatment (59%) Routine checkups (58%) Diagnostic procedures (53%) Elective surgery (50%) The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges to providing medical care for patients with conditions other than COVID-19 in the U.S., said Paul Strasser, President of MSI International. We found it especially worrisome that a majority of people reported cutting back on their medical care. Clearly a return to normalcy for the healthcare community is very important, both for patients suffering from chronic conditions and for healthcare providers. We hope that these results will shed a light on where the healthcare industry is headed this year and help care providers return to normal. Below are additional key highlights from MSIs survey: Over half of the U.S. delayed healthcare. Roughly two-thirds of those missing healthcare personally delayed or postponed appointments. While routine checkups and dental care were most likely to be put off, nearly a quarter of the population delayed/postponed elective (24%) and required (23%) surgery. Telemedicine is working. Even though many experienced delays, three-fourths of the participants kept some scheduled medical care in the past 6 months. Two-thirds of those keeping their scheduled medical care had an in-person appointment changed to remote/virtual. Safety concerns were the largest impediment to postponing or delaying healthcare. COVID-19 concerns are the single largest reason healthcare was delayed (61%), followed by concerns among medical facilities in providing a safe environment (52%). It is incumbent on healthcare providers to communicate the safety of the experience. Concerns about personal safety in receiving medical care are still fairly high. The largest areas of concern are urgent/emergency care (53%), dental care (49%) and required surgery (45%). Vaccines are critical. Over half (54%) state that vaccines are necessary to proceed with medical care. However, responsibility still resides on providers. Forty percent stated that they will proceed when their provider/facility assures them it is safe. 13% had already received the vaccine and 65% plan to get the vaccine: Most are confident that the vaccine will prevent the spread of COVID-19. In addition to medical care delays, the study also asked questions capturing current attitudes and behaviors around COVID-19: Attitudes and perceptions towards COVID-19 guidelines Compliance with safety guidelines and recommendations Attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccines and likelihood to receive, confidence in their effectiveness and ease of receiving The survey of 503 Americans was conducted between January 29 and February 5, 2021, and asked questions about their medical care over the past six months. The sample was stratified and weighted to represent the U.S. national population. In addition, the questions were asked specifically regarding several types of care: routine procedures, ongoing treatment, diagnostic exams, dental care, elective surgeries and required surgeries. Click here to download the report. About MSI International MSI International is a leading global strategic market research firm that is committed to helping our clients meet their business and marketing objectives. Combining our marketing intelligence expertise with leading-edge technology, we provide innovative strategic insights on markets, products, services and brands that enable our clients to more effectively compete and optimize their marketing assets for achieving real business growth. To learn more, please click here. The team at Reviews.org is going to pay one lucky person $2,400, if they can bear to part with any and all of their technology for 24 hours straight.The person chosen to complete the 2021 Digital Detox Challenge will be given 14 days to select a day that works for them. The company will then send them a safe in which to store all of their electronic devices for the 24-hour period. Afterward, the company will ask them to submit screen time reports to prove that they followed the rules, as well as feedback on the experience.Reviews.org will also supply the participant with a $200 Amazon gift card with which to prepare a techless 24-hour survival kit. The company has a number of suggestions for this, including a typewriter to replace your laptop and books. Nicola Sturgeon misled a Scottish parliament committee, an investigation into the governments unlawful handling of harassment allegations against Alex Salmond has concluded. It comes after a separate independent inquiry by QC James Hamilton cleared the first minister of breaching the ministerial code a move welcomed by her as comprehensive, evidence-based and unequivocal but said it was up for Holyrood to decide whether she misled MSPs. Publishing their conclusions, which were partially leaked last week, members probing the Scottish governments botched handling of harassment allegations against the former first minister said they find it hard to believe Ms Sturgeon had no knowledge of any concerns about inappropriate behaviour on the part of Mr Salmond prior to November 2017. Follow Nicola Sturgeon news live: Latest as SNP criticises attempt to smear FM The committee on the Scottish governments handling of harassment complaints stated: If she did have such knowledge, then she should have acted upon it. If she did have such knowledge, then she has misled the committee. It added there was a fundamental contradiction in her evidence on whether she agreed to intervene in a Scottish government investigation into complaints by two woman against the former first minister. Read more: It said that, in a meeting at her Glasgow home on 2 April 2018, Ms Sturgeon did in fact leave Mr Salmond with the impression that she would, if necessary, intervene. The report continued: Her written evidence is therefore an inaccurate account of what happened, and she has misled the committee on this matter. After a partial leak of the committees findings emerged last week, Ms Sturgeon accused some members of having made their minds up before they uttered a single word of evidence and dismissed it as a very partisan leak. The committee said Mr Hamiltons work published on Monday had been completely separate from the work of our inquiry and said his inquiry was the most appropriate place to address the question of whether or not the first minister has breached the Scottish ministerial code. His report considered whether she had broken the rules of behaviour for ministers in her actions following harassment allegations made against her predecessor, but found the first minister did not breach the ministerial code in her behaviour. Following the publication of the Hamilton report yesterday, the threat of Ms Sturgeon losing a vote of no confidence at Holyrood spearheaded by the Scottish Conservatives appeared to disappear, with the Greens saying they would not support such a motion. Responding to the findings on Monday, Ms Sturgeon said:As I have previously made clear, I did not consider that I had broken the code, but these findings are official, definitive and independent adjudication of that. Prior to its publication, opposition politicians stressed the importance of respecting and accepting the outcome of Mr Hamiltons independent inquiry, and I committed wholeheartedly to doing so. Now that he has reported, it is incumbent on them to do likewise. Douglas Ross, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, however, added: James Hamilton said it was up to the Scottish parliament to decide if the first minister told the truth. The verdict of the parliament committee is Nicola Sturgeon misled the public. This sorry affair has already done enough damage. When will someone take responsibility. Beirut, March 23 : Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri have failed to reach a consensus on cabinet formation, raising concerns about further instability and a total economic and financial collapse in the country. Following a meeting between Aoun and Hariri on Monday, the Lebanese pound fell to 14,000 against the US dollar from 11,500 earlier in the day, reports Xinhua news agency. Hariri said Aoun still insisted on his veto power in the new cabinet, which was rejected on several occasions by the prime minister-designate. He added that he had rejected the President's proposal of the cabinet line-up on the grounds that it was unconstitutional for a president to form a government. Monday's meeting was the 18th between Aoun and Hariri on the cabinet formation, which has been stalled since last October over disagreements on the number of ministers, distribution of portfolios and veto power. Hariri, who was assigned to form a new cabinet in October 2020, has repeatedly said he will only form a cabinet of 18 specialists in line with the French initiative, with no veto power granted to any party. Lebanon has witnessed a political deadlock since the resignation of Hassan Diab's government in the wake of the Port of Beirut blasts on August 4, 2020, which claimed the lives of 190 people, injured at least 6,000 others and left some 300,000 homeless. Over a month later, former Prime Minister-designate Mustafa Adib announced of his failure to form a new government. The Beirut blasts and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic have exacerbated the country's economic situation, driving thousands of companies out of business while leaving thousands of people unemployed. Figures released by the World Bank showed that over 50 per cent of the Lebanese people have become "poor". This year, the Central Bank of Lebanon also tightened regulations against the country's banks, which compelled some of them to close branches and lay off employees to stay afloat. Indias eastern neighbor Myanmar (Burma) is sliding towards economic crisis and civil war. That is because the military once more replaced the elected government by force. China and Russia supported this and promptly used their veto powers in the UN to block UN actions against the military coup. The military move was a reaction to recent parliamentary elections where a political party that pledged to reorganize the military to prevent another military takeover won over 70 percent of the vote. The response of the military was not unexpected, because the civilian government knew that the Burmese generals maintained their economic connections with China and that was the main reason China has sold $1.4 billion worth of military equipment to Burma since 2010. Russia sold $800 million worth. Together China and Russia accounted for over 90 percent Burmese spending on imports of military gear. The Burmese military is comfortable with the cozy relationship but most Burmese are not. Burmese military leaders were surprised at the extent and duration of mass protests after their February 1st takeover. By popular agreement the economy is shut down. The military still has income because during their decades of rule (from 1962 to 2010) they came to control many businesses and some of those were joint ventures with China. A lot of Chinese firms pay the Burmese military directly for joint ventures. Burmese army officers made a lot of money allowing China to do business in the tribal north, often at the expense of local civilians, most of them tribal people. After the return of democracy in 2011, China no longer had as much freedom in the north. China tried to maintain many of these economic projects by including them in the new CMEC (China-Myanmar Economic Corridor) agreement China and Burma signed in late 2018. That agreement called for both countries to begin detailed negotiations on where a 1,700-kilometer-long transportation corridor from southern China (Yunan province) to central Burma (Mandalay) and then west to the coast at the Kyaukpyu SEZ (Special Economic Zone) will be built and what it will consist of. The corridor would improve roads, railroads and build, as needed, pipelines and electrical transmission lines. This would be financed by China and built mainly by Chinese construction firms. India is under pressure from voters and foreign allies to back the popular resistance to the Burmese coup. After all, India opposes the same kind of military misbehavior in Pakistan. China is seeking to turn both Pakistan and Burma into economically dependent and subservient client states run by some kind of dictatorship that will swiftly deal with any local criticism of Chinese control. The Burmese military has never had to face such widespread resistance before. Even the use of lethal force (gunfire that has killed dozens so far) has not suppressed mass resistance. The lethal force has been demoralizing for a growing number of junior members of the army and police. Using more lethal force risks mutiny by many of the police and soldiers who are ordered to do the shooting. The Northern Threat In northwest India (Ladakh State) Chinese forces have slowed their agreed withdrawal from Indian Ladakh. Both nations had concentrated thousands of troops along the shore of Pangong Lake. In September 2020 both agreed to halt their operations on the Indian border and continue negotiations. Both sides declared victory but China was the actual winner because now a thousand square kilometers of additional Indian territory along Panglong Lake is under Chinese control. By the end of 2020 the two sides had agreed to pull most of their forces back because of the frigid weather in the high mountains surrounding Pangong Lake. China has been slow to carry out all those withdrawals. This is was not unexpected and was another example of the Chinese SSSN (Shove, Stop, Stand Fast) tactics, which have once again prevailed, as they have many times in the recent past. China initially expressed no interest in retreating but was willing to negotiate. With the cold weather approaching last September India was in no position to refuse the Chinese offer. China believes they will prevail by repeating their SSSN and push Indian forces out of all the disputed areas along their common border. SSSN is slow and it would take decades to grab all the Indian territory claimed by China. As long as China maintains a stronger military than India and can keep more troops near the disputed border areas, India will not feel confident to defend forcefully and risking a large-scale battle on the border. India feels more capable in opposing China because of growing Indian economic power. Indian GDP nearly doubled in the last decade; from $1.7 trillion to the current $2.9 trillion. This made India the fifth largest economy, recently surpassing Britain and France. The rest of the top five are the U.S., China, Germany and Japan. Chinese GDP growth is slowing although in the last decade it more than doubled from $6.1 trillion to $14 trillion. Over three decades of spectacular economic growth in China resulted in the Chinese GDP becoming over fourteen times larger than it was in 1989. In that same period the U.S. GDP doubled. After World War II India had a larger GDP than China and never felt the same urgency as China to modernize and expand the economy. Actions have consequences and, in this case, it means China can push India around on their mutual border. Another reason for this is that India is still haunted by the last battle between Indian and Chinese forces back in 1962. In a month of fighting that began on 20 October 1962, India lost 7,000 troops (57 percent prisoners, the rest dead or missing) compared to 722 Chinese dead. China declared a ceasefire that India accepted. China actually advanced in two areas, a thousand kilometers apart and ended up taking 43,000 square kilometers of Indian territory. The source of the 1962 war and current border disputes are a century old and heated up again when China resumed control over Tibet in the 1950s. From the end of the Chinese empire in 1912 up until 1949 Tibet had been independent. But when the communists took over China in 1949, they sought to reassert control over their "lost province" of Tibet. This began slowly, but once all of Tibet was under Chinese control in 1959, China had a border with India and there was immediately a disagreement about exactly where the border should be. Thats because, in 1914, the newly independent Tibet government worked out a border (the McMahon line) with the British who then controlled India. China considers this border agreement illegal and wants 90,000 square kilometers back. India refused, especially since this would mean losing much of the state of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India and some bits elsewhere there and all along the new northern border. India, as a democracy with a free press, has a public discussion of Chinese tactics and possible Indian responses. China also tries to take advantage of the Indian media freedom by buying favorable coverage in the Indian press. This is done via bribes, offers of investments or loans as well as economic concessions within China. Military strategy in China, since ancient times, has placed emphasis on having a powerful military but using it mainly as a threat and giving enemies an incentive to accept bribes and allow China to get what they want. Yet India has rarely been seen as an enemy of China. There is nothing valuable on their mutual border which for thousands of years has been along high mountains and thinly populated lowland jungles. Neither India nor China had any incentive to raise large armies to threaten each other. Because of this background, the border disputes since the 1960s are seen by Indians as inexplicable and by Chinese as overdue restitution for centuries of humiliations inflicted by Western invaders. India, ever since it emerged from centuries of British colonial rule in 1947, insisted that India and China shared a background of oppression by the West. China sees India as trying to perpetuate Western crimes against China. To most Chinese, Indians look and sound like Westerners therefore India must be an enemy of China. India has come to accept that the Chinese are obsessed with making India pay for real or imagined wrongs inflicted by Western imperialists and see nothing wrong with using ancient Chinese imperialist methods to get their way. Suddenly British imperialism is not the worst thing that could ever happen to India. China is seeking to provide something much worse and much closer. The latest phase of this ongoing campaign began earlier this year when China revived its border war with India over Pangong Lake, which is largely in Tibet and connected to Chinese claims on Kashmir territory. This is the longest lake in Asia, and part of the 134-kilometer- long lake extends 45 kilometers into the Indian Ladakh region. China is using its usual SSSN tactics to slowly move the border into territory long occupied by India. The portion of the lake shore in dispute has no native population. The only people who visit the area are soldiers from India or China. On the Bright Side In Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Burma the number of dead and wounded from terrorist or political violence continues to decline. Pakistan is no longer one of the top five sources of deaths caused by terrorism. India is still a much safer place. Bangladesh never really had major Islamic terrorist problems and even Burma has reduced casualties from fighting tribal separatists in the north. All this is part of a trend. India suffered 621 deaths from Islamic, separatist and communist violence in 2019 and unexpectedly saw a reduction in 2020. In other words, about .3 deaths per million population. Pakistan managed to reduce terrorism related deaths by 90 percent since 2015 and in 2019 the annual total was less than India for the first time. That did not last. Even with that 2019 decline, the Pakistan deaths per million population was 1.6, more than three times what India suffered in 2019. Pakistan still has more religious and separatist violence than India and is not making much progress in eliminating these corrosive attitudes. Worse, Pakistan is still plagued by a military establishment that refuses to abide by civilian control. Such civilian control has always been the case in more affluent and less violent India. The Pakistani military has been trying to depict India as a threat to Pakistani independence and prosperity. India is neither. Worse India considers Pakistan more of a nuisance than a threat and never considered Pakistan a glittering potential conquest. This enrages the Pakistani generals who have tried and failed, for decades, to make their illusions come true. This is changing for Pakistan with more internal opposition to the Pakistani military, including from senior military personnel. Pakistani violence on the Kashmir border reached record numbers in 2020. There were over 350 incidents a month along the 740-kilometer border, which is only 22 percent of the 3,300-kilometer India-Pakistan border. Despite that increase in border violence, India saw another decline in terrorist related deaths in 2020, with 588 dead, compared to 621 in 2019 and 940 in 2018. In 2020 54 percent of the dead were in Kashmir, which is higher than usual. Most years non-Islamic terrorist violence accounts for most of the violence but in 2020 leftist (Maoist) rebels in eastern India only accounted for 41 percent of the deaths with the five percent caused by tribal separatists in the northeast. Pakistan had 506 terrorism related deaths in 2020, which was a 38 percent increase from the 365 recorded in 2019. That broke a trend in which Pakistani terrorism related deaths, which peaked at 11,317 in 2009, fell every year over the next decade. And then came 2020 when the numbers were up again. Pakistan suffered few deaths in its portion of Kashmir and most of the deaths were in the northwestern tribal territories, but a larger number were throughout Pakistan. Even in the record low year 2019 Pakistani terrorism related death rates were still much higher than India's, a nation with six times the population but nearly twice as many terrorism related (most of it non-Moslem) deaths in 2019. In other words, adjusted for population size there is still three times as many terrorism deaths in Pakistan in 2019 and in 2020 it was over five times. Not included in the Pakistani totals are the many terrorism related deaths in India and Afghanistan that are a direct result of Pakistani support for Islamic terrorist organizations that are based in, and supported by Pakistan. These groups enjoy that Pakistani support as long as they attack targets designated by the ISI (Pakistani military intelligence). Pakistan is currently under major diplomatic and financial pressure over this terrorism-support policy which Pakistan still denies. India has brought most of its separatist, leftist and Islamic terrorist activity under control. But in Kashmir Pakistani is still waging a border war by having its troops fire across the border and claim it is self-defense because the Indians almost always fire back. Then there is three decades of Pakistani support for Islamic terrorism in Kashmir, which has not accomplished much except to ruin the local economy and get a lot of Kashmiris, and Islamic terrorists from Pakistan, killed. March 20, 2021: In Pakistan the military is charging twelve military personnel (a colonel, a major and ten subordinates) for complicity in Pakistani Taliban leader Ehsanullah Ehsan escaping from house arrests in January 2020. A month later it was revealed that Ehsan, a notorious Pakistan Taliban official was apparently allowed, by the military, to escape. Ehsan had surrendered in early 2017 and promptly cooperated in providing large quantities of information on how the Pakistani Taliban operated. The military admitted that his information was very useful and even allowed Ehsan to live in a guarded safe house and give interviews to Pakistani media. Ehsan was supposed to eventually go on trial and the government would have to deal with the enormity of his past crimes. It appears Ehsans cooperation was expected to spare him the death penalty but still require some time in prison. It was suspected that the military deliberately let him go to encourage other Islamic terrorist leaders to emulate Ehsan. The Pakistani military was a suspect early on because Ehsan not only got out of his safe house but out of the country and to asylum in Turkey. His wife and children also disappeared at the same time and showed up in Turkey with him. This escape angered a lot of Pakistanis because Ehsan was a notorious Pakistan Taliban and ISIL leader. Ehsan is considered responsible for the death of hundreds of Pakistani civilians, including over a hundred students at a school for the children of military personnel. Apparently, the deal the military made with Ehsan involved a lot of conditions that could not be revealed without making the military look bad. The upcoming court-martial is seen as a whitewash with the twelve army men admitting guilt, taking their punishment and then later quietly released and paid off for the loyalty and service. This is how the Pakistani military operates and everyone in Pakistan understands this as do many in neighboring countries like Afghanistan and India. Some believe this prosecution is part of an effort to keep Pakistan off the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) blacklist of known supporters of international Islamic terrorism. Pakistan has relied on diplomatic support from China and Russia to avoid the blacklist and its catastrophic economic costs. March 18, 2021: In southwest Pakistan (Baluchistan) Pakistan is encountering some open defiance by the military because of the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) project. The Navy and Coast Guard refuse to give up 47 hectares (116 hectares) at the site of the new Gwadar port project. The commanders of the Navy and Coast Guard are making a public protest against the policy of being so economically and militarily dependent on China. This opposition has been growing within the military leadership, who see this dependence on China as a surrender of independence and putting Pakistan at risk of becoming collateral damage if China decides to fight Indian and its Western and East Asian allies for control of the Indian Ocean. The Pakistani naval officers have done the math and believe China has little chance of prevailing against that kind of coalition. Worse is the fact that Pakistan is becoming so economically and diplomatically dependent on their northern neighbor. This public protest, which the Chinese are demanding be resolved quickly, began in late 2020 and surfaced now because the Chinese are visibly upset at this insubordination. The growing opposition within Pakistan, and the Pakistani military towards the increasing brutality of the military against elected officials, critical media and anyone who opposes the military getting its way, also exists in the military. Not just among junior members but among senior commanders. The military decided over a decade ago that Pakistan should be willing to pay a high price to get CPEC done because it means Pakistan has an ally against Iran and even Western powers that might have some violent disagreement with Pakistan. China addressed that by pointing out that China does not have allies, just powerful trading partners (the West in general) and client states (like Pakistan). That has always been the Chinese outlook and it hasnt changed. While China is picking up most of the $60 billion cost of CPEC, it means that China owns many of those new economic assets, especially the new port of Gwadar. In early 2017 China and Pakistan finally signed the agreement that granted China a 40-year lease on new Chinese built facilities China at Gwadar. The lease grants China most (over 80 percent) of the revenue brought in by port and free trade zone operations. China usually imports its own workers from China to do most of the work on projects like this. By 2022 China expects to have about half a million Chinese in Pakistan, some of them with their families. The easiest way to provide protection is to have most of them live in a heavily guarded and restricted access area. Gwadar is a key part of CPEC and it has the misfortune of being in a province (Baluchistan) that does not want to be part of Pakistan. China and the Pakistanis try to ignore this by not reporting on non-Islamic terror attacks on CPEC construction projects. The government has long been accused of suppressing news of tribal separatists in Baluchistan attacking government targets and especially those related to CPEC. The separatists claim they regularly carry out attacks on CPEC construction projects, but most of their attacks are still directed at Pakistani security forces and government facilities. Because of the security threat to Gwadar, China demanded that Pakistan build 30 kilometers of three-meter-high security fencing near the two main entrances to Gwadar. In addition, the Chinese are installing 500 security cameras within the perimeter of the port. Pakistanis fear the entire port area will eventually be fenced off to protect what is described by locals as a Chinese naval base guarded by Chinese and Pakistani troops. Since early 2019 Pakistan has been responding to Chinese complaints that about lack of security, and agreed to add more troops to the security forces already assigned to guard over 300 Chinese projects in Pakistan and the 15,000 foreigners (mainly Chinese) who work on them. The existing force has over 15,000 personnel with 9,000 being soldiers and the rest local para-military forces. This will be in addition to the special naval force that protects navy facilities in Gwadar and the waters off Pakistan. In mid-2017 Pakistan also agreed to build a walled and restricted residential area near the port of Gwadar to house up to half a million Chinese that will eventually be working in Pakistan. The Chinese construction work on Gwadar port facilities is visible to anyone on the ground or flying by and it was noticed that some features of the new port and airport facilities are clearly intended for military use. India has long claimed China (despite denials) was planning to use Gwadar as a base for Chinese warships and naval aircraft. Pakistan never had a problem with Chinese military using Gwadar as it helps keep local troublemakers out. Pakistan has assured China that there would be no terrorist violence against Chinese working on upgrading the port of Gwadar and land links north to China. The military now has to assure their Chinese overlords that dissent with the Pakistani military will be suppressed as well. March 17, 2021: In northwest Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) soldiers encountered two Pakistani Taliban gunmen and during a gun battle killed one and captured the other. Two bystanders were also killed. March 15, 2021: Iran has resumed illegally exporting oil to India and China. This is risky because the tankers carrying these shipments can be intercepted and seized. As soon as the new American government took power in January Iran told current and past customers for discounted smuggled oil that Iranian oil would be more easily available in 2021, either free of sanctions or less vigorously enforced sanctions. Iran was betting that the new U.S. government would ease off on the oil export sanctions. So far this has not happened but the Iranian leaders insist it will happen and soon. March 8, 2021: In southwest Pakistan (Baluchistan) police, acting on a tip, raided a Baluchi separatist hideout and found five armed men who refused to surrender. The five were killed during the subsequent gun battle and were found to be guarding a large stockpile of weapons and ammo for their group; Baluchi Liberation. This group was responsible for an attack, several hours earlier, on a Navy vehicle that left one sailor dead and two wounded. March 7, 2021: In northwest Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and North Waziristan) soldiers clashed twice with Pakistani Taliban gunmen, killing eight of the Islamic terrorists. March 6, 2021: After more than a year of negotiations India has agreed to purchase 30 SeaGuardian UAVs, ten each for the army, navy and air force. SeaGuardian is the latest version of the American MQ-9B Reaper SkyGuardian and was modified to handle maritime surveillance. This process was completed and certified in late 2020. India will pay about $3 billion for the 30 Seaguardians and that includes sensors, training and tech support. The Guardian UAVs are selling mainly to export customers. This version was originally called MQ-9B ER (Extended Range) but after potential customers were approached, it was decided to expand the capabilities of MQ-9B ER into what is now the MQ-9 SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian. New features include compliance with NATO STANAG 4671 standards. This means Guardian UAVs can fly in commercial airspace. STANAG 4671 sets the strictest UAV commercial airspace rules in the world. If a UAV is STANAG 4671 compliant it can basically operate anywhere. SkyGuardian can operate as high as 15,000 meters (50,000 feet) and stay in the air for up to 40 hours. This means SkyGuardian can (and did in 2018) flown across the Atlantic. SkyGuardian is equipped with a deicing system and lightning strike resistance. There is more systems redundancy, which increases reliability and reduces losses to mechanical or electrical failure. March 2, 2021: In northwest Pakistan, across the border in Afghanistan (Nangarhar Province) Afghan commandos located and raided the main Taliban headquarters in the province. This facility controlled the movement of personnel and goods into and out of Pakistan. Among the items captured during the raid was some of the drugs that the Taliban is paid to get across the border into Pakistan. February 27, 2021: In Afghanistan the Taliban issued a public declaration that foreigners were no longer allowed in the Taliban. This was a response to public criticism about the growing number of foreigners in Taliban ranks. Even pro-Taliban civilians oppose long-time Taliban use of foreigners in their combat units. The presence of foreigners also reminds everyone that Taliban have long been criticized as controlled by the Pakistani army. This was the case from the beginning, when the original (mid-1990) Taliban were recruited from among Afghan refugees who fled the 1980s Russian invasion but were still in Pakistan. The refugee camps were in border areas where the local population were also Pushtun tribes, as were most of the refugees. The Pakistan army, which organized the formation of the Taliban, sent in men, dressed as civilians, to advise and keep an eye on this new faction meant to end the civil war that broke out after the Russians left in the late 1980s. These Pakistani Taliban were ordered to leave as soon as it appeared Taliban rule was collapsing after the U.S. intervened on the side of anti-Taliban Northern Alliance in late 2001. The Northern Alliance (of northern non-Pushtun tribes) were the first to publicize the presence of Pakistanis in the Taliban and the control Pakistan always had over the Taliban. That support became more obvious after 2001 when Pakistan provided sanctuary for the Taliban leadership in southwest Pakistan (Baluchistan), something the Taliban were unable to hide given the number of prominent Taliban living openly in the Baluchistan capital. Pakistan always denied that there was any sanctuary arrangement or any Pakistani members of the Taliban. That was always considered a lie because of the Afghan security forces custom of returning the dead to their families for burial. This was accepted as an ancient Afghan custom and it led to a lot of the Afghan dead being taken to a border crossing where Pakistani family members where there to claim it. While this was a constant embarrassment for the Taliban and Pakistan but interfering with return of the dead to their families was considered likely to stir up Pushtun unrest in Pakistan. One way to avoid this embarrassment is for the Taliban to take their dead, as well as their wounded with them when they retreated. Identifying dead Afghan Taliban gave the security forces information on where the Taliban were recruiting and which families might be the source of Taliban support. Over the last few years the Taliban have been suffering more casualties, with large numbers of dead left on the battlefield. The army identifies the dead and the number of foreigners is always newsworthy in Afghanistan where most people blame Pakistan for all this violence. In some recent incidents most of the dead were Pakistanis or Islamic terrorists from other parts of the world, like Chechnya and Central Asia. The percentage of Pakistani members has been increasing. February 25, 2021: In northwest India (Kashmir), India agreed to a Pakistani ceasefire offer for the 760-kilometer-long LoC (Line of Control). This was a surprise because the senior military leaders of both countries had used the hotline established in early 2017. This agreement comes at a good time for the five million civilians, especially the farmers, who live near both sides of the LoC. Last year saw a record number of incidents where Pakistan fired on Indian border guards, or just sent shells over the border to terrorize civilians. India usually returns fire and has the same impact on Pakistani civilians. While 60 percent of the LoC civilians are Indian, Pakistani civilians have been more strident in the protests against the violence. Dozens of farming villages were abandoned during 2020 because of all the shooting. Pakistan has offered ceasefires before, but they always eventually resume shooting. This time the peace deal is supposed to work because Pakistan is having problems within its own military about the wisdom of continuing this phony, but often fatal, war against India. Another contributing factor was pressure from Arab oil states that have long supported Pakistan. The Arabs are no longer lend, or give, Pakistan large sums of money to keep the economic going. The Arabs see the Pakistani military as part of the problem here because the military has come to own a large fraction of the Pakistani economy and is able to intimidate other local and foreign companies to go along with this corrupt and inefficient behavior. February 22, 2021: In northwest Pakistan (North Waziristan) Pakistani Taliban gunmen ambushed a vehicle carrying Pakistani teachers who had volunteered to teach at a vocational school to provide locals with useful skills. The driver was wounded but the four female teachers were killed. The Taliban believe women should not travel freely or interact regularly with men, as the teachers must do. During 2020, Islamic terrorist violence in North Waziristan left at least 58 dead. February 19, 2021: In northwest Pakistan (North Waziristan) police, acting on a tip, raided a Pakistani Taliban hideout near the Afghan border. The two gunmen at the location refused to surrender and died in the ensuing gun battle, as did one soldier. One of the dead terrorists was later identified as a senior commander who was an expert in building bombs. The BioRescue consortium develops and applies new technological approaches as a last straw for saving critically endangered species such as the northern white rhinoceros. Advanced Assisted Reproductive Technologies (aART) push the boundaries of what can be done to create new offspring. Consequently, new ethical questions regarding the application of these tools arise and need to be answered, and relevant animal welfare issues to be addressed. In order to ensure that the ethical risk assessment matches the technological breakthrough with aART, the BioRescue consortium developed and applies the "ETHAS" tool, an ethical self-assessment tool explicitly designed for assisting oocyte collections, in vitro fertilizations, embryo transfers and further procedures of the BioRescue consortium. ETHAS was developed under the leadership of Padua University and is described in detail in a new paper published in the scientific journal "Animals". From the very beginning of conceptualising the BMBF sponsored BioRescue programme, it was obvious that - if successful - the newly developed technologies for assisted reproduction would require a solid ethical and animal welfare framework to be applied for species conservation. "If we have new things we can do, it is our duty to also consider what we should do and how we can apply them in a way that truly respects animal welfare, risk considerations, the safety of the people involved and the quality of the procedures", says BioRescue head Prof Thomas Hildebrandt from the German Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW). These ethical considerations have been a pivotal pillar of the programme's work. Prof Barbara de Mori and her team from the Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare at the University of Padua in Italy have continuously monitored and evaluated every procedure the BioRescue team has conducted since the beginning of the scientific rescue programme in 2019. "We soon realised that for assisted reproduction technologies as they are developed and applied in the BioRescue programme no ethical assessment tools existed", explains de Mori. "As the reproduction specialists had to design new intervention approaches, we were able to develop and apply in parallel a new robust and solid ethical risk assessment framework." ETHAS is the result, aiming at raising the ethical standards of the application of aART in general and setting the bar as high as possible for the BioRescue procedures. ETHAS is an ethical self-assessment tool explicitly designed to assess ARTs in mammalian conservation breeding programmes. It consists of two checklists, the "Ethical Evaluation Sheet" and the "Ethical Risk Assessment". The ETHAS checklists merge risk analysis - based on a combination of traditional risk assessment, aspects of animal welfare and the assessment of specific ethical risks - with an ethical analysis to assess the ethical acceptability of the procedures under assessment. "ETHAS underwent several applications in different conditions (zoos and semi-captive management) that allowed the review, improvement and refinement of the tool in an iterative procedure via the shared work between ethicists and reproduction experts", de Mori explains the process of developing the tool, in which also specialists from the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Avantea Laboratory in Italy were involved. "We are committed to the development of high level endangered species welfare and ethical standards even as we works against endangered species extinction and recovery", says Dr Patrick Omondi from Kenya Wildlife Service. The framework not only ensures that procedures are conducted to the highest standards of animal welfare and safety, it is also a crucial tool for determining how valuable and risky future procedures might be which built on already established ones. "For example, all risks that have been taken to create a northern white rhino embryo now accumulate in this embryo", explains Pierfrancesco Biasetti, member of the Padua University Ethics Laboratory and of Leibniz-IZW. "This means they have an exceptionally high conservation value and decisions about transferring them to create new offspring must reflect this value." Having a robust risk assessment tool at hand allows the consortium to make evidence-based, well-reasoned decisions. "We are well aware of the fact that pushing technologies for conservation purposes to the limit can raise questions with more than one valid answer", Hildebrandt and de Mori sum up. "Depending on personal perspectives there can be different views as to what is an acceptable risk for a procedure and what is an ethically flawless approach for species conservation. With ETHAS we respect these challenges, consider every ethical and risk-related aspect of our procedures and ultimately work towards our goal of preventing the extinction of the northern white rhino". The accompanying ethical scientific work is supported by Merck and also focuses on questions from stakeholders and the general public. "Applying these new technologies inevitably raises new questions also in the public and in stakeholder-driven discourses on saving biodiversity", says Steven Seet, science communicator at the Leibniz-IZW. "These include questions such as 'is it worth spending public money to save single wildlife species?' or 'if we have technologies and methods to save species from the brink of extinction, do we still have to care about nature?'." ### For direct exchange with different target groups, the consortium has set up the website http://www. biorescue. org , where supporters, stakeholders and interested parties can get in touch. __ Media Package A collection of photographs can be accessed through the following link: https:/ / hidrive. ionos. com/ share/ 9yzlrt. fg8# $/ The photographs shall only be used in direct connection with the story depicted in this press release and credit must be "BioRescue/Jan Zwilling" or "BioRescue/Barbara de Mori" (see file names). __ Publication de Mori B, Spiriti MM, Pollastri I, Normando S, Biasetti P, Florio D, Andreucci F, Colleoni S, Galli C, Goeritz F, Hermes R, Holtze S, Lazzari G, Seet S, Zwilling J, Stejskal J, Mutisya S, Ndeereh D, Ngulu S, Vigne R, Hildebrandt TB (2021): An ethical assessment tool (ETHAS) to evaluate the application of assisted reproductive technologies in mammals' conservation: The case of the Northern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni). Animals 2021, 11(2), 312. https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 3390/ ani11020312 __ Contacts _ Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) Thomas Hildebrandt BioRescue project head and head of Department of Reproduction Management Phone: +49305168440 Email: hildebrandt@izw-berlin.de Steven Seet Head of Science Communication Phone: +491778572673 Email: seet@izw-berlin.de Jan Zwilling Science Communication Phone: +49305168121 Email: zwilling@izw-berlin.de Pierfrancesco Biasetti Scientist Phone: +49305168442 Email: biasetti@izw-berlin.de _ University of Padua Barbara de Mori Director of the Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare Phone: +39-3403747666 Email: barbara.demori@unipd.it _ Safari Park Dv?r Kralove Jan Stejskal Director of Communication and International Projects Phone: +420608009072 Email: jan.stejskal@zoodk.cz _ Ol Pejeta Conservancy Elodie Sampere PR & Communications Phone: +254727341612 Email: elodie.sampere@olpejetaconservancy.org _ Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) David Ndeereh Head, Veterinary Services Phone: +254722 556 380 Email: dndeereh@kws.go.ke Patrick Omondi Director Biodiversity, Research & Planning Phone: +254722791718 pomondi@kws.go.ke _ Avantea Cesare Galli Director Phone: +390372437242 cesaregalli@avantea.it __ Boilerplates _ Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) The Leibniz-IZW is an internationally renowned German research institute of the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. and a member of the Leibniz Association. Our mission is to examine evolutionary adaptations of wildlife to global change and develop new concepts and measures for the conservation of biodiversity. To achieve this, our scientists use their broad interdisciplinary expertise from biology and veterinary medicine to conduct fundamental and applied research - from molecular to landscape level - in close dialogue with the public and stakeholders. Additionally, we are committed to unique and high-quality services for the scientific community. http://www. izw-berlin. de _ Safari Park Dv?r Kralove Safari Park Dv?r Kralove is a safari park in the Czech Republic. It's one of the best rhino breeders outside of Africa and the only place where the northern white rhino bred in human care - both remaining females, Najin and Fatu, were born here. Dv?r Kralove Zoo coordinates efforts to save the northern white rhinos. https:/ / safaripark. cz/ en/ _ Kenya Wildlife Service Kenya Wildlife Service is the principal government institution that conserves and manages wildlife for Kenyans and the world. It also enforces related laws and regulations. http://kws. go. ke/ _ Ol Pejeta Conservancy Ol Pejeta Conservancy is the largest black rhino sanctuary in east Africa, and is the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees. It is also home to the last two northern white rhinos on the planet. Ol Pejeta's cutting-edge wildlife security includes a specialised K-9 unit, motion sensor cameras along its solar-powered electric fence, and a dedicated Rhino Protection Unit. https:/ / www. olpejetaconservancy. org/ _ Avantea Avantea is a laboratory of advanced technologies for biotechnology research and animal reproduction based in Cremona, Italy. Avantea has over twenty years of experience and the know-how in assisted reproduction of livestock developed through years of research conducted in the biomedical and animal reproduction fields. https:/ / www. avantea. it/ en/ _ University of Padua University of Padua in Italy is one of the oldest in the world, celebrating 800 years. Its Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science is developing leading research and education in the field of wildlife conservation and welfare with a special focus on ethical assessment and evaluation of research projects and educational programs. PHAC President Refuses to Explain to MPs Why Scientists Were Fired From Winnipeg Lab Public Health Agency of Canada terminated the employment of Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng, in January The head of the Public Health Agency of Canada refused to explain to a House of Commons committee the specific reasons why a prominent Chinese Canadian scientist and her husband were fired by the countrys top laboratory after a police investigation. PHAC president Iain Stewart was grilled by the Committee on Canada-China Relations on March 22 about the termination of the two biologists from their employment at the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg, Canadas highest-security Level 4 laboratory, back in 2019. Xiangguo Qiu, her husband Keding Cheng, and a number of Qius students were escorted from the NML building and stripped of their security clearances on July 5, 2019, CBC News reported later that month. The report also said the PHAC would only confirm that it referred an administrative matter involving a possible policy breach to the RCMP on May 24 that year. On Feb. 5, 2021, a PHAC spokesperson told CBC News in an email that the two scientists are no longer employed by the Public Health Agency of Canada as of Jan. 20, 2021. We cannot disclose additional information, nor comment further, for reasons of confidentiality, added Eric Morrissette, chief of media relations for Health Canada and PHAC, in the email. Stewart took the same approach during the committee hearing, resolutely refusing to provide details of PHACs investigation and the reason for Qiu and Chengs removal from the NML, despite opposition MPs repeated attempts to get a definitive answer. They are no longer with the agency, we undertook investigation, and I am not really at liberty to talk more about that, Stewart said. Bloc Quebecois MP Stephane Bergeron said Stewarts continued refusal to provide answers meant he could be found in contempt of Parliament. He said the fact that the two scientists were ousted after an investigation leads to speculation that everything wasnt done according to the rules. What did they do wrong? he asked Stewart, who reiterated, Im not at liberty to discuss it further. Bergeron also said Stewarts stance raises concerns that sensitive information might have been transmitted to the Chinese authorities. Stewart told the committee that he understands his refusal to answer questions has caused stress and unhappiness. However, Thats the legal advice I was provided in preparation for this session, he said. Stewart said he would seek legal counsel on whether he could provide the committee with details of the investigation. The committee gave him until 2 p.m. on March 26 to provide answers. Virus Shipments to China In June 2020, CBC News obtained documents through an Access to Information request revealing that on March 31, 2019, four months before Qiu and her husband were escorted from the NML, she had shipped live samples of the deadly Ebola virus and other viruses to Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology. Qiu made at least five visits to China between 2017 and 2018, including one trip to train Chinese scientists and technicians at a newly certified Level 4 lab. In addition to raising questions about Qius shipment to China and her termination of employment at the NML, committee MPs also expressed concerns about Beijings cybersecurity threats to Canada. NML head Dr. Guillaume Poliquin told the committee that the shipment was done in accordance with Canadian law, including the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act, the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, and the Canadian Biosafety Standard. Poliquin also said Canada has never transferred coronaviruses to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Nord Stream 2 pipeline being built from Russia to Germany is against the European Union's own interests and warned Berlin of possible sanctions over the project. "President (Joe) Biden has been very clear, he believes the pipeline is a bad idea, bad for Europe, bad for the United States, ultimately it is in contradiction to the EU's own security goals," Blinken said on March 23 as he met with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels. Germany is pushing for the pipeline's completion despite sustained U.S. opposition for over more than a decade. U.S. officials argue that the pipeline, which is intended to transport 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually directly from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea, will make Europe too dependent on Russian energy supplies. It will also bypass Ukraine, a Western ally, potentially depriving it of valuable transit fees. Blinken mentioned a U.S. law that required the United States to impose sanctions on companies participating in the Nord Stream 2 project, which he said "has the potential to undermine the interests of Ukraine, Poland, and a number of close partners and allies." Blinken said he will warn his German counterpart Heiko Maas of possible sanctions at their first face-to-face meeting on March 23. So far, Washington has only imposed sanctions on the Russian company KVT-RUS, which operates the pipe-laying vessel Fortuna. These measures were announced by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump shortly before the end of its term in January. Blinken last week denounced the pipeline as a "Russian geopolitical project intended to divide Europe and weaken European energy security." The pipeline is already around 95 percent completed, and could be finished by September, according to experts. Supporters of the gas pipeline have long accused the United States of undermining the project in order to increase sales of their liquefied gas in Europe. With reporting by AFP and Reuters The Roland and George Investments Program (RGIP) is housed within the Stetson University School of Business Administration. RGIP has a long history of being successful in student-managed investment fund competitions, but this was a research challenge, so its nice to see that Stetson prepares its students for the caliber that professionals with CFA credentials value. Two Stetson University student teams took first and third place during the virtual CFA (Chartered Financial Analysis) Institute Research Challenge. The Roland and George Investments Programs (RGIP) Stetson A and B teams used their analytical, valuation, report-writing and presentation skills to evaluate the online pet-product company Chewy.com. The Stetson B team won the state competition and Stetson A team came in third place. Both teams competed against 13 colleges and universities, including the University of Central Florida, University of Florida, Florida State University, University of South Florida, Rollins College and Jacksonville University. I was happy that the students hard work and long hours had paid off, especially since they participated voluntarily in the CFA Institute Research Challenge outside of their classes, said Matthew Hurst, PhD, interim director of the Roland and Sarah George Investments Institute in Stetsons School of Business Administration. The competition is the closest that a group of students can get to writing professional level research, and it prepares them for the rigors of the industry, amount of time and due diligence required to fully evaluate a company. The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual collegiate research competition that provides undergraduate students from around the world with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis and professional ethics. The Stetson B team found that Chewy.com was overvalued by around 50% and deserved a sell recommendation, which means owners should sell their shares in the company because the value was not justifying the current price. The Stetson B team winning the CFA Institute Research Challenge during the state competition was an exciting surprise, said alumna and team captain Ivy Nguyen. The team performed an intensive analysis of Chewy.coms customers and built a model from the ground up using that behavior to project revenue moving forward. Our core finding was that the companys growth was likely less sustainable than the market assumed and couldnt justify its current trading price. Stetson Universitys Finance Department and the solid foundation of the School of Business Administrations curriculum and RGIP program are among the best in the State of Florida, added Hurst. RGIP has a long history of being successful in student-managed investment fund competitions, but this was a research challenge, so its nice to see that Stetson prepares its students for the caliber that professionals with CFA credentials value. RGIP students manage a portfolio of $5.5 million in stocks and bonds, develop their own investment goals, objectives and criteria, and have produced profitable returns. The Stetson B teams research reports were deep dives into the pet-product industry, Chewy.com and competitive landscape. The students also evaluated possible risks, the environmental, social and governance (ESG) standing of the company and multiple valuation methods. The two teams are: Stetson A team: Rebecca Guerra (Captain), Andres Fernandes Vilches, Daniel Moutouss Rufus, Luis Cortes and Daminie Appavoo Stetson B team: Giao Ivy Nguyen (Captain), CJ Rogan, Austin Carroll Smith and Jonathan Winer The Stetson B team received a shirt, mug and Apple AirPods for winning the CFA Institute Research Challenges state tournament. They are advancing to the regional competition on Thursday, April 15 and Friday, April 16. The national competition will be held on Wednesday, April 21. About Stetson University Founded in 1883, Stetson University is the oldest private university in Central Florida. Stetson focuses on intense learning experiences in a supportive community that allows students to develop their voice in a connected, inclusive environment. Stetson University ranks No. 4 on U.S. News & World Reports 2021 list of Best Regional Universities (South), and has been recognized as one of The Princeton Reviews 386 Best Colleges, 2021 edition. Stay connected with Stetson on social media. Contact: Sandra Carr Media Relations P: 407-256-5090 E: scarr3@stetson.edu Offaly and the Midlands have been dealing with Covid-19 now for a year where words like lockdowns, cocooning, social distancing and R numbers are commonplace and ones we know all too well. As we enter the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland, who would have thought we would have been affected by the virus to such an extent or for this length of time This week twelve months ago, pubs closed their doors two days before St Patrick's Day and March 12 will be forever etched in our minds as schools, colleges and public places shut their doors for what we thought was just until March 29. St Patrick's 2020 ended with the then Taoiseach issuing a public address at 9 pm that night after coming down the steps of Government buildings to address the nation. Who knew that we would be subjected to so many varying levels of lockdowns over the last twelve months. However, we did got through the initial lockdown with stoic determination, taking it on with strict adherence to the public health guidelines and incredible community spirit. We tried to get on with life as best we could but it was difficult to stay apart from family and restrict our movements. It had a particularly hard impact on the elderly, who were told to 'cocoon'' and couldn't see their children or grandchildren or vice versa. We witnessed waving at one another waving through windows of their houses or peeking through the window of nursing homes in a vain attempt to catch a glimpse of a loved one. We busied ourselves with 'zoom' calls to celebrate birthdays and special occasions while trundling along with the humdrum of 'lockdown life'. Then on May 18, we saw some light at the end of the tunnel as Covid-19 restrictions began to ease and Ireland entered into phase one of the Government's roadmap of easing Covid-19 restrictions. With warmer weather and longer days, things seemed a little brighter and spirits were good in the county. Unfortunately, we hit a bleep along the way in August here in Offaly with a localised lockdown #LOK as our figures began to drift in the wrong direction again. Again, we knuckled down and were able to look forward to a staycation and the children returning to school in September. However, in November, the signs were there that we weren't on the right path. But, there was hope that perhaps, we could celebrate Christmas in some way with family and friends. Retail and restaurants welcomed people through their doors. We felt hope! But, it wasn't to be and on December 22, we headed into another level 5 lockdown and this is where we are at twelve months later. For me, thankfully, the days of homeschooling or remote learning are behind us for the time being as I watched as my boys ran through the school gates earlier this week. Possibly delighted to get away from their teacher/parent, I mused and welcoming the respite from me and looking forward to hanging out with their friends, despite their lost schooldays. Society has been affected in a major way. People can't socialise outside their immediate family circle or exercise outside of 5km and that is tough to take. It has taken its toll on people and we are fatigued. Lockdown has meant different things to different people and we have all learnt different lessons, often hard. My thoughts go to people, who have had to shut their business' doors, people who have been furloughed, lost their jobs. We can't even quantify the ramifications of this yet! And, then there are restrictions on weddings or funerals as well as the lack of social interaction for many. However, green shoots of recovery are evident with the vaccination roll out. Slow as it is, they are being rolled out and we have to look to the future to better days and a time when we don't have to rely on a sentence, we have heard all too often 'when it is safe to do so'. Bree Maestas: "My dad opened our current store in 1970, and my husband and I had hoped to pass it along to our daughters. A bill currently working its way through the General Assembly, House Bill 1102, would keep us from doing that, and effectively kill our multi-generational business." Mumbai, March 23 : Shares of Orchid Pharma have been on a dream run as they have surged a mammoth 10,000 per cent since their relisting on the exchanges last November, after the company's resolution under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. For the 97th consecutive session, shares of the company rose 5 per cent on the BSE on Tuesday. The stock closed at Rs 1,931.60, higher by Rs 91.95, or 5 per cent, from its previous close. On the day of its relisting on November 3, 2020, it had closed at Rs 18 per share. The company has a total of 4.08 crore outstanding shares, and Dhanuka Laboratories, which took over the company through the NCLT process in March last year, holds 98.04 per as per shareholding data on the BSE, as of December 2020. Public shareholders hold just 1.93 per cent stake, of which banks and other financial institutions hold 1.19 per cent and individual shareholders have 0.51 per cent. This seems to be a similar scenario which was witnessed in the case of Ruchi Soya whose shares surged a whopping 8,800 per cent during January-June last year. It led the market experts to raise concerns on the incessant rise in prices at a time when the public shareholding is very low, following which capital market regulator SEBI in December 2020 tweaked the minimum public shareholding norms for listed companies facing bankruptcy under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and which get relisted on the stock market. Now, such companies are mandated to have at least 5 per cent public shareholding at the time of their admission to dealing on stock exchange, as against no minimum requirement earlier. Earlier, in case of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) where the public shareholding falls below 10 per cent, such listed companies are required to bring the public shareholding to at least 10 per cent within a period of 18 months and to 25 per cent within 36 months. Further, such companies are provided 12 months to achieve public shareholding of 10 per cent from the date such shares of the company are admitted to dealings on stock exchange and 36 months to achieve public shareholding of 25 per cent. The lock-in on equity shares allotted to the resolution applicant under the resolution plan shall not be applicable to the extent to achieve 10 per cent public shareholding within 12 months. Chennai-based Orchid Pharma was established in 1992 and is involved in the development, manufacture and marketing of diverse bulk actives, formulations and nutraceuticals. One of the operational creditors moved an application with NCLT, Chennai for admission of the company into CIRP in August 2017. NCLT, Chennai admitted the Company in CIRP and the powers of the Board were suspended from August 17, 2017. Share price of some other listed companies which achieved resolution after being taken over under the IBC have also increased. Shares of Alok Industries, which was acquired by Reliance Industries and JM Financial Asset Reconstruction Company, surged around 300 per cent in the past year. Stock price of Jaypee Infratech rose nearly 200 per cent during the period. Shares of Amtek Auto and IVRCL Ltd which have also been resolved under the IBC, have been suspended on the exchanges. AUSTIN, Texas, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vyopta, the Collaboration Intelligence company, today announced it has added support for RingCentral Office Phone , a Gartner UCaaS Magic Quadrant Leader. Vyopta offers an intuitive, unified approach to monitoring and analytics across collaboration services, including RingCentral's voice calling experience. Vyopta's Collaboration Performance Management (CPM) platform helps accelerate rollouts of new technologies, simplifies troubleshooting and reporting, and improves user experience. "RingCentral usage has grown during the pandemic as organizations looked to UCaaS solutions for their collaboration needs," said Jonathan Sass, Vice President of Product for Vyopta. "We will continue to expand the breadth and depth of our coverage to help organizations ensure an exceptional collaboration experience for end users while optimizing collaboration and business outcomes." Vyopta's support for RingCentral provides: Real-time data for RingCentral Office Phone call legs alongside other call and meeting platforms Automated proactive alerting on concurrent call usage, dial-outs (emergency, toll-free and international numbers), and disconnect issues Visibility into isolated incidents and systemic issues for quicker troubleshooting Actionable insights that track audio usage across hard and soft phones as well as utilization by user (most active and inactive, by department or location, and more) Companies interested in Vyopta's support for RingCentral Office Phone can learn more here: https://www.vyopta.com/product/what-we-cover/ringcentral . About Vyopta Incorporated Vyopta , the Collaboration Intelligence company, is a global leader in comprehensive monitoring and analytics for Collaboration Performance Management and Workspace Insights. By integrating insights from multi-vendor Unified Communications & Collaboration vendors and IOT devices, Vyopta helps organizations deliver the best UC user experience and optimize their UC and real estate investments. Vyopta helps hundreds of organizations worldwide spanning 20+ industries monitor 6 million endpoints and over 20 billion meeting minutes a year. SOURCE Vyopta Inc Related Links http://www.vyopta.com will take up on Wednesday a bill which seeks to make it clear that the "government" in Delhi means the "Lieutenant Governor", as the House witnessed repeated brief adjournments during the day following uproar by opposition parties which termed the proposed legislation "unconstitutional". The Government of Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which was passed by Lok Sabha on Monday, also makes it mandatory for the Delhi government to take the opinion of the lieutenant governor (L-G) before any executive action. "We have discussed with leaders of all parties and arrived at a consensus that the House will meet tomorrow at 10 am ... First we will discuss the Finance Bill, NCT and other Bills," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said. Joshi also informed that there would be no Zero Hour, Question Hour and Lunch Hour. Earlier in the day, witnessed repeated adjournments as opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (APP) members protested against the bill. The uproar in the Upper House of Parliament started when Deputy Chairman Harivansh asked Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy to move a motion for the consideration of the Government of Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021. AAP member Sanjay Singh protested against allowing the motion, saying his notice has been pending in the House. The deputy chairman assured the AAP member that his notice would be considered after the motion is moved, but Singh called it "unconstitutional". Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said that the bill is dangerous and it will grab rights of the elected government of Delhi and destroy democracy. He alleged that the government wants the L-G as government and the elected dispensation as his "servant". Harivansh adjourned the House till 5.24 pm. As the House reassembled, the protest by opposition members continued, prompting the chair to adjourn the House for a second time till 5.40 pm. It was adjourned again till 5:50 pm and then till 6:10 pm. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan had urged the Chair to extend proceedings till 6.30 pm to discuss the bill. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 21:44:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's state-run standards agency on Tuesday said all maize millers in the country must be certified before putting their product on the market. Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) in a statement issued here said maize flour dealers must adhere to quality standards or risk being prosecuted. The tough stance comes amid a ban by Kenya on importation of maize flour from Uganda over safety concerns. The standards agency said the millers have a six-month ultimatum which expires in June to have their facilities certified by the UNBS. "Violation of this regulation attracts a fine not exceeding five hundred currency points or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both," the statement said. The agency advised the millers to among others to store maize or maize flour on pallets to avoid contact with damp floors that could lead to moulds and aflatoxin contamination of maize and maize flour. The millers were also advised to avoid using unacceptable pest control methods like spraying with pesticides and insecticides which contaminate the maize flour. Enditem Regulatory News: TOTAL (Paris:FP) (LSE:TTA) (NYSE:TOT): Total and Shenergy Group, the leading energy player in Shanghai, have signed binding agreements for the supply of up to 1.4 million tons per annum of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Total, as well as the creation of a joint venture to expand LNG marketing in China. The joint venture (Total 49%, Shenergy Group 51%) will sell LNG, supplied by Total, to customers in Shanghai and throughout the neighboring Yangtze River Delta regions, one of the main LNG markets in China. Additionally, Total will supply LNG to Shanghai Gas, the natural gas subsidiary of Shenergy Group, for its distribution business. "This deal with Shenergy Group is a great opportunity to partner with an experienced Gas LNG player with strong ambitions, as well as a unique entry point into the downstream LNG market in China. This partnership is in line with our strategy to grow along the entire gas value chain," said Stephane Michel, President Gas, Renewables Power at Total. "LNG is playing a key role in meeting the growing demand for natural gas, especially in China where we are pleased to contribute to the diversification of the energy mix." "The Shenergy Group is very pleased to sign this partnership agreement with Total, which secures a long-term, reliable supply of LNG for the Yangtze River Delta. The Joint Venture with Total will develop the LNG downstream market and support the objective of Shenergy Group to improve the air quality and reduce emissions in the region," said Mr. Wang Zhehong, Vice President of Shenergy Group and Chairman of Shanghai Gas. The LNG supply to the JV and Shanghai gas distribution business will be sourced from global LNG portfolio of Total through a long-term LNG Sale and Purchase agreement ramping up to 1.4 million tons per annum for a term of twenty years. It will be delivered to Shenergy's Chinese LNG terminals. About Shenergy Group Shenergy (Group) Co., Ltd., founded in 1987, is a Shanghai-based state-owned company that is engaged in power generation, gas industry, finance, cable industry, energy service and trade. Its subsidiary Shanghai Gas integrates natural gas procurement, pipeline network distribution and sales services, which supplied 9.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas and served 6.3 million natural gas users in 2019. Total, Second Largest Private Global LNG Player Total is the world's second largest privately owned LNG player, with a global portfolio of nearly 50 Mtpa by 2025 and a global market share of around 10%. The Group benefits from strong and diversified positions throughout the LNG value chain: gas production and liquefaction, LNG transportation and trading, and contribution to the development of the LNG industry for maritime transport. Through its interests in liquefaction plants in Qatar, Nigeria, Russia, Norway, Oman, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Australia and Angola, the Group markets LNG on all world markets. About Total Total is a broad energy company that produces and markets fuels, natural gas and electricity. Our 100,000 employees are committed to better energy that is more affordable, more reliable, cleaner and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, our ambition is to become the responsible energy major. Cautionary Note This press release, from which no legal consequences may be drawn, is for information purposes only. The entities in which TOTAL SE directly or indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. TOTAL SE has no liability for their acts or omissions. In this document, the terms "Total", "Total Group" and Group are sometimes used for convenience. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TOTAL SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005495/en/ Contacts: Total Media Relations: +33 1 47 44 46 99 l presse@total.com l @TotalPress Investor Relations: +44 (0)207 719 7962 l ir@total.com Chennai: South star Dhanush thanked his fans and collaborators for his National Award win for 'Asuran', saying that bagging the top acting honour twice in his career has been nothing short of a 'blessing'. Dhanush bagged the best actor award for his role in filmmaker Vetrimaaran's Tamil hit at the 67th National Film Awards, announced on Monday. The 37-year-old actor had earlier won the honour for his 2011 action thriller 'Aadukalam'. In a statement shared on Twitter, Dhanush said he is humbled by the love and accolades coming his way in his career of nearly two decades. "I woke up to this amazing news of being honoured with the prestigious national award for 'Asuran'. To win one best actor award is a dream, to win two is nothing short of a blessing. I never imagined I would come this far," Dhanush said. The actor shared the best actor award with Manoj Bajpayee for his role in 'Bhonsle'. 'Asuran' features Dhanush as Sivasamy, a farmer on the run with his family in a bid to protect his son who has killed an upper-caste landlord in vengeance. The movie, which also features Manju Warrier and Prakash Raj, also bagged the National Award for the best Tamil feature film. Dhanush thanked Vetrimaaran for giving him the role of Sivasamy and said he never thought he would find a "friend, companion and a brother" in the director when they had first met, more than a decade ago. The duo have previously worked in critically-acclaimed movies such as 2007's 'Polladhavan', 'Aadukalam' and 'Vada Chennai' (2018). "I am so proud of the four films we have worked together and the two films we have produced together. I am very glad you chose to believe in me so much and I chose to believe in you. Now can't wait to hear what you have written for me next. A big hug." Dhanush thanked the National Award jury, 'Asuran' producer Kalaippuli S Thanu and the entire team of the film. The actor also acknowledged the love and support of his fans and called them his pillars of strength. "It's the unconditional love you all give me that keeps me going. Can't thank you all enough. I love you all to the moon and back. Please spread love and nothing else," he added. Seoul, March 23 : LG Electronics on Tuesday said it has joined forces with two other partners to develop next-generation 6G network technology. LG signed a partnership with Keysight Technologies, a US-based electronics test and measurement firm, and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), South Korea's leading research university. Under the agreement, the three sides will cooperate in developing technologies related to terahertz, a key frequency band for 6G communications. They target to complete 6G research by 2024, reports Yonhap news agency. LG said the 6G network is expected to be commercialised in 2029. The company said 6G will provide faster data speed, lower latency and higher reliability than 5G, and will be able to bring the concept of Ambient Internet of Everything (AIoE), which provides enhanced connected experience to users. LG established a 6G research centre with KAIST in 2019 and signed an agreement with the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science last year to study 6G technologies. Keysight Technologies is a major supplier of 6G terahertz test equipment. It has been providing equipment to LG and KAIST's 6G research centre. CBC After lagging behind other countries in the early months of vaccination, Canada is now among the leaders when it comes to the percentage of the population vaccinated against COVID-19 with at least one dose. So far, Canada has vaccinated 58 per cent of the total population with at least one dose, putting the country just behind Israel, which has plateaued at around 63 per cent of its population, and roughly neck-and-neck with the U.K. That means Canada is among the highest ranks of other large co LONDON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A global leader in online multi-asset trading services, currency data and analytics, OANDA Global Corporation has received regulatory approval to complete the acquisition of leading Polish broker, Dom Maklerski TMS Brokers SA (TMS). The purchase was approved by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority earlier today. Gavin Bambury, Chief Executive Officer of OANDA, said, "We're delighted to have received regulatory approval for the acquisition of TMS Brokers. With the purchase now approved, we're looking forward to closing the deal and beginning work on the integration of our technology infrastructure, key tools and trading resources in order to deliver the best possible trading experience to OANDA and TMS clients alike." OANDA first entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of TMS Brokers in September 2020. The deal marks the first in a series of strategic acquisitions OANDA is looking to complete in the coming years. About OANDA Founded in 1996, OANDA was the first company to share exchange rate data free of charge on the Internet, launching an FX trading platform that helped pioneer the development of web-based currency trading five years later. Today, the group provides online multi-asset trading, currency data and analytics to retail and corporate clients, demonstrating an unrivalled expertise in foreign exchange. With regulated entities in eight of the world's most active financial markets, OANDA remains dedicated to transforming the business of foreign exchange. For more information, please visit oanda.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or YouTube. About TMS TMS Brokers is the oldest multi-asset broker in Poland. Since 1997, TMS has provided service to thousands of Polish and European customers offering trading on FX, CFDs on indices, cryptocurrencies, single stocks and commodities with MT4/MT5 platforms and an innovative proprietary mobile app. The firm's multiple-award-winning team helps individuals and companies with all currency and equities related services that include advisory and analysis, money exchange and licensed digital payment solutions. For more information, please visit www.tms.pl. A grandfather described the 'traumatizing' moment his son-in-law and two granddaughters hid in a closet when a gunman opened fire on a grocery store in Boulder, killing 10 people on Monday. The granddad, who identified himself as Steven, told NBC that his two teen granddaughters were with their dad inside the King Soopers store when the gunman entered. 'There was shooting, and he saw it and got the girls down. They ran and hid upstairs in a coat closet for an hour, in the coats,' Steven said. Steven said his son-in-law was in the King Soopers' pharmacy to get the COVID vaccine with his granddaughters, aged 13 and 14, when the shots went off. Scroll down for video The granddad, who identified himself as Steven (left), told NBC that his two teen granddaughters were with their dad inside the King Soopers store when the gunman entered. He said they hid in a closet of the supermarket for an hour Steven said the trio escaped through the back of the business (pictured) when police officers arrived to the scene 'They were communicating with my daughter through his phone, texting, and then the cops came in through the roof and were protecting them,' Steven said. Steven said the trio escaped through the back of the business. He explained that the incident was 'traumatizing for them'. 'I'm really concerned for their mental and emotional health. But they're great kids, and they're super solid and they have good parents. But this is going to be a hurdle to get over,' he added. Steven also called for better gun control laws, saying: 'This has got to stop. Every week in the United States there's a shooting. Now it's our turn. And that should never be repeated anywhere.' The gunman killed 10 people, including Boulder police officer Eric Talley, 51, at the King Soopers grocery store on Monday afternoon. Talley, a father-of-seven, was the first to respond to the scene, authorities said. Police arrested a suspect, but didn't reveal his name or any details about the shooting at an evening news conference where Boulder police Chief Maris Herold fought back tears. Talley had been with Boulder police since 2010, Herold said. He went to the store after a call about shots fired and someone carrying a rifle, she said. Healthcare workers were rushed out of the King Soopers grocery store after a gunman opened fire inside Shoppers held hands as they were evacuated from the supermarket by police officers Monday afternoon Investigators had just begun sorting through evidence and witness interviews and didn't have details on a motive for the shooting at the King Soopers store in Boulder, which is about 25 miles northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado, said Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty. 'This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder County,' Dougherty said. 'These were people going about their day, doing their shopping. I promise the victims and the people of the state of Colorado that we will secure justice.' Dougherty said of Talley: 'He was by all accounts one of the outstanding officers of the Boulder Police Department, and his life was cut too short.' The attack was the seventh mass killing this year in the US, following the March 16 shooting that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. A gunman killed 10 people, including Boulder Officer Eric Talley (pictured), at a grocery store in Colorado on Monday It follows a lull in mass killings during the pandemic in 2020, which had the smallest number of such attacks in more than a decade, according to the database, which tracks mass killings defined as four or more dead, not including the shooter. Identities of the other nine victims were not disclosed Monday night as police were still notifying their family members. Matthew Kirsch, the acting US attorney for Colorado, pledged that 'the full weight of federal law enforcement' will support the investigation. He said investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the crime scene, along with FBI agents. Officers had escorted a shirtless man with blood running down his leg out of the store in handcuffs but authorities would not say if he was the suspect. They did say the suspect was receiving medical care and was the only person injured who did not die. The hospital will not release any further information on the patient, said Rich Sheehan, spokesman for Boulder Community Health, which operates the facility. Dean Schiller told The Associated Press that he had just left the supermarket when he heard gunshots and saw three people lying face down, two in the parking lot and one near the doorway. He said he 'couldn't tell if they were breathing'. A shirtless man with blood running down his leg was escorted out of the store in handcuffs by two police officers, a live TV feed showed. Authorities have not confirmed if this man is the suspect they have in custody Video posted on YouTube showed one person on the floor inside the store and two more outside on the ground. What sounds like two gunshots are also heard at the beginning of the video. Law enforcement vehicles and officers massed outside the store, including SWAT teams, and at least three helicopters landed on the roof. Some windows at the front of the store were broken. At one point, authorities said over a loudspeaker that the building was surrounded and that 'you need to surrender'. Sarah Moonshadow told the Denver Post that two shots rang out just after she and her son, Nicolas Edwards, finished buying strawberries. She said she told her son to get down and then 'we just ran'. Once they got outside, she said they saw a body in the parking lot. Edwards said police were speeding into the lot and pulled up next to the body. 'I knew we couldn't do anything for the guy,' he said. 'We had to go.' James Bentz told the Post that he was in the meat section when he heard what he thought was a misfire, then a series of pops. 'I was then at the front of a stampede,' he said. Bentz said he jumped off a loading dock out back to escape and that younger people were helping older people off of it. Colorado Gov Jared Polis tweeted a statement that his 'heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community'. In a statement, the King Soopers chain offered 'thoughts, prayers and support to our associates, customers, and the first responders who so bravely responded to this tragic situation. We will continue to cooperate with local law enforcement and our store will remain closed during the police investigation'. Miracle Preemie Who Was Born at 1lb 3oz Beats the Odds to Survive and Is Now 9 Months Old One of Britains tiniest babies was born 17 weeks premature, weighing just a little over a pound. Doctors gave him a slim chance of survival. However, the newborn fought hard for his life for six long months, and is now thriving and meeting some impossible milestones. Parents Chloe and Adam Hemmett, of Hertfordshire, England, share four kids together. Adam told The Epoch Times via email that he was overjoyed with excitement to learn that his wife was expecting Sydney, their fourth. Baby Sydney in the hospital. (Courtesy of Adam Hemmett) Chloes pregnancy was completely normal up until 23 weeks, Adam, 36, a contracts manager for a scaffolding company, explained. At 11 p.m. on June 19, 2020, Chloe was woken and realized that she was bleeding and in pain, he recalled. She described the pain to me as being like labor contractions, so we called for an ambulance immediately. An ambulance whisked 29-year-old bank manager, Chloe, to the maternity unit at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex. Chloe and Adam Hemmett with their baby boy, Sydney. (Courtesy of Adam Hemmett) Adam, worried sick, wasnt able to accompany his wife due to COVID-19 restrictions in place amid the pandemic. The next morning, at around 7 a.m., Chloe called Adam from the hospital to tell him she felt fine. But just over an hour later, the midwife called back saying Chloe was in pain and needed her partner. I now know that they knew what was about to happen, Adam reflected. Finding emergency childcare for his other kids, Adam endured a whirlwind of emotions that he had never experienced before as he was on his drive to the hospital. As soon as I saw Chloe, she burst out crying, saying, He hasnt made it, he hasnt made it,' said Adam. I was in complete shock little did I know that Sydney, who was born 17 weeks early weighing just 1 pound 3 ounces [538 grams], was still alive and fighting hard for his life in the NICU. Adam credited the sheer determination and courage of the nurses who delivered him for his baby boys survival. Sydney was unresponsive for the first seven minutes of his life, but doctors were able to revive him, according to The Sun. The couple later found out that Chloes cervix was shorter than average, causing premature labor and birth, an abnormality that wasnt detected in the scan, Adam told The Epoch Times. Seeing Sydney for the first time, said Adam, was a surreal experience. [He was] the most precious thing to us, laying there trying to survive, he recalled. It was a very hard time for us both, and unexplainable. As Sydney was put straight on a ventilator, a team arranged for his transfer to the intensive care unit of Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. Sydney had a brain bleed, kidney failure, sepsis, a hole in his heart, and lung disease. Chloe and Adam were warned that babies born with this condition didnt survive beyond the 48-hour mark, Adam told The Epoch Times. Yet Adams two powerful mantrasWhat will be will be, and, If its meant to happen, it willkept the family strong as they prepared for the worst. He shouldnt be here really, when you consider everything he has been through, Chloe said. There were many times when we thought we had lost him. But he didnt stop fighting. Hes so amazing. Sydney beat his odds. He went on to spend the next six months in hospital, not without major challenges, but constantly going from strength to strength. He was discharged on Dec. 22, 2020, just in time for Christmas. Speaking to The Epoch Times, Adam called Sydneys homecoming the best present any parents could ever wish for. The whole family was so excited, he explained. Me and Chloe were a little apprehensive about Sydney coming home, but super excited at the same time. We learnt so much in hospital from the staff. Sydney, who had already been through so much in his short course of life, needed ongoing medications and oxygen treatment, which Chloe and Adam learned to administer themselves. At the time of writing, the miracle baby boy is doing well, weighing in at 16 pounds 8 ounces (approx. 7.4 kg), and is meeting all the milestones that his parents didnt dare dream of. For Adam, the best thing about being Sydneys father is having reason to thank his wife for everything she has become since going through this really challenging journey together, and giving me such a beautiful baby boy. Sydneys siblingsJake, 13; Rosie, 9; Oscar, 4have also bonded beautifully with their baby brother. The way they love and care for him is heartbreaking, said Adam. We all hold the same family values together, and believe that family is the most important thing in the world. Sydney with his siblings (Courtesy of Adam Hemmett) Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired Newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Doctors, teachers and nurses today urged Boris Johnson to formally recognise an annual 'Covid Memorial Day' and erect a monument on Whitehall. More than 50 MPs and peers along with the health unions, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing are backing the calls. There is also a cross-party campaign for a minute's silence every year on March 23 to remember the lives lost on the anniversary of the first UK-wide lockdown. Schools, workplaces and public venues would hold a silence at noon every year so that people can pay tribute to the efforts of frontline workers during the pandemic. Wreaths would also be laid under the plans at a new coronavirus memorial monument on Whitehall in London, which is also where The Cenotaph is located. Wreaths would be laid at a new coronavirus memorial monument on Whitehall under the plans In a letter to the Prime Minister, MPs said the nation 'must remember the lives lost and lives changed with dignity, and commemorate the efforts of our frontline and key workers with pride'. MPs and peers, including Tory MP Dr Dan Poulter, signed the letter organised by Layla Moran, the MP who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus. Prince Charles marks national day of remembrance on Covid lockdown anniversary The Prince of Wales has lent his support to the day of national reflection being held on the anniversary of the first UK lockdown. Prince Charles has recorded a message to support the day of national reflection today The nation will pause today in remembrance of those who have died during the crisis in the past year, organised by the end-of-life charity Marie Curie. In a recorded message, Charles, who is a patron of the charity, said: 'We have all been inspired by the resourcefulness we have witnessed, humbled by the dedication shown by so many, and moved, beyond words, by the sacrifices we have seen. 'Whatever our faith or philosophy may be, let us take a moment together to remember those who have been lost, to give thanks for their lives, and to acknowledge the inexpressible pain of parting. 'In their memory, let us resolve to work for a future inspired by our highest values, that have been displayed so clearly by the people of this country through this most challenging of times.' Advertisement Ms Moran said: 'A Covid Memorial Day will bring communities across the UK together to mourn the lives lost and lives changed by this pandemic and ensure they are never forgotten. 'This is also a chance to show our recognition and gratitude to the heroes on the frontline who have kept our NHS, schools and other vital services running. 'We owe it to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice to remember them with dignity, learn the lessons of this crisis and ensure the country is better prepared when the next pandemic strikes.' Separately the Royal College of Nursing, the Local Government Association and the NASUWT teacher's trade union backed the initiative. British Medical Association council chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: 'For many of us working in the NHS, there has been nothing in living memory that has had such a profound and devastating impact on our nation and health service as the coronavirus pandemic a pandemic that will undoubtedly shape our future for years to come. 'The Covid Memorial Day should serve as an important reminder for the many who sadly lost their lives throughout this pandemic and for their loved ones who bear this loss. 'It is also a day to acknowledge the remarkable efforts of all the health and care staff, key workers and those who have and continue to work tirelessly, often putting their own health at risk to come to the aid of others and save lives. 'Crucially, this day should be marked in history to ensure that we never take for granted our health service and are constantly progressing and learning lessons that will serve us well in the future.' Today, Mr Johnson offered his condolences to those bereaved during the pandemic and praised the 'great spirit' shown during the past year on the anniversary of the first national lockdown. The nation will pause in remembrance of those who have died during the crisis as part of a national day of reflection, organised by the end-of-life charity Marie Curie. A minute's silence will be held at 12pm followed by a bell toll, and people are being encouraged to stand on their doorsteps at 8pm with phones, candles and torches to signify a 'beacon of remembrance'. Dean of Blackburn, the Very Reverend Peter Howell-Jones, is pictured today during the National Day of Reflection at Blackburn Cathedral, on the anniversary of the first lockdown More than 250 organisations are supporting the day of reflection, including 82 leaders from religious groups and cross-party politicians, care organisations, charities, businesses, emergency services, public sector bodies and community groups. Mr Johnson, who will observe the minute's silence privately, said: 'The last 12 months has taken a huge toll on us all, and I offer my sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones. 'Today, the anniversary of the first lockdown, is an opportunity to reflect on the past year - one of the most difficult in our country's history. 'We should also remember the great spirit shown by our nation over this past year. We have all played our part, whether it's working on the front line as a nurse or carer, working on vaccine development and supply, helping to get that jab into arms, home schooling your children, or just by staying at home to prevent the spread of the virus. A healthcare worker during the National Day of Reflection at Blackburn Cathedral this morning 'It's because of every person in this country that lives have been saved, our NHS was protected, and we have started on our cautious road to easing restrictions once and for all.' According to the latest available data from the Office for National Statistics, there have been 618,676 deaths from all causes registered in England and Wales between March 21, 2020 and the week ending March 5, 2021. The figures also show that, across the UK, 147,681 deaths have now occurred where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. The Health Foundation calculates that those who died with Covid-19 have lost up to 10 years of life on average, with a total of up to 1.5 million potential years of life lost. To mark the anniversary, London's skyline will turn yellow with landmarks including the London Eye, Trafalgar Square and Wembley Stadium lighting up at nightfall. Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits BAE Systems at Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire yesterday Other notable buildings that will be illuminated include Cardiff Castle and Belfast City Hall, while churches and cathedrals will toll bells, light thousands of candles and offer prayers. In Portsmouth, churches will deliver more than 50 boxes of chocolates and cards to local GP surgeries, care homes and schools to thank key workers for their pandemic efforts. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said: 'This day of reflection is an opportunity to pause and remember all that's happened over the past year, to mourn those who have died but also to give thanks for those who have looked after us and our communities. 'It is a moment to pray together to our Father in Heaven to comfort us in our grief and to lead us into the hope of the risen Christ and the eternal life he promises. 'As we reflect on the pandemic, may He strengthen our resolve to rebuild a kinder, fairer and more compassionate society, may He be with those who are struggling and may He guide us in honouring those we have lost over the past year.' Layla Moran, the MP who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus, organised the letter. She is pictured last July while hosting the inaugural meeting of the group Lending his support to the national day of reflection, the Prince of Wales, who is a patron of Marie Curie, said: 'Whatever our faith or philosophy may be, let us take a moment together to remember those who have been lost, to give thanks for their lives, and to acknowledge the inexpressible pain of parting. 'In their memory, let us resolve to work for a future inspired by our highest values, that have been displayed so clearly by the people of this country through this most challenging of times.' Nursing staff will also pause to say thank you to members of the public for their year of sacrifice, and remember the loss of friends, colleagues and patients. Nursing leader Dame Donna Kinnair said: 'After a year of sacrifices and gestures, great and small, we are taking our turn to thank the public. In a time of loss and fear, they helped us to keep digging deeper. 'We will take a day to remember and reflect - as much about the future we want as the year we've had.' Advertisement A humbled Boris Johnson tonight gave a painfully frank assessment of the early days of the government's coronavirus response - admitting it had been like fighting 'in the dark'. At a sombre Downing Street briefing to mark the anniversary of the first lockdown, the PM tried to strike an optimistic note about the prospects for getting back to normal, saying the UK is moving 'step by step, jab by jab' towards 'reclaiming our freedoms'. But as he paid tribute to the more than 126,000 who have lost their lives in the UK, Mr Johnson also laid bare his regrets about what the government had not known. The premier flanked by medical and science chiefs Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance, suggested there would have been a different approach if he had been aware the extent to which Covid could be transmitted asymptomatically. 'For month after month, our collective fight against coronavirus was like fighting in the dark against a callous and invisible enemy until science helped us to turn the lights on and gain the upper hand,' he said. Speaking without his customary bullishness, 56-year-old Mr Johnson said he will be dealing with the fallout from Covid for 'as long as I live' - saying his biggest worry was the damage to the young generation from missing their education. 'I certainly think that this is something that we will all remember and be dealing with in different ways for, certainly in my case, for as long as I live. It's been an extraordinary moment in our history, a deeply difficult and distressing period,' he said. He added that the decisions had been 'very hard' with 'no good outcomes' possible, stating emotionally that he always had the 'interests of the British people foremost in our hearts'. Meanwhile, Prof Whitty and Sir Patrick lamented the lack of testing capacity at the start of the crisis. And Prof Whitty delivered a stark message that the disease was probably going to be with the human race forever, as the chances of eradicating it were near 'zero'. At the reflective 45-minute briefing, Mr Johnson - who endured his own hospital struggle with Covid shortly after triggering the first lockdown a year ago - pledged there will be a full inquiry into what lessons can be learned. And he said the country will create a 'fitting and permanent memorial' to the victims of the pandemic. He also tried to reassure the public and restive Tory MPs that the 'roadmap' dates for easing restrictions are still on track, even though anxiety has been rising about vaccine supplies amid delays and a spat with the EU. However, Covid Recovery Group of lockdown-sceptic Conservatives have issued a fresh call this evening for the timetable to be accelerated. Deputy chairman and former minister Steve Baker said the premier needed to admit that people would not be free over Easter even if the jabs targets are met. At a Downing Street briefing, the PM tried to strike an optimistic note about the prospects for getting back to normal - despite paying tribute to those who have lost their lives Slides presented at the Downing Street briefing tonight showed the improvement in the UK's coronavirus situation The premier flanked by medical and science chiefs Chris Whitty (right) and Patrick Vallance (left), suggested there would have been a different approach if he had been aware the extent to which Covid could be transmitted asymptomatically Daily Covid cases and deaths rise by 2% in a week as infections hit 5,379 and fatalities creep up to 112 Britain today recorded a slight uptick in both coronavirus cases and deaths despite scientists hailing separate data that suggested the second wave may be over. Department of Health bosses posted 5,379 infections, which is up 1.6 per cent from last Tuesday. But cases have yet to take off amid a huge testing boost and warnings they would shoot up when schools reopened in England on March 8. Another 112 victims were also added to the official toll, a week on-week rise of 1.8 per cent. Day-to-day figures fluctuate, however, and the overall trend is still heading downward thanks to tough lockdown restrictions and the UK's successful vaccine roll-out, which has now seen 28.3million Britons jabbed. Separate data from the Office for National Statistics today showed England and Wales suffered no excess deaths for the first time since August last week, after they dipped 4.4 per cent below the five-year average. Deaths were also below the levels expected in all regions except the East Midlands. Professor Neil Ferguson the Government adviser whose grim modelling spooked ministers into the first lockdown a year ago today said the data showed 'the second devastating wave of the pandemic is behind us'. Advertisement Mr Johnson said the 'biggest false assumption' during the pandemic was over asymptomatic transmission and said that no 'previous government' had envisioned such a novel disease. He told the Downing Street press conference: 'In retrospect there are probably many things that we wish that we'd known and many things that we wish we'd done differently at the time, in retrospect, because we were fighting a novel disease under very different circumstances than any previous government had imagined. 'The single biggest false assumption that we made was about the potential for asymptomatic transmission and that did govern a lot of policy in the early days, or that misunderstanding about the reality of asymptomatic transmission certainly led to real problems that we then had to work very, very hard to make up ground.' Sir Patrick said having adequate testing in place at the beginning of the pandemic would have made a 'big difference'. He said: 'The one thing that I think would have been really important earlier on is to have much better data on what was happening. 'And that would have required testing to be up and ready immediately and it would have required the ability to get that information into a source and to be able to see it. 'We simply didn't have that at the beginning and it was very difficult to know the speed at which things were moving and therefore make decisions based on the real-time data which we can do now and that would've made a big difference.' Prof Whitty said he agreed with Sir Patrick on data, and added: 'It wasn't until people started getting into hospital and dying we had a really better fix on how fast things were moving. 'At an earlier stage we had much less of an understanding about how widespread the virus was in Europe for exactly the same reason actually because of the lack of testing in Europe as well as in the UK. 'In retrospect we now know the amounts of importation that there were from Spain, from France and from bits of Italy that didn't obviously have a problem, for example, but at the time we didn't have that information and that would have almost certainly have led to slightly different approaches to how we did things.' Prof Whitty said the second wave of coronavirus 'would've been very different' if it was not for the new variant taking over the UK. He said the majority of people who died in the second half of the second wave were from the new variant. 'That has completely taken over in the UK and that is now the variant, that is what has driven a lot of these,' Prof Whitty said. 'The height of the peak would undoubtedly have been a lot lower if that new, much more transmissible and probably more fatal but that is more questionable, but the transmissibility I don't think is questionable had that not arrived, I think the pattern of the second wave in the UK would've been very different.' In a clear indication that a public inquiry will come sooner rather than later, Mr Johnson vowed that lessons will be learned for future pandemics - but refused to say categorically that he was too slow triggering lockdown. He said: 'These are very hard decisions and there are no good outcomes either way. 'All these consequences are very tough for people and all I can say is we took all the decisions with the interest of the British people foremost in our hearts and in an effort to protect the public and prevent death and suffering. 'Though doubtless there will be a moment to properly review, to learn lessons for future pandemics of a kind which I'm sure there will be.' Mr Johnson said education was his biggest concern in terms of the legacy of the outbreak. 'It's the loss of learning for so many children and young people. That's the thing we've got to focus on now as a society,' he said. The trio faced the briefing tonight after enduring a rollercoaster year battling the coronavirus pandemic Vaccination figures also show another 329,897 first doses were administered today, taking the total to 28.3million. And a further 82,300 second doses were dished out, as the UK approaches its deadline for handing them out en masse Another 112 victims were also added to the official toll, a week on-week rise of 1.8 per cent. The overall trend for deaths is, however, still heading downwards Department of Health bosses posted 5,379 infections, which is up 1.6 per cent from last Tuesday. Cases have remained steady over the past few days, but this has been put down to the number of tests being done almost doubling PM pledges 'fitting and permanent' Covid memorial Boris Johnson threw his backing behind an official memorial to the UK's thousands of Covid dead tonight. As he fronted a press conference on the first anniversary of the UK lockdown the Prime Minister promised a 'fitting and permanent' commemoration. He said that the 'whole period' will be commemorated 'at the right moment', along with the 126,000 people killed buy the deadly disease in the UK over the past year. Addressing the brutal impact of the pandemic on Britain, he told the press conference: 'For month after month, our collective fight against coronavirus was like fighting in the dark against a callous and invisible enemy until science helped us to turn the lights on and gain the upper hand.' Advertisement He added: 'It's been an absolutely unimaginable year for schoolchildren, for university students, for everybody in education. 'They've put up with incredible privations in order to help us, the whole country get through and our future as a country depends on us now repaying that generation, making sure they get the education they need, so for me that's the biggest priority.' Addressing the nation a year after he plunged it into lockdown for the first time, Mr Johnson said: 'It's thanks to all of you therefore that we can continue on our road map to freedom. 'We will meet our targets, offering a first dose to everyone over 50 by the middle of next month, as well as those under 50 who are clinically vulnerable, and offering a first dose of a vaccine to every adult by the end of July. 'And cautiously but irreversibly, step by step, jab by jab, this country is on the path to reclaiming our freedoms.' Professor Whitty, England's chief medical officer, warned today that there will be 'bumps along the road' as the UK lifts social distancing rules and slowly returns to normality in the coming months. His comments echoed that of fellow SAGE experts, who say a third coronavirus wave is inevitable and that allowing holidays to Europe this summer could lead to another lockdown. Infections are surging in Europe now, which Boris Johnson said has always led to an increase in Britain, too, and vaccine shortages will hit the UK in April. But despite this, no changes have been made to No10's lockdown-easing plans that could see social distancing laws lifted once and for all on June 21. Mr Johnson has said the UK will have to accept the risk of a huge spike in infections, and likely hospital admissions and deaths, whenever the lockdown is lifted but the only other option was to live with lockdown rules indefinitely. Vaccines should soften the blow of the next major surge but other countries haven't made as much progress, with the EU's roll-out described as shambolic. 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson today urged Brits to stick to staycations and not go abroad until every adult has had a vaccine, calling for borders to stay shut over summer to keep out troublesome Covid variants. One of Professor Ferguson's SAGE colleagues, Professor Kamlesh Khunti, gave the same warning earlier in the day and said allowing people to travel abroad could lead to yet another total lockdown in the UK if the virus spread out of control again. Summer holiday hopes were dealt another blow today as British Airways and easyJet cancelled more flights planned as far ahead as August. Downing St also announced it will fine people 5,000 for going on holiday when it isn't allowed. Coronavirus cases are surging again in some parts of Europe, which could make ministers hesitant to reopen Britain's borders this summer Edouard Meylan's family having been in watchmaking for decades, he was born into the trade, and never strayed very far from it although he originally had other plans, dabbling in a whole range of fields including engineering, consultancy and robotics. One notable achievement in this respect was his co-creation of Celsius X VI II, the brand that introduced the first ever micromechanical mobile phone: one model was even equipped with a tourbillon. And in 2012, there was a momentous phone call to the Meylan household. On the other end of the line was a struggling little Schaffhausen-based firm seeking advice on how to get back on track a firm by the name of H. Moser & Cie. The Meylan family duly gave some advice, and it was blunt. The Manufacture was a diamond in the rough; and so a lot of work needed to be done to put things right. Initially, this stiff medicine did not go down well with the then owners, but eventually they called the Meylans back asking them to implement the remedy theyd prescribed. Edouard Meylan H. Moser & Cie. And so in October 2012, Edouard Meylan agreed to do just that provided he could have completely free rein. The reliability of the timepieces had to be reviewed, as did the inventory; the brand had to be positioned, and staff laid off, if the company was to survive. The Meylans took on the project, almost at the same time as they took over Hautlence (March 2012), bringing both into the orbit of the family with a view to creating synergies. At H. Moser & Cie., the first task was to restructure and improve the production facility, before moving on to focus on marketing. Moser created a sensation and uproar with models like its Swiss Mad Watch (with its cheese case), as well as the Frankenwatch and the Concept watch. It paved the way for a new breed of prestige watchmaking with a difference, 100% Manufacture made. Fume dials became the firms hallmark, so much so that on occasion, it didnt even bother to add its name, brand, or (horror of horrors) the words Swiss Made a daring approach that left the industry reeling. Little by little, H. Moser & Cie. became the hype brand of watchmaking tradition two terms that nobody could have dreamed would ever belong together. Looking back at the H. Moser & Cie. story, Edouard Meylan says he did what I most enjoy doing building a brand, admitting that I had very high ups and very low downs and that there was a huge emotional cost. Its paid off, however, sealing his reputation as the entrepreneur hed always dreamed of becoming. *On the occasion of GMT Magazine and WorldTempus' 20th anniversary, we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. This article is an extract. The Millennium Watch Book is available on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English, with a 10% discount if you use the following code: WT2021. Order now Targeted treatment of basal-like breast cancer could be facilitated by YAP inhibitors in the future. As reported by an MDC team headed by Walter Birchmeier in the scientific journal Cancer Research, this type of cancer requires the support of the YAP protein to stimulate the growth of cancer stem cells. Breast cancer is the most common type of tumor found in women. 69,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in Germany alone. Around 80 percent of tumors originate in the luminal cells, the milk-producing cells of the mammary gland. 10 percent of the cells resemble those of the underlying (basal) cell layer. These are muscle-like epithelial cells that contract when the mammary gland produces milk in order to push it out. While luminal breast tumors are usually sensitive to hormones, 80 percent of basal-like tumors are triple-negative. They have no receptors for estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) or the growth factor receptor HER2." Professor Walter Birchmeier He heads the Signal Transduction in Development and Cancer Lab at the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC). As there are currently no targeted treatments for this very aggressive form of cancer, the prognosis for affected patients is poor. These tumors rarely respond to conventional chemotherapeutic agents, which are intended to inhibit cell division. The tumors did not grow in the mice in the absence of YAP In previous studies, Birchmeier's team was able to demonstrate that the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway plays a key role in the development of basal-like breast cancer. This signaling cascade normally regulates cell proliferation and differentiation during embryonic development. Wnt is essential for the beta-catenin protein to signal to the nucleus. Once the cells are mature and 'the job has been done', this reaction chain is disabled and beta-catenin is degraded. However, the signaling pathway can be reactivated in some types of cancer. In the case of basal-like breast cancer, it is activated and beta-catenin accumulates in the tumor cells. It was also known that the YAP oncogene is upregulated in cancer stem cells. The YAP protein stimulates cell growth and is also active in the nucleus. The aim of the current study was to investigate the connection between Wnt signaling and YAP. PhD student Hazel Quinn, lead author of the study, deactivated the YAP gene at the onset of tumor growth in mice in which the Wnt signaling pathway was activated and basal-like breast cancer was induced. It was found that while mice in the control group developed massive tumors within weeks, this did not occur in the YAP knockout mice. "We do not see any breast tumors in the absence of YAP. YAP is therefore required for the development and spread of the tumor," says Hazel Quinn The scientist used dyes and specific antibodies to make YAP in the nuclei visible in tissue sections. The alveoli - small sack-like structures in which the milk is formed and stored - are easily recognisable and free of tumors when the YAP gene is deactivated. They are almost invisible in the tissue of the control group because the proliferating carcinoma displaces them. Conclusions regarding survival YAP is a key regulator in the Hippo signaling pathway, which was only discovered a few years ago. It plays an important role in cell regeneration and differentiation for stem cells. If it does not function correctly, cancer can develop. "It is also likely to be the reason why the YAP gene is highly expressed in basal-like breast cancer but not in luminal breast cancer. The cells of basal-like tumors are similar to stem cells, whereas luminal tumors are much more differentiated," explains Hazel Quinn. Quinn's co-author Dr. Philipp Mertins, expert in proteomic analysis and group leader at MDC and the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), carried out gene expression analyses on tissue samples from human breast tumors and was able to confirm this hypothesis. While basal-like tumors generally exhibit high expression levels of the YAP gene, these are significantly lower in luminal breast cancer. How much YAP is present in the tumor is also directly correlated with the survival time of patients. "The higher the YAP level in triple-negative breast cancer, the earlier women died. In the case of luminal breast cancer, the reverse is true," explains Hazel Quinn. Approach to targeted therapy Cancer stem cells are usually the reason why small tumor clusters remain in the tissue despite chemotherapy, and the cancer returns at a later stage and forms metastases. Unlike in mice, genes in humans cannot simply be deactivated. However, the good news is that YAP can be inhibited with medication. "As we now know how important YAP is for these cells, the combination of YAP inhibitors that do not produce any non-specific side effects and conventional therapeutic strategies could improve patients' chance of survival without recurrence," says Hazel Quinn. Quinn demonstrated that this could be done in mice by inhibiting YAP activity with the substances Simvastatin or Verteporfin, which are approved for treating other diseases. Both inhibitors significantly reduced the tumor volume. "A German pharmaceutical company is currently researching molecules that can specifically inhibit YAP," adds Walter Birchmeier. It may be some time before a highly effective and well-tolerated new active ingredient is discovered and can be used in the clinic. "Combination treatments with different inhibitors that work at different points of signaling pathways are currently being favoured," says Birchmeier. Kelloggs gives Indian parents 21 easy, nutritious and fast breakfast recipes one for 21 days of the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of the campaign was to capitalize on the social media sites and blogs to provide Indian moms with 21 easy recipes for 21 days of the lockdown. In the first phase of the 21 Day Lockdown in 2020, Indians were adapting to a new way of life, where every member of the family was at home. Social listening reports revealed that parents were having conversations about the daily struggle on what food to cook, leading to a rise in recipe searches. The #21Recipes21Days campaign gave stressed parents across the country 21 different breakfast recipes for each day of the 21-day lockdown. Brand: Kelloggs Agency: FoxyMoron and Pollen 1. Category Introduction Ready-to-eat cereals have been gaining popularity because of changing lifestyles that allow less time for cooking. In India, the breakfast cereal market has been growing at an approximate rate of 18% CAGR in the last five years. 2. Brand Introduction W.K. Kellogg founded the company Kelloggs in 1906 in Michigan, United States. They first entered the Indian market in 1994 after the Indian government allowed international trade. Their first innings in the Indian market were not successful as they had not adapted to the American taste. Shortly afterward, they re-entered the subcontinent with a glocal approach and Indianized their products. Their first product launches included Chocos in 1996 and Frosties in 1997. 3. Problem Statement Under the 21 Day Lockdown in the year 2020, Indians were adapting to a new way of life that was confined to their homes. Social listening revealed that Indian moms were talking about the daily struggle on what food to cook. This was due to the nationwide restrictions on restaurants and cafes, which led to an upsurge in recipe searches online. 4. Execution Strategy The #21Recipes21Days campaign utilised the integrated approach on social media to reach their target audience. The platforms that they used to drive awareness and advocacy were: Facebook Canvas, Facebook LIVE and Instagram grid i. Facebook Canvas: This was a special interactive experience for the viewers that had a listing of all the 21 recipes under their respective categories. ii. Facebook LIVE: A LIVE session was conducted with consulting chef, Ranveer Brar as the host. In this FB LIVE, he showcased easy recipes that could be made from Kelloggs cereals. This LIVE session drove advocacy of bonding with your family through cooking, as chef Ranveer Brar cooked on the live with his son. This session also had an organic brand placement of the Kelloggs products used for the recipes. After each recipe was discussed, a Q&A session with Chef Ranveer Brar was conducted on the LIVE video with branded plugins. Momspresso Hindi sharing recipes on the live video to aid engagement & leading their followers to other recipes on their website iii. Instagram: A grid of 21 posts with the 21 recipes was created to promote this campaign on Instagram. A few images for the campaign were taken by the food stylists brought on board by Pollen (the Influencer, Creator and Talent agency of the Zoo Media network). These were taken in a shoot that took place before the #21Days21Recipes campaign. Momspresso Blog This blog leveraged community driven advocacy of mommy bloggers to gain engagement among the mothers. These blogs on the Momspresso platform encouraged mothers to try the recipes, thereby spreading the word to the right target audience- mothers. YouTube To boost the Facebook LIVE by Chef Ranveer Brar, 30 second snackable videos were created from a 30 minute long Facebook LIVE. Further, the same were promoted as bumper advertisements across Youtube. The advertisements can be viewed here and here. 5. Results: Through this campaign, consumers moved from awareness to consideration and eventually trial. The results of the campaign through each channel were as follows: i. Facebook Canvas Consumer Spent more than 30 seconds on the canvas microsite. The engagement rate was 7.2%. ii. Facebook LIVE with Chef Ranveer Brar There were 3.2 million unique views, 300 thousand organic views, more than 9 million impressions, a 6 million reach and 3.6 lakh engagements. iii. Facebook & Instagram Creatives The creatives had an unduplicated reach of 18.96 million and engagement rate between 4.5% -5.5%. iv. Momspresso Blog The blog had a 8 million reach on Facebook, 3.5 lakh engagements, 1.1 million unique visitors on the blog page and over 1 minute time spent on the blog (1.5x of industry average) v. YouTube The bumper ads had a total of 2.2 million views and 300 thousand organic views. Nokia has announced that it has achieved a "5G speed record" during a trial with Turk Telekom in the Turkish capital city, Ankara. The record, which reached over 4.5 Gbps, is "the first to be achieved on 5G New Radio (5GNR) only, using Nokias AirScale 5G RAN solution on 26 GHz mmWave spectrum, 800 MHz bandwidth and a single user device." During the trial, Nokia said its AirScale Base Station "connected with a mobile device to transfer data across Turk Telekoms 26Ghz mmWave spectrum at a peak speed of 4.5 Gbps." This compares with Telstra, Ericsson and Qualcomm announcing, in Australia, "the successful completion of a new 5G maximum download speed record on a commercial network of 5Gbps for a single user via a 5G NR data call on the 20th of January this year. Meanwhile, back on the 25th of September, 2020, Telstra and Ericsson announced "smashing the 800Mhz mmWave 5G speed record" with 4.2Gps speeds, so both Nokia and Ericsson are in world record territory. Nokia explained it was selected by Turk Telekom to "deliver the ultra-low latency, connectivity and capacity required to test the full range of 5G connectivity in the scope of this trial." As you'd expect, we're told the high speeds achieved during the trial will "enable more high-bandwidth and latency-sensitive enterprise services, such as remotely controlled devices for industrial needs or mission-critical applications. "5G-powered networks will also allow customers to enjoy VR/AR experiences, download 4K video content or games in a matter of seconds, as well as enable enhanced capacity fixed wireless access connectivity." With this successful test, Nokia said the operator "is effectively demonstrating how a 5G rollout can improve service quality and download speeds for consumers, as well as supporting enterprise and business use cases, including Industry 4.0 and digital transformation." Yusuf Krac, Chief Technology Officer at Turk Telekom, said: During the trial, we solely used mmWave spectrum over the 5G test network which reached record speeds above 4.5 Gbps. Thanks to this technology, which provides numerous benefits for users and operators, we achieved the high speeds and large capacity targets promised by 5G. "These technologies also act as a bridge to develop and pave the way for "Terahertz" systems that provide ultra-high-speed and capacity, which are planned to be used in 6G. Being the most prepared operator in Turkey for 5G, thanks to our strong fibre infrastructure, we are delighted to conclude another important milestone in this technology with a record. "We will continue to lead the development of all new generation technologies in our country, as we are doing today. Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: Despite the launch of commercial 5G networks in many countries, 5G trials still play an important role in the development of faster and better networks. "This record speed achieved together with our long-term partner, shows that we are constantly refining and improving how we build and manage 5G networks, and this is in no small part thanks to the nearly 200 5G trials, live operator networks and private wireless deployments we have delivered globally. She is a fashion-forward TV star who is known for her chic outfits. And Vogue Williams continued her style parade as she put on an effortlessly trendy display leaving Global Studios in London on Tuesday. The presenter, 35, was the picture of spring in a cream jacket and ripped jeans as she stepped out after a meeting at the radio headquarters. Fashionista: Vogue Williams continued her style parade as she put on an effortlessly trendy display leaving Global Studios in London on Tuesday She teamed her tailored blazer with a baby blue and white stripped shirt and accessorised with glamorous gold hoop earrings and aviator shades. The star added a pop of colour to her gorgeous outfit with burnt orange peep-toe sandal heels and carried a quilted white Chanel bag across her body. She wore her honey tresses in a stylish top knot and kept her makeup natural for the work outing. Style: The presenter, 35, was the picture of Spring in a cream jacket and ripped jeans as she stepped out after a meeting at the radio headquarters Vogue and husband Spencer Matthews, 32, have had plenty of reasons to celebrate in the past couple of weeks after her sister-in-law, Pippa Middleton, 37, gave birth to a baby girl named Grace last week. Pippa - the sister of the Duchess of Cambridge - and her husband James Matthews, 45, are also parents to son Arthur, two. Vogue's half-brother Alexander is a planning manager by trade, and works for Spencer's low alcohol-content drinks start up, Clean Co. Stepping out: She teamed her tailored blazer with a baby blue and white stripped shirt and accessorised with glamorous gold hoop earrings and aviator shades Spencer went teetotal shortly after he and Vogue got married at his family's estate in the Scottish Highlands in June 2018. The former Made In Chelsea lothario went on to set up his company to produce low and no-alcohol gin as a healthy alternative to traditional spirits. It was recently revealed that Spencer furloughed staff at his firm Clean Co, despite being worth an estimated 3million. Lovely: The star added a pop of colour to her gorgeous outfit with burnt orange peep-toe sandal heels and carried a quilted white Chanel bag over her body MailOnline learned that both Spencer and his older brother James have both been claiming taxpayers' money to furlough staff. Hedge fund boss James is believed to have been using the government handouts to pay the six employees of his Scottish shooting estate, Glen Affric. The state-funded Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme (CJRS), running since the first lockdown almost a year ago, is designed to help cash-strapped employers survive the lean months of the pandemic. But eyebrows will be raised at two such high net worth individuals taking advantage of the public money. Vogue met and fell in love with Spencer in 2017 after appearing on Channel 4 reality show The Jump, with the couple going on to marry at Glen Affric in June 2018. The couple welcomed son Theodore in September that year, while daughter Gigi, now eight months, was born in July 2020. A leading London state school is the latest to face accusations of a 'rape culture' after former students came forward with harrowing claims of sexual assault. Sixth Form students at the London Oratory - where Nick Clegg and Tony Blair's children are among the alumni - have made allegations of rape and sexual assault on an Instagram account. One post saw the state-funded Roman Catholic school in Fulham, west London, blasted for having 'the worst rape culture of any school I know'. Its headteacher wrote to parents, staff and pupils saying he had spoken to students who shared their 'alternative experiences of life at the school'. But he said parents should take charge on handling the issue as they are the 'most influential educators on such matters', The Times reports. It follows a series of 'rape culture' allegations made against other top schools by pupils who claim they were sexually assaulted by their peers. Sixth Form students at the London Oratory (pictured) - where Nick Clegg and Tony Blair's children are among the alumni - have made allegations of rape and sexual assault on an Instagram account One account by a London Oratory pupil on the Instagram page read: 'My boyfriend at the time who went to [London] Oratory raped me. 'He then went on to lie to all of his friends about what happened.' Another said staff left her alone in a room with a boy who she accused of sexually assaulting her. A third commented: 'Its not just the private schools with issues. There is no sex education whatsoever at this school, never mind any talk about consent. 'There is too much focus on the religion of the school, with little understanding that everyone is still just a teenager that really, really needs to be taught about consent, respecting boundaries. It is appalling and shows in so many things people do and say.' Its headmaster said in a letter: 'I would also like to take this opportunity to thank those many pupils, both male and female, past and present, who have approached me to alert me to their alternative experiences of life at the school.' He then took a quote from another letter collectively signed by the group, with read: 'If anything good comes of this, let it be a clearer understanding amongst all the pupils of the physical and spiritual dangers of present day cultural norms [...] and the necessity of chastity and sacraments, in particular regular confession, holy communion and the sacrament of marriage.' Nick Clegg's eldest son Antonio is understood to have attended the school. Meanwhile, former-prime minister Tony Blair sent his two eldest sons, Nicky and Euan, to London Oratory with daughter Kathryn believed to have joined in sixth form. Meanwhile, former-prime minister Tony Blair sent his two eldest sons, Nicky (far left) and Euan (second left), to London Oratory with daughter Kathryn (far right) believed to have joined in sixth form A spokesperson from the London Oratory said: 'The school was made aware of a number of concerning but unspecified allegations of sexual harassment and assault amongst its pupils, via a social media platform. 'We have encouraged affected pupils to refer any matters to the police as these are criminal matters. 'On hearing the news, we aligned our established and extensive counselling team. 'Last week we swiftly opened a solution focused dialogue to address the full spectrum of pupil concerns. 'To support and extend the work parents do in their role as first educators, we have also brought forward the delivery of our (recently consulted on) RSHE programme. 'This emphasises developing caring and respectful dispositions. 'This is one element in the School's strategy to continue to address contemporary issues pre-emptively, creatively and faithfully, in partnership with parents and parishes.' The accusations about London Oratory come just days after Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, said their school has a 'rape culture'. Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, has contacted pupils and alumni to offer support after youngsters reported a 'toxic environment' within the 20,000-a-year co-educational school. Nick Clegg's eldest son Antonio is understood to have attended the school. Pictured: Mr Clegg Headteacher David Goodhew said he was 'troubled' by the anonymous allegations made online, which included claims female students had been assaulted by their male counterparts and coerced into sex acts. The website and social media campaign Everyone's Invited has received hundreds of anonymous claims of sexual abuse involving pupils from some of Britain's leading private schools, also including Eton and St Paul's Boys School in Barnes, south-west London. Pupils at Latymer said it had a 'serious and ongoing problem'. A second website has since been set up to demand the school tackles its alleged 'rape culture'. The school, where alumni include actor Hugh Grant and model Lily Cole, said it had alerted parents and the local council's child safeguarding officer to the allegations. One shocking account claimed some 'rich, white, privileged boys' at the school were 'predators' who forced girls into performing sex acts. Girls alleged boys made 'sexual comments' to them in the classroom, compared nude photographs of them and ranked them based on their faces and bodies. Pupils said they were bullied and sexually harassed during lessons and that teachers had ignored the behaviour. Parents who complained to the school were also ignored, according to some of the accounts on the Everyone's Invited website. One anonymous pupil said they had been repeatedly sexually harassed in a classroom by a boy, saying: 'The teacher could also see this happening every lesson and the other boys laughing and chose to ignore it.' In a statement, Latymer said: 'It was deeply disturbing reading the accounts by young women, and men, of alleged incidents that have occurred, both on-site and outside of schools or university campuses across the UK. 'We are full of respect and compassion for all of those who shared their harrowing stories. 'We were troubled to see a number of the stories and experiences attributed to Latymerians. 'The welfare of our students and alumni is of the utmost importance to us and we take any report or allegation made by a member of our community extremely seriously. 'Sexual harassment and abuse have no place at Latymer or in the wider world. Such behaviours are completely incompatible with Latymer's values and contrary to our ethos of respect for others. Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, has contacted pupils and alumni to offer support after youngsters reported a 'toxic environment' within the 20,000-a-year co-educational school (file photo) 'Our policies around safeguarding and anti-bullying stress a zero tolerance approach to behaviours that foster the prevalence of misogyny, sexism, harassment, abuse and assault. 'All staff at the school undergo regular safeguarding training, including a unit on Sexual Violence and Harassment between Children and Young People. 'When an allegation is reported to us, we follow the appropriate processes, including referral to and involvement with outside agencies and the police if appropriate, and work with our young people to ensure they feel empowered and supported. 'If an allegation were to involve a member of staff, we would always follow our safeguarding procedure which requires us to take any disclosure extremely seriously, notify the LADO and carry out a thorough investigation. 'We take all such issues very seriously and have encouraged anyone affected to come and talk to us directly. 'The welfare of our students and alumni is of the utmost importance to us and we will be listening carefully to our students and alumni and reflecting on what further steps we should take.' Condemning the actions described, St Paul's Boys School said it had also reported the website allegations to its local council's safeguarding team. Eton said it took any allegations 'extremely seriously', would investigate thoroughly and take appropriate disciplinary action. New Delhi, March 23 : A day after the Delhi government announced lowering the legal age of consuming liquor to 21 from 25 years under its upcoming excise policy, the political war has once again begun between the ruling AAP and the opposition BJP. AAP's chief spokesperson Saurav Bharadwaj on Tuesday attacked the Delhi unit of the BJP, accusing it of political hypocrisy on liquor policy issues. "We can't understand on which ground Delhi BJP opposes the new excise policy. In many BJP-ruled states, the minimum age for liquor consumption is 21 years," Saurabh Bharadwaj said while addressing the press on Tuesday. Bharadwaj was replying to Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta's statement on the liquor policy. Gupta had on Monday opposed the Delhi Government's decision of lowering the legal age of drinking to 21 and stated that he will take up the issue with Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal. After Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced some changes in the excise policy on Monday, Gupta said the BJP will not allow the new excise policy and will oppose it. The BJP and the AAP have been at loggerheads over the new excise policy and the new face off began after the Lok Sabha passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (amendment) Act, 2021 on Monday. Earlier on March 18, the BJP-led Centre had raised a red flag on the Kejriwal government's flagship doorstep ration delivery scheme saying the word 'Mukhyamantri' cannot be used under the National Food Security Act. However, the Delhi Cabinet on Monday claimed to have sent the proposal again to the Centre without giving any name to the policy. The AAP accused the BJP of misleading the people of the city because they think they can't indulge in corruption once the new policy is implemented. The debate over a $15 federal minimum wage often cites fast-food workers mired in the cycle of unbreakable poverty. However, thousands of others trudge to crowded factories wherever there is concentrated cheap immigrant labor. Sewing sneakers, T-shirts and coronavirus masks behind windowless steel doors are 200,000 garment workers, many from Asia, Latin America and Africa. These workers are among the 1.2 million Americans who work for less than the minimum wage of $7.25 (unchanged since 2009). Paid per piece of cloth sewn or cut, they slog for as little as $5 an hour. Raising the wage is the right course economically as it would bring these workers out of poverty while addressing inequalities. On Saturday, March 25, 1911, hundreds of young women of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, mostly immigrants from Eastern Europe and Italy, were collecting their weekly pay. A fire broke out in a fabric scrap bin. Within minutes the top three floors were an inferno. Thirty minutes later it was all over. Freight elevators and staircases saved many of the 500 workers that day. But those who sought the back staircase were doomed. The factory owners had locked the door to prevent theft and unauthorized breaks. Police found a six-foot-high pile of bodies at that doorway. The fire escape was useless, bending under the weight of those fleeing. Faced with burning to death, more 50 women flung themselves to the pavement below. The tragedy galvanized the labor movement and led to fire safety codes, factory inspections and restrictions on child labor. A generation later President Franklin D. Roosevelt promised a Depression-weary nation a New Deal for the American people. The New Deal provided a nationwide safety net for workers. The catalyst was Frances Perkins, labor secretary. Perkins, the first woman Cabinet member in U.S. history, had witnessed the fire and heard the futile cries, Dont jump! She was the force behind unemployment insurance, collective bargaining and the precursor to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The keystone of Perkinss tenure was the Social Security Act, signed into law in 1935. Yet that accomplishment was tempered the same year when the Supreme Court struck down New Yorks minimum-wage law. Roosevelts overwhelming victory in 1936 and his threat to pack the Supreme Court produced a reversal. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act on June 25, 1938. The federal minimum wage was established. Roosevelt long had championed the change from starvation wages and starvation employment to living wages and sustained employment. With the law, such a change finally was mandated. Roosevelt told Perkins to peg wages at a living level. These pro-labor policies did much to ameliorate the wide disparity between rich and poor and led to nearly a half-century of middle-class growth. Today, we reckon with the abandonment of the living wage. Since 1980, the economy has expanded and corporate profits have skyrocketed, but wages have flat-lined. Workers dont share the profits of their productivity. If the federal minimum wage had kept pace with rising productivity, it would be more than $20 an hour. A common claim is that raising the minimum wage raises the price of goods and services to levels that consumers would be unwilling to pay. According to one recent study, however, doubling the salary of sweatshop workers would increase the consumer cost of an item by only 1.8% while consumers would be willing to pay 15% more to know a product did not come from a sweatshop. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently testified that the effect of raising the minimum wage on jobs would be minimal, if anything. As for the argument that low-wage jobs are an escalator out of poverty, well, Florence Kelly, a crusader against child labor, saw this for the myth it was in 1898, when she said the garment-workers ... poor, unorganized ... remain forever on the verge of pauperism, irrespective of their endless toil. The past 40 years of data have borne out Kellys skepticism. Jobs that can lift out of poverty were defined by the Brookings Institution as those paying median earnings or more for a given metropolitan area and providing health insurance. Researchers found that such jobs are held by only 20% of workers without a college degree in big cities. The average age of a minimum-wage earner is 35, and six in 10 are women. They are mothers with children, working full time and stuck in poverty. The Raise the Wage Act is a step toward increasing the number of good jobs. A wage of $15 per hour would transform the lives of 32 million Americans, 19 million of them women; one in four Black or Latina. British economist Joan Robinson once said, The misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all. But the exploitation is men taking advantage of women, the private sector delegitimizing the public sector and citizen set against immigrant. As New Dealers proved, profit-making can coexist with the mitigation of misery. By prioritizing the most vulnerable, we can reduce the gulf between wealth and poverty, address gender and racial pay inequality, provide the promise of America to immigrants, and empower the government to check excesses of corporations. The New Deal wouldnt have been the transformative event in modern American history without Frances Perkins, and she would not have been the impetus for progress but for the defining tragedy of the Triangle Fire. Ten days after the fire, 300,000 New Yorkers stood in the rain to watch the funeral procession. All but six bodies were identified. Fighting for $15 is a way of honoring the victims, of that terrible fire and recommitting to the idea that all those who work deserve the dignity of a living wage. Mubadala Investment Company, the Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investor, has invested $75 million in 5-year pre-IPO convertible bonds of Telegram, an operator of the self-named security-focused social media platform, with Abu Dhabi Catalyst Partners investing a further $75 million. The strategic partnership between the companies is also expected to create new collaboration opportunities and thereby further advance Abu Dhabis ecosystem of innovative and tech-enabled companies, a Wam news agency report said. Launched in 2013 by brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov as a secure messaging app utilising end-to-end encryption, Telegram evolved into a fully-fledged social media platform and has its global headquarters in the UAE. It has become one of the 10 most downloaded apps in the world with over 500 million monthly active users. Faris Sohail Faris Al Mazrui, Head of Mubadalas Russia and CIS Investment Programme, said: "We recognise and admire Pavel's vision for the company and the teams execution in building an exceptional product and company. His unwavering focus on user experience and privacy, and how it is central to every business decision he makes, is one of the keys to Telegram's popularity and success. Telegram's user base has reached a critical mass that places it amongst global tech giants. "We believe that Telegram is well-positioned for an inflection point that will transform it into a leading global technology company. The company represents a very promising investment opportunity for Mubadala and will sit well within our wider portfolio of pioneering companies looking to transform their respective industries. Our investment in Telegram establishes a strategic partnership for us to further strengthen Abu Dhabi's technology ecosystem as well as bring new levels of tech skills and talent to the capital." Pavel Durov, Founder and CEO of Telegram, added: "We are honoured by the $150 million investment into Telegram from Mubadala and Abu Dubai Catalyst Partners. We look forward to developing this strategic partnership to continue our growth in the MENA region and globally." James Munce, CFO and COO of Abu Dhabi Catalyst Partners, said: "Over the past 7 years, Telegram usage has grown from zero to 500 million monthly active users. This demonstrates the management teams unshakeable dedication to building a platform centred around privacy and user experience. We believe this creates a strong value proposition and will be a focal point for social media platforms and a new era of messaging. "ADCP strives to partner with businesses that demonstrate strong growth trajectories globally, and that can bolster an evolving technology ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and the ADGM. We aim to use our resources to work hand-in-hand with management teams towards catalysing leading platforms in different industries at the cutting edge. We see a very attractive opportunity to do this with Telegram." In recent years, Mubadala has been expanding its focus on the technology sector through a strategy of direct and fund-of-fund investing from early-stage venture capital to growth. Over the past 12 months, it has made a number of global technology investments in category leaders including the autonomous driving technology company Waymo, AliExpress and Jio Platforms, to name just a few. (Natural News) A fire at a semiconductor factory of one of the worlds leading auto chip manufacturers has caused concern for automakers that have already slashed production due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage. The fire on Friday, March 19, took place at a clean room in a factory owned by a subsidiary of Renesas Electronics Corp. According to Renesas, the fire started due to the heat from an electrical problem inside a single piece of equipment. The company confirmed that two-thirds of the affected production lines were making automotive chips. Effects of fire to be felt in a month Renesas CEO Hidetoshi Shibata said that the fires impact on the global supply of chips would be significant. He said that the company was trying to make up for the lost production at other plants but wasnt sure whether that was possible. The company estimated that the loss of revenue was the equivalent of $160 million a month. The incident is expected to contribute to the ongoing semiconductor shortage that has affected multiple industries, including automakers. The latter have been suffering from an unexpected strong comeback in demand after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit last year. Car factories are unable to ramp up production because of the semiconductor shortage. In February, the Ford Motor Co. stated that it expected to cut its output by up to 20 percent in the first quarter of the year. This will cost the company about $1 billion to $2.5 billion in pretax profit. Meanwhile, the Renesas fire is expected to directly impact the production of companies such as Toyota, Volkswagen and Continental. In addition, BMW, Daimler and Stellantis could also be negatively affected by the fire. A spokeswoman for Toyota, the worlds largest automaker, said that it was currently assessing the situation. According to Renesas, automakers will start to feel a supply pinch from the fire in about a month. According to Renesas Executive Vice President Masahiko Nozaki, the company had inventory to maintain shipments for only a month. Shibata confirmed that the company along with its key suppliers were already looking for ways to minimize the impact of the fire. That said, he confirmed that Renesas may not be able to replace all the destroyed equipment within a month. This means that a return to full production could take longer. Effects of shortage go beyond the auto industry The fire at Renesas plant is expected to have a significant negative impact on the semiconductor shortage. Prior to the fire, the company had actually brought back to Japan some of the production it had outsourced to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in an attempt to meet customer demand more quickly. TSMC has been facing issues trying to ramp up production, partly because of the severe drought in Taiwan. Even without the fire, the semiconductor shortage was already affecting companies outside of the auto industry. Samsung, which makes chips for other companies on top of its own products, has called the crisis very serious and stated that it poses a problem for the company coming into the second quarter. The supply issues are serious enough that the company is rumored to be skipping the launch of its Galaxy Note tablet later this year. Samsungs smartphone rival Apple, on the other hand, has already confirmed that the launches of its new high-end iPhones were on hold due to shortages of components Meanwhile, electronics and gaming giant Sony said last week that it would not be able to fully meet demand for its new PlayStation 5 console in 2021 due to the shortage. Follow Glitch.news for more on the ongoing global semiconductor shortage. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com WSJ.com Reuters.com All Aces Promotional Staffing logo You cant be in the people business without strong relationships. Weve always valued our clients and staff, and the relationships weve established over the past 14 years along with our fantastic team have catapulted us to best in class in the event staffing industry With a Two-Year Revenue Growth of 83%, All Aces Promotional Staffing Ranks No. 140 on Inc. Magazines List of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the New York City Metro Region Inc. magazine revealed that All Aces Promotional Staffing is No. 140 on its second annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: New York City Metro list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing New York City area-based private companies. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the NYC area economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. You cant be in the people business without strong relationships. Weve always valued our clients and staff, and the relationships weve established over the past 14 years along with our fantastic team have catapulted us to best in class in the event staffing industry, said Lauren Raimondi, President and CEO of All Aces Promotional Staffing. The companies on this list show stunning rates of growth across all industries in the New York City area. Between 2017 and 2019, these 250 private companies had an average growth rate of 214 percent and, in 2019 alone, they employed more than 48,000 people and added nearly $9 billion to the NYC Metro area economy. Companies based in Stamford, Connecticut, New York City, and central New Jersey brought in the highest revenue overall. Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: NYC Metro area, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at https://www.inc.com/inc5000/regionals/new-york starting March 16, 2021. This list proves the power of companies in the New York City area no matter the industry, says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. The impressive revenues and growth rates prove the insight and diligence of CEOs and that these businesses are here to stay. About All Aces Promotional Staffing All Aces Promotional Staffing is an award-winning event staffing agency specializing in large scale events, experiential marketing programs, and product demos internationally. From mobile marketing tours to mascots, product launches, and street teams, All Aces has provided high-quality staff for exciting programs across all industries since 2007. As a certified WBENC, All Aces values diversity and respect, which has helped build sustainable relationships with both clients and our large community of talent. Cutting edge technology and 50+ years of combined expertise in every corner of the events world has made it a leader of the event staffing industry. By taking a more personal approach with clients and staff and maintaining a family like atmosphere, the team can whole heartedly say they LOVE what they do, and it shows in the results! Website: http://www.acespromo.com LinkedIn More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Regionals Methodology The 2021 Inc. 5000 Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2017 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. About Inc. Media The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com. Making games has proven to be a difficult challenge for Amazon. It has canned some projects and delayed others . But the company is seemingly in this for the long haul it's opening a fourth development studio. Amazon says the Montreal studio will make original AAA games. It recruited several key members of the team behind Rainbow Six Siege to lead the studio, including Luc Bouchard (head of production), Xavier Marquis (creative director), Alexandre Remy (head of product) and Romain Rimokh (content director). Amazon's clearly hoping they can repeat the success of Ubisoft's tactical shooter, which has pulled in more than 70 million players. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the studio's first project is an original online multiplayer game. Amazon hasn't revealed many details, but Marquis said in a statement the team has "the creative freedom to create a completely unique experience in the multiplayer space." John McAreavey and wife Tara Brennan christened their son James over the weekend. Mr McAreavey shared a family picture of the christening on his Instagram, captioning the picture, "Special day". Instagram users quickly shared their congratulations to the new parents. John and Tara welcomed the birth of their son James last December. He announced the news on social media captioning it, "Let the adventures begin James". John and Tara were engaged in October 2015 and married in a private wedding in September 2016. John's first wife Michaela Harte was murdered in their hotel room while on their honeymoon in Mauritius in 2011. Speaking previously on the birth of their son, John told the Pat Kenny Show that life has been good to him despite the devastation he has dealt with since Michaela's death. "I think people, at times, think that when you have suffered the way that I have suffered, that maybe you just have to continue to be clouded by negative energy, but the reality is that life has been very good to me", he said. Speaking recently on a podcast about the murder of his late wife, the Down man said the trauma from her death leaves him worried that Tara will be "taken" from him too. Telstra logos are seen outside the Telstra Melbourne headquarters on June 14, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Telco Giant Telstra Announces Next Step in Restructuring Plan Telstra is taking the next steps in its proposed corporate restructure with the telecommunications giant set to split into four branches under the new holding company, Telstra Group. The process is part of Telstras T22 strategya strategy started in 2018 to simplify operations and reduce costs by 2022. Telstra CEO Andrew Penn said in a market release (pdf) on March 22 that the new legal structure would be an important milestone in the T22 plan. The new structure has been chosen as it delivers a modern, optimal long-term portfolio structure for the Telstra group of businesses, which will maximise flexibility and value realisation of our assets and deliver optimal outcomes for the Telstra Group as a whole, Penn said. The bulk of the break-up is expected to be completed by December 2021. Telstra shareholders will continue to control shares under equivalent ownership levels by distributing them to appropriate subsidiaries. Telstra will now shift ownership and control of most physical infrastructureexcept mobile towersto their new InfraCo Fixed subsidiary. This includes aspects that underpin Telstras fixed telecommunications network, including cables and data centres. Mobile tower infrastructure and assets will alternatively be operated and owned by a second subsidiary InfraCo Towers. A third subsidiary, ServeCo, will be responsible for products and services, as well as active parts of network communication. It also encompasses spectrum assets, like those relating to 4G and 5G services. A fourth entity will be created following the schemes completion to tackle all international business and undersea cables responsible for global internetwork communication. We started setting up InfraCo almost three years ago, and what has happened since has only reinforced the importance of the strategic decisions we made at the time, Penn said. The end of the impact of the NBN rollout on our financials is within sight, and the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the critical importance and value of telecommunications infrastructure to the world. The T22 project and overall restructuring is attributed to a severe drop in revenue following the National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout by NBN Coa company established in 2009 and owned by the Australian government. Workers install cables for the Australian National Broadband Network at an apartment block in Sydney, Australia, May 30, 2017. (REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo) As the NBN, Australias fibre optic network, undergoes its final phases of installation, older copper wires have become obsolete, which has impacted Telstra, who owned most of these cables. In response, Telstra sees the restructuring as a potential monetisation opportunity, creating additional value for shareholders by creating a more detailed record of assetsonce sprawled throughout Telstras monolithic organisationwhich in turn can increase the value of infrastructure assets. However, the restructuring does come at the cost of 8,000 jobs throughout the transition, including removing one in four executive and middle management roles to flatten the employee structure. In the future, our workforce will be a smaller, knowledge-based one with a structure and way of working that is agile enough to deal with rapid change. This means that some roles will no longer be required, some will change, and there will also be new ones created, the T22 plan states. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. 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%. New Delhi: The opposition parties in Tamil Nadu led by DMKs MK Stalin met governor Vidhyasagar Rao over the prevailing political crisis in the state. He further said that they will consider legal options if the Governor doesnt ask the E Palanisami government to prove its majority on the floor of the house. Palanisami has the support 114 legislators in the 238-member assembly, Mr Stalin said. Stalin said that he has the support of 119 MLAs which include 89 DMK MLAs,8 Cong MLAs,1 IUML MLA and 21 Rebel AIADMK MLAs. Apprised Guv of tally - 89 DMK MLAs,8 Cong MLAs,1 IUML MLA which comes to 98,also Rebel AIADMK MLAs are 21,making it 119 in total: MK Stalin pic.twitter.com/vS1y4dW7SM ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2017 "The DMK will surely come to power in Tamil Nadu and will remain in power for at least 25 years. Many people in Tamil Nadu are wondering if the Governor is unable to determine what majority means," M K Stalin mocked. If the Guv does not respond to our request within a week then we will have to take legal resort & mobilize ppl's mandate: MK Stalin ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2017 Congress and DMK have, in the past, taken separate delegations to the Governor seeking a floor test. Vidyasagar Rao has, however, refused to interfere in the matter so far. We have demanded immediate floor test in TN Assembly. Governor has promised to act on this: MK Stalin after meeting TN Governor pic.twitter.com/xx2xnIJAid ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2017 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. RICHMOND, Va., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Naborforce, a fast-growing company designed to connect aging adults to a network of trusted care providers for companionship and on-demand support, announced today that it will expand its geographic reach in March by adding services in the Raleigh-Wake County area. The demand for social engagement, care, and support provided by Naborforce, which is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, has nearly tripled in the past six months as older loved ones experience higher rates of isolation and loneliness since the pandemic began. Launching operations in Wake County to meet this increased need marks the company's first expansion outside of Virginia since it was founded and will result in increased support options for Raleigh-area residents and job opportunities. "We are very excited to open Naborforce in the Wake County and Raleigh area as we expand our services to meet the needs of older adults in the region and their loved ones," said Paige Wilson, CEO and founder of Naborforce. "Today's announcement that Naborforce is launching its first market in North Carolina means that we will be able to help more families looking for resources to support their parents as they age." Driving Naborforce's model forward is an increased need for support as our country's population ages and over 11,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day. As a result, for the first time in U.S. history older adults will soon outnumber children. As families grow smaller and more disbursed, the wave of older adults and their family members are now seeking new ways to stay independent and connected. The COVID-19 pandemic has added increased challenges for older adults by escalating isolation and the need for support during a period of time that more and more older adults are expressing a desire to age gracefully and safely in place. As a solution, the Naborforce platform has been used successfully since 2018 to make meaningful connections happen seamlessly in real life for older adults and their children seeking companionship and on-demand care. Naborforce is driven by a highly vetted and trusted network of compassionate individuals dedicated to making independent, engaged, and joyous aging and living possible for older adults. "Nabors" at Naborforce are compassionate community members motivated by a desire to support the older adults in their communities. "While there are numerous options for nurses and aides, Naborforce is who to call for help with all those little things that keep older Raleigh residents independent and happy," said Wilson. "For those with aging parents, we serve as the first and only platform that dispatches back-up sons and daughters on-demand. Whether you're busy balancing your career, raising kids, live out of town or just need a little support, Naborforce offers peace of mind and comfort knowing that our Nabors are making productive, connected, and joyous aging possible." Naborforce is community-based and will begin impacting residents in Raleigh-Wake County area immediately. The company plans to extend its services throughout the Raleigh, Durham, and Triangle area in 2021. In addition, Naborforce plans to grow to additional markets, both in North Carolina as well as outside of the state. As Naborforce grows, it will add to its network of "Nabors" who are fully vetted, screened, and insured. Residents in the area wishing to easily secure a "Nabor" for on-demand support can visit www.naborforce.com to connect those in need of an extra hand with those willing to lend one. About Naborforce: Based in Richmond, VA, Naborforce is using technology to harness the strength of community. Through their proprietary tech platform, they connect older adults and their family caregivers to a network of fully vetted community members for on-demand light assistance and social connection. For more information, www.naborforce.com. SOURCE Naborforce She has embarked on a new career in Dubai following her split from ex-boyfriend James Lock. And Yazmin Oukhellou left little to the imagination as she posed in black lingerie for a sizzling clip she shared on Tuesday. The former TOWIE star, 26, showcased her jaw-dropping figure in the video as she struck a series of poses in the mirror. Looking good: Yazmin Oukhellou left little to the imagination as she posed in black lingerie for a sizzling clip she shared on Tuesday Displaying her sun-kissed tan, Yazmin styled her brunette locks into an updo and worked on her complexion with a face mask. Highlighting her surgically enhanced figure, the reality star also sported a pair of stud earrings. The reality star completed her look with a gold bracelet. It comes after Yazmin has embarked on a new career in Dubai, following the breakdown of her relationship with ex James in February. Wow: The former TOWIE star, 26, showcased her jaw-dropping figure in the video as she struck a series of poses in the mirror She has turned her back on the new series of The Only Way Is Essex because she 'wants to pursue a career in real estate in the United Arab Emirates'. A spokesperson for TOWIE told The Sun: 'Yaz has decided to stay in Dubai to pursue a career in real estate so she wont be starting this series of The Only Way is Essex. 'We support this decision and wish her well in this new venture. As with other cast, the door remains open should she return to Essex.' Yazmin has since posted a number of Instagram posts of her new job, working for real estate brokers Property Hawk, in the office and out on viewings with clients. Sizzling: Displaying her sun-kissed tan, Yazmin styled her brunette locks into an updo and worked on her complexion with a face mask Dubai is on the UK's red list of countries, meaning if Yazmin had decided to return home to star in the next series, she would have to pay 1,750 for a mandatory, 10-day quarantine at a government-mandated hotel. It appears Yaz wants a fresh start after the start of her trip to Dubai was marred by the breakdown of her relationship with co-star James. The TOWIE couple mutually agreed to cut ties after their relationship turned toxic, with James planning to fly home while Yazmin stays in the UAE. A source previously revealed to MailOnline: 'James and Yazmin haven't been in a good place for a while now and living together in Dubai only put further strain on their relationship. Times change: It comes after the reality srat quit TOWIE following her bitter split from James in February with James flying home while Yazmin stays in the UAE 'Arguments between them have intensified and turned nasty, resulting in the couple deciding between them to go their separate ways and this time, for good. 'James plans to return to the UK for TOWIE filming but Yazmin has work in Dubai so is staying put.' A spokeswoman for Yazmin said: 'I can confirm James and Yazmin have split up. It's an amicable split and both of them are certain that it's time to move on with no animosity.' The Essex couple had experienced a tempestuous relationship, splitting up and reconciling on a number of occasions after they first started dating in 2017. Fresh start: Yazmin has since posted a number of Instagram posts of her new job, working for real estate brokers Property Hawk, in the office and out on viewings with clients They split in 2019 after Yazmin accused James of betraying her by partying with a group of women in a hotel room in Turkey, where the couple were on holiday together. A year after their bitter breakup they got back together, confirming their romance by kissing on a beach in Mallorca. Yazmin eventually took James back after the pair failed to keep their distance from each other amid filming for TOWIE and sharing the same group of friends. Last year, Yazmin said: 'I feel like the things that went wrong in the relationship before, we now know to put right this time. I look at that as a test run and now this is the real run.' "We know that navigating a new country can be challenging, and that the current pandemic has caused some additional complications for new Canadians. We want newcomers to know we are here to help and that there are still many great opportunities available to them," said Erin Flynn, Newcomers Canada. Adding "These events are not only for newcomers, but also for Canadian businesses, economic development and government bodies working to attract quality talent that will sustain their businesses and regions." Newcomers Canada has been connecting international talent with industry-leading employers who value diversity and the global experience that newcomers can offer their organizations since the organization's inception. They provide newcomers with meaningful information about cultural, educational, and business opportunities. Inspired by people who seek a better life, who uproot family and reroute their lives, Newcomers Canada are on a mission to make connections. Newcomers Canada is the largest network of new Canadians in the country, a place where both newcomers and employers come to map their routes ahead. The 2021 Routes Expo is pleased to welcome the Government of New Brunswick as the title sponsor. New Brunswick is growing at a rapid pace and has a need to fill jobs across sectors including finance, healthcare, tech. The Government of New Brunswick will be joined by several of their industry partners who are searching for talent to fill these roles. "At the Routes Expo, event attendees will have the ability to engage with speakers in live Q&A sessions, visit virtual vendor booths, and meet with employers. We encourage everyone interest to view the event schedule and to take full advantage of all that this dynamic virtual event platform has to offer," continued Flynn. Newcomers Canada will be offering these events for free and encourage interested attendees to register for the appropriate event for Eastern Canada or Western Canada here. Individuals who are not yet in Canada but are living in UK or Ireland and are considering immigrating to Canada, are encouraged to register for this event: https://hopin.com/events/newcomerscanada-routesexpo-uk-ireland To learn more about Routes Expo visit https://www.newcomerscanada.ca/events/ About Newcomers Canada Canada is home to almost 8 million foreign-born residents or 21.5 per cent of Canada's population, and admits over 470,000 temporary foreign workers, 341,000 permanent residents and 640,000 international students per annum. (2019). Newcomers Canada is a great place to start navigating your pathway to a life in Canada. We are the leading resource and the largest hub in Canada for people wanting information on Immigration, Education, Settlement and Employment in Canada. Our mission is to connect newcomers to information about cultural, educational, employment, and business opportunities throughout Canada. Newcomers Canada connects you with employers, recruiters, governments, education providers, immigration specialists and settlement services. By introducing you with industry leaders, you will create opportunities for yourself and settle into your new life, home, career, and community. For more information, visit: www.newcomerscanada.ca SOURCE Newcomers Canada For further information: Media Contact: Cailin Murphy, CIPR Communications, P: 403.200.1403, E: [email protected] The ex-wife of missing Briton Sarm Heslop's boyfriend has described how she lived in fear of him during their marriage and slept with a shotgun as they divorced. Cori Stevenson, 43, who was married to 44-year-old Ryan Bane between 2008 and 2014, described him as a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character who was pleasant in public but became abusive and violent behind closed doors. The abuse reached a head in 2011 when Bane attacked Cori at their home in Ohio, leaving her with a blood face and a chipped tooth. She reported the attack to police, and he served 21 days in jail for it. While Cori allowed Bane back into the house afterwards, she said 'there was never a day when I didn't fear him'. In 2013 Bane was jailed again for violating his probation which ordered him not to see Cori, and the pair divorced the following year. Now, Bane is facing questions over Miss Heslop's disappearance after she vanished in mysterious circumstances aboard his boat which was moored in the US Virgin Islands on March 7. British Sarm Heslop, 41 (left), vanished in the early hours of March 7 while on board a yacht belonging to American boyfriend Ryan Bane (right) while it was moored in the Virgin Islands Cori Stevenson (right), Bane's ex-wife, has now spoken out to accuse him of being a 'Jekyll and Hyde character' during their marriage, saying she lived in fear of him Bane says he was awoken by the ship's anchor alarm, which detects when the boat is drifting from its moorings, around 2am and found Miss Heslop - who he met on Tinder eight months prior - missing. He called police around 2.30am who told him to report the incident to the Coast Guard, but he did not call them until 11.46am. Police say Bane has handed over all of Miss Heslop's possessions which were left on board the vessel, but has denied officers permission to search the boat themselves. Searches of the coastline where the boat was moored and inland from the spot have turned up no trace of her. Family and friends say the disappearance is out of character, and that the timeline of Bane's calls to police and coastguard 'makes no sense.' Now, in an interview with The Sun, ex-wife Cori has made terrifying claims about their relationship and Bane's history of violence. Cori said Bane was pleasant in public but abusive behind closed doors - once beating her so badly she chipped a tooth 'He was a total Jekyll and Hyde character,' she said. 'He would have a good week, and then all of a sudden he changed. 'There was never a day when I didnt fear him. I slept with a shotgun the whole time I went through my divorce.' Police records reveal more details about the 2011, which Cori says happened as the pair were returning from a wedding and Bane flew into a rage. 'Ryan continually got frustrated with her asking for directions while he was trying to sleep.' When they got home at 5am, 'Ryan grabbed her and dragged her out of the truck,' officers wrote. 'Ryan grabbed her in the dining room, threw her to the ground, and smashed her head in to the floor, chipping one of her teeth.' Police said there were clear signs of a struggle, noting that Stevenson's 'right tooth had a chip out of it, her right ear lobe was bloody and scratched, her right shoulder and side of her neck showed red scratches...'. Bane was taken to police cells before appearing in court charged with domestic violence. Despite having told officers he was 'defending himself', he pleaded guilty and was jailed for 21 days. Cori told The Sun that the incident also left her with finger marks around her neck, and black and blue bruises on her face. Police reports also allege that Bane had previously assaulted her, an incident that went unreported at the time but she claims left her off work with facial bruises. The report also states that 'Ryan has been becoming increasingly verbally abusive.' Stevenson (left with her new fiance Ralph Carpenter) said she slept with a shotgun the entire time she was divorcing Bane (Miss Heslop pictured right) Cori now lives in Melbourne, Florida, with her new fiance - Ralph Carpenter - who spoke to Dailymail.com about her history with Bane. 'He must have beat her up 100 times while they were together,' Carpenter said. Stevenson now says that she is communicating with the Virgin Islands police about Bane's past and has provided authorities with court documents related to their marriage and divorce. Speaking to DailyMail.com, Stevenson and her new fiance Carpenter say that they suspect foul play in Heslop's disappearance. The couple said that Bane's father has flown to the Virgin Islands to be with his son. On Sunday March 7, Heslop vanished from Bane's 47ft yacht, the Siren Song, moored off the coast of St John in the U.S. Virgin Islands and hasn't been seen since. According to Bane, the couple had been for dinner in a restaurant, leaving at 10pm in line with the local Covid curfew and taking their dinghy back to the vessel, anchored 120ft from secluded Frank Bay. They went to sleep, Bane says, and when he woke at 2am after his yacht's anchor alarm sounded, Heslop had gone. Bane called the Coast Guard's San Juan station reporting that 'his girlfriend may have fallen' from the yacht. Police searching for the missing 41-year-old from Southampton, England have been scouring land and sea off the island of St John, where the yacht was moored. But the officers have been stopped from stepping foot on the Siren Song by Bane who is not cooperating. Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) spokesman Toby Derima said officers had performed an 'initial land search', adding on the BBC: 'Soon after reporting Ms Heslop missing, Mr Bane acquired the services of an attorney. 'Upon his attorney's advice, Mr Bane exercised his constitutional right to remain silent and denied officers' requests to search the vessel.' It has been widely reported that Bane, who is still on board Siren Song, waited almost ten hours to report his girlfriend missing. His lawyer, David Cattie, has said this is 'categorically false' and that, in fact, Ryan called the police at 2.30am after discovering she had disappeared. Police searching for the missing 41-year-old from Southampton, England have been scouring land and sea off the island of St John, where the yacht was moored A search of land and sea was undereway by the police and an army of local volunteers. Their efforts have dredged up no discoveries as to Sarms whereabouts. Pictured is the Siren Song catamaran But while Heslop's friends have launched desperate appeals for information, Bane has yet to speak publicly about her, save for a brief statement that was released through his lawyer. 'Mr Bane's only hope is that Sarm is found alive and well,' it read. 'His thoughts and prayers are with Sarm and her family... Mr Bane has spent countless hours searching for Sarm, and will continue to do so. Ryan is devastated that Sarm is missing.' This comes as a friend of Heslop's in the UK said they were told that her phone, passport and belongings had all been left behind on the yacht. The friend added: 'We would like to thank all the local community for their support in searching for Sarm both on water and land. 'They have been so amazing but we urge them not to give up until she is found or we have more information.' Heslop's friends insist they are not 'pointing fingers' at Bane but are calling on the American, who moved to the Caribbean in 2015, 'to provide as many details as possible' She was on board the Siren Song with American yachtsman, Captain Ryan Bane. He has yet to speak publicly about her, except for a brief statement that was released through his lawyer Heslop's friends insist they are not 'pointing fingers' at Bane but are calling on the American, who moved to the Caribbean in 2015, 'to provide as many details as possible'. Heslop is described as a slim woman with a southern English accent and a tattoo on her left shoulder. Police spokesman Toby Derima said: 'Divers from various law enforcement agencies have searched hundreds of square feet of water for Heslop. Volunteers from the Virgin Islands have also scoured the area around Cruz Bay during daylight hours, police said. The government has acquired a second, brand new plane painted in the colours of the union flag to be used by the prime minister and other dignitaries for short-haul trips. The six-month-old Airbus A321 was photographed at Stansted airport at the weekend with the new red, white and blue paintwork. The government faced criticism last year when it emerged Boris Johnsons primary plane, the RAF Voyager, had been repainted with the union flag at a cost to the UK taxpayer of 900,000. A government spokesperson insisted the second aircraft, which it said had been repainted with a Global Britain livery, represents value for money. They declined to comment on the cost of the lease or new paintwork. The aircraft will be used when Mr Johnson, cabinet ministers or members of the royal family are making short or medium-haul trips, with a range that could take them to destinations elsewhere in Europe or even as far as the US east coast. The larger RAF Voyager, an Airbus A330, will continue to be used when ministers or royals are flying further afield. Photographs showed the aircraft was painted in an all-black livery before it was delivered new from the Airbus facility in Hamburg to Titan Airways in October. It is understood the A321 used by carriers around the world, including British Airways and easyJet is being leased by the government from Titan Airways. Read more: According to data from tracking service FlightRadar24, the aircraft was flown from Norwich to Stansted airport on Friday evening. On Sunday a photo of the jet, which features the same livery as the RAF Voyager, with United Kingdom in gold font and a union flag adorning the tail plane and sharklet wingtips, was posted on an aviation forum, and subsequently shared on social media. A government spokesperson told The Independent: Ministers and members of the royal household sometimes require the use of non-commercial air travel. The aircraft with its Global Britain livery will promote a strong image of the role the UK plays on the international stage when it is used by the prime minister, government ministers and senior members of the royal household. It also offers value for money compared to the ad-hoc hire of private planes. The spokesperson added that commercial flights were the preferred option for ministers and that costs were taken into account in all travel decisions. They said details of the contract with Titan Airways and the associated costs would be revealed at a later date. It is unclear when the prime minister will first travel on the new plane. RAF Voyager, the aircraft used by the prime minister and members of the royal family, takes flight for the first time after receiving a 900,000 makeover last June (Getty) Labour MP Clive Lewis, a former shadow minister for climate change, said the acquisition of a second government aircraft sent the wrong message in the same year that the UK hosts the Cop26 UN climate change conference. Why does he need two planes? he said. This is all about Global Britain, it is about the projection of influence and power, and there are better ways to show leadership in the world than having a carbon footprint the size of a yeti. All of us need to change how we live and how we operate, and why not show leadership from the top. Clearly the prime minister has to fly, but he should lead by example and use existing airlines. Stewart Hosie, the SNPs shadow cabinet office minister, said: It is staggering that Boris Johnson is wasting more public money on yet another Tory red, white and blue vanity project. It speaks volumes in terms of the Tories priorities that they will throw taxpayers cash at a private Tory government jet and Union Jack paint job at the same time as imposing a public sector pay freeze, cuts to universal credit, and tax rises for millions of workers. The Tory government must come clean over how much public money it has spent on this second private plane given it is not long after it splurged nearly 1m of taxpayers cash on its first private plane in the middle of a pandemic. The 900,000 cost of Mr Johnsons red, white and blue paint job for the larger RAF Voyager was confirmed last summer by the prime ministers official spokesman, who said the repainting would allow the plane to better represent the UK around the world with national branding, which will be in line with many other leaders planes. Opposition MPs accused the government at the time of an utterly unacceptable use of public funds. The RAF Voyager, an Airbus A330 jet, underwent a 10m refit to carry ministerial and royal VIPs in 2015. David Camerons government defended the decision to repurpose the aircraft, saying it would save about 775,000 a year compared with chartering flights. Mr Cameron first used the aircraft when it flew the prime minister to a Nato summit in Poland in 2016. The grey paintwork was replaced with the union flag in June 2020 at the request of Mr Johnsons government and came to be known as the Brexit jet. The Independent has contacted Titan Airways for comment. Andy Dick on Tuesday was snapped dining out with his roommate Kali Nolen, who was seen kissing him after he announced his engagement to Howard Stern personality Elisa Jordana last month. Dick was seen cozily seated alongside Nolen, an actress, who previously told DailyMail.com she believes the engagement was a sham, saying that Jordana - who was previously linked to Stern writer Benjy Bronk - orchestrated the phony romance as a publicity stunt. Dick, 55, allegedly proposed to Jordana, 32, last month, but failed to show up for their Valentine's Day wedding on her YouTube show Kermit and Friends. Public outing: Andy Dick, 55, on Tuesday was snapped dining out in West Hollywood, California with his roommate Kali Nolen, who was seen kissing him after he announced his engagement to Howard Stern personality Elisa Jordana last month Nolen said that Jordana is 'a faux,' 'not even a celebrity' and 'just wants attention,' stating Dick that is still married to his estranged wife Lina Sved. Nolen added of the kissing, 'Andy's still married so I didn't really break up an engagement. She doesn't even have an engagement ring. Nolen, who lives with her friend Dick in a house in the Hollywood Hills, claimed that last month Jordana invited Dick, her and their fellow roommate Jesse Grider to Lisa Vandepump's SUR restaurant in West Hollywood. 'She called us and invited all of us to the SUR lounge. Andy didn't even want to go but we all encouraged him to go,' she said. The couple appeared to enjoy a few drinks at the Rainbow Bar & Grill in West Hollywood Nolen lives with her friend Dick in a house in the Hollywood Hills 'She didn't say anything about the engagement, and she called her ex Benjy while we were sitting at the table.' Nolen said that the three roommates - including recovering addict Dick - had been on a days-long bender before the restaurant date. 'It was Jesse's birthday weekend, we had been partying for two or three days I was under the influence and I was unaware that I was even being filmed. The 55-year-old reality star announced on Instagram last month that he is engaged to 32-year-old media personality and Howard Stern favorite Elisa Jordana (pictured) Dick, however, ditched his online Valentine's Day wedding, only to return to Jordana's YouTube show two weeks later, where he was seen slurring his words and kissing Nolen (far right) According to Nolen, Dick never actually proposed to Jordana with a ring and their engagement is just a bid 'for attention' 'I was just sitting on the couch with Andy. He leans over and kisses me. But she just wants to get some publicity, so she's screaming, "bad fiance, I was engaged to Andy My fiancee, he cheated!" 'I never slept with Andy, nobody's really cheating,' she added. 'I'm not in a relationship with Andy. But he was never engaged to her in the first place. He never bought Elisa a ring, he never actually proposed to her with a ring. 'He maybe dated her before. But she never comes to the house ever. It's slander, saying he's cheating with me.' Even if the engagement is real, Dick could be in legal hot water if he tries to go through with the nuptials, as he has yet to divorce his estranged wife and mother of two of his three children, Lina Sved (pictured together in 2015) Jordana, a former member of the band Cobra Starship, told Page Six a very different story, claiming Dick proposed to her one morning in February. 'He asked me at six in the morning a few Sundays back, and I said yes,' she told the site. 'We are always working on the relationship, so as long as nothing weird happens it is happening. My mom is coming in June for my birthday, so hopefully then.' Dick, who has starred on Celebrity Wife Swap and Dancing With the Stars, appeared to confirm the engagement, appearing on Jordana's YouTube show and telling her 'I'm gonna get you the fattest f***ing ring, b***h.' Nolen, who lives with Dick in a house in the Hollywood Hills, slammed Jordana as a 'wh**e' allegedly seeking publicity. She denied Jordana's allegations of cheating, saying she never slept with Dick and claimed their engagement is fake Nolen previously lived with porn star Ron Jeremy. The pair are seen together in a photo shared on Instagram in 2018 He also posted on Instagram last week a shot of him wrapping his arms around her and kissing her on the cheek during a celebratory dinner at SUR with the caption: 'Yay!!!!! Me and @elisajordana celebrating engagement and Kermit And Friends'. But the hot mess comedian failed to even show up for their wedding, which was set to be recorded on a Valentine's Day episode of her show. 'So I've been engaged for one week,' the bride-to-be said on Kermit and Friends. 'It's not going well. I haven't spoken to my fiance since he proposed to me, and I saw he posted an Instagram story with someone's nipple in it.' And according to his roommate, Dick could be in legal hot water if he tried to go through with the nuptials, as he has yet to divorce his estranged wife and mother of two of his three children, Lina Sved. There are no documents filed at the Los Angeles County Superior Court confirming their divorce, but in 2018 Sved did take out a domestic violence restraining order against Dick. Dick has been married twice. His first wife was artist Ivone Kowalczyk (pictured in 2003) from 1986 to 1990 The couple began dating in 1995 and had been on again, off again for over a decade, but three years ago she filed court papers saying she came home to find broken dishes and glass and Dick screaming and cursing. Sved, 46, claimed in the restraining order application that she could smell vodka on her husband's breath, and that he was angry because he believed their adult children were disrespecting him. The comedian even flipped a coffee table, and only calmed down when she called the police, she claimed. Sved, a TV producer, claimed her estranged husband broke two windows to get into the house, gets erratic and verbally abusive when he drinks, and would bring 'random strangers' into their home. The judge granted the restraining order and told Dick to move out of the family home and stay 100 yards from Sved and their children. The producer now lives with Paul Ryder, frontman for British band Happy Mondays. Dick has been married twice. His first wife was artist Ivone Kowalczyk, from 1986 to 1990. He was last romantically linked to reality TV actress Jennifer Gimenez in 2013. New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday will not speak on artificial intelligence instead, he will address students at University of California, Berkeley. The office of Rahul Gandhi tweeted about his program in the US. During his visit, he will also take part in a series of events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington and New York. "Looking forward to addressing students @UCBerkeley & interacting w/Indian Overseas Congress members w/@sampitroda during my visit to the US (sic)," Rahul Gandhi's office tweeted. Sam Pitroda, chairman of Overseas Congress, in an email to news agency IANS informed that Gandhi will not attend the Artificial Intelligence Conference. "Rahul Gandhi will be travelling from September 10 to attend various events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington and New York. He is not coming for the AI conference," he said. Earlier, there was buzz on social media that Rahul Gandhi will speak on Artificial Intelligence. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Cboe's new Data and Access Solutions division integrates the company's suite of data solutions, analytics and indices, with its market data services offerings, to create an optimized and holistic global offering. Significantly, Cboe's market data services real-time, historical and derived data sets, along with equities, options, futures and FX data are expected to be made available through this new division, providing customers more efficient access to Cboe's full suite of data services. Additionally, the new division also unifies the sales teams, providing customers with a single point of contact for all of these services. Ed Tilly, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at Cboe Global Markets said: "Over the last six years, Cathy's strategic vision for growing the Information Solutions business has been instrumental to our efforts to build a more expansive suite of data analytics, market intelligence and execution services. Her expertise in integrating the company's client-facing technologies into our full suite of information solutions services has helped create a high-value offering for our customers. I am fully confident she will bring this same leadership to her role overseeing our new Data and Access Solutions division, as we look to grow the business and our market data offering globally." Catherine Clay, Executive Vice President, Data and Access Solutions at Cboe Global Markets, said: "This is an exciting time at Cboe as we continue to diversify and expand our products, services and technology offerings on a global scale and I am excited to lead this new division. Our goal is to optimize efficiency and delivery of our information solutions to market participants across the globe and we believe this holistic approach will bring significant value to our customers. Ultimately, we aim to deliver a seamless experience for customers by providing one single source of market data, analytics and trading resources." As the trading environment becomes increasingly globalized, customers seek more efficiency in the market infrastructure services they require, from accessing multiple asset classes across numerous geographies, to market data and analytics and trade management and execution services. Cboe's Data and Access Solutions team will be focused on addressing these client needs for global data, analytics and access services. As a result, the company believes the new division will create opportunity to further grow its base of proprietary non-transactional revenue, which was approximately $350 million in 2020. In 2021, the company is targeting organic revenue growth in this category of 6 to 7 percent1. Cboe's Information Solutions comprehensive suite of data, analytics, indices and execution services empowers market participants with a wide variety of solutions that can simplify the complexities of navigating the derivatives marketplace, helping them make better informed trading decisions. Cboe's Information Solutions includes Trade Alert, Cboe Hanweck, FT Options, Cboe Silexx, Cboe LiveVol, Cboe Data Shop and Cboe Global Indices. This comprehensive offering is designed to optimize the customer experience throughout the life cycle of a transaction, from pre-trade to at-trade to post-trade, by providing market intelligence, alpha opportunities, portfolio optimizations and seamless workflows. Cboe's market data services offer a global suite of market data products to customers to suit their diverse needs. Cboe market data solutions include low-latency, top-of-book to full depth-of-book market data feeds for Cboe's U.S. exchanges in options, equities and futures. As one of the largest pan-European exchanges by market share and value traded, Cboe provides market data with a holistic view of the pan-European equities market. Cboe also offers live and historical market data for the world's largest asset class, FX. The company's flagship Cboe One Feed provides U.S. equities reference quote and trade information to more than two million reported users globally. Catherine Clay has been with Cboe since 2015. In her role as Senior Vice President, Information Solutions, Clay has helped clients better understand and access Cboe's market data and analytics, execution services and index businesses, and has overseen the integration of several acquisitions into the information solutions business line. Clay began her career as a clerk in Interactive Brokers' market-making unit, Timber Hill, and progressed to director of floor trading and operations. In 2006, she left Timber Hill to co-found Thales LLC, a market-making firm on the NYSE Options Floor and on the OneChicago single stock futures exchange. She joined LiveVol, Inc. in 2010 as Chief Strategy Officer. At the time of Cboe's acquisition of LiveVol in 2015, Clay held the position of Chief Executive Officer. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Colorado. About Cboe Global Markets, Inc. Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE) provides cutting-edge trading and investment solutions to market participants around the world. The company is committed to defining markets through product innovation, leading edge technology and seamless trading solutions. The company offers trading across a diverse range of products in multiple asset classes and geographies, including options, futures, U.S., Canadian and European equities, exchange-traded products (ETPs), global foreign exchange (FX) and volatility products based on the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX Index), recognized as the world's premier gauge of U.S. equity market volatility. Cboe's subsidiaries include the largest options exchange and the third largest stock exchange operator in the U.S. In addition, the company operates one of the largest stock exchanges by value traded in Europe, and owns EuroCCP, a leading pan-European equities clearing house. Cboe also is a leading market globally for ETP listings and trading. The company is headquartered in Chicago with a network of domestic and global offices across the Americas, Europe and Asia, including main hubs in New York, London, Kansas City and Amsterdam. For more information, visit www.cboe.com. CBOE-C CBOE-OE Cboe, Cboe Global Markets, Cboe Volatility Index, and VIX are registered trademarks of Cboe Exchange, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," and the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. All statements that reflect our expectations, assumptions or projections about the future other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the impact of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic, including changes to trading behavior broadly in the market; the loss of our right to exclusively list and trade certain index options and futures products; economic, political and market conditions; compliance with legal and regulatory obligations; price competition and consolidation in our industry; decreases in trading or clearing volumes, market data fees or a shift in the mix of products traded on our exchanges; legislative or regulatory changes; our ability to protect our systems and communication networks from security risks, cybersecurity risks, insider threats and unauthorized disclosure of confidential information; increasing competition by foreign and domestic entities; our dependence on and exposure to risk from third parties; fluctuations to currency exchange rates; our index providers' ability to maintain the quality and integrity of their indices and to perform under our agreements; our ability to operate our business without violating the intellectual property rights of others and the costs associated with protecting our intellectual property rights; our ability to attract and retain skilled management and other personnel; our ability to minimize the risks, including our credit and default risks, associated with operating a European clearinghouse; our ability to accommodate trading and clearing volume and transaction traffic, including significant increases, without failure or degradation of performance of our systems; misconduct by those who use our markets or our products or for whom we clear transactions; challenges to our use of open source software code; our ability to meet our compliance obligations, including managing potential conflicts between our regulatory responsibilities and our for-profit status; our ability to maintain BIDS Trading as an independently managed and operated trading venue, separate from and not integrated with our registered national securities exchanges; damage to our reputation; the ability of our compliance and risk management methods to effectively monitor and manage our risks; our ability to manage our growth and strategic acquisitions or alliances effectively; restrictions imposed by our debt obligations and our ability to make payments on or refinance our debt obligations; our ability to maintain an investment grade credit rating; impairment of our goodwill, long-lived assets, investments or intangible assets; and the accuracy of our estimates and expectations. More detailed information about factors that may affect our actual results to differ may be found in our filings with the SEC, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other filings made from time to time with the SEC. We do not undertake, and we expressly disclaim, any duty to update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. 1 Guidance is as of February 5, 2021 and the company is neither updating nor reconfirming guidance in this press release. SOURCE Cboe Global Markets, Inc. Related Links http://www.cboe.com Space News space history and artifacts articles Messages space history discussion forums Sightings worldwide astronaut appearances Resources selected space history documents advertisements Russia's next space station-bound Soyuz named for first cosmonaut March 23, 2021 The next crew to launch into space will fly on board a vehicle named for the first person to do so, Russia's space agency has announced. Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov, together with NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, are set to lift off to the International Space Station on Russia's Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft, which has been named the "Yu.A. Gagarin." "According to established tradition, the space mission that is closest to [the launch] date of the world's first cosmonaut is dedicated to Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, whose name already adorns the thermal insulation on the exterior of the ship's orbital module," stated Roscosmos on its website. Launched on April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin orbited Earth once on board his Vostok capsule. The history-making mission lasted just one hour and 48 minutes. Novitsky, Dubrov, and Vande Hei are scheduled to lift off on the Yu.A Gagarin on April 9, just three days before the 60th anniversary of human spaceflight. Their launch will deliver them to the space station to become members of the Expedition 65 crew, continuing more than 20 years of continuous human operations on the orbiting laboratory. "That first flight was one person, not for very long and it was an effort that one country could take a lot of pride in. Now our spaceflights are staying in orbit for close to a year and we have been doing this as an international effort," Vande Hei told collectSPACE in a press conference on March 15. "I'm very proud of that. I think it is a very good sign for humanity that we've progressed from doing things as single countries to being more and more cooperative." In addition to naming the Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft, Roscosmos will also mark the anniversary by decorating the rocket fairing surrounding the capsule with its logo for the 60-year milestone. The blue and white art depicts Gagarin in his spacesuit along with his signature. The emblem reads, "60th Anniversary of the First Human Flight into Space, 1961-2021." It will be the second time that a Russian rocket has been decorated for the 60th anniversary of Gagarin's mission. The Soyuz 2a.1 booster that launched with 38 commercial satellites on Monday (March 22) was painted white as a nod to the frost that formed on the outside fo the Vostok rocket that lofted Gagarin into orbit. The previous crew to launch aboard a ship named "Gagarin" lifted off on April 5, 2011, just a week before the 50th anniversary of the Vostok 1 mission. Roscosmos cosmonauts Aleksandr Samokutyayev and Andrei Borisenko flew with NASA astronaut Ron Garan aboard Soyuz TMA-21 to the International Space Station to join the Expedition 27 crew. Russia's Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft, seen here undergoing pre-flight solar array tests, has been named the "Yu.A. Gagarin" after the first cosmonaut to launch 60 years ago this April. (RSC Energia) Roscosmos' logo for 60 years of human spaceflight depicts Yuri Gagarin and reproduces his signature. (Roscosmos) Russia's Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft and its fairing will be adorned with markings celebrating the 60th anniversary of human spaceflight. (RSC Energia) 2021 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved. Students who attend schools in the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Consolidated Independent School District no longer have to wear masks or face coverings at school. The School Board passed a measure ending the mandate 6-1 at its regular March board meeting. The district would revert to everyone wearing masks, if the COVID-19 infection rate reached 5% of the district population a total of 184 of 3688, the combined total of staff and students, officials said in a statement Monday night. The measure also applies to UIL competitions unless the school where students are competing require masks. Related: Vidor ISD lifts mask mandate for students, staff The Vidor and Evadale districts had already made the same decision after Gov. Greg Abbott rescinded the statewide mask mandate in early March. Following that, the Texas Education Agency released guidance stating that mask requirements would remain in place for schools, unless an individual districts board of trustees discussed and voted to opt out. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed social distancing guidelines for schools last week, allowing for desks to be as close as 3 feet apart but only if students are wearing masks. According to the CDC, masks are a simple barrier to help prevent your respiratory droplets from reaching others. Studies show that masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth. Related: CDC changes school guidance, allowing desks to be closer As reported by the Associated Press, the revised recommendations represent a turn away from the 6-foot standard that has sharply limited how many students some schools can accommodate. Some places have had to remove desks, stagger schedules and take other steps to keep children apart. Many districts, including the Orangefield, Port Neches-Groves, Beaumont and Port Arthur ISDs have opted to keep mask requirements for the remainder of the school year. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes New Delhi, March 23 : A 43-year-old retired army jawan was shot dead by two unidentified bike-borne assailants in the Jaffarpur Kalan area of Delhi's Dwarka, police said on Tuesday. The victim, identified as Mukesh alias Fauji, was attacked on Monday evening. The police said the incident happened around 5.30 p.m. when Mukesh along with his friends was sitting in an agricultural field. Suddenly two bikers came to them and diverted their attention by asking about Mukesh's brother Rakesh who was not at the spot, police said. "Suddenly, the person who was inquiring about Rakesh opened fire from a country made pistol on Mukesh and shot at him around 3-4 bullets and ran away on the motorcycle. He was rushed to hospital by his nephew but was declared brought dead," Santosh Kumar Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police Dwarka said. The statement of the eye witnesses have been recorded and a search has been launched for the two accused, police said. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! TICKERS: POE Source: Streetwise Reports (3/23/21) The work in progress at Pan Orient Energy's joint venture asset and the company's Q4/20 financial and operational results are discussed in a Mackie Research Capital Corp. report. In a March 18 research note, Mackie Research Capital Corp. analyst Bill Newman reported that this year's appraisal drilling is in progress at Pan Orient Energy Corp.'s (POE:TSX.V) joint venture L53 Concession in Thailand and that the company's 2020 financial and operational results were in line with his firm's projections. Newman noted the "L53-DD10 development well was recently drilled and will commence testing after the completion of the appraisal drilling program (2 to 3 wells) currently underway." The current appraisal drill program consists of two wells. Drilling of the first, L53-DD12, is underway, after which drilling of the second, L53-DD11, will follow. Completion of the program is expected in April 2021. At that time, the company stated it "will be in a position to best determine the future of the Thailand asset that would maximize shareholder value." "We assume this could include the outright sale of the L53/48 concession, Newman wrote. "We note that the exploration lands associated with the L53/48 concession, which are not held by POE's production licenses, expired on January 7, 2021." The analyst pointed out that in two past occasions, Pan Orient sold some of its assets for substantial cash consideration. "In the meantime, Pan Orient remains in a strong financial position to develop and appraise its production licenses in Thailand," the analyst wrote. Specifically, the oil and gas company's "strong balance sheet" includes $23.6 million in working capital and no debt as of Dec. 31, 2020, Newman indicated. Pan Orient also has $4.9 million of working capital and long-term deposits for its 50.01% equity interest in the Thailand Joint Venture, taking its total net working capital to $26.8 million. Pan Orient's funds flow in Q4/20 was $1.5 million, or $0.03 per fully diluted (fd) share. This was down, mostly due to higher taxes, from Q3/20 when it was $2.4 million, or $0.04 per fd share. Net production in Q4/20 averaged 1,491 barrels per day (1,491 bbl/d), 34% greater than in Q3/20, when it averaged 1,114 bbl/d. Full-year 2020 average net production was 1,213 bbl/d, which generated $9.6 million, or $0.18 per fd share. More recently, in 2021, net production averaged 1,466 bbl/d in January and 1,430 bbl/d in February. "We are targeting Q1/21 average production of 1,432 bbl/d," noted Newman. Mackie has a Buy and a CA$1.35 per share target price on Pan Orient Energy, the stock of which is trading now at about CA$0.92 per share. [NLINSERT] Disclosure: 1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. 2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Pan Orient Energy. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. 3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Pan Orient Energy, a company mentioned in this article. Disclosures from Mackie Research, Pan Orient Energy Corp., Update, March 18, 2021 RELEVANT DISCLOSURES APPLICABLE TO COMPANIES UNDER COVERAGE 1. The analyst holds shares in Pan Orient Energy Corp. ANALYST CERTIFICATION Each analyst of Mackie Research Capital Corporation whose name appears in this report hereby certifies that (i) the recommendations and opinions expressed in this research report accurately reflect the analyst's personal views and (ii) no part of the research analyst's compensation was or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific conclusions or recommendations expressed in this research report. Mackie Research Capital Corporation, its directors, officers and other employees may, from time to time, have positions in the securities mentioned herein. Wrexham to receive share of funding aimed at revitalising town centres This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Mar 23rd, 2021 Wrexham is to receive a share of funding aimed at revitalising town centres across Wales. The Welsh Governments Town Centre Loans programme provides funding to local authorities to support landlords to redevelop empty and under-utilised properties. Under this round of funding, local authorities can act directly and use their share of the 18.4m to step in to buy and redevelop properties to support the diversification of our town centres by encouraging more sustainable uses for empty sites and premises, such as residential, leisure and for key services. Once the Town Centre Loan is repaid, the money will be recycled to fund new loans, bring empty and derelict sites back into use, help businesses to grow and prosper, and support activities to increase footfall on our high streets. Wrexham has been allocated 500,000 as parts of the scheme. Last year an eight point plan from the towns Civic Leaders Group was signed off by the Executive Board of Wrexham Council. The Civic Leadership Report 2019 on Wrexham (PDF here) gave a vision of the town centres strengths and also its weaknesses and puts forward eight ideas to build on those strengths and address the weaknesses. Last month we reported on the progress of one project that will see development of a strong brand and embarking on marketing and engagement for the town, and yesterday we enquired about progress of a project outcome around finding financial solution to knock down and invest in town centre buildings with todays details on a town centre loans and other funding appearing to be based around aspects of the eight point local plan ask. Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn said: As part of our Transforming Towns approach, we have invested over 40m of Town Centre Loans funding over this Senedd term, enabling the redevelopment and occupation of many town centre buildings across Wales. I look forward to seeing more homes, offices and businesses developing thanks to the property improvements we will see as a result of this latest round of funding. Wrexham will also receiving funding as part of of the North Wales town centres entrepreneurial fund , which looks to incentivise new entrepreneurs to locate their businesses within the town centres. The fund comprises grant and loan funding; the loan funding will be provided by Development Bank of Wales. Minister for Economy and Transport, Ken Skates said: Supporting our businesses and town centres is a key part of our Economic Resilience and Reconstruction Mission as we aim to rebuild the Welsh economy so that its more prosperous, equal and green than ever before. We have all seen the importance of digital during the pandemic, in how we connect with each other, purchase goods and access service. Embracing technology is going to crucial to the future success of businesses and Im delighted our town centre funding will help towns and businesses do just that. Im also pleased we will be able to provide important incentives to businesses so we can increase footfall in Wrexham, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and Bangor. This funding will help attract businesses and people back into the town centres. A further 3.34m funding has also been allocated to town centres to help enable businesses to plan projects which will support their economic growth as well as helping them make the best use of digital technology. This includes utilising data to help firms better understand their customer base and trends which will support businesses in their future planning and marketing activities. The funding will also help establish pop up shops and creative hubs to increase their retail offer and will drive increased footfall into the town centre. Rating Action: Moody's affirms Belron's Ba3 CFR following planned distribution to the shareholders and refinancing stable outlookGlobal Credit Research - 23 Mar 2021London, 23 March 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) has today affirmed the Ba3 corporate family rating (CFR) and Ba3-PD probability of default rating (PDR) of Belron Group SA (Belron), a leading provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration services in Europe, North America, and Australasia.At the same time, Moody's has (1) affirmed the Ba3 instrument ratings on all the currently outstanding backed senior secured term loans and (2) assigned Ba3 rating to the E665 million backed senior secured revolving credit facility (RCF), which was upsized from E400 million and to the new E1.575 billion equivalent backed senior secured term loan (split across EUR and USD denominated tranches) issued by Belron Luxembourg S.a.r.l. The outlook on all ratings remains stable.A full list of affected ratings can be found towards the end of this press release.Proceeds from the new E1.575 billion equivalent backed senior secured term loan, along with around E412 million of current cash on balance sheet will be used to fund a E1.462 billion distribution to shareholders and refinance the E525 million Term Loan due November 2024.RATINGS RATIONALEThe rating affirmation and maintaining the stable outlook balances the short-term increase in leverage as a result of the substantial payment to shareholders against (1) a resilient business model alongside strong cash flow generation that has performed well during the coronavirus pandemic and (2) Moody's expectation of good deleveraging prospects driven by a continuing track record of good profitability and cost efficiencies. Belron's Ba3 is strongly positioned in the rating category. Moody's-adjusted debt/EBITDA will increase to 5.0x pro forma for the transaction from 3.7x in 2020 but is expected to decrease below 4.5x by then end of 2021.Belron's Ba3 CFR is supported by (1) relatively stable business model underpinned by the largely non-discretionary nature of its services, (2) leading market positions across diversified geographies with limited competitors in mainly fragmented markets, (3) well established relationships with large insurers, and (4) stable organic through-the-cycle growth rates, supported by premiumisation and higher complexity of works, despite flat volumes of the auto parc in a few developed markets.The CFR is constrained by (1) the company's limited product diversity and the execution risks involved in diversifying into new markets, (2) a degree of price pressure on contract renewals; (3) the risk of some major insurers insourcing vehicle glass repair and replacement services although Moody's recognises such efforts to date have mainly been subsequently reversed; (4) the material proportion of business not covered by insurers which is vulnerable to competitors and postponement during economic downturns.ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONSMoody's considers the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when assessing companies' credit quality.Belron is owned by a Belgium-based automotive service company D'leteren (55%) and a private equity group Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. Partial ownership by a private equity sponsor implies a relatively aggressive financial policy. The planned debt-funded shareholder distribution will be the third one since October 2018 totaling E2.7bn, which speaks to the company's appetite for large distributions to shareholders. This is however mitigated by the company's strong performance and a financial policy target to keep net leverage below 4.25x (or below 4.1x post IFRS).The company's business is exposed to weather conditions, unusually bad weather often lead to increased damage to vehicles and vehicle glasses and hence can temporarily boost demand for the company's service. The increased frequency of extreme weather events in the recent years linked to the climate change could support company's revenue and profitability the company in the short-term. However, longer term and more significant consequences of the climate change will likely have more mixed and negative impact on the company and many other industries.LIQUIDITYBelron's liquidity is good reflecting Moody's expectation of positive free cash flow in the next 12 to 18 months, a cash balance of E210 million pro forma for the transaction, and full drawing capacity under the newly upsized E665 million RCF.STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATIONSThe Ba3-PD PDR is aligned with the Ba3 CFR as typical for capital structures with first lien bank debt with only a springing covenant. The senior secured term loans and RCF are rated Ba3, also in line with the CFR, reflecting their first priority pari passu ranking. These instruments are guaranteed by material subsidiaries representing at least 80% of consolidated EBITDA, and are secured by share pledges as well as floating charges over all assets of the US and UK businesses.RATING OUTLOOKThe stable outlook incorporates Moody's expectation of a continuation of solid operating performance including growth in revenues and stable-to-improving margins, leading to a gradual deleveraging towards 4.5x. It also assumes that Belron will comply with its financial policy target of maintaining net leverage below 4.1x (post IFRS).FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGSUpward rating pressure could materialise if (1) the Moody's-adjusted debt / EBITDA decreases towards 4.0x and the rating agency is comfortable that future shareholder distributions or debt funded acquisitions will not increase leverage above that level (2) the Moody's-adjusted EBITA margin remains in the low double percentage digit, and (3) the Moody's-adjusted free cash flow / debt is above 10% with a good liquidity profile. For a potential upgrade, the company would also need to demonstrate a track record of conservative financial policy.Conversely, negative pressure could be exerted on the rating if (1) the Moody's-adjusted debt/EBITDA ratio is above 5.0x for a prolonged period or (2) there is a sustained decline in organic revenue or profitability or (3) free cash flow generation or liquidity materially weakens.PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGYThe principal methodology used in these ratings was Business and Consumer Service Industry published in October 2016 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1037985. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.LIST OF AFFECTED RATINGS:Assignments:..Issuer: Belron Finance Limited....Backed Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility, Assigned Ba3..Issuer: Belron Finance US LLC....Backed Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility, Assigned Ba3..Issuer: Belron Luxembourg S.a.r.l.....Backed Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility, Assigned Ba3Affirmations:..Issuer: Belron Finance 2019 LLC....Backed Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility, Affirmed Ba3..Issuer: Belron Finance Limited....Backed Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility, Affirmed Ba3..Issuer: Belron Finance US LLC....Backed Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility, Affirmed Ba3..Issuer: Belron Group SA....LT Corporate Family Rating, Affirmed Ba3....Probability of Default Rating, Affirmed Ba3-PDOutlook Actions:..Issuer: Belron Finance 2019 LLC....Outlook, Remains Stable..Issuer: Belron Finance Limited....Outlook, Remains Stable..Issuer: Belron Finance US LLC....Outlook, Remains Stable..Issuer: Belron Luxembourg S.a.r.l. ....Outlook, Assigned Stable ..Issuer: Belron Group SA ....Outlook, Remains Stable COMPANY PROFILE Belron is the market leader in the vehicle glass repair and replacement industry, with an established presence in 40 countries. The group operates under more than seven different brands, with Carglass (Continental Europe), Autoglass (UK) and Safelite (US) being the most well-known. The company generated revenue of E3.9 billion and E852 million of management-adjusted EBITDA in 2020.REGULATORY DISCLOSURESFor further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1243406.At least one ESG consideration was material to the credit rating action(s) announced and described above.The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating. Egor Nikishin, CFA Analyst Corporate Finance Group Moody's Investors Service Ltd. One Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5FA United Kingdom JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Richard Etheridge Associate Managing Director Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service Ltd. 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(MSFJ) is a wholly-owned credit rating agency subsidiary of MJKK. MSFJ is not a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO). Therefore, credit ratings assigned by MSFJ are Non-NRSRO Credit Ratings. Non-NRSRO Credit Ratings are assigned by an entity that is not a NRSRO and, consequently, the rated obligation will not qualify for certain types of treatment under U.S. laws. MJKK and MSFJ are credit rating agencies registered with the Japan Financial Services Agency and their registration numbers are FSA Commissioner (Ratings) No. 2 and 3 respectively.MJKK or MSFJ (as applicable) hereby disclose that most issuers of debt securities (including corporate and municipal bonds, debentures, notes and commercial paper) and preferred stock rated by MJKK or MSFJ (as applicable) have, prior to assignment of any credit rating, agreed to pay to MJKK or MSFJ (as applicable) for credit ratings opinions and services rendered by it fees ranging from JPY125,000 to approximately JPY550,000,000.MJKK and MSFJ also maintain policies and procedures to address Japanese regulatory requirements. [March 23, 2021] Local Small Business Barnes Supply Company Makes Major Strides in Ecommerce Amidst Ongoing Pandemic DURHAM, N.C., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Barnes Supply Company of Durham, North Carolina achieved continued success despite the pandemic and its challenges. Recognizing the need to protect and serve customers, Barnes Supply Company launched a curbside pickup website powered by New Media Retailer. The website accurately reflects thousands of products available in the store and lets customers place curbside pickup orders. In the first two months of 2021, this local small business is still converting thousands of dollars in online sales each month. Barnes Supply Company turned to New Media Retailer in May of 2020 when Jason George, identified a new business need. Jason's goal was to safely increase in-store traffic and bring convenience to his customers in light of COVID-19. When asked why he chose NMR, Jason stated that the team "had the ability to do social media, mass emailing, and combined all of this in with a website that was offering a blog and customer interaction. Also, thousands of products, with nw products getting added monthly and prices being updated." After launching the website, the small business saw a sharp increase in online sales. But that's not where their success ends, the website also saw a dramatic increase in its rank in Google search results, topping competitors in the Durham area. By the end of the year, Barnes Supply Company saw thousands of dollars in online sales, an increase in foot traffic, and calls to the store. Jason stated that within "six to seven months we have already had four-hundred and nineteen customers." Reflecting on his experience with New Media Retailer, Jason recommends the company because of the team's "knowledge of the product and the platform that they have and it's pretty much ready to go and easy to use." As a result of this partnership, Barnes Supply Company boosted sales despite the pandemic and continues to grow through its curbside pickup service. Our Organization New Media Retailer helps small businesses overcome the expensive, time-consuming, and technical barriers to a successful online presence. We serve thousands of successful and thriving small business owners as they bring the best customer service and convenience to their communities. To learn more, visit https://newmediaretailer.com/. Janet Thomas Key Account & Marketing Operations Manager (607) - 244 - 0519 jthomas@newmediaretailer.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/local-small-business-barnes-supply-company-makes-major-strides-in-ecommerce-amidst-ongoing-pandemic-301254113.html SOURCE New Media Retailer [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Thousands of tonnes of soil that had been set aside to be used in the construction of a controversial American airbase on the Japanese island of Okinawa is said to contain the remains of Japanese and American citizens. Volunteers have been excavating the land in the search for the remains of people killed or who killed themselves during the 1945 Battle of Okinawa and have come across bones fragments and teeth believed to come from civilians who lived on the island at the time. So far, more than 300 sets of remains have been found over a 40 year period of searching. The remains of an estimated 2,800 victims still remain buried, according to the Okinawan prefectural government. The conflict at Okinawa lasted three months and was one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific war. Concrete mixer trucks queue as sit-in protesters block in front of the Camp Schwab ahead of the one year since the reclamation work of Henoko district began in December 2019 Protesters stage a sit-in as the rally against U.S. Futenma Air Base relocation to Henoko district An Okinawa women collecting the remains of some 200,000 soldiers killed in southern Okinawa during World War II. An estimated 190,000 Japanese and Okinawans were killed during the battle for the island and only 160,000 have been recovered. Pictured in 1945 Okinawa U.S. Marines pass a dead Japanese soldier in a destroyed village, during WWII in 1945 People pray for the war dead at the the Heiwa no Ishiji (Cornerstone of Peace) monument that commemorates Battle of Okinawa U.S. troops landed on Okinawa's Kerama islands in late March 1945, then on the main island on April 1, 1945. Civilians were caught in the middle of the grueling ground fighting that continued until June 23, 1945, when the commander of the Imperial Japanese Army killed himself and organized resistance ended. By the end, 200,000 Japanese and Americans had been killed along with more than a quarter of the civilian population of Okinawa and it is estimated 2,800 victims still remain buried. The majority died during the invasion but others while others killed themselves in groups having been ordered to do so by Japanese soldiers. They would huddle in caves before detonating grenades. USS Bunker Hill hit by two kamikaze pilots, during the Battle of Okinawa, Japan 1945 U.S. Marines hurdle a stone wall during The Battle Of Okinawa, 1 April 1945 The charred remains of a Japanese soldier next to a 47-mm anti-tunk gun Stretcher-bearers rush an injured US Marine from a battlefield in the south of Okinawa Island, during the Battle of Okinawa American soldiers march inland towards Japanese positions during the fight for control of Okinawa in April 1945 A clergy member says prayers for fallen American soldiers during a battle at Ie-shima, on Okinawa island in Japan A woman pours water over the Cornerstone of Peace where the names of her lost family are engraved. This picture was taken in 2020. The battle that killed more than 200,000 including large numbers of local civilians Landfill work preparing the area for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Henoko district of Nago, Okinawa The U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma is currently located in a crowded residential area of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan. Construction work for the relocation of the base is under way in the Henoko district of the prefecture's Nago city They include Okinawan civilians, Japanese and American soldiers as well as Koreans who were forced to fight alongside the Japanese. The area was the scene of fighting after US forces cornered the Japanese in the southern part of the island. The remains found over four decades include a number of American soldiers along with their Japanese counterparts. 'The Japanese government's plans will destroy the dignity of war victims I can barely believe it,' Takamatsu Gushiken, 67, who is leading the volunteer effort, told The Guardian. 'Civilians and soldiers are going to be used to build a military base. Protesters pictured in 2019 paddle kayaks in waters off the Henoko district of Nago to underscore their opposition to construction of a new U.S. military base A protester is forcibly removed from the sit-in that saw protests against the construction of a new base at Henoko. Pictured in December 2019 'I asked them if they realized they were going to use soil containing human bones, but they didn't respond,' he said. 'If they go ahead with digging work knowing what is in that soil, it will be an act of betrayal towards the people who died.' The intention is for soil from the sites to be used to construct an offshore runway at Henoko on the north-east coast of Okianawa. Preliminary construction is already appears to be underway with trees cleared and the area cordoned off. Gushiken claims that officials within the defense ministry have ignored calls by him to cancel the project. Protesters continues a in front of the Camp Schwab as they marked the 2,000th day of protest against the relocation of Futenma Air Base. Pictured in December 2019 Protesters try to block to delay the passage of construction vehicles loaded with rocks, sands and soil mobilized by the Japanese government for the relocation of the on-going construction of the new U.S Marines Airbase Station in Henoko. Pictured in January 2019 Protesters stage a demonstration in front of Prime Ministers residence to protest against the proposed US base in Henoko, Tokyo. Pictured in March 2019 Anti-U.S. air base relocation protesters shout their slogan at a beach next to Camp Schwab on March 25, 2019 in Nago, Okinawa, Japan In this aerial image, the reclamation work of Henoko district continues in December 2019 Preliminary construction is already appears to be underway with trees cleared and the area cordoned off. Landfill work is pictured taking place in December 2019 as the construction of a new U.S. air force base takes place A quarry for the reclamation work of Henoko district is seen in December 2019 Work to pour dirt and sand in a new section of the building site, pictured in March 2019 'It doesn't matter if you are for or against the Henoko base this is a humanitarian issue,' argues Gushiken. 'Soil from the scene of a bloody battle is going to be dumped in a beautiful bay, and it needs to stop.' The base's relocation on Okinawa was agreed more than two decades ago as a way of reducing the US military footprint on the island following a surge in local opposition over the 1995 abduction and rape of a 12-year-old girl by three American servicemen. The island, situated around 1,000 miles south of Tokyo, plays host to more than 23,000 American troops, more than half of the total stationed in Japan. Nobuo Kishi, Japan's defense minister, has maintained no final decision has been made after the seabed at the site was found to be softer than first thought which might put an end to any kind of building work. He also attempted to calm fears by stating how visual checks of the soil would be made for any remains before any of it is removed. Anti U.S. Base protesters stage a rally outside the gate of Ryukyu Cement Co. pier in Awa district of Nago, Okinawa prefecture, Japan. Pictured in January 2019 A protester is removed as the rally against U.S. Futenma Air Base relocation to Henoko district continued in December 2019 in Nago, Okinawa, Japan A drone photo taken in February 2019 shows land reclamation work continuing at the Henoko coastal district in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan Denny Tamaki, the island's governor, has stated that he will oppose the plan for soil removal. Environmentalists are also unhappy at the plans for new base, which would be built on an area that is still pristine and undeveloped while islanders are unhappy generally that it would destroy the marine environment. Even the country's prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, appears to be against the plan. 'The use of soil from a place where the remains of the war dead may have been left hurts the feelings of the people of Okinawa and bereaved families who experienced the tragedy of war,' he said after visiting the site recently. A petition from 500 people who lost relatives in the battle have also submitted a petition to the PM in the the home that soil from that particular part of the island will not be used to build the new base. ALBANY Jinah Kim said her parents generation were taught to work hard, assimilate and keep their heads down. Thats how they survived emigrating to the U.S. and navigating its strands of virulent racism. But we are so desperate to speak out, said Kim, the owner of Sunhee's Farm and Kitchen in Troy and a first-year law student. Now one week after a gunman killed eight people in Atlanta, six of them women of Asian descent, people are speaking out including a new generation of emerging activists. Van Tran Nguyen spoke of growing up in a nail salon in an overwhelmingly white suburb in western New York, and the slaying hits close to home. We have always been unheard, Nguyen said. Our histories are overlooked and willfully forgotten. More than 300 people attended the rally at Albanys Academy Park on Monday, holding signs denouncing systematic racism and to Stop Asian hate. The event was designed to offer the Capital Regions Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community a public way to denounce violence in the wake of the aftermath that killed eight people at three Atlanta-area salons, and follows a weekend of rallies being held in cities across the U.S. Kim was among the half-dozen people of Asian descent who spoke in raw and personal terms, describing a nation that has shoehorned them into model minority status in an attempt to drive a wedge with other races. Yet while anti-Asian bias incidences have surged amid the pandemic, racism has long predated the wave of xenophobia, speakers said. Nicolle Beaury of Brunswick spoke of childhood peppered with insults about her appearance and racist stereotypes. I had a boss call me a Korean war bride while men told me they had yellow fever, Beaury said. People have said far worse things, but theyre far too inappropriate to scream out in downtown Albany." Beaury implored the crowd to engage in solidarity and get involved. Again and again, speakers shared raw anecdotes of what its like to be Asian in 21st-century America, including state Sen. John Liu, a Queens Democrat. Liu was among the dozen-or-so state lawmakers who attended the event, which he noted was unfolding in the shadow literally of the Capitol. The state Legislature, he said, must allocate more funding to combat hate crimes. An attack against Asians is an attack against everyone, Liu said. Speakers also criticized the federal governments hesitancy to label the shooting a hate crime, and lashed the Atlanta law enforcement official who attempted to explain the shooting by saying the suspect as having a bad day. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, flatly referred to the shooting as an act of terrorism and white supremacy. Yet as dusk fell and the attendees lit white candles, some speakers scoffed at the lengthy line-up of largely white elected officials pledging to be allies without offering specific policy proposals. I want to hear what each and every one of you is going to do, said Jeanette Lam, an Albany-based filmmaker. H.P. Wang, chairman of the Albany chapter of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs, said the group has typically focused its efforts on civic education to educate first-generation immigrants. Of the 15,000 qualified Asian voters in the Capital District, just 4,000 are registered to vote, he said The Asian community doesnt speak up, Wang said. Theyre shy. We want people to speak up. We need to energize people, the next generation." Nguyen said she stands with Black activists and shares many of their demands including defunding the police. She also called for better language services to aid people who dont speak English, and more restrictive gun laws. The event drew attendees from across the Capital Region and beyond. Jin Chen, 36, came with two others from Saugerties. Chen was among those who said he lived in a state of heightened fear and anxiety since the onset of the pandemic, when many elected officials used racist language to characterize the virus, which originated in China. Violence against Asians or anyone in this country cannot be tolerated, Chen said, who clasped a sign with the names of the eight victims. Emerald Zhang, 29, said she was heartbroken when thinking of the ramifications on young people and the elderly, two of the most revered groups in traditional Chinese culture. And I hate theyre going to face all this racism, Zhang said. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Packaging printing provides a wide range of benefits that includes enhanced aesthetic appeal, better communicability, and enables protection from counterfeit. The market for packaging printing is strongly driven by the growth in the packaging industry along with the growing demand for aesthetic appeal and innovative printing. High disposable income has enabled the end users to spend more on such types of packaging, which facilitates ease of use. Most importantly, the changing consumer preference has triggered the use of printed packaging in day-to-day life. With this growth in the packaging Printing market, there is growth in import of Printing and allied machinery, but there is also increasing imports of the indigenous printing and package machinery. The major European suppliers of printing equipment and machinery are increasingly catering to the high end technology and automation needed for the markets. They are no longer in a position to meet the requirements of the both traditional and rural markets, where they are yet to convert and high technology is demand. These traditional markets offer Indian manufacturers an edge to produce more cost products for such market. The emerging markets in Asia and Africa have provided sample incentive to the Indian manufacturers of Printing and Packaging machinery. At that time India has achieved the distinction of being one of the largest manufacturers of printing machines. Request Sample The global packaging printing market report divides the market into four segments namely market by technology, market by printing ink, market by materials and market by application. The market by technology includes technologies like digital, flexography, offset, rotogravure, three-dimensional, lithography and screen printing. The market by type of ink includes UV Curable Ink and water based inks among others. The market by material includes glass, wood, metal and other materials. The various end use industries for packaging printing market healthcare, consumer goods, industrial goods, food and beverage among many others. The market is subsequently divided according to different geographical regions which includes, Americas, Europe, APAC and RoW The APAC region formed the largest market for packaging printing, in terms of value and volume and accounted for $XX billion in 2015. North America accounted for the second-largest market, with the share of XX% in 2015. The APAC region is predicted to be the fastest-growing market for packaging printing through 2016 to 2021. The global market for packaging printing is projected to grow at a CAGR of XX% from 2016 to 2021, to reach $XX billion by 2021. The Packaging Printing market in the Asia Region is the projected region where at the highest CAGR from 2016 to 2021. The rising middle class population of the region, high disposable incomes, and demand for the suitable printing methods along with the growing packaging industry, are dividing the growth of the packaging printing market. The market for packaging printing is observed to be matured due to high disposable incomes in developing economies, such as Europe and North America. A BORDER poll is likely before the end of the decade but could be rejected by people in the Republic unless detailed preparations are made, Fianna Fail TD Jim OCallaghan has warned. Mr OCallaghan has outlined a detailed plan for how a united Ireland could function with proposals for a new constitution and a bicameral parliamentary system with one house in Dublin and another in Belfast. A united Ireland would be part of the EU and the Eurozone and the Souths current 12.5pc corporation tax rate would be adopted. Unionists would get a certain number of cabinet positions, according to Mr OCallaghans paper which was delivered to an online audience at his alma mater, Sidney Sussex College in Cambridge, on Tuesday. Read More The Dublin Bay South TD - who is seen as a possible successor to Taoiseach Micheal Martin as Fianna Fail leader - spoke to an audience of over 300, including former UK deputy prime minister David Lidington and Fianna Fail TDs Dara Calleary and James OConnor. Unless we do the preparatory work that I am suggesting here, there is a prospect that the people of Ireland could reject the proposal because there's also a requirement for what would probably be a subsequent referendum in the South for the purposes of approving it, he said. And it's important that that gets the support, otherwise it would be totally rejected and that would be a terrible situation if the people of Northern Ireland voted for it and then there was a vote in the South saying that we werent going to go along with it. Mr OCallaghan told the audience: It is likely within the 2020s that a Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will call a referendum. The Fianna Fail backbencher defended the against criticism that he is lukewarm on the prospect of a border poll. He has set up a Shared Island Unit within the Department of An Taoiseach, it has real power and I think the Taoiseach recognises that there is going to be a referendum in due course, Mr OCallaghan said. But he said rushing into a referendum next year would be chaotic and that the focus should be on on issues, not dates. The 24-page paper outlines how unionism would have just over 11pc of the vote of the electorate in a new united Ireland meaning it would consistently have a part to play in the formation of governments. It argues that in order for pro-union parties to retain influence there would be a requirement that a certain unspecified number of cabinet positions would be filled by representatives of unionist parties. The paper also says there would be merit in the positions of First Minister or Taoiseach and Deputy First Minister or Tanaiste being elected by popular vote. The new state would have two national languages and a regional system of policing that would include An Garda Siochana and the PSNI. There should be a 10-to-15-year phasing out of the current up to 10bn UK government subvention with EU regional development funding accessed during this transition period. A high-speed rail link between Belfast and Dublin could be built and extended to other cities. Religious references or affiliation should not form any part of the new constitution, the paper states. Mr OCallaghan acknowledged there would be contentious issues around flags, emblems and anthems which should be dealt with outside of the political framework through an all-island citizens assembly. During a Q&A with audience members, Mr OCallaghan also rejected suggestions that a united Ireland could join the Commonwealth, saying this was often thrown out as a sop to appease unionism and that it required looking much more deeply as to what is required to recognise and respect unionist identity. Read More Posted Tuesday, March 23, 2021 5:11 am William "Bill" Canfield, beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away Friday, March 12, 2021, from a sudden heart attack. He had been long retired, but in his job as head custodian at Amboy Middle School, as well as in his personal life, he spent his time helping others, offering support to those who needed it. He was hardworking, kind, loving, and generous. And very goofy. We will miss him with all our hearts! He was laid to rest at Memory Memorial Park next to his wife, Linda Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (green) heavily infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (yellow), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIH/NIAID All viruses mutate as they make copies of themselves to spread and thrive. SARS-CoV-2, the virus the causes COVID-19, is proving to be no different. There are currently more than 4,000 variants of COVID-19, which has already killed more than 2.7 million people worldwide during the pandemic. The UK variant, also known as B.1.1.7, was first detected in September 2020, and is now causing 98 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom. And it appears to be gaining a firm grip in about 100 other countries it has spread to in the past several months, including France, Denmark, and the United States. The World Health Organization says B.1.1.7 is one of several variants of concern along with others that have emerged in South Africa and Brazil. "The UK, South Africa, and Brazil variants are more contagious and escape immunity easier than the original virus," said Victor Padilla-Sanchez, a research scientist at The Catholic University of America. "We need to understand why they are more infectious and, in many cases, more deadly." All three variants have undergone changes to their spike proteinthe part of the virus which attaches to human cells. As a result, they are better at infecting cells and spreading. In a research paper published in January 2021 in Research Ideas and Outcomes, Padilla-Sanchez discusses the UK and South African variants in detail. He presents a computational analysis of the structure of the spike glycoprotein bound to the ACE2 receptor where the mutations have been introduced. His paper outlines the reason why these variants bind better to human cells. "I've been analyzing a recently published structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike bound to the ACE2 receptor and found why the new variants are more transmissible," he said. "These findings have been obtained using UC San Francisco Chimera software and molecular dynamics simulations using the Frontera supercomputer of the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC)." Padilla-Sanchez found that the UK variant has many mutations in the spike glycoprotein, but most important is one mutation, N501Y, in the receptor binding domain that interacts with the ACE2 receptor. "This N501Y mutation provides a much higher efficiency of binding, which in turn makes the virus more infectious. This variant is replacing the previous virus In the United Kingdom and is spreading in many other places in the world," he said. The South Africa variant emerged in October 2020, and has more important changes in the spike protein, making it more dangerous than the UK variant. It involves a key mutationcalled E484Kthat helps the virus evade antibodies and parts of the immune system that can fight coronavirus based on experience from prior infection or a vaccine. Since the variant escapes immunity the body will not be able to fight the virus. "We're starting to see the South Africa variant here in the U.S.," he said. Padilla-Sanchez performed structural analysis, which studied the virus's crystal structure; and molecular dynamics to obtain these findings. "The main computational challenge while doing this research was to find a computer powerful enough to do the molecular dynamics task, which generates very big files, and requires a great amount of memory. This research would not have been possible without the Frontera supercomputer," Padilla-Sanchez said. According to Padilla-Sanchez, the current vaccines will not necessarily treat the variants. "The variants will require their own specific vaccines. We'll need as many vaccines for variants that appear." Going forward, Padilla-Sanchez will continue to research the changes taking place with SARS-CoV-2. "This was a very fast projectthe computational study lasted one month," he said. "There are many other labs doing wet lab experiments, but there aren't many computational studies. That's why I decided to do this important work now." Explore further COVID-19 variants emerging as vaccine rollout continues More information: Victor Padilla-Sanchez. SARS-CoV-2 Structural Analysis of Receptor Binding Domain New Variants from United Kingdom and South Africa, Research Ideas and Outcomes (2021). Victor Padilla-Sanchez. SARS-CoV-2 Structural Analysis of Receptor Binding Domain New Variants from United Kingdom and South Africa,(2021). DOI: 10.3897/rio.7.e62936 A package of bills aimed at subjecting the Michigan Legislature and governor to more public scrutiny is one step closer to seeing the light of day in the Senate. The Michigan Senate Oversight Committee moved Tuesday to advance the bills to the Senate floor for further review. Should the Senate take it up, it will be the first time the proposal which has been introduced in the Legislature and passed the House for the last several sessions in a row has come up for a floor vote in the Senate. Related: Michigan House unanimously votes to include governor, legislature in open records laws The 10-bill package would subject the governor, lieutenant governor and their staff to the states Freedom of Information Act and establish a separate Legislative Open Records Act albeit with an array of broad exemptions on what types of documentation could be requested by the public. Currently, Michigans FOIA law requires publicly-funded bodies like cities, police departments, state agencies and schools to provide information upon request. But lawmakers, the governor and lieutenant governor arent required to disclose any of their communications or documents pertaining to how big decisions affecting Michigan residents are made. That makes Michigan an outlier compared to the rest of the country when it comes to who is covered under FOIA. Its one of the only states in the nation to not subject their state-level officials to some form of open records laws, and Michigan ranked last in a nationwide 2015 government transparency report from the Center for Public Integrity. The Michigan House voted unanimously on its version of the package last week, where lawmakers have voted through similar iterations of the bills for several sessions in a row with broad bipartisan support. Related: Michigan House committee revives bills to open governor, lawmakers to public records laws McBroom and fellow sponsor Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, have been working on the legislation for years, and have said the idea is to improve Michigans government transparency laws long considered among the worst in the country while withstanding possible court challenges. Last week, they defended the legislation as the right thing to do, even if lawmakers might be hesitant to open some of their records up to public scrutiny. Your Jimmy Johns order is not going to make the front page of the paper, and nobody has time to request that from your office, Moss said during a previous Oversight Committee hearing. But we do need a tool here to disclose communications that are wrong, unethical and possibly even illegal. As currently written, the legislation pending in the House and Senate includes an exemption for all communication between legislative and governors offices and their constituents so long as the constituent is not a registered lobbyist or state employee. Any documents created or used by legislative caucuses and records pertaining to ongoing internal or legislative investigation would also be exempt. Non-exempt documents would not be considered a public record for 15 days, and the bills arent retroactive, meaning no records created prior to Jan. 1, 2022 would be considered public if the package is signed. A major distinction between FOIA and the LORA proposal is the lack of judicial review for appeals if a records request is denied. The legislation as written would send any appeals for denial of a records request to the administrator of the Legislative Council instead of the judicial review process allowed under FOIA. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has previously expressed support for expanding public records laws but stopped short of voluntarily subjecting her own office to FOIA when rolling out an executive directive to update the process for state agencies. She said in 2019 shed prefer the legislative package get passed so this isnt just a policy for the Whitmer administration and has a wider reach. When it comes to the current bills, the Whitmer administration has concerns with the lack of an independent mechanism to compel the production of a legislative record under LORA and the broad exemption that would allow lawmakers in either party to deny a record simply by distributing it to their caucus. Progress Michigan, a progressive organization thats long advocated for transparency reform, pulled its support for the package this session over exemptions they say applies a lower standard of disclosure to the Legislature than any other public body subject to public records laws. Progress Michigan last week released the language of a ballot proposal the group hopes to get on the November 2022 ballot, although Scott said the group is holding off on collecting signatures pending results of their lawsuit on signature gathering rules. Theyd need just over 340,000 valid signatures to make the ballot. House bills: - House Bill 4383 - House Bill 4384 - House Bill 4385 - House Bill 4386 - House Bill 4387 - House Bill 4388 - House Bill 4389 - House Bill 4390 - House Bill 4391 - House Bill 4392 Senate bills: - Senate Bill 232 - Senate Bill 233 - Senate Bill 234 - Senate Bill 235 - Senate Bill 236 - Senate Bill 237 - Senate Bill 238 - Senate Bill 239 - Senate Bill 240 - Senate Bill 241 Related coverage: Whitmer campaigned on transparency, but Michigan still lags the nation Michigan House unanimously votes to include governor, legislature in open records laws Open records expansion poised to advance in Senate committee as group tees up ballot initiative Secretary of State announces worst to first agenda to improve Michigans transparency laws Rep. August Pfluger held a town hall Monday night to discuss current legislation on the House floor and the migrant facility for unaccompanied children that opened in Midland County on March 14. The town hall came after local officials said last week that they were left in the dark about a man camp in Midland County being converted into a facility for up to 700 teenage migrants. Im furious about what happened under the cover of darkness, in the shroud of night in this community, Pfluger said during Mondays town hall. The Biden administration has continued a Trump-era policy of not allowing families to cross the border because of COVID-19, but unaccompanied children are able to enter the country and connect with relatives in the U.S. Pfluger said that rule incentivizes cartels and traffickers to use minors. They may have stopped family units, but theyve opened up Pandoras box when it comes to exploiting children, he said. In an interview following the town hall, Pfluger said he believes the Biden administration should reinstitute asylum agreements with Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras that required migrants traveling to the U.S. to apply for protections in those countries first. He also blamed the current administrations rhetoric for the crisis at the border, saying because of Democrats policies, the number of illegal immigrants seeking to cross the U.S.-Mexico border has almost tripled year-over-year. The children dont know these policies its the traffickers, the criminals and the cartels that know these policies, so I hold those people accountable for what theyre doing to the children, Pfluger said. District Attorney Laura Nodolf attended the town hall and presented Pfluger with a copy of a Public Records Request she said she emailed to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. She requested a copy of the contract with Cotton Logistics man camp as well as information regarding the backgrounds of the children and the care theyre receiving. They refuse to answer our questions to the point that I had to send an open records request simply to get answers, she said in an interview. Nodolf said she will proceed with an appeals process if shes denied the documents that shes requested. We just want to know how best to handle the situation to ensure the safety of our community, the safety of our law enforcement and the safety of the children who are truly innocent lives, she said. Pfluger also addressed the recently passed stimulus bill, which he said he opposed, and House Resolutions 1 and 8 during the town hall. HR 1, or the For the People Act, would expand voting rights, change campaign finance laws and more. Pfluger said the bill is nothing short of a power grab from the federal government. HR 8 is a universal background checks bill that Pfluger said would allow the FBI to delay applications for firearms by up to 20 days. The end goal is to have a national registry, so every person is registered and they know where and how many and what types of weapons you have, he said. A 53-year-old man who lived with his mother and stockpiled neo-Nazi memorabilia faces jail after he was found guilty of terrorism offences for downloading a bomb-making manual and guides to knife fighting. Nicholas Brock had a flag showing an eagle and swastika on the wall of his bedroom and a Nazi badge in a chest of drawers next to his bed in the three-bedroom mid-terraced house in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Police raided his home in November 2018 connection with an unrelated investigation, for which he was never charged, while further material found on a laptop, phone and hard drive, Kingston Crown Court was told. Police noted that Brock had tattoos of prominent Nazis from the 1930s and 1940s, along with runes and other symbols adopted by neo-Nazis and white supremacists. A tattoo on his shoulder featured the Totenkopf skull and cross bones adopted by the Nazi SS which has since been used by the British neo-Nazi group Combat 18. The same symbol was shown on a plaque on the bedroom wall. Brock was found guilty of three charges of possessing information useful for terrorism. The relevant documents were 'The Anarchists' Cookbook v.2000' - which showed how to make grenades and plastic explosives - 'Knife fighting techniques from Folsom Prison - put 'em down, take 'em out' and 'Kill or get killed.' Knives and Nazi memorabilia filled Nicholas Brock's room in Maidenhead, Berkshire, in what lawyers called 'an eclectic mix of items, amongst them, items demonstrating an interest in extreme right wing and white supremacist ideology' Emma Gargitter, prosecuting, said the room was 'filled to the brim with an eclectic mix of items, amongst them, items demonstrating an interest in extreme right wing and white supremacist ideology.' The room also included flyers for the National Front flyers with a letter to Mr Brock, addressed 'Dear Patriot, Many thanks for your enquiry and interest in the National Front.' There were books about the American white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), a copy of Hitler's Mein Kampf, and another about Combat 18, while under the bed was a 'certificate of recognition' from the Klan. Among the material on his electronic devices was a photograph of Brock posing in his bedroom, wearing a balaclava, and holding a large firearm, in front of the swastika flag, the prosecutor said. Another photograph showed Brock in front of the confederate flag, wearing a cap with the words 'Make America Great Again', the slogan of the campaign for Donald Trump. A short video apparently shot in Brock's bedroom showed a Nazi flag being waved and a KKK figurine. The Totenkopf skull and cross bones adopted by the Nazi SS was on display next a deactivated gun in Brock's room, above a cushion covered in pictures of dogs and another shaped like a doughnut A video in three parts showed unedited footage filmed by Brenton Tarrant as he shot 51 people dead at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March 2019. Other videos included KKK cross burnings, and one of the decapitation of a blindfolded man. His hard drive included a folder labelled 'Army-Military-Manuals' what contained two manuals for an AK47 assault rifle, and others for US Army pistol training, and explosives, along with a copy of a document known as the 'al-Qaeda manual'. Mein Kampf, a Nazi button and a bomb-making guide: The right-wing hoard discovered in Nicholas Brock's home Lawyers say Nicholas Brock's bedroom in Berkshire was 'filled to the brim with an eclectic mix of items, amongst them, items demonstrating an interest in extreme right wing and white supremacist ideology.' Among the items was a Nazi button he kept beside his bed, while a flag bearing an eagle and swastika was displayed on his wall. The room also included flyers for the National Front flyers with a letter to Mr Brock, addressed 'Dear Patriot, Many thanks for your enquiry and interest in the National Front.' There were books about the American white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), a copy of Hitler's Mein Kampf, and another about Combat 18, while under the bed was a 'certificate of recognition' from the Klan. Among the material on his electronic devices was a photograph of Brock posing in his bedroom, wearing a balaclava, and holding a large firearm, in front of the swastika flag, the prosecutor said. Another photograph showed Brock in front of the confederate flag, wearing a cap with the words 'Make America Great Again', the slogan of the campaign for Donald Trump. A short video apparently shot in Brock's bedroom showed a Nazi flag being waved and a KKK figurine. His hard drive included a folder labelled 'Army-Military-Manuals' what contained two manuals for an AK47 assault rifle, and others for US Army pistol training, and explosives, along with a copy of a document known as the 'al-Qaeda manual'. The documents were said to include three useful for terrorists: 'The Anarchists' Cookbook v.2000' - which showed how to make grenades and plastic explosives - 'Knife fighting techniques from Folsom Prison - put 'em down, take 'em out' and 'Kill or get killed.' Advertisement The last of the three documents included the words: 'Even though there is no such thing as a silent kill with a knife, a sharp piece of metal through the neck at the base of the skull is one of the quickest killing methods at your disposal.' Brock had images showing a number of anti-Muslim and other racist memes, Ms Gargitter said. Among the material on his electronic devices was a video called 'Hail Combat 18' which featured men in balaclavas wearing sweatshirts with the words 'Blood and Honour' loading and using firearms, one of whom warned: 'The war is coming.' Other folders were labelled: 'KKK', 'Enoch Powell', 'Knuckle Dusters', and 'Runes' and a number had names referring to 'WW2' and the Nazis. He had used his computer to search for the National Front, National Action - a proscribed right-wing terrorist group - the KKK and 'racist photos'. On a file called 'tattoo ideas' he had the logo of the banned right-wing terrorist group National Action. Interviewed by the police, Brock claimed he was 'not interested in rubbish like this' and was a military collector 'World War One, World War Two, the Falklands and the Gulf'. Brock told police he was a 'military collector' who had an interest in weapons and ammunition from his time collecting Action Man figures as a child. He also told detectives he had no interest in far-right groups and didn't go out much because of his social anxieties. Following his conviction, Det Chief Superintendent Kath Barnes, head of Counter-Terrorism Policing South East said: 'From the overwhelming evidence shown to the jury, it is clear Brock had material which demonstrates he went far beyond the legitimate actions of a military collector. 'Brock has been found in possession of very dangerous and concerning material and will face the full consequences of this by the courts.' He claimed that two men would sometimes come to play Play Station 2 games with him in his bedroom in the evenings. and one of them might have downloaded the material whilst he was out of the room 'making a cup of tea or a sandwich.' Police found one of the men who turned out to be an old schoolfriend who was confined to a wheelchair and had been almost bed-bound since 2014 as a result of a car accident. He had never been to Brock's home, had seen him only once since they left school and last spoke to him in 2017. The excuse was 'designed to send the police on a wild goose chase so that he could avoid having to answer detailed questions about how the material really got on to his hard drive, and why he had it,' Ms Gargitter said. He eventually claimed he had been referring to a second man with the same name but that was 'an absurd attempt to wriggle out of the fact that his original lie had been exposed,' the prosecutor said. Ms Gargitter said: 'Multiple examples of insignia, flags and other material associated with far-right groups, historical and contemporary, had been downloaded on to the devices, indicating a sympathy with those groups and their violent ideology. 'There were also videos and imagery depicting the use or threat of extreme violence. Brock told police he was a 'military collector,' who had an interest in weapons and ammunition from his time collecting Action Man figures as a child. He was convicted on three charges of possessing information useful for terrorism and will be sentenced on May 25 'Mr Brock, now aged 53 and living in Maidenhead, with his mother, has no legitimate reason for possessing such information. He is not, for example, an academic, or a self-defence specialist. 'These are not everyday items or collectible memorabilia, but publications which contain detailed advice on how to create explosive devices, on how to kill and how to maim. 'They may of course be of use to someone planning any kind of violent attack; and they would certainly be of use to someone planning a terrorist attack.' Edward Butler, defending, told the jury: 'Some of the material we have viewed and the allegations against Mr Brock are unpleasant and appalling. 'You may well think that this is not the kind of man you'd want to go for a pint with, or that he spends far too much time on his computer. 'But this is not enough evidence to suggest that Mr Brock is a terrorist, or in any way does it prove that he was going to commit a terror attack, and that's what you have to consider.' Brock will be sentenced on May 25. The Recorder of Richmond, Judge Peter Lodder QC, remanded him into custody ahead of that date. A decade of rapid apartment construction across Portland is coming to an abrupt halt, with permits for new multifamily projects down an astonishing two-thirds last year. Portlands decline is far outpacing other West Coast cities and economists warn the city is headed for another housing crunch, which could trigger another cycle of skyrocketing rents, displaced tenants and homelessness. Developers say policies Portland and Oregon adopted to make housing more affordable will have the opposite effect, making rents much more expensive by severely constraining supply. By compelling builders to include low-rent apartments in big new projects, developers and economists say Portland has created an incentive to go small or to not build at all. And by constraining rent increases, developers argue the city and state have made it more difficult to make a profit in Portland creating an incentive for builders to go elsewhere. Two, three years ago we had a housing shortage, said Chris Nelson, principal at Capstone Partners. I think were going to be back to the same place. Housing advocates and the city itself say the developers are vastly overstating their case. Development is down, they acknowledge, but only because the pace of construction was so torrid for several years. By mandating that affordable housing be part of large developments through inclusionary zoning, advocates say Portland has an opportunity to remake the city as a place where every neighborhood has affordable housing and overcome decades of displacement. Weve never encountered a developer who has acknowledged that now would be a good time to impose an inclusionary obligation, said David Rosen, who consulted on the inclusionary zoning policy Portland adopted in 2017. PORTLANDS DECLINE Regardless of the reason, theres no doubt that developers are ratcheting back across Portland. The number of multifamily permits issued for constructions with five or more residential units dropped by two-thirds in Portland last year, with the city issuing permits to build fewer than 1,500 new apartments, according to data provided by economic consulting firm ECONorthwest. The city had issued developers permits to build an average of 4,600 new units per year in the preceding five years. That drop is an indication that fewer constructions are surviving through the permit process and getting off the ground now. Equally alarming is a simultaneous decline in the number of new permit requests, which indicates that the city will see fewer apartments being built in the next several years, potentially setting Portland up for a housing crunch. Developers filed requests to build more than 6,000 new apartment units in both 2016 and 2017 at the height of Portlands building boom. In contrast, developers filed permit requests to build just over 2,600 units last year, nearly a third fewer than the year prior and less than half of what was requested during the peak years in 2016 and 2017, according to data from ECONorthwest. Rising construction costs nationwide may be dampening building activity. Other cities saw declines in multifamily permitting activity last year, too, but the drop in Portland was particularly acute. The number of multifamily permits issued declined 42% in Seattle, 26% in Salt Lake City and 23% in Denver, but rose 34% in Austin, 52% in Nashville and 89% in Sacramento, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Eric Cress saw a big opportunity for new housing when he moved to Portland in 2006. His company, Urban Development + Partners, responded by building apartment complexes along Division Street and in Northwest Portland in the years following the Great Recession. Today, though, Cress firm has only one remaining mixed-use development underway in Portland and has no immediate plans to build any other apartments in the city. We wont be delivering, other than that one property, any residential property in Portland in the next three years, Cress said. My hope is that changes because I live in inner Southeast Portland, my kids go to school here. Id rather contribute to building the housing infrastructure within the state I live as opposed to working outside of Portland. INCLUSIONARY HOUSING Inclusionary zoning is the focus of developers concerns. The policy requires that a percentage of new units be set aside for households making 80% of the median family income or below in developments with 20 or more residential units. The city, in turn, offers developers incentives to offset the cost of building those units, including allowing more density while waiving certain fees and taxes. Developments in the Central City and Gateway face stricter requirements, but greater incentives than those in other parts of the city. But developers say those incentives havent done enough to offset the costs of including those affordable units and that the city dampened investment by implementing strict restrictions immediately rather than easing them in over time. Inclusionary zoning is the single largest factor in a suite of negative factors in Portland that are impacting development, said Paul Del Vecchio, founding principal at Ethos Development. Del Vecchios firm has continued building, nonetheless. He said his firm is going through the permit process on multiple projects right now and anticipates beginning construction on 379 units in Portland this year. He said its shocking that his small firm alone is developing a significant percentage of the units in Portlands pipeline. Del Vecchio said his firm can continue to develop in Portland because they rely mostly on investments from local individuals to fund projects. Large firms that work in multiple parts of the country and rely on investments from outside Portland cant do that. If the return isnt what they are looking for in Portland, he said out-of-state investors will simply invest elsewhere. However, Portland Housing Bureau director Shannon Callahan said the inclusionary housing policy is working as intended. Private developers have filed 121 permit applications for buildings large enough to trigger the mandate since the policy went into effect in February 2017, totaling 7,771 new residential units, including 951 rent-restricted units, according to the Portland Housing Bureau. When council was considering this policy in 2017, I had wondered to myself what would have happened and what our city would look like now if that policy had been in effect for the last 20 years, Callahan said. I think about the number of people Ive seen displaced in Portland from the neighborhoods theyve lived in for many years due to dramatic rent increases and an inability to find anything they could afford. Theres a lot of families that have an opportunity to now live in neighborhoods they would not have been able to without the policy. Callahan acknowledged that the inclusionary housing policy needs to be reviewed and potentially recalibrated periodically to ensure that it is working amid market realities. The housing bureau has made several modifications to the policy since 2017, but had planned to hire an outside firm to conduct a full review of the mandate last year. The coronavirus pandemic prompted them to hold off. Callahan said they could revisit that review this year, if funding is available. Yet, she said to blame the inclusionary zoning policy alone for the decline in multifamily permitting activity would be unfair. Im not going to say there isnt any impact from inclusionary housing, Callahan said. But I think to say that inclusionary housing is the reason for that decline is not factually accurate. AN OVERSATURATED MARKET Other factors have clearly contributed to the sharp decline in multifamily permitting activity. Developers rushed to file permit requests to get in ahead of the inclusionary housing rules before they went into effect in February 2017. Those requests came at a time when Portland was already experiencing a building boom triggered by rising rent prices and an influx of people moving to the city. That led to a building binge that helped moderate Portland rent increases over the last few years. The influx of new units coming on the market, coupled with the fallout from the pandemic, contributed to vacancy rates in Portland rising to 7% last year and 15% downtown, according to data from the analytics firm CoStar. Many new buildings coming on the market over the last two years have had to offer concessions to attract renters, which have pushed rents down for those buildings. The vacancy rate was 34% for properties built in 2019 and 2020, according to CoStar. Michael Wilkerson, senior economist with consulting firm ECONorthwest, said the building boom was inevitability going to be followed by a decrease in developments as rents leveled off and vacancies increased. But he said that significant changes in policy, with Portland implementing its inclusionary zoning mandate and the state adopting its own limits on yearly rent increases, have led to a quicker dropoff that has only been exacerbated by the market conditions created by the pandemic and the bad national publicity Portland endured during last summers downtown protests. While planned construction has continued mostly unabated during the pandemic, the permitting process may have been impacted by slowdowns early on as city employees adjusted to working remotely. I dont think (inclusionary zoning and limits on rent increases) were huge movers of the market, but when you add both of those two things on, particularly because they were calibrated in different market conditions than were seeing today, then you get this cumulative effect, Wilkerson said. Then, you get the pandemic, the recession, the reputational damage suffered in Portland and I think those accelerated those trends more. Developers also point to various other city fees and regulations as factors driving up the cost of building in Portland. Del Vecchio said he had to return three times to the design commission to gain approval for a 73-unit apartment project in North Portland. He said the process led to only limited changes in the project, but created a costly four-month delay. Cress, with Urban Development + Partners, said the Portland Bureau of Transportation claimed an additional two feet for sidewalks at a project his firm is developing in Southeast Portland, reducing the available density on the site. Other fees, like a construction excise tax on projects with improvements valued at $100,000, are contributing to the total cost of building as well. A city audit released Tuesday found that Portlands system for reviewing building permit applications is too slow and that efforts to address persistent concerns about the citys complex regulatory environment have stalled as well. Cress said there needs to be more coordination among different city departments to see how the combination of various policies are impacting the total cost of building. THE HOUSING PIPELINE The decline in multifamily permit activity in Portland doesnt seem as precipitous when compared to the number of permit requests Portland was receiving five to 10 years ago. Developers filed requests to build an average of 3,714 units per year from 2012 to 2015, according to ECONorthwest. That followed several years of limited permit activity due to the Great Recession. But the lack of building at a time when Portland was gaining popularity and seeing an influx in new residents led to a major housing crunch. The median asking rent in Portland jumped nearly 38% from 2010 to 2016, growing at nearly three times the national rate as median prices jumped from $838 to $1,153, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That led to an apartment-building binge that finally enabled rent prices in Portland to begin to level off over the last few years. The leveling off of rental prices and the increase in vacancy rates may seem like good news for renters now, but it could mask a looming crisis if people continue to flock to Portland and multifamily permit requests dont pick up. The affordability in the short term is about as good as its been in several years, said Nelson, of Capstone Partners. But I also tend to believe that over the intermediate to long-term, people are still going to want to move to Portland and were going to be back to being a market that has a lot of demand and a challenge for new supply at an affordable price. Former Mayor Sam Adams, who returned to City Hall last month to help current Mayor Ted Wheeler implement his second-term agenda, told business owners earlier this month that he believes the city must attract $18 billion in private capital in the next 10 years just to make up half the housing shortfall. And that will require Portland being attractive to big-money investors in the nations financial capitals. Most of the money that goes into building these housing projects, most of the money isnt local, Adams said. Its decided by people in New York and Los Angeles and Chicago and they decide among our sort of level of city. We compete against Sacramento, Boise, Austin, those types of cities and we have to be an attractive option for that private capital. -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Denver--March 26, 2021---A lymph node collection kit can help surgeons attain compete resection and improve long-term survival after curative-intent lung cancer surgery, according to a study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology Clinical and Research Reports. The journal is published by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Surgical resection is the most important curative treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With successful implementation of lung cancer screening programs, the proportion of patients with NSCLC who undergo surgery is likely to increase significantly. "However, poor surgical quality reduces the survival benefit of curative-intent surgery and suboptimal pathologic nodal evaluation is the most prevalent NSCLC surgery quality deficit. The problem is global, and prevalent across institutions of different characteristics," said co-author Matthew Smeltzer, PhD, University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, Tenn. The IASLC has proposed a revision of the residual disease (R-factor) classification, from complete (R0), microscopic incomplete (R1) and grossly incomplete (R2) to R0, 'R-uncertain', R1 and R2. The adverse prognostic impact of R-uncertainty has been independently validated, with the majority caused by poor nodal evaluation. "We previously demonstrated longer survival after surgical resection with a lymph node specimen collection kit, published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology in February, and now evaluate R-factor redistribution as the mechanism of its survival benefit," Dr. Smeltzer said. The kit includes 12 anatomically pre-labelled specimen containers and a checklist to indicate certain lymph node stations mandated for examination. "We designed it to improve the intraoperative retrieval of lymph nodes compatible with evidence-based guidelines, the secure transfer of lymph node specimens between surgery and pathology teams, and the accurate identification of the anatomic provenance of lymph node specimens to encourage thorough and accurate pathologic evaluation," he said. An ongoing NIH-funded population-based Dissemination and Implementation project (2 R01 CA172253), the Mid-South Quality of Surgical Resection (MSQSR) project involves 15 hospitals in Eastern Arkansas, North and Central Mississippi and Western Tennessee. The principal investigator, Ray Osarogiagbon, MD, of Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation in Memphis, Tenn., is a member of the IASLC's Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee. In this particular analysis, Dr. Smeltzer and his co-researchers analyzed 3,505 lung resections between 2009-2019 from the MSQSR cohort. Of 3,505 resections, 34% were R0, 60% R-uncertain, and 6% R1/2. The R0 percentage increased from 9% in 2009 to 56% in 2019. Kit cases were 66% R0 and 29% R-uncertain, compared to 14% R0 and 79% R-uncertain in non-kit cases (p < 0.0001). "Compared to non-kit resections, kit resections had 12.6 times the adjusted odds of R0 vs. R0 uncertain," Dr. Smeltzer reported. Kit cases also had lower percentages of non-examination of lymph nodes (ie. pNX), 1% vs. 14% (p < 0.0001) and non-examination of mediastinal lymph nodes, 8% vs. 35% (p < 0.0001). With the kit, more R-uncertain cases had examination of stations 7 (43% vs. 22%, p < 0.0001) and 10 (67% vs. 45%, p < 0.0001). The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for kit cases versus non-kit cases was 0.75 ([CI 0.66-0.85], p < 0.0001); aHR for R0 versus R-uncertain was 0.78 ([CI: 0.69-0.88], p < 0.0001). In 2,100 subjects with R-uncertain resections, kit cases had an aHR of 0.79 versus non-kit cases ([CI: 0.64-80.99], p = 0.0384); however, in the 1,199 R0 resections the survival difference was not significant (aHR: 0.85[0.68-1.07], p = 0.17). Dr. Smeltzer pointed out that a more carefully controlled trial is planned to corroborate these results. "Ultimately, the main limitation of this study is that it was not a randomized controlled trial. We propose to conduct such a trial to further evaluate the lymph node kit," he said. ### About the IASLC: The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes nearly 7,500 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit http://www. iaslc. org for more information. About the JTO Clinical and Research Report: JTO Clinical and Research Reports is the official open access journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. This monthly publication broadens the reach of the IASLC throughout the world, offering unfettered access to the thoracic oncology community. Journal of Thoracic Oncology (JTO), the official journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, is the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. JTO emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach and includes original research reviews and opinion pieces. The audience includes epidemiologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, radiologists, pathologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and research scientists with a special interest in thoracic oncology. Coronation Street star Johnny Briggs is set to be honoured with an ITV special looking back at his 30-year stint on the soap. The actor, who passed away last month at the age of 85 after a long illness, will be remembered in the one-off programme looking back at his time playing the 'incomparable' businessman Mike Baldwin, who departed the cobbles in 2006. It comes after Corrie bosses paid their own tribute by dedicating the first episode to air following Johnny's death to the actor, writing on Twitter: 'Tonights episode was in loving memory of the incomparable Johnny Briggs, who played Mike Baldwin.' Iconic: Coronation Street star Johnny Briggs is set to be honoured with an ITV special looking back at his 30-year stint on the soap Johnny Briggs: Coronation Street Legend will take viewers on a trip down memory lane to reflect on some of Mike's most memorable story lines, after he starred on the soap from 1976 to 2006. The programme is expected to include some of his former cast mates reflecting on their time working with him. Among some of the actor's most iconic moments were his legendary love triangle with Ken Barlow (William Roache) and his wife Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride), which came to a head in a gripping 1983 that has gone down in soap history. Legend: The actor, who passed away last month at the age of 85, will be remembered in the one-off programme looking back at his time playing the 'incomparable' Mike Baldwin Coming soon: Johnny Briggs: Coronation Street Legend will take viewers on a trip down memory lane to reflect on some of Mike's most memorable story lines Mike was also known for having multiple marriages, including one to Alma Halliwell (played by Amanda Barrie) which ended after she discovered he'd been unfaithful. Johnny bid farewell to the Corrie cobbles in 2006 when he decided to leave the soap, with 12 million viewers fighting back tears as Mike died of a heart attack in rival Ken's arms after battling Alzheimer's. Johnny Briggs passed away at his home on February 28 after a long illness, his family confirmed. It remains unclear what the illness was. Exit: Johnny bid farewell to the Corrie cobbles in 2006 when he decided to leave the soap, with Mike killed off after suffering a heart attack A family statement said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our father, Johnny Briggs. 'He passed away peacefully this morning after a long illness, with family by his side. He was 85. 'We politely ask for privacy at this time, so that we can quietly grieve as a family and remember the wonderful times we had with him. Thank you.' 'Incomparable': Following Johnny's death Corrie bosses dedicated an episode that aired on March 1 to the actor Briggs split his time between a home in Portishead, North Somerset, UK, and a house in Florida though it is unclear where he was staying at time of his death. Following Johnny's death Corrie bosses dedicated an episode that aired on March 1 to the actor. Sharing an image of Johnny on their official Twitter page, the post read: 'Tonights episode was in loving memory of the incomparable Johnny Briggs, who played Mike Baldwin.' Johnny Briggs: Coronation Street Legend airs Monday 29 March at 8pm on ITV. For decades, kids have been digging through their cereal boxes, dredging up little prizes. But some unlucky cereal eaters have found much worse than a toy dinosaur floating in their breakfast bowls. In 2017, BuzzFeed News reported a long list of stomach-churning discoveries: A woman unearthed a thumbtack in her Cheerios, and a man bit down on a bone from his box of Frosted Mini-Wheats. And this week, Jensen Karp, a former rapper and a current writer and podcast host in Los Angeles, joined the corrupted cereal club when he found what he says are shrimp tails, rat droppings, and floss in his Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Advertisement A Twitter feud between Karp and the cereal brand has ensued. CTC is trying to wipe its hands clean of the matter, while Karp is continuing to go viral with his disgust as he investigates his findings. Slate talked with Karp as he was on his way to get the possible rat poo squares tested. Advertisement Advertisement Slate: Can you walk me through your Monday morning? Jensen Karp: So we purchased the Cinnamon Toast Crunch on Saturday at the Costco in Woodland Hills, California. And Ive been a huge fan of Cinnamon Toast Crunch ever since I was a kid. Its literally the only cereal I eat, even at 41. I have no shame in it. I poured myself a bowl and ate that bowl. I have a 21-month-old, and normally Ill eat a second bowl and give him some. He thinks they are like cookies. Advertisement I was getting my second bowl ready when something plopped out of it. I was like, What is that? At first, I thought it was a grouping of two cereal pieces together. But then I looked closer, and I was like, This is a shrimp tail! There was nothing else it could be. There was no other option. And then I looked in the bag and another shrimp tail was chilling at the top of it. And they are sugar-coated and look processed. What was your reaction to seeing this? I wanted to walk into traffic. I pushed it away and was like yuck. And I immediately sent a picture of it to my wife. I went through the complaint form process on the General Mills site, and I also tweeted the picture online. Advertisement Advertisement Now youve gone viral. And youre fighting with Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I love Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I dont want them to look stupid. I want to forever be cool with them. But the only reason this is viral is because they were so insane with their response. I would have dropped this immediately if CTC was like, Hey, were gonna investigate and call the Costco and do all the things we need to do to protect people with shellfish allergies or people who buy Cinnamon Toast Crunch because its kosher. Well take care of this. Instead, I got the exact opposite. They were really nice on private message, but publicly they posted this really weird response where they said, Hey, we investigated it. Its not a shrimp tail. Its an accumulation of sugar. And, like, theres literally no world where people think its not a shrimp tail. Its a shrimp tail. Advertisement And then at that point, it just made me mad. And my friend called me and was like, Dude, youve got to go through the rest of the bag. I had never even thought to do that. In the bag, found a piece of string, what looks like a pistachio nut that also went through the sugar-coating process, and some of the squares have raised black spots on them. Also, some of the squares have like a red dye on them. And when my wife came home, she said that we have to look at the other bag. And the other bag has a piece of dental floss in it and the bag looks like it was taped up. Advertisement Advertisement Whats your response to the people who are saying this is all just a publicity stunt? I dont even have anything to promote. I mean, I have a podcast where Id never talk about this or joke about it. This isnt something I necessarily want to be remembered for. This is not what I wanted to spend my day doing. I dont want to go to poison control. Also, the items are actually cooked on to the Cinnamon Toast Crunch squares. Theyve all been sugar-coated. I dont know how I would do that as a prank. And also, pranks should be funny, which this isnt. So why not taste the shrimp tails for public confirmation? Advertisement No. No one is ever going to try the shrimp tails. I have a very queasy stomach, and Im medicated for OCD. I do not want to play that game. [Karp has since tweeted that hes sent the tails to a company that has offered to DNA-test them for free.] What have you eaten since the incident? I have not eaten since. Im going to do a juice cleanse today purely because I dont want to even think about eating. I feel very sick. Not physically. But I feel very sick mentally. Will you ever eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch again? No, Ill never eat it again. Which is such a bummer because its truly the only cereal I eat. This just sucks. Just over one-third of a 10m relief scheme released to support 'wet pubs' has been paid out, the Department for the Economy has revealed. It comes as the hospitality industry marks one year on after pubs and bars first closed their doors to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the run-up to the first UK-wide lockdown. The Wet Pubs Business Support Scheme, which opened on January 11, was created to provide 10.6m to drink-only public houses. They were also shut down between July 4 and September 23 last year. Of the 10.6m, only 3.8m has been paid out, the DfE said. A spokesperson told the Belfast Telegraph that it received 577 valid returned forms, despite identifying more than 700 businesses eligible for the scheme. The spokesperson said: "Since the Wet Pubs Scheme opened on 11 January, 2021, 715 supplementary information forms have been issued to businesses identified via initial pre-eligibility checks, with 577 valid forms returned. There have been 412 payments made to date." The amount paid out was based on a property's Net Annual Value for rating purposes. There were 293 payments totalling 1.2m to those with an NAV of 800, 102 payments totalling292,800 to those with a NAV of 1,200 while 17 payments valued at 2.3m were paid to wet pubs with a NAV of 1,600. Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said he believed the smaller than expected uptake of the scheme could be attributed to some pubs expanding to include food during Covid-19. The department is telling us that some pub owners are saying they managed to open and serve food during that period and I think that all boils down to the pub industry being really honest, he said. Gerard Keenan, who runs Dans Bar on the Springfield Road, Belfast with his wife Sinead, said the scheme was a lifeline to his business. Everyone was scrambling back then and some ventured into offering food which would have made them ineligible for the scheme but we stayed closed from St Patricks Day, he said. The publican, who reopened for three weeks at the end of September, said he believes, there are a lot of people who wont come out of this, adding: Im afraid of reopening if the two-metre rule is still in place. We have capacity for around 60 people but with the two-metre rule we can only hold 12 people. We couldnt survive on that. Mr Neill added: What ever underspend there is should be redirected to the trade. Our traditional pubs, when they have opened, have done so under very tight restrictions. Its been exactly one year since hospitality was forced to close. For wet pubs, theyve only had 23 days of business in that year. Many are debt ridden and will need support when protection schemes end. A DfE spokesperson said: The money not utilised in the Wet Pubs Business Support Scheme has been used to underpin funding in other DfE Covid business support schemes. Mr Neill said it was not clear if the lower application rate could be down to some pub closures. We wont really know the full effect of Covid on closures until July or August, he added. In todays Business Telegraph, two bars are advertised for sale, Longfield Inn in Eglinton, Co Derry, and Rex Bar on the Shankill Road, Belfast. SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin, deputy chair of the economy committee, said she was disappointed in the underspend as the sector is in a dire situation and remains at risk of serious long term impact. She said: It is also important to remember that as well as being a very bad situation for the businesses, we also have thousands of workers at risk of losing their employment. This is a tragic situation. Chennai, March 23 : Actor turned politician Sripriya, who is contesting from Mylapore constituency in Chennai on a Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) ticket, has promised voters that she would transform Mylapore into Singapore. While speaking to IANS, the noted south Indian actor said, "People of Mylapore are in support of me and I get a warm welcome wherever I go. If this love and affection is transferred to votes, I will create an upset victory here." The actor, who has also directed a few Tamil and Telugu movies, said that she had chosen MNM to bring in changes in the society and among the people of Tamil Nadu who have been hitherto neglected by both the AIADMK and DMK. Sripriya, has won the Tamil Nadu state award for the best actress for "Aval Appadithan" has also directed award winning Tamil movie, "Malini 22" which is a remake of the Malayalam super hit "Female 22". Mylapore has a large concentration of Malayali voters. Sripriya told IANS, "The Malayali community knows me very well as I was a heroine in several Malayalam movies. Kamal Haasan is a rage among the Malayali community and being part of his party will help me secure a large number of Malayali votes." Sripriya is fighting a three cornered battle with sitting MLA R. Natarajan of AIADMK and T. Velu of DMK. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 ORANGEBURG South Carolina deputies charged a second teenager with murder in the 2020 death of an Orangeburg teacher. Orangeburg deputies said Karl Williams answered a knock on his front door on Dec. 14. A gunman opened fire on him and then fled, leaving the 49-year-old to bleed out. Authorities arrested a suspect in January, charging 18-year-old Aloysius Green Jr. with murder. Another 18-year-old suspect, Calik Guinard, is behind bars in Florida but will be extradited to face charges in the case, the sheriff's department said. In the latest stage of the investigation, deputies joined U.S. Marshals to arrest a 16-year-old boy at an Orangeburg apartment complex. He'll face a family court judge for a probable cause hearing at a later date, authorities said. Members of the medical staff wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) tend to a patient in the COVID-19 unit of the Bolognini hospital in Seriate, Bergamo, Italy, on March 12, 2021. (Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images) Updates on CCP Virus: 3 Fully Vaccinated Hawaii Residents Test Positive for COVID-19 Three Hawaii residents who were fully vaccinated against the CCP virus have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, according to the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH). All three patients had received both doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, reported KITV4. They all experienced mild symptoms and did not appear to spread the disease to others, the DOH told the news station. COVID-19 vaccines dont prevent infection, however they mitigate severe symptoms and lower the risk of hospitalization, health experts say. Man Holds National Guardsmen Transporting COVID-19 Vaccines at Gunpoint, Gets Arrested: Police An Arizona man held National Guardsmen in Texas at gunpoint on Monday, officials confirmed to The Epoch Times. Larry Harris of Wilcox just before 8 a.m. followed Guard personnel from a Loves Travel Station in Lubbock County and tried to run the vans they were driving, which contained COVID-19 vaccines, off the road, according to an incident summary. After failing in his attempts, Harris then turned his vehicle into oncoming traffic and stopped the vans about 2 miles east of Idalou before pointing a gun at a soldier, claiming he was a detective, and demanding to search the vehicles. Brazil Posts Record Single-Day Toll of 3,251 Virus Deaths Brazil reported more than 3,000 COVID-19 deaths in a single day for the first time Tuesday amid calls for the government and the new health minister to take action to stem the nations resurgence of coronavirus infections. In recent weeks, Latin Americas largest country has become the pandemics global epicenter, with more deaths from the virus each day than in any other nation. Tuesdays record toll of 3,251 deaths was driven by the state of Sao Paulo, Brazils most populous, which recorded 1,021 new deaths, far above the previous high of 713 last July. The pandemic has brought the health systems of Brazilian states to near collapse, with hospitals watching their ICU beds fill up and stocks of oxygen required for assisted breathing dwindle. Most of the states in recent days adopted measures to restrict activity, over the fierce resistance of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Death From COVID-19 Vaccine Will Not Affect Life Insurance Pay Out Getting a COVID-19 vaccine will not impact peoples life insurance policy payout in the event of death, according to the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), a trade association that represents the life insurance industry in the United States. Life insurance policy contracts are very clear on how policies work, and what cause, if any, might lead to the denial of a benefit, Paul Graham, senior vice-president of ACLI said in a press release. A vaccine for COVID-19 is not one of them. Policyholders should rest assured that nothing has changed in the claims-paying process as a result of COVID-19 vaccinations, he added. Italy Reports Highest Death Toll Since January Italy registered 551 deaths, its highest one-day death toll from the CCP virus since mid-January. The European country has been struggling with a surge of infections and health experts say its partly fueled by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus variant found in Britain. WH: 27 Million Vaccine Doses to Be Shipped Next Week The White House says 27 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed next week, more than three times the number when President Joe Biden took office just over two months ago. COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients informed governors on their weekly conference call that 23 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna and about 4 million of Johnson & Johnsons single-dose vaccine will be shipped next week. US Adults Gained Over 1 Pound Each Month During Lockdowns: Study Adults in the United States gained about one pound and a half on average each month under lockdown orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study. Researchers collected nearly 7,500 weight measurements for analysis between February and June 2020 from participants residing in 37 different U.S. states, Dr. Gregory M. Marcus, the senior author of the research letter, wrote in the study published on JAMA Network Open. The study found that 269 participants who volunteered to report their measurements experienced a steady weight gain at a rate of 0.59 pounds on average every 10 days spent under lockdown, or approximately 1.5 pounds per month. Pfizer Begins Early-Stage Study of Oral Drug Pfizer Inc has started an early-stage U.S. trial of an oral COVID-19 antiviral therapy that could be prescribed to patients at the first sign of infection, the company said on Tuesday. The drugmaker, which developed the first authorized COVID-19 vaccine in the United States with Germanys BioNTech SA, said the antiviral candidate showed potent activity against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in lab studies. Brazil Consumer Confidence Posts Third Biggest Fall Consumer confidence in Brazil registered its third-largest monthly fall on record, a survey indicated on Tuesday, hammered by a deadly second wave of the CCP virus pandemic and near collapse of the public health system in several cities. The Getulio Vargas Foundations (FGV) consumer confidence index fell 9.8 points to a 10-month low of 68.2 points in March, The current situation index fell 5.5 points and the expectations index tumbled 12.3 points, FGV said. Sinovac Says Its Vaccine Is Safe for Children as Young as 3 Sinovac claims its COVID-19 vaccine is safe in children ages 317, based on preliminary data, and it has submitted the data to Chinese drug regulators. More than 70 million shots of Sinovacs vaccine have been given worldwide, including in China. Two recipients developed high fevers in response to the vaccine, one a 3-year-old and the other a 6-year-old, while many others in the trial experienced mild symptoms, Gang Zeng, the medical director at Sinovac said. Fauci Warns of Possible Surge in US Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning that a surge of CCP virus cases in Europe could foreshadow a similar surge in the United States. Fauci, the nations top infectious disease doctor, urged Americans to remain cautious. In an interview on ABCs Good Morning America, he said he is optimistic of COVID-19 vaccines effectiveness and expressed hope that the AstraZeneca vaccine could join the arsenal of inoculations. Germanys Merkel Banks on Easter Circuit-Breaker to Combat New Pandemic Germany is extending its lockdown until April 18 and calling on citizens to stay at home for five days over the Easter holidays to try to break a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disease caused by the CCP virus, Chancellor Angela Merkel said early on Tuesday. In talks that ran deep into the night, Merkel pushed the leaders of Germanys 16 states to take a tougher stance to fight the pandemic, reversing plans for a gradual re-opening of the economy agreed earlier this month after a sharp rise in the infection rate. AstraZeneca May Have Used Outdated Information in Vaccine Trial: US Results from a U.S. clinical trial testing the efficacy and safety of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine may have included outdated information, American officials said early Tuesday. The Data Safety Monitoring Board notified the company and two health agencies late Monday that it was worried by the information AstraZeneca released on its trial. The board, which monitors trials and reviews data collected at regular intervals, expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the agencies. Isabel van Brugen, Meiling Lee, Zachary Stieber, Lorenz Duchamps, The Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this report. Northwestern University law professor Sheila Bedi, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs, said about 1,000 prisoners could soon be released due to the settlement. She said that while the number of prisoners who will be released was significant, there are thousands more who have a legal mechanism to seek release and should get it. 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. From the 'janata curfew' to the country's first Covid-19 vaccination drive, a new book gives readers detailed account of India's battle against the pandemic. The book, "Billions Under Lockdown: The Inside Story of India's Fight Against Covid-19", is written by senior journalist Abintika Ghosh. Published by Bloomsbury, the book claims to be a "thrilling tale" of unnamed thousands battling against a little-understood virus from the frontlines, bringing that "gripping theatre and its dramatis personae to life". When WHO first declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020, there was a great deal of apprehension about how India - the country with the highest TB cases and diabetes, inadequate health infrastructure and a population of 1.3 billion - would fare. "Journalists are usually accused of having very short memories. Of course, this is not unfair criticism as we, far too often, look at issues only fleetingly and superficially. Having said that, in the twenty years that I have been in this business, 2020 was the first year in which, for ten months, I followed one story: COVID-19. "I may even go as far as to say that I lived in a COVID bubble. I was writing about it, reading about it and, in whatever time I had left, I was answering questions from friends and family. So this book was perhaps destined to happen," writes Ghosh in the book. It was on March 23 last year that Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the nationwide lockdown against COVID-19. A year on since the country went into a 'janata curfew' (people's curfew), it is facing a second wave of cases. The fresh infections and deaths have pushed the country's infection tally to over 11.68 million and the death toll has now risen to 1,60,166. The author, with a ringside view of India's fight against the deadly virus, offers an insight into India's massive machinery working seamlessly -- despite some missteps and missed infections -- against the greatest challenge the world has encountered in decades. The 406-page "Billions Under Lockdown", priced at Rs 699, is available for sale on offline and online stores. (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.) Texas A&M International Universitys Greek Council was named the recipient of two national awards from the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values during its recent virtual conference. TAMIU received awards in the Education and Innovation Three-Star Category the highest category rating possible for college campuses. The university was honored alongside other major universities, including the University of Oklahoma, University of Missouri, University of Arkansas, Purdue University and North Carolina State University. Currently, the universitys Greek Council includes local chapter members of Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc.; Delta Xi Nu Multicultural Sorority, Inc.; Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc.; Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc.; Sigma Delta Lambda Sorority, Inc.; Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc.; and Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. These awards demonstrate the collective efforts, impact and success of the TAMIU Greek community, breaking down stereotypes on what it means to be a member of a sorority or fraternity, said Dr. Nicholas Hudson, Director of TAMIUs Office of Student Orientation, Leadership and Engagement. TAMIU students have consistently raised the bar on what it means to be Greek, and the larger fraternal movement is beginning to take notice of our community. TAMIU sorority and fraternity members continue to exceed student GPA average and are more engaged than the average TAMIU student. They are now leading the way nationally on what it means to create a Greek community that benefits the larger campus, city and global communities. This was the first year the university was able to attend the AFLV Conference and enter the AFLV Council Compass accreditation program. This developmental program assesses operations, critical thinking, the ability to address issues unique to the community culture and new ideas and initiatives a council creates and sustains that make a difference. The Council Compass program asks university-wide Greek councils to reflect on their achievements in four directional areas, including a councils accountability, collaborative efforts, education and innovation. 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. [March 23, 2021] Widen Announces Strategic Partnership with Americaneagle.com CHICAGO, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Widen, a leader in the cloud-based digital asset management (DAM) + product information management (PIM) software industry, is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with Americaneagle.com, a digital agency and industry leader in professional website design, development, and digital marketing. This partnership bridges the gap between digital experience services and integrated DAM+PIM offerings ultimately, creating a robust digital solution to meet customer needs. We are proud of our 25+ years of success creating unique, dynamic web solutions for companies both large and small, said Americaneagle.com Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Jerry Boduch. This partnership with Widen will only help us better serve our clients and present them with best-in-class multi-solution platforms. As a new leading agency in Widens partner network, Americaneagle.com is concentrating its efforts on Widen's DAM+PIM software, the Widen Collective, in order to assist clients with compiling and organizing digital assets and product specifications. Bringing this content together in one platform creates a single source of truth which can be easily maintained and controlled. Widen and Americaneagle.com quickly realized they share some similar customers, one being a global manufacturing company, where a Digital Architect said, We have chosen to partner with Widen and Americaneagle.com to ensure we have full support and success with integrations into ourSitecore instance. With Americaneagle.coms experience and in-depth knowledge of integrations and Sitecore and Widen providing the best in class DAM experience, our new website is set up for success. "What initially interested us in partnering with Americaneagle.com is our immediate sympatico, said Jamie Liechty, Widen Partner Manager. We both are family-owned companies, have a rich history of innovation with a high-growth focus, and most importantly, value the overall customer experience. By partnering with this best-in-breed digital experience company, we can integrate our DAM+PIM platform with their abundant services - creating a robust digital solution for the customer, ultimately to meet their business needs." Americaneagle.com partners with industry-leading technologies to deliver transformative digital solutions. As a Widen partner, Americaneagle.coms customers are supported with award-winning technology and powerful integrations that help create stronger relationships to drive customer satisfaction and increase retention. About Americaneagle.com Americaneagle.com is a full-service, global digital agency based in Des Plaines, Illinois that provides best-in-class web design, development, hosting, post-launch support and digital marketing services. Currently, Americaneagle.com employs 500+ professionals in offices around the world including Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Dubai, London, Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Washington DC, Switzerland, and Bulgaria. Some of their 2,000+ clients include Dairy Queen, FASTSIGNS, Soletrader, WeatherTech, and the American Management Association. For additional information, visit www.americaneagle.com . Contact Mike Svanascini, President press@americaneagle.com 847-699-0300 About Widen Established in 1948, Widen helps brands deliver content with confidence. Their cloud-based DAM and PIM software, the Widen Collective, empowers marketers to bring content together, send it anywhere, and automate in-between. Widen is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, USA and London, UK. Visit www.widen.com to see why Widens trusted by hundreds of world-class brands. Contact: Jake Athey VP Marketing and Customer Experience 608-443-5472 jathey@widen.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Farmers can get a max payment of 250/ha for chopping straw under the scheme. The introduction of a new 10m scheme which encourages cereal growers to chop straw has sparked serious differences in the farm sector. Livestock farmers and straw traders have warned that the new scheme, which could remove around 15pc of the total straw crop or 850,000 round bales from the market each year, could push the price of straw to over 20/bale off the field and to 30/bale for farmers on the western seaboard. However, Bobby Miller of the Irish Grain Growers (IGG) group has rejected these suggestions. He said the new Straw Incorporation Measure which is worth 250/ha for barley, wheat, oats and rye, and 150/ha for oilseed rape will have minimal impact on the overall straw market. The minimum application is 5 ha, with a maximum of 40 ha. If the Measure is over-subscribed a process of ranking and selection will be applied. Mr Miller pointed out that a 25pc reduction in the straw crop last year due to poor sowing and harvesting conditions had not resulted in a rush in farmer demand for straw post-harvest. While he accepted that the current scheme could take out straw from up to 50,000ha of cereal ground, he said oats and oilseed rape are likely to make up 60pc of this total. The remaining quantities will be made up primarily of wheaten straw, he maintained. Barley straw is really what farmers are looking for. But the area of sown to winter barley has increased by 10,000ha alone this year to around 60,000ha, with the overall barley area increasing to 160,000ha. If you get a good year, this scheme will not impact the amount of barley straw, Mr Miller argued. You also have to ask, where were the livestock farmers concerns over the last 10 years when the area of tillage dropped by 10pc, he added. Michael Hennessy of Teagasc said he would encourage tillage farmers to maximise the area they include in the straw chopping scheme. He said tillage growers should especially target areas for inclusion that have been lacking in organic manures. However, straw traders have expressed concern that the new scheme will hit the volume of straw that is available for livestock farmers in non-tillage areas. It was very difficult to get straw this year. What is it going to be like when farmers are being paid to chop straw? Id see the price going to around 20/bale off the field, which means farmers in the west could be paying up to 30/bale, one trader in the northwest predicted. ICSA president Dermot Kelleher said that while the tillage sector needs every cent of support it can get, he maintained that the Department of Agriculture had not factored in the knock-on impact of the new measure on the suckler sector. We need more straw not less and this scheme will create a shortfall, he said. It is certainly good to support tillage farmers and the Department needs to reflect on measures that will actually increase the area of cereals grown. "We need more Irish grain in rations, and we need more availability of straw. This measure is not the full solution. Each week, Sunday Life asks a prominent Australian what they know about the opposite sex. Ahead, Gary Bigeni discusses her biggest lessons from women who have influenced him. Occupation Fashion designer Age 39 Relationship status Single Best known for His eponymous fashion label Mum taught me that if you want something, you have to go out and get it. We didnt come from money and if I wanted to fulfil my dream to be a fashion designer, I had to work. My maternal grandmother, Catarina, lived on a farm in Malta and passed away when I was 11. Its where my mother, Jane, grew up and helped her family raise lambs, sheep and chickens. At 18, she migrated to Australia. It was a big deal to do that in the 1960s. Sadly, she never saw her mother again. My parents divorced when I was 10 and Mum raised four kids as a single mother. Mum was definitely the rock, the one who made sure we had food on the table and a roof over our head. My dad [Simon] was a horse trainer back in the 80s and 90s we had seven in our backyard in Blacktown, Sydney. I had a pony, but wasnt interested in riding him. I loved braiding his hair. By Baek Byung-yeul The global economy is now likely to bounce back to the pre-pandemic level as more and more people are vaccinated, but various industry sectors, including electronics and cars, are grappling with semiconductor shortages and supply chain deterioration. The shortages come as chip makers have given priority to chips for IT devices and home appliances, which have been in robust demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. The chip supply chain began to show its vulnerability as chip makers have been hit hard by heavy weather and natural disasters. Samsung Electronics, NXP and Infineon had to shut down their contract-based chip-making factories in Texas in February due to power outages after an unprecedented winter storm. Samsung is the world's largest memory chip maker and the second-largest foundry company while NXP and Infineon are leading automotive chipmakers. An earthquake in Japan last month has worsened the chip shortages. No. 3 automotive chip maker Renesas Electronics also shut down its factory for two days in February after the 7.3-maginitude earthquake hit the country. Also, Taiwan's Unimicron saw production disruptions to its manufacture of printed circuit boards, which are used for various electronics devices, after a fire broke out in its plant in February. For chip makers, the chip shortage issue will become a favorable factor to boost their performances as the average selling price of chips is soaring, but the shortages have taken a heavy toll on other industries. As seen in the automotive business, the chip shortage issue could negatively affect the mobile device business as well. Samsung's mobile chief Koh Dong-jin said that that the world's largest smartphone maker may not release its latest Galaxy Note smartphone due to the prolonging chip shortage. During a meeting with shareholders on March 17, Koh said there is a "serious imbalance between semiconductor supply and demand." As a result, Samsung may postpone the release of this year's Note smartphone, which the company has regularly launched in the second half of the year. The mobile chief said the imbalance between supply and demand for chips could be increased in the second quarter of this year, but the company is doing its best to avoid production disruptions. "I cannot say we have solved this problem 100 percent at this moment," he said. "We could face issues in the second quarter, but everyone is working hard to solve the problem." Kim Yang-paeng, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, said the chip shortage issue has made chip component makers raise the price of their products and this will consequently hurt the profitability of companies providing finished goods. "Finished goods companies are purchasing more chips to increase their chip inventory level due to rising semiconductor prices," the researcher said. Samsung Electronics' Austin branch in Texas / Captured from Samsung Electronics webpage I think it is obvious that Nikol Pashinian will be at the top of the list of candidates, Lilit Makunts, the head of the pro-Pashinian My Step faction, said during a news briefing in parliament on Tuesday. Pashinian announced last week that early parliamentary elections in Armenia will be held on June 20. He had agreed on holding early elections and on their date with Gagik Tsarukian and Edmon Marukian, the leaders of the two parliamentary opposition factions, Prosperous Armenia and Bright Armenia, who believe that a snap vote is a way to overcome the current political crisis in the country triggered by an Armenian defeat in the 2020 war against Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh. In order to achieve the appointment of the early ballot on the indicated date Pashinian will need to resign at some point in late April and the parliament should twice within two weeks fail to field a new candidate to replace him. Pashinians My Step enjoys a comfortable majority in the Armenian parliament, but it has sought a sort of arrangement with the parliamentary opposition to ensure that no one is nominated to replace Pashinian if he steps down to pave the way for general elections. At least one political group in Armenia is seeking the formation of an interim government after Pashinians resignation and does not want early elections to be held immediately. The Homeland Salvation Movement, a loose alliance of over a dozen political parties and groups, has been holding street protests since a Russian-brokered ceasefire was signed by Armenia and Azerbaijan on November 9 mostly on Bakus terms to put an end to six weeks of deadly fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh. The movement, which holds Pashinian responsible for the Armenian defeat and accuses him of anything from incompetence to treason, wants its leader Vazgen Manukian to be voted by parliament into the prime ministers office once Pashinian resigns before early parliamentary elections can be held within at least a year. Even after the announcement of the early election date, the Homeland Salvation Movement has refused to discontinue its street protests or change its agenda. Hundreds of its supporters are still blockading a central Yerevan boulevard where the parliament building and several other government offices are located. One of the most discussed topics in Armenia since the announcement of early elections has been whether the current set of election-related laws should be amended before the vote. Bright Armenias Marukian has rejected the idea, fearing that a new electoral code adopted just weeks before the vote will cast doubt on the legitimacy of its outcome. The Prosperous Armenia party also does not consider it advisable that a new electoral code be adopted now, but like Bright Armenia it has indicated its intention to participate in the elections in any case. Asked whether the majority faction intends to seek a new electoral code for the June elections, My Steps Makunts said: We are inclined to make changes in the Electoral Code to make a transition to an all-proportional ballot system to be applied in the upcoming early elections. Discussions are underway at the moment. These discussions include different segments. Amendments to the Electoral Code imply quite significant changes, and a decision should also be made on whether the ballot should be an all-proportional one. Also, the changes must be realistic for the forthcoming elections. Asked whether the changes could concern only switching to an all-proportional ballot system, Makunts said: I dont exclude anything at this moment. Under the current Electoral Code political parties and blocs contest seats in the parliament based on a mixed system of representation, including party-list ballots and individual races deciding the ratings of candidates within their own parties and blocs. Critics argue that such individual races make elections less political and more dependent on financial resources of candidates, creating more risks of electoral fraud. ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Porte Brown LLC, www.PorteBrown.com, a Chicagoland accounting firm, is pleased to announce the firm has been named to Accounting Today's "Firms to Watch" list in this year's "Top 100 Firms and Regional Leaders" report. This survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best employers in the accounting industry, benefiting the industry's economy, workforce and businesses. More than 400 firms participate in the annual survey process, which ranks U.S.-based firms by their net revenue (Y/E 2020). In addition, Porte Brown has been named a "Great Lakes Regional Leader" for the sixth consecutive year. The Great Lakes region includes the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. "Porte Brown has a great group of clients who have supported us over the years," said Bruce Jones, CEO & Managing Partner. "As our clients and their businesses mature, we try to anticipate the next level of service they will expect," Jones continued. "This year marks our 75th anniversary and as we continue to grow both strategically and organically, we appreciate the feedback we receive from our clients and look forward to the next 75 years together!" About Porte Brown Porte Brown LLC is a full-service accounting and consulting firm headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Elk Grove Village, Illinois. For 75 years Porte Brown has focused on providing the highest level of service to individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout the region. In addition to the traditional accounting services such as tax planning and preparation, audit, business valuations, and retirement plan administration. Porte Brown also provides strategic consulting and leading-edge technology implementation for clients in cloud and non-cloud environments. Wealth management services provided by Porte Brown Wealth Management LLC.* Porte Brown serves accounting and consulting clients from offices in Illinois and Texas. For more information, visit www.portebrown.com or call 847-956-1040. *Wealth Management Services provided by Porte Brown Wealth Management LLC. Securities offered through Avantax Investment ServicesSM, Member FINRA, SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Avantax Advisory ServicesSM. Insurance services offered through an Avantax affiliated insurance agency. Contact: Pam Metzger 847-956-1040 [email protected] SOURCE Porte Brown Related Links http://www.PorteBrown.com Brenda Heller, a devoted mother, wife, and grandmother, has completed her new book Rendered: Book 3: a gripping journey across continents and time. Brenda writes, In the first two books of the TimeWorm trilogy, an accident with a time machine of the mid-twenty-first century causes Theo and his robotic dog, Murphy, to time jump into the dangers of Nazi Germany. Theo meets a German teen named Gracie, who is also running from Hitlers Third Reich. The trio escape to America on the Hindenburg. This final book of the trilogy has Theo, Gracie, and Murphy back on American soil. The teens plan to return to Theos future world after he is a spy in a summer camp while Gracie visits a boarding school. Reunited, the teens find shelter and hope in an abandoned shack until Murphy and Theo pick up a scent of the horror of Germany they believe they have left behind. Published by Page Publishing, Brenda Hellers tale is a compelling adventure that challenges our familiar characters and pushes them to their limits. With relatable characters, tumultuous twists, and a gratifying end, this installment offers everything you could hope for to the last page. Readers who wish to experience this riveting work can purchase Rendered: Book 3 at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. By Polina Nikolskaya and Emilio Parodi MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian developers of the Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 said on Tuesday they have applied for domestic approval of a single-dose "light" version, and that trials of it in Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Ghana have already begun. The slimmed-down shot is not expected to be as effective as the original vaccine, said Arsen Kubataev, of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund marketing the vaccine abroad. But the outlook for it is "optimistic", he said. RDIF has previously suggested the one-shot version of Sputnik V could be a "temporary" solution for countries with high infections rates that need to make the vaccine go further. Sputnik Light has already been tested in smaller-scale, Phase I/II clinical trials, Kubataev said, adding that an application for approval of the vaccine based on results from these trials has now been filed. "In parallel, we have already launched international clinical Phase III trials," he said, that will test its efficacy. The two-dose Sputnik V vaccine was shown to be 91.6% effective in fighting COVID-19 based on peer-reviewed late-stage trial results published in The Lancet international medical journal in early February. Around 2,000 people have already received the shot, which consists of just one of the two doses, each based on a different adenovirus vector, that make up Sputnik V proper. Overall, Kubataev said he expects 7,000 people to take part. Interim results on the efficacy of Sputnik Light can be expected in June. Moscow has said its two-dose Sputnik V vaccine will remain the main version used in Russia. President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that 4.3 million Russians had received both shots of the vaccine and that he would get vaccinated on Tuesday. (Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Bernadette Baum) A majority of the chief executives (over three-fourths of the total respondents) in India are willing to wait to see that at last half the population is vaccinated before opening their offices to the pre-pandemic levels, while only 45 per cent of their global peers will do so, according to a survey. The survey, among the top-500 chief executives, by global consultancy KPMG said global executives do not expect to see a return to the normal course of business until sometime in 2022, as opposed to nearly one-third (31 percent) who anticipate this will happen later this year. While 45 per cent of CEOs globally will wait for over 50 per cent of population to get vaccinated before returning to the office, as much as 76 per cent here want to do so before opening up, according to the survey. The survey also said these CEOs are planning what the new reality will look like after the pandemic. Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of them admit that their business model has been changed forever by the pandemic. While nine of the 10 CEOs globally intend to ask their employees to report when they are to allow them back to work, the number is nearly total in the country with 94 per cent CEOs intend to do so. Globally, 76 per cent of CEOs see government encouraging businesses to return to normal, the number is 86 per cent in the country. However, globally CEOs are unlikely to downsize physical footprint compared to six months ago, as only 17 per cent of them are looking to downsize their offices as a result of the pandemic as opposed to 22 per cent in the country. In contrast, 69 per cent had August 2020 said they are planning to reduce their office space over three years, demonstrating that either office downsizings have taken place or, as the pandemic has drawn on, strategies have changed. This number stood at 48 per cent in the country in 2020. Significantly, most executives are apprehensive about a fully remote workforce as only 30 per cent of global executives (compared to 32 per cent in India) are considering a hybrid model of working, wherein most employees work remotely for two-three days a week. As a result, only 21 per cent of businesses globally are looking to hire talent that works predominantly remotely as 22 per cent here. With increased threat on data security, global business leaders have identified cybersecurity as the top concern impacting their growth and operations over a three-year period. A majority (55 per cent) are concerned about employees' access to the vaccine, which is influencing their outlook of when employees will return to the workplace. Ninety per cent of them are planning to ask employees to report when they are vaccinated before allowing them to return to workplace. The study, conducted in late-January and early-March among 500 global CEOs from 11 major countries (Australia, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Spain and the US), sought their response to the pandemic, and the outlook over a three-year horizon. (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 Delhi court Tuesday upheld an order sentencing AAP MLA to two years in jail for assaulting the AIIMS security staff in a case registered in 2016. After the pronouncement of the order, Bharti was taken into custody, a lawyer said. A magistrate court had in January sentenced him to two years in jail. Special Judge Vikas Dhull partly dismissed Bharti's appeal and convicted him for the offences under sections 147 (rioting) read with 149 (unlawful assembly) of IPC and under section 3 (mischief causing damage to public property) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The court, however, set aside his conviction under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) read with section 149 of IPC. In January, Bharti was granted bail to enable him to file an appeal before the high court against his conviction in the case and jail term. According to the prosecution, on September 9, 2016, Bharti, along with nearly 300 others, brought down the fence of a boundary wall at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here with a JCB operator. The case was lodged on the basis of a complaint from R S Rawat, Chief Security Officer, AIIMS. (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.) NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 AKRON, Ohio, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Power Systems Institute (PSI), a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) award-winning program to train the next generation of dedicated line and substation workers, is awarding up to 50 scholarships in 2021 to underrepresented candidates who reside in the company's service area in support of the company's diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts. The scholarships are the first offered under the FirstEnergy PSI Equal Access Scholarship Program, a D&I initiative encouraging men and women from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds to pursue learning a skilled craft in the PSI program. The FirstEnergy PSI Equal Access Scholarship Program provides assistance with living expenses to students attending the 21-month PSI program. The scholarship is offered to diverse students who traditionally have been underrepresented in the skilled craft trades, including Black or African American, Native American or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, people of two or more races; Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and female candidates. This year, up to 50 scholarships are being awarded across FirstEnergy's 10 operating companies. A diverse panel will review 2021 PSI program applications and determine recipients. The $1,000 per month scholarship, not to exceed $21,000 over the duration of the program, will be distributed quarterly to students who remain active in PSI. The scholarship can be used to offset housing, transportation and other living expenses during participation in the PSI program. Scholarship applications for the 2022 program year will become available to candidates this fall. "FirstEnergy understands and supports the value of PSI students from diverse cultures and various ethnic backgrounds," said Dave Karafa, Vice President of Distribution Support for FirstEnergy. "FirstEnergy is committed to, and benefits from, the full and equitable participation of a diverse community. The program's mission is to provide these students with the opportunity to attain their professional goals while advancing the utility industry." FirstEnergy originally introduced PSI in 2000 to help replace retiring line and substation workers. The PSI program combines classroom learning with hands-on training. Programs were established with colleges throughout the company's six-state service area. Program openings are limited, and applicants will be assessed through a competitive, multi-step process. For qualified students, FirstEnergy pays tuition, required books and lab fees. Graduates of the program receive an Associate of Technical Studies degree with a focus on electric utility technology. For more information, please call 1-800-829-6801 or visit www.firstenergycorp.com/psi. FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,500 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com. Follow FirstEnergy and its utilities on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp, @ToledoEdison, @IlluminatingCo, @OhioEdison, @MonPowerWV, @JCP_L, @Penn_Power, @Penelec, @Met_Ed, @PotomacEdison, @W_Penn_Power. SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp. Related Links http://www.firstenergycorp.com Although Thyra DeCicco has been a real estate broker since 2002, she only recently decided to open her very own real estate brokerage firm right here in Chattanooga. Ms. DeCicco said she feels the real estate industry needs to be more flexible. Its time to move beyond the fixed 6 percent commission structure mandated by corporate firms and offer more flexible customized listing options to meet the unique needs of each seller, said Ms. DeCicco. For decades property owners have had two basic choices when selling their property: List at a 6 percent commission or try to sell as a For Sale By Owner. In slower real estate markets and/or buyers markets, when real estate agents are investing significant amounts of money in staging, marketing and advertising, a higher commission structure makes sense. But when demand for homes has skyrocketed and owners are receiving multiple offers within hours, is the high listing expense really necessary, asks Ms. DeCicco. Located in Chattanooga, Love Where You Live Realty allows sellers to pick the services theyd like to receive just as they would pick items on a restaurant menu. The additional real estate services are purchased A La Carte. The base listing fee is $495. That includes: 1) comparable properties for pricing 2) state required listing forms 3) listing the property on the Chattanooga Multiple Listing Service and 4) presentation of offer (s) to the seller. The seller can then pick from a variety of additional options including: yard signs, professional photo packages, electronic lock boxes, open house hosting and 3D tours. The total cost is below what a seller would pay a traditional real estate agent to list their home, said Ms. DeCicco. The seller schedules the showings and ultimately manages the sale of the property through the closing. With pent up 2020 demand and low mortgage rates continuing to drive up home sale activity, this is a great way for sellers to save thousands of dollars on these quick sales," said Ms. DeCicco. "I do, however, recommend that the seller offers the traditional buyers agent commission to any real estate agent who brings a qualified buyer to the home and ultimately closes on the purchase of the home. I also strongly recommend professional photos to accompany your listing. With 90+ percent of buyers searching online for homes before ever entering a property, professional photos are a critical part of successfully marketing and selling a home. Ms. DeCicco offers sellers a full listing service package for 4 percent versus the 6 percent commission rate implemented across most of the Chattanooga area. Youll still save thousands of dollars in commission and wont have to manage the showings or sale yourself. "Its time to revolutionize the real estate industry, said Ms. DeCicco. "Its time we become more flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of our clients and ever-changing market conditions. When homes are receiving multiple offers in a short amount of time, I love being able to offer my clients cost-effective options. Ms. DeCicco has been a licensed real estate broker for 19 years beginning her career in Chicago and successfully selling in Illinois for 15 years prior to relocating to Chattanooga. She has an Undergraduate Degree in Business from the University of Illinois and an MBA from DePaul University. Prior to launching her real estate business, Ms. DeCicco was a vice president at an advertising agency where she specialized in client service, media/strategic planning and negotiation for Fortune 100 companies. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Russias coronavirus situation has been steadily improving since December 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said in an interview with YouTube host Anton Krasovsky. "We currently see no reason to introduce lockdowns because the situation has been improving since December," she pointed out. "The number of daily cases is steadily declining but we see the March situation clearly and dont rule out that it will grow," TASS cited her as saying. According to the deputy prime minister, the current sharp rise in infections in European countries stems from lockdowns. "People were locked in their homes, they rarely went outside and did not encounter the virus," Golikova noted. SUNNYVALE, Calif. and ROSWELL, Ga., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CellMax Life, a molecular diagnostics company with proprietary technology for pre-cancer and cancer detection blood tests, and Sebela Pharmaceuticals, a market leader in gastroenterology, announce the closing of a strategic development and commercial collaboration agreement, as well as CellMax's Series C financing. Participation in the financing also includes a strategic investment from new investor, Aflac Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL), and existing investor, ArtimanVentures. "Strategic financing from market leaders, Sebela and Aflac Ventures, is a testament to CellMax's technology and vision," said Atul Sharan, chief executive officer, CellMax Life. "Sebela has a leading market position in the gastroenterology field in the United States. The financing will bring to life our vision of detecting colon cancer before it occurs through a globally marketed blood test that can detect pre-cancerous polyps." The Series C financing will be used to accelerate the clinical development of CellMax's multimodal liquid biopsy test, FirstSight, for the detection of colorectal cancer and pre-cancerous polyps, also known as advanced adenomas. CellMax recently initiated a multicenter U.S. study to further optimize its proprietary algorithm and cell capture techniques. CellMax and Sebela will collaborate on completing the development of FirstSight and, following approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Sebela will commercialize the test in the United States. "For the last several years, we have closely followed the industry's development of colorectal cancer liquid biopsies," said Alan Cooke, chief executive officer, Sebela Pharmaceuticals. "Sebela and our subsidiary, Braintree, have worked with gastroenterologists for over 35 years, and we expect FirstSight to play a central role in the future of colorectal cancer screening. FirstSight may not only enable the U.S. to exceed its 80% screening rate target, as set by the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, but can also help detect pre-cancerous adenomas early, referring patients to colonoscopy for preemptive removal." This partnership complements Sebela's portfolio of market-leading gastroenterology and colonoscopy preparation products, which are utilized to facilitate colonoscopies, the "gold standard" for the prevention and detection of colorectal cancer. Colonoscopies remain the only means of removing detected pre-cancerous lesions to prevent colorectal cancer. At the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium, Dr. Shai Friedland, professor of medicine at Stanford University Medical Center and chief of gastroenterology at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, presented results from a prospective study performed on 458 subjects utilizing FirstSight, a multimodal assay comprised of circulating dysplastic epithelial cells and circulating tumor DNA mutation markers, in combination with a proprietary algorithm. "A test that detects only colorectal cancer, and not adenomas, will result in missed opportunities to prevent cancer and subject patients to invasive cancer treatments," said Dr. Friedland. "Today, there is not a single non-invasive screening test that can accurately detect pre-cancerous polyps even nearly as effective as a colonoscopy. Our study data with the FirstSight blood test continues to show consistent ability to detect advanced adenomas with high sensitivity, enabling removal before they progress to carcinomas." In clinical studies performed in the U.S. and Taiwan, FirstSight has demonstrated strong performance in detecting both advanced adenomas and colorectal cancer. FirstSight has also shown the ability to detect recurrent neoplasia following polypectomy. i-v Colorectal cancer represents the second deadliest cancer in the U.S., despite being one of the most preventable.vi Additionally, screening adherence rates have fallen short of the 80% target, as only 68.8% of adults aged 50 to 75 years, and only 63.3% of adults aged 50 to 64 years, were up to date with colorectal cancer screening as of 2018.vii About CellMax Life CellMax Life is a diagnostics company focused on cancer screening with proprietary technology for detecting precancerous and cancer cells and genomic aberrations in a single blood sample. CellMax Life is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, and has a CLIA certified and CAP accredited laboratory at this location. For more information, visit http://www.cellmaxlife.com. About Sebela Pharmaceuticals Sebela Pharmaceuticals is a growth-oriented pharmaceutical company focused in gastroenterology, colorectal cancer detection and prevention. Braintree, a part of Sebela Pharmaceuticals, is a pioneer in colonoscopy screening with a broad marketed portfolio of innovative prescription colonoscopy preparations and gastroenterology products. Braintree has multiple clinical development programs including, in collaboration with Cellmax Life, a multimodal liquid biopsy test, FirstSight, for the detection of colorectal cancer and pre-cancerous polyps. Sebela's core therapeutic areas also include women's health and dermatology. In women's health, Sebela has two next generation intra-uterine devices (IUDs) for contraception in late-stage clinical development. Sebela Pharmaceuticals has offices in Roswell, GA; Braintree, MA; and Dublin, Ireland; has annual net sales of $200-250 million; and has grown to over 300 employees through strategic acquisitions and organic growth. Please visit sebelapharma.com for more information. About Aflac Incorporated Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) is a Fortune 500 company helping provide protection to more than 50 million people through its subsidiaries in Japan and the U.S., where it is a leading supplemental insurer by paying cash fast when policyholders get sick or injured. For more than six decades, insurance policies of Aflac Incorporated's subsidiaries have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of medical and cancer insurance in Japan where it insures 1 in 4 households. For 15 consecutive years, Aflac Incorporated has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. In 2021, Fortune included Aflac Incorporated on its list of World's Most Admired Companies for the 20th time, and Bloomberg added Aflac Incorporated to its Gender-Equality Index, which tracks the financial performance of public companies committed to supporting gender equality through policy development, representation and transparency, for the second consecutive year. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn't cover, get to know us at aflac.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release and any statements made for and during any presentation or meeting contain forward-looking statements related to Sebela Pharmaceuticals under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "planned," "believe," "forecast," "estimated," "expected," and "intend," among others. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the development, launch, introduction and commercial potential of FirstSight; growth and opportunity, including peak sales and the potential demand for FirstSight, as well as its potential impact on applicable markets; market size; substantial competition; our ability to continue as a growing concern; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; uncertainties of government or third-party payer reimbursement; dependence upon third parties; our financial performance and results, including the risk that we are unable to manage our operating expenses or cash use for operations, or are unable to commercialize our products, within the guided ranges or otherwise as expected; and risks related to failure to obtain FDA and/or CMS clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations. As with any diagnostic under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of new products. There are no guarantees that future clinical trials discussed in this press release will be completed or successful or that any product will receive regulatory approval for any indication or prove to be commercially successful. While the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date hereof, and Sebela Pharmaceuticals does not undertake any obligation to update publicly such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances except as required by law. i Friedland, S., et al. (2021). Development and clinical validation of a blood test for early detection of colorectal adenomas and cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 39(3), 50-50. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2021.39.3_suppl.50 ii Friedland, S., et al. (2020). A sensitive and quantitative multimodal blood test for the detection of colorectal adenomas and cancer: Correlation with size and number of polyps. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 38(15). 1555-1555. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.1555 iii Tsai, WS., et al. (2019). Novel Circulating Tumor Cell Assay for Detection of Colorectal Adenomas and Cancer. Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology, 10(10). DOI: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000088 iv Tsai, WS., et al. (2019). Circulating tumor cell count from a blood sample for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention: A 627-patient prospective study. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 37(4). 485-485. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2019.37.4_suppl.485 v Tsai, WS., et al. (2018). Prospective clinical study of circulating tumor cells for colorectal cancer screening. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 36(4). 556-556. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2018.36.4_suppl.556 vi American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. (n.d.). What is Colorectal Cancer? asge.org/screenforcoloncancer/what-is-colorectal-cancer vii Joseph DA, King JB, Dowling NF, Thomas CC, Richardson LC. Vital Signs: Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Use United States, 2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:253259. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6910a1. SOURCE Sebela Pharmaceuticals; CellMax Life Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at a conference in Can Tho in March 2021. Photo by Vietnam Government Portal. The upcoming parliament meeting will see, for the first time, a sitting prime minister nominated for the state president position. At the next National Assembly session, scheduled to last 12 days starting Wednesday, Vietnam's parliament will cast votes for 25 leading positions, including NA chairperson, state president and prime minister three of the four political pillars of the nation, the other being the Party General Secretary, which is being held by Nguyen Phu Trong for the third term as decided by the 13th Communist Party Central Committee last January. As of now, it has been confirmed that Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, 66, will be introduced as a presidential candidate, Nguyen Hanh Phuc, the NA General Secretary, told the media Tuesday. He did not reveal further information about candidates for other positions. The state president is the country's top representative in both internal and external affairs; and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Party chief Trong has held this position since 2018 after his predecessor Tran Dai Quang died of illness. Asked how many candidates will be introduced for each of the main positions, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Deputy Head of Delegate Affairs under the NA Standing Committee, said at the press meet that for the positions of President, NA chairman, and PM, the Party will go through a list of candidates, but did not elaborate. "Until today, no one has ever run for those positions themselves," he said. As scheduled, the NA would cast its secret ballot to dismiss incumbent National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on March 30. A day later, the new legislature leader would be sworn in following the election. On April 1, the NA would cast a secret ballot to allow incumbent State President Nguyen Phu Trong to step down. The committee would then submit the list of nominees for election to the NA. On April 2, the new head of state will take the oath of office. The same day, the NA would hold a secret ballot to allow incumbent Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to vacate his position. The newly-elected president would then submit the list of nominees for prime minister to the parliamentary body. The new PM is expected to be sworn in on April 5. For the upcoming session, the NA will spend 4.5 days discussing what has been done and what should be fixed during the 2016-2021 term and seven days on voting personnels for the new term. Who are you voting for? Do you require masks? Such loaded questions incited more than informed this past year. A friend and I commiserated over leading our churches through a contentious political season and a global pandemic, two realities rough enough on their own, but combined, they enflamed intense division and uncertainty in our congregations. We smirked at the sense of having been involuntarily cast into an apocalyptic film where the sky inexplicably remained grey as humans turned on one another. We pastors simply did our best to survive. Apocalypse wasnt so far from our experience. A little over a year into a deadly pandemic thats killed over 2.5 million people, we find ourselves under the oppression of COVID-19 even as vaccinations proliferate. Our church, like many others, runs the gamut regarding whether to wear masks, when to attend church in person, and even the veracity of the illness itself. Most of our church members self-isolate despite in-person options for worship. Some do so because they, or someone they live with, has an underlying health condition that makes COVID-19 more dangerous. Some are angry and stay away because we follow state COVID-19 guidelines; to them the illness shouldnt cause so much concern. We are finding more arent returning because theyve become comfortable with the convenience of watching online services. Worryingly, attendance for online worship has significantly decreased without much increase to our limited in-person services. We wonder: Are people still connected with us? Weve navigated the fluctuating anger of politics before, but the habit of not attending church, alongside the newfound comfort of at-home worship, is proving more difficult to overcome. We wonder: Are people still connected with us? Church attendance waned even before the pandemic. A Barna 2020 State of the Church report released in February before restrictions began revealed fewer people dedicated to only one church and many Americans divided on the churchs value, relevance, or effectiveness in their communities. Another Barna study in July of 2020 found 32 percent of practicing Christians stopped attending church altogether, either online or in person. Barna predicts 1 in 5 churches may not survive 2021. For pastors, the global pandemic has become a biblical wilderness. As with the desert-wandering Israelites in Exodus, we have responded with grumbling, contending, and questioning the Lord. For me, the pandemic wilderness has brought discouragement too. Scripture provides numerous pictures of wilderness strugglefrom Moses to Jesusbut for me, my path has been best depicted by David in 1 Samuel 2123. David flees to the Judean wilderness to escape a homicidal and unrelenting King Saul. David had done nothing to earn Sauls ire. That the Lord prospered David stoked Sauls paranoia, and Saul determined to take Davids life. Bewildered, David escaped to the wilderness out of sheer survival. He could not seek refuge in the surrounding villages for fear of people revealing his location to Saul. David also knew he brought danger to any who helped him. Even Jonathan, Davids close friend and Sauls own son, risked his fathers rage. Davids wilderness experience did not lead to the complaining. By contrast, Davids wilderness experience did not lead to the complaining and contention of his forebears, but to worshiping God as his refuge. In Psalm 63, David sang in the wilderness, My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water, (v. 1, NASB95 throughout). Despite the danger, David found consolation, Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You, (v. 3). David trusted the Lord would defend him. He sang, those who seek my life to destroy it, will go into the depths of the earth (v. 9). Not that Davids desert experience was a joy ride. Psalm 64 displays David's fear and frustration. Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy (v. 1). No matter the constant threat of death from men who laid secret snares for him, David proclaimed the Lord as one who fought on his behalf: God will shoot them with an arrow; suddenly they will be wounded (v. 7). David knew evil intentions would not prosper over Gods promises; the wilderness provided redemption. Psalm 65 shows what redemption looks like: The pastures of the wilderness drip, and the hills gird themselves with rejoicing. They shout for joy, yes, they sing (vv. 1213). David found joy in the midst of uncertainty. He didnt know how long he would be desolate, or the nature of his rescue, but David did know God is faithful and would deliver him. Reliance on the Lord kept David moving in a forward direction, keeping him from fear when danger was ever-present. The wilderness works in the Bible as both reality and metaphor. Physically, the wilderness as a desert lacks the capacity to nourish and is devoid of civilization. Symbolically, the wilderness signifies uncertainty and elicits struggle and despair. Throughout the Exodus, a wilderness cycle of wandering, grumbling, and miracle occurred. The wilderness tests us and removes us from the comfortable that we might witness the Lord as our help in troubling times. Lent traditionally ties to Christs wilderness experience, demanding our perseverance, obedience, and spiritual discipline. We practice trust in Gods faithfulness through personal sacrifice and prayer. In the Lenten wilderness, we learn to trust in the Lord alone, disciplining ourselves with our bodies in pursuit of greater peace and communion with Christ. Lent brings a rawness to our relationship with the Lord as it invites us to face God honestly, relying on little outside of Christ for strength. Gods goodness compels us toward exuberance in him rather than wallowing in the misery of this pandemic. There is much to discourage pastors in our COVID-19 wilderness, but as with David, joy can be our prize. Gods goodness compels us toward exuberance in him rather than wallowing in the misery of this pandemic and worry over waning church attendance. We complain, as did David, but instead of becoming demoralized or dispirited, we can be invigorated in anticipation of what the Lord promises us and his church. We are a part of what God is doing in our towns and cities. We can embrace joy because the Lord is at work. Recall testimonies and times of the Lords past faithfulness. How did God use your church to impact your community? Anticipate him doing those same wonders again. With our worship, we affirm God is the one who fights our COVID-19 battles and will preserve us. Our stress is not Gods stress. Once vaccinations propagate and the world returns to some sense of normalcy, we may not see a return to worship services as we knew them. We will have to work to regather our congregations by shaking them from their comfort and new learned habits. The COVID-19 wilderness has shown pastors we must disciple and evangelize better. We must call our congregation home, and we must also reach out to all those hurting people in our communities who dont know Gods love. Like David, we can grow and mature in the wilderness if we live in the Lord's promise. The church will prosper and exit this wilderness stronger than before, tied only to the one who gave himself up for us. Steve Dragswolf is discipleship pastor at New Life City, Albuquerque, New Mexico. [March 23, 2021] DMI and Art Basel implement further digital solutions to support galleries and their artists through Online Viewing Rooms BETHESDA, Md., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- One year after DMI helped Art Basel launch a digital platform in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global digital transformation company is working with the international art fair to kick off its 2021 season. On March 2427, 2021, Art Basel will host a live Online Viewing Room (OVR), "OVR: Pioneers," which is dedicated to artists breaking new groundwhether it be aesthetically, conceptually or socio-politically. DMI was proud to partner with Art Basel to create Online Viewing Rooms. When Art Basel launched its first Online Viewing Rooms last spring, the virtual platform allowed Art Basel to continue albeit online its premier art shows for Modern and contemporary art, connecting collectors with galleries and their artists. The Online Viewing Rooms also increased traffic to the Art Basel website, resulting in 2 million website visits and nearly a 200% increase on page views compared to the previous year. "For the art community, the loss of the live events didn't just take away the human experience, but it also affected a key sales channel for galleries," said Allison Mataya, DMI Executive Director, Experience Group. "DMI was proud to partner with Art Basel to create Online Viewing Rooms and bring an alternative solution that positively impacted galleries and provided artists wth the opportunity to share their works of art." The Online Viewing Rooms created a new digital experience bringing the artworld when live events are not yet able to happen. It connects collectors with the galleries and artists by providing a digital platform to showcase works of art online. Collectors can browse thousands of works with the ability to search by galleries, artists, medium, sector and year. Participants can directly contact the gallery with any sales inquiries. Since the launch of the Online Viewing Rooms in 2020, DMI and Art Basel have worked closely with the galleries to obtain feedback from participants. OVR users' comments led DMI to add enhancements, including more enhanced filters and the ability for participants to save collections. DMI and Art Basel will continue to converge and develop the virtual and physical environments in the upcoming year to bring the art community together, offer a safe way for collectors to experience the event from their homes and further explore their passion for art. Additional details on the Art Basel Online Viewing Rooms can be found at https://www.artbasel.com/ovr. Visit www.dminc.com for more information on DMI's digital solutions and support. About DMI DMI is a global technology solutions company that specializes in digital strategy, design, transformation and support. Utilizing expertise from six unique DMI Groups, in the areas of AI & Analytics, Commerce, Experience, Managed Services, Transformation, and Government, DMI delivers intelligent digital transformation solutions that meet organizations where they are. Born digital, DMI has been delivering mission-critical, enterprise grade solutions since 2002 for more than a hundred Fortune 1,000 enterprises and all fifteen U.S. Federal Departments. DMI has grown to 2,500+ employees globally and has been continually recognized by top industry analysts as market leader as well as a Top Place to Work by the Washington Post. www.DMInc.com About Art Basel Founded in 1970 by gallerists from Basel, Art Basel today stages the world's premier art shows for Modern and contemporary art, sited in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong. Defined by its host city and region, each show is unique, which is reflected in its participating galleries, artworks presented, and the content of parallel programming produced in collaboration with local institutions for each edition. Art Basel's engagement has expanded beyond art fairs through new digital platforms and a number of new initiatives such as The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report and The BMW Art Journey. For further information, please visit artbasel.com. Media Contact: Lara Plathe 515-453-2042 lplathe@strategicamerica.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dmi-and-art-basel-implement-further-digital-solutions-to-support-galleries-and-their-artists-through-online-viewing-rooms-301254130.html SOURCE DMI [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] While receiving Vietnamese Ambassador Phan Chi Thanh in Bangkok on March 22, the PM, who is also Defence Minister, congratulated Vietnam on its socio-economic development and COVID-19 combat achievements. He praised the close bilateral relationship during the past 45 years since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1976, saying it is now a strategic partnership. He urged both countries to soon implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the fourth Joint Cabinet Retreat (JCR) and sign the Action Programme to realise the Vietnam-Thailand Strategic Partnership for the 2021-2025 period. In the economic field, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Vietnam and Thailand see much room for cooperation and mutual support in increasing value of their agricultural products as well as participating in the regional value chain. He asked Vietnam to back Thailand in fulfilling its role as APEC Chair in 2022 as well as its strategy on the bio, circular and green (BCG) economy. For his part, Ambassador Thanh stressed that Vietnam always creates favourable conditions for Thai investors to do business in the country. He also affirmed that he would coordinate with Thai agencies, ministries and sectors to further deepen the Vietnam-Thailand Strategic Partnership. The diplomat shared a plan to organise activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and proposed the two sides promote policy exchanges to facilitate entry-exit and travel between the two countries, including studying the possibility of using "vaccine passport". 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. Wales' sheep farming industry could decline within the next ten years and be replaced with widespread tree planting initiatives due to the effect of Brexit on the sector, a new study suggests. Researchers from the University of Reading have modelled how the UK leaving the EU would affect economic conditions for sheep farmers, and the resulting changes in land use. Looking at five potential scenarios, they concluded that there could be between 35,000 and 313,000 hectares of additional broadleaf forest cover in Wales by 2030 and a similar boost to conifer forests. The modelled scenario most resembling the current situation is based on the signature of UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU, and would lead to a 20% increase in broadleaf forest and 18% increase in coniferous forest, equivalent to around 85m more trees. The increase would be largely due to the reduction of land being used for sheep grazing, the researchers suggested. This, combined with an increased activity in commercial forestry due to a proposed adoption of a form of Environmental Land Management payment scheme in place of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The research, published in the journal Land, analysed past trends of land use change and made assumptions about the effect of trade conditions and proposed Environmental Land Management schemes. Professor Martin Lukac from the University of Readings School of Agriculture, said the impact of Brexit would be 'felt for years to come'. What is clear is that the Welsh countryside will change over the next ten years due to Brexit, and that will have both positive and negative effects for different actors. "On the one side, our most conservative models suggest that we could see around 85m more trees in Wales through a combination of planted coniferous forest and natural regeneration of broadleaf woodlands. "The benefits that this will have for our natural environment would be significant for carbon sequestering and for biodiversity of woodland habitats." However, he warned that the net gain of millions of trees would be at the cost to the Welsh sheep farming industry. "[It] could suffer due to additional export friction with the EU and increasing competition from other export markets such as Australia and New Zealand as the UK pursues free trade. Of course, these are just models. Political decisions will make significant differences to how the Welsh countryside will look in 2030, but its safe to say that whatever does happen, the landscape and the rural economy of Wales will change. Five possible scenarios following Brexit were considered, and in each scenario, the research team considered how new regulations would affect grants and subsidies available as well as the trade environment for Welsh farmers. The study was conducted prior to the UK reaching a free trade agreement with the EU and modelled the possible outcomes if the UK reverted to other trading rules. Following a Business as Usual model in which Basic Payment Scheme subsidies from CAP support are replaced like-for-like, there would still likely be a 20% increase in forest cover in Wales, equating to 200 extra hectares of trees. At the other end of the scale, the team modelled the possibility of an extreme free trade approach, which would lead to a significant impact on domestic beef and sheep prices making many farms financially unviable. In this extreme case, the effect on land use would be dramatic with a potential increase in coniferous and broadleaf forests of around 200,000 ha and 313,000 ha respectively, resulting in more than half a billion more trees. Soroptimist St. Helena honored two St. Helena High School students for their community service. The clubs Violet Richardson Award was split between Nevaeh Sanchez and Daphne Steele. Sanchez volunteers at the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Helena and Calistoga, which she has attended since second grade. Her favorite place to volunteer is at the front desk because she greets all the younger members. She is active at special events such as their yearly Olympic Day For Kids. Her goal is to continue to provide support and stand out as a role model for the younger teens and children at the club. Steele volunteers at Grace Episcopal Church and is currently chair of their Adopt-a-Family program. She is the first teen to take on that leadership role. Steele also serves as the liaison to the nonprofit partner agency UpValley Family Centers. Her focus in 2020 was helping Glass Fire victims with emergency financial support for local families. Her goal is to continue to identify and address needs throughout the community even when there are no pandemics or wildfires. Both volunteers, as well as their organizations, will receive a donation from Soroptimist. Students stand at attention as the national flag is raised at St. Joseph Catholic School in La Puente, Calif., on Nov. 16, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) New Project Presses for Pro-American Educational Reforms A new project called The Civics Alliance aspires to unite Americans in the effort to promote authentic civics education that teaches the United States founding principles and documents, key events of American history, the structure of our self-governing federal republic, and the spirit of liberty and tolerance. The National Association of Scholars-sponsored project comes after President Joe Biden rescinded President Donald Trumps executive order banning the Marxist-invented critical race theory in federal training, and disbanded Trumps 1776 Commission that sought to move American education away from a radical curriculum that unduly emphasized race-related injustices of the past. NAS describes itself as a network of scholars and citizens united by a commitment to academic freedom, disinterested scholarship, and excellence in American higher education. The project is in part a response to the proposed Civics Secures Democracy Act, a radical piece of legislation that was introduced in Congress earlier this month. That measure would have overwhelmingly left-leaning education bureaucrats handing out $1 billion in federal grants for K-12 curriculum development, teacher training, and research on the teaching of history and civics in K-12. Some of the money will encourage and support student political activism. The problem, according to Ethics and Public Policy Center senior fellow Stanley Kurtz, is that the money will promote so-called woke education, including critical race theory and action civics, in the nations classrooms, merging the culture war [and] K12 education-policy disputes to a degree never before seen. The new legislation is a backdoor effort to impose a de facto national curriculum in the politically charged subject areas of history and civics, Kurtz writes in National Review. This civics education is part of a broader ideological assault on the American republic, David Randall, NAS director of research, told The Epoch Times in an interview. Action civics really has to be removed from the curriculum. It shouldnt even be an option, he said. Action civics refers to K-12 and college students being required to protest and lobby for political causes for course credit. You are supposed to be learning affection for the republic were a part of. The republic cannot continue if nobody loves it, Randall said. There has to be freedom for people to make up their own minds and not have the answers spoon-fed to them, which is what action civics does. You have to end up being a radical environmentalist with all of the radical environmental agenda. This new alliance is a necessary step to ensure that the teaching of our Nations civics and history accords with the principles of its founding and the reality of that history, NAS President Peter W. Wood said in a separate statement. Progressive action civics, while encouraging our students to become activists, fails to promote a full understanding of civics. It fails to teach the responsibilities of citizenship, how our federal republic operates, and the Founders reasoning behind Americas balance of powers, Bill of Rights, or encouragement of public education, Wood said. NAS says it hopes to return civics education to a traditional curriculum, so that Americas students will learn about the nature of their republic and be prepared to fulfill their civic duty by ensuring that it continues to preserve the liberties and rights spelled out in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Civics Alliance brings together education reformers, policymakers, and concerned citizens focused on preserving traditional civics education against the threat of the leftist New Civics. Some of the original signatories to the Alliances Open Letter and Curriculum Statement are Robert Woodson, founder and president of the Woodson Center and 1776 Unites; Ryan Williams, president of the Claremont Institute; Wilfred McClay, professor of the history of liberty at the University of Oklahoma; Roger Kimball, editor and publisher of The New Criterion; and Glenn Loury, professor of social sciences at Brown University. Other signatories include Katherine Gorka of the Heritage Foundation; Sam Karnick of the Heartland Institute; Terry Stoops of the John Locke Foundation; Ryan Williams, president of the Claremont Institute; John Hinderaker, president of Minnesotas Center for the American Experiment; and Tom Lindsay of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Kurtz describes the new Alliance as much-needed pushback against action civics. Working in partnership with NAS, a nonprofit called American Achievement Testing (AAT) accepted a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to design instructional materials for kindergarten through 12th-grade U.S. history courses, as The Epoch Times reported in September 2020. NAS will review mainstream history textbooks. Graduate student workers at New York University (NYU) will begin voting today on whether to authorize a strike to fight for improved wages and health care, expanded family and child care benefits and other demands. The threat of strike action at NYU comes as over 3,000 graduate students at Columbia University begin the second week of a walkout against their administrations resistance to similar demands. Striking Columbia grad student workers (WSWS) Graduate workers at both schools are members of unions affiliated to the United Auto Workers (UAW). Rather than uniting the struggles, however, the UAW is doing everything to isolate each section of grad students and subordinate their fight to the unions maneuvers with university executives and the Democratic Party. This was made clear by the comments of Maida Rosenstein, president of UAW Local 2110an amalgamated union that has repeatedly negotiated concessionary contracts for workers throughout New York City. Speaking at a Graduate Student Organizing Committee (GSOC) meeting at NYU last week, she explicitly argued against the proposal to coordinate the strikes by NYU students and Columbia students. Rosenstein told student workers they should not be influenced by 'outside factors in their decision to call a strike. In what was likely a slip of the tongue, Rosenstein told the GSOC meeting that the Columbia University (CU) strike was, 'I believe, only timed for two weeks.' In fact, the CU strikers never set any end date to their struggle. The functionaries in the UAW, however, plan to run roughshod over the democratic rights of grad students and try to shut down the CU strike even before NYU GSOC concludes its strike vote. This is because an overwhelming strike vote by NYU grad students would bolster the confidence and determination of CU grad students to hold out until they win their demands. This is not the first time the UAW has shown its real colors at CU and NYU. In 2018, UAW negotiated a secret deal with the Columbia University administration, unbeknownst to the members of the Graduate Workers of Columbia University (GWC-UAW) union, to block any strike action. The three-day sick out in early May of last year, organized by the graduate students at NYU, was actively condemned by the UAW. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) strongly supports the courageous stand taken by striking Columbia graduate students and urges NYU graduate students to vote to authorize strike action. We urge student workers to reject the UAWs sabotage and link up their struggles in a coordinated strike aimed at mobilizing the broadest support in the working class to win their common demands. The IYSSE urges CU and NYU grad students to form a joint rank-and-file strike committee independently of the UAW to coordinate this fight and appeal to the working class throughout the city to support this critical battle. This committee should issue appeals to transit workers, public school educators and other sections of workers to form their own committees and organize mass demonstrations, joint strikes and other actions to defend the working class against the corporate and political establishments criminal response to the pandemic and the bipartisan program of austerity and state repression. Since July of last year, GSOC-UAW, which has over 2,000 graduate workers as members at NYU, has been involved in contract negotiations with the university administration. The previous contract, negotiated by GSOC and the university in 2015, expired on August 31 of last year. For over nine months, GSOC has repeatedly extended the 2015 contract, which includes a no-strike clause. Meanwhile, just like at Columbia, the university has done nothing but stonewall graduate workers demands for a living wage, higher stipends, financial compensation for hardships that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, proper health care coverage, and expanded family and child care benefits. The graduate students have also called for the protection of international and immigrant workers, and for NYU to cut its ties with the New York Police Department (NYPD). In response, NYU, a school that rakes in hundreds of millions of dollars annually from undergraduate tuition alone and has an endowment of over $4 billion, is only offering a measly $1 raise. Instead of making $1,600 per month, under NYUs proposed raise, graduate workers would be taking home $1,680 at the end of each month, continuing to receive poverty wages in one of the most expensive cities in the world. NYU embodies the subordination of academia to private profit and the interests of the corporate-financial oligarchy. For decades, the university has exhibited complete disregard for the well-being of students, staff and faculty, carrying out vicious attacks on workers, subordinating student mental health and food insecurity to profit interests and repeatedly demonstrating utter contempt for the most basic democratic rights. The universitys decision to hold in-person classes and work amidst the raging COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed over 30,000 people and infected 794,000 more in New York City alone, was no less dictated by the interests of the millionaire administrators and collection of multimillionaires and billionaires that make up the NYU Board of Trustees. The result of the universitys pseudo-scientific safety policies, which accept the inevitability of infection and death, has been over 2,346 COVID-19 infections across NYUs New York City campuses and at least one death. Over the last two weeks, the university has reported over 230 new positive coronavirus cases. These numbers will increase significantly in the coming weeks and months as the university, New York City and the country more broadly, move to fully reopen. Workers in every country are being forced to return to unsafe workplaces to churn out the profits necessary to pay for the mountains of corporate and government debt resulting from the massive bailouts of the financial markets and corporations. Simultaneously, children are being herded back into contaminated schools to make the back-to-work drive easier for the ruling class. This has resulted in an international death toll of 2.7 million people and over 123 million cases worldwide. In the US, this herd immunity policy has been entirely bipartisan, backed by Republicans and Democrats alike. The Biden administration has proven no less ruthless in its defense of the interests of the American ruling class than its predecessor. His relentless drive to reopen schools and businesses as more lethal strains of COVID-19 spread across the globe; the mass deportation of immigrants and incarceration of immigrant children; the stoking of anti-Asian sentiment in preparation for war with China; the continued bailout of the rich; and the downplaying of the growing threat of fascism are only a few of the many examples of the administrations right-wing character. While workers die in droves and suffer mass social misery and unemployment, the wealth of the ruling class increases rapidly. These staggering levels of social inequality are incompatible with democratic forms of rule, driving the ruling class towards ever-more authoritarian measures. The issues that graduate students confront cannot be solved through isolated struggles on campuses. It is critical that grad workers, along with their student, faculty and staff allies link up and broaden their fight into a united struggle across campuses and universities. These struggles must include appeals to K-12 teachers and other education staff, who have been at the forefront of the struggle against the unsafe reopening of schools and the imposition of government austerity. CU and NYU students should join the network of independent rank-and-file committees of educators that has been set up, with the support of the Socialist Equality Party, in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Alabama. The growing resistance of the working class must be developed into a conscious political struggle for socialism against the Biden administration and the Democratic Party. We encourage all graduate workers entering into struggle to join these rank-and-file committees and the IYSSE and to arm themselves with a socialist perspective to address the urgent needs of not only academic workers but of the working class in the US and around the world. A government minister has sparked outrage by sympathising with the staffer who was sacked for performing sex acts on a female MP's desk. The Liberal staffer was sacked on Monday after footage with a group of Coalition staffers was leaked and played to the world. Assistant minister Michelle Landry described him as a 'young fellow' and a 'really good worker who loved the place'. 'I feel bad for him about this', she said. Assistant minister for Northern Australia and children and families Michelle Landry has said she 'felt bad for' the staffer who was sacked for sharing pictures of lewd acts in Parliament House This image shared by a whistleblower shows a man sitting at a desk in Parliament House exposing himself However, she did condemn his actions saying they were unacceptable. 'It's unacceptable behaviour by anyone and should not happen in workplaces like this.' Her comments were met with outrage from other MP's including Labor's Kristina Keneally who asked if she felt for the other people involved. 'How about how about feeling bad for the cleaners who had to come and clean up after that disgusting mess?' she questioned. 'How about feeling bad for the female MP whose desk was disrespected?' 'I am left without words that this is the response from Michelle Landry.' A man is pictured pointing at a female Liberal MP's Parliamentary desk in a still from a video. He goes on to commit a lewd sexual act on the desk Channel 10 aired a 'whistleblower' claiming a group of staffers would share footage of themselves committing lewd acts within Parliament House. The shocking revelations aired by Channel 10 included sex workers being brought into parliament and employees regularly having sex in the building's prayer room. It has lead to a number of MP's weighing in on the scandal. Independent MP Zali Steggall told the ABC she struggled to comprehend the act. 'Words nearly fail you to think of just how disgusting that is,' she told the ABC. 'I'm quite astounded by the psychology of this and the desire to film oneself and share.' Minister Keneally asked Minister Landry if she felt bad for those involved in the lewd acts Minister Landry called the sacked staffer a 'good worker' who 'loved the place' Finance Minister Simon Birmingham reiterated Minister Steggall's statements to Sky News. 'It's embarrassing, it's sickening, it's appalling, and it's not to be tolerated. That's the stance we are very clearly taking,' he told Sky News. Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke at a press conference today about the issue, calling it 'disgusting'. 'I am shocked and I am disgusted, it is shameful.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. 'I was completely stunned.' Footage from 40 years ago shows towns in Sydney's west ravaged by mass flooding - in the exact same area that is now seeing residents evacuating in their tens of thousands. Archived 7News footage shows Penrith and Windsor completely underwater in March, 1978 after heavy rain caused the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers to overflow. The video shows locals waiting for help sitting on the roofs of houses completely inundated by water, with others driving tinnies down main roads in the town centre. The floods sadly claimed the life of a 15-year-old boy who fell from a boat into the rapidly moving waters below. Some 40 years later the pictures are not so different, with thousands of people from the western Sydney region being forced to leave behind their homes and belongings in a once-in-a-century disaster. The Colo and Hawkesbury Rivers have caused mass flooding with rainfall between 200mm and 300mm lashing the area again on Tuesday. Archived 7News footage shows Penrith and Windsor completely underwater in March, 1978 after heavy rain caused the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers to overflow (pictured) Some 40 years later the pictures are not so different, with thousands of people from the western Sydney region being forced to leave behind their homes (pictured, Windsor on Monday) Sydney's western and north-western regions have been saturated under daily rainfalls as high as 300mm over the past week causing mass flooding and evacuations (pictured, Jamisontown on Tuesday) The 1978 floods that lashed large parts of western Sydney were the result of similar levels of rainfall as the state is currently experiencing. Between March 18 and 21 several catchment locations in western and north western Sydney recorded daily rainfalls of more than 250mm. The six-day period ending on March 24th saw the region experience over 500mm, the result of which saw the Colo, Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers to explode. Towns including Penrith, Windsor, Richmond and Pitt Town experienced significant flooding, with dozens of families having to evacuate their homes. Council flood boats and volunteers were tasked with helping residents move to safety and attempt to protecting their belongings - with the archived footage even showing firefighters dragging a horse trailer through neck-deep water. Residents can be seen retreating from rising waters sitting on top of corrugated iron roofs waving to helicopters while others drive through the centre of town on tinnies and row boats. The video also shows three boats from Wisemans Ferry washed up down the Hawkesbury River after being ripped from their moorings. The images are reminiscent of the same situation that are currently gripping New South Wales and Queensland, with a state of natural disaster declared and 10 million Australians living under some form of severe weather warning. The Nepean River has experienced a mass flooding again, some 40 years after the 1978 disaster shown in archived 7News footage (pictured on Monday) A playground in Penrith is almost completely underwater and covered in debris after the Nepean River flooded on Monday Roads around New South Wales have been closed and SES officials are urging people not to attempt to drive through dangerous zones As many as 35,000 residents of west and north western Sydney have either been evacuated or are facing evacuation after mass flooding from local rivers. The area has been saturated by between 200mm and 300m, with the rain expected to last through until Wednesday where relief is expected. The NSW State Emergency Service has responded to 9700 calls for help across the state's eastern coast and conducted 870 flood rescues. Already, 34 NSW councils have declared natural disaster zones, with the powerful storm that lashed the state's north coast and western Sydney now spreading to the Illawarra region on the south coast, where 100-200mm of rain were forecast across the region on Tuesday, peaking at 300mm in some parts. Northwest of Sydney, around 200 residents were ordered to evacuate homes immediately on Tuesday morning as major flooding occurred along the Colo River in the Hawkesbury region. 'From 8am ... you should be ready to be evacuated from your home via helicopter or boat,' the SES said. 'If you do not leave when asked to it will be too dangerous to stay and you may be trapped without power, water and other essential services by 8am.' 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. COLUMBIA A Statehouse proposal aimed at ensuring South Carolinians can keep their weapons no matter what gun-control measures the White House or Congress might take won early backing in the state Senate. The bill attempts to buffer any future federal gun restrictions by classifying all guns and bullets legally owned by South Carolinians as weaponry of the state's unorganized militia. A 2-1 vote March 23 sent the bill to the Senate's full Veterans' Services Committee. State Sen. Kevin Johnson, D-Manning, who cast the lone "no" vote, called the proposal unnecessary nonsense. The measure, sponsored by Travelers Rest Republican Sen. Tom Corbin, adds language to an obscure 1881 state law regarding South Carolina's "unorganized militia" to which all "able-bodied" citizens over age 17 automatically belong. The governor has the authority to assemble that militia in times of war, rebellion or insurrection, though that's never happened. There likely hasn't been a militia fighting in South Carolina "since Francis Marion and the swamp foxes were shooting at the British in 1781 during the American Revolution, Corbin told reporters after the hearing. Corbin sees his proposal, coming some 240 years after those swamp skirmishes, as a way of ensuring South Carolina's guns are never confiscated. It would give the state's "militia" members the right to buy and possess all types of firearms, ammunitions and their components including magazines and clips that were legal as of Dec. 30. At the end of the day, a federal government cannot disarm a state standing army, Corbin told the subcommittee. The panel's vote came a day after 10 people were gunned down at a Boulder, Colo., supermarket. In response to the shooting, President Joe Biden renewed his push for stronger gun control laws, including a ban on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons. "I don't need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common steps that will save lives in the future," Biden said at the White House. "We can close the loopholes in our background check system, including the Charleston loophole. That's one of the best tools we have right now to prevent gun violence." The so-called "Charleston loophole" came to light after the Emanuel AME Church shooting in June 2015. In 2015, Dylann Roof went to buy a gun legally from a Midlands shop. The sale should not have gone through because he was legally prohibited from buying the weapon, but his background check failed to find an arrest report indicating his drug use. Since the background check went unfinished after the three-day waiting period, Roof was able to obtain a .45-caliber Glock handgun, which he used to gun down nine people. On March 11, the U.S. House approved a measure extending the length of time for FBI background checks on firearms purchases a move championed by House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C. Clyburn introduced the bill four times since the 2015 attack. With so much gun violence across America, lawmakers do need to pass some sensible gun-control legislation, Johnson said. I wholly believe in the Second Amendment, but this country is crazy, said Johnson, adding that he has a concealed weapons permit. We have homegrown terrorists, and Im sure those folks who stormed the Capitol thought they were members of kind of a militia. This is the second time Corbin has made the proposal. His 2013 bill never got a vote on the Senate floor. Corbin said the 2020 election, which gave Democrats control over the White House and both chambers of Congress, prompted him to try again. He said he didn't file his measure during the last four years because he wasn't concerned about gun bans when Donald Trump was president. With a Republican administration in control in Washington, I didnt fear any gun confiscation, Corbin told reporters after the subcommittee vote. Had I sensed that, I would have filed the bill. The proposal comes as the South Carolina House recently approved a bill that would let trained gun owners with a concealed weapons permit carry their handgun openly in public. A separate bill that would allow all adults who can legally own a gun to carry openly regardless of whether they hold a permit also recently advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee. It could be debated on the House floor next month. Jamie Lovegrove reported from Columbia. Patna, March 23 : While the Bihar government is running the 'Jal Jeevan Hariyali' campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan' on the occasion of World Water Day on March 22. The internationally acclaimed Nalanda University in Bihar is teaching water harvesting to the people under the Central government's campaign. Nalanda University located at Rajgir in Bihar's Nalanda district is trying to explain the importance of the message 'Water is the basis of life' to the people in the state. Nalanda University Vice-Chancellor Sunaina Singh has reiterated the varsity's resolve to conserve water. She said the university is contributing towards water conservation in its campus as well as nearby villages. Singh said,"The university campus is entirely based on the hypothesis of 'Net Zero'. Modern as well as traditional resources are being used to conserve every single drop of water inside the campus. I have once again made the ignored 'Ahar Pyne' method (a 5,000-year-old floodwater harvesting system that evolved during the Mauryan Empire to bring water to the rocky terrain of Magadh, in south-central Bihar) in modern times the mainstay of water conservation in the varsity campus." She said two methods are being used for water management in the campus. The first method is to conserve the water obtained through nature and the second method is to save the available water from being wasted. A special plan has been prepared for water management in the varsity campus under which awareness is being spread among people to prevent unnecessary use of water. According to one estimate, water wastage can be reduced by up to 80 per cent through better water management. A reduction in water demand by low flow fittings and fixtures is aimed at preventing 30 per cent wastage of water. The demand for water is being reduced by 50 per cent by using native and local natural sources. Traditional alternatives like 'Ahar-Pyne' have been adopted for water harvesting inside the campus premises. With the help of 'pyne' (water channels) attached to the boundary wall of the campus, the rain water is transported to the 'Ahars' ('Aa' means 'to come' and 'Har' means 'to capture') constructed in the campus. The huge amount of rainwater that flows from the hills of Rajgir is deposited in the campus and its surrounding areas. Today this water harvesting is done inside the campus with the help of the 'Ahar-pyne' technique. Decentralized water treatment systems are also being effectively implemented inside the campus, with the goal of purifying 80 per cent of the water which could be reused. This water stored by traditional and modern methods is being conserved in the Lotus Sea, a cluster of four ponds built in the centre of the campus premises. Nalanda University has established aquifier storage and recovery system for water resource management at seven sites in Nekpur and Meyar villages at Rajgir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid special emphasis on conserving rainwater. Nalanda University's water conservation plan is also based on the same concept launched by the Central government. Along with this, the university has also imbibed the concept of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' of the Central government. 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. ADVERTISEMENT The Osun State government on Monday sealed off 23 private schools it said were substandard across the state. The seal off according to the states commissioner for education, Folorunso Oladoyin, is to perfect the efforts of the government to sanitise education sector in the state for better results. Mr Oladoyin, in a statement seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, said authorities will not relent in its efforts to give quality education to Osun students because they are the future of the state. He urged the school supervisors in Osun to continue to keep its eyes wide open to fish out more mushroom and substandard private schools. The state government is determined to produce critical thinkers who can be globally competitive, he said. The government will not condone any act that can sabotage its resolve to give Osun students the best. Mr Oladoyin also said in the statement that private schools who are not properly registered with the states Ministry of Education should do so as soon as possible. Some of the offences that led to closure of the schools are dirty teaching environment, unqualified teachers, non renewal of licenses and operating without a license The affected schools include Hephzibah Kiddies, Ejigbo; Najeemdeen Model Schools, Ejigbo; Favour of God secondary school, Okinni; Omolara Nursery And Primary School, Iwo, among others This is the second time the state government under Governor Gboyega Oyetolas watch will be carrying out the sealing off of schools. Some schools were sealed in the state in September 2020 for similar offences. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 04:15:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri is seen at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, on March 22, 2021. Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Monday failed to reach a consensus on cabinet formation, raising concerns about further instability and a total economic and financial collapse in the country, local TV channels reported. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) BEIRUT, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Monday failed to reach a consensus on cabinet formation, raising concerns about further instability and a total economic and financial collapse in the country, local TV channels reported. After the meeting between Aoun and Hariri, the Lebanese pound fell to 14,000 against the U.S. dollar from 11,500 earlier in the day. Hariri said Aoun still insisted on his veto power in the new cabinet, which was rejected on several occasions by the prime minister-designate. He added that he had rejected Aoun's proposal of the cabinet lineup on the grounds that it was unconstitutional for a president to form a government. The meeting on Monday was the 18th between Aoun and Hariri on the cabinet formation, which has been stalled since last October over disagreements on the number of ministers, distribution of portfolios and veto power. Hariri has repeatedly said he will only form a cabinet of 18 specialists in line with the French initiative, with no veto power granted to any party. Lebanon is suffering unprecedented political, economic and financial crises that have led to poverty, unemployment, collapse of the national currency, its failure to repay sovereign debts and an accelerating decline in foreign exchange reserves since October 2019. Enditem The much-debated and heated battle of power between the Delhi Government and the Centre has taken a surprising turn after the NCT Amendment bill 2021 was passed in the Lok Sabha. The bill gives more power to the Lieutenant governor of Delhi as compared to the ruling-Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to social media and marked this amendment as an insult to the people of Delhi who democratically elected a government. Passage of GNCTD amendment Bill in Lok Sabha today is an insult to the people of Delhi. The Bill effectively takes away powers from those who were voted by people and gives powers to run Delhi to those who were defeated. BJP has cheated the people Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 22, 2021 The AAP and Congress leaders opposed this bill strongly in the Assembly and even tagged it as 'unconstitutional'. Basically, to decrypt the new amendment, the Legislative Assembly will define government as Lieutenant Governor and it makes a mandate for the governing party to take his nod on every decision. Meanwhile, this new bill has caused a storm of emotions and people are sharing their views on how it makes a Dilliwala feel. More than 2 crore people of Delhi elected a goverment. People in every constituency elected their own representatives. It's not about Arvind Kejriwal or AAP, it's about the people. Their vote has been reduced to nothing. #BJPCheatedDelhi Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) March 22, 2021 The proposed bill which will reduce the elected Delhi government to a government in name only while giving overarching powers to an unelected authority is dangerous for democracy. Elected state governments are being overturned, harassed or in this case rendered powerless. Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) March 16, 2021 No great liking for Arvind Kejriwal but the law reducing the powers of an elected government is really worrying Prosenjit Datta (@ProsaicView) March 23, 2021 While others feel that the AAP government is probably just threatened and this might be a good decision after all. Yes, Its about Delhi only where BJP won all Lokasabha seats and empowered BJP to bring these type of legislation. Delhi is happy. https://t.co/zHBrj07MAf (@tamashbeen_) March 23, 2021 The whole debate on social media right now is around the BJP trying to 'overtake power' in the capital of the country and how it may adversely affect the future of the citizens. More than that, it instils a fear of insecurity in the people because if a democratic decision can be turned around by a bill, then maybe it will become very hard for us to believe that we are indeed a democracy. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) Hospitals may not be able to take in more critical and severe patients in the future if the current daily COVID-19 numbers are sustained, a former health official warned on Tuesday. I saw a mathematical model on that, and the model said that the hospitals wouldnt be able to cope, Former Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit told CNN Philippines The Source, noting that facilities dont have that many critical care beds. There are non-COVID cases as well that need critical care. Therefore, I think whats gonna happen is that not everyone that has severe or serious illness will be able to find a hospital to get admitted to, he argued. And I think some people are already experiencing that. Over 30 hospitals in Metro Manila earlier reported they have reached the critical level for the bed occupancy of COVID-19 patients amid the continuous spike in daily virus cases. Meanwhile, intensive care unit beds nationwide are 52.7% occupied, according to DOHs latest data. In line with this, Dayrit recommended that the government craft a policy to let mild COVID-19 cases recover at home to free up space in the facilities. I think one way of addressing this is that you then might need to look at homecare and mobilize your workforce for homecare, Dayrit said. Currently, local government units have established quarantine facilities in their areas to host mild and asymptomatic COVID cases. Spike in cases a combination of factors Echoing the sentiments of current health officials, Dayrit also pointed out that the current surge is driven by a combination of factors. These are increased mobility, lax compliance to minimum health protocols, and the presence of transmissible variants, the former official said. I would agree on all of those things its the confluence of events, Dayrit said. The question now is, how long and how high these numbers of cases are going to be. Coronavirus cases in the country continued to soar to all-time highs in the past days, with the Philippines logging a record 8,019 new daily infections on Monday. This pushed the nationwide tally to 671,792. Amendment to the EGM date and time in section 2.2 THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION This circular (the "Circular") is sent to you as a Shareholder of Tabula European Performance Credit UCITS ETF (EUR), a sub-fund of Tabula ICAV. It is important and requires your immediate attention. If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take you should seek advice from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial adviser. This Circular and the changes it proposes have not been reviewed by the Central Bank of Ireland (the "Central Bank") and it is possible that changes may be necessary to meet the requirements of the Central Bank. The Directors accept responsibility for the information contained in this Circular. __________________________________________________________________________________________ TABULA ICAV EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF TABULA EUROPEAN PERFORMANCE CREDIT UCITS ETF (EUR) If you have sold or transferred your shares in the Fund, please pass this Circular at once to the purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the purchaser or transferee as soon as possible. TABULA ICAV Registered Office: 5 George's Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1 An Irish collective asset-management vehicle having segregated liability between its sub-funds with registration number C-174472 Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalised terms used herein shall bear the same meaning as capitalised terms used in the latest prospectus of Tabula ICAV (the "ICAV") dated 22 December 2021 (the "Prospectus"). A copy of the Prospectus and the Supplement relating to Tabula European Performance Credit UCITS ETF (EUR) is available upon request during normal business hours from the ICAVor from the local representative of the ICAV in any jurisdiction in which the ICAV is registered for public distribution. The Directors of the ICAV accept responsibility for the information contained in this document. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) the information contained in this document is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. RE: Tabula European Performance Credit UCITS ETF (EUR) (the "Fund") Notification of an extraordinary general meeting to change the investment objective of the Fund and notification of the change in name of the Fund. 19 March 2021 Dear Shareholder, 1. INTRODUCTION The ICAV is authorised by the Central Bank pursuant to the European Communities (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations, 2011 (as amended) (the "UCITS Regulations"). The ICAV is organised as an umbrella fund with segregated liability between sub-funds and the Fund is a sub-fund of the ICAV. The purpose of this letter is to notify you of: (i) an extraordinary general meeting ("EGM") to consider, and vote on, a proposed material amendment to the investment objective of the Fund (the "Material Change"); and (ii) a change in name of the Fund. 2. MATERIAL CHANGE TO INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE 2.1Change to Investment Objective The current investment objective of the Fund is to track the performance of the iTraxx European Performance Credit Index (the "Index"). It is now proposed that the Fund's investment objective be changed such that the Fund will track the performance of the iTraxx European IG Performance Credit Index (the "New Index"). As a result of the change to the New Index, the Fund's exposure will be to investment grade credit only rather than to a combination of investment grade and sub-investment grade credit which is currently the case Investors should note that: Shareholders will not bear any additional legal or administrative costs as a result of this change. The Fund may incur transaction costs associated with the change. The transaction costs, based on the Fund's current portfolio, are expected to be minimal and will be borne by the Investment Manager. In practice, these costs will be highly dependent on market conditions and the composition of the portfolio at the time of the change, and may be higher or lower than the estimated amount. The Total Expense Ratio will not change as a result of the proposed change. The anticipated tracking error and the risk profile of the Fund are expected to remain the same. Subject to Shareholder approval being obtained, this change will take effect from the date of issuance of an updated Supplement. This is expected to occur on or around 13 April 2021 or such later date as the updated Supplement is published on the Investment Manager's website (the "Effective Date"). Recommendation: The Directors believe that the resolution to be proposed at the EGM is in the best interests of Shareholder of the Fund and, accordingly, the Directors recommend that Shareholder vote in favour of the resolution. New Index Description This section is a summary of the principal features of the New Index and is not a complete description of the New Index. Capitalised terms used herein shall have the meaning given to those terms in the Supplement dated 22 December 2020 with the exception of the following: "Credit Index" means the Markit iTraxx Europe Index ("ITRX EUR"). The New Index exposure is to the ITRX EUR On-the-Run 5 Year Credit Index, with a cash position (the Reference Cash Amount) that delivers market yields and a 4:1 notional market exposure ratio, being the approximate proportion of CDS notional to the Index value. The Reference Cash Amount makes up the remainder of the Index Value after subtracting the mark-to-market value of the Index CDS components. This is a cash balance that varies based upon the cash flows of the hypothetical Index CDS positions, receiving coupon payments on the Index CDS, paying default costs (if any) and receiving or paying interest. The cash component generates interest at a rate equal to the Reference Cash Rate plus the Reference Cash Rate Spread. The New Index is rebalanced on a monthly basis to maintain the ratio described above. In addition, the Index sets a threshold relating to intra-month deviation from the ITRX EUR Target Weighting. If the ratio of the Index CDS notional, multiplied by its Bond Equivalent Price, divided by the Index Value differs by more than 10% from the ITRX EUR Target Weighting an additional Index CDS rebalancing occurs the following day. On the date that either Credit Index rolls into a new series, the Index CDS contract referencing the previous series of the relevant Credit Index is unwound, whilst simultaneously entering into a long Index CDS referencing the new series of the relevant Credit Index. 2.2Notice of EGM to Consider and Vote on the Material Change In order to obtain shareholder approval for the Material Change, the Board has decided to convene an EGM of the Fund at which an Ordinary Resolution to approve the Material Change will be proposed. You will find attached to this letter a notice of EGM ("Notice of EGM") which will be held at 5 George's Dock IFSC Dublin 1 on 13th April 2021 at 11am. The proposed change can only be introduced with the approval of a simple majority of votes cast by Shareholders attending and voting in person or by proxy at the EGM at which the resolution is proposed. 2.3Proxy Form / Shareholders unable to attend the EGM The form of proxy accompanying the Notice of EGM should be completed and returned in accordance with the instructions thereon, so as to be received by post to the Company Secretary, c/o Tobias Ashton, KB Associates, 5 George's Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1, Ireland. Alternatively, Shareholders may send their proxies by fax to the Company Secretary at +353 1 668 7696 for the attention of Tobias Ashton or by email to companysecretary@kbassociates.ie, as soon as possible and in any event, not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the holding of the EGM. Completion and return of a form of proxy will not preclude a Shareholder from attending and voting in person at the EGM. 2.4Re-convening the EGM Should it be necessary to re-convene the EGM because it is inquorate, Shareholders should note that the Board has determined that the re-convened meeting would take place on 16 April 2021 at 11am (Irish time). 2.5Publication of Results The result of the EGM will be announced through the regulatory news service on the Euronext Dublin website and will be published in an appropriate manner in each of the other jurisdictions in which the Fund is listed on a stock exchange. 2.6Redemption of Shares Shareholders who do not wish to remain in the Fund following the implementation of the Material Change (if the resolution is passed) will have the opportunity to redeem their Shares on any Dealing Day prior to the Effective Date by contacting the Administrator so that a written redemption request is received by the Administrator by the Dealing Deadline for the relevant Dealing Day. 3. CHANGE OF NAME OF THE FUND It is intended to change the name of the Fund to "Tabula European IG Performance Credit UCITS ETF (EUR)" to better reflect the investment objective of the Fund once it is amended with Shareholder approval. Should you have any questions relating to these matters, you should either contact us at the above address or alternatively you should contact your investment consultant. Yours sincerely, ________________ Director for and on behalf of Tabula ICAV TABULA ICAV (THE "ICAV") NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF TABULA EUROPEAN PERFORMANC CREDIT UCITS ETF (EUR) (THE "FUND") THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt about the course of action to take, you should consult your stockbroker, solicitor, accountant or other professional advisor. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM") of the shareholders of the Fund will be held at the offices of KB Associates, 5 George's Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1, Ireland, on 13 April 2021, at 11 am (Irish time) to consider and, if thought fit, pass the resolution set out below as an Ordinary Resolution. Also enclosed is a proxy appointment form in order for you to cast your votes on the matters to be voted on at the EGM. Only those Shareholders registered as shareholders of the Fund as of end of day on 7th April 2021 shall have the right to participate and vote in the EGM for the Fund. Ordinary Resolution: To approve the amendments to the investment objective of the Fund as detailed in the appendix "Special Business - Ordinary Resolution" attached hereto. __________________________________ For and on behalf of the Board Registered Office 5 George's Dock IFSC Dublin 1 Ireland Registered Number C-174472 19 March 2021 Notes: 1. The Resolution is proposed as an Ordinary Resolution. For an ordinary resolution to be passed, not less than 50 per cent. of the total number of votes cast by Shareholders being entitled to vote (by proxy or in person) must be in favour of the resolution. 2. Shareholders of the Fund are entitled to attend and vote at the EGM of the Fund. A Shareholder may appoint a proxy or proxies to attend, speak and vote instead of the Shareholder. A proxy need not be a Shareholder of the Fund or the ICAV. 3. A form of proxy is enclosed for the use of Shareholders unable to attend the meeting. Proxies must be sent to the Company Secretary, c/o Tobias Ashton, KB Associates, 5 George's Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1, Ireland. Alternatively, Shareholders may send their proxies by fax to the Company Secretary at +353 1 668 7696 for the attention of Tobias Ashton or by email to companysecretary@kbassociates.ie. To be valid, proxies and any powers of attorney under which they are signed must be received by the Secretary not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the meeting. TABULA ICAV (The "ICAV") FORM OF PROXY extraordinary GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF TABULA EUROPEAN PERFORMANCE CREDIT UCITS ETF (EUR) (THE "FUND") I/We............................................................................................................................................... (Block letters) of......................................................................................................................................................... being (a) member(s) of Tabula European Performance Credit UCITS ETF (EUR), appoint the Chairperson of the meeting or failing him/her appoint an authorised representative of KB Associates OR failing him/her (see note (h)) ............................................................................................................................................................ (Block letters) of.................................................................................................................................................... as my/our proxy to vote for me/us and on my/our behalf at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Fund to be held at the offices of KB Associates, 5 George's Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1, Ireland on 13 April 2021 at 11 am (Irish time) and at any adjournment thereof. Please indicate with a tick (u) in the spaces provided how you wish your votes to be cast, otherwise your proxy will vote as he/she thinks fit. In the event that an authorised representative of KB Associates is appointed as a proxy, such proxy will vote as indicated above and the shareholder hereby indemnifies the authorised representative of KB Associates for any losses or liability such representative of KB Associates may suffer as a result of it acting in good faith in the exercise of this proxy. ORDINARY RESOLUTION FOR ABSTAIN AGAINST That the investment objective of the Fund be amended as detailed in the appendix "Special Business - Ordinary Resolution" attached hereto. Dated: _______________________________ ______________________ Name and Address of Shareholder Signature of Shareholder _______________________________ ______________________ Name and Address of Shareholder Signature of Shareholder _______________________________ ______________________ Name and Address of Shareholder Signature of Shareholder _______________________________ ______________________ Name and Address of Shareholder Signature of Shareholder Notes: (a) A Shareholder must insert his full name and registered address in type or block letters. In the case of joint accounts the names of all holders must be stated. (b) If it is desired to appoint some other person as proxy, the name of the proxy must be inserted in the space provided instead of the option provided which should be deleted. (c) If either (i) a Shareholder does not propose to exercise all of the voting rights to which the Shareholder is entitled or (ii) a Shareholder proposes to exercise voting rights both for and against a resolution, in order for a proxy to be valid, the proxy must state (i) the name of the Fund in respect of which the Shareholder is exercising voting rights, (ii) the number of Shares in respect of which the votes are being cast and (iii) whether the votes are being cast for or against the resolution. (d) The proxy form must: (i) in the case of an individual Shareholder be signed by the Shareholder or his attorney; and (ii) in the case of a corporate Shareholder be given either under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an attorney or by a duly authorised officer of the corporate Shareholder. (e) In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior who tenders a vote whether in person or by proxy shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the register of members in respect of the joint holding. (f) To be valid this proxy form and any power of attorney under which it is signed must reach the Company Secretary, c/o Tobias Ashton, KB Associates, 5 George's Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1, Ireland. Alternatively, Shareholders may send their proxies by fax to the Company Secretary at +353 1 668 7696 for the attention of Tobias Ashton or by email to companysecretary@kbassociates.ie. To be valid, proxies and any powers of attorney under which they are signed must be received by the Company Secretary not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the meeting. (g) A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Fund or the ICAV but must attend the meeting in person to represent you. (h) In the event that an authorised representative of KB Associates is appointed as a proxy, such proxy will vote as indicated above. In the absence of any direction the proxy will vote in favour of the resolutions. The shareholder hereby indemnifies KB Associates and its authorised representatives for any losses or liability incurred as a result of acting in good faith in the exercise of this proxy. Appendix Special Business - Ordinary Resolution To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following as an Ordinary Resolution: That the investment objective of the Fund be deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following: The objective of the Sub-Fund is to track the performance of the Index* to within an acceptable tracking error, (which will take into account, amongst other things, the fees and expenses incurred). *the Index being the iTraxx European IG Performance Credit Index You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Photo: (Photo : Minnie Zhou / Unsplash ) In the heat of the pandemic, as coronavirus cases escalated, businesses closed, and the entire public school system, many child care facilities across the country were told to continue operation. When considering child care workers vs. public school teachers, the former believe they lack support. Maria Collier, who runs the Cypress Hills Child Care Corporation in Brooklyn, noted, "Child care providers are deemed essential workers, but not even included with school closures." The Need for Parents to Return to Work Public school educators, teachers' union leaders, and school officials across the country have drawn the line on when they are responsible for children. The common sentiment is that public school teachers should not be the ones to supervise these children so parents can return to work. Public school educators were able to teach or work from home. Meanwhile, child care providers became the substitute for schools for the children who cannot do online learning. ALSO READ: Expectant Mom Teaches Remotely From a Hospital Room Support for Child Care Workers Vs. Public School Teachers Child care centers, daycare, and after-school providers continued to give care and supervision to children, albeit in the classroom teachers vacated for in-person instruction due to safety measures. As child care providers' important role became emphasized during the pandemic, there has been a move to seek more protection and support from the industry. In particular, there is hope that child care will be integrated into the broader U.S. education system, NYTimes reported. Julie Kashen, director of the women's economic justice at the Century Foundation, noted, "Public education is treated as the public good it is, but the same is not done for child care-such a false dichotomy between them." More Support Coming for Child Care Experts Now, child care providers are given hope. First, nearly $40 billion is planned for the child care industry from the American Rescue Plan. Also, President Biden included child care workers to be prioritized for Covid-19 vaccination alongside teachers. They are to receive a shot in March. Previously states like Ohio, Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Wyoming prioritized educators over child care employees to receive the vaccine. Kristen Maxon, director of a nursery school in Washington, spoke up, saying, "child care workers must receive vaccinations for they swallowed their fears, showing up to work every day during the pandemic to provide crucial care for the children." In line with President Biden's directive, Rite Aid now prioritized vaccine schedules for teachers, school staff, as well as child care workers, WGAL reported. Child care workers and family child care providers, and Head Start & Early Head Start staff will be prioritized for vaccine appointments alongside staff and educators for Pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade. Child care workers can still get vaccinated on March 26, Friday, and March 27, Saturday. ALSO READ: What To Look For In A Good Day Care COVID Relief Support Going to Child Care Providers The Biden Administration and Congress signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act last week with $39 billion funding for child care providers, CNBC reported. The new law also adds $1 billion that will go to the Head Start program. In addition, the Congress provided $10 billion relief package for child care providers in December. The funds can be used towards expenses for sanitation, rent, payroll, as well as relief for struggling families. Yet, Melissa Boteach, vice president for the income security and early learning and child care at the National Women's Law Center revealed that there is still more to be done. "It is vital to address the underlying inequities that made child care providers so vulnerable to the pandemic." These include lack of assistance as many children eligible for child care assistance are unable to receive support. Many low-income families continue to struggle to pay for child care even before the pandemic. Further, child care workers are paid low, earning an average of nearly $12 an hour without paid family leave or health insurance. ALSO READ: Teacher Mom Pumping at Work Gets Criticized by Co-Worker HARRISBURG, Pa., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PHFA is proud to participate in National Financial Capability Month in April by providing a slate of free, live webinars about personal money management. The webinars will be led by the agency's senior financial education officer, Holly Zugay, and others on PHFA's financial education team. Zugay is a certified financial planner and has 20 years of experience teaching personal money management concepts. "One way that we can address inequities in our society is to provide information people can use to build personal wealth," said PHFA Executive Director and CEO Robin Wiessmann. "PHFA is proud to actively participate in National Financial Capability Month as part of our efforts to address racial and gender inequities. The free information we provide during April can help everyone improve their financial position by taking steps to grow and safeguard their earnings." Throughout April, PHFA will offer two sessions each week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for a total of eight financial education webinars. The 45-minute sessions will be offered twice each day, at noon and 6 p.m., to make them more convenient for viewers. The topics will cover maximizing earnings, money mapping (budgeting), credit, investing, taxes, and more. All sessions will be taught in a way that makes the topics easy to understand. The schedule for these money management webinars is available on the Web. While the sessions are free to anyone with Internet access, advance registration is required. Questions about these PHFA-led sessions may be addressed to Holly Zugay at (717) 780-3852 or [email protected]. PHFA has a mission of expanding access to affordable housing across Pennsylvania. It accomplishes this mission, in part, by financing the construction of affordable rental housing and by making available home loans for low- and moderate-income families. It also addresses the affordable housing shortage by educating people so they can improve their financial position, thereby giving them more housing options. Additionally, strong financial skills can help many renters make the jump to homeownership, allowing them to grow their personal wealth by owing property. About PHFA The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency works to provide affordable homeownership and rental housing options for older adults, low- and moderate-income families, and people with special housing needs. Through its carefully managed mortgage programs and investments in multifamily housing developments, PHFA also promotes economic development across the state. Since its creation by the legislature in 1972, it has generated more than $15.1 billion of funding for more than 181,660 single-family home mortgage loans, helped fund the construction of 138,000 rental units, distributed more than $121 million to support local housing initiatives, and saved the homes of nearly 50,400 families from foreclosure. PHFA programs and operations are funded primarily by the sale of securities and from fees paid by program users, not by public tax dollars. The agency is governed by a 14-member board. Contact: Scott Elliott 717-649-6522 (cell) [email protected] SOURCE Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Related Links www.phfa.org Good morning, its Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Thirty-two years ago today, in a speech to the National Association of Manufacturers, President George H.W. Bush reprised an old political chestnut -- if only to undercut it. Speaking about NAM officials Richard Dick Heckert and Alexander Sandy Trowbridge, Bush 41 said the following: Harry Truman used to say: If you want a friend in Washington, buy a dog. And I'm here to disagree with him, because I feel in Dick, your chairman, and in Sandy, your president, and in the membership of this illustrious organization, that our administration has a friend not only in Washington but all across the country. It was a nice sentiment, and the National Association Manufacturers members and officers at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington laughed along with Bush in appreciation of the compliment. Except that Harry Truman didnt often proclaim that if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. Theres no evidence that he ever uttered that line, or anything like it. Its not how he viewed politics. Or dogs. Ive debunked this hoary tale previously, but with two adopted dogs in the White House, I figured it was time to do so again. First, Id direct you to RCPs front page, which presents our poll averages, videos, breaking news stories, and aggregated opinion columns spanning the political spectrum. We also offer original material from our own reporters, columnists, and contributors, including the following: * * * Assessing Bidens Start: Poll Finds Support for Activist Government. I report on the findings from the latest survey by RealClear Opinion Research. Biden Sends Border Czar to Meet With Mexican Officials. Phil Wegmann has the story. Heritage Seeks New Leader as James Plans to Step Down. Phil got the scoop on the influential think tanks impending change of command. Clash of Green Jobs and Blue Collars. The new administration touts clean energy as providing good-paying jobs, but Vince Bielski interviewed workers, union organizers, developers and regulators, who tell a different story to RealClearInvestigations. A Republican Approach to the Climate Emergency. At RealClearEnergy, Alex Flint argues for a market-based plan that doesnt grow the size of government, but instead encourages economic growth and true innovation. Giving Away Money Is Not Highly Popular. RealClearMarkets editor John Tamny writes that when governments spend, they penalize the productive and shrink the capital available to the productive. The Perils of Action Civics. At RealClearEducation, Peter W. Wood warns that the activism promoted in many schools is more akin to passive obedience to progressive orthodoxy than civics rooted in our nations founding principles. How Working Women Respond to School Closings and Tax Changes. At RealClearPolicy, Robert Cherry examines trends in the labor force participation rate. The Scourge of Chronic Groin Pain. RealClearScience editor Ross Pomeroy spotlights an uncomfortable subject for men. * * * You knew it would happen when Joe and Jill Biden rescued two dogs from a Delaware shelter. No, I dont mean you knew that the 78-year-old president would sustain a hairline fracture of his foot while playing with Major or that the 3-year-old German shepherd would bite a Secret Service agent. No, Im talking about various commentators reprising the fictional Harry Truman line about dogs and Washington. Even the Associated Press repeated it. To be clear, this quote is not merely unverified, its preposterous. Truman grew up on a farm and viewed dogs as working animals. He also spent much of his professional life in Washington and had many friends in the city. Moreover, neither he nor his wife, Bess, considered canines to be cuddly creatures that should coddled and adored: In contrast to the Bidens, the Trumans gave away two that were given to them while Truman was president. But there is a line in a 1975 play about Truman, "Give 'Em Hell Harry," in which the president's character delivers a version of the line at the end of a populist rant: "Banks, boy, there's a bunch of crooks for you. Theyre happy to lend you money when you prove you dont need it. You want a friend in life, get a dog! There this line lay quietly, like a sleeping dog, for a decade or so until it slowly awoke. Fueled by cocktail chatter and garbled translations from theater critics, it emerged during the Reagan administration as a Truman quote. On Feb. 24, 1986, Attorney General Edwin Meese spoke at a party and attributed this line to the 33rd U.S. president: If you really want a friend in Washington, buy a dog. Notice how the word life had been replaced by Washington. This makes sense considering how much the Reagan Revolution had targeted Washington, D.C., and the federal government as the source of the nations problems. To be fair, however, Meese offered it as a laugh line, and an ironic one: The party was hosted at the Heritage Foundation by Friends of Ed Meese. Ed Meese surely did have friends. He also seems to have started something. Databases were new then, but an account of this quote did appear in The Washington Post. A year later, in a story about how St. Patricks Day was celebrated in the nation's capital, a lobbyist named H. Spofford Canfield IV garbled the already suspect quote rather spectacularly, telling Tom Baden, Washington correspondent for the Syracuse Post-Standard: Harry Truman once said that the first thing you do in Washington is get a dog, because youll need a friend. On June 7, 1987, the bogus quote was returned to its original (bogus) form by Stanford professor and future White House economist Michael J. Boskin, who passed it along to Alan Greenspan as friendly advice via The New York Times. Now the dogs were really on the loose. On Nov. 16, 1987, White House press spokesman Marlin Fitzwater used the invented Truman-dog quote, with a slight variation, in defense of deputy White House chief of staff Kenneth Duberstein, who had been accused by various columnists of trying to undermine other White House officials -- including, you guessed it, Ed Meese. As Harry Truman once said, If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog, Fitzwater told reporters. Dubersteins at the kennel right now. By this time, the rhetorical dog was truly chasing its own tail. By the following spring, President Reagan was using the line himself, sometimes twice a week, prefacing it by calling it Trumans famous comment and using the get a dog wording. But buy a dog had adherents, too. (That phrasing is interesting because, as famed quote investigator Ralph Keyes has demonstrated, Need a friend? Buy a dog was a common construction of newspaper want ads as far back as 1911. This wasnt political or social commentary; these were simply advertisements intended to sell pets.) Anyway, by the end of the Reagan years, the revisionism had started. Critics didn't question the authenticity of the Truman quote; instead, they took issue with the sentiment behind it. On Sept. 6, 1988, in a speech at the National Press Club, outgoing Education Secretary Bill Bennett said that Trumans dictum about friends and dogs in Washington rang funny, but false. On March 10, 1989, Maureen Dowd used the line, attributed to Truman but without citing a source, in a piece about how new president George H.W. Bush actually had plenty of friends. This story must have delighted Bush and his speechwriters, because the 41st president began using the Truman quote regularly -- and the same way Bennett and Dowd had: To negate Trumans supposed point. That was the context for that March 23, 1989 speech to the National Association of Manufacturers. The following decade, at the 1996 National Prayer Breakfast, President Clinton used it in a riff that strung together two unrelated adages in the same breath: I think it was Harry Truman who said if you want a friend in Washington, you need to buy a dog, Clinton said. I think of what Benjamin Franklin said. He said our enemies are our friends, for they show us our faults." The Franklin quote, which comes from Poor Richard's Almanack, is garbled, though close enough. But some stories are, in the sardonic old newsroom phrase, too good to check. So 20 years later, when John Kasich was one of the last Republicans standing against Donald Trump in the 2016 GOP primaries, he told an audience, You know what Truman said -- You want a friend in Washington, buy a dog. Trump is not a pet person. One of his go-to insults is to compare people who anger him to dogs. His successor is a dog lover, as most previous U.S. presidents have been. But on the bright side, the Bidens didnt have to clean up any residual messes -- at least the kind left behind by House cats or dogs. Which reminds me of a presidential dog story that I believe is true. The source is Ron Nessen, a former journalist and White House press secretary in the Ford administration, and a man with a reputation for veracity. It seems that President Fords dog, Liberty, had an accident on the Oval Office carpet. As a Navy steward rushed in, paper towels in hand, to deal with the mess, Jerry Ford interceded. Ill do that, said the president. No man should have to clean up after another mans dog. Carl M. Cannon Washington Bureau chief, RealClearPolitics @CarlCannon (Twitter) ccannon@realclearpolitics.com Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Log on if you are already subscribed or Subscribe... remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. New Delhi, Mar 22 (UNI) The Ministry of Defence on Monday signed a Rs 1,056 crore contract with Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd for supplying 1,300 Light Specialist Vehicles to the Indian Army. The induction of the vehicles is planned to be completed in four years, the ministry said. The Light Specialist Vehicle is a modern fighting vehicle and will be authorised to various fighting units for carriage of Medium Machine Guns, Automatic Grenade Launchers as well as Anti-tank Guided Missiles. European Union had sanctioned China for its human rights violations on Uyghurs at a Foreign Ministers Meeting on Monday in Brussels. As a response to this, China also engaged in imposing sanctions on 10 European Union citizens, including politicians for their gross interference in its internal affairs as well as for the violation of international law. European Union had sanctioned China for its human rights violations on Uyghurs at a Foreign Ministers Meeting on Monday in Brussels. Those in the EU sanction list include four regional party representatives, along with a construction firm in Xinjiang province, the names which then were published in the EU Official Journal. On the other hand, China and Russian Diplomats have taken an oath to stand together against Western sanctions by enhancing cooperation and becoming less dependent on the US payments system amidst growing pressure from the Biden administration. Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a joint press conference on Tuesday and stated that they would be boosting ties and oppose Western aggression. Both Mr Lavrov and Mr Wang condemned sanctions which have been imposed by the US, European Union, Canada and Britain against Chinese officials over the treatment of ethnic Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang. The EU has also sanctioned Russia for the detention of opposition politician Alexei Navalny. However, Chinas embassy in Canberra on Tuesday has engaged in the criticism of Australia for lending its support for the Xinjiang-related sanctions. China has been perceiving these impositions as the formation of an anti-Chinese coalition which the Chinese Foreign Ministry has been accusing the US of. However, solidarity had been expressed by Diplomats from more than 20 countries for the trial of two Canadians by China on the charge of spying. Since the 1898 Tinammen Square Violence, no sanctions had been imposed by EU on China. Travel bans and asset freezes were then imposed on Chen Mingguo, director of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau, as well as senior Chinese officials Wang Mingshan and Wang Junzheng. The former head of Chinas Xinjiang region, Zhu Hailun has come under the radar of EU. The construction company that has been targeted with sanctions was the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Public Security Bureau. The US also emphasized that it would also be sanctioning Chen Mingguo and Wang Junzheng whereby US State Secretary, Antony Blinken commented that these two individuals had committed human rights abuses which were appalling. In addition to that, UK also announced sanctions for what she described as industrial-scale abuses in Xinjiang, whereas Canada issued similar measures on four Chinese officials and one entity following the footsteps of UK. Also Read: #WaterPowerplay: Indus treaty in lumber amid subcontinent water wars; China leaves Mekong dry Also Read: Sachin Vaze case: Amid Khaki vs Khadi, whom do we trust? As a response to this, China also engaged in imposing sanctions on 10 European Union citizens, including politicians for their gross interference in its internal affairs as well as for the violation of international law. Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement announced that it would also endorse sanctions against the individuals and four EU entities for engaging in maliciously spreading lies and false information. A list of individuals who are to be sanctioned include five members of the EU parliament: Reinhard Butikofer, Michael Gahler, Raphael Glucksmann, Ilhan Kyuchyuk and Miriam Lexmann. In addition, EU human rights and security committee members and Adrian Zenz, a US-based German scholar who has published reports of abuse against minorities in Tibet and Xinjiang will be in this list created by China. Beijing has stated that it will be sanctioning EU entities including Germanys Mercator Institute for China Studies and a Danish democracy organization. Chinas foreign ministry commented that stringent action will be taken against relevant personnel and their family members who thereafter will be prohibited from entering mainland China, as well as the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao, The Chinese Foreign Ministry clearly pointed out that affiliated companies and institutions have also been restricted from communicating with China. Also Read: ISRO signs bilateral MoU with four premier institutes to set up space technology incubation centres RTHK: Vaccines the key issue as Israel votes again Israelis voted on Tuesday in a fourth election in two years, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hoping a world-beating Covid-19 vaccine rollout will win him another term. With coronavirus precautions at polling booths across the country and ballots at the airport for quarantined Israelis coming home to vote opinion polls show the race yet again too close to call. Israel's longest-serving head of government, Netanyahu has managed to hold on to power through two years of inconclusive elections despite facing corruption allegations. He is now on trial on bribery and abuse of power charges, which he denies. Opinion polls indicated an uptick for Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party in the campaign's final days, giving him a prospective coalition of conservative and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties with around 60 seats in the 120-member parliament. While exit polls could point to voting trends, an official tally may emerge only late on Wednesday. The dominant political figure of his generation, Netanyahu, 71, has been in power since 2009. But the Israeli electorate is deeply polarised, with supporters hailing him as "King Bibi" and opponents holding up placards calling him "Crime Minister". Turnout as of 2pm local time was slightly lower than in a March 2020 election. Netanyahu went on Twitter mid-afternoon using that turnout data to rally his supporters to vote, having early told them to bring friends and relatives with them. Yair Lapid, a former finance minister who heads the centrist Yesh Atid party, has emerged as Netanyahu's main challenger. On the campaign trail, Netanyahu has highlighted his role in securing millions of vaccine doses from Pfizer, turning Israel into what he dubbed a "vaccination nation". Nearly half of Israelis have been fully inoculated with two doses, the fastest vaccine rollout in the world apart from the tiny British overseas territory of Gibraltar. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-03-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. The accused ressurised the girl, who was a minor then, and obtained her nude photos on a threat that he would commit suicide if she does not comply. DC file photo Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday questioned Google and other social media platforms for their delay in removing obscene videos and photos of a married woman belonging to Hyderabad, who is now settled in Australia with her children. Justice K. Lakshman of the Telangana High Court asked the Cyberabad cybercrime police what steps they had taken in this regard, based on a complaint, as well as their effort to nab the culprits. The judge was dealing a petition filed by the victims mother, a resident of Madhapur, who had urged the High Court to ensure the removal of the content. The court suggested that the petitioner approach the Union ministry of communications with a representation asking them to take action. The mother explained that her teenage daughter was in a relationship with her classmate in 2011. The relationship ended within eight months as the boyfriend was becoming increasingly abusive. He pressurised the girl, who was a minor then, and obtained her nude photos on a threat that he would commit suicide if she does not comply. When the girl ended the relationship, he started sharing the photos on social media platforms. After a complaint, he got them removed in 2012. But the images resurfaced in 2019 on many social platforms, including pornographic websites. Some of the social media accounts were created in the name of the victim herself. A fire is seen at a Balukhali refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh March 22, 2021. (Courtesy of Rohingya Right Team/MD Arakani/Handout via REUTERS) Several Dead, Thousands of Homes Burn as Fire Sweeps Rohingya Camp in Bangladesh: UN DHAKAA huge fire swept through a Rohingya refugee camp in southern Bangladesh on Monday, destroying thousands of homes and killing several people, officials and witnesses said, in the worst blaze to hit the settlement in recent years. Video and photographs showed a blaze ripping through the Balukhali camp in Coxs Bazar. Black smoke billowed over burning shanties and tents as people scrambled to recover their possessions. A fire is seen at a Balukhali refugee camp in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh March 22, 2021 in this picture obtained from social media. (Rohingya Right Team/Md Arakani/via REUTERS) Fire services, rescue and response teams and volunteers are at the scene to try to control the fire and prevent it spreading further, said Louise Donovan, spokesperson for U.N. refugee agency UNHCR in Coxs Bazar. Mohammed Shamsud Douza, the deputy Bangladesh government official in charge of refugees, said authorities were trying to control the blaze. Rohingya refugees in the camps said many homes were burned down and several people had died, but neither the authorities nor the UNHCR could confirm the number of deaths. The cause of the blaze has not been established. More than a million Rohingya live in the camps in southern Bangladesh, the vast majority having fled Burma, also known as Myanmar, in 2017. Zaifur Hussein, a 50-year-old refugee who escaped the fire but lost his home and was sheltering with friends, said he believed dozens may have been killed and that fencing around the camps made it difficult to flee. When we were in Myanmar we faced lots of problems they destroyed everything, he said. Now it has happened again. Snigdha Chakraborty, the Bangladesh director for Catholic Relief Services, said she was worried about the lack of medical facilities in the area. Medical facilities are basic and burns require sophisticated treatment, plus hospital beds are already partly taken up with COVID-19 patients, she said. Most likely there will be fatalities because the fire is so large. A Rohingya leader in Coxs Bazar, a sliver of land bordering Burma in southeastern Bangladesh, said he saw several dead bodies. Thousand of huts were totally burned down, Mohammed Nowkhim told Reuters. Another large blaze tore through the camp in January, destroying homes but causing no casualties. The risk of fire in the densely populated camps is high, and Mondays blaze was the largest yet, said Onno Van Manen, Country Director of Save the Children in Bangladesh. It is another devastating blow to the Rohingya refugees who live here. Just a couple of days ago we lost one of our health facilities in another fire, he said. The UNHCR said humanitarian partners had mobilised hundreds of volunteers from nearby camps for the support operation, as well as fire safety vehicles and equipment. By Ruma Paul and Poppy McPherson We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Tucker Carlson has blasted Joe Biden over the chaos at the southern border saying that the president 'tops the list' of those to blame. Speaking on his Fox News show last night, Carlson insisted he was not blaming migrants for 'streaming across the border', saying 'you'd have to be crazy not to leave Guatemala for Texas'. Officials are struggling to house and process a rising number of unaccompanied children coming from Mexico and Central America, many of whom have been stuck in border stations for days. But Carlson insisted 'Biden wanted this to happen' berating the president for telling refugees during the 2020 campaign that 'you should come'. 'The people streaming across the border want better lives for their families, and no one can hate them for that, least of all us,' Carlson said. 'The people to blame are the reckless ideologues who caused this disaster. Joe Biden tops that list. Biden wanted this to happen. He said so out loud at a Democratic debate.' Tucker Carlson renewed his attack on Joe Biden's border policies on his Fox News show last night but insisted he was not blaming migrants for 'streaming across the border' Carlson played a clip from the September 2019 Democratic debate in which Biden was asked why Latino voters should trust him after deportations had taken place during the Obama-Biden years. After defending Obama's policies, Biden added: 'What I would do as president is several more things, because things have changed. 'I would in fact make sure that... we immediately surge to the border all those people who are seeking asylum. 'They deserve to be heard, that's who we are. We're a nation that says, if you want to flee and you're fleeing oppression, you should come'. Carlson said in his monologue on Monday that the Biden administration has 'lost control of our main international border' as facilities on the southern border fill up. 'The overwhelming majority of these foreign nationals will remain here permanently,' Carlson claimed. 'If the Democratic Party has its way, they will become citizens and registered voters. These numbers are enormous, it's hard to comprehend just how big. 'It's roughly the equivalent of a brand new Chicago every year, a city populated entirely by poor people with limited education who can't speak English. Now, you're not supposed to say any of that, but so what? It's true.' Carlson played a clip from a September 2019 Democratic debate (pictured) in which Biden said America was 'a nation that says, if you're fleeing oppression, you should come' Congressman Henry Cuellar released images of migrants lying on the floor at a facility in Donna, Texas as US officials struggle to process rising numbers of unaccompanied children Carlson also played an ABC News clip of a migrant from Brazil saying he would not have come during the Trump presidency. 'They're running from collapsing countries - they're running toward Joe Biden. You could have seen this coming,' Carlson said. He also sought to forestall a 'lecture about how opposing open borders is racist' by touting Trump's performance in Hispanic-majority areas in South Texas last year. 'The all-Hispanic counties of South Texas don't like open borders either. They made that very clear in the way they voted in November,' he said Many South Texas counties saw dramatic swings to Trump even as Biden made gains nationwide, although some still backed the Democrats by much-reduced margins. Biden's border policies since taking office have been mired in controversy over the fate of migrant children and confusing messaging by US officials. Construction workers have been seen frantically building new tent cities to house migrant children in Texas Meanwhile, the number of families arrested at the border nearly trebled in February from a month earlier, climbing to about 19,000. Republicans have accused the White House of 'hiding the truth' by preventing journalists from visiting border facilities. Biden's homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas did not deny that 5,200 children are being held in centers meant for adults, above the peak under Trump. Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, said he saw hundreds of children packed into a 'big, open room,' and 'fought back tears' as he listened to a 13-year-old girl. Online forums are awash with questions from would-be migrants about the current status of the border and whether families with children are being allowed to cross. The posts sometimes lead to more than a hundred often contradictory answers from fellow migrants and some claiming to be smugglers. Parliament on Tuesday cleared changes to the finance Bill 2021, doubling the minimum limit of employee contribution to to over Rs 5 lakh for the purpose of taxation with some riders, paving the way for the listing of (LIC), exempting Indian-owned assets sold on digital platforms from equalization levy, and giving tax holidays for the proposed (DFIs). However, the employee (EPF) relaxation may benefit only government employees who contribute to statutory and central provident fund, some experts said. Now, an employee getting interest on his contribution to the EPF or similar funds of over Rs 5 lakh a year will have to pay tax in case there is no contribution from the employer, according to the amendments proposed by Finance Minister and passed by the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha does not have power to make changes to the Bill. In the Budget presented last month, the finance minister had proposed to tax interest earned on EPF contributions of more than Rs 2.5 lakh annually. However, in the cases where employers contribute, the limit will remain Rs 2.5 lakh only, but the employers' contribution will not be counted. ALSO READ: SC lifts NPA standstill, rejects moratorium extension and interest waiver "While private sector employees earning interest on provident fund on annual contribution exceeding Rs 2.5 lakh would be required to pay tax on interest accruing on the excess contribution, for government employees, the monetary ceiling will be Rs 5 lakh," said Neha Malhotra, director at Nangia Andersen LLP. Minor relief is being provided by increasing the threshold of employee contribution to provident fund to Rs 5,00,000 in the cases where employers do not contribute to the PF, said Gopal Bohra, partner NA Shah Associates. One of the major changes included the amendments to the (LIC) Act. It seeks to amend LIC Act, 1956, and brought provisions in alignment with listing and corporate governance norms under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). The Budget in February proposed 27 amendments to the Act to help facilitate the listing of the insurance behemoth on the stock exchanges. Through this route, the government may sell shares in LIC. The amendments proposed to insert new sections in the LIC Act to provide for disqualifications to be a director, disclosure of interest by director and senior management, related-party transactions and adjudication of penalties for contravention or violation liable to penalty under the LIC Act. The LIC Board will reduce its paid-up equity capital by giving a notice to members and creditors. It will also constitute a committee, which shall be headed by a judge of a high court, to consider repression on reduction, and will submit its suggestions to the board. Further, no one other than the central government shall hold equity shares in excess of 5 per cent of issued equity capital of the corporation. Another amendment brought in relates to tax holidays for DFIs. The government-owned DFI will be tax exempt for a period of 10 years, while private DFIs will be given tax breaks for five years. However, tax holidays for private DFIs could be extended for 10 years, subject to some conditions. The amendments also addressed the concerns over the expansion of equalisation levy. Digital tax, aimed at foreign e-commerce operators, will not now apply to goods or services owned and operated by Indians and transacted over an overseas e-commerce platform. This means that if goods or services listed on a foreign marketplace are owned or provided by an Indian resident or Indian permanent establishment of a foreign entity, they shall be out of the purview of the 2 per cent equalisation levy. equalisation levy would treat everybody who is operating in India equally. So, if foreign ecommerce companies pay income tax in India, equalisation levy is not applicable to them. Hence, there is no extra burden on any company, Sitharaman said. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai spoke on Tuesday with top officials in Japan, South Korea, Mexico and France about shared interests ranging from concerns about China's trading practices and human rights to World Trade Organization reforms, USTR said. Continuing a series of calls with her international counterparts, Tai spoke with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Hiroshi Kajiyama, the country's economy and trade minister, as well as South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee. She met with Mexican Secretary of Economy Tatiana Clouthier, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and Franck Riester, France's minister delegate for trade. In her call with Motegi, Tai voiced the Biden administration's support for engagement on digital trade issues and participating in international forums, including the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Motegi was the principal negotiator for a limited trade pact with the United States in 2019 under Tai's predecessor, Robert Lighthizer. The deal lowered Japanese tariffs and increased quotas on U.S. beef and other agricultural products in exchange for reduced U.S. tariffs on some Japanese industrial goods. USTR said Tai and France's Le Maire discussed the trade and investment relationship between the countries, and agreed to cooperate more closely on China as well as using trade policies to support climate change objectives. They discussed their "strong interest" in resolving a long-standing dispute over civil aircraft subsidies provided to Europe's Airbus and Boeing, after moves by Washington, Britain and the EU to temporarily suspend tariffs. The two officials also discussed the need to address global steel and aluminum overcapacity, USTR said. Tai and her Mexican counterpart discussed the importance of fully implementing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the mutual benefits of "robust" bilateral agricultural trade. They agreed to pursue a USMCA Free Trade Commission meeting with their Canadian counterpart in the near future. (Reporting by David Lawder and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Cynthia Osterman) Chance Seneca, the Lafayette man accused of kidnapping and attempting to kill a gay man after targeting him through a dating app, pleaded not guilty to all federal charges Tuesday. Seneca was arraigned before U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Magistrate Judge Carol B. Whitehurst and pleaded not guilty to charges of hate crime with attempt to kill, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, attempted kidnapping, obstruction by destruction of records and two counts of kidnapping. The 19-year-old was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury. Seneca was present in court, dressed in an orange Lafayette Parish Correctional Center jumpsuit with wrist and ankle shackles, and represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Dustin Talbot. Seneca has been detained at LPCC since he was arrested in June on a count of attempted second-degree murder by the Lafayette Police Department. The charges stem from an attack on Holden White, a 19-year-old Lafayette man, in the 400 block of Maryview Farm Road on June 20 and the targeting of two other men by Seneca the day before he brutalized White, the federal indictment said. Seneca connected with White and the others using Grindr, a dating app targeted to gay and bisexual men, which was classified as his hunting ground, court documents said. Talbot said his client would not challenge his detention, but reserved the right for a future detention hearing if his detention circumstances change. Top stories in Acadiana in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The accused divulged details of the crimes to investigators in recorded interviews with the Lafayette Police Department and the FBI, according to an unsealed affidavit from FBI Special Agent Daniel English. The affidavit said Seneca called 911 himself and when officers arrived, White was found naked in a bathtub with severely slashed wrists, strangulation marks and other injuries, surrounded by weapons including a knife, ice pick, saw and hammer. The affidavit said Seneca told investigators he purchased some of the tools on Amazon, and had intended to dismember White and preserve some of his body parts as trophies, mementos and food, per the indictment. Gay Louisiana man brutally beaten during Grindr date is starting to recover in Lafayette As the victim in a weekend stabbing improves, LGBTQ activists are asking police to consider the role the teens gay identity may have played i For Senecas federal offenses, the statutory maximum for the hate crime and kidnapping offenses is life imprisonment. The maximum sentence for the attempted kidnapping and obstruction charges is 20 years and the minimum for the gun charge is five years, a U.S. District Court release said. In addition to the attempted second-degree murder charge, Seneca also faces a state hate crime charge in the 15th Judicial District Court. His state pre-trial hearing for those charges is scheduled for April 29. ( ) (FRA:N6D) is keen to push ahead with its flagship Lindi Jumbo Project in Tanzania amid increasing demand for graphite from clean and green tech applications and is hoping to start production this year. We believe the renewed attention on battery minerals will provide the stimulus to bring Lindi into production at just the right time, said managing director Allan Mulligan. The company said progress was being made on a conditional US$25 million debt facility from the African Export-Import Bank and that it was looking for additional financing. We are seeking debt funding from African banks to fund the project, Mulligan added. While the slow pace of funding is frustrating for the Australian-listed company, it expects to be able to move quickly once the process is complete and has previously highlighted a very short development timeframe of seven months from the receipt of financing. Ore reserve The graphite project in southeast Tanzania has a JORC-compliant proven and probable ore reserve of 5.5 million tonnes at a grade of 17.9%, the highest ore reserve grade of any graphite development project in Africa, with the ore reserve based only on 37% of the measured and indicated portion of the mineral resource estimate. A definitive feasibility study (DFS) was based on annual production of 40,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate with a high-grade feed to the plant at an average of 230,000 tonnes per annum over the mines 24-year lifespan. The very high grade and exceptional distribution of large graphite flakes within the project area provide a strong competitive advantage in capital and operating cost. The project has been independently verified by Benchmark Minerals Intelligence as the worlds second-highest margin graphite project in development. Graphite been declared a critical metal in the US and Europe as demand has grown whilst supply from China, the worlds largest producer, has been uncertain. Lithium-ion batteries consume about a quarter of graphite production and growth in hybrid and all-electric vehicles and off-grid storage have continued to boost demand. Graphite output will need to jump by almost 500% by 2050 to meet this demand, according to a World Bank report last May. "Excellent" outlook Mulligan said the outlook for graphite and lithium Walkabout also has a lithium project in Namibia - was excellent. These minerals will be in short supply for some time. The robust battery minerals market will draw graphite away from other uses and increase general demand. Metallurgical results indicated that about three-quarters of the flake distribution in concentrate at Lindi Jumbo were in the Super Jumbo, Jumbo or Large size categories which sell at a premium. The company is fast-tracking the projects development to capitalise on the predicted high demand for premium flake concentrate. It plans to sell its larger flake graphite predominantly into the traditional and more specialised non-anode markets, which are also expanding. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence sees non-anode natural flake graphite demand growing about 14% between 2025 and 2035. Walkabout took Lindi Jumbo from discovery in October 2015 to completion of a DFS within 16 months and has been granted a mining lease over the deposit. The licences are within the highly prospective Mozambique belt, a region that hosts some of the worlds highest grade, coarse flake graphite deposits. Strong relationship The company has two projects in Tanzania and does not expect any impact from the death of the countrys president, John Magufuli, last week. We expect no changes within the next five years. We have a very strong relationship with the Tanzanian Government and receive a lot of support from the Ministry of Mines, said Mulligan, adding that last weeks events were tragic and that the people would take a while to adjust. Amani Gold Project Walkabouts other interest in Tanzania is the Amani Gold Project. In the second half of last year, Walkabout completed the first-ever modern and systematic exploration program undertaken at Amani. The initial reconnaissance soil sampling program identified multiple gold anomalies, confirming the undercover hard rock potential of the large project. The company is planning advanced field exploration and a subsequent drilling program at Amani for the 2021 financial year. The Amani Gold Project could be the companys next focus as could ongoing exploration in Scotland, said Mulligan. Of course, there is also the downstream product beneficiation for graphite and we have been doing quite a bit of work for that, he said. UK projects The COVID-19 pandemic curtailed work in Northern Ireland and Scotland where Walkabout is exploring for gold and base metals, but government-imposed lockdowns are now easing. We would hope to commence a first pass drilling program in Scotland before mid-year. All approvals have been secured, said Mulligan. All in all, this year could be a key one for Walkabout as it undertakes its own rite of passage that it hopes will see it transform from an exploration company into a producer. - Julie Crust Christine (Lucarelli) Dippre passed away on Sunday, March 21, 2021, after a long illness. She had been a resident of Scranton Health Care Center since December 2020. Born July 6, 1954, she was the third daughter of the late Robert and Pauline (Pepsin) Lucarelli. A graduate of West Scranton High School in 1972, Christine earned a bachelors degree from Bloomsburg University, where she studied Spanish education. She had been employed by the state of Pennsylvania as a translator for claims in the unemployment office until she retired. As a young woman, fresh out of college and ready for adventure, Christine spent one year in Quito, Ecuador, first as a student teacher and then as a tutor in the private sector. Her experiences in South America left a great impact on her, and she often told stories of the interesting and unforgettable people she met. Christine returned home to Pennsylvania, determined to make a difference for others, and she did all through her life, personally and through her work. Christine was always a generous and loving person who enjoyed her family and friends. She is survived by her daughter, Sara Puksta (Scranton); son-in-law, Ryan Puksta; grandson, Andrew; sister, Rose Stoebling (San Diego, Calif.); brother, Robert (Philadelphia); a sister-in-law, Bobbi Ann Lucarelli; nephews, Shaun and Keith Conallen and Bryan Lucarelli; as well as cousins in Scranton and New Jersey. Private funeral arrangements have been made through Ferri & Gillette Funeral Services LLC, 522 Fallon St., Old Forge. To leave an online condolence, visit the funeral home website. Samsung Display's worldwide small OLED shipments in January dropped 9 per cent (month-to-month) to 45 million units, according to market researcher Omdia, which added that the decline is apparently prompted by sluggish sales of Apple's iPhone 12 mini. Seoul: Samsung Display, a major display panel maker in South Korea, is likely to receive compensation from Apple over a shortfall in OLED panel orders, industry insiders said on Tuesday. Foreign media have reported that Apple has adjusted target production of the iPhone 12 series to 75 million units for the first half of this year, which is about 20 per cent down from its previous target, with the iPhone 12 mini responsible for the majority of the cuts. Samsung Display is the sole supplier of a 5.4-inch panel for the iPhone 12 mini, the smallest model of Apple's 5G-supporting iPhone 12 series. Industry observers are now predicting that Apple may once again have to pay Samsung a hefty penalty for not meeting the minimum order quantity, reports Yonhap news agency. Apple reportedly paid an estimated $684 million in 2019 and $1 billion in 2020 to Samsung Display for below-par OLED panel orders. "It is uncertain whether Apple would pay a penalty to Samsung Display, but considering its contract history and sluggish sales of the iPhone 12 mini, it is likely that Apple will compensate Samsung Display," an industry official said on condition of anonymity. Samsung Display, an affiliate of Samsung Electronics Co., has been the world's leading smartphone panel vendor while dominating the supply of displays for Apple's iPhones. According to Omdia, global OLED panel shipments reached 53 million units in January, and Samsung Display accounted for 85 per cent of them. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... PHOENIX Ava Arpaio, the wife of the former longtime sheriff of metro Phoenix who faithfully supported her husband in his controversial political career yet still managed to be liked by some of his toughest critics, has died at age 89. Her death Sunday at a hospital in the Phoenix area was confirmed by her husband, former Sheriff Joe Arpaio. She died from complications of cancer. Arpaio has credited his wife of 63 years for raising their two children while he worked as a federal drug agent in the United States, Turkey and Mexico and supporting him as he served as sheriff for 24 years and became an influential but polarizing figure in immigration enforcement. I look back and always say the job came first. Most people would never say that, the 88-year-old former lawman said Monday. I love my family, but I was dedicated to my job. And she put up with that and supported me. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Ava Arpaio, who met Joe Arpaio on a blind date when he was a police officer in Washington, walked onto political stages with her husband, rode alongside him in parades and stumped for him in TV ads. She was a soft-spoken, affable foil to his hard-boiled image he faced withering criticism about his jail and immigration policies, investigations of political foes and criminal contempt conviction, which former President Donald Trump pardoned. She also opened a travel business in 1980 where her husband worked after he retired as a federal drug agent but before he was elected sheriff. About five years ago, Ava Arpaio survived a bout of stomach cancer. While the cancer was in remission, she spent several days in an intensive care unit in 2019 after a rattlesnake that was in the couples garage came into the house and bit her. She recovered from the bite, but her cancer returned and spread. Chad Willems, Arpaios longtime campaign manager and political fundraiser, said Ava Arpaio was her husbands secret political weapon. She was able to win over voters who didnt necessary connect with Arpaio, Willems said. She was a subtle truth speaker who would talk her husband out of making bad decisions, not by having long policy arguments but by listening and interjecting powerful bits of advice, Willems said, such as telling him he should worry less about criticism in news coverage and remember he worked for the people. She never saw herself as a political consultant, but she had that sharp, common-sense instinct about her, Willems said. And she knew her husband inside and out. Lydia Guzman, a Latino civil rights advocate and longtime Arpaio critic, said Ava Arpaio had a way of disarming her husbands worst critics. Guzman recalled a booking signing where people who wanted to say nasty things to her husband found it hard to attack when the woman standing next to him was pleasant and had such an innocent smile. She was the PR Arpaio needed, not his regular PR, Guzman said. Knowing long ago that her husband had no hobbies and wasnt going to have a conventional retirement, Ava Arpaio set up an office for him in their hometown of Fountain Hills, a Phoenix suburb, after he was voted out of the sheriffs office in 2016. She had it ready to move in shortly after his loss. When Joe Arpaio made unsuccessful comeback attempts she supported him. In a 2019 interview with The Associated Press, she said her husband had her blessing to seek what became a failed bid for a seventh term as sheriff. He loves his work and would like to get back into it, Ava Arpaio said. Thats all he has done his whole life. Million dollar homes that normally back onto dry bush and open pastures have been washed out during Sydney's horror floods, as large tracts of farmland are turned into lakes complete with floating emus and food trucks. Carrington Road in Londonderry in Sydney's west was divided in two by Tuesday afternoon as murky floodwaters cut access to the main street. Homes were abandoned as water filled front yards and lapped against low lying properties. Floodwater entered several homes along the street and any cars left behind were submerged as rain continued to batter the small town near Penrith. Carrington Road in Londonderry in Sydney's west was divided in two by Tuesday afternoon as murky floodwaters cut access to the main street A pet emu named Gookie had become disorientated in the carnage and was swimming through the floodwaters as his desperate owner Paul Zammit tried to lure him back with dry bread and a warm towel Floodwater entered several homes along the street and any cars left behind were submerged as rain continued to batter the small town near Penrith An enormous truck was floating on its side (bottom left corner) on land that had been flooded The deluge was also threatening homes in leafy streets in nearby McGraths Hill, where enormous swathes of farmland were washed away by water spilling from the Hawkesbury River. Most roads in and out of the region had been cut by Tuesday, blocking access to Richmond, Wisemans Ferry, Windsor and Pitt Town. Mitchell Hawkett, whose parents have lived on Killarney Court in McGraths Hill for 25 years, moved back into his family home after he was evacuated from his own house in Pitt Town. 'I think we should be pretty safe here,' he said as he watched water slowly creep up at the end of his street. At the bottom of Killarney Court is a small graveyard which normally overlooks the paddocks Many of the graves were underwater by Tuesday afternoon as floodwaters continued to rise At the back of McGraths Hill and toward Oakville, sheds and properties were already entirely submerged in water by Tuesday afternoon. Paul Zammit, who lives nearby, tried desperately to rescue his pet emu who got disorientated in the craziness Floodwaters were lapping at homes in Londonderry, threatening to enter properties if the rain continued Pictured: Paul Zammit carrying his pet emu, Gookie 'It looks like a lake, but there isn't supposed to be any water down there. That's normally just green.' Mr Hawkett said while his family feel confident the water won't get inside their property, they've still had to make arrangements in case the unthinkable happens. 'We're still on high alert, absolutely... If the water does get closer, we're going to have to just keep on moving, I suppose. Next will be my brother in Rouse Hill.' When he fled Pitt Town, water was lapping at about gutter level and expected to rise. He packed his important photos and irreplaceable belongings before heading to his parents' house. At the bottom of Killarney Court is a small graveyard which normally overlooks the paddocks. Much of it was underwater on Tuesday. Floodwater entered several homes along the street and any cars left behind were submerged as rain continued to batter the small town near Penrith Floodwaters lapped against properties on the other side of Carrington Road, threatening to spill over if the rain continued Pictured: A child's toy car was left in the mud out the front of a house after waters subsided Mitchell Hawkett fled his home in Pitt Town and retreated to his parents' McGraths Hill home in Killarney Street before realising flood waters were starting to rise Just two minutes down the road at the back of McGraths Hill and toward Oakville, sheds and properties were already entirely submerged in water by Tuesday afternoon. A pet emu named Gookie had become disorientated in the carnage and was swimming through the floodwaters as his desperate owner Paul Zammit tried to lure him back with dry bread and a warm towel. He gravitated toward a catamaran which was further out the lake and attached to a factory which was entirely submerged in water. The catamaran was in the process of getting built prior to the floods. Homes were abandoned as water filled front yards and lapped against low lying properties This house in Killarney Court backed onto a parklands which were converted to a lake on Tuesday due to rising floodwaters The pet emu got disorientated when land he normally roams in was submerged in floodwaters on Wolseley Road. He is seen here near a shed on the property, which is entirely submerged under water A granny flat out the back of a Carrington Road house was flooded on Tuesday afternoon Locals gathered by the corner of Wolseley Road as they saw an enormous truck tipped on its side and floating in the water. One woman, who has lived in the area for more than 60 years, said it got caught up in the flooding early on Monday and had been floating through flooded streets before it finally seemed to get lodged at the end of the street. 'I thought it would've been all the way in Pitt Town by now,' she joked. Incredible drone footage of the area showcased just how much the usually green and dry landscape had changed in just days. Even still, locals who have lived here a lifetime say they've 'definitely seen worse'. 'Everyone's talking about 1961,' the woman said. 'Sure, that was the worst, but 1978 wasn't far behind. The water came up to the windowsills in '78, and we're not even that close to a body of water.' 'This is bad, but it's not the worst... Not the second worst either.' Roads were blocked in every direction heading in and out of McGraths Hill At the bottom of Killarney Court is a small graveyard which normally overlooks the paddocks COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Tuesday that just over $8.7 million in federal funding will pay for costs related to the coronavirus mass vaccination site at the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University. This funding is an advance payment for costs to establish the community vaccination site on the Cleveland State campus, according to a Federal Emergency Management Agency statement on Tuesday. The COVID-19 vaccination site at the Wolstein Center is an important resource in Ohios fight against the pandemic, said Kevin M. Sligh, an acting regional administrator for FEMA Region 5, in a statement. FEMA remains committed to expanding the rate of vaccinations in an efficient, effective and equitable manner in Ohio and across the nation, with an explicit focus on communities with a high risk of COVID-19 exposure and infection. The FEMA announcement was made ahead of President Joe Bidens expected visit to Columbus later Tuesday, his first visit to the state as president. The Biden administration - along with Gov. Mike DeWine, CSU officials and Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish -- announced the Cleveland mass vaccination site as Ohios first. Its also the only site supported by FEMA, although 15 other mass vaccination sites organized by the state, local health departments and others have also been set up in other parts of Ohio. After a soft opening, the Cleveland site began vaccinations March 17. Its open seven days a week, 12 hours a day, for eight weeks. Eligible Ohioans can schedule vaccines at gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov. The mass vaccination site in Cleveland has been a game-changer in terms of making the vaccine more accessible, and Ohio is grateful for FEMAs continued support as we move down the road to recovery, DeWine said in Tuesdays FEMA statement. Everyone deserves the opportunity to be vaccinated against this devastating virus, and this clinic is making a significant difference as we focus on ensuring that those in Ohios high risk and traditionally underserved communities have equal access to the vaccine. Sima Merick, the Ohio Emergency Management Agencys executive director, said the Cleveland mass vaccination sites location is key. Because of its location in Downtown Cleveland, and its availability to public transportation, we are able to serve individuals who are from all walks of life, she said. Whether individuals are underserved or have access-functional needs, with the availability of community partners at the Wolstein Center, were able to get shots in arms of those who so desperately need it. More coverage: Gov. Mike DeWine denies coronavirus vaccine equity plan favors rural areas at expense of urban areas As expected, Ohio surpasses 1 million coronavirus cases: Monday update In addition to Cleveland, Ohio will get 15 more mass vaccination sites. Here is the list. LA JOLLA, Calif., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Model Medicines, an AI drug discovery software company, today announced they have entered into a multi-target collaboration agreement with Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute to identify and develop drugs for novel antiviral targets. The collaboration leverages Model Medicines' ActivPred AI Drug Discovery Platform, an unbiased drug, target, and disease agnostic digital chemistry engine, in conjunction with Sanford Burnham Prebys' identification of novel antiviral targets and deep scientific expertise, to discover and develop new treatments for SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases. The partnership will initially focus on COVID-19 with a long-term vision of both Sanford Burnham Prebys and Model Medicines to develop and advance broad-spectrum antivirals for the infectious diseases of today and those yet unknown in the future. While pandemics like COVID-19 are not expected on a yearly basis, it is widely understood that the international community will encounter these pandemics at a significantly higher frequency. There is an immediate and ongoing need to develop broad-spectrum antivirals that are ready to be dosed globally at a moment's notice to meet these challenges. The application of novel, validated therapeutics at the onset of an outbreak has the potential to significantly reduce the loss of life and the disruption to the global economy wrought by future infectious diseases. Model Medicines has created an infectious disease specific version of their ActivPred AI Drug Discovery Platform that focuses exclusively on identifying safe and effective, non-obvious therapeutics with activity against the novel biological targets identified by Sanford Burnham Prebys. Their digital chemistry drug discovery platform leverages artificial intelligence based on fundamental chemistry to discover drugs active against these novel biological targets that cannot be resolved with traditional high throughput screening approaches. "We are very excited to partner with Model Medicines on this important endeavor to identify novel therapeutics to treat the immediate threat of SARS-CoV-2 today and prepare for the pandemics of tomorrow," says Sumit Chanda, Ph.D. , director of the Immunity and Pathogenesis Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys. "We believe that our research partnership with Model Medicines will demonstrate that the combination of biology, chemistry and artificial intelligence can disrupt the traditional drug discovery process. The result of which has the potential to bring treatments to the market, on demand, at a fraction of the time, money, and effort, as well as with greater efficacy than traditional approaches." Chanda leads one of the leading infectious disease laboratories in the world focused on unraveling the molecular bases for complex host-pathogen interactions. His work has advanced human understanding of viral pathogenesis, elucidating the repertoire of host proteins required for viral infection, and expanding the understanding of the molecular strategies adapted by these viruses as countermeasures to innate immune responses. Chanda is the senior author of "Discovery of SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drugs through large-scale compound repurposing", a seminal multi-institute paper published in Nature in 2020, which is ranked in the 99th percentile of all published studies of similar age. "We are grateful to be working with Dr. Chanda, a renowned expert in infectious disease biology, and our colleagues at Sanford Burnham Prebys, one of the most storied biomedical institutes in the world," says Daniel Haders, Ph.D., executive chairman at Model Medicines. "Dr. Chanda's expertise in virology coupled with our cheminformatic approach to AI drug discovery has the potential to identify potent therapeutics for novel viral targets which will help meet the needs of patients suffering with COVID-19 today and patients afflicted with the infectious diseases of tomorrow." About Sanford Burnham Prebys Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute is dedicated to discovering the fundamental molecular causes of disease and devising the innovative therapies of tomorrow. The Institute takes a unique, collaborative approach to medical research and has established major research programs in cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, and infectious, inflammatory, and childhood diseases. The Institute is especially known for its world-class capabilities in stem cell research and drug discovery technologies. Sanford Burnham Prebys is a U.S.-based, non-profit public benefit corporation based in San Diego (La Jolla), California. About Model Medicines Model Medicines is an AI Drug Discovery company that reduces the time to bring a drug to market by 10+ years and the cost to bring a drug to market by $1B+. Model Medicines is transforming drug discovery by leveraging the historical compendium of drug development data, a drug and disease agnostic discovery platform, and unbiased AI to create Phase II/III ready drug candidates in months rather than years. The company has developed a robust pipeline of patent-pending therapeutics for gastric disorders, neurological disorders, weight disorders, and infectious diseases. For more information, visit: www.modelmedicines.com SOURCE Model Medicines Related Links https://www.modelmedicines.com/ KYODO NEWS - Mar 23, 2021 - 13:41 | All, Japan The Mie prefectural assembly approved an ordinance Tuesday banning anyone from revealing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity without consent or good reason, a first in any of the nation's 47 prefectures. The ordinance aimed at "realizing a society where people recognize sexual diversity" to eliminate discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people will come into force on April 1, but it does not stipulate penalties for breaches. The nonbinding ordinance urges people to refrain from treating others in a discriminatory manner based on their sexual orientation and seeks cooperation from residents and companies in the central Japan prefecture. The prefectural government will hold seminars on outing for its officials and ask local city and town governments as well as schools and companies to take action to stamp it out. The central government has designated outing as an abuse of power in its guidelines against workplace harassment under a law that took effect last June and requires large companies to take measures against it. But advocates of LGBT rights have claimed the state's efforts are insufficient because the guidelines only cover workplaces. They urged the central government to introduce national legislation prohibiting outing. Mie Gov. Eikei Suzuki has spearheaded efforts to protect LGBT individuals. In September, the prefectural government will introduce a partnership certification system for LGBT and sexual minority couples so they can have equivalent rights to married couples in terms of living in public housing and giving consent to their partners' medical treatment, among other benefits. Debates over outing have gained momentum in Japan since 2015 when a Hitotsubashi University graduate student died after falling from a university building in Tokyo in an apparent suicide after his romantic interest divulged his sexual orientation to his peers. Following the incident, the city of Kunitachi in Tokyo, which hosts the university, became the first local government to enforce an ordinance that included a ban on outing LGBT individuals in April 2018. In early 2021 North Korea introduced property and life insurance designed to appeal to the many newly prosperous dojun (entrepreneurs) as well as government employees who have grown wealthy by extracting bribes from an increasingly desperate population. Local officials see this as a new way to tax property owners without calling it a tax. Local officials participate in getting people to sign up for what they insist is mandatory insurance for personal property. The premiums are high, the benefits are low and there a lot of loopholes that enable the state-owned insurance company to avoid paying a claim. The program was officially legalized in early March by the Supreme People's Assembly, the government-controlled legislature that consists of members approved by the ruling Workers Party and the Kim family. When you read the policy conditions it becomes apparent that the property and life insurance offerings appear to be more of another government grift, a scheme designed to extract the maximum amount of money from victims without much risk to the grifter. Since a government owned insurance company is providing the new insurance offerings, no one is going to be prosecuted for any crime. The fine print reveals that the government has many opportunities to cheat. For example, no benefits are paid if anyone dies while committing an illegal act or because of gross negligence. No payments are made if the death occurs during a military action or because of radiation poisoning. Worse, claims must be filed quickly and this involves getting the local bureaucracy to process needed documents quickly enough to meet the deadline. The government can also charge a claimant with a crime, which also invalidates claims. Local officials are usually given quotas for programs that depend on voluntary participation. The local officials keep their jobs, and the ability to extract bribes, by meeting these quotas. Since the 1990s the government has depended more on voluntary contributions from North Koreans several times a year. This is usually in the form of free labor for construction projects or providing additional agricultural labor during harvest time. On other occasions the contribution is in goods or cash. This type of tax collection is an ancient practice the disappeared during the Industrial Revolution when there were larger GDPs and more cash to collect from the greater number of wealthy entrepreneurs and the growing number of educated professionals. Initially many governments handled tax collection through the use of tax farmers who purchased a license to collect taxes in a certain area and deliver a certain amount to the government. Anything additional the tax farmers collected they would keep. This system did not work as well during the pre-industrial revolution period because more of the wealth was concentrated in noble, or just rich, families that retained lots of armed men and lawyers to deal with threats like royal tax farmers. In North Korea the age of tax farming is alive and thriving with things like rigged insurance policies. South Korea went through the industrial revolution in the last fifty years, China did so in the last forty years. North Korea is still stuck with a medieval economy with GPD to match and an obsession with raising enough money to build nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles to deliver them. With these weapons North Korean leaders believe they can extort more cash and goods from wealthier neighbors. Few people realize how poor North Korea is. Over 90 percent of the North Korean economy is state owned and like most communist states there is no income tax because there is so little to tax. South Korea has a GDP that is 55 times larger than North Korea. Adjusted for population, South Korea has more than 25 times more GDP per capita. To make matters worse North Korea spends about a third of GDP on defense compared to about three percent for South Korea. It was interesting that radiation poisoning was listed as something that cannot be collected on. Officially there is no radiation problem in North Korea. Yet in 2018 North Korea officially closed its troubled (by tunnel collapses and radiation leaks) nuclear test site in the northeast at Kilju (North Hamgyong Province). This area is on the Chinese border. The province is largely rural and undeveloped, one reason for putting the nuclear test site there. But before the Kilju site was officially shut down, with foreign reporters, but not any foreign nuclear experts, present the government carried out a quiet effort to move anything of value, including some items that were not really portable (structures). In late 2017 some 200 North Korean soldiers and family members were being treated for radiation poisoning at the Punggye-ri nuclear facility. Chinese radiation monitors on the North Korean border recorded levels were up seven percent a week after the September 3rd underground nuclear test and were apparently much higher in North Korea. This data was released because the Chinese population along the border know that they face some health risks if radiation levels increase too much for too long. Earlier in October 2017 there was a tunnel construction accident in Mantapsan Mountain near Punggye-ri. A hundred workers were trapped but they died, along with about a hundred tunnel workers sent to rescue them when a second collapse occurred. This all makes the nuclear weapons program appear to be a threat to North Koreans as well. On September 12, 2017 Chinese radiation monitors on the North Korean border recorded levels were up seven percent since the September 3rd test and have appeared to have peaked. This data was released because the population along the border know that they face some health risks if radiation levels increase too much for too long. Chinese insurance companies, unlike the North Korean one, will pay when radiation sickness is a cause of death. After New Delhi sent 8,70,000 additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has expressed his gratitude towards the Indian government. A video has been shared online of Mexican President Obrador, where he can be seen addressing a group of journalists and thanking the Indian government for giving consent for additional doses of vaccine to be sent to Mexico. We are talking about the case of India. They have control (over vaccine distribution) because, naturally, understandably they have their population that they must vaccinate. So, vaccines do not go out if there is no authorization from the Indian government, hence the importance of this fact is that they have authorized to send these vaccines to us and we are grateful to the Indian government, President Obrador said in his address. Other Mexican leaders, including Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, were seen in the video, thanking India for sending vaccine doses on short notice. In the video, the general public of Mexico can also be seen expressing their gratitude towards India for sending the jabs. The Mexican government reportedly bought the vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India for $4 per dose. Mexico had started vaccinating health workers and other frontline professionals in December 2020, however, due to a shortage of doses the government struggled to meet its target. Earlier last month, India sent 5,00,000 doses of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico under the "Vaccine Maitri" initiative. However, after the government of Mexico requested additional doses, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar made huge efforts to quickly send 8,70,000 more doses of AstraZeneca vaccine that is being produced in Pune by the Serum Institute of India. Expressing our Amistad. Mexico receives Made in India vaccines. #VaccineMaitri pic.twitter.com/dQlENoHn38 Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 14, 2021 India's "Vaccine Maitri" India has won global praise for its Vaccine Maitri programme which aims to aid low- and middle-income countries amidst the global pandemic. So far, India has exported the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine and Bharat Biotech's indigenous vaccine to more than 29 countries and will be providing vaccine doses to 49 more countries in the coming days. Both the vaccines are already in circulation in India with senior citizens receiving the jabs in the second phase of the immunization drive. (Image Credit: ANI/AP) The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. To help protect students of over 250 government schools across Mumbai, Delhi/NCR and Jammu through the American India Foundation Avantor, Inc, a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences, advanced technologies and applied materials industries is donating 300 infrared thermometers, and 90,000 surgical and N95 masks to help protect students of over 250 government schools across Mumbai, Delhi/NCR and Jammu through the American India Foundation. In India, working closely with The American India Foundation (AIF), Avantor is targeting the distribution of 300 infrared thermometers and 90,000 surgical and N95 masks over the course of the next couple of weeks. Elaborating on the roll out of the programme, Devashish Ohri, Executive Vice President, IMEA, Avantor at the ceremonial handover held at the Government Co-Ed. Secondary School, Patparganj, Delhi said, The schools have been shortlisted based on the need and urgency of providing safe spaces for children to return to school. Around 85 schools in Mumbai, 100 schools in Jammu and 66 schools in Delhi will receive Avantors support. Mathew Joseph, Country Director, AIF said, Students are eager to return to school where they find stability in learning outcomes, as well as emotional security by bonding with their friends. In such circumstances, the support system needs to ensure that children return to school in a safe environment, and we are grateful to Avantor for their generous gesture. Through our education programmes, AIF is building back a better normal for school children. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 The virus is on the retreat. Case numbers are down, vaccinations are up, and theres finally light at the end of a long tunnel. So why is President Biden allowing so many illegal immigrants into the United States with no regard to their health status? Six days into President Bidens term, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began requiring anyone flying into the United States, including American citizens, to provide evidence of a negative COVID test taken within three days of their flight. The Administration claimed such restrictions were necessary to curb the spread of coronavirus. Yet migrants entering the United States illegally are not subject to the same scrutiny. According to news reports more than 100 illegal immigrants released by border patrol agents in Brownsville, Texas in recent weeks tested positive for coronavirus. The city provided free testing, but had no authority to prevent migrants from traveling elsewhere upon their release. I wrote to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on February 16th asking him to explain why the Biden Administration is subjecting American citizens to stricter re-entry protocols than non-citizens. I have yet to receive a response, but the evidence is clear: President Biden and his Administration are prioritizing open borders and limited enforcement over the health of the American people. President Bidens policies are only making the crisis at the border worse. By reversing President Trumps successful policies of border security and deterrence, and proposing legislation with a pathway to citizenship for all illegal immigrants, President Biden has incentivized tens of thousands of migrants to make the dangerous journey across the southern border during traditional down months for border crossings. President Biden and his officials have tried to shift blame for the growing border catastrophe, either by implausibly blaming President Trump, or desperately claiming that the disaster were witnessing is not a crisis. Neither this announcement nor any of the other measures suggests that anyone, especially children and families with young children, should make the dangerous trip to try to enter the U.S. in an irregular fashion, said Roberta Jacobson, whos been named the Biden Administrations coordinator for the southern border. The need for Jacobsons position in the first place undermines the Administrations claim of no border crisis, in addition to serving as a damning indictment of Secretary Mayorkas failures on the job in his short tenure. But despite Jacobsons pleas, this is a situation of the Administrations own making. The people crossing the border credit President Biden, wearing t-shirts that say Biden, Let Us In and telling reporters, with the new president, it will be easier to enter the U.S. The latest data shows how bad the situation is becoming. CBP reported more than 100,000 illegal border crossings for February 2021, more than 300% the number who crossed in February of last year. And the number of unaccompanied children coming continues to rise, with more than 9,000 arriving in February of this year, breaking records and leaving border patrol overwhelmed. At this rate, were on track to have one of the worst years of illegal border crossings in recent memory. The border catastrophe will only get worse unless President Biden takes concrete action to secure our borders and discourage migrants from entering illegally. While the President refuses to confront the crisis in person, I believe its important to see the problems firsthand, and hear directly from folks on the frontlines how we in Washington can help. Thats why Ill be going to McAllen, Texas, a hotspot for illegal border crossings, with a group of my colleagues to talk with U.S. Customs and Border Protection law enforcement and observe the processing facilities and ports of entry. He can do so by reinstating President Trumps successful Migrant Protection Protocols program which processed asylum claims without releasing people into the United States and finishing construction of the wall. These policies are common-sense and popular among Americans, but I wont hold my breath that President Biden will pursue them. President Biden decided to send the message to the world that our border is open -- we shouldnt be surprised that people believed him and showed up. But we should expect, and demand, our President put the health and safety of the American people first. (Sen. Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the U.S. Senate) He famously swapped Walford for Hollywood, going on to star in films such as X-Men: Apocalypse and the Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody. And former EastEnders star Ben Hardy is set to make a grand return to the BBC to star in a gritty new drama called The Girl before. The actor, 30, who played Peter Beale in the soap, will reportedly play a character called Simon in the physiological thriller alongside fellow EastEnders alumni Jessica Plummer, who'll portray his on-screen girlfriend Emma. New role: Former EastEnders star Ben Hardy is set to make a grand return to the BBC to star in a gritty new drama called The Girl before Ben joins previously announced cast members David Oyelowo and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in The Girl Before, which will also stream on HBO Max. The four-part series is based on the novel of the same name by J.P. Delaney. It tells the story of Jane (Mbatha-Raw), who moves into a stunning, minimalist property called One Folgate Street, which is designed by an enigmatic architect (Oyelowo). A catch to living in the house is that the architect demands that the inhabitants obey a strict set of rules, with Jane soon coming to realise that the previous inhabitant (The Girl Before, played by Plummer) went through the same strange experience. The way he was: The actor, 30, who played Peter Beale in the soap, will reportedly play a character called Simon in the physiological thriller (pictured as Peter Beale in EastEnders) As the two women's experiences entwine, Jane begins to wonder if she'll meet the same fate as her predecessor. Since saying goodbye to Albert Square, Ben has bagged numerous roles in films and shows including Mary Shelley, Only The Brave, 6 Underground and The Woman In White. His soap character Peter had a tumultuous time in Albert Square in the last couple of years, most notably with his sister Lucy being murdered by their brother Bobby. Co-star: Ben will appear alongside fellow EastEnders alumni Jessica Plummer, who'll portray his on-screen girlfriend Emma Cast: Ben joins previously announced cast members David Oyelowo and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in The Girl Before, which will also stream on HBO Max Peter left the Square for a new life in New Zealand, with his ex Lauren Branning eventually joining him with their son Louie. Meanwhile, his personal life recently took a knock as he's said to have split from girlfriend Olivia Cooke during lockdown. The former EastEnders star and the actress, 27, are said to have called it quits last year after their relationship naturally ended soon after Britain entered lockdown. Fame: He famously swapped Walford for Hollywood, going on to star in films such as X-Men: Apocalypse and the Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody The pair met and fell in love on the set of their comedy crime thriller Pixie and were first pictured together in February. A source told The Sun: 'Olivia and Ben were smitten to begin with but the intensity soon fizzled out. 'They're at pivotal points in their acting careers and just couldn't make it work.' The egg industry has raised concern over difficulties faced by those exporting 'seconds' to the EU following the end of the Brexit transition period. Cracked eggs, combined with eggs dirtied by cracked eggs on a transporting conveyor belt, can contribute to a high percentage of those being classed as 'seconds'. Since the Britain's departure from the EU Single Market at the start of this year, significant difficulties have arisen for those exporting seconds. Although a trade deal was reached, there was no agreement on specific pathogen free (SPF) requirements, meaning that the UK is now treated as a third country. As a result, exports of unfit liquid egg are staying in GB and are often used for either anaerobic digestion or rendering at minimal cost. The British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) said it was 'disappointing' that the export of seconds had effectively ended due to the EUs third country import requirements. CEO Robert Gooch said: "The requirement for the shell to be marked with the Producer Establishment Number, Class B indicator and ISO code GB is only one of the many that are affecting our sector due to trade issues resulting from GB leaving the EU. The fact that Northern Ireland has remained in the Single Market, but the rest of the UK has not, has added even more complications to the trade in eggs and chicks. "Increased paperwork, delays, and non-tariff barriers were all predicted by BFREPA when it lobbied for the UK to remain within the EU. "As a third country, there are no easy options to remedy these kinds of trade issues other than planning for the extra costs that will inevitably arise. Mark Williams, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC), echoed this, adding that there had been 'lots of issues' with paperwork. "There have been some problems at ports, for example with the export of unfit melange, which is an issue we are liaising with government on, he said. He explained that these requirements were here to stay but, in time, would hopefully become easier to manage. As people become more used to it, the paperwork will become easier, but the SPF requirements that are in place will not change unless the EU is prepared to change their export health certificate and reduce the SPF barriers. "We are raising these points with government because we cannot have Brexit creating added costs and difficulties for our industry. 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. GALVESTON, Texas, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ryson Real Estate & Vacation Rentals is celebrating their 15 Year Anniversary as one of the most awarded vacation rental and real estate companies on Galveston Island. Jason Keeling, owner and founder of Ryson, started Ryson Real Estate in 2006. The company quickly expanded year after year and now consists of multiple divisions - Ryson Real Estate, Ryson Vacation Rentals and Ryson Property Management. The Ryson Real Estate department comprises an owner-broker, two associate brokers and eight sales agents, for a total of eleven agents. Ryson agents work in conjunction with the largest local vacation rental department on the island, Ryson's own Vacation Rental division, to assist their clients in purchasing second homes to enter into the vacation rental market. Today Ryson manages over 240 vacation rental properties on the island, from luxury condos at world class resorts, to spacious beachfront and canal homes. Ryson works with property owners to encourage guests from all over Texas and the world to visit beautiful Galveston Island. Last year Ryson premiered their Luxury Collection of vacation rentals, now consisting of 14 extraordinary properties. Ryson Property Management manages 170 long term rental properties. This portfolio includes apartment complexes and private homes in Galveston. The Property Management division also works hand in hand with the other Ryson divisions to serve their tenants' and clients' needs. Ryson's vacation rentals initially struggled last year amid the pandemic, but by May 2020 it became "the best year we've had across most properties in our portfolio" said Liz Overton, CEO of Ryson. "It really was the rise of vacation rentals." Ryson is planning a celebratory event to take place this summer to commend the accomplishment of reaching 15 successful years of great service, growth and achievement. Ryson is not only celebrating their anniversary in 2021 but also branding it as "The Year of Togetherness." Jason has stated that he would like it to be the "year of togetherness for the families that haven't been able to be together in 2020." Ryson is hoping to bring families, Ryson's growing department divisions, and Ryson's homeowners all closer together this year. SOURCE Ryson Real Estate & Vacation Rentals Related Links https://www.galvestontxbeachrental.com Carlos Sainz says he isn't worried about being marginalised by Ferrari in the way that his predecessor Sebastian Vettel was. "I'm not afraid that will happen," the Spanish driver told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "But I don't see it that way - that Ferrari can devour a driver. I see what people say about Vettel, that Ferrari devoured him, but that's not the case - at least for me," he added. Sainz, 26, arrives at Maranello this year after switching from McLaren. It is widely suspected that Ferrari sees him as a 'number 2' for Charles Leclerc, although the team denies that. Sainz said of Vettel's demise: "He had been there for five years, he went away with 11 wins and many podiums and leaves a story behind him, so for me they did not devour him. "Seb should be proud of what he left behind - let's see who else does 11 victories at Ferrari like he did. Maybe I am on murky territory but that's how I see it," he added. Sainz rejected the idea that he has been signed by Ferrari in a kind of Barrichello or Bottas-like role - a number 2 in everything other than name. "I know what you mean, but to have such thoughts you have to think in the medium or long term - about what you will leave behind when you go," he said. "I don't think about how it will be in 4-5 years - I think about how to do a top 5 or a podium in Bahrain. I am not thinking that if I don't beat Leclerc then I am the second driver. "I know this worries the media and the fans, but I don't think like that," Sainz added. "I just want to do my best, starting already in Bahrain. "It also depends on factors other than yourself in Formula 1 - it's not the 100 metre sprint at the Olympics. Sometimes even with talent you don't become champion because you haven't been in the right place at the right time." (GMM) Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 01:09:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LOS ANGELES, March 23 (Xinhua) -- A 21-year-old man was charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder in connection with Monday's mass shooting in a supermarket in U.S. state of Colorado, authorities said Tuesday. The suspect was identified as Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, said Maris Herold, police chief of Boulder, said at a news conference. Ten people, including one police officer, were killed in the mass shooting at the King Soopers supermarket in the city of Boulder. Officials said the shooter, undergoing treatment at a hospital, is a resident in the nearby city of Arvada. Monday's live video from local TV stations showed a shirtless man with blood on his leg was taken out of the supermarket in handcuffs by three police officers. Among the ten victims, Eric Talley, 51, was the first officer to arrive at the store and was killed by the suspect. "Rest In peace Officer Eric Talley. Your service will never be forgotten," the Boulder Police Department lamented on Twitter. The other nine victims have been identified by authorities as Denny Strong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Talona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jody Waters, 65. Enditem Seen is an illustration of Hyundai Motor Group's electric vehicle (EV) charging station, provided by the group, Tuesday. The automotive group said it will run its EV charging station business under the brand E-pit. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group By Baek Byung-yeul Hyundai Motor Group is jumping into the electric vehicle (EV) charging station business here, unveiling its new brand E-pit, Tuesday. The group said it will set up 20 E-pit EV charging stations with ultra-fast chargers across the country this year. Inspired by the pit stops of the Formula One racing event, which involve brief pauses for refueling, repairs and changing tires, its E-pit is designed to offer fast, easy, convenient and premium services to customers. "At E-pit stations, owners of Hyundai Motor Group's EVs with 800-volt charging capabilities can charge their vehicles to 80 percent within 18 minutes. By charging their vehicles for only five minutes they also can drive about 100 kilometers," the company said. Hyundai said 12 E-pit stations with a total of 72 EV chargers will be established at 12 highway rest stops in April, and eight stations, with a total of 48 chargers, will also be set up in urban centers across the nation. To enhance user convenience, the automotive group will introduce a digital payment service so that drivers don't need to go through complex confirmation processes, and so they can pay the recharging fees automatically via a mobile app. Having enough EV charging stations has become an urgent need for Korea, where more than 60 percent of households reside in apartment units. Hyundai is also actively shifting its business model toward EVs from traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. Hyundai Motor, a key affiliate of the group, recently introduced its latest EV model, the IONIQ 5, while its co-affiliate Kia is also slated to roll out the EV6 in the second half of this year. The group's Genesis luxury brand is also scheduled to launch its first EV-only model, the Genesis JW, within this year. To nurture the ecosystem for the EV industry, Hyundai will cooperate with EV charging service providers. With the growing demand for EVs, EV charging is regarded as a new business opportunity. Oil refiner GS Caltex already launched its own EV charging station brand Energy Plus Hub, to offer not only gas pumps and car maintenance, but also recharging for EVs and hydrogen cars. She always puts on a glamorous display, no matter the occasion. And Amanda Holden looked effortlessly chic when she strolled through the streets of London after hosting her Heart Breakfast show with Jamie Theakston on Tuesday. The Britain's Got Talent judge, 50, stepped out in a semi-sheer white blouse that she teamed with a matching midi-skirt for an elegant look. Stylish: Amanda Holden looked effortlessly chic in a white shirt and a matching midi skirt as she left Heart FM in London after hosting her breakfast show on Tuesday Keeping to her colour scheme, Amanda boosted her height in a pair of white heels which had bow detailing on the front. She accessorised with a small white clutch bag, and she offset her attire by shielding her eyes with a pair of stylish black sunglasses. Amanda styled her blonde locks into a sleek, straight style and she used a light palette of make-up to highlight her pretty features. Attention to detail: Keeping to her colour scheme, Amanda boosted her height in a pair of white heels which had bow detailing on the front Chic: Amanda accessorised with a small white clutch bag, and she offset her attire by shielding her eyes with a pair of stylish black sunglasses Amanda's outing comes after she shed light on how she goes about selecting her daring ensembles for Britain's Got Talent earlier this month. The TV judge famously racked up 235 Ofcom complaints during last year's series for a very risque dress but she remains defiant in her wardrobe choices. Amanda said she seeks advice from her husband, record producer Chris Hughes, and her daughter, Lexi, 15, when selecting her ensembles. She said: 'If I'm trying on outfits for shows I'll say to Lexi, "Is there too much side-boob?" or "Is this too much?" and she'll grin and say, "Go for it, Mum". Glamorous: Amanda styled her blonde locks into a sleek, straight style and she used a light palette of make-up to highlight her pretty features In good spirits: Amanda smiled as she made her way home after her radio show ended 'I'll ask Chris if I'm looking like mutton and he says, "Mandy, you could never look like mutton." 'It's positive affirmation that we women need. My mum loves it. She just laughs about it. So does my daughter.' Speaking to the Mail On Sunday's YOU Magazine, Amanda was more than happy to chat about how comfortable she is being naked. Chatting about cooking her family a roast recently, she said: 'I was quite literally the Naked Chef. 'I got out of the shower, realised I was running late to get everything on the table so I didn't bother to get dressed. 'I just raced downstairs, got the potatoes on, the meat in the oven and my veggie option. It definitely made it more interesting.' Chris, Lexi, and younger daughter Hollie, nine, didn't seem to care, she added: 'No one noticed. It's absolutely par for the course for me to be walking around with no clothes on in our house. 'Obviously now Lexi's a bit older she does a bit of eye-rolling every now and again, but they're all very used to me.' By Moira Warburton and Sarah Berman VANCOUVER (Reuters) - A Canadian judge rejected Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou's request to add evidence in her extradition case, as a federal prosecutor argued on Tuesday that Meng's legal team had presented a story of her arrest that did not fit the facts. Meng's lawyers wanted to include an affidavit from a Huawei accountant as evidence, which they said would shed light on the company's financial practices and help prove Meng's innocence as she fights extradition from Canada on charges of bank fraud in the United States. Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes of the British Columbia Supreme Court rejected the affidavit, the third such request made by Meng's legal team, stating the evidence "is not relevant" to the extradition hearing. Much of the team's other requests were similarly rejected. Meng, 49, was arrested at Vancouver International Airport in December 2018 on a U.S. warrant that alleges she misled HSBC about Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's business dealings in Iran, causing the bank to break U.S. sanctions. Meng says she is innocent. She is being held under house arrest in Vancouver, where she has been fighting extradition for two years. Prosecutor Robert Frater, representing the Canadian government, said the witnesses who testified at Mengs extradition hearings acknowledged errors candidly and were "anything but liars," as charged by Mengs legal team in court. Frater said the defense laid out an "exciting" narrative, involving a covert criminal investigation, lying and a cross-border cover-up. He called it a stark contrast from the more "prosaic" one from the prosecution, which described public officials doing their jobs without a playbook on how to handle such a rare case. Mengs legal team argued last week that misconduct by police and border officials during Mengs arrest and interrogation, including an alleged delay of her detainment by police, violated her rights and that her devices were seized without proper authority and her device passcodes improperly obtained. Story continues Frater said the arrest was carried out in a reasonable amount of time that took into consideration the responsibilities of the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA). He said the agency had the authority to obtain her passcodes and that they were passed on to Canadian police by mistake. The mistake did not violate Mengs rights because evidence showed police did not use them or pass them on to the FBI, he added. Meng's arrest frayed diplomatic ties between Ottawa and Beijing. Shortly after she was detained, China arrested two Canadians on espionage charges. They both faced trial in the past week, although it is not known when their verdicts will be announced. The prosecution is expected to resume arguments on Wednesday. Meng's case is set to wrap up in May. (Reporting by Moira Warburton and Sarah Berman in Vancouver; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney) President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into effect on Thursday, March 11, and many Americans received the third round of stimulus checks worth $1,400 per eligible individual last week. Though, progressive lawmakers say it wont suffice. Back in January, some 50 Democrats in the House of Representatives signed in a letter published by Politico addressed to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. In the letter, they urged that Americans need more than just a third stimulus, but recurring direct payments. We are experiencing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, with millions of Americans either unemployed, forced out of the workforce, or facing a decline in hours and wages, the letter stated. Worsening systemic inequities, such as food insecurity and housing instability, are most severe for Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, who are suffering higher infection and mortality rates of COVID-19 and higher unemployment levels, compared to white Americans. At the same time, many people of color are encountering reduced or stagnant incomes as frontline workers while not being able to access vital relief programs, such as unemployment insurance. Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota spearheaded as the letters lead signatory, as reported by Yahoo! A one-time payment of $2,000 is simply not enough, Omar said in a previous press release, before the American Rescue Plan was signed or the amount of the third stimulus checks was determined. The American people are counting on us to deliver transformative change, and we need to meet the moment by delivering monthly payments of $2,000. In the letter, progressive Democrats asked for: Continue until the economy recovers with equal payments to adults and dependents, Prioritize those who need it most and will spend it the quickest, Go to all immigrant workers, refugees, and their families (both ITIN filers and mixedstatus households), Include older dependents such as disabled and elderly dependents and those over the age of 16 still claimed as dependents, Add improved administrative outreach and communication at the state and local level to ensure families are aware of payments, and Ensure the Internal Revenue Service makes automatic payments available to all eligible households with better outreach to individuals left behind in previous rounds, including the underbanked and unbanked through pre-loaded EBT cards and those who had erroneous, delayed, or missing payments through improved casework assistance. Recurring direct payments to Americans wasnt included in the American Rescue Plan. CNET included a breakdown of what was in the American Rescue Plan. Unemployed Americans may qualify for federal unemployment checks up to $300 monthly. Also, some families may be eligible for the Child Tax Credit, which will be periodic payments. The Child Tax Credit offers $3,600 for children under the age of six and $3,000 for kids who are six or older. While recurring direct payments isnt on the table just yet, its reportedly a possibility that a fourth round of stimulus checks may be in the cards for the near future. READ MORE: NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Toluene market will register an incremental spend of about USD 7.58 Billion, growing at a CAGR of 5.44% during the five-year forecast period. A targeted strategic approach to Toluene sourcing can unlock several opportunities for buyers. This report also offers market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Download free sample report Toluene Market Procurement Research Report Key Highlights Offered in the Report: Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices. Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models. Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers. Get a free sample report for more information Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers: Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Toluene market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Toluene pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as volume-based pricing, spot pricing, and cost-plus pricing and category management strategies and best practices to fulfill their category objectives. For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers, Click here. Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth: The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 3.00%-6.00%. Identify favorable opportunities in Toluene TCO (total cost of ownership). Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes. Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities. Some of the top Toluene suppliers listed in this report: Story continues This Toluene procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies. BASF SE BP Plc Chevron Corp. China National Petroleum Corp. CPC Corp. Exxon Mobil Corp. Royal Dutch Shell Plc China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (SINOPEC) Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corp. SK Holdings Co. Ltd. To get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment, Subscribe Now for Free. Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix Get access to regular sourcing and procurement insights to our digital procurement platform- Contact Us. About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more: https://www.spendedge.com/request-for-demo Contacts SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SpendEdge Logo (PRNewsfoto/SpendEdge) Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-toluene-market-procurement-intelligence-report-with-covid-19-impact-analysis--global-market-forecasts-analysis-2021-2025--spendedge-301253875.html SOURCE SpendEdge 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. NORTH CHARLESTON A restaurant is expected to become the newest tenant on the old Navy base, a historic area in the city that's been a focal point for development. MOMO Kitchen + Market plans to take residence at Riverfront Park in the Quarters L building, which once housed Navy officers. "You've got a historic district in there, which is not something we're accustomed to in the city of North Charleston," Mayor Keith Summey said. "We need to utilize it and make it, I think, as good as we can." There are a handful of projects shaping up at the park and around the former Charleston Naval Base. The city recently finished $1 million in park renovations, which included fixing up the shoreline and upgrading the boardwalk. North Charleston is also working to expand the park with the $8 million pedestrian bridge that will run across Noisette Creek. Also, renovations are completed nearby on the lower floor of the historic Admiral's House, which played host to its first wedding reception last weekend. Summey said the restaurant addresses the need for food and beverage options. Even if youre walking through the park, theres no place to get a Coke," he said. MOMO Kitchen + Market has a location in Goose Creek, where the American dining restaurant offers shrimp-and-grits, grilled ribeye steaks, fish-and-chips and sandwiches. Owner Justin Moore, whose career includes working as a head chef in Atlanta, has developed close ties in North Charleston. He moved to the area 11 years ago. Moore and his wife were married at the Eternal Father Of The Sea Chapel at the park. The family lives in Park Circle, a neighborhood just north of Riverfront. He said he's excited for his restaurant to take residence in North Charleston. Sign up for our new business newsletter We're starting a weekly newsletter about the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina. Get ahead with us - it's free. Email Sign Up! "A few times in life you get a 'dream come true' kind of thing," Moore said. "Thats what this feels like for me. MOMO is not only a restaurant but also a family legacy. The money used to start the business was given to Moore by his mother, who passed away. The first three letters in "MOMO" are meant to honor his mom. It feels right," Moore said of his North Charleston location. The city's Finance Committee voted unanimously March 22 to lease the building to MOMO. City Council is expected to approve the final vote. The lease would begin May 1 with payments starting July 1 for $3,500 monthly, ending April 2022. City officials are glad to see the Quarters L building being put to use. The facility has been vacant for two years since being refurbished. "Hopefully, it's going to be successful," Summey said. "It's been sitting empty way too long." There will be adequate parking for the restaurant and other regular activities at the park, but the city is looking to add more parking spaces for future events. North Charleston expects to receive undeveloped land from the S.C. Ports Authority that the city could use as parking space in the meantime, the mayor said. Eventually, the city would like to see a parking garage in the area that could accommodate large events. Councilman Michael Brown acknowledged the need for more parking spaces but also raised concern over park access for those who don't have cars. He wondered whether Riverfront could be a bus stop for the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority. "It seems like you have to have a car to get there," he said. To that point, Summey said there also needs to be improved signage directing people to recreational space on the old base. The mayor said he believes there's money available to do just that. In this role, Smiley will be responsible for leading the development and execution of the company's growth and investment strategies, enabling its acceleration as a global branded food company. Smiley replaces Jim Splinter, former group vice president of corporate strategy, who retired last year. "Jacinth is an accomplished business executive with senior global leadership experience at top Fortune 500 companies," Snee said. "She has an exceptional finance background with significant experience in strategic planning, financial planning and analysis, mergers and acquisitions, integrations, controllership and international operations. I am excited to have her join our team and confident that she will bring valuable external experience and perspective to our senior leadership team." Previously, Smiley was vice president and chief accounting officer for LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB), one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world. She spent 20 years with General Electric (GE) in various roles across multiple industries, rising to chief financial officer for GE Oil and Gas North America. In addition, she held other senior roles within GE Capital and GE's industrial businesses. Smiley began her career at Arthur Andersen before joining United Technologies, where she worked across the United States, Europe, Middle East and Asia, ultimately becoming the finance manager of United Technologies' regional treasury center in the United Kingdom. Smiley holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Connecticut. About Hormel Foods Inspired People. Inspired Food. Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three straight years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" list for 12 years in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement Inspired People. Inspired Food. to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com. SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation Related Links http://www.hormel.com Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. A pair of hard-right politicians announced Senate bids in Missouri and Alabama on Monday night, igniting what are expected to be contentious primary races for open seats in two conservative states. In Missouri, Eric Greitens, the former governor who resigned after a scandal involving allegations of sexual misconduct and blackmail, said he would run for the seat being vacated by Senator Roy Blunt, who surprised Republicans this month when he announced plans to retire after next year. And in Alabama, Representative Mo Brooks, a staunch backer of former President Donald J. Trump, joined the race to succeed Senator Richard Shelby, who has also said he will not seek re-election in 2022. The two announcements, along with a new conservative challenge to the Georgia secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, who withstood Mr. Trumps pressure to overturn the states election results last year, offer the clearest signal yet that Republicans may face the kind of combative primary season some party leaders had hoped to avoid. Since Mr. Trump lost the election, Republicans have struggled to unify around a consistent message against the new administration, spending far more time fighting among themselves over loyalty to the former president and the culture war issues that animate his base. Structural battery composites cannot store as much energy as lithium-ion batteries, but have several characteristics that make them highly attractive for use in vehicles and other applications. When the battery becomes part of the load bearing structure, the mass of the battery essentially 'disappears'. Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology have produced a structural battery that performs ten times better than all previous versions. It contains carbon fibre that serves simultaneously as an electrode, conductor, and load-bearing material. Their latest research breakthrough paves the way for essentially 'massless' energy storage in vehicles and other technology. The batteries in today's electric cars constitute a large part of the vehicles' weight, without fulfilling any load-bearing function. A structural battery, on the other hand, is one that works as both a power source and as part of the structure - for example, in a car body. This is termed 'massless' energy storage, because in essence the battery's weight vanishes when it becomes part of the load-bearing structure. Calculations show that this type of multifunctional battery could greatly reduce the weight of an electric vehicle. The development of structural batteries at Chalmers University of Technology has proceeded through many years of research, including previous discoveries involving certain types of carbon fibre. In addition to being stiff and strong, they also have a good ability to store electrical energy chemically. This work was named by Physics World as one of 2018's ten biggest scientific breakthroughs. The first attempt to make a structural battery was made as early as 2007, but it has so far proven difficult to manufacture batteries with both good electrical and mechanical properties. But now the development has taken a real step forward, with researchers from Chalmers, in collaboration with KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, presenting a structural battery with properties that far exceed anything yet seen, in terms of electrical energy storage, stiffness and strength. Its multifunctional performance is ten times higher than previous structural battery prototypes. The battery has an energy density of 24 Wh/kg, meaning approximately 20 percent capacity compared to comparable lithium-ion batteries currently available. But since the weight of the vehicles can be greatly reduced, less energy will be required to drive an electric car, for example, and lower energy density also results in increased safety. And with a stiffness of 25 GPa, the structural battery can really compete with many other commonly used construction materials. "Previous attempts to make structural batteries have resulted in cells with either good mechanical properties, or good electrical properties. But here, using carbon fibre, we have succeeded in designing a structural battery with both competitive energy storage capacity and rigidity," explains Leif Asp, Professor at Chalmers and leader of the project. Super light electric bikes and consumer electronics could soon be a reality The new battery has a negative electrode made of carbon fibre, and a positive electrode made of a lithium iron phosphate-coated aluminium foil. They are separated by a fibreglass fabric, in an electrolyte matrix. Despite their success in creating a structural battery ten times better than all previous ones, the researchers did not choose the materials to try and break records - rather, they wanted to investigate and understand the effects of material architecture and separator thickness. Now, a new project, financed by the Swedish National Space Agency, is underway, where the performance of the structural battery will be increased yet further. The aluminium foil will be replaced with carbon fibre as a load-bearing material in the positive electrode, providing both increased stiffness and energy density. The fibreglass separator will be replaced with an ultra-thin variant, which will give a much greater effect - as well as faster charging cycles. The new project is expected to be completed within two years. Leif Asp, who is leading this project too, estimates that such a battery could reach an energy density of 75 Wh/kg and a stiffness of 75 GPa. This would make the battery about as strong as aluminium, but with a comparatively much lower weight. "The next generation structural battery has fantastic potential. If you look at consumer technology, it could be quite possible within a few years to manufacture smartphones, laptops or electric bicycles that weigh half as much as today and are much more compact", says Leif Asp. And in the longer term, it is absolutely conceivable that electric cars, electric planes and satellites will be designed with and powered by structural batteries. "We are really only limited by our imaginations here. We have received a lot of attention from many different types of companies in connection with the publication of our scientific articles in the field. There is understandably a great amount of interest in these lightweight, multifunctional materials," says Leif Asp. Ten months after they were forced to go home in March 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic and a strike by their teachers, the close to two million students of Nigerias 170 universities started getting notices from the federal government to return to their campuses by January 18. The immediate challenge, however, was whether the tertiary institutions had the capacity, in terms of personnel and facilities, to meet the COVID-19 prevention needs of the burgeoning population of students. With case counts still at a little over 100,000 in the country then, notable among the sceptical voices was that of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which asked students to remain at home, because of what it claimed were inadequate facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the universities. But the management of many of the institutions responded with statements of assurances, promising the students and the public safety upon resumption. As it is evident in some pictures posted online shortly after resumption, some universities made modest moves towards COVID-19 prevention. How have they fared two months down the line? DUBUWA visited some of these institutions to ascertain their level of compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures, such as regular hand washing, temperature checks, physical distancing, and the wearing of face masks as advised by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Feeble adherence in North-Eastern universities Although students were compelled by university security staff to wear facemasks at the entrance gate of the Yelwa Campus of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), DUBAWA observed that most of them take off their masks as soon as they are within the campus. There were no temperature checks or hand washing facilities at the gate, hostels, or anywhere else on the campus. Furthermore, some classes visited were filled up with no adherence to the social distancing guidelines. This is against the NCDC advice that schools should ensure that a triage point is identified and well-marked at the entrance where everyone gaining access to the school is screened for high temperature, requested to wear masks and perform hand hygiene. A 100-level student who asked not to be named said it could be worse when new students resume. I was in a class with over 2,000 students crammed up to the brink and Im sure thats not all of us because some new students from the 2020/21 session are yet to resume. Please forget COVID-19 guidelines because nothing is fully adhered to here, another student said. Photos and videos taken in different parts of the campus proved the statements to be valid. DUBAWA made several attempts to contact the school via the contact email form offered on the institutions website but no response was registered. The Public Relations Officer of the university, Abdulkadir Shehu, also did not respond to phone calls and text messages. Federal University Kashere The situation was similar at the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State. When the school announced January 14 as its resumption date, it pledged to abide by the COVID-19 preventive guidelines. The main entrance to the university had no hand washing facilities. Although some anti-COVID-19 items were present in the hostels and in front of some halls, most of them were empty or not functioning. The hand washing facility at the entrance to the Vice Chancellors office was also non-functional. DUBAWA did not notice temperature checks anywhere on the campus and social distancing in classes was not adhered to as the classes were crowded. Furthermore, DUBAWA observed some lecturers who had no face mask on while lecturing in the crowded classes. While students at the gate were asked to put on their face masks, this rule was broken soon after students stepped into the school premises. Others merely hung the masks on their jaws. The NCDC guidelines direct that Schools should ensure that all staff, visitors, and students above 6 years wear face masks at all times. DUBAWA placed several phone calls to Ali Magaji, the Unit Head and Senior Data Processing Officer of the school. When DUBAWA made a formal introduction, the call abruptly ended and was not answered on several follow up attempts. Text messages sent were equally ignored. Not all failure in North-Central universities University of Jos No facemasks, no entry is an inscription displayed at some of the entrances and office complexes in the University of Jos. At the Bauchi-Road and Naraguta campuses, DUBAWA observed that some students, staff, and visitors came in with facemasks, others removed them after passing through the gate while some did not have theirs on. The security guard on duty with the thermometre for temperature check at the Naraguta campus did not use it as of the time DUBAWA visited the campus. During a tour of the Bauchi-Road and Naraguta campuses, DUBAWA observed poor compliance. About half of the students were without facemasks and hand washing materials were not seen at the main entrance, lecture halls, office complex, and student hostels. I have not seen any handwashing point around. The worst of it is that our classrooms are crowded and using facemasks is very inconveniencing. In my opinion, the management failed to comply with the protocols; they need to revisit their strategies, observed a 300-level student of the Faculty of Education who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation. At Skye Bank Hall, a lecture theatre on the Naraguta campus, mostly used by students of the Faculty of Education, was crowded during a lecture; some were sitting on the floor with no physical distance observed, and the majority of the students (including the lecturer) were without their facemasks. As seen in the picture above, the one-metre distancing advised by the NCDC was not adhered to. When DUBAWA reached out to the institution, Ben Mairiga, the Director, Health Services of University of Jos, stated that the university had commenced the process of erecting mitigating and preventive policies and structures. He added that it is a work in progress and they are unrelenting. As regards lecturer/students poor compliance, Mr Mairiga explained that behavioural change is sometimes very difficult especially when dealing with students, implying that they can be rebellious. Nonetheless, he said despite very obvious challenges, the university was unrelenting and progress was still being made. As follow up on efforts ongoing, he sent a picture of a handwashing facility which, he said, was currently being installed in several parts of the school. ADVERTISEMENT Nasarawa State University, Keffi A visit to the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, on Monday February 15, 2021, revealed the adherence to some protocols like temperature check at the gate and the enforcement of face masks. However, there was no hand sanitizer and the handwashing facility at the gate was barely used. Generally, students at different points within the school did not have their face masks on. Social distancing was also not observed in crowded places within the school. Across faculties and departments, handwashing facilities are available but students rarely use them. From our observation and interview with students, we understood that in class, how strictly the protocols (face mask and social distancing) are adhered to depends on the lecturer. While some lecturers strictly enforce it, others dont. Also, we noticed that the school clinic was under lock and key due to a strike action by its staff. Dubawa emailed the information and protocol officer of NSUK and got no response several days after. University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Upon resumption in January, the Head of Public Relations unit of UNILORIN said the institution was ready to welcome students back to campus, saying the management had provided handwashing facilities in all students areas and that physical distancing would be strictly adhered to. Although the university management provided hand washing basins in different faculties and hostels across the school, only a few had water and none had soap or sanitizer as of the time of visit. The number of people wearing facemasks is high in the school. Although, many still violate the facemask guidelines. There are instances of overcrowded classrooms and big gatherings at pavilions and class entrances. Dubawa reached out to the schools Director of Corporate Affairs, Kunle Akogun, who said the school had put in place different measures to guarantee full compliance in the school. If not maximal, at least, to a very large extent, we have complied with the protocol, he said. Same story in North-western institutions Bayero University Kano On a visit to both the old and new sites of the Bayero University, Kano (BUK) on Monday, January 18, 2021, DUBAWA noticed that only the use of face masks was enforced at the gate. There were no temperature checks; hand washing facility or the use of hand sanitizer. This is a violation of the NCDC guideline that all schools must ensure that there is sufficient access to running water, soap and hand washing facilities. Moving around faculties, departments, the library, and the mini-market known as Coke Village in the school, DUBAWA noticed a mechanical hand washing facility but they barely worked and hand sanitizers were not available to cover for this. Aside from the library where students were asked to put on their face masks before entry and the Faculty of Communication where there was temperature check, enforcement of face masks, and the use of hand sanitizer, elsewhere around the school, students were left to their discretion. One could say the university has failed to live up to its promises. Fatima Mohammed, the Registrar of the university, had issued a statement in January urging students to resume classes, assuring them that that the university had fully prepared for the re-opening and had put in place all measures in compliance with the COVID-19 protocols. When Dubawa reached out to Ahmad Shehu, the Director, Public Affairs, he said the university had made much efforts to meet up with the COVID-19 guidelines. He added that some of the handwashing facilities could be empty at times but the management has provided enough motorized hand washing machines and hand sanitizers at strategic places. As regards irregular use of face masks within the campus, the director said there was a general pessimism as regards the existence of the pandemic which is reflecting in peoples inconsistency in abiding with the general protocols. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria When the school resumed after the strike, the management assured that all non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 protocols would be strictly observed anywhere on campus. How have they been able to keep the promise? At the school gate at the Samaru main campus, there was strict enforcement of temperature checks and the use of face masks. While some faculties and departments had handwashing facilities, others did not. Also, some lecture halls were filled up with poor use of face masks, while others were properly spaced and students had their face masks on. The entrance to the school library had different handwashing facilities and the use of face masks was enforced. Enquiries made to the school management via the help desk email address found on the site has not been answered. Dubawa also reached out to the schools PRO, Mr Auwal, via text message did not get a response. Not much difference in Southwestern institutions Moshood Abiola University DUBAWA noticed minimal compliance with the COVID-19 protocols at this school. Students and workers moved about freely without using facemasks within the school premises. Students only abide by the rules in offices that have notifications on their wall. The students 18-passenger buses still convey the same number of students to school, and the long vehicle popularly known as ECONOMY in the school still carries over 50 passengers, in excess of the limit. During visits to some departments, DUBAWA noticed low compliance with the COVID-19 protocols as the halls were congested with no social distancing as only a few students were seen with face masks. However, Yemi Ajibola, the schools Public Relations Officer, disputed Dubawas findings. Thats a lie, we have put in place measures to support the protocols. The school inaugurated a task force to ensure that COVID-19 protocols are strictly adhered to, at the gate we have a hand washing machine and access into the school is not granted without a nose mask. He also said classes have been divided to reduce contact; ND students come in the morning while HND students come in the afternoon. Osun State University DUBAWA noticed a hand washing basin at the entrance of the institution and other places in the school. However, some of these basins were found to be non-functional as of the time of visit on Friday, February 12, 2021. With respect to the use of face masks, a good number of students were seen with their face masks. However, most of them had it on their jaw. DUBAWA also noticed that some of the COVID-19 precautionary facilities on the campus were not effective. Also noticeable was the non-adherence to physical distancing in most classes and hostels. When contacted, Shola Awojide, the Director of InterCampus Affairs, said the school had put measures in place to aid compliance with the COVID-19 directives but that the management could not be everywhere to enforce them. Management cannot be everywhere, we have put things in place to ensure that protocols are being observed, he said. He added that the school was punishing defaulters. Federal University Oye-Ekiti FUOYE At the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, the majority of the faculties have a hand-washing machine but provided no soap and water for students to use. DUBAWA also identified that across all the faculties in the institution, no hand sanitizers and temperature checks were provided by the school for students and staff to use. A student who pleaded anonymity lamented that the hostel was not complying with Covid-19 protocols as expected. I feel terrible and insecure because lately, I have not been feeling too well. I hope it is not COVID-19. They are not following Covid-19 measures because there are even eight people in a room, the student said. Even the handwashing stuff is not working, no thermometer, no hand sanitizers, and nobody uses facemask. So you can just come inside the hostel and get out. I feel unsafe being in the hostel, the student added. Adeyinka Ademuyiwa, the schools Deputy Director of Corporate Service, when called on the phone said that the state COVID-19 taskforce had been to the school and also noticed some faults in its adherence. However, he said the school had since intensified its efforts to attain full compliance. He said, All those things have changed. We are taking steps to enforce that no classroom is loaded more than half its original size and also incorporating virtual learning. Conclusion COVID-19 precautionary measures are not well adhered to in most Nigerian universities. DUBAWAs findings point to the reality that most of the universities, especially the ones visited, are not keeping up with the prescribed coronavirus standards and cannot provide or even enforce full adherence to COVID-19 precautionary guidelines. Furthermore, social distancing was being violated across all the campuses visited, with most of the lecture halls being crowded with students. The regular use of face masks across these institutions is most of the time ignored, as face masks are usually worn on the jaw or not at all. Some lecturers were even seen without facemask while delivering lectures while handwashing facilities were either absent or non-functional with no enforcement by school officials. These lapses could be linked to the long trend of poor funding of the education sector, inefficient facilities, and the increasing number of students in schools without adequate resources. This reality also confirmed that although most universities promised strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols, they are unable to fulfill their promises. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The majority of New Jersey residents who are minorities or lower-income want the coronavirus vaccine, but are being inoculated at half the rates of white and richer residents as fears continue to swirl around the new vaccines, according to a new poll. The Stockton University poll found that two-thirds of the 740 adults polled would definitely or probably be vaccinated when they can, with Hispanic residents most likely to want to be vaccinated than non-Hispanics of any race. Despite that, white and wealthier respondents have received at least one vaccine dose at double the rate of other state residents, according to the poll. About 30% of white respondents received a vaccine dose, compared to about 16% of Black respondents. A total of 27% of non-Hispanic residents said they got their shot, as compared to about 14% of Hispanic residents. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage These findings reflect inequity in how the virus and the vaccination process are affecting people of color and lower-income populations in New Jersey, said John Froonjian, director of the The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton, which conducted the poll. The states own COVID-19 dashboard shows the disparities: 59% of shots have gone to white residents, while 5% of Black residents have been vaccinated, and 7% of the Hispanic/Latino and Asian communities have been vaccinated, as of Tuesday. About 80% of those polled saw the coronavirus as a major concern and are worried about catching it, and 84% said they knew someone who tested positive for the virus. Another 13% said they tested positive during the pandemic, according tot the poll. Black and Hispanic respondents tested positive for COVID-19 at higher rates than non-Hispanics, including white and Asian respondents. There was no difference in infection rates among income levels, according to the poll. Black, Hispanic and lower-income residents are just as worried about COVID and are as eager to be vaccinated as the rest of the population. But they are waiting longer to get access to the vaccine, and more of them are getting sick, Froonjian said. Almost half, 47%, have had trouble making a vaccine appointment, and 72% of them were not able to schedule an appointment at all. Just over half said theyre satisfied with the vaccine rollout, while 36% said theyre dissatisfied. Of those who have been vaccinated, 90% said it was a positive experience, and 95% continue to wear masks after being inoculated. Still, about a third maintained they would probably or definitely not get the vaccine, and one in five said they werent concerned about catching Covid. More than half of Republicans said they werent likely to get the vaccine, while only 15% of Democrats felt the same. The poll also noted Republicans are more likely to engaged in risky behavior, as deemed by public health officials, like visiting people in their home, eating indoors, and being in large crowds, at several times the rates of Democrats. Most people say they regularly wear masks about 85% and 59% say they wash their hands often, which are two moves public health officials say protect against the coronavirus. Less than half say theyre social distancing, and just over a third say theyre avoiding crowds. The Stockton poll also found 59% support opening schools, while 27% oppose it and 13% are unsure. If there was a recommended annual coronavirus shot, 65% would take it. And 77% trust the vaccines are safe and effective with most trusting the medical industry to act in their best interest over the government and 17% dont trust it. The poll was conducted Feb. 22 to March 5 over the phone using a random sample of cell phone and landlines. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. The NJ Politics Newsletter: Nobody knows Jersey politics like NJ.com. Add your email now and dont miss a story. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips 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. TORONTO, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Comsof is pleased to partner with SiFi Networks to support the rollout of their US city-wide fiber network deployments, through utilizing Comsof's planning and design software solutions. Comsof will be supplying the design software for the pre- and post-funding element of a city, providing SiFi Networks with an accurate and feasible network design. This can then be used as a tool to determine whether a city qualifies to be a self-funding city and provide a strong business case before financial approval is obtained for its open access full fiber based broadband networks. Using automated design software Comsof lays out and designs the routes the fiber will take through a City, providing a bill of materials and the location of the fiber runs in the metro and distribution layers. This optimization gives accurate and reliable results and will allow SiFi Networks to select the best routes and equipment required to complete a city network design quickly, saving time and increasing revenue for the business. "We recognize the Comsof platform as a very professional and credible tool that will fulfill our requirements" Mike Harris, Co-Founder of Sifi Networks commented "We would like to thank Kevin Wynne for his involvement in helping to articulate a commercial package which works for SIFi Networks and its designer NetPMD." The network and planning design process will be leveraged through SiFi Networks' designer NetPMD Ltd who will work alongside Comsof on all upcoming cities. Mike Mason, CEO of NetPMD said "In order to accurately predict the economic viability of an area we need precise cost estimates. The Comsof software will allow us to simulate whether a city qualifies for the financial tests to become a self-funding city. We are extremely pleased to be working with SiFi and Comsof and utilize their products to fulfil our city contracts." "From a design and integration perspective Comsof software will be the cornerstone of our designs moving forward" comments David Seematter CEO of NetPMD Solutions Ltd. Kevin Wynne Head of Comsof Americas said "Comsof is thrilled to be working with SiFi Networks and NetPMD to help increase the trajectory of the FiberCities expansion. Both organizations have a depth of knowledge and experience in the FTTx industry, which make them the ideal partners. We believe that open access networks are well suited for the United States, and SiFi's 'dig once' philosophy ensures that each resident in a FiberCity will have access to gigabit connectivity." About SiFi Networks About SiFi Networks: SiFi Networks is a privately owned business, funding and deploying competitive 100 per cent fiber networks citywide, across the USA, owning the asset and operating it. A SiFi Networks' FiberCity is sustainably built to ensure a future proof, reliable and robust fiber infrastructure, offering an impeccable level of service to its service providers. As North America's leading privately owned open access fiber optic network developer operating in the last mile we are delivering networks which are inspiring freedom of choice and excellent customer service. About Comsof Founded in 1998, Comsof has established itself as the global leader in automation for FTTx network design. Its GIS-based Comsof Fiber software enables users to automate and optimize the design of their fiber network deployments; saving time on planning, increasing build velocity, and ultimately reducing outside plant spend. SOURCE Comsof Related Links https://www.comsof.com/fiber Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 16:33:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Shen Zhonghao, Yuan Liang BRUSSELS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) on Chinese individuals and entity citing Xinjiang are malicious political tricks that grossly interfere in China's internal affairs under the guise of human rights issues. It is imperative for the EU to end its hypocritical practice of double standards and stop going further down the wrong path. First and foremost, the EU accusation is based on nothing but lies and disinformation. It has either disregarded or distorted basic facts about Xinjiang for political purposes. In the past 60-plus years, Xinjiang's economy has grown by more than 200 times, and the average life expectancy and Uygur population both doubled. Moreover, by showing a variety of hard evidence to the world, China has repeatedly emphasized that Xinjiang-related issues are about fighting terrorism, extremism and separatism, not human rights violations as falsely claimed by some Western politicians. China has sent multiple invitations to diplomats from across the EU to visit Xinjiang. Just as Ambassador Zhang Ming, head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, has said recently, Xinjiang is open to European ambassadors, diplomats, journalists and tourists. However, it is the EU side that has kept delaying their visits and made unreasonable demands. It is also regrettable that those European politicians indulge in false reports on Xinjiang by some Western media outlets and further spread lies and disinformation. Second, the EU sanctions have flagrantly breached international law and basic norms governing international relations. China has repeatedly refuted such moves of gross interference, and has gained wide support globally. On March 12, 64 countries made a joint statement at the Human Rights Council, urging relevant countries to stop using Xinjiang-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs, stop making politically motivated accusations against China, and stop using human rights issues as an excuse to deter the development of developing countries. Last but not least, the EU's move has severely undermined hard-won progress in China-EU relations, which is not in the interests of both sides. The achievements in the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership did not come easily. The EU side should cherish the hard-won situation and create more favorable conditions for China-EU relations, so as to benefit people of both sides. In addition, in face of increasingly complex global challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, China and the EU need to cooperate rather than confront each other, and their cooperation is of great global significance. That is why the EU's sanctions are harmful. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has pointed out that the EU's sanctions were extremely damaging, as they would continue to "poison EU-China cooperation." Therefore, it is high time that the EU reflected on itself and made positive efforts to redress the situation. What is worth mentioning is that also on Monday, China announced sanctions against 10 individuals and four entities on the EU side as they had severely harmed China's sovereignty and interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation. It sends out a clear message that if the EU, or any other Western country, goes further down the wrong path, China will surely make resolute responses. Enditem Now, Panera guests nationwide can help join in the fight against hunger today through March 31, for any whole sandwich purchased at a participating Panera location, the brand will donate part of the proceeds (up to $100,000) to World Central Kitchen*. "I am grateful to have support from Panera Bread as World Central Kitchen works nationwide to feed those that are hungry," said Chef Andres. "One plate at a time, one sandwich at a time, we can improve and change the world." Chef Andres and Panera Head Chef, Claes Petersson, met together to create a custom sandwich and discuss their shared belief that everyone deserves access to delicious, fresh ingredients. Now, back in Andres' adopted hometown of Washington, D.C, the area has become the 2nd most food insecure region in the nation following the COVID-19 pandemic[1], and the food insecurity rate is estimated to be at least 16% this year, up from 10.6% pre-COVID.[2] Yesterday, to further support the cause, Panera Bread donated freshly prepared meals from its Washington D.C. cafes to Martha's Table. "Joining forces with a great chef and humanitarian like Jose Andres has been inspiring we had an amazing conversation about the importance of access to fresh, quality food and ingredients," said Claes Petersson, Chief Food Innovation Officer at Panera Bread. "Panera partners with more than 3,500 local food banks and pantries annually because we believe everyone deserves access to good food. Now more than ever, it's important to give back and ensure those in need have access to freshly made meals - we hope that guests join our efforts in the fight against hunger." Panera is committed to making great food accessible to all. The company regularly donates ingredients from its supply chain to those in need including partnerships in the past year with Feeding America and the Children's Hunger Alliance. Panera has also continued its longstanding food donation program, Day-End Dough-nation, in participating cafes, using a new contactless model to donate bread and baked goods to local community non-profits who are in need now more than ever. To learn more about the hunger crisis and what you can do to help, visit panerabread.com/FoodInterrupted. Purchase a Panera sandwich from 3/23/21- 3/31/21 from a participating U.S. Panera Bread bakery-cafe (Company locations only) and Panera, LLC will donate $1.00 from the sale of each sandwich to World Central Kitchen. Panera will make a maximum donation of $100,000. Only whole sandwiches are eligible for this promotion. Breakfast sandwiches, half sandwiches, Catering orders and orders made on third party sites are excluded from this promotion. For more information, please visit: panerabread.com/FoodInterrupted. About Panera Bread Thirty years ago, at a time when quick service meant low quality, Panera set out to challenge this expectation. We believed that food that was good and that you could feel good about, served in a warm and welcoming environment by people who cared, could bring out the best in all of us. To us, that is food as it should be and that is why we exist. So, we began with a simple commitment: to bake bread fresh every day in our bakery-cafes. No short cuts, just bakers with simple ingredients and hot ovens. Each night, any unsold bread and baked goods were shared with neighbors in need. These traditions carry on today, as we have continued to find ways to be an ally for wellness to our guests. That means crafting a menu of soups, salads and sandwiches that we are proud to feed our families. Like poultry and pork raised without antibiotics on our salads and sandwiches. A commitment to transparency and options that empower our guests to eat the way they want. Seasonal flavors and whole grains. And a commitment to removing or not using artificial additives (preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources on our No No list) in the food in our U.S. bakery-cafes. Why? Because we think that simpler is better and we believe in serving food as it should be. Because when you don't have to compromise to eat well, all that is left is the joy of eating. We're also focused on improving quality and convenience. With investments in technology and operations, we now offer new ways to enjoy your Panera favorites like mobile ordering and Rapid Pick-Up for to-go orders and delivery all designed to make things easier for our guests. As of December 29, 2020, there were 2,119 bakery-cafes in 48 states and in Ontario, Canada, operating under the Panera Bread or Saint Louis Bread Co. names. For more information, visit panerabread.com or find us on Twitter (@panerabread), Facebook (facebook.com/panerabread) or Instagram (@panerabread). Press Contacts: ALISON BROD MARKETING + COMMUNICATIONS [email protected] 212-230-1800 [1] Source: United Way of the National Capital Area [2] Source: DC Food Policy Council SOURCE Panera Bread Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Scott Morrison has been slammed by members of his own party as 'out of touch' for his extraordinary speech about women and sexual assault. During the emotional address on Tuesday, the prime minister choked back tears as he vowed to improve women's lives and stop unequal treatment, particularly when it came to harassment. After a question from Sky News political editor, Andrew Clennell, he also made an extraordinary claim that Australia's largest media company - News Corp - was facing a sexual harassment scandal of its own, for which he was forced into a late-night apology. The speech was in response to Liberal Party staff sharing lewd photos of sexual acts inside Parliament House, just weeks after Brittany Higgins claimed she had been raped by a fellow staffer. He even came close to tears sharing how his wife Jenny, two young daughters, and widowed mother motivate him every day to improve the treatment of women. But the emotional address didn't pull the heart-strings of millions of women around Australia and even some MPs in his own party who believe he 'doesn't get it'. NSW upper house MP Catherine Cusack was particularly incensed and tore into her party's federal leader in an extraordinary series of tweets. NSW Liberal upper house MP Catherine Cusack (right with NSW Premier Gladys Berjiklian) is disillusioned with her party's treatment of women and has slammed the Prime Minister 'Dear Prime Minister I am not your wife/mother/daughter. I am a female Liberal MP,' Ms Cusack said on Tuesday night. 'I know you love family as do I - and mean well but you clearly do not understand anything about our political experiences. 'Please talk your women MPs. If they feel safe - they will tell you!' Ms Cusack slammed Mr Morrison over his lack of understanding of women's political experiences, many of whom have detailed sexual harassment in recent days. 'Let me put it bluntly. I would not even be in parliament but for the heroic efforts of feminists before me,' she said. 'So why did they make so much effort? What is my responsibility here? Is a no brainer we must stand with women of Australia be true to them and ourselves.' The first female president of the NSW Young Liberals claims there has never been a worse time in the party's history for Liberal women. She pleaded with federal Liberals to show the character and guts that got them to parliament by standing up to Mr Morrison. Ms Cusack said that Scott Morrison's (pictured with wife Jenny) love for his family doesn't make him an icon for women's rights Scott Morrison takes a few moments to reflect before his emotional press conference to address the latest scandal to rock Parliament House Ms Cusack later tweeted that federal females MPs are furious and embarrassed but refused to speak out due to 'party loyalty'. 'I have personally passed my tipping point. I can't defend the indefensible. If he empowers his female MPs to publicly state their thoughts - then we have the revolution we need,' she said. The state MP was questioned by followers for implying women needed Mr Morrison to empower them to speak up. 'He is their boss. Like any workplace the boss sets the tone. I obviously have not waited for permission but I understand why others have,' she replied. 'My colleagues feel constrained by loyalty to the Party that put them into Parliament. I urge them however to find their voices.' Ms Cusack pleaded for federal female MPs to 'step up' and make the prime minister more aware of the issues facing women in the party. 'We don't get to be MPs because we are shrinking violets,' she tweeted. 'I am asking my federal women colleagues show the character and guts that got you into the role - just tell the PM the problem. Silence inappropriate on this great issue at this great moment. That's my message.' Mr Morrison on Tuesday expressed his disgust with Liberal Party staffers sharing lewd photos of sexual acts inside Parliament House (pictured) The staffer who was fired (left, pictured with Julie Bishop) allegedly filmed himself performing a sexual act inside a female Liberal MP's office Ms Cusack admitted she was not confident Mr Morrison would step up and effectively lead on the issue, and so called on female MPs to put party lines aside and band together to push for change. 'I am really appealing to my female colleagues in Federal Parliament to give it a go. On this issue. Now. Just tell him because he doesnt get it and they really can make a difference,' she said. 'I am calling on my female Liberal MP colleagues to rise above the usual business of politics and have courage. 'Its no use being privately furious. More is needed. I can only ask. I am guessing there are women in my party who can. 'I am beyond embarrassment and I hope others pass their tolerance points too.' Finally, Ms Cusack stressed eradicating misogynistic parliamentary culture was also a men's issue and they also needed to get involved. 'Good men are as repulsed by these behaviors as women. I have sons in their 20s - loyal Liberals and they want to see this addressed as much as I do. The culture is toxic for everyone irrespective of gender,' she said. 'The behaviours repulsing women are also repulsing good men we need in Parliament to help the change. This is not up to women alone we need good men too.' A man is pictured pointing at a female Liberal MP's Parliamentary desk in a still from a video. He goes on to commit a lewd sexual act on the desk Ms Cusack also told the Sydney Morning Herald that loving his family didn't make Mr Morrison an icon for women's rights. 'When I heard the Prime Minister say that, I wanted to scream 'I am not your wife' but that does not mean I do not matter, we all matter and Scott Morrison does not seem to get it,' she told the publication. 'Federal Liberal women need to band together and explain to the Prime Minister just how serious this has become because he is living in his own bubble.' She was so disillusioned about her party's treatment of women that she has indicated to Premier Gladys Berejiklian that she will not attend parliamentary party room meetings. 'I intend to take some leave and while I won't be leaving the Liberal party, I will no longer be listening to the [Berejiklian] government,' Ms Cusack said. Federal science minister Karen Andrews has since also vowed to speak up. 'I have had an absolute gutful, and my conscience will not allow me to remain quiet. There are some specific instances in this building that are absolutely unacceptable,' she told the Gold Coast Bulletin. 'The point that I'm at now is our processes to attract more women into my party and into the parliament have not been as successful as they need to be, and we can't continue doing the same thing and expect a different outcome.' Federal minister Karen Andrews (pictured on Tuesday) has since vowed to speak up Mr Morrison's emotions got the better of him during Tuesday's press conference as he made a sudden allegation about News Corp. 'Right now, you would be aware in your own organisation, there is a person who has had a complaint made against them for harassment of a woman in a women's toilet,' he claimed while being grilled by Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell. 'And that matter is being pursued by your own HR department. So let's not, all of us who sit in glass houses here, start getting into that.' The outburst sparked a angry response from News Corp Australasian executive chairman Michael Miller insisting there was no such complaint and the PM was dead wrong. 'Prime Minister Scott Morrison was wrong today to claim an investigation is under way into a complaint accusing an employee of harassment against a woman in a female toilet,' Mr Miller said in statement. 'No complaint has been received and News Corp and Sky News are not dealing with a complaint.' Mr Miller said the PM appeared to have conflated unrelated non-sexual matters within the media company and come up with something that never happened. Some staffers have used a small prayer room on the upper level of Parliament House to have sex, a whistleblower said in bombshell revelations A remorseful Mr Morrison backtracked on the claims in a grovelling apology late Tuesday night, saying he deeply regretted his 'insensitive response'. 'I accept their account. I was wrong to raise it, the emotion of the moment is no excuse.' However, Mr Morrison then further confused matters by appearing to imply an incident did actually occur - even after accepting it didn't. 'I especially wish to apologise to the individual at the centre of the incident and others directly impacted. 'I had no right to raise this issue and especially without their permission. I owe it to all women in this country, not least the women in my own life so precious to me. I owe it to them to do better.' Mr Morrison was forced to address the media after a disturbing report on Monday night showed images allegedly shared by senior staffers of solo sex acts inside Parliament House, and allegations of parties involving escorts and 'rent boys'. The report came just weeks after political staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped inside Parliament House as further revelations of the mistreatment of women came to light - prompting the Prime Minister to hold a press conference. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison choked back tears as he spoke about his wife Jenny and daughters Abbey and Lily (pictured) He called on politicians and staff to 'get this house in order' and choked back tears as he spoke about his daughters, wife and mother - adding 'I say to you girls - I will not let you down'. 'They motivate me every day on this issue,' he said. 'And to them, I say to you girls, I will not let you down.' The Prime Minister declined to attend last weekend's March For Justice rally which called for stronger action against a perceived sexist culture in Canberra, and told protesters that they were lucky to live in a country where such rallies could be held. However the latest allegations prompted a more forthright stance. 'I am shocked and disgusted - it is shameful,' Mr Morrison said. 'We must put the politics aside of these things, and we must recognise this problem, acknowledge it and we must fix it.' Statement from Michael Miller Prime Minister Scott Morrison was wrong today to claim an investigation is under way into a complaint accusing an employee of harassment against a woman in a female toilet. No complaint has been received and News Corp and Sky News are not dealing with a complaint. News Corp and Sky News take seriously any issues raised by staff and our utmost priority is to respect their privacy and confidentiality. This is standard business practice and because of this, we do not normally comment on private matters. However given the Prime Minister's extraordinary public claims made at a press conference broadcast live across the nation, I want to put to rest any suggestion that an employee of our company is being investigated for conduct suggested by Mr Morrison. News Corp Australasian executive chairman Michael Miller has denied the explosive claims In recent weeks, following the reporting of matters of sexually inappropriate behaviour at Parliament House, our HR team proactively gave our staff the opportunity to talk to us in confidence about their well-being. I thank those who did so. During these proactive conversations, the News Corp's HR team learned of a verbal exchange between two News Corp employees in Parliament House in Canberra last year. The exchange was about a workplace-related issue, it was not of a sexual nature, it did not take place in a toilet and neither person made a complaint. Following those inquiries, our HR team wrote to one of the people involved and the matter was resolved. The Prime Minister appears to have joined these two matters and conflated them into an episode of harassment in a toilet that is under current investigation. This is simply untrue and it undermines the principle that people must be able to raise issues safely and in confidence. News Corp has no further statements to make on this matter. Advertisement Mr Morrison broadened out his response, citing not only sexual misconduct allegations but other impediments he said women faced in the workplace, where many complained of being under-valued and underpaid. 'Whether this is unconscious deafness and blindness, or whether it is wilful malevolence that is behind all of this, it must be acknowledged, it must be called out, and it must stop,' the Prime Minister said. 'That is all our job, it is my job, it is my ministers jobs, it is my members and senators jobs, it is your job.' He said he was aware many Australian women were not happy with his government's response to allegations of sexual misconduct in Canberra. 'I acknowledge many have not liked or appreciated some of my own personal responses to this over the course of the last month, I accept that,' he said. 'Whether that was seeking to openly share how I try and deal with such dramatic events, people might like the fact that I discuss these with my family - they are the closest people in my world to me.' Mr Morrison was criticised when Ms Higgins came forward with her allegations for saying his wife Jenny had given him new perspective by asking him 'what would you want to happen if it were our girls?' Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, tasked with an inquiry into workplace conditions in Parliament House, will address the Coalition party room. Brittany Higgins at the March 4 Justice on March 15. She shocked Australia when she came forward with allegations she was raped by a male colleague in the office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds Mr Morrison hit out at News Corp in the question-and-answer session after his press conference - saying there were new allegations being investigated by the organisation involving the harassment of a woman in a woman's toilet Industry Minister Karen Andrews says other individuals involved in the scandal should stop hiding and leave. 'I have had an absolute gutful and my conscience will not allow me to remain quiet,' she told reporters. 'There are some specific instances in this building that are absolutely unacceptable. What does it say about an individual that thinks that sort of behaviour is okay?' The sexual acts - some of which took place on the desks of federal female MPs - were carried out more than two years ago but only came to light after one of the staffers dobbed the rest of them in. A government source told ABC News on Monday evening one of the staffers was sacked as the bombshell allegations came to light. A whistleblower shared footage of a staffer performing a sex act on himself inside a female Liberal MPs office. MR MORRISON'S SPEECH IN FULL 'We must put the politics aside of these things, and we must recognise this problem, acknowledgment, we must fix it. 'This has been a very traumatic month. It began with Brittany Higgins and her revelations of what took place in this very building. 'I remember that day very well, I was equally shocked and stunned at receiving that use also. 'These events have triggered, right across this building and indeed right across the country, women who have put up with this rubbish and this crap for their entire lives, as their mothers did, as their grandmothers did. 'It has been going on, we have been talking about it in this place for a month, they have been living with it for their entire lives. 'The women listening to me today know that to be true, so as much as it has been a topic of discussion here, and around the country specifically in relation to these disgraceful acts, it is something that has been the lived experience of Australian women for a very long time, and I welcome the spotlight that has now been placed on this. 'I acknowledge that many have not liked or unappreciated some of my own personal responses to this over the course of the last month, I accept that. 'Whether that was seeking to openly share how I try and deal with such dramatic events, people might like the fact I discuss these with my family, they are the closest people in my world to me. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny at the annual Mid Winter Ball at Parliament House in September 2019. He told his family emotionally during Tuesday's press conference: 'They motivate me every day on this issue' 'But is how I deal with things, I always have. I have grown up in a loving and supportive family, and I discussed this is my family and those who are closest to me - no offence was intended by me by saying that I discuss these issues with my wife. 'Equally, that is in no way indicated that these events had not already dramatically affected me already at that point. Equally, I accept that many were unhappy with the labels that are used on the day of the protest. No offence was intended by that either. 'I could have chosen different words, I have already explained those matters in the house. 'What I am even more concerned about, even more importantly, I acknowledge that many Australians, especially women, believe that I have not heard them, and that greatly distresses me. 'I have been doing a lot of listening over this past month, not for the first time, now is not the time for me to run over whether as a Minister for immigration or a Treasurer, or a Minister for Social Services, the keen interest I have shown in these issues, I'm not going to do that today. Brittany Higgins (pictured) went public with the allegation she was raped by a male colleague inside Defence Minister Linda Reynolds' office in 2019 'Particularly on these issues over the last because of mother I have been listening carefully, I have had many colleagues, I have had many friends and others that I have regular contact with, talk with me openly about the issues, other traumatic things that they have had to deal with over their lifetimes and members of their family. 'Let me tell you what I have heard. Women are too afraid to call out, bad behaviour for fear of losing a job for being intimidated in the workplace. 'That is not OK, it is not their fault, it is the environment we have allowed to be created. Women who are afraid to walk to their car from the train, and they carry their keys in their hand like a knife for fear of being attacked. That is not OK. That is not acceptable. 'In this country, our country as great as Australia, women walk daily that fear. I have heard that women are overlooked, talked over, by men, whether it is in board rooms, meeting rooms, rooms, media conferences, cabinets, or anywhere else. 'Overlooked and treated like they have nothing valuable to contribute. I have heard about being marginalised, women being intimidated, women being belittled, women being diminished, and women being objectified. That is not OK. 'I have heard that women, when offered a job, take the salary offered because they do not feel they can ask for more. Whereas the blokes do. And they get it. That is not OK. 'Whether this is unconscious deafness and blindness, or whether it is wilful malevolence that is behind all of this, it must be acknowledged, it must be called out, and it must stop. 'That is all our job, it is my job, it is my ministers jobs, it is my members and senators jobs, it is your job. 'This is not something that is of a scale that any government can simply change, it is something we must change as a society because we know it happens all over this country, but for me and my house, the house I work in here, then we must take responsibility, it is our problem here, it is our responsibility here, and I'm committed to dealing with that. 'We must do better in this place. All of us, and in our country we must do better. Mr Morrison was visibly emotional on Tuesday morning as he called on Canberra to 'get this house in order' 'Now, forgive me this indulgence, I want women to have at least the same opportunities and the same voice and the same safety as men in this country. 'I have the deepest of vested interest, criticise me if you like for speaking about my daughters, but they are the centre of my life. My wife is the centre of my life. My mother, my widowed mother is the centre of my life. 'They motivate me every day on this issue. They have motivated me my entire life, they have taught me the values and the faith has sustains me every single day in this job. 'Which is why I am here, I owe them everything. And to them I say to you girls, I will not let you down. 'To the many other women who are in this place, who have shared their stories with me, I thank you for your feedback, your honesty, your support, your council, and your courage. 'I know there are plenty of women who work in this building today, whether they be members or senators, investors, shadow ministers, staff, journalists, who say why should I bother? Why should I bother? Why should I not just walk away? 'There has never been a more important time for women to stand in this place. 'I want to see more women in this place, I have done anything to get more women in this place and I intend to do more. I have put more women in my cabinet than any other Prime Minister has before, and I look forward to doing more. 'I need women to stand with me as we go about this, as we stand together, I needed that you stated this place, I need them to stand right where they are, I did that to continue to blaze the trail right here this place, by their courage and I call for question.' Advertisement The anonymous source also told Ten News MPs and government staffers used a small prayer room on the upper level of Parliament House to have sex. 'I could probably say there's very little meditation or prayer going on in that room,' he said. He also claimed prostitutes and 'rent boys' were brought into Parliament House for the pleasure of Coalition MPs. 'Having sex, procuring rent boys... in Parliament House, procured by staffers for MPs,' he told Ten News. Finance Minister Simon Birmingham condemned the behaviour on Monday and said those involved would be sacked. 'I am disgusted and appalled,' he said. 'It shows a complete disregard for all that our parliamentary democracy stands for.' 'It also demonstrates an enormous disrespect for the employing member or senator in relation to those staff and those officers. 'It equally shows a complete contempt for the Australian taxpayers who have paid the wages for such staff and, in my opinion, any individuals who engaged in such activity ought to prepare to pack their bags and leave the building for good.' Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins (pictured in 2018) will hand down her final report on inappropriate workplace culture in Parliament House in November The whistleblower told The Australian there was a culture of men who thought they could do 'whatever they want'. 'I don't think they've broken any laws but morally, they're bankrupt,' he said. Ten News and The Australian obtained some of the lewd videos and images filmed inside Parliament House. Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned the behaviour in the strongest possible terms and urged anyone who knew of more to come forward. 'Everyone has a right to feel safe at work. The reports aired tonight are disgusting and sickening,' he said. 'It's not good enough, and is totally unacceptable. The people who come to work in this building are better than this. 'The actions of these individuals show a staggering disrespect for the people who work in parliament, and for the ideals the parliament is supposed to represent.' Mr Morrison said he had identified the staff member at the centre of the allegations and terminated his employment immediately. One staffer was confirmed to have been sacked on Monday. Finance Minister Simon Birmingham (pictured) said the others would also lose their jobs Parliament House, Canberra, has been rocked by fresh allegations of sexual depravity as senior Coalition staffers allegedly filmed themselves in sexual acts on female MP's desks and in the Parliamentary prayer room - and shared them on Facebook Messenger 'I urge anybody with further information to come forward. There is also the serious incident support line that we have established that staff and former staff are encouraged to use,' he said. 'I will have more to say on this and the cultural issues we confront as a Parliament in coming days.' Senator Birmingham said it further demonstrated the need for the inquiry by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins into parliament's workplace culture. Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins is leading a review of workplace culture in Parliament House in the wake of the Brittany Higgins rape allegations. Ms Higgins says she was raped by a former colleague inside Parliament House in March 2019. Ms Jenkins' review is expected to issue a final report in November. 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. David Walliams has reportedly signed a new deal for Britain's Got Talent, bringing him back for the upcoming fifteenth series. The deal means former judge Piers Morgan will not be rejoining the judging panel as he previously hinted he would if David left the show, calling him 'treacherous'. According to The Sun, David's place on the panel is secure and he will return alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon. He's back! David Walliams has reportedly signed a new deal for Britain's Got Talent, bringing him back for the upcoming fifteenth series A source said: 'All four judges will be back this year, so it's business as usual on BGT. If it's not broken, don't fix it. 'The format is still a great one, and that involves all four judges, including David. 'He does sometimes press Simon's buttons in the wrong way but it's hard to imagine him not being there.' The publication also reports that suggestions Piers could also join the panel as a fifth judge were quickly put to bed. Panel: The deal means former judge Piers Morgan will not be rejoining the judging panel as he previously hinted he would if David left the show, calling him 'treacherous' MailOnline has contacted representatives for David Walliams and Britain's Got Talent for comment. Piers was a judge on the ITV series on the first four series before his nemesis David joined in series six. The former Good Morning Britain host previously told the Sunday Mirror: 'I do have conversations with BGT every now and again, particularly after Simon had his injury. But I couldn't work with Walliams. I think he is a duplicitous, treacherous, piece of work. 'He is one of those people who says one thing to your face and then sticks it to you behind your back. If he was sitting there I wouldn't be interested. But if he wasn't sitting there, who knows? 'I will come back to BGT if the money is right and if they guarantee Walliams gets fired. I might even make it a contractual clause that I get to be the one who tells him he is fired. If I was him I would stick to writing children's books.' Line-up: Piers was a judge on the ITV series on the first four series before his nemesis David joined in series six (pictured in 2010) It comes after Britain's Got Talent 2021 was cancelled earlier this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The talent show had already been postponed due to safety concerns and the restrictions brought about by tier systems and lockdowns. But after several weeks of speculation, it was confirmed that the show will now not return to screens until 2022. Bosses of the show said that despite the efforts of the teams at ITV, Thames and head judge Simon Cowell's Syco, they were forced to call plans off. A source said: 'All four judges will be back this year, so it's business as usual on BGT. If it's not broken, don't fix it' (David pictured with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon) They said: 'With our absolute priority of safeguarding the well-being and health of every person involved in the programme from judges, hosts and contestants to all of the crew and audience, the decision has been made to unfortunately move the record and broadcast of the 15th series of Britain's Got Talent to 2022. 'BGT is known for its diversity of talent with big dance groups, wonderful choirs and lavish orchestras at its heart, and it has become clear that not only is it not possible to film auditions with these types of acts in a secure way but also that they are not able to adequately rehearse and prepare safely. 'Safety has to come first and, as a result, the recording of the show can't currently go ahead as planned.' Supplier News 23 March 2021 Barcelona, March 23, 2021: The Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) and ReviewPro, a Shiji Group brand, are working together to support and recognize excellence within Australian tourism according to guest feedback data. ATIC's long-standing benchmarking system - the Quality Tourism Framework - is currently based on three pillars: accreditation, star ratings and awards. This year, for the first time, consumer reviews will be an integral part of the system, with data provided by long-standing partners ReviewPro, world leaders in guest intelligence. ATIC and ReviewPro Leverage Guest Feedback to Support Australian Tourism Photo: ReviewPro "Introducing a consumer-driven element makes for a more robust awards program. Guest feedback is vital because it provides valuable insights to help guide and support businesses to continually improve", says Erin McLeod, National Manager at ATIC, "We are really looking forward to this new initiative which helps provide Australian tourism with the attention it deserves. ReviewPro is a long-standing partner that fits perfectly within our core objectives, and we are delighted to extend the scope of our work together." Currently, ATIC members have access to a version of the ReviewPro dashboard where they can measure their online reputation, benchmark themselves against industry group averages, and view real guest feedback, whether that be the breakdown of written reviews as provided by semantic analysis or satisfaction ratings left by consumers. The dashboard helps to maintain engagement from users and also provides the analytical capabilities so businesses can aggregate and view guest feedback, make data driven improvements, and then measure the results. "We are delighted to be able to deliver data to ATIC members to support the awards system and contribute to the continuous development of Australian tourism," says Michael Kessler, CEO of ReviewPro. "We are fully aligned with ATICs objectives - providing the insights needed for businesses to improve their offering and ultimately create better quality tourism experiences for travelers in the Australian market." The ATIC's accreditation and awards system has been running for over 30 years and has recently opened its 2021 nomination period, with the results of the states & territories awards to be announced in November, and national winners announced in early 2022. The 2021 Australian Tourism Awards will be held on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. About ReviewPro: ReviewPro is the world leader of Guest Intelligence solutions, with more than 60,000 hotels in 150 countries. ReviewPro's Global Review Index (GRI), the industry-standard online reputation score, is based on review data collected from 175+ OTAs and review sites in 45+ languages. The company's cloud-based Guest Experience Improvement Suite includes Online Reputation Management, Guest Satisfaction Surveys, and Auto Case Management. ReviewPro also provides an AI-driven innovative Guest Experience Automation product to automate guest experience management for hotels. These tools and processes enable clients to prioritize operational and service improvements to deliver better guest experiences and increase guest satisfaction, online rankings, and revenue. For more information go to reviewpro.com About ATIC: Following more than 30 successful years of recognizing high-quality tourism businesses, Australian tourism accreditation and awards has been re-branded to better promote your business. The new Quality Tourism Framework will combine multiple tourism accreditation, business development and awards programs into a single, user-friendly online tool to develop your business and grow your market, paired with new, modern branding to promote your status as a Quality Tourism Accredited Business. The Quality Tourism Framework enables you to develop your business from start-up through to niche markets and international trade channels, in order to develop a sustainable tourism business that can compete and prosper. For more information go to qualitytourismaustralia.com New York, March 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "India Lithium-Ion Battery Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 - 2026)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06036750/?utm_source=GNW 84 billion. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lithium-ion industry due to disruption in the supply chain, as the country is largely dependent upon imports of batteries and the required materials such as lithium and cobalt. Factors such as the decline in lithium-ion battery prices along with the emergence of new and exciting markets, i.e., electric vehicle and energy storage systems (ESS), for both commercial and residential applications are expected to be the major drivers for the lithium-ion battery market in India. The lack of prominent reserves required for the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries is expected to pose a challenge for local production and the market for lithium-ion batteries in the country. - The Automotive segment is expected to have significant growth in the Indian lithium-ion battery market during the forecast period. - The government of India has set an ambitious target of achieving 30% EV sales by 2030 across all modes. Hence, the process toward mass adoption of electric vehicles in the country is expected to create significant opportunities for Indias lithium-ion battery market in the future. - Indias plans to boost national battery manufacturing are likely to drive the lithium-ion battery market in India. Key Market Trends Automotive Segment is Expected to Grow at a Faster Rate - The automotive segment is expected to grow faster in the market during the forecast period owing to the increasing demand for electric vehicles (EV) and favorable government policies related to an EV. For instance, the Government of India Vision 2030, aims to achieve 100% electrification of public transport and 40% of personal mobility by 2030. In 2019, Indias electric car stock has reached 11,200 vehicles from 3,400 vehicles in 2014. Hence, showing a rapid growth rate over the mentioned years. - To achieve the vision, the Government of India, In July 2019, announced income tax exemptions for prospective EV buyers and reduced goods and services tax (GST) on EVs from 12% to 5%. Hence, this turn is likely to attract more EV manufacturers in the coming years. - Furthermore, In December 2020, Tata Chemicals has started work on its lithium-ion cell manufacturing project. The company, along with other manufacturers, was waiting for the government to come out with the PLI scheme since it was in the works for some time now. They are expected to seek incentives under the scheme just like some of the other manufacturers. This is expected to aid the growth of the market. - On the demand side, in Feb 2021, Ather Energy has started the operation of its new two-wheeled electric vehicle and Li-ion battery manufacturing facility located at Hosur. Therefore, factors, such as upcoming Li-ion battery manufacturing plants majorly focused on electric vehicle applications are expected to boost the demand for Li-ion batteries in LSEV during the forecast period. - Hence, the factors, such as government support for EV adoption, domestic lithium-ion battery manufacturing, advantages of lithium-ion batteries over lead-acid batteries, and the acquisition of lithium reserves, are expected to boost the growth of lithium-ion batteries in the automotive segment of India. Indias Plans to Boost National Battery Manufacturing is Likely to Drive the Market - The demand for lithium in India is driven by the nations vision to become one of the largest markets for the manufacturing of electronic goods which are linked to the creation of lithium-ion batteries especially in smartphones and electric vehicles. - To further the goal in this industry, the Government of India, in 2019, unveiled its plans to boost its national battery manufacturing and value-adding capabilities, to meet its electric vehicle (EV) adoption targets. The government is in the process of opening tenders, to set up a 50 GW battery manufacturing base, with around a USD 50 billion investment. The annual subsidy outgo, on this, is estimated to be INR 700 crore. Also, the government is aiming to provide zero duty on import lithium-ion. This will allow the manufacturer to develop the new advanced cell chemistry. - Also in 2019, Automotive Electronics Power Private Limited (AEPPL), a joint venture between Toshiba Corporation, Denso Corporation, and Suzuki Motor Corporation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Government of Gujarat for a Rs 4,930-crore expansion (in-two phase) investment in its upcoming lithium-ion battery production plant at Hansalpur, in Ahmedabad district. The plant in Gujarat will manufacture and supply lithium-ion batteries to Maruti Suzuki and Suzuki Motor Gujarat. - Also, in 2019, India signed an MoU with Bolivia for the development and industrial use of lithium, for the production of Lithium-ion batteries. As part of the MoU, Bolivia will support supplies of Lithium and Lithium carbonate to India and foster joint ventures for Lithium battery production plants in India. - As of January 2021, the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India has discovered 1600kg Lithium in Mandla district of Karnataka. Hence, this untapped potential access to lithium reserves in India is also expected to ensure the low-cost manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries and a stronghold over the EV supply chain in the Indian market. - Hence, the countrys plan to boost the national battery manufacturing capacity is expected to drive the market in the coming years. Competitive Landscape The Indian lithium-ion battery market is partially fragmented. Some of the major companies include Exicom Tele-Systems Limited, Samsung SDI Co, Panasonic Corporation, Tata Chemicals Ltd., and Nexcharge Inc. Reasons to Purchase this report: - The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format - 3 months of analyst support Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06036750/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ We take great pride in providing quality service to our clients and we couldnt achieve that without all of our talented attorneys and dedicated staff Eleven (11) Szaferman Lakind attorneys have been included in the 2021 New Jersey Super Lawyers lists issued by Thomson Reuters. The attorneys represent seven (7) practice areas including Family Law, General Litigation, Personal Injury: Plaintiff, Class Action, Environmental Litigation, Employment & Labor and Civil Litigation: Plaintiff. Co-Managing Partner Brian Paul has been further recognized with his inclusion in the New Jersey Super Lawyers Top 100 list. Brian was also included in the New Jersey Super Lawyers Top 100 list in 2019. Partner Thomas Manzo and Associate Christopher Myles were included in the 2021 New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for the second year in a row. All other Szaferman Lakind attorneys have been included in the Super Lawyers list for four (4) years or more. According to Super Lawyers, Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. Only 5% of attorneys are selected to the Super Lawyers list and only 2.5% are selected to the Rising Stars list. Candidates are eligible for Rising Stars if they under the age of 40 and have been practicing for less than 10 years. On behalf of our firm, I want to express thanks to Thomson Reuters and our peers in the New Jersey legal community in recognizing the attorneys included in this years Super Lawyers lists, commented Co-Managing Partner Barry Szaferman. We take great pride in providing quality service to our clients and we couldnt achieve that without all of our talented attorneys and dedicated staff. Founded in 1977, Szaferman Lakind is a full-service, Martindale-Hubbell AV-Preeminent law firm that was listed among U.S. News & World Reports Best Law Firms from 2014 through 2021.* Based in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Szaferman Lakind has 30+ attorneys who provide legal representation to businesses, investors, professionals, families and individuals in several areas, among them family law, general and commercial litigation, personal injury, estate and business planning and business law. To contact Szaferman Lakind please call 609.275.0400 or visit http://www.szaferman.com. *Some Szaferman Lakind lawyers have been selected to Super Lawyers list(s). The Super Lawyers lists are issued by Thomson Reuters. A description of the selection methodology can be found at superlawyers.com/about/selection_process. Szaferman Lakind was selected to U.S. News Best Lawyers Best Law Firms list. The Best Law Firms list is issued by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. A description of the selection methodologies can be found at bestlawfirms.usnews.com/methodology.aspx. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. But as currently constructed, accelerating a clean energy transformation underpins nearly every part of the plan, people familiar with it said. It includes building electric power lines that can deliver more renewable energy, building electric vehicle charging stations, capping oil and gas wells to reduce emissions and reclaiming abandoned coal mines. There is money to build a million new affordable, energy-efficient housing units and to make existing structures more energy efficient. Hundreds of billions of dollars would go toward high-growth industries of the future, such as advanced battery manufacturing. The underlying message that the next step of Americas economic recovery is fundamentally tied to countering the climate crisis represents a major pivot in the way Democrats make the case for tackling global warming. No longer merely an environmental imperative like saving the polar bears, or a side element of a stimulus package like it was under the Obama administration, climate change has become the centerpiece. Administration officials say they view averting catastrophic warming and pursuing American dominance of the emerging global industries as inseparable. That is a sharp break from even the most recent Democratic administration, when Mr. Biden was vice president, let alone the Trump era, when the president denied the existence of climate change. Thinking about addressing climate change through infrastructure is in itself not a revolutionary idea, but if you said to most people, Is Americas infrastructure in trouble? I think the first words they would mention to you are bridges and roads, not E.V. charging stations, said Robert N. Stavins, an environmental economist at Harvard University. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The Australian stockmarket pushed to its highest close in a week even after widening European COVID lockdowns sent oil prices plunging and knocked energy companies and travel firms lower. Market megacaps Rio Tinto, Commonwealth Bank, and CSL rose strongly on Wednesday to help the ASX 200 add 33.4 points, or 0.5 per cent, and finish at 6778.8. Retail giants Wesfarmers and Woolworths were also among the standouts at the top of the market, up 2 per cent and 1.6 per cent respectively. The Australian sharemarket closed higher on Wednesday. Credit:Peter Braig Trade started slowly following Wall Streets overnight sell-off, where investors baulked at dovish speeches by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Investors hit the sidelines as the pair contemplated the size of the nations impending infrastructure spend and the potential tax hikes needed to pay for Joe Bidens $US1.9 trillion relief package. Bond yields also eased, adding to a deflated performance for US financial and energy sectors. TMS Capital portfolio manager Ben Clark said the local market was still closely watching 10-year yields for both US and Australia, as evidenced by a positive session for the high-growth health and tech sectors. The bond market has found a level it should be priced at, and with that we could be seeing a cycle back into those growth names that have sold off recently, he said. Biotech CSL added 1.9 per cent to close at $266.02 after it released the first batches of the Melbourne-made AstraZeneca vaccine. The company, which was upgraded to outperform by Credit Suisse, is set to make 50 million doses of the product by the end of this year. Medical device maker ResMed rose 3.3 per cent to $25.78, while Fisher and Paykel added 2.2 per cent to $28.95. Buy now, pay later darling Afterpay ended 0.3 per cent higher at $107.50 and accounting software firm Xero climbed by 2 per cent to $123.47. An overnight oil price plunge - brought on by widening COVID lockdowns in Europe - understandably took a toll on travel companies. Oil fell more than 6 per cent with Germany, France and Italy all increasing restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19. Mr Clark said the restrictions had taken momentum out of the reopening trade. Its another setback, the market thought we may have got through the worst of it, he said. Conversely, NSW announced it was relaxing all COVID restrictions on hospitality venues next week. Nonetheless, Sydney Airport slipped 2.2 per cent to $5.89 and Auckland International Airport was 1.4 per cent down at $6.86. Qantas dropped 1.5 per cent to $5.13, Air New Zealand fell 2.1 per cent to $1.605, and regional carrier Rex was down 3.1 per cent at $1.58, even after announcing it will launch flights between Sydney and Canberra next month. Flight Centre was down 3.1 per cent, Webjet dropped 4.6 per cent, Corporate Travel Management was 2.6 per cent down, and Helloworld Travel lost 2.6 per cent. But evidence presented in court over two weeks provided a searing assessment of the president, whose governments failure to build a lawful state and a robust economy has helped drive hundreds of thousands of despairing citizens to emigrate in recent years, with most trying to reach the United States. Image Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez Credit... U.S. District Court The trial added to the growing mound of evidence gathered by federal prosecutors in recent years that casts Mr. Hernandez as a key player in Honduras drug-trafficking industry. The proceedings led analysts to believe that formal charges against Mr. Hernandez himself may not be far away. Its yet another nail in his coffin, said Eric L. Olson, director of policy at the Seattle International Foundation and an expert on Latin America. But more than what this means for Juan Orlando, this sends another message to the people of Honduras that theres no future for them, and whats the point of hanging around? The swirl of corruption allegations around Mr. Hernandez has been building for years. In 2017, international observers documented many irregularities in his election to a second term, prompting weeks of violent protests around the country. The opposition said he should not have been on the ballot in the first place, arguing that Mr. Hernandez had unfairly stacked the Supreme Court with his supporters, who then lifted the nations constitutional ban on re-election. More recently, federal prosecutors in the United States have sought to show that the president built a symbiotic relationship with drug traffickers who provided financial support for his political ascent in return for protection from prosecution. 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. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. For the first time in ten weeks, no part of Japan is under a coronavirus state of emergency. But it's far from business as usual with officials and some companies introducing measures to guard against a new surge. The last remaining declaration, for the Tokyo area, has expired. It saw an 80 percent drop in cases, but a slow movement upward has some people on edge. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed 187 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday, a huge drop from earlier in the year. But, the daily average for the week rose by about 5 percent. Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko said, "We have to realize that we cannot afford to see a rebound in the number of cases." Tokyo is keeping some anti-infection measures in place, including encouraging businesses to allow teleworking. It's also asking bars and restaurants to close by 9 p.m., one hour later than under the state of emergency. Many say they're doing what they can to stay afloat and make customers feel safe. A steak house owner in Tokyo said, "Our goal is to keep the restaurant bustling with customers, while preventing infections." Businesses hoping for a boost from foreign tourists will have to wait a bit longer. Stringent measures remain in place at the border and it is unclear when they will be eased. But, major sightseeing spots in and around Tokyo hope to see an increase in domestic travel. It's graduation season and many students seem ready for an escape. A high school student who came to Hakone mountain resort near Tokyo said, "We have been saying we wanted to go to Kyoto for a long time, but we couldn't. Instead we came here, and we enjoyed it." Bullet train stations have prepared for the potential uptick in passengers. A station in Osaka is checking travelers from the capital, as part of an effort to stop coronavirus infections from spreading across prefectural borders. Osaka prefectural official Koike Shigekazu said, "With the start of the new fiscal year, this is a peak period. With cases rebounding, the start of a fourth wave is in sight. We hope people will follow basic anti-infection measures, thoroughly." Across Japan, more than 800 new cases and over 30 deaths have been reported, so far on Monday. Cases are going up in some parts of the country. The weekly average for Osaka, where an emergency declaration was lifted last month, is up 34 percent. Hyogo's weekly average is up nearly 50 percent. And, in Miyagi, the figure doubled. In response, Miyagi is asking bars and restaurants in the prefectural capital to close early for the next three weeks. ADVERTISEMENT Nearly three months after he dissolved his cabinet, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has forwarded the names of his nominees to the state House of Assembly for confirmation as commissioners. The assembly announced the reception of the list of the nominees at its Tuesday plenary, which was ongoing at press time. Among the nominees are three former commissioners in the cabinet dissolved by the governor in December. Also on the list is Kaosarah Adeyi, a 24-year-old graduate of the University of Ilorin, who once held the position of the Vice President of the schools students union government. From Ilorin, Ms Adeyi graduated from the Forestry and Wildlife Department in 2019. The returning commissioners are Saadat Modibbo-Kawu, the immediate past Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology; Suleiman- Iliasu, the immediate past Commissioner for Works and Transport; and Aliyu Saifuddeen, the immediate past commissioner for local government Affairs and Community Development. Governor AbdulRazaq had, on December 31, dissolved the cabinet, sacking all the commissioners but retaining his Chief of Staff. The delay in constituting a new cabinet has elicited debates amongst members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and political observers. Sources in Government House told our reporter that the delay was not unconnected to the crisis in the ruling party in the state, which was escalated after the removal of Bashir Bolarinwa as its chairman. For starters, this is not an e-bike ; it is the sort of 100% eco-friendly bicycle that brings with it more than just a ride, offering the absolute peak in Italian bicycle design and history. We're talking about the 2021 Arcadex gravel bike from none other than Bianchi . There are two bikes in this lineup, the GRX 810 and GRX 600, but let's focus on the 600 as its the least expensive and offers the essence of this new icon.If youve ever ridden a bike, seen a clip from Tour de France, or have walked into a bike shop, then you've seen, heard, and even smelled a Bianchi without realizing it. Active since 1885, this company has seen it all and even raced it all in the process; you name it, Bianchi has been there. You can be sure that over 130 years of heritage are seen in the Arcadex.As mentioned earlier, this is a gravel bike . As such, its more capable of tackling a wider range of terrains, not to mention itll do just fine on the tarmac. Unlike road bikes that place the rider in a lower, more aerodynamic position, gravel bikes offer a more upright riding position to help maneuver in tight turns or on loose footing.The Arcadex showcases a near-perfect example of gravel geometry . A relaxed seat and head tube will place you in the optimum position for tackling any trails you encounter on the French or Italian Riviera. If you feel youre leaning over the handlebars too much, watch how quickly your position changes if you drop the seat a bit. Then again, you can avoid this sort of issue if you buy the right bike for your size. A lowered bottom bracket is countered with your average Shimano GRX 600. Depending on the frame size, 170 mm to 175 mm cranks are found.Theres one thing I didnt mention regarding the frame, and that is its composition. That would be carbon; need I say more? What I enjoyed most about the shaping involved in this bike, are the the tubes' sharp linear edges. Oh, and that design isnt just for show. It's meant to offer just the right resistance and flex in all the right places. Internal cable routing keeps the artwork nice and visible. That fork is made from the same goods.One thing most gravel bikes seem to be missing is a suspension system. But to base your next bike purchase on the lack or inclusion of a visible suspension system is just downright folly. Aside from the carbon frame and fork, which should offer just the perfect bounce, the wheels are equally important on a bike like this. A pair of WTB Riddler Race tires stand proud and ready on a set of Alexrims GD24s. This setup will offer grip, stability, and limit vibrations to a minimum. If you dont like the wheels, you can change them for your favorite 700x42 mm of even 650x47 mm tires.For a drivetrain, Bianchi chose a Shimano SLX CS-M7000, 11-speed, 11-42T cassette. GRX 600 ST-RX600 shifters control the placement of a KMC X11-1 chain through a GRX RD-RX812 rear derailleur. Shimano BR-RX400 brakes clamp down on 160 mm (6.3 in) rotors. These components are all controlled from an aluminum flare handlebar with a 70-mm (2.75-in) reach. Since most folks take gravel bikes on some nasty rides, youll find eyelets for mudguards, making it your next bike-packing machine Theres only one catch: youll most likely have to go through a dealership to acquire the bike unless you got a guy who knows a guy. An average dealership price will range anywhere from discounted rates of $3,200 to as high as $3,900, but that price will get you much more than just a gravel bike. After all, youre buying a piece of history as the Arcadex will go down in the books as Bianchis first carbon gravel bike. CPS Energy has sued 14 more natural gas companies that the city-owned utility accuses of price-gouging during last months winter storm. With the lawsuits filed Monday in Bexar County District Court, CPS has now targeted 16 natural gas suppliers in its effort to eliminate more than half of the roughly $670 million the utility owes for natural gas it bought in the week of Feb. 14. We filed the suits to protect our customers from unlawful, excessive and exorbitant prices charged by certain natural gas suppliers during a state and federally declared disaster, CPS chief executive Paula Gold-Williams said. CPS wants the court to declare $362 million of its natural gas debt illegal, in violation of Texas price-gouging laws. TICKET GIVEAWAY: Cheer on the Black and Silver at the April 21 home game against Houston On Friday, CPS sued Houston Pipe Line Co. and Oasis Pipeline, saying the firms both subsidiaries of the publicly-traded oil and gas company Energy Transfer raised their prices by as much as 15,000 percent during the depths of the deep freeze. CPS is asking the court to slash its debt to Oasis and HPL by $250 million. The lawsuits CPS filed Monday target major oil and gas firms that the utility says raised their prices dramatically over a two-week window in February. Gov. Greg Abbott on Feb. 12 issued a statewide disaster declaration, an action in part intended to prevent price-gouging for essentials. Abbott made the order less than two days before the storm arrived in Texas. On ExpressNews.com: CPS sues natural gas suppliers, alleging firms raised prices up to 15,000 percent during winter storm Under Texas law, taking advantage of a disaster declared by the governor by selling or leasing fuel, food, medicine, lodging, building materials, construction tools or another necessity at an exorbitant or excessive price is unlawful. During the storm, natural gas became scarce as wellheads and pipelines froze and icy roads slowed deliveries of the fossil fuel. At the same time, utilities across the state competed for natural gas to fuel their power plants and heat homes. CPS has said natural gas traded in early February at between $2.50 to $3.00 per unit of gas. But as the storm took hold in Texas, CPS said companies such as Chevron, British Petroleum and others raised their prices between 6,000 to 7,000 percent during the time of the freeze. Suppliers at times charged CPS over $400 per unit of gas, the utility said in its complaints. Imagine going to the gasoline pump during a natural disaster and seeing the price of a gallon of gas at about $348 or about $7,000 for a full tank, Gold-Williams said. That is essentially what happened with natural gas prices during the storm. In a statement, Chevron said it met its contractual commitments to supply natural gas for the people of San Antonio and properly invoiced CPS Energy consistent with the mutually agreed-upon terms and conditions, including the price. These recent extreme weather conditions and historic freezing temperatures caused significant disruption to natural gas and power markets, BP said in a statement. Throughout this period, BP has sought to honor existing contractual arrangements and respond to customer needs, whilst complying with all laws and regulations governing the relevant markets. CPS says its willing to pay its suppliers $38.83 per unit of gas, which is still more than 10 times the typical price of gas. CPS said it deems that price to be at the outer reaches of any commercially justified price for natural gas. On ExpressNews.com: As price-cutting measure dies in Legislature, CPS lawsuit seeks to shield San Antonians from winter storm bill If every natural gas supplier CPS is suing lowered their price to $38.83 per unit, the utility would owe just $97 million to suppliers instead of the nearly $460 million that the defendants charged. Koch Energy Services and CIMA Energy raised their prices by more than 16,000 percent during the storm, CPS alleges. CPS accused CIMA of boosting its prices from around $3 prior to the freeze to $184 by Feb. 13, just before the worst of Winter Storm Uri hit Texas. On Feb. 17, CIMA began charging CPS $400 per unit of gas. By Feb. 19, the gas supplier had lowered the price down to $56. CIMA and Koch Energy Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment. CPS is asking the court to declare the high prices illegal and to bar gas suppliers from claiming CPS has defaulted on its debts while it contests the charges. The lawsuits are designed to ensure that San Antonio residents get fair treatment instead of price gouging and gross overcharging by natural gas suppliers during last months weather emergency, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net Maharashtra State Education Board has announced special examinations for students of Class 10 and Class 12 who missed the board examination due to COVID-19 infections or other related restrictions. These exams will be held at select examination centres in July. The Maharashtra HSC or Class 12 board exams will start from April 23, whereas the state's SSC or Class 10 exams are scheduled to begin from April 29. The state education department has already relaxed certain rules for board exams to alleviate the pressure on student in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Science practical exams for Class SSC examination have been replaced by an internal assessment test. Examinees will have to submit assignments for internal assessments. These tests will be conducted from May 21 to June 10. In case a student falls ill during this period, they will be given the chance to submit their assignment within the next 15 days. ALSO READ: Maharashtra board exams for Classes 10, 12 to be held in offline mode As for Class 12 HSC exams, practical tests have been limited to 5-6 papers. These practical exams will be held between May 22 and June 10. The colleges will consider the reduced practical exams during admission process for the next academic year. If a student falls sick, they will be allowed to retake the examination within the next 15 days. Maharashtra education board has decided to conduct the written board exams in the offline mode. Students will be given 30 extra minutes for papers carrying 80 marks, and 15 minutes for papers carrying 40 or 50 marks. Students have been asked to reach their respective exam centres an hour in advance. Question papers will be distributed 10 minutes before the test begins. If an examinee develops COVID-19 symptoms during the course of the exam, they will be allowed to finish the test and the authorities will have to inform the nearest health centre. The Maharashtra government is thinking about vaccinating the invigilators and examiners to avoid any risk of contagion. ALSO READ: CBSE revised date sheet for Class 10, 12 board exams: Check new time table, schedule, other details ALSO READ: ICSE Board Exams 2021: CISCE releases exam schedule for class 10, 12 Norway has announced that it is blocking Rolls-Royce's sale of a Norwegian engine maker to a Russian company over concerns it could allow sensitive technology to end up in Russian hands. The sale would strengthen Russian military capabilities in a way that would clearly be contrary to Norwegian and allied security policy interests, Justice and Public Security Minister Monica Maeland said on March 23 as she outlined to the Norwegian parliament why the move was being taken. "We now have enough information to conclude that it is absolutely necessary to prevent the sale of the company to a company controlled by a country with which we have no cooperation in the field of security," she added. The issue arose last year after Rolls-Royce announced it was selling Bergen Engines, which makes and services medium-speed gas and diesel engines for marine and power generation customers, to TMH Group, a privately owned company headquartered in Russia that makes locomotives and rail equipment. Bergen Engines supplies NATO member Norway's navy, as well as customers from the shipping industry around the world. The British company, known mainly for its luxury cars and airplane engines, has said it was selling the Norwegian unit, which employs almost 1,000 people, as part of a plan to strengthen its bottom line in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this month, the sale was temporarily halted, prompting Moscow to issue a stern warning over what it felt were the "anti-Russian implications" of the decision. Relations between Norway and Russia, which share a border in the Arctic, have eroded since Moscow illegally annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014. Since then the countries have pushed a military build-up in the north on both sides of the border and an increase in military maneuvers. With reporting by Norway Today, Reuters, and dpa A 29-year-old man faces charges of vehicular homicide after investigators say he intentionally struck a pedestrian near the St. Johns Bridge on Friday afternoon, then drove away from the scene. Police arrested Roy Bennett Jr. on Friday, shortly after a 57-year-old pedestrian was struck at North Crawford Street under the Philadelphia Avenue bridge ramp viaduct. When police responded to the scene around 3:30 p.m., they found the pedestrian had suffered life-threatening injuries. The pedestrian was transported to the hospital and died on Monday from injuries related to the crash. Police have not yet released any identifying information about the victim or specified whether Bennett and the victim knew each other. Bennett was arrested in northeast Portland later on Friday afternoon. He was charged with first-degree attempted murder, unauthorized use of a vehicle and failure to perform duties of a driver to an injured person. After the victim died Monday, the Multnomah County District Attorneys office said Bennett would be charged with second-degree murder. At the request of prosecutors, Multnomah County Judge Andrew Lavin ordered that the probable cause affidavit for the case be sealed, citing an ongoing investigation. Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR The executive board chairman and former CEO of United Airlines addressed students at St. Helena High School on Friday via Zoom. Oscar Munoz recounted his ascent from being the oldest of nine children in a Mexican-American family to the CEO of a Fortune 500 company and the first Latino to ever run a major airline. He advised students to pursue whatever theyre passionate about, seek out people who will support them, and always be kind to others. The way you treat people all people, all the time youd be amazed at how that carries your aura around you, he said. Because people will tell other people how you treated them. Munoz said his leadership philosophy was Listen, learn, and only then can you lead. He said that after he took over a broken United Airlines in 2015, he was struck when a flight attendant broke down in tears and told him she was tired of having to apologize to customers for the companys shortcomings. His primary goal became to regain the trust of Uniteds employees. Munoz also stressed the importance of reading in bridging the cultural divide. New Delhi: Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday (March 23, 2021) hit out at the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and said that 'what's happening in Maharashtra is not 'vikas' (development), but it is 'vasooli' (extortion). Prasad's comments came amid the controversy over the corruption allegations on the Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. The Union Minister also alleged that a 'Khela' is happening in Maharashtra too. He said, "The Maharashtra government is 'of extortion (vasooli), by extortion and for extortion'. Prasad said that the Uddhav Thackeray-led government has lost moral authority to govern. He also slammed Sharad Pawar and said that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo's political credibility has been dented after he was forced to speak patent falsehood. Earlier on Saturday, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh wrote a letter to Uddhav Thackeray and alleged that Anil Deshmukh had indulged in 'malpractice' and asked the suspended API Sachin Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore every month. In his letter, Singh stated, 'Anil Deshmukh had asked Sachin Vaze to make a collection. Vaze himself told me about it." Singh also alleged that Maharashtra Home Minister had called Sachin Vaze at his government residence several times and had set a target of Rs 100 crore every month. "Deshmukh had told me that there are 1750 more restaurants in Mumbai and if every restaurant pays Rs 2-3 lakh a month, then Rs 50 crores can be generated, the remaining amount can be collected from the other establishments," Singh wrote. The allegations made by Singh came a day after Deshmukh had said that Singh was moved out as Mumbai Police Commissioner so that cases pertaining to Vaze were probed without obstruction. Live TV Sorry! This content is not available in your region Business manager Sharon Blades will never forget the agonising moment she realised her five-year relationship with millionaire financial analyst, Dr Chris Rowland, was finally over. Rushing to his London penthouse with flu remedies after hed told her he was ill with a cold she was fully expecting to find him tucked up alone in bed. What she didnt expect was to find someone snuggled up next to him. I was absolutely devastated and when Chris saw me, he was horrified, repeating: Im so sorry, says Sharon, whod driven from Buckinghamshire, quietly letting herself in with the key hed given her. Im normally very placid, but when I saw the other woman sat up in bed looking pretty smug something in me just snapped. What happened next remains a blur of tears and raw emotion, as bedclothes flew in the altercation that ensued. After a couple of hours, the three-way ranting, raving, upset and recriminations finally petered out. Dr Chris Rowland and Sharon Blades had a row which resulted in complaints being made to the police. It was a humiliating end to Sharons relationship with the man she hoped to grow old with in the 1.6 million Oxfordshire mansion (pictured) theyd bought with a view to retiring there together Dr Rowlands new partner went home, while Sharon unable to drive having had a couple of glasses of wine slept in the spare room. She drove home the following morning, feeling her world had been ripped apart. The next day a complaint was made to police by Dr Rowlands new partner. Both he and Sharon were separately invited to help with their enquiries. I was later cautioned, even though I was the only one injured and ended up with a black eye, she says. Apparently I was to blame for starting the altercation by ripping off the bedclothes. It was a humiliating end to Sharons relationship with the man she hoped to grow old with in the 1.6 million Oxfordshire mansion theyd bought with a view to retiring there together. Indeed, Sharon, 63, would not be talking now about that embarrassing episode had the story of this extraordinary love triangle not emerged last week in the High Court battle over that jointly owned property, purchased in 2009. The court case may have been about house ownership, not broken relationships, but this all came out during the trial which also heard that, after the 2011 altercation, Dr Rowland accepted a restraining order forbidding contact with either woman for four weeks. Dr Rowland took Sharon to court after she refused in 2018 the sale of Tadmarton House, a stunning nine-bedroom property set in 24 acres of land near Banbury in the Cotswolds. He applied for sole ownership, arguing hed paid the full cash price for the Italianate villa, which hed told the court he always made clear he intended to bequeath to his adult daughter from a previous marriage. Ms Blades denied any such discussion had taken place. Furthermore, he asked the court for 371,000 in occupation rent from Ms Blades after he claimed she banned him from visiting the mansion with his new partner, named in court as management executive Emmanuelle Duyck. Dr Rowland took Sharon (pictured) to court after she refused in 2018 the sale of Tadmarton House, a stunning nine-bedroom property set in 24 acres of land near Banbury in the Cotswolds While admitting he wasnt proud of his behaviour during the break-up from Ms Blades, Dr Rowland argued she had no right to half of the property he had paid for. But last week, Judge William Hansen ruled in favour of Sharon, after hearing evidence Dr Rowland had been advised by their conveyancing solicitor both verbally and in writing of the implications of purchasing the house jointly. Told they could change their minds right up to the day of completion, both were made aware of other options; to either buy as joint tenants or tenants in common specifying in a deed of trust what percentage of the property each owned. Conceding it was a harsh ruling, the judge said Dr Rowland would no doubt regret his earlier generosity. Effectively it meant that Dr Rowland, who has a PhD in Economics, had gifted half the property to Sharon and couldnt now take it back. He awarded Dr Rowland just 59,958 in occupation rent, covering the period between November 2009 and October 2015, after ruling the mansion was not a main residence, but a weekend retreat. Ms Blades argued that, post-2012, there was no ban on bringing romantic partners to Tadmarton and shed moved on while Dr Rowland claimed he avoided visiting because he feared a scene or something worse. So, today, Sharon Blades should be celebrating. Only she sounds far from victorious. Sad, even, that their forever home turned out to be anything but. She may have cut up or deleted every treasured photograph of Dr Rowland in her efforts to forget him, but there was a time she would have sacrificed every penny for his love. The past four years have been hugely stressful. If Id lost, I would have been left homeless and near enough bankrupt, she says, speaking of the ordeal for the first time. I would have had to sell my own 550,000 property just to pay Chris the back rent and his legal fees. Im sure he feels very disappointed, but he has multiple properties, so losing is not going to leave him homeless. Yes, Chris was very generous, but I only accepted that gift of joint ownership in the expectation that we would never split up. He promised me wed grow old together. You cant overturn something which is legally binding 12 years later, just because youve changed your mind. Over the years Id spent a small fortune furnishing the place, paying bills and maintaining it, because this was where we were going to spend the rest of our lives together. Sharon was a 46-year-old divorcee with no children when she was introduced to Dr Rowland, then aged 49, in 2006. He was a university chum of a sibling of hers, and they met at a New Years party in Yorkshire. Chris was lovely; just very kind, grounded, thoughtful and funny. You wouldnt have guessed he was wealthy at all, because he wasnt flash, but it wasnt his money I was attracted to, says Sharon, herself a successful executive manager in the semi-conductor industry earning upwards of 75,000. He was just a regular, sincere, caring guy who worked very hard and loved his sport, going to restaurants, bars, concerts and jazz clubs and we hit it off. From the start Dr Rowland who was separated from his wife when he first met Sharon made it clear he never wanted to marry again. Both valued their independence, travelling widely through their work. They kept finances separate and though Sharon spent most of her time at his London apartment, they never formally moved in together. Dr Rowland also owned another property in Surrey. So she was delighted when, after three happy years, Dr Rowland started talking about buying a weekend retreat together; a place to call their own and one day retire to. Last week, Judge William Hansen ruled in favour of Sharon, after hearing evidence Dr Rowland (pictured) had been advised by their conveyancing solicitor both verbally and in writing of the implications of purchasing the house jointly Tadmarton House was beautiful with absolutely stunning views and we both fell in love with it, says Sharon, who was also thrilled when Dr Rowland bought her a diamond ring for her 50th birthday. Chris kept saying this was the place where wed grow old together and it made no difference to me if the house was in his name or joint names, but it couldnt have been clearer what we were signing. It was explained verbally and in writing. I cant see how a man of his intelligence and standing could have interpreted it any differently. It was incredibly generous of Chris, but I didnt question it because I was besotted with him and he said he was in love with me. I just felt incredibly happy. Who wouldnt be? But just months after completing on the sale, Sharon went down to the kitchen one morning to make coffee and heard a text message bleep on Dr Rowlands mobile which was lying on the table. I was absolutely shocked when I saw a very explicit message which made it clear to me that Chris might be seeing another woman, recalls Sharon of that day in late 2009. I was beside myself, completely devastated. I went upstairs and said, I think youve got something to tell me and Chris kept saying, Im so sorry, Im so sorry. Dr Rowland told the court this episode caused the end of his relationship in late 2009. But Sharon insists it didnt end until February 2011 when she arrived at his penthouse flat to find him in bed with her love rival whom hed apparently met through work in July 2009. The court heard that until the 2011 showdown, there were times the relationship was partially rekindled. In 2010, the pair engaged in couples therapy. There was also a brief rapprochement in 2014 and 2015. I should have ended it the minute I found out, but I told myself it was just a fling and once hed got it out of his system, hed come back to me, says Sharon. I forgave Chris because I loved him and our break-up was a long, drawn-out process of 15 months with him trying to decide if he wanted to be with me or her. She adds: I dont know what was going on his head, but I think he genuinely struggled because we were both pulling at him and he said he was torn because he loved us both. Many times he told me, I dont want to be with her, but she wont leave me alone, but I suspect he was probably saying the same thing to her about me. The whole situation must have been very tough for her, too. Here she was, believing she was with a new partner, with me in the background refusing to let him go. At one point I even suggested to Chris that we share him. I said he could spend the week with her and the weekends with me, but he didnt want to do that. Looking back, I cant believe I said that, but I loved him. I was desperate, trying anything. Devastated, Sharon was prescribed antidepressants and spent a year in therapy to try and get over the break-up secretly hoping Dr Rowland might still change his mind. Chris was welcome to use Tadmarton House whenever he wanted; he jointly owned it after all, but I told him I couldnt bear the thought of him bringing his new partner to what was meant to have been our home, says Sharon, who the court heard spent more than 100,000 over the years on the property. After a year, Id felt Id recovered enough to move on and by 2012 he could have brought whoever he wanted with him, but he hardly ever came here even though I sent e-mails saying, This is your house too, please use it. After we split up we stayed in contact because of the house and Chris agreed to pay for structural repairs (of which there were very few) and some of the utility bills, but I paid an equal amount and bought most of the furniture, and I dont think he appreciated what a mammoth task looking after the property was, she says. There was always something going wrong, with leaks or blocked drains, or trees falling down. It would take me an entire weekend to clean the house, and two or three weekends to clean all the downstairs windows. Now, though, Tadmarton House believed to be worth around 2.5 million must be sold by court order and the proceeds split between them. Everything linking Sharon to the man she once adored will finally be severed. Its a beautiful place, so Ill be sad to see it go, but Im grateful for the time I spent there. Hopefully Ill be able to buy another property not as grand but you have to move on, she says. Dr Rowland, 66, now retired and believed to be in Australia, was invited to comment through his barrister but has yet to respond. Ms Duyck, from whom the court heard he split in 2015, declined to comment. Part of me is still in love with Chris, or at least the Chris I remember when we first met, says Sharon, adding: But whatever love he had for me disappeared years ago. As they prepare to put their forever home on the market, she is proud to have emerged older, wiser, stronger and, yes, richer. Perhaps Chris thought allowing me to use Tadmarton House for 12 years was compensation enough for all the heartache, says Sharon, who credits barristers Simon Lillington and Thomas Roe QC with her success. He thought he was right, but actually the law was on my side, and I knew it. By defending myself, I risked losing everything. Now I just want to put him and all this behind me. Version en espanol Climate change and disease threaten the planets oceans, causing a sizable loss of the Keystone coral species. In an effort to counteract this, the UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science have out-planted staghorn corals as a part of a decade-long restoration effort. This program has resulted in over 20,000 nursery grown corals planted onto degraded reefs in Miami Dade county off the coast of Key Biscayne. Along with new techniques to attach the coral fragments there is a project called Rescue a Reef, led by Dr. Diego Lirman, associate professor in marine biology and ecology at RSMAS, is attempting to capture gametes from the first successful reproduction of these reintroduced corals. This is extremely rewarding for us since this is from coral we have been growing in our nurseries, Lirman said. This program began in 2020. Last August 6-7 they were able for the first time to film the spawning of these nursery grown corals. To record this pioneering event, UM and Canon invited Key Biscaynes own Peter Zuccarini to film it. Zuccarini is one of the most influential cinematographers of the underwater world, with more than 100 films and works to his credit, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Life of Pi and Avatar. Two sites where the coral has been reintroduced are on Rainbow Reef, located about three miles offshore from Key Biscayne. Funding for the projects comes from a wide variety of agencies, such as Miami-Dade County, the NFL, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, SECORE International, ProScience, Florida Aquarium and Nova Southeastern University, for the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Restoration Hub. Canon USA Inc. is another key contributor. We are incredibly proud to continue working with the University of Miami RSMAS in its coral restoration and ocean conservation pursuits, said Shinichi Yoshida, Canon USAs executive vice president and general manager. Coral filming presented challenges Because of his expertise, Zuccarini was invited to film gametes from the first spawning of newly re-introduced corals. This phenomenon is rare since the coral only spawn up to six nights after a full moon, and only during a few months of the year. The juxtaposition of moon and time of year leaves the ocean almost pitch black where the coral live, at the depth of around 30 feet. Coral spawning is a very rare phenomenon to witness, so its great that we were able to capture this scientific breakthrough to share with our local community and people around the world, said Zuccarini, who grew up diving the waters off Key Biscayne. The need to maintain almost complete darkness during the filming of spawning created a challenge for most cameras. To help capture the images, Canon provided an innovative new camera, the ME20F-SH, which has a CMOS sensor capable of an incredible low-light setting of 4 million. Their prosumer-level DSLR camera is only capable in low-light with ISO levels in the range of 100,000. Canon is thrilled that the ME20 camera supported Pete during this sustainability and preservation initiative, said Elizabeth Pratt, Canons marketing director. Zuccarini was equally thrilled: It was great to record scientists diving and collecting coral gametes in almost total darkness without disturbing the coral with additional light. Recalling an island childhood Reflecting on his life growing up in Key Biscayne, Zuccarina said the village was nothing like it is today, as far as property values and population. It was for more natural and undeveloped. In the 1960s, he said, Coral Gables was more popular real estate, but his mother thought Key Biscayne was more desirable due to the immediate beach access, so the family moved there in 1967, when he was only one. The beach became the playground for Zuccarini and his brother, providing them their first exposure to the areas natural bounty. My brother Paul and I would walk along the seawall on the bayside and see so many lobsters and huge schools of grouper. The water was so clean and clear. One of my earliest beach memories is when we would take the sargassum seaweed and shake it into a bucket to see what creatures would fall out. Looking back on it, he continued, I think I was beginning to realize then that instead of spearing fish or catching them with a hook, it was better to capture them on film. When he was 10, Zuccarini mowed lawns and earned enough money to buy his first underwater camera, a PentaxK1000 in an Ikelite housing. Some of my very first underwater photographs were of the worm rock reefs on Key Biscayne, where we would see mangrove snappers and redfish. Soon, Zuccarini started reading every book he could find to learn about camera technology and lenses, which led to an interest in film photography. We had my dad's Super 8mm movie camera and my brother and I would make movies with it, he said. I remember once we saw my dad using a pressure washer and we took it and used it to simulate the effects of a hurricane Later, they got the bright idea to put a movie camera in a 20-gallon fish tank and submerge it halfway into the water to film underwater life in the shallows. After graduating from Coral Gables Senior High, Zuccarini went to Brown University, where he eventually took a photography class that he loved. I enjoyed it so much I changed my major and started studying film. School went from me having to work at it to being fun, he continued. I found my passion with filming. One of his first jobs while at Brown was a fascinating assignment from his film professor, Leslie Thornton. We went to Morocco and I was the director of photography for a documentary on Isabelle Eberhardt. Eberhardt was an explorer and early feminist, who had in 1897 disguised herself as a man to travel with the Bedouins. When he was home for summer vacation in 1986, he got hired as a camera intern in a movie called Midnight Crossing in Miami. His next film job was as a camera assistant in the James Bond film License to Kill in Key West. No shortage of film work Zuccarini is currently involved in several major film projects. Work on the series of sequels to Avatar restarted last October after several months of COVID-19-related shutdown. The first of four planned sequels is currently scheduled for December 2022 release. Asked if his underwater photography had any influence on creatures seen in Avatar, he said, That's funny you should ask because Jim Cameron was just saying to me that he was concerned we had used up some of the best sea creatures in the rain forest scenes in the first Avatar. I told him not to worry, we have a lot more great water experiences for the new one, which has an underwater world in it. Another project Zuccarini is working on is a science-fiction series for Apple TV called Foundation, being filmed in Malta and based on an Isaac Asimov story about a watery planet. When not traveling the globe filming movies, Zuccarini is at home on Key Biscayne with his wife, Camila Holguin, 15-year-old twin boys, Finn and Kai, and 10-year-old son Teo. Asked if his boys were underwater enthusiasts like their dad, he said, The twins are kind of afraid of going in the ocean with the supposedly dangerous sharks. Finn is more interested in flying drones over it, and Kai would prefer to read about it. But Teo is the most enthusiastic. Ive taken him free diving on my back with tiger sharks and hammerheads and he loves it. Reflecting further on this obvious fascination with nature and ecology, Zuccarini said he always aims to call attention to something environmental in his work. I sneak inspirational wildlife images into a film showing unusual or rare animals, he said. And at least once or twice a year I try to do a documentary type film like this reef project, to try and be a voice for the animals. To see a video of the coral spawning filmed by Zuccarini, and for more information about the reef restoration project, click here Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 21:46:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets representatives of overseas participants of the China Development Forum 2021 via video link at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China will further expand its opening-up, and hopes to achieve win-win results through two-way and multi-directional opening-up with other countries, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Monday. Li met representatives of overseas attendees of the China Development Forum 2021 via video link in Beijing. Heads of Fortune 500 companies, experts and scholars from renowned international academic research institutions, and representatives of major international organizations participated in the forum. Answering a question about China's rate and quality of growth, Li said that, in the face of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, China achieved positive economic growth last year under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core. The country has set the 2021 growth target at over 6 percent to consolidate the foundation for economic recovery and growth. It also aligns with what the country can accomplish next year and the year after, Li said. The growth target is not low, and China may even achieve a faster growth rate in practice, he said. While maintaining stable economic growth, China must strive to improve quality and efficiency. This requires adequate employment, continued growth in incomes, sustained improvement of the ecological environment, optimized economic structure and improved labor productivity, said the premier. He said that China still faces mounting pressures in boosting employment this year, as about 14 million urban people will enter the labor market, while the country is aiming to create no less than 11 million new urban jobs. It needs to seek a balance between growth, employment, income and prices, and cannot pursue economic growth based on high energy consumption and heavy pollution, Li said. He added that efforts should be made to increase the vitality and profits of market players, continue to promote urbanization, unleash the huge potential of domestic demand, and enhance the role of consumption in stimulating the economy. Li pointed out that opening-up is the only path for China's development, and over the past 40 years, the Chinese economy has been deeply integrated into the world economy. China will further expand its opening-up, and hopes to achieve win-win results through two-way and multi-directional opening-up with other countries. The premier also answered questions from the delegates on coping with population aging, poverty reduction and education, financial opening-up and green development. The attendees hailed China's development achievements, saying that China's deepening of reform and opening-up will bring new opportunities for global economic development. Noting that they are confident with China's future development prospects, they expressed their willingness to use China's promotion of high-quality development as an opportunity to better achieve mutual benefits and win-win cooperation. Enditem New Delhi, March 23 : The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it is of the view that the Maharashtra government can grant reservation to Maratha community in public education and employment. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, told a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan that the Maharashtra government's decision is constitutional as the 102nd Amendment of the Constitution does not deprive a state of the power to declare its list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC). Emphasising that Maharashtra government's granting reservation to Maratha community is constitutional, he said the Centre adopts the submissions of Attorney General K.K. Venugopal and it should be taken as Centre's view. Last week, the AG had submitted before the apex court that 102nd Amendment does not take away the power of the state legislatures to ratify a law to determine the SEBC and then confer benefits on them. As the top court asked Mehta why the Centre did not issue any notification of SEBCs under Article 342A so far, he said that the existing SEBC list continues. At this, the bench queried as to what will be the correct interpretation of Article 342A, and what will be the effect of not having a list? Mehta said that there are petitions challenging the validity of 102nd Constitution Amendment, and once they come up for hearing, then this query would be probably answered. Senior advocate Manish Singhvi, representing the Rajasthan government, said the determination of SEBC in each state is the sole prerogative of the government concerned and insisted that 1992 Indra Sawhney verdict capping reservation at 50 per cent requires to be examined by a larger bench. Advocate Manish Singh, representing the Bihar government, cited two separate SEBC lists: for central service, one is prepared by the Centre and the other by state for state services. These lists have been existing since 1993. Singh added that Indra Sawhney judgment needs to be examined by a larger bench against the backdrop of changed social dynamics of the society. The arguments on the petitions challenging Maratha reservation will continue on Wednesday. Jay Lockyer, 18, and two youths were accused of setting fire at apiary in Wiltshire A beekeeper has blasted the Crown Prosecution Service after it dropped arson charges against three teenagers who were accused of destroying 30 hives that he built over 20 years. Jay Lockyer, 18, and two youths were alleged to have set the fire in Swindon, Wiltshire, that toppled 30 hives owned by 89-year-old Ron Hoskins. The apiary in Stanton Country Park was burned down on March 16 last year and the blaze is estimated to have caused 21,000 worth of damage. But at Swindon Youth Court last week it was confirmed that the CPS had discontinued proceedings. Mr Hoskins, an expert apiarist, spent more than two decades researching and selectively breeding 'super-bees' that are able to cope with destructive varroa mites. The apiary in Stanton Country Park, Swindon, Wiltshire, was burned down on March 16 last year and the blaze is estimated to have caused 21,000 worth of damage Ron Hoskins, 89, an expert apiarist, spent more than two decades researching and selectively breeding 'super-bees' that are able to cope with destructive varroa mites The local community later raised 20,000 to help Mr Hoskins rebuild the site amid the Covid-19 outbreak, but he has lost decades of careful breeding and will have to start from scratch. Lockyer was handed a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a 21 victim surcharge after admitting possession of a headtorch stolen from the site. One of the boys, who faced the arson charge and cannot be named because he is under 18, was given a two-year custodial sentence last December for torching a 1.3million cottage in Wroughton. Charges were dropped against Jay Lockyer, 18, and two youths, who were accused of setting the fire in Swindon, Wiltshire, that toppled 30 hives The scene that greeted members of the bee group at Stanton Country Park, where they keep their hives, in March last year The damage caused by the fire, pictured above. Mr Hoskins had devoted over two decades breeding a bee that was immune to the deadly Varroa mite, which has decimated honeybee population What is the deadly varroa mite? A varroa mite is pictured above What is it? An external parasite that attaches to the lower abdomen of bees and sucks their bodily fluids. What happens to infected bees? They can suffer from a shorter lifespan, reduced weight, shrunken and deformed wings, and reduced natural defence. Can prove fatal. Young bees often survive metamorphosis if they are sealed with the mite. How is it controlled? Beekeepers either apply chemicals to the colony, or trap mites on brood combs before having them removed and destroyed. Problem in the UK? Yes. Beekeepers are urged by DEFRA to monitor their hives for the pest. Advertisement Mr Hoskins, of the Swindon Honeybee Conservation Group, said it was 'most disappointing' that the CPS had abandoned the prosecution. He had devoted more than two decades breeding a bee that was immune to the deadly Varroa mite, which has decimated honeybee populations. The external parasites kill millions of the flying insects worldwide, with DEFRA urging beekeepers in the UK to monitor their hives for the pest. Mr Hoskins said: 'That has caused a lot of damage to the future of beekeeping because I was breeding a bee that was immune to a virus that is a killer of bees nationwide. 'It does appear that I don't have any more bees to breed from. 'We couldn't breed any last year because we didn't have the facilities. 'It took me 25 years to breed this bee. I don't have another 25 years. 'The loss to beekeeping is ginormous.' He has put up a notice by his Stanton apiary calling on anyone with information about the arson attack to contact Wiltshire Police. A CPS spokesperson said: 'The CPS has a duty to keep cases under continuing review and following a further review, we concluded there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.' In the wake of last year's fire, more than 20,000 was raised online for the Swindon Honeybee Conservation Group. Mr Hoskins added: 'I want to say thank you to everybody who donated, of course, because that was wonderful. 'That has more or less put us back on our feet.' In the wake of last year's fire, of which the aftermath is pictured above, more than 20,000 was raised online for the Swindon Honeybee Conservation Group New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has alleged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari of "hiring and harbouring criminals" in Nandigram. Adhikari will contest against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Nandigram constituency. In a letter to the Election Commission (EC), the TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O' Brien has accused Adhikari of visiting one of the four locations where he is allegedly harbouring criminals. "It has come to our knowledge that Suvendu Adhikari, the candidate fielded by BJP in Nandigram has been harbouring criminals, who are non-residents of Nandigram," PTI quoted TMCs letter. The letter also claimed that no action has been taken by the local police and sought direct intervention of the EC into the matter. We request you to immediately intervene and direct necessary steps to be taken by police to forthwith apprehend all the outside anti-social elements hired and harboured by Suvendu Adhikari. Meanwhile, during her election rally on Sunday, West Bengal CM had said she has heard rumours the Adhikari family had built an empire worth Rs 5,000 crore. She declared that if her party comes back to power in the state, they will investigate the matter. West Bengal Assembly elections will take place in eight phases beginning from March 27. The high profile constituency of Nandigram will go to poll on April 1. The counting of votes will be done on May 2. Live TV A Black man has filed a lawsuit against an Alameda County hotel, saying he was discriminated against and berated by a manager while talking on the phone in the hotels parking lot during his stay there last year. Dramaine Vinegar said he booked a three-night stay at the Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley last April with his fiancee. On the second-to-last day of his stay, Vinegar sat in his car in the hotels parking lot to make a phone call, according to the lawsuit. Vinegar said a car pulled up behind him. A hotel manager, William Gheen, jumped out and told Vinegar to Get the f off the property, according to the lawsuit, which names Gheen, Marriott International, and the hotels franchisee and management company, Fremont Hotel Operating Co. and Remington Hotels. In an interview with The Chronicle, Vinegar said he told Gheen that he had a motel room. Gheen snapped back, Its a hotel, not a motel, according to Vinegar and the lawsuit. The pair continued to argue in the hotels lobby, in an interaction that Vinegar filmed with his cell phone. Im a customer. Ive been here for two nights. You got out your truck, and you told me to get the f off of private property without even addressing me properly, Vinegar tells Gheen in the video. When Vinegar asks Gheen for his name, the manager extends his middle finger while walking away, the video shows. Now Playing: Video: Courtesy of Dramaine Vinegar Marriott International referred questions about the lawsuit and the incident to the franchise company that manages the hotel. Remington Hotels did not respond to an email seeking comment. Lawyers who have represented the Fremont Hotel Operating Co. in previous cases did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Phone numbers listed under Gheens name were disconnected. A person who answered the phone at the Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley said nobody with Gheens name currently works there. While the video does not show Gheen using racial slurs, Vinegar told The Chronicle that he felt stereotyped from the beginning of their interaction. Had he been white, Vinegar said, he wouldnt have been treated that way in a million years. Im 100% certain if I was white, he wouldnt have addressed me like that, Vinegar said. One of Vinegars lawyers, Jason Kafoury of Portland, Ore., said the incident represents what he described as a pattern of white managers in hotels walking up to paying guests and racially profiling them to try to clear out lobbies and parking lots. Kafourys firm is involved in more than a dozen lawsuits involving hotels allegedly profiling Black guests. Vinegar, who lives in San Jose, said he ended up checking out of the hotel that night. After he left a review describing the interaction, the hotel emailed him, offering a free room and asking him to reach out to their corporate office. By then, he had already contacted an attorney, Vinegar said. Vinegar said hes been subjected to certain looks, certain stereotypes as a Black man, but nothing as blatant as he experienced at the hotel. The lawsuit doesnt specify damages, but Vinegar said he wants hotel managers to be screened for potential racial prejudices before theyre hired. For the most part, Im hoping that people will understand that they have to treat all races the same, he said. Michael Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: michael.williams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michaeldamianw The family of an Allentown woman left for dead by a fleeing driver says three years in prison is not long enough for the crime. Ruby Marreros family is livid and distraught that the driver, Joshua Stockman, was granted parole earlier this month. I dont want him to serve a life sentence, said Rubys brother, Carlos Marrero, but three years is not good enough. The 39-year-old Stockman will have his drivers license suspended, but his license should be taken away permanently. Why should he be behind the wheel? Marrero asked. Whats the next outcome when he gets behind the wheel? Thats scary. Stockman was speeding the night of Feb. 21, 2017, when he hit Ruby Marrero as she crossed the street near her Allentown home in the 400 block of North Sixth Street. The 32-year-old Marrero was hospitalized in critical condition for a week before succumbing to multiple blunt force injuries from the crash. Her death was ruled an accident. Stockman, of South Whitehall Township, pleaded guilty to an accident involving death, and was sentenced in September 2017 to three years to 10 years in state prison. He was granted parole March 10. A letter from the Pennsylvania Parole Board says Stockman was granted parole, in part because he participated in prison programs, has good behavior, demonstrated a motivation for success and accepted responsibility and showed remorse for his crimes. Marrero said he just so happened to call the parole board the day parole was granted, and found out during the call. I felt hurt, just like I felt when I found out my sister was killed, he said, adding the parole board should revoke Stockmans parole. The ultimate goal is that he serves more time. Stockman was still at SCI Pine Grove as of Monday, according to the states online inmate records. He served his time and now hes being released, Stockmans defense attorney in the criminal case, Scott Wilhelm, said. He served more than his minimum. Im glad to see that hes getting out. The Lehigh County District Attorneys office opposed parole for Stockman. In a letter to the parole board, District Attorney Jim Martin and Chief Deputy District Attorney Renee Smith said Stockman was speeding the night he hit Marrero as she crossed the street. Stockman callously left the seriously-injured Marrero in the street and did not call 911, the letter says. Instead, Stockman drove around Marreros body and fled, according to police. He crashed a flew blocks away, ran and then went to a bar, where he drank and called a friend to pick him up, the prosecutors letter says. Stockman was dropped off at his cousins house, and he only admitted hitting someone the following morning, the letter says. The fatal crash came after two prior DUIs, and other alcohol offenses; the Morning Call reported Stockman also had a prior hit-and-run crash. The DAs office opposed any release from incarceration for Stockman. Carlos Marrero noted that while Stockman was free on bail in Rubys case, he missed weekly drug and alcohol tests. Because of the pandemic, there was no in-person parole hearing, Carlos Marrero said, but family and friends sent book-long emails objecting to parole in the case. They would have showed up in-person en masse if they could, he added. One cousin wrote about Stockman leaving Ruby Marrero in the road like she was an animal. He didnt even bother to make sure she was okay. During court, his family pleaded with the judge to allow Mr. Stockman another chance and I cant help but to feel bitter about that, Maylene Ramirez wrote. Why does he deserve a second chance when he stripped my cousin of hers? What kind of man can live with himself knowing he stole a life and left her for dead? Carlos Marrero said he has not told his mother about Stockmans parole, and that his husband told him, Dont do it. Make this right. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Man Charged with Teacher's Murder Appears in Court By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - A man charged with murdering a local teacher was in court Tuesday.The McCracken Circuit Court Clerk said an attorney for Kelvin Richardson asked the judge if he could visit the defendant in person instead of virtually. The hearing on that motion was continued to April 7 at 9:30 am.In August, a trial date was scheduled for May 3, 2022.Richardson is accused of fatally shooting Carrie McCord, a local special education teacher, in her yard in May of 2020. At the time of his arrest, officers found a handgun they say he used in the shooting.Richardson had been released from prison on parole and assigned to Keeton Correctional Center in Paducah in February of 2019. Detectives said Richardson told them McCord had tried to help him adjust to life after being released from prison, but she later took out a protective order against him after he began causing her problems.He faces charges of first-degree murder, fleeing or evading police, possession of a handgun by a felon, and violation of a protective order. Photo: Jon Manchester George Weston Ltd. is putting its Weston Foods bakery business up for sale and doubling down on its core retail and real estate operations, the company said Tuesday. The move comes after efforts to scale up the bakery business through acquisitions came up short. "We spent last year exploring opportunities to create a step change in Weston Foods scale that would allow it to become a truly meaningful part of GWL value," Galen G. Weston, George Weston's chairman and chief executive, said during a conference call with analysts. "But in the end, we did not find the right opportunity. Instead, it's now clear that pursuing a sale represents the best way to unlock Weston Foods potential." The sale of the bakery business will leave George Weston with its majority stake in grocery giant Loblaw Companies Ltd. and a large interest in Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. While the bakery business is only a small part of George Weston, it's a "very attractive asset to the right purchaser," the company's president and chief financial officer Richard Dufresne told analysts. "It has scale in the bakery industry as well as a leading market position in a number of categories," he said. "We are confident this is the right time to launch a sale process." Weston Foods, founded in 1882, produces bread, rolls and other baked goods in Canada and the U.S. and had $2.1 billion in sales in 2020. In connection with the sale, the company also announced the retirement of Loblaw president Sarah Davis, effective May 6. Davis will be succeeded by Galen G. Weston, who will return to his role as chairman and president at Loblaw in addition to his current job as chairman and CEO at George Weston. "The sale of Weston Foods will allow me to dedicate renewed time and energy at Loblaw as we increase our momentum in both our bricks-and-mortar network, and our leadership in digital and data," Galen G. Weston said. The companies also announced that Robert Sawyer will join Loblaw as chief operating officer and that Richard Dufresne, president and chief financial officer of George Weston, will expand his responsibilities to include chief financial officer of Loblaw on May 6. [March 23, 2021] Naborforce Expands Operations to Raleigh-Wake County Area to Meet Increased Demand for Social Engagement and Support for Older Adults RICHMOND, Va., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Naborforce, a fast-growing company designed to connect aging adults to a network of trusted care providers for companionship and on-demand support, announced today that it will expand its geographic reach in March by adding services in the Raleigh-Wake County area. The demand for social engagement, care, and support provided by Naborforce, which is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, has nearly tripled in the past six months as older loved ones experience higher rates of isolation and loneliness since the pandemic began. Launching operations in Wake County to meet this increased need marks the company's first expansion outside of Virginia since it was founded and will result in increased support options for Raleigh-area residents and job opportunities. "We are very excited to open Naborforce in the Wake County and Raleigh area as we expand our services to meet the needs of older adults in the region and their loved ones," said Paige Wilson, CEO and founder of Naborforce. "Today's announcement that Naborforce is launching its first market in North Carolina means that we will be able to help more families looking for resources to support their parents as they age." Driving Naborforce's model forward is an increased need for support as our country's population ages and over 11,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day. As a result, for the first time in U.S. history older adults will soon outnumber children. As families grow smaller and more disbursed, the wave of older adults and their family members are now seeking new ways to stay independent and connected. The COVD-19 pandemic has added increased challenges for older adults by escalating isolation and the need for support during a period of time that more and more older adults are expressing a desire to age gracefully and safely in place. As a solution, the Naborforce platform has been used successfully since 2018 to make meaningful connections happen seamlessly in real life for older adults and their children seeking companionship and on-demand care. Naborforce is driven by a highly vetted and trusted network of compassionate individuals dedicated to making independent, engaged, and joyous aging and living possible for older adults. "Nabors" at Naborforce are compassionate community members motivated by a desire to support the older adults in their communities. "While there are numerous options for nurses and aides, Naborforce is who to call for help with all those little things that keep older Raleigh residents independent and happy," said Wilson. "For those with aging parents, we serve as the first and only platform that dispatches back-up sons and daughters on-demand. Whether you're busy balancing your career, raising kids, live out of town or just need a little support, Naborforce offers peace of mind and comfort knowing that our Nabors are making productive, connected, and joyous aging possible." Naborforce is community-based and will begin impacting residents in Raleigh-Wake County area immediately. The company plans to extend its services throughout the Raleigh, Durham, and Triangle area in 2021. In addition, Naborforce plans to grow to additional markets, both in North Carolina as well as outside of the state. As Naborforce grows, it will add to its network of "Nabors" who are fully vetted, screened, and insured. Residents in the area wishing to easily secure a "Nabor" for on-demand support can visit www.naborforce.com to connect those in need of an extra hand with those willing to lend one. About Naborforce: Based in Richmond, VA, Naborforce is using technology to harness the strength of community. Through their proprietary tech platform, they connect older adults and their family caregivers to a network of fully vetted community members for on-demand light assistance and social connection. For more information, www.naborforce.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/naborforce-expands-operations-to-raleigh-wake-county-area-to-meet-increased-demand-for-social-engagement-and-support-for-older-adults-301253372.html SOURCE Naborforce [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Burma Crisis in Myanmar Seen Undermining ASEAN Centrality Myanmar junta security forces are seen after a confrontation with protesters in Yangon on Mar. 17. / The Irrawaddy The ongoing crisis in Myanmar, which has already claimed more than 230 lives, is undermining what is known as ASEAN centrality and challenging the regional groupings policy of non-interference, a former senior Thai diplomat said Monday. It is also putting the onus on Thailand as Myanmars immediate neighbor to play a role in helping to find ways to defuse the potentially explosive situation in the country, according to former foreign affairs permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow. Speaking at a forum on Thailands foreign policy organized by the International Studies Center, Sihasak said the worsening situation in Myanmar should add to pressure for ASEAN to reconsider its policy of non-interference in its member countries. It certainly needs reinterpretation given the scale of human rights violations we are witnessing in Myanmar. The crisis should no longer be seen as internal affairs of a member country, he said. He encouraged ASEAN to play a more active role in helping resolve the violent situation in Myanmar, which is a member of the regional grouping. There can certainly be room for constructive intervention, he said. Sihasak said bound by its non-interference policy, ASEAN is being increasingly seen as helpless in the face of the violence in Myanmar. The image of ASEAN has been severely tarnished by its inaction And the concept of ASEAN centrality is also being undermined, he said. Sihasak cited the recent virtual meeting of the ASEAN foreign ministers hosted by its current chair Brunei, which ended with a chairmans statement that is largely seen as perfunctory. He noted that its principle of consensus often inhibits ASEAN from taking a meaningful role when its needed. Operating on the basis of consensus either provides an excuse for inaction or leads it to strive for the lowest common denominator, said Sihasak, a seasoned diplomat who served as Thai ambassador to Paris, Tokyo and the UN mission in Geneva. Sihasak pointed out that the recent ASEAN statement on Myanmar called on all parties to refrain from instigating further violence, and for all sides to exercise utmost restraint despite the fact that the bloodshed was a result of violent crackdowns by security forces. And then it said ASEAN also heard some calls for the release of political detainees. Why wouldnt ASEAN want to issue the call itself instead of saying it heard some calls? he said. Sihasak also said that as Myanmars closest neighbor, all eyes are on Thailand as to its role in the crisis. As it is being most affected by what is going in Myanmar, Thailand has no choice but to take a lead in helping to find a way out, he said. Thailand and Myanmar share a common border stretching over 2,400 km. Thai authorities have already started preparing for a possible influx of Myanmar refugees in the event of more violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protests. While some other ASEAN leaders have been vocal in their criticisms on the situation in Myanmar, Thailand has been careful in not directly disparaging the military regime, which took power in a coup in February. In one of his few public comments on what is going in Myanmar, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai expressed Thailands readiness to assist Myanmar in the pursuance of peaceful resolution for the benefit and interest of Myanmar people. However, he told Thai PBS World that Thailand would prefer to conduct quiet diplomacy to help Myanmar find a peaceful way out of the crisis. This article was first published by Thai PBS. You may also like these stories: French Energy Giant Halts Myanmar Hydropower Project Over Human Rights Concerns Myanmar Protest Death Toll Climbs As Regimes Troops Keep Shooting Villagers Flee Their Homes as Myanmar Military Regime Vows Action Credit: CC0 Public Domain A study at two urgent care clinics found that adopting a new electronic health records system doubled the amount of cognitive effort health care workers expended to perform their work during the first six months after implementation. The increase in cognitive workload also persisted for at least 30 months, the researchers found. The team reported its findings in a study published in the journal Applied Ergonomics. In a collaborative study with Carle Health Systems in Urbana, Illinois, researchers examined how the urgent care clinics' transition to the new EHR system affected staff members' workloads as well as their perceptions of the old and new systems' usability. "What we found surprised us a little," said the study's first author, Karen Dunn Lopez, the director of the Center for Nursing Classification and Clinical Effectiveness at the University of Iowa. "After two and a half years of continuous use, clinicians' cognitive workload remained very high, and they still found the new EHR system more difficult to use than the prior paper- and computer-based hybrid system." With the hybrid system, clinicians used paper forms for tasks such as prescribing, writing clinical notes and medical orders. Seldom used while delivering patient care, the computer system then was primarily a repository for doctors' notes after they were dictated and transcribed, and for documents that were scanned and uploaded after seeing the patients, said co-author Daniel G. Morrow, an educational psychology professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. While the hybrid system evolved with the collaboration of Carle's information technology staff and clinicians, an external vendor developed the new EHR system. "Any time you change technology, you tend to change the whole work system to some extent. It's important to take a user-centered approach to designing these systems and have users' perspectives in mind so you can forecast how their work processes will change," said Morrow, who holds an appointment at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. Under the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, health care providers in the U.S. were offered financial incentives to adopt EHR systems with certain features that constituted "meaningful use." The 2010 law was part of an initiative to modernize health care delivery nationwide, improve quality and make data more accessible. However, this changeover was fraught with complaints that the new systems' complex interfaces turned routine tasks into protracted multi-step processes, decreasing efficiency and forcing clinicians to devote "pajama time"their off-duty hoursto entering data from patient visits, Dunn Lopez said. She began working on the project during graduate school at the University of Illinois Chicago, where Morrow was teaching a course at the time. The team collected the data used in the study from 2011-14. Study participants rated their perceived workloads under the old and new EHR systems using the NASA-TLX survey. The survey asks respondents to rate work tasks on a 0-100 scale based on their mental, physical and temporal demands, as well as the levels of effort and frustration involved and workers' perceptions of their own performance. Clinical staff completed the surveys prior to the new EHR system's implementation and again at six to eight months and 30-32 months post-implementation. The clinicians included 22 members of the nursing staff, such as registered nurses and medical assistants, and 11 members of the provider staff, such as physicians, physician assistants and advanced practice nurses. The researchers also observed the participants performing tasks with the new EHR interface, reviewed the system's pages and compared its design to standard usability guidelines. Although the providers' and nurses' scores were similar on the pre-implementation surveys, there were marked differences after using the new system for six months. Compared with the nurses, the providers reported greater increases in cognitive workload, including higher mental and temporal demands and levels of frustration. Part of the increased workload occurred because, under the meaningful use standards, some tasks previously performed by the nursing staff shifted to the provider staff, said co-author Kayla Banks, Carle Health Systems' vice president of women's health and children's services. However, since the provider staff's scores increased on all the survey's subscales except that for physical activity, the researchers said the data suggested that some of the increased cognitive workload resulted from their performing tasks with the new EHR system while they were with patients rather than afterward. Additionally, Morrow said "minor design flaws such as slow response times when clinicians clicked on buttons and nonstandard labeling of tools negatively impacted their perceptions of the system's usability and caused mounting frustration during their workdays." The negative usability ratings were trending downward at 30 months' post-implementation, however, and might have declined to the pre-implementation levels if the study had continued several months longer, he said. Although usability may improve over time, health care organizations "can't say 'mission accomplished' and withdraw support quickly after adopting new EHR systems," said Banks, an adjunct instructor in nursing with the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. "There's an ongoing need to modify workflows to accommodate increased workloads and look for iterative improvements. Nurses especially may be less likely to report that systems are not user-friendly or if their cognitive workload is significantly worsened." Explore further Finnish doctors and nurses dissatisfied with usability of electronic health record systems More information: Karen Dunn Lopez et al. Electronic health record usability and workload changes over time for provider and nursing staff following transition to new EHR, Applied Ergonomics (2021). Karen Dunn Lopez et al. Electronic health record usability and workload changes over time for provider and nursing staff following transition to new EHR,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103359 Gulf Avionics, an avionics maintenance and repair operation, has located its headquarters and operations at the Kerrville/Kerr County Airport (shown). Courtesy of Kerrville/Kerr County Airport. Our work in further developing this industry cluster is in alignment with Governor Greg Abbotts vision of making Texas No. 1 in the aviation, aerospace and space sectors nationally," said Gil Salinas, executive director of the Kerr Economic Development Corporation (KEDC). Gulf Avionics, a full-service avionics maintenance and repair operation (MRO), has located its headquarters and operations at the Kerrville/Kerr County Airport in Texas Hill Country region, which runs between the states central and southern sections. The company will service aviation clients from the greater San Antonio area and plans to create 50 avionics and aerospace jobs in the next five years. After a year-long site selection process, the MRO chose Kerrville and has moved into 7,000 square feet of space at one of the airports hangars. Kerr County is positioned in a very unique space within Texas. The beauty and expanse of the Hill Country lends itself to those that enjoy the outdoors and appreciate the feel of wide-open spaces, said Chris Todtenhausen, vice president of business development for Gulf Avionics and RBR Aviation. We devoted nearly a year in our search for a better location, which now provides easy access to a large group of targeted customers, and we expect to continue growing. Gulf Avionics, an official dealer for manufacturers including Garmin, Honeywell, Trans-Cal, and PS Engineering, will be offering inspection and general maintenance assistance to hundreds of aircraft owners and operators as it grows its presence in Kerrville and throughout the Austin-San Antonio corridor, home to 4.5 million people. The new Kerrville headquarters is now servicing tenants on the field and having customers fly in from nearby areas. The company has started the process of recruiting talent and hiring local employees. The new jobs, specifically the avionics technicians, will earn upward of $75,000 in annual wages, which will infuse more than $16 million into the local economy. This sector is growing incredibly fast, as leading aviation companies see numerous cost and workforce benefits, as well as our supply-chain networks added value, to locating along this well-known corridor, said Gil Salinas, executive director of the Kerr Economic Development Corporation (KEDC). Our work in further developing this industry cluster is in alignment with Governor Greg Abbotts vision of making Texas No. 1 in the aviation, aerospace and space sectors nationally. Gulf Avionics is part of a holding company named E.H. Caddis & Co. which also owns Dallas-based RBR Aviation. Weve already had some initial discussions between executives of Gulf Avionics and our other new aerospace company, Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing, Salinas added. Theres some real synergies starting to develop between the two companies and its just exciting to help foster the growth of our aerospace cluster, which is aligned with the communitys 2050 Your Vision Comprehensive Plan. Last year, the KEDC announced that Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing, a North Dakota-based Tier-1 aerospace component manufacturer, is moving into a 40,000-square-foot facility at the Airport Commerce Park. The company will be creating 400 jobs, $8 million in capital investment and generating $82 million in economic output to the area. Kerrville welcomes Gulf Avionics with open arms, as the company is set to create dozens of jobs and become a statewide leader in avionics services, said Kerrville Mayor Bill Blackburn. Its clear to us that companies are seriously looking at relocating to Kerr County, a rapidly growing commercial hub and home to manufacturers, medical facilities and the aerospace sector. The Kerrville Airport, Gulf Avionics new home, is a public-use aviation facility serving the Hill Country region with a 6,000-foot primary runway and an additional 3,600-foot crosswind runway. Within a one-hour flight of Kerrville, are more than 1,500 aircraft owners and operators, which is up to five times the same market breakdown for cities of comparable size to Kerrville. We are very excited to see Gulf Aviation expand to Kerrville. Their comprehensive approach to aircraft maintenance will offer a variety of services that support corporate and general aviation in many areas. This diversification will bring both jobs and valued clients to the Kerrville area, said Mark Mosier, board president of the Kerrville/Kerr County Airport. Kerrvilles growing aviation and aerospace cluster is centered around the airport and the Airport Commerce Park, both of which are home to Mooney International Corporation, Dugosh Aviation (aircraft maintenance), the Hill Country Aviation Flight School, Aeromax USA (aircraft appraisal) and Air Evac EMS. About Gulf Avionics Founded on the principles of providing expert service and advice at a competitive price, Gulf Avionics is proud to have been able to serve the general aviation community since 1998. Its experience and leadership has allowed the company to create an avionics company that hundreds of aircraft owners and operators trust for all of their avionics needs. For more information, visit: http://www.gulfavionics.com/. About Kerr Economic Development Corporation The Kerr EDC is an economic and business league located in the heart of the Hill Country and part of the San Antonio-Austin business corridor. The KEDC implements strategies for business and corporate growth in an array of sectors which are tied to the 2050 Your Voice-Your City comprehensive plan. The focus of the organization is to foster the communitys growth through corporate recruitment, workforce development and maintaining the cultural vibrancy of the Texas Hill Country. For more, visit: http://www.kerredc.com/. The Biden administration has urged a federal court to certify India's request to extradite Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana, who is sought for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Assistant Attorney John J Lulejian, in his submission before a federal court in Los Angeles, said Rana, 59, meets all the criteria to be extradited to for his trial in the Mumbai terrorist attack. On February 4, Rana's attorney had opposed his extradition. District Court Judge in Los Angeles Jacqueline Chooljian has scheduled the extradition hearing for April 22. "The United States respectfully requests that following the April 22, 2021, extradition hearing, the Court certify India's request for Rana's extradition for the Secretary of State's surrender decision," Lulejian said in his 61-page court submission on Monday. Rana, a childhood friend of David Coleman Headley, was re-arrested on June 10 in Los Angeles on an extradition request by for his involvement in the Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. He has been declared a fugitive by "Fugitive Tahawwur Hussain Rana is wanted in India to stand trial for offences related to his role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, that resulted in the death of 166 people, the injury of 239 people, and the damage to property in excess of USD 1.5 billion," Lulejian said. As per the India-US Extradition Treaty, the Indian government has requested the formal extradition of Rana, and the United States has initiated this extradition proceeding. Lulejian said the criteria warranting certification of extradition are satisfied in this case. These are: the court has both personal and subject matter jurisdiction, there is an extradition treaty between the United States and India that is in full force and effect, and the crimes for which Rana's extradition is sought are covered by the terms of the treaty. India's extradition request contains evidence to establish probable cause that the individual appearing in court is the fugitive who committed the offence for which extradition is requested, Lulejian argued. In his court submission on February 4, Rana's attorney had argued that Rana's extradition is barred under Article 6 of the United States-India extradition treaty because he had previously been acquitted of the offences for which his extradition is sought, and under Article 9 of the treaty because the government has not established probable cause to believe that Rana committed the alleged offences. Lulejian said that the court should find that Rana's extradition is not barred under Article 6 of the India-US Extradition Treaty. Although there is ample evidence that Rana aided and abetted the Mumbai attack, he claims that he should not be extradited because probable cause is lacking. Rana's claim is based on an improper attempt to attack the credibility of a key witness against him. Rana also does not contest that he is the person who India alleges committed the charged crimes. Instead, he challenges only whether Article 6 of the treaty bars his extradition and whether probable cause exists to believe that he committed the offences for which India requests his extradition, the Assistant US Attorney said. Lulejian said Headley's plea agreement is irrelevant because Rana cannot benefit from its terms. Not only is Rana in a different position than Headley because he did not plead guilty or cooperate with the United States, as is his right, but his inability to benefit from the negotiated terms of Headley's plea agreement is confirmed by the text of the plea agreement itself. He said Rana's extradition proceedings are separate from Headley's criminal proceedings and are being litigated by a different United States attorney's office from the one who negotiated the plea agreement with Headley. According to its very terms, Rana has no rights under Headley's plea agreement and is therefore prohibited from relying on it in an attempt to undermine the United States' position on his extraditability under the treaty, he added. "Rana has failed to demonstrate that he cannot be extradited to India as a result of his prior prosecution in the United States," the attorney said. Rana attempts to undermine India's evidence of probable cause by questioning the credibility of the key witness, David Headley. Not only is Rana's challenge improper in this extradition proceeding, but his claims are also not supported by the law or the evidence, Lulejian 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.) A college professor who referred to Covid-19 as the 'Chinese virus' in a dismissive email to a student has left his job in the wake of the row. Mechanical engineering instructor John Ucker told a student who could not attend lab sessions because his girlfriend had the virus that 'for students testing positive for the Chinese virus, I will give no grade'. Often used by Donald Trump among others, terms such as 'Chinese virus' have been blamed for escalating attacks on Asians since the outbreak of the pandemic. Ucker was placed on administrative leave after his email caused a furore last year and the University of Cincinnati has now revealed that his contract was not renewed, according to the city's Enquirer. This email sent by University of Cincinnati engineering professor John Ucker to student Evan Sotzing last September sparked a furore over his use of the term 'Chinese virus' Student Evan Sotzing, pictured speaking to local media last year, had told Ucker that he could not attend lab sessions because his girlfriend had the virus Evan Sotzing, the student who received the email, published it on Twitter last September in a post which sparked outrage. 'Not only did my professor give me a zero for not going, but this was his response,' Sotzing remarked at the time. Speaking to WKRC, Sotzing said he was 'shocked' that 'anyone in power' would use the phrase 'because of how xenophobic it is and how racist of a comment it is'. UC officials announced after Sotzing's post drew widespread attention that Ucker had been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. John Weidner, the dean of UC's engineering school, said the professor had a routine policy of allowing one lab test to be missed with no harm done. But he said that Ucker's 'Chinese virus' comments had been referred to the university's Office of Equal Opportunity and Access. 'These types of xenophobic comments and stigmatizations around location or ethnicity are more than troubling,' he said. 'We can better protect and care for all when we speak about Covid-19 with both accuracy and empathy - something we should all strive for.' Ucker was placed on administrative leave after his email caused a furore last year and the University of Cincinnati (file photo) has now revealed that his contract was not renewed Weidner subsequently said that Ucker would remain on leave for the full semester while his bosses 'contemplated' his future at the college. 'As an isolated reference, the term 'Chinese virus' did not meet the threshold to be designated harassment,' Weidner said. 'However, it did represent poor judgment, caused offense to members of our community, and distracted from the learning environment.' Ucker's final fate at the university remained unclear until now, when a UC spokesman told the Enquirer that the professor's contract had not been renewed. Neville Pinto, the president of UC, had said at the time that 'there is no place for bigotry in our community or any other... we are better than this'. 'Greatness starts with inclusion. And inclusion starts with each of us,' he said. People comfort each other at a vigil following last week's Atlanta shootings which reignited anger over attacks on Asian-Americans during the pandemic Pinto also released a statement following last week's mass shooting at massage parlors in Atlanta which reignited anger over attacks on Asian-Americans. 'Hate and violence against our Asian American communities is rising and reprehensible,' Pinto said. He urged UC to 'show our strength in unity by standing with our Asian American students, faculty, staff and alumni to renounce all forms of hate and violence'. Six women of Asian descent were among the eight people killed in the gun rampage in Georgia last Sunday. The advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate said it knew of 3,800 reports of 'hate incidents' since March 2020 when the pandemic began to batter the United States. 'Not enough has been done to protect Asian Americans from heightened levels of hate, discrimination and violence,' the group said. The group last year published a report warning that Trump's 'racist or stigmatizing tweets' made him the nation's top spreader of anti-Asian American rhetoric. Posts by Trump using such rhetoric had been retweeted more than a million times as of the final weeks of the 2020 election campaign, the group said. For New Orleans jewelry maker Gogo Borgerding, it had already been a crummy year. Then last week, it got a lot worse. Just as Borgerding was becoming optimistic that commerce might be picking up, after 12 months of COVID doldrums, someone stole $50,000 worth of her creations from a pop-up on Magazine Street, jeopardizing her livelihood yet again. After 15 years, Borgerding had to close her shop, also on Magazine, back in June, when the rent far outweighed her income. But two weeks ago, a sympathetic friend in the real estate business offered her the opportunity to install a pop-up shop in a different storefront, the former site of the Francescas boutique. For one weekend, Borgerding happily showed her wares to drop-in shoppers, just like in the good old days before the virus. Then, on St. Patricks Day, her assistant Chad Ramey discovered that all of the roughly 200 designs stored in the pop-up shop for the next weekend were gone. Ramey said most of the jewelry had been arrayed on a display table, the back of which could be seen through the shop's plate glass windows. But, he said, since the display itself was undisturbed, no one driving by would have noticed the theft. A few more pieces and a stash of less that $100 in petty cash were taken from a suitcase beneath the display, Ramey said. At first, Ramey said, he couldn't believe his eyes. "I said, 'Is this real?'" he recalled. According to Borgerding, the burglary seemed calm, quiet and thorough. The doors were locked. Maybe the thief or thieves got in through a side window; who knows? Borgerding called the cops, who wrote up a report. That was all she could do. The New Orleans Police Department could not be reached late Monday for comment. In a way, describing Borgerding as a jeweler is a misnomer. Her earrings, cuff bracelets, belt buckles and other designs dont include jewels. She makes most of her wares from sheet aluminum and silver, elaborately perforated with geometric patterns. The value is mostly in the laborious craftsmanship, not the materials. Her works sell for between $90 and $600 per piece, depending on the complexity. Borgerdings designs have a certain Art Deco elegance, but they are also accented with buoyant Crayola colors. Considering that her style is pretty well known, particularly in New Orleans, its hard to imagine the thief or thieves plan to sell the stolen merchandise as is. Chances are, Borgerding said, someone will probably melt down all of her hard work for the $5,000 to $6,000 worth of silver it contains. +9 Power grab by founders of Disco Amigos, a Mardi Gras dance group, ends in crushing courtroom defeat The Disco Amigos, a Mardi Gras season marching group known for its chrome costumes, campy choreography and undimmed devotion to 1970s dance mu 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 Borgerding, 47, was born in New Orleans, where she attended Mercy Academy for high school. She said shes always wanted to be a jewelry designer. She used to work in a Royal Street jewelry shop, and she studied the craft at the prestigious Savannah College of Arts and Design. She said that before the pandemic she was living the life shed always imagined. Her shop produced some steady income, and she sold her work in other locations, such as museum gift shops. She has shown her creations at the Jazz Fest for 16 years. Borgerding said she wasnt getting rich, but she was making enough to pay herself and her assistant. Jazz Fest sales were especially important because they carried her through the annual summertime business desert. Thanks to the coronavirus, Jazz Fest didnt take place in 2020, nor will it take place in the spring of 2021, leaving big holes in Borgerdings budget projections. Most of the 200 pieces stolen last week were made for sale at Jazz Fest 2020. Borgerding estimates that in 2020 she made between 10% and 20% of her usual income. She went on unemployment for a while, and Ramey graciously worked without pay for a time to keep the business above water. As human nature would have it, Borgerding blames herself for everything. Why did she leave all of the jewelry in the closed store, instead of locking it up elsewhere? Why didnt she see this coming? She said that even during ordinary times, shes one of those people inclined to anxiety, which is now through the roof. Her only balm, she said, is to look forward, not back. I tell myself that every day, every day, every day, she said. People have been very kind, she said, offering their sympathy and support, and she plans to soldier on. Shed taken out insurance on the storefront before she opened her pop-up, she said. It wont cover her loss, but she expects to get enough to buy a supply of metal to start working again. Online sales are a lifeline, she said. And when she has enough pieces stockpiled again, she plans to try selling her work at so-called trunk shows, temporary gatherings of traveling craftsmen in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee, to keep her in business until, hopefully, normality returns. I have no other option, she said. This is the thing I love. Theres nothing else Id rather do. Were going to make it work. The United States and the European Union imposed sanctions on top officials in Myanmar who are linked to last month's military coup, as anti-coup protesters took to the streets again, despite the regime's violent and increasingly deadly pushback. The European Union issued a freeze on assets and a visa ban for the military's commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing, as well as nine other senior military officers and the head of the country's election commission. An EU statement said the sanctions are part of the bloc's "robust response to the illegitimate overthrowing of the democratically elected government and the brutal repression by the junta against peaceful protesters." Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Myanmar's police chief and an army special operations commander Monday, saying they were responsible for using lethal force against demonstrators. The United States has already placed sanctions on Myanmar's top coup leaders. There were no reports of an immediate response from the junta to the growing list of punitive actions taken by the international community. "The Burmese security forces' lethal violence against peaceful protesters must end," said Andrea Gacki, director of the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. The sanctions came as hundreds of Myanmar demonstrators marched before dawn Monday along a main road in Mandalay, many of them doctors, nurses, students and other medical personnel wearing white coats, repeating a similar demonstration carried out the day before. Scores of motorists in the commercial capital of Yangon honked their horns in response to a call on social media, according to Reuters. Myanmar has been in turmoil ever since the military jailed de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the civilian government on February 1. At least three people were killed Sunday in violent clashes between police and civilians, including two in Mandalay, Myanmars second-largest city and a major hub of opposition. There are no plans to put all of Europe on the red list, the health secretary has said. Matt Hancock confirmed that despite a third wave of coronavirus infections in popular holiday destinations such as France and Italy, travel wouldnt be banned to the continent. Yesterday, health minister Lord Bethell suggested that the UK could put all of Europe on the red list of 35 high-risk countries, which currently includes the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and most of South America. No countries in Europe are currently on the red list after Portugal was removed. There have been concerns that France could be the next country to be added, as the country goes back into a strict four-week lockdown following a surge in infections. Travel from a red list country triggers hotel quarantine at a cost of 1,750 per person. Read more: In response to the idea that the whole of Europe could be annexed to the red list, Mr Hancock told LBC this morning : We dont have any plans to do that. We do have this red list and the amber list, and at the moment that is working well, so we dont have plans to do that. Ministers and epidemiologists are increasingly warning against booking trips while the travel industry insists that people should be allowed to visit low-risk locations. A solution could be to refine the traffic light system to indicate relative risk and the extent of travel restrictions. In practice, Ireland is the only country in the green category with no restrictions on arrivals to the UK from the republic. At the other extreme is the red group, which is the governments gradually mutating list of countries from which variants of concern are feared. The rest of the world, in theory, fits into the amber category. Portugal and Mauritius were most recently removed from the red category. Travel both domestically and internationally is currently banned. The Global Travel Taskforce is due to report on 12 April as to whether summer holidays might be possible. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A soft opening of a new mid-Michigan food truck park is slated for April 3 in Homer Township. Located at 37 S. Meridian Road on the southeast corner of M-20 (East Isabella Road) and M-30, The Crossroads Food Truck Park will be a space for food trucks to gather daily, offering a designated hub for residents and visitors to grab a bite to eat. The goal, said park coordinator Doug Maxon, is to revive the food scene in central Michigan. We want to make it bigger and better and provide a lot more variety; kind of make it a known thing that when people come to mid-Michigan, you know, (they) check out the food scene, Maxon said. The week following Saturday, April 3, one or two food trucks will be out at the park. On Saturday, April 10, five trucks will host a chili cook-off, slated for about 3-8 p.m. The food truck park will then feature up to five trucks each day that will rotate frequently. Maxon said the park will be open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., every day. The trucks will rotate out in three shifts through breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. Maxon explained the site allows food truck owners to set up based on their availability. So, each day will look different as to how many trucks and which trucks are there. He expects Thursday through Sunday to be the busiest days. And, Maxon said hes been talking to food truck owners from all over the state, garnering interest. With mid-Michigan really being just a few hours away from anywhere in Michigan, were getting a lot of good feedback from trucks outside the area that once it gets going, and we have the community support, they definitely want to jump on board, Maxon said. Attendees can enter the park on Meridian Road, next to M-30 Storage entrance, rather than M-20. To keep traffic flowing smoothly, there will be a U-shaped driveway that functions as a one-way. Maxon, who owns Maxons Blue Country Barbecue in Mount Pleasant, explained that it has been a tough year for food truck owners and caterers since many events were canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He said his barbecue food trailer never made it out of its parking lot, which is located on the corner of M-20 and South Meridian Road west of Mount Pleasant. So, looking for a place to use the trailer this year, Maxon started joking how it would be funny to locate the food trailer on the corner of M-20 and South Meridian here in Midland. He approached the owner of M-30 Storage, Jim Bluemer, and the more people he talked to about his idea, the more it grew and expanded. We all thought it was a great idea, so we ran with it and here we are, he said. ... Jim Bluemer he really helped out tremendously. Hes been an amazing support to get this thing going. None of this would even come to fruition without him even being on board from the very beginning. Maxon said everyone whos been involved, including the Homer Township Board, which approved a special use permit, has showed their support for the idea. Also helping is Nicole Scott, who is finalizing the details on her catering company Pleasantly Divine, All Occasions Craft Catering in which she will be on site at the food truck park to help connect clients with caterers and food trucks for events such as weddings and graduation parties. Everybody that I talked to in regard to the food truck park has been an amazing support, Maxon said. As the park gains more interest and community support, theyre hoping to include up to five craft vendors as well and host events such as cornhole tournaments. It might not look like much the first week you go out there and well have some food trucks and some picnic tables and some cornhole boards but as this thing takes off, were definitely going to keep putting back into it so we can have this place for the community to go thats outdoors and safe, Maxon said. For the latest information, updates and to participate in giveaways from The Crossroads Food Truck Park, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CrossroadsFoodTruckPark By Pavel Polityuk KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine is tightening border controls and requiring visitors to test negative for coronavirus, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said on Tuesday, after the country registered its highest daily death rate from COVID-19. The new regime was approved by the government on Monday evening and had entered into force, he told a televised briefing. Earlier on Tuesday, he said the former Soviet republic had registered 333 coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours, a record number. The previous high was 289 deaths on March 17. The country of 41 million people has been hit by a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in recent weeks that Prime Minister Denys Shmygal has described as a third wave of the pandemic. "The situation is getting worse," Stepanov said, adding the number of new cases had risen significantly and the number of cases in the last seven days was 26,000 higher than a week earlier. The British strain of the virus was now widespread in Ukraine, Stepanov said, adding that it was transmitted faster and had a more severe impact. "Two-thirds of those who have recovered require additional treatment," he said. There are 36,600 people in hospitals as of Tuesday morning, Stepanov said, adding that 11,476 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours. Ukraine has reported 1,565,732 coronavirus cases during the course of the pandemic and 30,431 deaths. New coronavirus infections spiked last week to 15,850 cases, Ukraine's highest level since November, prompting the capital Kyiv and several regions to impose a tight lockdown. The lockdown mirrors measures to be introduced on Friday by Lviv, in the west of Ukraine, and includes closing cafes, restaurants and non-food stores, and banning public events. Critics blame the surge on a lack of a uniform nationwide lockdown and patchy compliance with social distancing and mask-wearing rules. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Michael Perry and Edmund Blair) WOODSTOCK, Ontario, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Joshua Gold Resources Inc. (OTC: JSHG) ("JSHG" or the "Company"), an American gold and mineral exploration company headquartered in Canada, is pleased to announce that it has completed a bulk sampling report on gold recovery from mineralized vein material on the Kenty property. The property is located approximately 125 km(78 mi) southwest of Timmins, Ontario. The bulk sample was collected on a small block of mining patents, referred to as the Kenty mine site. The property contains numerous gold bearing quartz veins, two shafts, and underground workings dating back to the 1930's. Prospecting and sampling gold zones on the property in July 2020 defined the sample area to Hopkins Vein #2; a north-south trending quartz vein system typically 2-4" wide in a trench located approx. 150 meters north of Shaft #1. (GPS E: 379203, N: 5299435, UTM Zone: 17) Sampling of Vein #2 assayed gold grades of 23.8 g/t, or 0.765 per troy ounce (2020-02 Vein #2). The bulk sample was collected in a pile of blasted material from a previous operator and consisted of quartz vein and altered wall rock material. Mineralization is characterized by quartz, ankerite, pyrite and lesser chalcopyrite. The bulk sample was extracted by Mag Rock Drilling during July and August via drilling and blasting methods in the mineralized Vein #2 area. The ore was then loaded and transported to the mill site on August 14th, 2020. Processing of material through crushing, grinding, pulverization and gravity concentration occurred in two Batch's Batch #1 and Batch #2 . Batch # 1 was run through the mill on August 25th, 2020, consisted of 1761 lbs (0.799 tonne) of hand cobbled rock containing primarily quartz vein. Batch # 2, ran on October 24th, 2020 and October 25th, 2020, consisted of 1778 lbs (0.806 tonne) of quartz vein and mineralized wall rock material. To process the sample, first the rock was crushed, weighed, pulverized to 80% minus 200 mesh, and passed through a gravity concentration sluice system. Next the concentrate was passed through a milling circuit, which began with ore fed through a primary jaw crusher (9" x 12" - crushed to minus 1.5"), followed by a secondary jaw crusher (4" x 6" - crushed to minus "). The crushed ore was slowly fed into a ball mill for pulverization using a vibratory feeder integrated into an ore bin. After the ground material exited the ball mill's discharge, it entered a slurry pump reservoir equipped with a centrifugal pump connected to a cyclone to either classify material for re-pulverization or gravity concentration in sluices. Gold was collected using gravity concentration from course and fine sluices lined with miner's moss. The course sluice was positioned between the slurry pump and ball mill's discharge; the fine sluice positioned after the cyclone. The results were obtained by assaying concentrates for the total weight of gold recovered. Concentrates were dried and brought to Activation Laboratories in Timmins, ON for analysis. Activation passed samples through a riffle split to ensure proper grade control. Batch # 1 measured 20.84 grams of collected gold, which represents an approximate grade of 26.1 g/t normalized by sample weight. Batch # 2 measured 7.32 grams of collected gold, which represents an approximate grade of 9.1 g/t normalized by sample weight. Both results are encouraging for demonstrating recovery of gold from the vein samples. Further exploration is planned to examine the vein at depth and its relationship to, or intersection with, the Kenty No. 1 Vein 150 meters to the south. Ben Fuschino comments on the Kenty bulk testing, "We are encouraged by the excellent results of the bulk testing. Our geological team will be preparing further testing on Vein #2 which the Company will be commencing after the Spring ice break-up to more fully test the vein." Joshua Gold Resources Inc. (OTC Pink: JSHG) a publicly traded American gold and mineral exploration company headquartered in Canada, home to the three-billion-year old Canadian Shield which contains a wealth of minerals from nickel, gold, copper, cobalt, niobium to chromium. Please visit http://www.joshuagoldresources.com/ for more information or contact investor relations: Peter J. Nicosia President Bull In Advantage, LLC 585-703-6565 [email protected] [email protected] Safe Harbor Statement: This press release contains forward looking statements of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and results, and will not be accurate indications of the times, or by, which such performance will be achieved. SOURCE Joshua Gold Resources Inc. [March 23, 2021] Boomi Certified by SAP, Giving Customers Confidence and Saving Time and Resources CHESTERBROOK, Pa., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Boomi , a Dell Technologies business, and leading provider of cloud-based integration platform-as-a-service (iPaaS), today announced that its Boomi aXis and Boomi Enterprise Connectors have achieved SAP certification as integrated with SAP NetWeaver technology platform and with SAP S/4HANA The SAP Integration and Certification Center (SAP ICC) has certified that Boomi aXis for SAP ERP and SAP S/4HANA and Boomi Enterprise Connector: Boomi "AtomSphere Integration 20" integrates with SAP NetWeaver and S/4HANA using standard integration technologies. Boomi for SAP solutions help organizations to implement flexible digital integration platforms to deliver data on demand from SAP and third-party applications. SAP S/4HANA is the next-generation business suite, built for the SAP HANA platform, with on-premises and cloud deployment options. It is designed to act as the digital core, helping customers drive digital transformation across their entire organizations, taking advantage of the award-winning, role-based user experience of SAP Fiori. In today's economy, data is the fuel for delivering a differentiated, integrated experience for customers, employees, and partners. Many business leaders rely on data from various sources, like SAP, to perform analysis which can require significant time, resources, and tools. With these certifications, customers can simplify how they utilize data for business optimization and critical decision making. With these SAP-certified products, customers can easily tap into the Boomi AtomSphere Platform to instantly find the data they need, create a fabric of pervasive connectivity across their entire ecosystem, and deliver integrated experiences to all their key users. Boomi continues to broaden its SAP strategy for third-party solutions following last year's release of Boomi aXis. These certifications further enable customers to save critical time and resources and extend trust in Boomi solutions to continue their SAP S/4HANA journey. WWZ, a large Switzerland-based utility services company offering quadruple play telecommunications, energy, gas, water, and heating solutions, realizes the advantages of Boomi aXis with the Boomi AtomSphere Platform. "To continue to strengthen our market position, we created a new line of services to deliver fiber as a subscription to our install base of 60,000 cable-Internet customers," said Stefan Willi, chief technology officer for WWZ Energie AG. "One of our largest challenges was to extract a high volume of SAP data continuously and with ease to feed various applications within our ecosystem. We needed to find ways to reduce time and complexity within the new subscription service stream. Using Boomi, we were able to reduce the time from 16 weeks to two days, by leveraging pre-defined SAP templates and exchange data efficiently between applications to achieve our business goals." With Boomi aXis, customers have reported business transformations and innovations, saving significant time when accessing data-on-demand to create new services. "Boomi is on a mission to help our customers modernize how they access and work with critical data," said Ed Macosky, head of product at Boomi. "This validation from SAP of Boomi's newest SAP integration offerings gives our customers added confidence in trusting our solutions, and the flexibility they need to address their toughest business challenges." Please visit here for more information on Boomi aXis, Boomi Enterprise Connectors for SAP, and this certification. Learn more about WWZ's customer case study and watch the video. About Boomi Boomi, a Dell Technologies business, instantly connects everyone to everything with our cloud-native, unified, open, and intelligent platform. Boomi's integration platform-as-a-service (iPaaS) is trusted by more than 13,000 customers globally for its speed, ease-of-use, and lower total cost of ownership. As the pioneer at fueling intelligent use of data, Boomi's vision is to make it quick and easy for customers and partners to discover, manage, and orchestrate data, while you connect applications, processes, and people for better, faster outcomes. For more information, visit http://www.boomi.com . 2021 Boomi Inc. Dell, Dell Technologies, Boomi, the 'B' logo, Atom, Boomiverse, AtomSphere, Molecule, and Dell Boomi are trademarks of Dell Inc., or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Contact: Kristen Walker Kristen_w@dell.com (415) 613-8320 Alex Cardenas boomi@highwirepr.com (650) 218-8576 Special note: Statements in this material that relate to future results, future hiring, and future events or investment are forward-looking statements and are based on Boomi's current expectations. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "confidence," "may," "plan," "potential," "should," "will" and "would," or similar expressions. Actual results, hiring, customer trends, and events in future periods may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements because of a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the challenge of finding and onboarding new personnel, marketplace trends, ongoing management attention to the market, the uncertainties associated with technology changes and the development and release of new technology. Boomi and Dell Technologies assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boomi-certified-by-sap-giving-customers-confidence-and-saving-time-and-resources-301253440.html SOURCE Boomi [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Ukraine needs investment in infrastructure projects and agriculture and plans to develop public-private partnerships in the road sector. It is very important to support infrastructure projects in Ukraine, because high-quality roads, bridges and social infrastructure are important for every Ukrainian. Thanks to infrastructure projects, we have created 190,000 jobs at a time when many people have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a meeting with President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Odile Renaud-Basso on March 22, the press service of the Head of State informs. The President noted that Ukraine planned to develop a public-private partnership in the road sector. The parties also discussed the development of the Ukrainian agriculture sector. Ukraine needs a lot of investment in modernizing its irrigation infrastructure. Its reconstruction will be a powerful step in the development of agriculture and Ukraine as a player in the international agricultural market," Volodymyr Zelensky stressed. The parties touched upon the reform of law enforcement agencies, restoration of the architecture of anti-corruption bodies, energy issues. Zelensky said that the energy minister should be an independent figure and work to implement sectoral reforms. Ukraine is interested in creating market conditions in all sectors of the economy, the President noted. EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso pays a visit to Ukraine on March 22-23. Ukraine is one of the three main areas of EBRD investment activity. Over the past two years alone, the bank has allocated EUR 2 billion to support the country's economy. Investments are combined with support for policies towards combating corruption, implementing good governance, structural reforms and creating a more transparent business environment. ol The man accused of killing 10 people at a King Soopers in Boulder on Monday purchased a Ruger AR-556 pistol on March 16, according to an arrest affidavit released Tuesday. As vaccination rates continue to rise across several towns in western Connecticut, so do confirmed cases of COVID-19. While the increases are slight, theyre still making officials pause. Even at the state level, a slight uptick was noted by the governor. Naturally, I am concerned about it, said Danbury Mayor Joe Cavo. On March 22, Danburys health department reported that the number of positive tests increased to 127 during the week of March 15, up from 53 positive tests the week of March 8. And data from the week of March 15 could continue to rise as numbers are finalized. In Brookfield, First Selectman Steve Dunn discussed the rise during a filmed Coffee with the Community meeting Monday. That same night, New Milfords health director, Lisa Morrissey, also noted the towns uptick during a town council meeting. Last week the number of cases went up, the positivity rate went up, said Dunn during the meeting. Thats not a good sign. With vaccinations going up at the same time as things begin to open up more in Connecticut, Dunn said he was hoping they would even each other out. Dunn said he has noticed Brookfields positivity rate is higher than that of neighboring towns, and wondered whether Brookfields increase was due to a higher traffic in out-of-town visitors to their big outlet stores like BJs Wholesale Club and others. As of March 18, the town reported 66 new cases that week, up from the prior weeks total of 53. The rate of COVID per 100K residents was 27.7, up from 22.3 the prior week. And the positivity rate was 4.6 percent, up from 3.6 percent. Dunn noted that this was the first time in nine weeks that rates had been trending up instead of down. Its a little concerning and we have to watch it. In New Milford, 60 new cases were reported from March 17 to March 22, according to data published by Mayor Pete Bass on his Twitter and Facebook accounts. During Monday nights town council meeting, Morrissey said shes seeing a general uptick in cases, as well as an uptick in cases among children. She said these youth cases were not attributed to a return to school but instead followed a similar pattern that they saw around this time last year when there was a return to some extracurricular activities like sporting events. With people trying to get back to normal were seeing a little uptick with that, she said. Were paying attention to that and tracking that. The slight upward trend in positive cases seen more broadly at the state level still stayed within a narrow band and was still pretty stable, according to statements by Gov. Ned Lamont during his news briefing Monday. Over the past weekend, 2,976 new statewide cases were reported, compared with 2,525 the weekend before, according to emailed updates from the governor. Even with slight increase in positive cases, hospitalizations and fatalities a key metric continued to decrease across the state, he said. One expert from Nuvance Health said last week small increases increases are not too concerning and that the number of COVID patients at Danbury Hospital has trended down. Although its hard to pinpoint what exactly is causing the slight increases, officials like Cavo have some ideas. There clearly is a rise in numbers, and some of the suspicions include the variants that are here now, Cavo said. As of March 12, data reported by the CTMirror the UK viral strain could be found in as high as 40 percent of statewide cases now. The state continues to push on with its vaccination campaign and has continued expanding capacity for businesses and event venues. As of Monday, 36 percent of adults over the age of 16 in the state have had at least one shot, including 53 percent of those 45 and older, and nearly 80 percent of those 75 and older, Lamont said. Lamont jokingly asked residents not to go to Miami beach for holiday. Dont go, stick around here, the weathers been great, he said. Danburys mayor also voiced concern over spring breakers heading to places that are lifting mask mandates. The main message is people need to stay vigilant about their health care, said Cavo. 6x6 Listed with Barrett-Jackson for the upcoming Scottsdale event, this 2017 Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG is not your regular truck, even if it might look like it a bit from the front. Its aconversion by South Florida Jeeps, and it usually retails for about $1 million. It will be sold without reserve, which should give optimistic future owners some kind of hope of being able to get it for less.South Florida Jeeps conversions start at around $175,000, a press release notes. You could probably get them to do it for less if you were famous or if you opted for another marquelast June, New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman converted his Jeep to a 6x6 for a reported $150,000.Described as a very rare custom vehicle suitable both as a daily and an ever-reliable off-road companion, this particular example is the perfect showcase of South Florida Jeeps craftsmanship. It features the proprietary true middle axle that turns it into a six-wheeler, and features a 5-inch (127-mm) lift kit, So Flo premium suspension, aluminum roll cage, carbon fiber display with light bar, steel-reinforced frame, and Tiger wood truck bed with blue LEDs.The powertrain has been left unmodified, so under the hood is the stock 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 delivering 600 hp and mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. The interior is as fancy as the exterior is rugged: you even get a starry-night sky interior roof that you usually find on a Rolls-Royce, for those times when youre not in the mood to look out the window.This particular example has 26,800 actual miles (43,130 km) on the clock, and one damage report in Carfax recorded in 2018 as damage to the front, damage to right front. The on Tuesday said the interim relief granted earlier to not declare the accounts of respective borrowers as non-performing assets stands vacated, ending the blanket ban on classification of non-performing assets (NPAs). However, there shall be no order as to costs, the order by the top court said. In September last year, the had directed that accounts not declared NPAs as of August 31 should not be classified as such until further orders. This has since then put an effective ban on classification of bad loans. The has also ordered waiver of compound interest for all borrowers who availed the loan moratorium announced amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Any amount already charged shall be refunded, credited or adjusted, the top court said. The government in October 2020 had announced a scheme for waiver of compound interest during moratorium for small ticket loans up to Rs 2 crore. This had cost Rs 5,500 crore to the government. The court observed that there was no rationale in the Centre's policy to limit the benefit of waiver of interest on interest or compound interest only to certain loan categories. Anil Gupta, vice president-financial sector ratings at Icra, said the government will have to spend an additional Rs 8,000-8,500 crore to provide compound interest waiver to borrowers with loans above Rs 2 crore. This would be over and above Rs 5,500 crore provided for interest on interest waiver for loans up to Rs 2 crore, he added Charging interest on interest would have eventually diluted the relief granted by the Reserve Bank of India to ailing borrowers and they may perhaps be worse off than pre-Covid stage, said Siddharth Srivastava, a partner at Khaitan & Co. The top court refused to interfere with the Centre's and Reserve Bank of India (RBI's) decision to not extend the loan moratorium beyond August 31 last year, saying it is a policy decision. The court cannot do judicial review of the Centre's financial policy decision unless it is malafide and arbitrary. The apex court said it cannot interfere with the government's decision to fix priorities for relief during the pandemic which has affected all across the country. The Supreme Court bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah said this in its verdict on a batch of pleas filed by various trade associations, including from real estate and power sectors, seeking extension of the loan moratorium period and other reliefs in view of the pandemic. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 20:06:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Passengers check in at Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Schoenefeld, Germany, March 23, 2021. Germany will extend its COVID-19 lockdown till at least April 18 with even stricter restrictions during the Easter holidays, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced at a press conference in the early hours of Tuesday. (Photo by Stefan Zeitz/Xinhua) BERLIN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Germany will extend its COVID-19 lockdown till at least April 18 with even stricter restrictions during the Easter holidays, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced at a press conference in the early hours of Tuesday. "We have not yet been able to defeat the virus. It does not give up," said Merkel after a long meeting with the minister-presidents of the federal states. Merkel stressed that Germany was in a "very, very serious situation" as the country was facing exponentially increasing COVID-19 infections, the spread of more contagious coronavirus variants and a growing burden on intensive care units in hospitals. The Easter holidays at the beginning of April were designated as "days of rest" with far-reaching contact restrictions as well as a gathering ban in public spaces, Merkel announced. Private gatherings would only be allowed between two households but limited to a maximum of five people. Outdoor restaurants that already opened would be closed during the five-day Easter holidays. Only food retail would be allowed to open for one day on the first Saturday in April, according to the government's statement. A total of 7,485 new cases were registered within one day, around 2,000 more than a week ago, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Tuesday. The incidence rate of reported COVID-19 cases in Germany in the past seven days per 100,000 citizens continued to rise as well and climbed to 108.1 on Tuesday, according to RKI, the federal government agency for disease control and prevention. The federal and state governments agreed that it was necessary to consistently enforce the "emergency brake" that was recently adopted in order to bring down the incident rate. After Easter, the phase of "extensive testing" would start in public test centers for COVID-19, in companies as well as schools and daycare centers for children, Merkel said. "The purpose of this large-scale test system is to enable us to really consider further openings." To date, more than 2.67 million COVID-19 infections have been officially registered in Germany since the outbreak of the pandemic, while the death toll has climbed to 74,964 by Tuesday, according to the RKI. Enditem By Prasto Wardoyo SURABAYA, Indonesia (Reuters) - The rollout of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine has started in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim majority nation, despite concern and some confusion over whether the Anglo-Swedish product is halal, or permissible under Islam. The country has started distributing the vaccine in six provinces, a week after the Indonesia Ulema Council, the main Muslim group that issues halal certifications, last week said it contained trypsin sourced from the pancreas of a pig. AstraZeneca has said the vaccine contains no pork-derived ingredients. The East Java chapter of the Ulema council on Monday said the vaccine was halal when it was administered to some of its members. It did not say why it had been deemed halal. Misbakhul Munir, a 57-year-old member of the Nahdlatul Ulama in East Java, said he welcomed the AstraZeneca vaccine, but laments the mixed messages about it. "I strongly dislike the ambiguous decision," he said of the halal status. "I'll just adhere to what the local council said." Indonesia gave the go-ahead to use the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday after European experts found no link between the vaccine and reports of blood clots among some its recipients in Europe. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, a senior Indonesian health ministry official, told Reuters about 100 religious figures in East Java had received coronavirus vaccines on Tuesday, either those of AstraZeneca or Sinovac Biotech. She added there's been no vocal opposition to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Indonesia's immunisation programme started in January and aims to reach 181.5 million people within a year. The country is suffering one of the worst COVID-19 epidemics in Asia, with 1,471,225 cases and 39,865 deaths as of Tuesday. Indonesia has secured over 426 million doses of vaccines in total, including from Pfizer and BioNTech, Novavax, AstraZeneca and Sinovac. (Writing and additional reporting by Stanley Widianto in Jakarta; Editing by Martin Petty and Chizu Nomiyama) Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? New Delhi, March 23 : The key vulnerabilities in the Microsoft business email servers have left cyber security experts flummoxed as this free-for-all attack opportunity is now being exploited by vast numbers of criminal gangs, state-backed threat actors and opportunistic "script kiddies," researchers at F-Secure have warned. To make matters worse, proof-of-concept automated attack scripts are being made publicly available, making it possible for even unskilled attackers to quickly gain remote control of a vulnerable Microsoft Exchange Server. "Tens of thousands of servers have been hacked around the world. They're being hacked faster than we can count," said Antti Laatikainen, senior security consultant at the cyber security firm F-Secure. According to F-Secure analytics, only about half of the Exchange servers visible on the Internet have applied the Microsoft patches for these vulnerabilities. "Never in the past 20 years that I've been in the industry, has it been as justified to assume that there has been at least a digital knock at the door for every business in the world with Exchange installed. Because access is so easy, you can assume that majority of these environments have been breached," Laatikainen stressed. Taiwanese electronics and computer maker Acer has already 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, compromising its network via a Microsoft Exchange server vulnerability. Earlier 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 released an emergency patch for its Exchange Server product, the most popular mail server worldwide. According to the F-Secure report, Countries currently seeing the most detections (in descending order) are Italy, Germany, France, the UK, the US, Belgium, Kuwait, Sweden, the Netherlands and Taiwan. Laatikainen expects that companies will start reporting breaches soon. The GDPR data protection regulation demands that theft of personal data must be reported to the data protection authorities within 72 hours. "You have to expect that the number of GDPR breach reports coming in the next few weeks will be historic. Your company doesn't have to be on the long list of organisations reporting breaches tomorrow if you take the right steps today," he noted. "Companies that have security monitoring capabilities in place, along with networking monitoring and effective path policy can fight back. There are a ton of things they can do manually to prevent a full disaster. I just encourage them to do them immediately," the security expert suggested. [March 23, 2021] Apple Hospitality REIT Announces Dates for First Quarter 2021 Earnings Release and Conference Call Apple (News - Alert) Hospitality REIT, Inc. (NYSE: APLE) (the "Company") today announced that it plans to report first quarter 2021 financial results after the market closes on Thursday, May 6, 2021, and host a conference call for investors and interested parties at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, May 7, 2021, to discuss the results. The conference call will be accessible by telephone and the internet. To access the call, participants from within the U.S. should dial 877-407-9039, and participants from outside the U.S. should dial 201-689-8470. Participants may also access the call via live webcast by visiting the Investor Information section of the Company's website at ir.applehospitalityreit.com. A replay of the call will be available from approximately 1:00 p.m. Easern Time on May 7, 2021, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 28, 2021. To access the replay, the domestic dial-in number is 844-512-2921, the international dial-in number is 412-317-6671, and the passcode is 13717950. In addition, an archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for a limited time. About Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. (NYSE: APLE) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust ("REIT") that owns one of the largest and most diverse portfolios of upscale, rooms-focused hotels in the United States. Apple Hospitality's portfolio consists of 233 hotels with more than 29,800 guest rooms located in 88 markets throughout 35 states. Concentrated with industry-leading brands, the Company's portfolio consists of 104 Marriott-branded hotels, 124 Hilton-branded hotels, three Hyatt-branded hotels and two independent hotels. For more information, please visit www.applehospitalityreit.com. For additional information or to receive press releases by email, visit www.applehospitalityreit.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323006019/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) issued its first Directory of Services 2020 - 2021 that includes information about the Authority as well as the services it provides and the steps for customers to obtain them. This came as part of the Dubai Cultures efforts to meet customer needs and ensure their happiness. Khawla Al Yassi, Director of the Customer Service Department at Dubai Culture, said: The directory comes as part of Dubai Cultures keenness to ensure public awareness of the Authoritys services as provided by its specialised service-delivery centres. Dubai Culture strives to provide optimal services via a unified information reference that would address customers questions and expectations about obtaining those services. The Authority is also seeking to make the directory accessible to everyone in the easiest way possible, contributing to enhancing customer happiness, which is one of the corporate priorities of our strategic roadmap through which we seek to strengthen Dubais position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent. Al Yassi added: The aim of the Directory of Services 2020 - 2021, which is available in Arabic, English, Urdu, and soon in Chinese on the Authoritys website www.dubaiculture.gov.ae, is to simplify procedures for customers comprising artists, writers, intellectuals and interested society members of all ages, whether residents, visitors, GCC citizens, public and private institutions, or entrepreneurs, as well as to provide them with the required services as quickly as possible and with the least possible effort. The directory highlights the needed steps to be taken to obtain the desired services in a seamless manner as well as the necessary requirements for each stage service provision, procedures, application steps, fees, service delivery centres, working hours, and phone numbers of service delivery centres. The directory opens with a message to customers from Director-General Hala Badri , an overview of the directory, the Authoritys strategic map, the Customer Happiness Charter, customer categories, the services and the customer journey, and services and communication channels. The Directory of Services is one of the initiatives developed by Dubai Culture based on the results of the 2019 Government of Dubai Customer Happiness Index, through which the Authority affirms its commitment to enhancing the effectiveness of its services and achieving customer satisfaction, raising performance level, and improving the quality of the services provided. The directory constitutes an integrated reference that defines and documents service procedures to ensure the continuous improvement of the Authoritys services.-- Tradearabia News Service A film is in the works about the extraordinary heroism of Connecticut native and U.S Air Force Sgt. John Chapman. Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is to star in Combat Control, based on the Medal of Honor recipients valor and death on a snow-capped mountain in Afghanistan. To be directed by Sam Hargrave, the film will be based on the book, Alone at Dawn: Medal of Honor Recipient John Chapman and the Untold Story of the Worlds Deadliest Special Operations Force, by Dan Schilling and Lori Longfritz, according to published reports. Chapman initially was awarded the Air Force Cross posthumously, but the award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2018 after an investigation that included video of his actions shot from a CIA drone. According to a story about the upcoming film in Deadline, an Air Force captain is tasked with the nearly impossible job of investigating whether Chapman is a worthy recipient of the medal, despite no eyewitnesses to his actions and the top-secret world surrounding clandestine operations. Alexander has to uncover the truth, and in revealing Chapmans sacrifice to the world, she forges her own path to self-forgiveness and personal redemption. Chapman grew up in Windsor Locks and served as an altar boy at St. Robert Bellarmine Church. He graduated in 1983 from Windsor Locks High School, where he was a standout soccer player. Friends and family recalled Chapmans sense of humor and the time in his senior year when he arrived at school as the Jolly Green Giant, spending the following week scrubbing off green face paint. He joined the Air Force in 1985 and volunteered for highly competitive special forces duty because he didnt like his initial assignment involving computer work, relatives have said. Kevin Chapman has said his brother excelled at the dangerous job because he had no fear. John walked through the valley of death in Afghanistan and he feared not, Chapman said at a memorial service for his brother in 2002. Story continues Among the most highly skilled of all U.S. military service members, combat controllers are trained in air traffic control, underwater and airborne operations, demolition, survival in all environments, weapons and communications, according to the Air Force. Their mission is to deploy, undetected, into combat and hostile environments and set up assault zones and airfields while conducting fire support, counter-terrorism, reconnaissance and other operations. On March 4, 2002, Chapman, 36, was with a special forces team sent to establish an observation post atop Takur Ghar mountain in Afghanistan. A rocket-propelled grenade hit the teams helicopter and Seal Neil Roberts, a Navy petty officer first class, fell from the aircraft. The pilot of the damaged chopper managed to land it safely a few miles away. The team returned to the mountain on another helicopter to rescue Roberts. He died and the ensuing firefight killed six more U.S. service men, including Chapman. The citation from the Medal of Honor in 2018 reads, in part: He fearlessly charged an enemy bunker, up a steep incline in thigh-deep snow and into hostile fire, directly engaging the enemy. Upon reaching the bunker, Sergeant Chapman assaulted and cleared the position, killing all enemy occupants. With complete disregard for his own life, Sergeant Chapman deliberately moved from cover only 12 meters from the enemy, and exposed himself once again to attack a second bunker, from which an emplaced machine gun was firing on his team. During this assault from an exposed position directly in the line of intense fire, Sergeant Chapman was struck and injured by enemy fire. Despite severe, mortal wounds, he continued to fight relentlessly, sustaining a violent engagement with multiple enemy personnel before making the ultimate sacrifice. Windsor Locks residents celebrated John Chapman Day on Sept. 30, 2018. First Selectman Chris Kervick has said of the Medal of Honor, We are in awe of Johns Chapmans actions and sacrifice and we need to tell his story. But on a deeper level, it is also important that we emphasize the qualities of selflessness and devotion to others John Chapman displayed throughout his life and on the day he died, Kervick said. These are characteristics which we seek to instill in all our local boys and girls. These are the best of human qualities, and these characteristics are important whether we are in the classroom, in the workplace, on a ballfield or in a pitched battle on a frozen and desolate mountain. Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com Charleston, WV (25301) Today Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Scanning electron micrograph of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which cause TB. Credit: NIAID Tuberculosis remains a rare disease in the United States, but when it does occur, delays in diagnosing it often exceed recommendations by the World Health Organization, according to a new report by Harvard Medical School researchers published March 22 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. The typical, or median, delay in diagnosing an active case of TB was 24 days, according to the study, with the majority of delays ranging between 10 and 45 days. However, some delays were much longerup to 250 days in certain cases. Unlike latent TB, in which the person who carries the TB bacterium has no symptoms and cannot infect others, people with active TB have symptoms and can transmit the infection to others. The new analysis revealed that delayed diagnoses were linked to a higher likelihood of the infection being transmitted to household members. It also found a concerning link between delays in diagnosis and the risk for disease progression. To minimize TB complications and prevent infection transmission, the WHO calls for initiating diagnostic workup and prompt treatment for all patients who have symptoms suggestive of active TB infection for two weeks or longer. "The delays we found would be concerning under any circumstances, but they are unacceptable in a well-resourced health care system such as the United States," said study senior investigator Maha Farhat, assistant professor of biomedical informatics in the Blavatnik Institute of Harvard Medical School and a pulmonary medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. While the new study was not designed to tease out the reasons behind the diagnostic delays, the researchers say one of the more likely drivers is lack of awareness among clinicians, possibly due to the rarity of TB in the United States. The classic TB presentation includes coughing up blood, fever, and night sweats, but TB can also presents with a range of symptoms that do not fit this textbook triad and can throw physicians off the scent, making prompt diagnosis challenging. Indeed, the analysis suggests that some of the delays could be prevented, or at least minimized, underscoring the importance of increasing clinician awareness. For example, use of chest imaging and molecular diagnostic tests portended shorter time to diagnosis and treatment as did receiving care from an infectious disease or pulmonary medicine specialist. "Our findings point to the key importance of continuing education of providers. We found several factors associated with delays and faster diagnosis," Farhat said "This tells us that delays are modifiable and preventable." The researchers underscore that while TB remains rare in the United States, it is one of the top 10 leading causes of death worldwide. Concerningly, they note, recent trends show that while the number of active TB infections in the United States has been declining, the pace of the decline is slowing and that TB death rates in this country have not consistently followed a similar decline. This observation hints that gaps in the ability to diagnose the disease early and treat it promptly may be important contributors, Farhat said. For their analysis, Farhat and colleagues used data derived from the medical insurance claims of nearly 19 million privately insured individuals, capturing doctor's visits over a nine-year span, from 2008 to 2016, with a typical case follow-up of seven years. Of the 18.9 million records in the database, the researchers identified 3,389 people whose records had diagnostic codes suggestive of TB. Of those, 738 individuals ended up getting an eventual diagnosis of active TB. To gauge delays, the researchers measured the time elapsed between the first documented visit for TB-related symptoms and the initiation of treatment for TB. The medianor most typicaldelay in TB diagnosis was 24 days, ranging from 10 to 45 days after initial visit for symptoms suggestive of the disease. Some cases, however, took far longer to diagnosemore than 240 days in some instances. Of the 738 patients with active TB, 65 (nearly 9 percent) went on to develop respiratory complications, and those with delayed diagnoses were more likely to experience complications. The median delay in diagnosis among patients who went on to develop one or more complications was around 32 days after first presentation to a doctor's office. By comparison, those who did not experience complications were diagnosed and treated typically within 23 days. The most common complications included irreversible lung damage, collapsed lungs, fungal lung infections, and spitting blood, a symptom that heralds serious airway inflammation and injury. To determine the risk for infecting others, the researchers analyzed the rate of infection among the household members of 456 patients with active TB who had one or more dependents covered by the same insurance. Of those, 177 patients had another household member with latent TB. Of the 1,026 household members who cohabitated with a person with active TB, more than one-fourth (286) became infected. Further analysis showed that each additional week of delay in diagnosis boosted the risk for transmitting the infection by 20 percent. Two patient categories appeared at greater risk for diagnostic delaysolder individuals and those with suppressed immunity. The study did not examine the reasons behind this elevated risk, but the researchers said it may be because older individuals tend to have more variable, atypical presentation of symptoms or because clinicians may tend to attribute their symptoms to other lung diseases common in this group, such as COPD or pneumonia, for example. Delayed diagnoses among immunosuppressed individuals may be due to atypical, variable symptoms or may stem from susceptibility to infections with multiple other organisms, which can reduce the number of TB cells present in a test sample and make laboratory confirmation of TB more difficult. People who presented with three or more symptoms were more likely to be diagnosed more promptly than those presenting with fewer symptomslikely because the presence of more symptoms raised physician suspicion. The use of chest X-rays or CT scans to image the lungs, the use of a molecular TB test called nucleic acid amplification, and receiving care from a TB specialist, all expedited diagnoses. The bottom line for clinicians, Farhat said, is to err on the side of over-testing: The risk of missing TB far outweighs any possible downsides of ordering a fairly inexpensive molecular test or an X-ray to rule out TB disease. "If you have a patient with cough, fever, shortness of breath, especially if they were born abroad or are an older individual, then you should be ordering a chest X-ray early and, if abnormalities are seen, a TB nucleic acid amplification test," she said. "Yes, these are non-specific symptoms but the key is to think about it TB as a possibility and to remember that it is still present in the United States." One reassuring finding was that a TB diagnosis was promptly followed by the initiation of treatment, typically within three days. The researchers caution that their findings may not capture the full magnitude of delays because their analysis was based on a predefined set of variables contained in medical claim records, which may have left out less common disease presentations such as instances in which TB develops outside of the lungs and affects the nervous system. The study design also did not allow researchers to track transmission outside of a patient's household, thereby likely underestimating transmission risk to others such as health care workers, for example. Another limitation, the researchers said, stemmed from the de-identified nature of the data, which did not allow researchers to capture important differences by race and ethnicity, which may be tied to delays in diagnoses and treatment, or country of birth, which confers different risk for TB. Nonetheless, the approach points to the great utility of medical claims data in tracking patterns of disease diagnosis, testing and treatment, Farhat said. "This is the advantage of big data," Farhat said. "Interrogated the right way, these records can give us a wealth of information about clinical care trends, without the need to mobilize additional resources for data collection." Explore further Contributors to delay of multiple sclerosis diagnosis ID'd 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. Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global neckwear market size is expected to reach USD 4.2 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is projected to expand at a CAGR of 2.1% during the forecast period. Demand for neckwear for formal as causal occasions is anticipated to drive the market. Major manufacturers focus on innovation to produce boutique-branded products to attract more consumers. This factor is anticipated to further drive the market growth. Consumers prefer wearing ties as they project professionalism, confidence, authority, power, and exclusivity. Rising use of neckwear, especially neckties in professional settings is expected to drive the market growth. Media executives, bankers, business school students, and hospitality professionals are some of the major consumers. Neckwear manufacturers focus on attracting consumers looking to pair neckwear with casual clothing. Innovations such as trendy designs, soft touch fabric, bright and funky colors, and occasion-specific neckties to attract millennials are projected to create growth opportunities for the market. Along with traditional silk, they focus on using materials such as microfibers, polyester, and cotton to enhance the product offerings. Browse Details of Report @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/neckwear-market Key players in the neckwear industry focus on product innovation, brand endorsement, and social media marketing. For instance, in 2017, The Tie Bar, a Chicago-based menswear company, launched subscription model for the U.S. based consumers to improve its customer retention ratio. The company delivers three brand new bow ties or neckties to the consumers depending on their product preference in two intervalseither in six months or a year. The Louisiana Department of Health reported 393 more confirmed coronavirus cases and 6 more confirmed deaths in its noon update Tuesday. The number of hospitalizations increased by one, and the number of patients in need of ventilators increased by three. There are now a total of 378,011 confirmed coronavirus cases and 9,231 total "probable" coronavirus cases in Louisiana, according to the agency's dashboard. The agency reports a total of 10,037 total suspected deaths. 'It's like six Katrinas:' More than 10,000 suspected of dying from COVID in Louisiana A year after the novel coronavirus began surging through the state, Louisiana surpassed a bleak highwater mark Monday after health officials r These are another few key statewide statistics as of Tuesday: Total confirmed cases: 378,011 Total "probable" cases: 63,760 Total confirmed deaths: 9,231 Total probable deaths: 806 Currently hospitalized: 404 Currently on ventilators: 74 Vaccine series initiated: 1,055,911 (updated twice weekly) Vaccine series completed: 611,494 Presumed recovered: 426,243 as of March 15 (updated weekly) +4 Louisiana COVID numbers: More than 1 million people receive vaccine More than 1 million people in Louisiana have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, according to data released Monday by the Lou Note: The Advocate and The Times-Picayune staff calculates daily case count and confirmed death increases based on the difference between today's total and yesterday's total of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths. The Louisiana Department of Health releases a daily case count on its dashboard that includes probable cases as indicated by a positive antigen test. That case count can be different than the one listed here. Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Here are some of the parishes with the highest single-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases, based on the Tuesday report: East Baton Rouge: 58 Calcasieu: 49 St. Tammany: 33 Ascension: 28 Orleans: 24 Jefferson: 21 Can't see chart below? Click here. Can't see chart below? Click here. Louisiana began reopening for Phase 1 on May 15-16 then moved to Phase 2 on June 5. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards extended Louisiana's Phase 2 restrictions twice in August before moving the state to Phase 3 on Sept. 11. The governor then moved the state back to a modified Phase 2 near the end of November before putting Louisiana back in a modified Phase 3 on March 2, 2021. This is a developing story. More details and analysis to come. Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft say they will not run for the U.S. Senate seat. Former State Senator Scott Sifton, former U.S. Marine Lucas Kunce and Democratic candidate Timothy Shepard have announced they do plan to run for Blunt's seat. The ruling TMC has embraced it as its main poll plank to counter the rise of the BJP's Hindutva narrative in the state The electoral discourse in Bengal, where poll battles are fought on ideological lines, had in the past mostly steered clear of sub-nationalism like identity politics. (Representational Image/PTI) Kolkata: With the "insider-outsider" debate in West Bengal gaining strength before the state election, Bengali sub-nationalism appears to have become visible like never before. The ruling TMC has embraced it as its main poll plank to counter the rise of the BJP's Hindutva narrative in the state. It has branded BJP as a "party of outsiders" and has fanned the 'Bengali pride' by coming up with a poll slogan "Bangla Nijer Meyekei Chai" (Bengal wants its own daughter) creating a poll narrative of sub-nationalism to counter the saffron party's identity politics. The electoral discourse in Bengal, where poll battles are fought on ideological lines, had in the past mostly steered clear of sub-nationalism like identity politics. "This is for the first time we have made Bengali pride our main poll plank. Bengali pride is not just about Bengalis; it appeals to all sons of the soil," senior TMC leader and MP Sougata Roy told PTI. Another senior TMC leader said "divisive politics and religious polarisation can be countered with sub-nationalism and regionalism." BJP has blamed Trinamool Congress for bringing up the issue of Bengali pride saying it is harping on nationalism, development and identity politics as it senses defeat in its citadel. "BJP is in power in so many states, but we have never tried to impose any language or culture. This is a baseless allegation as TMC has nothing to showcase to seek votes," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said. BJP national president J P Nadda claimed at various poll rallies that only BJP can restore the Bengali pride and that "TMC represents everything that is opposite to it". To counter the narrative and project itself as a party in sync with Bengali culture and ethos, BJP has propped up Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee as its icon. It has also been observing the anniversaries of Bengali icons Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. Parties cutting across political lines feel that the issue has its pitfalls and will have a cascading effect on the federal structure in the days to come. They agree that sub-nationalism can no longer be ignored in Bengal as it is reflective of the state's socio- political history which has always preferred opposing or challenging the party at the Centre or a bigger political force and have refused submission. Born out of the Congress on January 1, 1998, TMC had adopted the evocative slogan 'Maa Mati Manush' (Mother, Land and People) carefully blending socialism and secularism that countered the then communists and their doctrines. The rise of BJP in Bengal's political map made TMC realise that its socialist slogan was not enough to offset 'Hindutva', especially when it has been branded by the saffron camp as a party that favours only minorities. It then came up with the narrative of Bengali pride and insider versus outsider debate and has it as its main poll and ideological planks. The desecration of the bust of social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar during a BJP procession in the last phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, followed by the publication of the final NRC list in Assam in August that year gave TMC a golden opportunity to brand BJP as an "anti-Bengali" party. The NRC list had left out the names of 19 lakh people in Assam, many of them Bengalis. The state BJP's over-dependence on the party's central leadership with leaders from other states calling the shots have not helped matters for the saffron party. It has in fact further fuelled the "insider versus outsider" debate. BJP national general secretary and Bengal minder Kailash Vijayvargiya feels that TMC is only interested in winning the votes and has nothing to do with Bengali pride. "These are gimmicks to win the election. Everybody knows how concerned TMC is about Bengalis and their welfare," he said. To woo the Bengali voters, the saffron party in its poll manifesto promised Tagore Smriti Puraskar on the lines of the Nobel prize to honour globally recognised talents and the Satyajit Ray Award on the lines of the Oscar award. It also promised a Gurudev Centre for Cultural Excellence and a film city was promised named after matinee idol Uttam Kumar. TMC has blamed the ascent of BJP in Bengal's political sphere and the increased activities of far-right Hindu outfits which are more in sync with north Indian culture for the politicisation of ethnic sentiments in the state. But a quick look at post-Idependence Bengal's socio- political history shows how Bengali sub-nationalism has always played a role before going dormant in the past few decades. The effect of sub-nationalism in the state was first felt when Congress led by the then chief minister Bidhan Chandra Roy in the mid-fifties lost the election to nine municipalities and an assembly by-poll on the issue of merger of West Bengal and Bihar. The Left Front and Praja Socialist Party had then opposed it tooth and nail stating that Bengalis would beome a minority post the merger. Till the mid '90S the issue of Bengali pride was not overtly brought into play, as both the mainstream political parties - the Congress ande CPI(M) had several homegrown stalwarts. There were leaders like Jyoti Basu, Bhupesh Gupta, Indrajit Gupta from the Left and Siddartha Sankar Ray, Pranab Mukherjee, A B A Ghani Khan Chowdhury from the Congress. However, the CPI(M), which over the years has moulded itself as a party of the Bengali bhadralok (gentleman) through its anti-Congress and anti-Centre stance, smacked of subtle sub-nationalism by often citing 'Centre's oppression against Bengal'. Noted Historian Sugata Bose contends that sub- nationalism was always in the play in Bengal politics in a covert manner. "The issue of Bengali sub-nationalism was there in post-Independence Bengal, though in a very subtle way. It was never a major rallying point. The Left's constant attack on the Centre and Congress alleging step-motherly treatment towards Bengal was aimed in that direction. "But after the formation of TMC in 1998, Bengali sub-nationalism was never an issue as the party and the Bengal CPI-M which it defeated were regional players," Bose, the Gardiner Professor of Oceanic history at Harvard University, told PTI. "It is now back as a major poll issue as TMC, a regional party is fighting against BJP, a national party. It has gained momentum as BJP does not have strong homegrown leaders in Bengal and is overdependent on central leaders," he said. Several outfits like Bangla Pokkho, Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan and Bangla Sanskriti Mancha have emerged in the state's political landscape and they have accused the saffron camp of trying to "impose Hindi and north Indian culture" on Bengal. "The way Bengalis are demographically threatened by non-Bengalis, the day is not far when they will turn into a minority in their own land. This will not only be just in terms of population but also culturally. We are happy that Bengali sub-nationalism has emerged as a rallying point in this polls," Kaushik Maiti, a senior leader of Bangla Pokkho, told PTI. These outfits have been raising the pitch for reservation for domicile Bengalis in jobs and education in the state. The narrative has its drawbacks as it alienates the Hindi-speaking population, who are a deciding factor in at least 30 of the state's 294 Assembly seats. Sensing this, the TMC has tied up with the RJD and Samajwadi Party for the assembly polls. The two parties have offered unconditional support to it and will campaign for TMC in the Hindi-speaking belts of the state. Political analyst Suman Bhattacharya feels that Bengali sub-nationalism will play an important role in the assembly poll and will be a deciding factor in several seats. "It had never played such a major role in the polls. But Bengali pride and sub-nationalism will play a pivotal role this election and a decisive role in several seats," he said. Poll analyst Biswanth Chakraborty believes that Bengali sub-nationalism is an urban phenomenon and will not impact rural Bengal. (CNN) - The concerns raised about AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine efficacy data don't seem to be related to safety, the World Health Organization (WHO) told CNN in a statement Tuesday. AstraZeneca announced Monday that US trial data on its COVID-19 vaccine showed 79% efficacy against symptomatic disease and 100% efficacy against severe disease and hospitalization. It was a news release and not the official release of data to be used by the US Food and Drug Administration in determining whether to grant emergency use authorization for the vaccine. In a statement released Tuesday, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) highlighted concerns raised by the trial's Data and Safety Monitoring Board that AstraZeneca used outdated information from the trial. As we understand it, the NIAID concerns seem related to efficacy data, not safety, WHO said. WHO has neither seen the data from the AZ clinical trials in the US, nor specifics about NIAID concerns. WHO said its emergency use listings and advisory group recommendations for AstraZeneca vaccines from SKBio and Serum Institute of India stand. We will look forward to the scientific review of the clinical trials in the US, Chile, and Peru, WHO added. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Concerns about AstraZeneca vaccine data don't seem to be related to safety, WHO says" NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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? 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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 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Despite steady p 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. Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - Talon Metals Corp. (TSX: TLO) ("Talon" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project ("Tamarack Nickel Project"), located in Minnesota, USA. The Tamarack Nickel Project comprises the Tamarack North Project and the Tamarack South Project. Figure 1: 21.73 Meters (71.2 feet) of Mixed Massive Sulphide Mineralization grading 6.72% Ni, 2.95% Cu, 0.13% Co, 0.56 g/t Pd, 0.76 g/t Pt and 0.38 g/t Au (8.35% NiEq or 22.28% CuEq) starting at 459.72 meters. (Drill Hole 20TK0278) To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/78232_fcac8fd79415482c_001full.jpg HIGHLIGHTS Drill hole 20TK0278 intersected 21.73 meters (71.2 feet) of mixed massive sulphide mineralization grading 6.72% Ni, 2.95% Cu, 0.13% Co, 0.56 g/t Pd, 0.76 g/t Pt and 0.38 g/t Au (8.35% NiEq 1 or 22.28% CuEq 2 ), starting at 459.72 meters (see Figure 1). Within this 21.73 meter interval, the Company intersected 6.52 meters (21.4 feet) grading 8.21% Ni, 3.72% Cu, 0.16% Co, 0.67g/t Pd, 0.86 g/t Pt, 0.36 g/t Au (10.21% NiEq or 27.23% CuEq), starting at 467.44 meters. Table 1: Assay Results from Drill Hole 20TK0278 Drill Hole # From (m) To (m) Length (m) Results Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) Pd (g/t) Pt (g/t) Au (g/t) NiEq (%) CuEq (%) 20TK0278 459.72 481.45 21.73 6.72 2.95 0.13 0.56 0.76 0.38 8.35 22.28 including 467.44 473.96 6.52 8.21 3.72 0.16 0.67 0.86 0.36 10.21 27.23 *See Table 4 for further technical information This drill hole represents the longest record intersection of mixed massive sulphides at the Tamarack Nickel Project to date. These results increase the thickness of the high-grade Massive Sulphide Unit (MSU) to the south of the Tamarack Nickel Project's resource area, and further exploration of this area is now a high priority for the Company. "Not only was this a record length of mixed and massive sulphides at the Tamarack Nickel Project, but the assays show excellent grades that are extremely rare amongst nickel projects globally," said Brian Goldner, Head of Exploration. "Clearly this area merits additional focus and will see additional drilling in the coming months to test how far south the high-grade Massive Sulphide Unit potentially extends." SUMMARY Talon is pleased to announce the results from its recent record length hit of mineralization at the Tamarack Nickel Project. Located on the western limb of the high-grade Massive Sulphide Unit ("MSU") (see the press release from January 26, 2021 for details), drill hole 20TK0278 was focused on expanding the Tamarack Nickel Project's resource area and successfully intersected 21.73 meters (71.2 feet) of mixed massive sulphide mineralization grading 6.72% Ni, 2.95% Cu, 0.13% Co, 0.56 g/t Pd, 0.76 g/t Pt and 0.38 g/t Au (8.35% NiEq or 22.28% CuEq), starting at 459.72 meters. Within this 21.73 meter interval, the Company intersected 6.52 meters (21.4 feet) grading 8.21% Ni, 3.72% Cu, 0.16% Co, 0.67g/t Pd, 0.86 g/t Pt, 0.36 g/t Au (10.21% NiEq or 27.23% CuEq), starting at 467.44 meters. Table 2: Assays of Individual Samples within the 21.73 Meter Intercept in Drill Hole 20TK0278 SAMPLE From (m) To (m) length (m) Cu (%) Ni (%) Co (%) Pd (g/t) Pt (g/t) Au (g/t) NiEq (%) CuEq (%) 102062 459.72 461 1.28 2.03 4.49 0.087 0.405 0.637 0.169 5.62 14.99 102063 461 462.5 1.5 1.965 4.95 0.092 0.459 0.384 0.17 6.01 16.03 102064 462.5 463.7 1.2 1.93 5.28 0.102 0.565 1.06 0.317 6.55 17.47 102065 463.7 464.64 0.94 3.97 8.92 0.167 0.803 0.948 0.688 11.14 29.70 102066 464.64 466 1.36 2.47 4.55 0.089 0.446 0.991 0.399 5.99 15.97 102067 466 467.44 1.44 2.09 4.87 0.092 0.428 1.16 0.368 6.20 16.54 102068 467.44 469 1.56 3.96 7.81 0.15 0.668 1.46 0.58 10.08 26.88 102069 469 470.5 1.5 3.95 9.58 0.185 0.815 0.723 0.208 11.66 31.09 102071 470.5 471.6 1.1 4.18 7.95 0.153 0.608 0.929 0.702 10.20 27.20 102072 471.6 472.83 1.23 1.945 6.07 0.116 0.51 0.899 0.264 7.31 19.49 102073 472.83 473.96 1.13 4.59 9.54 0.175 0.721 0.081 0.041 11.64 31.05 102074 473.96 475 1.04 2.8 6.99 0.133 0.549 0.927 0.72 8.69 23.17 102075 475 476.5 1.5 2.05 4.78 0.091 0.377 0.69 0.179 5.94 15.83 102076 476.5 478.07 1.57 3.2 8.15 0.154 0.525 0.523 0.464 9.87 26.33 102077 478.07 478.81 0.74 1.65 3.48 0.069 0.269 0.545 0.2 4.41 11.76 102078 478.81 480 1.19 3.16 7.47 0.141 0.538 0.439 0.285 9.10 24.27 102079 480 481.45 1.45 4.02 8.8 0.159 0.818 0.361 0.803 10.91 29.10 *See Table 4 for further technical information These results increase the thickness of the high-grade MSU to the south. Drill hole 20TK0278 is located in an area that to date, has been largely underexplored, and the Company is now re-assessing its drilling program strategy, given these extremely positive results. Additional geophysical surveying is currently being conducted to identify the next target locations for further drilling, with the goal to continue expanding the resource towards the south. Figure 2: Plan View of a Portion of the Tamarack Nickel Project's Resource Area Showing the Location of New Drill Hole 20TK0278 Relative to Historical Drill Holes To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/78232_fcac8fd79415482c_003full.jpg Figure 3: Longitudinal Section Looking East of the Tamarack Nickel Project's Resource Area Showing the Location of New Drill Hole 20TK0278 Relative to the MSU To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/78232_fcac8fd79415482c_004full.jpg QUALITY ASSURANCE, QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALIFIED PERSONS Please see the technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) #3 of the Tamarack North Project - Tamarack, Minnesota" with an effective date of January 8, 2021 prepared by independent "Qualified Persons" (as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") Leslie Correia (Pr. Eng), Andre-Francois Gravel (P. Eng.), Tim Fletcher (P. Eng.), Daniel Gagnon (P. Eng.), David Ritchie (P. Eng.), Oliver Peters (P. Eng.), Volodymyr Liskovych (P.Eng.), Andrea Martin (P. E.) and Brian Thomas (P. Geo.) for information on the QA/QC, analytical and testing procedures at the Tamarack Project. Copies are available on the Company's website (www.talonmetals.com) or on SEDAR at (www.sedar.com). The laboratory used is ALS Minerals who is independent of the Company. Lengths are drill intersections and not necessarily true widths. True widths cannot be consistently calculated for comparison purposes between holes because of the irregular shapes of the mineralized zones. Drill intersections have been independently selected by Talon. Drill composites have been independently calculated by Talon. The geological interpretations in this news release are solely those of the Company. The locations and distances highlighted on all maps in this news release are approximate. Dr. Etienne Dinel, Vice President, Geology of Talon, is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Dr. Dinel is satisfied that the analytical and testing procedures used are standard industry operating procedures and methodologies, and he has reviewed, approved and verified the technical information disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information. ABOUT TALON Talon is a TSX-listed base metals company in a joint venture with Rio Tinto on the high-grade Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project located in Minnesota, USA, comprised of the Tamarack North Project and the Tamarack South Project. Talon has an earn-in to acquire up to 60% of the Tamarack Project. The Tamarack Project comprises a large land position (18km of strike length) with numerous high-grade intercepts outside the current resource area. Talon is focused on expanding its current high-grade nickel mineralization resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101; identifying additional high-grade nickel mineralization; and developing a process to potentially produce nickel sulphates responsibly for batteries for the electric vehicles industry. Talon has a well-qualified exploration and mine management team with extensive experience in project management. For additional information on Talon, please visit the Company's website at www.talonmetals.com or contact: Sean Werger President Talon Metals Corp. Tel: (416) 361-9636 x102 Email: werger@talonmetals.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the timing and results of the exploration program, including assay results, grades, geophysical potential and results, and drilling plans, including further drilling to the south of the current resource area; the potential to extend mineralization, including towards the south and the potential to expand the Tamarack Nickel Project's resource area Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Table 3: Collar Locations of Drill Holes Referred to in this Press Release Tamarack Resource Area HOLEID Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (masl) Azm Dip End Depth (m) 20TK0278 490708.0 5168541.0 388.0 127.3 -77.2 535.8 20TK0276 490707.9 5168537.2 389.0 132.0 -78.6 534.5 12TK0160 490996.5 5168293.4 388.3 240.0 -85.5 634.0 12TK0161 490995.9 5168293.6 388.3 202.2 -79.4 761.7 08TK0083 490583.4 5168541.9 390.2 97.8 -67.0 705.0 Collar coordinates are UTM Zone 15N, NAD83. Azimuths and dips are taken from survey record at collar unless otherwise noted Table 4: Assays of Drill Holes Referred to in this Press Release Drill Hole # From (m) To (m) Length (m) Results Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) Pd (g/t) Pt (g/t) Au (g/t) NiEq (%) CuEq (%) 20TK0278 459.72 481.45 21.73 6.72 2.95 0.13 0.56 0.76 0.38 8.35 22.28 including 467.44 473.96 6.52 8.21 3.72 0.16 0.67 0.86 0.36 10.21 27.23 12TK0160 587.82 594.48 6.66 4.19 2.64 0.05 0.53 0.89 0.35 4.64 12.37 12TK0161 511.39 512.18 0.79 0.46 1.57 0.04 0.09 0.16 0.11 1.87 4.97 08TK0083 498.66 507.81 9.15 7.79 3.22 0.15 0.78 1.38 0.32 9.72 25.93 Length refers to drill hole length and not True Width. True Width is unknown at the time of publication. All samples were analysed by ALS Minerals. Nickel, copper, and cobalt grades were first analysed by a 4-acid digestion and ICP AES (ME-MS61). Grades reporting greater than 0.25% Ni and/or 0.1% Cu, using ME-MS61, trigger a sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-AES finish (ICP81). Platinum, palladium and gold are initially analyzed by a 50g fire assay with an ICP-MS finish (PGM-MS24). Any samples reporting >1g/t Pt or Pd trigger an over-limit analysis by ICP-AES finish (PGM-ICP27) and any samples reporting >1g/t Au trigger an over-limit analysis by AAS (Au-AA26). NiEq% = Ni%+ Cu% x $3.00/$8.00 + Co% x $12.00/$8.00 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,300/$8.00/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $700/$8.00/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $1,200/$8.00/22.04 CuEq% = Cu%+ Ni% x $8.00/$3.00 + Co% x $12.00/$3.00 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,300/$3.00/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $700/$3.00/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $1,200/$3.00/22.0 No adjustments were made for recovery or payability. 1 Where used in this news release: NiEq% = Ni%+ Cu% x $3.00/$8.00 + Co% x $12.00/$8.00 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,300/$8.00/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $700/$8.00/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $1,200/$8.00/22.04 2 Where used in this news release: CuEq% = Cu%+ Ni% x $8.00/$3.00 + Co% x $12.00/$3.00 + Pt [g/t]/31.103 x $1,300/$3.00/22.04 + Pd [g/t]/31.103 x $700/$3.00/22.04 + Au [g/t]/31.103 x $1,200/$3.00/22.0 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78232 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTHI) - The Illinois House of Representatives has adopted a resolution condemning one of its members. The resolution says Representative Chris Miller has violated his oath to the Constitution of the country and the state. It says he has done so by promoting the actions of a hate group. The resolution notes that Miller was at the January 6 rally in Washington DC that led to the insurrection at the Capitol building. Miller represents parts of the News 10 viewing area in Illinois. Read the full resolution here. The costs fall on leaseholders, who are least able to pay and not remotely to blame for the crisis while the government protects builders, developers and cladding manufacturers. On Monday evening, the House of Commons had a golden opportunity to make the lives of millions of lower income people materially better. All they had to do was pass a proposed amendment to the Fire Safety Bill that sought to ban leaseholders* from bearing the costs of cladding remediation. Those costs could rise as high as 15-20 billion in the coming years. The governments bill placed the responsibility for removing cladding on leaseholders, but peers in the House of Lords proposed a plan that would force the government to pay the initial costs before recouping them from developers, construction firms and cladding manufacturers. In all likelihood, its the second part of the plan in which builders and manufacturers shoulder the burden the government objected to. Despite a rebellion by 29 Tories, the House of Commons rejected the amendment by a margin of 322 votes to 253. A Fitting Legacy As a result of the vote, the brunt of the remediation costs will now fall on those who are least able to pay and who hold zero responsibility for the problem in the first place. They are the victims, not the offenders, of the UKs cladding crisis. This is the sad, twisted but predictable legacy of the Grenfell Tower fire, which claimed the lives of 72 people on June 14, 2017. Their lives never meant much to the government. Nor, it seems, does the welfare of the millions of people who live in similarly fire-prone buildings. If the bill passes the House of Lords, leaseholders in blocks of flats less than 18 meters high will have little choice but to take out tens of thousands of pounds in loans. The estimated cost of remediation per property is between 40,000 and 50,000. The value of the apartments is sinking as insurance premiums and service charges soar. Lenders are refusing to write mortgages on affected properties, which further limits their options. To avoid bankruptcy, some are selling at a big discount to cash buyers. Interim costs at the moment are bankrupting leaseholders up and down the country, said Conservative MP Stephen McPartland ahead of the vote. Leaseholders are screaming for help, they are screaming in pain and what are we doing? Today we are saying to them Thanks for paying the interim costs, once youve finished that were now going to load you up with remediation costs on top tens of thousands of pounds that people just dont have the funds for. In the wake of Grenfell, it became quickly apparent that thousands of tower blocks across UK towns and cities had, like Grenfell, been rigged with highly flammable insulation and cladding and were essentially multi-storey death traps. Those living inside these buildings, as well as smaller structures with similar problems, have had their lives upended. Most of the buildings have yet to be inspected, leaving their occupants trapped in financial limbo, in buildings that may also be a firetrap. A survey by the UK Cladding Action Group found that nine out of ten cladding victims say their mental health has suffered. Many are on the brink of financial ruin. According to a survey by Inside Housing, one in six are exploring bankruptcy options and 62.5% face repair costs of more than 30,000. As if that were not enough, many are also having to shell out hundreds of pounds a month in addition to the mortgage payments and other costs to cover the costs of round-the-clock fire-patrols (waking watches as theyve come to be known) to make sure the building they occupy doesnt suddenly go up in flames. Zero Responsibility for the Real Offenders Naked Capitalism has been following developments closely ever since the Greenfell Tower fire (most recently here, here and here). In the previous article Lambert laid out some of the most disturbing revelations of the ongoing Grenfell Inquiry, including the behavior, actions and motivations of the multiple actors that ultimately paved the way for the fire: Cost cutting by Grenfells Building Control Board, the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) . Determined to cut costs and corners in its refurbishment of Grenfill Tower, the propertys landlord, KCTMO, swapped more expensive zinc cladding panels for aluminium alternatives. Aluminium composite cladding usually comprises a layer of highly flammable plastic sandwiched between two aluminium sheets. This became the main cause of the spread of the fire that claimed 72 lives. . Determined to cut costs and corners in its refurbishment of Grenfill Tower, the propertys landlord, KCTMO, swapped more expensive zinc cladding panels for aluminium alternatives. Aluminium composite cladding usually comprises a layer of highly flammable plastic sandwiched between two aluminium sheets. This became the main cause of the spread of the fire that claimed 72 lives. Manipulated safety tests and fraudulent product claims by the three cladding and insulation manufacturers, Celotex (from France), Kingspan (from Ireland) and Arconic (from the US) . The inquiry revealed that all three firms manipulated the fire safety tests in order to get their highly inflammable products certified for use in high-rise buildings. Internal emails have shown that employees at all three firms knew about the huge safety risks posed by their products but sold them anyway. . The inquiry revealed that all three firms manipulated the fire safety tests in order to get their highly inflammable products certified for use in high-rise buildings. Internal emails have shown that employees at all three firms knew about the huge safety risks posed by their products but sold them anyway. Widespread incompetence and conflicts of interest at government and standards bodies, including the British Research Establishment, the British Standards Institute (BSI) and British Board of Agrement (BBA), all of which were privatized in the years preceding the fire. The Fire Brigades Union has published a damning indictment of the revolving door between construction firms and regulators. The Labour government also played a part in paving the way to the Grenfell fire by lifting a ban on combustible insulation for high rises in 2006. For the moment, none of the organizations, companies or individuals that bear responsibility for Grenfell have paid a price. In fact, The Guardian revealed last week that a UK subsidiary of Arconic, three of whose employees refused to give evidence to the inquiry, tapped UK taxpayers for 500,000 under the furlough scheme. As for the government, it has thrown leaseholders a few crumbs of comfort in recent months. After all, it doesnt want to come across as completely insensitive to their plight. In February, ministers announced an extra 3.5 billion in funding to fix inflammable cladding on high rises in England (but not Scotland or Wales) on top of the 1.6 billion already earmarked last year. But its still a fraction of what is needed. As The Guardian reports, the funding does not cover cladding removal work on low-rise buildings (of six stories or less). The government instead unveiled a scheme to offer loans to fix cladding issues in these buildings. Also not covered are fire safety assessments (though the Scottish government has agreed to stump up the cash for Scottish leaseholders); other fire safety problems that are emerging as blocks undergo inspections; problems with balconies; the cost of waking watches; and increased insurance premiums. In the meantime, the financial limbo affecting millions of homeowners is setting off ripple effects across the UKs housing market. Lenders have refused to offer loans for any properties in high-rise buildings that have been flagged as firetraps or have yet to be inspected but could prove to be firetraps. As a result, the vast majority of the UKs high-rise apartments, which sit at the bottom of the property ladder, are for the present moment impossible to sell or buy, apart from to cash buyers at much lower prices. * When an apartment is purchased as a leasehold, the buyer is little more than a tenant, albeit one with a tenancy agreement that typically lasts for up to a century. The freehold the building and the land usually belongs to the developer or another entity that the developer sold it to. They are able to extract annual rent on those assets. The terms of the leases have become increasingly onerous as global investors have bought up the freeholds. The government has finally been shamed into at least pledging to change this archaic system. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Generally cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 70F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin met Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani alongside Ambassador Wilson and General Milleron on Sunday as he made a trip to Kabul, the US Department of Defence said in a release. His visit comes just weeks ahead as the US inches closer to the deadline for the complete withdrawal of troops from the region by May 1. US troops have been stationed in Afghanistan to conduct Special Operations missions with Afghan forces against terrorist outfits such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The former President Donald Trump, however, signed an agreement with the Taliban in February 2020 that agreed pulling out all the soldiers from the region. However, as the former Trump administration was leaving office, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby had said that the Taliban had failed to meet its commitments keeping the decision of complete troop withdrawal in a limbo. No final decision has been reached by the Biden administration, and there have been doubts about the implementation of a total withdrawal as also, a UN report claimed that the Taliban has not disavowed al-Qaeda. Im very grateful for my time with President @ashrafghani today. I came to Afghanistan to listen and learn. This visit has been very helpful for me, and it will inform my participation in the review we are undergoing here with @POTUS. pic.twitter.com/ZE39tXZqvg Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) March 21, 2021 While it remains unclear if Biden will maintain an indefinite US military presence in Afghanistan with withdrawal line close, US Defense Sec. Austin told a presser that the two countries are in the process of reviewing conditions, adding that the level of violence in Afghanistan remains high. Afghanistan worried about 'safety' When asked by the reporter if the US has set a withdrawal date or will adhere to the one in Trumps agreement, Austin said that he met the Afghani counterpart to understand what the concerns were. He added, that in terms of an end date or setting a specific date for withdrawal, US President Joe Biden will decide how he wants to approach this going forward. Although, Austin said that the officials in Afghanistan have been increasingly worried about their safety and have been reluctant about the US troops' departure. As US Defence Secretary in Afghanistan held talks with President Ghani, the two sides agreed to promote peace negotiations and ensure that the violence subsides in the region, laying the groundwork for diplomatic efforts. When asked how the Biden administration plans to proceed to address the warning made by the Taliban about the deadline approaching, Austin said that he had held a meeting with Afghan General Miller, and the two sides discussed resources to accomplish the mission of defending troops. General Miller is more than equipped in terms of personal attributes and resources that he has on-hand to accomplish the task of protecting our troops, Austin said. He added, if the withdrawal does take place on May 1 as the deadline has been decided on, the US will ensure a responsible transition keeping the Afghan security in mind. (Image Credit: Twitter/@secdef) [March 23, 2021] MetLife Names Robin Gordon as Chief Data and Analytics Officer MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced that Robin Gordon will join the company as Chief Data and Analytics Officer, effective March 29, 2021. Gordon will manage MetLife's enterprise data priorities across data strategy, data services and operations, engineering, data innovation and governance. She will report to Bill Pappas, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Technology (News - Alert) and Operations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005942/en/ Robin Gordon will join MetLife in the newly created role as Chief Data & Analytics Officer. (Photo: Business Wire) "With her cross-industry experience as a technologist and data leader, Robin is well positioned to help MetLife accelerate our digital transformation and ensure we are contemporary in how we use data and insights to deliver remarkable experieces for our customers," said Pappas. Gordon joins MetLife in this new role from Blackstone, where she served as the chief information officer for seven companies within its real estate portfolio. There, she led the technology and data organization to deliver business insights resulting in better property management, deal decisioning and portfolio optimization. Previously, Gordon was the chief data officer for CoreLogic where she developed its first data strategy and delivered high quality data assets and insights that fueled $2 billion in annual revenue. She joined CoreLogic to lead the application development and solutions management function. At Dun & Bradstreet (News - Alert) , Gordon led customer and strategic analytics, data technology, application development and solutions management. She defined a comprehensive product and technology architecture and transformed the data sourcing process. She also executed a successful data integration strategy delivering insights leading to 100 percent improvement in customer engagement and 7 percent revenue growth. Gordon began her career working as a programmer at multiple companies in South Africa. An advocate for diversity and women in technology throughout her nearly 30-year career, Gordon holds an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business and a bachelor's degree in commerce, economics and information systems from the University of South Africa. She will be based at MetLife's Cary, NC, location. About MetLife MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("MetLife"), is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 markets globally and holds leading positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005942/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Advertisement Construction workers were seen frantically building new tent cities to house migrant children in Texas as the Biden administration announces that the San Diego Convention Center will act as a shelter for unaccompanied kids. Workers were seen rapidly transforming a 40-acre site into what's being reported as a permanent processing structure and shelter for unaccompanied migrant minors in Donna, Texas. Images showed pizzas being delivered into the living area of the tented facility. Meanwhile, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and County Supervisor Chair Nathan Fletcher said in a joint statement that the convention center would become a temporary shelter for unaccompanied children. 'Over the weekend, we agreed to open our Convention Center to the federal government for use as a temporary shelter,' the statement reads. 'The City and County will support this federally funded effort by providing vital services to these vulnerable children who came to our country seeking safety. We are working closely with our federal partners to finalize the details for preparing to receive these young people and provide them with care, compassion and a safe space to transition while they are reunited with families or sponsors,' the statement continued. It's unclear when the convention center will open as a temporary home for the children. Kids up to the age of 17 will be welcomed at the center. And while the convention center has a capacity of 125,000, it's unclear how many children will be brought to the facility. Local hotels will also house individual adults in hotel rooms. The number of unaccompanied migrant kids in US custody surpassed 15,000 as of Saturday as the Biden administration announced that they 'would not expel young, vulnerable children.' This is a reverse of Trump administration policy, which was to generally expel all people who tried to illegally cross the border, regardless of age. Scroll down for video Construction workers were seen frantically building new tent cities to house migrant children in Texas as the Biden administration announces that the San Diego Convention Center will act as a shelter for the unaccompanied kids Workers were seen rapidly transforming a 40-acre site into what's being reported as a permanent processing structure and shelter for unaccompanied migrant minors Employees are seen on Monday working to transform an area into a site where migrant children can be processed Images also showed pizzas being delivered into the living area of the tented facility A man is seen carrying 10 pizzas into the facility on Monday for migrants Meanwhile, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and County Supervisor Chair Nathan Fletcher said in a joint statement that the convention center (pictured) would become a temporary shelter for unaccompanied children White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday the disturbing images of a crowded migrant 'overflow' tent in Texas showed what the Biden administration has said all along the border facilities are no place for children. These photos show what we've long been saying, which is that these border patrol facilities are not places made for children, she said in her press briefing on Monday. They are not places that we want children to be staying for an extended period of time. Our alternative is to send children back on this treacherous journey that is not, in our view, the right choice to make.' Refusing to call the situation at the US southern border a crisis, Psaki added: 'Children, presenting at our border, who are fleeing violence, who are fleeing prosecution, who are fleeing terrible situations is not a crisis. 'We feel that it is our responsibility to humanely approach this circumstance, and make sure they are treated and put in conditions that are safe.' Congressman Henry Cuellar had released images from inside the U.S. Customs and Border Protection temporary overflow facility in Donna over the weekend. He said 400 unaccompanied male minors are being held in 'terrible conditions' in a space meant to hold a maximum of 260 people. A migrant boy launches a paper airplane while playing with other migrant children at a plaza near the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge point of entry into the US after being caught trying to sneak into the country on Thursday The pictures show inside the US Customs and Border Protection temporary overflow facility in Donna Congressman Henry Cuellar released the images; he confirmed they were taken over this weekend Rep. Cuellar said they offer an insight into the 'terrible conditions for the children' at the border White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that the disturbing images of the cramped conditions inside a migrant 'overflow' tent in Texas showed what the Biden administration has said all along the border facilities are not the place for children Democrat Cuellar said he did not take the images but said that they offer an insight into the 'terrible conditions for the children' at the border, where he has recently toured a different shelter for children. Psaki also said Monday that she didnt know when media would be given access to the border facilities despite repeated requests by reporters to be allowed to visit. The Biden administration has so far banned media access to the facilities amid a growing humanitarian and political crisis at the US southern border. Lawyers and lawmakers have been given tours. We are working to finalize details and I hope to have an update in the coming days, Psaki said after admitting 'putting in place more effective and efficient processing at the border...is going to take some time'. Confirming that the children at the facilities had been tested for COVID Psaki said those who needed to be quarantined were separated out from the rest of the population. She didnt have a timeline on when the president might go the border after Biden said on Sunday he would make a trip at some point. A total of 823 unaccompanied children were held at US-Mexico border facilities for more than 10 days - more than a fourfold increase over the last week, according to an internal Department of Homeland Security document leaked to Axios Sunday. Children are not supposed to be held in border patrol custody for more than three days. As of Saturday 2,226 children had been held in custody for more than five days and 823 for more than 10 days. Neha Desai, a lawyer for the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL), told CBS about the 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. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had 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 last Thursday, Psaki said the White House would not be releasing to the media photos that advisors shared with President Biden to brief him on conditions on facilities housing childhood migrants on the border. Photojournalist John Moore recently criticized the administration for giving the media 'zero access' to the border operations, adding that there is 'no modern precedent' to cutting off the press from the border. Cuellar said that as of Sunday 400 unaccompanied male minors were being kept in a tent meant to hold 260 White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had said there would be organized trips for press to gain access to detention facilities; later, she walked back on those comments and refused to share images from the facilities '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.' 'There's no modern precedent for a full physical ban on media access to CBP border operations,' Moore continued in another tweet. 'To those who might say, cut them some slack -- they are dealing with a situation, I'd say that showing the US response to the current immigrant surge is exactly the media's role. '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.' With the number of migrants surging, administration officials say President Biden inherited an untenable situation that resulted from what they say was former president Donald Trump's undermining and weakening of the immigration system. Trump, however, said Biden has simply mismanaged the border and undone the policies that kept things under control. The former president on Sunday evening called the situation at the border 'a national disaster.' Career immigration officials had warned there could be a surge after the November election and the news that Trump's hard-line policies were being reversed. Now, as Congress pivots to immigration legislation, stories of unaccompanied minors and families trying to cross the border and seek asylum and of overwhelmed border facilities have begun to dominate the headlines, distracting from the White Houses efforts to promote the recently passed $1.9trillion COVID-19 relief bill. Biden told reporters Sunday at the White House that 'at some point' he would go to the border and that he knows what is going on in the border facilities. Guatemalan travelers cross the Suchiate River, border between Guatemala and Mexico, into Mexico aboard a raft near Ciudad Hidalgo, Sunday. Mexico sent hundreds of immigration agents, police and National Guard officers marching through the streets of the capital of the southern state of Chiapas to launch an operation to crack down on migrant smuggling Mexican immigration agents review the IDs of Guatemalan merchants at an access point to the Suchiate River, the natural border between Guatemala and Mexico, near Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, Sunday The White House has steadfastly refused to call the situation a 'crisis,' leading to a Washington battle over the appropriate description of the tense situation. Mexican immigration agents review the IDs of Guatemalan travelers at an access point to the Suchiate River on Sunday The White House dispatched Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to four Sunday news shows in an effort to stress that it was working to get things under control. 'Our message has been straightforward - the border is closed,' Mayorkas said. 'We are expelling families. We are expelling single adults. And we've made a decision that we will not expel young, vulnerable children.' The White House has steadfastly refused to call the situation a 'crisis,' leading to a Washington battle over the appropriate description of the tense situation. In the first days of his term, Biden acted to undo some of Trump's measures, a rollback interpreted by some as a signal to travel to the United States. There have even been 'Biden' flags spotted in migrant camps in Mexico. While the new administration was working on immigration legislation to address long-term problems, it didn't have an on-the-ground plan to manage a surge of migrants. 'We have seen large numbers of migration in the past. We know how to address it. We have a plan. We are executing on our plan and we will succeed,' Mayorkas said. But, he added, 'it takes time' and is 'especially challenging and difficult now' because of the Trump administration's moves. 'So we are rebuilding the system as we address the needs of vulnerable children who arrived at our borders.' Migrants are seen in a green area outside of a soft-sided detention center in Donna, Texas on Friday The White House has steadfastly refused to call the situation a 'crisis,' leading to a Washington battle over the appropriate description of the tense situation. The immigration processing facility in Donna, Texas is pictured Guatemalan travelers return to Tecun Uman, Guatemala as they wade across the Suchiate River. Agents are forcing those with permission to enter Mexico for work or a visit to use the official border crossing bridge and those who do not are being returned to Guatemala, as they enforce new limits on all but essential travel at its shared border with Guatemala Career immigration officials had warned there could be a surge after the November election and the news that Trump's hard-line policies were being reversed Mexican immigration agents review the identifications of Guatemalan women on Sunday Biden officials have done away with the 'kids in cages' imagery that defined the Trump family separation policy - though Trump used facilities built during the Obama administration - but have struggled with creating the needed capacity to deal with the surge. Officials are trying to build up capacity to care for some 15,000 migrants now in federal custody - and more likely on the way. Critics say the administration should have been better prepared. 'I haven't seen a plan,' said Rep Michael McCaul, R-Texas. 'They have created a humanitarian crisis down here at this border that you have seen now. And the reason why they are coming is because he says words do matter, and they do. The messaging is that if you want to come, you can stay.' Since Biden's inauguration on January 20, the US 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 per cent and 63 per cent, respectively, from the month before, according to the Pew Research Center. Among the reasons for the surge: 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. 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. The Biden administration has banned media access to the facilities amid a growing humanitarian and political crisis at the US southern border. Photojournalist John Moore recently criticized the administration for giving the media 'zero access' to the border operations, adding that there is 'no modern precedent' to cutting off the press from the border Mexico sent hundreds of immigration agents, police and National Guard to its southern border to launch an operation to crack down on migrant smuggling Mexican immigration agents review the identification of a Guatemalan woman at an access point to the Suchiate River, the natural border between Guatemala and Mexico, near Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, Sunday Pointing to the urgency of the situation at the border, Sen Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, expressed confidence that enough Republicans would vote to pass an immigration overhaul. 'We go into this debate, whether it's a crisis or a challenge at the border. Let me tell you, the crisis. We need to address our immigration laws in this country that are broken,' said Durbin. 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 Biden's decision to deploy the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support efforts to process the growing number of unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the border. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) The government may soon hold a simultaneous inoculation of health workers and other priority groups as more vaccines are expected to enter Philippine territory. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. bared in the Cabinet meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday that they are targeting the vaccination of groups in the "A" priority altogether to speed up rollout and to sustain the economy. "Ang nakita po natin, dapat talaga 'yung private sector at 'yung national government ay sabay po tayong mag-inoculate," he said. [Translation: We observed that it would be better for the private sector and the national government to administer the vaccines at the same time.] "We are targeting A1 to A3 and A4 at the same time. So the national government and the LGU (local government units) will target yung A1 to A3 while the private sector can also do their inoculation with the supervision of the DOH (Department of Health) and the LGU targeting the A4, Galvez added. In a Palace briefing later in the day, Galvez stressed that the simultaneous inoculation may start by May. "Once na natapos natin frontliners natin with the simultaneous vaccination, we can open up the economy, most likely before the end of the year," he added. [Translation: Once we finish the simultaneous vaccination for our frontliners, we can open up the economy, most likely before the end of the year.] Under the priority list approved by the interim National Immunization Technical Advisory Group and the DOH Technical Advisory Group last month, inoculation must be done in this order: A1: Frontline workers in health facilities both national and local, private and public, health professionals and non-professionals like students, nursing aides, janitors, barangay health workers, etc. A2: Senior citizens aged 60 years old and above A3: Persons with comorbidities not otherwise included in the preceding categories A4: Frontline personnel in essential sectors including uniformed personnel and those in working sectors identified by the IATF as essential during ECQ A5: Indigent population not otherwise included in the preceding categories RELATED: EXPLAINER: What you need to know about the PH COVID-19 vaccine drive However, local officials were already moved up in the priority list last week and were reclassified as "essential workers" who are fourth in line in receiving the vaccines. According to Galvez, the Philippines will receive 400,000 more Sinovac vaccines through China's donation this Wednesday, while 1 million purchased doses from the firm will arrive on March 29. Meanwhile, 979,700 vaccine doses from British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca may arrive between March 24 and 26. By next month, 5.5 million vaccine doses will be delivered while 8.9 million doses will arrive in May. Galvez added that 369,049 Filipinos mostly health care workers already received their COVID-19 shots since the government started its vaccine drive on March 1. Over 1,105,000 vaccine doses were already distributed in various sites, which is 98% of the current 1.1 million vaccine supply. Amid complaints from lawmakers and citizens about the slow inoculation drive, Galvez said the government is aiming to raise its weekly vaccinations from 30,000 to 300,000 or even up to 1 million per week, to achieve its goal of vaccinating 70 million Filipinos by yearend, Galvez said. Last week the pronouncements of local clerics earned high profile coverage from local media and we're sad to see a dramatic turnaround today hasn't garnered the same kind of attention or even an update from Kansas City media outlets. To wit . . . KANSAS CITY URBAN CORE FAITH LEADERS RENOUNCE DEMANDS FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE KCPD CHIEF AND CLAIM THEY WERE 'MISINFORMED & MISGUIDED' IN THEIR BOLD STATEMENTS!!! We've been working behind the scenes on a few other things but we're VERY surprised that this news didn't make a bigger splash today after massive news coverage of the initial blast. Nevertheless, we believe the leap of faith might garner more interest tomorrow given that it's always captivating to witness people seeing the light. Local Faith Community Presser Opening the hearts to communication is the key in moving forward and making change. Over the weekend Pastor Darron LaMonte Edwards, Co-Organizer for Getting to the Heart of the Matter, reached out to Dr. Dee Cooper with Heartland Presbytery to openly discuss her statement made this past Friday, "this is not anti-police, it is anti-process". Pastor Edwards had conversations with Dr. Cooper and tomorrow morning Pastor Edwards will read a letter from the Heartland Presbytery acknowledging that they were misinformed and misguided when they made their statement this past Friday. Please join Pastor Edwards as well as Chaplains and members of the Kansas City, MO. Police Department as they acknowledge Heartland Presbytery and their willingness to join in on discussions. Pastor Edwards will also give a much anticipated update on the outstanding progress of Getting to the Heart of the Matter, a solutions initiative supported by the KCPD and Chief Rick Smith. When: Tomorrow, Tuesday March 23rd. 9:00am Where: KCPD East Patrol Division, Community room (front lobby to the left); 27th and Prospect, KCMO ############# Developing . . . When you move into a new apartment or rental home, you expect your new landlord to ask for first, and maybe last months rent, and possibly a security deposit. After that, all you need to do is make sure you pay your rent on time, right? Not these days. Over the last decade, renters have been subject to a welter of new fees, many for amenities or services once included in their rent. The change coincides with the investment of billions of dollars in rental properties by private-equity firms, hedge funds, real estate investment trusts and other institutional investors. These firms boost their profits by cutting costs and increasing revenue not just by raising rents, but also by collecting more in fees. One private-equity owned company disclosed it collected $14 million in fees and another $12 million in unrefunded deposits in a single year. Back to the future This maneuver on the part of landlords is not new, says Janet Portman, co-author of the book Every Landlords Legal Guide. Back in the 80s landlords did all sorts of things to rake in more revenue. One beauty was the Tenant Initiation Expense Reimbursement fee landlords collected when people moved in. Tenants challenged the fee in civil courts and judges ruled that it was nothing more than a nonrefundable security deposit and thus illegal. Some fees have been around for years and can be found in most leases. Application fees, for one, cover the landlords cost of running a credit check to make sure you can afford the rent. Late fees and early-termination fees reimburse landlords for losses when tenants dont fulfill their obligations in leases. Other fees are new and not widely known: an elevator-reservation fee, a decoration fee and a pipe-snaking fee are a few examples. The legality of such fees varies from state to state. A few outlaw certain fees, others say fees are unenforceable if not in the lease. Most have minimal renter protections. States are more willing to limit certain levies, such as late fees; Maine caps them at 4% of monthly rent; landlord-friendly Texas allows as much as 12%. Encyclopedia of fees Here are some fees to watch out for when you read your lease, and its important to read leases carefully and completely. Investigate your potential landlord to see if past tenants have complained about egregious fees. Also, know local rental laws, and which government agency enforces them. Many landlords are desperate for tenants just now, so its worth trying to eliminate fees from the lease. Administrative fee: A vague catchall that can duplicate the application fee or make you pay for an explanation of why a landlord is withholding some of your security deposit. Amenities fee: This shifts to tenants the cost of pool maintenance and other operating expenses once considered responsibility of the property owner. Application fee: Usually covers the cost of acquiring a copy of your credit report and having the landlord or property manager review it to decide if you can afford the rent. Cleaning fee: A nonrefundable charge that either duplicates a security deposit or takes its place but does not have to be returned when you leave. Convenience fee: A charge some landlords levy on renters for the convenience of using the landlords online portal to pay their rent. Others collect the fee when renters pay their rent by credit card, requiring the landlord to pay a 1.5% to 3% transaction fee to the card company. Damage fee: Another nonrefundable charge that either duplicates a security deposit or takes its place, but does not have to be returned when you leave. Delivery fee: The sum that property owners can charge tenants to cover the cost of posting an eviction notice on their door. Elevator-reservation fee: A novelty limited to high-rise buildings with freight elevators, it ostensibly compensates the building owner for the inconvenience of your using the elevator to move furniture and boxes to your floor. Guest fee: A sum meant to cover the added wear and tear on washing machines, swimming pools and other shared facilities caused by your extended-stay guest. Move-in fee: Also known as a finders fee, it is a nonrefundable charge nominally to cover the cost of any damage you do while moving in. Such fees are illegal in some states and cities, chiefly those with rent control. Move-out fee: Same idea as the move-in fee. Ostensibly to cover the cost of repairing damage you do while moving out. Not refundable if no damage is done. Pet fee: One of several ways for landlords to clean up or repair any damage caused by your pet. Sometimes referred to as pet rent, which is a supplement to your regular rent. Some landlords prefer a pet deposit when you (or your pet) first move in. Pipe-snaking fee: This is tricky. Routine maintenance is the property owners responsibility, but if a tenant tries to send a disposable diaper down a toilet, that is the renters responsibility. The landlord may fix the problem or hire a plumber to make sure the job is done correctly, but the renter is likely to be on the hook for this fee. Redecoration fee: A nonrefundable charge that seeks to make tenants pay for normal wear and tear that traditionally has been the sole responsibility of the property owner. Telecom fee: A monthly payment for basic cable service and internet access from a provider chosen by the landlord, whether you use their service or not. No list is exhaustive and not every landlord uses all or even any of these charges, which is why it is important to read your lease closely. If you come across something that looks or sounds like a fee, Portman recommends that you assume its just another way for landlords to collect money you wont get back. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 Are you a current print subscriber? You qualify for online access to the Omak Chronicle. To receive your access, create a website account and then verify your print subscription or e-edition subscription with your subscriber number, which may be found on your bill or mailing label. YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister of Armenia Vagharshak Harutyunyan and Russian Defense Minister, Army General Sergei Shoigu held a telephone conversation on March 23, the Armenian defense ministry told Armenpress. The defense ministers discussed the main directions of the large-scale reforms launched in the Armenian Armed Forces, the Armenian-Russian military cooperation, in particular connected with the united actions of joint troops, as well as the process of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno Karabakh. The officials also discussed the ongoing security measures in Armenias Syunik province. The Armenian and Russian defense ministers also discussed the military-political situation in the region. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan The financial technology space in Nigeria has become quite a competitive subsector in the economy with about 250 companies in the system. Financial technology is basically an initiative that aims at delivering financial services to consumers the technologies may include internet, apps, mobile phones and other technological devices. One of the merits of fintech is its capacity to enhance achieve financial inclusion globally. These companies offer services such as money transfer, depositing a check with your mobile phone, applying for credits, raising funds for business. The companies usually have little or no physical presence because the entire banking process is online. Some of these companies use the ajo (thrift) scheme method and charge zero interest on loans. Here are 13 most influential Fintech companies in Nigeria. Flutterwave It was established in 2017 by Iyin Aboyeji and Olugbenga Abgoola and is headquartered in San Francisco. It provides payment services to banks and businesses to ensure seamless transaction with customers. It raised $170 million in its latest round of funding to increase its customer base in the global market. It initiated Batar. It allows users to create virtual US dollar debit cards within seconds for one-time or regular usage. Unlike other platforms, it requests a working email address and phone number as the service relies on customer details already obtained by a users bank. Interswitch Interswitch, headquartered in Lagos, integrates digital payments. It was founded in 2002 by Mitchell Elegbe. Visa in November 2019 invested $200 million and will recoup 20 per cent stake from the company which is valued at no less than $1 billion. Paystack PayStack was established in 2015 by Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi. It makes payment processes consistent for both consumers and the businesses they are attempting to pay. Paga Paga was founded in 2009 by Tayo Oviosu but launched in 2011. Through Paga, you can pay bills, make bank deposits and even pay in certain stores. It acts as a mobile wallet where customers perform transactions on their mobile devices. Carbon Carbon, formerly known as Paylater, is owned by One Finance and was founded in 2016. It is a loan app which gives short loans through its mobile app. Use of mobile phones to obtain loans makes the process faster and easier. Remita Remita set the pace for fintech companies in Nigeria as it was developed by system specs in 1991 by John Obaro. It assists SMEs, multinationals, state governments, government agencies, NGOs, educational institutions and individuals to receive and make payments electronically. VoguePay VoguePay was established in 2012, it is accessible to local consumers with a simple and minimal effort platform as its principal selling point. OPay OPay is owned by Opera. It entered the fintech market in August after acquiring a controlling stake in PayCom. It was founded by Telnet Nigeria. Lidya Lidya is a mobile-first technology with strong customer experience and proprietary credit scoring. Kuda Kudi Money was rebranded to Kuda Bank. It was founded in 2017 by Babatunde Ogundeyi. It performs similar functions like other fintech companies. The start-up raised $1.6 milion in 2019. PiggyVest It was originally known as Piggybank.ng, before it became PiggyVest. It allows debit cardholders to save little amounts of money frequently with minimal effort. It automates the process of saving tiny amounts daily, weekly, or monthly you. It was founded in February 2016 by Ayo Akinola, Joshua Chibueze, Nonso Eagle, Odunayo Eweniyi, and Somto Ifezue. FairMoney This is a mobile banking platform that gives loans and credits. It was founded in 2017. It has a team of people across Paris, France, and Lagos, Nigeria. ADVERTISEMENT Chipper Cash Chipper Cash was founded in 2017 by Ham Serunjogi and Maijid Moujaled and it is headquartered in San Francisco, California. It enables free instant cross-border mobile money transfers in Africa as easy as sending a text message. Who regulates fintech in Nigeria? The Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Security and Exchange Commissions (SEC), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) are the regulators of these companies. NDIC The NDIC is responsible for insuring all deposit liabilities of licensed banks and other deposit-receiving financial institution in Nigeria. Fintech companies which are in the business of obtaining and saving money deposited by Nigerian consumers such as PSBs must be registered with the NDIC, pursuant to section 15 of the NDIC Act, 2006. The CBN Since the primary role of the CBN is to regulate financial services in Nigeria and financial institutions by virtue of the Banks and other Financial Institutions Act, 1991 (BOFIA). Before fintech companies offer financial services to consumers, they must obtain necessary licences and comply with the CBNs applicable guidelines. The SEC Fintech companies that have the intention of raising capital from the capital market are mandated to register their securities with the SEC and comply with the ISA, 2007 and the rules made thereunder. The CAC It regulates the incorporation of and official record keeping for companies in Nigeria. Fintech companies (including banks) must be incorporated at the CAC to carry on business in Nigeria . The NCC Empowered by the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 to regulate the telecommunication industry in Nigeria. Fintech companies offer services that involve the use of mobile phones, and must obtain operating licences from the NCC. For companies that perform mobile payments, they must be licensed by the NCC pursuant to the Licence Framework for Value Added Service (VAS). NITDA The NITDA is saddled with creating and enforcing data protection regulations in Nigeria as stipulated in the NITDA Act 2007. NITDA issued the Nigerian Data Protection Regulations 2019, protects rights of natural persons to data privacy and fosters the safe conduct of transactions involving the exchange of personal data. NAICOM NAICOM was established by the National Insurance Commission Act, 1997. It is responsible for ensuring the administration, regulation and control of insurance business in Nigeria. The FCCPC The FCCPC was established by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA). The provisions extend to Fintech and prohibit anti-competitive practices in the Fintech space. Gov. Jared Polis during an Oct. 20 news conference, sporting the latest campaign mask for "Step Up Colorado." Two Queensland men will appear in court after being charged with child exploitation and child abuse material offences. A report from the United States indicating a Queenslander was uploading child abuse material on online platforms including Snapchat, Dropbox and Instagram led to the arrest of a 52-year-old Moreton Bay man. A 52-year-old man from Moreton Bay was charged with two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service and one count of using a carriage service for child abuse material. Credit:Australian Federal Police The Brisbane Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team raided a Morayfield home on February 18 this year where two mobile phones allegedly containing child abuse material were seized for forensic analysis. The man was then charged with two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service and one count of using a carriage service for child abuse material. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Mumbai, March 23 : Actress Maya Sarao's first look in the upcoming film "A Thursday" was revealed on Tuesday. The actress plays a journalist in the thriller. Maya's look was released on the official Instagram page of producer Ronnie Screwala's banner, RSVP Movies. Introducing Maya, the caption said: "Reporting live on National Television, knowing that one mistake could cost her everything. Meet the bold and fearless @mayasarao reporting live, all that happened on a #AThursday" In the film, Maya plays a journalist who is reporting live on television. In the first look, she can be seen in a striped blazer over a pink shirt, with her hair cut short, a watch on her wrist and a serious look on her face. The film tells the story of an intelligent play school teacher, Naina Jaiswal (played by Yami Gautam) who takes 16 toddlers as hostage. The film directed and written by Behzad Khambata casts Yami is a character with grey shades and also has Neha Dhupia. Philippine government forces killed 14 suspected pro-Islamic State militants in days of clashes in the restive southern province of Maguindanao, the military said Tuesday. The fighting broke out on March 17 after more than 50 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), under the command of Ustadz Karialan (alias Imam Minimbang), occupied a village in the remote town of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, regional military spokesman Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar said. Fourteen militants were confirmed dead in the clashes, he told BenarNews. Their bodies were recovered and we have already some of their names. Troops and civilians also reported that 25 militants were believed to have been injured but escaped while two soldiers were injured, he said. The fighting displaced 5,000 people. Villagers told authorities that armed men had been spotted amassing in the area, Baldomar said, adding that the gunmen fired at troops sent to the village to check on the reports, touching off days of gun battles. The fighting continued until Sunday, but clearing operations are continuing so the residents can return to their homes safely, Baldomar said Troops recovered seven homemade bombs the militants allegedly left behind in houses they had occupied, he said. Days before the clashes, BIFF gunmen had harassed an outpost manned jointly by soldiers and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said Col. Pedro Balisi Jr., commander of the Armys 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade. The MILF is the countrys largest former separatist group, which signed a peace deal with the government. It controls an autonomous region in the south. The BIFF are former MILF fighters who had opposed that peace deal. Members pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, but did not send fighters to join the siege of southern Marawi City by pro-IS members in 2017. The five-month battle killed more than 1,200 fighters, soldiers, police and civilians. Previous attacks In January, suspected BIFF militants carried out two roadside bombings in southern North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces that killed at least three people and left scores injured. In 2019, BIFF was blamed for a series of bomb attacks, including on a town market and at a restaurant in the town of Isulan that injured eight and 18 respectively. The most recent deadly gun battles occurred at the same time troops were rescuing four Indonesians who had been held by Abu Sayyaf members for more than a year after being kidnapped from their fishing boat in Malaysian waters in January 2020. The fourth victim, a teenager, was rescued on Sunday, three days after his compatriots were rescued from a boat that had capsized off a small island called Pasigan. Tuesdays announcement in the Philippines came on the two-year anniversary of the day that the last IS bastion in Iraq and Syria fell to an international coalition of forces. The coalition, joined by local partners, captured the stronghold in Eastern Syrias Deir ez-Zor province and arrested 800 fighters. Although the liberation of territory in Iraq and Syria was an important turning point in the fight against ISIS, our mission is far from complete, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Tuesday in a statement marking the anniversary. He was using another acronym for IS. The Global Coalition remains united in its determination to see this enemy destroyed and will continue its efforts against the group in Iraq, Syria, and other countries. The United States is firmly committed to the Global Coalition and to the lasting defeat of ISIS, he said. During todays parliamentary session, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan criticized deputy of the opposition Bright Armenia Party Anna Kostanyan and said police officers need to receive more bonuses. Kostanyan particularly made a statement about the amount of bonuses that were paid to employees of the State Revenue Committee and the Ministry of Finance in 2020. Recently, one of the 17 deputies of the Bright Armenia faction said police officers have received bonuses. Its good that they received them. They should receive more, Simonyan said, adding that police are maintaining order so that the people marching on the streets of Yerevan dont attack reporters. Simonyan was rather coarse when he criticized Kostanyan for her statement about bonuses for employees of the State Revenue Committee and the Ministry of Finance, adding that the deputy forgets that people receive their salaries on time, taxes are collected effectively and there is no systemic corruption and that if state institutions do their job well, the employees need to receive bonuses. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Bharti Airtel slipped 0.60% to Rs 524.75, declining for the second day. The stock has lost 1.04% in two sessions from its recent closing high of Rs 530.25 recorded on 19 March 2021. In the past one month, the stock has fallen by 7.07% while the benchmark Sensex has added 0.34% during the same period. Airtel Africa, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, announced the signing of agreements to sell its telecommunications tower companies in Madagascar and Malawi to Helios Towers, a leading independent telecommunications infrastructure company in Africa. Airtel Africa's tower portfolios in these two markets together comprise 1,229 towers which form part of the Group's wireless telecommunications infrastructure network. The transactions, comprising two separate agreements, one in respect of each jurisdiction, are subject to customary closing conditions including required regulatory approvals and are not inter-conditional on each other. The transactions are expected to close in or around calendar Q4 2021. The aggregate gross consideration for the transactions is expected to be approximately $108 million. In addition, Airtel Africa has entered into exclusive memorandum of understanding agreements for the potential sale of its tower assets in Chad and Gabon to Helios Towers. The proposed transactions are subject to the signing of definitive legal agreements for sale, including customary closing conditions such as required regulatory approvals. The proposed transactions are not inter-conditional and are expected to close before the end of the company's fiscal year 2022. The proceeds from the transactions and the proposed transactions will be used to reduce Airtel Africa's external debt and to invest in network and sales infrastructure in the respective operating countries. Airtel Africa is a provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with a presence in 14 countries across Africa. Bharti Airtel is a global telecommunications company with operations in 18 countries across South Asia and Africa On a consolidated basis, Bharti Airtel reported a net profit of Rs 853.60 crore in Q3 FY21 as against net loss of Rs 1,035.30 crore in Q3 FY20. Net sales during the quarter jumped 24.2% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 26,517.80 crore. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BEIJING, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone, located in the east of Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, held the China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone International Talent Port Policy Promotion and Talent Exchange Event on March 18 in a bid to attract talents around the world. Photo shows the Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone. Zhang Qinghong, director of the management committee of Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone, introduced a slew of measures for promoting the construction of an international talent pool. Each enterprise that is set up by overseas students or foreign talents in the zone will be granted up to 10 million yuan worth of project subsidy, and 900,000 yuan of rental subsidy or 1 million yuan of venue purchase subsidy. Overseas students and foreign talents that start businesses in the zone can stay in the apartment or international talent community for free, or enjoy a rental subsidy of up to 5,000 yuan per month. High-level talents will be given a housing subsidy ranging from 80,000 yuan to 2 million yuan. Meanwhile, the children of high-level talents attending private schools or international schools within the districts or counties will be given a one-time tuition subsidy of up to 90,000 yuan per person. Moreover, the part of personal income tax paid in the district that exceeds 15 percent will be fully subsidized. A salary award of up to 4 million yuan per year will be given to newly introduced overseas top talents. In addition, an exchange and internship base for foreign college students will be established, with each person given a one-time work subsidy of up to 6,000 yuan. The newly-evaluated "Foreign Intellectual Achievement Demonstration Base" will be given up to 500,000 yuan of one-time rewards. Zhang called on all talents to join hands with Changsha Economic Development Zone, share new opportunities and seek new development. Changsha Economic and Technological Development Zone, taking up 40 percent of the total area of the Hunan Pilot Free Trade Zone, focuses on the development of high-end equipment manufacturing, new generation information technology and biomedicine. Story continues By the end of 2020, there had been 245 industrial enterprises above the designated size and 357 high-tech enterprises in the zone, generating a total industrial output value of 253 billion yuan and tax revenue of 17.097 billion yuan. https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/320456.html Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xinhua-silk-road-changsha-economic-and-technological-development-zone-in-c-chinas-hunan-unveils-multiple-measures-to-attract-talents-worldwide-301253562.html SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road Posted Monday, March 22, 2021 8:34 am The renewed threat of a capital gains tax coming to Washington state has local lawmakers leery of what it could mean for residents should a governor-backed plan come to fruition this time around. During a virtual town hall March 15, lawmakers in Washingtons 17th Legislative District talked about the tax proposal among a number of topics raised by questions from constituents. Apart from talking about attempts to rein in Gov. Jay Inslees emergency powers, the states reopening plan, and potential election fraud, questions on taxation were first and foremost among those asked during the town hall, specifically with regard to Senate Bill 5096. If approved, SB 5096 would create a tax equal to 7 percent of an individual's capital gain on long-term capital assets above $250,000, according to a Senate bill report. Exemptions on the tax include all real estate, retirement assets, and livestock for individuals who make half their gross income on farming or ranching, among others, with taxing on stock and bond trading among the most-cited ways the bill would raise revenues. Washington state Sen. Lynda Wilson, alongside state Reps. Vicki Kraft and Paul Harris, all Republicans from Vancouver, opposed the tax proposal. Wilson said it was disappointing to see SB 5096 pass 25-24 in the Senate March 6, adding there was reason to believe the legislation would create a structure (for a) full-blown income tax. The issue with the capital gains tax is its unconstitutional, because it is an income tax, and because it is unequal, Wilson said. Kraft said that legislative Democrats have been framing HB 5096s capital gains tax as an excise tax, but during a hearing in the House Committee on Finance earlier that day it was very quick and clear that this (bill) was an income tax. She said time and again Washington residents have shown their opposition to imposing any sort of income tax According to a Senate bill report, starting 2024 the Washington State Department of Revenue must adjust the current $250,000 standard deduction, the worldwide gross revenues of a qualifying family owned business, as well as where revenues from the tax goes to on an annual basis based on the prevailing consumer price index for the Seattle area. Kraft said this was akin to adjusting guardrails on the taxs scope. Obviously, theyre going to expand the guardrails, and ultimately it will become a state income tax, Kraft remarked. Harris said that Democrats have been a little more honest now in their dialogue about what they seek with the legislation, moving from saying that the funding was necessary, to saying they wanted more of an examination of the states tax structure. Lets have the dialogue, lets literally talk about our tax structure in our state, Harris said, but that trying to push through probably the most volatile tax that there is one on capital gains would be a bad idea. He said that the tax would have an adverse effect on those who would be subject to the tax, such as stock traders, and would not bring in what was anticipated. If you think theyre going to stay in our state and continue to trade stocks the way they have, they will not, Harris said. We never talk about getting rid of taxes, we just talk about adding taxes, Harris remarked. Wilson later added that the federal American Rescue Plan Act would prevent tax cuts until December 2024. Wilson said that federal funding from the act would mean some $15 billion headed to Washington state, $4.25 billion of which could be used on COVID-19-related issues. She noted a state revenue forecast to be released later in the week, which after its release her office pointed out in a statement that there was a surprisingly large increase of $3.3 billion for the current two-year budget cycle and $5.2 billion over the next four years. Despite the relatively rosy financial picture, Wilson said she was overwhelmed with what kinds of bills were being introduced this session, saying there were 21 bills regarding taxation alone. Those bills included an increase of estate tax to 40 percent for some, a wealth tax of 1 percent on household wealth after $1 billion, as well as payroll, beverage and carbon taxes, among others, Wilson said. The fact is, we dont need them, Wilson said about the tax proposals. Her colleagues agreed. The need for new taxes, which has been quite the theme this year in Olympia, is something that is definitely not needed right now, Kraft said. Wilson said there is a tax structure work group that has been meeting for more than a year with the goal of examining Washingtons tax code. The group comprises members of the legislature from both parties, as well as representatives of city and county lobbying groups, the governors office and the Department of Revenue. In spite of the groups existence, there were still almost two dozen tax proposals introduced this legislative session, Wilson remarked. Wilson said that with the removal of an emergency clause in the bill language there was the possibility for SB 5096 to go to a voter referendum. She said the bill, if made into law, was estimated to bring in $550 million in the first year, though the funding would not be usable until April 2023. Kraft pointed out that the bill was exempt from a review by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) which she said would be able to assess the performance of the tax. (Bill proponents) dont care how its going to perform or not perform, they just want the tax, and they want the income tax, Kraft remarked. Fonio, a cereal grain imported from West Africa, was once relegated to the shelves of tiny grocery stores frequented by immigrants primarily from Senegal and Mali. But it has gradually made its way to Whole Foods, where pouches decorated with a painted map of Africa are nestled amid packages of rice and lentils, aimed at a broader range of American consumers. That journey was pushed in part by a New York City company, Yolele, which roughly means let the good times roll in Fula, a West African language. Yolele also offers seasoned fonio pilafs, a line of fonio chips and, coming soon, fonio flour. The company was founded in 2017 by Philip Teverow, a food industry veteran, and Pierre Thiam, a chef from Senegal who grew up eating fonio. Thiam is confident that Americans would eat fonio, too, if they had better access to it. The nutritious grain is gluten-free and has a slightly nutty flavor. It is also easy to prepare: Fonio never embarrasses the cook, Thiam said. But crucial to their effort to appeal to the average American consumer was the packaging. Innovative package design and brand identity are vital when selling unfamiliar foods to mainstream markets, industry experts say. People really do shop with their eyes, said Chris Manca, a buyer at Whole Foods Market focusing on local products for the companys stores in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. If your product doesnt really jump off the shelf and catch your eye, its going to get overlooked. In 2019, 182,535 immigrant-owned food businesses, from manufacturing to restaurants, were operating in the United States, according to an analysis of the American Community Survey by the New American Economy, a research organization. Chinese and Mexican immigrants owned most, selling cuisines familiar to American palates. But entrepreneurs from countries like Guinea, Kazakhstan and Senegal are gaining a foothold with less well-known cuisines. Marketing these foods in the United States has its challenges, like cultural identity and consumer perception. The savviest entrepreneurs work with designers and brand strategists to make their products more approachable. One of the biggest hurdles is choosing visual clues fonts, colors, illustrations and photographs that channel a products physical or conceptual provenance. A brand identity thats too sleek and polished might appear inauthentic and lose credibility. Yet folksy designs or a reliance on regional symbols can look cliche and dated. Creating the right visuals is a subtle balance, said Paola Antonelli, senior curator of the department of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art. A new foreign foods packaging must stimulate curiosity and radiate authenticity, making you feel like theres some sort of familiarity that maybe you had not yet discovered in yourself, she said. Cultural heritage is crucial for a new product, said Phil Lempert, a food industry analyst known as the Supermarket Guru. You have to stand out, he said, adding that there is a strong appetite for foreign cuisines and products, especially among younger generations: They love to experiment with food. The global food industry has changed substantially over the past several decades, Lempert said. New foreign food brands today tend to celebrate their origins, whereas businesses just 10 years ago might have pushed to Americanize their products. There was a stigma there, he said. Supermarket distribution has also changed. A lot of these smaller ethnic brands used to be distributed by ethnic food distributors, Lempert said. Now, these companies are going direct to the supermarket.Other strategies include posting on social media, especially Instagram, which is considered an effective, low-cost way to market products, and selling directly to consumers through websites and e-commerce marketplaces like Amazon. But the key is often packaging. A designers ability tends to be a blend of creative thinking, diverse professional experience and wide travels. This often outweighs a shared nationality, ethnicity or culture; in fact, many entrepreneurs prefer working with designers from different backgrounds to better see their story through a fresh lens. Thiam wanted to use Yolele to claim fonios West African identity while avoiding labels like exotic and ethnic. He and Teverow approached Paula Scher, a partner at the design firm Pentagram, where Thiam already had connections because of his cookbooks. He said that he would have liked to use a designer of African descent, but that when he saw Schers map of Africa, it was love at first sight. After Schers design hit the shelves last spring, sales surged 250%, Teverow said. Using product names in foreign languages is a common hurdle for food business owners. To broaden the appeal of her classic Middle Eastern spice blends like hawaij, baharat and ras el hanout, Leetal Arazi, a co-founder of New York Shuk, worked with graphic designer Ayal Zakin to craft a visual solution. The labels feature elegant illustrations of the contents in each jar, like turmeric or chili peppers, balanced with a modern gold logo and a tiny stylized camel in silhouette. All of a sudden, you are less afraid and intimidated to pick it up, said Arazi, whose products are sold at supermarkets like Whole Foods and specialty stores. Mohammed and Rahim Diallo, brothers from Guinea, faced the same challenge for their intensely flavored gingery drink, Ginjan. Designer Ruen Ellis removed any mystery about the drink by listing the ingredients ginger, pineapple, lemon, vanilla and anise on the label below a circular logo that centers on a silhouette of Africa. A straightforward or celebratory story that can bolster a brands identity is not always possible. Some immigrant founders have fraught relationships with their homelands, or history has convoluted their story. In late 2018, Daniyar Chukin and the design firm Little Fury rebranded Chukins vaguely Russian-sounding company, Misha, to the vaguely German-sounding Wunder Creamery. Chukin had struggled with how to market quark, a creamy yogurtlike product popular in Germany. He grew up eating it in Kazakhstan, where the Soviets had brought it. Here I am, a Kazakh guy, marketing a product I knew as a Russian one, as a German one to American consumers, he said with a laugh. Its starting to work now. His quark is packaged in a yogurt cup with a clean, Nordic look, and Wunder Creamerys annual earnings are about $1 million after growing 50% a year, he said. Some immigrant entrepreneurs choose to have zero visual references to their foods country of origin. What if we basically just remove the whole idea of being an ethnic food? said Nigel Sielegar, a designer from Indonesia and the owner of Moon Man, minimalist Southeast Asia dessert stall in the cavernous basement below Essex Market in New York City. After pandemic restrictions closed his eatery, Sielegar pivoted in July to producing sweet kaya jams featuring purple ube, golden palm sugar and green pandan. The coconut milk-based jams are packaged in glass jars with Moon Man running diagonally in huge white type across a black label. The company has sold more than 1,000 kaya jam jars directly to consumers nationwide, Sielegar said, and recently expanded to selling half-gallon containers wholesale to restaurants. Package design and brand identity might seem superfluous, even shallow, but they are often the needed prompt for customers to buy, said Dan Formosa, a design consultant. There is a expectation of what its about and a sense that its worth trying, he said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. For eligible residents who haven yet to received a COVID-19 vaccine, there will be a few opportunities this week at Aiken Technical College and USC Aiken. Augusta University Health will hold two vaccine clinics on Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clinics will be open to residents who fall under Phase 1B of the state's vaccine distribution plan, which includes all residents aged 55 or older, residents aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions and front-line workers with increased occupational risk including, but not limited to, school staff and daycare workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers and law enforcement officers. Registrations must be completed in advance online at covid.augustahealth.org/vaccine/. Walk-ins and phone appointments are not available. Aiken Regional Medical Centers will hold a vaccine clinic from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the USC Aiken Student Activities Center, 471 University Parkway, with 1,250 Moderna doses available. The hospital will hold another clinic, also at USC Aiken, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 31. Appointments for Aiken Regional's clinics must be scheduled through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vaccine Administration Management System, or VAMS. Appointment availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration instructions for VAMS can be found online at aikenregional.com, clicking the "Read now" button at the top of the page and then scrolling down and clicking the button reading "Complete the vaccine request form." For residents who are already registered in VAMS, the appointments can be found on the system's website. As of March 23, South Carolina has received 2,376,700 total doses of COVID-19 vaccine and has administered 1,701,694. There are currently 682,819 vaccine appointments scheduled throughout the state. A total of 45,010 COVID-19 vaccines, which includes first and second doses, have been administered in Aiken County. South Carolina health authorities confirmed five COVID-19 cases in Aiken County on Tuesday. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control confirmed a total of 494 cases and two deaths across the state Tuesday. None of the deaths were in Aiken County. The data reported Tuesday is for the date of March 21. Tuesday's report brings the total confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Aiken County to 12,416, with 174 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths. Aiken County also has reported a total of 3,946 probable COVID-19 cases and 41 probable coronavirus-related deaths. In neighboring Barnwell and Edgefield counties, four and five virus cases were confirmed, respectively, on Tuesday. Across the entire state, there are 542 COVID-19 patients hospitalized. There are currently no COVID-19 beds occupied in Aiken County's hospitals. The total number of individual test results reported to DHEC statewide Tuesday was 13,714, and the percent positive was 4.8%. The total number of cases statewide is now 460,277, with 82,635 probable cases, 7,971 confirmed deaths and 1,059 probable deaths. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Rachel Novick took to Facebook to complain on the night a Portland police officer wouldnt stop a man suspected of breaking into a neighbors house in Southwest Portland. She posted that she was rattled when she saw two strangers attempting to steal a pickup truck parked outside the home before they fled and a third man emerge from the home and start to walk off after apparently helping the others ransack the residence. Then she described the second most disturbing part of what happened on June 3, 2019: A police officer who had just arrived told her that he couldnt go chase the known suspect because of Obama. Novick said she and two neighbors standing with her were all stunned by the officers remark. We didnt know what to say to that, Novick recalled in a recent interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive. She said one of her neighbors turned to her and asked: Do we tell him Obama is no longer president? The officer apparently was referring to a U.S. Department of Justice investigation that found during the Obama administration that Portland police often used excessive force against people with mental illness. The officers comment, Novick said, made her think this is a guy who didnt want to do his job, didnt care about his job, didnt care about people who were witnesses or victims. Novick, who is married to former City Commissioner Steve Novick, didnt complain to the Police Bureau. But the next month, a police internal affairs investigator called her in a case that led to the firing of Officer Andrew Caspar last August. The investigators found that Caspar deliberately delayed getting to the scene, failed to perform the duties of his job, acted unprofessionally and was dishonest when questioned about what he said to witnesses, according to a summary released by the Police Review Board this month. Police initiated the investigation of Caspar. Another officer on the same call told investigators that Caspar told him to delay responding to the call and then instructed him not to contact the suspect, the summary said. Novick, who moved last summer to Albany, New York, to seek her doctorate in criminology, said she testified for the city last week via Zoom before an arbitrator hearing the police unions challenge of Caspars firing. Daryl Turner, executive director of the Portland Police Association, declined comment on Caspars firing or the unions challenge. Caspar didnt return messages seeking his comment. IT WAS JUST AN ODD THING Rachel Novick was working as a researcher for Multnomah Countys Department of Community Justice in June 2019. She had arrived home from work about 5:15 p.m. and soon noticed two strangers walking around a parked pickup outside a neighbors house. The two people were getting in and out of it and trying to start it, she said. They were yelling and seemed agitated. Novick alerted another neighbor and watched the strangers from her home. As other neighbors walked up, the owners of the house arrived home and confronted the strangers, Novick said. The two people in the pickup left immediately, but then another man emerged from the house. He apparently was a relative of the homeowners and had ties to the other two, Novick said. Someone in the neighborhood called police. Caspar and another officer responded about 15 minutes later, Novick said. The officers parked outside her home, Novick recalled. As the police approached, Novick said she and two of her neighbors were gesturing toward the third suspect. We were pointing at him, saying, Theres, theres one of the three, she told an investigator, estimating the suspect was about 30 feet away from the officers at the time, according to a transcript of the internal affairs interview. We watched him walk up the hill. I mean they could see him, too, she told the investigator. Thats when the shorter of the two officers, later identified as Caspar, said something like, Oh, if hes a known subject, we cant go get him because of Obama. And I was like really taken aback by that. I did not know what that meant, and I didnt understand why he wasnt going to talk to the subject, Novick told internal affairs. The unidentified officer who was with Caspar hung back, she said. She showed him photos she had taken of the initial two suspects and he told her to send them to him. The other officer was fantastic, really thoughtful, really professional, exactly what you would want in an officer to show up. We were grateful he was there, she said. The Police Review Board summary doesnt identify the second officer or indicate why he said he was asked to delay the response to the neighborhood. Other police records identified him as Officer Samuel Ionesi. Chris Murray, one of the neighbors who was with Novick at the time, recalled that the homeowner also pointed out the suspect walking off, asked police to stop him, said the man was a relative who was off his medication and had just ransacked her home. Murray said Ionesi looked visibly uncomfortable with Caspars politically tinged remark but deferred to Caspars judgment. Murray said he expected Caspar would say oh, he was just kidding after the Obama remark but never did. It struck me as inappropriate and it obviously struck the other officer as inappropriate, Murray said. It didnt terribly upset me. It was just an odd thing. I thought it was just so weird. Caspar, hired by the Police Bureau in 1993, was the senior officer on scene. Ionesi had barely two years on the force, hired Aug. 23, 2017, state records show. IT DIDNT SEEM OVERLY PRESSING Caspar, when asked multiple times what he said to Novick and other witnesses at the scene, never mentioned his Obama remark until specifically asked by internal affairs, police records show. Caspar explained to investigators that he didnt think it was necessary to go after the man walking away because the victims knew him. Since it was family, it didnt seem overly pressing, he told investigators, according to the Police Review Board summary. Novick said she didnt file her own complaint against the officer because she didnt want to stymie the police effort to arrest the intruders. The officers found a back window of the home had been broken with a fire extinguisher. The inside walls, floors and appliances had been spray painted and a gun safe had scorch marks on it from a blow torch, according to court records. Three people were indicted in August 2019 on charges of burglary, criminal mischief and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Frederick Uhde, 27, was convicted of first-degree burglary and unauthorized use of a vehicle and sentenced last November to 60 days in jail and five years of supervised probation, according to court records. Joseline Tillman, 28, was convicted of first-degree burglary and unauthorized use of a vehicle and given three years of probation. Charges against a third person, Shawn Patrick Braley, 27, were dismissed after psychological evaluations found him unable to assist in his own defense, according to court records. He admitted to police that he had hoped to steal a gun from inside the home, the records showed. CASPAR ACTED UNPROFESSIONALLY About a month ago, Novick said, the City Attorneys Office called to say Caspar had been fired but was challenging the termination and asked if shed testify at an arbitration hearing. Murray said he also was asked to appear at the arbitration hearing. Via a Zoom video conference last Wednesday, Novick and Murray both testified about what happened, then were questioned by police union lawyer Anil Karia. Karia, through his questions, appeared to argue that Caspar was reluctant to take action that day because of reforms ordered under the citys settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, Novick said. Karia pointed out that the settlement had been reached in 2012 and adopted by a judge in 2014, when Obama was president, Novick said. The settlement called for changes to police use-of-force policies. Novick, when questioned by Karia, said she didnt think the settlement gave the officer any reason not to pursue a fleeing suspect. Murray said the union lawyer referenced some ordinance or policy suggesting police dont have to engage in a foot chase if they dont want to. The union lawyer further asked Murray, If he apologized to you, would you accept the apology? Murray said he responded that hes not familiar with police policies or legal parameters for officers. To be quite honest, a person with mental illness walking away from Portland police isnt the worst outcome, given the James Chasse case and others, Murray said. Chasse, 42, had schizophrenia and was chased and knocked to the ground by police in 2006 after he was seen possibly urinating in the street. Chasse died in custody of broad blunt force trauma to the chest. The Police Review Board, which reviews investigations into alleged police misconduct and recommends discipline, found Caspar acted unprofessionally by failing to take action in an attempt to contact a suspect of a crime when it was clearly established the standard of reasonable suspicion did exist, according to its summary. The board cited bureau policy that says officers have the duty and responsibility to pursue and apprehend offenders and that foot pursuits must be conducted in such a way as to minimize the risks to sworn members and citizens. -- Maxine Bernstein Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian New Delhi: It has been 16 years since the September 11 terror attack in 2001 rocked the Word Trade Centre's Twin Towers, the symbol of Americas economic might and left the world in a state of shock and awe. The aftershocks of the brutal attack still sends down a chill in the spine of many recalling the catastrophic incident which led to such mass scale devastation to humanity. While the Navy SEALs post a massive manhunt eventually managed to kill Osama Bin laden, the mastermind behind the deadliest terror attack that unfolded on US Soil, the Americans havent really been able to eliminate the Bin Laden founded terror organisation Al Qaeda from its roots. A decade of unending drone strikes and precision carpet bombing at key installations has weakened the outfit and reduced its once significant presence in West Asia but not completely eradicated the evil intentions and ideology of the outfit. The million dollar question remains is how strong or weak is the Al Qaeda at present? Ever since ISIS captured a significant territory in Iraq and Syria in 2014 before declaring itself a 'caliphate', the Islamic State has replaced al-Qaeda as the new face of international terrorism. ISIS which started off as a former affiliate of Al-Qaeda rapidly surpassed its parent organization in terms of the ground it controls and its reputation for wreaking havoc through barbaric brutality. But by no means has Al-Qaeda gone into a shell. It silently remained active all these years and as a matter of fact expanded its wings through its lesser known but operationally effective regional affiliates in Jabhat al-Nusra and the al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Al Qaeda has brought about a tactical change in its operational strategy to execute attacks. Unlike ISIS which takes great deal of credence to pronounce its gruesome attacks, members of the local affiliates Jabhat al-Nusra and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) have been avoiding the sort of brutality that has brought the Islamic State much criticism from all quarters. This tactic has reaped dividends for Al Qaeda, making them win local support and avoid the kind of international military action that the Islamic State is facing. In Yemen, where the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) had been steadily acquiring territory amounting to what Reuters recently described as a mini-state with a war chest swollen by an estimated $100 million in looted bank deposits and revenue from running the countrys third largest port. AQAP has been hailed as al-Qaedas most dangerous affiliate. It is known for its facility with explosives and has planned out plots to bring down U.S. airliners. AQAP also took credit for the January 2015 attack on the Paris offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, in which 11 people died. As per estimates, in Somalia, its affiliate al Shabaab has more than 7,000 fighters. In Syria, al Nusra boasts more than 20,000. Meanwhile, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has made millions of dollars from ransom payments. Jennifer Cafarella of the Institute for the Study of War wrote recently, al-Qaedas Syrian affiliate has been quietly playing the long game. The group, she wrote, intentionally does not control terrain; this makes it difficult to target, as it cannot be attacked directly without destroying the more moderate Syrian opposition groups with whom it is embedded. And it has safe-guarded itself against tribal uprisings by prioritizing local support. ISISs carries out it acts with a greater degree of openness as compared to its parent which was more discrete in plotting attacks. ISIS hence becomes an easy target owing to its clear presence as a terror organisation on global map. Another area of contention which clearly demarcates the two entities is that ISIS strives for governing a territory as part of expanding their self-proclaimed Caliphate which is a far more expensive proposition than plotting attacks abroad, which has historically been al-Qaedas focus. Al-Qaedas decentralized franchise model has gaping holes which have been exploited. In a late-2014 brief on targeting al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, The Soufan Group, an intelligence consultancy, pointed out that al-Qaedas reliance on the need to project terror from tenuous positions has long forced into a hub-spoke structure, in which energetic operatives seek to turn guidance from AQs leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, into plots that tend to involve many moving parts over a stretched logistical tail. A major triumph for military and intelligence services of the nations has been the fact that neither Al-Qaeda nor ISIS has managed to pull off an attack of the same magnitude on U.S. soil since 9/11. The two deadliest attacks in America since the 9/11 have been the 2009 Fort Hood shooting and the 2015 San Bernardino shooting respectively. Both these attacks appear to have been executed by independent shooters or better termed as Lone Wolf attacks which were inspired from the groups in whose names they acted. In 2016, CIA Director John Brennan acknowledged that while the United States had destroyed a large part of al-Qaeda, the group was not completely eliminated. As for ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, he said: If we got Baghdadi, I think it would have a great impact on the organization. As the death of bin Laden, and other terrorist kingpins before him, demonstrates, the exact nature of that impact wont be known for years. So in a nutshell one can clearly conclude that while Islamic State remains at the forefront of major terror operations, Al Qaeda which is a pale shadow of its past still remains a force to reckon with via its regional affiliates spread across more than 20 countries.It would be unwise for intelligence agencies of the world to deride al Qaeda's as a spent force. At all times and at all cost, a strong vigilance would auger well for preventing the terror outfit from perpetrating another major attack, detrimental to human life. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Photo: The Canadian Press A conveyor belt transports coal at the Westmoreland Coal Co.'s Sheerness Mine near Hanna, Alta., on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh The federal government needs to step in and consider the potential overall effects of Alberta's intent to expand its coal-mining industry, says a petition tabled Monday in the House of Commons. Signed by 18,000 Canadians 14,000 from Alberta the petition says the province's plan has violated First Nations rights and crosses into areas that Ottawa controls. It asks for a combined assessment of proposed coal developments and exploration in southwestern Alberta and for a delay on any regulatory approvals for coal mines until that assessment is complete. "We're hearing enormous concern about the Rocky Mountains," said Heather McPherson, the Edmonton New Democrat MP who tabled the petition. "We were getting thousands of emails from constituents that are deeply concerned." McPherson Alberta's only non-Conservative MP said the petition was a joint effort between her office and Latasha Calf Robe of the Niitsatapi Water Protectors -- members of Alberta's Kainai First Nation whose traditional lands would be affected by new mines. "Our main ask is for a regional assessment of all coal development in the eastern slopes," Calf Robe said. "We cannot trust the provincial government to adequately look at all those areas." Federal Environment Minister Jonathon Wilkinson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the petition. Alberta's coal controversy began last May when the United Conservative government suddenly and quietly revoked a policy that had protected the summits and eastern slopes of the Rockies from open-pit coal mines since 1976. Facing a huge public backlash, the government restored the policy and its protections last month. It failed to cancel exploration leases sold in the interim and at least six companies have been drilling and road-building on a landscape where much of Alberta's drinking water originates. That's in addition to coal mines just across the British Columbia boundary "a hop, skip and a jump away," said Calf Robe. Federal legislation allows an environment minister to begin a regional assessment to help understand and plan for cumulative effects of anticipated development. Such assessments are intended to go beyond evaluations of individual projects to provide regional context and more comprehensive analyses. Ottawa has plenty of jurisdiction on this issue, Calf Robe said, because coal mines affect federal laws on endangered species, fisheries, the environment and First Nations. "These really need to be looked from a federal level, not just province by province or project by project." Ottawa is already involved in joint environmental assessments of five coal projects in southwestern Alberta and southeastern B.C. Two area First Nations have asked Wilkinson to step in on a sixth, the Montem Resources Tent Mountain project. McPherson also tabled proposed legislation that would require a federal assessment of any new coal mine. Proposals are now federally assessed only if they exceed a certain production threshold one that Montem comes within a whisker of. McPherson said it's important that any new coal projects are considered as part of a bigger picture, even the Grassy Mountain project, already under a joint federal-provincial review. "Grassy Mountain is the thin edge of the knife," she said. "If this particular project is not considered in the larger picture, it opens it up for future projects to not be looked at within the larger context as well. That's very, very dangerous." Shaheed Diwas, also called Martyrs' Day, is celebrated in India on March 23 every year. On this day, Indians pay tributes to the people who had lost their lives in the struggle for India's independence. Every year, various leaders organise events to remember slain freedom fighters. They express their gratitude for the fallen. Twitter What is the history and significance? It is important to know that Shaheed diwas is observed on many days in India. January 30 is observed as the Martyrs' Day every year across the country to mark the death anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi or Bapu. Earlier this year, the Central government directed all state governments and union ministries to observe two minutes of silence on January 30 in the memory of martyred freedom fighters. The sacrifice by the trio of heroes became a source of inspiration for millions of Indians. It is for this reason March 23 was commemorated as Shaheed Diwas. YouTube On January 30, the day is observed with the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Defence Minister gathering at Rajghat in New Delhi to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. The top-most leaders of the country lay wreaths in remembrance of the Mahatma. They are joined by three service chiefs as well. What is it celebrated for? On this day, Indians in particular pay tribute to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru. These freedom fighters had lost their lives on March 23 in 1931 during the struggle for India's independence. They were hanged for assassinating British officer John Saunders in 1928. Singh, Thapar and Rajguru were very young when they gave ultimate sacrifice for the nation. Their story continues to inspire the youth today. File Why were they hanged? Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were deeply affected by the assassination of Lala Lajpat Rai who was killed in a non-violent protest against the Simon Commission on October 30, 1928. The British lathi-charged the protesters and during the brutal attack, Rai was injured and eventually died of a heart attack. Singh and his partners decided to strike back at the British and in 1929 threw a bomb at the central legislative assembly in Delhi while cheering the slogan Inquillab Zindabad (long live the revolution). Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged to death by the British in 1931 and were cremated on the banks of the Sutlej River. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! As National Agriculture Week has now kicked off, the Napa County Farm Bureau is excited to mark this week celebrating Napa County Ag and the men and women who make it world-class. As we continue to deal with the effects of COVID-19 and other challenges facing agriculture at the moment, it is important to recognize the men and women in Napa County who have continued to face the challenge head-on and who strive to rebuild our economy and communities in this unprecedented time. It is important for us in Napa County to pause and recognize the positive and significant impact that agriculture has on our communities. Our local farmers, farmworkers, food processors and other essential employees in the agricultural sector have continued to perform their critical work and have ensured continuity of a critical infrastructure that provides for the well-being of ourselves, our families and our businesses. Drug firmGlenmark Pharmaceuticals on Tuesday said it has received approval from the US health regulator for its generic Diltiazem Hydrochloride extended release capsules used for treatment of high blood pressure. The company has received final approval from the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for Diltiazem Hydrochloride extended-release capsules USP, in the strengths of 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg, Glenmark said in a statement. The product is a generic version of Biovail Laboratories Inc's Cardizem SR extended-release capsules in the same strengths, it added. The company has been granted a competitive generic therapy (CGT) designation for these capsules, therefore, with thisapproval, Glenmark is eligible for 180 days of CGT exclusivity upon commercial marketing, the statementsaid. According to IQVIA sales data for the 12-month period ending January 2021, the Cardizem SR extended-release capsules, 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg market (including brand and all available therapeutic equivalents) achieved annual sales of approximately USD 56.7 million, it added. The company's current portfolio consists of 170 products authorised for distribution in the US marketplace and 42 abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA's) pending approval with the USFDA, Glenmark said. Shares ofGlenmark Pharmaceuticals were trading at Rs464.45per scrip on BSE, up 0.98 per cent over previous close. (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.) Spain will lift the restrictions imposed since the end of December on flights from the United Kingdom on 30 March, although it will maintain the restrictions for those arriving from Brazil and South Africa in order to prevent the entry of coronavirus variants from these countries. "The extension of the flight restriction is maintained with South Africa and Brazil, but not with the United Kingdom, announced government spokesperson Maria Jesus Montero after a Cabinet meeting. The new measure will come into effect from 6pm on 30 March (Spanish mainland time) until midnight on 13 April. The existing restrictions mean that flights from any airport in the United Kingdom to any Spanish airport - with or without intermediate stops - can only carry Spanish or Andorran nationals, or legal residents in Spain or Andorra. Now, in theory, with the lifting of the Spanish restrictions UK tourists could also come to Spain, and not just residents. However, the British Government has announced measures to the contrary and Health Minister Matt Hancock has indicated that from next week fines of up to 5,000 (6,000 euros) could be imposed on Britons travelling abroad for holidays and without good reason. The penalty is included in legislation that will be voted on by MPs on Thursday. Those travelling for a justified reason from the UK to Spain from 30 March will still need to show a negative PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) A number of local chief executives in the Visayas were inoculated against COVID-19, skipping the vaccine priority line. Mayor Alfred Romualdez of Tacloban City, Leyte, was injected with Chinas Sinovac on Monday, while Mayor Elanito Pena of Minglanilla, Cebu received the vaccine from the British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca on Tuesday. At least three mayors in Bohol were likewise vaccinated over the past days Mayor Victoriano Torres of Alicia, Mayor Virgilio Mendez of San Miguel, and Mayor Arturo Piollo II of Lila. Most announcements were made through their own or their local governments social media pages. Mayor Alfred Romualdez of Tacloban City, Leyte was injected with Chinas Sinovac on Monday, while Mayor Elanito Pena of Minglanilla, Cebu received the vaccine from the British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca on Tuesday. According to Romualdez, the shot was administered by a nurse from the Department of Health who is deployed at the City Health Office. His staff earlier said the mayor got his first dose in his home, but the city public information office later clarified that it happened at the Tacloban City Astrodome. Pictures of the mayor getting the shot showed him without a face mask on. Pena, on the other hand, was vaccinated along with over 100 healthcare workers at the city's rural health facility. In a now-deleted Facebook post, the local government also posted photos of the mayor getting inoculated. Torres and Mendez also disclosed the news online. According to Torres, a number of village chiefs joined him in the inoculation. "Got my 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine together with my friends barangay captains of Barangay Cabatang, Progreso, Cayacay, Untaga, and Napo," Torres said in a Facebook post on Monday, which includes photos of him being injected with a still unidentified vaccine. Five days earlier on March 17, Mendez uploaded a video of him getting inoculated, with the caption: "I am a municipal mayor, a senior citizen, and I believe in vaccination. San Miguel town's Piollo, meanwhile, got the Sinovac vaccine on Monday, according to the local newspaper The Bohol Chronicle. The government is still completing the vaccination of all 1.7 million healthcare workers in the country using the limited supply of doses before moving on to other priority sectors. Mayors, governors, and village chiefs were recently moved up in the COVID-19 vaccine priority list, but they can only be inoculated after health workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities. Romualdez defended his decision to jump the priority line. "Never say that I did it to save myself before others," he said. "I did it to make the people see that it was okay to get the vaccine. I wanted our people to take it for protection, and so that the efforts of the national government will not be in vain. Meanwhile, Pena said his doctor colleagues agreed that he should be vaccinated, too, considering he is also a frontliner as the chief of the towns anti-coronavirus task force. "It is okay because I work like a frontliner. Im a frontliner, and I regularly meet our COVID-19 team, and we face a lot of people in our work," said the Minglanilla mayor in the vernacular. Piollo was quoted by The Bohol Chronicle as saying he asked permission from DOH-Central Visayas director Jaime Bernadas who answered, "it is your call." The mayor explained he got the shot to help raise vaccine confidence. But Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, spokesperson of DOH-Central Visayas, reiterated that local government officials should await their turn as the national vaccination program clearly states medical frontliners get the first shots. Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire also stressed the need to follow the prioritization framework, as doing otherwise would put the countrys vaccine supply at risk. As WHO (World Health Organization) Country Rep. Dr. Rabi Abeyasinghe has previously emphasized, all doses must first be administered to the agreed upon priority groups starting with HCWs, she said in a statement. Giving the vaccines to non-HCWs when not all HCWs have been vaccinated will jeopardize succeeding doses from COVAX. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday said he will refer Romualdez's case to the Department of Interior and Local Government for investigation. Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing said they are preparing show cause orders against three unnamed mayors to explain why they jumped the line. "Hindi pa pwedeng magpabakuna muna ang hindi medical frontliners dahil kung susuway tayo sa order of priority, maaapektuhan ang future deliveries galing sa COVAX," Roque said in a media breifing. "We regret this incident, but I will refer the matter to DILG for proper action dahil kailangan po talagang imbestigahan ito." [Translation: Non-medical frontliners cannot get vaccinated because this will be against the order of priority. It will jeopardize our future COVAX deliveries. This needs to be investigated.] Over three weeks since the inoculation drive began in the country, only 336,656 have been vaccinated mostly healthcare workers and some government and local officials like Romualdez and Pena who breached the priority list. The low vaccination rate comes despite the fact that 98% or 1,105,600 out of 1,125,600 doses of AstraZeneca and Sinovac doses have been distributed in 1,623 vaccination sites in 17 regions. RELATED: Gov't ready to move on after 'breaches' in vaccine priority list Romualdez announced on Dec. 10 that he contracted COVID-19. Experts have advised those infected with COVID-19 to wait at least three months after they are clinically recovered before getting a vaccine. Current evidence suggests that reinfection is unlikely to occur 90 days after the initial infection. CNN Philippines senior digital producer Lara Tan, digital producer Kristel Limpot, and stringers Wilmark Amazona and Dale Israel contributed to this report. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - BMEX Gold Inc. (TSXV: BMEX) (FSE: 8M0) ("BMEX" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its Phase 1 exploration program at the King Tut Gold Project ("King Tut" the "Project") located in the Abitibi Gold Belt in Quebec, Canada. The Company has now completed 19 holes, totalling 4,740 metres. Results from holes 8 and 9, reported today, are from the up-dip extension of the main mineralized trend identified on the Project and indicate that the system has the capacity to host high grade gold as noted in Hole TUT-20-008, which returned 10.2 g/t Au over 0.4 m at a vertical depth of 15 metres. Results from holes TUT-20-008 and TUT-20-009 can be found in Table 1 and in Figure 1. In addition to the reported results, BMEX is waiting on assays from over 1,180 samples. To date, results from 10 of the 19 holes have been received and reported. Furthermore, the Company wishes to announce that Mr. Martin Demers has stepped in as Interim CEO temporarily filling the role following the departure of Amrik Virk. The Company thanks Mr. Virk for his service. BMEX is currently conducting a thorough executive search with several promising candidates already identified. Mr. Demers is an experienced geologist and leader and has served as VP Exploration of BMEX for the past year directing the day-to-day operations of the Company. Prior to joining BMEX he led the re-discovery of the Casa Berardi mine that was bought out by Hecla Mining for over $750 million. Martin Demers, Interim CEO of BMEX Gold, commented, "I am passionate about both our projects at BMEX and we are well financed to continue our fully funded exploration program for the year with the focus now shifting, as planned, to Dunlop Bay. We have completed the first phase of drilling on our King Tut Property and additional anticipated assays will be released once received. Today's results demonstrate that the system can host areas of concentrated gold mineralization. The goal of our King Tut exploration program will be to continue to define concentrated gold areas and better understand the structural controls that host the high-grade gold. We will be modelling all our drill assay results once received and we are planning geochemical and geophysical surveys for the coming summer at King Tut." Demers continued, "Moving forward we are preparing to drill high value targets at our flagship Dunlop Bay property that covers 4,226 hectares of highly prospective geology, immediately north of the Matagami Gold and Base Metals District. Over 60 gold bearing veins and veinlets have been located by the previous operator in the central part of the property and we have access to data from 190 documented holes that were previously drilled. My technical team and I have been compiling data and generating 3D models for the past several months and have identified several high priority targets that look prospective for gold at Dunlop Bay." TUT 2021 drill results, Holes TUT-20-008 to TUT-20-009 Hole No From: To: Length Au g/t TUT-20-008 3.7 5.5 1.8 1.4 183.0 183.6 0.5 0.6 TUT-20-009 15.7 17.5 2.1 1.8 26.7 27.1 10.2 0.4 Figure 1 - Drill hole map To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5785/78190_f7bb376d4475b956_003full.jpg QAQC Core was processed for logging and sampling at Services Geologiques T-Rex inc. facility located in Evain, in the Rouyn-Noranda area. Samples were sawed in two halves for assaying with insertion of blanks, standardized material, preparation duplicates and quarter core duplicates. Samples bags were forwarded by ground transport to laboratories. TUT-20-001 to TUT-20-004 were assayed for gold by standard fire assays using 50g fraction with ICP finish by AGAT Laboratories. Holes TUT-20-005 and onwards were assayed for gold by standard fire assays on 30 g fraction with atomic absorption or gravimetric finish for grade above 3 g/t by Techni-Lab - S.G.B. Abitibi inc., an Actlabs division. Qualified Person Martin Demers, P.Geo (ogq #770), Vice-President of Exploration to the Company is the qualified person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) for the Company and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. About BMEX Gold Inc. BMEX Gold Inc. is a junior Canadian mining exploration company with the primary objective to acquire, explore, and develop viable gold and base metal projects in the mining-friendly jurisdiction of Quebec, Canada. BMEX is currently fully focused on earning 100% interest in its two projects, both located in the prolific Abitibi greenstone belt: King Tut Project consists of 120 contiguous claims on 5,206 hectares consists of 120 contiguous claims on 5,206 hectares Dunlop Bay Project consists of 76 mineral claims that cover 4,226 hectares BMEX common shares trade under the symbol "BMEX" on the TSX-V and under the symbol 8M0 on the Frankfurt Exchange. For further information please contact: BMEX Gold Inc. Dylan Sidoo, Business Development Tel: 1 (604) 423 4499 Email: info@bmexgold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management's best estimates, assumptions, and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to the plans for future exploration and development of the King Tut and Dunlop Bay properties and the acquisition of additional exploration projects. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts" , "anticipates" "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the King Tut and Dunlop Bay projects; risks related to general economic conditions, actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; increases in market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in resource estimates, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of exploration, development or construction activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in areas in which the Company operates. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any forward-looking statements or forward looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Please refer to the Company's most recent filings under its profile at www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks affecting the Company and its business. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78190 Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. I'm Winston Gieseke, philanthropy and special sections editor for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, bringing you the latest California headlines on this Monday. In California brings you top Golden State stories and commentary from across the USA TODAY Network and beyond. Get it free, straight to your inbox. New COVID-19 cases down in California Here's some encouraging news to start off your week: The Golden State reported far fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending Sunday, adding 17,640 new cases. That's down 25.9% from the previous week's toll of 23,813 new cases. California ranked 49th among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, according to a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data. Across the country, 30 states had more cases in the latest week than they did the week before. But across California, cases fell in 42 counties, with the biggest declines in Los Angeles, San Diego and Fresno counties. Also in the week ending Sunday, California reported administering another 2,824,800 vaccine doses, compared to 1,248,623 the previous week. In all, the Golden State reported it has administered 14,708,175 doses. The number of reported deaths is also down. In California, 929 people were reported dead in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 2,353 people were reported dead. A total of 3,640,703 people in California have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 57,502 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States, 29,818,528 people have tested positive and 542,356 people have died. Contra Costa County opens vaccine eligibility to people 50 and over Desert Oasis Healthcare Pharmacist Technician Eric Arias holds syringes of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the vaccine clinic in Palm Springs, Calif., on March 19, 2021. In Northern California, Contra Costa County announced Monday it is now offering vaccinations to people age 50 and over who live or work in the county, making it the second county in the region after Solano to do so. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that while the state of California has not lowered the eligibility age to 50, it does plan to offer vaccinations to people as young as 16 by the last week of April, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday. It isn't known if California will first expand eligibility to those 50 and older. Story continues The state is currently giving vaccine priority to those who are 65 and older, as well as essential workers in certain sectors, homeless and incarcerated individuals and people between 16 and 64 with disabilities or specific health conditions. Contra Costa has made it possible for anyone between the ages of 50 and 64 to get inoculated. We look forward to the coming months when we can do away with vaccine eligibility, when anyone and everyone is eligible, said Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Chair Diane Burgis in a statement. More and more doses of vaccine are coming into the county each week and we expect that trend to continue. Survey says! Less than 30% of students likely to return to L.A. classrooms The number of L.A. Unified students who say they will immediately return when schools reopen are fewer than 3 in 10. Based on survey results combined by L.A. Unified School District officials, it seems a majority of parents are not yet ready to send their kids back to classrooms. In fact, the number of students who say they will immediately return when schools reopen are fewer than 3 in 10, with the following breakdowns: Of the district's 465,000 K-12 students, 28% of those in elementary school said they would return, while only 17% of middle school students and 10% of high school students said they would. The Los Angeles Times reports that officials from LAUSD "have launched a confidence-building campaign to persuade families to come back, citing safety standards among the strictest in the nation and the harms of learning loss. Last week there were more than 40 town halls one of the most notable was Sunday, when district officials appeared with local clergy to make the pitch, answer questions and ease anxieties." The deadline for families to let officials know whether or not they plan to send their kids back to school was Friday, but only about half responded. Officials say those who dont respond will remain online for the remainder of the school year but in the meantime they have opted to keep the survey open in the hopes of getting more responses. In other reopening news: On Monday, the California Department of Public Health announced it had reversed its previous decision and now says that bands, drumlines and choirs are allowed to attend prep football games. According to The Sacramento Bee, the CDPH website states that these groups engage in low-contact activities. Will late rains bring a wildflower super bloom to California deserts this year? Poppy flowers cover Walker Canyon in Lake Elsinore, Calif., on Saturday, March 16, 2019. If you're wondering whether or not the recent rains will bring a wildflower "super bloom" to Southern California this year, the chances aren't quite as low as a snowball in hell, but they're pretty slim. "Let me put it this way. ... This is a disastrous year for wildflowers," said James Cornett, a longtime Coachella Valley ecologist. "I haven't seen it this bad in memory." While a few hardy perennials are showing their colors, and burn areas are seeing velvet green regrowth, the year is far more likely to remain a super dud. A "meager" 0.83 of an inch of rain fell at Palm Springs International Airport from Nov. 1 through Sunday, per National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration measurements tabulated by Cornett. A typical year sees about 2.5 inches in that period, and a super bloom requires about 5 inches, he said. "So we have received less than one-third of an average year's worth of rainfall." According to Cornett, this year's storms are just too little, too late. He and other area biologists blame climate change for more frequent, more severe droughts, depriving even water-savvy desert plants of the inch or so they need to bloom. Read more here. EDD website is down People trying to use the EDD website to certify weeks of unemployment are currently unable to. California's Employment Development Department (EDD) can't seem to catch a break. Last week, In California reported that approximately 2.4 million Golden State residents who are self-employed or on a federal extension plan will have to wait weeks in order to receive newly extended jobless benefits. This week comes the news that the EDD's website has been down since Saturday. According to ABC10, "EDD says it is working on the issue but wouldn't provide more details." In California is a roundup of news from across USA Today network newsrooms. Also contributing: ABC10, Los Angeles Times, The Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle. We'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with the latest headlines. As the philanthropy and special sections editor at The Desert Sun, Winston Gieseke writes about nonprofits, fundraising and people who give back in the Coachella Valley. Reach him at winston.gieseke@desertsun.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New COVID-19 cases down in California, and EDD battles website problems Plant species with short generation times are more sensitive to climate change than those with long generation times. This is one of the findings of a synthesis study by researchers from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). The international team comprehensively compiled worldwide available data, mostly from Europe and North America, to address the question of how plant populations react to climate change. The study, published in Nature Communications, shows that plant characteristics such as generation time can predict how sensitive species are to changing climates. This has important implications for predicting which plant species need the most conservation attention regarding climate change. Climate change is considered to be one of the greatest threats to plant species diversity. To set the right priorities in nature conservation policy, it is crucial to know which regions of the world and which types of species are particularly threatened by climate change. As part of the iDiv synthesis centre sDiv, which brings together international experts in workshops, a working group compiled all long-term studies on plants that quantify population growth rate. They assessed how the climate factors during those years of study, in particular precipitation and temperature, influenced population growth rate. Afterwards, they tested how features of the plant species, such as the length of a generation, influence how responsive the plant population growth rates were to climate variation in the past. "We were able to show that generation duration is a useful indicator value for a species' susceptibility to climate change," said first author Dr Aldo Compagnoni, a postdoctoral researcher at iDiv and MLU. For example, the scientists found that especially plants with short lifespans, such as those that only live a few years on average, suffered from climate extremes much worse than long-lived species. The analyses also showed that the main limiting factor of climate change is not the temperature increase itself. On average, precipitation had a three times greater impact on plant populations than temperature. "This work helps us identify which species might be climate-vulnerable, even if we have limited information about those species," says last author Prof Tiffany Knight from iDiv, MLU and UFZ. For example, while we have long-term population data for a small subset of plant species on Earth, we can estimate the approximate generation duration for most plant species. This is an important first step towards determining species' vulnerability to climate change at a global scale." However, there are important data gaps that limit the ability to make general predictions on a global scale. The researchers found appropriate long-term datasets only for 62 of the 350,000 plant species on Earth, and the vast majority of these were species occurring in temperate zones of the USA and Western Europe. Apart from a few tree and shrub species, the data set included only grasses and herbs. To be able to make reliable predictions about the consequences of climate change for all regions of the world and all known species, new population ecology research is needed on woody plant species and on plants in the tropics, the researchers conclude. ### This research was, among others, supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; FZT-118). It is a product of the sDiv working group sAPROPOS. iDiv's synthesis centre sDiv supports working group meetings where international scientists work together on scientific issues. We're used to watching them tear strips off each other in the Dail. But Leo Varadkar and Mary Lou McDonald called a temporary ceasefire in an RTE studio on Monday night and managed to have a civil conversation on Irish unity. Nowhere near as much as might have been predicted divides them. If they ever joined forces in a border poll campaign, they would certainly pack a punch. Youd travel far to find two better communicators with a reach beyond their own electoral base. The Tanaiste could be a powerful persuader among those in Northern Ireland who define themselves as Other and for whom his rainbow nation of British, Irish, and new Irish would appeal. But its a fantasy some nationalist perpetuate that there is a significant swathe of the unionist community Ive heard claims of up to 20% - who could be persuaded of the merits of Irish unity if the right arguments are skilfully made. aYou just do not get it. We are British, those three words.a - Gregory Campbell Gregory Campbell, MP for the DUP on #CBLive discussing his views on whether a United Ireland is possible. pic.twitter.com/X2BFDCtUzn Claire Byrne Live (@ClaireByrneLive) March 22, 2021 In the unionist corner of Claire Byrne Live, Gregory Campbell was there to dispel that myth. The DUP MP certainly didnt hold back. You just dont get it, do you? You just do not get it. We are British - those three words. We are British. Theres nothing you can say, nothing you can do, that will change that. There isnt going to be a unionist buy-in for something that is anathema to us, he said. Viewers heard from other unionists too. Lawyer Sarah Creighton and loyalist Jamie Bryson agreed in opposing Irish unity, but were at odds on likely responses if it occurred. Creighton said she hoped that it would be done properly with rights and protections for unionists who would be made to feel safe and welcome. Shed like to see an NHS, a welfare state, and Google paying more tax. In the event of Irish unity, Bryson had no such wish list. All the economic benefits in the world wouldnt change my unionism, he said. Its not a new Ireland, its a united Ireland packaged in a different way. It doesnt matter what you call it, the constitutional implications would be the same. In the event of a likely united Ireland, he believed there would be at least a significant minority in the unionist/loyalist community who would do everything possible to resist that. In the pro-unity camp, Varadkar was the most creative contributor. He suggested the use of titles like Taoiseach and Tanaiste - titles of Gaelic chieftains - might be inappropriate for a nation with a million British citizens. He also proposed that a period of joint sovereignty could be put on the table to facilitate the transition to a united Ireland. Read More He spoke of Irish unity as an exciting conversation, and said the tectonic plates of Irish politics have changed. By contrast, the Taoiseach appeared as very much a politician of the status quo. He seemed to do his best to say absolutely nothing despite Byrnes probing. That will unsettle a fair few northern nationalists and Fianna Fail grassroots, while simultaneously reassuring unionists that they have a firm friend in these testing times. Byrnes red card for Joe Brolly proved to be the most controversial part of the night on social media where there was significant support for him. One weakness in the 85-minute show was that at times it felt like members of the professional political class talking purely to each other. Some rawer, authentic voices would have been welcome, but that can be addressed in future programmes. In the absence of Covid, republicans would be gathering in cemeteries all over Ireland to commemorate the Easter Rising in less than a fortnight. But discussions about Irish unity are now happening outside these traditional circles: the conversation has gone mainstream. Ten people, including a Boulder police officer, were killed in mass shooting at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, authorities said Monday. A suspect is in custody, Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said. The chief said Officer Eric Talley, who was 51 and had been with the department since 2010, was killed. He was one of the first officers at the scene, she said. Herold said that about 2:30 p.m. MT (4:30 ET) police received calls about shots fired and a person with a 'patrol rifle.' One senior law enforcement source told CNN the weapon used in the shooting was an AR-15-style rifle. LIVE UPDATES The Boulder police had tweeted about 2:49 p.m. (4:49 p.m. ET) that there was an 'Active Shooter at the King Soopers on Table Mesa. AVOID THE AREA.' As events unfolded, CNN affiliate KMGH's helicopter recorded a shirtless man being taken from the supermarket. The man had what appeared to be blood on his arm and right leg and his hands appeared to be cuffed behind him as two officers escorted him away. The man was taken away in an ambulance. It was unclear whether the man was involved in the reported active shooting inside the store. The shopping center was still an active crime scene hours after the shooting with a massive police presence. At one point, police officials tweeted they wanted people at another location, about three miles away, to shelter in place because of a 'report of armed, dangerous individual.' But it turned out the second site was not connected to the supermarket shooting, officials said. Some of the shooting was livestreamed by witness Video taken by an eyewitness to the supermarket shooting appeared to show motionless individuals on the ground inside and outside the store, and purported gunshots are heard. The video, taken by Dean Schiller, is part of a longer livestream that he showed as the shooting progressed, and police arrived. In the excerpt, Schiller is heard calling out saying that people need to call 911. 'We don't know if there's a shooter, active shooter somewhere,' Schiller says in the video. Asking what appears to be a store employee whether a shooter went into the store, the man responds, 'Yeah, he went in there.' 'He went in the store?' Schiller questioned the man. 'He went right down there,' the man responds. 'Oh, my God,' Schiller reacts. 'Guys, we got people down inside Kings Soopers.' Schiller then says, 'Look there's -- ' but doesn't finish his sentence as two gunshots stop his speaking. Authorities have not said how many victims were at the scene. Couple hears shots and flees through emergency door A young man and woman described being in the store when they heard the first shots. The man told KMGH he heard one gunshot and then a few seconds later several more bangs. 'I immediately sprinted over to her and we got out of here and pushed open the emergency door,' said the man. He said he went back to stand by an emergency exit door and help people get out. He said he never saw the shooter. Ryan Borowski told CNN he was shopping at the store when he heard the first shots, and by the third one, everyone was running. He said he couldn't believe it happened in his town. 'Boulder feels like a bubble, and the bubble burst,' Borowski said. 'This feels like the safest spot in America, and I just nearly got killed for getting a soda and a bag of chips.' Large law enforcement presence at the store Ambulances and multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the store, which is part of a large shopping center with a two-story strip mall next door. KMGH's helicopter recorded police leading several people away from the store. At one point, police were also seen moving on the roof of the store. The reason for the roof movements was unclear, but one witness who spoke to CNN affiiate KCNC said his relatives in the store were evacuated through the roof. 'They hid, ran upstairs, were hiding in a coat closet for the last hour,' the man said. 'Half a dozen cops came in through the roof and got them and then told them, you know, 'Stay quiet.'' Police were also seen looking in cars in the parking lot. Gov. Jared Polis tweeted that he was aware of the situation. 'Like my fellow Coloradans, I am closely watching unfolding events at King Soopers in Boulder,' Polis wrote. 'My prayers are with our fellow Coloradans in this time of sadness and grief as we learn more about the extent of the tragedy.' King Soopers is a supermarket brand of Kroger in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. Kroger said in a statement that it is 'horrified and deeply saddened by the senseless violence' that occurred at their store. 'The entire Kroger family offers our thoughts, prayers and support to our associates, customers, and the first responders who so bravely responded to this tragic situation,' the company said via its verified Twitter account. The store will remain closed during the police investigation, Kroger said while referring further questions to the Boulder Police Department. Local 7, the King Soopers employee union, said on Twitter that they are 'closely monitoring the unfolding events' from Monday afternoon, and praying for the workers and shoppers, including 32 of their members who work at the Boulder store. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Imagine buying your dream home, arriving at it to move in, and finding out there's a squatter that won't leave. That was the case for Tracie and Myles Albert, who recently bought a 4 bedroom home in Riverside, California and found out the hard way that the seller wasn't quite ready to hand over the keys. More than a year after buying their home on January 31, 2020, they have yet to be able to get inside their property. "Its just draining, emotionally and financially," Tracie told Fox 11. Chris Taylor, the real estate agent who sold the home to the Alberts, said: "He needed $560,000 from the sale of his house in two weeks and he called me on a Sunday, so in traditional real estate there's no way of doing that unless the buyers a cash buyer." He continued: "Its genuinely unfathomable to me that we live in a state where something like this is even possible. They closed escrow on this home January 31, 2020." Myles Albert said: "It took us scrambling to get everything we had, our life savings put together and a hard money loan on top of it to make that happen. We own the house, outright. That's our house and it's all in a contract, written, legal, done. He's been paid the money in his account. How could we have no rights to go into our home?" He continued: "They have this case under a COVID tenant situation, of no evictions when it doesn't fall under that at all. This transaction went through in January 2020 before any of that, it isn't a renter who was getting thrown out. It's the guy who collected all of this money." Tracie said: "I tried watering the lawn one time and he came out and ripped my sprinkler lines, ripped all the wires. The Palm trees are dying, everything was beautiful and everything is dying." Law enforcement told her husband: "If you were in Arizona, if you were in Nevada, this wouldn't be a problem, you would just go take your house back. But in California, like our hands are tied, even though we're on your side, there's nothing we can do." And the Alberts aren't the only such example of this type of situation. Attorney Dennis Block told Fox: "This year alone, weve handled at least 7 maybe 8 cases of this exact type of situation." "This person is not a tenant, its a previous owner who is enjoying the benefits of the money that was transferred to his account but of course doesnt want to move out of the premises that he no longer owns," Block concluded. Advertisement What allegations has Sturgeon faced and what happens next? The claims: Alex Salmond has alleged that he was the victim of a politically-motivated SNP campaign over harassment complaints. Mr Salmond has complained of a conspiracy by senior figures including SNP chief executive Peter Murrell Ms Sturgeon's husband - and failures by Scottish government officials. And opposition figures believe Ms Sturgeon was aware of the investigation earlier than she disclosed. The government investigation into Mr Salmond was found to be unlawful after a judge found it had been 'tainted by apparent bias'. And he was cleared at a criminal trial in March 2020. Nicola Sturgeon was accused of misleading Parliament over when she first learned about the claims against Salmond. There were also questions over whether she broke the ministerial code by insisting on fighting his judicial review case against the advice of lawyers. What has the inquiry found? The inquiry has heavily criticised Ms Sturgeon over several elements of the controversy - although the most damaging findings were opposed by SNP members. The report says her claim that she first heard of 'concerns' about Mr Salmond's behaviour in November 2017 is 'hard to believe'. It also finds she misled the committee by claiming to have informed Mr Salmond she would not intervene in the investigation during a meeting at her house on April 2, 2018. The committee preferred Mr Salmond and his lawyer's claim that she suggested she would. In addition, it casts doubt on Ms Sturgeon's account of a meeting she initially 'failed to recollect' with Mr Salmond's aide Geoff Aberdein on March 29, 2018. Finally, the report heavily criticises the Scottish government for frustrating its investigation by failing to provide significant evidence, and delaying the submission of key documents. What happens next? The Scottish Tories held a vote of no confidence in Ms Sturgeon today. However they were soundly defeated because Labour and the Green Party refused to back it. It remains to be seen whether Mr Salmond will choose to launch another attack on his successor. What about the Hamilton Inquiry yesterday? The Hamilton Inquiry cleared Ms Sturgeon of breaking the ministerial code in her handling of the complaints against Salmond. If it had found that she did break the code, Ms Sturgeon would have faced stronger calls for her resignation. The Holyrood Inquiry said it was right that Mr Hamilton ruled on whether she breached the ministerial code. Advertisement Nicola Sturgeon tonight comfortably survived a vote of no confidence by 65 to 31 despite despite a damning inquiry finding she misled Parliament over the Alex Salmond row. The First Minister easily fended off the challenge after the Greens closed ranks with the SNP and Labour opted to abstain rather than back the motion. During a bad-tempered debate before the division, the First Minister accused critics of deciding she was guilty before any evidence had been heard by the cross-party committee. She jibed that she would not be 'bullied out of office' - gloating that she had been cleared by a separate probe carried out by a QC. Ms Sturgeon said she 'rejects entirely' the idea that she misled Parliament, and was 'at peace with my own conscience' over the extraordinary controversy. But Ruth Davidson for the Scottish Conservatives told her that the 'honourable thing would be to resign'. The clash came hours after the committee concluded she misled MSPs by giving Mr Salmond the impression she would intervene in his case. The MSPs said witnesses supported Mr Salmond's account of a meeting she initially 'failed to recollect' in March 2018, and it was 'hard to believe' she had 'no knowledge of any concerns about inappropriate behaviour on the part of Mr Salmond prior to November 2017'. 'If she did have such knowledge, then she should have acted upon it,' the report said. 'If she did have such knowledge, then she has misled the committee.' The committee also delivered a bruising assessment of the Scottish government's 'unacceptable' obstruction of access to crucial material including legal advice. The findings are in contrast to the verdict of a separate report yesterday, when James Hamilton QC cleared Ms Sturgeon of breaking the ministerial code - despite concluding her account was 'incomplete'. The committee split down party lines, with the four SNP members objecting to key findings, but crucially the nationalists' usual allies the Greens choosing to side with the opposition. In one key paragraph, the report brands part of Ms Sturgeon's evidence about a meeting with Mr Salmond on April 2, 2018 'an inaccurate account of what happened'. He says that the First Minister suggested she was ready to step in over the handling of complaints against him. 'Taking account of the competing versions of events, the Committee believes that she did in fact leave Mr Salmond with the impression that she would, if necessary, intervene,' the MSPs concluded. 'This was corroborated by (Mr Salmond's lawyer) Duncan Hamilton who was also at the meeting. Her 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 under the terms of section 1.3 (c).' The Holyrood inquiry was looking more broadly than Mr Hamilton into how the Scottish government bungled the handling of harassment complaints against Mr Salmond - which resulted in him being awarded more than 500,000. He was later cleared by a trial. The latest salvo in the extraordinary saga over the Salmond case sparked an immediate war of words across political lines, with the SNP sending out a legion of Sturgeon allies to shore her up. Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross said: 'James Hamilton said it was up to the Scottish Parliament to decide if the First Minister told the truth. 'The verdict of the Parliament committee is in - Nicola Sturgeon misled the public. This sorry affair has already done enough damage. When will someone take responsibility?' A cross-party committee found Nicola Sturgeon (pictured at Holyrood today) did mislead the Scottish Parliament as it delivered a damning assessment of the handling of the Alex Salmond row Nicola Sturgeon (left) has already dismissed the committee's inquiry into the Alex Salmond (right) inquiry as 'partisan' Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross made clear today he will push ahead with a vote of no confidence in Ms Sturgeon Key findings of the Holyrood inquiry Most of the critical findings in the report were decided by majority, with the SNP trying to block them but their usual allies the Greens siding with the opposition. NICOLA STURGEON 'FAILED TO RECOLLECT' KEY MEETING The committee considered a meeting Nicola Sturgeon had with Alex Salmond's aide Geoff Abberdein on March 29, 2018. She initially 'failed to recollect' the encounter as the first time she was told about complaints against Mr Salmond. The report noted there were 'contradictions as to the purpose' of the meeting and 'what took place'. 'However, the First Minister's failure to recollect this meeting in the weeks following her statement to Parliament on 8 January 2019 and her account of this meeting is at odds with that of Mr Salmond who asserts that Mr Aberdein told him that the First Minister was so informed on 29 March 2018. 'The Committee accepts that there may be differing recollections of this meeting and is not in a position to take a view on whether the former First Minister's or the First Minister's version of events is the more persuasive, although it notes that the former First Minister's version has the benefit of being confirmed by others.' DID STURGEON AGREE TO INTERVENE IN SALMOND CASE? The report brands part of Ms Sturgeon's evidence about a meeting with Mr Salmond on April 2, 2018 'an inaccurate account of what happened'. He says that the First Minister suggested she was ready to step in over the handling of complaints against him. 'Taking account of the competing versions of events, the Committee believes that she did in fact leave Mr Salmond with the impression that she would, if necessary, intervene,' the MSPs concluded. 'This was corroborated by (Mr Salmond's lawyer) Duncan Hamilton who was also at the meeting. Her 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 under the terms of section 1.3 (c).' WAS STURGEON AWARE OF SALMOND CLAIMS BEFORE NOV 2017? By a majority, the committee said: 'The Committee finds it hard to believe that the First Minister had no knowledge of any concerns about inappropriate behaviour on the part of Mr Salmond prior to November 2017. 'If she did have such knowledge, then she should have acted upon it. If she did have such knowledge, then she has misled the Committee.' ON STURGEON DECLARING MEETINGS The report said MSPs were 'concerned' Ms Sturgeon did not disclose details of her meeting with Alex Salmond at her home to the Scottish Government's most senior civil servant, Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans, until June 6 more than two months after it took place. The report said: 'Given the sensitivities of the matter and the fact that it related to internal government complaints handling, the committee believes that it was inappropriate for the First Minister to continue to meet and have discussions with the former first minister on this topic. 'She should have made the Permanent Secretary aware of her state of knowledge of the complaints and the facts of the meetings at the earliest opportunity after April 2, at which point she should have confirmed that she would cease to have any further contact with Mr Salmond on that subject.' DID STURGEON DEFY LAWYERS TO KEEP FIGHTING SALMOND CASE? In more split conclusions, the committee noted that lawyers from the Scottish Government had raised 'substantial concerns' about the prospects for the judicial review case from the end of October 2018. It said: 'By October 31 2018, senior external counsel had concluded that the Government would likely lose the judicial review. 'That assessment only worsened as the case progressed and prior contact between the investigating officer and complainers emerged. 'The committee is also concerned that the First Minister decided to proceed with the judicial review despite clear advice that it would likely fail.' ON SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT SUPPLYING EVIDENCE In a passage that was agreed by SNP members, the report said: 'The Committee's scrutiny has been significantly impacted by the delays in the provision of information from the Scottish Government and by its constant refusal to release legal advice.' Advertisement In the debate, Ms Sturgeon insisted she would have resigned if the Hamilton report had ruled she broke the code. 'There are some in this chamber who decided before a single piece of evidece had been heard that I was guilty,' she said. 'The only thing was what they would find me guilty of.' She said of the allegations against her that 'none of it is supported by the evidence because none of it is true'. Ms Sturgeon declared she was 'at peace with my own conscience', adding: 'If you think you can bully me out of office you are mistaken.' The result was not in doubt after the Greens said they would stick with the SNP, meaning they were guaranteed a majority - 65 votes at Holyrood. Labour widened the margin of victory for Ms Sturgeon by abstaining. The First Minister said: 'Had Mr Hamilton's report gone the other way, I would have accepted it, had he found that I had breached the code in anything other than the most technical and immaterial of ways, I would have been standing here right now tendering my resignation. 'The integrity of the office I am so privileged to hold really does matter to me. 'The office of First Minister is more important than any temporary incumbent of it.' The committee decided unanimously that Mr Hamilton would make a decision on whether the ministerial code had been broken. However, as well as giving a damning assessment of the Scottish government's handing of complaints, it also took aim specifically at Ms Sturgeon. By a majority, the committee said: 'The Committee finds it hard to believe that the First Minister had no knowledge of any concerns about inappropriate behaviour on the part of Mr Salmond prior to November 2017. 'If she did have such knowledge, then she should have acted upon it. If she did have such knowledge, then she has misled the Committee.' In another passage that was agreed by SNP members, the report said: 'The Committee's scrutiny has been significantly impacted by the delays in the provision of information from the Scottish Government and by its constant refusal to release legal advice. 'The Committee has been frustrated by the impression that on occasion it has not been given all of the relevant information simply because it has not struck upon all the right questions to ask to lead to the release of a particular additional detail... 'This is an unacceptable position for a parliamentary committee to find itself in when trying to scrutinise the Scottish Government, particularly when both the First Minister and the Permanent Secretary stated there would be full co-operation with the inquiry.' The report said MSPs were 'concerned' Ms Sturgeon did not disclose details of her meeting with Alex Salmond at her home to the Scottish Government's most senior civil servant, Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans, until June 6 more than two months after it took place. The report said: 'Given the sensitivities of the matter and the fact that it related to internal government complaints handling, the committee believes that it was inappropriate for the First Minister to continue to meet and have discussions with the former first minister on this topic. 'She should have made the Permanent Secretary aware of her state of knowledge of the complaints and the facts of the meetings at the earliest opportunity after April 2, at which point she should have confirmed that she would cease to have any further contact with Mr Salmond on that subject.' In more split conclusions, the committee noted that lawyers from the Scottish Government had raised 'substantial concerns' about the prospects for the judicial review case from the end of October 2018. It said: 'By October 31 2018, senior external counsel had concluded that the Government would likely lose the judicial review. 'That assessment only worsened as the case progressed and prior contact between the investigating officer and complainers emerged. 'The committee is also concerned that the First Minister decided to proceed with the judicial review despite clear advice that it would likely fail.' The report added that the Scottish Government 'was responsible from an early stage for a serious, substantial and entirely avoidable situation that resulted in a prolonged, expensive and unsuccessful defence' of the legal challenge brought by Mr Salmond. 'The committee finds that this state of affairs is unacceptable by an organisation such as the Scottish Government and that those responsible should be held accountable.' Criticising Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans, it said her office had been responsible for 'co-ordinating the supply of information for the judicial review' and that she was 'one of a few people who had been aware of the prior contact of the investigating officer' with the two female complainers. The report said: 'It must be questioned why the Permanent Secretary in her role and with her knowledge did not ensure that the relevant information was extracted and processed at a much earlier stage. 'This individual failing is as significant as the general corporate failing already described.' The committee said it looked at why the Scottish Government was forced to concede Mr Salmond's judicial review 'in such an embarrassing and costly manner'. It criticised the 'drip feeding of information', with the report stating: 'It is clear that at the start of the judicial review process those within the Scottish Government managing the judicial review and their counsel did not possess a complete picture of events relating to the handling of the complaints against the former First Minister.' Documents which were central to the Scottish Government conceding the judicial review were only identified on December 18 2018. The report said the 'main issues leading to the concession of the judicial review at such a late stage' were the Government's 'failure to recognise in the first place that the prior involvement of the investigating officer was an issue'. The report also noted the 'delays and mistakes in identifying and submitting documents'. It concluded: 'The committee considers that the major flaw in the conduct of this judicial review was the significant failure to identify all the relevant documents at the outset of the judicial review in August 2018. 'It is inexplicable that these were not identified by October 2018 when the issue of prior contact was identified as a concern by counsel. 'The process for recovering of documents was fundamentally flawed and contributed to the awarding of the maximum expenses to the petitioner.' In a slap on the wrists yesterday, Mr Hamilton said it was 'regrettable' that Ms Sturgeon had provided an 'incomplete narrative of events' to the Scottish Parliament about when she knew of complaints against Mr Salmond. The Committee of Inquiry published its dramatic findings today, although many of them were leaked last week The inquiry cast doubt on Nicola Sturgeon's claim that she had not heard any 'concerns' about Alex Salmond's behaviour before a Sky News report in 2017 The inquiry questioned Ms Sturgeon's claims to have 'forgotten' a key meeting when she learned of harassment claims against Alex Salmond The report condemned the Scottish government for failing to provide documents and leaving large gaps in its evidence. 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 But he said it was down to a 'genuine failure of recollection' and 'not deliberate'. 'I am of the opinion that the First Minister did not breach the provisions of the Ministerial Code in respect of any of these matters,' his report concluded. A jubilant Ms Sturgeon said she welcomed the 'comprehensive, evidence-based and unequivocal' finding. 'I sought at every stage in this issue to act with integrity and in the public interest. 'Prior to its publication, opposition politicians stressed the importance of respecting and accepting the outcome of Mr Hamilton's independent inquiry, and I committed wholeheartedly to doing so. 'Now that he has reported, it is incumbent on them to do likewise. 'Now that this investigation is complete and its conclusions public, I will continue to devote all of my time and energy to leading Scotland, to helping the country through the pandemic, and to ensuring that as we rebuild from the hardships of the last 12 months, we do everything we can to protect jobs, support our health service and rebuild our communities for the better.' Ms Sturgeon referred herself to the ministerial watchdog in January 2019 and asked Mr Hamilton - a former Director of Public Prosecutions in Ireland - to carry out a probe into her conduct after admitting she had met her predecessor to discuss claims of sexual harassment. Ms Sturgeon insisted the QC's report showed she was determined to 'not intervene in the process' of complaints at the request of Alex Salmond. But Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said yesterday that Ms Sturgeon was not 'free and clear'. 'The First Minister has been given a pass because it has been judged her 'failure of recollection' was 'not deliberate,' he said. 'I respect Mr Hamilton and his judgement but we cannot agree with that assessment. Nicola Sturgeon did not suddenly turn forgetful. Leaks from the Committee on the Scottish Government's Handling of Harassment Complaints had already suggesting it has concluded it is 'hard to believe' Ms Sturgeon did not know of concerns about her predecessor's behaviour before November 2017, as she has said. The findings come more than two years after it was first established. The cross-party inquiry was set up after a successful judicial review by Mr Salmond resulted in the Scottish Government's investigation being ruled unlawful and 'tainted by apparent bias' in 2019. When the leaks of the committee's findings emerged Ms Sturgeon, who spent eight hours being questioned by MSPs on the matter earlier this month, accused some members of having made their minds up before she had 'uttered a single word of evidence'. She dismissed the 'very partisan leak' as being 'not that surprising'. However Ms Sturgeon should survive if the Tories do push ahead and bring a vote of no confidence in her to Holyrood. That is because the Scottish Greens have already said they will not support such a motion, claiming the Conservatives have shown 'no interest in establishing the truth' by lodging the motion before the report was published. Speaking yesterday after Mr Hamilton's report was published, Ms Sturgeon said: 'I look forward, if that's the right expression, to the committee report being published tomorrow and we will look at that in great detail. 'But I cannot escape the conclusion that there are some members of that committee, because their public utterances show this, that decided before a single word of evidence had been taken that I was guilty of something and nothing was going to remove them from that view.' The motion of no confidence was tabled by the Scottish Conservatives, although they had hoped to stage the vote tomorrow. It stated: 'That the parliament has no confidence in the first minister, in light of confirmation that the Scottish government ignored legal advice on its prospects of success in Alex Salmond's judicial review case, and multiple credible witnesses indicating that the first minister misled the parliament.' Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans (left) was criticised by the committee. SNP chief executive Peter Murrell (right), Ms Sturgeon's husband, was among those attacked by Mr Salmond during the committee wrangling Boulder resident Lynn Murray couldn't have known when she left her home for King Soopers on Table Mesa Drive on Monday that she wouldn't return. COHOES Toxic firefighting foam had been incinerated at the Norlite aggregate plant here for longer and to a greater extent than previously known, according to shipping documents from the U.S. Department of Defense. While state environmental and city officials knew that 2.5 million pounds of aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, were burned in Norlites kiln between 2018 and 2019, the incineration actually started there in 2017. That included some 5.5 million pounds of wastewater containing AFFF, according to records. The concentration of AFFF in the wastewater wasnt immediately known, however. Its not clear why the earlier shipments were not included in earlier data from the state and city, said David Bond, a faculty member at Vermonts Bennington College who has been conducting research about the AFFF incineration and its environmental impacts. Bond spoke about the earlier shipments during an online briefing on Tuesday. He learned about them after combing through DOD shipping documents. AFFF contains PFAS or per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals. The foam is being phased out due to worries about the health effects of PFAS compounds, which can include thyroid problems, liver damage and possible cancers among other things. Incineration of AFFF has since been banned at Norlite, which is the only site in New York that had accepted the chemical. The ban came after revelations last year that some 2.5 million pounds of the foam had been incinerated at Norlite in 2018 and 2019. Worried about the health and environmental effects, the city imposed a moratorium, which was followed by a state ban. News that even more AFFF appears to have been incinerated at Norlite drew rebukes from Cohoes as well as activists such as Bond. If true that Norlite was incinerating AFFF firefighting foam containing dangerous PFAS chemicals before 2018, that is concerning but not surprising, Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler said. It is concerning that Norlite did not disclose that information, and disappointing that the DEC did not discover that fact, Keeler added. DEC appears to be significantly undercounting the amount of AFFF and AFFF wastewater burned at Norlite," said Bond. DEC Chief of Staff Sean Mahar, though, noted that the state agency began scrutinizing the shipments in 2018 at Keelers request. And because AFFF is not federally classified as a hazardous waste, there was no requirement that either the shipper the DOD nor Norlite had to report it. They werent required to report to us, Mahar said. Until they halted the incineration, Norlite took in almost 40 percent of the AFFF the DOD had been disposing of. The company had been accepting AFFF from military installations across the Eastern U.S. as part of a $5 million contract. The contract was dropped last year amid worries about the dangers of incineration and the outcry from Cohoes residents and town officials. Much of the military AFFF was from airfields, where fire crews would train with the foam. Thats also true of locations across the state where local departments have trained. Norlite also had been taking in AFFF from fire departments in New England and other nearby states. The DOD rules for AFFF disposal appear to have loopholes in the form of wide discretion about how shipments of the foam are reported to state and local authorities. The DOD doesnt require certificates of destruction or burning parameters for AFFF, noted Bond. It seems as if the military did not want to know, he said. The DOD, he added, may be hastening efforts to dispose of AFFF before it is classified as a hazardous waste something environmentalists like Bond are calling for. Norlite also pointed out that there is no reporting requirement. They had told DEC voluntarily at one point that the substance was being shipped there. AFFF and its constituents are not regulated as hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act nor are they subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act, said Prince Knight, environmental and regulatory compliance manager at Norlite. Therefore, neither Norlite nor any generators were subject to any legal requirement to report incineration of AFFF-containing waste materials to the New York Department of Conservation or federal regulators, nor has there been any requirement to report such activity to the city. Precisely how much AFFF was in the earlier wastewater shipments, which may have come from groundwater, wasnt immediately clear. More for you News Navy says it will halt all PFAS shipments to Cohoes' burn... Incineration of AFFF at Norlite actually first came to light through documents in a lawsuit that environmental groups including the Sierra Club had filed. There is a push by environmental activists for a national ban on incineration of AFFF, which is still burned in a handful of facilities across the U.S. There also are worries about the dust and emissions coming from Norlites kiln, which is licensed to burn hazardous wastes. Residents of Saratoga Sites, a neighboring subsidized housing development, recently sued over the silica dust coming from the facility. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU "IAS Academy empowers marketers with best-in-class training and tools so they can make well-informed decisions about the verification of digital ad quality," said Tony Marlow, CMO, IAS. "In a fast-paced environment where technology evolves quickly, we're proud to offer this program to the industry, helping marketers better control their media investments and deliver optimal outcomes for their campaigns." IAS Academy provides training to digital media and advertising professionals from leading IAS experts. IAS Academy is designed to empower digital advertising professionals to become experts in digital ad verification and its implementation during campaigns, providing greater transparency and ultimately maximizing return of media investment. The training program covers in-depth digital ad verification topics such as brand suitability and ad fraud, media quality measurement, programmatic, and advertising channels and environments including mobile, video, CTV and more. IAS Academy includes self-paced assessments and four badge levels: IAS Verification Foundation; IAS Product Expert; IAS Verification Specialist: Set Up; and IAS Verification Specialist: Tagging & Technical. "Now more than ever, technology is evolving at a rapid pace and media spend is constantly scrutinized as a performance monitoring indicator, so education is essential to maximize the success of campaigns," said Diana Romero, Manager, Digital Standards and Partnerships, Publicis Media. "IAS was able to bring together all the fundamental elements of digital advertising, adding further confidence through sharing best practices on an industry-wide level through their IAS Academy program." About Integral Ad Science Integral Ad Science (IAS) is a global leader in digital ad verification, ensuring that ads are viewable by real people in safe and suitable environments. IAS's mission is to be the global benchmark for trust and transparency in digital media quality for the world's leading brands, publishers and platforms. We do this through data-driven technologies with actionable real-time signals and insight. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in New York, IAS works with thousands of top advertisers and premium publishers worldwide. IAS is part of the Vista Equity Partners portfolio of companies. For more information, visit integralads.com . SOURCE Integral Ad Science, Inc. Related Links www.integralads.com California-based minister Mario Murillo cuts on the wild goose chase of speculations by stating that the real symptom of America's sickness is "silence in the pulpit." He also calls for believers to stop consuming information fed by the leftist media. Murillo is once again calling out church leadership in the United States. By keeping mum about legislation continuously pushing anti-God agendas, these leaders are betraying their members, he said. The California pastor noted that here had recently been a spike on the percentage of youths expecting "to change their gender identity at least once during their lifetime." He also added that the left will do anything to prey on the feelings of children. This is already evident on social media where children are seen "acting out gender dysphoria." The bottom line, according to Murillo's analysis, is the erasure of womanhood as defined in the Bible. Citing one headline from Christian Headlines which states "57 Black Pastors Warn Democrat Senators Not to Pass the Equality Act," Murillo bemoaned the obvious lack of unity among church leaders to purposely "stop wicked leaders" in their ungodly schemes. He tags the phenomenon as "the crime of (the) century." "How is that even a headline? There should have been 10,000 black pastors warning the Senate. There should have been at least 200,000 American pastors of all colors warning the Senate," he said. Noting that the Equality Act is just a fragment in both the spiritual and cultural battles, Murillo also did not hold back his frustration on most sermons where they are either void of truth-telling or they down-play the bill's impact on all Americans, not just Christians. "A vast and vicious lie has covered America like locusts, and most sermons are filled with fluff. Your messages are not hitting anywhere near that lie. There was a day when, perhaps, your lukewarm messages could be considered harmless, even mildly amusing. But today they are an unspeakable betrayal," he contends. Quoting Charles Finney's words which enumerated the different ways a country will sink into the quagmire of sins, Murillo stressed that it's the pulpits that are to be blamed. Ignoring this fact will just compound their moral accountability to God. Their silence is also their complicity. "What level of horror will it take to rouse you to your duty? Perhaps that horror will be when your own people rise on their own. The millions of members who have faithfully and patiently waited for you to lead them," cries the fiery preacher. Murillo alluded the rise of a "Christian populist movement" which are fed up with complacency. They would either leave or find other churches that are not lukewarm on crucial societal issues. These churches, in Murillo's words, are "seeking God for the revival and a divine counteroffensive against the political devils who seek to destroy both America and the Church." "Do not laugh. I am seeing it everywhere," said Murillo. "Crowds are forming in places no one ever expected. Fire is coming from the mouths of average Christians on the street. The people of the Lord are becoming willing volunteers in the day of God's power!" A cargo of Ukraine-origin material was reported sold to Brazil at $780 per tonne cfr, while Russian material was heard booked in Mexico at around the same level. Market sources were divided on the cost of freight to the region, with one source telling Fastmarkets it... WASHINGTON, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects six out of 1,000 babies born in the U.S. each year and is often complicated by arrhythmias, a condition where the heart beats too rapidly, too slowly or irregularly due to a misfiring of the body's electrical impulses. While the last decade brought great advances in technologies that improve the care of adult arrhythmias, pediatric patients have been left behind, with only five devices approved for use in children in the same period. As a result, pediatric specialists are often using off-label or improvised devices to treat pediatric arrhythmias, including in the smallest newborns. Recognizing this unmet need, the National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation (NCC-PDI), in collaboration with MedTech Innovator, is accepting applications through April 12, 2021, for its annual "Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!" competition. This year's competition focuses on innovations in pediatric devices that treat CHD, with an emphasis on electrophysiology devices such as pacemaker systems, ablation catheters, wearable monitoring devices and related technologies that address arrhythmias in children. "NCC-PDI was created, with the support of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to seek out and address significant unmet needs in pediatric medical devices," says Kolaleh Eskandanian, Ph.D., M.B.A., P.M.P., vice president and chief innovation officer at Children's National Hospital and principal investigator of NCC-PDI. "We have learned from the experts that pediatric-specific technologies for treating arrhythmias would be a game changer in the care of their patients, so we are focusing our competition and grant awards on this opportunity." Using a virtual format, semi-finalists chosen from all submissions will make their first pitch on May 12, 2021. Up to 10 finalists selected from this event earn participation in a special pediatric-focused track of the MedTech Innovator accelerator program, the largest medtech accelerator in the world, beginning in June 2021. These innovators then participate in the pediatric competition finals in September 2021 where judges will award up to $150,000 in FDA-sponsored grants to the devices selected as most impactful and commercially viable. "Because pediatric medical devices face unique challenges in achieving commercialization, MedTech Innovator's accelerator program provides specialized mentoring and guidance from experienced industry leaders," says Paul Grand, CEO of MedTech Innovator. "Our program is designed to provide immediate and long-term benefits to help innovators more rapidly achieve success on their journey to improving health care for children." How significant is the need for pediatric devices to address arrhythmias? In a recent survey of members conducted by the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society (PACES), the vast majority (96%) said they believe there is a deficiency in devices available to serve the needs of pediatric patients. Conducted with the U.S. FDA, the survey also asked respondents to identify the biggest unmet need, which physicians identified as cardiovascular implantable electronic devices that are smaller, have better battery life and have pediatric-specific algorithms. Specifically, a leadless pacemaker designed for pediatric care was consistently on the most-wanted list. "It's evident that technologies for pediatric patients with CHD are not adequate and the experts are telling us what they need," says William E. Bentley, Ph.D., Robert E. Fischell distinguished professor and director of the Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices at the University of Maryland. "I look forward to seeing the critical innovations that NCC-PDI will help to advance through this competition." NCC-PDI is one of five members in the FDA's Pediatric Device Consortia Grant Program created to support the development and commercialization of medical devices for children, which lags significantly behind the advancement of adult medical devices. NCC-PDI is led by the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children's National Hospital and the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland with support from partners MedTech Innovator, BioHealth Innovation and design firm Archimedic. Eskandanian says that enhancing access to resources for pediatric innovators is also one of the aims of the Children's National Research and Innovation Campus, a first-of-its-kind focused on pediatric health care innovation, with the first phase currently open on the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus in Washington, D.C. With its proximity to federal research institutions and agencies, universities, academic research centers, as well as on-site incubator Johnson & Johnson Innovation JLABS, the campus provides a rich ecosystem of public and private partners which, like the NCC-PDI network, will help bolster pediatric innovation and commercialization. For more information and to apply for the upcoming NCC-PDI pitch competition, visit the NCC-PDI website. About Children's National Hospital Children's National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., celebrates 150 years of pediatric care, research and commitment to community. Volunteers opened the hospital in 1870 with 12 beds for children displaced after the Civil War. Today, 150 years stronger, it is among the nation's top 10 children's hospitals. It is ranked No. 1 for newborn care for the fourth straight year and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children's National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. In 2021, the Children's National Research & Innovation Campus opened, the first in the nation dedicated to pediatric research. Children's National has been designated three times in a row as a Magnet hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty care locations in the D.C. metropolitan area, including the Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs. Children's National is home to the Children's National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation and is the nation's seventh-highest NIH-funded children's hospital. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. For more information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. SOURCE Childrens National Hospital All adult Texans will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations beginning next week, state health officials said Tuesday. The announcement comes a little more than one week after the state Health Department allowed all people 50 and older to receive doses. In a statement, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo praised the decision. Opening vaccine eligibility vaccines to every adult is a key milestone in our fight against COVID-19, Hidalgo said. The onus is now on each adult to do their part. This vaccine is safe and effective, and the faster we all get a vaccine the sooner well be able to pull through this crisis, get our economy running at full speed, and get life back to normal. Many experts have continued to raise concerns about unequal access to vaccines, particularly among low-income communities. Rice University health economist Vivian Ho said the opened eligibility could help on that front because public health agencies will be able to, for example, vaccinate all workers at a grocery store. Now you can say we are going to go to workplaces, because there's no age limit, she said. Conversely, Ho said, the announcement will do little to convince people who have already decided not to get vaccines, namely in communities outside of major cities. Opening eligibility criteria will clear confusion for many communities who have hesitated to get a COVID-19 vaccine because of constantly changing age and medical condition restrictions, said Luis Torres-Hostos, dean of the University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley School of Social Work. Torres-Hostos, who has worked with his university to get the message out to Latino communities, is hopeful public health officials will have more luck with immunization with these changes. Where are the vaccine deserts? Where are the places where it's really hard for members of the community to get their vaccine? he said. Weve got to do something to make sure that the vaccine is being given there. However, even his optimism comes with a caveat. Expanded criteria will only fix inequities if it comes with increased vaccine supply. Communities of color and low-income communities are not hesitant to get the vaccine; a recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds 7 in 10 Hispanic people surveyed have received or want to book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine. If we build it, they will come, Torres-Hostos said. Its possible residents of other communities will flock to those neighborhoods for vaccines. Torres-Hostos hopes it doesnt happen. But if it does, he said, he thinks they should take the chance to learn about the communities theyre parachuting into for a shot. To date, more than 6.3 million Texans have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and nearly 3.2 million people are fully inoculated. Two of the vaccines approved for distribution in the United States made by Moderna and Pfizer require two shots for full protection. The Department of State Health Services is launching a website to help Texans register for vaccine appointments through some public health providers. Members of the public will be able to sign up for the scheduler and will be notified when appointments open up. The state will also create a toll-free number to help individuals without internet access make appointments. Texas has routinely ranked among the worst of all states for vaccines per capita. This story will be updated. robert.downen@chron.com DEAR ABBY: I am an out-and-proud lesbian who recently celebrated 10 years as a couple and three years of marriage to my wife. I worked as a professional nanny for many years, and I'm still extremely close to the first family I worked for. Although we have known each other for years, they still ask me not to mention my marriage when I'm around their kids. They refer to my wife as my "roommate." It's all I can do to bite my tongue. I have ignored this for too long. I recently invited them over to see my new home. Because of their conservative views, I warned them in advance about the wedding photos I have displayed. I'm not ashamed of my life. I am extremely proud of myself and my wife. I am hurt and offended by their requests. I feel they only accept certain parts of me. I realize it's unhealthy to continue this way, but I'm terrified of losing them. I'm usually a straightforward person. I feel open communication is important with everyone else in my life. But I have lost relationships before because, no matter how respectful I tried to be, honesty can sometimes be hard to hear. How can I be honest without angering this couple, and what's the best way to start this conversation? -- OUTSPOKEN NANNY DEAR NANNY: If your former employers think they can censor their children's world to omit the fact that perfectly nice people, including one they love, are gay, they're dreaming. Kids today are very worldly. When the parents started calling your wife your roommate, you should have corrected them then and TOLD them it was offensive and hurtful. Invite them to your home and leave your wedding photos displayed. Why you are terrified that your relationship with them will end because you're living your authentic life mystifies me. If they can't handle the truth, you and your wife are better off without them. DEAR ABBY: My husband's brother has two kids, both of whom are now adults. The older one is in their second year of college; the younger one will graduate from high school this spring. We haven't missed a single birthday for either one. The only time we see them is when there's a birthday or it's Christmas (with a few exceptions, like the occasional funeral). I think it's time to stop the annual birthday gifts. We're not particularly close, and I'm tired of the forced merriment when it's clear they are only after the gift. How do I tell the parents and the grandparents there will be no more gifts for birthdays without sounding like a stingy old aunt? -- GIFTED OUT IN MICHIGAN DEAR GIFTED OUT: Unless you want to make a change immediately, hang in there until the younger child reaches 21. At that point, put the parents/grandparents on notice that because "the kids" are now adults, you will be sending cards rather than gifts. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. 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. Of all the worlds still to be explored, among the most mysterious may be closest to home. Indeed, it may be right between your ears. A type of cell called the astrocyte accounts for more than 25 percent of the human brain, yet a small percentage of how this cell function contributes to brain function is actually understood. Virginia Tech neuroscientist Michelle Olsen seeks to change that through a new five-year, $1.6 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health. She hopes her work will one day allow scientists to more deeply understand how this cell develops and functions in the healthy brain so that they can better treat neurodevelopmental disorders and neurological disease. "There is so much about the brain that is still to learn," said Olsen, an associate professor in the School of Neuroscience, part of the Virginia Tech College of Science, and director of the director of the recently approved neuroscience Ph.D. program. "We're really at the bottom of an exponential learning curve." Astrocytes appear, or are born, late in the third trimester of fetal development, well after their more well-studied neighbors, the neurons. Astrocytes produce long tentacles or cell processes that appear to wrap around many points of contact, or synapses, between neurons, protecting and stabilizing these vital connections. But so far scientists know little about what "recruits" these astrocytic processes to neuronal synapses. Yet, Olsen and her lab may have identified an important molecular player in that process. Scientists have long known that neurons release at the synapse a protein, "brain-derived neurotrophic factor" or BDNF, to aid in neuron-to-neuron communication, growth and function. Astrocytes produce the protein TrkB -- that's short for Tropomyosin receptor kinase B -- a receptor for BDNF. Olsen suspects this BDNF/TrkB pathway facilitates neuron-to-astrocyte communication -- a disruption of which could alter the development of astrocytes and, ultimately, the brain itself. We may have been missing a good part of the story by focusing on this pathway only in neurons. It may turn out that this signaling pathway, which is critical for early brain development, is just as important in astrocytes. You can imagine if the cells do not develop properly then they don't ever really normalize." Michelle Olsen, Virginia Tech Neuroscientist The research is much too new to even hypothesize about potential medical benefits, Olsen added: "This is very basic science, really just trying to understand how the brain works normally. How does the astrocyte know where it needs to go?" Beatriz Torres, a neuroscience doctoral student who works in Olsen's lab, added, "I am very excited about the grant and the projects that it has outlined. Not very much is known about what actually draws an astrocyte process to a synapse in the first place. Understanding what these cues are could offer us novel therapeutic targets for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders." Scientific and technological advancements have been a major driver behind Olsen's discoveries. The current study will be conducted in the mouse, a mammalian model system often used in neuroscience research. Olsen, and researchers like her, take advantage of the ability to manipulate the genome of this animal, allowing for specific manipulation of the BDNF/TrkB pathway only in the astrocytes. The NIH grant allows Olsen's team to use a new serial block-face scanning microscope at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC in Roanoke to perform a very high-resolution microscopy of those tiny astrocyte projections that enwrap the synapses. "This new microscope will allow us to acquire a large number of images in a short time period to really dig into the questions in the study," Olsen said. Olsen will collaborate with two Virginia Tech researchers on this project: neuroscientists Susan Campbell, a research assistant professor in the Department in Animal and Poultry Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and an affiliated faculty member in neuroscience, and Michael Fox, a professor in and director of the School of Neuroscience, and a professor with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. "Dr. Olsen's work on the molecular signals that drive astrocyte maturation and the formation of synaptic astrocyte processes is fundamental to our understanding of how these specialized cells contribute to synaptic function in health and disease," Fox said. "Her expertise in glial and synaptic biology, in cell and molecular biology, in electrophysiology, and in high-resolution imaging uniquely positions her to solve this complex question." It's an expertise Olsen has developed since her first days as a neuroscience graduate student at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. "This is where I began my lifelong love of astrocytes," she said. "Astrocytes are the unsung heroes of the brain. They perform many underappreciated functions, but they're fundamental to how the brain works." CybersecuritySA.coms website is broken. The link takes you to a page that says, Weve happened upon a bit of a problem. Its a bad look for San Antonios cybersecurity industry advocacy group, and the problems apparently run deeper than the public web page. Cybersecurity San Antonio, or the Cybersecurity Council, launched six years ago when some business, community and government leaders banded together to attract companies and jobs in the industry. Besides funding, the council needed a home. In a 2015 City Hall meeting, the city and Bexar County both agreed to chip in $50,000 a year. Participants included then-Mayor Ivy Taylor, County Judge Nelson Wolff, City Manager Sheryl Sculley, representatives of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation and San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, and John Dickson, co-owner of Denim Group. The council was Dicksons brainchild. The decision makers designated the chamber as the councils temporary home. Sculley said the SAEDF was unable to take responsibility for the group because they were going through a transition. She added that Henry Cisneros, the chamber chairman at the time, questioned the decision and wondered if the SAEDF would be a better host for the group. And despite the leaders long-term goal of transitioning Cybersecurity SA to the SAEDF, it hasnt happened. While the idea of a cyber advocacy group offers vast potential, we havent yet seen the big payoff Dickson and others had hoped for. Related: Accelerator: San Antonio's cybersecurity industry 30 years after Michelangelo Today, the group, chaired by Rich Valdez, chief technology officer at IPSecure, has 300 members and five focus areas: global engagement, innovation and economic development, military and government affairs, talent and workforce development and sustainability. Its the chambers industry group, according to Richard Perez, the chambers president and CEO. Perez said the chamber is focused at the 30,000-foot level trying to build the industry. He cited the University of Texas at San Antonios cybersecurity program and the National Security Collaboration Center. He also noted the National Security Agencys designation of five area colleges as cybersecurity centers of excellence. He sees workforce development and a tech talent pipeline as critical to growing San Antonios cybersecurity industry. Despite those contributions, Dickson said Cybersecurity SA has become the cyber chamber of commerce, which is the last thing anyone needs. Perez acknowledges that the chamber is not a proactive arm of bringing new companies here thats more of an SAEDF mission. We dont deal with that space, but we play in it with the SAEDF, he said. Instead, the chamber is focused on facilitating. We're all about growing what we got and keeping who we have, he said. Perez sees the recent out-of-state company acquisitions of two old guard San Antonio cyber companies, Digital Defense and GlobalScape, as a validation of the areas expertise that bodes well for the industry. Related: Accelerator: What happened to TechBloc's chief talent and recruitment officer? According to Dickson, Cybersecurity SAs original intent was simple and grounded in economic development: add jobs and companies. But by those measures, he said, Cybersecurity SA is failing. While local firms continue to increase government contract work, San Antonio isnt seeing cybersecurity start-ups focused on new products or services. The 16th Air Force has kind of been our great honeypot, but where we haven't been as successful is we haven't been able to create a series of product-based, more commercial companies to spin out of there, Dickson said. I think contracts and stuff like that are pretty cool, but what's really cool is when someone leaves one of those companies and starts a product company based upon their background in those places and thats not happening. Neither the chamber nor the SAEDF could identify new San Antonio-based cybersecurity companies created since the council launched. An SAEDF spokesperson said that since 2016, the foundation worked with 10 companies growing cybersecurity operations in the region that added approximately 1,600 new jobs. The companies included IPSecure, Accenture Federal Services, Booz Allen Hamilton, Delta Risk, LevelUp Code Works, Freedom Security Alliance, LGS Innovations or CACI, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Bitdefender. While IPSecure is a San Antonio firm that started in 2000, the rest of these companies arent new firms or headquartered in the city. Accenture, Booz Allen, CACI and PwC are giant contractors whove expanded their footprint in San Antonio. Delta Risk is part of Motorola. LevelUp is an Air Force-owned software development team, and Bitdefender is based in Bucharest. And 1,600 jobs over five years? 320 new jobs a year is nothing to scoff at, but its hardly explosive growth. Related: Accelerator: NASA's Perseverance lands, San Antonio hypersonics lab rises The commercialization side of it hasn't taken off in the manner in which we had hoped, Sculley said. Theres still more work, and I think the potential is still there to certainly do more. So far, the city has invested $250,000, and Bexar County has invested $100,000 in the program, according to the chamber. The county stopped its annual contributions one year in, but the chamber plans to ask the county for additional funding. Cybersecurity SAs annual budget runs between $175,000 and $300,000, with the chamber picking up the costs that exceed public funds. Thats up to $1.8 million over the lifespan of Cybersecurity SA, and the website doesnt work? Some of those funds pay the chambers vice president of cybersecurity and economic development, and on March 1, Jeff Fair, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, started in the role. The 45-year-old former intelligence officer, with experience at the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command, replaced Amanda Lee Keammerer who held the position from June 2019 through September 2020. Before Keammerer, Will Garrett, who currently oversees cybersecurity development at Port San Antonio, ran the program. Beyond learning the job and the players, Fair said his first task is to review the chambers cybersecurity and economic development programs and develop a strategic plan. Perez said he tasked Fair to find out what makes sense and what they can do to hone the programs. Fairs background certainly arms him well for growing the government and military contract business, and time will tell how hell do on the commercial side. Related: Accelerator: My son's turntable rekindled vinyl magic When I asked the chamber and the SAEDF about the best home for Cybersecurity SA, they circled the wagons and provided a joint statement from Perez and Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, the SAEDFs president and CEO. They said there are no plans or discussions about moving the council, and that they successfully work together to attract and grow businesses, so where certain functions lie within our organizations is irrelevant. They also offered a reminder that economic development in San Antonio is a team sport. To that, Dickson agreed, adding, like many team sports, some players contribute more than others. Regardless of where the Cybersecurity SA resides, its clear theres room for more cybersecurity firms in the city, and we look forward to the strategic plan on the way ahead and, of course, a working website. Brandon Lingle writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. brandon.lingle@express-news.net ADVERTISEMENT The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that the country does not have the financial muscle now to build a new refinery going by the economic situation of the country. Mele Kyari, NNPC Group Managing Director, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while engaging journalists on issues emanating from the proposed rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery approved by the Federal Government last week. Mr Kyari said building a new refinery now would cost the country about $10 billion which is far beyond the $1.5 billion earmarked for the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt refinery. He also said the country would have to live with importation of petroleum product, especially petrol, for another four years if the country ventures into building a new refinery. We have people saying why not build a new one; why will you repair an old refinery with $1.5 billion? The fact is available even by Google search, what it takes to build a refinery of this status today. It will be difficult for the country to build a new refinery as it will take four years for it to commence production. It is around $7 billion and $12 billion to construct a refinery of this nature (Port Harcourt refinery). This is the estimate you see in public space and there are things you do outside the construction battle-limits like the utilities that are never accounted for when estimates of this nature are done. Typically, there is an additional 25 per cent cost for construction battle-limits, so, when you say a refinery can be built at $7 billion or even 10 billion dollars, also think of that 25 per cent. With todays estimate, you cannot build a refinery at any cost below these amounts, that means that the option you have is to scrap this and build a new one, and we all know that we dont have that resource. If we start a new refinery of this nature today, it cant work in less than four years, therefore, it means we will continue to import petroleum products in the next four years or more, Mr Kyari said. According to him, the country did not do well in maintaining the refineries in the past 25 years as the last turnaround maintenance of the Port Harcourt refinery happened 21 years ago. He noted that the huge cost of rehabilitation of the refinery witnessed in this present time was as a result of poor maintenance of the plant over a period of time. What we are seeing today is the cumulative effect of our lack of doing proper maintenance over a period of time but something has changed today and this is why we are proud to tell Nigerians that we have done something different in the background. This is because we have a government that allowed us to play our role without interference in terms of our procurement exercises and this made the process go unhindered. This has also allowed us to involve every stakeholder including NUPENG and NEITI, to ensure openness and accountability of the process, he said. (NAN) Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The first test of a project backed to spray millions of tonnes of chalk into the stratosphere, in an attempt to dim the sun and cool the Earth, could happen in June. Harvard University experts will test the system by sending a large balloon 12 miles above the Swedish town of Kiruna and have it drop 2kg of chalk dust into the stratosphere. The aim of the estimated $3 million mission, backed by billionaire Bill Gates, is to have the chalk deflect a portion of the suns radiation, stop it from hitting the surface, and cool the planet. The idea has been heavily criticised since its inception, with project director Frank Keutsch even calling the need for this scale of geo-engineering terrifying. And experts have warned that the unusual technique could be disastrous for weather systems in ways nobody can predict. Backed by a range of private donors including Gates, the test mission is launching from Sweden as they could offer a launch by the end of this summer. The test balloon will lift 600kg of scientific equipment 12 miles above the surface of the Arctic town and if it all goes well, about 2kg of dust will be released. [March 23, 2021] Arkose Labs Announces Fraud Prevention Virtual Panel Series SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arkose Labs today announced the Fraud Prevention Panel Series , a three-week interactive online series that provides the opportunity to connect with industry experts and discover their philosophies as they disrupt the field of fraud prevention. Attendees will receive a deeper understanding of todays fraudster and the type of cyberattacks that can cripple businesses, while gaining insight into how fraud elimination approaches are evolving. The series sessions will take place on April 6, 13, 20 and 22, bringing together speakers from BBVA, PayPal, Bill.com, i2C, Pitney Bowes and Wargaming, among others. In partnership with Socure, Feedzai and Seon, the series will offer actionable insights and takeaways at the most critical time in the history of online fraud. When we look back at the last year, it was like no other in the fraud prevention space, said Kevin Swartz, head of digital marketing at Arkose Labs. With online fraud spiking to an all-time high, the insight gained from gathering these fraud prevention experts in the same virtual room is invaluable. We will all leave these sessions with new tools to help eliminate fraud. The Fraud Prevention Virtual Panel Series schedule is as follows: Account Protection, April 6 Experts from Chime, BBVA, Socure and PayPal will discuss protecting the digital front-end from attacks on logins and fake account registrations. Account takeover is the fastest growing issue in fraud, and this panel will dive deep into how leading digital businesses are ensuring they detect and deter malicious activity during a time of rising user expectations and increasingly nuanced attacks. This day will also feature a masterclass from Arkose Labs CEO Kevin Gosschalk, who will demonstrate attack tactics and emerging defenses. Fraud Protection, April 13 Fraud protection experts from Mission Lane, MoneyLion, Feedzai, MRC and Sony will discuss the true value of fraud protection and the impact it has on customer relations. Patrice Boffa and Himanshu Bari of Arkose Labs will present a masterclass on effectively measuring the economic impact of fraud prevention. Trust and Safety, April 20 Experts from LinkedIn, Bill.com, CyberSource, Square Enix and Arkose Labs will provide insights into how to protect the full B2C perimeter, and Murry Lancashire and Hedda Peters of Arkose Labs will host a masterclass on creativity and the art of authentication. Digital Commerce, April 22 Europe is on the frontlines of some of the most innovative attacks today. Online fraud experts from Pitney Bowes, Insparx, I2C, Seon and Wargaming will discuss the economics of launching a fraud attack, and how to make it so costly for fraudsters to attack your business that they will give up and look elsewhere. David Senecal of Arkose Labs will also present a masterclass on the anatomy of an account takeover. For more information and to register, visit arkoselabs.com/panel-series/ . About Arkose Labs Arkose Labs bankrupts the business model of fraud. Its patented platform combines Arkose Detect, a sophisticated risk engine, with Arkose Enforce, which uses targeted step-up challenges to wear fraudsters down and diminish their ROI. The worlds largest brands trust Arkose Labs to protect their customer journey while delivering unrivaled user experiences. Arkose Labs is based in San Francisco, Calif., with offices in Brisbane, Australia. For more information, visit www.arkoselabs.com or on Twitter @ArkoseLabs . Media Contact: Paul Wilke arkose@uprightcomms.com +1-415-881-7995 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 21:41:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Young people work in mobile money booths in Lusaka, Zambia, on March 17, 2021. The mobile phone communication services industry has over the years provided a host of employment opportunities across Africa through its range of services. Among the opportunities created by the industry are mobile money services, which involve the electronic receipt, transfer, and storage of money using a cellular phone. (Photo by Lillian Banda/Xinhua) LUSAKA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The mobile phone communication services industry has over the years provided a host of employment opportunities across Africa through its range of services. Among the opportunities created by the industry are mobile money services, which involve the electronic receipt, transfer, and storage of money using a cellular phone. In Zambia, mobile phone network companies work with agents who also employ youths. These young people can be seen working from booths, which are often found at street turn and trading place. The main role of the young people is to help clients deposit or withdraw cash as well as send money to others. They also guide clients on how to register for mobile money services. While some are on a fixed salary, many of them work on a commission basis with many getting as much as 40 percent of the profits realized. Twenty-year-old Martha Chileshe who operates near a busy shopping mall in Lusaka, Zambia's capital revealed that she gets about 1500 to 2000 kwacha (about 68 to 90 U.S. dollars) per month. "Working on commission basis pushes one to work harder because you know that your input determines your pay. I was once on fixed pay and it was far much less than what I get now," she explained. Most of the youths interviewed explained that working for mobile money business has enabled them to provide for their immediate basic needs as well as to set aside some money for college or business. Prisca Banda, aged 19, who operates in the Chibombo district, central Zambia explained that working at a mobile money services point has accorded her a chance to devise plans of launching her own businesses. "I am currently working on establishing my own business. This is an opportunity for me to plan for my business ventures," Banda said. And Mildred Mutale, a mobile money agent who has employed about 10 youths said there exists great opportunities in mobile money services that youths can exploit such as becoming direct agents of mobile money services companies. Mutale added that with formal jobs becoming increasingly scarce, mobile money services continue to provide employment opportunities for many Zambian youths in both rural and urban areas of the country. Enditem Could particles of sand in the Israel desert seize up hiring for a $25 billion cog in Connecticuts economic engine? Sikorsky is not saying, but the Israeli Air Force reportedly is demanding an engine fix for a new helicopter so its pilots can fly with confidence in desert brownout conditions. The Pentagon is reportedly taking notice as it continues flight testing in advance of buying 10 times as many for $25 billion. The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion is the largest helicopter ever flown by the U.S. military. Its cargo bay is large enough for an M1 Abrams battle tank and able to fly higher and faster than its predecessor CH-53E Super Stallion to avoid enemy ground fire. Already putting seven King Stallion helicopters through flight tests, the Marines want 200 in all over a decade to replace its existing Super Stallion fleet that began entering service 40 years ago. Israel wants 20 King Stallions itself but according to a Monday report, has complained to Sikorsky after observing deterioration in engine components from extended exposure to dust and sand kicked up by rotors and wind. Engine maker GE Aviation touts the King Stallions T408 engine compressors and turbines as sand tolerant and corrosion resistant, in a promotional brochure. The Pentagon has subjected the aircraft to sandstorm conditions as part of extensive flight testing at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, with one U.S. Army account likening the sands granularity there to moon dust. In a statement forwarded by a spokesperson, Sikorsky indicated a majority of technical issues have been resolved without providing details and that it is confident it has solutions to address the few outstanding issues remaining. Six King Stallions are on the assembly line in Stratford, with another 30 in varying stages of production. GE Aviation / Contributed photo Sikorsky did not indicate whether any prolonged engine issue could delay hiring in Stratford. The manufacturer lists more than 60 open positions at present and employs about 13,000 people in total, including roughly 8,170 in Connecticut. We understand the sand ingestion issue and, as the aircraft integrator, have assigned a dedicated team of our most experienced engineers to work alongside [the Naval Air Systems Command] and GE to resolve this issue, the Sikorsky statement reads. A GE Aviation spokesperson indicated on Tuesday that work has proceeded on about 100 engines to date, including those now being tested aboard helicopters. A subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky is the states third largest corporate employer after Electric Boat and Raytheon Technologies. As the case with Electric Boat which last week received a Navy contract for a new attack submarine Sikorsky has provided economic stability during the COVID-19 crisis through new hiring, even as Pratt & Whitney has cut jobs due to the pandemics impact on commercial aviation. Lockheed Martin need look no further than Pratt & Whitney to know how engine delays can impact aircraft production schedules. Pratt & Whitney has had to troubleshoot issues with the F135 jet engine it makes for the F-35 joint striker, pushing back production of some planes at a Lockheed Martin factory in Fort Worth, Texas. The Israeli Air Force measured engine performance falling below levels considered acceptable after just over 20 minutes exposure to dust kicked up by rotors, according to a Monday report in Breaking Defense. Multiple sources the publication did not cite by name described the dust problem as very serious and that IAF is demanding a fix before it will accept delivery of more aircraft. Israel raised no issues with the King Stallion in a formal statement last month confirming its selection of the helicopter for its military. In early March, the Government Accountability Office issued a rebuke of Sikorskys own production schedule for the King Stallion, including the manufacturers extended testing timeline. The GAO document recommended Sikorsky limit production to six helicopters annually the schedule calls for seven this year and 11 next which the Department of Defense rejected. Sikorsky goes into full production mode late next year, peaking at about two dozen helicopters rolling off the Stratford assembly line annually between 2025 and 2029. Gretchen Lemke / Lockheed Martin Corporation - Gretchen Lemke Overlap between testing and buying larger numbers of helicopters means problems revealed during testing would have to be fixed on more helicopters already built, GAO stated in the March report. Such retrofits are costly. The Pentagon is keeping tabs on Israels issues with the King Stallion through its Operational Test and Evaluation office, whose approval Sikorsky requires for full-rate production. The Navy has already asked Sikorsky to correct several early King Stallion flaws, to include what it described as low reliability of the gearbox driving the main rotor; and an exhaust system design that it observed resulted in super-heated gases being sucked back into engines and striking the skin of the aircraft. The CH-53K packs three T408 engines assembled in Lynn, Mass. by GE Aviation, along with another spare for each helicopter. The engines turbines are made MTU Aero Engines in Munich, Germany, which reported an average cost of $6.5 million for the first run of engines produced for the seven earliest models now undergoing Navy test flights. After decades of reliance on its Black Hawk helicopter, the King Stallion is at the top of the immediate priority list for Paul Lemmo, who in January replaced the retired Dan Schultz as president of Sikorsky after previously the companys Integrated Warfare Sensors & Systems division and business development for the Littoral Combat Ship. Two more major Pentagon programs are slated to hit full production on Lemmos watch: a new fleet of Marine One helicopters for the White House and rescue choppers for the U.S. Air Force. And Sikorsky is readying for a fly off competition in two years with Bell Helicopter for a new generation of vertical-lift aircraft that could furnish decades of work. Correction: Due to a reporting error, an initial version incorrectly listed Stamford as a production site for the CH-53K. Sikorsky is assembling the helicopter in Stratford. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman By Jeremy Roebuck, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) The three men grew up less than 15 minutes apart in Middlesex County, N.J. They were raised in working-class families, graduated from local schools, and moved away to pursue their professional careers. As adults, their politics ran Republican, and all three considered themselves outspoken supporters of President Donald Trump. But despite the proximity of their upbringings and the similarity of their views, Julian Khater, George Tanios, and Brian Sicknick would not meet until they found themselves on the opposite sides of a police barricade in Washington on Jan. 6 an encounter that ended with one of them dead and the other two accused in an attack that may have caused it. Federal prosecutors say Khater, 32, and Tanios, 39 New Brunswick natives, friends, and former fast-food business partners shot Sicknick, 42, in the face with bear spray as part of the pro-Trump mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol that day. Sicknick, who grew up in South River, died in the hospital hours later. And while authorities have not yet released his cause of death or charged Khater and Tanios with killing him they have suggested that Sicknicks exposure to chemical irritants may have contributed. The paths that brought all three to that moment have continued to perplex their families and those assigned to investigate and mete out justice in the weeks since. Its hard for me not to look at this as anything other than an assault on our nations soul and everything thats important to us as a people, said Michael John Aloi, a federal magistrate judge at a hearing on Monday in Morgantown, West Virginia, where Tanios was arrested last week. But I dont know that that represents who you are, Mr. Tanios. I dont know that it represents who a lot of people are who were involved in that day. What is it that caused that behavior? Tanios mother, Maguy, seemed just as baffled that her son had now been charged in an insurrection, decades after she and her husband fled civil war in Lebanon to immigrate to the U.S. I lost my father, I lost my brother, I lost my sister, she told the court Monday. I said, I want to come to the United States ... I need peace. They settled along with the Khaters, who fled the same conflict among New Brunswicks sizable population of Maronite Christians. They raised their families in St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church in Somerset. The Tanioses put young George through private school at St. Peter the Apostle by working 12-hour days at a luncheonette near City Hall. It was there and at a food truck run by his uncles, in the shadow of Rutgers University, that he would learn the business and potential money to be made in serving junk food to college-aged crowds. Growing up as a teenager, against my mothers wishes, I would stay up late and hang out at my uncles place all the time! Tanios would later write in a fundraising pitch seeking backers for his current venture, a Morgantown sandwich shop he opened in 2005 specializing in New Jersey fat sandwiches stacked with greasy add-ons like chicken fingers, fries, and mozzarella sticks. It was the best place to hang out late night. Anyone who knows about the grease trucks back in late 90s knows what I am talking about. Tanios eventually dropped out of college to open up his own food truck at Penn State University. Khater soon followed him there and launched his own business ventures after Tanios moved on to West Virginia. By that time, Sicknick was a New Jersey Air National Guardsman in between deployments to the Middle East. Born in New Brunswick, not far away from where the Khaters and Tanioses would eventually settle, his father, a local plumber, moved the family to South River, where Sicknick would spend his childhood years. He graduated from Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools in 1996 and enlisted that same year. But even then, his family has said, he was already dreaming of becoming a police officer. He wrote letters to his hometown newspaper, at first encouraging the U.S. to take a tougher stance in Iraq, but after deployments to Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan eventually soured on the extended presence of U.S. forces in the Mideast. Our troops are stretched very thin, and morale is dangerously low among them, he wrote the newspaper in 2004. Im starting to see an increasing trend of soldiers asking, Why are we still here? A memorial for Brian Sicknick, U.S. Capitol Police Officer who died from injuries following the U.S. Capitol building siege on Wednesday, is erected near the U.S. Capitol on January 10, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Al Drago/Getty Images/TNS, file)TNS By the time he returned, he decamped for D.C. for a job with the Capitol Police. His father, Charles, told the Middlesex County newspaper the Home News Tribune that his sons first major assignment was working President Barack Obamas inauguration in 2009 a job he felt was an honor. Despite the support for Donald Trump that Sicknick shared with the men who would attack him on Jan. 6, Tanios mother said in court Monday that she couldnt imagine her son being implicated in violence on the presidents behalf. Others described him as a caring father of three and hardworking owner of multiple businesses, including bars and restaurants around West Virginia University. We never talk politics, she said, adding: My son, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And yet, there were signs of the zealousness of his political leanings. The now deactivated Twitter account of Tanios restaurant routinely retweeted Trump and jumped into the sparring of the social media political fray. Days before the 2020 election, he told a West Virginia news station that an unidentified vandal had thrown a rock through his business front window in what he described as a hate crime due to the Trump 2020 sign hed placed there. Khater, meanwhile, complained on Facebook about the effects of coronavirus restrictions on local businesses shortly before he shut down a Frutta smoothy bowl franchise hed opened in State College in 2018. FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, violent rioters, loyal to President Donald Trump, storm the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)AP On Jan. 5, Khater would later tell FBI agents, he drove down to Morgantown to pick up Tanios, heeding Trumps call for his supporters to flock to Washington that next day. Prosecutors said Monday that the men stopped at a gun shop on the way, where Tanios inquired about bringing a pistol or a pepper ball projectile gun into the city. Ultimately, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner said, he settled on several canisters of Frontiersman-brand bear spray. Footage shared on social media and from officer body cams, played in court, depict what prosecutors say happened next. Both men muscled their way to the forefront of the crowds that mobbed the west side of the Capitol Building, where Sicknick was holding the line. As they approached the barriers, Khater waved to Tanios, shouting Give me that bear s. Tanios responded: Hold on. Not yet. ... Its still early. Nevertheless, within minutes, a man prosecutors say is Khater is shown spraying the substance in the eyes of Sicknick and two other officers. Later footage, from just hours before Sicknick would collapse, showed him reeling, bent over, and rubbing at his eyes as he moved away from the crowd. By the next day, he would be dead. In the days that followed, Khater would attempt on Facebook to blame the violence on Black Lives Matter activists. It would take more than two months for the FBI to eventually identify and arrest him and Tanios on charges they conspired to assault officers that day. In court Monday, Tanios attorneys urged the judge not to jump to conclusions based on the snippets of video prosecutors had shown so far. But Aloi said hed seen enough. He ordered Tanios held in custody until his trial. Khater also remains jailed, pending a hearing in D.C. His lawyer declined to comment. Weve created this culture, radicalized by hate and just refusal to accept the result of the democratic process, Aloi said. " Mr. Tanios ... you chose to be a part of that. More: Pa. woman charged in Capitol riot married to FBI task force member, who wants divorce: report Pa. woman charged in U.S. Capitol riot accused of inciting the crowd, filming trashed room 4 men linked to Proud Boys charged in plot to attack Capitol; one suspect is from Pa. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. By Bahk Eun-ji A former employee of the United States' Embassy in Korea and his wife have received prison terms for selling counterfeit goods while they were working here. According to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice on March 18, Gene Leroy Thompson, 54, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and three year's supervised release, while his wife, Guojiao Becky Zhang, 40, was sentenced to three years of supervised release, including eight months of home detention. The couple were also fined $229,302. Thompson, who was in charge of the information service at the U.S. Embassy in Korea, was found to have sold fake brand handbags through multiple e-commerce platforms from September 2017 to December 2019. The United States Embassy building in Seoul / Yonhap Daily national surveys by Carnegie Mellon University show that while COVID-19 vaccine uptake has increased, the proportion of vaccine-hesitant adults has remained unchanged. The concerns about a side effect remain high, especially among females, Black adults and those with an eligible health condition. The Delphi Research Group at CMU in partnership with Facebook released its latest survey findings. The analyses show that vaccine hesitancy persists and point to potential tactics to combat it. "Prior research by the CDC has found that Black and Hispanic adults are the least likely to receive the annual flu vaccine each year," said Alex Reinhart, assistant teaching professor in CMU's Department of Statistics & Data Science and a member of the Delphi Research Group. "Our survey suggests that COVID vaccine hesitancy follows a similar trend." Reinhart was joined on this report by Facebook research scientists Esther Kim Andy Garcia, Sarah LaRocca and Katherine Morris. Delphi staff, including statistical developer Nat DeFries and survey coordinator Wichada La Motte-Kerr, contributed to the development and analysis of the survey. The survey tracks daily trends in behaviors and attitudes on issues related to COVID-19 at the state and county level. The surveys of Facebook users are conducted by members of the Delphi Research Group in partnership with Facebook's Data for Good program. The new report consists of responses obtained from more than 1.9 million Americans between Jan. 10 and Feb. 27, 2021. According to the latest survey results, the proportion of adults who are either vaccinated or willing to get vaccinated increased from 72% to 77%, which is largely attributable to a decrease in non-responses on the survey question. Vaccine hesitancy remained relatively steady at 23% The researchers note that vaccine hesitancy might be improved by addressing concerns about potential or perceived side effects. Seven out of 10 vaccine-hesitant adults stated they were concerned about side effects. "When it comes to increasing vaccine acceptance, our global health partners have emphasized that there is not a one size fits all approach," said Kang-Xing (KX) Jin, Facebook's Head of Health. "By understanding geographic and demographic trends in vaccine hesitancy with the help of COVID-19 Symptom Survey, paired with public insights from Facebook about how people are talking about vaccines, public health officials can design and deliver tailored messaging campaigns that resonate with specific audiences within states, counties and communities." The research team suggests turning to trusted local healthcare professionals to spread the word of vaccine safety and importance. Trust in local healthcare workers among vaccine-hesitant adults has increased significantly in January and February even though trust in other information outlets has remained unchanged or decreased. "Hesitancy can reflect existing mistrust of medicine, but uptake of the COVID vaccine, just like uptake of the flu vaccine, can also reflect unequal access to healthcare or unequal availability of convenient places to get vaccinated," said Reinhart. "We're looking into this in more detail in newer versions of the survey, which ask specifically about access to the vaccine and specific reasons for not wanting to receive it." Delphi researchers use the data to perform forecasts of COVID-19 activity at state and county levels, which are reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The COVID-19 Symptom Survey is the largest ongoing COVID-19 data collecting effort in the country, gathering more than 50,000 responses daily and more than 18 million responses total since its launch in April 2020. ### Facebook distributes the surveys to a portion of its users each day as part of its Data for Good program. Facebook does not receive any individual survey information from users; CMU conducts the surveys off Facebook and manages all the findings. The University of Maryland likewise works with Facebook to gather international data on the pandemic, which can also be visualized through the Data for Good map and dashboard. James Huntsman, of a prominent Mormon family from Utah, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday accusing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of fraud, saying it spent members' tithes meant for charity on commercial purposes. In the suit, Huntsman says he wants back millions of dollars he donated and plans to give it to "organizations and communities whose members have been marginalized by the Church's teachings and doctrines, including by donating to charities supporting LGBTQ, African-American, and women's rights." The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in California, comes 16 months after a former high-level investment manager with the church filed a whistleblower complaint to the Internal Revenue Service. The complaint, which The Washington Post obtained in December 2019, alleged that the church amassed about $100 billion in accounts intended for charitable purposes and misled members by stockpiling surplus donations using the tax-exempt donations to prop up a pair of businesses. David Nielsen's IRS complaint made worldwide news as it painted Ensign Peak Advisors, the church's investment division, as one of the largest funds in the country. According to the complaint, it is twice as large as the endowments of Harvard University and the Gates Foundation. In a statement to The Post on Monday, a church spokesman said that Huntsman ended his membership last year and that his claims are "baseless." It cited former church president Gordon B. Hinckley as saying in the early 2000s that the funds for the mall came from "commercial entities owned by the Church" and "earnings of invested reserve funds." "Tithing funds are voluntary contributions" by church members "as an expression of their faith in God. They are used for a broad array of religious purposes, including missionary work, education, humanitarian causes and the construction of meetinghouses, temples and other buildings important in the work of the Church, as reflected in scripture and determined by Church leaders," said the statement by Eric Hawkins. Hawkins said the church is not in any kind of talks with the IRS about the complaint and that the church has not changed anything about the use of Ensign Peak funds since the IRS complaint. Huntsman, 50, runs a film distribution firm in Southern California. He stepped down in 2016 as an executive with Huntsman Corp., a massive chemical supplier his father founded in 1970. Jon Huntsman Sr., who died in 2018, was a billionaire industrialist and philanthropist in Utah. James's brother Jon Huntsman Jr. was a Utah governor, presidential candidate and an ambassador to Russia, China and Singapore. His brother Paul Huntsman bought the state's largest newspaper, The Salt Lake Tribune, in 2016 and led it to nonprofit status in 2019 and became chairman of the board. In the suit, Huntsman says that after the reports of the fund came out, he "repeatedly approached the corporation and demanded the return of his donations. However, the LDS Corporation refused, effectively taking the position that it could do whatever it wanted with tithing funds." Nielsen's complaint alleges that Ensign had not "directly funded any religious, educational or charitable activities in 22 years," though it did not provide any documents to support the claim. Huntsman's lawyer, David Jonelis, said his client is disturbed about this. The lawsuit focuses primarily on Nielsen's allegation that $2 billion from Ensign was used to bail out a church-run insurance company called Beneficial Financial Group and a shopping mall in Salt Lake City called City Creek Center that was a joint venture between the church and a real estate company. Church officials have said since the City Creek project was unveiled in 2003 that tithing funds were not used to buy the mall property or to develop it. In 2009, when Beneficial Life was suffering amid the financial crisis, it got a shot of $594 million from a different commercial church company with the church, Deseret Management. That year, church-owned outlet Deseret News quoted Mark Willes, Deseret Management's president and chief executive at the time, as saying no tithing money was used in the transaction for it. In his suit, Huntsman says this is "not a case about faith; it is a case about fraud and corporate greed." He said the church where he spent much of his life, including as a leader and teacher "repeatedly and publicly lied" about the use of tithing funds. Mormonism, like some other faith groups, requires members to tithe 10% of their incomes. "Make no mistake, the Church's status as a religious organization does not give its corporate arm carte blanche to defraud the Church's members and the general public," the suit says. Huntsman declined requests for an interview, but Jonelis said the suit is "not a family issue. Others aren't involved." The suit comes at a time when some religious organizations fear losing federal funding and benefits because of tensions between LGBTQ rights and religious freedoms. You are the owner of this article. will sell 1,424 towers in Madagascar and Malawi to Helios Towers for USD 119 million, Bharti Airtel said in a regulatory filing. The two have also entered into agreement for tower assets in Chad and Gabon but particulars of the deal were not disclosed. " today (on Tuesday) announces the signing of agreements to sell its telecommunications tower in Madagascar and Malawi to Helios Towers plc. "The Group's tower portfolios in these two markets together comprise 1,229 towers which form part of the Group's wireless telecommunications infrastructure network," the filing said. The transaction is expected to close in the last quarter of 2021. has also signed a pact with Helios Towers for sale of additional 195 sites across Madagascar and Malawi over the three years following completion for USD 11 million. "In addition, Airtel Africa has entered into exclusive memorandum of understanding agreements for the potential sale of its tower assets in Chad and Gabon to the purchaser (Helios Towers). "The proposed transactions are subject to the signing of definitive legal agreements for sale, including customary closing conditions such as required regulatory approvals," the filing said. The telecom service provider firm has around 1,000 towers in these two countries. Airtel Africa deal in Chad and Gabon will also incorporate lease arrangements with the Helios Towers and build to suit commitments in Chad and Gabon. "The proposed transactions are not inter-conditional and are expected to close before the end of our fiscal year 2022," the filing said. The company will use the proceeds from the transactions and the proposed transactions to reduce Airtel Africa Group's external debt and to invest in network and sales infrastructure in the respective operating countries. Airtel Africa has earlier also sold tower assets to Helios for USD 1.3 billion in 2015. Airtel Africa CEO Raghunath Mandava said Helios Towers has been a partner of the group for many years. "These transactions will also help to improve the mix of our debt and increase its tenor through long-term leases, which are largely payable in local currency by our operating entities, while reducing foreign currency debt of the group," Mandava 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.) Tampa Bays current container terminal is looking to double its capacity over the next two years. Photo credit: Shutterstock. The Port of Tampa will lease land to a paper fiber maker that plans to use the port to serve export markets in Asia, potentially expanding the ports export volumes by 40,000 TEU annually. The Port Tampa Bay Board of Commissioners said Tuesday it inked a deal with Celadon Development Corp. to lease 37 acres of land for the development of a paper fiber manufacturing plant. The $160 million plant will receive and process mixed paper, cardboard, and plastics sourced from Florida to produce paper fiber for export to Asia, Port Tampa Bay said. This project perfectly complements our container development strategy by generating export return loads heading back to Asia and filling containers which arrive with goods for retail and e-commerce distribution centers along the I-4 Corridor, said Raul Alfonso, executive vice president for Port Tampa Bay. Alfonso noted Celadons plant would be located adjacent to Tampas container terminal, resulting in supply chain cost savings. The plant is expected to start serving the export market by 2023. Tampa Bays 43-foot channel allows ships up to 9,000 TEU to call there. Total TEU handled in 2020 rose by one-third to 141,030 TEU, according to the ports latest statistics. Ports America, the operator of Tampa Bays container terminal, is expected to double the terminals current 300,000 TEU capacity over the next two years, with plans to eventually reach 1 million TEU over the next five years. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed a 'huge victory' for right-wing parties in Israel's general election on Tuesday night - despite exit polls indicating there is no clear winner. The polls on Israel's three main TV stations indicated the elections had resulted in a virtual deadlock for a fourth time in the past two years, leaving Netanyahu with an uncertain future and the country facing the prospect of continued political deadlock. The exit polls showed that both Netanyahu and his religious and nationalist allies, along with a diverse array of opposition groups, both fell short of the parliamentary majority required to form a new government. That could set of the stage for weeks of paralysis and raised the possibility of an unprecedented fifth consecutive election later this year if the parties cannot form a coalition. But Netanyahu, whose Likud party is projected to be ahead in the polls, hailed the election as a 'huge win for the right' despite the still inconclusive results. In a statement on Facebook late Tuesday, Netanyahu said Israelis have 'given a great victory to the right and to the Likud under my leadership'. Exit polls indicate there is no clear winner in Tuesday's Israeli election, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fate uncertain and signaling continued political deadline. Pictured: Netanyahu (right) and his wife Sara cast their votes in Jerusalem on Tuesday Supporters of Netanyahu wave Likud party flags after the first exit poll results at the party's headquarters in Jerusalem Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed a 'huge victory' for right-wing parties in Israel's general election on Tuesday night He added: 'It is clear that a clear majority of Israeli citizens are right wing, and they want a strong and stable right wing government that will protect the economy of Israel, security of Israel and land of Israel. This is what we will do.' Exit polls are often imprecise and the official results may not be known for days. The exit polls conducted by Channels 11, 12 and 13 were nearly identical, showing Netanyahu and his allies with 53 to 54 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel's parliament. His opponents were projected to win 59, with his nearest rival Yesh Atid, a centrist party led by Yair Lapid, projected to take between 16 and 18 seats. Meanwhile, Naftali Bennett's Yamina party was projected to win 7 to 8 seats. If the final results are in line with the exit polls, there is no guarantee that Netanyahu or his opponents will succeed in putting together a coalition. It would mean both sides will have to court Bennett, a former Netanyahu ally with strained relations with the prime minister, to form a majority of at least 61 seats. His opponents were projected to win 59, with his nearest rival Yesh Atid, a centrist party led by Yair Lapid (pictured), projected to take between 16 and 18 seats The exit polls conducted by Channels 11, 12 and 13 were nearly identical, showing Netanyahu and his allies with 53 to 54 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel's parliament. Pictured: Netanyahu's supporters in Jerusalem, Israel Bennett shares Netanyahu's hard-line nationalist ideology but has signaled he would be open to cooperating with his rivals if given the chance to be prime minister. Several right-wing parties have vowed never to sit in a government with Netanyahu. And Bennett refused to endorse either side during the campaign. 'I will do only what is good for the state of Israel,' Bennett said after the exit polls were released. In a speech to his supporters, Bennett declined to take sides. He vowed to promote right-wing values but also took several veiled swipes at the prime minister's leadership style. A lack of majority would mean both sides will have to court Naftali Bennett, a former Netanyahu ally with strained relations with the prime minister, to form a majority of at least 61 seats. 'Now is the time for healing,' he said. 'The norms of the past will no longer be acceptable.' He said he would move the country 'from leadership that is interested in itself to a professional leadership that cares.' After the exit polls were published, Bennett said he received a phone call from Netanyahu but that nothing was decided. The election is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's divisive rule, and once again, opinion polls had forecast an extremely tight race. But the initial results showed that the country remains as deeply divided as ever, with an array of small sectarian parties dominating the parliament. In an address to supporters early Wednesday, a subdued Netanyahu boasted of a 'great achievement' but stopped short of declaring victory. Instead, he appeared to reach out to his opponents and called for formation of a 'stable government' that would avoid another election. 'We must not under any circumstances drag the state of Israel to new elections, to a fifth election,' he said. 'We must form a stable government now.' The exit poll results come as Palestinian militants in Gaza fired a rocket at southern Israel today, shortly after Netanyahu toured the region on election day. Palestinian militants in Gaza fired a rocket at southern Israel today, shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured the region on election day (file photo of a rocket being fired from the Gaza Strip in 2014) 'A short while ago, a projectile was fired from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. As a result, an alert was activated in open areas only,' a statement from the Israeli army said, with a spokeswoman confirming a rocket hit an open field. The rocket launch marks the first fired from the Palestinian enclave since January - and it came shortly after Netanyahu had visited the southern Israeli city of Beersheba as part of his efforts to whip up support among voters. The 71-year-old premier voiced hope that Tuesday's election will end an unprecedented period of political crisis in Israel that has forced four elections in less than two years. 'I hope this is the last election,' Netanyahu said as he voted in Jerusalem. The three-month election campaign was largely devoid of substantive issues and focused heavily on Netanyahu's personality and whether he should remain in office. In contrast to past elections where he faced off against a clear rival, this time a diverse array of parties is trying to topple him, having little in common beyond their shared animosity toward him. 'Vote, vote, vote, vote, vote,' Netanyahu said after casting his ballot in Jerusalem, his wife, Sara, at his side. Earlier on Tuesday, the country's opposition leader warned that Netanyahu would form a 'racist and homophobic' government if reelected. 'This is the moment of truth,' Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid Party, said as he cast his vote in Tel Aviv. 'There are only two options: a large Yesh Atid or a government of darkness, racism and homophobia.' Yair Lapid (left), leader of the centrist Yesh Atid Party, said Israel had 'only two options' as he cast his vote in Tel Aviv on Tuesday: 'A large Yesh Atid or a government of darkness, racism and homophobia' Opposition leader Yair Lapid has warned that Netanyahu would form a 'racist and homophobic' government if reelected. Pictured: A patient in a Covid-19 ward uses a mobile voting both on Tuesday Lapid is seen as the strongest challenger to Netanyahu, who has been in power since 2009 but will have to form a coalition - possibly including a new far-right alliance - to create a majority government. Israel's longest-serving premier and its most popular politician, Netanyahu is hoping a hugely successful coronavirus vaccination effort will give him the edge in a race analysts say is too close to call. He moved aggressively to secure enough vaccines for Israel's 9.3 million people, and in three months the country has vaccinated some 80% of its adult population. That has enabled the government to open restaurants, stores and the airport just in time for election day. He also has tried to portray himself as a global statesman, pointing to the four diplomatic accords he reached with Arab countries last year. Those agreements were brokered by his close ally, then-President Donald Trump. But Netanyahu's reputation has taken a hit from an ongoing corruption trial, his inability since April 2019 to unite a stable governing majority behind him, and large protests over his handling of the pandemic. Israel is heading to the polls for its fourth election in less than two years after a succession of failed coalitions: Pictured: A woman casts her vote in Ra'anana, on Tuesday While supporters hail Netanyahu as 'King Bibi,' opponents hold up placards calling him 'Crime Minister'. His right-wing Likud party is expected to win the most seats but whether Netanyahu is about to persuade coalition partners to form a majority in the 120-seat Knesset remains to be seen. Opinion polls forecast a tight race, with a possibility of both Netanyahu and his opponents falling short of securing a parliamentary majority yet again. That could plunge the country into an unprecedented fifth consecutive election later this year. Netanyahu failed to form a majority after elections in April 2019, which led to another vote that September. When Netanyahu once again failed to form a majority coalition, a third vote was held in March 2020, with a government being formed a month later. It collapsed in December 2020 after a failed budgetary vote, triggering today's election. 'It would be better if we didn't have to vote, you know, four times in two years,' said Jerusalem voter Bruce Rosen. 'It's a little bit tiring.' Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and will close at 10 p.m. (2000 GMT), when exit polls could point to voting trends, if not a clear winner. Israel's 6.5million registered voters are heading to the polls under pandemic restrictions. Election officials at polling stations are wearing full PPE or sitting behind plastic screens, while drive-thru voting is also being offered, as well as mobile polling stations for those in quarantine or infected with coronavirus. Israel's longest-serving premier and its most popular politician, Netanyahu is hoping a hugely successful coronavirus vaccination effort will give him the edge in a race analysts say is too close to call. Pictured: A man arrives to vote at a polling station in Ra'anana on Tuesday The prime minister's reputation has taken a hit from an ongoing corruption trial, his inability since April 2019 to unite a stable governing majority behind him, and large protests over his handling of the pandemic. Pictured: An election official prepares a special mobile polling station for those in quarantine or infected with Covid-19 in Jerusalem By 6pm (16:00 GMT), 51.5 per cent of eligible voters had cast ballots, a drop of nearly five percentage points from the previous election a year ago, the Israeli election commission announced. Netanyahu's opponents have accused him of fomenting deadlock in hopes of bringing about a friendlier parliament that will grant him immunity from prosecution. Netanyahu is hoping to form a government with his traditional religious and hard-line nationalist allies. These include a pair of ultra-Orthodox parties and a small religious party that includes openly racist and homophobic candidates. This time, much will depend on the performance of a handful of small parties struggling to win the minimum 3.25 per cent of the vote to enter the 120-seat Knesset. While Netanyahu's Likud was expected to emerge as the largest single party, no party has ever won a 61-seat majority on its own. Both he and his rivals must win the support of smaller allied parties to form a majority coalition. Recent polls have forecast that several parties were hovering near the electoral threshold. A failure by any one of them to enter the parliament would have a significant impact on the balance between Netanyahu and his opponents. Despite the upheaval of the pandemic, Israel's unprecedented political gridlock remains, meaning the country is looking at three possible outcomes: another coalition under Netanyahu, an ideologically divided government united only by its opposition to him, or a fifth election. 'I don't have much hope. I think there will be a fifth election,' said Amit Fischer, a 35-year-old PhD student, who is voting for Lapid. 'There are too many small parties, too much ego, they won't agree on anything,' he told AFP news agency. To form a government, Netanyahu will have to come to terms with small factions that control a handful of seats, possibly including a new extremist, far-right alliance called Religious Zionism. If Religious Zionism crosses the 3.25 per cent support threshold, as polls predict, it will send to parliament Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has voiced admiration for the mass-murderer of 29 Palestinian worshippers in Hebron in 1994 by Baruch Goldstein. Even top Likud member and energy minister Yuval Steinitz has said it would be improper to sit with Ben-Gvir, who has vowed to secure a prominent role in government before agreeing to join Netanyahu. Another complicating factor in today's election was absentee balloting. Up to 15 per cent of the electorate was expected to vote outside their home districts, a larger-than-usual number due to special accommodations for those with COVID-19 or in quarantine. The government set up special polling stations and even brought ballot boxes to hospital bedsides to allow people to vote safely. Those votes are tallied separately in Jerusalem, meaning final results may not be known for days. Given the tight race, it could be difficult to predict the outcome before the final count is complete. After the results come in, attention will turn to the country's figurehead president, Reuven Rivlin. He will hold a series of meetings with party leaders and then choose the one he believes has the best chance of forming a government as his prime minister-designate. That task is usually, but not always, given to the head of the largest party. That will set off weeks of horse-trading as the prime minister-designate tries to cobble together a government with promises of generous budgets and powerful ministries to his would-be partners. Voting in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Rivlin said the deadlock has had a price. 'Four elections in two years erode public trust in the democratic process,' he said, even as he urged Israelis to vote again. 'There is no other way.' To form a government, Netanyahu will have to come to terms with small factions that control a handful of seats, possibly including a new extremist, far-right alliance called Religious Zionism. If Religious Zionism crosses the 3.25 per cent support threshold, as polls predict, it will send to parliament Itamar Ben-Gvir (right), who has voiced admiration for the mass-murderer of 29 Palestinian worshippers in Hebron in 1994 by Baruch Goldstein [File photo] Netanyahu is currently on trial over corruption charges - allegations he denies, but which have helped to fuel a protest movement with weekly rallies outside his Jerusalem residence. He has said he will not seek to block the trial and is looking forward to being exonerated, but critics suspect that if he earns a majority in Tuesday's vote, he may seek parliamentary action to delay or end the process. On the campaign trail, Netanyahu has highlighted his role in securing millions of vaccine doses from Pfizer Inc and turning Israel into what he dubbed a 'vaccination nation'. Nearly half of Israelis have been fully inoculated at a pace that drew international praise for Netanyahu. But there have also been calls for Israel to do more to ensure Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza receive vaccines. Israel's swift vaccine roll-out allowed it to reopen much of its economy before the election. Posting a video of his visit to a Jerusalem hospital on Monday, Netanyahu wrote: 'Today we are the first in the world to return to life and smile again. But not all Israelis are convinced, with many accusing him of political misjudgements early in the pandemic that compounded the economic pain of lockdowns. In Tel Aviv's Rabin Square, Yonatan Meir, 34, said he would judge Netanyahu over 'his whole era', not the vaccine rollout. 'Actually, it didn't affect my decision because I know that I won't choose him,' he said. 'But I think that the majority of people were very affected and were very impressed by his management of the whole crisis.' Taking to social media on election morning Netanyahu urged his supporters to bring friends and relatives to the polling stations to ensure 'a strong right-wing government'. Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party is expected to win the most seats but whether Netanyahu is about to persuade coalition partners to form a majority in the 120-seat Knesset remains to be seen. Pictured: An election official hangs up a chart at a special mobile polling station in Jerusalem If Netanyahu can't get to 61 seats in this vote and his opponents cannot find common ground, a fifth election in three years is possible. Pictured: A drive-thru voting station in Hadera on Tuesday Israel's electorate has migrated rightward since the turn of the century, following the failed Oslo Peace Process and the ensuing Palestinian uprisings, or intifadas. Polling suggests right-wing parties could win up to 80 seats, meaning that 'whoever becomes prime minister, the country is likely to espouse a right-wing direction', said Dahlia Scheindlin, a political analyst and pollster. For Lapid, that means any path to power will require an alliance with Netanyahu's rivals on the right. That list includes former senior Likud member Gideon Saar, leader of the New Hope party that could win up to 10 seats, and who has ruled out joining a Netanyahu-led government. Lapid would also likely have to align with a staunch ideological rival, religious nationalist Naftali Bennett. The multi-millionaire former tech entrepreneur and one-time Netanyahu protege has fallen out with the prime minister and hammered him during the campaign, while not ruling out a reunion. Bennett's Yamina party is, therefore, seen as a likely kingmaker. Israel's electorate has migrated rightward since the turn of the century, following the failed Oslo Peace Process and the ensuing Palestinian uprisings, or intifadas. Pictured: Ballot papers for Israeli political parties at a polling station in Tel Aviv Tuesday's election was forced after Netanyahu triggered the collapse of a unity government he had formed with former military chief Benny Gantz, his main challenger in three previous inconclusive elections. Pictured: An election official prepares ballot papers at a polling station in Jerusalem Lapid has said he will not insist on being prime minister in an anti-Netanyahu coalition, if that helps unseat the premier. Tuesday's election was forced after Netanyahu triggered the collapse of a unity government he had formed with former military chief Benny Gantz, his main challenger in three previous inconclusive elections. Gantz, punished by supporters for sitting with Netanyahu, said he joined a Netanyahu-led coalition to give Israel desperately needed stability as the pandemic was gathering pace last year. But their agreement called for Netanyahu to hand power to Gantz after 18 months, something observers of the prime minister correctly predicted he would never do. If Netanyahu can't get to 61 seats in this vote and his opponents cannot find common ground, a fifth election in three years is possible. And, said political analyst Gideon Rahat, it's a prospect that may suit Netanyahu, whose primary objective is to stay in power, as caretaker premier awaiting yet another election if necessary. Netanyahu 'can easily go to a fifth, sixth or seventh election', Rahat said. Polling suggests right-wing parties could win up to 80 seats, meaning that 'whoever becomes prime minister, the country is likely to espouse a right-wing direction', said Dahlia Scheindlin, a political analyst and pollster. Pictured: Election officials at a polling station in Bnei Brak Director Peter Farrelly finally is ready to follow his Best Picture Oscar winner Green Book. Apple Studios is in talks to finance The Greatest Beer Run Ever, with Zac Efron and Russell Crowe in talks to star. Since that victorious Oscar Night, Farrelly has had his sights set on this film, which he developed with Skydance. Beer Run tells Donohues story of leaving New York in 1967 to bring beer to his childhood buddies in the Army while they are fighting in Vietnam. Donohue took a good idea to the extreme, hitching a ride on a Merchant Marine ship, then carrying the beer through the jungle as he tried to track down his three friends. Dressed in shorts and Hawaiian shirts, he was mistaken for CIA, which made his effort a bit easier. Finally, when he completed his beer run, the Tet Offensive happened. Efron will play Donohue. The hope is to start production in August, probably in New Zealand or Australia. For more on this, read the full Deadline report. The Hollywood Reporter added that "Bill Murray is also eyeing a role in the movie, but sources note that his deal is nowhere near to being closed. Archive: Apple TV News Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. A lawyer has been left stranded in Costa Rica after she tripped over and broke her spine in a 'freak accident', leaving her completely paralysed from the waist down. Charlotte Florence, 36, from Hackney, London, has shockingly been unable to move or feel her legs since she fell on her back while walking to the beach on March 4. But the yoga lover's nightmare only worsened when she realised her travel insurance had expired, meaning she cannot afford the surgery she 'desperately needs' to walk again. After just four days in hospital and eight screws in the back of her spine during a six-hour surgery, her medical bills have already hit almost 29,000, while a repatriation flight to the UK has been estimated to cost more than 85,000. Charlotte Florence, 36, (pictured) from Hackney, London, has shockingly been left paralysed from the waist down she fell on her back in a 'freak accident' in Costa Rica on March 4 Charlotte's (pictured in hospital) nightmare worsened when she realised her travel insurance had expired, meaning she cannot afford the surgery she 'desperately needs' to walk again Her friend Celine Sprey has called the 'freak accident' the 'worst-case scenario', describing paralysis as everyone's 'worst nightmare'. Celine, from Clapham, London, continued: 'This accident could happen to anyone but you don't expect it to happen to you. 'The roads and the streets around here are quite organic. It's very untouched and there's only one main road in and out of town. 'It was a freak accident and she just lost her footing, fell, and landed badly on her back. 'It's literally the worst case scenario. The fear of paralysis is everyone's worst nightmare.' Charlotte had only planned to stay in Costa Rica for two weeks after arriving in early December, but her return was delayed due to the Covid-19 crisis, and her 45-day insurance cover ran out without her realising. Nurse Celine has set up a GoFundMe page in the hope of raising enough money to pay for the second spinal surgery in Costa Rica before she can return home. Charlotte has already had a six-hour surgery on the back of her spine, where eight screws were inserted, while she is now waiting for a second surgery to the front of her spine. Charlotte (pictured) had only planned to stay in Costa Rica for two weeks, but her return was delayed due to the Covid-19 crisis, and her 45-day insurance ran out without her realising After four days in hospital and screws in her spine, her bills have hit almost 29,000, while a flight to the UK has been estimated to cost 85,000 (pictured being airlifted to hospital) Although it has not been specified what type of surgery Charlotte is having, people who break their spine often undergo lumbar fusion surgery, which joins two or more vertebrae to mimic the normal healing process of broken bones. Specifically, an anterior and posterior lumbar fusion surgery is sometimes done for patients who have fractured or broken their spine, and approaches the spine from the front and the back to provide a high level of spine stability. Celine has begged for the public's assistance in helping Charlotte recover from her 'potentially life-altering injuries', warning a holiday accident and insurance slip-up 'could happen to anyone'. Celine explained: 'Anyone can have problems with their insurance too. You always get the insurance that your bank offers you, or the cheapest one. Unfortunately we don't look too much into it. 'We're just trying to raise money to have the second surgery and then get her home or get her home and have the second surgery there. We need help.' Celine said that Charlotte is 'extremely scared and in a lot of pain' because without the second surgery to the front of her spine, she will continue to be paralysed. She continued: 'She [Charlotte] is extremely scared and in a lot of pain. Without the second surgery to hopefully regain function in her legs, she'll continue to be paralysed. 'Hopefully she can come back and surf again and teach yoga again. It's essential we get her back on her feet, because she's an extremely active person and she's got a wicked personality. Her pal Celine (pictured right with Charlotte) set up a GoFundMe page in the hope of raising enough money to pay for the second spinal surgery in Costa Rica before she can return home 'We both have busy jobs in London. I'm a nurse and she's a lawyer so we both came out here to escape and to surf, then because of covid we decided to stay longer. 'Charlotte was just going down to see what the waves were like when she just lost her footing and landed badly. Luckily she had her phone to message the WhatsApp group for help.' Legal consultant Charlotte was first sent to a small nearby treatment centre but was later flown to the Costa Rican capital San Jose for her spine-stabilising first surgery. She was due to fly to Los Angeles, California, for her brother's birthday the day after the accident, but he flew to meet her in Central America and has stayed to support her ever since. Charlotte became friends with Celine when they both arrived in Santa Teresa, and Celine said the 'freak' accident and the support from strangers has been such an 'eye-opener'. Celine continued: 'It's been such an eye-opener for everyone. It's not just like breaking your arm and having it patched up and getting a domestic flight home. It's really tugged on people's empathy. 'Charlotte tears up every time she looks at what's been donated and she's been struck by the support so far.' Celine explained that Charlotte (pictured being airlifted to hospital) is 'extremely scared and in a lot of pain' as without the second surgery, she will continue to be paralysed The fundraising page has already raised more than 72,500 in ten days, but her family hopes to raise as much as possible to guarantee Charlotte can have the second surgery The fundraising page has already raised more than 77,000 in 15 days, but her family hopes to raise as much as possible to guarantee 'ray of sunshine' Charlotte can have the second surgery and return to the UK. Celine's GoFundMe post said: 'Like any of us could have so easily done, Charlie made an honest mistake. She didn't realise her travel insurance would run out after 45 days. She now finds herself in an unimaginable position. 'March 9 was her birthday, when she turned 36. She was looking forward to seeing her brother for the first time in two years. Instead they are now meeting in a hospital in San Jose, desperately trying to figure out what to do next. 'Charlie is an amazing, vibrant person. She's so loving, caring, happy and positive. 'She's always making everyone feel good and she's an absolute ray of sunshine wherever she goes. 'She loves to surf, and her goal is to be able to walk again to get back to her happy place - in the water. To be able to surf with her friends. To dance on the beach. To teach yoga. 'If you're able to help in any way I know that Charlie would be thankful beyond words.' To donate to Celine's page for Charlotte, please visit gofundme.com/f/ngxfb-help-our-charlotte. ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Worldwide Speakers Group (WWSG) is proud to announce that former Vice President Michael R. Pence has joined their roster of global thought leaders. WWSG will facilitate the Vice President's global speaking engagements exclusively. "Worldwide Speakers Group is a leader in its industry, and I am honored to join the roster of distinguished thought leaders that WWSG currently represents. I look forward to continue working with Bob Thomas, Dan Sims, and the entire WWSG team," said former Vice President Mike Pence. As Vice President, Pence championed a number of the Administration's policy priorities, fought to achieve results that delivered unprecedented prosperity for the American people, and chaired the White House Coronavirus Task Force. With regard to his speaking engagements, the former Vice President plans to address leadership; policymaking; and faith, values, and service. "It is always an honor to represent individuals who have served our country, but especially Vice President Mike Pence" the company's CEO, Bob Thomas said. "His accomplishments over the last four years are undeniable and have positively impacted Americans. The Vice President has exhibited great character, diligence, and resolve through his dedication to his faith and we are thrilled to be representing him as he moves into the private sector. The marketplace has been anxiously anticipating when the Vice President would be available for speaking engagements, so we're pleased to finally be able to fulfill their requests." The Vice President joins a number of other recent high-profile thought leaders to sign with WWSG upon entering the private sector including Marc Short (Director of Legislative Affairs & Chief of Staff to the Vice President), General John Kelly (Secretary of Homeland Security & Chief of Staff to the President), Joseph Grogan (Assistant to the President & Domestic Policy Council Director), Elaine Chao (Secretary of Transportation), Mark Esper (Secretary of Defense), Dr. Robert Redfield (CDC Director), Seema Verma (CMS Administrator), Dr. Deborah Birx (White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator), and more. Worldwide Speakers Group operates on six continents representing an elite roster of global thought leaders, working with multinational financial services and healthcare organizations, trade associations, colleges and universities, and public lecture series to skillfully connect them with the world's top speakers. For more information, visit wwsg.com or call (703) 373-WWSG (9974). Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12862896 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE WORLDWIDE SPEAKERS GROUP LLC Related Links https://www.wwsg.com (Natural News) Any state that tries to reopen their economy by opening businesses 100% and allowing citizens to function without a Covid mask on faces biological terror from the Biden Regime thats using Covid-infected illegal immigrants as a weapon of mass destruction to get even. Its official: Nobody is allowed to make any real money in America unless the Biden Regime has its hands in it, and thats why China Joe Biden revoked Keystone XLs permit on his first day in office and shut down the construction of the Canada-Texas oil line. Dont mess with Texas? The Biden Marxists arent scared. Theyre fuming because Texas is back in business, dropping all the plandemic restrictions and moving forward with normal life and business. The Marxists are furious at the dissension in the ranks and want Texans to pay the ultimate price for it death by virus. So, the Biden Marxists are spreading Covid all over the state using infected illegal aliens, and its working. This is Resident Bidens third biological warfare attack on Texas, and they wont stop until Texas is completely shut down again, locked down, masked, and bankrupt. Biden Communists think they can use biological warfare in the name of global warming and save the day for all Americans You want a normal life, where you can eat at restaurants, go to the movies, and play with your kids in the yard? Youll have to wait until senile Resident Biden says you can. Right now, he claims its illegal to gather with friends and family in your own yard and barbecue, unless every American is force vaccinated with the dirty and deadly mRNA series. Meanwhile, Biden (Obama) is flooding the Texas border with massive surges of infected immigrants from all over the world and housing them in luxurious facilities meant for oil production workers. Straight from the Biden Concentration Camps (infected children chambers) at the border facilities to fancy condo living go the contaminated illegals, spreading Bill Gates disease faster than you can cough into your Covid mask. Over 10% of immigrant camp for children in Texas tested positive for Covid-19 Basically, one in every ten immigrant children coming across the US southern border have Covid, and the Biden Regime is using them like little biological warfare weapons to ruin the lives and business of any Republicans or Conservatives who dont bow down to the new tyranny in Washington DC. These kids have been wearing the same clothes for weeks, according to Red Cross volunteers, who dont even speak Spanish. New kids, including teenagers, are pouring in while officials are still trying to set up just the basic services needed. If youre an American citizen, you are under Orwellian watch, and may be arrested and thrown in jail at any time for not wearing your useless Covid mask in public, in stores, at the bank, or even while eating food at a restaurant. Yet, if youre an illegal immigrant, you can literally have Covid right now and you wont be tested, or arrested, and you can travel anywhere in the United States, spreading the disease, in the name of the Biden Regime terror squad. If you are an illegal immigrant with Covid, you are a weapon of mass destruction and you get a free pass from the same Democrat tyrants who dont even obey their own Covid safety restrictions. Get ready for massive outbreaks of Covid everywhere Biden is bussing infected illegal immigrants, which is mostly to Red States. This has been a public service announcement from Natural News. Tune into Vaccines.news for updates on the dirtiest vaccine ever given to humans, the highly experimental mRNA Covid series. Sources for this article include: WashingtonTimes.com TheGatewayPundit.com NaturalNews.com Vaccines.news TheGatewayPundit.com Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. A longstanding proposal to establish nonstop routes between Bradley International Airport and Jamaica could finally take off in the near future, with state legislators and other supporters renewing the push to launch direct service to the island. Proponents outlined their arguments for the plan in an online forum hosted Monday night by state Rep. Bobby Gibson, D-Windsor, and the Caribbean Trade Council. Gibson has introduced a bill calling on Windsor Locks-based Bradley to offer direct flights to the Jamaican capital of Kingston, while airport officials are also bullish about the scenario despite the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic. Its a financial gain and success for our state not only in terms of vacations and trips and visitations but also in terms of cargo, Gibson said during the forum. This is also a social justice issue. For Connecticut to have one of the largest populations of Jamaicans in the Jamaican diaspora in the United States its an injustice not to have a direct flight. Widespread support For years, officials in Connecticut and Jamaica have sought to establish nonstop flights linking the state with the Caribbean nation, which has a population of about 3 million. Those talks reflect the states large Jamaican-American community. Among the approximately 520,000 foreign-born state residents in 2018, seven percent were originally from Jamaica, according to the nonprofit and nonpartisan American Immigration Council. Only India accounted for more of the states immigrant population, with a nine percent share. This bill is incredibly important for the continued economic development of the state of Connecticut and Jamaica as it pertains to cargo and it also addresses the needs of our community in relation to direct flights from Bradley to Jamaica, Andrew Lawrence, president of the Caribbean Trade Council, said in a statement. Direct flights will benefit Connecticut residents, business and medical professionals in terms of reducing wait times for connected flights and travel times to other airports, particularly for our disabled citizens and their limitations." The nearest airports for Connecticut residents who want to fly nonstop to Jamaica to either Kingston or the northwestern city of Montego Bay have to depart from either John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International or Boston Logan International. Those flying from Bradley have to stop over at another airport such as Miami International to catch a connecting flight to the island. U.S. airlines that fly to Jamaica include JetBlue, Delta, United, American and Spirit. The Bradley catchment area is generating about 94,000 Jamaica trips annually, according to Kevin Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, which owns and operates Bradley. From that total, about 35,000 involve Bradley on a connecting basis, with some 28,000 flying to Montego Bay and the other 7,000 going to Kingston. We are very interested in developing this service We do have a couple of target carriers, meaning carriers that we think are more likely to provide the service than others, and we continue to work with them, Dillon said during the forum. The airline needs to make that decision But it is a matter of us convincing an airline that its going to be a profitable route for them. Dillon declined to identify those two target carriers because this is a very competitive environment. We dont want other airports in the region to understand who were talking to about what particular routes. To encourage carriers to establish nonstop flights to Jamaica, Dillon said the CAA would be willing to offer an incentives package that could include the waiving of two years worth of rates and charges, meaning the airline can operate here at Bradley [for] two years at no cost on that particular route. Dillon also cited the possibility of up to half-a-million dollars worth of marketing assistance to promote the availability of the route. Jamaica recorded about 4.2 million visitor arrivals in 2019, down 2 percent from 2018, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board. We have been looking to expand our visitor numbers, expand our air traffic not just in Kingston, but Montego Bay, said Francine Carter Henry, manager of tour operators and airlines for the Jamaica Tourist Board. We do rely very heavily on the [Jamaican] diaspora traffic for the Kingston arrivals, more so than Montego Bay. But in recent years we have been expanding our push for more-tourism related activity in the Kingston capital. Next steps The legislation introduced by Gibson, House Bill 6075, outlines in its statement of purpose that it would require Bradley to offer direct flights to Kingston. But the state legislatures Transportation Committee will not be proceeding with a public hearing on HB 6075 or with the bill as written, according to state Rep. Roland Lemar, D-New Haven, the committees chairman. In screening, we determined that given the airline industrys current global challenges, it made very little sense to statutorily mandate CAA offer specific flights to specific locations, Lemar told Hearst Connecticut Media on Tuesday. That being said, Rep. Gibson has done extraordinary work building the case and proving the economics of such an offering, and I will be working with him and CAA directly to see what we need in order to make this flight a reality in the near future. And I look forward to revisiting this conversation in the coming year as the domestic and international travel recovers. In any case, Bradley would not need any legislation to start nonstop flights to Jamaica, according to CAA officials. Developing new routes can take years, but Dillon said launching nonstop service to Jamaica within the next year would be possible. I would anticipate that you would probably, if we were successful, have an announcement in the fall timeframe, with an early winter start, Dillon said. That would be the most lucrative timeframe from a leisure standpoint. But again, this is an ongoing effort. Gibson and other supporters of his legislation acknowledge the aviation industrys struggles during the pandemic, but see nonstop service to Jamaica as viable in the long-term. They are also looking to build support through a public survey about the proposal. We see Bradley International Airport as a hub and something that will promote Connecticut being an economic center in the region, said state Treasurer Shawn Wooden, who is also a CAA board member. I think its a win-win. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott Fresh off passage of the COVID-19 relief bill, President Joe Biden is assembling the next big White House priority, a sweeping $3 trillion package of investments on infrastructure and domestic needs. Biden huddled privately late Monday with Senate Democrats as Congress has already begun laying the groundwork with legislation for developing roads, hospitals and green energy systems as part of Biden's "Build Back Better" campaign promise. Much like the $1.9 trillion virus rescue plan signed into law earlier this month, the new package would also include family-friendly policies, this time focusing on education and paid family leave. The White House plans are still preliminary, with a combined $3 trillion in spending proposed to boost the economy and improve the quality of life, according to a person familiar with the options who insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations. While the goal is a bipartisan package, Democrats in Congress have signalled a willingness to go it alone if they are blocked by Republicans. "We need to get it done," said Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., ahead of the virtual meeting with Biden at the senators'' annual retreat Monday evening. Biden's outreach to Senate Democrats comes as the White House is under fire for its handling of the US-Mexico border. Migrant crossings are skyrocketing, with images of cramped holding facilities posing a humanitarian and political dilemma for the administration and its allies in Congress. The focus on infrastructure shifts attention back toward priorities that are potentially more popular with Americans and potentially bipartisan. An infrastructure package would include roughly $1 trillion for roads, bridges, rail lines, electrical vehicle charging stations and the cellular network, among other items. The goal would be to facilitate the shift to cleaner energy while improving economic competitiveness. A second component would include investments in workers with free community college, universal pre-kindergarten and paid family leave. No part of the proposal has been finalised and the eventual details of any spending could change. The overall price tag first reported on Monday by The New York Times has been circulating on Capitol Hill for weeks, since the start of the Biden presidency. With the House and Senate under Democratic control, the proposals are expected to draw support from all corners of Congress. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked Democratic committee chairmen earlier this month to start working with their Republican counterparts to begin "to craft a big, bold and transformational infrastructure package". Pelosi said the goal is to build swiftly on the coronavirus rescue plan by developing an economic relief plan to help "people in every zip code by creating good-paying jobs for the future". The administration is positioning its priorities at a politically and fiscally sensitive time, after funding its $1.9 trillion relief package entirely with debt. The Federal Reserve estimates that spending could push growth this year to 6.5 per cent, and additional spending would only add pressure to an economy already expected to run hot. Biden's campaign proposed higher corporate taxes and increases on people making more than $400,000 annually, effectively undoing much of the 2017 tax cuts by his predecessor, Donald Trump. A White House official said the president has been very clear about his agenda, even though the details are only just starting to surface. The official insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations. On Monday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee debated a $300 billion-plus measure to invest in drinking water, broadband and other priorities. On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is set to appear before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Next week, the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to release a white paper revisiting the overseas tax code as a way to pay for some of the spending. Republican leader Mitch McConnell used his opening remarks on Monday in the Senate to trash the infrastructure proposal, warning it would only lead to tax hikes and what he called "left-wing policies". "We're hearing the next few months might bring a so-called infrastructure proposal that may actually be a Trojan horse for massive tax hikes and other job-killing, left-wing policies," he said. He derided the Democratic proposals as similar to the Green New Deal, a sweeping plan to address climate change that he said would cost "unbelievable sums." Biden is expected to roll out his budget in the weeks ahead as Congress presses forward on the infrastructure package, which lawmakers have said could be ready by summer. Also read: One year of lockdown live updates: Second wave grips India Also read: Global coronavirus deaths rise again after six weeks, says WHO The Uttarakhand government has asked people to strictly follow COVID-appropriate behaviour in view of the fresh surge in infections in various parts of the country and the upcoming Kumbh Mela. This comes days after the Centre had asked the state government to take stringent measures to control the spread of during the Kumbh Mela beginning from April 1. In the light of guidelines issued by both the central and state governments in the past for surveillance, containment and caution, Chief Secretary Om Prakash on Monday asked the district administrations, various state and central government organisations and other stakeholders to take all necessary measures to ensure wearing of face mask, maintaining hand hygiene and social distancing by people. These measures are also included in the National Directives for COVID-19 Management which have to be strictly followed throughout the state,he said. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had recently shot off a letter to the UttarakhandChief Secretary underlining the need for taking strict measures to check the spread of the pandemic especially during the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Haridwar which sees a huge turnout of devotees on the banks of the Ganga. "After the steady decline in COVID-19 cases for about five months, cases are showing an increasing trend in several parts of the country over the past few weeks. It has been observed that it is largely due to laxity in the observance of COVID-appropriate behaviour by people especially in crowded places," he said. Keeping in view the fresh surge in cases and upcoming festivals as well as the Maha Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, it will be important to ensure compliance of the guidelines and to strictly enforce COVID-appropriate behaviour, such as wearing masks and hygiene and social distancing by people. "I would, therefore, urge all district magistrates, state government organisations and other stakeholders to take necessary measures for creatingawareness among people to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour and simultaneously take necessary action for its strict enforcement to overcome the pandemic. "Necessary orders, guidelines issued by various departments of Government of India, state government and respective district administration in this regard, should be widely disseminated to the public and to the tehsil, block and village level functionaries for implementation,"he said. Soon after taking over as Uttarakhand chief minister, Tirath Singh Rawat had said there will be no restrictions on devotees gathering in Haridwar for the Kumbh. Rawat himself tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday and has been in isolation at home. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (EMILY KASK/AFP via Getty Images) Second Amendment advocate Lauren Boebert is facing criticism for tweeting about Joe Biden's "lid" as dozens of police rushed to a shooting at a Colorado grocery store. Police tweeted an active shooter alert in Boulder shortly before 3 pm local time, with a video showing a handcuffed man, shirtless and covered in blood, escorted from the building about 30 minutes later. "The White House just called a lid at 1:13 pm today. Biden is back in the basement, figuratively at least," Ms Boabert tweeted. "Meanwhile, the country is in chaos and the border is coming apart at the seams." The tweet, which had 6,500 likes, had 2,500 comments that heavily focused on the timing of her criticism over Joe Biden's daily schedule. Read more: This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. "Hey, any comments on the people gunned down in Boulder while they were grocery shopping?" asked one user. Ms Boebert commented on the shooting soon after reports began to emerge, posting to both her personal and government accounts to denounce the shootings. "My prayers are with the shoppers, employees, first responders & others affected by the shooting in Boulder," she said. "While we are still awaiting important information and details in this case, random public shootings & senseless acts of violence are never ok." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. It comes after Ms Boebert hit back at Twitter critics of her joke over Mr Biden's fall stumbling up the stairs of Air Force One. Yesterday, I put all my guns upstairs, she wrote on Twitter, adding: Biden can never get to them now! Missing the punch line, her political opponents trended the hashtag #LaurenBoebertIsSoDumb for, as one user said, "she hid her guns & then told the world where they were" Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. In response, Ms Boebert said the hashtag was an example of the misogyny among women-hating Democrats. Seeing #LaurenBoebertIsSoDumb trend at number one just proves what Ive been saying all week. The Left hates women & Im their top target, she said in a tweet. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. A stable operational situation with no incidents has been maintained along the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact of the Armenian state border overnight March 22-23, the Defense Ministry of Armenia told ARMENPRESS. According to the information provided by the Armenian National Security Service, no border incidents were registered in Vorotan-Davit Bek section of the Goris-Kapan inter-state road which is under the responsibility of the NSS border troops. The Armed Forces of Armenia and the NSS border troops confidently control the border situation along the entire length of the border zone and fulfill their tasks. PITTSFIELD The citys director of public health said her department is ill-equipped to fulfill the City Councils request to investigate reports from neighbors who believe that cellular radiation emitted from the tower off South Street is causing health problems. Director Gina Armstrong responded to the councils investigation request in a brief letter for its Tuesday meeting, writing that the citys Board of Health might consider making a referral to the state Department of Public Health, since the Pittsfield Health Department isnt qualified to weigh in. The Health Department is not qualified and does not have the expertise to accurately assess the residents health concerns, nor is the Health Department qualified to assess the causes of the residents health concerns, Armstrong said. Experts told CNET that more research on the wavelengths used by 5G, or fifth-generation, cellular technology would be helpful, but that nothing to date suggests that people should be concerned. The World Health Organization says no adverse health effect has been causally linked to 5G or any other cellular frequency, but it supports additional research into the possible long-term health impacts of all aspects of mobile-telecommunications. Ruling goes against Pittsfield cell tower neighbors, but fight might continue PITTSFIELD The tower stands. For now. An effort by Pittsfield neighbors to subject a new cell tower to a fresh municipal review came up short in Berkshire Superior Court. But, plaintiffs Some neighbors of the tower, located at the back of 877 South St., have voiced concerns about the 115-foot Verizon Wireless cell tower at multiple council meetings and in the courts. One of them is Courtney Gilardi of Alma Street, who says her daughter started experiencing headaches, dizziness and nausea in August, and later learned that her symptoms started the day that the tower went into service. According to Gilardi, her daughter wasnt the only neighbor who reported having a sudden onset of symptoms since the activation of the cell tower. Armstrongs letter was disappointing, given neighbors hopes that we could work together with the city to be able to get some answers, and get some relief, Gilardi said. She said she is considering running to succeed Ward 4 Councilor Chris Connell, who is not seeking reelection. She said the city largely has been unresponsive to neighbors concerns about the tower, an experience that, she said, has everything to do with her interest in running for the council. In January, the City Council voted unanimously to request that the Health Department investigate health concerns that have been reported by some of the residents that live near the cell tower since its activation and report back findings and remedies. Armstrong, whose letter comes in response to the petition, didnt respond to requests for comment Monday. Connell filed the petition with Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey, and said the Health Department should document the residents reports, at bottom, and hire an expert to guide a review if needed. Connell said the citys just trying to wash their hands of the whole situation, and I think its deplorable. Kavey noted that Pittsfield and other communities generally have limited authority over decisions about telecommunications, as regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. He said its unclear to him whether cellular radiation from the tower could be related to the neighbors reported health issues, and a Health Department review would have helped clarify the issue. If our Health Department is unable to look into the health concerns of our residents, then who is? he said. The bottom line is, we have been hearing about these health concerns for the last seven, eight months, and no one has looked into them. PHILADELPHIA and BRUSSELS, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- New Rhein Healthcare Investors announced that it has agreed to sell its 60% stake in Softhale NV to Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited for USD 110 million upfront payment plus a profit share. The total deal value could exceed USD 200 million subject to Softhale's business development. The sale of Softhale marks the first exit from New Rhein's latest fund, which was launched in 2018. Headquartered in Belgium, Softhale has developed a new generation of Soft Mist Inhalation (SMI) devices to improve respiratory treatments. The company delivers proven drugs through its proprietary SMI device designed to deliver medication to the lungs more effectively than other types of inhalers. The WHO estimates that 235 million people suffer from asthma, and four million die prematurely from chronic respiratory disease every year. Softhale's products offer the potential to substantially improve the treatment paradigm for asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder ("COPD") globally. Greg Parekh, Founder and Managing Partner of New Rhein, said: "During the past two years, Softhale has made significant progress in developing its platform and achieved important regulatory milestones. The sale of Softhale represents another strong result for our investors and demonstrates New Rhein's continued ability to choose the right opportunities and build value in the companies we back. We have been very deliberate in ensuring we find the right partner to continue the successful trajectory of Softhale, with the well-being of patients at heart. I believe Sino Biopharm is a good home for the business and will be committed to Softhale's mission of developing innovative technologies to treat multiple respiratory conditions to help millions of patients globally." New Rhein takes significant or majority equity positions in life science venture capital companies with the aim to use that influence to create value for patients and its investors. Its investment focus lies on proven assets used in new ways. New Rhein held a 60% stake in Softhale at closing, having made its main investments in 2019 and 2020. Dr. Jan-Torsten Tews, CEO of Softhale, said: "New Rhein has played a fundamental role in transforming Softhale from its medical technology driven origins into a highly specialized developer of respiratory medicines and in accelerating the development of our pipeline with operational expertise, resources and a global network. At this crucial point of our development, Sino Biopharm is a great partner on our mission to further advance and broaden the development of our platform and to build and launch a new generation of highly effective inhalable medicines on a global scale." Theresa Tse, Executive Director and Chairwoman of Sino Biopharm, said: "Softhale is an excellent fit with our ambition to become a global leader in treating respiratory diseases, which become an ever more pressing medical concern globally and in China in particular. We are committed to support the Softhale team in further developing its innovative platform." The transaction was signed today. Closing is expected within March 2021. Guggenheim Securities acted as financial advisor to Softhale. Contact Ashley Taylor Associate, Investor Relations, New Rhein [email protected] +1-215-419-7744 About New Rhein Healthcare Investors New Rhein applies a private equity business model to life sciences venture capital investing, focusing on proven assets used in new ways (i.e. new delivery forms, new indications) that offer compelling health economic value to payors. New Rhein combines significant deal-making expertise with deep operating experience, it takes significant stakes in a small number of companies and actively manages their value creation. In this way, New Rhein limits science-based risk and concentrates on development and execution. Prior investments have included medicines or medical devices for Alzheimer's disease, ophthalmic disorders, respiratory disease, critical care, urology and oncology. Our managing partners and advisors are former senior executives of leading pharmaceutical firms with outstanding operational and investment track records. For more information, see www.newrhein.com . About Softhale Softhale is a privately held Belgium based respiratory company focused on the development of pharmaceutical products with superior clinical performance based upon differentiated technology delivered by our next generation Soft Mist Inhalation (SMI) device to the lungs. The Company's proprietary, propellant-free, purely mechanical device delivers medication to the lungs more effectively than other types of inhalers and is poised to change the treatment paradigm in large markets including asthma and COPD. Softhale's products to be used for pharmaceutical development and approval processes are innovative as well as cost-optimized. For more information, see www.softhale.com . About Sino Biopharm Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited and its subsidiaries are the leading innovative research and R&D-driven pharmaceutical group in China, with a business scope that covers the full industry chain of pharmaceutical R&D platforms, intelligent production and strong sales systems. Its product offerings include a variety of biological drugs and chemical drugs, and it occupies an advantageous position in many potential therapeutic fields such as liver disease, tumors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, orthopaedics, digestive system, immune and respiratory diseases. For more information, see www.sinobiopharm.com . SOURCE New Rhein Healthcare Investors LLC Related Links http://www.newrhein.com Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. A distressed kangaroo has been found alone in a fast flowing waterway after being swept away during New South Wale's historic rainstorm. Animal rescue group WIRES and Total Fauna Solutions rescued the Eastern Grey Kangaroo trapped in a raging canal on the east coast of Australia over the weekend. The discovery was made as wild weather and storms hit the mid-north coast to the Illawarra region on Saturday night. Animal rescue group WIRES and Total Fauna Solutions collaborated to rescue a kangaroo trapped in a raging waterway on the east coast of Australia The horrific storm has already caused the evacuation of 17,000 people across New South Wales, and severe flooding in the Sydney metropolitan region. 'The trapped animal was firstly tranquillised to not cause it any further distress before it was successfully lifted out of the channel', WIRES posted on Facebook. A rescue volunteer safely removed the unconscious kangaroo from the dangerous waterway and released him later that day. 'The animal was checked for injuries and luckily survived the ordeal unscathed', WIRES said. Animal rescue volunteers tranquilised the kangaroo to not cause it any further distress before being successfully lifted out of the channel WIRES is reminding Australians to keep safe and avoid entering floodwaters as the wet weather continues across the country. 'We ask that you please always follow the advice and directions from the relevant State authorities.' Other Australians responded to the footage with praise for the rescuers heroic efforts. 'Thank you for helping save our precious wildlife and all the animals', one woman wrote. 'Oh that poor roo looks spent! Thanks for all that you do', another said. 'Credit to these amazing rescuers, who go out of their way to help our beautiful animal population', another commented. Tens of thousands of Russians registered to protest for the release of opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Tuesday hours after allies called for mass street demonstrations. In a statement posted on Navalny's website, his allies urged Russians to sign up for a protest on an interactive map. They said they will set a date for it when the number of people willing to take part reaches at least 500,000 nationwide. The organisers claimed in a YouTube statement that the rally would be the biggest that Russia has seen. They set up a dedicated website for the protest, inviting those willing to take part to register on the interactive map. Tens of thousands of Russians register to protest for the release of opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Tuesday hours after allies called for mass street demonstrations The 44-year-old Navalny, who is President Vladimir Putin's most outspoken opponent, was arrested on January 17 upon his return from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin They set up a dedicated website for the protest, inviting those willing to take part to register on the interactive map Organisers said they will set a date for it when the number of people willing to take part reaches at least 500,000 nationwide Navalny's chief of staff Leonid Volkov said: 'When the number of us is big enough, we will choose a convenient date and stage a peaceful march in all Russian cities'. Another top Navalny associate Maria Pevchickh said: 'Our main enemy is indifference, apathy, being apolitical. 'No one will give us freedom as a gift, it can't be bought. We must fight for it.' The 44-year-old Navalny, who is President Vladimir Putin's most outspoken opponent, was arrested on January 17 upon his return from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. Russian authorities have rejected the accusation. Last month, Navalny was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for violating the terms of his probation while convalescing in Germany Barbed wire sits on top of a fence at the penal colony in Pokrov, Russia, where Navalny is serving a two and a half year sentence Earlier this month, Navalny posted a note confirming that he arrived at a prison colony in Pokrov to serve his sentence. The facility stands out among Russian penitentiaries for its particularly strict regime Last month, Navalny was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for violating the terms of his probation while convalescing in Germany. The sentence stems from a 2014 embezzlement conviction that Navalny has rejected as fabricated and which the European ourt of Human Rights has ruled to be unlawful. Navalny's arrest fuelled a series of protests that drew tens of thousands to the streets across Russia. Authorities detained about 11,000 people, many of whom were fined or given jail terms ranging from seven to 15 days. Navalny's arrest fuelled a series of protests (such as this one in St Petersburg last month) that drew tens of thousands to the streets across Russia and condemnation by Western powers Authorities detained about 11,000 people at protests (such as this one in Moscow last month), many of whom were fined or given jail terms ranging from seven to 15 days Several top Navalny associates have faced charges of violating coronavirus restrictions by calling for protests, and have been put under house arrest. Russian officials have rejected demands from the United States and the European Union to free Navalny and stop the crackdown on his supporters. Moscow also has rejected the European Court of Human Rights' demand to release Navalny, describing it as unlawful and 'inadmissible' meddling in Russia's domestic affairs. Earlier this month, Navalny posted a note confirming that he arrived at a prison colony in Pokrov in the Vladimir region, 85 kilometers (53 miles) east of Moscow, to serve his sentence. The facility stands out among Russian penitentiaries for its particularly strict regime. On social media, Connecticut residents had mixed reactions to proposed legislation that would require employers to reimburse workers for at-home work expenses. I would think that there are way too many variables that any bill would address this fairly, said Greg St. Martin. It makes sense that additional expenses directly attributable to ones work would be reimbursed by the employer, but other things not so direct would be iffy for me, electricity being one of them. Robin Lee said she doesnt agree with passing this cost to the employer. If you were lucky enough to work from home during Covid, then lots of personal expenses went down gas, mileage, car service costs, clothing, lunch money, extra time needed to drive to/from the office, etc, Lee said. I would rather pay for my office supplies then go into the office during the pandemic. House Bill 6536 was raised out of the General Assemblys Joint Committee on Labor and Public Employees on Tuesday. The legislation now goes to the states House of Representatives for review. The proposed legislation, which was sponsored by state Rep. Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven and Rep. Phil Young of Stratford, would require employers who have employees working from home to reimburse what are termed as necessary expenditures. Items to reimburse as defined in the legislation include computers, printers and cellular phones; internet services; and employment-related supplies, such as paper and printer ink and toner. Eric Gjede, vice president of government affairs for the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA), said Tuesday that his organization is not completely opposed to some of what the legislation is trying to do. Its really worth the conversation of what to do when employees exceed data caps on their internet service because they are working from home for when employyes exceed data caps, Gjede said. But 6536 goes well beyond that. There are a lot of questions out there regarding how this would be enforced. The legislation requires the Connecticut Department of Labor to investigate any dispute that might arise between employees and employers if the legislation were passed, according to Kurt Westby, the states Labor Commissioner. Due to the number of potential complaints from the 1.8 million employees of the 150,000-plus employers ... there will likely be a significant fiscal impact to the Department, Westby said during a public hearing held earlier this month. If an employer is found not to have reimbursed an employee for items or services covered under the proposed legislation, the company could be fined up to $1,000 per violation. Employers could appeal a Dept. of Labor ruling to Connecticut Superior Court, according to the proposed legislation. Also opposing the bill are Torrington-based Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and the Connecticut Water Works Association, which represents the states municipal, private and regional water companies. Several labor unions from around the state and the Connecticut Working Families party are supporting the bill. Carlos Moreno, state director of the Working Families Party, said the COVID-19 pandemic has forced unnecessary expenses for thousands of people who have been working from home in Connecticut. Usage rates have gone up for heating and electricity as faster internet connections and increases in bandwidth have become necessary to keep up with demands for employee productivity in a remote working environment, Moreno said in testimony given during the public hearing on the bill. Many folks have had to purchase new computer equipment, printers, software and/or modems in order to fulfill their job responsibilities. Nearly one in three workers have had to purchase equipment to help with remote work, according to a national survey. Moreno said that under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must reimburse employees for expenses if the costs result in the employees hourly wage rate dropping below minimum wage. HB6536 is about simple fairness for dedicated employees who have kept businesses operating during the pandemic Moreno said. Sal Luciano, president of Connecticut AFL-CIO, said workers have been hurt by the Trump administrations decision to remove a federal tax deduction for employees who work from home. In some states, including California, Illinois, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Montana and New Hampshire, employers are required to reimburse employees for necessary job expenses, Luciano said. Executives likely have company credit cards and expense accounts to pay for these added costs, while the majority of employees must pay for work-related expenses with their own money before they can request a reimbursement. Currently, there is no legal requirement that employers provide those reimbursements. luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com China, Russia officials meet in show of unity Wang Yi (right) and Sergei Lavrov (left) accused the US of interference in other countries affairs. Photo: Reuters The foreign ministers of China and Russia displayed unity at their meeting Tuesday amid criticism and Western sanctions against them over human rights. Wang Yi and Sergei Lavrov rejected outside sniping at their authoritarian political systems and said they were working to further global progress on issues from climate change to the coronavirus pandemic. At their initial meeting in the southern Chinese city of Nanning on Monday, Wang and Lavrov accused the US of interference in other countries affairs and urged it to rejoin the Iran nuclear agreement, something that President Joe Bidens new administration has approached cautiously. Russia and China both maintain close relations with Tehran. The two officials continued that rhetoric at a news conference on Tuesday, where Wang sharply criticized coordinated sanctions brought by the European Union, Britain, Canada and the United States against Chinese officials over human rights abuses in Chinas far western Xinjiang region. Countries should stand together to oppose all forms of unilateral sanctions," Wang said. These measures will not be embraced by the international community." China says members of the Uyghur and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang have voluntarily taken part in job training and de-radicalistion courses, denying charges that more than 1 million have been locked up in prison-like reeducation camps where they are forced to reject their native culture and pledge loyalty to the ruling Communist Party and its leader Xi Jinping. Media outlets, foreign governments and activist groups say abuses, including forced labor and coerced birth control, are ongoing. China responded immediately Monday to the EUs move by imposing sanctions on 10 European individuals and four institutions that it said had damaged Chinas interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation. They were barred from visiting mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau and banned from engaging in financial dealings with Chinese institutions. China and the US held contentious talks in Alaska last week while US-Russia relations took a severe hit on Thursday after Putin shot back at Bidens description of him as a killer. (AP) One of South Carolina's largest dialysis providers said it could vaccinate all of its willing patients, who sit passively in its clinics for hours several days a week, within a matter of days. The only problem: The state hasn't given it any doses. As of March 23, 13 percent of the Fresenius Medical Care's 4,500 patients in South Carolina had been vaccinated, one of the company's lowest rates across its national network. In the majority of states, Fresenius' clinics have received at least some direct shipments of vaccine, though distribution strategies have varied, a spokesman said. Fresenius officials say doing so should be an easy sell for a population at risk, given dialysis patients are much more likely to become seriously ill or die from COVID-19 than the general population. In a study of end-stage kidney disease patients who caught the virus, more than half were hospitalized and 23 percent died of COVID-19, according to results published early this year in the journal Kidney Medicine. Officials at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control have said there is not enough vaccine to go around, and have prioritized shipments elsewhere. "They (dialysis centers) are among the ones we would love to be sending vaccine to," said Nick Davidson, senior deputy for public health at DHEC. "The challenge right now is still we can't spread the vaccine so thinly across the state. ... Right now we're just waiting for more vaccine to be able to give them." Tricia Manigault, 55, is one of Fresenius' more mobile patients. She usually drives herself to dialysis three times a week near where she lives in Mount Pleasant. She has been getting the treatments for three years to manage her kidney failure. Manigault has been checking the state's vaccine appointment website every day and hasn't been able to find availability. She has also been visiting local pharmacies to ask about canceled appointments and extra doses, again with no luck. To Manigault, dialysis centers should have been grouped with nursing homes and assisted living facilities in receiving the vaccine directly. Now she is competing with the majority of the state population to find a slot. "I just feel like it would pretty much save my life," Manigault said. "I believe if I get (the virus), it would not be good. I see it as a life-saver." She is one of roughly 11,000 South Carolinians on dialysis, according to 2018 data from the United States Renal Data System. South Carolina was slated to receive about 122,000 first doses of the vaccine the week of March 22. Dialysis centers' worry about that fact was the subject of a letter the American Society of Nephrology sent to President Joe Biden's administration in late February, urging leaders to open allocations and pointing out most dialysis recipients have to come to a center three times a week to get their treatments, making patients an easy audience to vaccinate. Fresenius is not the only South Carolina dialysis provider advocating to be sent doses of the vaccine. A spokeswoman for DaVita Kidney Care, another chain, said in a statement the company hopes to vaccinate patients directly in its centers "in the weeks ahead." "Weve seen direct access greatly increase vaccine rates among dialysis patients in other states and are grateful for DHECs partnership to make this happen in South Carolina," the spokeswoman said. Dr. Presley Howlett, a medical director for Fresenius' local clinics, said the overwhelming majority of patients get their other vaccines, such as the flu shot, through Fresenius. In addition to the extra risks dialysis patients face because of their conditions, the need to come in for regular treatments presents potential exposures. To mitigate that, Fresenius has designated clinics for COVID-19 positive patients. Howlett said transportation is an issue for the majority of Fresenius' patients, yet another reason why accessing a vaccine outside of dialysis appointments is challenging. Statewide numbers New cases reported: 494 confirmed, 213 probable. Sign up for our new health newsletter The best of health, hospital and science coverage in South Carolina, delivered to your inbox weekly. Email Sign Up! Total cases in S.C.: 460,277 confirmed, 82,635 probable. Percent positive: 4.8 percent. New deaths reported: 2 confirmed, 1 probable. Total deaths in S.C.: 7,971 confirmed, 1,059 probable. Percent of ICU beds filled: 65 percent. How does S.C. rank in vaccines administered per 100,000 people? 43rd as of March 22, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hardest-hit areas In the total number of newly confirmed cases, Greenville County (82), Spartanburg County (44) and York County (42) saw the highest totals. What about the tri-county? Charleston County had 18 new cases on March 23, while Berkeley had 16 and Dorchester had 12. Deaths One of the newly confirmed deaths reported was in a child under age 18. The other was a patient 65 or older. Hospitalizations Of the 542 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of March 23, 126 were in the ICU and 61 were using ventilators. What do experts say? DHEC, in a March 23 announcement, reminded the public that in addition to the COVID-19 vaccine they need to stay up to date on their other vaccinations, as well, including the annual flu shot and boosters for tetanus and diphtheria every 10 years; Tdap is also recommended to inoculate against whooping cough. VXI in Youngstown and Canton reveals 450 new job opportunities Our goal is to provide as many job opportunities to help reduce the high unemployment rate in Ohio, Youngstown Site Director Santos Albert said. In VXI Youngstown alone, were looking to hire more than 300 customer service professionals in the next coming months." VXI Global Solutions, a leader in customer experience (CX) management, revealed growth plans in Youngstown and Canton in Ohio, the company said. The new job openings aim to curb the rising unemployment rate, boost the local economy, and provide chances for previously unemployed or under-employed workers to have lucrative careers and increase take-home pay to better meet their financial obligations. There were 115,174 new unemployment claims filed in Ohio last week, according to the states Department of Job and Family Services, down about 13,000 from the week prior. In the year since Ohio began reporting weekly unemployment claim figures because of the coronavirus pandemic, there have been 3.2 million new claims filed. Our goal is to provide as many job opportunities to help reduce the high unemployment rate in Ohio, Youngstown Site Director Santos Albert said. In VXI Youngstown alone, were looking to hire more than 300 customer service professionals in the next coming months. Whats exciting is that we have pilot programs where they can start as agents and eventually move their career up as future leaders when the program becomes successful. VXI has two sites in Ohio. One in Canton and the one in Youngstown. People living in Ohio may prefer to go either way, VXI Canton Site Director, Chris Fisher said. We have new management and new call center campaigns that new and existing employees can be excited about. We will hire over 150 new employees over the next two months. Fisher also stressed the importance of employee safety. We also care about our employees' well-being as we recognize that the virus is still out there. We know that everyones had a rough time the past year and we have put in place various safety protocols inside our offices. VXI is their second home after all. On top of a safe and fun working environment, VXI is also offering excellent base pay, bonuses, paid time off, flexible schedules, health insurance, 201k benefits, and thriving career development for new hires. Hiring in VXI is already underway. You can visit VXI at 20 Federal Plaza in Youngstown or call (330) 531-6776. You can also visit VXI Canton at 401 Cleveland Avenue NW Canton or call (330) 558-6236. Please login to VXI Youngstown and Cantons hiring pages for more information. About VXI VXI is a customer experience company, passionate about designing solutions that augment its clients' business processes to deliver higher revenue, greater profitability, and happier customers. Founded in 1998, the company has 35,000 employees across 43 locations in North and Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. VXI offers omnichannel customer care and growth services using technology and tools, including purpose-built productivity-enhancing applications that drive higher sales conversion, CSAT, and related key metrics for its clients. Known for its transformation mindset, the company's IT arm, Symbio, offers digital and business transformation solutions that are seeded in its innovation philosophy of co-creation and seamless augmentation. http://www.vxi.com DENVER, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EnerCom, Inc. announces participating companies for the EnerCom Dallas Energy Investment & ESG Conference April 6-7, 2021. EnerCom Dallas is a financial conference that allows institutional investors an early 2021 opportunity to meet CEOs from leading independent E&Ps, including some of the industry's leading Permian, Eagle Ford, Marcellus, Utica and Canadian producers, and the oilfield service companies supporting them, and hear them discuss their plans to drive development, fund operations and return value to shareholders in 2021. "We are excited to be one of the first, if not the first, energy investment conferences to start bringing industry and capital markets back together in person. I want to thank all our supporters and participating companies for helping us make this event a reality. EnerCom Dallas will give the investment community and peers an early opportunity to hear the leading independent oil and gas producers and service companies present their plans for 2021," said Aaron Vandeford, President of EnerCom. "Growing public expectations around CSR has increased the emphasis by investors on making investments in companies that are actively addressing ESG concerns. EnerCom will look to help facilitate this dialogue at our Dallas conference." Company lineup as of March 22, 2021 includes: EnerCom is confirming additional companies to the lineup daily. The complete daily schedule of presenters will be posted shortly on the website (presenters, days, times are subject to change). The conference investor presentations begin at 8:00 a.m. CT and run through 4:30 p.m. CT on April 6-7, 2021. Registration for EnerCom Dallas is now open Buyside professionals and oil and gas company executives may register for the event, at no cost, through the conference website. The EnerCom Dallas conference follows EnerCom's familiar 25-minute CEO presentation format, followed by 50-minute Q&A opportunities in separate breakout rooms, one-on-one meeting opportunities for buyside investors to meet company management teams, networking opportunities and global insight delivered by leading energy economists and strategists. The event also provides energy industry professionals a venue to learn about important energy topics affecting the global oil and gas industry. The conference offers healthy dialogue and informal networking opportunities for attendees and presenters. Conference Details: Modeled after EnerCom's The Oil & Gas Conference in Denver, EnerCom Dallas offers investment professionals a unique opportunity to listen to oil and gas company senior management teams update investors on their operational and financial strategies and learn how the leading energy companies are building value in 2021. This event will be hosted in a hybrid format (in person and online). We want to take the first steps of safely bringing the industry together in person while maintaining optionality for participants to join the discussion virtually depending on everyone's unique situation. Conference Dates: April 6 and 7, 2021 Venue: Dallas Petroleum Club (and webcast live) on April 6, 2021. Fully online on 7, 2021. Public and Private Company Presenters: EnerCom Dallas will feature both public and private companies headquartered in Canada and the U.S. with operations across the most active and prolific oil and gas regions and the globe. Who Attends the Conference: Institutional and hedge fund investors, private equity investors, energy research analysts, broker/dealers, trust officers, high net worth investors, commercial energy bankers and other energy industry professionals will gather in Dallas for the conference. One-on-One Meetings: EnerCom works in advance with presenting company management teams to arrange one-on-one meetings with the attending institutional investors and research analysts at the conference venue and online. About EnerCom, Inc. Founded in 1994, EnerCom, Inc. is an internationally recognized management consultancy advising companies on Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG), investor relations, corporate strategy/board advisory, marketing, analysis and valuation, media, branding, and visual communications design. Headquartered in Denver, EnerCom and its team of experts are passionate about the energy industry and our work to provide clients with wide range of services to build brand recognition that drives valuation and returns. EnerCom's upcoming 2021 oil and gas investment conferences include: For more information about EnerCom and its services, please visit http://www.enercominc.com/ or call +1 303-296-8834 to speak with the management team or one of our consultants. Event Sponsors Include: About Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (NSAI) was founded in 1961 to provide the highest quality engineering and geological consulting to the petroleum industry. Today they are recognized as the worldwide leader of petroleum property analysis to industry and financial organizations and government agencies. With offices in Dallas and Houston, NSAI provides a complete range of geological, geophysical, petrophysical, and engineering services and has the technical experience and ability to perform these services in any of the onshore and offshore oil and gas producing areas of the world. They provide reserves reports and audits, acquisition and divestiture evaluations, simulation studies, exploration resources assessments, equity determinations, and management and advisory services. For a complete list of services or to learn more about Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. please visit https://netherlandsewell.com/. About Enverus In 1999, Enverus was founded as Drillinginfo, a groundbreaking provider of reliable oil & gas data, when the industry was on the brink of a digital revolutiona revolution that we would eventually fuel. Over the years, we grew exponentially through product innovation, market expansion, and acquisitions. Today, we are the energy industry's leading data, insights, and software company, helping customers outpace their competition and influence their respective industries. For more information, visit www.enverus.com About Haynes and Boone Haynes and Boone, LLP is an energy focused corporate law firm, providing a full spectrum of legal services and solutions to clients across the oil and gas industry, including the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. Lawyers from our Denver office and 15 other offices work as a team to meet the legal needs of our domestic and international clients involved in oil and gas. We represent private and public oil and gas companies, financial institutions, investment funds and other investors. Our team of more than 100 energy lawyers and landmen understands the physical and financial energy markets, and the firm has been helping both operators and lenders complete some of the largest financings and M&A transactions in recent years. The BTI Industry Power Rankings, published by BTI Consulting Group, Inc., named Haynes and Boone a "Leading Recommended" firm for the energy industry in 2017, ranking our firm among the top three percent of all law firms. For more information, please visit www.haynesboone.com/. Great Western Petroleum, LLC Denver-based Great Western Petroleum, LLC, is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the exploration, development, acquisition and exploitation of unconventional reserves of oil, natural gas and NGLs in the core of the Wattenberg Field, which is located within the DJ Basin. The Company's properties are primarily located in northwestern Adams County and western Weld County in Colorado. For more information, visit www.greatwesternpetroleum.com SOURCE EnerCom, Inc. Related Links http://www.enercominc.com As we dodge the hail of bullets you may remember back in November 2008 that America elected its First Black President. Thus the moral arc of history that began with the Civil War had finally bent towards justice. Isnt it wonderful, said my faculty-wife friend. If Barack Obama had been a man of wisdom -- instead of a foolish lefty drone -- he would have ended the race wars, proposed a peace treaty, and started a whole new era in American history. But he didnt. Maybe if he had, Democrats wouldnt have lost the House in 2010. Or the Senate in 2014. Nor would Donald Trump have won the presidency in 2016. So, here we are in 2021. The Dems pulled out all the stops in 2020 and just managed to flop over the finish line with a questionable presidential win and a 50-50 Congress. Now, with a divided legislature, they are going for broke, rewriting election laws and ramping their race politics up to 11. What is their legislative agenda? The Green New Deal, the amped up anti-racism of systemic racism, and unlimited immigration. This is an agenda of, by, and for the educated elite. Educated people will have jobs planning and managing the top-down greening of the economy. Corporations with educated-elite connections will get subsidies and grants. Educated elitist priests will fan out through the country enforcing the orthodoxy of Critical Race Theory and Cancel Culture. Do you see the one thing glaring at us like the onrushing locomotive eyes of J. Pierpont Morgan? There is nothing in the Biden agenda for ordinary middle-class Americans. Now, there is a word for a government that thinks only of its courtiers and its bribed supporters: Unjust. And sometimes unjust regimes get shown the door. Thanks to my sister, I just read Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England by Alison Weir, about the unjust reign of Britains King Edward II who ruled from 1307 to 1327. Isabella, daughter of the French king, was Edwards Queen. It didnt end well. Problem was that Edward was a helpless closeted gay -- like all gays down the ages until the Stonewall riots -- and he looted the nobles and anything else that moved to gift his gay lovers, first Piers Gaveston and then Hugh Despenser, with manors and castles. Talk about injustice. In the end, Isabella couldnt take it any more and escaped back to Daddy in France. Then she took a lover, Roger Mortimer, and with his help invaded eastern England in 1327. Guess what happened! The homophobic Brits rallied to her on the spot, and she and her lover eventually deposed King Edward without firing a shot. Only there werent any guns in those days. Then she and Mortimer looted the place in their turn, and so her son, Edward III, deposed her. Now, of course, we are much more advanced today. We have a ruling class that has been looting the country shamelessly for the last century and staffing a huge bureaucracy of Barnacles and Stiltstockings, while ordinary people struggle to work and live in a world where the cost of education and housing have soared into the stratosphere. Now, I know that all our liberal friends are much more educated and evolved than you or I, but I wonder if the white male mass shootings arent related to the white working class dying of despair, about which weve heard tell. When a tribe or a people are facing extinction, the young sometimes go crazy. There was the Xhosa cattle killing movement in South Africa in 1856. If the Xhosa killed all their cattle, the spirits told 15-year-old Greta Thunberg... no, Nongqawuse, the British settlers would be driven into the sea. There was the ghost shirt movement in the western U.S. in 1890. Native Americans sorely oppressed by white oppressors believed that special shirts might protect them from western bullets. In the Wounded Knee Massacre they were proved wrong. There was the Boxer Rebellion in China. In June 1900, Boxer fighters, convinced they were invulnerable to foreign weapons, converged on Beijing with the slogan Support the Qing government and exterminate the foreigners. In our time in between mass shootings we have what Steve Sailer calls suicide by cop: men brandishing a gun at a cop when facing going to jail if arrested. Now, I know that our ruling class are the kindest, noblest, wokest people in the world. It would be a real shame, dear rulers, if we had a replay of those 19th-century disasters among the human rubble devastated by a century of progressive government failures. Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class. Image: Snappygoat Members of the Extinction Rebellion environmental campaign group hold a protest outside Leinster House in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) Extinction Rebellion activists have held a protest outside Dail Eireann calling on the Government not to backtrack on its promise to ban the importation of fracked gas. The environmental activist group teamed up with Love Leitrim and Safety Before LNG campaigners to create a socially distant visual performance outside the gates of Leinster House in Dublin to highlight that the Governments proposed climate legislation does not halt liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. Organisers said the performers, who give themselves the moniker Red Rebels, symbolise the common blood shared with all species. Extinction Rebellion activist Cara Kearney said: Were here to protest the lack of a mention of fracking, importing fracked gas in the Climate Bill. Expand Close Members of the Extinction Rebellion environmental campaign group hold a protest outside Leinster House in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Members of the Extinction Rebellion environmental campaign group hold a protest outside Leinster House in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) Our friends in Safety Before LNG and Love Leitrim found out there isnt going to be a policy to prevent companies building LNG terminals, which shocked them because it was recommended by the climate committee, so were here to protest that. It was also recommended by the Human Rights Centre as well. Unfortunately the climate crisis is so bad that we need hard and fast drastic action on par with that weve seen with Covid. There needs to be an immediate ban on imported fracked gas black and white. The Governments Climate Action Bill was due to be published on Tuesday afternoon. It commits to pursue and achieve carbon neutrality no later than 2050. Expand Close The protest outside Leinster House in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The protest outside Leinster House in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) But anti-LNG campaigners have condemned the legislation saying it does not include a ban on the importation of fracked gas. Dervilla Keegan, of Love Leitrim, said: We are running out of time. The climate crisis and the communities impacted cannot wait any longer. We need the ban on the importation of fracked gas to be in the Climate Bill. This has been recommended by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action last December, and a policy was promised in the Programme for Government last July. And legal opinion from the Irish Centre for Human Rights says it can be done. We have a moral obligation to do this for the sake of impacted communities in Texas and Pennsylvania. They have been pleading with us that Ireland does not become a market for fracked gas. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A lot of people have wondered why the Biden administration hasn't taken the communist Chinese to task for the way they are treating the Uighur population. Now that photographs are emerging from the facilities on our southern border, where the Biden administration is collecting illegal aliens, the reason for Biden's silence is obvious: you can't scold the Chinese for civilian concentration camps when you've set up your own inhumane concentration camps on American soil. The Biden administration is hiding what's happening at the border, but, as leaked photos make clear, what's going on in Texas is outrageous. Tens of thousands of people, including over 15,000 children, more than 5,000 of whom are unaccompanied, are herded together in dangerous, unsanitary conditions. Children are going hungry and there is no "usable running water." Additionally, a contagious disease is working its way through the interned population, one so deadly that Democrats shut down America for a year because of it. There also reports that the women and children gathered under these conditions are prey for sex-traffickers and sexual predators. It's probable that Biden & Co. didn't intend this outcome, but it certainly was predictable. You're going to have a tidal wave of human traffic at your borders if you announce to the poverty-stricken continent to your south that you're opening your borders and will give all comers free education, medical care, and welfare, as well as a shortcut path to citizenship. That the Biden administration failed to prepare for the flood of humanity that instantly headed to America is a form of criminal negligence. Any administration officials who failed to prevent this disaster are complicit in the human disaster unfolding in Texas and other border regions. Photos are starting to emerge from the Biden Internment Camps (for that's literally what they are). Project Veritas is one of the outlets that obtained smuggled photographs. The photographs below come from Project Veritas and are meant to be shared. In addition to the photos (and the silver things are blankets), the source revealed the following: They [illegal aliens] are separated by age or physical size depending on room. Fifty were COVID positive in these cells over the last few days. There have been multiple sexual assaults, normal assaults and daily medical emergencies," they said. In addition, Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat who nevertheless believes he owes a duty of care to his constituents and a humane obligation to the people in the Biden Internment Camps, released his own photographs: Biden now promises to alleviate some of this disgrace by spending 86 million taxpayer dollars to house illegal aliens in hotels. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of homeless Americans sleep in the streets, and the American economy continues to sag. Before I go any farther, let me be perfectly clear that I am not likening Biden's internment camps to Nazi death camps, nor am I calling Biden or anyone in his administration a Nazi. While I believe that the Democrats are well on their way to destroying America by replacing her population with uneducated, non-English-speaking, easily exploitable illegal aliens from Latin America, I do not believe that any of the Democrats is a Nazi. Having said that, there is a useful analogy to be made when it comes to the predictable chaos on the border. Many years ago, I read a Holocaust memoir by a young Jewish woman who had survived Auschwitz, which was a labor and a death camp, and Bergen Belsen, which was simply a dumping ground. The young woman wrote that despite all the horrors of Auschwitz the death, disease, sadism, starvation, etc. it was still better than Bergen Belsen because at least Auschwitz had an organizing principle. Bergen Belsen was just a giant mud pit in which people died from starvation, dehydration, disease, and despair. Anne and Margot Frank did not survive Bergen Belsen. It turns out that, even in Hell, some semblance of order helps. I never thought the day would come when America would herd people (including children separated from their parents) into chaotic facilities without adequate food, water, bathing facilities, privacy, or beds, and with epidemic disease rife in these squalid internment centers and the constant threat of sexual predation. This happened through the Biden administration's reckless negligence and brings so much shame to America that, as I stated at the beginning of this post, the Biden administration had the wit to realize that it's living in a glass house when it comes to castigating others (such as the communist Chinese) for civilian internment camps. Postscript: Did I miss the picture of AOC hastening to the border to weep? Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. I handled this past pandemic year worse than most people I know. Not because I had it harder, obviously; my family was insulated by all sorts of privilege. But emotionally, I more or less fell apart. Unlike my friends and acquaintances, I developed no new domestic skills or hobbies. If there were silver linings, I was too mired in hysterical grief for my old life to appreciate them. Knowing how little Id lost compared to others didnt lessen my misery, it just added a slimy coating of shame to it. Frantic for an escape hatch, I started applying to vaccine trials last year, and was accepted into the Johnson & Johnson one. Sometimes when I mention this people have thanked me, but there was nothing really altruistic about it. Im delighted to have played a minuscule part in the development of a vaccine, but to me, any risk involved paled beside the possibility of getting immunity early. When I got a shot at my first appointment in December, I felt something close to ecstasy, but the next day it curdled into despair. In a sort of reverse hypochondria, I scanned my body hoping to feel any ghostly twinge of a side effect, but there was nothing. I was pretty sure Id gotten a placebo. When Florida residents cant log in to their states unemployment insurance website, or cant figure out why theyve been denied benefits, or have been waiting weeks to be approved for benefits, they often end up calling state Rep. Anna Eskamani. Eskamani, a Democrat who represents part of central Florida, says that during the pandemic, her team has fielded questions from more than 20,000 unemployed people from across the state. Once word got out that her team was available to help, even paying for a hotel room or medicine sometimes, she said, the calls and emails came flooding in. Its been almost a year of dealing with this broken unemployment system, Eskamani said. Its been really, really bad. Skyrocketing unemployment nationwide last spring revealed how ill-prepared states were to get aid to workers in an emergency. Now governors and lawmakers in many states have proposed fixing ancient computer systems or hiring more staff to process claims, and, in some states, lawmakers have proposed increasing benefits and making them easier to access. While theres bipartisan support for tech upgrades, some Republicans dont support increasing benefits. In fact, Republican lawmakers in Maine and West Virginia have proposed cutting the amount of time people can stay on benefits when the statewide unemployment rate is low. But as Floridas experience shows, the combination of public pressure and more federal money to spend could create room for Democrats and Republicans to compromise on changes to unemployment insurance systems. Unemployment benefits are funded by taxing employers, and many Republicans and business groups dont want to raise business taxes. They also fear that better benefits could dissuade out-of-work people from looking for jobs. Were willing to discuss the max weekly benefit, just so long as we dont end up competing for employees with our own tax dollars, said Bill Herrle, executive director of the Florida chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, an organization that advocates for independent business owners. Some states have used federal coronavirus aid to replenish unemployment insurance trust funds and hold down business taxes. The latest federal relief package could be used in the same way, said Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, a left-leaning think tank with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. It would certainly be better to do that than to cut benefits, he said. The relief package also includes $2 billion in grants to help states upgrade unemployment insurance technology. It extends federal support for unemployed workers by providing an additional $300 to former employees and $100 per week to freelance and gig workers through Labor Day. Some Florida Republicans back increasing benefits. We have a moral obligation to provide enough to help meet some basic needs while they look for work, said Florida state Sen. Jason Brodeur in an emailed statement to Stateline. He proposed increasing the weekly benefit maximum from $275 to $375 a week, closer to the national average of $387 a week. In a move that could defuse tension over business tax increases, Florida legislative leaders last week announced a plan to tax online sales to Floridians and spend the revenue on the unemployment insurance trust fund. Florida state Sen. Annette Taddeo, a Democrat who co-sponsored the sales tax bill as well as legislation that would increase unemployment benefits, said shes been invited to join a bipartisan Senate group focused on the unemployment insurance system. Ideas coming out of that group are not going to be perfect, she said. But I just want us to do something. When millions of people were laid off last spring, a crush of unemployment insurance claims swamped aging state systemssome still powered by 1950s-era computer codeand overwhelmed officials. Backlogs became the norm in every state, and payment processing slowed down further as state agencies were hit with major identity theft scams. Unemployed workers faced hard-to-use websites, legal jargon and strict eligibility requirements, and struggled to get overworked agency officials on the phone. In the latest twist in Floridas saga, residents are now struggling to get the tax forms they need to report unemployment benefits as income, Taddeo said. All around, theyve just been screwed, over and over in Florida, she said of unemployed people. And its so frustrating. Nationally, just 29% of unemployed workers received benefits in March 2020, according to an April analysis from the Pew Research Center. (The Pew Charitable Trusts funds the research center and Stateline.) Rates were lowest in Arizona, Florida and North Carolina, where 10% of unemployed workers or fewer received benefits. Some state unemployment policies exclude whole categories of workers, such as gig workers and freelancers who dont have a traditional employer, and part-time workers who earn too little to qualify. Other workers are denied benefits because they didnt fill out paperwork correctly. Some of Wisconsins unemployment forms and the online portal are available only in English and unemployment paperwork must be completed online, although some workers dont read and write English well and lack consistent internet access, noted Victor Forberger, a Madison-based lawyer who specializes in unemployment insurance claims. Wisconsins labor department also has continued to painstakingly investigate workers job histories and why they left prior jobs, Forberger said, a process other states paused during the public health emergency. But during the pandemic, Wisconsin joined other states in dropping requirements that claimants prove theyre looking for new jobs. Wisconsin officials blame eligibility requirements and old technology for payment delays. Dealing with complex eligibility laws and outdated IT systems has led to substantial challenges over the past nine months, the agencys secretary-designee Amy Pechacek told legislators during a December hearing. In many states, people who did get state benefits during the pandemic discovered they were barely enough to live on. Kelly Johnson, a 48-year-old single mom of eight, started a Facebook group for unemployed Floridians last spring after she was furloughed from two jobs, as a manager at a gym and as a manager at a restaurant, then finally laid off from the restaurant. It took her a week to get into the state system, Johnson said. And she found she qualified for just $71 a week. The biggest problem I see is that the benefits are too low, she said. If they had been a bit higher, people wouldnt be facing the evictions and facing the car repossessions. Johnsons benefits were based on her restaurant income, not her gym manager income, because the gym classified her as an independent contractor. Congress gave workers a lifeline last March when it approved an additional $600 per week for claimants, including gig workers. Those benefits expired in July, so the Trump administration instead created a program to send claimants an additional $300 per week. Congress then reauthorized its program, and began sending claimants an additional $300 per week in December. That money was again approved in the $1.9 trillion relief package President Joe Biden signed last week. The multiple rounds of aid have been tough for states to speedily hand out, however. Donalyn Manion, a 55-year-old professor of graphic design in Kansas who was laid off last spring, said shes been struggling to make ends meet since December, because shes received no state or federal benefits since then. Manion said shes still eligible for benefits, but its taken Kansas a long time to start distributing money that Congress approved in December. She qualifies for $449 per week in state benefits, close to the $503 maximum. Manion said shes not low-income enough to qualify for food stamps or rental assistance. Shes cut back on expenses and is burning through her retirement savings. Its hard. Its a very hard pivot, she said. And I have to say, if youre not living it, you dont really understand it. Labor department officials told KMBC 9 News that the agency needs time to prepare its computer system to distribute the new aid. Johnson and Manion have channeled their frustration into organizing workers online and getting involved in state and national advocacy groups such as the Center for Popular Democracy, a pro-worker group with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. Johnson even ran (unsuccessfully) as a Democrat for the Florida House in November. Unemployment [aid] is supposed to be there to sustain you, not drive you down in the hole further and make you desperate, she said. Governors and legislators are looking for ways to improve unemployment insurance systems, starting with tech upgrades. The Democratic governors of Wisconsin, Kansas and New Jersey have proposed spending $79 million, $37.5 million and $7.7 million on upgrades, respectively. Republican lawmakers in Florida have proposed spending $73 million over two years to start fixing the states website. Floridas system was plagued by delays, overspending and technical problems even before its launch in 2013. Itll cost $244 million over five years to fix, a joint study by the state Department of Economic Opportunity and iSF, a consulting firm, found last month. The departments executive director, Dane Eagle, compared the unemployment insurance system to an outdated cell phone during a March hearing. We were issued an iPhone in 2013, we didnt do the updates or bother to get a new iPhone in that process, and were still operating on older data, he said. Florida processed more claims in 2020 than in the prior eight years combined, Eagle said. His agency has tried to patch things up and add capacity, such as by installing 82 new servers and training hundreds of new call center workers. Eagle worked with Republican state Rep. Chip LaMarca and Republican state Sen. Aaron Bean on a bill that would require his agency to make certain tech upgrades. The bill doesnt include money for the upgrades, but lawmakers are more than willing to consider investing in system improvements, LaMarca told Stateline. In Wisconsin, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposal was rejected by the Republican-controlled legislature. Lawmakers approved a bill, which the governor signed, that instructs the agency to seek out contractors first. If we allocate $80 million, like the governor asked for, the bids will be at least $80 million, said Republican state Sen. Howard Marklein, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Finance, in an emailed statement. We need the administration to do the work, request proposals, make a plan and come back with actual bids so that we know the real cost to update this technology. Democrats in several states want to expand benefits or make them easier to access. A New Jersey bill would allow workers who earn as little as $100 a week to qualify, for instance. A Minnesota bill would allow high school students to qualify. And in Florida, several Democrats and one Republican, Brodeur, have filed separate legislation that would increase benefit amounts. My concern, with my bill, is that we dont just fix the website and think everythings okay, Taddeo said. She proposed increasing weekly benefits to a maximum of $600, up from $275, and a minimum of $200, up from $32, and allowing Floridians to claim benefits for at least 26 weeks. Eskamani has proposed separate legislation increasing weekly benefits to between $100 and $500 for 26 weeks, adjusting how benefits are calculated, allowing people to qualify if they seek part-time work, and suspending work search requirements during an emergency, among other changes. She said a strong unemployment system will be key to Floridas economic recovery, because better benefits help people keep food on the table and avoid homelessness. A functioning unemployment system is one of the best stimulus (policies) that a state can craft for its people, she said. Some Republicans in the state have said they dont think low benefit amounts are a problem. I dont know the issue was amounts, it was access, state Sen. Danny Burgess, chair of Floridas Select Committee on Pandemic Preparedness and Response, told the Palm Beach Post last month. Burgess office did not respond to requests for comment. Taddeo and Eskamani dont expect to gain Republican support for their proposals. But there could be room for compromise. I think all of us are more than happy to look at a different level of benefits, LaMarca said. Meanwhile, unemployment rates nationwide are falling as businesses reopen and companies anticipate the end of the pandemic. Johnson was called back to her restaurant job this week part-time and is planning to go, even though shell earn less money there than she would on expanded unemployment benefits. Id rather keep my foot in the door and go back to work, she said. Sophie Quinto of Stateline.org wrote this story. 2021 The Pew Charitable Trusts. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. PHILIPSBURG:--- Several armed robberies around Philipsburg over the weekend have the attention of police officers of the Specials Unit Robberies (SUR). The publics assistance is sought to help law enforcement apprehend the armed robbers. Anyone with information about the robberies, or who may have seen or know the suspects is urged to contact the Police. On Saturday, March 20, 2021, around 4:00 pm, two men dressed in dark clothing and brandishing firearms entered and robbed a Front Street jewelry store at gunpoint. They bagged jewelry and fled on two scooters that were spotted by A police patrol. The suspects were chased by officers to the Oyster Pond border, but they escaped to the French Side. The second armed robbery was in the evening. Police Central Dispatch received a call at around 9:00 pm about an individual who was robbed of his gold chains in the Festival Village. According to the victim, four (4) young men dressed in dark clothing and brandishing firearms robbed him of his jewelry next to the Festival Village restrooms. The robbers afterward fled the scene on foot. The third armed robbery occurred on Sunday, March 21, at approximately 4:00 pm in the parking lot of a supermarket on Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard. Three (3) tourists were threatened with a firearm and one of the group was robbed of his jewelry. The preliminary investigation shows that three victims got out of their car and were suddenly approached by two armed young men from a nearby car. After threatening and robbing the victims, the two suspects fled the scene in their car. Anyone with information about these armed robberies should contact SUR detectives via + 1 721 542 2222 ext. 203, 204, or 205, the anonymous tip line 9300, send a private message via Facebook Page: Police Force of Sint Maarten - Korps Politie Sint Maarten or website www.policesxm.sx. KPSM Press Release. The Hamilton County Health Department, in partnership with Southern Adventist University, will offer the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to 500 individuals who make an appointment, this Sunday on Southern Adventist Universitys campus. This community event is free and open to the public by appointment only.We are grateful to partner with Southern Adventist University to offer COVID-19 vaccine in the Collegedale community, says Hamilton County Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes.This event is open to all Hamilton County residents 18 years and above who qualify and make an appointment in advance.Johnson & Johnson Appointments: March 28 - Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church, 4829 College Dr. E, Collegedale, Tn, 37315 The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is a one-dose regimen; therefore, only one dose is required.Make An Appointment:People are encouraged to visit vaccine.hamiltontn.gov to make their appointment online. Those who do not have access to the internet can call the appointment call center to make an appointment over the phone: First dose appointments: 423-209-5398 Spanish appointment line: 423-209-5384The Health Departments general COVID-19 hotline 423-209-8383 is available to connect people to vaccine and testing resources. Hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Bilingual representatives are available.Current Phases/Eligibility:COVID-19 vaccine appointments are for people who live or work in Hamilton County and meet current eligibility. For a full list of eligible phases, visit vaccine.hamiltontn.gov and click on the Current Phases/Eligibility tab. To see the list in Spanish, visit the Spanish website and scroll to the bottom. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine has been authorized for persons 18 years and older. For more about this vaccine, read the fact sheet here: https://bit.ly/2QwfHD6 Forms staff on-site will ask for documentation to show that patients live or work in Hamilton County. Staff will not ask for proof of Phase 1C or work category status. A list of documents accepted is available on the Health Departments website.Important Information to Know Prior to Appointment: Do not arrive more than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. Wear appropriate clothing to get a shot in upper arm Bring proof of Hamilton County residency (if applicable) Bring proof of Hamilton County employment (if applicable) Bring proof of age (if applicable) Print and complete the COVID-19 Vaccine Encounter form for your appointments. Download the form at https://bit.ly/3caxvL3 . Forms are available on-site, but bringing a completed form to the vaccination site will accelerate the process. Be prepared to wait 20 minutes after shot Be prepared for the entire process to take an hour or moreVaccination Record CardWhen patients receive their first dose with the Health Department, they will receive a Vaccination Record Card with the following important information. The vaccine manufacturer (Johnson and Johnson) The date the dose of vaccine was givenAdditional Resources Stay up-to-date on new vaccine appointment information. Follow the health department via their email newsletter and social media accounts, available at this link: health.hamiltontn.org/AllServices/Coronavirus(COVID-19)/ConnectWithUs.aspx. STANFORD, CA, USA, March 22, 2021 -- Featuring talks from drug discovery leaders the Stanford Drug Discovery Symposium, April 19-20, 2021, is a free, virtual symposium hosted by Stanford University. This event offers an exciting opportunity for the public to hear about how drug research and development is done in the US and globally. Esteemed guests are from of major pharmaceutical companies, federal policy makers, venture capitalists, start-up companies, and An Iranian woman who was accused of murdering her abusive husband was executed by her own daughter. Maryam Karimi was hanged by her daughter in Rasht Central Prison, in northern Iran. The daughter had reportedly refused to forgive or accept blood money, known as 'diya', as retribution for the death of her father and instead chose to execute her mother for the murder. However, the murder of Karimi's husband is believed to have actually been carried out by her father, Ebrahim. Ebrahim Karimi allegedly killed his daughter's husband because he would not agree to a divorce and was physically threatening and abusive towards his wife. It remains unclear why Ebrahim, who was forced to witness his daughter's death on March 13, was not executed for the murder. Maryam Karimi was hanged by her daughter in Rasht Central Prison (pictured), in northern Iran on March 13 Maryam was prosecuted for 'premeditated murder' under an Iranian law, known as 'qisas', which is a form of justice that equates to notions of an eye for an eye. Iranian law uses the umbrella term of 'premeditated murder' to cover all illegal killings, rather than having a clear distinction between manslaughter and murder. This makes it more easy for executions for killings to be morally justified. Under the qisas law, relatives are actively encouraged to be present for, and take part in, exacting the punishment. Death penalties under the qisas law can also be used for young offenders as under Sharia law girls are considered criminally responsible from nine-years-old, and boys from 15-years-old. In 2019, at least four people who were children at the time of their offence were executed under the qisas law. A further 221 people, including 68 in a single prison, were executed under the retributive laws in the same year. In 2019, 225 people, including 68 in a single prison and four who were children at the time of their offence, were executed under the qisas law (pictured, activists protest against the use of executions in Iran) Maryam's execution has sparked calls from human rights organisations to end the practice. Iran Human Rights Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: 'The Islamic Republic laws make a girl whose father was murdered when she was a child the executioner of her own mother. 'The Islamic Republic is the leading promoter of violence in Iranian society today.' While activist and journalist at Iran International TV, Aram Bolandpaz said: 'Four decades of brain-washing at schools, extreme punishments in Iranian society, and a patriarchal regime mean that Maryam's daughter was raised to make sure that executing her mother was a victory for a man, whether that be for her father or for the oppressive regime.' She added: 'Qisas is inhumane, savage, and cruel, no matter where in the world. 'For a country which prioritises the rights of unborn babies and emphasises that life is the most valuable phenomenon, how can the Islamic Republic seize a life from someone in such an awful way.' The use of qisas in Iran has triggered calls from the international community, including the UN, in recent months. Last year's execution of Iranian champion wrestler Navid Afkari was followed by strong condemnation of the practice by the UN. The international group said in a statement: 'It is deeply disturbing that the authorities appear to have used the death penalty against an athlete as a warning to a population in a climate of increasing social unrest'. Cork-based Webprint has agreed a deal to take over the former Independent News and Media (INM) printing plant at Citywest on the outskirts of Dublin. INM stopped printing at Citywest in March 2020 following a decision to shift newspaper printing to the companys own Newry plant, supplemented by Webprint in Cork. The move had left INM still paying rent under the Citywest lease which is not due to break for a number of years. However, INM told staff yesterday that agreement has been reached with the landlord of the Citywest site to surrender the remaining long-term lease commitments. Webprint has in turn agreed a deal with the landlord for a new lease of the Citywest premises, and separately, INM will transfer the printing press assets to Webprint. The move does not mean printing of INM titles, which include the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent and Sunday World, will return to Citywest but it does enhance opportunities for further cooperation between Webprint and the company, INMs management said. We are glad the planned decommissioning of the press plant will not now go ahead and we wish Webprint every success with their future venture, the company told staff. Designed to take adult learners "from associate's to bachelor's and beyond," the online BIS will allow them to customize their learning journey and prepare, or re-tool, for a fast-changing labor market. It also complements the state's Drive to 55 initiative to get 55 percent of Tennesseans equipped with a college degree or certificate by the year 2025. A 2019 U.S. Census Bureau report notes that just 36 percent of Tennesseans aged 25+ had an associate's degree and 28.7 percent had a bachelor's degree. Quantitatively, 1.3 million Tennessee residents have some college or associate's degree, but no bachelor's degree. "As the state's flagship and land-grant university, we are committed to providing Tennesseans in all communities with high-quality educational opportunities," said Provost John Zomchick. "Our online Applied Studies program offers students a flexible pathway to a UT degree that can open doors to professional success and personal growth." "Our new online Applied Sciences degree completion program will allow individuals with an associate's degree to continue and complete their education, allowing them to achieve career goals from anywhere," says Theresa M. Lee, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences. "The Applied Studies program through the College of Arts and Sciences provides individuals with the opportunity to choose a course of study that supports many different career paths. The various options will prepare our graduates to be leaders in a changing workforce." "I'm delighted to add the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies to our growing partnership with UT," says Noodle CEO John Katzman. "The economic upheaval wrought by the pandemic underscores just how important it is for adults to earn a degree, and Noodle is proud to be part of this important initiative not only for the university, but for all of Tennessee." The BIS joins existing online programs in the Haslam College of Business and forthcoming online master's degrees Computer Science, and Public Health. UT continues to bring its renowned educational opportunities to adult learners for whom attending on-campus classes is not feasible. "The University of Tennessee, Knoxville's leadership has done a great job helping its schools and colleges prepare for an online future," says Noodle SVP Scott Levine. "Adding the online Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies is another solid step to creating a more agile university that meets adult learners' needs." Toward that end, Chancellor Donde Plowman recently shared her vision for the future and promised that the state's flagship university would be an "institution of courage - to take risks, to care and to lead." Plowman cited the university's response to COVID-19: moving 300,000 credit hours online with just a few days' notice. About the University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is the state's flagship research university, a campus of choice for outstanding undergraduates, and a premier graduate institution. As a land-grant university with an enrollment of more than 30,000, the institution fulfills its access mission through a commitment to excellence in learning, scholarship, and engagement. For more than 225 years, Volunteers have been lighting the way for others, across Tennessee and throughout the world. About Noodle Noodle creates excellent online and agile programs that elevate campus-wide teaching and technology. Since January 2019, Noodle has launched almost as many online programs with elite U.S. universities as have all our competitors combined. Our network of universities, higher education leaders, providers and students fuel innovation and efficiency in learning design, marketing, recruitment, technology, student and faculty support, and clinical placement. For more information, visit partners.noodle.com and follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/noodleeducation and Twitter @NoodleEducation. Media Contact: Renee Young 914-523-5320 [email protected] SOURCE Noodle Related Links https://www.noodlepartners.com/ JERSEYVILLE Jersey State Bank has provided scholarship funds over the past 30 years to increase awareness of locally owned banks and their contributions to the community. The bank is proud to announce this years winners of the 2021 Scholarship Essay Contest. Boston Talley, the daughter of Brittany and Jerrod Talley, received $1,000 for first place. Cole Spencer, the son of Jamie Kallal and Mark Spencer, received $750 for 2nd place. Kaylee Vahle, the daughter of Brian and Lisa Vahle, received $500 for third place. New quarantine measures introduced by the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka with effect from 28 May 2021. For further information in English "I never thought it would happen to me," said Petra, who found herself living on the street in Berlin as the pandemic gripped Europe's top economy one year ago. Petra's story reflects the struggle of the estimated 2,500 homeless women in the German capital, who have become even more vulnerable in the coronavirus outbreak. It is dusk at "Evas Obdach" (Eva's Shelter) in Neukoelln, Berlin's largest district and one of its most ethnically diverse. After a full day in the winter cold, women carrying heavy bags or dragging overladen shopping trolleys behind them file in, visibly weary. They can get a warm meal here, take a shower and spend the night, all in a comparably safe environment. Petra, who is in her 60s, takes a seat. "Look how nice it is here -- it's really a place that's made for us. They even have different kinds of tea," she says in a soft voice, cracking a hesitant smile. - 'Corona put me on the street' - She is one of the few women willing to talk a bit about her story, on condition only her first name be used. Petra had arrived in Berlin last March, at the beginning of Germany's first shutdown. She was counting on staying in a small hotel but was refused a room because coronavirus restrictions outlawed overnight stays except for business travellers. She ended up at a city mission and has been bouncing from shelter to shelter ever since. Asked why she moved to the capital and how much money she had when she did, Petra is not very forthcoming with answers but she's sure of one thing: "Corona put me on the street." "I was trained as a chemist, I worked in restaurants, I had a career... I never thought this would happen to me," she said. Official statistics about the number of people in Germany rendered homeless during the pandemic and its ensuing economic crisis are hard to come by. "Nothing indicates at the moment that it has risen sharply," said Werena Rosenke, director of the BAG association which groups several homeless aid organisations. Story continues "But you may start to see it after the pandemic, when eviction orders -- which are currently suspended -- are carried out," she told AFP. Advocates say that reliable statistics about affected people are sorely lacking. In Berlin, a voluntary census in early 2020 -- before the Covid-19 outbreak -- counted nearly 2,000 people without homes, but charity groups put the number far higher, at between 6,000 and 9,000 including around 2,500 women. - 'Sense of shame' - Natalie Kulik, the founder of Evas Obdach, said their unique plight is often invisible to policy-makers and the society at large. Women try to avoid the street as long as possible, even if it means enduring violence in their marriage or turning to prostitution to pay the rent, she said. And if they end up failing to keep a roof over their heads, they often try to hide their situation, "paying particular attention to their appearance," Kulik said, blaming "a sense of shame". "The street is dangerous for them," she said. Protection in a mixed shelter is often paid for with sexual favours. "Most of our guests here would never admit to being homeless," she said. Genevieve, a talkative Frenchwoman in her 50s spending the night at the shelter, is just one example. "I pay my rent but I cannot return to my place because my neighbours harass me," said Genevieve, who has lived in Berlin for 20 years, many of them alone since her divorce. "People think I'm crazy when I tell my story," she said. - Survival strategy - The pandemic compounds the psychological stress faced by homeless women, whose mental state is often fragile, Kulik said. "You see some creating their own worlds -- a survival strategy" that makes them resistant to help. The restrictions under the Covid-19 shutdown have generally worsened the precarious living conditions of all homeless people, charity groups agree. Income sources such as collecting deposit bottles or panhandling have dried up as people stay home. Shelters themselves have had to cut the number of available beds to accommodate social distancing. This winter, the Berlin government expanded temporary housing facilities by renting empty hotels, spokesman Stefan Strauss told AFP, adding that a coronavirus vaccination programme for the homeless should begin "soon". But with the arrival of spring, there is a risk that "all the additional assistance will disappear", warned Anett Leach of the charity association Klik, which helps young people with housing and social difficulties. ilp/dlc/hmn/jz Chennai, March 23 : Actress Kangana Ranaut, who celebrated her birthday on Tuesday, literally broke into tears at a media interaction in the city while praising AL Vijay, her director in the upcoming political biopic "Thalaivi". "Never in my life have I met a man who has not made me feel apologetic about my talent. I'm getting emotional, I'm not usually like that, but I want to say that he is one person, who has made me feel good about my talent. Usually the camaraderie they show with male hero, is never shown with an actress. But as a director, I learnt from him how to treat actors and how to show creative partnership," said an emotional Kangana, while discussing Vijay at the media meet. The tringual film will be released in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The film also features Arvind Swami, Prakash Raj, Madhoo and Bhagyashree in key roles. "Thalaivi" tells the story of late former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa, and traces her life from her rise in the world of films as an actress to becoming a powerful politician who would ultimately rule the state. Kangana won her fourth National Award as Best Actress on Monday, for her roles in "Manikarnika" and "Panga". Besides this, she will also be seen in the films "Dhaakad" and "Tejas". VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / LeanLife Health Inc. (CSE:LLP)(FSE:LL1)(OTC PINK:LNLHF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the first containers of Mike Tyson branded energy drink from FoodCare Group will be arriving at a port in Los Angeles on April 2, 2021. Once containers have landed and cleared customs, they will be stored in the Company's warehouse storage facility in Arizona. From there those containers will be distributed to major national retailers, convenience stores, and online retailers' warehouses. The Company anticipates having further information on confirmed sales of the Mike Tyson branded energy drink shortly. Stan Lis, CEO and Director of LeanLife, states: "Once the containers land, this will be transformative for the Company. The Company's management team is focused on firming up sales and distribution of these initial containers. My goal for the year is to sell a minimum of 120 containers in the United States, and secure additional sales in other countries." About LeanLife Health and its Brand Positioning in the Marketplace FoodCare Group, the supplier and manufacturer of Iron Energy, by Mike Tyson, is a market leader in Poland's energy drink market and is a leading brand in the Middle East. We believe, Iron Energy will also appeal to North American consumers and will quickly gain retail and consumer acceptance and trial. The annual market value of the combined U.S. and Canadian energy drink markets is estimated at over $14 billion (USD). According to Allied Market Research, the global energy drinks market size was valued at $53.01 billion in 2018, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.20% to reach $86.01 billion by 2026. Capitalizing on the opportunity, LeanLife now first offers Iron Drink, a Mike Tyson branded energy drink to the consumers in the United State. LeanLife will be aggressively priced and shelf positioned, to appeal to a broad consumer base. A good market shares growth will be expected. Consumer preference and the increased occasions for energy drink consumption are growing the category. Iron Energy will participate in this phenomenon through category and organic growth. The broad base of health and sport oriented consumers will be attracted to this unique product alternative. Iron Energy is enjoying great success in the European market. We believe Iron Energy will offer a similar success story in North America due to its compelling brand attributes, product taste and energy benefits. For more information, please contact: Stan Lis, CEO 604-764-0518 SLis@LeanLifeHealth.com Forward-Looking Information Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control including, the Company's ability to compete with large food companies; sales of any potential products developed will be profitable; the ability to complete sales under the sales agreement. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. THE CSE HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. SOURCE: LeanLIfe Health Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636911/Mike-Tyson-Branded-Iron-Energy-Drink-Containers-Arriving-in-the-United-States The unequal status of women persists, despite various waves of feminist activism around the world for centuries. One major gain of feminists, however, is the rate at which their views have spread and how far their influence now reaches. But theres a gap in knowledge of how feminism has developed in practice and as an academic subject in countries like Nigeria. Specifically, little has been done to trace the contributions of local writers, thinkers and activists to feminism. In our paper we set out to fill this gap. In particular we aimed to trace the contribution that Nigerian academics have made to transnational feminism. Transnational feminism emerged in the 1970s when feminists realised that the movement had expanded to developing countries. The idea behind transnational feminism is that feminism can cross borders and that solidarity can be formed in ways that combat unequal relations among feminists. This approach recognises the importance of local centres in advancing feminist movements. In our research, we traced the impact of this approach to knowledge production in some Nigerian universities. We analysed the development of debates about women and gender studies, the steps that were taken to develop centres of research, and their relevance. We concluded that feminism, as currently taught in Nigeria, shouldnt be viewed as an international prescription from the West to the rest of the world. Rather, the work of the last decades shows that feminism has different forms. It deals with different issues and adopts different strategies according to the context in which it operates. History of feminism Nigerian and generally African feminism can be classified into three periods pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial. Women were active participants in the precolonial development of Africa. One example was Yaa Asantewa of Gold Coast (now Ghana), who was famous for her role in leading the Ashante army made up of men to defeat the British army. Later, women became actively involved in the fight against colonialism. Among such women were Nigerias Funmilayo Kuti and South Africas Abertina Sisulu and Lilian Ngoyi. In the post-colonial period, feminism in Africa became characterised by the fight against male domination and inequality. It used the tools of advocacy, lobbying and activism. In particular, feminism in Africa sprang up during the landmark United Nations decade for women between 1975 and 1985. The declaration was a catalyst for developing Nigerias interest in womens studies. It also sowed the seeds of womens activism in the politically active city of Ibadan, and at the University of Ibadan. In 1985, the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ibadan organised a conference on Rural Women and Agriculture to mark the UN Decade. It highlighted the need to establish a research bureau and data bank to draw together existing work and encourage further research on womens issues. The next year, the university set up a Womens Research and Documentation Centre. This was a pioneering effort for the systematic collection of materials on womens studies. It was to trigger a number of developments. These included the creation of an office to drive the development of a gender policy at the university and the establishment of a Gender Studies Programme to run academic postgraduate programmes. The centre also served as a rallying point for other international womens studies centres and related womens organisations. Early feminist writers The Association of African Women for Research and Development was established in 1977 as an offspring of the strong activism of two major womens organisations in Nigeria. These were the National Council of Womens Societies, established in 1958 , and Women in Nigeria, established in 1982. The association was the medium for the expansion of knowledge on feminism in Nigeria and Africa in general. It was the first institution established on the continent by African women to produce research on African women and development. Two women were among the first academics to study the status of Nigerian women. They were Adetoun Ogunsheye, a founding member of the National Council of Womens Society, and Bolanle Awe, the first female director of the Institute of African Studies and pioneer of feminist writing in Nigeria. Theirs was the first research into the lives of women in Nigeria. ADVERTISEMENT Ogunsheyes work focused on the role and status of women in Nigeria (1960) while Awe studied the Iyalode in the traditional Yoruba political system (1977). These works helped reveal the situation of women and advance feminist writing in Nigeria. The next decades saw a dramatic growth in feminist research and studies. In 1997 the Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies was established at Obafemi Awolowo University. Focusing on womens sexual and reproductive health, the centres activities include teaching, research and training as well as outreach programmes. Other universities have also adopted and established womens studies centres. More recently, the Institute of Women, Gender and Development in the Federal University of Technology, Owerri was set up as an academic research centre in 2010. Why this history is important It is important to note that feminism is not foreign to African cultures. Transnational feminism has only helped Africa, and Nigeria in particular, to infuse feminist culture into academia, giving African women more space and voice in academic work. The trajectory of how feminism and gender studies gained a foothold in Nigeria is important to trace. Gender studies is a catalyst for the empowerment of women. It has increased awareness of patriarchy in Nigeria, and resistance to it. And this is a significant change. Abena Asefuaba Yalley, Postdoctoral fellow, University of Konstanz This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. A file photo from 2020 shows Malian refugees forced to flee by attacks by armed insurgents in Niger's Tahoua region. 6MProductions/Sourig Aboutali UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, condemns in the strongest terms the attacks in western Niger that killed 137 people, many of them already displaced after having fled earlier violence. On Sunday afternoon, armed assailants on motorbikes attacked the villages of Intazayane, Bakorat and Wirsnat in Nigers Tahoua region, some 50 kilometres from the Malian border. Some of the injured were evacuated to Tahoua city, 150 kilometres away. UNHCR is evaluating the needs and preparing to assist affected people with health care and to provide protection services, as populations may move towards nearby Intikane, Telemces and Tahoua, where we are, together with our partners, already providing humanitarian assistance to refugees, internally displaced and vulnerable people among their hosts. In Intikane, a large area designed to accommodate Malian refugees (20,000) and displaced Nigeriens (15,000) as well as their herds, 7,000 refugees were only just returning following an attack last May, when armed groups assassinated refugee leaders and a local host community leader. They had destroyed the main water station and pipes as well as phone tower, cutting communication and water supply to the displaced population and host communities. Niger's Tahoua and Tillaberi regions, which border Burkina Faso and Mali, currently host 204,000 refugees and internally displaced people. UNHCR renews its urgent call on warring parties in the Sahel to protect civilians, people forced to flee and communities hosting them, as civilians are bearing the brunt of increasing attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali in the Sahel are at the epicentre of one of the worlds fastest-growing displacement and protection crises. The region is already hosting nearly three million refugees and people displaced inside their own country. Despite increased insecurity, Nigeriens continue to show their generosity to people fleeing violence in Africas Sahel and Lake Chad regions. For more information on this topic, please contact: Wyoming is inching closer to legal marijuana, as HB02029 is working its way through the statehouse. HB02029 establishes licensing requirements and procedures for the production, testing, and sale of marijuana. It provides regulation for marijuana-related activities, prohibits discrimination based on marijuana activities, specifies private rights to prohibit activities involving marijuana, and provides local marijuana regulation. It also establishes civil penalties for possessing specified amounts of marijuana and marijuana products, amends criminal penalties for possessing marijuana, imposes taxes on marijuana, and provides tax revenue distribution. The bill passed the judiciary committee, March 17 and has been placed in the general file. Senator Cale Case said the bill was written by the main sponsor Jared Olsen. "I have no illusions that it will pass, but it has started a comprehensive discussion," he said. "We are surrounded by states where it is wholly or partially legal. It does zero good to incarcerate people for this. I just got a letter from a man whose 19-year-old son and daughter-in-law have been incarcerated for five years for possessing five or six ounces of marijuana. I don't believe the family is being served by policies we have now." Scott Sidman with Wyoming NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) said the bill legalizes cannabis across the board, which he feels needs to happen. "In my lifetime, I've seen the war on marijuana do no good," he said. "How many people use continues to increase. As a taxpayer, I'd rather see my money going to something more constructive than criminalizing a plant." Sidman said NORML is doing the same thing it's been doing for years with cannabis. "We're trying to educate legislators on the pros and cons of cannabis use," he said. "If you do the research, it is less dangerous than alcohol, and it's less addictive than caffeine. It's not as bad as it has been presented for years. It's a lot safer than the opiates prescribed to people for chronic pain." From his research, Sidman said there are over 250 medical uses for cannabis. "I'm more for the medical side of it, and so is most of the board at NORML," he said. "If you look, we're losing tax dollars. Wyoming citizens are going to Colorado, Montana, and soon to South Dakota. Everybody has access to it anyway. We're at a point where we either make money or spend money on this." He's found no prejudices about cannabis. "It seems like most of our representatives think the states that have legalized cannabis have gone to the dogs," he said. "They think it has destroyed states like Colorado. I get the point with some of the things they are saying, but they refer to Colorado as a train wreck, and it's so bad. I'm from Colorado, and the only thing I can see is the big influx of people. The cost of living has gotten so high that it has caused an increase in the homeless population. Colorado is the most legal and free state to use cannabis, so everyone is rushing there. If all 50 states legalized it, there wouldn't be a problem." For more information, visit www.wyomingnorml.org. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services Offers Recovery Tips During Severe Weather Awareness Week Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services Offers Recovery Tips During Severe Weather Awareness Week Media Contact: Laura Hall, 517-290-3779, halll17@michigan.gov Consumer Hotline: 877-999-6442, Michigan.gov/DIFScomplaints FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 23, 2021 (LANSING, MICH) March 21 marked the beginning of Severe Weather Awareness Week in Michigan, and the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is encouraging Michiganders to make sure they are prepared to respond to potential storms and recover from storm-related damage. "A severe weather event such as a tornado or a flash flood can cause unexpected disruptions to our lives and damage our homes or personal property, which can be costly for those without adequate insurance coverage," said DIFS Director Anita Fox. "One way to be prepared for natural disasters is to verify that you have the appropriate insurance coverages before disaster strikes to help you get your life back to normal as quickly as possible." The warming temperatures of spring and summer often bring fast-changing weather conditions that greatly increase the potential for severe weather. In addition to preparing a family emergency plan, consumers should: Review insurance policies to understand their coverage and contact their insurance agent or company to discuss any coverage needs. Though many types of storm damage are covered by standard homeowners insurance, flood damage is typically not covered unless the homeowner has purchased additional coverage such as federal flood insurance or a sewer back-up policy. It is important to discuss these options with an insurance agent or insurance company well before flooding or damage occurs. Prepare a detailed inventory of personal property with photographs of each room in the home and a detailed list of other valuables and equipment that do not appear in the photos. These materials should be stored in a safe place, such as a safe deposit box, with a relative, or electronically online. Make a list of important telephone numbers including family members, insurance agents, and insurance companies. Store copies of all insurance policy declaration pages and insurance cards in a safe place, such as a safe deposit box or online in the cloud in case the originals are destroyed or lost. After severe weather or flooding causes damage, consumers should: Contact their insurance company's claims hotline and/or agent to report the claim. Have the policy number and other relevant information readily available. To make this process easier, DIFS has prepared an Insurance Claims Tracking Sheet. Take steps to protect the property and prevent further loss but do not make permanent repairs until the insurance company has inspected the damage. Be sure to keep receipts for any purchases of supplies that are needed to protect the property. Document the loss. Take pictures or videos of the damaged items and do not get rid of the items until instructed to do so by the insurance company. If there is water damage, consumers should tell their insurance company that there is water damage and they are looking to determine what coverage is available. Water damage is not necessarily the same as flood damage, so consumers should not simply state that the damage is due to a "flood." There may be additional causes for water damage, such as a sewer backup or failing sump pump, that may be covered under the policy. Protect themselves from fraud. After a storm, adjusters, contractors, and other solicitors may offer to inspect or repair damage. Always verify the credentials and licensure of these individuals and be present in the home when damage is inspected or repaired. To report a scam or price gouging, contact Michigan's Attorney General at 877-765-8388 or online for further information. For additional information on preparing for severe weather in Michigan, visit the DIFS Disaster Preparedness webpage. DIFS encourages consumers to first attempt to resolve any claim disputes directly with their insurance company. If a resolution cannot be reached, DIFS will help try to resolve disputes. To learn more and file a complaint, visit Michigan.gov/DIFScomplaints. Anyone with questions or concerns about their insurance coverage is asked to call the DIFS toll-free hotline 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 877-999-6442. The mission of the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services is to ensure access to safe and secure insurance and financial services fundamental for the opportunity, security, and success of Michigan residents, while fostering economic growth and sustainability in both industries. In addition, the Department provides consumer protection, outreach, and financial literacy and education services to Michigan residents. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/difs or follow the Department on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. #### Misogyny and racism often are fellow-travelers. So its likely that more than coincidence is at play regarding mass murderer Robert Aaron Long, 21, and his recent murders of eight people in the Atlanta area, including six women of Asian descent. Long told the investigators that he killed his victims at three massage spas to eliminate temptations aggravating his sex addiction. He drove past numerous sex-oriented businesses en route to the spas, which he knew to employ Asian women, which should provide some clue toward charging him with hate crimes. It is certain that when Long decided to act on his impulse, he easily and legally bought a 9-millimeter handgun and used it within hours. Pennsylvania, like Georgia, does not have a waiting period between the purchase and delivery of handguns. Research demonstrates why Pennsylvania should adopt one. The Rand Corp., analyzing an array of studies, found in 2018 that waiting periods have a moderate impact on preventing deaths by suicide. According to the Giffords Law Center To Prevent Gun Violence, people who take their lives by suicide usually act impulsively amid a personal crisis. It says that waiting periods to receive purchased guns reduces suicide rates by between 7% and 11%. That alone is reason enough to establish a waiting period. But easy access to guns also is a factor in murders, because people often act while enraged. The Giffords Center cites studies contending that cooling-off waiting periods can reduce murder rates by up to 17%. Gun advocates say that such measures are unconstitutional, but they are not because they do not preclude anyone from legally owning a gun. California, where 1.1 million guns were sold in 2020, has a 10-day waiting period. Other jurisdictions with waiting periods are the District of Columbia, 10 days; Florida and Illinois, three days; Hawaii, 14 days; and Rhode Island, seven days. States with waits for handguns only are Iowa, three days; and Maryland and New Jersey, seven days. Minnesota requires seven days for handguns and assault-style weapons; Washington requires 10 days for semi-automatic rifles; New York has periods ranging from three to 30 days. Waiting periods can save lives without limiting valid gun ownership. State lawmakers should require one. The accelerating rollout of vaccines, the lifting of social distancing restrictions, and the sense that the coronavirus pandemic is nearing its end has Houstonians packing restaurants, shops and salons, and leading an upswing in the consumer-driven economy. Despite warnings from public health officials that the pandemic has yet to be brought under control, customers are returning to local businesses in numbers not seen in more than year. Traffic moving through the citys major intersections returned to pre-pandemic levels earlier this month, according to data from the Greater Houston Partnership, while reservations at Houston restaurants rose above pre-pandemic levels last week, according to the online reservation service Open Table. Its spring break, its cabin fever, its vaccinated folks, said Melissa Stewart, executive director of the Greater Houston Restaurant Association. Well definitely take it. At the historic Cleburne Cafeteria on Bissonnet, March sales are up 20 percent from the previous month, said owner George Mickelis. The increase in diners is more than welcome after sales fell by as much as 80 percent last year and nearly sunk the 80-year-old institution. Were just now starting to see some normalcy that we havent seen in a long time, he said, noting sales are just approachied pre-pandemic levels. Were seeing an end to a horrific time in history for our country and our small business and just for everybody. Around 6 million Texans had received at least one dose of the vaccine as of last week, according to state data, and 3 million were fully vaccinated. For nearly a month, there have been no areas of Texas where COVID-19 hospitalizations make up more than 15 percent of total hospital capacity. On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas gyms try new approaches as mask rules loosen Ariel Gurvey, who lives in the Westbury neighborhood, received her second vaccine at the end of February. Since then, shes taken special joy in the simple task of going grocery shopping. Since I have some health issues, all my shopping was either curbside or delivery or Amazon, she said. Now, I feel comfortable in the store. For restaurants and retailers, the return of customers like Gurvey is bringing long-awaited relief. An estimated 11,000 restaurants closed across the state since the pandemic started, according to the Texas Restaurant Association, while the region lost more than 200,000 jobs, concentrated in consumer-facing industries, according to the Labor Department. Medical professionals, however, fear people are letting their guards down too quickly. The nation is still months away from herd immunity and it remains uncertain how effective the vaccines are against new variants of the virus. In Texas, more than 46,000 died from COVID-19, including nearly 7,800 in Greater Houston. Every time Im driving by and see packed restaurants, packed bars and spring breakers, it gives me pause, said Dr. Luis Ostrosky, infectious diseases director at UTHealths McGovern Medical School. Its been a year, and we just need a couple more months. Gorilla in the room Alamo Drafthouse, the dine-in movie theater chain with a location in Katy, isnt keen on waiting longer. The company, headquartered in Austin, filed for bankruptcy earlier this month after the pandemic hammered its sales, closing its theaters for five months and furloughing 100 employees in Katy alone. But sales jumped a few weeks ago with the release of Tom Jerry: The Movie, an update of the rivalry between the cartoon cat and mouse, said Robert Saucedo, Alamos programming director. And pent up demand is helping push pre-sales for Godzilla v. Kong, through the roof, Saucedo said. Weve seen a lot of people coming in and seeing movies for the first time in a year, he said. Houston Jewelry said its sales are returning to pre-pandemic levels. Sales in the last year fell by about 30 percent, said owner Rex Solomon, but picked up significantly this month as the weather warmed and the economy started to improve. Hes still down about 10 percent compared to March 2019, he said, but there are people beginning to venture out. The increase in activity is spreading across sectors. Interest from prospective retail tenants has increased notably in the past few weeks, said Kenneth Katz, whose real estate firm owns 30 commercial properties in Houston, including PlazAmericas Mall in Sharpstown. Things feel very active. On HoustonChronicle.com: Frontline workers fear mask chaos as statewide mandate ends The Purchasing Managers Index, a monthly survey used by supply chains to adjust production to demand, shows the local economy expanding, hitting highest reading in February in nearly two years, said Patrick Jankowski, senior vice president of research at the Greater Houston Partnership. The online hiring platform Snagajob reported a 34 percent increase in job postings over the last month in the Houston area, driven by hiring at warehouses and delivery services. Postings for restaurant workers climbed 9 percent. People are returning to work faster in Houston and in Texas, Jankowski said, citing data from Kastle Systems, which sells security services to office buildings. More than-one third, or 37 percent of Houstonians, have returned to their desks, compared to about 15 percent of workers in New Yorker and 27 percent in Los Angeles. Economic activity is picking up and were seeing it across the board, he said. Its not back to pre-pandemic levels, but were a lot better off than we were even three months ago. Location, location, location The recovery, however, remains uneven. Overall sales at Dish Society, a Houston restaurant chain with five locations, have picked up significantly in recent weeks as more people began dining out, said Aaron Lyons, the restaurant chains chief executive. Revenues are running at or near pre-pandemic levels. Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox The chains Heights and Memorial locations are on track for strong comebacks, Lyons said, but the downtown location remains closed. People are starting to return to downtown offices, but at a trickle not enough to sustain a restaurant, Lyons said. I dont think the traffic is there downtown, yet, he said. Its still really, really dead. amanda.drane@chron.com Twitter.com/amandadrane "I've had a chance to pioneer so many opportunities for deaf actors and actresses and I certainly embrace every opportunity to advocate for the deaf community," said Marlee. "I always wanted to do something new with ecards and when I saw the incredible things American Greetings was doing with their celebrity SmashUps, I knew it was the perfect collaboration for what I was hoping to create." With this launch, American Greetings announces a multi-year partnership with Matlin that includes the opportunity to work with Marlee on digital and physical cards. "You can say a lot with a smile, and few people can light up a conversation with their smile like Marlee Matlin," says Rob Matousek, Executive Director Direct to Consumer Business at American Greetings. "Like everything she does, Marlee was so inspiring and helped us to create a SmashUp that is for everyone and for just about every situation and relationship. With the challenging year we've all just experienced, we're thrilled to join Marlee to offer this great way to share a smile and hope for better days ahead." Keep up to date with the full program here: https://www.americangreetings.com/marlee-matlin SmashUps are available on www.americangreetings.com, www.bluemountain.com, and on the SmashUps apps available for iPhone https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smashups/id1441317717 and Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smashups&hl=en_US ABOUT AMERICAN GREETINGS As the leader in meaningful connections, American Greetings is committed to making the world a more thoughtful and caring place. Founded in 1906, the creator and manufacturer of innovative social expression products offers paper cards, digital greetings, gift wrap, party goods and more to help consumers honor the people and moments in life that really matter. The Company's major greeting card brands are American Greetings, Papyrus, Recycled Paper Greetings and Carlton Cards. AmericanGreetings.com lets consumers shop and buy paper cards, ecards, printables, party supplies and gift wrap. The 115-year-old company is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and its products can be found in retail outlets worldwide. For more info, please visit www.AmericanGreetings.com/corporate. SOURCE American Greetings Corporation Related Links www.americangreetings.com Dong Nai is planning to improve infrastructure to encourage port development According to the evaluation of the Department of Transport, the provinces seaport system is a collection of disconnected small-scale ports (only two of the 17 seaports have a scale of over 30 hectares while there are many ports which are only a few hectares) supported by weak connecting transport infrastructure. The province currently has 17 operational seaports. According to the plan, the province will have 46 seaports, including 20 regular port and 26 special ports. However, Dong Nai has been facing difficulties in mobilising capital to develop the seaport system. According to the adjusted planning, there will be an additional five port clusters, one on the Dong Nai River, Viet Thuan Thanh, Vinh Hung, Phuoc Khanh wharf 1, and Phuoc Khanh wharf 3. In addition, four special seaport clusters will added, including three for gas and petrol and one for the wood sector. Le Quang Binh, director of Dong Nai Department of Transport, the road traffic system to connect with seaports have numerous inadequacies. Dong Nai has a river system which can handle ships of a capacity of 30,000 tonnes, however, the road system has not been developed synchronously, making these seaports less attractive. The province has great potential for seaport development. For example, Bien Hoa city and Long Thanh, Nhon Trach districts have river systems convenient for port development. All three localities are attracting the most dynamic industries in the province, which require ports for cargo shipment. However, development is quite slow as investment is still sporadic. Some projects have been approved by the provincial People's Committee since 2002 and after 15 years, they have yet to be implemented. For example, COMECO petroleum port of Petroleum Materials JSC which covers an area of 20 hectares in Phu Dong and Phuoc Khanh communes (Nhon Trach district). By Damali Mukhaye Parliament of Uganda today marks 100 years of its existence as the legislative arm of the government. Ugandas Legislature dates back to the colonial period when the British Colonial Office established the first legislature, called the Legislative Council with its first sitting on 23 March 1921 in Entebbe. According to the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, this council at inception had seven non-elected members, all of them Europeans, and was chaired by the then Governor, Sir Robert Croydon. The membership of the council at the time grew to 32 Members in 1950, 61 Members by 1955 and 78 by 1961. She says that until date, there has been an increase in the size of members with the current 10th Parliament of Uganda having 457 Members while the forthcoming parliament will consist of 529 members. Since then, parliament has had 10 speakers including president Museveni, Edward Ssekandi, Francis Ayume, and James Wapakhabulo among others. E-learning in Greece: While our children were accessing Webex, Cisco was entering our lives SHARE: Newsletter email Judge Says Gaddie Competent for Trial By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - A Paducah man facing attempted murder and other charges was in court Monday.The McCracken Circuit Court Clerk said a competency hearing was held for 39-year-old Larico Gaddie. The judge ruled that he is competent to stand trial, and a pretrial conference was scheduled for April 19.He was arrested last April after authorities said he fired a gun several times at an 18-year-old victim. The victim was left unharmed.Gaddie faces charges of attempted murder, being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun, first-degree wanton endangerment, and first-degree criminal mischief. Two men have appeared in court charged with the murder of a father-of-two in Dublin last year. The body of Alan Hall (44) was discovered at a fire damaged property on Bluebell Avenue, Dublin 12, on May 18, 2020. At the time, Gardai said they had launched an investigation into the circumstances of what they described as an unexplained death. This morning two Dublin men appeared in court charged in relation to the incident. Derek Coady (30), of Nugget Cottages, Bluebell, and Conor Curran (34), of Dromcarra Grove, Tallaght, are charged with the murder of Mr Hall, at Bluebell Avenue, on May 18 last. Both men are also accused of arson, with intent to endanger life, at the same location on the same date. The two defendants were remanded in custody as a bail application for a murder charge can only be made before the High Court, with their solicitors saying they would be applying for bail at later dates. Det Gda Patrick Cullen, of Clondalkin garda station, gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Mr Coady. The detective said he detained the accused on Le Touche Road, Dublin 12, last night and conveyed him to Clondalkin garda station. When the two charges were put to Derek Coady he replied no comment. The accused, wearing a black jacket and bottoms, sat with his hands in his pockets during the brief hearing and did not address the court. He was remanded in custody to appear before Cloverhill Court via video link this Thursday, March 25. His defence solicitor Michael Hennessy said his client was now facing two weeks mandatory isolation and requested that he receive medical attention. Mr Hennessy also said that they would be making a High Court bail application as soon as practicable. Judge Gerard Jones granted Mr Coady legal aid after hearing he was currently unemployed. Det Sgt Dara Kenny, of Clondalkin garda station, gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Conor Curran. He told the court that he arrested the accused in Cork city last night and that, when the charges of murder and arson were later put to him, he made no reply. Det Sgt Kenny said that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed trial on indictment. Defence solicitor Lorraine Stephens said that her client would be making a High Court bail application and expected this to be heard next Tuesday. Her client was granted legal aid after the court heard he was self-employed and working in the construction industry. Mr Curran, wearing a black and grey tracksuit, did not address the court during the brief hearing. Both men were remanded in custody to reappear on Thursday, March 25, before Cloverhill Court via video link. Alan Hall was a father-of-two originally from the Coolock area who previously worked as a butcher. At the time of his death he had been living in a property in Bluebell Avenue. Stephen Donnelly said the aim of quarantine is to act as a deterrent to those travelling unnecessarily (Brian Lawless/PA) The Governments mandatory hotel quarantining system could result in a 80% drop in passenger numbers arriving in the country, the Health Minister has indicated. Stephen Donnelly said the aim of quarantine is to act as a deterrent to those travelling unnecessarily. Mr Donnelly told RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland programme: Obviously we want as little travel from these countries as possible. Weve looked at the UK. What England found is that within the first week or two they saw about an 80% reduction in incoming travel. In other parts of the UK they saw after a few weeks in excess of a 90% reduction. Obviously well have to wait to see what happens here. One of the issues is Irish citizens, Irish residents who are in these countries or have travelled through these countries wanting to come home. To a point, were going to have to wait and see what level of reduction there is. The booking portal for mandatory hotel quarantining went live on the government website on Tuesday morning. From Friday all passengers arriving into Ireland from one of the 33 countries flagged as high risk by the Government will have to quarantine for 14 days at a hotel. They are now required to pre-book accommodation in a designated quarantine facility and to pre-pay for their stay. The cost per adult traveller for a 12-night stay inclusive of all services is 1,875 euro. The Tifco Hotel Group, which has been appointed as the service provider, will provide full board accommodation, as well as ground transportation, security services and health and wellbeing services. The Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport Hotel in Santry will be the first hotel to receive quarantining travellers. The new quarantine rules also apply to any passenger who arrives in the country from any other country without a negative PCR test for Covid-19 carried out no more than 72 hours before they arrive in Ireland. Those passengers will have to pay a day rate of 150 euro. The Defence Forces will not be involved in the everyday security or care of passengers in mandatory hotel quarantining. The booking portal for mandatory hotel quarantine is now live and ready to take those traveling from high-risk countries from Friday. The details are available here: https://t.co/5CQTBt83sX Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) March 23, 2021 Instead, Mr Donnelly said the Defence Forces will be the States liaison officers who will oversee the process of transportation. The Defence Forces are the state liaison, he said. Theyre doing, end to end, operational oversight for the full system. For example, in transport, they wont be on the bus, but they will be escorting the bus. Private security will be there obviously. Theyll be there in the hotels, but there should not be too much interaction, certainly in the in the passenger journey. The day-to-day running of the facilities will be handled by Tifco. Mr Donnelly added that it will be an offence to leave the hotel early and in that instance the gardai will be called. Tuesday saw 24 more deaths linked to Covid-19 and a further 371 new cases of the virus notified to the Department of Health. Twelve of the deaths occurred in March, 10 in February and two in January. Of the new cases, 151 were in Dublin, 31 in Offaly, 27 in Donegal, 25 in Galway, 21 in Meath and the remaining 116 cases are spread across 16 other counties. The majority of the new cases (75%) are in people under the age of 45. The median age is 30 years old. As of 8am on Tuesday, 357 people with Covid-19 were in hospital, 76 of whom were in ICU. Meanwhile, as of March 20, a total of 675,946 doses of coronavirus vaccine have been administered in Ireland: BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The pound weakened against its major counterparts in the European session on Tuesday, as tensions between the European Union and the U.K. intensified after the bloc threatened to ban AstraZeneca's vaccine exports to other countries. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the firm had the obligation to fulfil the demands of Europe and she will forbid planned exports this week in order to abide by the contract with Europe. The U.K. government is trying to ease tensions as an EU export ban could slow its vaccination programme. EU leaders are meeting on Thursday to decide whether or not to block exports to the UK. European stocks dropped as German Chancellor Angela Merkel extended the current lockdown to control another wave of infections. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed that the UK unemployment rate dropped unexpectedly in three months to January. The unemployment rate came in at 5.0 percent in three months to January, below economists' forecast of 5.2 percent and 5.1 percent seen in three months to December. The pound dipped to near 3-week lows of 0.8645 against the euro and 149.08 against the yen, after rising to 0.8598 and 150.88, respectively in early deals. The pound is poised to challenge support around 0.88 against the euro and 145.00 against the yen. The pound fell to a 1-1/2-month low of 1.3752 against the greenback, from a high of 1.3864 seen at 7:00 pm ET. If the pound falls further, it is likely to test support around the 1.33 region. The U.K. currency was down at 1.2778 against the franc, pulling away from its previous high of 1.2854. The pound may locate support around the 1.24 level. Looking ahead, U.S. new home sales for February are scheduled for release in the New York session. At 10:00 am ET, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will testify before the House Financial Services Committee on the CARES Act, along with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, via satellite. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected all pleas that were seeking complete waiver of interest on loan during the moratorium period granted due to COVID-19 pandemic. While refusing to interfere with the government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s policy on loan moratorium, the apex court declined to extend the loan moratorium period beyond six months after 31 August 2020. In an order, a bench comprising justice Ashok Bhushan, justice R Subhash Reddy and justice MR Shah says the waiver of complete interest is not possible as it affects depositors. "From various steps have been taken by RBI and union government, it cannot be said that they did not address issues of borrowers. Further it is not possible to order complete waiver of compound interest during the moratorium period as banks have to pay interest to account holders and pensioners," the bench says. At the same time, the Supreme Court has barred banks from charging interest on interest or penal interest on any borrower during the loan moratorium period. It says, "...there should be no interest on interest or penal interest on the instalments which were due during the loan moratorium period from 1st March to 31 August 2020 on any borrower, irrespective of the loan amount. If such interest has already been collected, it should either refunded to the borrower or adjusted towards the next instalments." The bench observed that there is no rationale in the Union government's policy to limit the benefit of waiver of interest on interest only to certain loan categories less than Rs2 crore. Last year, the Indian government had taken a decision to allow waiver of interest on interest in eight specified loan categories for loans up to Rs2 crore. Earlier in September last year, the finance ministry in an affidavit had informed the apex court that a waiver of interest on interest during moratorium would go against the basic canons of finance, and the 6 August 2020 circular of RBI permitted lenders to allow a moratorium of up to two years. The affidavit was filed in response to a bunch of petitions demanding waiver of interest, or waiver of interest on interest on the deferred EMIs (equated monthly instalments) during the moratorium period. The ministry said that with the 6th August RBI circulars, banks were fully empowered to resolve COVID-related stress and customise relief to individual borrowers through grant of various concessions in terms of: "(i) alteration in the rate of interest and haircut on amount payable as interest; (ii) extension of the residual tenor of the loan, with or without moratorium, by up to two years; (iii) waiving penal interest and charges; (iv) rescheduling repayment; (v) converting accumulated interest into a fresh loan with a deferred payment schedule; and (vi) sanction of additional loan." The ministry said the RBI circulars take care of the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprise) sector, personal loans and corporate loans, keeping in mind the overall financial stability of the economy, economic stability of the banking sector and interest of the depositors in mind. "It is respectfully submitted that considering the fact that the time limit for continuance of the present economic issues is uncertain, as a policy it is undesirable to give any 'one-size fit all' solutions," said the affidavit. The ministry insisted that in any banking sector when financial assistance is rendered by way of loans, a balance has to be maintained with the interest of crores of depositors, most of whom are merely depositors and surviving on the interest they receive on their deposits. "On an approximate basis, there are over 197 crore deposit accounts in the country in commercial banks alone, in which depositors have deposited their money and are earning interest," added the ministry. 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. Did you know there was a way to simply pull off the wool of sheep as you would a sweater, thus making classic shearing obsolete? Its actually been around for decades, but for some reason, it never caught on. When BioClip was first introduced in the early 1990s, it was supposed to completely replace sheep shearing in a matter of years. To be honest, it was a truly revolutionary product that relied on an effective biological agent to harvest sheep wool in a totally different way. A singly injection of BioClip caused a temporary break in the wool follicle fiber synthesis process, essentially detaching the wool coat from the animal, and allowing owners to remove it as they would a piece of clothing. Videos of the process have been doing the rounds online for years, and they just never get old. Photo: Couleur/Pixabay Developed by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) scientists in Australia, BioClip is an epidermal growth factor (EGF) injection that causes the fleece to shed naturally. The beauty of this biological shearing method is that after 16 hours, the biological agent is metabolized by the body into its substructure of amino acids and excreted in urine after further breakdown. New wool starts to grow jut days after the BioClip injection, so as long as the shed wool coat is harvested around 4 weeks after the injection, the animal should already have a thick enough new coat to protect it from sunburn or hypothermia. In its heyday, BioClip was marketed as having multiple advantages over traditional sheep shearing, from superior fleece quality and wool presentation, too a lower overall cost, reduced occupational stress and injury hazards, and reduced sheep stress, injury and disease transfer. Only apparently that just wasnt enough. By 2017, Anagen Pty Ltd, the company behind BioClip, had been put into administration owing creditors more than $3 million, and facing liquidation. And, according to SheepCentral, sales of the wool harvesting process had been suspended since 2013 due to insufficient support for the product in the sheep industry. So how did BioClip go from replacing sheep shearing to being almost completely ignored? Well, the answer may be more complicated than is apparent, but according to most sources, it had to due with cost. A 2015 reports showed that the cost of a BioClip shot combined with the net necessary to keep the wool in place until harvesting was around $6.50, with labor costs bumping up the cost to over $10. At the same time, classic shearing costs per sheep were around $7.50 per animal. I dont even know if BioClip is still around today, its certainly not as popular as everyone thought it would be, thats for sure, which is kind of a shame, because it was a pretty awesome invention. Northpark overpass construction fast approaching As the March 11 Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority and Tax Increment Zone No. 10 (TIRZ) meeting began, Chairman Stan Sarman welcomed Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin into the teleconference by asking if he had any opening comments. Martin responded in a humorous tone: So, when are we going to have the groundbreaking ceremony? Martin was referring to the long-planned Northpark Drive Overpass Project that he and the Kingwood community have anticipated for several years and which is now approved and funded. Sarman responded to Martins question by noting Vince Obregon, project manager for the engineering group HNTB, was about to provide a full update as a major part of the meeting. The project is now in the process of intense planning in preparation for construction to begin. The multimillion dollar, two-phase project will expand the road from four to six lanes between Hwy. 59 and Russell Palmer Road and add an overpass over the Union Pacific railroad at Loop 494. The west end phase will be built first and the east end of the project will follow as soon as possible, once right of way land acquisition and a host of other planning requirements are completed, including flood drainage and community evacuation requirements. As Sarman had noted in February, the project bench marks are all moving forward as planned. The plan right now is to get city signatures April 17 and then get ready for advertising this project April 20. Bids will be due May 25; then we hope to make the construction awards in June. Thats kind of the high-level schedule as we see it laying out, Obregon said. He said project engineers are having biweekly meetings with Union Pacific and meeting with Harris County Flood Control regarding drainage and flooding issues. Obregon said current work includes executing all consultant agreements; coordinating with the Harris County Flood Control District, Union Pacific and other entities; and establishing new design criteria with TxDOT processes that include environmental requirements, lane widths, sidewalk widths and the additional roadway section so they can refine some of the right of way land requirements. Obregon explained HNTB is also submitting a project planning chart to lay out all the project milestones for every organizations review. We have a meeting scheduled soon to go through that schedule to make sure we all understand the key milestone dates, in particular understanding how TxDOTs role will operate, Sarman said. I want to reiterate to our consultants the critical need of Northpark Drive being passable during extreme events as well as where Bens Branch crosses Northpark Drive. It is going to be a critical design right there, he said. So, we have to make sure that this works, Sarman said. When Obregon finished, TIRZ board member Tom Broad said, It sounds like we could have a groundbreaking in July. That could be possible, said Sarman. Martin added his comment to the discussion, Were going to be out there; there will be no Zoom for that, he said. As soon as a firm official start date can be determined, in the summer or not, Sarman said he would notify everyone, and they would plan accordingly. The next Lake Houston TIRZ 10 meeting will be April 8. If COVID restrictions are still in effect it will be conducted as a conference call. Otherwise, the meeting will be held at the Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods Dr. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... PHOENIX A Republican member of the Arizona House announced Tuesday that she cant support a proposal that would make it a felony in Arizona for a doctor to perform an abortion because the fetus has a genetic abnormality such as Down Syndrome. Rep. Regina Cobbs decision could end the effort to enact the wide-ranging anti-abortion proposal bill, at least as currently written, because Republicans hold just a one-vote House majority and Democrats appear solidy opposed. Cobb said during a meeting of Republican House members to discuss pending bills that the measure goes too far by banning doctors from providing abortion care to women who have a fetus that cant survive. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Ive had multiple family members who have had genetic problems with their children they need to have that option, Cobb said, who represents the Kingman area. One was a baby that didnt have a brain. She ended up carrying it full term due to her religious beliefs and not necessarily medical beliefs. But it was something that was given as a option, and her life was in danger for the next probably six months because of this, she said. The measure backed by the social conservative group Center for Arizona Policy has been sailing through the GOP-controlled Legislature over unanimous opposition from minority Democrats. It passed the Senate on a 16-14 party-line vote early this month and was teed up for a House vote this week after passing a House committee two weeks ago. Senate Bill 1457 makes it a Class 3 felony carrying a sentence of two to nearly nine years in prison for doctors to perform abortions because the mother decides she does not want to carry a child with a genetic abnormality. There are exceptions for medical emergencies. The proposal also has a raft of other provisions designed to tighten Arizonas already tough restrictions on abortion care. It confers all civil rights to unborn children, allows the father or maternal grandparents of an aborted child to sue, and bans the spending of any state money with organizations that provide abortion care. The measure requires fetal remains to be buried or cremated, and also forbids state universities from providing abortion care or counseling or referring anyone to an abortion provider. Another provision bans abortion-inducing medication from being delivered by mail. Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, which pushes anti-abortion bills each year at the state Legislature, claimed medical abortions are more dangerous than surgical ones. The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice group that advocates for access to safe abortions, disputes that claim. It also repeals an old law allowing women to be charged for seeking an abortion, which bill sponsor GOP Sen. Nancy Barto said is needed to protect women from prosecution in case the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 decision that found women have a constitutional right to seek an abortion. In addition to Cobbs concerns about banning abortions when the fetus has a genetic abnormality, she said the university provision would require graduate medical students to leave the state for optional training. Many of you know Im very pro-life, but I think this goes way too far at this point, Cobb said. And I think its goes into parental choices as far as what were determining. So I will be a no. Bartos preposal is one of several introduced in the Republican-controlled Legislature this year, including one that would require prosecutors to charge women who decide to get abortions and the doctors who perform the procedures with homicide. That proposal from GOP Rep. Walt Blackman has not advanced. Republican-dominated Legislatures in several states emboldened by the possibility that a more conservative Supreme Court could overturn the Roe decision have embraced proposals that could completely ban abortion this year. In South Carolina, a lawsuit has already been filed challenging a so-called heartbeat bill the governor signed into law last month that would ban most abortions. In Idaho, lawmakers are also also considering such a bill. The legislation makes abortions illegal once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant. The 21-year-old suspect in Monday's massacre at a Colorado supermarket -- which left 10 dead including a store manager and a police officer -- faces 10 counts of murder in the first degree, police said Tuesday. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, of Arvada, near Denver, is accused of opening fire Monday afternoon at the King Soopers store in the university city of Boulder, killing people ranging in age from 20 to 65, authorities said. LIVE UPDATES Police took the suspect into custody at the store Monday afternoon, less than an hour after panicked 911 callers told dispatchers of the killings unfolding there. Alissa, who at some point was shot in the leg Monday, was booked Tuesday into county jail after being treated at a hospital, authorities said. Officers described his wound as a 'through and through' gunshot wound to his upper right thigh, according to an affidavit from Boulder County. It wasn't clear who shot him, Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said. Alissa will have his first court appearance at 8:15 a.m. (10:15 a.m. ET) Thursday, according to Colorado Judicial Branch online records. The motive in the Boulder killings -- one of several mass shootings in the US over the past week -- isn't immediately known, and the investigation will take a long time, authorities said. Still, investigators believe he was the only perpetrator, they said. 'I promise that all of us here will work tirelessly ... to make sure that the killer is held absolutely and fully accountable for what he did,' Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said Tuesday at a news conference in Boulder. Police on Tuesday also released the names of those killed: Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Boulder police Officer Eric Talley, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; Jody Waters, 65. The suspect has 'lived most of his life in the United States,' Dougherty said Tuesday, without elaborating. The shootings in Boulder, home to the University of Colorado's main campus nestled by the Rocky Mountains northwest of Denver, came less than a week after shootings at three spas in the Atlanta area left eight people dead. In the past week alone, the United States has seen at least seven shootings, in each of which at least four people were injured or killed. Witnesses describe terror and panic Witnesses have described scenes of terror and panic at the supermarket Monday. The affidavit states Boulder police 911 dispatch received multiple calls. One caller told dispatchers the shooter shot out the window of a car and chased a man toward the street. Other callers said the shooter was wearing 'an armored vest.' Multiple callers said they were hiding in the store. Employees told dispatchers they 'observed the suspect shoot an elderly man in the parking lot. The suspect then walked up to the elderly man, stood over him and shot him multiple additional times,' the affidavit said. College student Anna Haynes was across the street in her apartment when heard what turned out to be gunshots, and then looked outside and 'saw a body in the middle of the parking lot.' 'I also saw the gunman himself holding a semiautomatic rifle,' and eventually he was 'shooting rapid-fire' at something before entering the building, said Haynes, editor-in-chief of the University of Colorado's CU Independent. 'And a few seconds later, I saw people running out of the building; I heard screaming; I heard people leaving in their cars, and it just evolved into chaos within just a couple of minutes,' she said. Maggie Montoya, a pharmacy tech at King Soopers, told CNN's Anderson Cooper she was signing people up for Covid-19 vaccinations when she heard the first shot and her store manager yelled there was an active shooter. 'We all just scattered just at the first sound,' Montoya said. Montoya and a fellow pharmacist then ran into a counseling room and hid under a desk. The two of them called 911 and stayed under the desk for about an hour. They didn't realize how close the shooter was until police announced they had the building surrounded and they heard him right outside the pharmacy. 'They found his weapons right by the pharmacy,' she said, adding that she heard the shooter say: 'I surrender. I'm naked.' Walking out of the grocery store was when it hit Montoya. She said she saw Olds' body. 'And that's when it all crashed down,' she said. 'It all came crashing down, seeing someone I knew dead, that wasn't going to be able to walk out to her family.' Ryan Borowski told CNN he was grabbing a bag of chips and a soda when he heard the first shot and saw a terrified woman running toward him. By the third shot, he was running with her toward the back of the store. They and others gathered with employees in the back. 'I saw a lot of very wide eyes. ... The employees in the back of the house didn't know what was going on, so we told them that there was a shooter, and they told us where the exit was,' he told CNN on Tuesday. Images from the scene -- from a livestreamer and from CNN affiliate KMGH -- recorded police escorting from the building a shirtless man with blood on his leg, with his hands apparently cuffed. That man was the arrested suspect, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, his brother Ali Aliwi Alissa told CNN Tuesday. Police officer and store manager among those killed The slain officer, Talley, was one of the first to respond to the scene, according to Herold. Witnesses told dispatchers they reported seeing the shooter shoot at police, the affidavit said. Officers had exchanged gunfire with Alissa at the store, Herold said. Officers wrote that Talley was down and had to be dragged out by SWAT officers, the affidavit said. Officers reported Talley had a gunshot wound to the head. Talley joined the Boulder police force in 2010, she said. Talley, a father of seven children ages 5 to 18, once had a different profession and 'didn't have to go into policing, but he felt a higher calling,' Herold said Tuesday. 'He cared about this community ... and he was willing to die to protect others,' she said. Olds, 25, of Lafayette, was a front-end manager at the store, her uncle, Bob Olds, told CNN. She was a 'strong, independent young woman' who was raised by her grandparents, Bob Olds said. 'She was so energetic and charismatic and she was a shining light in this dark world,' he told CNN. Olds and another victim were graduates of Boulder-area high schools, said Rob Anderson, superintendent of the Boulder Valley School District. Olds was a 2013 graduate of Centaurus High School and Denny Stong was a 2019 graduate of Fairview High School, Anderson's statement read. 'Several of the other victims were parents of our graduates and given the fact that this is a close knit community, there will likely be many other connections to BVSD schools both amongst those who were killed and other victims,' Anderson said. Kroger, which owns King Soopers, said Tuesday three of the victims were employees: Denny Stong, Rikki Olds and Teri Leiker. 'In the hours since the shooting, we're learning of truly heroic acts that included associates, customers, and first responders selflessly helping to protect and save others. We will remain forever grateful to the first responders who so bravely responded to protect our associates and customers,' the company's statement read. King Soopers in Boulder will remain closed while the shooting is being investigated, Kroger said. Suzanne Fountain 'was a person who all of her life really was about doing service, helping others,' her longtime friend Helen Forster told CNN's Erin Burnett. Forster said she met Fountain during a community theater production in the late 1980s and later hired her to work at her non-profit organization, where Fountain worked for 17 years. 'She would be the first person that people would see when they walked in the door of the non-profit building that we operate, and she just would take care of everybody. She was calm and reassuring when things were stressful,' Forster said. Forster said Fountain also worked at a local hospital for a number of years and later became a Medicare consultant, helping seniors. 'I think we're still a little bit in shock, and we're stunned. And I think we just have to take one day at a time and remember what she did for all of us,' Forster said. 'You hold someone in your heart, whether they're on the planet or not, you know. So, I think that that's what a lot of us will be doing moving forward.' Stong was a 'wise young man,' according to his coworker Logan Ezra Smith. 'Me and him were both big Second Amendment supporters and would go shooting on the weekends,' Smith said. 'I will miss his smile and his laugh but as well as his honesty. He put you in your place.' What authorities say happened Police said they were called there about gunfire around 2:40 p.m. (4:40 p.m. ET) Monday. Ambulances and officers from several law enforcement agencies arrived at the store, part of a large shopping center with a two-story strip mall next door. In scanner traffic, officers radioed that they were in a gunfight. They reported being fired at with multiple rounds through at least 3:21 p.m. local time. A SWAT team responded to the scene, the affidavit said. An officer says they saw the shooter walking backward toward the SWAT team to be taken into custody. The shooter 'removed all of his clothing and was dressed only in shorts.' Alissa did not answer officers questions about other suspects, but he did ask to speak to his mother, the affidavit said. The suspect was taken into custody at 3:28 p.m., Herold said. There was no indication of alcohol or drug use, the affidavit said. An AR-15-style pistol, modified with an arm brace, was used in the shooting, a senior law enforcement source told CNN on condition of anonymity. A search of the suspect's home turned up other weapons, the source said. 'A photograph of the items that the male removed on scene included a green tactical vest, a rifle (possible AR-15), a semiautomatic handgun, a pair of jeans and a dark colored long-sleeved shirt. There was much blood around the items,' the affidavit said. Calls for action against gun violence On the heels of March 16's three spa shootings in Atlanta, the latest attack stoked calls for action and expressions of fear. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis told CNN's Pamela Brown on Tuesday he thought the case will be 'pretty easy' to prosecute because of there are many witnesses. At the same time, though, Polis said no matter what the shooter's motive was, it will not make sense to anyone. 'This is just where everybody goes to pick up groceries,' Polis said. 'Never ever does it cross your mind that that trip to the grocery store could be your last moments on earth.' Polis said he has ordered flags to fly at half-staff for 10 days to honor the 10 victims. He also told CNN he has spoken with President Joe Biden, who on Tuesday called for stricter gun laws. 'I don't need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take commonsense steps that will save lives in the future. And I encourage my colleagues in the House and Senate to act,' Biden said. Biden called for specific legislative moves, including the banning of assault weapons and high-capacity weapons. He also called for closing of loopholes in the US background check system, including the 'Charleston loophole,' which allows some firearms to be transferred by licensed gun dealers before the required background checks are completed. 'This is not -- it should not be a partisan issue. This is an American issue. It will save lives, American lives. We have to act,' Biden said. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement Tuesday, 'We need to do better to avoid mass shootings in our state and nation. 'We have grappled with this issue in Colorado and the conversation about how to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people will continue. For now, we all need to rise to the occasion to support the people of Colorado, and each other, as we always have.' Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone was brought to tears Tuesday at a pregame media session. 'I'm just heartbroken for them and everybody else. Hopefully we as a country, we as a state, can find a way to be better,' he said. The National Rifle Association quoted the Constitution's Second Amendment in a tweet Monday: 'A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.' Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled victim Denny Stong's last name based on information provided by the Boulder Police Department. A man who ripped off part of a police cruisers protective cage during his arrest was given a fine on Monday morning. Advertisement Advertise With Us A man who ripped off part of a police cruisers protective cage during his arrest was given a fine on Monday morning. Scott Draper, 31, pleaded guilty to mischief to property under $5,000 after a November 2020 incident. Crown attorney Brett Rach said that on Nov. 3, 2020 at approximately 10:40 a.m., police responded to a 16th Street address to help a plain-clothes detective executing a search warrant. When officers arrived, they came into contact with Draper, Rach said, and arrested him under a warrant. Police searched the accused before putting him in the back of the police cruiser and found "some substances" on him, the Crown said. When Draper was in the back of the cruiser, he was "extremely argumentative and wasnt listening to police," Rach said. He tried to kick the door open when police tried to close it. At one point, his foot got caught and officers had to open the door to readjust his foot. Rach said officers walked away for a few minutes and when they returned to the cruiser, they could hear Draper yelling for them. When officers opened the door, they saw the steel cage that secures the window from being kicked out from the inside had been ripped off the sheet metal frame of the door and was dangling, Rach told the court. "They asked him why he ripped the cage off and he said I just need to get out of here," Rach said. While the Crown said he didnt know how much the damage cost police to repair, he suggested a fine between $200 and $300 to hold him accountable. Defence lawyer Hayley Allardyce said Draper struggles both with addiction and bad anxiety. "At the time of the offence Mr. Draper was feeling incredibly anxious and, unfortunately, wasnt fully on all of the necessary medication that he needs for some of the diagnoses at the time," Allardyce told the court. "That, unfortunately, led to him being in a very stressful situation and unfortunately making the bad decision to physically damage the vehicle at the time." Draper has been doing his best to use supports given to him through a previous probation sentence, she said, and is doing his best to take positive steps to move forward. Allardyce also suggested a fine of approximately $200. Judge Donovan Dvorak said the last thing Draper needs with his anxiety is to be self-medicating with non-prescription drugs. "It doesnt help when you have anxiety. It may medicate in the self-medicating sort of way, but stick to the stuff thats been prescribed to you because its going to help you a whole lot more in the long-run," Dvorak said to Draper. Dvorak sentenced him to a $200 fine. Draper is also scheduled to appear on other charges in April. dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ With the explosive Vazegate unravelling minute-by-minute, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday raised questions over the Maharashtra government and its attempt to shield now-suspended Mumbai Police API Sachin Vaze and Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. Prasad expressed displeasure over the ATS' press conference on Tuesday which significantly held Sachin Vaze as the prime accused in the suspicious death case of Mansukh Hiren, calling it a 'speedy attempt' to shut the case. Speaking to Republic Media Network's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, the Union Law Minister said, "This whole skeleton is coming out with an alarming regularity. First CM defending Sachin Vaze, their ATS is now framing him in murder of mansukh Hiren. Then comes the HM demanding Rs 100 crore to be collected, then what is the target set for the entire state? Thirdly, Mr Pawar defending Anil Deshmukh by stating that he was in quaratine. Does any man hold a press conference in quarantine? If he is contracted with COVID, can he travel in a plane? All this shows that Sharad Pawar was not given the right briefing. You need to order the sacking of Anil Deshmukh." Drawing attention to the ATS press conference on Tuesday, Prasad questioned why has the state not handed over the probe to the NIA - which is investigating the Antilia bomb scare. Pertinently, the MHA has already issued an order to transfer the probe of Mansukh Hiren's death to the NIA. However, the central investigating agency has claimed that Maharashtra ATS has not handed over the documents related to the case yet. The Union Minister also slammed the ruling MVA government for deflecting accusations and questions by retorting that it is an attempt to dethrone and besmirch the Maharashtra government. "You raise something about the MVA, they retort that there is an attempt to defame them. Is the Aghadi government that weak? You will commit the grossest impropriety in governance, you will throw the rule book to the wind," he said. "I was angry today seeing this loot, corruption. Any person with propriety would be angry and I think you will give me this. Mumbai does not deserve it, Maharashtra does not deserve it," the Law Minister concluded. Serious allegations against Maha HM In a letter to Maharashtra CM, former Mumbai CP Param Bir Singh had alleged that the Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had set a target of Rs 100 crores for now-suspended API Sachin Vaze to be collected from hotels, bars and restaurants. The former Mumbai CP has now moved the Supreme Court and claimed that he was moved by certain leaders who he claimed were aggrieved by his revelations on Anil Deshmukh. In a petition to the top court, Param Bir Singh has accused Anil Deshmukh of abusing his power as Home Minister for calling and directly instructing police officers for 'extorting money from establishments across Mumbai and from other sources and for interfering in investigations. Param Bir Singh demanded a fair CBI investigation to probe Deshmukh's abuse of the office of Home Minister. On Tuesday morning, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed to have explosive evidence to prove more aspects of the mammoth Vazegate scandal and levelled some sensational charges of corruption against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government on Tuesday. Amid growing controversy over the allegations against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Fadnavis said that he possesses 6.3 GB of phone-recording data and crucial documents pertaining to an alleged racket of transfer and posting of IPS and non-IPS officers of Maharashtra Police allegedly on the instructions of Deshmukh, along the lines of what Param Bir Singh has alleged in his plea to the Supreme Court where he has sought a CBI inquiry into his former superior Deshmukh's 'misdeeds'. A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Tuesday against a 31-year-old man accused of trying to eat several memory cards while he was being processed at a county jail in North Carolina. Now he faces up to two decades behind bars. David Sierra Orozco was found guilty of possessing child pornography after a two-day trial in federal court, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina said Tuesday in a news release. The charges against him carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Defense attorneys representing Orozco, who is a Mexican citizen, declined to comment in an email to McClatchy News on Tuesday. According to the governments release, deputies with the Harnett County Sheriffs Office pulled over Orozco on July 25, 2017, in Dunn, North Carolina, which is about an hour south of Raleigh on I-40. He was driving a Lexus at the time, and prosecutors said deputies discovered the registered owner had an expired license. Orozco was also reportedly seen drifting over the center lane. Orozco gave deputies his Mexican consular ID but did not have a valid drivers license, according to the release. Officers noticed that Orozco appeared extremely nervous he was sweating profusely despite the air conditioner on high and was shaking uncontrollably, prosecutors said. They also saw tool marks on the instrument panel indicative of a hidden compartment in the dashboard, the release states. A police dog was called to search the car, and more than $111,000 in cash wrapped up in grocery bags was subsequently discovered in the secret compartment, officials said. Deputies placed Orozco under arrest on charges of driving without a license and brought him to the Harnett County jail, prosecutors said. While he was being searched during processing, prosecutors said several MicroSD memory cards fell out of a folded $100 bill that was removed from Orozcos pocket. Orozco lunged for the floor, picked up what appeared to be two memory cards, and put them in his mouth, Tuesdays release states. Officers recovered one chewed half of a memory card from his mouth and three intact cards from the floor. Story continues Law enforcement found 261 videos and two images of child pornography on one of the memory cards, 14 videos on another, and five thumbnails on his smart phone, the release says. Prosecutors said most of the videos and images showed kids younger than 12 including one that reportedly showed a child in a sex act with a chicken. The devices also contained photos Orozco had taken of himself, according to the release. Orozco was indicted on federal charges in March 2019 and arrested shortly thereafter, court filings show. Prosecutors had requested he be held in jail pending trial, saying at a hearing that Orozco clearly was in possession of what was some very disturbing images of child pornography. They also argued he was a flight risk given his lack of family or connections to the area and said he posed a risk to the community. Its the position of the government that anyone who is engaged in child pornography in crimes against children present an ongoing threat against the population, prosecutors said during the hearing. But Orozcos defense attorneys pointed out he spoke almost no English and questioned whether he could have consented to the search of his vehicle. They also called it a very unusual child pornography case. Your Honor, he is a person that has absolutely no criminal history, his attorneys said. Hes never been arrested before. We would ask that you consider some other kind of other placement, like a halfway house, instead of straight detention. U.S. Magistrate Judge James E. Gates disagreed, saying Orozcos attempt at swallowing the SD cards indicated he knew what was on them and that it was wrong. Orozcos trial began Monday with a Spanish interpreter before District Judge James C. Dever III, court documents show. Prosecutors said he is scheduled to be sentenced during the courts June session. Mar. 23A Wisconsin man is facing charges in Westmoreland County after police say he drove to Vandergrift to meet with a minor. Ethan William Haley, 22, was arrested Monday after Vandergrift police found him with a teenage boy, whom Haley told police he had driven from Wisconsin to meet, according to a criminal complaint. Haley was driving along Washington Avenue around 12:20 a.m. when he was pulled over for not having his headlights on, police said. Officers said they saw two people in the car, one a minor. When asked for identification, Haley presented a Minnesota driver's license and told police he was in the area meeting friends, according to the complaint. According to police, Haley said the boy did not have identification. The officer then walked over the passenger side to speak with the boy, who was observed not wearing any shoes and "was very nervous and seemed to be unsure" what to tell police, officials said. After providing police with his age and address, an officer went to speak with his parents, who said were not aware the boy had left the house. Haley, who told police he knew the boy through the social media app Snapchat, was then detained so officers could figure out the situation, according to the complaint. At that point, Haley told police he had recently gotten off probation for sex offenses in Minnesota, officials said. During an interview with police, the boy said he had known Haley for about a year, and that he started talking to Haley because he needed a friend, officials said. According to the complaint, the boy said Haley often steered the conversations toward sexual topics and sent him nude photos. The boy told police he provided Haley with his phone number and address, and jumped from his window to get into Haley's car when Haley came to meet him. Prior to being pulled over by police, the boy said, "when he got into the car with Haley he got a bad feeling and Haley was a little 'handsy,'" according to the complaint. Story continues Haley confirmed the two had explicit conversations but said he did not remember sending photos. He told police he was traveling to South Carolina to meet with a friend when he detoured to Vandergrift to tell the boy "they cannot have a sexual relationship," the complaint reads. Haley is charged with unlawful contact with a minor and disseminating explicit sexual material to a minor, court records show. He is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison after being unable to post $100,000 bond, according to court records. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 6. Megan Tomasic is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Megan at 724-850-1203, mtomasic@triblive.com or via Twitter . The great sturgeon is the third largest bony fish on the planet and the source of highly prized beluga caviar. Credit: bigstockphoto Depending on your political affiliation, the words "Sturgeon in peril" may fill you with delight, despair or indifference. For those of us at Fauna & Flora International (FFI), however, this kind of headline is already old news. For longer than we care to remember, we have marveled at the survival instincts of a character that has literally been around since the time of the dinosaurs and, until relatively recently, has shown little sign of being ready to leave the stage. But we have always known that a sturgeon-free world was a real possibility, and warned repeatedly that time was running out even for this archetypal born survivor. For the avoidance of doubt, we're talking about a fish. Caviar with a caveat Before we analyze where it all began to go wrong for this creature from the Cretaceous, it's worth reminding ourselves about some of its more remarkable characteristics. Sturgeons are an example of so-called 'living fossils' a reference to how long these extraordinary fish have graced the planet. There is certainly something prehistoric about their appearance, an impression reinforced by their beady eyes, barbels and their built-in body armor in the form of bony external plates, known as scutes. This giant among freshwater fish can reach gargantuan proportions. The largest sturgeon species can attain a length of eight metersthat's longer than a minibusand weigh up to one-and-a-half tons. One of our many citizen inspectors photographed by the banks of Georgias Rioni River. Credit: FFI These fish are renowned for their highly prized roe, which is widely harvested, cured in salt and sold for eye-watering sums of money, particularly in Russia. But this caviar comes with a caveat; the sturgeon is paying an even higher price for the popularity of its eggs. There is no group on the planet more endangered than the fish collectively known as sturgeon. All but four of the world's 27 species are perilously close to extinction. Why are sturgeons endangered? All the world's sturgeons face an upstream battle for survival, but those in Europe are particularly at risk. Once widespread throughout the continent's major river systems, they have been decimated by unsustainable levels of fishing, poaching and the loss of traditional spawning grounds as a result of habitat destruction. All sturgeons are nominally protected under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), but enforcement of these regulations is not easy, given the difficulty of differentiating between wild-sourced and farmed products. The thriving black market in caviar poses a serious threat to Europe's dwindling wild sturgeon populations. As if that wasn't enough to deal with, sturgeons are now faced with another, potentially terminal, threat to their survival in the shape of hydropower dams, of which more later. A juvenile Colchic sturgeon caught in the Rioni River, believed to be the last breeding refuge of this critically endangered species. Credit: Tamar Edisherashvili/FFI How FFI is saving sturgeons Of the main rivers draining into the Black Sea, only a handful still offer suitable spawning habitat. One of these, the Rioni River in Georgia, is the last known refuge of the Colchic sturgeon and supports crucial populations of five other critically endangered species. Until FFI intervened in 2017, this vital haven had no sturgeon conservation program. Since conducting the very first baseline studies for these fish in Georgia, we have worked with the government and a range of local and regional partners to combat poaching, trafficking and the other grave threats to sturgeons in the Rioni. As part of this program, we have established monitoring teams comprising 'citizen inspectors' drawn from communities along the river, whose role is to inform governmental agencies about incidences of poaching. Even more importantly, these individuals engage with fishers, encouraging them to report and release any sturgeon they catch, to stick to legal fishing methods, and to help collect data on wild sturgeon. FFI works closely with these local peoplefrom schoolchildren to fish tradersto raise awareness of the plight of the sturgeons in the Rioniand emphasize their global importance. Research is a vitally important aspect of this project, and local fishers have played a critical role in this regard, vindicating our efforts to engage constructively with local people and engender widespread support for our work. Typical view of the Rioni River, a crucial sturgeon spawning site threatened by ill-conceived plans for a giant hydro-dam. Credit: Fleur Scheele/FFI River phoenix During the course of this work, FFI and our local partners have made some astounding discoveries including, in 2018, the capture of a baby stellate sturgeonwhich provided proof positive that this critically endangered species was still breeding in the Rioni. More recently, two juvenile specimens of the critically endangered ship sturgeonwidely feared to be extinctwere found and reported by local anglers within the space of a single month. Just a week later, the Rioni yielded a third juvenile, provisionally identified as a vanishingly rare Colchic sturgeon. The positive relationship that FFI has developed with local fishers has had a hugely beneficial impact on the success of this project. During 2020, we were notified on 72 separate occasions that anglers had caught sturgeons, and succeeded in taking genetic samples from the vast majority of these fish. This year looks set to comfortably exceed those numbers. Damned if you dam Unfortunately, all this great work is in danger of being undermined by a potentially disastrous new development, in both senses of that word. The proposal to construct a 100-meter-high hydro-dam has caused dismay among the conservation community and drawn widespread condemnation within Georgia, including unprecedented mass demonstrations in major towns and cities. Astoundingly, the environmental impact assessment conducted as part of the proposed scheme made no mention of the sturgeon. The Rioni River is in desperate need of rehabilitation. It has already been adversely affected by existing hydro-dams, gravel extraction and industrial pollution, threatening the last viable spawning grounds for sturgeons in the eastern Black Sea. Any further deterioration in water quality and spawning conditions could prove to be the final straw for the stranded sturgeon, scuppering any hope of recovery and causing Europe's flagship fish to sink without trace. Explore further Dramatic double discovery of a fish on the brink of extinction You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Privatisation is no solution to the problems of the banking sector. The nationwide strike by bank employees against the privatisation of public sector banks affected the financial sector across the country. And the finance minister responded by assuring that pay and pensions of employees of privatised banks will continue to be protected. But the government refuses to acknowledge the huge contributions of public sector banks and also ignores the lackadaisical performance of the private sector banks, which, except in the case of a few outliers, continue to largely focus operations in urban areas and on high-end users who can afford to pay their exorbitant charges. In fact, even today the complaints against overcharging without prior notice by private sector banks far outnumber those against public sector banks. So, privatisation and a larger market share of private sector banks would only end up in increasing the costs of banking services without any other significant commensurate benefits. This is obvious as the government wilfully continues to obfuscate the fact that inefficient management and corrupt practices by the private sector banks had forced the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to step in and rescue almost a dozen private sector banks from collapse by merging them with other healthier banks in the last two decades. In fact, the near collapse of Yes Bank, the fourth largest private bank, last year, had badly shaken even the public confidence in the banking sector. Police work on the scene outside of a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place Monday (David Zalubowski/AP) A shooting at a Colorado supermarket killed 10 people, including a police officer who was the first to respond to the scene, authorities said. Police arrested a suspect, but did not reveal his name or any details about the shooting at a news conference where Boulder police Chief Maris Herold fought back tears. Investigators have started sorting through evidence and witness interviews and do not yet have details on a motive for the shooting at the King Soopers store in Boulder, which is about 25 miles northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado, said Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty. He said: This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder County. These were people going about their day, doing their shopping. I promise the victims and the people of the state of Colorado that we will secure justice. The attack was the seventh mass killing this year in the US, following last weeks shooting that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area massage businesses. Rest In peace Officer Eric Talley. Your service will never be forgotten #BoulderShooting pic.twitter.com/FVximvhS2E Boulder Police Dept. (@boulderpolice) March 23, 2021 The killed officer was identified as Eric Talley, 51, who had been with Boulder police since 2010, Mr Herold said. He was by all accounts one of the outstanding officers of the Boulder Police Department, and his life was cut too short, Mr Dougherty said. Identities of the other nine victims were not disclosed on Monday night as police were still notifying their family members. Expand Close Police continue their investigation at a King Soopers grocery store where authorities say multiple people were killed in a shooting (David Zalubowski/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police continue their investigation at a King Soopers grocery store where authorities say multiple people were killed in a shooting (David Zalubowski/AP) Matthew Kirsch, the acting US attorney for Colorado, pledged that the full weight of federal law enforcement will support the investigation. He said investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the crime scene, along with FBI agents. Officers had escorted a shirtless man with blood running down his leg out of the store in handcuffs but authorities would not say if he was the suspect. They did say the suspect was receiving medical care and was the only person injured who did not die. Expand Close A man holds an American flag as a procession of emergency vehicles leaves a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place (David Zalubowski/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A man holds an American flag as a procession of emergency vehicles leaves a King Soopers grocery store where a shooting took place (David Zalubowski/AP) Dean Schiller told The Associated Press that he had just left the supermarket when he heard gunshots and saw three people lying face down, two in the car park and one near the doorway. He said he couldnt tell if they were breathing. Video posted on YouTube showed one person on the floor inside the store and two more outside on the ground. What sounds like two gunshots are also heard at the beginning of the video. Expand Close People are led out of a King Soopers grocery store after a shooting in the store (Hart Van Denburg/Colorado Public Radio/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People are led out of a King Soopers grocery store after a shooting in the store (Hart Van Denburg/Colorado Public Radio/AP) Law enforcement vehicles and officers massed outside the store, including Swat teams, and at least three helicopters landed on the roof. At one point, authorities said over a loudspeaker that the building was surrounded and that you need to surrender. Colorado Governor Jared Polis tweeted a statement that his heart is breaking as we watch this unspeakable event unfold in our Boulder community. Its official. Marty Walsh is going to Washington. The Senate on Monday confirmed the two-term Boston mayor to lead the U.S. Department of Labor Monday afternoon. Walsh will be the first union member to serve as Labor secretary in nearly a half century. He was the last of President Joe Bidens cabinet secretary nominees to be confirmed. Walsh said he will be sworn in Tuesday in Washington, D.C. This has been a very, very bittersweet last eight weeks. I have been very emotional in my office because I love the people I work with. Im amazing. I love being mayor of the city I grew up in, the Boston Democrat said. I am honored to have been called by President Biden to serve in his cabinet. I think, honestly, now thinking about it, I try to get every single last second out of being mayor of the city of Boston, and thats what Im going to do for the next two-and-a-half hours. In an emotional address to city employees, he told the crowd, I love you all after the Senate vote. These folks work in every single department, from the front lines to the cabinet, he said. We share a bond that cant be and never will be broken. Congratulations on making history, @Kim_Janey. I know you are going to continue serving our city and supporting an equitable recovery from #COVID19. I am always here for you, my friend. pic.twitter.com/rR3lrOoMBy Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) March 22, 2021 Walshs confirmation marks a historic moment for Boston: City Council President Kim Janey will take over as acting mayor, the first woman or person of color to hold the seat in the citys 200-year history. The Senate voted, 68-29, to confirm Walsh. Massachusetts Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren cast their vote for him. Today, we will confirm Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as Secretary of Labor His story reminds me of my own family His parents from Ireland, my grandfather from Eastern Europe, we both have family backgrounds of immigrants who joined the labor movement in the US to help their families Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 22, 2021 The Dorchester native leaves Boston amid a crowded mayoral race. At least six people have declared their candidacy, including City Councilors Michelle Wu, Andrea Campbell and Annissa Essaibi George. Another eight are rumored to be considering a run for the seat. Walsh said he doesnt plan to endorse a candidate for mayor. Walsh represented Dorchester in Massachusetts House of Representatives for 17 years before successfully running for mayor. Under his tenure, the city created the Office of Recovery Services and a Chief of Equity position. From a family whose parents immigrated to this country, being elected mayor of Boston was a dream for me, said Walsh, whose parents emigrated from Ireland. As mayor, Walsh gained national recognition for his vocal stance against then-President Donald Trump, speaking out against efforts to ramp up deportations, the travel bans that made international headlines and the initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Walshs tenure was also marred by a series of crises, ranging from the failed Olympics bid to the indictment of two city officials on federal charges related to the Boston Calling Festival in 2014. Prosecutors said Kenneth Brissette and Timothy Sullivan had pressured organizers to hire union workers to curry favor with Walsh, NBC Boston reported. They were found guilty, but a federal judge later tossed their convictions. John Barros, the citys former economic development chief and now a mayoral candidate, praised the confirmation of his old boss. As millions of Americans struggle to recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic, we now have a Secretary we can trust to advocate for the needs of working families across the nation, Barros said in a statement. Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, praised Walsh as an advocate for workers rights but also said she looks forward to seeing Janey make history as the citys first Black and first female mayor. This milestone comes at a crucial time for Boston; the next administration must do all that it can to ensure an equitable COVID-19 recovery, an end to policing as usual and a meaningful commitment to government transparency, Rose said in a statement. The ACLU of Massachusetts looks forward to working with Acting Mayor Janey to build a Boston that centers civil rights and civil liberties for all. Related Content: Pastor Clarke Dixon of Calvary Baptist Church in Cobourg, Ontario offers insights on Christians who feel like God has abandoned them amid incessant troubles or who may be tempted to cancel God because of their sufferings. In a grace-filled sermon where the reality of disappointments hitting Christians' belief on a good God is acknowledged, Pastor Dixon offers words of encouragement. The sermon, which was re-published by The Stream, probes into the role of faith in helping Christians navigate through difficult times and how contending with it, though it makes them counter-cultural, is worth their energy and time. On a well articulated presentation, Pastor Dixon first posed Jesus's promise to His early disciples in John 14: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also." Dixon said that Jesus knew troubles would soon follow His disciples and that there would be times they would succumb to anxiety, so he left them a promise that he would not abandon them. The "rooms" in the verse, according to Dixon, represent the growing family of Jesus's Father and that He (Jesus) would one day bring them all home. Relating the Christians' present predicaments worldwide to the dark days faced by first century believers, Dixon noted in the Scriptures that Jesus has also warned those who'll follow Him that they will suffer simply for being a "Christian." "The early Christians were not bubble wrapped by God. Neither are we," said Dixon. He also argued that when one faces trouble, it does not mean that God has canceled or abandoned him. Troubles are mere evidence of a broken world which essentially highlights the necessity of Jesus's redemptive work on the cross. With that said, Dixon reiterated that Christians take hold of God's promises with the assurance that Jesus and the Holy Spirit will journey with them. On Christians canceling God, Dixon pointed that believers expressing extreme emotions were also recorded in the Scriptures. "Can we cancel God? We can, and often do take offence at the suffering in the world, and the seeming lack of answers to our prayers. The writers of the Psalms did not hold back a similar disgust in their prayers," said Dixon. He, however, brought back as reminder the obvious fact that nowhere in the Bible including the futuristic record of Revelation did God promise a trouble-free life. What God promised is his Presence, which he will not withhold even if his children cancel him. "We can try to cancel Jesus, but he is still Lord, he still has the greatest role. He is the way, the truth and the life. And he still offers to walk with us as a friend," said Dixon. Dixon's full sermon can be read here and watched here. James P. Micciche is a U.S. Army Strategist and Civil Affairs Officer with deployment and service experience in the Middle East, Africa, Afghanistan, Europe, and Indo-Pacific. He is currently the G5 at the Security Forces Assistance Command and can be found on Twitter @james_micciche. Divergent Options content does not contain information of an official nature nor does the content represent the official position of any government, any organization, or any group. Title: Assessing the Fungibility of U.S.-Soviet Competitive Strategies Date Originally Written: February 13, 2021. Date Originally Published: March 22, 2021. Author and / or Article Point of View: The author believes that replicating Soviet Cold War strategy will not guarantee the United States success vis-a-vis China in 2021. Rather than simply replicating Cold War strategy, the United States time would be better spent developing a deeper understanding of itself, its rival, and the operating environment. Summary: Nations build successful competitive strategies around a comprehensive understanding of themselves, their rivals, and the environment in which they compete. As the United States and China enter a geopolitical rivalry there is merit in studying the strategy the United States implemented against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Albeit earlier success, the geopolitical environment of 2021 limits core tenets of U.S. Soviet strategy, requiring a more precise knowledge of the modern milieu to succeed. Text: Over the past decade U.S. foreign policy has increasingly focused on a rising geopolitical rivalry between the United States and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). In 2011, the Obama administration implemented a pivot to the pacific[1], establishing a cooperative policy to counter rising Chinese influence throughout the region. The Trump administrations 2017 National Security Strategy, which mentions China 36 times, directly outlined both the global and regional challenges China represents to American security and prosperity[2]. In his first foreign policy speech President Biden declared his administration will, take on directly the challenges posed to our prosperity, security, and democratic values by our most serious competitor, China[3]. Sino-focused policy and rhetoric from three consecutive U.S. Presidential administrations has led policymakers, academics, and even the media to declare the United States and China are entering, or already in, a new Cold War. Codifying the relationship between the two powers as Cold War 2.0 creates a dangerous perception that implementing the same strategies used throughout the U.S.-Soviet Cold War will lead to a successful outcome for the United States over China. While there is much utility in studying the competitive strategy utilized by the United States that contained Soviet expansion and facilitated the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) one cannot simply re-operationalize previous USSR-focused tenets against China and expect similar results. J.C. Wylie warns of crafting strategy based solely on past success, such a theory does not necessarily account for what could have happened but did not, and the theory cannot be applied to future events with consistent rigor[4]. The lack of fungibility of Soviet-era U.S. Policy to modern Sino-U.S. competition is predicated on the vast differences in the strategic operating environment between the two time periods. Due to the information age, hyper globalization, geographical differences, and the decreasing utility of military force many of the domain-specific advantages that the United States enjoyed in its 40-year struggle with the Soviet Union no longer exist or are in fact now beneficial to the PRC. This lack of domain-specific advantages nullifies portions of the successful U.S. competitive strategy utilized against the USSR which according to Gordon S. Barrass was based on exploiting Americas sustainable comparative advantage[5]. To craft a comprehensive competitive strategy against China U.S. policy makers must understand the USSR and the PRC are different agents, as is the modern United States compared to the United States during the Cold War. Most importantly though, any successful strategy must first define and then operationalize the constraints, challenges, and opportunities that the strategic operating environment presents. The Cold War began in the aftermath of the Second World War in which most of Europe and large parts of Asia had suffered immense damage to infrastructure and staggering loss of life. Out of this geopolitical situation emerged a bipolar balance of power between the two nations best positioned at the end of the war: the USSR and the United States. Inversely, the rise of the Sino-U.S. rivalry has occurred in one of the most stable and peaceful time periods in modern history in terms of the number of interstate conflicts. Japan and Germany highlight how dissimilar the starting points between these two rivalries are as those two nations barely had functioning economies in 1947 and now represent the 3rd and 4th largest in terms of Gross Domestic Product[6]. In fact, scholars debate the very balance of power of the modern paradigm with scholastic descriptions ranging from unipolarity[7] to nonpolarity[8],a drastic difference from the bipolarity of 1947-1991. The development and expansion of the liberal rules base international order following World War 2 created an underlying hegemonic structure the Soviets were not part of. Instead, the USSR championed an ideological alternative system. Due to hyper globalization and its inclusion in multiple organizations and instruments of the liberal world order, China has become an integral and interdependent part of the global economic and diplomatic network. A revisionist actor who benefits from the same system as its primary competitor will attempt rules-based revision[9] by changing the system internally for its benefits, something the USSR could not attempt in the Cold War due to its isolation from and competition against the American led system. For example, in 2019 China accounted for the largest amount of U.S. imports and was the third largest destination for U.S. exports[10], a level of economic interdependence that was unheard of between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War and a limiting factor to the types of strategies the U.S. can use against China, particularly in an environment in which military force is not as fungible as it once was[11]. Another marked difference is the ideological exportation of the USSR and the PRC. Throughout the Cold War the USSR and its allies attempted to export communism and while China is a communist nation it has not taken up the charge of fomenting a global socialist revolution since the USSRs fall and in fact been a major part of global capitalism. Rather, China exports a form of autocratic ideology through loans, projects, and technology enabling authoritarian regimes and leaders to stay in power and establishing corrupt and beneficial relationships for China across the globe especially in developing nations. The final variance between the two periods is the diffusion of national barriers in the information age. Propaganda and information operations were significant facets of U.S. and Soviet strategies, but their effects were mitigated and diffused by national barriers. In 2021 states bypass borders directly targeting select populations of rival states. This capability is not uniform and creates a glaring asymmetry between democracies and autocracies as the latter uses the formers inherent liberties to cut, razor-like, into the fabric of a society, stoking and amplifying existing divisions[12]. The successful competitive strategy the United States operationalized against the USSR in the latter half of the Cold War was predicated on detailed understanding of not just the adversary but more importantly the strategic environment. As the United States reenters a period that some are labeling a new Cold War, it will not succeed as it did against the USSR without redeveloping a comprehensive understanding of itself, its adversary, and the paradigm before it applies any previously successful framework. This article appeared originally at Divergent Options. Endnotes: [1] Manyin, M. E., Daggett, S., Dolven, B., Lawrence, S. V., Martin, M. F., ORourke, R., & Vaughn, B. (2012, March). Pivot to the Pacific? The Obama Administrations Rebalancing Toward Asia. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE. [2] Trump, D. J. (2017). National security strategy of the United States of America. Executive Office of The President Washington DC Washington United States. [3] Biden, Joseph, (2021, February 4). Remarks by President Biden on Americas Place in the World (transcript). The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/02/04/remarks-by-president-biden-on-americas-place-in-the-world/ [4] Wylie Jr, J. C. (2014). Military strategy: a general theory of power control. Naval Institute Press. Pg. 58 [5] Barrass, Gordon. (2012) U.S. Competitive Strategy During the Cold War. Mahnken, T. G. (Ed.). (2012). Competitive strategies for the 21st Century: Theory, history, and practice. Stanford University Press. 86-87 [6] World Bank, World Development Indicators, (2019), GDP (current US$){Data file}. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true&year_high_desc=true [7] Sears, Nathan A. (2016). China, Russia, and the Long Unipolar Moment. The Diplomat, https://thediplomat.com/2016/04/china-russia-and-the-unipolar-moment/ [8] Haass, R. N. (2008). The age of nonpolarity: what will follow US dominance. Foreign affairs, 44-56. [9] Goddard, S. E. (2018). Embedded revisionism: Networks, institutions, and challenges to world order. International Organization, 72(4), 763-797. [10] Office of the United States Trade Representatives. (2019). The Peoples Republic of China. Country and Regions. https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/china-mongolia-taiwan/peoples-republic-china#:~:text=China%20is%20currently%20the%20United,was%20%24345.2%20billion%20in%202019. [11] Baldwin, D. A. (1999). Force, fungibility, and influence. [12] Walker, C., & Ludwig, J. (2017). From soft powerto sharp power: Rising authoritarian influence in the democratic world. Sharp power: Rising authoritarian influence, 8-25 Mumbai, March 23 : The theatrical release of the Ammy Virk and Sonam Bajwa-starrer Punjabi rom-com "Puaada" has been postponed again. The makers issued a statement on Tuesday saying the release date has been pushed until further notice. The statement says: "Due to the rising cases of Covid-19 and new guidelines for cinemas with weekend and night closures of theatres, we have decided to postpone our movie Puaada until further notice." "We have received an overwhelming positive and encouraging response for our trailer, songs and posters and feel our movie is best suited for a theatrical experience. So we have decided to bring Puaada to audiences theatrically when the environment is more conducive for the theatre experience." "Thanks for all your love and support, see you with Puaada in cinemas very soon, until then stay safe and healthy." "Puaada" was initially set to release in the summer of June 2020, but the makers had to push the release date owing to the pandemic that forced theatres to shut down since March last year. Following this, two release dates were announced -- March 11 and April 2, 2021. With the film postponed again, audiences will have to wait for a fresh release date to be announced. The film is directed by debutante Rupinder Chahal, and Zee Studios have acquired the worldwide rights including theatrical, music, digital and satellite. With a tear running from his eye, President Barack Obama recalls the 20 first-graders killed in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School, while speaking in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais Obama said that COVID-19 should not be the only factor slowing down the pace of mass shootings. A gunman killed 10 people, including a police officer, at a Boulder, CO, grocery store on Monday. Obama said the US must "make it harder for those with hate in their hearts to buy weapons of war." See more stories on Insider's business page. Former President Barack Obama said that the COVID-19 pandemic can't be the only factor that slows the pace of mass shootings and gun violence following the massacre at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado. Officers announced on Tuesday that 10 people were killed during a Monday shooting at a King Soopers grocery store. The victims, all of whom have been identified, ranged between 20 and 65 years old. A suspect, 21-year-old Ahmad Alissa, is in custody and has been charged in all 10 murders, Insider reported. The motive is so far undetermined. Read more: Biden has a 2nd chance to take on the NRA with a background check bill for gun sales "In many ways, our lives may soon start to return to normal after a long, difficult year filled with so much loss. But in a normal life, we should be able to buy groceries without fear. We should be able to go to school, or go out with our friends, or worship together without mentally planning our escape if someone shows up with a gun," Obama said. Obama called on lawmakers to "make it harder for those with hate in their hearts to buy weapons of war." Former First Lady Michelle Obama also weighed in on the shootings, tweeting: "I'm heartbroken by these recent tragedies of gun violence, and I just keep thinking about all the leaders who won't take a stand to save lives and yet line up to pass bills that make it harder for us to vote." The Boulder shooting was the second major mass shooting in the US in the past week. On March 16, a gunman opened fire in three spas and massage parlors in the Atlanta, Georgia area, killing eight people. Six of the victims of that shooting were Asian women, continuing a year of heightened violence and attacks on Asian-Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Story continues In a recent interview with The Skimm, Obama said that the biggest political setback in his eight years in office was "the failure to get any meaningful common-sense gun legislation passed after the Newtown shootings" because of opposition from Republicans. "It broke my heart," he added. During his presidency, mass shootings took place at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012, Mother Emmanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015, and the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida in 2016. "I don't need to wait another minute - or another hour - to take common-sense steps that will save lives in the future," President Joe Biden said in brief remarks in the Oval Office on Tuesday, urging the US Senate to take up gun control legislation and adding that the US should ban assault rifles. The US House recently passed two bills, H.R. 1446 and H.R. 8, to strengthen federal background checks and close the so-called Charleston loophole, which allows firearm purchases to go through without a background check if the check isn't complete within three days. Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday he fully intends to bring both bills to the Senate for full hearings and votes. Read the original article on Business Insider Mar. 23OXFORD Ole Miss baseball remained No. 4 in the latest release of the D1Baseball.com Top 25 on Monday. Ole Miss went 3-1 last week starting on a slow note in a 13-1 defeat at Louisiana Tech. The Rebels rebounded nicely with an SEC-opening weekend sweep of Auburn, the fourth-straight time the Tigers have been swept at Swayze Field. Ole Miss is back at Swayze Field tonight at 6:30 against Central Arkansas. The Bears, of the Southland Conference, are 7-8 after splitting four games with Lamar in Beaumont, Texas. Ole Miss (16-4, 3-0 SEC) is at Alabama this weekend, a Thursday, Friday, Saturday series with game times at 6 p.m., 6 p.m. and 1 p.m. parrish.alford@djournal.com Microsoft is now telling commercial customers that Windows 10 21H1 is ready for "commercial pre-release validation," a phrase it first used in August 2020 prior to the launch of that year's minor fall upgrade. "Windows 10, version 21H1, is now available for commercial customers to begin feature exploration and validation prior to being released for general availability," Aria Carley, senior program manager, wrote in a March 18 post to a company blog. Microsoft has not yet divulged a launch date for Windows 10 21H1, the year's first feature upgrade, as noted by the H1 for first-half designation. However, a month ago, the Redmond, Wash. developer implied that, unlike in years past, the spring refresh would be a minor upgrade, one with few if any new features and little new functionality. Carley's post confirmed that. "Version 21H1 will be delivered to devices currently running Windows 10, version 2004 or version 20H2 using an enablement package," she said. "This is the same technology we used to update devices from Windows 10, version 2004 to version 20H2." The enablement package Carley mentioned was the tip-off, as that small code fragment is what transformed Windows 10 2004 into 20H2 last year. That was possible because 20H2 was virtually the same as 2004 as released and exactly the same as 2004 by the time 20H2 was to debut. (Confused? Microsoft built Windows 10 21H1 by taking October's 20H2, collected everything that changed from that point on those changes had been issued in the monthly updates since October and added a handful of new features. Voila: Windows 10 21H1. Microsoft delivers these minor upgrades through the usual Windows Update/WIndows Update for Business/WSUS channels as the monthly cumulative update. The enablement package is essentially a command given to Windows to "switch on" the new version, since the code for it is already onboard.) Because Windows 10 21H1 is the second minor upgrade in a row, the enablement package mechanism works on all PCs running Windows 10 20H2 or 2004. Those enterprise systems running earlier versions of Windows 10 will have to download the entire OS to reach 21H1. (That, too, will be available, either as a manual download in .iso disk image format or through WSUS.) Microsoft WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) users can deploy the 21H1 pre-release update after synchronizing the "Windows Insider Preview" category. This is also the second update running that Microsoft has explicitly told commercial customers to start putting the version through the testing wringer. Last year, Microsoft made the same "commercial pre-release validation" announcement for Windows 10 20H2 exactly two months before it unveiled the so-called upgrade to the public. It appears that Microsoft has decided to add this announcement to the servicing process when it's preparing to issue a minor upgrade. If Microsoft hews to the timetable of 2020 announcement made two months prior to release it will launch Windows 10 21H2 in the third week of May, perhaps May 20 or May 21. Ironically, Microsoft's declaration of open testing of Windows 10 21H1 may fail to move corporate IT personnel; the spring update, no matter whether major or minor, comes with only 18 months of support, a year shy of the 30 months awarded by each fall's refresh to the Windows 10 Enterprise and Education SKUs (stock-keeping units). Spring updates are, simply put, second class, and organizations are unlikely to bother deploying 21H1 unless forced to by circumstances, such as owning systems set to exhaust support in the next seven or eight months. With a May launch of Windows 10 21H1 almost certain, the version should receive support until Dec. 13, 2022. LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday praised the "great spirit" shown by Britain in tackling COVID-19, marking a year since the first lockdown by saying everyone's efforts had allowed the country to start "on the cautious road" to easing restrictions. With Britain suffering one of the highest death tolls from the coronavirus, Johnson has come under fire for moving too slowly last year to tackle the first and second waves of the pandemic, with some accusing him of prioritising the economy over health. But since then, his government has overseen a successful vaccine rollout, reaching more than half of the adult population, and a cautious approach to easing the latest lockdown, prompting a recovery for him in opinion polls. "Today, the anniversary of the first lockdown, is an opportunity to reflect on the past year one of the most difficult in our country's history," Johnson said in a statement. "We should also remember the great spirit shown by our nation over this past year. ... It's because of every person in this country that lives have been saved, our NHS (National Health Service) was protected, and we have started on our cautious road to easing restrictions once and for all." On March 23 last year, Johnson ordered the first lockdown to try to stem the spread of the coronavirus, telling Britain that people should "stay at home", part of a slogan on saving lives that has become a common refrain since then. Last month, he unveiled a roadmap to ease England's lockdown, starting with the reopening of schools two weeks ago and ending on June 21 at the earliest when most of the restrictions will be lifted. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; editing by Jonathan Oatis) 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. Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson have been at the top of the multimillion-dollar Sydney commercial FM breakfast radio pile for so long no one can quite recall the last time they werent the king and queen of the airwaves. And they sound pretty confident they will be there for quite some time yet. Or will they? On top: Jackie Henderson and Kyle Sandilands are the toast of FM breakfast. Credit:Facebook Last month a smug Sandilands told his sidekick on KIIS FM: Every journalist keeps asking me, Have you listened to Hughesys show? I go, Nup, why would I? Im on air at the same time. Everyone over at 2Day FM thinks Erin Molan we know her, we like her, shes nice enough they think shes Miss Sydney, Kyle said. I dont think thats right. Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the city of Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The two sides briefed each other on the latest developments of their respective relations with the United States, according to a press release issued after the meeting. The two foreign ministers said the international community believes that the United States should reflect on the damage it has done to global peace and development in recent years, halt unilateral bullying, stop meddling in other countries' domestic affairs, and stop forming small circles to seek bloc confrontation, said the press release. It said the two ministers agreed that all countries should follow the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN), uphold true multilateralism, make international relations more democratic, and accept and promote peaceful coexistence and common development of countries with different social systems and development paths. On the Iranian nuclear issue, the two sides believed that the United States should unconditionally return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as soon as possible and revoke the unilateral sanctions against Iran, it said. At the same time, they called on Iran to resume compliance and encouraged the JCPOA's due role in preventing nuclear proliferation, it said. The two sides also proposed the establishment of a regional security dialogue platform to converge a new consensus on resolving the security concerns of countries in the region. On the Afghanistan issue, the two ministers attached importance to various international efforts and hoped that all dialogue mechanisms related to Afghanistan will complement each other and truly embody the "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned" principle to accelerate the peace, reconciliation and reconstruction process. The two ministers expressed deep concern about the current situation in Myanmar, said the press release. They voiced the support for all parties in Myanmar to seek a political solution to the current crisis within the constitution and legal framework, avoid further conflict and bloodshed, prevent external forces from taking advantage of the crisis for their own gains, and continue to advance the democratic transition. The two sides also coordinated positions on a wide range of issues such as UN reform, climate change, Asia-Pacific situation, Syria and Sudan. The two sides on Tuesday will continue talks on bilateral relations and international and regional situations, said the press release. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Private equity investment firm Thoma Bravo and customer experience intelligence firm Calabrio announced Tuesday a definitive purchase agreement whereby Thoma Bravo will acquire Calabrio from KKR, a leading global investment firm. Financial details were not disclosed. The acquisition will enable Thoma Bravo to accelerate its cloud-first customer experience growth. Calabrio provides products and services to help companies streamline customer service, support and workforce management through cloud-first software systems. Tom Goodmanson, President and CEO of Calabrio, will continue to lead the company along with the existing leadership team in Minneapolis. Thoma Bravo will provide Calabrio with new capital and can leverage its deep expertise in enterprise software and proven operational capabilities to accelerate organic growth as well as targeted inorganic growth opportunities. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX KKR & CO-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de NEW FAIRFIELD After waiting more than a year, New Fairfield Volunteer Fire Departments Company A welcomed a new, $416,000 tanker to its fleet on Friday. The 2021 Pierce/Freightliner M2-106 replaces Tanker 7 that Company A had used for more than 20 years to shuttle water to fire scenes. Assistant Fire Chief Kristian Ebbesen said the original plan had been to refurbish the 1997 Freightliner FL80, but that changed after Gowans-Knights, a Watertown-based fire apparatus and equipment company, evaluated the truck. The report we got back recommended that it be replaced, said Ebbesen, adding the steel tanker was rusting and had been fixed a couple of times. With a 1,800-gallon water tank, 1,250-gallon-per-minute pump and 350-horsepower engine, Ebbesen said Company As new tanker is a pretty simple truck, with everything needed to carry water. You could easily build a truck and itll be $1 million in two seconds, but we kept it basic, he said. We looked at what its going to be used for and went from there. Theres too nothing crazy on this truck and we actually came in quite under budget. The new tanker was budgeted at $550,000, but cost $415,900 most of which was covered by money from the towns Fire Department Reserve Fund, Ebbesen said, In November 2019, the Board of Selectmen voted to allow the fire department to use $353,600 from the reserve fund to purchase the tanker. Company A was responsible for the remainder of the cost and used money raised through annual fundraisers like Shred It Day and letter drives to cover the balance, Ebbesen said. We save up our money, meet every month to go through what we have and plan for the future. We plan ahead and make investments, he said, adding that a rescue truck will probably be addressed in a few years. Ebbesen said the process of getting the new tanker was smooth, but took longer than normal due to COVID-19. It was a different experience, he said. We normally go to the factory, look at the truck and meet with the engineers but everything was over Zoom, Ebbesen said. A standout feature of the new Tanker 7 is its reflective American flag chevron on the back. Its probably the biggest key feature on the truck, Ebbesen said. The way it reflects at night looks really cool. New Fairfields new Tanker 7 is in limited service as firefighters familiarize themselves with the truck. Ebbesen said it will probably go into regular service in a few weeks. As for the old Tanker 7, Ebbesen said its found a new home in West Virginia. Mexican officials condemned the killing of the would-be mayor candidate Ivonne Gallegos Carreno in a small town in the southern state of Oaxaca. Carreno was planning to run for mayor in the small town of Ocotlan de Morelos, Oaxaca before she was shot in her car. According to the reports by AP, various analysts said that 18 pre-candidates have been killed so far. The candidates were hoping to participate in the June mid-term elections when they were killed before they began with the formal campaigns. As per a report released by consultancy firm Etellekt, the killings have been mainly in states like Veracruz, on the Gulf coast, and Guerrero, on the Pacific. However, isolated killings have taken place in various other states. In a statement released by Mexicos National Womens Institute, the organization said that violence against women cannot be allowed or tolerated in a democratic system. The politicians have been facing threats from drug cartels, political rivals and corrupt police. This comes just a few days after a group of men armed with guns attacked a patrol of law enforcement bodies in the central Mexican state of Mexico, leaving 13 officers dead. A spokesperson for the regional ministry of security said in a statement, "On late Thursday, a joint convoy of the security ministry and the prosecutor's office of the state of Mexico was ambushed by a criminal group in the Llano Grande district of the Coatepec Harinas municipality. Currently, we have information about eight killed officers of the security ministry and five dead employees of the prosecutor's office. The spokesperson also added that the National Guard, army, navy, and intelligence have joined an operation to find those responsible for the attack. 'Mexico will respond to this attack with all its force' The killing of 13 law enforcement officers in the State of Mexico was the second biggest killing of law enforcement since October 2019. Reports also state that one more attack took place on Thursday in the neighbouring municipality of Almoloya de Alquisiras, with four law enforcement officers having been killed in the incident. After the attack, Rodrigo Martinez Celis, the head of the state Public Safety Department, informed that soldiers, marines, and National Guard troops were combing the area by land and from the air looking for the killers. He also said that the security forced of Mexico will respond to this attack with all its force. (Image Credits: Facebook/IvonneGallegosCarreno) New York and Paris, March 23, 2021 CAST, the pioneer and category leader in Software Intelligence, today announced major technological advancements to speed up the time to benefit of migrating application portfolios to the cloud and to reduce cybersecurity risks associated with Open Source Software (OSS) components. As organizations migrate their most critical workloads to cloud, decisions on which applications to migrate and how are often based on partial data, which results in unexpected roadblocks, delays, risks, and cost overruns. Moreover, those who do invest time to assess application cloud readiness may spend weeks to evaluate a single application. CAST Highlight, a software intelligence SaaS platform for rapid analysis of application portfolios, assesses cloud readiness and OSS exposures in minutes. Its latest release takes the ability to accelerate migration planning to the next level with the introduction of its unique Portfolio Advisor for Cloud and its exclusive Open Source Software Intelligence Database (OSSIDB). Portfolio Advisor for Cloud The most critical and time-consuming aspect of planning cloud migrations is determining if, where, when, and how to take advantage of containers, more cloud native services, Platform as a Service (PaaS), and serverless. The Portfolio Advisor for Cloud automatically segments application portfolios comprised of 100s (or even 1000s) of apps in seconds using a model similar to the ubiquitous Gartner 5 Rs. It automatically recommends which applications are the best candidates to Rehost, Refactor, Rearchitect, Rebuild, or Retire using fact-based software intelligence derived from the source code. Users can customize the recommendations and tailor their roadmaps directly within the Portfolio Advisor for Cloud user interface. The new capability builds on the cloud readiness insights CAST Highlight already provides such as identifying cloud migration blockers and boosters, estimating cloud migration effort, and recommending best-fit cloud native services. Open Source Software Intelligence Database (OSSIDB) Understanding the cybersecurity risks associated with the use of OSS components is also required when planning successful cloud migrations. However, the Common Vulnerabilities & Exposures (CVEs) officially reported in the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) often become published months after their initial discovery in OSS, which gives hackers ample time to exploit them before they get addressed. The exclusive OSSIDB from CAST tackles this problem head on. Traditional Software Composition Analysis (SCA) products identify reported CVEs from the NVD and some augment the findings via manual research by human analysts. CAST, on the other hand, automatically identifies possible future CVEs, that are not yet reported, by analyzing the most popular OSS components as soon as they change, detecting Common Weakness Enumerations (CWEs) in them, and classifying them as potential CVEs in its OSSIDB. The OSSIDB augments the unique SCA insights already available in CAST Highlight such as the Open Source Safety index which combines vulnerability, licensing, and obsolescence risk into a single score, as well as the ability to analyze OSS risk across an entire portfolio and prioritize remediation based on the business impact of each application. Growing Ecosystem The advancements announced today by CAST are made possible by its $200M+ investment in its "MRI for software" for automated analysis of the structural condition of software assets, which is now used by a growing range of CAST Business Partners. Blackbelts from Microsoft Azure Services and AWS use CAST for reducing the time to assess application readiness for cloud migration from weeks to days. IBM experts use CAST with their clients for faster and safer application modernization. Other leading global SIs - Accenture, CGI, Cognizant, Infosys, LTI, Wipro; management consultancies - BCG, Bain, EY; and numerous regional CAST partners now leverage CAST to accelerate digital transformation of their clients. More Flexible Pricing and Packaging To support the growing global adoption of software intelligence and the explosive growth in the CAST Highlight business, CAST now offers three editions of CAST Highlight - Complete Insights, Cloud Insights, and SCA insights, which allows clients the flexibility to choose the option that best meets their portfolio needs at attractive price points. For more information, please contact: Stephanie Watkins at s.watkins@castsoftware.com. Upcoming: Publication of annual results on April 5, 2021, after market closes About CAST CAST is the pioneer and category leader in Software Intelligence, providing insight into the structural condition of software assets. CAST technology is renowned as the most accurate "MRI for Software", which delivers actionable insights into software composition, architectures, database structures, critical flaws, quality grades, cloud readiness levels and work effort metrics. It is used globally by thousands of forward-looking digital leaders to make objective decisions, accelerate modernization, and raise the security and resiliency of mission critical software. Visit castsoftware.com. ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: mmmfkpZqlGvKm2qeYpWWl5NnaZplkmLHm5bKxGFwZpfGcJxjnZxnbpidZm9pmGdt - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-68327-pr_cast_highlight_portfolio_advisor_and_ossidb.pdf Sandhills, which designs customized websites and hosts over 7,000 sites, built the new websites so that all used equipment from CASE Construction, Case IH, and New Holland dealers will appear on their respective sites. The websites offer easy navigate to help buyers quickly find used equipment, certified used equipment, and attachments, as well as new equipment. The new platform will enhance the ability for CASE Construction, Case IH, and New Holland dealers to communicate directly with one another and move equipment. Within these closed networks, dealers can easily move items taken on trade, aging assets, and other equipment to other CASE Construction, Case IH, and New Holland dealers who might have a customer for them before selling to an outside dealer. The new partnership builds on a long history of successful relationships between dealerships of CNH Industrial's CASE Construction, Case IH, and New Holland brands, and Sandhills trade platforms, including MachineryTrader.com and TractorHouse. "With the relationship we had already established, it became a common-sense move to start looking at how we could work more closely with CNH Industrial in North America," said Sandhills Corporate Sales Executive Scott Lubischer. "CNH Industrial has always been very responsive in supporting its dealer network." About Sandhills Global Sandhills Global is an information processing company headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our products and services gather, process, and distribute information in the form of trade publications, websites, and online services that connect buyers and sellers across the trucking, agriculture, construction, heavy equipment, aviation, and technology industries. Our integrated, industry-specific approach to hosted technologies and services offers solutions that help businesses large and small operate efficiently and grow securely, cost-effectively, and successfully. Sandhills Globalwe are the cloud. Contact Sandhills Sandhills.com/contact-us 402-479-2181 SOURCE Sandhills Global Nearly 26.4% of South Carolina's population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Tuesday, March 23. Here's the latest on the pandemic in South Carolina. 3:30 p.m. One of South Carolinas largest dialysis providers says it could vaccinate all of its willing patients, who sit passively in its clinics for hours multiple days a week, within a matter of days. The only problem: The state hasnt given them any doses. Read more. US: AstraZeneca may have used outdated info in vaccine trial Results from a U.S. trial of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine may have included "outdated information" and that could mean the company provided an incomplete view of efficacy data, American federal health officials said early Tuesday. 9:18 a.m. Results from a U.S. trial of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine may have included outdated information and that could mean the company provided an incomplete view of efficacy data, American federal health officials said early Tuesday. Read more. More than 1 million in SC have at least started their COVID-19 vaccinations South Carolina is still in the bottom tier of states in terms of the speed of its vaccine rollout, with 29 percent of the state's adult population having received at least one dose by March 21, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thursday, 1:15 p.m. As of March 19, more than 1 million South Carolinians had at least started their COVID-19 vaccinations as the state moves toward a deadline of April 12 to open the next phase of vaccine eligibility. South Carolina is still in the bottom tier of states in terms of the speed of its vaccine roll-out, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read more. Wolves are an iconic species that have been hunted for centuries in the most horrific, inhumane and barbaric ways, even murdered in their dens, adults and babies alike. These magnificent, beautiful and immensely intelligent animals are on the brink of becoming extinct, yet states such as Idaho and Montana hunt them mercilessly. We cannot afford to lose a single wolf to these hunters, especially for the pathetic reason of kowtowing to special interest groups. These states and the hunters that hunt wolves seem oblivious to the great service wolves provide in keeping other animals in check. This war on wolves must be nipped in the bud and the sooner the better! I, personally, love wolves, they're like a dog but much smarter and self-sufficient. It's beyond heartbreaking to me to see them killed for whatever reason! I know the citizenry of the United States for the most part want wolves to be left alone, yet there is no law protecting and defending their right to life. I want, no I demand that Federal protections for wolves be restored immediately before it's too late. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-22 20:54:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Palestine on Sunday launched a mass vaccination campaign against CONID-19 across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. On Wednesday, Palestine received the first batch of vaccines from the global COVAX program, which has some 62,000 doses. A man has used his bare hands to drag a stingray to safety after finding the confused fish in his flooded garage. The stingray was found struggling inside the house in Port Macquarie on New South Wales' mid-north coast this week as severe weather continues to wreak havoc across the area. Despite the dangers associated with the fish and the risk of flooding in his own house, the local took the time to pull the stingray back out into the open water. Stingray swims into NSW garage WATCH: Locals on Port Macquarie's North Shore have pulled a stray stingray to safety, after it managed to swim through floodwaters into their garage. There's 300mm of rain to come: http://9Soci.al/qm1C30rBzMm #9News | Nightly at 6.00pm Posted by 9 News on Sunday, March 21, 2021 A man has used his bare hands to drag a stingray to safety after finding the confused fish in his garage Footage of the incident has been shared online with the brave resident being labelled a hero. 'Well done to this guy, he is a champion,' one wrote. 'On ya mate! Showing the people how to be a human being,' another said. 'Only in Australia,' another said. Stingrays are usually gentile, non-dangerous creatures and will only sting swimmers if they feel threatened or disturbed. At the end of their tail they have barbed spines which can result in serious pain if a person is stung and in extremely rare cases even death. The man is seen dragging the stingray back out into the open water after finding it inside his garage in Port Macquarie Floodwaters continue to wreak havoc across Port Macquarie as heavy rain batters NSW's coast It comes as New South Wales continues to be battered by heavy rainfall with the threat of floods already forcing more than 18,000 people to evacuate. The NSW State Emergency Service responded to 9700 calls for help across the state's eastern coast and conducted 870 flood rescues as of Tuesday morning. Already, 34 NSW councils have declared natural disaster zones, with the powerful storm that lashed the state's north coast and western Sydney now spreading to the Illawarra region on the south coast, where 100-200mm of rain were forecast across the region on Tuesday, peaking at 300mm in some parts. Northwest of Sydney, around 200 residents were ordered to evacuate homes immediately on Tuesday morning as major flooding occurred along the Colo River in the Hawkesbury region. Only hours after AstraZeneca announced encouraging news about the effectiveness of its Covid-19 vaccine on Monday, a group of medical experts charged with monitoring the companys clinical trial made a highly unusual accusation: AstraZeneca had essentially cherry-picked data to make its vaccine look better. The accusation, in a two-page letter sent Monday to the company and federal officials, was a fresh blow to the credibility of a vaccine whose low price and relatively easy storage have made it critical to the global fight against the pandemic. The private letter, which was described by people who have read it, castigated AstraZeneca for jeopardizing the integrity of a closely watched clinical trial. Decisions like this are what erode public trust in the scientific process, the board wrote. The letter prompted the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to issue a sharply worded statement shortly after midnight on Tuesday, making public the panels concerns. 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. First Vietnamese coronavirus vaccine to be rolled out in September Scientists are speeding up the clinical trials of locally-produced coronavirus vaccines, and the first of its kind is likely to be rolled out by the end of the third quarter of this year. The first phase of the clinical trial of Covivac developed by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), is underway in Vietnam. The clinical trials of the first two vaccines, Nano Covax and Covivac, have proved to yield initial positive results, Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang, an official of the Ministry of Health (MoH), told a meeting of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, on March 22. Quang, who is the deputy head of the Science-Technology and Training under the MoH, said Nano Covax produced by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC has entered the second phase of its human testing following the success of the first phase. All volunteers who got the jabs have generated a host of antibodies that can protect the recipients from several newly mutated strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including the B.1.1.7 variant from the United Kingdom. Scientists are expected to carry out the third and final phase of the Nano Covax trial in May and complete it in the third quarter of this year. Meanwhile, the first phase of the clinical trial of Covivac developed by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), is underway. Covivac is said to protect the recipients from variants from the UK and South Africa which are 70% more transmissible during the latest coronavirus outbreak globally. In addition, the Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No1 (VABIOTECH) is set to begin the first phase of its vaccine in April 2021, said Quang. The three vaccines have proved to be effective following the results of research in the pre-clinical stage and clinical trials, said the health official, adding during the research process, Vietnamese scientists have cooperated closely with their colleagues from reputable vaccine research and production agencies in the world. Hopefully the first Made-in-Vietnam coronavirus vaccine will be rolled out by the end of the third quarter of this year, said Quang. Addressing the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam acknowledged the vaccine developers efforts and said the process should be stepped up. He quoted experts and scientists, warning that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is constantly mutating into new forms and is likely to exist in a number of years. Therefore, all the vaccines need to be repeated to ensure the recipients stay protected from virus infection from one year to another. With regard to the use of imported vaccines for the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Dam reaffirmed that the MoH is the only Vietnamese body that has been assigned by the Prime Minister to coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies and localities in purchasing, importing, receiving aid, financing, managing and using the vaccines. It will be up to Reuven Rivlin, Israels largely ceremonial president, to invite the lawmaker he believes has the best chance of forming a coalition to begin that process. While presidents have usually assigned that duty to leader of the largest party, Mr. Rivlin could still grant it to another lawmaker who he thinks has a better route to a majority. That could be Yair Lapid, the centrist leader of the opposition, whose party was projected to win between 17 and 18 seats. At the moment, Netanyahu doesnt have 61 seats, but the change bloc does, Mr. Lapid said early Wednesday. He added, Ive started speaking to party leaders and well wait for the results, but well do everything to create a sane government in Israel. Mr. Netanyahus fortunes depend heavily on Mr. Bennett, once his chief of staff. Throughout the campaign, Mr. Bennett refused to clarify whether he would back a coalition led by Mr. Netanyahu. But he said he would refuse to serve under Mr. Lapid, and analysts believe he could be persuaded to back Mr. Netanyahu. Speaking to his supporters early Wednesday, Mr. Bennett maintained his ambiguity, saying only that he would wait patiently for the final results. If he does return to power, Mr. Netanyahu has promised to enact sweeping legal reforms that would limit the power of the judiciary, and which his opponents fear would allow him to circumvent his corruption trial. Mr. Netanyahus colleagues have prevaricated in recent days about whether he would use his office to avoid prosecution, with one minister on Saturday refusing to rule it out. Mr. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing and that he would try to change the law to derail the trial. Any new government will immediately face substantive challenges, including an economy bruised by the pandemic, rising violent crime in Arab communities and potential threats from Iran. Diplomatically, Israel is trying to block the resurrection of the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, which the United States government generally favors and which Israel considers inadequate. UW Research Scientist Makes Important Contribution to Use of POD Sampler (from left) Jeffrey Soltis, Matthew Burkhart and Robert Field, all UW senior research scientists with the Wyoming Air Quality Assessment Monitoring Laboratory, pose for a photo prior to deployment for a long-term background air quality monitoring project in Carbon County funded through a cooperative agreement with the Bureau of Land Management. This facility serves as the foundation for additional research projects, including field testing of the POD sampler. Field has made important field contributions in the use of the POD sampler, an instrument used to accurately sample pollution levels. (UW Photo) A University of Wyoming senior research scientist has made important field contributions in the use of the POD sampler, an instrument used to accurately sample pollution levels. Robert Field, in UWs Department of Atmospheric Science, has collaborated with Pascual Perez Ballesta, the inventor of the POD sampler, on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) measurement methodology validation research since the 1990s. At that time, Field was part of a small team establishing a state-of-the-art national hydrocarbon network in the United Kingdom. Procedures developed by Field remain, to this day, at the core of automated data handling to ensure data quality. Their work will be highlighted in a webinar, titled Learn New Methods to Enhance Quantitative Workflows for VOC Analysis, Tuesday (today) at 11 a.m. MDT. Separation Science, in collaboration with Markes International, will make the presentation. Ballesta, from the European Reference Laboratory of Air Pollution, and Hannah Calder, environmental air market development manager for Markes International, are the presenters. Markes, an international leader in VOC analysis instrumentation, will market the sampler globally. To register for the webinar, go to https://webinar.sepscience.com/form/introducing-the-pod-sampler-the-latest-development-in-radial-diffusive-sampling-for-vocs. Field assisted Ballesta with the preparation of the webinar presentation. Field, along with UW, is acknowledged verbally in the webinar recording and on one of the presentation slides. The POD sampler is next-generation technology in radial diffusive sampling, a diffusive sampling that has a radial membrane for uptake of pollutants. This increases the surface area and responsiveness to changes in environmental conditions. The POD sampler simply collects pollutants by diffusion and may collect pollutants over a period of hours to months. The time period depends on the situation being examined. I performed the first field intercomparison in the Upper Green River Basin, Field says. I deployed PODs and my canister sampling system. I performed analysis of canisters back in my lab on campus, and that was compared to independent analysis of the POD samplers in Europe. This was one of a few different tests led by the inventor. The POD sampler can be placed almost anywhere and has been used to measure trace levels of VOCs in Antarctica; to define personal exposure of commuters; and estimate emission profiles from oil and gas extraction activities, Field says. Additionally, the POD sampler is well suited to fence-line monitoring and can help government agencies, developers and citizens accurately sample pollution levels. Field also has performed field deployments of the POD samplers in different oil and gas basins in Wyoming and Utah. In this work, I set the samplers in situations to enable analysis of VOC to determine emission source profiles, Field explains. These are used to determine the contribution of different emission sources to ambient air pollution. This research has really been a long haul with field work since 2013, he says. During this time, Fields efforts were supported by a $5,000 seed grant from UWs Center for Global Studies; by undergraduate research interns from the UW School of Energy Resources; and by Rachel Edie, a UW doctoral student in atmospheric science. I have a lot of groups and people in Wyoming to thank for their support, Field says. I had to be quite resourceful and piggyback this work onto research activities funded by other agencies, including the Wyoming Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The support and expertise of Dr. Field has been critical for the implementation of the POD sampler, and his practical vision and scientific enthusiasm have always served as a collaborative bridge for tackling new projects, Ballesta says. The sampler will improve the quality of VOC sampling. While the next step is to complete the publication of a new diffusion model to extend the range of the sampler, the current POD sampler is now the cheapest and easiest approach for measuring air toxics, such as benzene, Field says. Field is one of four co-authors of a paper on the subject of the POD sampler, which was published in Analytica Chimica Acta. These four images taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope reveal the chaotic birth of stars in the Orion complex, the nearest major star-forming region to Earth. The snapshots show fledgling stars buried in dusty gaseous cocoons announcing their births by unleashing powerful winds and pairs of spinning, lawn-sprinkler-style jets shooting off in opposite directions. Near-infrared light pierces the dusty region to unveil details of the birthing process. The stellar outflows are carving out cavities within the hydrogen gas cloud. This relatively brief birthing stage lasts about 500,000 years. Although the stars themselves are shrouded in dust, they emit powerful radiation, which strikes the cavity walls and scatters off dust grains, illuminating in infrared light the gaps in the gaseous envelopes. Astronomers found that the cavities in the surrounding gas cloud sculpted by a forming star's outflow did not grow regularly as they matured, as theories propose. The protostars were photographed in near-infrared light by Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3. The images were taken Nov. 14, 2009, and Jan. 25, Feb. 11, and Aug. 11, 2010. CREDIT Credits: NASA, ESA, STScI, N. Habel and S. T. Megeath (University of Toledo) Though our galaxy is an immense city of at least 200 billion stars, the details of how they formed remain largely cloaked in mystery. Scientists know that stars form from the collapse of huge hydrogen clouds that are squeezed under gravity to the point where nuclear fusion ignites. But only about 30 percent of the cloud's initial mass winds up as a newborn star. Where does the rest of the hydrogen go during such a terribly inefficient process? It has been assumed that a newly forming star blows off a lot of hot gas through lightsaber-shaped outflowing jets and hurricane-like winds launched from the encircling disk by powerful magnetic fields. These fireworks should squelch further growth of the central star. But a new, comprehensive Hubble survey shows that this most common explanation doesn't seem to work, leaving astronomers puzzled. Researchers used data previously collected from NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes and the European Space Agency's Herschel Space Telescope to analyze 304 developing stars, called protostars, in the Orion Complex, the nearest major star-forming region to Earth. (Spitzer and Herschel are no longer operational). In this largest-ever survey of nascent stars to date, researchers are finding that gas-clearing by a star's outflow may not be as important in determining its final mass as conventional theories suggest. The researchers' goal was to determine whether stellar outflows halt the infall of gas onto a star and stop it from growing. Instead, they found that the cavities in the surrounding gas cloud sculpted by a forming star's outflow did not grow regularly as they matured, as theories propose. "In one stellar formation model, if you start out with a small cavity, as the protostar rapidly becomes more evolved, its outflow creates an ever-larger cavity until the surrounding gas is eventually blown away, leaving an isolated star," explained lead researcher Nolan Habel of the University of Toledo in Ohio. "Our observations indicate there is no progressive growth that we can find, so the cavities are not growing until they push out all of the mass in the cloud. So, there must be some other process going on that gets rid of the gas that doesn't end up in the star." The team's results will appear in an upcoming issue of The Astrophysical Journal. A Star is Born During a star's relatively brief birthing stage, lasting only about 500,000 years, the star quickly bulks up on mass. What gets messy is that, as the star grows, it launches a wind, as well as a pair of spinning, lawn-sprinkler-style jets shooting off in opposite directions. These outflows begin to eat away at the surrounding cloud, creating cavities in the gas. Popular theories predict that as the young star evolves and the outflows continue, the cavities grow wider until the entire gas cloud around the star is completely pushed away. With its gas tank empty, the star stops accreting mass - in other words, it stops growing. To look for cavity growth, the researchers first sorted the protostars by age by analyzing Herschel and Spitzer data of each star's light output. The protostars in the Hubble observations were also observed as part of the Herschel telescope's Herschel Orion Protostar Survey. Then the astronomers observed the cavities in near-infrared light with Hubble's Near-infrared Camera and Multi-object Spectrometer and Wide Field Camera 3. The observations were taken between 2008 and 2017. Although the stars themselves are shrouded in dust, they emit powerful radiation which strikes the cavity walls and scatters off dust grains, illuminating the gaps in the gaseous envelopes in infrared light. The Hubble images reveal the details of the cavities produced by protostars at various stages of evolution. Habel's team used the images to measure the structures' shapes and estimate the volumes of gas cleared out to form the cavities. From this analysis, they could estimate the amount of mass that had been cleared out by the stars' outbursts. "We find that at the end of the protostellar phase, where most of the gas has fallen from the surrounding cloud onto the star, a number of young stars still have fairly narrow cavities," said team member Tom Megeath of the University of Toledo. "So, this picture that is still commonly held of what determines the mass of a star and what halts the infall of gas is that this growing outflow cavity scoops up all of the gas. This has been pretty fundamental to our idea of how star formation proceeds, but it just doesn't seem to fit the data here." Future telescopes such as NASA's upcoming James Webb Space Telescope will probe deeper into a protostar's formation process. Webb spectroscopic observations will observe the inner regions of disks surrounding protostars in infrared light, looking for jets in the youngest sources. Webb also will help astronomers measure the accretion rate of material from the disk onto the star, and study how the inner disk is interacting with the outflow. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. KABUL Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Mirwais Nab met with Turkish Ambassador to Kabul Mr. Oguzhan Ertugrul this afternoon to discuss the convening of Ninth Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process scheduled to take place in Tajikistan, and the Afghan peace meeting in Turkey. Mr. Ertugrul briefed Deputy Minister Nab on technical and content preparations for the Afghan peace meeting in Turkey. Appreciating efforts of the Republic of Turkey in supporting Afghan peace process and hosting a peace conference in this regard, Mr. Nab stressed the need for a lasting and just peace based on the will and aspirations of the Afghan people. Both sides expressed hope for success of the Afghan peace talks to be hosted by Turkey and discussed in details the arrangements and preparations for the 9th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process. They also emphasized comprehensive use of the conference for confidence building, cooperation, and coordination for fight against common challenges, establishment of a lasting peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region. Despite the burdens of the coronavirus pandemic, the specialty chemicals group ALTANA recorded only a slight decline in sales in the 2020 fiscal year and was able to increase EBITDA in a year to year comparison. Sales reached 2,178 million euros, just 3 percent below the 2019 level. Adjusted for acquisition and exchange-rate effects, the sales decrease was 4 percent. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose to 426 million euros, exceeding the previous years level by 2 percent. Favorable raw material costs, active cost management, and pandemic-related one-time effects including savings due to the absence of travel and trade shows contributed to this development. At 19.6 percent, the EBITDA margin was at the upper end of the long-term target range of 18 to 20 percent, despite continued high spending in key areas such as research and development and digitalization. Our top priority in the 2020 fiscal year was to protect our more than 6,500 colleagues worldwide. On this basis, we once again succeeded in demonstrating ALTANAs characteristic customer proximity in spite of physical distance, said Martin Babilas, CEO of ALTANA AG. The business results also show how deeply ALTANAs innovative solutions are anchored in the lives of many people. While demand in some segments, for example in the automotive sector, declined significantly due to the pandemic, consumer-oriented and sustainable solutions on the part of ALTANA increased in importance. Divisions: ACTEGA on growth course due to acquisition and higher demand Sales of the largest division, BYK, declined by 3 percent to 1,009 million euros. Adjusted for currency and acquisition effects, sales were 4 percent below the previous years level. Following a significant decline in sales volume as a result of the lockdown in the second quarter, sales recovered rapidly, particularly in the field of paint and coating additives. This development was driven, among other things, by strong demand in the DIY sector. The effect pigments specialist ECKART achieved sales of 315 million euros, corresponding to a decline of 11 percent. The main reason was the pandemic-related weak demand in the automotive sector as well as other industries, such as the cosmetics sector. The discontinuation of the white pigments trading business in China in mid-2019 also contributed to this development. The acquisition of the business of TLS Technik GmbH & Co. Spezialpulver KG to expand the ECKART portfolio in industrial, metal-based 3D printing will not be included in earnings until 2021. ELANTAS, the supplier of electrical insulation materials, recorded sales of 463 million euros, 6 percent below the 2019 figure (5 percent in operating terms). The positive acquisition effects could not offset the pandemic-related decrease in demand and negative exchange-rate effects. ACTEGA achieved significant growth in the 2020 fiscal year compared to 2019, increasing its sales by 9 percent to 391 million euros. Even adjusted for the acquisition of the Swiss Schmid Rhyner AG and negative exchange-rate effects, ACTEGA posted operating growth of 3 percent, significantly above the previous year's level. The division particularly benefitted from a shift in consumer behavior toward even more sustainable solutions, including PVC-free sealants for food packaging. Stable sales distribution, rapid recovery in China The ALTANA Groups sales continue to be evenly distributed worldwide, though there were regional differences in the 2020 fiscal year. Europe, which continues to be the Groups strongest sales region, achieved sales of 842 million euros and remained stable overall with a slight decline of 2 percent. Adjusted for positive acquisition effects, the sales decrease was 5 percent. Sales in the Americas fell by 6 percent to 586 million euros. Adjusted for acquisition and exchange-rate effects, the sales drop was 5 percent. Sales in Asia reached 712 million euros, only 3 percent down on the previous years figure in both nominal and operating terms due to the rapid and sustained recovery in China. As of December 31, 2020, ALTANA had 6,529 employees worldwide, 53 more than at the end of 2019. One in five employees works in research and development. High investment in innovation and sustainable success ALTANA continued to invest expressly in innovation in 2020, including in the future market of digital printing. For example, ALTANA's internal startup ACTEGA Metal Print succeeded in deploying a novel technology to enable decorative metallic effects with considerably less material, costs, and production time than with previously common processes. The first beta customers and a sales partner were acquired for this purpose. Overall, research and development expenditure in the ALTANA Group remained at a high level, 163 million euros, accounting for about 8 percent of sales. At the same time, ALTANA continues to drive forward digitalization. Following BYK and ACTEGA in the previous year, ECKARTs e-commerce platform went online in 2020. In all, ALTANA invested around 10 million euros in digitalization projects in the past fiscal year. In addition, ALTANA is on track to achieve climate neutrality in its direct sphere of influence by 2025. Already in March 2020, the Group switched its entire electricity procurement worldwide to renewable energies, thereby reducing its carbon footprint by around 50 percent. In the summer, the independent rating company EcoVadis awarded the ALTANA Group gold status for its commitment to sustainability for the second time. Outlook ALTANA expects the coronavirus pandemic to be further contained in the current year and the global economy to recover as a result. In this environment, the company forecasts operating sales growth in the low to mid single-digit percentage range with a lower EBITDA margin compared to 2020. Acquisitions will lead to additional sales growth. BRONX, N.Y., March 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Most people with cancer who are infected by the novel coronavirus produce antibodies at a rate comparable to the rest of the populationbut their ability to do so depends on their type of cancer and the treatments they've received, according to a new study by researchers at Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The findings, published online today in Nature Cancer, may lead to better care for cancer patients, who face a heightened risk of dying from COVID-19, and suggests that cancer patients should respond well to COVID-19 vaccines. "We conducted the study out of our concern that cancer patients who develop COVID-19 may not benefit from the same degree of antibody protection as people without cancer, given that many are immuno-compromised," said Astha Thakkar, M.B.B.S., a Montefiore hematologic oncology fellow and first author of the paper. "Our findings provide assurance that most people with cancer are able to mount an antibody response to the coronavirus that is similar to the general population. People with a history of cancer are likely as protected from reinfection as those without a history of disease and are likely to respond well to vaccines, according to our study." The retrospective study involved 261 cancer patients, 77% of whom were diagnosed with solid malignancies and 23% with hematologic (blood) malignancies. Their overall rate of seroconversion (production of antibodies in response to infection) was 92%. However, when patients with solid and blood malignancies were compared, patients with blood cancers had a seroconversion rate of only 81.7%significantly lower than the 94.5% seroconversion rate for patients with solid tumors. "The treatments commonly given to patients with blood cancersanti-CD20 antibody therapy, stem-cell transplants, and steroidsare known to suppress the immune system, which may explain the lower rate of antibodies developed in these patients and their increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease," said senior author Balazs Halmos, M.D., M.S., director of the Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program at Montefiore, professor of medicine at Einstein, and a member of the Albert Einstein Cancer Center (AECC). "We need to pay special attention to patients with blood cancers and think through proactive strategies to ensure this patient population is appropriately cared for," said Sanjay Goel, M.B.B.S., a medical oncologist at Montefiore, professor of medicine at Einstein, a member of AECC, and a coauthor on the paper. "This study also raises the need for additional research on COVID-19 vaccines and current treatments for people with blood cancer." In a paper published last year in Cancer Discovery, Dr. Halmos and colleagues found that COVID-19 patients with blood cancers had significantly higher mortality rates compared with patients who had solid tumors. Mortality was more closely related to age and co-morbidities than active cancer therapy. The study participants were cared for at Montefiore between March 1, 2020 and September 15, 2020 and tested positive for COVID-19 through PCR tests to detect coronavirus or prior COVID-19 exposure through antibody testing, or both. The patients had an average age of 64 and were almost evenly split between men and women. Fifty-six percent of patients (147/261) had symptomatic coronavirus infection, while 44% (114/261) had an asymptomatic infection. More than 40% of patients were African American; 30% were Hispanic, nearly 15% were Caucasian, 3% were Asian, and 6% belong to other ethnic groups. The paper is titled "Patterns of seroconversion for SARS-COV2-IgG in Patients with Malignant Disease and association with anti-cancer therapy." Additional Montefiore-Einstein authors are: Kith Pradhan, Ph.D., Shawn Jindal, M.D., Zhu Cui, M.D., M.P.H., Bradley Rockwell, M.D., Akash Pradip Shah, M.S., Stuart Packer, M.D., R. Alejandro Sica, M.D., Joseph A Sparano, M.D., D. Yitzhak Goldstein, M.D., and Amit Verma, M.B.B.S. This study was supported in part by the Albert Einstein Cancer Center (P30 CA013330 and NCORP grant 2UG1CA189859-06) and by the Jane A. and Myles P. Dempsey fund and the Pelka family fund. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. About Montefiore Health SystemMontefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 10 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and more than 200 outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and view us on Facebook and YouTube. About Albert Einstein College of MedicineAlbert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2020-21 academic year, Einstein is home to 721 M.D. students, 178 Ph.D. students, 109 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 265 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,900 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2020, Einstein received more than $197 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States through Montefiore and an affiliation network involving hospitals and medical centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island. For more information, please visit www.einstein.yu.edu, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and view us on YouTube. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/majority-of-cancer-patients-with-covid-19-have-similar-immune-response-to-people-without-cancer-301251276.html SOURCE Montefiore Health System; Albert Einstein College of Medicine China's Loess Plateau province treats 18,000 square km of land to fight erosion Xinhua) 16:56, March 23, 2021 TAIYUAN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Shanxi, a province on the Loess Plateau in north China, has treated more than 18,000 square km of land to battle water and soil erosion over the past five years, authorities said Tuesday. The province plans to treat another 366,667 hectares of land this year, according to the provincial administration of water resources. The Loess Plateau used to be plagued by chronic soil erosion, resulting in ecological imbalance. Tens of millions of tonnes of mud and sand washed into the Yellow River every year, making up most of the silt that gave the river its name. Thanks to the water and soil conservation efforts in recent years, such as afforestation projects, the amount of sand running into the Yellow River from the province dropped from some 400 million tonnes in the early 1950s to less than 20 million tonnes annually. The forest coverage rate rose to 23.18 percent in 2019 from 2.4 percent in the early 1950s. (Web editor: Wen Ying, Liang Jun) Photo: (Photo : Facebook page of UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital) Besides parenting being a fulfilling job, there are undoubtedly little joys that make parenting an exciting one. Those little joys include dressing up the kids. Even before their parents dress up these kids in Pittsburgh, their nurse at the Mother/Baby Unit of the hospital already took the initiative. Nurse Caitlin Pechin works at the Magee-Women's Hospital. She is assigned to the hospital's Mother/Baby unit and wanted to celebrate every child's birth. That is why she decided to make handmade chick costumes for the newborn babies in their unit. ALSO READ: Florida Newborn Babies Staying in NICU Dress-up for the Halloween The Handmade Chick Outfits Because spring is just around the corner, nurse Caitlin wanted to ensure that the hospital's newborn babies are all warm and cozy. She crocheted all the chick outfits for the babies. This outfit included a white blanket and a yellow beanie. In an article by PEOPLE, Pechin said that she wanted to do something fun this spring, thus, the handmade chick costumes. She said in a video shared by Good Morning America, "I've been dressing the babies up in these little chick outfits for spring. It's really nice because everyone's had a really long winter." Parents Are Super Happy The Magee-Women's Hospital shared in the Facebook account some of the photos of parents and their babies who were wearing the handmade chick costumes. One of the families is a couple who welcomed their twins. The mother of the twins said that they are happy and excited. She is also grateful that the hospital staff is involved in welcoming their little ones. ALSO READ: Wall of Hope: Arizona NICU Boosts Hope of Families Sharing the Joy It is more than dressing up the cute babies for nurse Caitlin that made her decide to do this. She said that seeing the families enjoy pushes her to continue making the handmade chick costumes. The family's joy is also what makes nurse Caitlin happy. She said, "I really enjoy watching these families enjoy these costumes because it just brings me joy to see their new little one who is already really precious just be dressed up in a cute little outfit." Pechin believes that the costumes only make the newborn babies more adorable. ALSO READ: Nurses Step Into Family Role During The Pandemic The Photos Are Just Too Cute After sharing the ute photos, the Magee-Women's Hospital staff were applauded by netizens. Aside from congratulating the parents of the newborn babies, some adored the cute costumes. One netizen said, "These are so cute!" Another netizen, who is also expecting, hopes to have a cute theme outfit like the newborn babies in the adorable photos. She said, "My baby will be born there around the 4th of July, so I am hoping for a cute theme outfit!" As of writing, the post has been shared more than 30 times. ALSO READ: While Fighting Coronavirus, 3 Moms Gave Birth to Their Babies Agencies | Riyadh The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Saudi Arabia launched a peace initiative for Yemen yesterday that would reopen Sanaa Airport and ease restrictions on Hodeidah port. The initiative, announced by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh, includes a comprehensive ceasefire across the country to be supervised by the UN. Flights would be allowed to and from Houthi-controlled Sanaa to a number of regional and international destinations. Restriction on the port of Hodeidah would be eased, allowing access for ships and cargo. Income from the port, including tax and VAT, will go to the central bank in Hodeidah in accordance with the Stockholm agreement. The initiative also includes the start of consultations to reach a political resolution to the conflict overseen by the UN. Bahrain supports Saudi move to end Yemen war The Kingdom of Bahrain expressed support for the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia yesterday to end the war in Yemen under the supervision of the United Nations to reach a political solution to the crisis. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs looks at Saudi Arabias initiative as emanating from its keenness to stop the bloodshed and suffering of the Yemeni people. It was also aimed at supporting the efforts of the UN and American envoys to Yemen to help them reach a comprehensive political solution in accordance with the internationally approved terms in the GCC Initiative and the outcomes of the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference and UN Security Council Resolution 2216. The Ministry commends the honourable Saudi positions in support of Yemen, notably its constant endeavours to restore security and stability and its humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people. dire PowerHouse Energy Group PLC's ( ) David Ryan talks to Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam about their plans in both the UK and Poland. Ryan firstly explains the Protos project, the first application of the DMG (Distributed Modular Generation) process, on Peels Plastic park in the North West of the UK, taking non-recyclable plastics, resulting in providing two tonnes per day of hydrogen. He goes on to discuss their international ambitions, which include Australia and beyond. New Delhi, March 23 : Six burglars, who travelled on a Scorpio to commit their crimes so as to dodge the police and also to allay suspicion by local residents, have been arrested from west Delhi, and at least 16 cases of theft solved, police said on Tuesday. According to a police official, a police team took up positions near Gate No 2, Keshopur Mandi, Khyala, at 6 p.m. on Sunday, intercepted a black coloured Scorpio coming from outer Ring Road side and apprehended the driver and five other passengers. A search led to a pistol with two live cartridges being recovered from the possession of car driver Virender and eight live cartridges recovered from the possession of accused Sonu. Stolen property was also found in the car. "The stolen property, recovered from their possession, was taken into police possession with due legal process," DCP, West Delhi, Urvija Goel, said. With Passover just around the corner, Rabbi Gideon Estes is preparing to host a virtual communal Seder for his synagogues members and guests. It is hard for him to believe people have been facing the pandemic for a year. But he says members of Congregation Or Ami in west Houston have endured. On HoustonChronicle.com: Energy town hall looks at storms effects, options for help I think one thing that this last year has taught us is that the really important aspect of houses of worship like synagogues is that theres still a place for community and connection, Estes said. So were using the technological tools to maintain that. Or Ami has been holding virtual services since the pandemic began in Houston last March. Estes hopes to move to hybrid services at some point in the future, with some people attending in person and others participating online. For now, Zoom services continue to meet on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. Passover runs Saturday, March 27, through Sunday, April 4. Or Ami members will attend the communal, second-night Seder via Zoom at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 28. Traditionally, the synagogue hosts a large communal Seder every other year. This year, it will be online. The Zoom service is open to anyone that registers in advance. Members and guests who participate will pick up Passover kits in advance with a Haggadah, the text that will be read for those who need it, as well as some Passover treats. On HoustonChronicle.com: Katy Area Economic Development Council supports Katy ISD bond, UH Katy funding Estes said the service will lean into the benefits of technology, with breakout rooms where people can engage in more intimate discussions and pictures that will encourage meaningful conversation. One advantage of a Zoom Seder Estes noted is that people from distant places will be able to join in to celebrate Passover with their families and friends. During the past year, Estes mother in California has been able to attend Friday night services at Or Ami nearly every week. The Seder is a meal, but it literally means order. It is the most widely practiced ritual in Judaism and goes through the Haggadah, which is telling the story of the Jews exodus from Egypt. As the ancient story tells, Jews descended from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. During a famine, Jacob and his family went to Egypt for help. Later, the Egyptians enslaved the Jews for 400 years as they cried out for deliverance. God heard their pleas and sent Moses, who led them out of slavery after the plagues God sent down on the Egyptians, all through the mighty hand and outstretched arm of God, Estes said. The Seder walks Jews through 15 signposts of the story and helps them internalize life as enslaved and then free. Estes believes that will ring true for people this year as the world is beginning to work its way out of a year of slavery of sorts. On HoustonChronicle.com: Tompkins H.S. students recognize need, create free physics program We can see the path to that freedom of deliverance, of kind of getting through, he said. As long as people all get vaccinated and maintain to doing some safety practices a little longer, then hopefully, soon we will be able to resume better types of life. Estes explained that the Passover story reminds Jews to look out for those who are struggling because they themselves understand suffering, Estes said. To that end, Congregation Or Ami is supporting food banks. Matzah is the unleavened bread Jews eat during the eight days of Passover. Estes said it represents both hardship and deliverance and is significant because it was eaten quickly right before the Jews were delivered from Egypt, baked on their backs as they fled, without time to rise. He said matzah also encourages people to lay down their haughtiness and puffery (like the unrisen bread) and focus on what is important: family, God, friends and connection. He explained part of the Seder is dipping ones fingers in their wineglass, removing some of the wine to take away a little their own joy and reflect on the suffering of the 10 plagues cast down on the Egyptians before the Jews fled, even though back then, they were enemies. On HoustonChronicle.com: League City womans rare breast cancer diagnosis takes her on taxing journey to find answers Estes hopes this Passover would help people realize they are surrounded by the support of others in their faith bodies and the larger Houston and Katy communities. We still (are) able to find those ways of maintaining connection and togetherness, which I think is really the most important thing, Estes said. And those are the functions of what does religion, particularly belonging to a synagogue or church or mosque, really do for someone. Its that it helps make connection. And it helps remind us that were not alone. For more information about Congregation Or Ami, visit https://oramihouston.org/. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com There were no fireworks nor were there any banners, streamers and confetti. There were no fireworks nor were there any banners, streamers and confetti. Getting a COVID-19 vaccination last Thursday proved to be a ho-hum moment. Nothing in the world changed because I went to JM Pharmacy in St. Vital and Rahul Patel injected a dose of Covishield into my right arm, which was sore for a couple of days afterward, unlike my non-reactions to annual flu vaccines. It was actually more of a shock to get an appointment after learning the province listed transplant patients under 65 who take immune-suppressing drugs as priority cases for Covishield doses. Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and those on dialysis were among those with higher priority, and rightly so. Covishield is the brand name for the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine made in India. It's a two-shot treatment the company announced Monday was 79 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and was 100 per cent effective at preventing serious illness and hospitalization in a trial held in the United States. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Alan Small went to JM Pharmacy in St. Vital last Thursday to receive his Covishield shot. The vaccine, like others created by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson that Health Canada has approved, is a scientific and medical marvel. How several vaccines were created, tested and found effective against the deadly COVID-19 in less than a year and have been proven to be a safe treatment is humanity's greatest discovery in the 21st century. What those treatments can't do is change the past. They can't bring back all those events that were cancelled in the past year and they can't bring back those family moments, such as weddings, birthdays and anniversaries that either had to be postponed, cancelled or take place with just a couple of close relatives who had to keep their distance. And they certainly can't bring back the 917 Manitobans who have died from COVID-19. Nor will they bring back the more than 22,000 Canadians or the 2.72 million people around the world who lost their lives to the coronavirus. So celebrations are in questionable taste. No one was invited over for a drink to mark the vaccination occasion and there was no rush to the computer to search for vacation ideas. Isolation became such an emotional strain that coming into the office on Wednesdays became a strange therapy. One big reason for that is the treatment isn't finished. The Oxford-AstraZeneca shot is actually two shots, the second coming in the next month or two. While governments and researchers have trumpeted the effectiveness of the first of these two-shot vaccines some provinces have delayed second shots of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines in order to give more people their first dose that second shot appears to be critical for those who take immune-suppressing medication. SUPPLIED Covishield is the brand name for the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine made in India. It's a two-shot treatment the company announced Monday was 79 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 A study of 436 transplant recipients published March 15 in the Journal of the American Medicine Association, found "the majority of participants did not mount appreciable antispike antibody responses" from the first doses from the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. The study's findings "suggest that such patients may remain at higher early risk for COVID-19 despite vaccination." You can check out the study here. While the Oxford-AstraZeneca's vaccine is different than the two studied, the research is more than enough to say it's back to the ol' drawing board: stay at home, keep your distance, wash your hands, wear masks. You know the routine. A year ago Wednesday, the Free Press published my thoughts about the pandemic's early days, and how the lockdown resembled the early months after my kidney-transplant surgery in June 2019. We needed to stay home and take our boring medicine until the coronavirus threat had passed. Well it hasn't passed. The pandemic in Manitoba ebbed in the summer, making the warm months not so dull. Walking routines were lengthened, a rare good habit that's become part of a daily routine. Manitobans embraced outdoor activities like never before. Our diligence has allowed us to live, whether that has meant following the commonsense pandemic rules or leaving aside much of what we enjoy. The winter, as short as it was, proved to be a challenge, especially February's deep freeze. Isolation became such an emotional strain that coming into the office on Wednesdays became a strange therapy, a reminder that there were friends and colleagues, actual people, on the other end of those emails and Slack chats. Spring's official arrival last weekend, with warm weather matching the calendar for once, was energizing. Our diligence has allowed us to live, whether that has meant following the common-sense pandemic rules or leaving aside much of what we enjoy, such as an arena concert, a night at the movies or a restaurant meal with friends or relatives. The rollout of vaccines holds a promise that we can be alive, and those lively activities can return one day. Are we there yet? No, just a bit more to go. alan.small@freepress.mb.ca Twitter:@AlanDSmall Jeh Wadia has stepped down as Managing Director of the low-cost carrier (LCC) GoAir, while industry veteran Ben Baldanza has joined its board as vice-chairman. The airline, in a statement, said Ben Baldanza, who has been an advisor to the company since 2018 and director since 2019, has been appointed as Vice-Chairman of the board. Baldanza is an airline industry veteran of several decades, having worked in American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Continental Airlines among others, before becoming the CEO of Spirit Airlines in 2006. Baldanza, as Vice-Chairman, will now work directly with the management team, comprising of Kaushik Khona - CEO and Pankaj Chaturvedi - CFO, in the next growth phase of into making it India's first ULCC. "I am excited to be part of GoAir's next stage of the journey. This gives me the opportunity to apply my years of airline experience in the vibrant and fast-growing market of India to create enduring value for all stakeholders," Baldanza said. Speaking on behalf of the promoter family, Chairman Nusli Wadia said: "We are happy that Ben has accepted the position of Vice-Chairman. His experience in creating the first ULCC in the US, turning it profitable and successfully leading its IPO are of great value, as embarks on the next phase of its growth journey." "With the goal of taking to its next phase of growth, the promoters of the company and its Board came together to formulate a long-term plan. Amongst other initiatives, a key element of this plan, forged over weeks of discussions and consultation, was to further strengthen the management of the company by bringing on-board proven industry professionals, a strategy that has worked well for the group in its other ventures including Britannia," read the company statement. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) iCarly star Nathan Kress is a dad of two. ADVERTISEMENT The 28-year-old actor welcomed his second child, daughter Evie Elise, with his wife, London Kress, on Saturday. Kress shared the news Monday on Instagram alongside photos and videos of his baby girl. Kress and London Kress also have a 3-year-old daughter, Rosie Carolyn. "And just like that, 3 became 4," Kress captioned the post. "My wife is superhuman, and doing extremely well. My children are the greatest little gifts on the planet, and I still can't seem to stop crying." London Kress confirmed the birth in a post on her own account. She said Evie has "signified life" to them following multiple miscarriages and the COVID-19 pandemic. "Now, almost exactly one year since lockdown began, our lives have drastically changed again. But, our sweet one, this change has been one of hope and light," London Kress wrote. "You have been a rainbow in the cloudy days of Covid, and a rainbow baby to us personally," she said. "You are a child of hope. We love you deeply, Evie Elise Kress." Kress and London Kress announced in October that they were expecting another child after multiple miscarriages. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "We know nothing is ever certain, but what is certain is that no matter what, you are being fully celebrated by mommy, daddy & your big sister Rosie!" London Kress said on Instagram. "We know that everything happens for a reason, & you are that reason, my precious one. We cannot wait to meet you, baby girl," she added. Kress played Freddie Benson on iCarly, which had a six-season run on Nickelodeon from 2007 to 2012. He will reprise the character in a Paramount+ revival of the show, which started production last week. Melissa Jones didnt think she was experiencing trauma treating COVID-19 patients for months as an ICU nurse at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Of course it was difficult work, especially early on in the pandemic when there were no definitive methods of treatment. She worried about exposing her own family to the virus. And she says having difficult conversations with patients relatives who couldnt be there in person was one of the worst jobs you could have. But she was just doing her job. Then, last August, she caught coronavirus herself last. She eventually landed in the hospital for a few days, and was off work for six weeks. When she went back, she was hit with an overwhelming sense of dread. She realized she couldnt face patients who were struggling to breath when she knew that feeling so well herself. And she dreaded telling any more family members their loved ones werent going to make it. Related: One year under COVID-19: Hospital workers grapple with trauma and grief She worked in the ICU through the height of the second wave of COVID-19 in December, when there were an average of about 117 deaths every day in Michigan. But in January, she took a different job at Spectrum where she no longer interacted with patients. I think trauma is this label that is kind of just so heavy, but its certainly true. Hear Jones tell her story in this video. Hear more health care workers reflect on the past year: Lori Chapman is a producer on MLives Video Team. Boulder police officer Eric Talley (pictured), 51, who was shot dead while responding to a massacre at a King Soopers grocery store left his six-figure IT job to become a cop The Boulder police officer who was shot dead while responding to a massacre at a grocery store left his six-figure IT job to become a cop after his friend tragically died in a DUI crash. According to the Denver Post, before Eric Talley, 51, became an officer with the Boulder Police Department, he was working as an IT technician. It was when his friend was killed in a DUI crash that Talley stepped away from that position and into law enforcement. 'That kind of propelled him into law enforcement,' Jeremy Herko, a lieutenant with the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office in Colorado, told the newspaper. Herko, who met Talley in 2010 while at the police academy at the Community College of Aurora, said his friend then 'cashed out of his 401k'. Herko revealed that he and Talley would speak on a weekly basis, adding that Talley sent him a text on Monday as the news broke of the shooting. 'I sent him a text asking him if he was OK, and of course he never texted back,' Herko told the Post through tears. 'Thats the life of a police officer.' Herko also told the Washington Post that Talley 'absolutely loved his job and wanted to serve the community'. 'It was remarkable to me that somebody would go to law enforcement from IT. He lost pay. He lost time away from his family. He joined the police academy without a guaranteed job.' Local residents paid tribute to Talley on Tuesday by laying flowers on the fallen officer's police car that was parked out front of the Boulder Police Department. Local residents paid tribute to Talley on Tuesday by laying flowers on the fallen officer's police car (pictured) that was parked out front of the Boulder Police Department Joan Lutz, places a note that says, 'Thank you police officers, our hearts are grieving,' at a memorial for Officer Eric Talley, who was killed Monday during a mass shooting in King Soopers grocery store Karla Bielanski places flowers on Talley's patrol car that was parked outside the Boulder Police Department on Tuesday People also laid flowers at a growing memorial outside the King Soopers supermarket a day after an alleged gunman killed 10 people A handwritten letter that included the names of the victims was attached to fencing around the King Soopers grocery store on Tuesday Talley, a father-of-seven, was the first on the scene when reports of a shooting at King Soopers came in Monday afternoon. He was among the 10 people shot dead at the store when a gunman, identified by police as 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, opened fire. In the aftermath of the massacre, Talley's father said the slain officer had been learning to become a drone operator so he could step away from the front line. 'He didn't want to put his family through something like this,' his father Homer said. Talley is survived by his his wife and their seven children. Their youngest child is seven years old. 'He loved his kids and his family more than anything,' his father said. Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold paid tribute to Talley on Tuesday, acknowledging that he became a police officer because he realized he had a 'higher calling'. 'He was a very kind man who didn't have to go into policing. He had a profession before this. He had a higher calling,' an emotional Herold said. 'He's everything policing needs and deserves. He was willing to die to protect others.' Talley's sister Kirstin paid tribute to her brother with a heartbreaking childhood photo (left) of them both, saying she could 'not explain how beautiful he was and what a devastating loss this is to so many' Herold said she had Talley and his family in her office just two weeks ago. 'I feel numb. It's heartbreaking to talk to victims, their families. It is tragic,' she said. 'This officer had seven children. I had his whole family in my office to weeks ago to give him an award.' Talley had been working as an officer for just over a decade after enrolling in the Aurora's Police Training Academy when he was 40 years old. In a separate social media tribute, Herko said of his slain friend: 'He was a devout Christian, he had to buy a 15-passenger van to haul all his kids around, and he was the nicest guy in the world.' It comes as Talley's sister Kirstin paid tribute to her brother with a heartbreaking childhood photo of them both, saying she could 'not explain how beautiful he was and what a devastating loss this is to so many'. 'Officer Eric Talley is my big brother. He died today in the Boulder shooting,' she wrote in her tribute. 'My heart is broken. I cannot explain how beautiful he was and what a devastating loss this is to so many. Fly high my sweet brother. You always wanted to be a pilot (damn color blindness). Soar.' Another friend named Kevin Lederer posted a picture of Talley in his younger days and said that the fallen police officer had loved his job. 'RIP Eric, my old friend. I know you loved serving your community. I am glad you were a part of my life growing up together,' he said. Another friend said Eric Talley (far left) had 'loved serving his community' and said they were 'glad you were a part of my life growing up together' The Boulder police department shared a photo of Talley in uniform with the caption: 'Rest in peace Officer Eric Talley. Your service will never be forgotten' After joining the force, Talley made headlines in 2013 as one of three officers who helped save 11 ducklings that had become stuck in a drainage ditch with their mother. Talley eventually waded into calf-deep water to rescue the ducks one by one from the pipes, the Boulder Daily Camera reported at the time. Following his death on Monday, Herold described Talley as 'heroic' and confirmed that he was the first to respond to the shooting at a King Soopers supermarket. 'We know of 10 fatalities at the scene, including one of our Boulder PD officers... Officer Talley responded to the scene - was first on the scene - and he was fatally shot,' Herold said when news broke. The Boulder police department shared a photo of Talley in uniform with the caption: 'Rest in peace Officer Eric Talley. Your service will never be forgotten.' His colleagues gave him a hero's procession on Monday evening as his body was removed from the scene. Law enforcement personnel salutes as the motorcade carrying fallen Boulder Police officer Eric Talley exits the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder on Monday night His colleagues gave him a hero's procession on Monday evening as his body was removed from the scene This image is an aerial view of a procession that occurred for Officer Eric Talley who was killed in the shooting at King Soopers Talley is the sixth on-duty death in the Boulder Police Department's history and the first officer killed in the line of duty since 1994. 'He was, by all accounts, one of the outstanding officers at the Boulder Police Department and his life was cut far too short,' Michael Dougherty, the Boulder County district attorney, told local outlets. The gunman - who is now in custody - opened fire at the grocery store shortly before 3pm on Monday. Witnesses have described hiding in food aisles and sheltering while trying to listen to which direction he was coming from, and if he was reloading what they described as an AR-15 rifle. At a press conference on Tuesday morning, officials said they still did not know what the shooter's motive was. 'We will make sure that the suspect is held accountable for what he did to them yesterday,' Douhgerty said. Alissa was eventually shot in the leg in a standoff with the cops. He has been charged with ten counts of murder. Colorado has been the scene of some of the most shocking mass shootings in modern US history. In 2012, a young man dressed in tactical gear burst into a movie theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora during a midnight screening and sprayed the audience with gunfire, killing 12 and wounding 70. In 1999, a pair of students went on a shooting rampage at Columbine High School near Littleton, Colorado, killing 12 classmates and a teacher, and then themselves. A gunman shot and killed ten people at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday After spending a short seven months on the market, the New York City townhouse once owned by the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has sold for $51 million. Although thats down a significant amount from the original asking price of $88 million, its still among the highest-priced closings in Manhattan this year and one of the most expensive townhouse sales the city has ever seen. The Upper East Side building was purchased in early March by retired Goldman Sachs executive Michael D. Daffey and his wife Blake, who, according to the New York Times, plan to undertake a complete makeover both physically and spiritually before moving into the residence. Situated on East 71st Street in the prestigious Lenox Hill neighborhood between Madison and Fifth avenues, near The Frick Collection museum and Central Park the French Neoclassical mansion was designed by noted architect Horace Trumbauer for Herbert N. Straus in the 1930s. The Macys heir died before it was completed, however, and the property went on to become an extension of St. Clare Hospital for nearly 20 years and then housed the private Birch Wathen School. In 1989, the property was bought by retail billionaire and Epstein associate Leslie Wexner for $13.2 million in what was said to have been the highest recorded price for a townhouse at the time, and then transformed into a private residence following extensive renovations by architect Thierry W. Despont and interior designer John Stefanidis. Wexner never moved into the building. But Epstein did, with the title to the property reportedly transferred to a Virgin Islands-based company owned by the financier in 2011. The 10-bedroom, 15-bathroom residence oft referred to as the House of Horrors is fronted by a striking limestone facade spanning feet wide and seven stories tall, along with a heated sidewalk to melt the snow during the winter months. Inside the 15-foot-tall oak entry door lies 28,000 square feet of living space rife with imported French limestone bedecked with carvings, sculpture figures and ornamental ironwork. Story continues As the tale goes, Epstein invited a reporter from Vanity Fair to the home in 2003, where she found a high-walled, eclectic, imperious fantasy that seems to have no boundaries. Among the odd decor the reporter ran across while there: row upon row of individually framed eyeballs in the entrance hallway (reportedly made for injured soldiers and imported from England), along with a giant sculpture of a naked African warrior and a stuffed black poodle resting atop a piano. Now for the widely publicized rest of the story: In 2019, Epstein was charged in a sex trafficking operation that coaxed scores of girls as young as 14 years old to the mansion as well as his palatial waterfront compound in Palm Beach, Fla., which was sold to a Florida developer for $21.9 million this month. Before Epstein could go on trial, the billionaire apparently committed suicide by hanging himself in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2020. The mansion went up for sale a year later in July 2020 with a whopping $88 million price tag, and was reduced to $65 million in January 2021. Epsteins real estate portfolio also included a Paris apartment, New Mexico ranch and private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to The Wall Street Journal, the proceeds from all of his home sales will go to his estate, which has established a compensation fund for his alleged victims. According to The New York Times, the Daffeys are planning to relocate back to New York from London, where they have lived since 2005. The couple also owns a four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom penthouse on Bond House in NoHo that they are now placing on the market. They have hired interior designers Timothy Haynes and Kevin Roberts to renovate their new townhouse, and we hope that one of the first courses of business will be to permanently remove any possible traces of Epstein that might have been left behind. Adam D. Modlin of the Modlin Group served as listing broker for the property and also represented the Daffeys in the transaction. More from DIRT On March 3, Fatou Bensouda the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened an investigation into the situation in Palestine, covering crimes which may have been committed since 13 June 2014 the date that the Palestinian authorities gave to the ICC when they asked the court to step in. These alleged crimes include acts committed by both the Israeli defence forces and by Hamas and Palestinian armed groups during 2014 and by Israeli authorities since 2014 in the occupation of the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Bensouda has effectively presented a challenge for her successor, Karim Khan, who will take the reins in June this year for a 9-year term. Here we list the top ten obstacles that will make this investigation the most difficult the court has ever attempted. OBSTACLE 1: EXPECTATIONS How will the court manage the huge expectations of the human rights community, and of victims? After waiting so many years for a chance in court, its not surprising that Palestinians are eager. Together with her fellow victims representatives, Chantal Meloni, who represents victims from Gaza says that they are careful in not raising expectations impossible to meet by the court. Rod Rastan, who heads the ICCs section on preliminary examinations, echoed this sentiment at a recent seminar on prosecutorial discretion when he talked about the risk of weighing these courts with improbable burdens, asking them to resolve or be a panacea to people and societies, and sometimes expecting too much from what is after all a criminal accountability process wherechoices have to be made and people brought to trial. OBSTACLE 2: LEGITIMACY As Professor Sharon Weill wrote, there is a concerted effort by Israel to de-legitimize the courts work. Human Rights Watch Israel and Palestine director Omar Shakir says this concerted effort by Israel advocacy groups and indeed even the Israeli government to go after advocacy targeting its human rights abuses is nothing new. There is a considerable amount of misinformation in the media aimed at discrediting the work and impartiality of the Court, points out Amal Nassar, a legal consultant formerly with the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH). We operate in very polarised contexts acknowledged Rastan, where different communities have very different narratives and views of what has happened, and the international community also sometimes has very polarised views. So far Bensoudas main effort has been to assure a global audience of her even-handedness: my office will take the same principled, non-partisan, approach that it has adopted in all situations over which its jurisdiction is seized. Bensouda proclaims she will work for both Palestinian and Israeli victims. But Nassar stresses that the ICC is not a good communicator. A recent expert review concluded that the ICC Office of the Prosecutor does not have sufficient in-house capacity to direct the media narrative, something that is sorely needed, she adds. OBSTACLE 3: RESOURCES Bensouda uses the opportunity, again, to stress the limited resources we have available to us, and our current heavy workload. On the same grounds, the Nigeria and Ukraine investigations have been placed on the back burner during 2021. Parsing the way the prosecutor is already talking about prioritisation, Meloni understands that its unlikely that tomorrow there will start to be an active one hundred percent investigation. There are a lot of states that purposefully want to limit the budget, Rogier Bartels currently with the Netherlands Defence Academy claimed at the discretion seminar, [in order] to make sure the office of the Prosecutor can do a certain amount of things but not too much. Such a claim would certainly be denied by states, who instead point to the need for reform of the court: better quality before a budget increase. But the Palestine investigation brings those suspicions to the fore, and all moves will be analysed as evidence of intention to thwart or support the investigation. OBSTACLE 4: THE SNAIL-PACE CULTURE Investigations take time, is the truism that Bensouda offered on the glacial progress that seems to characterise some ICC investigations. We urge patience from parties and observers, she continued. Activists though expect more: With so many potential cases out of Palestine and so many ongoing harms, it would be hard to conceive of someone who is the chief prosecutor of the global court not prioritising moving forward on Palestine, says victims representative Katherine Gallagher. People will want action at a reasonable pace says Mark Kersten from the blog Justice in Conflict. But he likens it to walking a tightrope between the example of Georgia where there have been no warrants after years of investigation while also not pushing states that support the ICC but not this investigation, too hard. Should Palestine in fact, be prioritised? Some of these crimes are amongst the most well documented and also have affirmative statements by potential defendants affirming state policies that could constitute crimes against humanity or war crimes, says Gallagher. The situation in Palestine is not one where anyone is starting at ground zero, she concludes. But whether that wealth of material will translate into a decision to move quickly is unlikely, when all the obstacles are enumerated. OBSTACLE 5: THE STATEHOOD AND TERRITORY DISPUTE Judges by a two to one majority confirmed that the prosecutor did have jurisdiction because Palestine is a member of the ICC. But they avoided actually assessing Palestines statehood as demanded by Germany and others with an interest in the proceedings. The question of the ICCs jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories has not been definitively settled yet, writes Kai Ambos of Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen in Ejil:Talk! and will continue to occupy us over the course of these proceedings. The judges explicitly restricted their decision to the current stage of the proceedings the investigation. The International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda already said she is not adjudicating a border dispute, or prejudging the question of any future borders between Israel and Palestine. Ahmad Gharabli / AFP OBSTACLE 6: THE PEACE PROCESS Bensouda says she is not adjudicating a border dispute, nor prejudging the question of any future borders between Israel and Palestine. But the work of the court especially if it tackles the occupation of the West Bank cannot avoid being seen in the context of bilateral or international negotiations. Former US Ambassador for war crimes Stephen Rapp in the Obama administration applauds Bensoudas recognition that bilateral negotiation will be needed. I was certainly behind the scenes advocating for the ICC to stay out of this situation at the time, says Rapp. He describes a powerful argument for an Article 16, although he believes it would set a dangerous precedent. Under Article 16 of the Rome Statute, a UN Security Council deferral of the investigation can be triggered under a UN Chapter VII mandate in the interests of maintaining international peace and security. This would defer the investigation for a period of one year, subject to renewal. OBSTACLE 7: STATE COOPERATION The Office of the Prosecutor notified all state parties involved about the investigation but cooperation from them and maybe even from others in the Rome Statute system will be difficult. Within 30 days, Israel could request a deferral saying that is has or is investigating the same crimes domestically. If they can successfully argue that, under the rules of complementarity, the court can back off. Rapp recalls that during the 2008-2009 Gaza operation, he dealt with the then military advocate general Avishai Mandelblit, who is now Israels attorney general. After Richard Goldstone wrote his report for the UNs Human Rights Council, Rapp says that the US encouraged Mandelblits office to look at every one of the incidents that the Goldstone Commission had pointed to. Some minor cases were prosecuted. When it comes to Israel handling the ICC, Rapp suggests that Israel takes the UK approach. As we saw in the UK situation with the preliminary examination on alleged crimes by British forces in Iraq, [there were] very few prosecutions and lots of investigations not resulting in significant convictions of anybody. And the prosecutor found that that met complementarity, at least at that stage. Meloni believes such strategy is unlikely because such a direct engagement with the court would mean recognising its legitimacy. Yael Ronen of Hebrew University suggests that the use of third parties would probably be the simplest way to get that evidence across. Sharon Weill of Paris Sciences Po argues that Israel will actually cooperate unofficially. They will certainly provide evidence for the crimes of the Palestinians. I have no doubt about this, she adds. Meanwhile, on the practical aspects of the investigation, Susan Power, head of legal research for Al-Haq, a Palestinian NGO, points out that Israel controls all entry into the West Bank including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, and already denies access to UN Special Rapporteurs and the UN Commissions of Inquiry. It is hard to believe that ICC investigators would be given any access. The prosecutor can always proceed without effective state support, says Rapp, pointing to previous investigations in Sudan and Libya. But these were not very successful, he admits. Its hard to build a strong case, and its particularly hard to build a case which ends up in a trial. So I think this will certainly be one of the hardest, if not the hardest [situations], in which to succeed, he predicts. Regarding the support the prosecutor may hope from European Union countries, Susan Power from al-Haq is blunt: Despite the EU commitment to the rule of law and the independence and impartiality of the Prosecutor of the ICC, some States parties including Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, that have publicly challenged the ICC jurisdiction over Palestine, may refuse to fulfil their Rome Statute obligations of co-operation with the Court. OBSTACLE 8: AMERICAN INTERFERENCE A recent letter signed by two thirds of congressional representatives called on the government to defend Israel against politically motivated investigations by the International Criminal Court. And Rapp says there is consensus against the ICC investigation across the US political establishment. A complicating factor is the former president Donald Trump administrations application of sanctions against the ICC prosecutor, an executive order which has still not been rescinded by US president Joe Biden. The order has a further chilling effect on the ground according to Power, as it is intended to directly target investigators, lawyers, victims, witnesses, human rights defenders and also NGO funders, including those working towards the prosecution of perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the occupied Palestinian territory, to circumvent the course of justice. Removing Trumps executive order has become complicated says Rapp because American supporters of Israel react in a visceral kind of way to the very fact that the investigation is there, even though these cases may not ever go anywhere, even though theyre not winners. And this complicates the relationship with the court. Palestinian activists attach a firebomb to a kite flown across the border of the Gaza Strip, 20 April 2018. These acts, when they involve civilian deaths, are also covered by the International Criminal Courts investigation. Said Khatib / AFP OBSTACLE 9: BACKFIRES For many years the Office of the Prosecutor has received reams of information from human rights activists and the Palestinian authorities. But there are crimes here that involve both sides of the conflict. And for the Palestinians it may prove a double-edged sword, because crimes by the Palestinian commanders may be easier to prove than those by Israeli military. On the one hand, we have Hamas and Islamic Jihad or other Palestinian groups that are launching rockets and other incendiary devices like kites towards Israel with the explicit aim of targeting Israeli civilians. At the same time, we have the Israeli military using weapons against Palestinians there. The question is whether theyre targeting Palestinians, combatants or fighters or whether theyre also targeting civilians. And if theyre targeting civilians, whether that is intentional or not. Both parties could be guilty of war crimes, Ronen explains. Rapp says that Israel can easily argue it uses precautions before going after specific military targets and is conforming to international humanitarian law norms. There are some technical legal rules upon which there would be disagreement, maybe, he says, but on that basis a criminal case would be very difficult to make at least one that would succeed. He cautions that international courts have found it difficult to deal with proportionality and distinction and these kinds of rules, when there are people shooting back, when youre engaged in a conflict. The potential for the ICC to put Palestinians on trial has had little attention worldwide. A Hamas spokesperson in Gaza was quoted by Reuters as welcoming the probe, declaring that our resistance is legitimate, and it comes to defend our people. All international laws approve legitimate resistance. But how would Palestinian authorities and population react when the ICC goes after some of their leaders? Separate from potential crimes around the 2014 conflict are the settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. This is highly politicized territory and puts Israeli political leaders also in the courts crosshairs. Israels Supreme Court has refused to discuss the legitimacy or the legality of the settlements, says Ronen and essentially deferred to the executive. As a political project, the settlement issue is probably the most contentious the prosecutor could tackle, and the most likely to raise red flags internationally. The settlements issue is just too political for a court, says Rapp. If youve got negotiations going forward on that basis, then it really seems to me the prosecutor needs to butt out of that issue completely. OBSTACLE 10: A NEW PROSECUTOR In June, the plum prize that this investigation is will fall into the lap of a new prosecutor Karim Khan, who is not new to the ICC and who will have to do the hard work. Khans candidacy was accompanied by a whisper campaign that he might be pragmatic in his approach to this situation, and could choose to push other issues and be less forceful in pursuing Israel/Palestine than the many other priorities that crowd the courts docket. Bensoudas decision to pursue the Israel/Palestine investigation is in fact only valid for the next few months, suggested professor William Schabas of Leiden University at the discretion seminar. Khan may have a different view. With an extensive ICC reform agenda being pushed by states, and continued pressures on the court to deliver better results, activists such as Shakir are concerned about the Office of the Prosecutor taking the smoother path: they could interpret this as a way of just focussing on the easiest to win cases, those most likely to lead to conviction, which a Palestine investigation may not provide. 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. Democrats have long lamented the spread of misinformation by way of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter and have hounded Google's Pichai for what information the search engine chooses to show and promote when people are searching the web. These complaints reached a precipice following the January 6 Capitol riots. Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone sent a memo on the hearing Monday where he said the platforms should be more vigilant on combating harmful content. 'Facebook, Google, and Twitter operate some of the largest and most influential online social media platforms reaching billions of users across the globe. As a result, they are among the largest platforms for the dissemination of misinformation and extremist content,' Pallone wrote. He said that the algorithm they use to make money off of advertising also 'amplifies disinformation and extremist content' to users who 'engage more with questionable or provocative content.' During the hearing Thursday, Democrats are expected to focus on whether tech giants could have done more to check the growing presence of right-wing extremism online including white supremacy and the QAnon movement. They are also likely to bring up disinformation regarding the coronavirus pandemic and the anti-vaccination (anti-vaxx) movement. Specifically, Democrats are looking for more answers following the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and the whether tech giants could have done more to check the growing presence of right-wing extremism online including white supremacy and the QAnon movement Republicans, on the other hand, will look to dive into whether tech giants are unfairly targeting conservative for censorship. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, along with other GOP lawmakers, sent letters to Zuckerberg, Dorsey and Pichai earlier this month detailing their concerns about these issues. While the tech giants have appeared before congressional panels before to answer for their protocols and policies, this is the first time they will testify since the attack, which Democrats claim was exacerbated by a rise of disinformation and extremism on social media. It will also be the first time Dorsey appears before Congress after indefinitely booting Donald Trump from Twitter in claiming he was inciting more violence and misinformation through his posts following the Capitol attack. Trump's accounts were also suspended from Facebook and YouTube. The former president's appeal of his Facebook suspension is currently before the platform's oversight board. While Democrats are more concerned with hammering the tech giants on their respective platforms' policies on disinformation and potential spread of extremism on their sites, Republicans continue to focus on political biases. Conservative lawmakers are pushing back on tech giants for censorship and 'deplatforming' of right-leaning voices including Trump's. Also during the hearing, both sides are expected to do a lot of talking about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which gives social media companies certain protections against liability for what their users post to their platforms. Despite a series of hearings featuring these tech executives, no sizable regulatory changes have resulted from the congressional efforts. While both sides have their own motives and agenda for the hearing, they are united in their concern of the growing power of Big Tech and what Congress' role should be in reigning that in. Get a Free Sample Report to Know More The skincare products market will witness a positive impact during the forecast period owing to the widespread growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Technavio's pandemic-focused market research, market growth increased in 2021 as compared to 2020. With the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through response, recovery, and renewal phases. Building business resilience and enabling agility will aid organizations to move forward in their journey out of the COVID-19 crisis towards the Next Normal. This post-pandemic business planning research will aid clients to: Adjust their strategic planning to move ahead once business stability kicks in. to move ahead once business stability kicks in. 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Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Men's Skincare Products Market - Global men's skincare products market is segmented by distribution channel (offline and online), product (face skincare products and body skincare products), and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America). Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report Major Three Skincare Products Market Participants: Beiersdorf AG Beiersdorf AG operates its business through segments such as Consumer and Tesa. The company offers a wide range of professional skincare under different brands that include La Prairie, Eucerin, and NIVEA. CHANEL Ltd. CHANEL Ltd. operates its business through segments such as Haute couture, Fashion, Fine Jewelry, Watches, and Others. Key products offered by the company include Hydra Beauty Micro Serum and Le Lift Creme. Groupe Clarins Groupe Clarins operates its business through segments such as Clarins and My Blend. The company offers various skincare products such as serums, face moisturizers, and creams under the brand name Clarins. If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extract FREE! Get report snapshot here to get a detailed market share analysis of market participants during COVID-19 lockdown: https://www.technavio.com/report/skincare-products-market-industry-analysis Skincare Products Market 2021-2025: Segmentation Skincare products market is segmented as below: Product Face Skincare Products Body Skincare Products Distribution Channel Offline Online Geographic APAC Europe North America South America MEA The skincare products market is driven by the growing adoption of home salon and spa services. In addition, other factors such as rising demand for multifunctional skincare products are expected to trigger the skincare products market toward witnessing a CAGR of about 6% during the forecast period. Get more insights about the global trends impacting the future of the skincare products market, Request Free Sample @ https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR41014 Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ Report: www.technavio.com/report/skincare-products-market-industry-analysis SOURCE Technavio A man who attacked and raped a woman in her home after meeting her on the dating app Tinder will be sentenced next month. During the attack Peter Loughran (36) banged the woman's head off of the floor and slapped her in the face when she started praying out loud. At one point he began filming her with his phone and slapped her in the face when she tried to cover her face with her hair. Loughran of Glasnevin Downs, Ballygall, Dublin, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to rape and oral rape at an address in Dublin on January 5, 2018. He has four previous convictions, including convictions for possession of drugs, drink driving and public order offences. Garda Catherine Byrne told Vincent Heneghan SC, prosecuting, that a week or two before the incident, the victim had me Loughran on Tinder and they struck up a conversation. They later met at her apartment in the city and were kissing when Loughran became aggressive and said he would massage the woman's back. He turned her around and during the massage Loughran put his hand under her top and grabbed her breast. The victim got scared and told the man it was time for him to go. Loughran asked for water and followed her into the kitchen where she said he should leave. He said it was cold and asked if he could go to her bedroom so he could get warm as it was the only room with a heater and she replied he could get warm before leaving. In the bedroom Loughran took off the victim's clothes very aggressively. Loughran penetrated the victim's vagina and anus with his fingers on several occasions. He raped the victim while not wearing a condom, but was only able to insert the top of his penis. He also bit the woman's breasts. At one point he started to film her with his phone and slapped her in the face when she tried to cover her face with her hair. She started screaming and he hit her head off of the floor three times. At another stage he stopped touching her for a while and she started praying out loud. He told her to stop and slapped her in the face. The victim believed that the incident would go on for days and started trying to negotiate with the man. She said she had a boyfriend who would soon arrive and a flatmate who was moving in the next morning, but Loughran did not believe either of her claims. She tried to calm him down and reminded him of his family who he had mentioned in conversation earlier. He became calmer and said he would go if she helped him ejaculate. She asked how and he said she could give him oral sex, which she did. Loughran praised her and said he would now fuck her ass, causing her to panic and start kicking and punching. The incident came to an end when Loughran allowed the victim to go to the bathroom, but came with her and refused to leave. While in the bathroom the victim pretended to vomit, tried to force herself to vomit and told him she was insulin dependent. The victim pretended to faint and told Loughran that she would die unless she went to a hospital. He started to panic, put his clothes on and said he would take her to hospital. As they left the apartment the victim pretended to collapse and Loughran told her to wait and he would go get his car. Once he had left her flat she went inside, locked the door and immediately called gardai. The victim was brought to hospital by gardai, where she was examined and found to have bruising on numerous parts of her body including her genital and anal area. In interview with gardai following his arrest, Loughran denied the offences and said that 90 per cent of what she said was not true. He said that what sexual contact there had been was consensual and he denied violently attacking her. Gda Byrne agreed with James Dwyer SC, defending, that his client told gardai he had grown up in Monaghan. She agreed his client had agreed to go into custody of his own volition after pleading guilty in October 2020. Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case to April 30, next, when victim impact evidence and the plea in mitigation will be heard. Additional evidence Gda Byrne gave the evidence that Loughran had initially invited the victim to his address but the woman said she did not want to leave her home. He arrived outside her address in the early hours of the morning on the date in question. The victim invited Loughran into her apartment and they had a conversation about general things. He drank half a beer and said he had drunk a lot of whiskey that day, but the victim later said she did not get a smell of alcohol from him and he did not seem drunk. After leaving the apartment for a short time so the victim could smoke a cigarette, they returned and Loughran sat beside her on her bed. He kissed her and she kissed him back, but she did not like the kiss. At this point Loughran aggressively turned her around and said he wanted to massage her back during which he grabbed her breast. Disney is backtracking on its plan to release Black Widow, the first Marvel Cinematic Universe movie in almost two years, only in theaters. Black Widow in theaters July 9 and on #DisneyPlus with Premier Access. Additional fees required. pic.twitter.com/nXBjsHoXtY Disney+ (@disneyplus) March 23, 2021 As with Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon, Disney+ subscribers will be able to watch it at home on the same day it hits cinemas. It will arrive on July 9th, a couple of months later than the previous May 7th release date. You'll need to shell out $30 for a Premier Access pass, though. The movie should eventually be available to all Disney+ members at no extra cost. With many theaters still closed due to COVID-19 restrictions and parents having safety concerns about taking their families to the cinema, the plan makes sense if Disney doesn't want to delay the movie too much longer. Marvel shows on Disney+ tie into the movies, after all, so the company may want to keep the timeline on track as much as possible. Disney also announced that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will arrive on September 3rd, though that'll be in theaters only at least for now. Disney is also releasing Cruella, a live-action 101 Dalmatians spin-off starring Emma Stone, simultaneously on Disney+ and in theaters on May 28th, again with a Premier Access pass. Meanwhile, Pixar's Luca will be a Disney+ exclusive, at least in markets where the streaming service is available. That will start streaming on June 18th. Like Soul, it will be included through a regular Disney+ subscription. eMAM on AWS provides turnkey intelligent media archive and production solutions. David Miller, President, commented, It is long past the day of putting a finger in the dike. The flood of digital media is here, growing relentlessly. Modern organizations need to make sense of it and maximize its value in an era of tight budgets and tight deadlines. EMAM, Inc. (EMAM) announced that the eMAM media asset management platform is part of the launch of the AWS Media Intelligence (AWS MI) solutions. AWS Media Intelligence solutions allow organizations to analyze their media content, discover new insights and opportunities, and increase the lifetime value of the content. Available through AWS Partners, AWS Media Intelligence solutions make it easy to add machine learning (ML) to media content workflows, with no prior ML experience required. They cover 4 important use cases: content search and discovery, captioning and localization, compliance and brand safety, and content monetization. eMAM uses Amazon Rekogition, Amazon Transcribe, and Amazon Translate artificial intelligence (AI) services to help organizations maximize the value of their digital media. Amazon Rekognition is a service adds powerful visual analysis. Amazon Transcribe is an AWS service converts speech-to-text. Amazon Translate is a neural machine translation service that delivers fast, high-quality, and affordable language translation. For over 15 years with over 80 technology partners and a worldwide network of channel partners, eMAM has met the digital workflow needs of leading organizations worldwide in local, cloud, and hybrid environments. Media can be automatically, programmatically, or manually sent to AWS AI and machine learning services for processing. People, concepts, and keywords found by Amazon Rekognition are displayed in an Insights widget/window in the eMAM web interface for users to browse and find important parts of video clips. Customers can use Amazon Transcribe to generate a speech-to-text transcript in a growing list of supported languages, which eMAM displays in the transcript widget/window. All of the results are stored in the eMAM database as timecoded metadata to help users quickly find the best parts of video clips and other media. Users can identify unknown people and fix transcripts so the engines can improve their performance over time. There are additional options to pretrain the system as well. eMAM Cloud was one of the first media asset management (MAM) systems to launch in AWS Marketplace. Both a cloud archive package and a collaborative production package can be purchased as either software as a service (SaaS) or platform as a service (PaaS-AMI-VM-Server) directly through AWS Marketplace. eMAM is also available as permanent and annual licenses for deployment in cloud or local infrastructure. David Miller, President, commented, It is long past the day of putting a finger in the dike. The flood of digital media is here, growing relentlessly. Modern organizations need to make sense of it and maximize its value in an era of tight budgets and tight deadlines. eMAM is available at emamsolutions.com and from partners worldwide. eMAM Cloud is available in AWS Marketplace. About EMAM Empress Media Asset Management, LLC was launched in 2006. All assets and liabilities, including the eMAM system, were transferred to EMAM, Inc. in 2019. EMAM, Inc. is a closely held Delaware C corporation. Its Indian partner, Empress Cybernetics Systems PVT dba Empress Infotech, has been providing staff for the development, support, and implementation of the eMAM system since its founding in 2008. The eMAM product line (eMAM Vault, eMAM Publish, eMAM Workgroup, eMAM Enterprise, eMAM Cloud Service, and eMAM Cloud Platform) meets the media asset management and workflow management needs of broadcast, media, government, and corporate organizations in local, hybrid, and cloud environments worldwide. People line up to be vaccinated at Kedren Community Health Center in South Los Angeles on Monday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Despite rising coronavirus case rates in other parts of the nation, California is continuing to see its metrics trend downward. At least for now. Even as the state's numbers remain comparatively positive, officials are urging caution saying California can ill afford to see its progress reverse so soon after emerging from its own horrific fall and winter surge. Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the high number of cases elsewhere should be of particular concern because what happens elsewhere in the country will likely carry consequences for California. And with much of the state further unlocking long-shuttered businesses and other activities, the stakes remain high and the danger of increased transmission remains real. California's trends Over the last week, the state has reported an average of 2,766 new coronavirus cases per day, a 35% decrease from two weeks ago, data compiled by The Times show. Statewide, 2,586 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized Monday; 635 were in intensive care. Both figures have returned to levels not seen since the beginning of Californias last surge. The number of newly reported COVID-19 deaths also continues to decline but is not yet down to pre-surge levels. An average of 183 Californians died from the disease every day during the last week, and the states total death toll has surpassed 57,200. As of Tuesday, Californias seven-day case rate per 100,000 people was among the lowest in the nation, at 46.8, according to the CDC. The only states with better rates were Arizona, 46.1, Oregon, 45.5, and Hawaii, 37. Case rates over the same period were 319.2 in New Jersey, 311.1 in New York City, 222.1 in the rest of New York state, 162.8 in Pennsylvania, 143.9 in Florida, and 91.6 in Texas. The most recent nationwide case rate was 116.1. But just because California is measuring up well doesn't mean it's time to celebrate, Ferrer warned. "This past year indicates that often the East Coast experiences increases in cases before the West Coast and that, typically, L.A. County is a few weeks behind New York," she told the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. "While conditions have definitely changed, particularly as we've vaccinated millions of individuals over the past three months, we do not yet have enough vaccine protection across the county to prevent more transmission if we're not extraordinarily careful in these next few weeks." Story continues National warnings Officials across California and the nation stress that residents must maintain their vigilance to stave off another wave. Thats especially true as more areas lift pandemic-related restrictions a delicate process that experts warn can easily go awry. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Monday that the continued relaxation of prevention measures while cases are still high and while concerning variants are spreading rapidly throughout the United States is a serious threat to the progress we have made as a nation. Believe me, I get it, she said during a briefing. We all want to return to our everyday activities and spend time with our family, friends and loved ones, but we must find the fortitude to hang in there for just a little bit longer. We are at a critical point in this pandemic, a fork in the road where we as a country must decide which path we are going to take. We must act now. And I am worried that, if we dont take the right actions now, we will have another avoidable surge just as we are seeing in Europe right now and just as we are so aggressively scaling up vaccination. Ferrer agreed. Everyone is exhausted by this pandemic and the restrictions, but we dont want to do anything that makes it easy for our community transmission rates to go back up, she said. Not only is that a disaster all around, because then we just have more community transmission, and that translates to more outbreaks in places newly reopened, like schools, but its also a disaster because it allows a variant many more opportunities to become dominant. The vaccine race In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has morphed into a race against time, with health officials pushing to vaccinate as many people as possible as quickly as possible. California expects to receive roughly 1.8 million doses this week up slightly from last weeks allotment, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom. But weekly shipments of that size arent enough to keep up with the states vaccination pace. Over the last seven days, providers statewide have administered an average of 378,115 doses per day, Times data show. Overall, more than 15.1 million doses of vaccine about 78% of the supply that has been delivered to local public health departments and medical providers have been administered statewide, according to the California Department of Public Health. And many officials are striking an optimistic tone that vaccine distribution may be significantly widened in the near future. Earlier this month, President Biden said restrictions on who could make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment would be lifted nationwide by May 1, when supply is expected to be sufficient to meet demand. And Newsom said Friday that state officials anticipated being able to make the shots available to everyone within 5 weeks ... because supply will exponentially increase. A key factor in widely expanding access will be the availability of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine which, unlike the others manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, requires only a single shot. Shipments of that vaccine have been stymied by production issues, however. L.A. County, for instance, anticipates getting only about 6,000 Johnson & Johnson doses this week. While officials are confident that a wider supply stream is on the horizon, they said the next few weeks will be critical in finally beating back COVID-19. During the coming spring holiday season, "we will all need to avoid large gatherings, crowds and non-essential travel," Ferrer said. "These actions have had disastrous consequences for our community in the past. Our shared goal is to keep each other alive to allow everyone to get vaccinated and have an extra layer of protection." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. I am shocked, and I am disgusted. It is shameful. It is just absolutely shameful, he told journalists. It had been a traumatic month, Morrison said. A visibly distressed Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a press conference in Canberra on Tuesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen But while Federal Parliament and its commentariat had been talking about sexual violence and harassment for a month, it was all women who have put up with this rubbish and this crap for their entire lives, as their mothers did, as their grandmothers did. Morrison came close to apologising for his handling of the traumatic month, by acknowledging that many have not liked or unappreciated some of my own personal responses to this. He seemed to get it, finally. He said he had listened to women. He listed the things that they complain of. Their fear of walking alone at night. The way they are overlooked for promotion and talked over in meetings. The way they are intimidated, objectified and marginalised. None of it was okay, he said. I say to you girls, I will not let you down. Prime Minister Scott Morrison The Prime Minister acknowledged that many people didnt like that he spoke to his wife Jenny about how to handle the rape allegation by Brittany Higgins, the shocking revelation that kicked off this horrendous news cycle. But, Morrison said, his wife, his girls and his mother were the centre of my life. I say to you girls, I will not let you down. It was Morrison speaking as a dad, and he broke down when he talked about his daughters. He is right. Sexual violence against women is a deeply personal problem. It is also one that requires structural solutions and strong leadership. Morrison was finally showing strong leadership during this press conference, but he reverted to his I dont hold a hose, mate persona when challenged. He was asked a legitimate question from a Sky News journalist, pointing out that in a business environment, if all these things had happened on Morrisons watch, his job would be in jeopardy. As is often the case with Morrison, his defence was an attack he said that in the journalists own company there had been a complaint involving a woman harassed in a toilet. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video It was bizarre to blurt out such a rumour in a press conference, and also raised the question of how, if Morrison has heard rumours about harassment at News Corp, he never heard about an alleged rape in his own ministerial wing until it was reported (by News Corp). On the question of structural solutions, Morrison offered some hope but made zero promises. Loading Asked about quotas to get more women into Parliament, he said, My colleagues know I have been open to that for some time. I want to see more women in this place, I have done many things to get more women in this place and I intend to do more. And that is what Morrison will be judged on whether his intentions lead to change on this issue. Morrison made no undertakings to do anything. His government has still not implemented the recommendations of the Sex Discrimination Commissioners year-old report into sex discrimination in workplaces. It seems clear that until there are more women in Parliament, its culture will not change in any meaningful way. Loading Because unless Im moving in the wrong circles, its my belief that women dont tend to share videos of themselves performing lewd acts in their workplace. Its not a womens problem. None of this is. The Prime Minister went a way towards acknowledging it is his problem, if only because this important cultural moment is unfolding on his watch. Qatar Petroleum has entered into a 10-year LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) for the supply of 2 million tons per annum (MTPA) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China. The SPA was signed by Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, and Zhang Yuzhuo, the Chairman of Sinopec Group, during a virtual ceremony attended by senior officials from both sides. Under the agreement, LNG deliveries will commence in January 2022, and will be delivered to Sinopecs LNG terminals in China. This SPA further demonstrates the State of Qatars continued commitment to meeting the growing energy demand of its customers globally in the form of reliable long term LNG supplies. Al-Kaabi said: In a step that will further solidify the excellent bilateral relations between the Peoples Republic of China and the State of Qatar, we are delighted to enter into this historic long term LNG SPA. We are also proud of the fact that this agreement will be Sinopecs first long term LNG SPA from Qatar, and we are hopeful that it will mark the start of a long and fruitful partnership with Sinopec. Our LNG relationship with China dates back to 2009, when we started supplying LNG through a host of LNG SPAs with a number of our valued Chinese partners. This SPA will further supplement Qatars contribution in meeting China's growing energy needs and we look forward to commencing deliveries under the agreement." Al-Kaabi added: This SPA also illustrates our position in the market as a reliable and trust-worthy LNG supplier, and we are grateful to all our customers around the world who select us as their LNG supplier of choice. Zhang Yuzhuo, Chairman of Sinopec Group, said: Sinopec has been a strong advocate for cleaner and greener development. The signing of the long term LNG SPA with Qatar Petroleum is a further step by Sinopec to deliver its commitment to sustainability while meeting the growing needs of the Chinese market. We believe achieving carbon emission peak and carbon neutrality are responsibilities of the energy industry and call for transformation. We are proud to team up with Qatar Petroleum, one of the premier suppliers in the industry, to supply cleaner energy to China. We are also excited to begin a new journey of more comprehensive cooperation with Qatar Petroleum in the years to come. Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani, CEO of Qatargas, commented: This landmark agreement comes as a boost to the existing relationship with our Chinese customers. As the Worlds Premier LNG Company, Qatargas is committed to meeting the clean energy needs of customers around the globe who depend on reliable LNG deliveries. Since the first LNG delivery in September 2009 to date, Qatar has supplied China with more than 62 million tons of LNG. China is a key and strategic energy partner for the State of Qatar throughout the entire energy value chain. It is also a main driver of the growth in the global LNG market as the government adopts increasingly progressive environmental policies. - TradeArabia News Service A stepfather who became terminally-ill after his life-saving cancer treatment was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic has died. Adrian Rogers, 46, from Retford, Notts. hit the headlines last year as one of the first UK cancer patients known to have become terminally-ill after being denied life-saving surgery. He was dealt a devastating blow in April last year after being told his stage 4 bowel cancer had become terminal as he waited for an operation. Amanda Rogers (right) announced her husband Adrian (left), who had potentially life-saving treatment cancelled due to the pandemic, died last month But as the Covid-19 pandemic hit, it was deemed 'too risky' for Adrian to go into hospital to have the surgery and the tumours on his bowels quickly spread, making him inoperable. At the time he accused the health service of leaving him 'high and dry.' Now, less than a year on, Adrian's devastated wife Amanda, 48, has announced that her husband, and step-dad to her three children, lost his cancer battle last month. Posting on a fundraising page, which was set up to help Adrian afford a 600-a-fortnight life-prolonging drug, Amanda said: 'It is with a broken heart I post the update that I never thought I would have to post. 'Three weeks ago my gorgeous husband Adrian passed away. He became very poorly very quickly and sadly passed away on February 27, 2021. 'I would like to thank each and everyone of you for helping us with Adrian's battle, on behalf of myself and Adrian. 'He was totally overwhelmed by everybody's kindness which enabled him to have Avastin, which he otherwise wouldn't be able to have. 'To the world he was one person but to me he was my world. Thank you again for all your love.' Adrian's surgery was deemed 'too risky' tumours on his bowels quickly spread, making him inoperable.Pictured: Adrian with wife Amanda and daughter Laura The news comes just six months after Adrian first began a course of Avastin - a drug that could have potentially helped him get back to an operable state. The drug is administered alongside chemotherapy , with chemo killing the tumours and Avastin designed to prevent them from returning. The treatment costs 600 a fortnight but the family managed to raise over 32,000 through a GoFundMe page, allowing Adrian to begin the Avastin treatment last September. Speaking today in memory of her husband, Amanda Rogers said Adrian's deterioration was 'really sudden'. She said: 'He was still on the Avastin treatment and we thought it was all going well. He was having blood tests and his tumour numbers were going back down. 'But then at the beginning of February he just started going downhill. It was a total shock - it all seemed to happen in about two weeks before he passed away. It was really, really sudden.' Amanda added that Adrian had to have a short break in his Avastin treatment around the end of November - once again due to Covid. She said: 'He was having it done at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield but because of Covid they said he could no longer do it there. 'So we had to transfer his treatment to Doncaster Royal Infirmary. 'But because they don't usually do the Avastin treatment there, the drug had to be transferred from Sheffield to Doncaster, so there was a bit of a break in his treatment. Adrian Rogers, 46, from Retford, Notts. hit the headlines last year as one of the first UK cancer patients known to have become terminally-ill after being denied life-saving surgery. Pictured: Adrian and Amanda Rogers 'We're not sure whether his tumour count went back up during this time, because he didn't have any blood tests at that time. So we can't know for sure.' But Amanda added: 'Covid did impact us a lot. I do often think about the what-ifs, and always wonder what would have happened if he had been able to have his operation at the start of last year.' And paying tribute to her husband of four years - and partner of 17 years - Amanda called Adrian her 'hero'. She said: 'For 940 days we fought this illness. It was a rollercoaster with ups and downs, but Adrian never gave up hope. 'He was always positive, always thinking of our future together. He's my hero. He was one in a million and I will treasure every moment we had together forever.' In August, just a week before beginning the treatment, Adrian said he was 'hopeful' about his chances with the new drug. He said: 'I was responding to the chemotherapy well before all this, so hopefully it will be the same with Avastin. 'We've got to keep our hopes up. I'm just taking every day as it comes.' And scaffolding supervisor Adrian had also criticised the government for leaving him - and hundreds of other cancer patients - 'high and dry', after cancelling essential treatments. In August, he said: 'I feel like the government left us high and dry. 'I do believe that more could have been done to make sure I had my operation when it was an option. The news comes just six months after Adrian (pictured with Amanda) first began a course of Avastin - a drug that could have potentially helped him get back to an operable state We were hearing in the news how there were all these private hospitals that were supposed to be set aside for people with other illnesses to have treatment. 'But they were apparently just empty. It is hard to take in that there were places where I could have gone to have treatment, but they just chose to cancel it instead. 'There have still been other illnesses that have needed treating during this time, too - not just Covid.' Adrian was first diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in July 2018 and his wife Amanda said that their world 'came crashing down'. But after 18 months of gruelling chemotherapy for Adrian, the family were finally given a glimmer of hope in February last year, when a surgeon said that the chemo had got his bowel to an operable state. Adrian was told to come off chemotherapy for eight weeks in preparation for the surgery, which would have removed 70 per cent of his liver. But then Covid hit and a hospital board took the decision that it would be 'too risky' to proceed with Adrian's surgery at Manchester Royal Hospital. And during the time that Adrian was off chemotherapy, his tumours spread and by the end of April, he had 20 tumours in his liver area. Prior to Adrian beginning his Avastin treatment, Amanda had said she was hopeful she could still get 'a few more years' with her husband. 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. Key equity indices extended gains and hit fresh intraday high in mid-afternoon trade. The Nifty scaled above the 14,850 mark. Metal shares corrected after a three-day winning streak. At 14:23 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 391.50 points or 0.79% to 50,162.79. The Nifty 50 index advanced 114.25 points or 0.78% at 14,850.65. The broader markets outperformed the benchmark indices. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index added 1.23%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index rose 0.88%. Buyers outpaced sellers. On the BSE, 1669 shares rose and 1209 shares fell. A total of 210 shares were unchanged. Numbers to Track: In the commodities market, Brent crude for May 2021 settlement fell 92 cents to $63.70 a barrel. The contract gained 0.14% or 9 cents to settle at $64.62 a barrel in the previous session. The yield on India's 10-year benchmark federal paper fell to 6.145% as compared to its previous close of 6.180%. In the foreign exchange market, the partially convertible rupee rose to 72.2850, compared with its previous closing of 72.37. MCX Gold futures for 5 April 2021 settlement shed 0.16% to Rs 44,834. The US Dollar index (DXY), which tracks the greenback's value against a basket of currencies, rose 0.37% to 92.08. Buzzing Index: The Nifty Metal index slipped 0.50% to 3,848.20, amid profit booking. The index gained 3.06% in the past three sessions. Hindustan Zinc (down 2.62%), Hindalco Industries (down 1.77%), Jindal Steel & Power (down 1.04%), SAIL (down 0.82%), JSW Steel (down 0.8%), Tata Steel (down 0.53%), Ratnamani Metals Tubes (down 0.49%), MOIL (down 0.21%) declined. Meanwhile, APL Apollo Tubes (up 3.90%), NMDC (up 2.93%), Hindustan Copper (up 2.86%), Welspun Corp (up 0.77%) and National Aluminum Company (up 0.64%) advanced. Stocks in Spotlight: TCS rose 1.08% to Rs 3163.40. The company announced partnership with Skanska to help it become the most digitally advanced company in the construction industry. Bharti Airtel added 0.85% to Rs 532.40. Airtel Africa, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, announced the signing of agreements to sell its telecommunications tower companies in Madagascar and Malawi to Helios Towers, a leading independent telecommunications infrastructure company in Africa. Expected to close in or around calendar Q4 2021, the aggregate gross consideration for the transactions is expected to be approximately $108 million. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Aaron Fischer is coming to comic books in June. Part of the United States of Captain America series, he is the Captain America of the Railways, protecting runaways and homeless youth. He is also openly gay. The comic featuring him will be published in June for Pride Month. My point is not that the first LGBTQ-identifying Captain America will soon enter popular culture. Nor is it that we should be shocked, or that we should be shocked if were not shocked. It is that introducing a gay Captain America in a comic book aimed at youth is nothing if not strategic. In other news, the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, home to Harvard University, has officially recognized polyamory. It is the second city in the state to do so. The Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition gave input concerning the change in Cambridge and hopes that it will be a wave of legal recognition for polyamorous families and relationships in 2021. Meanwhile, a Canadian father was jailed for contempt of court after publicly objecting to his young daughter taking testosterone. A judge earlier warned him that if he did not affirm his daughter as male, he would be implicated in the criminal offense of family violence. That the next generation might know Lets think about what these stories mean not for the present but for the future. Comic books normalizing and glorifying gay characters are strategically intended to persuade our children and grandchildren in intuitive and emotive ways. Polyamory proponents want a world in which children are brought up in polyamorous families and thus accept such relationships as normal and healthy. Courts that threaten parents who oppose their childrens gender transitions send signals far beyond the parents themselves. Just as proponents of the sexual revolution intend to impact future generations with their version of sexual morality, so we must do the same. Such thinking is not only strategic for Gods peopleit is biblical. In words that could have been written last week, the psalmist reported that God established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments (Psalm 78:57). This was so they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God (v. 8). The only way the next generation will not follow this generations slide into moral relativism and decadence is if you and I act strategically and courageously to change their spiritual trajectory. Four biblical responses What are some biblical ways we can use our influence to intervene for the sake of our children and their children? The first is obvious: defend the unborn. In the face of plans to expand federal funding for abortion, it is vital that we stand and pray for life at its most perilous stage in our culture. The psalmist testified: Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them (Psalm 139:16). Ronald Reagan was right: Ive noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born. Second, defend girls and women. Female athletes, survivors of domestic violence, and civil rights for women and girls are all at greater risk because of recent governmental actions and the so-called Equality Act. God made male and female equally in his image (Genesis 1:27). We should pray and work for equality and opportunities for both. Third, defend our children from immorality in our culture. The most recent Grammy Awards featured immorality I will not describe here. The good news is that advocates for sexual abuse survivors were quick to protest the shows promotion of prostitution and pornography. We are called to flee from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18) and should do all we can to protect our children from the decadence of our culture. Fourth, defend freedom of speech in our schools. According to a recent report, 62 percent of college students surveyed agreed the climate on their campus prevents students from saying things they believe. The Civics Secures Democracy Act, educational legislation recently introduced in Congress, has been described as a massive boondoggle in support of politicizing students and teaching them to trade away equality and individual liberty for identity politics and imposing a de facto national curriculum on the states. The author calls this challenge the greatest education battle of our lifetimes. We are to live as people who are free and extend this freedom wherever we can (1 Peter 2:16). A prayer worth praying every day We will say much more about these priorities in the future. For today, lets close with a familiar prayer that has become very special to me in recent weeks. Youve no doubt seen a famous prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi; it has been set to music and published in a wide variety of media over the years. I have begun praying it every day, slowly and with attention to each word, and have found it to be encouraging and empowering. I invite you to pray these words intentionally with me today and in the days to come: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. Originally published at the Denison Forum He is still recovering after breaking his back in an electric bike accident last year. And Simon Cowell made sure to prioritise safety on Monday as he sported a face mask while out on a walk in Malibu with his partner Lauren Silverman. The music mogul, 61, cut a low-key figure in a navy v-neck top and white shorts as he strolled down the road. Protected from coronavirus: Simon Cowell made sure to prioritise safety on Monday as he sported a face mask while out on a walk in Malibu with his partner Lauren Silverman Lauren, 43, also kept it casual in a grey tee, white jeans and trainers as she fiddled with the surgical face covering and chatted to Simon. The Britain's Got Talent judge reportedly walks over 40 miles a week to help him recover from breaking his back in an electric bike accident last year, it was revealed on Friday. In August, Simon was rushed to hospital to undergo six hours of surgery after injuring himself in the accident, forcing him to cancel all his planned TV work for the rest of the year. But now the record executive is determined to do everything he can to ensure he makes a full recovery, including walking for several hours a day and holding business meetings at 9AM so that he no longer lives like a 'vampire'. Exercise: The music mogul, 61, cut a low-key figure in a navy v-neck top and white shorts as he strolled down the road Of his new fitness regime, a source told MailOnline: 'Simon said how he hasn't worn trainers as much as this in 20 years. 'He feels fitter than ever before and is keeping to a normal routine rather than being on the phone until into the early hours of the morning.' The source also added that Simon would return to America's Got Talent at the end of March to film the new series. Adding to this, The Sun also reported that Simon was set to start filming the reality competition show as a source said he was excited to be back. Relaxed: Lauren, 43, also kept it casual in a grey tee, white jeans and trainers as she fiddled with the surgical face covering and chatted to Simon The insider told the publication: 'Simon cant wait to get back to doing what he loves. Hes been focused on his return for months.' Last year, reports claimed Simon was considering legal action against the manufacturers of his electric bike after breaking his back. The TV mogul and his team were said to be 'weighing up' legal options and have been 'pressing' the manufacturers, Swindon Powertrain. One lawyer claimed that a successful lawsuit could see Simon get up to 10million for medical bills and loss of earnings, The Sun reported once more. Last year, a whistleblower from the manufacturers reportedly claimed the 20,000 electric bike an 'accident waiting to happen' due to Simon's lack of training. He told the publication: 'It should never have been sold to Simon without him being taught how to use it.' The former employee claimed the Swind EB-01 bike, which can reach up to 60mph and is banned on public roads in the UK, should not be used without specialist training. The source continued: 'I said to my boss, "Are you showing Simon how to use this?" He said he was just dropping it off and I said, "are you serious?"' The X Factor boss' team were said to be studying the claims made by the former employee and are 'pressing the manufacturers' about the safety of the bike. Health: The Britain's Got Talent judge reportedly walks over 40 miles a week to help him recover from breaking his back in an electric bike accident last year, it was revealed on Friday A spokesperson for Simon told MailOnline at the time: 'Simon is understandably extremely concerned for other peoples' safety in relation to this bike. 'We have been pressing the manufacturers about this and will continue to press them, including in relation to the claims of the former member of staff.' A spokesperson for Manufacturers Swindon Powertrain told MailOnline: 'With any device, it is important to read the user manual before attempting to operate, acknowledged by Mr Cowell himself. 'The EB-01 user manual includes a detailed process of how to familiarise oneself with the performance features and procedures to follow.' They added that they are 'in contact with Mr Cowell's aides to progress this', noting, 'the company has acted in good faith at all times.' Simon broke his back in August after falling from the vehicle, leaving him forced to undergo a six-hour surgery to try and fix the injuries. The accident occurred when the powerful machine 'flew up in the air and did an accidental wheelie' after he tried to change gears. The music boss is thought to have been 'surprised by the power' of the bike and knew immediately that he 'was in trouble'. The Everly Brothers created a world where their heart-melting harmonies could exist. The two brothers worked hard to revolutionize music and change how people viewed country-influenced rock and roll. Although the Everly Brothers worked hard to create magic through their songs, they had a terrible falling out that involved smashing of guitars. The two never spoke for a decade and reunited later, but the falling out will always remain one of the most spectacular band breakups in history. Phil and Don Everly | Pete Cronin/Getty Images The Everly Brothers were actual brothers #SiempreHabraMusica | #IconosDeLos60 The Everly Brothers "Crying In The Rain" Los Teen Tops "Popotitos" Neil Sedaka "Breaking Out This Hard To Do" Escuchanos en @Radio10 pic.twitter.com/OTlg4PDuyB Radio 10 AM 710 (@Radio10) March 21, 2021 Don and Phil Everly were born two years apart in 1937 and 1939 to Isaac Ike Milford Everly Jr and Margaret Embry Everly. Ike and Margaret got married with an 11-year age gap between them. She was 15, and he was 26 when they got married. The Everly Brothers went to Longfellow Elementary School in Iowa for a year before moving to Shenandoah, where they spent a considerable chunk of their childhood. The family then relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee, where the brothers attended west high school. In 1955 the family once again relocated to Madison while the Everly Brothers moved to Nashville. At that time, Don had already graduated from high school while Phil was attending Peabody Demonstration School, where he graduated in 1957. While living in Knoxville, a family friend of the Everly family noticed the brothers. They then became a duo, subsequently moving to Nashville. The family friend Chet Atkins was affiliated with RCA Victor studios but somehow got the brothers a recording deal with Columbia Records in 1956. After recording their song Keep-A-Lovin Me in 1956, the song flopped, and the record label dropped them. Atkins then introduced the brothers to Acuff-Rose music publishers. Rose gave the brothers a catch to signing the recording deal. The catch was that they would get the contract only if they signed on as songwriters. After working with the publishers, they eventually started getting noticed in the US and UK. The Everly Brothers then signed on to Warner Bros and released hit songs such as Walk Right Back, Thats Old Fashioned, and Crying In The Rain. The brothers battled addiction RELATED: Lynyrd Skynyrd Nearly Canceled the Doomed Flight That Killed 4 Band Members After getting discharged from active duty from the Marine Corps, the Everly Brothers picked up their music careers but had little success in the US. Their songs failed to chart, and only one LP, Beat & Soul made it to No. 141. By 1964, the brothers were addicted to amphetamines. However, Don had a more profound addiction as he also took Ritalin, which deepened their troubles. Dons addiction went on for three years until he got hospitalized after having a nervous breakdown and to treat his addiction. The media didnt get wind of their addiction troubles since they would lie to the press. When Don collapsed in 1962 in England, reporters were informed that he had food poisoning. Even when the media insisted that hed taken an overdose of pills, Dons brother and wife insisted that he was just exhausted. Their infamous falling out was one for the books Its never a good idea to mix business with pleasure, as evidenced by many rock bands who get involved with drugs and other things. The Everlys had been working together almost all their lives. They had managed to hold a facade for 20 years until things fell through the cracks. In 1973, Don showed up drunk to a show they were performing in Hollywood. Don recapped the night, saying: I was half in the bag that evening the only time Ive ever been drunk on stage in my life. I knew it was the last night, and on the way out I drank some tequila, drank some champagne started celebrating the demise. It was really a funeral. People thought that night was just some brouhaha between Phil and me. Don kept messing the lyrics up until his brother Phil had had enough of the situation. Phil smashed his guitar over his head and walked out of the concert, leaving Don to finish the show alone. According to Rolling Stone the brothers didnt talk again for 10 years. They, however, met at their fathers funeral, but things remained tense between them. Fortunately, the Everlys patched things up in 1983 for a lucrative reunion concert. How to get help: In the U.S., contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-4357. Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has urged the Peoples Committee of the southern province of Dong Nai to quickly carry out forth projects on land acquisition, compensation, site clearance, and development of resettlement zones for construction of Long Thanh International Airport. Dung said the work must be carried out under the provinces authority, and in accordance with the existing laws. Dong Nai should join hands with the Ministry of Transport, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam and competent agencies to implement component projects to ensure efficiency and progress of Long Anh Airport construction. Construction of the first detail of Long Thanh International Airport starts on January 5. The airport will be built in three phases over three decades, and is expected to become the countrys largest airport. In the first phase, one runway with a length of 4,000m, taxiways, an apron, and a passenger terminal with other auxiliary works sprawling 373,000 sq.m will be built to serve 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo each year. The airport is designed to have four runways, four passenger terminals, and other auxiliary facilities to ensure a capacity of 100 million passengers and 5 million tonnes of cargo a year by 2040. Covering a total area of more than 5,580ha, the airport will straddle six communes in Long Thanh district. It is expected to cost 336.63 trillion VND (14.5 billion USD), with the first phase needing over 109 trillion VND. Around 4,800 households and 26 organisations are expected to be relocated to make way for it. Located 40km to the east of Ho Chi Minh City, Long Thanh airport is expected to relieve overloading at Tan Son Nhat international airport in the southern metropolis, now the countrys largest airport./. VNA 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. Nitesh Tiwaris 2019 film Chhichhore won the Best Film Hindi award last night at the 67th National Film Awards. It is indeed a big honour for the entire team and no wonder, the films leading lady Shraddha Kapoor had a very emotional and gratitude filled post to share. The actress shared a poster of the film and then thanked everyone from the team for the opportunity. She even remembered Sushant Singh Rajput in her comment and said that they will miss him. Her caption reads, Thank you @niteshtiwari22 @nadiadwalagrandson for making me a part of this beautiful film (joined hands emoticon)We miss you @sushantsinghrajput . @fukravarun @naveen.polishetty @tahirrajbhasin @tushar.pandey @saharshkumarshukla. Thank you National award committee (joined hands emoticon). Thank you to the entire team of Chhichhore (red heart emoticon). Now looks like the actress is truly overwhelmed by the films unexpected big win and cant contain her happiness. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shraddha aA (@shraddhakapoor) Shraddha Kapoors post garnered many likes from the celebrities. Mukesh Chhabra and Bhumi Pednekar dropped comments on her post and congratulated her. Shraddha Kapoor and the late Sushant Singh Rajput starrer Chhichhore had entered the Rs 100 crore club in no time and the film also stars Tahir Raj Bhasin, Varun Sharma and Prateik Babbar. Currently Shraddha Kapoor is basking under Maldives sun for a short vacation with her parents. Maldives has become the current favourite holiday destination for our celebrities as it is safe amidst the pandemic. The actress will soon start her second schedule for Luv Ranjans next with Ranbir Kapoor. NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LION Eye Group ("LION"), a network of independent optometry practices on Long Island and greater New York announced it has entered into a non-exclusive clinical affiliation agreement with SightMD. With locations across greater Long Island, Westchester, and the New York area, SightMD is one of New York's fastest growing ophthalmic provider groups. LION's success has come from executing strategic initiatives that strengthen its position in the eye care community by partnering with other leaders in the industry. LION announced on October 29, 2020 that partnering with ophthalmologists was integral to their long-term vision resulting in a mutually beneficial agreement with SightMD, the second ophthalmology network with which LION has partnered. James Vena, Chief Operating Partner, and interim CEO is excited about the deal with SightMD. "The speed with which we were able to reach an agreement with SightMD proves they are deeply committed to providing quality patient care in a cost-effective and efficient manner. I truly believe in the tenets that the value of an idea lies in its use and execution, not just merely the thought, and that time kills all deals. On those fronts, it was a pleasure working with SightMD. "Industry trends indicate a growing shortage of ophthalmologists and a surplus of optometrists. We want to help doctors and patients and as a result, emphasize the importance of medical optometry. Both professions perform pre / post-surgery examinations, which can sometimes leave patients confused and cause gaps in clinical care. These collaborations will provide clarity and continuity of care for both patients and doctors." A key aspect of LION's strategy is to ensure the optometrist is utilized to preserve the sanctity of medical optometry, the patient gets receives great eye care at a network of convenient locations, and ophthalmologists, already extended, can concentrate on essential surgery procedures such as laser and cataract surgery. The primary demographic of LION patients is concentrated on Long Island and will need great ophthalmologists for cataract and laser surgeries in the coming years. Dr. Jeff Martin, SightMD stated, "Collaborative care between optometry and ophthalmology is essential for providing optimized eye care for a growing aging population. The fact that the number of ophthalmologists has stagnated while the patient need is increasing provides a significant opportunity for well-trained, high-quality optometrists like those in LION Eye Group. SightMD's world-class surgeons and unmatched patient availability, 7-days-a-week with a 24/7 in-house call center make us an ideal partner to a progressive group like LION." About LION Eye Group Launched on January 1, 2020, LION Eye Group is a network of successful optometry practices based in New York. Founded as the Long Island Optometric Network, the group has expanded to Manhattan and surrounding boroughs, evolving from a turnkey exit strategy group to a sophisticated optometric network. Utilizing technology, LION capitalizes on opportunities in medical optometry while creating a franchise-like setting for a better "in office and virtual experience for its patients. Our commitment is vision, our vision is prosperity. The Lion Eye Group is managed by LION Management MSO which continues to develop better strategies to offer the very best in medical optometry, state of the art technology and a more efficient and effective retail environment for the network's patients. Visit lioneyegroup.com for more information. About SightMD SightMD is one of New York's fastest growing ophthalmic provider groups, which gives you and your family 7-days-a-week access to the most comprehensive eye care services in over 40 convenient locations across greater Long Island, Westchester, and the New York area. SightMD's proven track record of providing clinically excellent care spans over 50 years, where award-winning physicians provide the personal, quality care you deserve from your doctor...in the convenience of your local neighborhood. Visit SightMD.com for more information. Media contact: [email protected], (844) AUTUS 00 x704 SOURCE LION Eye Group Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 16:42:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close "I will always try to study and figure out things that we don't understand about the origins of Chinese characters. We understand a lot, but we don't understand everything," said Sears. BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- "Chinese characters, you will never get to the bottom of them," says American Richard Sears. And he should know, having devoted almost 50 years to learning, teaching and disseminating the pictographic origins of Hanzi, the septuagenarian has earned the nickname "Hanzi Shushu," or Uncle Hanzi. Richard Sears, 71, a physicist from the state of Tennessee, was first exposed to Chinese characters in 1972 because of a fascination with China and its culture. Richard Sears takes notes on his research materials in Tianjin, north China, Aug. 8, 2012.(Xinhua/You Sihang) "When I was 22, I went to Taiwan and learned to speak Chinese, but I wasn't all that diligent," Sears told Xinhua during an interview at his home in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, east China. By 40, he still couldn't read Chinese characters, so he started to study. "I found that almost all Chinese had learned to read and write by absolute blind memorization and almost no one had a clue where the characters actually came from," he noted, "but I am a physicist, a scientist, so I don't like to blindly memorize stuff." In 1994, with computers becoming more available, Sears started programming and he built a database of oracle bone inscriptions. It took him seven years just to scan the source characters from antique books. In 2002, he launched his Hanzi etymology website. It only clocked up a few page views per day for many years, this changed in 2011, when a blogger recommended the site on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform. From a handful of views, daily traffic surged to 600,000. Photo taken in 2002 shows Richard Sears in front of his newly-launched website. (Photo provided to Xinhua) Over the past 29 years, his website has become a go-to resource, with information on more than 100,000 ancient Chinese character forms. Sears believes his work is useful because it breaks down each character to reveal their logic. "Chinese characters are part of archaeology, and so I hope that my research can be a big contribution to archaeology, "he said. Sears was also involved in the development of a product that combines augmented reality and animation. Using Chinese Character Origin Cards, which were co-developed by Sears and a Nanjing-based company, people can bring Hanzi characters, such as "ren" (person), "niao" (bird), or "lei" (thunder), alive right in front of their eye by scanning the cards. Animations show how the character evolved from the pictographs carved on ancient oracle bones to the modern day. Richard Sears(L) posed for picture after he was awarded for Jinling Friendship Award, a biennial award set up by the Nanjing municipal government to recognize foreign experts' contributions to local economic and social development on June 22, 2020. (Photo provided to Xinhua) Off the back of this project, on June 22, 2020, Sears was awarded the Jinling Friendship Award, a biennial accolade issued by the Nanjing municipal government in recognition of foreign experts' contributions to local economic and social development. Sears now lives in the ancient city of Nanjing; "Finally, after many years, I have permanent residence in China, so I plan to stay here for the rest of my life. China is my home." "I will always try to study and figure out things that we don't understand about the origins of Chinese characters. We understand a lot, but we don't understand everything," he added. Beckman Coulter, a clinical diagnostics leader, today announced that its Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG II antibody assay received U.S. Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The semi-quantitative assay measures a patient's level of antibodies in response to a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and provides a qualitative and numerical result of antibodies in arbitrary units (AU). Lenco Diagnostic Laboratories, one of New York City's largest privately-owned, full-service reference labs, is among the first to offer the test in its facilities across Brooklyn, NYC, and the tri-state metropolitan area. Lenco conducted an independent verification of the assay's performance and is highly satisfied with the quality of the results. "To help in the fight against COVID-19, it is important that we partner with a company that has the reputation, quality, and testing accuracy like Beckman Coulter in meeting the needs of the people of New York," said Robert Boorstein, M.D., Ph.D., medical director, Lenco Diagnostics Laboratories. "This next step in COVID-19 antibody testing creates a pathway in helping us establish a quantitative baseline of different antibody levels and determine how a patient's immune response to COVID-19 is affected over time. We expect that clinicians will find this assay useful for monitoring the progress of a patient's COVID-19 recovery and assessing the immune response over time." The Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG II assay measures IgG antibodies directed to the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein of the coronavirus. The test has a confirmed 99.9% negative percent agreement (specificity) and a 98.9% positive percent agreement (sensitivity) at 15-60 days post symptom onset. The Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG II assay can be used in Random Access Mode (RAM) and seamlessly integrates into existing workflows without batch processing. "Effective and high-quality diagnostic solutions are essential in the fight against COVID-19," said Shamiram R. Feinglass, MD, M.P.H, chief medical officer at Beckman Coulter. "Antibody assays like our Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG II test can help researchers quantitatively determine the levels of IgG antibodies and enable them to assess the relative changes of an individual's immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus over time. This information is essential because it helps continually inform therapeutics and vaccine development." The Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG II antibody assay is now available in the U.S. and countries accepting the CE Mark. Results of the new test are delivered on Beckman Coulter's award-winning immunoassay analyzers, including the DxI 800 high-throughput analyzer, capable of processing up to 4,800 samples per day. The IgG II antibody assay is the latest addition to Beckman Coulter's full suite of testing solutions that provide clinicians valuable information in their fight against COVID-19. Beckman Coulter also recently launched an automated SARS-CoV-2 antigen test in the U.S. under Policy C of the FDA's emergency use authorization (EUA) program. For more information on Beckman Coulter's antibody assays, as well as its full suite of COVID-19 diagnostic solutions, visit www.BeckmanCoulter.com/Coronavirus. For more information about Lenco Diagnostic Laboratories, and its commitment to being part of the solution for COVID-19, visit: https://www.lencolab.com/covid19-antibody/. YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations reports that several roads are closed or difficult to pass across Armenia. The ministry told Armenpress that the roads leading to the Amberd Fortress and Lake Kari in Aragatsotn province, as well as Berd Chambarak highway are closed. The Vardenyats Pass is closed for trailer trucks and difficult to pass for the remaining vehicles. The Georgian side informs that the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is closed for trucks. Drivers are urged to use snow tires. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan IRVING, Texas, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Caris Life Sciences, a leading innovator in molecular science and artificial intelligence focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine, announced today that the Cancer Center at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), an affiliate of Sutter Health, has joined Caris' Precision Oncology Alliance (POA). The POA is a collaborative network of leading cancer centers globally working together with the goal of advancing comprehensive cancer profiling and establishing standards of care for molecular testing in oncology through research focused on predictive and prognostic markers that improve the clinical outcomes of patients with cancer. The CPMC Cancer Center is renowned for providing advanced, multidisciplinary cancer care with a personalized approach. The Center's high-quality and multidisciplinary approach to patient-centered care has earned it accreditation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC). This accreditation signifies that the CPMC Cancer Center offers comprehensive cancer care, treatment planning based on evidence-based national treatment guidelines, access to clinical trials testing new treatment options, and follow-up care, including a survivorship care plan. The CPMC Cancer Center is also certified by the American College of Surgeons and treats more than 2,400 patients every year. "Our nationally recognized cancer specialists and researchers, highly trained oncology nurses and skilled technicians, work together so patients have access to cutting-edge treatments," said Mohammed Kashani-Sabet, M.D., Medical Director, CPMC Cancer Center. "We are proud to be at the forefront of cancer care and research, and we look forward to working with Caris' Precision Oncology Alliance to expand our research efforts in molecular profiling and personalized cancer treatments." "The CPMC Cancer Center's commitment to providing multidisciplinary cancer care and clinical trial participation has led to groundbreaking research and medical innovations in cancer," said Chadi Nabhan, M.D., MBA, FACP, Chairman of the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance. "Joining forces with the CPMC Cancer Center will add tremendous value to both the POA and CPMC's mission to expand precision medicine adoption, conduct novel molecular science research and improve the lives of cancer patients." The Caris Precision Oncology Alliance includes 49 cancer centers and academic institutions. These institutions have early access to the extensive database and artificial intelligence platform within Caris to establish evidence-based standards for cancer profiling and molecular testing in oncology. By leveraging the comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic profiling available through the Caris Molecular Intelligence platform, Caris seeks to provide this network with the ability to prioritize therapeutic options and determine which clinical trial opportunities may benefit their patients. POA members are also able to integrate with a growing portfolio of biomarker directed trials sponsored by biopharma. Additionally, as a member of the POA, institutions have access to Caris CODEai, the most comprehensive data solution in the industry with cancer treatment information and clinical outcomes data for over 244,000 patients covering over 1,000,000 data points per patient. "Patients are at the center of every decision we make at Caris, and CPMC's patient-centered approach to cancer care supports that mission," said Brian J. Brille, Vice Chairman of Caris Life Sciences. "Understanding the unique molecular characteristics of tumors allows clinicians and researchers to transform personalized treatments for patients." Learn more about the Precision Oncology Alliance by visiting the Caris website at CarisLifeSciences.com/collaboration. About Caris Life Sciences Caris Life Sciences is a leading innovator in molecular science and artificial intelligence focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine through quality and innovation. The company's suite of market-leading molecular profiling offerings assesses DNA, RNA and proteins to reveal a molecular blueprint that helps physicians and cancer patients make more precise and personalized treatment decisions. MI Exome whole exome sequencing with 22,000 DNA genes, and MI Transcriptome whole transcriptome sequencing with 22,000 RNA genes along with cancer-related pathogens, bacteria, viruses and fungi analysis run on every patient provides the most comprehensive and clinically relevant DNA and RNA profiling available on the market. Caris is also advancing precision medicine with Caris Artificial Intelligence, combining its market leading service offering, Caris Molecular Intelligence with its proprietary artificial intelligence analytics engine, DEAN, to analyze the whole exome, whole transcriptome and complete cancer proteome. This information, coupled with mature clinical outcomes on thousands of patients, provides unmatched molecular solutions for patients, physicians, payers and biopharmaceutical organizations. Caris Pharmatech is changing the paradigm and streamlines the clinical trial process by connecting biopharma companies with research-ready oncology sites for clinical trials. With over 414 research sites within the Caris Pharmatech Just-In-Time (JIT) Oncology Network, biopharma companies can identify and enroll more patients, faster. Caris Pharmatech Just-In-Time Clinical Trial Solutions focus on rapid site activation and patient enrollment to streamline the drug development process. By implementing Caris' Just-In-Time Trial-Matching System, Caris will automatically match patients to clinical trials and sites can be activated and eligible to enroll patients within one week. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris Life Sciences has offices in Phoenix, Denver, New York, and Basel, Switzerland. Caris provides services throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and other international markets. To learn more, please visit CarisLifeSciences.com or follow us on Twitter (@CarisLS). About Sutter Health Sutter Health is more than 60,000 people strong thanks to its integrated network of clinicians, employees and volunteers. Headquartered in Sacramento, California, Sutter Health provides access to high-quality, affordable care for more than 3 million Northern Californians through its network of hospitals, medical foundations, urgent and walk-in care centers, home health and hospice services, and more than 5,500 independent doctors. Recognized as a national leader in quality, Sutter's integrated health care system provides access to patient-centered, coordinated care that outperforms state and national averages in nearly every quality measure. Grounded in its not-for-profit mission, Sutter Health invests hundreds of millions annually in its communities and to support community clinics and community-based hospitalsproviding care for the most vulnerable populations and strengthening the fabric of our communities. For more information about the Sutter Health network visit: sutterhealth.org | vitals.sutterhealth.org | facebook.com/sutterhealth | twitter.com/sutterhealth Caris Life Sciences Media Contact: Lindsey Bailys GCI Health [email protected] 212-798-9884 CPMC Cancer Center Media Contact: Karin Fleming Program Manager, Research Communications [email protected] 415-215-7655 SOURCE Caris Life Sciences Related Links http://www.carislifesciences.com Imagine getting fined for holidaying abroad! Yet times are such that the United Kingdom is planning to fine people in England 5,000 pounds or over $6,900 if they try to travel abroad without good reason. The penalty is part of a new legislation that will be voted on by MPs on Thursday and is likely to come to force next week. The new coronavirus laws suggest that anyone who leaves England for a destination outside the UK without a reasonable excuse could face the penalty. Anyone travelling abroad has to fill a 'Declaration to Travel' form stating a valid reason to leave the country, said a report in BBC. The valid reasons include education, work or childcare. Travellers to and from the common travel area of the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland need not worry about the fine. However, if the aforementioned places are not the final destination then they would be penalised as the rest. Foreign holidays are currently not allowed under the 'stay at home' rule that ends on Monday. But the ban on leaving the UK will become a specific law, complete with a fine. Resumption of foreign travel is not likely to happen soon due to another surge in coronavirus cases, along with the slow pace of vaccination. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that travelling restrictions were necessary to curb the importation of large number of cases as well as new variants. Junior Health Minister James Bethell said that the UK might put all their European neighbours in the red list of countries. The red list was introduced as part of travel restriction to stop COVID-19 variants entering the country. The list is regularly reviewed. However, British nationals and people who are normally resident in the UK will be allowed back in the country but they must quarantine in a hotel once they reach the country. Also read: COVID-19: Half of all adults in UK now vaccinated, says minister Also read: Germany, France, others resume AstraZeneca shots after green signal from EU, UK regulators The Republic of Ireland launch their World Cup qualifying campaign in Serbia on Wednesday evening hoping for a change of fortune. New manager Stephen Kenny is yet to taste victory since taking over from Mick McCarthy last summer and saw his side bow out of the Euro 2020 play-offs at the semi-final stage. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the talking points surrounding a testing trip to Belgrade. Ninth time lucky? This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Kenny was thrown straight in at the deep end as he presided over Nations League encounters with Bulgaria and Finland as a precursor to last Octobers Euro 2020 play-off semi-final trip to Slovakia, where his side were unfortunate to lose on penalties after a goalless draw. In all, his reign to date amounts to three draws and five defeats and while the odds may be against a first victory in Belgrade, a positive result would set his team up perfectly for Luxembourgs visit to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Keeping it real Keeper Mark Travers will start for the Republic of Ireland in Belgrade (Niall Carson/PA) Darren Randolphs absence through injury handed Kenny a big decision, with talent and potential not in short supply but experience an extremely rare commodity. In the event, 21-year-old Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers, who has two friendly appearances under his belt for the senior team, got the nod ahead of Kieran OHara and the uncapped Gavin Bazunu, and all eyes will be on him at the Rajko Mitic Stadium. Seamus it ever was? INSIDE ACCESS | Seamus welcomes Gavin to his first camp This is great How our skipper welcomes a new player to his first international camp Seamus Gavin#COYBIG Posted by FAIreland on Sunday, March 21, 2021 At the other end of the scale, Ireland could welcome back one of their stalwarts in Belgrade. Skipper Seamus Coleman last pulled on a green shirt in a Euro 2020 qualifying defeat in Switzerland 17 months ago with a combination of injuries and the competition for the right-back spot provided by Matt Doherty having hampered him since. Evertons 56-times-capped full-back has been a willing and able servant to his country for a decade and will hope for a chance to prove he still has a key role to play. Story continues Time to strike This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Kennys wait for a win has been due largely to the fact that his team have scored just once during his time in charge, Shane Duffys injury-time equaliser in Bulgaria. The four specialist frontmen in his squad have only 18 Ireland goals between them and 17 of those have been scored by Shane Long, who has not registered for his country since his strike in Moldova in October 2016. Callum Robinson has a friendly goal against New Zealand to his name, while Aaron Connolly and Troy Parrott are yet to open their accounts. Back to the future? Republic of Ireland striker Daryl Murphy celebrates his late equaliser in Serbia (Nick Potts/PA) Ireland have played only one competitive game in Serbia since the break-up of the former Yugoslavia, a 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw in September 2016. They got off to the perfect start when Branislav Ivanovic deflected Jeff Hendricks shot into his own net, but trailed 2-1 thanks to Filip Kostics strike and a Dusan Tadic penalty. However, Daryl Murphy snatched a point with his first senior international goal in his 24th appearance as the visitors rode their luck to emerge with tangible reward. Joint Venture of Tata Consulting Engineers Limited, Consulting Engineers Group Ltd., Aarvee Associates Architects Engineers and Consultants Private Limited, PADECO Co. Ltd. has quoted the lowest bid for an amount of Rs 1,111 crores for the work 'Project Management Consultancy Services' for the construction of civil works packages for Mumbai- High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project. Financial bids for the work 'Project Management Consultancy Services for the construction of civil works packages for High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project were opened on Monday. According to a release by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited, this includes supervision of all 13 civil works packages including Viaducts, Concrete/Steel bridges, Tunnels (Undersea & Mountain tunnels), Civil work of all 12 stations, Maintenance depots, and Training Institute building. "Joint Venture of Tata Consulting Engineers Limited, Consulting Engineers Group Ltd., Aarvee Associates Architects Engineers and Consultants Private Limited, PADECO Co. Ltd. has quoted the lowest bid for an amount of Rs 1,111 crores and the tenure of the contract is 96 months," it said. Two consortium/Joint venture companies-- Nippon Koei Co. Ltd., Oriental Consultants Global Co. Ltd., RITES Ltd. Consortium and Joint Venture of Tata Consulting Engineers Limited, Consulting Engineers Group Ltd., Aarvee Associates Architects Engineers and Consultants Private Limited, PADECO Co. Ltd were qualified in the technical bid evaluation. (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.) Some 35.9% of Ukrainians fully or partially agree that the amnesty should be applied to those who have committed minor criminal offenses in Donbas and Crimea, according to the data of the Info Sapiens all-Ukrainian omnibus held from January 13 to January 31, 2021 commissioned by the School of Political Analytics. According to a survey presented at the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center on Tuesday, some 24.1% of respondents disagree with the application of amnesty for minor criminal offenses in Donbas and Crimea, while 20.8% did not answer this question. Some 49.9% of the respondents are sure that foreigners should be excluded from the list of potentially amnestied persons, and 17.2% do not agree with this. Some 36.4% believe that those who will be amnestied should be able to stand for election to local government agencies, and 21.4% adhere to the opposite position. Another 23.8% did not answer this question. Some 44.4% support the position that persons within the occupation administrations of Russia, which ensured the life of the temporarily occupied territories and did not harm the life and health of citizens, should not be subjected to lustration. The opposite opinion is of 17.9%. Some 46.6% agree that elections to local governments in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea should take place at least two years after de-occupation. The opposite position is taken by 11.6%. Some 51.2% of respondents believe that after de-occupation, residents of the temporarily occupied territories should not be restricted in their right to vote in all elections, and only 13% disagree. The survey was conducted as part of the Think Tanks Development Initiative in Ukraine, which is being carried out by the International Renaissance Foundation in cooperation with the Open Society Initiative for Europe (OSIFE) with financial support from the Swedish Embassy in Ukraine. The sample consisted of 2,000 respondents throughout Ukraine, with the exception of the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea. The maximum theoretical error does not exceed 2.2%. From EPIC.org: EPIC filed a series of open government requests seeking information on fusion centers role in monitoring Black Lives Matter protests this summer and on fusion centers possession of advanced surveillance technologies including location tracking services, cell phone data extraction tools, facial recognition, and social media monitoring tools. EPIC sent requests to federally funded fusion centers in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Northern California, and North Dakota. Fusion centers are state or regional intelligence units that provide police with access to advanced surveillance technologies while relaying information to the Department of Homeland Security. EPIC previously urged DHSs DPIAC committee to investigate fusion centers and recommend ending federal funding of fusion centers. Unaccompanied children arriving at the border from Mexico who have parents or guardians already in the US are to be fast-tracked for release to ease overcrowding at shelters, according to a memo seen by CBS. The order on Monday from the Department of Health and Human Services's refugee agency comes after the number of children being held in US custody ballooned to nearly 15,500 on Sunday. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), an agency within Health and Human Services charged with housing migrants, has been struggling to accept any new intake from Customs and Border Protection. This has led to a bottleneck at CBP, who are holding thousands of children for longer than the legally allowed period of 72 hours. In an internal memo obtained by CBS News, the refugee agency ordered staff at its shelters to release some children into the care of relatives in the United States. Entire families are packed beside each other in the makeshift facilities Families, including young kids, are being fed at a temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas. A new directive states they should be fast-tracked for release from refugee agency shelters A children's play pen with trucks, dolls and an alphabet game has been set up inside a temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas, to ease the harshness of the environment Young migrant children wait in line at a temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas. The photo, taken on March 17, was taken as an explosion in the number of children seeking asylum in the United States caused a bottleneck at makeshift border patrol facilities The refugee agency told staff at its shelters that children designated as 'category 1' minors, those who have parents or legal guardians in the US willing to house them, were eligible to have their release expedited. The only exceptions would be in the case of 'extremely vulnerable' children, if the parents of legal guardians seeking to sponsor them were identified as having 'red flags', or if they required legally-mandated home study. Shelters were authorized to cover the costs of parents traveling to collect the children. DailyMail.com has contacted the Office of Refugee Resettlement to seek comment about the new policy. Figures leaked at the weekend from the CBP showed the extent of the prolonged, illegal stays at their facilities. A young girl and woman watch on as border workers attempt to process some of the thousands of migrant families arriving at the southern border New images from inside the temporary processing facilities at Donna, Texas, shows Customs and Border Patrol staff completing paperwork for new arrivals Under a court order, minors must be removed from the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection within 72 hours and moved to shelters run by the Health and Human Services Department until a relative or other approved sponsor can claim them. But as of Saturday, 2,226 children had been held in custody for more than five days and 823 for more than 10 days. Border agency records indicate that children are spending an average of 136 hours - more than five days - in CBP custody. Construction workers are racing to build new tent cities in Texas to house migrant children. Thousands of miles away in California, the Biden administration announced that the San Diego Convention Center will act as a shelter for unaccompanied kids. 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. The large numbers of teenage boys arriving at the border are given food and drinks by CBP staff Migrant children stand in line inside a temporary processing facility in Donna, Texas, to get access to essentials while other children held in cage-like tents look on and wait their turn The CBP finally released photos Tuesday as it claimed it wants to 'balance the need for public transparency and accountability' Since a rush of arrivals of the refugee agency has been trying to reopen shelters closed during the pandemic. It is currently housing more than 11,000 children, including 1,500 at a makeshift camp in Dallas. On Tuesday, the US Customs and Border Protection was forced to release its own photos from inside crowded migrant facilities after a Texas Democrat beat them to it by sharing images of the 'terrible conditions for children' at the border. The images showed children packed inside pens and forced to sleep on the floors in foil blankets as it claimed it wants to 'balance the need for public transparency and accountability' - while still telling 'external visitors' not to visit the facilities to see the conditions for themselves. Biden administration officials considered allowing media visits but then downgraded this to say they would only share some photos with the press, before walking back on granting any insight altogether. Video taken inside the facility in El Paso, Texas, shows migrants lying on mattresses on the floor with foil blankets The migrants are forced to exist cheek-by-jowl as they await their claims being processed On Monday, White House Press Secretary said journalists will eventually be able to tour the detention centers after Rep. Henry Cuellar released photos of the temporary facility in Donna, Texas, and slammed the situation a 'humanitarian crisis.' No timeline for media trips was given and the Biden administration continues to push the official line that there is 'no crisis'. The CBP said it was sharing the images in an effort to 'balance the need for public transparency and accountability' in the wake of a backlash. 'CBP continues to transfer unaccompanied minors to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as quickly and efficiently as possible after they are apprehended on the Southwest Border,' it said in a statement Tuesday. 'In order to protect the health and safety of our workforce and those in our care we continue to discourage external visitors in our facilities; however, CBP is working to balance the need for public transparency and accountability.' This comes one day after Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar shared images from inside the Donna facility taken over the weekend as he said 400 unaccompanied male minors are being held in 'terrible conditions' in a space meant to hold a maximum of 260 people. Cuellar said he did not take the images but said they offer an insight into the 'terrible conditions for the children' at the border, where he has recently toured a different shelter for children. The Biden Administration's policy towards unaccompanied migrant children has been to allow them to stay while their claims are processed. This was a reversal of the Trump policy of deporting anyone who attempted to enter the United States, regardless of their age. NORTH HAVEN Environmental consultants warn the construction of a proposed private school on Ridge Road would harm nearby wetlands, threatening vulnerable species and leading to possible algal blooms. But the project applicant, Slate School, which already has one North Haven location, contends the project would have no negative wetlands impact, and claims calculations used to inform the concerns are erroneous. The environmental analysis and calculations, which suggest the development would load nitrogen into adjacent wetlands at concentrations significantly higher than a healthy stream can handle, were commissioned on behalf of residents opposed to the construction. With a vote set for Wednesday evening on whether to forward the project to the Planning & Zoning Commission, members of the North Haven Inland Wetlands Commission will decide which side they believe. A petition opposing the development has gained roughly 150 signatures from residents of North Haven and neighboring Hamden, according to Gary de Simone, who lives next-door to the proposed site and has helped lead efforts against the development. If approved, Slate School would repurpose a decommissioned church at 5100 Ridge Road and construct a second building to create Slate Upper School, serving approximately 90 students in grades 7-12. The campus would act as the counterpart to Slate Lower School, Slates nearby K-6 campus at 124 Mansfield Road, which also drew opposition when it was proposed in 2017. Slate Schools learning model is centered around the environment. The organization has won multiple awards for environmental stewardship at its Mansfield Road campus, according to an email signed by founder Jennifer Staple Clark and Head of School Julie Mountcastle. As we had done since inception at our Lower School campus at 124 Mansfield Road, we are specifically working to improve the ecological health of the property at 5100 Ridge Road, the email said, also pointing out the project had received more than 200 letters of support. Environmental concerns To the north of the Ridge Road property, a narrow stream makes its way past a row of pine trees. According to Sigrun Gadwa, a soil scientist, botanist and former executive director of the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association, that watercourse feeds into a larger stream that supports vulnerable species including caddisflies, black flies and stoneflies. The surrounding wetlands also are home to native plants including fern, skunk cabbage, sedge tussocks and a variety of trees, she said. Megan Raymond, a wetlands scientist advising Slate School, testified at an IWC public hearing that there will be no negative consequences to the wetlands system northwest of the site. Therell be no adverse impacts on the physical characteristics of this wetlands system as a result of the proposed project, she said during the Feb. 24 meeting, online footage shows. She further argued that the existing development, which includes the church and a parking lot, has no stormwater management system. Were seeking to implement modern and effective management tools to protect the water quality of this receding wetland that does exist to the northwest, she said. But Gadwa believes the proposed development could seriously damage the wetlands. While she did not testify at the public hearing, Gadwa is an associate of George Logan, a consultant hired by those opposed to the project, who offered the IWC an assessment similar to hers. If Slate School goes forward, according to Gadwa, nitrogen loading from the septic system could overfertilize adjacent wetlands, causing invasive species such as phragmites to outcompete native plants. Nitrate contamination of the headwater stream also likely would lead to eutrophication and algal blooms, she said. Gadwa based her analysis on calculations performed by Clinton Brown of Loureiro Engineering Associates, a firm hired on behalf of the residents opposed to the project. Brown estimated that under proposed conditions, nitrates would enter the wetlands at a concentration of 32.4 mg/L. The Environmental Protection Agencys safe drinking water limit is 10 mg/L. And according to Gadwa, clean streams typically have nitrate levels of 1 mg/L or less. A dispute over calculations Thomas Daly, an engineer working on the Slate School proposal, called Browns calculations erroneous. He said they failed to account for an offsite watershed area that would further dilute the nitrate concentrations before they reached the wetland. He also challenged Browns methodology, which was based on a 2006 manual from the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, titled Guidance for Design of Large-Scale On-Site Wastewater Renovation Systems. The methodology cant be extrapolated to such a small system, he said, contending that method is intended for systems handling more than 7,500 gallons per day, as opposed to Slate Schools proposed 990 gallons per day. The engineer likened the scenario to applying the Department of Transportations highway construction guidelines to a parking lot. On the other hand, Brown, who did not return requests for comment, defended his calculation methods during the February public hearing. It is the opinion of the authors of the 2006 (DEEP) documents that the principals of that document apply to all systems regardless of size, he said, according to footage of the meeting. Meanwhile, Logan said Slate School could have performed its own nitrogen loading analysis. They could have counteracted it and said, youve done it wrong, Logan said. But Daly said the project size did not require such an analysis. Why should we be held to a standard that nobody else in the state of Connecticut is held to? he said. The reason why you dont do that is because the public code for smaller systems has been developed in a way thats highly conservative. Next steps If the IWC approves Slate Schools proposal Wednesday, approval from the Planning & Zoning Commission represents the last major hurdle to construction, according to North Haven Town Planner Alan Fredricksen. The projects septic system also would need final approval from the Quinnipiack Valley Health District, according to Director Karen Wolujewicz. An exemption from the state Department of Public Health, which is required because the project would use a single septic system for two buildings, already has been granted, the agency confirmed. Staff for the DEEP were not aware of any proposal elements requiring the agencys approval, according to spokesman Will Healey. Wetlands are in the towns jurisdiction, he noted. Because the proposed site is within an Aquifer Protection Area, however, the DEEP did seek assurances from the town that the groundwater will continue to be a priority and protected, Healey said. Information on how to view Wednesday nights IWC meeting, scheduled to be held at 7 p.m. via Zoom, can be found on North Havens website. meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com (Natural News) Russia and Chinas space agencies have signed an agreement to built a joint lunar space station. According to a statement released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Tuesday, March 9, the new space station would be open to all countries and international partners. China and Russia will use their accumulated experience in space science, research and development as well as the use of space equipment and space technology to jointly develop a road map for the construction of an international lunar scientific research station (ILRS), the CNSA said. Meanwhile, a statement from Russias Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities (Roscosmos) said that the two agencies planned to promote cooperation on the creation of an open-access ILRS for all interested countries and international partners, with the goal of strengthening research cooperation and promoting the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes in the interests of all mankind. In addition, the two countries have also signed agreements to jointly set up a data center for the exploration of the moon and deep space. They also plan to cooperate in the future on Chinas Change-7 and Russias Luna 27 missions, both of which aim to survey the lunar south pole. Moonbase to allow for wide range of research According to Roscosmos, the lunar space station will be a complex of experimental and research facilities created either on the moons surface or in orbit around the moon. The facilities will be designed to allow for a wide range of multidisciplinary research. These include testing technologies with the possibility of long-term unmanned operation with the prospect of human presence on the moon. As part of their agreement, Roscosmos says that the two countries will work on a roadmap on how to design, develop and operate the station and plan its presentation to the world space community. Russia was a founding partner of the International Space Station (ISS), alongside the U.S. and other nations. The ISS, which marked its 20th anniversary of continuous operation in November of 2020, remains mankinds only operational and permanently inhabited space station to date. While Russia was a pioneer in space exploration, beating the U.S. to several milestones back in the 1960s, the country has struggled to replicate its early success in recent years. Since the end of the Cold War, Russias space program has experienced a string of setbacks and budget cuts. More recently, it suffered another blow after it lost its monopoly for manned space flights to the ISS following the first successful mission of U.S. company SpaceX. Unlike Russia, China is not involved in ISS initiatives, owing in part due to U.S. federal legislation barring cooperation with Beijing on space projects. More importantly, the country entered the space race much later than the U.S. and Russia. But China has been quickly playing catch up with its space program thanks to billions of dollars in government investment. China quickly catching up to the US in space In 2019, China became the first country to send an unmanned rover to the far side of the moon. Then in July of 2020, it launched its Tianwen-1 probe thats currently orbiting Mars. Meanwhile, in December, another Chinese probe successfully brought moonrock samples back to Earth in a mission that was the first of its type in over four decades. This made it only the third country to successfully do so. Now, China is planning to send astronauts to the moon by the 2030s. Should this pan out, it would make China only the second country to do so after the U.S. The deal with Russia then could be seen as a demonstration of Chinas confidence in achieving this goal. It could also be seen as a way to fast-track its lunar ambitions in the wake of the U.S.s plans for its own moon base. In September of 2020, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Space Force signed an agreement that committed both towards building an American military base on the moon. The base, dubbed Artemis, would be located near the lunar south pole near where China and Russia are set to launch survey missions. (Related: NASA-Space Force agreement may pave the way for a military moon base.) With the moves by all three parties, it seems that building a lunar base is the next big milestone in the ongoing space race. Follow Space.news for more on future manned missions to the Moon. Sources include: NDTV.com Edition.CNN.com Two defendants in $1 bln Promsvyazbank embezzlement case arrested in absentia RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 16:17 23/03/2021 MOSCOW, March 23 (RAPSI) A court has issued an arrest warrant in absentia for two defendants in a case over illegal siphoning abroad over 87 billion rubles (over $1 billion) belonging to Promsvyazbank, involving the credit organizations ex-owner Dmitry Ananyev, the Investigative Committees press service reports. The defendants, Batraz Pliyev and Ukrainian citizen Ivan Pidluzhny, are charged with large-scale embezzlement committed by an organized group with the use of job position. Dmitry Ananyev and his brother Alexey are defendants in a case over illegal siphoning abroad over 87 billion rubles (over $1 billion) belonging to the credit organization. Investigators believe that in 2017 the Ananyev brothers created a criminal group to embezzle funds of the bank after the Central Bank of Russia had revealed numerous violations in the credit organization. Ordered by Dmitry Ananyev in December 2017, the accomplices made payments in favor of a firm registered in Amsterdam for securities allegedly acquired from it, including Promsvyazbank shares and bonds issued by other legal entities controlled by the bankers. The deal was registered through fictious purchase and sale contracts. Thus, they withdrew 87.2 million rubles from Russias financial circulation in several hours and transferred to Cyprus. Later, the Ananyev brothers laundered and managed the money at sole discretion, according to the investigation. In September 2019, Moscows Basmanny District Court issued an arrest warrant for Alexey and Dmitry Ananyev in absentia. They are on the international wanted list. Asian American and Pacific Islander members of Congress, along with outside advocates, have been seething for some time about limited representation in Joe Bidens Cabinet. Katherine Tai, the recently confirmed United States trade representative, is the lone AAPI member of the Cabinet, but there are no AAPI full Cabinet secretaries for the first time in decades. Two AAPI Democratic senators, Illinois Tammy Duckworth and Hawaiis Mazie Hirono, raised the complaint to White House deputy chief of staff Jen OMalley Dillon on a virtual conference Monday night, as Axios first reported. Among the defenses OMalley Dillon raised was that, well, Vice President Kamala Harris is the first Asian American woman to serve as vice president, and thats a fairly big job. Advertisement It didnt go over well with Duckworth. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Last night, that was the trigger for me, she told reporters Tuesday, describing OMalley Dillons raising of Harris as incredibly insulting. Multiple times Ive heard that, she said. And that is not something you would say to the Black CaucusWell, you have Kamala, were not going to put any more African Americans in the Cabinet because you have Kamalawhy would you say it to AAPI? Duckworth informed the White House that she would vote against all of Bidens non-diversity appointeesthose who arent racial minorities or LGBTQuntil the White House either appoints another AAPI member to a prominent position or offers some sort of commitment for one down the road. Hirono joined Duckworth later Tuesday afternoon. Advertisement Tammys position is that until she gets a commitment from the White House that there will be more diversity representation in the Cabinet and senior White House advisory positions, she will not vote to confirm anyone who does not represent diversity, Hirono said. This is not about pitting one diversity group against another. I think this is a well-articulated, focused position. I am prepared to join her in that. According to Duckworth, she and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus had first been told by the White House that even though there werent any AAPI Cabinet secretaries, in her words, the White House considered the trade representatives and the OMB director to be Cabinet-level, because they sit around the table. But once Bidens pick for director of the Office of Management and Budget, Neera Tanden, withdrew, there was a pressure effort from powerful House Democratsincluding the top three leaders, as well as the Congressional Black Caucusto push the White House into promoting Tandens would-be deputy, Shalanda Young, to the top OMB job. Asian American groups tried to coalesce around former Obama administration Housing and Urban Development official Nani Coloretti as their preferred alternative. Duckworth, however, implied that momentum had swung against her. Advertisement Advertisement And now were hearing that the push is not for the AAPI candidate to be considered for head of OMB, Duckworth said. To be told that, well, You have Kamala Harris, were very proud of her, you dont need anybody else, is insulting. The move by the two senators comes a week after a series of shootings in the Atlanta area that killed eight people, six of whom were women of Asian descent, and amid a national uptick of violence against Asian Americans. The events have set off long-standing frustrations among the AAPI community that their voices and concerns were being ignored. Hirono told CNN that she also told the White House she would like to see, in a consistent way, the AAPI community being polled when its testing out various policies among different demographics. Advertisement The ultimatum is the latest case of Democratic senators publicly using the individual leverage that comes with a 50-50 Senate. Until theres a resolution, Duckworth and Hironos position puts the confirmations of straight white nominees who cant win Republican support on holdor dooms them. That means the nomination of Colin Kahl for undersecretary of defense for policy, whos come under conservative criticism for both a Tanden-esque tweeting history and his Middle East policy views, might be toast. Advertisement In fact, thats a position that Duckworth is already looking at for one that Biden could fill with an AAPI nominee. They got an assistant secretary of defense for policy coming up, she said. I already told them Im going to be a no on that. In addition to that or OMB, she mentioned the Federal Communications Commissionor, she said, the White House could make a commitment for a future Cabinet secretary, an actual Cabinet secretary. But they need to, at this point, after six months Ive been giving them names of people, many well-qualified AAPIs who never even got a phone call, Duckworth said. At this point, they can call me and tell me what the proposal is. Beijing hit back immediately with punitive measures against the EU that appeared broader, including European lawmakers, diplomats, institutes and families, and banning their businesses from trading with China. (Photo: AP/Representational) BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON/BEIJING: The United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada imposed sanctions on Chinese officials on Monday for human rights abuses in Xinjiang, the first such coordinated Western action against Beijing under new U.S. President Joe Biden. Beijing hit back immediately with punitive measures against the EU that appeared broader, including European lawmakers, diplomats, institutes and families, and banning their businesses from trading with China. Western governments are seeking to hold Beijing accountable for mass detentions of Muslim Uighurs in northwestern China, where the United States says China is committing genocide. China denies all accusations of abuse. The coordinated effort appeared to be early fruit in a concerted U.S. diplomatic push to confront China in league with allies, a core element of Bidens still evolving China policy. Senior U.S. administration officials have said they are in daily contact with governments in Europe on China-related issues, something they call the Europe roadshow. Amid growing international condemnation, (China) continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in statement ahead of meetings with EU and NATO ministers in Brussels this week. Canadas foreign ministry said: Mounting evidence points to systemic, state-led human rights violations by Chinese authorities. Activists and U.N. rights experts say at least 1 million Muslims have been detained in camps in Xinjiang. The activists and some Western politicians accuse China of using torture, forced labour and sterilisations. China says its camps provide vocational training and are needed to fight extremism. The European Union was the first to impose sanctions on Monday on four Chinese officials, including a top security director, and one entity, a decision later mirrored by Britain and Canada. Those also targeted by the United States were Chen Mingguo, director of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau and another senior official in the region, Wang Junzheng. The United States had already last year designated for sanctions the top official in Xinjiang, Chen Quanguo, who was not targeted by the other Western allies on Monday, to avoid a larger diplomatic dispute, experts and diplomats said. The foreign ministers of Canada and Britain issued a joint statement with Blinken, saying the three were united in demanding that Beijing end its repressive practices in Xinjiang. Evidence of abuses was overwhelming, including satellite imagery, eyewitness testimony, and the Chinese governments own documents, they said. Separately, the foreign ministers of Australia and New Zealand issued a statement expressing grave concerns about the growing number of credible reports of severe human rights abuses against ethnic Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang and welcoming the measures announced by Canada, the European Union, Britain and the United States. FIRST MAJOR EU SANCTIONS IN DECADES The move by the U.S. and its allies follows two days of talks between U.S. and Chinese officials last week, which laid bare the tensions between the world's two largest economies. The EU accused Chen Mingguo of arbitrary detentions and degrading treatment inflicted upon Uighurs and people from other Muslim ethnic minorities, as well as systematic violations of their freedom of religion or belief. Others hit with travel bans and asset freezes were: senior Chinese officials Wang Mingshan, the former deputy party secretary in Xinjiang, Zhu Hailun, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Public Security Bureau. The EU has sought to avoid confrontation with Beijing and Mondays sanctions were the first significant measures since the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, although Brussels targeted two computer hackers and a technology firm in 2020 as part of broader cyber sanctions. The steps were praised by the United States. A united transatlantic response sends a strong signal to those who violate or abuse international human rights, Blinken said. While mainly symbolic, the EU sanctions mark a hardening towards China, which Brussels regarded as a benign trading partner but now views as a systematic abuser of rights and freedoms. Britain has repeatedly denounced torture, forced labour and sterilisations that it says are taking place on an industrial scale in Xinjiang and repeated its criticism of Beijing on Monday. POINTLESS Beijings reprisal was swift. Retaliation included sanctions on European lawmakers, the EUs main foreign policy decision-making body known as the Political and Security Committee and two institutes. On Tuesday, China also summoned the EU ambassador, Nicolas Chapuis, to lodge a solemn protest and demand that the bloc correct its error to prevent further damage to relations. The so-called sanctions based on lies are not acceptable, Wang Yi, foreign minister and state councillor, said separately during a joint briefing with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. German politician Reinhard Butikofer, who chairs the European Parliaments delegation to China, was among the most high-profile figures to be hit. The non-profit Alliance of Democracies Foundation, founded by former NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen, was on the list, according to a statement by Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also included was Adrian Zenz, a German scholar whose research was cited by the State Department last year when highlighting alleged abuses in Xinjiang. The Netherlands summoned Chinas ambassador to The Hague after Beijing announced its measures on 10 Europeans, while the European Parliament, along with German, Dutch, Belgian and other foreign ministers, rejected the Chinese retaliation. These sanctions prove that China is sensitive to pressure, Dutch lawmaker Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, who was put on Chinas sanctions list, said on Twitter. Let this be an encouragement to all my European colleagues: Speak out! Restricted from entering China or doing business with it, Beijing accused its targets of seriously harming the countrys sovereignty over Xinjiang. All 27 EU governments agreed to the blocs punitive measures, but Hungarys foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, called them harmful and pointless. Decode Your Future with an Online Computer Science Degree from Drexel Drexel University's online computer science programs are designed to prepare you for work on the cutting edge of technology. The curriculum is designed for students with any level of experience or previous knowledge. Choose the program thats right for you. Learn More. Nearly 30,000 Macs in 153 countries have been infected with a new malware strain that security researchers are calling Silver Sparrow. Discovered by researchers at Red Canary, the malware has been sitting on it hosts waiting for a payload that never arrived. "Though we haven't observed Silver Sparrow delivering additional malicious payloads yet, its forward-looking M1 chip compatibility, global reach, relatively high infection rate, and operational maturity suggest Silver Sparrow is a reasonably serious threat, uniquely positioned to deliver a potentially impactful payload at a moment's notice," Red Canary Intelligence Analyst Tony Lambert wrote in a company blog Thursday. Although researchers at Malwarebytes have identified 29,139 macOS endpoints infected by Silver Sparrow, many more machines could be hit by the malicious software, maintained Tony Anscombe, chief security evangelist at Eset. "Based on what was first seen, the malware may be more widespread than is called out in the disclosure," he told TechNewsWorld. "The 30K number comes from a single security vendor as opposed to the entire macOS environment." However, Malwarebytes Director of Mac and Mobile Thomas Reed maintained the bad app may be coming to light as it's about to go dark. "This may be an infection that's already run its course," he told TechNewsWorld. "There's a file that triggers the malware to self-delete," he explained. "That file is making up most of our detections at the moment. The creator seems to be sending the self-destruct command now." Blocked by Apple In a statement provided to TechNewsWorld, Apple said that upon discovering the malware, it revoked the certificates of the developer accounts used to sign the packages, preventing new machines from being infected. Apple also noted that there is no evidence to suggest the malware identified by the researchers has delivered a malicious payload to infected users. It added that the company has a number of measures in place to provide a safe experience for its users, including technical mechanisms, such as the Apple notary service, to protect users by detecting malware and blocking it so it can't run. That service, though, has been less than perfect in the past, maintained Joshua A. Long, chief security analyst at Intego, maker of security and privacy software for Macs, in Austin, Texas. "It is more significant that, according to our own research at Intego, this is at least the sixth major time that Apple's notarization process has failed to detect malware families that have either been distributed in the wild or uploaded to VirusTotal," he told TechNewsWorld. "Notarization is specifically supposed to identify and block new malware before it can ever infect Macs," he continued, "but Apple's automated notarization process has repeatedly notarized dozens of malware samples that Apple has failed to detect as malicious." Poisoned Searches How the infected machines came into contact with the malware is a mystery at the moment. "Malware researchers have not yet conclusively identified the exact delivery method," Long said. "One theory is that end-users may have encountered the malware via poisoned Google search results -- search results leading to legitimate sites that have been compromised by a threat actor or malicious sites that rank highly for particular searches," he added. Another possibility is malicious browser extensions, Red Canary Director of Intelligence Katie Nickels noted during a live streaming session on Twitter on Monday. Long added that there are two versions of the malware, also known as Slisp. One is compiled for Intel Macs. The other is a universal binary that runs on both Intel and ARM-based M1 machines. "It's worth noting, however, that M1 Macs can often run Mac malware compiled only for Intel, due to Apple's Rosetta technology which enables Intel binaries to run on M1 Macs," he added. "We can expect that virtually all Mac malware from this point forward will be designed to run on both architectures," he predicted. Malware ARMs Race Lambert agreed that Apple's M1 architecture will be a future target of bad actors. "The inclusion of a binary compiled for use on systems running Apple's new M1 ARM processor is important, because it suggests that the developers of Silver Sparrow are thinking ahead rather than simply writing their malware to be compatible with those chipsets that currently have the largest share of the market," he told TechNewsWorld. Christopher Budd, senior global threat communications manager at Avast, of Prague in the Czech Republic, a maker of security software, including antivirus programs for the Mac, explained that malware authors are essentially business people. They adapt based on market trends. "Making this malware functional on new M1 systems shows that these authors believe there is or will be enough of a market for that platform to make it worthwhile to devote resources to it," he told TechNewsWorld. "The fact that macOS malware and adware authors are compiling binaries for M1 was obvious, expected, and does not warrant the recent sensationalism," added Eset Detection Engineer Michal Malik. Novel Install Targeting Apple's ARM architecture isn't the only way Silver Sparrow distinguishes itself from most Mac malware found in the wild. "Most of the malware we observe for macOS systems ultimately delivers adware and related payloads," Lambert explained. "They tend to use preinstall, postinstall, or other shell scripts inside PKG and DMG installers," he continued. "While we've seen legitimate software use the macOS Installer JavaScript API, it's not something we've ever observed with macOS malware." Eset's Anscombe noted that the persistence and unconventional method of installation are notable aspects of Silver Sparrow, but there are more dangerous malware samples already in the wild. "The danger of this malware depends on the actions of the author to deliver a payload and it's intent," he said. "There is also the risk that another bad actor could try and leverage the mechanism and take control of it," he added. Myth of the Invincible Mac What can consumers do to protect themselves from Silver Sparrow? Lambert recommends turning to third-party protection. "As a general rule, we typically recommend that users run third-party antivirus or antimalware products to supplement the existing antimalware protections maintained by operating system manufacturers," he said. "While we're talking specifically about macOS in this case," he continued. "this advice is just as applicable to Windows machines." That advice may be dubious to Mac owners who've been told their machines are immune from infections from malicious software. "It's not that difficult to infect a Mac," Reed observed. "The only thing that has stood in the way in the past has been market share." "Why would you want to invest your time in creating malware for a system that has fairly low market share compared to Windows?" he asked. "But as Macs have increased their market share, they've become an increasingly popular target, especially because a lot of the people who have Macs are people who you would want to target, like CEOs and other well-paid professionals." John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) is likely to enslave Africans to the rest of the world if the challenges associated with the program are not fixed, the Citizen Watch, a think tank group has disclosed Currently, it is estimated that Ghana needs about US$5billion for the next 10 years to support the private sector to enable it compete favorably with its peers. "What is the government position on this? What our leaders ought to know is that they are in to take advantage of our resources, by scooping everything we have in the country without bringing in anything, it said. The government dont have the funds to support the local industries to enable them compete with its peers, however, the foreign companies would come in with their resources to establish huge factories in the country. They would export the products to neighboring countries and make their returns on investment, which would be a major disadvantage to us, the Group said. Until these challenges are fixed, the AfCTA will be a conduit for foreign companies to come and take advantage of Africa and sweep our income. They will get cheap label, cheap labour, no entry duties, sell the products to us and carry our money away. This would be the biggest slavery ever to hit the soil of Africa. Our first challenge and focus should have been import substitution and how we can capitalize on that. Then after which we look into exporting to other African countries base on our competitive advantage but we have turned everything upside down, the statement said. According to the Citizen Watch, we cannot talk about AfCTA without local capacity. We have not been able to meet local demand, so how do we prepare to export. We consider the AfCTA program as a premature project and should be put on hold until we have been able to fix the challenges. According to a statement issued in Accra and signed by Elikem Agbenyegah, the leader of the Group, Ghana is not ready for any AfCTA program. "What the government could have done was to put on hold the AfCTA program and rather negotiate for some treaties with its peers within the sub-region which could be more beneficial to the country. But because our leaders have been blindfolded by the foreign investors, they have gone ahead to sign on to the AFCTA without any critical assessment forgetting that the continent was not prepared for it, the statement said. The AfCFTA aims to boost intra-African trade by providing a comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade agreement among the member states, covering trade in goods, services, investment, intellectual property rights and competition policy. Other continental frameworks include Boosting Intra African Trade (BIAT) which aims to deepen Africa's market integration and significantly increasing the volume of trade that African countries undertake amongst themselves from the current levels of about 10-13% to 25% or more within the next decade and The Action Plan for the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA), which aims to mobilize both financial and nonfinancial resources and enhance Africa's industrial performance. The agenda 2063 is the blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. It is the strategic framework for delivering on Africas goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance. Source: Eric Owusu Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Now we have a rising rate of anti-Asian hate crimes, and a horrific crime in which the perpetrator is white and most of his victims were of Asian descent (although two were white). The powerful ideological temptation is to treat this as yet another shooting in the vein of Pittsburgh and El Paso or, as one CNN headline put it, White Supremacy and Hate Are Haunting Asian-Americans. Tempting but mostly baseless. The same study that found last years rise in anti-Asian hate crimes also notes that the overall incidence of these crimes is relatively small, both in absolute numbers (122 incidents in 2020, out of a total of 1,717 hate crimes), and compared with other victimized groups. It should go without saying that one hate crime is one too many, but even though reports of these incidents may be a small fraction of the overall crimes, proportions matter. And while data about the identity of perpetrators is hard to come by, the New York Police Department did keep tabs last year. It found that out of the 20 anti-Asian hate crimes in which arrests were made, two arrestees were white, five were white Hispanic, two were Black Hispanic, and the rest were Black. What can one conclude from this limited data? Not a lot, except that the idea that white supremacy is what haunts Asian-Americans rests on empirically thin ice. Like so much else in public discourse today, its another capital-T ideological Truth in search of lower-case-t factual truths to validate its predetermined, overstretched hypotheses. That it has the laudable goal of raising awareness and combating hate does not relieve journalists of the responsibility to report facts scrupulously, not play to fears in the service of a higher good. In the meantime, readers deserve to know how the perpetrator was able to buy the murder weapon on the day of his killing spree. They ought to learn more about the religious mania that allegedly fueled his toxic anxieties. They deserve to know just how widespread the sex trade is in massage spas, and why local authorities seem to look the other way. And they ought to see where the evidence may yet lead, including the still-open possibility of hidden racial animus. All of this would be journalism in which the public could have confidence. Instead we have morality plays. TORRINGTON Few people were able to contain their emotions when Matthew Valenti played Amazing Grace on his violin during Mondays COVID-19 anniversary observance at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. The event was held outdoors by the main entrance to recognize the doctors, nurses, administrators and other employees for their work under extremely difficult circumstances during the last year. I was OK until I heard that song, said Tim LeBouthellier, director of communications and community development. Its not over yet, but it was important to do something to honor the year thats gone by. ... It was just something the hospital wanted to do. The days special guests were two patients treated for COVID-19 at CHH: Deborah Manchester of Harwinton, who was the first virus patient in 2020, and Blain Rogozinski, a New Britain police officer and Thomaston resident who was hospitalized for more than a month with dangerous complications. Rogozinski, who attended with his wife, Renee, his brother Ron and a group of fellow officers, was admitted to CHH March 28, 2020, and spent weeks on a ventilator in intensive care. He was taken off the machine April 13, and went home April 18. I was really sick, he said. I dont remember much, but the hospital nurses and doctors are wonderful theyre just awesome people. They went above and beyond for me, and for my family. Renee Rogozinski, also a police officer, said CHH staff called her every day to update her on her husbands condition. They never rushed her off the phone, her husband said. They talked to her every day and gave her as much information as they could. To the gathered group of doctors and nurses, Thank you for saving my life, he said. The care you provide is second to none. Im truly blessed. Manchester, the hospitals first COVID-19 patient, ran a temperature of 104 for three days before she went to the hospital, where she stayed for three days. I have asthma, so they were concerned, she said. Thanks to Charlotte Hungerford for a good job. Brian Mattiello, vice president of strategy and community development, and Dan McIntyre, the hospitals president and senior vice president of Hartford HealthCares Northwest Region, said the hospital family performed far beyond what was expected when the pandemic began. We were facing a tsunami of fear and loss, McIntyre said. We recognized our staff for the work they do every day. We became increasingly overwhelmed, but I dont have the words to express the love and appreciation we have for these people. They set aside their personal challenges, big and small, to do their jobs. What a moment in history this has been. Our staff has become inspiring heroes. Mayor Elinor Carbone remembered the day she received a call from CHH about the first COVID-19 patient. We went into the pandemic with great fear, she said. I learned that Charlotte Hungerford, Hartford HealthCare, the police, the fire departments, the hospital staff, all worked to restore health to the community. Im proud and Im grateful for our partnership, for all youve done, and all you continue to do. Critical care nurse Amy Bond said she and her coworkers were racked with fear when patients with the virus began streaming into the hospital. There was a lot of anticipation and apprehension, she said. We were afraid for ourselves and our families. We experienced sadness every day, watching so many patients deteriorate so quickly, before our eyes. Families had to make heartbreaking decisions, Bond said. The saddest moments were when a person was going to pass away, and we had to hold the phone up for them so to their family members could say goodbye. ... There was tremendous support from staff, who all worked to help us, and it brought us closer. Hospital employees Joan Palmer, Claire Carlson and Bernadette Graham Monday held heart-shaped signs with hopeful messages. Palmer said many administrative and support employees had to step out of their regular job roles to help the medical teams, which was a big challenge. Bernadette spent time on the floors providing technical services for the doctors and nurses, which was a very different environment for her, Palmer said. We saw a lot of patients. Mattiellos wish for all was an end to the suffering and sickness. We will renew ourselves, to get to brighter days, he said. Boulder, Colo., USA: When geobiology graduate student Katie Maloney trekked into the mountains of Canada's remote Yukon territory, she was hoping to find microscopic fossils of early life. Even with detailed field plans, the odds of finding just the right rocks were low. Far from leaving empty-handed, though, she hiked back out with some of the most significant fossils for the time period. Eukaryotic life (cells with a DNA-containing nucleus) evolved over two billion years ago, with photosynthetic algae dominating the playing field for hundreds of millions of years as oxygen accumulated in the Earth's atmosphere. Geobiologists think that algae evolved first in freshwater environments on land, then moved to the oceans. But the timing of that evolutionary transition remains a mystery, in part because the fossil record from early Earth is sparse. Maloney's findings were published yesterday in Geology. She and her collaborators found macroscopic fossils of multiple species of algae that thrived together on the seafloor about 950 million years ago, nestled between bacterial mounds in a shallow ocean. The discovery partly fills in the evolutionary gap between algae and more complex life, providing critical time constraints for eukaryotic evolution. Although the field site was carefully chosen by Maloney's field team leader, sedimentologist Galen Halverson, who has worked in the region for years, the discovery was an unexpected stroke of luck. "I was thinking, 'maybe we'll find some microfossils,'" Maloney said. The possibility of finding larger fossils didn't cross her mind. "So as we started to find well-preserved specimens, we stopped everything and the whole team gathered to collect more fossils. Then we started to find these big, complex slabs with hundreds of specimens. That was really exciting!" Determining if traces like the ones Maloney found are biogenic (formed by living organisms) is a necessary step in paleobiology. While that determination is ultimately made in the lab, a few things tipped her off in the field. The traces were very curvy, which can be a good indicator of life, and there were visible structures within them. The fact that there were hundreds of them twisted together sealed the deal for her. Few people would likely have noticed the fossils that day. "We were really lucky that Katie was there to find them because at first glance, they don't really look like anything," Maloney's advisor, Marc Laflamme, said. "Katie is used to looking at very weird looking fossils, so she has a bit of an eye for saying, 'This is something worth checking out.'" Maloney and her colleagues in the field wrestled the heavy slabs into their helicopter for safe transport back to the lab at the University of Toronto-Mississauga. She, Laflamme, and their collaborators used microscopy and geochemical techniques to confirm that the fossils were indeed early eukaryotes. They then mapped out the specimens' cellular features in detail, allowing them to identify multiple species in the community. While Maloney and her coauthors were writing up their results, they were confident they had found the first macroscopic specimens from this critical time period. During the peer review process, though, they received word from a collaborator that another group in China had made a similar discovery at about the same time--macrofossils from a similar period. That did not dissuade them. "What's a few hundred million years between friends?" Laflamme laughed. "I think our fossils have more detail, which makes them easier to interpret... They're beautiful. They're huge, they're well detailed, there's anatomy. Your eyes are just drawn to them." Ultimately, having two sets of macrofossils from approximately the same time can only improve the timeline of eukaryotic evolution, serving as critical calibration points for DNA-based biologic dating techniques. The new fossils also push back the time when algae were living in marine environments, indicating that evolution had already occurred in lakes on land. But for Maloney, an expert in sedimentology, they also raise questions about what gets preserved in the rock record and why. "Algae became really important early on because of their role in oxygenation and biogeochemical cycles," Maloney said. "So why does it take them so long to show up reliably in the fossil record? It's definitely making us think more about animal ecosystems and whether or not we're seeing the whole picture, or if we're missing quite a bit from a lack of preservation." The whole project has been engaging for Maloney, who pivoted to algae from more recent biota. "I never expected to be fascinated by algae," she said. "But I was pleasantly surprised as I started investigating modern algae, finding what an important role they play in sustainability and climate change--all these big issues that we're dealing with today. So it's been amazing contributing to algae's origin story." ### This fieldwork was carried out with permits on traditional lands of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun with their consent. FEATURED ARTICLE New multicellular marine macroalgae from the early Tonian of northwestern Canada Authors: Katie M. Maloney; Galen P. Halverson; James D. Schiffbauer; Shuhai Xiao; Timothy M. Gibson; Maxwell A. Lechte; Vivien M. Cumming; Alexie E.G. Millikin; Jack G. Murphy; Malcolm W. Wallace; David Selby; Marc Laflamme Contact: katie.maloney@mail.utoronto.ca; marc.laflamme@utoronto.ca URL: https:/ / pubs. geoscienceworld. org/ gsa/ geology/ article/ doi/ 10. 1130/ G48508. 1/ 595633/ New-multicellular-marine-macroalgae-from-the-early GEOLOGY articles are online at http://geology. geoscienceworld. org/ content/ early/ recent . Representatives of the media may obtain complimentary articles by contacting Kea Giles at the e-mail address above. Please discuss articles of interest with the authors before publishing stories on their work, and please make reference to GEOLOGY in articles published. Non-media requests for articles may be directed to GSA Sales and Service, gsaservice@geosociety.org. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Protesters arrested on Saturday allowed bail THAILAND: The 16 protesters who were arrested while taking part in a rally at Sanam Luang on Saturday (Mar 20) have each been released on B35,000 bail. politics By Bangkok Post Tuesday 23 March 2021, 12:29PM Riot police arrest demonstrators near Sanam Luang, Bangkok, on Saturday (Mar 20). Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul. Investigators of Chana Songkhram and Nang Lerng police stations yesterday applied via video conference to the Criminal Court for approval to detain the 16 suspects for a further 12 days, from March 22-April 2. Investigators said they still had to question 11 more witnesses and awaited the results of medical examinations of police and some witnesses who were injured during the protest. The police opposed bail, arguing that the suspects could repeat the alleged offences, causing disturbance and damage to public property. According to police, the 16 were among about 500 people who gathered on one side of the Supreme Court on March 20, using loudspeakers to criticise the government. The crowd later moved to Ratchadamnoen avenue and spraypainted shipping containers stacked up by police to block their passage, and pulled them down with ropes. Protesters also threw firecrackers and glass and iron projectiles at police, using slingshots, and damaged police traffic kiosks, vans and other property. Poilce retaliated, using water cannon against them. The protesters had broken the law prohibiting the gathering of 10 or more people to cause disturbance. They defied police orders to disperse and instead obstructed police performing their duty, police allege. The suspects have denied the charges. After cross-examination, the court allowed the suspects to be freed on bail, with a surety of B35,000 each. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. In Buckingham Center, patients work with top surgeons and staff who are committed to helping them discover their inner beauty. Buckingham Center is pleased to announce that founder and renowned facial plastic surgeon Dr. Edward Buckingham was recently nominated as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for 2021. Castle Connolly recognizes the best doctors among the over 850,000 medical practitioners in the United States each year. Their extensive research offers prospective patients the most reliable recommendations for every aspect of health. The distinction of Castle Connolly Rising Stars pertains to doctors that meet the strictest criteria and are at the beginning of their careers. Doctors with greater experience fall into the Top Doctors category where career-wide achievements are evaluated. To become a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, American medical doctors must first receive nominations. Nominations are submitted every year and are placed in the hands of the physician-led research team. This board of specialists screens nominees to confirm whether or not the doctor meets Castle Connolly's standards. Doctors cannot pay to receive a nomination and the rating system is dynamic. The organization keeps a commitment to constantly improving its methodology to determine the best doctors in the nation. Castle Connolly updates doctors' profiles regularly to reflect their current standing. This allows patients to identify the best doctor for their needs. Dr. Edward D. Buckingham is based in Austin, TX, and focuses solely on facial procedures. He has a passion for helping people make life-changing improvements through subtle cosmetic changes and reconstructive surgery. In his practice, Buckingham Center, patients work with top surgeons and staff who are committed to helping them discover their inner beauty. Popular procedures such as rhinoplasty and facelifts are done with the utmost care by experienced and compassionate surgeons. Besides his professional expertise, Dr. Buckingham has many publications to his name. His work is cited in JAMA, The American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, and in the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, among many others. Dr. Buckingham's awards and accolades are numerous and can be traced back to his years at the University of Texas. He graduated Highest Honors and made the Dean's list for four years while in college. Dr. Buckingham has the honor of 'Highest Written Exam Score American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.' Dr. Buckingham is a recipient of the Merck Manual Award and received the 2018 Larry D. Schoenrock Award from ABFPRS. A Castle Connolly Top Doctor Award winner since 2019, the 2021 nomination is a distinction that certifies Dr. Edward Buckingham's commitment to continued excellence in the field of plastic surgery. Edward D. Buckingham, M.D. a double board-certified plastic surgeon, is located in Austin, TX. The award-winning doctor is recognized by peers and patients alike for his knowledge and skill in plastic surgery. To learn more or to schedule a consultation at Buckingham Center, call 512.401.2500 or visit http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/23/2021 -- 24Kay, the artist from Lithonia, Georgia, is setting the world of hip-hop on fire with his inimitable style and beats that have already made their mark with fans. Born as Kendrick Fludd Jr. the artist always believed that music is the soul that unifies the world. His journey on the scene began in sixth grade as he started writing his own rhymes. His step-uncle, a professional musician, was his inspiration in the early stages, which further developed his passion. Magic happened when he got together with his childhood friend 24Demar and started working on music. In fact, on the very first day they created their first song. Leaving his hometown and venturing into the world of music without much support, would turn out to be the best decision the artist could have made for himself. Over the course of years, 24Kay has made a strong impact with his music. In all, he has released 14 EPs, which are thoroughly enjoyable for listeners. Songs like Poet Knows It, Da Galxy, A Different Step; some of his new releases have cemented his position as the hip-hop artist to watch out for in the near future. Undoubtedly, he has proven himself as the shining new star in the music world, and this might just be the beginning for 24Kay. American music distribution company UnitedMasters has joined forces with the artist to distribute his music on various platforms. Today, his songs are available on Spotify, Google Play, YouTube Music and more. Talking about his song 'Something you smoke to', 24Kay recently said, "The hook is really catchy and the beat is amazing." That seems to the trademark of his music, which has won over his fans. About 24Kay The hip-hop music artist from Lithonia, Georgia has earned himself a tremendous fan following based on refreshing beats that are redefining the genre. Media Contact Email: fludd.kendrick@gmail.com URL: https://unitedmasters.com/24kay Colorado police on Tuesday said a 21-year-old man has been charged with 10 counts of murder, a day after a mass shooting at a grocery store in the city of Boulder. "This suspect has been identified as Ahmad Alissa, 21," Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold told a news conference. Herold said the suspect was hospitalized in stable condition after being shot in an exchange of gunfire with officers following the attack on Monday afternoon. "He is charged with 10 counts of murder in the first degree and will be shortly transported to Boulder county jail," she said. The police chief also read out, one by one, the names of the 10 people killed in the attack, men and women aged from 20 to 65 who included a police officer and father of seven. Police said they had not yet established a motive. "My heart aches today," said Governor Jared Polis. "And I think all of ours does, as Coloradans, as Americans, for this senseless tragedy, loss of life as we hear those names." Polis said residents of the "small community" of Boulder county would be anxiously studying the list of victims for names they recognized. "People of all ages, people who started their day, reading the morning paper or perhaps getting their kids ready... Maybe they were making last-minute spring break plans, but none of them expected that this would be their last day here on the planet," he added. Addressing the same press conference, Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty vowed that "the killer's name will live in infamy." "We will make sure that the suspect is held accountable for what he did to them yesterday," he said. ec/ft BOULDER, Colo., March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BDSA , the leader in data, market intelligence and advisory services to the cannabis industry, announced today the expansion of its cannabis retail sales tracking coverage to include the Pennsylvania market. Pennsylvanias legal cannabis market has grown consistently since medical use was legalized in 2016. With legal adult recreational use on the horizon, BDSA expects Pennsylvania to be one of the top 15 U.S. markets within the next three years. Legal cannabis consumption in Pennsylvania increased significantly according to BDSA consumer research, growing by almost 30% YoY from 24% of respondents reporting legal cannabis consumption in the fall of 2019 to 31% in the fall of 2020. Pennsylvania has the fifth largest population of people aged 21 or older, which directly correlates to the forecasted size of the cannabis market, said Micah Tapman, CEO of BDSA. Companies and industries interested in investing or working in the Pennsylvania cannabis market can leverage BDSAs solutions to gain unparalleled insights into product attributes, consumer preferences, shopping behaviors, and more. Retailers, manufacturers, brands, wholesalers and investors that work with BDSA will now be able to access the most up-to-date and comprehensive suite of cannabis market research for Pennsylvania. BDSA solutions enable product development and innovation, sales and marketing activities, revenue optimization and investment decisions. Enhanced attribute coding and advanced forecasting algorithms combine to make BDSAs market insights invaluable tools to review product attributes, velocity and distribution, and more. About BDSA BDSA helps businesses improve revenues, reduce innovation risk, and prioritize market expansion with accurate and actionable cannabis market intelligence, consumer research and advisory services. The company provides a holistic understanding of the cannabis market by generating insights from point-of-sale data, consumer research, and market-wide industry projections. Retailers, manufacturers, brands, wholesalers and investors can now make better strategic decisions that drive profitability, increase revenues and market share, and reduce expenses. BDSA is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. To learn more please visit www.bdsa.com . Media Contacts Katie Parr UPRAISE Marketing + PR for BDSA 415-397-7600 bdsa@upraisepr.com 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. One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, with widespread vaccine availability and a return to some semblance of normalcy in sight, film festivals and tech conferences are embracing virtual reality more than ever. At Sundance, we jumped into a custom VR platform to chat with other cinephiles and explore mixed media art projects. Microsoft's recent Ignite conference featured an immersive VR keynote, as well as the debut of Mesh, the company's new platform that could power our future AR/VR meetings. But as I stood in a VR recreation of Austin's Congress Avenue, the main drag for the iconic SXSW festival, I felt a wave of emotion come over me. It's the best virtual rendition of a conference I've seen yet, but it also felt like an apocalyptic wasteland, one inhabited mainly by digital detritus and brand sponsorships. Virtual reality may be a good stop-gap solution when we can't meet in person, but it's in no way a replacement. SXSW 2021 in VR SXSW 2021 in VR Maybe I was just feeling the effects of my pandemic lockdown anniversary. But as I explored SXSW's VR playground, which let visitors ride go-karts, hop on drones and traverse a variety of venues, I found myself missing the lack of human contact. That may be due in part to the cultural variety at SXSW; it's a film festival, a musical celebration, an art show and a celebration of technology (often overbearingly so). SXSW is a mashup of everything I love in one place: you can go from chatting with filmmakers you admire, to hearing, to bumping into your favorite comedians at a crowded bar. In VR, the magic of SXSW disappears the instant you take off your headset and find yourself back at home. The social mixed reality company VRrOOm built SXSW's virtual experience atop VRChat, a massively multiplayer game for virtual worlds. Like AltSpaceVR and similar offerings, it lets you customize an avatar (I chose a naked gray alien), and hop into a variety of locations. After befriending a few of the festival's VR admins, I hit a button and was transported right to them at the virtual Congress Avenue. At first glance, it looked like Austin by way of Disney World. I could see the city's iconic locations, like the Paramount Theater and Mohawk bar, but it was all filtered through a neon theme park aesthetic. Visiting those venues was particularly disorienting. The VR Paramount Theater was so accurate, I was able to my usual midnight screening balcony seat. Story continues I'm not going to knock the aesthetic choice, and I think the SXSW team deserves credit for crafting a genuinely immersive VR experience. But the large size of the virtual map may have worked against them. During my visits, I only ever saw a handful of other VR attendees. They rarely stopped to chat. Instead, everyone just wanted to run around and take VR selfies with VRChat's built-in camera. (In that respect, I suppose it's not too different from the real SXSW, which is overstuffed with social media influencers trying to one-up each other with cute pics.) SXSW 2021 in VR I imagine SXSW VR would have been more fun if I were hanging out alongside friends. Then it wouldn't just be me riding a go-kart, or checking out a creepy crypto-art museum on my own. The sheer size and scope of SXSW feels a bit isolating even during a normal year, but like many geeky pop culture events, it isnt that tough to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger as you're stuck in a line together for hours. To be honest, the pandemic has broken me down so much I even miss waiting in those interminable lines. (In 2019, the Engadget crew spent over two hours waiting to get into the premiere for Jordan Peele's Us, only to be turned away when the Paramount reached maximum capacity. It was frustrating at the time, but it sure was a bonding experience!) SXSW 2021 in VR Outside of the main SXSW VR environment, I spent some time dabbling in other virtual exhibitions at the show. A few were holdovers from Sundance, but one stood out in particular: Finding Pandora X, an interactive theater performance which already won the 2020 Venice Film Festival's award for best XR experience. Produced by Double Eye Studios, and directed by Kiira Benzing, it puts you in the place of a Greek Chorus member who has to help the last two gods, Zeus and Hera, find the reincarnated form of Pandora. It also takes place in VRChat, but since it relies on live actors, the entire experience feels a bit more immersive than a standard VR film or game. Finding Pandora X While I was joined with a handful of other VR attendees, what really makes Finding Pandora X work is the lively performance by the cast and Alyssa Landry's script. My fellow chorus members would occasionally be tasked with shouting a prayer for Pandora, or solving simple puzzles, but I had the most fun watching Jonathan David Martin (Believeand Broadway's War Horse) take on the role of Zeus as a believable pompous blowhard, while Hero (Pamela Winslow Kashani) tried to keep him in check. Finding Pandora X reminded me of a bold and experimental off-Broadway production, the sort of thing I miss dearly these days. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. As we move toward normalcy, I still hope these major conferences keep pushing remote opportunities. Just like with Sundance, I genuinely appreciated being able to watch SXSW film premieres and panels in my living room. That infrastructure shouldnt go to waste, as it opens things up to people who cant easily travel or afford spending a week in Austin. But Im also eager to see how SXSW comes back to life next year, perhaps with a smaller in-person offering. For me, the roaring 2020s will probably be less about partying as hard as I can, and more about being mindful about how I experience everything in person. Give me theaters filled with eager pop culture fans; concerts too loud to hold a conversation; and late-night tacos with friends. Give me something that cant be simulated in VR at least, not yet. Care home workers will be forced to get a coronavirus vaccine, a leaked document has revealed. Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock are believed to have pushed for the move amid alarm over the low take-up of jabs among care home staff. Figures show that only around a quarter of care homes in London and around half in other parts of England have reached 'safe' levels of vaccination of staff. A paper was submitted to the Covid-19 Operations Cabinet sub- committee last week to make jabs compulsory for care home staff, according to the Daily Telegraph. If the measures are voted through then England's 1.5 million workers in social care could become legally required to get a coronavirus jab. Figures show that only around a quarter of care homes in London and around half in other parts of England have reached 'safe' levels of vaccination of staff The move to make jabs compulsory for all care home staff is driven by Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock It presents a major departure from the government's previous insistence the jab would not be made mandatory. It is also expected to raise anger among staff, with the paper itself warning that the policy could trigger an exodus of staff and even a string of human rights lawsuits. The paper was drafted by the Department of Health and Social Care and is titled 'Vaccination as a condition of deployment in adult social care and health setting'. The key section for care workers reads: 'The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State [for Health] have discussed on several occasions the progress that is being made to vaccinate social care workers against Covid-19 and have agreed in order to reach a position of much greater safety for care recipients to put in place legislation to require vaccinations among the workforce.' The paper also revealed how the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), set a benchmark of 80 per cent vaccination among staff and 90 per cent vaccination among residents for a care home to be deemed safe. However, even in the best performing areas, only around half of homes have done so. The issue of care home workers not getting the jab has been a long-running one. In December, Nadra Ahmed, chairman of the National Care Association, said as many as 40% of carers could choose not to get the vaccine. Earlier this month, it was revealed that as many as 200,000 NHS and care employees have refused the offer of a jab so far, despite working in close proximity to the vulnerable. 'It is extraordinary that so many people in the health sector appear to have turned down the vaccine,' a Cabinet source told the Mail. 'It seems incredible that anyone working in that environment could give any credence to the rubbish put out by the anti-vaxxers. But we do need to get those people vaccinated.' 2021-03-23 Maeci On 23 and 24 March, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio will be in Brussels to attend the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of NATO-member countries. Among his engagements: Minister Di Maio meets the US Secretary of State Blinken Minister Di Maio meets the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Dominic Raab Statements by Minister Di Maio at the conclusion of the first day of the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting (video) Minister Di Maio meets the Secretary-General of NATO Jens StoltenbergMinister Minister Di Maio meets the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian [March 23, 2021] King AbdulAziz University Launches its Flagship Scientific Platform Heralding A New Dawn in Authoritative Learning JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The King AbdulAziz University recently announced the launch of their platform KAUSP (King Abdulaziz University Scientific Platform) designed to provide full-text searchable academic content to students and researchers in sync with cutting-edge technology. The university has digitized its research output including books, journals, and theses, in varied subjects, and put them on a full text searchable platform that can be accessed by other universities and research centers globally. For the first time King AbdulAziz University will be exporting its research output to the rest of the World. KAUSP is powered by the Al Manhal ePublishing platform. The Al Manhal platform is still the only platform that allows for full text searchability for Arab language. The platform also adheres to other library standards including IP Authentication, remote access, Athens, and indexes with OCLC, Summon, and EBSCO Discovery Services. This allows libraries globally to access and subscribe to the KAUSP collection. Ranked as the number one university in the Middle East, and among the top 200 globally, this move is likely to strengthen the university's position as leaders in excellenceamong the academic community. "With its wide variety of inbuilt research and academic services, King Abdulaziz University's Scientific Platform is truly consistent with the Kingdom's 2030 vision! It aligns with the university's strategy to enhance their digital infrastructure to fuel operational efficiency and shall well serve employees, students, researchers and visitors in their academic endeavors", opines His Excellency the Dean of Library Affairs, Dr. Nabil Qumsani. Dr. Ghassan bin Rashid Al-Nuwaimi, His Excellency the Deputy Deanship of Library Affairs expresses his optimism about the platform and says that "I feel KAUSP truly has the potential to promote an academic environment that stimulates and nurtures creativity! With its advanced data and smart analysis capabilities, it's sure to make tangible improvements in the efficiency and reliability of research produced." "It is our objective to support institutions from the Middle East and Muslim World to make their valued scientific output truly exportable and accessible to the rest of the World, regardless of the language of their research output. This will exponentially increase the visibility and usage of the content coming out of King AbdulAziz University, a main priority of theirs. Using advanced analytics and dashboards the university will be able to get deep insights into how their research is being used, what research is in demand, and who is using it. This will impact future research decisions and increase the ROI on research activities," says Rany AlBaghdadi, President of Al Manhal. About King AbdulAziz University Established in 1967 as a National University, the KAU has been deepening the roots of higher education in western Saudi Arabia. Recognized as the number 1 Institution in the Middle East, it currently ranks among the top 200 on a Global Scale. It is regarded as distinguished in terms of the number of students, scientific and theoretical fields of study and the exclusiveness of certain specializations such as seas sciences, geology, nuclear engineering, medical engineering, meteorology and aviation and mineralization. Thriving on the virtues of Sustainability and Community Engagement, the university has carved out its identity as a World-Class Institute. About Al Manhal Al Manhal is the leading Arabic electronic information provider. It is the world's only provider of full-text searchable databases of scholarly and scientific publications from or about the Middle East, Africa & Asia. Al Manhal combines deep publishing and library expertise with best-in-class technology to enable university, government, corporate, school and public library users to efficiently discover and access thousands of eBooks, eJournals, eTheses, intelligence reports, and conference proceedings from the Middle East, Africa & Asia's leading publishers and research institutes. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1470739/KAUSP_Image.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1470738/KAUSP_LOGO.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has signed into law the protection of unborn babies detected to have down syndrome last Thursday. "Protecting the sanctity of life is among the most important things we as believers are called to do--'Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.' Deut. 30:19," Gov. Reeves tweeted on Friday. His post is actually a retweet of Susan B. Anthony List's thanking him for signing the Hudson Law and a link to their official statement and a simple infographics on the announcement. "Thank you Gov. @TateReeves for signing Hudson's Law and State Sen @JeremyEnglandMS & State Rep @JansenOwen for championing this bill requiring docs to provide accurate information to parents of unborn children diagnosed with #DownSyndrome," the pro-life organization said on the same day. According to FaithWire, the law is named as such in reverence to the two-year old boy with Down Syndrome from Mississippi named Hudson Hartman whose mother, Mika, was among those who pushed for the Life Equality Act. The Life Equality Act, as per FaithWire, is a legislation that prevents discrimination abortion, which is based on disability, genetic makeup, race, and sex. The act was signed into law last summer by Governor Reeves and will now go hand in hand with the Hudson Law, which is officially called the Down Syndrome Information Act. "We thank Governor Reeves for signing Hudson's Law and for his strong pro-life leadership in Mississippi. This law goes hand in hand with the Life Equality Act and will serve as an important check to ensure that doctors are empowering parents of children who have Down syndrome with accurate information and resources," Susan B. Anthony List State Policy Director Sue Liebel said in their official statement dated March 18. "Parents deserve to know that 99% of people with Down syndrome live happy and fulfilled lives," she stressed. "No child should be deprived of the right to be born, especially due to a disability--this is no less than modern-day eugenics." England, on the other hand, narrated in Facebook how he came to work on the Hudson's Law, which started last year through the Life Equality Act. He said he was approached by friend and neighbor who happend to be Mika Hartman to pass a "follow-up legislation" to the Life Equality Act. England said Mika shared her own experience on her pregnancy with Hudson and "did not want this to happen to other prospective parents here in Mississippi." "Hudson's Law requires the Mississippi Department of Health to gather information on chromosomal disorders, including information on physical development, life expectancy, support organizations, etc., and to make the information available to those physicians and providers that give a diagnosis to prospective parents. The providers are then required to give the information to the prospective parents at the time of diagnosis," England said before thanking his co-legislators, the governor, the Hartmans, and other people who made the signing of the law possible. FaithWire added that, as per a CBN News report last December, Mississippi ranks fourth on the annual list of the Americans United for Life pro-life states followed by Indiana, Kansas, Arizona, Missouri, South Dakota, and Idaho. The top three are Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Meanwhile, according to the Susan B. Anthony List website, 70% of Americans "oppose abortion based on the expectation that an unborn child may have Down syndrome" based on a poll they conducted last year. This includes 56% of Americans who identify themselves as "pro-choice," as well as, 59% of Democrats and 70% of Independents. The Susan Anthony B. List explained in their website that Down syndrome is a "highly complex genetic condition, but is also highly complex sociological phenomenon" and that federal funding for it "lags considerably behind other similar genetic disorders". There are 6,000 babies born in America each year with Down Syndrome. "The live birth incidence is about one in 700. Down syndrome is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability, with the U.S. population estimated to be between 250,000 and 400,000 people, and the worldwide population at six million," they said. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 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. Catherine Tyldesley has urged the government to tackle the UK's 'obesity crisis' in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The actress, 37, accused the government of not 'giving two hoots' about obesity, and expressed dismay at Krispy Kreme's decision to offer free doughnuts to Americans that can prove they've been vaccinated against coronavirus. 'I swear to god Boris, if you follow suit and start reducing fast food again knowing how severely obesity affects this virus, I will lose my marbles,' Catherine declared as she took to Instagram to share an impassioned video on Tuesday. The soap star suggested slashing prices on fruit and vegetables instead, saying: 'Why not reduce fruit and vegetables? Why not send out fruit and vegetables to families that can't afford it.' Impassioned: Catherine Tyldesley, 37, has urged the government to tackle the UK's 'obesity crisis' in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic Catherine said in full: 'We all know that for years now the UK has been in an obesity crisis, an obesity epidemic. The government don't seem to give two hoots. 'We also know that if you contract COVID and you are obese or you are overweight the struggle is much worse. 'But in America, if you wiggle around your vaccine passport you get a free Krispy Kreme doughnut.' She continued: 'Do outreach: free, educational programmes for families that need to know more about nutrition. 'Leaving gyms until the last minute when statistically they are one of the lowest places that you can catch COVID. My mind is blown.' Not happy: The actress accused the government of not 'giving two hoots' about obesity, and expressed dismay at Krispy Kreme's decision to offer free donuts to vaccinated Americans Stern: Catherine declared: 'I swear to god Boris, if you follow suit and start reducing fast food again knowing how severely obesity affects this virus, I will lose my marbles' Krispy Kreme announced on Tuesday that it will give away a free glazed doughnut a day to anyone who can prove they are vaccinated against COVID-19. The chain shared the promotion on social media, revealing any customer who shows a COVID-19 vaccination card at a participating US Krispy Kreme store will be entitled to a free treat. Vaccinated customers can claim one free doughnut every single day to the end of 2021. The issue of obesity is close to Catherine's heart, with the Coronation Street star struggling to control her weight as a teenager. In January, the actress revealed what motivated her to lose a staggering eight stone during an Instagram Q&A. When asked by a fan: 'What motivated you to lose so much weight?' the fitness advocate replied: 'I couldn't walk up the stairs without gasping for breath.' Personal: The issue of obesity is close to Catherine's heart, with the Coronation Street star struggling to control her weight as a teenager (pictured then and now) Sharing before and after comparison snaps - one of herself as a size 22 teen and another in a bikini on the beach - she continued: 'I had zero energy and my skin was terrible. Educating myself on nutrition was the best thing I ever did.' Dropping from a size 22 to a size 8-10, Catherine said in 2013 she was motivated to shift the pounds after being told by a director she was too fat to play a leading lady. She also opened up in an interview on Loose Women back in 2018, confessing she nearly resorted to having a gastric band fitted as she struggled to control her weight. 'I used to be overweight and when I was a teenager my education on food wasn't the best so I was in a desperate place and probably would have jumped on that,' Catherine explained. Catherine went onto drop another two stone after giving birth to her son Alfie in 2015, and in 2018 unveiled her transformation after a 12-week fitness regime. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Help India! Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad spoke to the United Nations Human Rights Council through video conferencing on the issue of human rights violations against the farmers and those associated with the anti-CAA movement. Staff Reporters, TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan has raised the issue of human rights violations with the agitators during the farmers protests and the anti-CAA movement before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Azad told the UNHRC that the Indian government was violating the fundamental human rights of its agitating citizens. Azad spoke to the UNHRC through video conferencing on the issue of human rights violations against the farmers and those associated with the anti-CAA movement. In a democratic country, people have human rights and they are free. These human rights are being crushed by the government in India, he said. Azad said that people who raise voice against the government in India are tortured in undemocratic ways. Minorities and Dalits are especially being targeted and persecuted in the country. The agitating youth are being implicated in fake and false cases so that their voice can be suppressed, he said. Ravan said that the Central Government used tear gas, water cannon and lathi on the agitators to end the agitation, and added, Elders and women were also persecuted. Azad also referred to the anti-CAA movement during this period, saying that the opposition was suppressed by implicating these anti-CAA agitators in fake and false cases. The government of India wants to suppress every voice that arises in opposition to the government, he said. Azad requested the UNHRC to urge Indian government to respect human rights and prohibit the passing of non-constitutional laws by the government. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - Cordoba Minerals Corp. (TSXV: CDB) (OTCQB: CDBMF) ("Cordoba" or the "Company") announces that following the news release on March 15, 2021 when the Company announced that an Operation was undertaken by the National Police of Colombia against illegal mining activities at El Alacran, the Company advises that on March 20, 2021 it resumed Pre-Feasibility Study work for the Alacran project. The Company is currently operating three (3) drill rigs and a fourth drill rig is expected to resume work following maintenance later this week. Both police and military personnel are present with the Company's employees and contractors. "The intervention by the Colombian authorities was in response to illegal gold mining activities being undertaken by a group of individuals on Cordoba's title, with associated significant environmental damage and use of harmful chemicals such as mercury," stated Eric Finlayson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cordoba. "The intervention was a direct result of the National Government's initiative to eliminate illegal mining, through which there have been several similar interventions recently in other parts of the country." "We expect that the current Operation by the Colombian authorities will result in increased security and governmental control in the region, which along with Cordoba's program for social development and environmental management, will advance the process of permitting, constructing and operating a mine at the Company's Alacran project," added Mr. Finlayson. "It is a strong demonstration of support by the authorities for what is recognized by the Government as a project of national interest." The Company, as always, is fully cooperating with the authorities, acting in compliance with Colombian law and operating in accordance with international standards. The Company continues to provide support to the communities within the area of impact of the Alacran project. Additionally, extra precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of all Company employees and contractors following the Operation. About Cordoba Cordoba Minerals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the exploration, development and acquisition of copper and gold projects. Cordoba is developing its 100%-owned San Matias Copper-Gold-Silver Project, which includes the Alacran Deposit and satellite deposits at Montiel East, Montiel West and Costa Azul, located in the Department of Cordoba, Colombia. Cordoba also holds a 25% interest in the Perseverance Copper Project in Arizona, USA, which it is exploring through a Joint Venture and Earn-In Agreement. For further information, please visit www.cordobaminerals.com. ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY Eric Finlayson, President and Chief Executive Officer Information Contact Investor Relations +1-604-689-8765 info@cordobamineralscorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the Pre-Feasibility Study work; the resumption of drilling; the timing of completion of the Pre-Feasibility Study and future work programs; and that the Operation will result in increased security and governmental control. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: general business and economic conditions; the availability of additional exploration and mineral project financing; the supply and demand for, inventories of, and the level and volatility of the prices of metals; relationships with strategic partners; the timing and receipt of governmental permits and approvals; the timing and receipt of community and landowner approvals; changes in regulations; political factors; the accuracy of the Company's interpretation of drill results; the geology, grade and continuity of the Company's mineral deposits; the availability of equipment, skilled labour and services needed for the exploration and development of mineral properties; currency fluctuations; and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, unknown impact related to potential business disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak, or another infectious illness, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78210 Lawton, OK (73501) Today Morning sunshine will give way to isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. High 84F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 62F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. A Royal Mail text scam asking customers to pay for packages before they are delivered has tricked thousands into handing over their bank details. Comedian Alan Davies revealed fraudsters 'ordered a 30 meal from JustEat' by cloning his bank card after he fell victim to their vicious con. And actress Emmeline Hartley, from Devon, told how she was 'scammed out of every penny' she had when she was sent the same text. The scam sees fraudsters send a message asking for a 1.99 or 2.99 'settlement' for a parcel that couldn't be delivered. Other texts say there has been an 'unpaid shipping fee' on a package. The text includes a link to a fake Royal Mail 'Track and Trace' website, which looks nearly identical to the real thing. It then demands a 'redelivery payment', making victims enter their bank details online. A Royal Mail text scam (one such text, pictured) asking customers to pay for packages before they are delivered has tricked thousands into handing over their bank details The text includes a link to a fake Royal Mail 'Track and Trace' website (pictured), which looks nearly identical to the real thing Comedian Alan Davies revealed fraudsters 'ordered a 30 meal from JustEat' by cloning his bank card after he fell victim to their vicious con And actress Emmeline Hartley revealed she was 'scammed out of every penny' she had when she was sent the same text Jonathan Creek and QI star Mr Davies took to Twitter yesterday to warn others of the con, writing: 'Hear ye: If you get a text message like this: "Royal Mail: Your Package has been held and will not be delivered due to a 1.99 unpaid shipping fee. To pay this now, visit: https://royalmail etc etc" don't do what it says. 'They will clone your card and order a 30 meal from JustEat.' But it appears the comedian got off lightly as actress Miss Hartley told how she was left 'sobbing' after scammers 'cleared out all her accounts'. The rising star, who's appeared in films including Peterloo and Outlawed, received the text on Friday and because it was her birthday on Saturday she was expecting parcels to arrive. She followed the link in the text which took her to the fake website and she entered her details. The following day, Miss Hartley received a call from a scammer claiming to be from Barclays saying a different fraudster had set up a direct debit on her accounts. The caller said they cancelled her cards, issued new ones and generated a new sort code and account number - claiming the Royal Mail scammers could access all of her existing Barclays accounts. Jonathan Creek and QI star Mr Davies took to Twitter yesterday to warn others of the con. But it appears the comedian got off lightly as actress Miss Hartley (right) lost every 'penny' she had The fake Royal Mail website demands a 'redelivery payment', making victims enter their bank details online She said she was so 'embarrassed' about falling for the first scam that she followed the callers instructions. The man - who appeared to be calling from the official Barclays Fraud contact number - asked her to transfer all her money into the new account. She said her suspicions were aroused and she questioned whether the man on the phone was really from Barclays. But he told her how much was in her bank accounts in a bid to ease her concerns. Miss Hartley later realized she'd disclosed the figures to him during initial security questions. Miss Hartley said the scam artist 'knew it was my birthday, knew I have been excluded from Government support throughout the pandemic due to being newly self-employed, he knew I am a student and he knew I currently have no meaningful income'. Actress Miss Hartley told how she was left 'sobbing' after scammers 'cleared out all her accounts' She added: 'He knew all those things because of how profusely I'd thanked him for protecting my money and went on to explain how devastating it'd have been if the transactions were successful. 'Yet he had no shame in watching me clear out all my accounts to 0.00.' She told how she spent 'the rest of the day sobbing' but hopes posting what happened will stop it happening to others. And, since sharing her story on Twitter, 'sickening' fake accounts have also been set up in her name to try and procure funds from those commenting on her story, she said. Internet security company ESET urged those who receive the fake Royal Mail texts to 'think twice on any message that arrives requesting you to act quickly'. Security specialist Jake Moore told MailOnline: 'As these messages increase in frequency and creativity, remember to think twice on any message that arrives requesting you to act quickly. 'Whether it be to scare you, offer a great deal, or even create a slight mystery as to what the package might be, threat actors are crafty and use persuasion tactics. 'Messages that affect your emotions are manipulating you without your conscious mind knowing it. 'This is the clever psychology being used to make you use your quick brain before your slower, more reasoning brain sets in and takes over and questions such communications. 'We also need to remind those who may be more susceptible to such cons and less vigilant of the scam world so it is important to make our friends and family members aware in case they are unfortunate enough to click through and hand over sensitive or financial information.' Royal Mail said it only ever sends email and SMS notifications to customers in cases 'where the sender has requested this when using our trackable products that offer this service.' It added that the company 'worked with UK law enforcement agencies, Trading Standards and other organisations to share information and support robust proactive action against scams.' DENVER, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Rescue Plan (ARP) infuses $350 billion into local governments to ease the immediate financial trauma facing every community across the country. It provides options to overcome shortfalls while simultaneously rebuilding for a stronger, more sustainable future. Many local governments are working to "Build Back Better" as they search for ways to fully utilize these funds in support of their communities. Many decision-makers' tension centers on the best use of one-time funding, given so many needs for these resources. ResourceX establishes both a short-term and long-term strategy. There are urgent needs, demanding resources. Yet, this funding presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest meaningfully into building a long-term, sustainable future. How can local governments eliminate the tension and achieve both goals? Free Webinar with ResourceX One Time Funds for Long Term Sustainability Thursday, March 25 www.resourcex.net/events Local government leaders stand to benefit from Priority Based Budgeting's decision-making framework that creates insights towards both objectives. The PBB framework helps address: What should the proper order of funding be, from supporting people in need to creating long-term opportunities? How to best evaluate requests to restore programs according to each program's alignment with their organization's vision? How do organizations prioritize this one-time funding, especially as ongoing, programmatic, and personnel-related needs present themselves? How can organizations identify and prioritize capital investments that can create ongoing savings? Decision-makers will face immense pressure in determining where to allocate ARP funds. Best practices and policy guidance urge caution using one-time monies to fulfill ongoing needs, yet we must empathize with and have a strategic solution for these pressures. While the short-term strategy addresses undeniable and urgent needs, ResourceX's long-term strategy focuses on creating long-term sustainability and resiliency. PBB provides a pathway to leverage the power of unprecedented resources to commit to your most challenging goals and builds capacity to prepare for the future. The PBB community understands that programmatic data is key to executing these strategies, and the PBB framework establishes a straightforward process for evaluating and prioritizing funding. For those not yet in the community, creating programmatic data will go a long way towards setting you up for long-term success. Priority Based Budgeting is a methodology and software to support the creation of accessible and actionable data that drives decision-making in the budget process. Media Contact: Liz Johnston, ResourceX, [email protected], (817) 676-6830 SOURCE ResourceX Related Links https://www.resourcex.net Appeal against soldiers sentence for killing comrades-in-arms to be heard in April RAPSI, Eugeny Varlamov 17:54 23/03/2021 MOSCOW, March 23 (RAPSI) The Appeals Military Court will consider an appeal against severe sentence given to soldier Ramil Shamsutdinov for deadly shooting in a military unit in 2019 on April 21, according to the court case file. In January, the Second Eastern District Military Court sentenced Shamsutdinov to 24.5 years in high-security prison and ordered him to pay the injured party 9.8 million rubles (about $135 million) for moral harm. Prosecutors demanded 25 years behind bars for the defendant. In late December, jury issued a verdict of guilty against Shamsutdinov but held the defendant deserved leniency. When delivering sentence, a court is to consider mitigating circumstances but cannot take aggravating circumstances into account. According to the jury verdict, a judge could impose not more than two-thirds of the maximum sentence on him. Thus, the defendant avoided life imprisonment. Investigators claimed that on October 25, 2019, Shamsutdinov shot two officers and six soldiers dead in the military unit where he served. Two other people suffered gunshot wounds. On October 28, a garrison military court in Chita, a city in Russias Zabaikalye Territory, placed Shamsutdinov in detention. Pfizer Inc has launched early-stage human trials of an experimental oral drug that could be prescribed to patients at the first sign of infection with COVID-19. The drugmaker, which developed the first authorized COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. with Germany's BioNTech SE, said the antiviral candidate showed 'potent' activity against the virus in lab studies. Pfizer's candidate, which is called PF-07321332, belongs to a class of drugs known as protease inhibitors. The pill would work by inhibiting an enzyme that the coronavirus uses to make copies of itself inside human cells. The data is expected by the third week of November and, if positive, the company will apply for emergency use authorization with the FDA. Pictured: Pfizer headquarters in New York City Protease inhibitors have been effective at treating other viral pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis C virus, both on their own and in combination with other antivirals, the company said. Pfizer believes this class of molecules may provide well-tolerated treatments against COVID-19, as currently marketed therapeutics that work on the same lines have not reported safety concerns. 'Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic requires both prevention via vaccine and targeted treatment for those who contract the virus,' said Pfizer's chief scientific officer, Mikael Dolsten, in a statement. 'Given the way that SARS-CoV-2 is mutating and the continued global impact of COVID-19, it appears likely that it will be critical to have access to therapeutic options both now and beyond the pandemic.' The Phase I trial is a randomized, double-blind trial in which some participants will be given the drug and others the placebo, but even researchers won't know what pill the volunteers. If results show the medication is safe and effective, the company will move on to Phase II and recruit a larger group pf participants. It's currently unclear how long the treatment course would be and how many times per day or per week patients would take the pill. The company is also studying an intravenously administered antiviral candidate in an early-stage trial in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. 'Together, the two (oral and intravenous candidates) have the potential to create an end-to-end treatment paradigm that complements vaccination in cases where disease still occurs,' Dolsten said. Pfizer's candidate is behind two other oral antiviral therapies, which are in mid-stage trials - the first being developed by rival Merck & Co with Ridgeback Bio, and a second from Roche Holding and Atea Pharmaceuticals. Gilead Sciences' remdesivir is currently the drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of COVID-19. However, the agency has granted emergency use authorization to two combination therapies, one from Eli Lilly and the other by Regeneron. The announcement about the pill comes on the heels of news that Pfizer is planning to use the mRNA technology, which led to its COVID-19 shot, to make new vaccines. 'There is a technology that has proven dramatic impact and dramatic potential,' Pfizer Chief Execuive Officer Albert Bourla told The Wall Street Journal. 'We are the best positioned company right now to take it to the next step because of our size and our expertise.' Sonys slow march to making 360 Reality Audio mainstream has picked up the pace. Well, a little. After two years of showcasing the technology at trade shows (and putting it into non-Sony speakers), the company is finally ready to unveil pricing and availability for a pair of speakers, having laid out all of the specs back in January. The SRS-RA3000 is $300, while the more robust SRS-RA5000 is $700, with both speakers set to ship on March 29th. The company says its spatial audio technology combined with 360 Reality Audio content from streaming services like Amazon Music HD allows both of these speakers to beam music both horizontally and vertically. Sony believes this helps to create a soundscape unlike your existing audio setup. I briefly tested it out when it was first announced at CES 2019 , and its technically impressive even for an audio dilettante. Scott Davidson The larger SRS-RA5000 packs in seven total drivers: three up-firing, three side-firing and a single subwoofer. Meanwhile, the SRS-RA3000 uses a full-range speaker and a diffuser to spread the sound around the room, combining two overlapping beam tweeters and a dual passive radiator. Sony decided to make the RA3000 humidity resistant, so you can take it into the kitchen or bathroom without worrying about damp air its the slightly more portable option. Until now, Sony only offered 360 Reality Audio support on some headphone models. The total number of compatible tracks is still pretty lacking, too: 4,000 at last count. Its been a slow start for 360 Reality Audio, and now the real work begins. -Mat Smith Grab the latest updates to get your phone working properly again. This afternoon, a number of Android users (including some Engadget editors) suddenly saw notifications pop up on their devices saying that apps had stopped running. Many of these apps suddenly can't be opened, and included important ones like Gmail, a number of banking apps and Google Pay. Later in the evening Google confirmed the issue with WebView, and overnight it released an update to fix it. If youre still seeing crashes on your device, open the Play Store to make sure you have the latest update for System WebView and Google Chrome . Continue reading. HAMR and MAMR will use lasers and microwaves to pack as much as 60TB into a drive. Flash storage has become so cheap and ubiquitous that outside of backup systems and NAS, SSDs and flash memory now hold the data on most of our devices. Hard drive shipments peaked in 2015, and fewer are sold every year, but in terms of terabytes sold, hard drives are more important than ever. Chris Schodt takes Upscaled to the future of supercharged hard drives. Continue reading. With a new formaldehyde sensor. Dyson It's been almost a year and a half since Dyson launched its formaldehyde-busting Pure Cryptomic air purifiers, and now, the company is back with an upgrade. The new Dyson Purifier Formaldehyde models Hot+Cool (HP09) and Cool (TP09) look almost identical to their predecessors, and they even feature the same Cryptomelane catalytic filters which break formaldehyde down into water and carbon dioxide. Dysons latest devices are now able to specifically monitor this carcinogenic gas constantly released from the likes of furniture, carpets, paint and flooring. Dyson has avoided using gel-based formaldehyde sensors often found in competitors' devices, which dry up after about three years. Instead, the company developed a solid-state formaldehyde sensor which, much like the catalytic filters, allegedly lasts for the air purifiers' lifetime. Continue reading. Discord might go public instead of selling. Discord Discord, the chat/communications platform popular with gamers and many other groups, is going through a sales process that could fetch more than $10 billion. Bloomberg cites anonymous sources saying that Microsoft could be willing to buy the chat platform. The report doesn't suggest that a deal is even close to completion, and at least one source claimed Discord is more likely to go public than sell. It could offer Microsoft a potent tool against Slack, even if the company already has its own Microsoft Teams tools. It's been almost a decade since Microsoft bought Yammer to enhance its enterprise social networking efforts and five years or so since it bought LinkedIn. Outside of Microsofts usual business acquisitions, it could be a smart purchase. Continue reading. EVs arent all crossovers and sedans. 2021 Stellantis The Wrangler Magneto looks like a regular gas-powered Wrangler Rubicon model, but it's powered by a battery and a highly unusual electric drivetrain that might appeal to off-road enthusiasts. As Autoblog points out, in order to make electrification work in a regular Wrangler body, Jeep couldn't place the electric motors directly on the axles. Rather, it put the motor (an axial flux model) under the hood to power an upgraded Wrangler drivetrain including a two-speed transfer case and six-speed manual transmission. They matched the electric motor and torque to the Wrangler's regular Pentastar V6 engine, so it delivers roughly the same 285 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. However, the full torque comes in much more quickly, allowing for acceleration from 0 to 60 MPH in 6.8 seconds. Continue reading. But wait, theres more... Jack Dorsey's 'first tweet' NFT sells for $2.9 million Nintendo's upgraded OLED Switch will reportedly use DLSS to hit 4K President Biden will nominate antitrust scholar Lina Khan to the FTC Roku will stream every episode of 'This Old House' for free Nintendo and Niantic are teaming up again for an AR 'Pikmin' game What's on TV this week: 'Dota: Dragon's Blood' and 'Invincible' Apple pulls more iMac models ahead of possible M1 refresh Samsung latest high-res monitors go all-in on HDR HP's new Envy laptops feature larger, 4K displays Lego unveils a Space Shuttle Discovery and Hubble Telescope set 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' is the show MCU diehards have been waiting for Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra drops to a new low price of $900 Yup, Apple Arcade is still worth five bucks a month Now everyone can send Steam Remote Play Together links A 'floodproof' bridge that cost taxpayers $101million only to be submerged by raging floodwaters would have been impassable even if it was higher. Only opened a few months ago, the Windsor Bridge in Sydney's west, which sits over the Hawkesbury River, is very close to the floodplain suburb Wilberforce. The river has finally stopped rising as days of torrential rain eased, but the water level is still dropping so it is not yet clear if serious damage was done. Locals and politicians are outraged the bridge failed but defenders of the overpass have said the flooding was an extreme and rare event that couldn't be stopped. Windsor Bridge (pictured) was billed as 'floodproof' but is now underwater When the bridge was built last year, the NSW Government said it would be better able to cope with the impacts of flooding than the original structure. Transport for NSW said the new bridge was three metres taller than the old one, but because roads are at river level there was no point building it any higher. The height of the bridge does not matter if the surrounding land goes underwater in a major flood, as cars won't be able to cross it regardless. However, the approach to the bridge on the Thompson Square side is not higher than the ground-floor levels of nearby buildings. 'The new Windsor Bridge has the same flood immunity as the surrounding approach roads on the northern banks,' Transport for NSW told Daily Mail Australia. 'The current flooding event is a rare and extreme event. The new Windsor Bridge (right) was built higher than and next to the old one (left) The new Windsor Bridge in Sydney's west was sold to locals as being 'flood proof' but is now completely submerged 'It is anticipated the bridge, which is higher and in better condition than the former bridge, will be available to re-open sooner than would have been experienced if the former bridge had not been replaced.' The Roads and Maritime Services said in response to protests over the bridge in 2018 that it had 'significant concerns that in the event of a major flood, the bridge would fail, leaving the residents of Windsor without a safe crossing'. On Monday afternoon almost the entirety of the bridge was submerged, with water levels surpassing 12m, leaving residents stranded on either side. The 'once-in-50-years' storm caused flooding through large parts of NSW and Queensland with emergency services battling to save lives and homes. More than 18,000 people were evacuated and the government called in the army to help assist as it races to defend against rising water. The new Windsor Bridge was described by local federal MP Susan Templeman as an 'absolutely ugly monstrosity, a slab of concrete' The new Windsor Bridge was controversially built near its suburb's namesake in Sydney's west in 2019 despite outrage from locals given its price tag Locals watch on as flood waters rise across large parts of western Sydney Part of Thompson Square, Australia's oldest public square at nearly 150 years old, was destroyed to make way for new roads connecting the bridge. At the time, it was described by local federal MP Susan Templeman as an 'absolutely ugly monstrosity, a slab of concrete'. When the bridge was built, some locals criticised the price tag and the infrastructure linking it requiring the destruction of Thompson Square, Australia's oldest public square. Those roads sit lower than ground floor of nearby houses, which suffered flooding. As a result, the bridge was swamped by huge amounts of water, which has now seen the entire stretch submerged. Flood waters submerge the front yard and garage of a western Sydney home 'I am not an engineer, I only work with them. But the fact that the approaches to the bridge run downhill seems to indicate a design problem,' one observer said of the new Windsor Bridge Locals were divided on social media over the bridge. 'The NSW govt defended the decision to build a new Windsor Bridge (and so destroy the heritage listed, 100 years old bridge) saying it would provide better performance in flood events,' one person tweeted. 'It opened less than a year ago. Today, it is under water and impassable!' Another person said: 'For all the Govt haters, the new bridge was built to replace a very old bridge that was failing. ;They didn't destroy any buildings. The traffic has vastly improved and it was never meant to solve for this level of flooding. No point when other side is entirely under water.' Storm seasons aren't the only time utility companies prepare for bad weather to hit our area. Local companies told us preparation for preventing things like power outages is something done year round. The most common and probably unpopular measure in place is having crews trim trees around utility poles. By doing this, utility companies aren't able to prevent outages but are able to keep as many from happening during a bad storm. "We do our best to identify problems before they occur. The tree trimming program is one of those efforts," Joe Gehrdes, the spokesperson for Huntsville Utilities, said. Gehrdes said about every day, weather permitting crews are out making sure trees are properly maintained, so in high wind storms and tornadoes, loose branches won't hit pole lines as easily, ultimately preventing outages. "The farther away from the powerlines we can keep tree limbs and trees, the better chances we have of avoiding outages that we have caused by those things," he said. In more rural areas, this preventative measure is also used as well as others. "When it looks like it's going to be bad, we make sure that our live men, they take their trucks home with them. They live all throughout our service territory, so it puts them closer to where they may be needed," Michael Cornelison, the spokesperson for Joe Wheeler EMC, said. Even with enough preparations, outages can still occur, but the preventative measures can help decrease how many and how long it takes to fix the issue. "We can't prepare for everything, so bad storms, tornadoes, there's just no way we can avoid outages in those cases, so we try to make sure we have everything in place to get the power on as quick as we can after something like that," Cornelison said. Utility companies and public works say they always continue to monitor the weather, especially during storm season so they'll always be prepared in advance when bad weather hits the area. 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. [March 23, 2021] LinQuest Awarded Operations Capability II Space Force Contract LinQuest Corporation, a leader in space systems technology solutions for U.S. defense and intelligence communities, has been awarded a $200 million ceiling Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract by the United States Space Force (USSF). This new contract consolidates, expands, and extends multiple contracts LinQuest has been leading for the USSF. "This is an exciting opportunity to provide additional technical systems analysis, programmatic, analytic, and operations support to carry out the USSF mission," said LinQuest Chief Operating Officer, Greg Young. Under this contract, LinQuest will provide a wide range of solutions to the Operations and Communications Directorate (HQ USSF/S3/6), the Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) Directorate (HQ USSF/S2), the Strategic Requirements, Architectures and Analysis Directorate (HQ USSF/S5/9), the Inspector General (HQ USSF/IG), and Test and Evaluation (HQ USSF/T) in the Colorado Springs area. Specific efforts include providing threat assessments, concept development, integration analysis, policy and doctrine analysis, operations acceptance analyses, and test and evaluation. "We are very pleased to have been selected to continue our support of United States Space Force in the operations community at the Peterson/Schriever Garrison," said LinQuest President and CEO, Tim Dills. "This is a testament to our team's amazing work and support for USSF and we look forward to continuing to deliver the mission-critical analysis, assessments, and solutions we have provided for the last five years." About LinQuest Corporation LinQuest is a space systems technology company that provides innovative services and solutions to U.S. defense, national security, and intelligence communities that focus on the convergence of C4ISR, information, and cyber systems. These services and solutions span the integration, engineering, testing, operations, and sustainment of critical space, air, and ground systems capabilities and programs. More information can be found on the company's website at www.linquest.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005181/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Tube rafts carry people and goods across the Suchiate River from Hidalgo, Mexico, to Tecun Uman, Guatemala, on June 25, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Mexico Deploys Almost 9,000 Troops to Stem Flow of Migrants From Northern Triangle to US Border Mexico has deployed 8,715 troops to its southern and northern border to prevent migrants from the Northern Triangle countries from reaching the U.S.-Mexico border, as the United States faces a surge of illegal immigrants from Central America. The Mexican military has set up 347 immigration checkpoints along three main routes in Mexicothe Gulf, Central, and Pacific, Mexico Secretary of Defense Luis Cresencio Sandoval said during a news conference on Monday. Sandovals announcement comes as the Biden administration is sending a delegation to Mexico to discuss the ongoing immigration crisis. Although the Biden administration has refused to use the word crisis to describe the surge of illegal immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, the administrations top two officials will travel to Mexico and Guatemala this week to speak with officials about how they can help stem the surge of migrants arriving at the southern border. Roberta Jacobson, the Obama administration ambassador to Mexico who now serves on President Joe Bidens National Security Council, and Juan Gonzalez, the councils senior director for the region, are meeting with their Mexican counterparts on Tuesday, Mexico Director for North American Affairs Roberto Velasco Alvarez said on Twitter Monday. White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed on Monday that administration officials plan to specifically discuss how to stem the tide of migrants traveling to the United States from the Northern Triangle. Absolutely, Psaki said in response to a reporters question. Part of our objective as Roberta Jacobson conveyed was that we need to work in partnership with these countries to address the root causes in their countries to convey clearly and systematically, that this is not the time to travel. She proceeded to detail the administrations larger plan to decrease illegal immigration with advertising aimed at would-be-illegal immigrants from the Northern Triangle and Mexico. The State Department has placed an estimated 17,118 radio ads in Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras since January. Twenty-one in Spanish, Portuguese, and six indigenous languages. These ads played on 33 radio stations reaching an estimated 15 million individuals, she said. Psaki continued, A total of 589 digital ads and paid search, display, and social media, supporting the ongoing migration campaign in Northern Triangle countries have reached more than 26 million people since Inauguration Day, Psaki said, adding that the ads have been seen by 73 million people. The troops in Mexico are also being stationed to help stem non-essential travel, the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, and protect children who are being used by smugglers to enter the United States. The Mexican government will carry out operations on the southern border to protect the rights and safety of migrant minors from several Central American nations who are used by criminal networks as a passport to reach northern Mexico, Mexicos National Immigration Institute (INM) said in a statement. Meanwhile, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) this week announced a more than 100 percent month-over-month increase in February in two categories of illegal immigrantsfamily units and unaccompanied minors. CBP statistics show that, in February, agents apprehended a total of 100,441 illegal immigrants along the southern bordera 28 percent increase compared to January. Isabel Van Brugen contributed to this report. More than 150 migrants today arrived on UK shores on what could be one of the busiest days of 2021 so far for Channel crossings. It is understood at least six boats have been intercepted by Border Force as they attempted the crossing during a day of very poor visibility at sea. Immigration Enforcement officials were seen bringing around seven migrants to shore at Dover, Kent, through foggy conditions at 6am on Tuesday. At least 10 others were helped from the back of Border Force cutter Alert an hour later, with the HMC Hunter then pictured arriving with at least 30 migrants on board. Many of the migrants appear to be Vietnamese nationals, with men, women and a six-year-old girl seen wearing face masks and wrapped in blankets on arrival. A damaged RHIB was moored in the harbour after making the dangerous 21-mile journey across the busiest shipping route in the world. Border Force cutters Hunter and Alert were today seen escorting migrants to Dover, Kent Around six small boats have been intercepted by Border Force today, with three others spotted making the treacherous journey across the English Channel Those on board the HMC Hunter were wrapped up warm from the crossing as they arrived The Home Office has not yet confirmed how many migrants arrived this morning. Pictured: Arrivals on Tuesday Photographs from Dover later showed several men waving from a bus as they waited to be transported to temporary holding facilities. The Home Office has not yet confirmed how many migrants arrived today. It comes after 10 others were detained while making the journey to Dover by small boat on Sunday - in the first successful crossing in two weeks. Stormy conditions at sea have caused a lull in arrivals following the busiest day of the year so far, when 115 were brought to shore on March 8. Photographs from Dover also showed a group of men waving from a bus as they waited to be transported to temporary holding facilities earlier today Pictured: Men wave from the inside of a bus leaving Dover Harbour following arrivals today Young children were among those who arrived at Dover, Kent after crossing the Channel Today is expected to be one of the busiest days of 2021 so far for small boat Channel crossings The Border Force cutter Hunter arrives in Dover today with at least 30 migrants on board There were an estimated 30 people on board the HMC Hunter when it was brought to shore But a single boat managed to make its way to British shores through rough waves at around 8am on Sunday. Young children were among those brought to Dover, Kent by the Border Force vessel Hunter. The Home Office said French authorities also intercepted at least 98 migrants overnight on Sunday. Maritime affairs patroller Themis collected 38 people - including four women and four children - in difficulty and returned them to Calais shortly after 10.30am. French Navy assistance and rescue tug Abeille Languedoc picked up a further 34 migrants - including five women and seven children - who were taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer at 11.30am. Arrivals were seen wearing face masks and life jackets after attempting the crossing today Pictured: Another arrival in Dover, Kent, today on what is expected to be the busiest day of 2021 for migrant landings Those arriving in Dover wrapped up in red blankets as they were brought to shore in Kent It comes after 10 others were detained while making the journey to Dover by small boat on Sunday - in the first successful crossing in two weeks. Pictured: Todays arrivals A man without shoes is helped through Dover Harbour by another migrant this morning Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp said on Sunday: 'These dangerous crossings are facilitated by serious organised criminals exploiting people and profiting from human misery. 'The French prevented at least 98 migrants from making such journeys overnight meaning they stopped around 90 per cent of crossing attempts. 'We are building a new asylum system which is fair but firm, which will offer protection to those in genuine need through official routes while cracking down on those who enter the UK illegally and the abhorrent gangs who enable it.' It took the total number of migrants to cross the Channel by small boat in March to 275. Around 806 have arrived so far this year. President Moon Jae-in receives a shot of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine at a public health center in Jongno District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap President gets AZ shot ahead of G7 summit in Britain in June By Nam Hyun-woo President Moon Jae-in received his first dose of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, Tuesday, in preparation for his attendance at the G7 summit, slated for June 11 to 13 in Cornwall, the U.K. Moon got the shot after visiting a public health center in Seoul's central Jongno District that was designated as the vaccination center for delegates preparing to go overseas for the G7 meeting. Along with Moon, first lady Kim Jung-sook, National Security Office Chief Suh Hoon and eight other aides also received their shots. A Cheong Wa Dae official said that, including Moon, a total of 11 people were vaccinated in order to make full use of the 11 doses per vial. Upon getting the shot, Moon said, "No problem at all," a remark interpreted to be aimed at soothing public concerns about the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The AstraZeneca vaccine's safety and efficacy has raised controversy. Korea first suspended inoculation of the vaccine to people aged 65 or over, citing insufficient data on its efficacy for the age group. It later decided to use the vaccine for the elderly, but then suspected blood clot cases were reported after AstraZeneca vaccine injections both here and abroad. But the health authorities decided to go ahead with the vaccination program as planned, saying there was no causal relation between the development of the blood clots and the vaccine. Partly out of concerns that such controversy would make people avoid vaccination and result in failure to achieve the government's goal of obtaining herd immunity by November, the President decided to get the AstraZeneca shot. The President and his aides received the jabs earlier than the nation's vaccination schedule, but they were in line with the authorities' guideline for those who required to travel overseas for essential purposes. Presidential spokesperson Kang Min-seok quoted Moon saying that there is "a necessity to expedite the country's vaccination campaign," even though the campaign is proceeding as planned. Kang added that Moon presided over a 90-minute meeting immediately after returning to the presidential office. Another Cheong Wa Dae official said that Moon is expected to receive his second dose in mid-May, given that he has to leave Korea for the G7 summit in June and it takes two weeks for the vaccine to be considered effective. President Moon Jae-in watches first lady Kim Jung-sook receive a shot of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at a public health center in Jongno District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap Moon's injection is interpreted as a signal that he will resume face-to-face meetings with global leaders and put the country's pandemic-hit diplomacy back on track. Moon's last in-person attendance at a global diplomatic event was a trilateral summit between Korea, Japan and China in December 2019. Cheong Wa Dae said Moon would attend the G7 summit, which is a meeting of the leaders of the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Italy, France, Japan and Canada. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson formally invited Moon to the summit through a personal letter, and Moon accepted the invitation. Along with Moon, leaders of Australia and India were also invited to the summit. Besides the G7 meeting, the vaccination will provide momentum for Moon to pursue a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden. During a ministerial meeting last week between Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the two sides agreed to continue consultations to hold a top-level Korea-U.S. summit as early as possible. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will visit the U.S. for a summit in April, likely becoming the first foreign leader to meet Biden in person. Since Blinken dropped hints that Biden seeks to review North Korea policy in consultation with Korea and Japan, a summit between Moon and Biden could take place in the not-too-distant future. Moon's injection also enables the possibility of addressing the North Korea issue at the Tokyo Olympic Games later this summer. Moon has said that he believes the event could be a chance for talks between the two Koreas, the U.S. and Japan. But Japan decided recently not to allow spectators from other countries, so it remains to be seen whether any meetings between the leaders would be possible on the sidelines of the sporting event. Following the vaccination of the President and first lady, Korea began providing the AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged 65 or older. Moon is 68 years old and Kim is 66. The government said that about 382,300 people in this age group are eligible to be vaccinated. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-24 05:34:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ROME, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Acute hunger is on the verge of escalating in more than 20 countries driven by the coronavirus pandemic, conflict, changing climate and other factors, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Program (WFP) said in a joint report released Tuesday. The two agencies, both based in Rome, released a 37-page report showing that Yemen, South Sudan and the northern parts of Nigeria top the list and are facing catastrophic levels of acute hunger. Though the majority of the affected countries are in Africa, acute hunger is due to rise steeply in most world regions, including Afghanistan in Asia, Syria and Lebanon in the Middle East as well as Haiti in Latin America and the Caribbean, said the report. The FAO and WFP said that more than 34 million people in the world are "grappling with emergency levels of acute hunger," which means they are one step away from starvation. That number could rise dramatically in the coming months if international assistance is not scaled up, the report said. "The magnitude of suffering is alarming," said FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu in a statement. "It is incumbent upon all of us to act now and to act fast to save lives, safeguard livelihoods and prevent the worst situation." "We must run against the clock and not let this opportunity to protect, stabilize, and even possibly increase local food production slip away," added Qu. Echoing Qu's remarks, WFP Executive Director David Beasley said: "We are seeing a catastrophe unfold before our very eyes. Famine, driven by conflict and fueled by climate shocks and the COVID-19 hunger pandemic, is knocking on the door for millions of families." Enditem Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. New Delhi: The Telangana government on Tuesday (March 23) decided to close all educational institutions from March 24 in the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases. The state government has decided to shut down all government and private educational institutions including schools, colleges and hostels. However, the medical colleges will remain open. Meanwhile, virtual classes will continue as before. Corona cases are also coming up in educational institutions in our state. The state government believes that there is a danger due to teaching and non-teaching activities in educational institutions. The governments of the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh etc. have already closed educational institutions, news agency ANI quoted Telangana Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy as saying. After reviewing the situation, the state government has decided to temporarily close all educational institutions in the state as a precaution from Wednesday (March 24) to prevent the transmission of corona in the state, the Education Minister said. She also said that parents expressed serious concern over the coronavirus cases in schools. These closed orders apply to all hostels, gurukul institutes, government and private educational institutions in the state except medical colleges. Online training classes for students will continue as usual. I request all the people of the state to cooperate with the measures taken by the government to curb the corona, wear masks as a responsibility, maintain physical distance and take care of hygiene, the minister added. As of March 23, Telangana reported 3,151 total active cases, while the death toll has reached 1,674. Live TV Published on 2021/03/22 | Source Actors Jeon Hye-jin-II and Jin Seon-kyu are considering the new film "Hunt". A media reported on the 11th that Jeon Hye-jin-II and Jin Seon-kyu are starring in the movie "Hunt" as National Intelligence Agents. However, their management companies claimed that they are in the process of reviewing the work. "Hunt" is actor Lee Jung-jae's first screenplay on which he has been working on for a long time. He is lead starring in the film as Park Pyeong-ho while his long-time best friend Jung Woo-sung is also starring in "Hunt". Meanwhile, "Hunt" is produced by Sanai Pictures and Artist Studio which is Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung's company. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The United States spent more than $34 billion to maintain military presences in Japan and South Korea between 2016 and 2019, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released March 17. The two allies combined provided more than $18 billion in financial support for the U.S. military presence there over that four-year period, GAO said in the report, "Burden Sharing: Benefits and Costs Associated with the U.S. Military Presence in Japan and South Korea." During his presidency, former President Trump frequently castigated allies such as NATO nations, South Korea and Japan for not paying their "fair share" of the cost to maintain an American military presence abroad. In 2019, for example, the Trump administration asked Tokyo to roughly quadruple the amount it contributed to the costs of maintaining U.S. troops in Japan. Read Next: US Military Operations Challenging China's Territorial Claims Peaked Under Trump The report on U.S. spending to keep troops in the two countries was required by Congress in the fiscal 2020 defense budget bill. In all, more than 80,000 U.S. troops are deployed to Japan and South Korea. In Japan alone, the U.S. maintains more than 55,000 deployed troops -- the largest forward-deployed U.S. force anywhere in the world. U.S. forces have been in Japan since the end of World War II, first as an occupying force and then as an ally, and in South Korea since the Korean War erupted seven decades ago. "We found that U.S. forces help strengthen alliances, promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, provide quick response to emergencies and are essential for U.S. national security," GAO staff wrote in the report. In all, the U.S. obligated $20.9 billion in funds to maintain its military presence in Japan over those four years, GAO said. The Air Force spent the most of the four services during that time, $7 billion, to support its forces in Japan, slightly more than the U.S. Marine Corps' $6.8 billion. In South Korea, the U.S. military obligated $13.4 billion between 2016 and 2019. The Army provided the lion's share of military spending there, accounting for $9.2 billion in obligations largely at Camp Humphreys, with the Air Force's $3.9 billion to support Osan and Kunsan air bases coming in second. The U.S. price tags incurred in both nations stayed relatively steady all four years, with slight increases in 2018, GAO said. Japan and South Korea each provided lesser amounts in direct financial support, which included cash payments from the nations' governments and direct financial support for labor, utilities and relocating live-fire training away from populated locations, GAO said. Japan provided $12.6 billion in support and South Korea provided $5.8 billion, GAO said. Japan's annual contributions increased from nearly $2.8 billion in 2016 to almost $3.5 billion in 2018, before dropping to almost $3.2 billion in 2019, GAO said. And South Korea's contributions fluctuated from $1.2 billion in 2016 to $1.7 billion the next year, before dropping to $1.3 billion in 2018 and then hitting $1.5 billion in 2019. The two allies also have provided indirect financial support to the U.S. that is harder to quantify, GAO said. That includes foregone rents and revenues on land used by the U.S. military that the host nations otherwise could lease and develop, as well as waived taxes and fees on U.S. forces stationed there. Nine experts consulted by GAO researchers said that the U.S. sees several benefits to national and regional security from having troops stationed in its closest allies in Asia, including maintaining stability in the region and deterring aggression from adversaries such as China, Russia and North Korea. However, a few experts cautioned that there are drawbacks to the deterrence mission there, most notably that it makes U.S. troops vulnerable to a potential first strike from an adversary. The U.S. military presence there also improves Japans and South Korea's military capabilities, ability to work together through joint training operations and intelligence sharing, experts agreed, and allows the U.S. to respond quickly to rapidly unfolding emergencies such as natural disasters. Some experts agreed that having U.S. forces in Japan and South Korea supports denuclearization and anti-nuclear proliferation operations, though others were skeptical that U.S. forces are helping nudge North Korea to yield its nuclear weapons. The experts all agreed that U.S. troops' presence bolsters the alliance with Japan and South Korea, and that the nations are reassured by America's willingness to place its own service members in harm's way. Two experts said the American presence also has helped stabilize the "historically fraught relationship between Japan and South Korea," which included a decades-long colonization of Korea that only ended when Japan lost World War II. However, the opposition to U.S. troops held by some local residents complicates efforts to maintain the alliances, some experts told GAO. The U.S. military presence might not be politically sustainable in areas such as Japan's Okinawa, that have particularly strong feelings against troops being stationed there, experts said. And having U.S. troops stationed in Japan and South Korea also contributes to maintaining "a free and open Indo-Pacific," where trade routes and supply lines are kept open for free commerce and a rules-based international order is upheld, experts told GAO. -- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey. Related: Trump Scolds NATO on Spending as Allies Aim to Please Sorry! This content is not available in your region The global information security membership association (ISC) estimates close to half a million additional cybersecurity professionals are needed in the United States alone. Udacity's School of Cybersecurity will help to close this talent gap with four Nanodegree programs including Introduction to Cybersecurity, Security Engineer, Security Analyst, and Ethical Hacker. Previously considered a grey area, ethical hacking is increasingly being embraced in the business world as organizations upskill their workforce and encourage employees to identify security vulnerabilities. "Over the last decade, constant public vulnerability disclosures and the growth of bug bounty programs have demonstrated the incredible need for collaboration with ethical hackers, which can only be accomplished by broadening the applicant pool to better reflect the communities where malicious hacking occurs," said Dr. Christine Izuakor, founder of on-demand cybersecurity service platform Cyber Pop-up and a Udacity School of Cybersecurity instructor. "There's no question diversity makes businesses better, and the cybersecurity field isn't exempt from that. We can collectively make the industry stronger by examining barriers to entry and re-examining how we perceive the ideal cybersecurity candidate." By offering its programs globally, Udacity is able to help increase the diversity of the cybersecurity workforce so that it can better reflect the diverse backgrounds and different viewpoints held by hackers, be they benevolent or malicious, around the world. An (ISC) study of diversity in the cybersecurity workforce revealed that while minority representation in the field sits at 26%, most hold non-managerial positions. "As COVID-19 pushed more organizations to embrace remote work and digital work streams, vulnerability to breaches has grown materially, which in turn increased the demand for hiring hard-to-find cybersecurity professionals," said Gabe Dalporto, CEO, Udacity. "The hands-on curriculum Udacity offers is critical in building job ready skills in the red-hot field of cybersecurity which has seen a 94% increase in job postings* in the past 5 years and has an average annual salary of $135,000**." Additional classes that will become part of the School's future curriculum include Enterprise Security, Security Architect, Digital Forensics and Incident Response, and Cybersecurity for Business Leaders. For more information about the School of Cybersecurity, please visit here . About Udacity Udacity is a global, online learning platform powering digital transformation and accelerated time-to-market initiatives for Fortune 500 and Global 2000 enterprises. Udacity programs provide industry-created practitioner skills through a series of "Nanodegree" programs consisting of online courses and real-world projects in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, autonomous systems, and cloud computing, among other disciplines. Udacity collaborates with expert instructors and over 200 global industry partners including AT&T, Google, Facebook, Mercedes-Benz, and NVIDIA to power technical education. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., the private company has operations in the United Kingdom, Egypt, Germany, India, and the United Arab Emirates. Udacity has raised $163 million in funding to date from investors including Bertelsmann, Andreessen Horowitz, Charles River Ventures, and Drive Capital. For more information, please visit www.udacity.com . Media Contact Jim Squires for Udacity [email protected] *According to The State of Cybersecurity Hiring , Burning Glass Technologies, June 2019 **According to Gartner " How CIOs in Midsize Enterprises Can Best Fill Staffing and Skills Gaps in Security ," May 2019 SOURCE Udacity Al Bayader International, the UAEs leading manufacturer and supplier of packaging and cleaning solutions for diverse uses, today unveiled its newly expanded manufacuturing facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), enabling a self-sustained industrial ecosystem that will see its 1,700+ product range exported to the rest of the world. The expanded plant doubles its production capacity to 18,000 tonnes per annum of food packging solutions, taking the overall production capacity across its six manufacturing facilities in the UAE and Qatar to 31,000 tonnes per annum. This is part of a significant AED200 million ($54.45 million) investment by Al Bayader International for a major industrial and retail expansion, said a statement. Mariam Bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb AlMheiri, UAE Minister of State for Food & Water Security; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, and Massimo Baggi, Ambassador of Switzerland to the UAE and Bahrain inaugurated the expanded plant at a ceremony attended by senior DP World and Jafza officials including Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director of DP World, UAE Region and CEO of Jafza; Jamil Haddad, Chairman, Al Bayader International; and Nidal Haddad, Founder & CEO of Al Bayader International, government and private sector leaders and employees of the company. The Al Bayader International plant in Jafza South further complements the industrial strategy of the UAE to create additional in-country value creation and an expanded portfolio of Made in UAE products that not only meets the needs of the nation but also are exported to several European, Asian, South American and African nations. The plant also completes a self-sustained industrial ecosystem as it has advanced technology to manufacuture its own machinery and moulds. AlMheiri said: The expansion of the UAEs food ecosystem is a priority for the leadership to enhance national food security, especially in light of its recovery from the global coronavirus pandemic.The fact that we have been able to navigate this crisis successfully and keep our food shelves stocked throughout is a testament to the strengths of the UAEs National Food Security Strategy. "The expansion of Al Bayader Internationals Jebel Ali factory is a significant component in this next stage and represents an important step towards contributing to the UAEs overall food security ecosystem, as well as the newly launched industrial strategy Operation 300bn led by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and aims to enhance the industrial sector in the coming years. The food packaging solutions provided by the facility are an important factor in enhancing food safety by using national standards of food contact material, which contributes to enhancing our national food security. I commend Al Bayader for its efforts to increase its capacity and its sustainability initiatives, which reflects its commitment, and our other private sector partners, to helping ensure the UAE has the capacity to overcome any future food security crisis that we might face. Bin Sulayem, said: The strategic location of Jafza serves as a leading trade and logistics hub, connecting businesses to over 3.5 billion consumers with the support of Jebel Ali Port to thrive and strengthen trade relations with international markets. Building a logistics supply chain in the F&B sector, especially in the food packaging sector, which has been largely under-served, will enable the nation to boost the exports of these essential goods, and play a role in championing food hygiene and security. Al Bayader Internationals expansion of its facility, despite the challenges of the pandemic, underlines the reputation of the UAE in enabling innovative businesses to thrive. Baggi said: Switzerland has developed strong bilateral relations with the UAE in building the food and beverage sector, one of the few industries not significantly impacted by the pandemic. The growth of the Swiss F&B industry was also underlined by our investment in advanced packaging to preserve food and ensure quality exports. Al Bayader Internationals expansion of its manufacturing plant using high-end Swiss machinery will contribute significant value to the UAE economy by facilitating more exports and by supporting the domestic SME value chain. Haddad said:Al Bayader International is a company Made in the UAE for the World. As our nation prepares for the next 50 years, with a stronger focus on domestic manufacturing and in-country value creation, we are privileged to play our role in strengthening the food packaging industry. The expansion of our facility is another milestone moment in our journey. We have always been committed to transforming our busines model and be an agile organisation that meets evolving market needs. Through this facility we can serve the entire food packaging supply chain through locally made products. We thank Her Excellency Mariam AlMheiri, His Excellency Sultan bin Sulayem and His Excellency Massimo Baggi for their presence at the opening, which shows the strong commitment of the government and national champion companies such as DP World to support and encourage homegrown enterprises. The inauguration of the facility was followed by a tour of the factory by the visiting guests. Nidal Haddad provided them an overview of the advanced machinery at the plant as well as the sustainability features integrated within the facility to make it eco-friendly. The expanded plant also highights the industry innovation by Al Bayader International, which holds 10 patents of design moulds for food packaging solutions from the US Patents & Trademark Office. Al Bayader International recently opened its flagship retail outlet in Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road next to the Toyota showroom near the Oasis Mall. This complements the larger expansion plan of the group for 2021 to open more retail outlets across the UAE as well as grow its business footprint to Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The company already has four successful retail operations in Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Al Ain. Imminent openings include in Fujairah and a second outlet in Abu Dhabi. Focused on safety, practicality, quality and innovative packaging, the company has set standards in food packaging led by its four core values of sustainability, design thinking, transparency and passion. The companys products include single-use tableware, single-use food containers, baking moulds and sheets, bags & wrapping systems, cleaning & hygiene products, food decoration items, foil and film rolls, paper products, and bottles & jars. Al Bayader was one of the first accredited Middle Eastern packaging companies to obtain the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points Certification (HACCP) and the BRC grade AA by the end of 2018, an internationally recognised standard. With a dedicated team of over 1,000 employees from 30 nations, and the support of over 400 business partners and over 9,000 satisfied customers, the company delivers unbeatable value to the global food and beverage industry. With an extensive product portfolio of over 1,700 products, Al Bayader International owns and operates six manufacturing and nine logistics locations. The company leads several GCC markets with a substantial market share, while steadily increasing penetration into markets further afield, including Europe and Africa. Al Bayader International serves supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores and the global F&B industry through hotels, casual dining restaurant chains, cafeterias, coffee shops, catering companies, foodstuff traders, airlines, hospitals and more. Headquartered in Dubai, Al Bayader Internationals UAE manufacturing plants are located in Sharjah and Jebel Ali. - TradeArabia News Service Approved vaccines for COVID-19 will overwhelmingly offer benefits for life to get back to normal. Photo: Le Toan The Ministry of Health (MoH) on March 18 issued temporary guidance on examinations before vaccinations with the COVID-19 vaccine by AstraZeneca, aiming to classify groups of eligible recipients for a shot to increase safety. Vietnamese Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said, Vietnam will continue the vaccinations with AstraZenecas product, as there have been no reports of blood clots after the concluded vaccinations. The minister also asked authorised health units to provide training for staff. Meanwhile, more than a dozen countries, mostly in Europe, had suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over fears the shot may have caused some recipients to develop blood clots. However, Italy, France, Germany, and several other countries resumed administering the jabs from last Friday after Europes medicines regulator said the vaccine was safe and effective and its benefits outweighed its risks. Portugal will resume on Monday, Spain and the Netherlands later this week, while Swedens public health agency said it would take a few days to decide. An AstraZeneca spokesperson told VIR, The safety of all is our first priority. We are working with national health authorities and European officials and look forward to their assessment later this week. Around 17 million people in the European Union and United Kingdom have now received our vaccine, and incidents with reported blood clots in this group are lower than what was expected among the general population, the spokesperson added. Vietnam started COVID-19 vaccinations in March 8 using 117,000 doses of vaccines provided by AstraZeneca. By March 17, over 24,000 healthcare workers were vaccinated. The country has reported its first case of serious anaphylaxis, and some side effects like fever, swelling and pain at the site of injection, headaches, nausea, joint pain, and diarrhea. According to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, the number of people suffering side effects is within the expected level. In February, when the World Health Organization (WHO) listed the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine for emergency use, it was found to be 76 per cent effective against the original coronavirus after the first dose. After the second dose, the efficacy rises to 82 per cent. This vaccine has been hailed for its affordability and convenient distribution and is expected to be a mainstay in protection for much of the world. WHO leaders also met to review the available safety data on the vaccine, although they repeatedly expressed confidence in its safety. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said there was no evidence of harmful side effects so far. Similarly, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has said there is currently no indication that the vaccine has caused serious conditions, which are not listed as side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The position of EMAs Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee is that the vaccines benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing. Amid the concern, many countries continue to use the AstraZeneca vaccine. To boost confidence for the general public, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha became the first person to be inoculated with the vaccine in the country on March 16. And Thailands health minister has also said that the rollout would resume after many countries confirmed there were no blood clot issues. To increase supply for countries amid efforts of putting an end to the pandemic, the WHO on March 12 approved the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine for emergency use, paving the way for the one-shot dose to be used as part of the United Nations global vaccine distribution efforts. It is the third COVID-19 vaccine after the two-shot regimens of Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca to receive backing from the WHO. According to J&J, the company expects to produce up to three billion doses of the vaccine next year, after previously pledging to deliver one billion globally by the end of 2021. Studies have shown the J&J version to be 66 per cent effective in protecting against any moderate to severe illness and 85 per cent effective against severe cases of COVID-19, and is supposed to completely prevent hospitalisations and related deaths four weeks after inoculation. Some comparisons have been made between the J&J vaccine and others. According to experts, when the vaccines were approved, Pfizers efficacy was at 95 per cent, while Modernas was 94.1 per cent. All vaccines offer essentially the same effectiveness in terms of severe COVID-19 hospitalisation and death, said Veronica McNally, a member of the Center for Disease Controls Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. There are going to be people who are very enticed by the fact that there is only one shot people who want to be vaccinated quickly and those who do not want to return or cannot return for a second dose. Vietnam is still negotiating with manufacturers in the United States, Russia, and other countries as part of an effort to diversify vaccine sources. The country aims to obtain a total of 150 million doses this year to cover 70 per cent of its population. Russia has thus far donated 1,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine to Vietnam, while the US pharmaceutical firm Pfizer may provide 30 million doses within 2021. The annual Severn Trent Environmental Protection Scheme (STEPS) has relaunched until 31 January 2022 providing a bigger window of support to farmers. The extended window is now offering match funding of up to 10,000 for farm improvements that address water quality issues. Also available for applications for a limited time until 18 April 2021, is additional funding improve biodiversity on-farm under Severn Trents Spring STEPS scheme. This is exclusively for farmers who have previously received funding for, or have plans to apply for, a priority water quality item in the main STEPS scheme. Dr Alex Cooke, principal scientist at Severn Trent, explained that the extension to the application window would give farmers greater flexibility. We know that farmers have had to overcome numerous challenges over the past year, including flooding, wet weather, Brexit, and pressures presented by Covid-19. "For one year only, weve decided to open STEPS applications up for longer. Successful applicants will then have a further 12 months to complete their work after funding is confirmed." She said this match funding was available to farmers in priority catchments to address issues such as nitrates, pesticides and cryptosporidium reaching watercourses. A range of items are available from cover crops and pesticide washdown bays, to livestock fencing and covered handling areas. Dr Cooke added: Spring STEPS offers funded options specifically for improving farm biodiversity, such as wetland creation, inputting pollinator meadows and margins, or enhancing grasslands. Farmers interested in the scheme can check online if they are included in a priority catchment. (Alliance News) - Kingspan Group PLC on Tuesday said it will acquire Denmark-based Logstor Group from Langley Co-Invest Sarl - which is part of Triton Fund III LP - for DKK1.89 billion, around EUR253 million or GBP218 million, including debt. Logstor AS supplies technical insulation products and services, including pre-insulated pipe systems for district energy, with its primary markets being Scandinavia, Germany, Netherlands, Poland and France. The Kingscourt, Ireland-based building materials firm will pay the consideration in full on completion, and this will be funding from Kingspan's existing credit facilities. Logstor recorded trading profit of DKK210 million, about GBP23 million, on DKK1.82 billion, about GBP210 million, in revenue in 2020. The acquisition is conditional on regulatory approval, and is expected to be completed in the middle of 2021. Kingspan anticipates the deal to boost earnings on an annualised basis by around 9 euro cents per share. For 2020, Kingspan reported basic earnings per share of 206.2 cents. "The acquisition of Logstor marks an important step for Kingspan, as part of our strategy to develop our technical insulation proposition as a complementary business to core building insulation. Logstor is a great company with a dedicated workforce and superior products in an industry that will see strong growth in the years to come," said Chief Executive Officer Gene Murtagh. Shares in Kingspan were up 1.8% at EUR69.00 on Tuesday in London. By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 21:07:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Saifullah Khan Nyazee, chief organizer of Pakistan's ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), speaks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Islamabad, Pakistan, March 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal) by Li Hao, Misbah Saba Malik ISLAMABAD, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Only those selfless ones would dedicate themselves to improving people's living standards, and every country across the world needs a leader of the kind, a Pakistani politician has said. Quoting remarks from Chinese President Xi Jinping that "For the good of my people, I will put aside my own well-being," Saifullah Khan Nyazee, chief organizer of Pakistan's ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said Friday that "I think what he means is that he will work for the well-being of his people selflessly, where he himself doesn't matter." "Dedicating his life to the people to bring up their well-being, that can only be done by a selfless man. He's a selfless man who has worked for his nation. We need such leaders all across the world," Nyazee said, noting that Xi has always put the people front and center. Nyazee joined the Pakistani party shortly after it was founded in 1996. In March 2019, he was appointed as the party's chief organizer, taking over responsibilities including building up party organizations, formulating its policies, and improving the party constitution. It is, to a large extent, the ruling party of a country that "can either pull the country together and walk towards prosperity, or drag the country in a terrifying condition," he told Xinhua. Nyazee said the Communist Party of China (CPC), with its "historic 100 years of excellence," has been following a strict code of conduct, taking root among the people to get a better understanding of their need, and sticking to its fundamental principle of wholeheartedly serving the people. "Seeing all these things, the people of China believe in the leadership of the CPC, and the belief of the people then encourages the party to do more," which is one reason why the CPC can always maintain its vitality, he said. The final 98.99 million impoverished rural residents in China living under the current poverty line have been lifted out of poverty. In Nyazee's eyes, this remarkable achievement the CPC has led the Chinese people to achieve is admirable, and the determination shown by the CPC to keep its promise is even more praiseworthy. He said all countries in the world, rich or poor, got severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and Western developed countries also suffered a huge setback in development. Though China, home to a population of more than 1.4 billion, was under great pressure to contain the epidemic and save lives, Nyazee said, "China performed exemplary and created a benchmark for everyone and countries across the globe by helping not only its own citizens but also humanity across the globe." Facing the challenges posed by COVID-19, the CPC still led China to a complete victory in the fight against poverty, he said, adding, "We also witnessed that this pandemic, being so harsh and cruel, could not stop China's poverty eradication promise made by the Chinese leadership to its people." He said he had had lots of exchanges with CPC officials and Chinese government officials, among whom many have visited Pakistan. "The stories that they told us of how they brought about the changes in China are remarkable," he added. "We all need to learn from those. But it's not the same as going and visiting China and seeing things for yourself. And I look forward to visiting China actually." Nyazee expressed the belief that the CPC considers not only China's own development, but common development with other countries. In working to fight a pandemic like COVID-19 and other adversities, the idea of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" can bring unity among various countries, with the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative as a form of concrete implementation of the idea, he said. The initiative has been enhancing interconnectivity between different parts of the world, he said. Nyazee said his party and the CPC enjoys a time-tested relationship featuring mutual trust and companionship, and the two parties have always shared ideas and promoted platforms that can contribute to the well-being of the two peoples and countries. Both parties are the ruling ones of their countries, and the PTI has a lot to learn from the CPC's experience in governance, he said. "Our chairman Imran Khan has mentioned it categorically on several occasions, more than a dozen occasions, that whenever it comes to the poverty alleviation, human development, and other institutional reforms which he wishes to bring in Pakistan, he always mentions that the Chinese model should be followed," he added. Nyazee said the PTI is conducting a systematic study of the CPC's mechanism and has decided to learn from the CPC to enhance the training of cadres at all levels to improve party building, adding that the PTI is building its first-ever party school. Pakistan and China are "iron brothers," Nyazee said, and the Pakistani government has really been focusing on promoting the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as it is beneficial not only to the future of Pakistan, but to Pakistan-China relations. "We should work together for the prosperity and development of our people and explore more and more opportunities further to strengthen the bilateral relations of our two countries," he concluded. Enditem Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday slammed the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal for allegedly "swindling" the money sent for cyclone Amphan relief in the Sunderbans region. Criticising the TMC's "cut money" culture, Shah claimed that "Bhatija (nephew) and company swindled central funds sent for Amphan relief". If voted to power, Shah said the BJP would constitute a committee to probe the alleged siphoning off relief funds. "The central government had sent relief funds for the affected people. But the TMC leaders siphoned off the funds and did not allow it to reach them. "If we are voted to power, the BJP will constitute an inquiry committee to probe corruption in disbursement of funds. All those involved in scam would be sent to jail," he said while addressing the election rally here. "The Centre had sent Rs 10,000 crore for Amphan relief. Did you get a single penny? Where did all the money go? 'Bhatija' and company swindled the central funds sent for Amphan relief. We will probe everything," he said. He attacked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government for "not allowing implementation of central schemes in the state". Shah alleged that Banerjee has been working only for her nephew's welfare instead of the common people. "Didi is only interested in making his nephew the next chief minister. Do you want the nephew to be the CM? If not, then vote for the BJP," he said. The Union minister said the BJP is ready to take on the "goons and syndicates" of the ruling TMC. "We have to end this syndicate rule of the TMC. We will end this culture," he said. Elections to the 294 assembly seats will be held in eight phases from March 27 to April 29. Votes will be counted on May 2. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [March 23, 2021] Genomind Announces Two Major Appointments Today Genomind made two major leadership announcements. Cynthia Kilroy has joined the company as Chief Strategy & Corporate Development Officer and a member of the Genomind Executive Team. And Stephen R. Saklad, PharmD, BCCP, is joining the company's Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005843/en/ Cynthia Kilroy has joined Genomind as Chief Strategy & Corporate Development Officer and a member of the Genomind Executive Team (Photo: Business Wire) Kilroy joins Genomind as the company's genetic mental health solutions approach has achieved 100MM covered lives and significant momentum with providers, health plans, employer groups, pharmacies and patients. Kilroy's remit will be to help accelerate growth partnerships with companies looking for advanced mental health solutions to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs of care. She joins from Cognizant (News - Alert) , where she held positions in their healthcare and health strategy groups. In addition to Cognizant, Kilroy has a wealth of senior level experience in the healthcare field, working with companies like Optum and Huron Consulting Group as well as her own firm, CCK Consulting, a healthcare consulting business providing strategic services to payers, providers, and start-ups alike. "With Genomind accelerating its growth strategy, we believe Cynthia will be a great addition to our leadership team, helping us navigate the healthcare inustry by providing strategic insight and effective business planning, which will help take Genomind to the next level," said Shawn O'Brien, Chairman and CEO of Genomind. "We believe her talents will accelerate our mission of becoming The Mental Healthcare Company." Kilroy has an undergraduate BS from DeSales University in Computer Science and Marketing, along with a Fuqua School of Business, Duke University MBA in Healthcare Sector Management. Stephen R Saklad PharmD, BCCP, has joined Genomind's Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Saklad is Clinical Professor of Pharmacotherapy, and Adjoint Professor at the University of Texas School of Medicine, and Director, Psychiatric Pharmacy Program at the San Antonio State Hospital, Texas Department of State Health Services. He is an expert clinical pharmacologist with special interest in psychopharmacology. Dr. Saklad received his baccalaureate degree cum laude in Bacteriology from the University of California, Los Angeles and his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Southern California. He had a National Institute of Mental Health training fellowship in Psychiatric Pharmacy at the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute of the University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha. He then joined the faculty of The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy and the clinical staff at San Antonio State Hospital (SASH) in 1979. He has been the principal or co-investigator of Phase II, III, and IV studies of the efficacy, adverse effects and pharmacokinetics of agents for schizophrenia, mood disorders, depression, and other serious and persistent mental illness. He is the recipient of the UT Austin College of Pharmacy's Teaching Award among other honors, and speaks frequently on these and related issues. ?"There are hundreds of drugs which have genetic biomarker information for providers in their label. Dr Saklad's expertise in drug-drug and drug-gene interactions has been invaluable in the development of GenMedPro.," said David S Krause MD, Chief Medical Officer of Genomind. "We look forward to his continued guidance as we expand the utility of our digital products." About Genomind Genomind is a leading precision mental health company singularly focused on filling the innovation gap in mental health care through novel, genetics-based tools. Supported by a world-class genetics lab, a unique heritage of clinical mental health expertise, clinical collaboration and consultation, state-of-the-art digital tools and telemental health enabling services, Genomind is empowering a new standard of care. Its flagship product, Genomind Professional PGx Express, is the most comprehensive pharmacogenetic testing service helping medical professionals personalize patients' mental health treatment. The Company also recently launched GenMed? Pro - Genomind's Smarter Precision Gene-Drug Interaction Software. This advanced medication management software was designed to help health professionals make safer prescribing decisions with speed and precision. In 2020 the company introduced the Genomind Mental Health Map - a breakthrough direct-to-consumer test that enables a new and better understanding of the biological basis of mental wellness, coupled with personalized actionable guidance to help people improve health and wellness. Learn more at www.genomind.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005843/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Madurai (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 23 (ANI): Pictures of several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, can be seen inside the temple meant to commemorate late Tamil Nadu chief ministers J Jayalalithaa and MG Ramachandran. In the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections, BJP is contesting the elections in coalition with the AIADMK. "The temple that has been built as a memorial to Jayalalithaa is to remember and show the world the courage and sacrifices made by Jayalalithaa," Minister of Revenue, RB Udhaya Kumar, told ANI. Further speaking about the photos of BJP leaders inside the memorial temple, Kumar said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the central government has established and given a lot of projects to this country. He added that the construction of the AIIMS hospital in Madurai took place when JP Nadda was the Health Minister. "Furthermore, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hails for Madurai and we are proud of this fact. This is the reason why their photos have been in the memorial temple of MG Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa," Kumar added. Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016 after suffering a cardiac arrest while MGR passed away on December 24, 1987. Kumar further said that this is the second time he is contesting from the Thirumangalam constituency. "The way we campaign is all about people welcoming us. So, I have a better chance of success. I have been trying for four years to build this temple," he said. This memorial temple was constructed under the supervision of Kumar in January. It has been build on a 12-acre site at T Kunathur near Tirumangalam. The Revenue Minister said that they are raising 300 cows and are offering their milk to the devotees who visit the temple. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On Monday, she was sworn in as the Senates new sergeant-at-arms, its top security official. She is just the second woman to hold the position in the chambers 232-year history. General Gibsons leadership team is groundbreaking: It includes Kelly Fado as deputy sergeant-at-arms and Jennifer Hemingway as chief of staff the first time all three of the Senates top security posts have been held by women. People have been selected for their qualifications and their competence, General Gibson, who retired from the Army last year, said in an interview. Gender is perhaps not really relevant. Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, called the team the three most qualified people you could find. Maybe in the past someone would say, We cant have three women, he said. No more. General Gibson is taking over the job at a demanding time for Capitol security. Nearly 140 police officers were injured during the pro-Trump attack that left five people dead. In the aftermath, all three top Capitol security officials resigned under pressure. They have since blamed intelligence and communication breakdowns for their failure to prevent hundreds of Trump supporters from overrunning hundreds of police officers and storming the building, seeking to block the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next. A bipartisan majority of senators voted to convict former President Donald J. Trump on an impeachment charge of inciting the mob, but fell short of the two-thirds needed for conviction. The pandemic has elevated the critical role PoS systems play in the day-to-day operations of a cruise ship. They are an integral part of transforming the guest experience to deliver onboard dining services safely while simultaneously enhancing the entire process. The issue for cruise lines is that traditional PoS systems work in silos across ships with no centralised administration capabilities. Additionally, they typically require specific hardware to function and therefore have very low portability and tend to be stationary at various points onboard. These factors significantly impact cruise line's ability to innovate and provide top class service to guests, who increasingly expect state-of-the-art tech onboard. By deploying iTravel PoS, Fred. Olsen can take advantage of its mobile-first approach through which all key sales functions for crew are also available via hand held devices, allowing it to easily adapt to changing needs and customer preference. It also seamlessly integrates with other vital on-board systems including food and beverage inventory, dining and property management systems. As part of the implementation, IBS Software will also deploy iTravel-Super Highway to facilitate centralized management and significantly improve operational capability from shore. iTravel-Super Highway is a framework that facilitates real time synchronization of data between shore and ship thereby allowing ongoing tasks, such as restaurant and menu item set-up and management of business rules for each ship to be centrally managed from headquarters, for maximum operational efficiency. The sales from each ship can also be consolidated and monitored real time from headquarters and hosted on the public cloud. "We are pleased to grow our collaboration with IBS Software. We expect iTravel-PoS to improve guest experience and drive efficiencies for Point of Sales operations across our fleet as well as simplify our technology landscape," said Damon Impett, Director of IT Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. "Fred. Olsen is a forward thinking cruise line and it's really fulfilling to be a part of their digital transformation journey. IBS' vision is to provide cruise lines with a seamlessly integrated shore-ship digital platform supporting reservations and onboard operations. With Fred. Olsen also selecting IBS for PoS we have begun to realise this vision." said Asish Koshy, Vice President and Head of Tour & Cruise Solutions, IBS Software. iTravel POS is part of iTravel Suite which is an integrated shore to ship family of products for cruise lines that also include iTravel-Cruise (Reservations), iTravel Dining (Table Reservations) and iTravel Navigator Guest Mobile App. About IBS Software IBS Software is a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, managing mission-critical operations for customers in the aviation, tour & cruise and hospitality industries. IBS Software's solutions for the aviation industry cover fleet & crew operations, aircraft maintenance, passenger services, loyalty programs, staff travel and air-cargo management. IBS Software also runs a real time B2B and B2C distribution platform providing hotel room inventory, rates and availability to a global network of hospitality companies and channels. For the tour and cruise industry, IBS provides a comprehensive, customer-centric, digital platform that covers onshore, online and on-board solutions. IBS Software is a Blackstone portfolio company and operates from 15 offices across the world. Further information can be found at https://www.ibsplc.com/. About Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is a family-founded company of Norwegian heritage with a fleet of four smaller ships Bolette, Borealis, Balmoral and Braemar each carrying less than 1,400 guests. In 2021, 2022 and beyond, the cruise line will offer a range of closer to home UK and European breaks, as well as longer, international sailings from eight UK departure ports, and a fly-cruise programme. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1471774/Fred_Olsen_Cruise_IBS.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1169353/IBS_Software_Logo.jpg SOURCE IBS Software [March 23, 2021] The MolinaCares Accord Supports Iowans in Need with $150,000 in Donations The MolinaCares Accord ("MolinaCares") donated $150,000 to nonprofits throughout urban and rural areas of Iowa to address issues associated with social determinants of health and reduce health disparities among Iowans. This includes advancing programs that address food security, housing, employment and legal aid as well as providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to intermediate care facilities serving the intellectually disabled as well as long-term care facilities. "With so many Iowa families and individuals enduring such a difficult year, MolinaCares is honored to support local nonprofits as they reach out to those in need," said Carolyn Ingram, executive vice president of external affairs at Molina Healthcare. "Through the MolinaCares Accord, Molina is able to provide supplies and resources that can make a real difference in the lives of so many Iowans in cities and towns across the state." MolinaCares is providing donations to Iowa organizations including: Food Bank of Iowa is a collaborative organization that works with many community-based groups across the state. Serving 55 counties, they help meet the needs of 175,000 food insecure children, families and seniors. Funds will go to support school backpack programs, rural food pantries, and mobile pantries serving rural Iowans. Iowa Healthiest State Initiative is the governor's initiative to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. Funds will support the Double Up Food Bucks Program, which allows low-income Iowans to double their SNAP benefits to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables at various grocery stores and farmers markets. New Visions Homeless Services is a nonprofit providing meals, shelter and basic primary care for homeless individuals in Council Bluffs. Funds will assist with developing new strategies to assist this population. Iowa Health Care Association is the leading state advocate of nursing facilities in Iowa serving all 99 counties. Funds will provide scholarships to rural Iowans interested in entering the long-term care (LTC) workforce, and to LTC facilities short on PPE and other supplies needed to combat the pandemic. Imagine the Possibilities provides residential, home and community-based services for over 1,200 men and women with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Funding will be used for PPE, disinfectants, and other supplies that can be used by Iowans receiving residential care and home care-based services (HCBS). Every Step is a leading provider of prenatal care; maternal health care; Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT); children's behavioral health care; and more than 30 programs that serve at-risk mothers and families in all Iowa counties. Funds will support the Healthy Start Project in Polk County and prenatal education and child development services. Iowa Primary Care Association provides health care services to 226,000 Iowans, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status. Funding will be used to help reduce health disparities in northwest Iowa by addressing social determinants of health including housing, safety, transportation, child support and expungements, among other legal services. It will help provide onsite Iowa Legal Aid at the Siouxland Community Health Center in Sioux City. Iowa Association of Community Providers has been advocating for mental health and disability providers for over 30 years, serving more than 130 organizations across all Iowa counties. Funding will be used to advance employment opportunities for the disability population. About MolinaCares Accord Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005346/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Assisted suicide deaths soar in Victoria, Australia as euthanasia becomes 'normalized' globally Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A recently released report details the increasing rate of voluntary assisted suicide in Victoria, Australia, as hundreds have ended their lives following the states legalization of euthanasia in 2019. The Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board of the Victorian Agency for Health Information, which oversees voluntary assisted suicide and euthanasia in the state, recently released its mandated biannual report. The report shows that in the last six months of 2020, voluntary assisted suicide rates have increased in Victoria. Victoria became the first Australian state to introduce voluntary assisted dying when the state legalized euthanasia in June 2019 through the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017. From its legalization to December 2020, 328 assisted suicide permit holders in Australia have died, of which 56% died by administering medication themselves while 12% had the medication administered by a medical practitioner. Nearly a third died before ever receiving the assisted suicide medication. A total of 581 people in Victoria applied for voluntary assisted dying since June 2019, and the average age of applicants was 71 years old. However, the ages of applicants have ranged from 20 to 100 years old. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements. The data shows that 446 individuals sought information on voluntary assisted suicide in the last six months of 2020 alone, according to the data. Wesley J. Smith, author and chair and senior fellow at the Discovery Institutes Center on Human Exceptionalism, an organization that seeks to preserve human rights and dignity, said assisted dying or euthanasia is a destruction of human equal worth. In a Monday interview, Smith told The Christian Post that euthanasia often becomes normalized once its legal. Once you legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia, then the effort comes to normalize that as the better way of dying. [Its called] death with dignity, right? As if dying naturally isnt dignified, Smith said. And you generally see in a consistent pattern of an ever-increasing number of people who die by euthanasia or assisted suicide. According to the report, medical practitioner administration permits also increased by 31.6%, and the number of confirmed deaths by practitioner administration grew by 81.8% in the last half of 2020. The board reports an increase in the number of medical practitioners who completed the online training program required to participate in voluntary assisted dying and an increase in those who received voluntary assisted dying applications. The board submits its findings to Parliament. The next report covering the first half of 2021 for Victoria will be presented in August. In recent months, euthanasia has become more prevalent worldwide. On Thursday, Spain passed legislation legalizing euthanasia, making it the fourth European country to allow physician-assisted suicide in some circumstances. Last week, Canada passed legislation to expand access to physician-assisted suicide after making it legal in 2016. So this is a very consistent pattern. Once its legalized, you wind up with more and more people doing it because it becomes normalized, Smith said. And youll always see a lot of media stories that promote this. [The media and pop culture] all play a part in promoting this as the best way to [die]. In 2020, the Netherlands expanded euthanasia to include terminally ill children younger than 12 years old, a Dutch court approved euthanasia for dementia patients and three countries voted to legalize assisted suicide. Euthanasia legislation typically begins with strict medical and legal guidelines used as obstacles or barriers to protect individuals in the realm of assisted suicide, Smith shared. Before long, he argues, efforts are made to loosen the protections to make assisted suicide more accessible and less restrictive. Then you will also begin to see that the supposed tight restrictions are deemed to be too restrictive, he said. They become obstacles, they become burdens and you begin to see a loosening process. The ultimate end goal, by the way, whether they intend it or not, but certainly the end outcome is going to be death on demand because once you say that killing is an acceptable answer to human suffering, how do you limit it in any way? Some countries have expanded euthanasia to mentally ill or disabled individuals and often use it as a means of organ harvesting, Smith added. Smith said the expansion of euthanasia destroys hope and sends a very loud message that some lives have more value than others based on certain conditions. He said assisted suicide also neglects proper intervention or suicide prevention efforts. When you say that there are some people who are killable and some people who are not killable, you basically say that we are no longer in an anti-suicide society, Smith said. We are a pro-some suicide society. And the people whose suicides we begin to validate, you are saying that certain lives are not worth living. Though not nearly as prominent in the United States, at least eight states and the District of Columbia currently have physician-assisted suicide or aid-in-dying legislation, according to Death with Dignity. These states include California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The gross non-performing assets of banks will rise by Rs 1.3 lakh crore due to the Supreme Court's refusal to extend the six-month loan moratorium offered by the Reserve Bank of India in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court turned down pleas from various trade associations and corporate bodies seeking an extension of the loan moratorium. However, the apex court ruled that there will not be any interest on interest or penal interest on any amount during the moratorium. As per rating agency ICRA's estimates, on a proforma basis, gross non-performing assets (GNPA) of banks stood at Rs 8.7 lakh crore or 8.3 per cent of advances as against the reported GNPA of Rs 7.4 lakh crore as of December 31, 2020, The Times of India reported. The net non-performing assets (NNPA) stood at Rs 2.7 lakh crore or 2.7 per cent of advances as against the reported NNPA of Rs 1.7 lakh crore as of December 31, 2020 for all banks. "Hence, in absence of standstill by Hon'ble Supreme Court, the gross NPAs for the banks would have been higher by Rs 1.3 lakh crore and net NPAs would have been higher by Rs 1 lakh crore," Anil Gupta, Vice President for financial sector ratings at ICRA, said. The apex court's decision to announce waiver of interest on interest will likely result in an additional outgo of Rs 7,000-7,500 crore to borrowers, Gupta said. Also read: SC refuses to extend RBI loan moratorium, waive interest entirely The Centre had earlier announced compound interest waiver for borrowers with up to Rs 2 crore borrowings, and it was estimated to cost about Rs 6,500 crore to the exchequer. Since the government paid for the waiver for small borrowers, it is also likely to pay for large borrowers, Gupta said. The RBI had on March 27 issued a circular which allowed lending institutions to grant a moratorium on payment of instalments of term loans falling due between March 1 and May 31, 2020, in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The moratorium was later extended till August 31, 2020. The central bank had also allowed lenders to undertake a one-time loan restructuring without classifying them as NPAs to ease financial stress amidst the pandemic. The Supreme Court had ruled in September 2020 that loans not classified as NPAs till August 31, 2020 shall not be put under this category till further orders. Also read: MHA issues fresh COVID-19 guidelines; tells states to step up vaccination, follow 'Test-Track-Treat' protocol ADVERTISEMENT The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has said the abuse of plea bargain due to procedural lacuna in the law is responsible for public distrust of the arrangement. Mr Malami, represented by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata, spoke on Tuesday at a virtual stakeholder roundtable for the review of the plea bargaining guidelines for federal prosecutors. He said section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, provides the general legal framework for the application of plea bargain, but noted that the provision was inadequate to ensure the protection of public interest and prevent abuse. He said, I believe that this provision can also be effectively deployed to address the compounding of offences which features in some statutes but without any procedural detail to aid its application. This lacuna is responsible for abuses in compounding of offences which had strengthened the current public scepticism about plea bargaining in general. In spite of the laudable provisions of section 270 of the ACJA, there is no doubt that these provisions are inadequate to guide the prosecutor and the defendant in reaching a plea bargain that ensures the protection of public interest, the interest of justice and prevents abuse of legal process. Many Nigerians have become distrustful of plea bargain after its application in some high profile corruption cases provided corrupt former governors and other top public officers to route get away with a slap on the wrist for mind-boggling looting of public treasury. Notorious among such cases are the ones involving former Governors Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State and Diepreye Alamieyeisegha (deceased) of Bayelsa State, who got sentences that helped them to either escape prison or spend little time there despite their pleading guilty to embezzlement of humongous amount of public fund. New guidelines will address lacunas Mr Malami said noticed deficiencies informed the development of the draft guidelines on plea bargain. He said benefits of effective deployment of plea bargain to include, reduced financial cost of prosecutions, speedy trial process, removal of uncertainty of trials, quick return of stolen assets, among others. He said, As you are well aware, the justice system in our nation is currently fraught with a lot of challenges which prolong adjudication time and most times frustrate parties. The effective deployment of plea bargain provisions will therefore, reduce the financial cost of prosecutions, hasten trial process, eliminate uncertainty of trials, enhance the quick return of stolen assets, and generally enhance the efficiency of the criminal justice system. The purpose of the Draft Guidelines is to promote standardization and consistency in Plea Bargain (including compounding of offences) by Federal Prosecutors as well as ensure that the principles of accountability, equity, integrity, and transparency are observed in reaching plea bargain agreements across the board. The draft provides further support to the existing Code of Conduct and Prosecutorial Guidelines for Federal Prosecutors which generally regulate the conducts and actions of Federal Prosecutors in the exercise of their prosecutorial discretion. He said the draft guideline was developed by the Administration of Criminal Justice Reform Department in collaboration with Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC) and other experts. She wore $25,000 worth of show-stopping outfits during last year's MasterChef. And on Sunday, judge Melissa Leong was dressed to impress as she began filming the new season of the popular cooking show in Melbourne alongside her co-stars, Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo. Melissa, who recently split with husband Joe Jones, absolutely stunned in an eye-catching gold blouse, black trousers and sky-high heels as she strutted her stuff on set at a local bakery. Golden girl! Newly single MasterChef judge Melissa Leong stunned in an eye-catching blouse and sky-high heels as she joined co-stars Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen to film the new series in Melbourne on Sunday The brunette beauty looked nothing short of incredible in her outfit. Her blouse featured a plunging neckline, billowing sleeves and a black belt at the waist. She accessorised with Perspex earrings, black high heels and a chic pair of tortoise shell sunglasses. Food critic and fashionista! The brunette beauty looked nothing short of incredible in her outfit Hot to trot! Melissa, who recently split with husband Joe Jones, absolutely stunned in an eye-catching gold blouse, black trousers and sky-high heels as she strutted her stuff on set at a local bakery All in the details: Her blouse featured a plunging neckline, billowing sleeves and a black belt at the waist Flawless: Her long locks were out and coiffed in loose tousled curls and she wore natural-looking makeup, including dewy foundation and a deep nude lip Her long locks were out and coiffed in loose tousled curls and she wore natural-looking makeup, including dewy foundation and a deep nude lip. Melissa looked thrilled to be back on set and filming, joining equally stylish fellow judges, Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen. Jock, 44, looked dapper in a navy pinstripe suit jacket and vest, which he teamed with a white shirt and tight black trousers and boots. Andy, 32, wore a navy shirt with a pair of checkered grey trousers, oozing sophistication and swagger. The former MasterChef winner, who won the 2012 season, carried a large bouquet of flowers on set. Dapper: Fellow judge Jock, 44, looked dapper in a navy pinstripe suit jacket and vest, which he teamed with a white shirt and tight black trousers and boots. Andy, 32, wore a navy shirt with a pair of checkered grey trousers, oozing sophistication and swagger Who are they for? The former MasterChef winner carried a large bouquet of flowers on set Doing well: Andy won the 2012 season of MasterChef Australia Thrilled: Melissa looked happy to be back on set Melissa looked at ease as she and her co-stars interacted with cast and crew. At one point, she was escorted by an assistant as she made her way around the streets of Melbourne. Melissa famously wore $25,000 worth of stylish outfits on the show last year, from designers including Alice McCall and KITX. Back to business! At one point, she was escorted by an assistant as she made her way around the streets of Melbourne Doing her thing: Melissa happily interacted with cast and crew 'Can you really have too many pairs of shoes?' In February, she thrilled fans when she shared a selfie from the shoe cupboard on set In February, she thrilled fans when she shared a selfie from the shoe cupboard on set. Sneakers, strappy heels, stilettos and stylish flats were lined up neatly on shelves behind Melissa. 'Can you really have too many pairs of shoes?' she cheekily captioned the picture. Pricey! Melissa famously wore $25,000 worth of stylish outfits on the show last year, from designers including Alice McCall and KITX Loving it: She previously told 10Play that she loved fans were loving her style and understood she was a multi-faceted person 'I am flattered that so many people have resonated with my style and that beauty and fashion standards in the media continue to grow in their inclusivity and reflection of the real world,' Melissa said She previously told 10Play that she was thrilled that fans were loving her style and understood she was a multi-faceted person. 'I am flattered that so many people have resonated with my style and that beauty and fashion standards in the media continue to grow in their inclusivity and reflection of the real world,' Melissa said. 'To be considered part of the fashion zeitgeist is fun, but it will never steal my focus from my qualifications as a food writer, presenter and communicator.' 'To be considered part of the fashion zeitgeist is fun, but it will never steal my focus from my qualifications as a food writer, presenter and communicator,' she added Meanwhile, according to TV Blackbox, MasterChef Australia is set premiere against the new season of Nine's Lego Masters, on Sunday April 18. This indicates that Nine's Married At First Sight is expected to conclude in the week of April 11, which is the first week of ratings after the Easter break. Earlier this month, Jock - who only joined the popular cooking program as a judge in 2020 - appeared to leak the mystery air date ahead of time. Incoming! Meanwhile, according to TV Blackbox, MasterChef Australia is set premiere against the new season of Nine's Lego Masters, on Sunday April 18 Spilling the beans? Earlier this month, Jock - who only joined the popular cooking program as a judge in 2020 - appeared to leak the mystery air date ahead of time Sending fans into overdrive! After sharing the promotional video to his Instagram page, Jock was inundated with questions about the new season, and more specifically when it would air After sharing the promotional video to his Instagram page, Jock was inundated with questions about the new season, and more specifically when it would air. Jock, 44, decided to directly respond to some fans with a rough guideline of when the show would premiere, writing: 'Around Easter I reckon.' Easter is just four weeks away, as it falls around the first weekend of April. With only seven teams remaining on Channel 10's The Amazing Race, it's likely as soon as the adventurous reality TV series ends MasterChef Australia will begin. Interesting! Jock, 44, decided to directly respond to some fans with a rough guideline of when the show would premiere, writing: 'Around Easter I reckon' (TNS) With the promise of widespread COVID-19 vaccine availability on the horizon, employers may be weighing whether to require workers to be vaccinated in order to safely return to work.Rebecca Demaree, a Nashville-based attorney with Cornelius & Collins who specializes in health care, labor and employment law, said that employers can mandate vaccines for employees including the COVID-19 vaccines if they determine that it is valid for their position and the policy is clearly communicated."Is it a safety risk in a profession for you not to have vaccinated employees? Do you put the other employees, your customers at risk if you don't require the vaccine?" Demaree said.The Tennessee Department of Health does not currently recommend that employers require COVID-19 vaccines as long as supplies are scarce and vaccines are operating under the Food and Drug Administration's emergency use authorization. That recommendation could change once there's enough vaccine supply for every American and the coronavirus vaccines achieve full U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.Requiring vaccines is already a common practice in job sectors that put workers at greater risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases. Both CHI Memorial and Erlanger Health System require employees to get flu shots each year, but neither are mandating COVID-19 vaccines for their staff at this time."We have already vaccinated thousands of our employees and physicians on staff and we continue to offer the vaccine through our employee health department. We also understand that some people may have questions about the new vaccines to prevent COVID-19, and we are doing everything we can to share data and evidence showing that the vaccines are safe and effective," Memorial spokesperson Karen Long said via email.Erlanger spokesperson Blaine Kelley said in an email that the hospital strongly encourages vaccines and that a majority of staff have been vaccinated against the coronavirus."However, we are unable to provide an exact number as we cannot ask employees if they were vaccinated elsewhere since it is not a requirement of their employment and would be a violation of their privacy," Kelley said.Chattanooga's third hospital, Parkridge Health, does not require staff to receive the flu vaccine, but spokesperson Michael Ferguson said via email that it's offered to all workers."Those who opt out of receiving the vaccine are required to wear a mask when inside Parkridge Health facilities during influenza season, which typically lasts from Nov. 1 to March 30," Ferguson said, noting that Parkridge currently has a universal masking policy in place for everyone within its facilities, regardless of whether they have received the influenza vaccine.Neither the city of Chattanooga nor Hamilton County government, including Hamilton County Schools, are requiring frontline workers such as police, firefighters, paramedics or teachers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and spokespeople said they have no future plans to make it a requirement.Though health care workers were the first in line for vaccines, nearly half said they had not received their first dose of vaccine, according to a Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation survey conducted Feb. 11-March 7.One out of six health workers in that poll said that they would leave their job if their employer mandated vaccines.Demaree said employers must balance whether the health and safety benefits of vaccinations outweigh the potential for fallout, and some employers may find it better to use incentives to encourage vaccinations rather than require them.For those employers who do make it a requirement, it's important that the employer look at the specific job requirements for each worker."It doesn't have to be a blanket policy for all employees, because employees come into contact with different people," she said.Federal law allows employees to be exempt from vaccine requirements for documented medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs.In that case, the employer may determine if it can make accommodations for the worker, such as moving them to a new position or having them wear a face mask. Employers can then decide to terminate the employee once those considerations are taken, she said."That makes it really important for the employers to know exactly what their actual job requirements for all of the jobs are," Demaree said. "There is no one solution for every employer or for every position."Ultimately, Demaree suspects that some employees especially ones involved in direct patient care will be forced to get vaccinated against COVID-19."Employers have to have employees, and they have to have viable businesses," she said. "And they have to get back to doing what they need to do, while keeping people safe." Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT) News Summary Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted a webinar in collaboration with the Central TB Division (CTD), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) entitled: Understanding TB within Community Structures: Integrating with the most vulnerable. Held on the eve of World TB Day (March 24), the webinar focused on strengthening community engagement at the grassroots. TH Herbert appointed CEO of Semarchy. Semarchy, the creator of the Intelligent Data Hub, announced today that former COO, TH Herbert has been appointed CEO effective March 31, 2021. Company founder and current CEO, Salah Kamel, will transition to a strategic role with the Board of Directors. He will continue to serve as a key advisor to the company, its partners and clients. In addition, Herve Chapron has recently joined the company to lead the European operations and sales. Herve has a strong background of 24 years in Enterprise Data Software and most recently spent 12 years at Qlik in various leadership positions. This transition builds on Semarchys recently announced investment by Providence Strategic Growth (PSG) in September of 2020, positioning the company for the next phase of growth as a recognized leader in the Master Data Management market. Salah said, TH joined Semarchy in 2017, and his outstanding results driving the growth of the company in North America convinced me to promote him to COO in late 2018. His exceptional skills and deep knowledge of the industry made him, once again, the perfect fit for his new responsibilities as a CEO. I am 100% confident in his ability to take us all to the next level, while preserving the core values of the company with our employees, partners, and clients." TH said, From day one, Salah has been instrumental in driving the vision of the company to turn Semarchy into an industry leader. As we accelerate our expansion, it is critical for him to focus on the continued market strategy and product direction, while allowing us to maintain the excellent quality of product and support that our clients have come to expect from us. Along with Herve, I feel that we are in a perfect position to deliver even better outcomes and service to our clients with this improved structure. About Semarchy Semarchy is the creator of the Intelligent Data Hub which empowers business users to become data champions. Its xDM platform enables organizations of any size and helps them quickly bring together the critical information scattered across applications into a single data hub, with fast time to value. Data can be discovered, mastered, governed, and centrally managed in a non-intrusive way. Semarchy xDM is natively available on most popular cloud marketplaces, such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and also as Software as a Service (SaaS), all with the same features as the on-premises platform. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form LANSING The owner of a Michigan towing company has been charged with 14 felony counts for allegedly selling cars that didnt belong to him. David Avery, the owner of Rescue Unit Towing, has been charged with one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony, and 13 counts of uttering and publishing false bills of sale for abandoned vehicles, a 14-year felony, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on March 19. Avery was arraigned on these charges in late February and granted a $20,000 personal recognizance bond. Avery is accused of fraudulently obtaining titles for several vehicles which he towed as a private contractor for several apartment complexes in Detroit. It is alleged that after towing a vehicle, Avery would apply with the Department of State for a title to the vehicle. Avery would sign the title for Rescue Unit Towing as the custodian of the vehicle and sign the title as a Detroit Police Department representative although Avery was not in fact a Detroit Police Department representative. My office is committed to holding fraudsters who manipulate the system for their own gain accountable, Nessel said in a statement. A preliminary examination on these charges is set for July 29 before the Judge Kenyetta Stanford Jones. Denton, TX (76205) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. TIM Brasil has announced its intention to be the first operator in Brazil to migrate its data centres to the cloud. The migration to a multicloud environment will involve all of its data centres, which are located in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. As part of this strategy, the operator has signed a partnership with Oracle and Microsoft, which, the company says, will allow it to improve customer service processes, internal operations, billing, collection and management of digital platforms with speed, scalability and security, in a project that combines innovation, sustainability and efficiency. The migration process is expected to be carried out in the next two years, with the transfer of all TIMs resources to the cloud. The migration is part of a strategic plan for the operator, which involves digitizing all processes, including service and relationship platforms. Microsoft and Oracle already have a global cloud interoperability partnership that offers an approach to connecting their two clouds, Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud, of which an integrated support system is part. Using Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), Oracle's second-generation data centre, and the adoption of the Microsoft Azure platform, TIM will, it says, have the most complete security certification solution on the market and an ultra-high-speed connection and be able to maintain its systems with the highest levels of security. Migration to the cloud also reduces emissions directly associated with storing data in physical spaces, an important step towards the operator's goal of being carbon-neutral by 2030. Imperial physicists are part of a team that has announced 'intriguing' results that potentially cannot be explained by our current laws of nature. The LHCb Collaboration at CERN has found particles not behaving in the way they should according to the guiding theory of particle physics - the Standard Model. The Standard Model of particle physics predicts that particles called beauty quarks, which are measured in the LHCb experiment, should decay into either muons or electrons in equal measure. However, the new result suggests that this may not be happening, which could point to the existence of new particles or interactions not explained by the Standard Model. Physicists from Imperial College London and the Universities of Bristol and Cambridge led the analysis of the data to produce this result, with funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council. The result was announced today at the Moriond Electroweak Physics conference and published as a preprint. Beyond the Standard Model The Standard Model is the current best theory of particle physics, describing all the known fundamental particles that make up our Universe and the forces that they interact with. However, the Standard Model cannot explain some of the deepest mysteries in modern physics, including what dark matter is made of and the imbalance of matter and antimatter in the Universe. Researchers have therefore been searching for particles behaving in different ways than would be expected in the Standard Model, to help explain some of these mysteries. Dr Mitesh Patel, from the Department of Physics at Imperial and one of the leading physicists behind the measurement, said: "We were actually shaking when we first looked at the results, we were that excited. Our hearts did beat a bit faster. "It's too early to say if this genuinely is a deviation from the Standard Model but the potential implications are such that these results are the most exciting thing I've done in 20 years in the field. It has been a long journey to get here." Building blocks of nature Today's results were produced by the LHCb experiment, one of four huge particle detectors at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The LHC is the world's largest and most powerful particle collider - it accelerates subatomic particles to almost the speed of light, before smashing them into each other. These collisions produce a burst of new particles, which physicists then record and study in order to better understand the basic building blocks of nature. The updated measurement questions the laws of nature that treat electrons and their heavier cousins, muons, identically, except for small differences due to their different masses. According to the Standard Model, muons and electrons interact with all forces in the same way, so beauty quarks created at LHCb should decay into muons just as often as they do to electrons. But these new measurements suggest the decays could be happening at different rates, which could suggest never-before-seen particles tipping the scales away from muons. Dr Paula Alvarez Cartelle, of the University of Cambridge, was one of the leaders of the team that found the result. She said: "This new result offers tantalising hints of the presence of a new fundamental particle or force that interacts differently with these different types of particles. "The more data we have, the stronger this result has become. This measurement is the most significant in a series of LHCb results from the past decade that all seem to line up - and could all point towards a common explanation. "The results have not changed, but their uncertainties have shrunk, increasing our ability to see possible differences with the Standard Model." Not a foregone conclusion In particle physics, the gold standard for discovery is five standard deviations - which means there is a 1 in 3.5 million chance of the result being a fluke. This result is three deviations - meaning there is still a 1 in 1000 chance that the measurement is a statistical coincidence. It is therefore too soon to make any firm conclusions. Dr Konstantinos Petridis of the University of Bristol's School of Physics was one of the leading physicists behind the measurement. He said: "This has been a seven-year saga. Over this period, we have been seeing clues of a new unexplained process at work, but the effects were too subtle to draw any conclusions. The latest result from LHCb however offers for the first-time evidence that there could be something wrong with our current understanding of particle physics. "We are very excited about this result but remain cautious as well. PhD students in the Bristol particle physics group are leading the studies required to confirm or refute these exciting results. "The discovery of a new force in nature is the holy grail of particle physics. Our current understanding of the constituents of the Universe falls remarkably short - we do not know what 95 percent of the Universe is made of or why there is such a large imbalance between matter and anti-matter." It is now for the LHCb collaboration to further verify their results by collating and analysing more data, to see if the evidence for some new phenomena remains. The LHCb experiment is expected to start collecting new data next year, following an upgrade to the detector. ### Based in Memphis, Tennessee, ARS operates a network of more than 70 locally managed service centers in 24 states, with approximately 6,000 highly talented employees and the largest team of HVAC technicians and plumbers in the U.S. The company is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service with an emphasis on highly skilled employees, state-of-the-art technologies including smart home and remote diagnostics, 24/7 service, and a 100% money-back guarantee. It operates under the ARS brand and other affiliated brands, while capitalizing on differentiated relationships with leading national retailers. Mr. Slott commented, "I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the talented, dedicated employees throughout the ARS organization as well as our deep, experienced leadership team. It has been my distinct honor and privilege to work with our team over the past 15 years to build ARS into the industry leader it is today. I enthusiastically welcome Scott as a tremendous addition to this organization who will work alongside our superb management team to help accelerate our numerous growth initiatives. The growth of ARS through the pandemic is a testament to the strength of this organization, our employees and brands, and the outstanding customer service we provide. I look forward to supporting Scott and the ARS management team during this planned transition and wish all of our employees great success in the years ahead." Commenting on his new position, Mr. Boose said, "I appreciate this vote of confidence from our investment partners at GI and Charlesbank and look forward to applying my experience in the HVAC, plumbing, and home services industries to build upon the success that ARS has achieved under Dave Slott. The years ahead will bring continued growth as we reinforce the company's focus on outstanding customer service and expansion into new markets, including through M&A. ARS employees are the lifeblood of this organization, and we will continue to focus on providing them with fulfilling careers. This is an exciting time to join ARS and I look forward to benefiting from Dave's insights during the transition." Hoon Cho, Managing Director at GI Partners, which made a majority investment in ARS in 2020, said, "Scott is a dynamic leader and team builder with an outstanding track record, and we are pleased to have him join ARS as CEO. Scott's experience and acumen will allow him to ensure ARS's continued growth and category leadership. We are grateful to Dave for his many years of dedication and success in building a great company. Dave and the ARS management team have positioned ARS well for this next exciting stage of growth." Prior to joining ARS, Mr. Boose was most recently Chief Executive Officer of CLEAResult, the largest provider of energy efficiency and demand response solutions in North America. He was previously President and CEO of Service Experts, a North American home services provider servicing over 700,000 customers. Prior to joining Service Experts, Mr. Boose was the President of Direct Energy Services and, from 2007 to 2010, served as the Managing Director of the Heating Services business for British Gas, an operating unit of Centrica PLC. Mr. Boose received a BS in accounting and finance, summa cum laude, from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He served on the Board of Directors for British Gas Insurance and Enercare. GI Partners completed a majority investment in ARS in 2020 alongside management and Charlesbank Capital Partners, the company's previous investor. Charlesbank renewed its commitment to ARS through a significant new investment in the business. About American Residential Services ARS serves residential and light commercial customers by providing heating, cooling, indoor air quality, plumbing, drain cleaning, sewer line, radiant barrier, insulation, and ventilation services. The ARS Network features industry-leading brands including, A.J. Perri, Aksarben ARS, Allgood, Andy's Statewide, ARS, Aspen Air Conditioning, Atlas Trillo, Beutler, Blue Dot, Brothers, Columbus Worthington Air, Comfort Heating & Air, Conway Services, Efficient Attic Systems (EAS), Florida Home Air Conditioning, Greenstar Home Services, McCarthy Services, Rescue Rooter, RighTime Home Services, RS Andrews, The Irish Plumber, Unique Services, "Will" Fix It, and Yes! Air Conditioning and Plumbing. For more information, visit www.ars.com. Media Contacts: For ARS: Chris Fairey SVP and General Counsel [email protected] For GI Partners: Chris Tofalli Chris Tofalli Public Relations LLC 914-834-4334 [email protected] Gretchen Robinson GI Partners [email protected] SOURCE American Residential Services Related Links http://www.ars.com NORTH BILLERICA, Mass., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Curriculum Associates' i-Ready recently took home three leading education awardsa Tech & Learning 2021 Best Tools for Remote and Blended Learning Award, a Tech & Learning Best of Show at ISTE 2020 Award, and a THE Journal 2020 New Product Awardfor its innovation and impact on education. Today, the online program, which is continually being updated with new features and resources to support the teaching and learning process, serves more than 9 million students nationwide and is currently being used by 25 percent of all K8 students across all 50 states. "We are always working to enhance i-Ready to meet the complexand often changingneeds of educators and students alike, especially during a challenging school year like this," said Rob Waldron, CEO of Curriculum Associates. "We are honored to be recognized by Tech & Learning and THE Journal for our program and look forward to helping educators continue to deliver personalized, data-driven, and engaging instruction as they finish this year out strong." The Best Tools for Remote and Blended Learning Award, a new offering in Tech & Learning's legacy Awards of Excellence program, recognizes technology solutions that were important to delivering quality, continuous learning. i-Ready was awarded in the Primary Grades (K6) category for helping students, parents, and teachers succeed in new remote- and hybrid-learning environments. The Tech & Learning Best of Show at ISTE 2020 Awards recognize products that are transforming teaching and learning during the pandemic and beyond. The judges selected the winning products based on numerous factors, including value, uniqueness in the market, and the product's ability to solve specific problems for educators and administrators. THE Journal is dedicated to informing K12 senior-level district and school administrators, technologists, and tech-savvy educators to help improve and advance the learning process through the use of technology. The New Product Awards program was launched this year to recognize leading providers in education whose products or services are particularly noteworthy in the transformation of education technology. i-Ready was named the platinum winner in the Adaptive/Personalized Learning Tool category. i-Ready makes the promise of differentiated instruction a practical reality for K12 teachers and students. It combines powerful assessments and rich insights with effective and engaging instruction in Reading and Mathematics to address students' individual needs. The Diagnostic provides educators with actionable criterion-referenced and normative data to deliver impactful, equitable learning experiences. Teachers administer the Diagnostic at the beginning of the school year to chart a course for their instruction and to personalize i-Ready instructional paths. A mid-year and end-of-year Diagnostic helps students and teachers measure growth and have data chats. Teacher-led and personalized instruction continues throughout the year to help students grow and access their grade-level learning. In 2020, the company made more than 100 new i-Ready updatesincluding adding more than 170 new Reading and Mathematics lessons (and an additional 160-plus lessons in Spanish), a Prerequisite Mathematics report for Grades 18, Reading resources for Grades 38 to help teachers prepare students for grade-level Reading instruction, and moreto help teachers address unfinished learning and offer guidance and tools to support teaching and learning, whether it takes place at home, at school, or both. To learn more about i-Ready, visit CurriculumAssociates.com/i-Ready. About Curriculum Associates Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company's products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students. Contact: Kati Elliott Charlotte Fixler KEH Communications Curriculum Associates (410) 975-9638 (978) 901-6066 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Curriculum Associates, LLC Related Links www.curriculumassociates.com Screenshot / Middletown police video MIDDLETOWN City police are urging people to keep their vehicles locked, even when the car is in their own driveway, after the report of two thefts Monday morning. Two automobiles were stolen in broad daylight Monday morning: a white Audi A3 bearing Connecticut registration AT56891 on Westfield Terrace; and a white Land Rover from Country Club Road, police said on the Middletown Police Department - Connecticut Facebook page. 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. Vaccinating frontline employees at UT Southwestern led to a marked reduction in new COVID-19 infections, isolations, and quarantines. Credit: UT Southwestern Medical Center Vaccinating health care workers resulted in an immediate and notable reduction of positive COVID-19 cases among employees, reducing the number of required isolations and quarantines by more than 90 percent, according to data at UT Southwestern Medical Center published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Health care workers were among the first groups to be eligible for vaccination. "Real-world experience with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination at UT Southwestern demonstrated a marked reduction in the incidence of infections among our employees, preserving the workforce when it was most needed," notes Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., president of UT Southwestern and senior author. During the first 31 days of vaccinations becoming available, UT Southwestern provided a first dose to 59 percent of roughly 23,000 employees, while 30 percent were able to be fully vaccinated in that time frame. Among the findings: 1.5 percent became infected. Infection rates were highest2.6 percentamong nonvaccinated employees. Infection rates were lowest.05 percentamong those fully vaccinated. "Our ability to quickly vaccinate a majority of our workforce in the midst of what became the largest surge to date in the region made a critical difference in ensuring we were able to continue providing top-flight care while health systems were strained," says John Warner, M.D., executive vice president for health system affairs at UT Southwestern. Researchers also saw advantages among partially vaccinated individuals, and from Jan. 9, the actual number of positive tests among all UT Southwestern employees was consistently lower than the number projected. The data also show continued need to address vaccine hesitancy, with UT Southwestern now approaching 70 percent immunization among its workforce. "In light of this real-world experience clearly demonstrating the effectiveness of immunization, further understanding of the reticence of some individuals to take advantage of vaccination bears even greater importance," says first author William Daniel, M.D., vice president and chief quality officer at UT Southwestern. UT Southwestern has provided educational outreach to community groups and businesses, developed extensive online resources including Q&As and blogs, and is preparing to launch a multilingual public service announcement campaign to help educate diverse communities about vaccination and address issues of hesitancy. "It is important to reach out across multiple platforms to effectively address people's questions so that we can continue to make progress on vaccine hesitancy," says Marc Nivet, Ed.D., executive vice president for institutional advancement at UT Southwestern. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: William Daniel et al. Early Evidence of the Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine at One Medical Center, New England Journal of Medicine (2021). Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine William Daniel et al. Early Evidence of the Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine at One Medical Center,(2021). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc2102153 Over a dozen houseboats were saved by a quick-thinking skipper who stopped a floating container from crushing the marina. The floating shipping container was surging down the Hawkesbury River at Webbs Creek Ferry, north west of Sydney. Incredible footage shows the blue shipping container on a destructive path towards the houseboats before the vessel about half its size drives towards it and gently guides it away. The skipper was left with only a few metres between the container and the houseboats The container that one viewer said weighed over four tonne was on a path of destruction Footage shows the massive container hitting the Webbs Creek Ferry barge and visibly moving it before it continues down stream towards the houseboats. The fast-acting skipper put his boat between the container and the marina to save more than a dozen houseboats. Record floods and rainfall hits the NSW east coast resulting in many evacuation warnings. Today, NSW SES issued another flood evacuation warning for residents located in the lower reaches along the Hawkesbury River from Wisemans Ferry to Brooklyn. Before the boat was stopped from hitting the houseboats it crashed into this barge and moved it off line The much smaller boat gently let the container drift on past the marina without endangering of the other boats NSW SES issued evacuation warnings as there has been widespread flooding in the Hawkesbury area NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she is worried about 'worsening conditions' set to hit parts of the state again today with the Hawkesbury and Colo River areas now the primary areas of concern, 9News reported. 'About 18,000 people have been evacuated,' she said. 'An additional 15,000 people may need to be evacuated.' Ms Berejiklian said 'massive water flows' are expected in rivers through the week, even after the rain stops Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey said working-class actors are often unrepresented because productions are funded by Oxbridge people. Morrissey, 58, grew up in a care home in Stoke-on-Trent and studied at Londons Guildhall School of Music and Drama with the help of a grant. The actor, who as well as comedy Men Behaving Badly is known for dramas Waterloo Road and Line Of Duty, said wealthy financiers behind TV projects often want their own. Neil Morrissey discussed working-class representation in the acting industry in the latest edition of the Radio Times (Radio Times/PA) He told the Radio Times: When Oxbridge people are pumping a lot of money into a production, they want their own. Were (working-class actors) always under-represented, because its hard to sell a bunch of northerners to an American network when they consider Brits to be slightly fey James Bond-ish types, not people who work in a factory. However, Morrissey believes the pandemic could lead to a shake-up of British TV. He said: We just went through a period with all these glamorous series about spies or aspirational families. But Ive got a feeling were going to head into a transition period, a bit like the kitchen sink era, where were going to want to know about the general public and the frontline workers. I think a lot of people are going to want to tell their stories. Read the full interview in the Radio Times. The Crown's very own Prince Charles has become the face of luxury brand Bulgari. Josh O'Connor - who portrayed the prince in seasons 3 and 4 of the award-winning Netflix drama - is now a UK brand ambassador for watches, and models them in a series of brooding snaps for a new campaign. Josh - who has won a Golden Globe and a Critics' Choice award for his role in The Crown - dons dark attire for the images, posing in one snap in a black jacket with a fur trim collar. Prince Brooding: The Crown's very own Prince Charles has become the face of luxury brand Bulgari. Josh O'Connor is now a UK brand ambassador for watches Sporting a navy and cream sweater underneath, the 30-year-old smoulders for the camera, showcasing the flashy Octo Finissimo Chrono GMT watch with its platinum peripheral rotor, titanium case, transparent case back, black dial and black rubber bracelet. Josh goes for a lighter look in another snap, this time in a cream sweater and tan suede jacket. Slightly camoflagued this time is the Octo Finissimo Automatic watch with its extra-thin sandblasted 18 kt rose gold case and bracelet, and 18 kt rose gold dial. A third snap seems him perching on a stool in a black turtleneck and checked green and navy slacks. Smouldering: Josh goes for a lighter look in another snap, this time in a cream sweater and tan suede jacket Moody: A third snap seems him perching on a stool in a black turtleneck and checked green and navy slacks Trio: Josh showcases the [L-R] Octo Finissimo Automatic watch with an extra-thin satin-polished stainless steel case and blue laquered dial; the Octo Finissimo Chrono GMT watch with its platinum peripheral rotor, titanium case and transparent case back; and the Octo Finissimo Automatic watch in sandblasted 18 kt rose gold He models the third of the watch trio: the Octo Finissimo Automatic watch with an extra-thin satin-polished stainless steel case and integrated bracelet, transparent case back and blue laquered dial with sunburst finishing. Speaking about the announcement, Josh said: 'I'm delighted to join the Bulgari family as their Watch Ambassador. 'I have always had an interest in the making of timepieces and I look forward to learning more about the craftsmanship and design of these unique objects.' Josh's tenure on The Crown has come to a close after two seasons. As is the structure of the show, the characters will be recast for the next two series, with Prince Charles reportedly being played by Dominic West. Lusaka, Zambia (PANA) Zambian President Edgar Lungu has assured diplomats that the country will hold transparent, fair and credible elections in line with the Constitution of the country Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The Reserve Bank's committee for evaluating applications for universal as well as small finance banks will be chaired by its former Deputy Governor Shyamala Gopinath. According to the RBI, besides Gopinath, four other members are part of the 'Standing External Advisory Committee' (SEAC) including Revathy Iyer, Director, Central Board, RBI, B. Mahapatra, former Executive Director, RBI and presently Chairman, NPCI, T.N. Manoharan, former Chairman, Canara Bank and Hemant G. Contractor, former MD, SBI and former Chairman, PFRDA. Earlier, the RBI had stated that a SEAC comprising eminent persons with experience in banking, financial sector and other relevant areas, will evaluate the applications. "The tenure of this SEAC will be for three years," the RBI said in a statement. "The secretarial support to the committee would be provided by the Department of Regulation, Reserve Bank of India." Act to establish Manx Care clears final parliamentary hurdle A once-in-a-generation shift in the way health and care services are provided to the Islands population will begin with the launch of Manx Care in just under two weeks time. The new operational body focused on delivering services is clear to go-live after the Manx Care Act 2021 received Royal Assent and Tynwald approved an Order establishing the organisation as a statutory body from 1 April 2021. It means the legislation required to form Manx Care has completed its parliamentary journey and the stage is set for the first public sector body of its kind in the Isle of Man to start its work. The creation of Manx Care involves an historic separation of the Department of Health and Social Cares current functions. The change will see Manx Care focus on delivering a comprehensive range of services to the public, operating at arms length from the Department of Health and Social Care which will be responsible for strategic direction setting, policy development, oversight and assurance. The range and scope of services to be provided by Manx Care and the objectives and principles it must uphold will be set out by the Department each year in a high level document known as the Mandate. The first Mandate from DHSC to Manx Care was received by Tynwald last week. Health and Social Care Minister David Ashford said: The light has gone from amber to green so it is all systems go for the launch of Manx Care in April. After extensive research, consultation and planning over almost two years, the Islands new patient and service user-focused body is nearing its launch date. This is a fundamental restructure in which DHSC will also change. Put simply, Manx Care will be purely focused on its core business of delivering a defined set of health and care services. Its operations will be distanced from the decision-making process and the mechanics of running a health and care system, in line with the model recommended by Sir Jonathan Michael in his landmark review of the Islands health and care services. He added: There will be no immediate change for Manx residents after the launch of Manx Care, as they will continue to receive their care and treatment as they did before. Establishing Manx Care is the first step on a journey; work is underway across the board to improve our services and access to them, while the Transformation project continues to design sustainable, integrated health and care services to meet the needs of the Island now and in the future. Ensuring the safety and quality of services across the board will be a key responsibility for DHSC. An extensive programme of ongoing assessments, inspections and reporting by a number of external and internal agencies and professional bodies is in the advanced stages of planning. This will include for the first time, reviews of Island services by the UK Care Quality Commission. Patient and service user representatives are currently being recruited by both the DHSC and Manx Care, to ensure views and suggestions from the public are represented on a more formal basis than in the past. The initiative will see the representatives gather and submit feedback on the lived experience of users of services to the organisations which plan, fund and provide them. The scorching sun doesn't seem to have halted farmers who have been protesting against the three farm laws for the past three months. Protestors at the Ghazipur border of the national capital are busy making arrangements to beat the heat, with a sudden onset of summers and daily temperatures rising. Tents that were spread on the service lane near the Delhi- Meerut Expressway, have moved under the shade of the flyover and raised to a certain height. Winter arrangements inside the tents are now being replaced with jute pads, chick mats and long dried grass to keep the floor cool. Khalsa Aid Temporary roofs set up Additionally, the floors of the trolleys are lined with carpets and mattresses and tarpaulin sheets are used to create temporary roofs. The trolleys contain logs, sacks of wheat flour, rice, and pulses, cartons of packaged water, bags of disposable plates and cups, and several boxes of medicine. The villagers, in addition to cash donations, have donated these essential supplies for the protesting farmers. Farmers protesting against three farm laws at Delhi-UP border in Ghazipur for 117 days set up raised tents, using chic mats, long dried grass & tarpaulin to beat the heat. "We're gearing up for summer. We won't go back until the black laws are withdrawn," a farmer said yesterday pic.twitter.com/sizeAaEZ0I ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2021 Like winter, we will also face the heat. Arrangements are made for everyone. We have requested the local administration for the connection of electricity. Hopefully, it will be provided. But there is no going back or withdrawing the agitation. We are here to stay, said Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait. For protection from heat, arrangements have been made for a large tent in front of the stage, so that people can sit there and listen to the speakers. Under this shade, numbers are slowly increasing. Volunteers are providing water bottles to the protestors and requesting them to remain organised. Khalsa aid Most of them spend the day inside tents and come out only after sunset. Krishna, a farmer from Uttarakhand, is on guard duty at one of the entrances to the protest site. I am here day and night. If people are leaving, almost the same number is coming in to support the cause. Donations for fans, coolers being collected Meanwhile, donations for coolers and fans are being collected. People are contributing, as they want to do sewa and help the protestors, informed Gurudayal Singh, one of the members of the organising committee. To manage the stress, a meditation centre has also sprung up at the site run by a group of volunteers from the spiritual group called Sahaja Yoga. Scores of farmers are taking part in this. At food counters, water-based cooling refreshments are offered to every passerby. Khalsa Aid 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. The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) has condemned another violation of human rights targeting Ukrainian community leaders in the Russian Federation. Russian authorities violated the civil rights of Ukrainian community leader Lidia Demay, Chair of the Committee on Culture and Youth of the Ukrainian Congress of Russia and Chair of the Yekaterinburg chapter of the Ukrainian Womens Union of Russia. On March 9, 2021, Ms Demay was summoned to the Yekaterinburg office of the Russian Federal Migration Service. She was detained and interrogated for four hours by Immigration Service officials and the Russian Federal Security Service. She was pressured psychologically and morally; the Russian officials also threatened her family members. Ms Demay was denied legal representation, among other violations of her civil rights, reads the report posted on the UWC website. UWC President Paul Grod called this fact another terrifying act of intimidation targeting the Ukrainian ethnic minority in Russia. Ukrainian community and religious leaders in Russia are continuously pressured, coerced, threatened with legal prosecution and in some cases deported. Countless Ukrainian organizations, cultural groups and language schools have been liquidated by Russian authorities. We must put an end to the ongoing political persecution of Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar and other ethnic minorities in Russia, stated Paul Grod. The leader of Israel's Yisrael Beiteinu party lashed out at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the country went to the polls for the fourth time in two years on Tuesday. After casting his ballot in the West Bank settlement of Nokdim, Avigdor Lieberman accused Netanyahu of using the vote to "escape" the corruption charges against him. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Adopting protectionist measures to counter an aggressive China is a "self-defeating" strategy which will only "harm India more", a think tank said in a report on Tuesday. The country's economic policy should rather be focussed on turning India into an advanced economy, the Pune International Centre (PIC) said in a special report on measures to counter the Chinese challenge. It can be recalled that in the aftermath of the aggressive Chinese posturing in Ladakh, which also resulted in the killing of 20 Indian soldiers, India had resorted to measures, including banning over 100 Chinese websites and apps and avoiding Chinese equipment in telecom and highways. "We believe a significant proportion of those (protectionist measures) are self-defeating and they will harm India more than they will harm China," former Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale, one of the authors of the report, told reporters. The report argues for certain restrictions to be put in place like limiting state-controlled Chinese companies from taking a controlling stake in sensitive infra assets in India, staying clear of Chinese technological standards and blocking surveillance of Indian people and entities by Chinese entities, he said. Admitting that China is way ahead in terms of its GDP and technological capabilities and the events in Ladakh are beyond the realm of military capabilities, Bamabawale said the strategy should be to have "less of China" in the Indian economy rather than becoming a "China-less" economy. Economist Ajay Shah, a co-author of the report, said from a longer-term perspective, India has no choice but to push up its economic growth trajectory and added that two decades of high growth can get some "rough parity" between the two neighbours. For that to happen, India will have to encourage the private sector and undertake efforts to deliver on the dream of being a prosperous and mature economy which is a liberal democracy, he said, stressing that this was also the vision of the founding fathers of the republic. He said India will have to limit the "excessive involvement" of the government in business activities, restore the balance between the executive, judiciary and the legislature, and work on ensuring that the law applies to all equally. "There is a great expansion of the power of the executive and this is something harmful and it goes against the concepts of the Constitution of India," he said. Bambawale said from a short term perspective, India needs to build better coalitions of nations to counter China, based on shared interests. These should include groups of democratic nations, those neighbouring China like Russia and Taiwan, and also India's neighbours. He said wherever required, domestic policies also need to be tweaked in order to accommodate the broader strategic aspects when working in such coalitions, and admitted that this will be a first for Indian diplomacy. The coalitions need to go beyond economy and trade, and must focus on connecting people, he said, adding that efforts should also be undertaken to increase interactions in the fields of science, health and education. (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.) Victoria, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - GoldON Resources Ltd. (TSXV: GLD) ("GoldON" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement with BTU Metals Ltd. (BTU) granting BTU an option to acquire up to an 80% ownership interest in GoldON's Bruce Lake property (the "Property"). The Property is comprised of 152-cell mining claims covering 3,103 hectares (ha) and is located approximately 36 kilometres (km) southeast of the town of Red Lake in an underexplored area of the Uchi Greenstone Belt. (see Figure 1). Pursuant to underlying agreements on the Property, EMX Royalty Corporation will retain a 1.5% net smelter returns royalty, of which the companies may repurchase 0.75% for $400,000. Under the cumulative terms of the agreement, GoldON shall receive cash payments of up to $75,000 and the issuance of up to 1,400,000 common shares of BTU, and BTU will incur qualified exploration expenditures on the Property of up to $1,000,000 within 36-months. BTU, at its discretion, may elect to stay at certain, fixed percentages over the course of the option at which time a definitive joint venture agreement will be entered into by the companies. "This transaction is a win-win for both companies and enables us to retain an interest in any future exploration success at Bruce Lake," said Mike Romanik president of GoldON. "This deal also allows us to focus on our other Red Lake properties including the drilling program in progress at our West Madsen Gold Project." About GoldON Resources Ltd. GoldON is an exploration company focused on discovery-stage properties located in the prolific gold mining belts of northwestern Ontario, Canada. Our current project portfolio includes four properties in the Red Lake Mining Division (West Madsen, Pipestone Bay, McDonough and Bruce Lake) and a fifth property in the Patricia Mining Division (Slate Falls). GoldON is fully funded to complete the Phase II drilling program in progress at West Madsen. For additional information: please visit our website at goldonresources.com, you can download our latest investor presentation by clicking here and you can follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GoldONResources. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "Michael Romanik" Michael Romanik, President GoldON Resources Ltd. Direct line: (204) 724-0613 Email: info@goldonresources.com Suite 108 - 800 Kelly Road, Suite 416 Victoria, BC, V9B 6J9 Forward-Looking Statements: This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78234 Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Hub: Sparq has seen increased demand for their digital live screening service As an industry which thrives on face-to-face interaction, whether that's a large-scale gathering or even a small business meeting, it's safe to say the lockdown measures are certainly unique. However, in this time of uncertainty, what's become obvious is how those across the industry as well as the wider public, have rapidly adapted to alternative methods of communication. People are craving live connectivity, with previously relatively unknown apps and platforms gaining extraordinary traction. Take Zoom, where millions of people across the UK are logging on for free work-outs or educational sessions - activities they may have never considered before. We've seen an enormous increase in demand for our digital live streaming service. There's always been an ongoing argument that nothing beats face-to-face communication, but our live streaming and wider digital offering has been the go-to for companies and organisations with bases around the world. Our digital team have been delivering online video since before it became a part of people's everyday lives. We have been broadcasting hundreds of live events through the Mediasite platform since 2008, in over 80 countries worldwide. With investment in new software, production equipment and a revamp of our green screen studio, we've been able to adapt to our clients' needs to keep their important conversations flowing. While Covid-19 has impeded the ability to interact and communicate as we did before, the silver lining may be that it's encouraged more people to reach out to collaborate virtually. Ironically, the pandemic has encouraged more face-to-face interaction than before. We're continuing communication, albeit slightly differently than before. Sparq supports a range of live events across Northern Ireland and will be partnering with the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards in partnership with Ulster Bank once again this year. After supporting the event for 15 years, Sparq will this year be sponsoring the BT Business Awards Best Use of Digital and/or Social Media category. For information about Sparq's live streaming service, please visit sparq.live/stream. To enter the Belfast Telegraph Business awards, click here. Lenco Diagnostic Laboratories , one of New York City's largest privately-owned, full-service reference labs, is among the first to offer the test in its facilities across Brooklyn, NYC, and the tri-state metropolitan area. Lenco conducted an independent verification of the assay's performance and is highly satisfied with the quality of the results. "To help in the fight against COVID-19, it is important that we partner with a company that has the reputation, quality, and testing accuracy like Beckman Coulter in meeting the needs of the people of New York," said Robert Boorstein, M.D., Ph.D., medical director, Lenco Diagnostics Laboratories. "This next step in COVID-19 antibody testing creates a pathway in helping us establish a quantitative baseline of different antibody levels and determine how a patient's immune response to COVID-19 is affected over time. We expect that clinicians will find this assay useful for monitoring the progress of a patient's COVID-19 recovery and assessing the immune response over time." The Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG II assay measures IgG antibodies directed to the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein of the coronavirus. The test has a confirmed 100% negative percent agreement (specificity) and a 98.9% positive percent agreement (sensitivity) at >/= 15 days post symptom onset. The Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG II assay can be used in Random Access Mode (RAM) and seamlessly integrates into existing workflows without batch processing. "Effective and high-quality diagnostic solutions are essential in the fight against COVID-19," said Shamiram R. Feinglass, MD, M.P.H, chief medical officer at Beckman Coulter. "Antibody assays like our Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG II test can help researchers quantitatively determine the levels of IgG antibodies and enable them to assess the relative changes of an individual's immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus over time. This information is essential because it helps continually inform therapeutics and vaccine development." The Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG II antibody assay is now available in the U.S. and countries accepting the CE Mark. Results of the new test are delivered on Beckman Coulter's award-winning immunoassay analyzers, including the DxI 800 high-throughput analyzer, capable of processing up to 4,800 samples per day. The IgG II antibody assay is the latest addition to Beckman Coulter's full suite of testing solutions that provide clinicians valuable information in their fight against COVID-19. Beckman Coulter also recently launched an automated SARS-CoV-2 antigen test in the U.S. under Policy C of the FDA's emergency use authorization (EUA) program. For more information on Beckman Coulter's antibody assays, as well as its full suite of COVID-19 diagnostic solutions, visit www.BeckmanCoulter.com/Coronavirus. For more information about Lenco Diagnostic Laboratories, and its commitment to being part of the solution for COVID-19, visit: https://www.lencolab.com/covid19-antibody/. About Beckman Coulter Beckman Coulter is committed to advancing healthcare for every person by applying the power of science, technology and the passion and creativity of our teams to enhance the diagnostic laboratory's role in improving healthcare outcomes. Our diagnostic systems are used in complex biomedical testing, and are found in hospitals, reference laboratories and physician office settings around the globe. Beckman Coulter offers a unique combination of people, processes and solutions designed to elevate the performance of clinical laboratories and healthcare networks. We do this by accelerating care with a menu that matters, bringing the benefit of automation to all, delivering greater insights through clinical informatics and unlocking hidden value through performance partnership. An operating company of Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) since 2011, Beckman Coulter is headquartered in Brea, California, and has more than 11,000 global associates working diligently to make the world a healthier place. References: 1 At this time, it is unknown for how long antibodies persist following infection and if the presence of antibodies confers protective immunity. 2021 Beckman Coulter. All rights reserved. Beckman Coulter, the stylized logo, and the Beckman Coulter product and service marks mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. in the United States and other countries. 2021-8737 SOURCE Beckman Coulter Diagnostics Related Links https://www.BeckmanCoulter.com The government of Kazakhstan recently released its National Development Plan Through 2025, which complements the governments primary objective of becoming one of the worlds 30 most developed nations by 2050, The Diplomat writes. Overall, the plan is a continuation of Nur-Sultans current strategy of economic diversification, which includes heavily investing in technology; increasing exports of manufactured goods; and the development of new industries like transport and logistics, aerospace services, engineering, information and communications technology (ICT), and even medical tourism. The 2025 Plan, which describes itself as a medium-term development plan for the implementation of the long-term strategy Kazakhstan 2050, is divided into 10 points, with seven reform proposals and various priority issues. Digitalization and developing ICT opportunities are a priority for the government, such as the acquisition and usage of 3D printers, automated drones, and sensors to modernize factories and private businesses. The flagship digitalization project is the so-called Astana International Smart Technologies hub, to be headquartered in the Expo 2017 facilities. The objective of the hub is to attract venture investors, business angels, private equity funds and other investors interested in investing in startups [and also] innovators [who are] looking for funds to commercialize their ideas. The country already has other similar entities, like the Astana International Financial Center. Kazakhstan has relaxed regulations, making it easier for international companies to open facilities in the country. Thanks to these policies, Kazakhstan now ranks 25th in the World Banks Ease of Doing Business rankings, between Ireland (24th) and Iceland (26th), and ahead of Russia (28th) and China (31st). The country is also looking to develop green technologies including the use of new instruments for financing green projects and the creation of an International Center for the Development of Green Technologies and Investment Projects, also located in the Expo 2017 facilities. Kazakhstan wants to decarbonize its economy, develop alternative energy sources, and decrease its reliance on oil, gas, and mining as the pillars of its economy. Hence developing green technologies is in line with the governments overall strategy. Anecdotally, the release of the plan occurred almost parallel to a March 9 announcement by the Kazakh investment agency KazakhInvest that the Italian conglomerate Eni plans to construct a solar power plant in Turkestan region, which will hopefully create about 200 jobs. Kazakhstan has been looking to attract more tourists. One recent initiative is the establishment of a tourist corridor that will link the Arystanbab mausoleum in the Turkestan Region of Kazakhstan with the Khawaja Ahmed Yasaw mausoleum in the same region, followed by the Hakim-Ata (Suleiman Bakyrgani) mausoleum and the Zangi-Ata mausoleum in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. New railways to improve tourist travel between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are also planned. Similarly, Nur-Sultan is also looking to develop ecotourism by attracting tourists to areas like the Kolsay Lakes. Since the world is still wrestling with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is debatable how many tourists the country will attract from outside the region in the foreseeable future. As for more obscure projects, the plan mentions the potential of developing medical tourism, specifically regarding the largely experimental National Medical Holding in Nur-Sultan. The document does not mention which medical services foreigners may want to travel to Kazakhstan for. The plan does mention some specific milestones regarding Kazakhstans international image as an open economy. For example, Kazakhstan should, by 2025, reach the top 55-60 nations in the Rule of Law Index, in line with the level of comparable OECD countries. According to the World Justice Project, which manages the Index, Kazakhstan currently ranks at 62. Similarly, Kazakhstan aims to be among the top 55 countries in terms of the index of the complexity of the economy by 2025. The country ranks at 93, as of 2018 data. One interesting aspect of the plan is that it admits the lack of equality in terms of development across the country. For example, regarding the gross regional product (GRP), the largest share is occupied by Almaty city (over 20 percent), while the smallest is the entire North Kazakhstan Region (2 percent). Unfortunately, towns like Zhanatas, in southern Kazakhstan, continue to suffer from high levels of poverty and unemployment due to a lack of industries, infrastructure and job opportunities. In a 2012 speech, then-President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced his governments strategy for the country to become one of the 30 most developed nations by 2050, with a focus on both development and economic diversification. By prominently mentioning the long-term 2050 strategy in the introduction of the plan, we can deduce that Nur-Sultans objective remains steadfast and the National Development Plan Through 2025 should be regarded as part of a larger strategy on the road to 2050. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The orders are applicable to all educational institutions in private and government sectors including hostels and government-run gurukulam schools (residential schools) barring medical colleges. DC file photo Hyderabad: The state government has announced closure of all educational institutions in Telangana from March 24, Wednesday, in view of the fresh spurt in corona cases in the state. However, the online classes will continue as usual. Minister for education P Sabitha Indra Reddy made a statement to this effect in the assembly on Tuesday. The government issued orders declaring closure of all educational institutions soon after. The orders are applicable to all educational institutions in private and government sectors including hostels and government-run gurukulam schools (residential schools) barring medical colleges. Sabitha said the Covid-19 cases were on the rise across the country as well as in neighbouring states. There were sporadic incidents of Covid-19 cases being reported from educational institutions across Telangana. "Due to mass congregation of students, there is a possibility of the virus spread. States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh have already closed educational institutions. There is also an increasing number of requests from parents who are concerned about the health of their children. Keeping in view the parents requests and the safety of students and teachers, it has been decided to declare closure of all educational institutions including government and private educational institutions along with hostels from Wednesday as a precautionary measure. Online classes will be continued, she said. The minister held a meeting with Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao on the corona cases in educational institutions before she made the statement. The CM asked her to close educational institutions as a precautionary measure. A woman assaulted her girlfriend in an argument over chicken nuggets before biting a sheriff's deputy on her way to jail, according to an arrest warrant. Lillian Barnett faces a series of charges after the alleged March 18 incident including domestic assault and aggravated assault on an officer, WKRN reports. The 23-year-old told Tennessee detectives that the row with her girlfriend which led to the alleged assault had 'started over chicken nuggets', without explaining further. Bedford County deputies took her into a patrol car but she would not go quietly and bit a deputy on the right arm as she was led to jail, it is alleged. Lillian Barnett (pictured) allegedly assaulted her girlfriend in an argument over chicken nuggets before biting a sheriff's deputy on her way to jail, according to an arrest warrant Barnett is also accused of screaming in the patrol car and trying to smash one of its windows by kicking it and bashing against it with her head. The biting incident is said to have taken place while she was taken to a cell at the Bedford County jail where she was booked last week. The report of her arrest also notes that Barnett had previously said she had hepatitis C, which spreads through blood-to-blood contact. The girlfriend and deputy have not been identified. Barnett is due for an initial court appearance on March 31. More people were being treated for COVID-19 in Queensland hospitals on Tuesday than at any other time since the start of the pandemic, as the number of infections in Papua New Guinea tripled in the past month. Three new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Queensland on Tuesday, all returned travellers from Papua New Guinea who tested positive in hotel quarantine. More people are being treated for COVID-19 in Queensland hospitals than any other time since the start of the pandemic. Credit:Glenn Hunt Almost 60 beds were being used for COVID patients in Queensland on Tuesday, the highest number since the start of the pandemic, Health Minister Yvette DAth said. We have been fortunate that our emergency departments and intensive care units are not overwhelmed with people dying from COVID, she said. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 06:24:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HELSINKI, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Finnish government on Monday night decided to extend closures of restaurants until April 18. Continuation of the closure was considered necessary due to the COVID-19 situation. The current COVID-19 restrictions would end next week. On Monday, Finland recorded 430 new COVID-19 cases, with a record number of 306 people hospitalized, according to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). The government's proposal is to be submitted to Parliament on Tuesday. The government also discussed further measures including restrictions of movement and legal enforcement of the use of masks, but did not reach any agreement. They planned to continue the talk on Tuesday. Prime Minister Sanna Marin said she supported the enforcement of restrictions of movement in areas including the capital Helsinki. On March 1, the government declared a state of emergency due to the worsening situation of the pandemic. The country entered a three-week shutdown after parliament on March 9 approved a government proposal to temporarily close restaurants, bars, and cafes in most parts of the country. Enditem The FTSE is poised for its biggest company float in a decade next week, as Deliveroo joins the stock exchange. Depending on the final share price, the restaurant takeaway delivery giant could be valued at as much as 9 billion. Its debut will be a big moment for the London Stock Exchange, which has been starved of tech talent in recent years. Landmark float: Depending on the final share price, the restaurant takeaway delivery giant Deliveroo could be valued at as much as 9 billion It will mean a significant windfall, too, for the company's founder, Will Shu, a 41-year-old London-based American former banker. He worked as Deliveroo's first delivery driver to ensure he knew exactly what people wanted from his company, and now stands to make more than 300 million when it goes public. Meanwhile, his friends and family who invested in Deliveroo in 2013 could make a 60,000 per cent return. Yet for all the excitement about Deliveroo, the fact remains that the company has yet to turn a profit - even during lockdown. That hasn't stopped private money from pouring in, however, with the company raising more than 1 billion in recent years. But should retail investors follow the big money in betting on Deliveroo? And what do you need to know first? Here's your guide to help you decide whether you should jump on this two-wheeled tech bandwagon... Graft: Deliveroo founder Will Shu worked as the company's first delivery driver to ensure he knew exactly what people wanted from his company Growing appetite for ordering in As one of the best-known takeaway apps in Britain, Deliveroo has thrived throughout the pandemic. It will be hoping our growing appetite for restaurant takeaway will hold up - even when we can finally dine out again. Even so, some analysts have raised their eyebrows at the sky-high valuation. 'The expected share price is very much towards the upper end of expectations,' says Susannah Streeter, a senior analyst with investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown. She points out that in January, during the company's most recent fundraising round, its valuation was estimated at 5 billion. Last month, Deliveroo reported a doubling of sales based on figures from a year ago, but is that enough to justify such a boost? As is often the case for so-called 'growth' stocks, investors are essentially betting that the company's market share will continue to expand. This has certainly been the pattern to date, as Deliveroo has expanded to 11 other countries throughout Europe and Asia. But the lockdown winner faces stiff competition, both at home and abroad. On home turf, it must hold its own against U.S.-owned Uber Eats and global market-leader Just Eat. Further afield, its competitors include European offering Delivery Hero, China's Meituan Waimai and even Amazon's rapidly evolving food services. Meanwhile, Deliveroo's IPO (Initial Public Offering) comes during a period of soul-searching for the gig economy. Like many similar companies, Deliveroo operates an ultra-flexible model through which self-employed workers are paid per drop-off, rather than for the time they are actually available to work. Whatever the merits of this model, there's no doubt that it's coming under increased scrutiny. Just last month, the UK Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that Uber's taxi-drivers should be classed as 'workers', with entitlement to minimum wage and holiday pay. And although this doesn't affect Deliveroo (or Uber Eats), things may change in the future -and quickly. 'If Deliveroo is forced to change the way it classifies its riders in the future, this is likely to puncture its profits prospects,' says Ms Streeter. Deliveroo will be hoping our growing appetite for restaurant takeaway will hold up - even when we can finally dine out again No guarantee of success Debates over its value aside, there is at least one area in which Deliveroo represents good news for retail investors. Unlike with many IPOs, its founder has ensured ordinary investors are given the chance to purchase pre-market shares. Existing customers have been invited to express their interest in the IPO through the Deliveroo app. They can then look to buy shares worth thousands of pounds at a price likely to be between 3.90 and 4.60 each. Of course, anyone looking to invest in Deliveroo - either through the IPO or when it joins the markets - needs to do their homework. It's worth bearing in mind that an IPO isn't a guaranteed golden ticket to profit. Shares in Aston Martin Lagonda have famously fallen 80 per cent since the firm joined the London Stock Exchange in 2018. Meanwhile, early investors in Uber (which listed in New York in 2019) had to wait 18 months to make a profit, after the value of its shares dropped 30 per cent within months of listing. 'Unicorn' boost for FTSE future Another way retail investors can look to profit from successful companies such as Deliveroo is through investment funds. Unlike some private companies, Deliveroo hasn't sold shares to mainstream investment companies to raise money meaning that you won't find it in any retail funds just yet. The company may make an appearance in UK or globally focused value funds before long, though, particularly if its shares perform well. But what does the IPO mean for the wider FTSE? Deliveroo's size would ordinarily be enough for the company to join the FTSE 100. However, the company's slightly complex legal structure means that Deliveroo will be excluded from the index. Like many technology companies, it is opting for 'dual-class' shares, which means that later investors will have fewer voting rights. This is perfectly above board, but it does prohibit companies from joining the FTSE 100 or 250. This may well change in future a Government-backed review has recently called for this. But for now it means that investors holding tracker funds won't benefit from Deliveroo's inclusion. Even so, the arrival of a true British 'unicorn' - a privately held start-up so successful it's like a mythical beast - bodes well for the FTSE's future, even if not all investors feel the benefit just yet. Australian War Crime Investigation Still Months Away From Commencing A newly established office tasked with criminal investigations into the Australian Special Forces war crimes in Afghanistan still has no investigators yet on board. The Office of Special Investigations (OSI) will look into the four-year Brereton inquiry findings, which found credible evidence that 25 Australian soldiers were complicit in the murder of innocent Afghans. Paul Brereton recommended that 19 soldiers be prosecuted for the crimes. Director-General of the OSI, Chris Moraitis, said the office was still months away from commencing investigations as they continue to search for suitable people to take up the challenging task. Were in the process of engaging investigators, and were going to do that in the next one, two, three months, Moraitis told Senate estimates on Monday. That involves them being sworn in as special members of the Australian Federal Police and involves at least three weeks of induction in preparation, and involves us also doing a few other things. OSI aims to recruit 75 suitable investigators, mainly from the Australia Federal Police (AFP) and state police services, but Moraitis said it had been hard recruiting the right people. Chief of the Australian Defence Force General Angus Campbell delivers the findings from the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry on November 19, 2020, in Canberra, Australia. (Mick Tsikas/Pool/Getty Images) Established in January, the office has been spending the past months sifting through information gathered by the Brereton inquiry and placing some evidence in quarantine as the investigations will be based around the redacted version of the report. This evidence cannot be used in the upcoming investigations because Brereton used statutory powers to compel Special Forces members to provide information to the inquiry. However, in a criminal proceeding, such evidence cannot be used to prosecute someone. This process will help ensure that investigators will only receive information they can lawfully obtain and use in criminal investigations. Given the size and complexity of the task, the review of this material by special counsel is expected to take some time, Moraitis said, referring to Timothy Begbie, the general counsel to the investigation. Accused persons also have additional rights that do not apply in an inquiry, such as the privilege against self-incrimination and the right to silence. Parliament Considers Inquiry into ADF Veteran Suicide The Senate inquiry comes as ministers in the Lower House spoke about a royal commission into veteran suicides that had just passed parliament. Veterans are twice as likely to take their own life once they leave the Defence Force after serving, minister Llew OBrien said in parliament on Monday. These are things we need to act on quickly because there are people suffering now. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would not be opposing the motion. However, the prime minister noted that a temporary royal commission is not a silver bullet to the problem. Weve always thought you need something better than and more than a royal commission, Morrison told 2GB radio. What we need is a permanent arrangementand thats what weve put into the parliament. Mike has reported on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's wildlife, wildlands and the agencies that manage them since 2012. A native Minnesotan, he arrived in the West to study environmental journalism at the University of Colorado. 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. Syracuse, N.Y. -- Police were searching late Monday night for the driver of a car that struck an apartment building in downtown Syracuse. The car hit the former Nynex building at 300 E. Washington St. shortly before 10:30 p.m. and the driver ran away, according to police scanner reports. Syracuse police, Onondaga County Sheriffs Office deputies and the sheriffs office Air 1 helicopter participated in the search. The building was recently turned into high-end apartments. Police gather next to a car that struck an apartment building at 300 E. Washington St. in downtown Syracuse late Monday night. Chris Libonati | clibonati@syracuse.com This is a breaking story and will be updated when further details are available. Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. Glioma is a fatal neurological disorder that has limited interventional treatment, despite extensive research over the past several decades. A research team led by Dr. Gong Chen, a former professor at Penn State University and now leading a brain repair center at Jinan University in China, has developed a novel gene therapy to reprogram glioma cells into functional neurons, shedding new light on glioma treatment. The work has been published in Cancer Biology & Medicine on March 22, 2021 Glioma is a common malignant cancer growing in the central nervous system. For patients with a type of severe glioma called glioblastoma, the median survival time is typically less than 15 months. Surgical removal followed with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy are the major ways of treatment but their effectiveness is limited. Several clinical trials are ongoing using engineered immune cells to target primary or recurrent glioma, but still meet with serious hurdles to be solved. Glioma is caused by aggressive proliferation of glial cells. Chen's team has previously published a series of work demonstrating that brain internal glial cells can be directly converted into functional neurons after overexpressing neural transcription factors such as NeuroD1 and Dlx2. In this work, the team further extended their research from glial cells to glioma cells and discovered that neural transcription factors can also efficiently convert glioma cells into neurons. "Our cell conversion therapy for glioma is quite unique and distinct from conventional cancer therapies that typically aim at killing cancer cells," commented by Prof. Chen. "One major side effect caused by killing cancer cells is the inevitable collateral damage on normal cells. In contrast, when we use gene therapy technology to convert glioma cells into neurons, normal cells are minimally affected", Prof. Chen explained why they developed this new technology. "Another important advantage of our gene therapy approach is that after overexpressing neural transcription factor(s) such as NeuroD1 or other transcription factors into glioma cells, the glioma cells stop proliferation immediately before being converted into neurons. Therefore, this transcription factor-based gene therapy may provide a new strategy to prolong the time window of treatment by arresting rapid proliferation of malignant glioma cells," added Dr. Xin Wang, the first author of this work. While excited about their new findings, Prof. Chen and colleagues also acknowledge that this new technology of treating glioma with transcription factor-based gene therapy is still in its infant stage. Many technical issues still need to be considered, such as developing a safe viral delivery system, targeting glioma cells in a specific way, and potential side effects induced by neural transcription factors. They also plan to combine their cell conversion therapy together with other interventions to achieve synergistic effects to treat glioma. ### In addition to Prof. Chen and Dr. Wang, other contributors to this work include Dr. Zifei Pei, Aasma Hossain, and Yuting Bai from Penn State. This work was supported by the Charles H. "Skip" Smith Endowment Fund to Prof. Chen. [March 23, 2021] Encore Consumer Capital Announces Investment in Love Wellness Encore Consumer Capital ("Encore"), a private equity firm that invests in leading consumer products companies, is pleased to announce that it has completed an investment in Ogilvie Brands, Inc. (d/b/a "Love Wellness"). Love Wellness, headquartered in New York City, is a women's health and wellness brand specializing in supplements, multivitamins, OTC suppositories, and feminine hygiene. The Company was founded by CEO Lauren "Lo" Bosworth in 2016 after a decade long career as a reality television star. When legacy women's health brands failed her, Lauren saw the opportunity to build a wellness brand for women driven by body positivity, clean ingredients, and expert formulations. The Company launched as a digitally-native brand, selling primarily on its own website (www.lovewellness.com) and Amazon. Today, Love Wellness is also available in specialty retail and mass channels, including Ulta and most recently Target (News - Alert) . "I am excitd about the partnership with Encore and their experience supporting high-growth digitally-native consumer brands," said Bosworth. "I am looking forward to our next chapter of growth together as we build our team and strategically expand." Encore's Kate Wallman, who led the transaction and will serve on the Love Wellness board of directors, said, "We are so excited to partner with Lauren and the Love Wellness team. Lauren has built a company that is a category pioneer focused on straight talk about sensitive issues and delivering efficacious women's health and wellness products. We look forward to supporting the business as it continues on its rapid growth trajectory." Encore Consumer Capital is a private equity investment firm focused on the consumer products industry. The firm has raised over $600 million in equity capital and invested in over 35 companies in the sector. Encore's current and prior investments include food and beverage manufacturers and marketers (4505 Meats, Aidells Sausage Company, Ancient Harvest, Brownie Brittle, Cece's Veggie Co., Full Sail Brewing, Lion Beverages, Mesa Foods, Murry's, Navitas Organics, Tender Belly, Thanasi Foods, Van Law Foods) pet products companies (Open Farm Pet, ThunderWorks, Zuke's) and personal care/beauty companies (MyChelle Dermaceuticals, Supergoop!, tarte), and food distribution companies (Freshko Produce Services, Pint Size Hawaii, Tourtellot), among others. The firm targets companies with between $10 million and $100 million in annual revenues where Encore's strong expertise in strategy development, brand marketing, manufacturing and supply chain optimization, and distribution expansion can drive performance. www.encoreconsumercapital.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323006066/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The new rules would come into effect on March 29 and would apply to those leaving the country without a reasonable excuse Travel stocks remained firmly in the red on Tuesday as MPs are set to vote on more stringent laws that would impose a 5,000 fine on Britons attempting a foreign holiday. The new rules would come into effect on March 29 and would apply to those leaving the country without a reasonable excuse. Westminster is expected to announce new rules on international travel next month, while the roadmap out of lockdown indicates May 17 as a tentative date for people to go abroad. UK residents can now leave the country for limited reasons and need to show proof of negative COVID-19 test on arrival, followed by ten days of quarantine and two further tests. Health secretary Matt Hancock said it was "too early to say" when foreign holidays would be allowed again because of rising infections in Europe, Sky News reported. France, Germany and Italy announced further lockdown measures over the weekend while the Continent is still grappling with a slow vaccine rollout. However, Hancock noted that there are no plans to enforce mandatory hotel quarantine on travellers coming from Europe. We dont have any plans to do that... we dont rule it out but we dont have plans to do that now, he told LBC radio. Weve got to protect this country and the progress that weve made, but at the same time I totally understand that lots of people want to travel abroad this summer. Carnival plc ( ) shed 5% to 1,582p, British Airways owner SA ( ), easyJet plc ( ) and ( ) were all down 4% to 187.65p, 903.6p and 364.15p, while plc ( ) dipped 2% to 4,711p on Tuesday morning. SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 6, international authority on geriatric medicine, Dr. Bill Thomas, will kick off Senior Living Foresight's 18-hour virtual summit taking place over two weeks in April to uplift frontline Life Enrichment staff, an often underbudgeted and undervalued department in senior housing. Senior Living Foresight Senior Living Foresight "Life Enrichment needs more love from our industry," says Steve Moran, Foresight Publisher, "so, we offer EVOLVE 2021 to help communities reimagine their activities programs and create amazing, meaningful life experiences for older adults." Senior Living FORESIGHT is the industry's premier producer of informational and educational content and resources for achieving leadership and operational excellence. Innovator, author, performer Dr. Thomas introduced the Greenhouse Project model in 2003 to humanize nursing homes by establishing cultures that eliminates loneliness, helplessness, and boredom. He will inspire and inform life enrichment professionals. Additional keynote addresses will be delivered by dementia care expert Teepa Snow on April 8, and anti-ageism activist Ashton Applewhite on April 15. The Summit offers more than 20 educational sessions and panel discussions from 11AM to 2PM PDT, Tuesdays through Thursdays during the weeks of April 5 and April 12 and its principal sponsor is the technology communications platform Connected Living. Continuing Educational Units are available to eligible professionals who attend live, and all sessions are recorded for on-demand post-Summit viewing. The cost to attend is $127 per person; register here. For further information, contact the Summit Producer Lola Rain at [email protected]. MEDIA CONTACT: Pam McDonald, 916-213-3220, [email protected] ABOUT SENIOR LIVING FORESIGHT Senior Living Foresight, founded in 2011 by Steve Moran, is the industry's premier thought-leadership platform assisting providers in reaching operational excellence so they can best serve older Americans, their employee teams, and local market areas. Founded in 2012 in Sacramento, California, by Steve Moran, FORESIGHT and its creative team generate weekday blogs, Foresight TV, Foresight Radio, conferences, and webinars for senior living leaders to best serve their residents, employees, and local market areas while increasing revenues, reducing turnover, and creating positive cultures. SOURCE Senior Living Foresight Related Links https://www.seniorlivingforesight.net China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Sidney Powell, a onetime high-profile member of former President Donald Trump's legal team, asked a federal court on Monday to dismiss Dominion Voting System's $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit against her, arguing that "no reasonable person" would mistake her baseless accusations of an elaborate multinational, communist election-rigging scheme as "truly statements of fact." In fact, Powell's claims were just "opinions and legal theories," her lawyers argued, as well as constitutionally protected "political speech" and "hyperbole." At the same time, the motion contends, Dominion won't be able to prove any "actual malice" on Powell's part because "she believed the allegations then and she believes them now." "Powell's attempt to dismiss the case contradicts her claim that she wants to present her evidence in court," responded Tom Clare, an attorney for Dominion. "Dominion Voting Systems is eager for the case to move forward and intends to hold Powell accountable." Dominion says Powell's false, disproven claims about vote rigging harmed its reputation and business. Powell's accusations about Dominion "stealing" the election were also cited by some of the people arrested after storming the Capitol on May 6 to stop the formal counting of President Biden's electoral win. If the federal court declines to dismiss Dominion's suit, Powell asked that the trial be moved from Washington, D.C., to Texas, where she is licensed to practice law. She is also fighting a defamation lawsuit by a second voting technology company, Smartmatic. More stories from theweek.com 5 blisteringly funny cartoons about spring break superspreaders The radical future of the pro-life movement There is no immigration crisis New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed more than 1,000 students in New Delhi on the ocassion of the 125th year of Swami Vivekanandas Chicago address at the Worlds Parliament of Religion. Here are the highlights from PM Modi's speech- 12:21 PM India is changing, India's standing at the global stage is rising and this is due to Jan Shakti: PM 12:21 PM There is no life without creativity. Let our creativity also strengthen our nation & fulfil the aspirations of our people: PM #12:18 PM There is no better place for creativity and innovation than university campuses: PM #12:12 PM We have to fulfil the dreams of Gandhi, Bhagat Singh-PM #12: 10 PM We have to encourage creativity instead robot: PM #12: 08 PM: Student organisations should give more importance to cleanliness during poll campaigns: PM #12:06 PM There is no dearth of talent in country-PM #12: 05 PM Swami Vivekananda had given the concept of 'One Asia.' He said that the solutions to the world's problems will come from Asia: PM # 12:01 PM We will have to give more priority on skill development: PM #11:59 AM Skill is more imprtanbt than certficate: PM #11:57 AM Both knowledge and skills are equally important: PM #11:52 AM The correspondence between Swami Vivekananda and Jamsetji Tata will show the concern Swami JI had towards India's self-reliance: PM #11:49 AM I want to specially mention all those people who are working tirelessly to keep India clean-PM #11:47 AM We cannot litter our locality and say 'Vande Mataram': PM Modi #11:45 AM We have no right to soil places whether we take part in sanitation or not: PM #11:43 AM Do we have right to chant 'Vande Mataram' -PM #11:42 AM Vande Mataram gave me goose bumps: PM #11: 37AM Swami Vivekananda did not believe in sermonising. His ideas & idealism paved way for an institutional framework via Ramakrishna Mission: PM #11:36 AM More than being in search of a Guru, Swami Vivekananda was in search of the truth: PM #11:35 AM Swami Vivekananda said that only rituals will not connect an individual to divinity...he said 'Jan Seva is Prabhu Seva' : PM #11:34 AM Swami Vivekananda raised his voice against the social evils that has entered our society: PM #11:32 AM The 9/11 of 1893 was about love, harmony and brotherhood: PM #11:30 AM Just with a few words, a youngster from India won over the world and showed the world the power of oneness: PM Narendra Modi # 11:30 AM Today is 9/11...this day became widely spoken about after 2001 but there was another 9/11 of 1893 which we remember: PM #11:26 AM Inspired by the ideals of Swami Vivekananda, we are working tirelessly towards realising the dreams & aspirations of our youth. #11:25 AM Swami Vivekananda strongly believed in the power of Yuva Shakti. He saw a vital place for youngsters in the realm of nation building. As a part of the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay centenary celebrations which will continue to September 25, an event titled Young India, New India: A Resurgent Nation, from Sankalp to Siddhi is being organised by the Deendayal Research Institute (DRI) and supported by the Culture Ministry. Tomorrow I look forward to addressing a gathering of students on the theme of Young India, New India, Modi had tweeted. The convention of students is being held on a day Vivekananda delivered his historic address at Chicago in 1893, he noted. This year, we are marking 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekanandas Chicago address and Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya centenary celebrations, the prime minister said in another tweet. He said Vivekananda strongly believed in the power of Yuva Shakti (youth power) and saw a vital place for youngsters in the realm of nation-building. Inspired by the ideals of Swami Vivekananda, we are working tirelessly towards realising the dreams and aspirations of our youth, the prime minister said. With PTI inputs For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Former neo-Nazi shares how Christ-like love of African American parole officer changed his life Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment When Michael Kent met his probation officer for the first time after leaving prison, he was confused. With a yearslong association with neo-Nazi groups he began attending rallies and events at just 15 years old Kents reputation as someone who disliked the black community was well known. So when Tiffany Whittier, an African American woman, knocked on his door one night, he thought there must be a mistake. The first thing I said to her was, Are you alone? Kent recalled. She said, Yes. I wasnt sure what to think because anybody who knew my case file knew I was totally against anybody that was black. But she showed up at my house by herself, knowing who I was. She took that chance. I instantly had respect for her. I realized she had courage. It wasnt long before the two developed what Kent described as a big ol bond. Over the months, Whittier helped Kent abandon his old habits and embrace the positive, challenging him to grow into the man God created him to be. She instantly became a godsend to me, he shared. She mentored me, helped me and loved me. Most parole officers just saw me as a number, and I always ended back up in the system. This woman was someone I was supposed to hate, but she showed me love that my people, my peers, my own culture didn't show me. She opened up my eyes and my heart in a whole new way. A devout Christian, Whittier told CP it is her faith that allows her to see the humanity in those she works with, regardless of their background. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, she said. I care about these people. I saw Mikes tattoos. I saw his case file before I went to his home. So, I knew what I was getting into. But I wanted him to be comfortable. I wanted him to feel heard. I wanted him to know I viewed him as an equal. Yes, Im your probation officer, but I want to see you be successful. I knew, she added, that God was with me when I went to Michaels home. I knew He was going to guide me and tell me in my gut if I was in danger. I believed God when He said, This is okay. And if its Gods will for me to go, Im okay with that, too. Im not scared to go because I know where I stand with Jesus. Kents first encounter with racism began at the age of 12 when his black friends mom told her son she didnt want Kent in his house because he was white. From there, Kents anger towards the black community only grew. And over the years, he became heavily involved with extremist groups and drug abuse, finding himself continually in trouble with the law. When I think about my past, it makes me sick to my stomach, he said. Some of the stuff I did still gives me nightmares. I dont even recognize that person. Kent admitted that he still wrestles with issues from his past and said that the road forward isnt always easy. But thanks to Whittiers witness, Kent said that not only has his perspective on race shifted, but he developed a deep and intimate relationship with God, allowing him to be optimistic about the future. Looking back, I think God had a plan for me. God wanted me to struggle first before I could see my full potential and see what I was capable of, he said. I see Gods hand in all of it. Because if Tiffany wasnt a probation officer, I wouldnt have even looked at her. I would have called her every negative word in the book. I never would have given her a chance. But, he added, his voice breaking, she took that chance and believed in me. I believe I owe it to humanity and society, my kids, our youth and everybody else to encourage them to learn something new and open their minds. Whittier and Kents unlikely friendship was first featured in the I Am Second Conversations and is now retold in a new book from the organization titledI Found Love. At a time when racial tensions are at an all-time high, the pair said they hope their story can help foster reconciliation and healing. Though she's always seen her career as a calling from God rather than simply a "job," Whittier told CP that her experience with Kent has given her a newfound sense of purpose and mission. Jesus doesn't define us by our worst mistakes, she said. Michael wasn't a believer at first because he could not see how God love him and forgive him for all the hurt that he's caused people. But that's what Jesus is about: forgiveness and loving unconditionally. Thats what drives me, helping others and reflecting Jesus. Thats what brings me comfort and joy. Its not a job to me; its my passion. She encouraged others to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and step out of their comfort zones to get to know someone who looks or acts differently from them. Look for the good in people. It takes so much more energy to hate than it does to love, Whittier said. Love can overcome hate. If you open your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, if you open your heart to love, you can overcome anything. We will have our trials and tribulations, but at the end of the day, were all dealing with the same trials and tribulations. Once we get together and talk about these issues, we can overcome them together. Watch Michael and Tiffany's story below: Denton, TX (76205) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) Occidental Mindoro recorded its first case of the more infectious COVID-19 variant first detected in South Africa. The provincial government said the patienta returning overseas Filipino worker from the Middle Easttested positive upon arrival in the country, but was declared recovered after undergoing quarantine. "Subalit ayon sa pagsasagawa ng genome sequencing, lumabas na ang kanyang specimen ay positibo sa South African COVID-19 variant," read the advisory. [Translation: However, after genome sequencing, the specimen turned out to be positive for the COVID-19 variant from South Africa.] The patient is currently under home quarantine for monitoring and will take another RT-PCR test. Contact tracing is also being done, the provincial government said. The country on Tuesday logged 5,867 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total to 677, 653. The Department of Health earlier said the COVID-19 variants first detected in the United Kingdom and South Africa, which are more contagious, are already present in all cities in Metro Manila. Pfizer Inc plans to tap the mRNA technology to make new vaccines for other viruses following the success of its COVID-19 shot, which was developed jointly with German partner BioNTech SE, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The drugmaker said it was ready to pursue mRNA on its own following its experience in the past year working on the COVID-19 vaccine, the WSJ reported, citing an interview with Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla. It did not, however, disclose any details about the viruses it was targeting. Pfizer and BioNTech did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines, authorized for emergency use in the United States, use mRNA technology. The success of the technology is prompting drug developers to consider its use in other areas of medicine beyond vaccines, attracting billions of dollars in investment. Also Read: Pfizer wants to make vaccine in India; seeks assurance on faster clearance, export freedom Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Rev. Timothy Keller, bestselling Christian author, was well into writing Hope in Times of Fear: The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter (Viking Penguin, out now) as the pandemic raged last spring. Then, life took an even grimmer turn. He was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer in May. Immediately, the subject of fear became more than a literary exercise. It became a reckoning with what he really believes. Most books you write after you have gone through an experience, but in this case what was so strange was I was having the experience while writing the book, he told PW. When you realize this may be the end and you have this abstract belief in heaven and the promise of Jesuss sacrifice on the cross, you have to ask, do I really believe this? So writing the book was really a struggle with that question. Its not much of a spoiler to say that the 70-year-old Keller, founder of the Redeemer Presbyterian Church in the sodom known as Manhattan does believe in a literal resurrection of Jesus. While writing, he spent extra time in prayer and experiencing the presence of the risen Christ, as he put it. I was just shocked at how much more experience of God there was than I found before. So I have grown and I have confidence in the resurrection after a combination of faith and experience. Keller has buckets of experience as an author. His first title, The Reason for God: Belief in the Age of Skepticism (Dutton, 2008) hit number five on PWs Bestseller List and sold more than 150,000 copies in its first year. That was followed by more than 20 titles on everything from love to suffering, Christmas to church planting. He hit PWs twice more, with Prodigal God (Dutton, 2008) and Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (Dutton, 2014), both of which hit the 100,000 copies sold mark. Hope in Times of Fear is intended as a bookend to Hidden Christmas, a holiday book published by Viking in 2016. In between books, Keller became one of the pioneers of the now-standard megachurch model of multi-site worship. Before retiring in 2017, he spent years of Sundays hopscotching across Central Park, going uptown and down, giving three or more sermons a day at Redeemers five different sites. Today, there are Redeemer-affiliated churches in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Throughout his publishing career, he has been with one editor Brian Tart, president and publisher of Viking Penguin. Tart heard about Keller and his popular church in 2006 and headed there one Sunday to hear him preach. Obviously, he knew the Bible inside and out, but he also took a lot of examples from stories and myths and movies and books. He was really engaged in the cultural conversation of the moment and there wasnt a barrier of entry for people to understand him. He reached people where they were, Tart told PW. "That Tim is talking about cancer makes his personal journey to God helpful to people. He is saying Ive been through a dark time, we all been through a dark time, and yet I feel this great reservoir of hope. Jennifer Powell McNutt, a professor of the history and theology of the Reformed church, which includes Kellers denomination, said his voice resonates far. He thinks through prominent questions from our culture and draws on the resources of the church broadly and the Reformed tradition specifically to help sort through these questions with scripture, she told PW. He brings the richness of the churchs history and theology into an interpretation of scripture for a broader audience and consequently hes become a well-known voice of Christianity in our country. But Keller has his critics. He has been a punching bag for pastors and bloggers who find his interpretation of church doctrine too watered down and wishy-washy. Some take him to task on his opposition to the ordination of women something his denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America, does not permit. Others question outright his belief in God (for proof, Google Tim Keller Marxist). An entire roster of anti-Keller theologians produced Engaging with Keller Thinking through the Theology of an Influential Evangelical (Evangelical Press, 2013). Keller is well aware of their complaints but isnt sweating over them. Those folks are trying to say dont follow Tim Keller, he is too broad, he hobnobs with Catholics and says nice things about Pentecostals, he said. Is it possible that I am too nice? Maybe I should preach more hellfire sermons than I did. I dont know. And after 12 years at the top of the Christian author food chain, he has some advice for pastors looking to join him there. First, dont write too soon or too much. You have to put in your time to establish your ministry, which is your first priority, and you have to spend time thinking and evolving, he said. Then you will have so much more material. I have preached 1,500 sermons in New York City one or two every week on the average for 30 years. I had so much material that when I started to write books, they just cranked. And then there is the price of celebrity. Keller misses the intimate talks he used to have with churchgoers seekers and skeptics especially at the front of the church after preaching. But since hes become famous, those people have been replaced by out-of-towners who want him to sign their books. The books cut me off from a lot of pastoring, he said. They take you from being a minister to being a brand. Then there are the pleading messages he gets almost daily from people around the country. It breaks my heart how often people really want me to be their pastor and they are in Idaho or Alabama and what they really need is a local pastor, he said. You realize I cannot be the pastor for the whole world, but people dont have the local connections they once had. Yet, for these readers and more, Keller keeps on writing, even in the midst of chemotherapy and scans and all the other daily indignities of cancer. "The first year went unusually well," Keller said, "But it is still pancreatic cancer." And he's still Timothy Keller, who believes he will have no trouble completing the book for Viking, this time on forgiveness, by fall. NYT: Chinese hackers launch cyberattack on New York city transportation authority Armenia President to Kazakhstan counterpart: I would like to see much deeper cooperation between our countries Armenia independent MP: Foreign minister and his deputies don't want to take part in treacherous acts Armenia to get $11mn loan, 350,000 grant for agriculture WHO worries about worsening mental health worldwide amid pandemic Armenia health ministry on improper handling of Artsakh war victims bodies: There is no justification Armenia bloc election foundation already in operation Russia ambassador to Armenia paying working visit to Syunik Province (PHOTOS) China pledges to step up resistance to foreign interference in Hong Kong Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: There can be no talk of corridor for Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Wherever they flee, we will bring them by the feet President: Impossible to ensure peace in region or stay in Artsakh without Russia army joint efforts China Daily: Dispatch from Makit: Thriving in the desert Karabakh President: We will never put up with being part of Azerbaijan, it is ruled out Armenia MFA information department chief: All deputy FMs carrying out their duties Ardshinbank invited children to the cinema on International Childrens Day Armenia judiciary to have 10 more judges Armenia acting premier: We had recorded 40% increase in tax revenues according to 2019 results Armenia acting PM on Artsakh war casualties bodies: We have 50 remains in which case DNA was not separated 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 Operation Safe was formed with the goal of vaccinating up to 4,000 Missouri residents per day. Together, Notable and NKCH invited 40,000 patients in the first month of operation. By using Notable to digitize and automate identification, outreach, scheduling, and pre-visit intake workflows, NKCH is vaccinating more patients, faster, by screening for risk factors and collecting informed consents before patients arrive onsite. "Notable enables us to rapidly scale the progress that has been made so far," said Kristen Guillaume, vice president and chief information officer at NKCH. "Intelligent automation has become vital for maximizing capacity and throughput while ensuring a positive patient experience, as we remove frustration from the process." Using a technology called Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), Notable can train bots or "digital assistants" to scan an EMR for open appointment times for patients that meet eligibility recommendations such as a patient's age or preexisting health conditions. Any individual from the state of Missouri can request a COVID-19 vaccine appointment through the Operation Safe website. From there, Notable initiates a digital pre-visit screening to eligible patients in the Cerner EHR; collects informed consent and schedules the appointment. After the first vaccination is administered, Notable's digital assistants automatically reach out to the patients to schedule their second vaccine dose and remind patients of the upcoming appointment. "We went live with Notable in just one week and scheduled more than 100 patients in the first minute of availability, and 1600 in the first 45 minutes," said Todd Beardman, MD, chief medical information officer at NKCH and Meritas Health. "By automating core workflows like patient registration, check in and follow up, we have been able to power more than 420 appointments per hour. Intelligent automation gives us the agility to increase the volume of vaccinations on demand, as more supply becomes available, which is our ultimate goal." Notable is optimized for ease of use: patients do not need to download an app or create a log-in to complete registration, and information shared from previous visits is automatically populated for patients to review and confirm. As a result, Notable averages a 96% patient satisfaction rating across all patient cohorts, including minorities, patients aged 65+ and patients who are visually impaired or have other disabilities. Recent patient feedback from the Operation Safe clinic include: "Clear expectations for those like me who got our first shot at Operation Safe." "I completed the information on my iPhone using voiceover because I am totally blind. The experience was accessible and easy." "[Notable] gave explicit directions and was simple to use. I am 93!" "Very user friendly! I've been so frustrated in trying to obtain an appointment by other methods." Since the start of the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of automated COVID-19 pre-visit screenings have been performed using Notable's COVID Triage solution , and thousands of high-risk ambulatory patients were identified and rerouted to telehealth or urgent care. "The pandemic exacerbated the need for health systems to become more proactive in the way they engage with patients," said Pranay Kapadia, co-founder and CEO at Notable. "NKCH embraced logistical constraints as an opportunity to leverage automated scheduling capabilities to create a delightful and operationally-efficient workflow for patients, without the manual coordination required by call center staff. We're proud to support NKCH on their journey to digitally remagine the patient experience and ensure as many patients as possible can access this life-saving vaccine." To learn more about how Notable is helping health systems improve health outcomes, go to www.notablehealth.com . About Notable Health Notable Health is the leading intelligent automation company for healthcare. Three of the top 15 US health systems, including Intermountain Health and CommonSpirit, use Notable to identify and engage more patients in need of care by automating hundreds of repetitive workflows like patient intake, care outreach, registration, documentation, and billing. With Notable, staff and clinicians report saving 1,000 hours of administrative work per provider per year; increased patient visit volume; a provider NPS score of 74; and an industry-leading patient satisfaction rating. Based in San Mateo, Calif., Notable is backed by leading investors, including Greylock Partners, F-Prime, Oak HC/FT, Maverick Ventures, and 8VC. Learn more at notablehealth.com and follow @notablehealth . About North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health North Kansas City Hospital has been the Northland's preferred healthcare provider since 1958. An acute-care facility with 451 licensed beds and 550 physicians, representing 49 medical specialties, offers a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, Level II trauma center, certified stroke, cardiovascular and orthopedic programs, home health and hospice care. Through its Meritas Health subsidiary, NKCH provides the largest network of provider practices in the Northland, with more than 140 primary and specialty care physicians in 30 convenient locations. The hospital's mission, vision, and values reflect a strong commitment to the health and well-being of the Northland community and beyond. Explore the full range of services NKCH and MH provide. About Operation Safe Operation Safe is a public-private coalition formed to provide eligible Missourians an opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible within the State of Missouri's tiered structure. The coalition consists of Clay County Public Health Center, North Kansas City Hospital, Liberty Hospital, Cerner Corporation, and the cities of Clay County. Learn more at operation-safe.com or find us on Facebook @OperationSafeVaccines . Media Contact Gianna Fornesi [email protected] SOURCE Notable Health ATLANTA Former President Donald Trump on Monday endorsed a conservative Georgia congressman in his bid to unseat the Republican secretary of state who refused to help overturn the November election results. Rep. Jody Hice, a tea party favorite and Trump acolyte, is the first major challenger to Brad Raffensperger since the secretary of state certified President Joe Bidens narrow victory in Georgia and disputed Trumps false allegations of fraud. Trumps endorsement marks his most direct attempt at retribution against those he blames for his loss and reaffirms his continued influence over the Republican Party. Jody has been a steadfast fighter for conservative Georgia values and is a staunch ally of the America First agenda, Trump said in a statement that repeated the unsupported allegations of fraud. Unlike the current Georgia Secretary of State, Jody leads out front with integrity. I have 100% confidence in Jody to fight for Free, Fair, and Secure Elections in Georgia, in line with our beloved U.S. Constitution. In a statement, Raffensperger criticized Hice for supporting Trumps false fraud claims and likened him to former GOP Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, who lost twin Senate runoffs in January after supporting Trumps bid to subvert the election results. Few have done more to cynically undermine faith in our election than Jody Hice, Raffensperger said. We saw in January what Georgia voters will do to candidates who use that rhetoric. Hice didnt mention Trump in his announcement but has said previously that he expected the former presidents support, and he echoed Trumps rhetoric about Raffensperger. What Brad Raffensperger did was create cracks in the integrity of our elections, which I wholeheartedly believe individuals took advantage of in 2020, Hice said in a statement Monday, without supporting evidence that would refute Georgias three statewide counts of nearly 5 million ballots. Every Georgian, in fact every American, has the right to be outraged by the actions and, simultaneously, the inaction of our Secretary of State, Hice added. FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2021 file photo, Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga., speaks during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, in Washington. (Graeme Jennings/Pool via AP) Trump has long made clear his intentions to target Raffensperger and Gov. Brian Kemp, also a Republican, for their parts in ratifying Bidens victory. Ill be here in a year in a half campaigning against your governor and your crazy secretary of state, Trump said at a Georgia rally on Jan. 4, the eve of the two U.S. Senate runoffs that Democrats swept to win control of the chamber. Both Kemp and Raffensperger have said they were simply following the states election law and fulfilling their required duties. The developments Monday drew immediate plaudits from the right. The establishment still doesnt get how popular Trump is with the base, but they will, said Debbie Dooley, an early tea party organizer and Trump ally who is close to Hice. Weve known Raffensperger was dead, and Jody can excite the base and raise money. This is a serious challenge. No heavyweight primary opponent has emerged yet against Kemp. Some Trump allies are looking to former Rep. Doug Collins as an ideal challenger. Others close to Collins, one of Trumps most high-profile House defenders during impeachment proceedings, say he is more likely to make another bid for the Senate after his unsuccessful campaign last year in a special election ultimately won by Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat. Collins was Trumps choice in 2019 for a Senate vacancy, opened by Republican Johnny Isaksons retirement. But Kemp opted for Loeffler. Collins finished third in a jungle primary behind Warnock and Loeffler last November before Warnock prevailed in the January runoff. Hice has not cut as high a profile since his election in 2014 as Collins did in Washington, but the 60-year-old has been a loyal Trump lieutenant. He was among the many Republican officials in Georgia who relentlessly pushed Trumps false claims of voter fraud last fall. He endorsed a lawsuit filed by Texas against Georgia and other battleground states seeking to overturn Bidens victory in the U.S. Supreme Court a suit the high court rejected and he objected to the certification of Electoral College votes even after a pro-Trump mob violently stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Trumps ire has proven vexing for Raffensperger and Kemp. Kemp won Trumps endorsement in a heated Republican primary for governor in 2018 and has never publicly criticized the president. He even reaffirmed recently that hed back Trump if he sought the White House again in 2024. Raffensperger has pushed back more directly, arguing forcefully in national media interviews last fall that the election was accurate and fair. He wrote an op-ed saying he felt thrown under the bus by a president hed supported. Weeks before the Capitol insurrection, a Raffensperger aide angrily predicted the presidents rhetoric would lead to violence. Since then, both Kemp and Raffensperger have tried, carefully, to appeal to the Republican base by calling for changes to the states election law. Most specifically, the two men support requiring voter identification for absentee voting to replace the current signature-match requirement. But some GOP lawmakers want to go considerably further, rolling back Georgias no-excuse absentee voting altogether, contracting weekend early voting options in some counties and ending automatic voter registration. Raffensperger and Kemp have been more circumspect publicly about their positions on the more sweeping proposals, though the incumbent secretary of state has continued to vouch for the integrity of absentee voting and the success of automatic registration. Hice, despite his criticism of Raffensperger, also avoided any specifics about what changes hed like to see in Georgias election, saying only that he is encouraged to see the General Assembly taking it upon themselves to address some of the glaring issues in our elections. ___ Bill Barrow and Jill Colvin of The Associated Press wrote this story. AP reporter Ben Nadler contributed to this story. AUTHOR SETH SIEGEL JOINS SCIENS WATER ADVISORY BOARD Tweet this Seth Siegel Bio Seth is the author of the award-winning, critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller Let There Be Water: Israel's Solution for a Water-Starved World, which is now in print or production in 20 international editions and available in more than 50 countries. His recently published, Troubled Water: What's Wrong with What We Drink, sets forth an ambitious agenda for a fundamental rethinking of America's drinking water system. Seth's essays on water and other issues have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, and in leading publications in Europe and Asia. His newest book, Other People's Words: Wisdom for an Inspired and Productive Life, comes out this May, and is a compendium of Seth's lifelong quotations collection, organized by theme to help the reader address a wide range of life issues. He is a Senior Fellow at the University of Wisconsin's Center for Water Policy and is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Seth has spoken on water issues around the world and at nearly 400 venues in 68 cities, 26 states and on four continents. Among the places he has spoken include the US Congress, the United Nations, the World Bank, Davos and at Google's headquarters, and on more than 50 college campuses, including Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, and Stanford. He is a graduate of Cornell University and the Cornell Law School, and he was a graduate student in international relations in Jerusalem. In recognition of his work on water issues, Seth is the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, in Florida. Seth is the co-founder of several companies, including Beanstalk, the world's leading trademark brand extension company, which he sold to Ford Motor Company. Seth sits on the board of several not-for-profit organizations. All royalties from sales of Seth's books are donated to charity. About Sciens Sciens Capital Management LLC is an alternative asset management firm founded in 1994. With headquarters in New York and offices in London and Guernsey, Sciens has been investing in real assets strategies since 2007. Sciens launched the Sciens Water Opportunities Fund in 2018 to make investments in the U.S. water sector. The Sciens Water Opportunities Fund is the 11th real assets fund managed by Sciens. Sciens' approach is to identify the biggest challenges facing the U.S. water and wastewater industry today and solve them through the formation and development of national and regional leading companies that seek to meet these challenges. Sciens works closely with the management teams of its portfolio companies, supporting them to achieve their strategic goals. Sciens Water Management places sustainability and impact considerations at the forefront of its water investments. Sciens Water Management is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment ("UN PRI") and measures the direct, quantitative impact of its portfolio companies in alignment with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on: Improving human health Reducing environmental pollution Building resilience to climate change, and Developing, improving, and maintaining sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure throughout the U.S. SOURCE Sciens Water Related Links https://www.scienswater.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. [March 23, 2021] Stigma deterring Canadians from revealing mental health issues to colleagues and friends Morneau Shepell, a leading provider of total wellbeing, mental health and digital mental health services, today released its monthly Mental Health Index report, revealing a negative mental health score among Canadians for the eleventh consecutive month. The Mental Health Index score for February is -11.5, indicating a continued decline in mental health compared to the pre-2020 benchmark. The February score is slightly higher than January (-11.7) and the same as May 2020. In February, the lowest sub-score is depression (-13.9), which is slightly lower than January (-13.4) and nearly identical to the outset of the pandemic (-14.0 in April 2020). This highlights the damaging impact that continued stress and mental strain are having on Canadians' overall health, which has the potential to result in significant harm if left unaddressed. "The extreme isolation and loneliness that we reported in recent months is having a direct impact on Canadians' mental wellbeing, with many people feeling the same level of depression that was reported almost one year ago when it was at its lowest point," said Stephen Liptrap, president and chief executive officer. "Uncertainty about immunization timelines has left Canadians questioning when they will be able to return to the routines they had in place before the pandemic. Through these times of prolonged uncertainty and isolation, organizations have an added responsibility to pay close attention to their team members' needs and watch for indicators of worsening mental strain, to ensure employees are set up for success both within and outside of the workplace." Canadians concerned that revealing mental health issues will impact workplace and personal relationships Mental health continues to be a taboo subject for many Canadians, despite increased efforts to reduce the associated stigma. The research found that 44 per cent of Canadians believe that their career options would be limited if their employer was aware that they had a mental health issue. Within this group, half of managers (50 per cent) anticipate their career would be impacted if their employer knew of a mental health issue, compared to 39 per cent of non-managers. Mental health also continues to be an uncomfortable topic to broach with friends, with 37 per cent ofrespondents indicating that they believe they would be treated differently if their friends learned they had a mental health issue. When broken out by age, young Canadians reported being more concerned about limited career options after revealing they are struggling with a mental health issue than older demographics (54 per cent among individuals aged 20 to 29, improving with age to 38 per cent among those 60 and above). Canadians with declining wellbeing relying on unhealthy coping mechanisms The continued pandemic-driven strain on mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing has led some Canadians to turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with the cumulative stress and uncertainty, such as increased alcohol consumption. The research found that 14 per cent of respondents increased alcohol consumption early in the pandemic (March to May 2020), and more than half of respondents (52 per cent) reported that they have maintained the same level of alcohol consumption in recent months (October 2020 to January 2021) when compared to early in the pandemic. An additional nine per cent of respondents indicated that alcohol consumption has increased from October 2020 to January 2021, when compared with early in the pandemic. Individuals who reported increased alcohol consumption early in the pandemic also reported the lowest mental health score (-20.7) when compared to those who do not drink (-9.9), or those who decreased their alcohol consumption (-12.8). "If organizations had any question as to whether implementing a holistic mental health strategy would benefit employees, we hope our data makes this clear. It's evident that while employees may not reveal they are struggling with their mental health, many are struggling in silence and coping in ways that do more harm than good," said Paula Allen, global leader and senior vice president, research and total wellbeing. "The pandemic has presented employers with an opportunity to build trust with their employees and improve retention for the long term, by providing the support they need to not only overcome the challenges brought on by the pandemic. The pandemic has made it clear that the wellbeing of Canadian workers is a priority." About the Mental Health Index The monthly survey by Morneau Shepell was conducted through an online survey in English and French from January 15 to January 25, 2021, with 3,000 respondents in Canada. All respondents reside in Canada and were employed within the last six months. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the regional and gender composition of the sample reflect this population. The Mental Health Index is published monthly, beginning April 2020, and compares against benchmark data collected in 2017, 2018, 2019. Click here to read the Canadian Mental Health Index report. About Morneau Shepell Morneau Shepell is a leading provider of technology-enabled HR services that deliver an integrated approach to employee wellbeing through our cloud-based platform. Our focus is providing world-class solutions to our clients to support the mental, physical, social, and financial wellbeing of their people. By improving lives, we improve business. Our approach spans services in employee and family assistance, health and wellness, recognition, pension and benefits administration, retirement consulting, actuarial and investment services. Morneau Shepell employs approximately 6,000 employees who work with some 24,000 client organizations that use our services in more than 160 countries. Morneau Shepell is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI (News - Alert) ). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com. ID-CORP, ID-MH View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005153/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] If youre a Chicago Cubs or Chicago White Sox fan who cant or wont pay for a cable, satellite or streaming service, you take what you can get on free, over-the-air TV. So it matters which games Fox picks up. The teams went all-in on pay TV and channels in which theyre equity partners Marquee Sports Network for the Cubs and NBC Sports Chicago for the Sox after the 2019 season. That left those who rely on regular antennas for their television to get used to looking at their radios or apps and websites that relay play-by-play in text and graphics. But as with last season, a few Fox regional games will be carried on Fox-32. Viewers in the Marquee and NBCSCH markets (and subscribers to services that dont carry the channels) wont be completely shut out. Allowing for midseason schedule tweaks and a few dates listed as to be determined, the Cubs are set for five over-the-air broadcasts and the Sox three, including the Field of Dreams game against the New York Yankees in Dyersville, Iowa. None of the Cubs games on Foxs schedule is after the All-Star Break in mid-July, while two of the Sox network games are. Three of the five Cubs games set to air on Fox-32 are against the St. Louis Cardinals. Two of the three Sox network games are against the Houston Astros. The Cubs games set for Fox-32 are: May 22 at the Cardinals June 5 at the San Francisco Giants June 12 vs. the Cardinals June 26 at the Los Angeles Dodgers July 10 vs. the Cardinals The White Sox games on Foxs broadcast schedule are: June 19 at the Astros July 17 vs. the Astros Aug. 12 vs. the Yankees from the cornfield in Iowa With the exception of the Thursday Field of Dreams game, all of the Fox dates are Saturday nights with the broadcasts set to begin at 6 p.m. Cables FS1 plans to have some Cubs and White Sox games too. These include: April 12, Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers, 6:30 p.m. April 17, White Sox at Boston Red Sox, 3 p.m. April 28, Cubs at Atlanta Braves, 6 p.m. May 1, White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians, 3 p.m. Story continues June 1, White Sox vs. Indians, 5 p.m. All of the White Sox and Cubs FS1 dates, except the April 17 White Sox game, also will be on Spanish-language Fox Deportes. Of their Fox-32 games, the ones that wont also be on Fox Deportes are the Cubs games on May 22, June 5 and July 10 and the White Sox game on July 17. These are in addition to games ESPN already announced plans to carry. 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. Nearly 21 years ago, well-known hacker Kevin Mitnick was released from prison on the condition that he not access the internet or any computers or cell phones during a three-year probation period that lasted until 2003. The rules for Mitnicks probation even prohibited from holding a job that involved any computer use or access to computers or computer-related equipment or software. Even in 2000, it was hard to think of a lot of jobs that would meet those criteria or even a lot of jobs that a person would be able to apply for without any access to a computer. Cutting someone off from computers didnt just mean preventing them from becoming a programmer or white-collar office workerit also meant they couldnt attend school, work in retail, or apply for any jobs that used online applications. Mitnicks grandmother told MSNBC at the time that he wasnt permitted by his probation officer to go to school or even work at a 7-Eleven because the cash register was technically a computer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than two decades later, cutting someone off from the internet is an even more extreme means of isolating them from professional and social opportunities. It also doesnt much sense as a way of trying to rehabilitate small-scale cybercriminals, much less trying to make use of their unique skillset and harness it toward more productive ends than petty cybercrime. And yet, just last week, 18-year-old Graham Clark received a similar sentence to Mitnicks: He agreed to serve three years in a juvenile prison followed by three years of probation during which he will not be permitted to use computers without law enforcement permission or supervision. Clark pleaded guilty to compromising a set of high-profile Twitter accounts in 2020, including those belonging to Barack Obama, Kanye West, and Bill Gates, and using them to tweet out a fraudulent cryptocurrency donation link and a message promising that everyone who contributed Bitcoins at the given link would receive twice their money back. Apparently, people gave more than $100,000 worth of cryptocurrency to Clark before Twitter shut down the compromised accounts and alerted users to the problem. Advertisement It was a stupid crime and also a relatively technologically sophisticated oneusually, when a celebritys account starts sending out spam you would expect that someone had stolen their log-in credentials through phishing or guessing common passwords. But Clark and his alleged collaborators managed to compromise the accounts by finding vulnerabilities in Twitters internal account management systems that allowed them to control peoples accounts even without their credentials. They first used that access to sell popular Twitter handles and then switched to sending out the fraudulent messages from celebrity accounts. Advertisement Ive written before about the importance of not being overly harsh in sentencing people (especially young people) who commit small-scale cybercrimes as they begin exploring cyberspace and hunting around for interesting vulnerabilities. If that sounds like a dismissive way to describe Clarks crimes, I would emphasize that he did not directly steal any money or distribute any malware via the compromised accountseveryone who contributed cryptocurrency to the link posted by celebrities and cryptocurrency companies did so voluntarily. But then, we rarely get to arrest and try the really malicious cybercriminals because they tend to stay in jurisdictions where they know they are safely beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement. So instead, the judicial system makes examples of people like Clark in hopes that his sentence will serve as a warning to other tech-savvy teenagers. Advertisement Its not clear how often people on probation are subject to these restrictions, but people convicted of computer hacking arent the only ones who are sometimes required to stay offline. Its also a condition set for some people convicted of receiving digital child pornography or committing sex crimes in which they identified victims using online services and platforms. In both casescybercriminals and sex offendersthe rationale seems to be that access to computers and the internet provides them with the necessary tools to continue conducting similar criminal activity. But what Clark did is a far cry from trafficking in child pornography, both in terms of its severity and the technical skills involved, and it is profoundly strange to punish these two types of crimes in the same way. Moreover, in the case of sex offenders, it may be possible to more narrowly tailor these restrictions because there are very particular types of services and content that law enforcement may want to restrict them from accessing while still potentially being able to allow them to use the internet for a wide variety of other purposes, like reading the news, applying for jobs, or shopping. For people like Clark, it can be much trickier to identify exactly what types of websites or services they should be blocked from accessing to avoid continued criminal activity, leading to much broader and more restrictive bans. Advertisement Advertisement Internet bans also raise logistical questions. First and foremost: How do you keep someone off the internet for three years? The answer to that seems to depend largely on the specifics of the terms of the probation and the particular probationary officer in charge of overseeing the sentence. For instance, the U.S. Courts website offers some sample language for computer and internet restrictions for probation and supervised release conditions. The proposed restrictions range all the way from You must not possess and/or use computers or other electronic communications or data storage devices or media and You must not access the Internet to You must allow the probation officer to install computer monitoring software on any computer you use or you must allow the probation officer to conduct initial and periodic unannounced searches of any computers. The implementation section of that guide suggests that probation officers should ascertain information from the defendant and the defendants social network about: (1) what types of computer equipment they own or have access to at their residence and place of employment; (2) what Internet service providers they have on home and employment computers; (3) what web pages they operate or maintain; and (4) if a computer search or monitoring condition is in effect, what e-mail addresses, screen names, and passwords they use. But the actual enforcement seems to rely primarily on monitoring tools that provide probation officers with information about every website a person visits, every email they send, or even, every key they hit on the keyboard. Advertisement Advertisement People do, of course, manage to evade these restrictions, by hiding their devices from law enforcement, using friends devices, or even figuring out ways around the monitoring software installed by their probation officers (one downside to trying to use technical controls to monitor cybercriminals is they may often know more than their probation officers about how those tools work). But if theyre caught breaking these rules, they can wind up in prison, so many people on probation go to great lengths to abide by them, as inconvenient as they may be for modern life. For instance, convicted cybercriminal Higinio Ochoa was forbidden to so much as touch an internet-connected device during his parole. In order to do his work as a programmer, Ochoa wrote code on a computer without an internet connection and then printed it out and mailed it to his boss, according to a 2015 interview with the podcast Reply All. Advertisement What good do these probationary measures do? In some specific casespeople convicted of accessing online child pornography, for instance, or using websites to initiate sex crimesit may be reasonable to try to limit their online activity in very specific ways, for instance by restricting access to certain websites. But none of these measures are foolproof and many are clearly foolish when it comes to cybercriminals like Clark whose restrictions have not been tailored to their criminal activity in any meaningful way. Advertisement Advertisement Courts have differed in how tailored they think these restrictions should bemany have allowed broad bans of all devices and internet access but others have pointed out just how far-reaching the consequences of such a ban are. In 2002, while Mitnick was still on probation, Gregory Sofsky, who had been convicted of accessing child pornography on his computer and sentenced to 10 years in prison, challenged the three-year probation period during which he would be forbidden from using the internet. The 2nd Circuit agreed that the restriction was overly broad given the central importance of the Internet to daily life (in 2002!) and held that an internet ban inflicts a greater deprivation on Sofskys liberty than is reasonably necessary. Advertisement In Sofskys case, the government had argued the ban needed to be broad because a restriction limited to accessing pornography would be extremely difficult for the probation officer to enforce without constant monitoring of Sofskys use of his computer. That is probably even more true of trying to monitor Clarks online activity for any signs of potential criminal activity since cybercrime is presumably even trickier to spot than pornography. That challenge could be a reason for Clarks probation officers to severely limit his permitted uses of computers, for fear that they might fail to catch some early signs of criminal activity. But if theyre wise, the people overseeing Clarks probation will keep the restrictions narrow and tailored to his crime. (I would suggest: no accessing cryptocurrency sites, but then, I think that would probably be a good blanket ban for all of us ) Keeping young, technologically talented people offline is ultimately a losing battle, an, above all, its no way to combat cybercrime. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Industry Update Appointment 23 March 2021 William Tullmann Promoted VP of Operations & Revenue Strategy At Unique Vacations Inc. (UVI) in Miami - FL, USA Hospitality revenue management expert William Tullmann, CRME, C.Dir, has been promoted from Director to Vice President of Operations & Revenue Strategy, where he will expand initiatives that grow global distribution, optimize revenue, and improve commercial operations. Tullmann holds a certificate in Advanced Hospitality Revenue Management from Cornell University and is currently attending the prestigious MBA program at Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne (EHL), Switzerland. A champion for the greater hospitality business, Tullmann continues to contribute to the industry-leading innovation the brand is known for. Sandals Resorts International Sandals Resorts offers two people in love with the most romantic, Luxury-Included holiday experience in the Caribbean. With 16 stunning beachfront settings in Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, The Bahamas, Barbados and Grenada, Sandals Resorts offers more quality inclusions than any other resort company on the planet. more information Recent Appointments at Sandals Resorts International Garth Laird - VP of Trade Sales, US 23 March 2021 Current Senior National Director of Sales Garth Laird has been promoted to Vice President of Trade Sales, US. Laird joined UVI as a Business Development Manager and arose through the ranks as Director of Sales Industry Programs, where his talent for sales flourished and where he was repeatedly recognized, including winning the coveted Chairman's Award for Outstanding Sales. read more Maureen Barnes-Smith - VP Sales and Marketing, Canada 23 March 2021 Maureen Barnes-Smith, Director of Sales & Marketing in Canada has been named Vice President Sales and Marketing, Canada. A company veteran of 27 years, Barnes-Smith has successfully led the company's growth and expansion across Canada, making it the largest operation of any Caribbean resort chain in the country. read more remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. New Delhi, March 23 : 2020 was a landmark year for Indian education as the National Education Policy received approval and paved the way for major reforms in the sector. A key target for the entire industry was set -- to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Indian schools and colleges from 27.4 per cent to over 50 per cent by 2035. A large part of this will be pushed by the increasing acceptance of Ed-Tech firms that are providing online education in India. In the last year since the pandemic and subsequent lockdown that forced schools and universities to shut physical classroom education, Ed-Tech firms have seen an upward trend in India. Post lockdown, there is a clear trend of students enrolling with Ed-Tech firms as an increasing number of students are opting for online modes of learning. While tech adoption in India resulted in a total investment of $553 million in 2019, Ed-Tech start-ups attracted a total investment of $2.22 billion in 2020. However, the focus stayed on K-12 and Test Prep segments. The year 2021 is set to become an iconic year when India will break the shackles of the past and would be the starting point for high-quality higher education. Says Aditya Malik, CEO - Talentedge, "For Ed-Tech firms across the world, 2020 was an inflection point. Both in terms of adoption and establishment, these firms became the main driver of India's growth in the area of education. Driven by inclusivity in higher education and outcome-based learning, this inflection point paved the way for a fabulous journey of growth for Indian Ed-Tech firms. The lockdown ensured a larger shift from classroom learning to online learning. Embraced by young learners and executives alike, there was approval on online and live learning with wide acceptance even from corporates and policymakers." Malik added: "2021 will be etched in history as the year when education in India will truly be freed from the past. It will be a year that shall be remembered as the starting point for a belief that Talentedge was founded on - to make high-quality higher education truly inclusive." Additionally, the new and progressive National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) introduced by the Government of India brought significant changes in the higher education segment. The policy is poised to make online higher education mainstream and highly inclusive. The impact of the policy changes would be visible this year as top Indian universities would offer online degree programmes both for undergraduates and post-graduates. This will allow learners across the nation to access high-quality education from the finest institutions without having to leave their villages, towns, or cities. This would give wings to a million dreams while unlocking the demographic dividend of India. In India, nearly 122 million people reportedly lost their jobs in August 2020 alone because of pandemic-related closures and lockdown which led to a huge loss of business for many. During the crisis, online education and specially up-skilling and re-skilling remained particularly agile and afloat. The trend is expected to continue as the pandemic has not only radically accelerated companies' digital transformation but also acceptance of online certifications. Additionally, the new NEP2020 has paved the way for online degrees and dual degrees, further accelerating employment and growth opportunities. Therefore, the effect of technology in education would go beyond schooling this year. It will be reflected in degree programmes, up-skilling, continuous learning, and re-skilling. Now the responsibility of making the Ed-Tech sector more inclusive, rewarding, and full of opportunities lies on Ed-Tech firms. Companies such as Talentedge will help make remote-learning more cost-effective, engaging, personalized, and outcome-driven. Another crucial aspect of online education is infrastructure, which needs attention to have an enhanced reach in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. And with Internet penetration getting better, over 50 per cent of all Google queries originate from these cities today. Moreover, over 50 per cent of all Internet data consumers in India are from rural India. This indicates that there is a bright future for Ed-Tech firms in India, as learners from non-metros across age-groups and geographies continue to spike. Reputed Ed-Tech firms in India are offering courses jointly with world-leading institutes and corporates. For instance, Talentedge partners with top Indian and International institutes including IIMs, XLRI, MICA, SPJIMR, Jack Welch Management Institute (JWMI), and also with renowned corporates like OLX, Viacom 18, Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), and others. By enrolling themselves in these courses, learners can expose themselves to various lucrative career options and plan their future. The interactive lessons are already being taken by millions across the globe where industry-relevant learning by experts has become a norm. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Former chief minister on Tuesday claimed that NCP chief was not briefed properly on Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's whereabouts after he was tested COVID-19 positive. The BJP leader, who addressed a press conference in Mumbai, also claimed that the MVA government in the state has not acted on an "incriminating" state intelligence department report containing audio intercepts of large scale corruption in police transfers and postings. "As per police records of VIP movement, Anil Deshmukh went to Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai on February 17 and Mantralaya on February 24," said Fadnavis, who is also the leader of Opposition in the state Assembly. "Deshmukh was in home quarantine from February 15-27 but met officers and was not in isolation. I feel Pawar Sahab was not briefed properly yesterday," Fadnavis said. Pawar had on Monday told reporters that Deshmukh was recuperating from COVID-19 infection during the period former police commissioner Param Bir Singh has claimed that he was indulging in "extortion activities" through police officers. (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.) Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Partly cloudy. High 78F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. Emergency crews on their way to rescue a family trapped in dangerous floodwaters were forced to fight off several snakes that lunged into their boat. Rescue specialists from NSW Fire and Rescue were travelling through murky water to get to a family of six, including four young children, stuck at their house in Sancrox on New South Wales' mid-north coast earlier this week. The teams waded through the last 400m of water to reach the family in total darkness when suddenly at least four snakes swam into their life raft. Rescue teams on their way to reach a stranded family were shocked when several snakes suddenly lunged into their life raft (pictured SES volunteers patrol floodwaters in Richmond near the Hawkesbury) Several snakes have already been spotted trying to escape floodwaters and take refuge in people's homes in Queensland NSWFR Inspector Russell Turner said the snakes weren't the only unwanted guests that tried to hitch a ride. 'They had to remove some spiders, a couple of snakes and lots of insects before they could put the four children and two parents back on board and paddle them back to safety,' he said. 'They're used to the hazards in the dark and in the water, and in times of flood all the animals try and get to safety and they saw the raft as a safe place.' Eventually the rescue teams were able to reach the family along with their three cats and bring them to safety. Pest experts warned that spiders - and snakes - would be on the move across rain-stricken areas as they search for dry conditions, warning residents to be on the lookout for them in homes. NSW Fire and Rescue teams are seen assisting during the NSW floods, getting children to safety across raging floodwaters A flooded street is seen in Billinudgel in northern NSW as wild weather continues to batter the state NSW SES workers are seen working through the night to carry out rescues as thousands are forced to evacuate The SES on Tuesday morning reported crews attended 9700 calls for help across NSW, including 870 flood rescues as the state continues to be hammered by heavy rainfall. Already, 34 NSW councils have declared natural disaster zones, with the powerful storm that lashed the state's north coast and western Sydney now spreading to the Illawarra region on the south coast, where 100-200mm of rain was forecast across the region on Tuesday, peaking at 300mm in some parts. Northwest of Sydney, around 200 residents were ordered to evacuate homes immediately on Tuesday morning as major flooding occurred along the Colo River in the Hawkesbury region. Every mainland state and territory except Western Australia is subject to flood and weather warnings with the Australian Defence Force put on emergency standby. Upstate communities in NSW are already facing the worst flooding conditions since 1929 and those along the Hawkesbury River are confronting the worst flooding since 1961, rising to 13m on Monday night to prompt further evacuations. A number of towns across the state have been isolated for days, some without fresh water or power. Roads have been cut off by flooding or closed, hundreds of homes inundated and more than 200 schools shut. A semi-submerged playground is seen on the banks of the Nepean River in Penrith, in Sydney's west Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The hype for the 2022 Toyota Tundra is real, and truck enthusiasts are really excited for the latest iteration to be released soon. In fact, there are speculations that Toyota is releasing two versions of the new Tundra upon its launch. A Gasoline-Powered and a Hybrid 2022 Toyota Tundra According to Torque News, the 2022 Toyota Tundra may have two versions: a gasoline-powered truck and a hybrid truck. The gasoline-powered vehicle is said to improve the current 2021 model with horsepower up to 381hp and torque to about 401 lb-ft. That can be accomplished using a 3.5-liter or 3.7-liter turbo V6 engine. On the other hand, the 2022 Toyota Tundra hybrid model is rumored to use the same or different engine from the gasoline-powered one and run with electric motors. The publication also predicts that the hybrid model will have less horsepower and torque than its gasoline-powered type. And together, they will combine for a synergistic effect that will give a healthy dose of low-end torque. Meanwhile, the 2022 Toyota Tundra has been spotted in Arizona, road-testing it with multiple camouflaged. With that said, drivers can expect a new body style, modern interior design, new safety, and technology. The publication believes that the Tundra 2022 will also be reliable, just like its predecessors and the reputation the company has been known for. Toyota is the world leader in hybrid technology, as its Toyota Prius has been out for 20 years and is still the best-selling hybrid of all time. 2022 Toyota Tundra Release Date Over at TFLtalk's Youtube Channel, they are joined with David Chao, Youtuber from Automotivepress. They talked about when the 2022 Toyota Tundra will be released and what truck enthusiasts can expect for the 2022 Toyota truck. Since Chao is an expert in these things and has grown with car manufacturing all his life, he predicts that the 2022 Toyota Tundra will be released in the last quarter of this year (between September and October 2021). He also noted that Toyota will actually show a concept video for the 2022 Tundra model before the specified release dates. Also Read: 2017 Toyota Tundra: What Makes It A Worthy Truck Chao stated that if someone worked backwards using the engineering method, they would know that the Tundra is already in production at San Antonio, Texas. It is only a matter of time that the truck will be unveiled in the coming months. 2022 Toyota Tundra Leaked Specs There is news about the 2022 Toyota Tundra features that will be part of the upcoming model. The previous one is that the truck will be on par with the Ram 1500 and will be using coil-springs rather than the current leaf-spring type that the recent model is using. With that said, drivers can expect the 2022 Tundra to improve in terms of payload limit of 1,730 lbs and 10,200 lbs of towing. The 2022 Toyota Tundra will also have an improved exterior design than its previous models, and inside, the infotainment system will reportedly have a 12-inch touchscreen and a large heads-ups display unit. The 2022 Toyota truck model is also rumored to revamp their Safety Sense suite, automatic braking, advanced radar cruise control, automatic lane centering, and lane-keep assist, per Motertrend. Related Article: 2022 Toyota Tundra Leak Photos Show New Rear Suspension-Air Suspension Option Not Happening? Charleston, WV (25301) Today Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Areas of patchy fog developing. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Parents who were jailed for subjecting their child to female genital mutilation want their daughter re-examined A husband and wife who were jailed for subjecting their child to female genital mutilation (FGM) want the girl re-examined to assess whether the procedure actually happened. Lawyers for the couple have applied to the three-judge Court of Appeal for a directions hearing where they will ask the court to order the examination to take place. The State is opposing the application and the court will hear arguments from both sides on Thursday. At a brief hearing yesterday morning, president of the court Mr Justice George Birmingham said the issue arose because there was some disagreement between medical experts regarding what actually happened to the girl. James McCullough BL, for on e of the appellants, told the court that the defence was relying on photographs and recordings of various procedures, which barristers acting for the couple say cast doubt on whether the girl was actually subjected to FGM. The couple both pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of carrying out an act of FGM on a then one-year-old girl at an address in Dublin on September 16, 2016. The- then 37-year-old man and 27-year-old woman also pleaded not guilty to one count of child cruelty on the same day. They are both originally from an African nation but cannot be named to protect the identity of the child. On the eighth day of the trial, the jury returned unanimous verdicts of guilty on all counts after almost three hours of deliberations. Passing sentence in January last year, Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced the man to five-and-a-half-years imprisonment and the woman to four years and nine months imprisonment. At an earlier sentencing hearing, Detective Inspector Danny Kelly told Shane Costelloe SC, prosecuting, that on the date in question, the accused man attended at a hospital with his daughter who was bleeding from her perineal region. Det Insp Kelly said the accused man gave an explanation that the child had sustained the injury by falling backwards onto a toy. Medical professionals were of the view that this explanation was not credible and the injuries were not accidental, counsel said. Dr Sinead Harty gave evidence during the trial that in her professional opinion, the injury sustained was not consistent with falling on a toy. She said the head and glans of the victims clitoris had been completely removed. In interview with gardai, both accused denied that FGM had been carried out on their daughter. The victims father said he did not agree with the practice. His wife said she had been a victim of a different form of FGM herself. School Shootings: Mental Health or Spiritual Warfare? Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Read part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5 and part 6 of The Christian Post's series on youth and school violence. Arguably, no other crime forces Americans to confront the reality of evil than when a gunman murders school children. Yet some of the reasons why horrific incidents happen are seldom discussed. Whenever mass shootings occur in the United States, the political discourse and public conversation often centers on how lawmakers might further regulate firearms. Yet other factors that are not spoken of nearly as much are worth considering, according to a Pentecostal theologian and a mental health counselor of 31 years, both of whom spoke with The Christian Post about some of the factors involved in mass shootings. To examine the issue from a theological and spiritual perspective, CP talked with Wave Nunnally, a professor of early Judaism and Christian origins at Evangel University, an Assemblies of God school in Springfield, Missouri. He explained that many Christians have in some ways failed to understand the spiritual dimension of evil, particularly grasping the interplay between the natural world and the spirit realm. And this is more than relevant when thinking about mass shootings, he said. Nikolas Cruz, the Parkland, Florida, shooter from earlier this year, said "demons" told him how to execute the victims. Seventeen, most of them young students, were killed. "It's such an interesting statement that he would make that voluntarily on his own," Nunnally said, suggesting that it's also possible those words might have been expressed with the intention of laying the legal groundwork for an insanity plea in court. But it's also necessary to investigate whether Cruz had ever been institutionalized in a mental hospital, been on any psychotropic drugs, been in therapy, or had a history of mental illness, in which case any actual demonic voices he said he heard would be an "add-on" to his condition, he said. "On the other hand, the enemy (Satan) is real and he has not declared any kind of truce," Nunnally noted. Though he's been a Pentecostal since 1976, Nunnally told CP it was explained to him in his traditional evangelical upbringing that God and the devil had come to some kind of an armistice treaty of sorts. "In return for there being no supernatural expressions of God's power in the world today," he said of the cessationist theology he grew up with, the idea was that "the devil agreed not to possess people." "It always struck me, after I matured just a little bit past salvation, as being one of the most bizarre means of doing theology and conclusions that you could come up with because this is like light and darkness cooperating, shaking hands and agreeing to disagree and to play pretty. "And it's so bizarre because the people who say 'we don't have the power to cast demons out' because we don't have the power to exercise spiritual discernment since that is one of the gifts of the Spirit that has died off, God doesn't do stuff like that anymore. But they are never willing to come to the table and say, 'Well, the devil doesn't do that anymore either and that is the reason that God doesn't do it.'" Those who hold that view never carry that line of thinking to its logical conclusion, he said. "In the West, we are all too quick to dismiss the supernatural or to explain away the supernatural by referencing areas of mental illness. And while that is probably true of some, there are dots that connect," he said, being careful not to conflate mental health problems with the demonic. Cruz is not the first killer to speak of hearing devilish voices telling him how to commit acts of brutality. Decades ago, serial killer David Berkowitz, who was known as the Son of Sam, recounted that the devil was speaking to him in various ways about how to carry out his crimes. Other notorious murderers like Ted Bundy have also described this phenomenon. "I think we are really quick to knee-jerk react and say, 'Well, the problem is with guns, the problem is with our laws, with permissive society and mental illness.' And everybody seems to take their favorite whipping boy and trot that out every time this happens," Nunnally said. CP asked Nunnally if he believes there is any connection between the presence of demonic voices in the mind and mental illness, and if involvement in occultic spirituality could in any way bring about mental health problems that might lead to someone becoming a mass shooter. "We have to hold that open as a possibility," he replied. "And I think to dismiss the association, not that one is the other and the other is the one, but there can be in certain instances a relationship [between the two]." Yet the reverse is also true. Nunnally recalled a time where he ministered to a young man who was convinced he had a demonic spirit and wanted prayer. He was ready to pray for deliverance for this young man but sensed the Holy Spirit prompt him to ask a few more questions. As he did, he found that the young man was so mentally out of sorts he had not been taking his medications for a few weeks he didn't even know his options. "As many times I think that secular society has said, 'We can medicate or counsel this'" when it comes to spiritual problems, "some of us in the more [Christian] spiritually sensitive community have made the mistake in the opposite direction of trying to cast something out that is not in there." "The key to all of this is spiritual sensitivity and asking God to help people function in that gift of discernment," he stressed. Most Christians are not mental health specialists, he said, and it's a judgment call that must be made on a case-by-case basis. "I think that we have unleashed into our society through a lot of different means where there is no right and wrong, and you kind of make it up as you go along," he added. "And people are starting to act that out more and more, and our society has become almost amoral," he said, referencing how he has seen reports of financial firms retrofitting ethical training for their employees some of whom are highly intelligent and graduates of Ivy League universities in order for them to renew their credentials to be financial advisers or money managers. Taken together with the postmodern notion that there is no such thing as absolute truth but that individuals self-create truth, only chaos has transpired, he said. Behavioral constraints once encouraged and maintained by society have all but evaporated. And in the absence of any moral compass, individuals who were on the margins become raving maniacs and mass killers. Nunnally believes that Satan's influence over anyone who commits a murder is that he has stolen from them any and all concept of the sanctity of human life. YouTube is now basking in the glory of the modern and upgraded interface of its Android smartphone application, which has been updated to the looks and appearance of its web browser counterpart, on Monday, March 22. Before this, YouTube's web counterpart (the original) has sported the regular and basic font style of the sans-serif family. For years, people have been enjoying YouTube's web interface, as it is one of the most popular places to be in watching home videos, vlogs, games, music videos, and the like. Before smartphones, YouTube web is the apex and modern look for Google's online streaming acquisition, which received no complaints or petition for changes. However, the existence and prominence of smartphones have led to more minimalist designs, leading to a slimmer font in YouTube applications via the Android operating system, which has been popular among users. Google has updated the YouTube web with many features like dark mode, mini-players, and other known functions to the web app. Read Also: Elon Musk: 'First Mars City' Construction Happening Within 2020 Decade, Not 2054 YouTube Web Takes Android App's Interface However, in recent developments, Google has also brought the face of modernization to YouTube web, basing mostly on its Android application version and counterpart as its inspiration for the look and interface. Minimalist fonts and icons have replaced the old look of the YouTube web browser app, and this new interface brings a cleaner look to the platform. According to 9 to 5 Google on Monday, March 22, YouTube's new web app interface is upgraded and can be seen by visiting the video streaming website (youtube.com) from this day forth. The upgrade to the new interface has removed the thick sidebar that puts the text at the side with its icons but would be atop each other and have a slimmer font style and icon. The "minimalist" design of Google is coming together among most of its applications, which now includes the web browser platform, having a uniform look across most of its applications and avoiding the need to adjust. Moreover, this would benefit people who are accustomed to using the Android application, as its interface has been transported to the web. Google to Change Most Web Browser App Interfaces In the spirit of capturing uniformity among all of its applications, Google is now changing to match most of its applications to look the same as each other, even among its Web Browser interface. Google's web browsers are online connections and are different from the regular string of applications that are developed by Google to a certain look. The next interface that is up for an upgrade is the YouTube Music application, particularly with its web browser app which still resembles the old YouTube interface with the massive font and old look for its icons. Related Article: Google Apps Android Server Down: Early Reports of YouTube, Gmail, and MORE Are Unresponsive-How to Fix? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As California begins to safely re-engage travel, indoor attractions are flickering back to life. In Monterey, the beloved world-class aquarium has begun polishing its tanks with plans to re-open soon; until then, the city is a peaceful escape with plenty of outdoor activities geared toward Covid-safe getaways. As of mid-March, Monterey has entered California's red tier of Covid restrictions, meaning the picturesque place on the bay is quietly coming back to life. And the timing is just right given how this age of uncertainty is leading us all outdoors and in search of tranquil escapes. Interaction with the ocean has been proven to lower stress and bolster mental health by regulating brain waves and setting our minds to more meditative states. If you're looking to get out of town and decompress, go wander the beaches and ride the waves of Monterey Bay, kayaking through its fields of jellyfish, and watch the otters frolic as you sip cocktails by the waterfront. Here's what to do over a weekend in Monterey. Take a two-wheeled adventure. Strap on a helmet and take in Instagram-ready bay views from a rented bike or e-bike from Big Sur Adventures, located in nearby Pacific Grove. You can rent by the hour to move at your own pace, you go with a guide if you don't have a particular destination in mind. You'll learn some highlights of Monterey's history, a bit about the local marine life, and hear stories about local legends. Plus, you won't need to think about charting a course or finding your way back. // Rentals start at $10, tours at $79; Big Sur Adventures at The American Tin Cannery, Suite 122, 125 Ocean view Blvd. (Pacific Grove), bikebigsur.com. Dine right on the water. Suspended directly above the rippling blue waters of Monterey Bay, Schooner's Coastal Kitchen and Bar, at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, has a heated waterfront terrace that makes enjoying afternoon cocktails and sunset suppers possible no matter the temperature outside. A favorite hangout of the southern sea otters that play in the coastal kelp beds, Schooner's is also a regular hotspot for herons, egrets, and other water fowl. Order a Maritime Manhattan, Cannery Mule, or blood orange Negroni, or opt for a glass of vino from one of the region's wineries. The lunch and dinner menus feature fresh local seafood and traditional flavors. // 400 Cannery Row Monterey CA 93940, schoonersmonterey.com Watch out for whales! Monterey offers year-round whale watching and guaranteed sightings no matter when you visit. Migration patterns predict exactly what you'll find, but there are always whales in the area. Winter (December through mid-March) is the best time to catch a southbound gray whale, whose season peaks in mid-January, when you might see more than 30 whales an hour from Point Pinos in Pacific Grove. Winter dolphins are also common, as are harbor sightings of southern sea otters, California sea lions, and harbor seals. Discovery Whale Watch (and other local tours) provide engaging, knowledgable naturalists who narrate the three- to four-hour trip and provide fascinating facts along the way. // Advanced booking recommended ($65-$75), Discovery Whale Watch, 66 Fisherman's Wharf, discoverywhalewatch.com Kayak with sea creatures. As part of a National Marine Sanctuary, the Monterey Bay provides exceptional opportunities to view marine life in the wild. Get up close and personal with cormorants, sea stars, sea lions, and seals in a kayak or stand-up paddle board that you can rent by the hour or via a guided tour with Monterey Bay Kayaks. Knowledgable guides can teach you the difference between seals and sea lions, help you spot invertebrates, and ensure a safe distance between you from protected creatures. Tours include free continued rental once the tour is finished. // Rentals start at $35, tours at $55; Monterey Bay Kayaks, 693 Del Monte Ave., montereybaykayaks.com Peek into tide pools. Tide-pooling isn't just for curious kiddos. The Great Tide Pool, located in Pebble Beach along the 17-Mile Drive, is one of the finest in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. It was a frequent haunt of novelist and early ecologist John Steinbeck, and served as an important location in the novel Cannery Row. "The sea is very clear and the bottom becomes fantastic with hurrying, fighting, feeding, breeding animals," wrote Steinbeck. If you access the pools at low tide you can expect to find crabs, abalone, mussels, sea anemones, and sea stars. You may even catch a glimpse of a bashful octopus. You'll pay a $12 gate fee to enter Pebble Beach by car. Remember, don't touch and leave no trace. // 1400 Sunset Dr., (Pacific Grove), seemonterey.com When in Monterey, eat calamari. Many local restaurants claim to have the best calamari in Monterey. Federico Rusciano, executive chef and co-owner of the newly-opened restaurant The Pocket in nearby Carmel, gives them a run for their money. Rusciano personally sources local calamari from a Monterey fisherman, then batters and fries it to perfection. Crisp and crunchy, the calamari is served with lemon and house-made aioli. Delicate seared scallops are another stunner among the shared plates. Seafood is well represented across the menu, which also features decadent meat and vegetarian options. Wine is a critical part of the experience, so be sure to ask for pairing suggestions. // The Pocket, Lincoln St, 5 NE of 6th Ave. (Carmel-by-the-Sea), thepocketcarmel.com Check in, sleep tight. After a day in, on, or alongside the water, tuck in for the night at the recently renovated Hyatt Regency Monterey where mid-century modern meets California casual style. Enjoy plenty of space and social distancing on the 22-acre grounds, unwrap your takeout or sip your morning cup of coffee on the heated patio, or grab a complimentary s'mores kit to toast at any of the property's five fire pits. We highly recommend getting a ground-level terrace for the ideal blend of indoor and outdoor scenes. Face coverings are required at all times in shared indoor spaces. // Hyatt Regency Monterey, 1 Old Golf Course Rd., hyatt.com ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) today announced the acquisition of South Bend, Indiana-based R&R Benefits/Risk Management, LLC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2000, R&R Benefits is an independent insurance agency offering employee benefit program solutions, as well as property/casualty risk placements, in the traditional and alternative risk financing market. Robert Frick, Troy Scott and their associates will continue operating from their current location under the direction of Tom Lannen, head of Gallagher's Great Lakes Region employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations, and Cindy LaMantia, head of Gallagher's Great Lakes Region retail property/casualty brokerage operations. "R&R offers creative approaches to helping clients manage healthcare costs, and the team's public entity expertise and strong relationships across Northern Indiana will further enhance Gallagher's capabilities in that market," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "We are very pleased to welcome Bob, Troy and their associates to our growing global team." Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The company has operations in 49 countries and offers client-service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants. Investors: Ray Iardella Media: Linda J. Collins VP Investor Relations VP Corporate Communications 630-285-3661/ [email protected] 630-285-4009/ [email protected] SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Related Links http://www.ajg.com Subscribe now! Enter your email address and grab your free daily dose of Phantoms and Monsters You will only receive one email per day PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL AND CLICK THE LINK PROVIDED FOR SUBSCRIPTION AUTHORIZATION Delivered by FeedBurner ALEXANDRIA, VA (March 23, 2021) The 2021 International Prize in Statistics has been awarded to US biostatistician Nan Laird, Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of Biostatistics (Emerita) at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in recognition of her work on powerful methods that have made possible the analysis of complex longitudinal studies. Thanks to Laird's work, applied researchers have been able to wring detailed information from large studies that follow participants and collect their data over time--sometimes for many decades, such as with the Nurses' Health Study in the US or the National Child Development Study in the UK. The design of these studies traditionally made it difficult for researchers to control for participants' individual characteristics while also dealing with often-sparse data from hard-to-reach populations. Laird's work gave researchers the tools they needed, which allowed them to answer important questions in health, medicine, psychology and more. This jump-started a field known as "random effects modeling for longitudinal data analysis," and the methods Laird introduced in 1982 are still the most widely used techniques in both observational studies and clinical trials today. "Nan's 1982 Biometrics paper was a statistical tour de force," says Garrett Fitzmaurice, professor of biostatistics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "Nan pioneered the development and application of what are now considered to be modern statistical methods for longitudinal analysis. Her work has changed how statisticians and empirical researchers approach the analysis of data from longitudinal studies." International Prize in Statistics The International Prize in Statistics is awarded every two years by a collaboration among five leading international statistics organizations. The prize recognizes a major achievement by an individual or team in the statistics field, particularly an achievement of powerful and original ideas that has led to practical applications and breakthroughs in other disciplines. Laird will receive the prize, which comes with an $80,000 award, this July at the biennial International Statistical Institute World Statistics Congress, which will be held virtually. The first International Prize in Statistics was awarded in 2017 to British statistician David R. Cox for the development of the Cox proportional hazards model, which allows researchers to investigate patient survival rates in complex studies. US statistician Bradley Efron received the award in 2019 for a statistical method known as the bootstrap, a clever computational method for assessing uncertainty in applied statistics. Groundbreaking Work Laird began the work that would eventually lead to this prize in 1982 as an assistant professor in the Harvard School of Public Health Biostatistics Department, collaborating with Harvard biostatistics colleague Jim Ware. Ware was involved with the Harvard Six Cities Study, in which researchers followed more than 8,000 participants across the US for more than a decade and regularly collected data from them to investigate the effects of air pollution on lung functioning. Ware turned to Laird for help in developing methods to address some particularly sticky problems in the data. At the time, most statistical methods required the data to be unrealistically orderly and complete. For example, researchers had to collect the exact same number of measurements from each participant on the same regular schedule. This scenario was far from reality, where participants usually fail to show up for some appointments only to show up for later ones, or irregularly respond to researchers' requests at unscheduled times. The existing methods also did not give researchers the flexibility to incorporate the participants' individual characteristics, which were needed to address their study's questions--such as how a person's personal smoking behaviors interact with air pollution to affect their lung capacity, or how their change in body mass influences their overall health. Laird's solution was to develop an integrated statistical framework that could handle all these problems. This approach, which she and Ware described in their 1982 Biometrics paper, "Random Effects Models for Longitudinal Data: An Overview of Recent Results," was flexible enough to accommodate a variety of real-world situations, including ones with missing data. It also let researchers fine-tune their approaches to capture each participant's individual changes over time, as well as the general effects across a population. The paper went beyond new abstract theories, however. Realizing the need for practical methods, especially given the limitations of computing in the early 1980s, Laird and Ware introduced a novel computational approach for carrying out data analysis. Also, in a surprisingly modern and visionary move for the time, Laird and Ware developed and disseminated user-friendly software for others to use, which led to broad adoption of the new statistical framework by investigators. Laird's Background Laird was born in Gainesville, Florida, in 1943, to a schoolteacher mother, who stayed at home to raise her and her older sister, and a political science professor father, who turned to state government and political work when the family moved to Tallahassee when Laird was three years old. Math was Laird's favorite subject in school, and when she started Rice University in 1961 as an undergraduate, she initially majored in math. She quickly grew dissatisfied with her studies, however. Not only was it awkward to be the sole female in her mathematics course section, especially at a time when women were generally discouraged from pursuing studies in the sciences, but she also yearned to do something more practical than the theory she was encountering. She soon switched her major to French, then left Rice altogether after her junior year and moved to New York City. A few years later, after another family move, Laird picked up her studies at the University of Georgia. This time, she started in computer science, hoping to find that elusive element of practicality she had missed in mathematics. She found it not in computers, which were just starting to become mainstream at the time, but in her statistical decision theory course. She was entranced by the idea that one could use math formulas to make life decisions, even mundane ones like whether to pack an umbrella in the morning. Hooked on statistics, she switched majors a final time and graduated with her BS in statistics in 1969. Another move took Laird to Boston, where she worked as a computer programmer for a couple of years on the Apollo Man to the Moon Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Draper Laboratory, running computer simulations to test the navigation system for the Apollo spacecrafts. The work convinced her she needed more education to keep advancing in her career, so she decided to pursue graduate studies in statistics. Laird entered Harvard University as a doctoral student in statistics in 1971. She earned her PhD after four years and joined the faculty as an assistant professor in biostatistics. She remained at Harvard until her retirement four decades later. Throughout her career, Laird has published three books and more than 400 papers, which have garnered more than 180,000 citations. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a fellow of the American Statistical Association, a fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, an elected member of the International Statistical Institute and the recipient of the Janet Norwood Prize and Samuel S. Wilks Award. Laird has served on many panels and editorial boards, including a 1986 National Academy of Sciences panel on airliner cabin environment, which led to the elimination of smoking on airplanes. Laird chaired the Harvard School of Public Health Department of Biostatistics from 1990-1999. Laird lives in Cambridge with her husband. She has two children and 3 grandchildren. ### The American Statistical Association is the leading authority on statistics in the United States and a prominent organization in the field internationally. Since its founding in 1839, the ASA has supported excellence in the development, application and dissemination of statistics through advocacy, education, meetings, publications and member programs. Its 19,000 members serve in industry, government and academia in more than 90 countries, advancing research and promoting sound statistical practice to inform public policy and improve human welfare. The Institute of Mathematical Statistics is an international professional and scholarly society devoted to the development, dissemination and application of statistics and probability. The institute has about 4,500 members in all parts of the world. The International Biometric Society is an international society promoting the development and application of statistical and mathematical theory and methods in the biosciences, including agriculture, biomedical science and public health, ecology, environmental sciences, forestry and allied disciplines. The society welcomes as members statisticians, mathematicians, biological scientists and others devoted to interdisciplinary efforts in advancing the collection and interpretation of information in the biosciences. The International Statistical Institute is unmatched in its global reach among statisticians and those interested in the field of statistics. It is an association that links national statistical societies, with special focus on the societies in developing regions of the world. A majority of the world's central bureaus of statistics are represented within the ISI network. Its influence within the international statistical community is supported by the seven ISI Associations--each specialize in a particular area of statistics--and its committees, which are active interest groups. The Royal Statistical Society is one of the world's most distinguished statistical societies. It is both a learned society for statistics and a professional body for statisticians. The RSS was founded in 1834 as the Statistical Society of London and became the Royal Statistical Society by Royal Charter in 1887. Today, the society has more than 7,000 members around the world. The RSS is active in a wide range of areas both directly and indirectly relevant to the study and application of statistics. WINFertility is excited to support Akin Gump to offer family-building benefits that provide work-life balance and support career paths that include having children, says Roger Shedlin, MD, JD, and President and CEO of WINFertility. WINFertility (WIN), the nations leading fertility benefits management company with more than 23 years of experience, has teamed up with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, a leading international law firm, to provide family-building and fertility benefit programs to all Akin Gump U.S.-based employees, which includes enhanced adoption benefits. As part of its efforts to be an industry leader in offering inclusive and equitable family-building benefits in the legal sector, Akin Gump will also offer surrogacy benefit coverage, for the first time, also managed by WIN. As part of this program, WIN will offer Akin Gump U.S. personnel 24/7 access to experienced nurse care managers who serve as clinical and behavioral advocates for individuals throughout their family-building journey. WIN nurse care managers provide education, care navigation, help in understanding treatment options, along with recommendations and referrals to experienced agencies for adoption and surrogacy. Through the WIN for Him program, WIN will also provide focused advocacy and support for men to better understand their fertility options so they can choose the best course forward based on their personal needs. WINFertility is excited to support Akin Gump to offer family-building benefits that provide work-life balance and support career paths that include having children, says Roger Shedlin, MD, JD, and President and CEO of WINFertility. Our nurse care managers are available 24/7 to offer support and advocacy to Akin Gump employees throughout their family-building journey. Akin Gump is excited to partner with WIN on these initiatives, said Meg Meserole, chief human resources officer at Akin Gump. We are proud of our efforts to provide holistic, best-in-class benefits, programs and resources that support all aspects of our employees lives, regardless of their position at the firm, and that align with our commitment to diversity and inclusion. All of these enhancements are made with the overarching goal of meeting our employees where they are. The legal sector boasts some of the most progressive and inclusive family-building benefits of any industry. In just the past year, WIN has seen a 400 percent increase in firms of all sizes -- from 1000+ lawyer international firms to small boutique firms -- add managed fertility benefits. For more information about WINFertility services, please visit http://www.winfertility.com. About WINFertility WINFertility is the nations leading family-building and fertility benefit management company, providing comprehensive solutions for employers, health plans and consumers. From fertility management, including medical treatment, pharmacy and genetics to surrogacy and adoption, WINFertility has helped more than 100,000 families by providing access to the best doctors, technology, and support. WIN works with the nations leading reproductive endocrinologists and integrates with national and regional insurance carriers, as well as the nations largest pharmacy benefit managers, to deliver the most advanced and effective fertility treatments and family-building solutions. WIN Nurse Care Managers navigate patients through the often complex process, providing clinical oversight, emotional support, advocacy, and education throughout the journey. Patients and clients that utilize WINs program see higher pregnancy rates, fewer multiple gestations, more efficient Rx utilization, and lower costs. The company headquarters are based in Greenwich, CT. About Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Akin Gump has been the recipient of numerous recognitions for its inclusive and holistic workplace policies. Among the awards the firm has received over the last year, Akin Gump was recognized by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption for the seventh consecutive year as a Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace; named a Top Firm for Working Mothers by Yale Law Women; and, for the 14th consecutive year, recognized with a perfect score by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in its annual Corporate Equality Index The main gate consists of four square brick pillars, two large pillars and two smaller ones. The four pillars tops are decorated with four sacred figures, on the top of the two large pillars there are two lions sitting at the center and on the top of two small pillars there are two vases. The pillars are decorated with 'Han' (old Chinese) characters. (Photo: Xuan Mai/Vietnam+) The Latest: California prisons to resume in-person visits View Photo SACRAMENTO, Calif. California state prisons will soon resume limited in-person visits with inmates more than a year after they were halted because of the coronavirus pandemic. Officials said Tuesday that visits, with precautions, will start April 10 as the prison system stabilizes after outbreaks that killed 216 inmates and 26 employees. The worst outbreak came after a botched transfer of inadequately tested inmates in late May that killed more than two-dozen inmates and a correctional officer at San Quentin State Prison north of San Francisco. But corrections officials reported just 31 active inmate cases and 331 infected staff Tuesday. ___ THE VIRUS OUTBREAK: VACCINES: More than 82.7 million people, or 24.9% of the U.S. population, have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some 44.9 million people, or 13.5% of the population, have completed their vaccination. CASES: The seven-day rolling average for daily new cases in the U.S. decreased over the past two weeks from 58,252 on March 7 to 54,307 on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. DEATHS: The seven-day rolling average for daily new deaths in the U.S. decreased over the past two weeks from 1,693 on March 7 to 1,000 on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. Putins COVID-19 vaccination to be kept out of public eye US colleges tout hopes for return to new normal this fall Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak ___ HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING: RIO DE JANEIRO Brazil reported more than 3,000 COVID-19 deaths in a single day for the first time Tuesday amid calls for the government and the new health minister to take action to stem the nations resurgence of coronavirus infections. In recent weeks, Latin Americas largest country has become the pandemics global epicenter, with more deaths from the virus each day than in any other nation. Tuesdays record toll of 3,251 deaths was driven by the state of Sao Paulo, Brazils most populous, which recorded 1,021 new deaths, far above the previous high of 713 last July. The pandemic has brought the health systems of Brazilian states to near collapse, with hospitals watching their ICU beds fill up and stocks of oxygen required for assisted breathing dwindle. Most of the states in recent days adopted measures to restrict activity, over the fierce resistance of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Public health experts and economists have said Bolsonaro is presenting a false choice between preserving health and economic well-being. On Tuesday, cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga was sworn in as health minister, becoming the fourth person to occupy the post since the beginning of the health crisis. He replaced active-duty army Gen. Eduardo Pazuello. ____ CANBERRA, Australia Australia on Wednesday began rolling out AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine manufactured locally. The regulator, Therapeutic Goods Administration, on Tuesday approved 832,000 doses manufactured at CSL in Melbourne. The homemade batch exceeds the quantity of imported AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines available in Australia. The pace will increase dramatically, chief regulator John Skerritt told Nine Network television of the Australian vaccine rollout that began in late February. If we were reliant upon Europe, it would be a mess for us here, Skerritt added. The first of the Australian doses would be administered on Wednesday or Thursday, he said. Australian manufacturing would peak a 1 million doses a week for a population of 26 million. The European Union this month blocked a shipment or more than 250,000 AstraZeneca doses from Italy because of Australias relative success in containing the pandemic. ___ INDIANAPOLIS Indianas governor plans to lift the statewide mask mandate and remaining COVID-19 business restrictions in two weeks. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a Tuesday evening speech that the states steep declines in coronavirus hospitalization and deaths rates along with the growing number of people fully vaccinated justify the steps starting April 6. Holcomb said he hoped the state was seeing the tail end of this pandemic that has killed nearly 13,000 people in the state over the past year. Holcomb said local officials would still have the authority to impose tougher restrictions in response to COVID-19 cases in their communities and that face mask use would still be required in K-12 schools for rest of this school year. He urged residents to continue wearing masks in public and that bars and restaurants continue to space out their tables. Holcomb has faced public pressure and from conservative state lawmakers to ease restrictions, especially after governors in Texas and other states have done so recently. But some health experts worry it is premature to lift the statewide restrictions. We put a lot of restrictions in place last year, there was some initial hesitation by some parts of the population to comply with some of those orders, said Brian Dixon, an epidemiologist at Indiana Universitys Fairbanks School of Public Health. And then what we saw in the fall is that rates went up, they skyrocketed because people were not following precautions. ___ CHICAGO Chicago city officials have cut ties with a vaccine distributor that knowingly misallocated more than 6,000 doses. Innovative Express Care, a Chicago clinic, had a contract to vaccinate employees of Chicago Public Schools. However, the Chicago Department of Public Health said Tuesday that said non-CPS employees were vaccinated and vaccines set aside as second doses were used as first doses. City officials say the clinic will no longer be administering first doses and new providers have already been found. A message left Tuesday for Innovative Express Care wasnt immediately returned. ___ RALEIGH, N.C. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Tuesday eased several restrictions that will soon allow businesses to open at greater capacity and more people to assemble indoors and outdoors. Starting Friday, bars and sports and entertainment venues can open at 50% capacity indoors or outdoors, with the 11 p.m. cutoff for on-site alcohol consumption fully lifted. Restaurants, breweries, wineries, amusement parks, gyms and bowling alleys can fully reopen outdoors and at 75% capacity indoors. Museums, aquariums, retail businesses and shops, hair salons and personal care businesses can operate at 100% capacity indoors and outdoors. Gatherings not otherwise included in the updated executive order set to expire April 30 will increase to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. The statewide mask mandate will remain in place, and the required six feet (1.8 meters) of physical distancing may not allow businesses to reopen at the capacity caps outlined. These are significant changes, but they can be done safely, Cooper said at an afternoon news conference. ___ ANCHORAGE, Alaska People who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks at work in Anchorage when they are in their own workspace away from the public and unvaccinated colleagues, under an updated emergency order that took effect Tuesday. The order was signed Tuesday by Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson. Her office, in a release, called the update an easing of an existing mask mandate that balances vaccination progress in Anchorage with the importance of masks in reducing transmission of COVID-19. Under the order, employers would have to verify an employees vaccination status, in a manner consistent with workplace anti-discrimination laws. Masks still are required in Anchorage in indoor public settings and communal spaces outside the home and at outdoor public gatherings. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider a person fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks after receiving a one-dose vaccine. In the Anchorage area, 27% of those 16 or older are considered fully vaccinated, information provided by the state health department shows. ___ SACRAMENTO, Calif. San Francisco, Marin and Santa Clara counties are among the counties moving to less restrictive tiers under Californias plan to reopen the economy as pandemic numbers continued improving. The three joined neighboring Santa Mateo County on Tuesday as the latest Bay Area counties to move into Californias moderate tier for coronavirus restrictions. That means fewer limits on businesses, including the reopening of indoor bowling alleys and outdoor bars that do not serve meals. Multiple shifts among Californias 58 counties mean 94% of the most populous states residents no longer are under the most severe restrictions. Kern, Nevada, and Stanislaus counties moved out of the most restrictive limits. ___ VIRGINIA Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Tuesday that the state will soon relax some coronavirus-related restrictions for social gatherings and entertainment venues. Starting April 1, Northam said, social gatherings such as weddings may have up to 50 people indoors. Outdoor gatherings can have up to 100 people. Indoor entertainment venues will be able to operate at 30% capacity or with up to 500 people. Outdoor venues can operate at a 30% capacity with no limits on the actual number of people. For example, a baseball stadium that holds 9,500 fans will be able to host a crowd of roughly 3,000. That will give people room to socially distance, Northam said. Indoor recreational sporting events will be able to have 100 people per field or 30% capacity. Outdoor events will be able to accommodate 500 people per field or 30% capacity. These are measured changes, the Democratic governor said at a news conference. We still have a strict gathering limit and a universal mask mandate and capacity restrictions both indoors and outdoors. Social gatherings in the state are currently limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Some in the wedding business say that relaxing the limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors may still be too restrictive. More than 1,200 new coronavirus cases were reported in the state on Tuesday. But thats far below the nearly 10,000 cases that were reported on Jan. 17 following the holiday season, according to the Virginia Department of Virginias website. ____ CHICAGO Chicago is seeing an significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the past week. Its triggered fresh concerns from top health officials in the nations third-largest city. Chicagos average number of confirmed daily cases was 350 Tuesday, which was up 23% from the average of 285 the week before. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady says the biggest driver behind the increase is young adults. She says the good news is COVID-19 infection rates by race now more closely match the population. Throughout the pandemic, case rates among Black and Latino Chicagoans have been disproportionately high. ____ COLUMBUS, Ohio The governor of Ohio has vetoed a GOP-backed bill that would limit Ohio governors ability to issue orders during a public health emergency, a move promising a showdown with members of his party who have vowed to override him. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine made good on his earlier promise to veto the latest iteration of the proposal, marking the second time in four months the longtime officeholder has shut down attempts by his fellow Republicans to limit his powers during the coronavirus pandemic. The executive action came one day after DeWine sent a letter to Rep. Scott Wiggam, of Wooster, pleading with him and majority Republicans to reach a compromise on the proposal. The Senate bill in question would allow state lawmakers to rescind public health orders issued by the governor or the Ohio Department of Health as soon as they take effect, as well as prevent the governor from reintroducing similar orders for at least 60 days. The bill would also limit state of emergency orders to a period of 90 days but allow lawmakers to extend them in 60-day increments indefinitely. ___ BERLIN Authorities in the German capital said staff in secondary schools will get coronavirus vaccinations sooner than previously planned, following demands from teachers that they should be prioritized for the shots. Berlin authorities had already given priority to some 100,000 staff in elementary schools and kindergartens, arguing that the close contact they have with hundreds of children each week meant they should be protected against the virus. Secondary school teachers argued they deserved the same and launched an online petition seeking equal treatment. State authorities said about 40,000 school staff would receive invitations for vaccine appointments next month. ___ PHILADELPHIA The city of Philadelphia is canceling tens of thousands of vaccination appointments for the Federal Emergency Management Agency-run vaccination clinic after links for people to get second doses were shared with others seeking first appointments. The FEMA site at the Pennsylvania Convention Center has shifted for the next three weeks to giving second doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to the about 122,000 people who had received first doses earlier this month at the site. Philadelphia Public Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said the appointment links with a QR code sent to people who need to come in for the second dose of vaccine were shared or taken from social media posts and have led to thousands of people trying to schedule first appointments that no longer exist. Farley said city health officials are sending emails and making efforts to contact people who scheduled first appointments to tell them not to come. If people without email access do show up, he said clinic workers will help them sign up for other vaccination sites if they are currently eligible under the citys priority restrictions or will help them register on the vaccination interest database if not. ___ ANKARA, Turkey Daily COVID-19 infections in Turkey surged above 26,000, weeks after the government eased restrictions in dozens of provinces under a so-called controlled normalization program. The Health Ministry reported a total of 26,182 new infections on Tuesday a level previously seen in December. The death toll reached 30,316, with 138 new deaths the highest one-day fatality since January. The government on March 1 divided Turkeys provinces into four risk categories and allowed restaurants and cafes to re-open in low, medium and high-risk provinces. Weekend lockdowns were also eased in those provinces although nighttime curfews, introduced in late November, are still in place across the country. ___ WASHINGTON The White House says 27 million doses of coronavirus vaccines will be distributed next week, more than three times the number when President Joe Biden took office just over two months ago. Coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients informed governors on their weekly conference call that 23 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna and about 4 million of Johnson & Johnsons single-dose vaccine will be shipped next week. About 18 million of those shots will be given directly to states and jurisdictions to administer, White House press secretary Jen Psaki says. Most of the remainder will go to the federal retail pharmacy program, with a smaller share to federally qualified community health centers. The administration expects supplies to continue to increase in the coming weeks, which comes as more states are relaxing eligibility criteria for shots. Biden is directing all adults be eligible for vaccines nationwide by May 1, and the U.S. remains on track to have enough supply to cover all adults by the end of May. By The Associated Press Read in Korean | Sang Yeon Lee first heard about last Tuesdays shootings in the same way as most others in Atlanta: after dusk fell, a breaking news alert appeared on his television screen. Little information was given about the shootings other than that they occurred at three massage spas, two of them off Piedmont Road. But Lee, president of Atlanta K, a Korean-language local news outlet, read between the linesPiedmont had a cluster of Asian spas. It was likely, he thought, that members of his community were among the dead. Atlantas Korean community knew that many of the spas in that area were run by their own. In his previous reporting on the businesses, Lee had pieced together a portrait of the people who worked there: they were largely older immigrant women preoccupied with surviving in an adopted country. I knew how much these Korean women struggled, how hard they worked, how difficult a situation they were under, Lee said in an interview, conducted in Korean, with CJR. For them to meet such a senseless, tragic death. More than anything, my heart hurtmy role as a reporter asideas a person from the same immigrant society. That evening, Lee started making calls. He got in touch with a source he knew from prior reporting who had a network of contacts within the spas, and his suspicions about the victims identities were confirmed. Overnight, Atlanta K broke the news that at least two of the slain women were ethnic Koreansa number that eventually climbed to four. Korean-language local media outlets including Atlanta K, the Korea Times Atlanta, and Korea Daily were uniquely positioned to cover the shooting. Unencumbered by language barriers and culturally attuned to the tight-knit community, they quickly acquired details of the events and gave readers a nuanced picture of the victims. By Wednesday, Atlanta K had reported that the four victims of Korean descent were in their fifties, sixties, and seventies. Of the four, only one woman provided massage services to customers. The other old-time workers performed secondary tasks: opening doors, keeping up the space, and providing food for colleagues. Some of the women lived, ate, and slept at the spa, and not all carried US citizenship. Subsequent coverage from Korea Daily revealed they were mostly subsistence workers, some of whom didnt have relatives in the US. Such details hinted at their shared isolation and insecurity. They were so close to one another that their children would call their mothers colleagues aunties. The Korean press also reported on important details about how the events unfolded. When shots were fired at Gold Spa, a Korean employee managed to hide behind a desk and alert other spa workers in the area, likely preempting further casualties. The victim at Aromatherapy Spa had opened the door for the shooter, believing him to be a customer, when she was shot. The Korea Times Atlanta cited a secondary source who relayed that a spa worker heard the shooter say he intended to kill all Asians. Meanwhile, coverage of the shooting by national media outlets remained vague; reporters seemed reluctant (or were unable) to find details about the victims or pick up reports from the Korean press. Instead, the mainstream press published profiles of the shooter. And when the Atlanta Sheriffs Office held a press conference on Wednesday morning, the press raced to take down the official statement, which uncritically echoed the suspects claims that he suffered from sexual addiction, and which minimized the role of racial animus in his motivation for the killing spree. Lee, who had worked the police beat in Korea earlier in his career, was in disbelief. Ive never before seen a case where the police suggest: The suspect said it wasnt the case, therefore its not the case, he says. Worse, the press replicated the official statement in headlines and presented it as breaking news. In most news pieces, the spokespersons words were treated as self-explanatory, without additional context or questions. It was almost as though the press believed what was said to be correct, like they wanted it to be the case, Lee says. To Lee, the official statement was clearly too absurd to repeat. He felt no obligation to cover the press conference or to recite the spokespersons words. Instead, Atlanta K ran a story that recounted the community response to the official statement, titled: Does a bad day mean you can kill someone?: white police officers protection of a white murderer. The press corrected course a day later, but already, public perception of the suspects racist and anti-Asian motives had been muddied. The shooters explanation for the murderssex addictionhad been widely circulated, giving weight to long-standing associations between Asian-owned massage shops and illicit sex work. Investigations into the spas in the past week cited suggestive customer reviews and a history of police raids (some of which had been undertaken wrongfully, Lee says), in effect imputing criminality to the women. The media should ask if it is meaningful to determine whether the victims had been offering sexual services, and whether such questions are worth stigmatizing the deceased women and risking harm to family members and other spa workers. This also means that survivors, who have long lived under the radarfearful of losing their livelihoods and immigration statusesfeel discouraged from talking publicly. Unless they have immense courage, its improbable for these women to want to put themselves out there, Lee says. From the beginning, Lee had feared this sort of scrutiny. Reporters for national media outlets had asked him about criminal activity at the spas, to which he declined to respond. Why speculate on a question that lacks clear relevance to the story at hand? Already, the women have been unfairly immortalized in association with their place of work. The spas could never be a full reflection of who the women were; they were survival jobsjobs the women might have worked tirelessly to retire from, had they been allowed to live out their lives. THE MEDIA TODAY: Another day, another mass shooting Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Shinhee Kang is a CJR fellow. Blood donation centers in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa are urging the public to give blood as supply has steadily dropped while demand from hospitals is increasing. LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is seeking all blood donors, especially type O and type B donors, adding that it is safe to donate blood. The centers said the community blood supply has reached a critical point and that the centers are now in emergency need of blood donors. All donors will get a wellness screening, including a COVID-19 antibody test. To schedule and appointment or find a bloodmobile in your area, click here or call 1-800-795-2707. Donors must be 17 or older or 16 or older with parental permission. Donors must be in good health and weigh at least 110 pounds. A photo ID is required. Besides the bloodmobile, donors can give blood at these LifeSouth Community Blood Centers locations during these hours: Birmingham Donor Center 396 W Oxmoor Rd. Birmingham, AL 35209 Monday 9 am 7 pm Tuesday 9 am 7 pm Wednesday 9 am 5 pm Thursday 9 am 5 pm Friday 7 am 4 pm Saturday 9 am 3 pm Sunday 1 pm 5 pm Tuscaloosa Popup Donor Center Midtown Village 1800 McFarland Blvd E. Suite 220 Monday Friday 9 am 5:30 pm CCC Names Chief Product Officer CCC Information Services appointed Shivani Govil as chief product offficer.She will lead the Chicago insurtechs product strategy, product management and marketing functions. CCC announced in February plans to go public through a special purpose acquisition company merger with Dragoneer Growth Opportunities Corp., which values the company at $7 billion. The company expects that certain proceeds from that transaction will be used to help fund software research and development, CCC said in a press release. The scale of our network and speed of innovation drive our clients digital transformation objectives, stated CCC Chairman and CEO Githesh Ramamurthy. Shivani is a world-class executive who brings strong expertise in leading large-scale product innovation and delivery. Before coming to CCC, Govil was executive vice president at Sage Software, the United Kingdoms largest publicly held software company. Prior to that, Govil served as global vice president at SAP Ariba, launching the companys AI product portfolio across a network of 3 million buyers and suppliers, CCC said. Govil has worked at both large companies and Silicon Valley tech startups and began her career in management consulting. CCC said its claims software, which it rents as a service, serves 30,000 businesses in the auto collision repair industry, including insurers, repairers, automakers and part suppliers. Arbella Appoints Asst. VP for Claims Arbella Insurance Group appointed Steven Lin as assistant vice president of claim shared services. Lin oversees the claim service center, the special investigations unit, claim data and analytics, learning and development, quality, claim information and technology and vendor management. He reports to Joseph Salerno, senior vice president of claim. Lin previously held various leadership positions for Liberty Mutual, Arbella said in a press release. Most recently, he played a role in understanding the end-to-end auto physical damage claim process and assisting with the implementation of a new claim platform. He holds a bachelors degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a masters in business administration from Villanova University. He resides in Westwood, Mass. with his wife Emmy, their six-year old daughter Sophie and their dog, Hugo. Arbella, headquartered in Quincy, Mass., is a property and casualty insurance carrier with $800 million in revenue and $1.8 billion in assets. Davies Appoints Deputy Chairman, Marketing Officer Davies, an international financial services firm headquartered in London, has appointed Darren Coombes as group deputy chairman and Dene Rowe as group chief marketing officer. Rowe will start with Davies in early April, reporting to the Group Chief Executive Officer Dan Saulter. Rowe joined Davies in 2020 as innovation director after the company acquired Keoghs, a United Kingdom claims services firm with offices in Scotland and Northern Ireland. He has held a series of senior executive roles in marketing, technology and sales, the company said in a press release. Rowe will lead marketing, communications, innovation, pipeline management and tender activity, Davies said. He will also help Davies drive to implement automation and artificial intelligence internally, working with Davies technology teams and business heads. Coombes most recently served as chief growth officer for Davies. As group deputy chairman, he will Davies regulated boards as a non-non-executive director. He will play a global ambassadorial role, supporting client relationship management and focusing on strategic opportunities and new markets, Davies said. Early this month the firm announced new investment with international investor BC Partners taking a majority stake in the business earlier in this month, to support Davies next phase of international expansion and continued digital transformation and investment. IAT Hires VP of Management Liability Claims IAT Insurance Group, a speciality property and casualty insurer based in Raleigh, N.C., has hired Thomas J. Rizzuto as vice president of management liability claims. Rizzuto will support IATs new management liability business unit, the company said in a press release. Rizzuto comes to IAT after 15 years at The Travelers Companies, most recently as the managing director and counsel leading a national management liability claims staff. In that role he oversaw claims involving crime, employment practices, directors and officers, fiduciary liability and cyber liability. Prior to Travelers, Rizzuto was an assistant vice president at Gulf Insurance and claims counsel at CNA. IAT announced the creation of its new Management Liability unit last year.With an anticipated launch in April, the group will serve private and non-profit organizations and underwrite policies for directors and officers, employment practices, fiduciary, crime and cyber liability. Rizzuto is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society and a client advisor to the Professional Liability Attorney Network. A lawyer and member of the New York State Bar, he holds a juris doctor from the New England School of Law and a bachelors degree from Adelphi University. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The Venice Commission has published an opinion on the draft law on the Constitutional Procedure and the alternative draft law on the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in general, there are many improvements, but there are also shortcomings that need to be corrected. The opinion was adopted at the plenary session of the Venice Commission, which took place from March 19 to March 20. "The Venice Commission welcomes that President Zelensky withdrew draft law No. 4288 that would have terminated the powers of all judges of the Constitutional Court. The Venice Commission also welcomes that Parliament is now examining draft law No. 4533 on Constitutional Procedure, which takes up many recommendations made by the Venice Commission in its Urgent Opinion on the Reform of the Constitutional Court," the Venice Commission said in its opinion. "Draft law No. 4533 brings about many improvements. It substantially changes the current regulations of the constitutional proceedings [law on the Constitutional Court and rule of procedure]. The main novelties have been introduced in the field of constitutional complaints, publicity and openness of constitutional proceedings, formation of senates and boards and distribution of cases, access to case materials, disciplinary responsibility of judges and the internal functioning of the Constitutional Court. These changes are welcome," the Venice Commission said. "The draft law introduces the Automated Document Management System, which provides public access to case files and is used to compose senates, boards and appoint judge rapporteurs. Judges can overcome a possible blockage by a judge-rapporteur or the Chair in establishing the Court agenda," according to the opinion. "The draft law would also improve the applicants' access to the Court through various means [electronic complaints and communication, time period for elimination of shortcomings in the complaint, interim measures, reimbursement of expenses, compensation for undue delays]. It is positive that the quorum is lowered when one or two judges have [self-]recused," the Venice Commission said. According to the opinion, in line with its recommendations in the Urgent Opinion on the Reform of the Constitutional Court, the Venice Commission welcomes that decisions of a senate annulling a legal provision have to be confirmed by the Grand Chamber and that the Court is limited to the scope of the appeal/complaint. In line with the Commission's recommendations, draft law No. 4533 also addresses the need to provide sufficient and coherent reasoning for the decisions of the Court. "However, draft law No. 4533 also has some shortcomings. Most importantly, the draft law does not contain provisions on a new system of competitive selection of judges involving an international component as recommended in the Urgent Opinion. While this appointment system does not need to be included in draft law No. 4533, the amendment to Article 11 of the law on the Constitutional Court should be removed and current vacancies at the Constitutional Court should be filled only after an improvement of the system of appointments," the Venice Commission said. Summarizing the above, the Venice Commission recommends the following amendments to the draft law. "For procedural economy, constitutional complaint proceedings in which a senate finds a legal provision unconstitutional should be transferred to the Grand Chamber only if the President or the Parliament request such a transfer. As concerns disciplinary proceedings, instead of the executive power the initiative to start disciplinary proceedings should be given to the National Agency on Corruption Prevention within the limits of its competence," according to the opinion. "In order to operationalize the disciplinary system, for disciplinary offences below the threshold of 'serious disciplinary offence', other sanctions should be introduced, such as warnings, reprimands, reduction of salary, etc. and these sanctions should be applied by a simple majority of the judges. Failure to adopt disciplinary sanctions within six months should not automatically lead to the end of disciplinary proceedings," the Venice Commission said. The Court should be able to review its own decision in the event that one of its judges voting in favor of that decision has been condemned in final instance for taking a bribe in connection with the adoption of that decision. The Venice Commission said that in Ukraine, the specific situation following decision 13-r/2020 can justify raising temporarily the voting requirement in the Grand Chamber. Any increase in the number of votes required should however be a percentage of the number of judges actually appointed rather than a fixed number out of all 18 judges. Such an increase can be justified only until a certain percentage of judges have been appointed according to the new system of competitive selection. "Finally, the Constitutional Court should be given an occasion to express its view on the revised draft law. The Venice Commission remains at the disposal of the Ukrainian authorities for further assistance in this matter," the document said. First-of-a-kind coalition emphasizes the key role of technology in the green and digital transformation of the economy inside and outside Europe Dassault Systemes furthers its purpose to provide virtual universes to imagine sustainable innovations that harmonize product, nature and life Company's recent white paper with Accenture confirms virtual twin technology as a significant lever to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) today announced that it is a founding member of the European Green Digital Coalition, a first-of-a-kind group of leading technology companies with a joint mission to support the green and digital transformation of the economy both inside and outside Europe. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210322005798/en/ (Graphic: Dassault Systemes) The EGDC was formally established by the European Union on March 19, 2021 on the occasion of the "Digital Day 2021" conference, to emphasize the key role that digital networks, technologies and applications can play in delivering environmental and climate benefits that can transform the economy in response to concerns about climate change, the depletion of natural resources, pollution and biodiversity loss. "Dassault Systemes is a world leader in Product Life Cycle Management (PLM). Our science-based industry solution experiences are widely recognized across most of the manufacturing industries sector. Our roots are in Europe. Headquartered in the EU, we are proud to play a role as founder of this important coalition that reflects and actively supports the EU's commitment to the environment," said Bernard Charles, Vice Chairman and CEO, Dassault Systemes. "As part of our purpose to harmonize product, nature and life, we have a strategic ambition to become the world's leading partner for reinventing a sustainable economy. Sustainable innovation can only be achieved by leveraging virtual worlds to imagine radically new materials, products and processes that reduce industry's carbon footprint, and advance the circular economy. By working with other sectors as part of this coalition, we can take actions to drive this innovation and the role of our customers in contributing to a better world." The EGDC will commit to investing in the development and deployment of green digital solutions in a wide range of sectors; developing standardized impact assessment methodologies for such solutions; and working across sectors to create deployment guidelines for them. Dassault Systemes' commitment to the EGDC aligns with its purpose to provide business and people with virtual universes to imagine sustainable innovations that harmonize product, nature and life. The company has outlined a sustainability strategy for 2025 to actively reduce both its own environmental footprint and that of its customers from multinational corporations to startups. In addition to committing to set its own science-based emissions target and prioritizing partnerships with stakeholders to drive the role of digital technology in global sustainability efforts, this strategy involves helping its customers reduce their emissions by using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to create virtual twins. Already, the company's white paper with Accenture has confirmed the power of virtual twin technology for significantly reducing global carbon dioxide emissions. Five use cases in the construction, transportation and mobility, consumer packaged goods, life sciences and high tech industries showed that the use of virtual twins could reduce global CO2 emissions by 7.5 gigatons between now and 2030, which is roughly equivalent to the global emissions of the transportation industry every year. Social media: Share this on Twitter: .@Dassault3DS joins the European Green Digital Coalition as founding member 3DEXPERIENCE DigitalDay DigitalEU Connect with Dassault Systemes on Twitter Facebook LinkedIn YouTube For more information: Dassault Systemes' commitment to sustainability: https://www.3ds.com/sustainability "Designing Disruption: The critical role of virtual twins in accelerating sustainability" by Dassault Systemes and Accenture: https://www.3ds.com/sustainability/sustainability-insights/designing-disruption Dassault Systemes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions: http://www.3ds.com About Dassault Systemes Dassault Systemes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, is a catalyst for human progress. We provide business and people with collaborative 3D virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations. By creating virtual experience twins of the real world with our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and applications, our customers push the boundaries of innovation, learning and production. Dassault Systemes brings value to more than 290,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com 3DEXPERIENCE, the Compass icon, the 3DS logo, CATIA, BIOVIA, GEOVIA, SOLIDWORKS, 3DVIA, ENOVIA, EXALEAD, NETVIBES, MEDIDATA, CENTRIC PLM, 3DEXCITE, SIMULIA, DELMIA, and IFWE are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systemes, a French "societe europeenne" (Versailles Commercial Register B 322 306 440), or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210322005798/en/ Contacts: Dassault Systemes Press Contacts Corporate France Arnaud MALHERBE arnaud.malherbe@3ds.com +33 (0)1 61 62 87 73 North America Suzanne MORAN suzanne.moran@3ds.com +1 (781) 810 3774 EMEAR Virginie BLINDENBERG virginie.blindenberg@3ds.com +33 (0) 1 61 62 84 21 China Grace MU grace.mu@3ds.com +86 10 6536 2288 India Santanu BHATTACHARYA santanu.bhattacharya@3ds.com +91 124 457 7111 Japan Yukiko SATO yukiko.sato@3ds.com +81 3 4321 3841 Korea Jeemin JEONG jeemin.jeong@3ds.com +82 2 3271 6653 AP South Pallavi MISRA pallavi.misra@3ds.com +65 90221874 The hydrographic survey market was valued at US$ 97. 19 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 155. 91 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6. 2% from 2020 to 2027. Maritime commerce and transport is a key to global trade and globalization; moreover, it is essential for ensuring national security. New York, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Hydrographic Survey Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Component ; End User" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06038336/?utm_source=GNW The movement of passengers and cargo demand an efficient marine transportation system. Government agencies, such as the US Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, US Department of Transportation (DOT), US Coast Guard, US Customs and Border Protection, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulate marine commerce and transportation.These government agencies are responsible for national security, marine safety, vessel traffic management, waterway maintenance, and environmental protection. As per United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the global maritime commerce is expected to increase at an average annual growth rate of 3.5% during 20192024 (the forecast period specified in the report), and the projected growth would be mainly driven by an increase in containerized, dry bulk, and gas cargoes. Commercial shipping is crucial for the global and domestic coastal trade of any country.Ships transporting dry and liquid bulk goods, containers, and passengers need efficient and safe shipping lanes and ocean routes as well as suitable port facilities and infrastructure. The ocean planning activities must ensure that the allotment of ocean space to other activities is compatible with safe maritime commerce and transport.Numerous coastal nations worldwide are heavily investing in hydrographic surveys to have properly charted waters that can aid a rising need for maritime commerce and transportation. Optimized charts enable faster transits of ships with deeper drafts, allowing the movement of huge goods through navigational chokepoints and ports. Precise hydrographic software and services are vital for ensuring the navigation safety as well as supporting and boosting safe maritime commerce and transport, which would contribute to the constant sustainable growth of the global economy, thereby escalating the demand for hydrographic survey software and services. According to the latest situation report from World Health Organization (WHO), the US, India, Brazil, Russia, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Argentina, Mexico, and South Africa are among the worst affected countries due to the COVID-19 outbreak.The COVID-19 crisis disrupted industries worldwide, and the global economy was adversely affected in 2020. The US is a prominent market for the hydrographic survey for oil & gas and marine sectors.The factory and business shutdowns across the world have negatively impacted the adoption of the hydrographic survey market. Factors such as shortage of human resources and the practical difficulties in many social distancing cases hindered oil & gas activities globally, which leads to a halt in various ongoing projects. Thus, it also negatively impacted the integration of hydrographic survey market. The hydrographic survey market is segmented on the basis of component, end user, and geography.Based on component, the market is bifurcated into software and services. In terms of end user, the market is bifurcated into marine and oil & gas.By geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East and Africa (MEA), and South America (SAM). In 2019, North America held the largest market share.However, APAC is estimated to register the highest CAGR during 20202027. Despite the positive growth outlook, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is hindering the global economy, and its limiting effect is likely to restrain business activities and revenues of the hydrographic survey industry players across the world. The overall hydrographic survey market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources.To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the market. The process also serves the purpose of obtaining overview and forecast for the hydrographic survey market with respect to all the segments.It also provides the overview and forecast for the global hydrographic survey market based on all the segmentation provided with respect to five major regions North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South America. Also, primary interviews were conducted with industry participants and commentators to validate data and gain more analytical insights into the topic. The participants of this process include industry experts such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, along with external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders, specializing in the hydrographic survey market. A few major players operating in the global hydrographic survey market are BeamworX BV; Eye4Software B.V.; HYPACK / Xylem Inc.; IIC Technologies; Norcom Technology Limited; Teledyne Marine (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated); Triton Imaging, Inc.; OceanWise Limited; Moga Software s.r.l.; Quality Positioning Services B.V. (QPS); and Esri. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06038336/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 EDWARDSVILLE Felony battery and assault charges were filed Monday against a Springfield man who attacked an Illinois State Trooper, a local firefighter and an EMT. Andree Wright, 39, was charged March 22 with aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony, and two counts of aggravated assault, both Class 4 felonies. The case was presented by the Illinois State Police. According to court documents, on March 20 Wright allegedly struck an Illinois State Trooper in the face; grabbed a Hamel Fire Department firefighter by the shirt, pulled him toward a car window and took a swing at him; and took a swing at a Staunton Area EMS EMT. Bail was set at $75,000. Other felony charges filed March 22 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include: Charles Robinson, 27, of Granite City, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, and domestic battery (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. According to court documents, on March 20 Robinson allegedly strangled and punched a household or family member in the face. It was noted that Robinson has a prior conviction for domestic battery out of Madison County in 2018. Bail was set at $60,000. James A Shimchick, 48, of East Alton, was charged with domestic battery (third subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony, and interference with report of domestic violence, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the East Alton Police Department. On March 20 Shimchick allegedly grabbed a household or family member by the arms, struck her in the face and attempted to push her over a railing. He also attempted to prevent the victim from calling 911. It was noted that Shimchick has a conviction for domestic battery out of Macoupin County in 2009, and a second conviction out of Madison County in 2014. Bail was set at $25,000. Jaime Phillip, 40, of Bethalto, was charged with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, an enhanced Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Bethalto Police Department. On March 21 Phillip, who has a prior conviction for residential burglary out of Madison County in 1998, allegedly was found to be in possession of an Ejercito Argentino .45 caliber handgun. Bail was set at $75,000. Patrick R. Emerson, 22, of Venice, was charged with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, an enhanced Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Venice Police Department. On March 19 Emerson, who has a prior conviction for robbery out of Madison County in 2015, allegedly was found to be in possession of a Kahr CW40 handgun. Bail was set at $75,000. MOSCOW: Russian developers of the Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 said on Tuesday they have applied for domestic approval of a single-dose "light" version, and that trials of it in Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Ghana have already begun. The slimmed-down shot is not expected to be as effective as the original vaccine, said Arsen Kubataev, of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund marketing the vaccine abroad. But the outlook for it is "optimistic", he said. RDIF has previously suggested the one-shot version of Sputnik V could be a "temporary" solution for countries with high infections rates that need to make the vaccine go further. Sputnik Light has already been tested in smaller-scale, Phase I/II clinical trials, Kubataev said, adding that an application for approval of the vaccine based on results from these trials has now been filed. "In parallel, we have already launched international clinical Phase III trials," he said, that will test its efficacy. The two-dose Sputnik V vaccine was shown to be 91.6% effective in fighting COVID-19 based on peer-reviewed late-stage trial results published in The Lancet international medical journal in early February. Around 2,000 people have already received the shot, which consists of just one of the two doses, each based on a different adenovirus vector, that make up Sputnik V proper. Overall, Kubataev said he expects 7,000 people to take part. Interim results on the efficacy of Sputnik Light can be expected in June. Moscow has said its two-dose Sputnik V vaccine will remain the main version used in Russia. President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that 4.3 million Russians had received both shots of the vaccine and that he would get vaccinated on Tuesday. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. New Delhi: Myanmar has rejected a ceasefire declared by Muslim Rohingya militants to provide the humanitarian aid to thousands of displaced people in the violence-racked Rakhine. In an order to provide aid assistance, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) insurgent group has announced a temporary cessation of offensive military operations to allow humanitarian aid to reach the battered region. ARSA's declaration drew no formal response from the military or the government of Buddhist-majority Myanmar. However, through the twitter, spokesman for Myanmar's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, said that " We have no policy to negotiate with terrorists." The violence in Myanmar started on August 25, when insurgents attacked Myanmar police and paramilitary posts in what they said was an effort to protect minority Rohingya. In response, the military started what it called "clearance operations" to wipe out the insurgents. Around 294,000 Rohingyas Muslims have arrived in just only 15 days in Bangladesh, according to the United Nations. Thousands of Rohingya remaining in the northwestern state of Rakhine have been left without shelter or food, and many are still trying to reach Bangladesh. According to Myanmar, security forces are carrying out clearance operations to defend against ARSA, which the government has declared a terrorist organization. Landmine Allegations On Sunday, in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar, mostly women and child Rohingyas were in the queue for handouts of food and clothes. Around 300 people arrived on boats and fishing trawlers on Shah Prior Dwip Island. Many collapsed on the bench from motion sickness and dehydration. As per the Bangladeshi border guard, three Rohingya were killed by landmines as they tried to cross from Myanmar. This is not the first landmine incidents, before that, there were two incidents, according to the Amnesty International. In order to prevent trespassing, the landmines had been laid along the border in the 1990s and since then military had tried to remove them, according to the Myanmar security. Dipayan Bhattacharyya, the World Food Programmes spokesman in Bangladesh said the latest estimate of new arrivals was 294,000 and there were discussions underway to revise up the prediction made last week that it would reach 300,000. The United Nations has urged for aid funding of $77 million to cope with the emergency in southern Bangladesh. The wave of hungry and traumatized refugees is showing no signs of stopping, the U.N. Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Robert Watkins said in a statement late on Saturday. It is vital that aid agencies working in Coxs Bazar have the resources they need to provide emergency assistance to incredibly vulnerable people who have been forced to flee their homes and have arrived in Bangladesh with nothing, he said. Aung San Suu Kyi has faced criticisms for not handling the situation properly. Critics complain that Suu Kyi, who won a Nobel peace prize for championing democracy has failed to speak out for a persecuted minority. (With Reuters Input) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The disastrous winter storm that struck Texas in February has left many of its Southern neighbors wondering if they're prepared for a similar event. The storm caused long-lasting power outages and water shortages across Texas and left at least 57 people dead. Parts of Louisiana also grappled with snow, ice and blackouts including in New Orleans, where thousands of people lost power on Mardi Gras Day and thousands in Jackson, Mississippi, went without water for weeks because the city's pipes were too old to withstand the cold weather. In Louisiana, hurricanes and flooding are a fact of life. But climate change is making extreme weather events, like catastrophic winter storms, increasingly common, and it could just be a matter of time before one hits New Orleans. On the cover of this week's Gambit, staff writer Sarah Ravits asks: How prepared are we for the kind of winter storm that hit Texas? Click here to read the story or flip through the digital edition below. Cant see the e-edition above? Click here. Also in this week's Gambit: Movie stars and writers headline this year's Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival; Political Editor Clancy DuBos writes about the history of tensions between the City Council and Entergy; Blake Pontchartrain tells readers about the mysterious Confederate submarine that was found near the mouth of Bayou St. John; drummer Joe Dyson explores spirituality on his ethereal new album plus news and more. This week's issue of Gambit also features a new issue of Pets. Flip through the digital issue below for a profile on New Orleans' Trampled Rose Rescue, an article about custom pet portraits, a photo spread of adorable furry friends and a cat chat with Gambit deputy editor Pretty Pretty Princess Meow Meow Jawsy Jaws. If pandemic restrictions make it harder to pickup a Gambit in your usual spot, we have you covered. Our e-edition is available to download at bestofneworleans.com/current and read at your leisure. If you enjoy this weeks issue, please share this digital edition on social media. And as always, New Orleans, thank you for your support. The Gambit staff +7 As catastrophic winter storms become increasingly common, how prepared is New Orleans? Rodney Mallett politely excused himself from a Zoom discussion on March 16 about the aftermath of the winter storms that had wreaked havoc on San Francisco, March 23 : Facebook on Tuesday announced to organise its flagship F8 developer conference in a virtual, single-day event on June 2. Called F8 Refresh, the virtual stage will be open to developers across the world and live streamed on Facebook for Developers page. F8 attracted more than 5,000 people during its in-person avatar. "F8 has always brought together an incredible community of people who are building, innovating, and looking for what's next," Facebook said in a statement. "Over the last year, our community of developers enabled growth for businesses of all sizes to adapt to a changed world and accelerate their digital transformation," it added. The company told TechCrunch that there would be no keynote from CEO Mark Zuckerberg this year. 'F8 Refresh' will feature the latest product tools to help developers build across its family of apps, as well as technical deep-dive sessions, demos, and panels. Amid the growing fear of coronavirus pandemic, Facebook last year cancelled its prestigious F8 developer conference in San Jose on May 5-6. Nearly all flagship tech conferences were cancelled last year. Opposition parties say the Governments Climate Action Bill, due to be published later today, does not go far enough to tackle climate change. The Bill aims to set Ireland on the path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest. This will be the final draft of the Climate Action and Low Carbon (Amendment) Bill and it will be published later this afternoon by party leaders, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Green Party Minister Eamon Ryan. Read More People Before Profit TD Brid Smith said the absence of a ban on the importation of fracked gas is a huge slap in the face to the climate movement. She said the Green Party insisted that this be included in the Programme for Government, but that this is now absent from the Bill. What is the point of the Green Party? What is the point of Eamon Ryan if they cannot achieve even the minimum that they set out to form with this Coalition, she said at Leinster House. I think its a big disappointment, the devil will be in the detail. Sinn Fein Senator Lynn Boylan said ministers should be accountable for reaching the carbon targets. What weve seen in the past is that there has been no accountability and effectively, ministers come in, shrug their shoulders and say, we haven't met the targets, well just pay the fines. She said ministers should have to set out the plan how the targets can be corrected if they are missed. The Bill says all carbon budgets and climate actions should be consistent with the Paris Climate Change Agreement and EU requirements. It rules out an automatic separate and softer emission reduction path for farming, requiring that all greenhouse gas emissions, including agricultural methane, collectively comply with the targets. The revised bill is much strengthened from the draft published last October which was criticised by lawyers, scientists and environmental campaigners for setting targets without any legal responsibility to achieve them. Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore also called for the Bill to be ambitious which can hold future governments to account. She said implementing the plans will be key and called for the Bill to be dealt with on an emergency basis. Were very good at making plans but actually implementing the plans is our weakness. That speed is a major failing on our part. We need to make sure that the Bill is dealt with as an emergency and that communities and local authorities are given the tools and resources to implement it, she added. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. COVID-19 imapct & Outbreak: on new Aluminum ROPP Closures Market Report, offering growth, trends, and forecast for each segment along with regional and country analysis. The study has done with respect to Moisture Meter market share, size, trends, growth, outlook, estimation and forecast period 2021-2027. This section of the aluminum ropp closures market report provides detailed data on the segments by analyzing them geographically, thereby assisting the strategist in identifying the target demographics for the respective product or service. Request a FREE Sample Copy of Global Aluminum ROPP Closures Market Report with Full TOC At: https://www.valuemarketresearch.com/contact/aluminum-ropp-closures-market/download-sample By End Use Industry Beverage Food Pharmaceuticals Homecare Personal care Automotive Chemical Oil and Gas Clinical/Medical By Size of Closures Size from 17 mm to 53 mm Height from 6 mm to 12 mm Browse Full Global Aluminum ROPP Closures Market Research Report With TOC At: https://www.valuemarketresearch.com/report/aluminum-ropp-closures-market The research report also covers the comprehensive profiles of the key players in the market and an in-depth view of the competitive landscape worldwide. The major players in the aluminum ropp closures market include Integrated Caps Pvt. Ltd., Caps & Seal Indore Pvt Ltd., Crown Holdings Inc., Silgan Holdings Inc., Amcor PLC, Guala Closures SpA/Italy, Closure Systems International Inc., Federfin Tech Srl, Hicap Closures Co. Ltd., Manaksia Ltd. This section includes a holistic view of the competitive landscape that includes various strategic developments such as key mergers & acquisitions, future capacities, partnerships, financial overviews, collaborations, new product developments, new product launches, and other developments. This section covers regional segmentation which accentuates on current and future demand for Aluminum ROPP Closures market across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Further, the report focuses on demand for individual application segment across all the prominent regions. Purchase complete Global Aluminum ROPP Closures Market Research Report At: https://www.valuemarketresearch.com/contact/aluminum-ropp-closures-market/buy-now About Us: Value Market Research was established with the vision to ease decision making and empower the strategists by providing them with holistic market information. We facilitate clients with syndicate research reports and customized research reports on 25+ industries with global as well as regional coverage. Contact: Value Market Research 401/402, TFM, Nagras Road, Aundh, Pune-7. Maharashtra, INDIA. Tel: +1-888-294-1147 Email: sales@valuemarketresearch.com Website: https://www.valuemarketresearch.com A team of scientists, backed by a $10 million grant from Schmidt Futures, will work to enhance climate-change projections by improving climate simulations using artificial intelligence (AI). Led by Laure Zanna, a professor at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and NYU's Center for Data Science, the international team will leverage advances in machine learning and the availability of big data to improve our understanding and representation in existing climate models of vital atmospheric, oceanic, and ice processes, such as turbulence or clouds. The deeper understanding and improved representations of these processes will help deliver more reliable climate projections, the scientists say. "Despite drastic improvements in climate model development, current simulations have difficulty capturing the interactions among different processes in the atmosphere, oceans, and ice and how they affect the Earth's climate; this can hinder projections of temperature, rainfall, and sea level," explains Zanna, part of the Courant Institute's Center for Atmosphere Ocean Science and a visiting professor at Oxford University. "AI and machine-learning tools excel at extracting complex information from data and will help bolster the accuracy of our climate simulations and predictions to better inform the work of policymakers and scientists." The team, which will include researchers from Columbia and Princeton universities, MIT, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the Geophysical Fluid Laboratory, and France's Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), incorporates expertise in climate science as well as in scientific machine learning and in the development of climate models. Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative founded by Wendy and Eric Schmidt, former CEO and executive chairman of Google and chair of the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Advisory Board, backs ideas in science and technology with the aim of raising awareness of the issues they address. The five-year project, MLInES, is part of Schmidt Futures' recently launched Virtual Earth System Research Institute. "We are excited by the possibilities of this ambitious international project, which could contribute strongly to the goal of achieving long-term global climate models that can be trusted and used," says Stuart Feldman, chief scientist at Schmidt Futures. The project also includes Joan Bruna and Carlos Fernandez-Granda, assistant professors at NYU's Courant Institute and Center for Data Science, who are experts in Machine Learning and signal processing. To handle the massive amount of data involved in this research, the team will rely on open-source software and infrastructure developed by the Pangeo Project, a community platform for big data geoscience led by team member Ryan Abernathey, an associate professor at Columbia University. Due to the complexity of the atmosphere, ocean, and ice systems, scientists rely on computer simulations, or climate models, to describe their evolution. These models divide up the climate system into a series of grid boxes, or grid cells, to mimic how the ocean, atmosphere, and ice are changing and interacting with one another. However, the number of grid boxes chosen is limited by computer power; currently, climate models for multi-decade projections use grid box sizes measuring approximately 50 km to 100 km (roughly 30 to 60 miles). Consequently, processes that happen on scales that are smaller than the grid cell--clouds, turbulence, and ocean mixing--are not well captured. "These processes and their interactions are critical for climate," notes Zanna. "Clouds impact local precipitations and global mean temperatures while ocean mixing influences how much heat and carbon the oceans will absorb. "As a result, existing model shortcomings undermine our ability to make accurate forecasts of weather and climate, on both regional and global scales." The researchers on the Schmidt Futures-backed project seek to reduce the imprecision of existing models developed by modeling centers by using machine learning to more holistically capture physical ocean, ice, and atmosphere processes. The team will rely on a wealth of datasets from a range of existing idealized and global high-resolution simulations and observational products that capture processes, such as mixing and clouds. Machine learning will guide the development of innovative, physics-guided, and interpretable representations of these complex processes directly from data for use in global climate simulations. ### Kinetico Partners with Mike Holmes to Build Water Quality Awareness, Photo Courtesy of Mike Holmes and MakeItRight.ca Kinetico Partners with Mike Holmes to Build Water Quality Awareness, Photo Courtesy of Mike Holmes and MakeItRight.ca Newbury, Ohio, March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kinetico Incorporated, a leading manufacturer of quality water systems, is pleased to announce its partnership with Mike Holmes, professional builder, contractor and television host with a reputation for making it right. As a part of the Holmes-approved products family, Kinetico and its independent dealers will work with Mike Holmes to raise awareness about the need for better water. With the growing number of consumers interested in water quality, Kinetico was looking to find a partner to help educate consumers about the importance of improving their water. Mike Holmes was a natural choice for Kinetico. Mike looks for best-in-class, quality product solutions. He is committed to doing things right and improving lives with better water which all closely align with Kineticos values, claims Beth Allison, Kinetico Marketing Director North America. Ive talked for years about building better, building smarter and today especially, about building healthier, Holmes states. Kinetico is the perfect fit for what I do. I want people to be aware of whats in their homes and how to improve and protect these things, like their water. The HOLMES Approved Products program was designed to help homeowners choose products that support a healthy home and safety. Reports show that more and more consumers are concerned about the quality of the water they use and consume in their homes. As a part of the Holmes-approved family, Kineticos line of reliable and customizable water softeners, drinking water systems and specialty filters will be recognized for their ability to improve water quality for drinking and cooking, use around the home and in water-using appliances. Ive noticed that many people ignore their water unless its causing a visible problem. But having good, clean water impacts the quality of their lives, Holmes says. More and more people seem to understand that and are interested in improving their water now. Kinetico can help. Story continues ### About Kinetico Founded in 1970, Kinetico is a global manufacturer of water treatment systems for the residential, commercial and OEM markets. Recognized for their reliable, economical and sustainable approach to water treatment, Kinetico products are used and recommended by millions of people all over the world. Headquartered in Newbury, Ohio, Kinetico also has offices in Suwanee, Georgia; Temecula, California; Canada; France; Denmark; Belgium; Spain; the United Kingdom; and China. Further information is available at www.kinetico.com or www.kinetico.ca. About Mike Holmes Mike Holmes is a professional contractor and the host and creator of the hit TV series Holmes on Homes, Holmes Inspection, Holmes Makes It Right and Holmes and Holmes. He was named the Second Most Trusted Canadian by Readers Digest, Forbes Third Most Trustworthy Celebrity and the Eighth Most Trusted Public Name in America. After working in the building and renovation industry for more than 20 years, Mike Holmes was asked to develop and host his first television series, Holmes on Homes, which became an international success and broke ratings records, solidifying Mike's career in television. With more than 30 years experience as a licensed contractor, Mike Holmes has been able to use television as a tool to help educate homeowners including how to manage a renovation, what to look for in contractors, the right products for the right job and proper home repair and maintenance. www.makeitright.ca Attachment CONTACT: Karen Puzder, Senior Marketing Manager Kinetico Incorporated 440-564-4269 kpuzder@kinetico.com Even though new mothers can die of pregnancy-related complications within a year of giving birth, they currently get kicked off Texas Medicaid 60 days after having a baby a situation some lawmakers and medical experts are hoping to change by extending coverage 12 months after pregnancy. A key group of Texas representatives considered a proposal Tuesday that would lengthen health insurance coverage for low-income mothers, a measure endorsed by medical professionals and health care administrators across the state. Not one person spoke against it during the hearing. Our women are dying, or having severe pregnancy-related complications, for the simple fact that they choose to have a baby, and they choose to be a mother, said Marjorie Quint-Bouzid, vice president of nursing for Women & Infants Specialty Health at Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas. I'm here today to appeal to you as a clinician, a hospital administrator, a woman and a mother, she continued, urging lawmakers to advance the proposal. On ExpressNews.com: The federal governments plan to stop women from dying during childbirth Today, American women are 50 percent more likely to die in childbirth than their own mothers were. The U.S. is one of the most dangerous wealthy countries to be pregnant or have a baby, and the risks are highest for Black and Native American women, who are two and three times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than white women, according to federal data. In Texas, its estimated that the vast majority of new mothers deaths could be prevented, according to a state task force that examines maternal health. One of the task forces main recommendations to stop women from dying: make it easier for them to seek health care in the year after birth. A similar proposal to cover mothers one year postpartum passed the Texas House in 2019 with support from both Democrats and Republicans but died in the Senate. About half of births in Texas are covered by Medicaid, and extending coverage was estimated to cost the state upward of $75 million a year. Texas has both the largest number and highest rate of people without health insurance in the nation. Its among a dozen states that havent expanded Medicaid to cover more low-income Americans, and women here typically only qualify for coverage if theyre disabled or after theyre already pregnant. That means women often discover undiagnosed conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure during prenatal appointments, rather than treating those conditions before they conceive, medical experts say. Then theyre cut off from livesaving care 60 days after giving birth. On ExpressNews.com: Whether a woman delivers by C-section can have less to do with her health than the hospital she goes to Dr. Lisa Hollier, who chairs of the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, spoke in support of the measure on behalf of a several major health providers and medical organizations, including: Texas Children's Health Plan, Texas Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital Association of Texas, Texas Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Texas district, and the Texas Hospital Association. Hollier, a leading maternal health expert, said new mothers with low incomes in Texas can currently access some services through the states Healthy Texas Women program, which was designed to provide preventative care to new mothers. But it is a limited set of services, she said. By extending Medicaid with a more comprehensive set of services, we would be able to reach more women and address their needs, Hollier said. The services that arent covered by the states Healthy Texas Woman program range from broad prescription drug benefits to surgical care to hospital stays, according to the Austin-based advocacy group Texans Care for Children. Another major issue that could be addressed by extending Medicaid is mental health care for new mothers. Its estimated that 1 in 8 women experience symptoms of depression after giving birth, and over half of pregnant women arent treated, according to the federal government. In Texas, suicide is one of the most common causes of death for new mothers. Although the Healthy Texas Woman program does cover mental health care, the nonprofit said theres virtually no network of participating providers to deliver that care right now. Adriana Kohler, the policy director of Texans Care for Children, said that when mothers mental health suffers, kids pay the price. Babies need nurturing and attentive parents to thrive, and research shows that postpartum depression is linked to developmental delays, behavioral problems and chronic diseases later in life. A recent study sponsored by Kohlers organization and the St. David's Foundation found that failing to treat mental health conditions from the time a woman conceives to her childs fifth birthday takes a significant financial toll: an estimated $44,460 during those six years. The study said the largest costs came from lost productivity in the workforce and additional health care spending. Moms of babies can't wait, Kohler said. We need our state leaders to act. 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Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 11:03:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SANTIAGO, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Chilean government's mass COVID-19 vaccination plan, which has already inoculated more than 5.5 million people, has extended to Antarctica with the vaccination of 48 people working at the country's bases on the continent. Victor Videla, captain and doctor of the Chilean Air Force's President Eduardo Frei Montalva base, told Xinhua that the vaccines arrived on March 13 by air from Punta Arenas, the closest Chilean city. On March 14, 48 CoronaVac vaccine doses from the Chinese laboratory Sinovac were administered to members of the Chilean Armed Forces, the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the South American country. Videla, who provides medical services for personnel at the bases 24 hours a day, stressed that no one reported any severe adverse effects. "We are relieved," he said, since "the sanitary protocols of things and people that come here are very rigorous and strict." Anyone arriving at the base must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken less than 72 hours before the trip and undergo at least two weeks of quarantine, he explained. Chile's mass vaccination plan has involved going to such rugged and inhospitable areas as a result of the geographical heterogeneity of the country. It was quite a feat in Antarctica because it occurred in the midst of the icy environment characteristic of the continent. Among the vaccinated is Marcela Andrade, head of infrastructure at INACH's Professor Julio Escudero base, where she is the only woman of the six staff members. "It is very important for us to obtain this vaccine, especially since we thought we wouldn't be able to, because we know that this virus is spreading and mutating," she told Xinhua, adding that she was grateful, happy and felt more relieved. On Dec. 22, the Chilean Army confirmed 26 military personnel and 10 civilians doing maintenance work at the Antarctic base tested positive for COVID-19. "As you know, there were infections here, and everything was handled very quickly. There was an aerial evacuation to Punta Arenas of the infected with the support of the Chilean Air Force," Andrade said, noting that any outbreak in the territory is complicated because there are no daily flights. "That's why it's important to emphasize self-care and the continuation of (preventive) measures. We still have no contact with other bases, even though we are all living in the same location," she said. According to the latest report, Chile is one of the countries that have the highest vaccination rate with a total of 5.58 million inoculated. Of these, 2.8 million have received their second dose. On Monday, the Health Ministry reported that 938,094 cases have so far been reported nationwide with 22,359 deaths. Enditem Federal Department of Justice and Police Bern, 23.03.2021 - Switzerland and Nigeria marked the tenth anniversary of their migration partnership on Tuesday, 23 March. At an event in the Nigerian capital Abuja, Ms Karin Keller-Sutter and Bashir Nura Alkali, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, underlined the success of their two countries cooperation on migration to date and discussed future projects. Migration partnerships are a core element of Switzerland's foreign migration policy. With around 200 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. It plays a central role in migration as a country of origin, transit and destination. Nigeria was the first African country with which Switzerland entered into a migration partnership. The two countries have been holding regular migration dialogues since 2011 to discuss the diverse challenges in this area and to take appropriate joint measures. The working visit to Nigeria by Karin Keller-Suter, head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), provided an opportunity to take stock after ten years of migration partnership. In Abuja, Ms Keller-Sutter and representatives of the Nigerian government and various non governmental and international organisations, commended the successes achieved. Decline in asylum applications and effective cooperation on returns The migration partnership was concluded in 2011 in a challenging context. In 2010, Nigeria was the main country of origin for asylum applications in Switzerland and cooperation in the area of return was practically blocked. Since then, the number of asylum applications has declined significantly, down to 172 in 2020, when Nigeria ranked twelfth among the principle countries of origin of persons seeking asylum in Switzerland. Operational cooperation on returns has also improved continuously and can now be described as excellent, so that special flights can still take place despite difficult conditions in connection with the corona pandemic. Combating human trafficking Within the framework of the migration partnership more than 50 projects have been implemented by various administrative units in the FDJP and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). The projects themes are defined in the annual migration discussions and reflect the interests of both parties. Initially, cooperation focused on combating drug trafficking and developing the capacities of the Nigerian immigration authorities, while today the focus is increasingly on projects to combat human trafficking and innovative approaches in reintegrating returnees. During the working visit, Federal Councillor Keller Sutter opened a travelling exhibition that aims to raise awareness in Nigeria about the dangers of human trafficking. Ms Keller-Sutter emphasised the importance of effective police cooperation in order to dismantle human trafficking networks and provide the best possible protection for victims. The exhibition is organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and is being held as part of the migration partnership. Human trafficking is a serious problem in Nigeria, with many victims being forced into prostitution in Europe. Address for enquiries FDJP Communication Service, T +41 58 462 18 18, info@gs-ejpd.admin.ch Twitter: @EJPD_DFJP_DFGP Publisher Federal Department of Justice and Police http://www.ejpd.admin.ch State Secretariat for Migration https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home.html Sinovac says its vaccine is safe for children as young as 3 TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Sinovac said its COVID-19 vaccine is safe in children ages 3-17, based on preliminary data, and it has submitted the data to Chinese drug regulators. More than 70 million shots of Sinovacs vaccine have been given worldwide, including in China. China has approved its use in adults but it has not yet been used in children, because their immune systems may respond differently to the vaccine. Early and mid-stage clinical trials with over 550 subjects showed the vaccine would induce an immune response, Gang Zeng, the medical director at Sinovac, said at a news conference Monday. Two recipients developed high fevers in response to the vaccine, one a 3-year-old and the other a 6-year-old. The rest of the trial subjects experienced mild symptoms, Zeng said. Showing that the vaccine is safe and would elicit potentially useful immune response against SARS-CoV-2 is very welcomed, said Eng Eong Ooi, a professor at the Duke NUS Medical school in Singapore who is co-leading the development of a separate COVID-19 vaccine. However, he said the data presented publicly by the company was not enough to give a conclusive answer on the findings. Children are far less likely to be seriously ill with COVID-19, but they are still at risk and can spread the virus. And while vaccination campaigns worldwide have focused on adults, children will need to be immunized to end the pandemic. The Pfizer vaccine is cleared for use starting at age 16 and is being studied in ages 12-16. Moderna has been studying its vaccine in children aged 12 and older, and last week announced a new study testing its use in children younger than 12. State-owned Sinopharm, who has two COVID-19 vaccines, is also investigating the effectiveness of its vaccines in children. The company said in January it had submitted clinical data to regulators, though it was unclear if it was for one or both vaccines. By HUIZHONG WU Associated Press What you need to know about Pa.'s UC system going offline Thursday We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Houston-based Annova LNG has put an end to its liquefied natural gas plant at the Port of Brownsville. Annova said it is canceling the project, which includes a plant that could have made up to 6.5 million metric tons of LNG per year and represented billions of dollars of investment, hundreds of construction jobs and more than 100 high-paying permanent jobs in the border region. The plant was still in its development phase with a team of seven people, Annova said. Chicago-based energy company Exelon, the majority owner of Annova, has offered those workers other jobs at the company. Although the announcement comes in the same month that Annova CEO Omar Khayum left the company, the decision was unrelated and based on "changes in the global LNG market," Annova said. Annova had not announced any contracts for its LNG in the years since its development. U.S. developers have struggled to sign long-term offtake agreements as the Covid-19 pandemic sputtered deal-making. American projects must also now compete with Qatar, which is offering attractive prices to underpin its plans to boost output by 50 percent this decade. HOUSTON TRAFFIC IS BACK: And that's a good sign for the economy Khayum left the company March 15, according to Annova, and his Linkedin profile shows he is now vice president at Canada-based TC Energy. Khayum did not respond for comment Tuesday. Annova and two proposed LNG export terminals at the Port of Brownsville have faced stiff opposition from a coalition of shrimpers, fishermen, environmentalists, Native Americans and neighboring communities. Opponents last year filed comments opposing state and federal permits for the Annova project and the terminals planned by Houston-based NextDecade and Texas LNG. They've also filed federal lawsuits challenging federal permit decisions for the proposed LNG projects. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality officials in April issued a state permit to the controversial project. Launched in 2013 and headquartered in Houston, Annova LNG is owned by a consortium of four companies. Chicago utility company Exelon owns 80.55 percent while Enbridge, the Canadian pipeline company, holds a 10.5 percent stake. Nebraska engineering, procurement and construction firm Kiewit and Kansas energy technology firm Black & Veatch each own 4.475 percent. Bloomberg contributed. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal Lawmakers hope to use around $600 million in federal funding to help New Mexico replenish its empty unemployment fund, but details on how that money can be used remain murky. Since New Mexicos unemployment fund ran out of money in September, the state has borrowed just under $234 million from the federal government so that it can continue funding various unemployment programs, Workforce Solutions Secretary Bill McCamley said Monday. While lawmakers indicated that some of the funds New Mexico stands to receive through the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act will be set aside to pay that money back, McCamley said the state is waiting on guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department regarding how exactly those funds can be used. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Until we get that specific ruling from them, we cant game-plan for that money, McCamley said. Since the beginning of last March, the Department of Workforce Solutions has paid out more than $3.5 billion in unemployment benefits across various state and federal unemployment programs, according to McCamley. The jump in unemployment claims associated with the COVID-19 pandemic caused the unemployment fund which had a balance of more than $450 million when the pandemic began to run out of money Sept. 8. McCamley said that since September, the state has relied mostly on loans to continue paying benefits. Were in a once-in-a-century situation here, where we went from one of the best economic conditions the state has ever seen to one of the worst, McCamley said. The state hopes to allocate about $600 million in federal money to replenishing the depleted fund. However, McCamley said, the Treasury Department has not indicated whether states will be able to use part of the money to replenish the fund itself, or simply pay back the loans. This, he added, will help determine whether the state is able to boost the unemployment fund balance enough to get through the rest of the pandemic. The more flexibility we have, the better, McCamley said. The state Workforce Solutions Department could not provide a timeline for when it expects federal guidance. However, McCamley said he wants to get as much money as possible into the fund by July 1, when the fund balance will affect tax rates for businesses. The more money in there, the lower the rate, McCamley said. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-23 18:09:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the city of Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Lu Boan) GUILIN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and the two sides reached strategic consensus. The talks, held in the city of Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, were the 51st meeting between Wang and Lavrov. "This shows the high level of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination," Wang said. No matter how the international situation changes, the comprehensive strategic coordination between the two countries will only strengthen and expand, rather than weaken or shrink, the Chinese foreign minister said. The two sides agreed that strategic guidance by the two heads of state constitutes the political strength of bilateral ties, and jointly fighting the pandemic has further deepened the traditional friendship between the people of both countries. They also agreed that pragmatic cooperation has strongly boosted the two countries' economic and social development, and their international coordination has contributed stability and positive energy to the world. The two foreign ministers signed some bilateral cooperation deals as well as a joint statement on global governance after the talks, calling on the international community to put aside differences, build consensus, strengthen coordination and safeguard world peace and geo-strategic stability. Enditem * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Andrea Valderrama is the new state representative for House District 47 in East Portland, after Multnomah County commissioners appointed her to the position during an online meeting Tuesday. Valderrama, a Democrat, is chair of the David Douglas School Board and policy director and a registered lobbyist for American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon. Under state law, county commissioners must select an appointee from the same party as the last lawmaker elected to that post, in this case, former Rep. Diego Hernandez, a Democrat. Hernandez resigned in late February under pressure from numerous elected officials and interest groups, after a panel of lawmakers found he created a hostile workplace at the Capitol by pressuring women who worked in the building to resume relationships with him. Valderrama has worked for years in Oregon politics. She served as policy adviser to former Portland Commissioner Steve Novick, then to Mayor Ted Wheeler. She ran unsuccessfully for a Portland City Council seat in 2018 and worked as advocacy director and a registered lobbyist for the group Communities of Color. East Portland is in good hands with you as our next rep & I am excited to work with you! Commissioner Lori Stegmann wrote in a congratulatory tweet to Valderrama Tuesday morning. Stegmann said all three finalists for the job, including nurse Adrienne Enghouse and community activist Robin Castro, are strong and skilled leaders. Valderrama will start her new job as the Legislature is nearing the middle of a five-month session. However, House Speaker Tina Kotek canceled floor sessions in the chamber this week after someone who was working there last week was diagnosed with COVID-19. Committee meetings were being held online since the start of the session so commitees are continuing their work this week. -- Hillary Borrud hborrud@oregonian.com Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. [March 23, 2021] LeafLabs Announces Expansion to New Headquarters CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LeafLabs, an engineering consulting firm, today announced it will relocate its corporate headquarters to 1280 Cambridge St., Cambridge. Mass. The 17,800 square foot building, with a storied history that includes a time as an auto body shop, has been completely renovated to meet the needs of LeafLabs growing employee base and project roster. At a time when the majority of workers, including LeafLabs employees, are remote and the global workforce is feeling more isolated than ever, the company decided to invest in an eclectic space that will physically bring people together once it is safe to do so. The new facility has been designed with noted architects Simeon Bruner and Daniel Raih from Bruner/Cott in Boston, whose work includes many building restorations and notable structures such as the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and student centers at Vanderbilt University, University of Chicago, University of Georgia, University of Massachusetts, Boston University, Dartmouth College, Harvard, and MIT. The building is structured to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and open communication among the staff, as well as allow for appropriate distancing with maximum ventilation to ensure safety while the COVID-19 pandemic lingers. The company plans to move in April. We were very excited when the opportunity to purchase the building arose, said Andrew Meyer, LeafLabs founder an CEO. The space is a gem, a collection of antiquities and modern amenities and fits the innovative, entrepreneurial spirit of LeafLabs perfectly. We look forward to continued growth, collaboration and problem solving as a team in our new home. Despite the challenges of the climate created by the global pandemic, LeafLabs has been able to retain all of their employees, fill positions, and generate new business, while maintaining and growing their solid client base. Taking advantage of the government Payroll Protection Program, the company has continued uninterrupted and been able to see many projects, including the purchase and build-out of the new space, to fruition. LeafLabs is dedicated to helping solve the most complex problems in science and technology. The company provides strategy, engineering and product development to some of the leading organizations in the world including Airbus, Motorola and Google. Its neurosciences team works with DARPA and the NIH on grant funded research. As a group of young innovators, LeafLabs has organically grown into an incubator for new business, and as such, two startups, Pickle Robot Company and Aulera Authentication, have launched and spun off from the company. Both will be housed in the new headquarters. About LeafLabs LeafLabs is a research and engineering services firm that enables startups, government agencies, academic institutions and global corporations to solve the worlds toughest computing and scientific challenges. Based in Cambridge, Mass., LeafLabs has three lines of business technology consulting services, neuroscience grant-funded research, and a startup incubator. For more information visit www.leaflabs.com Media Contact: Traci Massaro for LeafLabs TAMPublicrelations@gmail.com 617-877-1293 Business Contact: Josh Collins Josh@leaflabs.com 610-304-0183 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] RTHK: Biden demands lawmakers act on assault weapons US President Joe Biden called on Tuesday for a US ban on assault weapons, after the country's second mass shooting in a week left 10 people dead in Colorado and sparked urgent new calls for gun control. Addressing a nation long traumatised by gun massacres in schools, nightclubs, cinemas and many other public spaces, Biden said he did not "need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common sense steps that will save lives in the future and to urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act." "We can ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines in this country once again," said Biden, recalling that Congress previously overcame its divisions to pass a 10-year ban on such weapons back in 1994. "This is not and should not be a partisan issue. This is an American issue. It will save lives. American lives. And we have to act." Tighter gun control is overwhelmingly popular with Americans -- but Republicans have long stood against what a minority view as any infringement on their right to bear arms. Biden spoke hours after a 21-year-old man was charged with shooting 10 people in a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado. That massacre came less than a week after another gunman shot dead eight people at multiple spas in the Georgia state capital Atlanta. Together the killings ignited new calls for politicians to act but on Tuesday the familiar bipartisan divide was emerging once more. This month the House of Representatives passed two measures aimed at enhancing background checks and closing a loophole related to a deadly 2015 church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina. The bills address a hugely popular premise among American voters: that background checks be required for all US firearm sales, including those at gun shows. But they are unlikely to pass through the Senate, which would require at least nine Republicans to vote for them. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-03-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The bronze artwork cost the university 23,760 as part of the new development Decision has left locals furious, suggesting Big Issue seller Kev Collick would be a more popular choice A university has come under fire for plans to erect a life-size sculpture of Greta Thunberg - with residents saying she has nothing to do with the city. The 24,000 bronze design sculpture of the environmental campaigner - named 'Make a Difference' - was commissioned by Winchester University as an 'inspiration for all students'. But many locals have questioned the decision, with some saying a tribute to Kev, the local Big Issue seller, would have been more popular. It is believed to be the first life-sized depiction of the 18-year-old Swedish activist who gained international attention after starting a school climate strike in 2018. And now, after a year of work, the statue is ready to be unveiled at the university on March 30. Winchester University has come under fire for plans to erect a life-size sculpture of Greta Thunberg - with residents saying she has nothing to do with the city It is believed to be the first life-sized depiction of the 18-year-old Swedish activist who gained international attention after starting a school climate strike in 2018 A spokesperson for Winchester University said: 'The statue of Greta Thunberg was commissioned in 2019 and funded by the University as part of the West Downs Centre development. 'The statue cost 23,760, within the overall 50m budget for the West Downs Centre.' Christine Charlesworth was commissioned to make the artwork in 2019, and has portrayed Greta standing with one of her arms outstretched. The artist and sculptor of Milford, Surrey, added: 'The university wanted a sculpture of Greta because it is a very "green" university, and they feel that Greta will be an inspiration to all the students. 'Originally the interview committee were talking about her sitting on the ground, wearing her yellow coat, but I felt strongly about portraying her telling more about the person she is.' Many locals have reacted angrily to the decision, with some saying a tribute to Kev Collick, the local Big Issue seller, would have been a more popular choice However, not everyone in the cathedral city agreed that it was a good way to spend the cash. Anne Goodchild said that a sculpture of a well known local would have got more support from Winchester residents. She said: '[What about] Kev the guy who sells the homeless paper in the high [street]...[he's] definitely a Winchester icon.' Kev Collick, who is no longer homeless, has been a fixture of Winchester's streets for years supporting several charities alongside selling the Big Issue. The 45-year-old, who found himself on the streets after he was put into care as a child, is regularly spotted donning a Christmas tree costume to raise funds for Children in Need. Local resident Michelle Coombs added: 'I think the sculpture itself is very good but Greta has no connection with Winchester, or am I wrong?' The 24,000 bronze design sculpture of the environmental campaigner - named 'Make a Difference' - was commissioned by Winchester University as an 'inspiration for all students', and will feature on the new 50million West Downs Centre campus Simon Dixon said the statue was a 'total waste of money' and others questioned whose 'bright idea' it was in the first place. Another, Mark Robinson, agreed but acknowledged students at the university may feel differently. He said: 'To be fair Greta probably is inspirational to many of the current generation of students and given that it's at the university I don't think there is a particular reason for a strong Winchester connection. 'Usually statues are erected to reflect a long lasting legacy and that will be the test with this one.' Some residents were more critical of the statue and suggested that local Winchester 'icons' should have been immortalised in bronze instead. In August 2019 members of Extinction Rebellion organised a 'Die in' protest in the affluent Hampshire city where they lay down in the middle of the high street to protest against air quality monitoring on local roads. The prime suspect in the disappearance of Queensland woman Sharron Phillips claimed to have killed more than once, a court has been told. Queensland's state coroner has reopened the inquest into the 1986 disappearance of Ms Phillips after taxi driver Raymond Peter Mulvihill was unveiled as the number one suspect by police. Ms Phillips, 20, vanished on May 8, 1986, while waiting for her boyfriend after running out of petrol in Wacol, in southwest Brisbane. Sharron Phillips, 20, (pictured) went missing in 1986, and is believed to have been murdered by a taxi driver Mulvihill drove a cab that was based at Wacol. An inquest in 1988 found there was insufficient evidence to commit anyone to trial and in a cruel twist for the Phillips family, Mulvihill died in 2002, more than 15 years after their daughter and sister vanished. Former homicide detective Bob Dallow told the Coroners Court on Tuesday that Mulvihill's stepson Ian Seeley was furious police failed to act on his claims his father was the murderer. Mr Seeley contacted the former detective in May 2016 confident that he knew who killed Sharron Phillips. Raymond Peter Mulvihill (pictured) who died in 2002, has been revealed as the number one suspect by police in the disappearance of Sharron Phillips 'I asked him how could you know? And he said to me 'because my father did it',' Mr Dallow told coroner Terry Ryan. Mr Seeley was 'quite irate' that police had not taken his information seriously and admitted he had picked up his step-father after his shift driving the cab that night. However, when he pulled into the driveway, his father was standing beside the cab at the back of shops at the rank base. '(Mulvihill) opened the boot of the cab and pulled Sharron Phillips out of there. Mulvihill's stepson Ian Seeley has claimed he saw Sharron Phillip's in the back of his dad's taxi (pictured) on May 8, 1986 'He then put Sharron into the back of the car that Ian was driving but Seeley had to help him because Sharron was a big girl and very strong. 'They put her into the boot and then Seeley came up with some story that Sharron had blood on her head.' Mr Seeley drove home with Ms Phillips locked in the boot. Sharron Phillip (pictured) was last seen on May 8 1986 at a petrol station in Wacol, southwest Brisbane 'He could hear Sharron kicking in the boot,' Mr Dallow said. Mr Seeley claimed he got out of the car before his father drove off with Ms Phillips trapped in the boot. She was never seen alive again. In stunning evidence, Mr Dallow said Mr Seeley told him his father claimed to have disposed of more than one victim - showing him the site he claimed to have dumped at least two women. ''He (Mulvihil) was dying at the time, and he showed me where he dropped Sharron Phillips and the other girl ... he dropped them both off at that location,' Mr Dallow said he was told by Mr Seeley. 'But if he showed him the right spot, I'll believe in the Easter Bunny.' Outside court, police confirmed to AAP Mulvihill's deathbed confession involved more than one missing girl and conceded there could be more than one victim. It is expected the coroner will hear evidence supporting claims of multiple victims on Wednesday when Mr Seeley is expected to take the stand. Police searched an area at Carole Park in 2017 but did not recover any human remains Earlier in the hearing, Mulvihill's former sister-in-law Allison Clancy claimed the taxi driver admitted attacking Ms Phillips while at a family christening in 1992. 'He said straight out - Sharron Phillips, my five minutes of fame,' Ms Clancy said. Cold-case detective Scott Chapman said the investigation focused on Mulvihill following the tip-off from Mr Seeley. 'We believe Raymond Mulvihill played a significant role in her disappearance and that Ian Seeley potentially played a role as well,' Detective Chapman told the coroner. The inquest continues. State-controlled Ukrgasbank, 35% of whose loan portfolio is made up of "eco-projects," in particular, renewable energy and energy efficient modernization, has expanded the scope of "green" financing to new areas: medicine, waste treatment, energy storage systems, improvement of water use efficiency and cogeneration projects. "We will develop new directions together with our partner IFC. The funds allocated under the loan agreement will be used to finance just such projects," the bank said in a press release on its website. As reported, at the end of January 2021, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Ukrgasbank signed an agreement on the allocation of a five-year loan to the bank for EUR30 million with the possibility of converting it into a 20% stake in the capital. The financial institution reminded that within the framework of "green" financing the matter concerns lending at preferential rates. According to the National Bank of Ukraine, as of January 1, 2021, Ukrgasbank ranked fourth in terms of total assets (UAH 151.403 billion). The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. 100% Website recetasargentinas.net uses latest and advanced technologies like: JQuery and Boostrap. It is very popular on the web, it's within the 1 million most visited websites of the world at position 240132 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 1277275 bytes (1247.34 kb uncompressed) and 134586 bytes (131.43 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-04-25, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. FORESTPORT, N.Y. Two bridges along Route 28 in Forestport will be rehabilitated to make traveling between the Mohawk Valley and Adirondacks easier and safer, according to the New York State Department of Transportation. The $2.2 million project includes replacing the decks on the bridges over Forestport Reservoir and the bridge over Woodhull Road. The decks are in bad shape; they need to be redone. We've done repairs over the years. Again, right now, repairing them would be just throwing your money away. Basically, we're doing a rehab on the decks on both bridges, said Jim Piccola, NYSDOT. Crews will also install new concrete barriers and guiderails, and the pavement between both will be resurfaced. Work will begin on Monday, March 29 at 9 a.m. According to NYSDOT, traffic will be detoured around the construction area over the next few months. Traffic will be directed along Route 12 and Hawkinsville/Woodgate Road for roughly seven miles, and a temporary traffic light will be installed at the intersection of Route 28 and Woodgate Road. The bridges are expected to reopen in July, and the remaining work completed by the end of the summer. HOLLAND, MI The attorney for the jailed owner of Marlenas Bistro & Pizzeria said she should be released after she closed her restaurant and paid a $15,000 fine. Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, 55, is jailed for contempt of court after she defied orders to comply with state requirements intended to slow the spread of COVID-19. The Holland restaurant stayed open despite an order in mid-November banning indoor dining at restaurants and did not require masks or social distancing. Allegan attorney Robert Baker filed a motion that his client be released. He said that her husband paid a $15,000 fine it was originally believed to be $7,500 and has closed the restaurant on Lincoln Avenue, near U.S. 31, on Hollands south side. Baker said he has not determined why the fine was doubled. Pavlos-Hackney was arrested early Friday, March 19, by state police near her home. Her restaurant opened that day but was closed the next. Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie E. Aquilina said Friday she could be released only after she paid the fine and convinced the state attorney general that she has closed the restaurant until the legal process is resolved. Baker said he hoped that his recent filing, which included photos of the boarded-up business, would convince a judge to free his client. He asked for her immediate release from jail. Baker, hired Friday, said he has gone through a stack of paperwork filed by the state. My job is to get her out first then determine whats the next step, he said Tuesday, March 23. He said jails across the state have worked to keep inmate numbers low to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and said his client poses no danger to the community. Read more: Republicans blame political bullying in jailing of Michigan restaurant owner Supporters of jailed Michigan woman board up her restaurant, hoping to earn her release They can arrest me: Holland restaurant owner defies state coronavirus order Michigan restaurant owner to remain in jail on charge of violating COVID-19 orders AKRON, Ohio A Parma man ended up having his car taken at gunpoint after he drove to Akron to meet with a girl he had met on Snapchat, police say. According to police, officers were called to the 1700 block of Nanaula Drive in the Goodyear Heights neighborhood at about 9:45 p.m. Friday. The 23-year-old victim told police he had driven to Akron to meet a 17-year-old girl. He tells police that when he arrived, the girl led him to a home on Nanaula Drive and two males got into the vehicle. The two males assaulted the victim and robbed him at gunpoint. The victim ran to a nearby home and the suspects drove off in the vehicle, a Chevrolet Trax. The teen girl was later found at a home on Carpenter Street. Police say she admitted to being involved in the robbery and has been charged with receiving stolen property. The Trax was found near the girls home on Carpenter Street, but the two males were not located. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can call detectives at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. Individuals also can send tips by texting TIPSCO to 274637. Callers can remain anonymous. More crime-related content on cleveland.com: Two arrested in shootout that left two dead at Cleveland diner, gunmen wounded, police say Police officer, multiple others dead in shooting at Colorado grocery store Ohio resident accused of storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in support of Trump 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. (Photo : Xiaomi Official Twitter Page) Xiaomi officially confirmed the arrival of Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra in the upcoming "Mega Launch" event on Mar. 29, GSM Arena reports. The Chinese electronics giant first teased their new product launch via Twitter on Monday, Mar. 22, but did not reveal much about which products will be unveiled. On Tuesday, March 23, Xiaomi released an official poster via the Chinese micro-blogging website Weibo, announcing its ambition for the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra to be hailed as the "Android King." Also Read: Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro May Come with 120x Zoom Camera Support PLUS More Specs Leaked Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro, Mi 11 Ultra Leaked Specs, Price, and Release Date Xiaomi describes their upcoming flagship phones Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra, as "thin and lightweight," and both have been certified at 3C with ultra-fast charging - it is 11V at 6.1A, which is a 67.1W rate. MySmartPrice leaked on Tuesday, March 23, that while the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will support 67W wired fast charging, 10W reverse wireless, and 67W wireless fast charging, the Mi 11 Ultra will have a 120W fast charging support. Both phones are also expected to come with a triple-camera setup with a massive camera island and a 50MP ISOCELL GN2 primary sensor with a sensor size of 1/1.12-inch. The camera setup will have a 48MP ultrawide sensor and a 48MP periscopic telephoto zoom lens capable of zooming up to 120x. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 chipset backed by a 5000 mAh battery will provide power for the flagship phones. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra will also sport a 6.8-inch quad-curved OLED display with WQHD+ resolution and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The display has been given an IP68 rating - which allows it to withstand dust, dirt and sand, and water resistance for up to 1.5 meters - as well as a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Perhaps the most surprising feature of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra is the secondary display located next to the camera module. The additional display is designed to help a user for capturing selfies and may show various selfie effects. The price point for Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra has not yet been revealed, but it is expected to be revealed during the Mega Launch event. Other Rumored Products on Xiaomi's Mega Launch Event Notebook Check reported on Monday, March 22, that the upcoming Mega Launch event will also introduce Xiaomi's Mi Pad 5 and Mi Band 6. Mi Pad 5 had been rumored to rival Apple's iPad Pro in terms of display size and will likely be powered by the Snapdragon 870 SoC and MediaTek Dimensity 1200. The tablet is also rumored to come with a stylus similar to that of an Apple Pencil, hinting that Xiaomi's latest offering may be targeting the high-end tablet-buying market. Meanwhile, GizmoChina reveals that the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 may resemble its predecessor. Not much is known about Mi Smart Band 6 at the moment, but it is rumored that it will have support for Blood Oxygen monitoring (SpO2 sensor) and will come with a built-in Alexa assistant. Related Article: Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra: Samsung's Telephoto Lens to be Featured? Which One is Better? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Lee Mercado 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An unexpected encounter with a bullfight in a Spanish village throws up questions about the acceptance of cruelty in cultural practices. I chose it for its remoteness: a place where time stood still. The village of Albarracin in Spain was not pretty the way idyllic scenes of the Swiss countryside are. At 4,000 feet above sea level, the terrain was rugged. Bosco and his taxi received us at the end of a long bus ride from Barcelona. In another half hour, we could spy a cluster of onion-coloured houses forming a Klee-esque patternthe steep stairs of a home converted to a hotel led us to a cosy room. We ventured out and soon found ourselves at Plaza Mayor, the village square. Locals hung around in front of the bars, drinking beer and chatting. We noticed that logs and planks had been used to construct tiered seats surrounding a temporary arena that occupied the entire plaza. A group of musicians was unpacking their equipment onto a stage. It became apparent that we had unknowingly arrived in the middle of the villages annual celebrations. Subduing our misgivings, however, we walked on; it took us only a minute to lose the noise and crowds. After talks on the formation of a new Cabinet in Lebanon, protestors blocked roads in the Lebanese capital in Beirut. This contributed more to the economic and financial collapse in the country. Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri made the announcement after a short meeting with President Michel Aoun, blaming him for the delay and accusing him of insisting on acquiring veto power for his allies in the new government. Current situation in Lebanon Hariri is seeking to form a Cabinet of technocrats. This is after Aoun has asked for an expanded Cabinet of at least 20 ministers. Speaking with reporters at the presidential palace, Hariri said, The prime minister-designates job is not to fill in lists from anyone, and it is not the job of the president to form a government. He said that Aoun had sent him a proposed list of Cabinet ministers, with veto power given to his alliance. He further added that he rejected that request as unconstitutional and returned the list. Aouns office has declined the claim as they suggest that it was clear Hariri did not wish to form a government. As per Aouns office the reasons had nothing to do with its make-up. Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diabs government had resigned days after the massive explosion at Beirut port in August. After the blast, Lebanon has witnessed widespread protests against the economic woes that the country has been facing, which worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year. Protesters have been blocking roads and demonstrating in front of the parliament, demanding banks to release their deposits. The delay in the formation of the new government is not helping the people because it is pushing behind the much-needed reforms. Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab said he is willing to isolate himself and stop working to pressure politicians to form a new government. Diab said if isolation helps he is ready to turn to it, but warned that it will disrupt the state and harm Lebanese people. Diab is currently serving as caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed. Former Prime Minister Hariri was nominated by the members of parliament to form the new government but the leader is facing a roadblock because of Lebanon's sectarian form of politics. In Lebanon, parliamentary seats are equally divided between Christians and Muslims for fair representation, and choosing a cabinet without disrupting the status quo is a humongous task for any new prime minister. (Image Credits: AP) Disney will no longer release the Pixar film Luca in U.S. theaters. Instead, the film will stream exclusively on its Disney+ streaming platform worldwide. Like Soul, which was released in the same manner last Christmas, Luca will be available for free to Disney+ subscribers. Its release date remains the same: June 18. Why it matters: Wed earlier suggested that a theatrical release for Luca was no guarantee, so while the news isnt exactly surprising, its a huge blow to U.S. movie theaters, which had just reopened in Los Angeles, a market that accounts for nearly 9% of all moviegoing in the country. Without new product, especially animated fare, which has been outperforming all other types of films over the past six months, movie theaters will have an even tougher time getting audiences to return. Colonel Andrianasolo, a Merina whose father snapped up the property just after independence, knows all about the hidden graves when, after intense bargaining with the wily Italian, he signs the certificat dachat. But the colonel prudently keeps silent about the unusual feature of the terrain. He only expresses a neighborly hopeAndrianasolo vacations on the next beach over, in a properly exorcized 1970s bungalowthat Sennas future housewarming celebration will include the proper formalities, and the sacrifice of two zebus. But, like many self-made men, Senna is willful in strange ways. Much of his youth was spent helping his family hustle their way out of postwar poverty in the malarial rice fields of Vercelli, and, now in middle age, he is contentedly ensconced as ruler of his own profitable company that brokers repair services for agricultural machines all over Europe. A wiry Lombard with a brawlers crooked nose, he has a steel-trap mind and shrewd green eyes able to ferret out the scurviest tactics of his competitors. But unlike most Italians of his hardscrabble generation, he has an early life that includes an odd chapter: as a teenager, he spent a year in Rome in the dolce vita era, working for a cousin who was a cameraman at Cinecitta. The immersion in the magical atmosphere of golden age Italian cinema, the sight of film stars walking the earth amid the rubble of a world war and the ruins of imperial Rome, awakened a dreaming side in young Senna. But when his father suddenly died and he had to return to the rice lands, he put this part of his nature under wraps. There it remains for decades, until he has divorced his first wife, and his savings are snug in discreet refuges around the world. Then, in his forties and free at last to indulge in midlife folly, he sets off on a six-month fishing trip around the Indian Ocean with a buddy from his military service year, a weathered sea dog of a Calabrian baron, born in Italian Somaliland. Crossing the Mozambique Channel, en route from the Comoros islands, their sloop draws up upon the eastern coast of Naratrany, and at first sight of the island, Senna is struck with a raw mixture of feelings: a roundhouse punch of mingled amazement, ambition, lust: what he imagines the early explorers felt, staring dumbfounded from their caravels. [ Return to the column on Red Island House. ] Motionless at the rail, he gazes over Finoana Bay to a low-rising land formation that is dazzlingly, virginally green, as if it is the first time that color has been used on earth. Its undulating slopes are stacked with shadowed rain forest and the kinetic lighter hues of sugarcane; the shoreline is hemmed with a string of palm and casuarina and a long curve of empty coral beach, white and perfect as a fresh slice of apple. Senna isnt religious, but the arc of beach recalls to him the pale folded hands of the Baroque statue of the Holy Mother that was the sole treasure of his childhood parish church. And he, the astute businessman who knows the value of instinct, then and there determines to buy that beach and build a house. Decides this with the violent sense of yielding that an aging man feels when he plunges into an infatuation with a young girl. Be careful, warns his Calabrian friend, an old Africa hand. Places like this arent ever as simple as they look! Especially here. These people are part Bantu and part Indonesian, and part something else that is just pure strangeness. You can never tell where you are with them. Of course, Senna knows nothing about Madagascar, not one thing about the countrys epic geological past, nothing about the quirky evolutionary journey of its fabled wildlife, or the nineteen tribes and their language with its recondite Swahili-Polynesian roots. Like many Italians, he adores the tropics, and over years of growing prosperity has vacationed with his family and friends in the Bahamas, Thailand, Bali, and Tahiti. He sees these places of coralline seas as a single landscape, flat as a Rousseau painting. A backdrop against which to bring to life his youthful adventure fantasies, rooted in his love for the pulp novels of Emilio Salgari, the best-selling nineteenth-century bard of the exotic. Salgari never actually traveled out of provincial Italy, but his fevered descriptions of Asian, African, and South American jungles and lagoons are as detailed as encyclopedias can make them. The authors swashbuckling heroes, who battle headhunters in ancient temples, commandeer Moghul treasure ships, and rescue swooning heroines from seraglios, fired the imaginations of generations of boys in Latin countriesboys including Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Che Guevara. And Senna. THE HAGUE (dpa-AFX) - Dutch mobile telecommunications company Royal KPN N.V. (KKPNY.PK, KPN) said on Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with pension investor APG Group to form a joint venture, which will speed up the process of rollout of fiber and faster digitalization across the Netherlands. As per the deal, APG will pay around 440 million euros on a pre-tax basis for a 50 percent stake in the joint venture. This will be split into an initial payment of 220 million euros and the remaining 220 million euros to paid in yearly instalments, depending on the progress of the rollout. The joint venture has a total equity value of 880 million euros. During the rollout period, the capex of the joint venture will be around 1.2 billion euros, financed with 70 percent debt on a non-recourse basis. The initial payment will cover KPN's portion of expected equity contributions in the joint venture. The deal is now subject to regulatory approval and the joint venture will begin operations in the second quarter of the year. With this joint venture, KPN plans to increase its service revenues and make its presence felt in thinly populated areas in Netherlands. KPN has the potential to obtain, control and reconsolidate in the future. In Netherlands, KPN shares were trading at 2.774 euros, down 4.3 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX KPN-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de Nearly 200 Brazilian economists, including former finance ministers and central bank presidents, have urged the Brazilian government to speed up vaccination and adopt tougher restrictions to stop the rampant spread of COVID-19. The signatories of the letter published on Monday decried the "devastating" economic and social situation in Latin America's largest nation. They also attempted to debunk President Jair Bolsonaro's assertion that lockdowns and restrictions would inflict greater hardship on the population than the disease. "This recession, as well as its harmful social consequences, was caused by the pandemic and will not be overcome until the pandemic is controlled through competent action from the federal government," the letter read. "It is urgent that the different levels of government prepare to implement an emergency lockdown." Brazil's gross domestic product contracted 4.1 per cent in 2020, the biggest annual recession in decades. The economists said the fall in activity alone cost approximately 58 billion reais (USD 10.5 billion), a loss of 6.9 per cent, in tax collection. The nation had an average of 2,235 deaths a day last week the highest since the beginning of the pandemic. So far, nearly 2,95,000 people have died, the second-largest tally in the world after the United States, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Bolsonaro has fought against restrictions on the economy adopted by state governors and mayors. Just last week, the president sought to lift restrictions imposed in the Federal District, Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul via the Supreme Court, online news site G1 reported. (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.) FILE PHOTO: A North Korea flag flutters next to concertina wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March 9, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Hyonhee Shin WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea fired two short-range missiles at the weekend, U.S. and South Korean officials said, but Washington played down the first such tests under President Joe Biden and said it was still open to dialogue with Pyongyang. The North Korean tests involved weapons systems at the low end of the spectrum that were not covered by U.N. Security Council testing bans, two senior officials of the Biden administration told a briefing call on Tuesday. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said two cruise missiles were fired off North Korea's west coast town of Onchon on Sunday morning. South Korea had detected signs a test was imminent and was monitoring it in real time, a JCS official told reporters on Wednesday. The JCS reports North Korea's testing of advanced weapons such as nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles nearly in real time but not some tests of lower grade, shorter range weapons. The launch marks North Korea's first publicly known weapons test since Biden took office in January. But Biden downplayed the test, saying "nothing much has changed", while one senior U.S. official said it was "normal" testing and warned against "hyping" it. "No, according to the Defense Department it's business as usual. There's no new wrinkle in what they did," Biden told reporters upon his return from a visit to Ohio, when asked if the test was a provocation. The Pentagon declined to comment on the test, which was first reported by the Washington Post. North Korea's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's response was similarly muted. "We urge all parties to continue dialogue and consultation, work together to keep the situation calm," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday. POLICY REVIEW IN 'FINAL STAGES' The test came just days after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed to work to denuclearize North Korea and criticized its "systemic and widespread" human rights abuses while in Seoul with the U.S. Defense Secretary. North Korea has refused to engage with repeated behind-the-scenes U.S. diplomatic overtures since mid-February, calling them a "cheap trick". Senior U.S. officials said the administration's North Korea policy review was in its "final stages" and would host the national security advisers of allies Japan and South Korea next week to discuss that. The officials said there had been "very little dialogue or interaction" with North Korea since a failed summit between former President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi in February 2019, but they did not see the latest test as "closing the door" to talks. Ha Tae-keung, a South Korean lawmaker, said Seoul and Washington had agreed not to announce their detection of the missile test, citing a briefing by intelligence officials. Opposition lawmakers and some experts said the U.S. confirmation indicated a coordination failure between the allies, and suggested Seoul might be trying to cover up a provocation as it seeks to improve cross-border ties. "It could've indeed been a routine, pre-planned activity," said Kim Dong-yup, a professor at Kyungnam University in Seoul. "But I can't help asking if the government and the JCS were walking on eggshells so as not to upset North Korea." The JCS official said it does not disclose some North Korean activities to protect its reconnaissance assets based on consultations with the U.S. military. Jenny Town, director of 38 North, a U.S.-based website that tracks North Korea, said the latest North Korea action appeared "pretty mild". "My guess is that it has more to do with the joint exercises than anything else," she said, referring to joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises this month. North Korea has criticized the exercises even though they were scaled back in an effort to get nuclear talks restarted. North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear and missile programs throughout 2020 in violation of U.N. sanctions dating back to 2006, helping fund them with some $300 million stolen through cyber hacks, according to independent U.N. sanctions monitors. North Korea has not tested a nuclear weapon or an ICBM since 2017, but conducted several tests of shorter-ranges missiles after the Hanoi summit broke down. The Trump administration also sought to play down such tests. (Reporting by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Michelle Nichols, David Brunnstrom, Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick and Jeff Mason in Washington, Hyonhee Shin in Seoul and Yew Lun Tian in Beijing; Editing by Richard Pullin and Lincoln Feast.) A fire in Bangladesh Monday destroyed hundreds of shelters at the Rohingya refugee camp near Coxs Bazar. Thousands of people are now without homes, officials and witnesses said. Mohammad Shamsud Douza is a top official with the government's Refugee, Relief and Repatriation Commission. He said the fire at Balukhali camp broke out late in the day and spread quickly through at least four blocks. He said at least four teams of firefighters were struggling to control the fire. Louise Donovan, a spokeswoman for the United Nations refugee agency, said in an email that fire services, rescue and emergency workers and volunteers deployed to help. So far the fire has affected shelters, health centers, distribution points and other facilities. Volunteers are supporting those affected, she said. Rohingya refugees in the camps said many homes were burned down and several people had died, but neither officials nor the UN could confirm the reports. The cause of the fire has not been established. Several videos posted on social media showed large clouds of smoke rising over the camp. Zaifur Hussein is a 50-year-old Rohingya refugee who escaped the fire but lost his home. He told the Reuters news agency, When we were in Myanmar we faced lots of problems... they destroyed everything... Now it has happened again. Bangladesh shelters more than one million Rohingyas. Most fled Myanmar in August 2017 when its military began to attack the minority Muslim population, killing and raping many people and burning whole villages. The U.N. has described the countrys action as genocidal. Myanmar denies the accusation. Bangladesh wants to begin sending the refugees back to Buddhist-majority Myanmar. Several attempts to do so under a joint agreement failed because the Rohingya refused to go. They fear they will face more violence in Myanmar. The country denies them basic rights including citizenship. In January, a fire also destroyed hundreds of poor, temporary homes in the camp, leaving thousands without shelter. Im Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story distribution n. the act of giving or delivering something to people facility n. something (such as a building or large piece of equipment) that is built for a specific purpose We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. London: Britains top public health chiefs say that eradicating coronavirus is not a realistic prospect for the UK or the world. Marking one year since he reluctantly ordered the country into its first lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who nearly died from COVID-19, said that eradicating the virus was not feasible given the spread of the disease around the world. Im not sure that eradication makes sense in a globalised economy for one country alone, he said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Credit:Getty Plainly as an objective for humanity its right and we should aim for it, but thats my view. [March 23, 2021] ActionIQ Extends Series C To $100 Million To Solidify Lead In Fast Growing Customer Data Platform Market NEW YORK, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ActionIQ, the leading Enterprise Customer Data Platform (CDP), today announced that it extended its Series C financing, bringing the total capital raised in the round to $100MM. Between this latest capital infusion and exponential growthmore than 100 percent uptick in revenue year-over-yearthe extension increased the company's valuation by over 250 percent in just the last 12 months. Over the same time, the CDP has built an expanded roster of prominent enterprise clients across diverse industries, including The Hartford, Albertsons, JCPenney, and GoPro. These companies join a long list of blue chip brandsincluding The New York Times, Pandora Media, Shopify, American Eagle Outfitters, Capital Group, and NewsCorpwhich have partnered with ActionIQ to successfully harness and transform masses of disconnected customer data into positive customer experiences that are vital to business growth strategies. "We are the only CDP that has roots in large scale data and analytics. This heritage helped us succeed with some of the biggest, most complex customer data challenges in large enterprises," said Tasso Argyros, founder and CEO of ActionIQ. "The additional funding will allow us to double down on our market-leading product while aggressively expanding our sales, marketing, and customer success functions to capture the torrent of demand that is coming our way." "With ActionIQ, we're delivering hundreds of billions of personalized customer experiences," says Shane Murray, SVP Data and Insights, The New York Times. "These experiences go across every brand touchpoint including email, in-app, site, and paid media increasing the scope and value of our segmentation strategy." "The merging of marketing and Customer Experience (CX) is happening quickly with large enterprise companies, which has spurred aggressive market demand for ActionIQ. Tasso and team are best poised to be the Customer Experience 'category king'," said Wes Nichols, Partner, March Capital. "ActionIQ is the only firm I've seen able to make this level of progress with global enterprise companies. This is due to its proprietary data pedigree, technology, and business acumen to help large brands win in the new modern CX economy. They are primed to be the premiere disruptor and all of us at March Capital anticipate amazing things ahead." The new funds will be used to further research and development to increase the platform's enterprise capabilities. In addition, with ActionIQ beating out other customer data platform independents and big name legacy clouds to receive the highest satisfaction rate among marketers in Advertiser Perceptions' latest CDP Report, the company plans to double-down on customer advocacy. The new investment will be used to dramatically increase customer community programs to build an ecosystem of modern marketers and marketing technologists that are not only data-driven, but obsessed with great customer experiences. About ActionIQ ActionIQ is at the center of a data-driven revolution that is changing the way brands think about customer experience, digital transformation and the value of customer data as a core corporate asset. We concentrate on solving enterprise data challenges so that teams are empowered to create authentic customer experiences across all brand touchpoints. ActionIQ helps G2000 companies by connecting their first-party customer data, providing an easy-to-use interface for business users to access customer insights, and enabling customer experience orchestration across channels. We are helping brands like The New York Times, Pandora Media, The Hartford, Shopify, American Eagle Outfitters and others grow customer satisfaction and revenue. To learn more, visit ActionIQ.com Media Contact Laura Goldberg LBG Public Relations for ActionIQ laura@lbgpr.com +1-347-683-1859 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/actioniq-extends-series-c-to-100-million-to-solidify-lead-in-fast-growing-customer-data-platform-market-301253925.html SOURCE ActionIQ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] WASHINGTON, March 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A major Israeli human rights organization has declared apartheid is rampant both inside Israel and in the territories Israel occupies. The web-based conference " End US Support for Israeli Apartheid ?" considers whether the United States should now cut off aid to Israel, or make any such future assistance conditional on negotiation of a genuine peace settlement, respect for Palestinian human rights, and adherence to international law. IsraelApartheidCon is solely sponsored by the American Educational Trust, publisher of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, and the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy ( IRmep ). Wrapping around the annual meeting of the Israel lobby group J Street, IsraelApartheidCon will address U.S. financial support of Israel, the strengths and weaknesses of "liberal" lobby groups like J Street, prospects for a one- or two-state solution, and the progress of free speech organizations, the BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) movement and other forms of resistance, including solidarity between Palestinian activism and the Black Lives Matter movement. While Congress wrangles over modest emergency pandemic relief for Americans, it obediently gives the nation of Israel $3.8 billion annuallyand even more covert aidwith barely a whisper of debate. Any member of Congress who might question Washington's annual subsidy for Israeli militarization knows that he or she will incur the wrath of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and other Israel lobby groups. The lobby patrols the Congress to ensure that Israel, a small country of some nine million people, remains by far the largest recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II. U.S. aid enables Israeli apartheid, new settlements in illegally occupied territories and ongoing violent repression of Palestinians. Meanwhile, American citizens who question illegal Israeli policies and engage in nonviolent protest movements such as BDS are accused of being anti-Semites, and their free speech rights threatened. Join us online to hear expert speakers discuss how Americans can push back against costly and harmful Israel lobby programs and corruption. View upcoming speaker announcements at www.IsraelApartheidCon.org and register online at Eventbrite . IsraelApartheidCon does not replace or substitute the rescheduled conference " Transcending the Israel Lobby at Home & Abroad " to be held at the National Press Club on March 2 and 3, 2022. 2022 conference speaker information and tickets are available at https://IsraelLobbyCon.org/2022-conference . SOURCE Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy Related Links www.irmep.org Two men have appeared in court charged with the murder of a father-of-two in Dublin last year. The body of Alan Hall (44) was discovered at a fire damaged property on Bluebell Avenue, Dublin 12, on May 18, 2020. At the time, Gardai said they had launched an investigation into the circumstances of what they described as an unexplained death. This morning two Dublin men appeared in court charged in relation to the incident. Derek Coady (30), of Nugget Cottages, Bluebell, and Conor Curran (34), of Dromcarra Grove, Tallaght, are charged with the murder of Mr Hall, at Bluebell Avenue, on May 18 last. Both men are also accused of arson, with intent to endanger life, at the same location on the same date. The two defendants were remanded in custody as a bail application for a murder charge can only be made before the High Court, with their solicitors saying they would be applying for bail at later dates. Det Gda Patrick Cullen, of Clondalkin garda station, gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Mr Coady. The detective said he detained the accused on Le Touche Road, Dublin 12, last night and conveyed him to Clondalkin garda station. When the two charges were put to Derek Coady he replied no comment. The accused, wearing a black jacket and bottoms, sat with his hands in his pockets during the brief hearing and did not address the court. He was remanded in custody to appear before Cloverhill Court via video link this Thursday, March 25. His defence solicitor Michael Hennessy said his client was now facing two weeks mandatory isolation and requested that he receive medical attention. Mr Hennessy also said that they would be making a High Court bail application as soon as practicable. Judge Gerard Jones granted Mr Coady legal aid after hearing he was currently unemployed. Det Sgt Dara Kenny, of Clondalkin garda station, gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Conor Curran. He told the court that he arrested the accused in Cork city last night and that, when the charges of murder and arson were later put to him , he made no reply. Det Sgt Kenny said that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed trial on indictment. Defence solicitor Lorraine Stephens said that her client would be making a High Court bail application and expected this to be heard next Tuesday. Her client was granted legal aid after the court heard he was self-employed and working in the construction industry. Mr Curran, wearing a black and grey tracksuit, did not address the court during the brief hearing. Both men were remanded in custody to reappear on Thursday, March 25, before Cloverhill Court via video link. Alan Hall was a father-of-two originally from the Coolock area who previously worked as a butcher. At the time of his death he had been living in a property in Bluebell Avenue. Syracuse, NY A Syracuse woman is being investigated in the slaying of Connie Tuori, 93, at Skyline Apartments, the suspects lawyer confirmed to Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. Longtime defense lawyer Susan Carey said she is going to speak with Victoria Afet, 23, of Syracuse, at the county jail this afternoon regarding the Skyline homicide. Carey was contacted Monday about the case by a judge who needed to assign a lawyer on the countys approved homicide list. Afet has been in jail since Feb. 28, almost three weeks before Tuoris body was found. Tuori, a retired teacher and world traveler, was found dead in her 12th floor apartment by police on Wednesday afternoon, March 17. Its unclear when the homicide took place. Afet, who is being held with no bail, faces a myriad of charges, including a robbery at the same 753 James St. apartment building, according to public records. She is accused of biting a 73-year-old woman in the building and robbing her, records show. Afet has a history of mental illness who earlier this month was ordered by a judge to undergo a court-ordered mental examination, court records show. The exam found her competent to stand trial, the records show. Police have said virtually nothing about the circumstances of Tuoris death since her body was found, including how she died. At a mayors news conference Tuesday afternoon, Police Chief Kenton Buckner declined comment on the investigation, saying only that he expected a major development in the near future. Afet has not yet been charged in the case. Carey said that shes been in preliminary discussions with the Onondaga County District Attorneys Office about the investigation. Another lawyer, Elise Voutsinas, had been assigned to Afets other charges before now. But Voutsinas isnt on a list of assigned lawyers who handle homicides. So a judge brought Carey into the mix, with Voutsinas acting as second chair, Carey said. Both lawyers were expected to speak with Afet this afternoon. Connie Tuori Related articles Elderly murder victims family on Skyline squalor: Did they get away with this because who owns it? Skyline Apartments to hire off-duty Syracuse cops for extra security after womans murder Walsh says hes exploring legal action against Skyline owners: Its public nuisance No. 1 Elderly murder victims family on Skyline squalor: Did they get away with this because who owns it? Connie Tuori, 93, survived Afghanistan, Antarctica and African safari, only to be killed in her Syracuse apartment Family IDs 93-year-old woman murdered in Skyline Apartments Inside Tim Greens Skyline Apartments: Murder, drugs and filth. Tenants, cops say enough is enough Woman killed at Skyline Apartments on James Street Police, tenants push football legend Tim Greens firm to fix nightmare apartments At the turn of the 20th century, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Henry Ford, and John D. Rockefeller, famously dubbed "robber barons," had monopoly control over oil, steel, automobiles, and railroads. President Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican, sought to stop anti-competitive abuses. Today, America is controlled by a monopoly of idiocracy Democrats Nancy "Antoinette" Pelosi, "Crying" Chuck Schumer, and "Stumbling" Joe Biden. This is the party that fought to keep slavery voted against the 13th (abolition of slavery), 14th (citizenship to freed slaves), and 15th (right to vote for all) Amendments. (Dems voted unanimously against the 14th and 15th Amendments.) This is also the party of the governors who, last summer, allowed rioting and burning down small businesses and landmarks. These governors turned down offers of help from the White House. Democratic leaders, abetted by silent Democrats, encourage the Biden White House's policy of letting Mexican drug lords send in unaccompanied children, drugs, and the COVID sick. Powerful monopolies like Amazon, Walmart, and Big Pharma flourish because they give lavishly to the Democrats' campaign war chests. Democratic party tsars put small businesses out of business by allowing anti-competitive abuses. Democrats also continue their abuses by continually expanding dependency on government, like COVID "relief" in return for votes and big city bailout loyalty. Other anti-competitive measures include colluding with the legacy new outlets and social media to destroy Republican competition. The robber barons were accused of increasing their earnings by eliminating the competition. The Democratic 2020 election machine eliminated its competition through "alleged" ballot boxstuffing. Our Democratic-run cities and D.C. Democratic leaders are corrupted by power. In Animal Farm, Orwell's message is that power corrupts, even when idealism is at work. The events of the story are a metaphor for the Russian Revolution of 1917, where the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin overthrew the social democratic government of Alexander Kerensky in order to establish a communist government. The Democrats have overthrown our republic by monopolizing the levers of power. The Democratic monopoly will be broken up again by a Republican, Donald J. Trump in 2024, or in 2022 by Republicans and smart Democrats now realizing that "Tammany Hall" is a Democratic neo-monopolistic idiocracy bent on keeping power at the expense of the proletariat. Image: House Democrats. An eight-month-old baby died after the cord from a balloon which had been tied near her cot got wrapped around her neck, an inquest has heard. Malaysia Kaylia Lamour managed to reach out of her cot and grab the line, which was tied to her parents' bed at their home in Irlams o' th' Height, Salford, Greater Manchester. The cord became tangled around her and stopped her from breathing, resulting in Malaysia's tragic death on February 22 2020. In a hearing at Bolton Coroner's Court, area coroner Dr Alan Walsh heard that the baby was being cared for by her father, Jackenson Lamour, and her mother, Brandy Kimberley Harvey. Neighbours described the couple as 'wonderful parents' who were 'friendly and very caring to Malaysia'. Dr Walsh, said Jackenson and Brandy seemed 'perfect parents' and added that he hoped others who heard about Malaysia's tragic death would be extra vigilant around strings and other cords. A conclusion of accidental death was recorded at Bolton Coroner's Court (pictured) The accident took place just after Brandy had returned to the basement apartment that the family shared. Her partner had left for work shortly after she had come home from her own job and she decided to sit for some time with Malaysia. However, some time after 10pm, Brandy had needed to go into their kitchen to do some washing up and she left the baby in a crib at the foot of the couple's bed. The kitchen was up a small set of stairs and Brandy could still hear the baby making noises and occasionally crying in the bedroom while she cleaned. But some time later the crying stopped and, when she rushed down to see what happened, she found the balloon cord wrapped around Malaysia's neck. Brandy immediately cut it loose and called paramedics who arrived just after midnight. They tried desperately to resuscitate the tiny child but she was pronounced dead a short time later. A police investigation into the incident found that there were no suspicious circumstances or evidence of first party involvement, Mr Walsh explained. 'All the inquiries show her mother and father to be wonderful parents, they all say they were very caring to Malaysia and it seems to me they were a loving family,' he added. The balloon was a heart-shaped Valentines Day gift that Jackenson had got for his partner and the couple had decided to keep. The inquest heard evidence from Dr Philip Lumb, a pathologist who performed a post-mortem examination on Malaysia. He found that her cause of death had been compression of the neck and that is was likely she had tried to take hold of the balloon cord, before falling from either a sitting or standing position so that it became wrapped around her. Concluding the inquest, Dr Walsh said that it was clear from the evidence that Jackeson and Brandy had been 'perfect parents'. He said he hoped that other parents who heard about the 'catastrophic consequences' of the accident would be extra vigilant around balloons strings and other cords. 'This was a tragedy of immense proportions,' Dr Walsh said. 'It's important that I say that I accept this was an enormous tragedy for Malaysia's parents and I can't stress enough that they seemed to be wonderful parents who loved Malaysia. 'While nobody expects these terrible accidents to happen, they do happen, and it's something to learn for other parents from the tragedy of Malaysia's parents.' He recorded a conclusion of accidental death. 3 1 of 3 Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 File / Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3 GREENWICH There have now been more than 500 cases of COVID-19 reported in the Greenwich Public Schools since staff and students returned to in-person classroom learning last September. The school district hit the milestone after reporting 16 new cases during the period from Friday to Tuesday. There are 29 active cases in the district, currently affecting nine schools. The district also reported its first in-school transmission of the virus since Feb. 12. The total number of in-school transmissions since the start of school is now at 18 cases. Christians should 'reveal character of Christ' in workplace despite societal hostility, author says Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 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. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. 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. Hurricane season 2021 is here: How do storms get their names? 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. An HGTV star was 'scammed' after paying $17,000 for a fixer-upper in suburban Detroit. Nicole Curtis, who stars in 'Rehab Addict Rescue', purchased the derelict property from previous owners in a private sale in 2017. Curtis, 44, subsequently spent $60,000 on the home, which was built back in 1921. She paid off the property's back taxes, and forked out thousands to keep the residence insured and secure. Curtis reportedly planned to renovate the home, using her TV talents to bring the building back to its former glory. But her plans were foiled the following year, when she learned that the Detroit Land Bank Authority actually held the property title. According to Click On Detroit, the home's previous owners had lost the property to the bank in January 2017. However, they pretended that they were still in possession of it when they falsely sold it to Curtis five months later. HGTV star Nicole Curtis was 'scammed' after paying $17,000 for a fixer-upper in suburban Detroit Curtis, who stars in 'Rehab Addict Rescue', purchased the derelict property from its previous owners in a private sale in 2017. She subsequently spent $60,000 on the home, which was built back in 1921. She paid off the property's back taxes, and forked out thousands to keep the residence insured and secure Curtis reportedly planned to renovate the home, using her TV talents to bring the building back to its former glory. She is pictured during a recent renovation project Last month, the Detroit Land Bank Authority put the property on the market for $40,000. Curtis - who is a Detroit native - has now filed a lawsuit, seeking to keep the property or be reimbursed for the $60,000 she spent. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan weighed in on the situation earlier this week, stating: 'I feel bad for Nicole. 'It appears she was scammed. It appears she paid somebody who didn't own the house and paid them to buy it. But the land bank can't legally just give her the property.' Duggan claimed that the courts have already ruled that the Detroit Land Bank Authority is the owner of the property. But Curtis is not backing down. Curtis is pictured outside the home she is fighting for in an Instagram post shared last week The derelict home is was built back in 1921. Curtis reportedly wanted to restore the home to its former glory The five-bedroom home, which is legally owned by the Detroit Land Bank Authority, is now for sale for $40,000 Curtis who is a Detroit native - has now filed a lawsuit, seeking to keep the property or be reimbursed for the $60,000 she spent In a post on Instagram shared Monday she wrote: 'Refusing to take a meeting with me - instead the Mayor of Detroit made a statement to the press. I feel as if he had failed to remember that he put the current director of the Detroit Land Bank Authority [DLBA] into the position in 2017 which means she is singlehandedly responsible for the DLBA failing to follow efficient, proper procedure to retain the property in question.' Curtis continued claiming she had been strung along for three years. 'I pushed them [the bank] for resolution in 2018. I asked for resolve as we were heavily investing time & money into the property. We were blown off and ignored.' 'Profit should never be the goal of a responsible land bank... I use my platform as a benefit to the city I love and have supported. My goal is preservation, home-ownership and neighborhood improvement. Those I hope are shared by the City of Detroit and the Land Bank.' She concluded: 'I only hope that the Mayor and the Land Bank will work with me on a positive resolution to a situation that will be mutually beneficial and where ego and financial gain plays no role. ' The legal dispute is ongoing. Curtis shared this photo of herself alongside Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on Monday, blasting him for his response to her situation The deadly shooting in Boulder, Colo. on Monday, where 10 people were killed, including a police officer, was the second mass shooting in the United States in less than a week. On Tuesday, a gunman shot and killed eight people six of them women of Asian descent at three spas in the Atlanta-area of Georgia. Until that shooting in Atlanta, it had been a year since there had been a large-scale shooting in a public place. In 2018, the year that a gunman killed 17 people and injured 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., there were 10 mass shootings where four or more people were killed in a public setting. The following year, when a gunman targeting Latinos in El Paso, Texas, killed 22 people, there were nine. Two years ago, James Macaulay hanged himself in the Dauphin County Prison, where he was being held on charges that he had tried to hire someone to kill his wife. Now, that same wife is suing the county in federal court, claiming county officials violated her husbands civil rights by not preventing him from committing suicide. Linda Macauley is seeking more than $150,000 in damages in her complaint filed in U.S. Middle District Court in Harrisburg. She contends that prison staffers were deliberately indifferent to the fate of her 45-year-old husband and didnt sufficiently monitor him as he sat in a cell in lieu of $2 million bail in March 2019 facing a solicitation to commit murder charge. They should have realized he posed a serious risk of suicide, she claims. James Macaulay County officials said James Macaulay, a Landisville resident, was found unresponsive in his cell 12 days after his arrest. Linda Macauley claims he had been uttering repeated threats that he was going to kill himself. He also had been assessed as a suicide risk when he was admitted to the prison and staffers were under orders to monitor him every 15 minutes, her suit states. She contends that when he hanged himself with a sheet early on the morning of March 21, her husband had not been monitored for a 29-minute stretch. Linda Macaulay claims prison records were altered to try to hide that alleged lapse in monitoring. County detectives said James Macaulay was arrested four days after contacting an acquaintance and asking that person if he knew any contract killers. That acquaintance, who apparently informed police, gave Macaulay a phone number, the investigators said. They said Macaulay called that number and sought to strike a deal to have his wife killed for $5,000. James Macaulay gave the purported killer a photo off his wife and a list of places she was likely to be found, the detectives said. Macaulay was found dead hours before he was scheduled to have his preliminary hearing in his criminal case. Reuters A two-decades old defence pact between the Philippines and the United States has been revamped and its new terms submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for his consideration, Manila's ambassador to Washington told Reuters. The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which provides rules for the rotation of thousands of U.S. troops in and out of the Philippines for war games and exercises, will end in August if Duterte decides to terminate the deal. Duterte unilaterally cancelled the VFA last year in an angry rebuke after an ally was denied a U.S. visa, but twice suspended its termination to create what Philippine officials say is a window for better terms to be agreed. Electoral officials in the Republic of Congo say results from the central African nations presidential election could be announced within days. Early results Monday indicate President Denis Sassou Nguesso is on pace to clinch a fourth term, winning 100 percent of the vote in some districts. The vote counting continues although Sassou Nguessos main rival died suddenly as people were going to the polls Sunday to choose the Congos next leader. A spokesman for Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas campaign said the 61-year-old died of COVID-19 as he was being evacuated from Brazzaville to France for treatment. Congolese Presidential Opposition Candidate Dies of COVID-19 Campaign spokesman says Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas died on Election Day as he was being evacuated to France for treatment Kolelas supporter Edgar Masomba said he was very sad and disappointed because his candidate was someone everybody loved because he was kind and had the charisma that could bring change to the country. Kolelas was challenging Sassou Nuguesso for a second time in Sundays election, finishing second to the countrys longtime leader in 2016. Sassou Nguesso first took office in 1979 and served until 1992. He has served uninterrupted since winning the presidency again in 1997. The full results of his latest contest are likely to be announced on Tuesday or Wednesday, according to the electoral commission, Agence France Presse, the French news agency reported. Although the majority of water systems in the state are locally owned, privatization has long been a contentious issue. Even recently, in the lead-up to Joliet choosing a new water source before its wells face serious problems, Chicago officials worked to assuage concerns that the citys water system would ever be privatized like its parking meters. Citizen activist Helen Burns Sharp on Tuesday night told members of the City Council that the new steep slope regulations would only apply to "mountainsides." She said a standard of 33 percent, which is in the ordinance to be considered by the council next Tuesday, would not cover any hillside in North Chattanooga (formerly known as Hill City). Councilman Jerry Mitchell, who represents North Chattanooga, said Tuesday he plans to seek to amend the new ordinance to 30 percent. Councilman Darrin Ledford, who has been overseeing the issue, said the ordinance is "a first step." The Regional Planning Agency staff, after extensive study, had recommended a much more stringent ordinance that was strongly opposed by the Homebuilders Association. The ordinance does not forbid development of any slope, but sets vegetative requirements on those of 33 percent or steeper. It does not have any mention of development in low lying areas. Ms. Burns Sharp said, "My topic is the steep slope ordinance on your next weeks agenda. As currently written, it would only apply to slopes of 33 percent or greater. "For 18 years, I was planning director for a mid-size city in Oregon. The original city was on the south side of the Willamette River and relatively flat. "During my time there, voters approved a large annexation on the north side of the river. This area was not flat. We needed hillside development standards to regulate the development of potentially hazardous terrain; minimize public and private losses due to earth movement hazards, and minimize erosion and related environmental damage. "Planning staff checked with other cities in the Willamette Valley to determine best practices. The first step was to determine the slope threshold where the regulations would apply. Every city we surveyed had set its minimum threshold no higher than 16 percent. Remember that your draft ordinance currently sets it at 33 percent , which is more than twice as steep. "One Oregon city has a graphic in its development code to describe land types based on slope. 16-20 percent--Hillside 21-25 percent--Steep hillside 26-30 percent--Very steep hillside 31 percent and up-- Mountainside terrain "The way your ordinance is currently drafted, it would not apply in places like North Chattanooga, which used to be known as Hill City. It would apply only to mountainsides. Whats the point of having a regulation if it doesnt address the problems we are experiencing? "Please lower the slope threshold in your ordinance to between 16 percent and 20 percent. "The homebuilders say that regulations may raise the cost of development in certain areas and discourage development. But most other cities our size have good hillside regulations and are experiencing development. "Please consider the cost of not having responsible regulations. That cost is borne by adjoining property owners, future homeowners, neighbors, and future generations. We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful area. Our topography contributes to that. Lets not screw it up. "The Homebuilders Association has paid staff, lobbyists, and political action committees that contribute to political campaigns. We the public are totally dependent on you, the council, to represent our interests, which is the public interest. "We are counting on you to do the right thing." BRIDGEPORT The City Council Monday agreed to accept nearly $300,000 from Bridgeports former police chief and its ex-personnel director as restitution for their crime of rigging the 2018 search for a top cop. After a nearly two-hour teleconference with attorneys that was closed to the public, members of the legislative body emerged and voted 15-3, with two absent, for the lump sum $299,407 payment. That represents a $150,000 increase over the $149,407 federal prosecutors had previously recommended and that Armando Perez and David Dunn have so far paid. The amount we are receiving is substantial when we speak about addressing what it cost the city taxpayers during this whole investigation, Council President Aidee Nieves said in an interview Tuesday. Arrested last Sept. 10, Perez and Dunn are scheduled to be sentenced next month for conspiring to help the former, who was acting police chief at the time, become one of three finalists in 2018s national search for a permanent hire to lead Bridgeports force. Perez was ultimately then given a five-year contract by longtime friend Mayor Joe Ganim. The results of Mondays vote will be presented at sentencing for the presiding U.S. District Court judge to approve. Even when we vote for this, yay or nay, its still up to the court, Councilman Ernie Newton, a budget committee co-chairman, advised his colleagues Monday. Although the bulk of the councils deliberations were private, Newton and some others made public comments before voting, showing divisions over whether Bridgeport could and should seek as much as $600,000 from Perez and Dunn. I dont care if their houses have to be foreclosed on, Councilwoman Maria Pereira said. They deserve it for the betrayal they committed on the people of Bridgeport. Council members during the debate mentioned that, as a result of the FBI probe into the 2018 police chief search, Bridgeport taxpayers footed legal and consultant costs of at least $600,000. But Newton insisted that not all of those fees could be charged to Perez and Dunn. As previously reported, the city had hired attorneys for Perez, Dunn, Ganim and the mayors chief-of-staff, Daniel Shamas, to cooperate with the federal inquiry. The court will never make two people pay for other peoples legal costs. Never gonna do that, Newton said. While Dunn, according to the federal arrest complaint, told a member of a panel that helped with the 2018 search that the mayor wanted Perez to be in the top three, neither Ganim nor Shamas have been accused of wrongdoing. Ganim last year publicly denied any knowledge of the effort to ensure Perez became permanent chief . Councilman Jorge Cruz expressed some sympathy Monday for Perez and Dunn, who are each facing two years in prison and separate legal filings by the Connecticut attorney general to reduce or eliminate their pensions . What Perez did was absolutely wrong. I dont know Mr. Dunn but he got caught up in it. He was wrong, too, Cruz said. But, Cruz added, Im not here to go try to kill somebody because he got caught up in his own demise of ego or power trip. ... Perez gave 36, 37 years of his life to the city (as a police officer) and did a good job. Im not gonna come over here and try to destroy this man completely. Newton also argued a court could determine Perez and Dunn do not have the money to pay $600,000. Perezs wife in a court-filed response to the state targeting his pension, has asked that a judge consider her an innocent spouse who would be impacted by the loss of income. Councilman Matthew McCarthy, who along with Pereira and Councilwoman Samia Suliman cast the three no votes against the settlement, said during Mondays meeting that there was nothing lost by trying to seek more restitution. It sends a message if youre gonna be corrupt and cheat our city, were gonna come after you to the fullest extent and not let you off easily like I feel were doing, he said. Pereira argued the city is accruing even more legal bills related to Dunn and Perez because of pending lawsuits filed by two other applicants for chief former Assistant Chief James Nardozzi and Police Captain Roderick Porter that allege Perezs crimes impacted their careers. In fact the legal fees were mounting Monday night because a private attorney James DeVita, hired by the Ganim administration in 2019 to help advise on the FBI probe participated in the teleconference for $425 per hour. Councilwoman Jeanette Herron ultimately voted for the settlement because, she said, it was uncertain how much money the city might receive in court should the council demand more. I think we need to do whats right for the city, Herron said. There are many ways to test municipal wastewater for signs of the virus that causes COVID-19, but scientists in Houston have determined theirs is the best yet. A study led by environmental engineer Lauren Stadler of Rice University's Brown School of Engineering with the aid of the City of Houston Health Department and Baylor College of Medicine compared five processes used by labs around the country to concentrate samples and find the virus in wastewater from six Houston plants. The process employed at Rice and now Baylor, called "electronegative filtration with bead beating," proved the most sensitive to signs of the virus as well as the most cost-effective. The study appears in the Elsevier journal Water Research. There is no standard test, according to the study, but all of the processes -- including electronegative filtration with elution, ultrafiltration, precipitation and direct extraction -- are effective to a degree. "The virus is extremely dilute in wastewater, so we need a way to concentrate it," Stadler said in explaining the Rice process. "First, we add salt to the wastewater sample to enhance adsorption of the virus to the electronegative filter. After filtration, we physically beat the filter with glass beads to release the virus into a lysate. Even though this process might break up the virus, we only detect tiny fragments of its RNA genome to quantify it." Established in spring 2020, the Houston coalition was on the leading edge of what became a nationwide effort to find the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater. The technique quickly proved able to anticipate COVID-19 outbreaks and allowed health officials to ramp up testing where needed. When we started testing, Baylor was using a different method. That gave us the opportunity to do a lot of head-to-head comparisons about which method to use. And that led us to want to do a more comprehensive evaluation of several methods that were commonly being used to concentrate SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater by other groups around the world." Lauren Stadler, Environmental Engineer, Brown School of Engineering, Rice University "There's not one right method, but we wanted to be sure we considered other options," she said. "Our recommendation and final method selection was based on finding a balance between sensitivity, throughput and cost. "The method we selected originally turned out to have the lowest detection limit, while also being relatively high-throughput and cost effective," Stadler said. "Baylor switched over to the same concentration method as a result, which gave us confidence that we were truly generating the best possible data for the city." The Houston researchers hope the study will guide municipalities around the world that have, or are considering, their own wastewater testing labs. "A lot of major cities are already doing this, and there are now statewide programs emerging in Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina and a few others," Stadler said. She noted the Houston labs are already looking for COVID mutations. "We're doing research on sequencing wastewater samples to be able to detect highly transmissible variants circulating in the community," Stadler said. That the study even happened is a bonus, considering the workload for Stadler's Rice lab and counterparts at Baylor and the Houston Health Department. Since ramping up in mid-2020, the labs have analyzed hundreds of samples a week from the city's 39 wastewater plants. Since then, Houston has added testing points at dozens of nursing homes, schools and other critical locations. "The city is planning to expand the number of stations to get zip code-level information, and we're working with them to analyze that data," Stadler said. "Someday, it could be a tool to look for a panel of viruses, not just this one." Seoul: North Korea warned on Sunday that it would inflict "the greatest pain and suffering" on the United States if Washington persists in pushing for harsher UN sanctions following Pyongyang's sixth nuclear test. The September 3 detonation was the country's largest and prompted global outrage, with the UN Security Council set to discuss a new draft resolution presented by Washington that would be the toughest-ever imposed against the isolated regime. The US is calling for an oil embargo on Pyongyang, an assets freeze on leader Kim Jong-Un, but also an end to textile exports and to payments made to North Korean guest workers. Washington wants the Security Council to vote on Monday to impose the sanctions, despite resistance from Beijing and Moscow to the new measures. In a statement published by the official KCNA news agency, North Korea's foreign ministry warned Washington that if it did "rig up the illegal and unlawful 'resolution' on harsher sanctions, the DPRK shall make absolutely sure that the US pays the due price". Read more: North Korea exported USD 270 million illegally recently: UN experts "The forthcoming measures to be taken by the DPRK will cause the US the greatest pain and suffering it had ever gone through in its entire history", the ministry said, using the abbreviation for North Korea's formal name. "The world will witness how the DPRK tames the US gangsters by taking (a) series of action tougher than they have ever envisaged." The test, which the North said was a hydrogen bomb that could be fitted onto a rocket, came weeks after Pyongyang fired two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that appeared to bring much of the mainland US into range. At a dinner to celebrate Pyongyang's nuclear programme, North Korean leader Kim praised the test and urged the country's scientists to develop more weapons, KCNA reported on Sunday. The North says it needs nuclear arms to protect itself, but the US has accused the country of "begging for war". Pyongyang's drive to stage a slew of brazen tests in recent months, which contravene existing United Nations sanctions, has sparked surging tensions over the country's weapons programme. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. * Chinese and Russian foreign ministers hold talks * Joint statement calls for UN summit * United States criticised for 'destructive' behaviour * Moscow says EU ties now only exist at member state level (Updates with Lavrov quotes, changes attribution) By Stella Qiu and Andrew Osborn BEIJING/MOSCOW, March 23 (Reuters) - Russia and China said on Tuesday they wanted a summit of permanent members of the U.N. Security Council amid what they called heightened political turbulence, with Moscow saying they both believed the United States was acting in a destructive way. The two allies, whose relations with the West are under increasing strain, made the call for a summit in a joint statement after talks between their foreign ministers in the city of Guilin. "At a time of increasing global political turbulence, a summit of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council is particularly necessary to establish direct dialogue about ways to resolve humankind's common problems in the interests of maintaining global stability," they said in a statement published on the Russian foreign ministry's website. Moscow has long been pushing for such a summit. The statement did not mention the United States by name. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference after talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that Moscow and Beijing were both unhappy with U.S. behaviour. "We noted the destructive nature of U.S. intentions, relying on the military-political alliances of the Cold War era and creating new closed alliances in the same spirit, to undermine the U.N.-centered international legal architecture," said Lavrov. "We emphasised that against the background of active attempts by the West to promote its concept of a 'rules-based world order', the joint efforts of Russia and China...to preserve the modern system of international law are becoming more and more relevant." Both countries' ties with Washington are strained. Story continues U.S. and Chinese officials on Friday concluded what Washington called "tough and direct" talks in Alaska, while Russia's ambassador is back in Moscow for talks after U.S. President Joe Biden said he believed President Vladimir Putin was a killer. Kicking off his two-day trip to China on Monday, Lavrov issued a call for Moscow and Beijing to reduce their dependence on the U.S. dollar. Tuesday's joint statement urged other countries to refrain from interfering in the domestic affairs of Russia and China. Lavrov said Russia and China regarded European and Western sanctions as unacceptable. On Monday, the United States, European Union, Britain and Canada imposed sanctions on a handful of Chinese officials for alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Russia too is braced for a new round of U.S. sanctions over what Washington says was its meddling in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, which Moscow denies. Lavrov also took a swipe at the European Union, accusing Brussels of destroying Russia-EU ties. He said that Moscow only had relations with individual EU nations now. "On the Western front there are no changes, but in the East there is an intensive agenda which grows richer every year," he said. (Reporting by Andrew Osborn, Maxim Rodionov and Alexander Marrow in Moscow and by Stella Qiu and Gabriel Crossley in Beijing; Writing by Andrew Osborn Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) Participants in the beet pulp market are leveraging increasing investments into research for animal nutrition to bolster adoption in the animal husbandry sector. DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / March 23, 2021 / The beet pulp market is anticipated to rise at a healthy rate of nearly 6% CAGR for the forecast period ranging from 2021 to 2031. The demand for beet pulp has been largely driven by widening scope of applications in multiple end use industries. Composite production, feedstock generation, ethanol production and food and beverage processing are key factors supporting the demand for beet pulp globally. "High rates of sugar production as essential commodities in a number of countries globally is key to rising demand for beet pulp. An optimal nutrient profile including phosphorus, calcium, proteins, and roughage will support the profitability of the beet pulp industry in the long term," says the FMI study. Request a report sample to gain comprehensive market insights at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-10821 Beet Pulp Market - Leading Takeaways Molassed beet pulp will hold leading market share owing to high digestibility and health benefits suitable for ruminants. Dried beet pulp reflects faster growth owing to longer shelf life, and convenience in storage suitable for multiple applications France and UK are emerging as key markets for beet pulp owing to the rise of vegan populations in the European countries. China reflects major growth opportunities backed by government efforts aimed towards reducing meat consumption within the country. Beet Pulp Market - Growth Factors High concentration of sugar volumes comparable to cane bolsters commercial viability of beet pulp sustaining market growth. Health benefits from beet pulp consumption including kidney, liver, muscles, nerves, and pancreas support adoption in the pharmaceutical sector. High energy concentration and effectiveness against colic is a key factor supporting use of beet pulp for equine nutrition feedstock. Beet Pulp Market - Constraints Lack of awareness about beet pulp as a viable animal nutrition source is a key factor limiting adoption in the sector. High commodity costs of beet and availability of alternatives for sugar and feedstock production hurts market prospects. We Offer tailor-made Solutions to fit Your Requirements, Request Customization@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-10821 Expected Impact on Market by Coronavirus Outbreak The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the global beet pulp market has been largely negative. Lockdown restrictions on the movement of people have created issues in terms of manpower for beet cultivation and processing applications. Recovery of the industry is expected to be gradual through 2021 and beyond as governments take efforts to restart economies, and relax strict regulatory requirements. Further, applications in paper, fuel, feedstock and food industries will aid in generating opportunities for revenue in the near future. Competition Landscape Major producers taking part in the beet pulp market include but are not limited to Delta Sugar Company, Amalgamated Sugar, American Crystal Sugar, Michigan Sugar, Ontario Dehy Inc., Midwest Agri, Nordzucker, Tereos, and British Sugar. Leading players in the beet pulp market are investing in research and development initiatives in an effort to widen their portfolio with a wider range of applications in end use products and industries for long term revenue streams. In October 2020, Crown Van Gelder announced its plan for large-scale paper production using sugar beet fibers, with sales starting in early 2021, aimed towards eco-friendly paper production processes. Researchers from the USDA have revealed biodegradable plastic sourced from biodegradable beet pulp for the production of food containers. Nutrena also launched an industry-exclusive equine performance Proforce and Rebound recovery feed technology aimed towards nutrition for active older horses, improving gastric and cardiac health. Contact Sales for Further Assistance in Purchasing this Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/10821 More on the Report FMI's provides in-depth insights on the beet pulp market. The market is segmented in terms of product type (wet pulp, pressed pulp, dried pulp, and ensiled pulp), livestock type (cow, horse, sheep, goat, pig, buffaloes, mules, and asses), category type (molassed and unmolassed) and sales channel (direct sales, modern trade, specialty store, departmental store, convenience store, online retailers, and other retail formats) across seven regions (North America, Latin America, Europe, South Asia, East Asia, Oceania, and Middle East & Africa). Explore Wide-ranging Coverage of FMI's Food and Beverage Landscape Silage Additives Market: Find insights on the silage additives market with analysis of statistics, segments, players, influencers, and business strategies adopted over a 10-year forecast period. Food Testing Market: FMI's report on the food testing market provides insights on the market for 2019-2029. The study evaluates restraining forces, revenue sources, market leaders, and market strategies. Citrus Powder Market: An analysis on the citrus powder market with data on opportunities, growth levers, regional markets, restraints, regulatory policies, and strengths of market leaders. Download Complete TOC Of this Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-10821 About FMI Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers. Contact: Mr. Abhishek Budholiya Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates MARKET ACCESS DMCC Initiative For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com For Media Enquiries: press@futuremarketinsights.com Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/beet-pulp-market Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/beet-pulp-market SOURCE: Future Market Insights View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/636959/Nutraceutical-and-Feedstock-Applications-Influence-Beet-Pulp-Market-FMI-Study LOBAMBA The Minister of Education and Training, Lady Mabuza, has up until 5pm today to halt, with immediate effect, the payment of the 2020 outstanding school fees and to further order the reimbursement of the payment already made by parents. This follows the passing of a motion of urgent public importance which was moved by Deputy Speaker Phila Buthelezi. The motion, which was seconded by Shiselweni MP Strydom Mpandza, was resoundingly supported by a majority of the MPs. The minister was given 24 hours to comply with the motion or else the legislators promised that they would move a motion to ask the countrys authorities to remove her from her position as Education and Training minister. It was around 4:15pm when the deputy Speaker, who is also Matsanjeni North MP, said the ministry should be stopped from the act of making parents and guardians to pay last years fees, especially for those pupils who had no sat for external examinations. Deposits Giving a background of the matter, MP Buthelezi said it was common cause that at the beginning of each academic year, parents were made to pay deposits, which at least covered the first term fees. He said last year, pupils had only been in class for five weeks before government closed schools following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated that there was no way that the parents should be made to pay because there had been no schools opened for the rest of the year. The affected classes are those from Grade I to Grade VI and Forms I, II and IV. MP Buthelezi said there was no justification for parents to be made to pay the fees because children were at home. Arrogantly Instead, the same minister says arrogantly that the children were learning on radio and other means of media, said MP Buthelezi. He wondered whose radio the pupils had been using and in vernacular he said yabani leradio. The MP said he had tried in vain to engage both the minister and the Principal Secretary Bertram Stewart and other officials, but they remained arrogant and did not want to listen to voice of reason. As we speak, some parents have failed to register their children for the current academic year, which is supposed to begin next week because the head teachers had stated that there was an instruction from the ministry that they should demand last years outstanding fees first. MP Buthelezi said the ministry was basically instructing parents to give the head teachers money so that they could go and entertain (bayotitika) themselves. He stated that the ministry had reported that there were about 300 000 pupils affected and with average fees being E3 000, including top-ups, they were basically giving about E180 million to head teachers. Accountable Auditors are coming for the head teachers and they will need to be accountable as to where the money was spent, which practicals and extramural activities were undertaken including chalks and toners used for their photocopying machines or printers, said Buthelezi. The MP, who was emotionally charged, said just last week, he had paid E26 000 for his two children at a public school which was a similar amount he had paid in the first term with about E7 000 outstanding. He wondered if all that money had been used by the school. Police: New Mexico Charges Coming After Killings in 2 States ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.Charges were imminent against a man suspected of killing his ex-wife and three others in New Mexico in a series of slayings that include the beating death of a New Jersey resident he claimed sexually abused him as a child, authorities said Monday. Investigators over the weekend searched a house where Sean Lannon, his ex-wife and their children were believed to have lived in the city of Grants, about 80 miles west of Albuquerque. Police Lt. David Chavez would not specify what investigators were looking for, only that the warrants were for anything of evidentiary value as local and federal authorities try to piece together what happened. Its a complicated case, Chavez said. It wasnt just one event, so were having to look at many things. Authorities also were still looking into Lannons claims that he killed 11 other people in New Mexico. Chavez reiterated Monday that while anything is possible, it was not probable given that there were no records of people missing from the area or other police reports that would indicate there are potential victims. Authorities said in court documents that Lannon, 47, admitted to the additional killings in a phone call to a relative, who told investigators he expressed remorse. The case began March 5, when the bodies of Lannons ex-wife and three other people were found in a vehicle in a parking garage at Albuquerque International Sunport, New Mexicos largest airport. They were identified as Jennifer Lannon, 39; Matthew Miller, 21; Jesten Mata, 40; and Randal Apostalon, 60. Jennifer Lannon, second from right, poses for a photo with her brother Chris Whitman, second from left, and sisters, Sarah Whitman, far left, and Kim Bermudez in Blackwood, N.J., in October 2020. (Sharon Whitman via AP) Its not clear how or when they were killed. Chavez said the first indication something was wrong was when Millers girlfriend reported him missing in late January. When detectives talked to his friends and associates in Grants, they learned the others might also be missing. Chavez said charges related to the deaths were imminent but that authorities feel they have time to build their case and gather as much evidence as possible because Lannon is in custody in New Jersey, where hes charged with killing Michael Dabkowski. Lannon is accused of breaking in to Dabkowskis New Jersey home, just south of Philadelphia, and beating the 66-year-old to death with a hammer, according to an affidavit. His body was discovered March 8, three days after the remains were found in New Mexico. Lannon told investigators that Dabkowski had sexually abused him as a child and that he had gone to the home to retrieve sexually explicit photos. Dabkowski mentored Lannon and his twin brother through a Big Brothers program in the 1980s, NJ.com reported. Assistant deputy public defender Ronald Appleby declined to comment on the New Jersey charge, saying hes only representing Lannon in that case. Theyre scheduled to return to court on April 8, Appleby said. The Lannons lived in New Jersey before moving to New Mexico, and it was not clear how long they had been there. Chavez said New Mexicos child welfare agency had contact with the family but it wasnt known whether the children were at home when their mother disappeared. Court records related to the couples divorce and custody case showed that Sean Lannon was awarded sole custody of the children in 2019 and that a protective plan from the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department included only supervised visitation by their mother over concerns at the time about the potential for neglect due to prescription drug abuse. Relatives say Sean Lannon flew to New Jersey in early March with the couples three children6- and 7-year-old girls and a 4-year-old boy. He took them to his parents house and left again, saying he was going to look for Jennifer Lannon. Her family grew more concerned, saying it wasnt like her to be without her children. Lannon was arrested in St. Louis on March 10, and officials say he was driving Dabkowskis car. Thats the same day prosecutors in New Jersey announced Lannon was charged with murder, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft and weapons counts. Officials are trying to determine why Lannon was in St. Louis. Albuquerque detectives traveled there to interview her. It appeared one of the New Mexico victims was killed in Albuquerque, and the other three died in the Grants area, Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos Jr. said. Chris Whitman, Jennifer Lannons brother, said Sean Lannon told the family in January that she had run off with some friends, possibly to Arizona. Whitman said Saturday that the story didnt sound right because she was a great mom and, just, it would be uncharacteristic of her to not be with her children. By Susan Montoya Bryan President Joe Biden's top coronavirus adviser Jeff Zients is, so far, the richest member of his senior staff, according to the financial disclosure forms that have been made available. News outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, obtained Zients' documents and found that he's worth at least $89.3 million and as much as and $442.8 million, and owns between $1 million to $5 million in gold bars and made more than $330,000 as a board member of Facebook. Also among those worth at least in the tens of millions are science adviser Eric Lander - valued at a minimum of $45.5 million - and Susan Rice, the director of the Domestic Policy Council. President Joe Biden's COVID-19 adviser Jeff Zients is worth between $89.3 million and $442.8 million, and owns between $1 million and $5 million in gold bars. Of the top members of the administration who have disclosed their finances, he comes in the richest President Joe Biden has appointed several people worth in the tens to hundreds of millions to key jobs, but his people aren't worth as much as former President Donald Trump's, who appointed several cabinet heads worth in the hundreds of millions Zients worked in corporate consulting before moving to the government. Zients was paid $1.7 million last year at Cranemere Group, where he served as president and CEO. He owns millions in commercial real estate and has tens of millions of dollars in investments. He divested shares in his private investment firm, Cranemere Group, along with $1 million in shares of Facebook stock, ABC News reported. He also divested from a popular D.C. bagel shop as he joined the administration. Rice, who served as President Barack Obama's ambassador to the United Nations and national security adviser, is worth at least $37.9 million. She had been the richest member of the executive branch when joining the Obama administration in 2009 - even beating out then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But now she's reporting about four times the amount she did then. Back then Rice said she was worth between $13.6 and $40.6 million. Now she's worth between $37.9 million and $149 million. ABC News reported that Rice owns between $250,000 and $5 million in stocks including Apple, Microsoft and Johnson & Johnson. Having served as a board member for Netflix, Rice also had significant stock holdings from the streaming company, earning $300,000 in the past year, financial disclosures show. She also has between $1 million and $5 million of holdings in the Canadian natural gas distribution company Enbridge. Rice's husband is Canadian. ABC also reported that Rice earned $620,000 from speaking engagements and $250,000 in book royalties, bringing her annual earnings to between $2 million and $6.7 million. Biden's climate envoy, former senator and Secretary of State John Kerry, has not yet released his financial disclosure forms, but is also expected to be among the richest members of the administration. Kerry married Teresa Heinz Kerry in 1995 and she's the heiress to the Heinz ketchup fortune through her late husband, John Heinz, who also served in the U.S. Senate. While a handful of members of the Biden team are among the ultra-rich, their wealth isn't close to the top-tier of the Trump administration, in which Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, National Economic Council directory Gary Cohn, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, advisers Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump and Treasury Secretar Steve Mnuchin all disclosed more than Zients, at a minimum. People stand next to the window of a fashion boutique in a shopping district in Tokyo, Japan, (Photo : REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo) The 15 largest listed fashion companies are lagging behind when it comes to meeting the social and environmental targets of the Paris climate agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals, a new report by the Business of Fashion said on Monday. The Business of Fashion, an online publication about the fashion industry, analysed in its report publicly disclosed information from the five biggest companies by revenue in three categories - luxury, sportswear, and high street fashion, including Kering, Adidas, H&M and others. Advertisement The fashion industry is under increasing pressure from consumers and governments to clean up its act. Statistics cited by the World Economic Forum show that the industry is responsible for at least 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The Business of Fashion's report scored companies out of 100 in their progress towards meeting sixteen targets which would align their performance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement on emissions, waste, workers' rights, water, and materials. It also ranked the companies on transparency, or how much information about a company's practices was currently available. Kering ranked top with 49 points and Under Armour ranked lowest at 9 points. The average score for the companies was 36 points. The report found the companies were more likely to disclose information on targets than concrete actions towards fulfilling them. "Opaque working practices and fuzzy definitions of what constitutes 'good' progress complicate matters further, creating a woolly picture of where the industry is at and what steps are required for it to clean up its act," the report said. Kering and Nike performed best on transparency, while PVH Corp, Levi Strauss, and VF Corp ranked highest on their efforts to reduce emissions. Under Armour scored lowest on all rankings except workers' rights, where LVMH ranked one point lower. Scores for Hermes, LVMH and Richemont averaged lower than high street fashion companies H&M, Inditex, Gap and Levi Strauss across the six categories - emissions, waste, workers' rights, materials and transparency. On average overall, the companies performed worst on waste and workers' rights. Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing, Under Armour and Richemont reported the lowest average score across the six targets. Kering sustainability chief Marie-Claire Daveu said the company was proud of the recognition given by Business of Fashion. Asked about the fact that the report highlighted all companies were falling short of targets, she recognised that sustainability was a "long, never-ending journey." Adidas said it was working closely with its partners to achieve climate neutrality in its operations by 2025 and throughout its supply chains by 2050. Other companies cited did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A panel of twelve sustainability experts advised on the methodology for the Business of Fashion's report. New Delhi, March 23 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the proceedings in pleas connected with the regulation of content on over-the-top (OTT) platforms in various High Courts. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before a bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud though the top court had issued notice on the Centre's transfer plea to club all such petitions, yet the Punjab and High Court is proceeding in a pending matter. The top court stayed further proceedings in various High Courts and said it will hear the matter in the second week after Holi. The top court was hearing a clutch of pleas filed by advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha and NGO Justice for Rights Foundation, seeking regulation of content on OTT platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar etc. During the hearing, Mehta submitted that the transfer petition was filed by the government as more than one High Court was dealing with the matter. He added that it was learnt that High Courts had said they will proceed with the matter till it is stayed by the top court. The bench said when a notice is issued by the top court in a transfer, the judges often say the matter is pending before the Supreme Court. The NGO, represented through advocate Satyam Singh, said: "The Rules framed by the Union Government are more in the nature of guidelines without any effective mechanism for its proper implementation. It does not provide for any penalty or punishment for violation of the Rules. Without legislation, there cannot be an effective control of content on OTT platforms." The NGO added that the intent of the government in bringing out guidelines for OTT platforms is indeed commendable, but it suffers from many flaws, defects and loopholes. "The Government of India has palpably failed to take into consideration the screening of content telecast on OTT platforms. In view of lack of proper screening mechanism, the OTT platforms show content which is vulgar, pornographic and profane. The screening of content telecast on OTT platforms are indispensable and need of the hour," added the NGO's rejoinder. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. PHILADELPHIA and SYDNEY, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Out of his harrowing experiences during long hospital stays and home recuperation for cancer treatment and open-heart surgery, cancer survivor and medical student Nikhil Autar was inspired to revolutionize the way we sleep with the introduction of his company's unique BheemUP Smart Bed Incliner, complete with the BheemSense Lite Sensor Mat. Think of it as like a hospital bed, but better. Add in an innovative monitoring system and you have a new level of affordable sleep comfort at home. With its patented design, the BheemUP Smart Bed Incliner conveniently adjusts to any bed frame and mattress, lifting your bed to provide superior comfort and back support with safety in mind. Think of it as like a hospital bed, but better. The perfectly proportioned frame is designed by doctors, researchers, and occupational therapists to provide comfort and reduce back pain. The product comes with a money-back guarantee. Using patented smart fabric, circuitry, and proprietary algorithms, the BheemSense Lite Sensor Mat monitors movement over your entire bed, as well as respiratory and heart rates, all contact-free. It can be combined with the BheemUP Smart Bed Recliner to create a complete smart sleep system. The company has launched a Kickstarter campaign, (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bheem/bheemup/description ), to spread awareness about the complete BheemUP sleep system. With its patented design, the BheemUP Smart Bed Incliner conveniently adjusts to any bed frame and mattress, lifting your bed to provide superior comfort and back support with safety in mind. The product comes with a money-back guarantee. Using patented smart fabric, circuitry, and proprietary algorithms, the BheemSense Lite Sensor Mat monitors movement over your entire bed, as well as respiratory and heart rates, all contact-free. It also tracks sleep, your posture in bed, and symptoms like back pain and reflux via a machine learning-powered app. Combined to create a complete smart sleep system, the BheemUP System can improve sleep, posture, and make the home environment safer for vulnerable people. "I experienced several complications that could have been prevented in the hospital," recalled Autar, founder and CEO of Get to Sleep Easy, Inc. "I'd fallen twice in the middle of chemotherapies, and at home, which led to injuries. Hospital beds may reduce risks of these things like falls and severe pneumonia. But they're too expensive and hard to set up at home for most. BheemUP isn't. I actually ended up using my own device after open-heart surgery." Recent studies support the growing demand for Autar's BheemUP products. In a recent study, 91% of people who started incline sleep therapy noticed benefits and continued using it: (https://academic.oup.com/dote/article-abstract/30/3/1/2726083?redirectedFrom=fulltext ). Additional key features and benefits of the company's products include: BheemUP Smart Bed Incliner: Elevation: BheemUP features hospital-grade motors made from hospital bed manufacturers and lifts up to 600kg (1,300 pounds). BheemUP features hospital-grade motors made from hospital bed manufacturers and lifts up to 600kg (1,300 pounds). Unique therapeutic design: The patented and perfectly proportioned frame is designed by doctors, researchers, and occupational therapists to provide comfort and reduce back pain. The patented and perfectly proportioned frame is designed by doctors, researchers, and occupational therapists to provide comfort and reduce back pain. Easy to set up: Set up takes 15 minutes and the device doesn't require any add ons. It adjusts to any current bed (from single to California King). Set up takes 15 minutes and the device doesn't require any add ons. It adjusts to any current bed (from single to King). Ergonomic comfort and support: Its patented design also provides support to key areas in the lumbar spine, unlike hospital beds. Its patented design also provides support to key areas in the lumbar spine, unlike hospital beds. Affordable At $549 , it costs much less than hospital beds and it's on a further discount on Kickstarter now, starting from $329 . BheemSense Lite Sensor Mat: Non-contact: The system sits on top of your mattress. It lies underneath your sheets and feels lighter than a yoga mat. The system sits on top of your mattress. It lies underneath your sheets and feels lighter than a yoga mat. Adapts to your sleep habits (create your sleep cave): BheemSense Lite Sensor Mat integrates with smart lights and can awaken even the deepest sleepers up with vibrating alarms. Over time, the sensor learns from your habits and makes your room the perfect sleep cave. BheemSense Lite Sensor Mat integrates with smart lights and can awaken even the deepest sleepers up with vibrating alarms. Over time, the sensor learns from your habits and makes your room the perfect sleep cave. Cost-effective solution: BheemSense Lite provides a monitoring solution as an affordable option at around $799 ( $399 for a limited time only on Kickstarter -- https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bheem/bheemup/description). Media Contact: George Pappas Conservaco/The Ignite Agency 562 857-5680 [email protected] https://ignitecfp.com SOURCE BheemUP 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 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with members of the public of Crimea via a video link in Moscow on March 18, 2021. (Alexey Druzhinin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) Russia Regrets Biden Wont Have Live Debate With Putin The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed regret that the Biden administration didnt support the suggestion for a live discussion between the two world leaders, claiming that the United States missed an opportunity to improve bilateral relations. We regret to note that the American side has not supported the proposal made by President of Russia Vladimir Putin to U.S. President Joe Biden to hold a live broadcast discussion on March 19 or 22, 2021, on the problems that have accumulated in bilateral relations, as well as on the subject of strategic stability, the ministry said in a statement on Monday. Last week, Putin challenged Biden to a live debate after Biden called him a killer during an interview. I want to propose to President Biden to continue our discussion, but on the condition that we do it basically live, as its called. Without any delays and directly in an open, direct discussion, Putin told Russian state TV on March 16. Putin said he didnt want to put it off for long and hoped the two leaders could do it either on March 19 or 22. We are ready at any time convenient for the American side, he said. White House press secretary Jen Psaki responded on March 18 that discussion was unlikely, saying that Biden is scheduled to travel to Georgia the next day and is quite busy. On March 19, White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre added that Biden would meet Putin when the time is right. Biden was asked a direct question, and he gave a direct answer, and hes not going to back off. Hes going to be very frank and very open about that relationship, especially when he is asked directly, Jean-Pierre said. Before leaving Washington for Georgia on March 19, Biden told reporters, Im sure well talk at some point. President Joe Biden stops briefly to talk to the press as he walks toward Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 16, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) One more opportunity has been missed to find a way out of the deadlock in Russian-US relations created through the fault of Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry added on Monday. Responsibility for this lies entirely with the United States. The White House didnt respond to a request from The Epoch Times for comment. On March 20, Russian ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, left for Moscow. The embassy said the trip was to discuss ways to rectify Russia-U.S. relations that are in crisis, referring to the bilateral ties as being in a deadlock. Earlier this month, Antonov criticized the United States for claiming that Russia had meddled in the 2020 election and poisoned Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny. The United States declared sanctions against Russia for the poisoning on March 2. Jack Phillips and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. PHOENIX, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTCQX: INLB) ("Item 9 Labs" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated cannabis operator that produces premium products, today announced the closing of its acquisition of ONE Cannabis Group ("OCG Inc."), parent company of cannabis dispensary franchise Unity Rd. The combination creates a differentiated business model that offers premium products and distribution through an expanding network of dispensary franchises. Resulting synergies and benefits from the transaction include expanded business offering and expertise, operational efficiencies, cost savings, and revenue upside. Additionally, the acquisition creates new opportunities in the cannabis sector by providing solutions to industry challenges commonly faced by existing business owners, prospective entrepreneurs, and consumers. Item 9 Labs produces award-winning and best-in-class products from its large-scale cultivation site and production facilities. Headquartered in Arizona, the Company is expanding its operations space by 650,000+ square feet on its 50-acre site, one of the largest properties in Arizona zoned to grow and cultivate flower. It also owns and operates DispensaryPermits.com and DispensaryTemplates.com, leading online platforms for information surrounding cannabis business applications, regulations and state updates. Colorado-based OCG Inc. brings the stability, scalability, and brand continuity of franchising to the budding and fragmented world of cannabis through its retail franchise Unity Rd. Named one of the top cannabis retail leaders in the nation by MJBizDaily magazine and the first cannabis business to earn a Franchise Times Dealmakers award, OCG Inc. helps eager participants enter the complex industry with ease by leveraging its legal cannabis business experience and trusted resources under the distinct Unity Rd. brand. "Blending our premium, experiential cannabis brand with a true dispensary franchise model puts Item 9 Labs in a unique position to capitalize on opportunities in a dynamic and rapidly evolving regulatory environment. ONE Cannabis Group perfectly complements and enhances our existing offerings by creating a built-in platform for national distribution of our products and brands through the Unity Rd. franchise network," said Item 9 Labs CEO Andrew Bowden. "Having immediate entry points into states where Unity Rd. is building presence is expected to drive margin expansion across multiple markets and strengthen our profitability." This acquisition creates one of the first vertically integrated cannabis franchises in the U.S. The reduced capital expenditure (CapEx) franchise model provides accelerated scale for Item 9 Labs and Unity Rd., while keeping dispensaries locally owned and operated. In contrast to existing multi-state operators (MSOs), the franchise model requires reduced corporate capital requirements for development of the dispensary brand, as franchisees own and operate their own businesses. Unity Rd. franchise partners benefit from the continued guidance and tools provided by the franchisor while being able to scale more rapidly, compared with operating independently. "Unity Rd. is the safest way for entrepreneurs to enter the cannabis industry," said Mike Weinberger, Chief Operating Officer of OCG Inc., who is now appointed Chief Franchise Officer of Item 9 Labs Corp. and named to the Company's Board of Directors with this announcement. "Extending our in-house knowledge in dispensary license applications and operations as well as having direct access to Item 9 Labs' deep bench of trusted, award-winning products are expanded benefits for Unity Rd. franchise partners, positioning them ahead of any competition." Transaction Highlights The transaction offers differentiation in franchising, retail, cultivation, production, and license application. The combined company is committed to growing the Unity Rd. dispensary franchise network and introducing Item 9 Labs products in states where the franchise is expanding its footprint, while continuing to enhance its production and cultivation sites. - Reduced CapEx and Rapid Scalability with Unity Rd. Franchise Model: Franchising offers one of the most viable solution for industry newcomers and existing operators navigating the complex cannabis landscape. Unity Rd. launched in 2018 and currently has multiple agreements signed with 10 entrepreneurial groups that are developing the brand across six states. The franchisor provides the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support its franchise partners need for compliant and successful dispensary operations. Dispensary franchises are expected to drive the cannabis industry forward by mitigating barriers and encouraging local ownership. As a vertically integrated cannabis franchisor, the Company is in a unique position for accelerated scale across both the Unity Rd. and Item 9 Labs brands. Unity Rd. franchise partners sign a 10-year agreement and pay a $100,000 franchise fee up front with 5% gross royalty on top-line revenue and a 2% marketing royalty fee. Further, low corporate capital is required for national development, as franchisees own and operate their own businesses. - Retail Footprint Driven by Strong Lead Flow with Experience at Every Step: The combined team has a proven track record of winning cannabis licenses in 15 states. Bringing together the DispensaryPermits.com and DispensaryTemplates.com customer base, which generated nearly 12,000 application and partnership leads in 2020, with the 2,500-plus prospective franchisees Unity Rd. sees annually is expected to escalate franchise development efforts. DispensaryPermits.com and DispensaryTemplates.com customers will now have a solution for long-term guidance and support through the Unity Rd. franchise opportunity. With news of the acquisition as well as increased U.S. cannabis legalization, Unity Rd. has seen a surge in franchise lead activity over the past six months. The dispensary franchise is currently targeting Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, and Oklahoma among other markets, as part of its strategic franchise expansion plan. - Robust National Distribution Platform Supporting In-House Production: Item 9 Labs products are currently available in 43% of Arizona's cannabis dispensaries. Through this existing retail partner network and the Unity Rd. franchise platform, the combined company will have the most sustainable product distribution platform in cannabis. Unity Rd. franchise partners benefit from direct access to Item 9 Labs' premium, lab-tested products that have earned more than a dozen industry awards, including multiple top marks in Arizona's leading cannabis competition. The product suite spans 75-plus active cannabis strains and more than 150 differentiated cannabis products as well as premium concentrates along with Apollo and Orion technologies next-generation vape systems that provide full-spectrum flower experiences on the go. The Unity Rd. retail footprint eases barriers to entry for currently produced consumer products suites in new markets, allowing for increased revenue in product licensing, wholesale, and franchise royalties. - Experienced Leadership Team Delivers Unrivaled Depth of Bench: The combined veteran management team brings a diverse skill set with deep experience in the cannabis sector, franchising, and the capital markets to lead a new generation of public cannabis companies. The team collectively has more than 120 years of legal cannabis industry experience and 50-plus years in franchising, in addition to earning 20-plus franchise and cannabis industry accolades. OCG Inc.'s team had previously developed and sold a global 500-unit franchise business to Kahala Brands, awarded 300-plus franchises in more than five countries, and supported the development of 100-plus franchise companies. The Agreement Item 9 Labs shall issue 19,080,000 shares of Item 9 Labs Common Stock, subject to deductions indicated in the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), in consideration for all of OCG Inc.'s Common Stock. The holders of OCG Inc. Shares will hold approximately 25% of Item 9 Labs' issued and outstanding shares. Following the merger, Item 9 Labs will continue as parent and OCG Inc. will be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Andrew Bowden will remain as CEO. ABOUT ITEM 9 LABS CORP. : Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTCQX: INLB) is a vertically integrated cannabis operator and dispensary franchisor delivering premium products from its large-scale cultivation and production facilities in the United States. The award-winning Item 9 Labs brand specializes in best-in-class products and user experience across several cannabis categories. The company also offers a unique dispensary franchise model through the national Unity Rd. retail brand. Easing barriers to entry, the franchise provides an opportunity for both new and existing dispensary owners to leverage the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support needed to thrive in their state compliantly and successfully. Item 9 Labs brings the best industry practices to markets nationwide through distinctive retail experience, cultivation capabilities, and product innovation. The veteran management team combines a diverse skill set with deep experience in the cannabis sector, franchising, and the capital markets to lead a new generation of public cannabis companies that provide transparency, consistency, and well-being. Headquartered in Arizona, the company is currently expanding its operations space by 650,000+ square feet on its 50-acre site, one of the largest properties in Arizona zoned to grow and cultivate flower. For additional information, visit item9labscorp.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT : This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and governmental regulation, especially in a foreign country, future financial and operational results, competition, general economic conditions, proposed transactions that are not legally binding obligations of the company and the ability to manage and continue growth. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include the introduction of new technology, market conditions and those set forth in reports or documents we file from time to time with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Media Contact: Item 9 Labs Jayne Levy, Director of Communications Email: [email protected] Investor Contact: Item 9 Labs 800-403-1140 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Item 9 Labs Corp. Photo: Lou Rocco/ABC via Getty Images While Sundays Last Week Tonight focused largely on the depressing truth about the plastics industry, host John Oliver kicked off the episode with a segment about last weeks Atlanta spa shootings, tackling anti-Asian racism and hate crimes against the Asian and Asian American community in the United States. Following the tragedy, in which eight people were murdered, six of whom were Asian women, many people posted the hashtag #StopAsianHate to their social media, including The Views own Meghan McCain. Which Oliver thought was pretty rich, considering McCain had publicly defended former President Trump over his insistence on calling COVID-19 the China virus, the Wuhan flu, or any number of variations thereof. On Monday, McCain tweeted an apology for her defense of Trumps anti-Asian bombast, acknowledging that there is no doubt Donald Trumps racist rhetoric fueled many of these attacks. I condemn the reprehensible violence and vitriol that has been targeted towards the Asian-American community, The View co-host wrote on Twitter. There is no doubt Donald Trumps racist rhetoric fueled many of these attacks, and I apologize for any past comments that aided that agenda. I think if the left wants to focus on PC labeling this virus, it is a great way to get Trump reelected, said McCain in the clip of The View that aired on Last Week Tonight. I dont have a problem with people calling it whatever they want. Its a deadly virus that did originate in Wuhan. The View co-host concluded, I dont have a problem with it, and I think China, had they acted right away, and we had more access to information, maybe it wouldnt have gotten to the place that it is. Oh good, Meghan McCain doesnt have a problem with it, the Last Week Tonight host declared in mock gratitude. Listen not to the scores of Asian Americans telling everyone that the term is dangerous and offensive. Instead, gather around, and take the word of a wealthy white woman whos dressed like shes about to lay off 47 people over Zoom There has to be an understanding that saying, I dont have a problem with the China virus, is very much giving space for that hate to grow. West Australian Attorney General John Quigleys office says people cannot stay locked up forever after a court decision to release a serial rapist from prison into the same complex of units as female victims of sexual assault came to light. Nigel Pindan, 43, has been convicted on three separate occasions for sexual assaults on women where he would enter their homes at night while he was intoxicated when they were asleep and rape them. In a decision by Justice Jennifer Hill last Friday, she accepted Pindan remained a serious threat to the community but she was satisfied it would be protected if he was given a 10-year supervision order containing 51 conditions. One of the conditions is Pindan must reside at a specific complex, which also happens to be home to women who have been subject to domestic violence and historical sexual assaults. This is despite the State Solicitors Office arguing against the placement. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Over the years, the proteomics market has created new opportunities in life science industries due to increasing usage of the technology in cancer drug development and personalized medicine. As per findings of Persistence Market Research (PMR), the global market for proteomics will witness stupendous expansion at a CAGR of 17% over the forecast period ( 2019-2029 ). With growth projected to showcase over 5X expansion in revenues, the global proteomics market remains buoyed by advancements in high-throughput technologies that are constantly being used to investigate proteomes. As proteomics are widely used in diagnostics, prognostics, and various other healthcare applications, there has been increasing demand for proteomic techniques in disease diagnostics and drug development. Get Going With Sample Of Proteomics Market Report! https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/samples/31378 Companies covered in Proteomics Market Report Agilent Technologies, Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (US) GE Healthcare (US) Danaher Corporation (US) PerkinElmer, Inc. (US) Merck KGaA (Germany) Caprion Proteomics Inc. Bio-Rad Laboratories Luminex Corporation (US) Waters Corporation Promega Corporation Bruker Corporation How About Re-Inventing The Methodical Wheel In The Proteomics Market? Switch Over To The Methodology Tab! https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/methodology/31378 Key Takeaways of Proteomics Market Study The reagents and kits segment under component is expected to contribute more than 30% of revenue share in the proteomics market. of revenue share in the proteomics market. In terms of technology, the protein fractionation systems segment is expected to grow twice its size by the end of 2029 . . Leading proteomics service provider companies are collaborating with local proteomics service providers as well as research institutes to strengthen their market position. North America is dominating the global proteomics market, while East Asia is expected to offer lucrative opportunities, owing to rapid increasing healthcare programs and industrialization in the region. Technological advancements in proteomic techniques and growing demand for proteomics research for drug development focussing on large-scale manufacturing of personalized medicine are bringing in new avenues for market development, says a PMR analyst. Potential Impact of COVID-19 on the Proteomics Market The global outbreak of COVID-19 is indirectly affecting the proteomics market, as applications in pharmaceutical companies witness a downtrend. This is mainly due to hampered drug production and the preference of pharmaceutical companies toward the production of vital drugs that are needed now. On the other hand, the proteomics market will gain traction, as numerous proteomic labs across the U.S. and Europe are taking up the research of therapeutic methods for fighting the coronavirus, thus providing insights about the inclusion of proteomics in the vaccine for COVID-19. This factor is expected to partially subdue the shortcomings that the market will face in the foreseeable future, due to the pandemic. Keeping A Tab On Key Players In The Proteomics Market? Go To Purchase Now To Decipher The Competitive Analysis In Our Proteomics Market Report! https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/31378 Acquisitions and Partnerships - Key Strategies of Market Players Key players in the proteomics market are focussed on improving their product portfolios though the launch of new products. For instance, in June 2019, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc launched New-Generation Benchtop Mass Spectrometer Advances Quantitative Proteomics and Translational Research. Manufacturers are also working toward getting new products approved by regulatory bodies and launching them at the earliest. Various players in the proteomics market are focusing on growth strategies such as acquisitions and partnerships. For example, in June 2019, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc announced a collaboration with Biognosys for Advance Plasma Quantitation Methods in Proteomics. What Does the Report Cover? Persistence Market Research offers a unique perspective and actionable insights on the proteomics market in its latest study, presenting historical demand assessment of 20142018 and projections for 20192029 , on the basis of component (instruments, reagents and kits, core proteomics services, bioinformatics services, and quantitation services), technology (microarrays, X-Ray crystallography, spectroscopy, chromatography, protein fractionation systems, electrophoresis, and surface plasma resonance systems), application (drug discovery, clinical diagnosis, and cancer research), and end user (contract research organizations (CROs), research & academic institutions, and pharma & biotech companies), across seven key regions. About Us: - Australias Liberal-National government joined US President Joe Biden in praising provocative public denunciation of China by the two top US foreign policy officials at last Fridays opening session of the Washington-Beijing meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Biden declared he was very proud of US Secretary of State Tony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan for their aggressive stance. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media in Sydney, Monday, March 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) Canberra responded by reinforcing its commitment to Washington. In particular, the government welcomed the fact that Blinken and Sullivan featured Chinas alleged economic coercion toward Australia in their list of charges against Beijing. The pair echoed similar comments by Biden himself at this months first-ever leaders summit of the renewed Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quada quasi-military alliance of the US, Japan, India and Australia against China. Trade Minister Dan Tehan said: All Australians should be reassured by the fact the Americans have come out and said theyve got our back, and they wont leave us alone on the playing field. Far from reassuring, US bellicosity places the Australian population even more on the frontline of what would be a catastrophic war to prevent China from challenging the global hegemony that Washington asserted after its victories in World War II. In reality, the US, backed by Australia, is waging economic and strategic warfare against China. The Biden administration has not lifted any of the trade war tariffs and other penalties imposed under Trump on Chinese exports, investment and corporations, and continued US naval provocations close to the Chinese mainland in the South and East China Seas. Chinese steel mills continue to buy Australian iron ore at massive levels and high prices, further inflating the fortunes of mining magnates like Gina Rinehart, Andrew Forrest and Clive Palmer. But Australian governments have banned Huawei and other Chinese telecommunications companies from 5G and other major infrastructure projects, blocked almost all Chinese investment proposals and imposed punitive tariffs on some Chinese imports, such as steel, on the pretext of combating dumping. Australias corporate media outlets and think tanks also have lined up behind the Biden administration, despite some apparent nervousness about the implications of a US-led war for the interests of Australian capitalism. Yesterdays editorial in the Murdoch medias Australian praised the commendable firmness and determination shown by the Biden administration in Anchorage and insisted that the concerns raised at the summit must be pursued relentlessly. The editorial cited a featured article last Saturday by the newspapers US-connected foreign editor Greg Sheridan, in which he openly canvassed the increased likelihood of a nuclear war. The defining question of our time is the US-China relationship and, in short, whether there is going to be a war, Sheridan wrote. Sheridan referred to the prediction made last week by Admiral Philip Davidson, the chief of the US Indo-Pacific command, that the US would face a war with China over Taiwan within six years. The six-year time frame is important, and realistic, Sheridan stated. The US, at last, is seized of the urgent challenge posed by China and in turn is starting to move in directions that will make Beijings military planning more complicated. Sheridan declared that the US had to threaten China with the risk of nuclear annihilation to prevent it seeking to reclaim Taiwan, which was part of China before it was taken by Japan in 1895 as a result of the First Sino-Japanese war. In Australias think tanks there is a discussion of the factas signalled by the Quad summit and the Alaska confrontationthat the Biden administration, with the backing of the Republican Party, is escalating the US offensive against China that was initiated by Obamas pivot to Asia and intensified by Trumps trade war measures. On March 16, the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney issued a report on the swift evolution in Australias alliance with the United Statesfar and away Australias most important strategic relationship. A key factor driving this shift was that strategic competition with an increasingly capable, assertive and authoritarian China is now widely accepted as the single most pressing challenge for the United States and its allies. This change in the US strategic mindset finds no meaningful partisan opposition in Washington. The report further asserted: Across the US strategic affairs community, Australias credentials as an ally of substance are impeccable. Australia is rightly seen as on the frontlines with respect to the China challenge and being willing and able to respond credibly. Similarly, on March 17, the Interpreter, published by the Lowy Institute, drew attention to Bidens Interim National Security Guidance that branded China the only competitor potentially capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to mount a sustained challenge to a stable and open international system, that is, the US-dominated economic order. It noted Bidens declaration that we will ensure that America, not China, sets the international agenda. The Lowy Institutes only concern was that the US had not yet demonstrated that it had the means to achieve that end. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute, a government-funded body that has close links with the US, published an article on March 17 that said the arrival of the Quad leaders meeting showed a consensus had emerged on the necessity to quickly boost Australias military spending and acquisition of weapons. An earlier US Studies Centre report, issued on March 3, observed that both the US and Australian governments were already accelerating their preparations for war with China by urgently reviewing their supply chains, which was one of the main items on the Quad summit agenda. The Biden administration was initially examining supply-chain risks in four key industriescomputer chips, large-capacity batteries, pharmaceuticals and critical mineralswith all relevant federal agencies required to report on risks within 100 days. Following that lead, the Morrison government had asked the countrys Productivity Commission to identify supply chains vulnerable to the risk of disruption and also critical to the functioning of the economy, national security and Australians well-being. The government gave the commission, which typically takes three or four months to prepare an interim report, just one month to deliver its initial findings. The US Studies Centre report voiced concern that Australia depended heavily on China not just for exports of iron ore and other commodities, but also for nearly 600 strategic imports, ranging from semi-conductors, generators and computers to ordinary hinges, padlocks and gaskets. It referenced a UK think tank study into the dependence on China by the members of the US-led Five Eyes intelligence networkthe US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealandwhich found that Australia was by far the most exposed. The US Studies Centre report noted anxiously: The Productivity Commission will find that the spread of goods on which Australia is dependent on China is so broad that its impossible to conceive of any realistic replacement or supply-line duplication strategy. In Australia, as in the US, the government, the intelligence agencies, and the media are seeking to poison public opinion by demonising China. At the same time, behind the backs of the population, an intense discussion is underway in ruling circles about the preparations being made for war. Staunch supporters and leaders of the pro-life movement in the United States expressed their thoughts on the confirmation of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, President Joe Biden's nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services. Now officially confirmed to the HHS post thanks to 50 in favor of votes from Democrats versus 49 against votes from the Republicans, Becerra tweeted that "he's honored and humbled by the Senate's votes." His "humbled" tweet, however, could not shield him from the pro-lifers disdain. Prior to his confirmation, Becerra has become notoriously known for his attacks against pro-life initiatives led by pro-life organizations and individuals. Understandably, reactions of dismay and anger flooded online spaces. Here are some of the collated reactions from Mr. Becerra's critics: "The confirmation of Xavier Becerra as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is alarming... If his record is any indication, Becerra will weaponize the more than trillion-dollar budget of the Department of Health and Human Services to attack or disadvantage those with whom he disagrees, and advance unpopular pro-abortion policies," Jeanne Mancini, President of March for Life, said. Mancini's description is spot on as Becerra has spent his days in Congress opposing pro-life policies to the extent of filing lawsuits. One notable example is his suit, backed by Pennsylvania's attorney general Josh Shapiro, against the Trump administration which allowed religious and moral exemptions to the HHS contraceptive mandate. Groups like the Little Sisters of the Poor had to go to court to defend their rights for religious exemptions. Their hard-earned win in July is now under the threat of Becerra's appointment. "Xavier Becerra's confirmation to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is a blow to all Americans who value religious liberty and the sanctity of life. Becerra has spent his career advancing radical, pro-abortion policies and persecuting those who disagree with him," Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie, a policy advisor for The Catholic Association, said. Known also for their strong views against abortion, same-sex marriage, and gender redefinitions, more Catholics are expected to join in these culture wars. "Becerra does not share the same view on many critical issues as the ERLC, and when we disagree with his actions, we will bear witness, seek to persuade and hold him accountable to uphold the law," Travis Wussow, vice president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), said. Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist's ERLC was among those who joined the more than 60 pro-life leaders that signed the February letter urging the senators to oppose Becerra's confirmation. "Becerra's fanatical support of abortion resulted in the state-sponsored persecution of female-founded organizations like the Little Sisters of the Poor and pregnancy centers," Thomas Glessner, National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) President, said. In his email statement released on Thursday, NIFLA President Thomas Glessner added that Becerra is an "anti-life extremist," CBN noted. Hi network, the NIFLA with pro-life pregnancy care centers, battled Becerra in court over a California law coercing clinics to promote abortion in their state. "The only real experience he has with the industry is suing hospitals, pregnancy care centers, and other entities that aren't pro-abortion enough for his likin," Tony Perkins, President for the Family Research Council, said. Perkins took issue on the Senate's votes to appoint "a man with zero training in medicine, science, pharma, or the healthcare world" to work on "leading (the) nation out of the worst pandemic in 100 years." Perkins also did not hold back his dismay on Biden. By picking Becerra to lead HHS which is the country's largest executive agency, the President's promise to unite the country now obviously means the appointment of leaders that will further the Leftists' agenda. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List, said the same on President Biden whose choice of leaders show that he wanted a team committed in "assaulting the conscience rights of pro-life Americans." Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 23, 2021) - Crestview Exploration Inc. (CSE: CRS) (FSE: CE7) ("Crestview" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has closed a non-brokered private placement by issuing 349,765 share units at $0.85 for gross proceeds of $297,300.25. Each share unit consists of one common share and one and half (1/2) share purchase warrant, with each full warrant exercisable into one common share at $1.25 for a two-year term. The Company has paid $17,838.00 and issued 10,493 share warrants as compensation to qualified finders. Each full warrant is exercisable at a price of CAD$1.25 for two-years from the date of issuance. The securities issued under the private placement will have a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company intends to use the funds for initial exploration on its newly acquired Cimarron project in Nye County, NV. CRS announced this morning it had contracted AK Drilling to conduct phase 1 of the drilling program on the project. None of the securities offered in connection with the Financing will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or the securities laws of any state of the United States. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. About Crestview Exploration Inc: Crestview Exploration is a technology driven, well-funded and experienced exploration company focused on finding gold and silver deposits in mining friendly jurisdictions. The Crestview's projects Rock Creek, Divide, and Castile Mountain are situated in the Tuscarora Mountains of northern Elko County, Nevada. The company's Tuscarora properties combined comprise a total of 101 unpatented lode mining claims, with 74 claims at Rock Creek, 19 claims at Divide, and 8 claims at Castile Mountain. The Cimarron project is located in the San Antonio Mountains of Nye County, Nevada, and is comprised of 53 unpatented lode mining claims, including control of 6 historically producing claims associated with the historic San Antonio mine. For further information please contact: Glen Watson, Chief Executive Officer Tel: 1-604-803-5229 Email: Glen@crestviewexploration.com www.crestviewexploration.com NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain information that may be deemed "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address acquisition of the Property and future work thereon, mineral resource and reserve potential, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects is forward-looking information. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the statements. There are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking information. These include the results of the Company's due diligence investigations, market prices, exploration successes, continued availability of capital financing, and general economic, market or business conditions, and those additionally described in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities authorities. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For more information on the Company, investors are encouraged to review the Company's public filings at www.sedar.com. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward- looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/78336 More Arrests Are Imminent Over Bristol Riot: Police Says Bristol police on Monday said they are going through an enormous amount of evidence on the riot on Sunday, and are confident that more arrests are imminent in light of this evidence. Following a protest against a new policing bill on Sunday, hundreds gathered outside Bridewell police station in Bristol city centre. Rioters vandalised the police station exterior, set police vehicles on fire, and left 21 officers injured, two of them seriously injured. Police said the protest was hijacked by a hardcore minority, and Home Secretary Priti Patel said the thuggery and disorder would never be tolerated. A vandalised police van on fire outside Bridewell Police Station as people took part in a protest demonstrating against the Police and Crime Bill, in Bristol, England, on Sunday, March 21, 2021. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP) According to The Times of London, groups that encouraged their followers to attend the protest included Extinction Rebellion, All Black Lives Bristol, and Socialist Workers Party Bristol. Another, No Fixed Abode Anti Fascists, told people not to share footage of protesters unless they were in masks. Avon and Somerset Police on Monday said eight arrests had been madesix for violent disorder and two for possession of an offensive weapon, and over 100 officers and staff are working on the investigation. We have an enormous amount of digital evidence to go through including CCTV footage, Body Worn Video, social media coverage, and footage/photos provided by people at the scene, Detective Chief Superintendent Carolyn Belafonte said in a statement, adding that the police had already collected forensic evidence including fingerprints, and had received a large amount of digital material from the public. Once weve carried out an initial view of the material weve collated, well be in a position to release images to the public to help us identify suspects. From what weve already collated, were confident more arrests are imminent, she said. Belafonte said the team is wholly committed to tracking down those who committed crimes on Sunday, and that they can expect a knock at their doors in the days or weeks t0 come. It may come sooner than you think, she added. Demonstrators smash windows of a police station during a protest against a new proposed policing bill, in Bristol, Britain, on March 21, 2021. (Peter Cziborra/Reuters) The protest on Sunday afternoon was against the governments Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill. The bill, which covers a wide range of policy areas, would give police new powers to impose time and noise limits on street protests. It was introduced after several disruptive Black Lives Matter protests and Extinction Rebellion protests caused road closures, disruption of newspaper printing, and vandalism of statues last year. London police on March 13 clashed with mourners and protesters at a vigil held for alleged kidnap and murder victim Sarah Everard while enforcing CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus restrictions, sparking days of protest against the police, governments restriction measures, and the new bill. Reuters contributed to this report. Mobile towers in four Afrcian countries are set to change hands ( ) sold its mobile tower businesses in Madagascar and Malawi to ( ). The businesses comprise 1,229 towers and are being sold for US$108mln with an additional agreement to build 195 sites across Madagascar and Malawi over the three years for US$11mln. Airtel Africa has also agreed to sell its Chad and Gabon operations to Helios with final terms to be agreed. The London-listed group has around 1,000 towers in these two countries. Raghunath Mandava, Airtels chief executive, said: Helios Towers has been a partner to our business in some of the OPCOs for many years and we look forward to further expanding this partnership with these new leases as we together seek to improve mobile connectivity and infrastructure across Africa. These transactions will also help to improve the mix of our debt and increase its tenor through long term leases, which are largely payable in local currency by our operating entities, while reducing foreign currency debt of the Group." 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. Associated Press Three Uyghurs who fled from China to Turkey have described forced abortions and torture by Chinese authorities in Chinas far western Xinjiang region, ahead of giving testimony to a peoples tribunal in London that is investigating if Beijings actions against ethnic Uyghurs amount to genocide. The three witnesses include a woman who said she was forced into an abortion at 6 1/2 months pregnant, a former doctor who spoke of draconian birth control policies, and a former detainee who alleged he was tortured day and night by Chinese soldiers while he was imprisoned in the remote border region. The tribunal, which does not have U.K. government backing, will be chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Geoffrey Nice, who led the prosecution of ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and worked with the International Criminal Court. Floods: A man paddles through the submerged streets of Londonderry in the western suburbs of Sydney. Photo: Mark Baker/ AP Newly-weds kissing in front of a flooded bridge near Sydney after they were brought to the church by helicopter. The bride, Kate Fotheringham, posted the picture online Australian emergency services were last night evacuating thousands more people from Sydneys western suburbs that have been battered by the worst flooding in 60 years, with torrential rains expected to continue for another day or two. Photos showed submerged intersections, marooned livestock and cars up to their windscreens in water as three days of rain swelled rivers in the most populous state of New South Wales. This is an ongoing situation that is evolving and is extremely dangerous, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told parliament. Two major insurers said most of the more than 3,300 claims they received concerned damage to property, with more expected. Suncorp and IAG said it was too early to estimate the final number of claims or costs. Australias coal exports were disrupted as the deluge shut railway lines into the port of Newcastle, the worlds biggest coal export port, and forced some mines to cut output. The rain submerging large swathes of the state contrasts with weather conditions a year ago, when authorities were battling drought and catastrophic bushfires. I dont know any time in state history where we have had these extreme weather conditions in such quick succession in the middle of a pandemic, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters. Sunday was Sydneys wettest day of the year, with almost 111mm (4.4in) of rain, while nearly 900mm (35in) was dumped in some north coast regions in the last six days, or more than three times the March average, government data showed. The Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers flooded most of northwestern Sydney, leaving residents stranded. You get a lot of rubbish. It was going past...as fast as the ski boats go...As soon as it broke the banks, it was like a torrent, said Larry Powers after he was rescued by emergency services following a days wait at his property in Pitt Town. A helicopter rescued a stranded bride and groom on Saturday to get them to the church on time. The bride, Kate Fotheringham, posted a picture of the newly-weds kissing in front of a flooded bridge that had blocked their five-minute drive into town. Authorities said about 18,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas. Some parts of Sydneys western regions have suffered the worst flooding since 1961. A severe flood warning has been issued for large parts of New South Wales, as well as neighbouring Queensland. ROME, MAR 23 - Only 1-2% of national health service doctors and about 100 nurses have refused the COVID-19 jab, hospital doctors' union Anaao-Assomed and national federation of nurses guilds Fnopi told ANSA Tuesday. They estimated that between 1,140 e 2,280 of a total of 114,000 hospital doctors, plus around 100 of Italy's 254,000 nurses, have refused to take the vaccine. Anaao General Secretary Carlo Palermo and Fnopi President Barbara Mangiacavalli said "the vast majority of our members have accepted vaccination and are immunized". (ANSA). Indoor Air Quality California District Installs 1,500 Carrier OptiClean Air Scrubbers The Manteca Unified School District in Manteca, Calif., has installed 1,500 Carrier OptiClean Dual-Mode Air Scrubber & Negative Air Machines across 30 schools in preparation to fully reopen. The product, which was named one of TIMEs 100 Best Inventions of 2020, will help improve the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) for the more than 27,000 returning MUSD students, faculty, and staff. Weve spent the last several months analyzing every facet of our organization in order to develop a comprehensive strategy designed to create a healthier environment for our students and staff, said MUSD Superintendent Dr. Clark Burke. The air quality in our area is often affected by the extensive local agriculture industry, and lately, regional wildfires have also contributed to poor air quality. After reviewing a number of indoor air quality solutions available, we are confident that the OptiClean product is the right fit for our needs. By placing an OptiClean unit in each classroom, we feel that well not only help improve our IAQ, but also provide peace of mind to our students, their parents and staff. The OptiClean Dual-Mode Air Scrubber & Negative Air Machine was put into development in early 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic for use in infectious isolation rooms in hospitals. It pulls in air, scrubs it with a HEPA filter, and blows it back out, reducing ambient contaminants in the surrounding area. The product plugs into a standard wall outlet and takes up less than 3 square feet of floor space. Other California School districts, including the San Bernardino City Unified School District and the Alvord Unified School District, similarly selected the OptiClean product as their air quality solution during preparations to return to in-person learning. The districts recently purchased a combined total of 5,200 units to serve a total of 80,000 students, teachers, and staff. Schools and school districts continue to evaluate the IAQ of their facilities and what can be done to help improve those environments for their students and staff, said Carrier President, NA Residential & Light Commercial, Justin Keppy. Were pleased to be working with Manteca Unified School District by providing one part of the solution for healthier and safer indoor environments. Our OptiClean units can help reduce contaminants in classroom air and inspire confidence for parents, students, teachers and staff as school districts safely return to in-person learning. Brandons vaccine site at the Keystone Centre is not currently booking appointments. Advertisement Advertise With Us Brandons vaccine site at the Keystone Centre is not currently booking appointments. According to a provincial spokesperson, appointments are only made a few weeks into the future, based on the vaccine supply coming to Manitoba, as well as the eligibility criteria. "As noted in (yesterdays) bulletin, we expect to be able to open up additional appointment spaces throughout the province and will let Manitobans know as those adjustments are made in the coming days," the spokesperson said. "While vaccine supply is ramping up, it is not yet sufficient to have all of our supersites and other distribution methods fully operational at all times." However, appointments are available at supersites in Winnipeg and Morden, according to the vaccine update. The Morden location opened yesterday and is piloting a new model expected to be more comfortable for patients, while also increasing efficiency. Eligibility criteria for supersites and pop-up clinics expanded yesterday to include people 65 or older and First Nations people 45 and older. The provincial vaccine update further stated several more pop-up clinics are scheduled between March 29 and April 1 in Steinbach, Victoria Beach, Portage la Prairie, Arborg, Lundar, Russell, Riverton, Lac du Bonnet, Killarney, Morris and Stonewall. Eligible individuals can begin calling to make appointments for those today. Additional pop-ups are being planned for April and further details will be provided as soon as possible, according to the update. Last week, a total of 73,973 vaccine appointments were made including 50,261 by phone and 23,712 online, according to the province. Other Monday numbers include 193,760 total doses received, 136,329 total doses administered and 243,100 total immunizations planned in the next 28 days. This week, Manitoba expects to receive 42,120 doses of Pfizer and 12,300 doses of Moderna. Meanwhile, chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Monday afternoon that more details on possible changes to public health orders would be announced today. Current orders expire at midnight Thursday. The Brandon Sun asked Roussin if the province was still on track with its proposed changes, despite the overall positivity rate climbing up to 5.2 per cent Monday, and with Easter weekend immediately ahead. Changes floated last week included the possibility of downgrading to level orange province-wide. "We have to be cautious. Whichever direction we go, were going to have to do so very cautiously. Were going to be out (Tuesday) to announce some of those specifics that weve decided on. Were going to review the results of the Engage MB survey, and follow our numbers," Roussin said. Roussin urged Manitobans, as they make plans for spring break, Easter and Passover, to continue avoiding non-essential travel. "Youre asked to stay home to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and variants of concern. Easter and Passover are very common times for families to get together. We need to be cautious, if we think back to the issues we had following Thanksgiving in wave two," Roussin said. "Our current orders allow for one other designated household or two designated people for the holidays to gather at private residences. Restaurants allow for households to eat together inside or, on a patio, mixed people from different households." Outdoor gatherings can include up to 10 people in addition to those from the residence. He noted the variants of concern are trending up, and the province wants to delay a third wave as it rolls out vaccine. "Its not going to be like this forever. We do have that optimism that we see the vaccines beginning to roll out. But, were still many, many weeks to months away from having enough of the population protected for us to really significantly reduce our public health measures," Roussin said. He also advised that anyone who has been vaccinated should follow all public health orders for the time being. "Of course, wearing masks, physical distancing and good cough etiquette will remain important for the foreseeable future," he said. mletourneau@brandonsun.com Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism. [March 23, 2021] FIDx Announces New Partnership with Great American Life, Increasing Access to Industry Leading Annuity Products BERWYN, Pa., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Envestnet, Inc. (NYSE: ENV) and Fiduciary Exchange LLC (FIDx), the only retirement platform representing a single point of connectivity between insurance products and broad financial advisor distribution, today announced another leading insurance carrier, Great American Life Insurance Company, has joined the fold. The partnership makes annuity solutions from Great American available to financial advisors through FIDx by way of the Envestnet Insurance Exchange, Envestnet | MoneyGuide, and Halo platforms, as well as directly through FIDx's Protection Intelligence platform. These multiple points of access underscore FIDx's commitment to meet firms and their advisors where and how they do business. This accessibility of insurance products as part of a total portfolio solution allows FIDx-empowered advisors to deliver holistic financial advice customized for their client's needs across providers. "The addition of Great American enhances our product offering and adds to the list of carriers and solutions available on the FIDx platform," said Rich Romano, Chief Executive Officer at FIDx. "Our mantra of 'Names You Know, Products You Need On a Platform You'll Love' has become even stronger with the addition of this carrier who has been serving clients' insurance needs for decades." For Great American Life, the partnership opens distribution access to their products during a time when many individuals are concerned about the security and stability of their retirement savings. "We have implemented significant technology enhancements over the last several years. During that same time, we have been dedicated to partnering with technology platforms to help educate and expand the annuity industry," said Mark Muething, President and Chief Operating Officer of Great American Insurance Group Annuities. "The vision of FIDx, along with its expansive list of partners, is exactly where we want to be and where we think the future of distribution is going." FIDx offers a strong lineup of both commission- and fee-based annuities from AIG Life & Retirement, American Equity, Allianz Life, Brighthouse Financial, Eagle Life, Global Atlantic Financial Group, Jackson National Life Insurance Co., Nationwide, Prudentil Financial, and Transamerica. Financial advisors can access FIDx to plan, research, compare, propose and manage income and protection solutions through Envestnet, Envestnet | MoneyGuide, and Halo, as well as directly through FIDx Protection Intelligence. About FIDx Fiduciary Exchange, LLC (FIDx) is a technology-empowered network that seamlessly integrates the brokerage, insurance and advisory ecosystems to offer annuities and insurance solutions from the industry's leading carriers. FIDx enables advisors to offer guaranteed income and downside protection as core components of their clients' portfolios, integrated within the same wealth management platforms they already use every day. An independent technology firm, FIDx connects advisory firms to insurance carriers through a seamless, digitally-enabled process so advisors can truly deliver comprehensive advice and help clients reach their goals. To learn more, please visit https://fid-x.com/ and follow FIDx on LinkedIn. Envestnet, Inc. has a financial interest and occupies board of director positions in Fiduciary Exchange LLC (FIDx). About Envestnet Envestnet, Inc. (NYSE: ENV) is transforming the way financial advice and wellness are delivered. Our mission is to empower advisors and financial service providers with innovative technology, solutions, and intelligence to make financial wellness a reality for everyone. Over 106,000 advisors and more than 5,100 companies including: 17 of the 20 largest U.S. banks, 47 of the 50 largest wealth management and brokerage firms, over 500 of the largest RIAs and hundreds of FinTech companies, leverage Envestnet technology and services that help drive better outcomes for enterprises, advisors and their clients. For more information on Envestnet, please visit www.envestnet.com, subscribe to our blog, and follow us on Twitter (@ENVintel) and LinkedIn. About Great American Life Insurance Company Great American Life Insurance Company, member of Great American Insurance Group (GAIG), helps simplify the path to financial security through the sale of traditional fixed, fixed-indexed and registered index-linked annuities in the retail, broker-dealer, financial institutions and registered investment advisor markets. The members of GAIG are subsidiaries of American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG). AFG's common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFG. AFG is a Fortune 500 Company with approximately $74 billion in assets as of December 31, 2020. Note: On January 27, 2021, AFG announced that it entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Annuity business, including Great American Life, to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). The sale is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021. Media Contact: Dana Taormina JConnelly for FIDx 973.647.4626 dtaormina@jconnelly.com For More Information About Great American's Annuity Products, contact: Donna Carrelli Divisional Vice President, Marketing Services Great American Insurance Group Annuities 513.412.1518 dcarrelli@gaig.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fidx-announces-new-partnership-with-great-american-life-increasing-access-to-industry-leading-annuity-products-301253587.html SOURCE Fiduciary Exchange, LLC (FIDx) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Olivier Douliery / TNS NEW HAVEN Conspiracy theorist and right-wing radio host Alex Jones visited Yale University Monday afternoon to film a video for his InfoWars website, according to a story and video reported by the Yale Daily News. According to YDN, Jones stood on High Street as he made claims about the Yale Skull and Bones secret society helping to found the CIA. Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-22 22:50:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A batch of coronavirus vaccine developed by the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac arrived in Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin, on Sunday evening. "I salute the Chinese government which, through the cooperation between our two countries, has supported the Beninese authorities in their efforts to fight the pandemic, since the appearance of the first case of COVID-19 on the territory of Benin on March 16, 2020," said Health Minister Benjamin Hounkpatin as he welcomed the vaccines at Cardinal Bernadin Gantin International Airport. For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Benin Peng Jingtao noted that the arrival of the Chinese vaccine in Benin, is part of the cooperation and solidarity between the two countries to fight against COVID-19. "Since the start of the pandemic in Benin, cooperation between the two countries has been exemplary, pragmatic and effective. The Chinese vaccine is a global public good accessible to all developing countries, especially African countries," he said. Produced by Xinhua Global Service (Newser) A movie based on Steven Spielberg's boyhood in Arizona is in its earliest stages, and a big name has reportedly been picked to play someone close to the acclaimed director's heart. Per Deadline, which says casting for the film has been "super secretive," sources say Seth Rogen is set to take on the role of Spielberg's favorite uncle, joining Michelle Williams, who's already been tapped to play a character inspired by the director's mother. Spielberg will be co-writing the screenplay (something he last did two decades ago for AI) with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner, who's worked with Spielberg before on such movies as Munich and Lincoln. story continues below Kushner also worked with Spielberg on his upcoming West Side Story remake, which was originally set to arrive in theaters for the 2020 holiday season but was postponed by COVID, notes IGN. It now looks like that film will hit the big screen during the next holiday season. The 38-year-old Rogen, who most recently starred in and produced Long Shot, also has a book coming out in May: Yearbook, a collection of personal essays. The Wrap notes that the unnamed Spielberg film, which is currently screen-testing actors to play the lead character based on a young Spielberg, will follow that character's relationship with his parents over the years. Spielberg's film will head into production this summer, with a planned release at an unspecified time in 2022. (Read more Seth Rogen stories.) Thousands of demonstrators descended on the small northern Swiss town of Liestal Saturday to demand an end to anti-Covid measures that have shut restaurants and other venues for months. More than 5,000 people, many not respecting facemask and physical distancing requirements, gathered in the small town in the Basel canton for what they have called a "Silent Protest". A number of the demonstrators wore white protective jumpsuits and white masks as they walked in unison to sombre funeral music playing in the background. Some wore placards around their necks reading "Modern slaves wear masks", while one man had scrawled "Mask mandatory, shut your mouth" on his plastic mask. Others held signs reading "Enough!", "Vaccines kill" and "Let love guide you, not fear". The protesters accuse the Swiss government of using dictatorial powers to impose restrictions aimed at reining in Covid-19 transmission. The demonstration, which had police authorisation, is the latest in a series of public protests across the country in recent months, including one earlier this month in the small, picturesque town of Chur that drew over 4,000 people. Police told AFP that they estimated around 5,000 people took part in Saturday's march in Liestal, which has a population of 14,500 people, while journalists said the number appeared to be a bit higher than that. Organisers of the demonstration did not respond immediately to questions about their estimates, but had voiced hope in advance that more than 10,000 people would join the march. - 'Hostage' - The organisers complained in a statement ahead of the march that the Swiss government had taken the country "hostage" over a year ago. "We are going to Liestal to say to the people 'it is time to stop the measures'," the statement said. "These measures make no sense. To protect one percent of people at risk, they are destroying the lives of 99 percent of the population," it said. Story continues The march comes a day after the Swiss government dashed hopes that many Covid restrictions would be lifted next week. Switzerland had been expected to continue lifting a range of measures imposed in December and January after a major spike in cases. It had allowed museums and non-essential shops to reopen from March 1, and had signalled it could allow outdoor areas at restaurants and bars to reopen, and change the requirement to work from home, from next Monday. But Health Minister Alain Berset said Friday it was too soon to remove most restrictions, warning of the danger of a "third wave" of infections. He pointed out that most neighbouring European countries were adding restrictions, not lifting them, "which is something we are trying to avoid". "We are simply trying, for the third wave, to ensure we do not lose control," he told a news conference. As of Monday, the number of people permitted to attend indoor private gatherings will increase from five to 10, the government said. But it said all other measures, including restaurant closures, would remain in place for at least another month. Switzerland, a country of 8.6 million people, has to date counted nearly 578,000 cases of the virus, and 9,455 deaths. str-nl/har The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. The decisions of the recent summit of the heads of the German federal and state governments make clear once again that the ruling class is willing to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of lives to secure the profits of the banks and corporations. Although the number of casestriggered by the decisions of the last federal-state conferences to reopen the economy and schoolsis increasing exponentially and the pandemic in Germany continues to cost hundreds of lives every day, the latest meeting did not order the closure of any offices or factories. A passage on school closures, to be triggered from an incidence [rate] of 200, which was still included in a draft that became known yesterday, was also deleted without replacement. There were also no binding requirements made regarding testing and hygiene. German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) together with Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soder (CSU) and Berlin Mayor Michael Muller (SPD) at the press conference after the Corona Summit on 22 March (Michael Kappeler/Pool Photo via AP) Given the explosive opposition in the population, the talks were marked by considerable nervousness. With the words we cannot carry on in public like this, Chancellor Angela Merkel is said to have interrupted the joint discussions for individual talks that lasted five hours. The result of the 12-hour haggling behind closed doors was unanimously described by the media as the toughest lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic. In the end, the existing shutdown over the Easter period was only to be extended by one day and combined with holding online religious services and restrictions on private contacts. At the same time, even some of the hardest hit regions will be allowed to reopen retail businesses under temporary model projects. This murderous policy is justified by the increasing availability of rapid and self-tests, the use of which, however, is left to the discretion of the regional authorities and individual companies. At the beginning of April, the trade associations are to report how many companies are participating, t-online.de reported this morning. Meanwhile, the available data leaves no doubt that tens and hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake in Germany and Europe in the coming weeks. In the last 10 days alone, the weekly incidence rate across Germany rose from 72 to 107 per 100,000more than twice as much as in the previous 20 days. In Thuringia, led by the Left Party, the incidence rate of 210 is still twice as high as the national average. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of cases of the B.1.1.7 strain of the virus doubles every 12 days. The institute predicts a nationwide incidence rate of 300 at the beginning of the week after next and 350 after Easter. At a case fatality rate of three percentas reported by Worldometers for the past two monthsthese infections would result in 7,500 to 8,700 weekly COVID deaths nationwide. However, this death toll could multiply as intensive care units (ICU) become overcrowded. Already, many urban and rural districts have run out of ICU beds. In more than 90 urban or rural districts, less than 10 percent of beds are unoccupied, especially in Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, Hesse and Thuringia. Despite the threat of mass deaths, no consequences are being drawn in the federal states and municipalities from the exponential growth in the number of cases. The emergency brake option set up by the last ministerial summit, consisting of ineffective measures, is not even applied in many places, although the incidence rate exceeds 100 in almost every second district. At the beginning of the year, a rate of 35 was still considered the limit beyond which the tracking of B.1.1.7 infections becomes impossible. The question of whether a renewed closure of retail outlets should be considered because of the development of the pandemic was already answered in the negative by Reiner Haseloff (Christian Democratic Union, CDU), president of the Bundesrat (upper chamber of the federal parliament) at a press conference on Thursday. The changes in numbers were not due to shops being open, he explained, but to day-care centres and schools. The prime minister of Saxony-Anhalt thus contradicted the ceaselessly propagated lie of the education ministers, according to which children in schools were safe from coronavirus. Then Haseloff made it clear that the federal and state governments had consciously accepted allowing the current contagion to spread among children. We clearly stated that we would open up an increase potential for contactsin our case 250,000 people. This had been known to everyone nationwide, including the chancellor. To justify this, Haseloff explained that one had to include day-care centres and schools. Otherwise, one could have written off the school year completely. According to the RKI report, the consequence of this policy is that the seven-day incidence rate among children between 0 and 14 years of age had recently doubled within four weeks. The number of active infections among underage school and kindergarten children rose by 42 percent to 3,190 cases within one week. The most devastating expression of this development at present is in the town of Schrozberg in Baden-Wurttemberg, where the incidence rate rose to over 1,200 last week following a mass outbreak in a kindergarten. The approximately 70 cases included all eight kindergarten teachers at the facility. In neighbouring Belgium, 50 percent of all hospitalised COVID patients are under 48 years old. On Saturday, Belgiums education minister reported the results of a follow-up study that identifies school and workplace as the main source of infections, against the backdrop of likewise rising case numbers. At the same time, intensive care specialists in Germany are also warning of the increasing threat of a Kawasaki-like syndrome that affects children and adolescents infected with the virus and can be life-threatening. Paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) produces a distinct clinical picture and has already been diagnosed in 238 children in Germany and Austria, according to Business Insider . Triggered by a misdirected immune reaction, inflammatory processes occur in various organs or blood vessels. This is accompanied by a high fever and an unstable circulation. According to the Dresden PIMS Register of the German Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (DGPI), the syndrome currently occurs in one in every 1,000 infected children. Children between the ages of seven and 10 are particularly at risk. In 59 percent of the documented cases, the child had to be admitted to an intensive care unit, and almost one in 10 patients suffered consequential damage. In an interview with Der Spiegel, intensive care physician Dr. Christian Dohna-Schwake expressed concern about the rising third wave and that he expected more PIMS patients soon. The US has already recorded 33 deaths, and 15 children in Germany have so far suffered permanent heart damage from the disease, also known as MIS-C (Multi-Inflammatory Syndrome, Children). Against the background of these clear facts and the general development of the pandemic, the resolution of the last Conference of Education Ministers (KMK) on Thursday can only be described as a political crime. The document written by the representatives of the federal states ignores the several hundred cluster infections at day-care centres and schools that have been independently registered by parents and teachers in recent weeks, as well as all the recommendations of leading medical experts and scientists. While the education ministers view the effects of school closures on children and young people with great concern, the document does not have a single word to say about the dangers of infection and illness, including the consequential damage and potential infection of family members. This is due to prioritising the profit interests of the ruling class. KMK President Britta Ernst (Social Democratic Party, SPD), for example, told the press on Thursday that face-to-face teaching was of crucial importance for childrens further educational biography and school careeri.e., their smooth transition to the labour market. This applied especially to the little ones. Instead of allocating the billions needed for safe education, children and young people are to be increasingly herded into classrooms regardless of the incidence rate. When making decisions about operating schools, this should be examined in perspective, whether the criterion of incidence [rates] should be supplemented by other criteria. In general, day-care centres and schools should remain open the longest in comparison to all other areas of life. To ensure this, the state governments have relied on cover-ups, long disproven lies and a concerted disinformation campaign, as they have since the beginning of the pandemic. For example, the ministerial resolution explicitly demands not to stigmatise children and adolescents as a danger in the face of increasing mass outbreaks. Such statements serve to deny the central role of schools and day-care centres in the general infection process. Schools, the document says, operate under a very high level of infection control, a lie that flies in the face of the governments own statistics and all the field reports from teachers and parents. Finally, in the style of far-right coronavirus deniers and the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the education ministers claim the expanded testing of children and adolescents could lead to a higher number of detected infections and drive up the incidence [rates] in the federal states. There is no question of systematically recording mass testing at the vast majority of schools in Germany. Opposition to this policy, which was already evident in North Rhine-Westphalia last week, is growing strongly, especially on social media. People, parentsplease leave your children at home from Monday, wrote paediatric nurse Brigitte W., for example, in a viral post on Twitter. I cant imagine teachers reporting you to the ministry. Teachers have common sense too. Report the children sick, take a stand and take action. Its about the health of your families! Sandro, a young father from North Rhine-Westphalia, sums up federal and state policies in an accusatory video on YouTube. For a year, serious science has been largely ignored. While the pandemic was developing as predicted by science, the government continued to play down, ignore and disinform. The population was being demoralised and divided and children and families exposed to incalculable risks. Reasonable parents were incapacitated, criminalised and terrorised by the authoritiestheir endangerment was consciously accepted, he said. RTHK: At least ten killed in Colorado supermarket shooting A shooting at a Colorado supermarket killed 10 people Monday, including a police officer, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said. Boulder police Chief Maris Herold announced the death toll at a news conference Monday night, fighting back tears. The suspect was getting medical treatment and there was no further threat to the public, authorities said. Officers had escorted a shirtless man with blood running down his leg out of the store in handcuffs but authorities would not say if he was the suspect. The officer who was killed was Eric Talley, 51, who had been with Boulder police since 2010, Herold said. Victims' families were still being notified so their names weren't released, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. This is a tragedy and a nightmare for Boulder County, and in response, we have cooperation and assistance from local, state and federal authorities, Dougherty said. Police were still investigating and didn't have details on a motive for the shooting at the King Soopers store in Boulder, which is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Denver and home to the University of Colorado. The FBI said its helping in the investigation at the request of police. White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the shooting. In a statement, the King Soopers chain offered thoughts, prayers and support to our associates, customers, and the first responders who so bravely responded to this tragic situation. We will continue to cooperate with local law enforcement and our store will remain closed during the police investigation. (AP) This story has been published on: 2021-03-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Flowers, candles and signs are displayed Friday at a makeshift memorial in Atlanta. Robert Aaron Long, a white man, is accused of killing several people, most of whom were of Asian descent, at massage parlors in the Atlanta area. The battery maker has won total contracts from the German carmaker worth US$27bn in the past two years ( ) has signed battery manufacturer Northvolt up for a 10-year battery order deal worth US$14bn to the Swedish company. The deal builds on VWs announcements last week about its plans to vastly expand production capacity for its electric car strategy. As part of the partnership agreement, Northvolts gigafactory in Sweden will be significantly expanded beyond the 40GWh capacity it was targeting and it has agreed to sell its joint venture share in its factory in Salzgitter, Germany to Volkswagen. This latest agreement brings the battery makers total contracts to US$27bn in the two years since it raised $1bn in financing in 2019. Northvolt said it is now aiming for 150GWh annual cell production in 2030, distributed across several gigafactories. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 (Natural News) Torrential rain and flash floods wiped out homes, triggered landslides and caused a dam to overflow in Hawaii, prompting Gov. David Ige to declare a state of emergency on Tuesday, March 10. Hawaii has experienced heavy rainfall since Sunday, with some areas getting one to two feet of rain within just 24 hours. The rain caused catastrophic flooding that devastated homes in the islands of Oahu and Maui. In Maui, officials were forced to issue evacuation orders after rain breached the massive Kaupakalua Dam. The dam is one of the oldest agricultural dams on the island and holds about 68 million gallons of water. Mahi Pono, one of the dams co-owners, said in a statement that the dam, which is located about five miles east of the Haiku turnoff on the scenic Hana Highway, experienced some overtopping but ultimately did not fail. However, the overtopping of the dam still rendered a number of roads impassable and devastated homes. The heaviest downpours hit Maui on Monday then shifted to Oahu. However, torrential rain continued off and on across Hawaii for the rest of the week. In northern Oahu, hundreds of residents were also forced to flee their homes Tuesday because of surging floodwaters. The evacuation order was lifted on Wednesday. Ige signed the proclamation to release state funds to help affected residents and to dispatch first responders to hardest-hit areas. The proclamation covers the counties of Hawaii, Maui, Kalawao, Kauai and Honolulu and will continue through May 8 unless terminated or superseded by a separate proclamation. Severe flooding devastates homes, prompts evacuations Despite the severe flooding, authorities reported no casualties. In Maui where the rains were heaviest, two had gone missing briefly after being swept away in the floods on Tuesday. However, only one was rescued. Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino reported that at least half a dozen homes were devastated by the floods. Officials are inclined to believe there have been landslides as well since one bridge in the area was washed out and another was displaced. Some portions of roads had also been washed away, flooded or blocked by debris. At a press conference on Monday, Victorino said the island hasnt seen such a flooding situation in a long time. He added that some residents told him the situation is the worst they have seen in over 20 years. Victorino urged visitors in the area to stay in their hotels as several facilities would be closed as a safety measure. Many outside events are canceled and many restaurants are probably closing to protect the employees as well as their guests, he said. Victorino surveyed the flooded areas on Tuesday with officials from the State Department of Land and Natural Resources to assess the extent of the damages. We are so fortunate that there were no reported deaths or injuries, he said in a county news release. Meanwhile, the Maui Fire Department said on Monday that they received more than a dozen calls for help from residents who were trapped in their homes because of rising floodwaters. (Related: New flood maps reveal: 100-year floods may become yearly occurrences.) In Honolulu, Mayor Rick Blangiardi appealed to residents on Tuesday to follow evacuation orders. He said the storm was proving to be most serious. It is life-threatening, said Blangiardi. If youve been asked to evacuate, please do so immediately. Officials in Honolulu also reported on Tuesday that about 8,200 gallons of partially treated wastewater spilled within the grounds of a local wastewater treatment plan. Some of the water also spilled on the grounds of the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge in Oahu. Go to Environ.news to learn more about the flooding in Hawaii. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com CivilBeat.org NPR.org By Ryan Ibarra, for mySA.com Ornate homes in the King William neighborhood are typically a feast for the eyes, but they will get an extra spruce in April with inspiration from New Orleans. Last month, NOLA's "Yardi Gras" received national attention for the COVID-19-era adaptation that allowed the city to celebrate Mardi Gras in a socially distanced way by festooning lawns with elaborate decorations to become "floats." King William homeowners are going to flex their Fiesta skills to pull off a San Antonio edition from April 15-25. Award-winning FX and Crypto trading technology specialist, Gold-i is expanding in the Middle East and India through a partnership with EMEA Global Financial Consultancy, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) based firm which has a strong network of financial institutions, including retail FX broker clients, across the region. Gold-i, founded in 2008, has developed market-leading FX and Crypto trading solutions which have enabled hundreds of multi-asset brokers worldwide to transform their trading operations with robust liquidity management products, MetaTrader plug-ins and business intelligence tools. The UK headquartered firm's partnership with EMEA Global Financial Consultancy will focus on sales and support of Gold-i's full product suite. This includes its MT4 Bridge and MT5 Gateway, Matrix multi-asset liquidity management platform, risk management and business intelligence tool Visual Edge, MAM Pro and CryptoSwitch 2.0. Tom Higgins, CEO, Gold-i explains, "Partnering with the very best resellers in key geographical regions in our industry is vital for our global growth strategy. It is very important to us to connect with resellers who understand the local culture, language and business etiquette and also have an in-depth understanding of client requirements and the high service levels we expect for all Gold-i clients. "EMEA Global Financial Consultancy ticks all the boxes for us. They have a great reputation in the region and a strong client base of brokers throughout the Middle East and India. We are delighted to be partnering with them and look forward to building our business in this region together." Sachin Verma, Managing Director, EMEA Global Financial Consultancy adds, "Gold-i is a global market leader in trading technology and we are excited to be offering their products to our broker clients. We have had in-depth training from Gold-i and are really impressed by the breadth of their offering and their feature rich, easy to use products." EMEA Global Financial Consultancy has a highly experienced team with strong knowledge of international financial markets and money broking businesses. Licensed in the Fujairah Free Zone, the organisation offers a wide variety of investment solutions to financial institutions of all sizes across the EMEA region. Gold-i is a market leading Fintech company which develops technology to help brokers trading FX, CFDs and cryptocurrencies to operate more efficiently and increase profitability. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005112/en/ Contacts: Vanessa Green Tel: +44 (0) 771 333 2303 vanessa@wigwampr.com Sinn Fein Councillor Pearse McGeough has said the time has come for action over the Bank of Irelands decision to close 103 branches in Ireland including the one in Dunleer. He was speaking after he hosted an online public meeting with Imelda Munster TD. Cllr McGeough said: "The meeting was well attended and included Independent Cllr Hugh Conlon, members of the business community and the community sector as well as other customers of the bank. "The debate was lively and everyone had their say and we have a plan to forge ahead to oppose the closure. At the meeting, Cllr McGeough pointed out that although Sinn Fein was holding a series of these meetings across the island, this was not a party political issue and indeed in other counties concerned Fianna Fail councillors and independents had attended the meetings. According to Cllr McGeough: "We were unable to do anything when Ulster Bank made the decision to pull out all their branches but its different with Bank of Ireland as they were bailed out to the tune of 4.7 billion and the Minister for Finance, on behalf of the Irish people holds a 14% shareholding in the Bank so that is the leverage we have and we need to focus on that leverage. He also pointed out that instead of having 103 small campaigns we must consolidate our efforts into a bigger campaign. "There is no guarantee that we can save all 103 branches but perhaps we can save some. "Pearse Doherty TD is leading the campaign but is depending on local people to get behind it. "Louth will not be found wanting. When asked about how people can help, Cllr McGeough said: "There were a number of good ideas that came from the public meeting and the time has come to forge ahead with them." Email the Minister of finance to get a moratorium on the decision until the end of 2022 Sign the uplift petition (consolidation of signatures rather than individual petitions throughout the country) Send emails to your TDs Send emails to Dunleer branch telling them how valuable the branch is to the area. "Banks rely on customer loyalty and traditionally people remain with the same bank regardless of what happens tell Bank of Ireland, if you leave Dunleer, we are leaving you. A moratorium on the decision until the end of 2022 will allow us to get through this pandemic and give us time to make a case for Dunleer branch to remain open. Vice President Kamala Harris' niece has deleted a tweet after facing backlash for assuming the Boulder grocery store gunman was white because he was taken into custody alive. Meena Harris deleted her tweet on Tuesday after police revealed 21-year-old gunman Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, who is accused of shooting dead 10 people a day earlier, is of Syrian descendant. 'The Atlanta shooting was not even a week ago. Violent white men are the greatest terrorist threat to our country,' the 36-year-old tweeted in the hours after the massacre. Meena, who is a mother-of-two, lawyer and children's book author, then revealed she had deleted that tweet. Vice President Kamala Harris' niece Meena has deleted a tweet after facing backlash for assuming the Boulder grocery store gunman was white because he was taken into custody alive 'I deleted a previous tweet about the suspect in the Boulder shooting,' she said. 'I made an assumption based on his being taken into custody alive and the fact that the majority of mass shootings in the US are carried out by white men.' The suspect in last week's shootings in Atlanta that left eight people dead was a white man. Meena immediately faced backlash from some on Twitter. Alissa was born in Syria and moved to the US when he was three. He now lives in Arvada, Colorado, around 30 miles from the grocery store he targeted. He was taken into custody at 3.28pm and was transported to the hospital to be treated for a leg wound. He has since been released from the hospital and is now in Boulder County Jail. Police have not yet confirmed his motive. He has been charged with ten counts of murder. In Facebook posts over the last 18 months, he complained about not having a girlfriend, ranted about President Trump and talked about his Islamic faith. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that he was known to the FBI because he was linked to another person who has been under investigation for something else. They didn't give any more details. Those killed include: Rikki Olds, 25, Teri Leiker, 51, Denny Stong, 20, Neven Stanisic, 23, Tralona Bartkowiak, 49, Suzanne Fountain, 59, Kevin Mahoney, 61, Lynn Murray, 62, and Jody Waters, 65. Ahmad Alissa, 21, shown in his booking photo on Tuesday after he was charged with ten counts of murder Boulder Police officer Eric Talley, 51, was also among those killed after he responded to the shooting. The Vice President earlier on Tuesday called the mass shooting 'tragic' and 'absolutely baffling'. 'It's tragic. Absolutely tragic,' Harris told reporters in her ceremonial office after she swore in William Burns as CIA director. 'It's absolutely baffling, it's 10 people going about their day living their lives, not bothering anybody. A police officer who is performing his duties, and with great courage and heroism.' Her was criticized last month after it emerged she was still using her aunt's name to sell her range of feminist sweatshirts despite being ordered not to by the White House. Her Phenomenal line was still listed on non-profit retail website Social Goods next to a quote from Harris. A $59 'Ambitious' sweatshirt appeared next to a line from the Vice-President that reads: 'There will be a resistance to your ambition, there will be people who say to you, 'you are out of your lane.' Alissa is shown being led out of the supermarket in handcuffs. He was fully clothed and wearing a green tactical vest inside the store but he stripped down to be arrested White House lawyers have reportedly told Kamala Harris' niece, Meena, to stop using her aunt's status to build her brand Meena was ordered to stop promoting her products using Harris' name after the November 3 election. At that point, she had already launched a range of gear featuring the 'I'm speaking!' quote that was used by Harris to check former Vice President Mike Pence during their debate. But the mom-of-two has continued to cash in since then launching a collection of 'MVP' [Madam Vice President] sweatshirts and collaborating with Beats by Dre on a set of limited-edition headphones featuring a quote from Harris' acceptance speech. While she removed the MVP line from her Phenomenal Clothing website, she continued to push her products on Social Goods using her aunt's name. At the time, a White House official scolded her, telling the Los Angeles Times: 'Some things can't be undone. That being said: Behavior needs to change.' Meena was also among those praising last month's decision to cancel certain Dr Seuss books. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. They name it "Ejiao" and glorify it as a cure of miracle: In the developing middle class of China, gelatine gotten from donkey skin is really making sales. To be able to meet the demand at cheap prices, most of the animal fur is shipped from Africa, thereby leading to a dramatic reduction in the population of donkeys in Africa! Nearly five million animals are skinned every year in the Eastern part of Africa for export. It is not a sustainable business and is only geared towards profit making. Based on the research by the Austrian courier, there is now even a risk of total extermination of the donkey population in the world. The Black Gelatin "Ejiao" which is also called "black gelatin", is a supposed cure produced from the skin of donkeys. This "Ejiao" is boiled down into a constituent in medicines, sweets and cosmetics. The supposed remedy should make your skin beautiful, act as a sexual enhancer, and also contribute to a healthy sleep. The sales market for this supposed remedy has been flourishing for years, and it will be hard to meet the demand. Only in 2017, the number of wealthy people in China has increased and still increasing as 53 new billionaires joined China, while "since the 1990s, the population of donkeys in East Africa has reduced from eleven million to less than two and a half million," according to the courier. Problem: Since the pregnancy of a donkey lasts twelve months on an average, it is not possible for breeding farms to produce offspring quickly enough. And: Countries in East Africa such as Tanzania and Kenya provide a large part of the nearly five million skins that are needed by China each year to manufacture its "miracle cure". However, as a result of the mass export, the prices of donkeys have risen in the countries that are believed to be livestock and an important means of transportation. ALSO READ: Is Donkey Skin the New Ivory? African Donkeys are Being Slaughtered to Extinction Major Problem For Agriculture and Population This in turn is believed to be a major problem for the agriculture and population in East African countries such as Kenya, as stated by the courier. The situation in Kenya is even more disastrous as the government of Kenya has made it known that it will stop the exportation of donkeys. In most countries in Africa, which includes Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania, the brutal slaughter is now prohibited. However, thieves stole and killed the freed four-legged friends in order to skin them and sell their skin on the black market. A kilogram of "Ejiao" is presently worth 350 euros and companies in China keep buying. Demand for Donkey Skins The demand for donkey skins from China resulted in 15% of the donkey population, almost 400,000 donkeys were killed between 2016 and 2018. It is stated that ejiao, the black gelatine produced from soaking and boiling skin of donkeys and also used in Chinese traditional medicine, can increase libido, supplement lost blood, treat side effects of chemotherapy, delay ageing, prevent infertility, menstrual and miscarriage irregularity. RELATED ARTICLE: Killing for 'Medicine': Rise in China's Demand for Donkey Skin Threatens Local Livelihood For more news, updates about donkeys and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! Advertisement England and Wales suffered suffered no excess deaths last week for the first time since August, official figures showed today in a sign Britain's second wave of Covid may be over. Office of National Statistics (ONS) data revealed there were 10,987 fatalities from all causes in the week ending March 12 4.4 per cent down on the five-year average (11,498). Deaths were below expected levels in all regions except the East Midlands. Experts hailed the figures as proof the second wave of coronavirus is over. Even Professor Neil Ferguson the Government adviser whose grim modelling spooked ministers into the first lockdown a year ago today said the data showed 'the second devastating wave of the pandemic is behind us'. Statisticians use the five-year average to estimate how many people would be expected to die in any given week, with anything above average considered as 'excess deaths'. They had suggested deaths could dip below this level by Easter because the coronavirus outbreak was shrinking so quickly thanks to lockdown restrictions and the smooth vaccine roll-out. Experts also said deaths were front-loaded because so many elderly and vulnerable people fell victim to the disease last spring. Covid deaths have also dropped by a third in the same time-frame, the figures showed, after 1,501 were registered last week compared to the 2,105 from the seven-day spell before. And deaths among care home residents linked to the virus have halved in a fortnight, after 300 were recorded last week compared to the 636 two weeks before. The weekly figures are different to the Department of Health's, which publishes a daily Covid death toll. The ONS figures lag behind by about two weeks because they go through every death certificate to spot every suspected or confirmed coronavirus death. There were fewer deaths from all causes including heart disease, dementia and Covid last week than the number expected based on the five-year average (blue line). This is the first time they have dropped below this level since August, and experts said it suggested the second wave is at an end Deaths from all causes dipped below the five-year average last week for the first time since August amid plummeting Covid infections and surging vaccination rates This graph also shows deaths dropping below the five-year average. There were 511 fewer fatalities than expected, marking a 4.4 per cent dip from the average ONS data also showed that deaths in care home residents from the virus had halved in two weeks, after 300 were recorded last year compared to 636 two weeks ago Deaths from all causes also dipped below the five-year average in every region except the East Midlands, in another sign the second wave has come to an end PRINCE CHARLES CALLS ON BRITONS TO REMEMBER THE LIVES CUT SHORT TODAY Prince Charles today called on Britain to 'remember the lives tragically cut short' by Covid-19 ahead of a national vigil this lunchtime as Boris Johnson marked the first anniversary of the first national lockdown in 2020 by vowing to end them 'once and for all'. The Prime Minister will hold a national minute's silence at midday to remember the 126,000 people who have died during the pandemic as around 10,000 families still grieve their loved-ones. And tonight Britons are being encouraged to stand on their doorsteps at 8pm and light candles as a 'beacon of remembrance' for those who have lost their lives. Prince Charles has lent his support to the day of national reflection being held on the anniversary of the first UK lockdown. In a recorded message, the heir to the throne, who is a patron of end-of-life charity Marie Curie, said: 'We have all been inspired by the resourcefulness we have witnessed, humbled by the dedication shown by so many, and moved, beyond words, by the sacrifices we have seen. 'Whatever our faith or philosophy may be, let us take a moment together to remember those who have been lost, to give thanks for their lives, and to acknowledge the inexpressible pain of parting. In their memory, let us resolve to work for a future inspired by our highest values, that have been displayed so clearly by the people of this country through this most challenging of times.' And in a message released last night, the Prime Minister also urged people to 'also remember the great spirit shown by our nation over this past year', as millions of NHS staff and other critical workers worked tirelessly through the pandemic. While tens of millions of people have worked from home and home-schooled their children during the greatest crisis the country has faced since the Second World War. Advertisement ONS data showed there were 10,987 deaths from all causes in the week to March 12, which was below the five-year average of 11,498. This marked the first time deaths had dipped below this level since the week ending September 4 when 7,739 deaths were recorded, which was 1,443 fewer than the 9,182 expected at the time of year. Across England, all regions registered fewer deaths than expected except the East Midlands, which had 12 more fatalities than the 987 predicted. The South West had the biggest dip from the five-year average (8.4 per cent), followed by Yorkshire and the Humber (7.2 per cent) and the South East (7 per cent). Professor Ferguson, a top epidemiologist and No10 adviser at Imperial College London, said the figures were an encouraging sign that the UK had now passed the worst of the second wave. 'But calling epidemics waves can be misleading, in implying a phenomenon which has reached a natural end,' he said today. 'That is not the case here. 'The rapid decline in deaths weve thankfully seen is entirely because of the lockdown and the rapid roll-out of vaccines. 'So, while Im optimistic that this we will be able to return to something more like normal in the next few months, we need to remain vigilant and cautious in the pace with which social distancing is relaxed particularly given the threat still posed by new variants of the virus.' Professor Kevin McConway, a statistician at the Open University, said it was 'excellent' to see deaths had fallen below the five-year average. He said: 'This fall in the total number of deaths is almost entirely because deaths involving Covid have fallen very considerably.' 'Some of this will be from the continuing effects of lockdown... but a considerable proportion of the fall in deaths involving Covid-19 must be because of vaccinations.' The ONS figures also showed deaths linked to the virus had dipped below 250 in every region last week. The lowest levels were in the North East (66), followed by the South West (91) and Yorkshire and the Humber (139). There were also 1,957 deaths that involved flu and pneumonia in the week to March 12, but only 299 had this recorded as the underlying cause of death. For comparison, 1,197 Covid deaths had the virus marked as the underlying cause. The number of deaths involving Covid is continuing to decrease. Experts say this is linked to both high vaccination rates and plummeting infection rates across the country, which are bringing the second wave to a swift end There were also 1,957 deaths that involved flu and pneumonia in the week to March 12, but only 299 had this recorded as the underlying cause of death. For comparison, 1,197 Covid deaths had the virus marked as the underlying cause. More Covid deaths have been recorded among those in older age groups, who studies show are at higher risk from the virus Britain will 'definitely' have another surge of Covid after lockdown ends, Chris Whitty warned today as Downing Street insisted the UK's roadmap is still 'on course'. Professor Whitty, England's chief medical officer, claimed at a conference today that there will be 'bumps along the road' as the UK lifts social distancing rules and slowly returns to normality in the coming months. His comments echoed that of fellow SAGE experts, who say a third coronavirus wave is inevitable and that allowing holidays to Europe this summer could lead to another lockdown. Infections are surging in Europe now, which Boris Johnson said has always led to an increase in Britain, too, and vaccine shortages will hit the UK in April. But despite this, no changes have been made to No10's lockdown-easing plans that could see social distancing laws lifted once and for all on June 21. Mr Johnson has said Britain will have to accept the risk of a huge spike in infections, and likely hospital admissions and deaths, whenever the lockdown is lifted but the only other option was to live with lockdown rules indefinitely. Vaccines should soften the blow of the next major surge but other countries haven't made as much progress, with the EU's roll-out described as shambolic. 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson today urged Brits to stick to staycations and not go abroad until every adult has had a vaccine, calling for borders to stay shut over summer to keep out troublesome Covid variants. Britons won't be allowed to go on holiday until May 17, at the earliest. One of Professor Ferguson's SAGE colleagues, Professor Kamlesh Khunti, gave the same warning earlier in the day and said allowing people to travel abroad could lead to yet another total lockdown in the UK if the virus spread out of control again. Summer holiday hopes were dealt another blow today as British Airways and easyJet cancelled more flights planned as far ahead as August. Downing St also announced it will fine people 5,000 for going on holiday when it isn't allowed. Prime Minister Boris Johnson pictured observing a minute's silence today to mark a year since the first lockdown began insists the third wave of Covid in Europe has not yet affected the UK's roadmap out of lockdown Professor Chris Whitty and Professor Neil Ferguson have both warned that coronavirus cases will surge in the UK later this year Coronavirus cases are surging again in some parts of Europe, which could make ministers hesitant to reopen Britain's borders this summer Germany is one of several European countries facing tough new lockdown measures as cases spike amid a stalled vaccine roll-out that has left people unprotected Daily Covid cases and deaths rise by 2% in a week as infections hit 5,379 and fatalities creep up to 112 Britain today recorded a slight uptick in both coronavirus cases and deaths despite scientists hailing separate data that suggested the second wave may be over. Department of Health bosses posted 5,379 infections, which is up 1.6 per cent from last Tuesday. But cases have yet to take off amid a huge testing boost and warnings they would shoot up when schools reopened in England on March 8. Another 112 victims were also added to the official toll, a week on-week rise of 1.8 per cent. Day-to-day figures fluctuate, however, and the overall trend is still heading downward thanks to tough lockdown restrictions and the UK's successful vaccine roll-out, which has now seen 28.3million Britons jabbed. Separate data from the Office for National Statistics today showed England and Wales suffered no excess deaths for the first time since August last week, after they dipped 4.4 per cent below the five-year average. Deaths were also below the levels expected in all regions except the East Midlands. Professor Neil Ferguson the Government adviser whose grim modelling spooked ministers into the first lockdown a year ago today said the data showed 'the second devastating wave of the pandemic is behind us'. Advertisement Speaking in a public health conference with local government officials, Professor Whitty said: 'There will definitely be another surge at some point whether it's before winter or next winter, we don't know. 'Variants are going to cause problems, there will be stockouts of vaccines and no doubt there will be multiple problems at a national level but also at a local level school outbreaks, prison outbreaks, all those things that people are dealing with on a day-to-day basis.' His comments come on the one-year anniversary of life under lockdown in Britain and as the country is looking ahead to coming out of lockdown for good. Scientists are cagey about the move, however, and say a third wave of infections is on its way. Although thought to be worse over the winter, the virus can also spread during the summer months. South Africa, for example, endured its second wave at its hottest time of year. Professor Khunti, from the University of Leicester, urged Britons not to book holidays abroad 'until next year' because of the spiralling third wave in Europe. Speaking about the early days of the Covid pandemic. he told The Guardian: 'We had people coming in from Spain and Italy and that increased the rates in the UK ... We cannot allow that now. Does this risk another lockdown? Absolutely.' 'It's been a hard lockdown, we are doing so well, we cannot jeopardise this now. 'Our rates are coming down, our vaccination rate is fantastic, and the biggest fear we have is new variants that the vaccines don't work as well against.' And fellow SAGE member Professor Calum Semple said Britain could expect a third wave in July or August, even if it doesn't loosen international travel rules. 'At this point, Britain has got its act together,' Professor Semple said on Sky News today. 'The concern is, as this third wave is going on elsewhere, that will generate new variations. 'Even within Britain there is a likelihood of a third wave in potentially July and August time when we do unlock society.' He added that a third wave which is 'inevitable' when restrictions are relaxed would likely initially hit young people who are 'less susceptible to very severe disease'. Government makes holidays illegal and brings in 5,000 fines from Monday Travellers face a 5,000 fine for going abroad on holiday when a ban on leaving the UK without 'reasonable excuse' comes into force on Monday. The threat of fines has been extended until the end of June, making foreign summer holidays look increasingly unlikely as a third wave of coronavirus sweeps across Europe. And France is likely to be added to a 'red list' of countries requiring hotel quarantine by the end of the week. Health officials are increasingly concerned by a surge in cases of the South African Covid variant across the Channel. A senior minister even suggested the whole of the Continent could be put on the red list because of the botched vaccine rollout. Quarantine-free holidays may not be possible until August, killing off hopes of trips abroad until late summer. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is leading a taskforce that will report by April 12 on how and when the ban on non-essential travel can be lifted. It can be no sooner than May 17 under Mr Johnson's official roadmap. That might mean the need to quarantine after foreign trips would stay in place until at least August. Advertisement Despite these fears, Downing Street insists that the roadmap out of lockdown will remain unchanged for now. The Prime Minister has warned he will slam the brakes onto his roadmap should cases rise in a way that could spark more hospitalisations and deaths from Covid. Mr Johnson has also not ruled out imposing tighter curbs on local areas to contain the spread of the disease. Mr Johnson said he expects the UK to feel the impact of the Europe resurgence 'in due course' but his spokesperson today said a third wave was always expected. The PM has acknowledged in the past that lifting lockdown will cause a spike in infections, hospital admissions and deaths, but this will be the price the country pays for getting life back to normal and vaccines will soften the blow. 'Obviously this time we have as a defence our very extensive vaccination programme,' the spokesman told a Westminster briefing. 'We remain on course for the individual steps in the road map. That hasnt changed.' Even if the UK's roadmap doesn't change foreign travel may still be off the cards if other countries where vaccinations are lagging can't control the virus. Professor Ferguson agreed with the staycation stance. He said on BBC Radio 4: 'We've done very well in rolling out vaccine so far, so we're in a different position from Europe. 'In some sense what they're seeing now is what we saw back last November-December with the so-called B117 or Kent variant. 'I should say we also have some of the South African variant here already and other variants which may be similar, which we're watching very carefully, so that is overall the major concern going forward and why we need to be vigilant, not just looking at Europe, and what's happening within our borders as well.' He added: 'I certainly am in favour of relaxing border measures at a slower rate than we relax controls within the country, and doing all we can to reduce the risk of importation of variants which might undermine our vaccination programme.' Professor Kamlesh Khunti, from SAGE, urged Britons not to book holidays abroad 'until next year', saying they risked importing dangerous variants. Professor Calum Semple, also on SAGE, said the continent's rising cases amid low vaccination rates was the 'perfect breeding ground' for new troublesome variants Multiple variants that emerged in other countries are now circulating in the UK, with those from South Africa and Brazil most concerning to scientists and ministers BA and easyJet axe flights Hopes for foreign holidays this summer have been dealt a fresh blow after British Airways and easyJet scrapped more flights. Passengers were left dismayed by the latest round of cancellations that include trips in July and August - after overseas travel is scheduled to resume on May 17. British Airways insists the cancellations were not due to the evolving situation with the pandemic but a routine scale-back of flights to reflect the view of IATA, the airline trade body, that foreign travel will not resume to pre-pandemic levels by 2023. The pared-back routes include fewer flights to Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden. Sources played down the flight cuts as 'business as usual' - and suggested more could be added in the future if there is scope. Yet would-be holidaymakers were exasperated that flights they had booked for after lockdown were being axed. Advertisement Asked what he wanted to see, he said 'vaccinating everybody under 50, which will be late summer, and having vaccines in our stockpile which we know work very effectively against those variants. 'Conservatively and being risk averse at the moment, I think we should be planning on summer holidays in the UK, not overseas.' Professor Ferguson also wrote in The Telegraph: 'I am hopeful this third lockdown will really be the last.' Government scientists have suggested a 'traffic light system' could be deployed to allow holidays this summer, with trips only permitted to countries with low infection rates, no variant risk, and high vaccine uptake. The threat of new variants of the virus is one of the biggest concerns scientists have about international travel, as well as the risk of importing large numbers of cases. Britain has already launched extra testing in dozens of postcodes to stamp out cases of the South African and Brazilian variants, which could make jabs less effective. It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock today said the UK must be 'permanently ready' for all future pandemics. Speaking to Sky News he said: 'We need to be permanently in future, permanently to be ready for another pandemic. 'That is a fact of life and it is something that we need to be prepared for and we need to make sure that all of the "learnings" and all of the scientific improvements are understood and that we are properly ready. 'We get people saying can you go faster, can't you open up international travel quicker, and also some people saying can't you go slower. 'But I think the general population think that it's about the right pace, and the best science thinks this is about the right pace.' He added: 'The questions of whether people are going to be able to travel abroad this summer are going to be addressed by the global travel taskforce, which is reporting around the 12th of April, so the middle of next month. 'The roadmap sets out that the earliest date by which we will allow for international travel without one of the reasons you need now is the 17th of May that has not changed... 'It is too early to know where the global travel taskforce will come out, and know what the decision will be for the 17th of May, and the reason for that is that we are seeing this third wave rising in some parts of Europe. 'We're also seeing new variants and it is very important that we protect the progress that we've been able to make here in the UK, where we have now one of the lowest rates.' Mr Hancock continued: 'What we have to do is to all work as much as we can together, but it also shows why we're being cautious on international travel because we've seen those waves come before; we saw the first and then the second and they both ended up here.' New Delhi, March 23 : Smartphone brand OnePlus on Tuesday launched its flagship 9 series along with an India-specific device called 9R and a smartwatch globally, including India. The OnePlus 9 Pro (12GB+256GB) starts at Rs 64,999 and OnePlus 9 (8GB+128GB) will cost Rs 49,999. OnePlus Watch will be available at a special launch price of Rs 14,999 in April. The 8GB+128GB OnePlus 9R for Rs 39,999 is an exclusive addition to the India market at the moment. Equipped with Snapdragon 870 CPU, the OnePlus 9R empowers users to experience the next level of fast and smooth. OnePlus 9R will also come in the 12GB+256 GB variant for Rs 43,999. The OnePlus 9 series comes a new flagship camera system in partnership with legendary professional camera manufacturer Hasselblad. It offers latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 mobile platform, the superior Fluid Display 2.0 with a DisplayMate A+ rating, and industry-challenging fast charging solutions, Warp Charge 65T and Warp Charge 50 Wireless. "Co-developed with Hasselblad, the new Hasselblad Camera for Mobile will give users the ability to capture their own iconic moments with more accurate colors and premium image quality," said Pete Lau, Founder, CEO and Chief Product Officer of OnePlus. "Together with the new OnePlus Watch, our latest flagship smartphone series offers a burdenless user experience with even the smallest detail tailored to challenge the smartphone industry and empower our Community through premium technology," he added during the global launch event. The OnePlus 9 Pro and OnePlus 9 go on sale on April 1 and April 15, respectively. The users can buy the Warp Charger 50 wireless charger on OnePlus.in for Rs 5,990. The OnePlus 9 Pro's 48MP main camera features a custom-designed IMX789 sensor, co-engineered with Sony, with an impressively large 1/1.4-inch sensor. It offers faster focus speeds, four-times more color information for greater color accuracy, cleaner daytime and night shots, and reduced motion blur in videos. The OnePlus 9 Pro's 50MP ultra-wide camera uses a 1/1.56-inch Sony IMX766 sensor, which ensures enhanced image quality and lower noise. The 8MP telephoto camera on the OnePlus 9 Pro offers 3.3 times zoom with OIS to reduce blur, maxing out at 30 times digital zoom. The OnePlus 9 Pro's main camera features 16-times the pixel count of standard 1080p for high-quality videos, the company said. It can shoot at 4K 120fps, giving you more creative possibilities in shooting video and editing, with DOL-HDR ensuring you always get the subject in clear view in backlit environments. The OnePlus 9 Pro's ultra-wide camera can also create time-lapse video when walking. OnePlus Watch has round design. The 46 mm case is crafted from quality stainless steel, with 2.5D curved glass on the face and a subtle yet radiant glossy CD pattern on the display bezel for an added touch of class. "The long-lasting 402mAh battery gives you enough power for up to two weeks of sustainable use, as well as up to a week of power for the most active users," the company said. We are happy to answer many of our US government customers requirements, by being able to provide our Microsoft 365 apps to customers who are switching to the Microsoft Gov cloud KWizCom, a global leading developer of SharePoint Forms and Workflows, as well as various other SharePoint web parts and apps for Microsoft 365 designed to enhance and expand Microsoft SharePoint is pleased to announce the approval of their Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) for Microsoft Cloud for US Government. The Microsoft Cloud for Government is a comprehensive platform for public sector agencies of the United States government. The platform is expressly designed for the Federal, State and Local Governments to meet the US Governments meticulous and thorough security and compliance regulations. In addition to being able to transfer their current system to a cloud-based system to increase productivity, efficiency and reduce costs, the US government organizations can now take advantage of the KWizComs Microsoft 365 apps available to them through the system. As a Microsoft partner, KWizCom can now sell their Microsofts cloud solutions and services to United States federal, state, local, and tribal entities through the Cloud Solution Provider program (CSP) for Microsoft Cloud for US Government. Of the companys most recent achievement KWizComs Product Group Manager Nimrod Geva said, We are happy to answer many of our US government customers requirements, by being able to provide our apps to customers who are switching to the Microsoft Government cloud. The product portfolio of KWizCom Corporation is comprised of over 70 products all available for a free trial. To get the free trial of the SharePoint web parts, addons and apps for Microsoft Office 365 that KWizCom offers, SharePoint users are invited to visit the companys website at http://www.kwizcom.com. Follow KWizCom on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kwizcom Become a fan of KWizCom on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KWizCom Join KWizCom on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/kwizcom Contact a KWizCom Account Specialist at +1-905-370-0333/+1-855-KWIZCOM or info@kwizcom.com About KWizCom Corporation Since 2005, KWizCom has provided innovative solutions and services to make SharePoint even better for over 10,000 companies worldwide. KWizCom's solutions and services expand Microsoft SharePoint out-of-the-box capabilities, streamline workflow, maximize efficiency and enhance over-all productivity for hundreds of thousands of users. KWizCom, a Gold Certified Microsoft Partner, is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Please visit http://www.kwizcom.com to find out more about KWizCom's clients, people, partners and solutions. 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Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbfef13fd48)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfef133580)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbfef13fd48)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfef133580)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbfef1440a8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfef133580)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfef133580)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfee823bf0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbfef0de290)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbfef0de290)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 68F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. "Drivers living in the Victoria area can take advantage of an array of maintenance savings this March." Drivers living in the Victoria area can take advantage of an array of maintenance savings this March. Honda of Victoria is offering service coupons from a simple oil change to a wheel alignment. Interested parties are encouraged to take advantage of these savings. A conventional oil change is available for $44.95 and a synthetic oil change is $59.95. Both of these include replacing up to five quarts of oil and replacing the current oil filter for a premium OEM filter. For $89.95 a vehicle can have a four-wheel alignment. This service will make the vehicle handle better, achieve better gas mileage and add life to the tires. Beyond the alignment this service includes the adjustment of the caster, camber and toe to factory specifications, inspecting the steering linkage, inspecting the shock absorbers/struts and suspension and checking the tire pressure. Individuals can receive 10% off a regularly-scheduled maintenance service. This coupon is valid for service costs up to $250. For individuals that currently have a check engine light on, Honda of Victoria is offering a check engine light diagnosis for $75. Regularly priced at $135 this service includes a scan for trouble codes and provides a basic diagnosis of potential causes and a solution. With summer right around the corner, it is time to have the A/C system serviced. For $30, the technicians at Honda of Victoria will replace up to one pound of Freon refrigerant, inspect and test the A/C system parts for leaks and inspect the A/C hoses. Honda of Victoria is offering three free services this March. Individuals can have a multi-point inspection conducted, which includes a visual tire inspection, battery test, visual brake inspection, windshield wiper blade inspection and topping off fluids. The free brake inspection includes inspecting the brake pads and linings, caliper operation, rotors, hoses and other connections and parking brake. Finally, the A/C system can be tested for proper cooling and operation and the hoses and connections inspected for leaks. The shop fees, environmental fees, core charges, taxes and other federal, state or locally mandated fees are in addition to the offers listed above. The discount will be applied before fees and taxes. There is a limit of one discount per transaction. The coupon must be shown or mentioned to the service advisor or parts counter upon arrival at the dealership. The above offers are not applicable to all vehicles or circumstances. These coupons are good now through March 31. For more information, visit https://www.hondaofvictoria.com. Honda of Victoria is located at 116 Huvar St., Victoria, Texas 77904. The service department is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. A service representative can be reached by calling 361-575-0495. Where we're spending most of our time is trying to advocate for that getting vaccines for our undergraduate and graduate students before the end of semester, Chancellor Robert Jones said Monday. SAN ANTONIO (March 23, 2021) -- More than half of all health care workers worldwide are experiencing burnout that, if not addressed, could cause many to leave their fields in favor of less-stressful occupations or choose early retirement. And the COVID-19 pandemic has only made it worse. That's the warning of a surgeon from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in a letter and a call for global action published March 22 in the Lancet journal EClinicalMedicine. "A recent survey done in Medscape of nearly 7,500 physicians globally showed that burnout has reached a very high rate," said Dharam Kaushik, MD, associate professor of urology in the university's Joe R. and Teresa Lozano School of Medicine and surgeon with the Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson. Physicians aren't alone. Dr. Kaushik's letter also references a large study of burnout and trauma in nurses during the pandemic. "I'm talking about global health care workers," he said. "We have to look at the whole health care work force and what we can do in communities and countries to prevent a downward spiral of burnout." Combination of factors Health care workers are under tremendous mental distress, with symptoms of loneliness, depression and anxiety. "The rising death toll, post-traumatic stress, long work hours and the initial slow vaccine rollout in different countries are creating a ripple effect of burnout in this vital workforce," Dr. Kaushik said. Women in health care are suffering the most, his editorial states. "Gender inequity is flourishing, and more female health care workers, especially in critical care and infectious disease, are getting burned out at a very high rate," Dr. Kaushik said. There is a predicted shortage of health care workers by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic may amplify the shortfall, cost billions and impact the quality of care. "I reference a Lancet article that estimates there will be a shortage of 18 million health care workers by 2030 that could cost $47 trillion, and those projections were made before the pandemic," Dr. Kaushik said. "Imagine what the pandemic has done." The loss of health care workers to other industries and retirement is "unsustainable," he said. Policymakers need to work with the scientific community to understand the implications of burnout and develop a comprehensive burnout prevention strategy, he said. "Remember, if there is no health care workforce, we cannot recover from any pandemic," Dr. Kaushik said. "We have to learn the lessons from the current pandemic, have effective burnout prevention strategies in place, and better prepare for the future." ### COVID-19 and health care workers' burnout: a call for global action Dharam Kaushik, MD First published: March 22, 2021, EClinicalMedicine https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(21)00088-2/fulltext The Long School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is named for Texas philanthropists Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long. The school is the largest educator of physicians in South Texas, many of whom remain in San Antonio and the region to practice medicine. The school teaches more than 900 students and trains 800 residents each year. As a beacon of multicultural sensitivity, the school annually exceeds the national medical school average of Hispanic students enrolled. The school's clinical practice is the largest multidisciplinary medical group in South Texas with 850 physicians in more than 100 specialties. The school has a highly productive research enterprise where world leaders in Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, cancer, aging, heart disease, kidney disease and many other fields are translating molecular discoveries into new therapies. The Long School of Medicine is home to a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center known for prolific clinical trials and drug development programs, as well as a world-renowned center for aging and related diseases. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also referred to as UT Health San Antonio, is one of the country's leading health sciences universities and is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. With missions of teaching, research, patient care and community engagement, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have graduated more than 37,000 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields, and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways "We make lives better," visit http://www. uthscsa. edu . Stay connected with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. To see how we are battling COVID-19, read inspiring stories on Impact. An increasing number of Indian customers are willing to buy electric vehicles, according to a CarDekho OMG survey. CarDekho, the leading auto-tech firm, today released the Electric Vehicle Customer Awareness Study in association with and OMG (Omnicom Media Group) a leading global advertising & marketing company. The survey was conducted with a broad objective of understanding the current state of consumer awareness, interest and apprehensions related to electric vehicles. Of late, the government has been making a determined push towards electric mobility. The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Mr Nitin Gadkari recently asked the EV manufacturing industry to shift towards indigenous battery technologies while assuring the industry that the Government will provide all possible assistance. This is a clear indication of the Governments intention to promote the EV industry, with self-reliance at the core. The OEMs have already introduced several EV 4-wheeler models in the market. At present, EVs contribute less than 1% of total vehicles sold, but has the potential to scale up to 5% within a few years. In 2019-20, about 3.8 lakh electric vehicles were sold in India of which 58% were low-speed E3Wand 40% E2W. According to the survey, 66% of customers are willing to buy Electric Vehicles, out of which 53%said they were strongly inclined to go electric. Among those surveyed, 13% are not yet ready for the transformation whereas 19% decline to go either way. Further, 68% of the customers showed their concern towards the environment and believe switching to EVs will help reduce air pollution, whereas 11% & 6%of respondents considered driving pleasure and lower maintenance cost as the main reason for considering a shift to EVs. The unique opportunity created by the EV segment also comes with a few challenges. 43%of respondents stated that frequent recharging will be a big concern, 20% raised concerns on the reliability of EVs during long drives/ inter-city travel, while 16% considered inadequate infrastructure (charging stations) a bigger hurdle. Nearly 12%of those surveyed said that pricing was an important consideration. The core objective of this survey was to gauge the consumer psyche and understand what sort of information or services from automobile OEMs could help in the buying decision. Respondents suggested manufacturers offer a full list of service stations in any city, accessories for easy and fast home-charging, and an extended service warranty assurance for the car. The survey was conducted across India among potential 4W vehicle buyers. Almost 40% of the respondents own an SUV and 29% own a hatchback, followed by 25% owning sedans. Sen. Danny Carroll's Legislative Update By Kentucky State Sen. Danny Carroll PADUCAH - Last week's 30-day regular session activity ended with over 100 bills on the Governor's desk. Having already completed 28 legislative days, both the House and the Senate raced to approve bills through the process until the figurative and literal eleventh hour.We've now entered into the veto recess period, which means last week was the final opportunity for lawmakers to pass bills and still have the opportunity to override any gubernatorial vetoes before the final day of the legislative session. The Governor has ten days to sign a bill, let it become law without his signature, or veto it.The Kentucky General Assembly approved the second half of the state's 24-month spending plan after uncertainties from COVID-19 cut budget negotiations short nearly a year ago.The executive budget, contained in House Bill 192, is as a near continuation budget from the previous fiscal year with necessary modifications. In addition to making structural changes that would ensure the road fund is spent on roads, the executive budget would put $134 million into the rainy day fund this year and another $609 million next year. The executive budget also includes a 2 percent increase in funding for higher education through a performance-based model, targeted raises for crime lab technicians, and money for the coroner's office. This budget also addresses Kentucky's severely outdated unemployment insurance system.Senate changes to the budget's accompanying revenue measure, known as House Bill 249, would allow the motor vehicle commission to charge new fees, expand the film industry tax credit, increase the cap on the historic preservation tax credit, allow a one-year property tax exemption for veterans' service organizations, and manage an emergency disaster relief account within the road fund.We are taking a careful and conservative approach as we continue to navigate the uncertainty of the pandemic. The state has received millions in one-time dollars from the federal government through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the most recent federal stimulus package. Due to these federal funds boosting our society's various sectors, the economic outlook and state revenue may be artificially inflated. There is no sure way of knowing what state revenues or the economy will look like once there is no stimulus money to help prop things up. It would be financially irresponsible for the state to use one-time dollars to put Kentucky taxpayers on the hook for recurring expenses in future years when we will not lean on federal funds.An essential aspect of the budget is maintaining legislative authority on the allocation of funds, as required by the Constitution of Kentucky. The bill stipulates that the General Assembly must authorize the use of these monies. Thirty-seven million dollars in federal funding will go toward grants to detect, diagnose, trace, and monitor COVID-19 infections in congregate and vulnerable populations. Additionally, $10 million in state funds will go to the School Facilities Construction Commission for schools recently damaged by flooding.A critical element in the economic growth of our state is access to reliable internet services for Kentuckians. Reliable broadband can be the difference in companies' decisions to establish themselves in our communities. With the reliance on virtual learning our students have had this past year, it is evident how a lack of reliable internet access only exacerbates Kentucky students' struggles. While COVID-19 forced us to rely on more virtual services, we have also seen growth in telehealth services. Securing reliable internet access to areas currently without it can help our economy, education, and even improve health outcomes.With this in mind, the legislature passed House Bill (HB) 320, allocating $250 million of federal money to expand access to broadband connectivity. However, the bill stipulates that no more than $50 million can be spent before April of next year to make sure efforts are deliberate, effective, and will go to the areas that need it most. This initial $50 million will get the ball rolling. Legislators will return next January to provide ample opportunity to assess the efforts made between now and then to determine the best path forward. The funding will be targeted to utilize existing infrastructure and the experienced workforce through electric co-ops. In reality, the allocated funds will equate to $500 million because the $250 million will be used as matching funds for the projects.The House and Senate have overridden the Governor's vetoes on Senate Bill (SB) 3 and House Bill (HB) 6. Since both of these measures contain what's known as an emergency clause, the bills go into effect immediately upon becoming law rather than 90 days after adjournment.Senate Bill 3 moves the Office of Agricultural Policy under the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner's Office. Moving these critical state boards under the authority of the Commissioner of Agriculture streamlines our efforts to strengthen Kentucky agriculture and help our farmers. The office's official role is the promotion of interests of agriculture and horticulture, agricultural revenues, and the protection of Kentucky's livestock industries.House Bill 6 strengthens an already existing legislative committee which, with the passing of this bill, would become the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee. It codifies subpoena powers, gives the committee the ability to maintain the confidentiality of investigative documents, and imposes fines on those in non-compliance with the committee's efforts.Several bills now with the Governor for consideration include:Senate Bill 80 is a bill I sponsored that strengthens oversight of peace officers who conduct themselves in a criminal or unprofessional way by enhancing the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council's ability to revoke certification. The bill also puts in place an appeals process and hiring procedures that will help ensure officers cannot avoid the consequences of their actions simply by retiring or resigning in the midst of an investigation. Finally, the bill strengthens KLEC's ability to share information with out-of-state agencies. This bill was endorsed by the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police, the Kentucky Sheriffs' Association, the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police, and the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council.Senate Bill 148 is a bill I sponsored that will allow childcare providers to return to the classroom sizes allowed pre-pandemic and allow combining classes at the beginning and end of each day. The bill also establishes childcare as an essential business vital to the Commonwealth's state and local economies. Finally, the bill requires local governments to consider family child care homes as a separate entity when determining conditional use permits in residential areas.Senate Bill 84, known as the "Dignity Bill 2.0," forbids correctional facilities from placing in restrictive housing, administrative segregation, or solitary confinement inmates who are pregnant or in a 6-week postpartum period. The bill also requires that correctional facilities allow infants to stay with their mothers for 72 hours after delivery and requires that the facilities advise pregnant inmate's regarding information and access to community-based pregnancy-related programs.Senate Bill 102 expands the Kentucky Proud agricultural marketing program to allow products produced from Asian carp, paddlefish, or sturgeon to be qualified to use the Kentucky Proud logo on packaging as long as the fish were harvested from a body of water in Kentucky.House Bill 312 limits the ability of people who do not live, work or conduct business in Kentucky to obtain records through the state's open records law. These restrictions would not apply, however, to out-of-state journalists. A second section of HB 312 would explicitly allow open records requests to be made via email. A third portion would provide a standardized form for the requests but not require that it be used. Under this bill, the time to comply with requests would also be lengthened to five days from three.House Bill 518 would change the makeup of the Kentucky State Fair Board and clarify how it operates. Not only does the fair board operate the Kentucky Exposition Center where the state fair is held, but it also operates the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville. The two properties have an annual $500 million economic impact and generate $40 million in taxes.House Bill 95 aims to help Kentuckians struggling with diabetes by capping the cost of out-of-pocket insulin at $30 for a 30-day supply. It applies to state-regulated, comprehensive, private health insurance plans, and the Kentucky employee health plan. It does not apply to Medicare, Medicaid, or self-funded health plans.For too long, the high cost of insulin has caused patients to ration their supply, resulting in a loss of life. Others have had to make desperate financial decisions to maintain their access to their insulin. Kentucky ranks eighth in the nation in diabetes prevalence and is the fifth highest state in diabetes-related deaths. Between 2000 and 2018, the percentage of Kentuckians diagnosed with diabetes doubled. Diabetes can be associated with heart failure, stroke, blindness, and more.Senate Bill 8 provides for opting out of mandatory vaccinations for people with religious or conscientiously held beliefs. The bill maintains employer immunization policies for employees of schools, universities, and health care organizations.House Joint Resolution 77 extends certain COVID-19 orders and regulations an additional 60 days. This joint resolution, which can carry the force of law, will be effective only if the court ultimately rules in favor of the legislature on pending litigation. The governor is challenging HB 1 and SBs 1 and 2. Those three bills, if upheld, provide the legislature a seat at the table as life-altering executive decisions are made. It is worth noting that Kentucky is the exception to executive authority rule during a state of emergency. The bills being challenged by the governor would merely bring Kentucky more in line with other states in regard to oversight of executive authority during times like these.House Bill 126 would raise the threshold of felony theft to $1,000. Under current law, stealing anything worth $500 or more is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. It would also allow law enforcement to charge members of organized shoplifting rings with a felony if a member stole a total of $1,000 worth of merchandise over 90 days. It's important to remember that this amount is still far below what the amount would have been if the Consumer Price Index (CPI) had be used to calculate the increase from the time the threshold was raised to $500.This bill seeks to ease prison overcrowding and save the state money on corrections. A correctional impact statement attached to HB 126 estimated its passage would save the state $4 million per year in prison costs alone.House Bill 230 would provide sales and other tax breaks to businesses that are located in facilities of at least 200,000 square feet for cryptocurrency mining. The exemptions would be for electricity used in the mining process. Mining cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, is a process in which high-powered computers are used to solve complex math problems and unlock new currency.House Bill 273 is a bill I was proud to work on with my friend and colleague, Rep. Chris Freeland. The Bailey Holt-Preston Cope Victims Privacy Act would exclude from the open records act photographs or videos that depict a person's death, killing, rape, sexual assault, or abuse. It is named in honor of Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, who were killed in the 2018 Marshall County High School shooting at the age of 15.House Bill 328 would re-establish the state's regulatory authority for roadside billboards after a federal court ruling called the state's prior regulations into question. One concern had been that Kentucky was at risk of losing as much as $70 million in federal transportation funding for not meeting a federal requirement concerning roadside billboards.House Bill 497 would help convicts transition out of prison get jobs, health care, state IDs and access to social services such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. It would also create a "certificate of employability" to help former inmates find jobs for which they are trained.Another crucial measure I am sponsoring passed in the Senate chamber last week. The legislation, Senate Bill 211, comes in response to the riots across our country last summer, including in our own flagship city of Louisville. This bill would primarily increase the punishment for crimes committed during, and in relation to a riot, like those in Louisville that led to millions of dollars in damage, injury, and even loss of life.The goal of SB 211 is simple: protect our communities, protect our first responders, and protect public and private property.I named this bill "The Community and First Responder Protection Act," as it seeks to discourage in-state and out-of-state agitators from inciting riots here in the Commonwealth.Language in SB 211 would also provide consequences for local governments that are grossly negligent by failing to protect their residents' personal safety and property. Another section would discourage local governments from attempts to defund law enforcement agencies by requiring that, "Government entities responsible for funding the various law enforcement agencies shall maintain and improve their respective financial support..."One particular provision of SB 211 has received much attention nationwide. This provision would amend the disorderly conduct statute by adding this language:"Accosts, insults, taunts, or challenges a law enforcement officer with offensive or derisive language, or by gestures or other physical contact, that would have a direct tendency to provoke a violent response from the perspective of a reasonable and prudent person."This language is related to the term "fighting words," which, although diminished by Supreme Court rulings over the years, are not constitutionally protected by the First Amendment. I want to make it clear that under this language it would take much more than a simple insult or taunt to cause an officer to arrest a person for disorderly conduct, as the mainstream media has reported in their headlines. The situations covered under this provision are situations that occur in a public place and when the offender, "has the intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or wantonly creates a risk thereof." These are situations that put the officer and public at risk when an officer is being verbally assaulted to the extent he or she cannot adequately protected themselves or others in the vicinity. This provision would give law enforcement the option to remove the offender from these situations, which may help de-escalate the situation.I had planned to amend this language in the House in order to narrow the focus. However, at the end of the week I learned that due to the brief amount of time remaining in the session the House was not going to move the bill. Although I was disappointed that the bill will not pass this session, I'm committed to working with members of the House, Senate, and other groups during the interim to make the bill better.The following is the language I plan to use to amend the above language:"While engaged in direct interaction with a law enforcement officer, accosts, insults, taunts, or challenges to a law enforcement officer using abusive, indecent, profane, or vulgar language used as instruments of assault and that serves no legitimate purpose, or by gestures or other physical contact, all of which would have a direct tendency to provoke a violent response from the perspective of a reasonable and prudent law enforcement officer."I would be remiss if I did not reiterate my unwavering support for peaceful protests. This is a constitutional right I will always support. However, no one has the constitutional right to terrorize, threaten, assault, abuse our people, or destroy or steal property within our Commonwealth. These riotous behaviors greatly diminish the impact of peaceful and productive protests and serve no legitimate purpose.Looking ahead, the General Assembly will return on March 29 and March 30 for the final two days of the session and sine die adjournment.Thank you for staying engaged in the legislative process. I continue to be proud and humbled to represent the 2nd Senate District.If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me Danny.Carroll@LRC.ky.gov. Or, you can review the legislature's work online at www.Legislature.ky.gov. Photo: The Canadian Press Ambassador Bridge at the Canada/U.S. border crossing in Windsor, Ont. A new poll suggests Canadians remain deeply wary about the prospect of allowing visitors from the United States. The online Leger poll was conducted last week for the Association for Canadian Studies to mark one full year of restricted travel at the Canada-U.S. border. It found 70 per cent of 2,200 Canadian respondents were either very or somewhat worried about allowing cross-border travel. Only 26 per cent said they were either not very worried or not worried at all. In the U.S., Leger found the opposite: only 31 per cent of the 1,968 Americans surveyed were very or somewhat anxious about lifting restrictions. Online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population. IOSCO COUNTY, MI A wanted 22-year-old man convicted of third degree criminal sexual conduct has been captured. James Dominic Gross of Lincoln was arrested on March 19 thanks to a tip received from a citizen who saw a story in the news, Michigan State Police said. The Oscoda Township Police Department located and arrested Gross who was hiding at a residence in Oscoda. He had been wanted by police since March 17. Gross pleaded guilty to the charge, specifically forcible penetration with a minor child victim, in February. He was sentenced to 5.5 years (66 months) in prison via a teleconference hearing earlier this month. The court ordered Gross to turn himself in by the end of the day, however he failed to do so and became a fugitive. He has since been charged with additional felonies, MSP said. In a nutshell: A former IT worker who took revenge on a company by deleting 80 percent of its Microsoft Office 365 accounts has been handed a two-year prison sentence for his crime. According to the US Department of Justice, Deepanshu Kher was employed by an IT consulting firm from 2017 through to May 2018. His employer was hired by the California-based Carlsbad Company in 2017 to assist with its migration to a Microsoft Office 365 environment, so the firm sent Kher to help with the project. Carlsbad, it seems, was less than impressed by Khers work, complaining about his performance to the consultancy firm soon after his arrival. He was eventually fired on May 4, 2018, returning to India a month later. Blaming Carlsbad for his firing, Kher hacked into the companys server on August 8, 2018, deleting 1,200 of its 1,500 Microsoft Office 365 employee accounts. Not only were workers unable to access their email, contacts lists, meeting calendars, documents, corporate directories, and video and audio conferences, they were also locked out of the Virtual Teams environment required to do their jobs. The attack also meant customers, vendors and consumers were unable to contact company representatives and vice versa, meaning buyers could not be informed of the situation or when it might be resolved. Carlsbads operations came to a standstill for two days, though the IT problems persisted for three months. The companys Vice President of IT said that throughout his 30-plus years in the profession, he has "never been a part of a more difficult and trying work situation." Kher was arrested after flying from India to the United States on January 11, 2021, unaware of the outstanding warrant for his arrest. US District Court Judge Marilyn Huff charged the Indian national with intentional damage to a protected computer, which carries a maximum ten-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine. Kher faces two years behind bars followed by three years supervised release. He must also pay Carlsbad $567,084the amount it paid to fix the problems that Kher caused. Before he was arrested, the FBI used travel technology company Sabre for real-time updates on Khers travel activities, including any travel orders, transactions or reservations. Masthead image credit: Gorodenkoff. Center image: MemoryMan Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) The country listed 5,867 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, pushing the total number to 677,653, the Department of Health's case bulletin said. The new case count broke the country's four-day streak of over 7,000 new cases per day. However, the DOH noted that the total does not yet include data from nine testing laboratories that have yet to send in their reports. Meanwhile, the number of active cases or currently ill patients reached an all-time high of 86,200, which is 12.7% of the COVID-19 total. It surpassed the Aug. 15 record of over 83,000 active infections. Of these active cases, at least 95.4% have mild symptoms, 2.3% have no symptoms, 0.9% are in critical condition, 0.9% are severe cases and 0.49% are in moderate condition, the bulletin stated. The DOH also posted a positivity rate of 15.4%, based on data as of noon of March 22. Positivity rate is the percentage of individuals that tested positive out of all patients tested that day. The figure is considered high since the recommended rate of the World Health Organization is 5%. A higher percentage suggests higher transmission and that there are likely more people with the coronavirus in the community who have not been tested yet, according to Johns Hopkins University. The department said there were 33,719 that have been tested which means approximately 5,193 people were found positive. The DOH did not include the exact number of positive tests in the latest report, unlike in previous bulletins. The department will post an updated positivity rate once it gets the remaining data from the laboratories. The death toll also climbed to 12,992 or 1.92% of the case count, after 20 more patients died. Meanwhile, 620 others got better, bringing the recovery count to 578,461 or 85.4% of the number of infections. The DOH said it reclassified eight survivors as fatalities after validation and removed six duplicates, including one recovery. The department also posted the updated positivity rate for March 21 at 15.4%, making it the fifth consecutive day that the country had a rate of above 15%. The DOH noted 6,039 positive individuals out of 31,163 tests. Among Filipinos abroad, the number of infections surpassed 16,000 after the Department of Foreign Affairs recorded 21 more infections. The total is now 16,006 in 89 countries with 3,821 cases verified by the DOH, the DFA said. The death toll remained at 1,047 while the survivor count rose to 9,702 after two cases recuperated. There are also 5,257 patients undergoing treatment. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 [March 23, 2021] Identity Verification Leader Jumio Secures $150 Million from Great Hill Partners Jumio, the leading provider of AI-powered end-to-end identity verification and eKYC solutions, today announced it secured a $150 million investment from Great Hill Partners, a private equity firm that invests in high-growth, disruptive companies. This infusion represents the single largest funding round in the digital identity space and speaks to the global importance of establishing a user's identity remotely to defend against fraud and financial crime, comply with KYC and AML regulations and boost online conversions. The investment will accelerate Jumio's significant global lead in the digital identity space by devoting additional resources to automate its identity verification solutions, expand the breadth of the Jumio KYX Platform and grow its suite of AML compliance services. Jumio brings its pioneering document-centric identity approach to leading blue-chip companies across the telehealth, financial services, online gaming and social media spaces. With this investment, Great Hill Partners' Nick Cayer and Matt Vettel will join Centana Growth Partners and Millennium Technology Value Partners on Jumio's Board of Directors. "Jumio's innovations helped establish the identity verification market, and the need to establish someone's digital identity remotely has never been greater," said Jumio CEO Robert Prigge. "Nick, Matt and the Great Hill team bring tremendous expertise and a strong track record of innovation and strategic leadership, so we ar excited to partner with them as we continue to scale." Great Hill has deep growth investing experience across the cybersecurity, compliance and financial technology sectors, having scaled and added value to a range of tech-enabled companies including AffiniPay, Confirmation, MineralTree, SecureWorks and Versapay. "Jumio has established itself as the de facto global leader in online identity verification, fraud detection and compliance," Cayer said. "Organizations must digitally transform their onboarding, KYC and AML monitoring processes, which have become even more vital as the volume of online and mobile payments reaches historic highs. We're impressed with this team, the company's robust growth over the last year, its global coverage and the global market opportunity." The funding follows a landmark year for Jumio. In 2020, the company achieved record revenues, volumes and automation breakthroughs. In September, Jumio launched the KYX Platform, which combines data from a variety of sources to build a complete digital profile of online users. Later that month, Jumio acquired the AML platform from Beam Solutions, a San Francisco-based startup focused on transaction monitoring, case management and KYC. The company was also recently named a representative vendor in Gartner's Market Guide to Identity Proofing and Affirmation and also named to CRN's 2021 list of the 20 Coolest Identity Access Management and Data Protection Companies. To learn more about Jumio and its award-winning, AI-powered identity solutions, visit jumio.com. Evercore served as financial advisor and Winston & Strawn LLP served as legal counsel to Jumio. Moelis & Company LLC served as financial advisor and Goodwin Proctor LLP served as legal counsel to Great Hill Partners. About Jumio When identity matters, trust Jumio. Jumio's mission is to make the internet a safer place by protecting the ecosystems of businesses through a unified, end-to-end identity verification and eKYC platform. The Jumio KYX Platform offers a range of identity proofing and AML services to accurately establish, maintain and reassert trust from account opening to ongoing transaction monitoring. Leveraging advanced technology including AI, biometrics, machine learning, liveness detection and automation, Jumio helps organizations fight fraud and financial crime, onboard good customers faster and meet regulatory compliance including KYC, AML and GDPR. Jumio has verified more than 300 million identities issued by over 200 countries and territories from real-time web and mobile transactions. Jumio's solutions are used by leading companies in the financial services, sharing economy, digital currency, retail, travel and online gaming sectors. Based in Palo Alto (News - Alert) , Jumio operates globally with offices in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific and has been the recipient of numerous awards for innovation. Jumio is backed by Centana Growth Partners, Great Hill Partners and Millennium Technology Value Partners. For more information, please visit www.jumio.com. About Great Hill Partners Great Hill Partners is a Boston-based private equity firm targeting investments of $25 million to $500 million in high-growth companies across the software, digital commerce, financial technology, healthcare, and digital infrastructure sectors. Over the past two decades, Great Hill has raised nearly $8 billion of commitments and invested in more than 75 companies, establishing an extensive track record of building long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs and providing flexible resources to help middle-market companies scale. For more information, visit www.greathillpartners.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005338/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] STRATFORD Front-line educators were left out of the decision to return to full-time in-person learning next month, the president of the teachers union told the school board Monday. Michael Fiorello, a teacher at Stratford High School, said during the public comment portion of the boards monthly meeting that Superintendent Janet Robinson misled union officials in the run-up to announcing her plans. The change was announced unilaterally on a date the superintendent knew the teachers union leadership was unavailable, and the decision directly contradicted what she had said to us just days before, he said. We expected to discuss this with her in a meeting this past Thursday, but she canceled the meeting seven minutes before it was due to begin. This is not collaboration, and this is not inclusion, he said. Robinson did not address the union leaders complaints of being shut out from the decision-making process during the meeting. Robinson announced in a letter to families this month that the school district plans to return to full, in-person learning April 5. Currently, students in kindergarten through eighth grade have the option to be in school four days a week. Bunnell and Stratford high schools are on a hybrid model where separate cohorts attend school in person two days a week. Fiorello noted Stratfords COVID-19 numbers are currently at the red level of more than 15 cases per 100,000 established by the state. It makes very little sense to move to a regular school schedule the week of April 5 when the districts vaccine clinic that will provide school employees with its second COVID shot is occurring the week after, said Kristen Record, a physics teacher at Bunnell High School and the union vice president for secondary schools, after Robinsons reopening announcement. With educators not being fully vaccinated, the need for quarantining and possible school closures due to staffing shortages will continue, which is not in the best interests of students or their families, she said. Fiorello was the only speaker during the meetings public forum. While not responding to Fiorellos comments, Robinson told the school board that as of March 19, the district had 2,011 distance learning students. Bunnell High had 630, and Stratford High had 403. Both schools went fully remote at times last year because of positive COVID-19 cases and resulting staff shortages from the number of people in quarantine. Robinson noted that student representatives told school board members earlier in the meeting they and their friends were looking forward to more in-person learning. We are really looking forward to those students rejoining, and as you could see from our student speakers tonight, they are excited, she said. Were very excited to welcome them back. None of the school board members referred to the union leaders complaints specifically during a Q&A with Robinson, but some asked about the reopening plans. She said the school district was following CDC guidelines and had added desk shields to protect students. We really do believe that we have a safe environment for students, Robinson said while answering a question from school board member Janice Cupee. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu is all joy on social media to see the Finance Minister-Designate, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta back home from a sick break. Describing him as his brother the Majority Leader is very optimistic Ken Ofori-Atta will be stronger enough to save Ghanas economy from sinking. Ken, my brother. Welcome back!! God has always been in control and his grace will continue to be sufficient. He posted on Facebook Adding that, Mr Sharp brain, the nation awaits your input to still the waters!! Welcome home. The Finance Minister-designate returned back to the country after seeking medical attention in the United State of America. The earlier statement suggested that the former minister was battling some post-COVID-19 complications hence, the need for him to seek emergency medical attention outside the country Ken Ofori-Atta is yet to be vetted and approved as a minister. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video On Wednesday, March 24, Midland Center for the Arts and Walgreens are hosting a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic for eligible residents of the Tri-City area. A thousand spots are available for dose 1 of the Pfizer vaccine. The clinic is open to all essential workers, those over 50, and anyone 16 to 49 with a health condition. To sign up, go to the following website: https://wagsoutreach.com/schedulerRegistration An appointment is required. Walk-ins will not be accepted due to COVID-19 safety protocol. To check your eligibility, visit this link: Eligibility Pre-Immunization Clinic Paperwork: Qualified individuals who intend on getting an immunization should complete Sections A, B, and C of the Vaccine Administration Record (VAR) Form ahead of the clinic. Bring this completed form with you to the clinic. Clinic Day: Bring your completed VAR, photo ID, and insurance card. Only attend the clinic if you intend on receiving an immunization. Do not attend the clinic if you are feeling sick, have a fever, or are exhibiting any respiratory symptoms. You must wear a face mask or face covering prior to arriving for the immunization clinic and for the duration of your visit. When waiting for your immunization, you will need to practice appropriate social distancing guidelines, maintaining at least a 6ft distance from others. The pharmacist will take your temperature using the touch-free digital thermometer. Immunization should be deferred if you are sick or have a fever. If possible, wear clothing that allows the immunizer to easily access the shoulder area for a more efficient immunization process (i.e. T-shirt and/or easy to remove layers). Fifteen people have died and 400 are missing after a huge fire destroyed the shanty homes of tens of thousands of Rohingya in the world's biggest refugee settlement in Bangladesh, the UN said Tuesday. Nearly one million of the persecuted Muslim minority -- many of whom escaped a 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar that UN investigators concluded was executed with "genocidal intent" -- live in squalid conditions at the network of camps in the southeastern Cox's Bazar district. The fire broke out Monday and left at least 50,000 people homeless as it ripped through their flimsy bamboo-and-tarpaulin shelters, according to police and aid groups. Terrified families fled with whatever they could carry, with distraught children separated from their children in the rush. It was just the latest blaze in recent weeks -- and the biggest since 2017. Bangladesh has ordered a probe. "People ran for their lives as it spread fast. Many were injured and I saw at least four bodies," said Aminul Haq, a refugee. Johannes Van der Klaauw, the UN Refugee Agency's representative in Bangladesh, said that so far it has confirmed 15 people dead, 560 injured, 400 missing and at least 10,000 shelters destroyed. "What we have seen in this fire is something we have never seen before in these camps. It is massive. It is devastating," Van der Klaauw told reporters in Geneva via videolink. Officials said the blaze appeared to have started in one of the 34 camps -- which span about 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) of land -- before spreading rapidly to three other sites despite desperate efforts to put out the flames. Thick columns of smoke could be seen billowing from blazing shanties in a video shared on social media, as hundreds of firefighters and aid workers pulled refugees to safety. Read | Seven feared dead, thousands flee huge blaze at Rohingya camp in Bangladesh Firefighters finally brought the blaze under control around midnight. Police inspector Gazi Salahuddin said the fire grew after gas cylinders used for cooking exploded. Mohammad Yasin, a Rohingya helping with the firefight, told AFP the blaze raged for more than 10 hours and was the worst he had seen. A volunteer for Save the Children, Tayeba Begum, said "children were running, crying for their families". Refugees International said in a statement: "Many children are missing, and some were unable to flee because of barbed-wire set up in the camps." This was echoed by Myo Min Khan, a Rohingya, who wrote on Facebook: "We were unable to flee because of the fence, my youngest daughter got injured badly." AFP was not independently able to verify the claims about the fence. Police rejected the accusation, saying only a tiny part of the camp was fenced. "This tragedy is an awful reminder of the vulnerable position of Rohingya refugees who are caught between increasingly precarious conditions in Bangladesh and the reality of a homeland now ruled by the military responsible for the genocide that forced them to flee," Refugees International said. Also Read | Bangladesh under 'no obligation' to accept stranded Rohingya refugees: Minister The UN's International Organization for Migration said it has pledged $1 million to relief efforts but a further $20 million would be required to react to the most urgent needs. It was the third blaze to hit the camps in four days, fire brigade official Sikder, who only goes by one name, told AFP. Two separate fires at the camps on Friday destroyed scores of shelters, officials said. Sikder said the cause of the blaze was not yet known. Two big fires had also hit the camps in January, leaving thousands homeless and gutting four UNICEF schools. Amnesty International's South Asia campaigner, Saad Hammadi, tweeted that the "frequency of fire in the camps is too coincidental, especially when outcomes of previous investigations into the incidents are not known and they keep repeating". Rohingya leader Sayed Ullah demanded an immediate probe. "It is not clear why these fire incidents are happening repeatedly in the camps. It needs proper and complete investigation," he said. The government has meanwhile been pushing for the refugees to be relocated to a remote island in the Bay of Bengal, saying the settlements were too crowded. So far, 13,000 Rohingya have been moved to the flood-prone island, which critics say is also in the path of deadly cyclones. The Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), an agency of Dubai Economy, has signed an agreement with the Manufacturers Association of Israel (MAI) to explore collaboration in promoting cross-border business and investment opportunities. The agreement comes on the heels of the historic Abraham Accords signed between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, and which are poised to build a long, steady partnership across sectors, a WAM report said. Facilitated by the accords, annual trade between Israel and the UAE is expected to reach more than AED14 billion ($3.81 billion) within three to five years. The Emirate of Dubai has already concluded trade deals valued at more than AED1 billion with Israel in the five months following the accords, between September 2020 and January 2021. The MoU between Dubai FDI and MAI will help bolster business and investment ties between Dubai and Israel while also establishing a mutually beneficial and collaborative relationship to support potential business links as well as investment and promotional activities. Fahad Al Gergawi, CEO of Dubai FDI, said: "Today we are writing a success story of business and investment partnerships between Israel and Dubai, based on the determination and sincere desire of both sides to strengthen bilateral relations. We will help each other identify various sectors and opportunities from which the business communities in both economies can benefit." The MoU lays down the groundwork for mutual collaboration on generating investment and trade opportunities through information exchange and joint promotional activities. This includes approaching and attracting companies to Dubai and Israel, hosting joint events, and supporting reciprocal visits of government and industry representatives. Dr Ron Tomar, President of the Manufacturers' Association of Israel, said: "The peace agreement between the two countries has created an extraordinary opportunity to develop Israel's ties with the countries of the region. Our leaders paved the way, and now it is for us - the business leaders - to step in and ensure that both communities shall walk that way and reach fruitful and beneficial mutual results. I recently visited UAE and met wonderful people, who are interested and strongly believe in a real partnership. "This is also my personal goal, and the goal of the agreement, which I am excited to sign - to create a long-term partnership between the two countries, which will help to develop the trade and the economy in the region. Israel can serve as the new gate of the Gulf states to the West, and the UAE can serve as the new gate of Israel to the Gulf states and Asia, and together we will promote the vision of peace, brotherhood and cooperation." Both signatories to the agreement will encourage their networks to develop and promote trade and investment linkages, facilitate cross-border meetings and business trips, and share relevant information with their networks about trade, investment, and best practices. Tally Zingher, Managing Director of Blue Laurel, a strategic partner of Dubai FDI that helped arrange the initial meetings between the two parties, said, "This MoU is an important milestone in deepening relationships and building bridges between Israel and Dubai; both as a platform for local shared industrial activities and for reaching, together, into emerging markets. It is a framework for initiating and scaling cooperation that will help harness the complementary business and industrial energies and activities in Israel and the UAE." Dubai FDI has already organised and conducted a series of industry-specific investment webinars with potential Israeli investors in the sectors of healthcare, technology, and food and agribusiness to explore the vast opportunities and partnerships that Dubai offers in these sectors. More such missions are on the cards for 2021. Dubai has positioned itself as the City of the Future, an effective gateway to the regions emerging markets, and a global hub for trade and investment. Al Gergawi said: "As a connected smart city, Dubai has been at the forefront of rolling out strategic initiatives and innovation across sectors. This enhances the emirates preparedness to respond to investor needs and ensure investment flows. Dubai continues to enjoy a global reputation for being a diverse, stable, and secure economy that nurtures innovation and remains future-ready as a matter of policy." Dubais future-ready infrastructure connects businesses to a vast market of 2.4 billion consumers in the Middle East, Africa, Indian Subcontinent, and CIS. Dubai taps into several strategic advantages to deliver excellence, such as the worlds ninth-largest container port, one of the worlds largest airlines connecting over 150 destinations, and an ultra-modern transportation and distribution network. Dubais futuristic vision and preparedness has also positioned it as one of the worlds most important economic nodes, where wealth and talent are nurtured. As one of the most business-friendly economies in the world and a preferred investment destination for foreign capital, Dubai and the UAE lead the MENA region on the World Banks Ease of Doing Business rankings. The country ranks 16th globally among 190 countries.-- Tradearabia News Service The San Diego Convention Center is seen in San Diego, Calif., on July 22, 2020. (Daniel Knighton/Getty Images) Biden Administration to Use San Diego Convention Center as Immigration Shelter Amid Surge The federal government is converting another convention center into a shelter for illegal immigrants amid a border surge that has shown no sign of slowing down. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra requested help from the city of San Diego to house some of the unaccompanied minors who have been crossing into the United States from Mexico, Mayor Todd Gloria and San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nathan Fletcher, both Democrats, said in a joint statement. The officials agreed over the weekend to open the San Diego Convention Center to the federal government for use as a temporary shelter. The city and county will support this federally funded effort by providing vital services to these vulnerable children who came to our country seeking safety, Gloria and Fletcher said. We are working closely with our federal partners to finalize the details for preparing to receive these young people and provide them with care, compassion, and a safe space to transition while they are reunited with families or sponsors. No information was given as to how many children would be held, when they would start arriving, and which part of the border they would be coming from. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) told The Epoch Times via email that the convention center will initially be able to accommodate up to 1,400 children. Describing the center as an emergency intake site, the location is intended for use as a temporary measure, officials said. City officials said the site can be used for as long as three months, with each minor staying there around 30 days. The children will be as old as age 17. Minors will be provided with food, medical care, a place to sleep and showers, federal officials said. Illegal immigrants from Central America take refuge in a make shift 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) Asylum seeking unaccompanied minors are transported in a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle after they crossed the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico on a raft in Penitas, Texas, on March 9, 2021. (Adrees Latif/Reuters) A Border Patrol agent checks an illegal immigrant wearing two wristbands that Mexican cartels have been using to control human smuggling into the United States, near Penitas, Texas, on March 15, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Becerra, who was confirmed by the Senate last week and previously served as Californias attorney general, said in a statement that, Every child in our care deserves a safe place to rest and to know their well-being is addressed. The County and City of San Diego has generously offered to partner with the Department as we abide by the law to provide unaccompanied children with food, sanitation and shelter, he said. Our task is to protect the health and safety of unaccompanied children, who are under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, while they go through their immigration proceedings. The United States is dealing with a surge in illegal immigrants and has opened or reopened at least four facilities in the past week to hold unaccompanied minors crossing the border. An agreement was reached earlier this month to house young male migrants in the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. Illegal border crossings breached 100,000 in February, President Joe Bidens first full month in office. The number of unaccompanied minors apprehended by border agents jumped from 5,694 in January to nearly 9,300 the following month. The administration stopped using Title 42 emergency powers amid the COVID-19 pandemic to expel minors, arguing it is not humane to do so. Critics say that decision, as well as confusing messaging from administration officials, has led to the surge. Leaked photographs on Monday showed children sleeping on floors of a tent holding facility in Texas, with a single pod holding more than 400 unaccompanied male minors. Health officials told The Epoch Times via email on Tuesday that they were caring for approximately 11,350 children. Another 3,500 were in Border Patrol custody as of last week. Border officials told reporters in a call last week that they had over 14,000 minors in custody, news outlets reported. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the photographs highlighted how Border Patrol facilities are not places for children. Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report.